You've Gone Mad
「Garfiel stood dumbfounded. Hikigaya Hachiman's strength wasn't enough to actually injure him, but the sheer humiliation left him in a state of shock.」
「"Garfiel."」
「"I'm leaving the Sanctuary. I'm taking Ram and Otto with me, as well as the villagers." Just as his surprise was about to turn into rage, Hikigaya Hachiman's words—spoken with piercing eyes—scattered his focus.」
「"Ha? Leaving the Sanctuary? That kind of thing—wait! What does that have to do with you punching the Great Me! Don't think you can get out of taking this punch back just by changing the subject, you bastard!"」
「"Garfiel." Hikigaya Hachiman looked at him sincerely and issued an invitation. "Leave the Sanctuary with us. There are assassins at the Roswaal Mansion, and Frederica is in danger. I need you."」
「"I said stop talking to yourself, you bastard!!" Baring his teeth and showing his shark-like fangs, Garfiel stared wide-eyed at this bastard before him who refused to play by the rules.」
「But in the next moment, he froze—he wanted to leave the Sanctuary, so he punched him.」
「No, Hikigaya Hachiman hadn't changed the subject at all; from the beginning, it had been a single topic.」
「Realizing something, Garfiel's mouth hung open. He quirked an eyebrow. "Ha-ah... you guy..."」
「"Are you coming with us or not? Give me a straight answer. You're a man among men, aren't you?"」
「"The Great Me hasn't given you permission to leave yet, hey! You, how did your guts suddenly get so big! Is this a provocation to the Great Me? Hey!"」
「Garfiel suddenly felt a bit of a toothache. He really wanted to deny passage... but he found he had to allow it. If it was this Hikigaya Hachiman, there was no problem!」
「"Agh, fine, I get it! Leave if you want to leave, honestly!" He turned his face away. "But, leaving the Sanctuary with you and all that... don't push your luck!"」
「Pausing for a moment, Garfiel added: "And—"」
「A punch, neither too heavy nor too light, landed on Hikigaya Hachiman's face.」
-
-
-
"Ha-ah—So cool!"
In the Sanctuary, Garfiel was beaming. "That wasn't a counterattack, it was a return gift! The Great Me really knows his stuff! And the General gets it too! —Ow!"
Lewes once again tapped the over-excited Garfiel with her cane.
"What was that for, Granny! This is a conversation between men!"
The Lewes clones gave a light hmph. "That was for you not leaving the Sanctuary together to help!"
Mentioning this, the originally aggrieved Garfiel immediately turned his head away in embarrassment.
"It's my fault for not fully accepting the General... but that's the future me's fault. It won't happen now."
-
-
-
「Having convinced Garfiel, Hikigaya Hachiman's next target was Roswaal.」
「After hinting for Roswaal to send Ram away, Hachiman, pressed for time, did not hide anything. He came straight to the point, spitting out two phrases: "Elsa. The Great Rabbit."」
「"Oh my~"」
「The leisurely Roswaal's body tightened. His attitude changed instantly, and he looked at Hikigaya Hachiman solemnly. "Have we already progressed to this stage? How many times have you restarted, Hachiman-kun?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman countered: "Answer me, Roswaal. What is the reason, the meaning, behind you laying this double death trap? What is the fundamental reason?"」
「In the last loop, he had thought Roswaal was following the instructions in the Tome of Wisdom to create the most favorable future for Emilia. But while being devoured by the Great Rabbit, realizing that Roswaal would also likely be eaten, he overturned that conclusion.」
「Roswaal's attitude toward Emilia was ambiguous—he cared, yet he didn't. But regardless of his concern, Roswaal had always been contemptuous toward Emilia, looking down on her from the bottom of his heart, believing she couldn't accomplish anything and was essentially useless.」
「A Roswaal like that would never believe Emilia could pass the trial in just a few days. Therefore, the Sanctuary barrier could not be opened, and surrounded by the Great Rabbit, Roswaal would inevitably die.」
「Could he have failed to foresee this consequence? He foresaw it, yet he did it anyway. A Roswaal who gambled with his own life could absolutely not be doing this for Emilia's sake.」
「"Since you have already come this far, there is no meaning in hiding it from you."」
「Roswaal pulled the Tome of Wisdom from beneath his pillow, cradling it in his arms like the most precious treasure in the world. He said nostalgically: "It is for you, and even more so for myself, Hachiman-kun."」
「"Of the two people you value most in this world—Lady Emilia and that Rem who has been forgotten by everyone—when both encounter danger, which will you choose?"」
「"The timing can be staggered, I can save both—"」
「"It cannot be staggered," Roswaal said decisively. "The assassin at the mansion—I gave her the right to strike early the moment she sees you returning early. The Great Rabbit of the Sanctuary—if you leave early, I call them early; if you leave late, I call them late."」
「"If you think to kill me first, it cannot be done. This is the Sanctuary, the venue specifically chosen for me by the Tome of Wisdom. You cannot bring in external help like Crusch and the others, therefore I will not lose."」
「Roswaal was telling the truth. Hikigaya Hachiman did not interrupt him, letting him continue his explanation.」
「"I want to force you, Hachiman-kun. I want to force you to make a choice, to make you abandon everyone else and support Lady Emilia with all your heart, having eyes for her alone. Thus she can ascend the throne, and thus I can use her to slay the Divine Dragon to resurrect my teacher, Echidna—that is my ultimate goal."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman frowned, detecting the loophole: "What if I choose Rem? Or even if I choose Emilia, how am I supposed to deal with the Great Rabbit? Even if I solve the Great Rabbit, I will definitely kill you after leaving the Sanctuary. If you're dead, how will you fulfill your wish?"」
「"I don't know."」
「Roswaal shook his head but didn't waver in the slightest. "I don't know. However, the Tome of Wisdom given to me by Teacher provides this plan. Therefore, you will not choose Rem; therefore, you can solve the Great Rabbit; therefore, I will not die and can complete my goal. This is what I am certain of."」
「"Because the gospel of the Tome of Wisdom is Teacher guiding me~"」
「"Your teacher really is—"」
「"Exactly. It is Echidna. The master of this tomb."」
「A certainty based on no logic, a trust that reached into his very marrow. From the inside out, Roswaal lived entirely for the sake of Echidna.」
「"You've gone mad, Roswaal."」
「This was something genuine.」
「However, it was a twisted "genuine"!」
The Faltering Emilia
「"Mad? Perhaps."」
「A madman with self-awareness. Facing Hikigaya Hachiman's blunt pointing out of the truth, Roswaal was indifferent. He was willing; to resurrect his teacher, Echidna, he was willing to sacrifice everything, even if it meant becoming a madman.」
「"You may hate me all you wish, Hikigaya Hachiman. But I live for the sake of my Teacher. This obsession, this persistence—I believe you can empathize with it. Because you, too, are a person possessed by such an obsession!"」
「Roswaal revealed the gaze of one looking at a kindred spirit. What he referred to was Hikigaya Hachiman's "genuine." Hachiman's obsession and pursuit of the so-called genuine was absolutely not inferior to Roswaal's obsession and pursuit of his Teacher.」
-
-
-
"Forcing Hachiman to make a choice, slaying the Divine Dragon, resurrecting the Witch of Greed... Hachiman is right, he really is a total madman!"
Anastasia cursed under her breath.
"I thought before that Crusch wanting to expel the Divine Dragon was already a subversive enough approach.
To be targeted by this pair of master and apprentice, the Witch of Greed—it truly is Sir Hachiman's greatest misfortune!"
The stifling air of Crusch's irritation filled her body.
"Just because Sir Hachiman has sufficient ability, he deserves to be targeted by you two? He deserves to be manipulated and coerced? If you want to slay the Divine Dragon, then go do it; what is the point of exploiting Sir Hachiman? Damn wretches!"
