--After Subaru had erupted in laughter, Otto's identity was finally confirmed and he was released from his restraints.
Rubbing his bound wrists and the corner of his mouth where the gag was placed, Otto's face was still red as he glared at Subaru with a resentful look in his eyes.
"Thank you for helping me... but I don't really feel like saying it honestly."
"Hey, what a thing to say to a group of people who saved your lives. If people remember you as ungrateful, it will only make it harder to do business with you in the future and you'll end up getting strangled."
"Ah! So my situation has been completely exposed! Thank you! Thanks to you, I was saved! I felt like I was dying!"
Subaru's teasing tone, which was somewhat related to Otto's background, made him apologize in a loud, almost desperate manner.
The conversation mirror that had been taken from the traitor was connected to two hiding places - one was determined to be the cave where Betelgeuse was hiding, and the other was believed to be the location of the last of Subaru's unknown fingertips.
Therefore, while he was guiding Emilia and the others to safety, he had also given instructions to the beastman mercenary corps to launch a surprise attack and eliminate the danger before it happened.
As a result, the Witch Cultists, who had been given false reports under Ferris's sway, were completely unaware of our movements and were annihilated in a surprise attack while defenseless—though we managed to rescue several people taken prisoner, as well as Otto, who had somehow been captured by them.
Then, there was even more good news: the faces of the prisoners Ricardo and his companions had brought back -- or, to be more specific, there was a familiar woman among them.
"She's the woman who Betelgeuse has possessed twice. So far, the possession rate is 100%."
Whether it was by choice or not, there was a person among the prisoners who was most likely to be the next to possess Betelgeuse if he lost his current body.
Because she is unconscious and restrained, even if Betelgeuse loses his current host, it is unlikely that he will choose to possess her again.
And the locations of other bases that were likely to be used as reserve targets for transfer have already been revealed to us - so you could say that we are much closer to victory.
A blank letter, the last fingertip. As some of the scraps begin to take shape, Subaru feels he is on the right track to shaping the piece of paper that is the future.
Otto's rescue this time could also be said to be part of that.
A flock of mercenary ligers appeared from the forest, along with Otto's familiar earth dragon, accompanied by a dragon carriage. With all of his assets confiscated, and his life now in the hands of others, he must have felt like he was dying.
In fact, it's not hard to imagine what Otto's fate would have been if he'd continued on in the same way. If he'd cleared the previous game in the same way, he wouldn't have had the chance to meet him again, so it was worth the mistake.
"Well, I'll leave it at that. Pfft."
"What's with that reaction?! Did I do something to you?!"
Otto yelled at the sight of him spitting at the wall in an attempt to hide his embarrassment and frustration, but Subaru simply brushed it off with a "that's that" and changed the topic.
"So, how did you get arrested? It's weird that it was just you."
"That's... well, there were circumstances that are very difficult to put into words."
"Nowadays, most of the people who visit this territory are peddlers who have been ordered by the capital to visit Margrave Roswaal's mansion in the hopes of making a little money."
"You pretty much understand what I'm saying now, don't you?! That's right! Taking advantage of the situation, I jumped at the chance to make some money, tried to outwit everyone by running through some rough roads to get there first, but unfortunately I stumbled upon the hideout of those guys in the forest and got caught! Now, laugh if you want!"
"Well, even if I'm told to laugh after hearing such a selfish story, I'm still a bit put off..."
"I'm not satisfied with that!!"
Otto was trying to laugh it off with a flourish, but the boy's attitude was easily thwarted, and he once again chuckled at his disgraceful behavior as he shouted unreasonably.
It seemed that his merchant mentality and surprisingly reckless nature hadn't changed, which was a relief. It was nice to have such a conversation after such a long time, and I took a quick look at him.
--Is there anything suspicious about their attitude, or any sense of strange hostility?
Ricardo was watching the two of them from a distance with the same vigilance.
Given the circumstances under which he was taken out of his hiding place, it could be said that most of the suspicion had been cleared at this point, but they still wanted to be extra cautious.
