Arc 10, Part 19: "An Enemy Too Large"

—Just how much time had passed since they started running?

Between an environment where he couldn't properly feel the light from outside and the unknown period he had spent unconscious, Subaru’s gut feeling told him that anywhere from several hours to half a day had passed since the incident began.

"Miraculously, it looks like we managed to lose our pursuers, but..."

Regulating his ragged breathing and wiping the sweat dripping from his chin, Subaru looked back into the lukewarm stench of the darkness, checking for the sound of footsteps from unseen pursuers.

Until a short while ago, they had been relentlessly chased by groups of Kingdom soldiers, leaving them no time to even catch their breath. With paths blocked and escape routes cut off, the choice between being captured or attempting a forced breakthrough had flickered through his mind countless times. Both sides had been on a knife's edge, but—

"Thanks to that ridiculously huge earthquake, we somehow made it... Come to think of it, I don't remember ever encountering an earthquake since I came to this world. What was that all about?"

"Betty was surprised by that rumbling too, but... now is our chance. Subaru, show me your arm. I’ll apply healing magic to that burn, I suppose."

"Oh, thanks. That helps."

Saying so, Subaru set Beatrice down on the ground; he had been carrying her in his arms this whole time. Beatrice opened and closed her palms as if checking her own condition, then enveloped Subaru’s right arm—wrapped in a handkerchief acting as a bandage—in a faint light of healing.

Subaru felt the throbbing, dull pain that had been lingering finally ease, and a sigh escaped his lips.

"I knew you were just acting tough, I suppose. If it was that painful, I wish you had told me sooner."

"No, really, while I was panicking, I totally forgot about it. But as soon as things calmed down, the pain came rushing back. H-Hurry... save me...!"

"Yes, yes, what a helpless child you are. I’ll finish this quickly, so don't be a crybaby, I suppose."

"Thanks, Beako-mama! ...Is your mana situation pretty tight?"

"—To be blunt, I don't have much to spare, I suppose."

"...Well, that figures."

At Beatrice’s answer while she treated his burn, Subaru scratched his cheek with his other hand. After all, they had been quite extravagant back at Miklotov’s mansion. Between the Yin magic Minya, a barrage of Shamak, and even using E.M.T, Subaru—who served as a rather unreliable external mana tank for Beatrice—was likely on the verge of running dry.

He truly felt like lamenting his own low aptitude for this different world.

"I was doing surprisingly well back in the Empire, though... Maybe I can pack more dreams into my body when it's shrunk?"

"That was an incredibly unnatural state where your Od was distorted, so Betty doesn't have a very good impression of it, I suppose. I can't imagine how many human experiments were conducted to achieve that."

"Even though he's not an enemy anymore and we've left the Empire, the darkness surrounding Olbart-san—or rather, the Shinobi—just keeps getting thicker..."

Indeed, he couldn't imagine that kneading something like Od or the soul into a desired shape was something one could do without practice. This meant that Olbart, or the Shinobi village, had been practicing "kneading souls," proving that the name "Vile Old Man" was no exaggeration.

"—It seems the soldiers are occupied with dealing with the aftermath of that tremor from earlier. The vigilance mixed in the wind is moving away, and the tension has thinned. It is safe to assume we have lost them for now."

Joining the conversation was Crusch, who had been scanning their surroundings with sharp eyes. Illuminating the sewer with a Lagmite lamp dimmed to low light, she narrowed her amber eye—the one not covered by an eyepatch—and fell silent as she watched Subaru’s arm being treated.

For a moment, Subaru found her reaction suspicious, but he quickly realized that the light of healing likely reminded Crusch of something close to her that she could never forget.

"...This isn't really the time for that conversation, is it?"

Honestly, the situation was moving with overwhelming momentum. From Subaru’s perspective, ever since that incident with Al at the Pleiades Watchtower, things had been happening non-stop, one after another, leaving his nerves no time to rest. The rise of the "Holy Dragon Church," Crusch’s recovery, the subsequent uproar at Miklotov’s mansion, and now Natsuki Subaru the fugitive—it was a disaster.

