I Pushed You Into Hell with My Own Hands, Emilia
"A clash between masters—how terrifying." In the Shirogane household, Shirogane Miyuki spoke with deep emotion.
"Both Roswaal and Hachiman are capable of deducing all sorts of information from just a single sentence from the other. Though it's partly because they both have their 'cheats' active, it's still absolutely brilliant."
There was much he could learn from this.
Meanwhile, at the Kousaka residence, Kousaka Kirino punched the air in frustration.
"He actually thinks Hikigaya-senpai can't do it? Does Roswaal look down on him that much?"
Kyousuke Kousaka pondered for a moment and explained objectively: "It's not looking down on him. It's because some things are literal 'first-encounter kills.' No matter how smart you are, you'll be completely lost until you've died once or twice.
For example, the time Hachiman-kun was killed by Rem. Before that, he had no idea he carried the Witch's Scent. Even if he had known, he wouldn't have known how much Rem hated the Witch Cult.
Hatred and suspicion creep in unnoticed. Even if you're observant enough to detect Rem's hatred, you wouldn't understand where it came from, making it impossible to resolve the conflict before it explodes.
Unless you have an omniscient prophecy like Echidna's—something close to a God's-eye view—it's hard to understand why things suddenly happen before they do. You need it to happen once to understand and solve it.
The reason Roswaal says Hachiman can't do it is because this is only his 'second time.' Following Roswaal's logic... I'm afraid there's a lot of information in the Sanctuary, similar to Rem's case, that can only be bought with a life. Many first-encounter kills."
-
-
-
「"My arrangements in the Sanctuary—well, those things don't really matter. I have no intention of hiding them. After all, in front of someone who can reset the world, no secret can stay hidden forever."」
「Roswaal spoke easily: "As for me, I simply think it's better to let you experience it personally first. Only then can you make a proper decision, Hachiman-kun. Some things are completely different if you don't experience them yourself."」
「The conversation between the two ended there, finishing on a sour note.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman did not rush back to the mansion two days early. In the last loop, Elsa hadn't found Rem by the time he returned, which proved that either Elsa arrived very late, or Roswaal had instructed her to wait until then to act. Before that deadline, Rem, Frederica, and Petra were safe.」
「He was thinking of another way to break the deadlock.」
「There were traps at the mansion and traps at the Sanctuary. But if Emilia could pass the trial and break the barrier today, then no matter what death-trap Roswaal had set in the Sanctuary, they could ignore it entirely, flee the Sanctuary overnight, and even rely on Emilia to kill Elsa.」
「"Emilia."」
「"...Eh?"」
「Standing outside the Tomb of the Trials, watching Emilia feign composure as she prepared to challenge the trial once more.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman remained silent for a moment before speaking: "I believe in you, Emilia. I believe you can definitely do it."」
「He felt a sense of irritation and almost didn't dare to look at the silver-haired girl in front of him. Yet, he still looked her straight in the eye, applying pressure: "You can definitely do it, Emilia."」
「"Mhm! I understand!"」
「Emilia's magnificent amethyst eyes sparkled with brilliant light. She looked like a child receiving a surprise gift on her birthday, immensely encouraged, nodding happily: "Since Hachiman said so, I am de~finitely going to pass the trial today! I definitely won't let you down!"」
「This was for the best of both worlds, to complete the run in one life, to avoid the unknown dangers of the Sanctuary and get Emilia back to a safe place, to escape Roswaal's calculations...」
「Hikigaya Hachiman could find countless reasons and excuses. But no matter how many excuses he made, they couldn't erase the fact that he was shifting all the pressure onto Emilia.」
「Emilia was currently unable to pass the trial... having witnessed the girl's tears three times, he knew this better than anyone. Emilia needed time. Given a few days, multiple attempts, and a gradual progression, she might pass over time... but for the sake of safety, Hachiman chose to 'force the sprout to grow,' attempting to use pressure to make her pass the trial in one go.」
「"Hey, you look pretty depressed. What, worried about the Princess? How pathetic. You don't have a shred of that manliness from before. This Great Self won't follow a man like that."」
「Garfiel, baring his shark-like teeth, added insult to injury. Hachiman slapped his own depressed cheeks; Garfiel's mockery served as a distraction for his mind: "Garfiel, tomorrow Ram and I are going back to Roswaal's mansion."」
「"Hah? What are you talking about?" A confused Garfiel was puzzled. "This Great Self obviously knows that. Isn't that what the old hag brought up at noon about taking the villagers back?"」
「"That's just incidental. Even if Lady Ryuzu hadn't brought it up, I would still be going out."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman looked at Garfiel, observing his expression: "The mansion is in danger. Tomorrow night, assassins will invade. They are enemies Frederica cannot match alone. Even with me and Ram added, the outcome is uncertain."」
「"Frederica is your sister. If you're willing to help her, willing to protect her, you can come with us tomorrow."」
「Because of the barrier, demi-humans cannot leave the Sanctuary. However, Frederica's demi-human blood is only one-quarter, making her an exception. Hachiman had checked with Ryuzu Birma beforehand; Garfiel's situation was actually the same.」
「Hearing this, Garfiel stared at him suspiciously for a long time, as if he couldn't believe it was the truth. Seeing Hachiman's serious face, he barely considered it.」
「"Leaving the Sanctuary... to protect that woman..."」
「Garfiel's expression became dazed. He gritted his teeth and finally turned his head away. "That woman isn't that fragile. And Ram isn't some useless woman either."」
「He was looking for excuses—all of them were excuses because he didn't dare leave the Sanctuary. Hikigaya Hachiman could see it, but as Roswaal said, he had no way to intervene. His understanding of Garfiel was too shallow; he didn't know the cause and effect of the underlying condition.」
「"Garfiel, you—"」
「Just as Hachiman was about to try and de-escalate Garfiel's semi-combative stance, he suddenly whipped his head around before the words could leave his mouth.」
「Under the dim night sky, from within the Tomb of the Trials...」
「A sudden, heart-wrenching cry rang out!」
Emilia on the Verge of Breaking
「"No, stop... it wasn't me! It wasn't me—!!"」
「A heart-wrenching cry, so loud that even Hikigaya Hachiman and Garfiel, standing outside the tomb, could hear it with painful clarity.」
「It was a terror that felt like facing hell itself, a fear stemming from the depths of the soul. Through the girl's trembling sobs, it reached Hachiman's heart with unmistakable vividness. Every second of it transformed into blades and spears, condemning his aching conscience.」
「...Compared to the previous three times, she endured the trial for an exceptionally long duration this time. But alongside that increased time came cries more shrill, screams more agonizing, and wails more harrowing than any of her previous challenges. Just listening from afar, one could imagine the horrific nightmare she had fallen into.」
「...Yet, she did not give up. Even while suffering an unbearable shock, Emilia's crying never stopped; despite the agony, she persisted within the trial, refusing to surrender or retreat no matter what.」
「"Enough, Emilia... just give up already, Emilia! ...Please, Emilia, it's truly enough!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman staggered, his face pale, his spirit and strength completely drained by the piercing cries. "What on earth... have I done..."」
「Because of a single sentence he spoke, because of the pressure he deliberately cultivated to meet his own expectations... Emilia's blossoming conviction, her persistence, and the suffering she endured made it difficult for Hachiman to breathe. He wanted to rush in, to tell her there was no need to force herself this much.」
「...But this time, as the culprit who caused this, he felt he didn't even have the right to save her.」
「Was it an hour? Or two? Or perhaps even longer? At some point, Hikigaya Hachiman, who had been sitting on the ground lost in despair, looked up.」
「The wailing lingering in the air finally vanished. From the corridor of the tomb, a slender, stumbling figure could be seen leaning against the wall, walking out slowly, step by step.」
「The silver-haired girl kept her head lowered, her eyes swollen and red. She stopped timidly a few meters away from Hachiman, her voice choked with sobs and filled with fearful anxiety: "I'm sorry... I'm truly sorry, Hachiman. I—I—I'm sorry, I'm sorry, truly..."」
「She hadn't met his expectations. Carrying that terror and self-reproach, the exhausted Emilia couldn't even finish her sentence before collapsing to the ground, falling into a total faint.」
-
--
-
Kirino Kousaka watched in a daze, her fists clenched and her heart filled with indignation. "What's wrong with this guy? Why did he suddenly become so cold-hearted? He doesn't seem to care about Emilia-san at all. This decision makes Hikigaya Hachiman look like a completely different person."
