Kondo, Yina, and Yirina all looked up at the sky.
As their gazes followed the same direction, they spotted a lone figure dressed in black, standing atop something suspended high in the air.
The man was standing on the Purification Box Dolt had left floating above the battlefield. Leaning forward slightly, he examined it before muttering,
"A Purification Box... but this one feels different."
Keeping both hands tucked inside his pockets, he adjusted his footing.
Then he jumped.
A moment later, he landed right back on top of the box.
BOOM!
The instant his feet touched it, the entire box exploded into countless fragments.
Everyone's attention snapped toward the blast.
Kim stared at her own hands before smiling with relief.
"Looks like... someone destroyed the box."
All eyes remained fixed on the explosion.
The man in black descended from the smoke and landed gracefully on the ground.
Now everyone could finally see him clearly.
He wore a long black duster coat that reached all the way to his ankles. Across his chest was a crimson emblem of two swords crossed together. A hood concealed most of his face, casting it in shadow.
A white-sheathed sword rested at his waist. Its hilt was beautifully crafted, decorated with patterns resembling rays of light, while the circular guard looked almost identical to the sun itself.
His gaze shifted toward Yina and Yirina... then settled on Kondo, trapped between them.
"So," he said calmly, "demons have started using their strength against children now. Have demons fallen so low that they need kids to fight their battles?"
Yina's expression darkened instantly.
"And who are you to lecture us?" she snapped. "More importantly... who are you?"
The man smiled faintly before pulling back his hood.
"Thank you for asking."
Golden hair, bright as sunlight, flowed down to his shoulders. His yellow eyes gleamed beneath the moonlight, and his handsome face carried an effortless confidence.
"I was sent by the Government."
"I am Aranzuki, Commander of Division Eight of the Emperor Force."
The moment Yirina heard that title, her expression turned serious.
"Yina," she said without taking her eyes off Aranzuki, "tell everyone we're leaving. The Government is involved now. We can't stay here any longer."
Without another word, Yina vanished like a gust of wind.
Watching her disappear, Aranzuki chuckled.
"What? Running away already?"
He looked back toward the sky.
"Looks like the others finally made it."
Both Yirina and Kondo instinctively looked up.
Something resembling a meteor streaked across the night sky before crashing down beside Aranzuki.
A cloud of smoke burst upward from the impact.
Three silhouettes slowly emerged within it.
A soft feminine voice sighed.
"Honestly... people attacking in the middle of the night? If I don't get enough sleep, my skin's going to suffer."
Another voice immediately replied,
"Lieutenant, you really shouldn't say things like that. Protecting people means answering the call, even in the middle of the night."
Then a deep, calm voice echoed from the smoke.
"May God bless everyone."
Aranzuki glanced over his shoulder.
"Took you long enough. Go on... introduce yourselves."
The first to step out was a beautiful young woman with long green hair and a curvy figure. She wore the same black duster coat as Aranzuki.
"Oh, right... I almost forgot."
She smiled elegantly.
"I'm Zaya, Lieutenant of Emperor Force Division Eight. Rank Number Two."
Next came a young man who looked to be around twenty-five. He also wore the Division Eight coat, with a sword hanging from his waist.
"I'm Araichi."
"Division Eight."
"Rank Number Three."
Finally, a tall, muscular man stepped forward with his hands pressed together in prayer.
"May God bless everyone."
"My name is Kiyaka."
"Rank Number Four."
Aranzuki stared at the three of them before counting on his fingers.
"One... two... three..."
"...That's it?"
"Where's everyone else?"
Zaya casually brushed her hair back before glancing behind her.
Then she shrugged.
"Captain... I think they got lost."
Aranzuki smacked his forehead.
"Seriously? They got lost?"
"So we're supposed to fight with only four people now?"
Araichi scratched his cheek.
"Not exactly."
"We also have three Holy Knights with us."
**
Meanwhile...
Yonk stood quietly beside the glowing Light Prison.
Three Holy Knights wearing long white coats that reached their ankles stood before him.
Without hesitation, they drew their swords.
Yonk simply smiled.
"Oh?"
"So you've sent in some new faces."
His grin widened.
"But before we start..."
"...would you mind introducing yourselves first?"
The Holy Knight standing at the front clicked his tongue.
"Tch. A demon has no need to know our names."
His eyes narrowed at Yonk.
"But you seem strong enough to have imprisoned our faith—"
He paused awkwardly.
"...I mean, Miss Ishita."
"So listen carefully. I'm Arvind. These are Geld and Pail."
"We're here to defeat you... and free Miss Ishita."
Yonk let out a laugh.
