“It’s a simple summary of the Witch Cult hunt, even a monkey could do it… It’s just like the White Whale. I draw them in with my smell, then take out whoever gets hooked. Easy, right?”

The lightness of Subaru’s proposal caused everyone sitting in the circle to frown in unison. Each had their own reasons for this expression—bewilderment, concern, anxiety, or simply mimicking the strange faces of those beside them—but fundamentally, they all shared a similar judgement. In other words,

“Isn’t it dangerous to treat them like mindless beasts? No matter how easy you think it is, they’re not the kind of opponents who would fall for the same tricks as beasts.”

“They are easy opponents, trust me. At least, if a strong person who can erase their presence is following me from behind, our chances would be pretty high.”

Subaru shook his head at Julius’s remark and recalled a previous memory.

In the forest where the Witch Cult sets their traps, it seemed they were acutely aware of Subaru’s presence. No matter which path he took, they always appeared before him. This was proof that the lingering scent of the Witch was wafting around Subaru’s body.

However, there was a suspicion that the Witch Cultists might not be particularly good at detecting other presences, even if they recognized Subaru.

“When I tangled with the Witch Cult before, they were so focused on me that they didn’t notice the other attacker who came from behind.”

Subaru faintly remembered the moment when a Witch Cultist reaching for him was struck in the head by a steel ball.

—It was when Rem desperately tried to protect the injured and groaning Subaru after he was thrown from the dragon carriage.

At that time, they hadn’t realized Rem was there until they received the preemptive strike.

That was partially due to their overwhelming focus on Subaru and also heavily influenced by Rem being a capable individual skilled at concealing her presence in the mountains.

In other words,

“If I dangle myself as bait, they won’t notice anyone else in their line of sight. That way, I can lure out the ones who should be hiding all over the forest and find their base.”

“And then we ambush the base, huh? —But the abnormal situation will be known right away. Once that happens, it’s obvious the other believers at the other bases will start moving.”

“That’s why we need numbers. Keep an eye on the discovered base and, after the proper signal, strike all at once. How about that?”

As Subaru concluded his suggestion with a raised finger, Julius pondered for a moment while touching his lips. Next to him, Felix nodded as if impressed, saying, “I see,” while the mercenary group led by Ricardo and Mimi also looked impressed, considering it worthwhile. Among them, however,

“I have one thing I’m curious about,” said a petite beastman resembling Mimi, a darling boy named Tibby, adorned with a monocle over one eye.

Introduced as the youngest of the Hetero siblings, Tibby looked at Subaru with eyes that sparkled with an intelligent light, saying,

“You seem to know a lot about the Witch Cult’s circumstances, but can we really trust that information? I mean, we’re talking about that mysterious, ambiguous Witch Cult, right?”

With suspicion aimed at Subaru’s vast knowledge, Tibby voiced his doubts. At his reasonable statement, Subaru clicked his dry tongue in response,

“I have past connections with them. I figured they’d probe into my background. I expected it, but… They’ll just have to trust me.”

It was impossible to explain.

If he tried to recount his returns from death, it would bring heart-wrenching, hellish pain—the kind that felt like the end of the world, even if it didn’t clarify whether it was his own heart or someone else’s.

So, that was as far as Subaru could go. There was no way he could comply if they demanded more than that.

After hearing Subaru’s response, Tibby narrowed his eyes further, preparing to press for more. However,

“Honestly, even if you say believe me without any evidence…”

“What’s the matter? You should be more confident, you’re a boy after all, Tibby!”

Tibby’s older sister said, laughing heartily, then gave him a great smack on the back of his head.

A terrible noise erupted, almost as if Tibby’s neck was going to snap. Mimi caught his tottering head, facing her brother with a mix of concern and confusion.

“This big brother put in a ton of effort to deal with that huge fish, okay? Someone who fought so hard wouldn’t think anything terrible about us, right? You should understand that—you dummy!”

“B-but sis—!”

As Tibby shook his head, trying to insist, Mimi cut him off again with her joyous laughter. She leaned forward and brought her forehead closer to Tibby’s face to time it just right—

*Thud!*

Fireworks danced in Tibby’s eyes as their foreheads connected.

“Ouch!”

