You Are My Knight (Part 1)
「However, Hikigaya Hachiman had no time to respond to the villagers one by one.」
「After confirming that the villagers had received orders from Otto and Emilia—having long since packed their bags and made preparations to flee at any moment—Hikigaya Hachiman spurred his horse to the limit, returning to the mansion to see Emilia.」
「"Mr. Hachiman!" Scrambling toward him with a voice full of grief and indignation, Otto clung to Hikigaya Hachiman's trouser leg as if seeing a savior descended from heaven. Tears and snot flowed freely as he prepared to say something.」
「"A strong spirit knight... It seems you've found quite the reliable reinforcement. Follow me; Lady Emilia is waiting for you all—now, carriage driver, what are you doing? Do you intend to lose face for Lord Roswaal and Lady Emilia in front of outsiders?"」
「Ram's indifferent voice caused the weeping Otto to freeze instantly. He stood up with the greatest possible speed, acting as if nothing had happened.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman could roughly imagine what had transpired.」
「Ram, aside from her feelings for Roswaal and Rem, was essentially devoid of emotion toward others. Her tongue was poisonous—and not the kind of well-intentioned sarcasm used by Yukinoshita Yukino. Otto had likely endured quite a bit of mockery during his few days here.」
「"Ram." Hikigaya Hachiman didn't rebuke her directly; instead, he expressed himself tactfully: "Otto is my chosen Internal Affairs Official. If he is willing, he will be working alongside you in the future, assisting Lady Emilia... and Roswaal."」
「"..." Ram gave a faint, almost imperceptible nod and stopped targeting Otto.」
「Otto stood there dazed, pointing at himself. "Eh? Internal Affairs Official? What? What? I never heard anything about this?!"」
「"Are you unwilling, Otto?"」
「Hearing Hikigaya Hachiman's seemingly disappointed inquiry, Otto finally realized this wasn't just a temporary expedient. His eyes widened, his breathing became heavy like a bull's, and he trembled with excitement.」
「Like a man finding his resolve, his voice carried an immense amount of agitation: "No—I mean, am I really okay for the job? You mustn't joke about this, Mr. Hachiman! I'll take it seriously, I really will!"」
「"Of course, it's not an immediate appointment. There will be a probationary period."」
「These words didn't annoy Otto; rather, they made him even more exhilarated. If there was a probationary period, how could it possibly be a joke?」
「"I will perform my absolute best!"」
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"That kid Otto is finally coming up in the world, huh."
The merchants who had traveled with Otto and knew him rubbed their hands together. "While Lady Emilia, Crusch, and the Finest Knight Julius are indeed figures to admire, they feel too distant. But Otto is different!"
"That kid—I used to be on pretty good terms with him!"
In this future broadcast spanning the entire world, appearing in it and showing good moral character or ability meant gaining immense prestige before all of humanity. Even if Hikigaya Hachiman didn't eventually cross over due to some accident, it was certain that many nobles would now be willing to hire Otto for a high salary.
At that moment, in Otto's hometown, the family of nobles who had once arrogantly bullied the boy into fleeing felt their vision go dark. The entire household, young and old, collapsed or felt the onset of heart palpitations, finally tasting the fear Otto once felt.
If, later in this light screen, Otto were to confide his past to Hikigaya Hachiman, that family would surely suffer a fate similar to the three thugs in the Capital.
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「Otto and Julius remained in the drawing room to drink the tea Ram had brewed.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman stood outside the young girl's office. In this moment, he felt a sense of trepidation.」
「Creak.」
「Hearing the sound of the door opening, the girl leaning over the desk handling affairs looked up with a mixture of surprise and joy. In that instant, a breeze from the window ruffled her long silver hair.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's fingers twitched. His vision blurred, and for a fleeting moment, a very familiar silhouette seemed to overlap with Emilia, though eventually, the two figures separated once more.」
「"Hachiman!" Emilia seemed a bit worn out from worrying about things, but she still broke into a smile. She tilted her head, stood on her tiptoes, and peered cutely behind him for a moment. "Where is Rem?"」
「"I sent Rem back to the Capital; there are matters there that require her attention."」
「For some reason, Emilia's already cheerful mood became even brighter upon hearing this explanation.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman, however, suddenly seemed a bit low. He shook his head to focus on the urgent business at hand: "Did you read the letter I had Otto deliver?"」
「"Yes. The Witch Cult is going to invade, right?"」
「"And the matter of me taking the liberty to ally with Crusch and Anastasia."」
「"Eh? Taking the liberty?" Emilia froze, looking confused. "What do you mean by that... Hachiman, you have the authority to act freely in the Capital representing my name. That is something both Roswaal and I have acknowledged, isn't it?"」
「"But it was such a major—"」
「Emilia did something rare: she interrupted Hikigaya Hachiman. "But Hachiman would never harm me, would he?"」
「As if coaxing a throwing-a-tantrum child, she approached him gently, quietly, step by step. That naturally faint, clean fragrance filled the air, and Hikigaya Hachiman caught the scent.」
「"Really now... I don't know what Hachiman is always worrying about. Why are you so distant with me? You are my knight, aren't you? Hachiman is my only knight, right?"」
「"I won't distrust you... I know, you know. It's not that Hachiman thinks he shouldn't have done it; you want to explain why you did it, right?"」
「"But there's no need—Hachiman's actions must have his own considerations, and they must be for my sake. I understand that."」
「Emilia placed her fair palms together, clasping Hikigaya Hachiman's right hand and lifting it up. "Understanding that is enough for me. I will trust you; I will always trust you. So, so... Hachiman must believe in me too. Believe that I will trust you, okay?"」
「"Emilia…"」
「"Can you believe in me, Hachiman?" Emilia interrupted him again. "I know I'm not as capable as Miss Crusch... but Hachiman is my knight!"」
「"Emilia, you…" Hikigaya Hachiman seemed to realize something.」
「Emilia said for the third time: "Believe in me, okay, Hachiman?"」
「"…If I didn't believe in you," Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath and nodded heavily, "wouldn't I be too pitiful in this world? I believe in you. I will believe in you—Emilia, I am your knight!"」
You Are My Knight (Part 2)
"Strange, is Emilia the type of person to have such sudden emotional fluctuations for no reason?"
Shinomiya Kaguya watched, feeling lost. Although she was a total hopeless romantic, her own experience with love was so bizarre that she couldn't quite understand "normal" romance or standard couples.
Beside her, Hayasaka Ai sighed, offering a bit of guidance to her young mistress: "Mistress Kaguya, it's obvious that Otto accidentally let a few things slip. He told her that in the Capital, Crusch liked Hikigaya Hachiman quite a lot, and would occasionally drop hints in her speech trying to recruit him."
"I see. Is she afraid of her knight being snatched away by Crusch, who has a far more heroic posture as a leader? It seems that during their time apart, Emilia must have lived in a state of constant trepidation."
Shinomiya Kaguya caught on immediately, light dawning in her eyes.
"Even so, she didn't send a letter to the Capital, but chose silence instead... Does that mean she respects Hikigaya Hachiman's own choice?"
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"Lia, you dummy!"
An exasperated Puck raised his cat paws, hardening his heart, really wanting to give his foolish daughter a light smack. "What if that kid really was won over by Crusch! Honestly, you're just too kind!"
"Puck..." Emilia stole a glance at the fuming Puck.
'The real me didn't worry about that at all... because I've been watching Hachiman the whole time and know all his feelings. It's already completely different from the future. How wonderful.'
"However, after meeting Hikigaya Hachiman again, Emilia's mindset changed."
The Nakano quintuplets felt a surge of energy: "She's become proactive! She knows she wants Hikigaya Hachiman, and she fought to keep him! Emilia... has changed because of this man! She has a new expectation!"
