Re:Zero EX: "Deceiving Life in Another World from Zero (Azamuku IF)"

The usual April Fools project, updated just in time on the day itself!

This story is part of the IF story series we've had before, but it's a slightly different type. Of course, I wrote it exactly as I wanted to. I hope you enjoy what kind of story it is and that we can meet again in the afterword!

—It was a single mismatched button.

With one slip of the gears, the story twists greatly, and the rails of fate easily change direction. If the intended flow changes, the torrent of destiny tosses people about like fallen leaves.

Even so, if there is a way to reach the unchanging far shore without surrendering... It must be only when an unshakeable, ironclad desire manages to utterly deceive that heavenly mandate.

That once-in-a-lifetime lie is the very meaning of the man's existence.

△▼△▼△▼△

"Hah, hah...!"

Gasping for breath, the girl ran with all her might, pulling a young child by the hand. Desperately, with everything she had, she was still slow. The girl had a disabled leg, and this was an unfamiliar land. —No, if she were to be honest, this was an unfamiliar world to her. A place she didn't recognize, circumstances she didn't understand, a position she knew nothing about. And—,

"Uu! Uu, aa-uu!"

She didn't even know the name of the child who continued to let out wordless cries as she pulled him along.

"—"

Biting her lip hard, the girl pushed away the weakness creeping into her mind and looked forward. Certainly, she understood nothing right now. However, there were things she did know. That she must not let go of this child's hand, and that she must keep running. Amidst all the unknowns, her instincts screamed with the urge to flee. Escaping was the only means allowed to her to express her will to resist.

"That person is...!"

Feeling the pain in her lungs from shortness of breath, she pictured one person in her chaotic mind. A black-haired boy with a sharp gaze, an existence that brought about negative impulses and strange, deep emotions—,

"—Ah, as I thought, a demi-human. Rare."

"—!"

Suddenly, she shuddered at the carefree voice that interrupted her thoughts and snapped her head around. Reflected in the girl's pale blue eyes was a one-eyed woman with an eyepatch running—no, flying—alongside her. A beautiful woman with brown skin mostly exposed to the wind and the beast ears characteristic of a dog-person. At the appearance of the woman flying through the air with a long tree branch in one hand, the child being pulled by the girl also let out a scream. The moment she heard that scream, the girl reflexively tried to swing her free hand to ward the woman off. However—,

"—? You missed. Too bad."

The swing of her arm, thrown off balance, was easily caught, and she was pulled in instead. Their faces were so close their noses almost touched, and in the woman's red eye—the one not covered by the eyepatch—the girl saw her own face reflected. A face she didn't recognize. —A girl's face that didn't even know itself, let alone the world.

"I was told to catch you."

"—Ah."

Immediately after recognizing her own face, the woman's finger was tapped lightly against the center of her chest, and the girl felt a thin shock from the fingertip race through her body. It very easily drained the strength from her limbs, forcing her to her knees on the spot.

"Uu!"

"That child too."

Beside the collapsed girl, the brave child lunged at the woman. But the woman caught him as easily as twisting a baby's arm, and the child received the same shock to his forehead. "Aa-uu?" he cried as his strength left him and he flopped down. As a result, the girl and the child's escape drama came to an abrupt end.

"You... are..."

"Don't worry, I won't do anything bad... I don't know. Sorry."

The woman apologized to the girl, who squeezed out her voice while crawling toward the dizzy child. But it was by no means a comfort, and there was no feeling of being saved by the apology. Whether to take it as sincerity or clumsiness, the girl could not choose either. Reality simply drifted away, just like the child who had lost consciousness before her.

"Let's go, demi-human girl."

"I... am..."

She felt her body being picked up by the woman, but she couldn't resist. Beside her fading consciousness, the girl's lips trembled weakly. Being called a demi-human didn't ring a bell. That said, any other name—,

"—Rem."

That was the name uttered by the black-haired boy, enveloped in a terribly foul stench. It was probably some kind of illusion. —The fact that, to her empty self, that name felt somehow familiar to her ears.

△▼△▼△▼△

—This has turned into a bad situation.

Natsuki Subaru was driven by the resonance of dread and caution racing through his mind like lightning. Why, why, why—he had no time to stop for such questions.

He had to organize his thoughts on the events just prior, the arrival of the long-awaited chance for a reunion, and the sadness that it hadn't come true in the ideal form he'd hoped for. He was supposed to hide that grief and resolve to resist this irrational, absurd dead end by thinking of the precious people he'd been separated from. But however—,

"Kah-kah-kah! Being young is a scary thing! Even for me, I've never seen such reckless, impossible bravado before. Amazing, amazing."

The hoarse voice laughing boisterously was accompanied by a steel hand-blade piercing through his heart. Witnessing the sight of his own heart being plucked from his chest as the hand-strike entered from his back and transfixed his body, Subaru died instantly amidst excruciating pain and shock.

×　　×　　×

"How did a human like you manage to slip past the eyes of the dragons-cha? I don't know-cha, but not knowing is the height of irreverence-cha."

The tantrum of the destructive existence with a lovely appearance carried a gale with a single swing of her arm. Without even needing to touch her slender arm directly, he was carried away by the storm it whipped up and slammed into the castle wall. Subaru felt the pain of every bone in his body shattering and died instantly.

×　　×　　×

"You deceived my eyes. I don't know how. Scary."

The shifting stone statue in the beautiful garden complained of fear and swung down an arm like a marble pillar. He managed to dodge by jumping back once, twice, but it wasn't something that could continue forever. The moment the third strike grazed his leg, he became unable to move, and the fourth strike hit him directly. Subaru was compressed to about one-tenth of his original size and died instantly.

×　　×　　×

"—! Who goes there! Know whose castle this is, you fool!"

The brave, uncompromising, and righteous anger was accompanied by sharp thorns flashing like blades. Entrapped by purple briars covered in those thorns, Subaru's flesh was torn apart. As he lost blood and the thorns of the briars writhed as if possessed by a will, his wounds were eaten away. His consciousness shattered by unbearable pain, he perished.

×　　×　　×

"There he is! Don't let him escape!!" "Insolent fool!" "Do you think you can get away!"

He was cornered by wielders of steel who harbored a sharpened fighting spirit and hunted their prey. Surrounded on all sides with no escape, and with no one listening to his pleas, he was stabbed all over by thrusting blades. Suffering one fatal wound after another, Subaru fell and perished.

×　　×　　×

"In the first place—"

Subaru gnashed his teeth after repeating 'Death' five times, wondering if he had made the wrong choice at the very beginning. At the new starting point of 'Return by Death,' Subaru was already alone. —Being alone here might have been the original mistake. Even at this very moment, thinking about the possibility that she might be suffering the same fate as him made his heart crack and tremble enough to shatter.

What is necessary? What possibility must be obtained? Where is the checkpoint he must reach?

Subaru, who had to cross an incredibly thin and unreliable tightrope to reach the other side no matter what, what exactly did he need to reach?

"————"

In a situation where he had to draw attention, if he moved carelessly, he would be blocked by powerhouses he couldn't possibly handle with his own strength and would have his life taken in an instant. There were many enemies. And not a single one showed mercy. —Those who had no hesitation in killing their opponents were blocking Subaru's path. To break through this, to overcome it, he had to find a thin, small gap of possibility—,

"————"

Running across the neatly trimmed lawn, Subaru headed in a different direction from any of the paths that had been closed off before, and there he found a luxurious detached palace. Flashy and beautiful, but compared to the castle Subaru had been trial-and-erroring in until just now, it was less gaudy, leading him to hope the security might be somewhat lighter. He hoped to at least gain a single piece of information there. With that intent, Subaru broke a window in an unpopulated spot, unlocked it, and tumbled into the palace. The next moment—,

"—Fool."

He had just climbed over the window frame, and his toes were barely touching the floor. Immediately after that heavy, stern voice was heard, Subaru's legs were swept from the side, and he was slammed headfirst onto the floor without mercy.

"Ogoff!"

As he let out a cry of pain and his vision flashed red, the worst-case scenario crossed his mind. After all, in just the last ten minutes or so, Subaru had repeatedly met his end by being killed by completely different opponents in different ways. It was no wonder he braced himself for this to end in the same failure amidst the pain. But—,

"You, how did you slip past the security and break in this far?"

The shock of 'Death' he expected did not fall upon him; instead, there was a question. While grimacing in pain, Subaru saw the person who threw the question at him—the person who had intercepted Subaru as he broke into the palace—from where he lay sprawled on the floor.

"————"

Standing there was a strikingly handsome man with black hair and black eyes, possessing an incredibly sharp and cold impression. Dressed in crimson attire whose high quality was apparent at a glance, the man looked down at Subaru with a sharp, hawk-like gaze. His consciousness stolen by that glare, Subaru froze as if pinned down. —However, it wasn't just the man's gaze that froze Subaru's movements.

"Did you not hear my question? To return not a single answer is an act of irreverence."

With a solemn voice and manner of speech, the handsome man was about to coldly decide Subaru's fate. However, Subaru's consciousness was captured more by the strange occurrence beside the man than by that cruel fact—specifically, by the mysterious thing inside the full-length mirror placed there. Inside the mirror, the reflection of the black-haired man was different. —Reflected there was a man taller than the black-haired one, with white hair, white clothes, and a white mask.

Subaru gasped at the strangeness, and the real handsome man closed one eye and clicked his heel. Then, as if giving a final ultimatum, he issued the question once more.

"There will not be a third time. Answer my question with care."

Subaru blinked at the repeated demand, his consciousness pulled back to reality. At that moment, the figure of the white man in the mirror was nowhere to be seen, and there was only the handsome man looking down at him with an incredibly intimidating attitude. Facing that, Subaru took a breath and then said:

"—My name is Natsuki Subaru."

It was an answer inappropriate for any of the questions the man had asked. Subaru himself, even looking back later, couldn't think of a proper reason why he had introduced himself by his real name without lying. It was likely just an intuitive answer produced by a mind that had gone haywire after repeating irrational and absurd 'Deaths' many times in a short period.

Hearing Subaru's answer, which could have easily rubbed the man the wrong way, the handsome man—,

"—The 'Little Girl User' of Lugunica?"

He muttered, furrowing his well-shaped brows and wearing an expression of confusion that didn't suit his arrogant face—a face that looked as if it held every event in this world in the palm of its hand.

—That was the first mismatched button.

The encounter between Natsuki Subaru, who had been sent to the Sacred Empire of Vollachia in an unexpected way, and 'Vincent Vollachia,' the pinnacle of the nation of the Sword Wolf—two men who deceive fate, whose destinies were never meant to cross.

△▼△▼△▼△

"—I brought them."

The one who walked boldly into the palace's office with those words was a girl with brown skin, an unusual amount of exposure, an eyepatch over her left eye, dog ears, and an absolute overload of attributes. Subaru was surprised by the girl's appearance, but when he saw her carrying Rem on her slender shoulder and tucking another unnecessary person under her arm, he hurriedly ran over, crying, "Rem!"

"Are you hurt anywhere... op-possum!"

"It's surprising, so don't just come at me."

The moment he tried to check if she was safe, a toe was driven into his defenseless solar plexus, and Subaru groaned in agony. The girl with the eyepatch had simply lifted her bare foot casually, but it wasn't just leg strength; it was a technique that accurately gouged a vital point—no, it was a brutal, natural footwork that didn't even require calculation. But even as his internal organs were gouged by the impact, Subaru staggered over to Rem, who was carried on the girl's shoulder, checked the redness of her cheeks and her breathing, and let out a sigh of relief.

"...She seems fine. She'll wake up for sure, right?"

"I just put her to sleep. She'll wake up soon. This child too."

"I don't care about that one. In fact, I'd prefer if that one stayed asleep forever."

"...Complicated relationship?"

"Not really. Rem is important, that one isn't. That's all."

Subaru directed a sharp gaze at the blonde girl held under the girl's other arm. At that declaration, the girl—Arakia—rounded her single red eye and curled her lip. Apparently, she didn't like Subaru's answer, but he wasn't sorry because it was the truth. He couldn't pretend otherwise. —Unlike Rem, who was brave, harmless, hardworking, and kind, that girl was a great villain who had piled up unforgivable sins.

"—Louis Arneb."

Subaru whispered the name of the girl—the Sin Archbishop of 'Gluttony.' She seemed to be asleep now, but she was one of the enemies who had tormented Subaru and made him taste hell during the battle at the Pleiades Watchtower. It was a mystery why she, who was supposed to be an existence without a physical body, had manifested with a real body, but it couldn't be for anything good. In any case—,

"Thank you for not hurting Rem. You are..."

"Arakia."

"Thank you, Arakia-chan! I owe you one!"

Subaru bowed deeply and expressed his gratitude to the girl—Arakia. She probably didn't have a good impression of Subaru because of how he treated Louis just now, but Subaru felt a strong sense of gratitude and debt toward Arakia. And the one who ordered Arakia to do so was—,

"You've been a great help. Um..."

"—I am Vincent Vollachia."

"————"

"I am the 77th Emperor of the Sacred Empire of Vollachia, Vincent Vollachia."

The one who introduced himself to Subaru again was the black-haired handsome man sitting behind the ebony desk. He was the person who had intercepted Subaru when he broke into the palace and had almost executed him for his insolence, and if what he just said was true, he was the supreme authority of the Empire.

"Arakia-chan?"

"It's true. ...A little bit of a lie?"

"A little bit of a lie?"

"Arakia, do not speak unnecessary words. —If you wish to take back what you truly desire, act so as not to offend my mood."

"...Mm."

Arakia, responding to Subaru's look of confirmation, was rebuked by the man—Vincent—and nodded with a slightly dissatisfied face. Arakia then placed Rem and Louis on the reception sofa to let them sleep. Subaru wanted to separate the two sleeping girls as much as possible, but since he wasn't in a position or atmosphere to assert that, he endured it by just clenching his fists.

After all, this was the Sacred Empire of Vollachia. The culture and common sense of this different world that Subaru had spent a year learning were different from the very soil here; it was the Imperial Capital where a person of noble standing from the neighboring country of the Kingdom of Lugunica resided.

"So? 'Little Girl User,' explain yourself once more."

"...I'd prefer if you called me Natsuki Subaru. As you can see, I don't have that lovely, charming, pretty girl who suits that title by my side right now."

"What about this child?"

"She's a girl who is neither lovely, charming, nor pretty."

Subaru responded bluntly to Arakia, who pointed at Louis and asked. Then, turning his gaze back to Vincent, the Emperor closed one of his black eyes and said,

"Speak, Natsuki Subaru."

"...No matter how many times you ask, it won't change much. We were at the 'Sage's' tower at the eastern edge of Lugunica. Various things happened at the tower, but I'll skip that... In the end, the 'Witch of Envy' partially overflowed from the shrine near the Great Waterfall and swallowed us. Then, when I realized it, I had been sent to the grounds of this castle..."

"...Sounds like a lie. A lie?"

"I think it sounds incredibly suspicious even as I'm saying it, but on the flip side, I have no reason to utter a story that is nothing but lies, so I want you to believe me...!"

He had listed the facts, but Arakia rightly doubted him. However, Subaru was the one who wanted an explanation of the circumstances. He had just finished the battle with the 'Gluttonies' at the Pleiades Watchtower, lost someone he didn't want to lose under the name of a 'Trial,' and just as his frayed heart was showing signs of calming down, this happened.