Considering that the leader of the traveling merchants, Ketty, was an informant, he couldn't be trusted easily even though they had built a fairly close relationship.
Every time I have these doubts, I feel disgusted with myself as my heart becomes more and more hardened.
Even though he has been to many worlds, Subaru is unable to know the true nature of people's intentions, hearts, or pasts. Therefore, he has no choice but to continue to doubt. Even though he struggles to get others to believe him, he is unable to trust them in his true feelings.
"I've become a jerk, haven't I?"
"What is it?"
"I was just glad you were safe. As long as you're in this village there's no danger, so just wait for now. As for the money-making opportunity, I was sorry, that's all I could say."
As she tried to cover up her self-mockery with a light-hearted remark, Otto looked around in shock at what she had said. Then, belatedly, he realized that the scene he was looking for was not to be found among the villages.
"C-Could it be...? Could it be, by any chance, that it has already...?"
"I missed my chance to get in on this money-making scheme. Well, I guess I'll just have to accept that as long as I'm alive, it's worth it. Make sure you handle the oil well."
Subaru patted the pale-faced Otto on the shoulder sympathetically, leaving him on the verge of collapse as he looked over at the others who were continuing their preparations. Then, his eyes met with Ricardo, who was looking his way, and he shook his nose as if he had finished assessing Otto, before joining Mimi and the others.
Subaru let out a sigh of relief, having apparently received the approval of a seasoned mercenary, and roughly explained the situation to Otto, hoping to prevent him from acting any more recklessly here.
Although I was feeling a bit distracted, I finished explaining the situation to him, using gestures and movements to get him to chime in.
"So, the forest bandits - as you probably already know, this group is made up of a punitive force sent to defeat the Witch Cult. In the meantime, we were gathering the peddler's to help evacuate the villagers, as there was a possibility that the area would turn into a battlefield. I'm sorry for your total misunderstanding, but since it's too late to let you leave the village now, you'll have to wait here until the battle is over. Okay?"
"Oh, okay?"
"I'm glad you accepted. Some of us will be staying behind, so please don't leave them. Then, let's talk again once everything is settled."
After telling the stunned Otto that, Subaru put him aside for the time being.
Instead, he headed towards the extermination forces, who had apparently finished forming into groups and lining up, and called out to Julius and Ricardo, who were in charge of each group.
Julius turned around and looked at Subaru, then at Otto from a distance,
"You were reunited with an acquaintance, weren't you? Have you rekindled your old friendship yet?"
"I was laughing and talking nonsense, and then I was peering at them to see if they were hiding anything behind it. Even if I say so myself, I feel like a fool for being so nasty."
"I'm glad that he's satisfied. If there's no longer any need to suspect people he doesn't want to suspect, then I think that's enough. What will he do?"
Julius admonishes Subaru for his self-deprecating remarks and asks what should be done with the gloomy Otto. Subaru responds by tucking his chin in and spreading his arms out as if pointing to the village,
"I'll leave them in the village. Either way, there will be a standby team there to protect them. I don't want to make them follow those who evacuated now and cause more trouble."
"That would be good. In that case, taking our time would only create unnecessary risks. Shall we get moving now?"
Julius nodded in agreement at Subaru's answer, narrowing his eyes as he asked a question that hid his fighting spirit. Hearing him speak, the knights lined up, and Ricardo, could be seen tightening his expression.
The fighting spirit rises, and the atmosphere of battle begins to thicken.
Lifting his chin and directing his gaze to the sky, Subaru let his thoughts float slightly in the air.
Although there are some uncertainties, I am confident that I have eliminated all the risks that I can. I will do my best to carry out my duties as a personnel manager, and then I will wait for fate to smile upon me.
If that was the case, wasting any more time would be a foolish move that would only dampen their fighting spirit.
"--Let's do it, I'll ask you to follow the plan."
Subaru lowered his gaze and looked over everyone as he quietly delivered a speech.
Hearing this, the knights similarly nodded and began to mount the earth dragons and ligers they had waiting.
Beside Subaru, an exuberant Patrasche had been waiting for her turn to step up and approached him, caressing his firm skin with her palm before climbing onto his back.
