*
Blanc, wielding the power of the Demon God, was under a delusion.
She thought she was the only one who had returned to this time frame.
Revived through the heir’s abilities, Blanc never considered the possibility that Lee Soo-hyun or Pina might have time-traveled too.
“Why is it so quiet? Not a single ant in sight.”
“The future-seeing magic mirror is also blocked.”
The Grand Hertz Academy was as silent as when they last faced battle.
Even the resurrected Demon Kings couldn’t help but comment on the peculiar atmosphere.
“Hehe, it’s definitely my noble lord…”
Having seen this scene before, Blanc smiled slyly.
It hadn’t changed that she had evacuated people to protect them.
No matter how hard she tried, she couldn’t change a predetermined fate unless it was the Grand Route.
Was it not luck that allowed her to be reborn in this time frame through the heir’s ability?
“If I can really capture the Hero of Conviction, do I get to revive others too?”
“Of course! Did you see me lying?”
He didn’t even know that he’d gotten stronger and returned to now.
The thought of the Black Knight shattering everything he loved thrilled Blanc.
“I’m starting to not trust you.”
“I agree with you on that.”
However, unlike her, the Demon Kings of the Hero Church wore uncomfortable expressions.
Their relationship was in a bad state, much like a glass about to shatter.
The Almighty Demon King let out a long sigh while the Demon King of Might clicked his tongue.
They were once heroes fighting together to defeat the Demon God.
“So… are you saying you won’t listen to me? Do you want to go back to being dirt?”
Now the situation had reversed.
Blanc was threatening them with a smile that showed no change in expression.
Even knowing that she had to kill her own comrades to become the Demon God.
Lovers, family, and friends were taken hostage, leaving them no choice but to follow her orders.
“……”
Now they were no longer in a trusting relationship.
The Head sensed something strange when looking at the empty death notebook but didn’t inform Blanc.
Was it because beings who had already defied death had appeared in this world?
An unidentifiable sense of unease continued to swirl in her heart.
“Fine. It would’ve been nice if we all just went in together sooner.”
They could neither move forward nor backward, and eventually reached the Academy’s main gate.
The Grand Hertz Academy, firmly protected by Asha Aureus’ Phoenix.
As she looked at the so-called invincible barrier, Blanc drew a line of hope on her lips.
‘It’s exactly the same as before.’
If Lee Soo-hyun or Pina had returned here as heirs,
they would’ve known the Phoenix’s cradle would get breached quickly.
It was now confirmed. She was the only one who had returned to this time frame.
“If I have the Holy Lance Longinus, this should be easy.”
Blanc summoned her blue spear and threw it again.
Like last time, the Phoenix would scream and lower the barrier.
She thought it’d be that easy.
“Uh-oh…?”
Contrary to Blanc’s expectations, the Phoenix’s cradle was released just before the Holy Lance touched it.
As if it already knew she would use the spear.
The spear slipped from Blanc’s hand and flew towards a muscular man.
“I found it. My weapon.”
He snatched the Holy Lance Longinus with immense strength and spoke.
He had black hair similar to Lee Soo-hyun, but with much more impressive muscles.
“Y-you are?!”
Blanc recognized that face.
He was the man next to the Northern Duchess during the last battle at the Academy.
Unless it was the Grand Route, fate should repeat itself.
How was this person here at that moment? It should have been Licht showing up.
How could this be?
‘Could it be, could it be?!’
The past has changed.
No matter how hard she thought, the only answer was that.
If all world lines combined into the Grand Route, it was entirely possible to create new possibilities.
“We need to get out of here right now! This is a trap─”
“Whose permission do you think you need?”
Just as Blanc tried to turn into a card to escape the Academy,
a larger Phoenix wing than before enveloped the surroundings, blocking her exit.
“This is… Nex Aureus’ spirit magic.”
The purple flames seemed to move like living beings.
The Phoenix that was now much larger was enough to overwhelm just by looking at it.
“Yeah. I was really pissed off because of you guys.”
Spirits are beings influenced by emotions.
Nex appeared next to Giseok, adding a comment.
He even waved to the Almighty Demon King like he was greeting a familiar face.
“Damn it, we need to get out of here! Time is blocked even when I rewind..!!”
“If we just kill them, isn’t that okay?”
Except for Blanc, who understood the gravity of the situation, the Demon Kings of the Hero Church were preparing to fight.
Infinity cracked his knuckles while the Head pulled out a gun aimed at the opponent.
“Sure, ordinary people who are not heroes can’t stand against a Demon King, right?”
Even the Black Cloud, the Almighty Demon King, was underestimating the opponent.
There were four of them, and two of the opponent, ordinary people without a holy sword couldn’t lose, in their minds.
Ultimately, Blanc couldn’t trust them, so she didn’t explain about the Grand Route.
Therefore, this ragtag team had already been anticipated.
“No! No! This shouldn’t be! The Black Knight should appear now!!”
Blanc yelled loudly because situations were different from what she had experienced.
Why had suddenly the ability to manipulate time and space disappeared?
It felt like someone had taken the god’s abilities she copied.
