"Relax, Mr. Wilhelm~" Natsuki Subaru winked and gave a thumbs-up, a bright smile on his face. "I'm the hero who took down the White Whale and sent the Sin Archbishop of Greed running! A mere Sin Archbishop of Sloth won't even be enough to pick my teeth with!"
"In that case, I wish you good fortune in battle, Lord Subaru," Wilhelm nodded noncommittally.
"You too." Natsuki Subaru smiled and cut the connection. The mirror's surface went blank, reflecting his instantly hardened expression.
Now, all that was left was to quietly wait for the Sin Archbishop of Sloth to make his entrance.
"Subaru." A soft voice interrupted his thoughts. Emilia was standing before him, her amethyst-crystal eyes shining with a light that would not be denied. "This time, I will fight by your side, to face the Witch Cult's Sin Archbishop together."
"Rem also wishes to lend Subaru-kun her strength." Rem clasped her hands into fists in front of her chest, her blue eyes burning with a fiery battle intent. "Eliminating the Witch Cultists is also Rem's duty."
Natsuki Subaru looked at the two important girls before him and shook his head. "Don't worry, just leave it to me this time. I'm your guardian knight, after all." Thinking of what happened to them in the original story, he was truly unwilling to let them get involved in the danger. Besides, with his strength as a Level 37 player and stats more than ten times that of a normal person, dealing with the Sin Archbishop of Sloth shouldn't be a problem.
"Subaru-kun, can you let Rem stay by your side always?" Rem's voice was soft yet stubborn. She took a step forward, almost brushing against the hem of his clothes. "This is Rem's only wish... so, when Subaru-kun is in trouble, Rem will definitely come to help."
"I know you've been working hard, Subaru, but don't push yourself too much..." Emilia also spoke up. "Let's face this together. We can help, too."
"Ah, this..." Natsuki Subaru opened his mouth, but looking at the determined gazes of the two girls before him, the words caught in his throat. He knew them too well. These two headstrong girls would never obediently stay in a safe place while he went off to face danger alone.
"Rem completely agrees with Lady Emilia's proposal," Rem said, her eyes fixed on Subaru. "When it comes to fighting the Witch Cult, especially a Sin Archbishop, the flames of vengeance in Rem's morningstar have long been ignited."
"You guys..." Natsuki Subaru sighed lightly. "Can't you just listen to me for once?"
"No," this time, it was Emilia who shook her head without hesitation, her silver hair swaying with the movement. "Subaru, you're always like this. Whenever there's danger, you try to take it on all by yourself. It was the same during the White Whale Subjugation."
"Lady Emilia is right," Rem stepped forward, her azure eyes staring at Subaru. "Subaru-kun, you exclude us every time. That's too unfair."
Natsuki Subaru was pushed back half a step by the two of them, a helpless look on his face. "I'm just worried about you guys..."
"But... we're worried about you too, Subaru!" Emilia suddenly raised her voice, then immediately looked down as if realizing her outburst. "Every time I see you covered in wounds, I..."
Rem gently took Subaru's hand and continued, "Subaru-kun, Rem knows you're doing this for our own good. But, please, won't you trust in our strength as well?"
Natsuki Subaru froze, looking at the two earnest girls before him. Emilia's eyes were glistening with unshed tears, while Rem was watching him with an intensity he had never seen before. In that moment, Subaru suddenly realized his own long-standing problem. He was always habitually trying to shoulder all the danger by himself, just like how he would always leave the hardest levels for himself when playing RPGs in his past life.
But this wasn't a game, and Emilia and Rem were not NPCs who needed his protection at all times. On second thought, Emilia's ice magic was astonishingly powerful, and Rem's Oni strength was nearly unstoppable. The two of them together were not the least bit inferior to him. Besides, having more fighting power meant a higher chance of winning against the Sin Archbishop of Sloth. He was also confident he could protect them during the fight. More importantly, against a crazed enemy like the Witch Cult and a Sin Archbishop, there was no need to adhere to any kind of knightly chivalry. Fighting side-by-side, supporting each other—that was the wisest choice.
