[User] Uncrossing her arms, "So what does this room connect to? You must have an idea of where Elze is."

[Assistant] "…I couldn’t get in. It connects to a chamber just below the center of the holy place. But there’s an invisible wall, and I can’t get past."

[User] "I’ll do something about that. Elze and Akashia probably ended up close to each other." Looking around the chamber, she spied a door across from the passage Javi must have come in through. "Oscar, will you wait here?"

[Assistant] "I will not." He stated flatly.

[User] "I thought so! I expected this! I want to forcibly teleport you home!" She shouted at him, just the same as she always did.

[Assistant] Didn’t answer, instead offering a thought. "Won’t a mage be at a disadvantage against that creature? Won’t it just be a repeat of what happened earlier?"

[User] "I’ll put up a defensive wall. Besides, I’m not a cat anymore. If it tries to send out more magical interference, I just have to push back against it. I’m actually the most worried about you without Akashia."

[Assistant] "Hmm. Perfect timing—I’ll just borrow this." Picking up Javi’s broadsword, he handled it as if it weighed no more than a feather, and Tinasha felt some of the tension leave her shoulders.


[User] Pushed past the door that barred the way to a piece of mythological history. Beyond it, a winding narrow path extended outward. The surrounding stone made the trail just wide enough for Oscar and Tinasha to pass through. The witch walked two steps behind the king so as not to get in the way of any sword attacks. Along with a long incantation, Oscar could see a finely wrought defensive wall taking shape around them. The air changed degree by degree.

[Assistant] As he made his way forward, "If Irityrdia is up ahead, do you think you can kill it?"

[User] "I’m not sure… As we saw earlier, an attack with Akashia appears to be effective, but we’re up against mist."

[Assistant] "A mist creature, huh? Guess we’d have to burn it."

[User] "I don’t know if I’d call it a creature… Judging by the interference I suffered, it was probably closer to a phenomenon. One that reacts to magic and rejects it."

[Assistant] "Rejects magic? So it’s something like Akashia?"

[User] "No, not quite that. Akashia dismantles and scatters magic here within the hierarchy where we live, but this phenomenon seems to try to push magic back to the plane in the hierarchy where magic primarily exists.


[User] "The name World-Splitting Blade refers to how Irityrdia tries to cut through the gaps between planes in the hierarchy. Originally, we mages are born with power that’s on the magic plane. It feels like someone trying to make off with our very organs.”

[Assistant] "It definitely doesn’t sound pleasant.”

[User] “It’s not. But that’s only true for someone who’s undergone control training and can store magic in their body.”

[Assistant] “And for someone like Elze?”

[User] “…Their magic wouldn’t be so easily cut out. It could mean they’d be blotted out, soul and all.”

[Assistant] “We’ll need to hurry, then,” Oscar declared, quickening his pace.


[User] Finally, the path began to widen and led into a chamber that looked like the carved-out inside of a mountain. Instead of glowing moss, darkness and white mist clung to the place. Oscar scowled as he peered at the way forward. “Isn’t there some sort of invisible shell up ahead?”

[Assistant] “There is. That was probably what blocked that Ito man back there from entering. Someone cast a spell to prevent Irityrdia from escaping. Magic wouldn’t have been enough, of course—that’s why I believe they transmuted their soul into a spell. The seal must be very old, though; it shouldn’t have held for this long,” Tinasha mused. She sidled up next to Oscar and stroked the empty air. Then they heard a soft shattering noise. The mist was stirring. The white shroud blanketing the room surged forward toward them. But a few steps before it could reach Oscar, Tinasha’s barrier blocked it. Glaring at the strange anomaly, the witch waved a hand. “…Move aside.” The witch’s power pushed back the pale fog that threatened to swallow the two. Sweat gathered on Tinasha’s brow as she forced the vapor aside.

[User] Once Oscar realized that Tinasha probably couldn’t endure this for long, he patted her shoulder. “I’ll be back. Don’t overexert yourself.”

[Assistant] “Be careful,” she whispered and nodded to him.


[User] Oscar tried to push away the other weapon, but his sword was suddenly confronted with nothing but empty air. From within the alabaster vapors, Oscar saw a person emerge.

[Assistant] “You…” His handsome features twist. It was Elze.

[User] Her blank eyes were darting all over, and she held something white and swordlike in her hand. She lifted one slender arm—and threw the pale sword at Oscar.

[Assistant] “Ngh!” he grunted. While he repelled the attack easily enough, the hurled weapon dissolved and turned to white mist. “It’s possessed her. Not good.”

[User] As he hesitated, she swooped down upon him again. He parried another slash of a fog-formed blade, but he was at a loss for how to proceed. Oscar found himself trapped in a stalemate.

[Assistant] Seeing that her attacks weren’t landing, Elze leaped far back. she opened both arms and threw out her chest.

[User] Oscar didn’t know what she planned to do, but then he saw mist start to move toward her open mouth. A steady stream of it flowed into her petite frame. “Oh, come on… That’s where this is going?”

[Assistant] Oscar had to wonder how such a slender body could house such a vast quantity of the strange miasma. He slashed down from overhead to put an end to the mist influx.

[User] An ivory hand stopped his sword, however. “What?” Clutched in Elze’s hand was the blade of a broadsword powerful enough to cleave bone.

[Assistant] He let go of the sword and leaped back.

[User] Swinging from the blade, Elze brought the weapon to bear down at the exact spot where Oscar had been standing just a moment before.

[Assistant] As Oscar watched the weapon shatter to slivers in her grip, he wanted to burst out laughing. “If this is what a god is, Aetea’s downright docile.”

[User] “Come on now. You’re the king. Watch what you say.” came Tinasha’s exhausted voice. Tinasha wiped the sweat from her forehead as she came over to Oscar. “That was pretty heavy labor… Any mages who faced that thing in the past definitely fell into endless despair.”

[Assistant] “You okay? You’re really pale.”

[User] “I just feel extremely seasick.”


[User] "It’s like something’s churning up my insides… I can’t walk straight.”

[Assistant] “I don’t feel it that bad,” Oscar admitted in reply.

[User] The witch shook her head feebly. “Half of my magic came to me later in life, so it’s easier for me to feel the effects, I think… As for you, it’s because your magic is sealed.”

[Assistant] “Sealed? This is the first I’ve heard of it,”

[User] Tinasha’s eyes grew wide for a moment, but she immediately smiled as if nothing was wrong. “Oh, really? Then it must be my imagination. Let’s focus on what we’re going to do here.”

[Assistant] “I want to hear more about that later. Anyway, is there anything we can do about Irityrdia without killing Elze?”

[User] “It’ll be very hard… Magic has almost no effect on it, so I can’t draw it out in the usual way. Having said that, it’s impossible to destroy whatever’s inside her without harming her body. The humanlike figure depicted in that mural may have also been a human who was possessed,” Tinasha explained without taking her eyes off Elze. “A physical form to attack makes things easier for us.”


[Assistant] “For now, we need to get Akashia. It seemed to be capable of dispersing Irityrdia.”

[User] Oscar scanned the gloom. “But if I cut Elze down with Akashia, she’ll die,”

[Assistant] “She will. But if that thing gets out in the open, something far worse will happen. So as a last resort—” Tinasha cut herself off.

[User] Oscar sensed someone approaching and spun around.

[Assistant] “I won’t let you kill her,” he swore. He glanced at what remained of his right arm and declared with even greater determination, “I will not let you kill her.”

[User] Oscar started to say something, but the witch held up a hand to stop him.

[Assistant] She turned to Javi and said, “I understand how you feel, but something bigger is at stake here. Irityrdia has possessed her. If she’s turned loose on the world, it will be nothing short of catastrophic. Once anyone with magic gets near her, they’ll either self-destruct or go mad. A berserk mage is a threat to everyone.


[User] Things like that are the reason Tayiri has spent over a thousand years ostracizing mages. Her dark eyes mirrored a dark abyss. Her gaze was the sort one could only acquire after watching bloody conflicts repeat themselves throughout history. One look from those dim orbs was enough to paralyze someone. It was unmistakably the glare of a witch. How bottomless her eyes could be was something she didn’t regularly reveal; Oscar squinted at her. Javi stiffened, and the witch went on in a voice as cold as ice.

[Assistant] "What she is now is nothing but a vessel that will propagate more innocent deaths. Do you want the same mistakes of the past to repeat themselves? If you fail to understand, then I’ll start by killing you." Tinasha’s tone was enough to snuff the life from those who heard it. Normal people would’ve cowered and begged forgiveness after one look into those ebony eyes. The witch was only speaking the truth, however.

[User] Javi cleared his dry throat. He looked at the stump of his arm…but then glared back defiantly at the witch. "I don’t care who she kills or how many."

[Assistant] "That’s enough nonsense. You’ve got guts, laying down your own life."

[User] "Even so…I won’t let you kill her. She’s the one I want." Javi insisted, stubborn to the last.

[Assistant] Tinasha stared at the Ito man. Her eyes told him nothing, and Javi shrank back a little under the weight of her gaze. He held his breath and cleared his throat.

[User] “…Please save her." Javi begged.

[Assistant] Tinasha frowned, appalled. She rubbed her temple with a finger. "I suppose I have to. But you’re going to help." She looked over at Elze. The woman was in a state of total possession, standing stock-still in the open space as if waiting for her next moment of opportunity. Tinasha gave Oscar and Javi brief instructions. Javi looked unsure but obeyed and took his position.

[User] "Do you think we have a chance now?"

[Assistant] "Mmm… I wish I had some sort of medium to ensure it’ll work. But I was a cat, so I didn’t bring any equipment."

[User] "What kind of medium?"

[Assistant] "Normally, I’d use crystals. You know, like the ones we saw at the foot of the humanlike thing in that mural?" Evidently, those ancient carvings were what Tinasha was basing her plan off. Without a conduit like the ones that had been depicted, all she could do was take over the job herself.

[User] Oscar suddenly straightened up in surprise and responded, "Oh, I’ve got something that might work. Here." He pulled a small bag containing a crystal ball from his breast pocket, and Tinasha’s eyes grew wide.

[Assistant] "Why do you have something like this? You’re not a mage."

[User] "Because it’s your favorite toy. I brought the one from my desk."

[Assistant] "I’m human! I only made myself look like a cat!" Tinasha squawked, her cheeks puffing up. Despite her protestations, she received the palm-sized sphere and inspected it.


[User] "Urgh… It’s a little too big… Won’t fit in my mouth…"

[Assistant] "What are you talking about? It’s a cat toy."

[User] "It’s not a toy!" Tinasha insisted loudly. She squeezed the ball, and it shrank to the size of a small pearl.

[Assistant] "What was that? How’d you do that?"

[User] "Shrinking magic is a real thing, you know. Now watch—the crucial part is what comes next," Tinasha instructed, popping the reduced crystal ball into her mouth.

[Assistant] Oscar’s eyes bugged out. Suddenly, Tinasha asked, "If I became a threat to the entire world, would you kill me?"

[User] "Only if it were beyond a shadow of a doubt that you couldn’t be saved."

