A/N: Hello everyone! Here's this week's chapter! I have a question for you all at the end of this chapter, so please feel free to chime in on it!

Chapter 103: The Counter Raid

Having entered the forested area that was the beginning of the Mather's Domain, Subaru took point of those gathered for the raid. He led them to the start of the path that split off from the main road which wandered through the woods to where the Witch Cult lurked.

Dismounting his new ground dragon, Patrasche, the very same one YN had met at the Mansion when Wilhelm and Felix had arrived, Subaru signaled for the convoy to halt.

Clued in already that this must be their first stop, many of the other warriors stopped and dismounted as well.

Pulling over to the side, YN shut his car off, and walked around to open the door for Rem. While towards the rear of the convoy, the two walked hand in hand to where Subaru, Felix, Julius, Ricardo, Wilhelm, and two of the young demi-human triplets, Tivy and Mimi were gathered to discuss the details of what was to happen next.

By the time YN and Rem arrived though from the rear, the decision was made of who would be doing what.

Subaru: Rem, YN. Can I get you two to accompany me?

YN: Sure.

Rem: Understood. Will we be confronting the Witch Cult finally?

Answering her question, Wilhelm spoke up.

Wilhelm: Yes. It is our belief we will have the element of surprise should things go accordingly.

Subaru: Wilhelm here will be the one to lay the killing blow on Petelgeuse while I make an opening of some kind. YN, Rem, can I rely on you to be my backup if things go sideways?

With the sound of rusty chains and rattling pipes being an answer to his question, no eyes had been on Rem by the time she possessed her morningstar and chain.

Despite being familiar with the sound, its noise still caused YN to flinch when he heard it. Looking at it, he still recalled the many times the weapon had been aimed to take his life. As he observed it though, he noticed it was as worn as Rem's clothes were.

The head was missing a few spikes, the round cast part was cracked, and more of the spikes and chain links were chipped.

But before anyone could question her suddenly having the weapon, it was Mimi who decided to get her say in.

Mimi: —And Tivy and I will be the backup's backup! So don't be afraid to mess up!

Enthusiastically responding, there was no counter to her statement, so it was decided. Setting out, the seven, also including Felix as a healer and a third back up, were about to depart and leave the rest of those who were able bodied behind to guard the convoy. But before they did—

Julius: —Subaru, a moment please.

Surprised to hear Julius call for him in a non-jeering way, Subaru turned around and approached the Knight.

Julius: For your protection, please allow this one to guard you, as a safety measure if anything.

Opening his palm, a spec of red light formed, and dancing over, it hovered over Subaru's shoulder.

Subaru: Oh—! A spirit?

Julius: Yes, that is one of my little buds, Ia. She shall protect you if something heinous should take you by surprise.

Dancing about as if trying to show it was ready for anything, the little red Spirit did a lap around Subaru's head before disappearing.

Julius: Hmm, Subaru, were you aware you had such a high affinity for spirits?

Subaru: Huh? No... I wasn't.

Julius: Even though she is just out on loan, Ia seems to have no problem being around you. Such an affinity is a rare thing.

Subaru: Spirit affinity huh? Hey! That's just like Emilia-tan! Oh she'll be super excited to hear that!

Already excited to have something to share with Emilia, Julius then turned to YN.

Julius: Let me allow you to borrow one as well. If I seem to recall correctly, your magical affinity was Light magic from our bout in the sparring arena.

Smiling at the memory proving to be such a useful one now, Julius held out his palm to YN, and from thin air materialized a small spec of white light.

Julius: In, please assist YN.

Reminiscent of how Algol looked when Emilia had first called it out of hiding, before the first contract had broken, In had almost reached YN before—

Julius: —!

Blocking the little spirit's path, Algol had appeared from somewhere behind YN with a flash of white in his vision like he always seemed to experience when the spirit showed itself.

While nearly twice the size of In, their confrontation wasn't hostile. The two specs of light bobbled about between the two Spirit Arts users before seemingly coming to an understanding of some sorts and retreating to each of their contractor's side.