I really wanted to talk to her about Ferris’s dismissal if I managed to see her.

He wanted to confirm the reason and true intention behind her dismissing Ferris, find some middle ground, and help repair the relationship between the two who had fallen out. Ferris would surely call it arrogant meddling, but Subaru didn't care. To others, he was an insufferably selfish and arrogant man—that was Natsuki Subaru.

"—To you two."

"...Hm?"

"I am grateful to you. For following me in such a situation."

"————"

Subaru fell silent as Crusch spoke in a lowered tone. It felt a bit pathetic that a single "thank you" made this half-day of constant running feel rewarded, but at the very least, if he hadn't chosen to chase after her back there, he never would have heard those words.

"I can't exactly say 'you're welcome' lightheartedly, though. The burn hurts, and while you protected me from Tiga, you were the one who started the fight in the first place, Crusch-san. I'm definitely causing Emilia-tan and the others a lot of worry and trouble, and my devoted Beako is already prepared to spend a hellish four hundred years with me..."

"Subaru, Subaru, just because you can't organize your thoughts doesn't mean you should mess up Betty’s hair so much, I suppose. You're ruining Betty’s cuteness."

"Ah, sorry... You're right! It's ruined... I can't bear to look at it!"

"That's not true at all, I suppose! Even if my hairstyle is a mess, Betty’s cuteness doesn't fade; it just unearths a new charm point, I suppose!"

Beatrice, unable to stop the treatment, shouted in frustration as Subaru’s restless hands ruffled her hair. That familiar exchange eased the tension that had felt frozen deep in his gut. It was in that moment of casual relief—

"Heh."

"—! Did you just laugh, Crusch-san?"

Hearing a small sound of vibrating air, Subaru’s eyes widened. Looking over, he saw Crusch standing against the dirty sewer wall, her hand over her mouth. She added a quick "My apologies" to Subaru’s gaze, and then:

"Watching that exchange, so lacking in tension, I simply couldn't help myself. I am immature."

"I've got no comeback for the 'lacking tension' part, but it's way better than being on edge forever. I've seen nothing but scary faces from you for a while now."

"A terrifying face, is it? Especially with this eye."

"Well, even with one eye like that, you're still a beauty, Crusch-san."

"————" "Subaru..."

"Wait, what?! Did the mood just get awkward again?!"

Crusch narrowed her eye as she touched her eyepatch, and Subaru panicked as even Beatrice looked at him with exasperation. However, after a small sigh, Crusch slowly shook her head.

"You... no, you two are strong."

"If you're talking about me and Beako, using the plural is the right call. Without Beako, I'm just another face in the crowd. But, you know..."

"But?"

"...You used to have this kind of strength too, Crusch-san."

At Subaru’s answer, Crusch’s lips pressed into a thin line. Seeing that, Subaru reflected on his words, wondering if he had stepped too far. He had just managed to soften her expression for a moment, only to make it harden again. As Subaru hesitated on what to say next, Beatrice patted his arm.

"There, it’s finished, I suppose. For now, you should be fine."

"Right, thanks. ...Yeah, it feels a bit tight, but not bad."

"Keep the handkerchief on, I suppose. It might get itchy, and the skin might get raw, so make sure you don't accidentally scratch it."

"That sounds terrifying, so I got it. —Now then."

Giving Beatrice a double dose of gratitude for the well-timed intervention, Subaru turned back to Crusch. The wound was treated, and they had temporarily lost their pursuers. That meant there were a mountain of things he wanted to discuss with her properly. First, what he wanted to confirm immediately was—

"Crusch-san, do you have any leads or places to go in this situation?"

"Leads, is it? I had one before this happened. But I cut it down with my own hands."

