Julius swiftly tied up the unconscious man and placed him on his Earth dragon's back.
Everything that had just happened was simply too unbelievable.
Just a few minutes ago, he had witnessed the most insane scene, as Sloth attempted to possess Subaru, his soul was suddenly scorched by an eerie flame.
Then, the deranged green-haired man's face gradually softened amidst his screams, and the awakened "Sloth" knelt, crying hysterically, his voice filled with heart-wrenching remorse, ultimately attempting to end his own life with the Unseen Hand.
Julius ran his hand over his sword hilt, recalling the moment he rushed forward to knock out the man at Subaru's urging, the man's eyes were so clear, completely different from his previous madness.
Even stranger, when he cast an inquiring glance at Subaru, she merely shook her head blankly, seemingly just as confused.
"Let's go," Subaru patted Patrasche's neck, her voice a little tired, "It's time to regroup with everyone."
Julius nodded, checking the captive's restraints one last time.
Although there were many mysteries, at least they had successfully captured an Archbishop of Sin, an unprecedented achievement.
— — — — — —
"Ah! They're back!"
Felix's cat ears perked up keenly, being the first to spot the two figures returning from the forest.
Everyone was gathered in the center of the makeshift camp, their weapons stained with fresh blood, the last struggles of the Witch Cultists.
The air was filled with the smell of blood and herbs, and several injured individuals were receiving simple bandages.
Ricardo laughed heartily, patting Otto, who was tied to a tree, with force.
"Alright, little brother, Subaru is back. You've been waiting a long time, haven't you?" His brawny arm nearly knocked the scrawny merchant over.
Beads of sweat rolled down Otto's forehead.
Ever since he was captured by this group of mercenaries, he had been in extreme fear, especially after the beastman said that if Subaru determined he was a Witch Cultist, she would immediately make him "depart without pain."
"I… I really am just a merchant…"
Subaru slowly approached on Patrasche, her golden eyes quickly scanning everyone present.
Although everyone had been safe in the previous loop, her suspended heart truly settled only after confirming it with her own eyes at this moment.
Mimi skipped over.
"Wow! Big sis, did you capture the Archbishop of Sin alive? That's amazi…"
Mimi's cheerful voice suddenly cut off.
She leaned closer to Julius's Earth dragon, but froze abruptly when she saw the tied-up person.
Her fluffy ears twitched in confusion, "Who is this?!"
She pointed at the unconscious man, "Is he the Archbishop of Sin? This uncle looks so kind!"
Indeed, the man tied to the Earth dragon's back had a face completely different from the rumors, his unconscious face beneath his green hair was calm and gentle, and were it not for the scars and tattered clothes, he would have looked like an ordinary scholar.
Hearing Mimi's exclamation, everyone gathered around, curiously examining the unconscious green-haired man.
Felix's tail wagged uneasily as he leaned in to closely observe the unfamiliar face.
"Nyaa… What exactly is going on?" Felix scratched his head in confusion; he had met Sloth once through a magic device.
"Didn't you go to deal with the Sloth Archbishop of Sin? Why did you bring back a… uh… such a gentle-looking uncle?" He turned to Subaru, "What exactly happened in that battle?"
Subaru lightly jumped off Patrasche's back.
"I don't know," she shrugged, "So we'll have to ask him thoroughly later."
Subaru recalled the Flame Sword's characteristic "Divine Flame," which, according to Carlisle's description in the first loop, could burn away evil and heal those with a "righteous heart."
Could it be… Sloth… that this gentle face was his original appearance?
All sorts of questions swirled in Subaru's mind, making her sense a conspiracy.
Since she had successfully prevented his suicide this time, she absolutely had to extract the truth from him.
"Oh, Miss!"
Ricardo's booming voice interrupted Subaru's thoughts.
The formidable beastman leader walked over, dragging the bound Otto.
"We found this young man in the Witch Cult's stronghold." He gave Subaru a meaningful look, awaiting her judgment.
Subaru then remembered that she had forgotten to mention Otto during the strategy meeting due to time constraints.
