Liar, Big Liar
「When he picked up the already sleeping Emilia in a gentle bridal carry and walked out of the tomb, Hikigaya Hachiman realized once again just how flawlessly perfect this girl was, much like Rem. Her light weight could only be described as wonderful.」
「Garfiel and Ram said nothing upon seeing this. They already understood that Emilia's first attempt at the trial had ended in failure. After Hachiman gave a brief explanation, they each headed back.」
「Moving with extreme care and treading softly for fear of waking Emilia, Hachiman didn't let out a breath of relief until he had placed her on the bed and tucked her in. He turned to leave.」
「"...No... help me!..."」
「The moment he turned, a trembling, unconscious murmur made him freeze. Emilia's slender, soft hand reached out blindly and caught his arm.」
「Hachiman turned back. Seeing the tears of terror flowing from Emilia's eyes even in her sleep, he couldn't help but clench his fists.」
「Being eaten by the Great Rabbit, being forced into a lonely suicide, being swallowed by Satella... it was enough.」
「"It's enough, truly enough... so many ways to die, so many deaths."」
「Emilia—she had died in so many ways, so many times.」
「"I want you to live, Emilia. I don't want to let you die anymore... I will help you, I absolutely will. So, I'm sorry, truly sorry."」
「For the sake of the life most important to him, he couldn't stay by her side. He couldn't sit here and keep her company; he had to race against the clock.」
「"...Goodnight, Emilia. And... see you tomorrow."」
「Click.」
「It was already late at night when he left the bedroom, which was filled with a faint, refreshing fragrance. The people of the Sanctuary were all huddled in their houses sleeping, including Garfiel.」
「Under these circumstances, only one person was still moving about outside.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman returned to the tomb he had long since become more than familiar with. He took a deep breath and stepped inside.」
「This save point—this place that caused Emilia so much pain. Upon arriving, Hachiman sat by the wall. He didn't shout; he knew Echidna could see him and understood his intent.」
「If she was willing to see him, then he would surely see her.」
「"If you don't pull me into your Tea Party this time, then from now on, I will never come looking for you again, Echidna."」
「Issuing the most effective threat in the flattest of tones—this was his insurance. As for the curiosity required to enter the Tea Party, Hachiman believed his current thirst for knowledge was undoubtedly at one of its all-time peaks.」
「The moment his threat was uttered, his spirit wavered. Hachiman felt an irresistible force tugging at his soul and consciousness, pulling him somewhere.」
「"Take a good look at the 'Unthinkable Present'..."」
「Hummm—」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes widened. The scene before him made his scalp tingle; it was more blood-curdling than any time before. Every cell in his body seemed to wail.」
「It was reflected. In his pupils, it was reflected—his own corpse.」
「"Liar, liar, liar! Hachiman is a liar, a big liar!"」
「It was the time after the subjugation of Petelgeuse, when he caught up with the convoy transporting the White Whale and found that Rem had been attacked. That was the only time he had committed suicide with absolute resolve.」
「His corpse lay cold in the forest. Blood gushed from the wound on his neck, soaking the ground. He had ceased breathing, his sword still gripped in his hand.」
「Even Ferris, exerting every ounce of effort, could not save his life and collapsed to the ground in despair. Wilhelm was swaying on his feet.」
「A tearful Emilia read the suicide note he had left her over and over again, then turned her head over and over to look at Hachiman's corpse, wavering between hope and despair.」
「"Liar, liar, liar... Why, why? Didn't you say you could come back to life? Didn't you say not to worry? Didn't you say you wouldn't truly die? Didn't you say you were my knight? If that's the case, you would never lie to me, right? So... please, stop joking, stop playing tricks. Wake up quickly, resurrect quickly, Hachiman, Hachiman, ah, ahhhh, uwaaaaa, Hachiman, you big liar, ahhhh..."」
「Heart-wrenching, despairing, and numb. It was more hoarse and desperate than the cries of terror and pain she emitted after so many trials.」
「"I'm here... I'm right here... Emilia! Emilia!..."」
「His screams could not be conveyed. Everyone, the entire world, was fading away. Like a drowning man surfacing on the shore, Hikigaya Hachiman gasped for air as his consciousness returned to reality. His eyes were filled with an indescribable complexity of emotions.」
「But before he could organize his thoughts and regain his composure, the "Present" trial—clearly following the "Past"—struck again. There was no gap to catch his breath.」
「"I won't allow it! I won't allow it! I will never allow it! If you must bury someone, bury the body of Lady Emilia! My dear friend, my companion—since he had Lady Crusch witness and write that suicide note long ago, it proves he must be right! My friend, Hikigaya Hachiman, will definitely not die like this. He will surely resurrect, he will surely make things right! Get away! Away! All of you, leave!! I will wait, I must wait! As the sinner who killed his best friend, I must wait until the truth in his letter happens! All of you, get out!!"」
「With disheveled hair and a crazed expression, Julius stood before Hachiman's corpse. He possessed none of the elegance he once held as the "Finest Knight." Like a roaring lion, he swung his blade at anyone who approached, and not even his lord, Anastasia, could persuade him to abandon that unrealistic delusion.」
「"Hahaha, hahahaha... How long must I wait? How long? I can wait forever. I must... as a sinner, I must... I'm waiting for you, Hikigaya Hachiman."」
「"Take a good look at the 'Unthinkable Present'..."」
「After being killed by Elsa in the Royal Capital.」
「"Take a good look at the 'Unthinkable Present'..."」
「After being cursed to death by the Mabeasts at the mansion.」
「"Take a good look at the 'Unthinkable Present'..."」
「After being forcibly twisted by Sloth.」
「"Take a good look at the 'Unthinkable Present'..."」
「Every death, every world, every outcome, every single, single, single time...」
「"Take a good look at the 'Unthinkable Present'..."」
「"Take a good look at the 'Unthinkable Present'..."」
「"Take a good look at the 'Unthinkable Present'..."」
「"Ah, ahhh... AAAAAAHHHH!!!!"」
The Man Whose Strings Will Never Snap
「Countless repetitions, repeating scenes of the failures he caused; countless witnesses, witnessing the worlds that followed his deaths. Drowning, unable to breathe, like a diver plunging deeper and deeper—lungs devoid of oxygen, filled with water, still being poured in, threatening to burst.」
「From his first death to the most recent one at the hands of Satella, he experienced every possibility in its rawest form, seeing them all from beginning to end.」
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"Wha—what is this? What is this thing, hey!"
Kousaka Kirino's eyes were wide as she swallowed hard. Trembling all over, she scuttled behind her brother Kyousuke, abandoning her tsundere act to cling to his back, yet she still felt terrified.
While in those worlds—those "Unthinkable Presents"—Emilia, Julius, and the others were pitiful, and just one look would stir anyone's compassion to the point of tears, that sentiment only existed if one focused solely on them.
Her gaze—no, the gaze of the entire world—was undoubtedly focused far more on Hikigaya Hachiman.
They saw his eyes bloodshot, his jaw clenched so tight the veins bulged; they saw his breathing and heartbeat becoming increasingly erratic; they saw the two lines of tears flowing uncontrollably down his face; they saw how he clearly wanted to look away but was forced to watch it all to the finish.
"How terrifying..."
The only thing one could feel was terror.
"Echidna... is truly terrifying!"