Next to him, Julius and Ricardo were standing side by side, with Subaru on either side, and with their gazes on his back, Subaru took a small breath, and,
「Well then, let's do it, everyone. I'm counting on you, so please lend me your strength――!」
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
Taking into account his experience in the previous battle, Subaru had come up with a theory regarding Petelgeuse's "possession."
First of all, Betelgeuse's "possession" consists of transferring his consciousness into another body when his current body ceases functioning.
Secondly, the subject of possession is not just anyone, but is thought to be limited to the bodies of his subordinates, whom Petelgeuse refers to as his "Fingertips."
Thirdly, judging from the expression "fingers," there are probably ten spare bodies in total. One is stationed at each hideout, and they are arranged to be switched in the event of an emergency.
Fourthly, even if Betelgeuse is not killed but is rendered unconscious, if another Fingertip senses this, a mechanism has been constructed that will induce the possession phenomenon by forcing the current body to commit suicide, thereby achieving the transfer of possession.
Fifth, if he loses all of his possessive "fingertips", Betelgeuse will, as a last resort, possess Subaru's body. This possession is so strong that no matter how hard he tries to stay conscious, he cannot resist it. --That's all.
Subaru: "Looking at it again, it's not just the level of being killer on first sight. This person also has the powers of 『Invisible Hand』 and 『Sloth』, so he's too malicious to even be discussed."
The jet-black demonic hand, the "Invisible Hand," inflicts invisible fatal wounds.
The mental contamination "Sloth" crushes the fighting spirit of those without resistance and causes them to lose their sanity.
And even if you overcome these and take a life, the "possession" cannot be killed in one go.
If you're only going to live your life once and it's a one-shot deal, then it's only natural to give up on this lineup.
Subaru was confident that if he were to challenge her without knowing anything about her, he would be killed a hundred times. By continuing to repeat this process while still retaining his memories, and working out a solution, he would finally see a ray of hope - he would finally understand why the Witch Cult had been so powerful for four hundred years.
Petelgeuse has a power that is specialized in killing people on first sight.
If we think of it in terms of a surefire killer pattern that anyone can use, it makes sense why he is so highly valued and his name is so well known even within the Witch Cult.
That is why Subaru is indispensable in facing off against Petelgeuse.
Unlike those who can easily kill you on first sight, this is someone who can take on the challenge with some experience that is not the first time.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Natsuki Subaru is Petelgeuse's natural enemy.
-- Passing through the lush, lush forest, Subaru headed towards the cave he had visited many times before.
In a world where the view is covered in green as far as the eye can see, where it's easy to lose one's sense of direction, Subaru never wavers. It's a path he's walked many times before with the same purpose. His senses, his feet, guide him there as if tracing an experience engraved in his memory.
Not once had Subaru gone to that place with a fighting spirit.
Last time, and the time before that, Subaru had seen his role as merely buying time, or even acting as a diversion, and he had gone to each situation with the sole focus of completing that task.
Before that, I had been consumed by murderous intent, a sense of hopelessness and doomsday reality, and other negative emotions.
But this time it's different. Just this time it's not like that.
Subaru had come here with his resolve to fight.
To mark with his own hands the conclusion of a long, long feud that has continued over and over again.
"---Well, thank you for coming, my beloved disciple."
The forest cleared, broadening his view, and Subaru felt the sunlight on his eyelids and the hard rock beneath his feet. Looking ahead with narrowed eyes, he saw a high, sheer cliff blocking his view, and in front of it he saw a slender figure standing with arms outstretched, welcoming him.
This might be the fifth time we've met like this.
I think that if you meet someone multiple times, you're bound to form a favorable impression of them, but that just didn't seem to be the case with this man.
"I am the Witch Cult's Archbishop of the Deadly Sin of Sloth. Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti... Death!"
Pointing the fingers of both hands in the direction of Subaru, Betelgeuse introduced himself in the usual way. The hems of his black robes fluttered, his yellow teeth bared, the madman looked at Subaru with a bouncy tone,
"It's a good day, a wonderful day. I never imagined that on this fateful day, when I had decided to carry out the trial, I would be able to welcome a new beloved child like this...! My heart is filled with tears, emotion, and admiration, it feels like it's going to burst!"
