Yay, this is Liliana reporting from the scene!
Alright, alright, right now we're on the north side of the city of Pristella! We're attempting a strategy to recapture one of the control towers over there!
Four control towers occupied by the
Among a roster of elite soldiers without peer, somehow even a mere cute songstress like me has boldly joined the fray—completely unexpected! But there's no backing out now!
So let me introduce this crazy bunch who's participating in this operation with me,
"Have your fill of looking at that face yet? It's about time you offered your neck to my feet. I'll lop off your head and make a candlestick out of those skull bones."
Here she comes! Cruel words and morbid skills aside! But if she does that to us, we're all dead! Don't kill us, please!
Flames flickering in her narrow red eyes, her figure returning like a blaze of fire! Her temperamental nature is as unpredictable as the shifting flames of a bonfire—whatever you do, don't touch her, it's dangerous!
The one who soars about with the Yang Sword in hand, the linchpin of our offense and defense—Lady
Lady Priscilla tears along the side of the burning waterway, swinging the radiant Yang Sword in a single fluid motion! Swinging! Swinging wildly!
Impact! Sparkles! Shrieking!! The receiving end gets sent flying—ah!
But! She holds her ground!! And glares right at Lady Priscilla!!
"Aaah, aaaah, aaah! Good grief, good grief, absolutely good grief! Why must every single one of you get in my way together?! You're trying to interfere with my rendezvous with him! How sorrowful, how sorrowful, I'm so sorrowful! My heart feels like it'll burst from the grief! This intense emotion that shakes my soul! This sorrow that won't stop!"
There she is—the bandaged fiend who screams and weeps and howls while tears stream down her tattered face!
Her face is swaddled in white bandages, wrapped round and round and round! Her coat hides her body! Honestly, even her gender is questionable, but from the voice she's probably female! With that woman's disheveled look, she swings chains wound around both arms in circles—utterly deranged!
By now, no one—not even I—can understand what she's saying. It's Sirius Romanee-Conti, the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of "Wrath"! She introduced herself just a moment ago!
The fiend Sirius covers her face and weeps! As if igniting from her tears, snakes of flame writhe across the plaza before the control tower! This chain reaction makes no sense!!
And on top of that, white flames rise from the waterway, and beyond that—people, people, people are everywhere in a panic! The people who should have been sheltering at the northern evacuation point—most of them came here specifically to watch this battle—not!! Right now everyone is rolling on the ground, howling! Just like the noisy, chaotic Sirius fiend! This is the power of the "Wrath" who spread discord across the entire city!!
The eyes of everyone howling are completely devoid of sanity! Poisoned by emotion—or rather, intoxicated by emotion, or swept away by emotion, or stripped of all emotional restraint—something like that! If we leave this alone, it'll end badly, and that's obvious, so how about we do something about it right now!
"Zubbi, zubbibi... Sa-zaa-zaa, this is the performance of a lifetime, I tell you!"
Standing atop the elevated platform! Looking down from above at the burning stage below, the wailing audience, and the performers scattering sparks like madmen, I too declare that I've taken the stage.
Honestly, I've been outside of Lady Priscilla's extraordinary aura this whole time, so this piercing sadness, this heartache, and this despair haven't stopped since a while ago, but I'm not the kind of person who lets that make her stumble, her fingers slip, or her breath catch!!
Being forcibly drawn toward sorrow—anyone who's dealt with music knows that happens all the time! I can't let myself crumble just because the waves are a bit high!
And now, the final member of this crazy lineup—the headliner—let me introduce them!
"Come, come! Those far away, hear my sound! Those nearby, watch me dance! And those even farther away—I'll raise my voice even louder, so listen up!! Liliana Masquerade will sing, play, and dance for you! Listen well! —I'll chase past the dawn sky!!"
Fingering the lilirune with delicate yet bold force, opening my throat to carry far and ring beautifully nearby, borrowing sound and song from the world—let the performance begin!!
But before that! Let me briefly rewind and see how we got here!!
※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ "Um, um um um um, Lady Priscilla! Um, are you really sure about this?"
