Chapter 666 — Arc 10, Chapter 15 – “Together Unto Hell”

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――When the unfurling hellflame engulfed Natsuki Subaru, Beatrice had doubted her eyes.

Beatrice: [Why…!?]

The expansion of EMT was an illegal move that meddled with any Mana-based interferences that spawned within its field―― primarily, the composition of magic spells, into which it would forcibly insert the commands to cancel and disassemble. It was a form of cheat magic that, if born at an earlier time, would have undoubtedly been branded a forbidden art.

Of course, it was entirely possible for the mechanisms of EMT to be seen through and surmounted by formulating a technique that still functioned even when the composition of magic came unraveled. However, such a non-standard feat, akin to replacing a single part of a meticulously constructed Magicreation tool with something entirely different, yet still having it function all the same, would have been impossible if it were not either Roswaal or the Witch of Greed―― Mother.

Excluding such irregularities, it would have been impossible for anyone to invoke magic, whoever they may be.

That had been――,

Beatrice: [How in the world did you break through, in fact?]

???: [――. It’s not anything quite so impressive as breaking through. I simply just racked my brains, and put my body on the line.]

Beatrice: [――――]

As the question left her lips, within Beatrice’s sight as she narrowed her eyes, the one to respond, half-leaning against the wall as he propped himself up, had been Tiga Rauleon.

Amidst the tempestuous combat, the young man who ought to have been knocked out of commission after being kicked to the wall by the rampaging girl with the Dragon Eye―― Crusch, exhaled a long, weary breath. As Tiga gripped his beloved sword in one hand, he held his other hand over his side. ――In the vicinity of where he had placed his hand, the clothes around his abdomen were scorched; witnessing the carbonization of his skin, Beatrice shuddered.

That was not a wound he had sustained from Crusch’s assault. Thus, that wound was precisely what had――,

Beatrice: […You, just what were you thinking, I suppose.]

Tiga: [I only did what was necessary, Miss Beatrice. This, the scriptures say. “Whilst the Dragon circles the heavens, people must till the fields. Those who let the time they hath been given fester in slumber, shall not tread upon even the Dragon’s shadow when the season of harvest cometh”… or so it goes.]

Slowly shaking his head from side to side, Tiga recited a verse from the scriptures of the Church of the Divine Dragon, bearing a striking resemblance to Filóre. However, if he was trying to say that his thorough reading of scripture to the point of memorization substantiated the resolve behind his decision, Beatrice could not easily accept it.

The charred wound on Tiga’s flank, was something brought about by the same flame that had engulfed Subaru and Crusch―― however, that flame had not scorched him externally, but from within.

The efficacy of EMT, was to dismantle the composition of magic being invoked within the field.

This condition of being inside the field, was something Tiga had forcibly overcome.

The method behind it was――,

Tiga: [――The magic invoked within my own body isn’t affected by this forbidden art… It’s not like I was entirely sure of it, but it seems like I was right.]

Beatrice: [――――]

Tiga: [I noticed it while fighting. I thought, “Huh, it seems like I can’t use magic right now because of this, but my Flow Method is still working.” And so――]

Beatrice: [Even so, neither slicing open your abdomen, nor using magic with the resolve to scorch your innards through that open wound, are easy choices to make, in fact… The only ones capable of performing such a feat, are humans whose hearts are enslaved to something far beyond a mere sense of duty, I suppose.]

Tiga: [Why, it feels sort of like you’re calling me crazy, which is a little upsetting… I guess it’s only natural.]

Even if his voice was heavy from exhaustion, Tiga’s response in itself was matter-of-fact, causing Beatrice to feel an unpleasant chill in her non-existent liver.

Beatrice had only known Tiga for an exceedingly brief amount of time, just a day or two since they met at a chapel of the Church of the Divine Dragon. However, even in that short time, it was the truth that she had been fond of his good chemistry with Subaru, as well as the witty demeanor he displayed as they spoke.

She struggled to reconcile that initial impression of him with the Tiga now standing before her eyes. ――In particular, the mechanical decision that disregarded his own well-being in order to carry out the necessary task was a complete reversal from the impression she had held of him until now.

Just what had propelled him to go to such lengths?

An aberrant tenacity that far exceeded a mere sense of duty―― Beatrice knew of people who operated with such resolve. Tiga’s tenacity, was of the same nature as Roswaal’s.

