"Hahaha, so tell me, Kamito—how on earth did something like this even happen?"
A white-haired woman sat behind her office desk, laughing heartily.
She was none other than the Headmistress of Areishia Spirit Academy—Greyworth Ciel Mais.
Just moments ago, she had received word that a spy from the Holy Nation had attempted to abduct one of the academy's students, and she had immediately stormed out in anger.
But when she arrived at the reported location, what she saw was something she could never have imagined.
Kamito had pinned one of the academy's students—Claire Rouge—beneath him, looking as though he was about to commit an indecent act. The scene left her speechless, and she quickly rushed to clear up the misunderstanding.
"That's what I should be asking you, you old hag!" Kamito snapped, glaring at her in exasperation.
"Why has such a large-scale battle broken out near the academy? Isn't the Empire doing anything about it?"
His words made Greyworth raise an eyebrow. "You don't know? Then how did you even get here?" she asked, frowning.
"Didn't you hear anything about what's going on while traveling here?"
"I took forest paths the whole way. Forget rumors—I barely even saw another living person!"
"I see…" Greyworth sighed. "Then it's no wonder you don't know."
"What exactly happened?" Kamito pressed again. Given the situation, he could already guess something was very wrong, but he wanted to hear it directly from Greyworth.
"The Ordesia Empire has fallen."
"What?" Kamito's eyes widened in disbelief. The Ordesia Empire… destroyed? What could have possibly caused that?
"Who could destroy an entire nation?"
"A few days ago, the Holy Nation's upper ranks must have lost their minds," Greyworth began explaining. "Without any prior warning, they suddenly declared war on every surrounding country."
"Just recently, the Ordesian royal palace was attacked by the Holy Nation's army and their summoned magic spirits. The palace was completely obliterated, and of the royal family… only a single princess survived."
"What? Why would the Holy Nation do such a thing?"
"Who knows!" Greyworth waved her hand dismissively. "If I knew that, I'd have left long ago."
"If the Ordesia Empire has already been destroyed, then why are you still here?" Kamito asked, confused.
"Don't be stupid!"
"If I could escape, I would've done it already!"
"It's because we can't escape that we have to stay here!"
Somehow, the Holy Nation's army had completely surrounded the empire, with powerful individuals among their ranks.
"You must've entered their encirclement without realizing it. Probably because you took the forest route, you weren't detected."
The situation was dire. Areishia Spirit Academy had become the last refuge of the Ordesia Empire—the final bastion of resistance.
The Holy Nation had no intention of letting them live, so Greyworth had no choice but to lead her remaining students in a desperate defense.
Perhaps because the Holy Nation wasn't focusing all their might on a single academy, their casualties had remained relatively low so far.
"So you're saying… we're all just waiting to die here?" Kamito clenched his fists and slammed them against the desk, his expression dark.
"Not necessarily," Greyworth replied calmly. "I've been Headmistress here long enough to have a few secret tunnels prepared."
"In that case, why didn't you use them earlier?!" Kamito demanded.
Greyworth sighed helplessly. "Because the exit is still within their encirclement. I need to wait until they tighten the perimeter before it's safe to escape through the tunnel."
"…Damn it," Kamito muttered under his breath.
"Damn those Holy Nation bastards."
"In that case," Greyworth said, rising from her chair, "we'd better get ready to move. By my estimate, they'll be closing the circle soon."
...
The Holy Capital.
This was the Holy Nation's capital—and also the birthplace of Saintess Areishia.
Within the royal palace, the Sacred Queen sat upon her throne, inquiring about the current situation.
"How is that matter progressing?"
"Yes, we have confirmed that Greyworth previously sent a letter to a young human male. He has now arrived at Areishia Spirit Academy."
"As expected, that person should be the reincarnation of her power. We've already tracked his movements."
The one who spoke quietly was a girl dressed in pure white holy robes. She had long golden hair and wore an eyepatch over her left eye—a seemingly young and lovely girl.
But in truth, she was the spirit who carried within her the darkness of another world—Millennia Sanctus.
"Well done, Est," said the Sacred Queen in a tone brimming with benevolence.
However, if outsiders were to hear how the Sacred Queen addressed Millennia, they would surely be shocked.
"Continue monitoring the situation at Areishia Spirit Academy. Do not make any mistakes."
"Yes, Your Majesty."
The Sacred Queen rose from her throne and gazed up at the palace's ceiling.
Carved into the great dome above was a relief depicting the Five Elemental Lords.
"This world is overflowing with sorrow—all of it rooted in the original sin committed seven thousand years ago…"
"This time, I shall ascend to a higher plane of existence—and correct this twisted world!"
"Hm?"
As she gazed into the distance, a strange sensation reached her from the outside world, causing her to pause mid-motion.
"So, an Elemental Lord has already been slain? How swift indeed."
"If the Elemental Lords were still alive, opening the Gate to the Otherworld would have been far more troublesome. But now… things are different."
A sphere of white light appeared in the Sacred Queen's palm. She looked at it with eyes filled with madness.
"I have already obtained power far greater than before!"
"To open the gate, all that remains is to gather enough sacrifices!"
"Est!" The Sacred Queen looked down at Millennia, who knelt respectfully before her. "Mobilize every army of the Holy Nation! Eradicate every nation in this world as swiftly as possible!"
"Also, recall all your bodies."
Millennia Sanctus, the Cardinal of the Holy Nation, possessed four bodies in total.
She was neither spirit nor human.
She was a being born from the fusion of the fragments of the Holy Sword that once slew the Demon King with an Angel—four bodies sharing a single mind, yet capable of acting independently.
The darkness of the Otherworld was sealed within her, allowing her to serve as both a gate for summoning celestial beings and as a divine spirit weapon.
In other words, Millennia could become the Sacred Queen's very sword.
"Est, you will accompany me to Areishia Spirit Academy."
"Since he bears the reincarnated power of an old friend, I shall be the one to deal with him personally."