Priscilla Route: The Protective Bad Woman
"Priscilla's words have only one meaning, but they refute two things simultaneously: she is saying it's impossible for her to die, and she is saying she isn't so lowly as to let her subordinates be buried with her."
Shirogane Miyuki rubbed his chin. "It seems it really was Arakiyia acting on her own... Although she's an arrogant 'bad woman,' arrogance has its merits. Priscilla truly isn't rotten to the core."
Shirogane Kei, who had been seeking her brother's guidance lately, shook her head with a different view. "What's the point of not making Hikigaya-senpai be buried with her? She insults and bullies him from morning to night—that's malicious enough!"
"Besides, she refuses to listen to Hikigaya-senpai's advice. If that causes him to die again, hasn't she objectively forced him to be buried with her?"
Priscilla's appearance and figure were no less stunning than Emilia's, and her "high-and-mighty bad woman" aura possessed a certain allure. While her terrible personality made most people detest her, these unique feminine charms increased men's tolerance of her to some degree.
As a girl, Shirogane Kei was able to turn a blind eye to these charms. She more clearly remembered the mountain of bad deeds Priscilla had committed, which were too numerous to record.
For Anastasia and Rem, they wished Hikigaya Hachiman would simply skin Priscilla alive. Though they both knew that was a pipe dream; after all, he had only chopped that arrogant bastard into mincemeat to preserve her reputation and dignity after death.
"But it doesn't matter. I can be the one to do those kinds of things."
Smiling, the fox-like Anastasia made a sharp, decisive judgment in a relaxed, casual tone.
-
-
-
「Crackle, pop. The fire consumed the wood as the sky darkened. At a certain point after nightfall, Hikigaya Hachiman suddenly stood up, claiming he needed to use the restroom, and left alone.」
「Moving away from those three, in the direction he headed, he encountered the twin-sworded Cecilus exactly as he had hoped.」
「"Hey, hey, you've got to be kidding me, right?"」
「Cecilus held his forehead with a look of pure annoyance. "I didn't even plan on participating; I deliberately came to this remote place, so how do I still run into people? Ahhh, what a pain, such a pain. Whether using swords or my feet, it's all just such a hassle."」
「"Using swords? Using feet?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman tilted his head in confusion. "Is Mr. Cecilus, the Empire's strongest, speaking nonsense? There are no enemies of yours here. Surely Mr. Cecilus isn't a mindless killer who would strike down an ordinary Imperial citizen?"」
「"Oh..."」
「Cecilus seemed to see something very interesting. He looked at Hikigaya Hachiman—how could he possibly mistake the face of one of the four causing trouble within the Empire's borders?」
「"Speaking of which..." Hikigaya Hachiman took out a dagger he carried and cut several gashes into his face, disrupting the symmetry of his features. If he took further measures later, he would be hard to recognize.」
「"Although I am just an ordinary Imperial citizen, I've had the great luck of meeting the Sword Saint of the Kingdom of Lugunica, Reinhard; the Sword Devil, Wilhelm; the Greatest Knight, Julius; the Knight Commander, Marcos; and the swordswoman Crusch. I have heard many of their insights regarding swordsmanship—those unique accomplishments are truly intoxicating."」
「The Blue Lightning, Cecilus Segmunt—a swordsman obsessed with the blade.」
「Hachiman had heard rumors about him before. In the previous loop, Cecilus's evaluation of Priscilla's swordsmanship and his constant chatter during the fight proved those rumors true.」
「"If there's a chance in the future, maybe I can find them again and ask to arrange a duel for someone. But I'd need to be alive to have that chance."」
「All his cards were now on the table.」
「As to whether he could move Cecilus, Hachiman had a faint bit of confidence, but he remained extremely anxious until the dust settled.」
「"Come to think of it, I heard there's some former Princess causing trouble in the Empire lately. My, how terrifying. Luckily I've never seen such a person and don't know them. Otherwise, to make an enemy of Mr. Cecilus would be far too presumptuous."」
「Under Hikigaya Hachiman's repeated lures and hints, Cecilus's expression shifted several times. After a silence, he suddenly burst into laughter, his posture relaxing from a state of being ready to kill at any second.」
「"Exactly, exactly—mhm, well said. I haven't seen any rebels like a 'former Princess' either. Tell me, as a common Imperial citizen in the middle of nowhere, are you so destitute that you can't afford to live in the city?"」
「"I truly don't have a single coin right now. If Mr. Cecilus doesn't mind, please let me work for you."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman bowed slightly, letting out a sigh of relief as he bent over. Cecilus patted his shoulder, and the two looked quite harmonious, as if they were old friends meeting again.」
「"So, what is your name?"」
「"...Hayama. Hayama Hayato."」
「Cecilus nodded. He took a look around and then nonchalantly changed direction, no longer heading toward where Hachiman had come from. He prepared to take his new subordinate back, impatient to hear Hachiman recount those swordsmen's various insights into the blade.」
「'Your kindness—I've paid it back, Priscilla.'」
「Hachiman turned his head to look back. In the dark forest, he saw nothing. He clenched his fist, took a deep breath, and stepped forward to follow Cecilus. However, in the next second, the dim forest was suddenly illuminated by soaring flames.」
「"The kindness this mistress bestows—I did not grant permission for it to be repaid! Take back your presumptuous arrogance. Spend your life in gratitude, singing praises of this mistress's mercy!"」
「Before Cecilus, whose hand instinctively moved to his hilt due to the pressure, stood Priscilla, dressed in sun-red and holding a fan. Arakiyia and Al stood in attendance on either side of her.」
「As arrogant as ever, her eyes narrowed. She sensed a massive threat from Cecilus, who radiated an overwhelming sword intent.」
「"Hey, hey, I really don't want to get involved in 'Princess' troubles or political messes. It's too much work. Your subordinate already defected just to stop me in my tracks; couldn't you appreciate his kindness and pretend you saw nothing? Do you have to come here to die on purpose?"」
「Cecilus smiled. Priscilla, who had already dropped the pretense, merely spat out two words:」
「"Stupid!"」
Priscilla Route: [Untitled]
「Priscilla wore an expression as if she had just bitten into a sour plum. She glared fiercely at the utterly shocked Hikigaya Hachiman and let out a cold snort.」
「"Setting aside the fact that it is impossible for this mistress to lose to a pathetic pervert who treats two broken swords as his wives, I never gave you permission to perform any act of 'repayment'—to deliver yourself as a gift into the cave of such an unloved freak. Do you find your life too comfortable, you witless muddle-head?"」
「She had sensed something wrong—something off about Hikigaya Hachiman—and had followed him. Connecting this to Hachiman's earlier reverse-psychology attempt to avoid this area, the entire chain of cause and effect could be deduced in an instant.」
「Though the insults of "dog" and "clown" had reverted to the relatively milder "muddle-head," Priscilla seemed somewhat exasperated. She felt a surge of indignation: the indignation of having her own property snatched away; the indignation of failing to protect her own things; and the indignation of actually needing her own "property" to protect her.」
「These frustrations converged into a massive killing intent that, under the brilliant glow of the Yang Sword, shot straight toward Cecilus.」
「"You really were too hasty, brother." Al shrugged and drew his blade. "Setting aside the Princess's thoughts, as a fellow countryman who's more than a decade older than you, I ought to protect you properly."」
「Arakiyia, who had always been lukewarm toward Hachiman, also spoke up: "I acknowledge your loyalty to the Princess, but your actions undoubtedly bring shame upon her. Furthermore, the consequence of doing that is your certain death."」
「What was the probability of Cecilus killing someone on a whim after draining their utility? Arakiyia knew very well that the answer was one hundred percent.」
「...In fact, Hachiman was very clear about these concerns himself, but he had the confidence to find a way out before being "drained."」
