The smell of anger hung in the air.

It was fragrant, rich, and the purest essence of anger. It stirred and churned within my small, slender body, uplifting me to great heights.

“Ha ha!”

On the spiraled staircase, Batenkaitos faced off against Ram, sneering maliciously at her boldness.

With her pale pink eyes filled with strong emotions, the girl directed feelings of anger, hatred, and murderous intent towards him, and Batenkaitos reveled in that intoxicating sensation.

To put it plainly, it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say he lived for this single breath.

“Nice, really nice! You don’t get many people showing that kind of angry face directed at us! It’s a super rare feeling, you see! Get it? Do you understand how delighted we are right now?!”

Batenkaitos hopped in excitement, licking his lips.

This encounter with such emotions was something he could never wish for in his usual life.

The memories and names stolen by the authority of ‘Gluttony’ had been stripped away, leaving behind only Roy and Lui able to recognize him.

The sorrow of losing a loved one, the anger that had been taken, the hollow sense of loss—everything had completely vanished, leaving him helpless.

“Of course, that’s just natural. I’ve never paid it any mind before.”

While acting as a hated member of the Witch Cult meant encountering plenty of people harboring hatred towards the organization, there had been none who held personal animosity towards the individual known as Rai Batenkaitos, who sought to kill him.

But now, the unspoken norm brought by the authority of ‘Gluttony’ was being overturned.

—Because a third party not affected by ‘Gluttony’ had appeared.

“Natsuki Subaru…!”

Muttering the name of the man to whom Lui had clung, Batenkaitos felt a sweet ache deep within his chest. It wasn’t that he was influenced by Lui; he had known of him long before.

He had thought of him much earlier and more deeply.

That was—

“—My sister understands too, doesn’t she?”

The cause of this sweet ache in his chest was tied deeply to the girl looking down upon him. —No, it wasn’t merely deep; it was as though they were one, irreplaceable halves.

Surely she would understand; the overly sweet and strong feelings. Indeed, this mix of love and hatred, and the aching chest yearning for liberation.

Thus, with that conviction and expectation in mind, he spread his lips in a half-moon grin and spoke—

“I told you so. —Die screaming like a pig.”

“—!”

In the next instant, Ram leaped down the stairs, her attack forcing Batenkaitos to stumble back.

He barely managed to evade her thrust, but the tip of her staff was precisely aimed at his right eye. Had he been a moment slower to pull back, his brain would have been churned from its socket.

“My dear sister is so merciless! If I had taken that hit, not only would I be screaming like a pig, I wouldn’t have been able to do anything at all before dying!”

“I’ve reconsidered. If I’m copied by something lower than a pig, it would only be embarrassing for the pig.”

Ram leaped off the spiral staircase, her descent slightly delayed by the stairs. As she lunged forward, she declared her cold murderous intent and launched her relentless assaults with incredible force.

Twisting her thin body, Ram thrust her staff, delivered kicks, and aimed elbows at him. Batenkaitos skillfully evaded every strike, yet the gusts of wind that whipped by his ears suggested that even one hit could render him incapable of functioning.

“Haha! Scary, scary! So scary, but hey!”

Batenkaitos laughed as he deftly dodged the unhesitating attacks, feeling a surge of excitement—not simply confidence, but genuine exhilaration. —Though there was a hint of composure as well.

Ram’s martial skills were impressive. There was no hesitation in her urge to kill. Yet, Batenkaitos was able to slip away with ease. Why? It was simple.

“Because I know my sister can do so much more!”

Within Batenkaitos lay countless ‘memories,’ including one that adored Ram as his sister, fueling his passion for her limitless potential.

The unquenchable trust and expectation he held for her memories conveyed painfully stark disparities regarding the Ram standing in front of him.

In short—

“—My sister without horns is just a shadow of Rem, who can effectively be substituted.”

“—”

“Ah, are you angry? Are you mad? It’s okay to be angry, you know, sister. Thinking about it, we’ve never had a proper sisterly quarrel, have we?”

Showing off his memories, Batenkaitos provoked Ram, causing her cheeks to tighten, yet her onslaught did not relent.

He was internally amazed at how much she was straining herself.

