Bring Geuse Back!
「Pandora's voice harbored the alteration of her Authority. The words she spoke into Geuse's ear claimed that he hadn't mistaken anything, yet also that he had simply made a mistake—that everything he did was for the sake of love, and that it was an inevitability.」
「This alteration stripped the strength from Geuse, who was already struggling against the price of the Witch Factor, to maintain his sense of self. His face gradually contorted until, finally, he transformed into the man everyone knew all too well: the madman whose every breath spoke of love, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Petelgeuse.」
「Fortuna, with only her final breath remaining, could not bear to leave Emilia alone. In her last moments, she apologized to her long-dead brother and sister-in-law. Then, stroking Emilia's hair, she said that she liked and loved Emilia most of all.」
「However, she could no longer fulfill her promise—the promise to always stay by Emilia's side.」
「"I... forgive you, Mother."」
「"Mother Fortuna... is my mother."」
「"I...—I love Mother most of all, too!"」
「Amidst Emilia's tearful response, a comforted Fortuna passed away, her heart filled with lingering regret and self-reproach.」
「Prostrate over Mother Fortuna's body, Emilia took the butterfly ornament from her mother's head and placed it on her own, as if by doing so, Mother Fortuna would still be alive, staying with her forever.」
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"Wrong, it's wrong, everything is wrong!"
Kousaka Kyousuke opened his mouth, but he found this completely unexpected outcome difficult to accept in an instant; his mind was in a state of chaos.
"Geuse was Emilia's adoptive father, a good man who looked after everyone with all his heart. But—how can this be? How could it!"
Kyousuke truly could not accept it!
He shook his head, hands braced against the table, feeling a sharp pain in his stomach—a pain so intense he wanted to kill Pandora, to see a Pandora who could never resurrect again. "Geuse killed Fortuna... no, that's not right, it was Pandora's Authority! But Geuse believes he
killed Fortuna. Because of that, he was twisted by Pandora, leading to the tragedy a hundred years later where the father and daughter would hunt each other.
Pandora, only you must die. Only you—no matter how tragic your past, no matter how grand your reasons... only you, no matter how horrific or inhumane the death, I will certainly support it!"
Beside him, Kousaka Kirino had collapsed onto the floor, murmuring: "How... how could it... this kind of thing... this kind of thing... I absolutely don't want this kind of thing to happen!"
At the Izumi household, Izumi Sagiri had abandoned all restraint, subconsciously throwing herself into her brother Masamune's arms and sobbing.
"Pandora, the Witch of Vainglory... she is insulting a warrior!"
Wilhelm, Ferris, Crusch—within the upright Karsten camp, everyone was bristling with rage, wishing they could cut the Witch of Vainglory into a thousand pieces.
"Previously, I was relieved that Geuse was still alive a hundred years later, that Emilia still had a chance to reclaim her family bonds... Now it seems that perhaps it would have been better if Geuse had been killed by Regulus from the start. At least that would be better than this situation."
A murderous intent flared in Crusch's eyes. Even if it had nothing to do with Emilia—even if the young girl were someone else—she would still be this angry.
This wasn't just because she was one of the most upstanding people in the Kingdom of Lugunica, but also because this tragedy reminded her of Hikigaya Hachiman's pain.
"Pandora sending Regulus away wasn't an act of mercy... Killing Fortuna with his own hands... at that moment, Geuse was completely crushed by self-reproach and guilt, just like Sir Hachiman when he confessed his Authority to Emilia, only for it to lead to her death."
'You really have some nerve, Pandora.'
She recalled once again that expression of Hachiman's—blank and bordering on collapse.
"You are also someone who must die... no, with such twisted values, you don't even count as human, Witch of Vainglory Pandora!"
Shirogane Miyuki was choked up for a long time. He gently patted the back of his sister, who had cried herself out, filled with a myriad of emotions.
"Archi died, and he died like a hero. Geuse lives, but he lives like a clown."
"..."
Priscilla took a deep breath, her eyelid twitching, and she covered her eyes with her crimson fan. She needed a moment to rest; otherwise, the cramping in her stomach was too painful.
She didn't necessarily feel indignant for Geuse's family... but seeing such a misunderstanding and tragedy, it was only natural to feel distressed; it was impossible to suppress.
Ram could no longer bring herself to say anything mocking about Emilia. Even someone as sharp-tongued as her was shocked by this outcome.
And most importantly, the familial love between Geuse, Fortuna, and Emilia... How could Ram, who valued family above all else, speak ill of a bond that rivaled her own with Rem?
Beside Ram, Petra and the others—even Rem—had their heads bowed, wiping tears with their sleeves.
No one, no matter how cold-hearted, could remain indifferent to Geuse's fate.
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"Mine... Mother Fortuna's..."
On the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia gently stroked the white butterfly hair ornament she wore. The ornament was cold, but the finger touching it suddenly gave birth to a surge of warmth, like a most tender blessing responding to her whisper.
"I love you, love you most of all. I love Mother Fortuna most... Mother... and Geuse..."
Having experienced too much sorrow, Emilia had cried enough. This time, she looked up firmly at the past filled with grief, letting only two nearly imperceptible tears fall.
It seemed she had grown, but everyone knew just how heavy the price for that growth had been.
"I love you, Lia." Puck lay on his daughter's palm, speaking with utmost solemnity.
"Hachiman loves you too. We aren't Geuse, and we aren't Fortuna; we can't replace them. But... we love you, Lia.
I will help you. No matter the method, I will definitely help you turn Geuse's memories and soul back."
Even if the roles of the adoptive father overlapped. However, Emilia was the most important. Because he held this sentiment, even though Puck's utility was often subtle, he remained one of the most vital pillars in his daughter's heart, both in the future and the present.
Emilia forced a smile, responding seriously to Puck's feelings: "Puck, let's make a promise. We have to promise... together, we will bring Geuse back!"
"Mhm, it's a promise, Lia. Together we'll bring Geuse—your adoptive father—back. We'll bring him back intact, bring back Geuse instead of Petelgeuse... Me, you, and Hikigaya Hachiman, all of us together."
Puck and Emilia pinky-swore and high-fived. This was a promise that could not be forgotten, a promise that had to be fulfilled—the most important promise.
The Present Geuse
His skull slammed against the mountain wall, yet even that could not alleviate the pain radiating from his soul.
"Lady Fortuna, ahh, Lady Fortuna... Pandora, Pandora—Lady Emilia, Lady Emilia, I, I... Sloth, Sloth, Love, Love, everything is for the sake of Love!!"
"No, no no no no... Pandora, Pandora, Pandora Pandora Pandora Pandora Pandora!?"
Restlessness, wailing, roaring, writhing... all this venting suddenly vanished the moment it reached its absolute peak.
His hideous eyeballs remained motionless, bulging to an extent that they nearly fell out of their sockets; reflected in his pupils was the scene of Geuse killing Fortuna.
Replayed, replayed, replayed—constantly replaying, constantly screening, it occupied his vision, occupied his mind, occupied his soul, occupied his body, and occupied the entirety of the Sin Archbishop Petelgeuse.
Motionless, clutching his head, half-kneeling on the ground, Petelgeuse fell silent. The forest, where he was now the only one left, was desolate and wordless.
Strange.
Clearly, no sound was being made. Clearly, there was no voice. And yet, there was a noise.
The sound of a door opening as a locked room regains its memory, breaking the shackles.
The sound of half-crying, half-laughing as a dying person, parched and near death, drinks frantically upon stepping from the desert into an oasis.
