Crusch Route: Reciprocity
"Going through five passes and slaying six generals... Cao Cao, Guan Yu... so that's what it is!"
In the Nakano household, Miku suddenly had a realization, finally understanding where the lingering sense of déjà vu was coming from.
Miku's exclamation caused Uesugi Fuutarou, who had also put significant effort into studying history, to immediately notice the parallel. His eyes lit up, and he subconsciously grabbed Miku's hand, shaking it as he leaned in close, praising her with satisfaction:
"Exactly! That's it! Miku, that's great! Keep up this level of knowledge and quick association during exams, okay?"
Despite being shaken by Hikigaya Hachiman and the magnificent yet cruel alternate world, he remained firmly rooted in his role as a tutor, immediately pivoting to education: "The rest of you need to learn from Miku, understood!"
Aside from Itsuki, the other three girls' eyes instantly turned red with envy.
"We—un—der—stand—" Nino glared at her shy sister with a mix of jealousy and spite. If performing well in studies earned this kind of treatment, she understood perfectly—she was going to study her heart out! She could already imagine herself presenting a perfect exam paper and having this dense blockhead respond to her the way Hachiman responded to Anastasia, or at the very least, the way he responded to Rem; she would be satisfied for a lifetime.
Yotsuba tilted her head and said caringly, "But shouldn't we be worried about Hikigaya-kun right now?"
"Oh, that? It's fine," Ichika shrugged. "Knowing Julius's character, even if he defeats Hikigaya Hachiman, he'll probably be persuaded by Hachiman's logic... After all, at their core, they are both very gentle people."
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「Swoosh!」
「Julius, whom everyone—including Hikigaya Hachiman—regarded as a gentle man, currently held a sword stance as fast as a falling star. His fierce offensive was overwhelming, his focused gaze personifying his resolve.」
「He did not hold back in the slightest. As a 'selfish man' driven by two private motives, he transformed into a blurred shadow nearly invisible to the naked eye, exerting every ounce of swordsmanship he had cultivated to date—giving his all, and then surpassing it.」
「The melodic yet piercing sound of clashing metal was far scarcer than in the fight with Wilhelm. Hikigaya Hachiman, having already endured one high-intensity duel, saw his physical stamina plummeting. Even if his eyes could track the movements, by the time he swung his blade, his chest, arms, and various parts of his body were already meeting cold steel.」
「Replacing the ding-ding-dang-dang of clashing blades in the air was the mournful song of flesh and blood facing defeat.」
「The two knights crossed, dove, and collided. Julius's explosive footwork left the ground cratered and uneven. Had Julius, as a Spirit Knight, utilized his magic, the entire area and the walls of the Royal Capital would have been blasted into ruins.」
「However, as of today, Julius—who had grown for three years—had thoroughly taken over the position of the second-strongest swordsman in the kingdom, surpassing the now-aged Sword Demon Wilhelm.」
「Even with his magic concealed, he could easily suppress his opponent in a frontal confrontation, pressing the exhausted Hikigaya Hachiman to his limit!」
「Sword met sword violently. Hikigaya Hachiman surged forward, but at a deliberately created opening, he chose not to press the attack. Instead, he kicked off the ground, leaping back several meters to widen the gap between himself and Julius.」
「"You are powerful. Truly strong, Hachiman-kun."」
「Julius did not pursue. He too let out a breath, adjusting his rhythm. "Ever since I saw Reinhard as a child, from that day on, there has been only one wish in my life: I hoped to become a man like him—that strong, that perfect, that righteous... Even after meeting Lady Anastasia, I held onto this ideal and worked tirelessly for it."」
「"Therefore, aside from protecting Lady Anastasia and my brother Joshua, the thing I have done most in my life is practice the sword."」
「"Dawn, morning, noon, afternoon, dusk, night. Day after day, I never dared to slacken. Even when ill, even when injured, I never stopped my efforts."」
「"To achieve my current results, my current strength—it might be boastful, it might be arrogant—but as the man who is temporarily not the 'Finest Knight,' let me say it boastfully and arrogantly—"」
「"My strength, my swordsmanship—to be at this level is a natural reward!"」
「"I am strong. Exceptionally strong. Though I cannot fulfill that wish to be like Reinhard, I am strong enough to protect those I wish to protect."」
「As Julius spoke at length, he was on one hand giving Hikigaya Hachiman time to recover his state and stamina; on the other hand, he was by no means boasting about himself. Quite the contrary... the person he truly wished to praise was the best friend standing before him!」
「"But you are different, Hachiman-kun."」
「He looked at Hikigaya Hachiman with eyes full of light, a mix of admiration and praise. "It has only been three short years since you first picked up a sword. Your role was even that of Lady Crusch's strategist; thus, most of your time was spent in the study using your brain to think and review documents. You practiced the sword for only two or three hours a day, at most five."」
「"Even so, three years was enough for you to become a swordsman capable of contending with me."」
「Julius held his blade vertically before him, expressing his sincere respect with a voice tinged with excitement.」
「"I respect you. Previously it was for your character and your wisdom, but now... it is also for your swordsmanship!"」
「For the best friend he acknowledged to also excel in the path he himself specialized in—was that not the most wonderful thing in the world? To be able to communicate with his best friend through the sword, what an honor!」
「"I also have one thing I never told you."」
「As his breathing gradually steadied, Hikigaya Hachiman scratched his cheek with his right index finger and said suddenly: "I have always thought that Anastasia is very cute, and also very impressive."」
「Julius's smile grew even more radiant.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was practicing reciprocity. Knowing that Julius loved it when others praised the monarch to whom he offered his loyalty, Hachiman said those words... But because it was Hikigaya Hachiman speaking, and given the circumstances, it was impossible for those words to be a lie.」
「"Thank you very much—but, for that very reason, I must keep you here even more, my friend!"」
Crusch Route: Elsa's Death Wish
「"That won't do."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman bent his knees slightly, leaning forward with his eyes narrowed: "By the way, Anastasia—who hates me—should also be wishing for me to disappear. Are you sure it's alright to go against her wishes?"」
「"Is that really what you think?" Julius froze for a moment, then chuckled softly: "Regrettably, Hachiman-kun, Lady Anastasia—who has recently emerged from the shadow of her defeat in the Royal Selection—is quite keen to discuss business matters with you. It seems that lady actually likes you quite a bit."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was stunned. "Was I... really that narrow-minded?"」
「Though he was accustomed to deducing the worst intentions from society and humanity, he didn't particularly enjoy seeing that darkness projected onto the wrong people.」
「"The apology letter you sent previously seems to have played a significant role."」
「Julius began to tense his body again. He watched Hachiman's frame, gauging the explosive movement of his muscles; he intended to secure a final victory without seriously injuring his best friend.」
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"What a feast for the eyes, fufu. Assuming the Sword Demon used eighty percent of his strength, Hachiman being able to hold a stalemate was largely due to his familiarity with him. His actual strength should be around sixty percent of Wilhelm's, yet he can still trade blows with the Finest Knight..."
Elsa the Bowel Hunter licked her lips seductively, her eyes burning with intensity. "Wonderful, truly wonderful. I certainly won't survive, but I really hope I can taste the bowels of the Hikigaya Hachiman from that timeline before I die."
'Surely, they would be beautiful.'
If she could do that, she could die without regrets.
However, thinking of the injustice of being hunted down by Roswaal in various futures, it would be even better if she could taste Roswaal's bowels before tasting Hachiman's.
