After the earlier chaos died down, the conversation turned to the two other Fairy Knights mentioned by Melusine—Gawain (Barghest) and Tristan (Baobhan Sith).
"If they're your colleagues, Lan-chan, they must be pretty powerful too, right?"
Nia's casual question was laced with curiosity.
Kotori leaned in subtly, paying close attention to what Melusine was about to say. In her view, these so-called Gawain and Tristan were likely Spirits too. Judging by Melusine's tone, it seemed they were also in love with that mysterious Master. Even if they couldn't be "sealed" like regular Spirits, it was still important to understand their personalities and abilities—just in case they ever crossed paths.
"Gawain isn't quite as strong as I am, but at high noon, her combat abilities get a significant boost. As for Tristan…"
Melusine's expression grew complicated as she spoke the second name.
"Though she's also a Fairy Knight, Tristan is… weak. For Gawain and myself, Her Majesty Morgan's naming was a restraint. If we were to discard those bestowed names, we would become far more powerful than we are now. But… we would no longer be who we are."
She paused, then continued.
"Tristan was different. She was weak—perhaps the weakest of all the fae before she received her name. So to her, 'Tristan' wasn't a restraint—it was a strengthening."
"Unlike Gawain and me, who were chosen because of our existing strength, Tristan… she was adopted by Her Majesty Morgan."
Learning that Barghest was Morgan's daughter elicited some surprise—but not shock.
After all, they kept hearing names like Morgan, Lancelot, and Gawain—legendary figures from myth. But by now, they understood these weren't literally the same people. At most, they shared names and some surface-level parallels.
They'd stopped thinking of them as Arthurian figures and started treating them as entirely separate individuals. Honestly, the only ones who even understood the original legends were Shidou, Origami, and Nia. Someone like Tohka? She was just here for the vibes—and didn't get most of those either.
Melusine wasn't planning to reveal everything—not the full truth of the Fairy Kingdom.
And so, a little embellishment here and there was unavoidable.
"There was this one time on Valentine's Day, when Her Majesty suddenly asked us to describe what it felt like to fall in love for the first time…"
"I still remember what Gawain said: 'What does it feel like to fall in love? Probably something like—oh no, oh no, I'm about to get hungry again…' or something along those lines."
"Honestly, I understand her pain. I sympathize with her experience. But… I really do worry that one day she won't be able to hold back and will just gobble Master down—bite by bite."
"And then there's Tristan. She told Her Majesty, 'I want to completely ruin the other person, break them like a doll, leave them helpless, and make them scream in despair and fear.' Or something like that. We've long known Tristan is beyond help, but the fact she said it with a smile… it's honestly impressive."
"I might not have the right to interfere in Master's love life, but—! I absolutely won't hand her over to those two lunatics. I'll protect the one I love until the very end. Master belongs to me to protect!"
Everyone's first reaction upon hearing this was:
…Why do I suddenly feel sorry for this Master person?
And the second:
Is there anyone normal among the Fairy Knights?!
"Suddenly, I feel like Her Majesty Morgan is incredible… managing to rein in you three ticking time bombs."
Nia said this with unfiltered awe.
"Her Majesty's strength is unquestionable. She's a true genius. The kind of magic that humans wield and we fae sneer at? In her hands, it becomes something entirely different—she can manipulate time and space, reshape reality, bend the world to her will. And she has special effectiveness against all fae. We Fairy Knights are especially vulnerable to her attacks..."
"What's truly terrifying, though, is how Her Majesty twisted the logic of her abilities. With the reasoning that 'any seductive little fae that dares approach the queen deserves to be executed on the spot,' she evolved her anti-fae skills into anti-everything. Honestly, the sheer audacity—maybe that's why she was summoned as a Berserker?"
Wait… you can weaponize anti-fae logic like that?!
...
As the sun dipped westward and stars began to twinkle into view,
The light in the sky didn't flow like rivers—it wasn't starlight, but the glow of humanity.
Streetlamps, windowpanes, headlights, shop signs. Light woven by people, not the cosmos.
High above the city, on a remote overlook, Melusine stood gazing out at the glittering sea of lights. Her golden eyes shimmered like a dawn on the verge of blooming.
"She's not here yet?"
At her side, Tobiichi Origami, rarely so visibly anxious, shifted with a furrowed brow.
She was clad in the latest Realizer Unit developed by Ratatoskr, and thanks to her training under Melusine, she now possessed combat strength on par with a Spirit at full power—Yatogami Tohka included.
As soon as she confirmed that, Origami had made up her mind.
She was going back—back to five years ago.
She couldn't wait another second.
"I already sent one of Kurumi's clones to notify her real self…"
Melusine's gaze flicked toward Origami.
"Calm yourself, Origami. Let your hatred fuel your strength—but don't let it cloud your mind. If you lose control, I'll stop you from going. A mind ruled by rage stands no chance of success."
"…Understood, Sensei."
Her teacher's reminder snapped Origami back to awareness. Using techniques Melusine had drilled into her, she quickly regained composure.
She didn't suppress her hatred—she channeled it. Melusine had taught her well: hatred, too, could be a weapon.
And if she wanted to defeat a Spirit with a human body, she couldn't afford to waste any weapon.
Suddenly, both she and Melusine turned their eyes in the same direction, as if responding to an unseen pulse.
"Ufufufufufufu…"
From the roiling shadow, she emerged—her entrance heralded by a spectral soundtrack all her own.
"Everyone's here now, it seems. Looks like… I'm the one who's late."
She wore a dress of blood-red and void-black. Her porcelain skin contrasted sharply with her uneven twin tails of midnight hair.
Tokisaki Kurumi had arrived.
Melusine didn't speak right away. Instead, she arched a brow and glanced toward the shadows beneath Kurumi's feet.
