“First of all, let’s leave the matter of ‘Wrath’ to Priscilla and the others. Reinhardt has also given his stamp of approval on Liliana’s blessings.”

“Since it’s a blessing she’s not used to, it might not be very convincing though. But if it’s Liliana’s song, I believe it could be a means to counter ‘Wrath.'”

At Subaru and Reinhardt’s comments, the gazes of the round table participants turned towards Liliana. She grabbed her tied-up hair and placed it under her nose, playing around and saying, “Mustache!”

“Leave it to me! This is Liliana speaking; once I take it on, I promise to get the job done properly. Rest assured, I will sing! Where it’s needed! Required to sing! How delightfully joyous this is! If I can earn some tips, it’ll be even better!”

“You won’t even get tips, so stop with that capitalist pig mindset.”

“Bwee!”

Liliana’s mood plummeted while Priscilla snorted in response. She shifted her crimson gaze between Subaru and Reinhardt.

“What’s this? Two men conspiring over there, wasting time on an unnecessary discussion. I’ve already confirmed the true value of this songstress. She will crush the foolish fanatic!”

“Even so, it’s necessary to verify for certainty, right…”

“Ridiculous. I am putting my life at stake for a song. Why would I, the one who proposed this, entrust my life to something uncertain? Such reckless behavior would be unthinkable.”

“——-”

With those words, Subaru fell silent. Indeed, it was Priscilla who presented the possibility of relying on Liliana and believed in that possibility to confront ‘Wrath.’

Despite her demeanor and attitude, it’s known that she is a wise and cautious woman.

“Hey, sis, don’t bully your brother too much. Just keep quiet, will ya?”

“What’s this, Al? Are you sulking because I rejected your proposal? Such a cowardly attitude for a grown man. Stop degrading your worth before me.”

“…That’s not it.”

Turning his gaze away with a pout, Al propped his cheek up with his right arm, entering spectator mode. Priscilla also snorted at her attendant’s attitude, leaning back in her chair and stopping her input.

With that, it now seemed like the conversation could flow to the next topic.

“Thus, the strategy for ‘Wrath’ will be entrusted to Priscilla’s group. As for the other divisions… it’s about ‘Lust.’ I would like to propose Wilhelm-san.”

“Naming Wilhelm-sama directly? May I ask for your reasoning?”

“I asked Subaru-dono to do just that, Julius-dono.”

In response to Julius’s inquiry, Wilhelm raised his hand.

The old swordsman gathered attention and gently directed his gaze upward, to the second floor.

“As you all know, our lord, Crusch-sama, is currently suffering under the vile influence of the Witch Cult’s ‘Lust.’ I have the duty to fight for my lord as her retainer. And this is not merely a matter of obligation; it is my true desire.”

“If possible, I would like to capture the Archbishop of Sin to learn about the cause of her affliction. That’s what Wilhelm-san is after, right?”

“Exactly. Therefore, if you could entrust me with the subjugation of ‘Lust’…”

His strong-willed blue eyes, filled with purpose, pressed heavily upon the gathering.

The resolve Wilhelm carried, paired with his gratitude to his master—none could dare oppose this intention.

Except for one, excluding a blood relative.

“Honestly, I oppose it.”

“…Reinhardt.”

While everyone else felt overpowered by the sword pressure, Reinhardt alone didn’t change his expression. He maintained his usual serious demeanor, locking eyes with Wilhelm.

“Your grandfather is currently losing his composure. Of course, I understand the antipathy toward the Archbishop of Sin who has insulted Crusch-sama. However, I don’t believe you can achieve your goals in such a mindset.”

“Losing composure would hinder your purpose? Are you saying that to me?”

“Considering Crusch-sama, failure to capture ‘Lust’ is unacceptable. Then, I shall take on that role. At the very least, I should be able to confront them mentally with an advantage.”

Reinhardt’s words were sound, aimed at ensuring the most certain resolution possible. It was unquestionable that Wilhelm was too tense and had lost his composure.

However, at those words, a smile broke out on Wilhelm’s lips.

Not one of kindness, but a feral grin, as fierce as a beast.

“—It’s only natural that I would lose my composure, Reinhardt.”

“But grandfather…”

“Who do you think I am? I am the Sword Demon, Wilhelm. A half-hearted man who aspired to be merely a sword, yet couldn’t help but fall in love with a woman. However, it is precisely because I do not exist in half-measures regarding my being that I have never once faltered in my duty.”

The ferocity of Wilhelm’s grin altered the mild and transparent impression he usually gave. Rising from beneath that was a demon whose life burned with blood and steel, entranced by the glimmer of blades.

Yet, despite being that demon, a glimmer of warmth remained in his eyes.

“When I wield my sword, my heart exhilarates. Not being calm is trivial on the battlefield, I’ve survived to this age like that. This time too, I have no intention of decaying without fulfilling my obligations to my master. Your needless worries are unwarranted.”

“That reasoning is merely mental rhetoric, isn’t it…?”

“Mental rhetoric becomes conviction if pushed to the limit. Given fourteen years, even a dull blade can achieve revenge for a wife.”

Having heard Wilhelm’s conviction associated with avenging his grandmother by slaying the White Whale, even Reinhardt could not continue his argument further.

Still, he averted his gaze, unconvinced. Seeing his resolved grandson, Wilhelm continued, “Moreover…”

“This battlefield is not where you are needed. Your presence is required elsewhere.”

“I am needed elsewhere…?”

“—Subaru-dono. Please take my grandson to your battlefield. In order to retrieve Emilia-sama, you have to confront ‘Greed.’ I shall be your sword, this Reinhardt.”

Having suddenly mentioned his name made Subaru’s eyes widen in surprise. However, as if being led by Wilhelm’s bobbing head, Reinhardt’s gaze also turned towards him.

In that moment, Subaru scratched his head as if to say, “This is unavoidable.”

“I actually wanted to sort out ‘Lust’ first… But yeah. Honestly, I could use your strength in the fight against ‘Greed.’ That pesky bastard is who I need you for.”

The image of Regulus, ‘Greed’ floated in his mind.

Though he had only fragmentary knowledge of the abilities of the other Sin Archbishops, Regulus’s powers stood out in their grotesque danger.

He couldn’t say for sure, but right now, Regulus’s ability seemed only to be imagined as ‘Invincibility.’ Certainly, the idea of merely existing as ‘Invincible’ is also one that he’d rather not think of. He wished to believe there must be some kind of weakness or limitation associated with it.

“In order to break through Regulus’s ‘Invincibility,’ I need combat strength to match him. In terms of sheer statistics, I believe he’s the strongest among the Sin Archbishops in terms of both offense and defense. Therefore, I want to borrow your strength for his subjugation.”

“An opponent whose attacks aren’t effective… It’s true, such a monster is likely suitable for me. But…”

Even upon hearing of Regulus’s unreasonable powers, Reinhardt’s uncertainty didn’t clear away. However, a different voice emerged in response to Reinhardt’s concern.

It was right next to Subaru.

“—Well then. I’ll go along with old man Wilhelm.”

Garfiel stepped forward while gnashing his sharp canine teeth, glaring at Reinhardt. Reinhardt was surprised, “You?”

“The captain recommended you. I know your strength as well. I don’t need you to retrieve Emilia-sama. Isn’t that right, captain?”

“No, Garfiel. I’m not trying to direct that at you…”

“I don’t need your pity. And I’m not saying this because I’m sulking or pouting. Instead, I’m actually against it. I’ve got my own business to attend to this time.”

As he panted heavily, Garfiel’s intensity caught Subaru’s attention, making him realize.

That’s right. Among the humans transformed by ‘Lust’ in the city hall, there was someone who seemed to be an acquaintance of Garfiel—someone who had transformed into a black dragon.

For Garfiel, ‘Lust’ was no stranger.

Moreover—

“I can’t simply forgive that damned woman, but it doesn’t end there. Those two who first caused a ruckus are probably involved with ‘Lust,’ too.”

“——-”

“I got a useless injury thanks to some bumbling fool. I need to pay them back for it. So, I’ll accompany the old man.”

With Garfiel’s assertion, Wilhelm quietly nodded.

Here, the wills of the old swordsman and the young warrior aligned to fight in the name of retribution, with the shared foundation being their devotion to a beloved woman.

At Garfiel’s show of determination, Subaru had no further opinion.

“I think it’s obvious by now, but ‘Gluttony’s’ ability is transformation and mutation. The person can change themselves, but they can also change others. And blood. Avoid getting splashed with their blood at all costs. That’s the cause of Crusch-san’s suffering as well. Their personalities are… quite poor; mine is especially bad.”

“I’m well aware.”

“I’ll crush them.”

Neither Wilhelm nor Garfiel showed any signs of retreat at Subaru’s final confirmation.

When Subaru glanced at Reinhardt for one last check, even the sword saint seemed to have lost any intention to interject in such a solidified consensus.

“That’s fine by me. Garfiel’s abilities are solid. With grandfather here, I have confidence that you can cut down any enemy.”

“Hearing it from you does make me uneasy; it’s like saying, ‘Turktoi is modest, but its flavor is exceptional.’”

“I’m speaking sincerely. I trust in your victory, as well as grandfather’s. I will become Subaru’s sword.”

With Garfiel wearing a somewhat content expression while scratching his cheek, Reinhardt nodded at Subaru. At the sword saint’s reliable words, Subaru felt bolstered as if he had an army behind him.

“Sorry for hoping so much, Reinhardt.”

“Don’t worry. No matter the situation, I’ll do the utmost I can. If that’s what it takes to help you, it’s my wish.”

“I’m really sorry for relying on you constantly. I’m leaning too much on your strength right now… But I’ll make sure to compensate for the parts you lack, so keep your expectations up.”

“——-”

In that moment, Reinhardt’s eyes widened in surprise, a rare reaction from him that made Subaru tilt his head. Reinhardt quickly smiled lightly and said, “No, it must just be that.”

“It must be nothing to you. —Ah, I’ll indeed expect much from you. I expect you to fill the gaps I can’t.”

“—? Oh, please do. I expect that. And as you can see from the flow of this discussion, the last ‘Gluttony’ will naturally fall to—”

“—It will be me and Ricardo’s job.”

Completing Subaru’s thought was Julius, who responded in a low voice. His unusual tone of seriousness drew a concerned glance from Anastasia.

“Julius, are you okay? Your face hasn’t looked good for a while now.”

“I apologize for worrying you. But I’m fine. Speaking of health, I can’t show weakness in front of Subaru.”

“What do you mean by that?”

“Of course, I consider your legs and the severity of your situation. Please don’t bite at me. I’m not here to argue with you even in such a situation.”

“Ugh…”

Caught off guard by his unexpected attitude, Subaru felt a strange discomfort align with Anastasia’s suspicion regarding Julius’s demeanor. While he still did not understand what it was about, nonetheless…

“The remaining ‘Gluttony’ will be handled by me and Ricardo. Originally, it would have made sense for Subaru and Wilhelm-sama, with the history connecting us to take that role. But despite that sentiment, I will give it my all.”

“…Ah, yeah.”

Just as Julius’s resolve indicated, confronting ‘Gluttony’ was a role Subaru had longed to fulfill. And that sentiment was mirrored by Wilhelm, as well as Crusch, who still suffered above.

Nourishing memories and identities were being consumed by ‘Gluttony’—considering Rem, who remained asleep because of that and the things she’s lost, the desire to crush ‘Gluttony’ with his own hands surged within Subaru.

To strike, to kick, to trample, to make them regret every single act and to force them to apologize in tears—he wanted to have it all his way.

To hand that role over to someone else—

“No one truly wants to concede it. Rem is someone I wish to reclaim. I believed that reclaiming her was my duty.”

“……”

“Even so, if I must hand it over to someone, here and now, I’ll entrust it to you. Don’t misunderstand. This is by process of elimination. …It is by process of elimination that I’m choosing to hand it to you. To me, you are someone I can begrudgingly pass the role to while holding back my irritation.”

With Rem being held hostage in terms of her memories and existence.

And with Emilia being taken away, still waiting to be rescued.

Both are precious individuals to Subaru, and both are vital people he must restore, which is why he wants to display his best before both of them.

However, Subaru is Emilia’s knight, and he is Rem’s hero too.

“I will defeat ‘Greed’ and retrieve Emilia. This time, I’ll allow you to pound ‘Gluttony’ into the ground. …Don’t mess it up.”

“—I will meet those expectations. This time, I will not fail.”

Nods deeply, Julius accepts Subaru’s trust.

The number one knight then turned to Wilhelm and slightly nodded.

“Wilhelm-sama.”

“Most of what I wished to say has already been expressed by Subaru-dono. To possess such restless emotions regarding ‘Gluttony’ is undeniable… Therefore, I shall entrust it to Julius-dono as well. There are too many arrogant fools in this city.”

Julius seemed quietly encouraged by the sharpened sword pressure. Having watched silently until now, Ricardo chimed in,

“What’s this? It seems y’all are progressing without listening to my opinion! Not that it matters! I agree with the current configuration—it’s the best!”

“Ricardo, you’re always craving attention. Even with that big body of yours, sulking doesn’t come off as cute… Please take care of Julius.”

“Rest easy. Have I ever lied? Ana-bou.”

“Please stop calling me that. I’m your master, you know?”

Ricardo laughed heartily at Anastasia’s puffed cheeks. Looking down at her with his big, dark eyes, he wore an extraordinarily gentle expression.

“Well then, it seems we’ve decided on our configuration.”

—At Subaru’s words, everyone at the round table nodded.

“Priscilla, Al, and Liliana will tackle ‘Wrath.'”

“How preposterous to think of controlling hearts while leaving me out of it. It seems they have picked the wrong time and place to get cocky, let me show them their foolishness.”

“Just singing—just singing—I am merely a lump that sings. Do not indulge life fearfully; indulge the stage. Yes, I feel like I can do this. Right now, I feel like I can!”

“——-”

Waving her fan, Priscilla fanned herself, while Liliana placed herself under a mysterious self-affirmation. Al, who wasn’t showing any expression, still radiated uncertainty from his entire being.

Despite being an uneasy trio, they certainly had confidence in their abilities.

“Next, tackling ‘Lust’ will be Garfiel and Wilhelm.”

“Oh yeah! I’ll grab that noisy woman by the collar and make her apologize in tears.”

“Leave it to me. —I will surely settle things with those two.”

Could it be said that these two are the most spirited warriors?

Sword Demon Wilhelm carries his duty for his lord and the memory of his beloved wife.

Garfiel seeks resolution for the emotions that remain intangible within him.

Each warrior may seek their answers in battle for their respective causes.

“And finally, ‘Gluttony’ will fall to you two, Julius and Ricardo.”

“Of course, this is the role entrusted to you. I will absolutely see it through. By doing so, I’ll be able to deny him.”

“My family has been wronged by those crazy bastards as well. No need to even say it. I shall tumble them and make them cry.”

The ties these two have with the Witch Cult are the thinnest. Nevertheless, they are entrusted with equal hope, as they are both recognized as reliable partners.

Having already overcome a hardship together once, there’s no reason to distrust these comrades.

That’s how easy it is to make the decision to hand over the detestable ‘Gluttony.’

“The final ‘Greed’ will be between me and Reinhardt. I’ll be counting on you.”

“—Ah, leave it to me. I trust in you as well, Subaru.”

In response to Subaru’s appeal, Reinhardt maintained his unwavering demeanor as he nodded. Yet, for some reason, he seemed softer, showing a humanity that felt somewhat inappropriate before battle.

Why did he seem so relieved? Subaru could not quite grasp it.

“Well then, this decides our roles in the battle. For communication mirrors to keep in touch with our divisions, there will be three in total. One will be held by the city hall… What about the others?”

“Personally, I definitely want ‘Wrath’ to have one. For the other, I think it should either go to ‘Lust’ or ‘Gluttony.'”

“What’s the reasoning?”

“‘Wrath’ is the one who holds influence over the entire city. Depending on whether we can defeat them or not, the whole situation this city is in could change drastically. Therefore, I want that information shared as soon as possible.”

At Subaru’s suggestion regarding the communication mirrors, everyone nodded in understanding. The reason for not giving one to ‘Greed’ was also clear.

“Not that I want to say it, but Reinhardt’s with ‘Greed.’ Given that we don’t know the capabilities of ‘Greed,’ we can’t be overly optimistic. However, there’s a chance that it could be dealt with immediately, and if it comes to that, I want to ensure Reinhardt can act as reinforcement.”

“But if there’s no communication mirror with ‘Greed,’ we can’t share that information, right? Surely, I think Natsuki’s reasoning is sound.”

“That’s simple. Just use a broadcast magic device. Announce citywide, so they can relay information about any locations in need of help. Using the communication mirror, Anastasia will gather information and deliver it to everyone. How does that sound?”

“I think it’s a wise choice. It seems your head is working well, Natsuki-kun.”

Anastasia smiled, impressed, then threw one of the communication mirrors to Priscilla. Priscilla caught it with her fan and rolled it towards Liliana.

“W-w-wha?!”

“Songstress, you must hold that. I cannot hold anything heavier than dishes.”

“That fan is the same weight as dishes. Don’t be lazy.”

“Don’t say foolish things, look at this design. It cost a fortune, hence it carries a certain weight. Don’t compare it with ordinary dishes.”

“Isn’t it heavier than dishes…?”

In any case, once Liliana held it, it seemed to settle things down. Ignoring Liliana fussing with her bangs using the mirror, the last communication mirror was presented before Wilhelm.

“Considering the number of enemies, it would seem wise to give the mirror to ‘Lust’ rather than ‘Gluttony.’ If it is just the two of you, it might work fine, but if you think it’s dangerous, communicate it to Anastasia immediately.”

“I’ll take your approval as granted.”

With Julius’s consideration, Wilhelm tucked the communication mirror into his pocket.

However, it was a decision tinged with unease. It was conceivable that, should Wilhelm heat up during an event, he might disregard the directives given now. Garfiel, needless to say, could easily lose his temper over trivial matters.

—Regardless, this made it known: preparations for battle were complete.

“Let’s take a little time. After that, we’ll set off—the operation to reclaim the Control Tower begins.”

At Subaru’s words, everyone returned nods.

Yet, that quiet tension felt, for Subaru, as though it harbored ill omens.

“It feels like if we look too gloomy, some bad juju might come creeping around, doesn’t it?”

“It sounds like Natsuki-san is about to say something strange again…”

“It’s not strange at all. It’s important. No matter how large the army gathered, if morale is low, it becomes a rabble. While I don’t think their fighting spirit is lacking, I don’t think it’s wrong to aim for an improvement in morale. So, let’s raise our voices!”

With a clap of his hands, Subaru stood up.

He thrust his fist into the air where everyone can see, yelling,

“Let’s do this, everyone! We’re going to clear out the nuisances from the city in this battle! We’ll smash the Witch Cult and achieve a happy ending!”

“——-”

At Subaru’s rallying cry, they exchanged glances. Then, they nodded and shouted,

“Oh—!!”

Such a vigorous response surged forth.

If they could unleash such strong words, everything would surely be fine.

With this many members, this amount of fighting spirit isn’t something that can be easily gathered.

—The operation to reclaim the city was set to officially begin.

“This battle will be our victory!!”

Subaru’s over-the-top pronouncement served as the closing remark of this roundtable conference.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Feeling a certain breathlessness, conscious thought slowly returned to reality.

As the sensation began to materialize, so did the remembrance of the feeling in his limbs. Little by little, the sensations of control spread throughout his body, initially feeling the soft comfort surrounding him.

Warmth enveloped him like being wrapped in the fur of a large animal, providing a sense of relief.

He had experienced similar feelings before. It was long ago, from a time when he was still small, when he hadn’t fully caught up to the condition of his body, and when he was scared to sleep alone.

It had been quite a while since he drifted away from the sensation of that fur.

“—Ah.”

Tears welled in his eyes as the nostalgic sensation washed over him.

He needed to toss aside the desire to relish in the warmth of that space and finally opened his eyelids slowly. His long eyelashes quivered as his deep purple eyes began to focus on the fuzzy world around him.

A high ceiling adorned with unfamiliar decorations. He realized he was lying on a bed, wrapped in a luxurious towel blanket made from fine fur.

And beside his resting form, someone was cleaning his face with a damp cloth.

“Who are you…?”

“——-”

Looking down at him, the beautiful woman with a white face seemed almost unnatural.

Her overly pale face carried a beautiful yet expressionless mask that seemed eerily doll-like. A smile from her would surely brighten the room, but her face remained as rigid as a Noh mask.

Dressed in a black dress, the woman stood up, tossing her long golden hair before hastily exiting the room.

In a moment of instinct, he almost called out after her, but hesitated to call her name before the door shut behind her, leaving him alone.

“Where is this…?”

He began to clumsily rise up.

Though there was a slight weariness; he felt no pain or discomfort. The lethargy was a result of overexerting his still-foreign magical powers.

Just as this realization struck him, the memories of the incident leading to his current state rushed back.

“That’s right. I was fighting with that strange person in the square…”

As fragmented memories pierced his mind, images of a bandaged face—a figure whom Subaru referred to as ‘Wrath’—flashed before him with terrifying combat prowess and a rage that chilled his spine. There was a time he held the upper hand but was soon overwhelmed by the blazing flames and was sent flying—

“And then I just passed out. But I’m alive.”

It was undoubtedly a moment of both misfortune and a dire situation.

If he were to guess, someone must have rescued him. With Subaru and Beatrice being present there, perhaps it was one of them who helped him out. Yet, nothing but feelings of embarrassment weighed down on his heart.

After all, he had just acted so cool in front of Subaru only to be defeated and saved.

“No, no time to be down about this. I can’t afford to slow down—I’m already behind as it is, so wallowing in reflection won’t help. I need to reflect while on the move.”

Placing his palm against his white cheek, he quickly composed himself. Wasting time sulking was not an option.

With this bed and towel blanket, and with someone to take care of him, this must be the home of a benevolent person. The fact he was carried to a place other than an inn indicated that his condition had been quite serious.

“But I have no pain, and whoever helped me… huh?”

Just as he was about to stand, Emilia suddenly realized about his attire.

“I’m naked.”

As his bare feet touched the floor, he became aware of not wearing even a scrap of clothing. Tilting his head, Emilia wrapped the towel blanket around herself and stepped down from the bed.

Looking around the room to see if there was something else she could wear, she found that there was nothing available at all.

“Umm, what should I do? I think it would be shameless to step out of the room like this…”

Prior to leaving the forest, Pack had told her, since leaving the forest after studying various things, and after being brought up by Annerose about this very sense of shame, she couldn’t help but reflect.

It was not proper to bare skin before others. With that thought in mind, her current attire surely violated that principle.

“But still, I’m worried about everyone, and it’s an emergency, so it can’t be helped.”

With the determination to find out what had happened regarding the conclusion with the Sin Archbishop, Emilia decided to exit the room wearing nothing but the towel blanket.

Once she stepped into the hallway, she confirmed that it was, indeed, an unfamiliar building. However, contrary to her expectations, the area outside her room appeared to have a strangely cold, coarse ambiance.

“I thought this would be an estate-like location, but it’s entirely different. Or is it just this room that feels out of place?”

Glancing back at the room where she had been laid to rest, she noted the large bed and a small wardrobe. However, upon taking a closer look, it was evident that it possessed a somewhat inconsistent impression. It felt as if furniture was just haphazardly placed within the empty room.

And it seemed that might not be too far from the truth.