"She's toying with him, she's cornering him... It's too much, it's too much, it's really too much!"
Even someone like Kousaka Kirino, who would normally scream that Hachiman was a "scumbag" when her low EQ prevented her from seeing the truth, and who would be too stubborn to mutter an apology afterward—even someone like her felt a heartfelt sense of injustice for Hikigaya Hachiman.
However, even that anger toward Echidna for manipulating the trial and the indignation for Hachiman's sake could not suppress the fear.
It was a shadow almost comparable to watching Otto being devoured by the Great Rabbit—the kind of trauma that would follow one for a lifetime.
Just then, a hand covered her eyes.
"Don't look, Kirino."
Kyousuke Kousaka's face was grim. His feelings were different from Kirino's; right now, his heart was in sync with Shirogane Miyuki, Uesugi Fuutarou, Oreki Houtarou, and the others...
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"E—chid—na—!!"
If he hadn't been scolded by his daughter earlier for causing widespread accidental freezing after a mana outburst, the growling Puck would certainly be doing so now.
Echidna was its creator, yet to Puck, Emilia was its everything—the very meaning of its existence. Echidna was toying with Hikigaya Hachiman, curious to see exactly at what point his mind would approach collapse...
And when that moment arrived, that would be her cue to appear, to complete her goal—taking advantage of his vulnerability. That was her plan.
Puck wasn't considering Hikigaya Hachiman's sake like the others; it was considering Emilia's.
If Hachiman's spirit broke because of this trial and he could no longer protect Emilia, Puck didn't even dare to imagine the consequences!
"...No, no—stop it, stop it quickly, I beg you!..."
Unlike Puck's complicated thoughts, the stunned Emilia's desperation was at its purest.
Though it might sound presumptuous, the pain she felt now was likely not much less than Hachiman's. Just thinking about how heart-wrenching it must be for Hachiman to be treated this way made Emilia feel a pain so sharp it was almost as if she were experiencing it herself.
Because, standing here, helplessly watching Hachiman die for her so many times—that feeling was exactly the same as what he was feeling now!
"Mother... No, you aren't... You aren't fit to be Betty's mother, Echidna! You aren't at all! You don't deserve it!"
On the roof of the Roswaal mansion, Beatrice squeezed out low but incredibly firm words through gritted teeth as she trembled.
Regardless of what Roswaal had said to her before, seeing Hikigaya Hachiman—the man willing to die with her—in such a tragic mental state, tortured to the point of nearly becoming like Petelgeuse, she finally spoke those words of her own accord.
"Betty's mother would never be such a person!!"
Falling alongside her words was the thunderous sound of Rem's morning star smashing into the ground outside the Village, venting her fury.
At the Karsten estate, Ferris glanced nervously at Crusch. "Lady Crusch..."
"There's no need for that worried look, Ferris. I... I can handle it."
Crusch was murmuring as if hypnotizing herself: "If it's Sir Hachiman, he can definitely do it. If it's Sir Hachiman, he certainly won't be defeated. Because it's Sir Hachiman, it will be alright. I believe in him."
"—So, there's no need to look after me like this, Yukinoshita."
In the convenience store, Hikigaya Hachiman—who had just finished a call with Shizuka-sensei—shook his head gently, moving Yukinoshita's soft, protective hand away from his eyes.
"Things have come to this; whether it's the me of now or the me of the future, I won't be broken by this level of treatment anymore. The future me has already discarded his 'genuine article'; if the current me can't even bear to watch his suffering, then I wouldn't be 'me' at all, Yukinoshita."
"...Now, on the contrary, I wish you weren't so strong, Hikigaya-kun," Yukinoshita sighed softly, wordlessly leaning into the arms of this resilient man.
"This lowly, wretched woman! A mere clown! Truly an eyesore for Mine eyes!"
Frowning noticeably, Priscilla Barielle, radiating a chilling aura, insulted the culprit Echidna with her most venomous words. "To dare insult My intended subordinate so, to insult My nobility... there is no room left for your filthy soul to linger in existence. I shall strip you bare and hang you from the city gates of the Royal Capital!"
Al, long accustomed to his master's arrogance and overbearing nature, simply shrugged. His deep eyes were actually lingering on something that had happened earlier—the appearance of the Witch of Envy, Satella.
At that moment, his heart had nearly stopped from fright. Though many in this world feared the Witch of Envy, without a doubt, no one feared Satella to the degree he did.
"Hey, hey, hold on, brother... hold on, and then... maybe only you, only you can kill her—kill my nightmare!"
Hikigaya Hachiman's ragged breathing was transmitted through the light screen to everyone's ears. At this moment, the vast majority of people were terrified into a dead silence.
「And then, finally...」
「Every "Present" following Hikigaya Hachiman's deaths up until now had finally been displayed in full!」
Sign the Contract, Monster
「"...Are you... kidding me? Echidna! Get—Get out here!!"」
「"At this point, do you think I'd still fear those possibilities? At this point, do you think I haven't considered the potential of these parallel worlds? At this point, do you think I'll be crushed by guilt and remorse?"」
「"At this point, whatever the faults may be, whether the cycles I've discarded one after another are truly parallel worlds—that kind of thing... that kind of thing... absolutely cannot stop my forward progress!"」
「"If I have already failed so many times, if I have caused so many Emilias and Rems—so many people I love—to die in agony or live in aimless numbness and weeping..."」
「"Then at the very least, at the bare minimum, I..."」
「"I am not going to mourn and grieve for the many Emilias and Rems who are already beyond help. If those worlds are real, I will atone for them later. But right now, I..."」
「"I am going to do everything in my power to save the Emilia of this world, of this cycle, who is still alive and well!!"」
「"So—you, get, out here!! ECHIDNA!!!!"」
「His eyes were bloodshot as if facing an unwatchable horror. His mind was a buzzing mess, and his limbs were so cold they were difficult to control. He was on the verge of being unable to breathe, on the verge of wanting to commit suicide. His hands and feet were cramping, and he could feel various forms of paralysis and spasms triggered by the abnormal rhythm of his heart.」
「And yet, he could still roar.」
「And yet, he still had his reason.」
「And yet, his eyes remained open.」
「Staggering, Hikigaya Hachiman braced himself against the wall, his forehead and back drenched in cold sweat. Then, finally, amidst the roar echoing through the tomb, he saw her—Echidna appearing before him.」
「With stumbling steps—if there were a mirror, he would have seen how closely he resembled a zombie from a movie. His posture, his spirit, and that indescribably cold gaze actually frightened the Echidna before him, causing her to clutch her head and tremble.」
「"Don't...! I'm not, I'm not Echidna!"」
「"—"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was startled to find this "Echidna" changing her appearance, becoming a girl only slightly taller than Beatrice, with pink hair and a very long scarf wrapped around her neck.」
「"I'm not Echidna, I'm Carmilla, the Witch of Lust." Carmilla explained, trembling as if he were about to scare her to tears. "It's not that I wanted to... Whoever you want to see, I'll look like that in your eyes. Little Echidna told me to come and comfort you, saying you were very scared right now, but, but..."」
「"Then tell Echidna to come out and talk to me herself!!"」
「"My, my~ your attitude toward me is as consistently poor as ever. Although I've grown somewhat used to it, seeing you be so double-standard—looking at how you treat that annoying, nauseating Emilia—it really does make me sad."」
「The moment Hachiman finished speaking, his soul was familiarly transferred. In an instant, he appeared at the site of the Tea Party. In this vast, open area, as always, Echidna sat poised in her chair, lightly holding her Tea.」
「"Echidna..."」
「"What is it?" Addressed by that raspy voice, Echidna paused with a smile. She looked at Hikigaya Hachiman with extreme curiosity, eager to see what kind of reaction he would have.」
「"I have questions for you."」
「"Mm-hmm... such a flat reaction. To be able to suppress the urge to kill me at a time like this, you really are quite peculiar. Though, um... how should I put it? Not quite interesting enough? However, the fact that you survived the devastation of the trial actually surprises me quite a bit. In that regard, it's already exceptionally interesting."」
「The teacup met the table with a clink. Echidna, her hands now free, let out a smile. "Oh dear, let me guess. What you want to ask must be..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman, walking with a staggering gait and radiating a deathly aura, approached Echidna step by step. He leaned down, staring at her coldly and devoid of emotion like a robot, meeting her gaze at eye level, enunciating every word:」
