Chapter 122 - x

"When will you get it through your thick skull?! It's not a question of power. It is juvenile to think that dropping me from a great height will be enough to change anything. Are you a fool, or do you just take me for a fool?"

"If destructive force were enough to settle things, then I suppose I could try smashing you into a crack in the ground…but I had something else in mind. Humor me for a moment."

As he said that, Reinhard deftly adjusted his position while in midair with nothing to support him. And then he twisted the arm holding Regulus's head. "What…?"

The villain's eyes opened wide. Seeing the scene below them, Regulus roared.

"This is preposterouuuuus!"

"For now, the first of the novel variants. Pray that we need not move on to a second."

It was a rare display of sarcasm from Reinhard, but Regulus didn't have the composure to appreciate or respond.

Using nothing but his arm strength, Reinhard swung Regulus's body and threw it straight down with tremendous speed. His supple, whiplike movement sent Regulus toward the water's surface below.

On the way down, Regulus struggled in vain, flailing his arms and legs. "As if a little dip in the water would…" He held his arms out in front of him, preparing for the shock of hitting the surface. Reinhard was just as helpless in midair, but they had planned for that.

"—Now, Emilia-tan!"

"Ul Hyuma!"

Regulus heard the annoying voices of a man and woman, then caught a glimpse of them both from the corner of his eye—the black-haired boy pointing at him and the silver-haired girl casting something.

An instant later, as Regulus was still falling down, a gigantic icicle crashed into him from above.

This was only just the beginning as more and more icicles began pummeling his back. His arms, legs, and torso were fully encased in ice by the time he fell into the canal, plunging beneath the surface with a massive splash.

" "

All in all, Regulus had been hit by five icicles and completely frozen as he sank beneath the waves. The spot where he landed froze over like an icy headstone.

"Whoo! Plan Watery Grave is a success!"

"If that's enough to defeat him, then it was worth it."

After leaping so high up that it looked like they might go beyond the atmosphere, Reinhard landed next to Subaru and Emilia as they all watched the place that marked where Regulus had fallen. Without Reinhard's ability to take to the skies, this plan wouldn't have been possible.

Of course, the true problem was that this plan required someone who could effectively fly.

"But it worked out in the end. Thanks to your plan, Subaru, and what little assistance I was able to provide. Lady Emilia's strength was extremely helpful as well."

"Don't read people's minds like that. Still, though, we went straight for a cheese strat after all…"

Looking out across the frozen surface, Subaru made sure to not let his guard down, watching carefully for any signs of Regulus. But next to him, Emilia lowered her eyes set off by long eyelashes.

"I don't think there's any hope after falling into the water like that…"

"Sorry, when you're feeling a bit down about all this, Emilia-tan, but honestly, I'd be perfectly happy if this was the end of that guy. I think we can count ourselves lucky if all we have to deal with is feeling guilty about ganging up on someone and drowning them."

Deep down, Subaru didn't relish the idea of killing anyone. Even if he was dealing with someone who was an immediate threat, he had learned his lesson about what terrible things can come from acting on a desire for revenge.

"When everything's said and done…"

Archbishops were the only exception. He couldn't bring himself to let them go. Not because they were powerful enemies. It was because they were villainous, vulgar, vile, repulsive, wicked, heinous, violent, sinful, crude, evil, and every other kind of nasty thing imaginable. "—Watch out!"

As soon as he heard that shouted warning, the surface of the water broke. Then Subaru felt himself floating.

The reason was Reinhard, who had leaped backward while holding Subaru and Emilia. The next instant, a spray of water from the canal rained down on where they had been standing. The road was shredded.

The aftermath was identical to the pockmarks left behind by the storms of dirt being thrown around earlier.

"It seems that dropping him into the depths while encased in ice wasn't enough to conclude this battle."

"…Looks like it. But, man, I didn't realize that attack works with stuff other than dirt."

Reinhard and Subaru were both talking about the same person, but different things had caught their attention.

Subaru noted how this time it was water droplets instead of clumps of dirt that had torn into the ground. And Reinhard was focused on the figure now standing atop the floating ice—

"…There isn't any ice on his body. Just like before in the chapel." Emilia was also looking at Regulus Corneas standing atop the ice floe.

His arms, legs, and torso had been fully encased in ice before he had plunged deep into the water, but Regulus had returned to the surface alive. And as she had noted, there wasn't a single mark anywhere on his body.

Reinhard's physical attacks, Emilia's magic, and even the water—none of them had any visible effect.

This wasn't some enhanced defensive ability. Regulus had a power that was fundamentally different. Subaru still wasn't sure how it worked yet, but it seemed unlikely his body was completely covered by some sort of absolute defense field. Part of the goal of plan W had been to see if they could find a hole in that defense.

"He's not even wet, so that rules out it being some kind of invisible box…"

"This is the price I pay for being so easygoing."

Subaru's body tensed as he sensed a dangerous omen from the quiet voice that rang out. Regulus pierced him with a chilling stare. Standing atop the ice floe, unharmed and still dry, the villain's lips twisted as he proceeded to castigate them.

"You don't get it. You just don't get it at all. It's pointless. You have no hope of winning. You can't touch me. It's meaningless. Why are you so slow to realize it? I've explained it. I've demonstrated it. And yet, you still don't understand?"

Regulus muttered in annoyance as he walked along the ice toward them. And as he stepped off the ice partway, Subaru's eyes widened.

"What? Have you finally managed to grasp an inkling of exactly who you are dealing with?"

Regulus's malevolent eyes flashed as he casually walked across the top of the water. There wasn't any ice where he stepped. He simply crossed the waves churning the water's surface.

Was that also made possible by his power? What sort of amazing gift combined invincibility with the ability to walk across water?

"—Subaru, my sword."

"Huh? O-oh, right…"

As Regulus continued his ominous approach, Subaru handed Reinhard the Dragon Sword he had been safekeeping. As he confirmed the feel of his trusted sword, Emilia looked at him and asked a pointed question.

"Is the sword coming out?"

"No, it refuses to budge. However, whatever the sword thinks, I believe he is a dangerous opponent."

Reinhard had updated his assessment of how great a threat Regulus posed after their exchanges thus far. However, Subaru couldn't fathom what Reinhard was thinking as he wielded a sword he couldn't draw.

"What are you going to do if you can't draw it? Just swing it while it's still in its sheath?"

"Come on, Emilia-tan—that's a bit too simplistic…"

"Yes, that's correct, Lady Emilia."

"Say what?!"

Reinhard confirmed he intended to do exactly what Emilia had guessed. Emilia accepted that response as if it was perfectly natural, but Subaru wasn't sure how to feel.

From time to time, the strongest people in this world seemed perfectly happy resorting to brute force and turning their overwhelming strength into a weapon. They all seemed to think that there was no need for subtle moves and tricks when they already possessed the strongest attack.

But Archbishops were not the sort of people who could be faced with just a straightforward attack—

"Subaru, you and Emilia focus on figuring out the secret to his ability!"

With that parting message, Reinhard charged forward, using the wind itself as a springboard. Regulus wore a sinister sneer as he extended his hands toward the surface, touching his fingers to the water.

"You just don't get it, do you?! The world will be a better place without a fool like you in it!"

With that arrogant proclamation, Regulus swung his arms up, creating a big spray of water droplets—child's play transformed into a murderous barrage meant to slay a hero. As the world's most dangerous splash of water closed in, Reinhard gripped the Dragon Sword tightly and boldly pressed forward.

In an instant, the world around Reinhard was engulfed and annihilated by the droplets. Subaru was speechless as he watched the sheer destruction that reshaped the landscape before his very eyes. But Emilia squeezed his tense hand.

"It's okay."

That was enough to assure him that Reinhard was still safe even if it seemed all but impossible. And sure enough, Reinhard emerged in one piece, still shooting right at Regulus.

The Sword Saint's and villain's gazes crossed as Regulus heaved a heartfelt sigh of irritation.

"It never ends. You really are lacking for imagination."

"In my Lady's words, focus on looking for change on the ground and forget about looking up."

Reinhard lashed out with word and sword alike.

Just as he had said, he was swinging the Dragon Sword, sheath and all. A storm of blows fell upon Regulus. Heavy impacts rang out in quick succession, and the scene that unfolded almost looked like a young kid playing with a doll, a strange continuation of the childish water splashing from before.

But just as Regulus's splashes were actually the destructive manifestations of raw violence, Reinhard's swordplay revealed an inhuman level of martial prowess—each and every blow would have been strong enough to end a fight against any other opponent. The scene beggared belief and defied description.

And on top of that, something had changed in a way that was terribly ominous—

"He's stopped getting knocked back when he gets hit."

Even as Subaru watched, Regulus took a hit to his temple, but his face didn't whip to the side as expected. He simply brushed his hand at it as if shooing away a bug. Reinhard's blows were landing, but Regulus had stopped experiencing any sort of impact.

At some point, Reinhard had also started standing on top of the water like Regulus as their fight continued. Their superhuman clash went back and forth. Perhaps it was more accurately described as a deadlock.

That gave Subaru a bad feeling. Nothing good would come if their progress was stalled without any clues to develop a new hypothesis.

It wasn't long before his premonition came true.

"—What?"

Reinhard had challenged Regulus at extremely close quarters. Just as he stepped forward with his left leg before his right could start to sink, he suddenly stopped. Or rather, he was stopped. He staggered, and the careful balance was shattered.