From the feel of the hallway, it was clear this place wasn’t designed for human habitation. This was a workplace. If she listened closely, she could hear faint sounds of water and some sort of work being done.

Contemplating with her head tilted, Emilia turned to see—

“Ah, it looks like you’ve awakened. Good to see, good to see. Most of all, I’m glad you’re safe.”

The voice called out, prompting Emilia to turn back.

At the end of the hallway stood a young man with white hair who beamed a smile directly at her.

He approached her with a friendly smile and a quite casual tone.

“But, you really shouldn’t be wandering about right after waking up. Some pretty heavy stuff just happened, so it would be a problem if something were to go wrong with your body. I’d rather you take care of yourself, you know? After all, you’re not just in your own body anymore.”

“Umm, who are you…?”

Blinking slowly, Emilia looked back at the young man who was approaching.

The way he confidently shortened the distance was reminiscent of Subaru. However, the decisive difference setting him apart from Subaru was the absence of any consideration for others in his demeanor.

That was Subaru’s timid virtue, but before her stood a young man who displayed none of it. He acted as if he bore no moral responsibility to others for what he did.

—At the same time, Emilia felt an unnameable familiarity with this young man.

“I see! I’m terribly sorry, where are my manners? I was staring at your sleeping face for so long, this is our first time meeting each other. I haven’t even introduced myself, despite how friendly our business-like arrangement seems. I must regretfully apologize; my impatience caused me to overlook that.”

“Er, uh…”

Faced with such a fluent stream of sentences, Emilia struggled to respond.

Her hesitation was not merely from being overwhelmed by his demeanor; much deeper implications loomed. A message from within her consciousness began to insist on something important.

—It felt as though she should know this young man from somewhere.

“It’s a shame that the scenery is so dull considering the circumstances. But I assure you, in time, this moment will become a special memory you cherish. It won’t be a bad thing to look back upon. In simple terms, the small, daily joys are enough to brighten life’s path. With you by my side, it would be particularly true. Life allows us to see the whole spectrum, not just the bad. Don’t you think so, Emilia?”

“I don’t recall giving my name to you… but who are you?”

“Ah! How rude of me! I was getting carried away, and when my feelings swell, I lose my awareness of my surroundings. It’s a terrible habit of mine. Sometimes I find myself resenting my emotionally sensitive nature. But it may be because you captivate me far too much. So—my name!”

Finally, the young man arrived at the main topic after a somewhat roundabout monologue.

While Emilia felt the strange sensation emanating from him, she remained glued to his actions. Her intuition understood that she was not in a safe space.

And she sensed that the source of this intuition was none other than the young man before her.

“My name is Regulus Corneas. I hold a position of authority within a certain organization, but that’s of little importance for you. What truly matters to you is this: I am your husband, and you are my seventy-ninth wife.”

“…Huh?”

The young man who just introduced himself as Regulus uttered words that were grave and incomprehensible.

Emilia was left perplexed, furrowing her delicate brows. However, Regulus took no notice of Emilia’s unfriendly reaction; his eyes lingered on her form barely concealed by the thin cloth.

“That outfit is quite the sight for my eyes—I’ll make sure to bring you some proper clothing soon. You can rest assured. The wives of my shared status with you will know just how to dress you.”

“Wedding dress? What are you talking about? No, that’s not all of it. What do you mean by referring to me as your bride?”

“Right! How could I forget something of such significance!? I almost let a critical matter slip through the cracks!”

As Emilia tried to cut in, Regulus would not hear her. He clapped his hands then gently gripped her shoulder as she attempted to approach him.

The exceptional power in his grip caused Emilia to grimace. Pressing his forehead against hers, Regulus peered deeply into her eyes.

“I forgot to ask a very important question. The marriage ceremony can come after this. Emilia, please answer carefully, as it’s crucial for our future.”

“——-”

Being under that strange pressure, Emilia inhaled sharply, rendered speechless.

Taking her silence as consent, Regulus smiled.

He smiled and spoke.

“Emilia, are you a virgin? That is truly an important matter.”

He smiled and said so.