―― The downfall of the Volakia Empire due to the “Great Calamity,” and the lightning operation to stop it.

Now that it has been understood that directly clashing with the continually resurrecting army of Undead only increases the risk of destruction, what is required is a swift resolution.

Since we can’t pit large armies against each other for a grand battle of the living and the dead, it was only natural that a mission deploying a small elite force into enemy territory was adopted.

The issue at hand is――,

“――Who will storm the enemy’s main stronghold?”

With arms crossed, Subaru plopped down in the middle of the room and scanned his surroundings.

In a spacious room suitable for a large gathering, his allies, excluding the Empire’s representatives, were all gathered.

Among them were individuals who had not attended the earlier meeting due to tending to the injured――Ram, Garfiel, Petra, Frederica, and Rem.

Naturally, there were also Anastasia and Julius, given that they were not Empire representatives――,

“I’m glad to see you back safe, Halibel.”

“Oh, how sweet of you to be worried. Well, young Anastasia is tough on me, so I’m genuinely pleased to be commended like this.”

Leaning against the wall, Halibel answered Subaru’s concern with a smile while holding a pipe.

The strongest werewolf of this city-state was a key player in stopping the black dragon――Dragon Zombie, which had appeared before the Undead attack in the Dragon Carriage battle.

Thanks to him keeping the Dragon Zombie away from the carriage, the damage was kept to a minimum. He even single-handedly took down the dragon; what a remarkable ninja.

And yet, Halibel’s comment drew a disgruntled expression from Anastasia.

“What’s that? If I’m being told like that, it sounds like I’m a heartless employer. I’m saying that I will pay for the work done, you know?”

“Look at you. Trying to settle everything with money makes you sound quite unlovable… Isn’t it because Ricardo is so hands-off that you’ve become this sly?”

“Halibel…”

“Okay, okay, I concede.”

The banter between the two in Kararagi dialect ended with Anastasia’s lighthearted call.

Despite being old acquaintances, their casual exchange resembled that of a relative uncle and daughter; Anastasia, petite with a youthful face, had a personality that was in stark contrast to her childlike appearance, making that impression rare.

Ignoring Subaru’s impression, Halibel, having been bested by Anastasia, continued, “That aside…”

“I figured out in our clash that the Volakia zombies operate a bit differently from those in Kararagi. I probably won’t do well against them.”

“The Volakia zombies and Kararagi zombies are different? What does that mean? You’re not suggesting another zombie panic is happening at this time, are you?”

“I seriously doubt that. From my perspective… the Empire’s zombies seem tougher. Apparently, the child responsible has been messing with the Empire’s Great Spirit, so it could be a distance thing.”

“Distance…”

Halibel shared his feeling while bobbing the pipe up and down with his teeth.

The subtle nuance was lost on Subaru, who didn’t know the Undead of Kararagi. However, given that someone of Halibel’s caliber felt a difference, there surely had to be one.

I really didn’t want to believe that zombies were being utilized for different reasons simultaneously.

“Beyond distance, I get the impression it’s more about their level of completion.”

“And what do you mean by that, Julius?”

“Since Halibel finds them tough, it stands to reason that the zombies appearing in the Empire possess superior abilities. However, regarding timings, the city-states’ zombies appeared earlier. Therefore, what can be inferred from this is…”

“The zombies of Kararagi are practice dummies, while those of Volakia are the real deal. Is that what you’re saying, Knight Julius?”

Ram posed that question to Julius as he expanded on his hypothesis while touching the scar under his left eye. In response to Ram’s words, he nodded, “Yes.”

“If my current thinking is correct, it also explains Halibel’s impression. On that note, Halibel, may I ask why you felt the Empire’s zombies would not mesh well with you?”

“I haven’t seen them directly, but the zombies from the Dragon Carriage reportedly multiplied. The same sort of thing happened with that black dragon. See, my attacks are specialized for one-hit kill curses, so I’m at a disadvantage against opponents that don’t just die with a hit.”

“――――”

“Huh? What’s with the silence?”

“No, I was just surprised that Halibel casually mentioned that curse was his specialty.”

