The Great Wall

Based on the flow of the original, the next assassin sent after Riogren and the others should be Black Priest Sixth Rank, Wall.

He wields an invincible barrier. Being Sixth Rank means he's second from the top among the Black Priests—far above Hunter in rank.

Wall is a bad matchup for me—for Bloom's abilities.

Wall uses his Soullight to constantly deploy a barrier around himself.

It's an invincible shield that blocks all attacks by forming a spatial severance.

In contrast, my Death God's Scythe only shows its true worth when it strikes the living.

It reaps life, completely severing one's connection to this world.

In other words, it's a poor matchup against opponents who defend with inorganic objects like shields.

Against ordinary enemies, I could just circle behind them and be done with it, but Wall is different.

Since he constantly forms spatial severance covering his entire body, my attacks can't reach him.

So this is a wall that Riogren and the others must overcome themselves.

And this battle will be quite the tightrope walk. It's a critical juncture where bad luck could send them straight to a bad ending.

Therefore, to increase their odds of victory even slightly, elements that don't exist in the original—like me—shouldn't get involved. That's my thinking.

However, there's one problem.

How can I leave peacefully without making Fren cry…?

This problem has been plaguing me constantly lately.

Since our reunion, Fren has been paying a lot of attention to me. Like that shopping trip the other day, and always wanting to eat meals together.

Plus, she seems constantly worried I might suddenly disappear.

She'll probably be sad if I leave now.

Seeing my oshi looking sad makes me sad. But Fren's mental care…

While I was agonizing over this, a brilliant idea suddenly struck me.

Oh, I know! I'll just ask Gil!

Gil has a wealth of experience and sometimes counsels his companions. If Fren gets down, he should be able to cheer her up nicely.

And if this deepens the bond between Gil and Fren… I'll get lots of favorite ship content.

What a brilliant two-birds-one-stone plan…! I was moved by my own genius.

"No."

When I told him I was leaving and asked him to handle Fren's mental care, Gil coldly refused.

"Why?"

I tilted my head, voicing my honest question.

He may not be the most forthright person, but it's obvious he cares about his companions.

Why would he refuse to look after Fren?

"That's beyond me. Or rather, if Fren matters that much to you, just stay by her side properly."

"You all are by Fren's side. I'm not needed."

Hearing my response, Gil clutched his head as if he had a headache for some reason.

"Haah… I don't know what's going on in that head of yours, but… to Fren, you're like family, aren't you? There's no way we could replace that."

"Family…? That's wrong."

Why would he say something so off the mark?

Fren's family were her murdered parents. I have nothing to do with that.

Thinking so, I met Gil's gaze.

But he wore a completely serious expression as he spoke.

"—Face them properly. The people who are living."

"…"

The unexpected words stopped my thoughts for a moment.

Face them. Face the people who are living.

… No, that's wrong.

I can't explain it well, but that's wrong.

Unable to fully put it into words, I strung together what phrases came to mind.

"—If there was graffiti on an artistic masterpiece, wouldn't you find it an eyesore?"

"… Huh?"

Unnecessary additions to an already complete original work are unwanted.

At least, that's how I see it as a Sourai fan.

"A completed work of art doesn't need me."

Putting it into words made me recognize my own thoughts more clearly.

Face the living.

That's the role of Gil and Fren, who properly belong to this world.

My favorite story, my favorite characters—they don't need me.

What they need are relationships among themselves.

There's something uncomfortable about defining me—someone who died in another world and wandered into this one—as "living."

"… I don't really get what you're saying."

"Sorry. I don't really get it myself either. What you're saying is probably more correct."

Organizing my thoughts is harder than I expected.

I turned my back to him and fled the scene.

Alone afterward, I murmured quietly.

"… No, my oshi doesn't need me."

That was my conclusion after much agonizing.

My existence is an impurity in this world. Graffiti.

So this choice must be correct.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

That man received orders directly from the Archbishop, the supreme authority of the Vanguard Church, and traveled from the Holy Kingdom to the Empire.

He arrived at a Vanguard Church within Imperial territory, travel bags in tow.

His mission: bring Laura, the bearer of the 'Time Reversal' Soullight, to the Archbishop.

Black Priest Sixth Rank, 'Wall,' was a man of gentle bearing. Around fifty years old.

His manner of speaking was polite, with no airs of superiority.

However, his special priest's robes put those who understood their significance on edge.