The annoyed voice hating a lack of romantic tact: Geuse. The joyful voice of meeting again after many days: Geuse. The reliable voice of solemn respect: Geuse. The bashful voice of flustered panic, fearing his feelings might be noticed: Geuse. The content daily voice immersed in happiness: Geuse. The affectionate, defenseless voice of fondness: Geuse. The resolute voice of casting everything aside to live and die together: Geuse.
Geuse, Geuse, Geuse, Geuse, Geuse, Geuse, Geuse... Geuse.
"I always feel like Geuse and Mother Fortuna are just like my father and mother."
...Snap.
The mask of the Sin Archbishop Petelgeuse was torn to shreds. Huddled in a ball, curled up in the lonely, dark forest, all alone was...
Geuse.
"...Lady Fortuna."
Geuse.
"Lady Emilia..."
I will not forgive you.
"...Sloth, Love, Trial. Ah, ah, aaaaaaaaaaaaaah... What exactly, what exactly, what exactly have I done? What am I doing, Lady Fortuna, Lady Emilia... Pandora, Pandora, PANDORA!!!!"
A heart-wrenching scream echoed through the sky.
The tears were crimson blood.
"Geuse..."
It felt as though someone was leaning against his back from behind. "I am weak, so weak. In the days without you, what else can I look forward to?"
Carved into his body, carved into his heart, carved into his soul—things that cannot be forgotten, things that should not be forgotten, the things that support his will to live.
Word by word.
"...Lady Fortuna."
A voice that could no longer be described as merely hoarse; it was deathly silent.
Curled up over the crater, he gazed blankly at the sky.
"Lady Emilia."
A voice that could no longer be described as merely hoarse. And yet, it held a spark of life.
Within his eyes, there was a reflection of that pillar, that hope, the only remaining sun.
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「"Your mother is dead, the object of your promise has vanished, and the contract preventing you from undoing the Seal no longer exists. Come, undo the Seal."」
「The smiling Pandora.」
「She faced Emilia, who had put on her mother's keepsake and turned around, staring at her with the most hateful, coldest eyes.」
「"Die." It was hard to imagine this was Emilia's voice. The moment the word left her lips, ice crystals burst from within Pandora, tearing away another of her lives.」
「"Oh dear, this is quite a problem." Death.」
「"Die."」
「"Please calm down, your mother surely wouldn't want you to—" Death.」
「"Die."」
「"If we just talk properly, I'm sure we can—" Death.」
「"Die."」
「"This is quite a headache; it's had the opposite effect..." Death.」
「"Die, die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die die!!"」
「BOOM—」
「The unparalleled potential within her body erupted. The vast Elior Forest was blanketed by Emilia's power; this energy transformed into frost and blizzards, freezing the entire forest in an instant—including the Black Snake within the woods and everyone still alive.」
「This power began to freeze Emilia herself as well.」
「"It seems I'll have to come back another time. Until your power is exhausted or someone appears who can rival you, the ice and snow of this forest will not stop."」
「Pandora, seemingly always so gentle, used a tender tone. Within a mood she believed was "for the good" of this little half-elf girl, she utilized her Authority to easily alter and steal away Emilia's memories.」
「Carrying Geuse—who had completely become Petelgeuse, constantly whispering of love—Pandora departed through the sky-filling blizzard. During this time, she also took Fortuna's corpse with her.」
「The kin and peace that Emilia could not hold onto gradually drifted away. That happiness and warmth dissipated into the air together.」
「All that remained was Emilia, frozen alone in a layer of ice by her own rampaging power.」
「And a sky full of sorrow.」
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"So, everything was caused by Pandora, right, Oreki-kun?"
Oreki Houtarou nodded slightly. He watched as the three members of the Classics Club, including Chitanda Eru, grew furious. It was a rare sight, but he didn't have the spare energy to record what kind of scene it was.
As for why...
"The Witch of Vainglory, Pandora—I hope Hikigaya can subject her to the ultimate punishment."
Those words came out of his own mouth.
Elsa, Petelgeuse, Roswaal, Echidna... Having watched Hikigaya Hachiman face so many enemies, and standing in a position of understanding Hachiman's perspective, this was the first time he felt this angry.
Even if it was meaningless, even if it couldn't help Hachiman and Emilia, and even if it didn't fit his "energy-saving" philosophy. Still, he wanted to be angry, he was angry; it was irrepressible, and he even actively fueled the flame.
"What a twisted and bizarre past."
Anastasia pressed down on her felt hat, exhaling a breath filled with complex emotions. "It really wasn't easy. But, sympathy aside, I won't go easy on you, Emilia."
"I actually feel like you no longer have a chance..." Julius took a great deal of effort to swallow those words.
Perhaps there was no one left who could take Hikigaya Hachiman away from Lady Emilia.
He had such a premonition.
Different Circumstances
"—"
The entire Holy Vollachian Empire fell silent.
In this nation that worshipped martial prowess, the people were far from as kind-hearted as those in Lugunica. Rather than focusing on how much grievance and suffering Emilia had endured, at this moment—including the Emperor himself—everyone felt a chill run down their spines.
"So Emilia is actually this powerful?!"
They calculated for a moment and were suddenly struck by a realization: once the Royal Selection ended, if the victorious Emperor combined the total strength of all four candidates' camps, even without the Divine Dragon or Reinhard, the current Lugunica was powerful enough that in a total war, the Holy Vollachian Empire might not necessarily win.
As for the Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus, and the Witch of Vainglory, Pandora... that was already a precipitous gap in level.
They didn't dare think about it; after all, even powerhouses like Geuse and the young Emilia had been utterly defenseless.
"That Seal..."
The Emperor mused for a moment, then shook his head slightly. The Seal Pandora sought surely contained a terrifying power, but he would not covet it.
The Key was in Emilia's hands, and the Sword Saint Reinhard would not stand by while someone forced her to use it. Even if the Council of Sages in Lugunica were to act so headstrongly, Reinhard would stop them.
On the other hand... the Nine Divine Generals could certainly deal with the current Emilia, but once she was killed, not only would the Key be lost, but a Puck capable of using his full power would likely swat everyone except the "Blue Lightning" to death.
Thinking that Lugunica would later have a powerful external strategic mind like Hikigaya Hachiman, Abel couldn't help but sigh deeply.
"If only he had fallen within my borders..."
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「Looking at the frozen Emilia, Hikigaya Hachiman remained silent for a long time. His face showed no expression, but a mix of complex emotions radiated through his silence.」
「"Well? Any thoughts?"」
「Echidna showed absolutely no regard for his mood, like an unscrupulous journalist chasing a trending headline. She spoke abruptly, inquiring about Hachiman's thoughts. "Regarding Petelgeuse, whom you hated so much before, and the current Geuse—I'm quite curious to know your feelings after seeing all this."」
「This was her primary motivation for being willing to show Emilia's past to Hachiman despite her own hatred for the girl.」
「She knew Hachiman didn't want to answer, so whether he actually would, or if he would simply slap her, were both very interesting possibilities.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman glanced at Echidna. "I'm relieved."」
「"Relieved?"」
「"Relieved that the only people Geuse personally killed before my eyes were myself and Emilia. Relieved that I didn't let Emilia kill Geuse."」
「"How should I put it... mhm, not an unexpected answer, but interesting enough."」
「Echidna could understand the logic behind it with just a moment's thought. Butterflies flew from her palm, constructing a passage, and the two of them returned together from the trial scene to the Witch's Tea Party.」
「Before leaving, Hikigaya Hachiman took one last look at the young Emilia, etching the image into his heart.」
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In reality, many artists across both worlds had already been sketching the scene as they watched.
