? POV

Footsteps sounded across the wet floor, which has been severely impacted by the rain in the past hours. The footsteps eventually became louder, echoing through the alleyway until the man arrived at the place that they agreed on.

"This should be right..." He let out a breath before opening the secret door, and slipped inside the hidden corridor.

Stepping down the stairs that seemed to spiral down into hell, he eventually arrived at the room that he was somewhat familiar with.

"Huh, seems like I was the first one here..."

He went to turn on the lights and as soon as he did that, a person dropped down behind him and held a knife to his throat.

"Surprise~"

"It's not even funny anymore, Cal. I already know all your tricks."

"But you're the Sin Archbishop of Discord! You're supposed to love chaos!"

"I love chaos when I create it. Not when I'm its target."

"I guess you have a point there, gehahahaaha!"

The other man slowly backed off and sheathed his weapon before sitting down on the couch with a loud thump. "Still, I guess I'm surprised as well. Never thought I'd be here before you, since you are kind of the most loyal dog."

"Shut it, Cal. It's about the mission she assigned. It has nothing to do with what I do and how I seem to the others."

"Apathy called you an idiot. And a simp. And we all have to agree on the second statement."

"You're crazy. Then again, that's kinda your point."

The man with the suit and red hair faced the 16th as we gave off the most devious smile one could possibly find in the world.

"Why not? After all, madness rules over all kinds of craziness, does it not?! GEHAHAAHEHEHEHA!"

Calvin Gregory Klein (Cal)

Schlizirkel's 12th- Sin Archbishop of Hysteria

"We'll at least I'm not as crazy as you, Cal. Get that laugh under control or else you're going to expose our location."

"It'll be fine, do you think she made this place without considering the soundproof qualities?"

"It's your actions, honestly..."

All the Sin Archbishops of the Schlizirkel have been summoned. What could possibly be the reason? Unless it's time to finally move their plan into action?

Only the 12th and 16th are present. The others are either on their way or simply procrastinating until their leader gets mad. Well, at least that's usually what happens. Not that they feel anything bad anyways, considering that they are all horrible bastards with personalities at the worst extremes.

"I've heard that her Cult's little raid on the Water Gate City failed." Cal spoke up, and the 16th looked at his colleague in astonishment.

"How did you know? Were you always in Lugnica? I thought you were assigned to Vollachia like me!"

"Yeah, but I finished my missions earlier than I expected to so I guess I went to take a vacation? Gehahaha..."

"Anyways..."

"So what about the Water Gate City Raid?" The 16th sat down beside Cal, and let out a loud and thump as the cotton inside the couch shifted.

Kolonstyl Terence Hadros (Styl)

Schlizirkel's 16th - Sin Archbishop of Discord

"Apparently the Cult did pretty bad. I heard that Greed died and Wrath was sealed."

"GREED DIED?" Kolonstyl yelled in surprise. "That monster could even kill us if we were not careful. Who did he lose to, the Sword Saint? No, but even the powerful Dragon Sword Reid cannot break his time stopping authority..."

"It was Natsuki Subaru. The half-elf's knight. They figured out a weakness of his and drowned him."

"Well, that's just mind blowing. What about the others, surely the Gluttonies did not get captured as well?"

"The Gluttonies fled. I heard that even the Third manifested for a brief moment, but they ran away. As for Lust... she betrayed us."

"Betrayed? What could they possibly do to make her betray us? She has no regard for any human life or anything, and has an organization of her own as well!"

"Well, I don't know the specifics, but she seems awfully smitten with the 10th now."

"The 10th?! Oh, speaking of Deceit, he took Valgren from us." Kolonstyl muttered with a bitter expression on his face, still unhappy about his failure.

"Well that explains why someone is in a bad mood today, eh? Afraid of getting scolded by boss?"

"No. It's just... he was so strong. Like unusually strong. When we are at our primes, we can outclass almost every single Sin Archbishop, maybe even the best assassins of Lust's organization. But him... he was cancelling my Authority out partially as well! What kind of cheat does he have?"

"You still haven't figured it out? I thought since Vanity granted all of us anti-Od vision, you would notice at this point. That's why you're an idiot, Styl."

A new voice joined the conversation, stepping out from the shadow and entering the light. "Hello, Styl, Cal. I apologize for my tardiness. A certain warrior was holding my way, so I had to dispose of him first."