Julius: I... I see you already have assistance. My mistake.

Definitely surprised, and apologizing for having assumed, YN waved his hand at Julius before pointing to Algol.

YN: Well, Algol here is a rather recent addition, so no harm done, not many people know about it yet.

Dancing around YN, the spirit moved over to Julius again. This time being greeted by five other smaller spirits; blue, green, yellow, white, and black. They interacted with each other as the Knight watched on in surprise, his eyes going from YN to Algol, and back again.

Julius: I must beg for forgiveness once more, YN. I truly had no idea you had such an affinity for spirits yourself... It is one thing to be able to contract with a quasi-spirit being so inexperienced, but a full fledged spirit...

Taking note once more how Algol, while a spec of light in similar shape to the others Julius possessed, was nearly twice as big as his, YN noted what they'd been like previously.

YN: Algol used to look nearly identical to In, but when I formed a new contract with it, it grew to be that size.

Julius: Hmm, I see. There may have been some sort of condition preventing it from growing, that until a new contract was created, allowed it to mature from a quasi-spirit to a full fledged one.

Calling back his spirits into their crystal that hung from his belt, Julius smiled warmly at Algol.

Julius: I am quite humbled to have met you, Algol-san.

Retreating to YN's side and disappearing behind him, the spirit was gone. As YN looked to see everyone else around him was also surprised at this revelation, it was Rem who beamed an expression of being proud.

Julius: I must say, YN, I am quite humbled as a Spirit Art's user to know someone with such a formidable aptitude. Perhaps you are second only to Emilia-sama to those I know who employ Spirit Arts so naturally.

Scratching the back of his head from nervousness, YN responded to Julius' praise.

YN: Ah well, you've got six of em so I'm sure that makes you a lot better at it then I am.

Smiling and shaking his head, Julius humbled himself further.

Julius: I can only attribute my prowess to my own Divine Protection that has allowed me to form such contracts so easily. Yours is entirely natural.

'Natural,' huh?

With nothing left to discuss on this matter though, Julius wished them a safe excursion, and the seven set out to face the Cult, keen on removing its leader first and foremost and sowing confusion in the rest of the Cult's organization.

On Rem's flank, YN walked through the forest behind her, stepping over stumps, logs, branches, and whatever else was in the way. The two stayed as far as they could from Subaru, but kept their distance close enough that they could still see where he was headed.

Behind them, they knew the others were also following, but were much further back to limit the possibility of their presence being detected. YN and Rem only followed as closely as they did to Subaru because they were the first line of defense should things go badly for him.

Whispering to YN, Rem asked him a question of importance.

Rem (whisper): Does this path look familiar at all to YN-kun?

YN (whisper): Yeah...

Recalling what YN had told her of the first loop dealing with the Witch Cult, she knew YN had once emerged from the hideout they were currently headed towards.

While the time of day was much different, and the direction traveled was the opposite, this was the same unbeaten path YN had carried Rem's lifeless body back to the Mansion through.

But, before his mind was offered any time to dwell on those painful memories, a small crescendo of drumbeats began to form in his ear.

*ba-dum-ba-dum-ba-dum-ba-dum—*

It was similar to what he had heard before Rem had tackled him in joy as he arrived at the aftermath of the White Whale battle, but rather than one "drum" beating, it was many. Too many to count.

Looking at Rem, it didn't sound as if it was coming from her as she gingerly walked over a large tree root and avoided stepping on another fallen tree branch. The sound was faint, but it was getting closer too, and with it, louder.

Rem's not reacting to it... Can she not hear it?

Knowing that the cautious oni would surely have said something or reacted by now, YN had to assume this was something only he was hearing.

Am I going crazy? Or is—?

Feeling the air change every so slightly, Rem halted dead in place, and a moment later, so did Subaru.

Huh? Why are they stop—?!

Swiftly turning around, Rem grabbed YN and pushed her back against the trunk of a nearby tree. Pulling YN in front of her, his back was now to her front. Rem had reached up with her hand and covered his mouth, just about as he was set to ask her what was going on.

