"This is...!?"
A voice suddenly echoed throughout the entire academy, causing everyone to jolt and lift their heads sharply.
"Is it a broadcast?"
Rozen also frowned slightly but then immediately relaxed and turned his gaze toward the direction of the Headmaster's residence.
At that moment, all the teachers and students still desperately resisting or seeking refuge within the academy heard the broadcast.
It was the voice of a witch, reverberating through the air.
"First, to all of you stubbornly resisting even after everything that's happened, as the initiator of this operation, I must extend my highest respect and admiration."
The voice spoke playfully, causing Charl, Loki, Henri, and Frey to all reveal expressions of anger.
The one speaking through the broadcast was clearly the leader of this attack.
Although the voice sounded young, her word choice and tone were seasoned, carrying the weight of experience and a bewitching charm.
She was a true witch—someone who delighted in toying with the hearts of others.
And the witch continued:
"While I admire your tenacity, I'm afraid I must bring you some bad news. Not everyone is as strong as you. For example, the Headmaster we've captured, the Chief Representative of the Professors, the Deputy Representative, the heads of various departments, the Commander of the Security Forces, and several top-ranked students from the Night Party—a total of 112 hostages are now in our hands."
The cheerful tone made Charl and the others widen their eyes in shock.
"The Headmaster was captured too?"
Loki, rarely showing surprise, muttered.
"That's impossible, right?"
Even Charl found it hard to believe.
Only Rozen knew—it was true.
The proof was the spiritual auras of 112 people, exactly as the enemy claimed, now gathered within the Headmaster's residence.
"With all these hostages, I'm sure you understand, right?" The voice chuckled. "That's right, the academy is already under our control. No matter how hard you resist, it's meaningless."
It was a fact.
With the academy's leadership and top students captured, what point was there in resisting?
Ultimately, the authority here rested with them. The rest were merely working or studying.
"Of course, we won't demand your unconditional surrender. You are all elites and talents from around the world. Treating you rudely would be disrespectful to your homelands."
Despite the chaos, destruction, and injuries she and her group had caused, the witch spoke as if it were nothing.
"We have only one request—we want a single person."
Upon hearing this, Rozen's eyes narrowed slightly. Everyone else seemed to realize something too, and turned their gazes toward him.
If there was anyone in the academy who could draw the attention of an underground organization willing to occupy the school, it could only be Rozen.
Sure enough—
"Rorelai Arneet."
The witch's voice turned almost feverish.
"If this student is still in the academy, I hope you'll come to me so we can have a proper conversation."
"Believe me, we bear you no hostility. We simply believe it would be best if you joined us."
"I'll be waiting at the Headmaster's residence."
"We also ask that everyone in the academy cooperate. If you know this person's whereabouts, tell us, or bring him here."
"If you can't accept this request, we'll pass judgment upon the hostages."
Having said that, the witch's voice became cheerful again.
"Don't disappoint us, okay?"
With those final words, the broadcast ended.
Rozen could easily imagine the uproar this announcement would cause throughout the academy.
Yet here, in this place, it was dead silent.
Everyone simply stared at Rozen, their eyes filled with worry and complicated emotions.
No one had expected that this underground organization, capable of taking over the world's top academy, had come for Rozen.
Maybe it wasn't their only goal.
But from the witch's words, it was clear this was something very important to them.
Irori, Yaya, and Komurasaki silently looked at Rozen, waiting for him to make a decision.
Charl, Frey, and Henri looked like they wanted to say something but couldn't find the words.
Only Loki, who had somewhat recovered, sat up from the ground, stared at Rozen, and bluntly asked:
"Are you going?"
It was a simple, direct question.
Rozen didn't hesitate.
"Of course," Rozen said flatly. "Why wouldn't I?"
Even without considering the hostages, Rozen would have gone.
After all—
"Since they came for me, there's no way they'll leave unscathed."
Rozen smiled coldly.
There were things he needed to find out about this so-called Order of the Rose.
For example—
"I also want to confirm how the Multi-Controller ended up in their hands."
Rozen's words left everyone silent.
But they all knew: Rozen had no choice but to go.
Regardless of his own wishes, the hostages couldn't just be abandoned.
That's what everyone thought.
Thus—
"I'm going too!"
Charl stepped forward.
"Let's go."
Loki directly lifted the giant sword formed from Cherubim, speaking coldly.
Clearly, the two of them intended to accompany Rozen.
"Wait! Onee-sama!"
"Loki, your injuries...!"
Henri and Frey cried out in worry.
"It's fine. Most of my mana has recovered. I can still fight," Charl assured them.
"I'm good too," Loki added coldly.
The effects of Rozen's talismans had been even better than expected—fast-acting and highly effective, almost comparable to rare spiritual medicines.
So although Charl and Loki hadn't fully recovered, they were capable of fighting.
However—
"The Multi-Controller is still active. Can you really fight?" Rozen asked flatly.
Charl and Loki immediately fell silent.
With the Multi-Controller's power present, Charl could only continue using Spirit Arts, and Loki would have to reactivate his Machina Heart to control Cherubim, which would burden him heavily.
"In the end, I'll have to handle it myself."
Rozen muttered, pulling out a stack of talismans from inside his coat.
"Order!"
With a short chant, Rozen threw the talismans out. They flew toward each Automaton and attached themselves.
In the next moment, invisible barriers formed around them.
"Done," Rozen said. "With this barrier, the Multi-Controller's song won't affect their minds, and they can use magic again."
Hearing this, everyone brightened.
"Let's go."
Rozen smiled faintly, snapped his fingers, and distorted the surrounding space.
In an instant, Rozen and the others arrived in front of the Headmaster's residence.
There, the enemy was already waiting in full alert.