To use such despicable means of manipulating fate to arrange a person's life so thoroughly was truly nauseating.
The only thing worth being happy about was that Sir Hachiman's strength was acknowledged by Echidna and Roswaal—affirmed by people of such caliber that he could carry the "dead weight" of the Emilia camp to become the winner.
-
-
-
Inside the Advanced Nurturing High School, Horikita Suzune and the others were whispering, their faces pale.
"Was crossing over to another world a setup from the very beginning? Becoming a pawn from the very first second of arrival."
This despairing fact was truly chilling; even someone as arrogant as Koenji Rokusuke felt a prickling sensation on his back.
Only Ayanokouji Kiyotaka let out a disdainful cold laugh.
"Echidna herself was plotted to death by Pandora. That alone proves the Tome of Wisdom is not truly omniscient or omnipotent; it can be overcome.
She herself died, yet she presumes to control Hikigaya Hachiman through a dead book. What kind of arrogance is that?
It is an underestimation of him, and an even greater underestimation of me!"
"Heh." Ayanokouji's current certainty mirrored Roswaal's certainty in the Tome of Wisdom. "Just watch. Someone I have acknowledged won't be unable to break free from something like this."
Horikita Suzune and the others were momentarily speechless.
Although they didn't dare to openly refute him due to his intimidating presence, based on Echidna's performance, they didn't think Hikigaya Hachiman could leap out of the script of the Tome of Wisdom at all.
Ayanokouji only swept them with a cold gaze and said no more; the facts following would explain everything.
Compared to something like the Tome of Wisdom, which already had a precedent for failure, the ones Ayanokouji found truly troublesome and unsolvable remained Regulus and Pandora.
-
-
-
At the same time, Lugunica was in an uproar. Aside from the commoners who had long wanted to kill Roswaal, others were reacting too.
Previously, considering that Roswaal was the Kingdom's greatest magician and an indispensable combat power, the Sage Council and the various nobles—who had been thinking of how to protect Roswaal amidst the public outrage—now pronounced his death sentence as well.
To dare to lay a hand on the Divine Dragon that protected the Kingdom: Roswaal had found his way to death.
.
.
.
「"..."」
「Without avoiding Roswaal's burning, sharp gaze, Hikigaya Hachiman found himself unable to refute. Having broken his own bottom lines now, he truly had no way to say anything.」
「"I will not comment on your feelings for Echidna. However, for your own selfish desires, to repeatedly let Rem, let Emilia, and let so many people lose their lives—I will not forgive you, Roswaal."」
「"Hoh, that matters little to me."」
「"Therefore, it is also difficult for me to forgive Echidna."」
「Roswaal, who had appeared indifferent, paused. He stared intently at Hikigaya Hachiman, frowning as he asked, "What do you mean?"」
「Hachiman gazed out the window toward the direction of the Trial's Tomb. His eyes were deep, and his tone was haunting, adopting the "riddle-man" way of speaking he hadn't used in a long time: "I mean exactly what you think I mean."」
「Roswaal looked at him with an uncertain expression, then flipped open the Tome of Wisdom. The gospel in the book had not changed, nor had it increased. His mood suddenly eased, and he smiled.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman also smiled. "Then, as per the old rules, I'm borrowing Ram."」
「"Even now, are you still dreaming the dream of having it both ways? Hachiman-kun, or are you deliberately choosing to save Rem out of spite just to oppose me?"」
「Turning to leave, Hikigaya Hachiman ignored Roswaal's provocation.」
「Roswaal, lying on the bed, cradled the Tome of Wisdom, stroking it with infatuation.」
-
-
-
The current Roswaal pulled out his Tome of Wisdom with a bitter smile, his gaze profound, filled with both love and hate.
"How happy I am, the future me... but there is no going back. I can no longer be infatuated with this book like that. 'Echidna,' 'Echidna,' hahaha..."
To the side, Beatrice covered her ears; she didn't want to hear it.
"How could that not be Mother..." she murmured to herself, yet she didn't realize that her voice was utterly lacking in confidence, so very weak.
-
-
-
「Returning to Emilia's bedroom, without revealing these secrets of Roswaal, Hikigaya Hachiman simply assigned tasks.」
「This time he instructed Emilia not to challenge the Trial again. She was to rest, conserve her strength, and prepare to deal with the Great Rabbit. If she saw heavy snow falling, she was to gather the villagers first and then stall the Great Rabbit, waiting for him to return with reinforcements.」
「She agreed to everything.」
「Without doubting how he knew there was a Great Rabbit in the Sanctuary, and without questioning his warning not to trust Roswaal, Emilia agreed to all his arrangements.」
「But when Hikigaya Hachiman said he had to temporarily leave the Sanctuary, Emilia faltered. She showed a conflicted expression, instinctively wanting to ask him to stay.」
「But until the end, she did not speak the selfish words of a request for him to remain.」
「"Emilia."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman hesitated for a moment. He finally said, "If it doesn't work out, if you can't protect them, if you're in danger yourself, if no reinforcements appear... then... hide inside the Tomb. Hide in the Trial, all alone, until the snow disappears and the Great Rabbit retreats."」
「This instruction was the only one Emilia did not agree to, and it was the only time Hikigaya Hachiman did not look at her expression upon hearing it.」
「And then, it was time to leave the Sanctuary.」
「Before that, the last person Hikigaya Hachiman wanted to meet alone—his name was—」
「Otto Suwen.」
Ram Re-run
「Until the carriage left the Sanctuary, Otto remained in a daze. Every now and then, he would peek back into the carriage frame, only to quickly turn his head away and press down the brim of his hat as if to hide something, his heart racing wildly.」
「He really couldn't understand it... Although Mr. Hachiman had trusted him for a long time, today's display of passion was beyond common sense.」
「"To think he hugged me so fiercely the moment we met, looking like he was almost on the verge of tears... I'm happy, of course, but it's truly overwhelming. Sigh, am I worthy of such preferential treatment from Mr. Hachiman? It's a real headache... I have to work hard to repay this kindness!"」
「Despite the man saying it was a headache, the arc of his mouth was turned up so high that it couldn't be pressed down, much like his hat brim.」
-
-
-
"Actually, it wasn't that passionate; at most, it was just three or four times the intimacy he showed me in the past trials—at most!!"
In the KTV, Hayama's mouth twitched. He looked gloomily at the infinitely radiant Otto, feeling utterly defeated.
"First Julius, now Otto Suwen. Though I've never fought side-by-side with Hikigaya-kun, and I certainly can't compare to an Otto who would risk his life to save him..."
He wasn't consumed by envy or hatred; after all, he had seen Otto's performance as a "true man" with his own eyes. It was only natural that he couldn't measure up.
He was just feeling a bit restless about his standing.
He let out a breath and comforted himself: "Whatever, at least I'm ranked third among the men. Yukinoshita is only third among the women too, so it's not a total loss."
Just as Hayama found peace with the thought, he heard a series of chilling giggles coming from the nearby corner.
"Hehe... hehehe... Hikigaya x Otto... Hayama-kun catching them at a hotel and questioning 'I was here first'... hehehehe..."
Ebina's eyes were filled with a fanaticism akin to worshipping a god. She was already a fujoshi to begin with, and having undergone the "baptism" of these events, her symptoms had become increasingly severe.
At this point, even Hayama and the other students who had backed away didn't think she was abnormal.
After all, Hikigaya Hachiman's attitude toward Otto was truly... it was only because everyone had watched the entire process that they understood. To someone without context, it would be very easy to overthink it.
For instance, Emilia, who stood in the Sanctuary watching them leave, clearly appeared to be hesitating, looking a bit like she was experiencing a crisis of having her man stolen.
"Senpai, Ebina-senpai!"
