Published: January 24, 2026
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While Orun and Oswell were locked in battle, Fuuka, who had effortlessly defeated the black dragon, stepped into the malfunctioning dungeon.
Glancing over the hills where the ground had collapsed, creating a huge hole seemingly opening up to the sky, Fuuka began to walk straight ahead without hesitation.
Ahead of her, hiding and resting their bodies, were Ruella and Frederick.
“…We’ve been found by the worst possible opponent,” Ruella whispered weakly upon seeing Fuuka appear before them.
“Long time no see. You’re ready to die, right?” Fuuka spoke calmly, gripping the sword sheathed at her side with her left hand.
Even if Ruella and Frederick were in perfect condition, Fuuka would come out on top in a head-on fight.
The two, exhausted as they were, were no match for her.
“…I know I’m asking for too much. But please, just listen. We’ll tell you everything we know. So please, spare only my life. Let Fred go.”
“What are you saying, Big Sister?! If any of us survive, it should be you, not me! Please, kill me instead of Big Sister!”
“Don’t be ridiculous—!”
As the siblings argued over who would become the sacrifice, a slash cut through the space between them.
The tree behind them split vertically from the strike.
“Why are you talking about sparing one of you?”
Fuuka, the one who cut the tree, sheathed her sword and directed her killing intent at the two before continuing.
“At the thanksgiving festival in Tsutolairu a year ago, if you hadn’t interfered with me then, I could have taken down Philly Carpenter. If that had happened, the situation would have changed drastically. Do you understand that what you did is a problem too serious to overlook?”
“…Yes. I understand. If Philly had died then, even within the range I can see, the war between the Empire and the Kingdom wouldn’t have started this soon, and the power balance within the cult would have shifted significantly. We fully understand that our sins are not light.”
Sensing that Fuuka had no intention of sparing either of them, Ruella answered her question.
Ruella and Frederick showed expressions of resignation and accepted their own deaths.
“I see. If you understand, that makes things simpler. At least, I’ll kill you quickly without suffering.”
Saying this, Fuuka drew her sword and placed her right hand on the hilt.
“I’m sorry, Caroline…”
With a single tear, Ruella whispered an apology for not being able to fulfill her promise of reunion to her younger sister as the blade approached her neck―――.
“……W-why……”
Ruella noticed that Fuuka’s sword stopped just after cutting through the thin skin at her neck and let out a confused voice.
Fuuka withdrew the sword from Ruella’s neck, shook off the blood slightly smeared on the blade, then sheathed it.
“Normally, I definitely would have killed you. But given the circumstances now, I’m not in a position to decide your fate. That will be decided tomorrow. So for today, stay still and make sure no one finds you.”
Fuuka explained why she was sparing them, but neither Ruella nor Frederick understood the reason and still wore confused expressions.
Ignoring the two, Fuuka was about to turn on her heel when, as if remembering something, she called out to them again.
“…I’m sure you know this, but don’t think you can escape from us. You’re free to move within Count Claudel’s territory, but the moment you leave it, I’ll kill you.”
“...So basically, until the Sword Princess comes to see us tomorrow, we’re supposed to hide somewhere inside this territory?”
Frederick, still confused, confirmed Fuuka’s demands.
“Yeah. That’s right. Focus on recovering your strength today. You might need to work as soon as tomorrow.”
Having conveyed everything she needed to say, Fuuka finally turned and started walking toward the dungeon entrance.
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When I approached the dungeon after hearing Fuuka’s location from Mr. Haruto, I arrived just in time to see her coming out of the dungeon.