Otto's bombshell declaration, delivered with a raised hand, swallowed every person in the room in shock.
The existence of the Book of Wisdom had been doubted — and now its very proof had been confessed by none other than someone from their own camp. The shock was only natural. Above all, though, Subaru's surprise was the greatest.
"Wh-why do you have the Book of Wisdom?"
"First, let me make sure there are no misunderstandings. I did bring what could be called the Book of Wisdom into the city — that much is certain. But that doesn't mean I'm the one who owns it. The
"'What could be called that' is an awfully evasive way to put it. What do you mean?"
Anastasia latched onto Otto's cautious phrasing as Subaru grew agitated. Otto looked around at everyone.
"Do you all know about the Book of Wisdom? In simple terms, it's the original of the gospels that the Witch Cult members possess — those prophecy books that supposedly write the future of whoever owns them. It's said to be the source text. The pitch is that its accuracy is on a completely different level."
"The original of the gospels, huh? It might be an inappropriate comparison, but it feels a bit like the prophecies of the Dragon History Stone. The credibility and the standing of what we're talking about are quite different, though."
"I've never actually seen the Dragon History Stone or the gospels writing the future in person, so I can't say for certain... and the Book of Wisdom's effects haven't been verified either. By the time I obtained it, most of the book had already burned away. It was practically a wreck."
"Burned... a wreck..."
Otto's words caused two Books of Wisdom and their respective fates to overlap in Subaru's mind.
One had been owned by
To what extent
The one Otto had obtained must therefore be a remnant.
"I see. So that finally explains why you brought it to
"...That's right."
Anastasia, who had apparently reached that conclusion first, received Otto's terse nod. Watching this exchange, Julius and Reinhard both seemed to follow — but for Subaru, all the unfamiliar terms meant he was still in the dark.
"Don't exclude me from this. What's a restoration specialist?"
"Exactly what it sounds like — a mage specialized in the Yang magic art of restoring objects. And the Darts here in this city is quite famous in that field. Even for a book that's more than half burned, given enough time, the restoration rate should be quite promising."
"I contacted Darts-san and left the remains of the Book of Wisdom in his care. So right now, the book should be stored at his workshop."
Through Otto's testimony, the Book of Wisdom's whereabouts were finally laid bare.
"But still — when the heck did you meet a guy like that, bro?"
"Yesterday, after the negotiations at the Muse Company fell through. After parting ways with everyone and acting alone, I went to visit Darts-san. We'd had a prior arrangement, so he was quite enthusiastic about taking it on, but..."
The result was that today's commotion had brought up the Book of Wisdom's name, and Otto hadn't been able to rest easy since.
The explanations made sense of why the supposedly destroyed Book of Wisdom still existed and why it had been brought into the city. What Subaru couldn't accept, however, was the true intention behind Otto's actions. Why had he tried to restore the Book of Wisdom in the first place?
Honestly, Subaru had no good impressions of the Book of Wisdom.
The fact that its creator was Echidna was part of it, and it was a dark tome with parallels to the gospels owned by the Witch Cult. It was what had kept Beatrice bound to the Forbidden Library for centuries, and it was the catalyst that had led Roswaal to scheme those outrageous events involving the Sanctuary.
Hearing that it had burned up, Subaru's honest reaction had been relief.
"I'll spare the details of how I obtained it or my reasons for restoration. I simply wanted to reveal the Book of Wisdom's existence and its current location. Anything beyond that is a matter for our respective camps."
"The Witch Cult has, at the very least, listed the Book of Wisdom as one of their objectives. How do you view the question of responsibility in that regard?"
"I don't think anyone other than the Witch Cult should be held responsible for the Witch Cult's actions. If we start down that road, I'd have to make some rather unkind retorts of my own."
Julius pressed further, but Otto's stance remained unyielding. When Otto's gaze shifted to Anastasia, Julius shook his head.
"My apologies. I spoke needlessly. Of course, I have no intention of placing blame on you all. Their crimes should be redeemed by punishing those who committed them."
"I agree."
At Julius's firm words, Otto nodded and glanced toward Subaru. Under that probing look, Subaru found himself unable to say anything.
He didn't understand Otto's true intentions. There was no way he'd suspect him — but the purpose behind his actions remained unclear. Then Otto, with just the movement of his lips, conveyed to Subaru: "We'll talk later."
He'd explain his true reasons then. If so, that matter could wait.
