Following Tsuna's instructions, Bell and the others hurried back to Hearth Manor and explained everything that had happened to Reborn, who had stayed behind to watch the house.
"…I see," Reborn muttered.
"I-It's talking…!?"
Despite hearing that Tsuna had gone to launch a one-man assault on the Ishtar Familia, Reborn didn't show the slightest hint of surprise. Haruhime, on the other hand, was completely shell-shocked by the sight of a baby speaking so fluently.
"It's my special blend of herbal tea. Just drink this and calm down," Reborn offered smoothly.
"How can you be so calm right now!? Do you even understand the situation!?" Bell yelled, unable to comprehend how Reborn could remain so unfazed while Tsuna was heading into a warzone alone.
"Of course I do," Reborn replied flatly. "Tsuna went to crush the Ishtar Familia to protect you guys from their threat. Whether we panic here or not, nothing changes. The only thing we can do is trust him and wait."
"That's… true, but…"
Reborn took a slow sip of his tea. Knowing Tsuna's true strength better than anyone else, his logic was completely sound, leaving Bell unable to argue back.
"U-Umm…" Haruhime spoke up timidly.
"What is it?"
"May I ask your name?"
"I'm Reborn. And you're Haruhime, right?"
"Yes. My name is Sanjouno Haruhime."
"And? You have something you want to ask me, don't you?"
"Yes… Have you known Master Tsuna for a long time, Sir Reborn?"
Despite learning about Tsuna's reckless solo infiltration, Reborn had displayed absolute, unwavering trust in him. Deducing that the infant was the person who knew Tsuna best, Haruhime posed her question to him.
"I suppose. Why do you ask?"
"Well… there is something I don't understand…"
"Which is?"
"Why is Master Tsuna… willing to go to such lengths just to save me…?"
Haruhime truly couldn't comprehend it. She understood why he would be furious if Bell and the others were harmed, but she couldn't fathom why he would unleash such terrifying rage for a woman he had just met.
"…Probably because I used to be just like you."
"Like me?"
"I was once made into a human sacrifice myself," Reborn stated plainly.
"Eh…!?"
"What do you mean by that…!?"
Neither Haruhime nor the rest of the Familia had ever expected Reborn to share such a dark, tragic circumstance. They stared at him in absolute shock.
"—Reborn-kun! Are Bell-kun and the others back!?"
Just then, the sound of heavy, frantic footsteps echoed through the hall, and the living room door was thrown open. Hestia stood in the doorway, panting heavily.
"Thank goodness… wait, could you be Haruhime-kun!?"
Her relief at seeing Bell and the others safe was immediately replaced by flustered confusion when she noticed Haruhime sitting in their living room.
"Calm down, Hestia. Did something happen?" Reborn asked.
"Y-Yeah!! I asked Takemikazuchi about the Killing Stone Hermes mentioned, and we found out something horrific!!"
"It's a magic item that lets anyone use her magic at the cost of her life, right?" Reborn summarized.
"W-Why do you already know about that, Reborn-kun!?"
"Actually, we were ambushed by the Ishtar Familia in the Dungeon…" Bell started.
"Fortunately, Master Tsuna defeated them, so Lili and the others made it out completely unscathed," Lili added.
"But during the fight, we learned about the Killing Stone, and how the Ishtar Familia is planning to use Lady Haruhime's power to destroy the Freya Familia," Mikoto finished.
"I-I see… Well, I'm just glad you're all safe."
Hearing their explanation, Hestia finally understood how they knew. She let out a long sigh of relief, thankful that her children had returned in one piece.
"W-Well, the thing is… about Tsuna…" Bell stammered.
"Did something happen to Tsuna-kun!?"
"Tsuna, um… he told us to take Miss Haruhime and escape back to the Manor… and then he went straight to the Ishtar Familia's headquarters all by himself."
"HE DID WHAT!?"
─────
Meanwhile, back in the Dungeon.
"W-Where am I…?"
"You're finally awake, you stupid Toad."
Using wave tactics, Aisha and the remaining Amazonesses had managed to locate Phryne. Despite her massive fall, she had only been knocked unconscious. Fortunately, they found her before any roaming monsters did.
"We're on the 15th Floor," Aisha explained. "That Sawada kid blasted you all the way down here."
"Sawada Tsunayoshi… THAT SHITTY BRATTTTTT!?"
The moment Tsuna's name left Aisha's lips, the humiliating memory of her defeat rushed back. Phryne's face twisted into a grotesque mask of rage as she scrambled to her feet.
"Where the hell did he go!?"
"He's long gone."
"Damn it!! Haruhime!! Follow me!!"
"Haruhime isn't here either. They took her with them."
"That bastard!!"
"Where do you think you're going?" Aisha demanded as Phryne began to stomp away.
"Where else!? I'm going after him!!"
"After getting beaten half to death like that, you still haven't learned your lesson?" Aisha sighed, utterly appalled that Phryne still wanted to challenge Tsuna after suffering such a hopelessly one-sided defeat.
"As long as I have Haruhime, I can [Rank Up]!! Once I do, I'll crush a brat like him like a bug!!"
"Thirty percent."
"Hah!?"
"That ultimate move he hit you with. He suppressed its power to about thirty percent. If he fired that attack at a higher output, even a [Rank Up] wouldn't save you."
"Don't you dare give me orders, you ugly bitch!!"
Completely ignoring Aisha's dire warning, Phryne turned and marched toward the exit of the Dungeon.
"What a truly insufferable conversation."
