Chapter 12. Time to Move Forward
Without even a moment's hesitation, the sharp sword in Subaru's hand cut the chains on the little girl's body.
"Pity for this girl! That feeling is the love blossoming in your heart!"
Sirius's tone was full of praise, but the action of her hand had not a shred of hesitation. The iron chains wrapped around her arms, burning with crimson flames, swept toward Subaru.
"Subaru!!!"
Beatrice, who had realized the danger the moment the little girl appeared, unleashed a magic that arrived on the battlefield at that same moment.
The Absolute Nullification magic made the flames on the chain vanish, and then the chain struck the small of Subaru's back, who was holding the girl. Even having lost all special power, Sirius's terrifying monstrous strength made the blow no less powerful than a full-force attack from an Oni-fied Rem.
Subaru felt himself fly for a while, then smash heavily into the ground.
Subaru subconsciously tried to get up, but blood mixed with undigested food from the morning was vomited from his mouth. The excruciating pain from his waist gave Subaru the illusion that he had been broken in two.
Subaru instinctively reached out to cover his abdomen. The cloth armor, specially sewn by Reinhild after hunting demon beasts in the Water City, was still intact, but Subaru instantly felt that several of his ribs seemed to have cracked.
"I'm sorry to interrupt while your blood is boiling, but time is up, okay."
Subaru barely managed to turn over and noticed Beatrice blocking him. Sirius did not continue her pursuit; she stood rooted in place with an expression of immense regret. Subaru opened his mouth, wanting to ask what the time she mentioned represented, but more blood flowed out of his mouth instead.
"What a joke."
"Ah, ah, don't be sad! I understand! If it were my beloved Petelgeuse, he would say: Pain is the genuine feeling of being alive, and being alive is to prove 'Love.' I want you all to see the same thing, feel the same things, spend time together, end together—doing everything together is 'Love,' you see!"
Sirius clearly misunderstood Beatrice's and Subaru's anger. She looked with regret and sorrow at the people around her who did not share the pain with Subaru.
"No matter who it is, everyone should taste the same sense of fulfillment from being alive as this person."
Sirius looked at Beatrice with hatred.
"However, only to you, you filthy spirit, will I not grant that sense of fulfillment. Don't think you are the same as that person (PS: the spirit Geuse)."
"You don't need to butt in. Betty and Subaru have been one body for a long time, I suppose."
Beatrice's and Sirius's gazes fiercely crossed in mid-air. However, Sirius quickly looked away.
"The burning is too incomplete! But I must prioritize the instructions of the Gospel. Yes, it can't be helped. I'm sorry, okay. I'm sorry, okay."
Sirius sighed helplessly, then leaped away from the ruined trading company. Beatrice watched her figure disappear, then quickly flew to Subaru, whose consciousness was fading.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry… Subaru, hold on! I'll treat you right away!"
Just like that, Subaru's consciousness completely sank into darkness.
-
-
-
The noise in his ears gradually grew louder. He felt the blood flow in his body was extremely slow, his internal organs were minimally active, and his intestines felt as if they had been completely replaced with clay. Oxygen could not reach his brain smoothly, and a sense of dissonance dominated his entire body.
"Ah."
A hoarse voice, followed by sharp breathing. Natsuki Subaru sat up abruptly and looked around. Eyes accustomed to darkness could not immediately accept the intruding white light. In his hazy vision, there were countless rapidly moving shadows.
Only the familiar warmth of the small hand in his own could alleviate the panic in his heart. After about half a minute of this, Subaru finally became aware of his surroundings.
An atmosphere of panic, a dirty ceiling, and the smell of rust.
"Subaru, you finally woke up, I suppose. I'm sorry! I'm sorry!"
Subaru's thoughts returned to reality. He found himself lying on a bed, with a crying Beatrice in his arms. After a few seconds, Subaru reached out and stroked her hair.
"Beatrice…?"
Subaru's newly awakened brain was still a bit confused. He looked at the wounded people around him, and gradually understood that this was a hospital. At that moment, Beatrice hurriedly ran off, and soon returned, dragging the blood-stained Ferris with her.
"Ah~! Suba-kyun is awake, nya! Do you still remember who I am?"
"Ferris?"
"That's right. I'm the Ferris-chan that everyone loves~. You are Natsuki Suba-kyun. This is a field hospital. Suba-kyun was brought here because he was seriously injured."
"That's right, the Witch Cult…!"
"Pre~cisely. I can't believe they showed up here, honestly."
Ferris bit her lip in vexation, and Subaru's memory finally revived.
"Can you explain the current situation? What has become of this city, and what is the Witch Cult doing now."
Subaru suppressed his agitated emotions and began to try and grasp the situation.
"If that's the case, that works out well. I will be the one to provide the explanation."
A resolute and clear female voice reached Subaru's ears. Subaru turned his head and saw Crusch, wearing armor, walking in through the doorway.
"Crusch-sama really looks ready for a fight."
"Because the situation is severe. Sir Subaru, how are your injuries?"
"Thanks to Reinhild, Beatrice, and Ferris, I'm fine now."
Subaru said, standing up.
"That's good."
Crusch nodded.
"So, can you tell me what Pristella looks like now?"
"Of course. You are also an important combat asset. Actually, about an hour ago, there was a broadcast. Just like the broadcast this morning, it used the city hall's [Metia]. And that broa…"
"That broadcast couldn't be the Witch Cult's doing, could it? They stole the city hall's [Metia]?"
Subaru voiced the worst-case scenario. As a result, Crusch, Ferris, and Beatrice all nodded silently.
"I don't know whether to call it lucky or unlucky, but the broadcaster was not the Sin Archbishop of [Wrath], Sirius."
Subaru's heart, which had been suspended, finally sank upon hearing Crusch's addition. One must know that the Water Gate City has approximately one hundred thousand people, and Subaru could not imagine how terrifying the scene would be if they were all controlled by [Wrath].
"That is to say, we must quickly retake control of the city hall. They must have announced their identity, right? Which Sin Archbishop is it?"
Subaru inquired. The Archbishops of Sin Subaru had encountered so far, despite completely ignoring every social norm, would always announce their title and name.
Although sometimes he deeply resented the ugly self-display behind this behavior, Subaru was now extremely thankful for their habit.
—The new Pride, Lust, or perhaps Gluttony? If it's Gluttony…
"[Witch of Vainglory]—Pandora."
"Huh?"
Crusch provided an answer that completely exceeded Subaru's expectations.
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on buymeacoffee com/varietl or ko-fi edwriting