The black priest's robes were special vestments that only Black Priests were permitted to don.

They marked him as an elite agent who handled the church's dark affairs.

"Lord Wall, welcome. We have been expecting you. Please, this way."

At this church as well, the priests stiffened upon seeing him.

Word must have already arrived from the Great Cathedral. The room prepared for his stay was immaculately arranged.

This should pose no obstacle to carrying out his mission within the Empire.

After checking the facilities, Wall expressed his thanks and finally asked to use the chapel.

"This is the chapel. I'm afraid the facilities may not compare to those in the homeland…"

"That's quite alright. Thank you."

Wall replied kindly to the self-deprecating priest.

Most Vanguard Churches exist in their homeland, the Holy Kingdom.

This solitary church in Imperial territory must have few personnel to maintain it.

"Well then. May the Lord's blessing be upon you."

"May the Lord's blessing be upon you."

After exchanging the customary greeting between priests, the man departed.

Left alone, Wall surveyed the chapel.

Indeed, the chapel was austere, lacking any statues or paintings.

"… Actually, this may be better suited for prayer."

After all, prayer has no need for unnecessary distractions.

He knelt before the altar of the Lord, clasped both hands before his chest, and offered his prayer.

"Lord in Heaven—"

As he attempted communion with the divine, Wall felt his inner thoughts settling into order.

The mission assigned by the Archbishop this time was to bring one girl back to the Holy Kingdom.

Even Wall hadn't been told the detailed circumstances.

Put another way, it was the abduction of a minor.

Objectively speaking, this mission was evil.

"Lord, may the church prosper."

However, Wall's faith was unwavering.

The Archbishop's orders were as good as the will of God.

"At the very least, let me end this in an instant so it won't be too rough on her."

 

＊　＊　＊

 

"Bloom is gone…?"

"Yes. This morning, there was a note by my pillow."

Fren spoke matter-of-factly, as if it were nothing important.

However, someone who harbored such strong feelings toward Bloom couldn't possibly feel nothing.

Knowing this well, Gil spoke to her.

"You don't have to pretend you're okay. That selfish one is the one at fault."

"B-but…"

When Gil said that, Fren's poker face crumbled.

She felt embarrassed that he'd seen her looking like she might cry.

"Anyone who makes their companion cry deserves a proper scolding. That's how friendships and families work, right?"

At Gil's words, Fren's eyes widened.

She nodded several times as if chewing over his words, then raised her face.

"… Thank you."

Gil seemed unusually angry.

It was rare for him to directly show his emotions.

He rarely smiles even when happy, and when criticizing, he just delivers snide remarks with an unpleasant smirk.

It seemed Bloom's actions had struck a nerve with him.

"However, even without Bloom-san, what we need to do hasn't changed. Let's continue gathering information about the Vanguard Church and prepare for assassin attacks."

At the words of the resilient Fren, who had quickly regained her composure, the other three nodded.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

The daily routine for Rio's party of four was monster extermination as adventurers.

Partly because it was the quickest way to earn money, but what they truly sought was information.

Suspicious incidents within the Empire. Movements of the Vanguard Church within the Empire.

Such information also flowed through the Adventurers' Guild.

Adventurers who traveled to various places—sometimes crossing paths with the underworld—would sell useful information they obtained to the Guild.

Complete requests and contribute to the Guild, and the Guild staff would share such information with you as a priority.

Riogren's party handled high-difficulty requests beyond the Adventurers' Guild's capabilities, and the Guild provided them with gathered intelligence. They had established that sort of win-win relationship.

"Phew… that wraps up today's request, right?"

Before them lay a massive wyvern.

A wyvern that had razed two towns and terrorized nearby residents.

However, with four Soullight holders gathered, hunting a monster of this caliber wasn't too difficult.

First, Fren's ice arrow struck its wing dead-on, sending the wyvern crashing to the ground.

Gil immediately closed in and slashed the wing muscles with his dagger, preventing escape.

Finally, Rio severed its thick neck—hunt complete.

That said, it was already getting close to nightfall.

The orange sun bathed them in light.

Hunting a wyvern that flew around erratically usually meant the search took the longest.

True to form, Rio's party had spent a good while running around trying to locate it.

"Wyvern meat is actually pretty tasty. If we bring this back, the Guild might serve us some delicious meat dishes."

"Wait, meat dishes!?"

"The food the Guild serves is always delicious! I can't wait!"

Rio and Laura cheered innocently at the good news from Gil.

