Kan: [Th-th-this is the place where felt lives as I-I-I promised,... c-c-can you let me go please?]

Erron, Emilia, and Puck were standing just a few meters away from the loot house. Erron stood behind the shivering Kan, his revolver pointed directly at Kan's head. Erron smiled as he looked at the scared boy, but Emilia, who was watching Erron disapprovingly, spoke up,

Emilia: [is that really necessary, Erron?]

The tension in the air was palpable as Erron's smile faded slightly at Emilia's question. Puck, who had been silent until now looking passively, shifted uncomfortably, sensing the growing unease between the group. Kan, still shivering, looked from Erron to Emilia, unsure of what would happen next.

Erron hesitated for a moment, his grip on the revolver tightening before he finally lowered it. He glanced at Emilia, a flicker of doubt crossing his face before he spoke,

Erron: [ Emilia, you're spot on. It ain't needed, I was just makin' sure he don't try to grab my gun from me again...maybe he gets it now.]

The tension eased completely as Erron took a step back, allowing Kan to breathe a sigh of relief. Emilia's disapproving gaze softened as she nodded in approval, diffusing the potentially dangerous situation with her calm demeanor.

Erron: [ Now boy, you stay put while I go check out the place. And if I found out that you've been fibbing, well... you know what's coming.]

Without even glancing at Kan, Erron confidently spoke and the final part of his sentence was in a hushed, menacing tone, ensuring Emilia wouldn't catch his words.

Kan: [ Hk!...]

The boy stood frozen in fear, yet there was a glimmer of comprehension in his eyes, indicating he knew he couldn't escape.

Erron: [Good lad]

And so Erron began making his way towards the loot house, Emilia trailed behind him. However, Erron abruptly halted and turned to face her, saying,

Erron: [——I made it crystal clear that I'll be heading out on my own ... not we, so you best stay put with the lad. I'll be delving into the location first, got it?]

Emilia: [ Erron, I don't understand what you're talking about. I can't stay here while you go alone to retrieve my insignia. It rightfully belongs to me in the first place, so I should be the one going].

Erron: [ Hell no! You stick around, I'm going]

Emilia: [——You!]

Frustrated, she attempted to maneuver around Erron, but he blocked her path. Trying to evade him once again, she found him mirroring her movements. With no alternative left, she forcefully pushed him,

Emilia: [Huh!?]

To her surprise, he remained unmoved by her push.

Erron: [——am warning ya to hunker down and hold yer horses, Emilia.]

Despite her attempts to remain composed, she couldn't hide her frustration as she glared at Erron with anger in her eyes.

Emilia: [Erron you dunderhead idiot, why you doing this!?]

Erron: [ Gotta make sure you're safe, darlin'... Puck, keep an eye on her while I'm gone, somethin' just ain't right about this whole deal.]

Puck: [ I always do, good luck there erron]

Erron: [yeah, see ya']

The sun had just begun its ascent, with only a half-hour left until sunset, when Erron Black, adopting a more somber demeanor, parted ways from the trio of Emilia, Puck, and Kan. He moved slowly towards the front door of the loot house, a sense of unease creeping over him as he couldn't shake the feeling of being watched. Uncertain of the source, Erron knocked on the door with one hand while keeping the other poised to draw his revolver.

Erron: [ Howdy, anyone in there!?]

Following his exclamation Erron pressed his ear against the door, attentively listening for any signs of activity on the other side. He wanted to make sure that there was someone inside before taking any further action.

Erron: [——so there is]

As he strained his ears, he could discern the faint sounds of a commotion, indicating that there were multiple individuals present.

However Nobody seemed inclined to open the door. A mischievous smile crept across Erron's face as he stepped back slightly, preparing himself. With a sudden burst of energy, he delivered a powerful kick to the door, causing it to soar through the air.

And then.

???: [ N-n-no Subaru, pl-please not you t-too, pl-please don't l-leave me behind, d-don't d-die! ]

Erron: [——Oh Man]

Erron Black was taken aback by the gruesome scene before him, completely unexpected. The blonde girl felt he recognized as the one who had took Emilia's Insignia was now sobbing uncontrollably, clutching the lifeless body of a young boy with black hair. His stomach was gruesomely ripped open, his organs strewn about, and blood pooling around him. Additionally, a headless giant's body lay on a nearby table, adding to the chaos of the room.

Erron: [ ——You think you can conceal yourself from me? Well, reckon again, asshol]

With lightning reflexes, Erron's focus shifted abruptly towards a mysterious silhouette lurking near the lifeless body of the dead giant. His eyes narrowed with a dangerous glint as he swiftly unsheathed his revolver, unleashing a barrage of six rapid shots in less than a second.

??? [Gheek!]

The deafening sound echoed through the air as the bullets found their mark, causing the shadow to emit a guttural growl of agony before collapsing onto the ground.