「"The essence of Return by Death, 'That Person' you asked Beatrice to wait for, and the reason for Satella's appearance."」
「"Very well, I can tell you. However, there is a price." Echidna said with a smile. She mused for a moment, seemingly wanting to take the opportunity to make an excessive demand. "Sign a contract with me."」
「"I refuse."」
「"As expected." She puffed out her cheeks in a pout, looking like a grumpy, cute girl. However, her pleasant smirk betrayed her, having satisfied yet another unknown part of herself. "Fine, then. I want you to listen seriously to the contract I propose, then think about it seriously, and make the most earnest decision from your heart. After that, I will answer your questions."」
「Hachiman gave a slight nod.」
「"Then, please listen well to my request."」
「Echidna stood up from her chair, pinching her skirt and spinning around airily. She was as cheerful as a young girl in love about to confess.」
「"I sign a contract with you. You will gain everything of mine—all of it. My knowledge, my wisdom, my power. No price required, no secrets kept. I will help you, actively help you, to ensure you reach the most perfect and correct ending. Even this soul, this body—if you have the need, you can vent your sexual desires upon it as you please."」
「"In return, I will gain everything of yours—all of it. Your choices, your thoughts, your reflections, the feelings of every Return by Death—I will see them all. And it won't just be seeing anymore; I will experience them with you, I will be bound to you. I will satisfy every, every, every unknown. Only you, who possesses Return by Death, can satisfy me in this way."」
「"This side or that side—for you, it's all the best, excellent, positive, and proactive—You are a monster. You are a rational monster. You, this monster, are different from me, from Daphne, and the others, but you are indeed a monster. A monster just like us."」
「"A monster like you will surely understand. A monster like you will surely calculate. A monster like you will surely see how immense your gains will be."」
「"Am I lying? —You must surely understand. Everything I've said regarding the contract is sincere. So."」
「Echidna prattled on all of this in a single breath. Finally, she narrowed her eyes and said with a beaming smile:」
「"Hikigaya Hachiman, you monster, come and sign a contract with me!"」
Revenge Against the Fake
"Proposing a deal with such a friendly face after toying with someone so thoroughly without their consent... Even though I am hailed as the most successful merchant in the Kingdom of Lugunica, compared to this Witch of Greed, my skin is actually quite thin."
Anastasia mocked with disdain. Her eyes were sharp; relying on her merchant's intuition, she instinctively sensed that there must be an unspoken trap hidden within this contract.
If it were her, she would find that trap no matter what.
However—
Hikigaya Hachiman was not Anastasia.
「"I refuse."」
「He could sense the trap, but there was no need to seek it out. This answer was earnest, carefully considered, yet delivered precisely and instantly as the last syllable left Echidna's lips.」
「"And the reason?"」
「"There is no reason."」
「Echidna toyed with her chin with interest, scrutinizing Hachiman. She didn't show the slightest hint of disappointment at being rejected; instead, she was brimming with excitement. "How rare. You actually lied here. You know, don't you? It's impossible for you to deceive me in this place."」
「Hachiman sneered with a rare, cold curl of his lip. His voice was exceptionally raspy and frigid, and the content of his words was even more chilling. "The truth is, there are so many reasons I could never finish listing them, so I don't intend to tell you even one. Just hold onto your curiosity forever, Echidna."」
「"This is—"」
「Echidna's eyes widened. She trembled, a sudden flush creeping over her face. She pressed her hands to her chest, looking profoundly moved. "Ah... ahhh... I see, I see! Have I finally pushed you past the limit of what you can endure? Are you coming to take your revenge on me? Not with fists or a blade, but by making me curious, making me wonder, denying me the answer, refusing to satisfy me, making me itch with desire, leaving me unfulfilled and unable to stop... Ahhh, once you've hardened your heart, this is the method you choose to deal with me? Marvelous! It's the best, truly the absolute best—I see, I see! In that case, I'm even more loath to let you go, monster."」
「The jubilant Echidna was like a fluttering butterfly. She smiled. "Since that's the case, well, how about this?"」
「"I will tell you. I want to tell you. I can tell you."」
「"What if I said that even if you manage to overcome the hurdles of the Sanctuary and the mansion on your own, you will face difficulties in the future far more unsolvable than these? Hmm~ let me think~"」
「"Perhaps the current Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus, will forcibly take that annoying Emilia to be his wife? Perhaps the dormant Pandora will become active again to claim the key? Perhaps you will personally kill your lover, your lord, your friends? Perhaps your hero will turn against you and become your mortal enemy? Perhaps, perhaps~ My, my, what else? Will these things truly happen?"」
「"What will happen... to you without me? Your wisdom is, at most, merely excellent among mortals. In the face of overwhelming power, can you keep solving everything forever and ever? Are you going to abandon a readily available insurance policy and helping hand for the sake of your own hatred, your stubbornness, your bottom line? What will you do if you encounter a situation where even Return by Death is useless?"」
「"A bottom line that has already been broken once—do you really intend to keep insisting on it? Can a bottom line that has been broken once truly still be called a bottom line?"」
「"If I am with you, I can lead you to the most perfect ending. The ending you desire. Even a dream-like ending where not a single person dies or gets hurt—the conclusion you long for in your dreams—I can help you achieve all of it."」
「The murmurs were rapid, the words intensely seductive. Smiling craftily, Echidna watched Hikigaya Hachiman's ashen face with satisfaction, her body heating up with joy and delight. "Right now, immediately, very soon, and then—"」
「"That's enough!!"」
「A thunderous boom erupted. Minerva, the Witch of Wrath—who had technically saved Hachiman once before—appeared by striking the earth. She pointed at Echidna in a fury and shouted: "I am absolutely livid! Infuriated! Outraged! Echidna, her words are true, she didn't lie, but she is hiding things! She didn't explain everything clearly!"」
「"To ensure the fairness of the contract, I suppose I must step out and explain a bit too. Sigh~ allow me to introduce myself, I am Sekhmet, the Witch of Sloth. Sigh~"」
「On the other side, a new Witch suddenly appeared, lying on the ground. Judging by her height, figure, and the maturity of her voice, she was the eldest of the Witches, appearing to be around twenty-seven or twenty-eight. She let out a yawn after every sentence.」
「"Th-that... what Little Echidna didn't mention is... the... process." The one speaking with a trembling voice was Carmilla, the Witch of Lust from moments ago.」
「Hachiman looked around. Before he knew it, the Witches he had met and those he hadn't—including Typhon, the Witch of Pride, and Daphne, the Witch of Gluttony—had all appeared at this Tea Party.」
「"The rule about only one Witch appearing at a time was also a lie, I see." Hachiman gave a mocking laugh. More than the anger of being deceived, he felt that he truly had nothing left to say regarding the person known as Echidna, the Witch of Greed.」
「When the Witches tried to explain further for him, Hachiman raised his hand, signaling them to be quiet.」
「"I don't know why you're helping me, but I can see the trap for myself. So, let me say it. I don't intend to owe a group of Witches any favors for no reason."」
「Hachiman glared coldly at Echidna. She remained beaming with smiles; even in this unfavorable situation, she showed no irritation. "You would help me reach the most perfect ending, but your goal is to peer into my possibilities and satisfy your curiosity. Therefore... it would be the most perfect ending, but not the most perfect process. Isn't that right, Echidna?"」
「Echidna replied with a beaming smile, "Those are necessary sacrifices. You, of all people, can understand that. After all, you even sacrificed your 'genuine Thing,' didn't you?"」
「"Yeah. That's why you are the fakest of all fakes."」
「Following this seemingly non-sequitur response, an uncontrollable laugh escaped Hachiman's throat. It started as a few derisive chuckles, then the laughter became more continuous and louder, until he was doubled over, clutching his stomach.」
「"Ha, hahahaha... Echidna, you... Echidna, Echidna!! You... truly are the one I hate most, the one who sickens me most, the one I find most repulsive of all!!"」
The Wishful Calculations of Reality
"Huh?"
