"Haha! We won!"
"I... I'm still alive! I actually survived!"
"I didn't die—haha! I'm going to be one of the founding heroes of the new nation!"
As the Supreme Teigu collapsed, the remaining allied soldiers erupted in celebration. Some shouted in triumph, some wept with joy, and others were practically delirious—already lost in dreams of their glorious future.
"Well done. You all did great."
When Tatsumi and the others returned, Najenda gave each of them a firm pat on the shoulder, her face beaming.
"Now all that's left is the Security Minister. Once he's taken down, we can build our new country."
Her gaze turned toward the direction of Haruki's estate. Just like before, the golden barrier still shimmered above it, unbroken and undiminished.
There was a flicker in Najenda's eyes, but the deep anxiety she once held had faded. The defeat of the Supreme Teigu, the Imperial Guardian [Shikoutazer], had given her new confidence.
...
Shortly after the fall of the Supreme Teigu, several key figures of the Revolutionary Army emerged from the rear of the forces, including the High Priest of the Path of Peace and generals from the Western tribes. Surrounded by layers of guards, they made their way forward. During the assault on the capital and the palace, all of them had remained at the command post some distance from the front lines.
They had only come out now after hearing confirmation that the palace had been fully secured and the massive Teigu had been brought down.
Behind them, surviving soldiers from the allied army began to regroup. It looked like the upper brass was preparing to review the troops. After the brutal campaign, fewer than 200,000 soldiers remained.
Still, gathered within the crumbling Royal Palace, with the shattered Supreme Teigu lying nearby, the scene carried a tragic sort of grandeur.
...
"Heh. Already planning your victory party, are you?"
The taunting voice echoed from above, cutting through the crowd.
Everyone instinctively looked up—and there, under their stunned gazes, two massive snow-white figures descended from the sky, halting just a few dozen feet above the ground.
The speaker finally revealed himself—it was Haruki.
He hovered above them, gazing down at the disheveled yet starry-eyed soldiers, and the flushed, high-ranking officers of the allied army.
By his side were several young women—his close companions. They'd grown too restless to sit still any longer, so Haruki had brought them along to watch the unfolding spectacle.
As for what they were riding, it wasn't ordinary mounts. They were the two Ice Phoenixes—Super-Class Danger Beasts that Esdeath had once brought back while conquering the Northern tribes, alongside Gin. These creatures had originally been part of Yuki's clan, and one of them was now the tribe's leader.
...
"Security Minister, what do you think you're doing? Can't you see? The Empire has fallen. It's only a matter of time before a new nation rises. Continuing this fight is completely pointless!"
The moment she saw Haruki appear, Najenda's entire body tensed. She had hoped to deal with him after everything else had been settled—but he had chosen this exact moment to arrive.
And now, with nearly all the Revolutionary Army's top brass gathered here, any misstep could lead to a catastrophe.
"Yo, Najenda. It's been years, and you're still just as long-winded. Looks like losing an eye and an arm back then wasn't enough to teach you a lesson."
Before Haruki could even respond, a voice dripping with arrogance and mockery came from beside him—it was Esdeath. A moment ago, everyone had been so focused on Haruki that they'd completely overlooked her presence.
"Oh no... it's Esdeath!"
"Damn it! How is that demon still alive? Why didn't we see her earlier?!"
The moment Esdeath appeared, chaos erupted among the allied forces. Her last stand, where she annihilated nearly 100,000 soldiers with a single Ice Cavalry strike during her retreat, was still seared into their memories. Some had even felt lucky not to encounter her during this battle—but now, her sudden appearance shattered that fragile relief like glass.
"What?! Esdeath?! Why are you with the Security Minister? Why didn't I see you before?!"
Najenda had also been secretly relieved not to see Esdeath during the siege. The battle years ago, where Esdeath slaughtered her subordinates and left her crippled—taking her eye and arm—had left a scar that never truly healed.
Given Esdeath's nature, Najenda had assumed she would never miss out on something like a full-scale war. So if she hadn't shown up, she must not have been in the city. That was the logic.
Now, seeing her here, Najenda couldn't hide her shock and blurted out the question.
"Hah. I've been here the whole time. And as for why I'm with Haruki—what's so hard to understand? I'm with my man. Simple as that."
Esdeath's casual response dropped like a bombshell, stunning everyone present. After all, both she and Haruki had been among the Empire's most powerful figures, each commanding their own military forces. Normally, no one—neither the Prime Minister nor the young emperor—would've allowed the two of them to join forces.
Not to mention, intelligence had always labeled Esdeath as one of the deadliest warriors alive, and Haruki was known as a top-tier powerhouse. The Revolutionary Army had even classified him as a Super-Class Threat. Now that they were standing together, the threat level they posed to the allied forces was unimaginable.
"Damn it! What are you trying to do?! Don't you realize the Empire has fallen?! A new nation is about to rise—and the people will finally get to live in peace!"
Najenda's voice trembled with fury.
"Oh? Who said the Empire is finished? Can't you see the emperor is still alive?"
Haruki's tone was calm, but the words made everyone freeze.
"Huh?"
The moment he spoke, everyone—Night Raid, the allied commanders, all of them—turned to follow his gaze.
The shattered remains of the Supreme Teigu began to fade. In its place stood a boy, maybe sixteen or seventeen years old, dressed in imperial robes, his green hair tousled and messy.
It was the young emperor.
Despite the earlier battle, he hadn't died. He wasn't even injured. He had simply remained hidden inside the Supreme Teigu, unnoticed by the Revolutionary Army.
Now, seeing Haruki, the young emperor rushed forward.
"Lord Haruki... it was my failure. I couldn't protect the Empire."