——Come to think of it, this was his first time experiencing teleportation while still conscious.
The dissonance of stepping forward only to arrive somewhere other than where he was supposed to be. The alien sensation of air against his skin feeling entirely different from what it should. Gravity ignored, inertia ignored, and the resulting discord in his organs creating a visceral sense of wrongness.
All of it bundled together and jumbled into one overwhelming discomfort.
That was what Subaru felt the moment he returned to consciousness after being shoved out of the Forbidden Library by
"I had known you were the type to do something outlandish, but having my common sense so casually shattered like this is rather difficult to deal with. It's becoming hard to maintain my composure."
"I'll show you my next trick at the year-end talent show. It's a combo move between me and... the drill-haired loli brat. This spot here is fine for the village, right?"
"It should be. For the record, if my guess is correct, the door you came through was probably the entrance to some kind of livestock shed."
Julius pointed downward, his expression twisting into something faintly apologetic. Following his finger, Subaru realized he was standing in a massive pile of bird droppings.
"From the bathroom to a chicken coop full of crap... in that one instant, they really went out of their way to mess with me."
Grumbling about his misfortune, Subaru shook off his raised foot and slowly made his way out of the livestock shed. The chicken-like birds remaining inside, upon seeing their sudden intruder depart, appeared relieved as they began pecking at their feed once more.
Glancing at them from the corner of his eye, Subaru craned his neck to survey his surroundings. Sure enough, it was unmistakably the same village he had passed through just moments ago.
"That just now — was that perhaps a teleportation spell? If so, you've just experienced something extraordinarily rare. Magic that bridges separated spaces is something close to lost even among Yin-attribute spells. Those who can use it should number fewer than the fingers on one hand."
"Well, aren't I lucky... NOT. What am I going to do with that stupid girl...!"
Subaru shot back with a lighthearted retort at Julius's wonder, then turned to look toward the manor, his eyes bloodshot with fury. What flashed through his mind was the girl with cream-colored hair in vertical ringlets — the one who had cut off his words and acted entirely on her own.
The sorrowful expression she had shown at their parting was seared into his eyelids, refusing to fade.
"Making that face and then saying she can't go? What a joke. Fine, then — I'll drag her out by force if I have to..."
"Perhaps that's not the best idea."
The languid voice that suddenly reached him stopped Subaru in his tracks. He let out a "Guh" in his throat, freezing at the sound of that familiar voice.
Slowly — so unnaturally that his neck was about to crack — Subaru turned around, and noticed the grey-furred cat floating through the air toward him.
At the same time, Julius also noticed the presence. He straightened his back, bowed politely at the waist, and said: "It has been too long, Great Spirit."
"There's no need to be so formal. My rank as a Spirit is purely decorative, and I have no intention of bestowing my blessing on anyone other than Lia. That's right — I'm nothing but a freeloader in the Spirit world..."
"When it comes to venerating a being of immense power, no reason is needed. If I may add further — I myself am merely a Spirit Arts user. Including the lesser Spirits bound by contract, I have no reason whatsoever not to show you respect."
"How elegant. Splendid, splendid."
His heartbeat quickened, and a tingling numbness crept through his limbs. There was no sign of
"If you keep staring at me with such intensity, it becomes a problem for me too, Subaru. I know I'm unbearably adorable since it's been a while since you last saw me, but still..."
"As a mere fluff enthusiast, the scary part is that I can't deny that. Seriously."
Ignoring Subaru's internal turmoil entirely, Puck — looking down at him — said something cheeky. Subaru shrugged off the light banter, resisting the mental pressure that had stiffened his body. Though his pulse was still racing.
If he had to put a name to this emotion, it would still be "fear," Subaru thought.
Looking at this small cat before him — that carefree face, that lazily swaying long tail, saying such nonchalant things — Subaru was gripped by unmistakable fear.
If this being were to truly unleash its power, Subaru would be swept aside as easily as dust from a broom. And Subaru had already experienced that three times over.
Telling himself not to tense up, not to be afraid, was the crueler thing to say.
"So, what did you mean by that earlier?"
"By earlier?"
"Don't instantly forget what you just said. ...You stopped me from going to get Beako."
Even though Puck seemed to genuinely have forgotten his own words, Subaru pressed on, masking his conflicted feelings. Puck lightly clapped his paws together.