"The existence of the Book of Wisdom is now confirmed. In that case, it's hard to dismiss the other matter of the artificial spirit as mere rumor."
Reinhard moved on to a new topic once things had settled.
It was a natural progression. Since Otto had revealed a truth that could put himself at a disadvantage, there was no point in Subaru trying to hide things any longer.
"Anastasia."
"I know. This really is a difficult conversation."
At Subaru's request for agreement, Anastasia unfastened the stole draped around her neck. She spread it out on the table with a resigned air, and everyone tilted their heads in confusion.
But her next action straightened all those tilted necks right back up.
"That's enough playing possum, Echidna. You can talk."
"In my case, wouldn't 'playing fox' be more accurate than 'playing possum,' Ana?"
"!"
Following Anastasia's words, the white fox stole sprouted limbs and stretched them out. The shock spread to even Julius and Ricard.
The artificial spirit Echidna had apparently hidden her existence even from members of their own camp.
"Miss, I had no idea about this one either. What is this thing?"
"Sorry for hiding her, Ricard. And you too, Julius. —This is the artificial spirit who's been the talk of the town. Her name is Echidna — she and I go way, way back. A co-conspirator."
"Hello, Ricard. I know you by sight, so it's a bit awkward being introduced like this for the first time. Please, feel free to be as casually familiar as you usually are."
Ricard looked at the eerie Echidna with distaste, but even more shaken was Julius. The mysterious presence his partner had kept hidden left his eyes betraying a rare lack of composure.
"...Does this mean that Lady Anastasia is a Spirit User as well?"
"No, no, that's not it. There's no Spirit User contract between Echidna and me. I don't seem to have that kind of talent at all. And Echidna's different from a normal spirit — she has no combat ability."
"That's right, I'm quite powerless. Probably the weakest spirit there is. So powerless that even a spirit knight like yourself can't detect me with his senses."
"I see. ...No, then—"
Anastasia and Echidna's two voices denied his suspicion, but Julius couldn't simply back down. He turned his gaze toward Subaru, who had been standing outside the discussion.
His yellow eyes fixed on Subaru, stiffening slightly.
"Then what about Subaru knowing? Something that even I, the First Knight, was unaware of — how did he know?"
"That's because my partner, Beatrice, is also an artificial spirit. When the Witch Cult made their demands, Anastasia-san confided in me. ...I only found out a little while ago myself. Not much different from you."
"She's an artificial spirit...? Lady Anastasia, is this true?"
Julius looked doubtful as Subaru cut in with a quick explanation. Anastasia nodded in confirmation, and Julius accepted it with an "I see," closed his eyes in thought for a moment, then exhaled deeply.
"I apologize for my suspicious behavior. If I caused you any discomfort, Lady Anastasia, I am truly sorry. I am deeply ashamed of myself."
"You're not the one who should be apologizing for me keeping quiet. If anything, I'm the one at fault — so please forgive me."
Subaru gave Julius a nod, and Julius offered his apology to Anastasia. As this played out, Ricard grabbed Echidna off the table.
"Still, miss, that was cold of you! To hide this from me, someone who's known you for ages — that really stung! Is that how our bond measures up?"
"I'd appreciate it if you'd handle me a bit more gently. I do take care of my fur, you know. It wouldn't do to diminish Ana's charm."
"What a silver-tongued fox you are. Well, fine. I'll let it slide for now."
Apparently satisfied from his pulling and scrunching, Ricard released her. The white fox landed on the table and scurried back to Anastasia, coiling around her neck and resuming her disguise.
For someone who'd been there so long, vanishing all traces of being alive in an instant was impressive, to say the least.
"So there you have it — artificial spirits are real too. ...But that said, just like with Otto earlier, we have no intention of handing her over. Same as the Book of Wisdom."
"Sorry for the secrecy. But I'm the same — Beako's my precious partner. I'm not going to let those lunatics lay a finger on her."
Anastasia's and Subaru's refusal to yield on the matter was absolute.
Hearing this, Reinhard nodded.
"I understand, of course. Their demands cannot be met — not a single one. The wedding ceremony with the bride might be something we could leave alone, though..."
"No, absolutely not! You know why? Because the scumbag talking about getting married is targeting
"Gah!? Emilia's been kidnapped!? I thought she was missing — she hasn't been evacuated!? Could someone have said something sooner!?"