"What are you talking about?"
As always, Lady Priscilla walks with that imperial stride, never slowing down.
Chasing after her back, I timidly call out. Well, I mean—come on. We're about to take on one of the Sin Archbishops, and the only person she's bringing along is me?
See, I didn't intend for things to turn out this way from the very beginning.
After the Witch Cult's third broadcast,
There, I heard that Kiritaka was somewhat unaccounted for, and truth be told, something had been churning in my heart about that. But then I was hit with an even more shocking revelation!
Because as it turns out, the Sin Archbishop in Pristella isn't just "Gluttony"! There's not one but a full four of these terrifying Sin Archbishops, each occupying a control tower! That's completely insane!
Whoever spread the rumor that the Witch Cult is an uncoordinated bunch of anarchists? They're perfectly organized. And this is the result of that coordination.
The only part of the "anarchist" label that was accurate was the chaos. Ugh—this is just scary!
But! Among us here, we have the candidates vying for the Royal Selection!
I heard some of them had a rough time in the preliminary skirmishes, but the determination in their eyes as they prepared to reclaim the city showed no wavering! There was nothing to do but send them off with full enthusiasm!
"As long as I and that songstress are here, there is nothing to fear."
Those words, washing over my ears as I was lost in Kiritaka's funeral dirge, came directly from Lady Priscilla—pointing at me by name!
She wasn't suggesting I join the battle against the Sin Archbishop of "Wrath," was she?!
No, no, surely that's impossible, I protested boldly—but Lady Priscilla acted as though those hours we'd spent together had never happened, cold and provocative, prodding me again and again.
When someone pushes you that far... well, I'm a woman too. A bard, no less.
And besides, when I heard that the "Wrath" Archbishop was the one spreading discord throughout the city, I couldn't back down.
Originally, Lady Priscilla had taken me to use the Magic Tool at city hall to send my song to the city's people. That plan was preempted by Subaru's speech, so my role was sidelined without even entering the fray...
But now, if there's another chance to face "Wrath"—that's a chance for a rematch.
No—it's the resumption of a battle that ended without me even fighting. To her, it would be an unprovoked revenge battle.
Now that's what I call exciting!
"Very well! I, Liliana! For the grand stage commanded by Lady Priscilla, I shall sing to the very last note with this lilirune and this throat of mine!"
Ja-jan! I struck a grand pose.
Lady Priscilla and Al would focus on fighting "Wrath" directly, and I would stay behind to draw in the people affected by "Wrath's" mysterious power with my song. A perfect formation!
Or so I thought. Right—now we're back to our initial exchange. Lady Priscilla responded to my pitiful voice with "What are you talking about?" So, let me have my say.
"Why did you leave Al behind at city hall? Surely, just the two of us women—cute little me and the beautiful Lady Priscilla—doesn't feel safe enough, does it?"
"I would think not. In truth, I alone would be excessive firepower. The very fact that I must move in person is because those commoners lack the hands to handle it. The fact that I'm going to this trouble already gives those Witch Cult scum a sense of achievement equal to victory."
"...? I can't really tell what you're saying! Lady Priscilla, you're wonderful!"
The mere act of Lady Priscilla glaring made the spot she looked at burn with pain! An illusion!? It must be an illusion! Having felt Lady Priscilla's passion up close, my body has been completely trained by her, hasn't it!?
"You heard him earlier too, didn't you? If he sent troops to the control tower, the enemy would surely strike at the unguarded headquarters. In that case, the people left behind would be at their mercy... That merchant seemed to realize it."
"Ah, so that's why you were talking to Lady Anastasia before we left?"
"He was apparently considering taking only the Magic Tool and retreating to the shelter with the non-combatants... But in the end, if the Witch Cult is coming, it's better to welcome them head-on. It would ease the frustration. If the one returning is 'Gluttony,' Al could handle it."
"Hah, I see. So... you really do trust Al!"
As I listened to Lady Priscilla's explanation and summed it up with "Hmm, hmm," I was glared at!
