Chapter 18(213): This Is a Journey to Death
"Wilhelm-san, be careful."
"Come."
Facing Wilhelm's steady stance, Hikigaya didn't rush to attack. Instead, he searched carefully for any openings.
This was a one-sided battle. Hikigaya understood that clearly. And because of that, it was also a battle meant to hone himself.
Unfortunately, every breath Wilhelm took gave Hikigaya no opportunity at all. That was exactly what made fighting an opponent like this so frustrating.
Wilhelm also seemed extremely patient, in no hurry to strike. The two simply circled each other.
Rem: "If Hikigaya-kun doesn't make a move soon, Rem is going to get dizzy…"
Realizing there was no reason to wait any longer, Hikigaya moved. After all, Wilhelm had already handed him the initiative, and in battle, the one who moves first often gains an advantage.
Midsection, lower body, thrust. Attack after attack, yet none could break through Wilhelm's defense. Everything felt like nothing more than a tickle to him, completely devoid of power.
Wilhelm focused his gaze and instantly noticed the flaw in Hikigaya's sword swings. He stabbed forward with his wooden sword, so fast that it was impossible to react.
Hikigaya let out a cold laugh. As if he had predicted the attack in advance, he twisted his body and narrowly avoided it. Without missing the chance, he turned his back and swung upward.
"Now!"
Bang!
Blocking Hikigaya's strike with an extremely high-level maneuver, Wilhelm smiled in response.
"That worked too?!"
Bang, bang, bang…
Three consecutive strikes completely overwhelmed Hikigaya.
Collapsed on the ground, he panted heavily.
"As expected, compared to real knights like you, I'm still only half-baked."
Wilhelm walked up to him, reached out, and pulled him to his feet, speaking calmly.
"I don't think there's anyone who wouldn't acknowledge your knightly spirit. I've heard about how you risked your life for Lady Emilia."
"And in our recent battles, I've learned quite a bit from you as well. For example, just now, when the opponent shows no openings, deliberately exposing your own weakness to seize the initiative. That was truly impressive."
Facing Wilhelm's praise, Hikigaya simply shook his head and laughed softly: "If possible, I'd still like to become an invincible existence like you someday, Wilhelm-san."
…
Several days had already passed since the Royal Selection ended. Emilia and Roswaal needed to return to their domain as soon as possible for matters related to the selection.
During the days before their departure, Priscilla repeatedly sent people to threaten Hikigaya, spouting lines like "I'll kill you."
In the end, left with no other choice, Hikigaya moved to Crusch's castle to continue his treatment. Perhaps out of caution toward Crusch, Priscilla's messengers never appeared again.
Before leaving, Emilia asked with some confusion, "Hikigaya-kun, why did you put yourself in the crosshairs for my sake?"
Hikigaya answered like this, "Because I'm your knight. My only mission is to protect you. So just as I said, anyone who dares to insult you will eventually be punished."
"Mm-hm. As a knight, that was a perfectly standard answer, at least, that's what I think."
However, after hearing those words, Emilia grew sulky in an awkward, tsundere way, her face flushed red as she walked off. Even now, she hadn't said a single word to him since.
And so, Hikigaya and Rem stayed there and began a new life.
Of course, since he had chosen to remain there for treatment, Hikigaya didn't stay idle. Aside from daily treatment and sword practice, he would often take Rem into the city to gather the latest information. As long as they weren't followed by Priscilla's people, it was generally safe.
Still, just as he had expected, even after saying all that, some things were impossible to change. No matter who it was, no one believed that Emilia, as a half-elf, could ultimately become the new king.
To change that, the first step was to overturn everyone's fixed perceptions. And the ultimate method to do so was nothing more than twisting history itself, completely reversing the image of the Witch. Unfortunately…
Hikigaya didn't yet have that kind of power.
[Priscilla: "That man…once I find him, I'll personally slaughter him! No… I'll make him my plaything!"]
[Al: "Princess… I didn't expect you to have that kind of taste."]
[Priscilla: "Just imagining him becoming my knight, and then looking at that half-elf, feels great, doesn't it?"]