"Right now, Emilia-tan, Beako, and the others must be worried sick... To think we're suddenly in the Empire, and on the grounds of the castle in the Imperial Capital at that."

"Contrary to your skill in infiltration, you are currently the most likely candidate for a spy with low-level excuses. If there is anything noteworthy, it is that you introduced yourself as Natsuki Subaru."

"...It's not a lie, it's the truth, but did that have much meaning?"

"That the 'Little Girl User' is the knight of one of the Royal Selection candidates is a story known even in the Empire. The threat of the Witch Cult and the Three Great Demon Beasts is not something Vollachia views from the opposite shore."

"I see..."

"A non-aggression pact has been signed between the Empire and the Kingdom. I could even claim that your very existence has broken that pact... but..."

"No, please spare me from that."

It would be unbearable if Subaru's careless self-introduction caused the two countries to enter a state of war. In the first place, this was truly an unfortunate misunderstanding, an unexpected accident. Subaru had no means to explain it, and it was pathetic that his only move was to desperately plead that the lie-like facts were the truth—,

"Oh my, oh my, isn't that a bit too much of a threat, Your Excellency? I don't think we have the luxury of picking a fight with the Kingdom right now."

"—! W-Who is it!?"

Startled by the sudden voice of a third party, Subaru spun around. A suspicious person was peeking through a small opening in the office door, and their eyes met. The suspicious person waved at Subaru and opened the door with a shameless smile. Then, walking boldly into the office, they said,

"I have come in accordance with the mandate of heaven, Your Excellency."

"I don't recall calling for you."

"I told you, didn't I? It's in accordance with the mandate of heaven. I rarely get a turn, so I have to act properly as a 'Stargazer' when the opportunity arises."

The person responding to the Emperor, Vincent, with a flickering smile was a gentle-looking man with long grey hair. He had a different atmosphere from the soldiers he'd seen in the castle or the several transcendent beings he'd encountered; from what Subaru could see, he didn't look like the type who could fight.

"Um, this person is..."

"I hate him."

"I want to know his position, not your likes or dislikes."

"Ah, sorry, sorry. I'm not very considerate at times like this. For now, I'm Ubilk, the one who does the 'Stargazing' here in the Crystal Palace. Please, make my acquaintance, Mr. 'Stargazer' of the Kingdom."

"The Kingdom's 'Stargazer'?"

Called that by the man—Ubilk—who still wore a flickering smile, Subaru tilted his head at the unfamiliar term. However, before Subaru could confirm its meaning,

"Natsuki Subaru is a 'Stargazer'? Are you certain?"

"If you ask if I'm certain, I have no way of confirming since the Kingdom is outside my jurisdiction... but regarding that, I suspect Your Excellency had reached a similar inference."

"You think a mere puppet of the stars like you can fathom my intentions?"

"Oh no, no, I wouldn't dream of such a lofty goal as fathoming the thoughts of His Imperial Excellency Vincent Vollachia. ...I just wanted to offer a word."

"—. Speak."

"I have read the stars. —He will be of use to Your Excellency."

Ubilk jerked his chin and evaluated Subaru in a light tone. Receiving that, Subaru pointed at himself and involuntarily said, "Me?" Honestly, combined with the mysterious 'Stargazer' treatment, he thought a conversation was taking place over his head, even though it was about him.

"Considering the relationship with the Kingdom, cutting off future troubles might create an inescapable grudge. If so, I think it's wiser to add him to your hand. After all, you have a convenient hostage right there, don't you? It'll make things quick for both of you, right?"

"A convenient hostage... are you talking about Rem? That's...!"

"Haha, you're an honest one. If you had insisted that the young lady with you had no value as a hostage, the story might have changed a bit."

"Guh, nu...!"

"Or would you like to try rephrasing it now? That the young lady with you is a worthless existence to you, Natsuki Subaru-san..."

"Huh? Rem is a precious existence I wouldn't trade even for my own life, though?"

Having been baited into saying that, Subaru saw Ubilk's smile deepen and put a hand to his forehead, realizing he had completely fallen into the other's trap. That said, he couldn't say Rem was worthless to him even as a lie.

"I'm not Otto. I can't say something so contrary to my heart."

‘I don't appreciate you making negotiations in times of crisis sound like a bad personality!’

An imaginary Otto shouted loudly in the corner of Subaru's mind. Dismissing him with a wave of his hand, Subaru looked toward Vincent. Vincent was resting his finger on his slender chin, seemingly weighing Ubilk's proposal. From his expression, it was clear he had already reached an answer. And as expected—,

"—Natsuki Subaru, the situation you are in is by no means bright. Regardless of the truth of your low-level explanation of circumstances, it is a fact that you have set foot in my country. And at the height of a national crisis where the Empire will henceforth be in a state of war."

"A state of war... does that mean there's going to be a war!? With who... where!?"

"Here."

Subaru, who had panicked and dropped his polite speech, wasn't rebuked; instead, Vincent tapped the floor with his toe. For a moment, Subaru didn't connect that to the answer to his question and blinked. But he soon understood the meaning,

"Here... you mean, an internal conflict within the Empire?"

"Yes. Over the throne of this Empire, the Emperor and the rebels shall clash."

"————"

Confirmed with the fact of a war—a civil war—Subaru was momentarily speechless. Reaching out a hand to the speechless Subaru, Vincent declared. With the gaze and face of an absolute powerhouse, like a bird of prey, the Vollachian Emperor declared:

"Regardless of the circumstances, if you wish to survive, you shall accompany me, Natsuki Subaru. —To ensure that the Empire remains as it should be, in the hands of none other than Vincent Vollachia."

—This has truly turned into a bad situation.

"————"

At Vincent Vollachia's declaration, Subaru felt the greatest explosion of anger in his chest toward the irrationality of fate since he was summoned to this different world. He had encountered many irrational situations before. The hardships at the Pleiades Watchtower just before this could be said to be the most times he'd been pummeled by irrationality. Even so, those still had continuity. One could say there was a path where the situation gradually worsened until he was pushed into an irrational state.

Yet, this one lacked that. Subaru coming to the Vollachian Empire was nothing but a pure irrationality without any warning. It wouldn't have been strange if he had been sent not to the Imperial Capital of Vollachia, but to a more remote area, or even to the Kararagi City-States or the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko, yet he was sent here. If this wasn't called irrationality, what was—,

"Ah."

"Uu, mm..."

Suddenly, Arakia, noticing something, spoke up, followed by Rem stirring on the sofa. Recognizing that as a sign of awakening, Subaru turned to Rem as if spring-loaded. He knelt beside her on the sofa and waited for the eyelids fringed with lashes to slowly open. He saw himself reflected dimly in her pale blue eyes, and—,

"Rem! Thank goodness, are you okay? Does it hurt anywhere? Are you injured, or do you feel sick? If there's anything wrong, immediately..."

"—! Why are you here!"

"Gwo-hway!"

Even as he worried about her condition, the awakened Rem suddenly pushed Subaru away. Blown back by that unreserved force, Subaru flew along a trajectory where Ubilk happened to be. "Aah-ray?" Ubilk said, rounding his eyes as he was caught in the collateral damage of the flying Subaru, and the two of them rolled to the corner of the room in a heap. Ignoring Subaru and the other, Rem sat up on the sofa and scanned her surroundings,

"A-Where is that child... wait, you! From before!"

"...Your Excellency?"

"—. This is the Emperor's detached palace. It is far too noisy."

Seeing Arakia, Rem sharpened her guard. At Rem's gaze, Arakia turned her sleepy eyes toward Vincent, and the Emperor let out a quiet sigh. Just as the Emperor said, it was a situation that lacked a sense of tension—,

"Uu—?"

Louis, who woke up late, rubbed her eyes and tilted her head curiously, which was the scene that lacked the most tension.

△▼△▼△▼△

—Illegal entry into the detached palace where His Imperial Excellency Vincent Vollachia resided, in the 'Crystal Palace' located at the northern end of Lupgana, the Imperial Capital of the Sacred Empire of Vollachia.

That was the crime Subaru and Rem had committed, which would surely have seen them executed about seven times. If judged by Imperial law, Subaru and the others were confirmed criminals, but the reason they weren't executed wasn't because of a stylish arrangement by a merciful and compassionate Emperor—of course not.

"As for me, I would prefer to sequester personnel like you, who are difficult to handle, until the most pressing matters are resolved, and exclude the option of even adding you to the agenda."

"You say that very clearly, that I'm a nuisance."

"Are you not aware of it yourself? In this situation, to introduce yourself by the name of a knight involved in Lugunica's Royal Selection, regardless of its truth, is something that invites unnecessary calamity."

"...Unfortunately, in the Kingdom, my name is well-known enough that people wave to me on the street."

Even as he said that, Subaru was reflecting on whether it had been reckless to introduce himself so carelessly. However, if he had said or done anything other than giving the name Natsuki Subaru in that place, he might have been killed by Vincent without question. Since Vincent had shown a willingness to listen, confronting him must have been the right choice.

"The others were coming for my life without question..."

"Rather, I am impressed that your head is still so well-connected to your torso. ...The fact that you headed straight for the detached palace where His Excellency was also plays a part in my suspicion."

Regarding that point, it was a process of elimination because all other routes led straight to a Bad End, but it was obvious that this squinty-eyed old man wouldn't be convinced by that explanation. Imperial Prime Minister, Berstetz Fondalfon. —That was the name and title of this squinty-eyed old man, and it was a clear reason for him to be wary of Subaru, an outsider.

"I know it doesn't matter what I say, but I don't have any schemes or motives. If I'm being honest, I want to go back to Lugunica as soon as possible."

"As you say, it doesn't matter what you say. In the current situation where cross-border travel has been restricted, it is also difficult to commit the folly of sending you back to that land while the suspicion of being an agent has not been cleared."

"Flowingly preaching the logical argument..."

At Berstetz's uncompromising words, Subaru sighed and slumped his shoulders. The location was a corner of the Imperial Capital Lupgana, the mansion where Berstetz resided. Subaru's person, having received a lenient sentence for the crime of illegal entry into the detached palace, was currently placed in the Prime Minister's mansion. Berstetz, who was held in high regard by the Emperor, Vincent, did not relax his guard against Subaru at all, yet he correctly fulfilled the duty of taking custody of him. Subaru, while feeling the prickliness of Berstetz's unconcealed suspicion, had no major complaints about his treatment.

If he had to say, his only regret was that he had been successfully played by Vincent's intentions and was unable to take active steps to return to the Kingdom. Or perhaps, the biggest reason their persons were entrusted to Berstetz's mansion, which had security even more formidable than the Crystal Palace or its detached palace, was—,

"—I'm back-cha."

After finishing the interrogation from Berstetz, on his way back to his assigned room, Subaru witnessed a flying dragon landing in the mansion's garden with a swirl of wind, and a small figure dismounting from its back. Standing there was a girl with sky-blue hair and two black horns—a dragon-person with a lovely appearance. Contrary to her cute looks, she was a dragon-person with unbelievable combat power.

"Madelyn-chan."

"...Is it you-cha, human. Don't call a dragon '-chan' so casually-cha."

The returning dragon-person girl, Madelyn, noticed Subaru calling her name and gave a small snort. Subaru often passed Madelyn, who seemed to be under Berstetz's protection just like them, in this mansion and had chances to see her. However, every time her attitude was like this, prickly, so he wouldn't say they had built a good relationship. She was prickly not just toward Subaru, but toward everyone in the mansion—,

"First General Madelyn, how was it? Those who seek the release of First General Goz..."

"I kicked them around-cha. I'm telling you, dragons have no obligation to consider your trivial circumstances-cha, so I literally kicked them around-cha."

"It does not matter. If His Imperial Excellency ordered you to suppress them, and you did what was judged necessary because you were needed for that, then that is the correct answer for the Empire."

"Hmph, what a boring old man-cha."

Madelyn shrugged at Berstetz's answer. On her back was a weapon—a boomerang—nearly as large as her small frame. There was blood here and there on the boomerang, and there was no doubt that the blood she couldn't wipe off was related to the 'suppression' the two were talking about.

"First General Madelyn Eschart and First General Goz Ralfon..."

Subaru whispered those names and thought of the city of the Imperial Capital beyond the walls surrounding the mansion—the orderly rows of buildings—and organized the various relationships swirling there in his head. When he was first sent here, Subaru had almost no knowledge of the Vollachian Empire and could only wander around in confusion, but thanks to his life in the mansion over the past few days, there were things he had come to understand.

For example, that Madelyn in front of him was a member of the 'Nine Divine Generals,' the highest-ranking combatants who were only given the rank of First General in the Empire. Also, that a person named Goz Ralfon, who was also a member of the 'Nine Divine Generals' and famous as the 'Lion Knight,' had rebelled against the Emperor and was currently imprisoned in the Crystal Palace's dungeon, and that confusion was spreading among the soldiers due to the reckless act of Goz, who had been deeply trusted by his subordinates. Just now, the group Madelyn said she had kicked around was a group of soldiers who had come to petition for the pardon or release of the imprisoned Goz. Since siding with Goz, who had turned his blade against the Emperor, meant they also had the potential to become rebels, he could understand that kind of response.

"I think it every day, but the culture is too different..."

Subaru wouldn't go so far as to say that the Kingdom of Lugunica was as safe and peaceful as modern Japan—he'd died too many times in the Kingdom to say that—but the Vollachian Empire clearly had different rules from the Kingdom, and he struggled greatly to distinguish between common sense and insanity. But he couldn't afford to whine.

"If I lose heart, Rem will be in trouble. For Rem's sake too..."

"—What about me?"

"Uwo-hyo-hoy!?"

Just as he slapped his cheeks to psych himself up, he was called from behind. Subaru jumped with his hands still sandwiching his cheeks, turning around in an 'Acchon-burike' state. Then, an impact hugged his waist from the front with a "Uu!", nearly knocking him over.

"Louis-chan, don't get too close. You'll be told mean things again."

"Uu-aa-uu?"

"That's right. Just as Rem says. I'll say mean things to you. Don't cling to me."

"Aa—, aa-uu-aa—uu."

Subaru, who managed to stay upright, pulled the girl—Louis—off his waist and tossed her aside. Louis dodged it with cat-like agility and, after making a face like an abandoned kitten, returned to the girl who had opened her arms for her. Embracing Louis's return, Rem directed a reproachful gaze at Subaru and said,

"How can you be so cold to such a small child? I don't understand."

"Rem, I've told you many times, that thing is a bomb disguised as a child. She's behaving now, but there's no telling when she'll explode. Just believe me here..."

"...Believe you, when you smell so foul? Impossible."

"————"

"What is with that look of being deeply moved?"

"No, being told I'm smelly by you is so nostalgic, I'm just touched."

"Huh?"

The reaction from Rem, who was hugging Louis, was distant; for the most part, Subaru's feelings weren't being received very positively. Since she had no 'memories' and could only sense the miasma Subaru carried with her nose, he knew it was difficult to ask her to believe him implicitly, so he endured the pain.

"Compared to when we couldn't even have this kind of exchange, this is truly a world of difference..."

"...I really don't understand you."

