Chapter 91. An Adoptive Father is Inferior to a Boyfriend
「"Sloth! Negligence! To not have made thorough preparations, leading to my discovery—you are simply not diligent enough! Simply too slothful!"」
「The crazed Petelgeuse seemed not to care at all about his own life or the lives of his "Fingers." Facing an enemy who had annihilated a large number of his subordinates, he actually had the heart to deliver a lecture on diligence.」
「"Authority of Sloth: Unseen Hand!"」
「A brilliance like a shooting star bloomed in the air, followed by a continuous succession. Julius, twisting his body and stimulating all his physical strength, moved his blade like a dazzling meteor shower, accurately and unerringly severing all of Petelgeuse's attacking arms.」
「"Emilia, now—Emilia?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's heart skipped a beat, and he quickly turned his head. Emilia, who was supposed to be coordinating perfectly with them, had a look of confusion on her face. Her hands had been pouring magic with all her might, but a sliver of hesitation deep in her consciousness was obstructing her movements.」
「"How is this possible? Why do I feel... this sensation?"」
「Emilia trembled with surprise. Her soft palm touched her cheek, and she discovered that she had unknowingly shed two streaks of tears, filled with a heartache and agitation that even she herself could hardly understand.」
「"Emilia!"」
「As Emilia stood frozen in a daze, an Unseen Hand—a stray fish that had slipped past Julius—lunged toward her. The oblivious girl's attention suddenly snapped back to reality as blood sprayed past her eyes, blindingly vivid.」
「"Lia!"」
「In that lightning-fast moment, the reaction of the "seeing" Hikigaya Hachiman surpassed even Puck's. He threw his arms around the suddenly distracted Emilia, protecting the girl as much as possible to keep her safe.」
「Petelgeuse, driven to frenzy by the sight of his Trial target, bent his body at a ninety-degree angle. Despite being in a hostile state, he laughed heartily with satisfaction and offered praise: "Diligence! Love! To make up for previous sloth with love and diligence—you are truly a believer of favor!!"」
「With his shoulder blade crushed, Hikigaya Hachiman was in such pain that cold sweat seeped from his forehead; he had no time to pay attention to the madman's ravings.」
「He quickly shouted at Julius, who was looking over in concern: "Don't worry about me! I'm fine! Take care of yourself, Julius!"」
「He didn't even have the capacity at this moment to encourage Emilia, who had inexplicably lost her will to fight. He had to keep his eyes fixed on Petelgeuse at all times to provide vision for Julius.」
「"If it's too much for you, go with Puck and clear out the other Witch Cultists for now, Emilia."」
「Having such intimate contact with him for the first time, their bodies were completely pressed together. Various private areas were touching without any leeway for modesty through their thin clothes.」
「But neither Hikigaya Hachiman nor Emilia felt any sense of ambiguity or romance at this moment.」
「Just before the attack, Emilia's heart had been stirred by a close observation of Petelgeuse's appearance—memories that seemed incredibly ancient, almost as if they didn't exist, surged within her, causing a complex mix of emotions to spread through her body.」
「Now, looking at Hikigaya Hachiman, who was gasping for air in pathetic pain—nearly wheezing—her eyes were filled with shock and unparalleled heartache.」
「—That wound, that wound! He wasn't supposed to get hurt! It was all because of her!!」
.
.
.
"What's going on? Emilia is kind, sure, but she's never dragged her feet when it was time to go for the kill before, right?"
The Kousaka household was momentarily stunned and lost. Even Kousaka Kyousuke felt that if Emilia didn't have a good explanation for this blunder, he would probably switch sides to support Rem.
"Isn't Emilia just sabotaging him? It was all discussed beforehand, yet she starts spacing out once the battle begins. If there had been even a slight error, either she or Hikigaya would have died!"
The people watching the future could tolerate things like Elsa the Bowel Hunter and the Witch Cult—after all, it wasn't Emilia's fault those madmen existed.
But Emilia holding Hikigaya Hachiman back like this was truly jaw-dropping. Just watching it made them feel exasperated on Hikigaya's behalf.
The incident caused a huge stir throughout the entire Lugunica Kingdom.
The people around Emilia cast rather displeased glances at her... Though they wouldn't go as far as to condemn her—a single mistake from this girl couldn't erase all her previous displays of good character.
However, everyone was indeed seething with frustration for Hikigaya Hachiman.
Emilia is great, of course, but who doesn't like Hikigaya Hachiman?
Even Puck couldn't help but ask gently, "Lia, what happened to you?"
"I don't know, I really don't." Emilia herself was shocked to the extreme. She looked closely at Petelgeuse; the more she looked, the more familiar he became. "But... Petelgeuse, I feel like, I feel like... I know him?"
She had actually felt this the moment she first saw Petelgeuse, but it had been faint because her mind was focused more on Hachiman, and she hadn't truly been face-to-face with Petelgeuse.
But now...
"Does he... have something to do with my past?" Emilia could less and less ignore this thumping in her heart.
"Geuse..." At the entrance of the Forbidden Library, looking up at the light screen in the sky, Beatrice's eyes were very dim.
The arrogant and rude Priscilla sneered at the same time, "Hmph, the half-devil should indeed commit suicide to atone for her sins. If Hikigaya Hachiman still has eyes, he should obediently come to me and beg for my shelter."
At the Karsten estate, Crusch was so happy she almost jumped up. She grabbed Felix, ecstatic. "Did you see that? Did you see that, Ferris? I told you! It's best for Sir Hachiman to follow me! I wouldn't hold him back and cause him such heavy injuries!"
Felix gave a "Meow," "Ferris agrees with that point, of course, nya. But it seems Hachiman still doesn't feel any resentment toward Lady Emilia, nya."
"That's Sir Hachiman for you!"
"Yes, that's Lord Hachiman."
Crusch and Wilhelm spoke in unison, both speaking entirely from the heart.
-
-
-
「While Emilia was trembling all over, Puck hurriedly floated over: "Lia, calm down!"」
「"Calm, right, calm!"」
「Anxiously, Emilia cast a low-power ice seal on Hikigaya Hachiman to slow down his cellular activity and reduce the rate of wound expansion and bleeding.」
「The weakened Hikigaya Hachiman could no longer hold onto her.」
「Emilia ignored the fact that her gorgeous dress was stained with Hikigaya Hachiman's blood, looking terrifying. She turned to look at the giggling Petelgeuse, her expression as terrifying as her dress.」
「"Puck!"」
Chapter 92. Patricide
「Emilia now had a rough understanding of who the culprit behind her daze and sluggish reactions was. "Have I... seen you before? Do I know you?"」
「"Oh my?" Petelgeuse, in the midst of his hectic battle with Julius, spared a moment to cast a puzzled glance at the subject of his Trial.」
「But before he could say anything more, Emilia's next words rang out with powerful resolve: "Your answer is no longer important!"」
「"I want to recover my memories... I want to know my past... but if it means hurting Hachiman, I will absolutely not allow it!"」
「The radiant girl took a deep breath. Although it was a decision made in haste, she was deadly serious.」
「"The past is important... but the present is equally important. I will not forgive you, Petelgeuse!"」
「"Oh my, oh my—such a slothful Trial subject actually dares to challenge the diligent me, the favored me, the one who repays that favor—does a slothful half-devil intend to defeat the diligent Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti?!"」
「"Is this okay, Lia?"」
「Facing the concerned Puck, Emilia's eyes were resolute. This was the first time she had been in such a state since waking from the ice: "Help me, Puck!"」
「Feeling the sheer determination of his daughter, Puck shed his usual laziness and responded with his most serious tone: "I support whatever Lia wants to do. In that case... sorry, but please go die, Petelgeuse."」
「Mana—vast, dazzling mana—evaporated in massive quantities, forming sharp ice spears that filled the heavens and earth. Under normal circumstances, Emilia and Puck, striking out with focused resentment, were operating at their peak combat capacity!」
「The gap in raw strength is not usually bridged by anger, and they shouldn't have been able to defeat Petelgeuse. However, those dozens upon dozens of Unseen Hands were all being severed by the blade of the rapidly moving Julius, whose speed was nearly impossible for the naked eye to track.」
「With his Authority seen through and monitored, the odds of victory in the battle between Petelgeuse and Julius tilted. At such a moment, the overwhelming wave of ice spears naturally pierced Petelgeuse's unconditioned, ordinary physical body.」
「A second later, his Unseen Hand struck again from the side, and his giggling, uniquely "Slothful" rhetoric was about to resume its chatter.」
「But in an instant, this new body was likewise annihilated by ice spears, crushed into mincemeat!」
「"It's useless!"」
「All information regarding Petelgeuse had long since become transparent!」
「"Sloth, sloth, sloth, slo—Pfft!"」
「"Aaah, my brain is trem—Rip!!"」
「Petelgeuse's repeated deaths even caused Julius to pause for a moment. "Lady Emilia... her personality seems a bit different from the rumors."」
-
-
-
Rather than Julius, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka evaluated the scene comfortably: "Hmm, not bad. She isn't so kind that she's a complete 'Holy Mother'. She finally looks the part, this Emilia."
