Rei Ao stood there with his arms crossed, watching them calmly, like he had all the time in the world.
Then, just as the silence stretched, he spoke:
"If you think this is getting too complicated—or you just want a clean, fast solution—I can step in."
"Making the darkness around you disappear quietly, or getting people to suddenly 'see the light'... it's easy."
For him, it was just a thought. Honestly, it took less effort than squashing a bug.
Emilia's eyes lit up for a moment.
With Rei Ao's power, she knew cleaning out the Church's corrupt inner circle would be as easy as snapping his fingers.
It was, without a doubt, the quickest and least painful option.
But that temptation passed in a heartbeat.
She looked up.
Her eyes swept across the ancient library filled with forbidden knowledge, then turned toward the Holy Capital outside, still glowing in the night with its sacred silhouette.
She thought of the people of Ente Isla—of the ordinary believers still devoted to the Great Law God, of the frontline clergy who might be deceived, or just struggling to survive in the darkness.
And then, she shook her head slowly.
"No, Rei Ao."
Her voice was clear, firm—full of resolve. The voice of a true Hero.
"Thank you. I believe in your strength—you really could end all this with ease. But..."
She drew in a breath, her eyes shining with a mix of ideals and maturity sharpened by experience.
"Ente Isla belongs to the people who live here."
"Its light and shadow, its order and chaos, its future... should be shaped, chosen, and carried by its own people."
Emilia had grown. She understood now: outside force could clear a path—but it couldn't build faith.
Real, lasting change would only come when people saw the Church for what it had become, when they understood where the darkness came from, and truly wanted something better.
Otherwise, take down one Olba today, and tomorrow, someone just like him would rise again in the same rotten system.
She looked at Emeralda and Crestia.
"We need to uncover the truth. We need to wake people up. What we need… is a transformation that starts from within."
"It might be harder. It might take longer. But only that kind of change can truly bring Ente Isla back from the ashes—and let the light of humanity shine pure again."
Emeralda and Crestia were quiet for a moment. Then, their surprise gave way to deep respect.
They both knew—this Hero had been through betrayal and suffering. But instead of breaking, she'd grown stronger, more determined.
Her vision had gone beyond vengeance or purging the bad. She was looking at the bigger picture.
"I completely agree, Hero-sama," said Crestia, hand to her chest in salute.
"The Audit Bureau exists to deliver justice—and that applies to the Church, too."
She was ready to bring down anyone who had twisted it from within.
"Count me in!" Emeralda nodded firmly, her emerald eyes burning with resolve.
"Don't underestimate the influence of the strongest mage. I've still got old friends inside the Church."
"I trust at least some of them still have a conscience. Even if it's a tough spot for them now, I believe they have the courage to speak up."
"Also—we'll need someone with real weight to take the lead."
Rei Ao looked at the three women, all with unshakable determination in their eyes. He smiled approvingly and gave a slight nod.
"Good. Since you've chosen this path, I'll respect it."
"When the time comes, I'll back you up however I can—just to make sure this revolution actually happens."
He was also their ace in the hole, their safety net.
"Backup?" Emeralda raised a brow.
"For example..."
Rei Ao's gaze shifted to Kamazuki Suzuno, his tone low and cryptic:
"Making sure key evidence doesn't... mysteriously vanish."
"Or..." he added, looking deeper into the library where invisible sealing formations hummed faintly—
"Helping certain rats keep their mouths shut."
Emeralda immediately understood—this was the kind of backup you didn't see, but could always count on. It made her feel a whole lot more confident.
"Alright then. First step."
Emeralda was already moving, voice crisp and focused.
"We need to find Albert. He's a spirit arts sage and has huge influence in the north—among the common folk and the reclusive clergy. His testimony could make or break this."
"And—he was one of Olba's direct victims."
At the mention of his name, worry flickered in Emilia's eyes.
Albert—the dark-skinned giant with golden eyes and white hair—had once fought beside her.
"He's imprisoned in the deepest part of the Inquisition," said Emeralda. "The Reflection Dungeon."
"The Reflection Dungeon?" Crestia frowned.
She was about to explain its brutal defenses and magical barriers—
But Rei Ao simply raised a hand and snapped his fingers.
Snap.
The sound echoed through the quiet library like a spark.
Right in front of them, the air shimmered like disturbed water.
Light twisted—and then, solid and real, a massive figure appeared out of thin air.
Albert Ende.
He looked exhausted.
The once steel-like frame was visibly leaner. His signature rough travel gear—made for mountain forests—was torn and battered.
But those piercing golden eyes were still razor-sharp. His calm, grounded presence hadn't changed at all.
He must've been deep in thought—or on high alert—just moments before.
Now, suddenly standing in this book-filled room, he instinctively dropped into a defensive stance, body tensed, eyes scanning his surroundings.
"Where... is this? Emilia? Emeralda?"
When his eyes found them, the tension on his face vanished—replaced by shock and disbelief.
His rugged face said it all:
He had no idea how he'd gone from a dark, damp cell to this place full of old books and quiet light—in the blink of an eye.
~~~
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