An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

Turn your thumb downward and swing it down.

“Serves them right! The church deserves it!”

Meredith and Shirley cheered and high-fived to end the conversation, their movements perfectly in sync.

Or rather, their gestures and words simply didn't match.

Their gestures looked like they were simply luring each other here to be killed.

"Could it be that the so-called sewage treatment plant is..."

"The sewer is where you flush out filth, right?"

"Filth, huh?... So, all the wine in this room is red."

Natsu and the others' expressions twitched. A closer look revealed stains everywhere in the wine cellar. No, those must be red wine stains, because the only smell was red wine. It was as if someone had spilled red wine to cover up something.

"Come on, everyone, please come this way."

The manager smiled elegantly, and I don’t know if it was an illusion, but he looked like the ruler of hell.

"What's going on? Everyone's looking so weird. Ah, are you scared? Hey, are you scared? Pfft~!"

Seeing the grinning Meredith display her annoying skills, the Wanda family, who had been crying and trembling, regained their composure, veins popping out on their foreheads as they headed towards the underground passage below.

Mel followed behind, pinching Meredith's cheek.

"Should I say you're worthy of being a liberator?"

"As expected, the people who gather around Meredith are all weirdos."

Oscar and Natsu looked at each other, then followed with wry smiles on their faces.

Afterwards, the group was taken to a spacious underground space with bookshelves on the walls. It seemed to be a hotel and restaurant.

The bookshelves on the wall are filled with a large number of books and files, and the area that looks like a bar is filled with food and drinks.

There are about thirty sets of four-seater tables and chairs here, with a large amount of information piled up like a mountain. Men, women, young and old, all kinds of employees are working hard at their jobs.

At the back of the room there is a wooden round table separated by a partition.

"I welcome you all once again."

Reagan knelt respectfully in front of Milady, and Shirley and others followed suit and knelt behind him.

This is the scene where subordinates respectfully welcome the leader of the organization.

"How many times have I told you this is forbidden!"

Meredith made a cross sign with her hands and had an unhappy expression on her face.

"It's really frustrating that our leader won't even let us show him respect."

Reagan said with a wry smile, "I guess I'm used to it," and urged his subordinates to stand up.

"Alright, alright, let's cut to the chase! Long time no see everyone! I've brought a new companion!"

As Meredith said this with a smile on her face, the staff rushed towards her. They surrounded Meredith, each reporting on their recent situation or wanting to hear what she had to say.

"...Wow, how should I put it...Milaldi is really popular."

"Really? Mei's sister is the only one who loves Xiao Mi—I'm so jealous."

Seeing how welcome Meredith was, Chiara was impressed, while Mel seemed a little jealous. Oscar and Nez looked at Mel helplessly.

In a sense, although Oscar and the others felt left out...

However, the reason they kept silent was probably because the expressions on the faces of the people surrounding Meredith looked genuinely filled with joy.

"I'm really sorry, but since we haven't seen the leader in almost a year, we're a little overjoyed."

Reagan frowned and walked over to Oscar and the others.

It seemed that the people in the branch would not leave Meredith for the time being, so he led Oscar and the others to the round table inside to rest. Before they knew it, he even served each of them a cup of black tea.

As soon as she sat down, Mei'er tilted her head and asked:

"She's the leader of the organization, yet you haven't seen her for almost a year?"

"Because she's the leader."

Reagan said this, looking a little lonely.

"The leader is too strong."

Because of his strong strength, he can only show his abilities when acting alone.

Because no one can catch up with her.

This is true even for the Liberators in the execution force who are specifically responsible for combat.

"However, the leader only has one body."

Just listening to intelligence took up most of Mireddy's time, and she didn't have time to visit all the branches.

Mei'er nodded to show that she understood, and then she asked:

"We don't see each other often, so why is she so beloved?"

"You should understand, right? Because she is like the shining sun in the sky."

Reagan's words naturally reminded Mel and the others of the impression that Millardy Lathan had given them.

She dug bottomless pits in the earth, propped up islands, pushed back the sea, and even defeated monsters from the Age of Gods.

This special girl, possessing overwhelming power and a fighting spirit burning like a flame, radiates a brilliant, dazzling aura of the heavens, and gazes down upon the world below from the sky.

She even captured the hearts of Oscar and others who were also magicians of the Age of Gods.

Then──

"Those saved by the leader herself might even worship her."

Most of the others were also convinced by her.

"You too?"

Reagan's smile deepened when he heard Oscar ask this.

