Juice screams with gritted teeth, shedding tears of blood.

Looking at his intense appearance, Emilia can’t help but feel a chill run down her spine.

Just moments ago, the black ‘Something’ was trying to invade Juice’s body. Now it has stopped eroding from the outside and is writhing as if to fill him from within.

Under his black robe, Juice’s body twists and contorts grotesquely.

The thick fabric visibly darkens with blood, hinting at the unimaginable nightmare unfolding within him.

“Juice…”

What exactly has Juice absorbed into his body?

And what was that blow that defeated Regulus in a single strike? What had happened remains unclear but somehow felt familiar to Emilia.

It was as if she had seen it just recently…

“A splendid demonstration of resolve, Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti.”

However, Emilia’s thoughts are interrupted by a cool, youthful voice.

Looking down at Juice, blood pouring from his mouth as he gasps for breath, it is Pandora who speaks indifferently. Despite witnessing Regulus being launched into the sky, her composed beauty doesn’t waver.

“You, who lacked the qualifications, have bravely absorbed the Witch Factor. In the name of Pandora, I shall grant you the seat of ‘Sloth’ for your determination and resolute will.”

“Do you really think I desire such a seat? What I seek now is but one thing: I wish for peace for that mother and child—without a shred of doubt in my heart!”

Fortuna and young Emilia have already left the battleground.

Juice, prepared to pour his very life into ensuring their escape, answers Pandora, who raises an eyebrow in surprise and then softly blushes, smiling serenely.

“Love. How splendid.”

“You will surely never understand this feeling…!”

In contrast to Pandora’s cold demeanor, Juice readies himself for a fierce battle.

Struggling on his knees, he lifts his trembling arms, opening his blood-red eyes wide to shout.

“‘Sloth’s’ power—The Invisible Hand!!”

An overwhelming pressure bursts forth from Juice in a massive wave.

Yet, Emilia sees nothing of the origin of this pressure. Juice stands there with outstretched arms, his pose unchanged, and no visible alteration occurs in the world around them.

Even so,

“The forest, it’s being torn apart…!?”

Surrounding Juice, marks of destruction spread out as if something like an ‘invisible snake’ writhed around. Trees are uprooted, the ground split apart, and dirt and flowers are scattered.

“Oh… ohhhhhh!!”

It randomly demolishes the area around Juice while responding to his cry, directing its path toward Pandora. Despite witnessing the scene before her being trampled as if by a giant, Pandora shows no sign of moving from her place.

Thus, the destruction hurtles directly toward Pandora’s small body—

“Hey there.”

“———!?”

“You’re talking about me being here and ignoring my presence while moving the conversation along? I think it’s about time, even for patient and unselfish me, to get a little angry here.”

At that moment, as the strike of the invisible snake reaches Pandora, a white figure interrupts the impact.

Flicking his hair, Regulus stands firm, stopping the shockwave with an uplifted hand. Despite being struck by a blow that would be fatal for an ordinary person, Regulus remains upright, showing no signs of suffering.

On the contrary, having slammed into the ground with such force that it shattered the earth, his body, which should have been buried in dirt, remains not only untouched by injury but also completely clean.

“Impossible…”

Seeing this outcome, Emilia covers her mouth in shock.

It made sense that he returned unscathed from Fortuna’s ambush. Given he possesses far superior combat power, it could be possible to withstand an attack from that lethal barrier.

But Juice’s invisible strike is a different story. Unlike the attack hidden by the white snowstorm, Emilia had clearly seen him being hurled into the air and slammed into the ground.

He should have been struck unprotected against the earth.

The fact that he bears no injuries is still somewhat forgivable.

However, that he bears not a speck of dirt is entirely unexplainable.

There must be some mechanism within Regulus that allows him to be unaffected by attacks—or rather, by the influence of others.

“Regulus Corneas…!”

“How unpleasant. You, who have no potential, forcing down what’s collapsing within your body, isn’t that an insult to us, who are rightly seated? You’re shattering my minuscule yet unshakable pride.”

Regulus’s face drips with malice, as he is thrown back by the swipes of Juice’s arms.

Pivoting awkwardly as though slapped, Regulus’s neck twists, but his face returns without even a hint of the impact from the blows, merely knitting his brows in displeasure as he continues to absorb them without defense.

