“I heard that the folks in your town are quite sturdy… but are they sturdier than the people from my village?”

“—You lowly scoundrel!”

I’ve heard that voice many times before.

A hoarse old man’s voice and a woman’s voice filled with anger. And then—

“Ahhhh!!”

A violent impact reverberated through my feet as the roof tiles were stomped down, followed by the frantically swung smoking pipe and purple smoke. It swept across the skies of the Chaos Frame, sweeping, sweeping, sweeping—

—Again, a series of explosive sounds echoed, and that red, intense pain came back.

“G-gahhh—!!”

“Ugh! Ughhh!”

With eyes popping out and the pain from both eyes, I pressed my face down to the ground, collapsing at the spot. The light weight pressing down on me—I knew it too.

I knew it, yet couldn’t react. Time was just too short.

“Ughhh! Ah, ugh, gghh!”

The view turned red, my head felt like it would split, and my soul cried out in a “Why?”

All of it wasted Subaru’s time in a never-ending, despair-filled ten seconds.

The pain interfered with my thinking and the loss that turned the world red obstructed my view. Even if everything suddenly faded away and returned, within just three seconds I’d feel that same pain anew.

Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death. Painful, red, scary, why, death—this was a never-ending cycle.

My head is going crazy.

“I heard that the folks in your town are quite sturdy… but are they sturdier than the people from my village?”

“—You lowly scoundrel!”

Again, I heard that same voice. The pain and the redness were momentarily interrupted.

But soon, I would experience that same pain again, which was enough to tear my soul apart from fear.

“Ahhh—!!”

I didn’t want to hear anything. I didn’t want to feel that pain. Scary, scary, scary, scary.

Letting out an enormous scream, I felt as if my throat would tear apart. I closed my eyes to avoid seeing anything and hugged my head in a crouch.

Then, in the next moment—

“——”

A loud bang resonated, tossing Subaru’s small body away and rolling it. The ringing sound faded into the distance, only for that pain and redness to come rushing back, freezing my soul.

However—

“—Huh?”

That pain didn’t come.

The pain of one eye bursting and the other eye popping out didn’t arrive. My ears were ringing, but the world wasn’t red. The worst pain came only from my throat, which was yelling loudly.

“Why…?”

“Ugh!”

A dazed voice escaped right after a small body jumped onto me.

It was Lui. Lui pulled my arm to help me get up. However, my knees wouldn’t cooperate, and without an answer to “Why?” I couldn’t stand.

My throat tightened, and for that brief moment, I was happy to be distanced from that red pain, causing tears to well up. Unable to hold back, I crouched down and cried.

“Ugh—”

“Hey, hey, that’s a bad move.”

“—!”

Crouched down and sobbing, while a battle of dimensions continued far from me. No, that situation was heavily tilted, and I could faintly see Yorna kneeling.

Yorna was on her knees, with Olbart looming behind her.

Olbart tilted his head in surprise as he looked down at Yorna, whose right hand was stained red with blood and was bleeding from the corner of her mouth.

“Ugh…”

“Haah, are you serious, fox girl? To think you’d survive that! Don’t tell me, that was what Cecil was talking about when he couldn’t cut your neck.”

“…There’s no way I’d reveal a maiden’s secret to a man who brings harm to children.”

Gritting her teeth, Yorna replied to Olbart with an unwavering voice. Hearing that made Olbart laugh heartily, “Hahaha!”

After laughing, he waved his blood-soaked sleeve.

“You’re saying some funny stuff. Harming children is something I won’t stand for.”

“Wait—!”

From that sleeve, black orbs—bombs—were thrown, flying towards Subaru and the others.

Lui jumped in front of me to block it, trying to deflect it, but it was too late.

Red light exploded right in front of me, swallowing both me and the body that had leaped forward to protect me, scattering us into pieces—

“I heard that the folks in your town are quite sturdy… but are they sturdier than the people from my village?”

“—You lowly scoundrel!”

Again, I heard that same voice.