Garfiel froze for a moment before finally understanding Hikigaya Hachiman's meaning. He opened his mouth to insult the scheming Echidna, but before a word could escape, he was slapped again by Granny Shima. "This—"
"Quiet, Gar-boy." A group of Lewes clones shook their heads gently, pointing toward the heavens and the earth.
It was one thing for others to insult Echidna, but Garfiel was currently inside the Sanctuary, right within Echidna's tomb. If he spoke out of turn, the "arrangements" made for him would be disastrous.
Reminded of this, Garfiel forcefully changed his tune to play it off: "Th-this—this impressive calculation is truly brilliant, hahahaha! But the General is also very smart, hahahahaha!"
Garfiel's disrespect did not escape Echidna's eyes, but at this moment, she had no interest in "arranging" this little kitten. Instead, she was watching this future confrontation with great relish.
Typhon was shouting and jumping nearby. "Dona-Dona got rejected! How pitiful!"
Pitiful?
Echidna smiled; she found it purely aesthetic.
"Being able to know a future I didn't know beforehand... this is exceedingly interesting~"
As for emotions like flying into a rage out of shame, she naturally had none. Although she valued Hikigaya Hachiman quite highly, the only people truly capable of stirring her meager, almost non-existent emotions were essentially Satella and Emilia.
"Hmm~ in a moment like this, should I be angry? If I were angry, the scent of a 'fake' wouldn't be so obvious, would it? It seems I still need to study the art of refined acting."
Echidna thought of a very interesting future.
That possibility alone made her tremble with excitement.
"Caring for Hikigaya Hachiman meticulously from the moment we meet, encountering him even earlier than that bitch Emilia, telling him 'I love you' a hundred times a day, and treating him with the same devotion as Emilia, Rem, Reinhard, Julius, or Otto."
"If I did that, how would he react?"
Lifting her lips in a meaningful smile, Echidna pressed her legs together, a flush of excitement appearing on her face.
"Ahhh~ if he mistook me, the world's greatest fake, for the 'genuine Thing' most worth defending... if that preconception were in place, faced with the persuasion of so many of the dear friends he was meant to have, would he believe in me and protect me? Would he keep his guard up against bitches like Emilia, or would he trust those 'genuine' people and realize the truth?
If it were the latter, having received so many of my favors, how conflicted would he be when he finally discards me? How different would he be from the 'current' version of him? This truly is the greatest unknown in history. Ahhh, interesting, truly interesting, it's just too interesting~"
Everyone knew how wicked Echidna was, but—
After seeing the original future, to plan such a scheme... this was something no one could have imagined.
Witch... for those who held this title, the "lower limit" of what the Witch of Greed, Echidna, would do to satisfy her curiosity was something no one could truly comprehend!
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「Without a shred of anger, still smiling, Echidna gazed at Hikigaya Hachiman. "If you choose me, you could reach a perfect ending at the very least, you know? Without me, I wonder if you'll fall... hmm, that too is a possibility worth discussing."」
「"I refuse to sign a contract with you, Echidna."」
「"My, my, how stubborn." Echidna pouted her lips with a smile. "I was originally worried about you being scouted by others, stolen away by others... but it turns out the greatest obstacle to claiming you was myself? That is quite unexpected. However, I'm liking you more and more, I'm loving you more and more, Hikigaya Hachiman. Even though some time has passed, the 'me' from before who called you boring really deserves to have her eyes gouged out."」
「"Your love sickens me."」
「Watching the completely unswayed Hikigaya Hachiman, Echidna's expression suddenly darkened, but that darkness was not directed at him. Echidna turned her head, looking in another direction, her voice laced with sarcasm. "Oh my... just how much do you loathe it, how much does it repel you, how much does it make you want to vomit? Hmm, let me think. For example—does her love make you vomit?"」
「At the same time, the gazes of the other Witches shifted as well, drawing Hachiman's attention until he couldn't help but turn his head. Then, he was struck with astonishment.」
「In that direction, a new guest had appeared.」
「Her figure and height were close to those of the Witch of Sloth—the appearance of a mature woman in her twenties. Her clothing resembled a wedding dress, and she radiated an endless, heavy aura. With every step she took, she whispered "I love you" countless times.」
「"The Witch of Envy... Satella—"」
「"To cross so many boundaries and finally arrive at the Castle of Dreams." Echidna watched with cold eyes; the fluctuation in her emotions was visible to the naked eye, her tone icy.」
「Aside from Echidna and Sekhmet, the other Witches seemed quite intrigued by Satella's arrival.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's index finger trembled involuntarily. His lips moved, but... he could say nothing. He... didn't know. He didn't know how to treat Satella.」
「And the reason why... was because—」
「Satella's appearance: long silver hair, dark purple eyes, flawless and exquisite features, and a fair face. That countenance—because every element was the same—no... rather than saying it was because of those elements, it was because she inherently looked just like Emilia. Or rather, Emilia looked just like her.」
「Fortunately, they weren't identical to the point of being indistinguishable, so he wouldn't mistake one for the other. Even so, Hikigaya Hachiman was truly shocked.」
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"This... this is wrong, isn't it? How could..."
The person most shocked was Emilia.
To see Hikigaya Hachiman endure the torment and avoid falling into Echidna's trap—these were things she could at least feel a small sense of relief over. But immediately after, she was left speechless.
Emilia truly began to wonder if her mother was actually Satella. Although Juice and Mother Fortuna both said her mother was dead... this appearance...
"Puck..."
Faced with his daughter's tearful plea for help, Puck sighed helplessly.
"What your relationship to her is, even I don't know... However, you are definitely not mother and daughter, that's for certain!"