"Exactly as I said. If you want to take Betty out, I'd advise against it. You went and talked to her, and she turned you away, right? Then that was her answer."
"Staying at the manor is dangerous! The
"I don't believe anyone can break through Betty's Door Traversal. And even if they could, that would be something to accept. Because that, too, would be her answer."
At Puck's words, Subaru's eyes flew wide open and he stopped breathing.
He had been about to ask if this was some kind of joke, but the small cat before him showed no change in expression or demeanor. His attitude could only be read as serious.
"Even so, isn't that too cold? She adores you so much, and you, of all people..."
"I care for that girl like a sister too. But family love and choosing one's own fate are entirely different matters. Don't lump them together."
"You...!"
At that brutally detached answer, Subaru flew into a rage and stepped forward. He couldn't believe Puck would take such an attitude, and reached out to grab him, intending to set him straight. But— "Subaru, that's enough."
"Guh — you too, huh? You're going to stop me... You think I'm wrong...!"
"I don't have the full picture, but that's not it. Trying to change the Great Spirit's mind would be a futile effort. Our values and theirs are fundamentally different. They cannot coexist."
Julius stepped in and held Subaru back with an outstretched arm, shaking his head. As if to prove his words, Puck — who looked down at the enraged Subaru — remained perfectly composed, impossible to pin down. As though this entire exchange meant nothing to him.
"What's wrong?"
Puck blinked his dark, rounded eyes and tilted his adorable little head to ask the question.
But it was precisely that his voice, expression, attitude, and gestures were no different from the everyday that made Subaru feel something was terribly wrong.
Subaru and Puck's relationship, counted from the Otherworld Summoning, was actually fairly long by any measure. He had exchanged many words with the cat since meeting him around the same time as Emilia, and Subaru had grown reasonably fond of his non-human personality, thinking they had gotten along well.
And yet, Subaru could not understand the heart of someone he had thought he knew so well.
Because despite appearances, Puck was supposed to be deeply human — able to share laughter, to tremble with anger, and even to grieve for someone else's sorrow.
"If Emilia heard this, she'd be furious."
"—That's none of your concern, Subaru."
For the first time, those were words of clear rejection from Puck's mouth.
As Subaru looked up, Puck whirled around in midair, turning his back to him. And then: "In any case, Betty won't be showing her face anymore. The Witch Cult wouldn't be clever enough to think to check the Forbidden Library either. For her, staying out of sight is undoubtedly safer. If you're family, you have to trust her."
"...If you're family, shouldn't you correct things you think are wrong?"
"The desire to help and protect everyone indiscriminately, Subaru — that's something only someone who has their own life together is allowed to say."
At Subaru's strained words, Puck responded sharply and began moving away.
All Subaru could do was watch that impossibly small back retreat, biting down on his frustration. The shoulder beside him was tapped by Julius, almost consolingly— "I'm not doing this because I want your sympathy. It's pathetic, so cut it out."
"Your resolve is admirable — it's the mark of a knight. But for now, as his presence makes clear, there is still too much you lack. ...So, what will you do?"
"What do you mean, what will I do...?"
"Everything. The villagers have been persuaded, and they're already at the stage of boarding the dragon carriages. Lady Emilia and the maid have been placed in a separate dragon carriage from the villagers. All that remains is for us to finish our preparations to depart. ...What about the person from earlier?"
While Subaru had been conversing with Emilia and Beatrice at the manor, Julius and the members of the subjugation force had managed things quite well.
The evacuation preparations were already complete. The only thing left was the one person who had stubbornly remained behind.
"If this takes too long and the evacuation is delayed, it'll all have been for nothing... Damn it, I'll never forgive you, Beako. If you'd just obediently come with us..."
"Lament later. The more time we spend, the more we risk aggravating the anxiety we've managed to keep in check among the residents. I believe the critical juncture is now."
At Julius's pointed reminder, Subaru bit his lip, shook his head in deep anguish, stamped his feet in frustration, and let out an "Aaargh!" before saying: "We'll evacuate to the
"...Is that acceptable?"
"It's not acceptable. It's really not acceptable... but there's nothing else we can do."
Gritting his teeth in frustration, Subaru looked back at the manor.
Somewhere behind that door — a door that would never be opened by anyone else — in the darkness of a room, the girl was probably sitting on a stepladder, quietly reading her book.