Erron: [That was a piece of cake.]

Erron walked confidently over to the craying girl, a satisfied smirk playing on his lips as he blew on the nozzle of his revolver. Stopping right in front of her, he bent down to her eye level, his voice low as he spoke.

Erron: [ I reckon, girl, whatever transpired here, your problem has met its end. So, kindly hand over the Insignia to me now.]

Felt: [——I-nsignia?]

Erron felt bad for even asking once felt raised her head at him, he gazed into the girl's bloodshot eyes. Her tear-streaked face was marred with wounds and snot, but what caught his attention was how tightly she held onto the lifeless body of the boy, shielding him from him.

Erron: [Sure thing, just pass me the Insignia and I'll take it off your hands right away.]

Felt: [I-...don't h-ave it]

Erron: [You what now!]

Felt: [Hk!..]

Erron's patience was rapidly dwindling as soon as she made it known that she lacked the Insignia. In an instant, he tightly grasped the girl's neck, causing her to gasp in agony. Despite the pain, she refused to release her grip on the lifeless boy cradled in her lap. Erron's gaze bore into the girl, filled with a mixture of anger and frustration.

Erron: [ ——Where could it possibly be if you don't possess it, I wonder?]

???: [It's with me~]

Erron: [Huh!]

In an instant, as the question escaped his lips, Erron's senses heightened, a chilling presence creeping up behind him. A sinister force compelled him to tilt his head to the side, just in time to witness a flying knife whizzing dangerously close to his vulnerable neck. The imminent danger was palpable, yet it paled in comparison to the gruesome fate that awaited the girl who's neck he held.

Felt: [...]

The knife, with merciless precision, pierced through the delicate flesh of her skull, snuffing out her life in an instant. The air grew heavy with the stench of death, and Erron dropped the girl before turning around both revolvers are out pointing at...

???: [ Admiring your appearance, I must say you are quite attractive. I'm relieved you managed to evade my attack, as I have a strong desire to explore your innermost depths, while alive~.]

—— Ain't no how, that gal is plumb crazy, I can't stand no crazy.

Confronting his deepest hate, Erron found himself face to face with - a deranged woman with long, black hair. Consumed by an overwhelming hate, he unleashed a torrent of bullets upon her without hesitation. The deafening sound of gunfire echoed through the air as each shot tore through her fragile form. The woman, unable to react in time, crumpled to the ground, her once vibrant body now a grotesque canvas of blood and bullet wounds.

Erron: [—— Another gut loving freak even in this world? What the hell, wasn't mileena and her kind enough already!?]

Frustration seeped through Erron's veins as he meticulously reloaded his revolvers, the metallic clicks echoing ominously in the dimly lit place. The weight of his anger hung heavy in the air, then with a heavy sigh, he resigned himself to the grim reality that lay before him. "Oh well," he muttered, his voice laced with a tinge of bitterness, "Let's just fetch that damn Insignia and put an end to this godforsaken day."

Erron approached the lifeless woman he had just ended, crouching down to inspect her body for the Insignia. However, his gaze was immediately drawn to a specific area on her body, "No pockets so..."

Without a hint of desire or attraction towards the woman, Erron proceeded to reach inside her breasts in search of the Insignia. Seeing the boy state and the chilling words she had uttered about enjoying his guts had extinguished any sense of attraction or pity within Erron's heart.

As he felt around her body, Erron's only thought was to completely obliterate any trace of her existence by burning her remains to ashes.

Erron: [Found it .]

Erron quickly withdrew his hand from the dead woman's chest, examining the golden dragon engraving with a red jewel in the center. His find "Looks about right," he muttered, satisfied, as he tucked the Insignia into his chest pocket before getting to his feet.

Erron: [——].

Deafening silence filled the air as Erron gazed at the tragic scene before him - two children, dead in each other's arms. The smell of death lingered, making him wince at the sight. He wondered if he had any pity left in him to bury them, unable to leave them to rot like that.

Erron: [ Ain't the right time, I'll just use some acid to dissolve 'em... better than havin' 'em chomped on by them dogs or rats, I reckon.]

Emilia: [ Erron? Are you Her——hk!]

Suddenly, Emilia's appeared at the shattered doorway, abruptly diverting Erron's attention from his task to fixate on her presence.

Erron: [ Ain't it a sight that sends shivers down your spine, Emilia?]

Erron's tone was a mix of sarcasm and seriousness as he glanced at Emilia's stunned face. In an attempt to hold back her nausea, she quickly placed her hand over her mouth.

Emilia: [ Wh-what h-happened here, who c-could've d-done such h-horrible things to those people and why?.]

Emilia's eyes showed pain as she spoke, particularly when she gazed at the two dead children holding each other. Erron empathized with her emotions, feeling uneasy himself despite being accustomed to death, releasing his tenth sigh of the day he spoke.