"I was in the organization before the leader joined the Liberators. I could almost be considered an early member, but..."

His eyes shifted to Shirley, who was smiling and holding Meredith, who was beginning to feel dizzy.

"When the leader should have abandoned her own people, she didn't abandon my daughter. I will never forget her life-saving grace."

Reagan reminisced about the past.

That was the day the church captured the branch where Shirley and her mother, Reagan's wife, were stationed. Awaiting them was an interrogation more painful than death, but the place they were taken to was guarded by the church's leading knight order.

All the supporters have realized it.

Even if they fell into the hands of the Church, they would never ask for help. For the sake of the future, we must not let the warriors die trying to save them when they are powerless.

This is not a great sentiment like a sense of mission.

Just for companionship.

They all thought so, but──

──I’m sorry, I didn’t make it, I’m sorry!

There was an eleven-year-old girl who apologized while crying like this.

In front of Reagan, Mireddy hugged Shirley tightly, crying as if she was hurt, and told him that she could not save her mother.

Despite her companions' attempts to stop her, Meredith stormed the enemy camp alone to rescue Shirley. Due to her inadequate strength, she was injured by the sheer force of numbers, but she didn't care about her injuries at all.

Others are like Reagan.

Everyone was impressed to see this girl's perseverance and radiance, constantly sacrificing herself for others and continuously saving those who could not be saved.

"It's inevitable, isn't it?"

So, Meredi Lessen was elected as the leader of the "Liberators".

“We have laid a heavy burden upon that person…on the shoulders of that child.”

She's still just a girl... Reagan seemed to be feeling guilty.

“Is that so… Then I feel relieved…”

Reagan looked up suddenly when he heard someone say this in a relieved tone.

Oscar was the speaker, and the expression on his face was very gentle.

Everyone's eyes were focused on Oscar. Natsu tilted his head and asked:

"What are you worried about?"

“Eh? Ah, uh…”

It seemed that he blurted out those words unconsciously.

Oscar looked a little embarrassed when he realized everyone was looking at him. However, he pushed his glasses up, took a deep breath, and then lowered his brows slightly as he expressed his feelings.

"No, actually, I was a little worried."

"Worried? Why?"

"Because Meredith is 'Lessen'."

[Grandate Empire] The House of Count Lesin—commonly known as the "Executioner Clan."

Who were they executing?

Of course, it's people like the "Liberators" who rebel against the world.

"And Belle...the former leader of the Liberator was killed by Lassen."

"!……really."

Natsu was speechless.

Qiara and the others gasped, and they faced Reagan nervously.

Mei'er also looked at Reagan, as if trying to see what was really in his heart.

"The bond between Meredith and Belle is undeniable. However, I wonder if all of you companions have been able to convey Meredith's feelings for Belle, or the ideals Belle has entrusted to Meredith."

Normally, Meredith should be a thorn in the side of the Liberator.

After all, until recently, she was one of their sworn enemies.

Even if she wiped out the Lassen clan with her own hands, it would be impossible for her to gain their trust easily.

"I've met a few members of the Liberators and seen their relationship with Meredith. Although I don't think there's anything to worry about..."

Oscar believed what Meredith believed.

Oscar entrusted his family to their care because they were companions whom he trusted.

but……

"I had my suspicions—that some of you were just using Meredith to become your leader."

Her overwhelming power suits her position as leader. He uses her as a banner to rally talent, yet inwardly he coldly treats the girl, once a hated enemy, as a strategic weapon in his 'Liberator'.

Oscar admitted that he was a little worried at first.

"Even if that's the case, Meredith will definitely accept it completely."

It wasn't just because she had a big heart.

The person who regrets Belle's death the most and the person who completely inherits Belle's will is none other than her.

──I caught up, I caught up this time!

Mel could hear again the cry of Meredith rushing to rescue her.

The meaning of the word "this time" was self-evident. At the same time, in Meredith's mind, the events of that time had not faded at all and were even clearer than ever.

"So I'm relieved. It seems I was really overthinking it."

Meredith still did not free herself from the circle formed by her companions, and they began to lift her up and cheer. Oscar looked at her with a smile on his face.

Seeing Oscar's expression, Chiara on the side let out a "Wow, Wow, Wow!" sound and could not say anything else, with excitement shining in her eyes.

Mei'er understood her feelings very well. She thought to herself, "What a mischievous little brother Oscar is!" With a mischievous smile on her face, she asked: