Crusch Route: My Monarch, Crusch
"Even if Lady Crusch explains it that way, Ferris-chan knows, you know? Taking up a place in Hachiman-chi's heart is probably just a consolation prize, isn't it? It's definitely not the reason for your actions."
Ferris puffed out his cheeks dejectedly, his cat ears and tail drooping listlessly.
Crusch, caught completely off guard by being seen through, blinked in surprise. Her bitter smile gradually transformed into a look of determination. She patted Ferris on the shoulder and comforted him in a soft, gentle voice: "Rest easy, it is but a single failure... If I fail, I shall fight again. I have that much confidence. Surely you have it too, Ferris?"
Undeterred, unafraid of hardship, fighting again after a defeat—this was one of the virtues that Sir Hachiman admired in her. Therefore, it was something she could absolutely never discard; it was something she had to persist in.
Ferris's eyes lit up. He nodded with a "He-he," clenching his fists with great excitement. "Ferris-chan naturally has the utmost confidence in Lady Crusch!"
"As do I." Wilhelm bowed slightly.
There were now only two people he truly admired: one was his monarch, Crusch Karsten, and the other was Hikigaya Hachiman. He would risk his life to ensure that the two people he admired could be brought together!
Having personally witnessed the demise of the White Whale, and knowing that the Lady Crusch of reality would inevitably go to subjugate it again, Wilhelm—his obsession partially fulfilled—directed his remaining strength toward a new wish.
Before this, he lowered his head, temporarily averting his gaze from the future, unable to bear seeing his monarch wounded again.
But just as Wilhelm lowered his head, he was shaken by a hyper-excited Ferris, who clamored for him to look up.
What entered his vision was by no means a sight that would leave Lady Crusch heartbroken!
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「Schlick!」
「Crusch's sidearm carved a wound into Hikigaya Hachiman's shoulder. The position was identical to the wound Crusch had received in the Royal Capital, but the force applied was more than triple, cutting deep into the flesh and grazing the bone.」
「"—"」
「Everyone, including Puck, froze in a daze.」
「The one who had struck this blow was none other than Hikigaya Hachiman himself, having taken the sword!」
「"Nobody move."」
「With a stern shout, Hikigaya Hachiman swept his gaze across his surroundings. The three girls, who had been about to stop him the moment they reacted, all froze because of his unprecedentedly serious expression.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman brushed aside Emilia's hand, which was clutching him. He pulled the blade from his shoulder and gave it a flourish, allowing his blood to coat the blade evenly before proffering the sword back.」
「In the same way Crusch had handed the sword to him, he handed the sword to Crusch.」
「"Did you know, Crusch? I've always been an easily embarrassed person. I get very bashful and I'm not used to showing my emotions. Whenever I have to do so, I always worry about being laughed at or rejected. It's always been that way…"」
「"But now, I hope you'll listen until I've finished."」
「"I, this coward who is easily embarrassed, bashful, and afraid of showing my true feelings, am going to lay bare my heart. I hope you won't laugh at me, and I hope you won't reject me—but actually, I don't think I have to worry about those things."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath, looking at the astonished Crusch with a complex gaze.」
「"After all... you are Crusch Karsten. You are the monarch I have willingly assisted for three years, serving as your strategist!!"」
「"Wha—"」
「"Astonished" was no longer enough to describe it. Crusch's eyes widened, her throat bobbing. She suddenly felt the world go silent; Hikigaya Hachiman's words were so incredibly clear.」
「Puck's face was ashen. He realized something and was about to lash out, but Emilia—who had already vented three years of hatred—timely covered his mouth. She pursed her lips and, along with Rem, watched the exchange between Hikigaya Hachiman and Crusch with a sense of bewilderment.」
「"You aren't a stupid person, Crusch. You should have noticed long ago... but like me, you were tainted by my cowardice. You didn't dare believe it—you didn't dare believe that I was willing from the very beginning."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's voice was very soft, very, very soft. "When that pact was made, I was actually very unwilling. But that resentment was directed at Petelgeuse, and at my own incompetence... You were the best choice, Crusch. If I hadn't met Emilia first, I think I would have been happy to be driven by you."」
「"I always pondered a question: Why did my status become so high? Why did I stop feeling inferior? Why did I feel satisfied? Why on earth do I possess these things—when I'm just a mere Hikigaya Hachiman?"」
「"Sir—"」
「Before Crusch could speak, she saw Hikigaya Hachiman shake his head slightly, interrupting her.」
「"Later, I understood. It's because—you are Crusch. That's all. Because you are Crusch, you would respect me so much, protect me so much, and value me so much. You are the only one, Crusch, who could grant me such self-esteem."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's gentle voice was deafening to Crusch. She stared blankly at her Sir Hachiman, her feelings caught between disbelief and a surging storm, or perhaps... was it an unprecedented sense of happiness?」
「Hikigaya Hachiman glanced at the bewildered Emilia. "Emilia relies on me, and of course I'm happy to be able to help her... but that is different from you, Crusch."」
「Words were too meager to describe it. Hikigaya Hachiman's emotions were conveyed through his presence, making Crusch understand completely that he was being utterly serious.」
「"These three years with you have been very satisfying. To know someone like you is my good fortune. To receive the recognition of someone like you... it's something that occasionally makes me burst with an inexpressible joy in the middle of the night."」
「"I have always recognized you as my monarch. I am willing... no, I find it sweet. You have given me so much. You might not have noticed, but the fact that I can lay bare my heart so decisively, without a shred of inferiority—that is your achievement."」
「"The help I gave you doesn't actually measure up to the support you gave me, not to mention how you've consistently assisted Rem and Emilia."」
「"I must leave you. It isn't your fault; it's my fault. It might be insignificant, but I can only let this blood stain your blade. This is my final repayment."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's nose felt a bit prickly. He tried his best to suppress it, but his voice still carried a pained, tearful quality.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman forced a smile. "See? If this were three years ago, I never would have thought my own blood could serve as a reward—but I know that you will surely view it as a treasure. Because you are the person in the whole world who knows best how to give me dignity, my monarch, Crusch!"」
Crusch Route: A Noble Conclusion
"Emilia is the one who needs him most, Anastasia is the one most capable of making him happy, and Crusch is the one who respects him most, who guides him toward evolution and transformation, and ensures he never feels inferior... So that's how it is?"
Ayanokouji Kiyotaka murmured in a low voice.
As he recalled the details, he realized that in the Emilia camp, the Felt camp, and the Anastasia camp, Hikigaya Hachiman was always more or less plagued by a sense of inferiority. No—rather than inferiority, it was more that he was hyper-sensitive, deliberately cultivating an excessive modesty as a defense mechanism.
But in the Crusch camp, he wasn't like that. From the beginning of the Crusch route until now, Hikigaya Hachiman had not self-deprecated a single time.
One could easily imagine how much of a role Crusch played in this.
"As expected of Sir Hachiman,"
"That is an utterly flawless strategy,"
"It is a blessing to have Sir Hachiman here,"
"It would be quite difficult without Sir Hachiman."
Praise like this—she must have bestowed it upon Hikigaya Hachiman day after day, without fail, for three entire years. Most importantly, Crusch's praise all came from the bottom of her heart.
While others were capable of praising him sincerely, when Anastasia, Emilia, or Rem did it, the emotional weight of their affection often overshadowed the objective recognition. Crusch was different; she was an excellent monarch who let facts speak. She praised Hikigaya Hachiman primarily because he truly was extraordinary.
Only Crusch could have achieved this. Only her day-after-day, heartfelt validation could sweep away Hikigaya Hachiman's inferiority, allowing him to transform into a man who believed his own blood could serve as a worthy reward.
"Heh... hehehe... HAHAHAHA!!"
Having realized this point, Ayanokouji Kiyotaka covered his face and laughed toward the ceiling. He hadn't expected it—he truly hadn't—that Hikigaya Hachiman, who could already serve as his rival, could continue to evolve with such giant strides.
"Wonderful, truly wonderful—if I could participate, I would wish for him to join Crusch's banner. I am progressing, and he is progressing; only then is it most interesting! Hahaha!!"
In Class D, Horikita Suzune and the others exchanged glances, swallowing hard. They seriously suspected Ayanokouji had been infected by the Bowel Hunter's madness.
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At the same time, in the Karsten mansion, Crusch—having quickly analyzed this meaning—was no longer dejected.
No matter how much she had previously insisted "If I lose, I'll fight again" while pretending to be fine, she was human; seeing other candidates make Sir Hachiman live well and earn his recognition while she seemingly failed would naturally cause her immense grief.
But—not anymore.
"Did you hear that, Ferris?"
A unique light shimmered in Crusch's eyes, and her voice trembled with an unbelievable joy. "Sir Hachiman's evaluation... that level of recognition, that degree of praise. Emilia... Felt... Anastasia... Rem... everyone, everyone—has anyone before me ever received such an evaluation from him?"
"He did say it, Meow! Ferris-chan remembers clearly, no one has ever received that, Meow!!"
His cat ears and tail perked up; his perception of Hikigaya Hachiman took a massive leap. Ferris's expression and voice were incredibly excited!
Crusch stood in a daze. She suddenly sniffed, her hand stroking her chest, her voice trembling beyond speech.
"I see... it's me... haha, it's me. So this is what it feels like. Ha... hahaha..."
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「"I see... it's me... haha, it's me. So this is what it feels like. Ha... hahaha..."」
「Crusch sniffed. All her bitterness burst forth at this moment, accompanied by an immeasurable sense of satisfaction and joy.」
「As if all the strength had been drained from her body, she could no longer stand. Her legs gave way, and she began to collapse. With the danger of her falling onto the hilt of her sword, Hikigaya Hachiman instinctively moved the blade away and caught the haggard Crusch in his arms.」
「By the time he realized the impropriety of the gesture, Crusch had already wrapped her arms tightly around him in return.」
「Emilia's emotions fluctuated. Like Puck—whose face had changed drastically earlier—she wanted to rush forward and separate them so she could hold Crusch herself, but Rem held her back, unwilling to let her interrupt.」
「"You are the person I respect, honor, and admire most... Crusch. But I'm sorry, truly sorry... I can only ask you to leave this place."」
「"Since I said I freed you from your inferiority, then don't apologize to me, Sir Hachiman... At the very least, let me make your transformation complete. You have the right to ask me to leave; you are not in the wrong, Sir Hachiman."」
「Crusch sniffed, leaning against Hikigaya Hachiman's shoulder. She spoke fitfully, her voice choked, but she was happy—truly, incredibly happy.」
「"You said it... you said you were willing, you said I am your monarch, you said you admire me most... Since you said that, I am satisfied. I am truly satisfied. Although I still want more, much more—I want you to stay by my side, I want you to continue being my Sir Hachiman—but really... I'm already satisfied, Sir Hachiman."」
「What she had craved was her Sir Hachiman's acknowledgement, his recognition. It was such a small wish after all.」
「"When you proposed to leave, I truly couldn't accept it. I knew you were thinking of Emilia, and I knew the pact had expired, but I was afraid—afraid that you felt I was unworthy, that I was a failing monarch."」
「Though her speech was broken, it remained coherent. Even in this moment, Crusch maintained her elegance, her gallantry, and her reliability.」
「"You said I freed you from your inferiority... But with these words of yours, for the next year, ten years, a hundred years—no matter what troubles or crises occur during my rule of the Kingdom of Lugunica, I will not panic."」
「"Because I have confidence now... You acknowledged me. Therefore, I can surely shoulder the destiny of the tens of millions of people in this kingdom. Your recognition is enough to defeat a lifetime of insecurity. That is something only you could do."」
「Murmuring, Crusch's voice grew lower, yet more exalted.」
「"Therefore, I am satisfied... During these three years, you didn't resent me, you lived well, and you recognized me. Right?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman didn't speak; he simply nodded.」
「"...Then, let the Crusch you respect, the Crusch you honor, the Crusch you admire, and the Crusch you recognize remain the gallant Crusch you appreciate until the very end—"」
「With no lingering attachment, she forced herself to pull away from the Sir Hachiman she thought of day and night. Crusch gave Emilia a deep look, took her sword, and sheathed it with a sharp clang.」
「Thereafter, she didn't say another word. She turned and left with a brisk, dashing air.」
「Leaving this forest. Leaving her Sir Hachiman.」
「Because...」
「"This way, I can remain your Crusch."」
「Her departing figure, as the curtain fell on Crusch's story, was incomparably noble, shining with a brilliant light.」
Priscilla Route: The Beginning of Imprisonment
"The more upright a hero is, the higher the probability they will face the edge of a blade... It's the same in every history book."
Miku Nakano had a look of distress on her face. She was now a devoted fan.
Crusch's character, her performance, her status, her military achievements, her ideals, and her tragedies—all of these mirrored the ancient heroes in the history books Miku loved to read. To her, Crusch was like a monarch who had stepped straight out of the pages of a living history book, leaving her deeply moved.
Guided by Miku's gloom, the entire Nakano household fell into a state of melancholy.
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"Eh... even though I know Sister Crusch is very piteous, I definitely still like Sister Emilia more, so..."
At the Shirogane house, Shirogane Kei tugged at her brother's sleeve and asked in confusion, "Is it really okay to praise Sister Crusch like that in front of Sister Emilia? Isn't Hikigaya-senpai worried that the trauma Sister Crusch sacrificed herself to resolve might sprout all over again because of it?"
"If that happens, wouldn't he fail to hold onto either of them?" she couldn't help but grumble.
"No, this is actually Hikigaya's way of having his cake and eating it too."
Shirogane Miyuki denied this flatly. Compared to his sister, he was becoming increasingly mature, always able to see more into the deeper meanings of things.
"Praising Crusch will certainly cause Emilia to feel uneasy again for a short while, but if he doesn't praise her now, there will never be another chance to resolve Crusch's own heartache."
Miyuki pointed at the straight-backed silhouette of Crusch on the screen and pursed his lips. "Emilia was never the only one with a heart disease."
Kei realized this with a start, but she was still puzzled: "But in Hikigaya-senpai's heart, isn't Sister Emilia the most important? Resolving Sister Crusch's heartache while worsening Sister Emilia's... that doesn't seem right no matter how you look at it, does it?"
"Because it won't actually worsen Emilia's condition."
Miyuki shrugged. "Praising Crusch is a one-time thing. For the rest of his life, Hikigaya will spend his time on Emilia. In those years of happiness, do you think Emilia will have time to be afraid of Crusch?"
Kei's mind buzzed as she fell silent.
She only knew that her heartfelt feeling of "how impressive" toward Hikigaya-senpai had risen yet again.
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"Ugh..."
On the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia tucked a strand of silver hair behind her ear, her face flushing as she stood on her tiptoes awkwardly.
Previously, she had wanted to settle the score with Crusch, but it turned out the other party had been going with the flow to help her all along... Though her anger toward Ferris remained, she was now very grateful to Crusch.
In a forest with only three people, she could imagine her own reliance on Hachiman, and she could also imagine that Hachiman—feeling so guilty toward her—would never reject her throwing herself into his arms.
"It would be even better if Rem wasn't there..." Like a greedy, "bad" child, such thoughts occasionally flashed through her mind, leaving her so embarrassed she wished she could disappear.
At the same time, Rem was having the exact same reaction.
Puck, looking at his daughter, and Ram, looking at her sister, were both satisfied with their budding possessiveness.
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"So she didn't truly abandon her admirable virtues until the very end?"
In the Classic Literature Club, Chitanda Eru pursed her lips and murmured to herself, "Should I say that Hikigaya-kun's eye for character is too accurate, or that Miss Crusch's character is truly too worthy of respect? ...Regardless, she truly deserves such high praise from him. She is incredibly strong, Miss Crusch."
She clenched her fists, feeling greatly inspired.
"If Miss Crusch is this impressive, I have to work hard too. When I inherit the family in the future, I want to be just like her!"
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Crusch, the object of such reverence, did not feel particularly great at this moment.
"After a momentary satisfaction comes an endless emptiness. Compared to never having obtained it at all, losing it after possessing it briefly makes the void feel even more severe."
In the Karsten mansion, the curve of Crusch's lips slowly cooled. She was happy, but she wanted to be even happier.
"Because I am 'Crusch,' there was no other way... but that was based on the premise that Sir Hachiman could no longer leave Emilia. In the current reality, everything starts from zero. I will not show any mercy, Emilia, Anastasia."
She didn't list Rem or Felt as opponents.
One was because Rem was an appendage to Emilia and not a standalone candidate, so whether Rem stayed with Hachiman wasn't the primary concern. As for Felt, based on the personality shown on the light screen, she likely wouldn't be too obsessed even after seeing the future; after all, she wasn't particularly close to Hachiman in the official history.
Crusch was full of fighting spirit. Looking at the light screen, she pondered for a moment.
"There shouldn't be any other futures. I find it difficult to imagine any possibility of Sir Hachiman liking and submitting to Priscilla. Next, we should be returning to the official history..."
This was her speculation, and also her hope. After all, with every new future, she might gain another enemy. Even if they weren't a candidate, what if the person Hachiman valued most in a new future had a possessiveness so strong she wouldn't allow her man to be a subordinate to another woman?
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「"..."」
「In a cold stone building, Hikigaya Hachiman opened his eyes and shook his head.」
「A final image flashed through his mind: it was a year after returning to the Frozen Forest. Crusch had suddenly visited with Ferris and Wilhelm. Just as he grit his teeth and prepared to drive them away, Crusch handed him a letter.」
「It was a letter signed by Emilia, inviting Crusch to be a guest.」
「At the very, very end, it was the returned Emilia blooming with a smile, leading Crusch into the house without any pressure.」
「"Crusch is still Crusch, and Emilia is still Emilia? ...The 'genuine thing' indeed."」
「Though most of the memories were blurry, some were still remembered very clearly. Hikigaya Hachiman was filled with emotion, but before he could further praise these two girls, his consciousness began to blur again.」
「"Take a good look at a present that does not exist..."」
「Squeak.」
「The dungeon door was pushed open. A one-armed man wearing an iron helmet entered carrying a tray of food. "Yo, brother, you're having a rough time, aren't you? Sorry about that, the Princess just has that kind of temper. I'll try to persuade her later, but for now, you should eat something. If you starve to death, it's all over."」
「At the end of his line of sight was Hikigaya Hachiman—bound by six iron chains, face covered in grime, emaciated from hunger, and bearing the marks of being kicked and beaten.」
Priscilla Route: Alienation and Defiance
「"..."」
「Al's well-meaning concern and warnings received no response. Hikigaya Hachiman, looking utterly wretched as a prisoner at the mercy of others, merely lifted his eyelids slightly before closing them again in silence, expressing his attitude through quiet defiance.」
「Even though he was so starved that he was practically skin and bones, and his stomach let out one wave of hunger pangs after another, he remained motionless.」
「Al sighed helplessly: "Look, I've only got one hand left, so I can't exactly feed you. I'm going to unfasten one of the chains now so you can eat by yourself. If you wait until you're too weak to even lift your hand after the chains are off, it'll be tragic. Living is always better than dying, right?"」
「He sat cross-legged on the bleak, cold ground, rambling on. "I'm only putting in this much effort because we're from the same hometown. It's not like I haven't been in a spot like this before, but I've been through it, so I know. Even if there really are things more important than life, it's not this expendable, stubborn pride. This pointless protest and persistence... right, brother?"」
「"..."」
「Clatter. The chains shifted. Hikigaya Hachiman, breathing shallowly, shook his head.」
「Al continued to chatter for a while longer. Seeing that Hikigaya Hachiman remained unresponsive, he finally picked up the tray piled with food and exited with a sigh. The sound of a heavy iron door closing echoed from the distance.」
「In the cold, grim dungeon, silence returned, leaving only Hikigaya Hachiman's breathing—so weak that it wouldn't be surprising if it cut out at any moment.」
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"—?!"
Everyone widened their eyes, looking at this future in disbelief.
It wasn't that Hikigaya Hachiman hadn't experienced being in a piteous state before; compared to being imprisoned in a dungeon without food or water, being devoured by the Great Rabbit was clearly more agonizing.
But this was fundamentally different!
Whether it was the Bowel Hunter, the Witch Cult, the Witches, or the Great Rabbit—those were all unquestionable enemies. No matter how ruthless they were, it was understandable.
"Al is also a traveler from another world? No, that's not the point... Does this mean the one imprisoning him is that 'lucky' woman, Priscilla?"
This was the first—the very first candidate to date—to show such malice and inflict such cruelty upon Hikigaya Hachiman!
The shock of this fact was undoubtedly unparalleled.
"I understand that Hikigaya can't be loved by everyone—even the most excellent person can't be liked by all—but Priscilla is going way too far. Hikigaya's personality dictates that he wouldn't do anything excessive to anyone who isn't an enemy."
Oreki Houtarou frowned deeply, analyzing rapidly.
"Furthermore, based on the order of the IF lines, this should be Priscilla's timeline. It's impossible for Hikigaya to be her enemy. Even so... does that woman, so proud she borders on arrogant, actually subject her own subordinate to this kind of torture?"
Up until now, Priscilla had only appeared briefly in the Royal Capital. Most people only had an impression of her being "extremely haughty." They never imagined that woman could be so vile.
Anastasia forgot to reminisce about her wedding; Crusch had no time to be lost in dejection; Emilia was no longer feeling the warmth of the previous scenes. At this moment, the gazes of the three women in the Royal Capital became terrifyingly cold.
Simultaneously, they cast their gazes across the distance toward Priscilla's mansion.
If they weren't still waiting to see the cause and effect—and if they didn't need to prioritize their combat strength for the Witch Cult, the Witches, and Roswaal after the broadcast ended—they wouldn't be able to stop themselves from storming Priscilla's home right now.
Those three distinct waves of solemn killing intent were faintly felt by Priscilla herself.
She let out a cold snort and fanned herself, her posture relaxed and graceful. Crossing one leg over the other, she didn't take these distant threats to heart.
"To wantonly ignore this mistress, who is the center of the world; to repeatedly throw oneself under the banners of others; to even dare speak the arrogant nonsense of defeating this mistress... Ignorant, foolhardy, and losing the loyalty of a dog—it is only natural for him to be punished by this mistress in such a manner."
Her future self certainly wouldn't have done it for such petty reasons—but that didn't matter.
When the blind madman Hikigaya Hachiman appeared in this world, she would bestow upon him a punishment no less severe than the one in the future. Although she had a high opinion of this madman, after watching so many futures where she was supposedly "defeated," her
rage had reached a point where someone had to pay. Any rewards for him would have to wait until after the punishment.
