On the other side, within the Mathers mansion... a fierce battle was underway—
Boom!
A violent explosion burst from a second-floor window, flames spewing outward. In the next instant, two figures shot out from within. One was covered in bulging muscles and coarse fur, while the other was slender and delicate. They clashed repeatedly in midair, exchanging blows. Daggers and claws collided from time to time, erupting in thunderous crashes.
Click! ×2
The two landed simultaneously on the spacious second-floor balcony, facing one another.
"...What is your purpose?!"
Already transformed into her beastman form, Frederica shouted at the black-haired woman opposite her—Elsa the Bowel Hunter—her voice echoing faintly in the air.
"Purpose? Hehe... I don't really have one. I just wanted to fight a few rounds and casually kill some people. That boy's intestines were quite 'beautiful,' you know? Would you like to take a look as well?"
As always, Elsa spoke in an elegant tone while uttering deranged words. Her expression carried the same delighted madness as before. After speaking, she deliberately licked her lips like a serpent. Her pitch-black eyes were deep and dim, like an executioner lurking in the night.
"Your taste truly disgusts me. Barging into the mansion without reason is unforgivably rude! Your nickname 'Bowel Hunter' suits you perfectly—utterly revolting!"
Rustle!
As she spoke, Frederica's upper body expanded again, growing even more muscular. The fur on her body bristled like sharp spikes. She resembled a ferocious beast—no, she was one.
"Oh my~? Why, thank you. For people like us, that's the highest praise."
Elsa was completely unaffected by the mockery. Wearing her usual cheerful madness, she transformed into a streak of shadow and charged forward!
The dagger in her hand spun deftly back and forth, slicing through the air with a sharp screech.
"Haaah!!"
Frederica responded with a direct punch aimed downward at her opponent!
Bang!
Fist and blade collided with a deafening crash, dust erupting around them.
Bang!
They were blown apart once more. Despite her massive frame, Frederica's speed did not falter. In a flash, she appeared at Elsa's side and swung a heavy fist toward her head!
Bang!
Though Elsa reacted swiftly and blocked, the immense force still sent her body flying sideways.
Boom!
Her body smashed through the opposite wall and was driven back into the mansion corridor once again.
Frederica pressed her advantage, charging through the wall like a tank and arriving in the corridor where Elsa had landed. Just as she was about to throw another punch, she realized too late that Elsa had already prepared an ambush.
Slash!
Light as a shadow, Elsa instantly appeared before her and slashed across her chest. Blood splattered everywhere. As a half-beast, Frederica's chest was carved open with a deep, bloody gash.
"Urgh!!"
Frederica gritted her teeth against the pain and attempted to retreat, but Elsa had already anticipated her movement. A kick struck her knee, and the dagger stabbed forward, tearing into the joint. Elsa then raised her hand to slice at her throat—but—
The dim corridor suddenly began to glow with an intensifying purple light. Within seconds, it spread across the entire area.
"...?"
Elsa paused, about to turn her head to look—when—
Boom!!
The wall exploded inward, shattered by a bolt of lightning crashing through from outside!
"...!"
Elsa immediately leapt backward, distancing herself from Frederica.
Bang!
The lightning struck precisely where Elsa had just been standing.
Crackle—
Electric currents surged, and from within the scattering particles of light, a slender purple-haired woman took form.
"..."
Elsa visibly frowned upon seeing her. Why had she suddenly arrived? This was not what had been agreed upon.
"Lady Shogun?"
Frederica froze in surprise.
"...Is she alone?"
The Shogun did not turn back as she asked coldly.
"No. There's another one. She's chasing Mr. Natsuki Subaru."
Frederica answered.
"Leave this to me. Go find Natsuki Subaru. Don't let anything happen to him."
Without giving Frederica time to respond, the Shogun transformed into lightning and shot toward Elsa!
This time, she had no intention of holding back. Moving at a speed Elsa could not even perceive, she appeared at her side and drove a kick into her abdomen!
Bang!
"Puh!"
Elsa spat out a mouthful of blood. Her body shot backward like a cannonball, crashing through the wall and flying into the mansion's courtyard.
Hummm—
The Shogun turned into lightning and rose into the sky. Her feet stepped onto invisible stairs in midair. She rotated Engulfing Lightning counterclockwise half a turn, letting it hover before her.
Crackle—
Thick spiraling storm clouds gathered overhead. From the center of the vortex—a gaping maw in the sky—countless bolts of thunder gradually surged forth. Expanding currents dyed the surrounding heavens in her pale violet hue.
Bury the Thunder.
Crack!
With a flick of her arm, bolts of lightning rained down from the sky. Each strike ignited violent explosions upon the ground, like bombardment from a fleet of war machines.
As Engulfing Lightning spun faster in the air, the thunder within the vortex intensified, swelling in scale until it burst from the clouds like an overcharged cannon ready to fire.
Whoosh!
She formed a sword gesture with her fingers and slashed downward from above!