Reinhard's right leg exploded below the knee, scattering crimson across the water's surface.

"He got hit?! By what?!"

Reinhard's brow furrowed in pain as Subaru shouted.

Neither Subaru nor Emilia nor Reinhard himself understood what had just happened. The answer came from the one who had laid down the gauntlet.

"You have a monstrous ability to evade, dodging even dirt and water droplets, but you're too naive. If you truly intend to challenge me, you must stay ever vigilant. Even my breath requires caution. Sighs are no exception."

Regulus provided an unexpected explanation as he swung his leg upward with little finesse. Reinhard had lost his footing and had no way to evade the bottom of Regulus's fast-approaching shoe.

This Archbishop could turn bits of dirt and even water droplets into deadly weapons. It wouldn't be surprising if a direct attack from him transformed his victim into shapeless gore.

Reinhard immediately blocked the kick with the sheath of the Dragon

Sword, but— "Gh…!"

"What is that annoying sword made of? And it's absurd that it can't be drawn, either. That's what you call living beyond your means. Not that I can understand what that feels like!"

A shock wave shot out, creating a ripple centered around them on the water's surface. An instant later, the water exploded and sent Reinhard flying.

He hurtled away at incredible speed, like a rubber ball that had hit the limit of its elasticity.

The kick contained enough force to gouge the road and blow away the whole canal. All that energy had been imparted to Reinhard.

"No! Stop— Gh!"

Emilia held out her hand, mana surging as she tried to catch Reinhard. Walls of ice spawned one after the other along his trajectory as Emilia tried to slow him down somehow. But the instant Reinhard made contact with one of the walls, he left a human-shaped hole in the ice and kept going.

"—Eh?"

Emilia was speechless.

Reinhard's body crashed into the next one, but he passed straight through it as well. He soared through the walls of solid ice like he was going through a door made of paper.

There was no way to stop him. He careened into buildings, destroying them as he continued spinning uncontrollably until he disappeared from sight.

"…All right. Finally, the most annoying one has been taken care of."

Already losing his interest in Reinhard, Regulus turned his attention back to Subaru and Emilia.

Subaru's body went rigid as the man's malicious glare fell on him. Emilia's expression tensed as well. Countless icicles formed in the air, pointing at their foe.

"…Dear me. Dim-witted women really are such a handful. They take so much effort to discipline. Well, all women are slow on the uptake and struggle to learn. That's exactly why you have to start by teaching them their place. But they aren't so bad once you break them in."

"Eiya!"

"…You just don't listen to people, do you?"

The icicles crashed into Regulus as he kept saying whatever came to mind. The barrage had struck home the moment Emilia had shouted. But it had no effect. The ice crumbled wherever it hit Regulus's body and fell into the water. He spread his arms as he cried out.

"Everything you do is pointless! I am a perfect, complete person! There is nothing more and nothing less for one as fulfilled as I! I am the one and only who has achieved eternity!"

"You aren't fulfilled—you're just a big liar! All you ever talk about is want, want, want! You're just really selfish."

"—What?"

"If you were actually fulfilled, then you would take better care of your wives! Not tie them down and make them give up on life and—and then…"

Emilia's violet eyes flared as she upbraided Regulus, who stood there unflinching. It was not uncommon for Emilia to resort to emotional arguments, but she hardly let such intense feelings come to the surface.

And then, as if finally finding the words for what she wanted to say, she screamed, "I get it—I hate you!"

"You harlooooot!"

"Don't give me that! I'm the one who should be angry! I can't take it anymore!"

Emilia's face was a mask of fury as she glared at Regulus, who also erupted in rage. Subaru found her display satisfying and refreshing, but he was mostly worried about getting that villain riled up.

"Well said, Emilia-tan! I wouldn't have put it any other way, but maybe reel it back for a second!"

"But he's so—!"

"We can't beat him without figuring what his ability does! I'm also worried about Reinhard, so we can't afford to forget our priorities."

Pulling Emilia's arm as she erupted in righteous fury, Subaru tried to persuade her that their top concern was to regroup with Reinhard.

Put bluntly, they needed Reinhard to defeat Regulus. And even for Reinhard, seeing him get blown away so violently made Subaru fear the worst.

Emilia seemed unsure for a moment, but she quickly smothered the rage blazing in her breast and started running with Subaru to quickly distance themselves from Regulus.

Though Subaru expected the Archbishop to give chase in a fit of rage…

" "

…Regulus simply stood there on the water's surface, ominously watching them go. He made no effort to move and didn't show any intent to follow after them.

Subaru thought it suspicious, but he decided that if their opponent wasn't going to move, that was just fine by him. This would be the perfect chance to get some space and prepare for the next experiment.

"Huh?"

Just as he was thinking that, he glanced back over at Regulus and was taken completely by surprise. Emilia noticed his agitation, and when she turned to look, her eyes grew wide.

"H-hey, Subaru…I have a really bad feeling about this."

"What a coincidence. I just had the same feeling."

After an exchange that was not enough to relax them, they immediately picked up the speed. They didn't understand what was unfolding behind them, but they knew it couldn't be anything good.

Standing on the edge of the canal, Regulus slowly raised his arm. His five fingers clutched a massive blob—a solidified mass of water from the canal.

Like ice made by a machine, he had somehow extracted a uniform cube of water. It was an enormous amount of liquid, enough to fill an entire twentyfive-yard pool. At a glance, it didn't seem frozen. It no longer acted like a liquid, transcending that state of matter.

"Oh, you're running? So that's your reaction? I suppose that's fine. Considering the difference in strength, that's the natural thing to do. I can respect that. However…" As soon as he trailed off, Regulus casually jumped. The speed and distance he traveled were totally abnormal. Flying through the air like an arrow, Regulus landed on the time tower standing over the city's third district.

The sarcastic thought that Archbishops really seemed to like high places came to mind, but Subaru didn't have the opportunity or composure to voice it. He could already imagine what was coming next.

They were far apart. Regulus's face was a small dot in the distance. But somehow, he could still see that sinister smirk.

"If you think you can get away, then try as hard as you can. A woman unworthy to be my bride and the shameless adulterer who so desperately wishes to run off with her. Allow me to offer you a rain of redemption!"

Regulus roared as the mass of water he was holding above his head slowly came apart bit by bit before bursting all at once with dreadful force. The inertia was so great that the water droplets seemed like they chased after Subaru and Emilia running in the distance, tearing apart the buildings and streets in between, breaking and shattering everything as the wave of destruction came closer.

"Subaru!"

"Run, run, run, run, run, run, ruuuuuun!!!"

The town was engulfed by a murderous rain that obliterated everything in its path. It was like the city was getting carpet-bombed, and the two of them had nowhere to hide.

4

Annihilation was close at hand.

The water pouring down should have been fleeting, transient little things that left a light mark on a dry road before disappearing. Instead, each and every droplet had transformed into a harbinger of doom that inundated the city.

The drops of water tore through whatever they encountered like knives through paper. Buildings collapsed and roads broke apart as the destruction spread, ruining more and more of the city.

"Ooooooooh!"

As the devastation approached from behind, Subaru screamed as he kept sprinting with all his might. Running next to him, Emilia's mouth was shut tight as she also sprinted as hard as she could, her silver hair trailing behind her.

However, the picturesque city of water had canals crisscrossing its entire length. Because of that, the roads tended to twist and wind, making it difficult to just keep running in one direction. Before long, another canal blocked their way. They didn't have time to be taking a detour, but—

"Crap!"

"I'm not sure if this will work, but…Subaru, grab on!"

Emilia held out her hand. He didn't hesitate, and as soon as he grabbed on, a chill touched the air around them.

An enormous amount of mana swirled inside Emilia, and a faint, flickering light enveloped the two of them.

These were the signs of a duet of Emilia's own magic and the power of the lesser spirits whose strength she was borrowing.

"—Please, everyone!"

The lesser spirits gave off dazzling light as they responded to Emilia's prayer.

The ground they were running on suddenly turned white as the world around them turned silver. Pulling the shocked Subaru behind her, Emilia accelerated straight toward the waterway.

"Eeeey!" "Waaaah?!"

Subaru shouted in shock as they plunged into the canal without warning. But Emilia's plan went beyond what he had imagined in their moment of crisis.

"Whooooa! You're amazing, Emilia-tan! So smart! And so cute!"

"Stop messing around! It's hard to control, so don't let go!"

Squeezing Emilia's hand, Subaru focused on running—because they were currently speeding across the slippery surface of the now frozen-over canal. They had managed to maintain their speed while continuing on a direct escape path.

Between her own magic and the lesser spirits' power, Emilia had managed to freeze the water's surface and create a path. Though slipping and sliding, they continued their high-speed escape.

They maintained a good speed, but Subaru found it hard to keep his balance. He held Emilia's hand tight.

"Emilia-tan! Make some ice skates! A blade on the bottom of a shoe… something sharp to slide over the top of the ice."

"Skate…? Ah! If you mean shoes for gliding across ice, I've seen those before! I think it was like…this!"

As they continued to slide along, Emilia envisioned the object and used her magic to encase their feet in ice, instantly creating a set of ice skates.

Icebrand Arts was something Subaru had taught Emilia, a magical technique that allowed her to create all sorts of things with ice that she could freely control in a fight.