"That's how it should be! Yes, you must be proactive!"
The five sisters looked at each other, feeling infinitely encouraged, ready to launch a new round of the "Great War for Uesugi Fuutarou."
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"Heh, hehehe."
At the convenience store, Yukinoshita Yukino had lost the light in her eyes, much like Anastasia. She didn't know whether to cry or laugh. "For Hikigaya-kun to meet a monarch who trusts him so wholeheartedly... of course that's a good thing. But, but... cough, cough, cough—Emilia! Emilia!! Emilia!!!"
Each cry, each word was filled with extremely complex emotions. The corners of Yukinoshita Yukino's eyes were tinged with gloom; she really didn't want to watch anymore. If she kept watching, she was truly afraid she wouldn't be able to stop herself from losing her composure—or coughing up blood!
But she couldn't stop. Not for Emilia's sake, but because she refused to miss a single second of the Hikigaya-kun she loved so deeply.
Hikigaya Hachiman patted Yukino's back, helping her catch her breath. He wanted to comfort her, but found no way to begin.
"The future me, aside from those two sentences confessing my love for Yukino while facing Rem's confession, seems to spend every waking moment making Yukino angry."
He murmured to himself, his voice growing lower: "But..."
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「Hikigaya Hachiman grasped the weight Emilia placed on him with absolute clarity.」
「"Emilia, I..." In the grip of intense emotion, Hikigaya Hachiman was about to say something, but then stopped abruptly.」
「He suddenly realized—was the distance between himself and the girl in front of him too small? Were they standing too close?」
「Snapping out of his trance and retreating from that special state, Hikigaya Hachiman hurriedly took a step back and withdrew his hand. He heard a giggle; it was Puck, lying atop Emilia's head, making faces at him.」
「Realizing he was wasting time—the Witch Cult was like a time bomb. Even if he was confident he could defuse it, it hadn't been dealt with yet. It was dangerous.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman suppressed the ripples in his heart. He looked directly at the joyful Emilia, his expression becoming serious: "Emilia, I'm going to ask you a question, and I want you to answer me seriously."」
「Emilia replied obediently: "Mm, okay."」
「"I'm asking you... Is it a certainty that you must participate in the Royal Selection? That you must compete, and that you must win? No matter what—even if there is a threat to your life? Do you have this desire from the bottom of your heart, a reason that makes it so you have to do this?"」
「"Or is the Royal Selection just something optional? Where winning is nice, but losing is only a regret?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman spoke everything in one breath, staring intently at Emilia. Her answer would very likely dictate his actions in certain necessary situations in the future.」
「Under his gaze, Emilia didn't hesitate or think for even a second. She spoke immediately from the bottom of her heart: "It is a certainty! I must participate in the Royal Selection! And I definitely want to win! I have a reason that makes it so I have to!!"」
「"Is that so... I understand."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was silent for a moment. He made a very bold decision.」
「"Later, after we evacuate the villagers and get everyone to safety, Julius and the others will launch a raid on the Witch Cult... You come too, Emilia."」
「"Hey!" Puck was dumbfounded, doubting his ears. "Didn't you already bring reinforcements? Why do you need Lia to help? There's no need for that anymore, is there? No matter how you slice it, that's the Witch Cult—I won't allow it! Do you know how dangerous that is?!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman didn't pay attention to the frantic Puck; he cared more about Emilia's own thoughts.」
「"Puck." The girl with the gentle voice shook her head slightly, holding Puck in her palms. "I'm going."」
「"But..."」
「"A so-called monarch who forever hides behind others can never gain recognition!" Hikigaya Hachiman's chest heaved; he grit his teeth. To let Emilia proactively step into danger—making this decision caused him no less pressure or pain than it did Puck.」
「"And you can't protect Emilia forever. She needs to have a higher sense of defense and combat experience. That's the only way she can protect herself, and the only way she can possibly win the Royal Selection!"」
「"Emilia, I can do many things for you... but some things, you have to do yourself."」
「"...I'm sorry."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman recalled his time in the Service Club. There had been many requests then where he found his own ways to solve them, only to find that it didn't make things any better in the end.」
「Though it was self-important to think so, but, but...」
「"Hey, Hachiman. What did we just say? Did you forget?"」
「Coming into view was Emilia's swaying silver hair and a gaze full of trust, without a single hint of blame.」
「"I'm going... because I trust you. Because I also want to protect everyone. Because I... how could I hide behind a shield and let my knight block everything? Don't underestimate me, Hachiman!"」
Betty Overtaking
"I'm so conflicted! Emilia is great, and Rem is great too... Who would be best for Hikigaya-senpai to marry? I'm getting dizzy just thinking about it."
Looking at his sister who was racking her brain in distress, Izumi Masamune said with a strange expression, "Sagiri, that's an isekai, right? Generally speaking, polygamy is allowed, isn't it? Why limit it to monogamy?"
Izumi Sagiri widened her eyes, "Wha—Brother, you big dummy! How can you think about a harem! That's too much! I absolutely won't allow it!"
"It's not me, it's Hikigaya, hey!"
"That's not allowed either!"
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「As a normal man, Hikigaya Hachiman naturally had occasional fantasies, but with a major crisis at hand, he was very serious.」
「After introducing the specific reinforcements he had brought to Emilia, the girl asked pensively, "Julius? Is his attitude... good?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was a bit confused, "Yes, why... don't tell me you have some kind of grudge against him?"」
「"In terms of common sense, you really are even denser than Lia." Puck shrugged with an air of seasoned experience, seeing through his daughter's thoughts at a glance. "This means you've gained Julius's recognition; he can basically represent the Order of Knights now."」
「"In other words, Lia wants to hold a knightly investiture ceremony for you. After all, that way your status in the Lugunica Kingdom will be completely solidified, and on the other hand, it can tie... mmmph!"」
「"Puck!"」
「Even though her thoughts were extremely obvious, Emilia was still too shy to have them told to Hikigaya Hachiman right in front of her. She instinctively covered Puck's mouth.」
「"A knightly investiture?" Hikigaya Hachiman understood, though he wasn't keen at all. "Let's talk about that later when we have time."」
「This indifferent reaction made Emilia quite restless. She cared very, very—very much about it, ever since she found out Crusch wanted to snatch Hachiman away.」
「"In any case, whether there's a ceremony or not, I am Emilia's First Knight. That fact won't change."」
「Escaping the shy palms, Puck watched his daughter go from complex thoughts to a settled expression; her emotional shift was caused by a single sentence from Hikigaya Hachiman. He put his hands on his hips helplessly and whispered to himself, "So this day has finally come... Well, at least he's a reliable person worth entrusting her to."」
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This scene made many people's lips twitch: "He truly is reliable. Way more reliable than you, a Great Spirit who couldn't protect Lady Emilia and even killed his own person."
Hearing the scattered complaints in reality, Puck couldn't help but shrink his head and snuggle into his daughter's arms, feeling quite ashamed. He truly had no way to refute those words.
"It's okay, Puck." Emilia didn't care at all that she had died several times due to Puck's failure to protect her. "But, when we meet Hachiman, you have to apologize properly, okay?"
"I know... Freezing that kid to death was indeed a pathetic move on my part. I didn't expect the day would come where I'd be lectured by you, Lia."
Puck gave a wry smile, filled with gratitude toward Hikigaya Hachiman—this man had risked his life to protect his precious daughter. A mere apology was certainly something he could and should do.