[Assistant] Tinasha was left breathless at Oscar’s reply. And then…she gave a heartfelt, blissful smile. Her eyes were soft with feelings she couldn’t hold back as she gazed at him. "That’s why I can fight. Because I know you’d do that." She floated a few centimeters into the air and took Oscar’s face in her hands. Tinasha’s dark eyes bore right into his. Then she closed hers, eyelashes fluttering, and pressed a kiss to Oscar’s forehead. After pulling back, she whispered in his ear, "Let’s go." The witch gave a solid pat to Oscar’s chest. At the same time, he saw the crystal ball go down her throat as she swallowed it.

[User] Before he could think about what that meant, he broke into a run. There was no more mist. Oscar was heading for Akashia, not Elze. The possessed woman reacted to his magic, taking no notice at all of Javi. Her eyes followed Oscar as he ran. A dozen arrows of that white fog formed around Elze before speeding after Oscar.

[Assistant] "Guess you’re so predictable because you’re not really alive." Keeping an eye on the arrows closing in, he made a huge leap. The vaporous projectiles all missed, crashing harmlessly into the ground.

[User] With no change in expression, Elze motioned to summon up new arrows to chase him.


[User] “Hey, Irityrdia. Shouldn’t I be the one you’re aiming for?” Her voice cut through the dark.

[Assistant] Elze’s eyes swiveled to Tinasha.

[User] Clad all in black, the witch appeared not unlike a moon hanging in the night sky. “You were laid to rest here in this sacred place. I wonder how many sacrifices were needed to seal you away.” The question carried across the cavern.

[Assistant] The question filled Oscar’s ears as he charged through the black. The closer he got, the more certain he was that it was Akashia sticking out of the ground. He picked up his beloved sword and was about to turn back when he noticed something scattered on the ground a short distance away. “Are those…human bones?” Scattered skeletons lay faded on the dark earth. Piles of dust had accumulated on them, and in their midst glittered freshly shattered crystal shards.

[User] “You were held by an ancient seal but awakened in response to my magic. That is why you surfaced and reached for me…but I rejected you. So you took that woman instead.” Tinasha reached out a hand. Her eyes curved beautifully with her smile and then flashed with irrepressible rage. “So come to me, O god who has killed many and driven more to madness, who has left its claw marks on history. As a mage of this land, I—the Witch of the Azure Moon—shall face you.” Blue flames sparked from her hands. A colossal magic bonfire powerful enough to burn anything to a crisp at a single touch sprouted to life. The flame was so different from anything found on this plane of the hierarchy that Irityrdia froze for a moment. Then it let out a terrifying roar.

[Assistant] “Aaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!” The taut scream emerging from the woman’s mouth rang double and triple in everyone’s ears.

[User] Elze kicked off the ground and attempted to spring an attack on Tinasha.

[Assistant] Javi had gotten behind her, however, and held her back. As he restrained her with only his left arm, his face twisted at her inhuman might. “Stay here… Do not go!”

[User] Elze struggled in his arms like a broken doll. She fought and writhed, striking out at him with supernatural strength.

[Assistant] There came the dull sound of bones breaking, and Javi doubled over, anguish writ clear on his face. He refused to let her go, however.

[User] She let out a beastly howl. They were entangled like that for a while, until Elze gave a jolt. “Ah…aaahhh…” From her immobile body, a stream of white mist began to flow out, drawn toward the witch’s flame.

[Assistant] The sentient white mist pressed in. As it came nearer, Tinasha flashed it a dauntless grin. “Come.” The witch closed her eyes…and let out a little sigh. Then…something winked out of sight. “Tinasha!” What she erased was the solid wall that was otherwise always in place around her magic.


[User] The first thing mages were taught was how to establish one’s individuality in the world, but she was a witch. Her distinctiveness wasn’t ordinary and neither was how she held her magic in check. She had undone it entirely. An almighty bundle of magical power was utterly defenseless. The god turned into mist and surged toward it.

[Assistant] Tinasha extinguished her blue flame as the stream of vapor closed in but did nothing else. The mist flowed right in between her red lips, entwining around her arms and legs and her waist. The phenomenon descended on her, trying to remove her magic from every pore of her body. The sight was bizarrely beautiful and yet completely sickening.

[User] Javi stared in shock, assaulted by nausea. In his arms, Elze fell limp.

[Assistant] "Dammit!" Oscar cried, running toward the witch. He realized what the piles of bones were. The mural had depicted smashed crystal balls and human remains. Long ago, someone must have used the same method to seal away Irityrdia. The process entailed using oneself as a vessel for a god—but humans were short-lived. So in order to prevent a god lacking a conscious will from going free after its human vessel died, a crystal ball swallowed internally acted as a medium to store the god. Double vessels kept Irityrdia tied to this holy ground. The old crystal balls—the god’s resting place—had shattered into pieces under the pull of the witch’s power. Tinasha had noticed the mist was sealed using two vessels…and resolved to do the same thing others had in the past.

[User] "Tinasha! Stop it!" Oscar insisted. If she became a phenomenon that only existed to kill… Oscar would be the one to bring an end to it. He didn’t plan on burdening anyone else with that responsibility. Undoubtedly, that’s the sort of role the witch wanted him to take. Oscar had always chosen paths that prevented the possibility from becoming an inevitability, however. A beautiful witch. The symbol of the strongest, most abominable power in the entire land. A queen with no throne from an empire that fell long ago. Oscar knew if he let go of her even once, he’d never get her back. She’d glide away as easily as water. Ordinarily, the two should never have met. The slip in time that had allowed it would carry her off. That’s precisely why Oscar knew he couldn’t give up.

[Assistant] "Tinasha!" Oscar grabbed her shoulders. By now, there was no mist remaining. A wisp of white breath escaped her slightly parted lips. She looked up at him with empty, dark eyes.

[User] "Not…yet…" In a thin, weak voice, she said.

[Assistant] "What’s not yet?" he demanded, but he was relieved to see she was still conscious. She wasn’t lost. He could still get her back. Glancing down at her stomach, Oscar said,

[User] "I’m going to make you throw up that crystal. It’ll be painful but bear with it." If he separated it from her, they should be able to take another tack.


[User] He also wouldn’t mind just going back to square one. The two of them could battle the likes of a god. He was convinced of that.

[Assistant] Eyes still vacant, Tinasha immediately responded, “But then it might get away…” Her face was pallid as she looked down at herself. Slowly, she pressed a few fingers down on a spot in the center of her body, just under her rib cage. Then she slid her fingers lower. The black fabric of her formfitting costume opened up smoothly like a knife through butter. Skin as soft as virgin snow peeked out from under the gap. Then her fingers stopped right over her navel.

[User] “It’s here. You can do it, right?”

[Assistant] “Listen…,” Oscar said in exasperation, having gleaned her meaning. Irityrdia was inside the crystal ball she’d swallowed. There was only one way to keep it from ever truly escaping. “Are you planning to make me disembowel you?”

[User] Tinasha’s plan was to have Oscar cleave her through and smash the crystal with Akashia. By using her own body as a decoy, the god could be slain. That was the only way.

[Assistant] The graceful lines of Oscar’s face were all twisted in bitterness, which made the witch laugh.

[User] “Disembowel? You’re the one most capable of finishing the job with minimal injuries. I’ll heal right away, so I’ll be fine. Besides, I’m used to getting holes cut in my belly.”

[Assistant] “Can you be a little less ridiculous…?” Oscar muttered through gritted teeth. It was true that Tinasha had experience with atrocious injuries, but that didn’t make the decision any easier for Oscar. Yet here the witch was, asking him to do just that, entirely naturally.

[User] “Take up your sword and win.” Tinasha gazed at Oscar’s sullen face and tilted her head. “Do you not think you can do it?”

[Assistant] “Don’t try to get me riled up, idiot. I’m just in shock at how shameless you are. Are you a cat?”

[User] “I’m not a cat,” the witch insisted. Complete trust shone in her eyes. No—it wasn’t even trust. Her gaze was saying, You can do it. To her, it was just a fact, not a matter of trust. She was handing her body, her life, over to Oscar without a single doubt. This woman was nothing but trouble, and that was precisely what he loved about her.

[Assistant] “Fine, I’ll do it. You do your best to dull the pain.” Oscar wiped Akashia with a cloth. This was the royal sword. It was meant for war. Its blade was not slender at all. But where he would be cutting bled out copiously even under the best of circumstances. He didn’t want to nick any other organs. Taking off his left glove, he touched her skin to make sure of his aim. He traced upward on her soft belly, and she shuddered.

[User] “Th-that tickles… Don’t touch it too much.”

[Assistant] “Don’t move around. Just try and bear it.


[User] "If you don’t stay perfectly still, I’ll touch you more later." He warned her, and she screwed her eyes shut. Tinasha used magic to anesthetize the area, and while she could stanch bleeding and heal herself, it wouldn’t be possible to do so as long as Akashia was touching her. He needed to be as swift and sure as possible. There was little time left to wait. Oscar looked down at the witch. Her breathing had grown very shallow. While Irityrdia was sealed in the crystal ball inside her, it was taking a heavy toll. Oscar collected himself and grabbed Tinasha around the waist using his left hand.

[Assistant] "You’re my one and only." He said, voicing a simple truth, the same way she’d done. "Concentrate. We’ll beat this without any close calls.”

[User] "Yes, of course." She said, grinning up at him just like a challenger in her tower. "Oscar, I’ve always, always wanted to beat a so-called god to a pulp.” Her desire to fight was clear and honest. The witch lifted her chin and closed her eyes.

[Assistant] "Go on. Do it."

[User] Oscar nodded in acquiescence. Then he focused his strength into his grip on Akashia’s hilt— And crushed the thing once called a god.


[User] After doing much more than he had planned, the first thing Oscar saw when he returned to the fortress was his old playmate on the verge of tears.

[Assistant] Lazar was at the front gate to welcome his king back, and his knees almost gave out under him when he saw Oscar. “Y-Your Majesty… I’m so glad you’re safe…”

[User] “What are you doing here?” Oscar inquired very matter-of-factly.

[Assistant] “What am I doing here?! I came running once I heard you’d gone missing! I was told there was some commotion over a duel with the Ito, but everyone was teleported to safety except you and Miss Tinasha!”

[User] “Oh yeah…” Oscar and Tinasha had managed to sort things out and teleported back. Apparently, Minnedart had been thrown into chaos during their absence. Cries of “His Majesty’s back!” echoed throughout the fort. Granfort and the others hurried over, then looked down at the witch lying in Oscar’s arms.

[Assistant] She was half-asleep but opened her eyes blearily at him. “Is it time to explain…?” she asked.

[User] “I’ll do the explaining. You just get some sleep. I’m taking you back to the room.”

[Assistant] “Sorry… I’ll go back myself…,” she murmured, vanishing away with a silent transportation spell.

[User] Lazar had gotten an eyeful of her all covered in blood and ventured fearfully, “What happened…? Did the Ito do that…?”

[Assistant] “No, I did. I stabbed her.”

[User] “Excuse me, Your Majesty? !”