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「"You said it yourself just now, Julius. I am Crusch's strategist... no, I am a strategist."」
「Seeing that Julius was about to charge again, Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly looked up and spoke with deep meaning: "If you want to call yourself a despicable man, then I am a bastard a hundred times more despicable than you. As a strategist who makes a living through schemes, I have decided to reveal my true power. Give it your all, Julius, otherwise, you will suffer a crushing defeat in an instant."」
「"Oh?"」
「Not understanding what trump card Hachiman had left—perhaps a special technique he had realized? Julius, confused, felt a surge of pressure. He stood on high alert; he didn't believe Hikigaya Hachiman would make such a bold claim without merit.」
「Just what was the final trump card?」
「"—REINHARD, HELP ME!!"」
「Taking a deep breath, Hachiman's sudden shout echoed through the heavens and earth. Before the sound could dissipate, before Julius could even react, there was a faint, nearly imperceptible sigh.」
「With fiery red hair and a tall, straight, reliable frame—the man so handsome and powerful he could only be described as perfect—Sword Saint Reinhard van Astrea appeared!」
「"...Hm? ...H-HUH?!"」
「Surprise, bewilderment, and then speechless shock. Julius stared wide-eyed, regretfully slapping a hand against his forehead.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman patted the Sword Saint's shoulder and said softly: "I knew you could hear me, Reinhard."」
「"I would have preferred my ears to suddenly fail me at a time like this, Hachiman-kun."」
「Reinhard gave a helpless, bitter smile. How could anything happening in the Capital escape him? Even so, he had allowed Julius's selfishness earlier, which had already shown his stance.」
「But since he was the Sword Saint, a guard of the Capital, and Hachiman's friend, he could no longer play deaf once he heard the call.」
「"Though it's malicious and shameful—hardly something a friend should do—I had no other choice... Stop Julius for me, Reinhard."」
「Forcing a friend who wanted to keep him to help him leave instead—Hikigaya Hachiman, knowing how despicable this act was, felt as though his legs were nailed to the spot. But even if they were truly nailed down, he had to go back... back to Emilia's side.」
「He didn't care what kind of coldness, mockery, or ridicule he would face afterward. Even if it was the kind of mutual loathing he experienced during his "cold war" with Yukinoshita before he crossed over, he would endure it.」
「In short, he had to face the punishment he deserved; otherwise, he would surely regret it forever.」
「For that, he was willing to exploit even this "good guy"!」
「"I..."」
「Reinhard paused. He sighed, looked at Hikigaya Hachiman, and then turned to face the grim Julius with an apologetic expression: "Forgive me."」
「Julius furrowed his brows. "So you've made your decision..."」
「"I cannot fail a friend's plea."」
「A smile slowly spread across Reinhard's face. "Compared to my own selfishness, it is a much better thing to offer blessings for Hachiman-kun and Lady Emilia to love each other happily."」
「"Julius. Reinhard."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman, having flipped back onto his land dragon, gave the two of them a deep look. Finally, he closed his eyes and tilted his head back to prevent a single tear of gratitude from falling.」
「Near the city gates, Julius's attempt to pursue was blocked by Reinhard's blade. He could only watch as the land dragon carried his best friend away at full speed, parting ways from then on.」
「"...I haven't given up yet."」
「Whispering softly, Julius began a relentless clash with Reinhard under the moonlight.」
「The ping-pang of clashing steel rang out, accompanied by large-scale attacks spanning dozens of meters and explosive magic soaring into the sky, as if giving Hachiman a grand send-off.」
「However, having left the study, the mansion, the Capital, and moving away from Reinhard and Julius—Hikigaya Hachiman's land dragon came to a halt once again.」
「"So it's true~ fufu. The rumors circulating these past few days about you leaving the Capital are real."」
「The Bowel Hunter Elsa, holding her twin blades, stood in the middle of the road. She licked her kukri, looking at Hikigaya Hachiman with a seductive gaze.」
「"Three years ago, I received a request from a client to invade Margrave Roswaal's mansion and slaughter the two maids inside. If a man named Hikigaya Hachiman entered that night, I was to kill him as well."」
「"At the time, I didn't complete that request. On the night the time arrived, that mansion had long been empty."」
「"It would be quite interesting to make up for it now—what do you think, Brain of the Kingdom of Lugunica?"」
Crusch Route: A Living Rem
Battle after battle occurred in such quick succession that it was breathtaking, and at the same time, everyone saw the promising future of Hikigaya Hachiman's combat strength. However, amidst all this, his schemes and trickery were even more awe-inspiring.
Calling upon Reinhard to stop Julius was a move that truly no one had anticipated; almost everyone had assumed it would end like the encounter with Wilhelm, with Julius intentionally holding back.
"Hey, you look pretty happy, Reinhard?" Felt placed her hands on her hips and curled her lip. "Even though you were clearly used like a tool?"
"Yes, I was used as a tool by Hachiman-kun. However, Lady Felt, at least this time I was of some use." The smiling Reinhard replied thus.
Only he himself knew how much he craved to be useful after witnessing so many futures where he stood by helplessly.
The current situation had actually fulfilled his wish.
"I only feel sorry toward Lady Crusch. Regarding that, I will offer my apologies later."
"The official history says he's Emilia's knight, while here he's Crusch's strategist, but during this time as a strategist, the number of actual physical fights he's been in is almost more than in the official history," Ricardo rubbed his chin and muttered.
"How strange. By the way, what about this round? The Bowel Hunter's strength makes her one of the top experts in the world. Although she's not as strong as Julius or the Sword Demon, Hachiman has fought several battles in a row; he should be just about out of stamina, right?"
"Right?" Mimi was also very confused, then immediately cried out, "He wouldn't... die, would he?"
Anastasia, who should have been the most nervous, gently shook her head at this moment. She pouted and said with a hint of jealousy: "Although his combat power has made a leap, don't forget what 'this lady's' Prime Minister has always relied on to get this far. The fact that he bid farewell to Crusch this morning and is risking his life to leave tonight means there must be a connection. Well... I can more or less guess it. Although it's a bit annoying, it's much better than being killed by the Bowel Hunter."
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「"Why are you here?"」
「"Ara, that is purely your misfortune. I wouldn't come all this way specifically for a three-year-old expired commission. I just happened to be finishing another job nearby recently, and then happened to hear that you had a falling out with the new Emperor... Tsk, tsk. Wonderful, how lucky. Today is my lucky day."」
「Scanning Hikigaya Hachiman's stomach, Elsa's eyes seemed to glaze over as she imagined just how exquisite his bowels must be.」
「She cracked a smile that appeared charming and multifaceted, yet it carried a murderous intent as thick as hell itself.」
「Under the pouring weight of this killing intent, Hikigaya Hachiman actually had the leisure to threaten: "I had originally forgotten about you long ago, but it seems leaving you alive is a massive hidden danger, Elsa... You're right, today truly is a lucky day. It's my lucky day—the lucky day I strangle this threat once and for all!"」
「"I don't sense any danger of death coming from you."」
「"If it were just me, perhaps that would be true."」
「The moment Hikigaya Hachiman's voice fell, Elsa suddenly seemed to scent something. Her body gave a sudden jolt, and she shivered with excitement. Like someone practicing a dance, she abruptly dove and rolled to the side.」
「In the next second, the spot where she had been standing was torn apart by a roaring sound of breaking air. Accompanied by the rattling of iron chains, a solid morning star slammed down heavily. Dust filled the air, and the grassy ground turned into a sandy-yellow crater.」
「In the dust, a thunder-like light flickered. A beautiful girl in a maid uniform, her oni horn manifested, gripped her weapon tightly. Her footsteps were heavy, and her murderous intent was even more terrifyingly dense than that of Elsa, a cold-blooded assassin who had killed countless people over many years.」
「"GET—AWAY—FROM—HACHIMAN!!!!"」
「With crimson eyes and a voice of explosive rage, Rem's aura was so vast and surging that it made even Elsa's scalp tingle involuntarily!」
「"Rem!"」
「They had already agreed in their letter correspondence a few days ago to meet here. This long-awaited reunion had unexpectedly turned into this situation because of Elsa's appearance. Hikigaya Hachiman called out, somewhat worried that Rem might lose her reason, just as she had during the Sloth subjugation battle three years ago.」
「"—Yes! Rem is here! Hachiman's Rem is here! It's okay, I am fine! But anyone who wants to hurt Hachiman is absolutely unforgivable!!"」
「The second his call reached her ears, the Rem who had been radiating murderous intent immediately revealed a docile, lovely, and sweet smile. She tilted her head cutely toward Hikigaya Hachiman, her entire being radiating happiness.」
「"I see..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman, his mind at ease, followed with a smile of relief. He nodded to the lovely Rem. "I made you worry, Rem—but let's do this together. You and me, together, Rem!"」
「To be honest, if it weren't necessary, he really didn't want to take his eyes off this girl who loved him with her whole heart... Therefore, let's make this quick. Let's thoroughly kill this meddlesome Bowel Hunter!」
「"Yes! Rem will definitely work hard!"」
「"Ara ara, I'm really being looked down upon. Oni bowels, is it? Let me have a taste of those too."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman drawing his sword, Rem swinging her morning star. The final battle against the Bowel Hunter—delayed by three years—was about to erupt!」
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"Putting aside who profits in each timeline, the Bowel Hunter just has to die, doesn't she?"