He placed his hands on his chest and began to twist his slender body as if to embrace it. Subaru took a deep breath, struggling to keep his expression from showing disgust at the madman's strange behavior.
"It's nice to meet you, Archbishop of Sins. It is truly an honor to join you just before the trial is to be held. However, I could not be more honored if you would allow me, my body and my soul, to be one of the believers who will be conducting this trial."
Subaru bent over, dropped to his knees, and bowed to Petelgeuse in the utmost respect. Seeing this, Petelgeuse was once again deeply moved, and tears welled up in his eyes. His cheeks were wet with the tears.
"Oh, oh, what a wonderful will! Such a pure display of love! To this extent! I don't remember ever cursing my own laziness! Yours! A devout follower of love like you! It is nothing but the immorality of the Witch Cult and my own laziness that has prevented me from welcoming you as my brethren until now! Ah, please forgive me! Please forgive my laziness for overlooking even a single drop of the guiding love you pour into the world!"
Perhaps to counter the kneeling Subaru, or rather to express the extent of his own emotion, Betelgeuse threw himself onto the ground and struck his forehead on the rock face, exacting his own punishment - the merciless force splitting his forehead open, and he carried out the act of self-harm without any regard for the blood that would flow.
Judging from the way he bit his fingers, he had thought that he was someone who enjoyed self-harming, but now that there was a possibility that the body was not Betelgeuse's, he no longer felt that it was okay to simply dismiss it as self-harm.
In any case, it would be bad if the self-harm went too far and resulted in his death.
Our plans behind the scenes have not yet progressed fully. We must continue to buy time and bring the situation to the expected development.
"Bishop, please stop. The witch will not be pleased with such behavior."
"Ah, but, but, but, but, but, but, but! The laziness of my actions! My foolishness! My unfaithfulness in not repaying love! The only way to be forgiven is to punish and discipline myself!"
"That's not true. I'm sure that a witch would be more pleased to carry out the trials to repay her favor than to see her beloved followers get hurt."
Subaru stepped forward, stopping Petelgeuse as he tried to harm himself. Petelgeuse stopped twisting his body violently and looked up at Subaru with wide eyes. Feeling fear well up inside him at the sight of his thirsty gaze, Subaru silently nodded.
Suddenly, a palm made of skin and bone grabbed Subaru's arm forcefully,
"--Everything is as you say."
"----!"
"Ah, I was wrong, I was wrong, I couldn't do what was right! That's right! A trial, what I must do now is not self-punishment or self-harm or suicide, but a trial! In order to live up to the favor of my beloved witch, undergoing the trial is the mission that has been given to me, and one that I must risk my life for! How foolish to forget that and revel in self-deprecation! Ah, your words have woken me up! Wonderful, wonderful, wonderfuliiiiiiiii!"
Shaking Subaru's arm violently, Petelgeuse expressed his gratitude one-sidedly and rose to his feet. Roughly wiping the blood from his forehead with the sleeve of his robe, Petelgeuse called his self-deprecation foolish and took his finger into his mouth, chewing it up.
"A lazy person like me has no value whatsoever. Being diligent is the most noble thing in this world, and being lazy is the most despicable vice. Therefore, with diligence, I will forever keep laziness, my karma, away from me. Ah! You are such a diligent person! It is truly, truly, truly, truly joyous to be able to welcome you as a new follower!"
His words and actions are no longer consistent and his logic is incoherent.
He bites off his finger while reflecting on his self-harm, and appears to be crying in shame at his own rash actions, before bursting into laughter as if he has forgotten everything.
He thought he understood that Petelgeuse's words and actions were flawed, but even though he thought he knew that, he still couldn't keep up with his pace.
Subaru tries to continue the conversation with the intention of stalling for time, but he suddenly stops speaking, revealing a glimpse of his crazy humanity.
"--Let me tell you about the trial."
