Patrasche circled his face, wrinkling his nose in a way that seemed to intimidate the blue-skinned Earth Dragon glaring back at him.

While lightly stroking Patrasche’s neck, Subaru expressed his agreement with a soft voice, saying, “I feel the same way.”

It had only been a short time since their acquaintance, but the bond that had formed between Subaru and Patrasche was strong enough to have faced the brink of life and death together.

Through the reins, it felt as though Subaru could directly understand Patrasche’s thoughts.

“Sorry to interrupt your moment, but could you not seduce my Earth Dragon? Your Earth Dragon isn’t half bad either; it could follow along.”

“Hey, Patrasche! What the heck, are you flirting? Who said we feel the same way! You’re getting all flirtatious right before a desperate battle!”

“That Earth Dragon wouldn’t want to hear that from you, especially after you showed off so much before we left.”

Subaru shouted in fury at Patrasche’s unexpected betrayal, and Ricardo, leaning beside him, smirked while propping up his chin.

Ugh, Subaru choked back his words for a moment when suddenly, a voice came forward.

“To think we would meet here, Julius. Just a few hours ago, we were fighting for our lives over here.”

“Hearing that doesn’t make me feel any better, but let me clarify something, Felix. I am not a person named Julius. Instead… I think I shall call myself Yuri.”

Shrugging at Felix’s sarcastic comment, Julius muttered some nonsensical words. Naturally, everyone narrowed their eyes at the bewildering alias, but he brushed off their gazes with a cool smile.

“Hypothetically, it would be unacceptable for a knight to join a group of hired hands and become a mercenary. There is no truth to the fact that Julius Euclius has joined the Iron Fangs, and what stands here is a single man named Yuri.”

“I see. As always, the proper knightly way is quite bothersome. I’m glad I’m from a fallen noble family like Felix’s.”

“I don’t find knightly conduct burdensome at all. Helping a friend is just a matter of course, although I do think it’s an issue that we have to be mindful of. –As a side note, let it be made clear that Julius Euclius’s suspension was lifted last night at the change of day.”

“Throwing up meaningless preventive measures, are we? What’s the point of that alias?”

While eavesdropping on the conversation between Julius and Felix, Subaru clicked his tongue and spat out a rude remark. Turning away, he pouted, his expression clearly sulking, and in truth, that’s exactly how he felt.

Hearing the little grumble from Subaru, Julius suddenly turned to look at him. He stepped forward, positioning himself directly in front.

“You seem to be in better spirits than I expected. –How is your condition?”

“—!”

With Julius’s question expressing concern for his wellbeing, Subaru felt a jolt in his brain.

Julius’s inquiry was merely a teasing or sarcastic jab to him—though it felt like ages ago, for Subaru, it reminded him of nearly two weeks past.

Receiving such a provocatively challenging statement in the form of a jab, Subaru felt a curse almost escaping his throat, but he somehow swallowed it back.

Clearing his throat, taking a deep breath, and putting on a nonchalant expression, he styled his bangs in an exaggerated gesture.

“Ah, well, it was just a scratch? It feels like just putting some saliva on it healed it? What about you? You call yourself reinforcements but showed up a bit late, didn’t you? Were you too busy writing a report for someone important because you took it too seriously against amateurs?”

I had guessed that the suspension talk might give me insights into the background circumstances, and Subaru fired back with his signature taunts. At that, Julius made a slightly annoyed face.

“Isn’t it a different conversation? I was hoping to talk about the honorable injuries from monster subjugation… But it seems your wound has healed quite nicely, thank goodness. It wasn’t that flashy of a wound to begin with anyway. You, who is good at garnering sympathy, were exaggerating your pain and rolling around in agony.”

“Hahaha!”

“Hehehe!”

Dry laughter intertwined between the two of them as the atmosphere turned tense.

As for the surrounding crowd, instead of attempting to alleviate the situation, Felix and Ricardo found it entertaining and merely observed, while Mimi had vanished into the crowds searching for her brother. Consequently, the role of mediator fell to none other than—

“While it’s good to rekindle old friendships, surely this isn’t the time for it, is it?”

The old swordsman Wilhelm, riding on the Earth Dragon, stepped forward to admonish them.