Even if he was treated coldly, Subaru smiled, his happiness outweighing the pain. Rem seemed to be in a complex state of mind, unable to say anything. Still, the reason she didn't completely push Subaru away despite the miasma was because of the first event at the Crystal Palace—when Subaru, realizing they'd been sent to a dangerous place, acted as a decoy to let Rem and Louis (strictly speaking, just Rem) escape. She was making an effort to accept and understand that devotion.

In fact, Subaru had ended up 'Returning by Death' many times, so he was truly, truly relieved that that threat hadn't fallen upon Rem. That said, he'd be happy if they could get a little closer. For example—,

"Demi-human girl, the dragon has returned-cha. Help with the bath-cha."

"Yes, Madelyn-san, I understand."

To the point where she could calmly respond to such arrogant demands, like the relationship between Rem and Madelyn.

"First General Madelyn and Rem-dono have become quite close."

Berstetz spoke the very thing Subaru had been thinking. Even looking at the old man's profile, nothing could be read from the squinty eyes that didn't even show his pupils. Whether he welcomed the relationship between the two or loathed it, he couldn't even tell that much.

"Berstetz-san, you're not a demi-human collector, are you?"

"If that means a collector of precious lineages, I cannot deny it in a broad sense. Strong species have weak power to protect their blood, contrary to their individual strength. Thinking of the Empire's future, they should be treated with care so they do not die out."

"The Empire's future, you say..."

"Are you interested in the details? 'Little Girl User'-dono of the Kingdom."

"Need-not-to-know..."

Raising both hands, Subaru signaled that he had withdrawn his unnecessary curiosity. Curiosity killed the cat, they say, but in the Empire, that rule actually applied. The Empire, which showed no mercy even to cute cats, would have no hesitation toward the un-cute Subaru. However—,

"Regardless of whether Dragon-person Madelyn-chan is precious or whatever, Rem is my Rem."

"Huh? Don't say such selfish things. I can hear you."

"I'm not saying it so you can't hear."

"Uu!"

Rem, who had sharp ears and caught the conversation, made a difficult face at Subaru's answer. Louis, who was clinging to her waist, seemed to be in a good mood, grinning as if she were having fun. It was a hassle to have Subaru clinging to him, but it was also mentally taxing to have her acting like she was attached to Rem like that. Just as Subaru thought about prying Louis away from Rem by force.

"Natsuki Subaru-dono, are you there!"

Called loudly by name, Subaru rounded his eyes, wondering what was happening. Turning around, he saw a tall figure standing at the mansion's entrance, and seeing that it was a refined young man with short green hair, Subaru curled his lip. He didn't remember him clearly, but he recognized the young man's face. —They were 'friends' who had killed him once.

"I'm Natsuki Subaru."

"I am Kafma Irulux, and I hold the rank of Second General of the glorious Vollachian Empire. Natsuki Subaru-dono, His Imperial Excellency calls for you."

Kafma came before the hand-raising Subaru and announced with a polite bow. Hearing that he was being summoned by the Emperor, Subaru took a breath. The Emperor, who must be spending his time busily, wouldn't call Subaru without reason. In other words—,

"Kafma-san, do you know why His Imperial Excellency called for me?"

"I do not have the authority to convey His Imperial Excellency's words in advance. What is necessary for you, His Excellency will surely reveal without error."

Kafma's answer was the most soldier-like of any he'd spoken with so far. His attitude of directing absolute trust and loyalty toward the Emperor made him seem like the only knight in an Empire that had no knights, now that the man called the 'Lion Knight' was imprisoned as a rebel. In any case—,

"—Rem, I'm going for a bit. I might be late, so you can go ahead and eat dinner."

"Don't say such silly things. ...Be careful."

Reluctantly and hesitantly, that last sentence alone gave him an unbelievable amount of energy, and Subaru smiled, feeling like he could work hard forever.

△▼△▼△▼△

"...I did think I could work hard forever, but I thought that a bit too lightly."

"What. Do you have a complaint?"

"Of course I do!"

Resting his rear on the seat of a high-class ground dragon carriage, Subaru, who was resting his cheek on his hand on his knee, spoke back to the cold-blooded Emperor who had asked the obvious. At Subaru's retort, the black-haired Emperor shrugged slightly,

"You should be aware of your own circumstances, which are more than complicated—they are even abominable."

"Abominable is going too far. I'm aware of my complicated position, and since you're overlooking things, I do feel I have to respond with something. But..."

"————"

"Being separated from Rem and brought this far away is not what I agreed to!"

Subaru, exploding with dissatisfaction, was currently accompanying Vincent on an expedition. After being led to the castle by Kafma, who had come to Berstetz's mansion, Vincent had imperiously ordered Subaru, without saying much, to "Accompany me on an expedition." He was swept along and put into the carriage, and now he was here.

"Kafma-san said that His Imperial Excellency would tell me everything I needed to know without hiding anything?"

"Kafma Irulux's words are correct. I do not hesitate to disclose information necessary for you."

"Despite that, other than the fact that our destination is a city called Chaosflame, nothing has reached my ears?"

"Is it necessary? Information beyond that."

"Yes, it is!"

An expedition where you're told nothing but the destination is practically an old-fashioned variety show. It would be impossible in this day and age due to compliance violations, and considering the fear of being forced into harsh labor overseas, it might be closer to a modern 'dark part-time job.' Either way, it was an act that was 'out' according to ethics.

However, the Emperor, the mastermind himself, gave a small snort,

"Looking at your current appearance, one would not think you are someone harboring anxiety about the future."

He said it indifferently, without any sense of guilt. Subaru knew what Vincent was talking about. He was likely referring to the current Subaru reflected in his black eyes—no, Natsumi Schwartz. With a long, beautiful black hair wig and military attire tailored to hide his body shape. With makeup perfectly applied, he was a completed lady form no matter how you looked at it.

"However, I don't like you saying meaningful things while pointing at me like this."

"...Is there any meaning in continuing the disguise before me, who knows your true identity?"

"I don't know where a slip-up might occur. Are you listening? They say God is in the details, and that is what it means to be sincere."

"————"

"In the first place, the reason I'm accompanying you as Natsumi Schwartz is to meet Your Imperial Excellency's wishes. Circumstances being what they are, I can't just leave a record of me being involved in the Empire's internal conflict."

Subaru (Schwartz) wasn't an expert on international friction, but he knew that so-called interference in internal affairs—cooperation that jumped over national borders—could lead to bad consequences even if it was a good deed. Simply put, it wouldn't end as a beautiful story of a knight associated with the Kingdom lending a hand in the Empire's crisis; that was the difference between a fairy tale and reality.

"So, that's where Natsumi Schwartz comes in."

"—. If you have no doubts about yourself, I do not care. As long as your work is certain, I do not intend to place shackles on an individual's hobbies and preferences."

"Hobbies...?"

"I have no intention of engaging in silly questions and answers. You were the one who asked for an explanation. It seems you are not like Ubilk, who understands without hearing anything."

"I'd appreciate it if you didn't lump me in with that person of unknown position. By the way, what exactly is he? A professional jester who entertains a medieval king?"

"He is certainly a jester-like being, but his role is not to relieve my boredom. Of course, the role expected of you is the same. It was he who recommended you for this expedition."

"...Ubilk-san recommended me."

Thinking of the flickering smile of the gentle man, Natsumi Schwartz tilted her head. From the very beginning, Ubilk had approached Natsumi Schwartz with a mysterious sense of distance. Even more inexplicable was the reaction of Vincent and the other heavyweights who acknowledged Ubilk's influence. Ubilk, who was called a 'Stargazer.' —If that position was the prophet-like standing Natsumi Schwartz vaguely guessed, it was a common setting in fantasy. The problem was that there was a high possibility of a real prophet existing in this world, and according to the story of the man suspected of being a prophet, Natsumi Schwartz was also feared to be one of them.

"I don't think we're the same, but it's frustrating that I can't explain the reason."

Natsumi Schwartz's 'Return by Death' could be called a preview of the future, if phrased differently. Natsumi Schwartz simply thought of it as cheating on the future, but the sight of her knowing an approaching threat through 'Return by Death' and taking measures to avoid it could easily be seen as prophet-like.

"Actually, a prophet who is a mysterious beauty getting close to a person in power is a classic of classics. But I'd be troubled if I were misunderstood. ...Especially when the condition of 'Return by Death' is strange."

Natsumi Schwartz's concern, muttered to herself, was the anomaly occurring in 'Return by Death.' Until she met Vincent at the Crystal Palace, Natsumi Schwartz had repeated 'Return by Death' many times, but the background for that was not only the Imperial citizens' lack of hesitation in killing, but also the narrow time interval from the point of death to the restart point. Naturally, the closer the restart point was to 'Death,' the fewer options she had and the less time she had to take measures. Because of that, Natsumi Schwartz had tasted terrifying 'Deaths' many times. That inexplicable anomaly in 'Return by Death'—Natsumi Schwartz speculated that it might be related to the fact that this was the Vollachian Empire, not the Kingdom of Lugunica.

"I don't want to rely much on Echidna's, that ill-natured witch's, point, but..."

If the one making Natsumi Schwartz 'Return by Death' was the 'Witch of Envy,' there was a physical distance between the 'Witch' sealed at the eastern end of the Kingdom and Subaru in the Empire. Simply put, couldn't it be said that the Witch's authority was becoming harder to reach? If so, for example, if she lost her life at the western end of the great nation of Kararagi, what would happen to Natsumi Schwartz's 'Return by Death'—she had no means to test it, nor did she want to verify it.

"Anyway, I've been brought here even after being separated from Rem. At the very least, I want to fulfill my job. You have to explain it to me, even if it's a hassle."

"Do you give orders to me, knowing I am the Emperor? I told you that I do not need clumsy, feigned respect, but you certainly switch gears quickly."

"It doesn't seem like I'm going to vanish like dew on the guillotine for now, right?"

"The guillotine, is it. —To bring up the 'Guillotine of Magritza' here is an ironic story."

"—?"

"It was an unnecessary comment. —The purpose of bringing you to the Demon City is not a difficult story. It is to exchange words with one of the 'Nine Divine Generals,' Yorna Mishigure."

"Yorna Mishigure... if I recall, she is the one with the alias 'Iris'..."

Natsumi Schwartz spoke the results of her diligent information gathering, showing she hadn't just been playing around. Vincent gave no reaction to Natsumi Schwartz, only silently and quietly pulling back his chin. Subaru thought that Vincent's poor ability to satisfy his subordinates' desire for recognition might be the reason why a person named Goz Ralfon had rebelled. Ignoring Subaru's suspicion, Vincent began to speak calmly. That was—,

"Arakia, whom I sent to suppress the rebels, did not return. We must assume she was either killed or taken into custody."

"—! Arakia-chan!?"

Natsumi Schwartz opened her eyes, which were framed by neat lashes, in surprise at the unexpected information. Since the first day, Natsumi Schwartz hadn't had a single chance to see Arakia, but she felt a one-sided sense of gratitude toward her. —When Natsumi Schwartz encountered Vincent, gave her name, and was provided a seat at the negotiation table, she had asked Vincent for Rem's safe securing, and Arakia was the one who had accomplished that perfectly.

If Rem had been found by any of the people who had mercilessly taken Natsumi Schwartz's life, she might have been struck by an unforgivable misfortune by now. That's why she thought of Arakia as her benefactor—,

"Why didn't you tell me!?"

"There was no reason to. She is a First General of the Empire; her whereabouts are a state secret. Consider it an exceptional case that I am telling you now."

"————"

"For certain reasons, now that 'First' cannot be used, Arakia, who was 'Second,' was the Empire's greatest combat power. If Arakia cannot be used, including the matter of Goz Ralfon, we need the 'Nine Divine Generals' to declare their stance cautiously."

"For that purpose..."

"Yes."

Natsumi Schwartz looked down as Vincent nodded, crossing his arms. In her chest, her heart, beating with a cold rhythm, was in pain; even now, she hadn't finished processing the misfortune that had befallen Arakia. She understood Vincent's argument. But if Vincent had shared the fact as soon as something happened to Arakia...

"With 'Return by Death'..."

She might have been able to save Arakia. Knowing it was a premature thought since her safety was unknown, the possibility still flickered in Natsumi Schwartz's mind.

"Besides, as far as I know, Yorna Mishigure-san is..."

"She has rebelled against me twice in the past."

"Right!? In this situation, is it okay to visit such a person head-on?"

Vincent's reign, which had already lasted eight years, was apparently an exceptionally peaceful era in the Empire's history, and Natsumi Schwartz had learned in the past few days that Vincent was called the 'Wise Emperor' and gathered support from the common people. In such a reign of Vincent, the one who had staged a proper rebellion, not just a fleeting one, and repeatedly clashed with him was 'Iris' Yorna Mishigure.

"As far as I can think, she's definitely not someone who would miss this opportunity."

"I will go directly to confirm that. That is all."

"The person in an irreplaceable position taking the lead... the Imperial Spirit is terrifying..."

Natsumi Schwartz slumped her shoulders, and Vincent reacted to the unfamiliar word "Spirit." She decided not to translate modern words unless asked, as a small act of retaliation, and Natsumi Schwartz firmly kept in mind the role expected of her in the 'Demon City' Chaosflame.

Setting aside Ubilk's intentions, what Vincent expected of Natsumi Schwartz was, roughly speaking, something like a 'precautionary measure.' She didn't know how much Natsumi Schwartz's achievements in the Kingdom of Lugunica were known in the Vollachian Empire, but no matter what kind of exaggerated rumors were spread, seeing the real Natsumi Schwartz would have led to the understanding, with disappointment, that she wasn't such a great person. On the other hand, if the facts linked to those achievements couldn't be ignored, then a 'precautionary measure' could be said to be the best role expected of her.

Therefore, Natsumi Schwartz almost slapped her cheeks, but stopped, fearing the makeup might get ruined. Instead, she tossed her long, glossy black hair like a 'good woman' and said,

"I understand, Your Imperial Excellency. For now, I will do my best to ensure you can return to the Imperial Capital safely no matter what happens. I'm quite good at being a 'measure'!"

"—. I do not know what you are burning with motivation for, but strive with all your soul. Do not forget that your precious things are being held hostage in Berstetz's mansion."

"Even if you don't go out of your way to threaten me, Emilia-tan, Beako, and Rem are always in a corner of my mind twenty-four-seven!"

She had just gotten motivated regardless of such threats, yet the Emperor went out of his way to dampen her spirits. —Since he angered even the deeply loyal Goz Ralfon, perhaps Vincent really was the one in the wrong.

With a hint of unease in her heart, Natsumi Schwartz smoothly continued her journey to the destination, the 'Demon City' Chaosflame. And—,

△▼△▼△▼△

"The enemy of my late sister—black hair, black eyes, traveler!!"

She was a woman with the ends of her black hair dyed blue, harboring a brave and fierce hatred in her eyes. The moment the sound of the bowstring she pulled with great force was heard cutting through the air, Natsumi Schwartz pushed the Emperor beside her away and had her side gouged out by the arrow.

"—ka"

Natsumi Schwartz fell, feeling the sensation of drowning as the rising blood blocked her throat. Witnessing that scene, the protected Emperor—Vincent Vollachia—hardened his cheeks and rushed to Natsumi Schwartz, who was spreading blood on the ground.

