――There was a woman, a single woman.

　She was an ordinary village girl, born and raised without anything special.

　Loved by her parents, cherished by her siblings, and in turn, she loved her family—a perfectly normal woman.

　With a fiancé chosen by her family, she would eventually end her life in the corner of a poor village, just like many other ordinary village girls.

　That was her life, an unshakably paved existence with no room for doubt.

　However, her ordinariness was shattered by a lewd power broker who visited the village.

　What was it about her that attracted him? Was it merely a bad habit of wanting what belonged to others? Uncertain of the facts, the power broker forcibly desired her.

　Even in a frigid little village, there existed an insurmountable gap between her and the power broker.

　In response to his demands, she could not resist. All she could do was submit to the absurdity of fate.

　But the woman was loved. By her family, her fiancé, and the people of her village.

　Unable to endure the power broker’s tyranny, the people’s anger flared, eventually igniting the flames of war.

　The fire spread, the villages turned into an army, and ultimately, the power broker was burned along with his mansion.

　In just one night, the woman’s position changed drastically.

　From an ordinary village girl to the leader of a rebellion, and the betrothed of her fiancé.

　With the flames still raging, those around her began to panic, sending their forces one after another.

　However, each was thwarted by people rising up for the woman.

　The flames of war spread swiftly, ultimately consuming small nations, neighboring countries, and even great powers.

　The woman, deemed the cause of it all, became known. People whispered of her as a transcendent beauty.

　Fantastical tales piled upon one another, overwhelming the woman’s slender form.

　Yet, no one noticed. Not her family, not her fiancé, not the people—no one saw her.

　Whenever she waved, cheers erupted; when she walked down the road, crowds gathered; if she spoke, tears of joy flowed—all directed toward her.

　”This is so… wrong. So wrong…”

　She covered her face in denial. This couldn’t be real; it just couldn’t be.

　She was just a village girl, neither a celestial beauty nor an alluring femme fatale, just an ordinary girl.

　What value could she possibly hold?

　The people were intoxicated by a dream. They were entranced by illusions, dancing to ideals.

　Eventually, the flames engulfed even the great nations, all sparked by the woman.

　The fallen great nations, the castles taken—at their peak, her fiancé knelt before her. And he declared,

　”—I love you. This victory, the smiles of the people, everything is because of you.”

　The capital was ablaze, dead bodies piled high, and the jubilant people shook with excitement.

　The villagers who spent their days together, her family that loved her, and her fiancé who wished for her happiness—now, none remained, nowhere to be found.

　――The woman walked away without responding to her fiancé, discarding her family, her village, and everything.

　She had given nothing. She had never desired anything. She had merely lost everything.

　Having lost the days of love she surely once had, she walked alone through the scorched earth.

　Yet still, dreams, illusions, and ideals wouldn’t let her escape.

　Wherever she went, everyone loved her, served her, desired her—and all of them perished.

　Everyone loved the woman, like a curse. Without knowing true love at its core.

　The “Witch of Lust” continued to be loved by love that reached its end, seeking the love she had lost.

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　――The released sword energy brutally pierced through to Subaru and the others who challenged “Electra.”

　A man in a crimson kimono swaggered, exposing his bare upper body wrapped in bandages, with a crazed glint in his eye, delivering a desperate declaration at us.

　The second layer’s “Exam”—the requirement being to gain the qualification to ascend to the upper layer from the “Stick Wielder” acting as the examiner—had already eliminated two participants due to the outrageous prowess of this man.

　Even under such conditions, Emilia somehow snatched victory through her exceptional bravery, charm, and overwhelming material advantage, but—

　”—Wasn’t the condition that just one of us had to clear it!?”

　”Ah? Who said anything like that, you fool? Why should if one can succeed, all the rest are included? Think with common sense, common sense! What’s with that childish brain of yours?”

　”W-wait, I don’t want to be called the most unreasonable one in the world!”

　The man with a pair of chopsticks in both hands crossed them sharply, causing Subaru to groan against that logic.