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「Emilia went to the drawing room. Hikigaya Hachiman, carrying the new books and fruit, opened a random door. To his surprise, it did not connect to Betty's Forbidden Library.」
「"Don't want to see me?"」
「He recalled the previous two loops; there were no corpses of Betty in the mansion.」
「"Avoiding the battle on purpose for some reason? Refusing to meet me because she's worried I'll ask for her help... In other words, if I were to ask her in person, Betty would be conflicted?"」
「"That dummy, she told me her weakness directly. If it weren't for Julius and the others, I probably would have had to drag her out to help even if it went against Betty's own wishes."」
「At this moment, Hikigaya Hachiman was incredibly relieved—relieved that he didn't have to sink to the level of violating Betty's own will. His favorability toward Julius, Ferris, and Wilhelm increased further.」
「"Beatrice, can you hear me? I'm leaving the things at the door. Come out and get them yourself!"」
「Bending over to set the items down, Hikigaya Hachiman turned to leave. Shortly after, there was a very faint click of a door opening. Watching his receding figure while hidden in the room with only her eyes showing, Betty spoke with a slight sob of confusion: "Why... why is that..."」
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"It seems Beatrice isn't against helping Sir Hachiman at all. In other words, is it because of the enemy's identity, or because she's bound by some contract that prevents her from acting?"
Crusch looked at these "riddle-makers" with a headache—Betty was one, Roswaal was another. The Emilia camp had far too many mysteries and cryptic people.
"It's because none of you are willing to open your hearts that you make things so difficult for Sir Hachiman! No matter how smart a person is, without intelligence, even the cleverest housewife cannot cook without rice. Reflect on yourselves properly!"
"It's over, meow. Lady Crusch's symptoms are worsening, meow!"
Ferris looked at his Lady Crusch in horror. She had already fallen into the mindset of the Sir Hachiman she desired but couldn't have, reaching the stage where she considered everything from his perspective.
"But Hachiman really isn't your knight, meow! Wake up, Lady Crusch, meow! Old Man Wil, you help talk to Lady Crusch, meow!"
"Apologies, but this old man has also already..." Wilhelm gave Ferris a look that felt like a bolt from the blue.
"Right, right... After all, Hachiman helped Old Man Wil solve the White Whale, meow..."
Ferris covered his forehead. He truly couldn't imagine how much his Lady Crusch would lose her composure when she met Hikigaya Hachiman in person.
"Although I like Hachiman a lot too, meow—since that's the case, let's just go all the way! Continue to strengthen the troop deployment on that street, and... even if Hachiman still falls into Lady Emilia's hands first, Ferris will definitely snatch him away, meow! Anyway, Hachiman likes Ferris too, and he likes Old Man Wil and Lady Crusch, meow!"
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「When Hikigaya Hachiman returned to the drawing room, Julius reported: "The ground dragons have arrived at the village, but the numbers seem insufficient to send all the villagers away at once."」
「Ram also suggested: "The remaining half can be taken by Ram to seek refuge in the Sanctuary."」
「"Sanctuary?" Hikigaya Hachiman frowned. This unheard-of place was undoubtedly another one of Roswaal's secrets. But at this point, he could only listen to Ram. "Alright, let's begin evacuating the villagers immediately, and at the same time, launch the raid on the Witch Cult!"」
Forgetting Rem
「The location was the same spot where he had first met the Sin Archbishop of Sloth.」
「"Welcome—Beloved believer! Ahh, such love, such diligence, so much, so much—crackle crackle, could it be, could it be, could it be! I say, you—could you be, Pride—?"」
「It was the same familiar Petelgeuse, the familiar skeletal frame and manic facial expressions, speaking with extreme instability and a bizarre, terrifying tone. But this time, Hikigaya Hachiman, arriving alone once again, possessed a mindset vastly different from before.」
「"Hey, Petelgeuse, do you know something?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman stared at the madman without concealment. His hatred flickered brightly. This attitude caused the crazed Petelgeuse to tilt his head at a grotesque angle, listening patiently to his words.」
「"My teacher, Hiratsuka Shizuka, never said it directly, but I know very well that she always thought I was a kind person."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman brought up his past for no apparent reason. "I'm not quite sure where I'm 'kind,' but to receive such an evaluation from Hiratsuka-sensei, my personality probably isn't as rotten as I thought... However."」
「His tone gradually turned to one of gritted teeth, making the curious Petelgeuse raise an eyebrow. "Oh my?"」
「"However, I think I'm definitely not as kind as Hiratsuka-sensei thought." Hikigaya Hachiman swiftly raised his left hand, stirring a gust of wind as his index finger pointed at Petelgeuse. "I too feel rage. I accumulate hatred. I want to inflict violence. There are targets I must kill no matter what."」
「Petelgeuse looked at him strangely: "What exactly are you trying to say, beloved believer?"」
「"What I want to say is simple... Please go die, Petelgeuse."」
「Now that the moment had come, Hikigaya Hachiman let go of his restraints. He spoke his final sentence with a light, humming laugh. The heavy stone in his heart burst like a balloon—not because he had moved past his hatred for Petelgeuse killing Emilia, but because he had already seen Wilhelm swinging his sword down behind Petelgeuse.」
「The Sin Archbishop of Sloth, who had once annihilated the entire Emilia camp and inflicted immense psychological pressure on Hikigaya Hachiman, had his attention diverted for a split second. In that moment, Julius and Wilhelm leapt from behind, their blades piercing his body and bisecting him—killing him instantly.」
「Organs and blood spilled across the ground. Petelgeuse didn't even have time to realize he had died before his life vanished without a trace.」
「The entire process was so easy that it left Hikigaya Hachiman dazed. Although it was a highly effective tactic, in his imagination, it would have been good enough if a sneak attack had managed to wound Petelgeuse. Who could have guessed it would be a fatal blow in one strike?」
「Because Petelgeuse was too powerful, Hikigaya Hachiman had specifically tricked Emilia into fighting ordinary cultists. Now, this resulted in her missing out on the honor and prestige of killing a Sin Archbishop.」
「"But really... it feels particularly surreal. A very strange feeling."」
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"Hmph. So-called Sin Archbishops are, in the end, merely ants of this level?"
The arrogant Priscilla added insult to injury, mocking them to the extreme. "What a boring way to die."
"That's hard to say, Princess." Al, standing nearby, shared the same feeling as Hikigaya Hachiman. "A Sin Archbishop... would they really be solved this easily?"
While the Unseen Hand was a powerful Authority, compared to the Gluttony Archbishop who had caused him to lose an arm, Sloth's current performance seemed a bit lacking. If it were this easy to slay him, there wouldn't even be a need for someone like Hikigaya Hachiman who could see the hands; they could have just found any bait to distract Petelgeuse.
The tragic death and the wretched corpse were displayed before the whole world. A normal person would feel terror or grief-stricken rage.
However, in reality, at the same time Priscilla was mocking him, Petelgeuse—who was surrounded and knelt to by the cultists—laughed so hard his eyes nearly bulged out. He kept flipping through his Gospel, scanning at light speed. The messages in the Gospel had not changed.
"Ahh, is this also your will? Is this also your guidance? Is this the future you desire? How, how... How diligent! How diligent!! To use that love to crush the slothful me with such unyielding spirit—Diligent! Truly too diligent!!"
