"Gluttony…"
Facing the nightmare standing before him, Otto couldn't suppress the cold sweat trickling down his back.
The enemy who called themselves an Archbishop of Sin — he had heard the name "Gluttony." But that name…
"From what I'd heard, the Archbishop of Sin known as 'Gluttony' was supposed to be a man named Roy Albarde."
"Oh my, did someone meet us before we met us? Then, big brother, isn't it amazing that you got left over even though that's how it normally works? If it were bad-tasting Roy, everything would be a feast, after all."
The boy who called himself Rai Batenkaitos cackled at Otto's question. Listening to that laughter, Otto understood that his terrifying speculation had been confirmed.
— There were two Archbishops of Sin called "Gluttony."
"No, at minimum two… or perhaps…"
Rai and Roy — or rather, Batenkaitos and Albarde. At worst, they might have to account for an endless nightmare, like the
The ones who had set out to assault the control tower of "Gluttony" were Julius and Ricardo. If they were facing more than one opponent, they wouldn't just struggle — defeat would be inevitable.
"Hey! This ain't the time to be chummy with a creep like that! We've got bigger problems right now!!"
Otto clenched his teeth, sharpening his nerves as a burning sensation crawled across his forehead. The voice that cut through his deliberation belonged to a painfully pungent girl.
Of course, Otto had already noticed her presence. He had noticed — which only added to his confusion.
" Lady
"The city's gone to hell — you think I'm gonna curl up small in some shelter?!"
The one who declared this boldly was the girl with golden hair and red eyes. Now that he was face-to-face with her again, there was no mistaking her distinctive features — it was Felt.
"So you got restless, came charging out, and ran into an Archbishop of Sin. If that's the case, my luck is just as bad as ever…"
"No need to be such a downer, big brother. For us, every encounter is a spice for a feast. They may call us 'Gluttony,' but we understand the importance of preparation — don't we?"
With Batenkaitos at the center, their positions formed a triangle: Otto and Felt at the other two vertices. There was a figure at the remaining point, too, and Otto recognized that person as well.
"It's good to see you again, Kiritaka…"
"When you say that with dead eyes and a gloomy voice, it's hard to take at face value, you know! I do understand the sentiment, though!"
Otto couldn't honestly celebrate the reunion as he looked at Kiritaka — his thin frame wrapped in bandages, a painful sight to behold.
When Otto had broken free from the Muse Company's headquarters and made his way to the municipal office, he'd clashed with "Gluttony," and Kiritaka's status had been unknown ever since. He was glad the man was alive, but as a player on the current stage, he was deeply worried.
"————"
And that same thought was shared by Otto, Felt, and Kiritaka alike.
— They wished for someone more capable of fighting.
"Three groups of non-combatants, making close contact with the main enemy force. What kind of terrible joke is this? Give me a break."
Felt clicked her tongue at Otto's grumbling.
"That's the pot calling the kettle, big brother. The Songstress and I at least brought people along, so we're better off. You're the one going solo, which is way too shaky."
On that point, Otto had no excuse. Felt had a large, roughly dressed retainer at her side. Kiritaka had also brought several members of the "White Dragon's Scale."
Otto was the only one there alone.
"No matter how many of you gather, it's all the same! None of you can quench this thirst of ours! Ah, where are you, I'm searching for you, I want to see you, I want to see you, so let me see you — won't you?"
Surrounded by Otto's group lamenting their combat readiness, Batenkaitos's demeanor remained perfectly composed.
The boy dangled both arms loosely at his sides, his face flushed with ecstasy as he uttered words that made no sense.
"See you? What on earth are you talking about?"
Picking up the thread of those words, Otto tried to keep the conversation going. Batenkaitos's confidence was the confidence of someone who had reason to be sure.
If he so desired, he could flatten Otto and the others in an instant. They needed to stall for time — and, if possible, create an opening.
"I really don't want to have to explain over and over, you know. It seems other people just won't open their mouths. They say no, no, no — don't they?"
"————"
Felt and Kiritaka wore grim expressions and shook their heads at Batenkaitos's words.
It seemed they were the ones who had been asked and refused to answer.
And from the surprisingly conversational flow, Otto deduced that it wasn't impossible to talk with "Gluttony."
After all, he had used the Blessing of Word Spirits to converse with beings who were virtually impossible to communicate with.
