Chapter 11 – Planned Battlefields
"OKAY AL, JUST FOLLOW MY LEAD ONCE WE MEET THE GUY. THAT CLEAR?" Subaru whispered to his companion in a deep voice.
"…" The one-armed man stood silent and limited himself to nod at the young man's remarks.
The Avenger and the Baroness' knight were dressing up in cultist robes while treading through the woods, their hoods concealing the appearance underneath perfectly. The only detail that could give them away would be Aldebaran's lack of a left arm, and even that could be passed off so long as the Archbishop didn't prod too much into their performance.
"TO RECAP: I'LL DO THE TALKING; IF HE ASKS US TO SHOW OUR GOSPELS, YOU SHOW IT LIKE I DO."
"…Y-yeah…"
"IF HE DISCOVERS US, YOU TURN AROUND AND HAUL ASS."
"…Dude…"
"DON'T WORRY, I CAN AT LEAST IMMOBILIZE HIM BEFORE-"
"*snort* Pal?" Al stopped the boy's rambling while trying to contain his giggles. "Buddy, I… *chuckle* I know the voice is important and all… But it's just ridiculous, you know?"
"HUH?"
"It's too deep! Like yeah, it fits the robes you are wearing I guess, b-but knowing what's underneath kind of makes me realize you are silly as hell!"
"I AM NOT SILLY, I'M SERIOUS!" Subaru turned to look at the man with shock, his insulted and disgruntled face covered by two layers of masking. "I SOUND MANLY AS HELL RIGHT NOW, AND THE CLOAK HIDES MY BODY SO THERE'S NO WAY HE'LL FIGURE IT DOESN'T SUIT ME!"
"So you are admitting you have an androgynous figure?"
"I DO NOT-!" Before the argument between the two morons could escalate further, a chill run down both of their spines. "…CAN YOU FEEL THAT?" The hero whispered once more.
"Y-Yeah… The forest went quiet all of a sudden…" Al's form returned to a stoic position besides the young man to his left.
I didn't even need my spider-sense to tell me something was wrong… Even Al felt it without any interference…Subaru thought before continuing walking deeper into the forest. We must be close…
"Natsuki-kun?" As the two men tensed up, a voice in a low tone resounded within the boy's mask. "It's Anastasia, do you hear me? We have a visual from your eyes, can you verify sound?"
"…" Subaru was trying to respond while staying silent, so he limited himself to making a thumbs-up in front of his face with his right hand.
"…I'll take that as a yes." She confirmed understanding his answer.
"I take it you are responding with signs because you're near the target, boy." Priscilla chimed-in with a calm yet serious voice, contrary to her normal loud and boisterous self. "Once you engage you shall speak ONLY what I tell you to, do you understand?"
"Hold it, that ain't what we agreed ta' Barielle!" The Mauve merchant protested with an annoyed groan.
"Shush, merchant! You can't possibly think your meager trickery and bribing are enough for-!"
"Enough, both of you!" As an argument commenced over the intercom, it was immediately shut down by a third voice; Duchess Karsten herself was making herself known. "We have no time for banter, just limit yourselves to analyzing the situation and guide accordingly!"
"Tsk! Pesky mongrel…"
"*Sigh* Fine~"
"Natsuki." Crusch addressed the boy once again. "You are to tell the cultist the following…"
As the noblewoman whispered her orders into his ear, the light around the cloaked pair dimmed. It wasn't just the tree canopies that shadowed over them, but an aura of malevolence encroaching on the woods around them.
He's here!Aldebaran thought.Please… Don't make me have to use it…
Before them, walking slowly from out of the shadows casted by the mossy boulders and trees, the silhouette of the Archbishop presented himself.
"Greetings, believers in love." The silhouette smiled, his eyes unseen yet his wide toothy grin somehow shinning through the dark. "You must be Ketty's disciples… First time meeting an Archbishop, I assume…"
"INDEED; WE ARE MOST HONORED…" The pair bowed before straightening again immediately after.
"I introduce myself, then…" The darkness' covered mad-man bowed all the way to the ground whilst standing, his left hand poised over his heart and his right arm extended outwards in welcome of the new arrivals. "Within the Witch's Cult, I am the Sin Archbishop representing Sloth…" He began slowly rising back upwards, the light ominously bathing him now, his sickly figure exposed. "Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti… DESU!" He finished his introduction by sticking out his tongue, a bunch of spit flying around.
"UH… HEY-"
"Ah… Wonderful! Magnificent! Just most utterly amazing! The two of you! And you in special!" The green man smiled while pointing at Subaru. "The love that surrounds us is simply most exquisite! Truly, you must be devoted to a fault! Ah~… What a blessed child!"
"UM… HOW EXACTLY AM I SUPPOSED TO KNOW IF I'M REALLY BLESSED OR NOT, ARCHBISHOP-SAMA?" A confused Avenger asked. "HOW DO I KNOW I'M THAT LOVED?"
"Oh, it is always sudden, my child…" Petelgeuse hugs the boy tightly, much to his inner disgust due to the horrid odor and demeanor of the man. "One moment, one day, you feel her love… AND YOU REALIZE! Her love! HerloveherloveherloveherloveherloveherloveheRLOVEHERLOVEHERLOVEHERLOVEHERLOVEHERLOVEHERLOVEHERLOVEHERLO-!"
"U-UM- ARCHBISHOP-SAMA! ABOUT THE INFIDELS!"
"-VE!" The lunatic stopped in his tracks, ceasing his yelling into Subaru's ear and letting go of the hero. "My most sincere apologies, believer. While it is utmost important to demonstrate our joy to her, it is our duty the most imperative at the moment." He reflected on his actions while posing around, his hands going from Subaru's shoulders to his heart and then raising themselves to the sky.
"ABOUT THE ARMY…"
"Hm? I'm all ears to the collaborations of a loyal one…" The creepy man put a hand to his ear and got unbearably close to the boy.
Alright Crusch, here goes nothing… "THEY HAVE DIVIDED THEMSELVES ACCORDING TO INFORMATION THEY DUG UP ON US USING THE BOY'S METIA."
"Hm… So it is as reported in the Gospel. The boy possesses instruments that allow the foretelling of our movements. How troubling…"
"NOT EXACTLY." The Avenger responded. "THE BOY'S METIA ALLOWS FOR VISION OF THE LOCATIONS OF THE CAVES, BUT THEY KNOW NEITHER OUR NUMBERS NOR OUR POWERS. THEY ARE UNDER THE BELIEF THAT WE WILL ATTACK DURING THE EVENING, AND AS SUCH, THEY WILL BE MOVING ONTO ASSAULTING THE CAVES OF THE TERRITORY IN THE AFTERNOON, BEFORE THE TIME THEY ESTIMATED OUR ATTACK."
"Are you doubting the Gospel so?" Petelgeuse face got absurdly close to Subaru's, the right hand of the Archbishop going for the young man's throat. He didn't choke or clench around him, but the message was clear. "Are you saying her knowledge was wrong? THAT HER LOVE WAS ERRONEOUS?!" The whites of the man's eyes bulged with veins about to burst, reddened as the pupils contracted into dots.
