“……!”
The eyes of all the Zodiacs changed.
Azier was dead. It was now an undeniable truth that the Gods were responsible.
What did this mean?
Azier, who deserved the love of the Gods for his character and talent, was killed by the Gods.
What were they supposed to understand?
What had they learned?
“Do we still have to fight amongst ourselves?”
“…….”
“Haven’t some waited far too long for us to walk the right path?”
At her words, everyone fell silent. Some avoided her gaze and lowered their heads.
Aten inhaled deeply.
No one knew how deep that breath went.
“Mr. Frondier has gone to save Azier.”
“……Gone to save him?”
“Yes. To reclaim Azier’s soul. He has gone to the world of the Gods.”
At Aten’s words, everyone buzzed. Azier, who was already dead in their eyes. Was it possible to bring her back?
The answer came immediately.
“……Reckless, that’s absurd. He’s walking into the jaws of death!”
Someone shouted.
Aten slowly closed her eyes at that, and then opened them again.
She nodded.
“You’re right.”
“……Ah……”
“Frondier walked into the jaws of death. To save Azier. To save Azier, who was personally killed by the Gods. That’s why the Gods are going to attack humanity.”
“……? Why would the Gods attack humanity?”
Osprey asked, furrowing his brow.
“Do you really not understand the reason?”
The Gods were going to attack humanity.
To stop Frondier.
Because if humanity were attacked, then without a doubt,
“Frondier will try to save them.”
“…….”
“That is the reason.”
Everyone gaped at her words.
Some believed everything she said, while others did not.
But these were the words of Osprey himself. It was impossible to dismiss them as nonsense.
“……Heh.”
And then, the man who had been silent until now curled his lips into a smile.
“We’ve gotten old, haven’t we?”
Ludwig Urfa.
He looked at Osprey.
He seemed to have finally broken free from the state of being drunk and devastated.
No, the current Ludwig Urfa wasn't just back to normal.
He.
“To think we were lying in the lap of luxury, sucking our thumbs and oblivious to everything. How laughable.”
Ludwig was smiling.
But his eyes were filled with murderous intent and rage.
That rage was clearly directed at himself, for being unable to forgive himself.
“Indeed.”
Osprey agreed. He felt the same.
“It’s utterly laughable.”
His deep patience had finally reached its limit. Especially since he had witnessed everything Frondier had done.
Beside them, Daisy Foster watched the two quietly.
The two most renowned mages in the Empire. They had lived through much of the Empire's history together.
Daisy grinned. A strange feeling washed over her, and she asked Ludwig,
“You’re going to fight the Gods? Even though you’ll lose your divine power? Even though you won’t be able to become a Zodiac anymore?”
She spoke teasingly.
But Daisy herself wore the same expression as Ludwig.
“What does it matter?”
Ludwig growled.
“When we fought the monsters, did we fight while worrying about our positions as Zodiacs?”
“No, we didn’t.”
Daisy replied, as if waiting for those words.
“We won’t be Zodiacs. That’s right. We’re not Zodiacs.”
Monty spoke.
“Were we ever truly Zodiacs?”
“No. We are,”
At that moment,
Several voices, it was impossible to tell how many, unconsciously answered in unison.
“We are watchdogs.”
The eyes of all the Zodiacs had changed.
They would tear apart anything that dared to invade the Empire.
With that resolve, they had crushed monsters and built barriers to protect the Empire.
Had they forgotten?
Had they become cowardly dogs, tucking their tails between their legs just because they had grown accustomed to peace?
No, they couldn’t.
What were they so afraid of?
Why were they here in the first place?
“Let’s save them.”
Aten’s voice was brief.
“Let’s do what we have to do.”
The chaos subsided.
And the blades they had each been hiding for so long, slowly revealed themselves.
And Elodie,
‘…….’
Took in that sight with her own eyes.
─Who’s going to repay you?
─I can’t accept sacrifices that go unrewarded.
─What did you get? What did you gain after accomplishing so much?
─Being branded a devil and exiled from the Empire? Hiding in Palma while wearing a mask? Living under the threat of both Gods and devils? That’s your reward?
‘……Not yet.’
Elodie held back with all her might.
She had endured so much.
‘Don’t cry.’
Nothing was alright yet.
Not a single thing.
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