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「In the pitch-black dungeon, it was impossible to tell how much time had passed.」
「When the iron door opened again, Priscilla entered, dressed in a vibrant, eye-catching red, swaying the fan in her hand with an air of supreme arrogance. Hikigaya Hachiman was so lightheaded he thought it was Al; it was only after she spoke, upon hearing that loathsome voice, that he exerted the effort to lift his eyelids a crack to stare at the woman before him.」
「"I wondered how long a noisy madman could last. Is he already nearing his limit in a mere three days? Even so, the fact that you haven't cried out for mercy like a pig is marginally praiseworthy. You are at least a grade higher than a barking dog; you aren't so incapable that you can't distinguish the gap in our strength."」
「Her fan struck his chin, propping up Hikigaya Hachiman's head. Forced to look up, he saw eyes filled with an arrogance that matched her voice perfectly—they were utterly mocking.」
「With a flick of Priscilla's wrist, moving so fast it was a mere blur, the six iron chains binding Hikigaya Hachiman were unfastened in the blink of an eye.」
「Exhausted by nothing but hunger, Hikigaya Hachiman, who had no strength left, stumbled. Yet, despite the sudden freedom and the overwhelming wave of weakness threatening to dominate his body, he did not collapse.」
「His hands clutched the chains for support as he stood stubbornly, gasping for breath as he met Priscilla's gaze on equal level.」
「"Insisting on dignity is a part of you I can affirm. However, before this mistress, your self-respect is of no use. You need only worship, kneel in fear and trembling, and respectfully extend your filthy, defiled tongue to lick this mistress's toes!"」
「Smack!」
「Accompanying her declaration, her fan struck Hikigaya Hachiman's knee with immense force, causing sharp pain that felt as if the bone were nearly fractured, drawing blood.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman remained standing. His height did not drop by a single inch, and his eyes held no resentment—only a sense of release.」
「"If you want..."」
「He spoke for the first time. One could tell just by the parched, raspy voice how long it had been since he had water, but he continued.」
「"If you want my life, then take it, Priscilla. What I owe you... I'm paying it back!"」
Priscilla Route: Madman, Blind Man
「Hearing those words, Priscilla revealed a terrifying, crimson smile.」
「"Do not be so willful; take a good look at the reality of the situation. Your life and death are entirely tied to this mistress's hands. Under the premise that you are powerless to resist, how this mistress disposes of you is entirely this mistress's freedom and right. If you had the ability to protect yourself yet chose to forfeit resistance, only then could it be called 'repaying' with your life."」
「Having delivered this speech of seemingly strained logic, Priscilla immediately added with contempt: "However, there is no one in this world who can effectively protect themselves before this enraged mistress. Therefore, that premise cannot occur. For your sheer arrogance, this mistress shall grant you a modicum of praise, for now."」
「In other words:」
「"—Consider your life temporarily reclaimed, Madman."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman let out a muffled groan. He showed no joy or lingering fear of a survivor; he simply frowned in rebuttal: "Does looking down on others with such haughtiness bring you that much enjoyment, Priscilla?"」
「"Though this mistress has some measure of patience for those worthy of commendation, if you intend to continue playing blind, this mistress shall gouge out those useless eyeballs and display them on a plate as trinkets to toy with, fool."」
「With a terrifying gaze in her crimson pupils that looked ready to kill at any second, Priscilla jabbed her fan against Hikigaya Hachiman's chest. "For an incompetent person to overestimate themselves is the definition of arrogance. This world revolves around this mistress; to state the facts is to speak the truth. There is no necessity for this mistress to self-deprecate according to your whims."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman didn't know if he was laughing from amusement or anger. He let out a laugh amidst his coughing, using a thread-thin, low volume to mock her:」
「"The world revolves around you? Do you mean that to gain necessary wealth and status, you have to sacrifice your purity and reputation to marry five wicked, elderly nobles in a row?"」
「If the world truly revolved around her, was there any need to pay a price of that magnitude? Though she was indeed lucky and none of those men had ever touched her, since she had to compromise to such an extent, at most one could say the world favored her—not that it worshipped her as its master.」
「To be this haughty based on just that... wasn't it too ridiculous?」
「Unexpectedly, subjected to such mockery, Priscilla did not grow further enraged. She was an unpredictable woman—she always had been.」
「Priscilla looked Hikigaya Hachiman up and down, her lips curling into an interested arc. "With nothing left but a mouth that can still act tough, you persist in seeking death. It is somewhat interesting, I suppose. Fine, this mistress shall indulge you."」
「"Guess then." As she spoke, the cold, dark dungeon suddenly rose in temperature. She ignited flames in the air, the firelight illuminating her cold gaze. "Precisely why has this mistress imprisoned you here? If you can guess correctly, this mistress may consider increasing her patience for the commoners and fools just a little bit from now on."」
「"If you guess wrong, this mistress shall deprive you of this right to be noisy."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman coughed. Having gone three or four days without water, his mouth was parched... but he had to answer. This opportunity was rare, and he was already in a position where there was no turning back.」
「Staring gloomily at Priscilla, Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath.」
「He felt that the reason he wanted to give was likely wrong—at least not entirely right. Priscilla shouldn't be such a simple woman. But... with no mental energy left to think, he could only say this:」
「"...The reason is, I am extremely dissatisfied with your character. Dissatisfied to the point of incessant lecturing, making you annoyed, making you loathe me, making you weary. That is all."」
「—Swish!」
「A bright red object flew into the air, accompanied by a spray of blood.」
「Her fan was stained with blood, but Priscilla was indifferent. She knitted her brows only because she suddenly felt things had become much more tedious; she was utterly disappointed.」
「"I already told you not to play blind—do you intend to make a fool of this mistress, Madman?"」
「Priscilla leaned in close. She saw disappointment in Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes, but no fear or regret, causing her to snort coldly.」
「"Arrogance."」
「"It is not this mistress. The arrogant one, from beginning to end, has been you, Blind Man."」
「"Presumptuously overflowing with your own kindness, your own gentleness, your own sacrifices, and your own values. Trying to influence this mistress, to remake this mistress, to resist everything about this mistress. From the very start, you labeled everything of this mistress as 'wrong.' With incomparable vanity, you placed your own values above those of this mistress."」
「"—What is rooted beneath your so-called inferiority is a deep-seated arrogance."」
「The arrogant one was never Priscilla; it was Hikigaya Hachiman. And he didn't even realize it himself—therefore, he was a blind man, not a madman.」
「Understanding Priscilla's meaning, Hikigaya Hachiman still did not agree... but he could no longer argue. His tongue had just been severed. Forget speaking; his consciousness was blurring now. He was probably going to die soon.」
「'...Say what you want. Regardless, this life I owe you, I'm giving it back.'」
「A second before he lost consciousness, his expression of having no complaints or regrets conveyed this message.」
「Priscilla gave another contemptuous snort. "A one-sided repayment. Is this life, granted by this mistress's mercy, meant to be squandered like this? This, too, is your arrogance, Blind Man."」
「"Al!"」
「She called out, giving instructions to the Al who entered on command. She ordered the iron-helmeted clown to pick up the dying blind man and follow her.」
「"Sigh, young people just have too much energy. Why bother, brother? If you hadn't said those things, wouldn't the Princess be living just fine? You just had to worry extra; did you want to repay the favor that badly? Worried the Princess's foul temper would one day provoke an enemy she couldn't handle... You, sigh."」
「Al shook his head. "Maybe if the Princess hadn't passed by that alleyway that day, hadn't saved you from those three thugs while your head was bleeding, life would have been better for someone with your personality."」
「"Watching the Princess be overbearing and wantonly trample on others' dignity and lives must have been hard for you... but there's no helping it, brother. After all, that's just how the Princess is. It might be better to get used to it sooner."」
「"Is the clown pitying the blind man? Get up here!"」
「Priscilla's voice from a distance interrupted Al's murmuring in the dungeon.」
「Al shrugged, hoisting Hikigaya Hachiman onto his back with his single arm.」
「"Let's go, brother."」
Priscilla Route: Painful Endurance
"So the branching point for the Priscilla route was this early?"