“Remaining here any longer probably won’t yield any progress.”

Juice’s tenacious fight and Regulus’s merciless brush-off face off.

Emilia, watching the battle of acquaintances unfold, is called upon from behind by Echidna.

Turning around, Emilia glares at the expressionless profile of the witch observing the fight.

“Are you telling me to leave? Juice is doing everything he can, desperately!”

“Whether efforts lead to desired results is open to debate. Unfortunately, I have no intention of debating with you. I have no interest in bullying the weak, and your voice irritates me to no end.”

“In that case, just shut up and watch. I…!”

To remain here and witness Juice’s resolve.

As she tries to conclude this, she is interrupted by her own heart.

Swiftly reaching for her chest, Emilia realizes what she came here to do. She came to face the ‘Trial’, to overcome her past.

What Emilia now sees is the genuine past she had long sought to forget.

The battle Juice fights here undoubtedly took place, and in place of the young Emilia guided by Fortuna who fled, perhaps she should bear witness to its outcome.

—But that would betray both the sentiments of Subaru, who sent Emilia forth, and the feelings of Juice, who tried to save Emilia and Fortuna.

What will happen to the Fortuna and young Emilia that Juice saved?

She must seek out the still-closed past and unearth the answer.

“It seems you understand which path is wiser, even with your limited intellect.”

“…You’re right. Let’s chase after Mother and I. Juice is…”

“Rest assured, this is a fight between Archbishops of Sin. It won’t easily tip the scales for either side. However, if another were to join, the situation would change… but it is highly unlikely she would interfere in battle.”

Before Emilia, lingering in regret, the fight between Juice and Regulus intensifies.

Juice, shedding tears of blood, now bleeds from his nose and mouth as well. The damage inflicted upon him internally only serves to increase the precision and power of his invisible destruction.

Yet, Regulus’s abnormal state of remaining calm in the face of it all stands out equally. Absorbing the chaos heedlessly, Regulus looks down upon Juice’s struggle with an air of boredom.

One might think that should he initiate any attack, the entire situation would shift in an instant.

“Hah…”

And then, at the site of Echidna’s gaze, the excited expression of Pandora flares brightly.

As Echidna suggested, it seems unlikely she would enter the fray herself. Facing such an unusual battle, the beautiful girl releases a sultry sigh—setting aside her abnormality for the moment.

“Let’s change the scene. —To the forest where you and your mother have fled.”

“—Ugh.”

At Emilia’s conclusion, Echidna snaps her fingers.

The instant the clear sound rings out, her surroundings warp and the forest scenery transforms. Suddenly experiencing the sensation of having switched to a different floor, Emilia instinctively stumbles.

Raising her face. In a forest devoid of destruction’s remnants, a familiar place indeed.

“No! I don’t want this, Mother! Please, don’t leave me behind!”

The high-pitched wails of a young child resonate, and Emilia glances up as if snapped back to life.

There stands a large tree, one she’s familiar with, which has an inner cavity just large enough to hide a child. This is what she and her mother would refer to as the ‘Princess Room’.

In front of that entrance, young Emilia and Fortuna are exchanging words as the child cries desperately.

Fortuna clutches her daughter, who clings to her chest, and urgently speaks.

“Please, Emilia! You must listen to me. It will be alright. I’ll tidy everything up quickly… very quickly, and come back. So just stay hidden here for a while. Please!”

“No! Absolutely not! Mother Fortuna, you look just like Juice! You’re about to do something like Juice! Leaving me behind to do… something…!”

Young Emilia clings to her mother’s shoulder desperately, trying to prevent her from leaving.

If she wished to shake her off, it would be easy for Fortuna to do so. Yet, the glaring evidence that Fortuna’s purple eyes remain fixed on Emilia without harshness proves she does not.

Fortuna doesn’t shake off the hands of her weeping daughter because she is Emilia’s mother.

“Don’t leave me! Let me stay with you! I won’t lie anymore! I won’t break my promise! I’ll be a good child… I’ll be a good child… so please don’t leave me…!”

“Emilia… Emilia, Emilia, Emilia…!”