「However, that confidence was now useless.」
「Stunned where he stood, Hikigaya Hachiman let out a bitter smile. "Why did you have to find out, Priscilla... Wouldn't that have been the best way?"」
「Priscilla merely gave him a cold sweep of her eyes and did not answer.」
「He wanted to repay the favor, he wanted to leave, he wanted a clean break, and he wanted to be free of Priscilla's shackles—but she had no intention of allowing it. That was all.」
「Upon seeing the Yang Sword, Cecilus immediately drew his two katanas, his face full of bliss. "Oh my, this is truly something. Now, even if you wanted to regret it, it's useless, former Princess-sama."」
「"For a commoner who lives for decaying, dead objects to spit out the language of dogs—it is, in its own way, a performance worthy of commendation."」
「Priscilla's contempt for his swords caused Cecilus's smile to vanish instantly. His face contorted, his gaze became piercing, and he immediately aimed for Priscilla's head, slashing down with a single strike.」
「Zheng!」
「The Yang Sword parried. Priscilla's posture in battle was like an exquisite dance, and her speed was dizzyingly fast. The two moved like lightning and gale; there was only the constant cling-clang of colliding blades. For the moment, Arakiyia and Al could only watch, unable to intervene.」
「"No choice then—Al, Arakiyia, come help!"」
「Gritting his teeth, seeing that the tragedy was about to repeat itself if this continued, Hikigaya Hachiman dashed forward, calling out to Al and Arakiyia.」
「His target was the spot where he had taken Priscilla for a talk at dusk. When Priscilla had pinned him down there, his leg had struck a magic stone buried in the ground; it was likely a natural magic stone vein.」
「Out of curiosity, Hachiman had once learned the methods and principles for detonating magic stones. With Arakiyia there, it was possible.」
「Since battle was unavoidable, the only option was to amplify their side's destructive power!」
「Cecilus sneered. "Poor Princess, have you been abandoned?"」
「Priscilla narrowed her eyes dangerously. When it came to mockery, her experience was far richer than the barking clown before her: "Those two unsightly broken swords—after the ignorant fool repents and kills himself for offending this mistress, I shall have them snapped and tossed into a trash heap."」
「"—!?"」
「His rage ignited once more, and Cecilus became furious. His offensive intensified, suppressing Priscilla and causing her to gradually sustain injuries while falling into a disadvantage.」
「Instead of becoming tense, a flicker of irony and blatant disdain flashed in Priscilla's eyes. In contrast to the fuming Cecilus, Hikigaya Hachiman—who could remain as calm as still water in the face of insults—seemed incredibly precious.」
「"Princess-sama!"」
「Accompanying Arakiyia's loud shout, Priscilla tapped her toes lightly, moving toward the trap Hachiman had set. Cecilus followed without fear, possessing absolute confidence in himself.」
「And as he was now, he would not be able to calm his rage until he saw this wench's miserable death!」
「What Priscilla and Cecilus saw upon arrival was a large pit that Al had dug in a very short time through extraordinary effort. Nearby was a pile of dirt-covered magic stones, which began to glow and emit heat under Arakiyia's influence.」
「A sudden thunderbolt rose from the ground, followed by a continuous, deafening BOOM-BOOM-BOOM. The noise was massive, a cacophony that could be heard by people far outside the forest.」
「Before Cecilus's eyes, and all around him—front, back, left, and right—the entire world was suddenly filled with light and heat. Smoke billowed as a vast area exploded and collapsed, momentarily becoming a miniature sun, creating an orange-red day in the middle of the dark night.」
「"RUMBLE—"」
「Cecilus was not the only one caught in the explosion. Arakiyia, Al, Hikigaya Hachiman, and even Priscilla—no one could avoid it.」
「Cecilus's reflexes and speed were of the highest caliber; if he were given even a moment to react, he could escape. Therefore, there was no time to evacuate their own people; the strike had to be immediate. Everyone had to share in Cecilus's misfortune.」
「Flames splashed and the earth caved in. It was impossible to tell who was who or if any figure was safe. Under an explosion capable of altering the local terrain, everyone was struggling just to survive.」
「Splash—splash—」
「In the distance, there was the faint sound of something heavy crashing into the rapid river near the area. The explosion ended, and everything returned to silence.」
「As the smoke cleared, all five figures had disappeared, leaving only a scene of utter devastation.」
「Time continued to move forward; it did not wind back.」
Priscilla Route: Terrifying Great Luck
"Wait, wait, wait! So, they all went down together?"
In the Nakano household, Itsuki Nakano slammed the table and stood up. "Even if there's no Return by Death right now, with an explosion like that, who knows how long they can survive? And Felix isn't even there."
Ichika Nakano counted on her fingers, murmuring softly, "Originally, Hachiman had planned everything out. He could repay the favor, Priscilla would be free from the danger of death, and Cecilus could satisfy his desire to stay out of the power struggle. All three parties benefited."
"But Priscilla had no intention of letting Hachiman leave, so she disrupted it all, to the point where Hachiman had to use this last resort. Now the lives of all five are unknown."
"While Hachiman is definitely still alive, if Priscilla or Al died, it would be a lifelong regret for him. The former dying means he can't repay the debt of saving his life; the latter dying means he'll never see a fellow countryman in this other world again. He'd be incredibly lonely."
After this analysis, the five Nakano sisters and Futaro Uesugi looked at each other. Finally, Nino slammed the table with a thud.
"What the... seriously, Priscilla, that bad woman, is truly the most disgusting! For her own selfish desires, she turned a great situation into this. She's a bastard on par with Puck—arrogance is one thing, but to be selfish to this degree!"
The six of them shared a common enemy, becoming increasingly hostile toward Priscilla.
.
.
.
At the same time, Kousaka Kirino voiced the exact same opinion. Kousaka Kyousuke, however, shook his head.
"Don't forget, Kirino, from Priscilla's perspective, Hachiman going there meant certain death. So she was actually saving him."
At this, he sighed. "Though I'm not sure how much that reason weighed, while Priscilla insults and beats others at every turn, it seems that her treatment of those she considers her subordinates—those she recognizes—is actually quite good in certain aspects."
"Think about it carefully. Priscilla has never shorted Hachiman on money. In terms of wealth, whatever Hachiman wanted, Priscilla never withheld it."
"And she would come out to protect him despite the danger... though I guess she also wanted to prove that a mere Cecilus is nothing to fear before her, her intent to protect Hachiman was also real."
"Are you trying to say," Kirino pouted unpleasantly, "that Priscilla is actually a decent person?"
"How could that be possible?" Kyousuke laughed, stroking his sister's hair. "My point is that Priscilla is a bad woman, she's malicious, but now she doesn't seem as entirely devoid of merit as we felt before. She has some redeeming qualities."
"At least when facing outsiders, being her subordinate gives one a great sense of security. Of course, even so, she's still a bad woman overall."
.
.
.
"Whoa..."
Shirogane Miyuki widened his eyes, feeling a bit dizzy. He was actually impressed by Priscilla's decisive style in protecting Hikigaya Hachiman.
"How I insult my own people is my business, but outsiders have no right to touch a single hair on them—so you're that kind of person, Priscilla?"
Perhaps because Priscilla was so vile at the start, people's baseline expectations for her were extremely low. Now that she had done something "good," almost everyone's evaluation of her had risen significantly.
.
.
.
"Tsk..."
Ignoring all that, Anastasia was pouting as she noticed a detail. "The magic stone mine was the key to defeating Cecilus, and the mine was discovered because Priscilla pinned Hachiman down... That big-chested jerk's Divine Protection of Great Luck is truly ridiculous. She really can do whatever she wants."
In hindsight, the reason Arakiyia went mad in the first loop and forced the people in Priscilla's mansion to be buried with her might have been the final effect of that Great Luck.