"...By the way you said that, do you mean the person you were relying on was..."

"Yes. Miklotov McMahon, before his evil schemes were exposed."

"Oh my god..."

As she nodded matter-of-factly, Subaru looked up at the ceiling in despair, his gaze bouncing off the low, dirty sewer roof. He couldn't blame her, as he had felt the same way; there were simply too many reasons to want to rely on Miklotov regarding the Kingdom’s information. Even Crusch, who was in a difficult position as a Royal Selection candidate due to the "Holy Dragon Church," had thought so, which spoke volumes of Miklotov’s character.

However—

"That Miklotov-san was harboring a plot to overthrow the country...?"

"Yes. —Lord McMahon welcomed my unscheduled visit warmly. However, he said he was expecting another guest and had me wait in a separate room..."

"A separate room. And?"

"I saw a suspicious 'wind' regarding myself, placed in the guest room, and the guest he was about to receive. Therefore, when I tried to question his intent, the people of the mansion stood in my way—and the rest is as you saw."

"What we saw..."

Even having the circumstances explained—the slashed Miklotov and the fallen servants and guards throughout the mansion—it was still a difficult answer to accept easily. In the end, the only basis for Crusch’s suspicion of Miklotov and the others was a "suspicious wind"—in other words, it all stemmed from her "Divine Protection of Wind Indication."

"————"

It was obvious, but Subaru could not share the Divine Protection that she placed absolute trust in. Therefore, aside from his desire to believe in Crusch, he couldn't find any certainty. And that was—

"—It’s the same as me back then."

As he spoke with Crusch, Subaru felt a tightening in his chest. It was the exact inverse of an exchange Subaru had once had with Crusch—back when the Royal Selection had just begun, when Subaru’s eyes were clouded by hatred for Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth who had caused devastating damage to the Roswaal Manor and Arlam Village.

"Back then, the blood rushed to my head, and my eyes were so clouded because no one understood me. I couldn't listen to a single word from the people around me..."

Crusch had seen through that distortion, clouded by hatred and rage, and had bluntly cut down his foolish, defiant attitude. —This was a reenactment of that, with the roles reversed. Crusch’s current words and actions were just like Subaru’s back then, when he brandished information obtained through "Return by Death"—a method others couldn't understand—and threw a tantrum when no one believed him.

Of course, Crusch appeared to be acting much more rationally than the foolish Subaru of that time. But unlike the powerless Subaru, Crusch had both power and status.

"—I knew it, I can't do it."

"...Subaru?"

"Now that I realize it's the same as me, I don't have the option of abandoning you here, Crusch-san. Whether it's to help you or to stop you."

Beatrice, by his side, watched silently as Subaru bit his lip and clenched his fists. Back then, Crusch was facing the major battle of the White Whale subjugation. Even so, she had patiently dealt with the ignorant, stubborn, and rude Subaru. And in the end, she had listened to his words and helped him achieve his great ambition.

Now, it was Subaru’s turn to do the same. —If she was right, he would stand beside her; if she was wrong, he would stand in her way to stop her. For that purpose.

"Crusch-san, I—"

"—Wait, Natsuki Subaru."

Just as he was about to voice his resolved determination, Crusch cut him off. But before he could feel frustrated by the interruption, he saw that Crusch’s expression was deadly serious. She closed the distance between herself and Subaru’s group, shielding them behind her as she peered into the darkness of the sewer.

Subaru looked in the same direction, but his eyes saw nothing—

"—Someone is there. Even if you hold your breath, your emotions ride the wind. You cannot escape my eyes."

"—! I thought we lost the pursuing soldiers..."

"They likely have different motives than those men. I will tell you now, continuing your silence will not benefit you. Or perhaps, I should assume you have hostile intent—"

"—Wait, wait, wait! Don't be so hasty! I get it! I get it already!"

