A mushroom cloud rose slowly from Roland Cathedral. Watching from a distance, Batman couldn't help remarking, "Whoa. It's not even New Year's yet, and they're setting off fireworks that big."
"That doesn't look like fireworks," Robin ventured. "Did Jeanne d'Arc finally lose patience with Roland and blow up on him?"
"Probably." Batman gazed toward the explosion. "Oh, there goes Roland, taking flight."
A moment later, the shock wave began to contract, gradually drawing back in.
"Reversing time? Is he even human?" Robin watched the mushroom cloud slowly close up and shrink, clicking his tongue in disbelief.
"When it comes to Roland, I couldn't say." Batman shrugged.
Roland Cathedral.
"Could you be a little more sensible—" Roland reversed time in the small area around him. Seeing both Jeannes getting ready to unleash their noble phantasms again, he hurriedly tried to reason with them. "Calm down—the kid's still here."
"The kid? Me?" Jason pointed at himself. "I'm fine. Carry on."
"How about you skewer him with your noble phantasm?" Roland suggested to Jeanne d'Arc Alter.
"I'll settle things with you later!" Jeanne d'Arc Alter glared at Roland, grabbed Jeanne d'Arc by the arm, and ran off to the side.
"Mm—" Dr. Roman poked his head out from behind the door. "That scared me half to death—I never thought you could piss off both Jeannes at once—"
"Is that really so surprising?" Roland asked.
"When it's you, it does seem pretty reasonable." Dr. Roman rolled his eyes. "You even seem rather proud of yourself."
"No, you're imagining it." Aether element kept gathering in Roland's hand. "I've finally learned the first magic. You can take a break now, right?"
"Yes." Dr. Roman breathed a sigh of relief. "I hope I never get another assignment this ridiculous. I'd rather split myself seven ways and save