Reinhard's eyes widened in shock, and Otto's spun at the revelation. Subaru gritted his teeth at their reactions and continued: "I was too pathetic to stop it — she was taken right in front of me. But as long as they're talking about a wedding ceremony, Emilia-tan shouldn't be harmed. So I'm going to wreck them, slaughter them, and send them flying — and I'll get her back. Absolutely. Without fail."
"Yeah — let's do that. Something like that should never be forgiven."
The image of Regulus rose in Subaru's mind, stoking his anger — and as if in response, Reinhard's fighting spirit sharpened to a razor's edge.
He was reassuringly reliable. His presence truly was something to count on.
Just as Subaru thought this, his eyes drifted to the corner of the room — where a man had been sitting the entire time, present but never joining the conversation.
The man leaned against the wall in a crouch, his expression hidden beneath his helmet.
"Hey, Al. You should join the conversation too. You haven't said a word since the speech ended. The people you brought along are the ones who sealed away our lethal weapon. You've got to make up for that, or it's a straight-up demerit."
Subaru walked over and called out to Al, who remained hunched over.
Sighing at Al's sluggish reaction, Subaru turned his thoughts to Reinhard's father — Heinkel.
The man who had taken
It was an unmistakable act of aiding the enemy. Pointing a sword at a royal candidate was far beyond mere lèse-majesté — it bordered on national insurrection. An act so outrageous that in normal circumstances, the death penalty would be unavoidable. But what would happen regarding judgment?
At the very least, Subaru couldn't read it from Reinhard's profile.
"Sorry, but I'm gonna bow out of here."
"Huh?"
Perhaps because Subaru's attention had been on Reinhard, his reaction to Al standing up came a beat too late. Al straightened his back and walked past the stunned Subaru. Subaru hurriedly grabbed his shoulder and spun him around.
"Wait — what do you mean 'bow out'? We need every fighter we can get right now — I'm not letting you go, you idiot!"
"Idiot or whatever, I don't care. Counting me as a fighting force is the real idiocy. You'd be better off grabbing some battle-hardened guy from a shelter than borrowing my hand or a cat's. So, I'm good."
"No, you're not! Don't give me that sulking crap. What's gotten into you all of a sudden? You're not a kid — if you've got something to say, say it."
"...That's the one thing I don't want to hear from you, bro."
Al shook off Subaru's restraining hand, and through the visor, his eyes pierced Subaru.
An invisible gaze and an uncharacteristic tone of voice seized Subaru, and an unpleasant chill raced up his spine.
Not hostility. Not killing intent. But something raw and untamed.
That nameless emotion — Subaru felt he had encountered it somewhere before. But he couldn't attach a concrete shape to it.
Without understanding, the staredown continued. And then— "I've got it! Listen — your gaze makes my heart race!"
"Shut up!"
"Piiii!?"
A carefree voice blurted out, and Subaru reflexively fired back a retort. The person who heard it leaped backward, crashing spectacularly into a spare desk.
The clatter and the scream belonged to a brown-skinned girl— "Liliana!?"
"Owwww! My elbow! My knee! Every bone in my body is shattered! All six ribs are broken — I'm certain of it!"
Lying on the floor before Subaru, writhing with alarming vigor, was the Songstress — Liliana.
She looked unchanged as ever, and Subaru didn't bother correcting her that she had far more than six ribs. He simply let out a sigh of relief.
"I was worried about what happened after we split up, but you're fine. That's a weight off."
"Fine!? What are you saying, you goggle-eyed fool, when you're looking at me dying as we speak!? To sigh with relief while watching a beautiful maiden writhe in agony — are you some kind of morbid pervert? I've got it! Listen — my fingers! My ears! Next are my eyes!"
"You're as lively as ever."
Sitting cross-legged on the floor and strumming her lute, Liliana was the picture of health. Her recovery was so textbook-normal it was almost suspicious, but their safe reunion was cause for celebration.
"But why are you at the city hall? Wandering around outside is dangerous enough as it is—"
"Obviously, because I'm here, you commoner."
"Gah."
Before Subaru could question Liliana about her safe arrival, a haughty answer cut in from elsewhere.
Striding into the conference room with high, sharp footsteps was the woman resplendent in red. From head to toe clad in crimson, her blood-colored eyes swept across the room.
"The cast seems to be assembled. You common folk sat and waited for me, the lead, to arrive — I'll say that shows good awareness. Do maintain that awareness going forward."
