2
“Another Archbishop? Even all the way out here at the eastern edge of the map? Looks like there’s some bond between you and them you just can’t escape,” Echidna joked, once Subaru finished his explanation.
From how she said it, it sounded like the Gluttonies weren’t the only ones he had a connection with. There were probably seven Archbishops total. He wanted to believe this was the worst of the lot, but…
“Let’s save lamenting all the bad relations that linger around Subaru for later. What we need now is…”
“Yeah, first up is supporting Shaula. Meili, can we count on you?”
Finishing Julius’s thought, Subaru entrusted Meili to cooperate with Shaula and deal with the stampede of demon beasts outside the tower.
Julius had come back to the third floor to report the problem just as they were quickly finishing up their discussion. Knowing that the swarm of monsters was the reason for Julius’s concern, Meili had an impish smile on her face when Subaru turned to her.
“Ohhh? After that big talk, you’re just dumping work in my lap? But you were at least honest about it, so you can leave it to me. Be grateful.”
“Of course, I’m super grateful! I love you!”
“So cheap…”
Evidently annoyed by his confession, Meili still agreed to take care of the demon beasts. She was acting like she didn’t really want to do it, but that was just her hiding her embarrassment. Any doubts about that would’ve disappeared the moment anyone saw how fast she rushed toward the hidden balcony.
One down, four to go…
“Subaru, you must have something in mind if you sent Miss Meili alone.”
“You’re quick on the uptake. I said Gluttony was coming, right?”
“…Yes, you said that one of several Gluttonies stole your memories last night. In which case, I trust you are going to give me a chance to avenge myself.”
Julius’s voice was low as he touched the sword on his hip.
It was true that his strength was needed, and he desperately needed to vindicate himself as well.
—But Gluttony wasn’t the enemy Subaru wanted him to fight.
“That’s right, I want you to get revenge, but not on Gluttony.”
“What? But in this situation, there isn’t an opponent more important than—”
“Reid is coming down. I want you to stop him from butting in.”
“ ”
Julius’s brow furrowed in shock when he heard that name.
In a certain sense, it was Julius’s fate to fight Reid, even when Gluttony was lurking about. His opponent was a being who broke every mold and was going to do something that shouldn’t have been possible.
“In this chaotic situation, he would do the number one thing we don’t want. Betty agrees, if that thing comes out, everything will be for naught.”
“I agree, too. But it’s hard to believe he can just go for a stroll around the tower…or rather, I really don’t want to believe it. Natsuki, did you get that from…?”
“…Yeah, I heard it from Gluttony.”
After a moment’s hesitation, Subaru confidently lied.
In actuality, Reid’s movement probably wasn’t connected to Gluttony. That much was clear from the fact they had both clashed and from how he had completely wrecked Batenkaitos.
The lie was Subaru’s desperate attempt to convince his friends to believe his information without revealing the fact that he had seen this all before. He was certain he couldn’t let them know about Return by Death…even if he couldn’t explain exactly why.
“ ”
“Julius, I’m reluctant to move you away from the threat we can see, only to chase after a potential threat. But we can’t just ignore what Natsuki is saying.”
Echidna agreed that they had to be wary of Reid while Subaru felt a tug at his heartstrings. Hearing her conclusion, Julius nodded.
“I understand. I wouldn’t be so foolish as to doubt Subaru’s words now of all times. If I’m being honest, it is incredibly frustrating not to be the one who will defeat detestable Gluttony. However…”
Julius’s yellow eyes focused on Subaru, who nodded deeply, acknowledging the knight’s resolve.
“Like I said before, you’re the only one we can count on to deal with Reid Astrea.”
“…If I don’t win, our calculations will go awry, eh? What an irredeemable argument.”
If everything didn’t go as planned, their failure would lead directly to a massive tragedy.
Sensing that in Subaru’s serious black eyes, Julius heaved a deep sigh.
“You have my word. I will handle Reid. However, if it turns out that he cannot move from the second floor, I shall come to where you are at once. Any objection?”
“Nope. If Reid can’t come out for a stroll, then that frees you up. I couldn’t ask for anything better. I’ll let you be the judge of that, but beating Reid is your role.”
“Then we have an understanding. Echidna, Lady Beatrice, I’ll leave the rest to you.”
