* * *

'Why?'

While London was in turmoil, while everyone else trembled with anxiety and apprehension, one woman had begun moving alone.

She was a beauty who stood out in every respect, from her luxurious dress to her looks. Now, however, her lovely face was hideously contorted as she ran through the darkness, screaming inwardly again and again.

'Why, why, why!'

It had been a simple job. Eliminate the mist of the Misty hours, let the shadow monsters rampage, and have Kaiser use the opportunity to seize power in the British Empire.

For her contribution, she would establish herself in the British Empire and earn a recommendation for a position among the Liberation Brigade's ghosts. It had been a golden opportunity to gain so much with a single song, without even taking any risks.

No, there shouldn't have been any risks.

'Why are those monsters suddenly going berserk? What is Kaiser doing? What the hell is this mess?'

Claire, an officer of the Liberation Brigade, gritted her teeth.

Since she wasn't a ghost, the information available to her was limited. She didn't even know about Kaiser's true objective, the Seven Arcs.

But the moment she saw the shadow monsters trying to attack even her indiscriminately, she knew something had gone terribly wrong.

'And why has that bastard Lee, or whatever his name is, turned up again!'

That was why Claire had decided to escape London. The moment that violinist began playing in the heart of the city, she had instinctively known it was dangerous to stay.

The problem was how to escape. If the Blue Dragon Clan pursued her, they would catch her in an instant, wherever she fled.

Fortunately, however, she had a secret means of shaking off any pursuit and escaping London.

ROOOAR!

"Shut up!"

BOOM!

Already pressed for time, Claire blasted apart the monster blocking her path with a single shout and kept running. Other monsters occasionally appeared after that, but the outcome never changed.

She, too, was a count-class player. A high-floor dungeon above the eightieth floor might have been another matter, but she was powerful enough to clear a low-to-mid-floor dungeon like this with her eyes closed.

After practically flying through the dungeon and smashing its boss in one go, Claire quickly surveyed the interior of the boss room. She approached the fourth torch inside and twisted its bracket sideways.

GRRRIND.

A section of wall slid aside, revealing a secret chamber. Claire immediately rushed inside and shouted urgently before the large triumphal arch standing in its center.

"Gate open!"

Immediately afterward, the space at the center of the arch rippled, and a bluish doorway of light appeared. Claire's face lit up at the sight, and she leaped toward it.

SHUNK!

But before she could enter the doorway of light, Claire froze.

Before she could leap through it, a dagger had pierced her chest.

"... Why?"

Perhaps she simply couldn't believe what was happening. Even as she coughed up a gush of blood, Claire's voice carried more bewilderment than fear or shock.

["You brought a tail with you, you imbecile."]

"...!"

As though only then realizing something, Claire widened her eyes and moved her lips. Finally, her eyes lost focus, and her head drooped.

The one who had driven the dagger into her chest sent out a gloomy wave of thought from beyond the doorway of light, eyes flashing green.

["Tell your master he has won this time."]

There was nothing visible in the empty air. Looking beyond the shadows lying deep within the dungeon, the owner of those glowing green eyes continued coldly.

["Celebrate to your heart's content for now."]

["But you would do well to remember this."]

["We will never make a mistake like this again. In the end, we, who enjoy the stars' blessing, will be the victors."]

As though there was nothing more to say, the green glow went out, and the doorway of light vanished completely. Deprived of its support, Claire's corpse collapsed to the floor.

Then a shadow in one corner of the dungeon rippled. Wei Ling, a woman dressed as a man, emerged with the intelligence unit of the Wang family of Shanghai. She regarded the corpse coldly before speaking.

"You will soon learn that we of the Seven Dragons Society used to say that quite often ourselves, ghost of the Liberation Brigade."

* * *

Walpurgis Night.

The festival that should have passed in merriment had instead ended amid utter chaos, with monsters and ghosts running rampant.

Most citizens had already been evacuated before the rampage began, so miraculously there had been no casualties. But only the people had escaped unharmed.

The scars that chaos had left on London were far from small. Buildings collapsed in the fighting, broken roads, damaged cultural heritage, losses suffered by individuals... Even the financial damage alone was almost impossible to calculate.

But the psychological damage had left an even greater impact.

[Lord Karl Amadeus Passes Away.]

[The royal household has announced that it is preparing a state funeral for Lord Karl, who fought to protect the British Empire to the very end.]

[In accordance with the late Monarch of Magic's wishes, the Magus Guild...]

The death of the Monarch of Magic.

The news shook London, Europe, and the entire world. It was the first time a Monarch, an absolute being, had died since the beginning of the Iron Age.

Magic-type players and the people of the British Empire, who had revered him as a hero, were particularly devastated. The shock was so great that even Crown Prince Edward's disappearance amid the chaos barely attracted notice.

That was why Limon spoke so flatly.

"So you decided to bury everything after all?"

"The truth does not necessarily make people happy."

Rose looked bitter. The people of the British Empire had already suffered a tremendous shock from the events in London. If they learned that Crown Prince Edward had been the cause of it all, and that Karl had helped fuel the chaos, there would be pandemonium.

"Never mind that rude brat, but you did a good job burying the truth about that son of a bitch. He was royalty, after all. I thought he'd be harder to deal with."

"I explained the circumstances to Duke Robert and secured his cooperation on that matter."

"Cooperation? You lot?"

