The Witch of Greed, Echidna
「After carefully asking Frederica for basic intelligence regarding the Sanctuary and learning that it was inhabited by demi-humans who had obeyed Roswaal for generations, Hikigaya Hachiman dismissed the idea of bringing Rem with him.」
「He didn't entirely trust Frederica, but since the Sanctuary wasn't necessarily safe either, it was better to leave Rem at the mansion where her body wouldn't be subjected to the bumps of the road—Petra's hiring during this period further solidified this decision.」
「After saying his one-sided goodbyes to Rem and Beatrice, he took the blue crystal gifted by Frederica, which was said to be necessary to enter the Sanctuary.」
「With Otto driving the ground dragon and Hikigaya Hachiman huddled in the carriage with Emilia, Hachiman sat by the window, slightly and intentionally distancing himself from her as they headed toward the Cremaldy Forest where the Sanctuary was hidden.」
「"Um… Hachiman?"」
「Emilia's curious gaze caught Hikigaya Hachiman's attention. He followed the look of this excessively beautiful girl downward, landing on the clothes he was wearing.」
「The style of the clothes was close to his modern attire, but they bore patterns full of a tailor's heart—patterns that were familiar yet very foreign to Emilia, distinguishable at a single glance.」
「"...It's Rem." Hikigaya Hachiman confirmed her silent question.」
「The creator of the clothes, as well as the figure in the patterns, was Rem.」
「This was one of the many outfits Rem had spent time making specifically for him in the past… he had never considered wearing it before because he needed to maintain a dignified appearance while handling official business in the capital.」
「Now that he had finally put it on, Rem was no longer able to see it.」
「"Eh? Ehhh? I—"」
「Emilia panicked. She was terrified that her careless words would drag this exhausted man back into the abyss of guilt and longing for the past. But before she could change the subject, Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head slightly.」
「"I'm not that fragile, Emilia." He wasn't sure if he should be happy or not. "It's nice that you're looking out for my feelings, but I feel like ever since that night you comforted me, your maternal instincts have been triggered."」
「"Ugh!" Emilia's face flushed. she seemed to interpret this as Hachiman praising her for being useful and reliable.」
「Encouraged, the girl opened her mouth, ready to double down and perhaps offer a hug or let him rest his head on her lap.」
「At that moment, an anomaly occurred!」
「The blue crystal Frederica gave him suddenly emitted a massive amount of light, illuminating the inside and outside of the dragon carriage. The blinding radiance enveloped everything. Hikigaya Hachiman quickly threw open the window to toss the crystal out, but he was suddenly hit by a wave of dizziness.」
「"Emilia? —Emilia!"」
「By the time he regained consciousness, he was alone in the forest. The ground dragon, Emilia, and Otto had all disappeared.」
「He had gathered basic info from Frederica before departing, but she had never mentioned this situation.」
「 'Because I was wary of Frederica, I kept the crystal with me so I could jump out in time if it was harmful without involving Emilia and Otto. In the end, was I still set up…'」
「Hikigaya Hachiman frowned, adding another mark against Roswaal in his mental ledger. But he had no time for other thoughts; he began running, shouting Emilia's name, until he spotted a stone building.」
「Seeing this obvious clue, Hikigaya Hachiman stepped inside without hesitation.」
「He wasn't actually too worried about the safety of the other two. As Roswaal's subordinate, Frederica's actions were certainly following his orders, and Roswaal had shown no inclination toward taking Emilia's life thus far.」
「However… having lost Rem, if he couldn't confirm Emilia's whereabouts and see her safety with his own eyes, he would never forgive himself.」
「"I see. Truly a gentle person, indeed~"」
「A female voice suddenly echoed in his mind. In an instant, heaven and earth shifted. The dim building vanished, replaced by a pure white sky and an endless expanse of green grass. The scene switched so fast that Hikigaya Hachiman only just managed to react.」
「"Don't just stand there dazed. How about coming over here?"」
「The pleasant female voice made Hikigaya Hachiman act like a startled bird. He looked sharply toward the source of the sound—the only unique spot on this grassland.」
「A large parasol stood on a hill, with a white table and chairs beneath it. One chair was empty; in the other sat a pretty woman. Her eyelashes were white, and she held the posture of a host receiving a guest.」
「"Oh my, did I scare you? My apologies. It's been so long since I've spoken to a human, I might have been a bit hasty."」
「The woman spoke without a hint of genuine apology. She was smiling, seemingly unconcerned with how earth-shattering her words would be to a listener: "My name is Echidna. Or… perhaps saying the 'Witch of Greed' would make it easier for you to understand?"」
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"The Witch of… Greed?!"
The moment she announced her name, even through the light screen, those who had felt slight discomfort just by seeing Echidna were frozen. They forgot to process the discomfort, their eyes widening, and many fell into a state of trembling.
Aren't the Witches all dead? They should all be dead!
Everyone's emotions were turbulent. In this world, few people didn't fear or loathe Witches—but their collective fear and loathing couldn't suppress the joy and emotion of one man: Roswaal!
Cheering and jumping with joy, he knelt on the ground gazing at the screen, tears streaming down his face. Roswaal was making a complete spectacle of himself. His soul shivered; a supreme sense of longing, worship, and love forced him to experience a feedback of ecstatic joy he hadn't felt in four hundred years.
"Heh heh heh heh..."
At the same time, Beatrice's breathing quickened. She saw her. She saw her.
"How many years… how many years has it been—Mother!"
Her emotion and her complex mix of feelings were not inferior to Roswaal's!
Gratitude, immense gratitude. At this moment, both Beatrice and Roswaal were incredibly grateful. This broadcast of the future and Hikigaya Hachiman were like a savior.
Roswaal at least had some mental preparation given his plans, but for Beatrice, this was a pure, miraculous surprise from the heavens! She was overjoyed!
Compared to the fear and madness of the general public and the joy of a select few like Beatrice and Roswaal.
On the Earth side, Kousaka Kyousuke twitched his lips, truly offering a silent prayer for Hikigaya Hachiman.
"What is going on here? I remember the Witches are the top-tier existences in that other world, right? They should be even more terrifying than the Sin Archbishops? At the very least, they won't be weaker… Why does Hikigaya always run into such powerful enemies? This is too hard!"