Just as Crusch was about to take a stance with a dagger she had drawn at some point, a panicked voice echoed back from the darkness ahead of the waterway, prompted by her rising tension and warning. After the surprise that Crusch’s eyes were indeed correct, Subaru furrowed his brows at the voice itself. —It sounded familiar.

"That voice just now..."

"Damn it! I'm coming over there now! Got it? Don't attack, okay? I have absolutely no intention of picking a fight with you guys!"

"That depends on your next move. I cannot make any reckless promises. However, you are alone and we are three; the numerical disadvantage is—"

"—Is that you, Chin?"

"What?"

Crusch, who hadn't lowered her guard against the shouting man, raised her eyebrows at Subaru’s question. Beatrice, leaning in close to Subaru, also muttered "Chin..." in a small voice.

"If I recall, that was a man we saw in Pristella, I suppose."

"Yeah, that's right. He's being looked after by Felt now..."

"—I'm here because that Felt told me to come. Tsk, this is so uncool."

Clicking his tongue irritably, a man with both hands raised slowly emerged from the darkness. As expected, it was a man with sanpaku eyes even more menacing than Subaru’s—one of the "Ton-Chin-Kan" trio from the back alleys who had somehow joined Felt’s camp: Latins.

"Oh, Chin...! You give me a fresh surprise every time you show up."

"Shut up! I told you before, it's not Chin! It's Latins!"

"It's Chin, I suppose."

"I said it's not Chin, you brat!"

"You're a death-defying Chin, I suppose."

While Subaru was moved to see a familiar face after so long, Latins and Beatrice engaged in a fruitless argument. In fact, Subaru hadn't seen Latins since Pristella—specifically, since they were together during Sirius’s atrocity that triggered the Witch Cult’s gathering. Of course, he had confirmed Latins was safe afterward, but it was a relief to see him doing well.

"Anyway, I'm glad to see a familiar face. I have things I want to ask you—"

"Stop right there, you 'Chin' person. Unlike Natsuki Subaru, I do not know you."

"Crusch-san!?"

In contrast to Subaru, who reflexively rejoiced at the reunion, Crusch’s vigilance had not wavered at all as she pointed her dagger at Latins with a sharp gaze. Come to think of it, Latins hadn't stayed at the 'Watergate Inn,' and after the encounter with Sirius, he had withdrawn from the front lines, so there had been no opportunity for him to meet Crusch.

Subaru thought Crusch’s caution was only natural, but—

"Aahn? You don't know me? Duchess Karsten is quite heartless, isn't she?"

"...What?"

"Well, I'm not in a position to speak casually with high-and-mighty types like a Duchess, but you were one of the people who learned the sword from my old man. If you say you don't know me at all, then my old man didn't do a very good job, did he?"

"————"

As Latins spoke while sticking out his long tongue, Crusch’s face turned to one of bewilderment. Meanwhile, Subaru was simply stunned by Latins’ sheer audacity.

"Hey, no matter how you look at it, that's a bit much for a lie..."

"It's not a lie! ...I actually come from a decent family. I've even met with the Ducal houses a few times, though I could count them on one hand."

"Seriously? If you're lying, your imagination is terrifying, man..."

However, hearing him speak with such confidence made it seem like the truth; human hearts and words really are unreliable things. Because of that, Subaru tentatively checked Crusch’s reaction—

"—. —. —. Could you be the son of Master Rickert Hoffman, who served as a Royal Instructor?"

"Ha! You hear that? Looks like I stuck in Duchess Karsten’s memory."

"Are you serious?!" "It seems he is serious, I suppose."

After a long pause, Crusch squeezed out the name. At Latins’ confirming attitude, Subaru and Beatrice looked at each other in shock. To think that Latins really was of Lugnican noble birth.

"Then why did you become a thug bullying the weak in back alleys?"

"Shut up! People have their reasons, don't pry!"

"Betty and the others have plenty of reasons too, I suppose. It seems your presence here is not unrelated to those reasons, I suppose."