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「With the power of magic, Petelgeuse's corpse was consigned to the flames.」
「The sound of explosions, the smoke of fire, the clashing of blades, and the emboldened roars of soldiers played out simultaneously across the Roswaal territory. Hikigaya Hachiman had no leisure to contemplate what was real or surreal.」
「Petelgeuse had been bisected. That was what he saw with his own eyes.」
「The number of cultists was massive. Reinforcements were needed everywhere now, or the casualty rate of the ordinary soldiers would be ugly to look at.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman drew his own sword and shared a look with Julius; they were about to rush to the next battlefield.」
「However, in the next second, Julius's eyes widened in shock. He froze for an instant.」
「In his vision, Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly and inexplicably began making bizarre movements, as if being dragged by the air—this was?!」
「"The Unseen Hand?!"」
「Julius snapped awake. He immediately activated his contracted quasi-spirits, sharing Hikigaya Hachiman's vision as agreed.」
「"So this is it..."」
「Coming into view were massive black hands radiating a thick aura of terror. Julius, who had unconsciously looked down on the Sloth Archbishop because the sneak attack had been too successful, finally understood why Hikigaya Hachiman's face had been so solemn whenever he mentioned Petelgeuse.」
「"He's not dead yet? How did he escape... No, those aren't the priorities!"」
「Clang—」
「Erupting with the most superlative speed he had ever shown, moving so fast he seemed to merge with the rising wind, Julius—driven by self-reproach for his lack of vigilance and the desire to save his dear friend in mortal peril—instantly unleashed combat power even greater than when he protected Lady Anastasia!」
「"If I let you come to harm, how could I, Julius, face Lady Emilia! How could I face this brilliant friendship!!!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's body scraped against the ground. Watching Julius catch up, he grit his teeth and violently stabbed his sword into the earth to stop his movement, utterly disregarding the fact that the bones in his thigh were being crushed to powder by the Unseen Hand.」
「"Julius!"」
Emilia About to Strike Geuse
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka frowned. He noticed a detail: given Julius's character, at a time like this, he should have shouted something like, "How can you face the promise you made to Rem who loves you?" but... surprisingly, he didn't?
「"Sloth! Slack! Indolence! Not enough, not enough, far from enough—more! More, more! More! Diligence!! Love!!"」
「The tone was exactly the same as Petelgeuse's, but it was certain that while he had clearly been just an ordinary Witch Cultist before, he was suddenly using the Authority of a Sin Archbishop.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman ignored his blood-stained right leg. He used his sword as a crutch to force himself upright, refusing to lean on Julius, as he did not want to lower Julius's combat effectiveness by becoming a dragging burden.」
「Julius's face was ashen. He was filled with confusion, his sword never ceasing as it cut down the Unseen Hands flying toward them. "What is going on? An Authority should be unique; how is it possible for there to be two Sin Archbishops of the same Authority at the same time?"」
「"I'm not sure. But looking on the bright side, this situation actually makes me breathe a sigh of relief. Since Petelgeuse's trump card has been revealed, I actually have nothing left to worry about."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes were piercing. He desperately wanted to participate, but lacking sufficient combat power, he ultimately remained standing obediently to the side while receiving the urgent healing from a rushing Ferris.」
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"A Sin Archbishop is indeed a Sin Archbishop; they truly are existences that have ravaged the world for years, making one tremble at the mere mention of their name. So bizarre."
Crusch gave a high evaluation. "The Unseen Hand is powerful enough, but now it seems there is also a passive magic involving either clones or soul transfer. Combining the two, even if one can see that Authority, they might still be killed by the resurrected Sloth due to the lapse in vigilance after killing Petelgeuse."
"After all... no matter how cautious a person is, it's hard to imagine that even when the corpse has been ground to dust and scattered to the winds, the soul could still be perfectly fine!"
Ferris and Wilhelm also furrowed their brows deeply.
At this moment, even Anastasia patted her chest in lingering fear: "Truly outrageous. Is this what a Sin Archbishop is? Fine, exchanging one of my dark history moments for intelligence on a Sin Archbishop is barely a breaking-even deal; this future broadcast is actually quite good."
Although they might not necessarily face the Witch Cult in the future, any normal person would feel at ease having information on Petelgeuse. With something this bizarre, being prepared was better than knowing nothing.
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In the Sakurasou dormitory, Sorata Kanda scratched his head. He and his roommates all sucked in a breath of cold air on the spot.
"Half of your teammates are 'Phantom Gods' of infighting who can drive a person to high blood pressure; Puck is unable to go all out due to certain restrictions; Roswaal and Betty are intentionally avoiding the fight; Ram and Rem don't have enough strength. And your enemy—tsk!"
"If this were someone else... me, for example, even with 'Return by Death,' even if I could break the situation to this point, I'd probably have died two or three times more than Hikigaya, if not more."
Regarding his words, Mitaka Jin shook his head and lamented: "I think most people, upon discovering how much danger surrounds Emilia, would have switched camps immediately.
True death not being permanent is one thing, but the pain of death isn't shielded. Besides, there's no profit to be gained from protecting Emilia.
Though she is beautiful... how can sexual desire compare to the instinct for survival?
But somehow, Hikigaya Hachiman's kindness toward this world and toward others actually defeated his innate survival instinct!"
"Yeah... that's right..." Sorata Kanda looked at Hikigaya Hachiman, who was facing difficulties head-on, with shock. He swallowed, his head buzzing with a roaring sound.
"Talent and ability are one thing, but attitude and spirit are also extremely important—the person to be admired is exactly someone like this!"
Sorata Kanda, who had recently suffered frequent failures in his submissions and had felt a faint urge to vent his frustrations on others, compared himself to the repeatedly defeated yet repeatedly fighting Hikigaya Hachiman...
His deficiencies were all exposed. He felt ashamed of his unworthiness and, amidst that shame, a silent transformation and growth began to take place.
-
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While others marveled at the Sin Archbishop's terror and bizarre strength, Emilia did not lose focus. She murmured in a low voice, her eyes fixed only on her Hachiman: "Don't die again, I beg you, don't die again. Don't add any more pain... I believe in you, I trust you. So, so... please complete the game in one life. I'm counting on you, Hachiman!"