Kousaka Kyousuke was left speechless. "She was living perfectly fine in this timeline, yet she specifically came here to deliver her own head? Fine, we'll give you what you want!"
Seriously, that's a living Rem! A Rem who can talk and move! Heaven knows how exciting and moving it is to see a living Rem after experiencing the tragedy of the official history.
And yet, Elsa just had to mess up this heart-stirring reunion.
Originally, because Elsa was so unfairly hunted by Roswaal in the previous two timelines, Kyousuke couldn't help but feel a bit amused, which had diluted his hatred slightly.
But as it turns out, Elsa really deserves to die—there's no room for negotiation. Any bastard who gets in the way of him watching Rem love Hikigaya Hachiman deserves to be ground into dust. She deserves to die!
As for whether they can win, Kyousuke isn't even considering it. Maybe Elsa is strong; maybe three years later, neither Hikigaya Hachiman nor Rem would be her match in a one-on-one fight.
But don't forget, this is a husband-and-wife tag team match!
"Good! Beat her to death!" Kousaka Kirino held the exact same view!
"Ah, as I thought. The person meeting him was indeed her." Anastasia, who had predicted this, pouted with a look of grievance.
Although she didn't hate Rem, she absolutely hated any other woman getting close to her Prime Minister!
Crusch Route: Discarded Piece
If Elsa's sudden intrusion caused a stir, then the moment Rem appeared, cheers erupted across both worlds. Some sentimental girls even burst into tears, unable to suppress their excitement.
If one counted carefully, how long had it been since they last saw a living, breathing Rem?
From the moment Hikigaya Hachiman stepped into the Sanctuary, he had been separated from her. Through three loops—a period of fifteen days—plus the specialized time of the past and present trials, there had been a relentless barrage of suffocating new information and crises.
And in the timelines of Felt and Anastasia, Rem's figure had never appeared at all.
One day apart felt like three autumns; truly, a single day without seeing her felt like three long years.
"Thank goodness... Rem, it's Rem!" Furuhashi Fumino choked up slightly. She was so excited that she grabbed Yuiga Nariyuki beside her and shook him vigorously.
The Rem in the official history was still in a coma. She surely wouldn't know how much more terrifying devastation the person she wanted to protect had suffered in such a short time. However, at the very least, Rem could continue to act as a hero in this timeline—that was the greatest consolation.
"It's incredible." Aoyama Nanami whispered softly, her blood heating up along with Rem's appearance. "I was so worried about Hikigaya-kun just a second ago, but as soon as I see Rem appear, as soon as I see her protecting him, I feel like there's nothing left to worry about."
Because she is the hero who protects Hikigaya Hachiman. Because, until Rem dies, Hikigaya Hachiman will absolutely not suffer a single scratch. Because she is Rem—the reliable, loyal, and powerful Rem. When Hikigaya Hachiman stands by her side, she becomes a guardian deity capable of striking terror into the hearts of all covetous intruders!
"Ugh..." Rem suppressed the urge to sob. It wasn't easy; it really hadn't been easy—for Hachiman, things had been far too difficult.
"So much pain in the Sanctuary, so many obstacles... and a weak Rem couldn't help at all. I even fell into a coma, lying in the mansion, forcing Hachiman to save it." She was merely enduring it, but watching her powerless self in the Sanctuary—the self who claimed she would become Hachiman's hero yet ended up dragging him down—that sadness and dejection had been accumulating deep within her.
"Thank goodness... this time, Rem can finally continue to fulfill that promise, that oath...!" At this moment, Rem felt heartfelt gratitude toward Lady Crusch.
Ram, who had stopped in her tracks, pulled her relieved sister into her arms and whispered softly: "Rem, you've done well. You don't need to carry any burden, you don't need to feel any guilt... You are the best, Rem."
"Mmh!" Tears falling, Rem nodded heavily for the sake of the beloved who had suffered too much. Because Hachiman trusted Rem wholeheartedly, loved Rem, and thought Rem was wonderful.
So. "Do your best, Rem!"
As the cute twin sisters encouraged each other, back in the convenience store, Hikigaya Hachiman bit his lower lip and stayed silent. Even though he tried to suppress his emotions, his heart wouldn't stop pounding.
Saved again... Rem had saved his life yet again. That magnificent idiot... whether it was the future him or the current him, how many times was that idiot going to make his heart skip a beat?!
Yukinoshita, in his arms, clearly knew what he was feeling, but she remained silent. Yukinoshita had realized long ago that her greatest flaw was her lack of physical strength. She couldn't play the hero and save the "damsel" like Emilia or Rem could!
"Rem..." Yukinoshita closed her eyes and let out a weary sigh. To this day, she still didn't know how to deal with this girl—this girl who was flawless in her love.
If she had the power of Oni-Rem or Emilia, she would have followed Hikigaya Hachiman across worlds without hesitation. But the truth was, her frail self would only be a burden. She could only ensure Hachiman left as many of her "marks" on him as possible before he departed.
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"It's Rem!" On the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia stroked Puck's fur and shouted in surprise.
"Yeah, it's that little maid." Puck spat in disdain and crossed his arms, temporarily abandoning the thought of killing Anastasia while he plotted how to quietly deal with those meddlesome sisters.
"Ferris's dissuasion failed, Sir Wilhelm went with the flow, Reinhard defected at the last second, and now even Lady Rem has come to meet him." In the Karsten mansion, Crusch let out a deep sigh, her exhaustion impossible to hide. She gave a bitter laugh.
"I didn't expect that the one who would unintentionally stand on the same side as me would be the Bowel Hunter. Compared to Anastasia, am I a failure?"
"My loyalty to you will never change." Wilhelm bowed. Crusch waved her hand, signaling she didn't blame him. She also believed that if it weren't for Hikigaya Hachiman, Sir Wilhelm would never have disobeyed her.
In fact, Wilhelm "going with the flow" was actually him following her unspoken orders. Because she was Crusch. She was the Crusch whose virtue Hachiman respected and even admired—the Crusch Hachiman praised as "very cool." She wasn't Anastasia; she couldn't bring herself to twist Hachiman's will or force him down a path he was unwilling to take.
She said she would lock him up, but if she truly intended to imprison him, how could it be so simple?
"My future self was merely making one last attempt... hoping that Hachiman, while staying in the study, would see my kind treatment and sincerity, calm down for a day, and ultimately decide to stay."
