The magic cards I made are absolutely flawless!

As for her temperament and demeanor, they make people feel that she is Mia!

"You, who exactly are you?!"

Judith's eyes widened.

She simply couldn't accept it, and couldn't believe what was happening before her eyes.

The little black-haired girl who came with them all the way to the Kingdom of Philowen was none other than the famous Shadow Bishop, the most powerful card master of the Church of Resurrection!

The Shadow Bishop smiled slightly, but with a hint of bitterness.

"The two idols, and Chloex, please stop."

Even the tone of the Shadow Bishop's voice made them even more hesitant.

Exactly, just like Mirna, whom they usually interacted with.

But the three of them immediately became alert.

It's very likely a trick by the Shadow Bishop, trying to lower their guard and then crush them in one fell swoop!

However, the term "idol group" is used.

It's a term that the members of the Beautiful Minds group use privately.

How could the Shadow Bishop possibly know?

“I will help Dekan stop the Bishop of the End; you go and stop the Bishop of Falsehood.”

"The Shadow Bishop said softly."

Before Chloex could ask anything, the Shadow Bishop had already turned and left.

Just as Judith was about to seize the opportunity to rush forward and subdue the seemingly unsuspecting Shadow Bishop, Chloeux firmly grabbed her hand.

"Let's follow her first."

Chloeux looked at the Shadow Bishop with a complicated expression.

She wasn't just with Mir.

The figure is too similar to the image of the Dark Saintess in my memory.

……

"Who is it?"

"Minos??!"

"Making jokes like this at this time is not funny at all."

"...You're not...really serious, are you?"

Suddenly, the entire episcopal council seemed to explode with energy, creating a chaotic and turbulent atmosphere that caused Dekan's nerves to ache repeatedly.

"Minos, do you know what you're saying?"

Even the usually taciturn Bishop of the End began to convey his thoughts.

However, the Shadow Bishop did not respond to them at all.

It seemed as if they had tacitly acknowledged their questions, and were simply waiting for Dekan to respond.

You don't owe me anything.

Dekan opened his eyes and murmured softly.

He had long suspected that Mie was Minos.

I just see through it but don't say it out loud.

"I've repaid what the Dark Saintess Milia owed you."

The Shadow Bishop answered, then added, as if in coded language,

"As for the incident where we hypnotized Alice together, I hope we can both take it to our graves."

"Um."

Dekan responded simply.

Only Dekan and Mier knew about the incident where Alice was scared unconscious and then hypnotized.

The Shadow Bishop's words completely proved to Dekan that he was indeed Mieur.

"Dekan, when we meet again, we will be true enemies."

As Mir spoke this last sentence, his voice grew increasingly cold, as if bidding farewell.

"……knew."

Dekan seemed to want to say something, but in the end he only responded with a simple thought, and let go of the hand holding the [Proof of the Painful Bishop] as if he had lost all strength.

So that's how it is...

Mier, as expected, became certain of her relationship with Milia.

or.

Besides the Shadow World, she had also experienced the Dream of the Holy Kingdom. Long before she met Dekan at school, Mia had already possessed some of Milia's memories.

Dekan didn't quite understand why Mie said, "The Dark Saintess owes Dekan."

Although Dekan saved the Dark Saintess in the Shadow World.

But that was just a replay of history; in history, it was not Dekan who saved the Dark Saintess.

unless……

In the Holy Kingdom back then, the one who truly rescued the Dark Saintess was...

It's Deloitte!!

It seems like I've figured everything out.

For a moment, a number of memories flashed through Dekan's mind.

Why was Mir so friendly to him when they first met?

She would almost absurdly believe him and become his friend.

Her overly similar views on friendship even led Dekan to doubt whether this person was his half-sister.

So that's what it all meant.

It was all a phrase Deloitte taught Milia—

"Even if there is a risk of betrayal, if neither party changes, the relationship will never improve. Even if there is a possibility of betrayal, you must believe. In time, even a devil will make true friends."

as well as.

The Shadow Bishop later risked his life to sneak into the Kingdom of Landil, secretly trying to help Dekan eliminate the threat posed by the Corrupt Bishop Fahim.

Perhaps that time, Mie was trying to repay the debt that Milia owed to Delois.

Unfortunately, Clay beat him to it, and Mia didn't really offer any real help.

Thus, Mia's gratitude was reserved for this truly deadly crisis.

"Pfft."

Dekan finally collapsed to the ground, utterly exhausted.

The moment Dekan heard the words "the real enemy," he understood—

Mieux was an Imperial.

The stance of the Imperial Sword Saint Adair is already quite clear.

After this fierce battle between the Kingdom Federation and the Church of Resurrection, regardless of who wins or loses, the Saron Empire will take advantage of the Kingdom Federation's weakened state to launch a new war.

Just now, even though Dekan's first reaction was to say to Mier, "Aren't enemies friends too?"

But the words that were about to come out seemed to be stuck in his throat, and he couldn't say them no matter what.

Mir, who was usually so carefree and loved to joke, actually spoke to him in such a cold tone.

Just like those ten days or so in the Shadow World, when the Dark Saintess regarded him as her mortal enemy.

Dekan knew that Mier was serious.

After today, they will have a relationship like that of a demon and a dark saintess.

Kingdomsmen and Empiresmen will only be mortal enemies on the battlefield.

"Attention all Kingdom personnel, the Shadow Bishop has betrayed us. Cease your attempts to intercept her."

After relaying orders to the entire city through the control center, Dekan finally completed his task.

Immediately, the entire capital city, where people from all the kingdoms who were watching the battle, erupted in thunderous cheers once again.

"What's going on? Even the Shadow Bishop has been persuaded by Dekan to switch sides?"

"How did he do that?! Is that even possible?!"

"You can always trust Dekan!"

"After this battle, he will be an unparalleled hero!!"

Even the cheers coming from all directions were audible to Dekan, who was inside the arena.

Dekan, however, felt utterly listless and unable to muster any energy.

There was no longer the joy of impending victory as there had been before.

"What did I gain from this battle...?"

Dekan leaned back against the magical device, his usually resolute gaze showing a hint of confusion for the first time.

If you were to ask Dekan what he cherishes most in this world...

Dekan can now give the answer without hesitation.

It is neither money nor fame, nor magic cards.

It's not the friends who are by my side, but the ones who stay with me.

If he could, he wished Mir would always be his companion, and that they could always be happy together.