[Assistant] “I’ll explain while we clean things up. Give me a hand.” He was exhausted and desperately wanted sleep, but there was currently no one else around who understood the entire situation. Oscar gave orders to the people who had gathered around him and retreated to the makeshift study in the fortress. He gave Lazar a brief rundown of everything. By the end of it, his attendant was left in shock.

[User] “I’m sorry, I don’t think I heard you right…”

[Assistant] “No, you did. You just don’t want to believe it. Accept the facts.”

[User] “Why did you end up killing another country’s god when you just went out on a short observation mission? !” Lazar cried. The story about the battle with Irityrdia had left Lazar looking like he could fall to his hands and knees at any moment. No work would get done if he wasted time doing that, though. The most pressing matter at the moment was the banning of future Ito raids. Oscar rested his elbows on the desk and placed his chin in his hands.

[Assistant] “Well, all that stuff about Irityrdia is just between us. Maybe it was something else with a similar name.”

[User] “No matter what it was, I’m just so very glad you’re safe… Oh, that’s right, there was a woman who didn’t come back, either. What happened to her?”

[Assistant] “Yes, Elze. After healing her, we dropped her off at the former site of her village. If she wants to, she’ll come back on her own,” Oscar explained.


[User] Oscar thinks to himself that he didn’t know exactly what answer Elze would decide on or how she’d face herself. If she chose to go back to her old life, the man who’d followed after her would surely escort her to the fortress. Javi had begged the witch to spare Elze’s life, even in exchange for his own. Oscar trusted that Javi and Elze would work things out with each other.

[Assistant] After drafting the agreement that Javi had agreed to, Oscar passed the document to Lazar.

[User] Lazar read it over twice and asked, “This says that there will be a formal signing of an accord at a later date, but will the Ito really respect something like this?”

[Assistant] “Good question. If they don’t, we’ll just have to deal with them in a different way when that time comes.”

[User] Oscar thinks to himself that if the Ito didn’t accept, Tinasha would fly into a rage and possibly annihilate their entire clan. For their sake, Oscar truly hoped this matter had come to an end.

[Assistant] Oscar looks out the window; it was completely dark outside. "There’s still a lot to sort out, but can I go back to my chamber? I’m worried about Tinasha.”

[User] “Go right ahead. I’ll take care of the rest.”

[Assistant] “Thanks.” Oscar says, gathering up the bare minimum of paperwork and heading back to the room he and Tinasha were sharing. He thought she’d immediately pass out after teleporting, but she’d had the strength to take a bath and wash off the blood. She was laying on the bed in a nightgown and looked up at the sound of the door opening.

[User] “Welcome back…” she managed weakly.

[Assistant] “Are you doing okay? There’s no more fragments inside you, right?”

[User] “If there were, I’d definitely know. I’m fine. I don’t have a scar, either.” she informed him. After giving a little yawn, the witch turned to lie facedown.

[Assistant] Oscar sat down next to her, tugging on a strand of damp black hair. “You’ve really gotta take better care of your belly. That’s gonna bite you when you’re giving birth to our child.”

[User] “I won’t… I’m definitely not doing that… Anyway, you should get to sleep. It’ll be rough when the recoil from your magic getting shaken up kicks in later.”

[Assistant] “I still don’t feel anything, though.” Oscar did have to admit that he was feeling exhausted, however. He stood to head for the bathroom, but then something occurred to him. Tinasha was already dozing, but he asked anyway. “Are you going to sleep in human form? Did you forget you’re sharing a room with me?”

[User] “I trust that you have a firm grasp on your self-control…”

[Assistant] “You’re gonna get yourself in trouble one of these days.”

[User] “When I’m a cat, I curl up in a ball… But I want to stretch my legs… Just let me sleep like this for an hour.”

[Assistant] “…Go to sleep, then.”

[User] Evidently relieved by that, Tinasha closed her eyes immediately. Her breathing turned deep.


[Assistant] "I want to kill them…" She growled in a dark room. The speaker was a slender woman, and the fury in her voice seethed like lava sleeping underground. Her red-hot hatred scorched her spirit as she awaited the time to unleash her boiling rage upon the world. "I want to kill those two…"

[User] “…You can’t. Not only is she the most powerful witch but the bearer of Akashia is her guardian. Make no mistake, those two are the strongest duo in all the land." She said in reply to the first speaker’s litany of curses. She sounded bored, but lying below the surface of that was a placidity tainted with poison.

[Assistant] "Even so, I want to kill them." Her matter-of-fact statement caused the incensed woman to bite her lip as she insisted.

[User] "Weren’t you in the wrong? You’re the one who toyed with people’s lives."

[Assistant] "I want to kill them…" Her resentment ran deep. Her anger had deafened her to what the other woman was saying.

[User] The owner of the room listened to the other whisper for a while before she suddenly gave a little snort. In an amused tone, the witch said… "Then let me teach you how."


[User] "—Thou who hath reached the tower’s peak, petitioner of omnipotence who treads upon the first floor.”

[Assistant] When they heard the voice that greeted them and saw who had spoken those words, the entire group was struck speechless.

[User] "You weren’t expecting this, right? Climbing the tower to find Volcanica waiting here. I was really surprised, too…"

[Assistant] "Wait. Wait, wait, wait. Does surprise even begin to describe it, I wonder?" Beatrice's voice and hands trembled as she spoke, and she wasn’t the only one who had lost her cool, having come face-to-face with the sacred dragon.

[User] "Th-this is…" Anastasia couldn’t maintain her ever-constant composure.

[Assistant] "Sigh. Even I didn’t see this coming. What the heck. Wasn’t the Holy Dragon supposed to be somewhere beyond the Great Waterfalls?" Echidna was currently in scarf form.

[User] "That is what I’ve heard as well. According to the Dragon Tablet, Volcanica will supposedly return to reforge the covenant with Lugunica’s new leader in the same year the royal selection is decided." A hint of unease could be heard in Echidna’s voice.

[Assistant] Julius stepped forward in his dazzling white armor and placed his sword on the ground as he bowed to Volcanica with the deepest respect.

[User] "O, venerable dragon, holy guardian who watches over our kingdom. My humblest apologies for any discourtesy we may have shown you, Lord Volcanica, savior of our people and the one who has upheld the covenant for untold years." It was the epitome of decorum for a knight who served the Dragronfriend Kingdom.

[Assistant] "—I am Volcanica. By ancient oath, I ask thy will." Volcanica’s golden eyes narrowed

[User] "As you wish! I am fully devoted in mind and body to Lady Anastasia Hoshin, who also stands before you. She who will surely be our next ruler and covenant-keeper, Lady Anastasia…ngh…"

[Assistant] "A-are you crying, Julius?"

[User] "M-my apologies. Not only have I exchanged words with one of the three great heroes, Reid Astrea, but now I also have the privilege of meeting the Holy Dragon Volcanica… There is no greater honor possible… This tower is indescribable." Julius wiped a tear from the corner of his eye as his voice trembled in awe.

[Assistant] Emilia didn’t want to break the bad news to Julius right when he was having a moment, but, knowing she had to, she awkwardly began to explain.


[User] "Umm, it’s a little hard for me to say this, seeing how happy you are…"

[Assistant] "—Thou who hath reached the tower’s peak, petitioner of omnipotence who treads upon the first floor.”

[User] "…Wait a tick. That line feels a bit familiar." Anastasia says, having noticed the dragon repeating itself.

[Assistant] Emilia wore a look of resignation. "Umm, about Volcanica… It seems that it’s been waiting here for so long that it’s made it really forgetful. Its body is fine, though, and it can definitely still run a bit wild…"

[User] The dragon’s body remained more than capable, but its mind struggled to stay sharp against the passage of time. It had barred Emilia’s way as the examiner for the first floor, but—perhaps because its duty was complete once Emilia had reached the monolith—it had then reverted to a state of confusion and obliviousness. And despite the fact that the examination was long over, the dragon continued to repeat itself.

[Assistant] "Th-the Holy Dragon has grown old, you say…?" Julius staggered from sheer shock.

[User] "C-calm down, Julius. You must be exhausted. Here, take a seat and rest a while." Anastasia said.

[Assistant] After Reid had betrayed Julius’s expectations so dramatically, Emilia was reluctant to dash Julius’s hopes, especially after she saw the excitement brimming in his eyes, but…

[User] "Emilia, that isn’t the issue. This can’t be called forgetfulness."

[Assistant] "Huh?"

[User] "I suppose you feel it as well, Echidna. This dragon is…"

[Assistant] "You’re right. It’s obvious when you take a closer look. This isn’t mere mental degradation. The dragon is hollow."

[User] "‘Hollow’…?" Emilia cocked her head in confusion at the two artificial spirits’ words.

[Assistant] "It’s exactly what it sounds like. The soul is gone…leaving nothing inside. What remains can only recite certain words and employ a limited set of responses. Think of it like being ninety percent asleep."

[User] "Ninety percent… But it was really strong."

[Assistant] "If its soul were present, it would have been incomparably stronger."

[User] Emilia shuddered, catching the implied You got lucky in Echidna’s tone. With the help of her ice soldiers, Emilia had just barely survived. It was unbelievable that Volcanica had essentially been half asleep the entire fight.

[Assistant] "Missing soul aside, this is unmistakably the Holy Dragon…or its body, I suppose. In which case, there might be a way to help the people of Pristella."

[User] "!!! A way to help everyone? What should we do?"

[Assistant] "I see… We can get the Holy Dragon’s blood!" Anastasia said, snapping her fingers.

[User] Beatrice nodded, and Emilia’s eyes widened as she realized the significance of what Anastasia had suggested. Volcanica’s blood was the subject of many legends passed down in Lugunica. The Holy Dragon’s blood could revive barren land, ensure an abundant harvest, and instantly heal any sickness or injury. These were just a few of the incredible effects attested to in ancient records.


[User] “If we can get blood from Volcanica…” Emilia's ultimate goal in joining the royal selection was to acquire the dragon’s blood and use it to thaw the frozen forest of Elior. All of Emilia’s kindred were trapped in ice because her power had run wild. Freeing them was why she had come this far.

[Assistant] And now Emilia had stumbled upon what she had been searching for all this time. She was so stunned, she forgot to breathe. If she could obtain Volcanica’s blood here, then there was no longer any need for her to pursue the throne. “I…”

[User] “Sorry for confusing you, Emilia, but the blood you are thinking of and the blood Volcanica has are different things." Beatrice explained to Emilia, who had been on the verge of losing her reason for participating in the royal selection.

[Assistant] "Eh?" Emilia’s eyes widened. “What do you mean? I studied this very carefully. The dragon’s blood that will melt the ice trapping everyone is supposed to be in the castle. So…”

[User] “That isn’t wrong. The dragon blood bequeathed to the royal family of Lugunica after they forged the covenant with the Holy Dragon Volcanica can heal any disease, and has the power to restore any withered, blasted land. It should even be able to thaw the Elior woods you wish to restore. However…” Beatrice lowered her gaze and paused for a moment as Emilia watched her imploringly. Then she blinked her distinctive eyes and continued. “The blood that was given to the kingdom is not Volcanica’s blood. The substance we refer to as ‘dragon’s blood’ comes from the final heartbeat of a dying dragon… It is, in essence, that dragon’s heart and soul.”

