"——Subaru!!"
A voice called out to Subaru from within the cathedral, having burst through the entrance.
It was
Her long silver hair was gathered up, and she wore a pure white dress with sleeves draped elegantly over her arms. Her appearance was beautiful — so beautiful it could break your heart. If he could have, he would have wanted to be the first to see her in that bridal outfit, but— "I'll hold off on my E.M.T reaction for now, but it looks like we crashed the wedding right in the middle of the ceremony, huh?"
"And from the looks of it, the ceremony wasn't exactly going smoothly either. Seems like we won't even be treated as uninvited guests."
Subaru glanced between Emilia and Regulus, who stood facing each other at a distance, and Reinhard voiced agreement with his words. The ceremony appeared to be on the verge of collapse — the perfect timing to crash it.
Upon hearing those two speak, Regulus — who had already been in a foul mood — flushed red with fury. He threw open the front of his white tuxedo and twisted his lips in contempt.
"I hate to break it to you uninvited guests, but this celebration is about to become a memorial service. You'll need to prepare yourselves to go from guests to mourners. —Well, actually, you won't need to prepare at all. After all, you'll be on the receiving end soon enough."
"Whoa, whoa, easy there with the tough talk. The bride hasn't even rejected you at the altar yet, and you're already this worked up. You should be blushing with embarrassment instead. Besides, did you even hear who's standing next to me?"
Regulus spoke in a low voice laced with killing intent, and Subaru — provoking him further — shot a glance at Reinhard. Regulus made a puzzled face at the look, then let out a sigh of "ah."
"What was it again? Sword Saint? I've heard the name. Isn't it just a title for someone whose only skill is swinging a sword? What good does bringing someone like that do? No, no, no — thinking you've won just because of someone's reputation is simply ridiculous. A long accumulated history being powerful, pride in one's bloodline — those are all terrible old-fashioned traditions. Such things are destined to be swept aside by new winds and lose spectacularly. Is that what you'd like me to demonstrate for you?"
"'The only skill is swinging a sword' — I must say, that's a remarkably apt description. In truth, most of the roles people expect of me come down to exactly that. However, there is one problem."
To Regulus's defiant posture, Reinhard responded without taking offense in the slightest. True to his words, he slowly extended a hand toward his waist.
There rested the holy sword carried always by Reinhard, never parted from — scarred with the marks of a dragon's claws. Reinhard grasped its hilt and shook his head.
"What's wrong, Reinhard?"
"This sword, 'Dragon Sword Reid,' has been passed down since the first head of the Astrea family, but it has one flaw. It can only be drawn for an enemy worthy of being drawn against."
"And that means?"
"It seems that gentleman over there has been deemed unworthy of even drawing it."
"——!!"
Whether Reinhard intended it that way or not, it was a devastatingly humiliating remark for Regulus. Subaru knew from experience — the sword hadn't been drawn against Elsa either — that Reinhard's words weren't a lie.
But even knowing that, the humiliation Regulus felt couldn't have changed.
"The Sword Saint can't even draw his sword, and you think you can take me on? Don't flatter yourself, little worm. We exist on entirely different levels. You lot, still pathetically flailing around using 'incompleteness' as an excuse — you're not even in the same conversation as me, a completed being. You fools who can only confirm your own worth by comparing yourselves to others — don't you dare try to judge me with that arrogant air."
"You know, you're really something," Subaru said, half exasperated.
Setting aside the full scope of Regulus's threat for the moment and simply listening to his words— "You're the biggest boomerang case I've ever seen. You keep going on about being 'complete,' but you're the one who can't rest until he compares himself to others and talks about who's superior."
"——How dare you, you incomplete wretch, lecture someone who is whole!"
Regulus flew into a rage at Subaru's words and finally put his threat into action.
The instant the madman's foot slammed against the floor before the altar, the wooden planks peeled upward with terrifying force. A torrent of destruction hurtled in a straight line toward Subaru and the others, and the scattering fragments of wood and stone could be seen being ground to sand as they were swallowed by overwhelming power.
"——Whoa!?"
"Subaru, over here."
Just before the destruction reached them, Subaru was grabbed by the scruff of the neck and yanked sideways in one swift motion.
A light leap pierced through the wind, and Subaru was pulled free from the path of destruction. The one who did this was Reinhard, who had grabbed Subaru with one hand and evaded the attack in a single bound.