The door to the study was not locked. If Hikigaya Hachiman was willing, that door was as good as bolted shut. If he was unwilling, the door simply didn't exist. That was all.
It was a tacit understanding between her and her Sir Hachiman. Sir Wilhelm had realized this intention, which was why he let him go so readily. The person truly disobeying orders was actually Ferris.
"However, it was all in vain." Crusch's gaze turned sharp. "Since Sir Hachiman thinks this way, I must respect his choice. Julius blocking him out of friendship was his own intent, but as for the Bowel Hunter—you had better die under Hachiman's blade!"
She hadn't given up... not her current self, and certainly not her future self. The Bowel Hunter was not needed to ruin this!
"Oohhh—kill her!!" Felt was pumping her fists in excitement. If there was anyone in the world who hated the Bowel Hunter most, it was definitely her. She and Old Man Rom had been toyed with and killed by that woman.
Now, the Bowel Hunter was caught in a pincer attack, and the person dealing the blows was her favorite, Rem! This was absolutely fantastic!!
Crusch Route: A Blood-Stained Reunion
「The light wind suddenly shifted. Elsa, with her lithe build, moved far faster than the morning star. Her graceful and lithe steps allowed her body to spring in all directions; Rem's fierce offensive could barely graze the hem of her clothes.」
「With every step, she evaded attacks while closing the distance to her enemy, narrowing the gap with Rem. Elsa's gaze focused on that glowing oni horn. She pulled her left hand behind her back, poised to precisely hurl a dagger to shatter that weakness.」
「"Where are you—LOOKING!!"」
「Accompanied by a cold voice, a silver horizontal line sliced into her vision. Elsa performed a perilous back-leaning leap. To maintain the fluidity of her jump, she had to abandon her previous plan, but a lock of her black hair was still severed from her.」
「"Are you angry? Ahh, clearly you're furious that I want to kill that oni girl, yet your breathing has become steadier and your speed has increased. You truly are a monster—such a special talent for combat. Wonderful."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman had no intention of conversing with her. His longsword slashed out. The moment Elsa leapt back, the iron chain pulled taut, tearing through the air. Carrying the pressure of the wind, the whistling morning star—like a cannonball with perfectly coordinated timing—smashed down from above, slamming into Elsa's parrying kukri.」
「BOOM!」
「The morning star, its momentum unabated, tumbled forward. The flow of power shifted from the chain, surrounding Elsa's retreat on both sides as the roar of the impact resounded against the ground.」
「The earth, plowed through by the strike, was as battered as Elsa herself. Once glamorous and seemingly at ease, her hands were now trembling and she was vomiting blood. The force behind the morning star exceeded her expectations.」
「She was given no room to devise a counter-strategy. Hikigaya Hachiman immediately followed up, his blade hacking down. It was blocked by one kukri, while the other sliced toward his stomach. Hachiman swung his scabbard to defend himself, remaining unscathed.」
「The two sides were deadlocked. Glimpsing the morning star flying in from the right, Elsa lashed out with a kick. Hikigaya Hachiman countered with a vicious headbutt; even as he staggered from the kick, he dazed Elsa with the impact. Though she managed to retract her blades and retreat to avoid the morning star, she was immediately hit by the explosion of a magic spell chanted by Rem. Her leg was wounded, leaving her in a wretched state.」
「Despite not seeing each other for three years—despite only communicating through letters.」
「In this reunion three years later, Hikigaya Hachiman and Rem had achieved seamless cooperation within seconds of meeting. That tacit understanding required no words, no eye contact, no physical guidance, no communication, and not even a hint.」
「There was nothing, yet they were so perfectly in sync; every movement, every attack, and every round of combined strikes was exactly right.」
「"Hehe."」
「Shaking her stinging wrists, Elsa smiled. The wound on her leg had already healed. She wore an expression of rapturous pleasure.」
「Regarding the intelligence that she could rapidly self-heal multiple times—that had been obtained back when Reinhard captured her and interrogated her in prison. Hikigaya Hachiman would not forget.」
「"Cut off your head, sever your head, smash your head to pieces..."」
「His gaze remained fixed on Elsa's cranium. If self-healing had a weakness, it would be her head.」
「"Yes! With all my might, as you wish, Rem will smash her head to pulp!"」
「Receiving the instruction, Rem uttered terrifying words. But because these terrifying words were spoken to protect him, Hikigaya Hachiman could only feel a warmth spreading through his entire body.」
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In the moments that followed, Elsa watched with great interest as she struggled to cope, being forced into a dead end step-by-step by this soul-linked couple—until a blade pierced her skull and a morning star splattered her brains.
Her teeth, her kukris, her daggers—every weapon was shattered by that heavy, powerful morning star.
It was evident that in this future, the Rem who survived the Sloth subjugation battle deeply felt her own powerlessness. If she hadn't been so weak, if she had been strong enough to resolve the Great Sin Archbishop, Hachiman wouldn't have had to sacrifice his freedom for reinforcements.
Although her innate talent dictated that she could never be strong enough to defeat a Great Sin Archbishop, through three years of training while caring for Emilia, she had truly become much stronger than she was three years ago.
"Should I say, as expected of a married couple? The two of them are quite similar in this regard. It's quite interesting, hehe."
Hurrying to her side, Meili was fuming. "You still have the heart to laugh? You can still laugh right now? You're about to die, Elsa!"
Elsa smiled and licked her lips, looking as though she hadn't had her fill. "True. If I could have carved open their stomachs before dying to see the color of their bowels, that would be even more worth celebrating."
"You!" Meili pointed at her, angry enough to die, and couldn't help but stomp her foot. "Honestly! You don't even care about yourself. I'm ignoring you!"
Elsa shook her head, still intently watching her own death.
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「In the moment before she lost the power to heal and faced total death—the moment before her head was crushed into mincemeat by the morning star—Elsa used the last of her strength. The chipped kukri in her right hand suddenly turned inward, slashing violently.」
「Her own stomach was carved open, and her writhing bowels spilled across the ground.」
「"Ahh, so beautiful... my bowels are this color~"」
「With those flippant self-muttered words and a final glance, Elsa the Bowel Hunter—who had once obstructed Hikigaya Hachiman—lost her life under Rem's desperate combat.」
「"Finally—"」
「The morning star was cast aside like a piece of junk. Hikigaya Hachiman was covered in blood, but the pristine Rem didn't hesitate for a second, throwing herself into his arms and holding him tightly.」
「She breathed greedily, burying her head in Hikigaya Hachiman's chest, nuzzling him like a docile and adorable puppy.」
「"Finally, finally..."」
「The tremors in her sobbing were very slight. "Always, always, always... I wanted to see you. I wanted to see Hachiman. I kept looking at Hachiman's letters once a month, wanting so badly
to leave Lady Emilia to find you, enduring it so painfully... Rem's task is finally to meet you... I've been looking forward to this day forever."
「"Me too... I've missed you constantly, Rem."」
「A thousand words, the pent-up emotions of three years—Hikigaya Hachiman reached out to stroke the blue hair of the girl in his arms.」
「"I... will never leave Emilia, and I will never leave you again, Rem."」
」
Crusch Route: King vs. King, Crusch's Advance
"…I want one, too."
On the streets of the Royal Capital, a somewhat restless Emilia muttered under her breath. "So cunning. Rem is always like this, such a bad girl… I want one, too."
She wrapped her fair arms around her own shoulders, staring blankly, feeling a bit hollow. Though she had felt this occasionally before—especially when 'herself' embraced Hachiman in the Capital—it was far more pronounced now.
Filled with envy, the aggrieved Emilia looked around, but no matter where she searched, Hachiman hadn't arrived yet; there wasn't a trace of him to be found.