Shirogane Miyuki was stunned. "From the very beginning... doesn't that mean this version of Hikigaya doesn't even know Emilia? I see. So this is the 'Priscilla's Great Luck' they keep talking about... picking up Hikigaya while out for a stroll; that luck is truly terrifying."
This single event was enough to make one realize how despair-inducing Priscilla's luck truly was. Yet, because of this, Shirogane Miyuki grew to detest her even more.
Anastasia had fought her way up from the bottom rungs of the slums; Crusch wore a military uniform to protect her country, never once considering her own personal happiness; Emilia had endured countless hardships and trials; even Felt was curbing her own willfulness, learning noble etiquette at Reinhard's request.
Which of the other candidates hadn't faced thousands of obstacles, relying on their personal charm and honed abilities to conquer others? Even Felt, the least experienced, was at least putting in the effort.
But what about Priscilla?
Priscilla was strong, certainly—that was evident from how she cut out Hikigaya Hachiman's tongue as swift as a gale—but was that her foundation? No. What she relied on most was her Divine Protection of maximum luck.
While it wouldn't be right to say Priscilla took no initiative, how could that make anyone feel balanced?
Let alone Shirogane Miyuki, even the good-tempered Shirogane Kei couldn't help but frown.
"This kind of pride bordering on arrogance—if it were Sister Anastasia or Sister Crusch, it would still be annoying, but at least they have the credentials. But Priscilla..."
She didn't even call her "Sister" Priscilla.
The logic was clear: between someone who won the lottery ten times to get fifty million, and someone who built a company from scratch, treated their employees exceptionally well, and earned fifty million—which one was more convincing? It was obvious at a glance.
"Without meeting Hikigaya-senpai, Sister Emilia definitely died in this timeline."
Thinking of this, both Shirogane Kei and Shirogane Miyuki grew increasingly incensed.
"It was Hikigaya-senpai's advice that annoyed her, yet she has the nerve to shift the blame and call him arrogant? It's completely unreasonable, isn't it?"
By now, Izumi Sagiri had also understood the situation.
The development of this timeline was roughly: Hikigaya-senpai did not meet Sister Emilia, was injured while being robbed by three thugs, and was picked up by Priscilla. Then, Hikigaya-
senpai could not stand Priscilla's habit of trampling on lives and dignity; he repeatedly offered advice, and was finally thrown into the dungeon by a humiliated and enraged Priscilla.
"What kind of person is she?" Sagiri was shell-shocked. Someone like Priscilla actually deserved to be ranked alongside the other four candidates?
With a personality like that, she should go become the Sin Archbishop of Arrogance sooner rather than later, instead of lowering the average score of the other candidates.
Izumi Masamune knit his brows, pondering for a long time. "No, maybe Priscilla has a point... No, wait. Regardless of whether Hikigaya counts as arrogant, Priscilla is definitely the one who is actually arrogant!"
He had almost been tricked. If Hikigaya's actions counted as arrogance, then Priscilla—who presumptuously forced her views onto him—couldn't possibly be anything else. Once that logic was straightened out, he was no longer confused and could focus entirely on being angry.
Angry that this bastard Priscilla treated Hikigaya Hachiman this way!
.
.
.
While the outsiders were beyond furious, the insiders—whose rage was nearly uncontainable and who wanted to kill Priscilla immediately—were even more numerous.
"Imprisoning him in a dungeon, cutting out his tongue, insulting him at will... To dare treat my Prime Minister like that, you really aren't afraid of death, are you, Priscilla? If you want to die, just say so; I will surely fulfill your wish with everything I have."
In the Hoshin Trading Company, the delicate beauty Anastasia had a face filled with rare, blatant fury.
She had met Priscilla before. The woman would rudely call her "Vixen" or "Female Fox," arbitrarily bestowing these insulting nicknames. Every time, Anastasia had been able to remain calm, talking and strategizing with Priscilla with a smile.
But not now.
If she saw Priscilla again, she would surely, definitely have the Iron Fang mercenaries swarm her immediately. She had nothing left to discuss with that woman!
"The Finest Knight stands ready for Lady Anastasia's command."
Julius bowed slightly.
As a knight, he would not openly display rage or disrespect toward Lady Priscilla... However, no matter how much one adhered to the knight's code, one simply could not tolerate the fact that a dear friend had been disgraced.
Julius's eyes betrayed a silent plea: 'As a knight, I will not be disrespectful to Lady Priscilla. But if my liege, Lady Anastasia, gives the order, I can go and give Priscilla a thorough thrashing immediately, even if I lose my position as Vice-Captain of the Knights because of it!'
If her Prime Minister had already arrived, if she had secured him, and if there hadn't been that business with Petelgeuse, Anastasia would have passed down orders without a second thought to fight Priscilla to the bitter end.
But there was no way... The twist with Petelgeuse was too terrifying.
He had brutally murdered her Prime Minister earlier, only to be revealed later as Emilia's adoptive father. Anastasia was a bit afraid of such a twist happening here with Priscilla, so she had to wait until this timeline finished playing out to avoid doing something irreversible.
If Priscilla "reformed" later, with her Prime Minister's good temper, he certainly wouldn't want Priscilla to die.
Most importantly, she had a bold guess... Since she could see the future here, was it possible the Prime Minister's world back home was also seeing these futures? Although there was no evidence, if the Prime Minister was watching, he probably wouldn't like a murderous, "greedy merchant" if Priscilla ended up having a redemption arc.
"Julius, Mimi, don't be in a hurry."
A hesitant Anastasia pursed her lips aggrievedly.
"How to deal with Priscilla... the right to choose will be given to my Prime Minister himself. I don't want to be hated by him, so please, endure the hardship of waiting for a bit."
To remain still regarding Priscilla, who was in the same Royal Capital, was a stifling misery for her—especially with the scene of her Prime Minister's tongue being severed flashing through her mind over and over.
Mimi shook her head like a rattle. Looking at her aggrieved mistress, she leaned her head in for a rub. "Mimi isn't suffering. The one suffering most from enduring this must be Sister Ana."
Priscilla Route: Tit for Tat
It wasn't just Anastasia; others who held more or less favorable feelings toward Hikigaya Hachiman remained still, including even Emilia and Crusch.
Each person had different reasons and thoughts, but the most important and fundamental one was that the broadcast of the future had not yet concluded.
With the future still playing out, no one knew what they might miss if they went to pick a fight with Priscilla at this moment. After all, subduing Priscilla was by no means a trivial task; they certainly wouldn't have the spare energy to observe that future simultaneously.
More practically speaking, Priscilla herself wasn't the most critical issue. By now, the list of enemies these women wanted to deal with for Hachiman's sake was already too long; a Priscilla who hadn't actually killed him didn't quite qualify for top priority.
She would certainly be made to pay—that was the prevailing thought—but that would have to wait until the future broadcast finished and they had exerted every effort to resolve the Witch Cult, the Witches, and Roswaal. If a dispute with Priscilla caused a lapse in concentration that prevented them from killing their most vital enemies, the loss would outweigh the gain.