“That’s how you always get so annoying… Hmm? Annoying? Prickly? Um, what was it…?”

“Co-coquettish, perhaps?”

“Yes, that! If you keep that up, you won’t grow any taller!”

The sister, having bumped heads with her brother, poked the developing bump on his forehead with her finger, further turning his eyes glassy while glancing back at Subaru.

“Tibby hasn’t fought that fish yet. So, while it’s understandable if you can’t trust this big brother since he hasn’t fought, you can just trust me, okay?”

“…”

“I’m trusting this big brother, so you can trust him too as a bonus. If anything happens, I’ll protect you, okay?”

While Mimi cheerfully pat her brother on the shoulder, Tibby looked surprised for a moment, then sighed, letting out a puff of breath with a dazed expression.

The interaction made those watching smile and laugh. With this, Mimi tilted her head, puzzled.

“What’s going on?”

“Don’t worry about it. Heck, you’re just fine as you are. You spoke well, after all.”

A large hand descended from above, roughly covering Mimi’s small head and ruffling her hair.

As her head was vigorously spun about, Mimi squinted, stifling giggles while Ricardo joyfully messed with her hair.

“I do have my concerns, mind you, but it’s too late to doubt your brother over what’s been established here. We’re well past that stage.”

Ricardo winked at a flabbergasted Subaru, while Wilhelm nodded in agreement.

“The fulfillment of my wishes has also been thanks to Lord Subaru’s cooperation. Thus it is appropriate that I respond favorably to Lord Subaru’s requests. There is no need for suspicion or doubt.”

“I, uh…”

Subaru trembled at Wilhelm’s trusting gaze. There were no excuses to give. He couldn’t explain everything. Yet Wilhelm, Ricardo, and Mimi believed in him.

That trust stemmed from the results Subaru had achieved.

Just as Rem believed in him, the group now hesitated over the truth in Subaru’s words, yet they held no doubts concerning the true intent.

The ‘return from death’ he had undergone repeatedly had led Subaru to finally acquire a means to convey information about the future to them—that connection was now right before him.

—

“W-well, even if you trust me, that doesn’t mean I’m happy about it! These aren’t happy tears! They’re just me remembering the day I forgot to record the final episode of my favorite anime!”

—This aside, the Witch Cult hunt operation was quickly set into motion as the discussions proceeded.

Subaru single-handedly infiltrated the forest where the Witch Cult was presumably hiding in Meisters Territory. Following behind him, in a closely knit formation, were skilled individuals like Mimi, Tibby, and Wilhelm.

Once the Witch Cultists showed up, lured in by Subaru’s scent, he would have them lead him to the base, deploying part of the extermination team while repeating this process.

“If Petelgeuse’s story is to be believed… the number of bases is probably around ten.”

If Subaru recalled correctly, Petelgeuse had referred to his minions as “fingers.”

He also remembered that Rem fought against a group called “the ring finger” to rescue Subaru. If true, this means the Witch Cult was currently divided into ten small groups, including Petelgeuse’s hiding places.

Moreover, thanks to wandering through the forest, letting his body odor spread, Subaru managed to locate up to seven of those bases.

However, when it came to finding the remaining two, the sun had risen quite high, and lingering any longer could risk exposing the presence of the reinforcements left behind.

With that judgment in mind, while feeling a lingering sense of unease, Subaru moved ahead towards the familiar grove, reaching the cliff where Petelgeuse awaited. There, he confronted the traitorous ‘Sloth’—

“Did we do it!?”

A slash from Wilhelm rushed in, bisecting Petelgeuse’s thin frame from behind. Petelgeuse, cut from shoulder to waist, distorted his face in shock and glared at Subaru with bloodshot eyes.

“No—that—”

What the madman had intended to say would remain forever unknown.

A silver flash arced, slicing through the air as blood sprayed, and the madman’s head flew off, launching into the air, spewing a fountain of blood.

Subaru stood there, aghast, witnessing the gruesome scene of a severed head right before him. Moments later, an enormous figure came crashing down from above, wielding a massive cleaver, bringing it down with all its might onto the now-headless torso.

The sound of flesh being squeezed between dirt and steel echoed loudly, the wetness resonated unsettlingly, provoking nausea to swell in Subaru’s throat. He managed to suppress the burning liquid in his mouth, squatting down, he teared up and looked up.