Desperate to remain with her mother, young Emilia offers everything to avoid separation. Fortuna embraces her daughter, overwhelmed with emotion. If she were to press Emilia’s face against her chest, she feared her daughter would see her own pained expression.

Tears flow freely, as Fortuna can no longer suppress her emotions, wetting her daughter’s face with her own.

“Fortuna, Mother…”

Now, Emilia sees the tear-streaked face of her younger self, a sight she could never witness when she was that age.

She believed so firmly that the woman she esteemed, the honorable, noble, strong mother without a trace of weakness, could never be hurt, could never be overcome by grief.

“……..”

As she stares at her mother’s tears, Emilia’s cheeks finally reach their limits.

Unable to catch the tears with her hand in time, they start flowing uncontrollably from the corners of her eyes.

Seeing this scene, witnessing her mother’s face now, she understands fully.

Though she had never doubted it, in this exact moment, she reconfirms it.

“Mother Fortuna… was my real mother.”

Who her biological mother was holds no significance for Emilia now.

Regardless of how much Fortuna insisted she should not forget her real mother and that she is merely a representative, it won’t change her feelings.

Even if the words come from the person she cherishes and respects, she cannot accept that.

“Mother Fortuna… I love you…”

This feeling is one that no one can sway.

“Fortuna—!”

A male voice calls out at Fortuna, who cannot separate from young Emilia.

Responding to that voice, Fortuna wipes her face with her sleeve, turning to face it roughly. What approaches is a lightly armored elven man.

One of the villagers, someone Emilia is familiar with.

“Arch, what is the situation in the village?”

Fortuna asks in her usual tone to the rushing man. Arch, having noticed Fortuna’s tears, refrains from mentioning it as he shakes his head.

“Things are no better than before. We are pushing back against the Archbishop and his cohorts with the men…”

“It’s not looking good.”

Fortuna drops her gaze at Arch’s answer, biting her lip at the dire state of affairs.

Young Emilia looks up at her mother anxiously, shivers while clutching the hem of her dress.

Seeing young Emilia, Arch reassures, “It’s alright. You don’t have to be so scared, Emilia. Trust the villagers and grown-ups like me. Besides, your mother is very strong and scary.”

“Y-yeah…”

“Arch, ‘scary’ is unnecessary. Honestly…”

Fortuna crosses her arms in indignation at Arch’s words meant to comfort young Emilia, but she also acknowledges his indirect concern, nodding as she gazes back at the Princess Room.

“Hiding Emilia here won’t serve as a distraction anymore.”

“It’s frustrating, but if we stay in this forest, we’ll be found sooner or later. Their target is still….?”

“The seal deep in the forest. How they’ve caught wind of this… even that woman…!”

The concerns for Juice left behind, as well as the attack from Witch Cult members Regulus and Pandora weigh on Fortuna. Particularly, with Pandora’s presence, she bites her lip in frustration.

Resolute, Fortuna shakes her head strongly.

“No, I’m going out. I’m the strongest force in this forest; there’s no time for me to hesitate here.”

“No! We’ll fight! Fortuna, take Emilia outside of the forest!”

“What will running away accomplish? This land will be deprived of peace… and that’s just the beginning. The issue isn’t one of being defeated. It’s that they must not be allowed to lay bare the seal!”

Cutting Arch’s pleas short with a stronger tone, she follows it up with an apologetic “I’m sorry.”

“You must resent us, of course. There shouldn’t have been a reason for you to be embroiled in all this. Because Emilia and I came… to bring about trouble.”

“That’s…! There’s no way any of us could think like that!”

“Arch…”

Arch vehemently rejects Fortuna’s words tainted with regret, raising his flushed face, his elven ears pointed and quivering in anger.

“Stop treating us as outsiders to your problems! From our perspective, it might be a blink of an eye! Nonetheless, we’ve shared the same time and witnessed the same things!”

“Don’t forget!”

“Who considers you bothersome! You, your brother… and your mother have done us great favors, and you ask us to forget your kindness?!”

Arch’s emotions boil over as he speaks with a quivering voice.

The young elf kneels, panting, looking up at Fortuna with tears in his eyes. In that moment, Fortuna, silent before, closes her eyes tightly.

“I’m sorry. —I was about to deny my family yet again.”