But I wasn't wrong there! Because leaving an ally behind at a place that might get attacked by the enemy—surely you'd only do that if you truly trusted them.
"Don't speak of trust and reliance so lightly. I won't deny that I value Al and Schult. He may look like a fool, but he's a useful one. I took a liking to his peculiar appearance and drew him in, but he's懂得 enough not to be a nuisance at my side."
With a snort, Lady Priscilla murmured dismissively.
Honestly, those aren't words you'd direct toward your number one knight. And for someone you supposedly trust, there's zero warmth in her assessment. But somehow...
Even though her words carry only their literal meaning and no real emotion, somehow they feel like more than enough. What is it that makes me feel that way?
"Because your evaluation of everyone else is so low, anyone you evaluate normally seems incredibly favored by comparison—a structural issue of your dominance...?"
"There is no need for you to understand my ways. Just observe the results. I don't demand your understanding either. What I require of you is only what I've acknowledged."
"If... if I'm at least among the acknowledged ones, then I could consider myself valued...?"
"Whether you're worth bringing along—that's the degree to which I'd call you useful. You have a duty to meet my expectations."
Whoo-hoo, just thinking about it, the responsibility is enormous!
No, well, putting that aside, there's something I just noticed.
A little while ago, during the meeting at city hall, Lady Priscilla was calling me "kisama," and I thought the distance between us had widened. But now she's back to calling me "sonata." What does this mean?
"A special face reserved for the inner circle only... just kidding... eek!"
I reflexively bury my face in my hands to hide from Lady Priscilla's burning gaze. Hmph—I've learned from these few hours of companionship. You might call it Lady Priscilla's habit, or her atmosphere? These subtle shifts in her set off every sensitive nerve in my ears, my skin, and... well, you know...
"Huh? The expected harsh retort isn't coming? No way—could Liliana's reading actually be wrong...?"
"I was playing along with your little act, but I've had enough of your buffoonery."
"Ah, she called me 'kisama' again..."
Did the distance just widen? Feeling a bit lonely, I look up—ah, right, this isn't the time for that.
Before I knew it, we'd arrived at our destination—the control tower. Now, this particular control tower is a bit different from what I know.
"Did you know, Lady Priscilla? According to my Pristella intel, control towers aren't supposed to be randomly bursting into flames like that."
"So it seems. While the decorations are to my taste, the set designer's skills leave much to be desired. One's passion naturally rises at the sight of things being set ablaze and scorched, but an ugly display like that kills the mood."
Lady Priscilla calmly appraises the scene, but I can't watch so calmly.
The northern control tower, a stone structure surrounded by waterways, is now entirely engulfed in flames along its slender form. Being a stone tower, it shouldn't catch fire so easily, but somehow it has. Ah—a melody just struck me.
"I've got one! 'The Stone-Baked Tower and the Sweet Potato'... Want to hear it?"
"If the last footprint you leave on this world is that, then sing to your heart's content. Let your guard down and that will become reality. Commoners, mediocrities, and fools—if they cling to my glory, I'll treat them well enough, but the irredeemable ones are beyond help. Don't expect me to be merciful enough to spare those who endanger themselves through sheer stupidity."
Suddenly, extremely harsh! Could it be that Lady Priscilla has shifted into battle mode?
Of course she has. The burning control tower, the mounting pressure. And greeting our arrival—a bandaged ghost with arms spread wide in front of the flaming stone tower! Surely there's no mistaking who this is.
"—Sorry to make you come all the way here? Thank you."
Unexpectedly, the bandaged ghost's first words were gentle, considerate of us.
The way she folded her spread arms together and bowed her head even felt somewhat endearing. The contrast with her appearance—is that what it is?
"I thought a landmark this big might be over the top, but with the city's functions paralyzed tonight, there's almost no lighting, right? I thought it'd be dangerous for people to get lost in the dark or accidentally fall into the waterways, so I lit a fire to brighten things up."
What a great idea, said the bandaged ghost—no, excuse me. Let me call her Bandage-san. Bandage-san told me the cause of the great fire behind her.