Brandishing the legendary sword entrusted to him by his master, Wilhelm narrowed his eyes as he looked at Julius.

“I cannot express enough gratitude for your reinforcements. Our fighting force has been considerably diminished from the battle with the White Whale… I have worried about dragging you into this.”

“Wilhelm, don’t say such things…”

Subaru interjected as Wilhelm lowered his tone. The White Whale subjugation had been one of the walls Subaru needed to overcome. It had certainly involved Subaru’s selfish intentions, and Wilhelm couldn’t be harboring any burdens from it at all.

It was frustrating not being able to explain everything, but Subaru wished he could at least dispel that sense of obligation. But before he could express that thought—

“Your face looks better now, Wilhelm.”

Julius murmured quietly, observing the older man.

Before Subaru knew it, Julius had grasped the glimmer in Wilhelm’s eyes, as if the burden had been lifted.

“You appear to be quite different from when we last met… I dare say this should offer some relief to Reinhardt as well.”

“Indeed.”

With his hand on his chin, Wilhelm lowered his gaze.

In that brief hesitance in his tone, one could only wonder just how much conflict lay within him.

Having no knowledge of the circumstances, Subaru could only furrow his brow at their exchange, but the surrounding eyes were those of people in the know.

As Subaru felt left out and irritated, Wilhelm raised his downcast face.

“I could not rightly treat that matter. I knew it had no fault, nor intention of harm, yet I could not forgive it. –Someday, retribution shall come.”

“That alone, he will have plenty to gain from.”

Julius affirmed with a lowered gaze in response to Wilhelm’s slightly bitter remark. Then he slowly turned his intelligent eyes towards Subaru.

Naturally, Subaru straightened his spine, preparing for the resumption of their earlier tongue-lashing.

“Thank you, I must say.”

“—Huh?”

Before Subaru could instinctively voice his surprise, Julius gracefully dismounted from the Earth Dragon. He looked up at Subaru, still perched on Patrasche, and bowed slightly.

“The recent subjugation of the White Whale was a grave responsibility that should have been on the knight’s shoulders. We thank you for putting an end to the calamity that the countries had long neglected.”

Faced with such a refined display of gratitude, Subaru, who had previously harbored negative feelings towards Julius, found himself momentarily at a loss for words. Right at that moment, Felix interjected, “Hey, hey!”

“Let’s not forget that the subjugation of the White Whale was led by Duke Karsten— it’s Lady Crusch who deserves the credit, you know? Wilhelm did the killing too.”

“I know that well. I’ve been informed about how he lacked the power to slay the White Whale from a direct confrontation with you— Julius.”

Despite maintaining his persona as a different person, Julius responded to Felix’s statement and continued with, “However, it cannot be denied that his existence played a significant role in the monster subjugation. Felix, you would rightly acknowledge that, wouldn’t you?”

“Yup. That’s… right, I guess.”

Felix hesitated, twiddling his fingers as he stepped back. After persuading the cat-eared one, Julius turned back to Subaru.

“Thanks to you, the people can finally forget the days of living in fear of the fog. –I’m sure Lady Anastasia will be delighted to hear this.”

“If you only said the first part, I could accept it easily, but when the second part comes in, it’s hard to just say yes.”

“And for my friend, who has carried regrets for many years… he can finally meet his turning point.”

Julius closed his eyes, exhaling as he made that proclamation.

That friend was presumably referring to the red-haired hero, but Subaru had no idea what kind of long-standing regrets that handsome man held.

Did the likes of him even have a past where he had to carry some regrets?

In any case, being able to express gratitude openly didn’t feel bad.

It was something to celebrate earnestly that Wilhelm’s long-held desire had been fulfilled, and he was aware that his cooperation was somewhat helpful in that regard. Yet, even so, Subaru’s heart was in a complicated state facing Julius.

Putting on a brave face outwardly, what surfaced first in Subaru’s heart upon encountering that strikingly handsome figure was the cowardice that made him hesitate.

Even after overcoming that weakness, the next thing waiting was his rebellious spirit, shielded by the bravado to cover his own frailty. Although his feelings of gratitude for the reinforcements existed, resentment began boiling over toward the personality of those leaders who placed Julius on his side.

However, Subaru did not show any of those negative feelings on his face.