-
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「Possessing shared vision and having neutralized more than half of Petelgeuse's combat effectiveness, Julius made a desperate charge and successfully slew the Sloth Archbishop who had anchored his soul in his subordinate's body.」
「But before he could feel joy, the Unseen Hand appeared again, nearly hitting him; he only managed to dodge thanks to a reminder from Ferris at his side.」
「Julius felt the situation was thorny. "Just how many times can he transfer his soul? Could it be that all these cultists are his spare bodies?"」
「"Lord Hachiman!" Wilhelm, nearby, was about to rush over to help. Hikigaya Hachiman, having deduced the startling truth, quickly stopped him: "Julius can protect me! Your side needs to move faster and deal with the ordinary cultists! Otherwise, the Sloth Archbishop won't die!"」
「"I understand, I obey your command!"」
「There were no flashy, dazzling large-scale destruction spells; no various fancy and miraculous Divine Protections; no bizarre, terrifying, and unavoidable powerful Authorities.」
「As a mortal—one who climbed into the ranks of the strong through pure swordsmanship, pure physical training, and skills honed to the pinnacle—Wilhelm seemed to be underestimated in many instances.」
「But—」
「With a sword in hand, charging alone into the enemy ranks, every swing of the weapon he wielded as if it were an extension of his own arm cleanly and effortlessly took several lives. Those were Witch Cultists who, individually, were not inferior to any elite army in the outside world.」
「Wilhelm ignited a journey of slaughter. Watching this man of over fifty years perform like a butcher among swine—a one-sided crushing victory—truly made one understand the weight of the title 'Sword Demon'!」
「Perhaps he wasn't as bizarre, as troublesome, or as powerful as a Sin Archbishop, but Wilhelm, Julius, and the others were absolutely reliable guardians in terms of overall strength, truly worthy of being existences standing at the apex of the Lugnica Kingdom!」
「"Waaa—"」
「While hurriedly treating Hikigaya Hachiman's thigh, Ferris's ears twitched. He was suddenly dragged into a roll by Hikigaya Hachiman, and immediately after, the spot where they had just been was blasted into a leveled crater by an invisible Authority, sending dust billowing.」
「Things on their end were not going as smoothly as they were for Wilhelm.」
「And because of that, they welcomed a reinforcement.」
Death of the Couple
「Unable to see the world through Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes, Emilia did not know exactly what was happening or how the attacks were being conducted. However, hearing Ferris's exclamation, she rushed over and immediately aimed at the eccentric Witch Cultist.」
「Petelgeuse's behavioral habits were far too distinct, instantly marking him as the culprit behind the source of the attacks. Without a second thought, Emilia sent a flurry of ice spears mercilessly piercing through him, tearing the cackling Petelgeuse—who was shouting "Sloth! Slack!"—into shredded remains.」
「"Are you all right, Hachiman?"」
「Emilia's elegant dress had already been stained with a few splatters of enemy blood during the battle. Even so, she still appeared pure and beautiful; that soul-healing kindness and gentleness did not fade just because she was executing an irredeemable madman.」
「The girl leaped over anxiously, supporting the mud-stained Hikigaya Hachiman, showing no distaste for his current filth and grime.」
「Fearing she might be ambushed by the Sloth Archbishop, Hikigaya Hachiman spoke with rapid-fire speed: "I'm fine, Emilia, be careful! Petelgeuse is still alive! His soul can attach itself to others' bod—"」
「His warning stopped abruptly. His entire body suddenly stiffened.」
「Emilia was momentarily dazed. "Eh? What's wrong? Are you actually hurt? Ferris, please..."」
「Before her words of concern could fall, accompanied by a strange twitching, Hikigaya Hachiman's mouth and eyes skewed. His expression suddenly became extremely grotesque, and a sickening, distinctive laughter occasionally erupted from his throat.」
「"Lady Emilia, danger!"」
「Ferris's eyes looked ready to split as a suspicion germinated in his mind. His body moved faster than his conscious thought, dragging Emilia away from the utterly abnormal Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「At the same time, the returning Julius—the Finest Knight—felt his palm tremble as he gripped his sword. He looked at Hikigaya Hachiman, his voice questioning, raspy, and apprehensive: "Hachiman... kun?"」
「"—Ahhh, Diligence! Diligence! What a diligent body! What thick Love! This is truly the most suitable vessel! Ahhh, Love! I, who am nothing but Love and Diligence!!"」
「His eyes bulged as if they would fall out of their sockets, his posture manic. That unique tone caused the faces of Ferris and Julius to turn ashen in an instant. Their lips quivered; their breathing nearly stopped.」
「"What is going on? Where is Hachiman? Where have you hidden Hachiman?!" She didn't understand the cause and effect, but this was absolutely not her Hikigaya Hachiman—Emilia understood this immediately. For the first time in years, her dark violet eyes flashed with a rage that refused to forgive!」
「"Give Hachiman back to me!"」
「Perhaps it was Emilia's sweet voice that provided strength, but Hikigaya Hachiman's soul suddenly struggled violently, fighting Petelgeuse for control. He gasped for air: "Petelgeuse, you damned bastard, get out of my body!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's will was tenacious and firm, suppressing Petelgeuse for a short duration. Julius showed wonder and hope, a bit of color returning to his eyes. Maybe it was possible, maybe it was possible—」
「But in the next moment, Hikigaya Hachiman's face contorted to the extreme. He clutched his own heart.」
「"Ahhh, my brain is trembling—"」
「His resolve to overwhelm Petelgeuse had reached a peak of fervor, yet he could still palpably feel the reality of his soul being pushed back.」
「No matter what, he was just a mortal who had lived a mere eighteen years without any Divine Protections, while the opponent was a madman who had existed for at least over a century. Objectively, the depth of their souls was an insurmountable gap.」
「"...Kill me."」
「The moment he realized this, Hikigaya Hachiman knew there was only one solution left.」
「Every word he spoke was a result of enduring the agonizing pressure of Petelgeuse's soul; he was in such pain that he couldn't even control himself to commit suicide: "Hurry and kill me... Julius! Ferris! Don't let me hurt you!"」
「"How could I possibly do such a thing!"」
「Julius's sharp sword fell to the ground; Ferris's eyes brimmed with tears. In this moment, Emilia appeared stronger than the two of them. Her face was deathly pale, yet she could still move. Regardless of the danger, she ran to Hikigaya Hachiman's side, her ice-cold hands cupping his face.」
「The situation had turned too fast; Emilia was at a loss. In a slight sob, she looked as if she were pleading for help: "Hachiman, what can I do? How do I do it? I, I..."」
「"Emilia..." A flash of unbearable pain crossed Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes. But compared to letting Emilia suffer the psychological trauma of killing him with her own hands, he was even more unwilling to let the Petelgeuse version of himself physically harm her.」
「"Kill me... hurry, Emilia!"」
「"Lia!" Witch Cultists attacked from the surroundings. Puck, letting out a sigh, moved further away to engage them.」
「Emilia was completely stunned. Only now did she confirm that Hikigaya Hachiman was not joking.」
「"That kind of thing, how could... there must be a way! There must be another way! I'll go find Roswaal, and Betty, they can surely do it!"」
「"It's too late, hurry up!" Hikigaya Hachiman grit his teeth. To convince the girl before him, he prepared himself to speak even if his heart were to be crushed: "Listen to me, there's a letter in my clothes. Go verify it with Crusch; everything written in the letter is true! I won't die, I have Return by Death!!"」
「A thick scent of the Witch permeated the air; a palm seemed to be caressing his heart.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman had originally prepared to accept the dual pressure of Petelgeuse and theWitch of Envy, but he was surprised to find that after the Witch of Envy appeared, Petelgeuse's soul—after a moment of manic pleasure—suddenly became weak, incomplete, and shattered.」
「Before Hikigaya Hachiman's surprise could turn into joy, he heard a heart-wrenching "Lady Emilia!" from Julius, filled with immense regret, and a gritted-teeth "Die! Petelgeuse!!" from Ferris, saturated with staggering hatred.」
「The moment the sounds reached his ears, a sharp sword pierced his body.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes widened. He was unwilling to accept this. Petelgeuse was already dead, so why did these two suddenly become so decisive? Clearly, this time, they could have made it without dy... ing?」
「As death approached, it felt as though a bucket of cold water had been dumped over him. His soul felt chilled to the bone. What Hikigaya Hachiman saw...」
「Was Emilia, bleeding profusely from her chest, having met a freakish death.」
Rem Is Your Hero, Your Harbor (Part 1)
"Wait! Wait, wait, wait... hold on a second. I'm getting dizzy. What on earth is happening?"
Felt was struck dumb. Even with a god's-eye view, she was just as confused as Hikigaya Hachiman was upon his "Return by Death" in that future, because the development was too rapid and far too cryptic.
"The reality is that only Hikigaya Hachiman can see Sloth's Unseen Hand, that's true. But we are looking at the future; we can see them!"
Felt was plagued by questions. "From our perspective, Petelgeuse's Unseen Hands definitely weren't used. So... how exactly did Emilia die so mysteriously, so silently, without even a visible attack?"
"...I'm afraid it's because Hachiman cried out that he possesses Return by Death."
Reinhard turned his face away in pain. He didn't dare look at the future light screen. Having deduced how Lady Emilia died, he could perfectly imagine the crushing guilt his dear friend was about to experience.
"The Witch of Envy, Satella, granted him the Authority of Return by Death, but she does not wish for this power to be known by others. Thus, when Hachiman attempts to inform others of this power, she acts as a threat toward him. If the threat is ineffective..."
"If the threat is ineffective, she kills the person who learned the secret!"
"So Lia died again?"
A dumbfounded Puck felt his resentment piling up mountain-high. He truly didn't dare leave Emilia's side for a single step now. If he could, he wanted to revert to his true form on the spot and beat to death every single enemy who had ever killed his daughter!
"Elsa the Bowel Hunter, the Witch Cult, Petelgeuse, Witch of Envy... I will remember all of you!"