Reinhard gently set the dizzy Subaru down on the floor, and at the same time bent his knees to charge at Regulus. However— "Don't move! If you try anything funny, these women die."
"————"
Regulus glared at the crouching Reinhard, his hands aimed at the cathedral walls.
Lined up along the walls were the women attending the wedding ceremony, dressed in their finery. All of them wore expressions devoid of emotion, showing no reaction whatsoever to Regulus's actions. As though they knew this was how it would be, they stood in a row, silently watching the confrontation before them.
"Now that you mention it, who are those women? I'd rather not ask, but…"
"They're all my beloved wives. Beautiful maidens who love me and reciprocate my love. And you would kill these innocent women? How could you even think of doing something so cruel!"
"This is bad. I had a feeling, but there's no having a conversation with this guy."
It was impossible to tell where Regulus's earnestness ended and his nonsense began — his logic was utterly incoherent.
Using hostages, and claiming they were his own beloved wives? That was beyond absurd. The worst part was that the claim of "innocent" and the fact that Regulus himself would be the one to kill them were essentially unquestionable.
This disjointed hostage strategy was more than sufficient to function against Subaru and the others.
"I don't want to kill them. But if you continue to resist, I'll have no choice but to do so. One by one, starting from the end. It's truly awful that you would force me into doing something so cruel!"
"I'm pretty sure I never threatened you in any way, but okay."
"Don't make excuses! I'm the one who would kill them directly. But you're the ones pulling the trigger. Your killing intent is what kills them. At that point, it's nothing less than murder committed by you, using me as your weapon. You're the ones killing them. Don't try to run from that responsibility, you… wife-killers…!"
Regulus gnashed his teeth, glaring at Subaru and the others with eyes burning with hatred. The madman spewing this monstrous logic didn't sense anything wrong with his own words in the slightest.
While trying to stall through conversation, Subaru discreetly signaled to Reinhard with his eyes. But against a madman whose trigger for explosion was unknown, with around fifty hostages — even for Reinhard, if attacked from both sides along the walls simultaneously, he couldn't save everyone.
"————"
The situation would remain in a stalemate — no, it would continue progressing in exactly the direction Regulus wanted.
That was what Subaru thought, just then.
"Could you please not forget about me?"
"What?"
To the side of Regulus, who was keeping them pinned, a pale blue light burst forth.
The light permeated the cathedral in an instant, and in the next moment, it produced a high-pitched sound as it interfered with the world. The light sounds cascaded, resonated, and the natural music they composed filled the cathedral.
And in the blink of an eye after that, an enormous barrier of ice formed within the cathedral.
The glimmering blue ice barrier spread from Emilia, who stood before the altar, throughout the cathedral, creating thick walls of ice that shielded the attending women Regulus had been holding hostage.
But it didn't stop there — the ice froze Regulus's lower body in place, pinning him to the floor, and an ice sword — one held in Emilia's hand — was pointed at his exposed neck.
"You let your guard down, didn't you? I wasn't going to fight you without thinking things through, you know. I was fully prepared to freeze you solid. You lose."
"…Hey, do you not understand how to read the room? I had them on the ropes just now. This was supposed to be the moment where I decisively defeated those despicable people and proved that I was right. My wives are all believing in my victory, praying for it… What do you think you're doing?"
"Release me and everyone else right now. Not everyone would say it, but I'm sure some of them are obeying you out of fear. For those who still want to be with you, cherish them, and then…"
"…Just who are you even talking to? It's a good thing I didn't make you my wife."
"Eh?"
"Emilia! No! That won't stop him!"
Under normal circumstances, this would be a completely decisive moment. It was only natural that Emilia would think so.
If there was one thing different about the conditions, it was simply this: "the opponent isn't normal."
"——!"
With a sigh, Regulus lightly twisted his body and moved his legs. That was all it took for the freezing that had locked him firmly down to his waist to peel away effortlessly.
With the ease of stripping off partially melted ice, the bonds of frost shattered to pieces. The moment Emilia gasped at this, Regulus's palm closed around her slender neck. In one hand, he lifted her entire body off the ground.
"You're violent, and on top of that, you don't know how to treat a man properly. Being fickle in spirit means it doesn't matter if your heart and body are virgins — it's completely meaningless. You harlot. Latent harlot. To toy with my pure heart and then threaten me — I've never seen a woman this vile."