“Fortuna! I— I was out of line…”

“No, it was an important thing to say. Arch, I’m sorry. And thank you.”

Offering her gratitude to the kneeling Arch, Fortuna gently extends her hand toward him. He hesitates for a moment before accepting her hand and rising quietly.

Then Fortuna turns back to young Emilia.

“Emilia. Mother has a very important role to fulfill to protect everyone. So, just a little while… it’s time to part.”

“No! I don’t want to, Mother. I, I…!”

“Please. Just for a bit, listen to me. I need you to stay with Arch and step outside the forest. This place is… going to become very dangerous.”

As young Emilia shakes her head in dismay, seeking to resist, Fortuna looks again at Arch.

The intensity in her purple eyes causes Arch’s small form to stiffen.

“F-Fortuna… I—”

“Arch. You’re still young, you have a future. Please, take Emilia with you… This world is difficult to navigate, but I’m certain there is hope.”

“Don’t say things like it’s the end! I want to stay here until the very end with everyone!”

“Emilia, please.” She insists. “You are my precious daughter with your brother and sister.”

“———!”

Fortuna’s voice now bears a sense of frailty, the strength and nobility fading.

Arch’s tears fall as he hears the voice of the mother—of the woman.

“This is cowardly…! You know there’s no way I can refuse after hearing that! I want to fight alongside everyone…! And yet…!”

“I’m sorry. I’m burdening you children with everything; forgive me.”

Laying a hand on Arch’s shoulder, Fortuna pleads for absolution.

Though unable to say anything, Arch silently accepts Fortuna’s request.

And in this moment, the one that only Fortuna must impart is young Emilia alone.

“Emilia.”

“No! I want to stay with Mother! Please! Let me stay together! I don’t want to be left alone…!”

“You will not be alone. Listen closely.”

Young Emilia screams and closes her ears, trying to shut out every one of her mother’s farewell words, and at that moment, the now-Emilia wants to slap her past self.

It isn’t to chastise the defiant behavior, but rather because she wants to ensure she hears every single word her mother has to say, not missing a word.

“Emilia.”

Stooping down, Fortuna hugs Emilia tightly.

Gripping her ears shut, Emilia’s small arms clench tightly around her mother, pressing her head into her silver hair. With utmost care, she touches that which she loves the most.

“Mother is always by your side. When you close your eyes, in the memories that swim into view. With arms wrapped around you, in the warmth of your heart. By the sound of your voice, beneath the resonating skies. Always, Mother is with you. Always, forever… together.”

“That’s a lie. It’s a lie, it’s a lie, it’s a lie…! Mother is a liar…!”

“Emilia. —Promise.”

As young Emilia attempts to dismiss her mother’s words as mere consolation, Fortuna meets her gaze and utters the word ‘promise’, causing young Emilia to gasp in shock and fall silent.

Guided by Fortuna’s outstretched hand, young Emilia brings her tiny palms together.

“Mother and Emilia will always be together. Now, I promise that.”

“R-Really…… you’ll be with me……?”

“Yes, truly. Mother loves Emilia… loves you more than anyone in this world, a lot.”

Called by her gentle voice, young Emilia releases a dam of tears.

She sobs as both past and present Emilia come crashing together in an emotional overflow.

“Mother Fortuna… I love you too… I love you, I love you so much…!”

“I love you. I love you, Mother Fortuna. So much, very much, dearly…”

The emotions bridging now between past and present, they desperately respond to the love directed towards them.

They strained their voices, pressing their bodies together, expressing that unless they did so, all the feelings within their hearts couldn’t possibly be conveyed.

“I love you…”

Fortuna’s soft and warm lips touch against her cheeks, eyelids, and forehead.

Although approving contact and warmth were permitted, she had always hesitated to express her love as a mother. It was then that Fortuna truly recognized Emilia as her own daughter.

“—Arch, please.”

“…… Yes. Understood.”

The moment she imparts her deepest of feelings to her beloved daughter, Fortuna calls for the youth.

Arch, embracing the sobbing young Emilia, bows deeply to Fortuna.

“I’ll ensure she escapes safely.”

“Yes… yes! I won’t let anyone hurt Emilia…!”

Arch makes an oath for her protection, and Fortuna softens her gaze in relief.

