Chapter 315. Four Candidate Camps vs. Four Sin Archbishops
「Giving everyone twenty minutes to adjust, after the meeting adjourned, Emilia focused on showing concern for her knight for a good while before heading off to communicate with the micro-spirits to prepare for the upcoming battle. Hikigaya Hachiman, meanwhile, went to check on Beatrice.」
「Ferris and Felt were also present within this Witch Cult Countermeasure Headquarters. The reason they hadn't participated in the meeting was that both knew they lacked the combat capacity to contribute; their participation would have been useless.」
「Ferris was busy treating the wounded, while Felt commanded the soldiers to maintain order in the camp. These two, who lacked raw power, were doing what they could within their own respective fields.」
「Except for Al, who went to search for Priscilla, and the still-missing Priscilla herself, all available combat power had been mobilized. It could be called a final stand with everyone at their peak.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman did not stop Al. Having worked with Al before, he knew of Al's loyalty to Priscilla, and even more so, he knew of Al's fundamentally dismissive attitude toward other people and events.」
「"There isn't much time left..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman gazed toward the south. Though the distance was great, the intermittent thundering of far-off booms could still be heard.」
「If they dragged things out too long on their end, an impatient Regulus might snap. Once he went mad and shattered the floodgates with his attacks, the Water Gate City would be submerged, and everything would become meaningless.」
「It was precisely because he feared this that he had to act so quickly. Otherwise, they should have waited for the soldiers to find Priscilla; with her help, their chances of success would be much higher.」
「...But given the level of power held by Regulus and Reinhard, no one could actually interfere. Even if they could retake the City Hall, he currently had no clue whatsoever on how to ultimately help Reinhard achieve victory.」
「"Don't look so gloomy. The confidence and resolve you showed just now clearly inspired Wilhelm and Julius deeply, yet here you are sighing to yourself... You're making even me start to worry."」
「Draped in her Scarf-Fox, Anastasia arrived at his side.」
「"That thing where you get parts of Sirius's Authority effects... can't you use it now? If we could know Capella's Authority in advance, it would definitely make things much easier."」
「His mind in a mess, Hikigaya Hachiman rubbed her fluffy, soft purple hair to calm his nerves slightly. "Don't overthink it. I don't have the kind of ability you're imagining."」
「"Mmm..."」
「Hachiman's words carried a subtext: regardless of whether he had it or not, for now, the answer was no. Don't mention it. He believed that with Anastasia's intelligence, she would understand.」
「Even with Anastasia's comfort, Hachiman remained troubled—not just because of the current state of Pristella, but because of Rem.」
「His original plan was to head for the Sage's Tower immediately once the letter regarding the Archbishop of Gluttony arrived. Now, this incident had occurred, forcing the delay of the trip to the tower and pushing back the time of Rem's awakening even further.」
「However, the more flustered he felt, the more rational Hachiman became, knowing he needed to plan with a clear head.」
「"Anastasia, while we attack the City Hall, send more people to scout near Regulus. Any clue they can find would be a welcome surprise."」
「"Aside from managing the camp and helping the citizens, that's about all I can do."」
「With no time for further sentimentality, Anastasia hurried back to her duties. During this time, Garfiel approached Hachiman, looking as if he wanted to say something, but ultimately remained silent.」
「"I don't know what you're struggling with, Garfiel. If you can, I'd like you to confide in me. If you can't, then make a promise with me."」
「"A promise?" Garfiel was startled.」
「"That's right. A promise." Hachiman extended his hand. "Promise me that you will confide in me... and survive this battle. You have to win and survive, Garfiel. After that, even if you don't want to talk about what's bothering you, I'll force it out of you. So, stay alive."」
「"...Yeah!"」
「The resolute Garfiel made the promise.」
「Julius, Wilhelm, Garfiel, Ricardo, the three Mimi siblings, Emilia, Crusch, and Hikigaya Hachiman—the ten ready for battle then proceeded toward the City Hall.」
「According to Hachiman's arrangement, Kiritaka would simultaneously lead the White Dragon's Scales to attempt to recapture the four floodgates.」
「"...Can we win, Sir Hachiman?" On the way, a lost Crusch asked quietly.」
「"We have to win, Crusch." Hachiman glanced at her and raised his sword, his voice steady. "It's not a matter of whether we can win; it's that we must win!"」
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The solid bond between the General and his "Strongest Shield," the reliability and strength shown by Anastasia in a crisis, the gradual awakening of Crusch's pre-amnesia grace following Hachiman's words, a worried Garfiel, and an incredibly furious Wilhelm.
All of these were points of great interest and concern.
But at this moment, facing the Great Battle of the City Hall which would determine the victory or defeat of the entire situation, neither the people of the future nor the people of the two current worlds had the luxury to overthink, praise, or even share a common hatred.
Everyone's spirit was drawn in by the thick, heavy atmosphere. Holding their breath, they were immersed in the impending war.
「On the plaza outside the City Hall, the corpses of dead citizens and guards had vanished, leaving only pink chunks of meat scattered across the ground.」
「Before anyone could investigate further, two figures leaped down from the City Hall. Crusch, Julius, and Emilia launched long-range attacks, but they were parried or dodged. This first encounter alone allowed everyone to fully realize the strength of these two.」
「"—That's right!"」
「Wilhelm's emotions fluctuated violently. He instantly confirmed that the two corpse soldiers were indeed the former War God Kurgan and the Sword Saint. And then, something even worse began to happen.」
「"Hahahaha! They came, they really came~ Taking the bait with just a little threat. Why do you meat-scraps live such stupid, ugly, and shallow lives? If it were me, I wouldn't be able to stand it, ah-hahaha!"」
「The feminine mocking voice came from a black dragon flying down from the sky. "Now then, announce your names—! This lady is the Sin Archbishop of Lust, Lady Capella Emerada Lugnica herself! Drop dead! You rotting meat-scraps!"」
「And then.」
「"Stinky, stinky, stinky, stinky, stinky! I knew you'd come, I knew you'd come—the half-devil who snatched a life, a half-devil just like the half-devil who snatched him!"」
「The Sin Archbishop of Wrath, Sirius. And then...」
「The one who made all three worlds fall into silence in an instant.」
「"Binge-eating! Gluttony! Nice, great, this is good, isn't it? Of course it's good, well done, you're capable, so you're capable. Now then, let's eat—"」
「"Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, representing Gluttony, Lye Batenkaitos."」
「Slowly walking out of the City Hall.」
「It wasn't one, wasn't two, wasn't three who had entered the Water Gate City...」
「The Witch Cult—four Sin Archbishops—had all descended!」
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