Kamioda Shrine.
When spatial fluctuations rippled through the shrine grounds, signaling Rozen and the others' return, Kuraki Shirona and her group immediately stepped out of the main hall to greet them.
However, the first thing Shirona and the others heard wasn't the voice of Rozen or any of his companions—but rather the cheerful, unfamiliar voice of a young girl.
"Glenda~ Glenda~"
Following the singsong voice, what they saw was the dragon girl—now in human form—hanging off Yuiri's back, swinging back and forth like she was on a playground, thoroughly enjoying herself.
"I-I get it already! I know your name is Glenda! Please stop shaking me!"
Yuiri staggered unsteadily, trying to placate the girl while looking like she was on the verge of tears.
But Yuiri wasn't the only one suffering. Both Rozen and Yukina standing beside her looked utterly drained, as if they'd been through the wringer.
Rozen, in particular, seemed mentally exhausted, sighing deeply as if contemplating the meaning of life—or perhaps questioning it.
Seeing their state, Shirona and the others exchanged glances.
"Yu-Yuiri...?"
Shio called out hesitantly.
The moment she heard her friend's voice, Yuiri nearly burst into tears.
"Uuu... Shio, save me..."
She looked like she was about to collapse into Shio's arms and start sobbing.
"What in the world is going on?"
Shio was completely lost but still rushed over to help—only to realize she had no idea how to intervene.
Glenda had latched onto Yuiri like glue, completely ignoring Shio. In fact, when she saw Shio approaching, she tightened her grip around Yuiri's neck, nearly choking her.
Bear in mind—Glenda was a dragon, a true member of the Phantasmal Species. Even in human form, her strength was monstrous.
As Yuiri's face turned blue from lack of air, Shio panicked, desperately trying to calm Glenda down. Eventually, the girl loosened her grip with a giggle, sparing Yuiri's life.
"Just who is this child...?"
Shio could only stare in bewilderment as she supported the half-suffocating Yuiri.
But no one answered her.
Yukina could only offer a strained smile, unsure how to explain.
Rozen, meanwhile, had completely distanced himself from the situation—or perhaps was just trying to avoid further trouble—turning away with an air of indifference.
In contrast, Shirona and Akatsuki Hisano studied Glenda—who was still clinging to Yuiri's back—with deepening frowns. Their expressions shifted from confusion to grim realization.
"Haba Yuiri," Shirona spoke first, her voice measured. "This child is...?"
"Lady Shirona..." Yuiri hesitated before sighing. "Her name is Glenda."
"Glenda..."
Shirona repeated the name slowly, as if tasting its meaning, but asked no further questions.
"Glenda... is it?"
Hisano mirrored Shirona's reaction, though her gaze held a trace of something more complicated.
Then, without pressing further, the two elders fell silent for a moment before smoothly changing the subject.
"You've worked hard." Hisano spoke first. "I've been briefed on the situation. It seems you faced considerable hardship due to The Cleansers."
"Haba Yuiri's shikigami reached me as well. I've reviewed the report." Shirona nodded. "Rest assured, now that The Cleansers have shown their hand, they won't escape unscathed. We will use this opportunity to root out all their remnants hiding within the Self-Defense Forces."
Clearly, both Shirona and Hisano took this matter extremely seriously.
However...
"Will you really be able to capture all of them?"
Yukina couldn't help but voice her concern.
After all, the Self-Defense Forces were vast, and the number of Cleansers still in hiding was unknown. Who could guarantee none would slip through the net?
Yet Shirona merely smiled, unfazed.
"The Self-Defense Forces aren't so easily infiltrated. The reason so many managed to embed themselves is likely due to Azama Tatsumi's influence. But even The Cleansers couldn't have placed too many in high-ranking positions. Tatsumi's rank was probably the highest among them—he was most likely their leader."
Otherwise, Tatsumi wouldn't have been the only Knight of the Sinful God wielding an authentic relic of the God of Sin, while the others used mere replicas. That alone proved his unique standing within The Cleansers.
"Now that he's been captured, any stragglers won't pose a threat. Even if we have to employ hypnotic or divination jujutsu to track them down, it won't take long to purge them all. There's no need to worry, Himeragi Yukina."
Shirona's thorough explanation finally eased Yukina's tension.
Seeing this, Shirona smiled faintly before turning her attention to Rozen, who stood with his arms crossed, deliberately detached from the conversation.
"Once again, we owe you our gratitude for your assistance, Divine Child."
Shirona bowed formally.
"Our thanks."
Hisano followed suit.
Yet Rozen didn't respond immediately. Instead, he stared at them with an amused, knowing smirk.
The atmosphere grew tense under his gaze.
Then—
"You really do should thank me." Rozen's voice was laced with quiet mockery. "Otherwise, your plan to purge The Cleansers from the Self-Defense Forces would have failed spectacularly, wouldn't it?"
Shirona and Hisano's expressions flickered.
"Eh?"
"W-What?"
"Plan...?"
Yukina, Yuiri, and Shio were stunned, struggling to process his words.
But Rozen's meaning was crystal clear.
"The Lion King Agency already suspected The Cleansers had infiltrated the Self-Defense Forces. You were planning to use the Shinjin Lake incident to draw them out and eliminate them all at once, weren't you?"
He exposed the hidden truth without hesitation.
Yukina, Yuiri, and Shio's eyes widened.
But it was the undeniable reality.
"Shizuka Koyomi told me—the reason the Self-Defense Forces mobilized for this operation wasn't their own decision. It was because the Lion King Agency requested their assistance."
In other words—
The Cleansers in the Self-Defense Forces hadn't orchestrated this operation themselves.
They had been summoned here by the Lion King Agency.
The Cleansers had been marked from the very beginning.