“Is it over…?”

“If it’s not over, I might start believing in the Witch’s blessings myself.”

Ricardo, shouldering the cleaver replied to Subaru’s timid query. Subaru averted his gaze from the meat fragments sticking to the blade and glanced down—

Right there lay Petelgeuse’s remains, utterly unrecognizable as a human form.

At that point—when the human body had been so thoroughly destroyed—it oddly seemed more like a doll, lacking in any sense of reality. To a certain extent, relief washed away the nausea.

“Did everyone else do alright?”

“Though the archbishop was our main target, most of the key figures gathered here. …I doubt there will be issues with Felix and Julius in command.”

Wilhelm, having checked the severed head, returned and shrugged casually.

Though it comforted Subaru that this old swordsman had vouched for the others, unease still swirled within him. He held superior numbers, and they had ambushed based on the discoveries made. He had instructed them not to hold back, primarily aiming to bury them alive, so trouble shouldn’t arise too much.

“Still, the Witch Cultists are a pretty battle-hardened bunch. Even Rem would struggle against them.”

“Felix might be fine, but with Julius, we shouldn’t have any trouble. Only we and Wilhelm among us can handle him on an even ground.”

“…I guess, he really is that strong.”

Subaru’s feelings plummeted at Ricardo’s answer. While Julius being a reliable ally was great, the lingering sense of rivalry made it difficult to accept entirely.

Nevertheless,

“Well, we’ve sealed off this hole, and there won’t be reinforcements, right?”

“With the resonance wave from me and my sister, the cave below has completely collapsed. If anyone was inside, I feel sorry for them.”

The beastman siblings returned after confirming the collapsed entrance. At Tibby’s report, Subaru felt reassured that danger had been eliminated from this location.

Then he squinted one eye and glanced down at what remained of Petelgeuse.

“We got rid of him with a surprise attack. —Honestly, it’s a bit much, but don’t take it the wrong way. You were the real piece of work, you know.”

Though it had been an incomplete endeavor in this world, what Petelgeuse had done was unforgivable to Subaru. He had heard that this man, bearing the title of ‘Sloth,’ had caused similar damage across various places in the world before. There was no room for leniency.

Even the Witch Cultists buried beneath the ruins probably shared that guilt.

When he thought back, Subaru felt no harm had been done to him by them—but recalling how much Rem had suffered made the rage bubble up within him.

“What’s the deal with the Witch Cult, anyway?”

“Huh?”

“What are they trying to achieve with this? Witches are people who are hated all over the world, after all.”

Subaru’s muttered question caused everyone to tilt their heads.

Only the four accompanying him had ventured out to deal with Petelgeuse. Wilhelm furrowed his brows in thought, Ricardo’s nose scrunched up in mild disinterest, while Mimi stood beside Petelgeuse’s corpse, kicking dirt over it. The one who finally spoke was the remaining one.

“Maybe they have a desire for destruction? If not, perhaps a decadent mindset, or they genuinely believe they are the unluckiest in the world and want company in misery?”

“Sounds a bit negative. I wouldn’t say I understand any of that…”

The desire for destruction—the intent to drag everything into a state of ambiguity, is something that everyone who has been pushed to a desperate situation can relate to.

Particularly for Subaru, that tendency was stronger, so he understood to some degree.

As he expressed such sentimental sentiments, Ricardo waved his hand, locking eyes with Subaru with a piercing glare, exposing his teeth.

“Don’t you dare feel sympathy for these guys. You can’t have a fragment of understanding with them. If you start thinking they share feelings with us, you’ll end up getting pulled in.”

“I’m not talking about some fantastical connections! It’s terrifying to think there are people out there who think completely differently than us!”

“That’s where you go wrong.”

Ricardo poked Subaru’s forehead with his finger, using that same finger to point towards the cave and the remains buried under dirt.

“You should never think of them as the same species as us. They’re something different. That’s why they can’t be understood, and the language won’t reach them. If you seek understanding, and the ‘gospel’ reaches them… You won’t know what hits you.”

“Gospel… Do you know something about it?”

That term had come up multiple times from Petelgeuse’s mouth.