Over four hundred years, he was a man who had derailed the fates of many, and yet even now still aspired to the state of a Warlock doing everything in his power to accomplish his objective. ――Was Tiga on his way to reaching the same place as Roswaal?

Tiga: [I just do what’s necessary. ――So that I may reclaim my own life.]

To Beatrice’s misgivings, Tiga quietly responded with a slight shrug of his shoulders. Then, he glanced deeper within the room, towards the rumbling blaze of the flames,

Tiga: [If you ask me, Miss Beatrice, I actually find your reaction to be the unexpected one, or rather, surprising. Honestly, I was also prepared for you to start firing magic at me. After all, I did what I did.]

Beatrice: […Is that to be taken as you saying it was not an error of judgment made while caught up in the moment, in fact?]

Tiga: [Yeah, there’s no doubt about that. ――Duchess Crusch Karsten repeatedly failed to comply with my advice to surrender. I even gave her an ultimatum, and yet she cut it down and cast it away.]

Beatrice: [――――]

Tiga: [Having murdered Sir Miklotov, she even turned her blade against us; she wasn’t sane. That’s why I had to make the call on the spot, but doing so allowed me to thoroughly eliminate the threat… Is there anything I’m saying that’s wrong?]

A stylish pretty-boy, with a mask of emotionlessness affixed over the handsome face that gave off such an impression, Tiga questioned Beatrice on the validity of his own actions.

Present there was not the face of a martyr seeking forgiveness in lament of his own deeds, but rather, that of an executioner detachedly ascertaining if he was truly responsible for the blood staining his hands.

Within Beatrice, her initial impression towards Tiga was already far beyond any hope of recovery.

Beatrice: [That which you say, is not incorrect, I suppose.]

Facing Tiga, Beatrice narrowed her round eyes and nodded.

In reality, that was so. Beatrice and the others had directly witnessed the tragedy of the McMahon manor, and in the chain of events following their confrontation against its perpetrator, Crusch, there had been no errors in Tiga’s actions. To the maximum extent, he had acted in accordance with Subaru’s intent, and had tried to help subdue Crusch, with the only one refusing that judgment altogether being unmistakably Crusch herself.

In order to defend himself from such a dangerous individual, Tiga did have the right to make a callous decision. Even if it was a decision that caused collateral damage to Subaru, with whom he had been fighting alongside, it was morally unacceptable to blame him for the matter without even asking for the reasons behind his judgment.

That was why――,

Beatrice: [Betty is not so obstinate as to selfishly blame you for that, in fact.]

Tiga: […I see. Then――]

Beatrice: [――However.]

Saying that, Beatrice cut off Tiga’s words.

For a moment, what flashed through Tiga’s yellow eyes was not surprise, but a hue of icy composure. Shoving her strong sentiment towards that into a corner of her head, Beatrice continued.

Tiga’s conduct was justified, but even so――,

Beatrice: [――Betty will support the one who saved Subaru, I suppose.]

――That instant, the flames so scintillating they seemed to scorch any eyes directed towards them, were severed in twain from the opposite side.

???: [――――]

The flames, cut down with nary a sound, parted as they flickered, and standing calmly in the space opened between them, was the girl with the Dragon Eye―― having unleashed a knifehand strike with her right hand to split the flames, and carrying the unconscious Subaru in her left arm, was Crusch Karsten.

Crusch: [The heat… no, I cut the flow of power. So this is what is known as the “deadspot”?]

Touching the eyelid of her Dragon Eye with the right hand that had performed the strike, Crusch muttered as if having come to an understanding.

Shocked at the fact that she had cleared away that hellfire with a single swing of her arm, Beatrice ascertained the safety of Subaru in Crusch’s arm, and felt an even greater sense of relief.

――In the immediate aftermath of Subaru being engulfed by the flames, the only reason Beatrice had been able to remain calm was because she had received no life-threatening reaction via the pathway that connected her to her Contractor.

Because of that fact, and due to what she had seen in the very final moments―― the fact that in order to protect Subaru from the incoming inferno, Crusch had pulled him down and jumped in front of the flames herself, Beatrice had decided on her stance.

That Beatrice, would support Crusch Karsten.

Beatrice: [At the very least, Betty will listen to what she has to say, in fact. The finer judgments can be made afterward, I suppose.]