Hmm, I see... I was genuinely impressed. Pristella is, after all, a watergate city—canals everywhere. When going out at night, especially in back alleys, there are many warnings to be careful. Main streets have proper lighting for nighttime travel, but even so, the waterways are full of dangers.
You know, it's actually kind of nice that someone from out of town cares about these aspects of Pristella.
Ah, well, Pristella isn't exactly my hometown or anything, and it would be weird for me to get emotional as its representative. But I knew Kiritaka put a lot of effort into running things, so seeing that diligence reflected here doesn't feel bad at all. Hmm hmm.
"Even so, the people of this city are truly remarkable. It may sound like a very biased opinion, but during times of crisis, their response and coordination are exemplary. Adults protecting children, men protecting women, husbands protecting wives, brothers protecting sisters, sisters protecting brothers—even between strangers, the strong help the weak. The spirit of mutual aid is deeply rooted here. Seeing everyone rushing to the shelter, helping one another, I thought it was truly wonderful."
Jingle jingle—I noticed the chains wound around Bandage-san's arms making a sound. Apparently, those are the weapons Subaru told me about. Hmm, looking at them now, they're actually kind of fashionable, aren't they?
The coat she's wearing, which is a bit large for Bandage-san's frame—if I view it as part of her overall look, it's not bad... yeah, it's not bad!
Bandage-san speaks politely, and her voice is a bit—how should I put it? Slightly off? It's high-pitched, but there's something subtly artificial about it, which as someone who works with sound, I find a bit unsettling. But it's not a major deduction!
All things considered, there's no need to write her off completely!
"That's good news, Lady Priscilla. It seems like she's someone we can talk to. In fact, you might be the harder one to talk to—uh-ah, my eyes!!"
My eyes are burning! Gaaah, the flames in my eyeballs collided!!
My eyes, my eyes are melting! Melting, and I'll never see anything beautiful again!
"Ah, damn it... If this is how it ends, I should have burned every beautiful face in city hall into my memory without missing a single one...!"
"Don't be foolish, raise your head. You'd let yourself be swallowed so easily? Don't disappoint me."
Lady Priscilla's unkind voice reached me, and as I'd been rubbing my face, I blink and look up. Ah, thank goodness, my eyes aren't burned. I can see the world. I can see it! Red Lady Priscilla and white Bandage-san—I can see them both.
Lady Priscilla is glaring at Bandage-san with her usual severe expression. Bandage-san tilts her head softly in response.
Oh boy—this is Lady Priscilla overstepping.
"You mustn't, Lady Priscilla! Going around biting anyone and everyone like an untrained dog! For my flat chest's sake—mmph, for my flat chest's sake... let's at least maintain a diplomatic posture..."
Wait, wait—why? Why am I about to cry?
But it's fine. If my willingness to face the reality of my own chest can serve as a bridge between Lady Priscilla and Bandage-san's hearts, then I'll swallow those tears!
"So come, for my flat chest's sake, let's take each other's hands...!"
"Ah, how wonderful. I agree with the young lady's kindness. People can understand each other, feel for each other, connect with each other! Kindness with kindness, compassion with compassion, love with love! That is where happiness truly lies!"
"Y-Yes! I think so too! You're right—love, that's it! Lady Priscilla, it's love! I can't deny that the beauty of the word is swaying me, but maybe it's okay to be swayed! Look, we're in a watergate city—canals everywhere! See? See?"
"————"
Bandage-san's words hit close to home every time. Ugh, they sting, they really sting.
Seeing Bandage-san and me hitting it off, Lady Priscilla's stubborn heart softened, and she gradually started to smile at us... or was that a scowl?
"I underestimated this to some extent, I admit. There's nothing to be done about it."
"There is! Lady Priscilla, why the long face...?"
Lady Priscilla, who had been touching her forehead as if deep in thought, sighed. That sighing pose is picturesque too, but then she seemed to make up her mind and stepped right in front of me.
Since I'm rather petite, with Lady Priscilla in her high-heeled shoes standing before me, I have to look up. What—why so close all of a sudden?