"...Sigh."
Kyousuke Kousaka shook his head bitterly.
"It's not that Hachiman changed; it's that Roswaal forced him to change."
"Dealing with just the mansion would be easy enough, but the Sanctuary has unknown dangers as well. Hachiman currently has no confidence that he can return to support the Sanctuary in time after saving the mansion. Even if he saves Rem, it would be unacceptable to him if Emilia died here.
So, when a way to save both was placed in front of him, how would he know it would fail if he didn't try?
If his provocation could have made Emilia pass the trial, all problems would have been solved instantly—it would have been a massive gain. Even if she failed, he figured it was worth a shot. That was his logic."
Kyousuke sighed, meeting the eyes of his younger sister, who was still in middle school and didn't fully grasp the complexities.
For a moment, he felt an urge to scold Kirino.
No one could condemn Hikigaya Hachiman for this rational decision except for Hachiman himself. Emilia took the bait willingly; she chose this.
And right now, the person most devastated by the blow was Hachiman himself.
"Emilia's persistence far exceeded his expectations. Hachiman likely thought she would either pass in one burst of courage or give up after a minute or two. Either would have been fine."
"He always likes to underestimate his own importance in the hearts of others. It was the same with Rem, and even now, this fundamental trait hasn't changed... This is your only flaw, Lord Hachiman."
"However," Crusch paused slightly, her eyes shining as she looked at the unconscious Emilia, offering unreserved praise, "To force yourself this much just for Hachiman's expectations... Emilia, you have made me see you in a new light."
Beside her, Wilhelm exhaled. "But that has only served to increase the burden on Lord Hachiman's heart."
"Yes."
Crusch clasped her hands. Because of this, her perception of Emilia had become complicated to the extreme.
-
-
-
"Hmph."
In Class D, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka suddenly let out a cold laugh. "Emotions... should I call them a hindrance? It seems the thing I want might not be so great after all."
"Rem's death in the last loop has severely disrupted your judgment and logic, Hikigaya Hachiman... You place too much weight on that woman. If you don't wake up soon, the probability of a new mistake occurring is one hundred percent!"
-
-
-
「...Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't remember how he carried Emilia back to the bedroom or how he walked back out alone in a daze. By the time he regained his senses, he was standing outside the Tomb of the Trials once again.」
「Garfiel had been following him, watching him silently, thinking heaven knows what.」
「...The echoes of Emilia's four bouts of crying rang in his heart. Rem's death, Elsa's strength, and the unknown dangers of the Sanctuary forced Hachiman to a final resolution.」
「"What are you doing?" Garfiel blocked Hachiman's path, looking at the gloomy man who intended to step into the tomb.」
「"I'm going to take the trial."」
「"What?"」
「"I said, I'm challenging the trial."」
「Emilia's mind was already damaged; in that case, he couldn't let her body be put in danger as well. If Emilia couldn't pass the trial, he would do it—at least to cut their losses.」
「"If you are willing to help me deal with the enemies attacking Roswaal's mansion, then I suppose I don't need to break the barrier immediately, Garfiel."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman spoke persuasively. He knew Garfiel feared leaving the Sanctuary, so he prepared a verbal trap, forcing Garfiel to choose between Hachiman taking the trial or Garfiel helping him deal with the enemies.」
「But Garfiel did not fall for the trap. On the contrary, his hesitant eyes turned sharp, and he swung his fist.」
「—He knocked Hikigaya Hachiman unconscious.」
Cleverness Begets Error
「Groggily, he opened his eyes to find himself inside a dark building. His hands and feet were bound. Looking around, he saw Garfiel watching him from the side.」
「"Oh, you're awake? ...Don't look at the Great Self like that. I specifically laid down a layer of straw for you to use as a bed." Garfiel curled his lip, revealing his shark-like teeth. "The Great Self has no intention of treating you like a prisoner. As for three meals a day, I'll give you the best treatment."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman could feel that the ropes binding him were only meant to restrain him; as long as he didn't struggle, there would be no pain.」
「"And the reason for imprisoning me?"」
「"There are three reasons. First, you weren't in a hurry at all during your first two days in the Sanctuary, but now you tell me Roswaal's mansion is under attack... Nothing in the Sanctuary can be hidden from the Great Self, yet I haven't found a single source of information for you. How am I supposed to believe you?"」
「"Second, you're yelling for the Great Self to leave the Sanctuary while also wanting to break the barrier immediately. Don't you know how suspicious that looks?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman tilted his head in confusion. He knew everything Garfiel was saying, but the reason he hadn't hidden his actions was that he thought they were points in his favor: "Isn't the second point proof that I'm not lying? If there weren't enemies attacking the mansion, why would I be in such a rush?"」
「"True. If it were just that, the Great Self wouldn't be unwilling to believe you. After all, like me, you're a man among men."」
「Garfiel tsked. "But, can the Great Self trust someone who reeks of the Witch? Especially since that stench got even stronger after you came out of the tomb... your sudden panic started right after that. Can the Great Self believe that's just a coincidence and that they aren't linked?"」
「"..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman fell silent. The first and second points were intentional on his part, designed to complement each other to persuade Garfiel. However, despite all his calculations, he hadn't accounted for the fact that Garfiel—like Rem—could smell the Witch's Scent.」
「With the added condition of the scent growing stronger, it did indeed look suspicious. After all, it involved the Witch.」
「After a moment of silence, Hachiman kicked the ball back: "If you were inexplicably targeted by a Witch, would you tell everyone you met, 'I have the Witch's Scent on me'? ...And have you considered this: if what I said is true, what happens to your sister, Frederica?"」
「"That's not for the Great Self to consider." Garfiel scratched his head. "It's not like I completely distrust you... I'll let Ram go back. You're so scrawny anyway that having you there wouldn't make much difference. But until Ram returns and I confirm you were telling the truth, you'd better stay here quietly."」
「He added: "That woman is the Great Self's sister. Even if there are enemies, she won't be killed that easily."」
「Perhaps he was wavering slightly.」
「Fearing he might be charmed by Hachiman's words into untying him, Garfiel immediately shut the door and left after speaking.」
「Hearing him grumbling as he walked away—saying things like "The Great Self isn't mistreating you, it's only two or three days, and if you weren't lying I suppose I could apologize"—Hachiman felt no comfort at all. He only felt a chilling dread.」
「The current situation was absolute perfection in its disaster!」
-
-
-
Watching the absurd development of the future, Frederica was dumbstruck. She actually had a chance of being saved this time, only for her "good" younger brother to forcibly tie up her savior.
"My idiot brother... you have far too much confidence in me. I truly cannot beat that Elsa!"