In the Kousaka home, Kousaka Kyousuke's spirit was revitalized. He pumped his fist aggressively: "Get him! Kill him! Avenging the man she loves—that's our Emilia! Emilia is number one in the world!"
"Hmph!" Kousaka Kirino puffed out her cheeks; she was temporarily supporting Rem.
Swish—
The crowd who had just been shooting quiet, resentful glares at Emilia for Hachiman's sake suddenly scrambled away in panic, faces plastered with forced smiles.
The members of the Council of Sages, who had been secretly wondering how to take petty revenge on Hachiman once he appeared, felt a chill run up their spines. Their scalps went numb, and they dared not harbor any more dark thoughts.
"..." In the courtyard of the Roswaal Mansion, Ram's brow was furrowed. Having lost her horn, she worried she might not be able to beat the combination of Emilia and Puck to secure an advantage for Rem.
"Hmph... but it doesn't matter. Rem is already in a massive lead. A mere Emilia thinking she can steal Rem's man just by catching up a little is nothing but a pipe dream!"
-
-
-
「Death, death, death, death—a continuous succession of deaths. Under the combined efforts of Hikigaya Hachiman, Julius, Emilia, and Puck, Petelgeuse found it impossible to resist.」
「Even with a mind as insane as his, Petelgeuse, his eyes bloodshot, could not remain indifferent to such treatment.」
「After killing Petelgeuse once more, Emilia was on guard for where he would appear next, when suddenly Hikigaya Hachiman groaned beside her and fell to one knee.」
「"This is... get back, Lia!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman had specifically mentioned that he also met the conditions for Petelgeuse to possess him. He told them not to panic if it happened, as he had a way to solve it.」
「Puck clutched an ice spear in his palm. Even though Hachiman had said that... if he failed, for Lia's sake, Puck would kill Hikigaya Hachiman without hesitation, even if it meant being hated by her forever!」
-
-
-
"I've figured it out. No matter how big the world is, this cat only ever has eyes for its daughter."
Shirogane Kei curled her lip. "Joining Crusch's camp would definitely be much better. Over there, all three people in power treat Hikigaya-senpai like the most precious treasure... though, luckily, Rem and Emilia are also very good."
Shirogane Miyuki smiled, his perspective broader than his sister's: "Kei, once Hikigaya pushes Emilia onto the throne of the Dragon Kingdom, won't he be able to live in harmony with Crusch and the others anyway?"
"Eh? Oh, true." Shirogane Kei fantasized, "In a future like that, no one gets hurt. Just thinking about it is beautiful!"
Although Petelgeuse wasn't dead yet, those watching the video knew he was effectively finished, so the tension had temporarily faded.
-
-
-
「"Aaah, wonderful! Splendid! What a diligent body! What a fitting vessel!"」
「Within his consciousness, Hikigaya Hachiman looked coldly at Petelgeuse. His mind replayed Emilia's multiple deaths and Rem being consumed by the White Whale—all of which were ultimately Petelgeuse's fault.」
「"Return by Death," he said.」
「Petelgeuse froze. "What?"」
「Without a half-second's pause, carrying all his hatred for the Witch Cult, Hikigaya Hachiman gritted his teeth and spoke every syllable with intent: "I. Can. Return. By. Death!"」
「Sizzle...」
-
-
-
Like a tsunami, a tornado, a volcanic eruption, and the shifting of tectonic plates occurring all at once—the moment the Satella appeared, that crushing pressure weighed on everyone's hearts again.
However, this time, including Hikigaya Hachiman himself, everyone only wanted to celebrate loudly.
"Die at the hands of the Satella you so worship, you damn Petelgeuse!"
Chapter 93. Rem... Who?
「The moment Hikigaya Hachiman slowly opened his eyes, Julius was so tense he was on the verge of cramping—but that wasn't important.」
「Upon seeing Hikigaya Hachiman's expression, he instantly relaxed. This is my best friend. He made this judgment with what could be called arbitrary certainty, and he believed in it without a shadow of a doubt.」
「"Is the Sin Archbishop dealt with, nya? Ugh, the injuries are so heavy, nya. Let Ferris come and—"」
「Having finished treating some of the seriously wounded, Ferris saw the Witch Cultists retreating in succession. Realizing the main battlefield here had suddenly gone quiet, he immediately rushed over.」
「But before he could throw himself onto Hikigaya Hachiman, a figure moved a step ahead of him. With teary eyes, she lunged into the arms of Hikigaya Hachiman, who was wearing a faint smile of relief.」
「"Thank goodness, thank goodness, ugh... I'm sorry, Hachiman, I'm sorry, I'm truly sorry..."」
「Venting her self-reproach, regret, and lingering fear to her heart's content, sobbing like a homeless kitten, Emilia was nearly choking with emotion. Magnificent and beautiful as she was, in this state, she appeared even more alluring than usual, possessing a unique charm.」
「Her long silver hair emitted a faint fragrance, her skin was fairer and more tender than fine snow, and her trembling body was pitiful. She was wholeheartedly, regretfully, and nervously hoping for forgiveness.」
「Julius immediately averted his gaze. Ferris, who had wanted to go over to treat him, also slowed his pace; they tacitly agreed not to disturb Emilia.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman opened his mouth, but for a moment, he couldn't say a single word.」
「He was the one who should be apologizing... He was the one who should be venting his self-reproach, regret, and fear... Clearly, he was the one who had failed Emilia!」
「But this girl had beaten him to it. He didn't know how to interrupt her... He couldn't bring himself to reject Emilia... If he apologized now as well, wouldn't it be too strange?」
「With a face contorted in helplessness, Hikigaya Hachiman looked toward Ferris and Julius for help. Unexpectedly, these two best friends were so in sync that they both pretended not to see, acting as if they were blind.」
「If it were Rem, he could probably barely accept such an intimate embrace, but Emilia...」
「"Dame, you can't do that, young man."」
「Just as Hikigaya Hachiman resolved to gently push Emilia away, accompanied by a warning from Puck so soft it was almost inaudible, his arm was suddenly pressed down by Puck. Instead of pushing her away, he involuntarily pulled the sobbing girl in his arms closer.」
「Puck winked meaningfully and disappeared. "Taking care of a crying girl is a man's duty, you know. I've got high hopes for you."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman looked at Emilia in horror.」
「But... there was nothing.」
「Emilia... didn't show a hint of resistance; she simply accepted his embrace just like that.」
「The sensation of the girl's uniquely soft skin forced Hikigaya Hachiman to become slightly entranced. His mind wavered, and his heart rate accelerated—just like when he held Rem.」
-
-
-
"Hehe, truly worthy of me! I finally did a good deed in the future. Now I can die without regrets, mi~"
Puck stuck out his tongue, acting cute. "A girl as cute as my Lia is only just barely matched by this kid, mi."