"Natsumi Schwartz! You, doing something so unlike you...!"

"Unlike me, you say... I make 'one good deed a day' my motto..."

"Still talking back even in this state... tsk, it's a deep wound."

Natsumi Schwartz put a hand to the wound to try and stop the flowing blood, and feeling that the flesh of her side was completely missing, she regretted becoming aware of the wound. Half of her abdomen was blown away. No matter how she thought about it, it was a fatal wound; there was no way she could be saved. However, Vincent picked up Natsumi Schwartz's body and began to move.

"What are you doing... you have to escape..."

"I have no objection. Therefore, I am doing exactly that. You should just look at the sky."

"The sky... that just makes me feel worse..."

Answering with a hollow voice, Natsumi Schwartz looked up at the sky of Chaosflame. The Demon City, where various races lived, had the architectural styles of all races intertwined as if they had forgotten the spirit of compromise, realizing a 'dark pot' style of city-building, which was a characteristic of Chaosflame. —Now, there was no trace of it.

What currently dominated the city was not the sight of liberation built upon freedom, but the battle of transcendent beings that exceeded human knowledge, destroying, twisting, and crushing the cityscape.

"Kah-kah-kah! I didn't think we'd clash like this, Araki-yo!"

"If you don't like it, back off."

"Giving orders with such a look in this city? Know who the master here is."

Countless explosions spread in midair, and the shadow of a strange old man jumped around using the roofs of buildings as footholds. Chasing him was a dog-person girl who had replaced her legs from the knees down with flames. And the one who interrupted both clashing parties was a fox-person in courtesan style, who rebuilt the city using writhing iron towers as footholds—,

—'Vicious Old Man' Olbart Dunkelkenn. —'Spirit Eater' Arakia. —'Iris' Yorna Mishigure.

All of them were warriors of unmatched valor, members of the 'Nine Divine Generals' who stood at the pinnacle of the Vollachian Empire. All three of them were engaged in a struggle in Chaosflame as completely different factions.

"To think Arakia would side with them. —Was it my failure for not seeing her participation?"

While being bathed in the heatwaves, shockwaves, and the aftershocks mixing the atmosphere, Vincent, holding Natsumi Schwartz, kicked off the ruined street to distance himself from the battlefield. The greatest combat power Vincent had brought to the Demon City was Olbart, who continued to target the two women while laughing, without any room to pay attention to them. On the other hand, Yorna, the mistress of the Demon City, was moving to fulfill her duty of defensive protection. And Arakia, who was supposed to have been sent to suppress the rebels and never returned—,

"—Vincent Vollachia!"

"————"

Called by name, Vincent stopped and turned around. At the end of his gaze, the owner of the voice stood on top of the rubble of a collapsed building. —Coincidentally, he was a slender man dressed in crimson with black hair, just like Vincent. However, he wore a mask modeled after an ogre on his face, a rebel leader hiding his identity.

The masked man, who was said to have conspired with First General Goz Ralfon's rebellion and targeted Vincent's throne, had visited Yorna at the same time as Vincent and Natsumi Schwartz, who had come to Chaosflame to confirm the 'Seventh's' thoughts. And he had tried to invite Yorna to join the battle for the country he was leading. Of course, it went without saying that they couldn't let the negotiations between Yorna and the masked man succeed. Natsumi Schwartz and the others burst into the place of dialogue to block the negotiations—,

"Thief, what is your name?"

"—Abel. Right now, I am Abel."

The masked man—Abel—named himself to the confronting Vincent, and the air burned. The tense atmosphere lying between the two, carrying heat and a scorched scent, and the fighting spirit of Abel, who brought the missing Arakia, invited the collapse of the Demon City.

If Yorna Mishigure, who was in a floating position, did not declare whether she would side with the Emperor or the rebels, the best move was to ensure her existence didn't pass to the other side. The moment that possibility crossed their minds, the battle of those transcendent beings had begun.

"Abel..."

Vincent narrowed his eyes and spoke the name as if confirming it. Natsumi Schwartz, who had lost much blood and was on the verge of death, had no way to fathom Vincent's heart at that time. However, Abel's other companion did not miss that moment of stagnation.

"————"

Vincent was facing Abel, and from the shadow of the debris behind him, a merciless assassin lunged without a sound or presence. It targeted the standing Vincent's neck from directly behind with an axe—,

"—Your Excellency!!"

Just before the axe could sever Vincent's slender neck, it was blocked by purple briars that surged forward. The one who shouted and saved the Emperor from the surprise attack was Kafma, who was bleeding profusely from his entire body. Kafma, the last of Vincent's companions, used the insects he had taken into his body, utilizing the characteristics of the 'Insect Cage Tribe,' to pursue the enemy who had tried to assassinate the Emperor. However—,

"Ooooraaaaa!!"

The enemy who dodged the whip of the briars by jumping back was joined by a new shadow that swung two long swords, cutting down the briars from the front and sweeping away the threat. It was a man with a bandana holding an axe and a rough-looking dual-sword wielder with an eyepatch over his right eye—both members of the rebels who accompanied Abel.

"—Failure, failure."

"Tsk! Hey, don't screw up your only specialty!"

"It's harsh to call it my only specialty. But the support was a help. Can I still rely on you?"

"Can't be helped. —Second General Kafma Irulux, you're a worthy opponent."

The dual-sword wielder cracked his neck and laughed, and the bandana man beside him directed a cold gaze at Vincent and Natsumi Schwartz. To block that gaze, the battered Kafma stood between the two enemies and Vincent's group.

"Leave this place to me! Your Excellency, take Schwartz-jou!"

"Do not pursue too far. Olbart is not available. The Shudrak are also watching."

"I understand! —I will not let the life saved by His Imperial Excellency, and by Schwartz-jou, be scattered in vain!"

The battered Kafma took on the burden, and leaving the place to him, Vincent began to run. Perhaps sensing his resolve not to stop no matter what Abel said this time, Abel on the rubble also didn't utter any more words, and the enemies competing for the throne left the place. And—,

"—Natsuki Subaru, 'Stargazer' of the Kingdom. If you die, I do not know what could fill that hole, even I cannot decipher it. Therefore."

"—u"

While hearing a ringing in his ears that was almost noisy and, in contrast, a heartbeat that was far too weak, Natsumi Schwartz saw Vincent put a hand to his own face. As Vincent closed his eyes, Natsumi Schwartz, whose consciousness was fading, suddenly realized. —That she had never once seen Vincent close both eyes before. However, such a thought immediately vanished in the continuing anomaly.

"—'Blue' Face."

The face of Vincent, who whispered that, peeled off before Natsumi Schwartz's eyes. Making a sound that made one want to grimace just by hearing it, like peeling bone from flesh or skin from meat, Vincent's face peeled away. Then, the face of Vincent, peeled off like a 'mask,' slowly unraveled in his hand and turned to dust.

"————"

A scene like a nightmare on a restless night or a bug in the brain just before 'Death.' However, the Emperor, whose face had been peeled off, placed his other hand on his face and put on the next 'mask.' The next moment, Vincent's body made a sound, and his skeleton began to thin and his height began to shrink. Not only that, his hair color, hairstyle, and features were completely remade—,

"...Ferris?"

After a beat, standing there was a familiar face with a lovely appearance and cat ears, Ferris, who should have been sticking by his master's side in the Kingdom of Lugunica.

"————"

—Vincent turned into Ferris. Natsumi Schwartz was speechless at the scene, which could only be described as such. However, the person in question ignored Natsumi Schwartz's confusion and held his white hand over the wound. Immediately, the overflowing faint light began to heal Natsumi Schwartz's blown-away side. —That transcendent healing power, as if rewinding time, was undoubtedly Ferris's.

The flesh of the missing wound swelled, and the repair of internal organs and muscle fibers began. The blood that had flowed out didn't return, but the body, pushed by the activation, entered a state of blood production, and the circulation of blood changed significantly. Her consciousness, which should have drifted away, gradually began to regain color, and Natsuki Subaru—no, Natsuki Subaru—still in his female-disguised form, reached out a hand to the shoulder before him. Grabbing that slender shoulder and pulling it close, he glared at the person healing him from up close, and—,

"Are you... Capella?"

"I do not know why such a suspicion arose... no."

Even though the face and voice were Ferris's, the words spoken were Vincent's own. Subaru gasped at the dissonance, and the fake Ferris slowly shook his head. In an instant, cracks appeared on the face of Ferris, who had lowered his eyes.

"—"

The cracks that began from the cheek slowly expanded their range of damage, and the destruction of Ferris's lovely face gradually grew.

"I will use the mana that has stagnated within you with nowhere to go. If left as is, it would eventually burst due to a faulty plug anyway. I will not let you complain."

However, as if there was no pain in the act itself, the fake Ferris ignored Subaru's shocked reaction to the scene and continued to heal Subaru's side while leaving the cracks on his face as they were. The faint light of healing mended the wound, mended it, mended it, and finally—,

"It is finished."

The moment he said that was the same moment the cracks reached the entirety of the fake Ferris's face. Just like how Vincent's peeled-off face had turned to dust earlier, the fake Ferris's face also crumbled from the edges and turned into dust. Despite having his wound healed and his life connected, Subaru, who was lying down, was unable to move, witnessing a nightmare no different from when his life was in danger.

From under the peeled-off face of the fake Ferris, a new face appeared—not Vincent's, nor the fake Ferris's, but an unfamiliar face. —No, it wasn't unfamiliar. Subaru had seen that face once before, for just a moment.

A face he had seen in the palace's mirror, which he hadn't pursued deeply, thinking it was an optical illusion due to an emergency. A tall man with long white hair and white skin that looked as if the color had drained away, his entire being composed of white, while only his eyes shone with a golden light. That person was—,

"—Chisha Gold."

"Eh?"

"Since you seemed to be confusing me with someone else, I have answered accordingly."

At the words of the white-clad man—who named himself Chisha Gold—Subaru realized late that it was an answer to him bringing up Capella's name. Before Subaru's eyes, he had changed his appearance to something different, and then even healed a fatal wound using Ferris's appearance; that power was not on the level of imitation or disguise.

"Wait, Chisha Gold, if I recall, he's one of the 'Nine Divine Generals'..."

"I shall affirm that. I am the one who holds the rank of 'Fourth' among the 'Nine Divine Generals,' and though I am inadequate, I serve as a First General of the Empire."

"...The Emperor's body double?"

"In times of emergency. However, that would not be correct in the current situation. The most appropriate term to describe me now is—"

Before the staring Subaru, Chisha, whose golden eyes narrowed while wearing an expression that was hard to read, still in the Emperor's clothes, declared:

"—The rebel who usurped the throne of the Vollachian Empire and mocks the Sword Wolf."

That was the true encounter between Natsuki Subaru and the 'White Spider' Chisha Gold. —The true encounter between two men who deceive fate, whose destinies were never meant to cross.

△▼△▼△▼△

Chisha explained that he called his power to change his appearance 'Noh.' The detailed principle seemed difficult to explain, but he said that by stealing the 'color' of the target he wanted to become and wearing the 'mask' created that way, he could completely become that existence.

Using that, Chisha had disguised himself as Vincent Vollachia to pose as the Emperor, and used the 'mask' of Ferris, with whom he had a prior connection, to even heal Subaru's fatal wound. After receiving that explanation, Subaru, who was relieved to confirm that Chisha wasn't Capella, the Sin Archbishop of 'Lust,' also thought this:

"Could it be that Goz Ralfon, who's being held as a rebel, just became a hindrance because he realized you were posing as the Emperor?"

"I shall affirm that. First General Goz is the most loyal and brave person in the Empire, and I knew that no matter what I said, he would not listen if he knew I was opposing His Imperial Excellency. Therefore, I had no choice but to temporarily remove him from the board in the current form."

"I knew it, as I thought! No wonder no matter how much information I gathered, I couldn't conclude that Goz would betray the Emperor. In fact, he hadn't betrayed him!"

Subaru snapped his fingers and gave a satisfied smile, thinking his idea was correct. —But that smile couldn't be maintained for long after the moment of joy. After all, Chisha had clearly told Subaru: —He was the leader of the rebels, the usurper of the throne who had needlessly thrown the Vollachian Empire into chaos.

"...If the rule of the Empire is that the law of the jungle prevails, is your reason for challenging Vincent Vollachia the ambition of an Imperial man?"

"Hmm, what do you think? Do my intentions seem like ambition to you?"

"—. I think it's probably different."

In the first place, if they were following the Imperial way, if Chisha could slay Vincent with his own hands, the pinnacle of the Sword Wolf nation would be a flawed system that would just be replaced. Despite that, Chisha had posed as Vincent, hiding the Emperor's absence and continuing the situation. There was no sincerity in the straightforward goal of usurping the throne.

"In other words, your goal isn't the throne. ...I don't know about the rest, though."

"I wonder if that is the result of listening to the words of the 'Stars,' the observers in the heavens."

"Stars? ...No, I like stars, but I've never been able to talk to them. What I just said was based on experience and an ideal theory mixed with hope."

"Hope, is it."

"That's right, hope. The hope that the person I protected even at the cost of having my side blown away isn't a total villain, and the hope that the person who healed my blown-away side isn't a total monster."

Both were, he knew, incredibly thin ropes to rely on. However, he had faith that Chisha, who had gone so far as to reveal a top secret to save Subaru, wouldn't do something as meaningless as suddenly changing and attacking him here. Receiving Subaru's convenient question, Chisha gave a quiet nod, and—,

"I am taking the necessary measures to save the Empire from a future of destruction."

"...Is it not possible to do that together with the Emperor?"

"His Excellency Vincent is an extremely wise person, but he is someone who does not know how to change a conclusion once he has reached it. Since it is undoubtedly the most efficient and least wasteful move, no one can oppose His Excellency."

"But you... Chisha Gold is different?"

"That is so."

Subaru touched his side and fell into thought as Chisha nodded. Chisha had revealed his intentions after playing his trump card to save Subaru. Subaru couldn't maliciously suspect that there were lies or schemes there. There would be no value in Subaru that would justify going to such lengths to trap him. Through and through, what Chisha found value in and determined should be saved was the Emperor and the Empire. In his actions, which would never be understood by anyone, two firm pillars stood.

"I want to confirm one thing."

"If it is something I can answer, I do not mind."

"That 'Noh' power to become someone else, can you use it anytime, as many times as you want?"

"—I shall deny that."

Subaru sighed at Chisha's lowered tone, saying, "I knew it." The peeled-off 'mask' of Vincent and the cracked 'mask' of Ferris both ended by turning into dust. He had intuitively felt that it was a sensation of disappearance or loss, not something that could be used repeatedly.

Chisha's goal required the existence of Vincent Vollachia. Chisha, who had been wearing the 'mask' of Vincent for that purpose, put on the 'mask' of Ferris with that enormous healing power that could even heal fatal wounds, and let go of both 'masks.' One was indispensable for his goal, and the other could have been a trump card in an emergency. If his life was saved to that extent, Natsuki Subaru couldn't do it. —He couldn't not feel any sense of gratitude toward the person who had done that.

"Tell me more, Chisha-san."

"————"

"I don't think you did this out of mere whim or fancy. —If a future of destruction is approaching, it's not someone else's problem for me either. After all, my Rem is being held hostage in this country. I'm also someone who has a reason to do something about the Empire."