“Do me the favor of including my name, at least, come on…”
Subaru grimaced at being left out, but Julius simply flashed a pompous smile. Then, with a flutter of his cape, he headed toward the second floor.
After watching him go, Subaru turned around, only to be met by a sudden whisper.
“I won’t ask how you can be so sure. So long as you don’t betray his trust or mine.”
Subaru gulped slightly at Echidna’s words.
As pragmatic as she was, it was only natural she would doubt how he could possibly know with such certainty that the Sword Saint would start roaming around the tower. Especially when there was so little connection between Gluttony and Reid.
The only reason she hadn’t burst his bubble in front of Julius was because she placed some level of trust in Subaru based on what he had done so far.
I have to live up to that trust.
“—!”
When his mind got that far, he felt a stinging heat in his chest.
It was the same strange heat that he had felt just before the shadow had swallowed him at the end of the last loop. His pulse started racing, and he closed his eyes as the impatience swelled inside him.
What appeared behind his eyelids were faint, pale lights—in his arms, right beside him, and here and there in the distance down the passage.
“Subaru?”
“…I’m okay. We need to get to Emilia-chan and Ram! Let’s hurry!”
Beatrice peered at Subaru’s face as it tensed. Shaking his head, Subaru took her hand and started running to meet up with the others.
—No, more precisely, it wasn’t to meet up with Emilia.
Because at this point, it wasn’t Emilia they would run into down this passage, but—
“Barusu! You’re awake!”
“Ram!”
What appeared around the corner was the same group as last time—Ram holding onto Rem while riding Patlash. She dismounted with a flourish and tossed the reins to Subaru.
“You’re too slow! Take care of Rem! If she’s hurt, or if you touch her in any strange way, I won’t forgive you, so protect her like your life depends on it. I—”
“Wait, wait, wait! Too fast! I get why, but calm down! You—”
“The Archbishop of Gluttony is here! Lady Emilia is fighting, but she’s at a disadvantage. I have to get back at once, or it will be too late!”
“ ”
The emotions that Subaru felt in that moment were complicated.
Concern for Ram, who was going to fight, anger at the confirmation that the foul Batenkaitos had arrived—and above all, relief that Ram had said Emilia’s name.
The biggest reasons he had been hurrying were to prevent Batenkaitos from eating Emilia’s name and to keep Ram from dropping out of the fight because of that.
Getting confirmation that he had made it in time, Subaru took the offered reins and pushed them into Echidna’s hands.
“Echidna! Get Rem and Patlash to a safe area! The balcony and second floor are no good! You can’t get to the green room now. Taygeta’s probably the best choice!”
“Natsuki?! What about you?”
“Me and Beatrice are going with Ram!”
Echidna’s eyes widened as Subaru fired off directions. He quickly rubbed Patlash’s neck and seared Rem into his eyes.
“You said it before. Don’t betray your trust, right? I’m asking you the same thing. Take care of Rem. She’s vital for Subaru Natsuki.”
“…That’s a weird thing to say. You’re Subaru Natsuki, aren’t you?”
“…I have a little hope that you can maybe understand a bit of what I’m feeling.”
From what he had heard, Subaru had gathered that Echidna was inhabiting a body temporarily, but her goal was to return it to its original owner. In a sense, that was similar to the connection between the current Subaru and Subaru Natsuki.
Echidna’s eyes widened.
“Natsuki, are you…?”
“I’m counting on you.”
Not letting her finish, Subaru started running.
He only had Beatrice, who was determined not to let him be alone, and Ram, who had started running first. Ram glanced back.
“Why are you coming, Barusu? Rem is—”
“Rem told me to go take care of things instead of just worrying about her! She gave me a lecture inside the book!”
“—! Rem what? What are you talking about?”
Ram’s pink eyes quivered at the news as Subaru ran alongside her. But there was no time to get into the weeds about what happened in the corridors of memory.
So he simply told her the most important part.
“Rem told me to fight and take everything back. So that’s what I’m going to do!”
“Of course, don’t forget Betty is here, too.”
“…That’s enough for now. I will cross-examine you a hundred times over later.”
“A hundred times?!”
Subaru shuddered. When Ram said that, it didn’t sound like a joke. But since he couldn’t explain anything right now, maybe that response was a sign of her benevolence.