"Puck!" Emilia's face turned so red she didn't know what to do.
Just as Puck said, indeed... the scene of the fragile Emilia throwing herself into Hikigaya Hachiman's arms made Isshiki Iroha's eyes glaze over.
She marveled and muttered to herself: "They match so well, Emilia and Senpai..."
Miura Yumiko said unwillingly: "Though I really want to say he's two-timing, honestly, you can't blame Hikigaya, and they really do look great together!"
"Emilia is truly too cute!"
Who could reject a girl like Emilia? In any case, it was very difficult for Hikigaya Hachiman to do so.
"Heh." Yukinoshita Yukino had a face that said 'Isn't this fine too?'. Her spirit had dissipated to the point of completely giving up resistance; she didn't want to say anything anymore.
-
-
-
「For Hikigaya Hachiman and Emilia, normal people would offer their full support, but a madman doesn't care about the atmosphere.」
「"My... My...! Trial! Love! Diligence!"」
「Rumble!!」
「The mountain forest was leveled, trees collapsed. An ear-piercing, sharp voice, crazier than madness itself—Petelgeuse appeared like a giant spider.」
「"How stubborn!" Julius spat in disgust, preparing for battle.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was even more surprised than him... To survive the hands of the legendary Jealous Witch, this Sin Archbishop was simply too strong. Though it was clear he was like a candle in the wind now.」
「"Julius, don't move."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman stopped Julius. He hurriedly nudged the sobbing Emilia in his arms. "Emilia... without killing Petelgeuse, can you freeze him in ice? Can you do that?"」
「"Mm?"」
「Emilia, with tear stains still on her face, looked up. She didn't say whether she could or couldn't; she only remembered that this was Hachiman's request. She immediately nodded without hesitation: "I'll do it!"」
「The already extremely weakened Petelgeuse could not resist Emilia's magic.」
「But why go through the extra trouble? Was he to be transported to the Royal Capital for execution under the public eye? That would indeed bring higher prestige.」
「Before Ferris's thoughts could solidify, the Great Spirit Puck suddenly popped out again. With a look that suggested he had seen right through Hikigaya Hachiman, he said with a grin: "You, you're doing it for Lia after all, aren't you? You heard what Lia said earlier, didn't you? This Petelgeuse person can trigger Lia's memories, so you want to keep him alive."」
「"Eh? Is that so?"」
「Emilia stared with her magnificent amethyst pupils, looking touched at this man who was now essentially at zero distance from her.」
「"..." Hikigaya Hachiman turned his face away.」
「Despite being a master liar, to lie in front of Emilia, and in front of Julius and Ferris who acknowledged him as their best friend, was truly excruciating.」
「 'But was it necessary to intentionally mention the reason for keeping Petelgeuse? This is just to make me embarrassed on purpose... Puck, I'll remember you!'」
「Julius sighed from the bottom of his heart: "The bond between Hachiman-kun and Lady Emilia is truly wonderful."」
「"Idiot, what are you talking about? That kind of talk is easily misunderstood, okay? Besides, I'm not so shameless as to be fickle... Don't say things like that in the future, Julius, especially when Rem is around."」
「"Rem?"」
「"Rem...?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman froze. He felt these people had suddenly become a bit strange. "What's wrong with you all?"」
「"Um, maybe I forgot, I'm sorry, but..." Emilia tugged at his sleeve sheepishly. "Rem... who is that?"」
「"Rem... who is that?!"」
Chapter 94. Regulus, Spurned by Ten Billion People
「It felt as if a giant python had extended its tongue to lick the back of his neck; that bolt-from-the-blue sensation made his scalp go numb and his whole body tremble. Hikigaya Hachiman's throat moved in an unconscious swallow.」
「He stared straight at Emilia. The girl, who was terrible at lying, pursed her lips uneasily. She seemed to realize from the look on his face that her not knowing Rem was somehow a reprehensible and terrible thing.」
「"You actually asked me... who is Rem?"」
「"Enough!" Puck couldn't watch anymore. He hadn't expected Hikigaya Hachiman's face to turn so dark over some mysterious "Rem," to the point where his hands, resting on Emilia's shoulders, were gripping her hard enough to cause pain.」
「"Puck, it's okay... Um, maybe it's just that I was too careless. Hachiman, can you describe what Rem looks like? If I've seen her, I should be able to remember."」
「Despite the sudden rough treatment, Emilia was apprehensive. she immediately took the blame upon herself to stop Puck, then spoke in a soft, gentle voice to soothe the distraught Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「But Hikigaya Hachiman was in no mood for comfort. He stood up abruptly, ignoring his injuries, his face ashen.」
「He had to return to the Royal Capital immediately!」
.
.
.
"These symptoms are exactly the same as when someone was killed by the White Whale, but isn't the White Whale already dead?"
Aside from Ayanokouji Kiyotaka, who had long expected this and remained composed, everyone else was stunned. Hiratsuka Shizuka, in particular, shook her head in heartache as she watched her favorite student get dragged into a whirlpool of misfortune once again.
Usually, "waifu wars" were just games, but with news of a potential death, the Shirogane siblings, the Kousaka siblings, and the Izumi siblings were all sitting upright, praying for Rem.
The reaction from the people of the Lugunica Kingdom was even more intense. They looked at each other in confusion: "The White Whale is dead, that's beyond doubt... Could it be... is there a second White Whale?"
Ferris racked his brain. "What on earth happened? It's impossible for there to be a second White Whale. Did it resurrect?"
He suddenly froze, experiencing that same sudden shiver of soul-deep dread that Hikigaya Hachiman felt. Ferris realized: "If something happened to Lady Rem, then Lady Crusch, who was traveling with her, must also be in danger!"
-
-
-
「The frantic Hikigaya Hachiman left the clean-up work to Otto and galloped toward the Royal Capital on a ground dragon. Emilia, Julius, and Ferris, unable to leave him alone, followed closely behind on single mounts. The remaining soldiers, led by Wilhelm, followed at a normal pace.」
Both worlds' urgent desire to see the cause of Rem's "death" was received by the observers. For the first time, the perspective of the future broadcast briefly shifted.
「The light curtains and screens flickered. The scene switched, the time rewound, and the image fixed upon the transport team carrying the White Whale's corpse, leisurely and triumphantly heading back to the capital.」
"This time point... it's just before the battle with Petelgeuse began at the mansion!"
Not only did Horikita Suzune cry out in surprise, but even Ayanokouji Kiyotaka watched intently. He was curious: who could kill Rem when she was guarded by Crusch, a large group of soldiers, and her own strength?
「A man appeared directly in the path of the advancing team. Although he hadn't moved yet, his malice was so thick that everyone could sense it. Crusch frowned. 'Crush him!'」
「Soldiers steered their ground dragons to trample the man. Simultaneously, Rem, whose intuition was screaming warnings, grabbed Crusch without a word and leaped from the dragon carriage. The moment they left, the area looked as if it had been hit by a magical bombardment; the convoy was instantly halved, with blood and flesh flying everywhere!」
「Crusch was furious. After exchanging a few words with the rambling, talkative stranger, she decisively drew her sword—an attack that could wound even the White Whale. However, the man was completely unscathed.」
「In the next second, Crusch's right hand, which held the sword, was suddenly severed. Her arm was completely separated from her body. Crusch had been maimed!」
「The Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus Corneas—the man who introduced himself also introduced his companion: a short man named Lye Batenkaitos, the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony.」
-
-
-
At this point in the broadcast, it was clear as day. Dealing with just one Sin Archbishop of Sloth was impossible for even the Kingdom's finest knight, Julius, without the "seeing" eyes of Hikigaya Hachiman. To face two Sin Archbishops at once?
Winning was out of the question; for Crusch and Rem, even a successful escape would be a miracle.
"One encounter... just one encounter!"
Crusch looked up, watching her future self being crushed and toyed with by the Archbishop of Greed. Her teeth gritted audibly.