[Al: "Truly unique…"]
[Anastasia: "As long as he doesn't step into our territory, it won't develop into hostility."]
[Crusch: "Rather than an enemy, I'd like to become his friend. From our god's-eye perspective, we should already see it clearly. Although his master is Emilia, under his guidance, her former disadvantages are steadily being turned into rare advantages."]
[Wilhelm: "Perhaps there will be even more in the future."]
[Reinhard: "It seems Hikigaya really is quite a fine fellow."]
[Julius: "I hope that one day we'll have more opportunities to work together."]
Regarding Chin, Hikigaya had also met him privately. What was somewhat unbelievable was that even though it hadn't been that long since they last met, Chin's demeanor had already changed drastically. And Hikigaya's earlier suggestion had clearly made him think deeply. During the period in which Hikigaya was recuperating, Chin had indeed gathered quite a few capable individuals.
According to their agreement, once Hikigaya's recovery was over, he planned to bring them back to the village, have them join his forces, and become part of his army.
Everything was going so smoothly that Hikigaya even began to enjoy this rare stretch of peaceful days.
On this neon-lit night, Hikigaya wiped the moisture from his hair and prepared to return to his room to continue studying the written language of this world. It was then that he quietly noticed, at the stairway, an elegant and gentle green-haired young woman standing there, her charm accentuated by the breeze.
"Good evening, Lady Crusch."
"Good evening, Sir Hikigaya. I didn't expect you to recognize me at a glance even though I'm wearing casual clothes."
"Even if one's appearance changes, the feeling they give others never really does."
Hearing that, a trace of curiosity appeared on Crusch's face: "Oh? Then in Sir Hikigaya's eyes, what kind of feeling do I give people?"
"Someone who makes others feel at ease and can be relied upon. But more than that, Lady Crusch, what I truly admire is the unwavering spirit you have in holding yourself to strict standards."
"Strict with oneself, lenient with others. It sounds simple, but actually doing it is extremely difficult."
Sensing not the slightest hint of flattery or deceit from Hikigaya, a calm smile appeared on Crusch's face.
"Talking with you is truly relaxing, Sir Hikigaya. The night breeze today is cool and pleasant. It's perfect weather for enjoying some wine while gazing at the night sky."
[Kushida: "Hikigaya, why are you alone with another girl again?!"]
[Ichinose: "This feeling is kind of subtle… It's like close friends meeting again after many years. But with alcohol involved…uh, Hikigaya-kun, have you ever drunk before?"]
[Hikigaya answered honestly: "No."]
[Kamuro: "I think this is just an exchange born of admiration. It should be fine… right?"]
[Even as she said that, Kamuro clearly lacked confidence.]
[Karuizawa: "I hope that's really the case."]
[Kushida: "Sometimes admiration turns into something else before you know it."]
Looking at the small glass of wine poured for him, Hikigaya merely glanced at it.
"It's fine. If you can't drink, there's no need to force yourself."
"No… I've just never tried it before. Come to think of it, an old acquaintance once said I was the type who couldn't get drunk. Looks like tonight will be the test."
Crusch said, "When I talk with you, Sir Hikigaya, I always feel strangely at ease. It's as if you are the embodiment of honesty itself, never telling a single lie. That's why the Blessing of Wind, something usually necessary in conversations with others, is completely unnecessary with you."
"If Sir Hikigaya wishes for a carefree drinking session, then I would be willing to drink together with you."
Hikigaya immediately shook his head: "Lady Crusch is surely very busy. Drinking to excess right now wouldn't be responsible to yourself. And if it affected your work, I'd feel deeply guilty. So… please save this chance to drink together for another time."
A look of appreciation appeared on Crusch's face once more. She gently lifted her glass, and Hikigaya, understanding her intention as if by tacit agreement, lightly clinked his glass against hers.
"Then I shall follow your wishes, Sir Hikigaya. If you were not Lady Emilia's knight, I would truly want to bring you under my banner."
It sounded like self-mockery, tinged with a hint of regret, and finally acceptance. Crusch drained the last of the wine in her glass in one go.
