human
Subaru:  It was a hurdle he hadn’t anticipated at all. And he didn’t have a clue about the Gospel the guy was asking about. Was it some kind of code word used among members of the Witch Cult, or a trap for the unwary? If the former, it was hazing the rookie Witch Cultist; if the latter, the madman was engaging in psychological warfare. “Errr, well, you see…” He didn’t want to clumsily say anything rash, but silence would only make him seem more suspicious. Amid that extreme stress, Subaru strongly closed his eyes—once.
gpt
Subaru:  Behind his closed eyelids, faces rose up—faces of the people Subaru had to protect. That was all he needed to harden his resolve. “Setting aside the Gospel, about this Pride…if it takes a lousy personality to qualify, I just might be who you’re looking for. I’m interested, but I’d like to hear a few more details first…about Archbishops of the Seven Deadly Sins, and this trial you mentioned.” With few avenues for follow-up, Subaru kicked the Gospel issue down the road and pursued the madman’s statements—about the Archbishops of the Seven Deadly Sins, of which much was unclear, and the trial Petelgeuse had spoken of several times over.
human
Subaru:  Trial—given the situation, it was probably the current plan of attack. If he could find out details, perhaps even where the fingers were hiding out, it’d be the perfect intel to gather. Naturally, the meddlesome question might send Petelgeuse flying into a rage, but Subaru was already on guard for that. Behind his lighthearted tone of voice, Subaru was already prepared to commence hostilities when he let the question fly.
gpt
Petelgeuse:  For his part, the madman slowly stuck his right hand’s thumb into his own mouth. “—My brain—is—shaking.” With a dull sound, he crushed his thumb with his back teeth, sending fresh blood trickling out of the corner of his mouth. There was a slight tremble in his halting murmur, but the mad delight from a moment earlier had completely vanished. His hollow gaze sent a shudder through Subaru, quickening his pulse.
human
Petelgeuse:  His heart beat at such a high tempo it hurt, feeling as if it were slamming against his rib cage from the inside—and right before Subaru’s eyes, Petelgeuse withdrew his thumb from his mouth and said: “The trial… Thaaat is fine. I do not mind at all.”
gpt
Subaru:  “…”
human
Petelgeuse:  “It ought to be some time until word reaches all regions that the highway is sealed. Similarly, the trial will not begin yet—for time is something we still pooossess.”
gpt
Subaru:  In contrast to his disquieting actions, Petelgeuse’s words to the eager-to-learn Subaru were, if anything, amiable. A smile came over Subaru at the reaction; he strained not to let his cheek twitch. “Huh…sealed the highway? What trick did you use to do that?”
human
Petelgeuse:  “A very simple ONE. The mist. That is eeeenough explanation, I believe?”
gpt
Subaru:  “—Yeah, it’s plenty.” Subaru nodded at Petelgeuse’s brief reply.