I...have...been...defeated...?

Lord...Lu...us...Disciple D...I...

I paved...the way...to the...Six...Heroes'...destruction...

Why...did...I...have..to...be...defeated...like..this...

This...form...should...have...made...my...body...sur...vive...much...long...er...

This...is...all...that...wo...man...I...lia's...fault...

Be...cause...they...seal...ed...Lu...

My...pow...er...is...

Phew... I've finally caught up...

*Pant* *pant* Hans, have you done it?

*Pant* *pant* ... Phew.

You did it!

Now this should better Lord Owen's mood a bit!

...... W-Well, it looks like you've gotten better at this stuff.

I guess I should give you some credit this time.

What?! Don't give me that look!

L-Listen here!

If I praise you in front of everybody else, then you'll start acting like an egomaniac!

So...you know!

......

Though, honestly, after fighting against an enemy that disgusting...

...I don't think anyone would be in the mood to do much else...

Hans, thanks for the help.

But there's still that whole thing with Karl...

I don't think I'll be of much help with that. Maybe you're our only hope...

Hans, Seria! What happened to Melord?

S-Seria, what's wrong?

N-Nothing at all!

Hans defeated Melord!

But it was a close one though, so I was making sure it never happens again!

I-Is that so?

But, you defeated Melord! I knew you could do it, Hans.

R-Right...

Seria, what's wrong?

Nothing. Everything's fine.

Anyway, what happened to Lugina?

On the way we heard some screaming, so we thought maybe there was a fight taking place...

I hurried here too, but...

So he was the first one out there, but we don't even know what for...

Huh? I did what now?!

Ah, there he is!

...don't act like you just saw a monster.

Anyway, that beast was a total pain.

Even though it looked like some kind of cat, it had a whole bunch of tentacle-like tails!

Lugina, you weren't out there enjoying yourself, were you?

Yeah right! You can't even imagine what I've been through!

Tsk, whatever. All that matters is that it looks like you guys finally beat Melord.

Hmph.Not by much, it would seem.

Lord Owen! And Lord Grahdens, too!

It is a good thing that you made it in time.

Owen. I believe they should continue on their mission.

You're too soft.

...... I shall overlook it this time.

Next time, however, I will not allow it.

Owen, you are much too strict, and expect far too much.

Grahdens, you've always taken pleasure in angering me since long ago, haven't you?

Very well then. Should we continue where we left off?

Our younger colleagues are watching. You must forgive me, but I find this much too embarrassing.

Hmph. No matter how many years pass, you still excel at deceiving the young.

You. How dare you show yourself in front of me? Are you truly prepared for a fight?

Owen, you are strict, while Grahdens gladly gives his support.

And so shall you continue acting that way as you once again send young Summoners to their deaths?

Humph, don't be ridiculous. I do not do such silly things.

Although I have no idea of what Grahdens has in mind.

Owen, there is no need to speak such things about me, fine as they may be...

Tsk, you two are as infuriating as ever.

I hope you are prepared.

I will keeping preparing until I can kill you both.

Do not think you can rest as long as you are in Ishgria.

......

...that voice. Could it be...? Are you Mirfah?

...?!

You are, aren't you?

Though you look quite different, I can still see a trace of your youth in your eyes.

I know nothing of that man.

However, there is one thing I can tell you both.

Owen, Grahdens. You shall both die by my hands.

Do you think you can escape?!

......

Hmph, as you wish.

Um, Lord Grahdens...

Hm?What is it, my pretty little Paris?

Lord Grahdens, do you know who that man is?

Hm... Yes, I do. Would you lend me your ears for a short while?

Ugh. We're going to have to listen anyway, even if we say no.

Ho ho ho.Yes, I suppose that is true.

I want you to listen to my...no, our confessions.

Confessions...?

...... That man's name is Mirfah.

When the Akras Summoners' Hall was first founded, he led the 10th Squadron of the Demon Slayers.

The 10th...

But that squad number has been retired, hasn't it? Like the rest of the single digit squads?

Yes, that is correct.

Owen had the first, I the second, another Summoner known as Warlon, the third.

These three squads are now retired, as we no longer operate.

Warlon in particular was unwilling to fight any longer...

My apologies, I have trailed off.

But the reason the fourth through the tenth are now absent is another matter altogether.

......

Some time after the establishment of the Summoners' Hall, our organization finally began to stabilize.

The top echelon of the Summoner's Hall, including Owen and myself...

...became the captains of these 7 squads, and were sent off on orders to investigate Ishgria as a recon squad.