　In reality, it was Subaru who hastily jumped to conclusions about the clearing condition of this “Exam.”

　The mysterious puzzle-solving elements of the trial in the third layer, which changed the structure of the room as soon as solved, had only spurred that misconception. He had mistakenly thought that if one cleared the second-layer “Exam,” a new library would open up.

　When that premise crumbled and it was revealed that individual power was needed for clearance, the prospect of overcoming this “Exam” seemed hopeless.

　Emilia’s drawn condition—”Move any one man even a single step”—waited for him to see just how strenuous that seemingly simple task was.

　To put it bluntly, Emilia was currently the highest combat force among the members challenging the Pleiades Watchtower, alongside Julius—given that Julius’s contract with the semi-spirit had expired, one could safely say that she was undoubtedly the strongest.

　That Emilia allowed a victory during her first weakest encounter was incredibly unfortunate.

　In other words, they were throwing the strongest vanguard at their strongest opponent, who was at his weakest state.

　If this were just a one-time victory, that wouldn’t be a problem. Yet, in a survival bout where individual victories were necessary, they had to send out weaker backers to battle against a man who would soon regain his strength.

　One step, a single man to move—could they seize victory that Emilia had snatched through a combination of her relentless assaults and a smidgen of luck?

　”—Wait, hold on! You have a critical mistake in your reasoning!”

　”There’s a mistake?”

　In the midst of this treacherous war situation, Subaru sought openings for victory as Beatrice, gripping his hand tightly, coolly said to the man.

　In response, the man’s face darkened with irritation, staring at Beatrice with his single eye.

　”What? You, it’s ten years too early for you. At least come back in five years. Stretch out those arms and legs more, and come back with a chest and butt that are eye-catching.”

　”…I didn’t plan to entertain you at all, but now I’m entirely reluctant. So I’m just going to hit you straight up, alright?”

　”Straight up? What do you mean by that?”

　”It’s decided, you know. —Did Emilia ever say that if you even move a single step, that would mean ‘our’ victory? In other words, Emilia’s victory counts as a win for all of us!”

　”—Huh!?”

　At Beatrice’s assertion, Subaru gasped, instinctively glancing at Emilia.

　Could it be that her blunt negotiation carried such intentions behind it? He was astonished by Emilia’s hidden maliciousness. Following Subaru’s gaze, Emilia placed her hand over her mouth and made an “Ah” sound. No, that wasn’t it. That was genuine. E.M.T.

　”Yeah, come to think of it! I said, ‘we!’ How’s that? Then, wouldn’t that mean that all of us have cleared your ‘Exam’ together?”

　”That’s a matter of wording, you fool. It’s not going to happen!”

　”So… understood! Sorry, Subaru, Beatrice, but it’s no use…”

　”Isn’t backing down a bit too easy!!”

　With a slumping shoulder and a serious expression, Emilia withdrew, and Beatrice shouted in anger. However, reflecting on it calmly, Subaru thought it was a rather unreasonable proposition.

　To be so desperate for such a possibility was to view the wall’s height as utterly hopeless.

　”Well, I don’t fully disagree with that brat’s statement. Initially, it sounded like I could be taken down by any number of people. —Since I wasn’t interested in obeying, I just played along.”

　”I mean you ‘played along!’ The initial bit had to do with breaking the system!”

　”I don’t know! Use words that make sense to me, will ya? Stop talking nonsense like some old man!”

　The mood of the man shifted between ectasy and irritation as Subaru pondered, forming a conjecture about the man’s true nature—the system part of the “Exam.”

　The differences between the trials in the second and third layers, along with the seemingly unhinged words and actions of the man straight after he appeared, all suggested a substantial inconsistency between the original “Exam” and the current one.

　”In actuality, the ‘Exam’ was supposed to be a cooperative effort where everyone could fulfill the conditions, but because you ‘woke up,’ it became a requirement to meet the conditions one-by-one?”