Of course, although action was delayed, the public sentiment in both worlds had reached a fever pitch. After the arrogant Priscilla committed such despicable acts, the level of loathing directed toward her was skyrocketing.
This debt would inevitably be settled.
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"Because she saved your life once, you wanted to advise her not to be so arrogant and rude... You were kind-hearted enough, but look at how you were treated, Hikigaya-kun?"
In the convenience store, Yukino was fuming.
Hikigaya Hachiman's eyes darted around. He wasn't afraid of Yukino being angry, but she was angry because she was standing up for him. This kind of well-intentioned fury was the hardest for him to handle.
He could only stammer, "Well... uh, I did go tit-for-tat with her, didn't I?"
To repay a life-saving debt, going to such lengths was only natural for him.
Everyone was currently looking from a god-like perspective, knowing that even without Priscilla, he would have eventually encountered Emilia. But in this timeline, an ignorant Hachiman—unaware that he was "supposed" to meet Emilia—saw Priscilla as his genuine savior, his only life-saver.
To repay such a debt, he found it acceptable to sacrifice his body and mind.
By putting himself in those shoes, the current Hachiman could easily understand his actions in that timeline, and thus he didn't feel as much hostility... but it seemed there was no way to explain this logic to Yukino.
He could only stroke Yukino's smooth black hair, comforting her: "I'm not exactly the type to just take it lying down, Yukino. Though I'd kneel and beg for mercy if necessary."
However, when facing Priscilla, it seemed his future self was quite unyielding.
Though he suspected it was for Priscilla's own good. If he went soft and begged for mercy, Priscilla certainly wouldn't listen to his advice; in that case, there would be no way to prevent her from provoking unnecessary dangers with her foul mouth.
"Hmph..." Yukino snorted coldly. "Regardless, once you go over there, you absolutely must stay away from that woman, understand? If you can't avoid her, don't indulge her. Show her that momentum you used to stand up for me at the Cultural Festival, Hikigaya-kun."
Hachiman naturally agreed... If he were alone, it wouldn't matter, but since he was already Yukino's boyfriend, if he let Priscilla bully him, wouldn't that be equivalent to dragging Yukino down too? That was something he couldn't tolerate.
-
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--
「"—I'm still alive?"」
「Waking from his slumber, the fact that he could speak greatly astonished Hikigaya Hachiman. He vaguely remembered that his tongue should have been severed. No, not just his tongue—his entire body felt energetic, not at all like someone who had starved for three days and nights.」
「"The first thing you say after waking up is talking to yourself like that? How scary, Nya. Just how exactly does Lady Priscilla mistreat her subordinates, Nya?"」
「"Ignorant. The muddle-headed fool seeking his own death threw himself onto the blade. That this mistress did not send him completely away from this world is already the greatest mercy."」
「"Ugh... Ferris-chan won't ask any more then, Nya. It would be bad if I were misunderstood as spying on enemy intelligence. But, young man over there, stay strong and keep on living, Nya."」
「Straightening his upper body from the bed, Hachiman opened his eyes. Having grown accustomed to the sunlit world, he saw a girl with cat ears retreat helplessly. The only ones
left in the room were him and Priscilla, who sat to one side with her legs crossed contemptuously.
「"A healer?"」
「Having lived in Priscilla's castle for some time, he naturally knew the power of various Divine Protections and magic in this world. Being able to reattach a tongue was within the realm of imagination.」
「"Do not entertain pointless thoughts of gratitude. The only object of your thanks should be this merciful mistress. Since this mistress let a blind man like you keep his life, keep your eyes peeled from now on. If you dare be so arrogant again, this mistress will let you experience every torture in the world."」
「The mocking voice was high and mighty, trampling on dignity, but Hachiman's focus wasn't there. He narrowed his eyes, and his first sentence upon reopening his mouth was still advice—and a brand of hard-line advice even more pungent than before, without a hint of tact.」
「"Whether or not I am arrogant isn't important... No, I should say, if you don't want to see me being so arrogant, then you should reduce your own arrogance, Priscilla."」
「Priscilla was stunned for a moment, then revealed a cruel smile. "Equivalent exchange? Don't make this mistress laugh. What kind of chips do you have to trade? Everything you have already belongs to this mistress. Do you still think you have the right to refuse whatever this mistress wants you to do?"」
「"I beg to differ. To repay a debt, I can indeed let you trample me wantonly, but I am absolutely not yours. Make no mistake about that, even if you did save my life."」
「Decisively, Hachiman refuted her immediately. He could pay the price to repay a debt, but he was Komachi's useless brother—and so, no matter how useless he was, Komachi loved this stupid brother of hers.」
「Therefore, Hikigaya Hachiman was born belonging to Hikigaya Komachi. He was Komachi's; it was as simple as that. Even if she was his savior, she shouldn't dream of changing that.」
「"Has this mistress's mercy perhaps given you some sort of delusion?" Priscilla's nonchalance vanished. She sneered, her red eyes flickering with a terrifying light.」
「"You're the one with the delusions. Like I said before, if the world revolves around you, why do you still need to sacrifice your purity and reputation? You've been avoiding that question!" 」
」
Priscilla Route: A Violent Conflict of Values
"Eh? So even when facing his own allies, Hikigaya-senpai can be so unceremoniously sarcastic? Although, I'm not even sure if Priscilla counts as an 'ally'... anyway, this is a real eye-opener."
Shirogane Kei scratched her head.
Not treating his own side with pure gentleness—this version of Hikigaya Hachiman truly surprised everyone.
This was the first time they had seen this side of him; in the official history, he was able to face Rem with a gentle demeanor even after she had killed him once.
A Hikigaya Hachiman who "attacks" his own people—previously, this was a side known only to Yukinoshita Yukino and Hiratsuka Shizuka.
When he first entered the Service Club, despite falling in love with Yukino at first sight, Hachiman hadn't hesitated to engage in a massive war of words with her. At that time, he had provoked Yukino's fury to the point where, strictly speaking, they had a fierce argument.
Back then, it was because their values clashed profoundly, and neither side would yield an inch.
It was the same now with Priscilla. Facing a massive divergence in perception and conduct, Hikigaya Hachiman showed no mercy.
In this parallel world, there was no Hiratsuka Shizuka to suddenly open the door and draw the fire to interrupt the dispute. Thus, the flames of war intensified as expected.
However, this was exactly what most people were hoping for.
If this timeline consisted of Hikigaya Hachiman being pointlessly suppressed and insulted by Priscilla, people like Emilia would have preferred to turn away and cover their ears, choosing only to remember the grudge for future revenge.
"It makes sense when you think about it. How could the guy who had the courage to keep moving forward after multiple deaths be someone who just takes it lying down, remaining indifferent after suffering unreasonable insults?"
At the Sword Saint's estate, Felt snorted at Priscilla. She cheered, rooting for Hikigaya Hachiman from afar: "Go for it! Don't coddle that brat with the princess complex!"
Beside her, Reinhard watched quietly, not joining in his liege's rowdiness... though in his heart, he offered a bit of support.
A knight, however, could not be so wanton.
.
.
.
