In the water city, near a park, was a group of individuals that were idly conversing. The river that surrounded the luscious green park, the water dragons in said river and the myriad of houses that bore the hustle and bustle of the city… that is where our story begins.
"After the song ends, shouldn't we prepare food and drinks for them before they chat again? Indulging in sweet snacks will definitely create a mood that will close the distance between them, don't you think so too, Natsuki-sama?"
That makes five, Subaru decided to just ignore her completely. It really was like being unable to progress dialogue without a specific key item, he doubted her voice would get hoarse either.
"Enough of this needless drivel, you'd do well to scavenge, commoner."
She hid her mouth behind her cleavage-fan while staring him down, bringing back the killing intent she had not too long ago. Subaru was suddenly between a rock and a hard place as he was ordered to bring everyone snacks, but why?!
"No matter what you both say, I'll never leave Emilia-tan alone here!"
"But, Subaru, you tend to go on your own pretty often, no?"
"Agh! I can't argue when my Emilia-tan truth bombs me, but it still hurts!"
He started squirming on the spot trying to avoid getting further exposed. However, Emilia impatiently stepped closer to Subaru, furrowing her eyebrows and stopping his circle-arguing at once.
"No matter, I was simply leveling up my improv, a small setback means nothing!"
"I still don't know what you're talking about, what's so wrong with going without me?"
"Betty doesn't get it either, but it likely isn't anything of importance, I suppose,"
The cute spirit, Beatrice, had been discomforted by the shakings of her contractor, reluctantly letting go of his hand to prepare a scolding.
"You guys.. it's not about the consequences of leaving Emilia-tan and not seeing her beautiful smile, it's about leaving Emilia-tan's beautiful smile alone with these two!"
He pointed towards the fiery royal candidate, Priscilla, and the petite songstress, Liliana, dramatizing his hostility.
Liliana's smile beamed as the attention went back to her and spread her arms out holding onto a Lyulyre in a show of bravado. She had been sitting on a bench to play her music, but now stood up as well.
"Oh, oh! Don't mind me! I'm used to being kicked around for getting into other people's business, I'm no threat for sure!"
Subaru slumped at that pathetic exclamation and shifted to catch Priscilla's reaction. She simply stopped looking at the dumbfounded Subaru and turned to gaze into the distance, seemingly uninterested at his theatrics now.
"Don't you see? Priscilla dancing, Liliana not begging for an autograph and Beako satisfying her sweet tooth are all major red flags! And those two are always an ocean of it!"
"Was that last comment necessary, I suppose? Betty just had her fill earlier today, in fact!"
Beatrice puffed her cheeks as she turned her cross-armed demeanor away from Subaru. Emilia, ignoring the unfamiliarity of "ohshen", peeked her head around to make eye contact with the defeated Subaru.
"Subaru, I can see you're reeeaally worried about me, but I'll be fine."
"Ah, if the gift from the heavens that is Emilia-tan says so, then it's hard to refuse! I'm just having some bad premonitions, it's probably nothing serious."
Subaru gave up on making a further fool of himself and straightened his posture so as to not force Emilia to bend uncomfortably for too long.
"Mhm, that's good. You should stop acting so dotty and get along with Priscilla-san and Liliana-san now."
"Nobody says dotty anymore, Emilia-tan"
With their usual banter back, Emilia's mood changed as if confirming that normalcy had been restored. Subaru too should have relaxed...
"Still…"
He had remembered the cloaked man that Emilia bumped into last night, he didn't pay much attention to their shared apologies, but…
"He could see through Emilia's cloak, huh…?"
The city is dangerous for sure, leaving Emilia's side at any time would be the wrong move. At least, he should have her in his sights incase she ends up getting in trouble, or even-
"Am I an idiot? No, I am definitely an idiot…"
"Just what are you babbling about, I wonder?"
A cute spirit occupied Subaru's vision that snapped him out of his trance. Holding out her small hands, she indicated for Subaru to get down to her level, and cupped her contractor's face.
"You know by now that you shouldn't hide anything from Betty, in fact."
"Byahm, yho're raigh."