Being able to eat delicious food was one of the good things about leaving their hometown.

In the refreshing mood after completing the request, the four let their guard down.

—However, a figure was slowly approaching from behind.

"Excuse me, might I have a moment?"

Hearing a voice from behind, Rio turned around.

There stood an elderly man with a friendly smile.

His gentle bearing had a certain refinement, and the eyes looking their way were kind.

Though he wore a cloak covering his body completely, he appeared to have quite a large build underneath.

Seeing this, Rio responded politely.

"Yes, what is it?"

"I'm looking for someone named Bloom. Would you happen to know her?"

Hearing Bloom's name, Fren came over.

"Bloom-san isn't here. What business do you have with her?"

Unlike Rio, wariness colored Fren's eyes.

Bloom had actively taken on Adventurers' Guild requests and eliminated many underworld figures—it wasn't hard to imagine she'd made enemies.

'White Fog Death' was a highest-priority threat in the underworld.

However, few knew that Bloom was the person behind that moniker.

When she fought, fog would shroud the area, and no one present ever glimpsed her true face.

There was a possibility this man had come seeking to kill Bloom.

Fren let wariness seep into her polite smile.

Yet even seeing Fren's guard up, the elderly man maintained his gentle expression.

"I had a message to deliver from a friend of hers, so I've been looking for her."

"Bloom-san has no friends."

It was an unhesitating declaration.

Fren was certain Bloom had no friends, so she immediately knew the elderly man was lying.

Somewhere far away, a certain someone who had been stalking from afar slumped in dejection for a while.

"You—what's your purpose? That stance is clearly that of someone used to combat."

Gil, who had already drawn his dagger in wariness, questioned him.

He hadn't dropped his combat stance since the moment he laid eyes on the elderly man.

"Oh my, I had hoped we could resolve this peacefully…"

The quality of the elderly man's smile shifted slightly.

"Then let me be direct. By order of the Archbishop, I've come to retrieve Laura Avery. Would you be willing to hand her over?"

"—I refuse."

Rio was the first to step forward, sword at the ready.

This man was an enemy.

Certain of this, Rio had already entered combat stance.

"As I thought, that won't work… Then, this will get a bit rough, but—"

The elderly man cast off his cloak.

Beneath it were pitch-black priest's robes. The same as what Hunter had worn.

What he drew from his breast pocket was a worn scripture.

"Black Priest Sixth Rank, Wall. I will now execute my mission."

 

＊　＊　＊

 

It's begun.

I looked down at the battle from atop a small hill.

The elderly man who visited Riogren and the others—Wall—was a formidable opponent.

If this follows the original story, this battle will…

"HAAAAAH!"

Rio brought his sword down in a powerful overhead strike.

His attack, loaded with killing intent, carried enough force to make an enemy flinch.

Yet Wall showed no sign of readying a weapon.

All he held was the scripture in his left hand.

"'Sacred wall.'"

When Wall chanted and thrust his right hand forward, Riogren was sent flying as if hit by a car.

What he had collided with was 'Spatial Severance'—an invincible barrier born of Wall's Soullight.

The barrier that had blocked his attacks time and again was once more sending him flying.

"Tch…!"

However, Rio hadn't charged in recklessly.

From behind Wall, Gil thrust his dagger forward.

A two-stage attack using Rio as a decoy. The coordination between these two training partners was flawless.

Gil's dagger caught Wall's neck at the perfect moment.

—However, it didn't work on Wall. Just before the blade could pierce his neck, the dagger stopped as if pushed back by something.

Wall had two types of barriers.

Actively deployed barriers that crushed enemies.

And barriers that constantly enveloped his entire body for protection.

"Splendid coordination… but it is futile."

Wall thrust his right hand toward Gil behind him and unleashed an attack barrier.

Gil was sent flying just like Rio.

However, the assault wasn't over yet.

"'Obey my will and pierce my foe—Ice Arrow!'"

Fren's full-power magic was unleashed at Wall.

The ice arrows, powerful enough to easily pierce a human body, shattered without effect against Wall's barrier.

"Damn it… no openings anywhere is just cheating…!"

Gil spat curses at the utterly hopeless situation.

Having faced many powerful opponents until now—underworld figures included—even from Gil's perspective, Wall's power was in a class of its own.

Complete omnidirectional defense through forming 'Spatial Severance.'

Physical attacks were blocked, of course, and even Fren's magical attacks were completely blocked.