She wondered… Did Kurumi always bring a clone along to play saxophone in her shadow, just to give herself entrance music?
"Let's skip the pointless theatrics."
Origami stepped forward, already geared and impatient.
"Let's get on with it. Like we agreed—send me back. To August 3rd. Five years ago."
The moment she spoke, Kurumi's eyes sharpened, and her smile twisted into something more unreadable.
"Lancelot-san… Did you really tell Miss Origami what kind of blasphemy we're about to commit?"
Her gaze shifted to Melusine, subtly accusatory.
"If gods truly exist in this world, then surely they would strike us down for this attempt to overwrite the fabric of time."
Kurumi's words drew a flicker of surprise from Melusine.
Silence stretched.
Then Melusine spoke, her voice calm—too calm, unsettlingly calm.
"If the gods truly descend to punish us… Master would probably find that quite troublesome."
"And if it comes to that… then I'll simply kill them."
Kurumi's smile evaporated. She stared in stunned silence at Melusine's utterly composed face.
"…Goodness gracious."
She sighed and turned toward Origami, her eyes suddenly soft.
"With Lancelot-san protecting you… I must admit, I'm a little envious."
Origami didn't reply, but she understood what Kurumi meant.
Once, Melusine had stood on the enemy side—her strength a hopeless chasm that crushed all resistance. But now, with that strength fighting for her…
That same despair had become security.
Even if they were up against gods—with Melusine, victory felt possible.
"Well, I imagine you've grown tired of my face by now, so… let's begin."
Kurumi spun theatrically, pinching the hem of her skirt with one hand and bowing deeply.
"Come now—Zafkiel."
At her call, a massive, ancient clock rose from the shadows at her feet.
She raised her flintlock pistol toward the sky and tapped her feet like a dancer.
The shadows beneath her expanded, spreading outward—reaching even to Melusine's feet.
"Now then, Lancelot-san… your time and your mana—I'll be taking them."
City of Devouring Time.
By expanding her shadow, Kurumi could absorb time (lifespan) and mana from anyone standing on it.
Her time-manipulation powers made her one of the most broken Spirits in existence. Each Roman numeral on Zafkiel's face represented a different ability. Its only weaknesses were its lack of offensive power and the fact that activating it cost her own life.
There was once a protagonist in another story who gained a Spirit's ability with each world he visited. The very first he acquired was Kurumi's.
He hated it.
Because unlike Kurumi, he didn't get the passive skill City of Devouring Time. Using her powers cost his lifespan, and a few shots could practically kill him.
"If you want to back out, now's your last chance~"
Kurumi's voice was sweet but laced with menace—like a devil making a deal.
"I'm not exactly known for being trustworthy. They do call me the Worst Spirit. Who knows? I might just drain you dry and break our little deal~"
Origami tensed, her body alert, eyes locked on Kurumi.
"You won't."
Melusine's calm voice cut through the tension, and Origami stopped short.
"Oh?"
Kurumi touched the barrel of her pistol to her lips, smiling seductively. "You trust me that much, Lancelot-san?"
"Don't misunderstand. Aside from Master, I trust no one."
Melusine met her eyes, unwavering. "I trust in my own strength. If you think you can drain me dry, you're welcome to try. But you won't succeed."
Kurumi's smile twitched.
"Such bold words…"
But Melusine didn't respond. Her silence said everything—Believe what you want. I've spoken the truth.
Kurumi seethed inwardly.
How is someone this pretty so damn frustrating to talk to?! It's like every conversation ends with me looking like an idiot! Next time I see her, I swear I'm keeping my mouth shut… If I ramble again, I'm a dog!
Through City of Devouring Time, Kurumi swiftly absorbed enough mana from Melusine to cover the "fare" for the journey.
And despite it all, Melusine showed no visible reaction.
Kurumi stared at her as if she were a monster, finally giving up on any tricks.
"[Zafkiel—Twelfth Bullet]!"
From the top of the clock—at the twelve o'clock mark—inky darkness surged into Kurumi's flintlock, loading the bullet.
The rifle trembled violently in her hands, filled with ultra-high-density mana.
It felt as though an invisible will was resisting her. A power that defied time itself. As if she now held in her hands a force that violated divine law.
Kurumi grinned, her aim steady, barrel pointed at Origami.
Show me, Origami… You, who found that method in the moment of drowning—what kind of path will you carve? What kind of end will you reach?
She pulled the trigger.
The black bullet fired.
Origami didn't dodge. It struck her square in the chest—and in the next instant, her entire body seemed to unravel, pulled into the spatial distortion the bullet created.
"…Phew."
Kurumi slowly lowered her pistol as the night wind blew across the spot where Origami had stood.
"She's been sent back to five years ago?"
"That's the theory… Though I've never fired the Twelfth Bullet before, so there might be some slight… drift."
Suppressing the thrill in her chest, Kurumi smiled again and turned toward Melusine.
"Now then… it's your turn. Hold still—if I miss, things could get messy."
She raised her pistol once more, aiming squarely between Melusine's eyes.
"No need."
"…What?"
Kurumi's eyes narrowed in disbelief.
"You're… not going with Origami?"
"That's not what I meant. But there's no time to explain. If I don't move now… the path will vanish."
She pressed two fingers to her forehead and casually waved her left hand toward Kurumi.
No time for explanations. Her voice was calm.
"Farewell."
In the next instant, Melusine dissolved into a trail of light and vanished before Kurumi's eyes.
Kurumi froze, stunned.
Because—at the very moment Melusine disappeared—Kurumi had felt it.
A surge of time energy.
As the Spirit of Time, she could not mistake that sensation.
"Lancelot… Just what are you…?"
She whispered into the night wind, her voice swallowed by the dark.