Pointing him toward the path deeper into the forest, she urges, “Go, please.”

“――――”

Without uttering another word, Arch races toward where Fortuna pointed.

Cradled in the arms of the young elf, Emilia watches her vanishing mother, the voice echoing silently.

To that voice, Fortuna genuinely softens her once sharp gaze.

“—I love you, Emilia.”

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Held in Arch’s arms, young Emilia gazes desperately after her mother’s disappearing form.

She watches intently, wishing that her mother might suddenly reappear, that she would come following her.

“Emilia…!”

Young Emilia’s persistence resonates within Arch, lifting her small body with concern.

After experiencing a parting from Fortuna, Arch struggles to gather his words.

“—Unexpected.”

Thus, running toward Arch’s back, Echidna calls out to Emilia.

Still lingering in the farewell scene, sobbing uncontrollably, Emilia casts a questioning look towards Echidna, who shrugs her shoulders and says,

“I’m surprised you did not linger and instead chased after your past self so brazenly. I thought for sure you’d sulk over your mother’s motions.”

“… I told you earlier. I came to witness my past…! Both Mother and Juice and everyone… for that reason!”

“Right, right. I’ve said something unnecessary.”

In response to Emilia’s tearful retort, Echidna shakes her head, revealing her unhappiness at the answer she sought.

Despite her insensitivity, Emilia can’t help but feel frustrated. But before delving into that, she notices young Emilia, still in Arch’s arms, burying her face in her palms.

“W-why… why is this happening…? I broke my promise and left the room…!”

“No. It’s not your fault, Emilia. This isn’t because of you! It’s not Fortuna’s fault or anyone’s! There’s absolutely no reason for you to bear that weight!”

“Then why…? Why the parting…? Mother and Juice, why are they… disliked? Everyone and so many things… why are they all turning away from me…? Why…!?”

The sudden separations from Juice and Fortuna drive young Emilia to the brink of emotional collapse.

Reflecting back, she questions her actions that led them here; drowning in self-denial.

Breaking a promise. Leaving a room she shouldn’t have. Learning of a forbidden seal. All this seems to stem purely from her own misdeeds.

“Would it have been better if I stayed locked in… then, nobody would have left at all? We could have all been together…!”

“Emiliaaaaa…!”

“Was I a bad child…? And so, the world loathes everyone… leaving me… alone…?”

“No… not at all. No one, no one dislikes you! The world isn’t here to torment you… The world is here— to celebrate you…!!”

Young Emilia breaks down in tears once more, and Arch desperately tries to counsel her.

It’s not only a plea to stop Emilia from crying; it feels as if he desperately wishes to believe it himself.

Arch’s desperate cries resonate deeply with Emilia as she witnesses this unfolding.

It’s not just Fortuna or Juice. Emilia realizes she has always been loved and protected, that everyone in the village had reached out to ensure she wouldn’t feel alone.

Up until now, she hadn’t truly been capable of remembering it.

“You there—!!”

A sharp voice pierces through, cutting in front of running Arch.

He halts immediately, directing a wary gaze at the figure that has burst through the trees clad in black robes. But the person raises a hand against his glare.

“Wait, don’t panic! I am a servant of the Romanee-Conti Archbishop!”

“The Archbishop’s…!”

Upon hearing Juice’s name from the ragged man in robes, a look of relief passes over Arch. Recognizing that Arch is no longer on guard, the man approaches and notices young Emilia.

“Is that girl… oh no, where is Fortuna!?”

“You needn’t worry. I have entrusted Emilia to safety while she remains. Lady Fortuna is the highest skilled in our village. She’ll surely drive away any enemies that come..”

“…I hate to bring this up, but that’s most likely impossible.”

Seeing Arch’s demeanor change, the man lowers his gaze and speaks in a hoarse whisper.

At those words, Arch raises an eyebrow, and the man exhales heavily.

“The Archbishop’s greed has been confirmed, and the Archbishop is engaging in battle. That alone would allow us to repel others of the zealous cult, but…”

“Is there something else at work…?”

“—The Beast ‘Black Snake’ has been released in the forest.”

“—What?!”

Shock overwhelms Arch as he witnesses the gravity of the situation.

He can hardly believe it as he shakes his head, motioning to the forest.

“Impossible! The ‘Black Snake’ among the three great beasts cannot be controlled any more than the Great Whale or the Great Rabbit! The Gluttony-affiliated Great Whale can be tamed, and the Great Rabbit can be directed… but the Black Snake is a mere calamity! The ultimate disaster! How can this be happening?!”

“—Pandora accompanies the Witch Cult. But she alone can’t fully control the Black Snake; she can, however, manipulate its destination.”

“Pandora…? I’ve never heard of such a name…”

“That person has been kept a secret! Both within the Witch Cult and even among the Archbishop’s moderates, it is a taboo not to be mentioned! That individual has arrived!”

Arch feels his mind falter at the droning words of the man.

Yet Arch remains resolute, driven not to allow despair to overcome him, feeling the heartbeat of the living Emilia in his arms. He knows he can’t let himself falter here.

“I was instructed to help Emilia escape by Lady Fortuna. Regardless of the forest, I must safeguard this child… Hope must be protected at all costs!”

“…Let’s move together. While I’m but a shadow of my former self, I still wish to assist as much as I can.”

Arch’s unyielding spirit ignites renewed determination in the man who was drooping under the weight of despair.

Waving his robe, he reveals a well-trained body for his age before setting off toward a path out of the forest.

“We’ll move stealthily to avoid the zealous cultists. The moment we cross…!”

Just then, the man leading the way suddenly stumbles, as if caught by something, and falls.

Arch reacts with a small shout and hurriedly makes his way over.

But the man he approaches, eyes wild, calls out sharply, “Don’t come near!!”

“—?!”

“Damn it… I didn’t think they’d arrive this quickly!”

The man raises himself from where he fell but only manages to prop himself up. His legs lie still, immobile for some unknown reason.

Beneath the raised hem of his robe, dark burn-like scabs mar his bare skin.

“The Black Snake’s vile tongue…! You must run!”

“But!”

“It’s no use… I’m finished.”

As the man warns Arch, the transformation begins to consume his face.

The skin of the upper portion slowly turns a dark, mottled color, while his otherwise tranquil countenance distorts in horror, brow furrowing deep enough for his eyes to seem as if they might fall out.

Scratching at his speckled neck, he begins frothing at the mouth.

“B-b-bu… ah…!”

Just as groans begin to escape his mouth, thick black blood spews from every facial orifice—a conclusion wrapped in agony and suffering unfolds before them.

It’s a sight too gruesome for Arch to bear, and Emilia, forced to witness it, can’t keep her composure. Even Echidna grimaces, pity evident on her face.

“The plague… The Black Snake from the lair of sickness…!!”

Arch calls out the name of the beast that caused the man’s demise with a hoarse voice.

Reacting not to his call, a new noise suddenly pierces through the eerie stillness of the forest, only marked by the breaths of Arch and young Emilia.

A slithering, sharp sound, reminiscent of a massive creature licking its lips.

Something long and thin, asserting its presence, begins dragging across the ground.

The sound is so enormous compared to its source that it is difficult to align impressions, reminiscent of a snake tasting its prey, its tongue flickering around the terrain.

“Damn it!”

Arch realizes they share the hunting ground of the Black Snake itself.

Recognizing the situation where calling for help might only worsen things, he finds shouting their location to be necessary. He cannot think of any other method of resistance.

Unsure where to run, Arch flees away from the man’s body. The prior thought of heading toward Fortuna’s indicated area slips from his mind. Above all, he must escape this imminent danger. He has to protect what he holds dear.

In the midst of this desperate struggle:

“Ah—”

His right ankle tangles with the Black Snake’s black tongue, violently ripping him apart.

The surface of his exposed skin scorches with deep burn marks from the serpent’s touch.

Realizing this instantly, Arch holds his right foot to the ground and cries, “Fuh…!”

Without hesitation, a blade of wind slices through his lower leg.

Losing his footing, Arch crashes into a tree’s trunk, blood bursting forth in torrents, the searing pain tearing through him as blood rushes furiously, his mind on the verge of boiling.

“Human…!!”

A sound cuts through the air as the gaping wound in his severed leg freezes over. White vapor rises as he forcefully stops the bleeding, and Arch screams in agony.

