After concluding discussions with Wilhelm, Subaru felt a quiet sense of relief wash over him.

The two who were supposed to be in charge of “Lust”—including Garfiel—were likely the most challenging combination to manage.

In reality, “Lust” had forsaken the Control Tower, and stood in the way of Wilhelm’s wife, Tereshia, as well as the former hero Kurgan. However, it was already guaranteed that there were no casualties at those three locations.

“———”

Of course, both Garfiel and Wilhelm must have strong feelings regarding the outcome.

In fact, Garfiel had voiced his grievances, and it was easy to imagine that Wilhelm bore deep wounds within, difficult to articulate.

Nevertheless, even so…

Subaru was genuinely happy that both of them had returned safely after the battle.

If there had been casualties among his own, Subaru might have fully prepared himself to “Return by Death.” Therefore, he felt a sense of relief not having to resort to it with their survival.

However, that feeling was, at the same time, a conviction that connected to a certain truth.

After all, one shouldn’t rely repeatedly on the unnatural power of “Return by Death.”

He had repeatedly attempted to harness “Return by Death” to seize a better future. He might well be ridiculed for relying so heavily on this ability, but that was precisely the point.

Because he had died many times, and overturned fate each time, Subaru had arrived at a conclusion that ought not to be said by anyone other than him.

Originally, “Return by Death” should be unnecessary.

There must surely be a way to attain the future he desired without resorting to “Return by Death.” Just as everyone had worked together towards a common goal and achieved it.

“Subaru, was Wilhelm okay…?”

As Subaru returned, Emilia expressed concern for the old swordsman standing in the corner of the shelter. Subaru lowered his chin and didn’t turn around to look, instead he said,

“Yeah, I think he’s okay. He had his share of injuries, but… it seems he managed to handle the worst emotional wounds on his own.”

“I see… Naturally, he’s a strong person.”

“Yeah, he really is. That’s why, he’s fine.”

With Subaru’s reassurances, Emilia nodded repeatedly. Surprised by Subaru’s enthusiastic response, she then smiled.

Noting her unexpected reaction, Subaru furrowed his brow as she placed a hand over her mouth and said,

“I’m sorry. When it comes to you, Subaru, your attitude is really different compared to other people. I mean, it makes me think you’re really head over heels or something.”

“I haven’t heard ‘head over heels’ in ages…”

Subaru chuckled at Emilia’s retro-style phrase. Despite attempting to tease, he understood what Emilia meant, and moreover, this was something Subaru was quite aware of himself.

“It’s just that Wilhelm is, how should I put it, a special case. I can genuinely respect him for being an amazing person, so that’s about it.”

“I understand that he’s amazing too, but doesn’t the same apply to Reinhardt and the others? Yet you treat him differently.”

“Well, perspectives differ between peers and predecessors. The gap I feel with someone my age can be demoralizing, but the difference with someone older is something to aspire to. One day, I want to grow up cool and dandy with the same impressive aura as Wilhelm.”

“Hmm, I see. Hehe. Let’s just go with that.”

Emilia nodded, understanding Subaru’s light-hearted nature that resembled a sort of embarrassment.

Feeling a mix of emotions that Subaru couldn’t quite name as genuine, he figured it was something best left unspoken.

“Beatrice thinks that kind of beard wouldn’t suit Subaru at all.”

“I didn’t think we were having that conversation, but that’s fine. I’ll only grow a beard when Beatrice decides it’s appropriate.”

“I wonder if that day will even come. The delicate coexistence of adorableness and hairiness can only be achieved by someone with the genes like mine, you know. So should I strive for it?”

“Yeah, yeah, sure.”

As Subaru found his mood shifting due to the different personalities of Emilia and Beatrice, he glanced toward one corner of the shelter—it was becoming noticeably noisy.

Over there was a gathering of refugees who had been sheltered, and their expressions unmistakably reflected the release from the fears and anxieties caused by the city’s occupation. However, there was also a brightness in their expressions that could not be easily explained. The reason for this was—

“So, let’s sing again! Please listen to our new song—’Fire-Ravaged City Anthem’!”

“That noisy one must be Liliana.”

At the center of the excitement was a small girl with brown skin. Her yellow hair was tossed about as she cheerfully strummed her lyre.

With a striking appearance that’s unforgettable, and a level of originality that even “Lust” might struggle to replicate, it had to be Liliana.

“She’s really a noisy girl.”

“But isn’t Liliana one of those who battled a Sin Archbishop? Umm… I can’t quite imagine how she fought though…”

Realizing the same thing, Emilia and Beatrice both seemed to relax their shoulders.