Holding his breath and closing his eyes, Subaru suppressed those feelings of incomprehension and spoke out loud.
The topic was the "Trials", the ultimate goal of this attack that the madman had mentioned many times. As far as Subaru knew, Petelgeuse had never once delved into the details of the trials.
Petelgeuse calls this attack a "trial" and repeatedly makes statements that sound like he is testing Emilia. If so, what is his true intention?
What must I do to overcome the "trials" that Betelgeuse sets for me? I have no desire to understand a madman, but unless I believe there is some basis for his actions, I cannot face him.
At the very least, you need to be able to understand what they are seeking at the end of all this foolish behavior.
"As we join forces, I would really like to hear about the purpose of this operation - about the trial, Bishop."
"--ordeal"
Petelgeuse muttered softly, all of his previous emotions suddenly vanishing.
Her silent appearance made Subaru feel fear rise up his spine, but he managed to keep it from showing on his face as he waited for what she would say next.
The last time we tried to address the topic of trials in this way, the conversation fell through when we were asked to present the gospel, but what will happen this time?
Swallowing back the unpleasant smell of my throat, I felt the silence burning my stomach.
And then, just as the oily sweat on his forehead began to run down his face,
"A trial! Yes, a trial! It is a trial! A trial must be carried out! If I don't test, if I'm not tested, then that's what I came here for!"
Betelgeuse's face lit up and he began bouncing around on the spot.
Subaru, who had been frozen with tension, was stunned for a moment at the sudden loud shout. In front of him, Petelgeuse continued speaking in a high-pitched falsetto,
"This is a test! This newly discovered half-demon is a test to see if he is worthy of bringing down the witch! If he is a worthy vessel he will be taken in, but if not he will be made to pay the price for his ungodly birth!"
"Bring down the witch? A vessel? ...Payment?"
"Loneliness! Negative emotions! Depressed feelings are exactly what a vessel should be! They are elevated as befitting a witch! And so with this lazy me, my will, and my fingertips, I must bestow it all upon them! Ah! Love! Love! I must repay it!"
With his fingers stretched above his head, like a madman trying to grasp the heavens, and the words he spoke, Subaru saw a certain answer that sent chills down his spine.
Vessel, lowering, if those words are interpreted as they are,
"If the trial proves that the half-demon is worthy of being a vessel...then a witch will be lowered into the vessel..."
"The Witch of Envy, Satella, has once again manifested herself into the world! Just how much, just how much I have been looking forward to that day, that time, that moment! If I can be of help, assistance, and foundation... I could not be more pleased!"
Petelgeuse was moved to tears and his voice was filled with joy as he cried tears.
Listening to this, Subaru felt a sickening sensation that made him want to vomit, knowing that the Witch Cult's aims were even more nefarious than he'd imagined. In other words, they had behaved so cruelly, committed so many massacres, and had cornered Subaru so much――
"Do you not see any value in Emilia?"
To them, Emilia is nothing more than a vessel for the witch's soul.
Before the witch's soul entered the body, no matter how noble the will of the body's owner was, how earnest they were, or how much they cared - none of that mattered in the slightest.
That was an endless insult to the existence of Emilia, and even for Natsuki Subaru, whose heart was shaken by her existence, it was an unbearable humiliation.
They probably feel no remorse, let alone care, about the fact that they burned a village to the ground in the process. Each life that was sacrificed had a story, and they unconsciously look down on the people who likely had dreams and a future.
Otherwise, how could someone have committed such an act so calmly and without laughing it off?
"--Monster."
For just a moment, Petelgeuse doesn't notice the hostility that slips out of Subaru's mouth.
A monster with incomprehensible thoughts, concepts that can never be reconciled with, and with which we will never be able to understand each other - that was Betelgeuse Romanee-Conti.
"Bishop, I have listened to your wise words. I am deeply impressed by your words, which are better than I have ever heard, about the principles of the Witch Cult. We will definitely complete the trial."