While he didn’t know the full extent of her suffering, it was a well-known fact that a hornless oni tribe member would struggle to manage their body. Ram had suffered that penalty endlessly.

He couldn’t count the times he wished he could take on that pain.

But he also thought—his own self wouldn’t endure the suffering she carried.

If the pain of horn loss depended on the power inherently held by the oni, then Ram surely bore a weight that no other oni in existence could share.

Thus, he admired her spirit for bravely plunging into the fray. And he felt grateful for her earnest efforts to maintain the fight.

Witnessing the highest, most exquisite flavors mature and exude their aroma, he couldn’t quite figure out whom to express his happiness towards.

—In gratitude for encountering this culinary miracle, he was overwhelmed with immense appreciation.

“Truly! My sister is just amazing!!”

As the dance of love and hatred unfolded amidst the spiral staircase, Batenkaitos celebrated Ram’s existence.

And so, leaning into his cravings for ‘memories,’ he dodged, weaved, and ducked—

“Ta-da! It’s counterattack time—”

“Shut up.”

Batenkaitos maneuvered around Ram, aiming for her graceful neck, believing he had slipped into her blind spot, but their eyes met as she turned.

In that instant, fear gripped Batenkaitos, halting his attack as he leaped sideways. Yet, just after he felt the wind whip against his right cheek, blood spurted forth.

“—!”

Tracing the ragged tear on his cheek with his hand, Batenkaitos took a faint breath.

This injury wasn’t supposed to happen. At least, within the ‘memories’ he possessed—as someone who knew the child prodigy, Ram—there had been no future outcome where he received such an injury.

And yet—

“I told you to whimper embarrassingly, but the ugly voice of the opponent was just as unbearable. Since I can’t entertain this any longer, I’ll ensure you die.”

“Sister, wait—!”

“If you were relying on ‘memories’ to evaluate Ram, your assessment is far too lenient.”

As Batenkaitos stood there, his cheek covered in blood, Ram swept back her pink hair and sent a chilling gaze his way.

“Did you think you were uncovering the true nature of Ram? If so, that’s quite the amusing thought. —Ram’s potential is infinite. Because—”

“—”

“—Ram is Rem’s sister.”

The unfounded assertion resonated with an unusual conviction, precisely because the ‘memories’ within Batenkaitos perceived her as such.

Upon realizing this fact, Batenkaitos wiped the smile from his face, replacing it with a grimace of frustration.

This wasn’t fun. This wasn’t entertaining. This wasn’t understood.

“Anger and hatred are just spices for more exquisite flavors. But if the spice is too strong or asserts itself too much, it spoils the fine dish. Perhaps this analogy was a bit lost on you, given your lack of culinary experience?”

“That’s not true. Truth be told, my specialty is steamed sweet potatoes.”

That vivid understanding of her ‘memories’ resurfaced, causing his stomach to grumble.

Intentionally ignoring that hunger pang, Batenkaitos discarded the playful mood.

Ram still hadn’t fully exhibited her true power, which meant she hadn’t revealed everything to her own flesh and blood sister.

In other words—

“—Sister, you are the ultimate individualist who cannot trust even your own sister.”

“…That’s a shallow view of things. No matter how many lives you’ve tasted, those people haven’t found peace either. Except regarding Rem, that’s just trivial.”

Dismissing Batenkaitos’ culinary philosophy, Ram narrowed her pale pink eyes.

And while stroking her slender chest, she added,

“Do your absolute best, Balus.”

With a cold expression displaying her chilling resolve, she called to the boy not present.

“The notion of a shared fate is horrifying.”

* * *

Raising my dust mask to cover my mouth, I took a deep breath.

In truth, I would like goggles too, but that was unfortunately too much to hope for. All I could do was prepare myself for the sand grains flying into my eyes and squint into the dust storm ahead.

“Bear! Meily! We’ll hold the line!”

“I know!” “Geez, you’re such a slave driver!”

Crossing through the hazy vision of the sandstorm was a menacing presence cloaked in black.

Letting it get too close would render me lifeless from a single strike of its pincers. If it gained enough distance to launch its stinger, I’d be done for as well. The conditions for defeat simply go on and on.