"Rey..." Styl flashed a look of annoyance as his colleague walked in, expressionless as ever and straight to the point. Well, although they all represent human behaviour, she was absolutely devoid of it.

"Don't be so cold. We're all colleagues and should at least show some welcome for me, right?"

"Says you."

"You do have a point. But, just because I don't have emotions doesn't mean I am unintelligent, unlike you."

Sitting down on a high stool, the woman crossed her legs and leaned back against the counter. "So, anything of note aside from your failure?"

Rey Psybloom Yukiko Hikaru (Rey)

Schlizirkel's 13th - Sin Archbishop of Apathy

"Aside from the others still being late, no." Cal gave a shrug before scratching his head in an attempt to remember, but gave up after a short while.

"Also, what do you mean by what you said when you came in, Rey?" Styl asked in confusion.

"Vanity gave us all anti-Od vision, which allows us to see Anti-Od, the antithesis of Od Laguna and the substance that Witch Factors are made of. By your description, I already figured it out: that Deceit, the 10th, has multiple Witch Factors in his body."

"Multiple Witch Factors? That's unheard of..."

"Not so... the one called Natsuki Subaru has already absorbed Sloth and Greed. And by the looks of it, Deceit may have more than just two or three."

"We'll he's a terrifying monster, that's right..."

"And also, WHEN WILL THE OTHERS GET HERE?!"

Y/N POV

"It's been a long time since I've gotten a glimpse at this structure... the last time I was here, I only saw Alcyone being built. Flugel-san must've put a lot of work into his project."

A voice entered my head, and I immediately recognized my predecessor, Frakinedottir's excited tone.

"You went here before? I thought the Watchtower was not constructed after Satella's sealing."

"Well, yes, but that's exactly how I kinda died."

"WHAT?" I yelled in surprise at her calmness.

"When I went to visit Flugel for the second time, I was ambushed by that god. She almost incinerated me using the Kolasifyre of hers. She was so powerful that my powers could do nothing against the erratic sentient flames."

"Oh... so that event was tied to this? I really should've guessed earlier since no one would go to the Augria Sand Dunes for no reason..."

Stepping onto the sandy floor of Asterope, I took a long look around its interior design and found myself glancing at dazzling patterns all over the walls. We eventually reached a room where I found the rest of our group.

"Y/N!" Sphinx immediately flew over and embraced me in a hug, while Omega gave me a smile as she stood up, leaning on her staff a little. Elsa and Meili gave me a wave while Yae, Reize, and Halibel nodded at my appearance. Colette and Palmyra smiled as I entered, and Capella was trying to come over here to sneak a hug but unfortunately Sphinx deployed a Yang barrier to keep her at bay. I swear, Sphinx's proficiency with magic is so high now she could almost create any spell for any function at any given time, provided she still has mana.

"No fair, Sphinx-chan! You promised me we could share-" Capella started whining, but Omega stepped in as they were about to begin arguing.

"I think we have much more important things to discuss before you two could continue your little banter. First of all, I believe Y/N has something to share with all of us, does he not?"

I gave Omega a side eye for that. What exactly is she thinking, telling me to do this? Is this just some teasing stuff or is there perhaps a reason behind her actions? Oh, who am I kidding... it's Omega. She ALWAYS has secondary motives.

"Omega is right. By sheer luck and pure chance, I came across..." I took the Cursed Sword out of my Dimensional Storage. "...this, under the desert sands. It's the Cursed Sword, Juken. Now, I possess five out of the ten swords of power. Reinhard has Reid. Cecilus has Murasame and Masayume. Priscilla has the Yang Sword. Which means there's only the Blight Sword left for me to collect. I might've never told you all this, but in order to achieve the future I desire and the ones that you guys wish to see... we need to obtain any powerful object in this world."

"And why exactly is that, Y/N dear? Is my Assassination Organization not good enough, perhaps?" Capella gave me a slight frown.

"No, no, Cappy, your organization is marvellous. The reason I'm saying is that back in Picoutatte, when I resurrected Valgren, there was an organization called Schlizirkel that was also trying to achieve the same goal. It turns out that they manipulated your men, Cappy, and they were also the ones who collected Valgren's ash from forty years ago."

"So... how exactly is this Schlizirkel a threat to us?" Meili raised a hand in question.

