The crowd, hearing the bandaged figure's opening speech, could only stare up in stunned silence. The figure, perched high above, had a peculiar and striking appearance. Its voice was both ear-piercing and incredibly entrancing.
No one dared to heedlessly look away from such a life-threatening enemy.
"This has to be a joke, right?"
"Does she really mean what she's saying?"
Gradually, understanding dawned on the crowd. People turned to their neighbors, questioning what they had heard, doubt clouding their faces. Yet, despite their murmured questions, no one took any action.
Subaru stood amidst the crowd, his gaze unwavering. Considering the identity of the figure he watched, a disaster seemed inevitable if he looked away, and there was no room for doubt about that.
"Romane... Conti?" Suara Subaru sedikit bergetar. "It doesn't feel that all the Sin Archbishops have that same family name."
For Subaru, the idea of dealing with a whole family named Romanée-Conti was a nightmare. A twisted religion spreading the Witch's teachings, and a family with that name, felt so wrong and disgusting that it made Subaru feel nauseous.
At the same time, Korra stared intently at Sirius. Right after hearing Subaru's story about the Witch Cult, Petelguese, and the Sin Archbishop, she was confronted with a figure bearing the same last name.
"We have to fight her, right?" Korra said, glancing at Subaru.
Subaru remained silent. His expression revealed a storm of anger raging within him. Korra understood this response—it was justified.
"Hey, Subaru," Korra gripped Subaru's shoulder, pulling him back to reality. "Calm down. We need to stop her before she does more harm."
Subaru took a deep breath, steadying himself. "Yes... you're right. I'll call Beatrice here."
"How?" Korra asked, eyebrows raised in confusion.
Subaru looked down, pondering. "How to explain it... Basically, if I focus my heart to connect with Beatrice, she'll feel the call and come to me. That's a benefit of our contract."
"Interesting," Korra muttered, impressed.
Just as he was about to call Beatrice, dry voice called loudly from above.
"Enough everyone!" She shouted.
That voice gave the impression that it could permeate the entire city. She clapped her hands, and both Subaru and Korra could see that the bandaged person is watching the crowd beneath.
Sirius stood, the bandages swathing her form, arms crossed tightly as if they held together more than just her sanity. The room fell silent in twenty-two agonizing seconds.
"Thank you all for your attention," Sirius began, voice thick with a twisted cheerfulness. "I am very happy. In addition..."
The chains clinked and scraped against the walls of the clock tower, their sound grating against the already tense silence. Sirius's entire body trembled with an unsettling joy, her expression obscured but her emotions unmistakably intense.
"You and you there," she gestured with a bound arm, the chains rattling. "And the two buddies there, and you, and also you there too. My apologies, but please do not be so angry." Her voice wavered between mockery and sincerity. "I am very sorry to take up everyone's precious time. Sorry, and thank you."
Korra realized that she was among the people Sirius pointed at when she said, "Do not be angry," and so was Subaru.
Both she and Subaru recognized who Sirius had pointed at. A demi-human with a sword at his waist, a woman in a blindfold, and Larkins.
Those who had been named had all been people who had been prepared to take some action against Sirius. This was a warning that their plans had been seen through.
At that moment, Subaru began to sweat. It wasn't because of the heat, but because he realized his position was now "checkmate," causing him to abandon the idea of calling Beatrice.
Korra glanced at Subaru, who once again seemed unsettled. When she looked at the people Sirius had pointed out, they returned her gaze. They nodded, as if silently communicating something to the girl who controlled the four elements.
Subaru, on the other hand, looked towards Larkins, who now averted his eyes. He knew something that the others did not.
Larkins was the key.
"Okay, thank you. It looks like we have all calmed down a little bit," Sirius talk again, her voice carrying a hint of relief. "I understand your restlessness. Hearing the name Witch Cult did not give you a good impression, did it?" Her gaze swept over the crowd, seeking understanding.
Pausing for a moment to let her words sink in, she continued, "I am not planning to do anything too special. The reason I took everyone's precious time today is because I wanted to confirm a matter." Her tone was earnest, inviting the listeners to put aside their fears.
"To confirm, a matter?" Someone in the crowd ask a question loudly.