He would try to negotiate. Any difficult problem was better than the issues surrounding Subaru.
— Lend me your strength, Natsuki-san.
"Don't say that — perhaps I can help. Please, tell me. Is it about artificial spirits? The kind you mentioned in your demands?"
A dangerously bold move. Spoken without hesitation, it was the kind of wording that could ignite Batenkaitos's fuse. But Batenkaitos simply shook his head.
The boy took it as a sign that Otto was willing to engage, and broke into a delighted grin.
"What we want to know is just one thing… that broadcast, the one just now that echoed across the entire city. We're looking for the hero who did that."
"————"
Take it back.
He definitely didn't need Subaru to lend him his strength, and if possible, he didn't want him lending his name either.
"That precious, precious hero is apparently coming to judge us. This little chest is about to burst from wanting it so badly…"
"…Can't something be done about that guy's habit of attracting the most troublesome people?"
If he were here, Subaru would have retorted with "I don't want any of this!" But there was no point complaining about someone who wasn't present.
At Otto's reaction, Felt scowled.
"That's what I've been saying — talking to these freaks is pointless! Who the hell would sell out their own people? The only one ruthless enough for that kind of thing is probably Reinhard!"
"I have my doubts about that assessment too, but since I witnessed Lady Felt being held captive, I really can't say anything!"
The heated-up Felt had clearly refused to answer Batenkaitos's same question. Kiritaka appeared to have done the same.
Even though both of them surely knew that what Batenkaitos wanted was Subaru, they had refused to give him up.
"————"
That was a virtuous judgment in human terms, but in this situation, it had to be called too hasty.
In short, Subaru wouldn't think he'd been sold out anyway.
"Your audience wasn't ideal, I'm afraid. These two have only the thinnest connection to the hero you're looking for. They're simply impatient people who were so moved by the speech that they rushed out of the shelter."
"Wh—!?"
"Bite your—"
Felt's veins bulged at Otto's words. But it was Kiritaka who shut her up this time.
As expected of the Muse Company's president — Kiritaka grasped Otto's intention immediately. At the same time, his gaze flickered toward Otto.
Meeting that questioning look, Otto gave a slight nod.
"If this isn't a death sentence, then allow me to guide you to the hero. I value my own life, too. You'll have to guarantee my safety, of course."
"Ohh! You know? You know, don't you? Where our hero is! What our precious hero looks like! That weak, fragile person who needs someone to support them, or they'll be overcome with anxiety!"
"…? Yes, I do."
Otto nodded with a sense of unease at Batenkaitos's impassioned declaration.
It was as though the boy knew Subaru to some degree. For someone spouting his own idealized image of a hero, his tone was far too familiar with the actual person called
"No — allow me to guide you."
But Otto crushed that unease.
This was Subaru they were talking about. It wouldn't be surprising if he'd already crossed paths with two or three Archbishops of Sin. He didn't believe Subaru had connections with all of them, but — Greed, Gluttony, Lust, Wrath — he had. It turned out he had with all of them.
"You look awfully glum there, big brother."
"Your concern is unwelcome. More importantly, what do we do? Here are your choices: kill us all here and lose all leads, or guarantee everyone's safety in exchange for an encounter with the hero. — Which will it be?"
"That's a creepy way to talk, you know. A deal, right? We're not very good at things that require thinking like that."
"Then, if I may say so from a merchant's perspective, choosing the recommended option wouldn't be a bad idea."
"…Huh."
He had the lead in the conversation. For an Archbishop of Sin, Batenkaitos was remarkably straightforward. That was the only part of him that felt genuinely childlike — and it was precisely that distorted imbalance that made him a monster.
Perhaps, perhaps he too was just a pitiable boy— "— Did you just pity us?"
The moment that sentimentality grazed Otto's mind, Batenkaitos spoke in a suddenly low voice.
"Eh?"
"That look — I know it. A look of contempt. A look of mockery. The look you give when you think of us as merchandise… Ah, I see. That's why I've had a bad feeling about you this whole time."
Batenkaitos's eyes, fixed on Otto, were filled with undisguised loathing and hostility.
"You're a merchant, aren't you? You slap prices on things, sell them to others, and line your own pockets! You value human life and intentions on a scale — everything, everything! You're ghouls who weigh it all on a balance!"