「"—"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's aggressiveness, his uncovering of Priscilla's "stains"—he went all out from the start, pulling out his greatest weapon. It caused even Priscilla to pause for a moment.」
「Even though her multiple marriages were solely to collect benefits and she had never been touched, having her reputation linked to those "fat, stupid pigs" was indeed unpleasant.」
「"Can't answer?... Then let me put it another way. If the world really revolves around you, why is it so difficult for you to deal with a minor, ordinary person like me? Why is it so hard to make me shut up and stop me from defying you?"」
「"Silence—you muddle-headed fool. Are you belittling this mistress's capabilities? Are you holding your own life in contempt?"」
「The more Hachiman's defiance made sense, the firmer and harder it became to refute. Although Priscilla was incensed, her evaluation of him grew higher and higher. It evolved from the initial "commoner" and "fool" to "clever," then "madman" and "blind man," and now "muddle-headed fool" and "idiot."」
「"I told you long ago: you saved me, so you can take this life back whenever you want. But that doesn't mean I won't do what I think I should do."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman rolled out of bed.」
「He was someone who would talk back to Yukinoshita; he had even bluntly called Yui Yuigahama a "bitch" when she first came to the Service Club for help.」
「If necessary, Hikigaya Hachiman would drop to his knees and beg for mercy, discarding all dignity—but "surrender" was never his only option.」
「Don't think for a second that Hikigaya Hachiman is a pure, gentle idiot. A person who only knows gentleness cannot survive in this society.」
「At a loss for words, Priscilla once again chose a temporary escape by changing the subject. Of course, to her, this wasn't escaping, but rather a magnanimous mercy: "Your capacity for sophistry is passable; it was indeed wise of this mistress to spare your life—however, all things in this world are equal, and this mistress stands above them. This is an eternal, unchanging truth."」
「By now, she understood the thoughts of the "idiot" before her who did not fear death.」
「Compared to the previous days of being either too subtle or too blunt with his advice, Hachiman was now preparing to knock the source of her confidence into the dust. He wanted
her to accept the concept that her "great luck" was nothing special. If one remains confident without sufficient ability, it is mere boastfulness—the act of a clown, and quite unpleasant.
「Even if she could rebuke him from various angles, as long as the issues of her marriages and her inability to stop this "idiot's" defiance remained unresolved—as long as she couldn't give an answer that convinced Hachiman—her counterargument would remain hanging.」
「Her rhetoric was useless against him. A man who does not fear death and believes himself to be in the right will not be swayed by her off-the-cuff remarks.」
「"—You owe this mistress no debt."」
「Priscilla swayed her fan, a delighted curve appearing at the corner of her mouth. "Discard that laughable self-importance regarding a 'life-saving debt.' You will follow this mistress and serve her because this entire world belongs to this mistress. Remember it well, muddle-headed fool; this mistress has no patience for repeated corrections."」
「"If you cannot remember, this mistress shall let the Yang Sword send you on your way."」
「Hachiman stared at her, not complying. His logic remained crystal clear: "Married several times…"」
「He was just about to emphasize again that she had sacrificed her reputation for profit— proving her luck wasn't enough to support her arrogance—when thwack! He was struck on the head by the fiery red fan.」
「"To gain without effort, to enjoy the fruits of others' labor—that is the style of the most indolent, parasitic swine. Such a desire simply defiles this mistress's sight!"」
「Priscilla used this as her answer—it wasn't that she couldn't obtain benefits without sacrifice or active effort, but rather that she loathed the idea of taking without giving. She was the master of the world, yet she was still willing to take initiative; this demonstrated her mercy and further illustrated why she, Priscilla, was the master of the world.」
「The implication was: You muddle-headed fool, do you finally understand this mistress's painstaking efforts?」
「Hikigaya Hachiman pretended not to understand these subtexts. He wasn't charmed in the slightest, remaining steadfast in his counseling.」
「"Stupid," Priscilla snorted. "But praiseworthy. Though you are far from as cute as Schult, you... you shall serve by this mistress's side."」
「"The narrow world of a muddle-headed fool—this mistress shall take you to experience it and broaden your horizons. On the day you recognize your own ignorance and kneel in tears to beg for forgiveness, this mistress will specially allow you to stay."」
「Since words and intimidation were useless, she would prove it with facts.」
」
「She would make this "idiot" understand that she was not haughty or arrogant, but simply possessed the most basic self-confidence—though she didn't reject haughtiness or arrogance at all.」
「As the center of the world, haughtiness and arrogance followed her like a shadow. That was only natural.」
Priscilla Route: Unyielding Arrogance
"Pfft—hahahaha!"
Looking at Priscilla—who was so stifled she fell silent, forced to change the subject, and eventually compromised by deciding to keep Hikigaya Hachiman by her side to witness her "great luck" and prove her capability to support her arrogance—Shinomiya Kaguya doubled over in laughter, tears streaming down her face.
"So haughty, yet dragged down from the clouds by Hikigaya Hachiman nonetheless! Haha... Hmph, serves you right, you absolute bastard!"
Kaguya, usually refined, was now letting the insults fly. Her loathing for Priscilla didn't just stem from the woman's mistreatment of Hachiman, but from that bone-deep, "I am the center of the universe" arrogance.
Because of the President, the "Ice Kaguya" had melted; she was no longer so aloof. Yet, in essence, Kaguya remained a very proud person—it was just that her temperament had improved so much that she no longer appeared arrogant. But high status and vast wealth naturally breed a certain pride, and proud people detest those who are just as arrogant as themselves more than anyone else!
'One arrogant person in the room is enough; who do you think you are to act like this?'—that was the mindset.
Normal people hide that pride and indulge in it privately, but Priscilla broadcasted it to the world, making her uniquely loathsome to her own kind. However, excluding Priscilla, Crusch and Anastasia were two exceptions... strictly speaking, one couldn't even associate those two with the word "arrogance."
They were simply too endearing. Kaguya could see right through it.
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"Oh dear, after boasting about being number one in the world, she ended up being easily handled by my Prime Minister? Forced to lower her head to prove herself to him... what a pathetic loser."
At the Hoshin Trading Company, Anastasia swung her legs playfully. The only thing she found uncomfortable was that her Prime Minister's counter-mockery was a bit too mild.
'As expected, he's still too gentle.'
"But, all that gentleness should just be kept for me, right? So, by all means, keep hitting back and insulting that megalomaniac~"
.
.
.
At the same time, on the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia dazed for a moment and whispered, "Puck, Miss Priscilla was definitely angry just now, wasn't she?"
Puck nodded. "Mhm, she was. Quite a bit."
"She was already so angry, yet she didn't lay a hand on Hachiman this time. Although she keeps threatening to kill him, Miss Priscilla's character isn't at its worst yet, is it?"
"I know you're kind-hearted, Lia, but kindness shouldn't be wasted on people like that."
"No." Emilia shook her head, her voice incredibly firm.
"I'm furious. I really hate that villain Priscilla. Once the future ends, I'm going to find her and make sure she apologizes to Hachiman. And, also..."
If it were harm directed at herself, she might let it go since it hadn't happened yet. But she would never forgive anyone who harmed Hachiman. However, because fighting Priscilla was a settled matter that required no further explanation, that wasn't what she meant to say.
"I'm just a little surprised."
"Surprised?" Puck tilted his head. "By what?"
Emilia thought for a moment to describe it accurately: "Because, I suddenly feel like she's not as extreme as I thought... not as extreme as Roswaal or Elsa."
"The fact that you're comparing her to those two is enough to show how vile it was to throw him in a dungeon and cut out his tongue."
-
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-
So, was Priscilla really "not that bad"?
"Of course not."
Facing his sister Kirino's confusion, Kyousuke Kousaka spoke with earnest gravity, educating his sister:
"The only reason you have that illusion is because Priscilla's actions in the dungeon were so irredeemably evil. Compared to that, she seems 'decent' now. But no, this is just the contrast effect. In reality, her behavior before and after is driven by the same selfishness."
"Her attitude toward Hikigaya improved only because he's fearless and stubborn—a 'treasure' of a soul that she finds praiseworthy and valuable. That's all."
"Fundamentally, she is still that arrogant, self-centered bastard who wantonly harms and insults others. Don't be fooled by the surface, Kirino."