"All you do is cause trouble, you delinquent girl. Please, whatever you do, don't get found... I'll deliver Emilia-tan and come right back for you."
Pressing his palms together, Subaru offered a prayer to a god whose existence he didn't even believe in.
And so, having forced his heart to some kind of conclusion with that hollow prayer, he set off dragging his sentimental feelings behind him.
"Once the Sanctuary evacuation is underway, I'm heading straight back to the manor to hunt down the remaining Witch Cult members. Petelgeuse... what about the Sin Archbishop?"
"Wilhelm and
"Great, if that's the case, I'm at ease. ...Alright, let's move out then!
Heading toward the village exit on the main road side, Subaru raised his hand and called the name of the earth dragon. The black earth dragon — whose nickname had become thoroughly established by now — approached Subaru and turned its back to him with a leisurely air, as if awaiting its master's mount.
"You and the trust we've built together are what's keeping me going right now, you know that?"
Subaru gently stroked the side of the dragon's prominently scaled body, then mounted its back with a somewhat less-than-dashing motion and guided Patrasche forward with the reins.
The herd of earth dragons — the merchant caravan's dragon carriages — were already lined up, waiting for the signal to depart. Surrounding them, battle-hardened warriors with weapons in hand were looking his way.
"Subaru, they're waiting for your command."
"Mine?"
Julius, who had mounted his earth dragon and pulled up alongside, spoke to him.
As if to affirm Julius's words, the gazes directed at him carried nods of agreement. Naturally, Subaru felt his chest grow warm.
Unsure whether the feeling was embarrassment or something closer to being moved, Subaru thrust his fist high into the air.
"——All units, head for the Sanctuary! Move out!!"
"——Ooooooh!!"
The overlapping voices of the knights rose high into the sky, and the great migration began.
--- "I met that mercenary called Yuri and was reaaally surprised, you know."
Pouting with her chin resting on her raised knees, Emilia fixed Subaru with a reproachful glare. That childishly endearing gesture was so far beyond the pale of normalcy that Subaru couldn't help but be captivated. Emilia, with an even more sulky look, continued: "I was reaaally, really surprised."
"I'm currently amazed all over again at how cute you are, Emilia-tan, but what about?"
"That's what I'm saying — the mercenary! When I thought Yuri was some complete stranger I'd never heard of, it turned out to be Julius. You two fought so viciously — when did you make up?"
Raising her voice slightly, she pointed past the stopped dragon carriage. Over there, Julius was chatting with a group of beast-person mercenaries. Subaru scrunched up his face in displeasure upon seeing this.
"We haven't made up. That guy's a mercenary named Yuri. He and I just have an employer-mercenary relationship — nothing but money binding us together. Of course we'd cooperate."
"You and your stubborn pride... I'll never understand boys. If you made up with me, you should make up with Julius too."
"I wanted to make up with Emilia-tan so badly that my heart nearly cracked in two. But I have absolutely no desire to make up with that guy. I. Hate. Him. Forever."
Carving out the words one by one, swinging his arms rhythmically, Subaru declared with a sullen expression. Exasperated, Emilia let out a sigh and shook her head weakly.
——It had been approximately four hours since their departure from
Having covered roughly half the distance to their destination — the Sanctuary — they had now halted the march at the entrance to a forest road for a rest break.
This was, after all, a large-scale migration with no small number of children, elderly, and women among them. Pushing too hard would cause problems — that was Julius's judgment, who had been leading the column.
While the restless part of him grumbled at having to stop, once the break actually began, the fatigue he hadn't even noticed crashed over his entire body, leaving him stunned.
And no wonder — since the negotiations with Crusch at the Crusch residence the day before yesterday, he hadn't had a single moment of true peace and rest.
"The travel time for the whale hunt and the actual battle itself. Then immediately after, forming the Witch Cult counterattack unit and running all night, taking down Petelgeuse, and now here... Yeah, no wonder I'm tired."
Reflecting on how unexpectedly heavy the workload had been, Subaru collapsed in exhaustion and tilted back some water. It had been handed to him by one of the traveling merchants, contained in a bamboo-like vessel. Somehow, magic had chilled it to a refreshing cold, and it slid down his throat, flooding him with vitality.
"Ughhhh! This is what I'm living for, man!"
"Barusu, you sound like an old man."
Ram passed by, holding the same type of vessel and serving drinks, dismissing him with a single line.
