Chapter 366. Shaula's Grand Entrance
"I knew it! I felt like Ram was being ex~tremely strange. Even if she treasures Rem, she shouldn't be that unreasonable; Ram was always a very kind person."
On the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia wore a look of sudden realization, which was quickly replaced by sorrow.
The reason Ram turned out like that—aside from her initial love for her sister outweighing the rest of the world—was, in the final analysis, because Hikigaya Hachiman had been whispering in her ear for an entire year.
One could say that the current Ram was actually a replica of Hachiman; the Hachiman of that year possessed that exact appearance and state of mind.
Back in Watergate City, the fact that he could relax and laugh in front of Anastasia, Crusch, Beatrice, and the others didn't mean he was heartless or had forgotten the profound impact Rem had on him.
It was simply because he was even kinder than Ram.
Moreover, it proved to what extent his love and sorrow for Rem were so immense that he had no choice but to hide them all deep in his heart, lest they affect the "Genuine" people like Anastasia whom he also cherished.
"...Ugh."
Emilia pursed her lips, her head drooping.
Although fortunately these tragic futures would no longer come to pass, at this moment, she was still witnessing them with her own eyes.
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.
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「After establishing the three rules, the four set out with light gear. When they reached the fork in the road, Hikigaya Hachiman unhesitatingly and firmly demanded they take the left path; no one objected.」
「Along the way, both Ram and Crusch lacked much spirit, focusing only on the journey. The difference was that Ram held her head high, while Crusch was like a defeated rooster, listless and dejected.」
「The two walked on the left and right flanks, separated by Hikigaya Hachiman and Anastasia. While they wouldn't hesitate to cooperate when necessary, during idle moments, these two who had already torn off their masks stayed as far apart as possible.」
「"Regarding me and Miss Ram... we've both stopped using honorifics for you. Is there a reason for such a sudden and massive shift?"」
「Anastasia tugged at the Prime Minister's hem, whispering.」
「"...I simply recognized a fact," Hikigaya Hachiman replied in a low voice. "Using distant, polite honorifics for you all is an insult to you."」
「Crusch and Anastasia were capable of killing others for his sake, and the reason Ram had become hysterical was because she held him in such high regard, viewing him as her brother-in-law.」
「In this situation, if he continued to use a distant honorific like "Miss Anastasia," Hachiman wouldn't be able to forgive himself.」
「Anastasia was stunned for a moment before a smile broke across her face. Her sly, crescent-eyed smile gave off a sense of fox-like unfathomability, but more than that, it overflowed with cuteness.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman didn't pay too much attention to that cuteness. Walking the left path, with the previous failure as a lesson, his vigilance was at its peak. He constantly observed if anyone was being influenced by the miasma. Fortunately, the miasma content in the air on the left path seemed very low, and there were no iron gates along the way.」
「However, as they neared the end, changes began to occur. At the end of the passage, the sand collapsed, and the group slid into a cavern below where an Oiran Bear magic beast resided.」
「"Die!"」
「It didn't even qualify as an obstacle... In front of a Crusch whose heart was full of frustration and irritation, a mere mabeast couldn't even last three seconds before being sliced into several massive chunks of meat by her unsheathed blade.」
「Ram also had to admit that without Crusch, she—exhausted to her limit—and a Hikigaya Hachiman who had forgotten his swordsmanship would have been unable to deal with this Oiran Bear. For Hachiman's sake, she forced herself to bolster her opinion of Crusch slightly.」
「Crunch, crunch.」
「At the same time the Oiran Bear died, the sound of footsteps echoed from the exit of the sand cave.」
「It was a girl whose skin was no less snowy than Anastasia's, whose long limbs were no less tall than Crusch's, whose proud chest was no less than Emilia's, and whose features were as regular as Rem's—though overall, her charm was on par with Rem's level.」
「Her brown hair was tied into a single braid, and she wore tight black shorts. Her upper body was clad only in a bra-like top, with a cloak draped over her back—an outfit that, in the eyes of Ram and the other two, was extremely revealing.」
「As a modern person who had seen plenty of swimsuits, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't think much of it; he cared more about this woman's origin and stance.」
「"Who are you?"」
「The other party didn't answer Crusch's questioning, but merely stared expressionlessly at Hikigaya Hachiman, muttering to herself: "One."」
「Having confirmed this, in the next second, her mechanical, expressionless coldness instantly transformed into a smile so radiant it couldn't be brighter. Beaming all over, she cried out, "—Master!"」
「Before the confusion of 'Another one? Another "Master"? Just who are you and what are you saying?' could even be voiced, Hikigaya Hachiman felt a gust of wind.」
「The stranger girl's speed was so great that the air was pulled along into a gale. She lunged forward and, like a koala, clung tightly to Hikigaya Hachiman, hugging him.」
「"How is this possible!?" Crusch's face turned ashen. She only reacted after the other party had finished the action, which was enough to prove the opponent's strength was far beyond her own.」
「"Master! Seriously, seriously! I've been waiting for so long! So lonely! I thought my life would just be about attacking anyone who approached forever! Vanishing for so long is just too sneaky! Master!"」
「"You say I'm your Master? But I don't know you. Are you mistaking me for someone else?" Seeing no hostile intent, Hikigaya Hachiman signaled Crusch not to act while he actively sought information.」
「"What nonsense are you talking! Master's memory has gone bad again, hasn't it? To forget Shaula is truly mean!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was completely bewildered. He tried to pull Shaula off, not wanting to be hugged like this, but he couldn't do it. He asked Ram and the other two: "...Did the pre-amnesia me know her? Did I ever take a disciple?"」
「The three denied it in unison, declaring that this was absolutely not a romantic debt incurred by his past self. Their faces were all quite unpleasant as they moved together, for their own respective reasons, to pull this self-proclaimed Shaula "stalker girl" off of him.」
「Unfortunately, she was like glue; she simply hugged him and wouldn't let go. Without resorting to attacking, Crusch and the others really couldn't do anything about her. And since
they confirmed she had no malice, even with an ashen face, the "milder" version of Crusch found it hard to draw her sword and strike without provocation.
「"I'm Shaula! The Star Guardian of the Pleiades Watchtower! Master's cute pupil, Shaula!"」
「"—The Shaula I've heard of is one of the legendary Three Heroes of this world, the Great Sage Shaula. Is that you?"」
「While suffering a massive headache, Hikigaya Hachiman keenly identified useful information. This stalker girl calling herself Shaula was the guardian of the Sage's Tower. If she wasn't lying, then...」
「Having a guardian who was already at maximum affection for him from the start meant he might easily obtain the help of the Sage's Tower.」
」
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