"That's the thing. I don't really know. But I did encounter one of their executives. He called himself Schlizirkel's 16th, the Sin Archbishop of Discord. As far as I've heard, no other witch factors were created besides mine and the nine original sins. Which makes this concerning. We need to be on guard at all times now, since they seem to know me pretty well. He called me the 10th. I suppose that's a reference to Deceit, but how do they know it's the 10th Witch Factor?"

"Y/N has a point." Zarestia suddenly stepped out. "I've heard whispers of those people on the wind, and it seems to me that they are plotting something. We're in the Watchtower now, where it's relatively safe, but when we re-emerge and enter the outside world again... it may not be so easy. After all, you all were decimating criminals a few months ago. I daresay that might've stirred up much hatred from their colleagues and allies."

"Either way, I just want to say this: use our time in the Watchtower well. This place has an abundance of knowledge that we can utilize to our advantage. It's a training ground for all of us, and we need to make sure we make the most out of it. Deal?" I stretched out my left hand, and everyone entered the circle to do the same.

"All Hands On Deck- Liberator's Battalion's Oaths- Sworn!" Making that pact, we nodded to each other and fell into a group hug, when Julius arrived through the doorway.

"Hey, Y/N. I hope your little reunion is going well, but I think Subaru is waking up. We need you beside us just in case he suffers any damage. After all, Felix is not here."

"I understand. Palmyra, follow me in case we need your healing." I gave my pupil a wave, and we followed the purple-haired knight to the adjacent room.

When I got there, the situation was already a mess.

I wasn't exactly expecting Shaula to be already hugging the life out of Subaru, and me arriving at the exact time as Emilia stepped out of the carriage beside them.

At this point in time, Subaru's eyes darted to me and they were pleading for help.

"Y/N! Help me get this crazy woman off me-! I'm going to die if i get hugged any longer-"

"What do you mean, Master? I haven't seen you in so long, so is it not okay to embrace you for a while longer?"

"I told you, I am not your Master whatsoever!"

"But... you smell like Master, so you must be Master!"

Subaru's and Shaula's debate went on for a tiny bit as I watched in silence. It wasn't until Shaula noticed me did the atmosphere then change.

"Wait... are you Frakine-chan? No way! To think you would come back with Master... wait. Frakine-chan's a girl, so are you perhaps her descendant or something?"

That was a question I did not expect to hear from her. I honestly thought that since both me and Subaru came from another world, she might mistake me for Flugel, but now that she distinguished me and Subaru as Flugel and Frakinedottir, something else must be up. Is it the scent of a Witch Factor? After all, Shaula is an artificial mabeast, and they are quite attracted to the smell of the Witch's Miasma, whether it be in a good way or not.

"I suppose... I could be her descendant?" I answered cautiously, unwilling to give an unsatisfactory response.

"Oooo! I see!" Shaula bought the lie and started celebrating a little. "So Master and Frakine-chan's friend came back together for me! This is such a joyous day!"

How did descendant turn into 'friend'?!

"Hey." Subaru prodded Shaula, who got off him moments before. "Answer me this. You are the Sage, aren't you?"

"Hmm~ The answer to that question is difficult." Shaula frowned but that only pissed Subaru off a little since she avoided his question. Seeing this, Emilia decided to step in.

"Setting aside whether you're the "Sage" ... The one they say guarded the Sand Dunes all this time inside of this tower would be you, right?"

"Ah, that's meeeee for sure." Hearing this, Shaula immediately began to act up. "For 400 years, every single day forever and eeeever guarding the midst of this sand, and each barren day I've spent would be something that would make both the one reciting it, and the one hearing it cry...!"

Julius then also attempted to get something out of Shaula, but to no avail except that she doesn't recognize herself as the Sage. It was at this moment I decided to step in. "Simply put, she's Shaula but not the Sage. In my opinion, she probably knows who the Sage was, but the title might be bestowed upon her instead due to the miscarriage of information across the lands."

"Y/N-san's right. Here." Anastasia said as I finished, tossing the four different coins of Lugnica onto the floor. "This should solve some parts of the mystery."

As Subaru and the others realized the connection and saw the figure of Flugel on the coin, Shaula muttered something else. "I was given this name from Master as well, so Master must've given it just to me...Buuut..."

"You thinking what I'm thinking, Y/N?" Subaru asked me after hearing Shaula's murmur.

