The Next Morning
At the crack of dawn, Rozen and the others were already up and ready.
Today, they would be returning home.
Shirona and her group, having received word of their departure, came to see them off.
"Are you sure you don't need the Lion King Agency to arrange a private aircraft for you?"
Shirona watched as Rozen's group prepared to leave and posed the question as a final courtesy.
As a gesture of apology, she had offered to arrange a helicopter to take them directly back to Itogami Island, ensuring a swift return.
But Rozen had declined.
Not out of disdain for the Lion King Agency's goodwill, but simply to avoid unnecessary complications.
"Yukina and I snuck out in the first place. If we return on an official helicopter, we'll just invite scrutiny over our unauthorized departure. It's better to go back the same way we came—unnoticed."
With that in mind, Rozen planned to take Yukina, Nagisa, and Avrora back to Itogami Island on a Wyvern, flying the entire way.
Yukina had some reservations (due to her fear of heights), and Nagisa and Avrora had technically left the island through proper channels, meaning they should ideally return the same way to avoid discrepancies in their travel records. But Rozen had already contacted Natsuki to handle the bureaucratic side of things.
After all, the Management Cooperative had facilitated their departure in the first place—they could certainly smooth their re-entry.
Thus, the group prepared to leave at dawn, riding the Wyvern back home.
"I'll stay behind to wrap things up and investigate if there's anything left at the bottom of Shinjin Lake," Gajou declared, opting not to return with them.
"You're helping me too. The Horned Serpent threat in Tanzawa isn't fully resolved yet," Akatsuki Hisano added, effectively conscripting Gajou for cleanup duty.
Shirona would also remain, leading the Lion King Agency alongside the Self-Defense Forces to handle the aftermath in Tanzawa.
As for La Folia, it was time for her to return to Aldegyr.
First, the Sinful God's Artifact had been recovered.
Second, her knights had frantically tracked her down last night and spent the entire evening persuading her to go back.
Left with no choice, La Folia had to comply.
"I wanted to visit Itogami Island and go on another date with Nichiyo," she grumbled, earning yet another eye-roll from Rozen.
"If you actually set foot on Itogami Island, you'd just stir up chaos again."
Rozen had absolute faith in La Folia's ability to cause trouble and would rather she stayed far away to avoid any incidents.
Though displeased, La Folia had no choice but to return.
Meanwhile, Yuiri and Shio would first take Glenda back to the Lion King Agency.
As the guardian of the Sinful God's legacy, Glenda was of immense interest to them.
No one knew exactly what "information" Cain, the God of Sin, had entrusted to the Marsh Dragon.
When questioned, Glenda had only tilted her head in confusion, seemingly unaware of what they were talking about.
Left with no other options, Shirona decided to take Glenda to the Lion King Agency for further investigation.
She had even sought Rozen's opinion, as if worried he might object.
But Rozen not only agreed—he actively supported the idea.
"I don't trust the Lion King Agency at all, but taking her to Itogami Island would be worse."
His reasoning was simple: Kojou was on Itogami Island, and within him lay the spiritual essence of Cain himself. Bringing Glenda—the guardian of the Sinful God's legacy—into close proximity with Kojou might trigger something catastrophic.
Rozen had no intention of disrupting Kojou's hard-won peace.
Aside from Rozen, Glenda seemed willing to follow only Yuiri.
Strangely enough, Glenda behaved like an ordinary little girl—innocent, naive, and pure. While she didn't show hostility toward others, she refused to obey anyone except Rozen and Yuiri, complying only with their instructions.
Yuiri, in particular, seemed to have won her over.
Glenda clung to Yuiri constantly, even more than she did to Rozen.
Rozen could guess why.
"I saved her from The Cleansers, so she trusts me. And when she was about to recklessly attack the Knights of the Sinful God, Yuiri risked herself to stop her. That must have broken down her guard and made her attached to Yuiri too."
Thus, Glenda would listen to Rozen and Yuiri, following them without hesitation.
But with anyone else? She wasn't nearly as cooperative.
Given that, and with Rozen unable to take her along, Glenda had to go with Yuiri to the Lion King Agency.
Naturally, the Agency was more than happy to take her in—especially if they could uncover her secrets.
In summary:
Rozen, Yukina, Nagisa, and Avrora would return to Itogami Island.
La Folia would go back to Aldegyr.
Yuiri and Shio would escort Glenda to the Lion King Agency.
Shirona, Hisano, and Gajou would remain to handle the aftermath.
Such were their plans.
"Don't go crying again when you get back, my precious daughter. That brat's already returned, so no more moping around, okay? Also, I object to this marriage!"
"I—I wasn't crying! And I'm not getting married! What are you even saying, Dad?! I won't let you come home next time!"
Nearby, Nagisa and Gajou were saying their goodbyes—one blushing furiously in anger, the other speaking with his usual irreverence, much to Hisano's visible displeasure.
"Take care, Himeragi Yukina. When you see Sayaka, tell her I'll make her regret our next meeting."
"I'll… consider passing that along…"
Shio and Yukina also exchanged farewells—one stern-faced, the other visibly conflicted.
"You'll show me around when I visit Itogami Island, right, Nichiyo?"
La Folia beamed at Rozen.
"Just don't cause trouble."
Rozen rolled his eyes for what felt like the hundredth time. Meanwhile, Avrora, who had been clinging to his sleeve, glared at La Folia with inexplicable hostility. If she weren't so timid, she might have actually done something.
Then, Yuiri approached, leading Glenda by the hand.
"Th-Thank you for the spear, Your Highness!"
Mustering her courage, Yuiri presented Tenyuryo to Rozen.
"No problem."
Without ceremony, Rozen took the spear—and with a flick of his wrist, it dissolved into motes of mana.
The display drew curious glances from the others, but Rozen paid them no mind. Instead, he smiled at Glenda.
"If anything happens, come find me anytime. I'll help you."
He made her that promise.
"Da~!"
Seeming to understand, Glenda happily hugged his leg.
After their goodbyes, Rozen, Yukina, Nagisa, and Avrora mounted a Wyvern and took off toward the distant sea.
And so, the events of Shinjin Lake came to a close.