The “Gospel”—Subaru had only thought it to be the black-covered book that Petelgeuse had held.

“The fact that he was eager about the Witch Cult hunt also catches my attention; do you have unresolved ties with them?”

“Listen, brother. Let me inform you that keeping away from the Witch Cult and trying to understand them is common sense. Just like how witches are despised everywhere, it’s common knowledge. The ‘Gospel’ is nothing complicated.”

Shaking his head, Ricardo dismissed Subaru’s query in annoyance. Subaru almost opened his mouth to retort, but ahead of him, Wilhelm spoke.

“I believe ‘Gospel’ is something that every Witch Cultist must possess… It could be likened to scripture.”

“Scripture…?”

“It appears at the homes of those suspected of being part of the Witch Cult. And once they possess it… strange things happen, and they magically become devotees of the Witch.”

“N-no way!?”

Ricardo expressed this with a playful air, causing Subaru to be briefly speechless.

If he read between the lines, that essentially meant people who received the book known as the “Gospel” could be brainwashed and forced into the Witch Cult against their will.

“If that’s the case, then the ones who are buried alive are just collateral damage…”

“That’s not the case, Lord Subaru.”

As Subaru panicked, going pale, Wilhelm quickly reassured him with haste. He nodded deeply, doing his best to calm Subaru’s anxiety.

“Once the ‘Gospel’ arrives, there’s no going back for them. The moment they read it, their intentions are clear. Being brainwashed? No… Such salvation does not exist for them. Did the archbishop seem sane to you?”

“N-no, it wasn’t the case… But that felt like an exception.”

Petelgeuse’s erratic attitude raised concerns about the level of contamination brought on by the Witch Cult, differing from typical brainwashing. Frankly, using that as a basis to reach a conclusion didn’t make sense at all, but even so, it didn’t feel likely Wilhelm would offer comfort.

Swallowing down the concern emerged, Subaru pushed it aside.

“Hey, hey, isn’t it about time we wrap up this chatter? It’s pointless to keep chitchatting here; shouldn’t we head back to where everyone is?”

At that moment, Mimi, who hadn’t joined in the conversation until now, piped up with impatience.

Wagging her tail peeking out from under her skirt, she hopped energetically after finishing up the rudimentary burial of Petelgeuse’s corpse.

“We’ve already taken out the enemy, so we need to find out if everyone else managed to take out theirs! Let’s go check, okay?”

“Your drawled way of speaking sounds quite threatening when you settle down and listen, you know? Coupled with that adorable appearance, I’m really feeling the culture gap here.”

“Hehe, being called cute makes me blush!”

As Subaru let out a sigh at Mimi, who was only hearing the nice things, he then turned back.

The cave was silent, and there were no hints of Petelgeuse’s corpse resurrecting. Although it was a bit of a letdown, following Mimi’s words—what could be done here was clearly over, and at least today’s confrontation with the Witch Cultists had concluded.

And it ended in the best shape—total victory for Subaru’s side.

“But still, can it really go that smoothly…? It’s me we’re talking about! How many times have I tried my hardest and then ended up double-crossed? There’s definitely a catch somewhere…”

“What are you being so paranoid about? Let’s get going already! Otherwise, you’ll keep us waiting!”

Ricardo, taking his fill of Subaru’s self-doubt, reprimanded him with an annoyed expression.

Following his urging, Subaru, still begrudgingly hanging onto those unresolved doubts, began to follow behind them.

He needed to circle around the forest and reunite with the buddies they’d deployed together. Only once confirming their safety could he firmly conclude this fight as a victory.

Then,

“—Isn’t this a flag for ‘it seems like everything’s fine, but they’re actually reviving’?!”

Subaru slid back, kicking up dust.

He raised his gaze ahead, where Petelgeuse’s shabby grave remained intact, without any signs of movement from below. Revival flag? Doesn’t seem so.

“Phew, there’s no way, right? This isn’t some third-rate horror setup!”

“What the hell have you been doing?! If you don’t hurry back, I’ll get seriously angry!!”

Hitting Subaru, Ricardo callously threw him over his shoulder.

Carried by the tall beastman, this time Subaru truly left the place behind.

And this time—

“Just to be safe, since you’re getting noisy.”