Every single one of them was highly capable.

Also, their skill was more than sufficient to assume they would be successful.

The captain of the recon squad was Griff, leader of 4th Squadron of the Demon Slayers.

At that time, as we were out on the front lines of battle, the training of the Summoners...

...was left to loutish soldiers, you see.

The leader of the 5th Squad was Iris.

Thanks to her fantastic research, Grand Gaia's research made incredible leaps.

The 6th Squad was captained by Kafka.

Her knowledge of magic was expansive, and she restored a variety of old techniques.

Though she was a tad odd.

Rhoa led the 7th Squad.

He was quite knowledgeable in otherworldly techniques, though one could've never made that guess from his flashy appearance.

Kafka and Rhoa's constant arguments often angered me.

Now that I think of it, the father of Noel from the Research Lab was actually Rhoa's nephew.

He's that brat's relative...?

Libera took charge of the 8th Squad.

And just like Paris, she was a member of the Imperial Guard.

She was very serious, and of course very capable.

She was my delight. Again, not unlike my dear little Paris.

......

Krantz commanded the 9th Squad.

An extremely brilliant youth.

I was looking forward to one day seeing him lead the Summoners' Hall.

And then, there was the 10th Squad of the Demon Slayers, led by Mirfah.

Although the youngest, his personality made him beloved by all.

An adorable, friendly child.

Krantz, in particular, was attached to him.

At first, Mirfah was not supposed to be part of the recon squad...

...but Krantz insisted, saying that he would protect him.

Krantz wanted to see Mirfah grow through this mission.

At that time we saw them all as very capable, we thought it no problem...

...and we let that plan go into action.

......

And yet, not a single one of them returned from that recon mission...

......

Presently, we have confirmations of the destruction of squads Four through Nine.

However, Mirfah's death was never confirmed.

There was a faint hope...

...that Mirfah would return. And that is why the recon squad numbers were retired.

......

But this story has gotten long enough

This is all I can tell you at this point.

So Mirfah from Ishgria's Recon Squad is still alive?

But, decades have passed since then, and although his body has changed so much...

And yet despite all that, it can still be said to be true...?

Yes, we have not forgotten them.

Nor how our simple decision sent them off to their deaths.

Owen, the truth is you were aware of exactly what was happening, weren't you?

Otherwise, I believe you wouldn't have let your opponent escape so easily.

Hmph...

......

Okay, we've listened. Now let me ask you something.

You Summoners of Old already knew about and searched Ishgria.

How did you learn about this place?

And, how did you get here?

......

That's right. We came to this land after Tilith sacrificed herself for us...

You all used some kind of information as a base to assume...

...that we should survive in this land this time, but...

...as long as we don't know what that is, there's no way we can do our job here.

......

Lugina, what a dull man you are.

Have you no faith in your own abilities?

What? You know that's not what this is about.

The reason is simple. This time, Grahdens and I acted directly.

That is all.

So basically you don't want to spit it out.

Whatever.

But I'll remember this. And I WILL complete my mission.

This moment you all prepared me for.

And Hans!

Next time, I want to hear about Melord's dying moments!

Might be able to figure something more about why Mora hated him so much.

Lord Grahdens, Lord Owen, I have many questions as well.

But, right now I have to fight for a dear friend.

So I'll continue with my mission in this land for now.

Once this is all resolved though, I'm gonna need to let off some steam, so be please be ready for that.

Lord Grahdens allowed me to become a part of the Summoners' Hall.

There's still a lot that I don't know, but I want to believe in my own choices.

As well as in the feelings of my companions.

That's why I won't say anything.

Just don't make me feel like cutting my hair again, okay?

Haha. Hans, let's go.

You're still going to press on, no matter what dangers lie ahead, right?

You don't have to say anything.

There are still a lot of things left for you to do here.

They have all gone ahead...

Owen. When do you think we shall receive our judgment?

Hmm, there is much that we will be judged for.

I have been prepared for a long time.

I have been prepared since the first time I visited Grand Gaia, and...

...encountered Akras's dying will in his hidden land.

Akras, eh...

People live by their own will. But in those days, that was an arduous path to take.

However, we have finally made it to Ishgria.

And the new young sprouts continue to grow.

I do believe that our roles will soon be at their ends.

Don't talk such nonsense.

Our battle has not yet ended.

And it will not until my own life ends.

Ho ho ho. You never change.

Well then. I shall continue to fight as long as life courses through me.

Believe in us as you fight, and in those who have already fallen.