Chapter 582 – The Transfer Operation

“—To think that such a function was hidden within the Chronicle of Zero: The Beginning of History.”

The campaign against Avalon had been filled with surprises, but for Nell, the greatest shock was the revelation of the secret hidden within the monument she had been familiar with since childhood.

“It has not all been deciphered. The only function I know of is transfer.”

Yes—the Chronicle of Zero: The Beginning of History contained the ability to invoke transfer magic.

It was theorized that in the age of ancient civilization, these stele-type transfer devices were used to facilitate instantaneous transport, making human travel and communication swift and efficient. By harnessing the earth’s ley lines, they had been constructed in two forms: large-scale devices for long-distance transfers between major cities, and small-scale devices for short-range transfers within a single settlement. The jet-black monolith—called The End of History on the Ark Continent, and The Beginning of History on the Continent of Pandora—had been identified in research as one of these short-range transfer devices.

However, this was not public knowledge within the Republic; rather, it was treated as a matter of state secrecy. That Sariel knew of it at all was, of course, because she once held the supreme office of an Apostle, and further because of her ties to the White Relic.

In Sinclair Republic, the White Relic stood at the forefront of ancient magic research. The emergency escape spell Heaven’s Gate, embedded within the Grand Cross of the Holy Spear, was in fact a direct application of the research into the Chronicle of Zero.

Thus Sariel knew, and moreover, she understood to some degree how to operate it.

And since she had already betrayed the Church, there was no longer any reason for her to keep such secrets hidden.

When the assassination of Lily was being planned, it was only natural that this information came from her lips.

After all, once it became clear that Lily—whose appearance was impossible to overlook—had reached Avalon without being sighted once after leaving, the hypothesis that she had used transfer magic was immediate.

As Nell’s reaction showed, the transfer function of the Chronicle of Zero was still undiscovered knowledge on Pandora. If Lily had used it, she would surely have assumed it to be her own exclusive advantage.

Unbeknownst to others, it became her blind spot.

“The bombardment has ceased.”

“Explosion detected. Lady Fiona seems to have transferred successfully to the target location.”

“Was the cannon destroyed?”

“Unknown. But with Lady Fiona engaged, continued precise fire would be impossible.”

The plan had succeeded—Fiona transferred in close to Lily to engage her directly, while Sariel and Nell advanced in the meantime.

Ideally, all three would have transferred, but Sariel alone could operate the device. She had to remain at the origin point, and it would take too long to send more than one person. To complete the transfer swiftly without arousing suspicion, one at a time was the limit. With her knowledge and skill, that was the utmost she could achieve.

Meanwhile, Lily—who had made this place her stronghold—undoubtedly knew far more about ancient magic and devices than Sariel did. Their trick could only work once. By now, Fiona’s transfer path was almost certainly sealed.

That left Sariel and Nell no choice but to run the rest of the way.

“…At last, I hear it too.”

Explosions rumbled in succession, flashes of light tearing across the red-black sky. The clash between Lily and Fiona could not have been clearer.

“Lady Fiona cannot last alone. We must hurry.”

“She could manage a little longer, don’t you think? We did slog through hell to survive those bombardments.”

Nell pouted, dissatisfied. If Fiona struggled a bit on her own, it seemed only fair.

“Lady Fiona must not be allowed to die. We must eliminate every risk. For the Master’s sake—she is a woman indispensable to him.”

His one and only lover—for now.

Sariel spoke plainly, unaware of the bitterness Nell bit back.

“The Master needs you as well, Nell. That is why you must not die.”

“…Much obliged.”

Hardly a declaration to be happy about, but still—Nell’s pace picked up a little.

Fortunately, their path to Lily’s headquarters was clear. The ruined city held no ambushers or traps. The only obstacles were fallen towers and heaps of rubble, but to masters of martial movement like them, such hindrances were negligible.

“We’re close now.”

They sprinted through the ruins in no time, until the massive shadow of the sky-fortress came into view.

“…No. Something comes.”

Above, a red meteor streaked across the sky—straight at them.

Lily’s magic. Without needing to signal one another, both leapt away just before impact.