"Am I an idiot? I must be an absolute idiot, ah! What kind of stupid things is my future self doing?! Hey!!" Inside the Sanctuary, Garfiel was slack-jawed. Watching his own self-proclaimed cleverness turn everything into a mess made him want to crawl into a hole and die.
Beside him, several Ryuzus looked at each other.
"Garf-boy finally managed to be smart for once, and we ought to praise him, but what kind of mess has he made? He's not a rebel or a traitor, he didn't want a civil war or to be a hindrance, yet in the end, he still dragged Hachiman-boy down."
Ryuzu Shima, pained to her core, tapped the despondent Garfiel with her cane.
"Garf-boy should stop overthinking from now on. When Hachiman-boy comes later, just swear your loyalty to him directly and follow his instructions for everything."
"Hahahahahaha!"
In Class D, others shrank back, watching Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who had suddenly burst into laughter.
Suzune Horikita asked in confusion, "Weren't you quite fond of Hikigaya Hachiman? He's fallen now, stuck in a desperate situation. How can you still laugh?"
Ayanokouji laughed happily. He glanced around the classroom and sneered: "Foolish, Horikita. Of course I'm happy.
He fell, yes, but the cause of death was an objective lack of information. He did the absolute best he could with the information he possessed. Although he was hoisted by his own petard, it wasn't a failure of skill. Hachiman's own IQ and rationality haven't dropped.
This will serve as a wake-up call. It will pull him out of the mindset where his rationality was declining because he cared too much for Rem. It will present me with a Hikigaya Hachiman at the peak of his power once again.
Is that not the most wonderful thing to be happy about?"
Ayanokouji touched his lip with his finger. He clearly felt his own emotions—that feeling of happiness, that sensation of joy.
Ayanokouji let out a cold laugh. "If you can't laugh at this, it seems I'm not the one lacking emotions anymore; it's all of you."
He looked at the video with piercing eyes: "You truly are a massive treasure, Hikigaya Hachiman."
He took back his previous words.
Emotions? They were great! Truly delightful!
-
-
-
"..."
Shirogane Miyuki and Shirogane Kei wore strange expressions.
"So, Garfiel is still neutral. But his actions are basically no different from Roswaal's... I mean, how are you supposed to carry this team? I can tolerate Roswaal being a traitor, but now even the people who aren't traitors are doing the traitor's work! This is impossible!"
"Ultimately, I should have realized this when Puck froze Hachiman-kun to death."
"Except for Emilia, there isn't a single reliable person in this 'Emilia Camp'! It's an 'Emilia Camp' in name only."
"But," Kei interrupted her brother, "now even Sister Emilia isn't reliable. She's trustworthy, but... she's really not useful right now."
Miyuki felt like he had a lump in his throat. He shook his head.
"I don't even know how Hachiman-kun is supposed to turn this around. Sigh!"
The Coming of the War God
They had already retreated from the courtyard of the Roswaal mansion, moving to the nearby village that was now filled with Hikigaya Hachiman's admirers and followers.
Rem received an incredibly warm welcome here, especially from Petra and the other children. With every "I want to be just like Sister Rem in the future!" and "I love Sister Rem the most!", Rem's face turned beet red with embarrassment, though she was mostly very happy.
Looking up at the light screen with Petra and the others, Rem's happiness hadn't lasted long before she saw the helpless state of Hikigaya Hachiman; her mood shifted from sunny to overcast.
"Garf, is it?" Ram snorted coldly.
"Obstructing him from saving Rem... Ram has noted this debt. Frederica is also useless, failing to protect Rem and even losing her own life."
Rem knew that while her sister seemed to hate Garfiel and Frederica, she was actually worried about them, especially Frederica, given their deep friendship. As for Rem herself, her heart and eyes were, of course, devoted solely to praying for Hikigaya Hachiman.
-
-
-
"He's backed into a corner."
Julius couldn't help but grip his sword hilt. "If I were there, I could at least help Hachiman-kun deal with Elsa..."
Beside his ground dragon, guarding his cargo and neglecting his work, Otto—dressed in green—was sweating profusely in panic.
"What should we do, Hachiman-san? At this rate, he can't even commit suicide?! What to do, what to do? Is there a turning point? A turning point, a turning point... Is it Lady Emilia? It must be Lady Emilia!"
He was extremely anxious. Setting aside that this was the only person besides his family who valued, appreciated, and cared for him so much, Hachiman's character alone was enough to earn his loyalty.
At the Karsten estate, looking at the quiet Lady Crusch, Ferris couldn't help but ask out of curiosity: "Is Lady Crusch not worried-nyan? Hachiman is in the most dangerous situation he's ever been in-nyan."
Crusch glanced at him with surprise: "Ferris, do you not believe in Lord Hachiman's capabilities?"
Ferris opened his mouth but was speechless... He understood. It wasn't that Lady Crusch wasn't nervous; it was that she purely believed her Lord Hachiman could solve any hardship he encountered.
'It's reached the level of blind worship-nyan!'
-
-
-
「An unknown amount of time had passed. Garfiel's meal deliveries were irregular, making them unreliable anchors for tracking time.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman had tried various methods but could neither break free to escape nor end his own life. Watching the time slip away second by second, though he hadn't despaired, an inevitable low mood set in.」
「Creeeak.」
「"Food again? Wasn't the last one just half an hour—"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's muttering stopped abruptly. His eyes widened as he looked at the man who had slipped in... the man in green, the man who had died several times because of his employment, the man he trusted.」
「"—Otto?!"」
「"You really were here, Hachiman-san." Tiptoeing in, Otto brushed the dust off his clothes. When he saw Hikigaya Hachiman, he wore a look of relief identical to Hachiman's own. "Thank goodness, I finally found you. Um, I'll untie the ropes right away."」
「Hachiman was both pleasantly surprised and confused. "How did you find this place?"」
「"Um, I'm really sorry I didn't tell you before, but it's actually my Divine Protection," Otto said while untying the ropes. "I can understand the languages of everyone in the forest—insects, ground dragons, animals—and communicate with them. They told me you were here."」
「"Otto."」
「"Eh?"」
「"I love you!"」
「With excitement, Hikigaya Hachiman lunged forward and hugged the stunned Otto, heavily patting his back several times, unable to restrain his emotions.」
This sort of thing had happened before, like when he told Saki Kawasaki, "I like you."
While sincere about his feelings, Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't above making such jokes. However, it wasn't entirely a joke; Hachiman could be certain that his future self truly did love Otto. Of course, his current self liked him too.
「Since crossing over, he had always acted as everyone else's savior. Hikigaya Hachiman never expected that he would find a savior of his own in his moment of despair.」
-
-
-
"Eh? Ehhh? EH—That, that-that-that person, is it me? Is it me? It's really me, right? Hey!"
Otto's hands were shaking.
He tugged at his collar to vent some of the rising body heat, unable to believe it. He looked around at the nearby merchants, and only after seeing their amazed expressions did he finally dare to believe it was true.
"I helped. I'm not a redundant outsider—Hachiman-san said he loves me, Hachiman-san trusts me, ahhh—I never thought such a thing could happen. This is great, truly great!"
Meanwhile, at the estate of the nobles in Otto's hometown, the entire family rolled their eyes and fainted from fear.
Crusch looked toward Ferris with a smile, her expression as if saying, 'See, I told you Lord Hachiman is the best in the world.' Ferris didn't have the heart to point out that this was actually Otto's achievement.