Swallowing those bizarre feelings, all Subaru did was one thing.

“Ta-da!”

He grinned broadly, looking like an evildoer, aiming to provoke his opponent.

“What a villainous look!”

“You’re really getting on my nerves.”

“I almost hit you.”

“Your nostrils are all flared up!”

“Whoa, whoa, the boos from my allies are intense! It’s like the moment I boasted about my accomplishments, this happens!”

Fuming with fury, Subaru directed his anger towards the audience throwing critiques. Taking another deep breath, he turned to Julius once more, calming himself down.

“So, what is it that you ultimately want to do? Why are you here?”

“—You really did it, huh?”

“Huh?”

Instead of responding to Subaru’s question, Julius murmured with a touch of profoundness.

Before Subaru could repeat the question, he shook his head.

“I was meaning to ask if you understand, but the Iron Fangs, with their contract in place with Lady Anastasia, are temporarily under the command of Lady Crusch… no, you.”

“Oh? Was that the case? But I think I remember my lady saying something before our departure…”

“My lady, please be quiet.”

Mimi tried to interject upon hearing Julius’s statement, but she was thwarted by a cat-like beastman who had somehow appeared next to her. Keeping an eye on their interactions, Subaru knitted his brows as he listened to Julius’s words.

In response to Subaru’s attitude, Julius raised his hand lightly and continued, “In other words, once the White Whale has been defeated, our reason for cooperation ceases to exist. This would be your dismissal. –So then, what do you intend to do now?”

“Sounds like you’re forgetful. Before we set out, my lady mentioned quite a few things. I don’t remember much, though.”

“Please be quiet.”

While the kitten-like banter happening behind him was bothersome, Subaru was starting to understand what Julius was trying to imply. Essentially—

“Are you saying I need to decide here and now whether to withdraw or continue with reinforcements?”

“I’ve been instructed to sell my services for a high price. Or are we in a situation where you don’t need our strength?”

Pointing theatrically behind him, Julius pressed Subaru for a decision.

However, making a hasty judgment in a fit of exasperation was not feasible here. While it would be easy for Subaru to angrily dismiss them, that would be an act of folly, reducing his available forces just before facing the biggest hurdles ahead.

At the same time, simply conceding to Julius’s words regarding a “high price” posed problems. Continued payouts would quickly become a losing strategy in negotiations, and most crucially, Subaru’s decisions would directly impact numerous lives and the fate of a singular girl.

Subaru glanced sideways at Ricardo and his mercenary group, who remained quietly alert, arms crossed. Mimi copied him and closed her eyes too, occasionally twitching her orange cat ears while her tiny nose wiggled adorably.

Previously, Ricardo’s reasons for accompanying them in the fight against the Witch Cult had seemed flimsy, but now that Julius proposed this negotiation, it all made sense. They were presenting their willingness to cooperate while knowing full well refusing it would be impossible.

“Dirty. As expected of someone greedy for money, how dirty…”

“Look at you, acting surprised. Just so you know, I’m not doing this willingly. I’m just doing this ‘cause I like money more than anything else…”

“Your inner turmoil is shallow! I hadn’t counted on you, anyway!”

Subaru had no intention of asking for assistance from the enemy’s leader, though merely commanding respect for the opposing side left him feeling overexposed. Regardless, the unwelcome reality was that Subaru was left with only one response: yes.

This would create an imbalance with Crusch’s faction while leaving him in the poor situation of being indebted to Anastasia.

Despite his grim decision, Subaru couldn’t afford to reject their assistance now, clenching his teeth to stifle the bitterness.

If the reinforcements could breeze through without instigating any debt issues—

“Fog… White Whale… the highway and the deadline, and then… the Witch.”

While wrestling with his thoughts, Subaru muttered aloud some words that had floated into his mind. Those seemingly disconnected thoughts began to coalesce, hinting at connections, and then—

“The subjugation of the White Whale isn’t over yet… how about that?”

“—Interesting statement.”

Julius replied with narrowed eyes to Subaru’s spur-of-the-moment words.

Behind him, the beastmen mercenary groups included those from the subjugation party—especially Wilhelm, whose expression was striking and caused an ache in Subaru’s conscience.