"Utilizing my Prime Minister's authority like that—"
Anastasia looked solemn. If this Great Luck was so terrifying, if she wanted to take action later, she would likely have to form an alliance with Crusch first to surround and suppress Priscilla.
Anyway, Crusch is the lowest threat and someone who also covets the Prime Minister. Although she is upright and noble, seeing that big-chested jerk's behavior in this timeline, she should be happy to give Priscilla a lesson.
.
.
.
Crusch, whom Anastasia was muttering about, was also feeling quite complicated at this moment.
After seeing Priscilla's "I haven't finished playing yet, I didn't give you permission to leave" attitude, her concern for Hachiman's safety was layered with a new worry.
"Could it be that Lord Hachiman will end up staying by Priscilla's side forever...?"
Please, no. If even Priscilla can keep him, wouldn't she, Crusch, become the only one unable to make him stay? Who could understand this bitter feeling?
.
.
.
"...Hmph."
In the mansion, which had been heavily damaged by the Yang Sword's aura, sunlight filtered through the tattered ceiling, illuminating Priscilla.
Clad in her fiery red dress, Priscilla's venting had peaked when she saw her own corpse chopped into mincemeat. It wasn't until she saw the conversation between the two, Hachiman's initiative to lure Cecilus away, and then her future self stepping forward that her dark, livid expression finally softened slightly.
Being hit unexpectedly by Hachiman, being killed by Cecilus, and being minced—while these displeased her, they were not the key factors leading her toward rage and shame.
The fact that all these scenes were known and seen by every living creature in the world was what Priscilla found most unacceptable.
Previously, when she watched Anastasia being toyed with by Hachiman in negotiations and her disheveled state after the contract breach, Priscilla had worn a sneering, disdainful expression. Only now did she finally experience the exact kind of extreme shame and humiliation the real-world Anastasia had felt back then.
.
.
.
"So, is that shameless third... seventh party who is trying to steal Rem's man finally dead?"
Ram only cared about this. It would be best if all the bastards trying to steal a man from her sister were dead. Then, when Hikigaya Hachiman sank into despair over failing to save them, Rem could go comfort him, capturing his heart and subsequently his body in one fell swoop.
Regrettably, her fantasy did not become reality.
「"Cough, wheeze, cough..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's body shook as he struggled to open his eyes. He was on the bank of a river, and he was soaked through. He tried to roll over to vomit up the river water in his stomach, but strangely found there was much less water inside him than expected.」
「Tap, tap, tap.」
「A familiar, haughty set of footsteps approached from far to near. Entering his field of vision was...」
「Priscilla, in her fiery red dress, equally soaked.」
Priscilla Route: Unfulfillable Repayment
「"Pri—"」
「"Be silent. It would make this mistress, who is perfectly fine, appear as cheap as if I had been defeated or harmed."」
「Even in a state of complete disarray, Priscilla maintained her air, looking down her nose at Hikigaya Hachiman, who was crawling on the ground spitting out water. "Well done... it is at least worth a word of praise. To have acted with such a clear head means you have narrowly escaped the category of a farcical clown for life."」
「"Rejoice in secret, for the merciful mistress has forgiven your foolish attempt to escape and leave by utilizing a shortcut."」
「While coughing, Hikigaya Hachiman grabbed hold of Priscilla's thigh and the hem of her skirt to support himself as he stood up.」
「He spoke as he rose, "It's a miracle you can still be so haughty even now. Clearly, your ornaments have shattered in place of taking damage, and your mana and stamina were exhausted during the fight against Cecilus... You've barely escaped with your life, yet you still put on an act of being composed. Who are you putting on a show for in a place like this?"」
「"Insolent man! Ignoramus!"」
「Priscilla's eyes widened, and she seemed to tremble slightly with rage. She rapped her fan against Hachiman's head while her other hand clutched her skirt, though one could still sense the fiery red dress had a faint tendency to slip from her body.」
「She had no choice but to bend slightly, using her free hand to grab Hachiman and pull him up.」
「"This mistress has not granted you the right to be so indulgent! Muddle-head! While coveting this mistress's peerless beauty and breathtaking body is the depraved dream of all men, allowing you to kneel and kiss my legs is already a magnificent blessing. Do not dream of pushing your luck!"」
「With a tone of pity, Priscilla brushed aside the muddle-head's offense.」
「Hachiman swept a few glances over her and clicked his tongue in distaste. "After being subjected to so much insult and physical abuse, it would be truly pathetic if I could still feel desire for you."」
「Though he didn't care much himself—since Priscilla would always call someone to heal him afterward—Komachi certainly wouldn't want someone like this as a sister-in-law. Thus, no matter how beautiful Priscilla was or how perfect her figure, it didn't matter; it had nothing to do with him.」
「Priscilla let out a sneer. She wasn't discouraged; on the contrary, she pitied Hachiman even more.」
「"Do not blame this mistress for your own lack of discernment. From this, the title of 'Blind Man' I once bestowed upon you is indeed well-deserved—how about it, shall you go wash your eyes? Though, if discovering this mistress's charm leads your mind to be filled with thoughts of stripping and toy with me, or even attempting to act upon it, that would be quite troublesome. I would have no choice but to kill you then, so remaining a blind man is also acceptable."」
「With a clack, Priscilla nodded slightly in satisfaction. "This mistress permits you the privilege of remaining blind. Be filled with gratitude."」
「"I don't exactly have the luxury to argue with you right now."」
「Hachiman furrowed his brows, his gaze toward Priscilla was subtle, carrying a visible irritation.」
「"You blocked my repayment—though the outcome turned out okay, would you really not regret it if Al or Arakiyia had died because of this, Priscilla?"」
「"If they died, it would only prove they were merely of that caliber, lacking the qualification to serve this mistress."」
「No sooner had the words left Priscilla's mouth than a weak punch landed on her cheek, making her stagger.」
「Hachiman didn't intend to harm Priscilla under these circumstances; he was merely declaring his dissatisfaction. "If Al died because of this, I would regret it."」
「"Heh..."」
「Priscilla let out a contemptuous snort. she cast a cold glance at Hachiman and spoke the second half of her interrupted sentence: "However, no matter how much of a clown, he is still this mistress's subordinate... If he truly died, I would make this country atone and repent utterly."」
「After a moment of silence, Hachiman looked up at the sun; it was around five in the afternoon. Since the battle ended in the dead of night and he was swept into the river by the explosion, he had been unconscious for most of the day. Judging by the dampness of the clothes, Priscilla probably hadn't woken up very early either.」
「"...They're still alive, right? We can reunite, right, Priscilla?"」
「He yearned for Priscilla's 'Great Luck' to make Al appear nearby in the next moment. His relationship with Al was merely average; the other man, loyal to Priscilla, could not establish a
truly sincere friendship with him... But he didn't want his only fellow countryman to die. He didn't want to become a solitary soul in this parallel world; this wish was intense.