-
-
-
「After the hug, Hachiman immediately asked with urgency, "What's the situation outside? How much time has passed, Otto?"」
「"It's already been two days. Since you disappeared, Miss Ram left the Sanctuary. Mr. Garfiel and everyone else in the Sanctuary flatly denied knowing your whereabouts. The villagers refused to leave and searched for you for a day and a night."」
「Otto spoke rapidly; he knew the matter was urgent and didn't dither, even though his mind was still swimming from being told he was loved.」
「"As for Lady Emilia... I'm really sorry. When Emilia woke up and couldn't find you, she thought you had given up on her because she couldn't pass the trial and left the Sanctuary alone. Lord Roswaal was fanning the flames on the side, and I couldn't stop him at all."」
「"Since then, Lady Emilia hasn't eaten or drunk. She's stayed inside the trial alone for two straight days, challenging it continuously. I don't know what the situation is now."」
「"Two days already?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath. He could no longer make it to the mansion in time; he could only hope Ram would prevail. But the odds were slim... for now, he had to see Emilia first. Otto's description was too worrying.」
「"Hachiman-san, one more thing!" running to leave the prison, Otto shouted, "For some reason, it suddenly started snowing just now!"」
「At that same moment, reaching the entrance, Hikigaya Hachiman saw it.」
「A blanket of white covering everything, snow falling from the sky, piling thick upon the ground.」
Otto, the Great Rabbit, Shock and Nightmare
「"...Snowing?"」
「The forest, which had felt like spring just moments ago, was now blanketed in frost and snow. Hachiman Hikigaya immediately thought of Roswaal. "Has the crisis prepared for the Sanctuary already been triggered?"」
「"Hachiman-san, something terrible is happening!" Otto ran alongside Hachiman, his face pale. "I can't hear them anymore. There are no sounds at all. The insects, the animals—everyone has disappeared!"」
「"I understand! Otto, come with me to find Emilia first!"」
「The sense of crisis looming in his heart grew more aggressive. They chose a direct path to advance, passing several houses where the Sanctuary residents who should have been there had vanished without a trace.」
「"Nothing. There's nothing—"」
「A bewildered Otto rubbed his eyes. He wasn't seeing things; in the white snow, rolling white objects had indeed appeared. Long ears, fluffy fur, and bright red eyes—it was a rabbit that looked completely harmless.」
「Otto was overjoyed, his spirits lifting. "Hachiman-san, it's a rabbit! It might know something. I'll go ask it!"」
「"Wait a second, Otto!"」
「Hachiman immediately grabbed Otto. "Think about it. In all our days here at the Sanctuary, have we ever seen a rabbit? Why did all other living things disappear, only for snow-white rabbits to appear right when it starts snowing? Ignore it, stay close to me!"」
「"Don't you want to know the truth behind these anomalies? Let me go, Hachiman-san! It's just a rabbit. Even if there's danger, I can handle it."」
「"Calm down! It's just the two of us left. Don't take risks. It won't be too late to look for the rabbit after we find Emilia. The two of us are too weak."」
「Hachiman slapped Otto's shoulder hard. Though the rabbit looked innocent, given Roswaal's arrangements, he couldn't feel at ease no matter what; he didn't dare approach.」
「"Hachiman-san!"」
「Otto first showed a look of frustration, but he eventually nodded reluctantly. Hachiman said in a heavy voice, "We'll avoid it."」
「The two picked up their pace again, but before they could leave the area, they froze in shock... Rabbits. Endless rabbits. Rabbits identical in appearance and size.」
「Unbeknownst to them, in the brief moment they spent talking, hundreds, thousands, tens of thousands of rabbits had filled the surroundings. Their eyes emitted a faint red glow as they let out countless chirping sounds, surging forward like a natural disaster—a tidal wave of white across the hills.」
「—Riiiip!」
「He first saw the nearest rabbit reach his feet. Hachiman instinctively lifted his leg to move away. The next second, the muscle fibers and nerves of his calf were torn and gnawed away. A cross-section of white bone sprayed blood. Only after seeing it, after realizing it, did the unbearable, piercing pain spread through his body, causing his throat to heave and release a sharp scream.」
「Not just Hachiman's, but Otto's as well... Blood stained the pure white snow. The rabbits opened their mouths. They were gnawing. They were chewing. They were feeding.」
「"Otto! Run, now! Go find Emilia!! I'll—"」
「Hachiman's sword had been taken after Garfiel's sneak attack. He could only grit his teeth and swing his fists to fight the enemy, and then—」
「His right hand was bitten off entirely at the wrist by one, two, three, four, even more swarming rabbits—」
「"Hachiman-san, go!"」
「Otto wailed, his cheek a mess of blood and flesh as a rabbit jumped onto his left face, devouring it. Even so, Otto stumbled forward, using his mangled, pitted hands to sweep away the rabbits lunging at Hachiman. "I'll hold the rear! I can hold them off! I'm the one who—Hurry and go, Hachiman-san, AHHHHHHH!!」
「"Otto!"」
「Hachiman tried to knock the rabbits off Otto's face. Just as he raised his one remaining hand, his body was violently pushed by those two pitted, skeletal arms that had been gnawed beyond human recognition. He staggered several steps back and turned to look at Otto in disbelief.」
「One of Otto's calves had been completely eaten away. His two arms were torn from his shoulders amidst the chirping sounds. Rabbits began to crawl over his chest. His left face was a bloody blur; only one eyeball remained on Otto's face.」
「Hachiman exerted every ounce of strength—he ran, he fled. He took only that one look and never turned back again. He did not stop. In a pathetic state, he abandoned Otto and escaped alone.」
「He saw the half of the cheek Otto still had on the right. The lips on that cheek were curved upward. He was smiling—he stood with his chest out, smiling, without a single shred of regret.」
「Otto was shouting, a silent shout. He was telling him that if Hachiman-san could successfully escape while he distracted the rabbits, then Otto Suwen would be the happiest, most satisfied man in the world, having died for a worthy cause.」
「There was no time for farewells, no time for sentimentality, no time for last words. Even the last image he gave to another was a face so ugly, covered in tears and snot; his raspy screams and his most earnest wishes.」
「...And so, Hachiman Hikigaya ran away without looking back.」
「"Ah, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!!"」
「Otto's wails and agonizing screams echoed between heaven and earth, finally growing lower until they could no longer be heard. His remaining eye could no longer see, but the image of Hachiman Hikigaya's limping, retreating back lingered in his mind.」
'This is fine... this is... fine...'
'Besides my parents and my brothers... after wandering for so many years, Hachiman-san...'
'I am lucky... this year, I am the luckiest...'
'You trusted me. You valued me. You would argue with Miss Ram to defend me, telling her not to look down on me... You hugged me, you said "I'm sorry" to me, you said "Thank you" to me.'
'I can't understand it at all. I can't understand why you would do that, but... you trusted me. You valued me. You must... have considered me someone important, right?'
'So... this is... fine... Ah, ahh... So, it hurts, it really hurts, it hurts so much I'd rather be dead, ahh...'
'Hachiman-san, you must have run far away by now, so... so... if I cry a little, surely... surely you won't look down on me. In your heart, I can still be an important person entrusted with heavy responsibilities, right?'
'It hurts, it hurts so much... I want to... cry, I have to cry—'
「"..."」
「He wanted to cry. But he could no longer feel his eyeball or his throat.」
「On the pure white snow, the chirping rabbits.」
「Otto Suwen: Deceased.」
Hikigaya Hachiman's Obsession
The blood-curdling wails echoed through the video, the skin-crawling agony of being eaten alive laid bare before everyone. Just listening to Otto's voice and seeing his tragic state was enough.
Even though they were still standing there unharmed, the vast majority of people broke out in a cold sweat and goosebumps instantly. For a long time to come, this would be their nightmare. This was far more terrifying than any horror movie or ghost story.