Yet, besides Wilhelm’s long-held wishes, another pressing issue demanded attention. Namely—

“The White Whale, which creates fog, could be in league with the Witch Cult. I know there was someone talking about something like that.”

—Was that during the third world, at the very last scene of the loop before last.

Surrounded by the Witch Cult within the Forest, unable to evade Petelgeuse’s unseen hand, feeling daunting hopelessness as Emilia’s corpse was trampled beneath, that much was clear.

At that time, that madman had spat vehemently, confirming—

“The highway has been completely sealed. No one can cross the fog.”

How does he know that? How is it spoken as though it were entirely his doing? Then, topping it all off, that culmination of frozen beasts that concluded in the frozen world uttered a single line.

“Someone called the White Whale Gluttony; if that’s true, and if that’s one of the Witch Cult’s minions… then their appearance must bear significance to my destination.”

If Petelgeuse had summoned the White Whale to impede access to the Meisters Territory, then naturally, that goal must have been to unravel the identity of that lunatic’s actions. Ultimately, the sealing of the highway by the White Whale was an assault on the mansion— an attack on Emilia.

“We need to hold the Witch Cult accountable for their grievous acts. Once that’s done, we can finally declare the subjugation of the White Whale finished.”

“—”

“The employer commanded it, assigning a job that dangled rewards, so do not abandon it halfway, mercenary. Or do you prefer to pay a penalty and withdraw?”

Confidently asserting this, Subaru watched Julius’s reaction.

Though internally he felt the tenuous foundation of his statements, he assumed a fortitude he had not previously possessed.

A guess derived from the tidbits scattered through future events. This time, the pieces were even more spread out, stumbling upon information he had gleaned while still in a liquor-soaked daze, resulting in findings of questionable validity.

While he pieced together a coherent statement, he had no idea if they would find it persuasive. However, if it at least ignited the spark for them to keep the conversation going—

“—Let’s say that’s a passing grade then.”

“Huh?”

Julius replied rather calmly, saying he would adjust to make things sound better on their end, with most of Subaru’s arguments recognized as valid. He also maintained that Lady Anastasia’s reputation wouldn’t take a hit.

“Wait a minute!”

Holding his palms towards Julius, Subaru tried to halt him, but Julius trailed off, calmly receiving Subaru’s sudden urgency.

“What is it? The mercenary group will continue cooperation. The remuneration has already been taken care of by Lady Anastasia, so that should pose no issue, right?”

“Just like that… I mean, what is with your readiness to agree?! You…!”

Having started to voice the next question, Subaru became acutely aware of unclear discomfort within himself.

Julius was reading the situation and was prepared to assist, given his innocent irrationality, and Subaru’s desire wished him to be less of a good person.

In his internal dialogue, Subaru realized he secretly desired Julius to be an insufferable jerk whom he could dislike.

“Well, it’s not that I want no reward. If it were a stupid moron, they would take it once and over while an intelligent opponent might allow multiple opportunities.”

“Your ultimate goal is still to profit, though, isn’t it?”

Recognizing Ricardo’s interruption into their conversation, Subaru seized this chance to join in.

With that, both his self-loathing and disdain for others intertwined, plunging the situation into an uncomfortable atmosphere.

Yet, in the face of it all, Subaru exhaled deeply.

“I am… at fault. Damn it, that was my bad. Argh! It’s not that I want to say this! At that time, I was…!”

Covering his forehead with his hand, Subaru struggled to voice a rational answer. However, the words refused to surface. He understood in his mind.

This was a moment to be grateful for Julius’s presence, who came bearing reinforcements. Even if he could reflect upon the past, it stemmed from Subaru’s previous folly, and now he clearly understood who bore the blame.

Even so, regarding the result of Julius’s earlier actions and their results.

“—”

Julius remained silent as he bore witness to Subaru’s stammering acknowledgment.

He surely understood what Subaru sought to express; he could have easily answered before Subaru’s silence cemented his words.

But he chose not to— and that choice only magnified Subaru’s animosity toward him. He wanted to detest and scornfully resent him without reservation.

“I… was wrong. I’m sorry. I apologize…”

In a low tone, Subaru managed to squeeze the words out.

It was a reviled memory for Subaru to look back on, yet this was a confrontation he needed to face to finally break free from that abhorrence.