Glaring resentfully at her retreating back, Emilia — sitting next to him — let out a small laugh.
"Subaru. Your face has gotten reaaally different somehow."
"Yeah? ...Yeah, you're probably right. Honestly, I'm so exhausted that I think I've got some serious dark circles going on. Ugh, sleep deprivation is the skin's worst enemy..."
"That's not what I mean... It's more like... you look like a boy now."
Hearing her say that with a smile, Subaru involuntarily held his breath. Trying not to let her see that momentary lapse, he scratched his head while turning his face away so she wouldn't see him blush.
"So you thought of me as genderless until now?"
"Genderless...?"
"Ugh, she threw a curveball I wasn't expecting... My pure eyes can't take this!"
Emilia tilted her head in confusion, unable to follow the crude word — and her bewilderment was so adorable it hurt.
As Subaru clutched his chest in mock agony, silver fingertips brushed his hair and slid down his back.
"Did Beatrice... listen to what you had to say?"
"............"
"You met her, but it didn't work out... is what that silence means?"
"Was it that obvious?"
"Then I'm right. Fufu — maybe I'm starting to understand how Subaru feels."
Emilia didn't lose her smile despite Subaru's dejected expression. Feeling unworthy of the right to be smiled at like that — and not wanting to look at that smile any longer — Subaru averted his gaze. Emilia reached out and touched his cheek with her slender fingertip. Surprised, he turned back to look at her.
"Don't make that face. I know how hard Subaru tried for Beatrice. Even after parting that way, he still came back to me — she couldn't possibly abandon someone like that."
"She's selfish, you know, and she leaps to conclusions like nobody's business. She just took off on her own and locked herself away. As soon as I deliver Emilia-tan safely, I'm going straight back to drag her out and give her a good spanking."
"Don't you think Beatrice would be reaaally angry if you did that?"
"Considering how Tom-and-Jerry we are, it'd be cute. If there's anything you want to say to her, Emilia-tan, I'll pass it along."
Feeling more like himself thanks to Emilia, Subaru joked lightly when suddenly her expression hardened. Noticing this, Subaru widened his eyes as Emilia slightly lowered her gaze.
"I haven't really... talked with Beatrice much. So I don't really know what to say to her."
"Not much...?"
He started to say, but then it hit him.
Thinking back on their days at the manor, he couldn't recall a single instance of Emilia and Beatrice having a conversation.
Whenever Beatrice approached Emilia, it was always to speak with Puck, who was always at Emilia's side. Once that was done, the girl would pass by without so much as a word — no, without even a glance — at Emilia. And Emilia seemed to accept that.
"Beatrice seems to avoid me."
Sensing the reason for Subaru's silence, Emilia answered.
When Subaru was rendered speechless, Emilia let her violet eyes drift as if searching through memories.
"The first time we met at Roswaal's manor, Puck and Beatrice hit it off right away. That said, they were left alone together, so I have no idea what they talked about."
"Those two have a relationship I don't really get either. They act like siblings."
Then again, the pairing of a kitten as the older brother and a little girl as the younger sister was baffling in itself. Where was the space to insert a sibling dynamic between two beings with nothing in common?
Emilia shook her head at Subaru's puzzled look.
"Sorry, I don't know that either. But part of my contract with Puck is that I'm not supposed to press on the matter of my relationship with Beatrice."
"A contract... the kind you make with a Spirit? Wait, really? They can cram that kind of personal stuff into contract conditions?"
"It's a standard the Spirit uses to determine whether their contractor and they are compatible. The contents vary completely depending on the Spirit, apparently. With a Spirit of Puck's caliber, you apparently have to pay a truly enormous price..."
Saying that, Emilia closed her mouth awkwardly. Cut off mid-sentence without understanding, Subaru prompted her with "But?" She shut her eyes.
"But Puck has been reaaally, well, lenient with me — so the conditions are all easy things. There are just a few more of them."
"So in addition to 'don't question my relationship with Beako,' there are all sorts of other ones?"
"A few, yes. Things like: in the morning, my hairstyle must be what Puck decides; simple exercises upon waking and before bed; not being picky about food. Talking with the lesser spirits' children in the morning and evening, too, and grooming Puck's fur..."
"That's spoiling you rotten! He's just making you live a healthy, well-rounded life! That's spoiling you rotten!"