"That's… I think there's a bit of a difference in perspective there…"
The situation was turning sour fast, and Otto felt like a blindfold had been added to his already precarious tightrope walk.
Whether he could make it across — the answer was visible in the expressions of Felt and Kiritaka, who were watching the negotiation.
"Who the hell wants to hear your crap?! In the end, this world is all about binge drinking! Gluttony! Eat, eat, suck, slurp — nothing's trustworthy until you've swallowed it whole!"
Batenkaitos stamped his feet, baring his fangs.
The overflowing aura of menace was unstoppable. Like a bomb on the verge of detonation, no amount of trickery or words could reach him.
"So in the end, it always comes to this, huh."
Felt spoke with dissatisfaction, twirling a knife in her hand. Fittingly, the weapon was the same kind of dagger strapped to Batenkaitos's hands. That said, there was surely a vast gap in skill.
"If it comes to that, the ones we can rely on would be the people from the 'White Dragon's Scale'…"
"Hey, hey! We're here too, y'know!"
The retainer beside Felt raised his voice, but Felt shook her head. He was probably there as deadweight.
Useless in a fight, just like Subaru.
"Thinking about it that way, that guy's value really drops…"
"Are you done talking?"
Batenkaitos slowly surveyed the faces of Otto and the others. Every one of them wore the look of someone ready to fight.
Seeing that, Batenkaitos nodded with satisfaction.
"In fine dining, preparation and ingredients are key. Only when quality comes together can the virtue of a great meal truly shine!"
"I think I understand, but also don't…"
"Not understanding is perfectly fine! Our aesthetics were never meant to be understood by anyone other than us! Now then — time to eat!"
During the conversation, his target had surely been locked in. Batenkaitos opened his maw wide and launched himself at Otto with terrifying leaping power.
Standing at the water's edge, Otto pointed a finger at the blasphemer hurtling toward him.
"It's a shame insurance can't stay as just insurance!"
"…Huh?"
"Like this—!"
As Batenkaitos furrowed his brow in suspicion, Otto stamped his boots twice, producing a sharp ring.
Hearing that sound, drawn as if pulled— "————!!"
A swarm of water dragons surged from the waterway behind Otto, crashing toward Batenkaitos all at once.
The reason Otto had successfully lured the water dragon swarm was entirely due to the power of the "Wrath" authority.
While it hadn't reached every corner of the city, the authority of "Wrath" had spread over a vast area, violently shaking the citizens' emotions. The faint seeds of anxiety that had sprouted were forced into overnight bloom, resulting in enormous confusion and paranoia.
However, it was precisely Subaru Natsuki who had turned that to his advantage with a morale-boosting speech — and it was the foundation of Otto's covert manipulation to borrow the water dragons' power.
"U-UGHHHHH—?!"
The sheer volume of the water dragon swarm pressing in was too much for Batenkaitos, who was still airborne.
The serpentine bodies — each weighing no less than a hundred kilograms — twisted and coiled, multiple water dragons crushing Batenkaitos beneath their mass.
Revealing their slick, blue-glowing scales, they bared their fangs one after another at the pinned blasphemer.
"Water dragon hunts are cruel."
They sank their teeth into their prey, spinning to tear flesh apart. Against those countless water dragons, not even scraps would remain from that small body.
"————"
It left a bad taste.
The water dragons had been in a state of intense agitation due to the Wrath authority's influence, and Otto had used the Blessing of Word Spirits to deftly deceive them with honeyed words. He'd coaxed them into cooperation under the sweet pretense of subduing the source of the city's chaos. Had it not been for a clash with the Archbishop of Sin, it would have been a promise he'd have to break — but as they could see, that was no longer the case.
"That's amazing! Did you do that, big brother?!"
Felt ran over, cheering.
Facing such a brutal spectacle without batting an eye — she clearly had nerves of steel.
"I simply gave angry water dragons a target to矛. Even an Archbishop of Sin can't beat the flow of nature."
"Perhaps… but you're a more terrifying person than I imagined."
Kiritaka, who had walked over, voiced a remark that leaned more toward the human side of things.
"Either way, I'm glad you're safe. Kiritaka — I can't believe you're alive…"
"I took a nasty hit to the back, but fortunately, the 'White Dragon's Scale' are well-known mercenaries. They have a full medical staff."