　”Ha! You get it, huh? However, I dunno which position was easier. Whether you all ganged up trying to kill me or let me fondle you for a hit or whatever the hell was easier, I don’t have a clue about it…!”

　”—Watch your mouth, you sexual harasser. I’m quietly losing my cool.”

　With an unwarranted comment, an angry lash struck.

　Subaru swiftly swung his whip, drawn from behind his back, with motions emphasizing speed, but the man caught the whip with ease using his chopsticks, shaking it around.

　The chances were low, but this surprise attack had failed—

　”Ha! I didn’t think this was a stick-wielding atmosphere, but you’re using a whip, huh? What kind of hobby is that? Only use the whip for your enemies and women of your caliber.”

　”You’re my enemy! And besides, I plan to take things a whole lot slower with Emilia, and there wouldn’t even be a choice to use a whip!”

　”Subaru, Subaru, calm down. You’re straying from the point. You’re allowing your opponent to control the pace!”

　”That’s right, Subaru! Don’t get angry! I just had my chest touched, nothing weird happened!”

　”That’s the weird part, Emilia-tan!”

　”Normally, that’s something to get mad about, you little flawless gem.”

　Subaru and the man both interrupted Emilia’s attempts to calm them down simultaneously. At their perfectly timed warning, Emilia’s eyes widened, and Beatrice sighed deeply.

　Just then—

　”—Um, can I speak for a moment?”

　In contrast to the four’s banter that had defused the tension, a person who had maintained silence until now spoke up, her voice trembling and ready.

　”…I don’t want to say this, but I think we should retreat.”

　The one raising her small hand was Meily, a girl with rich blue hair braided neatly. While she rested Shaula’s head on her lap, she gently shook her head side to side.

　The man standing at the back remained, his yellow-green eyes reflecting genuine fear.

　”I don’t understand why you can speak so casually to that man. …The knight over there and the scarf-wearing lady were taken down, and even that naked girl…”

　”Shaula fell for a different reason, but… It’s definitely strange.”

　Meily’s timid opinion was, of course, a logical standpoint considering their current fighting power.

　In fact, it was Subaru who remained overly calm in wishing to continue challenging the trial. He was fully under the spell of the “Stick Wielder’s” sword energy.

　Just how much did Harassment of Emilia and the fact that Julius and Anastasia had fallen affect him, he couldn’t objectively ascertain—

　”—Hypothetically, if we were to retreat and try again, would you acknowledge that?”

　”—”

　Emilia’s admission of clearing the trial—though it could just as easily mean he couldn’t back up his words. It was uncertain if it extended to other matters as well.

　If Meily’s sensible decision were to be enacted, combat would be unavoidable unless the opponent acknowledged it. The enemy had previously shown signs of restraint. However, now that he had changed gears entirely, there was bound to be no guarantee of safe passage in the next challenge either.

　At this point, it was no longer appropriate for mere challenges. They would need to fight with their full effort to retreat.

　Without a doubt, the capabilities of the “Stick Wielder” had reached catastrophic levels.

　With just two sticks, he had defeated Julius, matched Emilia, and evidently kept some strength in reserve—a level of ability that could only be compared to Reinhardt. Just what was the administrator of this tower thinking when placing such a monster here?

　Including puzzle solving based on “constellation” in the third layer, it seemed he had no intention of letting anyone clear it.

　”What’s the plan?”

　Approaching closer to Julius and Anastasia, who were slumped in the background, Subaru leaned in, causing Beatrice and Emilia to adjust their positions as well.

　If the “Stick Wielder” were to show his fangs, then Emilia would immediately activate the Icicle Line again, racing to cover the fallen trio in Beatrice’s protective spell. Worst-case scenario, they would still consider unleashing Beatrice’s still unfinished trump card without hesitation—

　”—Nuh-uh.”

　”Eh?”

　”Not happening! Not happening! Not happening! Not happening! Not happening, not happening, not happening! I’m bored!”

