Arc 5 – Chapter 25, "Leo's Theatre"
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An enigmatic, white-haired youth suddenly entered the barren, chaotic battlefield that had been ripped asunder by ice and fire.
His white hair was neither too long nor too short, without any distinct style. His figure was also neither too muscular nor too slim; he had a medium build which gave the impression that he was on the verge of floating away and being swallowed up by the masses.
But,
Subaru: "Archbishop… of Greed…?!"
The mediocre young man's self-introduction left quite an impact on Subaru. As long as Subaru's ears hadn't committed a fatal mistake, then that young man was in fact a Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult.
That statement certainly wasn't a lie.
If that wasn't the case, then how else could he have been unscathed from Sirius's final attack?
—Such an anomaly was impossible.
Regulus: "Even so, it's great that I caught up. After all, my bride nearly turned to ash. Even I, who rarely express any particular expectations, do hope that there's someone who can help maintain my bride's humanity. More than that being a matter of merit, I think that it's a matter of course. After all, I cannot commit a perversion of sexuality like devoting my love to ashes."
Like this, bringing with him a fear that refused to dissipate, weaving such words about Emilia, the young archbishop who called himself Regulus stood before the quivering Subaru.
Although he spoke smoothly and fluently, the contents of his discourse were empty, as if he were just repeating the same joke over and over.
Emilia, who was forced to listen to that joke, didn't stir. She seemed to have completely lost consciousness, her slender form only lying prone in his arms.
Regulus raised a finger to the white hair on his eyebrows.
Regulus: "Although it's gratifying to see nothing wrong, it seems regrettable that I can't reveal my heroism to my bride today. I think that a heroic rescue in the midst of a dead end crisis brings two people people's hearts to a very important place. Well, after all, the combination of the two is already an established fact and the only question is of the timing. Isn't it great?"
Subaru: "You, what have you been saying…?"
Regulus: "Hmm?"
Regulus, who had been speaking his self-righteous truth, discovered Subaru and frowned upon him. He then gave a very tired sounding breath.
Regulus: "Don't you understand basic concepts like politeness? The first thing I did was give a self introduction. To ask why you're going to introduce yourself, that's because it's the most important thing to start as a relationship. No matter what kind of relationship, isn't it necessary to start with an acquaintanceship where we both know each other? So, just because I'm someone who cares about such things, I often think that no matter to whom, I will be as friendly as possible. I'm not saying that there isn't a chance that the other party is shy. Even if you think you want to become well-connected, when you start by introducing yourself, something in you always cannot help but hesitate. Out of consideration for those types of people, I try to introduce myself as much as possible and act in order to create a space where they feel comfortable. Of course, I don't expect this grace to be immediately obvious. However, I do have hopes that after some time, they will be able to detect the meaning of an introductions. Or, rather, that they will become aware of it. Or is it natural to talk to someone you meet for the first time without introducing yourself? If that's the case, then there's a slight difference between my common sense and culture. In that case, although both parties feel a sense of obligation, it becomes necessary to refuse the other side in advance so as to prevent a misunderstanding. Isn't that so different from what I said before, taking being gentle with each other for granted? In fact, saying so feels impolite. And that's a loss of etiquette, and the other party is left with a lesser value. A false assessment of each other's value imposes on others. This is a violation of the rights of others. From any rational perspective, this is an infringement of my rights."
Subaru: "Oh. Ohh…? S-Sorry… my name is Natsuki Subaru."
A frenzied look rose in Regulus's eyes as he prattled on, serving as a warning siren to Subaru. Acting on that fear, Subaru trembled as he gave his name.
Then, hearing Subaru's introduction, Regulus squinted his widened eyes.
Regulus: "…Yes, that's fine. Because giving respect invites respect. Although the conditions for achieving a world that creates both is taken for granted, You don't have to seek the happiness of others. As long as you pursue your happiness, others will also correspondingly find happiness. Don't get caught up in your desires, just accept your truths and feel satisfied with your everyday needs. That is the peaceful way of life."
It would perhaps be worth questioning whether or not his smooth speech was serious. But his bright eyes proved that his words neither joking nor ironic; rather, they were his genuine beliefs.
Taking his words out of context would perhaps make them seem like Sirius's.