Tiga: [――. I can’t call that a wise decision, Miss Beatrice. You mustn’t let the wool be pulled over your eyes just because your Contractor, Subaru, was saved. The Duchess is dangerous.]

Beatrice: [Don’t treat Betty as a Spirit who neither thinks nor looks ahead, in fact. Ah, but if Betty were to be such a careless and indiscriminate Spirit, then it would of course be exceedingly natural to support that girl who saved Subaru, I suppose.]

Tiga: [Is this really the time for quibbling!? Before long, people will notice this fire and come rushing in. If you mess up on where you stand, it’ll be too late even if you regret it later. What will happen to Subaru!?]

Beatrice: [As the person who attempted to scorch Subaru along with that girl, your words do not carry any weight whatsoever, in fact. However, just as you say, there does not seem to be much time, I suppose. That is why――]

With those words, Beatrice slowly raised up her right hand, to which Tiga held his breath.

The preparations for magic, it was not. It was the opposite. As Beatrice prepared to snap her fingers, Tiga sharpened his yellow eyes at her objective, and while pointing his shamshir at her,

Tiga: [Enough, give it up. I seriously won’t be able to cover for you anymore.]

Beatrice: [In the past, Betty regrets having seen off a friend’s final moments while only being able to pitifully cry, in fact. ――The same rut shall not entrap me twice, I suppose.]

Even if it was a situation where troubles inundated them like billowing waves, so long as she was permitted to do so, Beatrice would continue to forge her own path.

Never again would she cower before that which was precious to her, like when she had lost her friend while being able to do nothing but be pushed around by the waves.

For that purpose――,

Beatrice: [――Betty is siding with you here, in fact, Crusch Karsten!]

Snapping her fingers, Beatrice gave the cue, and released it. ――Released EMT.

That instant, the invisible field enveloping the office disappeared, a change that could have only been perceived minutely by those with keen senses.

And neither Tiga, nor the possessor of the Dragon Eye, were exceptions to that――,

Crusch: [――One Slash, One Hundred Felled.]

The explosive updraft that was unleashed quaked the McMahon residence, with the office as its epicenter.

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Beatrice: [――Afterwards, we shook off that man from our trail and ran to take refuge in the sewers, I suppose. It would have been preferable to run farther away, but we couldn’t be excessive while Subaru was asleep, in fact.]

Nestled beside him and supporting his body, Beatrice’s recount enabled Subaru to organize all the information in his disoriented mind, and he managed to mumble out an “I see…”.

In all honesty, it was a pathetic showing for him to have been the only one to let his consciousness drop out amidst all that had occurred. But, even such self-chastising thoughts had to be set aside for later.

Subaru: [First of all… Beako, it was a nice call from you to not separate from Crusch-san. If we’d parted ways in that situation, then I would’ve regretted it to no end.]

Beatrice: [Giving utmost forethought to your partner’s feelings is only natural, I suppose. Betty was confident that Subaru would have done the same, in fact.]

Subaru: [Though from a third party’s perspective it really does seem like an unreasonable choice, so I can’t just say “That’s right!” without reservations.]

The situation was what it was, but a wry smile escaped him at the sight of Beatrice’s nonetheless smug expression.

However, what enabled him to relax his lips, even if just a bit, was solely this portion of the conversation. ―Peering at the burns on his arm, stinging with ache, Subaru bit his lip.

Subaru: [Tiga, of all people, did this…]

Beatrice: [Unmistakably, I suppose. Either what he said about not being able to use magic in the middle of the battle was a bluff, or possibly… mm-mm, it’s nothing, in fact.]

Subaru: [What is it? Seems like it’d make me curious, so I’m curious now.]

Beatrice: [Merely thought it is not something worth scrutinizing for now, when there are so many problems on our plate, I suppose. Anyhow, that man used magic under the assumption that you would be caught in the crossfire, in fact. Betty’s impression of him has taken a nosedive, I suppose.]

Subaru: […Well, you really love me, so I guess that makes sense.]

Subaru’s innermost heart found itself interminably tangled at Beatrice’s rage, her cheeks puffed and eyebrows raised.

Of course, he did not intend to turn a blind eye to the attack that could have very well killed him. He did not, but this was the escape route discovered on the critical brink of life or death after being overwhelmed by Crusch. That gamble Tiga had made amidst such a high-risk situation was not something he could so arbitrarily repudiate.