The Fake, I Refuse! (Part 1)
「"Perhaps I truly did startle you? But you can't blame me for that, you know, since one could say you barged in here yourself. Relax, it's only your soul that has entered. Since you're already here, why not participate in my tea party with a peaceful mind?"」
「"Hm? Why are you making such a look of disgust?"」
「"Is there something about me that leaves you so dissatisfied? This is our first meeting, isn't it? For what it's worth, I am a beautiful girl—making a face like that is quite strange, isn't it? Especially since your body isn't suffering from dizziness, pain, or vomiting like others who have seen me?"」
「Like an innocent, pitiful ordinary person suffering from slander, Echidna put on a look of grievance.」
「Discomfort, antipathy, dislike, nausea, loathing, intense revulsion—not physical, but psychological.」
「He would feel envy toward the cheerful and kind Hayama; he would feel dislike toward the self-masking Yuigahama; he would bluntly scold the unrepentant Sagami; and he would even forget his classmate Kawasaki Saki, whom he didn't deem important.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman knew that his selflessness had a limit; it changed based on the specific situation. He wasn't like Emilia or Reinhard, who were selfless and unconditionally gentle to everyone. The number of unkind and ungentle things he had done was certainly not small.」
「Even so, until now—even toward Sagami, who had caused Yukinoshita to collapse from overwork—he had never felt a heart-deep loathing, antipathy, and disgust to this degree.」
「—A Fake. The Witch of Greed, Echidna, standing before him was the most indescribable 'fake' he had seen in his entire life!」
「It was an intuition, an observation honed over many years.」
「Though he couldn't see through Echidna as a person—she was similar to Petelgeuse in her inscrutability—the difference was that the aura of a 'fake' on Echidna was so dense it filled the vast expanse of heaven and earth. Of this, he was certain.」
「Since crossing into this world, though he had faced various hardships and deaths, the people around him were all shining, brilliant 'Genuine Things.' Suddenly encountering such an unprecedented fake, Hikigaya Hachiman, who already had the matter of Rem weighing on his heart, found his disgust slightly uncontrollable.」
「"A tea party... is it?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath. He stepped forward slowly and saw Echidna smiling as she made a 'please sit' gesture.」
「"To be able to restrain that mysterious disgust toward me... mhm, good boy. Now then, why not drink some tea while you're at it?"」
「"If I drink the tea, will you let me go back?"」
「He didn't worry about whether the tea was poisoned. With the power to snatch a soul in an instant, if Echidna truly wanted to kill him, it would likely take no more than a flick of her fingers.」
「"If that is what you wish." As soon as Echidna spoke, she saw Hikigaya Hachiman pick up the cup and drain it in one gulp. Like a cunning fox, she asked with great interest: "How does it taste? This is tea born within this domain, this tomb... one could say it is the Witch's bodily fluids."」
「"As I thought..." Hikigaya Hachiman realized instantly that he hadn't judged her wrongly. One of the most basic personality traits of this fake, Echidna, was likely that she lived for her own amusement. "A truly wretched person... but sorry, I didn't savor it at all; I drank it in one go, so I can't answer you. The tea is finished. Let me go back."」
「Echidna's malicious teasing stopped along with her frozen smile. She quickly gathered her composure and said calmly: "Wretched? Is it really wise to make such a hasty judgment? Yes, you can return whenever you like—however, having finally attended the Witch of Greed's tea party, do you really have nothing you wish to ask?"」
「"Ask..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman froze.」
「The name Echidna was something he had just heard. By contrast, the title 'Witch of Greed' was world-famous; she was one of the Witches from four hundred years ago, representing sagacity and wisdom—one could say she was 'all-knowing.'」
「From the information he gathered from Frederica, the Sanctuary was actually created by the Witch of Greed; it was her tomb. Of course, looking at her now, Echidna's soul was vibrantly healthy. Calling her 'dead' didn't fit; describing her as 'slumbering' or 'sealed' was more logical.」
「His feelings of revulsion toward a 'fake' were involuntarily pushed aside... a difficult problem rose in his heart, making him want to speak, to request.」
「No matter what kind of face Hikigaya Hachiman showed her, Echidna's emotions—grievance, displeasure, amusement—all seemed to exist only on the surface. The only thing that felt substantial and detectable was her curiosity.」
「Seeing that he was clearly tempted, Echidna's pupils shimmered with curiosity, though she already held a certain answer within that curiosity.」
「"Come, ask—what kind of doubts do you wish to explore? Information on the seven Witches from four hundred years ago, or even the Witch of Envy? The source and motive of Roswaal's intriguing actions? The past construction of this Sanctuary? That annoying Emilia or the troubled Beatrice? Come, come—anything you want to know, I might be able to tell you everything."」
「After speaking at a rapid pace, Echidna's voice became soft and deliberate, yet it struck Hikigaya Hachiman's body and soul like a sudden bolt of lightning: "Hm~ Or perhaps, the method to retrieve the memories and existence of the Oni girl named Rem, which were taken by the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony?"」
「"You—"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman couldn't hide his shock. He stared at Echidna with heavy breathing, while she looked back at him with a beaming smile.」
「Mind reading? Memory reading? The principle behind how Echidna knew his thoughts didn't matter, but...」
「Echidna's words seemed like a question, but were actually a certain statement: "Are you going to ask? The way to save that Oni girl."」
「"..."」
「The intensity of the fluctuations in Hikigaya Hachiman's state of mind was beyond what an outsider could imagine. Because of this, having witnessed firsthand how much importance he placed on Rem, Echidna did not believe he would pass up this chance to ask.」
「However—」
「"I refuse."」
「"What?" An answer beyond her expectations. Echidna patted her ear, seemingly doubting she had heard correctly.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman ignored the "out" Echidna had intentionally given him to take back his words. He spoke one word at a time, his heart bleeding, yet remaining steadfast: "I said, I do not intend to ask you anything right now."」
「"No, this is too strange, isn't it?" Echidna placed a fingertip against her lip, unable to comprehend. "Why? Why is that? That girl is your pillar, isn't she? I can feel your desire to save her, you know? In that case—"」
The Fake, I Refuse! (Part 2)
「"Precisely because I value Rem beyond measure, I must refuse to seek the answer for saving her from you. Is that answer satisfactory to you?"」
「In the presence of Echidna, who seemingly possessed the power of mind-reading, Hikigaya Hachiman abandoned all pretense and evasion. His words were incredibly blunt and piercing.」
「"I do not trust you, Echidna. Nor do I believe in such a thing as a 'free lunch' falling from the sky. For the past dozen years of my life, prior to these last two months—aside from having a wonderful sister, meeting a good teacher, and finding a good club president—my luck has never once been good... I don't believe my fortune would turn around this simply, Echidna."」
「Being rejected so thoroughly, Echidna feigned a look of grievance at first, but soon abandoned the act entirely. Her satisfied curiosity made her beautiful eyes almost glow; her face flushed, and her expression became alluring. "Mhm, I see, I see. You're afraid I'll give you a false method? Ah~ that is indeed a choice. An answer I didn't expect—as expected, you truly are quite something."」
「She blinked. "But still, is it really wise to arbitrarily discard a possibility? This might be your only life-saving straw, you know?"」
「"Of course it isn't wise. If the method I seek to save Rem can only be found through you, then my current refusal will surely cause me a lifetime of regret."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman stood up, staring down at Echidna with a piercing gaze. He knew this was unlikely to exert pressure on a Witch who had lived for four hundred years, but it served to boost his own confidence, creating a necessary illusion of being the one in the dominant position.」
「"Echidna, even if you say I barged into your tomb, I refuse to believe someone like you would patiently converse with someone for so long and offer such favorable terms for no reason."」
「"I might know what you want, or I might not... but I know that you must be coveting me, or something related to me—something that, presumably, cannot be taken by brute force."」
「He paused. The Echidna before him remained silent. "You aren't denying it. It seems my assumption was correct."」
「"Since that's the case, as long as I remain in the Sanctuary, I believe we will have another chance to meet—if a day comes when I confirm that Rem cannot be saved through any other channel, I will return here."」
「Having revealed the full logic behind his daring refusal in one breath, Hikigaya Hachiman felt a slight pounding in his heart... but when he saw Echidna unreservedly applauding him, the cold sweat on his back finally stopped pooling.」
「Echidna offered no meaningless denial; her behavior had indeed leaked too much information. This man's vigilance and meticulousness were truly exceptional. She simply smiled, striking a pose: "Regardless, saying 'someone like you' to a beautiful girl is a bit too much, don't you think?"」
「"If someone who has lived for four hundred years can still be called a beautif—"」
「The rest of the words were swallowed back down as Echidna's gaze suddenly sharpened with a flash.」
「In the next second, Hikigaya Hachiman's heart throbbed violently, sweat broke out on his forehead, and his entire body felt a jolt of pain.」
「"Ha... it seems my lack of trust in you was indeed the right call."」
「"Saying such things? My tea is harmless to you, you know. Mhm, you have a massive prejudice against me. That won't do; I actually quite like you~ If you hate me too much or resist me too much, I'll be quite troubled~"」
「Falsehood. A fake. To Hikigaya Hachiman, the only things that felt substantial about Echidna from their interaction thus far were her curiosity and her reaction to being called old.」
「As for her displays of grievance, praise, or pity, they were like the moon reflected in water—appearing to exist, yet Hachiman felt absolutely nothing from them.」
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However, that was the Hikigaya Hachiman who was obsessed with the "Genuine Thing"—the Hachiman who had experienced many genuine things through Komachi, Yukinoshita, Emilia, Rem, Reinhard, and Julius.