Halibel’s nonchalant revelation stunned Subaru. However, he nodded in understanding and said, “Oh,”

“It’s not like it’s something that will cause any trouble by being known. If you know, there are fewer people who can dodge a single hit from me, right?”

“Huh, it sounds humble yet not humble at all. I feel like the strongest from every country has that in common, like Reinhardt and Seccy…”

Subaru was genuinely impressed by Halibel’s confident declaration as a strong person.

Seccilis, who was a complete bundle of approval, was needless to say, and Reinhardt, who walked around dressed in humility and sincerity, was absolute in his self-confidence regarding his abilities.

In practice, someone that strong saying, “I’m so unworthy” holds no persuasive power; thus, it’s far more likable when they assert themselves confidently.

Anyhow――,

“I understand that Halibel can’t excel against zombies, but then what do we do? Who should infiltrate the Imperial Capital?”

“Well, that was a weak statement coming from our mightiest from Kararagi, but I’ll put my stamp of approval on Halibel’s skills. We shouldn’t coddle, but I think he should be on the assault team.”

“Well, I won’t say that I won’t whine and cry about it either?”

Halibel chuckled at Anastasia, who wasn’t one to avoid confrontation.

Indeed, even if the curse didn’t work against the Undead, Halibel was undoubtedly a force of power that could battle the black dragon alone. It could be considered a given to include him in the attack squad.

Thinking about moving on to the main topic, Subaru raised his hand and said, “If it’s alright?”

Then――,

“I’ll say this upfront: I’m taking part in the assault team.”

Before anyone else had the chance to declare, Subaru asserted his stance.

“――――”

All eyes turned to the volunteering Subaru, creating a moment of stillness.

Taking advantage of that pause, Subaru seized the opportunity to explain why he should be involved.

“First, everyone should realize that Spica’s ability targets zombies… the power to nullify resurrection. However, I need to accompany her as her guardian to use that power. If even Halibel finds the enemy’s resurrection difficult, Spica is an absolute necessity for the strategy.”

In the fight against the formidable foe “Poison Princess” Lamia Godwin that attacked the Dragon Carriage, Spica played a crucial role.

If she could master the powers of “Gluttony,” she could sever the Undead’s infinite escape from death. In taking down the Sphinx, there isn’t a more effective plan than that from Spica.

“Both Spica and I have irreplaceable roles. …Meaning, naturally, Beatrice will have no choice but to come with me to the Imperial Capital.”

“Betty is absolutely in favor. I’m definitely done with being separated from Subaru.”

“Sorry, that’s a relief.”

Sitting next to Subaru, Beatrice tightly held the hand Subaru raised, agreeing to accompany him in the assault team.

Feeling strengthened by that partner’s response, Subaru turned his gaze toward Spica, the linchpin of the plan―― and the girl who was clinging to her, Rem.

Spica, with her arms wrapped around Subaru’s waist, felt Subaru’s gaze when Rem, supporting her shoulder, said,

“……Why do you look at me with such fearful eyes?”

“No, it’s just that I’m bringing Spica into a dangerous situation again, and if I end up making Rem hate me over it, my heart will shatter into pieces…”

“――Just go get comforted by Emilia-san.”

“Eh?”

In response to Subaru’s hesitant reply, Rem turned away, murmuring in dissatisfaction.

While Subaru struggled to digest the meaning of that remark, Ram, standing beside her, narrowed her pale pink eyes and asked,

“What will you do? Tear Balus apart?”

“Don’t suddenly say something so ominous, Onee-sama!”

“It’s a joke. Even if you tore him apart now, he’d just come back, right? An undead Balus returning would be a nightmare. Horrific.”

“Don’t kill him off just to make him multiply!”

Ram’s overly Ram-esque comment drew a chuckle from Rem, who shook her head. Then, Rem thanked her sister, saying,

“Thank you, Onee-sama. I appreciate your thoughtfulness. But just like Onee-sama said, no matter what, he’ll come back, so let’s postpone that for now. More importantly…”

“Eh?”

“Spica-chan, do you think you can do your best with that person?”

Rem, eliminating the smile from her face, looked down at Spica, who was clinging to her, and asked. At that question, Spica’s blue eyes widened but quickly turned determined.