With that, Mimi threw a magic stone, obliterating Petelgeuse’s grave.

This time for sure, without any worries, Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti, the Archbishop of Sin, was shattered to pieces.

—

“With things looking like this, it appears you’ve managed to wrap up on your end as well.”

While on the way through the forest, Subaru mounted Patrasche, who had been waiting, and looked up at Julius with a smile on his lips.

Julius lightly sighed, and the edges of his prominent knightly attire were slightly stained with blood. As he wiped the blade of his slender sword, it seemed that this side hadn’t achieved a clean victory right from the surprise attack.

“When your signal rose into the sky, four people had unfortunately stepped out. I had no choice but to simultaneously destroy the hiding place and take care of the cultists. I suppose I should be thankful that it was me here now; it was bound to get complicated for Felix.”

While saying this, Julius sheathed his blade, glancing at the four black-robed corpses scattered around the area.

The elegant demeanor he maintained didn’t lessen their solemnity—it kept the aura of being dealt with in a single powerful stroke. Each had been pierced through significant sections, blood pooling around them as they lay in defeat. Subaru recalled that they had been skilled opponents, reinforcing the depth of Julius’ capabilities without saying much.

“And then, what happened with the Archbishop?”

“Wilhelm beheaded him, and Ricardo crushed the torso. Afterwards, the little cat sister frivolously blew the corpse to bits, so it’s undoubtedly in the bag.”

Even Subaru was stunned to learn Petelgeuse was utterly pulverized, yet when they claimed it was all for his sake, he couldn’t really complain. He had said something earlier, after all.

Meanwhile, the sister who had been mercilessly scolded was utterly sulking, now pouting, curled up on her brother’s back. The sibling who bore her weight was entirely caught in the fallout.

As Subaru nodded thoughtfully, Julius directed his gaze to Wilhelm, signaling something with his eyes. Wilhelm responded quietly, “There’s no doubt about it,” and only then did the corners of Julius’ mouth loosen.

“Hmm, I’m relieved. If lord Wilhelm says so, there’s no doubt about it. It appears that we’ve managed to overcome the commanders of the Witch Cult for now.”

“Oi, you didn’t trust my answer, did you!? I wasn’t just messing around, I was keeping my eyes peeled looking for any signs! I double-checked and triple-checked!”

“I’m deeply sorry, I’ll apologize. But let’s move on.”

“It’s not up to you to change the subject! This is why I can’t stand you!”

Kicking up a fuss, Subaru expressed his frustration at Julius’ indifferent behavior. Julius, glancing at him with the look of someone observing something warm and fuzzy, began scanning the surroundings.

“I can’t see Ricardo around though, where is he?”

“Oh, that faux Kobold is busy greeting Felix. Since Lord Wilhelm has indicated that there’s currently no sign of combat in the forest, I thought it would be faster to dispatch some of us to go welcome him back.”

The worst-case scenario would be that the fighting had already concluded with a quick defeat of their frail party which included Felix.

“Well, I’ve gathered powerful fighters around Felix to ensure that doesn’t happen! Despite his recovery being top-notch, his combat ability’s a joke so it should be…”

“While you’re being overly caring, is that fine? Thanks, I suppose♪”

At that moment, a breath blew softly beside Subaru’s ear, causing his entire body to jolt in shock. Glancing back with only his eyes, he was met by the sight of a cute little face staring right back at him—knowing it was a boy, his face turned pale instead of red.

“Who’s that supposed to be for? Cut it out for real! Nope! Next time you do this, I’m hitting that cute little face with a finishing punch, you got that? Big Bang Impact coming your way!”

“Aw, you’re blushing, so cute! No need to worry; Felix-kun has properly returned for you!”

Felix winked and blew a kiss toward Subaru, making him roll his eyes, feeling defeated. Upon quickly assessing Felix’s appearance, he spotted nothing out of the ordinary. Unlike Julius, it appeared Felix had completed his tasks just fine.

Alongside him returned Ricardo, followed by other companions who had been with Felix. It seemed that finally,

“Everyone’s back without issue… nothing went wrong, right?”

“Here and including us, two skirmishes occurred, but everything is fine. As expected of those trained under the banner of Lord Wilhelm, their foundations are certainly unmatched.”