"Lady Prisshilla—"
"————"
Just as I felt Lady Priscilla's chest pressed against me head-on, her white fingertips firmly supported my neck and chin. Then, pulling me closer, Lady Priscilla's face—our lips collided—WHAT!?!
"Mmm! Mmm-mmm! Mmghhmm!"
With splashing, flapping sounds, I struggle desperately, face beet red. But the force holding me down is unbelievable, and her lips are impossibly soft—what is this!!
Ahhi, no, wait—something incredibly hot is flowing from Lady Priscilla's lips into me—ahhi, ahhi, cold...!
"......ah"
Heat surges through me, my vision spins, and before I know it, I collapse right there on the spot. Lady Priscilla doesn't even glance at me—she licks her lips with her red tongue and says: "Well, that should be sufficient."
What—what—what kind of thing is she casually allowed to say and do?!
I rub my tear-filled eyes vigorously, gather strength in my limp legs to stand up, and—Lady Priscilla, that was—you owe me an explanation!
"L-Lady Priscilla, what on earth was that just now?! T-take responsibility! If you do something like that to an innocent girl, she'll never be able to get married!"
"I allowed the mouth-to-mouth as well, so it's the same for me. If you want to press me with your innocence as an excuse, go ahead—but surely you gained more than just a trigger to come to your senses?"
"Huh? A trigger to come to my senses...?"
She trampled on my pure heart and now Lady Priscilla plays dumb. Being treated like a passing fling—just because I'm a bard, I suppose. Sniffle.
"Oh, stop being so sentimental. Here—look up. Look at her."
Sniffle sniffle sniffle... huh?
I do as told, realizing as I do the weakness of a woman, and look up. Lady Priscilla and Bandage-san haven't changed positions—but wait, Bandage-san?
No no no, that can't be right. Why was I so comfortably calling someone like that "Bandage-san" with absolutely no hesitation? It doesn't make sense, none of this makes sense!
"Two women together... but, well, there are all sorts of forms love can take. Even if they face different directions, they can cherish the same things. That's precisely what makes the emotions that define us human so beautiful..."
"—Enough of this farce. It's unbearable to watch."
Bandage-san had been covering her face with both hands while watching Lady Priscilla and me, saying something, but all of her words rapidly became nauseating.
The words that had seemed unconditionally trustworthy just moments ago—her attitude, her gestures—once I could see through the situation Bandage-san had orchestrated, everything flipped instantly.
No—burning a tower as a substitute for lighting, the idea was absurd from the start. Thinking those rusty, reddish-black chains were fashionable was a delusion. And most of all, her "evaluation" of the shelter residents was sickening! Who do you think you're messing with?!
"There are plenty in this world who line up shallow arguments to wallow in self-satisfaction, but your self-intoxication stands out even among them. Too disgusting to be called a fool, too powerful to be a simpleton... I see no value in keeping you alive."
"Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my, is that so? How kind of you to say, and I'm sorry. Thank you, and I apologize. It seems my words just don't reach you... But that's how things are sometimes, isn't it?"
"Hmm, you're very understanding. So you've decided to offer your neck readily?"
"Yes, of course. Exhausting words to understand one another—that too is a vital ritual in building relationships. Understanding each other, hearts gradually opening, becoming one. Love is becoming one, becoming the same, striving to become the same. Love is precious—I was taught that, and I've lived by it!"
"Ughhhh! Even now, I can't believe that was my first kiss with someone!!"
"The existence of the burning tower alone is to be commended as entertainment for my arrival."
Incredible! Even by my own admission, right now, no one is actually having a conversation!
A bandaged ghost screaming incomprehensible arguments, Lady Priscilla pursuing her own path, and me, Liliana, in stunned shock from having my lips stolen! Do I even serve a purpose here?!
"You'll become necessary from here on. That kiss was for that purpose."
"Don't remind me! And stop looking at me so much. When I look at Lady Priscilla, my heart goes all fluttery..."
"Perhaps the effect was too strong. Even my beauty is a sin, I suppose."
