Chapter 309. The Intrusion of Regulus
「Zing—」
「A sharp blade scraped across the iron chains, striking sparks that showered in all directions. Hikigaya Hachiman and Crusch, one on the left and one on the right, coordinated to suppress the glowing red chains. Emilia, shouting with a voice that was melodic despite its fury, delivered a kick infused with explosive power into Sirius's chest, sending her staggering backward.」
「"Mmm..."」
「Everyone present was hit by the feedback of Sirius's Authority, suffering the exact same pain and injuries. Beatrice, positioned in the far rear, didn't mind herself, but she noticed that Anastasia's body—being only that of an ordinary person—was far more fragile and was suffering significantly from the impact. She immediately began to heal her.」
「"...Hah... haah..." Cold sweat dripped from Anastasia's forehead. Ignoring her own pain, she stared at the battlefield, sensing a thick feeling of dissonance. "No, this is bad... it's very wrong!"」
「"Wrong, how?" Beatrice, her temper flaring, wanted to grab Anastasia and demand why she was being so vague.」
「Anastasia also glared back at Beatrice, her eyes fixed as she prepared to mock her—to ask if her brain was made of water for not seeing something so simple.」
「Just a second before the conflict erupted, the moment the sarcastic words reached her throat, Anastasia's self-control—aided by a merchant's habit of calculated cunning—suddenly suppressed the inexplicable rage.」
「"Is Hikigaya the kind of person who is so easily impulsive and prone to rage? Even if we assume he's a bit different because he cherishes Miss Emilia, what's the deal with Miss Crusch? What reason does she have to be that angry?"」
「In that brief window, Anastasia quickly cleared her thoughts and shared her discovery with Beatrice.」
「Beatrice was startled into realization. It wasn't just the three over there; she herself had been feeling a strange surge of anger just now. This was absolutely not normal.」
「"—Hachiman, suppress your anger! Stop and think—would you really lose your head to rage this easily? That is Sirius's Authority!"」
「At the same time Beatrice's shout rang out, the scalding chains struck again. A furious Crusch, having forgotten all swordplay and martial techniques, met the attack head-on. Her
strength and stamina were both inferior to Sirius's; she was instantly overwhelmed and unable to parry.
「Just as she was about to be whipped away by the chains, a sword hilt poked into her back. Crusch was sent stumbling, forced out of the chains' attack range.」
「Having saved Crusch and having no time to dodge himself, Hikigaya Hachiman flicked his wrist, flipping his blade to strike back at the heaviest part of the chain. He was still hit, sent flying and tumbling across the ground several times, spitting out a large mouthful of blood.」
「"At least—"」
「Deliberately stifling the boiling rage in his body, Hachiman regained his reason. But when he looked up, he was stunned to see that even though Crusch should have been safe, she—and even Emilia and the others—had also spat out a large mouthful of blood, showing marks from the scalding chains.」
「"I'm sorry, thank you. Love, ahhh, this is all love! Yes, yes, die together if you must—what touching love! Mm-hmm, how pitiable, how moving. Ahh, I'm sorry, thank you. It's truly great. Thank you, thank you."」
「Sirius laughed maniacally toward the sky. Until this moment, Hachiman finally realized the true essence of Sirius's Authority.」
「She was influencing the souls of others, pulling at their emotions. Based on that, perhaps once their emotions were pulled to a certain level, the injuries became shared—not limited to her injuries, but the injuries of everyone whose emotions were linked to hers.」
「If that were the case, the mystery of the crowd under the tower becoming walking corpses was solved; she likely pulled out a sense of numbness... though she was the Archbishop of Wrath, it didn't mean she could only manipulate anger.」
「"Look! This is love! This is love! People loving each other, everyone becoming one—that is the truth! Hearts and bonds combining, living by sharing joy and sorrow! Therefore, this ending is inevitable!"」
「Sirius cheered frantically. She swung her chains, intent on burning the loathsome half-devil in her carnival. "But you! You don't have the right! Burn to nothing, you pitiable, wretched half-devil!"」
「Emilia tried to raise her ice sword to block, but in that instant, Sirius ignited flames again. This time, she didn't burn the chains, but her own wrists. Everyone's wrists were scorched with agonizing pain. Emilia found it impossible to hold her ice sword, leaving her defense wide open.」
「"I didn't give you permission to hurt Emilia!"」
」
「Despite enduring the same scorching pain, Hikigaya Hachiman—who had already endured far too much pain in his life—was still able to fight. He lashed out with a kick, a bicycle-kick motion that sent his sword flying. With a clang, it struck the middle of the chain, deflecting its path just enough to narrowly miss Emilia, merely grazing her sleeve.」
「Sirius was livid and immediately went to swing the chains again, but...」
「"—You there, don't you think it's time to know when to stop?"」
「Accompanied by an insolent voice, a man with white hair and white clothes strolled onto the battlefield with an air of total superiority. He looked on with disgust. "I say, although I am a very magnanimous and perfect person, even the most good-natured individual has a right to life and safety.
As my wife, shouldn't she enjoy the simple right of not being harmed by anyone before I grow tired of her? You don't even understand that much. As a fellow Sin Archbishop, I don't recall ever offending you or crossing you, have I? Haven't I always respected your rights? But you—what have you done? Sigh."」
「The talkative man spread his hands and suddenly glanced at the chilled Hikigaya Hachiman. "It's a good thing, of course, that there's someone who understands how to defend my most basic rights and protect my wife, but why is it such an unrefined man? Ah, but who can help it, since I am such an excellent—"」
「"—Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, representing Greed, Regulus Corneas? Since you've respected my rights, then naturally you can be at ease. Sigh. I, unlike certain low-class people, am a perfect and excellent individual who knows how to respect the rights of others. As long as you respect my rights, it's fine. But why does it always turn out like this? Sigh."」
「Though his words were polite, though every movement was full of openings, and though he seemed to possess no martial strength at all, everyone felt an unparalleled, trembling threat emanating from Regulus. It was the most terrifying form of violence, a declaration of his invincibility.」
「Dazed, helpless... in this moment, only two people could react instantly.」
「One was Hikigaya Hachiman, who looked toward Anastasia; the other was Anastasia, who, as he wished, pulled out the token to summon Reinhard.」
「Fireworks blossomed in the sky, shouting their message.」
「"—REINHARD, HELP!!!!"」
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