There are many clever people, but only he, with his obsession for the "Genuine," could detect the abnormality in Echidna's "fake" nature.
For the vast majority—so many that it practically included everyone else—it was difficult to understand why Hikigaya Hachiman harbored such immense hostility and severe vigilance toward Echidna.
"This is strange. Isn't taking a shortcut comfortable? Hikigaya-kun is currently exhausted in body and soul, surrounded by mysteries, and he's not the type of person to hate a shortcut. Why is he rejecting Echidna so much?"
Uesugi Fuutarou scratched his head. He wasn't criticizing Hachiman; after all, previous events had proven Hachiman's brilliance. He simply found it genuinely hard to understand. "Why go through the trouble?"
"Could it be that because Rem died, his mental state is still somewhat unstable?"
Nakano Ichika suggested a possibility, and the others immediately nodded. "That's very likely!"
The Shirogane household, the Izumi household, the Kousaka household, Musashino Animation, the apple stall owner, the members of the Knights, and the villagers of the territory... countless people who had previously supported Hikigaya Hachiman were now confused, even feeling that he had made a mistake this time.
"Couldn't he have just asked first? It's not like anything would happen. This great beauty Echidna practically threw herself at him and was nice to him from start to finish. What on earth is he afraid of?"
Shinomiya Kaguya frowned, and Hayasaka Ai beside her agreed with her view.
"While the title of Witch of Greed is terrifying, and it felt uncomfortable to see her at first, if you look closely, Echidna is actually being quite good to Hikigaya. There's no sign of her wanting to harm him."
"To discard the method to save Rem over a few groundless suspicions... Hikigaya Hachiman, what do you take Ram's sister for? Do you truly love Rem? Damn it!"
In the courtyard of the Roswaal Mansion, Ram was fuming with rage. If Rem hadn't been anxiously soothing her, Ram would likely have crippled the man's limbs the moment she saw him in the future.
"Rem believes in Hachiman! I can feel his desire to save Rem... He must have his own considerations, Sister."
Ram's anger was hard to quell, yet Rem was the one person she could never lose her temper with. Finally, she sighed, temporarily ceasing her complaints against Hachiman, though she muttered: "It's precisely because you're too good to him that this guy acts so recklessly! He's put your life on the back burner!"
Even with a "God's eye view," and even knowing Hikigaya Hachiman's sacrifices, one doesn't necessarily understand his thoughts and intentions. Every person is different.
Yet, in this situation, to still be able to support Hikigaya Hachiman... that is the "Genuine Thing" he craves!
The Man Who Abandoned the Witch of Greed
"Hmph... that big dummy, being so disrespectful to Mother, honestly, what a big fool!" The tiny Beatrice was pacing around in a frantic circle.
"As if Mother would ever do anything to harm him! Mother is such a wonderful person, and since Mother already said all that, he should have just obediently asked his questions! Why overthink it? This big dummy—doesn't he know how to lighten his own burden a little?"
Beatrice was dissatisfied. But she didn't doubt Hikigaya Hachiman; she was indignant—indignant that this big idiot didn't know how to take a shortcut, didn't know how to unload so much trouble from his shoulders, and didn't know how to make things easier for himself.
However, more than this dissatisfaction, at this very moment, Beatrice's body and soul were more alive than they had been in four hundred years.
"He was granted an audience by Mother... Mother is very interested in him... He has something Mother is curious about, something she needs... Th-this guy..." Beatrice could feel her blood boiling.
"You... you must be 'That Person'... right! You are the one who will come to take Beatrice away!!"
Beatrice's heart, which had been silent for years and was on the brink of spiritual death— "If, if you are 'That Person,' then Beatrice... then Beatrice... it will all certainly have been worth it!"
What kind of person Hikigaya Hachiman was—by now, Beatrice knew all too well, and she liked him all too much!
In the Roswaal Mansion, Ram's anger and Beatrice's joy were rivaled only by Roswaal's jealousy.
"You—you—Hikigaya Hachiman, aaaaaaaaah!!!!" Because he was moved to tears by seeing his teacher's living soul, Roswaal felt an itch all over his body.
He was jealous! How jealous he was! Jealous that Hikigaya Hachiman could converse face-to-face with his teacher! Jealous that Hikigaya Hachiman was so highly regarded by his teacher! This jealousy surged even higher upon seeing Hikigaya Hachiman fail to appreciate the blessing he was in.
"..." On the streets of the Royal Capital, Puck wasn't nearly as excited as Beatrice or Roswaal upon seeing its creator. The person who could excite it the most right now was its own daughter, its dear Lia. In order to make his daughter more attentive to matters of love, it voiced another reason it had discovered for Hikigaya Hachiman refusing to question Echidna.
"Lia... that kid abandoned the possibility of saving Rem for your sake." Emilia looked completely bewildered. "Eh?"
"Given his feelings for that little maid Rem, if there were a way, he would probably cast everything else aside immediately and run off with single-minded devotion to resurrect her."
Puck wasn't talking nonsense; it was serious: "But, he knows you need him very, very much right now... In order to not let you down, he chose to keep himself in ignorance regarding the way to revive Rem. Only this way can he focus wholeheartedly on helping you first."
This reason certainly existed, but it was hard to say how much it weighed... Puck, however, would never confess that part to his daughter.
"Ugh...?!" Emilia whimpered, falling into a state of extreme distress. But the strongest emotion she felt wasn't gratitude toward Hikigaya Hachiman; instead, she hung her small head, overcome with shame: "Because of me, Rem..."
"?" Puck was dumbfounded. He suddenly realized... this rhetoric of his, while certainly increasing his daughter's affection for Hikigaya Hachiman, was actually a double-edged sword!
"Ahhh... I'm such an idiot! Lia! Lia! I lied to you! I lied to you!"
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「Echidna's slender, pale fingers gently caressed Hikigaya Hachiman's chest. She lightly licked her lips, appearing particularly satisfied with this man. "So, you've made a promise to meet me again?"」
「"...It could be called that."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman didn't feel the slightest bit of romance or ambiguity; he wanted nothing to do with this. Unfortunately, a Witch of Greed or whatever was too strong. He didn't plan to dodge her; his previous words were a necessary showdown, but now... it would be troublesome if his dodging caused Echidna to refuse to let him leave.」
「Echidna, a great beauty by any standard, leaned close to Hikigaya Hachiman, her words meaningful: "Perhaps you can come one more time. However, the qualification for the Trials—I'll give that to you first this time."」
「"Trials?"」
「"You'll find out when the time comes," Echidna said finally. "However, you can't go around talking about what happened here, so..."」
「When she finished bestowing the so-called qualification for the Trials and opened the passage to leave, Hikigaya Hachiman, having separated from her quickly, suppressed his revulsion and left immediately without looking back.」
「Even though she was a great beauty in every aspect... it didn't hinder his heart-deep revulsion toward Echidna.」
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In reality, in the Sanctuary, the Echidna in the tomb and the other Witches were watching the light screen together.