Knowing it was an unreasonable logic, Subaru declared that to Chisha. If the 'Wise Emperor' Vincent Vollachia and the clearly wise Chisha Gold were trying to resist a destruction that was right before them, there would surely be an opportunity for Subaru's small strength to be of use. —No, Subaru would seize that opportunity with his own hands and feet. So—,

"—The 'Great Disaster.'"

"Great Disaster... a great calamity?"

Subaru repeated the murmur, and Chisha nodded in affirmation. A great calamity—the perfect name for the future of destruction awaiting the Vollachian Empire. Chisha, who had uttered that, continued while looking straight at Subaru.

With a colorless face, but with a voice that held a certain heat.

"I shall take measures to save this Vollachian Empire from that 'Great Disaster.' For that purpose, there is a board I must build."

"I understand."

He had decided where to stand. Coincidentally, the journey to confirm the location of Yorna Mishigure's heart had brought Subaru a similar opportunity for decision. His feelings of concern for Emilia, Beatrice, and the others in the Kingdom were strong. He wanted to reunite with everyone soon. Even without her 'memories,' he wanted the awakened Rem to meet them. But he just couldn't abandon the Vollachian Empire and Chisha.

"I'm not taking 'I can't' as an option; I'll cooperate too. —Bring it on, Fate."

△▼△▼△▼△

"—Governor, how many times must I say it? This is a direct order from His Imperial Excellency Vincent Vollachia!"

"I understand your side of the story. However, I am also in a position where I have been strictly ordered and have accepted the role of governor of this island. I cannot lightly decide on an act that twists the established traditions."

"Keeh! You blockhead! Thick-headed! Who do you think I am!? I am the woman who will become the consort of His Imperial Excellency Vincent Vollachia!"

Thumping her artificial chest hard, Natsuki Subaru—no, Natsuki Subaru, who had become Natsumi Schwartz again—boldly spread that false information. Before Natsumi Schwartz, who was glibly using such convenient lies, Gustav Morello, a person with a face so scary a child who remembered it at night might not be able to go to the bathroom, closed his mouth with protruding fangs and crossed his four sturdy arms with a stern expression. Gustav, who had the physique of a pro wrestler, blue skin, and more arms than the usual two, was from a demi-human race called the 'Multi-Armed Tribe.' But his most important position for Natsumi Schwartz was—,

"—Governor of the 'Gladiator Island' Ginunhive, Gustav Morello-dono."

"Correct, that is my title. I am grateful to be reminded. First General Chisha Gold."

"No, that is my line. Rather, I brought my companion here because I wanted her to understand that, so I called you that on purpose."

"Mu, what do you mean by that, First General Chisha? Surely you, a mere 'General,' are not criticizing me, who enjoys His Excellency's favor? You certainly don't know your place, do you?"

Natsumi Schwartz snapped her fan shut with a sharp sound, glared at the profile of the white-masked Chisha sitting next to her, and spoke with such arrogance. Gustav furrowed his browless forehead at those words, but Chisha, with a cool face, shrugged and said,

"Hardly a criticism. However, Governor Gustav's attitude is an expression of his sincere effort to fulfill His Imperial Excellency's orders... in other words, it is nothing other than loyalty to the Excellency whom Natsumi-sama adores. I was just foolishly thinking that those who do not understand that are the ones who are not truly in line with His Excellency's heart."

"Na...!"

Natsumi Schwartz's face turned bright red, and her lips trembled. Seeing that, Chisha closed one eye and looked at Gustav, who had clenched his two fists on his crossed arms and then hid them behind his back, letting out a small cough. If he thought this served her right, Gustav also had a surprisingly good personality. —It made Natsumi Schwartz's enthusiastic performance as a nasty villainess worthwhile.

Chisha, who sincerely empathized with the hearts of the soldiers on the ground, and Natsumi Schwartz, the candidate for Empress who lacked any sense of the ground reality. This—

—Some time had passed since the alliance between Subaru and Chisha to counter the 'Great Disaster' was formed.

The disturbance in the 'Demon City' Chaosflame had settled down, and Olbart and Kafma had somehow survived. Arakia, led by Abel, and the two men also retreated, and the battle ended in a draw. However, Yorna Mishigure, who was based in Chaosflame, declared her intention to side with neither the Emperor nor the rebels and chose to shut herself in the ruined Demon City, building a defensive line. In the end, it could be said that Subaru having half his side blown away and Chisha losing the 'mask' of Vincent, which was indispensable for his plan, were both wasted efforts.

"On top of that, Berstetz-san had Madelyn-chan attack a place called the Fortified City on his own. ...If Berstetz-san knows you're posing as the Emperor, shouldn't you two be more in sync?"

"Unfortunately, while my policy aligns with Prime Minister Berstetz's, there is a problem where we are fundamentally incompatible. Ultimately, that old man is nothing but a Sword Wolf of the Empire, and therefore, there is a fear that he and I will decisively clash at the very end. If so..."

"You'll just keep the fact of that ultimate mismatch hidden and keep going like this?"

"Currently, we are busy responding to the expansion of the rebels' momentum. For a while, there will be no room for Prime Minister Berstetz to notice me or you."

An optimistic view, Chisha's take in a situation where no hope was in sight. Berstetz, who was surprisingly hot-blooded despite his appearance and attitude, had launched an attack on the Fortified City, the rebels' base, as soon as the trouble in Chaosflame reached his ears. Due to the one-sided aerial attack by the flock of flying dragons led by Madelyn, the Fortified City was almost destroyed. There were stories that the rebels had abandoned their base and scattered, but according to Chisha, who was summarizing them, Abel—the real Emperor—wouldn't just fall.

Abel and the others spread rumors that the Emperor in the Imperial Capital was a fake, causing confusion among the people. The best way to deny that was for none other than Vincent Vollachia to appear before the people, but Chisha, who had lost the 'mask' of the Emperor, couldn't do that. Therefore, they could only respond to the situation with symptomatic treatment, denying the rebels' rumors with words and capturing those who spread them. In addition, the difference in combat power between the Imperial Army and the rebels was also becoming a problem.

"Although he survived, it is expected to take some time for Second General Kafma to return to the front. It was a blow that First General Olbart lost an arm and we couldn't make First General Yorna an ally."

"Olbart-san..."

"I do not think you need to have such a dark face. If it weren't for your quick wit and advice, First General Olbart wouldn't have gotten away with just an arm, and Second General Kafma might have lost his life. If those two had fallen, I wonder if we could have returned safely."

Chisha comforted the darkened Subaru, but it was complicated. In the unexpected death struggle in Chaosflame, Subaru had been caught in the battle of transcendent beings who knew no mercy and had ended up repeating 'Return by Death' many times. Among them, the greatest shock was the cases where Olbart, who should have been a powerhouse ranked 'Third' in the Empire, lost his life to a surprise attack in the middle of the battle with Arakia. Similar crises befell Kafma, and Subaru had to keep trying many times to block them.

"And all of it was because of that bandana guy..."

Ultimately, it was often Arakia's blow that took the lives of Olbart and Kafma. However, the one who always created the decisive opening for that situation was that bandana guy. The reason he could only call him by a name that sounded like an insult was because, even though he had clashed with him many times through 'Return by Death,' the opponent had thoroughly avoided giving any information about himself. Even to his partner, the rough dual-sword wielder, the bandana guy never let him call his name.

Honestly, it was a shock that Arakia, whom he had judged to be a benefactor, had turned into an enemy, and he couldn't hide his dread at her terrifying power as the second-ranked powerhouse in the Empire. Still, Subaru strangely found that bandana guy scarier than Arakia. A thorough murderous intent and an unnervingly heatless gaze—where did the Emperor, who had been driven from his throne by Chisha and fallen to the rebels, pull such a man to his side? Anyway—,

"Just by having Arakia alone on the enemy side, there is a fear that numbers on the battlefield will be rendered meaningless."

"No way... is something I can't say after seeing the battle in Chaosflame. Why does Arakia-chan have such unbelievable power..."

"It is simply her origin, but the 'Second' seat is not for show. In addition, although there isn't much information, it seems the rebels have had some powerful reinforcements."

"As if Arakia-chan alone wasn't troublesome enough. ...Hey, isn't Emperor Vincent hated a bit too much? Is it really okay to return the throne to him?"

"I calculate that the accounts will balance out in the end."

Since the calculating Chisha said so, he wanted to believe it, but why did he frequently dodge Subaru's questions about the Emperor's personality? If Chisha's words and actions when he was wearing the 'mask' of the Emperor were exactly those of the actual Emperor, he could more or less understand why he didn't want to talk about it. Probably, Vincent Vollachia was the type who was too excellent himself and thus lacked words. Those under him must have a hard time.

"So, what now? Issue some cool decree to tighten the soldiers' resolve and prevent betrayals... or maybe just tell everything to the imprisoned Goz-san?"

"There is a strong element of gambling there. However, the measures against Arakia are troubling."

"A powerhouse who can suppress Arakia-chan, huh. By the way, Chisha-san, you're also one of the 'Nine Divine Generals,' but your skill is..."

"I have some skill, but if I were to face Arakia, I would be reduced to dust in a matter of seconds."

"You look like the intellectual type, after all. I guess so. ...Wait, speaking of the 'Nine Divine Generals,' what happened to the other 'Nine Divine Generals' who aren't in the Imperial Capital and aren't cooperating with Abel, besides Yorna-san?"

Suddenly, Subaru became curious about the original positions of the 'Nine Divine Generals' and tilted his head. Since they were called the 'Nine Divine Generals,' there were naturally nine of them. There were exceptions like Kafma among the 'Generals,' but basically, only a First General could handle a First General. All of them were transcendent beings worth a thousand men, so if they were talking about measures against Arakia, they should start from among them.

"'Ninth' Madelyn Eschart is under Prime Minister Berstetz. 'Eighth' Mogro Hagane cannot leave the defense of the Imperial Capital for certain reasons. 'Seventh' Yorna Mishigure is shut in the Demon City, and 'Sixth' Groovy Gumlet is on an expedition to the west to handle an important matter."

"And 'Fifth' Goz Ralfon-san is imprisoned on false charges, 'Fourth' is Chisha Gold-san the rebel, and 'Third' Olbart Dunkelkenn-san is injured. 'Second' Arakia-chan betrayed us and is out of control. ...Wait, what about 'First'?"

"————"

"'First' hasn't come up yet. If I recall, um, Cecilus Segmunt-san?"

"The story of Cecilus is, well, fine."

"It's not fine! I mean, if we're talking about stopping Arakia-chan, isn't he the guy whose name should come up first! Pit 'First' against 'Second'! I've pitted 'Invincible' against 'Strongest' before! I'm an expert on this!"

Subaru slapped his knee, thinking it was a brilliant idea. At the very least, Subaru hadn't heard any rumors that the Empire's number one had betrayed the Emperor (Chisha) and joined the rebels (Abel). Then he must be there. The strongest in the Empire, Vollachia's 'Blue Lightning.'

"I heard he's a bit of a problem child, but if it's to stop Arakia-chan, it's a risk we should be prepared for..."

"A bit? A problem child? I cannot have you hold such a perception of him."

"Eh? Wait? Chisha-san?"

Subaru blinked in surprise at Chisha, who had spoken while pausing between phrases, wondering what about his idea had rubbed him the wrong way. Chisha brought his face close to Subaru's, his colorless, thin face oozing with unmistakable hardship and distress.

"I would like to hear about the 'bit of a problem' that reached your ears, considering how much I have struggled to keep Cecilus tied to the position of First General."

"This is bad, I flipped a weird switch! Sorry, I'm sorry! It was just an outsider's opinion!"

"No, since we have already opened our hearts to each other, you and I are in the same boat. It can be said that aligning our perceptions is inevitable. Now, first from me. The stories I have to tell about Cecilus are not enough even if I combine all the fingers and toes on my hands and feet and double them—"

"Help! Heeeelp!!"

—And so, Subaru was showered with the waterfall of various emotions Chisha held toward Cecilus, but in the end, he still concluded that he was necessary.

Afterward, Subaru and Chisha devised a plan. They announced that Vincent Vollachia, who could no longer show his face in public, had fallen ill. They left Berstetz to handle the Imperial citizens, who were heating up in a direction that defied common sense, with comments like "Someone who falls ill during a rebellion has no qualification to be Emperor" or "If he was struck down by illness, is the next Emperor illness?" while they flew to various locations.

"Rem! Were you okay while I was gone? Are you hurt, or is there anything inconvenient? It's incredibly frustrating that I can't take you with me, but if anything happens, tell me everything. Is there anything you want to say to me now?"

"You came back so suddenly, what is it? In the first place, you should be done with your business, so why are you still in women's clothing?"

"The situation where it's a problem if it gets out that I'm involved in the Empire's troubles is ongoing, so Natsumi Schwartz's appearance is inevitable. It's out of necessity."

"—. ———. —————. I see."

"That pause that says you don't understand!"

"It's nothing. Anyway, I'm glad you're safe."

"Yeah! Well, my side was half blown away and I almost died, though."

"Huh?" "Aa-uu!"

Of course, he made sure to show his face to Rem whenever he could return to the Imperial Capital to check if there were any changes in her condition. Rem, who seemed to have become quite mobile despite some lingering numbness in her legs, was using her naturally considerate personality to act quite freely in Berstetz's mansion. Subaru's heart warmed at the glimpses of Rem he could see even without her 'memories.' The situation where Louis was still hanging around her was annoying, though.

"Speaking of that Natsumi Schwartz..."

"Yeah. Eh, what, what? Do you have something to say to Natsumi Schwartz? That she's cute?"

"No. ...I heard a rumor. That, well, you would become the Empress Consort."

"That one. Not that I'm becoming one, but I'm spreading the rumor that I might. It's part of the strategy. Since His Imperial Excellency is having trouble moving for various reasons, I'm acting as his representative... more accurately, a representative of a representative, and I'm doing that."

"—. Isn't it dangerous?"

"I won't say there's no danger. But for outsiders like me and Rem, the Empire has always been a tiger's den we entered. To walk out of the tiger's den with a swagger, I'll take risks. As much as possible, with a way of fighting that has a chance of winning!"

"Is that way of fighting with a high chance of winning women's clothing?"

"That's right. ...Wait, am I not cute?"

"—. ———. —————. Please be serious."

With such encouragement from Rem, Natsumi Schwartz headed on a journey to secure combat power. The purpose along the way was to comfort and encourage the Imperial soldiers stationed in various places, but for that, Natsumi Schwartz, the candidate for Empress of the 'Wise Emperor' who had never taken a single wife, was very useful. Acting with confidence and publicly stating she was the Emperor's representative, with Chisha Gold of the 'Nine Divine Generals' accompanying her to make up for the lack of persuasiveness, it was enough. And smoothly, Natsumi Schwartz and Chisha headed to their destination—,

"—Oh my, oh my, oh my, it's rare for guests from the outside to visit me! I haven't officially participated in the island's entertainment yet, but for rumors to spread anyway, as expected of me! It's difficult to hide the brilliance of the star actor of this world!"

And so, they had a meeting at the Gladiator Island with a boy who was as noisy as a lit firecracker—Cecilus Segmunt, who looked younger than the rumors suggested.