Looking at Crusch, Hikigaya momentarily lost himself. Perhaps acting on instinct, he said, "Lady Crusch already has outstanding people like Wilhelm and the knight Felix under her command. I'm nothing more than an ordinary person who can't really do anything."
An indescribable smile appeared on Crusch's face, "Sir Hikigaya, do you truly believe that? In my eyes, the fact that you dared to establish Lady Emilia's authority ahead of time at the Royal Selection meeting is already something no ordinary person could accomplish. To be honest, at that moment, you were all I could think about."
Hikigaya: "That kind of wording sounds a bit dangerous."
Crusch burst into laughter: "Hahahahaha… You're right, that was an inappropriate thing to say. My apologies, Sir Hikigaya. Please forget it."
Hikigaya: "It feels like the private Lady Crusch is actually very easy to get along with."
Crusch shook her head: "If the people who have come to propose to me recently were like you, Sir Hikigaya, perhaps I really would fall in love with them."
Taking Crusch's words as a joke, Hikigaya responded with mild curiosity, half to himself, "Proposals already? Well, I suppose that makes sense. As one of the Dragon Maidens and someone so capable, Lady Crusch would naturally be a very sought-after match."
Crusch said helplessly, "Even though it may not be appropriate to talk about this now, if I had the choice, I too would hope for a relationship built on mutual love."
As she spoke, her gaze lingered on Hikigaya's face once again. Perhaps because of the alcohol, a faint blush appeared on her cheeks.
This was a side of Crusch that perhaps no one had ever seen before.
Realizing she was losing her composure, Crusch straightened her posture again and spoke in a caring tone: "Enough about me. How about you, Sir Hikigaya? How is the treatment of your Gate going?"
Hikigaya: "Felix is an excellent knight. Unfortunately, my Gate was damaged too severely, so even now… it hasn't fully recovered."
Crusch: "Then put your mind at ease and focus on recuperating here. Even if you don't necessarily take my words to heart, you should be responsible for your own body. That's also the proper way to be responsible to your master, Lady Emilia."
Hikigaya: "Perhaps…"
Seeing the conflicted expression on Hikigaya's face, Crusch let out a quiet sigh. She knew that she no longer had any chance to change him, because just as Hikigaya had said, he had truly entrusted everything in his heart to Emilia.
"Sir Hikigaya, do you know why Wilhelm-san serves me?"
Although he knew that Wilhelm shared the same surname as Reinhard, Hikigaya had never really given it much thought. Just as Crusch took another strong gulp of her wine and was about to speak, Felix suddenly burst in from outside.
"Wow! Why is Hikigaya-kyun here, nya? And Crusch-sama, showing yourself so defenseless like that is extremely attractive to men!"
Crusch seemed momentarily caught off guard, but after glancing down at her strapless outfit, she merely gave a helpless smile: "If that were truly the case, that would be nice."
"Sir Hikigaya, it seems today's banquet will have to end here."
Hikigaya nodded politely and spoke in a rather formal tone: "It's been an honor to have such an unforgettable night with you, Miss Crusch. And this first experience with drinking as well…"
Crusch: "I look forward to you bringing us even more surprises. And I hope that one day, we can drink ourselves into a glorious stupor together."
[Karuizawa: "Felix, nice save!"]
[Kushida: "This little cat really gets cuter the more I look at him."]
[Kamuro: "Just as I expected!"]
[Hikigaya: "I'm telling you, it's really not what you're thinking."]
[Yukinoshita: "Given that Hikigaya-kun is an uncontrollable variable, some level of concern is only natural."]
[Crusch: "At least it didn't blow up into a Priscilla-level disaster. That's already the best outcome."]
[Anastasia: "Being able to cause a mess like Priscilla does isn't something you can pull off without a certain level of ability."]
Just like any other day, after waking up, Hikigaya headed to the garden to practice swordsmanship.
Normally, Rem would always sit nearby, quietly watching him swing his sword, but today she was conspicuously absent. This unusual situation planted an irremovable thorn of unease in Hikigaya's heart.
Rem's life had always followed a strict routine. Even if the sky were to fall, she would maintain her usual schedule. If there ever came a day when Rem refused to get out of bed, Hikigaya would sooner suspect that the world itself had been cursed than blame Rem.