In terms of defeat conditions, the current situation had enough to spare.

“That said, it’s the usual scenario for me…!”

Natsuki Subaru’s battles were always tightrope walks teetering on the edge.

Even though he knew the future from his ‘Return by Death,’ the oppressive atmosphere loomed large since the strength of the enemies was far from matched.

It was always the case that he lacked sufficient cards. Believing in everyone’s strength while hoping they could adapt to the situation, Subaru himself fought hard to meet those expectations.

“It’s not just my fight; it’s the fight of me and my merry band!”

“Is this really the time to be cheering!? Gosh! Do your best, Hunger King!”

Receiving Subaru’s playful yell, Meily commanded the magic beast—Hunger King.

The beast, resembling a centaur, cried out like a baby as the duo spiritedly galloped through the sandy sea with Subaru and Beatrice riding atop.

Pursuing them, a mighty scorpion charged forth, swiping at them from the ground, raising a storm of sand in its wake.

“—!”

Just as I sensed it approaching, keeping my distance meant its tail stinger would come, and drawing near risked its enormous pincers targeting my life. Maintaining a delicate distance head-to-head was the only way to counter its attacks.

Compared to the numerous conditions for defeat, the winning conditions allowed here were merely the changes awaiting a protracted battle. Whispering through Emilia’s conquest of the first layer of the tower and recalibrating the rules, she waited for her moment.

Yet whether or not that was possible was still uncertain—but…

“If it can’t be done, it’s odd for such rules to even be a part of the tower in the first place.”

“Exactly, Bear! Explicitly stating ‘it’s okay to break the rules’ means they are designed to be broken!”

If that’s possible, the reward must surely be the privilege granted to the conqueror of the tower. So, viewed from that angle, it would indeed be a right granted only to those who cleared in the proper way.

Leaning on the expectation that Emilia would triumph over Raid honestly made him genuinely relieved. If she hadn’t succeeded, there wouldn’t have been a single chance to save Shaula.

“I can’t forgive that guy who sexually harassed Emilia…!”

Recalling the irritating incident with frustration, the retribution against Raid had been handed off to Julius.

While hoping he would smash that brute into pieces, Subaru set his sights on the towering watchtower, letting himself trust Beatrice and Meily’s hard work.

“Brother! It’s getting hard to move here! I think it’s better to move away from the tower so the magic beasts can rampage more easily!”

“Ugh…! I get your point! But it’s impossible! I can’t leave the tower! If I go too far, I’ll lose track of everything!”

Dismissing Meily’s plea, Subaru tightened his grip on his chest and bit down on his molars.

The effect of ‘Cor Leonis’ remained, and he could still sense the vague light of his companions within the tower’s confines. But this power, which had so many unknowns, was unpredictable concerning whatever might trigger its dismantling.

The most apparent manifestation of this power was evidently distance.

In fact, he couldn’t sense the presence of his comrades outside of the Augria Sand Dunes. If the distance was causing it, how far could he detach from the watchtower?

The fear of being unable to confirm their whereabouts and safety loomed large.

However, the greatest issue was not the safety check but the inability to share the burdens. Of course, those navigating the dire battles included Emilia and Julius, but even more so was Ram, who had a death wish for revenge weighing heavily on Subaru’s heart.

“—”

He felt certain he had positioned his comrades optimally, but he’d foreseen from the very start how harsh Ram’s fight would be. After all, her opponent was Rai Batenkaitos—the very one responsible for putting Rem into her slumber—and considering Ram’s own condition made it all the more troubling.

If Ram wasn’t in top form, she could not contend with Rai Batenkaitos.

On that note, he wanted Ram to pound Batenkaitos thoroughly. To ensure that, Subaru needed to shoulder the burdens that plagued her daily.

That’s why—

“I can’t carelessly leave the tower! I’m sorry for the handicap match, but please bear with me!”

“—! This is definitely going to lead to terrible trouble later on!”

Ignoring Subaru’s pleading, Meily blushed and yelled atop Hunger King’s back.

In that moment, the girl gazed heavenward and clapped her hands toward a being circling the high skies.

“Hey, Feather Dragons! It’s your time to shine!”