If even attacks from blind spots were blocked, assassination would be impossible.

"No matter how two or three of you coordinate your attacks, it is futile. Won't you give up already?"

"—Think so?"

However, the collapsed Gil grinned.

Behind Wall, who had just deployed an attack barrier, stood another Gil.

"Wh!?"

Gil's dagger thrust forward again.

Perhaps after deploying an attack barrier, his defensive barrier would weaken.

Gil bet on that possibility and played his trump card.

The origin of Gil's Soullight was resistance against authority.

His conception of 'resistance' was opposing the powerful through numbers.

A conclusion he'd reached through his resistance activities in the Federation.

In order to stand against the powerful who blocked his path, he had made it possible to create copies of himself.

"Hah!"

The dagger was about to sink into Wall's back—however, it was again stopped by a barrier.

"Tch… even that's not enough…!"

Gil's copy was sent flying by an attack barrier and vanished.

Rio's brute force didn't work. Gil's tactical surprise didn't work. Fren's full-power magic didn't work.

Wall still stood there without so much as a single wound.

"If only you had surrendered quietly… but it cannot be helped."

Wall, who had barely moved from his spot until now, slowly began to advance.

Rio and Gil slashed at him, Fren fired magic. However, none of it reached Wall.

Attack barriers came at them with even greater density than before.

"'Sacred wall, protect us.'"

To counter Wall's barriers, Laura also deployed a barrier.

However, she was too slow.

Wall's attacks were far faster than Laura could deploy her barrier.

"Ah…"

"Rio…!"

Unable to fully protect him, Rio was sent flying, and Laura let out a pained cry.

What filled her heart was the same sense of powerlessness as when they fought Hunter.

I'm dragging Rio into this, making him suffer.

Because I couldn't protect him, Rio is in pain.

When mental fortitude faltered, magical precision dropped with it.

Wall continued deploying attack barriers. Gil, forced into gradual retreat, was sent flying violently and finally stopped moving altogether.

Without Gil's support, Rio dropped to one knee.

With both frontliners down, Fren was next. Unfazed by her fierce magical counterattack, Wall took Fren down.

"… Now then. Pardon me, Miss Laura."

Wall stood before Laura.

When she glared back at him with sharp eyes, Wall let out a small sigh and struck Laura's stomach.

"Ugh, ah…"

A pain unlike anything Laura had ever felt assaulted her.

She thought her organs had exploded. Pain radiated from the center of her body to every corner, and her mind went blank.

For Laura, who usually stayed in the rear under Rio and the others' protection, this was a first.

This was the pain Rio and the others felt.

Surely, they had risen again and again even after experiencing pain like this countless times.

Laura felt ashamed of herself for acting like she'd been pulling her weight from the back lines.

In her fading consciousness, Laura felt her body being hoisted like luggage.

"Sto… p…"

Though his whole body trembled violently, Rio unsteadily rose to his feet.

The repeated impacts had dealt severe damage to his brain. His vision spun, and he felt like he'd collapse if he let his guard down for even a moment.

The pain in his abdomen was intense too. If he let his guard down, he might fall to his knees and retch.

Using his sword as a cane, he rose.

Protecting his dearest childhood friend.

Nothing could be more important than that.

"I'm… your opponent…"

"Unfortunately, it is my policy not to fight beyond my mission."

Wall's eyes narrowed briefly at Rio's pitiful state.

However, there was no hesitation in his steps as he carried Laura away.

"Ngh…"

Rio tried to pursue Wall but immediately collapsed on the spot.

Seeing this, Wall paused briefly.

"—Tomorrow at dawn. I will cross Daitron Bridge and head to the Holy Kingdom. If… if you absolutely cannot give up, we shall meet there. —However, if you appear before me again, I will kill you this time."

That was the mercy Wall granted the young man, in his own way.

As a servant of the Lord, Wall had never forgotten to show mercy, even to enemies.

If it ended like this, this young man surely couldn't forgive himself.

Battered and beaten though he was, his eyes still blazed with dazzling light.

And at the same time, it was an expression of Wall's absolute confidence that the young man could never defeat him.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

After the battle with Wall, the three dragged their bodies back to the inn.

Rio in particular, exhausted both mentally and physically, fell into sleep as if losing consciousness.

There, he had a dream.

It should have been a scene he'd never witnessed, yet it felt terribly familiar. In the dream, Rio was using his sword as a cane, trying to stand. Blocking his way was Wall, the formidable enemy he had fought that day.