Felix had gathered an elite group, particularly those who had been handpicked for their exceptional skills. This was only to be expected considering Felix bore the title of ‘Blue,’ but even so, Subaru found himself confused by Crusch’s intentions sending them out without hesitation.

“That’s Lord Crusch’s sincerity! Don’t make me say it again, you fool!”

“Ugh…”

It seemed Subaru’s thoughts were inscribed all over his face, making it easy for Felix to see through his thoughts and tease him.

“While most of the Witch Cult has been destroyed… the worry is that we haven’t found the other two bases. Although we’ve taken out their head, I believe it would be optimistic to think they’ll withdraw…”

“The Witch Cult is just that—it’s smarter to think they won’t willingly back off.”

Echoing Subaru’s concerns, Ricardo crossed his arms, appearing solidly strong in character. It seemed many of those around shared that sentiment, fostering a heavier mood as they furrowed their brows.

In truth, Subaru thought leaving those uncertain factors unresolved would be out of the question. Therefore, he opted for a pragmatic approach.

“Let’s comb the forest and flush out the rest of the Witch Cult as well. I won’t be saying we’ll massacre them immediately; but at the very least, there’s merit in capturing them.”

“I believe there’s a high chance they will resist and end their lives first… that’s how things have played out up until now.”

Julius calmly noted to correct Subaru’s overly sweet perception. This caused Subaru to gasp slightly, but he noticed the significant discomfort etched on Julius’s face as well.

“Surely, if it means avoiding unnecessary deaths, that’s the best course of action. I agree with searching for the remaining cultists with the priority on capturing them, but I also think it’s time to report the situation to Lord Roswaal. What do you think?”

“…Oh, right. That is certainly true.”

After considering the suggestion, Subaru recalled the reality that had slipped entirely from his mind.

Purposefully, Subaru had prioritized eliminating the Witch Cult over diving straight back to the mansion to safeguard Emilia. He’d chosen to deal with the threat quickly rather than changing the sequence of events too much, restructuring his foreknowledge of Petelgeuse’s attack.

Now, having successfully defeated Petelgeuse himself…

“I can head back now, can’t I…”

As those words slipped from Subaru’s mouth, a sudden sense of reality smacked him.

Warmth rushed to his cheeks, and feelings he had long neglected began seeping through his entire body, heating him up.

Now he could stride back to the mansion with his head held high.

He could boast about his accomplishments in front of Emilia, even apologizing for the foolishness and betrayal displayed just days prior. At that time, he had acted selfishly, unaware of how much pain he was causing her. But now, he could sincerely apologize from the bottom of his heart.

Only after making amends could Subaru finally begin anew with Emilia’s relationship.

“Damn, I’m getting fired up! I want to rush back home right now! Go home! Yankee Go Home!”

“While it’s fine to get excited, let’s prioritize what we’re discussing here. So, in reality, what will we do about the remaining members of the Witch Cult?”

Seeing Subaru getting restless, Felix squinted his eyes playfully, reproving him. Subaru stammered, struggling to find a response, mere moments later, Julius raised his finger to gather everyone’s attention.

“Let’s go about it this way. We’ll split into two groups; one will head to Lord Roswaal’s mansion, while the other will continue searching for the remaining Witch Cult members in the forest. As a messenger and a key figure for relationships, Subaru should lead the party heading to the mansion. It’s possible we might run into the Witch Cult on the way, but Wilhelm and a few others can provide proper escort. The remaining group, led by me and Ricardo, will search the woods. How does that sound?”

As Julius promptly organized the plan, he looked to Subaru, finalizing the arrangement.

He bore a face that seemed to say he was making things easier, stirring irritation within Subaru, but he inhaled deeply and resisted the urge to complain.

“Let’s do it. Just as you arranged, I’m relying on everyone.”

“Understood.”

Once Subaru made his plea, Wilhelm nodded in agreement.

That set the momentum, leading everyone to unanimously agree, solidifying the plan.

As the consensus formed and everyone became one unit, Julius suddenly raised his hand, priming a statement with, “Is it alright?”

“I am not Julius, but Yuri, a mercenary of the flow. Don’t misremember that.”

“No one remembers that ridiculous setting anymore!!”

The amalgamation of voices echoed throughout the forest.