Thereupon, the eyes with which Beatrice gazed upon Subaru turned a shade more strict.

Beatrice: [Subaru? Don’t say you’re…]

Subaru: [No, I’m not gonna turn a blind eye to it. I do plan on getting a proper apology out of him for the pain of these burns. I won’t concede on that no matter what. Isn’t it obvious?]

Beatrice: [――――]

Subaru: [Huh? Why are your eyes looking even more fed up? Even though I’m saying I’ll make him apologize!?]

At Beatrice’s firm gaze upon hearing his answer, Subaru’s discomfiture only deepened.

Mistakes had been made on both sides, and both simply perceived the other’s faults to be slightly greater. But still, Subaru had intended to come out with a fairly resolute attitude.

Furthermore――,

Subaru: [At the very least, I think that a large part of the friction between us and Tiga stems from a level of disconnect. If we can talk it out with him properly somewhere, we’ll be able to clear up those misunderstandings and――]

Crusch: [――Unfortunately, I do not intend to permit you to do that.]

Choosing his words carefully, Subaru attempted to somehow persuade Beatrice. However, the one to impose an intermission to Subaru’s words was not Beatrice, her brows creased, but Crusch, who had been walking ahead of them.

Guiding the way through the somber sewers by the glow of the Lagmite ore lamp, she took a clear stance of objecting to Subaru and Beatrice’s discussion―― explicitly demonstrating it in the form of pointing the tip of her unsheathed poniard towards Subaru.

Subaru: […C-Crusch-san?]

Crusch: [I shall not authorize any contact with Tiga Rauleon. Not only did I cross swords with him, but that man is one of the individuals spearheading our pursuers. If you were to heedlessly rendezvous with him, you would only be captured.]

Subaru: [That’s… but… with the position Tiga’s in, he’s kinda got no choice, or rather, the situation being what it is, you know…]

Crusch: [――――]

Subaru: [――――]

Locking with only Crusch’s amber right eye, her left concealed with an eyepatch, Subaru was at an incredible loss for his next words.

First the murders at the McMahon residence, and now her pointing her poniard at Subaru right here. ――Prudent caution was necessary to converse with Crusch as she was at this moment. Thus, if Subaru were to inadvertently provoke her with some incautious comment, this time he would surely stain her hand with his blood.

With that thought, their interlocked glares lasted momentarily――,

Crusch: […Much to my surprise, there blows no wind in attempt to beguile me.]

Declaring so, Crusch was first to lower her poniard.

Subaru widened his eyes with a “Huh?” at her words, but Crusch returned the poniard to the scabbard by her belt, and,

Crusch: [No wind of deceit blows around you. From the time of our encounter at Miklotov McMahon’s mansion, all the way until now. Thus, I had allowed Beatrice’s accompaniment.]

Subaru: [――. In the end… in the end, what is it that you want to do with us, Crusch-san?]

Subaru exchanged a short glance with Beatrice who was by his side, and asked this of Crusch firsthand.

The wind of deceit―― as the proprietor of the Divine Protection of Wind Reading, Crusch could detect the opponent’s thoughts and intentions as wind, functioning as a lie detector of sorts, as it were.

When Subaru had first met her, she had seen through all of the deceptions inside of him, compelling him to reckon with the realization of the immense depravity of his own nature. ――And now, it had become the basis for Crusch’s speech and deeds.

Her belief in Subaru, was likewise a fruit borne by the Divine Protection of Wind Reading.

Therefore, did that mean her act of slaying Miklotov, as well as the thirteen people at his mansion, was also an outcome of the Divine Protection of Wind Reading?

Subaru: [Tell me, Crusch-san. About us… no, first let’s talk about you, Crusch-san. What is it that you want to do, Crusch-san, that’s making you do all this now?]

Crusch: [――. What I want to do… no, what I must do no matter what cost, is to save this Kingdom of Lugunica from the hands of traitors. That would be my final deed in service to the Kingdom.]

Subaru: [Traitors… and… when you say this is the final…]

Crusch: [Will you avow that it is not so? Capitulating to the Witch Cult’s evil malice, I prostrated myself on a sick bed and squandered a long period of time in indolent remiss. On top of that, I arose gripping the hand of the Church of the Divine Dragon, completely contrary to what I touted as my pledge to the masses of annulling the Dragon’s rule, and you claim I yet have a prospect of victory?]