「"Foolish," Priscilla struck him with a verbal rebuke. "What do you think this mistress's Protection is? A wish-granting machine? If he lives, the iron-helmeted clown will naturally spare no effort to search for the noble mistress."」
「But that had to follow reality and conform to logic. That is to say, it required time; one must not be over-hasty. The separation during the explosion happened in the middle of the night— at that time, there was no Protection. It wouldn't be surprising regardless of how far Al and Arakiyia had been flung.」
「Disappointment and hope poured down simultaneously. Hachiman tapped his head lightly to maintain his composure.」
「He and Priscilla exchanged a look, and what each was thinking was clear at a glance. First, they needed to find a place to spend the night, start a fire, and dry their clothes and bodies— preferably a spacious, clean cave.」
「For Hachiman, finding a kind family living in this remote region would be even better, but no matter how he thought about it, Priscilla would definitely reject such a result. To be seen by others in such a soggy, disheveled state would be a singular humiliation for her.」
「Without needing much communication, the two intelligent people reached a consensus and set off immediately. It wasn't dark yet, and under the influence of Great Luck, finding a suitable shelter was simple.」
「Hachiman walked weakly, casting a final glance back at the bank where they woke up. There, there were traces of spat-out water—three sets of traces.」
「"...Priscilla."」
「Calling out softly to the proud woman who was forcing herself to stand tall like a peacock with its feathers spread, Hachiman hesitated. Priscilla turned to look back.」
「Hachiman shook his head and said nothing.」
「"Foolish..." Priscilla narrowed her eyes. "If you ever dare to make a fool of this mistress again, you shall experience the sensation of your limbs being separated firsthand."」
「These malicious words reminded Hachiman again of her presumptuous intervention.」
「"Big talk—but even if it's just talk, it's still annoying. Just you wait, Priscilla. Sooner or later, I will find an opportunity to repay the favor, and then, I never want to see you again!"」
」
Priscilla Route: Punishment and Blessing
「Crackle, pop. Crackle, pop.」
「A cool breeze blew through the night forest. Inside the cave, surrounding a burning woodpile, Hikigaya Hachiman looked over and saw Priscilla frowning; she was clearly finding it extremely uncomfortable to be wrapped in soaking wet clothes.」
「He adjusted a wooden rack he had specifically gathered and cleaned to serve as a clothes hanger, then stood up.」
「"Take your clothes off and dry them by the fire. I'll come back in two hours."」
「As he spoke, Hachiman made to walk out, but he suddenly fell backward. He opened his eyes in astonishment; Priscilla had abruptly reached out and grabbed the back of his shirt.」
「Her expression, clouded with gloom, was somewhat terrifying as she condemned Hachiman's self-righteous gentleness.」
「"Foolish. Do you intend for this mistress to smell the sour stench of damp clothes tomorrow?"」
「"I'll dry mine after you finish, and you can go out then. I'm not so kind as to sacrifice myself when there's a better option—that would be stupid. What? Is that not okay either?"」
「Priscilla wore a look of total disapproval. She let out a contemptuous sneer. "With such a method, how far back would this mistress's sleep schedule be pushed? And you have the audacity to suggest I 'look away' from things improper? What does it matter if this mistress sees a mere muddle-head's body?"」
「"That kind of logic..."」
「Hachiman raised an eyebrow. "If it weren't for your mana being depleted or even overloaded, you could just use some Yang Magic and we'd be fine instantly. It's your own lack of ability right now. I've offered the best plan; since you've vetoed it, do you have a better one?"」
「"Is it not obvious, you witless muddle-head?"」
「Priscilla snorted. She pointed haughtily at the wooden rack and stated matter-of-factly: "Be moved to tears of gratitude, for the merciful mistress grants you the right to occupy the same room as me to dry your clothes. Blush to your heart's content and scent this mistress's fragrance like a dog in heat. But if you dare to peer where you shouldn't, then disappear utterly with an incomparable look of death on your face."」
「These words made Hachiman laugh out of pure exasperation. "I won't even bother talking about a girl's modesty or reputation—after all, you've been married seven times... but have you considered my feelings? My modesty and my reputation for purity?"」
「Priscilla crossed her arms, glancing at him with disdain.」
「"Why should this mistress consider your feelings? Who cares about your so-called reputation or purity? Just take your nonsense and follow this mistress's orders."」
「She looked at the dumbfounded Hachiman. Her bored, haughty expression carried a hint of a strange emotion, and she smiled radiantly. "However, it is not bad. —Your duplicity is quite amusing. I shall praise you for it."」
「"Duplicity..."」
「For a moment, Hachiman was speechless. He turned to leave the cave with stubborn persistence, but a fiery red fan was tossed across the entrance, barring the way—symbolizing the resolute attitude of a certain arrogant woman.」
「With his back to Priscilla, Hachiman began to hear the sound of a dress being unfastened.」
-
-
-
"Ugh—!"
Shirogane Kei's eyes widened in shock, her face flushing crimson. She immediately reached out and forcefully covered her brother's eyes. Shirogane Miyuki cried out in pain.
However, Kei's worries were misplaced. After that, Priscilla's figure no longer appeared in the video. Furthermore, the sound of the burning wood completely drowned out Priscilla's movements; the sound of her undressing could only be heard by Hachiman on the scene.
Even after Hachiman silently took off his own clothes to dry them, the camera suddenly shifted to a view from his neck up. The screen showed only the cave, the firewood, and Hachiman's head.
"If—if that's the case..."
Kei hesitated for a moment before letting go of her brother. If it was only to this extent, it didn't matter. Rather, if someone could still feel "lewd" while looking at a pile of firewood, they were truly beyond saving.
"Even so," Kei pouted, "it's true that outsiders can't see anything, but Hikigaya-senpai was right there. No matter how much he tried to look away, being in the same cave, he must have inevitably seen Priscilla's body... is she really that shameless?"
Shirogane Miyuki sighed. "If she cared about shame, she wouldn't have been married seven times. Although they say it was all a 'white wolf' scheme and she was never actually touched, it's enough to see her attitude toward these matters."
"But—" Miyuki paused. He glanced cautiously at his sister, hesitating whether to say something nice about Priscilla. "She helped Hikigaya spit out the water... Priscilla doing that personally feels very subtle. It seems our previous prejudice against her might have been a bit severe. When necessary, she doesn't just talk big."
Kei glared fiercely at her brother, making Miyuki's heart skip a beat.
"Stop saying such stupid things!" Kei retorted. "Priscilla is just that kind of woman! Totally unacceptable!"
-
-
-
At the Shinomiya residence, Shinomiya Kaguya was steadfastly opposed to "whitewashing" Priscilla.
"It's useless even if she uses her body for atonement. A bad woman is a bad woman! Stay strong, keep hating her, Hikigaya Hachiman! What's so great about a big chest? Anastasia is still better! Anastasia is ten thousand times better than Priscilla!"
In many ways, Kaguya felt a resonance with Anastasia. Regarding which side to support in the other world, Kaguya and Miyuki were unknowingly drifting further apart.
-
-
-
On the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia puffed out her cheeks, looking quite annoyed.
"I just feel... ve~ry unhappy right now!"
"What exactly is that girl thinking?" Puck tilted his head, unable to understand. Priscilla shouldn't have just fallen in love with Hachiman—it's not that simple for someone like her to develop romantic feelings—but she was also definitely not the type to let just any man see her body.
"Rather than saying she isn't 'loose,' according to her logic, she probably thinks that no man is even qualified to view her body."
But what was the current situation? It was a headache. This kind of haughty bastard was truly difficult to analyze; Priscilla's behavior was impossible to predict. "Forget it... anyway, just eradicating her is the right move. No need to think too much."
-
-
-
"—Not bad, worthy of praise. But only after the punishment."
In the mansion, Priscilla, who had already retracted her Yang Sword, let out a soft breath and murmured to herself.
After her extreme venting, she was still quite irritated, but the failure of Hikigaya Hachiman's "repayment plan" made her feel exceptionally refreshed.
She had already formulated exactly what kind of punishment to give this muddle-head, and how much "merciful blessing" to bestow upon him afterward.