When questioned about her role, the girl recognized what she must do and nodded vigorously,

“Aah!”

Picking up on that unvoiced affirmation, Rem’s expression mixed sadness and regret, clearly reflecting her inner feelings, making her voice tremble.

“If it were possible, I would want to go too. …But I know that if I go now, I’d just be a hindrance. However…”

“――You don’t need to worry; you can relax, Rem.”

The heartfelt plea from Rem was interrupted by a reassuring voice.

Startled, Rem widened her light blue eyes at the one who had spoken — it was Emilia, who triumphantly thumped her chest.

Her beautiful dark purple eyes were filled with determination, and she began to nod at Rem.

“I can completely understand your worries about that girl, and about Subaru and the others who will go with her. So, no matter what happens, I’ll protect them!”

“Emilia-san…”

“Leave it to me. Contrary to my appearance, I’m incredibly strong!”

With a firm display of her muscles, Emilia smiled at Rem.

In the face of Emilia’s immensely uplifting words, Rem was left speechless, her gaze darting around, unsure of what to say.

However――,

“No, no, no! What are you saying, Emilia-sama! There’s no way I can allow you to go!”

“Eh!? Why not?”

“Why not? You’d understand if you asked!”

Emilia looked utterly bewildered, and Otto was even more taken aback.

Since they had joined up in the Empire, Otto had continually worn a frown, but it was refreshing to finally see his familiar panicked face, although it wasn’t a funny situation.

In fact, this time, Otto made a more reasonable point than Emilia.

“You’re considering charging into the most dangerous part of the Empire, after all? There’s no way I’ll send Emilia-sama into such a place!”

“Well, that is true, but the moment we set foot in Volakia, it’s essentially already dangerous, isn’t it?”

“It’s tough to refute, but that said, I still believe in a scale of danger. Just like Natsuki-san said, the Imperial Capital has the enemy’s main fortress… the stronghold can’t possibly be as secure as a village that’s lacking strategic value. The Capital is undoubtedly the most dangerous area.”

“Yeah, I suppose so.”

As he faced such a logical rebuttal, Garfiel also withdrew his previous opinion.

Riding that momentum, Otto shifted his gaze toward Subaru and Beatrice, saying,

“To be honest, I’m against you guys going too, Natsuki-san. This is fundamentally an issue for the Empire, and risking your lives for another country’s problem is misguided.”

“Honest to a fault. But as I’ve said many times…”

“I get it. It doesn’t matter whether it happens in the Kingdom or Empire; what matters is that it happened at all. Given that the Witch may have her sights set on Lugnica, I agree with you there. If it were up to me, I’d rather watch the Empire become a barren wasteland than have my homeland appear.”

“You’re not even trying to hide your strong sense of kinship anymore.”

Otto, who was already known to have a severe side, must feel that dealing with issues related to the Volakia Empire is a mixed bag of pros and cons for him. Therefore, it’s not surprising he’s reluctant.

However, as Otto understood, for Subaru, this wasn’t a matter of regional concern.

Sure, Subaru hated the Volakia Empire, but he also had people he loved within that Empire. For their sake, he wanted to do everything he could.

For that reason――,

“――It’s not just Spica; I need to be present in the Capital.”

Subaru’s volunteering for the assault team served the purpose of protecting Spica so she can shine with her powers.

However, the main goal was to confront the Capital, which would likely become the fiercest battleground, and overturn the unavoidable “death” that awaited someone there, rewriting fate with his own hands.

In his extreme efforts to bring all the gladiators to his side at “Gladiator Island,” Subaru had gone to great lengths.

However, his resolve was solid. If a reward was promised, he wouldn’t hesitate.

“Betty doesn’t want Subaru to do anything dangerous either.”

At that moment, Beatrice voiced her thoughts on behalf of Subaru, expressing her views to Otto, who was looking at her and Subaru.

With distinctive patterns appearing in her blue eyes, Beatrice met Otto’s gaze.

“But, to dismantle the ‘Secret Techniques of the Undying King,’ that girl’s power is useful, right? Plus, if it becomes necessary to seal the Sphinx, Beatrice’s strength will surely be needed.”

“Sealing, you say?”