Involuntarily, Subaru repeated the jab twice, driven by Puck's shameless doting. Emilia reddened and looked down at Subaru's reaction.
"That's exactly why I didn't want to bring it up... I didn't think it was weird at all until I left the forest, but after moving into Roswaal's manor, I started to think maybe it was a little strange..."
"What is that cat teaching the pure, innocent Emilia-tan?! The fact that Emilia-tan keeps getting steered in directions that perfectly suit my preferences is just too convenient! What even is he? He looks like that, but he's actually my cupid?!"
If Puck was essentially a parent figure to her, then Emilia's current natural-goddess demeanor was the product of Puck's upbringing. Despite having just exchanged rather hostile words with him, Subaru found it annoyingly easy to forgive him.
In any case— "Since that's why Puck won't tell me... I just don't know why Beatrice avoids talking to me."
Sadly, Emilia returned to the original topic and closed her eyes. Her long lashes trembled faintly, and he could tell her stern expression was holding back sorrow.
Sensing the weight of her expression, Subaru scratched his cheek and said: "Alright, I got it. Then next time, the two of us — Emilia-tan and I — will pay a visit to Beako's Forbidden Library together."
"Huh?"
"The Forbidden Library. That stinking, moldy, unhealthful room where book-loving Beako endlessly holing up. Living in a place like that doing nothing but reading — she'll end up with eyesight so bad she'll be wearing glasses thick as the bottoms of milk bottles. Before that happens, we'll use Emilia-tan — who works hard every day to maintain her beauty and health — as a role model to show her how to do the same!"
Subaru clapped his hands, convinced this was a brilliant plan, as Emilia blinked her big eyes before him.
If Puck and Beatrice were close, and Puck and Emilia were close, then placing Beatrice in a scenario where Emilia carried out Puck's proposal might just improve the relationship. Even if it didn't — if the attempt failed — that result would still be progress. Progress through failure, so to speak.
"Everything starts with a challenge, Emilia-tan. If she runs away when we try talking to her, next time let's try grabbing hold of her. She might still run, but before she does, she'll definitely start loudly complaining. And if we loudly complain right back... eventually, we'll be able to talk with a laugh."
"————"
A wild, optimistic lecture on communication, Subaru-style.
Even Emilia couldn't hide her surprise at the sheer reckless vagueness of it all. And after a few seconds, frozen in place— "Fufu—"
She suddenly pressed her hand to her mouth and burst into laughter.
"I've successfully obtained Emilia-tan's smile."
"Aha, what are you even talking about. Subaru is... no, amazing. Subaru is amazing, really. Yeah. Yeah yeah... amazing."
Subaru secretly wished he could have recorded the second half, thinking rather indecent thoughts as Emilia kept praising him — and finding it surprisingly embarrassing.
Oblivious to Subaru's state, Emilia released a deep sigh.
"Next time, I'll try it. I'll try talking to her that way."
"Yeah, let's do it. And to make that happen, for now we evacuate with everything we've got. Then I'll rush back with everything I've got, and secure Beako with everything I've got. After that, I'll hand her over to Emilia-tan with everything I've got."
"Always with everything, huh?"
"I've recently started to learn that you can't get anywhere by slacking off."
Sticking out her tongue at his response, Emilia did the same in imitation. The cuteness difference was roughly ten thousandfold, and the impact left Subaru frozen. Leaving the stiffened Subaru behind, Emilia said "It's almost time" and brushed the hem of her now-dirty clothes.
"The scheduled hour-long break is almost up, so I should get ready. Did you manage to rest a little, Subaru? You're not pushing yourself, are you?"
"Thanks to Emilia-tan, the relaxation effect is insane. E·M·P."
"That thing you do again... it's been a while since I've heard that incomprehensible word."
This is nice, being together like this again — Subaru thought, rising with a similar brush of his hips.
Then, twisting his waist for good measure, he looked back while discreetly glancing around to make sure Emilia hadn't noticed.
Nearly thirty dragon carriages had been parked here, with the rest area set up to a respectable size.
The various members — merchants, villagers, and others — had gathered in small groups, exchanging anxieties and information. And during all of it, no one had approached Emilia and Subaru — with the sole exception of Ram, who had been lingering about while serving drinks.
If they were giving the pleasant pair some space, that would be one thing. But that wasn't what was happening.
——No one wanted to have anything to do with Emilia, who was a Half-elf.