"Mhm, so the first meeting goes like this.
However, while I'm still concerned about him, I'm now more curious about what this light screen playing the future actually is, whose ability it is, where it came from, what its essence is, and what its purpose is—ahhh, curious curious curious curious!! Very curious!!"
Roswaal, unaware of how happy and excited his teacher currently was, was now wide-eyed with rage, banging his head against the ground.
"Why why why, Teacher! Teacher! Hikigaya Hachiman, you can't leave! You can't leave!!"
She was gone... The future was broadcast from Hikigaya Hachiman's perspective, and he couldn't see his Teacher anymore! He was devastated! But the broadcast of the future would not shift its perspective just because of one man's grief.
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「"I... why am I here?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman, his soul having returned to his body, was momentarily dazed. Then he answered his own question: "Right, I'm... Emilia! Emilia!"」
「He ran straight through the building's passage and finally saw the sunlight, leaping out from the interior of the stone structure.」
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"Memory loss?" Ayanokouji Kiyotaka raised an eyebrow.
"Heh, [The Witch of Greed, Echidna]..."
"Ga—" Shirogane Miyuki and Shirogane Kei looked at each other. The two of them had just been saying Echidna seemed like a decent person, and then this memory erasure immediately slapped them in the face.
Crusch let out a cold laugh.
Living in this world, she had harbored total vigilance toward Echidna from the very start, just like Hikigaya Hachiman.
"A Witch is indeed a Witch! Mhm, as expected of Sir Hachiman, he didn't step into her trap. Splendid!"
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「Under the sunlight were Otto, the ground dragon, and a blonde man with shark-like teeth, his muscles brimming with power.」
「"Heh... quite a bold entrance you made."」
「"Garfiel Tinsel!"」
Garfiel's Fist Will Not Land on Him
「"Garfiel Tinsel!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's voice caused the powerful fist, which was about to strike his cheek, to stop right before his eyes. The wind from the punch ruffled his hair; from the sheer force of it, one could see Garfiel's volatile temper.」
「Garfiel, who revealed shark-like teeth when he grinned and radiated energy, looked at him suspiciously. "Hoh, you've heard of my name and still dare to walk in here so boldly? Do you want to taste the might of this great me, the Shield of the Sanctuary?"」
「Before conflict could break out and without time for lengthy explanations, Hikigaya Hachiman spoke rapidly. He was certain that this sentence would stop Garfiel's hand: "Frederica—I know her."」
「"Tch..."」
「Hearing that name, Garfiel spat with a face full of displeasure, but he retracted his fist.」
「"Watch out for Garfiel." That was the solemn warning Frederica had given before they departed; she had said only that one sentence.」
「Had Hikigaya Hachiman not reached his limit with "riddlers" and threatened Frederica in order to obtain intelligence to protect Emilia, she might not have confessed that she and Garfiel were siblings.」
「"My name is Hikigaya Hachiman, the Chief Knight of the Lugunica Royal Candidate, Emilia."」
「Having temporarily neutralized Garfiel's impulse to strike, Hikigaya Hachiman finally had the chance to state his name and status. When he saw that Garfiel still showed him no respect, his brow couldn't help but furrow.」
「Although it was expected, seeing tangible proof that the people in the Sanctuary followed Roswaal and held not a shred of respect for Emilia was still a bitter pill to swallow.」
「The casual Garfiel grinned; there wasn't a hint of reverence for Emilia on him, yet a visible mix of joy and annoyance flickered through his expression. "Emilia... Hoh, that princess?"」
「"Mr. Hachiman!"」
「A trembling Otto, who thought he was about to die, drove the dragon carriage over. Seeing Hikigaya Hachiman resolve the situation with that hot-tempered blonde man in just a few words, he let out a sigh of relief.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman, having no time to comfort him, leaped into the carriage. Inside, the collapsed Emilia had suffered no injuries and was slowly waking up.」
「Emilia felt a bit dizzy. She rubbed her eyes, feeling as though she had just woken from a nap, and looked up to see her first knight. "Mgh... Hachiman?"」
「"Yeah, I'm here. I'm here, Emilia!" Hikigaya Hachiman did not treat Emilia the same way he had caressed Rem back then; he stopped at supporting the girl's shoulders, but his concern was no less profound. "Are you okay? Did you suffer any mental trauma? Any hidden physical injuries?"」
「Terrified that something might go wrong with Emilia as it had with Rem, Hikigaya Hachiman looked as if he wanted to give her a full medical check-up immediately. This sentiment, combined with his anxious tone, turned into a warm current that filled the silver-haired girl's heart.」
「Emilia blinked, then raised a brilliant smile. "Mhm, I'm fine. It's okay!"」
「"Hey! Stop dawdling! Since you're the ones Roswaal is waiting for, get moving! I'm in no mood to spend the night out here with you!"」
「The tender scene was shattered by a loud, boisterous shout from the obnoxious Garfiel from outside.」
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"That stupid little brother!"
Frederica ground her shark-like teeth. Once Lady Emilia arrives to liberate the Sanctuary and she reunites with her idiot brother after so long, she is definitely going to give him a beating!
As for the possibility of failing to liberate the Sanctuary—that simply didn't exist in her mind. That was the Hikigaya Hachiman! With him there, Lady Emilia could surely do it!
"And it was such a rare moment of tenderness between Lord Hachiman and Lady Emilia!"
"Wait, am I an idiot?!"
In the Sanctuary, Garfiel was dumbfounded. He didn't care at all which woman Hikigaya Hachiman married, as long as it wasn't Ram, but—
"This guy, isn't he super cool?!"
Courage that defies death—is there a man cooler than that? Compared to the future Garfiel meeting Hachiman for the first time, the current Garfiel absolutely adored this incredibly cool man!
"Using that kind of attitude against a man I, Garfiel, like... Future Garfiel, you idiot, what are you doing? Trying to pick a fight? Dammit!—Gah, ow!"
Granny Ryuzu slapped the Garfiel who was like a grandson to her. "Garf, you dummy, it's wrong to disturb a couple in harmony!"
"I get it, Granny," Garfiel said, patting his chest confidently and dashingly. "Don't worry, a man like that... even my future self will definitely come to like him in no time!"
"I wouldn't be so sure about that," Granny Ryuzu sighed worriedly.
If he were merely Hikigaya Hachiman, he might easily win Garfiel over with his personal charm. However, he was the stranger carrying the Witch's scent.
Julius nodded slightly. "A demi-human village? I didn't expect Margrave Roswaal to hide such a secret base. This Garfiel has quite an impressive presence."
Anastasia let out a small "Eh?" "What, aren't you filled with righteous indignation that your close friend Hachiman is being treated like this by Garfiel?"
"You joke, Lady Anastasia. Since Garfiel has yet to swear fealty to a monarch, he will inevitably be won over by my close friend. That being the case, Hachiman-kun himself likely won't mind this bit of minor disrespect."
"—"
Julius's answer only added more gloom to Anastasia's already worried face.
"The worry! The worry! At this rate, Hikigaya Hachiman is going to single-handedly build the entire Emilia faction! This is bad news!"
Most importantly, her own silly knight Julius had already been "corrupted" by that guy! Dammit!
"If this keeps up, I'm going to give up on thinking altogether!"
As for the Witch of Greed, although she seemed decent to Hikigaya Hachiman, the world remained too paralyzed by four hundred years of fear to feel anything but avoidance toward her.