Subaru: [That’s… hk.]

Crusch: [A wind of understanding is blowing around you. ――You are a sincere man.]

Crusch cast her gaze down and engraved a self-deriding smile upon her lips.

Wearing a fragile smile, it must have been apparent to Crusch’s eye through her Divine Protection: unable to deny her words, nor conceive of any promising break in the deadlock, Subaru felt utterly powerless.

For that to be called his sincerity could not possibly inspire any delight in him either.

Beatrice: [Enough, in fact. Betty will no longer overlook the way you feign being a tragic heroine only to snarl at Subaru, I suppose.]

Subaru: [Beatrice…]

Beatrice: [Subaru, you’re also a handful, in fact. What are you doing by feeling so down for something you bear absolutely no responsibility for, I suppose? If this keeps up, you’ll be blaming yourself even for some kid who fell on the roadside just now, in fact. If that happens, you’ll be so busy that you’ll no longer have any time to dote on Betty, I suppose. Vehement objections to that, in fact.]

Placing her hands on her hips, Beatrice allowed an out-of-place anger to peek through. Realizing that this was her manner of consideration to diminish the issues between Subaru and Crusch, he let a sigh escape him.

Crusch, too, nodded with a “Correct” in a meek expression,

Crusch: [Just as you say, Beatrice, this is no place to be showing obstinacy over trivial reservations. The more time we yield to our opponents, the greater our disadvantage. Therefore, Natsuki Subaru, from you―― no, from you and Beatrice, I wish to ask for coaction.]

Subaru: […Coaction?]

Crusch: [That is correct. Presently, we are in the middle of a crisis with the survival of the nation on the line, brought about by the shadowy maneuvers of a multitude of traitors, infested down to the Kingdom’s very core. It is precisely in this situation, that I wish to borrow your strength―― you who once joined forces with my household and rendered monumental service in the White Whale Subjugation, Natsuki Subaru, it is your strength that I call on.]

Subaru: [――Hk.]

Returning the poinard to its scabbard, Crusch presented her vacant hand to him and expressed so, before whom Subaru unwittingly swallowed his breath, training a firm gaze directly upon her.

What surprised Subaru was not merely the requisition Crusch had vocalized. Of course, he was immensely astonished by her request too, but what came as an even greater shock was the way she retold the great battle she had once unfurled against the White Whale as something she had experienced for herself with certitude.

Greeting this, Subaru finally articulated the ceaseless inquiry that had sojourned in his chest since he happened upon Crusch at the McMahon residence, up until now.

That was――,

Subaru: [Tell me, just one thing. ――Did your Memories… return? Crusch-san.]

Crusch: [――. But of course. Do you sense the vestiges of that contemptible, enervated Crusch Karsten devoid of Memories in my present self? That inquiry alone is tantamount to an affront.]

Subaru: [――――]

As Crusch irrefutably asserted the restoration of her Memories, Subaru’s cheeks stiffened.

The burgeoning impact was something complicated, a blend of delight and indignation. The return of Crusch’s Memories, that alone was truly joyous to the bottom of his heart. However, to show such disparaging odium for the Crusch during the period she was bereft of her Memories was――.

Crusch: [A wind of displeasure. Do not tell me, you mean to endorse my self who was devoid of Memories?]

Subaru: [It’s not something so simple. Both now when you do have your Memories, and back when you didn’t have your Memories, both of you are Crusch-san for me.]

Crusch: [――No, you are wrong. It is inconceivable that the likes of a Crusch Karsten devoid of Memories, could ever be Crusch Karsten. That is why!]

Subaru: [――Hk.]

Crusch: […That is why… even Ferris… turned his back on Crusch Karsten.]

Subaru: [Th――!]

Before a trembling, quivering Crusch, Subaru grated his molars and attempted to proclaim “That alone is wrong!”.

Not only in this moment, he had even conceived of an identical thought before they had started moving.

Crusch was misapprehending the meaning of the decision Ferris had undertaken, and the extent of his resolve.

Ferris had certainly reduced Crusch’s vow, the vow for the departed Royal Family, to scrap paper.

Having merely heard about it, Subaru could only imagine how important it must have been for Crusch. However, the same also held true for Ferris.

Ferris, too, loved the departed fourth prince. Yet, he had made this choice.