Furthermore, it was a confrontation he would eventually have to settle someday.

As he spoke those words of apology, Julius quietly closed his eyes. He then gently lowered his chin.

“I too shall apologize for my rudeness. While I still stand by the actions and words I expressed back then, I truly regret having underestimated you.”

As Julius responded to Subaru’s apology, sincerity poured from his words, causing all of Subaru’s pent-up negative emotions to dissolve unexpectedly.

Having realized that, Subaru stepped down, aligning his height to face the “knight” squarely.

“I was wrong. But…”

“Yeah?”

“I really, really dislike you. —I feel bad about it. I’m grateful you came, but I really hate you. Like, deep down, I hate you!”

He emphasized the last sentence, pacing himself between phrases, striking his point home.

Julius, struck directly with that assertiveness, looked momentarily dumbfounded before his expression unexpectedly broke into a smile.

“That’s more than fair. I don’t see myself becoming friends with you anytime soon either.”

With a rather affectatious gesture, he tossed his hair back and chuckled.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

It was necessary to organize their thoughts, at least once.

Gathered in a circle, Subaru stood at the center with allies including Julius, Felix, Ricardo, and Wilhelm surrounding him.

“Honestly, I’m not really good at taking charge like this, and when everyone looks at me with serious eyes, it makes me feel shy…”

Surrounded by individuals with substantial capabilities, Subaru faltered. He had been a reclusive person in his original world, lacking experience standing out in front of others, let alone having the personality to lead.

However, despite that, they were casting trusting looks toward the timid Subaru, which wasn’t a bad feeling at all. Unfortunately.

“Alright, let’s summarize. Uh, from here, we’re headed to the Meisters Territory… more precisely, to Roswaal’s mansion. There’s definitely a Witch Cult presence there.”

“The Witch Cult… you say?”

Upon hearing the mention of the Witch Cult’s name, their expressions shifted to focus. Given the conversation up to this point, they likely had prepared themselves for that revelation, but still, it was one thing to hear it, another to confirm the truth of the matter.

Subaru couldn’t be sure how familiar they were with the Witch Cult’s existence, nor how each of them perceived it — but to Subaru, those guys were undeniably known as “the worst.”

Judging by everyone’s reactions, that seemed to be a common understanding.

“Subaru. How did you figure out the connection between the White Whale and the Witch Cult?”

“Subaru” was casually addressed by Julius.

Ever since his candid revelation, Julius had shifted to a surprisingly casual tone toward Subaru, causing a mix of confusion and complicated feelings within him.

“In an irritating instance, I encountered a Witch Cultist. It didn’t end well and left behind some unpleasant memories… but there was someone who let slip some information.”

“I see…”

“That means the knight’s suspicions weren’t wrong at all.”

“Right? It’s kind of like how Wilhelm has caught on to some scattered intel leading to that conclusion.”

“Did you know?”

Subaru’s reply prompted nods of understanding from Julius and Felix. Fascinated, Subaru regarded Wilhelm, who gently shook his head.

“I happened to notice a pattern regarding the emergence of the White Whale and the records of the Witch Cult’s activities. There are strikingly numerous coincidences between them. –Though that doesn’t provide definitive evidence.”

“The White Whale’s movements are the main concern, while the Witch Cult is kind of a side note. Felix was quite skeptical when he first heard but…”

“The knightly orders had also stumbled upon similar stories. That said, they were classified as mere rumors… trivial matters to be laughed off.”

As Julius shrugged, Wilhelm sighed, “That’s not surprising.” Listening to their banter, Subaru scratched his head.

“Regardless, it’s lucky for me that there was a foundation for my claims to be believed. Either way, while I’m mistrustful of whoever the Witch Cult is, there’s no denying that the White Whale is undeniably connected to them. After all, monstrosities are creatures made by witches, right?”

“Indeed, that’s what they say. The origins and existence of monsters are shrouded in mystery. Some reproduce like ordinary creatures, while others suddenly manifest, like the White Whale. Though exceptions like the Black Snake and Great Rabbit are about the only ones…”

“A word just popped up that feels noteworthy, but I’ll push it forward because it looks scary.”

Noting the agreement from everyone, Subaru cleared his throat and moved on.