Priscilla Route: A Lifetime of Dispute
「Back turned to Priscilla, Hikigaya Hachiman reflected on the scene from his previous fleeting glimpse.」
「Even though she had undressed completely, her snow-white body exposed to the air and subject to more or less a degree of voyeurism from him—a man—Priscilla maintained that same haughty air. There wasn't a hint of panic, nor any sign of feeling insecure.」
「"...Even though I've known for a long time that you're a special person, being special to this extent... it really leaves me at a loss for words."」
「Braiding her long, orange-red hair that resembled a flickering flame, Priscilla let out a cold laugh. She offered a ruthless rebuttal: "Foolish!"」
「Hachiman didn't quite understand which part of his words she was calling foolish... but all in all, he also felt he was quite stupid for simply agreeing to Priscilla's way of doing things. Yet, stupid as it was, he actually felt a bit self-satisfied.」
「"To be able to remain so calm and composed in this kind of place, this kind of scene, and this kind of situation—I'm actually pretty impressive."」
「That was because he didn't view Priscilla as a woman at all. Or to be more precise, knowing that Komachi would hate Priscilla, he was fundamentally unable to feel any heartbeat or attraction toward her.
Although she was beautiful and had an excellent figure, at this stage, expecting him to harbor any desire for Priscilla would be asking too much.」
「If the person sharing this room with him right now wasn't Priscilla, but just any other girl—even an ordinary-looking one—Hachiman was certain he would be trembling until his body went soft, constantly swallowing his saliva, his mind racing with wild thoughts, blushing until his face turned crimson with embarrassment.」
「But as expected, the moment he thought of Priscilla, he lost all interest; his heart was as still as water. Should he call that a blessing or a curse?」
「"...I say, since we've fallen into such a predicament, let's set aside our grievances and just have a normal talk, Priscilla."」
「Hachiman shuddered, enjoying the warmth of the fire. "I'll take your silence as consent. If you plan to keep acting bossy even at a time like this, I'll unilaterally end this conversation immediately."」
「Priscilla let out a faint, non-committal hum, offering no objection.」
「"Generally speaking, I'd be very shy about saying what's truly on my mind, but because it's you, it's fine. Because I have no interest in you—in fact, I even want to punch you."」
「Hachiman began to ramble. "Although the bloodless plan to lure away Cecilus failed, there was the subsequent magic stone assistance; at least I successfully saved your life. So, I feel I've repaid at least half of the debt I owe you for saving mine."」
「"For over a year, your insults, the way you hit and scolded me, as well as the room and board you provided—let's just say the good and the bad cancel each other out. So, I don't hate you, but I don't exactly want to thank you either. Well, though this kind of calculation is pretty stupid—I'll grant you your evaluation there—occasionally, I really am a muddle-head."」
「"My perception of you, how should I put it... is quite complex—"」
「"You are malicious, arrogant, and have a terrible personality; I really don't like you. However, compared to your attitude toward others, you've actually treated me very favorably. Ugh... I was moved for a second or two there. That was dangerous."」
「"But anyway, once I've fully repaid my debt to you, I am definitely leaving. Al says he feels there's no way back at all, which makes me feel despondent. But even if I have to stay in this world, I have no intention of staying by the side of someone like you for the rest of my life."」
「"My evaluation of you is probably quite low. Are you fuming with rage, Priscilla? I believe these are very objective phrasings, so it's useless for you to get angry. I won't take these words back."」
「It was all speech aimed at belittling the other. Hachiman exhaled; before meeting Priscilla, he never imagined he would become so aggressive.」
「"...But, for all the special treatment you've given me, I still have to say thank you, Priscilla."」
「"Are you finished?"」
「"I'm finished." Hachiman nodded.」
「"Since your sleep-talking is over, then wake up properly and stop indulging in pointless, silly dreams. You witless muddle-head, while this mistress's patience can be quite good, I have no leisure to waste it on such meaningless matters."」
「Priscilla's voice betrayed no emotion, as if she were entirely unaffected, appearing leisurely and carefree. However, the content of her words caused Hachiman's expression to turn cold in an instant: "What do you mean?"」
「"All things are equal, but I stand above them."」
「The leisurely Priscilla used her famous motto as an opening, and then said: "This world is this mistress's back garden. There is no need to cage and raise a dancing butterfly. This mistress can grant the blessing of freedom to a butterfly I admire—to dare to refuse me, I shall reward you."」
「"Contradictory as always. This is why I say I can never understand you."」
「"I grant freedom to butterflies, but a self-righteous and arrogant muddle-head does not belong to that category." Facing Hachiman's confusion, the second half of Priscilla's sentence fell with pleasure.」
「"Your thoughts, your will, your resistance—all are worthy of praise. Therefore—I shall reward you. However, before this mistress's divine will, everything about you is irrelevant. Just stay obediently by my side to amuse me."」
「No matter when, where, or what the situation, Priscilla was always Priscilla—a haughty, arrogant, and willful egoist who would never change in a lifetime. This was both the part of her that was detestable and the part that might, in a single moment, accidentally touch another person's heart.」
「"To say something like that, Priscilla, you—"」
「He didn't know what kind of emotion it was, but it certainly contained a massive amount of dissatisfaction.」
「After soaking in the river for half a day, his head was beginning to feel hot with a fever. The somewhat groroggy Hikigaya Hachiman knit his brows and stood up abruptly, instinctively turning around to argue with Priscilla and start their usual, repetitive verbal war.」
「In the next moment.」
「Filling his vision was a snow-white body. The perfectly shaped Priscilla stood without a shred of concealment. Her luminous body formed a stark contrast with her incomparably haughty face, a disparity that stimulated the most basic male instinct for conquest and hormones.」
「"Pa!"」
「Priscilla also stood up gracefully. Her fiery red fan struck Hachiman on the head with a pa. Her red pupils burned with displeasure as she scolded: "You witless muddle-head, have you seen enough? Or do you want this mistress to gouge out your eyeballs!"」
「"...Hmph."」
「Feeling absolutely nothing, Hachiman snatched the fan and struck Priscilla on the head in return. He turned around, distancing himself from this shameless woman.」
「"Say whatever you want... we will absolutely have a day where our paths diverge, Priscilla!"」
「In the narrow cave, two equally arrogant people stood in opposition, heading in opposite directions.」
「A dispute spanning a lifetime, one that would never cease.」
Priscilla Route: The Lucky Conclusion
"It hurts, it hurts! Anna, it hurts so much!"
Anastasia, looking like she wanted to murder someone, had unconsciously increased her grip on the Dona Fox she was stroking. It was as if she were channeling all the strength she wished to use to strangle Priscilla into the fox, making the creature, which had been playing dead, unable to stop itself from crying out.
"—"
A dazed Anastasia returned to reality. She released the small hand that was making the Dona Fox wail and clenched her fists, her joints cracking.
"Shameless, thick-skinned, man-stealing idiot—what a nuisance! This is too much! That Pri-bitch!!"
Anastasia's fiery rage silenced everyone. They watched her face flush with anger as she bitterly condemned Priscilla. "I simply can't believe it. Why hasn't someone like her died sooner? It would be best if her corpse were paraded through the streets and whipped by the Sacred Vollachian Empire!!
I mean, aren't those rebels way too useless? Is it really that hard to kill one man-stealing bastard while bypassing my Prime Minister? Honestly! How can this person be so wicked? A wretched widow who sells her lewd body... killing her a thousand times wouldn't be enough!"
Under the clear, vast sky, Anastasia's indignant, high-pitched voice echoed throughout the Hoshin Trading Company. Her slender hands pounded rhythmically against the armrests of her chair.
Whether it was Rem or Emilia, regardless of their feelings, at least they stayed at the spiritual level—having her own Prime Minister gaze upon her body was supposed to be her prerogative!
It was her most certain trump card. She planned to use it once the Prime Minister arrived: throw a tantrum, act pitiful, and say her future had already been seen like that, so if he didn't take responsibility, she'd never be able to marry... it was a card meant to bind her Prime Minister to her.
"My pure-hearted Prime Minister is so soft-hearted, he would surely be tied down tightly by that tactic—that's how it was supposed to be!!"