Rumble—!
The long-charged vortex erupted instantly, unleashing a tidal wave of lightning that first struck the earth before expanding outward in every direction. Anything touched by the thunderous tide was reduced to blackened ash—or simply erased from existence.
Before long, crackling currents covered the entire courtyard.
The pale violet glow reflecting from the ground illuminated the Shogun's cold, beautiful face, adding an almost dreamlike quality.
A full minute passed before the currents finally faded. Only then did she descend along the invisible stairs. When the heels of her stockinged feet touched the scorched ground, a faint sizzle sounded beneath her shoes, heated by the lingering temperature.
"..."
Even the indentation beneath her heels radiated heat. Lowering her gaze silently to her feet and the surface of her heels, she noticed the leather that had once been perfectly intact was now slightly charred. One could imagine what had become of Elsa after taking that attack head-on.
Gripping Engulfing Lightning tightly, she stepped toward the center of the courtyard, scanning the surroundings with her violet eyes. Ruin. Darkness. Crimson firelight. It resembled hell.
She had caused this scene. She offered a brief apology in her heart.
When she reached the center, she found no corpse. Not even a trace.
"...?"
A flicker of confusion crossed her expression. Had that not killed her? That creature was hardly human.
Bang!!
In the next instant, during the brief moment she was distracted, Elsa burst from the rubble. Her eyes glowed red as she lunged at the Shogun like a wild beast, baring sharp fangs as she closed the distance!
Only then did she see clearly—it was not a human dental structure at all, but beast-like fangs. More like a vampire.
Humm—
She caused the skin of her forearm to vanish as before, revealing her skeletal structure. The hardened bone was thrust directly into Elsa's mouth.
Crack!!
As expected, the moment Elsa bit down, her teeth shattered completely. She was instantly reduced to a pitiful state.
"So that's it... You're not human either, huh~! Hahaha~!!!"
Despite losing her teeth, Elsa did not scream in pain. Instead, she spoke with a muffled tone, as if commenting in admiration.
Crackle—
Still biting down on the exposed bone, Elsa swung her head aside. Sparks flared where teeth scraped against skeleton. The Shogun shook her off with one hand and struck her palm upward into Elsa's jaw!
Crack!
The woman's head snapped backward.
Whoosh!
In the next instant, a single slash severed Elsa's head.
Slash!
At that very moment, Musou Isshin was drawn from her chest, and she executed a swift iai strike.
Flash! Flash!
After a series of fissure-like sword lights flickered, Elsa's body split apart, sliced into several pieces that fell to the ground.
Thud...
The severed head rolled onto the scorched earth. Yet the expression on her face remained frozen in a smile, just as it had been in life.
"Could it be that you will revive again this time?"
Staring at the head and its unsettling grin, the Shogun spoke coldly. Of course, no one answered her.
...
"How about your side? Is it resolved?"
She raised her hand and used lightning to reduce Elsa's severed head to dust, erasing the last remains of her corpse before turning to Frederica.
"Yes. Though she escaped, it didn't seem like she intended to return."
Frederica shook her head regretfully.
"Did you learn her identity?"
She asked.
"Meili Portroute. A member of the same assassination organization as the Bowel Hunter. She's their beast tamer. She once infiltrated the village for a period of time. According to her, the Bowel Hunter is apparently her older sister."
Frederica answered in sequence, recalling the information she had drawn out during their fight.
A beast tamer?
And she had once infiltrated the village?
"..."
Her eyes flickered slightly.
Could it be that the previous mabeast incident in the village had been her doing?
Highly possible. Of course, it was only speculation. It was already in the past—there was no point dwelling on it now. She pushed the thought aside.
She glanced at Natsuki Subaru, who still looked somewhat shaken.
"...Are you alright?"
After a brief hesitation, she asked.
"Eh? Ah... thanks for arriving in time, Raiden-tan. Sigh... even Frederica was starting to struggle."
Natsuki Subaru froze for a moment before smiling in thanks. There was an underlying meaning in his tone.
"Mm... That's good."
She knew he was aware that her actions were linked to his Return by Death. When he spoke, the two of them understood each other perfectly. In front of Frederica, however, they wordlessly maintained the riddle. He could not speak of it, and she did not trust Frederica enough to reveal it.
"Frederica, go clean up the traces of the battle in the mansion. I'll handle him."
She gave a simple instruction, using it as an excuse to send her away.
"Understood, Lady Shogun."
Frederica showed no suspicion. She bowed slightly and turned to head back inside.
"Wait..."
As if remembering something, the Shogun called out again.
"...Lady Shogun?"
Frederica halted and turned back.
"You already knew that Emilia would be forced to undergo the Sanctuary's trials, didn't you?"
Her gaze turned cold.
"..."
Frederica froze visibly, her expression growing complicated as she lowered her eyes.
"You didn't mention it before we went because it was Roswaal's order?"
She continued.