Even the fierce knights of the subjugation force, who had endured hardships together, were no exception to this prejudice. In front of Subaru, they tried not to let it show in their expressions or attitudes — but given the opportunity, their instinctive rejection of her presence still surfaced through their natural movements.
Aside from Subaru and Ram's household, the only ones who interacted naturally with Emilia were Julius, Ferris, Wilhelm, and perhaps Mimi — who seemed not to think about anything at all.
Even during an evacuation — essentially a shared fate — things were like this. Subaru's expression clouded with worry about what lay ahead, and he wiped his face with his palm to hide the grim look from Emilia.
Roughly rubbing, waving his hand, pointing a finger to the sky, and doing an exaggerated turn— "Alright then, shall we get moving again! Emilia-tan, I know you want to stay with me, but you'll have to swallow your tears and get back in the dragon carriage."
"By the way, Subaru — the earth dragon you've been riding has been glowering at me this whole time, hasn't it? You've really earned its affection, I see."
She let his quip roll off effortlessly, and looking where she pointed, Subaru saw Patrasche glaring at Emilia. The dragon's posture looked like nothing so much as the pride of a mount refusing to let its master be taken away.
"Hey, hey, partner, are you jealous of Emilia-tan? Come on, you and I are in this together. That much I won't budge on. But my heart's number one star is always you, my—"
Smoothly trying to placate the dragon, Subaru was cut off mid-sentence by the sweeping arc of Patrasche's tail, which sent him flying. Watching Subaru tumble across the ground, Emilia drooped her shoulders in exasperation.
"That's what happens when you say sweet things to every girl you meet. You should save it for the one who really matters."
"My... my heart's brightest star... is always... you..."
"Yeah, yeah. Now come on, we're departing~"
Poking at her bruised side while rolling on the ground, Subaru received a half-hearted response as Emilia climbed back into the dragon carriage. Looking around, everyone else had finished their rest and was beginning to move out.
"Barusu. No matter how tired you are, lying on the ground like that shows a severe lack of awareness as a servant of Lord Roswaal."
Ram climbed into the dragon carriage after Emilia, casting a disdainful glance at Subaru as he lay abandoned on the ground.
--- After the break, the march to the Sanctuary resumed.
Unlike the route to the
Naturally, the villagers unused to this kind of march, and Subaru — a self-evident amateur — felt their fatigue mounting, and Subaru had to consciously steel himself multiple times to keep from snapping under the strain.
"Excluding the rest break, we've been traveling for about six and a half hours now... We should be getting close to where the Sanctuary is, don't you think..."
Leaning his full weight on Patrasche and aided by his partner's considerate movements as a mount, Subaru tilted his head to scan the tilted world around him.
But ahead, the road was now flanked by small hills on both sides, blocking the view of what lay beyond — their destination still invisible.
"Subaru, I'd think we should be able to see the destination by now..."
"If you'd brought that up ten seconds earlier, I could've avoided being disappointed twice."
It was perhaps his training that allowed Julius to maintain his graceful, effortless posture — he pulled up alongside and gave a wry smile at Subaru's defeated words.
He smoothed his wind-tossed bangs with his fingers, then narrowed his eyes at the same road ahead that Subaru had seen.
"Indeed, it looks like another stretch of road that could loosen the march's footing. We can't afford to let our guard down."
"...I know. If I were the enemy, I'd be about ready to attack."
Subaru's sharp response made Julius glance at him with a flicker of surprise.
"I'm surprised to find you share my view. Do you also think an ambush is likely?"
"We should assume there will be one. There's been no movement at all so far, which is actually more unsettling. And we still have a Sin Archbishop in our midst. I'm not expecting any sense of camaraderie or anything... but they're not the kind to just let things end here."
"You seem quite certain. I think so as well."
Julius nodded with satisfaction at Subaru's answer, then rested his hand on the hilt of his knight's sword and looked toward the carriage in the middle of the column — where Wilhelm and Ferris were watching Petelgeuse.
"If he dies and possesses another body... If that's true, it's an incredibly troublesome authority. Ultimately, it might be best to seal him using the Great Spirit's power."
"So that's how it is. I thought the same thing. It's frustrating, but still..."
As for Petelgeuse alone, Subaru wanted — truly wanted — to end his life.