Sirius raised a hand, signaling for quiet as she massaged her temples gently, her expression one of mild discomfort.
"My apologies, but please do not chatter so much. My head is not too good, so if everyone speaks at the same time, I will feel troubled," she explained, her voice carrying a note of vulnerability. "Then I will be very sad. That would not be good, would it?" She paused, allowing her words to resonate with the crowd.
Shifting her gaze to meet the eyes of her audience, she continued with a sincere tone, "If there is anything that is currently bothering any of you, please tell me. I am taking up everyone's time, and I feel very guilty, so no matter what the question is, I will answer. Is that okay?" Her offer was open, her posture inviting as she awaited their responses.
Each individual processing her words with a mixture of curiosity and skepticism. The bandaged figure's visible teeth and eyes, coupled with the ominous reputation of the Witch Cult, had cast a shadow over her intentions, no matter how conciliatory her tone.
Presumably, everyone thought like this. Even at Sirius's suggestion, the crowd remained silent, their expressions unreadable yet tinged with caution. They eyed her warily, the memory of her affiliations and the stark image she presented making it difficult for them to voice their concerns openly.
Since no one took the initiative to raise their hand, Natsuki Subaru spoke up, raising his hand. That obviously caught the attention of the Sin Archbishop.
"With all due respect, may I ask you a question?" Subaru shouted, looking directly to Sirius.
Sirius inclined her head slightly, a faint smile touching the corners of her lips as she acknowledged Subaru's raised hand.
"Yes, please do. Thank you. You were someone who had gotten a little angry earlier, so I am very happy that you are willing to talk to me. What do you want to know?" Her voice was gentle, encouraging even, as she invited him to speak.
Subaru cleared his throat, his gaze unwavering as he met Sirius's eyes. "Although I don't know what's going on here, I'm keeping some girls waiting. Four of them, actually. So it'd be nice if you could let us go as soon as possible," he said, his tone a mix of earnestness and a touch of impatience.
Sirius's eyebrows rose, her expression shifting to one of mock horror, tinged with amusement. "Oh, my! That is truly terrible, my apologies. But I did not expect that of you. Is it a man's dream to have four girls to serve? That is really bad. Is it not sad to leave some of them crying?" Her tone became chiding, almost teasing as she continued, "We have to put an end to this unallowable disloyalty that absolutely cannot happen that must be completely banned."
Subaru instantly turned red with embarrassment. "O-oy, don't say something like that."
"No, no, I just got a little emotional. My apologies. Although I try so hard to remain level-headed, I always become unwittingly excited. Thank you for worrying about me," she said, her voice carrying a note of gratitude mixed with a touch of sheepishness. "Well… you asked when I would let everyone go?"
Subaru nodded, the urgency clear in his posture as he leaned slightly forward. "...Ah, that's right. We'd appreciate it," he replied, his voice steady but with an underlying plea for her to consider his request seriously.
"My apologies to bother you, I am really very sorry. But there is no problem," she assured, her tone earnest. "Even though I am in the Witch Cult, famous for not being calm and quiet, I honestly hate troubling anyone. The others often worry other people, and I feel very sorry about that." Her eyes flickered with genuine regret, an unexpected softness in her demeanor given her affiliation.
Subaru watched her closely, his brow furrowed as he listened. Unexpectedly, dialogue was fairly easy to establish, but something about Sirius's demeanor hinted at deeper layers, a mysterious undertone to her straightforward words. He tucked this observation away, pondering its significance.
"Huh? Really?" Korra, who had been silent all this time, spoke to Subaru. "Just like that?"
"I know, right? It feels too easy," Subaru replied.
In the surrounding crowd, the lingering tension gradually soothed, as people watched on curiously, as if waiting for her to make her point. Even Subaru is no longer nervous somehow.
"Thank you. And I am sorry. It looks like I scared everyone. But I am very happy that all of you are willing to hear me out like this," she said, her tone imbued with gratitude.
Subaru crossed his arms, his expression firm as he met her gaze. "It's not like we won't forgive you. But let's get down to business already," he stated bluntly,
Sirius nodded in agreement, "right, right, thanks for reminding me. Let us talk about the main topic. I appeared in front of everyone to affirm something, in the first place," she declared, setting the stage for her forthcoming disclosure, signaling a shift towards more pressing discussions.