In fact, Regulus's demeanor and words held the same superficiality and distortion as those of Sirius.
Regulus: "After all, is it really so hard to find the proper mood to converse in? Why is it impossible to do this as a matter of course for mankind? Why is it impossible to consciously, unconsciously, indifferently, continue to cause subtle harm to others in the days when such things are done? Subtle injuries hurt, don't they? On top of that, if anything serious works its way in, it might grow into a life-threatening disease. The body and the soul are one. I hate those who misunderstand life to the extent that they unconsciously threaten others. Don't their minds seem warped?"
Subaru: "..."
Regulus: "Obviously, they're flawed as a human beings, and it isn't okay for that behavior to remain unconscious. It is, of course, wrong to impose a burden on those who are discriminated against. Most people have common sense, but why can't they consciously realize that the world is slowly turning on? Even without realizing that they're trampling upon the hidden hearts of others, if they don't become conscious of their twisted, flawed mistakes, then don't their feet just keep trampling and trampling?
As if unhappy with Subaru's silence, Regulus repeatedly pressed for an answer.
Regulus's speech was gradually becoming faster and faster, clearly conveying an increase in excitement. Even so, Subaru still could not respond.
At the thought of giving a response, his heart flinched.
Subaru: "All that said, don't you know…"
Sirius: "Thanks for the lesson. —BURN, SCORCH AND DISAPPEAR!!" A cascade of fire poured down from behind Regulus.
Sirius had waved her arms to summon a flame which mercilessly consumed her fellow archbishop. Subaru, witnessing this atrocity, found himself once again unable to move.
Beatrice: "Subaru…"
Subaru: "I… know. But, it's okay."
Beatrice, also trembling in fear, gripped Subaru's shoulders until they hurt. She too worried about Emilia, who had been caught in the flame.
It was impossible for Subaru not to fear the violence that had involved Emilia. Even so, he held a steadfast belief. That was,
Regulus: "—I say, to interrupt someone else's conversation like that, how awful are you at reading the mood? If you want to say something, speak up, raise your hand. Do you think I have the presence of mind to just wait for you to speak up?"
Regulus twisted his wrist, and the vortex of flame vanished.
The heat waves dissipated as if dismissed by magic, while Regulus, standing at the center of the vortex, remained untouched. Naturally, Emilia, resting in his arms was still in the same state.
Even engulfed by the flames of that intensity, not a single drop of sweat surfaced on his face.
Regulus: "You and I share the title of Archbishop. Since I know that that your head is messed up, if you'd only made a little mistake, I could have turned a gentle blind eye. Fortunately, there was no harm done. Only…"
Turning away, Regulus lowered his voice and glared at Sirius, who bore that gaze as she closed her coat, once again hiding the girl bound to her from the surroundings, gritting her teeth all the while.
Regulus: "You were planning to burn this girl along with me. I would be a little reluctant to say that I will forgive that kind of behavior. Ah, it'd be better to say that it would be impossible. Since ancient times, no matter what the story or the morality of the characters, if one's loved ones are hurt, then their anger is inevitable. Because that is a right that everyone has, I am well within my rights to take revenge."
Sirius: "Anger! Hah, did you get angry!? Don't make me laugh! A superficial and insignificant man like you can't speak so lightly about anger! Anger is mine! It's what I got from him, and it's more important to me than anything else. To…"
Regulus: "Ohh, I see. Are you still clinging to the idiot who kept on risking death? How annoying, how disgusting. That's neither constructive nor rational. Death is the end. This is a matter of course, isn't it? Unwilling to admit even that and clinging to just memories… You really are flawed. If someone who you love dies, find the next one. Rather than yelling about love, love, love, exercise the rights you've been granted. Disrupting that natural cycle, ah, you really are hopeless scum."
Sirius: "You, who laughed at that person's death, TO SPEAK SO ARROGANTLY!!"
Sirius, who had been relentlessly demeaned, flew into a rage.
The stone flooring cracked at the mercy of the madwoman's stomp as she directed her twin flames forward, which flew toward Regulus at an alarming rate. A burning, tearing sound accompanied the weapon on its lethal journey.
The chain hit Regulus's flesh, striking his cheek to one side. However, neither Sirius's fury nor the chain's attacks had been calmed by that single blow.