Even so, his battered appearance was unavoidable.
But what reason could Kiritaka have for being up and about despite such injuries?
As if reading the meaning of Otto's gaze, Kiritaka placed a hand on his chest with a serious expression.
"That should be obvious. It's pride. I hold a position as an executive overseeing Pristella's administration. I heard the broadcast, but I can't very well withdraw and leave everything to others."
"That spirit is admirable, but…"
"Of course, I'm well aware that my chances of being useful in a real fight are slim. But even someone like me can still stake his pride on something."
Kiritaka's passionate declaration was clearly inflated by the combined effect of the Wrath authority and Subaru's speech.
Indeed, Subaru's speech — which had become a pillar of emotional support for the citizens — was too strong a dose of medicine for people with a strong sense of mission.
It allowed them to take reckless actions that fear and reason would normally hold back.
"Don't go calling it 'just reckless,'" Felt said, her lips pursed, as though she'd read Otto's mind.
"Everyone's got the right to fight for something that matters. No grand reason needed, no solid proof — the feeling that you wanna do something, that's not something anyone can stop."
"That's… one individual's perspective, not a judgment permissible for someone in a position of responsibility."
"It's a figure of speech! Besides, I'm not saying that's what's going on this time. We came out here because we actually have a chance of winning."
"A chance of winning?"
Felt rubbed the bridge of her nose while backing up Kiritaka and pressing further.
"I heard that big brother's broadcast too. That idiot Reinhard should've regrouped with you at the municipal office. Everyone who's connected to this — they were all there, right?"
If Felt felt inadequate, that was a mistake. There was a saying about the right person for the right job, and there were things only capable people could do.
Following that logic, he'd lose sight of why he himself was here, so Otto decided not to press the issue.
"Has Heinkel been properly restrained?"
"I left Kanbari to watch him in the shelter.
Felt jerked her chin toward Gaston as she said "everything." The big man was clutching a white bundle in his hand that looked like a slender spear.
"What's that?"
"
"A magical artifact?! At a time like this — how convenient!"
The true terror of magical artifacts lay in their ability to bring about results that would otherwise be impossible.
Hearing the words "secret weapon" naturally heightened his expectations.
"The conditions to use it are a little tricky, but once you clear those, the power is guaranteed. That said, that guy's already been taken care of by big brother, so we'd need someone else…"
"——!"
The words Felt spoke probably weren't the trigger, but that was when a scream reached Otto's ears.
He spun around as though struck, and Felt and Kiritaka widened their eyes in surprise. They hadn't heard the scream. Naturally.
Because it wasn't a scream that any human could have made.
"You seem like you'd be more fun than I expected… but water lizards just don't do it for us. For gourmets like us, even as an appetizer, the quality is lacking."
That voice — mocking everything in the world — reached them clearly.
At the same time, the water dragon swarm that had been greedily fighting over its prey began thrashing wildly. Tails, torsos, heads — the sight of them flailing was similar to their earlier frenzy, but the convulsing, agonized cries and spurting blood clearly signaled something was wrong.
"Lady Felt — that magical artifact… it has power, right?"
"According to Rom Gramps, even Reinhard couldn't block it."
"That's reassuring… Kiritaka!"
"Wh-what is it?"
Felt responded firmly, while Kiritaka wore a somewhat shaken expression at the state of the water dragons.
His escort from the "White Dragon's Scale" might have been fine staying, but Kiritaka — a non-combatant — would only be in danger by remaining here.
"I'll hold the line here with Lady Felt and the 'White Dragon's Scale.' In the meantime, Kiritaka, head to the municipal office — no, the eighth shelter on Ichigai Street!"
"What's waiting there if I go?"
"— Once you arrive, you'll understand everything. The winning chance you brought out will come alive there."
Kiritaka's face brightened with renewed vigor at Otto's declaration. His expression hardened with resolve as he gave a firm nod.
He turned to the escorts behind him.
"You heard him. I will now head to the shelter following Otto's instructions. I need you all to stay here and fight alongside them — for the sake of protecting the city."
"Our job was supposed to be guarding the young master… when did it become this troublesome?"
"No. The job was never just guarding me. The original contract was to help me fulfill my purpose."