"Even if the other Archbishops were only at Petelgeuse's level, I couldn't win one-on-one. But now, I can't even manage a basic fight. How incompetent!"
This wasn't a battle; it was a one-sided beating, a total crushing, a cruel game!
"If I don't even have the ability to fight or stall a Sin Archbishop, even if I win the Royal Selection, how can I bring safety to this kingdom?"
"He's simply a monster," Priscilla said, hiding her mouth behind her fan, but Al could still see her wariness.
While her arrogance allowed her to speak boldly even to Reinhard, that was partly because she knew Reinhard would never strike her. But the Archbishop of Greed displayed a terrifying combination of whim and flawless, overwhelming power.
Priscilla didn't want to be rude, but if she truly met him, she would likely have to leave Al behind just to stall for time.
Fortunately, she wouldn't encounter such a monster during the day. As for the night—well, when night came, one should just sleep and go nowhere.
"How can there be such an overpowered monster..."
"Tsk, tsk, tsk." Regulus, currently being feared and cursed by everyone, had just killed one of his wives. He spread his hands in feigned regret.
"A pity, a pity. Now that I look at it, that Rem girl was okay. I should have taken her as a wife along with that Emilia girl. It's a bit of a waste to let Lye eat her."
Whether in the world of the Great Cascade or on Earth, every nation was on high alert, provoked by Regulus.
Reinhard was strong, yes, but he had good character, so there was no need to worry. Others who had appeared so far weren't so strong that they couldn't be dealt with.
"That Regulus's invincible defense and attack power... with that kind of performance... no matter how you think about it, he can't be stopped! Even a nuke wouldn't work!"
"Can Hikigaya Hachiman find a way to deal with Regulus, just as he did with previous deadlocks?"
Chapter 95. Suicide, the Collapse of a Rational Monster
「The group of four, traveling without rest, finally arrived half a day later at that hellish place filled with severed limbs and remains. There, they saw a crowd of soldiers with mangled bodies, fallen into a strange slumber.」
「Among them, Rem's exterior remained intact; even so, her death sentence had been pronounced. This was the answer provided by the Kingdom's primary healer, Ferris, upon examination.」
「"…Lady Crusch, please wake up! It's Ferris! It's Ferris! …"」
「From not far away came a desolate wailing; Ferris was already sobbing uncontrollably, bordering on collapse. No one knew what he would become if Crusch never woke up again.」
「"…Then what about me?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman gazed at Rem, who had lost her life, her soul, and her very existence—looking like a sleeping princess from a fairy tale. He asked himself this question.」
「Just half a day ago, he was still lying in this girl's warm embrace, listening to her gentle voice and enjoying her direct confession.」
「"Hachiman…" Emilia called out timidly. Hikigaya Hachiman looked much calmer than Ferris right now, but the calmer he appeared, the more that suppressed tension worried her.」
「Emilia looked toward Puck for help; she truly did not want Hikigaya Hachiman to be this sad: "Puck, is there really no way to do something?"」
「"If I could help, I would, but… sorry, Lia."」
「The powerless Puck was the final straw that broke the camel's back.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman swayed on his feet, all light fading from his eyes as he cautiously stroked Rem's cheek. In his ears, Ferris's wails echoed one after another.」
「"If I lose Rem… if there is no Rem… if Rem is forgotten by everyone…"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's body trembled. He turned to look at the girl beside him; Emilia's face was filled with sincere concern for him.」
「Accompanied by Ferris's wailing, the question in the depths of Hikigaya Hachiman's heart surfaced and echoed repeatedly.」
「…Emilia still needs me. Emilia still can't be left alone.」
「"I need Rem," Hikigaya Hachiman said softly. "Emilia, I need Rem!"」
「"I understand, I'll help you. Um… and Roswaal! Let's go find Roswaal, how about that, okay?" Emilia nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at grain. She was terrified that a
Hikigaya Hachiman this suppressed might do something irrational, so her tone was gentle and anxious.
「However, quite the opposite was true: Hikigaya Hachiman was currently at his most rational.」
「Is there really no other way to save Rem? …There might be. But who can guarantee they will encounter someone with that ability? Who can guarantee there definitely is a way to save her? In comparison, Return by Death is the most efficient and effective method!」
「I'm sorry, Emilia—but if I don't do this, Hikigaya Hachiman was certain he would be failing Rem even more. He would live the rest of his life in regret, absolutely!」
「"Emilia." Hikigaya Hachiman took out a letter and handed it solemnly to the bewildered girl. "Listen to me, Emilia… everything in this letter is true. I will not deceive you."」
「Emilia took the letter in a fluster. "Eh? Why… um, I understand. I'll believe it. The contents are true. I believe you, I believe in Hachiman."」
「"Don't say any more." Hikigaya Hachiman turned his head away, lacking the courage to look at this pure and innocent girl. The more Emilia trusted him, the more his stomach churned and his internal organs throbbed with stabs of pain.」
「As if running away, he stumbled toward the dark forest, leaving his final words: "I want to be alone and quiet for a while. Come find me after you've finished reading the letter."」
「"Okay!" Emilia relaxed slightly. Since he could plan things so methodically, he probably wouldn't be so overcome by grief that he'd do something to hurt himself.」
.
.
.
"Emilia…"
Watching his future self hide in the woods, draw a sharp sword, and slash his own throat without a hint of hesitation, the real-world Hikigaya Hachiman truly couldn't bear to watch; he felt a literal ache in his teeth.
"I'm nothing but a bastard!"
Emilia trusted him so much and needed him so much. If this were a parallel world, what she would find later was nothing but the cold corpse of her knight after his suicide!
"Even so, there was no other choice, was there?"
」
Yukinoshita Yukino sighed. "To save a life, you were willing to sacrifice even yourself. You can have a clear conscience, Hikigaya-kun. Don't blame yourself excessively… I really hate the sound of you insulting yourself."
Even as a romantic rival, Yukinoshita Yukino would not feel jubilant over Rem's death.
Life is precious… Future Hikigaya Hachiman's suicide was indeed a betrayal to Emilia, but in killing himself, he was being even truer to Rem, Crusch, and the others!
This was a helpless trade-off. Aside from Emilia, no one had the right to condemn Hikigaya Hachiman—not even he himself.
"..." Hikigaya Hachiman remained silent.
He understood the logic, of course, but it was hard to let go of the emotional weight.
"This is truly…"
In the courtyard of the Roswaal Mansion, Ram's mouth hung open for a long time, but eventually, she could say nothing. Her sharp tongue wanted to habitually say that this was only fitting for her sister, but even she couldn't ignore the facts: Hikigaya Hachiman's choice was too agonizing, and too moving.
Hikigaya Hachiman had no obligation to do this, yet he went ahead without looking back.
Watching the light screen, Rem was already moved to the point of sobbing uncontrollably.
Priscilla spoke with anticipation, her tone still filled with arrogance and madness: "Come then, crack the boring authorities of those two filthy, eyesore vermin. Offer a magnificent feast and banquet to me."
Even Sword Saint Reinhard looked forward to it. The actions of the Sin Archbishops had provoked a rare anger in him. However, if Regulus's Authority wasn't cracked, given Regulus's performance, it was unlikely he could kill the Archbishop of Greed.
If Hikigaya Hachiman could crack the mystery, the moment the locations of those Sin Archbishops were found, Reinhard would immediately take up his sword to sweep the world clean!
-
--
-
「Hikigaya Hachiman returned to reality from the darkness of the Jealous Witch.」
「He looked around. Emilia, Julius, and Ferris were all there. The extremely weak remnant soul of Petelgeuse had been frozen and sealed.」
「Whoosh—」
「A chill surged violently. Hikigaya Hachiman's voice was hoarse, his throat instantly parched. He looked tremblingly at the girl beside him: "Where is Rem?"」
「Emilia tilted her head, her expression one of confusion.」
「"Rem… who is that?"」
Cry It Out
"This is a massive joke," Anastasia said softly. But she couldn't bring herself to laugh.
