"...It seems he can't provide any more information."
Julius leaned forward slightly, his gaze calmly scrutinizing Geuse, the former Sloth Archbishop, who was now trembling and curled up on the ground, tears once again soaking his tattered clothes, as if he had fallen into some unbearable memory.
"Let's take him back first." Julius straightened up. "Even if the clues he can provide now are limited, as a captured Archbishop of Sin, his value is far more than that."
Subaru had originally wanted to ask why he had changed from the insane "Sloth" back to this person calling himself "Geuse," but the memories flashing through her mind made her forcefully suppress the urge.
According to the timeline of the last loop... Greed and gluttony should have already departed. Now was not the time for deep investigation.
She forced herself to look away. Never mind, these matters could wait until the current difficulties were resolved.
"Nyaa~ That's right!" Felix approached from the side. He squatted down and poked Geuse's cheek with his Fingers. "But we can take him to see Lady Crusch, Nyaa. One test will tell if this guy is just acting."
He drew a finger across his own neck, making an exaggerated throat-slitting motion. "Who knows, maybe he... is hiding a more dangerous secret~"
Geuse's body stiffened for a moment, but quickly relaxed again, dejected.
Felix stood up with a playful grin, then suddenly changed the subject. "But speaking of which. Subaru's angry expression just now really scared me, Nyaa!" He exaggeratedly clutched his chest. "All that 'interrogation' and 'torture'... I didn't expect Subaru to have such a ferocious side!"
Subaru's face instantly turned crimson. "Th-that was just... some verbal trickery!"
"But it was very cool."
A gentle voice came from beside her. Subaru turned and met Carlisle's smiling blue eyes, a tender curve on his lips.
"Although the wording was a bit aggressive... that determination not to give up was indeed very much Subaru's style."
Felix stood with his arms crossed, his pupils reflecting the cringe-worthy scene before him: Subaru was blushing and looking down, while Carlisle gazed at her gently with his sapphire-blue eyes.
"Ah..." Felix let out an exaggerated sigh, his cat ears drooping. "I just can't stand Carlisle-san's talent for unconsciously saying things that make pure young girls hearts race. If I were a girl, I would definitely try my best to win over a knight like that!"
Mid-sentence, Felix suddenly felt a bone-chilling coldness creep up his spine. He mechanically turned his head and met Rem's icy blue eyes.
He immediately shook his head vigorously as if remembering something. "Ah but that hypothesis doesn't hold water at all! Because my heart already belongs to Lady Crusch!"
"Ah, ah haha..." Felix chuckled dryly, taking two steps back. "I, I was just joking!" He raised his hands in a gesture of surrender. "Honestly, Maid is too protective, isn't she?"
Felix smiled brightly, and Rem suddenly displayed a sweet smile, her hands elegantly clasped in front of her skirt. She apologized, saying,
"Is that so? Then Rem has misunderstood Felix-sama."
She curtsied slightly, her blue bangs falling to cover half of her eyes.
"Please forgive Rem's rudeness... It's just... if Carlisle's sexual orientation were to change because of Felix-sama..."
She raised her head, maintaining a perfect maid-like smile, but a dangerous glint flickered in her eyes.
"...Rem truly wouldn't know what to do. After all... Rem hasn't seriously calculated how much work it would take to turn Felix-sama into a rug."
Felix's cat ears were completely flattened against his head. "Wait! That's not funny at all! My devotion to Lady Crusch is immeasurable!"
— — — — — —
After a series of explanations, Rem finally let Felix off the hook. Half an hour later, Ricardo returned to camp with Otto, who had retrieved the earth dragon carriage. Everyone began to pack up their weapons and equipment to return to the village. Next, they needed to discuss how to deal with the two Archbishops of Sin who were about to attack.
Regarding how to deal with Geuse, no one could trust this former Archbishop of Sin. What if he was just acting, waiting for an opportunity to suddenly erupt and attack with the "Unseen Hand"?
Seeing Subaru troubled by this, Julius spoke. "Actually, there's no need to worry so much. Carlisle has a suitable solution."
"Use that magic." Julius looked at Carlisle. "As long as that magic is sealed within him, he will never be able to harm anyone."
Carlisle's expression suddenly became a little strange. He looked at Subaru hesitantly, his cheeks slightly flushed. "Um... Subaru, could you... step away for a moment?"
Subaru was clearly stunned, and before she could respond, Felix interjected, tilting his head: "Eh? Why? That magic isn't bloody. Hurry up, Carlisle-san, time waits for no one~"
Under everyone's urging gazes, Carlisle's earlobes grew redder and redder. "I... I understand..."
He took a deep breath and slowly walked in front of Geuse. Geuse looked up, his eyes beneath his green hair still bearing traces of unshed tears, calmly meeting Carlisle's gaze.
Carlisle extended his index finger, and Yin Attribute magic began to gather at his Fingers. The magical light gradually formed a complex magic circle. After a moment, he lightly touched his finger to Geuse's heart.
"Yin Seal · Five Elements Seal."
As the incantation ended, Geuse's eyes snapped open. He felt a vast and gentle magical power sealed within his heart, like someone had placed a sleeping beast there.
"This is a special Yin Attribute magic." Carlisle explained. "My mana is now sealed in your heart. If you harbor any malice towards any of us, this magic will immediately transform into amethyst arrows, tearing your heart apart from the inside."
He paused. "But I hope you understand... if you truly wish to atone, you need to live for now."
Subaru stood to the side, her expression becoming a little strange. Actually, if Carlisle hadn't reacted so oddly just now, she might not have made that connection. But at this moment, the corners of her mouth were uncontrollably turning upwards.
"That's... quite some magic~" Subaru deliberately drew out her words, walked over to Carlisle, and gently nudged him with her elbow. "Shall we go... Eighth Generation?"
Carlisle's face instantly flushed all the way to his neck. Felix blinked in confusion. "Eh? Why is Carlisle's face suddenly so red?"
Carlisle wished he could find a hole to crawl into at this moment. Years ago, in a fit of chuunibyou, he had directly used the names of moves he had seen in anime in his past life as incantations. Now, this dark history was exposed on the spot by Subaru, who was also from Earth, and the shame almost drowned him.
Julius watched this scene thoughtfully. Although he didn't understand the specific reason, he considerately changed the subject. "Since the seal is complete, let's depart as soon as possible. gluttony and Greed won't give us much time to prepare."
Geuse felt the magical seal in his chest. Unexpectedly, his expression was much calmer than before; this seal, which could potentially take his life, instead gave him a strange sense of peace.
...
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