Left to right, top to bottom, front to back, Sirius's copper chains beat relentlessly at Regulus's body. On top of that, the chains, flying at incredibly high speeds, projected waves of heat as well.
Sirius: "Disappear, disappear, disappear, disappear, disappear! TURN TO ASH ALONG WITH THAT HATEFUL HALF-WITCH!!"
The fence of flame closed at the center, trapping Regulus in that raging inferno.
The temperature of that storm was high enough to melt the floor tiles where Regulus stood, and the ground beneath him either evaporated or sunk to form depressions.
Witnessing the burning result, Sirius's breaths grew wild.
Sharing her wrath, the crowd of wild-blooded people around her bled from their eyes and noses, making strange sounds as they gathered together.
Regulus: "I say, how many times do I need to tell you the same thing?"
Regulus stepped forward on the red stone slab as if nothing had happened.
Whether it was his white hair, his clothes, or Emilia's arms, nothing held a trace of scratches. Only his expression had changed into one of childish dissatisfaction.
Regulus: "I've thought about it. No matter how many times the same thing is said, some people can't understand. They don't care enough give enough effort to understand what is said. Is that contempt? So, whether carving what they've learned in their hearts as commandments, or doing careful self-examinations, or remembering it was food for thought for tomorrow, they don't do any of that. They forget, and it's cleansed away. Saying the same thing over and over again is not only blasphemy, but also contempt which gives negative impacts to both parties. Both their own value and the value of the other party are fundamentally degraded. That's how it is. It's a form of violence that disregards words and actions. Then I thought of it."
Sirius: "You damn insect…!"
Regulus: "The Witch Cult's doctrine goes like this, 'If one cheek is hit, present the other cheek and ask your opponent why they fight as they do'. This shows a valuable lesson of mutual understanding. Ah, but I've thought of this too. It's also true that someone whose cheek has been beaten should fight back. —That's especially necessary against those who don't know pain."
Only listening to the content of that speech would make it seem very stern. But Regulus was a distorted existence.
Regulus: "—"
Regulus, who stepped out from the dark, wore a grim smile.
That smile was certainly no friendly gesture; rather, it was closer to the licking of a tongue as a predator surveyed his prey.
It was still unknown how Regulus had defended against Sirius's flame and chain. Perhaps his power was purely defensive; perhaps the Authority of Greed granted no means of attack.
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Therefore, it is clear that the behavior of Regulus should not be conclusive evidence of fatal consequences.
— But, if the battle dragged on, Sirius would die.
And there was no guarantee that Regulus was a holder of purely defensive abilities.
If that young man pulled anything, there was no doubt that Sirius will die. If that is the case, there is no problem at all. In fact, having the number of archbishops reduced due to infighting would be worthy of celebration.
However, although gratifying, Sirius's death would involve most of the people surrounding her. Of course, this included Subaru, as well as all the people trapped in the Sirius's wrath, and certainly Lusbel and Tina, who prayed for one another's safety and sacrificed themselves.
Subaru: "——"
Even now, fear was spreading all over the Subaru's body.
His slack knees trembled so much that even breathing became an abnormal act. But, even in this case.
Beatrice: "Subaru."
In his ear, a weak, unreliable voice echoed.
Although the owner obviously could not hide her trembling fear, her warm voice still spoke up from behind him. Rely on me — it was conveying a message something like that.
Subaru clenched his teeth and staggered to his feet.
He refused to be unable to do anything and delegate everything to the slight weight of the child on his back. Having said that, he wouldn't be able to do anything at all without her strength.
Therefore, Subaru refused to struggle alone, but also refused to throw everything to one person. If Subaru had been alone then he would have remained on his knees.
The reason why Subaru could stand was because he wasn't alone. The other people engulfed by the madness were different. Only Subaru had someone close by, only Subaru wasn't by himself.
Tightly clinging to that real feeling, Subaru fought his feat.
Subaru: "Beatrice."
Beatrice: "I know, in fact."
With only a single call, Beatrice could fully understand what he needed.
Confirmation with each other was unnecessary. Each of them doing their utmost to accomplish each of their respective responsibilities — as long they did that, they should arrive at their desired outcome.
Whether it be Sirius or Regulus, the cultists had completely forgotten about Subaru.
