No one knew how much time had passed before the sea of fire at Itogami Island's harbor finally dissipated.
However, the entire harbor had turned into scorched earth, as though molten lava had just flowed through it.
All buildings were completely incinerated, leaving behind nothing but piles of ash and ruins.
Such devastation would surely strike fear into the hearts of anyone who saw it.
At the same time, the great battle out on the distant ocean had also come to an end.
After an uncountable number of battleships, airships, and submarines were struck down, the Sanctuary Treaty forces' military finally came to realize the depths of despair and dared not continue the fight.
No nation would willingly see its soldiers sacrificed in such great numbers.
They had launched this operation with overwhelming confidence, believing there would be no substantial losses, which was why they so brazenly sent troops to attack Itogami Island.
In other words, the Sanctuary Treaty forces had never even taken Itogami Island seriously.
How could they?
After all, the Sanctuary Treaty forces' military was a multinational coalition formed by half the nations of the world. Its combat power was enough to annihilate a country overnight. A small nation like Japan had no chance of resisting, let alone a mere dependent zone—a tiny Demon Sanctuary.
The only things they were wary of were the so-called forbidden techniques, and the power of Rozen.
But even those were supposed to be handled by the Three Primogenitors, so who would have worried about significant casualties?
It could be said that the nations behind the Sanctuary Treaty Organization fully expected to take Itogami Island without sacrificing a single soldier.
However, reality slapped their arrogant faces harshly.
This time, the Sanctuary Treaty Organization's military suffered devastating losses—at least 70% of their total forces. Their fleet was in shambles, countless warships sunk, forcing countries around the world to bear a heavy, sorrowful price.
And in such a state, they were bound to face consequences.
With such a staggering loss of manpower, opposition parties and citizens in each country would never remain silent. Accusations of the government's reckless military action would surge dramatically.
Furthermore, non-member nations of the Sanctuary Treaty were surely watching like hawks, and no doubt some would seize the chance to kick them while they were down, leaving the treaty nations in disgrace.
After this operation, it was entirely possible that several nations—having lost too much—might even be devoured by neighboring countries.
One thing was certain: the high-level officials who supported this campaign were doomed. Stepping down would be the mildest outcome.
Of course, with such a large number of casualties, citizens of all nations were bound to develop hatred toward Itogami Island, and the public outcry demanding a full-scale war against the island would grow deafening.
But could they really still wage war against Itogami Island?
In their current, severely weakened state?
Impossible.
This time, the nations of the world would have no choice but to swallow this bitter loss.
As for the battle at the harbor—it, too, ended quietly.
Itogami Meiga was slain.
Vatler was dead.
After Vatler's death, the remaining Tobias Jagan and Kira Lebedev Voltisloa went completely mad, fighting desperately with no regard for their own lives. In the end, one was vaporized by the holy sword's radiant light, and the other consumed by the crimson blaze, following their master into death and bringing their fate to a close.
A war was thus violently suppressed.
And there were those who had seen the entire process with their own eyes.
"That reckless brat…"
On the rooftop of a high-rise building some distance from the harbor, a petite girl—delicately beautiful like a doll, dressed in an all-white Gothic dress, holding a lace fan—gazed at the concluded battlefield and let out a sigh.
Beside her, a girl in a maid uniform—an artificial lifeform—held an umbrella for her silently and faithfully.
When the chaos had first erupted, the two had arrived through a spatial ripple. But they had chosen not to intervene in the battle.
Therefore, they had witnessed with their own eyes how Rozen single-handedly crushed the entire Sanctuary Treaty Organization's military and Vatler. Naturally, they were deeply moved.
"Even Cleansing is no longer a match for that brat. I honestly don't know whether I should feel happy or worried."
Natsuki sighed again. It was the kind of complicated feeling one might have watching a junior grow up, tinged with both pride and the exasperation reserved for a mischief-prone child.
Yet she had to admit—even she, Natsuki, found Rozen's true strength hard to believe after witnessing it firsthand.
"Without realizing it, you've already become this strong."
Her gaze, fixed on the figure, softened with an unknowable gentleness.
Immediately after…
"You're late, Lion King Agency."
Natsuki spoke leisurely to the figure behind her.
At some point, a girl had appeared there without anyone noticing.
Naturally, that person was Shizuka Koyomi.
Only now, Shizuka Koyomi was no longer wearing her Saikai Academy uniform. Instead, she was dressed in a solemn and formal Shaman outfit.
However, her expression was far from sacred—rather, it was dazed, laced with a bitter smile.
"It seems I owe that Highness quite a large debt."
That was all Shizuka Koyomi could murmur, her tone filled with complexity.
"You people owe that brat quite a lot. Don't think you can pay it back that easily."
Natsuki snorted coldly, clearly not buying it.
Whether it was the incident at Shinjin Lake or this one, the Lion King Agency was now deeply indebted to Rozen.
Adding in other past entanglements, the Lion King Agency indeed owed him much.
Shizuka Koyomi was well aware of that.
"From this day forth, the world will change because of a single man."
Her voice rang out with weight and certainty.
"If the Lion King Agency is needed, we will obey without hesitation."
That was the strongest commitment Shizuka Koyomi could offer.
"Very good."
Only then did Natsuki nod with satisfaction.
Of course, she too understood that after today, Rozen's name would resound across the globe—and peace would no longer be his.
To block the ambitions and schemes of lesser powers, leveraging the intelligence capabilities of government agencies would be essential.
As a national Attack Mage with a special position, if she could obtain cooperation from the Lion King Agency, an elite intelligence and covert ops organization, it would surely be of great help to Rozen.
Even now, despite how powerful Rozen had become, Natsuki had only one thought:
"If anyone wants to lay a hand on my little brother, they'll have to go through me first."
With that, Natsuki and Astarte melted into space and vanished.
Shizuka Koyomi knew that Natsuki had likely gone to clean up the aftermath, handling all the consequences on Rozen's behalf.
"That Witch… still dotes on her little brother far too much."
Shizuka Koyomi couldn't help but smile for once, then turned her gaze again toward Rozen's direction.
At last, she gave a deep, formal bow in his direction, offering her utmost gratitude—only then did she turn and leave.