"Sigh... you guys win," Natsuki Subaru scratched his head helplessly, then broke into a relieved smile. "Alright, I promise. However—" He suddenly put on a stern face. "You must strictly follow the plan. Absolutely no recklessness!"
"Mhm!" Emilia broke into a smile through her tears, nodding vigorously.
"Rem will protect Subaru-kun," Rem also showed a faint, relieved smile.
"Hey, hey, isn't that my line?" Natsuki Subaru protested with mock dissatisfaction, making both girls laugh.
Seeing their smiles, the last bit of hesitation in Subaru's heart vanished. That's right, they had long been partners who supported each other. He no longer had to bear everything alone like before, because now—
At that thought, Natsuki Subaru held out his fist and said loudly, "The three of us together, we'll definitely win."
Emilia and Rem looked at each other, then both extended their own fists, the three of them lightly bumping their fists together.
"We have to be careful," Natsuki Subaru instructed. "This time, we're going to make that bastard, the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, pay the price."
"Mhm," the two lovely girls replied in unison.
"Puck, did you hear all of that just now?" Emilia touched the crystal stone on her neck, calling out softly.
"Yaaawn... I was just waking up..." Points of starlight gathered in the air, and Puck appeared, rubbing his sleepy eyes and letting out a big yawn, his furry little paws rubbing his face. "But I heard everything I needed to hear." Saying this, Puck flew to Emilia's shoulder and nuzzled her cheek with his head. "Although I think you're being a little reckless, Lia..."
Puck suddenly dropped his playful expression and puffed out his tiny chest, his round eyes shining with a gentle yet firm light. "But, I am Lia's contract spirit. As long as it's something Lia wants to do, as long as it's something Lia believes is right... I will support you with all my might, like the most dependable father."
A touch of emotion flashed in Emilia's purple eyes. She gently stroked Puck's soft fur and said softly, "Thank you, Puck..." Then she turned to Subaru and Rem, a gentle smile on her face. "...And thank you both, too."
"Alright! It's settled then!" Natsuki Subaru suddenly clapped his hands, his signature confident smile on his lips. "Are you ready, Emilia-tan?"
"Mhm." Emilia took a deep breath and straightened her slender back, a fighting spirit igniting in her amethyst-crystal eyes. "I'm all fired up. This time, we'll definitely show those Witch Cultists what we're made of!"
Just then, the usually silent Rem showed a worried expression, her blue bangs stirring slightly. "Those Witch Cultists... are they really going to attack the village?"
"Is that what's worrying you, Rem?" Natsuki Subaru keenly sensed the anxiety in her tone and turned to face her.
"Yes..." Rem's hands unconsciously clutched the hem of her maid's dress as she said in a low voice, "Because... something very bad happened in the past."
Hearing this, Natsuki Subaru walked closer to Rem and gently ruffled her soft blue hair. "It's alright. We're here this time. We'll definitely protect everyone."
"Rem and my sister's hometown... was destroyed by the Witch Cult," Rem said, her head lowered, her long eyelashes casting a shadow on her face. Her voice grew smaller and smaller, as if she were lost in a painful memory. "It was just a small village, with no way to resist. The villagers, and my sister's horn... So, Rem is very worried about the village being attacked now. The thought that the pain Rem and my sister experienced might be repeated on others..."
Hearing Rem's words, Natsuki Subaru's heart clenched slightly. He, of course, knew about this past. The Oni sisters' village had been massacred by the Witch Cult, and Ram had lost her horn, the symbol of her power. This was why Rem held such a deep hatred for the Witch Cult, and why she always showed such a pained expression whenever it was mentioned.
"Rem..." Emilia held Rem's hand worriedly, wanting to transfer some warmth to her.
"Don't worry," Natsuki Subaru said, looking at Rem with a reassuring smile. "Didn't I make it clear already? Mr. Wilhelm and the others have already made their move. Those are elite warriors who survived the White Whale Subjugation, each one of them worth ten men. And the villagers have all been safely evacuated in advance."