They could only see each other and intended to kill one another. The best result would be Sirius burning Regulus to ash, but that would be impossible.
Therefore, Subaru needed to stop Regulus's rampage.
Subaru had to attract Regulus's attention to himself and take measures against creating a large number of victims.
And, above all,
Subaru: "Stop touching my Emilia…!"
An inexhaustible love pushes the fear from Subaru and lights his heart. If he didn't first address his dishonest heart then he'd never be able to fight Regulus.
At the moment, Regulus's back was facing Subaru, and his attention was being completely diverted by Sirius, which was a great convenience for Subaru.
Beatrice: "—Shamak!"
As Subaru forced his trembling legs to move, Beatrice began chanting a spell from behind him.
Her powerful spell, Shamak, covered Regulus's body in a black haze as it began to sever him from the world, beautifully hindering his pace. Right before Regulus was engulfed, Subaru took a combat position and fiercely whisked his whip forward.
He was aiming at Regulus's neck.
His whip followed through as it attempted to ensnare Regulus. Surely with this much commotion even the arrogant Regulus would have to attention to Subaru. Perhaps at the point where Beatrice had draped the curtain there was even a possibility that Regulus would fall victim without realizing what had happened.
Subaru: "There's no response!"
Beatrice: "He's coming!!"
Beatrice's warning had come after a heavy sense of anxiety had already hit Subaru. His whip passed through thin air and the missing presence of its target was painfully obvious.
The next moment, a white-haired youth kicked off of the ground toward Subaru, lunging from the black haze.
Regulus: "This has been messy from the very beginning. You've been stirring up my smooth life with your magic. Could you evaporate off somewhere?"
Beatrice: "Mi…. No, Murak!"
Regulus held Emilia with his right hand as his empty left hand suddenly swiped at Subaru. Beatrice immediately gave up performing an attack in favor of casting a gravity altering spell on Subaru.
Subaru immediately affirmed Beatrice's judgment and leapt upward to avoid Regulus's reaching fingertips. Murak is a type of shadow magic with the effect of freeing a physical object from the tethers of gravity. Subaru's flesh was now lighter than a feather. He flew upward, leaving Regulus behind.
Regulus: "Why do you want to avoid it?"
Subaru: "Why wouldn't I avoid it, it's scary!"
Subaru cast his whip at Regulus again, who had looked overhead at Subaru. Rather than aim for any particular direction, Subaru only struck, hitting Regulus's head. His white hair floated outward from the impact and the head that should have been lacerated by the whip was uninjured. The same held true for his windswept hair.
Regulus: "What if my bride had been injured? Don't you think that's it's a matter of course that girls should be treated gently, and that it's not something that needs to be taught? Don't you even understand this?"
Subaru: "Don't be stupid! The person I want to treat the most gently in this world is that girl. What's with the, 'bride this and bride that', that you've been talking about…"
Regulus: "It's been decided. It's destiny. —After all, I made a promise in my dreams."
One hand bracing himself against the wall, Subaru was dumbfounded by Regulus's smiling reply. Something felt awry but Regulus clearly did not care.
Regulus: "She will connect with me. That's fate, you know. I feel generally satisfied with myself, and I don't want anything at all. And although I don't particularly desire anything, I'm not so narrow-minded that I wouldn't accept what's given to be. Especially what fate's given to me. Although most people do not expect this, anything within I can reach, I want to guard. That would be myself and the people who are important to me."
Subaru: "——"
Regulus: "I will protect her. I'll welcome her as my bride and love her as she'll love me, and together we'll enjoy a stable life. Therefore, for the sake of that, I won't refrain from exerting the power that I've been given."
Subaru: "Then, what… then what about her own will? Obviously, one of the parties hasn't consented yet, so getting engaged like this is rash."
Regulus's stern statement had just confirmed his convictions.
On one hand, this was a straightforward, righteous, and harmless way of thinking. On the other, it was ridiculous to a deadly extent.
It was difficult to explain why it was deadly but it was something that was clear from the very beginning. Because Regulus had fallen into a frenzy, everything had gone off track.
Subaru's voice trembled but not just with fear. To his question, Regulus smiled and continued as though discussing a disposable topic.