At the same time, back at the mansion, Roswaal gave a debonair smile.
"The next part is the key. However, it no longer matters; I have no future left. Ask whatever you wish, Hikigaya Hachiman."
"What nonsense are you talking about?"
Beatrice frowned. After Roswaal had exposed that he was actually the same Roswaal from four hundred years ago, she had become very reluctant to see him die.
Four hundred years of solitude, four hundred years of loneliness—the people she knew, the people she held feelings for, were down to only one or two left. If possible, she didn't want
those one or two to be reduced further, especially since Roswaal hadn't actually done anything yet in this timeline.
'That person' was coming soon.
Beatrice, having regained the dawn of hope for her life, could not stand by and watch a future that could be better slide back into the abyss.
"There's still a way, there's still a way to fix this..."
Beatrice shook her head, racking her brain for a way to let Roswaal live.
"You haven't actually done anything yet, have you? Go and apologize to Brother's daughter. Apologize to her seriously, kneel and beg for her forgiveness, and sincerely announce that you will support her with all your heart from now on. She and Brother would surely still be able to forgive you!"
"When Hachiman comes, you should also go to him and—"
Her agitated voice was cut off. "Beatrice."
Roswaal, who had been looking up at the sky, turned around. At that moment, the words Beatrice hadn't finished were choked back.
Weariness, disappointment, despair, numbness... the expression on Roswaal's face was identical to the emotions she had carried for these four hundred years.
"You can understand, can't you, Beatrice... if it's you, you must be able to understand."
Beatrice, her mouth slightly agape, did not continue her persuasion.
Yes, she understood. She understood better than anyone.
"I am not afraid. There is nothing in this world worth my fear. As a premier magic caster in human history, guided by the Tome of Wisdom, if I were single-mindedly intent on fleeing and hiding, neither the Sword Saint Reinhard nor the Witch Cult... almost no one could catch me.
But to continue my arrangements while on the run is impossible. I no longer have a way to resurrect Teacher. And Teacher was never even... haha.
I no longer have the motivation to live, Beatrice.
I am tired, haha... four hundred years of effort, all for nothing. So this is what it feels like to be tired? A feeling I haven't had in four centuries."
Roswaal's hair whipped in the strong wind. He had wiped away his clown makeup; looking at Beatrice, he lacked the ugliness of a conspirator, speaking only with a trace of kindness:
"Blessings to you, Beatrice. You are about to fulfill your wish.
But I...
I will stay here obediently. I will wait. I will wait for Hikigaya Hachiman's arrival. At that time, I will die by his hand.
That will be fine."
Roswaal was not without self-awareness regarding his sins, nor would he defend himself... so, let it be. To be handled by the person in this world most qualified to kill him, while he himself no longer wished to live—it was enough.
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「The mourning and remembrance for Fortuna had concluded.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman looked at Echidna, who sat across the table from him. The real business was about to begin.」
「"First question," he said. "I want you to tell me everything about the Witch of Vainglory, Pandora."」
The Malicious Nature of a Hedonist (Part 1)
「Echidna seemed to reminisce about the past for a moment. She appeared somewhat displeased when mentioning Pandora—a different kind of irritation compared to her visceral disgust for Emilia. "Pandora, huh... That would require talking about the origins of the Witch Cult."」
「"Are you saying she founded the Witch Cult?"」
「"No, the Witch Cult was founded by her and me together."」
「An earth-shattering secret. This kind of information hidden in the long river of history might be common knowledge to other long-lived species, but to Hikigaya Hachiman, it was truly surprising.」
「"Pandora intended to create a world without lies. However, if lies were gone, how pathetic the future of this world would be, how boring it would become, and how many countless, vibrant possibilities it would lose—surely you can understand that."」
「Echidna grew increasingly unpleasant as she spoke. She leaned her upper body across the table, staring straight at Hikigaya Hachiman as if seeking validation: "You can understand, right?"」
「Her heavy chest swayed slightly due to the sudden, large movement. Hachiman glanced at her, then shifted his gaze away, his heart completely unmoved.」
「Had it been when he first crossed over, he might have been shy or blushed, even if the opponent was a "fake"... after all, when someone like Isshiki Iroha deliberately teased him, he couldn't maintain a heart like still water.」
「But now, things were vastly different.」
「He had held Rem, he had kissed Emilia—having had so much intimate contact with two girls who were the ultimate "genuine Things" from the inside out, and the cutest and most beautiful at that, Hachiman had long ago mended that weakness of being vulnerable to girls.」
「Echidna having a large chest was nothing special... neither Rem nor Emilia were the Yukinoshita type. Moreover, there was important business at hand.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman grew thoughtful and deduced: "The history books of this world say the Witch of Greed died four hundred years ago, yet a hundred years ago Pandora could still go out and ruin things for Emilia and the others... After your clash of ideologies, did she kill you?"」
「"That's a rather harsh way of putting it. You should at least leave a lady some dignity. If you continue to disrespect me, I won't answer your questions... though as harsh as it sounds, it's roughly as you thought."」
「Since Echidna had put it that way, Hikigaya Hachiman skipped over it directly, not asking for details about the process of her death.」
「"So, what do you think?" Echidna retracted her body after observing his lack of physical reaction. She launched into a discussion regarding Pandora's dream with great interest. "Don't you always pursue the so-called 'genuine thing'? Although I don't quite understand what that nonsensical thing is, since it has the word 'true' in it, I assume that 'not lying' should at least be to your liking?"」
「"Preposterous."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman had only those words for Pandora's ideal.」
「"If Reinhard were to guard the Bowel Hunter twenty-four hours a day and forbid her from any killing, Elsa would, out of necessity, behave... but could you then say she is a kind person?"」
「"I don't know how Pandora intends to make the world collectively stop lying. In any case, it would involve forced coercion, given her worldview."」
「"If the moral quality of all humanity could be raised to achieve a world where no one lies, I would certainly welcome it... but if it's forced, it is the most preposterous thing imaginable."」
「As for the "genuine"... the aura of displeasure emanating from Hikigaya Hachiman told Echidna everything she needed to know.」
「Even though he could kneel to Beatrice or kiss a "fake" for Emilia's sake—reaching the brink of moral collapse with cracks appearing in his spirit—he still felt disgust if Echidna used such a thing to "clout-chase" the genuine, comparing it to the thing he had spent his life pursuing.」
「"Hmm~"」
「Hearing the remarks attacking her enemy Pandora, Echidna narrowed her eyes, the corners of her mouth curving into a pleasant arc.」
「As for Hikigaya Hachiman's thick aura of displeasure—experiencing this malice from him actually made Echidna quite happy. She currently enjoyed dancing on the edge of the cliff, observing Hachiman's various emotional changes and strategic responses; it was simply too interesting.」
「Anyway, as long as she didn't anger him to the point of directly quitting the tea party, it was fine.」
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"That bastard who deserves to be cut into a thousand pieces!"
Rem simply could not control her teeth-gritting hatred, and Ram beside her joined in condemning Echidna.
Ram understood her brother-in-law's personality.
Hikigaya Hachiman didn't like dissecting his innermost feelings to tell others... until now, he had only been willing to do so for Rem and Emilia because they made him want to.
But Hachiman had told Echidna everything regarding his thoughts on the genuine and his view on not lying.
There was no choice... in a sense, this was an equivalent exchange. Echidna answered his questions, and no matter how reluctant he was, he had to answer her inquiries, or else no one knew if the conversation would collapse.
After all, Echidna was a pure "pleasure-seeker"; she didn't care what happened to others.