"Oh! As I thought, you are wonderful! That's right, that's right, that's how it has to be! If we do not unite, wholeheartedly, and throw ourselves into pursuing our goal, we will lose sight of our meaning as who we are! My fingers, my feet, my eyes, my nose, my mouth, my tongue, my blood, my bones, my flesh, my soul, all of these are meant to be offered to the Witch! From the moment I received her favor, from the moment I realized I was loved, my existence has been nothing more than trash that repays love with all my heart and soul... Ah! How lazy I am!"
Subaru was spouting flattery that was sure to rot his mouth, but Petelgeuse only took it at face value and didn't seem to even suspect anything.
He proudly spoke of the selfish faith that overflowed from within him, then he reached inside his robes and pulled out a black-bound book - the Gospels - and began leafing through the pages.
"The words engraved in the Gospels, they speak of love! They make me decide to act! In order to carry out love, in order to follow through on my actions, obstacles are indispensable! Obstacles are only natural! Obstacles are a natural existence...! And so, my daily diligence, my faith that resists laziness, will be tested, this is the time of trial that has been given to me――!"
Betelgeuse, foam at the mouth and bloodshot eyes running over the words on the page with his finger,
To Subaru, who had once succeeded in snatching the Gospel from Petelgeuse's hands, the book in his hands was a foreign book filled with characters he could not decipher.
However, it seems that Betelgeuse is able to understand what is written.
With each word, you can see his cheeks flushing, his excitement growing, and his eyes filling with joy and delusion.
and,
"--Present the gospel."
Petelgeuse tilted his head ninety degrees, tilted his hips, and spun around to look at Subaru.
Subaru stopped moving at the words and closed his eyes, knowing that the expected remark had already been made. From past experiences, even if a conversation had barely taken place, Petelgeuse's question would cut it short.
It is said that every witch believer will receive a gospel, which can be considered a holy book.
What sort of selection process they went through, and who sent them, seems to be a dark side of the Witch Cult that even Wilhelm and the others do not know.
However, even ignoring these unknown aspects, the possession of the Gospels is in itself an essential proof of one's status as a Witch.
"I beg you to present the gospel to me. What on earth has the witch bestowed upon you――please, please, please, please, please, please, please, please tell me, dess."
Every time he said "please," Petelgeuse tilted his head from side to side, staring at Subaru with movements that seemed to make the viewer feel dizzy.
Judging from his posture and attitude, he judged that the signal Subaru was waiting for had not yet arrived. He continued to buy time - first he took a breather to keep things moving,
"It's good news, but..."
"Yes, it is the gospel. If you have been recognized as a believer, it should have been delivered to your hands..."
"The truth is, due to some mistake, the gospel has not yet reached me."
Subaru interrupts Petelgeuse's words of agreement and reveals that he does not possess the Gospel. Petelgeuse's eyes widen at this, but before he can say anything, Subaru thrusts his palm at him and warns him, "Wait a moment!" And then,
"It's true that I do not have the Gospel! I don't have it... but the love for you Witch is certainly in my heart, inside of me, and it overflows! Even if I don't have a tangible Gospel at hand, if these formless feelings are not the lamentation of my soul in return for the love that was given to me, then what is it!!"
"--You?"
「Though the form may be different! I too am merely a leaf who is as devoted to the Witch as the Bishop. I will assist you with the trials with all my heart. I will devote my everything to you, the Witch. No, I have already handed over my existence to the Witch, down to every last bit of my soul!」
Subaru continued to speak, throwing words at him in rapid succession, leaving Petelgeuse no chance to argue. He raised his fist, stomped his foot on the ground, and grimaced as if squeezing out all his feelings.
"Or, Bishop! Lord Petelgeuse, will you deny the lament of my soul? Will you laugh at me, calling me pathetic and foolish for clinging to a formless love? That's fine, I can understand why you would do so! But! Even so! No one can break my faith. Love, love is everything!"
Raising his fist towards the sky, Subaru said whatever he wanted.
As for Betelgeuse, he listened quietly to Subaru's words, his breath coming out of his throat, and at the end of his shout he sighed, "Huh,"
"What a fresh whisper of love..."
All sense of danger had disappeared from Betelgeuse's face, as if he had been struck by lightning.