"Different from the hell Lady Emilia encountered... we could see Lady Emilia's mental pain, but it was hard to imagine or understand. But Otto's current experience... it's too terrifying, truly too terrifying."
The merchant colleagues who had previously envied Otto for getting screen time and becoming world-famous were now trembling with fear, looking at him with pity.
Otto stared blankly at his own death in the future. His teeth were chattering, and his hands instinctively felt over his body. Until he confirmed that he was indeed whole and intact, he could not root out this terror.
"So scary, it's really so scary..."
He swallowed hard, lowered his head slightly, took off his hat to shield his face, and his shoulders began to heave.
He was laughing—a helpless laugh, a laugh of relief, a laugh from the bottom of his heart. He laughed so hard his shoulders shook; the merchants around him thought he was having a seizure from fright.
"It's really terrifying... but, I truly helped Hachiman-san, didn't I? I... I!"
-
-
-
"Otto Suwen."
At the Karsten estate, Crusch remained silent for a moment, engraving the name of the internal affairs official Hachiman had chosen into her memory. "Finally... Lord Hachiman finally has a reliable ally. Otto Suwen, you have truly proven worthy of Lord Hachiman's trust and esteem. You are his 'important person,' well and truly!"
"It hasn't been easy. For either of them."
Wilhelm sighed, both for Hikigaya Hachiman and for Otto.
In the Sanctuary, Garfiel clenched his fists and then relaxed them, admitting defeat: "Tch... 'A man among men'? That title... besides the General, I suppose I should concede it to you, Otto Suwen."
He was genuinely convinced. If it were merely about not fearing death, he could do it too. But such loyalty, such courage... every resident of the Sanctuary watched in a daze, filled with heartfelt admiration.
-
-
-
"..."
In the convenience store, Hikigaya Hachiman watched the video silently. He said nothing, but Yukinoshita, held in his arms, could hear his heartbeat change.
"Otto Suwen," Hachiman whispered, repeating the name hundreds of times in his mind... He would remember this man, forever, just as he did Yukinoshita, Rem, Emilia, Julius, and Hayama.
At the Shinomiya residence, Shinomiya Kaguya and Hayasaka Ai were simultaneously stunned, their worldviews overturned: "A merchant... to actually possess such a character."
"Can merchants be loyal and righteous? No... that's not right. It should be said that Otto is loyal and righteous, and he just happens to be a merchant, rather than merchants as a class being loyal and righteous."
The master and servant sighed, each shaking their head.
Even the Council of Sages in the Kingdom of Lugunica and Emperor Abel in the Holy Vollachian Empire developed a great interest in this Otto Suwen at this moment.
They had previously been covetous of Roswaal's prophetic methods, but after discovering it was related to the Witch of Greed, they immediately backed down.
"I must admit," Abel said with deep emotion, "this Hachiman has an incredibly sharp eye for people. A 'Genuine Thing,' is it... pity. If this Otto were in my Empire, I would surely have him bound and brought to me, granted a title, and tied to the Empire's war chariot."
In Roswaal's mansion, Beatrice was consumed with worry: "But... can you really successfully escape by sacrificing one person? Faster, a little faster, Hachiman... Betty absolutely does not want, absolutely does not wish, and is unwilling under any circumstances to see the tragedy of you being eaten."
-
-
-
「Violent gasping, oxygen-deprived lungs.」
「His legs should have felt like lead weights under such beyond-limit speed and endurance, but Hikigaya Hachiman could no longer feel anything... There was no dripping blood on his legs; such things, along with the flesh, had been almost entirely gnawed away by the rabbits that had caught up to him.」
「Two bones cannot support a body... but it didn't matter. The flesh on his waist, chest, and back had also been greatly reduced. His last hand had been given to the swarming rabbits to protect his eyes and ears.」
「—So, it's okay.」
「"Chirp, chirp..."」
「—So, I must stay alive.」
「"Chirp, chirp..."」
「—So, I cannot let Otto's sacrifice be in vain.」
「"Chirp, chirp..."」
「—So, at least see Emilia one last time before dying, to apologize for the mistake of forcing her into the trial and for my sudden disappearance.」
「"Chirp, chirp..."」
「—So, AHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!」
「The ear-splitting chirping suddenly vanished. Hikigaya Hachiman blankly tried to touch his ears to see if they had been eaten, only to remember he no longer had hands.」
「It was the trial's barrier... He wanted to smile, but instead spat out a mouthful of blood.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman dragged his sluggish body, thump-thump, through the corridor. In that familiar room where the trials took place, he saw that magnificent silver-haired girl.」
「It's so good... so lucky... Hachiman was sincerely grateful. If his eyes had been eaten, he wouldn't be able to see Emilia. If his ears had been eaten, he wouldn't be able to hear Emilia's voice. If his throat had been eaten, he wouldn't be able to apologize to Emilia.」
「"...Hee... hee-hee—"」
「However, his throat had already been damaged by the gnawing. But, how lucky—with some effort, he could still make a sound, still speak, still apologize, surely.」
-
-
-
Chitanda Eru had already looked away, unable to bear watching any longer.
Otto Suwen died in great pain... but at least he died quickly.
Hikigaya Hachiman right now...
"A skeleton... is moving. A skeleton... is speaking. A skeleton... is alive."
He could hardly be called a corpse anymore; it was a total skeleton, a white frame. Essential organs like the heart and lungs were almost entirely exposed to the air.
"What kind of will, what kind of obsession, can support such a body to remain alive..."
This wasn't living; this was suffering.
Oreki Houtarou's head buzzed; he felt his breathing becoming constricted. "To not let Otto's sacrifice be in vain, to see Emilia one last time..."
In the Classic Literature Club, the group fell into a shocked, heavy silence.
