[ "—What an infuriating guy. Is that the only thing you can say as your first line? Betty thinks your appearance is more like a ghost, you know."
Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice began their conversation after twenty years.
"What are you dressed for?"
Beatrice asked Subaru.
"For revenge. That day, twenty years ago, the one who killed Rem… To kill Petelgeuse Romaniconti! I say… Contract with me, lend me your power. I need your magic!"
"…What a joke. Does your revenge have anything to do with Betty?"
"Rem… Rem was killed! Even the people who attacked the mansion were his accomplices! Why can you still be here calmly for twenty years! Don't the times we experienced together mean nothing to you!"
"Don't you think you can fathom Betty's thoughts with your short-sighted human perspective. That period was merely one part of Betty's long years."
Subaru fell silent upon hearing that, then spoke:
"…I understand. I'm sorry for saying something so self-righteous."
"If you understand, then hurry up and leave."
"I won't be back again. Goodbye."
Subaru said and then left.
The scene then darkened. ]
.....
~ Inside, the Theater ~
"So twenty years have passed?!"
Then Subaru-kun is almost forty now.
If Subaru-kun had chosen to live for himself, he should be able to form a beautiful family by now…
Giving up so many years for Rem…
Rem lowered her head slightly.
"Even after so many years, Miss Beatrice is still so mean."
Otto said from the other side.
"That child is just mean with her words."
Puck laughed.
Then, Puck became serious again:
"In that world, even I ceased to exist. That child must have felt so alone…"
Even Roswaal might not be around anymore, after all, he messed up.
And Beatrice in the screen might not want to kill Petelgeuse because she felt he was one of the very few old acquaintances in this world.
Even Puck was gone, only he remained.
"It's that Witch Cultist!"
Garfiel pointed at the screen.
—
[ The scene brightened again, and Subaru returned to the stolen goods vault, asking Old Man Rom about the whereabouts of the Witch Cult.
This time, there was news.
Subaru followed the news to a forest where the Witch Cultists might be ambushing, and as expected, the Witch Cultists appeared.
There were three Witch Cultists.
"Got it…!"
Natsuki Subaru hid and secretly observed them.
"It seems they haven't discovered us yet, what should we do? Kill on sight. Patrasche, you wait here."
Although Patrasche showed a worried expression, Subaru still intended to kill them.
"Shamak!"
Subaru pulled out a sword, and at the same time, black mist erupted.
"Ah! Next! Ya!"
Subaru cleanly killed the first and third Witch Cultists, and stabbed the second Witch Cultist. ]
.....
~ Inside, the Theater ~
"Subaru-dono's swordsmanship has indeed become much more skilled. Although the openings are still obvious, it has become much cleaner. It can no longer be considered substandard… but that second Witch Cultist…"
Wilhelm had a premonition that Subaru-dono had only wounded the second Witch Cultist, not killed him.
—
[ And that was indeed the case. In the scene, the second Witch Cultist stabbed Subaru with that cross dagger.
Subaru quickly blocked the attack with his sword and counterattacked.
The two began a back-and-forth melee.
The effect of Shamak also gradually disappeared. ]
.....
~ Inside, the Theater ~
"While it cannot be considered up to the standard of a knight, this level can already be considered that of a true swordsman. But…"
Yuriusu said.
After all, it was just a sneak attack earlier, and Subaru's skill only proved solid basic skills, not his true strength.
And the current situation showed it.
He continued:
"I'm sure Subaru would have often honed his swordsmanship during these twenty years. But twenty years is only this level…"
Although he could be considered a true swordsman, he was only among the relatively weaker second-rate swordsmen.
An ordinary person who practiced hard for twenty years should also be able to reach the peak of second-rate, or even quasi-first-rate, quasi-professional.
It seemed that in the field of swordsmanship, Subaru's talent was truly quite poor.
Yuriusu looked at Wilhelm, and Wilhelm nodded, understanding the implication.
Then, Wilhelm said:
"The skill of that Witch Cultist is above Subaru-dono."
Then Wilhelm narrowed his eyes.
Because the Witch Cultist was injured, it was still uncertain who would win or lose.
—
[ "Ha!" Subaru slashed at him with all his might, cleaving his face in two.
A narrow victory.
"Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti…"
Subaru spoke the name that filled him with hatred.
Then he continued to fight, searching for other Witch Cultists.
The ultimate goal might still be to draw out Petelgeuse.
After that, the scene shifted, and Subaru was panting heavily.
"Ha… ha. This is the seventh one."
Subaru killed seven Witch Cultists with Veil and his second-rate swordsmanship.
Then…
"What is that…?"
In front of him, a giant black hand appeared.
But because its speed was not very fast, Subaru dodged it immediately.
"Oh my? Oh my, oh my, oh my, oh my? Could it be… you can see my 'Invisible Hand'? No, no, no, no, no, it's impossible! My 'Sloth' authority 'Invisible Hand,' which I bestowed out of favoritism, cannot possibly be captured by anyone else's eyes!"
The Bishop of Sloth, Petelgeuse Romaniconti, the culprit who killed Rem and the others in Emilia's faction, Natsuki Subaru's enemy, appeared in this world.
"PEEE—TE—L—GEU—SE—!"
Natsuki Subaru clenched his right fist, bit his lip tightly, and trembled all over. ]
.....
~ Inside, the Theater ~
"So that invisible hand looks like this!"
Mimi exclaimed.
"It's just as I thought, the speed is not fast. If you know the exact location, it's not difficult to deal with."
Wilhelm said.
The speed was probably that of an ordinary person's punch. As long as one could see it, it would not be difficult for an ordinary person with quick reflexes or someone who had trained to dodge it.
Everyone could see it.
If the attack method was only like this…
Subaru was not without a chance, he had the strength to fight.
—
[ "…Did you just call my name? This is truly, truly, truly interesting. Could it be that you are 'Pride'? But! If that is the case! Why? For what reason? For what motive do you attack us?!"
"Hmph!"
Subaru refused to listen to his further words and directly slashed at him.
Petelgeuse, however, blocked it with his Invisible Hand.
"Ah, what a regrettable thing this is… You ignore me diligently conversing with you, and you don't intend to lessen your hostility one bit. To be satisfied without understanding is more slothful than anything!"
Petelgeuse seemed to have murderous intent as well.
The battle that had been waiting for twenty years began. ]
.....