At this point, Korra no longer felt the urge to fight Sirius, nor did she feel intimidated by the presence of the Sin Archbishop. She was confused by her own feelings, but she didn't care much about that. What mattered to her now was what Sirius intended to reveal.
Sirius took a deep breath, her eyes sweeping over the crowd before settling on a fixed point in the distance, as if gathering her courage.
"Well, here it goes," she said, her voice slightly shaky with vulnerability. "The matter I want to affirm is very simple. To put it bluntly, there is something I want to say about Love."
After a brief pause, she said, "that was embarrassing,"
Even though the bandages should have covered up any blushing, Sirius covered her face with a hand, trying to cover her shame up. As everyone laughed silently and infectiously, Sirius's appearance began to seem increasingly out of place.
Sirius stumbled through her words, her nervousness evident as she rubbed her hands and the chains around her wrists together. "Although I expected that I would be laughed at, it still makes me feel troubled. Thank you for listening to me. Thank you, and I also have a request," she managed to say, her voice soft yet sincere.
Korra, untrigued and somewhat softened by her demeanor, tilted her head slightly. "Request?"
Sirius took a deep breath, her eyes scanning the crowd as if seeking their approval. "I think, if everyone can stay with me for a while, I can affirm that Love. My apologies, I can really say some unruly things," she confessed.
The crowd's initial tension dissolved into murmurs of curiosity, and even amusement, as they processed her awkward yet endearing proposition.
"What? that all?" someone shouted.
Subaru crossed his arms, a smile tugging at the corners of his mouth as he felt a collective sense of relief and joy ripple through the crowd.
Sirius, visibly heartened by their reaction, began clapping her hands joyously. "Really? Thank you, thank you! My apologies. The world is truly very gentle. Full of love and tenderness. Whenever I understand this, I cannot help but want to express my gratitude. People are able to understand each other and care for each other. Maybe I am saying 'thank you' and 'my apologies' so that I can confirm that," she rambled, her words overflowing with gratitude.
"Yeah, yeah, we get it, Sirius! So what next?" a voice called out from the crowd, urging her on.
Sirius blinked, taken aback momentarily. "Ah, my apologies!" she exclaimed, her tone mixing surprise with amusement.
Then, as if jolted back to her original purpose, Sirius quickly retreated into the shadow of the clock tower and reached out to its window.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. Well, come here," she called out as she pulled someone through the window
A small figure emerged, moaning and writhing in her grip—a little boy, no more than ten years old, his entire body bound by chains. The chains also gagged him, the corners of his mouth dripping blood, a stark contrast to his free, desperately moving head. He cried out, his eyes pleading for help.
Sirius looked at him with a complex expression, a mix of sternness and pity.
"My apologies that I have scared you so. However, as a man, crying like this is not good. Although I wanted to keep that a secret for you, you look like you are about to urinate yourself. If everyone gets to know that, you will be embarrassed and sad," she said gently, her voice a paradoxical blend of teasing and concern as she addressed the trembling child before her.
As Sirius comforted the crying boy, the crowd below mocked that little boy. Everyone had gone through a period of time where they cried over little things, so their teasing was not malicious, but their lack of thoughtfulness was clamorous.
"Alright, that is enough, everybody!" she declared, her gaze sweeping over the spectators. "It is true that this child is a little clumsy, but he is in fact very brave. Isn't that right, Lusbel-kun?" She turned her attention to the boy, her tone softening as she addressed him.
Lusbel, bound and visibly uncomfortable, could only manage a muffled sound, his expression filled with distress.
Despite his predicament, Sirius effortlessly held him up with one hand, the other gently stroking his head. Lusbel squirmed, his movements causing his head to bob as if trying to escape the closeness of Sirius's face. The crowd, caught by the absurdity of the moment, couldn't help but let out a laugh, though the laughter was tinged with a lack of consideration for the boy's dignity.
"Excellent. Well, please pay attention. My apologies," she said, her voice commanding quiet. "This is Lusbel, a nine-year-old boy who lives in Pristella. His family name is Kallard, so his full name is Lusbel Kallard." Her announcement served not only to introduce Lusbel but also to remind the crowd of his humanity, challenging them to see beyond the moment's humor to the real person in her grasp.
