As the Demon King’s Army, which had been stationed at the coast for months, began to march, the entire Empire fell into silence.

    - Clang, clang, clang...

    The sound of the demons’ ornate armor clashing echoed through the streets, causing the citizens of the Empire to emerge hesitantly from their shelters.

    “Ah...!”

    “Gasp!”

    Soon, the sound of sighs and gasps filled the air.

    “Is that... the H-Hero...?”

    “No way... it can’t be...”

    “I-It must be someone who looks like him. Right?”

    The citizens, their faces filled with fear, began to murmur amongst themselves.

    - Behold.

    When Aishi’s voice echoed throughout the Empire, they had no choice but to accept the reality before their eyes.

    - The hope and light you sought for the past few months is right here.

    She was right.

    The last hope of the citizens trapped in a desperate situation.

    The Hero they had desperately wished would return, Frey.

    There he was, with his heart pierced by an ice spear, being dragged cold and lifeless at the forefront of the Demon King’s march.

    “...”

    In truth, he was being dragged by ropes tied to Vener’s back as she stumbled along, half-insane, her head bowed.

    - Drip...

    Hot tears began to flow from Vener’s eyes as she dragged Frey at the front of the procession.

    - Thud...!

    Suddenly, she fell to her knees, unable to go any further.

    “...Are you trying to interrupt the march?”

    Watching from a transparent ice carriage, Aishi spoke in a cold voice, abandoning any formality.

    “I... I can’t go on any longer.”

    Vener’s voice was filled with desperate anguish.

    “Young Master’s body... has been too damaged.”

    She turned her head to look at the boy who had once been her Young Master, tears filling her eyes.

    “If I keep dragging him like this... you won’t even be able to recognize his form...”

    “So?”

    “...At least let me carry him in my arms.”

    But Aishi’s voice remained cold, and Vener closed her eyes tightly as she made her plea.

    “I’ll endure any humiliation... any disgrace... just please, don’t dishonor him any further...”

    “For someone who cherishes Frey so much, you sure treat him so horribly in the past.”

    “...That, that was...”

    As Aishi snapped her fingers with a smile, memories began to flood into Vener’s mind.

    One day, in a dark cave, where he gently patted her head and handed her bread.

    And on the first day he took her in when she felt guilty and asked for punishment, he playfully flicked her forehead and smiled.

    - Slap...!!!

    The next memory was of her grabbing his arms and slapping him as hard as she could.

    - Crack...!

    “Urgh...”

    Following that, she recalled hitting his stomach with all her might, causing him to drool.

    Her terrifying reflection grew larger in the terrified eyes of the boy.

    “I... I...”

    “Why don’t you do what you usually do?”

    With her eyes subtly turning black, Aishi covered her mouth with her hand and whispered, snapping her fingers again.

    “Ugh...”

    Vener’s eyes also turned black as she trembled and stood up.

    - Srrk... Srrk...

    With a devastated expression, she began to take one step, then another.

    As a result, Frey’s body, lying on the frozen ground, was dragged along again, becoming more and more damaged as it hit rocks and scraped the ground.

    “I’m sorry...”

    Each time Frey’s body caught on something or jerked, the vibration traveled up the rope and spread through Vener’s entire body.

    “Young Master...”

    Each vibration brought the memory of the boy’s pure smile, but now with added wounds and bloody tears.

    Despite the horrifying sensation, the compulsion placed on her body forced her to keep moving forward.

    After some time, Vener’s steps became mechanical, her eyes void of life.

    “”...””

    By now, the citizens of the Empire had rushed out of their shelters and filled the streets, staring blankly at the scene.

    “The back alleys were transformed into a thriving commercial area, and my friends who were dying found places to live and jobs... all thanks to him.”

    “Ha!”

    “And you say he enjoyed committing evil deeds... what nonsense...”

    Then, picking up another stone from the ground, she shouted and threw it at Aishi.

    “Stop spouting lies, you bastard!!!”

    “...Tsk.”

    Aishi tried to catch the stone with her hand but ended up dodging it, mumbling to herself.

    “These people... always pointless resistance...”

    Looking alternately at her trembling right arm and the trembling girl who refused to back down, Aishi let out a cold sigh.

    “R-Run away, quickly...!”

    “Let me go!!”

    “You’ll die if you stay here!!”

    “We’re all going to die anyway, so what does it matter?!”

    Ignoring the hands trying to pull her away, the girl stared defiantly at Aishi.

    - Crackle... Crackle...

    Soon, blue energy began to swirl at the girl’s feet.

    “You’re brave, but I’m in a hurry.”

    “U-Ugh...”

    “So, I’ll make an example of you.”

    As Aishi’s eyes flashed, and she raised her hand, a pillar of ice shot up where the girl stood.

    “I just meant to freeze her like usual...”

    Aishi smiled faintly, looking at her right arm.

    “But you kept interfering, making me misjudge my strength.”

    - Shiver...

    “Give up.”

    As blue sparks emanated from her right arm and enveloped her body, Aishi coldly whispered.

    “Abandon your foolish dreams of saving everyone.”

    - Crackle... Crackle...

    “The Hero died because of you, your own ice spears pierced through his heart.”

    As she finished speaking, her trembling right arm calmed down.

    “...What a tiring ordeal.”

    Muttering to herself, Aishi rotated her right arm a few times and then lazily gave the command.

    “Move out.”

    At her command, the Demon King’s army began marching again.

    - Crack, crackle...

    The ice pillar that had stood in their way was trampled and shattered by the soldiers.

    “”...””

    The citizens, gripped by fear, either trembled or lowered their heads quietly.

    “The end is near.”

    Mocking them, Aishi headed towards the academy now within sight.

    .

    .

    .

    .

    .

    Meanwhile, in a dark alley not far away.

    “Mmm? Mmph...?”

    The girl who had stood against the Demon King’s march was struggling in someone’s arms, her mouth covered.

    “Oh, sorry.”

    “Phwah...! Phwaah...”

    The boy, who had been watching the march with sharp eyes, finally let go of her as she hit his back.

    “Thanks for stalling. It helped a lot.”

    Patting her head briefly, the boy, surrounded by light, began to walk away.

    “...Who are you?”

    The girl asked, her voice trembling.

    “I made good use of the vegetable soup recipe you taught me.”

    “What?”

    “My precious gem said it was delicious.”

    “W-Wait...!”

    The boy, mumbling to himself, merged into the crowd.