It took Kirino a while to grasp this, and she wiped cold sweat from her forehead, escaping the trap of Priscilla's "change."
"Really..."
"A truly atrocious woman, isn't she? Among the women who have appeared so far, only Echidna and Pandora are worse." Kyousuke finished her thought, then added confidently: "But don't worry. That's Hikigaya we're talking about. He won't fall into a trap like that."
Whether he would fall into a trap was one thing; back at the Hikigaya residence, Komachi was already frantically calling the convenience store, repeatedly warning her brother to stay put. If he did suddenly travel, he had to beat Priscilla up ruthlessly.
'Any woman is fine, just not her!'
Of course, if possible, Sister Anastasia was best—or better yet, Sister Anastasia, Sister Crusch, Sister Emilia, and Sister Rem all together. This was another world, after all; there was no rule saying you could only marry one.
When Hachiman received this call, Yukino, who was listening quietly beside him, saw her expression turn darker and darker until it was a literal shade of iron blue.
-
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On the other side, Ram and Rem, currently on their way to the Royal Capital, had a new name at the top of their hit list.
To them, Priscilla was the highest priority. Other enemies were either too strong or hard to track, but Priscilla... if they waited for her to sleep in the dead of night, Ram could slip in and take her head with a single wind blade. It was a viable plan.
Her knight Al wasn't that strong either; Rem could sense his strength level was something she could stall.
Inside the Karsten mansion, Al shrugged. "It's getting dangerous, Princess. Probably the whole world is spitting on you right now."
"If the commoners could distinguish the path ahead, they wouldn't be commoners. I have never expected anything from the mediocre."
Priscilla snorted at Al's subtle suggestion to hide or move. Even after witnessing so many Authorities, she remained as arrogant as ever.
"If this mistress has no desire to travel, no swine can force her. And a clown who flees before the battle is not qualified to serve by my side!"
Priscilla Route: The Graces of the Domain
「Respect from the bottom of their hearts, unwavering support, and a visible devotion that accompanied their awe; it was bordering on fanaticism, reaching a point where fans might behold a superstar.」
「Priscilla swayed her crimson fan, concealing the lower half of her face. Even so, her smug triumph was vividly conveyed to Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「She held her head high like a graceful white swan, pacing through the territory that belonged to her. With every step she took, the subjects who saw her spontaneously halted their work or recreation, staring blankly with eyes full of incomparable reverence and fear.」
「Some were so moved they prostrated themselves on the ground, kneeling to worship Priscilla as if she were a living deity.」
「It wasn't just the commoners; even those holding official positions reacted similarly. However, compared to the villagers, these more knowledgeable and calculating individuals felt more fear than respect.」
「—There was not a single exception.」
「In this domain, Priscilla was a true god!」
「The reason for this deep-seated, universal awe was simple: ever since she married into this land, every aspect of the territory had flourished. After her husband died and she took full control, this phenomenon became even more pronounced.」
「Disasters were averted... harvests were bountiful... commerce thrived...」
「"Though the commoners and fools are not worth mentioning, since they have the fortune to be born on this mistress's soil, granting them a modicum of mercy is not out of the question."」
「Priscilla made her high-profile declaration. Yet even hearing such remarks, the subjects' attitudes remained unchanged—if anything, they grew more fanatical.」
「However, her contemptuous words were not meant for the fools, but were offered as a "reward" to the frowning "idiot" beside her.」
「During the days he was dragged back and kept in the castle by Priscilla, Hikigaya Hachiman had already learned of these conditions from the steward Schult and Al. But at the time, he lacked Priscilla's permission and hadn't left the castle. This was his first time witnessing it with his own eyes.」
「"Your existence has nourished this region, and a great many people live better lives because of you... So, having saved their bodies, you believe you have the right to trample their dignity? Is that what you're trying to say, Priscilla?"」
「"On the first day this mistress stepped foot here, the ugly poverty and misery of these fools was plain to see. How about it, do you wish to witness it, you self-righteous fool?"」
「Priscilla continued her stride, her haughty gaze never lingering on her subjects for a moment. These people were merely insignificant chips—chips used to overwhelm the one "idiot" she actually cared about.」
「"Parents giving birth to a child and raising them doesn't mean they own that child's entire being. A self-defense force saving hostages from bandits doesn't mean they get to beat them for being in the way or demand their souls as payment... That's my view. Besides, there are plenty of people who have done better than you."」
「Hachiman's refusal to back down made Al tap his helmet, saying with a bit of a headache: "Hey, hey, brother. I roughly get what you're saying with that last part, but isn't it a bit much to use that as a comparison?"」
「"Of course, I didn't mean to compare them directly," Hachiman shook his head. "I'm just stating a stance."」
「Priscilla laughed with disdain. "This mistress does not exist for the sake of fools. To receive even a sliver of this mistress's grace is already their greatest honor."」
「She could continue to make others' lives better, but she had no interest in doing so—she mocked Hachiman's slight attempt at reverse psychology, having no intention of letting him have his way.」
「Not only that, Priscilla squinted at Hachiman for two seconds, and the fan in her hand suddenly danced. First came an unbearable sting, and only then did he realize his chest had been struck.」
「"Pwah...!"」
「He doubled over, gasping for air and coughing up a bit of blood.」
「"To dare use trickery—do you think this mistress is too indulgent with you? Presumptuous fool!"」
「Up until now, every idiot who dared such disrespect was long dead. Priscilla's temper was like an unpredictable sky; no one knew what specific act would trigger her wrath.」
「"Sigh, the Princess has always been like that. You don't have to go looking for trouble, brother... Man, if this keeps up, I'm gonna have a real headache."」
「Al, supporting his fellow countryman, shrugged. Looking at Hachiman's face through his iron helmet, he knew the man was incorrigible.」
「"The Princess's luck is truly terrifying, you know? Though I don't think that means there's zero danger. If she actively heads toward some threatening place or enemy, it's hard to say what would happen... fine, fine, keep being stubborn."」
「Al glanced at Priscilla and whispered: "But at least don't throw your life away."」
「Hachiman was temporarily unable to speak from the pain. He endured it, moving forward step by step with Al's support, following Priscilla back into the castle.」
「The subjects who had watched him get struck looked on with nothing but contempt and rejection. To be punished by Lady Priscilla, he must have done something wrong; by now, this was a deep-seated prejudice rooted in their hearts.」
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These scenes left people feeling nothing but intense fury.
"Prosperity for the subjects? Don't make me laugh. This is clearly just preparation for the Royal Selection to increase her competitiveness. Where is the mercy in that?—Humans are truly vile."
On the roof of the Roswaal mansion, Beatrice—who was waiting for Hikigaya Hachiman to save her—had infinite tolerance for the man she had chosen. Even if he suddenly experienced all sorts of other futures, delaying the time of her liberation, Betty had no complaints.
Because she knew that no matter what, he would definitely come to save her.
But now...
"Betty can tolerate you being late; Betty will allow you to experience other futures; but Betty absolutely, absolutely will not allow you—to live like this!"
Gritting her teeth, Beatrice turned toward Roswaal and said quite rudely: "Whether you want to seek death or not, Betty cannot stop you... but before you die, you must do Betty a favor."
"Go with you to kill Priscilla, right?"
Roswaal's voice didn't sound deathly still; having watched so many of Hachiman's timelines, he seemed to have found a new direction.
He narrowed his eyes slightly.
"The Divine Protection of the Sun, eh..."
There was nothing more to say.
If he was to hand Beatrice over to Hikigaya Hachiman, he naturally had to sweep away any lingering troubles for the man.
Priscilla—she was a potential threat.