"…SIR." Subaru put a hand to his cloak, indicating to Aldebaran to do the same. At the same time, they pulled out the black books belonging to the dead cultists. "WE WOULD NEVER DOUBT THE GOSPEL SO. WE ONLY WISHED FOR OUR GUIDANCE'S VERACITY; THAT THE BOY WAS NOT CAPABLE OF OVERCOMING IT."
"…Ah…" Petelgeuse eyes turned watery all of a sudden as his hands reached for his own face. He retreated a few steps backwards, colliding with a tree before bursting into tears. "To think you would risk your lives in the wolf's mouth to stay true to her guidance! Ah~… I see now! I see! I have gained insight anew!" He clawed at his face, stretching it before his nails dug deep enough to draw some blood out. "HOW SLOTHFUL I WAS!"
"WHA-?!"
*BLAM*
Petelgeuse crushed his forehead against the tree's trunk, bawling away as blood protruded from his brow. "To think I would doubt your devotion so when you were merely studying her teachings in depth! Truly! Truly, the slothful one was myself!"
*BLAM*
*BLAM*
*BLAM*
*BLAM*
*BLAM*
*BLAM*
…What the fuck…That's all either Subaru or Aldebaran could think of when staring at the maniac before them.
"The guy's a freak!" Anastasia stated with repulsion from the convoy, her visual of the man showing nothing more than a disgusting sight to her eyes.
"Make him stop; mine eyes are not suited for something so… revolting." Priscilla voiced with disdain.
"ARCHBISHOP-SAMA! PLEASE, CEASE THIS!" Subaru went to stop the man, preventing him from further harming himself.
"Ah! Slothful! Slothful!" Petelgeuse reacted to the young man's actions by reaching to his face once more, his greenish hands furiously rubbing his temples up and down, enough for Al to wonder if the friction of such an action could set the man's hair and skin on fire.
"Subaru." Crusch whispered to the boy. "I've an idea…"
"ARCHBISHOP-SAMA." The altered hero calmed down once more, directing a word to the still rambling cultist. "WE KNOW NOW THAT THEY PLAN TO EVACUATE THE VILLAGE IN THE AFTERNOON, THEY ARE ONLY SENDING THE MERCHANT CARRIAGES AND A SMALL TASKFORCE TO SECURE THE EVACUATION, EVERYONE ELSE WILL BE RAIDING THE CAVES AT THAT MOMENT."
"Which would mean…" Petelgeuse's eyes illuminated. "The best time for the ritual is when no one can interrupt us!"
"The ritual…?" Aldebaran spoke up from reflex, only to realize his mistake once Subaru turned to look at him in surprise. Oh shit! That's right, I wasn't supposed to talk!
"Hmmmmmm? Are you intrigued somehow?" Petelgeuse directed his gaze to the one-armed man. "Was the Gospel not clear enough for you as well? Do you doubt?!"
"I-I…" Al hesitated, seriously considering reaching for his short sword at his back whilst activating his territory before…
"PARDON MY ASSOCIATE HERE; ARCHBISHOP-SAMA." Subaru bowed to the ground in front of the cultist.
"Hm?"
"Huh?"
"HE IS… THE LOVE BESTOWED UPON HIM CAME RATHER, EH, RECENTLY… IT IS THE FIRST TIME HE EVEN ATTENDS TO SUCH AN IMPORTANT CEREMONY! YEAH!"
"…Is that so?" He stared intensely at the knight.
"Y-Yes! I did not mean to offend at all, your- uh- holiness!"
"I see… Then! Allow me to explain! Wouldn't do for a blunder due to ignorance! Would be most lazy indeed!"
"Um-Um… Yes."
"Very well! Hihihihihihihi~!" Petelgeuse giggled to himself creepily whilst gesturing with his hands. "We will move onto the village right in the afternoon! The army will be too busy looking for us in the caves to realize we are raiding the carriages mid-preparation." He began prancing around, wiggling his fingers in a motion Subaru could only compare to rapid typing on a keyboard. "In their panic, the villagers' screams shall commence forth the ceremony… You, my loyal children, shall raid the village alongside your fellows. My fingers and I… we shall conduct the ritual directly in the mansion. Invade directly ourselves and prove the strength of OUR faith." The lunatic ended his explanation with a satisfied grin.
"BUT ARCHBISHOP, THE HALF-ELF WILL EVACUATE WITH-"
"She won't." Petelgeuse cut the young man off whilst smiling from ear to ear, his bowl-cut covering his eyes in shadow. "The Gospel's guidance!" He rapidly took out a book from his own cloak began scrolling page after page furiously. "Her Guidance! Herguidanceherguidanceherguidanceherguidanceherguidanceherguidance-!"
"ARCHBISHOP…"
"This is it!" He stopped on a page, reveling with watery eyes on a revelation. "The boy's interference will prove meddlesome. The vessel, however, shall remain in place!"
Vessel?Subaru stood in silent thought.
"The half-elf won't escape. For whatever reason, she shall remain here. Our sole preoccupation was the boy, and with his Metias proven to be avoidable, then the ritual can continue as planned!"
On the other side of the transmission, the candidates pondered on the implication of his words. "A vessel…?" Crusch commented whilst bringing a hand to her chin.
"For what?" Anastasia furrowed her brow in annoyance. "A vessel for what? Does he mean-?"
"He's come for the half-elf." Priscilla stated with confidence, all the while her gaze was as sharp as a blade.
"Duh, that's obvious missy." The merchant mocked with sarcasm. "What I'm trying ta' ask is, what are they-!" Just as she questioned the Baroness' rationality, the noblewoman's idea caught up to her, making it all click in her head. "YYou mean…!"
"They are the Witch Cult…" The Duchess gulped with nervousness. "And Candidate Emilia is a vessel for their idol…"
"Supposedly, at least." The Vollachian got close to her bracelet and whispered. "Prod about the ritual, boy."
"…THE VESSEL, ARCHBISHOP." Subaru directed a word at the still giggling green man.
"Hmmm~?"
"THE VESSEL… WON'T IT END UP LIKE OTHER TIMES?"
"Is why we must test it, my child!" He got close enough to hug the boy, the disgusting odor of his breath turning the hero's stomach upside-down. "If she survives, she will become a suitable avatar! If she doesn't, it will be irrevocable proof of her sloth… her unworthiness. She will die, like all the previous ones did!"
This motherfucker… He went around making all sorts of fucked up… As if Emilia and all the others that he has killed before were just some creepy-ass Chucky or somethin'… The young Avenger furiously voiced in his mind. "…WHAT OF THE OTHER CANDIDATES, ARCHBISHOP-SAMA?"
"Leave them."
"HUH?"
"Don't let their visages deviate from our objectives, child." The mad-man dismissed the concern of his 'subordinate'. "The presence of other Candidates or some such is irrelevant. Our objective is the half-elf, nothing more."
"BUT THEY FELL THE WHALE, ARCHBISHOP-SAMA."
