――A silver-haired person, someone unknown.

“Huh?”

That unexpected expression from Ram created a brief lapse in Subaru’s consciousness.

If it had simply been “a silver-haired person,” Subaru might not have felt such peculiar emotions.

There was no doubt that Emilia had beautiful silver hair. Her amethyst eyes were lovely too. Every piece of her face, every part that made up her entire being, was like a divine work of art—adorable.

However, adding a single extra word “unknown” changed the entire meaning dramatically.

“A silver-haired, unknown person…”

“Yes, that’s right. Inside this tower, I’ve never seen this person before. At least, there was no hostility directed toward us… I took a moment to assess the situation and pulled back. But…”

“—Whoever has joined as reinforcements, if the opponent is ‘Gluttony’, it’s another story.”

Nodding at Subaru’s mutterings, Ram turned her gaze toward the direction she had come from. Picking up on Ram’s words, Julius grimaced at the sound of “Gluttony.”

He touched the knight’s sword strapped to his waist and firmly pressed his lips together.

“It’s an unexpected encounter, but since we’ve come face to face as enemies here, we cannot let them escape. Our original objective was to find a way to counter the damage caused by the Archbishop of Sin known as ‘Gluttony’ and ‘Lust’. If they appear, we should pry the information directly from their mouths.”

“I agree. Ram also has no intention of letting them escape. We must make them regret appearing so audaciously.”

“W-wait! I get your enthusiasm! I really do, but…”

To the two who were showing strong animosity toward “Gluttony,” Subaru couldn’t help but interject.

He understood the motivations of both Julius, cut off from the world, and Ram, who had been ravaged from within by the loss of her beloved sister. In fact, Subaru felt as if both good and bad opportunities were coming at once.

But the issue here was—

“You two’s conversation is missing Emilia’s name. What gives?”

“——-”

Feeling an uneasy premonition, Subaru cut straight to the question.

Ram’s unnatural phrasing, and the unresponsiveness of Julius and Beatrice to her explanation, left them seemingly indifferent. When he looked towards them, Beatrice and Echidna both wore expressions of discomfort.

They were taking Ram’s statement of “a silver-haired unknown person” at face value.

“—Who is this Emilia you’re talking about?”

“—Huh?”

Tilting her head, Ram showed no sign of hiding her doubts, causing Subaru’s throat to constrict in shock.

When he glanced over, he saw that Julius, Beatrice, and even Echidna were staring at him with confused eyes—an unmistakable sense of shock.

“Because…”

It was only a matter of moments since they last spoke about “Emilia” with Julius and the others.

The reason they had dashed out from the balcony was unease about Emilia and Ram not joining them and to wish for their safety.

How could it change so instantaneously—

“—Subaru, don’t tell me…”

Suddenly, Beatrice, who was holding Subaru’s hand, had her expression shift as she seemed to realize something. Beatrice was the first to notice, but the remaining group was astute enough to catch on too.

Instantly, they understood that a name Subaru mentioned—one that he had no memory of—held great significance to them.

“Emilia… that is the name of that silver-haired girl?”

“—Yes. If there was a silver-haired girl, it would be the child named Emilia, our comrade. So, I told Ram to escape while I stayed behind. I’m still fighting now.”

“I can believe such a thing would happen, yes. I myself have lived through it.”

“——-”

At Subaru’s powerless response, Julius touched his bangs, appearing to have heard something unbelievable.

Julius was unable to hide his surprise, but Subaru also felt the chilling reality of “Gluttony’s” reach, its immediate potency, and the malevolence it carried.

Honestly, even being aware that his memories had been taken away, the realization felt faint to Subaru.

Of course, the misunderstandings and suspicions caused by his lost memories, along with all the negative emotions directed at Emilia and the others, were all quite difficult to forget—black marks on his history he wished to permanently erase.

However, again, the feeling remained thin. To search for something nonexistent was as uncertain as fishing in an invisible night sea.

Thus, the sensation was weak. But this was different.

Forgetting about Emilia, the person he had just remembered moments ago, the comrade he had shared hardships with, in an instant—was there anything so abominable as this?

A memory snatcher, someone who tramples on memories, a habitual offender of “Gluttony” that devours bonds.

Finally coming face to face with that, Subaru began to understand.

“Gluttony” had crossed the forbidden boundary in its selfish pursuit of happiness—a true villain.

“—Ugh!”

“Ram!?”

