Hearing Rod's words, Augusta froze. The flame in her hand nearly sputtered out.
What nonsense was he spouting?
"It's true, Master," Walburga stepped forward, tone tinged with exasperation. "Satanael was killed by some unknown powerhouse. We barely managed to escape the Oku-no-In before getting caught."
"Who could've guessed that fallen angel was such a pushover, losing to a stranger we've never even seen before?"
"…Is that so?" Augusta suppressed her shock.
She knew full well that Satanael was no weakling, his strength rivaled even hers, despite her wielding a Sacred Gear of Destruction.
Whoever had managed to kill him had to at least be on the same level, perhaps another fallen angel commander? Azazel? Baraqiel?
Or perhaps the Church had finally sent someone.
Still, Augusta quickly collected herself.
Her relationship with Satanael was purely cooperative. His death didn't bring her grief, just disbelief at how fast he'd gone down.
In any case, securing victory over the Ice Princess in front of her was now the top priority.
Lavinia's expression relaxed momentarily at the news, but just as quickly, her vigilance returned. Her icy gaze locked on Augusta.
"So it's come to this. But we've already won. My allies will find me soon, your schemes are doomed to fail."
"…And tell me! Where is my Master?! What have you done with her?!"
That last part was almost a plea.
Augusta responded with a chilling, grotesque smile that made Lavinia's stomach turn.
"Keh keh keh… I haven't done a thing to your Master. And as a matter of fact, " she spread her arms like she was unveiling a joke " the intel on your autonomous-type Sacred Gear? That came straight from Glenda herself."
"…What?!"
Lavinia was sure she misheard.
She was born in the Land of Oz, a pariah for awakening a Sacred Gear as a child. Orphaned, she was taken in by the Southern Witch, Glenda, and raised with kindness and care.
When Glenda vanished amidst the magical power struggles in Oz, Lavinia had traveled the world to find her.
And now this?
"Goodness me. I didn't expect you to be so slow on the uptake," Augusta cackled, thoroughly enjoying herself. "I suppose I'll be merciful and spell it out for you: Glenda's been on our side all along. You think there's such a thing as a 'good witch' or a 'bad witch'? Don't make me laugh. That's just a label outsiders slap on us. Back then, Oz was torn apart by factional magic wars from east to west."
"Truth is, every mage in Oz only cares about one thing, power."
"So is it really so strange that your dear Glenda and I were allies all along?"
The world seemed to stop spinning.
Lavinia stood rooted in place. Her whole body trembled.
"You… you're lying. You're lying!"
Her voice cracked through gritted teeth, barely more than a whisper.
But Augusta's laughter only grew louder.
"If you don't believe me, then why don't you ask your beloved Master yourself?"
With a cruel flourish, Augusta activated a small communications spell circle in her hand.
"Glenda, can you hear me?"
From the circle, a cold and familiar voice emerged. One Lavinia knew by heart.
"…Augusta? Weren't you in the Far East? Why are you contacting me?"
"Oh, nothing much. Just thought I'd let your dear apprentice hear your voice. She's been working sooo hard to find you, after all~."
"I have nothing to say to her."
The voice was glacial. Emotionless.
"?!"
Lavinia's entire body shook. She nearly dropped her wand.
Her floating figure wavered. Magic faltered. The magical circle surrounding her and the manifested Sacred Gear grew unstable, flickering and breaking apart.
Augusta drank in the sight with twisted delight.
"Keh keh keh… Glenda, you really are cold. You used to dote on this girl, didn't you? Don't you have anything else to say?"
"…Lavinia. I have nothing more to say to you. Don't come looking for me again."
And with that cold declaration, the communication spell dissolved.
Just one sentence. That was all it took.
Lavinia's mental defenses shattered.
The Sacred Gear and her magic, already unstable, crumbled like dead leaves in the wind.
To her, Glenda had been everything. A second chance at life. A mother figure when she was alone in the world.
Now… betrayed.
And worse, not even brainwashed. Just… complicit.
Rod, watching from the sidelines, blinked. That was a hell of a bombshell to stumble into.
Clearly, Glenda hadn't been manipulated, she really had given up Lavinia.
From idolized mentor to hidden enemy. Now that was a twist.
Augusta's lips curled upward. "Hehehe… what perfect timing."
She hadn't expected Glenda's words to have such an immediate effect. Lavinia was wide open now, so fragile that even Walburga could probably knock her out.
She wasn't about to waste this chance.
Augusta's fingertips glowed with a sinister black aura as she began casting the soul-seizing spell she'd prepared long ago.
The moment she learned Lavinia wielded an autonomous-type Sacred Gear, Augusta had made her decision.
She'd even gone to Glenda personally for confirmation, never expecting the woman to so casually hand over intel about her own apprentice.
But it was clear now. Even Glenda desired that Sacred Gear for herself.
Now, with Lavinia helpless, Augusta moved to claim her prize.
And that's when Rod moved too.
There was no system quest, but he wasn't about to stand by and let someone get their soul hijacked.
And judging by the swirling darkness in Augusta's hand, this wasn't going to be a lewd "accidental possession" scenario.
If it were that kind of magic, he might've waited.
But this?
Nah.
Without a word, he slipped on his Superman Glasses.
Then he vanished into shadow.
ClockUp.
Even though Augusta was hovering in the air, Rod leapt high with ease. In an instant, he surged upward, drew his demon sword and slashed.
Shlick!
Hmm?
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