"Indeed they did, and for that the adequate punishment will rain most certainly, all in due time. BUT! Butbutbutbutbutbutbutbutbut…" He moved his head from side to side whilst organizing his thoughts. "The decision is final. Our faith can ONLY be proven with the vessel. Even the village's selfless sacrifice is nothing but a tribute in comparison, and as such, the army can be ignored!"
"BUT IF THAT DECISION WERE TO COST US SOME BELIEVERS…"
"The faithful that die shall forever rest in the honor of her grace, eternally washed in her love!" Petelgeuse extended his arms upwards frantically. "No greater honor! No greater show of faithfulness and diligence I say!"
"Then the full plan is…" Aldebaran tried to simplify the conversation, being that he could barely keep up with all the distracting shenanigans of the cultist.
"We'll leave half of our own in the caves that the army will raid. They should keep them occupied in the meantime as WE commit to the ceremony. Their deaths will not be forgotten… They serve a higher purpose after all!" Petelgeuse's eyes grew tearful as his toothy grin expanded to an even more disgusting form, showing his dirtied gums. "My fingers and I will attend to the ritual in the mansion. And as our brethren die… The cries of the defenseless unfaithful in the village shall cleanse their souls and place them forever in the Witch's heart!"
"VE-VERY WELL…"
"Ignore the others! Focus on the Half-elf! For today… THE WITCH IS REBORN!" With unfaltering faith on his plan, the Archbishop fell to his knees whilst screaming to the skies. "HAHAHAHAHEHAHAHAHAHAHEHAHAHAHAHAHHAHIHIHIHHIHHHEHEHEHAHEHAHEHEHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!"
Fucking creepy man!The one-armed knight could not help but tremble a bit at the sight.
"…" Subaru stood in silence once more, his face under the mask directing a scowl at the lunatic on the ground.
"HI~…" Petelgeuse inhaled deeply, his chest inflating in an almost cartoonish fashion before getting back up, turning away from the two other men present. "Return to your positions! We don't want them to suspect your disappearance…"
"…IMMEDIATELY SIR."
"AND!" The degenerated cultist gave a last glance to Subaru and Aldebaran before sinking into the shadows of the forest once more. "Until we meet again… don't stray into the path of the slothful... DESU!" His green face, yellow teeth and bulging eyes fused with the darkness, disappearing into the forest as the light returned to the small clearing where they had rendezvoused.
"…LET'S GO." Subaru uttered as he clenched his fist, returning at full speed back to the camp.
"U-Uh, y-yeah…" Al followed suit, not nearly at a comparable pace but enough to not lose sight of the clearly pissed-off boy. This is gonna get ugly… I just can tell…
As the pair returned to camp, the three witnessing Candidates could do nothing but feel disgust towards the sight shown to them. "He is just sick, from all angles…" Anastasia said, as the scowl would not wipe away from her face. Crusch and Priscilla could not fare any better.
"…So he is planning to raid the village with only half of his forces, expecting us to divert our attention from their raid." The Duchess voiced, trying to distract herself.
"Forget that." The crimson noble beside her cut the conclusion off with a tone of anger. "He had the gall to dismiss ME as irrelevant… As if he was strong or smart enough to ignore me…"
"…It seems like our little set up here will be of no use then…" Anastasia looked around herself, to the carriages and knights. "With Ketty's report we expected them ta' do a follow-up by raiding the army in this clearing, but they seem almost suicidal in their intent ta' sacrifice the elf girl."
"They don't care about us or at least not enough to consider us immediate threats…" Crusch remained pensive as she theorized. "Is it because of the Gospel?"
"…The mad-man did admit that it had, somehow, changed from its original prediction with the boy's arrival." The Baroness' stated, still irritated.
"So if Natsuki was somehow not involved, they would have engaged with us?" The merchant princess pondered. "It makes no sense, surely the Archbishop realizes we can be and ARE a threat regardless of his presence, right?"
"Are you implying Sloth saw through our efforts just now and he's trying to throw us off?"
"Much like we are doing, yes."
"…Hm…" Crusch could not still her doubts at the situation. It was suspicious that Petelgeuse would choose to ignore the other candidates, even if he stated that their 'punishment' would come at a later date. Ketty, his 'finger', had handed locations and numbers in a silver plate to the cult, so ignoring them and pressing on with their schedule HAD to be a trap. And yet… He had not killed Subaru or Aldebaran; he didn't harm them at all in fact. "…Are the cult's belief in the Gospel so absolute that they would leave such an opening for us to flank them?"
"…Perhaps it is, Karsten." Priscilla managed to vent her frustration, deciding to instead focus on the task at hand. "You saw that disgusting degenerate. Surely you realize that these… These living trashes ARE deluded enough to put some filthy book's passages over their own lives."
"That would imply that not only did he trust Natsuki-kun's word but that he sincerely believes that a plan with as many holes as this could work on the army that killed the White Whale." Hoshin's face grew in surprise.
"Not everyone's a strategic genius, Anastasia." Crusch concluded, choosing to trust her instincts. "I'm opting to believe that his obsession over the Witch and his faith on his followers overpowers his rational thinking."
"So he really did believe Natsuki-kun, is that what ya' sayin'?"
"Indeed." The confident Duchess nodded with a smug smile. "Were you expecting him to fail after sending him, perchance?"
"No, but…"
"Let's use his unwavering belief against him, shall we?"
"For once we agree on something, Karsten." Priscilla chuckled as her eyes shined with killing intent. "That bastard is deluded enough to think I am no threat… I can't wait for his baffled expression as he's gutted alive."
"*Sigh* You two are sure something else…" Anastasia exhaled in whilst still pondering on the possibilities. Beliveing that Petelgeuse's faith could position him in such an obvious predicament was a gamble, a rather risky one at that… Nevertheless, she hadn't come this far without some luck and assertiveness in the face of uncertainty. "…Very well then! We are going with the 'He's a fool AND a moron to boot' approach."
"Are you referring to me or the forest weirdo there?" As the trio concluded on a course of action, Subaru and Aldebaran returned from their mission. "Heya!"
"I'd call ya' fool, but only in jest." Anastasia reassured as the boy tossed his disguise aside.
"I'd say you don't know him that well if he is a fool only in jokes." Karen dissed her master as he unmasked, a face painted in shock at his loyal A.I.'s betrayal.
"Karen, what gives!" He yelled with fake pain. "Why is everyone being a savage to me today?!"
"Eh, Princess? So how are we proceeding?" Al walked past the youngster, back towards his mistress.
"Myself, the knights and Karsten over there will ambush the fingers and the green lunatic." Priscilla explained immediately, looking towards the still insulted young man. "You, boy."
"Whuzzat?" The hero turned to look at the princess.
"You stay in the village. Once the residents evacuate, you'll flank the cult as they arrive from the woods."
"And the cultists in the caves?"
"My mercenaries are enough for them, don't worry!" Anastasia assured with a confident smile. "There's much I still want ta' see, especially so in regards to your… 'Metias' Natsuki-kun, so I'd greatly appreciate it if ya' and Julius would allow me ta' stay in the village as ya' fight the cult."