“If Spica’s ability fails, the only solution to stop the Sphinx’s rampage may involve sealing techniques. If it were to self-destruct and escape, that would initiate an unending chase. To prevent that from happening, it’ll be Beatrice’s turn to use her magic.”

Beatrice held Subaru’s hand with one hand and pointed her other hand out.

Seeing her uniquely childlike rounded hand, what surfaced in Subaru’s mind was the image evoked by Beatrice’s mention of “sealing”—the fate of the Archbishop of Gluttony, Roy Alphard, who had been successfully captured at the Pleiades Watchtower.

Roy, his entire body solidified like wax with Dark Magic, was restrained in a state unable to move or even think.

“Surely, the Witch of Envy was also caught with that same sealing technique…”

“Precisely. The Trusted and Proven ‘Witch’ sealing. Should sealing the Sphinx be essential to curb this situation, I’m sorry to put you and Petra in a difficult spot, but Beatrice and Subaru are irreplaceable.”

In response to Beatrice’s magical support from a technical standpoint, Subaru observed Otto and the expressions of Frederica standing beside Petra.

In the time that had passed, Petra had only grown more reliable and promising. Yet she clearly expressed her disapproval of Subaru heading into the Capital.

Still, being the clever girl she was, Petra understood the reasonableness of Beatrice’s opinion and realized that should they fail to halt the tide of Undead, the damage would exponentially increase.

So, she sighed deeply, seeming very reluctant, and said,

“It’s like we’re going to end up doing it, right?”

“Petra…”

“Just like Rem, I’m not in a position to go along. …But at least it’s a relief that Beatrice-chan will be accompanying us as a supervisor.”

The well-reasoned girl showed a degree of understanding far beyond her years, and that fact hurt Subaru’s chest, that he was the worry to Petra. Beatrice, who earned Petra’s trust, nodded as if taking on the responsibility.

“I completely understand, Petra. As long as Beatrice is here, I won’t let Subaru face any danger.”

“Yeah, thanks, Beatrice-chan.”

“Yes, indeed. I can feel relieved when Beatrice is with Subaru, and it makes me happy. But if the two of you along with me could come, I would feel even more secure…”

“Emilia-sama…”

“Ugh…”

Following the beautiful friendship between Beatrice and Petra, Emilia attempted to interject with her less-than-smooth approach but was immediately shut down by Otto’s stern gaze.

However, as noted before, Subaru was inclined to agree with Otto’s sound reasoning on this matter.

While he wanted to grant any wish Emilia had, conceding this wish would mean escorting her to the most perilous spot in the Empire.

At the same time, Garfiel’s point had merit too.

It was undeniable that setting foot in the Empire meant danger was present, and even staying behind in Garkla would not guarantee safety.

In that sense, it would be ideal to keep every known person close by Subaru’s side――.

“――I am in favor of adding Emilia-sama to the assault team.”

“Milord!?”

However, a sudden, entirely contrary opinion sprang forth.

Frederica raised her voice, utterly surprised, her face a mixture of disbelief. However, it was not just Frederica who voiced her confusion; nearly everyone present was taken aback by that notion—Roswaal’s declaration.

Among the surprised crowd, it was Anastasia who recovered more quickly than anyone else. She stroked the fox fur around her neck while frowning and said,

“Well, that’s quite an unexpected opinion. I honestly thought that everyone else would unanimously oppose Emilia’s inclusion besides Emilia herself.”

“Being the representative of our faction, it’s too much to deny the need to consider Emilia-sama’s opinion… which is a joke. I am not just acting contrary for fun.”

“……Shall we hear you out?”

With a shrug, Roswaal prompted Otto, who had maintained a suppressed tone and expression.

Subaru, along with Emilia, the party involved, waited with bated breath for Roswaal’s thoughts. Amidst the gaze of everyone around, Roswaal narrowed his yellow eyes and closed them slightly,

“This isn’t a complicated matter. In terms of our alliance with the Empire, Emilia-sama’s strength holds significant value we can propose to them. If it were Anastasia-sama who brought this up, everyone should turn her down. But that is not the case with Emilia-sama. Everyone recognizes this at the point when Emilia-sama was involved in that significant war before any Undead appeared.”