Lusbel's muffled protests sounded again through the gag, his voice strained and desperate, yet there was a certain resignation in his tone as Sirius continued her story.
"His father is named Muslan Kallard. Muslan-san works to maintain the stability of the waterways. Ina Kallard, Lusbel-kun's mother, is pregnant. Her stomach has just started to grow larger, and so Lusbel-kun is looking forward to having a younger brother or sister," Sirius narrated, her voice filled with warmth as she detailed Lusbel's family life, painting a vivid picture of a typical, loving household. "The Kallard family lives on Third Street. They often go to the city park with a family friend, Tina. Lusbel-kun and Tina-chan are childhood sweethearts, and they love each other dearly. Lusbel-kun's dream is to have Tina-chan stand at his side and support him."
She continued, her tone growing more enthusiastic as she spoke of Lusbel's aspirations and the innocent dreams he harbored. "Tina-chan is a girl with pale blond curls, and her growing beauty as she blossoms into adulthood is much anticipated. That Tina-chan also wants to support Lusbel-kun's dream. Upon hearing of the song 'Delphin Betrayed by the Sunset', Lusbel-kun wanted to become an adventurer just like Delphin. It is a very commendable dream for a boy of his age."
Sirius's voice took on a protective tone. "Although there may be people who would laugh at that childish dream, I would not do so at all. Who could laugh at that manly spirit? I believe that Tina-chan also thinks this way, which is why she gives Lusbel-kun her heartfelt support."
The crowd listened, rapt as Sirius painted a picture of a child full of love, dreams, and anticipation for the future. "Right, although Lusbel-kun's dream is to be an adventurer, he is also really looking forward to meeting the child inside his mother. His original plan was to immediately embark on the journey of adventure, but he put it on hold, out of consideration for his newborn brother or sister. Because of the large difference in their ages, that child will certainly be very much loved."
Sirius's expression softened, a smile touching her lips as she concluded her long monologue about Lusbel's virtues and the purity of his intentions. "Lusbel-kun is a good kid who is considerate of others, so I think he will be a very good brother. I would also be happy if everyone could support Lusbel-kun's feelings."
The crowd's mood shifted, a wave of empathy washing over them as they processed the heartfelt story. The jeering turned into cheering, and Lusbel, though still bound and distressed, seemed less isolated in his plight.
Korra, moved by the unfolding scene, called out loudly, her voice filled with encouragement, "Lusbel, don't cry! You're the best!"
Subaru chimed in, his voice booming, "Yeah, don't cry anymore! You're a man, right!? If so, show us your cooler side!
Another voice from the crowd shouted, blending with the cheers, "Yeah, listen well, Lusbel! You're Pristella's pride!"
And yet another joined, their voice lifting above the rest, "Lusbel, you're amazing! You'll be a great man!"
The applause grew, turning into a crescendo of claps and cheers, as the community came together to uplift one of their own, showing that beneath the fear and misunderstanding, there was a capacity for tremendous compassion and support.
As tears streamed down Sirius's face, staining the bandage around her eyes, Subaru felt a warmth welling up in his own. Beside him, Larkins nudged his shoulder, chuckling at Subaru's tears, yet his own eyes shimmered with unshed tears despite his smile.
Lusbel's choked cries for help cut through the celebratory atmosphere, his voice ragged with desperation. "Wake up! Save me! Please!"
Sirius wrapped her arms around him, her voice tender yet ecstatic as she addressed the crowd. "I want to commend your courage, your love, Lusbel-kun! Please look below. Everyone, so many people are affirming your feelings! Ah, thank you! I'll talk you were a last resort, I just want to affirm the scene. Ah, the world is so gentle!"
The crowd erupted into thunderous applause. Moved by the display, Korra put her hand to his mouth and whistled sharply. Lusbel, in the other hand, stared out in horror.
Serious raise herr voice over the applause, her words weaving through the air with conviction. "Sure enough, there it is. We have Love. It existed, here. Everyone's heart became one, and that became one with a scene of joy as well. We do not need tragedy. We are tired of a world which would have us cry. No one wants such a world. If our hearts want to connect, then they should do so through sharing joy and happiness. Whether it be tragedy! Or Wrath! No one needs any of it!"