"It will happen. All of it will happen. Have a little confidence, Lia." Puck perched atop his daughter's silver hair, beaming with delight.
After all this time, through his guidance and the stimulation provided by her two greatest love rivals, Rem and Anastasia, his simple and naive daughter had finally learned to feel envy and jealousy. She now possessed a desire—a desire she was unwilling to share with anyone else.
"Everything will be yours. Hachiman will definitely be yours, absolutely!"
And if he wasn't, the Beast of the End of the Permafrost would make everyone understand that this wasn't a negotiation, but an announcement!
In any case, a knight among knights like Reinhard certainly wouldn't step down to intervene. That being the case, a mere member of the Oni clan, a merchant, or even the head of the Karsten house didn't really matter at all.
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"Eeeeh—!?"
Unaware that someone had already placed a bounty on her head, Anastasia pulled her hat down over her eyes in a fit of grievance, her teeth itching with resentment toward Rem.
Previously, Rem had received hugs and intimacy, but back then, she hadn't fallen for her Prime Minister yet. At that time, her thought upon seeing it was to applaud, thinking it was nice for lovers to find happiness.
The current Anastasia wanted nothing more than to travel back in time and slap her past self.
'You idiot! Someone is stealing your Prime Minister right in front of your face! To actually applaud a love rival, you were truly stupid to death!'
Beside her, Julius kept a stiff face.
He desperately wanted to give a gratified smile—after all, he had once supported the idea of Hikigaya Hachiman marrying Rem. Even though he had switched camps now, that spark of emotion remained… but glancing at Lady Anastasia's expression, Julius decided to play blind.
He kept his face stoic to avoid accidentally letting a smile slip out.
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"Ohhh!!"
In Roswaal's territory, the cheers of an entire village rang out to the heavens. They were all supporters of Emilia and Rem. If Rem hadn't rushed to the Capital with her sister and was still here, she would be receiving a national-level hero's welcome.
In the Sanctuary, Garfiel grinned, feeling genuinely happy for his "Captain" from the bottom of his heart, not forgetting to take the opportunity to brag: "If this 'Great Self' were there, Bowel Hunters and Juliuses wouldn't be a problem at all! The fight wouldn't be this much of a hassle!"
"How wonderful…"
With eyes full of longing, Chitanda Eru clasped her hands to her chest, utterly enamored by the scene of the two embracing. "It's truly beautiful, love… I'm really curious about, well…"
She stole a glance at Oreki Houtarou, hesitating to speak. Oreki, feeling a bit out of place, looked left and right to avoid her gaze.
He tried to give his best friend a look that said "tell a joke or something to break the tension," only to discover to his shock that his friend had been cornered by a woman even earlier than himself. Ibara Mayaka was staring at the man like a hungry wolf eyeing a piece of meat.
If the future of Hikigaya Hachiman wasn't still playing, one wouldn't even dare to imagine what would become of this Classic Literature Club.
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「Three years… even knowing this girl had confessed her feelings half-implicitly and half-explicitly, he had still ordered her to stay with Emilia for those three years, not permitting her to come see him.」
「Despite that, she held no resentment. Her emotions upon their reunion were a heartfelt celebration and pure joy.」
「Such a wonderful girl, yet this was how he treated her… but he didn't regret it. Hikigaya Hachiman didn't regret giving that cold-hearted order for a single second.」
「Correspondence was his limit. If he had let Rem come to him, he might not have been able to restrain himself; the urge to return to Emilia prematurely might have sprouted and become uncontrollable.」
「Regardless of the perspective, that was unacceptable.」
「Though his freedom was bound by a pact, Hikigaya Hachiman never hated Crusch. On the contrary, he respected her deeply and liked her very much… whether as a friend or a monarch, Crusch was the best.」
「In the end, was his value truly high enough for Crusch to agree to such a pact? Hikigaya Hachiman had no such confidence… Crusch's help, her respect, and her praise for him always made him wonder exactly what kind of person she saw when she looked at him.」
「Was that perfect person really Hikigaya Hachiman?」
「The gifts Crusch had bestowed upon him were, by now, too numerous to count and impossible to repay.」
「 'But I'm sorry… truly sorry, Crusch.'」
「"Rem is moved, so very moved… the real Hachiman, the Hachiman holding Rem, the Hachiman who speaks… this isn't a dream, Rem, it's not a dream…"」
「Incoherent with joy, Rem clung to him tightly, refusing to let go.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman desperately wanted to hug Rem back as tightly as she was hugging him, but he didn't have the courage, nor did he have the right… He simply looked up at his surroundings, waiting for the final obstacle to arrive, waiting for Crusch to appear.」
「But she didn't. Unexpectedly, for two or three whole minutes, the surroundings remained desolate. Aside from Rem's greedy breathing and the sounds of the two land dragons, there wasn't a single movement.」
「"Is she not coming?"」
「Whether it was relief or disappointment, Hikigaya Hachiman's eyelids drooped. It was hard to tell if it was the letdown of a low spirit or the avoidance of someone who didn't dare to face the truth.」
「Gently pulling away from Rem and mounting his land dragon, Hikigaya Hachiman rode off into the distance under the dark of night. Simultaneously, the sounds of battle from the direction of the Capital ceased; the outcome was decided. Julius, exhausted, collapsed onto Reinhard's back.」
「The land dragons galloped toward their destination.」
「As the deep night turned to the shifts of dawn, morning, and then afternoon… on the second day, the land dragons, having tapped into their potential to increase speed through day and night travel, were about to arrive at the Elior Forest.」
「And before that, this sparsely populated permafrost had already welcomed an outsider's visit.」
「Green hair, a handsome face, a sword at her waist, and dressed in military uniform.」
「Step, step, step.」
「The sound of Crusch's footsteps broke the silence of this place.」
Crusch Route: Emilia, Not Just Emilia!
「It was five o'clock in the morning. The crisp sound of a knock on the door made Emilia's eyes light up.」
「"...Rem?"」
「She asked timidly.」
「At this hour, it was not yet time for Puck to manifest. Rem, who had been by her side day and night for three years, had suddenly reported two days ago that she needed to go out. Consequently, the forest was deathly quiet... a silence that left Emilia tossing and turning, unable to sleep.」
「During these three years, Rem's attitude toward her had become much closer than it had been back at the Roswaal mansion. Although Rem occasionally cast very strange glances her way, as the only two living souls in the forest, their mutual affection remained quite good.」
「This was the first time Rem had left in three years, and the lack of habit left Emilia unable to sleep at all. This sudden return was, naturally, a pleasant surprise.」
「But before she could even open the door for the knocking "Rem," the door was pushed open with a creak. The figure standing at the threshold caused Emilia's pupils to contract instantly. A cold shiver ran through her entire body; she trembled from head to toe as a primal fear surged within her, as if she were staring at the world's most terrifying nightmare.」
「Wind-blown and travel-worn from her urgent journey, a light dusting of grime clung to her military uniform and face. Her back was ramrod straight, and her expression was one of solemn resolve.」
「A reunion after three years: Crusch and Emilia.」
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"Ho..." Ayanokouji Kiyotaka smiled. "A direct strike at the heart of the matter. If she can't resolve the inclination of Hikigaya Hachiman's heart, she'll resolve the root cause of that inclination?"
Of course, such a thing was impossible. If it were Anastasia, the probability of such a move would be high. But Crusch—even if she were to lose a bit of her moral standing—remained an undoubtedly upright person.
She could not commit such a despicable act. It was precisely because of this that Ayanokouji felt more intrigued; he had a bold guess.