Emilia's Confession (Part 1)
「Dragging a body that was clearly light, yet for some reason felt exceptionally heavy, a trail of red liquid flowed across the corridor he passed. At the end of the hallway was a dim stone chamber emitting a faint blue light.」
「"Hachiman?"」
「"Emi... huff, huff... lia."」
「Blood poured out like a fountain. After uttering that name, his damaged throat fulfilled its final mission and anxiously urged Hachiman Hikigaya to step into death along with it.」
「"It really is Hachiman, hee-hee... Yes, that's right, it's me, Emilia."」
「Her magnificent amethyst eyes emitted an illusory charm in the dark room. Like a lark, Emilia ran over with a smile. She looked Hachiman up and down, and then, she continued to giggle.」
「"—That's so mean, Hachiman."」
「"How could you leave me behind—I was so lonely. Didn't you say you were looking forward to me, that you believed in me? Running away in secret... that makes you a ba~d boy, hee-hee."」
「"...huff, huff..."」
「No...」
「"I was so scared, Hachiman. I was tru~ly scared. Because Hachiman said it, you said you believed I could definitely pass the trial, right? So, I kept persisting, on and on and on. Mm, I really, really worked hard, you know? Even though I was scared, whenever I thought about Hachiman saying he believed in me, I wanted to keep going. But as I thought, I just couldn't. I'm sorry, I let you down. I really am useless, aren't I?"」
「"But Hachiman is a bad boy. You clearly promised you would always watch over me, promised you would always protect me and be my knight. But when I woke up, I didn't see anything, you know? Puck too—both of you are bad boys. Bad boys who don't keep their word or follow through on promises. Neither of you are being good."」
「"I was really scared all by myself, I was really sad... So I thought, I must have disappointed Hachiman. After all, I'm so useless, so I wondered if you had gotten bored of me. That's it... so I thought, did you go to find Crusch? That's why I was so afraid and came here to challenge this. Because if I don't disappoint Hachiman, as long as I work hard to finish the task, you'll come back to save me. You won't give up on me, and you'll keep protecting me. ...Because it's always been like that, right?"」
「"So, I know. Mm-hm, I know, you know? Hachiman isn't a bad boy at all. I finally realized it. If Hachiman weren't here, I don't know what I'd be like. So, I'm the bad girl. It's so selfish of me, tying Hachiman to my side like this. I'm being very naughty."」
「"...huff, huff..."」
「No...」
「Lightly, gently, the girl with swaying silver-white hair giggled. She pulled the man before her into a hug, pressing her cheek tightly against his, staining herself with his flesh, his scent, and his smell, nuzzling him contentedly.」
「"But I really can't be without you after all. ...I'm so lonely. I'm really so lonely. Only Puck is here, only Puck speaks to me, is willing to help me, and takes care of me. But, but, Puck disappears as soon as it gets dark. So, I'm really so lonely... That's why I finally noticed it. I'm so sorry."」
「"I only realized after returning to the mansion. Why wasn't Hachiman there? Why did Hachiman have to be apart from me? Why did Hachiman stay in the Capital? Why did he get so close to Crusch? ...Hee-hee, it's so lonely. I'm really so lonely, Hachiman. I'm scared, truly scared."」
「"So, I finally realized you are so, so, so~ important to me. But the first person I thought of was still Puck; that must have made you sad, right? I'm so sorry. But it's okay, it's okay! As long as I have Hachiman, it's fine. Hachiman is the most important; I know that now."」
「"Everyone who went back to the village to report, and Otto, and Roswaal too—everyone says Miss Crusch likes you very much? ...Hachiman too, likes Miss Crusch a lot, right? You can't do that. That's not allowed. You'll become a bad boy. You really can't."」
「"...huff, huff..."」
「No...」
「"It's selfish, really selfish. Mmm, sorry, Hachiman. But the moment I found you were gone, I was so sad, so pained, so afraid. It felt like I was going to break."」
「"It's the same now. My chest feels hot. Mm, it feels like a dream, how strange... Sorry, I don't even know what I want to say anymore. It's strange, but it's okay, it's really okay. Let me think. Mm, I'll definitely say it properly."」
「"I'll think of Hachiman first. I'll keep thinking of you, only you. I have to be a good girl. So, Hachiman has to be good too. You're not allowed to go to Crusch, do you understand? Hee-hee... Hey, what is the relationship between Crusch and Hachiman? Who is Rem? Idiot, I'm such an idiot. But Hachiman is so good to Rem, I'm really so jealous. You always watch over Rem and whisper to her, but you won't stay with me. I'm really so lonely."」
「"...huff, huff..."」
「No...」
「"Sorry, I'm very selfish, aren't I? To be this self-centered is really too much... But I want, I want Hachiman to only look at me, look only at me, think only of me. Otherwise, I'm so afraid, I'm truly so scared. So, Puck taught me. Mm-hm, so I can definitely convey it to you, tell you properly... I love you, Hachiman."」
「"The most important person is Hachiman. I'm always thinking of you, only you."」
「"Hey, Hachiman. I only think of you, only value you. I only need you. Puck is such a bad boy. I can't leave Hachiman. I want to be with you forever. Always, always, always... So, Hachiman should just look at me and think of me too. You're not allowed to think about Miss Crusch or Miss Rem, okay? If Hachiman can do that, I will definitely, definitely be very happy."」
「"Mm-hm. But Miss Rem is still sleeping... It would be so pitiful if Hachiman didn't go help her. I'm sorry; I want Hachiman to only look at me, but I also feel that's very bad."」
「"But you know, I love you most. Emilia loves Hachiman Hikigaya most. Mm-hm... Heh-heh... I love you, I love you, Hachiman."」
「"...huff, huff..."」
「No...」
「Incorrect, irrational, completely wrong, heart-breaking, distressing, painful, sorrowful, bewildered. "...huff... Emilia... Emi... lia..."」
「"Yes, it's me. Emilia. I am Emilia."」
「A smile so cute it was impossible to resist, sweet words that made the soul soar, the most scorching passion, the most blunt love. The silver-haired girl, with excitement radiating from her eyes, stared intently at Hachiman Hikigaya. She was overjoyed, giggling.」
「"One more sentence, okay? You can't be this lazy. I love Hachiman most. So, Hachiman has to say it too. You have to say you love me... Really, Hachiman is such a bad boy. You're not being good."」
「Hee-hee.」
「Smiling, she stared straight into those eyes that had completely lost their color, at the skeleton that had completely stopped breathing, at the light weight that had completely collapsed into her arms.」
「In the dim stone chamber, the silver-haired girl offered her first kiss to a corpse. And then.」
「A sharp ice pillar pierced through her heart.」
「Clutching each other, kissing. The deceased Emilia and Hachiman Hikigaya.」
Emilia's Confession (Part 2)
"...What was that? Hey, what the hell was that!"
Felt's eyes bulged in shock. From the moment she saw Otto being eaten alive, to Hachiman Hikigaya dragging a body that could only be described as a skeleton into the tomb, to hearing Emilia's words and seeing her expression...
Her body had been locked in a tense, instinctive stress response. It wasn't until this moment that she collapsed back into her chair with a sharp snap of realization and lingering fear.
Reaching up, she found her forehead and back drenched in cold sweat. Her heart was racing so hard she had forgotten to breathe; only now did she let out a long, shaky exhale.
Having grown up in the slums, she wasn't naturally afraid of death, but dying like that... the mere thought made her scalp tingle. Yet, the horrific deaths of Otto and Hachiman weren't even the most unsettling part.
"Hey, Reinhard, say something! Tell me... that Emilia, she was a fake, right? She had to be a fake!"
Her worldview shattered, Felt turned to look at Reinhard, who had long since looked away, his eyes filled with profound sorrow.
"Look, I don't even like that Emilia girl that much yet, but she's supposed to be kind, isn't she? When I stole her insignia, she just wanted it back; she didn't try to kill me even when I fought back, and she was nice when we met again..."
"She's so kind, so gentle—nothing like the filthy, disgusting people at the top. She's like a collection of all the goodness in the world... but... but..."
Felt couldn't stand it. She shook her head and pointed at the screen, at the Emilia who had kissed Hachiman before committing suicide. "But—how could that Emilia just sit there and do nothing while Hachiman Hikigaya was hurt like that!?"
Felt hated Hachiman... but if it were the same Emilia who had been so kind to her, how could she possibly just focus on venting her own love after seeing Hachiman in such a state?
"I... I absolutely refuse to accept that as Emilia!!"
"Lady Felt..."
Reinhard opened his mouth, but no words came out. Witnessing his best friend die time and time again—and this time suffering such a soul-crushing blow, both physically and mentally—even Lady Emilia...
.
.
.
"That was... the real Emilia. That was her, beyond a shadow of a doubt."
At the Karsten estate, Crusch spoke bitterly after a long silence. "Lord Hachiman said it. He said 'Emilia.' Even if she didn't seem like the same person... Lord Hachiman would not misidentify her."
Ferris asked blankly, "If he isn't by her side protecting her, does Lady Emilia... turn into that?"
Ferris's impression of Lady Emilia was, of course, very positive.
It had only been two days. Only two days apart. If Hachiman left her side and she became like this...
Crusch kept her eyes lowered. She knew what Ferris was thinking because she was thinking it too. If Emilia would break, suffer, torture herself, and lose the will to live without Lord Hachiman...
"Then I..."
What should she do?
"Lord Hachiman... if it were you, you certainly wouldn't want to see her end up like this. Can I really... can I truly be cold-hearted enough to disregard your own wishes, steal you away from Emilia, and make you serve me? Would you ever forgive me?"
