4
- Oh, it's you! I heard someone coming! - cried Al. He glanced at Emilia. - Are you all right, miss? Well done, kid!
Priscilla's vassal stood leaning against the wall a few feet from the solid metal gates.
- Thank you for your concern," the half elf replied. - Thank you also for giving Subaru my message.
Embarrassed, Al scratched his neck.
- You judged me too well. The kid will tell you.
- Yes, Emilia-tan. You think too highly of him," Subaru muttered. He was not thrilled with his compatriot's recent actions.
- Hey! What the hell! - the outraged man protested. - I tried my best!
- All right, all right. I was only joking! - replied Subaru, although that was not really the case.
I trust him less and less. It's obvious he's going behind our backs. And his advice...
- What are you doing here, Al?
- I'm on guard, apparently. But who I'm supposed to guard this place from, I don't know. I feel more like a scarecrow than a guard. Well, the lady commands it, so I stand.
- Although you complain, I think you actually like your job! - commented Emilia.
The half elf had no ill intentions, but she managed to hit a sensitive spot by accident. Al groaned as if he had been painfully struck. In reality, he felt sincerely attached to his lady, though he showed it in his own way that was difficult for outsiders to understand.
- All right, well... And you came to, I'm guessing, the woman we're holding in there?
- Why else? Not to have a chat with you. We don't have time for that," said Beatrice sharply.
- Uh-oh, that was mean. Hey, don't get so pissed off, uh... Beako!
- Only Subaru can call me that! - the girl snarled, now furious.
- Okay, okay, I understand. Boy, why the nerves...? - He muttered, scratching at his helmet.
Subaru was also a bit surprised.
Oh, that was too harsh, even for her...
- The Archbishop is inside,' Al said, pointing to the gates. - Restrained so she won't do anything, but be careful anyway. We don't want any incidents. Before you go in there, take my advice, kid...
- Council?
Al lowered his voice. He really wanted to warn him of serious danger.
- You don't want to deal with them. Let it go, give up the conversation.
- That's impossible. - Subaru shook his head and looked at the gate behind which the Archbishop was waiting. He felt himself getting goosebumps. - They won't disappear from my life, I can't help it. In this situation, every piece of information is at a premium, so I will go inside and talk to her.
- I see... If that's the case, I'm not saying anything anymore. - Al clapped hard on the floor. - Just to make sure... Are they coming in too?
- Yes, of course! We won't let him go alone, something will happen to him! - said Emilia.
- Oh, I see. The three of you will be safer. Yeah, right.
- Save your comments! I count on you to come to our aid, if need be," Subaru said and approached the gate under Al's watchful gaze.
The closer he got to the entrance to the room where the Archbishop was locked, the more sluggish his body became, as if something inside him really didn't want him to go there. He fixed his gaze on the door handle.
- Subaru... - said Emilia worriedly.
Beatrice said nothing, but grasped his hand more firmly.
- I'm sorry! It's all right. All right, let's go in.
They make me feel braver.
The door opened with a creak. The room was dimly lit and smelled of mold.
- Ah, there you are! Sorry you had to come all the way out here. Thank you.
Archbishop Wrath Sirius Romanee-Conti sat in a chair in the middle of the room, immobilized by her own chains. She greeted Subaru with a smile. The boy collapsed into himself.
- I'm glad you came! I was wondering why no one was coming. And it's because they sent for you! Thank you, I'm sorry. But... what are they here for? To disturb us! - she growled, looking hostilely at Beatrice and Emilia.
She still thinks I'm Petelgeuse! She probably thinks they're her rivals!
- Hey, be polite! You're our prisoner and believe me, we won't let you go anytime soon," Subaru threatened.
- But you won't get rid of me that easily either, will you? Thank you. I know you care about me. But I'm sorry! Don't be - Sirius didn't seem to understand the threat. - I think you understand? - She laughed in a cracking voice. - Everyone wants love. As long as that's the case, I won't be rejected, I'll find a way for everyone. That goes for that proud maiden too.
She's talking about Priscilla. What's she talking about?
- Subaru, it's no use," Beatrice said softly, grabbing his sleeve. She wanted to help him somehow. - They don't have human feelings, It's a different species,
The sight of the girl touching her beloved angered Sirius.
- Stay away from Petelgeuse, you ugly spirit!
- Well," said Beatrice, putting her arm around the boy's shoulder. - Beatrice belongs to Subaru and was asked to accompany him. And you don't even know his name and you address him differently! Crazy woman!
- Don't jump up, you puppy! You're trying to manipulate him and he doesn't love you at all, I know it. I'll shove a glowing chain up your ass and burn your insides until you become one with Laguna Od!
- Please, calm down! Don't argue or I'll get angry! - Emilia interrupted them.
Maybe it's also the influence of the Sirius Authority... He's messing with our heads. The longer we're here, the worse it gets.
- Subaru, it's dangerous. Better not talk to her.
- Nevertheless, please bear with me. It's the only chance I have to find out something from one of them!
She is an Archbishop after all! She sure knows a lot, maybe she can tell us how the Authorities of others work!
- But if it gets hot, we will stop you immediately! - said Emilia, and together with Beatrice they retreated to a corner of the room.
Subaru turned to Sirius:
- We'll do as you wish. Now you only talk to me, but I warn you, they'd love to get rid of you right away. If you start acting up and they have to intervene, I won't defend you. No one will save you.