"Yes. The 'Stinger'. I almost didn't recall if not for the amount of random girls at my school being illogically obsessed with astrology."

"Which means that whoever gave her this name must be like us. From our worlds."

"I suppose..."

After this, an entire conversation regarding Shaula's identity took place once again, and Shaula told Subaru that she recognized him by his smell. Ram, who had been staying quiet until now, raised an extremely good point.

"You're Shaula, but not the "Sage" . Then, I wonder, do the "Sword Saint" and "Divine Dragon" ring a bell?"

Shaula didn't recognize them by their titles, but as soon as Ram said they were Reid and Volcanica, Shaula's face scrunched up in disgust and stuck out her tongue as if she ate a sour lemon. "Ewwwww..."

"But yes, I know them. The Stick Swinger Reid, and the Cynic Volcanica are old friends of mine. I haven't at all seen them since we parted, but they must be doing great, right?"

"Actually, Reid's dead." Ram said nonchalantly, and Shaula's face immediately shifted from disgust to surprise.

"Seriously!? He's dead, even though he was a guy who was nigh unkillable!? How did he die!? Did he eat something strange!?"

Bruh.

"His lifespan. No one can go against the decree of the heavens above." Ram answered, and Shaula seemed to slowly get it.

"His life span... Ah, I see. That's right. Reid was a human being, wasn't he?"

How exactly do you forget that?!

"So, Volcanica is doing well?"

"It's because they're a Dragon." Subaru answered, a little annoyed with her inability to think it through before speaking.

"Aah, a Dragon, huh. Though, it would have been better if Volcanica had died rather than Reid~"

Huh. I thought Reid was worse in terms of personality.

It was at this point that Ram raised a second important point. "You remember Reid and Volcanica... In that case, you should know your Master's name, right?"

"Heh? But Master's right there. Considering that you're all Master's companions, shouldn't you guys know his name?" Shaula looked confused as hell, and I awkwardly chuckled inside and explained the situation slightly to Palmyra, who was standing beside me completely bewildered. Ram then gave an excuse on how Subaru lost his memory, and Shaula seemed to understand that.

"Well then... I guess Master can hear it from me."

Shaula then dragged it out for a long time, as if testing if Subaru really didn't know or if he was pretending. Finally, she she placed her finger on her cheek, and said with an awfully childish gesture.

"Flugel."

"Huh?" Subaru seemed surprised. But considering he did not know the truth, it was only understandable.

"Master's name is Flugel. The Great Erudite Flugel, Shaula's Master."

"But isn't that the guy who planted the tree?"

"Yes, Subaru. And also the one who constructed this very tower." I answered. "I told you this once before, you know."

It was at this moment that Omega and the rest came over. Stepping over with her pyroxene staff, she clanged it on the floor as she walked, as if pretending to be an old woman.

"You haven't changed at all since so long ago, Shaula." Omega said. "I trust that you can remember me?"

"White hair..." Shaula's memory train seemed to crash and restart, but her eyes shone with recognition as her brain finally functioned.

"I see, I see. This is very interesting, isn't it? Three of my old friends came back!"

At this, everyone was confused, including myself for a little bit. Chid-chan... you knew Flugel?

Of course. If I knew Hoshin, why wouldn't I know Flugel? I thought you weren't this scatterbrained, Y/N. Wasn't it easy to make the connection?

But the stories never mentioned...

I thought that, but the pieces were fitting together slowly in my head.

It seems that entering the Pleiades Watchtower really may clear up many mysteries.

Welcome to the Interlude, outerworlder. We wish you luck on your journey just as you did before.

"So he has already arrived there, hm?" A girl popped a lolipop out of her mouth, before starting to mash her fingers into her keyboards once again.

"I may need to speed up the process. After all, Pyr is coming after him soon."

"Onii-san has arrived. I trust we know what to do? Don't be foolish anymore, Lye, Roy. We cannot allow him to slip through our fingers."

"He's mine."

"The Schlizirkel is gathering, your highness. Would you like me to attend the meeting for you or would you go yourself?"

"I will attend the meeting personally this time." The platinum-haired girl gave a smile to her attendant before giving a slight frown. "However, seeing that the other have yet to arrive, I suggest we wait until everyone gets there first."

"I understand."

The servant then left her, leaving the girl alone in her room.

"Ah... Deceit boy. You really are a fascinating one, aren't you?"