Logically, she should immediately have him untied, but for some reason, seeing the gray-haired merchant's terrified expression, she suddenly felt like… "Captain?" Subaru deliberately drew out her tone, showing a thoughtful expression, "Is this… your lunch?" she said, feigning seriousness.
"Remember to keep the children away when you handle him later, it might get a bit bloody."
Ricardo was completely stunned by her words.
"What! So you eat people? Waaah! I didn't know! Don't eat me! Help!" Otto's face instantly turned ashen, and he began to struggle frantically.
"I don't taste good at all!"
"Miss…" Ricardo rubbed his forehead helplessly, "That joke isn't funny at all."
"Hahaha, my apologies, my apologies~" Subaru finally couldn't help but burst out laughing, "Untie him, he's not a Witch Cultist." She walked forward and personally untied Otto, "This guy is just an unlucky passerby."
— — — — — —
Ricardo laughed heartily, forcefully patting Otto's shoulder, nearly knocking the frail merchant down again.
"Haha, sorry, little brother! It couldn't be helped that we tied you up." He showed his gleaming canines, "I knew you weren't a bad person the first time I saw you, but the orders for this battle weren't up to me."
"I hope you can understand!"
"What kind of apology is that?!"
Otto rubbed his wrists, which were red from the ropes, protesting tearfully.
"Don't be so petty~" Ricardo waved his hand dismissively, "Since everyone's safe, why don't we just get along happily!" His hearty smile made Otto even more helpless.
"Alright…" Otto sighed, his shoulders slumping, "Actually, I should be thanking you all."
"If you hadn't broken through the Witch Cult's stronghold, I'd still be tied up there…" He added reluctantly, "Though I really don't want to admit it."
"But little brother," Ricardo asked, looking at Otto's dejected face, "Why are you still so downcast after getting your life back?"
"Captain, let me talk to him." Subaru interjected at the right moment, stepping between the two.
Although she knew Otto's background well, to avoid suspicion from others, she still had to go through the motions.
And honestly, she quite admired this unlucky merchant.
Otto saw everyone instinctively follow Subaru's instructions, and his demeanor immediately became reserved.
He nervously straightened his disheveled collar.
"Hello, I am Otto Suwen, just an ordinary traveling merchant…"
Subaru nodded, a kind smile in her golden eyes.
"I see"
"Then, Mr. Otto, can you tell me how you were captured by the Witch Cult?"
This question seemed to open Otto's floodgates of grievances.
His expression instantly crumbled, and he began to recount his tragic experiences in an endless stream.
The beginning of Otto Suwen's tragic experiences was identical to the story he told Subaru in the second loop.
This unlucky fellow had invested all his savings in the capital, stockpiling a large amount of oil, only for it to be unsellable due to market saturation.
As the deadline for his creditors approached day by day, if he couldn't find a buyer, he would have to use himself as collateral.
Fate's turning point came from an unexpected butterfly effect: after Subaru facilitated the alliance between Crusch and Anastasia, to speed up the evacuation of villagers, notices were posted throughout the capital recruiting merchant caravans.
Any merchant who assisted in transporting the evacuees would have all their goods purchased at market price by Border Count Roswaal.
This notice was a godsend for the desperate Otto.
Excited, he packed his belongings overnight and drove his dragon carriage, laden with oil, towards Roswaal's border.
Unlike other cautious merchants who waited for the White Whale subjugation battle to end before setting off, the anxious Otto used his "Divine Protection of Word Soul" to forcefully open up a shortcut.
However, this urgency led to disaster.
When he took the shortcut to bypass the main battlefield, he coincidentally ran into the Witch Cult entering the border on a small path.
Without a word, those fanatical cultists tied up this unlucky fellow and imprisoned him in their stronghold.
Rem, listening quietly, involuntarily widened her blue eyes.
This merchant's misfortune was truly astonishing; he arrived the earliest but happened to fall into the hands of the Witch Cult, and while he was imprisoned, Rem was organizing the evacuation in the village.
In other words, Otto perfectly missed his last chance.
Note- Poor Otto
...
Re@d adv@nce ch@pters on p@t
guilt_free_daoist
Jo!n d!sc0rd I!nk in synops!s.
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