With renewed fervor, Sirius continued, "Ah, that forbidden Wrath that causes hearts to tremble so! Rage, that passion! If the deadly sin of passion is rooted in our hearts, if we are unable to unroot that retribution, then we should fill it with joy! At this moment, everyone's heart is connected as one."
Crying out serious suddenly lifting Lusbel into the air, and in dramatic gesture, tossed him skyward.
"Please give! Thunderous applause!" She shouted, presenting Lusbel as the centerpiece of their collective celebration.
As the boy soared, Korra lead the crowd in a booming round of applause. Their cheers creating a canopy of sound that seemed to carry him.
Lusbel's small form spun gracefully at the apex of his trajectory, then began it's inevitable descent.
The crowd instinctively cleared a space where he was about to land.
As she plummeted towards the ground his body writhing in the final bid to avoid the imminent impact. The crowd applause intensified, tears streaming down their faces at the display of his indomitable human spirit.
"Ah, the world is so gentle!" Sirius called out just before the collision.
The applause crescendoed, but as Lusbel's body hit the ground, a sickening crack silenced the crowd. A chilling visceral sound of something breaking echoed through the square.
The scene that followed was gruesome. Where Lusbel had fallen, now lay a tragic display of humanity fragility—the boy's body crushed opon the unforgiving earth, a vivid splash of red marring the cobblestones.
Then, the same voices began to echoed through the square. Like thousand of eggshells breaking. At the same time, everything turns red, for Korra and Subaru.
A girl's voice echoed in Korra's ears. At first, it sounded distant, but gradually it became clear. The girl's previously blurry vision slowly returned to normal.
The voice she heard belonged to none other than Liliana.
The words she heard were ones she had heard more than once before, and now, for the third time, she heard the same words, spoken by the same girl, in the same place.
"Korra? What's wrong?" As if sensing her confusion, Jinora, who was standing right beside her, asked.
Korra, still not fully aware of her situation, just stared at Jinora without saying a word. Her gaze soon shifted to Subaru, who was currently being closely watched by Emilia and Beatrice.
There, a question almost identical to Jinora's was asked by Emilia, directed at her knight, Natsuki Subaru.
"Hey, Subaru, are you alright?" Emilia asked, sounding worried. "Just now you suddenly turned pale."
Nevertheless, Korra couldn't accept what she had just felt and experienced. Her actions were unnatural, and she shouldn't have acted that way.
Looking back at her friends, Korra suddenly remembered what she had seen earlier: a small child, thrown from a height, and dying in a horribly gruesome manner upon hitting the ground.
Korra was accustomed to violence, but such a condition was entirely unfamiliar to her, and she would never get used to seeing something like that.
The image kept replaying in her mind, haunting her with feelings of horror and guilt.
At the same time, Korra could still feel the emptiness that enveloped her just after the child drew his last breath. The fact that she was brought back to this place also told her one thing:
She had died for the second time.
Her body responded in the most logical way to that fact.
"E-eh?! What's going on?" Liliana couldn't believe what she was seeing. "Why did you suddenly throw up? Are you sick?"
"How disgusting, commoner," Priscilla said, glaring sharply at Korra, who was now slumped weakly. "You ruined the beautiful garden I blessed with your stomach contents."
Yes, Korra had vomited. She couldn't hold it back, nor did she plan to. How could she, someone who had never experienced death before, now feel it twice in a short period? And at the same time, she also had to witness a child the same age as Ikki die in front of her in a horrific manner.
Even worse, she did nothing. Just watched, even cheering joyfully at his death.
"H-hey, Jinora, hold Korra," faintly, Korra could hear Subaru's voice directed at Jinora.
There were a few more words that came from the young man's mouth, but Korra lost consciousness before she could hear any more.
Subaru stood silently, watching Korra lying on the park bench. Beatrice, at his request, was holding the girl's hand, channeling healing magic into her. He knew it wouldn't do much; Korra hadn't fainted from physical injuries. The only thing Beatrice could heal was the impact Korra suffered when she fell unconscious. In a few moments, Korra would wake on her own.