At that moment, I covered my ears, shut my eyes, and screamed loudly.

That was the absolute rule Subaru had gained after countless repeats of despair-filled ten seconds.

In any case, when that red and painful happening came all at once, Subaru couldn’t do anything. Screaming, crying, and then dying.

And when he thought he was dead, he would hear that voice again and feel the red pains from the explosion.

I didn’t want that anymore. I hated it. Please, I’m scared.

“I heard that the folks in your town are quite sturdy… but are they sturdier than the people from my village?”

“—You lowly scoundrel!”

Once more, I heard that same voice.

At that moment, both pain and redness fell away, and my body felt an instant of relief. I felt my strength drain away.

But holding that back, I had to do what I must.

“Ahhh—!!”

Shouting while opening my mouth wide, I shut my eyes tightly.

While I couldn’t hear my own voice, it was likely that Yorna was swinging her pipe, swinging it down, and attempting to detonate the bomb that Olbart had tossed.

So after that—

“——”

The explosion hit me full force, and Subaru landed on the roof with a thud. The corner of the tile dug into my rear, causing a sharp pain that made me want to cry.

But I wouldn’t cry. I didn’t want to blur my sight again.

Because—

“I can see…!”

Gingerly opening my eyes, I found that they weren’t burst or popped; I could see clearly.

Still ringing in my ears, and with a burning throat, there was no red pain. I was right. Thank goodness.

If I closed my eyes and screamed loudly, I wouldn’t have to face the red pain.

“Ugh!”

Feeling the warmth of Lui rush into me with joy, I finally saw her face, and she looked worried, her blue eyes wide open.

Unconsciously, I held her body tight and shouted, “I’m okay!”

“Ugh!”

“I’m okay! It hurts, it’s red… Ah, but I’m okay…!”

In any case, when that red and painful happening disappeared, I would close my eyes and shout loudly.

As long as I remembered that rule, there would be no suffering. Subaru firmly believed while hugging Lui’s slender body—

“No way, I’m not okay! This is just the beginning!”

Right after that, a chilling voice echoed, causing Subaru to reflexively look up.

In his widened view, the grinning Olbart threw shuriken that flew towards Subaru and the others.

The shinobi’s weapons glinted dully, aiming for vital spots on each one of them.

“Ugh!”

“You won’t get away with this chaos.”

As the sound of the exploding shuriken was clearly heard, Yorna entered the frame and began to fend off the incoming blades with her pipe.

Simultaneously, the roof tiles were lifted on either side of Olbart, slamming down on the old man like a giant snare trap.

However—

“Hahaha! A flashy move, and a great spectacle! What a fun technique!”

Olbart gracefully twisted his small body and evaded the crashing tiles.

I always thought that being larger gave one an advantage in strength and reach in fights. But Olbart’s agility shattered that preconception.

“But this flashy display isn’t needed for me! After all, given how fragile humans are, they’d die from just a deep stab!”

“Your words tickle my fox ears! —Well then, let’s see how you fare against this!”

“Whoa!”

After deftly dodging Olbart’s agile move, Yorna stomped down on the roof with her heel. Then tiles rose one after another, swirling, forming a vortex around the castle.

It swirled in an enormous spiral, tightening around Olbart like a tornado.

“How will you escape from a place without gaps? Show me your ninja skills.”

Before she finished speaking, Yorna’s extended hand clenched tightly.

Immediately, the swirling tsunami of tiles compressed toward Olbart in one swift motion. The tiles collided mercilessly, ringing out with a devastating boom.

In the center of such colossal destruction, even with some physical resilience, the human body couldn’t withstand the pressure and would be crushed without a chance for survival.

“Ugh…”

Watching the same scene unfold, Lui gasped at the terrifying power of destruction.

Responding to Lui’s reaction, Yorna quietly acknowledged, “Did I surprise you?”

“I got started without warning. I hope the sight isn’t too shocking for you.”

“Hey, hey! Don’t suddenly feel content! Let me remind you, simply surviving until you’re an old man already means you’re pretty resilient!”