Isshiki Iroha looked left and right. While Miura Yumiko, fearing her man would be snatched, was busy tugging at Hayama, Iroha slipped over to Ebina's side.
To be honest, she was starting to feel a slight inclination to join this "faith"!
Meanwhile, surrounded by merchants like a star among moons, Otto pressed down the brim of his hat in exactly the same way as his future self. His heart's delight was fully revealed through the flush on his face.
.
.
.
「Before returning to the mansion, Hikigaya Hachiman took the time on the road to discuss with Ram and Otto how to face the attackers.」
「"One attacker is confirmed to be Elsa the Bowel Hunter. Ram, you and Frederica must team up to stall her. Prioritize safety and keep your fighting style steady; just stall her, don't go in with the mindset of needing to kill her."」
「"And... the other enemy should be a Beast Master. There are stones kept in the Roswaal mansion that repel and disgust Mabeasts. Otto, use them freely once we arrive, coordinating with your animal partners. Similarly, I only have one requirement for you—stall. Drag it out as much as possible, for as long as you can."」
「Yes, a Beast Master.」
「This was the final question Hikigaya Hachiman had asked Roswaal before leaving the Sanctuary. Roswaal had answered quite frankly at the time: Yes, there was more than just Elsa.」
「His bluntness wasn't unexpected. As he said, having reached this point, hiding things was meaningless.」
「Of course, if Hikigaya Hachiman hadn't thought of this, Roswaal wouldn't have minded sitting back and watching an uninformed Hachiman die once more.」
「As for the suspicion regarding a Beast Master, Hachiman had suspected it as early as after his first death in the Sanctuary.」
「Although he had only seen Elsa at the time, it wasn't hard to guess. After all, the Beast Master Meili occupied the same role as Elsa; stealing the insignia or a demon beast invasion were both essentially aimed at Emilia.」
「Furthermore, if it were only Elsa—even if he couldn't convince Beatrice, even if Roswaal refused to lend Ram—by using Return by Death to familiarize himself with Elsa's movements and calculating with total certainty, Frederica and Otto working together with proper preparations wouldn't necessarily lose to her.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman certainly wouldn't abuse Return by Death recklessly, but Roswaal wouldn't know that.」
「"Mr. Hachiman, you said 'stall'? You mean to delay them? But Lady Emilia and Margrave Roswaal are both trapped in the Sanctuary. What are we going to do? There won't be reinforcements, will there?"」
「"No, there will be reinforcements."」
「There definitely would be.」
「Convincing Beatrice to help him deal with both the mansion's attackers and the Sanctuary's Great Rabbit—until he completed that task, no one could be allowed to die. Thus, they had to stall.」
「Otto lowered his raised hand. He looked at Hikigaya Hachiman—who stood with a straight back and sharp eyes, like an indomitable pillar—and didn't offer a shred of doubt. "Since you put it that way, I understand. I will do my best."」
「After the meeting, Otto went out to drive. Inside the carriage, Hikigaya Hachiman gazed out the window.」
「"...Do you know? Roswaal's goal for living, his code of conduct, and that book of his."」
「Ram appeared slightly surprised. "Lord Roswaal actually told you all of that?"」
「"It seems you know everything." Hachiman sighed. "Then what about you, Ram? Are you willing to let him live like this?"」
「Ram said coldly, "Lord Roswaal's thoughts are not for you to criticize. How to decide things is a matter between Lord Roswaal and Ram; it has nothing to do with you."」
「"Nothing to do with me?"」
「Turning his head, Hachiman's pupils reflected Ram's figure and appearance. Although her looks and size were almost identical, Ram's sharp gaze was truly worlds apart from Rem's.」
「"You're wrong, Ram. It has everything to do with me."」
「Before Ram could argue, Hachiman's tone became brook-no-argument.」
「"You are Rem's sister... we are family. What you do is something I have a right to know and a right to advise you on."」
「"Regardless of the fact that Ram has no memory of any nonsensical younger sister, even if one really existed, Ram would never agree to her marrying someone like you who opposes Lord Roswaal!"」
「Ram's tone was even more resolute than his!」
My Wife's Name is Rem
"Smack!"
Ram immediately slapped herself across the face. The speed was so fast that even Rem couldn't stop her. The crisp sound gave Petra quite a fright.
"I've truly had enough! I can't stand it anymore!"
Ram gritted her teeth, glaring and pointing at the sky—at the Ram on the light screen—feeling such loathing that she wanted to beat that person to death.
Fearing her sister would continue to hit herself, Rem jolted and used nearly all her strength to pin Ram's hands down.
"Um... Sister, look, Hachiman doesn't mean to blame you, right? It's okay! It's all the Gluttony Archbishop's fault anyway; it can't be helped. Rem doesn't mind!"
'That was a lie.'
How could Rem, the world's number one fan of her sister, not feel a pang of sorrow after hearing those words?
However, as long as she thought of it as an unavoidable, irresistible external factor, it felt much better.
"Mm-hmm! Petra also thinks Sister Rem is right!" Petra nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at grain. Only then did the two girls, one big and one small, manage to pull Ram back.
-
-
-
「"Having lost your memories of Rem, your sisterly affection—all that beautiful tenderness—has perhaps been transferred onto Roswaal."」
「Otherwise, it made no sense. While Ram had liked Roswaal before, it had clearly increased by a massive margin now.」
「"Hmph." Ram let out a contemptuous snort. She merely assumed Hikigaya Hachiman was losing his mind or intentionally trying to drive a wedge between them. If they weren't so close to the mansion and in need of preparing for battle, she would have surely unleashed a torrent of venomous words.」
「Of course, even without further words, what he had said just now was likely a massive insult to Hachiman, who intended to become the husband of her 'younger sister.'」
「Or so Ram thought... However, what she saw was a Hikigaya Hachiman who looked spirited and high-flown, as if he had just won a great battle.」
「It was only natural for him to act this way.」
「Ram hadn't offered a direct critique of Roswaal's way of life, but from her expression and her evasive words, Hachiman had already unearthed her attitude—a clear lack of support that could progress into opposition.」
「So, once he convinced Beatrice, he could try to persuade Ram to cooperate. As long as he focused on 'destroying the Tome of Wisdom' and didn't aim to kill Roswaal, he might be able to turn her.」
「It would be far too tragic to stand on opposing sides with Ram.」
「"Mr. Hachiman, we've arrived!"」
「Outside the carriage, the ground dragon came to a halt. Otto's voice was sharp and excited.」
「Answering him, Hikigaya Hachiman opened the carriage door to step out first, but he suddenly paused. He looked back and said: "Whether you agree or not."」
「"Rem likes me... no, she loves me. Therefore, you and I will definitely be family. That is all."」
「"On this matter, Ram, your opinion is not important—aside from Rem and me, no one's opinion matters on this matter."」
「Until the very end, Hikigaya Hachiman still didn't have the courage to say, "I love Rem; Hikigaya Hachiman deeply loves Rem," as bluntly as he had during the past trials in front of anyone other than Rem herself.」
「But there was a fact: it didn't matter how many people opposed it, or who they were.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman would marry Rem in the future. This was an absolutely unchangeable, inevitable future—a happy fact that would surely arrive!」
-
-
-
"He said some pretty cool-guy lines there."
In the convenience store, Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head with a bitter smile. Saying something like that with such a posture was something he wouldn't have even dared to dream of before; it was truly too cool.
"But... if only the person saying those words wasn't me."
He certainly wouldn't abandon the Yukinoshita in his arms for a promise that hadn't arrived and hadn't even appeared yet. However, watching himself make an increasingly unbreakable vow to Rem... the feeling was truly...
Indescribable.
It was as if, while he was still physically here holding Yukinoshita, the "genuine article" in the depths of his heart was uncontrollably tearing away, piece by piece, flying toward Rem and Emilia with longing.