Now hiding from view behind the tree, YN could hear Subaru speaking, if only faintly due to the distance he was from them still.

—?!

Being pressed up against Rem, he could feel her move her head around to peek past the tree they were against. Finally letting YN's mouth free, Rem released him as she stepped out.

Rem: — — —

Waiting for Subaru to move again too, Rem turned her head back to YN and nodded. While her expression was still serious, it conveyed an idea that "the coast is clear now."

YN (whisper): W-What was that about?

Rem (whisper): Witch Cultists. Many of them. Rem was afraid this loop was moments from ending.

YN (whisper): What? Why didn't they kill Subaru right then and there?

Shaking her head, Rem was clueless as to their logic.

Rem (whisper): Subaru-kun simply asked for an audience with their master, and they dispersed.

YN (whisper): —Huh?

Even more confused now. The only time YN had heard of the Witch Cult not instantly turning any confrontation into an attempted murder was when they had given Subaru Puck's crystal back from the thieves.

Rem (whisper): Rem is uncertain of what to make of it as well. It appears Subaru-kun may be seen as a prospective recruit to them...

Rem was almost certain Subaru would never agree to join them. She knew YN wouldn't, but she did not trust Subaru in the same way she trusted YN.

YN (whisper): Does it maybe have to do with the sound they made?

Rem: —?

Tilting her head in question to what YN asked. She then shook her head with a look of worry.

Rem (whisper): Rem did not hear any sound... Simply the air changed before they arrived, that was Rem's only warning they would appear...

Clearly confused about what YN had heard, he tried to describe it.

YN (whisper): There was this sound of thumping as they got closer. I could hear them a few seconds before you reacted.

Putting a hand to her chin, Rem couldn't understand what that sound might have been. She fully accepted there had to have a sound of some sort, because to her, Rem would trust YN's spoken word before she'd believe her own lying eyes.

Rem (whisper): Rem cannot say what it was with certainty, but if YN-kun hears such a thing again, please immediately inform her.

Giving Rem a nod of agreement, the two continued to follow Subaru though the thicket.

Arriving at a clearing, YN and Rem took cover by a nearby thick bush to observe the ongoing confrontation Subaru was in.

Before them was the same cave entrance that YN had emerged from with Rem in that fateful loop. Standing in the middle of the clearing was Subaru, his back facing towards them, unspeaking and his expression unknowable.

But from inside the cave, a new figure emerged to greet him.

?: How diligent of you to appear now! On the eve of the Great Ordeal! I welcome thee, oh child that has been shown Her favor!

Maniacally yelling, the green skinned man preached his good news to the sky above him.

Rem: — — —

Tightening her own fists, YN could tell Rem's anger was at a fever pitch.

Rem (whisper): That must be the disgusting Cultist YN-kun spoke of...

?: Allow me to introduce myself!

Bowing at nearly a full right angle on his abdomen, the Archbishop introduced himself.

?: I am the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop entrusted with the Authority of 'Sloth—'

Raising his head up, the madman's wide, bug-eyes were bloodshot with fanaticism.

Petelgeuse: —Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti...

Tweaking his head to the side, it appeared as if he had snapped his own neck until—

Peteguese: ...—DESU~

Laughing out of pure insanity, Petelgeuse had introduced himself without so much of a threat to Subaru.

I really don't understand how these guys work...

While YN had remained alert, it was Rem who was barely holding herself back.

Rem (whisper): This is the man responsible for making YN-kun shed so many tears... and feeling such dread. Rem can never forgive this cretin.

Looking at the Sin Archbishop with such disdain, it dwarfed even her elder sister's possible levels of disgust.

Coming to a tense standstill between Subaru, the Archbishop, and Rem, the silence was broken by a friendly voice.

Subaru: Hey, how's it going?

As if greeting an old friend of some kind, Subaru casually waved to the madman.