Emilia didn't know whether to be happy or to sigh... However, Satella also loved Hikigaya Hachiman. If she wasn't her mother, then at least a feeling of relief was the largest part of her heart.
But immediately, worry overwhelmed everything else again.
"Hachiman... what are we going to do..."
Satella's Love, Hikigaya Hachiman's Response (Part 1)
"This is truly, completely unexpected. I honestly have no idea how to deal with this anymore."
Shirogane Kei held her forehead.
"Where are we even in the story? The Sin Archbishops are still a complete mystery, yet the Witches have already appeared as a group—including Satella, the mastermind who brought Hikigaya-senpai to this world, and Echidna, the culprit behind his current suffering.
Normally, wouldn't these final-boss types appear at the very end to settle the score?
Wait, actually—"
The muttering Kei's eyes suddenly lit up.
"The mastermind and the culprit are all gathered in one place! That means if he just asks all his questions here, orders them to stop their schemes and stay their hands, it could be a happy ending! Everything could be peaceful from now on!"
As soon as she spoke, she saw her brother looking at her as if she were a simpleton.
Shirogane Miyuki, who served as the student council president for a school full of children of important people, was far less naive than his sister. He shook his head.
"If it were possible, Hikigaya-kun would certainly want it to be that easy. But Kei, think about it carefully.
Hikigaya-kun might hope for that, but will Echidna and Satella cooperate? In reality, there are plenty of wars on our planet. Leaders of Middle Eastern countries meet and talk with the Presidents of the largest nations, but it often changes nothing."
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「"I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you..."」
「"What do you love about me? Where do you love me? Why do you love me? Since you keep saying you love me, can you step in and solve the problems at the Sanctuary and the mansion right now? Can you help me kill Echidna? Can you help me save Rem and restore Crusch's memories? ...Tch."」
「"I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman gritted his teeth... As expected, Satella remained as headstrong as ever. She didn't care about his will at all... Yet, that surging, massive affection, like a tidal wave about to drown him, was absolutely not fake.」
「That love, which was as omnipresent as the air, even made Hachiman realize a terrifying fact: the sheer volume of Satella's love for him seemed even deeper than his own love for Rem or Emilia.」
「"What a heartless man, inciting others to kill me right to my face."」
「"Absolutely! No! One! Gets! Hurt!! I am currently extremely indignant! I will never permit a second time!! My rage is hitting the sky!!"」
「"Th-that, Satella-chan is very important, but but, you also can't kill Echidna-chan. That is a forbidden matter."」
「"I was joking." Receiving the immediate intervention from everyone, the previously serious Hachiman instantly changed his tune. Even though everyone knew he wasn't joking at all, in this world, pretending to be a fool is a survival skill.」
「Satella's pace was slow. She approached Hikigaya Hachiman step by step. Before she reached him, Hachiman looked at the other Witches, his heart full of confusion. "Doesn't the history of this world record that you were all killed by Satella? Why are you so friendly toward her?"」
「Carmilla raised her hand tremblingly to answer him. "Th-that, 'Envy' and Satella-chan are... n-not the same person... Though it's not quite accurate to say that, they are like two personalities of the same person."」
「"But that doesn't stop Satella from being the mastermind who made you suffer." Echidna laughed very happily, her eyes fixed intently on Hikigaya Hachiman, not missing a single detail of his expression. "Come, let me see how you will treat her."」
「"I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you, I love you..."」
「The whispering Satella arrived before Hachiman with a slightly vacant gaze. Her state was somewhat off; her spirit wasn't fully awake. It seemed half of her relied on instinct, while the other half was her true self.」
「Yet, whether it was instinct or self, both loved Hikigaya Hachiman with total consistency.」
「Hachiman took a half-step back. "That phrase again... only that phrase again... If you love me, then why did you kill me before?!"」
「He was questioning Satella, but his voice didn't sound like a rebuke.」
「Satella froze for a moment. As she whispered, faint tears appeared on her face. "Do not be sad, do not be grieved, do not suffer, do not cry, do not hurt yourself, do not sacrifice yourself, do not belittle yourself..."」
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"So she really does love Hikigaya Hachiman?"
Mitaka Jin was dumbfounded. The confused residents of Sakurasou all focused their eyes on him, waiting for his explanation.
Jin said in a weary tone: "She doesn't want Hachiman to be hurt, in pain, sad, or forced to break his own bottom line. So she got angry. She was furious at Emilia, Roswaal, Elsa, and the others for letting Hachiman fall to this state. That's why she appeared and killed everyone."
Kanda Sorata gave a confused "Ah?" and asked, "Then why kill Hachiman too?"
"Because that was both killing him and not killing him. It was letting him live forever with her. That was her expression of love."
Jin threw up his hands. "You've been watching this long enough to know how twisted the Witches' values are."
"Then why didn't she save Emilia?" Nanami Aoyama's brow was furrowed.
"Why... heh." Jin shook his head and sighed.
"Because a woman in love only has eyes for the one she loves. As for anyone else, why should she care? Not to mention that both Emilia and Rem are Satella's love rivals. She's already being generous by not erasing those two completely."
Based on his experience of tasting the romantic outpouring of over a hundred women, Jin Mitaka arrived at the most accurate answer.