Sirius was delighted. She immediately stopped paying attention to Emilia and Beatrice, as if she'd banished them from her consciousness.
- I don't count on anyone to save me. What a sweetheart you are! I understand you have to say things like that to hide your embarrassment....
- Don't you count on someone to save you? What do you mean, you don't help each other out with the other Archbishops? I know you guys don't work well together, that's why we won, but I don't think that's too much to ask, do you?
We based our strategy to fight for Priestella on the premise that they don't get along with each other, and that's the only reason we succeeded, but not everything is sticking together here.
- You attacked this town together, and now you say you're not cooperating. Then what is it? You demanded the Book of Wisdom, created spirits...
- These were not my demands. It's hard for me to guess what motivations drive others... I don't even want to know what's in the dirty heads of those bastards, but... we came here together because it was the Gospel.
- There's that Gospel again!
They believe he is showing them the future, but that is not true, just remember how Petelgeuse ended up. If the future is written there, it's not all of it. I know it best.
- Why do you do what he tells you? To bring about the resurrection of your Witch... The Witch of Jealousy?
- You got it wrong.
- Bad?
- I only love you. Only you. The witch doesn't care about me. I was only doing what would lead me to you! - she said. While so far she had been radiant with sincere joy, now suddenly something disturbing sounded in her voice. - For others, burning desires make them rely on Authorities, but you and I... we are different. We just want love. We are not like them.
Subaru had all along been firmly convinced that the Witch Cult existed to bring the Witch of Envy back to life. He had based his conclusions on what Petelgeuse had said. And it just turned out that his thinking was based on faulty assumptions.
- Then what do the other Archbishops want? What does the cult want?
- Well, um... I'm sorry. I don't know. I'm not interested in anything but you.
- Do you have any headquarters? Any commander, any leader?
- No, not really. As you know yourself," she smiled under the bandages.
She didn't answer any questions. No... She doesn't really seem to know. She's been so focused on herself and her fantasies this whole time that she's been destroying and killing, not at all interested in what she's a part of. As befits the Archbishop of Sin.
Subaru remained silent. He felt horribly lost, unable to comprehend what was in front of him.
Suddenly he heard a quiet creak.
- Did he dominate you?
He saw a bloodshot eye staring at him and he froze. Sirius' face was right in his face.
She was restrained by chains from her feet to her neck, but she still found a way to squat down next to Subaru. She tilted the chair and, balancing on her fingertips, instantly squatted against him.
- The soul of the man who owns your new, replacement body has proven stronger than you thought. You've lost your freedom... Really, you can't do anything without me... - she whispered warmly and licked the boy's neck with affection.
His hair stood up as her tongue touched his skin. It made him sick, anger began to take control of him, thoughts drowning in anger...
- Icebrand!
The blow of the ice axe obliquely struck Sirius in the side. She collapsed against the wall along with the chair.
- Don't you dare do things like that! Be careful, because I'm nervous and I won't hold back! - cried Emilia. Indeed, she went all the way.
Beatrice caught Subaru who wobbled on his feet, then threw the Archbishop lying on the ground a threatening look.
I underestimated her... I thought that since she was immobilized, she wouldn't do anything to me, but her Authority is still in effect. Besides, she's very agile. She's dangerous even without all those powers, unlike Regulus, who turned out to be a wimp. All I had to do was figure out his Authority and it turned out that he wasn't the strongest Archbishop at all.
- There's no point in talking anymore, Subaru. She is dangerous," Beatrice warned.
This time he had no intention of arguing with her. He silently conceded her point.
The risks outweigh the potential rewards. She's getting too good at messing with our heads. It is with great regret that I must decline.
- Wait...
Sirius lay on the cold floor, breathing strangely. At first he thought it was a sigh, but no. She was humming something under her breath. Something very annoying.
- Stop it. Stop it. What are you doing that for? Stop it, I said! That tune eats into your brain!
- Oh, sorry, but I like it. I just learned what a wonderful power music has, so I thought I'd try singing it myself.
Subaru realized that the melody could also serve an unholy purpose. Liliana sang to move the crowds, to pour hope into their hearts. Sirius' song was something completely different, deformed, terrible.
- Liliana's music has nothing to do with what you do! You're different!
- The same goes for you. You're different from them, too. And you're different from the one I love. You are the same, but different.
- What?
- Petelgeuse is inside you. Your souls have merged, your bodies have joined. It will take some time before he can show himself. My role is to help him. To be with him when he wakes.
She looked at Subaru, arching her neck. In her eyes he saw madness and a storm of emotions. Anger, joy, pain, and longing.
- Let's go," he chuckled to the girls and turned away.
- I'll get it out of you. Thank you, sorry. And before that happens, take care of your body and your soul," she added with sincere concern. - I warn you, beware of Gluttony. Gourmet, Binge Eating... and also Satiation. They are all out to get you.
He stopped.
- Gluttony?
- If you get eaten, no one will remember you anymore. I wouldn't want that. If you get the chance, kill them right away. They're in the way.
Subaru sighed and walked out, letting Beatrice and Emilia pass in front of him. A plodding lullaby accompanied them until they closed the steel gates behind them. It was chaotic, offensive to anyone with a modicum of musical hearing, irritating.
It carried a whole new kind of curse.
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