　Suddenly, the man declared this, catching Subaru and the others off guard, as he slipped his left arm back into his sleeve, putting his kimono back on to its original state. Then, he walked off with a scowl, distancing himself from the wary Subaru and moving toward the unfortunate sword that had been kicked aside.

　He stepped on the fallen sword, hopping and effortlessly retrieving it. Then, he forcefully thrust the tip into the white floor, returning everything to the state it was before the “Exam” commenced.

　And then—

　”It’s closing time. Get lost, I’m tired of this.”

　He plopped down heavily, assuming a posture with one knee raised, and spat those words out.

　”——Wait a second! That’s way too free! What does that mean? Are you just gonna decide everything about this ‘Exam’ on a whim!?”

　”Shut it! Originally, I was the one in charge of this place, got it? If I say I’m not doing it, then I’m not doing it!”

　Subaru found himself momentarily speechless at that brazen declaration. In the wake of his astonishment, the man continued, “And,” and turned his words.

　”—If I’m not in the mood, I don’t play. Are you ready to face me?”

　”——”

　A chill ran through Subaru as a gust of wind swept by.

　With his chopsticks pocketed, the man had discarded all weapons and wore a twisted grin. It was a smile, undoubtedly, but its quality was different from any seen before.

　It wasn’t the savage smile with a sunny disposition. Instead, it was coated in blood and carrying a horrific murderous intent.

　”…Ah.”

　A small groan escaped from someone.

　It wasn’t from Subaru, but rather from Emilia, who had been beside him. Her hands clutched at her pure white throat, eyes wide in disbelief.

　She dropped to her knees, crumbling to the floor as if realizing she had forgotten how to breathe.

　And with that, Subaru, reminded by Emilia, lost breath himself, collapsing to one knee. His entire body was soaked with sweat.

　Every bit as much as Emilia, if not more, he was overwhelmed by the man’s sword energy.

　One could say he had forgotten even the rhythm of his heartbeat, as if he were about to be killed.

　If there hadn’t been anyone there to remind him, he might have been killed just from the man’s glare.

　”Be sure to think hard about how to win, will you? The same tricks won’t work on this lady-killer. Unless you want to play dead—if it’s that unseemly, get lost, I’m going to sleep.”

　His low voice lacked any playfulness, and saying just that, the man’s head drooped. If they waited long enough, eventually, they would hear the loud snores from him, even if he was asleep.

　In a way, he didn’t deviate from that sort of character—or rather, no one left behind here had the luxury to laugh at that fact.

　”Let’s hurry and get out of here.”

　Amongst the urgency to escape the place, Meily’s insistence acted as a catalyst, allowing Subaru and the rest to move slowly while carrying the injured, ultimately retreating from the “Exam.”

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　”—I see. That’s why you all timidly fled from the second ‘Exam.'”

　”…You’re quite harsh, Sister.”

　”Stop that way of talking. If you’re saying that, it’ll lend credence to the theory that you’re the master of the girl still sleeping there.”

　”That’s bad. I’ll be careful.”

　Shrugging heavily at the unnerving advice, Subaru drew a deep breath.

　They were now in the fourth layer, in the adjacent chamber to the green room, where he and Ram were with Emilia, Beatrice, Meily, and finally Shaula, still sprawled out.

　—Having descended the long, long stairs and fled from the second layer, they carried the injured to the green room and entrusted them to the care of the spirits for healing.

　According to their assessment during the journey, Julius had simply fainted, and Anastasia had suffered from fatigue due to overuse of magic, indicating their lives were not in danger.

　Thus, they laid them on beds, and due to the room’s occupancy limit and the need to explain the situation, they had Ram come along to move rooms—

　”From what I hear, that examiner seemed foolish… but, Emilia, you matched what he had in mind, right? Couldn’t you at least have seen the library with just one of you?”

　”Well, that’s…”

　”Oh, come to think of it, I hadn’t considered that. Perhaps I could’ve ascended to the first layer alone… I should ask ‘Stick Wielder’ if it’s possible!”