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「Relying on his delicate thinking, employing both his sensibility and his reason, Hikigaya Hachiman also arrived at the most accurate answer through his wisdom.」
「"You..." He resisted, resisting Satella's approach. "A person like you, with this kind of thinking, this kind of action... how could I possibly fall in love with someone like you! Satella!"」
「"Do not ravage yourself, do not value others more than you value yourself, do not think of yourself as a sinner, protect yourself, cherish yourself, respect yourself, do not forget—you are the most important. I love you..."」
Satella's Love, Hikigaya Hachiman's Response (Part 2)
「"If you truly want me to respect myself, cherish myself, and protect myself, then—give me more, much more help! Make it so I no longer have to watch Emilia die! Make it so I can live properly with Rem! Make it so my opponents and enemies are just people like Crusch and Anastasia—admirable, respectable, friendly rivals who know when to stop—instead of Sin Archbishops of the Witch Cult who murder without a second thought! Do you actually understand? Do you understand what I need? For me to be stable, at the very least, the people I value need to be healthy and safe!!"」
「Shameless... yes, shameless.」
「He had already obtained an Authority like Return by Death, which approached omniscience and omnipotence from a certain angle, yet he still demanded more, required more, remained utterly unsatisfied. How could there be such an unblushing person in this world? Truly a fool, someone with no value in living; he should just hurry up and die.」
「But, but... he said it. Even with that self-awareness, he said it anyway.」
「To a woman who loved him, a woman whose love was unrequited, a pitiful woman in a one-sided love—he coldly spat out these shameless words... No, it wasn't a simple one-sided love; there was a type of love vibrating from the depths of his soul... but it was unrequited, it could only be unrequited, it had to be unrequited.」
「However, he did not receive the response he wanted. There were no new gifts, no promise to protect Emilia; she only repeated roughly the same words. Satella—her eyes held only him. She only loved him, so she only cared about him.」
「"Why... did you not notice? Why... do you turn a blind eye? Why... do you deliberately hide it? Why... do you force yourself to be strong? Why... do you sacrifice yourself?" Satella spoke with heartfelt sincerity; she saw through to the truth beneath Hikigaya Hachiman's false mask. "Why do you forget your pursuit, your ideals, your self, your genuine thing, your dreams... Why do you give up? Why do you discard them? Why do you abandon them? Why... do you cut yourself into a thousand pieces?"」
「Her voice possessed an ethereal beauty, but falling into Hachiman's ears, it was sharper and more grating than any insult, mockery, or curse. It threw his breathing and heart rate into disarray. Because of the extreme pain, he was forced into a state of agonizing clarity, much like the moments of his passing while being devoured by the Great Rabbit.」
「"No..."」
「"Do not treat yourself that way, you are the most important—notice it. Your pain, your sadness, your suppression..."」
「"No..."」
「"Do not deceive yourself, do not hide from yourself, do not hurt yourself. You are the most important—your body, your life, your soul, the most important things you have lost."」
「"No..."」
「Something Echidna had struggled with all her might to achieve—making Hikigaya Hachiman lose his composure completely—was being forced out at this moment by a few lines of genuine concern and demand from Satella.」
「"I said, enough. I said, I won't do that. I said, you can stop, Satella!!"」
「Hachiman took a deep breath, but even so, he was still heavily off-balance. "I cherish myself, I always have! I respect myself, I always have! I care for myself, I always have! If I hadn't protected myself properly, how could I still be this normal? —But, I am absolutely NOT the most important. I'm not!"」
「"There are people more important than me. That was true before, it is true now, and it will be true in the future! If it's for the sake of someone worth it, it doesn't matter what happens to me. This is my self-satisfied sentimentality being forced upon them, but so what? I want to do it. I am sober! I know what I'm doing, I know my heart and my actions! So there's no need for you to chime in and critique my lifestyle!"」
「"My physical and mental state is bad! I'm in a terrible spot! I know perfectly well that my current state is like walking on the edge of a cliff where it wouldn't be strange to fall at any moment! But I have not held this world in contempt! I have not held any person in contempt! I have not held any single life in contempt! I am working hard, using my wisdom, my logic, my meticulousness, and my meager strength! Every death is a last resort; before that, I have already exerted my maximum effort and never once thought, 'It doesn't matter because I have Return by Death as insurance!' As long as that's true, then I am still me! Hikigaya Hachiman is still Hikigaya Hachiman! That's enough! That is enough! What more do you want from me? I'm telling you, I can't do it, and I will absolutely not do as you ask!!"」
「"As for putting myself first in my own heart, I can swear to you right here, right now, on the name of my younger sister, Komachi Hikigaya: that is something I haven't done, won't do now, and won't do in the future! If a day ever comes where I think that way, then I won't be me, and Hikigaya Hachiman won't have the right to be called Hikigaya Hachiman! This way of living is my own decision! It is the only thing about myself I've been satisfied with so far! I have no grievances, and I certainly don't feel that others owe me anything because of it. There is no sense of self-satisfaction like 'gaining fulfillment from saving others,' but I'm going to do it anyway! So it won't change—even if it tramples me, even if I lose my own genuine Thing, even if I end up in a state where I'm no longer fit to be near Emilia or Rem—this is enough, Satella!!"」
「"..."」
「Seemingly cowed by his intensity, Satella even stopped her whispering for a moment, looking at the gasping Hikigaya Hachiman with a dazed, resentful, and pained expression.」
「"Stubborn! Beyond stubborn! Hurting yourself! I am absolutely livid!!"」
「Minerva, the Witch of Wrath, stomped her foot on the ground, triggering an earthquake. The other Witches remained quiet with varying expressions. Sekhmet, the Witch of Sloth who usually did nothing but yawn, had ripples in her eyes; she dropped her usual energy-saving expression and scrutinized Hikigaya Hachiman carefully.」
「"Don't..."」
「After the silence, just as Satella started to speak again, Hikigaya Hachiman cut her off cleanly: "I will!"」
「A silent confrontation. Satella and Hikigaya Hachiman looked directly at each other. In Satella's eyes, Hachiman saw a level of stubbornness equal to his own, a refusal to listen that matched his.」
「"But, you appeared, and you made your demand... so, I will do it." He clenched his fist. "Not to repay you for giving me the Authority of Return by Death, but because you really did remind me... I am about to break."」
「"I will go. I will find Emilia, I will pour my heart out to her, I will tell her, I will act spoiled, I will seek from her, I will ask of her..."」
「"I... will do it."」
「"So..."」
「"Give up, Satella."」
Satella's Love, Hikigaya Hachiman's Response (Part 3)
「"My rage has hit the ceiling! My fury is ten thousand feet high! I am indignant, angry, and absolutely LIVID!"」
「The earth trembled. Minerva wore a look of intense dissatisfaction as she pointed her finger at Hikigaya Hachiman. "What is that all about? It's only natural to feel pride or complacency, or to gain self-satisfaction and psychological superiority from saving people who were meant to die! Of course, I'm not promoting those things! But what's with you intentionally being so humble, intentionally belittling yourself, and intentionally tearing yourself down? You're doing that just to—"」
「"Hurt myself, right?"」
「Hachiman finished her sentence for her. He looked around; not just Minerva, but even Carmilla and Sekhmet showed expressions that slightly agreed with Minerva's point of view.」
「Echidna said with a beaming smile, "You were originally a rational monster. However, in order to suppress your own pride and complacency, you've directed too much of your rationality toward that effort. The result is your current state: pushed by my trials, by Satella's questioning, and by all of us to reveal your true heart and true face. With your emotions fluctuating so wildly, you're essentially tripping over your own feet."」
「"So what?"」
「Echidna gestured to him. "So, why bother acting tough? Come, let down your guard completely. Let me stop sensing things through your memories and let me see and experience them first-hand. After all, you really are reaching your limit, aren't you?"」
「"Yes, you're right. I am indeed reaching my limit. But, Echidna." Taking in all the various reactions of the Witches, Hikigaya Hachiman took another deep breath. Even though this was just a soul, the action represented his attitude. "I believe I've made myself very clear—"」
「"Whether I'm riddled with holes, reaching my limit, or whatever happens to me—that sort of thing has never had, and never will have, the slightest thing to do with you. Which is to say..."」
「"As long as I'm here, as long as I'm surrounded by you all, no matter how much I approach my limit, I will forever only be 'approaching' it. Understand? My breakdown, my pouring out of my heart, me making things easier for myself... those things will happen. But they will specifically NOT happen in front of you!"」
「"If you want to see it so badly, go dream about it. Since you want to see it, I'll make sure you don't. Understand? You bastard, Echidna!"」
「"That is truly extraordinary stubbornness." Echidna mused for a moment. "Well then, what if you were to experience the 'Present Trial' a hundred more times?"」
「"Try it if you think you can," Hachiman sneered. "I've already seen that this Satella isn't a fully conscious Witch; she won't even answer my questions. But if you insist on toying with me to that extent, I might resort to self-harm to alleviate the pain. If that happens, she and Minerva will definitely step in, won't they?"」
「Or perhaps, they wouldn't... In that case, I'll let you see just how long a man named Hikigaya Hachiman can hold out before reaching that limit!」
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"Ah..."
Emilia murmured softly. She had no specific thoughts right now because she didn't have the mental capacity for them; simply processing the meaning of Hachiman's words and looking at his face occupied her entire mind.
There were no words to describe it.
No one could find a way to comment on Hikigaya Hachiman's unexpected stubbornness at this moment.