He gently clasped her hands in his and moved it away from his squished cheeks.
"But I think we should stay with Emilia-tan."
"Hmph! I can't help but feel I didn't help alleviate your troublesome thoughts, I suppose."
Subaru snickered slightly and positioned himself to hoist Beatrice into his arms, while being light as cotton, she adjusted herself to sit comfortably.
"No, no, you definitely helped make sure I don't do anything stupid, my Beako is the greatest."
"If you can talk like that, then you've only been burdening yourself in vain, I suppose."
Subaru took solace in knowing that any challenge he would face wouldn't have to be dealt with by his lonesome, he was truly happy to have such admirable companions.
"Sooooo, does that mean Natsuki–sama will listen to my latest melody? I feel overwhelmed with inspiration from that touching scene just now!"
Immediately regretting he ever declared to stay, Subaru's frown deepened as he sighed.
"Don't expect any praise from me, but yeah, I'm sticking around."
"Fantastic! More listeners means more motivation! I should start right now actually, hmm…"
Liliana adjusted her Lyulyre strings while the onlookers from the Emilia camp and Priscilla waited in unison for the girl with the all too long twintails to finish.
"Hold on, you're staying?"
"But of course, mineself has no reason to disparage the right of mine ears to listen to yet another enchanting song."
"Great…"
Subaru clicked his tongue which earned him a discouraging look from Emilia.
Whatever, he'd just have to make it through a song or two before they left for the inn again. He could've probably convinced Emilia to leave early, but he didn't want to seem uncool again, he's already playing it safe as is.
"Listen up, everybody! I, the Songstress Liliana, will perform to the utmost and share the passion that emits inside my brain, from my fingers, onto my instrument! Now, without further ado, perk your ears for the story of a man and his daughter!"
"Subaru, Subaru, I think she's talking about you!"
Liliana concluded her speech and Emilia eagerly pulled onto Subaru's tracksuit, not noticing he didn't share her optimism.
"Betty is much older than Subaru, in fact!"
"Ah, if you think so then I should stop giving you an allowance."
Words that should not have been uttered had left the spirit distraught, Beatrice clutched the side of her dress where she hid her coins and looked down.
"B-Betty knows her Subaru wouldn't do that, I suppose…"
"Haha, you're right, I'll always spoil my daughter."
"Grrr… Betty is unsure how to feel about this, I suppose!"
Subaru stroked Beatrice's head while she tried her best to pout, failing in the process.
"Maybe so, you're more like a smart, cute little sister."
"Are you fools finished?"
For a second, his hair felt like it combusted and he barely managed to not disturb his carried spirit. Priscilla looked unamused and he knew she was the reason for that.
"Y-yeah."
"Wonderful! Now, here goes!"
The Songstress finally had an opportunity to sing, and as she continued, everyone but Subaru was completely engrossed in her talent.
"Magnificent, do you remain certain of not following me?"
"Oh, well, I honestly thought Priscilla-sama would be convinced by now. But, but! I have to humbly decline as the Songstress, like I said before."
Priscilla's eyes softened and she looked to have been fully satisfied, well, mostly.
"I'm guessing you're done now, huh?"
"Subaru."
Emilia warned Subaru again. He had been impatient while seeing Emilia and Beatrice not look away for even a second, almost as if they were spellbound.
"Hmm, to answer Natsuki-sama, I doooo have one more! But the last one took pretty long…"
"Perfect, we can leave then."
Subaru turned around, which made Beatrice regain focus. She seemed as if she was about to complain but decided not to, Subaru was lucky for that.
Or, as lucky as he could be… none of the others saw but there had been people running rather frantically into their homes.
"I would stop Subaru, but the walk back is pretty long, Anastasia-san will start wondering where we are."
Emilia side-eyed Priscilla, unsure if she would follow along, and surely enough…
"Do not give me that look, half-devil. If that cunning fox desires mine presence then she should work for it."
"I see, I guess that makes sense. Thank you for your performance, Liliana-san."
She bowed towards the Songstress, which flustered Liliana greatly.
"Uuuu..! Is Emilia-sama always like this?"