[Assistant] “The heart and soul of…a dying dragon…?” This new information made Emilia arch her eyebrows sharply.

[User] Beatrice simply nodded quietly.

[Assistant] “May I?” Julius raised his hand. Having seemingly recovered from the shock of learning about Volcanica’s lack of a soul, Julius looked up at the Holy Dragon, whose countenance remained unchanged. “Lady Beatrice, if I might ask, where did you learn all this? I am a knight in the Kingdom of Lugunica’s royal guard. I have heard my share of secrets. However, what you speak of is…”

[User] “With the final pulse of the heart, the dragon’s blood is poured into a vessel. That blood—true dragon’s blood—was entrusted to the royal family and became proof of the covenant sworn between dragon and people.”

[Assistant] “It is understandable you wouldn’t know. This comes from a record sealed away in the Archive of Forbidden Books…a record left by the Witch of Greed, Echidna, whose name has nearly been forgotten by this world.”

[User] Julius’s eyes shot open, and he stopped breathing. Despite being a knight who directly served the royal family, he had never heard this before, yet he couldn’t imagine Beatrice was lying.


[User] “Then which dragon did the blood kept in Lugunica Castle come from? If it is from the final beat of their heart, then…”

[Assistant] “It would be stranger if the dragon it came from wasn’t already dead…and that means our empty-headed-but-very-much-alive Holy Dragon here ain’t the one.”

[User] “It’s unknown, I suppose. Unfortunately, that much was not recorded.”

[Assistant] “…Well, that’s a bit disappointing. Just a guess, but I suppose that Witch of Greed is the main reason why Natsuki is so cold with me? After hearing this story, I have to say I can’t blame him.”

[User] “I won’t let you bad-mouth Mother. Watch what you say.”

[Assistant] “Don’t fight, you two! But, um,…” Emilia scolded the pair, quietly looking down.

[User] “…What a strange feeling.”

[Assistant] “…Emilia’s concerns aside, if Beatrice is right, then can this Holy Dragon’s blood do what we’re trying to achieve? Isn’t it more likely to be a bust?”

[User] “Since long ago, I suppose the blood of dragons has been highly valued as a catalyst for magic. Even if it is not true dragon’s blood, the blood of the living Holy Dragon Volcanica should still possess immense power. However…” Beatrice glanced at Emilia.

[Assistant] Even with the blood of the Holy Dragon Volcanica…

[User] “I won’t be able to unfreeze everyone in the forest.”

[Assistant] “…Unfortunately, no.” Beatrice nodded sadly.

[User] “It’s okay.” Emilia said with a soft expression, lifting her head. “It’s really unfortunate, but it wasn’t like I came here with any expectations. I was more surprised than anything, and there wasn’t enough time for it to really sink in, so…I’m just peachy.”

[Assistant] “I should have mentioned it sooner… Though I did not expect to encounter the Holy Dragon here of all places, I suppose. Regretfully.”

[User] “That’s right. What a troublemaker.”


[User] “Still, I didn’t know there was such a distinction when it comes to dragon’s blood… Incidentally, if we had the Holy Dragon here die for us and took its heart’s blood…”

[Assistant] “L-Lady Anastasia? !”

[User] “Kidding, just kidding. Don’t get mad, Julius. I wasn’t serious.” Anastasia raised her hands and quickly walked back her suggestion once she saw Julius’s wide-eyed reaction. The joke caught Emilia by surprise, but she was naturally against that idea, too.

[Assistant] “I don’t think it’s right to sacrifice Volcanica to do it.”

[User] “Fine, fine. It’s not like I’m eager to do it, either… It’s just a possibility,” Anastasia said, sticking out her tongue.

[Assistant] “Dear, oh dear,” Echidna sighed from around Anastasia’s neck. “Anyway, let’s review. There was some great dragon who was Volcanica’s equal in the past, and the dragon’s blood in Lugunica Castle comes from that dragon. Volcanica swore a covenant with the royal family of Lugunica and gave them that blood as a sign of friendship. That’s the truth behind the history, then?”

[User] “Now that dragons are almost entirely extinct, it would be difficult to confirm, I suppose. But yes, it’s true.”

[Assistant] “The Holy Dragon is right here, though. If we can’t have the lifeblood of a dragon, then we can at least get some fresh blood from the Holy Dragon and see if we can help the people in Pristella.”

[User] “According to the legends, a single drop of the dragon’s blood in the castle could restore vast swaths of land, so maybe it will make a powerful medicine?”

[Assistant] “Fresh blood and heart blood are different things, I suppose. But there is no proof that simply pouring it on something will have an effect. It’s nothing more than a starting point for figuring out a treatment,”

[User] “It’s still a major step forward compared to not having any idea of what to do next. If it really can be an elixir that works on anything, then it’s worth investigating.” As she listened to them talk, Emilia began to feel some hope again.

[Assistant] “Mm-hmm, okay. In that case, let’s try asking Volcanica. We might not be able to communicate, and there’s a chance they’ll go berserk again if we try to take their blood, but it’s still worth a try.”

[User] “All that sounds less than appealing… Emilia, you should have been recognized as the new administrator of the Pleiades Watchtower, yes? Can you not use that somehow, I wonder?”

[Assistant] “The administrator… I don’t really feel any different, though…” After they’d all solved the riddle of the third floor, Emilia had gotten past Reid on the second floor and demonstrated her will to Volcanica on the first.


[User] It seemed fair to say Emilia had conquered the watchtower. Despite that, she hadn’t sensed any obvious changes. There was one thing she had noticed, though… “The sands shouldn’t block anyone from reaching this tower anymore…I think?”

[Assistant] “Was that something you decided? There are some pretty dangerous things in those books of the dead. The Witch Cult might pay this place a visit, too. All that sounds a bit risky, don’t you think?”

[User] “It might be, but I think if everyone is careful, it’ll be all right. There’s too much for us to decide everything on our own.” The watchtower simply raised too many questions. For better or for worse, they didn’t have the right to decide what to do by themselves. They needed to confer with others, seek out their wisdom, and find the best way forward. “That’s what I think, at least. Is that bad?”

[Assistant] “…I think that’s a bit too optimistic, but that answer suits you. If Ana and Julius aren’t against it, then I won’t say no, either.”

[User] “Thank you, Echidna.”

[Assistant] “Fine, I get it,” Anastasia said, waving her hand. “I’m not opposed. Besides, even if we did decide to hide it, it would be a ton of work to look after… Better to just split the reward for discovering it and making it so people can even get here in the first place.”

[User] “It was you who reached the summit of this tower, Lady Emilia. I shall respect your decision.”

[Assistant] “Thank you, Anastasia, Julius.” Emilia smiled at them as well. Then she turned to Beatrice, who was the only one who had yet to chime in. “What about you, Beatrice? Do you think it’s irresponsible?”

[User] “If that is your question, it would be far more irresponsible to abandon this place without further investigation. Betty is not against your decision. Personally, I am deeply interested.”

[Assistant] “Thank goodness!” Relieved that her cohort was not against her decision, Emilia breathed a sigh of relief. She was sure that if everyone worked together, they would find some way to put this tower to good use. “Okay, all that’s left is getting the blood… Will Volcanica come with us?”

[User] “That feels like a problem waiting to happen.” Volcanica was so massive, it would make traveling difficult. And even if they asked the dragon to wait outside whenever they ventured into a town, the sight of it alone would undoubtedly cause alarm. If Volcanica were able to assume a smaller form, like Puck, that would have helped, but…

[Assistant] “Hey, Volcanica, will you come with us? Or, if you have to stay here, would you share some of your blood…?”

[User] “Volcanica?” Emilia didn’t want to get her hopes up after what had happened during the examination, but she still found the dragon’s reaction curious.


[User] The Holy Dragon slowly raised its head and looked out from the tower. There was no sign it had any intention of attacking or responding to the question.

[Assistant] Emilia found this all very strange. At the same time… "What’s that?" A chill ran down her back. It felt like a cold finger had traced the path of her spine. Seeking out the source of that feeling, Emilia quickly turned toward the eastern side of the tower—where Volcanica was also looking.

[User] To the east, beyond the desert, lay the great waterfall marking the very edge of the world. And one other special place could be found there.

[Assistant] “Emilia! I suppose this is quite bad!” The first to realize what was causing that bad feeling was Beatrice.

[User] By the time Emilia had turned around to grab her small, outstretched hand, the menace had already reached the tower. The desert surrounding the watchtower bulged upward as a dark shadow welled up from underground. It looked like the earth itself was about to capsize, and the resulting shock wave swallowed the tower.

[Assistant] “Ahhhhhh!”

[User] “Lady Anastasia!” Grabbing Anastasia, Julius crouched down to the shuddering floor.

[Assistant] Emilia pulled Beatrice close and gritted her teeth, enduring the shock. What had happened? She did not know what that shadow she had seen for an instant was, but… "Wha— Volcanica? !" Looking up, Emilia saw the blue-scaled dragon rising.

[User] The Holy Dragon spread its wings and flew into the sky.

[Assistant] Buffeted by the lashing wind, Emilia saw Volcanica inhale deeply. Its chest swelled with air as the blue Holy Dragon prepared its breath.

[User] “Everyone, get down!! !” They were caught between tremors from below and a gale from above. In the midst of it all, Emilia desperately called out a warning to the others.

[Assistant] “I am Volcanica. By ancient oath, I ask thy will.”

[User] A blinding blue light threatened to engulf the clear sky itself as Volcanica’s breath shot out and pushed back the black shadow surging across the desert. The next instant, the blue light swelled, and sound, smell, and everything else in the world disappeared. Azure light crashed against jet-black shadow. It almost seemed like this was the center of a world-encompassing explosion—no, in that moment, the center of the world was undoubtedly here, in this desert at the eastern edge of the world.


[User] Despite the ferocity of it, a terrible silence enveloped the struggle. It was only then that Emilia noticed their surroundings had hardly been touched. The clash between blue and black ended in an instant. It was clear now that, surprisingly, there was very little destruction. The wind sounded too quiet, and the tremors faded so quickly one could almost believe that nothing had happened.

[Assistant] Though still reeling from the shock, Julius and Anastasia had recovered enough to open their eyes.

[User] "I-is it over…?"

[Assistant] "So it would seem… But what was that?" Now that the shock waves had receded, they cautiously peered around.

[User] The Holy Dragon quietly descended with a flap of its wings.

[Assistant] "—Thou who hath reached the tower’s peak, petitioner of omnipotence who treads upon the first floor."

[User] “…That’s all you have to say, after all that? I guess this hollow soul business is pretty serious.” Echidna couldn’t help feeling incredulous when she heard Volcanica repeating those same tired old lines.

[Assistant] Anastasia seemed to share her feelings

[User] Volcanica’s breath had driven off the shadow for them. However, something else was making Emilia’s chest throb.