No one could laugh; perhaps only the culprit, Satella the Witch of Envy, was capable of laughing at this.
"To give this Authority to Hikigaya Hachiman, to force him into a choice between two paths, and then to shift the save point of Return by Death forward... Are you happy, Satella, watching him in sorrow, anger, and collapse? Watching the person he loves become unable to ever return?"
It was a chilling horror from the bottom of one's heart. No one could help but tremble... The people on Earth finally understood why those in the other world so rejected Emilia—Satella was an existence that even a madman could hardly compare to.
Silence reigned. After a moment, Izumi Sagiri asked in a low voice, "But, what if this wasn't intentional on Satella's part?"
"If it's not intentional, that's what's truly terrifying, Sagiri—she favors Hikigaya-kun, yet she doesn't consider his feelings at all, let alone the feelings of others."
Izumi Masamune personally grasped Hikigaya Hachiman's pain and fear. Even if what he felt wasn't half of what Hikigaya Hachiman experienced firsthand, it was already too horrifying.
In the Sakurasou dormitory, Mitaka Jin, Kanda Sorata, and Akasaka Ryuunosuke couldn't help but wear expressions as if they had seen a ghost. They shivered; even the bright, sunny weather couldn't dispel the feeling of being dropped into an ice cellar.
Previously, they had admired Hikigaya Hachiman's will, but they also thought Return by Death was a "good thing." Looking at it now, rather than an Authority, it was a curse.
The curse of Satella, the Witch of Envy.
If Return by Death didn't exist, Hikigaya Hachiman wouldn't have to suffer so much. If he had simply died at the hands of the Bowel Hunter at the start, it might have been better than enduring all this subsequent heart-wrenching agony.
Including Chitanda Eru, many kind-hearted girls lowered their heads, unable to bear seeing Hikigaya Hachiman's dazed, near-collapsing expression. If they weren't all praying for a miracle—hoping someone could heal Rem—they would have wanted to look away from the video broadcast.
In the courtyard of the Roswaal Mansion, Ram's nails dug into her palms until they bled. She couldn't demand anything of Hikigaya Hachiman; after all, this man had already done everything humanly possible. Ram loathed the Witch Cult. "If I still had my horn... if I still had my horn... I would surely kill the Archbishop of Greed and the Archbishop of Gluttony to avenge Rem!"
Rem felt a knot of suffocating grief in her chest. She didn't want to see the man she loved in such pain, yet she couldn't bear to take her eyes off Hikigaya Hachiman for a single second. "If only Rem could become stronger... if only Rem didn't make Hachiman worry so much... I clearly said I wanted to be his hero, yet I've made him so sad..."
On the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia's heart was squeezed tight. she looked at Hikigaya Hachiman with pity, her heart aching as if pierced by blades.
"Don't... don't blame yourself... don't be so guilty, Hachiman...
Can I do something? Can I do anything? Can I make you feel even a little bit better?" Emilia, so anxious she was on the verge of tears, bit her lip.
"Please, future me, I beg of you... do something..."
-
--
-
「Returning to that site strewn with severed limbs, seeing the Rem who had lost her existence, carrying her onto the dragon carriage, and sitting beside her—throughout the entire journey, Hikigaya Hachiman made no sound other than slow breathing. He was deathly silent.」
「On the way back to the Capital with the wounded, the reactions of the two saddest people were diametrically opposed: Ferris wailed loudly, while Hikigaya Hachiman said nothing. But everyone could see how much they were grieving.」
「Emilia, who had lived with Rem day and night; Julius, who had promised Rem to protect Hikigaya Hachiman—everyone had forgotten Rem.」
「Death is terrifying... but the way others looked at Rem with such unfamiliar eyes made Hikigaya Hachiman tremble even more.」
「From his murmurs, Emilia understood that this was a girl she used to know. Emilia tried her best to remember, but despite her efforts, she could only look at Rem with kindness and gentleness; she could not, under any circumstances, conjure a gaze of familiarity.」
「That night in the dim room, by the bed of the sleeping Rem, the muddled Hikigaya Hachiman finally spoke his first words in a voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz. "Don't force yourself... don't force yourself. It's enough, Emilia."」
「His voice was drained of all vitality, like an old man nearing his end. If Emilia hadn't been neglecting herself in her effort to remember Rem, Hikigaya Hachiman might have remained silent for days.」
「"...No."」
「After a brief pause, Emilia shook her head slightly. She defied her knight: "I want to remember Rem. Since Hachiman said I knew her before, then I absolutely must remember!"」
「It was a touching sentiment, but the second she finished speaking with such resolve, Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly stood up. He gritted his teeth like a tiger entering a state of stress, and he actually roared at Emilia.」
「"It's useless! It will only hurt you! Why won't you listen to me? Why do you want to hurt yourself? Why are you here?! —Exactly how much more do you want me to worry? What will it take for you to leave and let me be alone for a while?! Emilia!!"」
「A sudden... first-time scolding.」
「Emilia was startled and flustered. She froze for a moment, but she didn't get angry, nor did she retreat a single step.」
「Emilia looked straight at Hikigaya Hachiman. This man before her—haggard, miserable, dejected, filled with guilt and sorrow. It was the first time she had seen him like this. She pursed her lips, a glint of determination flashing in her eyes.」
「"But... Hachiman doesn't want me to hurt myself. So why are you hurting yourself?"」
「"I am not!!"」
「With a bang, Hikigaya Hachiman slammed his hand against the bedside. His emotions were incredibly volatile.」
「Emilia did not retreat; instead, she moved closer. She countered him with sincere truth: "If not, then why won't you cry?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman stared with wide eyes, finding it absurd. "Why should I cry?"」
「"When you're sad, when you're suffering, crying makes you feel much better. Just like Ferris—he feels much better now after crying... Hachiman, aren't you very sad right now? Aren't you suffering? Why must you suppress all these emotions in your heart?"」
「"Why... must you devastate yourself like this?"」
「"I am not!!"」
「"If Hachiman refuses to cry, then I will stay here and keep trying to remember—until I remember Rem!"」
「A firm Emilia refused to yield an inch. She ignored Hikigaya Hachiman's lies and used herself as a wager, putting everything on the line.」
「"You are my knight, Hachiman... My knight would not hurt me... If you are willing to let me hurt myself, then continue suppressing it, continue deceiving yourself. If you won't cry, then I will stay with you!!"」
Chapter 97. The Crying Hikigaya Hachiman
「Having protected her own people with her own hands and experienced the flesh-and-blood war against the Witch Cult... Emilia was by no means a woman who only caused trouble, dragged others down, or was good for nothing!」
「"I believe in you, I trust you... You cannot bear to watch me hurt myself, so how could I possibly allow you to hurt yourself? Hachiman!"」
「"Cry it out, okay?" The usually passive Emilia—who had always followed Hikigaya Hachiman's arrangements and remained under his protection—reached out her slender hand to caress the man's pale, suppressed face.」
「Emilia's voice was filled with tenderness and pity: "Just this once... listen to me, okay?"」
「This time, she would be the one to actively arrange things for Hikigaya Hachiman; she would be the one to protect him!」
「Hikigaya Hachiman seemed to turn into a statue, staring fixedly and blankly at Emilia... His thoughts, which had ground to a halt the very second he discovered time had moved forward after his Return by Death, and his rigid soul suddenly jolted.」
「"I don't have much experience... but I will try my best, so... cry it out, okay?"」
「The slightly nervous girl, seeing that he didn't immediately reject her...」
「Emilia took a step forward, her hands spreading open softly. Gently, she drew the statue-like Hikigaya Hachiman into her embrace.」
「The hollow-eyed Hikigaya Hachiman remained expressionless. The hands he had clenched into fists suddenly seemed to lose all strength, hanging limp and loose. He stayed motionless, his line of sight filled with Emilia's snow-white skin and clothes.」
「 'Pretending to be a man who is forever reliable, strong-willed, won't let personal feelings interfere with duty, won't be sad or lost, and won't fear hardship.'」
「 'You clearly know you aren't that kind of person.'」
「Hikigaya Hachiman said silently to himself.」
「 'You hesitate, you feel lost, you don't dare to fully face sincere love, you can't shoulder everything by yourself. You get sad, you feel pain, you care about the feelings of others. You aren't a block of wood; you have your own feelings, your own emotions. You're even on the verge of collapsing—your hero, your Rem, no longer exists!'」
「 'Suppressing yourself, hurting yourself, numbing yourself, deceiving yourself... who are you performing for?'」
「"...Ah."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman trembled; he made a sobbing sound.」
「"...Ugh, ah... Aaaaah——"」
「It began as a small sob, gradually becoming continuous, the volume rising unconsciously, until finally, it was a wild, unbridled, flood-like wail of despair.」
「This rational monster, this strong man, this Hikigaya Hachiman who always put himself last...」
「This was his first time crying since he became sensible enough to have memories. The state of his near-collapsing soul was far more violent than any emotional expression he had ever shown before!」
「"Rem, Rem... Aaaaaah—— I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Rem, Emilia, ugh——"」
「Tears soaked Emilia's chest, wetting her skin and clothes. Covered in mud and the scent of blood, the disheveled Hikigaya Hachiman wrapped his arms around Emilia's slender waist, squeezing so hard it hurt.」
「"Yes, yes, I know... Um, there..."」
「There wasn't a trace of disgust, not a hint of annoyance. Her eyes were filled with nothing but pity. Looking at this man who, for the first time since she met him, was so utterly pathetic, Emilia was so heartbroken she couldn't find any words of comfort.」
「Her soft, small hand untiringly stroked Hikigaya Hachiman's hair over and over again, gently patting his back.」
「Emilia had no experience comforting people. For Hikigaya Hachiman's sake, she gave her everything, acting with extreme caution, terrified that she might do something inadequately.」
-
-
-
Hikigaya Hachiman was crying... The way he cried wasn't pretty, it wasn't cool, and it wasn't reliable. His cries were shrill, no less so than Ferris's.