She pressed an open fan to her lips and smiled cheerfully — Priscilla.
Her sudden appearance left everyone in the room, Subaru included, slack-jawed. But the fastest to react was, fittingly, her own attendant.
"P-Princess! Thank goodness you're safe! I couldn't find you anywhere — I was worried sick!"
"Hm, Al. You dare play around with commoners without even serving as my escort? To see my face, hear my voice, smell my scent, and obey my will — that is your duty and Shult's. To have me search for you is an insult beyond measure."
"My... my deepest apologies, Lady Priscilla..."
Her attendant received an icy brush-off. From behind her, clutching the hem of her dress, a young page boy timidly poked his head out. It seemed Priscilla had not only rescued Liliana but also gathered her own retainers, then boldly strode through a city crawling with the Witch Cult.
"What kind of insane courage does that take..."
Beyond courage — Subaru marveled at the sheer recklessness of it all. Priscilla, hearing him, fixed him with a glare. She snapped her fan shut with a crack and strutted up to him.
"You there. Don't move."
A sharp whistle of wind, and the tip of her fan pressed against Subaru's throat.
As always, speed beyond reason. Too fast for Subaru's eyes to track. But since Reinhard hadn't moved, there was presumably no hostile intent.
"What? I'm in the middle of an important conversation — I don't have time to—"
"Enough. —That ugly broadcast earlier. That was your voice, was it not?"
"...And if it was? What are you going to do about it?"
Subaru put on a brave face, anchored by Reinhard's lack of reaction. Priscilla's eyes narrowed at his answer.
"Quite obvious, isn't it? No one is permitted to steal more attention than me. Therefore, I shall prove the self-evident — that I, compared to a commoner such as yourself, am the superior one."
"Wha— Ouch!"
Her fan flicked up, catching him under the chin and bringing tears to his eyes. Priscilla strode past him and sat herself down at the round table with absolute confidence.
"A cheap chair. It reveals the caliber of its usual occupants."
She viciously critiqued the seating and surveyed the assembled faces around the table. Then she split her red-painted lips into a beautiful yet ghastly smile.
"Very well. You are granted permission to explain the current situation to me. Become my hands, my feet, and fulfill your duties to the fullest. As your reward, I shall lend you my hand. Be grateful."
"Wait, Princess! If we've regrouped, there's no reason to hold up! We should get out of this dangerous place as fast as—"
"You would tell me to run, Al? If so, you are gravely mistaken."
Priscilla settled firmly into her seat, claiming her place at the meeting, and Al confronted her for it. But Priscilla glared right back, making him flinch beneath his iron helm.
"Understand? I decided to stay in this city. And I alone will decide when to leave. I absolutely will not take orders from anyone. Least of all turn my back on these lunatic fools and slink away? Who do you take me for?"
"..."
"This entire world exists to suit my convenience. And so — how could I leave without first settling the unpleasant reasons for it? If you claim to be my vassal, then understand, Al. If my being who I am is the will of heaven, then my actions themselves are the will of heaven."
Priscilla's resolve was unshakable.
Everyone present understood that — and Al most of all. His single arm's shoulder sagged, and the young page boy, Shult, quietly sidled up to him. The boy's comforting gesture was met with Al's wry grimace. It seemed his mind was made up too.
"Otto, got a minute?"
"Sure, go ahead."
At the round table, Priscilla was being briefed on the situation.
Seizing the gap, Subaru approached Otto. Otto seemed to have anticipated this, showing no surprise as he complied.
"Garfiel, call me back when things progress."
With that message left, Subaru stepped out of the conference room with Otto.
There was no need to leave the room's vicinity, so he faced him right there in the corridor. Otto's eyes, looking straight at him, held no wavering. And the content of their conversation was already obvious.
"Why did you try to restore the Book of Wisdom? No — when did you even pick up those remains in the first place?"
"A year ago, after the situation at the Sanctuary was resolved. Once the great snowfall Lady Emilia had caused cleared from the forest, I was making rounds through the settlement when I found them. Well — it wasn't really a coincidence. I'd heard from Ram-san that remnants might exist, so I was actively searching for them."
"So what you found was Roswaal's copy of the Book of Wisdom?"
"Yes. That was the one I wanted to verify, so I'd call that a rare stroke of luck."
"Rare stroke of luck" — that was self-deprecating humor about his usual misfortune. Otto gave a wry smile, but Subaru couldn't bring himself to match it.