Making it practical for real combat had required a lot of time working on image training together. That practiced communication was what enabled her to create ice skates so quickly.

"All right, now we can move more freely! With this…"

"Every once in a while, there are people like you who mistakenly think they are special."

Testing the edge of the blades, Subaru sped up just as a persistent voice filled his ears.

Inhaling sharply, he turned around and found Regulus chasing after them, walking on the frozen waterway they were skating on, ice cracking underneath him with every step.

"Do you think some on-the-spot improvisation is going to be the key to victory? Isn't it rather conceited to start believing you're exceptional after one harebrained idea? Isn't that just simple arrogance? It spits in the face of people who are content in moderation and understanding of their place in life, like me."

That harmless but pointless comment aside, Subaru was certain things were going very badly.

Regulus was walking leisurely, but his speed didn't match his posture at all. The acceleration he gained from each step was almost ridiculous, and he was quickly catching up even though Subaru and Emilia were skating at full speed down the ice.

"Argh, this dude makes me wanna hurl!"

"Subaru, can you manage if I leave one of the lesser spirits with you?!"

While Subaru had all attention on their pursuer, Emilia held out a lesser spirit in the palm of her hand. Subaru arched his eyebrows in confusion for a split second, but he quickly nodded.

"Yeah, leave it to me! I may look like this now, but they didn't call me

Princess of the Ice for nothing back when I was a kid!"

"Sorry, I have no idea what you're talking about."

Subaru was referencing a story from his early childhood, when he had been an adorable, long-haired kid. As that went over Emilia's head, she smiled as she let go of his hand and turned around. Maintaining her speed, she started skating in the other direction and pointed her palms toward Regulus.

"Please! Let this hit!"

Blades and spears of ice, along with whole chunks of the stuff, pummeled Regulus from every direction. Unfortunately, they all shattered the moment they came into contact with his body, dealing no damage.

Meanwhile, the Archbishop didn't slow down at all, meaning they couldn't afford to slow down, either.

"Come on, Mr. Lesser Spirit! Miss? Sorry I don't know your pronouns, but I'm countin' on you!"

Pleading with the lesser spirit Emilia had left with him, Subaru prioritized extending the path of ice over the water. It was do-or-die for him while Emilia was busy dealing with Regulus.

"Ey! Ya! Uryah!"

Fully trusting Subaru, Emilia focused all her attention on Regulus.

She had no experience skating, but she overcame that with her natural sense of balance, skillfully accelerating and slowing down as needed in order to set up her attacks.

Twin ice blades crashed against Regulus's neck while an ice hammer slammed into his torso. Ice lances hurtled toward his vital points one after the other, and a flash of blue magic froze his upper body.

However, he just calmly walked through Emilia's assault as if sneering at all of it in disdain.

"You know, pointless resistance is essentially a form of defamation. Someone has utterly overwhelming strength after all, and yet their opponent refuses to acknowledge it. Pointless resistance is not something that should be done. It's equivalent to denying an opponent's strength, the fruits of all their labors, as well as their innate talent. It's a sign of a lack of consideration for an opponent. That's a violation of my simple right to be myself—"

"What about this?!"

As Regulus sneered, Emilia unleashed a three-part staff that swung straight up into his crotch. The impact was so powerful that even Subaru grimaced, but unfortunately, Regulus sustained no visible damage.

However, even if there was no physical damage, it was clear from his face that it had dealt a serious psychological blow. His cheeks tensed, and his white eyebrows arched as he glared at Emilia.

"You don't even know the meaning of discretion, do you, woman?! After aiming for my vitals this whole time, now this? Have you no shame? You're a disgrace as a woman! And utterly unfit to be a bride!"

"I already told you! I'm not going to be your bride! I wouldn't be able to smile anymore!"

Regulus reached out his hand, his anger on full display, but Emilia eluded his reach at the last moment.

She moved with the grace of a figure skater, her beautiful technique worthy of the title ice fairy. As she sped along in her boldly torn dress, she continued to lead the villain around by the nose.

"Smile? My wives don't need to smile! What I love is their faces! It's only natural to wish for a situation where the person you love can love you back. Don't trifle with me, you evil woman!"

"Whether they're laughing or angry or crying or even just sleeping, they are still the same person! You're the only evil one here!"

The girl in the white dress and the man in the white suit clashed in a fierce argument atop the ice.

To anyone watching from above, it probably would've seemed like two newlyweds. But in reality, this was a forced marriage, and the two people atop the ice were a girl who possessed the peerless beauty of an ice fairy and an Archbishop of the Witch Cult who embodied the viciousness of the world.

Dancing, skating, accelerating, bending backward, spinning, slowing, flipping through the air—Emilia was traversing the ice like she was performing a carefully choreographed routine. And just when Regulus's

patience ran out and he prepared to leap at her— "—Emilia-tan!" "Wha—?!"

Subaru used his whip to pull her slender frame toward him in one big motion. And unable to make the curve as the canal merged into another one, Regulus passed right by the two of them and slammed headfirst into the wall.

Meanwhile, Subaru had used a curving ice wall made by the lesser spirit in order to take the turn while helping Emilia maneuver by using the whip and catching her as she spun into him at high speed. It turned out perfectly so that he was hugging Emilia from behind as the two of them skated farther down the canal.

"Thanks, Subaru. That saved me."

"Don't worry about it, just one of the perks! More importantly, plans V (Vitals) and B (Balls) are no good, either. Is the whole Siegfried, singleweak-point pattern just not a thing?! What in the world is his weakness?!"

"Just accept that I don't have a weakness already!"

Right after Subaru shouted in frustration, an angry roar answered as a pillar of water erupted from the intersection as if a giant beast had come crashing through. And tearing through the waterfall, seemingly ignoring all laws of physics, Regulus shot straight toward them.

Regulus's passing caused shock waves wherever he stepped, setting off explosions of water all along the canal. The amount of water in the great canal was high from the sluice gates having been opened once already, and it contributed to the growing destruction of the streets and buildings all around Regulus as the water shot away from him.

"Not good! He's going to catch up!"

"Hold me tight, Subaru."

"Eh? I'd do that even if you didn't ask, but what are you planning to do?!" "This!"

Subaru grabbed on to her waist as instructed. Leaning her body against him, Emilia created an icicle above their heads and let it fly straight behind them.

Her aim was down the path they were taking, away from Regulus. Subaru furrowed his brow in confusion, but— "Catch it!"

"—! Oh!"

Understanding her idea, he swung his whip and wrapped it around the icicle quickly moving away from them. The force of it was too great for him to stop it. But that was fine.

"Uwhooooooa!"

Pulled along by the ice flying through the air, Subaru and Emilia suddenly peeled away.

At that speed, the lesser spirit couldn't keep up, and the half-frozen water kicked up a spray as they passed. It was almost like the waterskiing Subaru had seen on TV once.

The main difference was that the ice flying through the air around them was patently unsafe. If he loosened his grip on the whip even a little, they would immediately have to go for a swim.

"This is…tough to…balance…! And…!"

"The magic won't just keep flying forever. So here! The next! Here!"

"Even if you say that—I mean, I'll try!"

The icicle had already started to lose momentum, but just before they sank beneath the surface, Emilia created a new one. Freeing his whip, Subaru sent it flying to the new rocketing hunk of ice, repeating the process.

Catching the icicle, switching to a new one as soon as the momentum ran out. It was simple enough to describe, but it was utterly lacking in any finesse and required the utmost concentration to avoid disaster.

Emilia was demanding an acrobatics act, a preternatural control of the whip that Subaru had been handling for only about a year. And to top it all off, she didn't have even the slightest doubt that he could pull it off.

The girl he loved had absolute faith in him. There was no way he could mess up now.

"God, Buddha, master—whoever's listening, guide my hand!

"And I'll do this!"

Subaru prayed to every greater power he could think of, including his master, Clind, who had taught him the way of the whip. He was facing an unimaginable challenge where a single mistake would mean death. Emilia didn't have any doubt that he would pull through and entrusted him with her safety while she unleashed another enormous pillar of ice at Regulus, who was closing in from behind.

Her latest projectile was so massive, it almost looked like the sky was falling.

It filled the entire great canal, leaving Regulus nowhere to run. However, he just slammed straight into the mass of ice and came out the other side.

It didn't break or split. He passed through it, leaving an opening in the outline of his body where he touched it—just like what had happened to the ice walls behind Reinhard after Regulus kicked him.

In other words, the power he was relying on now was the same as whatever he had used on Reinhard. Subaru thought it might be a clue to figuring out how Regulus's ability worked, but— "He's going to catch up!"

"Ha-ha! Did you think you could get away? Not only are you putting up a futile resistance, but your excessive self-consciousness and underestimation of me are infringing on my rights. But I've caught up, so you can pay the price for that thoughtlessness now!"

Regulus shouted as he kicked the water's surface, unleashing a tsunamilike torrent toward Emilia and Subaru. As payback for that enormous hunk of ice, this time he unleashed an attack that they couldn't escape.

Emilia gasped as she looked up at the wave surging over their heads.

Subaru lifted her.

"Yeah, well, we're finally ready, too!"

"What?!"

Regulus's eyes widened as Subaru shot back a bold retort, and the tsunami came even closer. Suddenly, another figure appeared—the one who cracked the road, crashed through a building, and charged into the waterway was none other than Reinhard. The same Reinhard who had endured

Regulus's kick and been hurled into the distance earlier.