"The feeling of emotional cheating is quite strange..."
Yukinoshita glanced at him and said gloomily, "Hikigaya-kun, your mental cheating is already enough. Just remember, at the very least, you cannot cheat physically. Do you understand?"
She wanted to be angry, but she had been angry enough before. Now, she couldn't even work up the rage.
After all, regarding girls like Rem and Emilia—who wouldn't feel their hearts drift toward them? Not to mention Hachiman had received so much care from them.
"Yeah."
Hachiman nodded heavily at Yukinoshita's demand.
Across both Earth and the Kingdom of Lugunica, the "cool" Hikigaya Hachiman had once again captured the hearts of countless girls.
Among them were even young wives whose hearts were fluttering, as well as girls who liked dense men, sincerely hoping Hachiman's performance would wake up the "blocks of wood" they liked.
"Eh?"
Uesugi Fuutarou was confused again. Why were the five Nakano sisters staring at him with such intense expectation?
It was truly baffling.
Elsewhere, Furuhashi Fumino froze, hurriedly withdrawing her gaze that had involuntarily focused on Yuiga Nariyuki 's face. Before she could even feel shy, she froze again.
Beside Nariyuki Yuiga, two others had expressions exactly like hers.
"Hey, Kumiko. You've been watching for so long... do you, um, well... think falling in love is especially beautiful? Do you feel like finding a boyfriend?"
Lowering his voice with a bit of awkwardness, Shuichi gave two coughs—it was practically a direct declaration. He was a bold person.
"That? Yeah, I do," Omae Kumiko nodded. "If Hikigaya knew how to play an instrument and knew music, maybe I'd want to go for him. Haha, but he probably wouldn't look at me anyway. It would take a beautiful girl like Reina to—hey, Shuichi? What's wrong? Shuichi?"
-
-
-
「The cool and cheerful atmosphere was cut short here.」
「Entering the mansion, he called Petra and Frederica over, explaining the situation in a few simple sentences. Just as Otto pulled out the stones, accompanied by a thunderous crash, the wall shattered. Elsa had broken in violently.」
「"—I'm counting on you, Otto, Frederica, and... Sister."」
「"When did Ram ever give someone like you permission to use that title!"」
「"Is that so? Actually, I'm not used to saying it either. I'll just call you that this once, Ram."」
「The great battle had begun. Petra would be with Otto; Hachiman was completely at ease leaving her in Otto's care.」
「In this battle to defend the mansion, Hikigaya Hachiman would be the only deserter—because his own battlefield would bloom elsewhere.」
「Click.」
「The door opened. Behind the door was Beatrice, clutching her Gospel.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman slowly stepped into the solemn atmosphere of the Forbidden Library.」
「The battle had begun.」
Beatrice's Long-Cherished Wish
「"Heart to heart, knowing everything there is to know—let's have a real talk, Beatrice."」
「This was meant to be a meeting between just Hikigaya Hachiman and Beatrice—an incredibly solemn conference of only two people.」
「Beatrice had already been brewing a sense of tragic pain, but at this moment, it was forcibly suppressed. Her gaze was resentful, and she let out a sigh that sounded like a reproach. "...Despite saying such things, you still brought this little maid along to disturb us. What exactly do you take Betty for?"」
「Carrying the sleeping Rem on his back, acting with such caution as if he were handling the most precious treasure that would shatter at a touch, Hikigaya Hachiman gently placed the girl by a bookshelf.」
「"Sorry. Because in this mansion, this is currently the only safe place. I... can only be at peace if Rem is alive."」
「The look of love in his eyes vanished the instant his gaze left Rem. Hachiman looked at the dissatisfied Beatrice; even though the moment had arrived, he was also extremely nervous.」
「"Wait!"」
「The moment he was about to speak, Beatrice let out a tense shout. She looked even more nervous than Hachiman, filled with trepidation. The blonde girl moved her trembling arms to open the Tome of Wisdom resting on her lap.」
「At this moment, her eyes were filled with anticipation, carrying a light they had never held before. She seemed particularly certain—certain that she would see the answer she wanted after opening the cover... but in truth, that wasn't certainty; it was a plea.」
「And this, her only plea in four hundred years, accompanied by a weakening light, was swallowed by a desperate void in the next instant.」
「Not even the feeling of dissatisfaction remained; it was as if she had completely become a puppet without a heart or emotions... In Beatrice's eyes, tears were faintly swirling.」
「"Why... why... why, Mother...?"」
「In front of her, a bewildered figure arrived and, without permission, took the Tome of Wisdom upon which she had pinned her hopes only to have them crushed.」
「"...?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was stunned.」
「"In this book... there's nothing? It's completely blank?"」
「"Ah, yes—there is nothing, a total blank. It's been four hundred years. For four hundred years, that book hasn't shown a gospel even once."」
「Beatrice lifted her head. Within these few seconds, two cascading waterfalls of tears had already left trails on her cheeks. She seemed to be looking at Hikigaya Hachiman, yet it also seemed she was looking at something through him, her expression dazed.」
「"Four hundred years ago, on the day the Sanctuary was established, Mother died. That was the last time Betty saw Mother. Mother said it, she entrusted it to Betty. Yes, she said so... 'Watch over my Forbidden Library. One day, [That Person] will appear. When that day comes, you will be free'—Always, always, always-always-always—Betty has been waiting. One year, ten years, fifty years, a hundred years, two hundred, three hundred, four hundred—always, waiting."」
「"Too many, far too many people have come. But it wasn't them—Mother didn't give a single instruction, not a single gospel. Four hundred years! Four hundred years!—I am... tired. Betty is already so tired."」
「She trembled, her lips quivering as she looked at Hikigaya Hachiman with sorrow. "You... aren't it either."」
「That sorrowful voice and those despairing eyes nearly shook Hachiman to his core... He saw it. He saw Beatrice pouring her heart out. She had been tormented by this wish for far, far too long.」
「Hachiman flipped through the book in his hand; every single page was blank. Like the lick of a python, a natural chill surged from his spine to his skull.」
「"Your mother... is Echidna, right?"」
「There was no vocal answer, but Beatrice's silence told him that was the answer.」
「Thud.」
「The Tome of Wisdom tumbled to the floor, blank pages splayed out. Hikigaya Hachiman stood there dazed as a bolt of lightning flashed through his mind. His hands shook, and his breathing suddenly became rapid.」
「No—no! That's not what's important right now!」
「"I—"」
「He crouched down to eye level with the weeping Beatrice. Hachiman opened his mouth, but for a moment, he actually didn't know what to say. He only knew to reach out and wipe away the tears of four hundred years of bitterness from this girl's face. "Are... are you an idiot, Beatrice? Promises do need to be kept, but people are always more important than promises."」
「"If two people agree to meet at a certain time and one is about to be late, do they have to risk their life charging through a street full of ground dragon carriages? This kind of promise—this kind of promise, it's not your fault for breaking it, Beatrice!"」
「The deafening statement first left Beatrice stunned, but it only caused her tears to flow more freely afterward.」
「"It's not a promise, it's a contract—!"」
「"A contract—" Hachiman knew. He knew that contracts were binding. "But—so what if it's a contract! Is there a way? Is there any way to resolve this contract? If there is, I will absolutely help you, Beatrice!"」
「Beatrice gave a tragic smile. She stared blankly at Rem lying nearby, then at the apple that hadn't been fully eaten, feeling utterly hopeless.」
「"There is. Of course there is. If it were you—if it were you, if you were willing to say you are 'That Person,' even if it's a lie, it wouldn't matter. Betty would believe it. Betty is willing to believe it."」