It was also proof that they were in a situation dangerous enough that she couldn’t press him for details.
“—Icebrand Arts!”
The next instant, down the white, frosted-over passage, he spotted Emilia’s back as she danced with weapons of ice in her hands. She was facing off against the small Archbishop, Lye Batenkaitos—
“Lady Emilia!”
Ram’s shout was a final confirmation to Subaru that they had avoided the worst-case scenario. At the same time, Emilia noticed them when her name was called.
“Eh?! Ram?! Why did you come back?! And Subaru and Beatrice! I’m glad you’re safe, but it’s really dangerous! Get away! Leave!”
“Rem has been moved to a safe location. Now I may assist you.”
Ram pulled the small wand strapped to her thigh while answering Emilia.
It was a short wand, sort of like what a wizard would have. At a glance, it looked entirely normal, but when Ram held it, it suddenly felt powerful.
Seeing Ram intended to join the fight, Gluttony sneered while putting some distance between him and Emilia.
“Ha-ha! What, what? You came back, Sister! Ooh, so dashing! Why are you so cool, Sister? You’re so wonderful!”
“—Silence. I’ll kill you, Archbishop.”
Her voice was dripping with raw hostility as Ram advanced on Batenkaitos. Subaru immediately reached for her back.
“Hey!”
It was clear from the last loop that Gluttony was incredibly powerful, able to match Emilia and Julius blow for blow. If Ram lost control here, they would end up losing the advantage they had gained from safeguarding Emilia’s name.
Worrying about that possibility, he tried to grab Ram’s shoulder, but—
“—Who do you think you are talking to, Barusu? Fall back at once.”
His fingers touched nothing but air as Ram disappeared.
“Whoa?!”
In a flash, Ram reappeared directly in front of Batenkaitos.
Seeing the wand thrust at his forehead, Batenkaitos widened his eyes, and he shouted rapturously as he crossed the swords on his arms to catch the imminent blow.
“Ah-ha-ha-ha-ha. Are you serious?! Creating wind beneath your feet? You’re lucky you didn’t blow your legs off. Most people would be too scared to try that!”
“Don’t use such a pointless standard to judge me.”
“—?!”
“Also, you thought this would be the end? You’ve underestimated my anger.”
Ram’s eyes narrowed. A blade of wind flew from the tip of the wand.
Expecting that, Batenkaitos twisted his body, but he didn’t make it in time. The blade of wind cut through everything in its path, tearing into Gluttony’s evil countenance.
“Gih, gaaaaa!!!!”
Batenkaitos cried out as the left side of his face was torn open. He pushed Ram back with a desperate kick. Unfortunately for him, even that had been accounted for.
“I’m here, too!”
Emilia rushed at Batenkaitos from behind, wielding a greatsword made of ice. Because Ram had been pushed away, Emilia didn’t have to hold back.
Even if it wasn’t a sharp sword, an attack with enough force to knock Batenkaitos out of the fight in one blow was hurtling downward—
“—Ultimate Palm”
“Kyah?!”
A black fist shattered the ice sword mid-swing, like it was made of glass.
The unexpected destruction ruined Emilia’s balance, and Gluttony’s hind leg swept her pivot foot out from under her, sending her spinning with a cry as his fingernails thrust toward her face.
Just as the cutest face in the world was on the verge of being mauled—
“Lady Emilia’s face is one of her few traits that is completely flawless.”
Ram’s foot stomped down on his claws, and then her left elbow sent Batenkaitos flying while Emilia quickly recovered by extending her right hand.
“Wah, whoops…! Thank you, Ram! I almost bumped my head on the ground there.”
“Please be careful, Lady Emilia… He can use some troublesome techniques.”
“Yes, it looks like it. That palm attack made my neck really tingle.”
“That is formidable. However…”
Joining forces, the two of them spoke while warily watching Batenkaitos, who had retreated to a distance of about thirty feet in an instant.
It had truly been in the blink of an eye.
“Leaping Dorkel’s Teleportation.”
“That’s quite the gaudy name for a simple trick for moving here and there.”
“Ah-ha-ha, are you serious? Figuring out the gist of it after a single glance? How is that fair?”