The knot in his chest remained. Why had Otto done that?
"Natsuki-san, honestly — what do you think of Marquis Mathers?"
"Roswaal, huh?"
At Otto's question — which seemed tangentially related but perhaps not — Subaru fell quiet for a moment.
"...Fair enough. I think he's someone you can't let your guard down around. After what happened a year ago, for one. But his objective is clear, and as long as that doesn't shift, I don't see him as a threat. Right now, it's more of a co-conspirator arrangement — both sides know each other's goals."
"I don't trust Marquis Mathers at all."
Otto cut Subaru's reasoning off bluntly, as if to say he found it naive.
The sheer sharpness of his words made Subaru's eyes go wide.
"You said 'after what happened a year ago.' Yes, that's right — the incident at the Sanctuary a year ago. Before that as well, it seems he was scheming all sorts of things. You and Lady Emilia seem to have let him off rather easily."
"It's not like we've forgiven him. Everything he did was outrageous, and I'm still furious about it. But we need his strength — that's just reality. So there's no point being tense about it, and Emilia feels the same."
"That's exactly what I mean by naive. ...I'm not saying that's wrong, mind you."
Otto's gaze was one of frustration — the exasperation of seeing someone who just didn't get it. And Subaru could somehow understand that feeling.
In other words, Otto was saying they weren't being vigilant enough. Of course, he understood that vigilance was necessary. He did. But— "I understand. Natsuki-san and Lady Emilia — that's fine as it is. There's no need for the two of you to change right now. I'll handle the vigilance on your behalf."
"The vigilance on my behalf..."
"As a domestic affairs officer, I have many opportunities to interact with Marquis Mathers. Over this past year, I've watched him closely. There's no particular sign of scheming or guilt. But I don't know what he was doing before this year. There could be something in motion with a time delay."
Subaru fell silent. Otto's wariness, Otto's concern — it all came through clearly.
His distrust toward Roswaal was justified. Actions return to their source — that's only natural, whether for good or ill. No, particularly for ill.
"If he was indeed following the Book of Wisdom's writings — the future records — then reading the book would reveal what he might have been planning. When a critical moment comes where something must be chosen, we could prepare for that as well."
"So you tried to restore the book... because you can't trust Roswaal."
"...It's the opposite. I don't want to suspect my own people either. That's why I wanted reassurance. That no harm would come to Natsuki-san or Lady Emilia. That there was no certain misfortune on the horizon. That's why I secured the Book of Wisdom and tried to restore it. ...I'm sorry for acting on my own."
Otto apologized and bowed his head.
But Subaru couldn't say anything to him. He didn't feel he had the right.
Otto's anxiety and the means he'd taken to resolve it — both were things Subaru and Emilia should have noticed on their own. If anything, the hardships he'd shouldered were for their sake.
He was being helped by Otto in ways more tangible than he'd understood. The shame of not seeing it, the guilt, the disbelief — they washed over him.
Why would Otto go this far? Because they were friends?
"I won't explain the reason for that. It's something trivial."
A response that suggested Otto had read the gist of Subaru's feelings from his expression.
Otto's faint smile had stolen a march on him, and Subaru exhaled deeply.
"Man, I really am just being helped by everyone around me, you included."
"I wouldn't say that. But the fact that that's enough — isn't that what your earlier broadcast was about, Natsuki-san? And I think that's enough for me too."
Otto's easygoing words struck Subaru, who had been clawing at his own hair. He clicked his tongue with a sour grunt and let his shoulders droop.
"Fine. I get it. I'm satisfied about the Book of Wisdom. But the fact that they want it — that's the real problem. What do we do with the actual thing?"
"Restoration aside, I think it should be recovered. Darts-san could be put in serious danger, and that's not something I'd want either."
"The plan has moved toward a simultaneous assault on the four control towers. We can't spare fighters for anything else."
"I'm a noncombatant, but if I take the waterways, I'll be more than sufficient. Surprisingly enough, I'm especially skilled at charming animals — water dragons included."
He touched his own mouth — a gesture showing off the Divine Blessing of Word Spirits.
In practical terms, if the goal was evasion and survival, Otto's blessing was formidable. And the enemy's main force would be concentrated at the control towers. With no Witch Cult foot soldiers in tow, Otto's contribution was nothing to scoff at.
"Rather than worrying about me, the assault team is more important. Natsuki-san, you have to rescue Lady Emilia. The responsibility is enormous."
