An ordinary profession creates the world's strongest

Hauser ignored Meredith's surprise and spoke in a monologue, as if to engrave his words into Meredith's mind:

"I have endured, hidden until now. Though it cost us lives that were abandoned, and those we could have saved, we have also grown stronger bit by bit. All so that one day, we can 'liberate' humanity from its unreasonable chains."

"……Um."

Seeing that Meredith had completely turned to face him, Hauser took a deep breath and said with determination:

"It's time to take the stage. Whether our efforts so far have been meaningful will be put to the test."

This war is just the prologue, the first step for the "Liberator" to leave his name in history.

and so……

"Don't worry about us, don't try to protect us. We are 'Walkers with Meredi Rasen'. For the sake of the world, for the future, for the free will of the people, you must give us your orders without mercy."

──No matter what happens in the future.

A tense silence fell as Meredith and Hauser stared at each other.

Hauser's words were both a rebuke and concern, and he also urged Miledy to be prepared.

Meredi felt it deeply and clenched her fists tightly.

"...Okay, I understand, Hauser. Don't underestimate Mi-chan!"

Meredith nodded solemnly in agreement, then immediately gave a thumbs-up and a smile.

Hauser snorted, dispelling the heavy atmosphere.

"Go up to fitting room number five. There's a recently built secret door inside that leads to the alley."

After saying this, Hauser went back to write his letter.

After looking at him for a while, Meredith looked as if she was itching and troubled, then she walked out through the secret door that Hauser mentioned.

In order to avoid being seen by others, Mireidi chose to walk on small paths whenever possible.

What Hauser had just said kept replaying in his mind.

(It feels like I've been seen through.)

The reason Meredith couldn't sleep was because of the possibility that had crossed her mind when she heard about the White Light Knights joining the war. No, that possibility had been lingering in the back of her mind ever since she received the news of the war.

"...Ross Byrne, I have to fight you again."

In the West Sea, Oscar, who had fought with him for the last time, told Meredith something.

Oscar speculated that maybe Ross was the one who saved the life of Meredith, the "most important sister in the world."

Although it has not been confirmed by Rouse himself, but...

(He's a magician from the Age of Gods, so it's not impossible... Besides, he doesn't look like a member of the Church at all...)

So Mireddy was half sure that when Berta disobeyed the church and God, it was Laus who gave Berta the future.

In other words, he was the one who created Meredith's current state. He was the one who transformed Meredith from the "second-in-command of the executioner clan" into a "human girl."

That's what she didn't tell Hauser.

For everyone in the Liberator, Berta is the 'light of hope'.

Even after death, she truly lives on in everyone’s hearts.

Accompanied by the words "under free will".

If they knew that Berta's benefactor was the leader of the White Light Knights, their companions would be extremely confused and would not be able to use their full strength in battle.

Although Miledi wanted to tell herself that the man was fine, it was possible that it was not what she thought.

Once she had doubts in her heart, she couldn't speak up. Even if she was convinced, she had no concrete evidence, and she didn't want to risk shaking her companions.

Because even Meredith herself would want to talk to Rouse.

(Hey, Ros Beyne, what were you thinking? Why didn't you run away with Belle? You were willing to go against God to protect your life, so why... why did you still side with them!)

"Oh my god! This is so inexplicable! I'm so angry!" Meredith grabbed her hair.

By chance, an elderly woman who looked like a housewife walked into the alley, stopped in surprise, and then ran away in a hurry.

After all, it's a normal reaction for a suspicious person with a hood covering his face to go crazy.

Meredith looked at the housewife's back, then came to her senses and sighed. She wondered if she could find a chance to talk to Royce.

She was muttering to herself, thinking constantly, and staggering in the alley.

An hour or two passed like this, and Meredith was so absorbed in her thoughts that she didn't notice the sun was setting.

“Hmm!”

"Ah ah!"

She came into physical conflict with the cause of her troubles.

"...Then I will have no choice but to destroy you."

“──!”

Ross's words, which lacked any intonation at all, brought Meredith back to reality from the world of memories.

However, at this time, Ross had his back to her, and she could not see his true thoughts from his eyes.

"You're not planning on fighting me here, are you? Let's go. The next time we meet on the battlefield—that'll be the final battle!"

Ross walked away, which should have been a clear rejection, but seeing his back, Milady felt that he seemed to be trying to wave something away. So, Milady asked:

"Why did you save Belle?"

Law stopped in his tracks, as if the words had turned into chains, blocking his movements.

He didn't answer, and perhaps Rolls himself didn't know the answer.

"What are you fighting for? Who are you fighting for?"

"Of course, it's for the greatest happiness of the greatest number of people."

This is a mechanical answer, just like an equation, answer B when asked A.

So Meredith smiled, a smile that came naturally to her.

“You didn’t say it was for God.”

“!…This is God’s will, and I am carrying out God’s will!”