What the Witch of Greed, Echidna, was actually plotting and what kind of person she was would surely be revealed later by the peerless Hikigaya Hachiman. Until then, the most important thing was to watch the clash between this man and Roswaal and see if he would suffer any more serious harm.
"If Roswaal dares to lay a hand on senpai, I'll make a Roswaal straw doll and poke it with needles every day until he's dead!" Shirogane Kei declared grandly!
Dirty Hikigaya, Deceiving a 14-Year-Old Boy
「Preparing for the worst, utilizing the peak of his intellect, he had imagined various scenarios.」
「However, the meeting with Roswaal still exceeded Hikigaya Hachiman's expectations.」
「"Ros... waal?"」
「Lying on the bed, wrapped in bandages and appearing heavily injured, was the man without his clown makeup. His wretched state slightly delayed Hikigaya Hachiman's urge to drive a sword into his face.」
「"This pathetic appearance of yours actually fits the fate of a deserter quite well."」
「"A mere guest living off our charity, even if you've become Lady Emilia's knight, don't think for a second that Ram will allow you to speak insolently to Lord Roswaal!"」
「Before Roswaal could respond to Hikigaya Hachiman's bridge-burning sarcasm, Ram, standing to the side, reacted as if her "reverse scale" had been touched. She glared fiercely at Hikigaya Hachiman, looking ready to strike at any moment.」
「"Eh? Ehhh—Th-that, even Ram mustn't hit Hachiman! Everyone needs to get along!"」
「Emilia lacked the resolve to be Ram's enemy, yet she still shielded Hikigaya Hachiman immediately. Her magic simmered as she stayed wary of Ram, while simultaneously tugging at the hem of Hachiman's clothes.」
「"Roswaal must have had some difficulty not participating in the Witch Cult subjugation battle. Hachiman, don't be so angry with Roswaal; let's all get along."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman fell silent for a moment and nodded slightly. The moment his head lowered, his heart felt incredibly bitter.」
「 'As expected, she doesn't remember.'
Even as sisters with a sympathetic bond, Ram had utterly forgotten Rem... Before going to the capital, Rem had very explicitly shown her affection for him. If Ram still remembered Rem, no matter how much she respected Roswaal, she would never raise a hand against the person her sister loved.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman glanced at Ram.」
「He would have an undisguised, secret-digging conversation with Roswaal, but that required a separate opportunity. With Ram present, it was entirely predictable what would happen.」
「"I'll temporarily hold off on holding you accountable for evading the war against the Witch Cult."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman asked the question he cared about most: "Why are the villagers being detained in the Sanctuary? If you won't even answer this, there's nothing left to talk about."」
「Roswaal smiled broadly, washing his hands of the matter: "O—h my, you're misjudging me. It wasn't me who detained the villagers, but the demi-human residents of the Sanctuary."」
「"The reason?"」
「"This Sanctuary... though called a sanctuary, is essentially the tomb of the Witch of Greed, Echidna, managed by the Mathers family for generations."」
「Roswaal explained leisurely, "Mixed-blood demi-humans who enter through formal channels receive protection here. However, by the same token, once they enter, they cannot leave; they are imprisoned here for generations."」
「He looked smilingly at the contemplative Emilia: "I'm sure Lady Emilia can feel it too—that sensation."」
「"Eh? It seems... that is indeed... how it feels..."」
「Receiving Emilia's confirmation, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't flare up easily. He didn't believe Roswaal would do something as stupid as just this; there had to be more.」
「"However, there is a Trial in the Sanctuary. If Lady Emilia can pass that Trial, the barrier of the Sanctuary will be dispelled."」
「Having finished his explanation, Roswaal looked perfectly nonchalant, as if he were without a single fault, serving Emilia with a single heart.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman, however, would not indulge him and directly filled in the logical gaps: "The demi-humans want to break the barrier, so they detained the villagers to lure Emilia here. Frederica is your maid; you supported the demi-humans' methods and helped them trick Emilia and me into coming here."」
「"I feel so—wronged~" Roswaal waved his hand at Ram, signaling her not to act. "If possible, I didn't want to involve Lady Emilia. These injuries of mine were caused by attempting to take the Trial."」
「"You're sending Emilia to a Trial you couldn't pass?" As the Kingdom's top magician, Roswaal's power was something the current Emilia couldn't hope to match.」
「"I wasn't injured inside the Trial, but because I attempted it without possessing the qualification."」
「Roswaal shook his head gently: "The Trial requires qualification."」
「"And only Emilia has this qualification?"」
「"There are some residents in the Sanctuary who possess it, but their participation cannot dispel the barrier. This is a feat that only Lady Emilia can accomplish~"」
「Through this exchange, the inquisitive Hikigaya Hachiman learned all currently known information about the Sanctuary and the Trials.」
「"Hey, you've been mumbling for so long, when are we going to do the Trial?"」
「Garfiel, who had been eavesdropping outside for a long time, seemed just like Roswaal—certain that since they were also locked here, Emilia would be forced to accept the Trial.」
「"Garfiel, if you maintain this attitude, then Emilia will not participate in the Trial."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman suppressed his urge to kill Roswaal. His face was calm and steady, showing no flaws. He turned around and spoke words that shook the room.」
「Emilia was shocked... but since the person making the decision for her was Hikigaya Hachiman, she stayed quiet and obedient, standing shoulder-to-shoulder with her Chief Knight to show her absolute support, offering no contradiction.」
「Garfiel's face darkened instantly. "What did you say? Hey, do you want to die? Or is this princess actually a coward?"」
「"You have no gratitude, Garfiel—you, and the other residents of the Sanctuary. Do you all feel that Emilia performing the Trial is a matter of course because her own freedom and that of the villagers is at stake?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was completely unfazed by Garfiel's menacing expression. With Emilia protecting him, a mere Garfiel couldn't easily kill him.」
「He looked Garfiel straight in the eye.」
「"You should have heard from the villagers that the Witch Cult is targeting Emilia. In that case, staying in the Sanctuary is actually a good choice—at least it's safe."」
「"Emilia and I—we don't have an obsession that says we must leave."」
「Garfiel clenched his fists. "Wha... no, what about the Royal Selection? Doesn't this princess still need to participate in the Selection!"」
「"Compared to safety of life, such things are not important at all!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman... had lied without a moment's hesitation!!」
Subduing Garfield
「Emilia had once said that she had reasons why she had to participate in the Royal Selection and why she had to win it, but Garfiel, hiding away in the Sanctuary, could not possibly know this.」
「Roswaal, watching the scene unfold, vaguely understood something, but he did not speak up to remind the bewildered Garfiel; a discrepancy of this magnitude was completely negligible.」
「"You bastard, are you planning to give up on the Royal Selection along with the Princess and just crawl through life here forever?!"」