"Ngh...!"

"Yeah. It's like Beako says. ...Crusch-san, put that down. I think Chin is okay. I’ll vouch for him."

"—. If he makes a suspicious move, or if the wind blows, I will strike."

"I can handle the moves, but how am I supposed to take responsibility for the wind...!"

Before the trembling Latins, Crusch slowly lowered her dagger and relaxed her stance. That said, she didn't go as far as sheathing it, and she continued to watch Latins’ movements closely with her single eye. Anyway—

"Once again, I'm glad you came. How did you find us?"

"It wasn't anything special. I wasn't the only one looking for you. Gaston and Camberley are wandering around searching other places too."

"Then you just happened to get lucky, I suppose? It really wasn't anything special, I suppose."

"Shut up, brat. I found you, so it's fine. Ah—so? What the hell is going on with you guys?"

"As for that, it's a long story and I'm not sure you'd believe me. So let me hear your side first. —How are Emilia and the others?"

Knowing it was rude, Subaru pushed aside Latins’ question and asked. After all, since escaping from Miklotov’s mansion, he hadn't had a single chance to get proper information from the outside. He was a mess of anxiety, worry, and impatience.

"They must have heard that I'm with Crusch-san. If so, I must be causing them a hell of a lot of worry and trouble..."

The mental burden of worry and the physical burden of being questioned by the Kingdom—a double blow. On top of that, the camp must be in total chaos. —However, Subaru’s prediction was overturned. And in a way he never could have imagined.

"Ah—"

"—?"

Latins, upon being asked, widened his sanpaku eyes slightly, then made a face that was uncharacteristically considerate of Subaru. He said:

"That half-elf of yours has been detained at the castle. And the rest of your camp is on the run and has disappeared. —Just like you, they're all wanted criminals."

—Emilia’s detention at the Royal Castle, and the escape of Rem, Otto, and the others from the Royal Villa.

It was bad news that felt like the world had turned upside down. Subaru chewed on the words Latins had told him, ruminating over them again and again so his brain could fully digest them. He put in effort after effort to somehow understand. He did, but—

"W-Why did it turn out like that...?"

"...Even Betty didn't expect this, I suppose."

Subaru, his face pale with shock, realized his teeth were chattering. Apparently, events that far exceeded one's understanding could even strip a person of their warmth. He felt as if cold blood was circulating through his body, giving him the illusion that his fingers and toes were about to die from frostbite.

Beatrice held his hand, gently sharing her warmth. Even so, his body wouldn't stop shaking. —The situation was far worse than Subaru’s shallow imagination had conceived.

"Because of me... because of me, Emilia and everyone else..."

"Keh, you probably want to say something stupid like that, but stop trying to take all the responsibility. No matter how you look at it, you've been set up."

"Eh?"

A ringing sound filled Subaru’s ears, and he blinked in a daze as dizziness washed over him. At Subaru’s reaction, Latins clicked his tongue irritably while crossing his arms. Just now, Latins had said it as if it were obvious that they had been "set up."

"Set up... what do you mean..."

"What do I mean? It's exactly what it sounds like. Don't you think it's weird? Too many inconvenient things are happening all at once all over the place."

Latins shrugged his shoulders with a sigh at the stunned Subaru. In place of Subaru, whose mind felt partially numb, Beatrice responded with, "Does that mean..."

"Us being chased, Emilia being locked in the castle... I suppose?"

"—It's not just that. The reason your camp members ran away without a word is probably because they realized the other side is playing for keeps."

"Playing for... keeps!?"

"It's a figure of speech! They can't actually just go around killing Royal Selection candidates. ...That's why that bratty girl was able to send us out before she was taken."