　”…No, let’s avoid that. I don’t want to provoke him when he’s upset; it could lead to worse trouble. Even if it’s true that Emilia could only have ascended alone, it’s still dangerous.”

　”Very dangerous—”

　Emilia’s resolve was met with immediate dismissal from Subaru, Ram, and Beatrice. That was how her earnestness was diminished, yet it wasn’t merely overprotective inclination that had stifled her motivation.

　In actuality, they didn’t want to incite the “Stick Wielder” recklessly. That was simply the truth.

　While he felt the urge to voice something against that rambunctiousness, both because of the vague apprehension about the results of the second “Exam,” it would be suicide to challenge it when he was in a bad mood.

　As it stood, at present, Subaru and the others had yet to witness that man wield a sword.

　And even if Emilial had managed to slip past the man with ease—

　”Really, whether this second-layer ‘Exam’ is a single event is doubtful. It appeared too easy to leave it as it is… no, perhaps it only seems that way due to Emilia breezing through. I still harbor some doubts about whether that is genuinely the end.”

　”I think you’re overthinking it. That man… although rude and having a bit of an eccentric way of speaking, he doesn’t seem to lie. No, he seems like the type that can’t lie.”

　”The reason behind this inability to lie either stems from principles or intelligence, both of which will lead to varying appraisals…”

　In any case, Ram had no reason to refute Emilia’s assertion. A position that supported this idea coincided closely with how Subaru perceived that “Stick Wielder.”

　One could view the “Exam,” which they assumed to be simple, as something that was accomplished only due to Emilia being the strongest. In real terms, Julius had fainted—

　”…I hope he’s okay…”

　”You’re worried about Julius?”

　”Who knows? It’s… probably a concern, but it’s not that simple.”

　The image of Julius, facing off squarely against the “Stick Wielder” and suffering complete defeat had embedded itself in Subaru’s mind. The memory of that moment when Julius’s profile was seen would not be considered excessive for Subaru’s anxiety state.

　His sword skills didn’t even touch the man, were toyed with like a child’s plaything, and finally, his knight’s sword had been broken—

　”While a spare sword was prepared inside the dragon carriage, that’s not the issue…”

　”Swords can be reforged. Beatrice wouldn’t understand that particular sentiment.”

　”Things like handkerchiefs, mittens, and aprons that I made for you mean something to you, right? It’s like when they are torn, it can be considered a big deal.”

　”…I apologize for being a thoughtless person.”

　Beatrice admitted her hurtful words, then Subaru gently stroked her head, drawing a sigh from his lips.

　When they awakened in the green room, he couldn’t imagine how Julius would react. Whether he would be unusually despondent or maintain his characteristic composure, Subaru wouldn’t know what words would be appropriate, making it worrisome.

　And if there were any additional concerns to be had, it didn’t just stop with Julius.

　”Anastasia… what drove Echidna to such desperation…?”

　The question that grabbed Subaru’s attention was Anastasia’s judgment to intrude and assist Julius during the duel against the “Stick Wielder.”

　There was no doubt that someone interfered in an attempt to help Julius as he fell into adversity. Every one of them, including Subaru, felt the same yearning for Julius’s safety, but at that moment, it felt strange.

　However, it was no surprise for Echidna, who had conducted herself as Anastasia, to act while giving consideration to her host’s body all along their journey. At least, that was something Subaru could firmly agree upon from the scope of his awareness.

　Yet, her sudden actions in the current scenario presented a different interpretation that warranted alarm—

　”Echidna’s frailty is markedly different from a mere excessive use of magic.”

　”—What do you mean by that?”

　As Subaru pondered, Beatrice softly whispered into his ear, as she alone shared the current status of Anastasia and Echidna.

　When Subaru queried back, Beatrice continued her explanation, stating, “To put it succinctly,”

　”Me and Betty, along with that scarf girl, are special even among spirits. While they’re stronger compared to the average spirit, they also have certain restrictions. Betty’s situation is something Subaru already knows very well.”