“—!”

Yorna turned slightly with her ears perked up upon hearing those words. It seems the voice came from behind the mound of collapsing tiles.

With a rumble and crash, Olbart’s head peeked through the wreckage, unscathed despite being at the vortex of destruction.

The old man waved a hand and grinned, filled with malice, “Well, it’s a technique to escape from a space with no gaps. Satisfied?”

“—Even if you’re aging and decaying, you still remain one of the ‘Nine Divine Generals’.”

“Hahaha! Such a harsh remark! I’m already so old since I was chosen as one of the ‘Nine Divine Generals’? Even if I’m aging and decaying, I’m much stronger than any common brat, you know? But you’re quite the disappointing girl.”

“What do you mean by that?”

Olbart, scratching his head, leaned back with a frown in response to Yorna’s inquiry.

“Well, you see, with people in town and all those kids behind, if you didn’t have so many precious things to protect, you could fight me more earnestly.”

“—!”

“Fighting to protect, but growing weak because of that need to protect? Sounds contradictory. That’s why no matter how many times you try, you can never surpass me.”

With that, Olbart’s yellow eyes pierced straight through Yorna to Subaru and Lui.

In that instant, Subaru realized they were being targeted again. Immediately tightening his grip on Lui’s hand, he shouted desperately.

“Yorna, Lui and I are disappearing! Do your best!”

It felt low to drag Yorna into this mess and leave her behind.

But if Subaru stayed here, Yorna would fight to protect them, exposing herself to Olbart’s attack, and then she would die.

That couldn’t happen. I had to do something to prevent that.

“Lui!”

Shouting, Subaru pointed at the ground beneath their feet as he tightened his grip on Lui’s hand.

Connecting that sensation with his instruction, Lui responded with “Ugh!” and they both teleported.

Subaru and Lui’s bodies instantly transferred below, landing on the floor of the castle.

Confirming that, Subaru bit his teeth.

“Ugh…!”

A sudden upheaval occurred within his stomach, spinning it around. His head swirled. For a moment, red visions and pain flickered, but they were nothing compared to the level of disruption he faced.

Now all he could do was hope Yorna could fight thoroughly and unimpeded after they left—

“—What?!”

Suddenly, an explosive sound erupted above, rousing Subaru’s freshly minted trauma.

An overwhelming series of explosions echoed consecutively, a shockwave reverberating through the roof and the entire castle, reaching Subaru. He instinctively felt his knees weaken but held himself strong.

Looking up at the ceiling, he knew what was coming.

He couldn’t see anything, but it was likely Olbart.

Despite scattering all those bombs, he was still carrying more with him.

“—Oh. There it is.”

As Subaru’s gaze lifted, an old, wrinkled face passed through the ceiling and peeked down.

In a moment of panic, Subaru held his breath as Olbart, not merely his face but his body, fell through the ceiling.

With a diabolic smile, the old man said, “I was just surprised back there. I underestimated a mere child, and it backfired!”

“Ugh!”

In a split second, when that smile approached, Lui kicked her leg up. However, the old man responded with a swift “Hey!” and swung his arm down, striking her knee.

Lui’s white leg flew off, splattering blood everywhere, producing a scream.

“Ah, uugh—!!”

At that, Subaru’s eyes widened as he instinctively tried to pull her closer.

Whether it was to help her escape or due to the concern for the girl who had just lost her leg in pain, he didn’t know.

Yet he couldn’t even complete that reaction.

“Glub!”

At that moment, the air was pierced with a swift sound, and Subaru felt his throat burn with the heat more vicious than any scream.

The blood gushed up, blocking his voice, cutting off his breathing.

“I can’t let you get away; it’s too troublesome. A head will suffice for the fox girl.”

With those words, Olbart’s finger tapped Subaru’s forehead. Just like that, his head tilted forward, falling down to settle on his own knees.

Only a thin layer of skin kept it connected, stopping it from truly falling.

“How about that for a ‘neck-hug’?”

