The capital of Lubelius was still in ruins.
What had once been a pristine holy city now looked like a battlefield.
Collapsed towers.
Cracked streets.
Entire districts reduced to piles of white stone and shattered marble.
And yet—
Life had already begun to return.
Priests and knights worked side by side clearing rubble.
Holy mages reconstructed damaged structures with careful spellwork.
Citizens carried timber, stone, and supplies through the streets.
It was slow work.
But it was work.
And the capital of the Western Holy Church would stand again.
Near the center of the reconstruction effort stood Hinata Sakaguchi.
Her usual immaculate armor was covered in dust.
Chunks of broken stone floated slowly in front of her as she guided them into place using precise magic control.
A damaged section of wall slowly rebuilt itself under her direction.
Several nearby knights paused their work to stare.
One of them finally spoke.
"…Captain."
Hinata didn't turn.
"Yes?"
The knight scratched the back of his head awkwardly.
"You… don't really have to do that."
Hinata placed the final stone carefully.
The wall settled into place with a low thud.
Only then did she glance back.
"Why not?"
The knight looked nervous.
"Well…"
"You're the commander of the Ten Great Saints."
Another knight stepped in.
"You should be supervising, not doing manual work."
Hinata wiped dust from her hands.
"I am supervising."
She gestured to the rebuilt wall.
"And working."
The knights exchanged glances.
A third voice joined the conversation.
Bacchus, one of the Saints, stepped closer.
"With respect, Captain…"
"You shouldn't need to help with something like this."
Hinata tilted her head slightly.
"…And why not?"
Bacchus hesitated.
"Well…"
"You're important."
Hinata stared at him silently.
Then she sighed.
"If the leader refuses to work…"
"Why would anyone else bother?"
No one had an answer.
Hinata turned back toward the rubble.
Stone fragments lifted into the air again.
Another damaged wall slowly began rebuilding itself.
She spoke quietly while working.
"This is our home."
Her voice remained calm.
"We protect it."
"We rebuild it."
"That is our responsibility."
The knights fell silent.
Nearby, Garde folded his arms.
"…She's not going to stop."
Bacchus sighed.
"Yeah."
Another Saint muttered,
"Stubborn as always."
Hinata ignored them.
Stone slid neatly into place.
Magic reinforced the structure.
The wall stood firm again.
For a moment…
The Saints simply watched the city around them.
Workers moving everywhere.
Citizens rebuilding their homes.
Children carrying tools much too large for them.
And yet—
Something about it all felt strange.
Bacchus frowned.
"…You know."
Hinata paused.
"What?"
Bacchus gestured toward the city.
"Considering what attacked us…"
He shook his head.
"It's strange."
Another Saint nodded.
"Yeah."
"That thing had enough power to wipe out the entire capital."
Garde frowned.
"But…"
He looked around.
"…there were no civilian deaths."
The group fell silent.
It was true.
Buildings had been destroyed.
The city had been devastated.
But somehow—
The civilian population had survived.
Bacchus rubbed his chin.
"Almost like…"
"…that Angel avoided them."
Another knight nodded slowly.
"It's possible."
The conversation turned toward Hinata.
She had been closest to the battle.
She would know.
Hinata remained silent for a moment.
Her eyes rested on the rebuilding city.
Then she spoke.
"…Maybe."
Bacchus frowned.
"You think it was intentional?"
Hinata didn't answer immediately.
Instead, she lifted another piece of broken stone and guided it carefully into place.
Finally—
She spoke.
"It doesn't matter."
Her voice remained calm.
"If that being truly intended to destroy the city…"
"…none of us would be standing here."
Silence followed.
No one argued.
Because they all knew it was true.
Hinata finished placing the final stone.
The rebuilt section of the street wall stood firm again.
She brushed dust from her gloves.
"…We should simply be thankful."
Bacchus nodded slowly.
"…Yeah."
Garde muttered quietly.
"That's one way to look at it."
The reconstruction continued.
Stone lifted.
Magic shimmered.
And slowly—
The holy capital began to heal.
A short distance away…
Someone had been watching.
Standing in the shadow of a partially collapsed cathedral was Roy Valentine.
He had observed the conversation quietly.
The rebuilding.
Hinata working alongside the others.
Roy nodded slightly to himself.
"…Still the same."
He stepped forward.
Approaching quietly.
Hinata noticed immediately.
Her eyes shifted toward him.
The other Saints stiffened slightly.
Roy stopped a few meters away.
"Commander Hinata."
Hinata straightened.
"Sir Roy."
Roy glanced briefly at the others.
Then back to Hinata.
"There is something you should know."
Hinata waited.
Roy spoke calmly.
"Lady Luminous Valentine wishes to meet with you."
The surrounding Saints stiffened.
A summons from Luminous herself was never casual.
Hinata didn't hesitate.
"I understand."
Roy nodded.
"She is waiting."
Hinata turned toward the Saints.
"Continue the reconstruction."
Bacchus nodded.