Her mind was a tangled mess. A flash of hesitation crossed her eyes, and she looked up blankly at Hachiman's skeletal remains on the screen, seeking an answer.
"—"
The sight of that shattered, broken skeleton hit her like a bolt of lightning piercing through dark clouds. It jolted Crusch's gaze into sharpness, and a surge of determination rose within her.
"If he follows Emilia, Lord Hachiman will end up like that... If only for the sake of his safety, I must do it. It doesn't matter if he's unhappy. Even Emilia said it—Lord Hachiman likes me!"
"In that case, Lord Hachiman at least won't be repulsed by being taken by me!"
"If he's worried about Emilia, I can protect her safety as well. As long as I get Lord Hachiman, it will all be worth it!"
She muttered to herself. Crusch, having reached a sudden epiphany, stood up abruptly. "Do you understand, Ferris? Wilhelm?"
Ferris, moved by Crusch's declaration, let his eyes light up and nodded cheerfully. "I follow your command-nyan, Lady Crusch."
.
.
.
"..."
In the convenience store, Yukinoshita looked at the Emilia who had died for love. She reached out her hand, wanting to touch her broken rival through the screen.
In this moment, her strong hostility toward Emilia vanished. Instead, she found traits in her rival that mirrored her own.
"You're like me... truly like me, Emilia. Insecure, terrified that Hachiman-kun will be taken away by someone else, afraid of losing him... We are both people without a sense of security, Emilia."
Listening to her whisper, Hachiman's chest felt tight, as if something was germinating and being suppressed simultaneously.
"I can't do it... whether it's Yukinoshita, or Rem, or Emilia... I haven't been able to give any of them the greatest happiness... Were you always this terrified, Emilia? Afraid of Crusch..."
It was unnecessary. And yet, Emilia's fear was justified... Hachiman Hikigaya could be led away; he would prioritize others. Even if it wasn't Crusch, it would be Rem... even so, Hachiman could not give Emilia peace of mind.
Because he couldn't do it. He couldn't make his eyes see only Emilia.
-
-
-
At the Shirogane house, Kei Shirogane truly couldn't accept it. Looking at Hachiman and Emilia dead together, and thinking of Otto being eaten to save him, it was heart-wrenching. "What on earth happened? This Emilia... Sister Emilia, for her to become so..."
"I don't know." Miyuki Shirogane shook his head, feeling miserable.
"Emilia's normal mental fortitude shouldn't be this low. She was fine in the previous loops... but it's a fact that she was tortured to the point of exhaustion and was so afraid of reality that she lost her mind."
"What does any of this even mean?"
Mysteries upon mysteries, a tragic reality, and a chaotic state of mind. Just watching it was enough to make one suffocate. Facing such immense pressure, Miyuki asked himself—if it were him, he definitely would have broken by now. At the very least, he'd be despondent for a long time.
At the Uesugi house, Fuutarou Uesugi looked at that eerie Emilia—who felt even more terrifying than Elsa—and shuddered deeply, feeling a newfound flicker of fear toward women.
The Consequences of Indulgence
"Is this... me?"
On a main street in the Royal Capital.
Emilia, wearing her cat-eared cloak, tilted her head back. Her small mouth was parted in shock, and her magnificent amethyst pupils were vacant, having lost their light. Her entire body was frozen.
A strand of silver hair fell near her lips, but she didn't brush it away. She extended a slender, white hand, her fingertip lightly touching her own lips. The cold, fair sensation caused the dazed Emilia to flush crimson in an instant, a shy blush spreading to her earlobes and neck.
"I... I... Is this really me?" Her fingertip rubbed against her lips. Emilia's heart was racing more violently than ever before. She pursed her lips in a daze. "Puck, is this me? Is it really, truly me? Really, really..."
"Don't doubt it, Lia. It's you. It really is you."
Floating to one side, Puck's expression was complex. His voice held no joy. "That brat's first kiss... it really belonged to you. That's something even that little maid hasn't done."
In a sense, his long-held desire to "bend" his overly straight-laced daughter had been realized in a literal way. She was so proactive, so blunt, kissing the person she liked and confessing so much.
But...
"Who could possibly be happy about this!?"
Puck suppressed his emotions, letting out a low growl, breathing heavily.
"My daughter! My son-in-law! Everything... The Great Rabbit, Roswaal—you really dared to do this!!"
Broken. His most precious daughter had broken just like that, like a shattered mirror, a complete mess.
Puck looked at Emilia.
Under his gaze, the shy, happy smile that had been lingering on the dazed Emilia's lips gradually, slowly curved downward, turning into an arc of heart-wrenching bitterness.
Yes, how could anyone be happy... How could anyone possibly be happy about this!
"Hachiman, Hachiman, Hachiman, Hachiman..."
Her left hand clutched her chest as she whispered his name over and over. Every murmur was a cry of soul-piercing sorrow. In this deserted alleyway, Emilia leaned weakly against the wall, slowly sliding down until she was kneeling on the ground.
"Ugh... sob, AHHH..."
Cold tears flowed down her cheeks, uncontrollable. Pain turned to weeping, a tragic wail. She hadn't even participated in the trials yet, but faced with the pain of the trials, a similar emotion had already erupted in her heart.
"Ahhh... I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry, really, really... Thank you, I, I... Hachiman, sob..."
She covered her face with both hands, sobbing.
Puck wanted to reach out and wipe his daughter's tears. But, faintly, he lacked the courage.
"When Lia was in the most pain, when she most needed comfort, when she was most anxious and needed someone by her side—how foolish was I then? I must... I must have temporarily left her side."
"If I had been there, Lia would never have broken like that. She would never have said that Puck was no longer important... Up until now, I've let Lia die so many times, let her be helpless so many times."
"I... I'm truly useless."
Using a self-deprecating tone, Puck mocked himself. His fists were clenched tight, then loosened powerlessly.
"What exactly... have I been protecting!!"
"No!"
Her sobbing voice couldn't stop the slight whimpering. Emilia, her palms wet with tears, gently held Puck. "No, if it weren't for Puck, I... I... Puck is absolutely important!"
Puck rubbed his eyes with his soft, fleshy cat paw.
"Honestly... Lia, I've got sand in my eyes."
"It's okay. It's okay, Puck." The frequency of her sobbing gradually slowed. Pursing her lips, the silver-haired girl forced herself to be optimistic, her voice trembling. "I can cry, and Hachiman can cry, so it's okay. But."
"I... I don't want to cry anymore, and I don't want Hachiman to cry either."
"I'm going to find Hachiman. I'll make him know me, make him like me, make him stay with me. I want him to be happy and joyful, and I will protect him forever and ever."
"I'm not giving up, Puck. Whether it's Crusch, or Rem, or Yukino, I abso~lutely! I will absolutely not hand Hachiman over!!"
"Even if it's selfish, even if it's a hassle, even if it's willful—and I know there are mountains of danger surrounding me."
"But, I can't be without Hachiman."
"Mm, you're the best, Lia." Rubbing his stinging eyes, Puck's tail perked up. He nodded vigorously, smiling through his tears.
She couldn't be without Puck... Therefore, she wouldn't give up on Hachiman, no matter the competitors or threats.
Because Hachiman had already become someone as important as Puck!
Removing the cat-eared cloak, the magnificent silver-haired girl stood up again. Her gaze looked into the distance—first toward the Karsten estate, then shifting toward the Roswaal mansion.
The cat-eared cloak slipped from her hand, drifting away in the wind.
"Only Roswaal... I will absolutely never forgive him!"