"Hmm, watching myself die in all these strange ways is a truly surreal feeling."
With her silver hair swaying, Emilia naturally felt no resentment toward Hikigaya Hachiman. She just felt caught between laughter and tears, never imagining she would die simply because Hikigaya Hachiman trusted her.
So far, the only ones Hikigaya Hachiman trusted enough to tell about Return by Death were herself and Rem... yet this trust had led to her death.
Emilia harbored not a shred of conflict or grudge. How could she blame him? She was only... very afraid that Hikigaya Hachiman would blame and hate himself.
"Absolutely, absolutely, absolutely... do not blame yourself, Hachiman."
At this moment, whether it was Emilia, Yukinoshita Yukino, Rem, or even Crusch, they all felt the sting of humiliation at their own helplessness. Even though billions of people across two worlds were watching and knowing Hikigaya Hachiman, they remained the ones who understood this man best.
If only they could break into that future right now to comfort the man whose soul and body were riddled with holes!
Yukinoshita Yukino felt slightly better; she pursed her lips and could physically hold the hand of the current Hikigaya Hachiman. "...It's no longer about being unwilling to let go. I just don't want you to suffer anymore, Hikigaya-kun. That world holds too much malice toward you."
Hikigaya Hachiman let out a dejected sigh, shaking his head with a wry smile. "There's no helping it."
Yukinoshita wanted to pull him into her arms and comfort him like a mother would a child, but between her shyness and the inappropriate atmosphere, she ultimately didn't act.
'I've already won so much more than Emilia and Re', she thought, but she was soon stunned by the screen.
.
..
.
「Return by Death triggered.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman spent about a minute sorting through his thoughts. He quickly deduced the most likely cause of Emilia's death this time. The moment he reached the conclusion, he wanted nothing more than to take a knife and plunge it into his own heart.」
「The self-proclaimed knight guarding Emilia had personally written the final note of her life.」
「"Eh? What's wrong, meow? Your face looks terrible, meow. Is something wrong? Do you want me to treat you, meow?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's withered, ghastly expression fell into the eyes of Ferris, Julius, and the others. One second he was impassioned, and the next he was drowning in chaotic negative emotions; the shift was too drastic to miss.」
「"No, I'm fine, I..." Hikigaya Hachiman was a master of lying, but in this moment, his lies couldn't deceive others, much less himself. His voice was parched, exhausted to the extreme.」
「Wilhelm, well-versed in the ways of the world, immediately stood up and bared his sword, looking tense. "Have you been afflicted by some curse, Lord Hachiman?"」
「"No, I just..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman opened his mouth, but had nothing to say.」
「He wanted to curse himself, hurt himself, apologize to Emilia a thousand times over, sit in silence alone for a while, shed tears, strike his chest with his fists—but he couldn't.」
「The Witch Cult hadn't been dealt with yet. Even if he had no face to see Emilia, even if he wanted to vent his abnormal emotions, he had to suppress it at this critical junction. Regardless of his feelings, it had to wait until after the Witch Cult was annihilated.」
「But it hurt. It hurt so much. It hurt enough to want to die!」
「"Um, I'm about to return to the Capital with Lady Crusch, but I really wanted to see Hachiman one last time—wha?!"」
「The familiar, infatuated, gentle, cute, sweet, unique, peerless...」
「That heavenly voice suddenly reached his ears.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman raised his head blankly. Naturally, there she was—clad in her form-fitting dress that accentuated her graceful curves, her beautiful face brimming with love. Just looking at that face, which was focused entirely on him, that overflowing sense of happiness began to quietly disperse all his gloom.」
「"Rem..."」
「"Yes, Rem is here."」
「Not understanding why her beloved was experiencing such abnormal emotional fluctuations, the girl tilted her head cutely. She didn't rush to investigate, but immediately responded to her loved one's weary call.」
「Recalling how he had nearly killed her as he had killed Emilia—by telling her the fact that he could Return by Death—Hikigaya Hachiman trembled, unable to call her name a second time.」
「"Rem is here. Rem is right here... If you need it, Rem will become Hachiman's hero. Rem said so."」
「She saw clearly just how pathologically exhausted the man she loved was.」
「Rem held out her slender, fair hands, making a gesture of opening her arms—a hint that whenever he wished, she would be the harbor to comfort him.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman bit his lip until it bled. Right there, in full view of everyone, he discarded his reputation, his prestige—none of it mattered. It didn't matter what others thought... right now, he only wanted to accept this comfort!」
「"Rem!"」
Rem Is Your Hero, Your Harbor (Part 2)
「"Eh?"」
「Rem was stunned in surprise.」
「No matter when... even when facing her wholehearted confession, even when facing the mabeast invasion, even when protecting Lady Emilia, even when fighting the White Whale—no matter the occasion, he had always kept himself tightly wound. His outward display of emotion had never crossed a certain threshold.」
「That Hachiman was actually on the verge of sobbing, actually showing such an expression, actually initiating a dive into her embrace, and actually... having a moment where he so thoroughly enjoyed being soothed and comforted?」
「Without a single trace of the joy that usually comes with a romantic leap, feeling the heavy breathing of the man she loved in her arms, Rem's heart was instantly shrouded in layers of questioning, anger, and pity.」
「Just what had happened in such a short amount of time... what kind of blow could make Hachiman, who had been deliberately restricting the distance of physical contact, proactively throw himself into her embrace?!」
「"Rem..."」
「A murmur filled with a sense of salvation and peace of mind. The air he inhaled was entirely Rem's fragrance. With his face buried in Rem's soft chest, the trembling of Hikigaya Hachiman's body gradually subsided.」
「This single murmur instantly pulled back the girl who was about to lapse into a violent rage and interrogate Julius and the others.」
「Rem could no longer care about anything else. She slightly adjusted her posture to give the Hikigaya Hachiman in her arms a better experience, her two small, fair hands gently stroking his back.」
「"Rem is right here."」
「Her gentle voice soothed Hikigaya Hachiman's battle-scarred soul over and over again.」
-
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"How should I put this?"
Inside the convenience store, Hikigaya Hachiman really wanted to watch but didn't dare to. At this moment, a thought emerged from the bottom of his heart: Rem is so gentle, Rem is so cute, Rem is so beautiful—Rem is wonderful!
Rem is the best!
Previously, he could suppress this thought and hide it in his heart out of consideration for Yukinoshita's feelings beside him. But as things stood, no matter how much he endured or what barriers he set up...
He simply could not... block out Rem's warm love.
Yukinoshita Yukino could not possibly fail to notice Hikigaya Hachiman's contradictory behavior—turning his head away on the surface while secretly stealing glances at the video.
But she currently had no time to... or rather, she simply didn't have the courage to stop him.
"Rem, Rem, Rem, Rem... heh, hehehe..."
As if standing in the middle of an Antarctic winter, Yukinoshita Yukino felt a chill from her soul to her body. Her eyes were vacant, devoid of any light.
Hikigaya Hachiman said softly, "I'm sorry."
Just "sorry," not a formal apology.
This time, even Hikigaya Hachiman didn't feel he was doing anything wrong. After all, the person in question was Rem—what man could possibly remain unconquered? Rem absolutely deserved to be loved by anyone!
This "sorry" was Hikigaya Hachiman making amends for his future self based on the common sense of "infidelity"... No matter how great Rem was, his current, tacitly acknowledged girlfriend was Yukinoshita Yukino.
"Don't apologize to me, Hikigaya-kun."
Yukinoshita Yukino put on a desolate, haggard face.
"You don't need to apologize... the future you hasn't actually 'cheated,' has he? At that time, you and I weren't like we are now; we hadn't crossed the boundary between President and member."