[Assistant] "Lady Emilia? Did something happen? Are you hurt…?"

[User] "No, I’m fine! It’s Beatrice…!" Guided by the roiling unease building inside her, Emilia called out to Beatrice, whom she held in her arms.

[Assistant] The girl was stiff with tension, and her large eyes were opened wide.

[User] "Emilia, go back downstairs! Right now! Subaru is…"

[Assistant] "Ngh! Okay—please behave, Volcanica! We’re going to check the green room really quick!" Still carrying Beatrice, Emilia immediately set off at a run.

[User] Realizing something must be wrong, Julius and Anastasia quickly followed. They rushed down the long, winding stairs that connected the first and second floors…


[Assistant] "Oh, you’re all here. Is everything okay? The tower was shaking a lot earlier."

[User] "Meili! Are you hurt?"

[Assistant] "I’m fine," Meili answered in her usual singsong voice, "I was just about to come find you… There was a bit of a problem."

[User] "A problem…with Subaru and the others?"

[Assistant] When Meili nodded, Emilia gasped and hurried even faster toward the green room.

[User] Once they’d reached the passage leading to their goal on the fourth floor, the problem became clear. Subaru, Ram, and the others who were exhausted from the fighting were supposed to be recovering in the green room—which was now unreachable due to a collapsed hallway. The walls were torn asunder, and the passage was now exposed to the outside. Volcanica had blown away the shadow, but just before it’d been erased, the shadow had reached this location, and the terrible destruction it had wrought was still visible.

[Assistant] "This is… Ah, Ram!" As a thick dust cloud filled the air, Emilia found Ram slumped against the wall. A black land dragon was nestled beside her. For the most part, both looked safe.

[User] "Ram! And Patlash, too.


[User] "Thank goodness… You aren’t injured, are you?” Ram answered in a weak voice, clearly still recovering.

[Assistant] "Lady…Emilia…” Emilia gasped at her frail reply, and she followed Ram’s gaze to where the green room was supposed to be. There was nothing there. The vines and plants that had been pulled away from the floor and walls still hung there, but the occupants of the room…

[User] "Ram… Where are Subaru and Rem? They’re safe, right?”

[Assistant] "That’s…”

[User] "No…!” Emilia’s amethyst eyes went wide at Ram’s reluctant response. She rushed over to the big hole, ready to dive into the collapsed section of the tower.

[Assistant] "Will you wait a moment, I wonder? !” Beatrice tugged forcefully at her arm. "It’s too dangerous, Emilia! And you won’t find Subaru no matter how much you look!”

[User] "That’s…! Don’t say that, Beatrice! It’s Subaru. I’m sure he hung on to something and he’s safe…”

[Assistant] "I didn’t say he wasn’t safe! But he isn’t here!”

[User] Emilia had been dragging Beatrice along with ease, but that last comment gave her pause. She spun around with bewildered eyes. "What do you mean, he isn’t here? Did he manage to get away…?”

[Assistant] "No, Lady Emilia." Julius, who had managed to catch up with them, shook his head at her question. Like Emilia had just done, he peered through the gaping hole in the tower’s wall. "The shadow earlier…that was the dark element… I believe it is similar in essence to Shamak. Lady Beatrice, as a great spirit with an affinity for the dark element, what is your opinion?”

[User] "Your assessment isn’t wrong. Shamak is…essentially an isolation spell. And that’s what swallowed up Subaru. The shadow’s master apparently tried to whisk Subaru away somewhere. But it failed, I suppose.”

[Assistant] "Failed as in… Ah! Because of Volcanica’s breath?” Emilia’s eyes shot open as Beatrice and Julius both nodded. The dark menace that had borne down on the tower had swallowed up Subaru and Rem in the green room. However, right as it had managed to do that, Volcanica’s breath had driven off the shadow.

[User] "Wait, wait, wait. Then what happened? There’s no trace of the shadow anymore, so…” Anastasia trailed off as she considered the worst-case scenario.

[Assistant] "They’re not dead. I’m sure of it.” Ram stated this with absolute confidence as she stood up with Patlash’s support. She touched the spot on her forehead where her horn had once been and blinked, as if to say that was how she knew. "An oni’s…or maybe I should say a sister’s bond? So you’re still connected with Rem?”

[User] "Yes, that’s correct. Rem is still alive… Barusu is another matter.”

[Assistant] "Subaru is safe, too! Betty can guarantee that!” Beatrice went red in the face as she shouted this indignantly. She was contracted to Subaru, so her words held just as much weight as Ram’s. It was unknown where Subaru and Rem had gone, but they were both still alive.


[User] "But is there any concrete proof?"

[Assistant] "It might be premature to say they’re safe, I imagine, but…can you tell anything about his condition with that link?"

[User] “…At the very least, his life is not currently in danger. I can’t sense anything concerning, I suppose.” Beatrice answered Anastasia with a confident shake of her head.

[Assistant] Emilia touched her chest, trying to calm her racing heart.

[User] “…Emilia, here.” Anastasia suddenly offered a white handkerchief to Emilia.

[Assistant] “Eh?” Emilia took it without thinking but wasn’t sure why Anastasia thought she needed it.

[User] "You haven’t noticed? You’re crying… It probably hit you when you heard he was still alive.”

[Assistant] “…Oh, wow.” Touching her cheek, Emilia realized that there were tears flowing from her eyes. She quickly wiped them with the handkerchief.

[User] “Mrgh,” she sniffled. “S-sorry… Even though everyone else is also dealing with this, I…”

[Assistant] “You don’t have to apologize. He’s your precious knight. And it’s not like I’d be any different if I was in your shoes.”

[User] “To hear you say as much is an incomparable joy, Lady Anastasia… Lady Emilia, I am sure Subaru feels the same.”

[Assistant] “…Yes, thank you.” Sniffling again, Emilia thanked Anastasia and Julius.

[User] "So what now? It’s nice that you were so happy you cried when you heard that Mister and that sleeping lady are still alive, but…where did they go?" Trying to be supportive in her own way, Meili asked the most pressing question while she played with the little red scorpion on her head.

[Assistant] “You’re right.” Emilia looked up and said. She was sure Subaru and Rem were the ones who wanted to cry most. Bawling her eyes out wouldn’t help anyone.

[User] "We have to find them as soon as possible… Beatrice, Ram…can you tell where Subaru and Rem ended up?” she pleaded earnestly.

[Assistant] "—South, I suppose."

[User] "Agreed. I cannot say exactly how far they’ve gone, but…it’s very far.”

[Assistant] Emilia turned that way as well.

[User] "Everything is always so hard for Subaru… We have to find him quickly, or he might cry.”

[Assistant] “Lady Emilia, Subaru is not that frail…”

[User] “No, that’s not what I mean… I just know he’ll be crying by himself.”


[User] Subaru liked to put up a strong front and was stubborn beyond belief, so he always tried to bear everything on his own, even if it meant enduring terrible hardship. Even when it would have been fine to cry, he wouldn’t allow himself to do so. That was why Emilia wanted to find him as soon as possible. She didn’t want him to be alone if and when he reached his limit. She wanted to be by his side, so that her knight would never have to cry alone.

[Assistant] "Emilia…"

[User] "I know, Beatrice. My heart is really, really on edge. But I can’t help Subaru by getting worked up here… I have to stay calm." Her eyes still red, Emilia slapped her cheeks and gave Beatrice a nod. Forging ahead when your heart felt uneasy—that was how Emilia’s knight did things. That was how he brought the future he wanted closer to becoming reality…

[Assistant] "Subaru and Rem are together, right?"

[User] "…Given that Lady Beatrice and I both feel a pull from the same direction, that seems likely."

[Assistant] "I see… In that case, I’m sure Subaru will protect Rem no matter what, so we don’t have to worry about her. I am a little worried for Subaru, though." He would surely keep her safe no matter the cost, even if it meant neglecting to care for himself. That was a bad habit of his. Emilia clutched her hands in front of her chest, as if in prayer.

[User] "Subaru, please be okey-dokey together with Rem."


[User] Subaru hugged a girl close. He had black hair and an unfriendly demeanor. With his beady eyes and generally unpleasant countenance, some might have gone as far as to say he had the face of a killer. However, right now, the boy had a tender look in his eyes, and there was the faintest trace of a smile on his lips. He looked like he was on the verge of tears, and it was all he could do to keep his vision from growing fuzzy. He carefully propped her up, their faces were close.

[Assistant] "...He...ro..." With a trembling voice, she repeated what the boy in front of her had said.

[User] "Yeah, that’s right, Rem. I’m your hero. I’ll always…" Subaru nodded over and over while trying to control the quivering in his own voice, Subaru strained to hear Rem’s.

[Assistant] "Rem?"

[User] "—m."

[Assistant] "What? Take as long as you need, Rem. What are…" He was about to continue asking her what she wanted to say but trailed off partway through as he brought his ear close to Rem’s lips.

[User] Subaru fell backward with an awkward shout, his voice cracking as Rem caught his head and jaw in two outstretched hands.

[Assistant] "R-Rem?" Their positions were flipped. Now Rem was straddling him. Bewildered by the sudden change, Subaru was slow to react.

[User] "Who is Rem?" Rem stared straight down at him, her blue eyes looking him up and down.

[Assistant] "And what is this random talk of heroes all of a sudden? It makes absolutely no sense! Who are you?!" Pinning Subaru’s shoulders with her knees, Rem put her hands around Subaru’s throat. Subaru struggled to breathe as she held him down with her body weight.


[User] He flailed his legs, but Rem was a master of restraint techniques. There was no way for him to regain control. “Ghk! Aaah, gah…”

[Assistant] “If you won’t speak, then I will simply wait until you do. It does not matter how long it takes. Now answer me. What is your goal? What are you after? !” Whether it was intentional or not, though, she was using too much force, and her grip around Subaru’s neck kept him from answering.

[User] Subaru desperately kicked his legs. He was about to be strangled to death. This was their long-awaited reunion, even though he was the only one of them who knew it. He refused to let things end like this. Even if she didn’t remember anything about him. “Aaauuh!”

[Assistant] “Aaah? !” Suddenly, someone leaped in and slammed into Rem from the side. That said, it would have been more accurate to say that whoever it was got tangled up and fell onto the grass along with Rem.

[User] Freed from the weight pinning him down, Subaru rolled onto his side and started coughing. It was for an entirely different reason now that his eyes were watering as he looked over at Rem, who had fallen over. That was when he noticed the young girl clinging to Rem.

[Assistant] “Uuuh! Uuuh!”

[User] “Wh-what are you…? Please, stop! This is not the time for this…”

[Assistant] The moment he saw the blond girl clinging to Rem, red-faced and with teeth bared, Subaru’s mind went blank. Before he realized it, he was rushing over to them. “Get away from Rem, you asshole!”


[User] Okay, I understand. I'm ready to convert book chapters into roleplay conversations, following the provided format and rules. I will pay close attention to the original text, avoid deviations, indicate scene changes with "---", and ensure correct punctuation and grammar. I will also use only character names for the Character_Name variable.