The blazing rock smashed through a ruined spire, detonating in a storm of force. Already clear of the blast, the two landed and resumed their run—until a voice halted them.

“Really, Fiona has undone all my efforts. I worked so hard to make this a paradise, and now it’s a ruin again.”

Even her complaint sounded elegant, carried by a beautiful, lilting voice.

“And now two more guests arrive to trample through. I won’t allow it. So—”

They turned.

“—I will end you here.”

Lily. A fairy maiden, her butterfly wings gleaming blood-red with malice.

“Lily… it truly is you.”

“Oh yes, you spied on me before, didn’t you? Near the Twenty-First Defense Tower, was it? It was wise to retreat then. Had you called out to me at the time…”

Her confidence was absolute—and not mere arrogance.

“Yes. Then, I feared you. But now, I do not. For Chrono’s sake, I will strike you down.”

With the white dragon’s gauntlets upon her arms, Nell stood proudly, eyes flashing with determination.

“…Still mouthing such noble nonsense? How tiresome, Nell. Perhaps you haven’t the resolve you claim.”

Lily’s cold smile only stoked Nell’s fury.

But Sariel was not watching Lily’s aura, nor her magic.

Her gaze fixed on the weapons Lily held.

Guns.

One white, one black, one in each hand.

Twin pistols. The memory of Yuriko Shirasaki named them as such. Handguns—automatic pistols in form.

If they were mere firearms, they posed no threat. A bullet was weaker than a magic round. But Lily had always fought bare-handed, relying only on artifact gems. That she now bore guns at all could only mean one thing—these were artifacts themselves, ancient weapons of great power.

Thus Sariel’s eyes never left them.

“Prepare yourself, Lily. I will show no mercy.”

“Very well. Then you’ll be the first.”

The instant Lily raised her pistols, Sariel alone noticed what lay behind her.

A red point glimmered—on the black hull of the Shangri-La.

The secondary cannon still lived.

“—Sariel.”

The blast that followed threatened to blind and deafen, but Sariel’s reinforced body endured. She leapt clear, escaping unharmed.

“I wanted to speak with you again, properly.”

Through the flames, Lily stepped forward at leisure. Nell was nowhere to be seen.

Transferred.

“Yes, the bird can wait.”

“And Lady Fiona?”

“She isn’t fool enough to fall into a transfer trap. I pressed her into a barrier instead. It won’t hold long.”

Nell displaced. Fiona trapped. They had been neatly divided.

Sariel assessed calmly: the situation had tilted toward disaster.

“I warn you—surrender peacefully.”

“My, how unexpected. I thought you’d strike without a word.”

“The Master desires your return. None have yet died. If you yield now, it can still end peacefully.”

“Yes. Chrono would embrace me gladly if I returned. But—” Lily’s eyes sharpened. “That alone no longer satisfies me.”

“Excessive possessiveness becomes malice. To harm the Master is unforgivable.”

“Do not worry. I will make him happy. No one else will.”

“Then once more I warn you. Resist, and we will be forced to kill you.”

They never expected to capture her alive. Even in cold calculation, Sariel knew—Lily could only be stopped by death.

“Fufu… do you think you can?”

“Your skill in dividing us was impressive. But it will not decide the outcome.”

Dividing them had proven Lily’s own recognition: three against one would be too much. Even Fiona alone, she had only sealed away, not defeated outright.

Time—that was what Sariel sought. Every word of warning was both for Chrono’s sake and to buy those precious moments.

“If either Fiona or Nell returns, the battle turns against you.”

“…I have gained great power. But I admit—I am not yet strong enough to guarantee victory against all three at once.”

Her words might have been ploy or truth, but the gleam in her mismatched eyes brimmed with certainty.

“But I will not lose. Because you all have weaknesses. Ones you deny, or pretend not to see.”

Weakness? Nonsense.

Even so, Sariel’s sense of danger rose sharply.

“I will not say it a third time. Lily, I will kill you, and protect the Master.”

“Then come, Sariel. If you wish for a fair fight, I will oblige—at least for now.”

They raised their weapons—spear against pistols.

“Because… it would be too pitiful otherwise.”

At that moment, the Shangri-La’s cannon thundered again, and the duel of Sariel and Lily began.