"I know. I have no intention of giving up the head of that 'Greed' scum to anyone."
A white-haired fiend flashed through Subaru's mind. The wretched demon who had stolen Emilia.
As a Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult — this was an enemy that had to be defeated, without exception.
"Shall we head back? They should be wrapping up the explanations by now."
Seeing Subaru re-energize, Otto turned his head toward the conference room. Subaru nodded to him and turned to go back— "Subaru."
A low voice called from the staircase side, and Subaru stopped.
He couldn't possibly mistake whose voice that was. On the landing above, those narrowed blue eyes — it was Wilhelm.
"Otto, go back ahead of me."
"Understood. I'll continue laying the groundwork."
Seeing Wilhelm, Otto returned to the conference room first. Subaru stepped onto the stairs and climbed to where Wilhelm waited above.
When they stood at the same level, Wilhelm bowed slightly.
"I regret that I could not join your discussion. I have been causing nothing but trouble."
"The situation is what it is. No one speaks ill of you and yours, Wilhelm. Um... how is Crusch?"
He'd heard the situation was bad. No — worse than bad. Terrible. And there was also the matter of what it meant for her as a woman, the desire not to be seen by others— Subaru recalled the state of his own right foot and imagined the damage someone in Crusch's condition must have sustained. Just that much filled him with a revulsion he wished he could un-feel.
At Subaru's question, Wilhelm gently lowered his gaze.
"Crusch is requesting that you come to her. Would you oblige?"
"Crusch is asking for me? No, of course — but is it really all right?"
"She insists.
"I'm sure he doesn't."
Ferris was the one person who most wanted to lay into Subaru.
It had been Subaru and Crusch alone who had faced Capella at the top of the city hall. He was the only one who had managed to protect her.
"Ferris may say rude things — please don't take it to heart. And if possible, forgive him. He understands it all in his heart. He's simply overwhelmed with feelings he can't control."
"When someone precious is suffering, wanting to lash out at everyone around — I get that. And the fact that the person they're hurting doesn't think that changes everything about them..."
Who could blame someone for venting, if it eased their heart even a little?
Subaru was prepared to endure whatever bile came his way.
"This way."
Wilhelm said nothing further to Subaru's answer and led the way to Crusch. His footsteps — measured and precise — echoed through the corridor.
Then, midway— "Subaru, I have one more report of my own."
"What is it? If it's about Crusch—"
"It concerns the two swordsmen who accompanied the Sin Archbishop."
Involuntarily, Subaru's breath caught.
It was something he'd expected, yet it had slipped his mind entirely. The unclosable wound given to Mimi by the Divine Blessing of the Reaper. The supreme-class swordsman — and from that, the identity of the formidable fighter he'd deduced.
"One was known as the 'Eight-Armed'
"A man who supposedly died? Um, Wilhelm—"
"And the other—"
Wilhelm cut off Subaru's question and spoke.
He stopped in his tracks. Subaru halted reflexively as well. With his back still turned, Wilhelm fell silent for a moment. Subaru took a step forward and peered around at his face — and regretted it.
He shouldn't have looked.
"The other was — the former Sword Saint,
Subaru's breath hitched.
Wilhelm's voice, he thought, had remained composed. His mental fortitude was extraordinary — or so it could be called.
But all of that faded the moment he saw the pained, twisted profile. The bitten lip, the eyes squeezed shut with rage and grief intermingled, the wrinkled face crumpling further under unbearable emotion — his true feelings were laid bare.
"So your wife and the empire's general... they're both alive?"
"If that were so — no, that's impossible. My wife and Kurgan — both should be dead. That doesn't change. There is something, however, that keeps the dead as the dead and dishonors them."
"Keeps the dead as the dead... so something like necromancy?"
Necromancy and similar death arts — the magic of reanimating corpses — were deeply familiar in the world of fiction. Naturally, in fiction, resurrection magic wasn't uncommon either. But such convenient magic didn't exist.
Subaru had learned this painful truth over the past year and change.
So the possibility wasn't the latter — it was the former.
"A forbidden art of manipulating corpses. There was one who actually practiced it. During the Demihuman War — a civil war between humans and Demihumans in Lugnica decades ago — that being fought on the Demihuman side was branded an enemy of the kingdom. One of three."
"An enemy of the kingdom...?"
"The Demihuman hero
Wilhelm paused briefly, then spoke.
"The