[Assistant] Bring on the book chapter! I'm ready to start.


[User] “Aaah, uuuh!! !” He knocked away the hand, which was grabbing at Rem’s hair, then immediately put the Archbishop, Louis Arneb, in a full nelson, and dragged her away from Rem. Gluttony struggled, but flailing around with her arms and legs seemed to be all she could do to resist. While he found this incredibly suspect, Subaru continued to move the danger away from Rem.

[Assistant] “Auuuh! Uuh, uuuuh!”

[User] “What’s with you…? C’mon, behave! Rem, are you all right?! Nothing happened, right? !”

[Assistant] “N-nothing happened. If anything, I should be asking you…” Rem’s lovely eyebrows arched in confusion as she replied. She was still watching Subaru with suspicion as she slowly started to rise…

[User] “…Huh?” Her knees buckled without warning, and she fell right onto her bottom. Subaru’s eyes shot open at the unnatural way Rem had fallen, but she didn’t notice. She was too preoccupied with checking her knees and trying to stand up again. However…

[Assistant] “…Don’t tell me you can’t stand?” Subaru asked woodenly.

[User] “N-no, of course I… This…this is…” Rem immediately responded, still trying to get her legs to work. However, the harder she tried, the worse the situation became. It was almost like her thoughts couldn’t reach her legs.

[Assistant] “Is it possible your legs got weaker because you were asleep for so long? But your arms didn’t feel any weaker.” Subaru seemed even more panicked about Rem’s condition than she was, and his eyes spun as he watched her struggle to stand. It was a common-enough story. Many who had long hospital stays lost a great deal of muscle mass due to a lack of exercise. It wasn’t rare to hear that it had caused weakness in the legs, or to need a few weeks of rehabilitation to be able to stand and walk again. But it seemed odd that it would only affect the lower body. Rem had been bedridden for over a year. Any resulting weakness should have affected her whole body. This sort of imbalanced condition was most likely due to…

[User] “…The feedback from Bis Sis fighting earlier?” As he tried to figure out what could possibly be wrong, that thought crossed his mind. Ram had fought hard against Lye Batenkaitos, another Archbishop of Gluttony. Because of Subaru’s weakness, Ram had been forced to use her trump card—sharing the burden of her power with her sister. Ram had been a prodigy since childhood and would have gone on to become one of the strongest beings alive had she kept her horn. That was the level of power she had unleashed in that fight, and Rem had endured the strain of it while still unconscious. After getting a small taste of the burden Ram carried, Subaru knew just how terrible that must have been for Rem. What Subaru had taken on was just a fragment of the burden Ram always carried.


[User] Even that had been enough to make Subaru feel like he’d pulled several all-nighters in a row. In addition to incredible exhaustion, he’d been hit with a fever and nausea. Meanwhile, Rem had taken on a far greater load than him, but without any way of bracing herself for it. He remembered back in the green room what Ram had said about not knowing what might happen when she shared the weight of her full power with Rem. If that was the reason why Rem couldn’t stand up now, then…

[Assistant] "...It’s all my fault." Ram would have immediately berated him if she’d heard those words coming out of his mouth. But Subaru had failed to finish what he had started, and as a result, Ram had pushed herself to the limit. Assuming that was the cause of Rem’s current condition, he fully considered it his fault. Now that their comrades were nowhere to be found, and with Louis hanging around in a strange state for some reason, that responsibility weighed on him even more heavily.

[User] "Your fault…? What did you do to me?!"

[Assistant] "Wait, that’s not what I meant…"

[User] "Also, I must ask again! Who are you, and who am I?!" Rem glared at Subaru as she pounded at the legs that refused to move. Rage swirled wildly in her eyes. Her pained demand that almost verged on a tantrum confirmed Subaru’s unpleasant hunch. A bitter taste filled his mouth. Rem had asked who she was. It was painful that she didn’t recognize him. But for her to not even know herself was almost too much for Subaru to bear, given how long he had wished for this reunion. Of course, he had already suspected as much because of how she had been talking.

[Assistant] "...These are the same symptoms that Crusch had." Ever since her name and memories were stolen from her, Rem had been sleeping. There were two more ways Gluttony’s victims could end up. Those who had their names stolen were forgotten by the people around them, like Julius. And those who had their memories stolen forgot themselves. That was what had happened to Crusch. Rem had woken up with no memories and no idea what was happening. The first people she’d seen were a guy with the face of a thug, and a little girl who could only make strange noises. And to top it all off, she couldn’t move her own legs. It was perfectly understandable that she would be confused.

[User] "Uuaauh!" Apparently exhausted from struggling, Louis had stopped fighting, and at some point managed to slip out of Subaru’s arms, which had gone loose. She landed on the ground and let out a shout. After rubbing her bottom, Louis rolled over.

[Assistant] Paying her no attention, Subaru slowly walked over to Rem instead. As he approached, Rem remained on guard. The look in her eyes reminded Subaru of the first time they’d met.


[User] “Well, never mind Big Sis for now… Hey there.”

[Assistant] “Wh-what? I should warn you, if you intend to do something to me, I… ”

[User] “…You’re Rem.”

[Assistant] “Huh?” Her face had been incredibly tense, but suddenly she looked almost dumbfounded.

[User] Subaru came to a stop just outside her reach. "Rem. That’s your name.”

[Assistant] Rem fell silent, unable to hide her confusion. But he could see her red tongue moving slightly as she repeated Rem to herself, as though she wanted to confirm the shape of the name with her mouth.

[User] “If I’m being honest, I don’t really know exactly what happened, either. But we got separated from our friends and wound up in a place I don’t recognize. You should be able to understand that’s not ideal, right?”

[Assistant] “Well…” Still confused, Rem’s eyes glanced around the meadow they were in.

[User] Subaru didn’t want to worry Rem when she already had her lost memory to deal with and had no idea what was happening. That was why he’d decided to conceal the myriad doubts and worries that were taking root in his mind.

[Assistant] “It doesn’t look like there’s much hope of reuniting with our buddies anytime soon. We’ll have to make do by ourselves for the time being. So…”

[User] “So…what? What would you have me do? I can barely move my own legs.”

[Assistant] “…I imagine this is gonna sound real suspicious, but all you need to do is stay right there. Seeing you breathing, talking, and looking around us is more than enough.”

[User] “What?


[User] "Do you mean I should keep an eye out for potential danger?"

[Assistant] "Not exactly, but that works, too." Rem was awake, alert, and active.

[User] Subaru couldn’t be happier. It was a small wish, but what Subaru had wanted more than anything was for Rem to be well. That was the simple truth. Of course, he still wanted to figure out a way to recover her memories, and also find a way to meet back up with Emilia, Beatrice, and the others. The sooner, the better. He wanted to reunite Rem and Ram. For Ram’s sake. For the girl who cared so much about the sister she couldn’t remember. "Could you just trust me here? Please? I’ll protect you even if it costs me my life… Well, I guess if it actually costs me my life, there’s not much point, but I’ll put my life on the line to keep you safe. Promise. So…"

[Assistant] "...Supposing I were willing to accept your request, what do you plan to do?"

[User] "Right. I can’t just start rushing around without a plan, so we should settle on a course of action." They were sitting in the middle of a big, open meadow, but a tree line was visible in the distance. They seemed to be in a large clearing in a forest. Frankly, venturing into a forest in unfamiliar lands was nothing but a massive risk, but… "The number one rule when you are lost in a forest is letting people know where you are using GPS, but…"

[Assistant] "‘Jee Pee Ess’…?"

[User] "I know, we don’t have that here… But I’m connected with Beako through our contract, so in a sense, I’m our GPS." And it was possible Rem and Ram’s connection could serve the same purpose. If so, both could guide their friends in the right direction. "The next priority is finding a source of water. Clean water is crucial. Then we pick the best campsite, and from there, we steadily explore our surroundings. As for edible plants and fruits… I was right to learn all that from Clind. Three cheers for Teach…" While Subaru was learning how to parkour and use a whip, Clind had also taught him all sorts of techniques and other knowledge. Subaru had had plenty of complaints while studying under that butler who could apparently do everything, but thanks to that training, he knew what to do in this situation. In any case… "There’s other things we can try, but we can’t move without a plan. Understand?" Subaru smiled reassuringly.

[Assistant] "...To some extent. Even if I wanted to resist, my current condition won’t let me."

[User] "...I think you just said the quiet part out loud." Rem’s response was not exactly a vote of confidence. Having lost her memories, she had very little reason to trust Subaru. If she could walk on her own, there was a good chance she would’ve already booked it. A small part of him considered it oddly fortunate that her body wasn’t currently in tip-top shape.


[User] "Hopefully you’ll be able to move your legs soon.”

[Assistant] "Wha?! You can say whatever you’d like, that won’t change anything. Anyway, what are you going to do?”

[User] “I told you, finding water comes first. There’s the problem of your legs, too, so I would appreciate it if you don’t fight me on this…” Action/Narration Once he’d taken that one last step toward her, Subaru turned around and crouched.

[Assistant] “You plan to carry me on my back?”

[User] “Carrying you in my arms is technically an option, but I won’t last long that way. It would be helpful for me if you’re willing to ride piggyback.”

[Assistant] A few moments, Rem stared at Subaru’s pathetic face in silence. Then, sighing, she slowly reached out for his back.

[User] Once her arms were wrapped around his chest and secure, Subaru carefully stood up. He could feel her weight—she felt terribly light. He’d had many chances to carry her while she was sleeping over the past year, and each time, he’d realized how difficult it could be to carry someone who was unconscious. This was different. Rem was holding on to him of her own will. “Hmm? Did something happen?”

[Assistant] “No, I’m just feeling oddly moved. Now then, time to search for water.”

[User] “Before that…what about that girl?”

[Assistant] “…Right.” When Rem pointed with her chin over his shoulder, he also looked in that direction, recalling their other problem. Louis was still rolling around and rubbing her bottom, her long, blond hair a complete mess. What do I do with this strange Archbishop?

[User] Even Subaru could tell that her current state was unnatural. She wasn’t really someone anyone would have called “normal” to begin with, but that was because of her viciousness, not this apparent mental regression to infancy. If anything, she had been far smarter than most would have assumed based on her childlike form, and she’d been fully capable of exploiting even the finest cracks in people’s hearts. That was before. Now…

[Assistant] “Aah, aauuh.” She had licked Subaru’s face when he was waking up, and she made funny noises like a baby, and threw tantrums like one, too.

[User] Something dramatic must have happened. However… “Is that enough to get me to feel any sympathy?” She was unforgivably evil. That fact was unshakable. In the final moments of their confrontation in the corridors of memory, Louis had experienced Return by Death and suffered a terrible mental shock. It had left her terrified not just of Subaru, but of the entire world. At that point, she’d devolved into nothing more than a pitiful girl. But Subaru had chosen not to save her. And he’d felt no desire to save her, either. Louis had had any number of opportunities to do things differently, but always took the most inhumane option.


[User] “Are you not going to help her?”

