In that instant, ten formless demonic hands shot out from the man's back, seizing the massive Mabeast and lifting it into the air.
The Mabeast let out a shrill cry, its sharp claws leaving deep gouges in the tree trunks and its thick tail snapping large swathes of bushes, yet it could not break free from the invisible shackles.
"Accept the Witch's love!" the man shrieked from the ground, his voice a mixture of an eerie sharpness and madness.
With a sickening sound of tearing flesh, the giant Mabeast, which weighed several tons, was brutally ripped to shreds like a rag doll. A rain of warm blood, mixed with shattered internal organs, poured down, dyeing the entire forest floor a shocking crimson.
"Who told you to keep attacking me?" Seeing this, the man neurotically scratched his face, his green bob of hair dancing with the movement. "But—you are a Mabeast, yet you pounce on me the moment you see me..."
Suddenly, as if realizing something, the man's head twisted at an impossible 180-degree angle, revealing a horrifying smile that stretched to the roots of his ears. His long, dark green hair fell away, exposing bloodshot eyes.
"Ah... This is instinct, it is duty, it is a fate engraved in the soul that cannot be defied..."
"Ahhhhh! How! How, how, how, how—" He threw his arms wide, his withered fingers contorting into grotesque shapes as he let out a peal of insane laughter. "Such loyalty to one's own existence! In other words... what diligence... what magnificent diligence!"
This being, who had thoroughly abandoned reason, was none other than the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop of Sloth—Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti.
The surrounding trees began to move without wind, their bark oozing the dark red blood of the Mabeast. A dozen black-robed figures materialized from the shadows, kneeling around the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Petelgeuse.
"My lord," the lead cultist knelt on one knee, his voice muffled from beneath his black hood. "A report from the surveillance team. The half-demon's dragon carriage has left the capital and is heading towards the Mathers domain along the main highway."
Hearing this, Petelgeuse's body turned toward the speaker with the jerky movements of a marionette. His fingernails dug deep into his own cheeks, drawing bloody lines. "She has finally appeared! The silver-haired half-elf... I must have her! With these hands... I shall personally offer her to my most beloved Witch!"
"My faithful followers! Now is the time to repay the Witch's love!" As he said this, Petelgeuse hugged his own scrawny frame and began to spin wildly in the clearing. "Wonderful! Ahhhhh, how wonderful! I feel it... I am loved! Loved, loved, loved, loved, loved, loved, loved—!"
Then, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Petelgeuse, pulled a black-covered book from within his dark robes. It was the size of a dictionary but emanated an ominous aura, and between its pages, twisted letters could be vaguely seen squirming.
"Finally... finally this moment has arrived... Oh, my dear Witch!" Petelgeuse piously kissed the book's pages, leaving behind a dark red bloodstain. "Our faith... our love... we offer it all to you!"
"Go! With trials... with selection... purify! Let that half-demon's body... become the most perfect vessel, worthy of bearing the Witch's advent!" Petelgeuse commanded his followers.
Hearing this, the black-robed cultists fell to the ground simultaneously as if their strings had been cut, only to spring back up in the next second with inhuman agility, transforming into a dozen black shadows that vanished into the depths of the forest.
In the center of the clearing, Petelgeuse clutched the Gospel tightly, his body rocking back and forth. "Loved, loved, loved, loved, loved, loved, I am loved... I am needed..." As he spoke, Petelgeuse's voice gradually dissolved into a muffled whimper.
His neck snapped forward as if broken, and his forehead slammed heavily into the ground, drawing fresh blood. "This joy... this love... the entire world must feel it—!"
Meanwhile, on the moving dragon carriage, Natsuki Subaru held an exquisite, leaf-shaped mirror. The mirror clearly reflected Wilhelm's serious face.
"Have you found anything, Mr. Wilhelm?" he asked.
"Yes, Lord Subaru," the Wilhelm in the mirror nodded slightly, his silver beard moving gently with the motion. "Just as you predicted, we have found traces of the Witch Cult in the forest near Arlam Village."