「"I—"」
「"As long as you say you are 'That Person,' as long as you put Betty first in your heart, love Betty the most, value Betty the most, and make a new contract with Betty, Betty will surely..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's voice stopped abruptly.」
「Looking at the hand Beatrice reached out to him in her despair, he murmured. Suddenly becoming like a statue, he was unable to move. He had no way to respond, no courage to reach out and take Beatrice's hand. In this moment, he could only be a coward... he could not fulfill this expectation of hers.」
「Beatrice's tragic smile and her pale face looked as if she were sinking into the deepest abyss of despair. "It can't be done. There is no one. Not at all, not at all..."」
「Hachiman was encouraging her, and also encouraging himself. "No, there must be—there must be another way, there's another way—"」
「"Yes, there is."」
「Light flickered in Hachiman's eyes as he looked at Beatrice, holding his breath. "In that case—"」
「"You come and... kill Betty."」
「Beatrice was wailing.」
Incomprehensible Torment (Part 1)
「"You said... let you, kill you?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was shocked over and over again; he even suspected he had misheard. However, Beatrice, having spoken the second solution, looked as if a heavy burden had been lifted. She stopped crying. Just as the words of a dying person are kind, she, finally on the verge of liberation, had attained a sense of relief in a certain sense.」
「"A spirit cannot commit suicide—if you are unwilling to let Betty become the first in your heart, unwilling to become Betty's 'That Person,' then at least you must—let me, be free."」
「Their eyes met. That pair of eyes seeking death, in which no hope remained, was something Hikigaya Hachiman could not understand at all.」
「Four hundred years. Four hundred years of loneliness. How was he, an ordinary human who had lived only ten or so years, supposed to understand such a thing? Such a massive number sounded incredibly hollow, without a single shred of reality.」
「He had experienced loneliness firsthand, and he had encountered betrayal, but that betrayal wasn't fatal, and the loneliness had only lasted for a short time. He could grasp the strength Yukinoshita displayed in facing a decade of solitude... but, four hundred years.」
「To hold a blank book alone and hide in a Forbidden Library for four hundred whole years—how much hope had been experienced during these four hundred years, and how many times had that hope been returned in full as disappointment? Hikigaya Hachiman could not understand it at all!」
「His study of humans was very thorough, but a four-hundred-year contract... this level of despair, he truly could not feel empathy for Beatrice, could not resonate with her, and found it even harder to comprehend.」
「He knew nothing—though he had heard Beatrice's description, if he couldn't understand it, it was equivalent to knowing nothing. Under such a premise, what could he possibly say to comfort Beatrice?」
「Perhaps every word that fell into Beatrice's ears would just be sharp, ear-piercing self-righteousness.」
「But... even if it was just self-righteousness, he had to speak!」
「"I can't understand it, I can't understand it, Beatrice! Four hundred years of loneliness or whatever—but, you have to live! Living is better than dying! If you're dead, there's nothing; if you're alive, there's still a chance for a turnaround and a future! Only this sentence, I dare to say out loud!"」
「He shook Beatrice's shoulders frantically, desperately trying to make her show an expression—any expression would do. Annoyance, thought, anything; at the very least, mockery!」
「"...Betty has lived long enough."」
「Beatrice showed no expression; she only slowly closed her eyes. She hadn't plugged her ears, yet Hachiman knew she could no longer hear anything.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's lips moved, his mind in a state of chaos. For the first time, he faced a difficulty where he had no idea where to start.」
「"Agh... what the hell is this supposed to be?"」
-
-
-
"Yeah, what the hell is this supposed to be?"
The Tome of Wisdom in her arms fell with a thud to the ground, its chaotic blank pages drifting away with the wind. A dazed Beatrice looked up at the future, lost.
Had she not been standing in this perspective and watching for so long, with all sorts of lingering images of Hikigaya Hachiman in her head—her affection for him, her expectations for him—at this moment, Beatrice might have already fallen into the same despair as her future self.
"—Are you afraid, Beatrice?"
The one who pulled her out of her daze was Roswaal, who had long since seen through everything.
He chuckled lightly. "Are you despairing already, Beatrice? Having seen so much of him, do you still not have enough confidence in him?"
The one who placed high hopes on Hikigaya Hachiman, the one who believed in Hikigaya Hachiman without a doubt, the one who regarded Hikigaya Hachiman as the sun—it was him. It had always been him, Roswaal, who was not only the most certain but also the first.
"The man who can complete my goal, the man who can help me resurrect Teacher, must be extremely powerful. He is the sun! I have always believed this, I have always been so certain—it's just that Teacher is the universe, so the sun that is Hikigaya Hachiman will be arranged by Teacher, that is all."
"That is how the past me thought."
"It's not just you who was waiting; I was also waiting once. Waiting for the arrival of this sun, and then bathing in his radiance."
The muttering Roswaal gave a light smile, appearing very nonchalant.
"So, is your confidence in him only this much, Beatrice?"
"Betty... ugh... who said that? Nonsense, Roswaal, nonsense!"
Rubbing her eyes and hiding her face with her sleeve, Beatrice's heart, which had partially cooled from witnessing that desperate future, was reignited by this provocation.
"Yes, yes... you've accomplished so much, you've solved so much, you've saved so much—then, then! Saving one more person like Betty shouldn't be a problem! You can do it too!"
Beatrice was no longer willing to think about the question of why the Tome of Wisdom was still blank. She took a deep breath.
"—Hachiman!!"
-
-
-
"Four hundred years of loneliness..."
Atop the Pleiades Watchtower, Shaula suddenly became extremely somber. In this world, if anyone could understand the Beatrice of this moment, she might be the only one in the world.
"A four-hundred-year promise... Master!"
It was hard to understand, even hard to imagine.
The existence of Beatrice, the Great Spirit who had lived for four hundred years, had never been a secret among the upper class of the Kingdom of Lugunica.
Throughout history, too many nobles had attempted to act as her "That Person," but no one had ever succeeded.
"I... like Sir Hachiman, am unable to understand. However, those eyes that have lost hope are so shocking."
Crusch, Anastasia, Felt, Priscilla, Emilia—even the candidates standing at the apex of this kingdom could not experience Beatrice's pain.
"I... can't understand it either, but I understand even less why Hikigaya-senpai would say he can't understand. Isn't that too humble? He died so many painful deaths, carrying those burdens alone; that feeling shouldn't be much inferior, should it?"
At the Shirogane household, Shirogane Kei frowned. She didn't want to brag about the suffering Hikigaya-senpai carried, but if it came down to discussing it and asking for a ranking, Hikigaya-senpai would surely be among the top.
"It's not the same, Kei."
Miyuki Shirogane sighed and gave a vivid example: "There is a person suffering from cancer, lying on a hospital bed wailing day and night, receiving treatments that are painfully lethal from morning to evening. Another person has lost their entire multi-billion dollar fortune, becoming a beggar, struggling even to stay warm and fed.
Both of these people carry comparable, nearly unreachable levels of pain and torment. But can these two people say they can understand each other's pain?
Reality is just that much of a bastard, sigh!"