Seeing Liliana so lively assured Subaru that she returned intact as well. Her battlefield—the “Wrath” subjugation fight was likely an area where no peaceful outcome could be widely imagined, including strategies and power comparisons.

Subaru had considered that Liliana’s singing might help contain Sirius’s powers, but how that would have been implemented was still a mystery. He wanted to hear specifically what had happened on the battlefield.

“Getting close to Liliana right now doesn’t sound like an easy task. Let’s postpone it.”

“Right. And Liliana’s singing is probably what we need most at the moment. It wouldn’t be wise for us to interrupt it. We’ll talk later.”

“I agree. Beatrice wants nothing to do with dealing with that tiring girl.”

Watching Liliana play and sing with fervor, Subaru and the others came to that conclusion. Her melodic voice, slipping into their ears, felt soothing and seemed to seep into their battle-scarred hearts.

Truly, if one were to only focus on her singing voice, she deserved the title of “Songstress.” Subaru could only nod in agreement to Emilia’s sentiment that she was needed in the current city.

“———”

Looking closely, alongside the performing Liliana stood Kiritaka.

His expensive suit was marred with blood and mud, with traces of rips and tears to boot. According to Otto, his fate was uncertain, and he had evidently navigated the same brutal situations.

“None of them had it easy on the battlefield…”

Noticing Subaru’s gaze, Kiritaka gave a slight nod. Returning the gesture, Subaru resumed his search for other comrades.

As Subaru strode forth, Beatrice followed closely.

“It’s nothing major, but I wonder if that guy was the one who woke me up from my sleep.”

“Kiritaka did?”

“He went so far as to destroy a precious magic stone just to do that. Whether it was out of responsibility or for someone else’s sake, I have no interest. But that’s just how it is.”

“Hmm, I see. Good job, Beatrice. Well said.”

“I’m not sure about that.”

Hearing an unexpected assist story, Subaru tousled Beatrice’s hair. Beatrice pouted, clearly displeased, but that was just her acting out and needed no explanation.

The easy-to-understand story that Subaru had heard from Anastasia was that Beatrice’s awakened powers contributed significantly to the recent results. If Kiritaka played a part in that, he had certainly fulfilled his responsibilities as an urban leader.

“Subaru. The injured are more deeply inside the shelter.”

At that, Emilia, who had been peering into the depths of the shelter, spoke up. Following her words and glancing toward the darker area, Subaru found it indeed resembled a makeshift field hospital moved amidst the commotion.

Mats and blankets spread directly on the ground served as makeshift beds for several injured individuals. Feliks had to be among those who took refuge first, so the people lying there should be out of danger, even if not healed completely.

“Even Feliks is finding it hard to fully heal all these people, huh?”

“No matter how adept someone is in healing magic, there’s always a limit to the mana one possesses. If one were to cast spells willy-nilly, they’d run out of mana in no time. It’s a wise decision.”

Watching the row of wounded individuals, Beatrice replied, feeling a tinge of regret. Although she concealed it on the surface, she was a deeply compassionate and kind-hearted spirit girl. While her healing magic was quite effective, though not quite as powerful as Feliks’s, this was contingent upon having available mana, which was nowhere near enough compared to what Subaru could provide.

It was only natural to feel frustrated about her own limitations.

“Honestly, I would have liked to cast healing spells for everyone…”

“Emilia-tan has another role to fulfill. Therefore, let’s put that on hold for now.”

“Yeah, I get that.”

If she were to get swept up in immediate empathy and lose sight of her goal, there was no point in that effort. Subaru called for Emilia to maintain her self-restraint and started searching for his family through the moans of the injured. Before long, he was actually able to find the person he was looking for.

“Natsuki-san, over here!”

“Yo, Otto!”

At the far end of the line of injured, a figure waved towards them. Spotting the familiar young man’s shape, Subaru and the others approached him with relief.

Lying on a makeshift bed, an ashen face adorned with a weak smile was Otto Suwen, the brawler bureaucrat from Emilia’s faction.

“I just felt some rather derogatory evaluations were being directed at me in the back of my mind.”

“Sounds like just your imagination, brawler bureaucrat. You were already out there hunting for any blood again while wandering the city, weren’t you? You really love that, huh?”

“Can you stop spreading such baseless rumors that have no substance, please?!”

Greeting Otto with playful banter, Subaru knelt beside him to assess his condition.

While there didn’t appear to be life-threatening injuries, his legs looked painful. He must have been treated with healing magic and then bandaged, but blood seeped through the bandages on his thighs. Clearly, he had sustained severe wounds.

