Meanwhile, Count Michael is lounging in his castle, smugly assuming that Ishtar has already been overrun by monsters. But his confidence crumbles when a messenger rushes in with urgent news. Expecting victory, Michael is shocked to hear that the monsters suddenly stopped their attack and retreated back into the forest. All except the golems—apparently unaffected by Clare’s song.
Lloyd suspects demon interference, but either way, the golems are a serious threat. He casts a speed boost on Clare, and they dash toward the city. Unfortunately, they’re spotted, and Lloyd tells Clare to fall back before the golems land a punch. After examining them, he realizes these golems are enhanced, which makes defeating them even harder. As they near the trench around Ishtar, Lloyd grabs Clare by the waist and leaps across. The soldiers are stunned—jumping that far while carrying someone is insane—but they quickly remember Lloyd’s legendary enhancement magic.
On the other side, Lloyd reunites with Yui and the others. They thank him, but he insists Clare deserves the credit since it was her magic that sent the monsters away. Still, the golems are approaching fast, and preparations must be made. Suddenly, Lloyd’s knees buckle, and he collapses—days of nonstop enhancement magic have finally caught up with him. The others beg him to rest, but Lloyd refuses until the city is safe. The guild master arrives, and Lloyd entrusts Clare’s safety to him. The guild master swears to protect her, grateful that Lloyd returned in time—their only real hope.
Lloyd, confused, asks why the hero party isn’t handling this. Reena explains bitterly that Allen refused to join the fight. Shocked, Lloyd can’t believe a so-called “hero” would abandon his people. Reena insists Allen doesn’t deserve the title at all. Lloyd notices her wounded arm and heals it instantly, though the strain nearly makes him faint. Reena tells him he didn’t need to push himself, but Lloyd couldn’t leave her injured. She finally apologizes for failing to appreciate everything he did for the hero’s party, admitting he was the real reason they were strong in the first place. Lloyd denies it, but Reena insists his support was invaluable, and she regrets not stopping Allen from expelling him.
Before the moment can continue, the alarm bells ring—the golems have arrived. Some fall into the trench, but many make it through. Guards rush forward to strike, but to their horror, their swords shatter against the golems’ rock-hard bodies. One soldier is promptly knocked out with a single punch. Panic spreads as even magic and ranged attacks bounce off the creatures’ tough exterior. Serena raises her shield and calls for a full assault, but the situation only grows more desperate.
Lloyd steps up and announces that he’ll cast enhancement magic on everyone. Yui warns him that boosting over a hundred people is insane in his current condition, but Lloyd insists. Still, he admits he can only strengthen them one group at a time. He casts strength boosts on the front line and mana boosts on the mages, also enhancing Yui’s party. Exhausted, his legs nearly give out, and he warns them to hurry—he doesn’t know how long the effects will last. Yui nods, ready to fight.
As the golems march closer, Reena climbs to the top of a tower and shouts to the soldiers, telling them that Lloyd has just cast enhancement magic on all of them, so they can fight back. The soldiers hesitate, doubting that Lloyd really boosted everyone so quickly. But when one is about to be crushed by a golem, Reena rushes in and blocks the strike. At that moment, Yui leaps down from the tower and slices the golem clean in half.
With the first golem defeated, Reena raises her shield and declares this as proof of Lloyd’s magic. The soldiers finally believe, realizing they do feel stronger. Morale surges—maybe they can actually win. Meanwhile, Lloyd gives orders: Cross should help the magic unit in the rear, while Daggas and Silica rush to the front lines. As for Lloyd himself, he’s barely standing, so a guard helps him to the fort to rest.
Thanks to Lloyd’s buffs, the adventurers rip through the golems one after another. Lloyd cheers them on from a tower, but just as the final golem remains, his enhancements suddenly fade. The adventurers are powerless again, and if that last golem breaks into the city, it’ll wreak havoc. Yui steps forward to block it, but when it swings, Reena shoves her aside so Daggas can intercept the blow. They hold it back, but only barely.
