Northern Britain, Edinburgh.
Bzzzz!
As the semicircular Gate of Darkness unfolded in the open space before the cathedral and Riezel and Artoria stepped out from within, everyone who had been discussing the alliance inside the cathedral, including Nokturna, came out one after another.
"Riezel!"
"Mister Riezel!"
"Artoria!"
They called out as they hurried over, traces of shock still lingering on their faces.
"Why are you all out here?"
Artoria was surprised by this.
"What do you think?" Nokturna said with one hand on her hip, looking at Artoria, whose magical aura had risen to another level. Whether she was dissatisfied or something else, she said, "Sneaking off and doing something that huge without telling anyone—you've really grown capable, Artoria."
"We all heard the bells!" Fujimaru Ritsuka said, both confused and astonished. "You just went and rang the final Pilgrimage Bell, didn't you?"
"But how did you manage that?" Habertlot seemed equally stunned as she asked, "Wasn't the Mirror Clan's bell lost long ago?"
"Exactly." Da Vinci spoke in a suspicious tone as well. "The Wind Clan, Oberon, and the Round Table have never stopped searching for the Mirror Clan's bell, yet they were never able to find it."
"So how did you two go out for one little trip and end up ringing it?"
For anyone who knew the situation surrounding the final Pilgrimage Bell, suddenly hearing that bell toll throughout all of Britain would naturally leave them shocked and bewildered.
The Mirror Clan's Bone Clock had vanished long ago. Some even knew that it had already been destroyed. Yet now, it had suddenly been rung. That was more than enough to astonish many of those in the know.
Even these allies had more or less given up hope before this. With time running short, everyone had silently assumed that