"Yeah, she's an angel. Anyway, Emilia-tan, we have to go."
They've spent too long here, now with everyone completely out of the Songstress' "control", they too began to notice a potential commotion.
"Subaru, what's going on?"
"That's what I've been trying to figure out, but I didn't get anywhere."
Subaru was relieved that Emilia was attentive as well, but that quickly faded away when he remembered why he was anxious to begin with. Emilia took a glance at Subaru, who was beginning to delve in thought again.
"We need to check it out, Subaru, you should take Bea-"
Her mouth shut and Subaru's worries sky rocketed. He turned to look where Emilia was staring only to see a youth with a… rather ordinary face, adorned in a plain all white getup. The combination felt like the young man was compensating.
"It has taken a while to find you. Even so, I am not one to complain about wasted time when it comes to arriving where I am supposed to be. After all, the relationship between a man and a woman should be dealt with patience, care and mutual respect. You'd surely agree that united lovers are to be getting along, right? I do not agree with the notion of rejection at someone's face values, as the most satisfying-"
"Wait…! Who are-?"
His white overcoat did not sway as he continued walking towards Emilia, quieting whatever Subaru was about to mutter.
"Do you really have no patience? I consider myself a very thoughtful and understanding person, so there is no reason for why you have to speak over me. I doubt there are people who haven't yet been taught the basics of etiquette and politeness in this day and age, but it seems outliers are always to be found."
As if time stopped, everyone waited, prepared for a plausible fight. Even the Songstress kept quiet, something Subaru was subconsciously thankful for.
"I am always one to let others know of my name. If you must know, I am the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus Corneas, and I have come to collect my 79th wife."
"Archbishop-!"
Before Subaru could finish, a blinding red light cut through the newfound tension and into the proclaimed Sin Archbishop.
After he opened his eyes, Subaru was greeted by a Regulus shaped hole expanding against the brick walls of a house, and a Priscilla standing before it.
"Did… did you kill him?"
Priscilla turned to Subaru, looking rather displeased. He couldn't believe an attack from something as sharp as… wait, when did she get her hands on a sword like that?!
"The Yang Sword cuts whatever minself desires to cut, but it seems that this filth continues to live."
"Priscilla-san, please get out of there!"
The house shook and balcony flowers fell as the building started crumbling like a sandcastle. Emilia stepped forth and conjured a spell to contain whatever danger was about to rise from the destruction.
"Ul Huma!"
Pillars of ice formed from the ground and fell like a domino onto the center of the destruction, furthering the spread of dusk.
"Beako!"
"I understand, I suppose."
They knew Emilia faced no harm from some debris, but the same wasn't so clear when it came to Priscilla. Subaru held Beatrice close as the two sprinted to Priscilla's side as quickly as they could.
"Stay behind- eh?"
"A fool's fool should not foolishly show concern for mineself, you'd have greater odds if you remained still."
Even at his fastest, the spirit knight was hopelessly outmatched by the crimson candidate's speed, not even able to catch where she went before she spoke.
"Kh… excuse me for wanting to fucking help! Beako, shield us!"
"You can lower your voice in the meantime, I suppose!"
The ice deteriorated into mana and the waves of dirt were approaching the contracted duo. Without breaking a sweat, Beatrice held up her hands and formed a glowing aura, making Subaru think of a car wash as the environment rolled beside them.
"Damn… to think we just wasted mana!"
"Betty has been collecting her contractor's mana for a while now, I suppose. This is nothing, in fact."
"Haaah, good to know, we'll need it for Greed."
Letting Beatrice down and tightening his hold on her hand, Subaru needed to know what to do. So far, Emilia is unhurt, and so is Priscilla. If things go well then maybe he won't need to- cold sweat ran down his face.
Return By… ? He hasn't… it's been so long he, he just… how will he even-?
"Subaru, pay attention, I suppose. I sense Gr- that man, is still alive, in fact."
Subaru felt guilty they had to face a reminder of the past together, although for different reasons. He moved to get to Emilia's side as the temperature gradually lowered near her.
"Emilia-tan, we need to make sure nobody is caught in the fight."