"Oh... In that case, have the villagers all been moved?" A confident smile played on Subaru's lips. This magical Conversing Mirror was a magic tool of this world, capable of long-distance communication with someone holding its paired mirror. In the words of his old world, it was basically a magic cellphone, extremely practical.
"All arrangements have been made," Wilhelm's voice carried a hint of admiration. "As per your instructions, Felix and Miss Ram have safely escorted the villagers to a shelter near the Mathers domain. There have been no injuries."
"That's good." Subaru nodded lightly, the sunlight reflecting off the mirror casting dancing spots of light on his face.
So, that Sloth guy still made his move.
He had long anticipated that the Witch Cult would make a move on Emilia. That was why he had arranged for his ally, Wilhelm, along with Felix and others, to return to the Roswaal domain a day in advance to evacuate the villagers with Ram.
In the original story, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, in order to complete the trial written in his Gospel, had led his followers to slaughter the villagers of Arlam before invading the Roswaal mansion, ultimately leading to Emilia's death and Puck's rampage...
"And now, I had them go back a day early to evacuate the villagers. No matter how fast the Witch Cult is, they can't possibly succeed. Besides, their target isn't the villagers, it's Emilia." At this thought, Natsuki Subaru's fingertips lightly tapped the surface of the mirror, but his mind was already far away.
That guy, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, his obsession with the Witch was simply insane. In his eyes, Emilia, as a silver-haired half-elf participating in the Royal Selection instead of joining the Witch Cult, was a blasphemy. Coupled with the guidance of the Gospel, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth was bound to come.
However, his true purpose was not simply to kill. It was the so-called "trial." To test if Emilia's body could withstand the Witch's soul upon her advent. If she could, he would turn her into a vessel. If not, he would dispose of her directly. Of course, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth did all of this only to resurrect the Witch of Envy.
"Heh, what simple, crude logic," Subaru's eyes narrowed slightly, but they quickly returned to calm.
In the original story, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth had launched his attack just a few short days after the candidates for the Royal Selection were announced.
Now, it had been nearly a month since the selection began. Given that madman's diligence towards the Witch, upon learning the news of Emilia leaving the capital, he must have been unable to sit still.
But this time, the one who will be receiving a trial isn't Emilia. It's you, Sin Archbishop of Sloth!
"Lord Subaru?" Wilhelm's voice pulled Subaru back to reality.
"Sorry, I zoned out for a second," Natsuki Subaru came back to his senses, that confident smile returning to his lips.
"Barusu, you seem to have anticipated the Witch Cult's movements?" It was Ram who spoke this time. Wilhelm stood to the side, his fingers gently resting on his sword's hilt, the crystal mirror before him reflecting Ram's cool face.
"Uh, it's Ram... Yeah, you could say that." Subaru was slightly surprised, then nodded. "After all, we're dealing with the Sin Archbishop who is called Sloth but is the most diligent of all. Knowing that Emilia was returning to her domain, how could that madman possibly sit still?"
It was worth mentioning that although this Sin Archbishop was named Sloth, his personality was the complete opposite. He was extremely diligent, to a pathological degree.
Precisely because he viewed sloth as an unforgivable sin, his actions were zealous and paranoid. And because of this, Sloth was the most active of the Sin Archbishops, second only to Greed. Most of the recorded attacks over the past hundred years were his doing.
Therefore, the moment Emilia left the capital, Subaru was certain that the Witch Cult would pass the news to the Sin Archbishop of Sloth.
To this end, Subaru had formulated a plan in advance with his ally, Crusch, and the others. They would jointly encircle the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, and he had Wilhelm, Felix, and the others head to the Mathers domain a day early to set up defenses.
After all, annihilating the Witch Cult was not only in the interest of all parties but would also enhance the prestige of the Royal Candidates.
All of this was part of the plan.
"Hmph. To think Barusu could figure that much out. I'm slightly impressed," Ram said, crossing her arms, her vermilion eyes staring at Subaru through the mirror. "However, since you've arrived, you'd better be fully prepared. If even a single hair on Lady Emilia's or Rem's head is harmed, I won't let you get away with it."