If it weren't for the fear that Hachiman would break the pot, preferring to die a hundred or a thousand times to clear the stage with his life rather than seeking her out again—thereby depriving her of more "fun"—no one knew how far she would go.
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「"Regarding the Authorities of Regulus and Pandora—"」
「"That information requires an equivalent exchange." Echidna shook her head slightly. "I don't truly know everything. Regarding the Authority of the new generation of Greed, while I have some guesses, I am far from confirming the truth."」
「The moment a price was mentioned, Hikigaya Hachiman decisively switched questions: "I want information on that swarm of rabbits."」
「He might face Regulus and Pandora later, but those could wait... Echidna demanding a price wasn't because she was angry; she was doing it on purpose. She wanted to see how Hachiman would struggle against those two later while knowing nothing, only to come back and beg for information, and how he would deal with it after that.」
「The difference between the two scenarios was exactly the kind of fresh unknown that satisfied Echidna's curiosity.」
「When it came to the rabbits, however, Echidna was quite generous. "Those aren't rabbits... no, one should say, its name is the Great Rabbit. A legacy left to the world by the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne—one of the Three Great Mabeasts."」
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"Truly malicious."
In Sakura-sou, Jin Mitaka and Sorata Kanda, who had initially been somewhat dazzled by Echidna's beauty, suddenly snapped out of it.
Jin Mitaka trembled all over. He had thoroughly seen through just how malicious and terrifying a bitch Echidna truly was.
The Malicious Nature of a Hedonist (Conclusion)
Kamiigusa Misaki looked at him in surprise, as did Akasaka Ryunosuke and Aoyama Nanami.
Everyone living in Sakura-sou knew how easily Jin Mitaka handled women. This "Sea King" was practically a lady-killer, as if he possessed a unique natural charm that made women want to cross their legs the moment they saw him.
Yet, this very Mitaka Jin was drenched in sweat. Even through a screen and across different worlds, he was filled with intense trepidation regarding Echidna.
"Are you okay?" Misaki touched Jin's forehead.
Jin had shown his wariness of Echidna before, but it was nowhere near as... close to actual fear as it was now.
"Before, I just couldn't see through her. But now... I finally understand why Hikigaya treats Echidna the way he does. With a Witch like her, being kind is useless. She only has eyes for herself and her own amusement. She just wants to watch the 'fun'."
Gripping Misaki's hand to calm himself slightly, Jin explained to them: "Because Hikigaya has already died once at the hands of the Great Rabbit, that 'unknown' has been revealed. That's why Echidna is helping him without hesitation, gifting him information on the Great Rabbit.
But the reason she won't give him info on Regulus and Pandora is because she wants Hikigaya to die at their hands!
After he dies and comes back here, she can read his memories and enjoy that 'unknown.' Only then will she give Hikigaya all the information about those two.
Simply put..."
Gulp.
Jin swallowed hard, trembling. "The 'equivalent exchange' is just an excuse. Even if Hikigaya were willing to pay the price, Echidna would definitely intentionally set a price he can't afford right now, or simply give ambiguous or even misleading information!
Those words about using Hikigaya as 'material'—she was always serious! It's 'material' in the literal sense, not some double entendre from a generic rom-com anime! She is intentionally letting Hikigaya go to his death!"
Inside Sakura-sou, everyone stood dumbfounded, staring at each other.
Aoyama Nanami realized she was uncontrollably shaking, and she wasn't the only one.
Her teeth chattered. "Then, that means... if Hikigaya hadn't already been eaten to death by the Great Rabbit, and he asked Echidna right now what trump cards Roswaal has in the Sanctuary..."
"Exactly." Jin nodded heavily, his voice low. "Then Echidna definitely wouldn't have said a single word."
On this clear day between spring and summer, despite the bright sun outside the window, a blizzard colder than the South Pole seemed to blow through Sakura-sou for a moment.
"We were deceived by her looks..." Misaki couldn't find words for a long time.
"Earlier... I actually thought Echidna was quite a decent person, being so good to Hikigaya..."
Looking back at the deceptive, likable image Echidna had projected, Kanda Sorata and Akasaka Ryunosuke suddenly felt their skin crawl.
"If any man thinks he can 'conquer' Echidna, he must be insane," Jin muttered to himself.
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Echidna's inherently malicious nature was further laid bare to everyone following her refusal to reveal the Authorities of Regulus and Pandora.
"But even so, Sir Hachiman can only keep his anger suppressed."
At the Karsten estate, Crusch's right hand moved to her chest; a sensation of heartache radiated from within.
"I can only watch now, unable to do anything... forced to watch Sir Hachiman be insulted!"
On the streets of the Royal Capital, most were common folk, but there were also clever individuals. Their discussions about the implications of Echidna's behavior all reached Emilia's ears.
"Puck..."
"Mhm, I'll help you, Lia."
No more words were needed. Echidna must die!
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"...Ah."
In the Sanctuary, Echidna—knowing she was certainly being targeted by many—let out a sigh.
She didn't particularly care about the safety of her soul; even if Pandora personally came, there were a bunch of people here to back her up. But, thinking about it was just so boring.
"I'm also very curious to see how he reacts after learning about these futures... But a nuisance like Emilia will surely stop him and keep him away from the Sanctuary, since all the information has already been gathered anyway.
Ah... how boring. Not being able to observe such a unique, top-tier subject up close is simply too boring!"
As Echidna sighed, the other Witches beside her were cheerfully kicking her while she was down.
"It's Dona-Dona's own fault for having such bad taste. Being so heartless will naturally scare people away, hee-hee."
"Too much! So many wounds! So much blood! So much death! I'm going to be angry! If I could go out, I would definitely heal them all! I'm angry! Truly angry!"
In an unknown corner, Pandora, wearing her single white rag, wore a faint smile. She wasn't the least bit annoyed that her ideals were being criticized as worthless.
"The genuine... As long as we can communicate, as long as you can share your heart that pursues the genuine and talk through the night, perhaps you, who pursue the genuine, will be able to understand."
-
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Roswaal Mansion.
On the roof, Roswaal looked meaningfully at the dodging Beatrice.
Even though Beatrice had remained a child for four hundred years and couldn't see the essence behind "Echidna's" actions... having seen this much, she could naturally distinguish how vast the difference was between this "Echidna" and the mother in her memories.
However, she was unwilling to admit it.
"That's Mother, that is Mother... Mother is still alive!"
Roswaal shook his head.
"How much longer can your self-consolation last?"