Limon looked surprised, and Rose gave him a faint smile.

"Our clan has learned a few things as well."

Rose calmly explained that she had learned hiding everything and shouldering all responsibility alone wasn't always the best answer. Limon watched her for a moment, then let out a quiet chuckle.

"Accepting a reasonable amount of help is a good thing, but you'd still better choose your partners carefully. That Duke Robert fellow is a man of power."

"It makes no difference."

As Limon advised her that those who wielded power were creatures capable of exploiting even a secret this important for political gain, Rose replied evenly.

"If he attempts to stray from the right path, I need only deal with him then."

"Hmm. No intention of showing him any mercy?"

"Duke Robert is not a weak man who needs my consideration."

"True enough."

'And unless that bastard wants to die, he won't get too far out of line.'

Limon muttered inwardly.

The Magus Guild had been driven into a corner. Not only had it caused this disaster by destroying the Great Barrier of London, but it had also lost Karl, an absolute being.

House Seaserpent, on the other hand, had reaffirmed its position as the British Empire's shield and gained even greater renown than before.

With the balance of power tilted so sharply, no one in power would want to offend the Blue Dragon Clan now.

Indeed, the gifts and donations sent to House Seaserpent immediately after Walpurgis Night made that abundantly clear. Even if another Monarch arose in the British Empire, they wouldn't dare challenge the Blue Dragon Clan for decades.

"You'll be busy for a while."

"Yes. London will have to endure a difficult period."

Of course, that also meant House Seaserpent would be exceptionally busy. Holding power in the British Empire meant taking charge of rebuilding the ravaged city as well.

"But that is all right."

Even so, Rose's expression wasn't gloomy. She merely smiled faintly as she looked at the construction underway throughout London and the people bustling between the sites.

"If our clan works together with the citizens, we will soon overcome difficulties of this magnitude."

Not that everything would be fine if she handled it herself, but that they could manage it together.

Limon watched Rose as she spoke calmly, then chuckled.

"That's a relief."

"What do you mean?"

"It looks like you won't overwork yourself trying to do everything alone anymore, Countess."

"Ah..."

Only then seeming to understand his meaning, Rose blushed slightly in embarrassment. She cleared her throat and made an effort to speak composedly.

"The increased workload will certainly keep me busy, but I intend to get regular sleep, at least. Please do not worry."

"Good. You do that."

After a brief moment of embarrassment at Limon's snickering, Rose asked as though something had suddenly occurred to her.

"More importantly, are you certain you do not require a reward?"

"I came here to catch a ghost of the Liberation Brigade in the first place."

Limon shrugged.

He had originally come to London with two objectives. Including Cir's request, that made three.

Having neatly accomplished all three, and secured the long-term services of a Great Witch like Cir without pay, was more than enough of an achievement for Limon. As proof, he tapped the case strapped to his back.

"I've already received such generous gifts. I'd feel awkward accepting an extra reward on top of them."

"I see..."

Rose nodded. Then, with a complicated expression that was difficult to describe, she murmured,

"Then this is goodbye."

"That's right."

"... May I ask you one final question before you leave?"

"What do you want to know?"

Limon asked casually, as though he would happily answer whatever she asked. After all, it seemed obvious that Rose's question would concern his identity.

"You..."

That only made Rose's expression more complicated. His sheer composure made it clear he hadn't the slightest idea what she intended to ask.

After hesitating for a long time, Rose finally swallowed the question poised on her tongue. Instead, she continued with a faint smile.

"If I wish to hear you play again, may I invite you to the countess's residence?"

Limon blinked at the utterly unexpected question. Then he smiled mischievously and replied in a teasing tone.

"I'm a busy man. If you really want to hear me play, you'll have to come find me yourself, Countess."

"That is a shame."

Hiding her entirely genuine disappointment behind a smile, Rose slowly extended a hand. The moment Limon reached out to shake it, she gently pulled his hand toward her.

Perhaps because the gesture was so unexpected, Limon was momentarily nonplussed. Taking advantage of that pause, Rose brought his hand to her lips, inclined her head, and kissed its back.

Then she smiled faintly at his dumbfounded face.

"If you ever need help, please come to us at any time. We of the Blue Dragon Clan will gladly welcome you."

"... Countess, don't tell me you're saying that because you don't know who I am?"

"You are the hero who saved London, and the finest of musicians."

She told him with utter composure that neither she nor the Blue Dragon Clan needed to take any other identity of his into consideration, so he needn't worry.

Limon stared at her incredulously, then chuckled and caught the wrist of the hand that had just released his own. He drew it toward him and, this time, kissed the back of her hand in return.

Perhaps she had never imagined he would retaliate like that. Rose froze, eyes wide, then blushed in an instant. Limon smiled at her.

"Take care, then, Countess."

"... Yes. You too."

["Team Leader! It's bad! Something terrible has happened!"]

Limon frowned. Yu Na-gyeong had already boarded the train with Wei Ling, and now she was sending him a frantic telepathic message. He asked curtly,

'What's all the fuss about?'

Limon made up his mind. If this was merely about forgetting a souvenir or something of the sort, he would smack Yu Na-gyeong on the forehead three times.

Fortunately, Yu Na-gyeong was able to avoid that calamity. The news she had just heard from Wei Ling was serious enough to more than justify her panic.

["The White Dragon Princess has gone missing!!!"]

"... Who did what?"