As I struggle to contain my racing heart, Lady Priscilla sighs languidly. Her profile is painfully beautiful... but wait, this isn't the time!
Lady Priscilla has been ready from the start, and the bandaged ghost opposite shows no sign of backing down—a fierce battle is inevitable! And if I stay here, I'll definitely get caught in it!
"I-It'd be better to keep my distance, right?"
"Well, perhaps."
Huh, why so mischievous?
Right after I thought that, my delicate, well-shaped ears caught a sound. Footsteps. They were footsteps, no doubt about it. But what was unmistakable wasn't just that—there weren't just one set of footsteps, there were many... no, not many—lots!! Lots and lots!!
"So, you've called the surrounding people here in bulk."
"They're all people who agree with my love. There are stubborn ones like you sometimes, but as the saying goes, 'Rainwater poured into the canal makes no distinction.' Once you entrust your heart, your perspective changes too!"
That saying about rainwater basically means things blend in more than you'd expect once you dive in—but that's not the issue right now!
The burning control tower! The waterways surrounding it! The plaza before the tower where we stand! And beyond the waterways—an enormous crowd peering in at us!!
It's really, truly enormous. Not a gathering of a hundred or two hundred—this is a thousand, maybe more! That many people have surrounded us, and if I may say, they're glaring at us with completely unhinged eyes!
This must be what Subaru was talking about—being completely taken over by "Wrath's" influence!
"Let me tell you, you were looking at me with the same eyes as those commoners earlier."
"Eek, really?! Scary! Oh! But wait—if that's the case, wouldn't everyone snap back to normal if Lady Priscilla kissed them all?! Lady Priscilla's lips might get swollen though!"
"Like I'd sell myself cheap to everyone and anyone. I'll set you on fire from the backside."
About to be burned from behind—I nearly spun around! Choose your words wrong and you die! For someone with a reputation for putting her foot in her mouth, this situation is excessively dangerous!
"Besides, that role is yours. What do you think I brought you here for? Abandoning your own role and begging me for mercy—be ashamed of that."
"No, but, I understand the logic, I just..."
When it comes to this many people who've lost their sanity, I'd need some preparation before I could start singing, right? If I just started right in front of them, the bandaged ghost would surely go all out to stop me.
"Which is exactly why I've come forward."
As I fidget and shrink back, Lady Priscilla speaks with an exasperated air.
I acknowledge Lady Priscilla is incredible, but dealing with this many people... Wait—I've been following along with this vague feeling of "Lady Priscilla is awesome," but is she really that impressive?
I saw her shove a pretty big guy with an open palm, but beyond that, I don't actually remember many impressive moments! Come to think of it—even if the only enemy was "Wrath," was it really the right call to follow along?
"You mustn't! You two have reached the point of sharing a kiss—that's how good your relationship is! You need to grow closer, try to understand each other! When you wish to become one, your feelings will connect. Just like the many people around this plaza—as one!"
Bandage-san stomps her foot, and all the people surrounding the plaza stomp in unison. A thousand people performing this action in perfect unison is no different from an earthquake.
The plaza trembles, the water surface ripples, the burning stone tower seems to tilt from the sheer force... Whether this is love or not is up for debate, but it's undeniably a threat!
If all those people rushed to capture us at once— "Come, you too—be embraced by love, and know the joy of becoming one—!"
Aaargh! She says that and then this happens! It's over!
A thousand against two—that's the kind of disparity you'd mock even in a real hero's tale...
A roar goes up and the crowd surges toward us all at once. Ignoring the waterways entirely, like a horde of the dead, they come to trample our delicate bodies— Uwaaah! Mom, Dad, Kiritaka, I'm sorry! Liliana's body, besides her lips, will no longer remain pure—!!
"If I'd known, I would have saved myself the dramatics and just gone to Kiritaka..."
"Whether you despair or they're optimistic, you both seem to think I'm someone I'm not."
"Huh?"
Before my eyes filled with despair, Lady Priscilla moves. Before I knew it, a gleaming red sword was in her hand—the Yang Sword. Even seeing it indoors at the gathering hall during the day, it was blinding. In the world of night, with the sun set, it shimmers with breathtaking beauty.