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「"...Miss Crusch."」
「Emilia's teeth chattered; her words came out stumbled as she clutched the quilt. She was terrified to the extreme. She clearly wanted to face Crusch properly, but she could not control herself.」
「It was no use; she couldn't do it. The mere facts that Crusch was alive, that Crusch was standing before her, and that Crusch was looking at her made Emilia feel a dread akin to drowning. Her breathing was labored; her mind was blank.」
「Countless times... countless, countless times in her dreams she had faced similar scenes. But facing the real Crusch once again, Emilia truly understood just how much she feared this person.」
「How much she feared her, how much she loathed her, and how much she resented her.」
「She had stolen her knight. She had stolen her Hachiman. She had stolen her hope.」
「Emilia feared, loathed, and projected her anger onto this Crusch who had taken everything from her!!」
「"—"」
「Crusch was completely stunned.」
「The solemnity on her face vanished. Seeing the terror Emilia held for her, she understood everything... Although she had allowed Hachiman and Rem to correspond, Crusch never peeked at those letters. She had no prior knowledge of the specific situation in this forest.」
「"I see... was I wrong, Sir Hachiman?"」
「After a flicker of surprise, Crusch closed her eyes and tilted her head back, letting out a long, slow breath.」
「She hadn't expected it. She truly hadn't... that Emilia, a candidate for the throne, was actually fragile to this extent.」
「"No wonder you were so ruthless. No wonder you were so cold-hearted... I have lost you, my ideals, Ferris, Sir Wilhelm, and this kingdom... If you do not return, she will have nothing left at all, will she?"」
「"Even so—"」
「She snapped her eyes open, staring directly at the shivering Emilia. Her low murmur ended, and she raised her voice. Her first words left Emilia stunned: "I have already secured victory in the Royal Selection. Sir Hachiman's pact to assist me ends here."」
「"Right now, he is on his way to see you. I tried to make him stay, but he cares for you more than he cares for me, Emilia."」
「Her second sentence left Emilia dazed for a full ten seconds before tears involuntarily began to well up. Her body, chilled and shivering from seeing Crusch, suddenly regained its warmth. Her heart hammered. Her hands unconsciously loosened their grip, the quilt sliding down, as the unease that had gripped her entire being vanished completely.」
「But she still didn't dare believe it. She was afraid she had misheard; she was afraid this was a hallucination.」
「"You... Miss Crusch, are you saying...?!"」
「Emilia suddenly scrambled off the bed in a hurry. She couldn't believe it; she had to confirm it, she had to hear it again, she had to hear it one more time.」
「"But my appearance here is not to congratulate you." Crusch steeled her heart, her gaze turning frighteningly cold. "Let us make a pact, Emilia. Yield Sir Hachiman to me. Persuade him to continue assisting me. Ask him to stand by my side. You may make any demand in return."」
「Emilia was speechless. Her emotions were too turbulent to respond in words; she simply shook her head like a rattle.」
「"Hachiman is... Hachiman is my knight!"」
「It was hard to imagine that the person who, two minutes ago, had been shivering with fear before Crusch could change so quickly, becoming so brave.」
「"Sir Hachiman was once your knight, but he is even more my Sir Hachiman—he is the strategist of Crusch."」
「Crusch's solemn face, as she attempted to continue her claim over Hikigaya Hachiman, drew a furious glare from Emilia.」
「"Crusch Karsten."」
「Solemnly announcing her own name, Crusch placed her hand on her hilt and drew her sword. She held it vertically before her, staring at a spot on the blade where the blood remained—the blood from when Hikigaya Hachiman had swung his sword against her.」
「"Perhaps I no longer have the right to say these words, but..."」
「Crusch took a deep breath. She paused, her voice resonant and powerful, ringing out with pride and dignity, hiding all of her regret and self-reproach.」
「"Crusch Karsten, the monarch served by the strategist, Hikigaya Hachiman."」
「"What I treasure, what I protect, and what I possess—shall be defended by this sword."」
「"If there is anything that threatens what I treasure, what I protect, and all that I possess, then it shall be severed by this sword!!"」
「In the cramped bedroom, the air was suddenly filled with an overwhelming number of ice crystals that had quietly manifested.」
「Emilia's resolute gaze seemed to have returned to the unyielding strength and power she showed when declaring her political views in the Royal Selection hall.」
「"Emilia, just Emilia—No."」
「At this point, Emilia also paused slightly. Then, her voice rose to drown out Crusch's:」
「"The princess of the Knight Hikigaya Hachiman—EMILIA!!"」
Crusch Route: Unleashed Hatred
"Emilia's mental state is fragile no matter the timeline, isn't it?" Kousaka Kyousuke recalled how, in the official history, Emilia repeatedly broke down and cried during the trials.
"However, she was originally so terrified, yet she could become so strong in an instant," Kirino Kousaka glanced at her brother and said with envy. " Hikigaya-senpai's weight is truly heavy; it's wonderful that he can change Sister Emilia to such an extent."
Kyousuke nodded: "Yes. Never mind trying to win Hikigaya back—even if Hikigaya were wholeheartedly serving under Crusch's banner, if he were in danger and Emilia found out, she would likely rush straight out of the forest to save him without hesitation."
She was truly a very gentle, beautiful, kind, lovely, and deeply affectionate girl—a wonderful person in every aspect.
Felt's unrequited love, Yukinoshita's piteousness, and Anastasia's sweetness were certainly impressive. But given a choice, when speaking of who best matched Hikigaya Hachiman, it still had to be a kind "genuine thing" like Rem or Emilia!
"To be able to do things one originally couldn't do, or found difficult to do, for the sake of the person they love..." Kirino Kousaka stole a glance at her brother, reminded of something, her face a swirl of complicated emotions as she contemplated something of great significance.
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In the convenience store, Hikigaya Hachiman let out a long sigh. He truly didn't know what he had done to deserve being held in such high regard by Crusch; he felt a genuine pang of guilt.
But while feeling slightly guilty, he felt even more respect for Crusch.
"Crusch is still Crusch, after all." He seemed to see a unique and magnificent splendor in Crusch—a beauty that forced one to reminisce about her dazzling presence.
"At the start of the meeting with Emilia, she discovered how much Emilia feared her. At that point, if Crusch had steeled her heart, woven a lie, or taught Emilia some suggestions to drive the 'future me' away or suggest I continue to rely on Crusch, the naive Emilia would surely have cooperated with her out of fear."
Listening to his analysis, Yukinoshita was also deeply moved: "But Crusch never once considered that plan, despite possessing the wisdom to do so."
The fair and square Crusch; the honorable Crusch; the virtuous Crusch.
In this regard, Crusch was more impressive than Yukinoshita herself. Yukinoshita would occasionally quibble with excuses like "concealment isn't lying," or simply get moody.
But from her appearance until now, Crusch truly had never told a lie. She was open and candid, speaking her mind directly; no matter what difficulties she encountered, she stood tall and walked a straight path.
"A higher-spec version of me...?" Yukinoshita murmured. She shook her head, grateful that the high-spec part was only partial. Crusch certainly had areas where she was inferior to Yukinoshita—for instance, she didn't know how to act spoiled, and she didn't know how to retain Hikigaya Hachiman through means other than being candid to the point of being forceful.
As for the argument that Crusch was in the wrong for trying to steal Hikigaya Hachiman from Emilia?
What a joke. If everything were decided only by logic and "reason," then we wouldn't be human. Furthermore, Crusch's actions weren't so immoral as to warrant insults for being "unreasonable."
If one were to scold Crusch, Yukinoshita would have to scold herself to death first. After all, in the original future, Yukinoshita hadn't beaten Rem and Emilia to the punch in making Hikigaya-kun her boyfriend.
In this regard, no one was more virtuous than the other—just like Anastasia shamelessly intercepting Hachiman.
Crusch was already the most moral among this group.