Chisha had shown considerable resistance to the plan to bring Cecilus Segmunt out of the Gladiator Island, but there is no substitute for a 'strongest' existence. Therefore, Natsumi Schwartz enthusiastically tried to woo Cecilus and add him as one of the swords to prevent the 'Great Disaster' coming to the Empire, and—,

△▼△▼△▼△

"Now, now, now, the big moment! Those far away, hear my voice! Those nearby, see with your own eyes! The star actor, Cecilus Segmunt, makes his appearance!!"

With the wind howling and roaring, Cecilus, standing empty-handed on the island side of the drawbridge connecting the island and the mainland, struck a bold pose. —Against the mass of black shadows surging toward the Gladiator Island. Natsumi Schwartz, who knew in her bones what kind of existence that was and how dangerous it was, could only gasp and be overwhelmed by Cecilus's stage presence.

—The plan to bring Cecilus Segmunt, the 'First' of the 'Nine Divine Generals,' out of the Gladiator Island was extremely, extremely difficult.

The governor in charge of the island, Gustav Morello, was very stubborn and inflexible, and he didn't budge even at the pleas of Natsumi Schwartz, who was accompanied by Chisha, a mass of persuasiveness. He, who had been ordered by the real Vincent not to let the criminals—the gladiators—on the island out, showed resistance even to formal procedures, causing Natsumi Schwartz and the others to suffer.

Particularly troublesome was the 'Curse Rule' that would kill any gladiator who tried to forcibly escape the island. The curse's law, which used the cursed tool held by Gustav as a medium and took the entire island into its range, was also applied to Natsumi Schwartz and the others who had entered the island without knowing, blocking their escape. Thanks to that, Natsumi Schwartz was forced to endure many unexpected struggles, but the difficulty of the Gladiator Island didn't stop with Gustav.

The target, Cecilus Segmunt, was also a difficult person who didn't easily comply.

"I don't unconditionally accept being free as a good thing. You're free to draw pictures or write words on a paper without lines, but the possibility of those things written recklessly and without direction becoming a masterpiece or a great painting is extremely low. Any masterpiece needs passion and a certain direction."

"Do you mean the client's requirements or the deadline for delivery?"

"That's good! Talking to the Empress candidate, my inspiration is stimulated by unfamiliar words and I feel great! And you're probably right in what you say! A story needs it. A destination."

"If so, with us..."

"I haven't decided yet if I can go with you and the Empress candidate! After all, I'm a star actor in high demand... even now, the many words of support from those who expect my success are hitting this heart like raindrops!"

He seemed to be listening to Natsumi Schwartz's persuasion, but he also didn't. Cecilus was a size or two younger than she had heard, but his fundamental difficult-to-handle nature seemed to be intact, and there was a hardship there that rivaled Gustav's.

Still, Natsumi Schwartz cooperated with Chisha and struggled to overcome the two difficulties in conquering the Gladiator Island: Gustav and Cecilus. And at the end of it—,

"—Is that a 'Witch'?"

Behind Cecilus, who was being showered by the spray of the surging lake waves, Gustav, who was looking at the shadow alongside Natsumi Schwartz, muttered in a voice that suppressed his shock. 'Witch,' yes, a 'Witch.' An exceptionally powerful and uncontrollable maximum threat—that manifested on the Gladiator Island and stood before Natsumi Schwartz and the others.

The laughing Cecilus, and the trembling Natsumi Schwartz and Gustav. And Chisha, who collapsed into Natsumi Schwartz's arms, shedding tears of blood and showing the most pained face so far—the 'White Spider' who had put on Natsumi Schwartz's 'mask' just before.

"Could it be because you put on my 'mask'...?"

From before, the 'Witch of Envy' had made it a taboo for Subaru to speak of 'Return by Death.' Subaru, who knew the terror of the penalty when that taboo was broken, had given up on revealing 'Return by Death' and struggled to ensure that the victims of that authority didn't expand beyond himself. He hadn't even imagined that that taboo would be applied to Chisha, who had put on the 'mask.'

"—"

Chisha, who was shedding tears of blood, strictly speaking, couldn't put on Subaru's 'mask.' He tried to put it on, but the moment he activated 'Noh,' it rejected Chisha, and the 'mask' shattered. However, the 'Witch's' heart isn't deep enough to overlook it just because it was an attempt. By the time they realized it, the color of the sky had changed, a sinister wind had begun to blow, and the world was breaking. And so, as the messenger of the end, the 'Witch' slowly came to the island—

"The world is wide and majestic, full of unexpected things. —This is getting fun, everyone."

To Natsumi Schwartz, whose heart was pounding and hitting her body from the inside, Cecilus spoke boldly, without a hint of bluffing or bravado. Cecilus Segmunt welcomed this predicament, this dire situation, this approaching end with a laugh. Natsumi Schwartz's heart trembled at that. —Without even being able to distinguish if it was fear or an impulse close to admiration.

"It is undoubtedly a threat... but I can see a slight wavering..."

"Chisha-san!"

"I am ashamed to have surprised you. ...I would also like to avoid being looked down upon by a Cecilus of that size."

Chisha, speaking in a voice that was clearly a bluff and bravado, stood up, supported by Natsumi Schwartz. Wiping away the tears of blood with his finger and leaving bloodstains on his white cheeks, Chisha tapped the back of the standing Gustav, bringing the governor of the Gladiator Island back to his senses.

"First General Chisha Gold... I..."

"You must have a role that only you can fulfill. What did His Imperial Excellency Vincent Vollachia order you to do?"

"That is—"

"We will handle this place. —You fulfill your duty, Gustav Morello!"

Told powerfully, Gustav took a breath, tightened his fanged mouth, and then turned around fiercely and ran into the heart of the island. There were many gladiators and those who managed them on the Gladiator Island. Only Gustav could appropriately move everyone so that they wouldn't be harmed. And—,

"I would advise you to also retreat to a safe place, but?"

"A safe place... where is there one on this island?"

Natsumi Schwartz shook her head at Chisha's proposal and stood up to answer. The shadow of the 'Witch,' which approached like a small mountain as if it had sucked up the black water of the lake, was powerful enough to swallow everything whole no matter where on the island they were.

As a penalty for touching the taboo, was it close to that development that swallowed everything when he revealed 'Return by Death' to Echidna in the tomb of the 'Sanctuary'? At that time, if it weren't for Petra's handkerchief, which Echidna had infused with light, he wouldn't even have been allowed to commit suicide. However, at this moment—,

"If it's the same no matter where I am, I will witness it. —Even if it's many times."

"It is an inexplicable phrasing, but it is strange how it clicks."

Embracing her own elbows, Natsumi Schwartz decided not to move from that spot. In fact, there was no escape. And if those who had the power to resist that 'Witch' couldn't resist, Natsumi Schwartz would just create an opportunity and prepare a way to break the situation. Before Natsumi Schwartz, who was prepared even for 'Return by Death,' Chisha stepped forward and stood alongside the blue-haired boy at the front line—,

"The long-awaited big moment, the big stage, the sunny stage! Can I expect that you've made up your mind to stand alongside me, the lightning on the ground that shines in the most important moments?"

"It is impressive how you still talk so much even at that size. ...Made up my mind?"

"Hahaha, you don't have to hide it! You've been avoiding me since you visited the Gladiator Island, haven't you? The Empress candidate tried to win me over with various tricks, but you drew my interest by not interacting with me! Whether you intended it or not! In that case, I can't help but have expectations!"

"Expectations. —To hear that from you is both hateful and something else."

Cecilus, who had become young and forgotten his connection with Chisha. Chisha, who accepted that fact as natural, was likely deeply involved in Cecilus's current situation. While Natsumi Schwartz thought about that, she also thought this about the two standing together:

"...Dependable."

—This was the view Vincent Vollachia had been seeing. No matter how powerful an enemy stood in their way, he could believe that if Chisha and Cecilus stood before him, they could crush it, pin it down, and carve a path. Before Natsumi Schwartz, whose heart was convinced of that, Chisha moved first.

Slowly, Chisha reached his hand to his white face and put on the 'mask'—

"—'Lightning' Face."

With the sound of bones creaking, his physique, the thickness of his flesh, and the structure of his body changed. While witnessing that kind of grotesque 'Noh' transformation, what was in Natsumi Schwartz's heart was a transformation sequence of a hero of justice. In the sense of making one expect what would happen, it was undoubtedly a transformation sequence. And when that transformation sequence ended, there—,

"Hey, hey, hey! This is, this is a handsome young man worth being entranced by! It feels like I'm sensing the traces of someone I know, but how so?"

"I am impressed by your unwavering impressions."

Beside the Cecilus who had raised his voice, the appearance of Chisha standing there had changed to that of a young man with long blue hair. Who that was, thanks to the target of comparison being right beside him, was clear at a glance even to Natsumi Schwartz behind them.

—This, reproduced by 'Noh,' was the original appearance of Cecilus Segmunt. The presence of the 'Blue Lightning' who was the strongest in Vollachia before he shrank.

"I shall attack the opening. I wonder if you can keep up."

"Oh, you said it! Don't think you can leave me behind just because you're a beauty who catches the eye and is carved into the heart. Empress candidate, don't even blink!"

While showing consideration by calling out to Natsumi Schwartz at the end, Cecilus poked the island's ground with his zori, responding to the provocation from Chisha, who had taken on his original appearance. Beside him, Chisha made the exact same gesture—the two Cecilus, large and small, exchanged glances, and in an instant, two streaks of lightning drew lines of lightning on the island and lunged at the incompletely manifested 'Witch.'

It was truly a legendary scene that should be told long and grandly in picture stories. The two streaks of lightning clashing with the black shadow monster was a strange performance on a once-in-a-lifetime big stage.

△▼△▼△▼△

"—Tomorrow, the full-scale clash will likely begin."

Looking at the sparkling Crystal Palace from the palace balcony, Chisha, with a wine cup in his hand, whispered. Subaru, also with a cup—though the contents were milk—in his hand, stood alongside Chisha, looking at the castle that reflected the night light dazzlingly and beautifully, and let out a sigh, saying, "I see..."

"————"

A silence was born, and Subaru struggled to kill the complex emotions in his chest. But this distress was a formidable enemy that couldn't be conquered by simple effort; it continued to force Subaru to question himself.

It was a formidable enemy that had continued to torment Subaru ever since he decided to save Chisha in Chaosflame, be saved by Chisha, cooperate with his goal, and intervene in the Empire's problems.

Beside Subaru, who was being worn down by that formidable enemy, Chisha, who had brought the wine cup to his mouth and moistened his tongue with wine, called out "Natsuki-dono," and—,

"I have been greatly helped by you. Once again, I wish to express my gratitude."

"Hey, hey, that's sentimental. Saying those kinds of things like you're settling your affairs before the final battle could become a flag that makes you mess up at the crucial moment."

"Flag... was it the 'foreshadowing' that Cecilus speaks of?"

"Yeah, yeah, Sessy's thing."

Cecilus's unique phrasing is difficult, but when deciphered, it surprisingly captures the essence of the matter, and he is often impressed by his core-striking way of thinking. Cecilus, who had repelled the 'Witch' who attacked the Gladiator Island along with Chisha, even though it was an incomplete manifestation, was waiting for his turn in the Imperial Capital, acting freely for better or worse, shouting "The long-awaited sunny stage!"

The specific circumstances of how Cecilus became young are unknown, but if his way of thinking and feeling has also become younger along with his appearance, will that fresh sensitivity be lost when he eventually returns to his original form? If so, he thought it would be a shame in its own way.

"Do not worry, Cecilus was like that at any time."

"Seriously? Then I'm relieved... no, I'm worried in the opposite sense. If 'First' Sessy is like that and 'Second' Arakia-chan is like that, Vollachia was doing well to keep running."

"Everything was due to His Imperial Excellency Vincent Vollachia's management. —Therefore, I have no certainty of success for this attempt alone. In fact, it was full of unexpected things."

"Like my appearance."

"To say it yourself."

Chisha smiled slightly at Subaru's words, loosening the corners of his mouth. If they were talking about unexpected things, Subaru was no less than Chisha. In the first place, from the moment he was sent to the Vollachian Empire, not a single thing had gone as expected.

"If I had to say, it's just that the existence of Natsumi Schwartz was proven in the Empire following the Kingdom."

"...I am in no position to say so, as I have used it extensively, but I am questioning if those techniques were acquired in the Kingdom."

"Ah, the skill grinding was done in Lugunica, but the skill acquisition was elsewhere. In my hometown, the so-called beyond the Great Waterfall... oops. Beako scolded me many times saying that this way of saying it would be misunderstood, but I did it again."

"Beyond the Great Waterfall. —I see, that makes sense."

Subaru, who felt his fingertips trembling due to a lack of Beatromin, saw Chisha nodding as if he had felt something from the story just now. Given the flow of the conversation, was it about the Great Waterfall, not Natsumi Schwartz?

"Originally, I had some doubts. Even if it is natural for your values as a citizen of the Kingdom to be different from ours in the Empire, the gap is too large."

"The gap is large?"

"To be blunt, you estimate the value of life too highly. —To be more accurate, I should say the value of other people's lives."

Subaru blinked at Chisha, who spoke while tracing his own slender chin. The value of life, it's natural for that to have great meaning. You only have one life. There might be exceptions, but if you ignore such special cases, it's an absolute truth. That's why he didn't want the opportunity to be taken away from any life.

"Chisha-san, you also helped me in Chaosflame. At that time, because you peeled off the 'mask' of the Emperor and put on Ferris's, unexpected-of-unexpected things chained together, didn't they?"

"That was simply because you had utility value. By my standards of value, the loss of letting you die in that place just felt much greater. However, you do not look at things with such interests. That reason must be your fundamental values."

"...I understand that ways of thinking change depending on the soil or water you grew up with. I hate the Empire."

"Fufu, you say it quite clearly."

"I hate the Empire. I hate it, but I can't completely hate the people on that soil. My standards of value are just like that."

Subaru thought it wasn't a special way of looking at things. Of course, he was aware that his way of thinking was far too soft, not only compared to the harsh and severe values of the Vollachian Empire, but even compared to the values of the Kingdom of Lugunica. Even after living in a different world for over a year, he felt like he would never get used to the exchange of lives. He could accept that being made a reason for disappointment, in a way. But conversely, when it was made a reason for evaluation, he ended up thinking it wasn't such a big deal.

"In the first place, Chisha-san, you believe me? That I came from beyond the Great Waterfall."

"With words and ways of thinking I have never heard or seen, several techniques, and those values. If the alternative is to define you as a Witch Cultist who acquired social skills and sociability while being raised in an insane environment—then my peace of mind is better maintained by considering you a visitor from beyond the Great Waterfall."

"Seriously? Is it information that requires that level of convincing to balance the scales... I should have listened to Beako's stories more seriously..."

According to Chisha, it was a story he believed because it was better than thinking he was a Witch Cultist. Since Subaru's background is usually brushed off even by the Emilia camp, he was grateful that Chisha believed it even as a rationalization, but he wanted to be very careful about how he brought it up in the future.

"It's a good thing I didn't tell Rem my old stories carelessly. My favorability with her, which I'm earning at a tiny rate, would have dropped again. It's finally reached rock bottom."

"I think it has been unusually low until now."

