The events at Shinjin Lake were resolved in a way few insiders had anticipated—thanks to Rozen's unexpected return and intervention.
In the end, the Cleansers suffered a devastating blow, with over 90% of their forces annihilated, ensuring their inevitable collapse.
The Dragon, said to guard the legacy of Cain, the God of Sin, emerged—only to be taken under the protection of the Lion King Agency.
News of these developments spread like wildfire through the supernatural underworld.
Given the direct connection to Holy Annihilation, many well-informed factions had been monitoring the Lion King Agency's operation from the start. This was why figures like Vatler and Iblisveil Aziz had been drawn in, and how The Cleansers had caught wind of it. Countless eyes had been watching from the shadows.
Now, with the outcome revealed, opportunists were surely mobilizing.
Some set their sights on the Sinful God's Artifact—now in Aldegyr's possession—scrambling to establish contact in hopes of sharing its research.
Others targeted the Marsh Dragon, seeking to unravel its secrets and claim Cain's legacy, plotting ways to pressure the Lion King Agency.
And then there were those who, through certain channels, learned an even more shocking truth:
Rozen's transformation.
"The Divine Child has annihilated the Fourth Primogenitor, seizing its magic and Beast Vassals."
Somehow, this information had leaked.
It wasn't surprising.
First, Rozen had openly admitted it in front of Natsuki, Shizuka Koyomi, Yukina, Yuiri, and even Azama Tatsumi—with Vatler overhearing.
Second, Rozen had never intended to hide it.
Leaks were inevitable.
Add to that the longstanding rumors of Rozen wielding Beast Vassals as a human, his prior acknowledgment by the Fourth Primogenitor's familiars, and his defeat of the Third Primogenitor, the Chaos Bride—and the story gained undeniable weight.
While many remained skeptical (some outright dismissive), the revelation steadily reached the ears of major players across the world.
Thus, the Shinjin Lake incident became the latest storm in the supernatural community—with Rozen once again at its center.
In this world, Rozen had always drawn attention, his every move sending shockwaves through the upper echelons of power, leaving even the most jaded figures reeling.
But to Rozen?
It meant nothing.
Across countless worlds, he'd performed miracles and upheavals beyond imagination. Being the focus of attention was nothing new.
Frankly, if he'd chosen not to conceal these truths, it was because he knew they posed no threat to him.
In the past, his power here had been limited—forced to rely on Natsuki's protection while he grew, his mana dwarfed by high-ranking Demons, his only trump card being his bond with the Fourth Primogenitor.
But now?
Mana? Rozen's reserves eclipsed even the Fourth Primogenitor's—once said to rival the planet's ley lines and the Holy Grail itself. Where Solomon might have struggled to surpass that, Rozen now operated on a planetary scale—and his power was still growing. With High-Grade Mana and Compressed Mana at his disposal, the mana of a mere Primogenitor was trivial.
Beast Vassals? He commanded ten at the Primogenitor level, alongside Hokuto, Kinu, Gyokuto, and legions of other formidable familiars. Even a Primogenitor's strength paled in comparison.
In his base state, Rozen could already be called the world's strongest. With High-Grade Mana, who could possibly oppose him?
Hell, even Compressed Mana at just 10-20% potency would leave no challengers standing.
At his weakest—without Primordial Runes, Crimson Wing Formation, or summoning his Night Parade of a Hundred Demons—the combined might of the Three Primogenitors might give him a decent fight.
One-on-one? In this world of gods and Demons, not a single being could stand against him alone.
If anything, his current struggle was restraining his power to avoid catastrophic collateral damage.
So why bother hiding?
Who could possibly threaten him now?
No one.
Thus, Rozen paid no heed to the uproar, returning to Itogami Island with Yukina, Nagisa, and Avrora just before winter break ended—finally stepping back into the Minamiya household.
Natsuki's greeting was characteristically succinct:
"You're back."
That was all.
Because as long as they'd returned, nothing else mattered.
Even Kojou and the others rushed to the house upon hearing of Nagisa and Avrora's return, reuniting in a clamor of relief.
Kojou, the ultimate doting brother, was the first to burst in—checking Nagisa head-to-toe for injuries before finally exhaling in relief.
None of them knew what Nagisa and Avrora had gone through—and the girls themselves barely remembered, having "slept through" the crisis.
So the group skipped the dramatics, diving straight into cheerful chaos—giving Rozen a nostalgic taste of their old dynamic.
At last, the whole gang was back together—ready to enjoy the New Year and make the most of their time.
Nagisa ultimately decided to stay at the Minamiya residence instead of returning to the Akatsuki household.
"I wasn't planning to move back after the repairs anyway. I only went because of Yuuma-chan. But now that Nichiyo's home, I'm not gonna third-wheel!"
Her blunt declaration turned Kojou and Yuuma beet-red.
In short:
Nagisa would remain with the Minamiya family.
Kojou would return to the Akatsuki home with Yuuma.
"So you two are officially living together now?" Rozen teased.
What he failed to realize was that he was the true winner here.
After all, while Kojou was cohabiting with just Yuuma, Rozen was now the sole male in the Minamiya household—surrounded by five young women:
Natsuki, Nagisa, Avrora, Kanon, and Astarte.
Now that was enviable.