　”Ah, because of her strong possessiveness, I can’t form contracts with other spirits after partnering with you. I’m yours, Beatrice, you can relax about it.”

　”I don’t particularly think that’s a compliment, but when it comes to that scarf girl spirit, that’s a different story. While it’s true she’s borrowing her body… after spending this much time together, it’s clear to me that she has no magic power other than Odo.”

　”No magic power…other than that?”

　”Like Subaru, her body gate has faults. The valve is broken; the function to absorb mana from the outside is dead. Therefore, for her to use magic, she has to drain her own life force.”

　”That is…”

　Subaru gasped in shock.

　Anastasia’s body, bearing that issue, was something that astonished Subaru. It turned into an incredibly weighty handicap in this world.

　The trump card demanded sacrifice, which was precisely what Anastasia’s—Echidna’s claim had portrayed. It was exactly as literal as it could possibly get.

　Moreover, with the revelation of that very fact, Subaru found himself in even greater perplexity.

　In essence, if Echidna applied force to that body of Anastasia, it would serve to shorten the very life of her host.

　”Why would she go so far to aid Julius?”

　Echidna’s actions didn’t appear to follow a calculated scheme with ulterior motives—when she intervened in an extremely desperate manner, her intention was undoubtedly genuine concern for Julius.

　So then, how did Echidna feel regarding Julius? Was it the power of his “Blessing of Inducement”?

　”—While I am worried about Lady Anastasia and Knight Julius, there’s a more pressing matter at hand.”

　”That would be about the ‘Stick Wielder.'”

　”Yes. Forgive me for sounding unfeeling, but for Ram, the priority lies with the outcome of the ‘Exam.'”

　”—If we cannot overcome it, we won’t reach any means to reclaim Rem.”

　Ram clarified with a somewhat cold remark that cut into Subaru’s thoughts.

　Her words felt overly lacking in consideration, but Subaru could only nod solemnly in agreement.

　”——”

　Ram’s expression, which seemed so unemotional, concealed a slight impatience. It felt for her, the uncertainty of reclaiming her lost sister was palpable, making it feel hard to reach out despite holding the possibility tightly close.

　”With the flowing red hair, one-eyed, and the vibe of red coloring… it’s such an assertive look, but—”

　”Do you know anyone who comes to mind? You might not catch the imagination unless you see the real deal, but put simply, he’s absurdly strong. It may even be akin to Reinhardt.”

　”That’s a nightmare.”

　”But Subaru isn’t lying. While I haven’t seen Reinhardt at his best, he was that strong.”

　To Ram’s incredulity, Emilia offered her support, reinforcing Subaru’s statement. If Emilia, who had fought first-hand, said it, there would be no merit in deception. Hence, Ram rubbed her forehead exhaustedly.

　”If I take Bals’ and Emilia’s words into account, then an enemy on par with Knight Reinhardt… As far as being celebrated at present, it could only be expected there’s truly one powerhouse in each of the countries.”

　”Reinhardt is the strongest in Lugnica, and each of the other three nations also has their strongest leader.”

　”Volakia Empire’s one commander, ‘Blue Lightning’ Cecilus Segmunt; the ‘Mad Prince’ from the Gusteco Holy Kingdom; and lastly, the ‘Apostle’ Halibel of the Kararagi City-State. However, they each have unique characteristics.”

　”Is there one with long red hair?”

　”Unknown for the ‘Mad Prince’ in the Holy Kingdom; his features remain undisclosed.”

　”That prince… didn’t give off that particular vibe.”

　More accurately, while one couldn’t say it would be an impossibility if one were to focus solely on the “mad” part, he had a beautiful face, but perhaps did not carry the noble quality associated with royalty.

　It was a beauty found in nature, permissible through wildness.

　”From there, it seems like an unexplored martial artist of sorts…”

　”His clothing resembled the ethnic attire of Kararagi. Moreover, he adeptly used chopsticks—”

　”I’m not sure if it’s right to say ‘adeptly’ if he was using them in a way that deviates significantly from their intended purpose…”

　In that context, it was utterly impossible to connect the impression of that man and the idea of an “unknown martial artist.”