Erron: [ Ain't got a clue 'bout who she is, Emilia. Didn't waste no time askin' for her name 'fore I sent her to meet her maker with bullets. But let me tell ya, I think I know exactly why it went down like that... it's all 'cause of this right here.]

Erron tossed the Insignia to Emilia, and it landed perfectly in her outstretched palm. As she gazed down at it, her expression didn't show happiness or relief; instead, a wave of sadness and misery washed over her features.

Emilia: [ A-again, people are d-dying...this is...]

Erron: [ ——um?]

Clutching her Insignia tightly against her chest, Emilia appeared to be on the brink of tears. Her face displayed a myriad of unreadable expressions, leaving Erron puzzled as to why she was so visibly upset over the death of a few strangers. Despite only knowing her for a mere three hours, Erron could guess, NO he believes that she was a kind and affectionate individual.—— and it's something he found really endearing and rare. It was a quality he had never witnessed throughout all the three hundred years he lived, not even in his own mother. This realization prompted Erron to feel compelled to offer some words of comfort to the girl.

With a calm stride, Erron moved closer to her, his hand finding its place on her shoulders, offering solace. Their eyes met, and she sensed his touch, her face on the verge of tears, ready to spill.

Emilia: [ Oh, um, Erron, this is, uh, all my fault, isn't it? I-I-I'm so sorry, I really messed up, didn't I?]

——Hell, this here's some real soft-heartedness, girl.

Erron: [ Ain't no way in hell this mess could be on you, not even in a million years. Emilia, somethin' fishy's goin' on, I can sense it in the air. Whatever went down, it was aimed right at you, darlin'.]

Erron sensed that something was off about this world from the beginning, feeling like he was constantly being watched by multiple pairs of eyes. He despised the unsettling feeling, especially knowing that even the innocent Emilia was involved in whatever sinister scheme was unfolding. He needs to know who and why truth, but for now he can only face the visible threats he finds.

Emilia: [ A-Are you s-sure Erron? I-I mean, who could e-even go that far just to lure me here!?]

Emilia appeared slightly improved, although she was still teetering on the brink of tears. Erron smiled.

Erron: [ Well, I think that's somethin' we'll find out down the li—...Shit!]

Erron: [Huh!?]

Erron's instincts kicked in as he sensed a threat approaching from behind, leaving him with no time to spare. In a split second decision, he forcefully pushed Emilia out of harm's way, propelling her through the door. With no chance to grab his gun, Erron relied on his combat skills, using his hands to swiftly pivot and face the danger head-on.

As he completed his turn, Erron found himself face to face with a pair of knives hurtling towards him. Without hesitation, he deftly caught both blades with his gloved hands,

Erron: [——Well, you whore again, that was a near miss! I reckon you were fixin' to gut me, so why you aimin' for my head?]

Erron locked eyes with the assailant wielding two knives, engaged in a fierce pushing match as Erron still clutching the sharp blades aimed at him. The woman's laughter rang out mockingly, a twisted display of amusement.

Elsa: [——The name is Elsa granhiert, and yeah am still going for your guts, just after your death handsome~]

Erron: [ Whatever you say, whore. I've taken you down twice, and mark my words, I'll do it again. You won't be coming back from the grave this time, that's for damn sure.]

Erron's demeanor shifted abruptly from playful to serious, as he exerted immense force on the knives, causing them to shatter into countless pieces.

Elsa: [Oh!...]

Elsa, taken aback by this sudden change, couldn't comprehend what was happening. However, Erron's intentions were far from over. He firmly grasped Elsa's face before she could escape, and despite her resistance, it was futile as Erron was stronger. In a chillingly calculated move, Erron uttered the words,

Erron: [——Good-bye]

Elsa: [Hk!...]

And with a horrifying display of power, he squeezed his hand, causing Elsa's head to explode in a grotesque spectacle right before his eyes.

Erron: [ Head on back from that one as well, whore.]

Elsa's headless body lay on the ground as Erron spat in disgust. However, his focus quickly shifted to Emilia, hoping that she was alright. With that thought in mind, Erron made his way towards the exit.

Emilia: [AHHHHHHHHK—!]

Suddenly, a piercing scream echoed through the air of a voice he know all too well, Alarmed, Erron followed the sound, once he arrived his eyes widened in horror at the sight before him.

Erron: [——NO!]

Emilia was just a few meters away from him, her body lifeless torn apart and hanging from the jaws of a grotesque lion-like creature with fiery red eyes. But that was not all; there were multiple monsters surrounding him. Some were flying, some were on all fours, and others resembled serpents. Their eyes glinted with a deadly intent, and Erron knew he had to act fast. He reached for his revolvers, his iron gaze narrowing dangerously as he prepared to face the onslaught.

But then...

???: [ Hey mister, have you seen where my big sister went?]