Incomprehensible Torment (Part 2)
「Is there... truly no way out?」
「Since crossing over to this world, he had encountered countless obstacles, almost every one of which could be called thorny. But this time, facing a Beatrice who had given up all struggle, Hikigaya Hachiman found it difficult to use a word as simple as "thorny" to describe the situation. Even for him, there was no immediate solution.」
「There could be many words of comfort and encouragement, but those things had no effect even on himself, who couldn't understand Beatrice's four-hundred-year obsession—let alone the girl standing before him.」
「However, outside this quiet Forbidden Library, his closest friends were risking their lives in battle, fighting to buy him time. So no matter what, no matter what, he had to—」
「"Are you truly such a heartless person?"」
「The girl who had closed her eyes to welcome death felt no pain after a quiet wait. Opening her eyes again, Beatrice's expression and tone became terrifying. There was a bit more "life" in her than before, yet it was a piercing, frigid ice, rebuking and scolding Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「"You refuse to let Betty be free, you ignore Betty's pleas, you are self-righteous and headstrong... Does your tenderness, your affection, truly never pour onto Betty? Has Betty been the only one being sentimental all this time?"」
「"Yes, after all, Betty is the one in this mansion you interact with the least. You only step into this Forbidden Library when you have a need—yet even then, it is never for Betty's sake!"」
「"Betty is not gentle, Betty is not cute, and Betty has not been as good to you as that half-elf and the maid—Betty wouldn't dare expect you to treat her the way you treat them. But can't you even lend a hand to such a convenient request as helping Betty find peace!?"」
「"You are truly too heartless, Hikigaya Hachiman!"」
「"Your view of me is wrong!"」
「Facing the roar, he returned a roar; facing the outcry, he returned an outcry; facing subjectivity, he returned subjectivity.」
「Placing both hands on the shoulders of this girl who watched him with cold eyes and condemned him, Hikigaya Hachiman's surging heart did not stop for a second.」
「"Beatrice, indeed... if I were to say that you are the most important person in my eyes and in my heart, that would be an absolute lie—but it's not right! My interactions with you haven't been few at all, and my feelings for you aren't lacking at all!"」
「That was the month or so he spent staying at the mansion.」
「Training, gathering the villagers' opinions on Emilia, deeply interpreting the current state of the Lugunica Kingdom, talking through the night with Roswaal, and the ups and downs of the battle of wits and courage with Rem and Ram.」
「—Aside from those, the remaining time was spent quietly immersed in Beatrice's Forbidden Library.」
「This was a treasure cave, hiding all sorts of gems.」
「The history of this other world through the ages, mythic epics, stories from four hundred years ago, various customs, traditions, and common sense, as well as books on combat, swordsmanship, and magic—these were the most priceless of priceless treasures.」
「During that month, Hikigaya Hachiman visited this place almost every day, quietly pulling out books to read.」
「Except for the fact that the books he most wanted to see regarding "the other world" simply didn't exist, he gained far too much knowledge here. Thanks to this, his activities in the Royal Capital went off without a hitch. His accurate handling of the nobles and knights was precisely due to the accumulation during that month.」
「"I came for knowledge, so I was always quiet; there's certainly nothing wrong with that. But Beatrice, have you truly forgotten, or are you trying to ignore it on purpose—I, and you, we were both enjoying it. We were both enjoying that quiet time, weren't we!!"」
「"I could feel your presence. When I didn't know where to start looking for a book, it was you who hummed and pointed out which shelf the book I wanted was on. When I encountered characters Ram hadn't taught me yet and asked you for the meaning of words, you answered me every single time."」
「"Your tsundere nature, your gifts, your favors, your kindness to me—all of it, I have always kept it in my heart, Beatrice!!"」
「"You must have been able to feel it too—I would put down my book and leave before mealtimes. Before leaving, I would ask you what you wanted to eat and pass it on to Rem and Ram—to acknowledge your existence."」
「"These things aren't deeply moving enough, and they aren't significant enough to remain in the mind as milestone memories. So every day, the ones I think of are always Emilia, always Rem, always Yukinoshita, even Crusch—but Beatrice, when ordinary daily life accumulates, isn't that the most mellow affection? Isn't that a part of life that can't be forgotten even if one wants to?"」
「"If I really had no feelings for you, if I really felt we had no interaction, if I truly regarded you as an insignificant outsider... just because you watched Rem die... in that case, how could I possibly be willing to wipe away your tears, Beatrice!"」
「With the most sincere expression, the most sincere tone, and most sincerely shaking Beatrice's shoulders, Hachiman's heart nevertheless sank halfway.」
「There was a bit of comfort... Beatrice felt a bit of comfort, a bit of joy.」
「"But you... are not 'That Person'."」
「Yet the aura of her seeking death, her decided liberation, did not waver in the slightest.」
「"That Person..." Hikigaya Hachiman gritted his teeth. If he didn't resolve the knot in Beatrice's heart regarding "That Person" here and now, then he should—」
「"—"」
「In this instant, Beatrice seemed to open her eyes in great surprise. She looked at the door of the Forbidden Library, then turned her head to look at the oblivious Hikigaya Hachiman. Suddenly, she grabbed Hachiman's hand, pulled him along to the door, pushed it open, and left the Forbidden Library together.」
「"Wait, wha—"」
「The world outside the quiet Forbidden Library was already a mess. Bloodstains were everywhere, many walls were damaged with large holes blasted through them, and dust filled the air. The crisp clashing of metal rang out constantly. The beastified Frederica had many chunks of flesh carved from her body, and Ram was panting heavily, with only one hand remaining.」
「"Mr. Hachiman! I can't hold on anymore! You're finally here!!"」
「In the distance, Otto was covered in blood, his face grief-stricken. Near him were the corpses of many of his animal friends. "There are Mabeasts! There are Mabeasts that aren't repelled by the stones! Thank goodness, if you had come out any later, I would have—"」
「None of this seemed so important at this moment.」
「Through the damaged wall, the scene outside became visible.」
「Coming from the direction of the Sanctuary was a gargantuan figure tens of meters tall, a mass of black shadows. Hikigaya Hachiman recognized this new uninvited guest. Her name was...」
「Satella, the Witch of Envy.」
Satella, Facing Death, and Understanding
「"I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you..."」
「The whispers that once haunted his heart had now tangibly manifested in reality. That silhouette—vast enough to rival the White Whale—caused even those unaware of her true identity, like Elsa, Meili, Otto, Ram, and Frederica, to instinctively cease their fighting. From Satella, they felt an overwhelming disparity in power and a sense of pure malice.」
「"Why? Why is she appearing? What is going on?"」
「Amidst the bewildering reality, Hikigaya Hachiman muttered in a low voice. He understood that Satella appeared solely because of him, but why had she remained quiet during so many previous Returns by Death, only to appear this time? What exactly was the catalyst?」
「"Satella, stop!"」
「Racking his brains, Hachiman tried to command Satella, but it was futile. The whispering Satella not only drew closer but also split off shadows to begin attacking the mansion, devouring everything they touched. The method was bone-chilling.」
「"As expected, regardless of how much she says she loves me—and setting aside whether it's true or not—the Witches' values are completely warped. It's hard to say what kind of 'love' this is supposed to be."」
「Finishing his rapid analysis, Hachiman could no longer afford to untie Beatrice's heart-knot. He raised his voice and shouted: "Elsa, Meili, let's call a truce right here! Otto, Ram, Frederica—take Rem and Petra and run, now!"」
「Elsa narrowed her eyes. "This is an unavoidable accident, isn't it? The employer's task will just have to wait until next time."」
「She and Meili, leading their massive army of demon beasts, were about to flee immediately. Death did not frighten them, but everyone shared the consensus that being killed by the enemy before them would be far more terrifying than mere death—it was a premonition they all felt.」
「From the first moment they laid eyes on Satella, everyone felt it.」
「Squelch!」
「In the next second, an uncountable, inexhaustible swarm of shadows blanketed the sky, wrapping around the two of them, ravaging and crushing them before assimilating them into the mass.」