"My Lady, I have to strongly protest to that!" An alarmed Julius jumped startled at the notion of his master staying in the middle of the battlefield, even with him by her side. "To begin with, wouldn't it be wiser to have you evacuate with the rest of the residents?! Surely you realize that having a non-combatant in the village could-!"
"Hinder your performance? Endanger my life unnecessarily?" The smug merchant suggested. "Julius…"
"Ju-Juli, please."
"Oh, drop that already man!" Subaru complained with a groan.
"The army numbers roughly two times the cult's forces. It's a close two-to-one. It'll be fine, trust me! Moreover, yall' will be there ta' protect me, so!"
"But… That doesn't exactly quell my…"
"If it worries you that much just do your job like you are supposed to, man." At the delivering of such words, Julius face turned towards the smug Avenger with clear irritation.
"…Huh?" The knight growled. "My job is to keep her safe, and protesting to a clearly risky decision is part of it!"
"Sounds more like lack of trust. Pft!" Subaru, like the cocky little shit he is, chuckled at the serious man's wrath.
"As if you can even say that, you-!" Before Julius and Subaru could continue their back-and-forth of trying to get under each other's skin, Anastasia tugged at the knight's sleeve. "Hm?" He turned around in response.
"Won't ya' keep me safe, Julius?" The merchant asked, with a clearly fake cute voice and puppy eyes, trying to make herself smaller.
"GHK!" Julius form trembled as his master questioned his prowess in such a cute fashion. "Of course I can, Anastasia-sama! To my very last breath!" He stiffened all of a sudden, blaring a radiant and loyal smile on his face.
"That's what I thought!" She gave a thumbs-up to Subaru and the others behind him. "I'll be in your care then… 'Partner'."
"Played like a damn fiddle…" Subaru could not decide whether to laugh at his regal rival or tremble in terror over the cunning nature of his new business 'partner'.
"Woah… My Lady sure does know how to tug at one's heart…" Tivey commented to his sister.
"Ehehehe! You say that as if she couldn't pull that on either Ricardo or you." Mimi teased.
"*CLAP, CLAP* Okay, enough people!" The merchant yelled aloud with a clap of her hands. "Enough chit-chat, we've got work ta' do, move it, move it!"
As the army came to a conclusion and take action, Emilia finally managed to arrive to the village.
"…" The half-elf fidgeted around, turning her head from side to side, seemingly waiting for someone to appear or something to happen at any moment.
"Lia, you really should calm down a little." Puck reassured from above her. Ever since the pair left the mansion, the Royal candidate had been erratic in her behavior. She'd either space-out thinking about her dreams or suddenly quicken her pace in a hurry to reach the village. "I know you are tired, there's a lot going on, but you needn't worry about anything. Subaru… The army will take care of the cult, so just focus on yourself, please." It was difficult for the Spirit to utter such words. He had come to feel anxious from just hearing the boy's name, he irritated him, but if it wasn't for him his daughter would have been in danger time and time again.
"…Yes. Hm, you are right…" The half-elf nodded, still with some hesitation in her eyes. "Um- Le-Let's convoke the residents."
"I'm pretty certain no one uses that word in that way anymore?!" Puck joked, trying to further release tension from her shoulders. "I'd be enough with saying gather up, don't you think?"
"Hmngh! You don't have to tell me that!" She pouted in protest.
"Yes, yes." He answered in a cute voice. Truthfully, I just hope we can have more little jokes like this moving forward…
"Emilia-sama!" As the pair of Spirit and contractor move towards the center of the village, a small girl received them with sheer. "I've gathered everyone already! We were waiting for you!"
"Petra!" Emilia responded, receiving the excited preteen with surprise. As she looked up from her auburn hair and red ribbon, she noticed that everyone in Arlam, from elders to children, had all lined up in wait of her arrival in front of the well. "Everyone too…"
"After you left yesterday, we figured we shouldn't trouble you with having to order us around for the evacuation, Emilia-sama." One of the elders, Milde, greeted the half-elf with a smile. Likewise, the rest of the villagers saluted with a smile.
"Thank you for worrying about us, Emilia-sama!"
"Don't worry about us; we are sure you've done your best already!"
"So long as you and Subaru-sama are watching over us there is nothing to worry about!"
"Yeah!"
"…" Emilia couldn't help but flinch at their cheers. Of course, she was happy that they would worry about her, that the villagers trusted her. However, they were pretty much kept in the dark still about the situation between her and Subaru's relationship. The boy had saved them in a crisis, when the mabeasts attacked, he was the first to react and rescue the children; her involvement was just a result of Subaru's proactivity. If they knew she fired him on impulse, would they think less of her? Would they go back to shunning her? For the moment, nevertheless, she had to push those thoughts to the back of her head and brace herself; Subaru was coming and as a candidate, she had to be the one to receive him, and hopefully… be able to talk to him like a friend once it was all over. "Thank you everyone. I promise Subaru and me… We'll live up to your expectations of us."
"Speaking of which…" One of the adults said, gaining the attention of everyone present.
"Hm?" Muraosa hummed in thought before realizing what his fellow villager was indicating. "O-ho! They are here!"
In the distance, approaching the village, the carriages of the army could be seen and at the helm of the formation, riding a black-scaled Earth Dragon, were Rem and Subaru.
"Subaru!" The kids yelled with joy.
"HEY!" The young man saluted back, waving his hand with a cheerful tone. "HEY EVERYONE!"
"Can you not make a show of yourself by acting like a toddler in front of clearly scared citizens?" Julius, who was riding besides him, reproached Subaru's emotion.
"Oh, sock it! It's because the situation is dire that they NEED the cheer!"
"*Sigh* Just focus on behaving as professionally as possible, please. As the center piece in the alliance you are, regretfully, representing all four candidates now." The knight rubbed his tired eyelids as he chastised once again.
"Yeesh, tough crowd… You sure know how to take it out of me, mom."
"If I was your parent, I would have made sure to beat some proper manners onto you."
"Beat them?! Thank god you are no parent then, Jesus Christ!"
"It's a figure of speech, you dolt! I wouldn't be so crass as to abuse my own children." Julius scoffed at the tiresome attitude of his new colleague. "Then again, you are not my child, so I guess I wouldn't have to spare a punch or two."
"Don't say that with a smile! I don't wanna get punched!"
"Then act properly!"
"Ah." As the duo kept arguing, the boy realized that his dragon had stopped… Right in front of Emilia and Puck. "…H-hey…"
"…H-Hello…"
As the two awkwardly fidgeted, staring at each other with hesitation in silence, Rem quietly got down from her seat and greeted the candidate. "Emilia-sama." She said whilst bowing, gaining the attention of the candidate. "My apologies for the commotion, but it's good to see you again in person, Emilia-sama."
"Ah! Y-yes! Hm! It's good to see you in good health as well Rem! I was most deeply gruntled to know that you succeeded in Roswaal's unreasonable assignment."
"Can I point out that no one even uses 'gruntled' anymore without the 'dis' before it, Emilia-tan?!" Subaru responded from the dragon's back.
"Oh, shush-it, you!" Puck pointed with his paw at the boy with an annoyed face.