But if she wasn't the only one who had "actual history" with him, the lethality of that argument would plummet instantly! It was a total disaster!
"I'll gouge your eyes out, beat you to death, and cut off the parts of you used to seduce my Prime Minister. I mean what I say; keeping promises is the basic creed of a merchant—sigh, it's so painful. My heart hurts."
Although that night, the images in the cave only showed Hikigaya Hachiman's head and the burning woodpile, everyone knew exactly what Hachiman had seen with perfect clarity.
Agitated, Anastasia stood up abruptly and looked up at Priscilla in the light curtain—that bastard Pri-bitch. She pointed indignantly at the sky.
Such an emotional outburst had only appeared when she was still a child under fourteen. As the trading company grew larger and her schemes became more calculated, her external emotions rarely showed so clearly.
Ricardo and Julius exchanged a glance and shared a helpless, bitter smile. From this, they could once again feel just how deeply Anastasia had fallen. But then again, she was "Greed" itself; she had to get what she wanted, even if it meant selling herself.
"Though you say that... Lady Anastasia," Julius hesitated before saying, "Umm... Lady Priscilla and Hachiman-kun don't seem to have those kinds of feelings for each other? Please put your mind at ease."
"You don't understand, meow, Julius."
Anastasia pouted aggrievedly. "It's there. As a girl, I'm naturally born to understand these things better than you."
In this timeline, the feelings between those two were indeed very twisted. Rather than calling it love, it was more like Priscilla's selfishness at work.
As long as Hikigaya Hachiman didn't compromise, she wouldn't let him leave for a single day—a very severe desire for conquest.
But besides that, there were definitely hidden things. With her arrogant personality, the fact that she said "I shall praise you" and "worthy of praise" so many times showed her mindset had shifted.
Her unchangeable arrogance, her selfishness, and her desire for conquest appeared to Hachiman as a different kind of "genuine thing."
Though unconventional, as long as it was "genuine," it was easy for it to touch Hachiman's heart.
-
-
-
"One Anastasia, two Priscillas…"
In the convenience store, Yukinoshita, who was grinding her teeth in fury, finally couldn't take it. She jerked her head up, bumping Hachiman's chin. It hurt a bit.
Hachiman could only lament. His current self was suffering for his future self. No, that wasn't right either, because he definitely wouldn't do those things now. This was a total frame-up.
-
-
-
"Well, so..."
At the Karsten mansion, Crusch had a look of pure tooth-aching frustration. She held her forehead, feeling weak. "Even Priscilla managed to keep Lord Hachiman by her side for a lifetime by relying on a debt of saving his life?"
Among the five candidates, no matter how she calculated it, her ending was truly the one where she ended up most empty-handed. Even across all possibilities, she was the most pathetic one... This fact left Ferris with no words to offer comfort.
-
-
-
"Hmph."
In the mansion, the bright sunlight shone through the ceiling destroyed by the Yang Sword onto the arrogant Priscilla. Clad in fiery red, she was radiant.
Priscilla let out a contemptuous snort, fluttering her fan in front of her face. "In the end, it is all nonsense. If I were to meet such an end, the entire world would be in error—however, the muddle-head is quite cute and worthy of praise."
"All mercy, all blessings, shall be bestowed upon him—find him, punish him, and then reward him."
Worthy of praise, but first, punishment. This decision would not change. Because she was the arrogant princess, the world's divine will, Priscilla.
-
-
-
At the same time, in the Sacred Vollachian Empire, Emperor Vincent had no time to worry about his sister's future.
Armed with information, and with the help of his loyal ministers, he was busy purging the rebels within the Empire. Although he wanted to keep watching the future, the extermination
of the rebels had to happen immediately, otherwise, he might be ousted again. Having gained such a huge advantage, he had to use it; every second was tense and exciting.
Arakiyia, who originally opposed him, changed her stance after seeing that the princess she dreamed of actually had familial affection for Vincent. She became one of the Nine Divine Generals supporting him.
-
-
-
On the road to the Royal Capital, Rem was radiating murderous intent. Lady Emilia was barely acceptable, Yukinoshita wasn't impossible, Lady Anastasia was hard to say, and Lady Crusch was nothing to worry about, but Priscilla was absolutely out of the question.
"Someone who treats Hachiman like that, Rem will definitely make her die!"
She increased her speed, wishing she could fly to the Royal Capital instantly and crush Priscilla with her morning star.
But in the next second, Rem's eyes suddenly widened in shock. Along with a startled Ram, she came to a dead stop, staring in disbelief at the new future.
Ram Route: The Darkest Possibility
「The day after that night in the cave, the two who had set out encountered the heavily injured Al and Arakiyia. Along the way, they also picked up the injured Cecilus; his sword had been blown away by the explosion, and he was no match for Priscilla, who had recovered to her peak after a day of rest, and was quickly bound.」
「Following the incident of Cecilus's attack, Priscilla maintained an air of nonchalance on the outside, but secretly took it completely to heart and became serious. Using her wisdom and Great Luck, she spent several years organizing a large group of supporters. During this period, she recovered Cecilus's sword and secured his loyalty through certain conditions, ultimately overthrowing the rebels.」
「The news that Priscilla had conquered the Sacred Vollachian Empire spread back to the Lugunica Kingdom, causing a massive uproar. This achievement single-handedly established her victory as a candidate for the kingdom's selection.」
「Both the Lugunica Kingdom and the Sacred Vollachian Empire became Priscilla's domain. She integrated the two countries, making them one.」
「During this time, Hikigaya Hachiman tried countless times to offer strategies to repay his debt and then leave. To prevent this, Priscilla also utilized her brain to the maximum extent, planning reliable schemes with her equally brilliant wisdom so that Hikigaya Hachiman could find no opportunity at all.」
「On the second day, before Hikigaya Hachiman could even speak, she would haughtily state a slightly different plan, looking at him with a disdainful expression and a playful smirk.」
「Until the moment Priscilla unified the two countries, Hikigaya Hachiman was still fretting over how to repay the debt.」
「"The muddle-head who dares to defy this mistress's will is laughable—but, not bad. I shall praise you."」
「These were the words Priscilla said most often to Hikigaya Hachiman afterward.」
「Although her attitude improved significantly, the friction between the two remained. During this period, very violent conflicts occurred again, yet overall, there was a strange kind of harmony.」
「"—Worthy of praise. I shall reward you."」
「Returning to reality, Hikigaya Hachiman shook his head. He felt as if he had been brainwashed; Priscilla's phrase kept echoing in his mind. Hearing such gentle-sounding praise coming from the mouth of the arrogant Priscilla really had a unique charm after a long time.」
「"...That big-chested jerk..."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman cursed resentfully. The person he needed to be responsible for was Rem, yet Priscilla had actually made him see that. Doing something so unfair to Rem made Hikigaya Hachiman feel truly miserable.」
「While expressing his displeasure toward Priscilla, Hikigaya Hachiman intentionally or unintentionally skipped over Anastasia. He did not mention matters related to Anastasia, unwilling to think about them.」
「"Anyway, for now, first—"」
「Having visited the camps of all five candidates, Hikigaya Hachiman believed the second trial should be over. Just as he was about to get up to wake Emilia, his consciousness gradually blurred again, sinking into a new world.」
「"Take a good look at the 'present' that does not exist..."」
「Creak.」
「The door was pushed open. The dim bedroom became slightly brighter, but the gloomy atmosphere was not dispelled. Instead, because of the person who stepped in, more haze was added.」
「"...Ram."」
「His eyes were lifeless, having lost all highlights, appearing utterly numb. It was a face that looked completely despairing of the entire world. Even so, the moment he entered, Hikigaya Hachiman forced himself to perk up, showing a cautious, fawning smile.」
「"It's time for dinner," said Hikigaya Hachiman, holding a tray of food in his hands.」
「In a corner of the bedroom, Ram lay motionless on the bed. She had none of her former air, looking at the ceiling with vacant pupils as if she hadn't noticed Hikigaya Hachiman at all.」
「"...Today as well, let me feed you. Please cooperate a bit, Ram."」
「These words finally moved her. She slowly turned her head, cracking a madman-like expression—a mix of mockery and frantic irony. "What, if I don't eat, are you going to knock out my teeth just like you broke my hands and feet?"」
"—?!"