Kiritaka answered the "White Dragon's Scale" member's bitter smile with a stern expression. The fact that his pronoun had shifted to the first person might have meant his personal feelings as an individual had surpassed his role as the city's administrator.
"Help me fulfill my purpose, 'White Dragon's Scale.' Let us fight to protect the city of Pristella — our precious workplace — and to rescue our beloved Songstress, Liliana."
"Even though she won't even look at you."
"Whether she smiles at me and whether I keep loving her are two entirely separate things. I love Liliana. There's no greater reason needed to risk my life."
Having said that, Kiritaka looked at Otto and Felt.
Then he raised the bag he was carrying.
"I will make it there — I swear it. I know the layout of this city and everything about Liliana better than anyone."
"For a second, I thought that was kinda cool, but in the end it was still creepy."
Felt's assessment matched Otto's, but he kept that to himself and silently acknowledged Kiritaka's resolve.
"— Are you ready?"
The thrashing water dragons had gone still, their eyes rolled back — they were on the verge of death.
Pushing through the gaps in the swarm, Batenkaitos approached slowly. The blasphemer in the form of a boy surveyed his hostile adversaries, then hugged his own shoulders in delight.
"Now that's more like it. Reckless and brave are two different things — and giving up and being unbreakable are completely different! I can see it in your faces. I'm happy. You've finally earned a place at our table."
"So everything up to now, we were headed straight for the trash bin? This guy's got a real talent for pissing people off."
"Whether being recognized as an enemy is a good thing or a bad thing is a separate matter. Personally, I'd think being underestimated gives us far more options."
Would someone like Subaru understand this line of thinking? Or was his own current thinking too obviously influenced by Subaru? He didn't want to imagine.
Regardless— "Kiritaka!"
"— May fortune smile upon you!"
At Otto's call, Kiritaka broke into a sprint to withdraw from the scene. Watching the lone figure fleeing the battlefield, Batenkaitos tilted his head.
"Don't be like that. We were just getting started — hunger and fighting spirit finally clicking together so sweetly, and now this!"
Chasing after Kiritaka's retreating back, Batenkaitos launched himself forward with explosive force. Using his small body to its full capacity, he sliced diagonally through the air at a speed that seemed impossible.
He was about to fly right past, Batenkaitos's fangs reaching Kiritaka in the blink of an eye. — Just barely— "Gaston!"
"If you die from this, I'll come back as a ghost and haunt you!"
Felt's voice split the air, and at nearly the same instant, the giant who had lunged forward thrust himself into Batenkaitos's path.
Crossing both arms before his face and dropping into a stance — that was Gaston, Felt's retainer.
"Don't get in my way—"
Batenkaitos swung the daggers strapped to his arms, attempting to cut down the obstacle. The steel blade glinted dully as it plunged into Gaston's bare forearm.
A crisp sound rang out — and Batenkaitos's dagger snapped.
"…Huh?"
"————"
The questioning note in Batenkaitos's voice was the same question on the minds of everyone watching.
Gaston's stance hadn't changed. With that same arm, he had shattered Batenkaitos's dagger.
"Our big guy is pretty tough, you know. He's my armor."
"I scared him," Felt said gleefully, then hurled the knife from her hand at Batenkaitos. Batenkaitos dodged by kicking off Gaston.
While executing a backflip to open distance, the "White Dragon's Scale" shifted position to block his path like a wall.
Kiritaka's escape — mission accomplished.
"Oh my, how interesting. I see."
Batenkaitos had been outmaneuvered, but the hedonistic grin plastered on his face didn't waver.
He slowly looked Otto and the others over, one by one.
"Lui would probably be happy about… three of you, maybe."
He whispered this with trembling breath, then removed the broken dagger from his arm. His left hand was now bare, armed only on the right — but…
"For some reason, I really don't feel like the gap in power has closed at all."
As always, Otto's alarm was screaming at maximum volume about the greatest danger.
Brushing that deafening warning aside, Otto looked at Felt's profile. The fierce fighting spirit still burned in her young face, and he made his decision.
There was no running. They would fight.
"Having more opportunities to see combat than most small-time fighters over this past year… is that really okay for a merchant?"
He muttered the words only to himself, where no one could hear.
And so no one noticed that the tone of his voice — despite the pessimistic content — carried no trace of despair.