Even in the convenience store, the current Hikigaya Hachiman found it hard to judge himself. Having not yet actually encountered such a situation, it was difficult for him to imagine how he would respond.
However, the answer had appeared.
That answer... symbolized that even if he discarded his "self" and his "genuine Thing," he ultimately had not completely fallen... because Hikigaya Hachiman was tightly linked to Emilia and Rem.
One's own things can be discarded. But there must be something left behind.
It might seem that Emilia is a drag, a massive burden, and the fuse for many troubles, but... precisely because she exists, no matter what length he goes to, what dead end he reaches, or how much of himself he discards...
As long as she is there, as long as she still exists, and as long as he isn't in front of her, then in reality—
Hikigaya Hachiman will forever be only "approaching" his limit, but that limit will never actually arrive!
"Now that I've already lost Rem, is your obsession really this stubborn? ...Me."
Hikigaya Hachiman's mind was in a total mess.
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「"..."」
「Satella was like a player who had disconnected from an online game. Hachiman's attitude was too resolute, too rejecting. For a time, she stood quietly, falling into a strange silence.」
「Hachiman glanced at her before turning his head back to Echidna. Taking advantage of this moment of peace, he wanted to settle another matter first: "Echidna, don't try to change the subject. We had a deal. Answer those three questions."」
「"Mm~ Of course. We had a deal, after all."」
「Echidna maintained her serene smile. "Then, the first answer—the answer is, I don't know. That is Satella's Authority. If you want to know the essence of Return by Death, you can only ask her yourself. However, even though she's right here, in her current state, I expect she won't be able to answer you."」
「"You don't know? That kind of answer..." Hachiman knit his brows.」
「"Therefore, I'll give you a special offer and let you ask a fourth question," Echidna winked at him. "As for the second question, the answer is also... 'I don't know.' But I can't let you have that one for free."」
「"What do you mean..."」
「"Exactly what you think it means." Echidna nodded. "Making that child wait for 'that person' was a research project—who would she choose to be her 'person'? That unknown is very interesting. Of course, waiting in vain for four hundred years and choosing no one is also a very interesting possibility."」
「Echidna, who had imposed the command on Beatrice, didn't know who "that person" was, because who it turned out to be depended entirely on Beatrice's own heart.」
「But Beatrice believed it was someone specified by her... This wasn't a misunderstanding; it was an error purposefully manufactured by Echidna. While wanting to see who Beatrice would choose, she also wanted to see how long Beatrice's affection for her as a mother would take to wear away, thereby clearing a fog of unknown possibilities regarding familial love.」
「Hachiman glanced coldly at Minerva on the side. Frankly, he felt that the title of "Witch of Wrath" should be inherited by him right now.」
「"Though I already had my suspicions... the person I hate most right now is you, Echidna!"」
IF Route: The Beginning
"Oh my~ look, the truth is out. How are you feeling right now, Beatrice?"
"Ugh..."
Asked by Roswaal, Betty placed her hand on her flat chest—matching her outward appearance—and murmured to herself: "It's truly strange..."
"Strange?"
"Yes, strange." Beatrice looked up at the intrigued Echidna; her gaze was sharp, her expression somewhat terrifying.
"Betty isn't sad at all. No... maybe a little. But once I accepted that she wasn't my mother, almost all that remains is anger. Together with him, together with Hachiman, we share a common enemy—this rage toward Echidna..."
Roswaal chuckled softly and clapped his hands in praise.
"That isn't strange at all, Beatrice. If you want to know why, it's because you've already found a substitute. A substitute who can replace the Teacher."
"You call him a substitute..."
She glared fiercely at Roswaal, but Beatrice, who couldn't even untangle her own thoughts, found it difficult to refute. She could only say: "A man like Hachiman—how could he possibly be just a substitute for Betty?"
Roswaal shook his head and said no more. Confirming that Beatrice had not fallen into despair, he felt at ease.
Four hundred years of friendship... After realizing his goal never even existed, he finally relaxed and suddenly realized his own passive observation, his inaction, his concealment, and his selfishness were also primary factors in nearly causing Beatrice's mental death.
"Therefore... Hikigaya Hachiman, before you arrive, I will fulfill the duty I should have fulfilled—a duty that is already four hundred years late."
He murmured softly.
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「"As for the third question, you've figured it out too, haven't you? It's because she got angry."」
「Echidna sighed, feigning pity for Satella, every sentence a veiled sarcasm beneath a sympathetic mask: "Even though Return by Death was an Authority granted for the sake of the
person she loves, it was used by a heartless man as a tool to save other mistresses. It's only natural she'd get angry. My, my, how pitiful."
「However, in the next second, her delighted face turned from sunny to overcast.」
「"Is that so? At the very least, I still feel gratitude toward her. You, a woman who was not only rejected from a contract but is actively loathed by me, are the one person who has no right to pity her."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman always knew exactly how to find the things she cared about to deliver the most lethal strike.」
「But, even if her mood was terrible, she still had to answer Hachiman's fourth question. This was a consequence of her own making.」
「"Echidna, you pitiful woman, my pity for you temporarily outweighs my anger—answer me. Is there a way to help Emilia pass the trial in a short time? Truly pass it."」
「"Tch..." Echidna's composure wavered with irritation. "I don't know... Though I'd love to say that, for a half-elf whose past memories are sealed by a contract, if she is to face the trial, she must first recover those memories."」
「"I see. Then I—"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly swayed, a wave of nausea surging through him. Before he could process why, Carmilla timidly offered an explanation: "Th-that's because you've stared directly at Witches for too long. Even though you have Sati's favor, facing so many at once is too much. Seven people are hard to face. I-if you had killed Romanée-Conti earlier and absorbed his Witch Factor, i-it wouldn't be a problem."」
「"I s-see... sss... so that's it." Hachiman struggled to shake his head, but the splitting headache and the nausea—resembling a high fever or the flu—wouldn't go away. He forced himself not to be dominated by the survival instinct to leave the Tea Party immediately. "I still have something to tell you, Satella!"」
「"I don't love you... I don't want to love you, but I am grateful. Truly grateful." The time he could stay was shortening second by second; his speech became rapid. "You brought me to this world, and because of that, I was able to meet Rem, meet Emilia, meet Reinhard, meet Julius, meet Otto, meet Crusch, and meet so many 'genuine' people worth knowing... So, I won't agree to your demands or your pleas, but I will fulfill them. I will fulfill the part I can fulfill, the part I am willing to fulfill."」
「"Satella... sss... cough, hack... If you can ever be fully conscious one day, I want to talk to you! I hope you'll come find me to talk! I have so many doubts—so many they are countless, and only you can answer them, Satella!!"」
「"I love you... so..."」
」
「At the very, very end, Satella—who had finally come back "online"—murmured something that seemed to be more than just "I love you," but her voice was drowned out. It was drowned out by Echidna, whose volume suddenly spiked: "A warning in advance: your second trial is not yet fully complete~"」
「In this dazed state, he left the Witches' Tea Party.」
「What might have been a massive point of conflict—a meeting that might have slightly changed Hikigaya Hachiman—ended in such a perfunctory manner. This was something no one could have expected.」
「Back in reality, Hachiman's brow was furrowed. He truly couldn't think of what was missing from the second trial; he should have already experienced every possible outcome corresponding to each of his deaths.」
「Before he could speculate further, just as he was recovering from the aftereffects of staring at the Witches, a familiar ripple surfaced again, pulling his soul into a brand-new world.」
「Take a good look at the "Unthinkable Present"...」
「"Hey? Hey! You lazy pig, how can you sleep so much? I'm telling you, even though you've helped me tons and tons, you wouldn't survive in the slums with a schedule like this. Hmph, thinking about it that way, you're lucky I have my status. Even though I used to be quite against it, but—Hey! I've said all this and you're still not awake? You're actually not listening to me? That's too much, die, you lazy pig!"」
「"...Who is it?"」
「He could feel someone lightly shaking his shoulder. It felt as if he had slept for a very long time; his body felt the discomfort of over-resting. Trying his best to overcome this grogginess that felt like a spring or autumn slumber, Hachiman opened his eyes slightly.」
「"Did I oversleep? I'm sorry. This is bad... am I drunk or something? I'll get up right away. Sorry, Ko—Hey, who the hell are you!?"」
「Bright sunlight streamed through the window, illuminating a spacious bedroom. Hachiman, who had been patting his own cheeks, jumped in fright the moment he regained consciousness. His raised volume also startled the person by the bed.」
「"Are you an idiot? Did you sleep yourself stupid? You're actually asking who I am?"」
「Dressed in an exquisite princess outfit, decorated with the peerless luxury of a phoenix reborn—though her figure remained flat—Felt stood by the bed with her hands on her hips, looking intimately annoyed.」
Felt Route: Sworn Brother and Sister
"Gaaah—"
Before she could even recover from the Witches' Tea Party where the seven of them had gathered, Felt's intense emotions shifted in an instant. Her small eyes widened with massive confusion; she stood dumbfounded and let out a sound like a startled duck.