It was as if the sun that had sunk had risen again right there— "Blessed by my Yang Sword, tremble before its brilliance. This is the primordial flame, the first light to illuminate the seat of the sovereign.—Don't think its red glow is the same as any you know."
"————"
Declaring this solemnly, Lady Priscilla leaps with the Yang Sword in hand.
There's no other way to describe it—she jumped. It looked like a light little hop, but the momentum carried her like the wind—swift and agile. Arriving at the edge of the waterway ahead of the surging crowd, Lady Priscilla points the Yang Sword's tip at the water's surface.
And then— "——!?"
Before my eyes, a crimson wall erupts upward—no, it's a wall of flame.
The inferno rises past red, almost white. The light refuses to be called "flickering"—it stands fierce and terrible, proving the ferocity of its heat.
What's burning is the waterway itself, the surface of the water. Fire's natural enemy is water, water extinguishes fire—that's the fundamental understanding being overturned before my very eyes.
Lady Priscilla's Yang Sword burns even water.
And not just a spot—all four waterways surrounding the plaza, simultaneously!!
"This is..."
Before this otherworldly spectacle, the bandaged ghost—no, let's not beat around the bush. "Wrath"—even "Wrath" is speechless.
A fire that defies the word "burning," simply existing before them. It halts the crowd that was trying to cross the waterways, pinning them in place.
Naturally. Moths flying into a bonfire is the natural order—but humans possess the wisdom and instinct to refuse that end.
"You tried to argue that love isn't domination, at least in form. But if your power to compel obedience exceeds even basic instinct, this level of barrier will hardly stop anyone."
Realigning her Yang Sword, Lady Priscilla mocks the silent "Wrath."
Mockery, ridicule, insults, contempt—there's no other word for the expression on her wickedly beautiful face.
Oh, how wrong I've been.
I kept looking at Lady Priscilla's stern, severe face and somehow still thought she was beautiful, but I was completely mistaken.
Nothing could surpass the beauty of her now, with that wicked expression.
"Even binding free will won't help if instincts remain free. It seems no one is willing to prove your so-called love by burning themselves alive in these flames."
"————"
"This is the result of the cheap, repetitive love you've been preaching. How utterly laughable, Sin Archbishop. Your grand title is an insult to hear."
Wearing a contemptuous sneer, Lady Priscilla continues hammering the silent "Wrath."
I couldn't help but grip my hands in suspense, watching the confrontation unfold. That feeling from moments ago—wondering if Lady Priscilla was really that impressive—had completely vanished.
Lady Priscilla is incredible! Lady Priscilla is terrifying!
"In the first place, the notion that love means 'becoming one' is laughably shallow. I am singular and supreme—at that point, no matter how you struggle, you commoners could never become one with me."
Wooow, Lady Priscilla is amazing! She's amazing, but... uh-oh, the mood is shifting!
"You may be able to approach me, but catching up is absolutely impossible. The love you speak of is already broken. In that case, 'wanting to become one' is nothing but empty delusion."
"Um, Lady Priscilla, maybe you should ease up a bit..."
"Becoming the same? What a colossal misunderstanding. Different things wanting to become one—that's self-denial. Why would something lacking in self seek to merge with another? Being different is the fundamental premise—what matters is what you do despite being different. That's how the world works.—You, worthless thing."
"Gaaah! Why does this have to be a total negation?!"
This is bound to push her over the edge! It has to!
Well, Lady Priscilla might have the composure to handle it even if Sirius snaps, but for a regular person like me, I'd really prefer she just wrap this up quickly!
"Imbecile. If I did that, everyone besides me would be cut in two. I wouldn't mind dyeing the city in blood at least once, but there's no need to do it in my own country. So I'll postpone that opportunity—you go fulfill your role."
Ah, right. That's what my role was supposed to be.
If you enter "Wrath's" influence, you'd end up experiencing the pain and wounds that person has suffered. That's exactly why my song is needed—to break that condition!