“How’s it going, Otto?”

“Getting around will be challenging until it heals, but besides that, there aren’t any serious external injuries. …Although, given the circumstances, Emilia-sama seems to have had a tougher time than me, yet somehow I’ve ended up in worse shape.”

“That’s not true. You fought hard, which led to this outcome, right? You’re not a fighter by trade, so I’m just glad it didn’t get worse.”

“Currently, it seems only you, Emilia-sama, possess any semblance of common sense in being a bureaucrat.”

“Huh?”

Otto murmured as Emilia tilted her head curiously.

Setting that aside, Subaru asked Otto for details about how he had gotten injured. Normally, Otto should have remained at City Hall, waiting for reports from various places.

“You didn’t get injured in the collapse of the hall, right? According to Anastasia, only her, Feliks, and Al stayed behind.”

“What the remaining trio did specifically is something I don’t know. I left the hall and ran into “Gluttony” in the Waterway District. And that’s how I ended up like this.”

“Gluttony…that guy, huh? Damn it, just when things looked good, we were thrown for a loop again.”

Hearing the name of that detestable enemy boiled Subaru’s blood.

They had set the stage, only to have the malicious intentions of the Witch Cult upend all their plans, mocking their prepared efforts. Their behavior, disregarding the Control Tower, was a slap in the face to them.

“Fortunately, thanks to Felt and the ‘White Dragon Scale’ squad, we managed to ward them off. Still, if Beatrice wasn’t around, the outcome could have been different.”

“In such an unbalanced situation, it must have been quite a sight to witness.”

“Mmhm, thanks a lot.”

Beatrice puffed her chest modestly while receiving Emilia’s gentle stroke.

That exchange was heartwarming, but Subaru’s concern was about Otto’s actions. Whatever the result of the encounter with “Gluttony,” he wanted to know why he had even left City Hall.

Even if he wasn’t included in the formation to intercept “Lust,” he could have easily stayed at the shelter. There was no need to leave the shelter or wander the city.

“I prioritized securing a certain book requested by the Witch Cult…”

Understanding Subaru’s inquiry, Otto quietly explained.

The book presumably requested by the Witch Cult was something he had deliberately watered down in consideration of Emilia, who was listening just behind Subaru. Subaru nodded at Otto’s thoughtfulness.

“The Restoration Mage’s, um, what’s-his-name…”

“Darts, yes. Nobody should know I asked him for restoration, but… I thought it best to retrieve it and ended up running into “Gluttony” before I reached Darts.”

Subaru understood Otto’s reasoning for leaving City Hall and navigating through the treacherous urban landscape filled with threats from the Witch Cult. Once again, he was attempting to fill in the gaps where Subaru’s foresight had failed.

The assault on City Hall and the retrieval of “The Book of Wisdom”—it was evident how far he had to go in his planning.

“Just consult me about stuff like that, will you? We’re friends, after all.”

“Right, so after Emilia-sama was kidnapped, saddled with the fate of the city like some hero, you want me to take on another troublesome burden? No thanks. I don’t intend to keep dropping ridiculous burdens on my friends.”

“Tch.”

What was meant to be a light tease returned with unexpectedly heartwarming words, leaving Subaru almost speechless. Emilia and Beatrice exchanged looks as they took deep breaths, watching the banter between the two.

“Aren’t you two just the least bit straightforward?”

“I think that’s just who they are. But in that case, about that book…? I think it’d be best if we took care of retrieving it. Uh, where is it…?”

“Oh, I’ll handle it. Or maybe I’ll send Garfiel to do it. Emilia-tan, you can just forget about that book for now.”

“Is that so?”

For “The Book of Wisdom,” Subaru didn’t want to engage Emilia too closely.

Being an upgraded version of the Gospel and one of the relics left by the Witch, keeping Emilia as far from them as possible was part of his quiet determination.

“However, encountering ‘Gluttony’ was Felt and the ‘White Dragon Scale.’ Although the white mercenaries are hard to imagine, wasn’t Felt hiding somewhere?”

“She was worn down, but luckily she didn’t have any significant injuries. Currently, she rushed out of the shelter to recover her attendant she brought along.”

“Seems she’s pretty much running the show. From what I hear, those guys are doing better than expected.”

Whether for better or worse, the trio left quite an impression, but it was certainly a relief to hear they survived. Once he had taken his revenge sufficiently, he might just push that relationship into the past.