The magical cat-eared cloak woven by Roswaal drifted, flying over the sky of the Hoshin Trading Company.
"Too much indulgence."
Anastasia murmured to herself.
"Whether it's pressuring her or anything else, it's all indulgence... every action, every move he makes is his indulgence of Emilia, his favoritism. It's indulgence to the point of being irrational!"
The heartstrings of a young girl were being plucked time and again.
Though she was a merchant, though she had built her life from nothing, though she did not fear hardship—as a girl, she would surely want to be sheltered and indulged by someone.
"I... I can certainly repay you with the same degree of care and indulgence. Following me is so much, much, much safer... Indulgence, indulgence... Heh, Emilia, Emilia... sigh!"
.
.
.
In Roswaal's mansion.
Beatrice's face had lost all color. Gritting her teeth, she suddenly moved her small legs. Her Mana condensation was complete; Yin magic could be used at any moment. She found Roswaal on the roof, who was lost in some unknown thought.
"Is it Beatrice?..." With a gaze that had abandoned life and living—a look of utter deadness, the look of someone who knew there was no longer any hope of achieving their goal—Roswaal glanced at Beatrice indifferently.
"Keep watching. Keep... watching what kind of end I will have. At least, only then can I die."
"...Hmph."
Beatrice hesitated. "—Betty is going to make you regret your actions! That person will definitely, definitely deal with you! And Betty will deal with you first before he arrives!"
"That person?"
Roswaal let out a bitter laugh. He already understood very clearly... The Witch of Greed, Echidna, and all that... hahahahaha!
"You're right. You're the one who should be right, Hachiman-kun."
But Humans Are Inherently Capable of Change (Part 1)
「"I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you."」
「Opening his eyes, he saw the familiar architecture—the dim trial grounds.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman struggled to stand. He kicked his legs like someone treading water. He gasped for air, frantically touching his body, his head, his legs; they were all perfectly intact. However, the sensation of being gnawed alive continued to ripple through his entire body, stinging his nerves.」
「"... ."」
「Yet, he stood up. Without a moment's hesitation, he seized back control of his body, casting aside every lingering sensation of pain. Hikigaya Hachiman stood up.」
「There were things he had to do—things far more important than wailing or aftershocks of terror.」
「"Emilia..."」
「Why? Why did she turn out like that? Why, why, why? Heartache, pity, distress, sadness, agony, remorse—and then, doubt.」
「Taking heavy, painful steps, his teeth chattered uncontrollably from that unforgettable phantom pain. Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath and gritted his teeth. He had to wake Emilia; he couldn't let this girl continue to repeat this pointless suffering.」
「"What exactly did you see? What kind of past could make you tremble with such fear? What did you encounter to break you like that? I don't know... I don't know anything. I want to know, Emilia. If I'm to save you, I must know your past. Only then, only then!"」
「He wanted to know. But Emilia herself couldn't remember the specific details of what she saw within the trial.」
「Zzz...」
「However, the body that had just stood up collapsed heartlessly once more, and darkness clouded his vision.」
「'Your greed truly surprises me.'」
「The voice of the Witch of Greed, Echidna—that "counterfeit" voice—rang in his ears. The next second, darkness gave way to restored sight, along with the memories of their two previous meetings.」
「An endless expanse of white clouds and blue sky; a monotonous, uninteresting green meadow. That table, the chairs, the Witch's fluid in the teacup, and the counterfeit who
greeted him with a smile: "Welcome back to your second participation in the Witch's Tea Party."
「"To be able to participate in the Tea Party more than once, your thirst for knowledge is remarkably strong. Mm-hm, not bad. I really like people like you. After all, the joy of the desire to explore the unknown is an incomparable, supreme pleasure, isn't it?"」
「"Echidna."」
「Ignoring the woman's sudden, almost pathological surge of delight, Hikigaya Hachiman remained silent for a moment. He sighed, wearing an expression of defeat. "I give up, Echidna. I lose to you."」
「"Oh?"」
「Echidna raised an eyebrow, speaking with a beaming smile: "What are you talking about?" 」
「Wicked. Truly wicked. She clearly understood everything, yet she insisted on watching him lower his head to explain. She was teasing him, taking the opportunity for revenge—retaliating for his previous attitude toward her.」
「"The first time, I barely resisted your temptation. The second time, I asked you some inconsequential questions; it didn't matter to me whether you answered or not. Now is the third time, and I have to admit... you are truly seductive. I've lost, completely and utterly. Now, I want to ask you about the doubts I must resolve."」
「"So, name your terms—what price must I pay so that I can still remember you and the knowledge you give me after I leave this place?"」
「None.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman showed not a single shred of annoyance. He was even prepared to kneel and beg; if Echidna wanted to toy with him like that, he would comply.」
「The expectant Echidna curled her lip. She let out a small "Oh..." and suddenly became disinterested.」
「"Should I call you boring, or just boring... You were such an interesting person, so why do you become so dull the moment you're with me? It's utterly tedious. I really hate it—I super-hate this attitude of yours. So, if you're going to ask for my help, at least change this boring state of yours first."」
「"Possessing the ability of Return by Death, possessing countless possibilities, being a one-of-a-kind rare specimen... why must you be so boring? Why so rigid? Why so fixed? Ahh."」
「"Being able to disregard yourself for others, being fine with sacrificing anything of your own for someone else—if you keep holding onto this attitude, won't those infinite future
」
possibilities you've worked so hard for suddenly shrink into a few tiny paths visible to the naked eye? You'll see the end and the process clearly before you've even experienced them."
「"I previously held such high hopes for you, had such great expectations, liked you very, very much—but you've disappointed me, Hikigaya Hachiman."」
「Echidna's smile vanished. She looked at Hikigaya Hachiman expressionlessly, issuing half of an order to leave: "Though your greed surprises me, if these are the only boring possibilities you offer, I've lost interest in you."」
「Listening quietly to the fickle Witch's scolding and reprimands, Hachiman narrowed his eyes slightly. He understood. He knew why Echidna had been so kind to him before, and he knew the source of that "counterfeit" scent he had detected from this woman.」
「"You're saying you've seen through me, that you no longer have any desire for me—is that it?"」
「Echidna sat languidly in her chair, not even lifting her eyelids. "Don't make me repeat the same thing twice. It's boring, and I already hate boring people."」
「"You read my memories, you saw my actions, and you made this arrogant, conceited assumption. I see. So that's it. The so-called 'Witch of Greed' is actually such an ignorant person."」
「Was Hikigaya Hachiman a boring person?... Perhaps. Perhaps before joining the Service Club, his future was indeed a dull story with a visible end, just as Echidna described.」
「But even if he held onto a heart that would sacrifice itself for those he valued—even if he was that stubborn—Hikigaya Hachiman did not believe the woman before him could truly see through him.」
「Echidna seemed to regain a flicker of interest. She watched the man as he slowly approached. "What did you say?"」
「"I said, you probably didn't expect me to do something like this—Echidna!"」
「"?...!?"」
「A hug, a forced kiss, hands moving over her body with reckless abandon—a crude fellow. It was completely beyond her expectations.」
「Beyond expectation, beyond reason, beyond calculation, beyond her inherent perception. 」
「"Mmph, mmph mmph—"」
」
「Interesting. Very interesting. Extremely interesting. Beyond-common-sense interesting. So interesting it was exhilarating, passionate, joyful, shocking, stunning, surprising. The best gift, the best material, the perfect contract partner.」
「"Mmm..."」
「You are the most interesting, the most vast, the one with the most invisible future...」
「Ah, I love you, Hikigaya Hachiman.」