Chisha's comment was sympathetic toward Rem's emotions, whose fluctuations were hard to measure. In the process of opening their hearts to each other, Subaru had told Chisha that Rem had been a victim of the Sin Archbishop of 'Gluttony' and, as a result, had forgotten her relationship with Subaru. Of course, considering how he took the Great Waterfall story, there was a possibility that it was because it was better than thinking Subaru was an evil stalker with a twisted obsession with Rem.

"—Originally, I had no intention of calling Cecilus back."

"Eh?"

Subaru was caught off guard by the sudden change in the flow of the conversation and rounded his eyes. He saw Chisha place his wine cup on the balcony railing, opening and closing his empty hand, while looking at the Crystal Palace—no, at the Imperial Capital itself—with his golden eyes. At that change in atmosphere, Subaru also put down his cup and looked at the same scene.

"You probably already know, but it was my 'Noh' that changed him into that young form. For a certain reason, I sent him to the Gladiator Island like that. All of it was—"

"To prepare for the coming 'Great Disaster,' right? I don't know what's gained by shrinking Sessy and throwing him on the island... ah, no, maybe it's the same as Goz-san?"

"I shall say it is not far from the mark. After all, no one can stand at the same height as Cecilus Segmunt. —Except for the 'Sword Saint' or the 'Praiseworthy One' and others."

"...Your name comes up even here, you're truly worldwide, Reinhard."

In fact, Subaru had seen with his own eyes that Cecilus's combat power was extraordinary. In the great struggle against the 'Witch,' the true value of the 'Blue Lightning' was certainly displayed. —However, the one displaying it wasn't the young Cecilus himself, but Chisha, who had put on that 'mask' and posed as the adult Cecilus.

In Subaru's eyes, having seen Reinhard's transcendent combat twice up close, the strength of the adult Cecilus certainly seemed to be something that could be put in the same category of transcendent beings. But—,

"If we're talking about strength, that's true, but the qualification needed to stand alongside someone isn't just that, is it?"

"—. What do you mean by that?"

"No, when those two, Chisha-san and Sessy, challenged that big shadow at Ginunhive, I think it was partly because I was Natsumi Schwartz with a heroine's mentality, but I felt it. —These two standing together are the strongest in the Empire."

"————"

"I'm not talking about the fact that Chisha-san could turn into the adult Sessy. The dependability I felt then wasn't like that, it wasn't a story on the level of winning because they're strong... I can't put it well!"

Subaru scratched his head vigorously, searching for a way to convey the heat of that moment. It was different from being strong just because they were strong, and different from being able to stand together because they had the same strength; it was a special feeling where the answer to 1+1 wasn't 2, but a much, much larger number.

"Honestly, I've done so much as I pleased. Maybe even if he knows Chisha-san's true intentions, His Imperial Excellency might be incredibly furious and not forgive you. But I think Emperor Vincent is a lucky man."

"That His Excellency is a lucky man. I am of the same opinion."

"Ah, you're not being humble here?"

"I shall say that accurately grasping the abilities of others, as well as my own, is an indispensable yardstick for my role in the Empire. Above all, those who do not have the intention to make their own strength known will only be eaten in this nation of the Sword Wolf."

"A super-meritocracy, super-ability-oriented, super-competitive principle... I understand, but I have a little hope that Vollachia isn't just that kind of place."

Saying that, Subaru spun around and leaned his back against the railing, looking up at the night sky. The Imperial Capital Lupgana, which formed a star-shaped fortress with the sparkling Crystal Palace at its northern end, had a night sky full of shining stars, and Subaru narrowed his eyes at those whose names he didn't know. The stars whose names he didn't know, with whom he had no recognition or connection, this starry sky that he originally shouldn't have been able to see, felt exactly the same as the people he had met in Vollachia.

"Berstetz-san is surprisingly hot-blooded. Chisha-san evaluated him as a super-imperialist, but I thought that man was a man of passion. Probably the type who secretly values promises and such. Madelyn-chan doesn't open her heart easily, but I think she's actually quite caring. I think the person who was by her side was good. Right now, she seems to be lost in how to use her compassion?"

"I feel that is a far too soft way of looking at things... but it is quite interesting, so I would like to hear the rest."

"It's not such a big deal. Olbart-san doesn't feel tragic at all even though he lost an arm; I wonder if that's the wisdom of age. He acts tough, but he seems to have some affection for the young ones. I haven't been able to talk to Mogro-chi properly yet, but I'm actually expecting him to be the most decent person in the Empire."

Olbart, who, after accompanying them to Chaosflame, had said he might attach a weapon to his lost arm, as if considering Subaru's guilt. Subaru had few connections with Mogro, who was in charge of guarding the Crystal Palace, as he was often outside the city, but there was consideration even in his few words, and he often worried about Arakia, who had left, and the imprisoned Goz.

"Kafma-san, since the healing magic Rem remembered how to use worked on him, he's become Rem's hardcore fan, which is honestly hilarious. But while I'm busy, I'm grateful there are people like him and Madelyn-chan who care about Rem. Also, Ubilk is... ah, er, how should I put it. He works as the lubricant of the organization..."

"If you cannot think of anything, I do not think you need to force yourself to find good points."

"And Sessy is Sessy, so I'll skip him... and then, Chisha-san."

"————"

"One way or another, since I was sent to the Empire, I've always been helped by Chisha-san... swung around? Made to go along with..."

"Whichever you settle on, it does not leave the realm of being unexpected for me."

Chisha sighed at Subaru, whose evaluation was not yet fixed. Whether he swung him around or made him go along with him was one thing, but even the evaluation of being helped was treated as unexpected; that was the difficulty of the person named Chisha Gold. However, including those parts, he was someone he had spent a lot of time with.

"For better or worse, eighty percent of my Empire episodes involve Chisha-san. To me, the Vollachian Empire equals Chisha Gold."

"I am awestruck. This is the nation of the Sword Wolf, the Vollachian Empire is none other than the country of His Imperial Excellency Vincent Vollachia, so I would like you to reconsider that thought."

The rebel who had driven that very Emperor Vincent Vollachia from his throne and messed with the Empire as he pleased said that, shrugging as if joking. Subaru praised it as a "Nice joke," and the two laughed together for a while. And then—,

"I'm hesitating whether to say this because it might become a flag or foreshadowing... after Chisha-san's goal succeeds, what will you do?"

"What, you say?"

"No, because what you've done is what you've done, even if you reveal everything, I don't know if Emperor Vincent will forgive you. So... that's it. If you lose your place in the Empire, I'll show you around the Kingdom next time!"

"Oh, Natsuki-dono, who came from beyond the Great Waterfall, will show me around the Kingdom of Lugunica?"

"I've lived in the Kingdom for over a year, so I can at least show you around the nearby areas!"

Anyway, if he could take Rem back to the Kingdom of Lugunica, he didn't want to make recovering her 'memories' the only goal, but he wanted to travel around the lands she knew. Of course, because of Emilia's Royal Selection, he wouldn't have much free time. Subaru felt that it wouldn't be bad if the white Sword Wolf who had been driven from the Empire was part of a scene in that journey, along with Emilia, Beatrice, and the others.

"In the first place, you are in a position to support someone who has the problem of being a half-elf, and I think that kind of expansion is a bit too indiscriminate. At that rate, the person in charge of adjustments in your camp must be suffering from a lot of hardship."

"Guh... it's fine! That guy is the type who wants to shoulder hardships, and he told me I don't have to act cool and can say anything!"

"What is 'it's fine'?"

Having been given a fairly reasonable point, Subaru curled his lip into a 'he' shape. He knew that shifting the conversation like that meant he had essentially been rejected. Of course, he also knew that suggesting a future after being kicked out of the Empire to Chisha, who was struggling for the Empire's tomorrow, was beyond being insensitive.

"I don't like the idea of laying out a tragic last stand where you have no place to return to or no place to be, and trying to do something that way. That's why I'll reach out my hand if I want to."

"Natsuki-dono..."

"There! The flag construction before the final battle is finished! Everything I wanted to say is... ah, thank you for taking care of Rem's life. It was a real help that you treated her well. ...It's incredibly complicated, but thank you for Louis too."

Louis, who seemed to have deepened her relationship with Rem even more while Subaru was away from the Imperial Capital. So far, she hasn't done a single bad thing like a Sin Archbishop; on the contrary, she seems to be devotedly serving Rem, but he doesn't know her core. —Even if that weren't the case, what to do with her when he takes Rem back to the Kingdom is a headache. Whether how to grow this headache is also a matter for consultation with Otto.

"————"

Beside Subaru, who was planning the increase of Otto's stomachache, Chisha unusually furrowed his brow, opened his lips as if to say something, and closed them. Opened them, and closed them. Three times. It seemed like something born of some kind of hesitation, and Subaru tilted his head.

"Chisha-san, did you have a flag to set?"

"—. No, rather the opposite. I almost made a statement that could have become foreshadowing, so I restrained myself. I was almost affected by Cecilus and Natsuki-dono."

"I'm in the same category as Sessy!? Seriously!?"

Chisha gave a suggestive smile and said that, and Subaru's eyes widened in astonishment. Without saying much to Subaru's reaction, Chisha took the wine cup he had placed on the railing and drained the wine. Secretly taking measures to repel the 'Great Disaster' that threatened the Empire, or perhaps having to live a life where people would point fingers at him even after the facts were revealed, the man who had deceived even the master he served was nearing the culmination of his battle.

While praying that his wish would reach success, Subaru also clenched his fists as a clear path to finally return to the Kingdom of Lugunica began to appear. And, as his rising heat dictated, he thrust his fist into the sky, and—,

"Let's do it, Chisha-san. This battle is our victory!"

"I am not the type to get so heated... but I would like to buy into your spirit."

Saying that, Chisha didn't act on impulse, but held up his wine cup to the night and met Subaru's fist. A joint struggle—no, a complicity—that began from an irrationality neither had wanted. It was a firm night of oaths for the great liars who deceived the Vollachian Empire.

—And that was the last night for Natsuki Subaru and Chisha Gold.

△▼△▼△▼△

Shaken by the shoulder, slapped on the cheek, and led to awakening, Natsuki Subaru was shocked to find that the place he woke up was not the bedroom of Berstetz's mansion, but inside a cramped box.

"Uu—!"

Louis Arneb, who was packed into the same cramped box as Subaru, helped wake him up with that high voice. Finding Rem's figure beyond the grinning Louis, Subaru jumped up. He rubbed his head hard against the box's ceiling and cried out "Gya-oh!" in pain and heat. And—,

"—We are in a ground dragon carriage heading for the Kingdom of Lugunica. I heard them saying so."

"Ha, ah? Why is that happening? Because... no, because! The rebel army is already...!"

"I don't know either! It was sudden. I was forced into the carriage... and you didn't wake up at all."

"Don't be silly, I'm a good waker, and if there was such a commotion, I'd immediately..."

He was about to say he'd wake up, but then he compared it with the fact that he actually hadn't. When he did, what crossed Subaru's mind was the milk he had drunk last night. The milk Chisha had prepared for Subaru while they talked on the palace balcony; he remembered being hit by a sudden, intense sleepiness immediately after finishing it. He had staggered back to his assigned room and slept like a log—,

"I was set up by Chisha-san...! What was he thinking... I'm an idiot. No, I'm an idiot. What Chisha-san was thinking is obvious."

It was decided. Chisha's goal in setting up this situation was clear. Chisha intended to do it alone. Chisha, who had built the board with Subaru's help until now, decided at the very last moment to remove Subaru from the board, just as he had done to the Emperor, and start the final battle with the 'Great Disaster' by himself.

Whether he had intended that from the beginning, or where he had been deceived from—those kinds of womanly and irreversible whining thoughts raged in his head—and he shut them out. At this moment, it was no use lamenting that it was no good.

"Somehow get outside..."

"I think it's difficult. I tried several times, but it's a sturdy box and doesn't budge. It seems... we'll be released once we cross the border into the Kingdom."

"Then we won't make it in time for the decisive battle in the Imperial Capital! Hey! Hey! Someone! Open up! Open this! I am Natsumi Schwartz, the candidate for Empress of His Imperial Excellency Vincent Vollachia!!"

While banging on the box's wall, he tried shouting like Natsumi Schwartz, but no action came from the carriage side. It was natural, but they must have been told by Chisha, who had set this up, not to listen to whatever the awakened Subaru and the others said.

"—Invisible Providence."

Clenching his back teeth, Subaru activated his inner invisible arm—'Invisible Providence'—aiming to destroy the box. However, unlike the Sin Archbishop of 'Sloth' who was the original owner, Subaru's was no different from a third arm for him, except for the fact that it was invisible. If he couldn't break the wall with both his arms, it was impossible with that one arm.

"If only the box's lock was a simple one, I could have opened it with Inpro..."

Tasting only the creaking of his body from the recoil, Subaru gnashed his teeth at the failure of his plan. Beside the struggling Subaru, Rem, who had already repeated similar struggles and made several dents the size of a pinky tip on the wall, had a tense expression. —She also didn't think it was right to leave the Empire at this time.

Rem, who had been placed in Berstetz's mansion as Subaru's hostage, had remembered how to use healing arts during her life there and was valued as a precious existence in the Empire. Rem felt a sense of fulfillment in her work and had built her own social relationships in the Empire. He had also heard that she had made friends.

"Madelyn-san and Katya-san are still in the Imperial Capital, and I..."

She probably hadn't even been allowed to say goodbye. Subaru also felt like the last words he had exchanged with Chisha were "I have to go to the bathroom before I sleep." Even though his sleepiness was at its limit, what a pathetic state.

"Damn! Let me out! At least, at least let's talk! Don't just go ahead on your own!"

"Aa—, uu?"

"Shut up! It's always the case, but I'm especially not in the mood to deal with you right now!"

He shouted at Louis, who was peeking at the wall-banging Subaru from the side with a worried face. He was aware that it was nothing but taking it out on her, and even though the opponent was a Sin Archbishop, he was disgusted with himself for making her the target of his outburst. Instead of the pathetic Subaru, Rem gently hugged Louis, who had been shouted at, from behind. And—,

"Uu—?"

"...I am not okay. I want to insist that I am okay because I don't want to worry Louis-chan, but right now. I am, and this person is."

"Ua-uu, eu. —Aa—, uu."

Louis, who was being hugged, blinked at the words of Rem, who had tears in her eyes, and then, as if her expression tightened slightly, she reached out her hand and touched Subaru. At that sensation, Subaru clenched his back teeth. —It was the next moment.

"—Ah?"

The next moment, just as he thought his vision blurred, Subaru was sitting on the highway.

"Eh, ah, eh? Outside... even so, it's too outside!"

Letting out a confused voice, the flustered Subaru stood up. And he wasn't the only one astonished by the sudden phenomenon. Rem, who was holding Louis, was also sitting there. The three of them, in the same arrangement as when they were in the box, were on the highway—

"Just now, teleport... teleportation? No way."

"Uu!"

Before the Subaru who had intuitively grasped the answer, Louis raised her hand vigorously. That was Louis's power—no, the power of her authority as the Sin Archbishop of 'Gluttony.' The 'Gluttony' who was at the Pleiades Watchtower had eaten the ability to teleport short distances from someone. Using that, Louis had escaped the carriage with Subaru and Rem.

"Louis-chan, amazing..."