But except for a few people like Regulus or Aki Tomoya, no one hated the current Hikigaya Hachiman; instead, they wore expressions of relief.
Puck watched with wide eyes and exhaled a sigh of gratification. "You did it, Lia."
"Ugh..." Emilia lowered her head dejectedly and shook it. She felt she had performed too poorly to be worthy of praise.
"If I could have remembered Rem at that time, would Hachiman's pain and pressure have been lightened a bit?"
"Emilia actually did very well this time." Crusch sighed deeply, forced to admit it.
"Sir Hachiman's judgment is good; Emilia is indeed someone worthy of his protection. However, if he were under my command, it would be even more..."
Ferris sobbed, "You can barely protect yourself, and you're still thinking about Hachiman, nya? Worry more about yourself, Lady Crusch! Ferris is worried sick, nya!"
"Hmph!"
Priscilla let out a soft snort that could barely be called a grunt of approval. Given her arrogance and madness, even she had no thoughts of insulting Hikigaya Hachiman or Emilia at this moment.
On the other side, Anastasia looked away. She was slightly moved—but then she remembered the beginning, where everyone else was displaying virtue, strategy, and strength while she was the only one getting beaten up and bullied throughout the entire negotiation. Thinking of that lifelong dark history, she still couldn't get over it.
Felt stared blankly at the embracing Emilia and Hikigaya Hachiman, then she stole a glance at Reinhard, who seemed inexplicably and wholeheartedly loyal to her.
'Could Reinhard and I... be like that too? Such unconditional trust, such a good bond.'
In Class D, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka nodded slightly. "It's good to cry it out. It's good to vent."
Koenji shouted in surprise: "A person like you actually cares about Hikigaya's feelings?"
"Keep your foolish words in your heart; speaking them only reveals your stupidity."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka let out a disdainful sneer. "Only after venting and restoring his state of mind will Hikigaya Hachiman have the drive to move forward, to continue presenting his ingenuity to me, and to let me understand how far he can progress."
At the Kousaka home, Kousaka Kirino bit her lower lip unwillingly.
"I'm so frustrated... but Emilia really is a good match for that guy Hikigaya. Kyousuke... Brother's view was correct; Emilia is not inferior to Rem."
Compared to Kousaka Kirino, Izumi Sagiri in the Izumi household had a much deeper realization.
"Rem, and Emilia—if Senior Hikigaya doesn't marry both of them in the future, I'll look down on him!"
Izumi Masamune looked troubled. Compared to girls with such far-reaching emotional leaps, he was much more pragmatic: "He has to be able to save Rem first. And before that, Hikigaya-kun has to pull himself together."
"He will! Definitely!"
"Yeah, he's Hikigaya Hachiman after all! He'll definitely rally his strength again!"
Chapter 98. Emilia's Promise
「Amidst the cries of remorse, many apologies were mixed in. Hikigaya Hachiman's weeping was not because he was weak, but because he knew he had made the wrong choice; he carried too much guilt toward both Rem and Emilia.」
「Where this guilt originated, Emilia had no way of knowing... From her perspective, it was she who owed this man far too much. If Hikigaya Hachiman had chosen to support other candidates, he wouldn't need to be as mentally and physically exhausted as he was now.」
「"...I'm sorry."」
「His tears had run dry. Hikigaya Hachiman, who hadn't closed his eyes for a day and a night, exhausted the last of his energy in his murmurs. Lying in Emilia's arms, he closed his eyes heavily; swept away by fatigue, he fell asleep.」
「Slowly and with very small movements, Emilia lifted Hikigaya Hachiman's head slightly higher. She gazed at the man's face, reddened from crying, and carefully, earnestly wiped away the tear stains and dirt with her fair, tender fingers.」
「On the premise of not waking him, she supported the sleeping man—at first by propping him up, fearing she would wake him, then switching to carrying him, bringing Hikigaya Hachiman back to the bed in his own bedroom.」
「Tiptoeing, she took off his shoes. After washing her hands, she returned to tuck him in, standing guard formally by the bedside, staring at Hikigaya Hachiman with total concentration.」
「In the corridor around the corner, Julius and Wilhelm, who had arrived long ago, felt a simultaneous sense of relief. They had originally intended to comfort Hikigaya Hachiman, but it seemed... a man's effectiveness in this regard was ultimately inferior to that of a girl.」
「Ferris had to accompany Lady Crusch, and Lady Emilia had to accompany Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「The two of them, therefore, would have to work harder, handling the aftermath of the soldiers' injuries overnight and publicizing the news that the White Whale had been subjugated by the three-party coalition.」
-
-
-
Ram watched with a look of extreme displeasure. Embracing Emilia right after her own sister died? Something like that should at least wait until ten years after Rem's death, shouldn't it?
"Emilia, that opportunist! Hikigaya Hachiman, that idiot whose soul is so easily hooked away by women!"
"Eh?" Rem blinked. "Isn't Lady Emilia doing a great job? Sister, you must have some misunderstanding about Hachiman. This shouldn't be 'changing his love,' right? Come to think of it, Hachiman hasn't actually accepted Rem's confession. If he falls in love with Lady Emilia... well, I would be a little unhappy."
'Just a little unhappy? You're too kind, you stupid sister!'
Ram decided—whether by assassination or seeking help from Lord Roswaal—she had to deal with Emilia, her sister's romantic rival! The threat was too great!
Of course, the most important thing was not to encounter a Sin Archbishop.
"Such meticulous care."
In the convenience store, Yukinoshita Yukino was now thoroughly numb. She remained indifferent to the "condolence" looks from the customers around her, hypnotizing herself and suggesting: The future is the future, the present is the present; they cannot be generalized.
Even so, she gave a bitter smile and turned to look at her boyfriend: "She's quite an excellent candidate for a wife."
"Ah... um, well..."
