December and her group had arrived in the area before the New Year, quietly observing the events around Shinjin Lake.
They were fully aware of the unfolding plot—the schemes brewing beneath the lake's surface—yet they had no intention of intervening.
After all, if The Cleansers succeeded in their goals and turned their attention toward Itogami Island, clashing with the Management Cooperative, it would only benefit them.
So, they waited.
But the outcome was far from ideal.
"That Divine Child who sealed the Fourth Primogenitor, huh?" Rogi clicked his tongue in annoyance. "Talk about meddling."
"If not for him, The Cleansers might've actually pulled it off," Carly muttered, frowning. "He showed up at the worst possible time."
"But wasn't he missing before?" Rahn tilted her head. "Why'd he suddenly reappear?"
"No idea." Takehito shook his head, then glanced at December with a knowing smile. "Though someone here might know."
December responded with an innocent grin and a shrug.
"How would I know his whereabouts?" she said lightly. "No. 6 seemed interested in him. Before we parted ways, she mentioned she'd follow Chaos Zone's ruler to find him. But me? I'm not that obsessed with him—I haven't been keeping tabs."
"Is that so?" Takehito mused. "Then… you don't want to meet him?"
At that, Rogi, Carly, and Rahn all turned to December.
Their gazes held traces of scrutiny, curiosity, and—most of all—concern.
Despite their earlier bickering, their care for her was undeniable.
December felt a warmth in her chest and smiled again, just as guilelessly.
"Well, it's not like I don't want to see him at all," she admitted freely. "But right now, you guys matter more to me. So I won't go out of my way to provoke him like No. 6 would—unless there's a reason."
That was her stance.
The trio relaxed almost imperceptibly.
"Good. That's the December we know," Carly said, a hint of relief in her voice.
"Stay with us. No need to chase after some random guy," Rahn added flatly.
"Besides, it's not like anyone can force you to leave, right?" Rogi grumbled, as if annoyed by the very idea.
Their varied reactions only amused December further.
"Relax, my loves—there's no room in my heart for anyone else. So no need to get jealous~"
Her teasing earned a round of protests.
Takehito, long accustomed to their dynamic, joined in without hesitation.
"Still, with The Cleansers gone, we'll have to head to Itogami Island ourselves. Avoiding that Divine Child won't be easy."
He said it with certainty.
Because he knew—both he and December were fated to cross paths with Rozen.
The difference?
December had a direct connection to him.
Takehito's was more… complicated.
"After all, that Divine Child is the Witch of the Void's little brother," December suddenly recalled, turning to Takehito. "You've met him before, right? Back when you were with that witch?"
"Not exactly." Takehito shook his head, a nostalgic smirk playing on his lips. "Natsuki was ridiculously overprotective of him. Even when she was still with me, she'd shielded him so thoroughly that only Aya ever got close to him as a child. I wasn't even allowed near her precious, prodigious little brother."
"Wow." December blinked. "That's next-level overbearing."
The others shared the sentiment.
Sheltering a sibling to that degree was downright extreme.
Rahn summed it up bluntly.
"So the rumors are true. That witch is a hopeless brother-con."
The group nodded in unison.
Clearly, Natsuki's doting on Rozen was infamous across the supernatural underworld—hence why everyone who met him inevitably referenced "that witch's brother."
In fact, Rozen's reputation as Natsuki's sibling might have eclipsed even his title as the Divine Child of Origin.
Takehito knew this all too well.
And remembering his own history with Natsuki, his smile turned wry.
"In the end, I'll have to return to that island… and fight those siblings to the death."
His gaze shifted back to December.
"What about you?"
He was asking for her decision.
Because in this group, December was the true leader. Though Takehito had brought them together, he never imposed his will—leaving all choices to the "children" themselves.
Yet the path forward was obvious.
"Since The Cleansers failed… it's our turn now."
December closed her eyes, her smile deepening with unreadable intent.
"It's time I met them properly. Let's settle this on that island."
With that, she reached up—and removed her safety helmet.
Golden hair cascaded down her back, shimmering with an iridescent glow as mana rippled through it, shifting hues like a living rainbow.
And when her eyes opened again—
Flames burned within them.
"Let us hold the final Blazing Banquet."
"Divine Child… who earned the acknowledgment of our kin."
"And you… my dearest little sister."
Behind her, a massive silhouette flickered into existence—
A translucent beast clad in armor, its oppressive aura radiating calamitous power.