His Majesty Laguna, the one hailed as the strongest in the human realm, had appeared on the battlefield. She had called the situation "rough" moments ago, but contrary to those words, she spoke to Noin-san in a voice that was incredibly gentle.
"Tell me, Hikari. Like me... you’ve grown old. Not in your looks, but in your heart."
"What... do you mean by that?"
"Nothing much. I simply think that you aren't acting like yourself."
"Not like myself? What are you..."
With a voice that was somehow warm, like a mother counseling her child, His Majesty Laguna began to reason with Noin-san.
Because they had traveled together in the past and shared both joy and suffering, Laguna’s words seemed to reach Noin-san’s heart clearly. Noin-san’s agitation hadn't vanished entirely, but she listened to Laguna with a look of profound seriousness.
Zex-san and his group didn't seem to have any intention of interfering with the conversation, as they made no move to interject.
"The words that young man just spoke... I’ve heard those very same words once before. Have you forgotten them?"
"Eh? Ah..."
"Indeed. Long ago, after the Demon King was defeated... there was someone who brushed aside our attempts to stop her. We told her the rift in the world was too wide and that we should wait for time to eventually mend it, but she set out alone to change the world anyway."
"..."
"'The more time passes, the harder it will be to change things. If we don’t try now, then that "someday" will never come. So, I’m going to give it my all.' Watching her walk away after saying those words, I even felt a sense of admiration. I saw hope for the future. I was talking about you, Hikari."
Having said her piece, His Majesty Laguna clenched her fist. After a moment of silence, she stared directly into Noin-san’s eyes with a powerful gaze.
"How long do you intend to keep smoldering? That isn't who you are. Come back to us!"
"Laguna..."
"No matter how many heroes are born into this world, and no matter how the eras change... to me, there is only one 'Hero' for all eternity! So, wake up, Hikari Kujo!"
"..."
Hearing Laguna’s cry, which was laden with a powerful wish, Noin-san slowly closed her eyes.
For several seconds, she remained still in a silence where all sound seemed to have vanished. Then, she slowly opened her eyes and turned her gaze toward me instead of Laguna.
"Please don't be deceived, Kaito-san!"
"Eh? De-Deceived? by what?"
"Zex-sama’s barrier is certainly formidable. However... it cannot stop you, not when you carry the Blessing of Shallow Vernal-sama!"
"Noin-dono!?"
"The very fact that Zex-sama appeared here was a misdirection. In truth, our goal was a single-point breakthrough from the start. If you reach the wall of the barrier, you can shatter it!"
I see. Now that she mentioned it, it made perfect sense.
If the barrier couldn't be broken without defeating Zex-san, it would have been more advantageous for him to stay hidden and let his subordinates handle us. Yet, he had appeared before Shia-san and me despite the risk of being defeated.
Just as Noin-san said, it was a misdirection intended to make us believe we couldn't break through unless we went through him. What Zex-san was truly afraid of was me heading in a straight line for the edge of the barrier.
As proof of that, Zex-san let out a rare sound of fluster in response to Noin-san’s revelation.
I didn't need to ask why she had told me. Immediately after speaking, Noin-san rushed over to our side and pivoted.
As the jet-black armor covering her body vanished, she murmured in a voice filled with unwavering resolve.
"Thank you, Kaito-san, Laguna. Thanks to you both, I’ve finally come to my senses."
"Noin-san..."
A black mist enveloped her, and she transformed into a woman wearing a hakama and kimono, looking like someone from the Taisho era.
She grasped her long, beautiful black hair behind her neck and, without a moment's hesitation, used her Japanese sword to cut it short.
"Heh, what a nostalgic sight. Here."
"Thank you very much."
Seeing Noin-san with her new short hair, His Majesty Laguna laughed and handed her a long, thin white cloth.
Noin-san accepted it and tied it around her forehead like a hachimaki.
"Kaito-san, I apologize for my previous rudeness. Please, let me go with you. I have to face Fia one more time. I want to save her, too!"
"Yes. In fact, I'd appreciate the help."
She wanted to save Fia-sensei. That was undoubtedly the wish at the core of Noin-san’s heart, the one that had been smoldering all this time.
Thanks to Laguna, Noin-san’s hesitation had vanished, and she had become our ally.
Now, all that was left was to confront Fia-sensei. That was the hope, at least, but...
"Hmph. I see. So Noin-dono is siding with them? Well, it was perhaps inevitable."
"Zex-sama, I am sorry. But do you still intend to continue this?"
"Yes, well... I suppose so. Since we’ve come this far, allow me to struggle just a bit more."
Indeed, Zex-san seemed to intend to keep fighting, as he stepped forward to stand in front of the five Count-class high-ranking demons.
He had stayed in the rear until now, but it seemed he would be participating in the battle directly to prevent our single-point breakthrough.
With Noin-san and His Majesty Laguna on our side, we had an overwhelming advantage, but we couldn't afford to be careless. Zex-san’s fighting spirit hadn't waned in the slightest.
"Noin-san, take this. It’s a drink made from the World Tree..."
"Ah, it’s alright. Thank you."
"Eh? But Noin-san, you’re injured all over..."
I pulled out the same recovery drink I had given to Lilia-san, hoping to heal Noin-san after her exhausting duel, but she shook her head and declined.
"Yes, I am certainly fatigued. I have sustained damage all over my body. I might even be considered 'on the brink.' However... my heart is currently overflowing with vitality! Just like it was back then!"
"E-Err... wait, what!?"
While I was baffled by her "willpower over wounds" statement, a surge of magic power nearly several times greater than before erupted from Noin-san’s body.
What was this? Instead of looking weakened, she seemed to be getting even stronger!
"Hikari has always been a stubborn monster. If anything, she gets stronger when she’s at a disadvantage. It’s a waste of time to worry about her."
"What a terrible way to put it. I’m just a little worse at giving up than most people."
"What is a monster whose magic power spikes just from sheer guts even talking about..."
Regardless, it seemed Noin-san was fine.
Lilia-san and the others stepped up beside us, staring down Zex-san’s forces.
The goal was a single-point breakthrough—a head-on clash with no more tricks. As I braced myself, Zex-san suddenly began scanning the area.
"Good heavens... To think it would be at this timing. Truly... you are a terrifying person."
Zex-san looked at me with genuine astonishment, making no effort to hide his agitation. I understood the reason why an instant later.
My sympathy magic signaled an approach, and three shadows appeared before me.
"We’re late, Master!"
"Anima! Eta! Theta!"
That wasn't all. Two more shadows appeared beside Lilia-san.
"Please overlook our slight tardiness, Milady. We hurried here as fast as we could."
"Luna, Sieg... No, I have no complaints. I'm glad you're here."
Anima, Eta, Theta, Lunamaria-san, and Sieg-san. With the dependable reinforcements who had rushed from the mansion, our battle preparations were complete.
Shia-san stepped forward and declared in a commanding voice.
"I’ll handle the Count-classes! Everyone else, open a path and get Kaito to that barrier wall! Let’s go!"
With that command as the signal, the final battle between us and Zex-san’s forces began.
"The timing was perfect. I guess the rest is up to Kaito-san and Hikari-san. Well, there’s no need for me to do anything else. I’ll just sit back and enjoy the show."
Wait, here comes a mysterious person! Yes, a mysterious figure supporting Kaito-san from the shadows. I can’t imagine who it could be, but they must be a super cute, pretty, and merciful main heroine-class popular character. There’s no doubt about it!