In a complete turnaround from the chaotic clamor, Magias was gradually regaining its calm.
"...Yes. The culprit has been restrained. Our injured allies are still underground, so... Yes. No, the Central Tower is only temporarily stabilized. Please send a specialized guild immediately... Yes. I will continue monitoring things here."
After conveying everything necessary to the guards and staff, I cut off the telepathic link.
The ringleader had been neutralized.
The warp gate-like rings had vanished, leaving no additional magic beasts behind.
The Central Tower was also repaired. It wouldn't collapse under its own weight anytime soon.
What worried me was the number of casualties.
Particularly the condition of my friends.
Still, for the time being, my work was pretty much done.
"Haaah..."
Sitting down, I glanced at Wilhelm, who lay thoroughly demoralized at my feet. Using the magic sword Dronak, which I had brought just in case, I had rendered him unable to knead magic.
On top of that, he was bound with Allongé, leaving him physically incapable of doing anything.
"...Hey."
Wilhelm spoke in a hoarse voice.
It seemed he still had enough energy left to talk.
"...Kill me. That would win you far more favor with the royal citizens."
"Quit saying such sickening things."
What kind of deranged logic was that?
Why would I take responsibility for a life pointlessly?
"The military police are coming, so just behave until then."
Honestly, I was near my limit, too.
Perhaps due to the lingering tension, an unfamiliar wave of exhaustion washed over me.
I was worried about everyone underground.
Mercedes seemed fine, but what about the other three? I thought my eyes had met with Philie-san's for a brief moment, but...
My vision blurred slightly.
"Bren-kun!"
I snapped my head up.
Professor Blanchard was hurrying toward me.
For once, she wore an anxious expression.
"...Professor. Is it all right for you to be moving around?"
"Thanks to Filie-chan, yes."
"What about everyone else?"
"For now, no one has any life-threatening injuries."
"I see..."
"Good work, Bren-kun."
Without any warning, the professor threw her arms around me, paying no mind to the onlookers.
"You really did great, especially for your first live incident."
"Ah, no..."
"We'll take over from here, so get some proper rest."
Hearing that, the tension finally drained from my body.
The professor stared down at Wilhelm, who remained motionless at my feet, with a complicated look in her eyes.
"...Wilhelm Braham."
Wilhelm didn't move.
He simply stared into the empty air, showing no reaction whatsoever.
"Under the Right of Magecraft Purge, you are hereby placed under arrest on charges of a premeditated assault on national facilities, unauthorized seizure of public-use formulas, the attempted murder of numerous individuals, and various other counts."
When Professor Blanchard snapped her fingers, translucent shackles twined around Wilhelm's wrists. He watched the process with a strangely detached demeanor, as if it concerned someone else entirely.
Then, from the distance, rhythmic footsteps approached.
Men draped in dark navy cloaks emerged over the rubble.
The Kingdom Military Police.
Unlike the city guards, they were armed officials tasked with handling magical crimes.
Not that it mattered anymore, but you guys could have gotten here a little sooner.
In the end, Wilhelm didn't utter another word as he was led away by the military police, and Professor Blanchard went along with them to handle the post-incident paperwork.
As I sat there, absently watching them leave, a voice called down from directly above me.
"It is over, then."
Turning around, I found Gerald.
He was swooshing down in a slow, graceful descent.
His clothes were spotless, and he didn't look exhausted in the slightest.
The absolute picture of composure.
"Gerald."
"I saw it. You are strong, Walker."
Gerald was praising me, which was quite out of character, but what he had accomplished was likely something only he could pull off in the Imperial Archmage Faculty. At the very least, I couldn't have done it.
"I expected you to win, but to think you would break his will to fight entirely. Splendid."
Saying that, Gerald lightly extended a fist toward me.
...?
Hm? What's this?
Could it be that thing?
You know, the thing you see in sports manga all the time, but never actually experience in real life.
"O-Oh..."
I awkwardly bumped my fist against Gerald's.
As our knuckles lightly tapped together, Gerald let out a soft chuckle.
...So he was the type to do fist bumps. That was unexpected.
"Lord Bren~! Lord Gerald~!"
That loud voice was something I could recognize now without even actively paying attention.
"I am so glad to see that both of you are unharmed~!"
Luluck was waving her hands vigorously, looking energetic despite the dirt on her clothes. It had looked like a pretty intense fight, yet she appeared completely uninjured.
"Witch, is it? Your actions were most valiant as well. You have my praise."
"Ehehe."
Luluck looked somewhat bashful, but without her precise evacuation guidance, a good portion of the spectators would have undoubtedly fled straight toward the magic beasts.
Directing people toward safe routes right at the onset was an immeasurably great achievement. Thanks to that, the faculty staff, guards, and upperclassmen had been able to secure the evacuation paths swiftly.
"Did you take down that huge one too, Luluck?"
"Yes. It was rather sturdy, so I punched it with quite a bit of force."
It certainly looked from a distance like she was just beating it up one-sidedly, but had she really just punched it? The impact sounds had resembled a building demolition site.
High combat capabilities on top of precise fundamental magecraft. Unexpectedly, Luluck might just be the most well-rounded mage among us.
"Lord Bren, your repair of the tower was truly magnificent as well. You truly are our representative."
"Indeed. After putting on such a display, you will undoubtedly be granted some form of reward by His Majesty."
A reward.
I see, so that was a possibility too.
Not all the results were tallied up yet, but we had managed to turn things around from such a dire situation. I supposed I could take a little pride in it.
"Now, if only everyone else is safe as well..."
I shared Luluck's concern.
Professor Blanchard had only said that their lives weren't in danger, but how were they really doing?
"Just before Walker arrived, Adinson was administering treatment to Roc, who was the most heavily injured. The ones handling it from here on out are the Magias medical corps as well. It should not be a serious issue."
"I-I see... That is wonderful news, Lord Bren."
I gave a quiet nod at Luluck's words.
So that meant, for the time being, it was truly over.
The moment that thought crossed my mind, the thread holding me together snapped.
"...Lord Bren?"
I had used a little too much magic.
Before fighting Wilhelm, refining the tower had taken a massive toll on my stamina.
I had kneaded far too much magic this time.
Ah, I'm feeling a bit dizzy.
Not enough... blood.
"Walker?"
The moment I thought I was sleepy, the edges of my vision had already whited out.
All the strength drained from my body.
"Hey? Pull yourself together, Walker."
Gerald's voice sounded faintly distant.
A glimpse of the open sky caught my eyes, and then, darkness took over completely.