"I know, I can't afford to not engage so I'm lowering the temperature to scare away anybody running into the area."
"Good, that's… good? I trust your judgment, what do you think Priscilla is planning?"
Subaru worried about the consequences the water dragons would face, shaking away that thought, he furthered the potential of a strategy.
"That arrogant girl will not leave, I suppose."
Despite having almost gotten killed by her a year ago, Subaru still couldn't believe she had such strength to begin with. He needed to find a way to incorporate her into his plan.
As the smoke settled, the silhouette of a man kicking rubble away appeared once more.
"Is it so hard to ask for a civil conversation? When someone introduces themselves, you introduce yourself back! I honestly hate fighting and would always be open to settling things without conflict. Destiny has brought me here to bring in my bride, and you have done nothing but violate my right for love! Are you the type of people to not see the value in marriage?"
"..."
Mana surged through the bodies of the two royal candidates while Subaru had to digest what he was just seeing. Regulus appeared entirely unharmed and just as energetic? Was this the work of his authority?
Emilia and Subaru exchanged a knowing look after what they just witnessed.
"Nothing to say? Well, it's not like I don't prefer it that way, but when someone asks you a question, you answer-."
"Shut the hell up! Emilia-tan, do it!"
"Al Huma!"
Regulus' steps halted in front of the giant block of frost, and he let out a sigh. Suddenly, the freshly made magic dissipated into glaciated sprinkles, leaving nothing behind.
"Ice Brand Arts: Icicle Line!"
"Wait, don't!"
A barrier of cold reverberated and closed around Emilia and Regulus. Subaru had coached her on how to creatively use her mana pool, but was this really the right move?!
"Hiyah!"
Vague icicle shapes formed until it settled as a giant war hammer, it cracked against the head of the Archbishop, knocking off his balance before disappearing into shards of mana.
"Doriyah!"
Already on queue, a longsword of ice manifested in Emilia's grip, as it too shattered against Regulus. Like a rhythm, ice after ice attempted to slice through, until-
"I did not think a candidate for the 79th would act this uncharacteristically."
"Oh-?!"
As if previously bluffing, his body did not flinch when he powered through a lance to take hold of Emilia's wrist.
"A wife should not act so inconsiderate towards her future husband, but I will forgive your recent outbursts so long as you behave. It is in my nature to demonstrate boundless generosity, afterall. Therefore, for the sake of that, I won't refrain from using the power I was given. I will take you in as my bride, loving you as you love me, enjoying a stable life together. Now, before we depart, would you mind answering a question?"
"I, uh?"
Everything was going to shit, Subaru hurriedly turned the gears in his mind attempting to think of absolutely any solution, there was no use in calling for Priscilla either.
"Are you a virgin?"
Ah.
"Beako, let go soon."
"What are you-"
"Murak!"
Subaru pulled the mana from Beatrice's gate to spring load his own legs. He had been accustomed to using it to get up and down the obstacle course at home, something he jokingly used to make Garfiel think he beat his record.
He rocketed towards Regulus, making sure Beatrice was not holding on.
"Do you need to interrupt us? Can't you see we're in the middle of a lovers quar-"
"Invisible Providence!"
While his mass would not nudge even a child, it was different for his authority.
"Goh?"
Grimacing, Regulus' head wallopped to the side as he was prematurely hit by something. Emilia managed to shake off his grip as she pulled more swords out from her icey domain.
"Oh, ohhh!"
"Subaru?! You're going too fast!"
He might have over exerted his jump, and the pushback from the invisible fist had thrown him higher into the air. Though when he tried dragging his unseen hand to move himself out of the way, Subaru felt light headed.
"Hakh?! Bla-"
Subaru's brain fizzled, feeling his lungs scorch before his feathery mass landed against a wall of bricks, not realizing his feet weren't grounded yet as he accidentally kicked his body away.
"Seriously?! Can't you see I was having an important discussion? You could have stayed where you were and I would have graciously ended your life, but now you had to just intervene again, didn't you?!"
Regulus took a fistful of pebbles, holding them as if he was a child preparing to throw a tantrum.