That unfunny, cruel joke faded into silence.

And then—

“I heard that the folks in your town are quite sturdy… but are they sturdier than the people from my village?”

“—You lowly scoundrel!”

Again, I heard that same voice.

At that moment, Subaru covered his ears, shut his eyes, and opened his mouth wide. In an instant, an explosive sound echoed.

The view ignited crimson, and that pain once again engulfed Natsuki Subaru.

—The same voice echoed as he closed his ears, shut his eyes, and screamed loudly.

Over and over again, Subaru experienced those despair-filled ten seconds.

However, the equation beyond that end had yet to be discovered.

“I heard that the folks in your town are quite sturdy… but are they sturdier than the people from my village?”

“—You lowly scoundrel!”

Olbart threw a bomb, and Yorna swung her pipe to shoot it down. The force surged up through the soles of Subaru’s feet as he remembered returning and what he needed to do: follow his ingrained instincts.

Covering his ears, closing his eyes, and shouting loudly, he braced for the explosion.

If he blocked his ears, his eardrums would hold up, and if he closed his eyes, his eyeballs would be safe. Though he didn’t know how shouting helped, he instinctively always released his voice when there was neither pain nor redness, so he could never think of not yelling.

To do something a little different and face the same pain again would be agony.

If he were off by one beat, he’d have to endure ten or more despair-filled ten seconds to reach that same opportunity.

Already—it was agonizing. With pain and fear, it was all too much to handle.

Nothing was getting easier. Pain always hurt. Fear was always frightening. Death was always waiting behind pain and fear.

So—

“Ugh!”

With both ears and eyes steady, Subaru caught the body of Lui rushing toward him.

Once again, he survived the initial explosion unscathed, amidst the barrage of repeating bomb blasts. From here on out, he would remember what might happen next—starting with the first—

“Shuriken.”

“You can’t just think escaping will be the end!”

Simultaneously, Olbart’s voice rang out.

In the next moment, shuriken rained down from all directions, each one following a different arc, surrounding Subaru and Lui.

More than ten shuriken—being struck by even one would render them immobilized.

To stop that, Yorna prepared to leap forward—

“Such chaos—”

“Yorna! It’s okay!”

Slamming my hand on the palm of Yorna’s persistent attempt to hold back, Subaru changed his target and pulled tightly on Lui’s hand.

“—What?!”

In that instant, in a burst of transference, the view changed, and the shuriken fell where they had once been.

What had just occurred shocked Olbart’s eyes widely as the signs of transference from Liu changed.

Yes, this was the special technique that allowed Subaru and Liu to make their escape in the past. Although they had chased them, they had been slain almost immediately—

“Just once…”

It could catch Olbart off guard.

And in the brief window of surprise he garnered, he yelled, “Pay attention!”

“Lughh—”

In an instant, the powerful slam of Yorna’s heel struck hard at Olbart from above.

By the time Olbart reacted, he hadn’t time to defend. The impact bore down on his body, snapping him back against the roof with a resounding crash, and Olbart’s form vanished into the depths of Crimson Lapis Castle.

Despite such a powerful blow, Olbart roared, “Hahaha! That hurts, that hurts!”

“Are you kidding me!?”

Right after letting out a victory shout, Olbart fell back into the new hole he made in the rooftop, crashing back into position, a toothy smile upon his gory right arm, now drenched in fresh blood.

Jumping back up unharmed, he readied a shuriken in his remaining left arm, aiming at both Subaru and Yorna.

Naturally, Subaru couldn’t respond. Yorna attacked with her pipe, deflecting her incoming attack with a flick of her fingers, then leapt to fling tiles to shield the pair.

Then—

“Here’s for you! Ninety years strong!”

Speaking, Olbart people suddenly executed his twisted plan.

Extending his bloodied arm, he severed it with his knife, spraying crimson in every direction like he was tossing his arm toward Yorna.

“——”

Faced with such a threat, Yorna endured a fleeting decision.

To strike that flinging arm or dodge.