The madman was deeply moved by Subaru's words, and as if his heart had been purified, tears welled up in his eyes.
"Please forgive my laziness in doubting you. You are wonderful, truly wonderful. Without a physical form, without the Gospel, I don't have the confidence to loudly proclaim that I am loved, which is quite different from me. Your deep affection is clear without you having to say it - you are truly worthy of it."
Kneeling in admiration, Petelgeuse places his hand on his chest to show his respect for Subaru's faith. If you look at just that moment, Petelgeuse's behavior does indeed seem that of a devout religious person.
Observing her behavior, Subaru couldn't help but feel a certain emotion at the sight. That was――
"This guy is easy."
"Did you say something?"
"Please look up, Bishop. I am not so presumptuous as to be treated like that. Above all, we are both loved equally by the Witch-sama, and we work together to return that love."
Subaru put on a deceptively sincere smile and held out his hand to Petelgeuse. Petelgeuse blinked, took Subaru's hand and said, "Exactly," before standing up and closing the Gospel he was holding with a clunk.
"Despite calling myself an Archbishop of Sin, it seems my perspective was far too narrow. I am ashamed of myself. With that in mind, I am grateful for your thoughtfulness. And I swear to repay the love of the witch who brought us this encounter with the utmost diligence!"
"Yes! That's absolutely true! Let's continue to work hard together!"
"Oh, those are joyous words. Even without the Gospel, your aspirations are truly admirable―― and your love is so strong. Are you not arrogant after all? If that's the case, I think you would be aware that you have absorbed the Witch Factor even without the Gospel."
"Witch factor――?"
Subaru also tilts his head at words that sound familiar but whose meaning he cannot understand.
In response to the question, Petelgeuse nodded and said, "Yes."
"The Gospel is delivered to the believers, and to a Sin Archbishop like me, the Witch Factor is delivered at the same time as the Gospel. Without the Witch Factor, it would be impossible to speak of the trials…"
Having said that, Petelgeuse suddenly stopped speaking. Subaru frowned at his attitude, and he put the Gospel away in his pocket and took another one from inside.
In the palm of his hand he held a faintly glowing hand mirror――
"--!"
"I'm sorry. I received a message from my fingertips... It seems that something has changed in the situation. We have joined forces. I hope it's good news."
Betelgeuse, looking down at the conversation mirror, doesn't notice the slight change in Subaru's expression. Without noticing, he opens the hand mirror and sees himself reflected in it.
"It's me. Something strange has happened――"
"Umm, it's Nyan. Oh, that's right. Tora-tora-tora!"
"teeth?"
His expression freezes in front of the person reflected in the mirror and his words.
Seeing Petelgeuse's shocked expression before his eyes, Subaru vaguely realised what was being reflected in the conversation mirror that he couldn't peer into.
The person reflected in the photo can be seen shaking their cat ears, waving their hands, sticking out their tongue, and even saying the password they had agreed upon.
"What about you...? What's wrong with my fingertips..."
"Tora, tora, tora"
"teeth?"
Subaru repeated it softly in front of the questioning Petelgeuse.
Hearing what Subaru was muttering, Petelgeuse tilted his head. Subaru gave him a broad smile as Petelgeuse showed he didn't understand.
His smile was completely different from the fake one he'd had earlier; it was his true self - a mischievous smile with the corners of his mouth twisted and his teeth bared.
"I succeeded in my surprise attack - that's what I mean."
"What? I don't understand what you mean..."
"You don't understand? Ah, don't worry."
Subaru carefully and patiently explained the meaning of the password, but when Petelgeuse showed no understanding, Subaru nodded in agreement. And then,
"--What you're saying was just as clear to me as well!!"
A powerful right straight hit the madman directly in the face - the pent up frustration finally explodes, blowing his skinny body away.
Betelgeuse cried out in agony as he tumbled forward, his eyes wide with shock at the sudden violence that had assailed him.
Looking down at the pathetic man, Subaru released his fist and pointed his finger at him.
And then he spoke.
"I've been patient with a lot, but I've reached my limit. Come on, let's end this, Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti!!"