She articulated clearly, emphasizing the latter half of the sentence, pointedly reminding him: "The current me... we, are a couple. We have started dating. Right now, I am your girlfriend, aren't I?"
This appeared to be a magnanimous exoneration for her boyfriend's crime of falling for different women, but it was actually a trembling reminder to Hikigaya Hachiman: Don't abandon me.
"Yeah... that's right."
Hikigaya Hachiman sighed and, without hesitation, gave a firm reply: "The current me doesn't lack happiness compared to the future me. I'm really happy that you can love me, Yukinoshita."
Whether it was Rem or Emilia, those displays of life-and-death devotion were indeed visually shocking. By comparison, living a daily high school life on Earth, the weight of his feelings for Yukinoshita seemed slightly insufficient.
However, that was wrong—the "Genuine Thing" is the Genuine Thing!
Hikigaya Hachiman believed that if Yukinoshita's life were in danger here on Earth, he would surely be willing to rescue her regardless of his own safety.
Being touched by Rem's love didn't mean he no longer loved the Yukinoshita Yukino beside him. It was just... his love had indeed become divided.
For this, Hikigaya Hachiman was sincerely full of apology.
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Rem, this overwhelmingly powerful girl, had caused a shift in mindset for far more than just the couple of Hachiman and Yukino. Other customers in the convenience store kept their mouths shut, casting looks of pity toward the pathetic-looking Yukinoshita; silence spoke louder than words.
At the Kousaka residence, Kousaka Kyousuke's body was swaying. "No, I can't... I want to support Emilia... but Rem is just, she's just—"
"It's not like it matters who you support; the decision lies with Hikigaya Hachiman himself anyway." Although still tsundere, Kousaka Kirino, whose tone had improved significantly, let out a sigh of relief. She was truly afraid that Rem or Emilia would steal her brother away; these two women were truly terrifying.
At the Roswaal Mansion, Ram held her sister in a death grip as if they would never be apart, grumbling with envy and jealousy: "It would have been fine with just Ram. That damn Hi... hmph, I really don't want to give the world's number-one Rem to anyone else!"
"If I can marry Hachiman, Rem won't forget Big Sister." Raising a shy and sweet smile, Rem's eyes curved into crescents. "Rem will come back to visit Big Sister."
On the other side, Puck fell into a state of immense panic. He shook his daughter's shoulder, lamenting repeatedly: "Hey, this is bad, right? Super bad, right? Lia, think of something!"
"Eh? Is it bad?" Emilia turned her head in confusion, her tone upbeat. "Rem comforted Hachiman; isn't that great? Seeing him so full of self-reproach just now, I was actually a bit scared... isn't it good now? Puck, look, Hachiman isn't hurting himself anymore!"
"It's great that the kid's mental state is being healed and stabilized, but the one healing him isn't you, Lia!" Puck stomped his feet in anxiety. He used to think teaching his daughter to be like this was the right move, but now that she can't even compete for a man, he's finally reaping what he sowed.
"Would you only be worried if that kid kissed Rem, you dummy Lia?!"
"K-Kissing?" Emilia's face turned beet red instantly. "No, there's still so much to do. How could Hachiman possibly kiss Rem? Having babies is very difficult, isn't it? Hachiman still needs a Rem with full stamina to help him!"
Rem Is Your Hero, Your Harbor (Part 3)
「"What's this? So you were actually this clingy toward Rem? You really gave Ferris a fright, meow. I wondered what was going on, meow."」
「As Felix spoke, he nudged Julius with his elbow, gave him a meaningful look, and stepped back a bit to leave some intimate space for this "mock couple."」
「Wilhelm's eyes flickered with both blessing and a sense of loss. Touched by the scene, he looked back at the White Whale, which had been sliced into several pieces, and went over to slash it a few more times.」
「"Hmm..." The lady in military uniform, Crusch, had the corners of her mouth curled up, harboring a thought that seemed very "malicious" from Emilia's perspective. "It seems Rem has a great deal of influence over Hachiman"」
「She didn't have any ill intentions; she simply planned to use the journey back to the Capital with Rem to speak with reason and emotion, clarifying the fact that Hachiman would be far safer and have a much grander future following her rather than following Emilia.」
「"If Rem could approve of that, it would be nothing short of wonderful!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman could have predicted the teasing from these people. Despite that, he still greedily enjoyed Rem's embrace—only in this way could he use the permeating happiness to rebuild his shattered heart, which had been struck down by guilt.」
「No matter how difficult the plight or how powerful the enemy, nothing could defeat Hikigaya Hachiman—but he could defeat himself.」
「"Rem..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman murmured her name over and over. He had his own stubbornness; even at a time like this, when his vulnerability had been completely exposed to the girl before him, he remained obstinately unwilling to pour out his worries and guilt. He only said in a low, satisfied voice: "...Thank you."」
「"Whenever you need Rem, Rem can share Hachiman's burdens at any time."」
「Rem cupped his cheeks, which were gradually regaining some color but still held remnants of unresolvable negative emotions. She pressed her forehead against his, her smooth blue hair at her bangs healing Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「"Rem wants to know everything about Hachiman. Rem wants Hachiman to be happy and joyful every day, every hour, every moment... but, it's okay. If Hachiman doesn't want to say it, Rem won't ask."」
「Rem closed her eyes and, pushing her luck, used her soft cheek to nuzzle Hikigaya Hachiman's face.」
「Normally, this would be impossible... but now, Hachiman would not reject her, would not resist her, and even vaguely anticipated it.」
「"Has Rem been a good help to Hachiman?"」
「"...…" Hikigaya Hachiman's eyelashes trembled slightly. His shyness not only turned his cheeks beet red but also spread to his neck. His rising body temperature was the best answer he could give this girl.」
「"I..."」
「The cloud-like self-condemnation was mostly banished by Rem's gentleness. Logic and emotion returned to balance. Coming to his senses and realizing what he had done, Hikigaya Hachiman instinctively tried to pull away.」
「Rem, who rarely disobeyed him, slightly increased the strength in her hands, drawing Hikigaya Hachiman back into her embrace once more.」
「"Rem is also very greedy... Rem is about to go to the Capital and will be separated from Hachiman for a day or two... Let Rem firmly remember Hachiman's scent, okay?"」
「"...Okay."」
「For the now-sober Hikigaya Hachiman, answering with that single word took all the strength he had.」
「Shyness and impulse washed over his heart every second. Hikigaya Hachiman shifted his position and posture, trying his best not to touch Rem's chest, and praying as hard as possible that Rem wouldn't notice anything different about him compared to usual.」
-
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While her four sisters were immersed in the warmth of the scene, Nakano Ichika poked Uesugi Fuutarou, smiling playfully. "Hey, Fuutarou, seeing this scene, don't you have a certain yearning to fall in love?"
"Hmm, of course I do."
Watching this "block of wood" Uesugi Fuutarou nod so seriously, Nakano Ichika was overjoyed. However, before she could dig deeper, Fuutarou's remaining words sent her straight into the abyss.
"If I could find a wife like Rem, she would definitely earn money to support the family and help me pay off my debts; she would definitely do the housework well every day; she would
definitely be patient with children; and she definitely wouldn't have conflicts with my father or sister... Just thinking about it is wonderful!
But that's just a pipe dream. After all, most girls nowadays can't even cook. Marrying them just means they'll want to enjoy themselves and get in the way, so I think I'll pass."
Crack!
Nakano Ichika was on the verge of a breakdown. Every word Fuutarou said was like a knife plunged into her chest.
She was completely numb; if those were Fuutarou's requirements, wouldn't Nino win by default without even having to fight?! It's over!