When he finally saw Rem, his unease was confirmed. Unlike her usual gentle smile, she now carried a hint of anxiety and fear as she slowly walked up to him.
"Hikigaya-kun, there's something important I need to tell you…"
Since this was not something he could handle alone, Hikigaya decided to discuss the situation with Crusch first.
The moment Crusch was informed, she quickly arrived at the reception room. Wilhelm and Felix stood nearby, the five of them facing one another.
Crusch: "Did Rem explain the situation to you?"
Hikigaya: "Yeah… I already knew that the two sisters can sense each other's condition through a special method. Rem sensed the state of the mansion through that connection. But… the real problem isn't there."
Hikigaya turned his gaze to Rem, who nodded as if she had already prepared herself.
"The problem is that the signal Ram sent came after she lost control. In other words, things over there must have deteriorated to an unimaginable extent. That's why she didn't want to drag us into it."
At Hikigaya's words, everyone present except Rem sucked in a sharp breath.
Crusch: "The area around Count Roswaal's estate has encountered a dangerous situation and is currently under lockdown. Sir Hikigaya, you should be able to imagine it… Roswaal's domain, bound by a contract with Emilia, was never a safe place to begin with."
"And I know this much, you've already been attacked more than once. This time, the attackers will be even more formidable than the last and the one before that."
Pulled into deep thought by Crusch's words, Hikigaya began comparing the combat strength within the mansion.
'Is it Elsa? No… even she couldn't storm the place alone. With Puck, Emilia, Ram, and Beatrice there, even if they couldn't repel the enemy completely, things shouldn't have fallen this far.'
'And besides… Meili is locked away in that cage. There's no way she could have been discovered.'
'Her accomplices, then? Even so… with the village's militia involved, does that mean the enemy's strength has reached an overwhelming level?'
'Sitting here without any information won't help. I need to prepare myself.'
'Roswaal… would that man really defect at a time like this?'
This was the one question Hikigaya kept asking himself.
Crusch seemed to notice his inner conflict and spoke up.
"If Emilia can no longer be saved, would you stay here?"
Without hesitation, nor should there have been any, Hikigaya gently shook his head.
"I'm genuinely curious. What is it about Emilia that makes you willing to offer up your life for her again and again?"
"Miss Crusch told me yesterday that perhaps healing myself should be my top priority right now. But… if it were Emilia, she would definitely disregard her own safety and make the same choice I'm making."
Perhaps finally realizing the shallowness of her own perspective, Crusch no longer had the strength to persuade him. She let out a helpless sigh.
"I see…"
'With so little information, both Rem and I, members of Emilia's camp, could face irreversible danger at any moment. Leaving her here would undoubtedly be the safest choice… But if she thinks the same way I do, she wouldn't hesitate to give up her life either.'
'In that case, I can't leave Rem behind… Though I want to ask Crusch for some assistance, we are competitors by nature. Leaving with dignity might be the best option.'
'Placing my hopes on Return by Death isn't appropriate, but… I have no other power. If even the village's forces can't hold them back, bringing the kids along would only make things worse.'
'There's still far too little information…'
Hikigaya slowly stood up. At that moment, Wilhelm noticed his eyes, eyes that even struck fear into him. The eyes of someone walking toward death.
"Once again, thank you for all your help these past few days, Miss Crusch, Wilhelm-san, and Felix. If possible, I hope we can maintain a good relationship."
Wilhelm: "Have you made your decision?"
"There are things worth trading this life for. Wilhelm-san, I believe you can understand that."
Felix: "I'm not denying you, Hikigaya-kyun, but with your current condition and combat power, I really don't recommend going off to die like this…"
Crusch: "Once you step out that door, we will be competitors. I hope you understand that. Everything I've said to you has been the truth, please understand me as well."
Hikigaya: "Thank you again. Then, Rem… let's go."
This was a simple march toward death. It held no meaning beyond dying itself, and it marked the first time since coming to this world, after overcoming his fear of death, that Hikigaya would actively make use of his ability.
More than that… this would be a reckless gamble.
(End of this chapter)