"Kh- shit!"
"Subaru!"
The slowly falling Subaru was a sitting duck, lacking the leverage he could latch on prior.
He felt a lump well within his throat at the thought of them having to see this-
"Hm?"
Brighter than the sun, the Yang Sword melted away Emilia's magic as it passed into and through… the Archbishop, leaving the princess wielding it directly in harm's way.
"Priscilla-san?!"
"Honestly…"
Priscilla's tongue clicked at the comment and Regulus threw the rocks he held onto at blinding speeds.
"Huma!"
While the unexpected projectiles raced for Priscilla, Emilia cast a shield of magic in front of the target.
"-Hah?!"
In an instant, the spell crumpled and eviscerated the entire form of-
A jewel fell onto the ground, unceremoniously shattering. The ground that the shattered crystals from the accessory fell on were blown with gaping holes spreading everywhere.
"Just… just what is the meaning of this?! You, why do you always have to violate-!"
"Emilia!"
"I understand!"
Subaru cracked his whip as he realized he wasn't dead. He latched and pulled onto a nearby pole of some kind, probably a street sign or lamp, now noticing how his spirit had suddenly appeared closeby.
"Beako!"
"El Shamak!"
Beatrice aimed her shamak directly on Regulus while Emilia cast layers of protective ice, one after another, making them as thick and glossy as possible. Priscilla leapt away from the action, possibly aware of the incoming devastation.
"Grab on, I suppo-!"
Right as they were going to reunite their hands, the layers of frost broke from a hole in the middle, not slowing down one bit, splitting the cold barricade into pieces.
Emilia had thankfully already moved out of the way, but-
"E - M - M!"
Any foothold remaining for the two was decimated and turned into a misshapen maw of stone.
"...You."
The sounds of a growling Archbishop approached the stillborne duo.
"Ul Huma!"
Mana rushed to the feet of Regulus, attempting to launch him away, but it did not even make it past the surface as it was stepped on.
"I am Regulus Corneas, the Archbishop of Greed! I was given this power to exert my rights, and yet you demonstrate the same power to defy it! This is an infringement on my rights for everything I stand for!"
He hauled more and more air, stone, whatever molecules possible as they remained unharmed.
"WHY WON'T YOU DIE!?"
"Subaru… B-Betty isn't sure how much longer-"
"Regulus, stop!"
Emilia shouted at the rampaging Archbishop, giving a momentary chance of respite for the assaulted duo. She lowered the concentration of her weather changing magic, slowly bringing the climate back to how it was before.
"..."
Regulus stared down the wife-to-be, causing her to flinch.
"I… I'll be your wife, so please don't h-hurt them."
Regulus did not respond while his full attention was captured by Emilia, it only meant she was on row for the treatment. Subaru saw her expression sharpen after the insecurities from before.
"I don't know what virgin means, but I hope it isn't anything of importance."
Surprisingly, the Archbishop's shoulders slumped at that, although he kept his back straight.
"Ah, yes, perfect, most excellent. Capable and intact, that is what a wife should be for her husband."
He took a hold of her hand, before getting an unshakeable grip on it.
"We will be engaged at a moment's notice, and after that, you will not smile, you will not think, and you will not speak back to me."
The E - M - M spell wore off, and Subaru realized the Murak had long disappeared too. He put his parkour to use and planted his feet into a roll, straining the nerves as the stinging transitioned into a burning sensation, but if nothing was broken then it hardly mattered.
He hurriedly looked back to catch Beatrice, who was elegantly gliding downwards, thankfully. But he still had pressing matters, like the fact that-
"Now, time to get rid of this nuisance…"
"Wait, no!"
Emilia begged for their lives, but as luck would have it-
Regulus halted, almost as if on command. In his free hand, he grabbed a hold of a black book- the Gospel! What the hell?
"Ahh, it seems our time has run out."
"What…"
"It means I've been given free time, and I used that time to get a hold of my bride. You're lucky, you should thank the Gospel, or, you shouldn't really, why should you be thankful to paper? Instead, you should be thanking me, for following its scripture so diligently."