Regarding the Witch Cult’s intentions, Subaru had to make this clear to the group, leading to his next point.

“The Witch Cult’s target is Emilia; they’re intent on razing not just the mansion but the nearby village too. So we must find a way to drive those bastards away.”

“Drive them away? That’s quite a soft approach you have there.”

Felix narrowed his eyes, a sultry gleam present, lengthening his words suggestively as he looked at Subaru. It was an action that sent a shudder down Subaru’s spine — though the other party was, indeed, male.

“What do you mean ‘soft?’”

“Why not just tear them all up? Based on historical records, that’s the right way to deal with those guys.”

“…”

Subaru was taken aback at Felix’s casual declaration of mass murder.

He was not shocked by the extreme nature of Felix’s statement but by himself, who had used such soft words in the first place.

Although he’d been repeating thoughts in his head about how those people deserved to die and should perish, he found himself stunned by how his mindset had changed.

That surely meant his priorities had shifted.

“If we can protect the mansion and the villagers, then that’s enough for now. Whether we drive off the Witch Cult, smash them, crush them, kill them, twist them, pulverize them, burn them to ashes…”

“I get it! I’ve fully comprehended just how furious you are with them!”

“—Ha! Wait! No, that’s not what I meant. I’m not brimming with anger and hatred, gearing up for a fight just because they approached Emilia! That’s totally a misconception!”

“No one said anything like that!”

As he spoke, renewed anger flared up within him, causing Julius and Felix to flinch. However, that unnecessary reasoning had drawn some unexpected realizations.

It seemed none of Subaru’s past motives behind his actions were deemed suspicious in this world’s context. Even noting the difference left Subaru pondering just what had caused that shift.

“After all, who’d suspect Subaru-kun, who just took down the White Whale? It’s bizarre to think anyone would doubt you, considering you’d obviously risk yourself for such an undertaking!”

“Trust issues or whatever…”

In truth, he’d experienced suspicion from Felix and Crusch in the previous world.

But Felix was laughing heartily with an even more genuine vibe than before, and it was likely this shift in Subaru’s mindset reflected his actions.

“Regardless, it’s evident that the Witch Cult is on the move. Given their activities, it was predicted they’d strike as soon as Lady Emilia declared herself a candidate for the Royal Selection.”

Julius stroked his chin, appearing satisfied. That demeanor reminded Subaru of prior times he failed to pry into those aspects.

“Just out of curiosity, how do you know that the moment Lady Emilia makes her presence known, the Witch Cult springs into action? I find it strange that everyone takes that as fact, considering the Witch Cult’s lack of clear behavior.”

“Do you think I wouldn’t know about what they deeply cherish? It’s the Witch of Envy, Satella, whom they regard with utmost reverence. This is knowledge they’ve retained.”

“I’m aware… Although, I’ll admit my knowledge about it is mostly superficial, gleaned from fairy tales.”

“Few remain alive who’ve seen the real McCoy. It’s only natural to be unfamiliar. Personally, I’ve only heard fragments. But as long as they’re aware of the Witch of Envy, they’ll be knowledgeable. By the way, did you know that this Satella is a half-elf?”

“Well, I mean…”

While the story books he’d read didn’t establish this much detail, he had heard about witches during conversations with Beatrice.

Furthermore, even at the Royal Capital, frequent comparisons were made between Emilia’s looks and lineage which tied her to the Witch of Envy. Subaru was exasperated because that wasn’t something she should be blamed for.

“That means Emiya-chan resembles the Witch, right? But that’s not a reason to blame her — that’s dodgy reverse animosity, I’d say.”

“Most wouldn’t think so. What Satella has done is simply indicative of that. And now, as our discussion returns to the Witch Cult… simply put, they find half-elves to be a hindrance.”

“Huh?”

Subaru’s voice broke in surprising disbelief.

He turned his neck to confirm the meaning behind Ricardo’s statement, and the surrounding reactions were neutral towards Ricardo, meaning it was common knowledge.

“Why? If you consider things objectively… it’s disgusting to merely mimic those people’s normative ideas, but to think they’d persecute a half-elf, the same as the witch they revere.”