At any rate, confirming their safety was a win. With the tasks associated with “The Book of Wisdom” to handle later, Subaru figured there was still another potential concern—

“Natsuki-san—… Be careful of the neighboring shelter.”

“Neighboring shelter…?”

Noting Subaru’s contemplation, Otto quietly said. The ominous undertones in his tone caused Subaru’s voice to dwindle in response.

The gravity of Subaru’s reaction made Otto slightly nod.

And then,

“One of the Sin Archbishops is captive there.”

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“Well, well, who do we have here? Just a lowly creature like you. How dare you show such a gloomy face in front of us! That audacity has surpassed mere annoyance and deserves admiration.”

Exiting the makeshift field hospital, Subaru and Otto headed toward the adjacent shelter.

Compared to the previous one, this shelter was considerably smaller. If the prior refuge resembled a department store parking lot, then this was little more than a bicycle parking area.

He vaguely suspected that the purpose of this evacuation was different when a red-haired woman stationed at the entrance called out.

Her name was Priscilla Barielle.

Among the royal selection candidates gathered in the city, she was undoubtedly the most lacking in cooperation and decorum.

Regardless, she had proven to be a formidable ally in this situation—what’s more, she had handled the enigma known as “Wrath,” Sirius.

The skill with which she managed to eradicate that threat deserved nothing but praise.

“Your apparent distaste for my appearance is merely your personal opinion, but for now, let’s just say we’re both tired. I’m relieved to see that you’ve returned without issue. And I mean it, without flattery.”

“My personal opinion is the most respected sense of beauty and ugliness in the world. If you ask me, you wouldn’t be worth evaluating…but fine. Still, the fact that you can speak of ‘okay’ so casually when looking at me is something I can’t defend against.”

“Huh? Do you have injuries or something?”

Perched on a makeshift chair at the entrance, Priscilla was fanning herself with a palmsized fan. As Subaru scrutinized her, he couldn’t find a single outward injury.

In fact, she didn’t just lack any injuries—her pristine white skin was without a scratch, not a single speck of dirt or dust found on the elegant dress she wore. The only noticeable differences compared to before the retrieval battle were the absence of her necklace and hairpin.

“Lost your collar and hairpin somewhere?”

“Hmph. Those without discerning vision may be ignorant, but I could certainly notice it as a woman. ‘Collar,’ such foolish terminology doesn’t please me. It was taken against my will.”

“Seriously? You’re stressing over accessories…?”

Priscilla snorted in response to Emilia’s simplistic and well-meaning question.

It is true that at present, she was without her luxurious, jewel-encrusted necklace and the flamboyant orange hairpin that once held her hair.

It wasn’t until she let her hair down that her already intoxicating allure increased. Truly, she’s the kind of dangerous flower that could prick you if you got too close.

“And I’d prefer not to get pricked. What brings you to this shelter? I wasn’t under the impression that you would stoop so low as to take on a guard’s role.”

“Foolish. As if I would engage in such menial work. This is not where I wish to be; however, presenting myself in front of others in my current state is a violation of my aesthetic sensibilities. So, as a compromise, I chose to avoid being seen. Additionally, Al insisted quite desperately.”

“He’s likely to panic and deny everything if he were here.”

Imagining the outlandish denial of the ironclad warrior, Subaru glanced toward the entrance of the shelter. Although Al was absent, it was known that he resided here—in fact, inside the structure, next to the Sin Archbishop.

“So, Al is keeping watch inside, huh?”

“Indeed. Leaving such a loathsome creature unattended would be absolutely foolish, hence I have Al supervising. He ought to handle it adeptly.”

“…So you didn’t think about killing him? That’s surprising.”

“If you wish to kill, then go ahead. I won’t stop you.”

Seemingly bored with the conversation, Priscilla stifled a yawn behind her fan. That was her version of displaying disinterest in Subaru’s question.

Without the faintest hint of resistance to stepping inside, Subaru stared at the entrance, placing his hand over his quickening heartbeat.

“Subaru, if you’re scared to go in, you don’t have to push yourself…”

“Indeed. I can’t shake the feeling that we won’t gain anything from doing so.”

Both Emilia and Beatrice gently expressed their thoughts as Subaru hesitated at the entrance. While he would love to lean on their encouragement, as soon as that notion crossed his mind, he noticed Priscilla’s cold and piercing gaze directed his way.

Her looks regarded all his doubts and hesitations as tedious nonsense.

If he chose to withdraw or proceed, Priscilla’s assessment of him would remain unchanged. Being severely judged was nothing new for Subaru, and he was somewhat fine with that.