Rem was fully aware it was Subaru's task to create an opening for Petelgeuse to be struck down, but she could hardly believe he could manage a tone with such aloof sounding friendliness to this destitute Witch Cultist.

Turning to see Rem's face, her eyes were wide and her face was contorted in a way YN had never seen it. It was the first time he'd seen an expression of such disgust mixed with disbelief on her gentle face.

Subaru: I really appreciate this warm welcome. I hope I'm in the right place.

Putting his hands on his hips, Subaru acted like he was making sure he was at the right house in a chipper, white picket fence neighborhood at this cave in the middle of the mabeast infested forest.

Petelgeuse: Wonderful! Truly wonderful! Such willingness to embrace the Favor and Love She has bestowed upon you! How truly diligent!

Turning his back to Subaru, the madman preached his word to the many followers that were watching on from the cave's entrance.

Petelgeuse: This one is a great example for all of us to aspire to! Such potent Love from the Witch is replayed to Her with such devotion!

With his head craning newly all the way back around to where Subaru still stood, the madman spoke more softly once more.

Petelgeuse: Are you by chance 'Pride?'

Subaru: — — —

Silent in reply to that question, Subaru didn't know how to answer it in a way to keep things going in the right direction.

Keeping his head stationary, the madman turned his body to face Subaru once more, as if his neck were simply suspended midair.

Petelgeuse: Of the six Archbishops of the six Authorities bestowed upon us, the seat and Authority of 'Pride' remains unaccounted for.

Reaching inside his robe, out of its pitch black pocket, the Sin Archbishop removed an equally black book.

Petelgeuse: Your Gospel should indicate some direction to your role, does it not?

Subaru: ...'Gospel?'

Unsure if the stress was getting to him, or he was playing dumb, YN at least guessed he knew that it was unwise to remain silent to too many questions.

Fearing the worst, the Archbishop reared backward.

Petelgeuse: My... Brain...—

Lifting his book high above his head, he let the pages flip as a light breeze caught them.

Petelgeuse: ...—TREMBLES!

Witnessing another outcry of insanity, he began fervently flipping through the pages that were bound inside the black book.

Petelgeuse: Preset the Gospel that was bestowed to you! The proof of Her favor!

As Petelgeuse focused more on the scripture in his hands, he slowly raised his head to Subaru and spoke calmly once more.

Petelgeuse: You... you are not recorded inside my Gospel...

Subaru: — — —

Unanswering, the madman began his fanatic bellowing once more.

Petelgeuse: For what purpose have you shown up now of all times?! For what have I done...?

His voice dropping low, YN was unsure what he meant by seemingly blaming himself now.

Does he view Subaru as some sort of bad omen?

Looking to see if Rem had any idea, she remained barely in control of herself, watching an entity she hated so dearly.

Petelgeuse: Whaaat have I done? What have I done...?

Raising his lowered head, a sinister and malevolent smile crept across his green, sunken face.

Petelgeuse: —...to warrant such a great boon to be delivered to me! What a magnificent bounty you are!

Screaming to the heavens, it seemed every time he did Rem came closer and closer to snapping. It was truly something she hated having to hear.

Laughing with maniac insanity, Subaru finally choked out an answer.

Subaru: O-Oh! A Gospel! How clueless of me! I should have known what you meant by that. My bad.

Petelgeuse: Such Slothful tendencies can be avoided by reading one's own Gospel! Now, show us! Show us show us show us!

Reaching into his pocket, Subaru turned it inside-out. Doing the same to his other pocket, he began patting his back pockets and finally his chest area, as if searching for something.

Subaru: Oh... Jeez, this is embarrassing.

Petelgeuse: What? Have you misplaced it?

Speaking for the first time in a relatively calm way, the Sin Archbishop's face became long as if stunned.

Subaru: Ah... No. Not quite. It's not as serious as that...

Giving the Archbishop's a weak look, he responded keeping the same face and tone.

Petelgeuse: Do you require assistance in locating it?

Like a manager consulting a troubled new-hire, YN felt like he was having an out of body experience hearing Petelgeuse speak in such a way, and Rem's own feelings weren't far off.