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"Hmph. If it were Anastasia, she certainly would have used underhanded means long ago. She wouldn't be like Crusch." In the Shirogane household, Miyuki Shirogane snorted. He had no issue with Anastasia personally, but he had a huge issue with her for causing his faith to shatter.
Out of a "hate the house, hate the crow" mentality, he felt like disparaging Anastasia whenever the chance arose, especially after seeing how worthy of praise Crusch was.
"Hmph. If it were Anastasia, she would have secured Hikigaya Hachiman long ago. Crusch really isn't up to the task." In the Shinomiya household, Kaguya Shinomiya snorted. Her family was a zaibatsu; she was used to people with no bottom line, so she had a great deal of affinity for Anastasia.
Although Anastasia was a "greedy merchant," her business dealings had a bottom line. She would eat the meat but wouldn't drink all the soup, leaving interests and a way to live for
others. Most importantly, Anastasia and Hikigaya Hachiman's sweet and loving marriage truly made her yearn with admiration!
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"What exactly is my true intention?" In the Karsten mansion, Crusch's brow furrowed. At this point, even she found it difficult to grasp what her future self was trying to do... Did she really want to defeat Emilia, or was she using this as a final way to give Sir Hachiman a push?
These two thoughts wavered in the current Crusch's mind, both carrying heavy weight. She couldn't say for sure which one her future self would lean toward...
Crusch gave a bitter smile. "I am neither selfless and generous enough, nor selfish and decisive enough... Your praise and respect—I truly am unworthy of them, Sir Hachiman."
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"Eh eh, is she going to fight with Miss Crusch?" On the streets of the Royal Capital, the hesitant Emilia fidgeted with her small hands. But seeing the situation was a hair's breadth away from violence, she could only quietly cheer for her future self, while simultaneously praying that Crusch wouldn't be too seriously injured.
"That young girl chose a very good time; five in the morning, before I manifested." Puck narrowed his eyes. He believed this was a deliberate calculation by Crusch.
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"In any future, can she not let go of her own reserve?" At the same time, Anastasia giggled craftily like a fox. "It seems this lady's victory had zero components of luck; it was one hundred percent inevitable."
Crusch was too serious—serious enough that she didn't need to be worried about or planned for as a love rival. This was, of course, very good news.
"But Ferris still needs a beating!" Anastasia and Mimi shared a smile; the "crooked merchant" and the vice-captain shared a tacit understanding of their petty grudge.
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"Amuse me to your heart's content, you foolish people." Priscilla's mood at this moment was extremely pleasant. In her view, although the silver-haired half-elf wasn't much better and mutual destruction would be best, if only one had to die, she would certainly choose Crusch.
"To dare boast of having defeated me—the end result of uttering such a fallacy and attempting to practice it is so ironic, yet deserves no sympathy!"
Al, who had been hesitating to speak, thought for a moment and still said nothing, only complaining in his heart.
'Anastasia also beat you, but she's living happily ever after...'
Crusch Route: Gathering Together
「What was launched first was a thrust like a bolt of lightning, its speed so great that it caught one off guard. Being able to block it was only possible thanks to a dense thicket of ice spears; the sheer number of projectiles forced Crusch to abandon her thrust and switch to a slash.」
「Emilia's mana seemed inexhaustible, so vast and plentiful it was shocking. Her ice spears, released with deep-seated resentment, never ceased. Having sensed Crusch's strength during their first clash, she no longer had any intention of holding back.」
「"BOOM—"」
「This was a venting of anger delayed by three years, a revenge delayed by three years, a great war delayed by three years. The hundreds and thousands of ice spears filling the battlefield felt as if they had been accumulated over nine hundred days, all projected simultaneously in a single breath.」
「From all directions—front, back, left, right, including the sky above—everywhere the eye could see was filled with chilling ice spears. If she weren't standing on the ground but suspended in mid-air, Crusch believed that even beneath her feet would be attacks intended to turn her into a hedgehog.」
「"VWOOM—"」
「Mana controlled the direction as the ice spears vied to hurl themselves down. Crusch, who could have dodged like a gale, simply stood her ground firmly. At this moment, a dazzling light flickered upon her blade.」
「It was the powerful swordsmanship that had several times dispelled the White Mist and wounded the White Whale, an army-scale grand attack: One Blow, One Hundred Felled.」
「The moment the ice spears fell, Crusch swung out a horizontal slash. The accumulated sword qi expanded rapidly the instant it left the blade—several meters, ten meters, a dozen meters. Upon reaching its maximum size, the majestic sword qi collided violently with the sky-covering ice spears. Immense forces met in close quarters, causing a blindingly bright, massive explosion in an instant.」
「Deafening shockwaves spread outward as if the very air were being shattered. One after another, the crack-crack-crunch of ice spears breaking sounded simultaneously, the collective noise rivaling the explosion of the sword qi.」
「The energy overflowing from the sword qi exploded in mid-air; most of the ice spears were completely melted in this blast, while the rest were blown away by wind pressure. Traces were left in disarray, fragments splintering apart, creating a spectacle in this area like a heavy downpour.」
「Splintered ice shards cut the shoulders of both Crusch and Emilia or severed strands of their hair, yet they simply stared fixedly at each other, making no move to protect themselves.」
「"Enough."」
「Emilia's gaze was sharper than ever, carrying a unique pressure. "I've had enough... that feeling, once was enough! Miss Crusch, I absolutely do not want to lose Hachiman again!"」
「"Watching you live these past three years in a daze, filled with regret and sorrow, I even more so do not wish to experience days like yours. I'm sorry."」
「Crusch didn't even know how she had become this kind of person... but if she had to do this, then so be it.」
「'If I don't do it, when there's no longer a chance to do it, I will surely regret it—I don't know what will happen if I do, but I don't want to regret anymore.'」
「Those were words her Sir Hachiman had once said, appearing to recall the past before meeting Emilia, speaking vaguely.」
「"You indeed said that, Sir Hachiman. I have etched your teachings into my heart... Therefore, what I am doing now is precisely because I do not want to regret. Please forgive me, Sir Hachiman!"」
「Her convictions firm and her momentum like a rainbow, Crusch swung her sharp sword once more!!」
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"So stubborn, isn't she? Someone who doesn't understand how to give up appropriately will be crushed in business or any other field. They'll suffer big losses. Miss Crusch knows nothing, so it's no wonder she gets bullied by me."
Anastasia shrugged her shoulders easily, not worried in the slightest. In the end, if it really came down to heavy injury or death, Crusch and Emilia would surely force themselves to stop.
After all, those two are not "crooked merchants" like her.
"...But as expected..."
Anastasia grumbled. Not having power is truly a hassle; she was now incredibly envious of Emilia and Crusch's strength.
If she had that kind of strength, why would she need to work so hard to confess? She could just forcibly throw her Prime Minister onto a bed and strip his clothes.
Even though people like Mimi could forcibly kidnap her Prime Minister, she couldn't exactly have Mimi stand by the bed ready to beat him up at any moment, could she?
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「As the warm sunlight spilled down, watering this land of eternal permafrost, the gasping Crusch and Emilia were both covered in new wounds. Without rest, the two had been fighting for over two hours; the surroundings were a mess, and the local terrain had been altered.」
「"What are you doing to my daughter?"」
「Like a demon from hell, the awakened Puck looked ferocious. Crusch did not retreat at all, meeting his gaze with sharp eyes.」
「"Puck! Stop! This is something I have to settle myself!"」
「For the first time, Emilia shouted an order at Puck. "Miss Crusch has no intention of killing me."」
「The violent killing intent vanished in an instant. Puck, scratching the back of his head, giggled as he flopped back onto his daughter's hair, saying sheepishly, "Oops~ I was just worried about you."」
「Emilia shook her head gently.」
「"Only this matter, I must solve it myself... otherwise, it's absolutely not okay!"」
「Knowing his daughter's obsession over the past three years, Puck remained silent and didn't move. He watched the battle quietly; nonetheless, if his daughter fell into a disadvantage or was in danger of injury, he would still help block the attacks.」
「Crusch didn't care about Puck's despicableness in the slightest. Even if it were two against one, she had a reason why she must win... though winning didn't mean she could pull Sir Hachiman back, winning was better than losing.」
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"Puck, seriously..."