His love for the living, over his love for the dead. ――Subaru did not wish for that to be repudiated.

Much less, when it was a tragedy between two fellows such that, while facing off with sentiments going both ways, saw them failing to come to an understanding with each other due to a simple misunderstanding――.

Crusch: [――It seems, delaying the decision ends here.]

However, before Subaru could express his fiery passions, the situation did not permit him to resume.

The meaning behind Crusch’s murmur, as she eyed the depths of the sewers behind Subaru and Beatrice that they had passed through, was demystified by voices and footsteps audible from far back. ――Their pursuers.

The pursuers searching for Subaru, Beatrice, and Crusch, had formed a squad and descended to the sewers.

Subaru: [If we could just properly talk…]

Crusch: [I told you before. You are already seen as a conspirator with me. The sword you had robbed me of through your queer technique was left back at the scene as well. Compiling that with the gashes on the corpses, my involvement would be patently evident. To add to that.]

Subaru: [Add to that? What? Is there anything worse left to be said?]

Crusch: [Despite the fact that Tiga Rauleon, who knew of your intentions, was present, you have also been deemed as a party to Miklotov McMahon’s assasination. That man must have reported it as such.]

Subaru: [――――]

Crusch: [The rest is a choice that falls upon you two. If you believe I do not merit your faith, then you can seek refuge with the pursuers who will be arriving here later. ――Farewell.]

Stating what all she wished to say and transmitting that she bore no intention to move along with the conversation any further, Crusch turned her back towards them, before tossing the lamp into the sewage and breaking into a regal sprint.

As the faint glow of the light sinking into the bilewater slowly faded and obscured her back, the solitary notes of distancing footsteps pressed the choice upon Subaru as though a countdown.

To reject Crusch’s postulation, meet up with the soldiers pursuing Subaru and the others, fess up everything to them and seek refuge with them. Or, to chase after Crusch’s back, who melted into the black, travailing to fight against a large conspiracy all by herself; one of these two.

Subaru: [Shit! I want to believe you! I want to believe you, but does it even exist to begin with, that sorta conspiracy…!]

Her frame of mind was one where she had misunderstood Ferris’s true intent, and had turned her sword at Subaru with no vacillation. Taking into account her fits of emotions as well, Crusch’s temperament was in a state of instability.

The worst-case scenario would be one where Crusch, after slaying Miklotov and all things else, might go on a rampage without any justifiable righteousness after spiralling into a state of mind where all things appeared suspicious.

Under these circumstances, just what would be the correct thing to do――,

Beatrice: [Subaru, calm down and listen, I suppose. No matter what you choose, no matter who you ally with, Betty is Subaru’s ally and will always be by your side, in fact.]

Subaru: [Beako…]

Beatrice: [Hard pass on being apart like that time in the Empire, I suppose. Subaru must stay within Betty’s sights, or the throbbings and poundings of her heart become suffocating, in fact.]

Articulating so, Beatrice told Subaru, unable to discern the right answer, that regardless of what he chose, she would make it the right answer―― no, they would make it the right answer together.

His indecision cleared. That was right. It was exactly as Beatrice said.

Was it not Natsuki Subaru’s forte to fight and struggle in order to turn whatever choice he made into the right answer?

Subaru: [I can’t let Crusch-san go off alone. I’ll have you accompany me unto hell, Beatrice!]

Beatrice: [So long as it’s together with Subaru, Betty wouldn’t even mind being sealed for four hundred years, I suppose!]

Subaru: [I would definitely mind so could you please stop saying such scary stuff!]

Bantering so, Subaru held his reliable, beloved partner up in his arms and pursued after the fading footsteps, bursting into an energetic dash amidst the dim light.

No matter if it was right or wrong, he could not let Crusch go off alone.

No matter if he would stop her or assist her, he must not be apart from Crusch.

Subaru: [Ah, shit, my arm hurts~!]

The stinging ache of the burns on his arms pulsated as though chastising Subaru’s foolishness.

Continuing to harbor that, rather than lamenting his own situation that had so suddenly swallowed him up and driven him into a corner, Subaru was more concerned with how Emilia and everyone else would feel once they got wind of this.

He would cause them trouble, but the bitterness of causing concern for them outstripped the former.