However—

“Too bad; both choices are wrong!”

“Ugh…?!”

Before she could act, an explosive wind surged beneath her feet, from the hole created by the earlier strike against Olbart.

A torrential gust erupted, tearing through Yorna’s kimono.

“This is fundamental for a shinobi. When you are unsure whether to go left or right, go up!”

“You crafty old man!”

Beaten by the wind’s edge, Yorna winced and pressed forth. Ignoring the hurtling arm directed at her, she charged directly toward Olbart.

At that moment, Olbart sighed and said, “The last statement was a lie.”

—In the next instant, the severed arm turned inward, swelling up, and exploded.

“—Ugh!”

“Yorna!!”

Engulfed by the explosion erupting right next to her, Yorna was blown away. Her form rolling on the rooftop caused Subaru to wide-eyed him to shout desperately.

He had filled that hole upon falling and left everything booby-trapped right before him.

Since Olivia gave him the impression of a shinobi, he had always considered her a troublesome opponent. He thought that, but had not anticipated how relentlessly “malicious” he would be.

Thus, Subaru shuddered as Olbart turned, both movements happening almost simultaneously.

“—Lui!”

As his gaze met Olbart’s fierce shining eyes, Subaru shouted shrilly.

Gripping Liu’s hand tightly, he desperately wished for a second transfer, looking to create as much distance as possible.

“Aaah!”

Lui’s transfer then activated, and the pair’s bodies swiftly moved.

Darting away from Olbart’s direct line of sight, they created considerable distance.

Given they wouldn’t find safety in entering the castle, their best hope was to create distance, buy time, and hope Yorna could stop Olbart.

And—”Huh?”

Subaru felt something bump against his toes, just as he was staving off nausea.

Surprisingly startled, he looked down to see what had struck him. It was a small black orb.

A black orb that had caused Subaru despair over and over again.

“I’ll be throwing them again. I don’t know how, but…”

Glancing over, Olbart shrugged, deciding to throw another one.

Limbered by the loss of one of his arms, the unbalanced old man nonchalantly measured the distance.

“Ugh!”

Once again, Lui called Subaru’s name.

Moments later, the exploding black sphere beneath him triggered a flash of light as countless glass shards exploded outward, shredding, tearing, and tearing apart.

Blood splattered crimson, shards invading eyes and mouth, and his body was punctured, engulfed by sharp pain, arms and legs ripped away.

“What’s inside is all part of the fun—ain’t it amusing?”

The pain returned, another riotously red inferno of chaos, where reality seemed to spin.

“I heard that the folks in your town are quite sturdy… but are they sturdier than the people from my village?”

“—You lowly scoundrel!”

Once more, I heard that same voice.

“No—!”

The moment it rang out, Subaru clasped his ears tightly once more and shut his eyes while letting out a massive scream. The explosive sounds and shockwaves assaulted him anew, yet he refused to back down.

In time, I repeated the same pain and fear, and with them, I allowed myself to crack.

Every time, every time, I collapsed into despair’s grasp.

We repeated pain, fear, and sadness, only to bear that overwhelming helplessness.

So much wasn’t enough to HANDLE, and that fact was evident.

I churned, cried, whimpered, gasped—

“Ugh…”

The warmth of a girl’s hand wrapped around mine, assuring me of what I might achieve. With each heartbeat, I thought back to when I lost myself in the cycle of feelings that consumed me.

Amidst all this, deep down, I recalled all those battles I fought alongside everyone.

Natsuki Subaru couldn’t solve all the problems.

But if I thought of everyone who fought hurdles with me—

“How would everyone proceed?”

Even with all the failures, overcoming the overwhelming despair in unison had brought me here. In this moment where I was alone, surrounded by strangers in the Empire.

Yet, those lessons and the feelings they lent me remained.

“What would everyone do?”

Otto, Garfiel, Roswaal, Frederica, Petra, Krlind, Annerose, Meily, Pack, Ram, Beatrice, Emilia—what would they do?