Subaru: I know where it is...

Petelgeuse: Would you like to go retrieve it?

Subaru: Well, I'm not sure if I want to now... Ya see, I had some really good curry for lunch, and on the way over here, nature called, and when ya gotta go, ya gotta go...

Petelgeuse: — — —

Subaru: I used a few pages out of it to deal with that... And what good is a book with a bunch of missing pages, right? So I left it behind. Sorry.

Petelgeuse: — — —

Clearly seething in anger, Subaru laid it on thicker and thicker until—

Subaru: You could say it's the second biggest pile of sh—

Petelgeuse: —TO BESMIRCH HER FAVOR IN SUCH AN ABHORRENT MANOR! IT IS BEYOND SLOTHFUL!

Screaming his anger loudly, a flock of song birds had taken flight from nearby trees at the shock.

Petelgeuse: WITNESS THE PROOF OF HER FAVOR!

Erupting from his body, long, black, slender vestiges that towered many times his own height raised up, at the tip of their reach were—

Petelgeuse: Authority of Sloth! Unseen Hands!

Witnessing them now for the first time, they were nearly identical to the ones YN had sometimes seen upon trying to inform someone of Return By Death.

As YN could also see Subaru had noticed them, he could tell from Rem's lack of reaction and where her eyes fell, she was oblivious to them.

Damn it, Subaru's in danger and Rem can't tell!

Rapidly fluctuating around as if reflecting the anger the Archbishop was also feeling, the hands began to rain down at Subaru.

But, with Subaru also being able to witness it, he easily dodged the attack he wasn't meant to see.

Subaru: Whoa! Easy there!

Petelgeuse: What?! How were you able to avoid them?!

Subaru: That's easy. I can see them.

Pausing for a moment in realization, the madman leaned back and screamed to the sky while tearing his fingernails into his face and clawing down.

Petelgeuse: IMPOSSIBLE! My Authority is bestowed to me by her Love! By her Favor! To view them is a stain upon her gift to me!

Spreading out the hands over a greater area, Petelgeuse brought each hand in, one at a time to strike Subaru from where they hovered high above.

Dodging one by one, Subaru was beginning to not be capable of keeping up.

Rem: YN-kun, Rem hates to say it, but she cannot do anything against a foe she cannot see, and Subaru-kun needs assistance.

YN: That's okay—

Standing up from behind the bush they each crouched behind, YN entered the fray to support Subaru.

YN: —I can see them now!

Rem: —?!

Stepping into the clearing while Rem was amazed to hear that, YN concentrated his mana in his palm, and as he set to fire out his yang magic—

YN: Jiwal—whoa!

Charging faster and with more acute usage than he had ever managed before, he had almost not been able to utter his incantation quick enough before the scattered rays of heat left his hand bound for the madman currently taking strikes at Subaru.

Petelgeuse: —!

Pulling in his shadowy hands just in time though, the madman shrouded himself in multitude. Burning away a great many of them, YN had failed to harm the Archbishop, but had halted the relentless jabs at Subaru.

Holy crap, that was way smoother than ever before. What gives?

Recalling the hands, the Archbishop glared at YN for having interrupted them.

Petelgeuse: Who?! Who is it that intervenes now?! On the eve of the Great Ordeal when we are set to find a vessel suitable for the Witch, more and more saboteurs approach us!

Beginning to violently chew on the fingers of one of his hands, blood dripped from his mouth as he used one of his unseen hands to hold his Gospel and used his other spare hand to flip rapidly through the pages.

Petelgeuse: Certainly you are recorded within my Gospel! To not be is a fluke! An improbability! It cannot happen twice—!

Finding a page that spoke to him, the madman brought it closer to his face. His eyes scanning the page, he shut the book with a single, clear *CLAP.*

Petelgeuse: — — —

His head hung low, the Archbishop was silent before speaking lowly finally.

Petelgeuse: Not only has my Gospel failed to record the first one...

