A dependable and sudden reinforcement had appeared.

Iris ran over to Lene.

“Mother, why are you here?”

“I sensed an ominous magical aura. Though, considering Ike and the others were already present, perhaps it wasn’t necessary for me to come personally.”

Hearing her words, I couldn't help but let out a wry smile.

“Not at all. You saved us. Without your help, I’m not sure we could’ve defended against that attack on our own.”

“In that case, it was worth forcibly convincing my husband to let me come here.”

“Alto...”

Alto’s worried expression as he thought about Lene came to mind. He probably hadn’t wanted Lene, still recovering from her illness, to come here. Even so, he must have allowed it because Iris was here.

“That last strike was incredible, wasn’t it?”

“Was it?”

“Yes. To think you could dispatch a Greater demon that had us struggling in a single blow...”

The Greater demon possessed power comparable to a Hydra. Defeating it in one strike—could it be that, had Lene not been betrayed by Shion, she might even have been able to defeat the Hydra herself?

Whether or not she sensed my thoughts, Lene shook her head.

“It’s likely a matter of compatibility. When holy magic wielded by a Hero clashes with the demonic energy of a devil, the stronger force overwhelms the weaker one. Holy magic possesses the power to obliterate demonic energy. If the opponent had a proper physical body, it wouldn’t have been so simple.”

“I see.”

In other words, when fighting something like a Hydra, it might not be as effective as it was just now. Even so, it was still overwhelmingly powerful.

“By the way, what’s with that large dog over there?”

Lene’s gaze fell on the enlarged Bran. Iris responded cheerfully.

“This is Bran! It seems I’ve grown as a puppeteer, like my big brother. And now Bran can move on his own!”

“Woof!”

Bran barked as if to confirm Iris’s words.

“That’s amazing. And it’s wonderful—you’ll be able to communicate directly with Bran from now on.”

“Yeah!”

Iris nodded with a bright smile. Seeing her, Lene’s expression softened before she looked up, her eyes settling on Shion, who still appeared bewildered.

“...Iris said she was the puppeteer from your party, Lene. Is that true?”

“Yes. Could you give us a moment to talk alone?”

Lene slowly approached Shion.

“Y-you’re Hero Lene...!”

Shion’s complexion paled, and she stepped back warily.

Once, Shion betrayed Lene, leading to Lene’s long slumber. That history created an atmosphere of impending confrontation between them.

We could only stand back and watch, thinking that the decision of what to do with Shion lay solely with Lene.

Breaking the tense silence, Lene spoke.

“It’s been a while, Shion.”

Her words weren’t those of someone addressing a nemesis but instead carried the warmth of speaking to an old friend.

“Do you remember me?”

“I... I don’t know. I don’t know you! I was only ordered to kill you! So don’t speak as if you know me!”

Sion’s reaction seemed odd. It wasn’t the same as before. It felt forced, as though she desperately wanted to believe in her own words.

“Even so, I remember you. We journeyed together as part of the same party, didn’t we?”

“I don’t know! Stay away from me!”

Sion shouted, raising a hand toward Lene. In her grip was a spherical magic device.

In the next instant, black magic erupted from the device, surging toward Lene.

“Mother, watch out!”

Iris’s voice rang out in alarm. But—

“It’s fine.”

Lene calmly raised her hand, dispersing the black magic into mist. Such an attack couldn’t even scratch her.

“I see... So that’s what’s going on.”

Lene nodded as if understanding something.

Shion, however, screamed in defiance.

“What are you?! I tried to kill you and failed, and yet you’re speaking to me like an old friend... Stop it! I have no means to resist anymore, so just do it already!”

“If that’s what you want, I’ll proceed.”

“Huh?—Ah!”

“Eek?!”

Unexpectedly, Lene brought her palm down sharply on Shion’s forehead. The impact made Shion collapse to the ground.

W-wait, I thought they were going to resolve this through conversation...

“Are you sure, Lene? Not trying to talk more with her?”

“On the contrary, I did this so we could talk. It seems the curse is lifted now.”

“What do you mean?”

“Look at her head.”

Following her instruction, I looked at Shion’s head.

Immediately, I noticed something—and so did the others.

“What’s this? Black mist is coming out of her head.”

“It feels... unpleasant.”

“It’s the same aura as the devil’s. This can’t be...”

“Indeed. As expected of you, Lycia, with your instincts as a Priest.”

Lene continued.

“This mist is the residue of magic used only by the highest-ranking demons—those above Greater demons—the Demon Race.”

“Magic residue?”

“Yes. And the type of magic is...”

“Mind control magic.”

The voice didn’t come from Lene. It came from below.

Everyone turned their gaze toward the source.

There sat Shion, who had propped herself up, looking down with an awkward expression.

Seeing her, Lene smiled softly.

“Once again, it’s been a while, Shion.”

“Yes... It has, Lene.”

And thus, the two of them faced each other again.