He dashed straight into the middle of the canal toward the oncoming wave.

"Apologies for keeping you waiting."

With that brief apology, he swung the Dragon Sword in its sheath. It was paradoxical that a blunt weapon could slash, but the force of the Sword Saint's swing could make anything seem sharp.

The horizontal slash cut the tsunami in half, and the water maintained its shape as it fell forward. A giant plume of water rose as the threat of the tsunami dropped away.

"How absurd must you insist on being?!"

Breaking through the giant splash of water, Regulus leaped out with his teeth bared, drawing close to Reinhard. Reinhard dodged Regulus's arm and ran across the water as he smiled wryly.

"People ask me that fairly often. But you are also quite removed from the average person yourself."

"Don't lump me in with you, monster. And what is this? Do you have all the time in the world? You should go out and live your own life! How much will you obsess over disrupting the relationships of others before you are satisfied?!"

"The flow of emotion between you and Lady Emilia is rather too onesided to call a relationship. Besides…"

Spinning the Dragon Sword, Reinhard deflected Regulus's attack and showed his back. His blue eyes caught Subaru and Emilia rejoicing at the Sword Saint's return.

Reinhard smiled as he saw the two of them holding each other.

"I'd much prefer to support my friend's relationship. If possible, I want to be invited to the wedding."

"Thank you for sharing that pathetic dream with me. Maybe you can achieve it in the next world!"

Cracking a bit of bold humor in the life-and-death struggle, Reinhard smiled as Regulus shouted while he lashed out with another killing blow. Meeting him head-on, Reinhard leaped off the water between where Subaru and Emilia were skiing and Regulus, maintaining their relative positions by parrying the incoming attacks with his sheathed blade.

And seeing how Reinhard had a firm foothold on the water's surface, Regulus's lips twisted.

Reinhard leaned heavily on the leg that should have been explosively amputated by Regulus's earlier attack. At the very least, it should have been so painful, he couldn't stand.

"You're a detestable sort, aren't you?! So your forte is not just swords but even healing magic? How many people have you trampled underfoot just by being more blessed than the average person? How nice it must feel to crush the dreams of others without any effort at all!"

"Allow me to correct one misunderstanding of yours—I don't have any aptitude for healing magic. My leg was healed in a hurry by the lesser spirits in the atmosphere who were worried for me. That's all."

The white hem of his clothing was still bloody as Reinhard launched himself off the water's surface with his healthy leg, thrusting the tip of the sheath into Regulus's solar plexus. It didn't cause any damage, as usual.

However, just like with Emilia's ice staff, Regulus's pride was badly wounded.

"Begone with you."

It was a brief, quiet statement, belying the real rage and murderous intent hidden behind it.

One step behind in his chase, Regulus reached his hand beneath the surface and flipped the water as if he was tipping over a table. Another enormous wave crested once more before crashing toward Subaru and Emilia.

"Plan O!"

"O? What is…? Wah!"

Subaru lifted Emilia up as he signaled Reinhard.

Holding the girl who was as light as a feather, Subaru used the lesser spirit to create an ice ramp that he ran straight into, sending both of them flying into the air.

Clearing the lip of the great canal far overhead, the two of them escaped the reach of the massive wave. Squeezing Emilia tightly in his arms, Subaru looked back.

All that remained on the water was Reinhard facing off against the onrush of water— "Hah."

Exhaling sharply, Reinhard's outline blurred. He then proceeded to kick off the water and then the air, dodging around the wave and appearing right in front of Regulus.

"You…!"

Just as Regulus exploded in shocked outrage at the Sword Saint's speed, the Dragon Sword slammed home and found his torso. The attack landed below his armpit, sending Regulus's body flying high above the canal. Reinhard immediately followed him by also taking to the air.

His next attack batted Regulus down into the tsunami that he himself had created.

"—! Fool!"

Regulus cursed as he fell like a rock. There was an explosion of water as the wave met his back at violent speeds. The enormous tsunami split in two, and the roads on either side of the canal were doused by an alarming shower of water.

A whirlpool quickly formed at the spot where the wave split in half, and Regulus stood with his arms calmly crossed at the very center. With a single step, he created a pillar of water that he rode upward, flying at Reinhard.

"You thought that might work because it was my own attack? It's one thing to overestimate yourself, but don't get carried away with that bad habit of looking down on your opponent without reason. There is no way something so foolish would work on me!"

"So that doesn't work, either—"

Regulus's body held sway over even the violent torrent of water that ground down everything caught in its path.

Seeing the wave undone by the invincibility it had crashed into and scattered all around, Reinhard nodded briefly to Subaru, whose path he had watched from the side of the canal.

Messing up the landing, Subaru had skidded on his butt as he hugged Emilia close to protect her. Acknowledging Reinhard's nod, he rubbed his bottom as he stood up.

"The O (Own goal) plan didn't work, either, huh?! Argh, my butt really hurts!"

"Plans A and S didn't have any effect, either. Sorry, my strength is insufficient."

After their gazes met for a brief second, Reinhard's telepathic blessing reentered Subaru's head. With the confirmed failures of plans A (Armpit) and S (Solar plexus), he moved on to the next.

Subaru had listed off almost every pattern he could think of for breaking through apparent invincibility. The sources were all secondhand from various games and manga, but that basic approach should have been correct.

Just like with Petelgeuse, Regulus had to have some kind of weak point.

"Drowning, a Siegfried-like weak spot, and self-destructing from his own attack all got ruled out! What's left?"

"We're going to fall behind Subaru!"

"I know, but…"

Emilia pulled at his hand impatiently as Subaru desperately tried to wrap his head around the situation.

Reinhard was keeping Regulus busy, so this was the best chance to analyze the Archbishop's ability.

The battle with Regulus was a test of whether they could break through

his invincibility. If they could just get past that, Regulus was little better than an average thug.

"Are we going at it from the wrong direction? Did we get the wrong idea at some point? If there's something I've fixated on, it's…"

There had been all sorts of odd phenomena throughout the fight. The way Reinhard had passed through solid ice like a cartoon character after being kicked and the way Regulus had done the same. The way bits of dirt and water droplets were transformed into weapons of mass destruction. And the occasionally unnatural physical abilities Regulus exhibited. Those should all be a function of his ability.

"What should I do, Subaru? Is there any way I can help?" Emilia pleaded impatiently as Subaru sank into thought.

In the distance, Reinhard and Regulus's intense battle in the canal was continuing. The sheer impact of the fighting was transmitted clearly through the trembling atmosphere as new tsunamis and pillars of water continued to appear one after the other.

Emilia felt helpless, and Subaru was in the same boat. He felt ashamed that he couldn't live up to the trust that had been placed in him.

Emilia and Reinhard had put their faith in him and were aiding his plans.

And it was not just them, either. He was carrying the hopes of all his other comrades who had headed to the other control towers. The same went for those waiting back at the base for good news and all the people of the city who had responded to his broadcast.

"Emilia-tan, I need some kind of hint. Tell me whatever comes to mind.

When you were being held by him, did you hear or notice anything strange?

Literally anything."

"Something I heard while I was being held…" Think. Think. Think, think, think, think, think.

As he desperately tried to consider the problem from every angle, he reached out to Emilia for help in breaking out of the mental dead end he found himself in. They were almost certainly unpleasant memories, but Emilia had spent more time interacting with Regulus than any of them.

And there was no saying he might not have accidentally let slip some small clue that would let them figure out the true nature of his power.

Emilia furrowed her brow as she thought about the question.

"Ummm, the first thing that comes to mind is 'virgin'? He asked about that…"

"I'm gonna murder that son of a bitch."

Where the hell does he get off asking an angel something like that?

Subaru's hatred for Regulus reached new depths he didn't even realize existed. Ignoring his burst of outrage, Emilia continued to search her memories of the past few hours.

"He called his wives by numbers, got murderously upset just over being laughed at, and when I said he was like a tyrant, one of his wives said he was a little king…yeah, 'little king.'"

"—A little…king."

As Emilia slowly reached back, one of the phrases caught Subaru's ear.

It could be interpreted as just sarcasm. Regulus's attitude put even the most domineering of husbands to shame. He was absolutist in every possible way, exactly like a king without the depth of character to rule.

It made perfect sense why someone with that personality would be called a little king.

But Subaru recognized that phrase from something else, too.

It was—

"—the name of a star." Subaru suddenly realized it.

Regulus, Sirius, Capella, Alphard, and Betelgeuse—the names of the Archbishops of the Witch Cult all matched the names of stars that Subaru knew.

The thought had crossed his mind more than once before, but every time he had ignored it. That sort of coincidence should have been impossible because the stars Subaru knew had names that weren't originally from this world. They were from his old world.

It simply didn't make sense. A random occurrence like that couldn't possibly mean anything.

However, Subaru had already learned over the past couple of days that he couldn't just write it off.

"The Water Raiment Inn, Jabaneez architecture, Hoshin of the Wasteland…"

They were all things that had a whiff of his old world about them. It all pointed to the existence of someone other than Subaru who had been pulled into this world.

There were clear signs of influence from Subaru's world still lingering in this one that he couldn't just laugh off—so what if the names of the Archbishops were the same?

