Lilia, who had rushed to my side, stood just ahead of me. She gripped her greatsword, a wry smile playing on her lips.
"Sigh. If things were going to turn out like this, I really should have brought Luna or Sieg along."
"Well, well... To think the 'White Rose War Maiden' herself—hailed as the strongest of humankind—would make an appearance here. This truly won't be a simple affair."
"If possible, I would prefer you didn't use that embarrassing title..."
Zex clapped as if impressed by Lilia's arrival. Despite being a skeleton, he seemed remarkably composed. I couldn't read his expression, but he radiated a sense of ease.
"A capable one has arrived. Well done, White Rose War Maiden."
"Um... Goddess of Calamity-sama... would that be correct?"
"It is."
"It’s an honor to meet you. I may be an intrusion, but allow me to lend my strength."
"The common rabble would only be a hindrance, but you are a different story. Can you suppress the First Hero?"
It seemed Lilia was even more famous than I had realized; even Shia evaluated her highly. Shia stood side-by-side with Lilia and asked if she was prepared to face Noin.
"I will do everything in my power. Though I never imagined I would truly end up fighting the Legendary Hero..."
"Don't let your guard down. She may be spiritless now, but even as a mere human, she was a monster capable of slaying Count-class demons."
"Yes. Unfortunately, it seems I don't have the luxury of holding back. It really has been a while since I've fought in earnest!"
In an instant, arcs of lightning-like magic erupted from Lilia's body. It was unbelievable—it wasn't an offensive spell, but pure, raw magic power.
Seeing Lilia's transformation, Noin spoke as she gripped her Japanese sword, her guard held tight.
"I had heard the rumors, but this is the first time I have seen it with my own eyes. So this is the 'High-density Magic Power Constitution'..."
"A peculiar constitution with a magic power density dozens of times that of a normal person, visible to the naked eye even without a magic formula. Noin-dono, it would be best not to underestimate her as a mere human. She is already an anomaly within the human species."
"Then, First Hero-sama... though I am but a junior, I ask for your guidance."
Declaring this as she unleashed flashes of lightning, Lilia leveled her greatsword. Reacting to the movement, Noin pushed the hilt of her sword up slightly with her thumb.
At the same time, Shia readied her great scythe, and the demons surrounding Zex gripped their weapons.
The situation was a powder keg. Just as the tension reached its breaking point and battle seemed inevitable, a familiar voice suddenly rang out, cutting through the air.
"Wait, please!!"
"Eh?"
"Raz-dono?"
The one who jumped into the center of the standoff, shouting as loud as her small body would allow, was Raz. She moved to the middle of the clearing, halfway between our group and Noin's, and turned her gaze toward me.
"Kaito-kun-san."
"Raz-san?"
"Big Sis Fia is suffering so, so much. She’s crying."
As if pleading for understanding, Raz spoke while staring intently into my eyes.
"Raz isn't very smart. But Raz knows that Big Sis Fia did something bad a long time ago, and she’s been crying about it ever since. That’s why... that’s why..."
"..."
Was she trying to talk me out of this? At this point, I had no intention of backing down, no matter what was said to me. It would be disrespectful to Shia and Lilia, who were risking themselves to help me, and above all, I couldn't accept a stalemate myself.
However, it was painful to flatly reject the pure, straightforward Raz.
As I waited for her next words, she looked down for a moment. When she raised her head again, her eyes were filled with resolve.
"Will Kaito-kun-san help Big Sis Fia?"
"Eh?"
"Just like you helped Chrome-sama... will you make Big Sis Fia smile, too?"
"..."
That wasn't a plea for me to stop; it was a question from the heart. She was asking if I would save a precious member of her family. I understood the weight of that question perfectly, even without a long explanation.
"I can't say for certain that I can. I know I’m an outsider. But I believe that if things stay like this, nothing will ever change."
"Kaito-kun-san..."
"I won't be so arrogant as to say I'll 'save' her. But I want her to smile. I want her to laugh from the bottom of her heart. That is my wish—for Fia-sensei, and for the third person, as well."
"..."
"So, I can't give you a guarantee. But I want to try my hardest. That’s how I feel."
I returned a sincere response to Raz’s question. I wanted all three of them to be able to smile again.
After hearing my words, Raz closed her eyes to think for a moment, and then her expression broke into a wide, beaming grin.
"I understand! Then, Raz will cheer for Kaito-kun-san!"
"Eh? Raz-san?"
She would cheer for me? After declaring her support, Raz flew over to our side. She took a small bow in her hands and hovered in front of me as if to shield me.
Just as I realized she had switched sides, two more figures followed her.
"Well, that’s how it is. Sorry about this, Boss Zex."
"Raz-nee, we’re sticking with you guys, too."
"Acht! Eva!"
The blue-horned Ogre, Acht, and the silver-furred Black Wolf, Eva. My friends had declared their cooperation and now stood beside Raz.
"Acht... Eva..."
"Hey now, what’s with that face, Kaito? It’s nothing strange. I couldn’t choose between a friend and my family. In that case, I’m going with you, since it looks like you’re the one who might make everyone smile if things go well."
"We aren't exactly scholars, so we try not to think about complicated things like risks. We just go with the side we want to be on. That’s all there is to it. Sorry, Boss Zex."
"No, no, it isn't as if I hadn't anticipated this. Hohoho, as I thought, Miyama-dono is a terrifying man."
Zex laughed with his usual composure, but was it just my imagination? He looked... somewhat happy.
Dear Mother, Father—While we were confronting each other over Fia-sensei in a situation that was a hair's breadth from violence, it was Raz who cut through the tension. And not just Raz, but Acht and Eva as well. It seems my friends are taking my side.