In this manner, Subaru struggled to digest his shock. Right before him, among the others who had also been astonished by the loss of their comrade’s memories, Ram unexpectedly knelt down at the spot.

Leaning against the black Earth Dragon, Patrasche, Ram took harsh breaths.

“What’s wrong? Are you okay?”

“…I just have a little headache. I was thinking about that unknown someone.”

“About Emilia…?”

With a hand on her head, Ram shook her head, a painful look on her face, making Subaru furrow his brow.

If “Gluttony” had taken Emilia’s memories, Ram, who had accompanied her, must have seen the scene unfold right before her. Was that affecting her? Subaru pondered.

However, “Subaru,” Beatrice patted him on the shoulder, shaking her head slightly.

“It’s better to stop bringing it up. She’s too fragmented, I suppose.”

“Fragmented…?”

“The sloppy aspects of ‘Gluttony’s’ powers are showing themselves. —Too many conditions exist where memories can’t be established without the counterpart, creating discrepancies.”

“——-”

Upon hearing Beatrice’s words, Subaru momentarily lost his voice.

But soon, he grasped the meaning, understanding what it implied.

“Gluttony’s” powers were at work, causing the loss of Emilia’s memories from Ram and the others.

Ram’s position was as Emilia’s caretaker—essentially a master-servant relationship. Their mutual feelings for each other, while somewhat difficult to discern, certainly held warmth.

That warmth had been completely stripped away, leaving a blank space for “Emilia” within Ram.

Memories are like treasured items stored within a drawer.

Normally, we don’t consciously acknowledge they’re there, but when we try to recall something, we open the drawer and pick up various memories. —Without that, life cannot flourish.

For Ram, trying to find Emilia’s name here would be akin to endlessly opening drawers that simply wouldn’t yield any results.

“I’ll keep watch over her.”

“Echidna…?”

Standing next to a grimacing Ram was Echidna, raising a hand. When Subaru looked in surprise, Echidna shrugged her slender shoulders.

“We don’t have time for discussion right now. If ‘Gluttony’ is here, and one of our comrades is fighting while having their name taken, we mustn’t stop our feet.”

“Echidna, keep an eye on Lady Ram and your sister. Stay away from the battle with Patrasche.”

“Yeah, leave it to me. —Julius, it’s a crucial moment, but stay calm.”

“Understood. My fighting spirit is fully under control, just like this sword.”

Julius quickly accepted Echidna’s suggestion, brandishing his sword beautifully in front of him. There was a valor in his expression that made Subaru hesitate to interject.

“Ram.”

“It’s frustrating, but right now, if I go I’ll just be a hindrance. Just leave me behind. But make sure to leave ‘Gluttony’s’ life intact. The rest will be left to Balus.”

“It sounds like you’re talking about a cow or pig, but just stay put. We’re heading out!”

“—Yeah, go ahead and do it.”

Leaving a frustrated Ram behind, Subaru nodded at the others, including Echidna. Then, before taking off, he patted Patrasche’s neck and leaned to peek at the sleeping princess’s profile.

“——-”

Once again, her quiet, fragile breaths were barely audible, as Rem continued her uninterrupted dream.

That was enough for now. The words he needed to hear from her had already been given.

All that’s left is—

“Wait for it, ‘Gluttony’…! I’m tired of feeding you any more than this!”

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

――Honestly, to list them out, the questions were endless.

Why had “Gluttony’s” powers not affected Subaru?

Even now, with Emilia’s name taken away and lost from the memories of Beatrice and the others, Subaru clearly retained Emilia’s name, her figure, and her voice in his mind.

His faint feelings for her still lingered firmly within his heart.

“Is it because I came from another world…?”

Perhaps that’s why the rules of this world did not apply to Subaru.

If this world’s memories were the stripped-down records of lives from the souls of the dead within the “Memory Corridor,” then the power of “Gluttony” not applying to Subaru could be possible due to his status as an outsider from another world.

If that’s the case, would “Natsuki Subaru’s” memories, if he were to die, ever be etched into this world’s “Memory Corridor”? Or perhaps—

“—Is that why I’m ‘Return by Death?'”

That was a chilling conclusion that sent a shiver down his spine.

If that were the answer to Subaru’s “Return by Death” mechanism, then his life would remain uncorrupted by this world’s spiral eternally.

In other words, he would spend decades in this world and never even be able to die from old age.