-
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「Echidna acted like a kind-hearted soul providing help with all her heart, appearing exceptionally virtuous and gentle. She told Hikigaya Hachiman that for specific details on the Great Rabbit, he should ask its creator, the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne.」
「She said that only one Witch could be present in the Tea Party at a time. Therefore, when Daphne arrived, she herself would not be present. She warned Hikigaya Hachiman to be prepared: he must not touch Daphne, must not undo Daphne's restraints, and must not look Daphne in the eye.」
「Her description sketched an existence more terrifying than hell... but Hikigaya Hachiman did not believe Daphne could be more terrifying than the heart-destroying Echidna.」
「"Then..."」
「Echidna vanished. Replacing her, the girl who appeared next was clearly not Daphne; her appearance was completely different from Echidna's description.」
「It was a petite girl with green hair.」
The Genuine Article Has No Affinity with Witches
「"Ah, I finally get to meet you, hee-hee."」
「A seemingly harmless little girl approached with a grin, hopping and skipping lively. For every step she took forward, Hikigaya Hachiman took two steps back. He was never one to judge by appearances; how could a girl appearing at a Witches' Tea Party possibly be simple?」
「"Who are you? Where is Daphne?"」
「"Daphne? Ah, that sort of thing doesn't matter, does it? I've been thinking about you for a long time. Now that you're here with me, you should look properly at Typhon. Come, let's shake hands."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman had absolutely zero sense of security. Even though he had deliberately kept a distance of nearly ten meters from the girl calling herself Typhon, in the next heartbeat—the moment he refused to cooperate—Typhon had already silently shifted directly in front of him. Before he could even react, she took hold of his left hand.」
「Typhon tilted her head. "Hmm… it doesn't hurt? I guess you aren't a sinner then. To think you aren't a sinner yet you believe yourself to be guilty—you're a very kind person, Hachi-hachi."」
「"…Hurt?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes widened. He watched in horror as his entire arm vanished; not even the sleeve remained. It was empty. Yet, indeed, he felt no pain… from Typhon's words, he could roughly gather the situation.」
「"Are you a Witch too?"」
「Typhon clapped her hands in praise, spinning around Hikigaya Hachiman with a smile as if she were looking at a particularly interesting toy. "A-re? Hachi-hachi isn't afraid? Oh, right, right, right, I haven't introduced myself yet. Typhon is Typhon—the Witch of Pride, you could say."」
「Afraid?」
「Pfft—Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't help but let out a small laugh.」
「If dread, fear, or weeping could avoid injury, bring joy and happiness, or change the pain of reality, then he could cry day and night. But it couldn't be done.」
「And he had long ago had enough of being afraid… all his terror had already been expressed through those two bouts of wailing to Rem and Emilia.」
「His weakness only needed to be known by those two. That was enough.」
「Therefore.」
「"Witch of Pride, Typhon. You truly live up to your name; you really are arrogant." Hikigaya Hachiman stood with a straight back, his gaze extremely sharp. "Taking it upon yourself to decide if others are guilty, taking it upon yourself to pass judgment… but you're wrong. I am not a sinner. I should not consider myself a sinner. Your judgment is absolutely incorrect!"」
「He would feel guilt, he would feel shame, he would feel regret—but he would absolutely not consider himself a sinner. How could someone protected by Rem, someone who protects Emilia, possibly be a sinner? How could he be a sinner!!」
「At least for their sake… that's right, just like Yukinoshita's final reminder to him: he must not consider himself a sinner!!」
「"——?!"」
「Typhon was stunned.」
「She stared blankly at this man who was sternly rebuking her. His arm had not returned, but he would never lose the other arm again.」
「"Get back. The one I'm looking for is Daphne. You have nothing to do with this; I have no interest in meeting you."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman drove her away without the slightest courtesy. He didn't beg Typhon to heal his arm, he wasn't grateful to Typhon for correcting some of his inner thoughts, and he certainly didn't fear whether the seemingly powerful Typhon would kill him in a fit of rage.」
「Echidna was watching. That woman craved the vibrant possibilities of the future. Therefore, she would absolutely not let him die a permanent death here where he couldn't resurrect, nor would she let him be imprisoned here.」
「"You—"」
「Before the startled Typhon could speak, she vanished. In her place appeared a burst of majestic light, and a beautiful, well-endowed mature woman fell from the sky, landing a punch squarely on Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「This punch didn't injure him; instead, it brought his arm back.」
「"I am Minerva, the Witch of Wrath! My name isn't worth mentioning, so I won't tell you!"」
「Minerva stood with one hand on her hip, pointing at him with the other, her face full of indignation. Though her words were kind, her tone sounded as if she were full of rage, as if she were cursing someone: "Don't think you're leaving my presence with your body in one piece!"」
.
.
.
"I've already become numb."
Anastasia stroked the fox serving as her scarf. From the various secrets popping out of Echidna's mouth to the fact that a whole crowd of Witches was hidden in the Tea Party, and the fact that every Witch was this mentally polluting and twisted in their values—she no longer wanted to say anything.
"But… let the Witches' business be the Witches', and Hachiman's be Hachiman's. I have zero interest in Witch-related things, but Hachiman… sigh."
He was becoming more and more twisted.
Starting from the forced kiss with Echidna until now, Hikigaya Hachiman's mindset was tilting further and further.
'For the sake of Rem and Emilia's dignity, I cannot consider myself a sinner…' this kind of thinking was completely trampling his own self underfoot, and it was far more severe than before; it was bordering on disregarding his own self-will.
He had changed a lot, but the most fundamental part remained the same. Sacrificing himself to save others—this heartfelt tenderness and selflessness had always been voluntary for him.
Therefore… one could not condemn him. One could not condemn Emilia.
Even without Emilia, given Hikigaya Hachiman's personality, it wasn't certain he wouldn't have become like this to save others anyway.
"But… if it were me, I would be more proactive than Rem, and better to you than Emilia. As a merchant, I would definitely be selfish enough to protect myself well so that you would never have a reason to sacrifice yourself."
'Yes, Lady Anastasia is correct.'
Gripping his sword hilt, Julius's eyes were complex… 'Choose Lady Anastasia, Hachiman-kun. For your sake, for Lady Anastasia's sake, and for mine.'
"Lady Emilia… I'm sorry."
A sigh.
-
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In the convenience store, Yukinoshita let out a sigh. "Still using 'me' as an excuse, finding a reason for your wanton trampling of yourself… I clearly meant more than just that. You really have a knack for taking things out of context and deceiving yourself, Hikigaya-kun.
If the 'me' over there knew her words led you to do this, she'd probably faint from anger."
"…I'm sorry." Hikigaya Hachiman murmured lowly. His attitude was sincere, but it only made Yukinoshita more annoyed.
'I'm sorry, but I won't change, nor do I think I was wrong.'
In fact, regarding the matter of his confession to Ebina, even now he didn't think he was wrong, did he? In terms of the result, he was actually quite satisfied.
Because Hikigaya Hachiman is, after all, Hikigaya Hachiman.
I Declare War on You!
At this point, it could be said that almost no one disliked Hachiman Hikigaya.
However, compared to the current Hachiman, who was gradually tilting and becoming somewhat warped, people—including Crusch—clearly preferred the previous Hachiman Hikigaya. The person largely responsible for turning him into this was Emilia.
Though she was also a victim, and was lovely, beautiful, and equally pitiful... the perception of her was undeniably complex.
After all, humans are emotional creatures prone to involuntary displacement of anger.
"Rem is not Hachiman's hero; Rem didn't protect him properly at all... instead, she is now being protected by Hachiman so thoroughly."
Rem herself wouldn't displace her anger onto others, but she sincerely hoped that Lady Emilia would simply go to the Sword Saint Reinhard for help in the future. "If Rem were alive and healthy, she could at least comfort Hachiman. Rem doesn't want to see Hachiman become like this... Rem... is very selfish... she doesn't want Hachiman to support Lady Emilia anymore."
Therefore, when they met later, she would have to state things clearly, to let him know how dangerous it was to support Lady Emilia. But, if Hachiman was unwilling to stand by and watch people die, then...
Rem would follow Hachiman's freedom.
However, she wouldn't let Hachiman bet everything for Lady Emilia... if there were signs of that, Rem would definitely—
"Selfish, is it?"
Ram shook her head slightly. She knew how Rem would think and act. But Rem was still far too gentle.
In Ram's eyes, there flickered a familial love that overwhelmed gentleness, along with a killing intent capable of resolving anything for the sake of that bond.