At the dangerous words, Subaru’s eyes widened, and Latins kicked the dirty wall. But contrary to his blunt attitude, thanks to Latins’ patient explanation, Subaru’s thinking capacity was finally starting to recover. In short—

"Someone is working behind the scenes to force Emilia out of the Royal Selection. And my actions were perfectly used for that, leading to Emilia being caught at the castle. Otto and the others, realizing the plotter’s intent, escaped before they could be pinned down... is that it?"

"Betty wants to add one thing to that, I suppose. —There's a possibility that Emilia isn't the only target of this villain, I suppose."

"Not just Emilia?"

"————"

As Subaru raised his eyebrows at the suggestion, Beatrice gestured with her chin. Following her movement, he saw Latins’ grim face as he poked the inside of his cheek with his tongue. It was clearly the face of someone who had been hit where it hurt—

"...Could it be that the reason you came for us isn't just because Emilia and Felt became friends?"

"Damn, you're a brat who notices too much..."

"It's Betty’s job to fill in what Subaru lacks, I suppose. Besides, calling me a brat over and over... do you want to be taught a lesson, human?"

"Then tell your master to learn how to call people by their proper names!"

Latins raised his voice at Beatrice, with whom he seemed to have poor compatibility, and then let out a deep sigh. After hesitating for a moment, he continued:

"...The half-elf isn't the only one who got caught at the castle. Felt is too. They found some pretext, and even that Reinhard guy has had his movements sealed."

"Reinhard too?! And Felt was caught... if that's the case, the target isn't Emilia, but the Royal Selection itself!?"

"You're slow to catch on. Felt suspected as much, so before she was dragged to the castle, she ordered us to 'Find Big Bro and the others. Don't leave them alone.' Thanks to that, we've been running around this ditch-smelling place forever."

It was understandable why Latins hadn't wanted to talk about it in terms of his camp’s disadvantage, but having this information changed the entire premise. Subaru had thought his actions were being used for a personal attack on Emilia, but it seemed the enemy’s goal was far beyond that.

If Emilia and Felt—and by extension, Subaru and Reinhard, and even their respective camps—were being targeted, it was absolutely not a coincidence. A plot aimed at the Royal Selection that would shake the Kingdom of Lugnica to its core. And Subaru had heard something about such a large-scale story recently.

"Crusch-san, did you hear that?! What you were saying was..."

Subaru turned excitedly toward Crusch, who had been watching the discussion. Until Latins joined them, Subaru hadn't been able to fully believe the validity of Crusch’s words based on her 'Wind Indication,' but the flood of information he had just received gave a certain level of persuasiveness to those doubts. Perhaps Miklotov’s scheme, which led Crusch to draw her sword, was also related to this malice trying to ruin the Royal Selection.

However—

"Wait, Crusch-san?"

No response. Feeling suspicious, Subaru looked at Crusch and doubted his eyes. —Crusch, standing against the wall, was nodding off. To fall asleep in the middle of a conversation, especially while she was supposed to be on guard, was a completely out-of-character and misplaced attitude for her.

Noticing this and raising his voice, Subaru saw Crusch look back at him with clearly hollow eyes.

"...My apologies, a sudden drowsiness. Likely... the strain of this left eye..."

"Strain... wait, since when has that eye been—"

"I leave the rest... to you... Subaru-sama..."

"Wait a second!"

Reaching her limit, her upper body swayed, and Crusch suddenly collapsed forward. As Subaru rushed to catch her, the dagger slipped from her limp hand, hitting the sewer floor with a high-pitched metallic clang. But she didn't even notice the sound, already beginning to breathe softly in sleep.

"You're kidding, right? In the middle of such an important talk... she fell asleep!"

"Hey, what's with the Duchess? People were saying all sorts of things—that she lost her memory, that her body was broken, and finally that she'd gone crazy."

"Ah?! What are you saying about Crusch-san! I'll blow you away, you bastard!"

"I wasn't the one saying it! What's with you!"

"Enough, I suppose! Don't fight over every little thing, I suppose! —From the looks of it, she's just sleeping. Just as she said, it seems her exhaustion has exceeded its limit, I suppose."