If he did not conform to this rule, to live out his life, Natsuki Subaru himself would perhaps need to be in a world where his memories could truly be entrusted—

“—Ice Brand Arts!”

“—Huh?!”

In an instant, the thoughts swirling in Subaru’s mind were sliced apart by a sharp, silver bell-like voice.

Raising his face, Subaru looked ahead—he felt the cold wind as he entered the pathway leading to the green room, which was now eerily frozen white.

And the cause of that wind was not a dancing snow fairy among the swirling diamond dust, but rather Emilia, her silver hair fluttering as she whirled around.

“—Here I go! Yea! Let’s do this!”

With ice twin swords in hand, Emilia raised her battle call while launching ferocious attacks. The cheer sounded somewhat unrefined, but the speed of the ice swords streaking through the air held no cuteness.

The slashes were precise, aimed to cleave the opposing enemy with a single blow.

“That’s…”

As she danced with the ice blades, Emilia’s battle corridor was now sealed in freezing blue and white, showcasing a world entirely different from the sandy tower they had been in.

Most likely, the effects of the ice magic Emilia wielded were at play. Whether it was power unlike anything found in this world or sheer strength, Beatrice and Julius gasped in astonishment.

But more than that—

“Hahaha! You’re doing great! Yes, alright! You’re delivering! You’re doing what we’re waiting for! It finally feels like there’s a return on this meal!”

In contrast to Emilia, the one receiving her ice sword strikes with unbothered ease appeared distinctly mocking.

“——-”

It was a boy with long, disheveled chestnut hair, wearing a gloomy smile tinged with madness.

Although in his mid-teens, his appearance was shabby and even dirty. His overall look was hardly hygienic, but what was truly off-putting was the unmistakable disdainful and predatory glint in his eyes that revealed his despair and hunger for “life.”

It was clear as day. It needed no explanation.

Knowing that such a creature existed beyond just Lui Arnebe was almost unbearable.

“—The Archbishop of Sin, ‘Gluttony!'”

“Ahaha! Oh, we have a guest! No, you’re not just a guest! You’re the main dish, my friend! We’ve been looking forward to meeting you! It seems like my sister has depended on you!”

Hearing Subaru’s shout, “Gluttony,” who had deflected Emilia’s strike, deepened his wicked grin. The menace of that smile filled Subaru with dread, but it was at that moment Emilia noticed Subaru and the others in the back, her surprise evident as she exclaimed, “Oh!”

“Ah, everyone! You might not recognize me, but that person over there is the enemy! A bad guy! Leave this to me… though you might not recognize me!”

“——-”

Acknowledging the presence of her companions, Emilia accurately assessed her own situation.

Naturally, she must have been shocked, having her own memories lost to others. The shock she experienced was beyond measure, something unimaginable to Subaru, who had never been experienced the loss.

Nevertheless, she did not just bravely let Ram escape, but continued to fight against “Gluttony,” while showing concern for Subaru and the others who rushed to help.

Overwhelmed with emotion, Subaru shouted.

“It’s okay, Emilia-chan! I haven’t forgotten you!”

“——-”

“I’ll definitely remember you! No matter what happens, I won’t forget you!”

Raising a fist, Subaru declared these words towards Emilia’s back.

At that moment, Emilia’s eyes widened, and after a brief instant, they narrowed with a smile.

“——-”

What emotion had crossed her heart at that instant, Subaru couldn’t identify.

Yet, seeing the smile that followed, it was clear that it did not lead to any ill feelings.

With that, Emilia turned straight back to face “Gluttony,” hurling her ice twin swords before drawing ice spears from the ground, launching into a graceful assault against the enemy.

“You have no awareness of how much your single word just impacted her, do you?”

“Huh?”

Next to him, Julius, who had been watching the same scene, commented with a knowing smile. The meaning behind his words struck Subaru as significant, but when he turned back to see Julius, he remained unresponsive.

Instead, he pulled out his sword, preparing it with elegance.

And then—

“It’s unnecessary to ask, but I trust that she’s on our side, Subaru.”

“Yeah, that’s right. With that cuteness, there’s no way she’s our enemy!”

“Understood.”

Nodding in agreement, Julius’s figure faded into the edge of Subaru’s vision. —No, that was an illusion.

The very next moment, with a single fleet step, he accelerated, plunging into the tumult of icy skirmishes. His thrust caught “Gluttony,” who had crossed his arms over his chest in defense, and sent him flying backward with a great force.

