"————!"
When those two figures appeared before everyone without any warning, Avrora drew a sharp breath, and Yukina immediately pulled out Sekkaro from her guitar case, unfolding it and pointing it forward.
Only Rozen stood there motionless, his gaze fixed ahead, looking at the two individuals.
The two who had appeared were, in a certain sense, not unfamiliar faces.
"Apologies for meeting you like this. If possible, I would have preferred a setting where both sides could sit down calmly and have a proper conversation."
The one who said this appeared to be in his forties, giving off an air of cultured sophistication like an artist. Despite the hostile circumstances, he released not the slightest bit of animosity, instead remaining calm and composed—a middle-aged man.
Rozen immediately discerned the man's identity.
Just as Natsuki-nee had said, the features were distinct—anyone who saw him would instantly recognize him.
Not only Rozen, but even Yukina instantly identified him.
"Senga Takehito..."
Yukina's tense voice rang out.
Indeed, the man was Senga Takehito.
Next to Senga Takehito stood a small-statured girl with exotic features, as beautiful as a fairy, dressed in an unusual style.
"Hey there, have you eaten dinner yet?"
The girl greeted them in the tone of a neighbor met on the street, her face relaxed, as if it truly were just a casual encounter—showing not the slightest tension.
However, upon seeing the girl with her somewhat silly air, even if Yukina remained calm, Avrora's lips trembled slightly.
Even Rozen's gaze immediately turned toward her, locking onto that familiar, exquisitely pretty face, and he let out a sigh.
"As I thought..."
Rozen muttered softly.
Now, he was absolutely certain.
There was indeed someone within Tartarus Lapse with ties to Rozen and Avrora.
The girl was also observing Rozen and Avrora, paying particular attention to Avrora—gazing at her several times before finally smiling, relieved.
"From the looks of it, you've fully settled into life on this island. I'm truly happy for you, Avrora."
With a face almost indistinguishable from Avrora's, the girl said this gently.
It wasn't a façade.
The girl truly felt relieved about Avrora's current state—and genuinely happy for her.
"You..."
Avrora tried to say something but was interrupted.
"I'm December," the girl said warmly. "Just like you, I've been given a name, Avrora."
That one sentence left Avrora at a loss for words.
Rozen was also deep in thought.
Because this girl calling herself December was completely different from others of her type whom Rozen had encountered until now.
She didn't see herself as an emotionless weapon, nor did she accept or despair over her fate. Instead, she behaved like an ordinary girl—with joy, anger, sorrow, and thoughts of her own. And yet, for some reason, her presence felt strangely faint.
This left Rozen momentarily unable to grasp what exactly motivated her actions.
The only thing Rozen could be certain of was—
"You're the masterminds behind Tartarus Lapse, aren't you?"
Rozen stated firmly.
And the others didn't deny it.
"You're Natsuki's little brother, right?" Senga Takehito looked at Rozen like he was looking at an old acquaintance, squinting fondly. "I can feel Natsuki's aura from you. It seems she put a lot of effort into raising you well."
As Natsuki's mentor, Senga Takehito could see something in Rozen.
But he didn't dwell too long on the past.
"This is our first time meeting, yet we're forced to be enemies. It's truly regrettable." Senga Takehito looked directly at Rozen and said, "But I hope you won't interfere. This is for the sake of humanity."
Senga Takehito actually said such a thing.
"For the sake of humanity?" Rozen laughed. "Are you trying to say destroying Itogami Island is to save the world?"
That was a laughable claim.
However, Senga Takehito nodded with surprising seriousness.
"The very existence of Itogami Island is a mistake—just like the former Iruwas Demon Sanctuary."
Those words left everyone stunned.
"You're saying Iruwas Demon Sanctuary was a mistake?"
Yukina's eyes flickered.
But Senga Takehito didn't retract his statement.
"Let me give an example."
Senga Takehito began.
"In Tartarus Lapse, there's a child. He's an artificial lifeform, but also a Hyper Adapter, possessing the ability to use flame-based powers. His name is Rogi."
Saying this, Senga Takehito's tone held no pride or admiration—only scorn.
"He was created as a military experimental artificial lifeform designed to wield flame powers. You know what that implies, don't you?"
What does it imply?
That much was obvious.
According to the Sanctuary Treaty, artificial lifeforms have already been granted quasi-Demon rights. Military human modification is a severe treaty violation—an international crime.
If someone like Rogi existed, that could only mean: illegal human experimentation.
"Six years ago, this was exposed, and Rogi was nearly disposed of. It was December who saved him—in what was once the Iruwas Demon Sanctuary."
The implication in Senga Takehito's words was clear.
He was saying the Iruwas Demon Sanctuary was not a proper sanctuary—but a hell filled with illegal experiments.
"The rest of our children have similar backgrounds. All were born from darkness and corruption within Demon Sanctuaries. Only through Tartarus Lapse's salvation did they gain new lives."
Senga Takehito looked at Rozen with direct sincerity.
"Now you should understand the meaning behind Tartarus Lapse's existence."
Why is Tartarus Lapse a destroyer of Demon Sanctuaries?
The reason was simple.
Because they reject them.
They reject the sanctuaries that, under the guise of coexistence with Demons, secretly use both Demons and humans in illegal research and experiments.
This time was no different.
"Among all the Demon Sanctuaries we know, Itogami Island is among the worst. If we allow it to continue existing, it will inevitably bring suffering and disaster to many. So we must destroy it."
Senga Takehito spread his arms, as if to display the evil of the island itself, and declared loudly:
"After all, this place is the altar for resurrecting the God of Sin Cain."
At those words, the temperature in the air plummeted, turning icy cold.