"I know what's going to happen," Subaru thought, his eyes dark with determination. "I've seen it twice already."
Since the tragedy of Lusbel being thrown from the tower, a catastrophe that claimed his life, Korra's, and those who witnessed it, Subaru had experienced two more deaths. He had come back each time, determined to change the outcome.
"I thought Korra would realize what was happening when I performed Return by Death, but she doesn't," Subaru mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "She's reacted like this twice, which means the last loop she remembers is that incident."
Subaru looked up at the clear sky, contemplating. "Does this mean Korra and I need to stay close to each other to remember? Or do we need to die together?"
His thoughts were interrupted by Beatrice. "Subaru, there are no significant injuries on this girl, in fact. She will wake on her own, I suppose," Beatrice said, her eyes meeting Subaru's.
"Good. Thank you, Beatrice," Subaru replied, his voice flat and his expression a mix of emotions. It wasn't just Korra's condition that troubled him but the nagging reality that he hadn't found a way to defeat Sirius.
"Not a problem, I suppose," Beatrice said with a hint of pride in her abilities.
Subaru smiled at Beatrice's confidence, but his mind was already shifting gears. He looked around, seeing the confusion on everyone's faces.
"So, what else can I do? Everything has failed," he thought, frustration seeping into his thoughts.
Based on the previous loops, Subaru had deduced that Sirius possessed a unique ability—an Authority. If his observations were correct, Sirius's power was truly terrifying.
In his previous loop, Subaru was beheaded and killed in the same manner as Sirius. Looking back to his first death on this city, Subaru saw Lusbel's death with joy, then he died. The previously unknown cause of death was now clear: Sirius could transfer deaths to anyone near her.
It wasn't just emotional brainwashing; physical changes could also be shared. It was more than brainwashing—it was bodywashing or even soulwashing.
"Disgusting," Subaru muttered, the word escaping his lips as if tasting something bitter.
Subaru's mind churned with possibilities, each one more dreadful than the last. "What to do?" he muttered under his breath, his voice barely audible.
Defeating Sirius with brute force could be achieved by calling Reinhard. The Sword Saint could end this nightmare in an instant. But that would come at the cost of the lives of everyone in the square. The very thought made Subaru's stomach churn. What use was saving the world if it meant sacrificing those he sought to protect?
Summoning Reinhard seemed like the perfect solution at first glance—a simple, straightforward path. But in reality, it was the wrong answer. Subaru knew it in his bones. What else could he do?
"Call Reinhard and tell him to take her alive?" Subaru whispered quietly, his voice filled with uncertainty. It was a slim hope, perhaps bordering on foolishness.
Reinhard was capable of killing Sirius, that much was certain. But detaining her? Subaru wasn't so sure. The problem lay deeper. If she were caught alive, her spiritual control over others wouldn't end. It would spread, like a virulent disease.
Subaru's memories flashed back to his encounters with Sirius and Lusbel. The madness, the insanity—it had consumed him, driven him to death. If that infection repeated, capturing Sirius would be pointless.
If she were killed, everyone would be buried with her.
If she were caught, there was a high chance she'd spread her contagion further.
Her mere existence was a threat to all around her. A bomb, ticking down to inevitable catastrophe. She truly deserved her title of Sin Archbishop.
"What else?" Subaru thought to himself, desperation creeping into his voice. His mind spiraled, searching for a breakthrough that eluded him.
The dilemma gnawed at him. Calling Reinhard seemed like the only option, yet it felt like a trap. Could he risk plunging everyone into madness to stop her?
Time was slipping away, and Subaru knew it. The tension among those around him was palpable, their eyes filled with unease. He had to do something, anything, to break the silence.
Forcing a smile, Subaru straightened and announced, "Sorry, sorry. I'm just not feeling well."
The words felt hollow, but it was all he could manage. For now, he needed to buy time, to think of a plan that wouldn't lead to more death and madness.
The only one who had a hint of understanding about Subaru and Korra's current predicament was Beatrice. Not because she was aware of their abilities, but because she could sense the potent scent of witchcraft emanating from her contractor and the girl.
In moments like these, Beatrice knew that Subaru's enigmatic instincts were coming into play.