Is the academy about to fall into chaos?
Rozen couldn't possibly ignore this news.
However, Shouko clearly didn't want to explain too much.
There was only one thing she wanted to tell Rozen.
"Magnus and Edward Rutherford have clearly formed an alliance. Now, it's Edward Rutherford who is sheltering and protecting Magnus—aka Akabane Tenzen. Tenzen is surviving by attaching himself to the academy. The two of them are likely researching Machine Doll together."
Otherwise, when Rozen, Charlotte, and Henri fell into the Sanctuary of Fools, the ones who found and rescued them wouldn't have been the headmaster and Magnus.
Magnus showing up there proved that he was connected to the Sanctuary of Fools and knew of its existence.
The headmaster repeatedly emphasized that Magnus was the academy's treasure, and not just because he had the potential to become a Wiseman. It was also because he was a young, gifted puppeteer capable of creating banned dolls. And, since his real identity was Akabane Tenzen—who had no other options—he had no choice but to rely on the academy. This gave the headmaster confidence to entrust him with the Machine Doll research.
In other words, Magnus and the academy were working together—or rather, he was working with the headmaster. The underground research facility was deeply tied to him.
"From what we know, Akabane Tenzen often disappears within the academy. Now it seems that he was spending that time in the Sanctuary of Fools, researching the secrets of the Machine Doll," Shouko analyzed.
"At the same time, the Sanctuary of Fools is guarded not only by the elite Jaeger Troops under the headmaster's command, but also by Tenzen himself, who regularly resides there."
It's far too important a facility to leave unguarded.
The Jaeger Troops serve as the primary defense force of the Sanctuary of Fools, and Magnus acts as the on-site puppeteer to deter invaders.
With the elite Jaeger Troops—which are even more powerful than the regular guards—and Magnus, whose power rivals that of a Wiseman, the underground facility's security was unquestionable.
Infiltrating it would normally be impossible without deploying an entire nation's top forces.
But this time, an opportunity had quietly arrived.
If the academy fell into sudden chaos, the Jaeger Troops would likely be pulled away from guarding the Sanctuary of Fools to handle the crisis on the surface.
That would drastically weaken the facility's defenses.
However—
"Akabane Tenzen definitely won't leave. He won't allow the place to become completely undefended."
With that short sentence, Shouko told Rozen why she believed Raishin and Magnus were about to have a life-or-death battle there.
The reason: Magnus would remain stationed in the Sanctuary of Fools, while Raishin would infiltrate the facility—leading to a direct confrontation.
Given Raishin's hatred for Magnus, the two would inevitably clash in a deadly fight.
That was the message Shouko had brought.
"What are you going to do?" Shouko asked tentatively.
What should Rozen do?
Under normal circumstances, he should go stop Raishin and Magnus.
But the academy was about to fall into chaos—that was part of Shouko's message too.
If Rozen cared about the impending chaos, then he should stay in the academy.
But if he went to where Raishin and Magnus were, something bad could happen at the academy.
Shouko wanted Rozen to make a choice.
And Rozen's decision—did it really need to be asked?
He hung up the call, went straight back to his room, and spoke to the three sisters inside.
"Get ready. We're taking a trip underground."
And so, Rozen brought the Setsugetsuka trio down into the academy's underground.
...
Recalling what had just happened, Rozen, after confirming Raishin and Magnus's location with his Wise Eye, immediately prepared to head out.
"I can't let those two fight."
Otherwise, one would surely die—or they might both be fatally wounded, mutually destroyed.
Rozen absolutely could not watch his brothers walk toward such an end.
The Akabane clan was already gone. Only Rozen, Raishin, and Tenzen remained.
With that in mind, Rozen had to ensure the safety of both of them, no matter what.
"Let's go."
Rozen was ready to depart.
At that moment, Yaya asked quickly.
"Can't we just use the spatial transfer from earlier?"
Using Space Manipulation Magic, they should've been able to instantly reach Raishin and Magnus.
However, while space transfer magic was convenient, such convenience came with limitations—it was easily obstructed.
"This area has several layers of barriers, all enhanced and specialized with magic. Traps are everywhere. If we recklessly transfer in, we might trigger those traps or barriers and cause major problems."
Rozen's Wise Eye was sweeping the space, analyzing the layout of the entire academy's underground structure.
"I've already mapped out the route. Moving straight ahead will actually get us there faster."
As he said this, Rozen looked ahead again.
"Of course, that's assuming we take care of these nuisances first."
Hearing that, the three sisters tensed up after a moment of surprise.
Because—they saw them.
All around the corridor, dark shadows approached.
These monsters were unsettling to the core.
Their appearance resembled humans, but they were twice as large. Their bodies were twisted, like a cross between obese men and pregnant women. Their skin was black and flowing like flames, and they were covered in eyeballs, each surrounded by cracks revealing rows of white teeth.
They were the same monsters that Rozen had encountered before, along with Charlotte and Henri.
"Ah!"
Seeing these grotesque creatures, Komurasaki screamed, her face turning deathly pale, full of fear.
"M-Monsters...!"
"So disgusting!"
Irori and Yaya also felt their stomachs churn, nearly throwing up.
At that moment, one of the monsters let out a silent roar and suddenly lunged forward.
With that horrifying form charging toward them, the three girls screamed in unison.
Yaya, driven by a visceral reaction, reflexively kicked at the monster.
That was a serious mistake.
"Splurch!"
With a sickening sound, Yaya's foot got stuck deep in the monster's body—it couldn't be pulled out.
The creature's body split open, revealing its jagged teeth, ready to bite off Yaya's head.
"Yaya!"
"Yaya-onee-sama!"
Irori and Komurasaki panicked and rushed to help.
"Shing!"
At that moment, a flaming holy sword slashed down, cutting into the monster.
"Splurt!"
The fiery blade cleaved the monster in two, incinerating it on the spot.
"Don't let your guard down. These monsters aren't hard to beat, but their attacks don't follow conventional patterns. Stay alert."
Rozen, holding Galatine, calmly gave his warning.
Only then did the three sisters regain their composure.
The monsters lunged one after another.
A fierce battle was inevitable.