Side-glaring to Subaru, the madman turned a tired set of eyes to YN now.

Petelgeuse: ...but the second one here is...

Pointing a limp, chewed on finger to YN, the maniac yelling returned.

Petelgeuse: —An ANOMALY! An Anomaly of all things on the eve of the Ordeal! Impossible! Unthinkable! I shall put an end to your insidious meddling! Unseen Hand! Rip his heart from his chest!

With all hands forming into mass above him, the grouping descended down towards him, keen on following its masters order.

But meeting that challenge, YN raised his palm up, and—

YN: Jiwald!

Letting lose the heat and light from his palm, it burned away the hands seeking to end his life. As YN back-stepped and readied more mana to counter more attacks, a continuation of the hands seeking to kill him hadn't come like it had for Subaru.

In another standoff, YN couldn't guess what had caused it this time.

Why did he just stop? And why does he have that expression on his face? He's definitely acting stranger than normal now...

Obviously upset at something, after a few more moments of the dark hands floating about him in silence, they began to shake with anger like he was.

Petelgeuse: Not only has the Anomaly shown itself to us...

As the hands flared up again, the madman yelled to the heavens.

Petelgeuse: —he has brought another ugly—! —Disgusting! —Revolting! —ack!

Tearing skin from his face with his bare nails on his fingers, Petelgeuse hollered out as if in pain not from his wound, but rather as he was forced to look at YN's—

Petelgeuse: —spirit! Terrible, terrible thing!

With a slight flash of white coming from the side of YN's vision, he knew exactly what he was speaking of now.

Floating just above YN, the white spec of Yang magic made its presence known for the first time in a combat setting.

Algol!

Lamenting the spirit being here now, the madman continued to rant and rave.

Petelgeuse: It was perilous enough dealing with the spirit employed by the half-devil already! But a second one?! How Slothful of us to fail and see it sooner! Slothful. Slothful! Slothful!

As his unseen hands spun into a flurry of frustration over his head, the Archbishop yelled on.

Petelgeuse: At least with the first it was no more than a means to ensure the half-devil was brought to us, if not to just rid ourselves of its cursed presence if it were never returned. But TWO SPIRITS NOW?!

Ripping at his own facial flesh again, the madman finally turned his attention back to Subaru.

Petelgeuse: We must be diligent if we are to be forgiven for our Slothfulness... Which is why we must capture this most suitable vessel and bring him into the fold.

Moving the 'Unseen hands' away from facing YN, they were now facing Subaru, yet Petelgeuse turned his vision back to YN for a moment longer still.

Petelgeuse: I have not been so Slothful as to forget you though... Fingers! End the Anomaly!

Launching his attack towards Subaru, YN readied more mana to counter the Unseen Hands from reaching his friend, but as he did, a great number of Witch Cultists emerged from the cave entrance from behind the Archbishop where he had emerged from. Immediately putting their attention on YN, he was now trapped between saving himself or saving Subaru.

Shit! We can't let this loop fail! I gotta protect Subaru or—!

Subaru: Looks like buying time has come to an end! Aim for the cave!

Jumping out from the brush opposite of where Rem and YN had been hiding, two white vestiges leaped upward.

? & ?: *WWWHHAAAAAAAAA!*

As a sound of great magnitude and sonic capability came from the two airborne figures, it wasn't until YN saw the orange fur and tails did he realize who these two were.

Slamming into the rock face above the opening to the cave, the immense sound waves shattered the stone and collapsed the entrance to their lair. Not only were the emerging fingers crushed in an instant, superbly dealt with, but any more reinforcements that could emerge were now trapped inside.

Subaru: Great work! Spawn camp them! You'll all suffer and regret every terrible thing you've ever done!

Stirring up a huge cloud of dirt and debris, the ruined cave entrance and cliff face shrouded the battlefield. Caught with zero visibility nearly, the screams of Petelgeuse could still be heard, as well as the putrid, fleshly sound of him gnawing on his own fingers.