—

“Yikes. My heart is racing so hard, I might just puke.”

Patrasche let out a small whinny as Subaru leaned back, mumbling doubtfully. A hint of annoyance flickered in his demeanor, as if he understood Subaru was genuinely on the verge of becoming nauseous. And yet, he remained steadfast, a testament to the trust forged between the two.

“Could it be that fatigue from riding a dragon was finally kicking in to drain your energy?”

“That might be part of it, but it’s probably something else… To be honest, just the thought of facing Emilia has me terrified.”

Recalling their disastrous parting had imprinted deeply in Subaru’s mind.

For Subaru, that had been over two weeks ago, and the passionate emotions of that moment had mostly settled. However, for Emilia, it had been merely four days prior. Unlike Subaru, who had encountered dramatic changes afterward, it was doubtful she had gone through any similar catharsis during that period.

He had already confirmed that during the last loop, where he briefly interacted with her.

“While I don’t have all the details, I believe things ended up in a pretty heated disagreement, right?”

“Exactly! It’s tough, you know? Just thinking about facing her makes my stomach turn. I’m like… my stomach hurts. Plus my heart aches with this agony of love.”

“It seems tougher than facing the White Whale, doesn’t it? I completely get how you must feel.”

Trying to lighten the mood of Subaru’s unease, Wilhelm smiled softly. Subaru was taken aback by that unexpected softness, letting out a small “Wow” of admiration.

“Wilhelm, so you felt heavy when you fought with your wife too?”

“Of course! In my case, when my wife got mad, I couldn’t win against her physically. I was often forced to lower my sword in submission.”

“No way! Even a sword saint is no match for his wife!?”

“After that, I’d then fiercely embrace her until the anger subsided.”

“So, talk about hitting the emotional feels with the wife stories!?”

With this revival of the wife story, joy painted Wilhelm’s demeanor.

Feeling jealous of this candid display, Subaru firmly slapped his cheek. After all, these past experiences were intended to lighten Subaru’s heart, and he shouldn’t let those efforts go to waste.

“You’re not planning on sticking with that wife scenario forever, right?”

“What are you talking about? I can’t comprehend what you mean. —Oh?”

As Subaru cautiously questioned him, Wilhelm playfully waved off and, all of a sudden, his gaze sharpened.

Following his sight, Subaru eventually noticed they had approached a wider path, leading directly to the official main road connecting the mansion and the village, revealing the village itself coming into view.

“Is that village the closest to the mansion? Do you already know about it, Wilhelm?”

“Yes, indeed. I once accompanied Felix to your mansion. I did pass through there, but… something feels strange.”

With his eyes still narrowed, Wilhelm steadily radiated an air of tension.

Feeling the weight of discomfort from his unfathomable nature stirred unease within Subaru. A hunch started bubbling up from deep in his stomach.

“W-what’s wrong? Is something strange happening…?”

“There are unusually many dragon carriages in the village, all parked. —Lord Subaru, please wait here as I investigate.”

With that, Wilhelm charged into the fray, delivering similar words to the accompanying knights.

He quickly dashed off, kicking off the ground lightly, disappearing into the village’s heart.

About three minutes after Wilhelm rushed in,

Subaru’s anxiety spiked at the thought of a resurgence of an event they had barely evaded. He could vividly recall the gruesome deaths of the villagers he’d witnessed before—an image of Petra’s face, devoid of expression, was seared into his memory.

Absolutely no way did he want to relive that. They’d worked too hard to avoid it. Why, oh why was this happening…?

“Lord Subaru!”

Just as Subaru was losing himself to his half-closed eyes, on the verge of tears, one of the knights suddenly called out to him. Surprised, he turned to face the voice, seeing the knight point toward the village.

Upon following his indicated direction, he saw Wilhelm waving out at the village entrance.

He appeared completely at ease with none of the tension seen earlier, and scrambling to get to his side, Subaru soon understood the reason.

Within the village, over twenty dragon carriages were lined up.

Naturally, the earth dragons and their drivers had also reached the village, forming a complete set.

Subaru pondered where exactly this unfamiliar gathering of carriages had come from—what purpose brought them here—

“Oh, I got it! It’s from my insurance!”