Beatrice stepped between Subaru and Latins and gave her judgment after peering at Crusch’s sleeping face. To Subaru’s eyes as well, the unconscious Crusch didn't seem to be in any particular pain; it simply looked like her exhausted body was demanding a deep, mud-like sleep.

However, if this was the side effect of the 'Dragon Eye' Crusch had mentioned, then that unnatural thing was definitely not something that should be left alone. Especially—

"...The 'Holy Dragon Church's' miracle and Tiga’s testimony. There's no way that's unrelated to the situation where the Royal Selection candidates are being targeted."

To be honest, it was a situation where it was impossible to think they weren't connected. But that directly led to doubting the organization known as the 'Holy Dragon Church.' The 'Holy Dragon Church' was a religion deeply and strongly rooted in the Kingdom of Lugnica. Even if he identified them as a hypothetical enemy, just how far did that enmity extend? Given the situation, he had to doubt Tiga, but what about Sakura? —And Philore?

"If my worst fears are right, I'll be depressed, but Emilia will be heartbroken..."

Even without that, Emilia was currently detained at the castle, likely worried about the safety of Subaru and Beatrice, not to mention Otto and the others. To remove even a little of that mental burden, he had to make a move. The best move.

Having made his decision, Subaru hoisted the sleeping Crusch onto his back and secured her firmly. He nodded to Beatrice, who had picked up the dagger and sheathed it.

"Latins, we're not getting anywhere here. Since you went through the trouble of coming for us, you have a place where it's easier to talk, right? Let's move."

"I don't like being told what to do, but I'll let it slide for now. ...Though, I can't guarantee how much we can avoid people's eyes in the capital right now."

"...I'm really starting to feel just how dangerous the situation is."

The enemy was using a massive, truly massive power, plotting to ensnare Subaru and the others. Perhaps the fact that they had managed to meet Latins here and hear his story was a miraculous stroke of luck. Or perhaps calling it a miracle was an insult to Latins, who had found them under Felt’s orders. Either way—

"I want to let Crusch-san rest somewhere calm. Once her mind and body find even a little peace, we should be able to have a proper talk. So—"

"—That’s perfect! Right now, at this very moment, this very second, I was just dying to invite the fugitives who are throwing the capital into chaos! I really, really was!"

"—What!?"

Instantly, a completely out-of-place voice echoed through the sewer. Subaru, with Crusch on his back, as well as Beatrice and Latins, froze and turned around with wide eyes.

The voice came from beyond the darkness of the waterway, where the faint light of the Lagmite ore couldn't reach. However, Latins clicked his tongue and threw something toward it—

"Oh, let there be light! Kuhahahaha, how very thoughtful and quick-witted of you!"

A hard sound hit the sewer floor, followed by a brilliant white light that illuminated the darkness. What had been thrown was a piece of Lagmite ore itself, which glowed upon impact. As Latins had intended with his split-second judgment, the light exposed the figure hidden in the shadows to Subaru and the others.

It was—

"...A mask?"

"Hey, hey, hey. The first thing you say when you see me is 'mask'? That’s a bit too literal, don't you think? Use a bit more imagination. Choose your words with as much heat and passion as if you were trying to woo the woman of your dreams. Kuhahahahaha!"

The man shaking with laughter was tall—that was all they could tell. He was dressed in black garments that covered his entire body, and on his face, he wore a mask resembling a jester.

In the darkness, the white jester mask stood out, emphasizing his abnormality. His words, his attitude, and the malicious gaze directed through the mask—a mere five-second encounter was enough to understand immediately. —This jester-masked guy was bad news.

As if to prove it—

"You can all die now. The only one I have business with is that sleeping woman over there!"

In an instant, a massive flame, incomparable to the light of the Lagmite ore, illuminated the darkness of the sewer, and an extreme wave of heat surged toward Subaru and the others.