"…Good to see you too, Puck." Subaru's face twisted into an uncomfortable mess the moment he laid eyes on the Great Spirit. Both Emilia and Rem picked-up on this, prompting them to stare at the feline with disappointment.
"Puck! Don't make a scene!" Emilia reproached, much to the cat's shock. "Look! He's all sad now!"
"Wait, I'm the one making a scene?! How am I the bad guy here?!" The weirded-out Puck answered. "What did I even do?!"
"Moving on." Savoring the Spirit's suffering, Subaru smiled and got off from Patrasche to greet Emilia more closely. "It's… good to see you actually… Really."
"…" Emilia's eyes widened as she suspired with relief. Deep down, she was scared that Subaru might still chastise her over something or that he would choose to talk to her formally, as if they were only acquaintances and nothing more. The fact that he was able to make light of the situation and use her nickname of 'Emilia-tan' made her hopeful that they really could remain friends after the disaster in the Capital. Still, his lax attitude in the face of the current threat troubled her, so she would still give him a stern talk about his manners and seriousness later. "…I'm glad to see you too, Subaru." Maybe way later.
"Emilia-sama." Julius, ever so the elegant knight, greeted the candidate with a dashing smile and a flip of his hair. "I'm thankful for finally meeting you like this." He bowed slightly.
"Meeting?" Emilia tilted her head to the side. "Julius, are you fine? Did you get tired from-?"
Oh, this absolute moron…Subaru thought as he rolled his eyes, knowing full-well what the finest knight was about to say. "Can you not confu-"
"My apologies, but I'm afraid I know not this 'Julius' you speak of Emilia-sama. I am simply known as the wanderer, Juli." He confidently said with a smug grin while taking a side-glance at the aggravated Subaru.
"?" The half-elf tried to make heads and tails of what was happening in front of her, not knowing how the pair had been trying to annoy each other this whole time. "Um- Juliu- er, Juli."
"Yes?"
"Thank you for your assistance today. Truly, I am." She responded to his riddling words with a polite smile.
"Now then…" As the group exchanged greetings, the other candidates made themselves known. "Emilia-dono."
"Crusch-san." The half-elf look to the carriages that were arriving; the inhabitants of Arlam were already boarding them as the three other candidates approached her. "And… Anastasia-san, Priscilla-san. Thank you for-"
"Hush girl." The Vollachian noblewoman pointed her closed fan to Emilia's face, shutting her off. "Mine presence here is only due to the moronic boy's influence, nothing more."
"Hey! Who are you calling moronic?!"
"Hush you too!" She yelled back with irritation at the interruption before turning to Emilia once more. "…Back to what I was saying, I wish not for your gratitude; it's useless to me. What I want is HIS brain at my service, so I'm just paying the price for that here."
"His… Service?" The troubled girl swallowed the information bitterly. She understood that Subaru wouldn't be joining her camp again.
"Natsuki-kun has pretty much agreed ta' stay a third party, keeping the alliance together by providing technology ta' all four candidates." Anastasia cheerfully explained.
"To be precise, we are still hashing out how exactly I'm going to-"
"Details, details." The merchant interrupted, all without wiping the grin from her face. "We can discuss them later, bottom line is: He works for all four right now."
"Which reduces the Selection to who can use him the better." Priscilla chuckled with cheer, taking in Emilia's irritation with a smile.
"Subaru… is this true?" The half-elf turned to him. "You are… agreeing to serve everyone, just like this?"
"It's not 'just' like this, Emilia-tan…" The boy tried to justify himself. "It was for the purpose of amassing enough strength to fight the Whale and Sloth! I-!"
"But you are making yourself even more central to the Selection! The more you involve yourself with our world… won't the chances of returning to yours be-?!"
"It ensures that no armed conflict will result between the candidates." Crusch stressed with a stern voice while trying to calm the tension around her. "Emilia-dono, Subaru-dono agreed to this himself. This alliance will make sure he gets any material he may need for all metias he might provide for the kingdom in the future, and in return…"
"I get to work on a way back home!" He managed to get a word in. "It's not like I just made myself everyone's goon or whatever, I just… well, I'll just be cooperating with the camps as a sort of advisor in technological aspects and the like! And from that you can compete on the Selection using my world's tech to improve yours."
"That's the gist of it, basically." Anastasia nodded at Subaru's words. "Don't worry, elf-girl. I'll make sure goody-pants here doesn't get a chance to reject a reward. Can't exactly have my fellow merchants be telling the public I'm extorting a guy from beyond the waterfall for money, right?" She winked at the uncomfortable boy.
"I see…" Emilia sighed with a mix of relief and exasperation. She still didn't like the idea of Subaru having to involve himself on such matters for her sake, but she also felt happy he'd go out of his way to do so. Truly, a conflicted girl she is.I'm such a mess…
"Crusch-sama." As the discussion died down, Wilhelm stepped in with his own announcement. "We are almost ready; all the villagers have boarded the carriages already."
"Thank you, Wilhelm." She nodded in acknowledgement. "Emilia-dono, I understand there might be more you wish to discuss, but we are pressed on time. Please, allow my butler to escort you."
"Um, actually…" The half-elf doubted herself a little as she was about to speak her next words.
"Hn?" Priscilla picked-up on this with some irritation. "What is it? We don't have all day, you."
"The thing is…" She steeled herself as she made her unreasonable proposal. "I was thinking that maybe I should stay behind and fight as we-"
"Absolutely not." The three candidates and Subaru all answered at the same time.
"Huh?! But why?!"
"The Archbishop's beef is with you, right?!" The Avenger indicated. "It's not that I doubt you can't hand out a good punch, but the greater the distance between the two of you the better the mission goes."
"Natsuki-kun is right ya' know." Anastasia backed him up. "Sloth intends ta' use you for some sort of ritual due ta' yer heritage. We don't know the complete conditions for said ritual, so it's far better to keep ya' as separated as possible from the main conflict."
"A ritual?" Such words worried the half-elf.
"Bottom line is: It's far more advisable to have you protect the carriages with Wilhelm than on the fight here." Subaru advised with some anxiety, the memories of her corpse rushing to his head. "Sloth is already under the impression that you will be in the mansion, so we have the element of surprise as long as he doesn't see you."
"You are a liability in his presence, is what we are trying to say." Barielle stated emotionlessly, causing Emilia to frown.
"That's not what we're saying at all! Can you not have some tact?!" Subaru immediately protested.
"Hmph!"
"*Sigh* I know it's frustrating, really, I do. But… Emilia-tan, this is probably the best path we have right now. At least I think it is."
"No… I mean, yes, I understand that. It's just…" She casted her gaze downwards, still some doubt in her eyes. "It really is frustrating, knowing that you are the one being protected all the time…"
"…Hngh…" The boy mumbled in impotence. He couldn't risk her life recklessly, not after what he saw and felt.
"For the time being, Emilia-dono." Crusch patted the girl's shoulder, making her look in the noblewoman's direction. "I think is time you board the carriages as well."