“That seems correct. Specifically, when we left the royal capital, you arranged this?”

“Yes. I asked Anastasia and Russell for a little help.”

Wryly smiling at the impressive display of the dragon carriages lined up, Subaru turned his gaze to the village center. There, it appeared the carriages’ representatives were arguing with the village representatives.

Clearly, there was a discord between the two; if the arrival of the carriages matched Subaru’s expectations, then facilitating a harmonious conversation could require a bit of time—it was precisely the right moment where a mediator was crucial.

“Time out, time out! Hey, listen up! I know there’s a lot you both want to say, but first hear me out!”

Subaru dashed down from Patrasche, stepping right into the escalating tension between the two.

The ones arguing were a pair, a man and a woman, and he first looked up toward the loudly agitated man. Just as Subaru opened his mouth, he instinctively let slip a surprised “Ah.”

That was a familiar face. Indeed, he had met this person when he’d first entered the loop, the one who introduced him to Otto.

“Ah, yeah, could you remind me of your name? You’re that merchant who came here with the royal capital’s decree, right?”

“That’s correct, though… who are you? I don’t recognize you as a merchant.”

“I’m more of the employer side of things. We have a little misunderstanding since no communication was passed through. I can get this situated quickly with the higher-ups.”

Had that letter been delivered to the mansion, things wouldn’t have spun out of control to this extent. Most likely, it had yet to come into Emilia’s hands.

If she were aware of the situation, she would certainly make the best decision possible.

“So, essentially, hold up, please.”

Subaru interrupted the man trying to speak and glanced around. He wondered if Otto was mixed in amidst his usual contacts, so naturally, when no sign of him popped up in his quick glance, a twinge of disappointment struck him.

Looking back again, he addressed the woman who seemed to stand as the representative of the village. This woman had reddish-brown hair smoothly falling around her narrow eyes—

“First off, hear me out! Come on, you’ve got to let me hear more than just what I can see at first glance!”

Her expression suggested she didn’t quite understand what he was getting at.

But her own reaction left Subaru dumbfounded. How was it possible that—

“I know everyone in this village, and I’m absolutely sure they know me too. So why is it that I’ve never seen your face? You’re over here acting all important while standing in front of me.”

Triggered by impatience, Subaru hastily bombarded her with questions.

And at that moment, spanning across this day leading up until now, it became Subaru’s first and most glaring mistake.

—Suddenly, the space around him exploded, brimming with darkness overflowing.

“—What?!”

Subaru stood aghast as he recognized the familiar phenomena now looming.

Before he could register it, the expanding shadow rose high, swirling like a vortex, unwinding into countless black, claw-like hands with the intent to strike at anyone within sight.

All the gathered merchants, those villagers gleaning from afar, the knights hurrying to investigate, including Wilhelm, who was the only one to notice the paradox unfolding before him—all were left immobilized, as if gripped by an incomprehensible force.

Black tendrils wrapped around every single neck, sealing off their movements completely.

“This can’t be happening… after all, this is…”

Subaru struggled helplessly as severe pressure constricted his throat, sweat flooding his brow as horror gripped him.

This phenomenon—the event they had just fought against and defeated—

“Ah—my brain feels like it’s quaking.”

Subaru heard a girl standing before him mutter quietly.

He quickly opened his eyes wide, fixated upon this woman before him.

Just within reach, the woman bent her head and popped a finger into her mouth, sinking her teeth into it without remorse. Blood trickled down, and as everyone standing around gasped in shock, amid the eerie silence, the girl raised her face.

That mouth, now stained with crimson, sported a horrifying, deranged smile.

“I am the Archbishop of Sin from the Witch Cult…”

With manic laughter, the echoes rang throughout.

“I am the ‘Sloth’ responsible for it all—”

The frenzied laughter erupted in force, and the mocking sneers cascaded like waves, rippling through the air.

“And I am Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti, at your service!!”

The name of the man they had thought they’d extinguished echoed back, released in hauntingly high spirits.

From within the madness of laughter, Petelgeuse’s name rang loud and clear.

Laughter erupted, a sound that pounded through the air.

The shrill sound of frantic mirth filled the atmosphere—

—A throaty, raspy laughter that grew louder and louder, reverberating.

—

 

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