It was a little hard to imagine it was all a mere coincidence.

It wasn't just the name that matched, either. Regulus was Latin for "little king"—what were the chances of two coincidences?

And Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti lent it credence, too.

If his name really was derived from Betelgeuse, then its origin was also the Arabic phrase meaning "hand of Jawza"—hand of the central one. It was not hard to imagine that his unseen hands were related.

If the same logic was applied to Regulus, the star in the Leo constellation that would later be called Regulus had a different name during Roman times.

A name that meant—

"—Emilia, I have a question."

Linking those points together, Subaru's voice fell. Emilia blinked, and then her expression grew serious.

"Whatever you need," Emilia said with a vigorous nod.

Looking into her violet eyes, Subaru touched his neck.

"He was holding you by the throat in the chapel. While that was happening, did you notice…was Regulus's hand warm? Or was it cold?" Emilia's brow furrowed at that question.

Both because it required thinking back carefully but also because she couldn't understand what Subaru's question was getting at. However, as she reexamined what happened during the chapel, her expression became clear.

"Ummm. Thinking back on it…I didn't really feel anything. His hand wasn't hot or cold. It almost felt like nothing was touching me."

"Nothing?"

"It was really weird. Like being touched by a shadow or the air…"

Emilia was vexed, struggling to put it into precise words. But Subaru inhaled sharply at her response, as if his own suspicions had solidified.

Despite furiously fighting for so long, Regulus seemed entirely unperturbed, and he didn't so much as breathe heavily throughout the battle. Even after being plunged deep underwater, he emerged completely dry, and no matter where he was hit, he sustained no damage. And on top of that, he could turn bits of dirt and drops of water into lethal weapons, wielding an overwhelming power that turned the whole city into his personal playground.

Mere invincibility couldn't begin to explain all that.

"—Reinhard!"

Grabbing Emilia's hand, Subaru shouted over to the canal where the furious clashes were still ongoing.

The Sword Saint and villain were locked in a battle that allowed no one to intervene. But even while walking a tightrope between life and death, Reinhard briefly directed his attention toward Subaru.

Subaru shouted with all his might in order to reach him.

The villain Regulus Corneas—if the Authority of Greed he wielded was what Subaru suspected, then—

"Check if his heart's actually beating!" 

CHAPTER 2

PAEAN TO A CITY IN FLAMES

1

Hey, there! Liliana here reporting live on the scene!

Yep, yep, we are currently here in the fourth district of the Water Gate City Pristella! Here where one of the control towers is being occupied by an Archbishop of the Witch Cult! At the moment, we're in the middle of the fight to reclaim it!

This is part of a grand plan to deal with those terrible cultists! Bands of resistance fighters in the city are all taking part!

We've got a murderers' row featuring all the stars, and the fights at all four control towers are starting at the same time!

You may be asking yourself what am I, Liliana Masquerade, an adorable singer, doing brazenly joining a lineup filled with all these big shots? Well, let me tell you, because it's quite the unexpected twist! I can't exactly back out now! So please allow me to introduce the crazy folks joining me here on this stage!

"—I am growing rather sick of that face of yours. It's about time that you get on your knees and offer your head to me. As a reward, I might just make a candlestand of that skull of yours."

This is what everyone has been waiting for! That brutal condescension combined with just a hint of some super-weird tastes! Those beautiful, almondlike, fiery-red eyes, that dancing figure like flame incarnate! That whimsical mood and personality that shifts like a flickering flame! That glorious crimson beauty too dangerous to touch!

Leaping around with a Sunlight Blade in one hand, she is my lifeline and

the cornerstone of our attack and defense! The one, the only, the most egotistical of egotists! Lady Priscilla Bariel!!!

But also, if she actually made people cut off their heads, we would all die, too, Lady Priscilla, so maybe spare us that!

Lady Priscilla is dashing along the edge of a waterway completely engulfed in raging flames, swinging her gleaming crimson blade again and again without pause in an immaculate sword dance!

Bang, shing, boom! Her opponent takes another fierce blow and gets sent flying!

But! She holds on! And now she's glaring at Lady Priscilla!

"Aaaah, aaah, aaaaah! Why does everyone try to keep me from him?! It is sad, so sad! My heart may break from this tragedy! My heart quivers! Such violent emotions…aaah, the grief just doesn't eeend!"

There it iiiiis! Screaming while bawling her eyes out, it's the bandaged mystery woman you all know!

Her face and body are both hidden beneath layers and layers of white bandages! The Witch Cult's standard robe worn so boldly atop! Abandoning all femininity, those chains on both arms flail wildly to create an impenetrable realm of danger!

At this point, no one even knows what she's saying anymore! It's the Witch Cult Archbishop of Wrath Sirius Romanée-Conti! She was even kind enough to introduce herself at the start!

"—Haaaaa!"

Howling, the mysterious Sirius has tears running down her face as she swings her chains! Her tears seem to catch fire as explosions swell all around the plaza in front of the control tower! I have no idea how any of that makes any sense!

The waterway surrounding the plaza is shrouded in a white blaze! And all around the blazing waterways surrounding us are people, people, people! All the people in the shelters in the fourth district have come rushing out to watch this battle! Or not! They are all rolling around on the ground while sobbing and crying out! They almost seem like they're mirroring Sirius, who is also tearfully wailing!

In other words, this is the power of Wrath that plunged our Water Gate City into the depths of pandemonium!

There is no sanity left in their eyes as they cry and rend their clothes!

They have been poisoned or intoxicated or enraptured by their emotions!

It's clear as the brightest, shiniest, sunniest day that nothing good will happen if we just leave them be, so maybe it's time I give a little performance!

"Sniff, sniff…a-all right, this is a once-in-a-lifetime big-time stage!"

Take the high ground! Look out across the flaming stage, the tearful audience, and the dancers sending sparks flying. Speak up now that I've stepped up to the stage, too!

Honestly, my heart is hammering, and I can't really say for sure that my emotions don't have a strange hold over me, poisoning me, intoxicating me. I'm the opposite of certain, but when it comes to music, that's just how it always is for me!

So bring it on! How can I call myself a minstrel if I can't even overcome a minor swelling of emotion?!

And finally! Allow me to introduce the last of our crazed stars and the headline act!

"Hear ye, everyone at the back! And those up close, watch my dance! And for those way in the back, I'll be raising my voice as high as I can, so make sure to listen close! Liliana Masquerade shall perform a song and a dance for you! Lend me your ears! This is 'Beyond Daybreak'!"

Strum your lyulyre! Project your voice so it can reach far and wide! Be careful it keeps a beautiful ring for those close by! We're borrowing a song and music from the world. And away we go!

This is Liliana Masquerade's biggest stage—!

But before we get to that! Let's look back for just a second at how we ended up here!

2

"Um, um, um, um, um, ummm, Lady Priscilla! Ummm, is this really okay?"

"What are you talking about?"

Liliana looked pale, but Priscilla was utterly calm and indifferent.

They were currently in the center of the city, specifically the conference room in city hall.

Just minutes ago, it had hosted the discussion on how to deal with the Archbishops, where the plan to split up their forces and simultaneously face off against all four Archbishops in their respective towers had been agreed upon.

The Archbishops were all wickedness personified, and it wasn't entirely clear which was the most difficult opponent, but if nothing else, the scale of harm wrought by Wrath was enormous. That was who Priscilla's team would be facing.

Wrath's ability manipulated other people's emotions, and it had already afflicted Pristella.

"Isn't it a little strange?! It's going to be a decisive battle with such a powerful enemy, and I'm the only one going with you?! I won't ask for the

Sword Saint, but you could at least bring your knight Sir Al—"

"There is no knight in my retinue. Al is a mere jester, nothing more. And that jester has acted a little too freely as of late. A punishment is in order.

Moreover, what could possibly be lacking when I am present?"

"I mean with such large breasts, you are unquestionably a goddess, Lady

Priscilla. But even so!"

Priscilla puffed out her chest magnificently in a display of absolute selfconfidence while Liliana cried out even as she beat her own significantly less well-endowed chest. Priscilla chuckled lightly at that display as the minstrel broke into uneasy tears.

"Why are you crying? What an odd girl."

"B-b-but I want to just curl up in a baaaaall. Who's the one who said the Witch Cult is like a leaderless band of outlaws? They sure seem coordinated for a bunch of random thugs."

Otherwise, how could they have taken control of all the city's key infrastructure at once and then proceed to lord it over the untold thousands in the city?

As Liliana trembled again with fear at the might of their enemy—

"—Oh, what's this? I've stumbled across quite the scene."

A soft, beautiful voice interrupted, drawing Liliana's attention. Her eyes met with those of the woman peeking in from the entrance to the room.

"…She-fox…"

"Dearie me, isn't it a little too rude to be callin' someone that to their face?"

The royal candidate Anastasia's sweet expression furrowed at Priscilla's comment.

Priscilla and Anastasia. Out of all the royal candidates, these two seemed to get along particularly poorly, and they had argued several times already during their short time together in city hall.

Anastasia glanced at Liliana, who was openly weeping in front of

Priscilla.

"What's this? Did the princess here say something terrible again?"

"I? To this Songstress? Rein in your thoughtless prattle. I am the one who best understands her worth. Why would I willingly debase that value?"

"Eh?! That was your idea of being nice to me, Lady Priscilla?!"

