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"A black dog, or perhaps an evil spirit, appearing at the crossroads."
Everyone in the mansion had gathered in the study.
"That shouldn't be possible within such a strong barrier," Kairi Sisigou said, rubbing his chin thoughtfully.
"The black dog is also an incarnation of thunder. It's clear now that it was responsible for the previous incidents," Lord El-Melloi II frowned.
"This workshop is becoming more dangerous by the minute," Hishiri Adashino remarked, still smiling as always.
"At the very least, Wills has been cleared of suspicion," Kairi Sisigou said, shrugging.
Waletta pouted slightly.
"Now we just need to stop this workshop from going berserk," Wills breathed a sigh of relief. If they could solve this issue, the workshop wouldn't be reclaimed.
"But before that..." Hishiri Adashino narrowed her eyes. "What's the deal with that magical item? That scythe..."
"Hm?" Lord El-Melloi II raised an eyebrow and instinctively looked at Gray.
"Master, it wasn't me," Gray shook her head, then glanced at Cyd, who was standing by the window with his arms crossed.
"Ah, you saw it, didn't you?" Reines shrugged.
"Yes, very clearly," Hishiri Adashino chuckled. "Though I couldn't confirm it in the bathhouse."
"You sly fox," Lord El-Melloi II sighed.
"What are you talking about?" Wills asked, bewildered. "What's up with the detective?"
"Before we get into that," Cyd tapped on the window, "take a look outside."
"Hm?" Kairi Sisigou raised an eyebrow and walked to the window, following Cyd's gesture. His eyes widened. "What the hell is that?!"
A door? No, it was more like a gate to a fairyland, but what emerged wasn't fairies—it was black dogs, and plenty of them!
Lord El-Melloi II, seeing this, chuckled bitterly and sat back on the sofa. "So it's come to this. There's no need to test the hypothesis; the worst-case scenario has already appeared. But it shouldn't be like this..."
"This might be my fault," Cyd said softly. "My scythe caused the 'gate' to open earlier than expected."
"I see, your power strengthened the connection between the underworld and the earth," Lord El-Melloi II rubbed his nose. "The power of death calls to death. You've reactivated this workshop."
"So what do we do now?" Kairi Sisigou shrugged, unfazed by the approaching pack of black dogs. He had seen far worse.
"We will end this," Cyd said, flexing his wrist. "How about we uncover the truth after we've survived?"
"Well, since that hypothesis is confirmed, the rest is..." Lord El-Melloi II stood up, glanced at Wills, and said, "The most important thing now is to stay alive!"
Lord El-Melloi, you really are a [Magus]!
"No, you all should stay here," Cyd said, tapping Lord El-Melloi II on the forehead. Before the surprised magus could react, he fell back onto the sofa.
"What are you doing?" Lord El-Melloi II rubbed his forehead and glared at Cyd.
"This is my responsibility," Cyd said, shrugging. "Of course, I'm going to deal with it."
"Don't be so arrogant! No matter what you do, it won't change the outcome. Don't think you can carry everything on your shoulders!" Lord El-Melloi II raised his voice.
Cyd looked at Lord El-Melloi II in silence. That look... It wasn't just directed at him. Behind those determined eyes was a man craving battle, yearning to fight alongside someone.
He didn't want to be, or rather, didn't want to continue being someone who could only stand by and watch.
"Alright," Cyd bent down and extended his hand to Lord El-Melloi II. "Let's fight together."
"You..." Lord El-Melloi II was taken aback, then smiled and grasped Cyd's hand. "I'm sorry, and thank you."
"Looks like I can't just sit around either," Kairi Sisigou said, pulling out a shotgun and loading it while glancing at Hishiri Adashino. "Can the Department of Policies cover the expenses?"
"Of course, considering we've gained some valuable information," Hishiri Adashino smiled brightly, causing Kairi Sisigou to grimace.
Just as Lord El-Melloi II said, she really is a sly fox.
The black dogs were closing in on the mansion. They were the dead, yearning for more companions, seeking to kill the living and add them to their ranks.
Cyd, carrying his scythe, watched the pack of black dogs. He didn't rush forward to slaughter them.
"A creation centered around the dead...?" Cyd lowered his scythe to the ground and looked toward the distant [gate], where he saw someone watching them, focusing on one person in particular.
"Looks like I'll have to play the villain this time."
"Cyd?" Gray asked quietly, gripping her scythe. "What should we do?"
"I'll leave the support to you," Cyd said, giving a thumbs up before walking toward the black dogs without looking back.
"I can..."
"O Earth!"
Before Gray could finish, Cyd raised his hand, and a crystal on his shining bracelet outshone all others, even in the storm.
"Bring forth the harvest."
The ground began to tremble, cracks spreading across the once-flat surface as shoots sprouted from the fissures.
"Create for me a path to victory!"
"Boom----"
Countless roots erupted from the cracks, intertwining in mid-air, and in an instant, a single-lane path leading straight to the [gate] appeared before him.
"Unfortunate souls," Cyd exhaled and charged toward the black dogs trapped by the vines. "Let me open the door to the underworld for you."
"Roar----"
Perhaps sensing the call of death, or maybe simply recognizing Cyd as a threat, the black dogs began to fuse as they charged at him, their size growing larger and larger.
"Saying you want support, but still trying to handle everything on your own," Lord El-Melloi II instinctively reached for a cigarette but remembered it was still raining and lowered his hand. "In the end, it always comes to this."
A straight black line cut through the massive black dog, and Cyd, with his scythe on his shoulder, slowly walked toward the gate.
"Because they are heroes," Kairi Sisigou said with a chuckle, putting away his shotgun. "Even a third-rate knight can protect... Ah, forget I said that."
"You... It seems the Holy Grail War was more complicated than you reported," Lord El-Melloi II sighed, watching the enormous black dog shatter and the light dim as Cyd stood before the [gate].
"All things must come to an end, and his scythe can bring that end sooner," Kairi Sisigou said, hands in his pockets. "It's over. That gate will likely close forever, and neither spirits nor fairies will ever set foot on this land again."
Behind them, Wills's expression changed. Before anyone could react, he pushed past Kairi Sisigou and rushed down the vine path toward Cyd.
"The dead should not interfere with the living."
Facing the woman who looked like a fairy, Cyd raised his scythe.
The fairy-like woman seemed not to notice the sharp blade, her clear eyes not even reflecting Cyd's figure. She only calmly watched someone running toward them.
"Goodbye."