"Yes, Captain."
Hinata brushed the remaining dust from her coat.
Then stepped forward.
Roy turned and began walking.
Hinata followed.
---
The inner sanctum of Lubelius was quiet.
Unlike the streets outside, there was no sound of reconstruction here.
No hammering.
No chanting.
No movement.
Only silence.
Soft crimson light filtered through tall stained-glass windows, painting the marble chamber in shades of red and gold.
At the far end of the room sat Luminous Valentine upon an elegant throne.
Her posture was relaxed.
But her eyes were sharp.
Waiting.
The large doors opened.
Footsteps echoed softly across the marble floor.
Hinata Sakaguchi entered the chamber.
Her movements were calm and controlled as always.
She stopped several steps before the throne.
"Lady Luminous."
She bowed respectfully.
Luminous studied her silently for a moment.
Then she spoke.
"Sit."
She gestured toward the chair placed before her throne.
Hinata did not argue.
She moved forward and sat down.
For a moment neither of them spoke.
The tension between them was subtle but unmistakable.
Hinata broke the silence first.
"You wished to see me."
Her voice was calm.
Luminous's lips curved slightly.
"Yes."
Her eyes narrowed faintly.
"There is something I would like to ask you."
Hinata waited.
Luminous leaned forward slightly.
"Why did you lie to me?"
The question landed sharply.
Hinata blinked once.
"…Lie?"
Luminous's eyes sharpened.
"When you informed me you were preparing to confront a demon."
Her voice became colder.
"You conveniently failed to mention that demon was a Primordial."
Hinata froze.
Just for a moment.
A flicker of genuine surprise crossed her face.
'How does she know?'
Her mind worked quickly.
But she didn't show it.
She recovered almost immediately.
Hinata exhaled quietly.
"I did not lie."
Luminous raised an eyebrow.
"Oh?"
Hinata continued calmly.
"I simply did not mention that detail."
Luminous stared at her.
Then laughed quietly.
"You truly are unbelievable."
Her gaze hardened.
"A Primordial Demon."
"A named one."
"And you decided that information wasn't worth mentioning?"
Hinata met her gaze evenly.
"At the time…"
"…I intended to handle the situation personally."
Luminous's expression darkened.
"Yes."
"That much was obvious."
She stood from her throne.
Her heels echoed softly against the marble as she began pacing slowly.
"What exactly were you planning to accomplish?"
Hinata answered without hesitation.
"Eliminate the threat."
Luminous stopped walking.
Then she turned.
Her eyes locked onto Hinata.
"That 'threat' is far more dangerous than you understand."
Hinata frowned slightly.
But she did not interrupt.
Luminous continued.
"That demon is not something you should pursue."
Her voice carried authority.
"Let it go."
Hinata blinked.
"…What?"
Luminous crossed her arms.
"I am telling you to abandon this plan."
Hinata stared at her.
Then she spoke quietly.
"…Why?"
Luminous did not answer immediately.
Because she could not.
Guy had made that very clear.
The truth about Loki—
About the battle in the Jura Forest—
About the True Dragons—
None of that was meant to spread.
So instead—
Luminous spoke carefully.
"That demon is… abnormal."
Her eyes narrowed.
"Even among Primordials."
Luminous continued.
"If you pursue this fight…"
"…you will die."
Hinata remained quiet.
Then she shook her head slightly.
"I cannot do that."
Luminous's expression darkened.
"You cannot?"
Hinata met her gaze calmly.
"If that demon threatens humanity…"
"…then someone must confront him."
Luminous groaned quietly.
"You are unbelievably stubborn."
Hinata did not deny it.
She simply replied.
"It is my duty."
Silence followed.
Luminous stared at her for several seconds.
Then she sighed deeply.
"…Fine."
Hinata blinked.
Luminous waved her hand dismissively.
"If you insist on being reckless…"
"…then I will not stop you."
Hinata waited.
Luminous pointed a finger at her.
"But listen carefully."
Her voice lowered slightly.
"Do not die."
The words hung in the air.
Hinata blinked.
For a moment—
Her usual calm composure faltered slightly.
Then she nodded.
"…Understood."
She stood.
Hinata bowed slightly.
"Thank you for your concern."
Luminous scoffed.
"Do not misunderstand."
"I simply do not wish to train a replacement."
Hinata almost smiled.
Almost.
Then she turned and walked toward the doors.
Her footsteps echoed softly through the chamber.
The doors closed behind her.
Silence returned.
Luminous stood alone in the vast hall.
She slowly returned to her throne.
Sitting down again.
Her eyes drifted toward the distant skyline of Lubelius.
The damaged capital stretched across the horizon.
She exhaled slowly.
"That girl…"
Stubborn.
Just like always.
Luminous leaned back slightly.
Her expression softened faintly.
Then she muttered quietly to herself.
"…Hopefully…"
Her gaze drifted toward the far distance.
"…that nuisance is still sleeping when she tries something stupid."
---
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