When Rozen left this world last time, because Japan itself intended to abandon the League and throw itself into the embrace of the Union, it went so far as to employ assassins from the Rebellion, establishing Akatsuki Academy to openly challenge the authority of the League. From that point, the situation of this world began to grow unstable.
Japan's provocation against the League's authority forced the League, in order to preserve its own prestige, to choose to confront Akatsuki Academy directly at the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival.
And Japan's purpose in doing this was precisely to join the Union. If Akatsuki Academy had ultimately won, then the Union would naturally have been dragged into the conflict as well.
On top of that, to achieve this goal, Akatsuki Academy had mercenaries from the Rebellion on its side, and as a result, the Rebellion would also be dragged into the conflict.
A struggle among the world's three greatest powers could very well have triggered a world war. That the situation would become unstable was only natural.
Although Ikki and Stella targeted Akatsuki Academy during the Seven Stars Sword-Art Festival, defeating them and rendering their plans void — with the result that Japan did not secede from the League to join the Union, and the conflict did not come to the surface — the seeds had already been sown, and the situation only grew more unstable afterward.
Now, only a few months later, the atmosphere among the nations of this world had already grown tense, the smell of gunpowder thick in the air, with war threatening to break out at any time.
Because of this, as the chief culprit who had lit the fuse, Japan's current situation had become rather dire, leaving Ikki and the others extremely busy, traveling between countries in hopes of preventing the outbreak of a world war.
As for Edelweiss, she had never intended to intervene in conflicts between nations. Yet because her teacher was Kurogane Ryouma, Japan's hero, and out of a certain sense of responsibility as someone who possessed great power, Edelweiss had continued to keep watch, ready to act at any time.
At present, to avoid arousing the suspicion of the three great powers and prematurely forcing a confrontation, Edelweiss had simply remained in Edelberg.
All of this, Edelweiss relayed to Rozen each day through their telepathic link.
Naturally, Rozen already knew these things. The reason he asked Edelweiss about them again was only because he wanted to know the current situation of Stella and the others.
Edelweiss had apparently kept close track of such intelligence.
Thus, Edelweiss said:
"Your disciple should be in the Vermillion Empire right now, bringing along her classmates as well. On the surface, it looks like she's gone home to visit family and show her friends around her country. But in reality, it seems she's hoping to take advantage of the current situation to have serious discussions with the Vermillion royal family about how they should coordinate their actions."
So Edelweiss informed Rozen.
Because Stella was the princess of the Vermillion Empire, if a world war truly broke out among the three great powers, a small border country like the Vermilion Empire would find survival extremely difficult.
Given the current state of affairs, Stella and the others naturally wished to secure trustworthy allies to prevent the war from breaking out, and so the Vermilion Empire had become their first choice.
"Those kids came to me before as well, hoping I would step forward. But with my strength alone, I might be able to exert some restraint, yet to thoroughly intimidate the three great powers and prevent them from acting rashly would be nearly impossible."
Edelweiss looked at Rozen and smiled faintly.
"Unless you personally stepped forward."
Hearing this, Rozen scratched his cheek.
And truthfully, if Rozen were willing to step forward, there might really be a chance for a turnaround.
After all, Rozen was renowned as the strongest Blazer in the world, the one called Tenkai. He had once stood alone against the three great powers, defeating them all single-handedly, nearly slaying all three strongest blazer of their respective faction, and shocking the entire world.
The three great powers had once mobilized their elites to besiege Rozen, only to become his defeated foes.
Given this, their fear of Rozen was only natural. If he were to appear again, it was almost certain that the three great powers would be forced to back down.
At the very least, that was what the entire world believed.
For this reason, not only Stella and the others, but even Shinguuji Kurono and Saikyou Nene had come to Edelweiss, hoping she could reach Rozen through her connection.
"I even told them that you've become much stronger than before — stronger by who knows how many times. After that, they wished even more for you to step forward."
Edelweiss's words made Rozen roll his eyes.
But it was the truth.
Compared to his former self, Rozen had indeed become vastly stronger — his mana nearly inexhaustible, empowered by High-Grade Mana, newly acquired magic, and contracts with countless Servants, shikigami, and Beast Vassals. He could probably crush his former self without effort.
If Rozen were to step forward now, surely no one would dare act rashly.
"Unfortunately, since you weren't here, I told them that you wouldn't be returning anytime soon. So they left, intending to find their own solutions."
Edelweiss finished her explanation.
"All right." Rozen shrugged and said, "When I truly have the time, I'll take action once."
Those words genuinely surprised Edelweiss.
"Weren't you set on not intervening in this matter?"
Edelweiss asked directly.
Because all three great powers had once schemed against him, Rozen had no desire to intervene, preferring to watch them tear each other apart like dogs — something he would greatly enjoy.
But now, it seemed Rozen had changed his mind.
"It's not that deep. I just felt like it on a whim." Meeting Edelweiss's gaze, Rozen smiled and said, "Besides, I don't even know if I'll still be around when that time comes."
Edelweiss fell silent.
Looking steadily at Rozen for a while, she finally spoke.
"Do you have something weighing on your mind?"
Those words made Rozen fall silent as well.
Seeing him like this, Edelweiss understood.
She understood why this man had suddenly returned and come to find her.
Because his heart was unsettled.
Something unknown had left this man confused and lost.
And he had come here simply to find someone to talk to — subconsciously yearning for the presence of someone he could trust to soothe him.
Understanding this, Edelweiss spoke without hesitation.
"Is there anything I can do to help?"
If there was, Edelweiss would do it without reservation.
Rozen raised his eyes, looking at the woman before him whose gaze was both determined and worried, his own eyes flickering slightly.
Then, Rozen reached out and took Edelweiss's hand, as if seeking something.
In that instant, Edelweiss understood how she should comfort him.
Her beautiful face flushed red, and her heart trembled.
Yet Edelweiss had no reason to refuse.