-
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「Minerva departed in anger.」
「The next to appear was finally the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne, her hands and feet shackled to a coffin and her eyes blindfolded.」
「She looked as if she had just woken up, letting out a yawn. "What is it? Dona said you were looking for me. I'm so sleepy... eh, you...? You smell so good."」
「The coffin, equipped with spider-like legs, rapidly carried Daphne to stand before Hachiman Hikigaya. Her sleepiness had completely vanished, replaced by drool and a pair of eyes that, even through the blindfold, held a terrifying sense of covetousness. "You smell good, truly good. I want to eat you so badly."」
「Daphne's words made Hachiman recall Otto's piercing, tragic scream when the Great Rabbit was feeding.」
「Involuntarily clenching his fist... Hachiman Hikigaya took a deep breath. He wasn't intimidated by Daphne's hunger and spoke directly: "I want to ask you about the Great Rabbit. Can you tell me the information about the Great Rabbit?"」
「"Bun-buns? Eh... do you want to eat the bun-buns? Mmm, in that case, I can tell you," Daphne said, drooling. "The bun-buns multiply infinitely, but they have no intelligence for thinking; they only instinctively move toward places with lots of mana. So, if you want to eat the bun-buns, just find a magician with lots of mana."」
「"...Eat the Great Rabbit?"」
「"Huh?" Hachiman's confused tone made Daphne confused as well. "Don't you want to eat the bun-buns?"」
「Hachiman was stunned for a moment. "You're saying... I should eat the Great Rabbit? Your Great Rabbit is the one devouring every living thing to nothingness; why would you tell me to eat the Great Rabbit?"」
「"Because the bun-buns were originally meant for people to eat," Daphne replied as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
"The White Whale is huge, right? And there are so many bun-buns, right? If you have those two, food will be plentiful, and no one will have to go hungry, right?"」
「"You mean to say the original intention behind you creating the Three Great Mabeastswas so that people in the world could fill their stomachs?"」
「Hachiman could tell whether Daphne's words were the truth. And because he could tell, he felt mentally deranged.」
「At this moment, images flashed through Hachiman's mind: the many soldiers who died in the White Whale subjugation, the roaring Crusch, Ferris treating the wounded until exhausted, and Wilhelm shedding tears of revenge for his wife. And finally... Rem.」
「"Did you... never consider that the White Whale and the Great Rabbit were too powerful, and instead treated people as food?"」
「"Hmm?" Daphne's voice grew colder. "If you want to eat others, isn't it only natural to be prepared to be eaten yourself?"」
「There was nothing wrong with that statement or that logic, but—」
「"But," Hachiman's voice was even colder than hers, "no one ever asked you to create these three 'emergency rations'!"」
「"Are you angry? Dona said you are sacrificing yourself for a child. That child—she didn't ask you to do these things either, did she?"」
「Daphne took the liberty of equating her four hundred years of wreaking havoc on the world with Hachiman's protection of Emilia. Faced with such slander, Hachiman did not argue.」
「"I have nothing to say to that. This is my own wishful thinking, my selfishness, my private interest—I am purely satisfying my own ego. From that perspective, what I am doing is perhaps the same as you."」
「Hachiman lowered his eyelids. If Emilia knew how much of a price he had paid for her, she would surely be burdened with an incredibly heavy guilt. Therefore, he was not noble; rather, he was somewhat base. Hachiman had a clear self-awareness of this.」
「"But..."」
「Rem, Otto, Crusch, Wilhelm and his wife, the residents of the Sanctuary devoured by the Great Rabbit, the soldiers with blood-feuds against the White Whale.」
「"But..."」
「Should he say it was for Rem, for Otto, for them?」
「"But..."」
「Yes, it was for Rem, for Otto, for them.」
「"But..."」
「But, even more so, it was for himself. He himself hated the White Whale, he himself hated the Great Rabbit, he himself hated Daphne!」
「"But..."」
「"Regardless of whether the essence is the same, I—you are the one I will never forgive, no matter what. I want you to die, to die until even your soul is obliterated, Daphne!!"」
「'Who is... Rem?'」
「That ear-piercing question, stuck in his heart like a thorn, would always drift into his ears unexpectedly.」
「How many nights had he seen in his dreams that hero who protected him in the white mist? The silhouette of Rem facing the White Whale alone, gradually disappearing, leaving him all by himself.」
「Because Echidna was there, he wouldn't die. With such a guarantee, he threw his punch.」
「If Echidna hadn't been there, would he still have thrown that punch?」
「Hachiman didn't know... but right now, he clenched his fist and swung it, intending to pour all the strength in his body into a strike against the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne.」
It's Not Me Who Wants to Cry
Crusch was both shocked and enraged.
Although Echidna, Pandora, and Typhon had already thoroughly displayed the peculiar values of the Witches, seeing Daphne speak in such a matter-of-fact tone—casually claiming she created the Three Great Mabeastsso that the people of the world would no longer go hungry...
"Such a reason... such a reason!!"
Wilhelm's breathing was ragged. Before he could even think to ask his liege, Crusch, for permission, his body acted on its own, leaping out into the courtyard. He drew his sharp sword, the blade pointing toward the sky.
He was nearly grinding his teeth to dust, his arms trembling. Finally, this man over half a century old, who had lost his wife to the White Whale, let out an incredibly sorrowful and indignant roar that shook the heavens.
With his roar as a signal, intermittent wails and tragic, hysterical laughter erupted across the world—madness, irony, rage... countless emotions from people who had lost friends and family to the White Whale harmonized into a dirge.
Ferris lowered his head gloomily. "Old Man Will likely understands Hachiman's current feelings better than anyone. If Old Man Will were facing the Witch of Gluttony in person and heard those words, he would have struck out too."
Crusch opened her mouth, but remained speechless.
She was furious at Daphne, but also stunned by Hikigaya Hachiman's bold attack. Even with Echidna as insurance, that was the legendary Witch of Gluttony.
But now, listening to the wails filling the entire Royal Capital, she understood.
"This punch had to be thrown. It had to be thrown, it had to land... so this was your wish, Sir Hachiman."
He wouldn't know his future would be broadcast; he wouldn't know how many people this action of his inspired.
But at this moment, Hikigaya Hachiman truly carried the wishes of tens of thousands—perhaps more—victims of the White Whale. Together with him, they screamed as he threw that punch at the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne.
However.
-
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「It did not land.」
「In that instant, Daphne vanished, and the one reappearing in the Tea Party was the 'fake' named Echidna. She patted her chest, sighing with a touch of lingering fear: 'How unexpected. I thought you were always such a rational person. If I had been just a little bit slower, I might not have made it in time.'」
「Echidna stirred her 'tea,' musing briefly. 'Should I call it "making the best use of things"? With an insurance policy like me around, it would be a waste not to use me. You even managed to test whether Daphne's body really shouldn't be touched... oh my, what a petty man.'」
「Because she treated him as a pawn and material, he had now turned the tables and used her as a pawn.」
「'Still, I don't hate it,' Echidna said with a smile.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman neither admitted nor denied it. He simply looked at his fist that had struck nothingness and remained silent for a long time.」
「Amidst Echidna's incessant chattering, symptoms of tinnitus began to appear—a sign that his soul was about to return to his body. Hachiman retracted his fist and gave Echidna one last look.」
「'Yeah, that's right. I'm exactly that kind of person. I'm very petty.'」
「Even if mocked as a frog, or called the 'Hikigaya-germ,' he would remember those trivial, insignificant slights even now. He would firmly remember the people who left him with those memories.」
「'So, it won't end here.'」
「This was a declaration of war.」
「A petty man, a Hikigaya Hachiman who held grudges, declaring war against the Witch of Gluttony, Daphne!!」
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"To actively declare war on a terrifying Witch in the Sanctuary while already dealing with an external threat like the Witch Cult... I understand he loves Rem and is seeking revenge for her, but isn't this a bit too irrational?"