"Free her?"
"...From me?"
Just then, Yina appeared beside him.
Yonk glanced sideways.
"We have to leave," she said. "The Government has become involved. Yirina has ordered a full retreat."
Yonk sighed dramatically before looking ahead.
"What a shame... such a terrible shame."
"I was hoping to enjoy this battle a little longer."
"But I suppose it's time to leave."
The next instant, both Yina and Yonk vanished.
The Holy Knights watched them disappear but made no attempt to pursue.
Instead, they calmly sheathed their swords and approached the Light Prison.
Standing around it in a triangle formation, each of them thrust their sword into the ground.
Then they pressed their palms together, took a deep breath, and slammed one hand against the earth.
Golden magic circles immediately appeared beneath all three swords.
From each hilt, crimson beams of light shot outward, connecting with one another to form a perfect triangle.
Moments later, three more crimson beams extended from the triangle toward the Light Prison itself.
**
Elsewhere...
Aranzuki stood facing Yirina.
Kondo remained between them, gripping his black sword while wearing the same unsettling smile.
Resting a hand on the hilt of his sword, Aranzuki smiled.
"Well then..."
"Let's play for a while."
"Even if there are a lot of you, one demon shouldn't be much trouble."
Suddenly...
Behind Yirina appeared Yokzo, Yina, Yonk, Yeld, and Dolt.
Aranzuki blinked.
Then an awkward smile spread across his face.
"...Never mind."
"Looks like the situation just reversed."
"We're definitely going to need backup."
Zaya covered her mouth.
"Captain... what do we do now?"
"They outnumber us."
Yirina smiled faintly.
"My apologies."
"But for the time being..."
"We can't fight the Government."
Her butterfly sword dissolved into particles of light.
She stretched out her hand, materializing a small remote with a single red button.
Looking directly at Kondo, she smiled.
"We'll meet again."
Everyone turned toward her,and touch her shoulder.
She pressed the button.
In the blink of an eye...
Every demon vanished.
Aranzuki instinctively reached forward.
"Wait!"
"At least tell me what's going on with this kid first!"
He sighed.
"So... they really left."
"Well, that's a relief."
His gaze shifted toward Kondo, who was still smiling eerily.
"...But what about this child?"
"Kid... who exactly are you?"
"And are you possessed by a demon?"
"More importantly... where are your parents?"
Before Kondo could answer, Lawine rushed over with Sam, Kim, and Shin.
"He's my son!"
Everyone turned toward her.
Aranzuki stared at Lawine in disbelief.
(Such a beautiful woman... has a child?)
He cleared his throat politely.
"My lady... perhaps you're mistaken."
"You're far too beautiful."
"I honestly can't believe you have a child."
Lawine frowned.
"I'm telling you the truth."
"He's my son."
She pointed toward Sam.
"And this is my husband."
Sam nodded.
"She's telling the truth."
"I'm the Finance Minister of the Kingdom of Verland."
"And yes..."
"Kondo is our son."
Aranzuki froze.
His heart shattered.
Slowly, he looked up at the seven moons.
(Why...?)
(Why does every beautiful woman get married before meeting me...?)
Before he could mourn his broken heart any longer—
Kondo suddenly teleported beside him.
His black sword flashed toward Aranzuki's neck.
Aranzuki noticed it at the very last second and leaped backward just before the blade reached him.
Landing safely a few meters away, he let out a relieved breath.
Then he pointed at Kondo.
"My lady..."
"So he really is your son."
"But he definitely looks possessed by something."
He glanced at Lawine.
"Do you... still consider him your child?"
Without hesitation, Lawine nodded.
Aranzuki sighed again before looking at Kondo.
"Hey, kid."
"You shouldn't attack people like that."
Then he lowered his voice.
"Besides..."
"Your mom is really beautiful."
"So why don't you calm down?"
"I'd hate to see her sad."
Kondo burst into laughter.
"Oh?"
"Is that so?"
"Then why don't you die by the sword first..."
"So she can watch your lifeless body instead."
He laughed again.
"By the way..."
"Is that sword at your waist just for decoration?"
"Draw it."
"Fight me."
Aranzuki reached for his sword...
...but it refused to leave its sheath.
He looked at Kondo with an apologetic smile.
"Sorry."
"My sword doesn't consider you a worthy opponent."
The moment he finished speaking—
Kondo lunged at him at incredible speed.
Before his blade could reach Aranzuki—
Someone stepped between them.
Zaya.
She calmly slipped a hand into her coat, pulled out a paintbrush, and blocked the tip of Kondo's black sword with nothing more than its slender wooden handle.