「Garfiel's reaction was not quite as... desperate as if he had lost his final lifeline, unlike what Hikigaya Hachiman had imagined. Although he still wanted to force Emilia to undergo the Trial, he seemed somewhat conflicted—as if there were a faint, underlying sense of compromise that it might be okay even if the barrier wasn't dispelled.」
「Noticing that Garfiel was not firm enough, Hikigaya Hachiman chose not to voice the remaining two of the 'three major reasons why it was unnecessary for Emilia to perform the Trial' he had planned to elaborate on, and skipped directly to the final step.」
「"Whether we do that or not doesn't depend on me or Emilia; it depends on you, Garfiel—you, and the other residents of this Sanctuary."」
「Negotiating while hiding behind Emilia's back was the safest approach.」
「However, a mere two encounters were enough for Hikigaya Hachiman to see through the general personality of a man like Garfiel. Compared to a weakling hiding behind a woman, a brave man who stands tall, fears no threats, and dares to confront him—that is the only kind of person qualified to enter his sight and speak with him as an equal.」
「Step by step, Hikigaya Hachiman walked right up to the grinning, fist-swinging Garfiel and stared him straight in the eye.」
「"Stop it!"」
「"I'll say it plainly, Garfiel."」
「"Ha? What for? This great me is all ears!"」
「Every word and every sound from Hikigaya Hachiman was powerful and resonant: "Emilia can participate in the Trial, but not for the villagers, and not for herself—but for you."」
「"You..."」
「The moment Garfiel started to speak, Hikigaya Hachiman unreasonably interrupted him: "Are you a man, Garfiel?"」
「"What did you say?! You want to die? I'll grant your wish—"」
「Garfiel's fury hit its peak. He immediately grabbed Hikigaya Hachiman's clothes, his other hand ready to swing a punch down. Emilia had already summoned her ice brand; at the same time, Hikigaya Hachiman didn't indulge Garfiel at all and directly grabbed his clothes back.」
「"I don't know if you want the barrier dispelled or not, but since the villagers are being detained, it proves most people in the Sanctuary want it gone—that being the case!"」
「"Garfiel, tell me, is Emilia helping you or not! Is she doing this for you or not!"」
「"If you are a man, you shouldn't deny or avoid the truth! Now, answer me, are you a man? Garfiel Tinsel! Shield of the Sanctuary!!"」
「Whoosh—」
「As if it were a repeat of their first meeting, Garfiel's fist stopped in front of Hikigaya Hachiman, the wind from the punch ruffling his hair. Only a few hours had actually passed since the last time this scene occurred.」
「The ice brands, emitting a chilling frost and filling the air, also stopped right after they had surrounded Garfiel.」
「"This great me..."」
「"Answer me!"」
「"Phew... is that even... necessary to say—this great me is, of course, the most manly man in the whole world!"」
「Garfiel stared irritably at the man in front of him. Whether it was the man's stance, the callouses on his hands, or the sword at his waist, it was enough to show that he was a man who had undergone at least some training and possessed some combat capability.」
「But the gap in strength between the two was obvious, and this man should be well aware of it. Perhaps the Princess could fight him later, but this man would be killed by him long before then.」
「"Hikigaya... Hachiman, was it? Hmph, this great me will remember you."」
「"My name is not worth mentioning; I'm just a guy who doesn't matter—originally, that's how it was." However, it was different when he was not just Hikigaya Hachiman. Hikigaya Hachiman uprightly reaffirmed: "Emilia's Chief Knight, Hikigaya Hachiman. Please remember it well."」
「Garfiel laughed disdainfully. "Hmph, talking nonsense. This great me doesn't care about some princess or knight."」
「He then let go of Hikigaya Hachiman and said arrogantly: "All this beating around the bush—don't you just want us to thank the Princess? Once the Princess dispels the barrier, naturally, everyone will do at least that much."」
「"No, the thanks don't matter. If the gratitude isn't from the heart, it's better left unsaid."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman glanced at Roswaal. Right there in front of Roswaal, without any disguise, he pointed at Roswaal and then pointed at Emilia.」
「"The one dispelling the barrier is Emilia. The one helping you is Emilia. It is only Emilia. Don't misunderstand, don't get confused—it is only Emilia. There is no credit to Roswaal whatsoever."」
「"When you leave the Sanctuary, the person you will swear fealty to, the person whose banner you will join, and the person who will give you money to arrange your lives is no one else—it is Emilia, and only Emilia!"」
「Ram's face was grim, her hostility overflowing. Had Roswaal not withheld his order, she likely would have rushed forward to strangle Hikigaya Hachiman long ago.」
「"This great me..."」
「Having just agreed that he was a grateful man, Garfiel opened his mouth, finding it hard to say anything, yet finding it equally difficult to just agree like that.」
「"However, it's a bit too early to talk about these things now. Let's wait until Emilia completes the Trial before discussing specific details."」
「At that moment, as if he truly believed it, Hikigaya Hachiman provided a way out. Garfiel's indecisive mindset, which was gradually leaning toward rejection, instantly flipped. He nodded vigorously—Right, right, right, we'll talk later, talk later.」
「"Focus on your recovery, Roswaal," Hikigaya Hachiman spoke calmly to Roswaal, appearing so amiable that it didn't look like a struggle for power. Similarly, the smiling Roswaal did not oppose him here.」
.
.
.
"Did you see that? Ferris, Sir Hachiman has succeeded again!" Seeing Hikigaya Hachiman gain the upper hand in the struggle, Crusch, unable to restrain her emotions, was far happier than the man himself.
"I saw it, nya. But this is just preliminary progress, nya." Ferris could tell that Garfiel had indeed given Hikigaya Hachiman some initial recognition, but this level of recognition was quite shallow.
"In the end, we still don't know what kind of scheme Roswaal is plotting, nya."
Am I... Ugly?
In the KTV, Miura Yumiko was completely bewildered. She muttered to herself, "I can see that Hikigaya is smart, but is his charm really that great? That shark-toothed Garfiel is clearly quite defiant, isn't he?"
She glanced at her crush beside her, who was focusing intently on Hikigaya Hachiman, and let out a soft huff. If it were her Hayato, he would definitely be just as amazing; Hayato's charm is surely much greater than a mere Hikigaya Hachiman's!
Hayama Hayato, unaware that he had been praised to the heavens in Miura Yumiko's eyes, clapped in admiration. He didn't feel for a second that he could compare to Hikigaya Hachiman.
Forget about the "full-power mode" Hikigaya Hachiman after crossing to another world—who had experienced life-and-death crises and thus acted without hesitation or restraint. Even before Hachiman crossed over, back at Sobu High, the text message incident and the confession incident had long since proven it.
Even the introverted, talent-hiding version of Hikigaya Hachiman was not someone he, Hayama Hayato, could touch!
"Garfiel is indeed defiant, but that kind of person respects a defiant man most of all.
For Emilia's sake, he dared to risk being killed to straightforwardly demand benefits—and it was a reasoned demand, not a greedy one. This calculated response from Hikigaya... it's only natural that it would gain Garfiel's favor.
After all, he is Hikigaya Hachiman!
A man's charm can only be most deeply appreciated by another man. Women, in the end, are slightly lacking in that regard."
As he spoke, Hayama Hayato's eyes shone brilliantly. He wanted to continue watching the charming Hikigaya Hachiman without distraction.
As for Miura Yumiko?
Women are too much of a distraction; I am a man who wants to witness the life of Hikigaya-kun!