Hikigaya Hachiman stammered. He truly couldn't say anything to disparage Emilia. Even if it was the future, the fact that she took such care of him was a reality.
He could only try his best not to praise her to soothe Yukinoshita.
However, the more he experienced the shimmering "Genuine Thing" within Emilia, the harder it became to even withhold praise.
-
-
-
「"Rem... Rem... Rem—?!"」
「As the morning sun rose and light illuminated the curtains, Hikigaya Hachiman, who had been having a nightmare, snapped his eyes open in a panic. The moment his upper body lurched up, he looked around frantically.」
「There was no Rem.」
「Sitting by the bed was a girl who looked like an angel. It seemed she had looked after him until very late before falling asleep; Emilia looked quite exhausted.」
「Emilia's white, tender palm was held firmly by him, gripped to the point of pain. Even so, Emilia still hadn't let go of him.」
「The sound of his shouting gradually woke the sleeping girl.」
「The just-awakened, dazed Emilia stared eye-to-eye with Hikigaya Hachiman on the bed. After a long while, the innocent Emilia lowered her head awkwardly, looking ashamed: "Um... as expected, I still can't remember Rem. I'm really sorry. But if Hachiman is willing, you can tell me all about Rem's past. I'll definitely work hard to remember, okay?"」
「"No..."」
「After the hysteria, a much calmer Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath. "I will heal Rem. I will save her. I'll make sure your memories of knowing Rem come back as intact as Rem herself!"」
「He made a solemn vow. If he hadn't fulfilled this promise, even if there were a chance or a way to return to Earth, he would absolutely not accept it!」
「Such words were too hollow for symptoms that the Kingdom's top healer was powerless against. But Emilia was steadfast. She didn't hesitate for a second, nodding immediately and speaking without a trace of doubt: "Mhm, I believe you! Hachiman can definitely do it!"」
「Under the dazzling morning sun, having experienced the night of losing his hero and the baptism of comfort in Emilia's embrace, Hikigaya Hachiman slowly rebuilt his fighting spirit—for Rem, who loved him, and for Emilia, who trusted him.」
「What Hikigaya Hachiman didn't notice was...」
「Once, in the Roswaal Mansion, when he woke up to see Emilia nearby, he would feel resistance, conflict, and shyness.」
「Now, however, when he woke up to see Emilia guarding him, he felt only peace of mind, joy, and profound emotion.」
「"Emilia..."」
「Emilia tilted her head. "Eh?"」
「"...Thank you."」
「"I should be the one saying that to you." Emilia shook her head gently. "But, if it makes you happy... then, I'll accept it, Hachiman."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman smiled slightly and tried to pull his hand back, but Emilia refused to let go.」
「"I understand now, Hachiman."」
「Emilia slightly narrowed her magnificent amethyst eyes; she was sincerely overjoyed by Hikigaya Hachiman's current normal state.」
「She took Hikigaya Hachiman's thick, broad hand, lifted it, and pressed it against her cheek, savoring the intimacy.」
「"...So, since I've finished listening to Hachiman, it's my turn to speak. You're not allowed to refuse."」
「"Thank you. All this time, I've received so much care from you—so, I will definitely, forever trust you, believe in you, and live my life well."」
「"If I died, Hachiman would surely... be as sad as you were when Rem died, right?"」
「Emilia gently rubbed the back of his palm. "Even though Rem is... I'm still here. I'm still here, Hachiman. I would be sad too, and scared. If Hachiman stayed like he was last night, what would I do? So... don't ever hurt yourself again, okay?"」
「"Can you... promise me?"」
「"...I promise you, Emilia."」
「"Mhm, it's a promise!"」
Chapter 99. Anastasia: Stop Beating Me! Stop It!
「During the meeting, faint traces of tears could still be found on Ferris's face. Hikigaya Hachiman kept his eyelids lowered; he felt ashamed to face this close friend, yet he was unaware that the equally obvious tear marks on his own face were impossible to hide.」
「It was a tripartite talk, but the participants only represented two factions—after weighing the terrifying strength of the Sin Archbishops and realizing the risks outweighed the benefits, Anastasia broke the agreement. Using the excuse that 'Crusch has lost her memory, thus the premise of the alliance no longer holds,' she departed in a hurry.」
「As compensation, she promised to do her best to help find a way to restore Crusch's memories and awaken the unknown Rem, and she gifted a significant amount of supplies to the Crusch and Emilia camps for free. Before leaving, Julius drew his blade and struck his own chest.」
「He would not defy his monarch, Anastasia, but he was using his own way to atone for his sins and express his apologies to Hikigaya Hachiman and Ferris.」
「In the hollow hall, Ferris—fearing that his liege Crusch would be harmed by the Sin Archbishops again—had become considerably colder toward Hikigaya Hachiman overnight. He even shouted, firmly demanding that Hikigaya Hachiman dissolve the alliance, and showed little respect toward Emilia.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman did not flare up in anger. He looked sorrowfully at the dazed Crusch and Ferris. He didn't employ any negotiation tactics; he merely asked a simple, heartfelt question: "Do you think this is right, Ferris?"」
「"What?"」
「"Crusch has become like this. To not strike down the culprits, to not make them pay for their sins, to not take revenge for all this hatred—if you don't do that, do you think it's right? Can you be content with that, Ferris!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's words became more stirring as he spoke, but Ferris looked even more distorted: "What if I'm not content! It's too dangerous! Lady Crusch is already—"」
「"I will do it."」
「His angry and helpless voice was interrupted by Hikigaya Hachiman. A completely rational Hikigaya Hachiman spoke every word with heavy emphasis: "Not immediately. But, I will do it! The bastards who attacked Rem and Crusch—only them—I will absolutely make them taste the end of their lives! No forgiveness!"」
「"I will do it, Ferris... For Rem, for Emilia, and for Crusch... Whether you want to dissolve the alliance, I do care deeply."」
「Fire burned fiercely in his eyes. "But I will not hinder your decision. I only want to tell you that even if the alliance is dissolved, I alone... no, Emilia and I, will not give up on this revenge."」
「The speechless Ferris couldn't hold back and burst into tears. When Crusch tentatively patted his back, Ferris collapsed onto her lap, sobbing.」
「With a feminine air, the Crusch who smiled at her knight had a slightly different voice and tone. However, Crusch was still Crusch after all.」
「"I think I understand the current situation. I know Ferris truly cares about me and doesn't want me to get hurt anymore... But, I believe fighting against evil cannot be a bad thing. Losing my memories for no reason is not something I'm incapable of being angry about. Retreating is an easy thing to say, but I think it doesn't suit me, right, Hachiman..."」
「"Sir Hachiman," Hikigaya Hachiman said with a sigh of emotion. "I slightly miss the days when you talked to me with that covetous tone."」
「"Sir Hachiman." Crusch tucked a strand of hair behind her ear and said resolutely: "The alliance—please, let it continue!"」
-
-
-
"In a single night, the conspiracy nearly collapsed... Anastasia, ha, she really can't be considered a ruler. In the end, she's just a merchant."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka let out a disdainful, cold laugh. "Among the five candidates, Anastasia seems talented and holds the advantage. However, in my view, the only ones with the true qualities of a king—that kind of potential—are Crusch and Priscilla. At most, Emilia counts as half."
"Anastasia might win, but even if she does, she can only be called a merchant, not a monarch."
Ayanokouji's sharp critique of the five candidates resonated with many; while his views on kingly potential were unique, looking down on Anastasia was a common consensus.
"—I REALLY! AAAAAAH!! If this goes on, I'm going to go as crazy as that Sloth Archbishop! My brain is trembling!"
'Why? Why is it like this?'
Anastasia really wanted to curse. Whether they were human or ghost, everyone was showing off, and she was the only one getting beaten, right?
"How come it always shows my 'dark history'?"
Alliances aren't mandatory; the three parties were allowed to withdraw with cause, which is why she left. She wasn't heartless; withdrawing was permitted from the start of the alliance! She was being reasonable!