At her high-pitched command, small shadows flitting in the sky dove down toward the sandy sea. Noting their targets were the giant scorpions, Subaru instinctively shouted, “Bear!”

“—Got it! ‘Vita’!!”

Sensing Subaru’s intent, Beatrice raised her small palm toward the sky.

The chant took effect, but instead of being aimed at the giant scorpion, it targeted the Feather Dragons plummeting towards the beast.

As the falling Feather Dragons’ flight path created a faint ring of light—at the moment the dragons passed through the halo, small magical beasts accelerated, wrapped in light.

“—”

The penetrating impact struck the giant scorpion’s hard shell, producing an ear-piercing sound.

Until now, the giant scorpion had been casually bracing against the dragon’s choir but halted multiple legs upon receiving an unavoidable direct hit of undeniable force.

“What just happened… Beatrice, what did you do?”

“I made your magic beasts heavier before they collided. Their speed and resilience remain unchanged, but simply making them heavier alters the outcome.”

In response to Meily’s astonishment, Beatrice explained.

The sudden strengthening of the Feather Dragons was because of this—power equated strength times acceleration.

Like digesting the ground with their robust horns, the desperate charge of the airborne magic beasts zipped through the air and ground as they executed an unbelievable impact that halted the giant scorpion.

The giant scorpion’s reflexes were remarkable, but it couldn’t uniformly match against every attack it encountered for the first time. To surpass that instinctive reactiveness, Subaru revved his mind to full throttle.

“While it may be cruel to the magic beasts, it’s a trade-off between life and time. There’s a plethora of types and numbers of available magic beasts; with Bear’s assistance, the possibilities are endless…! If we follow this approach—”

He felt assured it was possible, prompting him to grip his fist and Beatrice’s hair. In that moment, she voiced, “That hurts!”

—The moment came.

“—Huh?”

As Subaru sought to buy some time, he looked up towards the watchtower, and a sound slipped from his lips.

Hearing that empty tone, Beatrice turned back, “Subaru?” but he could not respond.

His senses were drawn not to the watchtower’s exterior but rather its interior—within the tower, he felt the faint light in multiple locations, and the dissonance of his teammates’ reactions surged.

Surely, those amidst a fierce battle were feeling something, but from among them, one of those reactions had vanished—Emilia’s reaction ascending towards the top.

“—”

In an instant, Subaru’s heart pounded violently.

The fact that Emilia’s response had vanished left him profoundly confused. Surely, it couldn’t be that in this fleeting moment, he had lost Emilia—surely that wasn’t possible—

“—H-hey, calm down, you idiot!”

Just as his vision threatened to darken, he rebuked himself, gripping tightly.

It was too early to despair. He should place trust in ‘Cor Leonis.’ No matter its origin from the most despicable of men or the seedling strength it had born, this power stood with him.

From ‘Cor Leonis’s’ reactions thus far, it could be assessed that the intensity and warmth of the faint light represented the status of his comrades.

If they were excitingly elevated, the color and brightness would change, and vice versa.

Then, had Emilia’s response vanished, was that indicative of her ‘death’?

“If that were the case, the velocity at which her reaction disappeared was almost instantaneous.”

Hypothetically, had Emilia encountered a terrible enemy capable of erasing her presence in an instant from this world, it seemed unimaginable that she could vanish without resistance.

He couldn’t think that, nor did he want to. He believed. Thus, this was likely another matter entirely.

As Emilia scaled the watchtower, heading to challenge the first-layer trial, some event had occurred causing her to escape the influence of ‘Cor Leonis.’

From that point, Emilia’s response slipped smoothly from Subaru’s perception.

He had to think this way—

“Subaru!”

“Brother! It’s not the time to zone out!”

As Subaru clutched his cheek to steady himself under pain, the two young girls called out to him.

Hearing this, Subaru replied, “I know,” confirming to both himself and them,

“I don’t know where or what we’re facing. But I trust that they will return.”

—And at those words, he offered a prayer.

* * *

—At the far reaches below, the moment Subaru uttered those words of prayer.

Although he didn’t know what he would need to face, even Subaru’s imagination struggled to unpack the circumstances surrounding Emilia.