Emilia stands dumbfounded at the awful unfolding events. The quick judgment, the reaction to extreme pain; even now, his resolve remains to protect the precious young Emilia clasped in his arms.

“Arch…?”

Yet the child pressing her face into his chest cannot see what is being done. Meanwhile, Arch has no intention of allowing her to witness it.

With a face dripping in cold sweat, he forces a clumsy smile for young Emilia, saying, “It’s… nothing. I’m fine…!”

Though his words become fragmented, he strives to conceal the truth from young Emilia.

Yet fate’s cruelty continues to mock his noble will.

His life-threatening action to slice his injured leg and freeze the wound closes the deepest gash—yet soon enough, the pristine parts of his severed right leg begin to shrivel.

Just like the earth losing its moisture, Arch’s right leg begins to die, but that devastation doesn’t end there.

“…Emilia. Can you see the white flower between those two trees?”

“…Yes.”

Arch, now crouched with his back against a great tree, points out a white flower to young Emilia, who nods after confirming its presence.

Wiping the sweat from his brow, he tries to mask his agony.

“Can you make it to the flower? Just pass the flower… straight ahead… straight…!”

“I can run… but…”

“Then run—!”

As young Emilia gazes at the flower, her voice chokes, hesitating while glancing at him in dismay.

The prospect of being left alone. Losing someone right before her again.

“It’s alright. Emilia, you won’t be alone…!”

“Arch…!”

“Now, run! No matter what you hear, don’t look back… run!”

Startled by Arch’s sharp voice, young Emilia steps forward and begins to dash on, fighting the urge to look back at him.

The voices of Arch, Mother, Juice, echo in her mind, urging her to comply.

Trusting that if she follows their guidance, everything will return to how it was.

Just adhering to this command, young Emilia uses her hope to break free and run, leaving everything behind as she glimpses toward what might bring hope.

Arch exhales a long, shaky breath, lifting the hem of his clothing.

The encroaching degradation has already covered his legs and waist, reaching up to his chest.

His legs won’t move; merely touching them feels as though they may crumble apart.

What will happen if the decay reaches his chest and his heart?

The sound of a beast rhythmically licking its lips fills the air.

To snatch away the fleeing girl, the hope of the forest, and the remaining flicker of Arch’s life…

“No one is going to let that happen…!”

The distant sound that was receding suddenly stops.

Against the living prey still breathing, its interest appears refocused.

The sound closes in, signaling an approaching end as Arch loosens his features.

His death approaching means that death is moving farther away from that girl.

“Lady Fortuna… she’ll be alright.”

The final sounds draw near.

And though aware of the mortal peril closing in, Arch smiles proudly at what he has accomplished.

“———”

That smile, untouched by desolation, remains unbroken.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

—The white flower Arch pointed to has long since faded from view.

“Hah… hah… haah—!”

Young Emilia struggles to breathe, desperately extending her small steps, racing through the forest.

She resolves to head in the direction Arch pointed—to do anything but think about anything else—thinking of Mother, Juice, and Arch.

“Uuu… uuuh!”

Shaking her head.

Tears flow freely down her face. She valiantly fights to hold back sobs.

Right now, what’s happening? Why is it all like this?

What does everyone know that she doesn’t?

What should she do? What can she possibly do?

Who are those attacking Fortuna, Juice, and Arch? How can she get them to leave? What are their goals—?

“Fuh, in…!”

That’s right.

Fortuna and Arch mentioned something. Juice too, while discussing with Fortuna: It must carry significance.

If that’s the case, then their purpose is…

“—Ah!”

As young Emilia runs, lost in thought, her foot catches unexpectedly, leading her into a sunken part of the forest.

She attempts to catch herself but finds no assistance from the sharply eroded depression and tumbles down the incline in her momentum.

Normally, she might have cried over the scrape and quickly stood.

However, being in an extreme state of both physical and mental fatigue, young Emilia strikes her head hard on the ground, fading out of consciousness for just a moment.

“I have to… do something.”

There is something she must accomplish. It felt as if she had found it.

She needs to set that little flame of determination alight again in her heart as darkness overtakes her mind.

—And the story temporarily leaves behind the child to return to the war-stricken land.

To witness the junction of the two fates, its final destination.

 

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