Ibara Mayaka scratched her head. "At the very least, shouldn't he gather strength in secret to seek revenge? There's no need to be so open about it."
"In a place like the Tea Party, do you really think the Witches other than Echidna couldn't see what was in Hachiman's heart?"
Oreki Houtarou sighed.
"You can't hide anything from a Witch. Besides, being 'open' is Hachiman's way of repayment."
"What do you mean?" Mayaka was stunned.
"Even though the one who created the White Whale and the Great Rabbit is the Witch of Gluttony, she gave away information on the Great Rabbit for free. That is, to some extent, a favor. A public declaration of war is Hachiman's way of repaying that favor."
Oreki thought deeply, yet even he couldn't completely fathom Hikigaya Hachiman's state of mind. However, the parts he could guess were enough to make him feel profound respect.
Chitanda Eru marveled from the side, "Oreki-san is being so proactive!"
Proactive... Oreki shook his head slightly. He really wanted to save energy, but the charisma of this man, Hikigaya Hachiman, made it impossible for him to do so.
At the same time, throughout the Kingdom of Lugunica, thunderous roars of fury echoed between heaven and earth.
Emilia, standing in the Royal Capital, looked around in surprise.
The waves of sound grew louder and louder. After Hikigaya Hachiman declared war on the Witch of Gluttony, it seemed the vast majority of people were shouting his name.
The pain the White Whale had brought to this world for four hundred years was simply too much.
However, everyone also knew that Hachiman's declaration of war was merely an attitude for now. Even if he were to truly deal with the Witch of Gluttony, it would surely be a long time in the future.
And before that, for the hurdles of the Mansion and the Sanctuary, there was still no clear path for a stable victory.
-
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-
「Opening his eyes, he stood up unsteadily. The memories of his interaction with the Witches and his peek into Emilia's past were all intact.」
「'...No, it wasn't me...'」
「Before he could organize his thoughts, the hazy murmurs he had heard several times reached his ears again. Hachiman's body was still stuck in the sensation of being devoured by
the Great Rabbit, a moment of complete numbness. Staggering, he controlled his not-yet-fully recovered body and lunged to Emilia's side. He shook her shoulders, waking the silver-haired girl from her nightmare.
「'Emilia.'」
「Was there a way? Was there a way to lessen Emilia's pain? What could be done to divert her attention, so she wouldn't have to bear the terror surging from the Trial?」
「'Ugh...?'」
「Emilia tilted her head slightly. She saw Hikigaya Hachiman gritting his teeth, seemingly wanting to do something. However, after weighing his options with an uncertain expression, Hachiman eventually seemed to give up, lowering his head in dejection.」
「There was a way, but he was unwilling to use it. The truth about the frozen forest, about Fortuna, Archi, and Geuse... whether it was pain or fear, this past was something Emilia had to face. That was his final conclusion.」
「'Emilia, if you want to cry, just cry... I'll stay with you, I'll stay with you forever, so—'」
「'...Eh?'」
」
Goodnight, My Knight
「A perplexed Emilia pressed her slender hand to her chest. From her heart, waves of fear and pain were indeed surging forth, accompanied by intermittent fragments of memory in her mind.」
「It was painful, it was agonizing, it was terrifying; therefore, she really wanted to cry.」
「If she were all alone, she certainly would have broken down and cried pathetically by now. But that was not allowed.」
「"Asking me to cry and all that—Hachiman is re~ally being a prankster. That's being a bad boy, it's naughty, and it's not allowed."」
「Emilia puffed out her cheeks and crossed her arms, making a big "X" sign. Being urged to cry before she even had the chance to do so was actually a bit embarrassing.」
「"If I'm looked down upon by Hachiman that much, it'll be very troubling for me too! And..."」
「"And?"」
「"Back at the Royal Capital, we said it, didn't we? We already made a promise."」
「The pain and fear spreading from her heart to her stomach, and then to every part of her body, were suppressed deep inside by the stubborn girl. Her fair palm gently caressed Hikigaya Hachiman's cold, stiff cheek—it didn't feel like she was touching a face, but rather a tree that had weathered countless storms.」
「He was reliable, but it wasn't what she wanted.」
「"Tired, you're re~ally tired, Hachiman," Emilia said softly. "You're so tired. You're so tired even I can tell."」
「The unexpected turn of events left Hikigaya Hachiman stunned.」
「"I—"」
「"Don't say it. You can't say anything. Disobedient bad boys aren't allowed; you can't forget the promise, you have to keep it properly!"」
「Emilia remembered. She remembered vividly that night in the Royal Capital, when Hikigaya Hachiman had wailed like a fragile child.」
「"I didn't—"」
「The first half of the sentence was subconsciously loud, as if trying to assert confidence. Hachiman paused for a moment; the second half was extremely low in volume, yet he said it anyway: "I didn't... I didn't hurt myself."」
「'I kept my promise to you properly'... he wanted to say that. But he turned his face away, opened his haggard mouth, and couldn't squeeze out a second word.」
「The promise. Having seen Emilia's past, having understood how much she valued promises and the bloody reasons behind that value, how could he possibly tell such a lie with a straight face?」
「Emilia was an innocent and kind girl, but seeing this reaction, there was no way she could fail to understand its meaning.」
「Her soft fingers gently rubbed Hikigaya Hachiman's cold, stiff face.」
「"I don't know, I don't know, Hachiman. Your worries, your past, so many things—I don't know any of them... You've always done so much alone, and I don't know all of that either. I'm not really sure just how much you've sacrificed."」
「Gentle whispers, soft fingers, warm palms—transferring heat, massaging the stiff facial muscles.」
「"But, pushing yourself while being this tired is hurting yourself. It's breaking the promise. That's not allowed, so you can't continue like this."」
「"Therefore, Hachiman abso~lutely must rest properly now! You can't object, and you can't be a bad boy."」
「Emilia's stern wording flowed into his ears. For this well-behaved and gentle girl, labeling someone a "bad boy" seemed to be her ultimate criticism; in her mind, this was a very serious scolding.」
「A smile involuntarily tugged at the corner of Hikigaya Hachiman's mouth. Well, if he had to be a bad boy, so be it; regardless, he couldn't rest yet.」
「"Emilia, I..."」
「...Strange, is this my voice? Why does it sound so exhausted? Why is the volume so faint? Why does it feel like I'm about to fall asleep?」
「He tried desperately to keep his eyes open, to maintain his spirit, to continue fulfilling his responsibility.」
「Emilia wasn't crying, but it was an illusion—she was afraid, she was in pain. Therefore, crying it out was for the best; keeping it bottled up in her heart was the most agonizing.」
「He had to watch her cry. He had to comfort her.」
「But a slender, soft hand gently covered his eyelids. It was the final straw that broke the camel's back, aiding the enemy and helping the fatigue and drowsiness sweep over his entire body.」
-
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"Just how long... has it been?"
On the streets of the Royal Capital, there was a slight sob in Emilia's voice.
Shirogane Miyuki counted on his fingers: "From the moment he started putting pressure on Emilia to take the trial, several hours spent in deep concentration, carrying both guilt and expectation."
Kyousuke Kousaka calculated with a sigh: "The time he was knocked out by Garfiel, maybe unconscious for an hour or two... followed by two days of continuous imprisonment where he didn't dare sleep, either shouting to be discovered by others or racking his brain trying every possibility of escape or suicide."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka recalled Hikigaya Hachiman's maximum speed: "From the moment he left the prison with Otto, he has been running, running with all his might."