Liliana had a minor outburst, but when Priscilla glanced at her, she reflexively closed her mouth and pursed her lips. Watching the two of them, Anastasia shrugged helplessly.

"Looks like you've managed to win her over, but is this really okay? It's an Archbishop you're goin' up against after all."

"Tedious. Do you wish to retread what has already been settled? Get to the point and do not waste my time—I have no intention of idling about here."

"…You really are difficult to work with." Anastasia smiled awkwardly before a bitter look crossed her face and the corners of her eyes fell. She looked straight at Priscilla and said, "Thing is, after everyone's gone, this place's defenses will be…"

"We can trust that those underhanded louts will try the same tactic. If we divert resources toward the control towers, those boors will undoubtedly take aim at our undefended base. Use Al as you please."

"—That sure was fast. You're a dangerous one."

Anastasia nodded at Priscilla's answer, as if that had been what she came for all along.

Liliana struggled to keep up as she listened to their exchange. Priscilla had seemingly been all for leaving Al behind at their base from the start, so

—

"Ah-ha! I see! You trusted Sir Al, so hieeeeeh?!"

Just when Liliana felt like she could grasp what was going on, she was seared to the bone by Priscilla's crimson gaze. The fire in her eyes was a little too intense to be simply a desire to hide her embarrassment, and the force of it sent Liliana skittering frantically behind Anastasia to hide.

"You don't have to look quite so scandalized, Princess."

"The topic of such things as trust and faith is not one to be broached so imprudently. I shan't deny that I rely on his service quite often, but that and trust are entirely different matters. There are many things I cannot discuss with him. And in the first place"—Priscilla looked meaningfully over at Anastasia—"you have no place to speak when it comes to hiding things. Isn't that right, she-fox?"

"…I don't have a clue what you could be referrin' to."

"Feign ignorance if you wish. It's no concern of mine. Stew in malformed guilt toward your knight for all I care."

Priscilla snorted as Anastasia's lips curled bitterly. Liliana couldn't glean much from the exchange, but those two heavenly people apparently understood each other.

Either way…

"Is there anything else? I and the Songstress have work to do. You are free to just quaver and await our news."

"No need to be so nasty… Do you have a plan?"

"Why should I resort to petty tricks when demonstrating that which defines me? I shall take the Songstress with me and approach from the front.

Ah, there is one place we must visit first."

"Where?"

Anastasia furrowed her brow at Priscilla's audacious fearlessness.

Priscilla nodded deeply, smiling like the ultimate beauty.

"I will go to my lodging—I must change into an appropriate outfit."

3

"If I am to attend a performance by the Songstress, then I must have a fitting dress."

Priscilla said that as they arrived at her deserted lodge. She pulled out dozens of outfits from her closet, judging which would be the most apt attire for battle, and then began to change clothes.

"Uwaaah, eeeeh?! Wait, wait, bwe-heh-heh…"

Even if there was no one around, Priscilla didn't hesitate to strip naked as

she changed clothes. Also in the room, Liliana stared hard, flying into a panic while simultaneously rejoicing.

"What a glorious day… But is it really all right to spend so much time on this?"

"Time spent performing necessary tasks is never wasted. I shan't forego crucial steps that must be carried out. The outfit chosen here could well be the factor that determines the fate of this city."

"Your dress can decide something like that?!"

It was an incredibly pretentious statement, but Liliana didn't feel comfortable just coming out and saying that was impossible given Priscilla's mood.

In fact, as someone whose music was influenced on a day-to-day basis by her own mood and various other factors, Liliana recognized that Priscilla was similar in how her strength was affected by the same sorts of poorly defined things.

Others like them existed all over. There were people whose impact on the world was determined by factors tangible and intangible.

"C-can we really win this?"

"But of course. This world is made for my convenience. However, the enemy this time has prepared quite the ensemble. It will require a

commensurate amount of effort to bring it all down."

For a second, it almost sounded like Priscilla was going to criticize Liliana for her timidity, but what followed was a matter-of-fact response.

Then she held up her orange hair and turned her back to Liliana. "I'll allow you to touch me. Do up the back of the dress."

"Hee-hee."

For some reason, Liliana let out a creepy giggle as she immediately drew close to Priscilla. Following instructions, she fiddled with the fastener for the deep-red dress. And seeing Priscilla's completed figure, she couldn't help but sigh.

"S-so beautiful…"

"Naturally. This coordination is to match your singing voice. It is rare for me to compromise with another like this, so you have a duty to live up to my expectations."

"Uyahooi! Isn't that a pretty huge responsibility?!"

Liliana trembled and held up her hands as Priscilla finished changing. The bold crimson dress left her shoulders bare and had a daring slit that ran all the way up her long legs. It enhanced her striking visage while also allowing full freedom of movement with the presumption that the wearer would be going dancing. Her neck was adorned with large teardrop jewels, and overall, she was the manifestation of a burning beauty who would scorch whoever beheld her.

"So beautiful and with such large breasts…a goddess! A goddess has descended from the heavens…!"

"Something as absurd as deities are not to be relied upon. 'Tis better to call out my name instead."

"Lady Priscilla…!"

With that final exchange, the two of them departed the inn, and this time they headed toward their destination.

"The control tower…where the Archbishop of Wrath will likely be."

There was a stiffness to Liliana's voice. It was the unease and nervousness that naturally accompanied an unavoidable battle drawing near, but that wasn't all.

"Are you worried about the diva fanatic?"

"Ah, ummm…yes. I heard about Kiritaka, so…"

Liliana averted her eyes and poked her fingers together in a gesture of worry. At the most basic level, Liliana's relationship with Kiritaka was that of a singer and her fan. There were some misunderstandings and complications when they first met, but at present in Pristella, most would consider them to be on good terms.

Kiritaka was devoted to elevating Liliana as a diva. However, what he had fallen for was not her music but her.

"I enjoyed being pampered, and I spent a lot of time having fun, but Kiritaka was always forgiving…or I guess…"

She had never returned the affection that Kiritaka expressed in any sort of direct way. And realizing that now was unbearable for Liliana.

She could never meet him again, never talk to him again, and it was only then that she—

"I…"

"He is the final member of the Council of Ten. Considering their demands, it seems unlikely that man was killed."

"Wh-what?! Kiritaka is alive?! Really?!"

She had just been solemnly reflecting on the deceased, but Liliana leaped at that unexpected statement.

"It's only natural." Priscilla nodded. "The location of the Witch's bones they wish to obtain is known only to members of the council. What would

happen if every last one of them were eliminated?"

"Then they wouldn't be able to get their hands on the bones?"

"Exactly. That would mean that the demand of whichever fool who desired those bones wouldn't be fulfilled. If their demands could no longer be met, they would have no reason to continue hiding behind the threat of opening the water gates. Do you understand what that means?"

Thinking harder about what Priscilla said, Liliana gasped, finally getting it.

The reason the Archbishops were occupying the control towers was to use the threat of flooding the city in order to negotiate. They all had their own agendas and were holding the city hostage as a bargaining chip.

But if one of the demands couldn't be met anymore, then there wasn't much reason to not make good on their threat.

"Whether as a petty revenge or for sport, the city would already be underwater by now. In order to prevent that, at least one member of the Council of Ten would need to be kept alive."

"But—but if the council got in their way, an Archbishop might just kill them all anyway, right?"

"That might be possible if they were prepared to let go of something that they desire. But that lot lacks the resolve to make such a decision."

With the rest of the council already dead, if Kiritaka also lost his life, there would be no way to discover the location of the Witch's bones. If that came to pass, it was all too likely that whichever Archbishop wanted those bones would open their floodgate in frustration, a possibility the other Archbishops would rather avoid because then their own demands wouldn't be met, either.

"In that case, isn't it strange that the members of the Council of Ten were targeted?"

"Not at all. It was surely not the cultists who killed the council members." "What?"

"Once those fools of the Witch Cult revealed that they desired the Witch's bones, it became possible to foil their plans by simply eliminating those who knew their location. If anyone thought that far, that's exactly what they would do."

Liliana couldn't keep up with Priscilla's logic anymore.

What was she saying? Was there someone else in the city aside from the Archbishop who was committing evil deeds, going around silencing the members of the Council of Ten to—?

"It's rather likely at least one Archbishop will lose their temper if all the council members were killed. That is why the Archbishop of Wrath targeted the diva fanatic's company where that she-fox and the others were staying. To seize and safeguard that man."

"So then someone else was one step ahead of the cultists? That's…"

"The flood caused by the open water gate quite literally washed away the lost battle like water under a bridge."

Priscilla was referring to the brief opening of the gate in the first district a few hours earlier.

It had been for only a few seconds, but the massive amount of water that rushed in had caused a significant amount of damage to the city. But ignoring the property damage, the flooding had brought significant benefits, too.

The greatest boon was that it effectively ended the losing battle that Subaru Natsuki and the others had been fighting. Were it not for the sudden flooding, the group conducting the initial assault would almost certainly have suffered far more losses, making the second attempt to force a decisive battle all but impossible.

Being forced to leave things unfinished at that critical moment had likely been a painful blow to the Archbishops.

"Lady Priscilla, do you have an idea who was going around?"

Liliana suddenly voiced a question that popped into her head. Priscilla arched her eyebrows, pulled her fan from her cleavage, and hid her mouth behind it.