He really is unlikable.
Even though he's protecting Emilia now, seeing Crusch so piteous, Puck—being a despicable fellow—seemed even more repulsive when compared to the honorable Crusch.
The entire Musashino Animation company looked upon Puck with disdain.
"By the way, if they keep fighting like this, Crusch should lose, right?"
Furuhashi Fumino was somewhat anxious. After thinking it over, Yuiga Nariyuki said, "Don't worry, Crusch-senpai won't lose—look at the time."
"The time?"
「Two hours, three hours, four hours, five hours—the battle between Crusch and Emilia gradually decreased in intensity from a super-intense struggle. Nevertheless, both persisted, with no intention of giving up.」
「"Must win!"」
「"I have to win this!"」
「"Specifically, I cannot lose to you!"」
「That single-minded, intense desire lasted until the sound of two land dragons' footsteps approached from outside the forest.」
「Appearing under the sun were land dragons carrying two people.」
「Rem, and—」
「Hikigaya Hachiman.」
Crusch Route: An Honorable Open Scheme
「The chaotic scene made Hikigaya Hachiman almost think he had walked into the wrong place. But before he could confirm this reality, Emilia, who had turned to look at him, suddenly moved like a gust of wind. Before he could react, she had already thrown herself into his arms.」
「Because Emilia ran so fast, the resulting inertia caused Hikigaya Hachiman to fall backward. Fortunately, it was a snowy field and his head didn't hit any ice shards, so he was unharmed.」
「"Emilia, you—"」
「A dazed Hikigaya Hachiman wanted to say something, but the girl in his arms was trembling, sobbing softly, which quickly evolved into loud wailing—the tears of Emilia choking with joy.」
「Those tears told him everything... There was no need. No need for apologies, no need for comfort, no need for guilt. As long as he could return, that was the best healing medicine.」
「Puck also emerged from Emilia's hair, making a "hush" gesture toward Hikigaya Hachiman while waving his paws and punching the air—a mix of warning and dissatisfaction.」
「...Crusch stood frozen in place with a complex expression. Under these circumstances, she had no reason to demand Emilia get up and continue fighting... She had clearly lost, completely and utterly.」
「Having reached this point, there was no longer any need to struggle—perhaps that was the truth. However: 'Doing it might be useless, but not doing it leads to certain regret!'」
「"Sir Hachiman."」
「With crisp, decisive footsteps, Crusch approached Hikigaya Hachiman. Her back was still ramrod straight, looking gallant and unyielding—unlike someone at the end of her rope after hours of life-and-death combat.」
「On the pure white snow, every step she took splashed blood upon the ground. It was the evidence of her effort.」
「"...Miss Crusch..."」
「Emilia's sobbing finally ebbed. She wiped her tears, helping Hikigaya Hachiman up while looking at Crusch timidly. After fighting for so long, the three years of accumulated loathing, fear, and resentment had mostly been vented. Only now did she realize how ruthless she had been toward Crusch.」
「Crusch didn't give her a single glance. She stared straight at the emotionally overwhelmed Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「"Me, or Emilia? This is your final chance. Make your choice, Sir Hachiman."」
「Her tone carried not a hint of complaint or hatred, nor a trace of suggestion or incitement. Openly and honorably, she held out her sidearm, stained with her own blood.」
「"If your obsession is truly that resolute, then swing your sword at me once more. From this day forward, I will never set foot in this forest, nor will I ever pull you away from her side again. The bond of lord and vassal between us ends here; we shall have no further connection."」
「She looked directly at Hikigaya Hachiman, enunciating every word: "From now on, you and I shall never meet again. We shall be as strangers."」
「Crusch's hand was extended with the sword, Hikigaya Hachiman's jaw was set tight as he hesitated to speak, and Emilia's face showed a mix of joy and surprise. Rem watched silently from the side, not interfering with her beloved's decision, offering only unconditional support.」
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"So I'm telling you, honest people really get the short end of the stick."
Shirogane Miyuki clutched his head, feeling his brain tremble. "Crusch coming to the forest to brawl with Emilia wasn't to 'steal' Hachiman—well, it was, but she knew a simple brawl couldn't change his heart. Even so, she came anyway."
"Then why? To vent? Just to punch Sister Emilia?"
Shirogane Kei was confused. Although she previously said she wouldn't watch unless it returned to the official history, she was drawn in by the noise and kept watching. By now, she felt...
These IF lines were actually quite compelling!
Aside from Emilia, the candidates each had their own strengths and unique charms. Felt and Anastasia were one thing—she could resist them—but Crusch was simply invincible!
Powerful, upright, idealistic, strong, yet with her own troubles and practical pursuits; she could lose her memory, she could get hurt... How to put it? Because Reinhard was too perfect, he felt somewhat unreal. Crusch's perfection wasn't as superhuman as Reinhard's; she sat exactly at the limit of what a normal person could accept.
Looking at Reinhard, Kei would think, "Such a person cannot exist in this world." But looking at Crusch, Kei would think, "This kind of monarch is the best, one in ten thousand. Sister Crusch is number one in the world."
Therefore, she really didn't want to see Sister Crusch and Sister Emilia in conflict; she liked them both so much.
"It was to vent, but in truth, while venting her own feelings, she also specifically gave Emilia a chance to vent hers."
"And that wasn't even her primary goal," Shirogane Miyuki explained heavily. "Crusch's primary goal was to wait. She was waiting for Hachiman to arrive at this forest, and then offer him her sword, letting him strike her in front of Emilia."
"Why?" Shirogane Kei was utterly stunned.
"To help Hachiman resolve Emilia's 'heart disease'—to completely liberate Emilia from the trauma caused by Crusch."
Kei wanted to ask more, but she suddenly had an epiphany, remembering the strike back in the Royal Capital. Everything connected: "Hikigaya-senpai already struck her once in the Capital, so he can bring himself to do it... The strike in the Capital was both Sister Crusch forcing a choice and laying the groundwork to cure Senior Emilia's trauma."
"From that moment, did she already plan to sacrifice herself to fulfill things for Hikigaya-senpai and Sister Emilia?!"
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"That's why I'm saying, Nya, Lady Crusch is truly too upright! Self-sacrifice or whatever, Ferris absolutely won't allow it, Nya!"
At the Karsten mansion, Ferris's fur was standing on end. He could obviously see the deeper meaning behind the future Lady Crusch's actions. Because of that, his voice was thick with sorrow.
"Lady Crusch should have learned more from Lady Anastasia, Nya! Ferris is truly heartbroken, Nya!"
Looking at the complaining Ferris, Crusch shook her head with a bitter smile.
"I might not actually be that selfless, Ferris. The reason my future self acted that way was, of course, due to my own selfishness."
Yes, selfishness. She understood now.
"The reason I would sacrifice myself is because only by doing so can I remain the 'Crusch' that Sir Hachiman admires. In the final, irrecoverable moment, to let the virtues Sir Hachiman admires shine brightly—by doing this, even if we truly never meet again for a lifetime, Sir
Hachiman will still admire me, miss me, and respect me. I will always hold a place in his heart.
This is an open scheme—a dignified, honorable open scheme."
This was precisely the kind of tactic that only she, Crusch, could use, and only she could make effective!