Lloyd realizes he has to act. With almost no mana left, he scrapes together enough to enhance Yui’s sword. She notices immediately and asks Daggas and Reena to cover her. As they raise their shields, Yui dashes forward, runs up the golem’s arm, and slices its head clean off. At last, the city of Ishtar is saved. Exhausted, Lloyd breathes a sigh of relief and collapses.
Meanwhile, in Count Michael’s castle, his general storms in furious—the beast squirrel they captured for their plan has escaped. But Michael, knowing the attack had failed, has already packed up and fled. The enraged general smashes up the office, swearing to kill whoever ruined his plans.
Back in Ishtar, Lloyd wakes up in an inn after sleeping for an entire day. Yui comes to check on him, relieved he’s awake. The first thing Lloyd does is apologize, blaming himself for not being strong enough. But Yui, sick of his self-doubt, drags him to the door. When she opens it, a massive crowd is gathered outside, chanting his name. Lloyd panics, slams the door shut, and freaks out—he’s never had so much attention.
Yui scolds him, saying the crowd only wants to thank their savior, and it’s rude to slam the door on them. But when she opens it again, Lloyd has already jumped out a window and is circling the block just to avoid the cheering people.
Meanwhile, at Merlin’s house, Will stops by to visit. Just as he’s about to open the door, a massive explosion erupts. Merlin steps out, and Will jokes that explosions aren’t the best way to welcome a guest. She defends herself, saying she thought he was an intruder. Will doesn’t mind since he wasn’t actually hit, while Merlin remains impressed at how he always manages to come away unharmed from her spells.
Inside, Will finds Thor and Lely, two of his and Merlin’s former teammates from their hero days. It has been ages since they were all together like this. Merlin immediately asks if Will has any news about Lloyd. Will explains that Lloyd was kicked out of the hero party some time ago. Merlin is shocked and can’t understand why they would cast him out. Will reassures her, saying there’s no need to worry—Lloyd is now part of an S-rank team and doing just fine. Relieved, Merlin listens as Will adds that, from watching Lloyd, it seems she must have had some questionable parenting methods.
Back in the city, Lloyd hides on a rooftop, watching crowds of people flooding the streets to find him. He still doesn’t understand what’s happening. His friends track him down, and he asks why everyone is after him. They explain that the people simply want to thank him for saving the city. Lloyd brushes it off, insisting he doesn’t deserve gratitude because, to him, he only did the bare minimum. Yui scolds him for looking down on himself again, pointing out how he always sets unrealistic expectations and tortures himself for no reason. The others agree, telling him to have more confidence. For the first time, Lloyd actually seems to understand what they mean.
Back at Merlin’s, Will tells her that Lloyd is far too humble and doesn’t realize his own strength. It’s a miracle he found a team that doesn’t take advantage of him. Merlin quietly admits she may have made mistakes with how she raised him, but insists she only wanted to prevent him from repeating her own past failures.
Meanwhile, in the city, Lloyd finally agrees to meet the crowd. The people thank him for empowering them during the battle, and to them, he is now the new hero of Ishtar. As for Allan, his refusal to help in the crisis costs him his hero title. Stripped of his status, his ego won’t allow him to stay in a town that now celebrates Lloyd as a true hero. He orders his party to pack up, and although the girls are reluctant, they follow him.
The next day, Lloyd and his friends are summoned to the Lord’s castle, where they are surprised to find Clare already waiting. Yui asks if she was summoned as well, but moments later, Lord Abel arrives and explains that Clare is actually an honored guest. He reveals that she is the third princess of the Forest Empire, making her highly important. Lloyd and the others are stunned by this revelation.
Abel asks their thoughts on Clare’s power after witnessing it firsthand. Lloyd admits it’s impressive but also terrifying, as in the wrong hands, it could cause chaos. Abel agrees, saying that’s exactly why they must not let the demons capture her again. Since the Empire will soon want to reclaim its princess, Abel assigns Yui’s party a special mission: escort Clare to the royal capital, Silfis. Normally, this would fall to the royal knights, but their presence would draw too much attention. Abel doesn’t want to risk alerting the demons, who clearly crave Clare’s power.
Lloyd is certain the demons won’t give up easily, but he and his companions accept the mission. The next morning, they set out on their journey.