"It's over… Your noble spirit is commendable. However, defeating me is impossible for you."

"Not… yet…"

His heart still wanted to fight. However, his body no longer responded.

His legs trembled, and his body's warmth was draining away.

"I… have to… Laura…"

Wall's figure blurred. Contrary to his will that burned like fire, his body grew colder and colder.

Until the very end, what filled Rio's mind were thoughts of the childhood friend he couldn't protect.

"—!?"

Waking from the nightmare, Rio felt terrible. His breathing was ragged, his heartbeat pounding.

It felt like he had just lived through what he feared most right now.

"—Riogren."

"B-Bloom…?"

"Mm."

He was startled to find someone who shouldn't be in his bedroom standing before him. Bloom was perched on the open window, looking his way.

For just a moment, he was captivated. Her slender frame seemed like it might melt into the darkness. Her silver hair swaying in the night breeze was fantastical, somehow lacking in reality.

Why would she, who had left them days ago, be here? Before he could voice such questions, Bloom began speaking one-sidedly.

"I heard a Black Priest came."

"… Yeah. And Laura was taken."

Why didn't you help us then? He nearly voiced such irrational anger, but Rio barely restrained himself.

Someone as strong as Bloom might have been able to do something about that situation.

However, she had no obligation to protect Laura, no reason to help Rio.

In the end, he was just trying to shift blame for his own weakness. Thinking that, his mood darkened further.

"Tomorrow, there's one last chance to get Laura back… But I don't feel like I can win. He's strong. I don't think I can beat him as I am now."

Voicing such weak words was pathetic. He couldn't even muster the energy to feel that way anymore—that's how depleted Rio was right now.

Even seeing Rio's state, Bloom's expression didn't change at all. She asked in a quiet voice.

"Have you given up?"

"—There's no way I have."

Though he'd been feeling weak, there was no hesitation in voicing those words.

"I'll do anything if it means not losing Laura. I'll never give up."

Hearing his words, Bloom smiled faintly.

A satisfied smile, with just a hint of admiration in it.

"Yes, that is the radiance of your soul, its very essence. 'Indomitable.' With that, you cannot lose to anyone."

"… Anyone?"

"Yes. Even if your opponent has an invincible barrier, even if they're an immortal vampire—your 'Indomitable' will always reach them. —No matter how many times you have to try, you will not give up."

Having said that much, Bloom leapt out the window as if her business was done.

"… Indomitable."

Those words lingered in Rio's heart with strange resonance.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

Having seen through the battle against Wall, I had grown somewhat anxious.

As they are now, they absolutely cannot beat Wall.

Because the cards they currently hold can't break through Wall's barrier.

If they have any chance of victory, it's the next battle.

The decisive battle at Daitron Bridge. In the original I know, they defeat Wall there.

However, there's no guarantee this world I'm observing will reach the same conclusion.

Souls Light Nobly explicitly states that parallel worlds exist.

A future where this world heads toward a bad ending and the last boss dominates everything is entirely possible.

"… No good. I really can't just do nothing after all."

I couldn't stay still any longer.

I decided not to intervene myself, yet here I am immediately breaking my own decision.

Well, a little push should be fine.

Laughing at my own indecisiveness, I headed toward the inn where Rio and the others were staying.

At night, no one should witness me. My destination was Rio's room at the inn.

I approached the inn under cover of darkness.

I quietly opened the window and swiftly slipped inside.

Rio, sleeping there, seemed to be having a nightmare. He was mumbling something as if in anguish.

"Riogren."

I called the name of the sleeping boy.

Only then did a certain fact dawn on me.

Wait, isn't what I'm doing right now just… being a suspicious person?

Suddenly appearing uninvited in someone's bedroom—in modern Japan, that'd mean getting reported to the police, absolutely no doubt about it.

Even though I've had some contact with Rio, I don't think I've earned enough trust for him to confide his private matters to me.

This is bad, this is bad… While I was internally panicking, Rio opened his eyes and looked at me.

"B-Bloom…?"

"Mm."

Hiding my panic, I answered Rio.

Rio, heavily fatigued, still seemed to have fuzzy consciousness.

Seeing that, I steeled my resolve.

I'll say everything I need to say before he comes to his senses.

Then I'll leave the moment I've said my piece. That's the only way to avoid the suspicious person route!

I immediately addressed Rio.