"It's amazing, and it's annoying to praise you head-on, but you did well here! Can't you teleport all the way back to the Imperial Capital at once!?"

"Uu—? Au, uu—au-uu."

Louis shook her head while Subaru grabbed her shoulders and shook her head back and forth. Realizing that was a negative nuance, Subaru felt frustrated. It was a relief that they had escaped the carriage, but they had probably been taken quite far from the Imperial Capital. How long would it take to return to the Imperial Capital on foot from here, especially with Rem, whose legs hadn't fully recovered?

He thought that it might be better for Rem to head for the border as she was, while Subaru returned to the Imperial Capital on his own—just as he thought that.

"————"

Suddenly, a high-pitched sound was emitted from Rem, and Subaru spun around in surprise. He saw that the thing that had emitted the mysterious high-pitched sound was a small whistle-like object Rem had put to her mouth. Subaru rounded his eyes, wondering what it was, and Rem told him, "It's a dragon bone whistle," and—

"Madelyn-san gave it to me. Before, when I mended Madelyn-san's clothes, she said it was a very important garment and she would repay me. If I blow this whistle—"

"If you blow the whistle... wait, uwo!?"

The result of blowing the dragon bone whistle Madelyn had given her came fluttering down from the sky. Was it one of the many flying dragons that Madelyn, a dragon-person, commanded? A flying dragon with a ferocious nature that would never become attached to humans except through special training, it was kneeling before Rem, who held the whistle, bowing its head and showing its intention to obey. Probably, it had been told by Madelyn and ordered to obey Rem.

"If this guy will take us, then to the Imperial Capital too!"

"Just now, weren't you planning to leave me and Louis-chan behind and return to the Imperial Capital on your own?"

"I was wrong! But I didn't mean any harm! It's just that you're precious and I love you!"

"Huh? I'm not letting you on."

"I won't say it as much as possible! Let me on!"

His conflict was seen through due to his impatience and excitement, and Subaru pleaded with Rem while flailing around. Rem sighed at Subaru's words and, after pulling Louis toward her with her outstretched hand, said,

"I don't know what kind of speed it will reach. Cling on tight."

"Oh! One way or another, this is my first chance to ride a flying dragon, but that's not the point!"

Riding on a creature that flies in the sky and soaring freely through the great sky is not something you can often experience. The only time Subaru had flown in the sky under the same conditions was with Roswaal. While harboring such useless sentiments, Subaru hugged Rem and Louis's waists from behind, lifted them both up, and jumped onto the flying dragon's back. And, while apologizing to Rem, who protested "Wait a minute!",

"We're going back, Imperial Capital! Don't think we can just drop out and close the story!"

△▼△▼△▼△

"—Chisha-san, that time is imminent."

Ubilk, who visited Chisha just before the decisive battle in the Imperial Capital began, left that prophecy. Chisha felt disgusted by the contact from the 'Stars,' the observers in the heavens—the existences that built the laws of this world and made absolute separation a reality—as Ubilk, who was in the position of a 'Stargazer,' called them.

"Contact, and such, is Natsuki-dono's influence."

Conscious of the word whispered in his heart, Chisha loosened his lips slightly. Subaru, whom he had put to sleep and transported out of the Imperial Capital last night, along with Rem and Louis, were being sent straight toward the border between the Empire and the Kingdom. The soldiers, who were highly loyal to Chisha, accepted that without any explanation and followed the instructions that would take them away from the battlefield without hesitation. He felt deeply that he was blessed with people.

"That is, of course, naturally so! After all, I am with you, so there is no room for doubt!"

"...I should have ordered your placement already, but why are you here?"

Chisha furrowed his brow at the young 'Blue Lightning' he encountered in the hallway of the Crystal Palace. However, as if such a question was foolish, Cecilus held out his hand and shouted "Nonsense!", and—

"You know about me, don't you? Since I am a star actor of the world, it is guaranteed that I will be in time for the sunny stage. In fact, I am firmly present at this scene of the great war that shakes the Empire."

"Wasn't that because Natsumi Schwartz-dono and I went to pick you up?"

"That! Is! What I am saying is the guidance that comes to me when I need it! Suppose? If the ones who came to pick me up weren't Mum or you! Or even if no one came to pick me up! I would surely have been present at this battlefield. No matter what kind of trick of fate it was."

"As usual... even a 'Stargazer' would convey the information from the stars a bit more modestly, but no matter what I say to you..."

"Naturally. How can a person with a personality that easily twists and turns be loved as a charming star actor? Even without a sword, everyone carries a conviction. That is the same for you and Mum, not just me."

Cecilus pointed his finger sharply and spoke in his usual tone. It was so much his usual tone that for a moment he forgot he was small. Mum—Natsumi Schwartz, and by extension Natsuki Subaru—whom Cecilus called that, certainly had a conviction that he called 'sweetness.' Then, he wondered if Chisha Gold had one. —A conviction.

"You have one. —After all, you are also one of the actors I have acknowledged."

"I was not the one who chose you. I shall let you say that much."

"Oh my, how harsh. And, and, and, it's almost time for the start of the battle."

Cecilus sniffed his nose and looked out the window, narrowing his blue eyes. Chisha had no way of confirming if that was just a gesture or if he really smelled the scent of battle with his nose. However, to him who turned around and was about to head for the battlefield he was ordered to, Chisha called out "Cecilus"—

"I have already told you what I wanted to tell you once, so I am sorry, but I would like to say one more thing."

"Ho, ho, what is it? I'm counting on you for something auspicious for a star actor heading for the battlefield."

"It was an unexpectedly pleasant time to advance the carriage with you and leave wheel ruts. —I wish you luck in battle, Cecilus Segmunt."

"————"

Chisha was surprised by how much calmer his voice was than he had thought. Cecilus opened his eyes slightly at the same words, and then made his familiar smile, and—

"—Perfect!!"

△▼△▼△▼△

He had deceived, feigned, lied, plotted, trapped, set up, and deceived, deceived, deceived.

He didn't like deceiving. But it was his specialty. The fact that 'Noh' had manifested in Chisha Gold was accidental, but considering the results it brought, it felt like it was inevitable—no, like it was 'foreshadowing.' He wondered if that way of thinking was too much of a story-brain.

"But it cannot be helped. How much time I have spent with Cecilus and been exposed to that lawless and cheerful wave of words."

Even if he didn't empathize with that way of thinking, there were many aspects he was influenced by. It wasn't that all of Cecilus's opinions could be dismissed as ridiculous. There were parts where Cecilus's words actually had some depth. In particular, he understood the way of thinking that everyone is an actor and has a role to fulfill on the stage. —Then, what was Chisha Gold's role?

"Unexpectedly, I feel no deep emotion. —Even if I look up at the throne I was driven from like this."

"————"

Boldly, as if he owned it, Chisha narrowed his golden eyes as he welcomed the man who had come, stepping on the red carpet. The one who appeared was a black-haired handsome man wearing a mask modeled after an ogre on his face—ironically, the one confronting Chisha, whose profession was wearing 'masks,' was the true and only Emperor of this Sacred Empire of Vollachia, Vincent Vollachia himself.

"—Did your wish come true by joining with Berstetz and driving me out?"

Having repelled many and encountered numerous hardships, Vincent returned to his castle. The return of the Emperor, who was not physically superior and had no one to rely on in his position of being driven from the throne, and whose only weapons were truly his own intellect and the power of his words.

The pinnacle of the Empire, Chisha Gold's master, was asking if his wish had come true.

"Unfortunately, I shall say it has not yet come true. Therefore, for a little while longer, there is something I would like you to cooperate with, Your Excellency."

"After taking everything, do you still seek something from me? You have a greedier side than I estimated. —But it is a deception."

"————"

"What you thought you would gain by removing me from the throne is nothing but a mist without substance. By needlessly expanding the flames of war, the Empire is being burned by useless fire. —There is a way to extinguish it right now, though."

While speaking, Vincent put his hand to his face and removed the ogre mask. The true face revealed that way was undoubtedly that of the master whom Chisha could no longer even face in the mirror because he had lost the 'mask.' It was likely because he had endured corresponding hardships. His complexion was slightly worse than when he was on the throne, and his cheekbones were thinly prominent. Even so, at the point where the fatigue of the days he spent struggling to reclaim the throne was comparable to when he was handling the heavy duties of the Emperor, Vincent's way of being was too neglectful of himself.

—Yes, this Imperial Excellency was too neglectful of himself.

"I—"

"—Your Excellency."

Chisha interrupted Vincent, who was about to continue, and called his master's name. At that moment, even though he hadn't closed his eyelids, many faces flashed through his mind. With the guilt of having deceived all of them in his chest, Chisha let out a breath, and—

"—It is your great flaw that you look down on the board too much."

In an instant, Chisha put his hand over his face and put on the 'mask.' Along with the sound of creaking, a change occurred in Chisha's body; his height shrank, his muscular body transformed, and his chest swelled. Thus, the trump card manifested before Vincent—

"—'Sun' Face."

Priscilla Benedict. Chisha put on the 'mask' of Vincent Vollachia's greatest weakness—the woman who was called by that name then and now ranks as one of the Royal Selection candidates in the neighboring Lugunica—and laughed. Chisha flew toward the Vincent who gasped at the impossible encounter, kicking the floor. As if dancing lightly, Chisha reached his hand to the face of the frozen Vincent, and then—

"—'Wise Emperor' Face."

Quickly, he formed Vincent's new 'mask' with 'Noh,' threw away the 'mask' of Priscilla he had just put on, and put it on. Amidst the sound of the continuing transformation, Chisha, while enduring his changing body, took further action against the frozen Vincent. He took the ogre mask Vincent had removed and used it to hide the Emperor's true face again.

"You—"

For what, for whom, why. The wise Emperor, in response to what had happened, trembled his voice as if seeking an answer. However, without Chisha's words, the Emperor would surely not be able to reach that answer. It was just as he had told Vincent just now.

Looking down at the board, thinking about things efficiently, and defining the value of all pieces uniformly. To Vincent, who lacked the awareness that he was one of the actors on the stage, the true meaning of Chisha's actions would never be conveyed. But that was fine. It didn't matter if the true meaning wasn't conveyed.

What he wanted was the result. Whether the result of what the existence that was a trivial bit player called Chesha Trim, who put on the 'mask' of Chisha Gold and sought even by deceiving everything he gained, could be obtained. He wouldn't be able to witness it himself, but he had a conviction.

If he could deceive the observers, trap the 'Great Disaster,' and even completely deceive Vincent Vollachia, what Chisha wanted would surely shine. So—,

"————"

He could tell through the ogre mask that he had been pushed away and his cheeks had slightly hardened.

An expression that many would likely misinterpret. The Emperor, who often omitted words because he was too wise, was also laconic in his expression.

Probably, he was the only one who could correctly receive the meaning of this expression, having worked with this Emperor for many years.

"Ah, but—"

He found himself hoping, perhaps, or maybe, or just possibly. That there might be someone who would look straight at this man who was a wonderfully wise Emperor and a too-foolish and self-deprecating man.

It couldn't be helped that he thought that.

"————"

The city walls were broken, and in a form that avoided the pushed-away Vincent, when Chisha's chest, wearing the 'mask' of the Emperor, was pierced by light, he saw it outside the window.

—The accomplice he should have distanced himself from, riding on the back of a flying dragon, jumping into this place.

No one can live after their heart is pierced. Therefore, it was an inevitable event, the end of the fate that was meant to come.

"————"

The man died.

He was Chesha Trim, became Chisha Gold, and then as Vincent Vollachia, the man died.

He died before the master he served with loyalty and the accomplice who had participated in deceiving that master.

—That was everything that happened in this moment.

△▼△▼△▼△

—And so, the story converged into its original form and the time of the 'Great Disaster' arrived.

The group of resurrected dead, led by the 'Witch' who desired the Empire's destruction, burned the world. The gathered 'Nine Divine Generals' took positions different from history, or even changed their ends in life and death, and burned their lives to fulfill the maximum of their martial arts. The girls who had crossed into the neighboring country to search for the precious boy they had been separated from stood at the grand turning point that visited the Empire, and without losing hope even among them, burned their bonds. And the woman like the sun who possessed one half of the two 'Sun Swords' that shouldn't originally exist, in order to respond to the 'Witch' who expressed her anger toward herself in the group of dead whose way of being was distorted, burned her soul while shining her unchanging arrogant beauty.

In the center of that story colored by flames and flames and flames, those who witnessed the death of the man who had deceived everything, while their voices were hoarse, they shed tears of blood, and while their souls were cracked, they burned their fate.

"—Stand up! Don't give up! Giving up is the one thing I'll never forgive! You should already know what that lie he told was for!!"

"Silence, commoner. What exactly do you tell of me? I am—"

"You are!!"

""—The 77th Emperor of the Sacred Empire of Vollachia, Vincent Vollachia.""

The man stood up, his knees trembling as they almost buckled. The boy clenched his fists, desperately holding back his heart that was about to cry. The girl looked up, blaming herself for her lack of strength but knowing there was still something she could do, and the child snuggling up to the girl barked, pointing at the 'Great Disaster' shaking the Imperial Capital.

In the large hole of the broken city wall, the men stood side by side, looking down at the cityscape. Natsuki Subaru and Vincent Vollachia, whose eyes met as they stood side by side, the two whose destinies were originally meant to cross much earlier, the two who were entrusted by the man who had completely deceived fate, looked forward to destroying the approaching 'Great Disaster' and seizing the future that man had desired.

"I am your Emperor, Vincent Vollachia. —One of the Sword Wolves of the Empire."

"My name is Natsuki Subaru, a passing thunderclap of the world, but an accomplice of that great liar Chisha Gold!"

The two declared their positions and made themselves heard loudly and powerfully in the sky of the Imperial Capital. Natsuki Subaru twisted his cheeks, thinking that he had built the board so that the most combat power would be concentrated in the Imperial Capital when the approaching 'Great Disaster' and the group of terrifying enemies surged. And—,

"I've received the baton you passed without permission. —Bring it on, Fate!!"

△▼△▼△▼△

—This was an available mismatched button.

With one slip of the gears, the story twists greatly, and the rails of fate easily change direction. If the flow that shouldn't happen changes, the torrent of destiny tosses people about like fallen leaves.

Even so.

Even so, if there is a way to reach the unchanging far shore without surrendering... It must be only when an unshakeable, ironclad desire manages to utterly deceive that heavenly mandate.

That once-in-a-lifetime lie is the very meaning of the man's existence—

"—I shall say it is my one and only sunny stage, and I shall close the curtain accordingly."

《The End》

And so, it was the usual April Fools project! The man who had little screen time in the main story and disappeared after blurting out his true intentions at the very end. Because he had almost no connection with Subaru, he was a character whose important parts weren't revealed, but if he were to encounter him in a 'what if' world line—it became the IF of Arc 7. In this world line, the characters involved are slightly different, the development of the events Subaru follows changes, and there are people he can get deeply involved with and people he can't, which is quite interesting. Note that in either route, Subaru cross-dresses. Because it's fate.

Anyway, thank you for joining me again this year! I only wanted to do this for this year's April Fools after the Empire arc ended, so I'm glad! As for how much the characters' positions and survivors change between the main story and Azamuku, I hope to post that in an activity report or something at another time! Well then, thanks! Have a good dream!