「"Scatter!" Hachiman instinctively leapt and rolled, clutching Rem as he dodged the assault. He then jumped from the second floor of the mansion, calling for everyone to follow.」
「The only one who jumped down with him was Beatrice, who had already embraced the will to die. Otto's scream had barely begun before it ended; in a single encounter, almost everyone in the mansion was wiped out.」
「Beatrice turned her head to look coldly at Satella. She was unafraid; if anything, she felt fortunate that this enemy had arrived.」
「"You leave." Beatrice began to draw upon her stored mana. She intended to use a spatial transport function from her profound mastery of Yin Magic. "If you cannot do it, then let Betty die at her hands. You do not wish to die yet, and Betty will not let you. You and her together—"」
「"I'm not leaving."」
「He was behind her, and then, he stood shoulder-to-shoulder with her.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman forcefully interrupted Beatrice's final wish—the wish that he remain safe as she faced death.」
「"Since things have come to this, let's die together, Beatrice."」
「"Eh?!"」
「Beatrice turned her head in astonishment to look at Hachiman. She saw his face filled with rage, hatred, and countless regrets, and yet... the statement that he would die with her was sincere. It came from the heart, it was voluntary, and there wasn't a single trace of remorse in it.」
「"It's already over," Hachiman sighed.」
「The moment Otto died, this loop was already finished. If there were anyone in this world for whom he would suppress his respect for life and the world to actively use Return by Death, it was undoubtedly Emilia and Rem—and now, there was half a person more... his name was Otto Suwen.」
「Hachiman didn't truly know if he would commit suicide for Otto's sake under safe circumstances... but since he happened to be facing an enemy like Satella who was impossible to defeat, he would absolutely not let Beatrice send him away.」
「"I'm sorry."」
「He whispered, to everyone.」
「"..." Gripping his thick, reliable palm in return, the dying Beatrice allowed a joyful smile to grace her lips.」
「BOOM—」
「The gargantuan shadows enveloped the last three survivors, pulling them into the mass.」
「His ears were filled with an endless "I love you." Hachiman struggled with all his might. Though he'd had the premonition, it was only upon being actually devoured that he felt how truly bad this was. He could die, but it absolutely could not be this way. If he died inside here, he might never be able to start over.」
「Rem and Beatrice had already vanished completely.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman gritted his teeth and drew his sidearm. He was about to slit his own throat when, at that same moment, a flood of fragmented memories and emotions poured into his mind.」
「'In the cold northern lands, a starving little girl uses a glass shard to kill the bakery owner who stripped her bare.'」
「'A wild child, like a savage, split into tens of thousands of green frogs by her so-called mother; torn apart, with fear following like a shadow.'」
「'A mixed-blood demi-human who, upon receiving news of his mother's death, smashed his head against a wall after participating in the Sanctuary trials.'」
「A silver-haired girl thawing from the ice, gentle and kind, facing inescapable malice from all sides with strength, harboring a heart full of deep-seated inferiority and a tragic fate.」
「'With the frenemy Roswaal, with the dear friend Lewes, with Mother Echidna, with Teacher Romanée-Conti, with Brother the Beast of the End—all sorts of beautiful memories from four hundred years ago, all sorts of pasts blurring toward total oblivion.'」
「'Contract... That Person... Waiting... The long wait...'」
「'Hope... disappointment... Hope... disappointment... Hope... disappointment... Hope... disappointment... Hope... disappointment...'」
「'Loneliness... pain... confusion... gloom... doubt... weeping... numbness... despair... loneliness...'」
「"Ah... ah..."」
「"So... that's how it is..."」
「"Four hundred years of waiting, four hundred years of loneliness... so this is what it feels like..."」
「"I... understand now..."」
「"So..."」
「"Next time... wait for me... I definitely..."」
「"Beatrice!!"」
「Intersecting with the overlapping cries of "I love you," Hikigaya Hachiman struggled to raise the weapon in his hand and drew the blade across his own neck.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman—his third death since arriving at the Sanctuary.」
A Relieved Kaguya Shinomiya
"Wait, wait, wait—I'm getting confused again! Why is this other world always like this? The suspense and mysteries are enough to drive someone insane! Even from a god's-eye view, it's still like this. I can't imagine how much of a fog the people actually involved must be in!"
In the Classics Club, Ibara Mayaka was shouting similar frustrations.
Chitanda Eru 's intense curiosity drove her to lean in close to Oreki Houtarou. Because she was so curious and desperate for an answer, she had unknowingly pressed herself almost right up against him.
Oreki Houtarou knit his brows tightly. Regarding Chitanda's "I'm curious," he was truly helpless this time.
"The reason Satella appeared... I can't guess that at all. It was too sudden. Reality isn't a mystery novel; there aren't necessarily detailed foreshadowings and breadcrumbs laid out for you to find.
However, other aspects can be deduced.
The fact that Hachiman was swallowed into Satella's body and absorbed memory fragments from others—including Emilia—indicates that being killed by Satella might mean being digested and sinking into her form. Although the person is gone, the memories wander inside her. In that case, it might not count as a true 'death' that triggers Return by Death... And since his authority was granted by Satella to begin with, Hachiman's decision to commit suicide was perfectly logical.
Furthermore, this proves... that Satella had already finished slaughtering everyone in the Sanctuary."
The detail about Hachiman receiving others' memories was something he had muttered unconsciously; the video hadn't actually shown the specific images of the memories he received.
As soon as Houtarou reached his conclusion, the pupils of everyone present shrank.
"In other words, it's a good thing Hachiman stayed behind for Otto's sake. If he had let Beatrice send him away and lived a bit longer, the save point might have updated to a time after everyone in the Sanctuary had already been massacred by Satella. Is that it?"
"Love..." Chitanda Eru whispered, shaking her head resolutely. "Something like that... how could that be love!"
"I think perhaps the Witch of Envy truly does love Sir Hachiman," Crusch sighed back at the Karsten estate.
"Witches are twisted existences... To make Sir Hachiman one with her, to have him sink into her body forever—while calling that 'love' is mind-boggling, for a Witch, it's actually quite consistent."
Ferris nodded, thinking of the group of Witches in the Sanctuary, each with a worldview weirder than the last.
Watching the "must-save" Hachiman die yet again, Crusch's face was clouded with worry. She was distressed. "But whether Satella loves Sir Hachiman or not is irrelevant; she won't listen to his orders or advice anyway. The problem is, how can I possibly protect him? This is just too difficult, sigh."
As for Roswaal, now that his goals were exposed, the Sage Council would certainly take action, so there was no need to worry there. And if the Sin Archbishops dared to come to the Royal Capital, Reinhard would surely ensure they became "good people" in their next lives.
But the Witch of Envy, Satella... a peak existence from four hundred years ago. Frankly, even with Reinhard's help, her heart was pounding with uncertainty.
"This sort of thing—"
Crusch's anxiety was identical to Emilia's. Like Crusch, Emilia was at her wit's end, her face etched with gloom.
-
-
-
In the Shinomiya estate, within her private bedroom, Shinomiya Kaguya quirked an eyebrow. Her focus was elsewhere.
"Hey, Hayasaka. This Hikigaya Hachiman... he's clearly going to save Beatrice now, isn't he?"
"As you can see, First-person Lady Kaguya," the stoic Ai Hayasaka replied with a bow.
"Since crossing to the other world, first there was Emilia, then Rem, and now another one, Beatrice—granted, these are life-and-death situations so I can understand, and I won't call him a 'scumbag' or anything, but this is really dangerous!"
Kaguya began counting on her fingers. "If you want to be technical, Crusch counts as half a person. If he stayed in the Royal Capital for a few more months, he'd probably end up in 'special relationships' with Anastasia, Felt, and Priscilla too!"
"Your point being?" Hayasaka asked, puzzled.
"My point is, um, don't you think that Yukinoshita Yukino is quite pitiful? She deserves a lot of sympathy!"
Kaguya let out a breath of lingering fear.
"She was the first one there, yet she's essentially losing her beloved. It's terrifying—thank goodness it wasn't the President who crossed over. It's so lucky he didn't. If it were the President, I can't even imagine what would happen. A man as excellent as the President would surely attract butterflies and bees everywhere, right?!"