Izumi Masamune's scalp felt numb: "Entering the Witches' Tea Party and watching Emilia's past—even with the skips, he actually watched a total of two or three days' worth of time. To remember every detail without missing a beat, he didn't even want to blink."
"And finally, dealing with a bunch of Witches with twisted values while constantly worrying about Lia."
Puck was deeply moved. "Even though we've been watching the future for a long time, we have some unknown power helping us so that no one gets tired or hungry, and everyone stays energetic... but Hikigaya Hachiman, he has no such power helping him."
No sleep, no rest, and completely exhausted for three or four whole days.
Hikigaya Hachiman's body was unscathed and healthy because of Return by Death.
However, the weariness of his soul made his body so tired that even the dazed Emilia, who had just come out of the trial, could observe it instantly.
"He's clearly just an ordinary human!"
.
.
.
「Emilia knew nothing.」
「But she knew, without a doubt, that being able to discover Hikigaya Hachiman's fatigue and being able to let him fall asleep was likely one of the most fortunate things in her life... her instincts were telling her so.」
「She gently held the man whose anxious aura was gradually softening in his dreams.」
「A mysterious memory drove Emilia to carry him in a bridal style; her strength was significantly greater than Hikigaya Hachiman's.」
「The silver-haired princess looked down at Hachiman in her arms.」
「"Goodnight... my knight."」
The Knight Who Overwhelms the Princess
「When Hikigaya Hachiman struggled to wake from his deep slumber, the sky was just beginning to brighten. The moment he got out of bed, he immediately shook Emilia's shoulders, asking her how long he had slept. He only sighed in relief after learning it was only the "second day."」
「The failure caused by wasted time during the last loop left him with lingering trepidation; this time, he had to act swiftly no matter what.」
「"Wait!"」
「Watching Hikigaya Hachiman—who had just rolled out of bed—hurrying out to attend to some serious business, Emilia stood up in a panic, spreading her arms to block him.」
「"It's strange, it's really strange! Hachiman, looking so preoccupied like this is just too strange!"」
「This silver-haired girl, who had guarded his bedside all night, was rare in her stubbornness. She pursed her lips, refusing to let Hikigaya Hachiman out: "I don't know why Hachiman suddenly became so exhausted, but half a night's rest is absolutely not enough! Look, aren't you still looking completely drained? No matter what is happening, you aren't allowed to mistreat yourself!"」
「"If it's really that urgent, I'll do it! Just leave it to me; Hachiman absolutely must rest properly!"」
「Leave it to Emilia...」
「Hikigaya Hachiman pressed a hand to his forehead. He shook his head, barely managing to suppress the lingering sensation of overexertion.」
「He nodded: "I will."」
「"Eh?"」
「This direct acceptance of her suggestion left Emilia dazed. Hikigaya Hachiman had always followed a style of carrying all troubles and affairs on his own shoulders; she had thought this conversation wouldn't go smoothly and had even prepared for the worst-case scenario of using her status as "Lord" to force him.」
「But before she could rejoice, Hachiman's next sentence was already spoken: "There are things I need you to do, and I won't snatch that responsibility from you. However, I have my own responsibilities as well. I hope you can understand, Emilia."」
「"But—"」
「"I've already been disqualified, Emilia." Hikigaya Hachiman interrupted her.」
「He forced a smile, "I've already been disqualified... but at least, as your knight, I can still maintain that. So I beg of you, don't block me, okay, Emilia?"」
「Emilia murmured helplessly, looking at Hikigaya Hachiman without understanding his meaning.」
「She knew nothing... yet, hearing this gentle plea, she unconsciously stepped aside to make way.」
「"That's too cunning, it's re~ally too cunning, Hachiman." Emilia bit her lower lip softly. "Saying things like 'I beg of you'... it's truly too cunning."」
「He clearly knew that she had no way of refusing any request of his.」
「"I'm sorry."」
「"Hmph, instead of an apology, I'd rather hear you promise me obediently and be a good boy." Emilia shook her head slightly in frustration. She had no way to stop Hikigaya Hachiman, so she could only say: "Then, the promise... at the very least, you have to keep the promise properly, okay?"」
「"Mhm, I've remembered it all along."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman said with a smile. In this short time, his soul and body had shifted from a lethargic state of over-exhaustion back to his usual self... this silver-haired girl simply possessed that special charm.」
「As long as he thought about how all his efforts were for a "genuine" angel like Emilia, and then thought about Rem, who was her equal, all fatigue could be swept away.」
「Walking out of the bedroom, he looked up at the sun, narrowing his eyes slightly.」
「"As for resting, I'll have plenty of time for that once I'm dead!"」
「If that were ever a true death.」
「"Pfft... ha, hahahaha!" Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't help but laugh out loud in a refreshing manner. "To think that I, who once aspired to be a househusband and found even answering Shizuka-sensei's calls a hassle, would one day say such a famous quote. It's truly incredible."」
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"This brat!"
Shizuka Hiratsuka spoke with doting affection, laughing heartily and brightly.
"Always bringing me up for a public lashing, honestly... In that case, don't you dare embarrass me! Since you've already gone this far, protect all your 'genuine' ones properly!"
After her forced laughter, she took out her phone again to call her student for a proper talk, intending to fulfill her duty as a teacher. Otherwise, she wouldn't be worthy of his repeated calls of "Shizuka-sensei!"
"Emilia is so wonderful."
At the Shirogane household, Shirogane Miyuki looked at the sweet and obedient Emilia with envy.
"She is Hikigaya Hachiman's current spiritual pillar... this kind of chemistry and broad-mindedness, this care, both firm and yielding. I think I'm beginning to understand a bit of what 'genuine' means—if Shinomiya and I could one day evolve into this way of getting along, how great would that be?"
"Then, Brother, you should first evolve to the point where you can proactively call Sister Kaguya for a chat."
Shirogane Kei's words caused Miyuki to instantly fall from his fantasy back to reality.
In the past, he would have been unable to refute, but now, having seen the proactivity with which Rem and Emilia treated Hikigaya Hachiman, Miyuki said with certainty: "I will... mhm, once Hikigaya Hachiman's future broadcast is over."
On the streets of the Royal Capital, seeing the energetic Hikigaya Hachiman, Puck's tail perked up as he proudly gave his daughter a thumbs-up.
"You did a great job, Lia."
"Ugh..."
Emilia lowered her brows gloomily; she didn't feel this was worth being happy about at all.
"It was just a tiny bit of insignificant care, and it didn't solve Hachiman's worries at all. I'm still too useless, Puck."
Puck scratched his head, unable to argue since it was the truth... though even so, his daughter's contribution far outweighed his own.
At this moment Ram was also left speechless.
Though she really wanted to condemn Emilia as a "homewrecker" and Hachiman as an "adulterer," Emilia's perfectly timed, tender care was like rain after a long drought for Hachiman's cracked heart. No one had a reason to condemn it.
"But without solving the root cause, how long can the moisture from this little bit of care last?"
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「Hikigaya Hachiman sought out Garfiel.」
「Unlike the previous two times, this time he intended to be proactive and leave the Sanctuary even faster.」
「"Ha? You're awake? Though it's a bit embarrassing to be carried out in a bridal style when you went in to save someone, this Great Me won't look down on you. After all, you're still a ma—"」
「BAM!」
「A punch, neither too heavy nor too light, landed on Garfiel's face, interrupting his tsundere speech.」