　The man’s age was slightly above Subaru’s—perhaps in the mid-twenties range—but it seemed strange that there was such a powerful person without prominence and a personality so rich.

　And moreover,

　The man, woven into this peculiar mechanism of the Pleiades Watchtower, had remained a question of whether he even remained human—

　”Hey, you guys, is it alright?”

　”Huh?”

　”The naked girl is about to wake up, I think?”

　In the corner of the room, Meily raised her hand while caringly lending her knee to the unconscious Shaula. True to her words, Shaula began to stir while resting her head on Meily’s lap, twisting with great sensuousness and mumbling, “Mmm~, ahhh~.”

　As Shaula slowly opened her eyes under the gaze of everyone—

　”Master… don’t leave me alone… I don’t want to be lonely anymore…”

　”Stop saying something that’ll make me feel so heart-wrenching right off the bat! You’re pretending to be asleep, aren’t you?!”

　”Cheh~! I thought you would fall for that sweet thing! But I love you just as much regardless!”

　”Wasted my worries on you…”

　With her long legs kicking up, Shaula rose lightly. As she twisted the long back hair she called a Scorpion Tail, she looked around the room and murmured, “Oh?”

　”Why are we here? I’m sure we broke through the ‘Exam’ thanks to Master’s brilliant inspiration…”

　”Ah, that’s not a dream. It’s reality.”

　”Master is embracing me and smiling, whispering that he’ll never let go…”

　”That’s a dream! The moment the second ‘Exam’ kicked off, you fainted!”

　Subaru, annoyed by her dreamlonging, yelled at Shaula in an attempt to remind her of the events leading up to her fainting. However, Shaula dismissed it with a scoff, sounding almost mocking.

　”I’d never faint, of all things! Even meeting my master after hundreds of years, I wouldn’t have fainted! The fact that I fainted must be an absolute joke! How absurd is that?”

　”Uh-huh. I get it, but you really did faint. Subaru and Meily were really worried about you. Just believe it!”

　”Eh? Master cared for me!? Hehe, I believe you then!”

　”That’s weak…”

　”I feel irked being treated like an afterthought by you all…”

　As Shaula grinned without restraint, both Subaru and Meily wore complex expressions. But, upon acknowledging that fact, Shaula tilted her head, perplexedly asking,

　”But what was with this fainting?! It’s unnatural for me to fall! It wouldn’t be weird if Master should die in the process…”

　”If you’re harboring excessive expectations of Bals, I can assure you that’s the reality. Think back slowly… Remember, there was a long, long staircase in front of you.”

　”A long, long staircase…”

　As Ram prompted, speaking quietly, it was almost as if she were guiding Shaula through hypnosis. While there were inconveniences to Ram not witnessing the scene directly, she nonetheless delved carefully into Shaula’s sealed memories.

　”Welcoming you was a white room, with a steel sword thrust into the ground. From the moment you grasped it, a strange voice echoed in the hearts of everyone there—”

　”Doki-doki…”

　As Ram recounted those events with excessive feelings, promised consolidation took root with both Shaula and Emilia. Although Shaula was fine, Emilia had already known all that transpired.

　In fear of interrupting the tale, Subaru chose to remain quiet to avoid steering the conversation off-course.

　And as Ram’s narration neared the key moment in unveiling Shaula’s recollected memories—

　”At that moment, a figure appeared from deep within the room. With long red hair, blue eyes, and an exotic attire, the man—”

　”Whooooooaaahhhh!!!”

　Just at the pivotal moment, Shaula squeaked, jumping back in fright. She lunged at Subaru, who already anticipated her approach, as he lowered himself to readily catch her, refusing to budge.

　Instead, he was met with the soft press of her skin squeezing around him.

　“It hurts! H-has your memory returned!? Have you recalled?!”

　”W-what? Why that man is here?! You said he was killed by Master! He lived? He must be one of those who can’t die, after all!”