Then, Natsuki Subaru's gaze passed through the window, looking at the gradually emerging silhouette of the village in the distance. He continued, "So you really don't need to worry too much. As the saying goes, 'remain calm no matter how the storm rages.' We've made complete preparations this time."
After all, I've already seen through the Sin Archbishop of Sloth's plan. The first move is firmly in our hands, so there's really nothing to worry about.
"Thank you, Subaru-kun." Rem's tense shoulders relaxed, and a faint smile appeared on her lips. "Thanks to your explanation, the anxiety in Rem's heart has indeed lessened quite a bit."
"While I hate to interrupt such a heartwarming conversation..." Puck suddenly poked his head out from Emilia's silver hair and said with a playful wink, "Just a reminder, we're almost at our destination, y'know?"
"Our destination..." Emilia unconsciously clenched her fists, a resolute light flashing in her amethyst-crystal eyes. "Which means, we'll soon be fighting the Witch Cult... in Arlam Village..."
"That's right!" Natsuki Subaru's expression suddenly became incredibly serious. He leaned forward, his gaze sweeping back and forth between Emilia and Rem. "Everyone, you absolutely cannot let your guard down! By the way, there's one more important thing I almost forgot to mention. The Sin Archbishop of Sloth will use an ability with invisible hands to attack. You must all be extra careful."
"Huh?" Emilia tilted her head in confusion, her silver hair swaying with the movement. "Invisible hands? What does that mean?"
"Subaru-kun, what kind of ability is it, specifically?" Rem immediately followed up, her blue eyes shining with vigilance.
"Simply put, it's the Sin Archbishop of Sloth's special Authority," Natsuki Subaru explained patiently, gesturing with his hands. "He can release dozens of completely transparent, invisible hands. Ordinary people can't detect this attack with the naked eye. Although the Unseen Hands don't move particularly fast, their destructive power is enough to easily tear apart a full-grown ground dragon."
Speaking of which, due to the terrible compatibility between the Witch Factor and the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, Petelgeuse himself, using the Authority requires a huge amount of mental energy. This is also one of the root causes of his madness. The horrifying acts of self-harm in the original story were, to some extent, a manifestation of the Authority's backlash.
"I understand, Subaru," Emilia nodded solemnly, her hands unconsciously crossed in front of her chest. "I'll be on high alert at all times."
"Rem will also be extra careful," Rem responded in a low voice, her slender fingers already gripping her morningstar, the iron chain clinking crisply with her movement. "Any abnormal aura fluctuations will not escape Rem's senses."
Natsuki Subaru watched the two of them in their guarded stances and relaxed a little. But to be absolutely sure, he couldn't help but remind them again. "Just remember, when fighting the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, those invisible hands can come from any direction."
"Alright, alright, our dear knight," Emilia winked playfully, a gentle curve on her lips. "We'll remember. You're always such a worrywart, Subaru."
"To be cared for by you like this..." Rem said softly, a faint blush on her fair cheeks, her fingers unconsciously twisting the hem of her skirt. "To be protected so meticulously... Rem feels very happy."
"Did you forget someone, Subaru?" Puck suddenly poked his head out from between Emilia's silver hair, his furry little paws on his hips as he puffed out his tiny chest. "Don't worry, just leave any Witch Cultists or Sin Archbishops to me, 'kay?!"
Hearing this, Natsuki Subaru's expression suddenly became a little strange, his mouth twitching slightly. He had just remembered that he had almost forgotten this important fighting force. Although Puck looked like a cute little cat, his true form was the Great Spirit known as the "Beast of the End of the Eternal Frost," a powerful being who commanded the power of fire.
"What's wrong, Subaru?" Emilia tilted her head, her amethyst-crystal eyes full of confusion.
"N-Nothing..." Natsuki Subaru forced a laugh and waved his hand, grumbling silently in his heart: Although this guy Puck can be a bit unreliable at times, and might even drop the ball at critical moments... I have to admit, Puck's strength is not to be underestimated.
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