"[Hildisvini]…!?"
Suddenly, Hedin materialized, blocking Phryne's path. His sheer presence alone forced the enraged Toad to regain a fraction of her sanity.
This was Hedin Selland—an executive of the Freya Familia, a Level 6 White Elf adventurer, and the man known by the alias [Hildisvini]. Blessed with a brilliant, calculating mind, he served as the tactician and chief strategist for his Familia. Furthermore, he was the only adventurer in the entire city whose total Mind capacity—and by extension, his magic endurance—surpassed even Riveria, the city's strongest mage.
"I am continuously amazed that an incompetent fool like you is allowed to call herself a Captain. I suppose you've only survived this long thanks to [Antianeira]," Hedin remarked, his tone dripping with absolute condescension.
"Get out of my way!! I don't have time to deal with you right now!!"
"—You utter imbecile. You dared to lay your hands on Bell Cranel. Did you honestly believe Lady Freya would remain silent after that?"
""""""!?""""""
Hedin's words sent a shockwave of dread through Aisha and the others.
Their true objective behind the ambush was to kidnap Bell under Ishtar's orders. Ishtar had learned from a certain source that Freya was utterly obsessed with the boy. Driven purely by spite, Ishtar plotted to snatch Bell away and devour him before Freya could, solely to inflict emotional agony on her rival.
"Though it appears your little scheme ended in failure, thanks to Sawada Tsunayoshi."
This guy… does he know about Sawada Tsunayoshi…? Aisha realized.
Judging from Hedin's deduction, he hadn't actually watched the battle. Instead, Aisha sensed that he already knew firsthand just how terrifyingly strong Tsuna was.
"Before I eradicate you, I have one question," Hedin said coldly. "Where is Bell Cranel?"
"…He's hiding in a safe place. Sawada Tsunayoshi ordered them to retreat."
"Ordered them?"
"Sawada Tsunayoshi headed to the Ishtar Familia. He went to completely wipe us out."
"Hah!? What the hell are you talking about!?" Phryne shrieked.
"It's simple. He knew Lady Ishtar would retaliate to avenge today's humiliation. To protect his friends from that inevitable revenge, he marched into our headquarters alone."
I see… so that's why, Hedin thought.
While Phryne was stunned by the revelation, Hedin finally understood why Tsuna had been ascending the floors by himself when they crossed paths earlier.
"Aisha!! You knew all of that and you didn't stop him!? Are you planning to betray Lady Ishtar!?" Phryne roared.
"Don't be an idiot. How exactly were we supposed to stop a monster that completely crushed us? We were spared... You should just be grateful you're still breathing."
"Then I'll make him regret it!! I'll make him pay for humiliating me like this!!"
Blood rushing to her head once more, Phryne completely forgot the Level 6 standing right in front of her and continued raving about her revenge.
"[Fight on eternally, immortal lightning soldiers]."
Naturally, Hedin had no intention of letting her walk past him. He instantly began his chant, and a swarm of crackling lightning arrowheads materialized in the air around him.
"[Caurus Hildr]."
"GYAAAAAAAH!!"
The countless arrowheads of lightning bombarded Phryne simultaneously, instantly roasting her black.
[Caurus Hildr]. It was Hedin's super-short chant lightning magic. The spell fired a relentless barrage of lightning projectiles, each carrying enough voltage to instantly char a grown man. Its casting speed was phenomenal, allowing him to annihilate a hundred soldiers in a single volley. Furthermore, its effective range comfortably exceeded 500 meters, making it one of the longest-reaching spells in all of Orario. Coupled with Hedin's masterful magic control and tactical precision, it boasted terrifying accuracy.
To make matters worse, Hedin wasn't just a backline mage—he was a master magic swordsman. Even if an opponent managed to close the distance, defeating him in close-quarters combat was nearly impossible.
"Filth. Just how much incompetence must you display before you are satisfied? Have you already forgotten why I am standing here?"
Hedin felt a profound sense of disgust looking down at Phryne. Even with an overwhelmingly superior enemy standing right in front of her, she remained blindly consumed by her grudge against Tsuna.
"You… shitty elf…!?"
"Oh…?"
Despite lying face-down, charred and smoking, Phryne glared up at Hedin with murder in her eyes. Hedin had held back significantly, but he was still mildly impressed that she hadn't lost consciousness.
"[Fight on eternally, immortal lightning soldiers]."
Without missing a beat, Hedin conjured another massive swarm of lightning arrowheads.
"Let us see what breaks first: my Mind, or your spirit."
"Eh…!?"
"Death is far too merciful for you. I am going to inflict such agonizing pain that you will beg me to kill you."
"W-Wait!! What did I ever do to you!?"
Realizing he fully intended to electrocute her continuously until her mind shattered, Phryne's face drained of all color.
"Do not make me repeat myself, filth. You attempted to lay your filthy hands on her favored one. That is your only crime."
"I-I was just following Lady Ishtar's orders…!!"
"[Caurus Hildr]."
"GYAAAAAAAH!?"
Ignoring her pathetic excuses entirely, Hedin unleashed another volley of lightning. Phryne's agonizing screams echoed endlessly through the Dungeon.
"It seems you still do not understand your position. You are a sinner who attempted to insult her honor, just like Ishtar. And I am the Executor sent to pass judgment upon you. Your sins cannot be overturned. Your only remaining right is to accept the punishment I bestow. Repent in agony."
And so, Hedin's merciless execution continued, relentlessly battering Phryne until there was nothing left but despair.
----
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