"I heard a Black Priest came."

"… Yeah. And Laura was taken."

He answered with frustration bleeding into his voice.

"Tomorrow, there's one last chance to get Laura back… But I don't feel like I can win. He's strong. I don't think I can beat him as I am now."

Seeing this vulnerable side of him, I asked quietly.

"Have you given up?"

"—There's no way I have."

Despite his hazy consciousness, his words were powerful.

"I'll do anything if it means not losing Laura. I'll never give up."

He was probably speaking without any exaggeration.

Riogren was a young man who could do anything for Laura.

He could abandon the hometown he'd always lived in, leave his parents behind, and stand against powerful enemies.

Hearing those words, I felt relieved.

He really was the protagonist of the story I knew.

A smile escaped me unbidden.

"Yes, that is the radiance of your soul, its very essence. 'Indomitable.' With that, you cannot lose to anyone."

"… Anyone?"

"Yes. Even if your opponent has an invincible barrier, even if they're an immortal vampire—your 'Indomitable' will always reach them. —No matter how many times you have to try, you will not give up."

"… Indomitable."

Well, that should be enough advice. It was only meant to be a little push anyway.

He would have reached this conclusion on his own.

… Now then, I've said what I wanted to say, so I'd better leave before someone reports me. Sayonara!

I hurried out through the window as quietly as possible.

 

＊　＊　＊

 

"I see. So 'White Fog Death' never showed herself until the end… hmm."

In the underground chamber of the Great Cathedral, the heart of the Vanguard Church.

Archbishop Milady was reviewing the combat report from Black Priest Wall.

Wall had engaged and defeated the adventurers Riogren, Fren, and Gil.

The victorious Wall had secured 'Time Reversal.'

He would spend the night at the church within the Empire and arrive at the Great Cathedral tomorrow.

Milady had predicted that the greatest obstacle in this mission would be 'White Fog Death'—Bloom.

A skilled assassin believed to have killed Hunter. Investigation had revealed that Bloom was near the bearer of 'Time Reversal.'

Having an unknown card in play was not preferable.

During the great war three hundred years ago, vampires had suffered greatly from humans' petty schemes.

'White Fog Death' had killed many criminals connected to the Vanguard Church.

She was undoubtedly hostile to the church.

Milady had also largely deduced her abilities.

This was possible only through over three hundred years of Soullight research combined with the Vanguard Church's intelligence network.

Bloom's power was probably a Soullight specialized in killing.

Likely the type that guaranteed death to whoever her blade cut. Knowing that, countermeasures could be devised.

"Wall's usual game—I'll make my move there."

Wall's game of giving his prey a second chance.

If 'White Fog Death' intended to stop the capture of 'Time Reversal,' that's when she'd act.

"The fact that she didn't show herself before Wall… means she's likely a bad match against 'Spatial Severance,' as I suspected. Being unable to exert power against inorganic matter is the weakness of Soullights that are fixated on 'killing.'"

She saw through the ability's weakness based on experience.

And devised a plan to definitively eliminate the uncertain element that was Bloom.

"In that case, there's only That which can kill 'White Fog Death.'"

Milady thought of the Thing stored in the depths of the underground chamber, an eerie smile spreading across her face.

It was humanity's ultimate weapon, one that had emerged during the great war three hundred years ago.

Back then, cornered humanity had performed the forbidden ritual of hero summoning.

The souls summoned from another world into this one all possessed unique powers.

What she'd use this time was an especially peculiar Soullight among them.

A power belonging to no form of magic Milady knew of.

If she had to put it into words, it was closest to summoning a familiar.

The grotesque weapon produced from that Soullight had killed many vampires who excelled in combat.

For Milady, even looking at it was unpleasant.

Plus, there was risk of it going berserk.

She had planned to leave it sealed after seizing it.

However, 'White Fog Death' was an uncertain element that hadn't existed for three hundred years.

To eliminate her, Milady would not be picky about methods.

"Heh heh… watching a killer be ground to dust by a heartless killing machine… How delightful."

Baring the fangs hidden deep in her mouth, she laughed wickedly.

—This was a development that did not exist in the 'original' that Bloom knew.

In the original she knew, the only assassin in this attack was Black Priest Sixth Rank Wall alone.

Milady's strategic shift, caused by the existence of 'White Fog Death.'

A second assassin that should not have existed.

A threat Bloom didn't know about was now being unleashed to kill her.