"I know, Big Sis Ram! I'll definitely protect them!" Subaru immediately straightened his back and patted his chest in assurance.
"You'd better," Ram snorted lightly, her face expressionless. "At the critical moment, as a knight, Barusu should remember that your greatest value is to be a proper shield. You have at least that much awareness, don't you?"
Hearing this, a dark line appeared on Subaru's forehead as he protested, "Hey, hey, a shield? Big Sis Ram, isn't that a bit harsh?"
"Oh? Does Barusu foolishly think he has any other value?" Ram asked, slightly raising her wine-red eyes.
"Ugh..." Subaru was at a loss for words, only able to helplessly scratch his hair. As expected, Ram's sharp tongue was as indefensible as ever.
Wilhelm cleared his throat, tactfully inserting himself into the conversation. "It is indeed as Lord Subaru predicted. The Witch Cultists are moving faster than expected."
"That plays right into our hands," a victorious smile crossed Subaru's lips. "The more impatient the hunter, the easier it is for them to fall into a trap."
And that crazed Sin Archbishop of Sloth was likely already in a frenzy over the news of Emilia's return to her domain. With his paranoid style of doing things, he would definitely lead the attack on this dragon carriage carrying Emilia himself.
Thinking of this, a cold, battle-hungry fire ignited in the depths of Subaru's pupils, his hands unconsciously clenching into fists. This time, I'll make sure the Sin Archbishop of Sloth never returns!
"Mr. Wilhelm, execute the plan as we discussed," Natsuki Subaru's voice carried an unquestionable decisiveness. "You will be responsible for annihilating Sloth's 'Finger' units. I will handle the main body's assault."
Natsuki Subaru was already well aware of the abilities of the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti. This Archbishop could transfer his consciousness to specific targets through a forced contract.
Those core cultists he called his "Fingers" all had the Sloth Factor implanted in them, allowing them to serve as vessels for his resurrection at any time. For anyone outside the "Fingers," he could only possess those with a high affinity for spirits who had not yet made a contract with any spirit.
In the original story, due to Subaru's strong spirit affinity, he was also one of Petelgeuse's possession targets. According to Petelgeuse, Subaru was an extremely excellent vessel, a once-in-decades find.
Therefore, to completely eliminate this Sin Archbishop of Sloth, one had to eradicate all possible vessels at the same time, like pulling out a weed by the roots. This was the strategy that Subaru and Wilhelm had formulated after countless simulations.
He would act as a decoy to tie down the Sin Archbishop's main body, while Wilhelm and the others would be responsible for clearing out the surrounding "Fingers." The key to this plan was timing. All threats had to be eliminated at the same time.
"Mr. Wilhelm, you must eliminate all the Fingers at the same time," Natsuki Subaru emphasized to Wilhelm again. "Otherwise, as long as a single 'Finger' survives, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth can return."
"I will not fail you," Wilhelm nodded solemnly, his time-worn face showing the grimness of a seasoned veteran. He then asked, "Then, Lord Subaru, on your end—"
"Don't worry about me," a composed smile appeared on Subaru's lips. "Emilia and I are fully prepared on our side."
I absolutely cannot let anyone get hurt again. Especially Emilia and Rem. Natsuki Subaru's gaze unconsciously drifted to the silver-haired and blue-haired girls beside him. Especially Emilia. In the original story, she had died multiple times at the hands of the Sin Archbishop of Sloth.
The attack had not only brought her direct harm but had also had a profound impact on the people and events around her.
Arlam Village was massacred, Ram and Rem died one after another... and finally, Puck went on a rampage and began to destroy the world, only to be... cut down in two strikes by the Sword Saint, Reinhard.
Although none of that had happened in this world, the atrocities of the Sin Archbishop of Sloth were unforgivable—he had to die! Natsuki Subaru swore to himself.
In the mirror, Wilhelm looked as if he wanted to say more, but in the end, he only gave Subaru a deep look and said, "Please, be careful, Lord Subaru."
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