"Why do you ask? Is there some sort of reason to think I would know?"

"No, it's just that you were explaining it all so confidently, so I just thought maybe you knew something?"

"…I see. I spoke a tad too long with you. How unusual of me."

Looking away, Priscilla murmured to herself, sidestepping the question. Liliana obediently accepted the lack of response as an answer and didn't probe any further.

"If he is alive, then that's wonderful news," Liliana said in relief.

"Given the likelihood he was abducted, I cannot say with confidence that he remains whole, save for his lips, which he would need to reveal the location of the bones."

"Why would you say something that is just going to make me worried all over again?!"

Liliana shrieked. Did Priscilla want to ease her mind or not?

And their conversation concluded at almost exactly the same time as they reached their destination.

4

It was almost a letdown how quiet the plaza in front of the control tower was.

After marching in with the resolve to call out the Archbishop, Liliana was left feeling vaguely disappointed as she cocked her head in confusion.

"Wh-what? Wh-wh-what? What should we do, Lady Priscilla…? Does this mean that we won without fighting or singing?"

Liliana would have been satisfied with that resolution in its own way.

Their real goal was recapturing the control tower and not actually defeating the Archbishop. If they could skip straight to taking the building, then all the better.

"Heh-heh-heh. If this is some blunder, then the wise move is to take advantage. Let's hurry and go into the tower. If we can take control of the floodgate, then…gweeeh?!"

Just as she boldly stepped forward, Liliana's throat was ensnared from behind by a pale finger. She let out a sound like a chicken dying as Priscilla pulled her back.

"Nonsense," Priscilla muttered. "There is no reason for haste. You do not simply change songs partway through if the audience's reception is poor, do you?"

"O-of course not, but, ummm, what does that have to do with my neck…?"

"The enemy is no different."

Liliana's eyes widened as she struggled to understand what Priscilla meant. Just then, the stout stone construction of the control tower suddenly erupted in a blaze of flames emanating from its base. The plaza that had previously only had the moon for illumination was now dazzlingly lit.

Liliana's eyes blinked rapidly at the sudden shift from darkness to light, crying out as she dived into Priscilla's chest. Priscilla's expression was unchanged as she caught the Songstress. However, her crimson eyes were on the being that descended from the sky in front of the building that had become a towering inferno.

"Sorry for making you come all the way out here. And thank you."

The grotesque mystery figure wrapped in white greeted them in a gentle tone.

Her slender limbs were entirely covered in bandages. The only uncovered areas were her lips and eyes. This loathsome figure stood there calmly, her white bandages stained in spots with blood, though it was impossible to tell if it was hers or someone else's.

There was no mistaking her appearance even if they wanted to.

"That's the Archbishop we heard about… Maybe she's actually a normal person?"

The Archbishop of Wrath, Sirius Romanée-Conti.

Liliana mumbled in amazement at the unexpectedly cordial greeting as she buried herself in Priscilla's cleavage. There should have been no way for her to hear that murmur, but Sirius joined her hands in front of her chest.

"Dear me, sorry if I surprised you. It's just the city's services seem a little unreliable tonight. It's pitch-black everywhere, right? So I overstepped my bounds a smidge to make things a tad brighter."

Sirius spread her arms, gesturing proudly to the roaring fire consuming the control tower.

Her words didn't match the scene unfolding before them, but oddly enough, her intentions seemed to be in the right place. And they were even having a civil conversation, which persuaded Liliana to slightly revise her impression of Sirius.

"What's all this, then? And here I was stiff with worry about chatting with an Archbishop, but you're unexpectedly easy to talk to! Maybe I misunderstood you."

"Well, hearing that makes me very happy, young lady. I almost want to cry tears of gratitude at receiving such kindness. But people really can understand each other…if they just hold hands together! Right?"

"Yes! Absolutely! That is love after all!"

"Exactly so! Love! It's love! Answering love with love! That is true happiness!"

Liliana clenched her fists as Sirius expounded passionately on her theory of joy. Her opinion of Sirius continued improving as the Archbishop continued her exposition on the relationship between love and happiness.

And since she was dealing with such a sincere person, Liliana's own desire started to seep out. Still buried in Priscilla's cleavage, Liliana raised her hand and spoke up.

"Excuse me! Since you are so clearly a proponent of responding to love with love, there is something I would like to ask you! If you don't mind, would it be possible for me to inquire as to the well-being of one Kiritaka?!"

"Kiritaka…ah, the man who sat on the Council of Ten! The final member of the council who knows the location of the bones…yes, yes! If that is who you mean, then I have taken him into protective custody. After all, this city has become quite dangerous as of late. I never would have imagined someone would suddenly start killing all those who knew the location of those bones."

Sirius reached into her cloak and held out a book for them to see. The cover was pitch-black, and there was no identifying title, but everyone in this world would immediately recognize it as a Gospel.

"The Gospel that finds its way to members of the Witch Cult, the sacred text that reveals how the future should unfold…were it not for this, your precious person would have been in quite a lot of danger. What do you think?

Is it not simply wonderful?"

"Th-that's true! There should be a Gospel for every household…no, one for every person!"

Liliana felt a slight bit of hesitation when she heard the phrase precious person, but if Kiritaka's survival really was linked to the account written there, then Liliana didn't have any choice but to bow before the power of that tome.

After all, Sirius was speaking so honestly, sincerely, and earnestly.

"I wouldn't lie. My husband is an honest man…so I want to live up to his standards."

"Th-that's practically saintly…!"

Hearing that, Liliana looked up at Priscilla from her bosom.

"Lady Priscilla! Why not try reasoning with her?! Looking at the big picture, maybe there isn't any need for slashes, clashes, and bashes or bloodshed…"

"…To think the effect would be so immediate and pronounced. Or perhaps you are just particularly susceptible?"

"Huuuh? Isn't this where your stubborn heart is supposed to soften as a beautiful smile begins to bloom? And then we all hold hands and dance…"

While Liliana was busy describing a happy, peaceful development, Priscilla gently placed a hand on her shoulder. And then, just as Liliana cocked her head in confusion, her gaze met those crimson eyes.

"Lady Priscillmnhgh!!"

Then Priscilla stole Liliana's lips away.

"Mmm! Mmmm! Mmmgh!"

Liliana's face turned bright red at the surprise attack, her arms and legs flailing desperately, but Priscilla pinned her shoulder and refused to budge. Before long, Liliana's resistance gradually faded.

Feeling those soft lips and hot tongue running along her teeth, Liliana's knees buckled. It felt like her whole body was melting away.

"…Ah…"

"Well, that should be sufficient."

Liliana slumped to the ground, breathing heavily. Standing over her, Priscilla licked her lips and nodded to herself without any trace of malice.

"L-Lady Priscilla! What was that just now?! P-please take reshponshibility! Who'll marry me now?!"

"It was I who permitted a kiss. You are free to use your inexperience as an excuse to make such demands, but consider instead that it was an opportunity to return to your senses and rather enjoyable for you as well, was it not?"

"Huh? Enjoyable and…"

Liliana's cheeks flushed as she ran her finger over her lips in an oddly sensual gesture.

Seeing the two of them, Sirius put her hands to her cheeks.

"My, my, what passion between you young ladies…but that is also love. Love takes different forms for different people. And that diversity is the beauty that leads back to a singular love in the end—"

"—Enough with this farce. I tire of listening."

Priscilla's sharp interjection brought a cold silence to the plaza.

And then Liliana's cry suddenly rang out.

"Ah! What?! What—what?! What—what—what?! Where did that familiarity from before go?! The sudden crash of reality is killing my knees!

Look! They're trembling!"

Flustered, Liliana pointed to her violently shuddering knees.

Glancing at Sirius, Priscilla crossed her arms, purposefully emphasizing her well-endowed chest.

"There are many in the world who drown themselves in self-satisfaction with shallow argumentations, but you are the most extreme of them all. Vile as a jester and seducing those around you—I can think of no reason to spare you your life."

When Priscilla opened with direct and open animosity, Sirius's expression changed for the first time.

The mysterious figure looked back and forth between Priscilla, who had kept her senses, and Liliana, who had returned to hers. Quickly realizing that the kiss she had witnessed was what freed Liliana from her ability, tears appeared in Wrath's eyes.

"How terrible! She had just begun walking the path of understanding with me, and yet, you forcibly pulled her back! To steal away love like that! It's too cruel!"

"Waaah! It's a little late to realize only now, but that was my first kiss ever!"

"Allow me to compliment you on one point and one point only. This welcoming fire agrees very much with my tastes."

"Wow! This doesn't even count as a conversation!"

The three of their egos were too strong, causing a pileup as they all insisted on dominating the dialogue. But Priscilla's hostility and Sirius's indignation were at least vaguely interacting on a similar level.

That was why Liliana cradled her head, at her wit's end and fully at the mercy of their increasingly antagonistic exchange.

"Ah! Right, was what you said about Kiritaka true? Or false? Tell me his fate!"

"I said before I wouldn't lie! Anything less than the truth would mean turning my back on my feelings for my husband! I only kept him safe to prevent another Archbishop from acting recklessly… However, I didn't give him special treatment—now, please look around you!"

"Eh? Around us? What is there besides the crackling tower of fire…?

Wait, whaaat?!"