That was partly his own hatred speaking, but more than that, it was righteous fury. He didn't know the full extent of what that man had done. He didn't know — but there was one thing he was certain of.
——This was a man who deserved to die here.
"What an incredible way of thinking. If I were back in my original world, there's no way I could think about this so realistically."
If it were just lip service — saying "die" or "I'll kill you" — he could have managed. But since coming to this world, he had been repeatedly shown the true weight and value of life. He could never again speak those words lightly, not twice.
And knowing all that, still feeling this way meant there truly was no saving that man.
No — there were people who should not be saved.
——And then it happened.
"——Subaru!"
"——!?"
Julius suddenly raised a sharp voice. Following his raised hand, Patrasche halted. The swift command rippled through the column, and the entire march stopped instantly.
The cause was the order from the elderly knight leading the column. He drew his sword and held it skyward, straining his voice so all could hear: "——Ahead! Multiple figures on the road between the hills! They're clad in black — it's the Witch Cult!!"
The report rang out loud and clear. Subaru and Julius exchanged a glance, nodded, and began running toward the front of the column through the confusion spreading through the line.
As they ran, Julius called out, and Subaru matched him: "Remain calm and act accordingly! Kingdom Knights, protect the citizens!
"No need to panic — we've got this handled! There are plenty of strong and cool knights on our side, plus a tough and wild mercenary company. Come on, Mild — show your face and protect your mother! Petra, keep rooting for my victory!"
At Julius's command, the knights and mercenaries sprang into action. At Subaru's rallying cry, the anxious villagers retreated into the depths of the dragon carriages.
Having seen to this, the separation of combat personnel and evacuees into front and rear was complete. Subaru and Julius, who had rushed to the head of the column, now brought the Witch Cult into view.
Spilling over the hilltop — approximately thirty strong.
Their two hideouts had gone undiscovered, and the remaining force was slightly larger than anticipated.
"If I were Petelgeuse, I'd have prepared a separate unit for the assault. Not exactly surprising... What do you think, Julius? Can we handle it?"
"There are more than expected, but we still outnumber them. Furthermore, this is a head-on clash. The Witch Cult — who prefer to lurk in the shadows and act with cowardice — are up against us, the knights. There is no way they can win."
Drawing his knight's sword, Julius responded with commanding poise.
Following his lead, the knights drew their blades one after another. The mercenaries mounted on their Ligers began licking their lips, as if eagerly awaiting the scent of blood.
Sensing the surge of fighting spirit, Subaru looked back.
Behind the pulled-back dragon carriages was the one carrying Emilia. Through the small open window, silver hair fluttered in the wind, and violet eyes looked his way with concern.
Giving her a reassuring thumbs-up, Subaru then let his gaze drift further back.
There, Petelgeuse was still held captive in silence. Having descended from the carriage, Wilhelm stood ready with his legendary sword, vigilantly guarding against threats from both within and without.
"If we smash through the Witch Cult up ahead and throw Petelgeuse on ice, it's over. ...Come to think of it, it's been one hell of a journey."
But at last, the end of that journey was in sight.
He had no proof. But vaguely, his soul understood. Every being present was the full force for both sides. His heart knew it.
That was why there was no hesitation in giving everything they had.
"All forces — annihilate the Witch Cult! Prepare to—"
Julius inhaled and raised his commanding voice.
Fighting spirit erupted explosively, and at the next shout, everyone would charge as one — but just before that— "————!!"
What rang out was an explosion so powerful it threatened to shatter eardrums.
A tremendous shockwave rippled through the ground. Subaru's upper body swayed, caught in the blast and the concussive wind. A piercing ring echoed through his skull like metal being struck hard, and his vision flickered.
"What... was...?"
He couldn't even hear his own words. Clinging only to the certainty that the shockwave's source lay in a specific direction, Subaru turned his head back.
——There, the dragon carriage that had been carrying Petelgeuse was gone without a trace — completely obliterated.
"Oh no—!!"
The instant he grasped the implication, Subaru understood his own rashness.
Simultaneously, the knights and mercenaries around him saw the same thing and lost all words. And just as that surge of fighting spirit was doused— From the road beyond the hills, the Witch Cult was closing in. The woman at its head grinned grotesquely: "Now — the end begins. Die!!"
With an overwhelming pressure that seemed to blot out the sky, a black demonic hand surged upward.
Surged upward.
Surged upward — toward them.