"Kgh… fu…"
"With that pretty face of yours, just how many men have you deceived, I wonder? Did every man go soft the moment you smiled? Did they lose their heads at the slightest word from you? If you'd so much as let them touch you, they'd have given you anything. Ah, how repulsive."
"Stop it! Take your hands off her, you bastard!"
Regulus held the lifted Emilia and berated her with cold, hatred-laced words. When Subaru couldn't bear to listen any longer and raised his voice, those inorganic eyes pierced straight through him.
"The only fool here is you — can't you read the situation? Or is this the part where you give up even trying to understand? Do I really need to explain everything to you? Isn't that basically abandoning your own capacity to assess a situation and clinging to the other party's goodwill? Isn't that a form of giving up on thinking, taking your own lack of awareness for granted and trying to coast on someone else's kindness? That kind of behavior is honestly a bit concerning from a human standpoint, you know."
"Release Lady Emilia. I'll hear your demands."
While Subaru held his breath, Reinhard spoke to Regulus.
The madman raised an eyebrow at those words, apparently deciding Reinhard was more capable of conversation than the blood-rushing Subaru, and twisted his cheek into a grin.
"Yes, yes, that's the kind of modest attitude I like. For the sake of guiding the conversation toward a direction we both desire, people have the tool of exchanging words, and it's good to put that to effective use. There are so many people who misunderstand that part and try to force things through with sheer power — it's really tiresome. I mean, it's something you could sort out with words alone, but they just have to show off their strength every chance they get. And half the time, those people aren't actually that impressive at all — losing to a pacifist like me, no less. How pathetic."
"A lengthy monologue is unnecessary. What I want to hear are your demands. It's painful for me and my friends to see Lady Emilia suffer any further."
"Oh, is that so? Then let me make it quick for you. —Unsheathe the sword at your waist, and step forward toward the altar."
Emilia's face went pale. Regulus showed her off, lifting her even higher. Her legs kicked at the air, and the ice sword she held fell to the floor and stuck into the wood.
Reinhard didn't hesitate. He removed the dragon sword from his waist and handed it to Subaru.
"…If it comes to it, I'll draw this and cut him down."
"That's one option, but unfortunately, I don't think even you can draw it. Don't worry — I will get Lady Emilia back, no matter what."
The two exchanged whispered words, and Reinhard complied with Regulus's instructions.
When the unarmed Sword Saint stood in the center of the cathedral, Regulus stopped him with "that's far enough." The distance was about five meters — a gap Reinhard could close in the blink of an eye.
The problem was that Emilia in Regulus's grasp would likely have her neck snapped the instant he closed in. And on top of that, they had no grasp whatsoever on the true nature of Regulus's invincible ability.
The freezing of Emilia, then its release. The unexplained destruction repeating itself. The key to unlocking the specifics of his "invincibility" had to be hidden somewhere in there.
"————"
Holding his breath, Subaru focused his attention on Reinhard's movements.
With no breakthrough solution in sight, they had to rely on Reinhard's judgment. Naturally, Subaru was doing his best to help, but his contributions at this stage were minimal.
"Is this where you want me to stop? What happens next?"
"I could just have me kill you right here and now — but that would be far too simple. I think so myself. Your decision to step forward for my wives, or for that harlot — there's no sincerity in that. I don't want to impose anything unreasonable. I don't want to be misunderstood as a selfish person. I want people to understand that I'm a modest man who finds fulfillment in the small everyday happinesses."
"————"
"That's why I have only one condition for releasing the hostages. I'd like you to take one of my attacks right here. Defenseless, no dodging. Do that, and I'll release the hostages. And in return, I'll forgive you for your cowardice in trying to attack me two-on-one."
"One strike, then."
At Regulus's proposal, Reinhard touched his chin in thought.
Watching him ponder from behind, Subaru silently shook his head — this was an absurd proposal. Regulus might be dressing things up nicely, but the power of his attacks was plain to see.
An incomprehensible strike capable of pulverizing building materials — even Reinhard couldn't possibly withstand that. Even if he somehow survived, being pushed into a state where he couldn't fight would make continuing the battle unthinkable.
"Understood. I'll take it."
But contrary to Subaru's mounting anxiety, Reinhard accepted the terms without hesitation. Subaru's eyes went wide at the answer, and Regulus nodded deeply.
