151 Abnormal Magical Fluctuations

"Roy, wake up, please wake up..."

"Don't keep sleeping!"

In the outside world, Arcueid, who had rushed back at breakneck speed, arrived at the scene to find Roy lying amidst the ruins. Ciel, who had also just arrived, was there as well.

"Arcueid Brunestud?"

Ciel, who had also sensed the commotion and arrived, saw Arcueid holding Roy in the rubble. She looked at the still-unconscious Roy and asked, "What happened to him...?"

Hearing the voice, Arcueid turned her head to face the suddenly appearing Ciel, her eyes filled with wariness. Her arms around Roy tightened even more.

"Roy defeated Vlov alone, but that despicable Roa took advantage of the situation. Now he's unconscious."

"He's been reincarnated by Roa?!"

At Arcueid's words, Ciel's eyes narrowed slightly, her gaze fixed on the still-sleeping Roy. The Black Keys hidden in her sleeves were already instinctively drawn into her palms.

Roa!!

Just hearing that vile name was enough to ignite an uncontrollable rage in Ciel. She wished she could tear that demon, who had ruined her life, into pieces right then and there.

"What are you planning to do?!"

Sensing the obvious killing intent, Arcueid shielded Roy behind her, her eyes equally filled with anger as she glared at Ciel.

"I don't care what grudge you have against Roa, but as long as I'm here, you won't lay a finger on Roy! If you dare make a move, I will kill you!!"

"..."

Ciel didn't respond directly to Arcueid. Instead, she sighed, but the Black Keys in her hands remained unsheathed, still radiating a cold, murderous intent.

"Step aside, White Princess of the True Ancestors. He may no longer be the person you know. Killing him now, before Roa's reincarnation is complete, is the best solution."

"I know this is unfair to him, but do you really want to see Roa take over his body and wreak havoc? If Roa succeeds, I won't be able to stop him. Will you be able to fight him seriously then?"

Understanding Arcueid's intentions and aware that her own actions were biased, Ciel still made this choice. If Roa were to possess this body, no one present would be able to stop him, and the entire city would soon be plunged into an even more terrifying crisis.

She was certain that this was not the outcome Roy would have wanted.

Given the circumstances, she had no choice but to act.

However, afterward, she would take full responsibility for this sin, offering herself to Arcueid and his friends for whatever punishment they deemed fit.

No matter the consequences, she would accept them.

"Impossible! Roy would never lose to that disgusting Roa! He'll be fine. He's just asleep!"

Arcueid continued to shield Roy fiercely, refusing to let Ciel approach. Her crimson eyes and the bloodied claws that had emerged from her hands made her stance clear.

If Ciel took one more step forward, she would attack without hesitation.

"Princess..."

Merem, who had arrived last, witnessed the scene.

Seeing Roy lying unconscious in Arcueid's arms and the tense standoff between the princess and Ciel, he immediately understood what was happening.

He, too, felt a sense of helplessness. While he was absolutely loyal to the princess, in this situation, he found himself siding more with Ciel.

If Roa were to possess this body, no one in the Dead Apostle world, aside from the Black Princess and the White Princess, would be able to stand against him. The situation would only grow worse.

But would the princess truly be able to strike down Roa, even if he wore Roy's face?

He couldn't help but doubt it. For the sake of the princess and the safety of the entire Dead Apostle world, even if it meant betraying his duty, he had to act.

"Merem..."

Seeing Merem stand by her side, Ciel understood his choice and felt a slight sense of relief.

With the help of this seasoned veteran, her confidence in defeating Roa grew.

"Merem, hold off Arcueid. I'll take care of him."

Ciel didn't want Merem to dirty his hands. This sin was hers alone to bear; there was no need to drag others into it.

"...Alright, but be quick."

He glanced at the furious Arcueid, sighed, and then stepped in front of her.

"How dare you, Merem!!"

Seeing Merem and Ciel instantly align themselves, Arcueid let out a roar of anger.

Merem could only sigh, reluctantly standing before Arcueid and lowering his head as he whispered,

"Forgive me, Princess. For your sake, and for the safety of everyone, I have no choice but to make this decision."

"Is that so? Then you can die too!!"

At this point, there was no need for further pretense.

Arcueid had completely turned against Merem. If he dared to stop her, she would show no mercy.

Just as the tension reached its peak, a single spark away from igniting all-out conflict, a familiar voice emerged from Arcueid's arms.

"What are you all gathered here for? A midnight sparring session?"

Roy, who had just opened his eyes, found himself tightly embraced by the golden-haired princess. Seeing the two Executors across from him radiating killing intent, he immediately understood the situation.

"Roy!"

Seeing Roy awake, Arcueid immediately wrapped her arms around his neck, her voice filled with emotion. "Thank goodness, thank goodness! I knew you'd be fine."

"Be careful, Princess! He might be Roa!!"

Merem urgently warned.

But Arcueid, who was intimately familiar with both Roa's and Roy's auras, confidently replied, "Impossible. Roy is Roy. He's not Roa. Their scents are completely different."

"But..."

Merem wanted to say more, but Roy spoke first. He gave Arcueid a reassuring hug.

"Sorry for worrying you."

Then, turning to Merem and Ciel, he said, "Don't worry, you two. Roa has been dealt with—permanently. He won't be reincarnating ever again."

"What do you mean?"

Ciel, who harbored the deepest grudge against Roa, frowned, her eyes flashing with disbelief.

"Exactly what I said. I've transformed Roa into a special kind of existence. His emotions, desires, and even his sense of self have been eradicated. He will never reincarnate and threaten the world again."

"As for how I did it... Allow me to reintroduce myself. I am Roy, the current Magician of the Third Magic. The magic I command is Heaven's Feel."

A Magician?!

Hearing this thunderous title, Ciel fell silent, while Merem's eyebrows twitched slightly.

Compared to the titles of the Twenty-Seven Dead Apostle Ancestors or the Lords of the Clock Tower, the title of Magician carried far more weight.

Only those who wielded miracles could be called Magicians.

No wonder he was so powerful. His true identity was that of a new Magician.

"Heaven's Feel... I see, I see."

Unlike Ciel, who was relatively inexperienced and uninterested in the intricacies of magecraft, Merem, who had lived for an unknown length of time, immediately understood the significance of Roy's words.

Unable to contain himself, Merem burst into laughter. "Hahaha, I never would have thought that Roa, that fool, would try to possess the body of the Magician of the Third Magic."

"Roa may have been a master of reincarnation and mental attacks, but the Third Magic is a miracle specifically targeting the soul. For Roa to encounter you was like a mouse meeting a cat—an absolute natural enemy."

"That idiot Roa truly brought about his own destruction. This outcome is nothing but his own doing."

Seeing the expected turn of events, Arcueid felt a sense of unreality, but she trusted Roy's words. This meant...

She no longer had to chase Roa across the world. Her mission in the outside world was over, and she would soon return to the Millennium Castle.

But even though she had mentally prepared herself for this long ago, why did she still feel a lingering sense of reluctance...?

"Alright, Roa and Vlov have been dealt with. Now we can finally... Wait, no!"

"Huh?"

Cutting off the casual conversation, Roy, who had regained some of his strength, suddenly frowned. He immediately channeled his magical energy, opening all his senses to detect the source of the abnormal magical fluctuations.

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