-
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「The warm intimacy lasted for a good while. After scrutinizing him carefully and confirming that her Hachiman was truly no longer that dejected, the big-picture-minded Rem was the first to reluctantly part.」
「"I cannot hinder Hachiman... Rem must absolutely not let her own desires get in your way!"」
「She was actually very worried, fearing that something similar might suddenly happen while she was away, but it wouldn't do... the Capital truly needed her. Most importantly, she didn't want to make Hikigaya Hachiman feel awkward.」
「At this point, Hikigaya Hachiman's sense of shame had clearly reached its limit. Although his affection for her had grown visibly, he wouldn't dare stay alone with her for the time being—he was too shy.」
「Rem chattered on like a dutiful wife, tidying the messy clothes of the person she loved. "Hachiman must take good care of himself. If you can't do that, Rem will get angry, you know?"」
「"Rem," Hikigaya Hachiman turned his head, lacking the courage to look at her, but his voice was laced with deep intimacy and bashfulness, "Once Petelgeuse is dealt with and the aftermath is handled, I'll hurry back to the Capital as soon as possible."」
「"Mhm!"」
「Rem blinked, then broke into a radiant smile, nodding heavily.」
「This was all Hikigaya Hachiman could say... though it was shameless, he truly didn't have the confidence to give any further promises yet.」
「Before Rem and Crusch set off, he remembered something, took out his letter to modify a portion of it, and cross-referenced it with Crusch.」
「Julius walked back with a smile. "Has my dear friend, who was so confident and reliable during the subjugation of the White Whale, finally returned?"」
「"A wife's embrace is indeed the greatest encouragement for a man." As a man of experience, Wilhelm was very satisfied with the love between Hikigaya Hachiman and Rem.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman acted as if he hadn't heard the teasing. He began to explain all the information, both new and old, regarding the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Petelgeuse.」
「"This time... let's settle this once and for all, Petelgeuse!"」
Promising Solemnly
「...Though it sounded very cool.」
「"Oh my, looking all timid and suspicious there, young man. You have the face of someone who's done something wrong to Lia," Puck chuckled inside the Roswaal Mansion. "Why not say it out loud? Maybe Lia will forgive you."」
「Of course, whether it would actually forgive him was another matter entirely.」
「"Puck!"」
「Seeing that Puck's attitude was bordering on interrogating a criminal, Emilia—who had just reunited with Hikigaya Hachiman after a long separation—hurriedly stopped it. She shook her head gently: "How could Hachiman ever do anything wrong to me? He is my knight, after all, right?"」
「Being comforted by Rem did not mean he could easily forgive himself. Facing Emilia's trusting inquiry, Hikigaya Hachiman's lips twitched, unsure of how to answer.」
「This display of extreme guilt was something anyone else would have immediately noticed as wrong, leading to suspicion or an outburst.」
「However, the one standing here was Emilia—the kindest, purest Emilia; the Emilia who trusted Hikigaya Hachiman more than anyone else in the world.」
「"Th-That is—!"」
「A fierce light flashed in Puck's eyes, but the magnificent silver-haired girl immediately cupped it in her hands. Emilia loudly defended her knight: "Even if he accidentally did something that turned out poorly, Hachiman's intention was definitely not to hurt me, right! So it's okay! I don't mind."」
「The moment the words left her mouth, she seemed to consider a certain possibility, and her body suddenly stiffened.」
「Helplessly, looking like a cute girl on the verge of tears, she held her breath and asked cautiously: "Hachiman… you are my knight, right? That hasn't changed, has it?"」
「If Hikigaya Hachiman answered "no," she would absolutely never forgive Crusch!」
「"If you don't mind… I always will be."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman desperately wanted to reply that he no longer had the right, but after the conversation in the mansion from the previous loop, he knew just how much Emilia valued 'her knight'… answering "no" would likely hurt her even more.」
「This perfectly caught Hikigaya Hachiman's weak spot, making it impossible for him to say anything self-deprecating.」
「As always, hearing that Crusch hadn't snatched away her only knight, the joy on Emilia's face was so beautiful that one couldn't look away; it possessed a soul-healing power equal to Rem's.」
「Sensing Hikigaya Hachiman's emotions, Puck scolded him helplessly: "If there's no malice, it's best not to baselessly show such a guilty expression. For Lia's sake, I will always assume the worst."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman paused, his eyes darting away.」
「The better Emilia treated him, the faster the guilt and shame he had managed to suppress returned, breeding in even greater quantities.」
「It was just that now was not the time for apologies or guilt; they had to completely annihilate the Witch Cult first.」
「"Regarding the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Petelgeuse," Hikigaya Hachiman decisively interrupted the girl's words of praise and trust, "Come with me to defeat him, Emilia. We'll do it together with Julius."」
「"You need my strength? Yes, I understand."」
「Even being treated so abruptly, Emilia remained incredibly soft-hearted. Her mood was quite jubilant.」
「To be assigned a task by Hikigaya Hachiman, to be able to fight side-by-side with him instead of acting as a useless doll protected behind his back… Emilia felt relieved and satisfied by this.」
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"I just want to know, exactly what kind of fool would shut an Emilia like this out!"
Shirogane Kei first felt a sense of longing—longing for these two girls, Rem and Emilia… their personalities, habits, and ways of doing things were admired not just by men, but by women as well.
If it were possible, who wouldn't want to become such a near-perfect person that others felt ashamed of themselves just by looking at them?
But then Kei remembered that before Hikigaya Hachiman appeared, it seemed almost everyone in that other world was ostracizing and rejecting Emilia.
"Hmph, I really hope those people can see this future too. Let them see clearly what a morally outstanding person Emilia is, and let those blind fools die of regret!"
Indeed, what normal person wouldn't stand up against such injustice for the wonderful Emilia?
While those on Earth were captured by Emilia's charm and filled with righteous indignation, the people in the Lugnica Kingdom who had once rejected her felt their faces stiffen, utterly humiliated.
Though they had begun reflecting long ago… as Lady Emilia's virtues were displayed more and more, the weight on their hearts only grew heavier.
In the village, Petra murmured to herself with relief: "Thank goodness for Lord Hachiman."
"If not for Lord Hachiman, I'm afraid Lady Emilia really would have been misunderstood forever."
"So… please don't be so hard on yourself, Lord Hachiman!"
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「Just like last time, he left the agreed-upon items outside Betty's door. Half of the residents were taken by ground dragons to the Capital for refuge, and half were led by Ram to the Sanctuary to stay alive.」
「Relying on his memory, Hikigaya Hachiman instructed Wilhelm to lead the soldiers in a preemptive strike on the Witch Cultists whose hidden locations were exposed after the battle started in the last loop. In short, they had to reduce Petelgeuse's spare bodies as much as possible; otherwise, killing the man himself would be useless, merely a waste of stamina.」
「But before they could annihilate all the cultists via sneak attack, Petelgeuse—who seemed to have internal means of communication—appeared, leading the Witch Cult in a counter-offensive.」
「And this time…」
「Hikigaya Hachiman had already looked into it: the quasi-spirits Julius contracted with allowed him to share vision with Hachiman, but they couldn't take it a step further and share that vision from Julius to another person so that a third party could see the Unseen Hands.」
「In other words, in this battle against Petelgeuse, Emilia and Puck were in a very dangerous position, effectively fighting blind.」
「Even so, Hikigaya Hachiman still let Emilia participate… because Emilia had said she had a reason why she must win the Royal Selection.」
「Therefore, she had to obtain the honor and prestige of slaying a Sin Archbishop.」
「To guard Emilia well, and to help Emilia fulfill her wish… he had to achieve both!」
「To that end, Hikigaya Hachiman gripped his sword.」
「"Emilia, give it your all. Don't hesitate; use all your offensive magic against Petelgeuse. That's all you need to do, with total focus—I, who can see, will always stand by your side. I will protect you. I won't let you suffer even a single scratch again. This time… absolutely!"」