Didn't they see Ferris wanted to withdraw too? Didn't they see that neither Hikigaya Hachiman nor Emilia condemned her? Because it was perfectly reasonable!
It wasn't that Anastasia's morals were low; she just wasn't as noble as Hikigaya Hachiman or Crusch.
Withdrawing isn't scary, but being shown in front of the entire Lugunica Kingdom and being compared to positive examples like Hikigaya Hachiman and Crusch meant her reputation was likely to plummet.
"Ah, just let me die!"
"Please pull yourself together, Lady Anastasia!"
In stark contrast to the atmosphere there, Crusch's eyes were shining at the Karsten estate.
"He cares about me! He cares about me! Ferris, did you see? Sir Hachiman acknowledges me. There's a chance he could become my knight!"
"That's why I said, please care more about yourself, Lady Crusch!" Ferris said with a face full of helplessness.
-
-
-
「With the alliance stabilized, Hikigaya Hachiman used the favor he had earned with the Knights to have Petelgeuse's remnant soul imprisoned in the Royal Capital's dungeon first, to be interrogated later.」
「He really wanted to question Petelgeuse. Emilia had told him that her past memories were forgotten, and perhaps Petelgeuse held relevant information.」
「But there was no time now. He had to send both Emilia and Rem back to the Roswaal Mansion, and the villagers back to the village. Otto was exhausted from the logistics.」
「"The prestige from subjugating the White Whale hasn't even had time to be converted into resources... First things first. For now, settle the villagers and Rem, and then..."」
「In Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes was a flickering fire of rage: "I'm going to properly interrogate Roswaal. By whatever means necessary, I must dig out his secrets. What on earth is he
thinking! His behavior has been so bizarre all this time—does he even intend to do anything productive?!"
」
Chapter 100. Sanctuary Arc
「When Hikigaya Hachiman's group arrived at the territory, they suddenly discovered that the half of the villagers Ram had taken to the Sanctuary had not yet returned, including Ram herself. In the empty mansion, the only person left was a maid Emilia recognized: Frederica.」
「This blonde maid with shark-like teeth was vague in her explanation, telling Hikigaya Hachiman to seek out Betty. Hikigaya Hachiman didn't fully trust this woman he had never met before, but he still placed a fair amount of trust in Betty.」
「Opening the large door and stepping into the Forbidden Library, Hikigaya Hachiman saw the bag of apples he had bought for the girl sitting beside her. The number of apples inside had slightly decreased.」
「The discovery of this detail sprinkled a small amount of sunlight into Hikigaya Hachiman's gloom-filled heart.」
「"The White Whale and the invading Witch Cult—I have dealt with them all. The Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti... I spared his life. He is currently frozen and imprisoned in the Royal Capital. I did not kill him."」
「He said it all in one breath, and then saw the distressed Beatrice's eyes light up. She was visibly, significantly happier.」
「One of Hikigaya Hachiman's suspicions was confirmed. "As I thought. You didn't intervene because you know Petelgeuse, don't you? You have a history; you couldn't bring yourself to raise a hand against him."」
「Beatrice suddenly became agitated again. It was as if a sore spot had been poked; she argued back loudly with unstable emotions: "What if I know him? What if I don't? Even if I didn't know him, Betty has no obligation to act! Mere humans! Don't be so self-important! What does Betty have to do with you? We have no relation whatsoever!!"」
「"Are you saying... you could just stand by and watch me—watch Emilia—die?"」
「"Betty of cour—"」
「"You don't have to answer." Hikigaya Hachiman interrupted her forcefully. He paused and let out a nearly imperceptible sigh. "If you couldn't, that's for the best. But if you truly feel our lives are of no consequence... then I don't want to hear it."」
「"..." Beatrice fell silent, a look of conflict on her sorrowful face.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman harbored no resentment toward Beatrice, but he couldn't say whether he was hurt or not. Instinctively, he reached out and stroked the girl's blonde hair with a sigh. Beatrice tensed up for a split second, but her peripheral vision caught the bag of apples, and in the end, she did not resist or pull away.」
「"Whether you save me or not doesn't matter... but if you can save Rem, then you must lend a hand. Beatrice, I beg of you."」
「Beatrice froze. "That maid?"」
「In that moment, Hikigaya Hachiman looked as if he had seen a savior. His voice rose uncontrollably in a flustered scramble. "Beatrice, you—you still remember Rem?"」
「"Inside the Forbidden Library... from your reaction, was she eaten by the White Whale?"」
「"It wasn't the White Whale! Rem's body is still here! But just like those eaten by the White Whale, her existence has vanished. It was done by an unknown Sin Archbishop!" Hikigaya Hachiman bent down anxiously, looking directly at the petite Beatrice, hoping for a life-saving straw.」
「Beatrice averted her gaze and shook her head helplessly. "I can't... There are many ways to heal various incurable diseases in the Forbidden Library, but there is no way to deal with the Authority of a Sin Archbishop."」
「"..." Hikigaya Hachiman tried his best to maintain a kind face for Beatrice, but he remained profoundly dejected. "I understand."」
「He tried to pull himself together and asked some questions about Roswaal. However, Beatrice said she couldn't see through Roswaal himself. She only told Hikigaya Hachiman to go to the Sanctuary and refused to say anything more—as if going to the Sanctuary would cause some sort of change to occur.」
「Filled with confusion, Hikigaya Hachiman left.」
「Still lost in a fog of mystery, Hikigaya Hachiman's brow remained tightly furrowed. There were too many enigmas beyond his control, and he felt deeply uneasy.」
「"...One thing is certain: I can no longer tolerate Roswaal's secrecy. I will have a showdown with him. Even if we end up as enemies, I will dig out his secrets."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman sat by the bed, holding Rem's hand, pouring his heart out bit by bit.」
「"After arriving at the Sanctuary, I'll likely come into conflict with him to some degree. If you were still 'alive,' Ram's position probably wouldn't be opposite mine. But now, having forgotten her sister, the only person she cares about is likely Roswaal."」
「"I might be forced to scheme against your sister, forced to hurt her... You said you liked me, yet this is how I repay you."」
「"...Without you, I really can't move an inch, can I, Rem?"」
「"I need you. I really need you... Without you, my hero who protects me, I'm truly too useless, Rem."」
「He continued to confide in her intermittently.」
「It wasn't that Hikigaya Hachiman didn't want to confide in Emilia; he was simply unwilling. Confiding in Rem wouldn't add to her troubles, but confiding in Emilia would certainly increase hers.」
「If Rem were awake now, he certainly wouldn't be confiding in her either. Worries are things one should bear alone... however, in terms of action, he still had to rely on others.」
「Relying on those he trusted, and those who trusted him.」
「He was no longer alone!」
-
-
-
It was hard to imagine that the previously rational Hikigaya Hachiman would do something so "meaningless."
He looked at Rem; the confiding was just the surface. In truth, he was desperately wishing that in the next second, the Rem who had so boldly confessed to him would suddenly open her eyes, lunge into his arms, smile tenderly, and say, "I'm back, I like you."
But... in reality, he knew this was a pipe dream, a futile waste of time.
Even so, on the eve of leaving the mansion for the Sanctuary—during this precious, final time before their separation—he wanted to spend it with Rem.
"The rational monster remains rational, but when rationality is optional, he chooses to use his sensibility..."
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka withheld judgment on whether this was good or bad for now. As long as Hikigaya Hachiman's mental acuity and strategic ability didn't decline, it was fine.
At the same time, in the courtyard of the Roswaal Mansion, Rem's eyes were incredibly dim. Looking at the future Hikigaya Hachiman, her heart ached so much she wished she could travel through time to tell him: Rem is right here, Rem is alive and well, and Rem loves you most.
At this point, Roswaal already had vague plans to flee. He could guess that since things had reached this stage, he could no longer hide things from Hikigaya Hachiman; his future self would likely confess everything.
Before long, all of Lugunica would know his plans and his true colors.