Originally, Licht should have appeared here, and the hero and mage should have rushed in.
But now, the two men before her were like beings that shouldn’t exist.
“Plints, can you really stop them?”
“Please don’t call me that….”
“Ha ha, sorry. I just find it hard to pronounce your real name from your world.”
Watching the attacks heading their way, Giseok lightly smiled.
The true nature of the Holy Lance Longinus wasn’t just to inflict damage on spirits.
It could strike things that do not exist in reality.
This meant it could also counter the powers of Demon Kings.
“Well, my friend asked me to block it just once…”
He focused his mind and tightly gripped the spear.
All his nerves were concentrated on the spearhead, preparing to throw it back at the opponent.
The revolver was fired from a distance.
The foot of the giant approached from the sky.
And roots began rising from the ground, which he had to eliminate all at once.
“Let’s give it a shot.”
Combat and defense in one move.
──KWA-BOOOOM!!
With a thunderous noise like a bomb exploding, the Holy Lance Longinus flew back.
“……?!”
“A warrior who can handle the Holy Lance Longinus?!”
“Uh… we have to… avoid…”
The lance passed by, causing an enormous explosion that erased everything in its path. The Demon Kings prepared their defenses.
In an instant, a scene unfolded.
A human who didn’t seem like a hero had bounced back the powers.
“Got it. Su-hyun, let’s go as planned.”
“We’ve blocked their escape and succeeded in confusing the Demon Kings, Licht.”
The moment they blocked the attack of the Demon Kings, they opened their mouths to the sky.
Then, the surroundings began to grow so dark that nothing could be seen.
*
“No! This can’t happen…!!”
Blanc flailed, trying to escape the darkness.
Could someone have really created the Grand Route?
This sort of historical deviation shouldn’t occur.
Anxiety kept creeping in.
This time, she might really die.
“Now, only I should be able to touch this world line!!”
When she returned to the past and died, her abilities had activated perfectly.
Now, no matter how much she tried to manipulate time or space, it was failing.
‘All the other Demon Kings disappeared all at once.’
As she watched her fingers pass through the darkness without meaning, despair engulfed Blanc.
Was bringing back the other Demon Kings the problem?
This was the same situation she faced when she suffered under the Power of Pure Thought years ago.
“Do you really think so?”
“…My noble lord?”
A rumbling voice sounded in front of Blanc.
A Black Knight clad in pitch-black armor appeared from the darkness.
There was no doubt about it. Only one person could have that appearance.
“Aha, I see. You’ve also come back to life like me, my noble lord..?”
The Hero of Conviction, chosen as the heir, who had repeatedly gone through life and death.
He was Lee Soo-hyun, who had possessed Licht’s body before, and now regained his original form.
“It seems the Grand Route is still incomplete. Considering you’ve come to me like fate…♡”
“…….”
Blanc swallowed hard as she saw the Black Knight.
She attempted to deceive him with lies, seeing him reveal himself.
“Oh my, this time even using your powers to erase your existence won’t work.”
“……?!”
“I already prepared for that when I killed my past self.”
Like the ship of Theseus, Blanc had mixed past and present.
She had already transformed into a being incapable of being erased by power.
Unless she completed the Grand Route and killed him, there’s no way she would die at all.
‘Stay calm. The Grand Route might still be incomplete.’
Blanc sought a glimmer of hope as she denied reality.
If the Grand Route is incomplete, she could overlay the world line that had been defeated.
It became obvious seeing him come forward to kill herself.
Just as the Black Knight swung his sword to behead her right then.
“Hehe, the flustered look is adorable.”
“……!!”
Blanc blocked the strike with a card, grinning wickedly.
Then, the sound of metal clashing echoed continuously, clang clang—!
‘Wait a minute…? Did he always attack like this?’
The golden-eyed gaze shone from within the helmet, probing Blanc’s weaknesses.
With the increasing frequency of attacks, she just needed to stall for a bit longer to overlay the world line.
But something felt different, a strange discomfort sharpened her senses.
“I finally caught you, my noble lord..♡”
“……”
In the ongoing back and forth, Blanc unleashed her pre-laid card, trapping the Black Knight’s movements.
Seeing him flailing as he was captured, Blanc couldn’t contain her excitement.
Of course.
She could still summon the defeated world line.
The Grand Route was not complete.
“Ugh… ugh…”
“If you defy me… this is what happens.”
Blanc twisted the Black Knight’s wrist slightly to make him drop his sword.
Watching the shimmering glass sword fall to the ground, she finally allowed herself to revel in her victory.
“Now, show me that handsome face… oh?”
The moment Blanc lifted the mask to see his face,
she couldn’t help but freeze instantly.
“Why do you have my noble lord’s helmet—?!”
“Why? Did you think you could only trick others?”
With white hair and golden eyes,
the true identity of the Black Knight, who had been fighting her, was Pina Grancia.
“Thanks for falling for it.”
Then, another voice echoed behind her.
“Idiot.”
Stab!
At that moment, Lee Soo-hyun pierced Blanc’s heart.