-
-
-
「When Garfiel led Hikigaya Hachiman and Emilia to the place where the villagers were being held:」
「Those villagers, who were originally anxious and listless, immediately had light spark in their eyes. Cries of "Lord Hachiman!" and "Lady Emilia!" filled with genuine respect rose one after another, and the area instantly became lively.」
「They even ignored Garfiel, despite having previously shown a fair amount of repulsion and fear toward him.」
「All these behaviors combined proved only one thing. Upon seeing Hikigaya Hachiman and Emilia here, the villagers no longer believed that Garfiel could or would harm them.」
「"Hey, hey, are you kidding me? This requires more than just charm—it requires actual achievements! Even I, the Shield of the Sanctuary, don't get this kind of treatment in the Sanctuary. Just how much blind faith do they have in this guy? It's infuriating. Do they think this man is stronger than me!"」
「Gritting his shark-like teeth, Garfiel suppressed his anger while also feeling a hint of curiosity.」
「On the other side, Hikigaya Hachiman carefully and sincerely asked the villagers how they were faring. Upon learning that the demi-humans hadn't actually discriminated against them and that they were doing okay, the faint, sword-drawn tension he held toward Garfiel finally receded.」
「He then announced that Emilia would soon undergo the Trial to dispel the barrier, and that everyone would leave together with the demi-humans of this place.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman didn't state the raw facts. Instead, he quietly reframed the demi-human threat as 'being on the same side, cooperating for a win-win, with Emilia taking the lead,' intending to prevent the villagers from being hostile toward the demi-human residents.」
「Between his words, he gave the village chief a particularly strong hint: 'Since the residents here aren't hostile toward you, spend these few days getting along with them, make friends, and talk up Emilia in front of them. Understand?'」
「The village chief nodded frantically: 'Understood, understood. I understand all too well. An old man like me is quite skilled at this; leave it to me, you can rest easy!'」
「With an exchange of glances, a "dirty" scheme was completed. Emilia, like a puppet queen, stood to the side blinking. She understood none of it, yet she didn't interrupt at all.」
「"Everyone is looking forward to your leadership. Say something, Emilia?"」
「While she was still dazed, she was given a gentle push by Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「"Eh? Ehhh—mgh!"」
「Emilia's eyelashes fluttered. She looked at the villagers cautiously... every single one of them, regardless of gender or age, pricked up their ears with excitement, respectfully awaiting her declaration.」
「On the faces of these people, there was not a trace of the distance she had seen over the past few years. Not a bit of impatience, no one who refused to look at her, no one who thought she was some terrifying monster.」
「Silver hair, long ears, amethyst-colored pupils.」
「Her appearance, so similar to the Witch, had long since devastated her perception of her own looks over the past years. Practically everyone who saw her would keep their distance, be wary, be fearful, or hurl insults.」
「'Am I ugly? Am I terrifying? Am I loathsome?'」
「Countless times... Emilia had asked herself this question countless times.」
「She actually knew the answer... If she weren't ugly, terrifying, or loathsome, how could she have caused so many people to distance themselves?」
「'Lia is very beautiful! Super cute! My daughter is naturally the most beautiful in the world!'」
「Puck had praised her before, but she had never dared to believe it.」
「But now... there were so many, so many people who didn't think she looked scary, or ugly, or loathsome... Was this an illusion?」
「"—"」
「Knowing he had to yield the stage to Emilia and let everyone's gaze focus on her, the "meritorious advisor" Hikigaya Hachiman felt he should step back for a moment. If he and Emilia stood together, the villagers would likely prefer to look at him.」
「However, he couldn't do it.」
「His hand was caught... caught by Emilia.」
「"Hey, Hachiman..."」
「This timid girl summoned her courage and softly... for the first time to someone other than Puck, asked the question that had been wandering in her heart for years.」
「"Do I... look ugly? Do I look terrifying? Am I loathsome?"」
「This timid girl has smooth, eye-catching long silver hair; she has magnificent, enchanting amethyst pupils; she has a perfect, striking figure; she has fair, delicate, snow-white skin; she has a beautiful voice like nature itself that captivates people; she has a gentle and kind heart; she has... the Genuine Thing.」
「Everything about her, every part of her, her entire being fascinated Hikigaya Hachiman so much that he inevitably left a trace of this girl named Emilia in his heart.」
「"Emilia."」
「"Mhm..."」
「Emilia trembled timidly, filled with unease. At the critical moment, she was about to lower her head.」
You are the Most Beautiful, Emilia!
「The girl named Emilia—what kind of self-perception did she truly have?」
「Witch, witch, witch... get away, die, eyesore, panic, repulsion. Based on Hikigaya Hachiman's investigation—no, rather based on everything his eyes had witnessed since meeting her—he had personally seen the treatment this girl endured.」
「Perhaps Puck would constantly, tirelessly, and repeatedly praise and compliment her. However, how could the efforts of one person ever compete with the unified force of thousands of others?」
「If someone, from childhood to adulthood, found that every person they met thought their face was abominable, would they ever believe their own appearance was worthy of praise?」
「Hikigaya Hachiman had never considered this point... because all this time, Emilia had been stubborn and persistent in facing the world with her true appearance. After meeting him, she had even stopped using Roswaal's magical cloak. Emilia was so beautiful; how could she be insecure?」
「But perhaps... the reason she faced the world with her true face was because she was always, always... secretly hoping. Hoping that someone would praise her, that someone would affirm her, that someone would tell her Puck was right—that she was a good girl, that she was beautiful, and that she didn't need to feel inferior or shrink away. That she could stand under the sun with her head held high, enjoying genuine wonder.」
「...There was no one.」
「No one.」
「It had been two months since he met Emilia... yet he had never heard a single voice of praise directed at her, nor had he ever heard her praise herself.」
「A chill ran down his spine. His hands and feet turning cold, Hikigaya Hachiman stared blankly at the girl before him. His head buzzed, and he suddenly froze.」
「"I... no! I didn't ask anything! That... please, I beg you!"」
「As her face grew pale during those few silent seconds, Emilia was suddenly struck by panic and unease... She had asked for too much. Hachiman had already sworn an oath to her, promising to be her Chief Knight forever and never leave her... yet she had suddenly become so greedy as to ask such an embarrassing question.」
「"I really am..."」
「"Lift your head, Emilia."」
「"—Ugh?!"」
「The girl who dared not look up found her face cradled by the man's broad, strong palms, forcing her head upward.」
「Coming into view—with eyes flashing with conflict and shame, but absolutely devoid of even a trace of falsehood—was that same sincere face that always belonged to Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「"Emilia, you are..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath. He had no intention of belittling his beloved Rem, but he sincerely believed this.」
「"You are... the most beautiful, cutest, loveliest, most perfect, most exquisite and flawless girl I have seen among all the girls I've known since I can remember—your looks, your appearance..."」
「"...You are special, Emilia."」
「Emilia's stunned face, which had begun to regain some color, froze instantly at those last words. She repeated them in a pained tone, looking as if she were about to cry: "I am... special?"」
「"You are special, Emilia! No one is prettier than you, no one is cuter than you, no one is more beautiful than you—not Priscilla, not Crusch, not Anastasia, not Yukinoshita, and not even Rem—you are special!!"」
「"So beautiful it moves the heart, so beautiful one doesn't want to look away. Silver hair, long ears, amethyst pupils—every part of you is beautiful beyond compare!!!"」
「"Me...?"」
「The intensity of the praise was even greater than Puck's. Emilia was completely stunned; she sat there dazed, without a shred of a sense of reality.」
「"Do I... look good...?"」
「Her inferiority complex was rooted deep.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head gently. He turned his head toward the villagers, who wore expressions as satisfied as children who had just been given candy. "My words alone don't count! However—"」
「"Clang!"」
「The village chief, an old woman, gave a dry chuckle. Her staff struck the ground with a crisp sound.」
「"This old woman right here—if I were fifty years younger, I would definitely be jealous of Lady Emilia!"」
「"Eh? Why?" Emilia subconsciously tilted her head, unable to understand.」
「"If I had even half of Lady Emilia's beauty when I was young, I imagine every young talent in the Kingdom of Lugunica would have swarmed me, frantically proposing marriage, wouldn't they?"」
「"But I—"」
「"Does Lady Emilia feel that Lord Hachiman cannot represent the young talents of this kingdom? Or do you not acknowledge Lord Hachiman?"」
「"How could I—"」
「"Or is it that Lady Emilia believes we, who once openly showed our hostility toward you, would now lie or flatter you out of concern for your status?"」
「As soon as the village chief finished speaking, a little girl among the villagers skipped forward and raised her hand, shouting with total sincerity: "Me! Me! I want to be as pretty as Big Sister Emilia when I grow up!"」
「"Lady Emilia... it may be too late to apologize now."」
「In unison, every villager except for the children bowed deeply. Including the elderly village chief, the adults all offered their heartfelt repentance.」
「"But there is one thing this old woman must say. Lord Hachiman's evaluation of you, and our yearning for you at this moment—these are absolutely without a hint of exaggeration... Treatly you that way in the past caused you to misjudge yourself. All of Arlam Village offers its deepest repentance!!"」
「"Even if you say that..."」
「Emilia's mouth hung open slightly in shock. She felt dizzy, as if she were floating on a cloud. So long as it was something Hachiman said or did, she would never doubt it; she trusted him absolutely... but the answer she received exceeded her wildest fantasies by far. Far, far too much.」
「"...Am I dreaming?"」
「The timid girl, Emilia, murmured.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman said nothing. He lifted his own hand—the hand that had been held by this girl just now, and which she still hadn't released.」
「Emilia's slender hand actually felt Hikigaya Hachiman's body temperature, that sense of security.」
「"I..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman paused for a moment. "I, the man Rem loves, the Chief Knight of Emilia, Hikigaya Hachiman, swear upon my Genuine Thing."」
「He looked at the sobbing Emilia and spoke softly. His voice was quiet, but his tone was the most serious and earnest one Emilia had ever heard from him.」
「"You are beautiful, very beautiful, exceptionally beautiful—beautiful enough to make any girl feel ashamed of herself—Emilia."」
Only Half a Tree of Confidence
"He was so hesitant and shrinking with his confession to Rem, yet he's taking the initiative with Emilia? He clearly knows how to bewitch girls and please them perfectly well! But we didn't see him praise Rem like this at all, damn him!" Ram's mental ledger once again spitefully recorded a black mark against Hikigaya Hachiman.