It was acceptable… but having the two who stood beside him judged the same way, he couldn’t handle that.

“I’m going. Anyway, running away won’t solve anything.”

“———”

In Subaru’s resolve, neither Emilia nor Beatrice provided affirmation or denial. They merely stood beside him, respecting his choice.

Leading the two, Subaru stepped into the dimly lit shelter. Priscilla had long since averted her gaze and ceased watching their departure.

Clacking his feet on the dry stone floor, Subaru advanced through the narrow building. Before long, he saw the corridor come to a T-junction, where he turned left, and—

“Ah, brother. I heard the princess’s voice and figured someone was talking to her.”

Squatting in the passageway, waited Al, clad in a blue dragon-like shoulder armor. When he spotted Subaru and the others, his attention shifted toward Emilia.

“Well, looks like you’re safe too, huh? Good job, bro.”

“Keeping Emilia-tan safe is the minimum requirement for clearing this ordeal. I’ve heard you’ve had a tough time too. Especially with Priscilla’s unreasonable demands.”

“Oh, absolutely serious. Honestly, I started thinking about what the deal was this time. I’m usually thinking the same way, so my credibility was shot.”

“But you don’t seem to mind the fuss you’ve been making, do you…?”

“———”

As Al tried to reflect on his master Priscilla’s complaints, Emilia’s naive words cut him off. Though hidden behind his helmet, it felt like he was grimacing on the other side.

In reality, however, Al had willingly taken on the role of her attendant despite being perpetually dragged around by Priscilla. That must mean they share an unspoken bond that others couldn’t easily understand.

For a moment, Al seemed confused, scratching his head with the edge of his blue dragon sword, before unmistakably shifting his gaze down the corridor.

“It’s a bit late now that you’re here, but… are you here to talk with the Sin Archbishop?”

“Do you think we’d come here just to chat? It’s not like Beatrice and I have that much time on our hands for casual talk.”

“Tch, such harsh words for a little girl. Don’t get fired up, Beatrice…”

“———”

Al’s flustered flat humor barely evaded Beatrice’s icy stare, and Subaru deterred the unnecessary provocation from Al with a glare.

“I can see you’re not in a great mood, but please don’t provoke her. Don’t you get involved either, Beatrice. Let’s handle this with some dignity.”

“Beatrice permits only Subaru to call her that. If you call me by that again, you’ll be met with a wrath so terrible it’ll send you to the underworld.”

“Yeah, yeah, I get it. You’re a tough one.”

Saying that, Al stepped aside to clear the way. Pressing straight down the passage led to a door. There, without a doubt, the Sin Archbishop was captured.

Suddenly, Subaru felt an intense sense of unease prickle at the back of his neck.

“The Sin Archbishop is inside. We’ve restrained him so he can’t cause trouble, so you shouldn’t need to worry about a fight… On that note, let me give you a piece of advice.”

“Advice?”

“You both, my brother and the lady… it would be better to just turn around and leave without speaking. Getting involved will only lead to unpleasantness. It’s better to just leave him be.”

“…No way I’m doing that.”

With deep sincerity resonating in his voice, Al’s serious counsel was met with a sideways shake of Subaru’s head, refusing the proposal.

Immediately after, Al sighed as if saying “of course.”

“No matter what I say, my credibility is at an all-time low. My behavior here speaks for itself, and there’s no excuse for it.”

“That’s not why I’m refusing. It’s true that you haven’t been very cooperative, but even so, that’s not the reason. You’d do well not to misunderstand.”

Subaru corrected Al’s self-pitying attitude, pointing toward the door at the end of the corridor. The one inside was of utmost importance to him.

Maybe sensing that determination, Al slumped down by the wall. Even while doing this, he managed to subtly point with his chin toward the door ahead.

“Just don’t lose yourself while you’re talking.”

“Okay, if something happens, feel free to step in and help me out.”

“In that case, I’ll send the princess your way, so make sure to find peace of mind if anything happens.”

After exchanging such classic banter, Subaru and the others approached the door, seen off by Al. The sealed door leading to the enclosed room emanated an unnerving pressure.

It was pointless to hesitate here, so Subaru steeled himself and grasped the doorknob, pushing the door open with determination.

—It was a narrow, musty room.

With minimal light and an overall dark shade, the place was barely passable as a shelter. The cramped space would feel suffocating if filled with five or more people.

In the center of that room sat—

“Ah, you came, didn’t you? I’m sorry for making you go out of your way. Thank you.”

Bound from head to toe in chains, the monstrous being—Sirius awaited.