"That's... me?"
Staring at the screen, Felt scratched her head, utterly perplexed.
"How can it be me? What does this have to do with me? I mean... I admit I think he's a decent guy, and being friends or something would be fine, but besides that initial encounter in the slums, we haven't really interacted at all, right? Out of the five candidates, that smelly woman Priscilla and I should be the ones with the least connection to him!"
She glanced at Reinhard, but even the Sword Saint was momentarily speechless, unable to fathom why Felt-sama would appear in Hikigaya Hachiman's trial.
When Felt appeared in the trial, it wasn't just her—people from both worlds were filled with questions.
"I'm used to it by now."
Hayato Hayama flashed a helpless, sunny smile. "After all, how many times has a situation popped up that leaves even us viewers with an 'omniscient' perspective completely baffled? Too many times.
I should say it's lucky the main perspective is Hachiman. He always unravels the mysteries one after another. If it were someone dumber, or someone who gave up halfway and skipped over those puzzles, it would really be agonizing—leaving us with unanswered regrets for a lifetime."
As he spoke, the classmates in the KTV suddenly realized he was right. If all those mysteries went unsolved, the frustration would be unbearable... especially for the energetic Isshiki Iroha, who felt she actually understood Echidna a little bit now.
But Echidna was "past tense" now; the important one currently was Felt.
.
..
.
「"Felt?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman, holding his forehead, shifted from lying down to sitting up on the bed. He frowned as he looked at Felt standing there with her hands on her hips. He felt like something was off, but as he shook his head, everything seemed normal.」
「"Yeah, it's ~me~!" Felt made a face, then clapped Hachiman hard on the shoulder, laughing smugly. "Having the soon-to-be crowned Empress provide you with a personal wake-up call... if it were anyone else, I'd definitely kick his dog-head off!"」
「"You've been receiving etiquette training for so long, yet your speech still has that tone. You don't look like a royal princess of the last remaining bloodline at all."」
「"Tch, so what? I'm a kid from the slums anyway. I don't buy into that bastard Reinhard's speculations. My only family members are you and Old Man Rom—at most we can add the old man and old lady."」
「Listening to her rambling, something interfering with Hachiman's mind seemed to hide deeper and deeper. The heavy weight of his familial affection for Felt filled his heart, and he couldn't help but nod: "Yeah. My family... you're the only one I have now."」
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"What is this? How did he become my family? Hey, even though I don't mind being on good terms with him, calling us family is a bit too arbitrary, isn't it? He can actually be mentioned in the same breath as Old Man Rom? That's ridiculous!"
Felt took three steps back in quick succession. her mind was a mess, but Reinhard's eyes suddenly narrowed. Noticing a detail, he pointed: "Please look, Felt-sama. That is the future of the future."
"Eh?" Felt froze, looked closer, and realized that her 'self' on screen was significantly taller and more mature than her current self—at least four or five years older. Only her chest remained as flat as ever.
"So, Echidna is letting him experience the 'future' of the future in advance?"
"I'm afraid not. I have a theory, but..." Reinhard shook his head, not daring to be certain.
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「Reflecting on his thoughts while getting out of bed, Hikigaya Hachiman went to draw the curtains. He was residing in the Astrea mansion, the home of the Sword Saint; he was already very familiar with the scenery here.」
「"Take a few more looks, Felt. After your coronation in a few days, you'll have to move out."」
「"Take a few more looks? Hmph, what's so good about it? I've wanted to move out of this dump for ages." Felt crossed her arms and pouted.」
「Hachiman was speechless, shaking his head helplessly. "You're still holding a grudge about Reinhard knocking you out and forcing you to participate in the Royal Selection back then."」
「"How could I forget? Besides, it's not really a grudge; I'm just unhappy about it! And besides, Brother, didn't you treat him the same—" At this point, Felt shut her mouth quickly. Even so, she knew she had slipped up.」
「Hachiman was stunned for a moment, then felt a surge of headache. He clutched his head, his face turning pale.」
「Even though Felt was now an adult, she appeared at a loss, only able to stiffly shove Hachiman to break his pain. She shouted: "Alright, alright! It'll be bad if we waste any more time! Hurry up and change your clothes, we need to go eat breakfast."」
「"Change clothes..." Distracted, Hachiman subconsciously started to lift his hem to take off his pajamas. Seeing that Felt had no intention of leaving, he nudged his chin toward her.」
「"What's the big deal? It's not like you haven't seen me wandering around the bedroom in just my underwear before. I'm fine with you seeing me, so what are you, a grown man, being shy for? And you call yourself a 'big brother'."」
「She boldly eyed Hachiman's body where it wasn't covered by clothing, getting an eyeful, before laughing heartily like a carefree rogue and running out like a gust of wind.」
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"Eh? Ehhh?! So Felt is Hachiman's younger sister? No way!"
On the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia covered her mouth in shock.
"It's not like that, Lia. It should be a 'brother' in the spiritual sense. Hmm... but this development is truly strange. It's an entirely 'unthinkable' path. What could possibly have caused her to leapfrog in closeness, becoming more intimate with him than you or that little maid? There shouldn't be such a reason. No, wait..."
Puck suddenly looked up, his eyes filled with shock and lingering fear.
"If... if it were said..."
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「"Phew..."」
「Leaving his bedroom and entering the hallway, Felt let out a long breath. Although it had been five years, that day was the beginning of everything they had now. She could never forget it, and thinking of it now, she felt a genuine sense of dread.」
「"If... if only... If Emilia hadn't been killed by the Bowel Hunter back then, everything might have been completely different."」