"Hm, you are right…" Emilia and Puck were about to turn around and walk towards the carriage carrying the children when suddenly…
"Hey, Emilia!" Subaru called out to the half-elf in a rush, surprising her and the other candidates as well. "D-Don't forget these…"
"!" Her amethyst eyes shined with a mix of surprise, embarrassment and happiness as Subaru held her hands and placed on them the silver web-shooters she had left behind in the Capital. "Subaru… This is not… I… Can't have the-"
"Stop." He shook his head from side to side, ceasing her words instantly. "I made them for you. You'll need them to stay updated. Plus… They were taking too much space on my backpack anyways, had to get rid of them somehow."
"…" The boy had spoken his sentence with such embarrassment that she was sure it was a lie, she didn't even need to look at Crusch's face to realize it so. In truth, he looked really nervous at a glance; Emilia deduced that he, most likely, mulled over quite a bit on how to give her the bracelets once more. "Subaru, I…" She doubted for a moment before fitting the bracelets again around her wrists. They still shone as radiantly as her hair in the sun, combining with her appearance and making her smile sincerely. "…Thank you."
"Umm… Wi-With that outta the way… See you later, I guess…" He waved at her as he took some distance, awkwardly stepping backwards. As he did, Emilia boarded the carriage with the children and Wilhelm.
"Uh- See you later too!" She waved back as his form diminished in the distance.
"BYE-BYE! SUBARU!" The children yelled from beside her.
"WE HAVE FULL STAMPS, SO MAKE SURE TO GIVE US PRESENTS WHEN WE RETURN!" Petra yelled, catching the boy off-guard.
Oh, crap. I forgot about that… "Uh, yeah! Sure!"
"Stamps? Presents?" Crusch tilted her head as she raised an eyebrow at the hero.
"I want a present to, ya' know." Anastasia chimed-in with a smug voice.
"You make sure MY presents are of the highest quality too, boy." Priscilla added in.
"Haven't I given you three enough already?!"
"Subaru-kun." Rem called out to the boy.
"Hmm? Oh, yeah!" He nodded as Rem sat atop Patrasche. "Go with the other carriages to Ram in the mansion. She can take over and send the rest of the villagers to Roswaal."
"Rem promises she'll be back in one piece, so make sure to take me on the date you promised once everything is over, okay?" The maid winked at him.
"You are using 'okay'?" Subaru grew surprised by her mannerisms. "Err, yeah, sure! Just… Take care in the mansion…"
"And I want presents too!" She said cheerfully as she rode away from her beloved.
"And there's another one…" He shook his head with reluctance.
"Mimi wants presents too!" Mimi yelled from besides Ricardo and Tivey. "And make enough for the entire army!"
"You want me to go broke?!" He desperately complained to the small feline growling at him.
"Ah-ah~, calm down now!" Ricardo merrily subdued the acute voice of the cat-girl at his feet. "It's true that it'd be swell and all, but boy here has enough to deal with having to make gifts for children and beauties alike Mimi! Give him a res-"
*SMACK*
"UGH!" The Wolf-man suddenly felt a sharp pain on his shin, as the Pearlbaton girl had smacked him at full-force with her staff. "What gives?!"
"Are you implying I'm not a beauty?!" Mimi screamed in annoyance as the Captain of the Iron Fang crouched in pain, rubbing the spot the staff had collided against with care. "I'll teach you!"
"Huh?! What are ya-?!"
*BONK*
"EGH! Stop that!" Ricardo complained again as the girl hit him over the head now.
"Ya' reap what ya' sow, Ricardo." Anastasia dismissed from the sidelines, much to her subordinate's pain. "Now then, make sure those presents are at least pretty Natsuki-kun. Wouldn't want ya' to end like the guy over there now, hm?"
"U-Uh-huh…" He looked on with pity as Mimi unloaded her rage on the poor Wolf-man.
"YOWCH!"
"It kinda hurts to watch…" Tivey said with some worry. "Maybe you should calm down some-"
"You want to hurt for real?!" His sister immediately turned around to face him with a raised staff.
"NO!" Tivey ran to hide behind Anastasia.
"Fufu…" The merchant giggled at her group's antics.
"Natsuki-san sure has it tough…" Flop said as he disembarked with the other Vollachian mercenaries from his carriage.
"Hey Flop? Do you think it's a good or a bad moment to ask for presents as well?" Medium suggested.
"Are you seriously saying you want gifts as well?! You are not a kid Medium!"
"But I am a beauty! Like the Wolf-man said!"
"Just calm your expectations here!"
"Speaking of expectations, I thought you'd evacuate from here with the rest." Aldebaran suggested to the merchant.
"Huh? Oh, it's just… I think I could be of some help, you know?"
"Hmm… How so?" Al asked with curiosity, even though his tone sounded judgmental. "Ah, I'm not trying to be rude or anything though, just asking."
"Well, the world is a cruel place."
"You dropping a speech on me now?"
"All I'm saying is: I think the best revenge against a harsh world is being able to smile at the end. As such, seeing someone like Natsuki-kun pulling all this effort just to save one village… I feel it'd be insulting to sit idly by and do nothing."
"Well, escorting civilians out of harm's way isn't nothing man."
"I know that… But we've come this far already, right? I think I could do a little more for the army than that."
"Well, you could stick around that merchant princess over there and protect her, if it bothers you so much." The one-armed knight indicated to Anastasia.
"She was so rude back at the mansion though! She's a bully!" Medium pointed out.
"Hey, hey. I'm just recommending stuff here; your brother is the one that wants to go out of his way when he can't fight."
"He is telling the truth, Medium." Flop agreed, much to his sister's chagrin. "You can't go around protecting only me when you are here to fight, you know this."
"…Just don't do anything risky." She warned with concern.
"I won't, I promise."
"Welp! Time to move out!" Al and some of the knights boarded the carriages of soldiers and knights heading to the mansion. "See you later, you two. Don't die." He said as he rode away from the scene.
"Karsten." Priscilla called to the Duchess. "If you don't move I'll just leave your sorry existence here with the rest of unremarkable masses. Then again, that is where you belong to begin with!" The Baroness laughed.
"Must you irritate everyone around you with your every word? It's honestly vexing how people stay loyal to your name…" Crusch brought a hand to her head, seemingly trying to calm a headache. As she boarded the carriage behind Priscilla, she looked behind her, towards Subaru, Anastasia and Julius. "There's a lot I wish to talk about still, Subaru-dono. So… See you later." She waved her hand in a similar way to how Subaru had waved to Emilia. "And you take care as well, Hoshin, Juukulius."
"Hm! Take care you two!" Subaru waved with a smile.
"I-It's Juli and… May the Spirits protect you, Crush-sama, Priscilla-sama."
"Yes, yes, safe travels and all." Anastasia dismissed quickly. As the noblewomen and knights left, the merchant girl turned to her mercenaries. "Now then, Ricardo?"
"Yeah…" The demi-human got up from the ground groggily, still savoring being beaten up by a little girl. "Alright, IRON FANG!" He yelled energetically, to which his group responded in kind. "Let's roll! I'm not getting any younger, and neither are ya'!"
"OH!" The mercenaries hollered back as they began riding their Ligers into the woods.
"See ya! My Lady!" Mimi and Tivey waved from their steed as they disappeared into the forest.