Regulus: "Are you worried about me? If that's the case, thank you. However, there isn't any problem. Fate is inevitable… in particular, in love or friendship, a person's words can not be established. If fate told me that she would be my bride, then I am fated to be her groom, this is all something that's already been decided."
Beatrice: "…something is completely wrong with him, in fact."
Toward Regulus and his flawed theory, Beatrice leaks a subconscious murmur of disgust.
Subaru held the same opinion. Regulus used pretty, smooth words to cover up the underlying madness in his beliefs. Subaru didn't even want to know the extent of trouble that those sentiments would bring.
Subaru: "I've had enough. It's impossible for us to understand each other. It's disgusting to admit that such a horrible person is a rival for love."
Subaru removed his hand from the wall and allowed himself to float back to the earth. Looking at the silent Subaru, Regulus nodded as if he'd grasped the main idea.
Regulus: "I see. I understand. You know, I'm sorry to say, but… the fate of a lover can't be shared. I find a bride who admires others to be quite unattractive."
Subaru: "Shut it! Emilia-tan is my bride. I won't give her to someone like you."
Regulus: "Ohh, this is Emilia. A lovely name. Very suitable for love birds to softly call, very suitable for this lovable child indeed."
Subaru: "You don't even know her name… yet you say you want her as a bride? What a joke! What made you…?"
Regulus: "Her face."
Subaru was choked speechless with anger. Misunderstanding his silence, Regulus tilted his head.
Regulus: "A cute face. That's all love and whatnot is, right?"
Subaru: "Go to hell."
Beatrice: "Drop dead, I suppose."
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Agreeing with Subaru's assertion, Beatrice also denied Regulus his overly casual love.
Pedaling toward the ground, Subaru's weightless body was still under the effects of Murak. As Subaru shortened the distance between them as he rode the wind, Regulus lifted his gaze, as if shocked.
At this time, Regulus could not understand the implications of a close-combat battle.
Subaru himself understood. Rather than being unintelligent, Regulus didn't share the familiarity with battle that Sirius did. That wasn't to say that he was unprepared; rather, he needed no weapon.
Therefore, getting close to Regulus would be nigh suicidal. Even so, Subaru had a pressing reason to enter close combat with Regulus.
— Because this was the only way he could use his ace.
Regulus: "Why did you come here? I don't really understand. Although it's not necessary, I do hope that you can tell me. I don't lack thoughtfulness, after all. I want to understand even withering opponents."
Subaru: "Thanks for enlightenment — Beako!"
Beatrice: "Ready, in fact!"
Regulus approached Subaru with his left hand extended.
Each of those fingers was likely a fatal weapon that would end Subaru's life. Before that could happen, Subaru took a breath and shouted.
This was one of the fruits of the efforts that Subaru and Beatrice had accumulated over the course of the past year,
Subaru: "— E · M · M!!"
Regulus: "…what?"
The high-pitched chant induced Subaru's damaged gate to absorb Beatrice's mana to cast an exclusive magic of which no one else had yet developed.
They had launched the magic of absolute defense, E MM, one of three original spells devised by Beatrice and Subaru.
Subaru's body would be wrapped in an invisible magical field which would allow him to Sidestep from this plane of existence, nullifying any attack on him, be it physical or magical.
Regulus's fingertips didn't bring any harm to Subaru when they reached him. Upon witnessing this incident, for the first time, Regulus revealed an expression of stiff shock.
Subaru aimed at his face and fiercely released his left fist.
Subaru: "Yah!"
Regulus: "—hk"
The side of Regulus's face was struck.
Subaru had struck him with a hard blow, but not the slightest mark had been made when Regulus's head was pushed back. The damage had been completely invalidated. This was what Subaru had indeed expected; an eternal and constant guardian of Regulus's flesh.
Beatrice: "Not ready yet, I suppose!"
Before Regulus could counterattack, Beatrice shouted that the conditions for the next move had not yet been reached.
In this close proximity, Subaru needed to avoid Regulus's attacks. Being on the defense would make each action incredibly difficult. In that case, Subaru needed to give up part of his soul.
Regulus: "Don't worry…"
Subaru: "Invisible · Providence!"
As Regulus suffered a blow, his words were cut off.