Following his orders, Emilia had headed toward the first layer of the Pleiades Watchtower to rewrite its rules—what she had encountered was a formidable presence covered in shimmering blue scales.

In this Lugnica Kingdom—no, a being whose name resided in the awareness of the entire world.

If the ‘Witch of Envy’ was a symbol of fear, then one could surely term this entity a symbol of hope and trust—as it had continuously contributed such achievements to the world.

This formidable and noble being’s name was—

“—’Divine Dragon’ Volcanica.”

As she echoed that introduced name, Emilia suddenly felt a chill suffusing her entire being.

To say it bluntly, Emilia’s temperament was immune to tension. Of course, there were times she felt a little heavy when faced with crowds or during critical conversations, but when it came to action, those impacts evaporated in an instant.

In fact, Subaru and Ram often praised her for being so unflappable.

Yet even this great Emilia found herself frozen before the ‘Divine Dragon.’

She felt as though she couldn’t even breathe without the creature’s permission. Such was the overwhelming presence of a true dragon as it overshadowed the world around it.

“—”

Drawing in her breath, Emilia cautiously examined Volcanica once again.

Its deep blue scales bore a jewel-like shimmer, seeming sharper than any forged blade imaginable.

With thick forelimbs and hind limbs topped with black rocky claws, its visage resembled that of an Earth Dragon, adorned with golden eyes witnessing an implausible expanse of ages. From its head rose two thick, large horns, pristine white like freshly drawn milk.

Measuring about fifteen to sixteen meters in length, this ‘Divine Dragon’ remained hunched with folded wings and tail, making it difficult to ascertain its exact proportions. However, given its size when crouched, it was quite clear that it wouldn’t fit within the tower.

The first floor had been made spacious precisely for Volcanica.

“…The third layer features the ‘Sage,’ the second layer features Raid, and the first layer has Volcanica.”

“—”

“Could it be that all three famed heroes of the distant past are related to this tower’s ‘exams’?”

Reflecting on the content of the ‘exam’ thus far, Emilia stumbled upon this common thread.

The ‘Three Heroes’—those who once strived to seal the ‘Witch of Envy’ and left their mark in the history of the Lugnica Kingdom. Shaula, Raid, and Volcanica.

Despite the fact that Shaula was primarily credited to Flugel’s feats, Raid was brutish and foul-mouthed, and Volcanica was indeed a dragon rather than a person.

But if they were all connected here—

“It’s really so wonderful that no matter how many centuries pass, they remain friends.”

If promises and bonds tied the three heroes together, such an idea warmed Emilia’s heart.

Originally, Volcanica was an entity that had forged a covenant with the Lugnica Kingdom; indeed, records mentioned soaring through the domain ages ago to challenge the black dragon’s rampage.

Emilia had a fondness for those who valued promises.

She believed that staying true to one’s word was an admirable trait. She held Subaru in high regard and trusted him, but she thought less of him for the times he didn’t keep his promises.

If it reached the point where Beatrice began imitating such behavior, what then?

Like Subaru, Emilia didn’t want to chew out either of those two for breaking promises.

“Oh no, time to stop this train of thought! …Um, Volcanica! I’m here to take the ‘exam’! The first layer’s ‘exam’! I’m going to tackle it!”

“—”

“I don’t know how hard this ‘exam’ will be… but please hurry! If I don’t do my best, Subaru and the rest could end up in a huge predicament! Just bring it on!”

Slapping her cheeks with both hands, Emilia steadied her unease.

It inadvertently sparked thoughts of Subaru and Beatrice. Even if those two were scolded for breaking promises, that would be a tale for tomorrow or beyond.

To prepare for that future, Emilia needed to hold her ground here and now.

“—”

The ‘Divine Dragon’ stared intently at Emilia, its golden eyes fixed on her.

Those eyes conveyed an almost hypnotic depth.

It had been four centuries since the battle against the ‘Witch of Envy,’ and the forging of the covenant with the Lugnica Kingdom—yet this majestic dragon had lived far longer than those four hundred years.

In fact, it could have witnessed a millennium or more; those twin gazes had been observing the world for ages.