　”Huh!? What do you…?”

　While trying to keep tranquil despite his shifting expression, Subaru was grappling with what Shaula had uttered—until he caught the meaning of her words.

　What she had described had only one reference point concerning the topic they had dealt with upon entering this tower.

　That reference was—

　”Stick Wielder! It’s ‘Stick Wielder’ Reid! That monstrous fiend! He returned to life just to torment me again—!!”

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　――Reid Astraea.

　That name belonged to a legendary swordsman of historic renown.

　He was said to have slain beasts, swordmasters, dragons, and eventually even witches.

　He was the first to be hailed as a “Sword Saint,” one of the three heroes who saved the world.

　He marked the commencement of glory for the Astraea family, which included Reinhardt Van Astraea, the current Sword Saint, and remains a supreme aspiration to all who live by the sword.

　It was unbelievably the name that should have been lost for over four hundred years.

　Had this tower not existed for centuries and been constructed by someone connected to witches, this reality would’ve been laughed off completely.

　However, within these walls, a living testament to that era still remained.

　But here, it was a tower shaped by a “Sage” who lived four hundred years ago.

　Considering the malice infused into its design, it wouldn’t be surprising for a “Stick Saint” to be set as the “Ultimate Guardian” and be instructed to overcome him without hesitation.

　Gathering this knowledge, Subaru and the others hurriedly returned to the green room.

　Once they learned they were faced with Reid Astraea, they needed to devise a plan. Fortunately, there were individuals knowledgeable about historical giants among this party.

　Of course, the implications of that defeat remained evident in his demeanor. Nevertheless, once one knew who they were up against, salvaging one’s pride would be possible. After all, he was the one at fault.

　What a villain that individual was—bearing the same family name as Reinhardt, he was the very ancestor crafting that name itself.

　Thus, thoughts on that defeat could be processed more effectively—

　”—That idiot.”

　With those consolation words at the forefront, Subaru made his way back into the green room.

　In the room’s rear, inside the spirit-made grassy beds where the wounded were lying down, four beds accommodated the likes of Rem, Anastasia, and at the far end, Patrasche.

　The one standout bed between Anastasia and Patrasche remained empty.

　But on that woven bed of vines lay a single broken knight’s sword.

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　――The sound of shoes echoing on the stairs, coupled with a prickling sword energy, slowly roused the man from his slumber.

　There was no anger at being disturbed from his sleep. After all, life itself was a constant battlefield.

　If one declared the existence to be perpetually dancing on the edge of life and death, one could remain serene regardless of what might occur. With that established, how much one might indulge in jest was another tale altogether.

　”——”

　As the figure ascended the stairs, his presence gradually became clear. The sword energy was familiar to him. The sounds of footsteps and movements shared the same air. This was something recent. He couldn’t forget it.

　Yet, that was the same experience for the opponent as well, which felt oddly perplexing.

　Perhaps he expected a smarter individual, yet—

　”——”

　”Ha!”

　Those thoughts were dispelled as soon as he laid eyes on his opponent.

　Instead, it was an impulse that surged forth, alarming the throat.

　He let out a great sound, roughly tearing at his red hair.

　And then—

　”This time, it won’t end with just a game, you bastard!”

　”——”

　It didn’t seem to carry any significant meaning, but as a gesture of courtesy, he tossed out a few words.

　In response, his opponent closed their eyes once and then immediately discarded every shred of emotion.

　Then, without hesitation, they extended their hand—drawing the sword buried into the ground, readying it in position.

　”Knight of the Lugnica Kingdom, member of the royal palace’s guard—Julius Euclius!”

　”——”

　As he introduced himself, the moment he met the narrowed gaze of the man, the knight charged forward in a sudden burst.

　Seeing that, the man—Reid Astraea—twisted his mouth in a cruelty-filled grin and whispered,

　”As long as you’re still clinging to that pointless title during your proclamation, you’re not even worth my time as an opponent.”