As Sirius spread her arms wide, Liliana glanced at the canals surrounding them and couldn't believe her eyes. Out of the long shadows beyond the light of the fire, countless flickering figures appeared— "Th-they're…"

"The people of the city who have gathered. They were probably lying in wait beside the waterways from the start."

All the hair on Liliana's body stood on end as she realized what Priscilla was saying.

The plaza had been so quiet and empty when they arrived that she had almost been disappointed. With this new realization, the silence took on a far different meaning.

It had not been an empty silence but one that hid over a thousand people.

"Eh? Wait, does that mean Kiritaka is in this mess of people?! Argh, now you've gone and made yourself my enemy!"

"Behold! Every last person breathing as one, not a single disruption to the harmony… What is this but the result of people loving one another?! With such love, people can achieve so much! Is this not irrefutable proof?!"

"Proof? Of what? You call them witnesses to your spurious claims?"

Priscilla scoffed as Sirius gestured to all the people in the plaza and argued for the importance of loving one another. Then she touched Liliana's shoulder as the diva stood stock-still next to her.

"Return them to their senses. That is your role. And that is the reason for the kiss."

"P-please don't remind me of that! And please don't look at me so intently. When you look at me like that, my heart starts throbbing…"

"So it was too effective? Beauty such as mine can be a sin at times."

As Priscilla boasted, Liliana glanced at her with a maiden-like gaze before focusing her attention on the people all around them.

A crowd had gathered for a twilight performance. All their eyes were wholly devoid of sanity. They were the same as the deranged people enthralled by destructive impulses that she had seen countless times in the various shelters they visited.

Liliana held a hand to her chest, wondering if Kiritaka really was somewhere in that crowd.

"I should mention that you had the same eyes as these masses just moments ago."

"Whaaa—?! Really?! Scary! Oh! B-but in that case, if you just go around and kiss all of them, then wouldn't evergggghhhhh?!"

Liliana cried out as Priscilla grabbed her by the face for saying something so thoughtless. Feeling like her brain might seep out from her ears, Liliana immediately regretted her comment.

"Don't mistake our roles. You have yours to fill. And I have mine."

"Uggggggh…ah, Lady Priscilla?"

Freed from that crushing grip, Liliana looked on in shock as Priscilla stepped forward.

Sirius's sinister purple eyes glimmered as Priscilla's crimson gaze pierced her.

"You're quite headstrong, young lady. It seems there is a bit of a problem on your end. The two of you are close enough to exchange a kiss, but your words are very high-handed… Have you made any effort to properly understand her? Wished to become one? The way all of these people and I have been unified!"

Sirius shouted as she stomped her foot down, and the thousand people surrounding the plaza all moved in perfect unison.

The plaza quaked as if a giant beast had just set foot there, and the water brimming in the canals overflowed. The flames engulfing the control tower increased in strength, and love notwithstanding, the menace inherent in such a large number of people was painfully clear.

"I-if so many people attack all at once…"

"Now, learn how it feels! The joy of being smothered in love! Of becoming one!"

"Gyaaah! It happened right after I said it!"

The multitude roared as they rushed the bright stage. If they all pressed down on Liliana at once, her fair maiden's skin would offer little resistance, and her final moments would be upon her in no time at all.

"Ahhhhh! Father, Mother, Kiritakaaa!"

"Do not make me repeat myself—forget calling upon others. My name alone is sufficient."

Holding Liliana in her left arm as the diva clung to her desperately, Priscilla extended her right arm into the air.

From the sky, she drew a sword—the Sunlight Blade's crimson glow was impossibly vibrant, painting a red-hot streak in the night. That flash made it seem like the sun itself had returned to the sky.

"Bow before my Sunlight Blade. This is the primordial flame and the first flame that lit the seat of the emperor. Do not mistake this red gleam for whatever else."

"Eeeeeeh?!"

As soon as Priscilla finished her declaration, the waterways surrounding the plaza erupted with gouts of fire.

A tremendous blaze rose around the control tower, transcending from a scarlet hellfire to a divine white blaze. Almost as if it refused to flicker quietly, the white blaze boldly soared high into the sky.

Priscilla's Sunlight Blade had lit every canal surrounded the plaza on fire. "This is…"

Even Sirius could not hide her agitation at seeing something so far removed from logic.

The control tower burned red even as the waterways burned white. The two conflagrations lit the night sky, but the effect of the white blaze was immense. The crowd that had transformed into a mob could no longer cross over the canals.

While moths might be drawn to flames, human instinct was less cooperative when it came to approaching raging fires.

"You are free to tell yourself that the most precious thing in this world is love, but it seems your supporters are not so willing to help prove your theory when their lives are at stake."

Adjusting her grip on the sword of sunlight, Priscilla turned its blade toward Sirius while flashing a sadistic smile.

Standing right next to her, Liliana was speechless when she saw that expression. Priscilla's wicked smile, overflowing with scorn and ridicule, was terribly beautiful.

Liliana had been taken aback by Priscilla's beauty before. She had sung its praises and burned it into her heart countless times already. But this was different—in that moment, she was truly stunning.

Clad in unparalleled beauty, Priscilla continued to ridicule the Archbishop.

"The very idea that all becoming one is a form of love is utterly ridiculous. Take me, for example. Unique and set apart from all as the most outstanding figure in this world. No matter the method, is there any way my eminence and a mediocrity can be joined together?"

"Huh? Um, isn't that a little harsh, Lady Priscilla? Perhaps a little bit of discretion might…"

"I reject everything about you, vulgar swine."

"Rejecting everything? Do you have to go that far?!"

After a tirade like that, even a normal person would want to snap, and this was the Archbishop of Wrath they were dealing with. Fearful of the consequences, Liliana flew into a panic as she tried to cover Priscilla's mouth, but she was swatted away like an insect and sent rolling across the ground.

"Pugyaaaa! That's too much, Lady Priscilla. If you're going to do that, then at least flash that Sunlight Blade before she has a chance to…gh!"

"Fool. Were I to do that, every soul aside from me would be split in two. The scene of a city stained in blood again would be a sight to behold, but it's hardly something I'm in a rush to see here and now."

"Uggggghhh…"

"More importantly, do not make me say it a third time—fulfill your appointed role."

As instructed, Liliana hopped to her feet. She clutched her lyulyre and looked out at the swell of people beyond the white flames.

Her job was to free them from Sirius's power by her song—

"Now that I'm actually here, I'm really nervous about whether I can do this or not."

"If you don't, then it means they will all die. Just remember that their lives are riding on your music. It is an honor."

"Ukyaaa!"

Liliana covered her face and cried out like a screeching monkey as

Priscilla, content that what must be done had already been decided, continued to stare down Wrath, who had remained silent throughout the entire exchange.

"You're a type I've never seen before," Wrath suddenly said. Instead of erupting, she hugged herself, and her cheeks softened almost as if she was enjoying herself. Her emphatic dark-purple eyes opened wide. "Yes, yes, yes! You are an alien element mixed into the world, filled with an unclouded faith in the power of love! Is coming to an understanding with you my latest trial?!"

Her lurid smile seemed to celebrate Priscilla's self-centered principles. Her lips cracked into a grin, revealing frightfully white teeth as she entertained Priscilla's opinion and gently accepted her viewpoint even as she rejected it like one might tolerate the mistaken belief of a friend or a family member.

"Allow me to properly introduce myself… I am the Witch Cult's

Archbishop of Wrath, Sirius Romanée-Conti."

Elegantly holding the hem of her robe, she smiled and curtsied with great care.

It was an expression of the Archbishop of Wrath's—of Sirius's—twisted affection.

"I shall save you with love. Allow me to envelop you with universal, impartial, immutable love."

As she gave that dignified statement, Sirius slowly extended her arms.

Metallic sickles appeared from her sleeves with a clank. Then the Archbishop spun her arms, extending the chains and slicing through the air as the twisted screech of metal on metal split the night sky.

This was a deadly weapon that could leave horrific wounds with a single blow, and as its roar filled the air, Sirius smiled.

"Let us begin the trial! The trial that I must overcome if I am to reunite with my husband in this town once more! So that we might share in love again! When I have triumphed over this trial, I will truly be worthy of him, and his love shall set me ablaze!"

Sirius spoke in a lively and cheerful voice, like a maiden in love. Just when it seemed her lean frame had edged slightly forward, she moved like an arrow leaving the bow.

"What a disagreeable enemy. I am not a patient woman. Be quick, Songstress."

"Uhhh, Lady Priscilla?!"

After making one final comment, Priscilla advanced to meet Sirius.

The two of them closed in quickly, and on the stone-paved stage lit by red-and-white flames, a gleaming red blade and glimmering metallic chains both flashed as they took aim at each other.

As Liliana watched with eyes peeled, Priscilla began a life-and-death sword dance with Sirius.

Sirius's irregular chains didn't follow any standard sort of logic and traced an unpredictable path while Priscilla quite literally danced with her sword as she cut her way through the incoming attacks.

Liliana had seen Priscilla's amazing sword skills several times already during their circuit of the city. And seeing it on display once more made her realize all over again just how impressive it was as she didn't yield even a step against Sirius.

With Priscilla taking to the stage, it would be possible to defeat Sirius.

However, in order to do that, she needed to free the people of the city from Wrath's power and prevent the Archbishop from bringing down anyone else with her.

And that fell to the diva Liliana Masquerade, who also stood on a stage