"Come back in one piece~." She waved back. "Julius, Natsuki-kun? Time ta' work." With a nod in response from the two, Anastasia walked towards the most sturdy-looking house in the village, followed closely by all the forces that stayed behind.
Afterwards…
Rem and the rest of the forces had arrived to the mansion without a hitch. As Ram boarded the carriage holding the fleeing villagers, she took one last look at her little sister. "Are you sure you need to stay, Rem?"
"It is quite fine, Nee-sama." The blue haired oni reassured.
"I'm just saying; I'd rather we stayed together. It was already nerve-wracking enough that you fought the Whale, I don't know if I could handle knowing you are fighting cultists as I run away…"
"I'm aware Rem is not the strongest fighter, but she wants to help her hero and Emilia-sama as much as she can." The maid affirmed to her twin with confidence. "Nee-sama… Please, trust in me."
"I trust you… But don't hesitate in retreating if things go south, understood?" She hugged her sibling tenderly before whispering in her ear. "I'm not polite enough to not say this: I'm putting your life above everyone else's here, so please, come back to me."
"Nee-sama… I…" Rem hugged back. "I will come back alive, I swear." With those parting words, Ram rode away into the distance. Unaware to the duo, a certain helmeted man observed the entire interaction ominously from the soldier's carriages.
"…" Aldebaran stood silent as Rem waved at her sister.
"Al? We have things to discuss still, so cease your laziness and come here already!" Priscilla sternly commanded.
"…Sorry Princess, I was just… reminiscing, is all." He turned to look at his mistress and the Duchess. "So? How are we doing this?"
"I was thinking we consult with the Mansion's spirit first." Crusch said whist opening the doors to the Mansion. Instead of being received by the Entrance Hall, however, the Candidates came face to face with a library. And sitting in front of them was Beatrice, a clearly disgruntled expression stuck to her face. "I take it you are…"
"The Mansion's Spirit, yes." She confirmed with a groan. "Look missy, I'm quite annoyed with how things are going already, I suppose. Let's make this short, shall we? I don't want a huge crowd coming and going into the mansion, especially into the library."
"Of course." Karsten bowed in respect. "I assure you, we won't disturb you beyond what is necessary."
"…Very well." Beatrice nodded. "Close the door, and then meet me at the office to the left. Second door from the hall."
Obeying the order, Crusch and Priscilla exited the library, and reunited shortly after with the Spirit on the inside of the manor. Surrounded by a small group of knights and Rem, who was serving beverages, the two princesses and the Great Spirit discussed the plan of action against the Archbishop in further detail. "Great Spirit-sama." The knights bowed in respect to the little girl.
"Hmph!" She turned away from them, seemingly uninterested and looking to rush to a conclusion for the conflict. "I'm pestered enough as it is, so let's be quick about it in fact." Beatrice stated before drinking the cup of tea served by the maid.
"Too true, Spirit-sama." Crusch nodded. "You stated that the Archbishop was a Spirit of Earth, right? What else can you tell us about him?"
"…Although he is well-versed in creating shields with earth magic, such as Ul Dona, his main prowess lies in the fact that he can usurp the bodies of people with an affinity for the Spirit Arts that remain without contract-"
"That's already been said and done, Spirit." The arrogant voice of the Vollachian princess cut Beatrice's explanation short, much to the spirit-girl's annoyance. "All present here possess little Spirit affinity, there's little chance of getting possessed. What we want to know is that power of his. Explain already." She unsympathetically ordered.
"…Tsk! You have the gall…" Beatrice mumbled with irritation as Priscilla looked at her with indifference. "…Fine! He can move things with his mind! You need an explanation on that I wonder?!"
"Now that is more like it." The Baroness smiled sadistically. "However, I still don't buy it. Mineself believes that there's a trick to how he moves things."
"What trick could there be? That sounds like a rather cut-and-dry answer, Barielle." Crusch suggested with curiosity.
"Must I explain everything to you rabble? How tiresome…" She sighed, antic the Duchess simply chose to ignore in order to avoid any more headaches. The knights on the sidelines couldn't help but sweat nervously at the whole interaction. "How can we make sure he doesn't make US float… or rip us to shreds the moment he sees us?"
"…I suppose you are right." Beatrice nodded, making the knights murmur. "The power he possesses is known as The Authority of Sloth… 'The Unseen Hand', if the recordings of the drones are anything to go by…"
"Hands?" The Duchess noticed the oddity of the name. "Are you suggesting that he summons invisible hands or the like, Great Spirit-sama?"
"How am I supposed to know that, I wonder? I am merely stating what the Archbishop himself has spoken. Hmph!" In truth, Beatrice had been spying the enemy forces quite closely with the drones, each image of her old friend breaking her heart. She didn't want anything to do with the battle, so she'd rather just leave such a responsibility to the army.
"…" After hearing her words, the pair of noblewomen theorized for a while on what exactly such a name could mean. The Unseen Hand…
"Crusch-sama?" Rem interrupted the loudness in the room with her own suggestion. "If I may?"
"Hmm?" The Duchess turned to look at the maid with surprise. "Yes, Rem-dono. What is it?"
"When Beatrice said unseen… Do you theorize that perhaps she means 'invisible'?"
"That would be the definition, yes." Priscilla rolled her eyes in exasperation at the girl stating the obvious. "What are you getting at? We are working with a tight schedule here, maid."
"I mean to suggest that… Well, Beatrice-sama knows this as well but…" She looked at the Spirit, seeking some comfort on the fact that she'd be revealing one of Subaru's techniques without his permission. "Subaru-kun actually possesses an ability similar to that."
"…What?" The two noblewomen made quite the estranged expression at this reveletion. "What do you mean, girl?" Priscilla immediately inquired with a doubtful tone.
"Are you suggesting Natsuki possesses a power as disgusting as this as well?" The knights made irritated faces, trying to grasp at anything given to them to chastise the boy.
"So what? His connection to the Witch runs deeper than her smell?!"
"I knew it! He must be a double-crosser!"
"No! That is not what I-!" Rem tried to explain her conclusion better to no avail as the soldiers rushed to their own.
"This is a sham! Let's just go and-!"
*BLAM*
"!" The entire room fell silent looking in the direction of the sound.
"With all due respect, please, remain silent." Crusch ordered after banging her fist against a wall. "Rem-dono, I understand you would never make such an incriminatory accusation against the man you hold close to your heart." The Duchess implied, making the oni blush. "Would you kindly speak in terms the rest can better understand?"
"Y-Yes!" Rem nodded furiously. "U-Um, actually… Could you call Karen-sama over?"
"…Call her… over?" The pair of noblewomen sounded with confusion before a metallic contraption with four bladed limbs barged into the room. "!"
"What the hell?!"
"What is that?!"
"Shit!"
All the knights drew their blades at the strange device in front of them, alarmed by its alien appearance.
"Ah! Please, calm down!" The maid rushed to protect the device from harm. "This is Subaru-kun's armor! It's what Beatrice-sama has been using to spy the cultists!"
"His armor?" Priscilla's face grew into a smile with interest. "So it is not a monster but technology from beyond the Waterfall, eh?"