“What would they do?”

Julius, Anastasia, Echidna, Ricardo, Mimi, Hetaro, Tibby, Reinhardt, Felt, Old Man Rom, Tonchinkan, Al, Priscilla, Wilhelm, Felix, Crusch, Liliana, Shaula—what would they do?

“So strong.”

Everyone who could fight Olbart had a role back there, cheering for me.

I’m sorry that they didn’t have a chance to step out this time. Thank you, I love you.

“With the power of magic…”

I wanted to help Yorna, but I couldn’t emulate her in this position.

I wanted to avoid burdening that gentle Yorna, but I knew healing magic would have no practical application here. I’m sorry. Thank you. I truly love you.

“Then…?”

How about mimicking everyone with relentless determination? Everyone’s refusal to give in, battling until the very end.

Using everything I’ve gotten, braving past the despair of those ten seconds, reaching that eleventh second, and further ahead—is that something I can achieve?

“Such chaos will not be tolerated!”

As the pipe swung, the already-targeted shuriken went soaring, a high-pitched clang echoing.

With that, the tiles on either side of Olbart flew up, attempting to crush the old man within their grasp.

“——”

While watching the confrontation between Yorna and Olbart, I wracked my brain.

I had died many times. I had witnessed this gruesome scene over and over. And the pain from my past came flooding back.

Just thinking about it caused my spirit to flicker. My heart shrank back as my soul grew tentative.

It felt like Natsuki Subaru’s very essence froze, but—

“Ugh!”

The warmth coursing from the hand I held chased away that freezing terror.

Because I wasn’t freezing to death, I could remember everyone—all that they meant to me.

I couldn’t intervene in the fight between Yorna and Olbart.

Wanting to help Yorna led me to becoming a distraction for Subaru and Lui as they were targeted by Olbart. The fight was already underway, and for any of them to move forward, one must emerge victorious.

Also, Yorna had always come out on top while Olbart’s grip on the outcome kept tightening.

So—is it good if Subaru and Lui survive?

Reside there indefinitely? The prospect of Yorna surviving alone through it all was unacceptable.

There was potential for a more effective method. I can’t stop thinking—”That’s a lousy idea! I’m not going to give up here! That’s just a foolish thought! I’ll do my best! Everyone’s with me, after all! Isn’t it true you hate the pain and absurdity? Battles face closure, it’s inevitable. There has to be an opening to break in. I’ll uncover it—that’ll be the key to victory!”

“The key… to victory?”

Whose, you ask? Surely, the person fighting.

Then, who fights? Yorna and Olbart—both of them—

“No.”

“Huh?”

“No, no, no! Not at all, no!”

Shaking his head furiously, Subaru raised his voice and declared firmly.

That was wrong; it was all wrong. I love everyone. So—

“The one who will win—”

Once more, the rushing red light and pain engulfed me, and then—

“I heard that the folks in your town are quite sturdy… but are they sturdier than the people from my village?”

“—You lowly scoundrel!”

Again, that same voice echoed.

The moment it rang out, Subaru clasped his ears tightly, shut his eyes, and opened his mouth wide. Instead of crumbling, he bore it.

Suddenly, a small body leaped at him, yelling, “Ugh!”

He caught her and stood tall.

“Thank you,” he said.

“Huh?”

As Liu rounded her eyes, Subaru looked over her head, gazing intently at Olbart’s presence.

Despite being both scorched and painfully exposed, he was beset with agony, threatening to release a scream at any moment.

Yet—

“You’re thinking you can escape now, aren’t you—!”

He shouted as Olbart tossed shuriken from both sleeves.

The moment their gazes collided, the merciless decision ignited.

Be it a child or an adult, this “malicious old man” held no contempt and wouldn’t show mercy in claiming what he wanted—Natsuki Subaru’s demise was fair game.

The shuriken shot forth, devoid of playfulness or hesitation.

Subaru grasped it firmly, feeling confidence flush through him as he said, “What would everyone do?”

With all his might, feeling every single bit of love, he told himself.