Her body temperature instantly dropped to freezing point. Rem's body swayed, her legs went weak, and she nearly collapsed to the ground. Though Ram beside her was very confused, she managed to stay calm and caught Rem.
Rem was chilled to the bone, a cold shiver running straight to her head. For the first time in her life, she felt such horror... Setting aside the reason for now, the two people she loved most in
this life had developed a conflict large enough to turn them into enemies; this was something Rem could not accept, and dared not accept.
"Calm down, Rem." Ram reliably maintained her composure, comforting her sister. "After watching for so long, do you still not believe in his character? Or do you not believe in your own sister? Keep watching—and then, go and eliminate the cause that leads to this situation."
Rem nodded with agonizing anxiety; her mind was in turmoil. Although that was the future, and a timeline far less likely to happen compared to the original one, seeing such images made it impossible for her to remain calm.
"Ram?"
In the Sanctuary, Garfiel froze for a moment—the root figure of each previous timeline branch had said they were interested in Hikigaya Hachiman. If Ram was the branching point for this route, then that meant...
"Is my one-sided love going to end here? No way, right?" Garfiel scratched his head.
"Well, there wasn't much hope to begin with, since she was always looking at that bastard Roswaal. But I've liked her for ten whole years! Although he's the Captain... if it's the Captain... Ugh, waaa! So troublesome! I won't think about it!"
「"Don't say such silly things."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman smiled very strainedly, trying to dispel the heavy air. "You know I mean no harm. As long as you stop attempting suicide, I will go ask Felix to come and treat you."」
「Ram sneered, "Fine. I won't kill myself anymore. Go call someone then."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman sighed, "If you aren't just saying that, but are willing to sign a contract with me."」
「Ram went silent. Her eyelids lowered for a moment, then lifted. Expressionless, she stared straight at Hikigaya Hachiman as if she were looking at a dead man.」
「In the next second, Ram's face suddenly distorted, like the most terrifying demon in the world. That expression of absolute hatred was a vivid proclamation of her scream at Hikigaya Hachiman:」
「"I'll kill you! I'll kill you I'll kill you I'll kill you I'll kill you I'll kill you I'll kill you I'll kill you I'll kill you————I will absolutely kill you, Hikigaya Hachiman aaaaaaaaah!!!!"」
Ram Route: Why?
「Struggling, Ram roared in desperation. Even with her limbs fractured and paralyzed, her body devoid of strength, she still writhed frantically, trying to roll off the bed to kill Hikigaya Hachiman.」
「The sudden, violent outburst startled Hikigaya Hachiman, but he quickly regained his composure. Setting down the food in his hands, he stepped forward quickly to hold down the thrashing Ram.」
「Even though every insult and roar from Ram cut into his heart like a knife, Hikigaya Hachiman maintained that forced smile. His face was sprayed with Ram's saliva; he allowed her to vent for a long while before finally saying with a trace of malice:」
「"...Face reality, Ram. Even if you kill me, Roswaal isn't coming back to life."」
「"—"」
「The hideous expression on Ram's face froze into silence. She stared wide-eyed at Hikigaya Hachiman. Silently, large teardrops suddenly rolled down, carving two trails of wetness down her face.」
「Like a motherless cub whimpering, a choking sound came from Ram's throat. She questioned him through her tremors: "Why... why did you borrow me from Lord Roswaal's side to go to the mansion together... why didn't you return to the Sanctuary sooner... why didn't you save Lord Roswaal... why did you save me, and leave me to live a hollow life in a world without Lord Roswaal... why, Hikigaya Hachiman, why!!?"」
「"You can ask as many times as you want, but I only have one answer for you, and that is the truth."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman did not back down. Every word was a blow to the soul as he exposed the reality: "Borrowing you was something Roswaal himself was happy to see; he too yearned to see another possibility."」
「"The reason Roswaal died is that he followed the instructions in the Tome of Wisdom and lured the Great Rabbit himself. He reaped what he sowed and was devoured by the rabbits. For this matter, you can only blame Roswaal himself; you have no right to vent your anger on anyone else."」
「"I saved you because I only had time to save you—if I could have done it, how could I have saved only you!?"」
「"Shut up! To still be slandering Lord Roswaal even now—even shamelessness should have its limits!"」
「Ram glared at him with fury. "Lord Roswaal was indeed imprisoned by that book, he had his obsession, but precisely because he had that obsession, it was impossible for him to do something as stupid as suicide! Tell me the truth, tell me the real truth, Hikigaya Hachiman!!"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman looked at Ram with cold eyes and said nothing.」
「"Even if—" Ram's lips quivered, her heart as dead as ash, "Even if it is as you say, then why... why... at least, let me die together with him while protecting Lord Roswaal."」
「She cast a gaze full of hatred and despair at Hikigaya Hachiman, her raspy voice thick with irony. "Do you think you saved me, Hikigaya Hachiman?"」
「"...If Rem were here, she would want you to live. She would beg me to save your life."」
「"Don't talk to me about that sister I have no memory of! And all you showed me was a charred corpse—how could I possibly know if that was the so-called Rem!?"」
「"—"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman's breathing suddenly became ragged. Ram smiled mockingly. "You have someone you care about that much, don't you? Then shouldn't you understand even more my wish to follow Lord Roswaal in death? Respect me, Hikigaya Hachiman. Respect my wish. That way, you'll be free as well."」
「She was sincere. Sincerity requested an opportunity to end her own life.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman clenched his fists, then released them weakly. He could no longer maintain that fake smile; his face was full of bitterness.」
「"I..." he trembled, "I... cannot agree."」
「His back as he fled in a pathetic scramble left him no room to consider what a hateful and cowardly person he had become in Ram's eyes.」
「He fled that oppressive room, running a long distance in a single breath.」
「He ran until he was gasping for air, ran until he tripped and hit the ground, ran until he had to lean against a tree. Hikigaya Hachiman panted heavily, his face filled with terror. He slowly crouched down, clutching his head with both hands, covering his ears, closing his eyes, fleeing reality.」
「"Why... why couldn't I bring myself to persuade Puck to dissolve the contract... why did I hesitate for so long that Emilia couldn't resolve her inner conflict and pass the trial... why didn't I stop all this... why is everyone dead... why did I tell Garfiel to hold back and capture Elsa alive, leading to his death... why was I teleported away by Beatrice... why did I harbor a sense of relief and fail to commit suicide in time... why did the 'checkpoint' for Return by
Death move forward... why did I save nothing... why did it turn out like this... why didn't I grab onto Echidna, that lifeline, back then... why, just why, why, ah, a-aaaaah—"
「"Rem, Emilia, Otto, Beatrice, Garfiel... ah, aah... help me. Why are you all dead? Someone, help me, please help me... ah, uwaaaaa..."」
「"Everything, everything is my fault. My incompetence. They're dead, all of them are dead, aaaaah—"」
「Heart-wrenching, surging regret continuously washed over his mind and body. Hikigaya Hachiman, weeping like rain, clutched his head and knelt on the ground.」
「"...Lord Hachiman?"」
「A call full of concern came. Hikigaya Hachiman looked up blankly.」
「Dressed in soft clothes that accentuated her feminine charm, her long hair draped over her shoulders, no longer sharp or handsome but carrying a frail gentleness—Crusch spoke awkwardly: "I didn't mean to pry, I was just passing by. I am truly sorry... I am well aware of what Lord Hachiman has been through, it is truly regrettable... Um, though these words may be useless, please restrain your grief and continue to live on. Miss Ram needs you too, does she not?"」
「"It doesn't matter how long you two wish to stay at the Karsten house. I heard from Ferris that before I lost my memory, I likely took quite a liking to you... ah, sorry, I didn't mean it that way. I also think you are a very incredible person now. Please pull yourself together."」
「"...Crusch?"」
「The sight of the woman before him, so vastly different from the one in his memories, immediately reminded Hikigaya Hachiman of his failure to save Rem from her slumber and Crusch from her amnesia. Sorrow, regret, guilt, despair—black ink polluted every corner of his heart.」
「"Crusch, I, ah—aaaaah—"」
「Words failed him. A broken Hikigaya Hachiman embraced the stiffened Crusch, wailing piercingly. Tears soaked Crusch's clothes and disheveled her hair.」
「"I'm sorry, I'm sorry, Crusch, I really—ugh, aaaaah..."」
」
Ram Route: The Intersecting Crusch
"A... A total wipeout?"