What kind of reflection she cast in the eyes of such a ‘Divine Dragon,’ Emilia had no clue. But she…

“I’m used to being judged. There are those who dislike me because I’m a half-elf, and even kids as wicked as Ekidna, yet I still have friends like Subaru, Ram, and Beatrice who expect things of me.”

As she spoke, Emilia’s fingers brushed against the gemstone pendant at her chest.

Even now, the family she cherished and who slept on was the first to accept Emilia, who had often been viewed through colored glasses.

Beginning with that family, Emilia knew companions that acknowledged her existed within this tower.

“So, no matter how you view me, I’ll be just fine!”

Facing the ‘Divine Dragon’ that until recently had been somewhat intimidating, Emilia proclaimed this with confidence.

Wavering souls, hands that threatened to tremble, and even the essence of her existence that felt as if it would be swallowed by an entity possessing the weight of eternity—Emilia wouldn’t back down.

—She absolutely could not lose.

“—”

With clenched fists, she shone her indigo eyes with vigor.

As the entirety of Volcanica’s being enveloped Emilia in its scrutiny, it finally blinked slowly. Then, Volcanica unfolded its immense jaw with grandeur and spoke—

“—Thou, who has ascended to the tower’s peak, the all-capable applicant of the first layer.”

“—”

“—I am Volcanica. By the ancient covenant, I shall inquire of the aspirations of those who ascend.”

“…Huh?”

Holding her breath, Emilia braced herself for the difficulty presented by Volcanica, yet her brow furrowed slightly at hearing the weighty words exhaled alongside the dragon’s breath.

The phrasing rang familiar.

“Um, that’s the same story you just told me earlier, right? That I’m the one here for the first layer, and you’re Volcanica…? Am I right?”

“—”

“…Oh! Did I forget to introduce myself? I’m sorry! I’m Emilia, just Emilia. It’s just that right now, there are a lot of kids who happen to not remember me, and if asked to prove it, I’d be troubled. But you can count on me, I’m Emilia!”

“—”

“…Is that not good enough?”

She feared her lack of greeting had irked him, but even as she reiterated her introduction, Volcanica’s response remained lukewarm.

If this were Subaru, missing the initial introduction would lead to a grave downfall from the first layer’s ‘exam,’ but Emilia didn’t think that way.

She believed that if something went wrong, apologizing wouldn’t elicit such cruelty from others.

Therefore, it didn’t strike her that her rudeness had resulted in Volcanica’s silence.

What Emilia pondered was whether Volcanica wasn’t actually angry. Alternatively, that scenario could even be more troubling than mere anger.

Why was that—

“Could it be…?”

Gazing unwaveringly into those golden eyes, Emilia cautiously approached.

Taking one step, and then another towards the heavens, she closed the distance between her and the ‘Divine Dragon.’ Even its breath seemed awe-inspiring as Emilia approached confidently.

Then, she extended a hand gently, brushing against the scales of its foreleg.

“—Cold.”

The scales she touched felt like ice or perhaps chilled steel.

Just how much time must have passed for something to have lost its warmth to this degree?

It didn’t signify a biological ‘death.’ Rather, the toll taken by prolonged stagnation claimed something beyond just physical vitality.

“—Thou, who has ascended to the tower’s peak, the all-capable applicant of the first layer.”

“—”

“I am Volcanica. By the ancient covenant, I shall inquire of the aspirations of those who ascend.”

Once more, Volcanica repeated itself while gazing down on Emilia who was touching its leg.

Those welcoming words were reiterated with the frequency suggesting that it had something more important at play than simply reproaching her for not greeting him properly.

The depths of Volcanica’s piercing gaze seemed to reflect Emilia while simultaneously not.

The reasoning was crystal clear.

“Could it be you’ve aged so much that you’ve forgotten about the ‘exam’…?”

It wasn’t physical death that weighed upon the dragon; it was the mental ‘death’ that had struck the ancient being.

And that would become a challenge greater than the primary trial of the first layer that Emilia would have to overcome.

The Great Library Pleiades, Trial of the First Layer ‘Maya’.

Time Limit: ‘Survival Time of Companions.’ Number of Attempts: ‘Unknown.’ Challenger: ‘One.’ Trial Content: ‘Unknown.’

—Commencing the trial.

 

---