Hayasaka understood. This was just her awkward Lady Kaguya getting so stimulated that her "love-brain" concentration had exceeded safe levels. She pointed helplessly at the phone. "Since you're so concerned..."
"No!"
Before she could finish, Kaguya—whose face was beet red and who had already imagined having several children with Shirogane Miyuki—immediately covered her maid's mouth.
She stammered, "O-o-of course I will contact the President, eventually. I mean, even Emilia, a candidate for the throne and a noble among nobles, is proactive in love, so of course I... cough. But being too hasty is bad! Yes! That's it!"
"Besides, the President must be watching this right now too! Maybe he'll be so stimulated that he'll call me in the next second, right? So it's best if I just wait, right!"
Hayasaka sighed quietly. "You're truly beyond help, My Lady."
'If you're thinking that, then Shirogane Miyuki, who is just as awkward as you, is probably thinking the exact same thing right now—waiting for you to take the initiative.'
Hayasaka was truly speechless that they were still playing "Love is War" at a time like this.
'That Yukinoshita is in such a pitiful state precisely because she was too reserved in the past and didn't confess to Hachiman before he crossed over... If President Shirogane ever crossed to another world, I'm afraid Lady Kaguya's fate would be even more pitiful than Yukinoshita's.'
-
-
-
「An "I love you" clearer than ever before. An "I love you" repeated more times than ever before. An "I love you" that made him hate her more than ever before.」
「Hummm—」
「Startled awake, Hikigaya Hachiman opened his eyes, gasping for breath. Seeing that he was in the familiar Trial Tomb and that the save point hadn't updated, he slumped to the ground in relief.」
「As he was processing his narrow escape, Emilia also exited the trial nearby. She looked around blankly, eventually spotting Hachiman, who was intentionally avoiding her gaze.」
A Budding Accident, Sorry Rem
「"Hachiman?"」
「"Ah, yeah. It's me. I'm here."」
「"...Why are you deliberately avoiding me?"」
「Emilia, looking dazed, clutched her head as she gazed at Hikigaya Hachiman in confusion. The latter's eyes were darting about; though he looked deeply concerned for her, he seemed to have some specific reservation, refusing to cast his gaze directly upon her no matter what.」
「"That, well... it's..."」
「Hachiman stammered for a good while. His innate talent for lying and the falsehoods that usually came so easily to him suddenly hit a snag in front of Emilia; he couldn't weave a single thing. He didn't want to lie to her, didn't want to deceive Emilia, but how could he possibly put that into words?」
「"How strange, Hachiman. Are you... could you be sick?"」
「"Eh? No, I'm not..."」
「The suspicious silver-haired girl studied him for a moment before suddenly having an epiphany. Forgetting to vent the sudden fear and pain caused by the trial, she rushed to Hachiman's side like a gust of wind, her palm pressing against his forehead.」
「"No fever. Mm-hmm, your complexion is normal too. No feeling of a curse... Phew, it's truly great that you're safe. Hachiman is a good boy for taking such good care of himself. It's really wonderful."」
「Having completed her meticulous observation, the relieved Emilia became even more puzzled. "Hachiman, why did you close your eyes?"」
「In an instant, alarm bells rang in Hikigaya Hachiman's head. Crap—wouldn't this make it seem like he disliked Emilia? Just like those people who discriminated against the silver-haired half-elf, it could easily be misinterpreted as him not wanting to look at her.」
「"Because you are simply too beautiful."」
「"Eh? So Hachiman makes jokes like that too? Um... while it's a bit disappointing to know you're joking, it—it makes me ve~ry happy to hear. Thank you."」
「After a moment of being stunned, Emilia couldn't help but let out a smile, as if a heavy burden had been lifted. The gloom that had just begun to tint her face was driven away.」
「She pursed her lips, pumped her fist to encourage herself, and followed suit by closing her eyes. She leaned in gently, resting herself against that thick, reliable shoulder and chest.
"Thank you... for everything. Even now you're comforting me. It's truly, truly wonderful... Thank you, Hachiman."
「 'You idiot, how could that possibly be a joke or just comfort? Those were my genuine feelings.'」
「Hachiman let out a sigh and tentatively opened his eyes a crack. The sight that met his gaze nearly made him forget to breathe.」
「As if clinging to her only support, her eyelashes trembled slightly. Her features were perfectly formed, delicate to an almost unique degree—so magnificent, so peerlessly beautiful. Emilia snuggled trustingly against his shoulder, radiating a soft aura. That fair, tender face was an eternal magnet for a man's longing.」
「Beyond that, her body—her flawless figure—Hachiman didn't dare look at it at all. He tilted his head back slightly, staring at the cold, stone ceiling.」
「After being swallowed by Satella, he had absorbed many intermittent memory fragments.」
「There were pieces from Beatrice, Elsa, Meili, Garfiel, and also Emilia.」
「After Pandora used her authority to frame Guise into killing Fortuna, the power-crazed Emilia froze the entire forest. She slept for a full hundred years before waking again.」
「At that time, Emilia had nothing but Puck—including clothes.」
「Her waking self, her ignorance of the world, her pure white body... it was all deeply branded into Hikigaya Hachiman's mind.」
「'Rem...'」
「He could only call out to Rem, the girl he had decided to take as his wife, his hero. Even so, he remained at a total loss.」
「In the midst of such peril, with a mountain of problems waiting to be solved, Hachiman felt no sense of "romance" or specific impulses, but...」
「The longing for the silver-haired girl in his arms, which he had suppressed for so long, was like a sprout cracking through the massive boulder weighing it down. It grew vigorously, uncontrollable and surging.」
-
-
-
What Hikigaya Hachiman saw and what he was thinking—these were things that couldn't be seen even from a god's-eye view; one could only speculate.
」
However, his incredibly pure-hearted appearance—wanting to look at Emilia but not daring to, wanting to keep his distance but not having the courage to push her away—already perfectly illustrated his attitude.
Ram was trembling with rage, wanting to scream insults. But out of consideration for Rem, she ultimately didn't dare say anything too harsh to Hachiman. She only snorted coldly, gritting her teeth.
"How does he dare? How does he dare! How long has it been since Rem died! At a time like this, he actually has the heart to flirt! Don't go too far, Hikigaya Hachiman!"
Rem held her sister's hand, biting her lower lip.
"Please don't say that, Sister... Rem doesn't mind. It's okay... Is it really okay?"
'Is it really okay?'
How could that possibly be true?
Rem felt a pang in her heart, so sad she was nearly moved to tears. But she also knew that it couldn't be helped.
"Without a pillar of support, no matter how strong a person is, they can't keep going forever... It's just that Rem is too useless.
If it's Lady Emilia..."
Rem shook her head gently. If it were Lady Emilia, she could at least reluctantly accept it.
At the same time, Ram's murderous intent toward Rem's greatest rival had worsened to an unshakeable degree.
On the streets of the Royal Capital, Puck was so excited he was punching and kicking the air.
Emilia, with both hands curled at her chest, blinked and quickly lowered her head, her face flushed red. But as soon as she looked down, she couldn't help but sneak a peek upward, then turned her head away, only to steal another glance.
Equal measures of panic and happiness blossomed rapidly, leaving her with no idea what to do.
"Puck... am I being very shameless? Am I... taking advantage of a weak moment? Um... while Rem isn't here..."
Emilia pursed her lips. She didn't regret it; in fact, she was very happy—overjoyed that her future self could be so proactive. But the feeling of guilt toward Rem was also very real.
"What nonsense are you talking about, Lia? If we're talking about who was there first, it was you!" Puck put his hands on his hips, tirelessly educating her.
"The one taking advantage was that sad little maid, while you weren't in the Royal Capital, understand?"
"I-is that so?"
"Yes, that's exactly how it is!"
Puck looked at the daughter he had begun to lead astray and nodded with great satisfaction.