Subaru stood stock still, clutching Beatrice's hand as Emilia's fate lay in uncertainty. The Gospel, it's telling him something now of all times?
"Well, I wouldn't want to kill my bride's attendants anyway, I'm sure you would be feeling lonely, wouldn't you?"
Emilia nearly gasped as the attention went back to her.
"I… thank you for not hurting them."
She sounded so meak… Subaru berated himself for letting something like this happen to her, just how many times has he hurt her by now?
"Come with me."
"Wait! You can't just walk out of here with Emilia!"
The Archbishop took one final moment to look back at him.
"I'm already here? So really, there's no reason for us to wait anymore. I hope you aren't one of those people that think they have a say in others' love, it really sickens me."
And just like that, Subaru saw the pair walk away, with Emilia giving him one last reassuring, if you can even call it that, look.
"-Hk… I'm sorry… Emilia…"
He choked back a sob, not because he nearly got himself killed, but because he didn't let it-
"Subaru, I'm sorry, I suppose."
The lovely, oh so caring Beatrice, he hadn't even realized he was putting pressure onto her hand.
"I know you're scared, I suppose."
Ah, so he was, wasn't he? Don't be sorry, Beatrice… please.
"But she will be safe, I suppose. It is what Betty's Subaru wants, in fact."
"T-thanks, Beako…"
The tears welled and subsided rapidly, unsure of what he should feel, but at least everyone was "safe".
"Let's go, Beako."
With a reassuring nod from her, the two got out of the mini crater formed in the streets. He saw streaks of holes in buildings, layers of moisture frozen in the surrounding greens and broken… well, everything, but he also saw Priscilla.
"You're still here…"
"Of course, I do not know how a foolish commoner like yourself managed to survive, but it is of no concern to me."
"No concern…? Do you even care that Emilia was kidnapped?!"
She raised an eyebrow before covering her mouth with a fan, scanning him and his spirit with red eyes that lacked heat.
"The half-devil made her choice, I don't see why you think anything different."
Before he could butt in with another question, Priscilla just walked away, back towards the park. A lone Songstress popped up from a tree, where she proceeded to… kneel and bow.
"Can't say I didn't expect that. Ah, she did save my life too…"
He muttered as he glanced back to his adorable spirit.
"We should hurry back, like, right now."
"Yes, let's, I suppose."
They both walked with haste to group up with the rest, making sure to advise passerbyers to return to their family and homes. Priscilla can handle her own, and she probably won't leave Liliana behind either.
It took longer than it should have, probably because they had already lost track of where they were.
"Shit… sorry, Beako, should have used the right-hand rule or something."
"That sounds made up, I suppose. Let's just go to-"
"Ahem, ahem, trilly dilly doooo~!"
A deafening voice interrupted her suggestion.
"Hello, you filthy insects! I hope this thing is on. Is it on? HellooOOoo~!"
"Fff-!"
They both held their ears as the voice of a female, which sounded like it was everywhere, went back and forth between ear screeching and barely audible.
"Well, it doesn't really matter if you hear this or not, gyahahaha! It's all the better if you disgusting meatbags have no idea what's coming, but it would be a bit lonely, my earnest and beautiful self can't allow that!"
"Is this… a transmission?"
Their ears adjusted slightly to the inconsistent volume from the transmission, trying to keep their focus on walking.
"Now, you must have been wondering for a while who this beautiful girl's voice belongs to, didn't you, putrid flesh sacks?"
They both stopped as the voice was going to reveal herself.
"For your information, this lovely lady is the Sin Archbishop of Lust, Capella Emerada Lugunica! And we have come to take over this city, so grovel, grovel~! Gyahahaha!"
…What the fuck?
"No…"
He should, yes, he… he has to.
"Sin…"
"The Archbishop of Lust, in fact..."
His arm tugged, a stern reminder that hesitance is the last thing he should be having right now.
"...The others might be in danger."
He just had to check, yes, he just had to see if everyone else was fine.
"That means there's two confirmed Archbishops in the city, dammit…"
The situation in Priestella was gonna be more daunting than Subaru could have ever imagined.