Petelgeuse: My fingers... —so cruelly! —with no order! —with no mercy...! Without a second thought! Struck down! AHHHH!

Tearing the hair from his head, the madman yelled in the thick cloud of dirt cloaking his exact location.

Petelgeuse: My brain! It TREMBLES!

With his anger peaking, the Archbishop flailed his Unseen Hands widely about. While only serving to stir up more dirt and dust, Subaru and YN both, while far from each other on the clearing, each dodged the wildly swung hands.

Shit! I can't see them until the last second to get out of their way!

While YN tried desperately to keep out of harm, Rem was still standing by, unable to locate the one who held her heart as he was in danger.

Rem must assist her YN-kun, but how can she without getting in the way?!

Feeling a great sense of desperate anxiety in her chest, Rem was not only fully aware that her and YN failed to have good battle synergy, but she also knew she could not see the appropriately named "Unseen Hands."

Somehow, YN-kun has gained the ability to see them, if only Rem herself could—

Keeping a keen eye on the dust cloud for any sign of YN, Rem saw what appeared to be a long, serpent-like figure of glass gliding through the airborne dirt. With its profile visible, Rem realized what the figure was.

Rem may not be able to see it directly like her YN-kun, but as long as the dust remains unsettled—!

Springing into action, Rem leapt in the cloud. Using her talent of smelling the Witch's Miasma, the entire area reeked of it with so many Cultists being nearby, but it was much more dense in the area where YN had just been, and using that information—

Rem: YN-kun!

Holding out as best as he could with no escape visible to him, YN heard his name called out by the one who held his heart. Close enough he could see her, alarm bells went off in his head for her safety.

If Rem is here, that means she's in danger from the Hands—!

Rem: Hiyaa!

Sending out her morningstar, Rem's acute sense of smell, and her vision allowed her to see the incoming invisible hand's profile as it moved through the dust. Making direct impact with her morningstar's spiked head, YN saw the shadowy apparition dissipate.

YN: —!

Rem: Come! We must remove ourselves from the Archbishop's range!

Throwing an arm around YN, who was still stunned Rem had figured out a way to see the Hands without actually seeing them, she slung him over her shoulder and retreated from the fight.

Bringing YN to the edge of the clearing, Rem leapt back into the dirt cloud, keen on taking advantage of its still lingering effect of making the Unseen Hands visible before the cloud settled.

YN: Rem—!

Before he could even right himself, YN had called out to the maid just as she returned once more, placing Subaru right next him.

As the madman continued his tirade of anger, the dust cloud finally settled enough for all combatants to see each other through it.

Petelgeuse: You—?! How many more must bear witness to what only I may rightfully see?! How-how-how-how-how-how—?!

Amassing his hands into one group high above him, the madman was set to crush all three of them in one go.

But not about to let that occur, YN aimed his palm up high and readied his mana. Yet, as he saw the black tangled mess of hands coming straight down for them, the speed he had assumed his mana should ready itself now went back to its previous levels.

Without nearly enough of a chance to prepare his Yang magic before they were harmed, it seemed time slowed down.

Why?! I thought with Algol now my mana control was better?! But why is it gone now?

Looking to his left and right where the spirit had been when he had cast his magic to save Subaru, the little white spec was now nowhere to be seen.

Damn it! Where did it go?!

While still a novice Spirit Arts user, YN could only chalk up the blunder to his own inexperience. Certain they would meet their end here, he saw as the shadowy mass was suddenly pulverized by a blue impact.

Rem: Al Huma!

As Rem had gazed at YN, sensing the immediate danger he too also was aware of, she could see the look in his eyes. He was staring directly at something she herself could not see; The Unseen Hands that were set to be the cause of this danger she felt.

Knowing their cooperation in a fight was poor, Rem was aware that many times when she would intervene, and vice versa, it usually had detrimental effects to what they were trying to accomplish.

But taking a risk empowered by the trust she had in the one who held her heart, Rem threw her magic into what only looked like an empty sky. Seeing its impact though, she knew she was successful.