“Whoa! So you’re…”

“I’ve waited for this moment, ‘Gluttony!'”

Julius’s sharp strike pierced through “Gluttony,” who bore a slight grin. But by leaping backward, “Gluttony” spread his limbs against the ice-encrusted wall, grimacing as he coughed.

Following that, “Gluttony” provocatively flicked out his long tongue, saying, “Hey, hey, don’t come at me like that. Unfortunately for you, it’s not like we share everything we eat! I don’t recognize you at all. That sounds more like something Roy has done, doesn’t it?”

“——-”

“Well, you could say it doesn’t matter either way. Still, regarding Roy, we aren’t really interested in you, my friend. You don’t meet our criteria for consumption, so to say?”

“Criteria for consumption, you say?”

“Yeah, that’s right…”

With both hands hanging loosely, “Gluttony” looked at Julius, ready to describe his ominous style.

However—

“Hey—!?”

Instantly, Emilia dropped a chunk of ice without hesitation.

Her strike was merciless, easily filling the not-so-fighting-friendly corridor, delivering a blow that left no room for escape.

Throughout the conversation, it seemed that “Gluttony,” surprised by such a robust strike, quickly dove under the icy projectile, narrowly avoiding death.

“Geez! We knew this would happen because we’ve eaten it before, but whoa, Emilia! If you keep attacking like that, you’ll be seen as a scary person…”

“Just shut up! You know I’m used to being seen as a scary person, don’t you? What matters is how I feel about everyone! And…”

Going underneath the burst of ice, Emilia’s white knee smashed into “Gluttony’s” face. He took the blow on his arm and was knocked backward by the shockwave.

Snarling defiantly, Emilia glanced back at Subaru as she ended her sentence, “The one I want to remember most has held onto my memories. Right now, I feel really strong!”

“This is why I really don’t like those who act on instinct. It’s too uncomfortable for me!”

“—I see. But I also agree with her.”

“Gluttony,” who grimaced in frustration, had Julius slip behind him. With an incoming slash from his blade, “Gluttony” hastily covered himself with the arm he whipped around.

However, the uneven defense failed to stop the blow completely, resulting in a deep cut from elbow down, with blood spraying out. With howls of pain, “Gluttony” still endured the continuous strikes—

“—Having once been forgotten by all, to the point I felt life had denied my footing, I reconfirmed that the place where I would stand never needed to be in doubt.”

“Argh! Ugh, ahhh!”

As he uttered his solemn determination, the sharpness of Julius’s strikes gradually increased.

Unable to endure it, “Gluttony” became increasingly wounded, eventually receiving a solid hit to his chest, crying out in despair.

“Subaru.”

“I understand. I can’t interfere with that.”

“…If you know that much, it’s fine.”

As Julius continued his relentless assault, so too did Emilia deliver unforgiving strikes to “Gluttony.” The two were relentless, leaving “Gluttony” on the defensive.

Naturally, if possible, Subaru wanted to join in and help corner “Gluttony,” yet it was clear he lacked the skills to do so.

Right now, he had no choice but to witness the moment when Emilia and Julius’s combo would drive “Gluttony” to defeat. But then—

“You’re doing quite well for an improvised duo! But how about this?”

“What?”

“—Ice Brand Arts!”

While dripping blood, “Gluttony” still kept his cool grin, whispering with his head bowed. Hearing that murmur, Subaru and Emilia raised their eyebrows in surprise, while Julius and Beatrice frowned in confusion. However, all four would soon share in the astonishment of the following spectacle.

Instantly, ice spears surged from the ground at “Gluttony’s” feet. Julius rolled sideways to evade, while Emilia transformed the spear in her hand into an ice hammer, crushing down forcibly to block.

However, avoiding one attack did not mean that surprise and struggle would cease.

“Ha! What’s it feel like to taste your own signature move? How does it feel, huh? How’s that? How’s it feel? You know? That ‘Gluttony!’ Here you go—Gluttony!”

“—Huh?!”

“The movement… changed!?”

Shocked at Emilia’s outcry, Julius watched as “Gluttony” extracted ice weapons from the floor. Subaru couldn’t help but be stunned by the intricately formed ice armor.

That was because—

“W-wait, Excalibur!?”

“Though Ice Brand Arts is Emilia’s technique, we, the ones who consumed you, can recreate it! Knowledge is a weapon! We’re the intellectual archbishops of sin, you know!”