"E-Exactly…" The blue oni nodded. "Karen-sama?"
"My apologies for the disturbance, but I saw no need to make the Iron Spider's presence known without request." At the call of the maid, the armor projected a video of Subaru practicing his new-found techniques in the yard from a month prior. "What Rem intended to explain was the following…" As the video progressed onwards, the spectators looked-on in awe as the boy turned invisible in front of them. Immediately afterwards though, he reappeared as if nothing had happened.
"What the-?!"
"He can disappear?!"
"Rem-dono…" Crusch turned to face her once more, clear surprise reflected in her eyes. "Are you implying the 'Unseen Hand' might work similar to… Subaru-dono's techniques?"
"Um, yes…" Rem affirmed. "When Subaru-kun was still a member of the camp, he said that his invisibility wasn't foolproof… that you can still see through it if you had access to 'thermal vision', like the one of his armor and mask."
"Thermal vision?" One of the knights scratched his head, not knowing what that even was. As he said this, everyone began looking at each other with even more confusion.
"Allow me to explain further." Karen said, displaying a parallel recording to the current video of Subaru training. Within this display, however, all colors in the surrounding had turned blue, except for the people and the young man himself, who had turned into a mix of red and yellow. "Thermal or Heat Vision refers to the imaging of the surroundings by detecting the temperature, the hot and the cold and any variation whatsoever, in the surroundings. As you can see in the normal recording, Subaru appears and disappears all of a sudden. However, within the Thermal Imaging, his temperature just raises somewhat as he creates a field of invisibility that blocks out the light. Nevertheless, he remains visible in the image still."
"So even if he is invisible, his body still possesses heat that could make him visible in this imaging…" Crusch smirked at the marvel of the machine. "Theoretically, we could see the Unseen Hand if we have access to this Thermal Vision you speak of, Karen-dono!"
"It's done, then!" Priscilla ordered. "Machine? Grant me your eyes and by mine name I shall slay that eyesore of an Archbishop with ease!"
"You are forgetting that this is Natsuki Subaru's technology here."
"And you are forgetting that he might as well be our property at the moment, Karsten." The woman stressed. "He can invent any excuse he wants, the fact remains that he is in currently at the service of the Royal Candidates. His technology might as well be OUR technology independent of his opinions; we are doing him a favor by even providing him attention."
"Just what is your problem, exactly?!" An altered Crusch scowled. "You keep making the remark that he is somehow a possession! Less than a person! Do you even realize the meaning of your words?!"
"I only keep remarking that the place of his talents is under me before anyone else. He might be from beyond the Waterfall, but fate itself lead the boy before mine presence! Someone that refuses to see his real value or exploit his potential should not even bother with his attention. If anything, YOU are the problem here for wanting to keep at arm's length from who could potentially be the one factor to turn the Selection around; then again, that works best for me!" Priscilla laughed aloud in mockery.
"Why you-!" As the two noblewomen got close enough to the other to fistfight, the knights panicked thinking they were witnessing to the beginning of an armed conflict between Camps. Fortunately, before it could escalate to that, Karen grabbed the two by their arms. "Huh?"
"What?"
"My apologies, but I can't have your rivalries or stubbornness ruin this." With those words, an almost liquid flow of black, orange and gold climbed instantly from their hands to their faces.
"HMGH!"
"GHGH!"
The pair reached for their faces in desperation, not knowing what was going on.
"What is-?!"
"You bastard!"
"What are you pulling?!"
The knights pointed their blades to the machine once again, but once more were they interrupted as the Candidates raised their voices. "Stop!" Priscilla screamed.
"Priscilla-sama, are you-?!"
"You brutes just… cease at once!"
"…"
"Crusch-sama?" Rem asked meekly, not sure of what Karen had done. But just as suddenly as the two noblewomen turned around to look at the soldiers, everyone's faces morphed into astonishment. "What is-?!"
"As the two of you argued, I took the liberty of asking Subaru for permission to share the visors from his mask with you. Needless to say, he said yes." The A.I. responded smugly; glasses made from nano-machinery covered Crusch and Priscilla's eyes.
"These are… glasses?" Priscilla touched her face with astonishment. "Those… Diminutive metallic parts just… reconstituted themselves into glasses?"
"Karen-dono… I-I thank you for getting in the way. I'm afraid I acted out of line right now…"
"It is no problem." The program assured. "Moving on, those glasses are the Iron Spider's visors, reconstructed to fit the shapes of your heads. With them, you can freely access the Thermal Vision required to fight the Unseen Hand."
"And so, that problem is solved I suppose." Beatrice, who had grown tired of the bothersome interruption, got up from her seat and walked towards the door. "Betty must still protect the library, so you are on your own from now." She opened and closed the gate in one movement, disappearing into the mansion.
"Thank you, Beatrice-sama." Rem voiced with gratitude towards the door. "Priscilla-sama, Crusch-sama. Rem presumes that you two shall be the ones to fight the Archbishop, as the ones that possess those glasses. As such, please leave the security of the mansion from other cultists to the knights and myself." In reverence, the maid bowed at the two candidates.
"…Hmm." Crusch smiled at her. "Everyone, allow me to apologize for my behavior just now. I… I ask that you place your trust in Candidate Barielle and me for the coming fight."
"It's fine, Crusch-sama…" The knights reassured. "We overstepped as well anyways…"
"I shall report to your bracelets once the cultists arrive." Karen promised whilst setting on the table.
"Just stay alert, machine…" The Baroness dismissed, a complex tone to her voice.
"Everyone, to your positions!" The Duchess finally ordered.
"Hah!" The soldiers responded in kind and took to their formations.
"…" As everyone left the room, Priscilla lingered behind for just a moment longer, appreciating the marvel of the construct before her. She smirked before leaving, a single thought in her mind. This really is the turning point…
AUTHOR'S NOTES
Hey people!
Been a while… Honestly, finding time to write has been more tiring than actually writing. I've been trying to free my schedule but, well, clearly it didn't work out as I intended it to…
Still, a big thank you to everyone that stuck around, especially so to Raider301 for constantly worrying. That is actually reassuring, for real.
I've been getting some questions lately from other people about where I intend to take this fic in the future and to tell the truth I do have some ideas. Although I'm still seeing how I'll do it, here's the general gist of it:
Arc 4 – Infinity Ultron
Prophecy of the Throne – Super Soldier serum
Mephisto – Sinister Six – Subaru-verse
Arc 5 – Dormammu (Tentative, could use other mystic creatures instead)
Arc 6 / Arc 7 – Re: Forgotten – Secret Invasion
Isekai Quartet – Secret Wars – The Beyonder
Reinhard – Phoenix Force
Secret Invasion is what I'm really looking forward to writing right now, although it will take a lot of setup. I'm also toying with the idea of throwing Kang and the TVA somewhere around here as well, but who knows? Maybe I'll rework some stuff and throw in Galactus in the middle, idk really.
Next Chapter: Arc 3 End; and after that, an Interlude.
Anyways, thank you everyone for all the support. I'll try to upload more frequently, so stay tuned! See you in the next chapter!