To say the least, YN was stunned speechless seeing Rem pull off such a move. Going to follow up her magic however, Rem made an offensive move.

Rem: Hiyaa!

Sending her morningstar out, its spiked mass was aimed right for the madman. Rem watched as it was set to shave his head clean off should it reach its mark. Unfortunately, and invisible to her, YN and Subaru both saw more shadowy hands quickly emerge from the Archbishop, and expertly catch the incoming projectile.

Petelgeuse: How are you all able to see what is a sign of Her favor to me?!

Rearing back on the caught morningstar (which appeared to be hovering in mid air to Rem), Petelgeuse sought to yank Rem towards him in an attempt to make her a more vulnerable target. Having seen this before though, YN immediately wrapped his arms around Rem's small, fragile feeling body and dug his feet into the ground. As the slack in the chain stiffened and pulled, YN brought mana into all his muscles and held onto the maid with all his strength.

In a fierce tug of war, Petelgeuse could see they were evenly matched.

Petelgeuse: We must struggle! Struggle and fight! Which of us will prove who's love is greater!? You who is truly loved by the girl, or I?!

Manifesting more Unseen Hands, they rocketed towards the ones on the other end of the chain who were struggling to keep a hold.

This isn't going to work!

Articulating his wrist on his arm that still held Rem's torso, YN faced his fingers outward as he built mana in them. Seeing the white flash of Algol once again returning to his side for this magic, YN apologized through the shared grunting with Rem.

YN: —Tch, sorry about this, Rem.

Rem: Huh—?

YN: El Jiwald!

Sending out five beams of harsh, concentrated Yang magic from each of his hand's fingertips, two struck the ground, impacting nothing in vain.

One was posed to hit the Archbishop square in the chest, however one quick Unseen Hand sacrificed itself for the preservation of its master.

But, the one YN had tried to actively aim hit right on its mark. The beam coming from his index finger met its target; the chipped and damaged iron chain that held the tension between the two struggling parties.

Fully fatiguing the material with its intense heat, the tension broke.

Flying back, YN took the brunt of the fall for Rem with her landing on him as the ground met his back. Acting a cushion for her, she was unharmed.

YN: —Gah!

On the other end however, the tension being released also had its energy fly towards the Archbishop. While it was his Unseen Hands pulling, and not himself, the loss of tension did little to affect his own stance, and rather the shadowy hands simply lost grip of the spiked mass they held, causing it and the remaining chain to go flying somewhere beyond the clearing into the forest.

With the loss of Rem's morningstar now, the three were much more defenseless to any of the incoming Unseen Hands.

Petelgeuse: LOOOVE! YEEEESS! LOOOVE! SHOW ME HOW TRULY LOVED YOU EACH ARE!

With their own perspective feelings on the word being shouted by the madman about them, YN and Rem were slow to regain their composure and condition as the "L" word was shouted to the sky.

But unfazed by it like they were, Subaru spoke up in response.

Subaru: Sorry to disappoint you while you're all fired up over there, but it's not part of the plan for us to fight you. We've left that up to someone else.

Fully lost in his own rage and fanaticism, the words Subaru said fell on deaf concerns by the Archbishop, which would now prove fatal for him.

Petelgeuse: Huh—?

As Petelgeuse croaked his final question, a dark figure had emerged from the top of the cliff face where the ruined cave entrance had been. Descending downward with a flash of sunlight reflecting off the blade it carried, the figure struck down the Archbishop like a flash of lightning.

Cutting his torso clean in half, Wilhelm, the Sword Demon that Rem knew from the love song she so adored cut down the foe that had sought to end the existence of her, and those she held closest.

In one foul swoop, the Archbishop's life was effortlessly taken by a blade so masterfully wielded.

A/N: Hey everyone! Thank you all for you continued support of the series. I know Algol's introduction surprised a lot of people in chapter 100, so I wanted to give you all a 2 or 3 chapters of content before I finally ask; what do you all think? I'd like to know your feelings on it, as I have a lot of really great ideas involving it later.

Thanks for your input!