That was because of he'd been sent flying. Subaru looked over the scene as he coughed blood, roughly wiping at the corners of his mouth with his sleeve.
Only Subaru's eyes could see his Invisible Providence.
Subaru could clearly see a black third hand protruding from his chest, coursing with a dreadful power.
His entire body creaked, his soul weakened, and something venomous flowed through his body, materializing as black blood in his throat.
After paying the price for the ability, Subaru was able to summon a full-out attack. That blow, which consumed so much from Subaru, probably wouldn't match up to a kick from Garfiel.
Even so, that invisible attack should have a corresponding effect to the effort needed to cast it.
Beatrice: "Subaru, are you okay, in fact?"
Subaru: "Cough… somehow. And as for that guy, he's strong, but his attacks are kinda flat. Among all those I've faced so far, it's about the same as Larkins."
Spitting out the remainder of the blood clogging his throat, Subaru pointed out the low energy of Regulus's combat.
Regulus had revealed that he was an inexperienced layman who was at most on Subaru's level. As long as Subaru kept his concentration of words, those murderous fingertips could maybe be continually avoided.
Beatrice: "——"
Subaru's shoulder was knocked. That was Beatrice's silent report.
Because of its potent effect, their original spells had short durations. In addition, their spells had daily limits, and overuse would result in loss of potency.
Beatrice: "Although the effects of EMM have ended, in this case, even without magic, Subaru has a chance. So, if you rush in…"
Subaru: "Victory could be waiting. I see the light of hope."
Regulus: "There's no such thing. I apologize for the misunderstanding. I dallied for longer than I should have, being that you're not so interesting. But that's not the issue here. It's not good that we're having a disagreement. This is a violation of rights. Since I've been hit twice since we started, if I don't land an attack, that would be unfair, right?"
Regulus landed from midair, looking at the determined Subaru.
His expression had lost its original calmness and was reaching outrage.
Subaru: "Wha!?"
Regulus: "…what are you planning?"
The ground between Subaru and Regulus suddenly ignited.
Subaru was pushed backward by the wave of heat which bathed him, while Regulus bore the hot air as it blew past his face.
Obviously, the two turned to the culprit for this — Sirius.
So far, for whatever reason, the madwoman had not involved herself in the fight between Subaru and Regulus. Although the intent behind her inaction was unknown, Subaru would have preferred for her to have remained silent. Her actions resulted in a very abrupt change.
He had no means to combat Sirius's flames, and strongly preferred Regulus, who could only engage in close combat. He also had yet to find a solution to defeat her.
Subaru gulped as the situation deteriorated.
In actuality, his circumstances were far worse than what Subaru had imagined.
Sirius: "— I've found you."
Subaru: "—?"
Standing unsightly, Sirius stares at the two men staring at her — no, at only Subaru.
The madwoman had completely forgotten her desire to killed Regulus, merely staring with single-minded obsession at Subaru. Her gaze was filled with madness, Subaru's throat suddenly caught.
Then she lifted her previously lifeless, drowsy hands and pressed them to her face.
Sirius: "I've found you, found you, found you, found you, found you. Ah, ah, ahahah! Aaaah! Yes, it's really you! I'm sorry, I didn't notice at first. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry. This is great. It really is. Sure enough, you came back for me!?"
Subaru: "What...?"
Sirius: "Darling, where have you been!? No matter where I looked, I couldn't find you, even after I'd torn your spares open, I still couldn't find you anywhere. Even though I'd always always always always always always always always always always been looking… And you noticed how I'd been searching, and you came back!"
Her high-pitched sonorous voice overflowed with an obvious enthusiasm.
Keeping her hands on her cheeks, she wriggled her body and gave a serious of pleased sounds. What kind of state was this? This odd gesture was truly unspeakable.
However, if pressed for an answer, her actions seemed similar to the behavior of someone who'd been searching for a lover for a long time. A woman who'd been consumed by blind love.
Sirius: "Because my ideal was reached! Because I want to be one with you — you finally noticed the wish that I'd been praying for! Because my Love finally reached you!"
Subaru: "——"
Sirius: "I've always been waiting for only you… my dear, dear Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti!"
Speaking with a mad smile, Sirius Romanee-Conti called the name of her bereaved lover as she cast a tender, affectionate look at Subaru.