"When I saw the real thing, I got really worried whether my song could actually pull this off!"
"If you can't do it, her head will fall alongside yours. If you don't want that, sing your heart out."
Still clutching my lilirune, I'm overcome by the weight of responsibility and the height of the wall before me.
The waterways are burning and the crowd can't cross, but the people are still essentially hostages. And the way to free them is my song! So Lady Priscilla's job is— "So basically, until my song can captivate the crowd, Lady Priscilla's job is to keep me alive!?"
"If you die, well—there's nothing to be done. I'd simply cut off her head right away. The lives of everyone here depend on your throat."
"Uwaaah!"
"You're slow to understand. Now then... hmm."
As I scream, clutching my face, Lady Priscilla's expression changes. She had been watching the silent "Wrath" and now furrowed her shapely brows.
With a bad feeling, I peek through my fingers— "—This is interesting."
"Huh?"
"Interesting, very pleasing. I suppose the word would be delightful. No—naming the surging excitement in my heart would be rather crude."
Low words, and then "Wrath" slowly raised her head. Behind the bandage-covered face, those intensely expressive eyes darted back and forth.
Looking at Lady Priscilla, at the wall of flames, at me—don't look at me!
"Sorry, I lost my composure. But, thank you. I've come to my senses. You're right—being stingy with the effort to understand each other? How selfish."
Was she smiling?
With a mouth split sideways, showing unnervingly white teeth, the fiend smiled.
Warmly, as if welcoming friends and family—even after being rejected so thoroughly!
"Allow me to introduce myself again. I am the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of 'Wrath,' Sirius Romanee-Conti. Please, remember me well."
With a graceful bow.
Then the bandaged ghost—the fiend Sirius—rattled the chains on her arms. Spinning her wrists, releasing the restraints, the chains extending in range, whirling through the air, their overlapping metallic sounds cutting through space—utterly lethal.
And yet, the fiend was still smiling.
"This is a 'trial'! Yes, it must be a 'trial'! In this city where I've reunited with my husband, encountering him again, exchanging words of love—a 'trial' descending upon me! The correctness of my love is proven by the fate that reunited us! And you are the 'trial' standing in my way!!"
With a radiant voice, blossoming like a maiden in love, the fiend swung her chains and closed the distance in an instant. If even one of those grazes me, I'm dead!
"Hold off the crowd. I'll deal with that one myself. At the very least, put in work befitting your rudeness."
"Eek!? Lady Priscilla!?"
"Prepare your song.—If shadow falls upon the Yang Sword's radiance, I will cut that worthless thing's head off no matter what. Do it before that happens."
Even if you arbitrarily impose those conditions on me—!
But there was no way my plea would be heard, as the first strikes of Lady Priscilla and the fiend Sirius clashed, and the battle began!
Listening to the fierce sounds of sword and chain colliding, I knew I had to do something.
But rather than a sense of duty, it was some indescribable emotion that drove me to run toward the wall of flames over the waterway. In desperation.
Boom! Damn it—I have absolutely nothing prepared!
"Just listen to me first. —Hoshin of the Wastes, it's hoooot!?"
I got as close to the waterway as possible and tried to envelop at least the surrounding area in a vortex of music, but the moment I got close, the flames scorched my face!!
Impossible! Impossible! I made a valiant effort to strum and sing, but Lady Priscilla's flame wall is insanely hot! Insanely hot! Hotter than normal!
But if I don't get this close, honestly, no one can even see me!
"Uwaaah, hot hot hot! My hands are burning! If my throat and lungs burn, this battle is lost for us—wait, what?"
After being scorched by the fire, my face beyond recognition, regretting my carelessness—I realized both my hands, which should have taken equal fire damage, were fine... and my wooden lilirune hadn't caught fire even after being bathed in the flames. What?
"This isn't... normal fire?"
Well, if you're going to say that, the fire was never normal to begin with—but this doesn't burn? It's hot, but it doesn't burn?
Then wait—I could maybe get through this! What is this? A bluff of a fire!?
Following her really was a mistake—ahhh!!