“――――Apocryphal Beast, Insto.”

“Huh?”

At Arinate’s murmur, Klaha instinctively asked for clarification.

A name he had heard countless times in the distant past—back when he was confined within his home.

The Apocryphal Beasts. Ancient adversaries recorded in the Holy Scriptures.

Servants of the Ruin King.

“What the hell is that...?”

Holland muttered in a daze.

“It’s stronger than the floor boss of The Deep Sea. Worse, it might even rival the third floor of Abbyss. There’s no way this city can handle that!”

He called out to Arinate.

“Hey, Holy Knight. Can your reinforcements stop that thing?”

“Don’t be absurd... It’s an Apocryphal Beast, even if it’s a lesser one. Why is it here of all places...?”

“Wait a minute. What do you mean by Apocryphal Beast? Don’t tell me the Ruin King has revived. That can’t be...”

“How should I know!!”

Arinate shouted at the top of her lungs. Then, as if regaining her composure, she looked at the two of them and said,

“...I apologize for losing my composure. But I have to go now.”

“W-Where are you going?”

“To join the Holy Knights.”

“Sorry,” she said once more, adding,

“The cathedral will serve as a defensive base. It’s better than nothing. Will you two come along?”

Suddenly?

Klaha thought to herself. The sheer volume of information was overwhelming. Everything she’d learned tonight—her party members were also being blackmailed by Godach. And now, the Holy Knights suspected this entire incident was related to the Ruin King.

And as proof, an Apocryphal Beast once controlled by the Ruin King floated in the sky before him.

A boom reverberated.

It was the sound of that enormous bird beginning its assault on the city.

“I’ll go join my family first. Take Klaha with you,” Holland said.

“Wait—”

“Understood. You’re also a key witness. Don’t die.”

“I’ll try,” Holland replied in a trembling voice.

Arinate grabbed Klaha’s hand, who was still bewildered.

“Let’s go. I understand how you feel, but we can’t afford to stand still.”

“—Y-Yes!”

Carried along by the momentum, Klaha nodded and began running with her.

The Holy Knight’s back as she ran ahead seemed to glow faintly white in the dark night.

But to Klaha, it appeared... desperate.

“This way’s—!”

“Damn, it’s blocked...”

Rubble already blocked their path.

Klaha looked up at the night sky in surprise—though Insto wasn’t directly overhead. Only faint magical lights, likely fired by the Holy Knights, streaked through the sky like fragile shooting stars.

Insto swiftly maneuvered through the air, evading magic with fluid movements.

Klaha realized just how troublesome this was. Flying beasts outside a labyrinth—with no ceilings or walls—gave them a significant mobility advantage. Considering its size, Holland’s assessment of its strength might have been accurate.

“Let’s go around, Klaha—”

“Someone, help!!”

Arinate stopped mid-sentence at the sound of a voice.

Both turned toward the source.

There stood a small child, face smeared with dirt and blood, crying for help. Beside them, a bloodied mother lay unconscious, her legs pinned under rubble.

“Help... Somebody, please...!”

Seeing this, Klaha understood what he had to do.

“Arinate, go ahead.”

“...Are you sure?”

She knew.

If they argued, Arinate would insist on leaving the scene with her. Not a suggestion—a command, even dragging her if necessary.

The mother’s injuries were severe. Even if freed, her chances of survival were slim.

The child was there, too. Carrying an unconscious adult while guiding a child would delay Arinate’s arrival at the cathedral.

For the Holy Knight division leader to arrive late would mean greater casualties.

So Klaha made his decision.

“I’ll take them.”

“...Thank you. May the gods watch over you.”

As Arinate turned away, Klaha dashed forward.

“Are you okay!?”

“Ah...”

The girl stopped crying upon seeing Klaha.

“Mom... got crushed...”

“I see. Step back for a moment...”

Klaha examined the rubble on the mother. A single wrong move could cause an avalanche. He’d have to proceed carefully.

“Wear this and wait there.”

“Mom’s... not going to die, right? She’ll be okay, right?”

“She’ll be fine. I’ll do something about it.”

Klaha handed the girl her cloak before starting to clear the rubble.

The process was agonizingly slow. Each piece wasn’t heavy but demanded immense care. She reassured herself it could be worse—at least he could lift the debris.

When about 70% was cleared, another boom shook the city.

“Ahh!”

“Damn it—!”

The tremor caused the rubble to shift. Strengthening magic on her body, Klaha braced herself and managed to hold the falling debris back.

It didn’t crush the mother—but Klaha was now stuck.

“Please! Help me!”

She called to the girl, apologizing inwardly for asking such a young child to assist.

“Pull your mother out—any way you can!”

“O-Okay!”

Fortunately, gaps had formed between the rubble, making it possible to move the mother. The girl, though small, pulled with all her might.

“She’s out! I got her out!”

“Thank you! Take her farther away!”

“I-I can do it!”

After confirming the girl had moved the mother to safety, Klaha released the rubble and leaped back.

Crash!

Heavy stones collapsed where he’d just been.

No time to rest.

“How are her injuries—”

She winced at the sight.

The mother’s leg was crushed to the bone, and blood poured from her wounds. She couldn’t possibly walk, and it was likely better she remained unconscious.

After performing emergency treatment, Klaha tied the mother to his back.

“The cathedral is the evacuation site. Let’s go,” she told the teary-eyed girl.

They set off, Klaha carrying the mother while the girl struggled to keep pace.

When she tripped, Klaha helped her up, offering her hand.

“...Big sister,” the girl whispered.

“Thank you...”

“It’s fine,” Klaha replied.

“It’s the right thing to do.”

She remembered the moment six months ago when she had failed to do the same.