“Here goes, my chance to win! Right, everyone?”

Juxtaposed with that emotion, the world before him broke apart.

“—Lui!”

Pointing fiercely at Olbart, Subaru unmistakably felt the bond of warmth in Lui’s hand, echoed through fierce conviction.

“And I won’t let go!”

With that sentiment bubbling over, reality shifted.

“—What!?”

The foe he planned to strike down vanished, leaving Olbart stunned.

An untraceable technique beyond Olbart’s ability to perceive—this was the only strategy to catch Olbart off-guard.

Moreover, propelled by Lui’s might, the surge sent Subaru bursting forth—

“Ahhhh—!!”

Like a furious whirlwind, he latched onto Olbart’s head from behind.

With all he had, a small racing figure gripped tightly onto the aging creature’s white hair, climbing up his frail body. The old man, taken by surprise, instinctively reacted but wasn’t ready for a full-on assault.

Naturally, Olbart fought back to unhinge the small one while Yorna rushed forward to assist.

“Ugh! What is this?!”

“I’ll let you out! Release me, boy! Olbart is—”

Olbart was pulling Subaru’s hair in a fury, trying to push him off, and without considering Yorna’s intent to intervene, there was little response.

In that moment, Subaru, hanging on tightly, shouted with all his strength,

“—I won!!”

“What?!”

That instant, Olbart hesitated under the command of bafflement. Yorna stared in shock as she came to grips with what just transpired.

Disregarding the reactions of everyone else, Subaru held fast, proclaiming,

“I won! I caught you! This round, it’s my victory! Olbart, you lost! Right?!”

“What are you babbling about…?”

The reach of Olbart’s grasping hands slackened.

Torn between bewilderment stemming from his white-haired crown and stubbornness behind triumph, Subaru gulped in his excitement as tears streamed down his face.

“I—the chase! And if I found you playing hide-and-seek… you only asked me to find you three times for seeking—yet when it’s the chase, if I catch you once, that’s all it takes! So!”

“—?”

“The result is I’ve won! If I’ve caught you, I’ve won the game! Olbart, Yorna—you both lost to me! This—this is my victory!”

St-st-stumbling over his reasoning, Subaru sensed the irrationality in his reasoning.

After all, the game of hide-and-seek was chosen based on shared terms—so suddenly switching to that game as a justification felt like cheating.

Yet twisted as it was, he couldn’t think of a different solution.

Besides—

“And you started the cheating first, Olbart!”

“—!”

“This is my—my victory!”

Tears and snot poured forth as his voice cracked.

Desperate still to hold on to that victory, he wouldn’t relinquish the warm embrace of success. The kid had shut down the grandmaster, promising to capture Olbart.

“—So, Olbart, what’s going to happen now?”

Yorna, stoically watching Olbart, turned to him suddenly.

Olbart stayed silent momentarily, scratching the back of his head.

“True, I declared the challenge, but to toss that aside? I never expected to have my own words twisted back at me like this.”

“—Is this your answer, Old Man?”

Yorna’s calm tone lowered even more as she engaged Olbart from a distance.

Yet, with the weight of the move now behind him, Olbart broke the silence, sporting a carefree smile.

“Haha! Anyone can see that I lost. If we were to consider victory or defeat, if we’ve reached that point, it becomes a matter where shinobi is nothing but a wild beast.”

After which, Olbart slapped his thigh and exclaimed, “I’ve lost! I’ve lost!”

Gazing up at the blue sky, amidst the slowly-repaired lovely castle, seconds and minutes went by, tracing out a timeline—ready beyond despair’s ten seconds, beyond the forthcoming eleventh second, plotting paths onward.

“I’ve won!!”

Subaru wept loudly, sniffling as he persisted with his claims.

Listening to the obstinate declarations behind him, Olbart chuckled, saying,

“If you keep up the charade, you’d better be ready for a throatful of words from me—shut it!”

With that, he gave Subaru a headbutt on the forehead, affectionately taunting him.