"Really? If that's what you really mean—then look me in the eyes and say it again."

The positions of the scolder and the scolded seemed to have been reversed. Her stern, unavoidable gaze darted directly at Ross's back. Ross naturally felt her gaze, but he didn't turn around.

Seeing him, Meredith couldn't help but think of the lone, bruised wolf. The wolf was proud and powerful, possessing claws and teeth to protect the weak. But with a collar around his neck, he couldn't even roar. Like a dog on a leash, he could only bow his head and obey.

But it still convinced itself that it still had something to protect, and continued to throw itself into a war it didn't want to fight... And then one day...

"You've lost hope."

"! What do you know—"

Rouse, seething with emotion, turned around and yelled, "Don't talk like you understand." Then, he was shocked.

Meredith's celestial eyes were looking at him. There was no contempt, insult, disappointment, anger, or even hostility in her eyes.

"If I can prove in this battle that I won't lose to anyone. If I can become your hope—"

──Are you willing to move forward hand in hand with me?

A shining light of hope. Meredith looked directly into Royce's heart, her eyes sparkling with hope.

It's like finding some irreplaceable treasure.

As if he was sure that he could touch it as long as he reached out.

"What did you say……"

His voice was hoarse, and it was unclear whether it was because of the invisible collar around his neck, or because of the incredible amount of emotion surging from his heart.

Meredith announced to Royce with a smile.

"I promise you that I will take back your free will, Rouse Byrne!"

"──"

The two of them were silent, just staring at each other. Royce seemed to be glaring, while Meredith's eyes were full of arrogance.

At this moment, the two of them looked in another direction at the same time.

“…Is it Elem?”

It seems that Alem is looking for Rouse and is quite close.

The deputy head actually came to look for someone in person...

Was it an emergency, or was it just Alem's personal doubts?

Royce closed his eyes.

When he opened his eyes again, only cold emotion remained in them.

"Let's go now before I change my mind."

"Um."

Meredith turned and ran away in the alley, but she quickly stopped and turned back.

"Ross Byrne, thank you for saving Belle! I am who I am today because of you!"

As if clearing away the fog, Meredith said this with a broad smile on her face.

Before Royce could reply, Meredith disappeared into the alley with a cat-like movement.

As if taking over from Meredith, Alem appeared from another alley.

Knowing that the pair of black eyes with doubt were looking at him, Ross sighed softly as if to vent his feelings.

After the almost inevitable chance reunion with Ross, Meredith's hesitation was swept away and she returned to the branch with a cheerful expression.

Then she was beaten by Hauser's fist, and immediately her laughter turned to tears.

Meredith said she was going for a walk, but she didn't come back after several hours. Hauser would naturally be worried. It would be fine under normal circumstances, but this was wartime, and Meredith was still tired.

Meredith was ordered to sit up straight, and Hauser, with a furious look on his face, lectured her on "leadership consciousness." Meredith tearfully apologized, while the branch members squinted at her, saying things like, "I miss you so much," "You were very common four years ago," "You haven't grown at all," and "You haven't grown physically either, you're still as small and cute as ever."

Then, when Meredith's feet began to twitch due to numbness and pain—

"...Why can't you just go to sleep?"

Natsu, having gotten up, rubbed his temples as if trying to endure a headache, and spoke in a voice that seemed to be in a state of unbearable pain. With Natsu's words, the lecture finally came to an end.

Hauser grabbed Meredith by the back of her collar, told her to get some rest, and threw her into bed. With her worries gone, she fell asleep quickly this time.

A few hours later, when the veil of night fell completely—

"Well, Hauser and everyone, it's almost time for us to get going."

After Meredith's physical strength and magic power had recovered to a certain extent, the branch members gathered in the shop after closing time, and Meredith said goodbye to them.

Next to her was Natsu and Mei, who was wrapped in a blanket.

"Anyway, how about we wake her up before heading out?"

Branch Minister Hauser made very reasonable suggestions.

"I can't wake him up."

No, she was awake, only half awake. Meredith tried to pinch Mei'er's cheek, who was lying on the floor in the quilt, and shouted, "Get up! Mei'er! Let's go!" But Mei'er just pulled her face back into the quilt, like a turtle.

"Hey, Mei'er."

"...The battle is still too close to call, right? Then it's all right, Mimi. Let's set off tomorrow, shall we?"

"Stop talking nonsense and get out of the quilt."

"don't want."

It's really annoying. In fact, Sister Mei'er has been curled up in the quilt for more than eight hours. It seems that she likes the quilt here very much.

As expected of a major trade association, the quilts in this branch are of the highest quality. If that were the case, I'd have experienced it at the inn in the Esperade branch. But perhaps because the quilts here are made from local materials, they feel supreme to Mei.

"Xiao Mi, I'm not a hardworking person. I prefer to take things slow."

"What are you talking about, Pirate Queen? You were clearly very diligent when preparing for the armed coup."