“They can think of honor or prestige as something paramount, but when faced with an identical yet different existence, they cannot accept it. Similar yet different, that which is counterfeit. –Such a presence is disparaging.”

His voice was turned ice-cold, laced with an unsettling aura.

Subaru looked up and instinctively locked gazes with the owner of that voice, and they both acknowledged each other. Those eyes bore through him, as if gazing deep within his soul, paralyzing him.

“That’s just a guess, Fehli-chan, I’m sure.”

The figure smiled with a playful grin, diffusing the heavy atmosphere that had settled over them.

In an abrupt transformation of expression, Subaru found himself at a loss for words, his shock at Felix’s lightening of the mood rendering him speechless.

“The Witch Cult’s reasons for acting deranged aren’t new news; it’d be rendered insignificant. The point is, it hinges on who within the Witch Cult is driving it against Lady Emilia and the others. That’s crucial.”

“The Archbishop of Sin, isn’t it?”

“—!? You know that name?”

As Felix switched topics, Ricardo nodded in agreement, grabbing Subaru’s attention.

The Archbishop of Sin— that position was claimed by Petelgeuse, who had introduced himself as the wielder of the sin of Sloth.

“Are the Witch Cult’s Archbishops well-known?”

“Just that such individuals exist. Long ago, before the Witch of Envy ran wild, there were other witches apart from Satella herself.”

“Pride. Wrath. Sloth. Greed. Gluttony. Lust. —The Six Witches crowned with the names of the Seven Deadly Sins. They all were said to be engulfed by the Witch of Envy named Satella.”

The witches that carried the names of the Seven Deadly Sins— Subaru recalled that, as he had overheard this notion before.

In this world, associating “the witch” directly implied the Witch of Envy, Satella; no other witches bearing the marked sins were to be found. However—

“While I don’t know if the higher-ups in the Witch Cult can be called its leaders, they’ve taken on the names of those lost witches of the past. The embodiment of Jealousy, of course, is the one they venerate: Satella. This suggests the six remaining — the Six Archbishops of Sin…”

“Six…”

Feeling a chill swimming down his back, Subaru gasped at Julius’s explanations regarding the fearsome unknowns accompanying the Witch Cult.

Once Petelgeuse claimed to embody Sloth, it creating the sense that the other beings carrying different Sins must also exist. Seven Deadly Sins—a concept imbued with the flair of popular culture that enthralled Subaru, but contrasted brutally with the malevolence born from his actual encounters with Sloth.

“Still… we managed to take down the White Whale which was termed ‘Gluttony’ ourselves. Another Archbishop of Sin should appear soon at the Meisters Territory. It’s a chance to topple the Witch Cult in one fell swoop.”

“Oh, you sound rather optimistic. At the same time, it’s a wonderful chance to wipe out the ominous Witch Cult that’s been nothing but trouble for us. They’ve certainly been quite arrogant until now.”

“On the count of the knights, it’s been a long while of hardship confronting their invisible actions. It’s not only myself but many knights who feel the same way. The opportunity we’ve been granted is truly valuable.”

Voicing belief in Subaru’s sentiments were Felix, Julius, and Ricardo shared battle-hungry expressions, while Wilhelm simply nodded solemnly in agreement.

Then and there, Subaru’s task became clear. He would need to devise a plan that utilized his current forces and the information about the future he possessed. —Though that plan would be exceedingly straightforward, as he already had pieces in place that could be deployed.

“Ultimately, that was a plan we’d have to execute with only half our forces, but thanks to Julius’s arrival, those worries are out the window. I think we can do this.”

“Before I clarify, my name is Yuri, you’ve been rather amicable with my family’s eldest, but please be conscious of that.”

“That setup only complicates things when we’re not in public! If that were truly your intention… at least wear something like a knight’s guard!”

“He’s hardly the architect of a brilliant disguise!!”

Bellowing at Julius, whose cover-up plan had too many holes, Subaru caught the gazes of all his comrades and took a deep breath before announcing;

“With that said, here’s a simple overview of the witch hunt you’ll all be on—let’s get started!”

With a grin twisted into an evil smile, Subaru unveiled his strategy.

As the moonlight began to tip, the plains caught sight of the approaching dawn—the final night before clashing with the Witch Cult ushering in the last day of this loop.