Licking the blood dripping from his gouged face, Batenkaitos let out something between a shudder and a sigh of admiration. It didn’t look like his wound was very deep, but the psychological effect of that short exchange seemed to far outweigh the physical damage.
And it was the same for Subaru, who could only watch in awe at the back-and-forth.
“Th-that was…”
“Ram is someone who can do that much if she does not have to worry about anything else. Gluttony’s queer authority is the sort that can be crushed by a sufficient difference in strength,” Beatrice explained as she held Subaru’s hand.
Her perception of Gluttony was correct. In fact, even though Batenkaitos had absorbed the skills of all sorts of masters and freely wove them into his fighting style, Reid had defeated him in a single blow.
“I didn’t think Ram had the sort of strength to match that.”
In leaving the stampede to Shaula and Meili and in trusting Julius to settle things with Reid, it was a given they would have to fight Gluttony with whoever was left. But Subaru had envisioned Emilia as their core fighter while he, Beatrice, and Ram acted as support.
He had miscalculated, but it was a happy mistake this time.
“Pu, ku-ku-ku, ah-ha-ha-ha! As expected of Sister! A wound! This severe! While replicating Carnivore Heinelga! Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good. Good! Eat it all! Gluttony!”
Just as Subaru was about to clench his fist, feeling like their odds of victory were high, Gluttony started cheering.
The left side of his face was covered in blood, but he didn’t show any sign of pain as he clapped his hands and looked back and forth between Ram and Subaru.
The light in his gleaming eyes was from a terrifyingly passionate obsession.
“Sister and you are both here together! We can’t get enough! The old idol and the current one…you are both our saviors! Every cell of our body, our very soul! It’s quivering! It’s gloating! Our stomach is rumbling!”
“…Idol? Ram aside, why are you adding me?”
“You don’t get it! Because you’re special, Subaru!”
Hugging his thin body as he appealed to them with a sickly sweet voice—the repulsive Archbishop said words and made gestures that evoked an impossible image.
Gluttony consumed people’s memories and names, storing up a massive number of lives inside himself. His copy of those lives could be used for more than just fights. He could also re-create everyday mannerisms and speech patterns, habits and idiosyncrasies—and even feelings.
The black hand that shattered Emilia’s ice greatsword, the leaping ability that created such distance in the blink of an eye, the carnivore that had reduced the damage of the wind blade—they all appeared behind his back.
But right now, the life his small body was most faithfully reflecting was—
“You’re copying her…!”
“That’s it, mister! You remember. That rich, full-bodied hatred that should be directed at us! The aroma of that obsession! The vibrant rage! The thick, pitch-black stew of emotions that we were supposed to taste! Now it’s time to slurp it to the last drop!”
Batenkaitos spread his arms wide, his hazy eyes focusing on Subaru. His drunkenness made him really seem like a maiden in love. Or perhaps madly obsessed.
Subaru didn’t know that passion, but the original Subaru Natsuki surely did.
“You’re our savior…no, we should say it like this! You’re our hero! Our dear, earnest, mean, endearing, fragile hero who we have to stand beside, who the very thought of brings heartache… Our hero who tolerates us even so…!”
“ ”
Batenkaitos’s eyes were shimmering as Subaru fell completely silent.
He could see the Archbishop’s appearance overlapping with that of another person. It shouldn’t have been possible…the girl who had so powerfully spurred him on when he had been on the verge of shutting himself off from everything.
The moment those images overlapped, Subaru’s body was consumed by rage and dread.
“How is it?! Let’s reenact that moving moment! Let’s start here, mister! From one, no, from ze—”
A holy ground that should never be touched was being corrupted.
In that instant—
“—Eyaaa!”
“Bgh?!”
Batenkaitos was so focused on reproducing the memory, his attention had focused entirely on Subaru.
He had surely not let his guard down, against Ram at least, but Subaru and Ram could be talked with. His attention should not have been focused on them.
“—Murak, I suppose. And…”
“Sneak up and wham!”
Beatrice and Emilia nodded to each other. As a result of their teamwork, Batenkaitos had been knocked unconscious by a blow to the back of the head.
The Archbishop of Gluttony had been hit by a heavy swing of Emilia’s ice hammer after she snuck up on him.
Dumbfounded, Subaru hoarsely asked, “…W-we won?”
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login