"Sister." Rem helplessly patted her sister's back while defending the man she loved. "Hachiman isn't doing this to 'pleasure' Lady Emilia; he's doing it to help her build her confidence."
And... She had to admit, Lady Emilia truly was exceptionally beautiful. However... Rem would not admit defeat! Because he had said: 'I, the man Rem loves, the Chief Knight of Emilia, Hikigaya Hachiman, swear upon my Genuine Thing.' Rem's love was not a burden to Hachiman; it was something he felt was worth remembering and being proud of! Therefore, Rem would surely maintain these feelings forever!!
"Even if the opponent is Lady Emilia, Rem will not yield a single step!" As Rem's spirit surged, Crusch—on the other side—felt a complex shift in her heart and let out a long, heavy sigh.
"After our parting, the first time I'm finally mentioned by Sir Hachiman, it's as a name on a list of defeats from his own mouth?"
Ferris broke into a cold sweat. If this continued, his Lady Crusch would suffer a mental collapse from the shock, nya! He had to change the subject!
"Don't lose heart, Lady Crusch, nya! That—that that that—right, nya! That Yukinoshita Hachiman mentioned, isn't Lady Crusch curious about who she is? To be ranked alongside the four candidates like Lady Crusch, and even Rem—who must be the most important person in Hachiman's heart."
"That's right, who is Yukinoshita?" On the streets of the Royal Capital, Puck flicked his tail. Although he found it strange that he hadn't popped out to praise Lia at a time like this, that mysterious "Yukinoshita" was equally concerning.
"I can overlook Rem, that little maid with a commendable spirit, but if a third or fourth mistress suddenly pops up, I, Puck, might not be able to resist the urge to beat the boy up."
Who was Yukinoshita?
Normally, Emilia might have cared. But now, she stared blankly at the future, at her future self... and that disbelief, that astonishment, and that joy surging through her entire body—a feeling like the sun breaking through the clouds—shared the same emotions as her future self.
Emilia had already fallen completely and utterly into the trap named Hikigaya Hachiman; she had no room to think about anything else!
Inside the convenience store, Yukinoshita Yukino tilted her head. She was expressionless, almost bordering on "broken."
"The first time I was mentioned, he was kissing Rem's cheek; the second time, he was praising Emilia's looks; for the third time, is he going to be at a wedding scene with someone?"
Hikigaya Hachiman's arm was nearly bruised from her grip.
"Calm down! Calm down, Yukinoshita! Look on the bright side!"
He met Yukinoshita's gaze, thought for half a second, and asked tentatively: "At least... I used you as an example to prove Emilia is beautiful. Doesn't that fully show my recognition of your appearance?"
"—Hiss, ah, pain!"
Anastasia and Priscilla, meanwhile, had completely opposite reactions. Anastasia was like a resigned salted fish; she no longer cared about being a stepping stone for Emilia. "Anyway, Hikigaya Hachiman is just my nemesis. I've realized it, understood it, known it—he's my nightmare. That's just how it is!"
"Pull yourself together, Lady Anastasia?!"
As for Priscilla, her face was as blood-red as her vibrant dress, looking murderous: "To slander this mistress so presumptuously... your end has come, Hikigaya Hachiman, and that foolish half-elf too!"
-
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「It's not... a dream?」
「Emilia opened her eyes in astonishment, still unable to believe it. "My... ears, didn't they..."」
「"'Don't believe in yourself, believe in the me who believes in you'—Emilia, you're the one who told me that."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman remained unwavering, his words carrying a weight of promise and trust. Not just his own promise and trust, but that of the girl before him as well.」
「"Emilia, are you going to doubt that the 'me' you believe in would tell such a lie just to make you happy?"」
「"No, I—"」
「Flustered and at a loss, the girl—Emilia—realized what a grave mistake she had made.」
「"I'll say it as many times as it takes. You are beautiful, very, very beautiful. You're a feast for the eyes; just looking at you reduces fatigue and increases the motivation to move forward. That is the level of beauty you possess, Emilia!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman quickly praised her again. These heartfelt words immediately shifted Emilia's attention, causing her face to flush crimson.」
「This was the most undeniable truth. Thus, he could say it any number of times. However... even if it was the truth, with every praise he uttered, Hikigaya Hachiman apologized to Rem in the depths of his heart.」
「Despite having no intention of being unfaithful, doing this to build Emilia's confidence and help her become a qualified ruler could easily be mistaken for flirting.」
「"—"」
「Something felt as if a mirror had shattered.」
「A world without memories, of being hated and driven away, with only Puck for company—that was a world where a torrential rain fell night and day, supported only by the umbrella named Puck.」
「Roswaal, Frederica, Ram, and the others had slightly lessened the downpour.」
「Then came Hikigaya Hachiman, who disregarded her appearance, her status, and her race; who approached her proactively for a deal; who intended to be near her and did not discriminate. Those were the days when the heavy rain turned to a drizzle.」
「"I..."」
「Emilia opened her amethyst eyes.」
「The drenched world... stopped.」
「The pitter-patter of the rain.」
「She would never have to hear it again.」
「"So, please have some self-awareness, Emilia."」
「Ignoring the gentle tone, someone might mistake the content for a scolding.」
「"You aren't ugly at all, you aren't terrifying or loathsome at all. Your face is beautiful! Very beautiful! So beautiful it makes people envious and jealous!!"」
「"...I... look very beautiful…"」
「Emilia murmured softly, and then her voice grew louder and more firm: "I... look ve~ry beautiful!!"」
「As long as Puck and Hachiman truly thought so, then Emilia—this person—must, absolutely, truly look ve~ry beautiful!!!」