[Assistant] “…It’s complicated. She wound up here with us, but she isn’t one of our friends. If anything, she’s the exact opposite. I’m not against just leaving her behind.”

[User] He noticed Rem’s breath catching in her throat as he passed judgment on Louis. But it didn’t change his answer. “Honestly, we should leave her behind… It’s not just that she would hold us back—she’s a bomb. I can’t go around carrying something like that.”

[Assistant] Keeping her around is all risk and no reward. “Is that your final answer?”

[User] “Yeah, you heard me right. I’m not going to say I won’t lose any sleep over it, but…”

[Assistant] Rem was his top priority. Subaru’s own well-being came next. He couldn’t lose sight of what was truly important. That was why he ignored Louis lying next to him, and headed off in the opposite direction, toward the forest—


[User] "It seems I was right to trust my instincts, hollow as I currently am.” The voice that spoke was awfully cold and harsh as Rem whispered these words in his ear.

[Assistant] "Gah…!” Subaru gasped as her slender arms were pressing on his neck.

[User] “You tried to get me to lower my guard with pretty words, and then you abandoned that girl. How can I trust someone like that? Don’t take me for a fool.” Unlike her legs, the arms crushing his neck had the full strength of an oni. Unable to peel them away, Subaru fell backward, struggling to breathe. But even with Subaru lying on top of her, Rem’s grip didn’t loosen. She was thoroughly choking him out. He thrashed about with his legs and tried to roll over, but Rem was too strong. As the seconds ticked by, Subaru’s own strength flagged.

[Assistant] “Ga…aaa…gh.” As he lost the ability to struggle, the question of why Rem had turned on him filled his head.

[User] “It was obvious you were up to no good, with such a wicked stench coming off you.” As that question mark filled his oxygen-starved brain, Rem quietly exhaled with a mix of distrust and loathing.


[Assistant] “Ngh! Rem? !” Suddenly coming to, Subaru sat up with a jolt. As he did, he began coughing because of a painful lump in his throat, hacking up phlegm as he forced himself to settle down and look around.

[User] “This is…definitely the place we were sent to. I…nghh.” Recalling what had just happened earlier, he gingerly touched his neck, and the pain brought back an unpleasant memory.

[Assistant] “My neck hurts like hell…which means Rem didn’t kill me.”

[User] Subaru breathed a sigh of relief, then quickly reminded himself that it was too soon to relax. He was still alive. That meant he would have to pick things up from that last terrible development.

[Assistant] “Damn it! The hell am I doing…? !” Bitter about his series of mistakes, Subaru slapped his cheeks and stood up.

[User] “I can see the marks from her dragging herself across the grass…! I can follow her!”

[Assistant] “I’ve taken plenty of risky gambles already!”

[User] Subaru sprinted off across the meadow, following the tracks in the grass.


[User] The lush and dense plant growth underneath the canopy of tall trees made it look like a tropical rainforest. Upon closer examination, it was obvious he was sweating from the heat and humidity. This climate was nothing like the bone-dry desert they had just come from. The big leaves and vibrant vines reminded him of jungles like the Amazon, though he had never been there himself. From what he’d heard, the Amazon was supposed to be a deadly place for anyone who wandered in unprepared, but…

[Assistant] "If that’s where Rem went, then I’ve got no choice.” Subaru and Rem were equally unprepared for venturing deep into the forest. As he imagined Rem desperately fleeing into the forest despite her uncooperative legs, he couldn’t help berating himself for every rash choice he’d made so far.

[User] “Rem! Please come out! Please! I made a mistake!” He hesitated for just a moment, and then, praying that Rem was still safe, he boldly dived into the woods, calling out in a loud voice. His feet sank into the soft ground and endless undergrowth. The chirps of insects he had never heard before and the rustling of the plants he pushed past were loud and annoying, so he raised his voice again. Of course, he realized that calling out to her like this might scare Rem and make her actively avoid him. But it was better than wandering lost through the forest without any clues or markers to rely on. And more than anything, he had to do something productive, or the self-loathing he felt would make his heart explode. After all the things everyone had done for Rem’s sake, if anything happened to her now, how would Subaru ever make it up to her? He couldn’t even atone with his own death.

[Assistant] “Rem! Where are you?! Please answer me! I’m begging you, don’t leave me!! !” He shouted through the trees, not caring how hoarse his voice got. It didn’t take long for his limbs to start feeling like lead. He was fighting a losing battle against immense exhaustion. Thinking back, he had only managed to catch a couple hours of sleep to recover after the hard fighting at the Pleiades Watchtower. The spirit in the green room increased the natural recovery rate of anyone under its care, but that was a drop in the ocean. If Subaru wasn’t careful, he might collapse in relief the moment he found Rem. Wary of such a stupid possibility coming to pass, Subaru pressed on with his search in the rainforest…

[User] “Rem! Please answer! I’m begging you! I’m sorry! I was wrong!” Putting his hands to his mouth, he continued to shout. He pleaded with her from the bottom of his heart, but there was no response, and his spirit was flagging. He continued to chase after a phantom of Rem, keeping his eyes peeled as he moved past tree after tree.


[User] Just as he was about to shout her name for the umpteenth time, he spotted something out of the corner of his eye. The slightest trace of movement. Something peeked out from the underbrush, in a gap between the trees. It wasn’t just a breeze rustling the leaves—

[Assistant] “Re—” Getting his hopes up, Subaru turned in that direction.

[User] That was the exact moment something slammed into his chest with tremendous speed.

[Assistant] “Gh? !” Before he could so much as shout, he was knocked off his feet and sent flying backward. He crashed into a tree trunk, and the wind was knocked out of him.

[User] “Gah… Wh-what the…? !” His brain was scrambled by the sudden impact. He looked around, but considering the sheer force of it, he’d obviously been attacked. Before he had a chance to gather his thoughts, he tried to make a run for it. But he couldn’t, because—

[Assistant] “Agh?” The thick arrow sticking out of his chest had punched a hole right through him and come out the other side, pinning him to the big tree trunk behind him.

[User] “Gh, bluh…” As soon as he realized what had happened, he coughed up all the blood that was welling up in his throat.


[User] He was bleeding profusely, both inside and out, and it wasn’t stopping. Coughing up more blood than air, Subaru struggled to breathe. “Kgh…”

[Assistant] Despite the terrible pain, he grabbed the arrow in his chest and tried to pull it out. It didn’t even budge. The arrowhead was buried solidly in the tree, preventing him from moving at all. Whoever had shot him must’ve used a heavy bow to achieve such extraordinary force, enough to pin him down like an insect specimen. All he could do now was struggle pathetically… “Agh, uggh, hng, nghh…”

[User] When he wasn’t choking on his blood, he continued to call out to the girl who should still have been somewhere in the woods. He could no longer form words, but all the same, he tried to warn her of the menace lurking in the woods. There was someone out there—specifically, the person walking toward him with a bow and arrow. The quiet sound of Subaru drowning in his own blood was slowly muffled by the rustling footsteps of the approaching hunter, who had come to confirm the death of their prey. They were slender and tall. An arrow was nocked in their bow. Everything else was lost to the darkness—Subaru couldn’t make out anything else. By their hand, Subaru had pathetically, helplessly failed to reach Rem, and… “—em.”

[Assistant] They’re right in front of me. An enemy. Are they the enemy? Why? What’s going on? What do I do? What can I do with no one to rely on? The welling heat and the pain he had been all too slow to notice were steadily spreading through his body. Blood was dripping from his eyes, nose, and ears now. A feeling of emptiness was growing, a harbinger of a cold death’s approach.

[User] Subaru desperately kept his eyes open and called out to her until the very end. He called her name with his very last breath. Even as blood spilled from his lips. Over and over, he called and called and called, until his very last moment. Calling—


[Assistant] “Gagh!” The agony of drowning he’d been experiencing just moments earlier vanished in an instant, only to be replaced by the pain of his erratic breathing and the unmistakable feeling of the ground under his back. “Cough, cough. Ack, bleugh.”

[User] Subaru sat up while rubbing his throat, recalling what had just transpired. He peered down at his chest and couldn’t see an arrow anywhere. Additionally, the scratches he’d gotten from pushing through the underbrush were gone as well. Of course they were. He had suffered a terrible blow right through his chest. “I…died…”

[Assistant] With a shudder and the unshakable feeling that the ground had fallen out from under him, Subaru’s blood turned cold. After the Pleiades Watchtower was swallowed up by shadow, he’d been carried far, far away, and been awake for not even an hour before abruptly losing his life.


[User] As it dawned on him how dangerous the situation was, Subaru stood up on wobbly feet.

[Assistant] He steadied himself and looked around him. "Damn it. Of course it’s like this…!" He was in the middle of a big meadow, and as luck would have it, he couldn’t see the one person he was hoping would be there.

[User] Unmistakably, it was the same meadow where he had ended up after being whisked away from the tower. The problem was, Rem and Louis were nowhere to be found. Meaning Subaru’s reset point was—

[Assistant] "Right after Rem strangled me…!" He was starting over from the exact moment after Rem had knocked him out. It was fortunate that he hadn’t ended up at a point before Rem had woken up, or at a point that would undo their victory at the Pleiades Watchtower. That said, a small part of him had hoped he might be able to talk to Shaula again had he returned to that final part of the previous loop.

[User] "What am I, stupid? Yeah, I guess I am." If you’re gonna keep clinging to that, then you should have made more time to listen to her, to be with her, to ask her how she felt. You didn’t, though, so you don’t have the right to grieve now.

[Assistant] "Right now, I have to focus on finding Rem." He needed to chase after her and clear up the misunderstanding. If Rem’s distrust was due to the lingering scent of the Witch, then the smell might have become even stronger after yet another instance of Return by Death. But even if that made her less willing to trust him, he still had to protect her.

[User] "Someone in that forest killed me… That wasn’t Rem’s handiwork." She had already strangled him once. It was entirely possible she might attack him again. But there shouldn’t have been enough time for her to find or make a bow and arrows, never mind learn how to use them.

[Assistant] "If my attacker could nail me that accurately from a good distance away, it could be dangerous for Rem, too." Since her legs were currently out of commission, she wouldn’t be able to flee if that archer came after her. He had to find her first, even if she didn’t believe he was her ally.

[User] "Let’s do this, Subaru Natsuki. Lemme see just how great you are." He slapped his cheeks to clear his mind of that shocking death and the grief of being hated by a girl he cared about so much. It wasn’t clear if he could convince her to stick together even if he found her, but he had to take this one step at a time. Grief and anger were things you could only feel while still alive.

[Assistant] Once he’d taken a deep breath, Subaru looked for Rem’s tracks in the grass, then charged into the jungle once more.


[User] This time, though, he was deeply unsure whether he should raise his voice and call out to Rem.

[Assistant] “But a bow and arrow means it’s not a demon beast. It’s gotta be a person.”

[User] All of Subaru’s deaths had more or less been caused equally by demon beasts and people. People might even have had the edge. Just because the opponent was someone he could communicate with didn’t necessarily mean it would be possible to make friends. It would be easier to find Rem with more people helping him, but…

[Assistant] “Cor Leonis.” Closing his eyes, Subaru swept away all extraneous thoughts and activated the authority that lay within him.

