Serena had already realized Irene’s importance. In this brutal final battle, if Irene hadn’t been there, forget about victory—just surviving would’ve been a luxury.
Irene wasn’t someone they could ignore. She was the absolute core, an irreplaceable presence!
She was the creator of ‘miracles.’ Only the team that had her could truly be called an S-rank party worthy of the strongest title.
Irene slowed her steps slightly and turned her head. Her golden eyes shimmered with the red glow of dawn.
“…No. A vile woman like me who squanders team funds and lacks integrity shouldn’t bother you noble young ladies anymore.”
“…No, Irene! I didn’t mean what I said before—I was just angry. I… I like Irene the most! So…”
“All just angry words?” Irene chuckled coldly. “Then did you ever try to clarify things? Try to explain away the rumors?”
“I…” Serena hung her head in shame and turned her face away. “I didn’t want it to get like this. By the time we realized what was happening, it was already too late. The rumors had spread throughout the capital. We thought it would only circulate among adventurers, just enough to keep you from finding another party. We didn’t expect it to…”
“I’ll ask again—did you do anything to clarify or fix the rumors?”
Irene stared at Serena intensely. The latter couldn’t meet her gaze and simply shook her head in defeat.
“Hmph. Then there’s nothing more to say.”
“Irene! Please, come back!” Tears shimmered in Serena’s eyes. “We grew up together, and later we met Reif, Rosvisse, and Helga. Think about it—those two and a half years we spent together—how happy we were, how close we were…”
“It’s all over,” Irene said coldly.
“No, it’s not over! I’ve worked so hard for the team, for everyone—I refuse to just let it end like this! I know no words can make up for the pain you’ve suffered, Irene… but still…”
Serena looked at her and reached out, grabbing Irene’s shoulder and leaning closer. “I need you, Irene.”
To say Irene wasn’t affected at all would be a lie. But still, she rejected her without hesitation.
“But I don’t need you.”
“…Eh?”
Serena froze, staring at Irene as if seeing her for the first time.
Based on her own assumptions, if she just apologized sincerely, Irene would surely return. So what was this?
“Let me make it clear one more time, Serena. I have my own life. I don’t have grand dreams of leaving my name in history like you do. I can’t live inside your dreams.”
Irene continued, “This is the last time I’ll say it. Our relationship ends here. Don’t come looking for me again. I’m not going back to Rainbow Bond. Consider today’s reward for defeating the resurrected Holy King a parting gift from me.”
With that, Irene shook off Serena’s hand and walked past her, leaving Serena standing there in a daze, her expression blank.
“Wait!” Serena’s voice trembled with suppressed panic—and a deeper fear. “Don’t go!”
Emotion exploded. Serena rushed after her without hesitation and grabbed her friend’s hand. “Tell me what I need to do to make you come back. I’ll do anything!”
She fell to her knees.
That flicker of vulnerability briefly passed through Irene’s eyes—only to be replaced by an even colder chill.
“How much resolve do you have to say something like that?”
The morning breeze blew by, cool to the touch, but her words were even colder.
“…Since you say that, my demand is simple. The only question is whether you can fulfill it.” Irene looked at her, speaking slowly and clearly. “Apologize. Publicly apologize in front of the entire capital, in the name of Rainbow Bond. Set the record straight and tell everyone that it was all rumors you spread. If you can do that…”
“I—”
Serena hesitated.
If it were just herself, maybe she could swallow her pride. But if she acted in the name of the party, she’d ruin the futures of Lothswysa and Laef. She couldn’t do it.
That moment of hesitation was all the answer Irene needed.
Staring straight into Serena’s eyes, Irene’s voice carried a faint tremor of emotion. “If you can’t do something, then don’t speak so easily.”
“O-Onegai, watashi wa…” Serena tried to say something more, but Irene firmly shook off her hand, her words as cold and final as a sentence passed down in judgment—severing not only the two of them, but also the past of Rainbow Bonds.
“You only ever think about yourself.”
Serena remained kneeling in place, dazed, watching Irene’s retreating figure grow farther and farther away.
Behind Irene, Clarét, who had regained consciousness, caught up with her. Before leaving, she even made a silly face at Serena. She had been sweating bullets earlier, afraid that the lady might actually forgive them. But looking back, she realized she’d worried for nothing.
“Miss Serena,” Layla said, stopping before she left, “you all turned the lady’s life into a mess. If you want to make amends, you’d better show some sincerity. But in your words—I didn’t feel an ounce of it.”
Her words were merciless as she glanced at the stunned Serena. “What do you take the lady for, exactly?”
Helga also followed after them.
For a brief second, Serena had the urge to do the same, but in the end, she just stood there, staring after Irene and letting out a long, heavy sigh.
Layla’s words echoed in her mind. After a long silence, she finally turned to her approaching companions and said, “Stopping the resurrection of the Holy King—that achievement should be enough for you. Once we return to the Holy Capital, Lothswysa, you’ll almost certainly secure your place as Saintess. Laef, you should be able to succeed as Captain of the Knights. Our journey ends here.”
“Serena?” Laegilif was stunned.
Lothswysa only looked at Serena with a wistful gaze. She had already guessed what Serena intended to say.
The red-haired girl looked up at the dawn sky, exhaling slowly as though releasing a burden from her chest.
“Once we return to the royal capital, I will disband Rainbow Bonds. These two and a half years spent together—I was happy. I’m truly grateful that you’ve accompanied me on this journey.”
“All good things must come to an end. This is where we part ways.”
Once the party disbanded, would she finally be free?
But Serena was still confused, still lost. She thought she should return to her hometown—perhaps her father could help her find the answer to her future.
Letting go of everything in front of her was the first step.
Irene, give me a little time.
Neither Laegilif nor Lothswysa objected. They silently accepted this outcome.
They had already gained everything they wanted—what more could they ask for?
*****
At the break of dawn, a soul wreathed in shadow streaked across the sky, landing within the royal capital.
In the marquis’s residence, Ella stood before a full-length mirror, murmuring to herself, “Sister… is this how it’s supposed to be, Sister…”
Tears streamed down her cheeks.
Yet the reflection in the mirror showed someone else entirely. Though their appearances were similar, the figure in the mirror was slightly older than Ella.
“It was me who betrayed everything you gave me… I’m sorry. Truly sorry. You only ever wanted me to live on, but I…”
“What have I done…”
“How can I possibly make up for the sins I’ve committed?”
“That’s it—if I just save the world, everything will be fine. Then Sister can become the hero—”
She paused, seeming to have thought of something, and glanced toward the empty shadows beside her.
“Paluma, forget about failing to kill those women this time. Instead, deliver the ‘Archbishop’s’ new orders to the believers…”