“—Huh?!”

Declaring that, “Gluttony” swung the ice holy sword he recreated toward Emilia and Julius, delivering a dazzling strike. Naturally, it was merely an illusory weapon made from ice replica, with no light energy emitted.

Yet with that, “Gluttony” continued to conjure weapons from this other world that should not exist, catching Emilia and Julius off guard, pushing them back into an unfavorable situation.

Of course, Emilia and the others quickly adjusted their positions, shaking off the initial shock to retake the offensive, but “Gluttony” adapted his fighting style each time they responded, keeping them on the back foot in this standoff.

“——-”

Observing “Gluttony’s” attacks and defenses, Subaru recognized the terror of taking in numerous memories from others.

The ability to create ice weapons one after another was powerful in its own right, but when paired with the wielder’s imagination, it transformed into a technique that showcased an entirely different face. Especially regarding the knowledge Subaru had brought from another world, the weapons conjured from that knowledge proved exceedingly challenging.

This world lacked those weapons, and yet there exists a plethora of armaments that worked well enough. It was due to Subaru’s dark history of indulging in weapon reference books during his middle school days.

Moreover, “Gluttony” had likely absorbed many fighters throughout his life, ultimate creating a state where he carried the fighting spirit of numerous warriors.

Thus, simply pulling optimal memories from his stock would allow him to instantaneously transform into an expert with any given weapon, freely launching attacks and defenses.

The reason Emilia and the others found themselves at a disadvantage stemmed from another factor.

“Julius! Don’t go there!”

“Gah…!”

At the sound of Emilia’s scream, Julius stumbled, struggling to maintain his footing.

There existed a crude coordination in their attempt to combine efforts to take out a singular foe.

The problem was the lack of compatibility between Emilia and Julius’s styles.

Emilia fought intuitively as an “instinctive fighter,” while Julius honed his techniques after rigorous training as a “skilled tactician.”

However, such issues should have been easy to rectify once their strength reached a certain level.

Because, with an understanding of each other’s quirks, they could easily adjust their movements.

If only they had a relationship capable of that level of understanding.

“It’s truly sad. Did you think we could really synchronize? Knowing your opponent and trusting them are two very different things, even while being pointed in the same direction, right? Because you don’t understand their thoughts, you can’t manage to synchronize, and because you don’t know their quirks, you can’t correct them. Eventually, you end up clashing and being a hindrance… Hahaha, you two really are a disaster!”

“Damn…!”

“It’s so obvious! Memories are power! Memories are bonds! By sacrificing memories, we rise high! We grow stronger! We soar higher and higher!”

Leaping up, “Gluttony’s” strike connected with both of them simultaneously.

Though long and slender, his legs mustered impactful force, firmly knocking both of them back and eliciting pained growls.

Meanwhile, “Gluttony” gracefully flipped in the air and landed down on the icy floor with all fours.

“What a nuisance! A bunch of novice struggles! How are you guys feeling about our skills!? Just watching you two brood over there, are you a little frustrated or enjoying yourselves?!”

“You piece of…!”

“What I want to know is, how much relief do you get from saying you won’t forget? In the end, it all comes down to experience. It’s the accumulation of superior insights that enriches life, ultimately branding people as winners. Meaning, at the highest level, it’s us!”

Spreading his arms wide, showing his sharp teeth, “Gluttony” laughed contemptuously.

And the very words “Gluttony” had uttered reflected his philosophy on life. His sister, Lui, had her own philosophy on attaining “happiness,” but it diverged slightly—for him, it was all about using others’ lives as stepping stones to fatten his own existence.

That, Subaru thought, was a mindset he ought to despise deeply—

“—What the hell is with the cockiness?!”

“W-what?”

“——-”

All at once, “Gluttony,” who had seemed to revel in his own invincibility, opened his eyes wide upon hearing that voice. Their shock was shared by Subaru and the others.

It was far too sudden and blatant—the appearance of a calamity rushing into the fray.

Slowly, a long, red-haired figure stomped down the icy path, one shoulder of their flowing robe slipped down. With an evil grin, he stepped into view, directly facing Subaru and his crew through “Gluttony.”

And—

“There’s no way the best can be a twisted brat like you. The words ‘best’, ‘strongest’, ‘highest’, ‘finest’—they are all meant for me!”

“`

 

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