"...Yes. I'm very sorry, Lady Shogun."
She pressed her lips together and nodded. To her surprise, Frederica did not attempt to argue.
"I am not asking for your apology. I'm only reminding you—you are no longer part of the mansion. Roswaal is no longer your master. You need not obey him. Because... he has never truly cared about his pieces."
For the sake of his objective, that man would abandon anyone—or anything—he deemed unnecessary. An extremist.
This sudden attack on the mansion by the Bowel Hunter was likely his doing. Perhaps even the earlier assassination attempt on Emilia had been orchestrated by him. Back in the Sanctuary, he had said as much.
According to Echidna, he followed the Gospel in his hand, seeking to use her to accomplish his purpose. Whether it was at Old Man Rom's place in the beginning, or during the Witch Cult's assault on the mansion—he had wanted Emilia driven into a corner.
"Because she has you by her side, Miss Raiden."
He had once said that to her.
"...Wait."
Her eyes widened suddenly.
If that was the case, why attack the mansion this time—so far from the Sanctuary? Emilia wasn't even there.
"!"
A chill ran through her.
Which meant the real target was... the Sanctuary.
This had merely been a diversion to draw her away.
Crackle—!!
Without another thought, she transformed into lightning and shot into the sky, streaking through the dark night like a thunder dragon toward the Sanctuary.
All the while, she prayed they would be safe.
But reality rarely aligns with prayer.
"!"
Thud!
Several hours later, when she arrived at the Sanctuary once more, she found the scene utterly unfamiliar.
She landed, confusion written across her face.
[Why... is it snowing here?]
Ei's tone carried a trace of anxiety.
"..."
She slowly shook her head.
The village once surrounded by dense forest was now buried beneath vast stretches of white snow. Heavy flakes drifted down from the sky like falling feathers. The temperature had dropped drastically. Each breath she exhaled formed pale mist.
Crunch... crunch...
Her heels sank into snow that reached past her ankles, making soft sounds with each step and leaving clear footprints behind. Because she wore open high heels, the moment she took her first step, the snow seeped inside. Her feet grew damp instantly, cold seeping through. The black silk over her insteps darkened further as it soaked through.
But she had no mind to care about such trivial discomfort.
Her pace quickened as she passed through the eerily deserted village.
Too strange. Far too strange.
Aside from the endless white landscape, there was not a single sign of life. It was as though everyone had vanished from the world.
Tap... tap...
She broke into a run before finally slowing to a halt, a rare trace of panic surfacing in her expression.
"...Pandora. Emilia. Where are they?"
She murmured unconsciously, also addressing her mother within.
[...Do not panic. Calm yourself. Search carefully.]
Ei was far steadier. At times like this, the difference in age was evident. She soothed her increasingly anxious daughter.
"Mm... haa..."
She nodded obediently, yet the unease within her continued to swell. She knew it would not be that simple.
Still, she believed in Pandora's ability... if Pandora was truly devoted to her.
[Check the ruins, Shogun.]
Ei suggested.
She turned and ran swiftly toward the ruins.
When she finally arrived, she let out a breath of relief.
They were safe.
Everyone was inside the ruins, asleep. She moved forward and checked each one. They were merely sleeping. Their breathing was steady. Even Emilia, Ram, and Rem had fallen asleep. She did not know what had happened—but as long as they were alive, that was enough.
Everyone—
No. Not everyone.
"...Where is Pandora?"
She stood and looked around, searching everywhere. The ghostlike silver-haired girl was nowhere to be found.
A bad premonition pounded in her chest.
She hurried out of the ruins and back into the snowy field.
[Shogun, look over there. Are those footprints?]
Following Ei's direction, she immediately spotted a long trail of prints in the corner. They were not shoe prints—but bare footprints.
Pandora.
Only she walked without shoes.
A flicker of hope crossed her face. She followed the prints—but the deeper she went, the heavier her steps became. Her hurried pace gradually slowed into cautious steps.
The trail led into a small grove behind the ruins.
When she reached the end of the footprints, she finally saw her.
"...!"
The sight that met her eyes—
The frail silver-haired girl was curled against a tree, knees drawn to her chest, motionless like a corpse. Snow had piled thickly atop her hair and clothes. Her skin was unnaturally pale—icy white, devoid of blood.
"Pandora!"
She rushed forward and knelt beside her, pulling the stiff, frozen girl into her warm embrace. She brushed snow from her back and hair repeatedly, trying to warm her.
[...]
Even Ei fell silent.
"Pandora... can you hear me?"
"..."
The girl's eyes remained closed.
"Please... answer me."
Her voice trembled.
"...?"
At last, her voice reached the girl's ears. Slowly, faint azure eyes opened.
"You're awake?"
She forced a smile.
"...You... came... back... Shogun..."
Gone was the usual serene composure. The girl in her arms felt like a fragile jewel—so delicate it seemed she might shatter at any moment.
And her unease only deepened.