In the Kousaka household, Kousaka Kyousuke was utterly stunned, a horrifying sensation sending chills down his spine.
"Previously, when he was assimilated by the Witch of Envy, Hikigaya did gain some of Elsa's memories; he knew she had a very tragic childhood, making her pitiable as well as hateful. Given Hikigaya's kindness, it is indeed possible he would want to capture Elsa alive and find a way to reform her—that would also add a powerful asset to Emilia's camp.
More importantly, Hikigaya had confidence in Garfiel's strength, which is why he gave that order... but in this timeline, it caused a total collapse, leading to Garfiel losing his life. Then Elsa went on a killing spree, which suggests that besides her known strength, Elsa had other trump cards—"
"Under the premise that the mansion plan failed, Emilia failed the trials in the Sanctuary. Everyone was stuck inside without rescue, so naturally, they were all devoured by the Great Rabbit.
At the very end at the mansion, Hikigaya was teleported away by Beatrice... I don't believe that Hikigaya, who had already committed suicide once before, would cowardly drop the ball at such a critical moment and be afraid to kill himself.
Judging from the fact that he saved Ram, he must have been holding onto her when he was teleported. So there are two possibilities.
Either he was stopped by Ram when he tried to Return by Death, or he was unconscious for a period after the teleportation and missed the 'save point' by the time he woke up.
In the end, powerless to change anything, exhausted and utterly despairing, Hikigaya took Ram to find Crusch and stayed temporarily at the Karsten house."
Muttering to himself, Kyousuke Kousaka deduced the entire process and its details. He couldn't help but feel his scalp tingle. "What is this..."
Among all possibilities, this was the most malicious, tragic, and terrifying future!
In the timelines of the other candidates, Emilia died, but at least Hikigaya Hachiman hadn't formed such deep bonds yet; after the initial grief, he could still live his own life.
But to fail here in the Sanctuary—and to fail because of his own kindness.
Kousaka Kyousuke could assert without hesitation that if such a thing happened, even Hikigaya Hachiman would fall into a bottomless abyss, spending his life in a daze of sorrow.
"Even though he is a monster of rationality, he is also the most sentimental existence!"
And because the culprit, Roswaal, was also dead, Hikigaya couldn't even find a target for revenge. All his emotions had no enemy to be released upon; they could only be bottled up inside.
Beside him, Kirino Kousaka had long been shedding tears. She looked distressed and hid behind her brother. "I... ugh... I don't dare to watch anymore, Kyousuke."
"Actually, I don't either..."
Kyousuke Kousaka smiled bitterly. If he didn't want to avoid missing even a single detail of Hikigaya Hachiman, he wouldn't have the heart to watch either. This timeline was simply too tragic to accept.
-
-
-
Hayama in the KTV, Reinhard at the mansion, and Julius at the Hoshin Trading Company—all three men felt it difficult to breathe at the same time. A heavy, profound sorrow for Hikigaya Hachiman welled up in their hearts.
They were the men who had interacted with Hikigaya Hachiman the most, and the ones who could best understand his heart.
At this moment, they understood better than anyone else... how sorrow flowed like a river in Hikigaya Hachiman's heart.
-
-
-
"Echidna..."
At the Karsten mansion, Crusch's teeth were clenched. One couldn't say this future definitely wouldn't happen, but given Lord Hachiman's cautiousness, the probability was actually very, very low. Even if he lost once due to pitying Elsa, he shouldn't have missed the timing for Return by Death.
And yet, the malicious Echidna still allowed this future to manifest.
"Killing you ten thousand times wouldn't be enough, Echidna!!"
Even though her amnesiac self in this timeline seemed to be stepping in to fill the void and, like Ram, becoming the motivation for Lord Hachiman to keep living, Crusch felt not a shred of joy.
She felt only a chest full of rage, determined to make Echidna pay a devastating price later.
-
-
-
"Sister..."
"Rem..."
Rem and Ram looked at each other. The younger sister's face was filled with grief, while the older sister's face was filled with an immense amount of guilt.
"Even if it's because Rem was eaten by Gluttony and my feelings for her were transferred to Roswaal, to say those things over and over again..."
Ram let out a long, deep sigh. This was the part she cared about most. But she knew that what Rem cared about was her, the elder sister, hating Hikigaya Hachiman.
"All this time, what on earth have I been doing?"
Others had more or less caused positive effects at some point, but she, this useless sister, had been constantly dragging her brother-in-law down and making her own sister sad.
Even if she had sworn before that she wouldn't become like that, what had already happened in the future wouldn't be erased.
The lamenting Ram fell silent, hugging Rem as the two sisters suffered in wordless distress.
-
-
-
"Ugh, ah..."
On the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia was already sobbing uncontrollably. She curled up on the ground, weeping bit by bit, feeling incredibly sad for her knight.
Up until now, Hikigaya Hachiman had wailed only twice: once when he couldn't save Rem, and once now. His despair and his pain made Emilia feel an unbearable sorrow through his cries.
-
-
-
「"..."」
「The stunned Crusch was at a loss. She bit her lower lip, tentatively reaching out with a stiff hand to stroke Hikigaya Hachiman's hair and back, offering soft, gentle comfort: "It's okay, it's okay, it wasn't your fault... please don't take everything upon yourself. My memory loss is the sin of the Archbishops. Um... you said before, that's what I used to call you, right? Lord Hachiman?"」
「"Losing one's memory is indeed terrifying, but I have so many people who care about me—we can get to know each other properly again. Our friendship will be restored, Lord Hachiman."」
「The same form of address, yet no longer in that gallant tone, but in a very soft manner of speaking, which only made Hikigaya Hachiman's grief well up even more.」
「He cried until he was almost out of strength, finally fainting in Crusch's arms. Even so, he continued to murmur apologies like "I'm sorry" in his sleep.」
「Since losing her memory, Crusch had felt that everything around her was very unfamiliar and surreal, giving her a sense of being out of place. Her sense of fragmentation reached its peak at this moment.」
「"Trusting me, trusting my character, trusting the bond between him and me, willing to show the weakest and ugliest side of himself before me... But, the person Lord Hachiman trusts is me from before I lost my memory."」
「Chewing on this fact, the dejected Crusch shook her head slightly, looking at Hikigaya Hachiman in her arms.」
「"If it were the old me, what would it have been like...?"」
「Now, she felt only a maternal sort of pity; but was this what the Lord Hachiman pouring his heart out to her wanted?」
「Standing there, Crusch remained silent for a long time.」