“Exactly! Even at that time, we faced off against Madeline and Mezoleia, but she still managed to come back without a scratch.”

“Those are different circumstances. What’s needed in this case is a small elite surprise attack, and Emilia-sama’s grand… bold fighting style is not suitable for this.”

“I can compensate just fine. Plus, with Emilia-sama here, even if the strategy fails, we can incorporate recovery into our plans. She could freeze half the Capital, right?”

Roswaal’s outrageous statement raised a finger, but this was not as outrageous as it seemed.

With Emilia’s irreplaceable unit capabilities, her incredible amount of mana, and that skill that could execute massive area attacks, she could actually change the battlefield into an icy wonderland while cheerfully darting around in the freezing cold.

The extremely high ability to sustain combat had led Subaru to develop the “Ice Brand Arts,” something Roswaal recognized as invaluable.

Indeed, there’s no doubt that Emilia was one of the army’s highest battle forces.

After having her participate in the Pleiades Watchtower and the Imperial Capital battle, claiming that Emilia couldn’t be sent because it was too dangerous lacked persuasive power.

Moreover, something that only Roswaal had was his unique conviction.

That is――,

“Natsuki-kun would also be more eager with Emilia-sama around, right?”

“You…”

Roswaal’s sly smile made Subaru unconsciously bite his lip.

The insinuation wrapped in that tight phrasing clearly mocked Subaru’s power―― the “Return by Death.”

While Roswaal didn’t know that Subaru’s trigger for time-retrieval was “death,” he was aware that Subaru possessed such trump cards.

He was also certain that Subaru wouldn’t hesitate to use that trump card if it were for Emilia’s sake.

Roswaal’s intuition was spot on.

While Subaru may return from death regardless of what happens to anyone, the level of determination and desperation he would have in the presence of Emilia would outweigh whatever Roswaal sought or even more.

However, such circumstances tended to persuade only someone as sharp as Roswaal.

“Milord, I am with Otto. I oppose Emilia-sama’s involvement.”

As a matter of fact, hearing Roswaal’s opinion, the opposing sentiments remained steadfast.

Even Frederica, who often leaned toward Roswaal, prioritized the situation’s precariousness and opposed Emilia’s inclusion in the assault team.

But――,

“Of course, I understand that Emilia-sama is stronger than I or Otto, but still, I worry about your well-being…”

“――I will accompany you. Is that clear?”

“Eh?”

Frederica, who had been firmly against it, looked up in disbelief.

Roswaal made his non-negotiable declaration that was short yet unmistakable. He raised his hands for everyone to see as he waved them,

“I, too, will join the assault team headed to the Imperial Capital alongside Emilia-sama. Fortunately, with no need to conceal my identity anymore, I will unleash my techniques, both big and small!”

“Wait, Roswaal’s coming with us? Is he really coming along?”

“Are you surprised?”

“Of course! It’s because Roswaal always seems relaxed back at the mansion.”

While Emilia expressed her surprise straightforwardly, Roswaal chuckled.

“Relaxed” might be a tad too fitting a description of Emilia’s, but the fact that Roswaal is often absent from the scene of trouble is mainly due to him usually being the source of such issues, plus he’s inherently an untrustworthy ally.

However, considering the situation, there was no point in Roswaal betraying their trust here.

Given that Roswaal probably wouldn’t be plotting anything sinister during their time in the Empire, one could say they were in a more secure situation trusting Roswaal than when he was in the Kingdom.

“What’s up with finding a more trustworthy ally when you’re in a foreign country?”

Upon hearing Roswaal’s inclusion, apart from the sulking Beatrice, it seemed like the proposal held only advantages for Subaru.

If they were talking about the army’s top battle force, Roswaal certainly belonged to that category.

“I’m also――”

For a moment, Otto seemed to want to say something.

However, that half-spoken thought was abruptly cut off as he took a deep breath and exhaled,

“Garfiel! Come with Natsuki-san and the others!”

“――So, we’re really doing this? With all of those strong ones included in ‘The Three Knights Go’?”

“There’s no point in taking a half-hearted approach now. Truthfully, it also annoys me that we’re following the border count’s lead.”