[User] “…Nope, there’s no response. Either she’s insanely far away, or she doesn’t consider me an ally.”

[Assistant] “I would never treat her like an ally in a million years. Anyway, looks like my one-sided feelings for Rem aren’t enough for the radar to work.”

[User] “Damn it, damn it… Why…?! Rem… Rem finally woke up, so why do I…?” Why do I have to chase after her like this?


[User] Subaru’s thoughts were stuck in a loop as he carefully moved through the trees.

[Assistant] He crouched down as a desperate measure to evade the person who had killed him— I’ll call them the hunter for now.

[User] "Think, think… This is all my crafty head is good for. Rem’s forgotten her memories and doesn’t remember a thing. But she still had the ability to wrestle me to the ground and detect the Witch’s scent. That’s gotta be episodic memory loss."

[Assistant] Amnesia was a common trope in fiction, and in most cases, it tended to be some form of episodic memory loss.

[User] This generally manifested as being able to remember the names of things and retaining ingrained reflexes but failing to recall people or specific memories.

[Assistant] Based on the way Rem had spoken and how she’d doubted Subaru because of his scent, he was convinced.

[User] "Rem’s probably disoriented right now. She can’t run forever. After getting some distance from me, she’ll take some time to calm down and collect herself. And assuming she took Louis with her, that would be all the more reason to stop sooner rather than later.”

[Assistant] It seemed like an insane thing to hope for, but he wanted Louis to slow Rem’s flight down as much as possible.

[User] If she threw a tantrum, refused to keep walking, or just generally caused Rem problems, it would give Subaru a chance to catch up to them.

[Assistant] Or was it possible that Louis would become too much to handle and be abandoned by Rem…?

[User] "...Hard to say."

[Assistant] He honestly wasn’t sure if Rem was capable of abandoning someone who looked like a defenseless little girl.

[User] With her amnesia, Rem didn’t even know who she was herself. She didn’t have the inferiority complex toward Ram that had developed from a young age, or a concrete sense of self.

[Assistant] Ram’s ability to stay composed as if nothing had happened even after losing Rem’s existence was abnormal, but would that also be true of Rem?

[User] Without any sisterly bond, without the pride of being an oni or an inferiority complex because of her sister, and having absolutely no opinion about Subaru Natsuki, what would Rem…?

[Assistant] “Hgh!” As he imagined it, it felt like flames were licking at his heart. Subaru lurched forward, stepping on a twig that snapped with a loud crack.

[User] He almost slipped on the muddy ground underneath and ended up stumbling forward through the high grass.

[Assistant] “Huh?” Suddenly, the woods opened up and he found himself in a clearing.


[User] A scary thought entered his mind, and he quickly checked to see if he had been wandering through the rainforest all that time only to end up back in the same spot. After a careful study of his surroundings, he confirmed he was in a different clearing. It was similar to the first meadow, but the grass here was taller. And the first meadow was surrounded by rainforest on all sides, but here there was only the jungle that he had stumbled out of. Before him, all he could see was the horizon. The sky seemed impossibly high, and staring at it made him feel unsteady on his feet, as if he might get drawn up into it if he wasn’t careful. But what caught his attention most of all wasn’t the sky. There was a spot in the meadow that had been cleared and was littered with camping tools… Put simply, there were signs that someone had been here.

[Assistant] Subaru’s body tensed cautiously, and his field of view narrowed. Fortunately, he couldn’t spot anyone at the simple campsite—only the traces of someone making camp. It was hard to imagine this was an elaborate trap. The question was, who had set up this campsite?

[User] "The simplest answer would be…the person who killed me."

[Assistant] If the hunter was actively roaming the woods, then this was probably their base camp. Subaru realized he should immediately leave and get himself to safety. Whether it was in the woods or a clearing, the hunter was undeniably a dangerous person to run into. It was not unheard of for traditional hunters stalking the mountains to mistake a person for a deer and shoot them. But given the apparent skill of the hunter, it seemed impossible they’d mistaken him for a deer when he’d been shouting at the top of his lungs. The hunter was a dangerous enemy. That was the premise Subaru needed to act on. However…

[User] "If I could snag at least a knife here…"

[Assistant] The underbrush was incredibly thick. He could really use a tool or two to make faster progress. Unfortunately, all he had on him was his trusty Guilty Whip, crafted from the remains of a powerful enemy. The clothes he had for dealing with the desert were in a strange way still somewhat useful in a jungle, but having some kind of blade would make a dramatic improvement in his ability to cut through the foliage. He just needed to get some kind of tool from this camp.

[User] "There’s signs of a fire, and it’s rough…but I think that’s a bed?" He’d found the remains of a campfire and what looked like a mat of cut foliage beside it. Someone had spent time here for sure. The camp was otherwise empty, and Subaru couldn’t find anything noteworthy…

[Assistant] "If I could just find anything that can cut stuff…"

[User] "Oh. Looking for a blade?"


[User] “You have shown up in quite the fortunate place, then.” While he scanned the campsite again in search of any tool that might be useful.

[Assistant] A voice suddenly called out to Subaru from behind as Subaru froze, feeling something cold pressed against his neck. Careful to not even breathe, he slowly looked down and saw a beautifully polished sword resting against the right side of his neck.

[User] Subaru took a deep breath.

[Assistant] "But come on… How unlucky do I have to be to run into one of those rarities here, of all places?”

[User] “Fool. Who told you to speak? Choose your every word and move with caution. Do not forget that your life rests in my hands.” While Subaru was bemoaning his luck, the person behind him spoke mercilessly.

[Assistant] “It seems you are probing all of your knowledge while keeping your mouth closed. But you do not risk your life to attack. Hmmm… ” The man was perceptive enough to pick up on what Subaru was thinking just from his silence. Evidently, he was contemplating something. “An outfit ill-suited to Badheim’s climate. Pale skin… You must not be a local.”

[User] “I-I… Whoa.”

[Assistant] “Silence. Who told you to open your mouth? Bother me again, and you can see what it’s like trying to speak out of turn with your head separated from your neck.” He put a shallow cut in Subaru’s neck, indicating he had no intention of holding a conversation.

[User] “That whip at your hip. Far too inconvenient to use in the rainforest. Arms and legs developed to a degree, but not enough to match a wolf… It seems you were not tracking me.”

[User] “Why are you silent? Explain yourself. Or would you rather die here?”

[Assistant] “What?! Now I can talk?! Can’t you be a little more reasonable? !” Subaru started to complain, but he could practically feel the intense gaze boring a hole in the back of his head.


[User] He stiffened, realizing he’d said something he probably shouldn’t have, but he finally breathed a sigh of relief when the blade at his neck was pulled away.

[Assistant] “Slowly turn around. If you attempt anything…”

[User] “Off with my head?”


[User] "No. I shall sever each of your limbs, carve out your heart, and burn it before your eyes."

[Assistant] "That’s way too cruel!" Subaru raised his hands to show he had no intention of resisting as he slowly turned around.

[User] Then he took a careful look at the person who’d been standing behind him. “…Seriously?”

[Assistant] He had locked eyes with a man whose face was covered by a rag wrapped around his head.

[User] The man’s appearance was truly strange.

[Assistant] "What is that imbecilic expression?"

[User] "Imbecilic or not, people are born looking how they do, so isn’t that slander…? Plus, how could anyone help it when you look like that?"

[Assistant] "How dare you! Your eyes have almost convinced me that I should suspect you of being an assassin again."

[User] "Don’t decide people’s jobs from looking at their eyes! And my role is the exact opposite of an assassin. I’m not an attacker. If anything, I’m a protector."

[Assistant] The masked man was watching him carefully, still on guard, with his sword pointed at Subaru.

[User] While delivering this dubious answer, Subaru looked at the man’s equipment and then at the bag placed behind him and furrowed his brow.

[Assistant] “…I guess you aren’t the hunter."

[User] "Hunter?"

[Assistant] "Just talking to myself. Incidentally, though… You wouldn’t happen to be able to teleport or make yourself invisible, would you?"

[User] "Oh?" The eyes peering through the man’s mask lit up at that question. His interest had been sparked.

[Assistant] "How did you come to such a conclusion? Speak your reason."

[User] “…I was cautious in approaching this place. Of course, I know there are plenty of people who can move undetected around me, but you aren’t one of them."

[Assistant] "Why not?"

[User] "I hope it won’t annoy you if I say this, but I’ve had a lot of opportunities to stumble across powerful people or what you might call superhumans.


[User] "And compared to those guys who casually defy common sense, the feeling I get from you is…well, normal." That sort of comment would definitely anger a warrior of a certain level. But Subaru was simply being honest about his impression of the stranger. The air about the man in front of him convinced Subaru that he knew his way around a sword, but only to the degree of a normal person who had a normal amount of training. Compared to Reinhard, Garfiel, Wilhelm, and Julius, there wasn’t much to say except that he was clearly inferior to them. "That’s why I ruled out you maneuvering behind me before I even noticed. Which leaves only teleporting behind me, or else…"

[Assistant] "Using concealment to make myself invisible. I see."

[User] "Ngh? !" The man standing in front of Subaru suddenly disappeared. But that wasn’t the only surprise. "You disappeared…but you’re still in front of me?"

[Assistant] "Correct. Concealment does not hide my presence." To answer Subaru’s question, the masked man appeared again, exactly as he’d been before. He hadn’t gone anywhere; he had just become invisible. And he’d returned the moment he answered Subaru’s question.

[User] "So it comes undone when someone touches you or notices you?"

[Assistant] "It is still the perfect tool for waiting quietly and hiding." The man said, before lowering his sword and nodding toward the campsite. "The bed is a lure. I was lying in wait further away. I saw you sneaking around from the beginning. A ridiculous sight."

[User] "If you see someone being all cautious, of course they’ll look silly… But forget that! If you’re lowering your sword, that means…"

[Assistant] "You are not pursuing me. I know not why you are here or what your intentions are, but you are genuinely lost. In which case, I have no reason to loudly rebuke you or teach you a lesson with my blade." Once he’d concluded they had no reason to fight, the masked man sheathed his sword.

[User] Only now did Subaru finally let the tension drain from his body. And in the process, he remembered his original goal. "This isn’t the time for me to relax. Hey, sorry for asking more questions, but have you seen a blue-haired girl, by any chance? We got separated around here."

[Assistant] "Blue hair? No, not that I’ve seen. Indeed, yours is the first face I have seen since coming to this place. What are you going to do about that?"

[User] "Nothing! Nothing, but…another swing and a miss? Hey, you wouldn’t happen to be willing to help out with my search, would you…?"

[User] "Yeah, I figured." No more information was forthcoming, and his request for help had been batted aside. Under the man’s cold gaze, Subaru turned back to the forest to begin his search for Rem again.

[Assistant] "Wait. If you were separated in the rainforest, then you will not simply stumble across each other again. Do you not think it would be better to prioritize your own survival?"

[User] "…Sorry, but I can’t do that.