For Emilia, for Rem, for Ram, for Petra, for Meili, for Garfiel, for everyone. Thus, whilst enduring the agony of his body and mind, Subaru earnestly focused his eyes amidst the dim light,

Subaru: [Please take care of it somehow, Otto!]

So, flinging this outpouring of a predicament onto his friend who was not present here, he dashed forth.

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――Concurrently, in the Royal Residence of the Royal Capital of Lugunica.

This day, for the Kingdom of Lugunica, and for the camp of the Royal Candidate Emilia, ought to have been a day that would set into motion events that bore a truly profound significance.

It was a golden opportunity that would enable them to extirpate the evil roots of misfortune that the Witch Cult had wrought upon the Watergate City of Pristella. Aided by the Church of the Divine Dragon, it would all come to fruition, and with Emilia and everyone else likewise in attendance for that moment, they would bear witness to the powerlessness of several months being terminated at long last―― or so, that had been the plan.

???: [――And yet, just what sort of situation do we have ourselves here?]

Having completed their preparations for departure, all that remained was to await the return of Subaru and Beatrice, who had ventured out from the residence on some business. Among the members of the camp who had been enjoying some tea time within the parlor until then, Otto Suwen questioned the sudden visitors in as composed a manner as he could.

With a horde of footsteps, gaudily marching into the Royal Residence was a group of royal soldiers, all of them equipped in official armor displaying their affiliation to the Kingdom―― due to the somewhat heavy air of urgency about them, Otto stepped in front to shield the women of the camp, Emilia included.

Of course, standing even further ahead than Otto,

???: [Ain’t that gettin’ a bit violent there? No matter how endearingly graceful Emilia-sama may be, that don’t mean y’all suddenly got permission to act all rudely.]

Otto: [Garfiel, no need to act so menacingly. These are guests. ――For now.]

Garfiel: [Ahh, I gotcha, Ottobro.]

Standing at the forefront of the camp, Garfiel gnashed his sharp fangs, becalming himself superficially, with Otto then creating an interval to have the other party divulge the reason for their visit.

As to reap rewards from solving a problem of their own making, by yielding a move to the other party, he was setting up the long game.

At minimum, were he to be able to ascertain their reasons――,

???: [――All of you, cease your threatening demeanors. Have you any idea just whom you are standing before?]

Soldiers: [――――]

The moment that deep voice was uttered, the royal soldiers who had spread out in formation throughout the parlor all straightened their backs in unison. Then, passing through the encirclement of upright soldiers, giving rise to loud, lumbering footsteps, was a man so great and so large that it was necessary to look up at him.

Armored from head to toe in the luster of steel blue, was a man possessing a face that was as a boulder come to life, the Commander of the Royal Guard of the Kingdom of Lugunica―― that was to say, the man who stood at the pinnacle of the Kingdom’s Knights, Marcos Gildark.

Emilia: [Marcos-san…]

Marcos: [For the abrupt visit, I offer a heartfelt apology, Emilia-sama.]

As Marcos stepped out to the front, Emilia blinked her amethyst eyes. In contrast to his brusque appearance, Marcos met her reaction with a bow that conformed to perfect etiquette.

Then, raising his visage, and while maintaining a careful watch over Emilia and all the members of her camp surrounding her, especially on Otto and Garfiel, who were regarding him with harsh gazes,

Marcos: [The purpose of this visit, Emilia-sama, is to request your attendance at the Royal Castle. There are doubts in urgent need of confirmation.]

Emilia: [So out of the blue, this is all quite surprising. Doubts? Just what in the world…]

Marcos: [――Regarding the background of your Knight, Natsuki Subaru.]

Emilia: [About Subaru?]

With perfect manners, and paying due respect, Marcos nevertheless displayed an uncompromising peremptory attitude. Upon hearing the doubts he mouthed, that they were doubts pertaining to Subaru, Emilia responded with words, while Otto, as well as everyone else, each reacted with their respective expressions and demeanors.

The fact that those reactions had birthed an interval for Marcos to follow up with his next words, was something Otto regretted.

After all, that which Marcos had declared, the doubts regarding Natsuki Subaru were――,

Marcos: [Knight Natsuki Subaru is under suspicion of bearing strong ties to the Witch Cult―― and of being something not so dissimilar to a Sin Archbishop.]

――They were the crossroads of whether or not Natsuki Subaru would be branded an enemy of the world.