“Natsuki-kun keeps raising me up higher than I deserve.”

Roswaal now sported a carefree smile as Otto placed a hand to his head. Seeing the troubled expression on his big brother, Garfiel clutched his fists in front of him, teeth gritting.

He stomped down hard, creating a loud thud as he proclaimed,

“Fine! I’ll take on your worries about Otto, Petra, and even my sis!”

“Garf, you forgot about Ram’s worries.”

“I don’t give a damn about your concerns for Roswaal!”

“You silly boy! There’s no need to worry about the likes of Roswaal. It’s your feelings for Garf we worry about!”

Garfiel, who had made a cheerful decision, was a bit dampened by Ram’s sharp response.

Then, revealing her wicked side, Ram looked toward Roswaal, who had volunteered for the assault team.

“Please, go ahead. Show the power of Roswaal-sama to the Empire!”

“Indeed. The Empire continues to underestimate magic slightly.”

In response to Roswaal’s smile, Ram performed a curtsey while grabbing the hem of her travel skirt.

Observing that exchange of unexaggerated trust, Emilia was left there with wide eyes and a puzzled expression, attempting to catch up with the conversation.

“Um, so what I’m getting is that Roswaal and Garfiel will be coming along, and I’m also heading into the Imperial Capital with Subaru and the rest… if that’s alright?”

“Yeah, that should be fine. Just like Otto said, top-notch battle force.”

Three of the highest battle forces in Team Emilia, namely Emilia, Garfiel, and Roswaal, were banding together; thus, they could be said to be at peak performance as allies.

Now, Subaru worried whether he, Beatrice, and Spica might drag them down.

“Then Halibel will join us as well. Next…”

“――Subaru.”

As he tried to determine the undisputed strongest members, Subaru was called.

The one calling him was a man not included amongst the previously mentioned members. If it were purely about gathering the best team, he was undoubtedly someone everyone would want to include.

However, standing in formal attire, the man with a gallant expression made a clear statement.

“I will remain by Anastasia-sama’s side. Drawing the eyes of the enemy towards the Fortress City will also assist in your infiltration.”

“――――”

“Of course, the Emperor’s trusted figures will take the charge in defending the city, but I will also be aiding. Most importantly…”

He briefly paused, looking at Anastasia beside him.

Anastasia, who had come to Volakia, making sacrifices to find Subaru and the others, needed to return safely with her gratitude intact.

With that, Julius clearly stated,

“I shall be the knight of Anastasia-sama.”

Subaru quietly gasped at those uplifting words, realizing it was a clear declaration of Julius about his position, just as much as it was a rallying call to Subaru in the same role.

――Just as Julius vowed to protect Anastasia, Subaru too was tasked with protecting Emilia.

“I’ll say this: just because I stayed behind doesn’t mean I get to take it easy. If I let my guard down, I’ll relive the disgrace of that time with Raid again.”

“That’s terrifying. Every time I see the scar on my face in the mirror, I feel chills run down my spine.”

“Shut up!”

With a laugh, Subaru sprang up from his seat.

Then, he looked around at everyone, reaffirming the situation.

“Going will be me and Beatrice, along with Spica. Then, Emilia-chan, Garfiel, and Roswaal will join, and Halibel will be part of the crew.”

“Okay, let’s do our best. Those staying behind, including Ram and the others, should be careful of the ‘zombies.’”

“When we say it’s all about capturing the main enemy in the Capital, saying it like that loses all meaning. But how flashy can we make it to change the difficulty levels for Emilia and the others? It’s our chance to show off.”

With the merchant spirit piqued, Anastasia grinned as she answered.

Filled with resolute strength, Subaru clenched his fists for the impending showdown in the Empire.

He must do everything in his power to thwart the “Great Calamity.”

To do so, he had to hurry to the Imperial Capital.

Why?

“――Now, if I leave Seccy behind, she might accidentally end up racking up a thousand kills or even ten thousand, and if that burns through the Great Spirit’s mana, Volakia will be done for.”

In that case, it would be unclear whether it would be Subaru’s fault for bringing Seccilis along or the Empire’s fault for leaving Seccilis alone all this time.