"That's a fine resolve. I salute you. Even considering you tried to kill my wives, you at least retain a modicum of human dignity."
"An invincible ability user who takes hostages on top of everything — and he doesn't question himself in the slightest…"
The nauseating words Regulus spat out in his fine-sounding way made Subaru's stomach turn. Regulus didn't seem to hear Subaru's muttering, though. He kept his left arm clamped around Emilia and pointed the tips of his fingers on his right arm toward Reinhard.
"R-Reinhard… you've got a plan, right?"
"Subaru, it's a promise. You'll make up for my shortcomings, won't you?"
"What kind of ominous thing is that to say…"
Reinhard gave only a vague answer, and Subaru — hoping there was a strategy behind accepting the deal — was left hanging. Before that hope could solidify into words, Regulus had already swung his arm toward Reinhard.
It was invisible. His fingertips cut through empty air, and presumably something was launched at Reinhard. But the destruction itself couldn't be seen. Or was it some intangible attack, like an invisible hand, hurtling toward Reinhard?
There was no time to verify whether that guess was reality.
"————"
Reinhard, who had been standing right in front of Subaru, collapsed to the ground, blood spraying from his body.
His body had been cleaved diagonally, and the impact sent him tumbling — the composed, gallant bearing he normally projected was nowhere to be found.
"Eh—?"
Blood poured from Reinhard's fallen body, staining the torn red carpet an even darker crimson. His body jerked in spasms — the convulsive shock symptoms that a body on the verge of death displays just before losing its life.
Eventually, even those stopped. The body lying there was completely dead.
It was the unmistakable death of
"No matter who a person is, death comes with such anticlimactic swiftness, doesn't it? Whether they've left behind great achievements or committed the most heinous of crimes — death comes for all equally, stealing away life. In a world where inequality runs rampant, it is an equal event."
Regulus shook his head after confirming the death of the man he'd killed with a single swing.
The madman spoke of his actions' results with a solemn expression, as though discussing someone else's business.
"That's precisely why, knowing that the end will inevitably come, living people must pursue happiness while they live. That's why I feel such satisfaction in having a low threshold for what makes me happy. If I had been 'Greed,' desiring everything under the sun and never satisfied until I obtained it all, I might never have been able to find happiness while alive. But thankfully, I was born with the sensibility to be fulfilled by the simplest of pleasures."
Regulus pressed against his chest the arm that had killed Reinhard, and smiled.
And then— "You who are fulfilled — tell me. Were you satisfied in death, you who died? If you died satisfied, congratulations. If not, my condolences."
"U-OOOOH—!!"
The instant Regulus finished his drivel, Subaru was already in motion with a battle cry.
He grabbed a chair from inside the cathedral and hurled it at Regulus. The madman swatted the incoming projectile aside with one hand like a pest, and the chair shattered into pieces under the light impact, scattering everywhere. Regulus wore an expression of distaste.
"Compared to that one who went out with dignity, you're awfully noisy and ugly about things."
"I happen to have great confidence in my position as a knight who doesn't act like one!"
Subaru stepped onto the bloodstained carpet, reaching behind his waist. He drew a whip from there and sent the tip flying forward with momentum.
At Subaru's action, Regulus held up Emilia as though showing her off— "Are those eyes just for decoration? There's a hostage right here. Can't you see?"
"That's strange. According to you, you were supposed to release the hostages."
"——What!?"
The instant that voice echoed, Regulus's expression wavered with shock.
His gaze, which had been tracking Subaru running through the cathedral, snapped back — and the moment he saw the tall figure standing in the pool of blood, his throat froze with shock.
"What—"
"——'Blessing of the Phoenix.'"
A short voice answered Regulus's astonishment, and in that gap, three shadows moved in rapid succession.
Subaru's whip reached behind the altar, caught the golden-haired woman crouching there, and pulled her toward him.
Emilia, still in Regulus's grip, kicked the ice sword toward Reinhard with her outstretched foot.
Reinhard leaped forward, caught the ice sword, and raised it overhead aimed at Regulus.
With the line of fire clear — the woman no longer in the way — the Sword Saint had no hesitation with an ice blade in hand.
"————"
In that instant, sound was stripped from the world — and a blue light, together with a tremendous shockwave, tore through the cathedral.