[ "It's truly no laughing matter; what kind of joke is this? This isn't reality! To use such methods, such petty tricks, such childish deceptions! To scorn my love! To scorn my loyalty…"
"What a humorless way to extend an invitation. It seems you don't even understand social etiquette."
The Unseen Hands constantly assaulted the pair, while Yuriusu, maintaining his elegant stride, severed them one by one. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"That isn't as simple as it looks, is it?"
Wilhelm said to Yuriusu.
"Indeed, it is more difficult than normal combat, mainly due to being unaccustomed to it."
Yuriusu responded.
"Well, yeah, it's like playing an action game in first-person view and then suddenly switching to third-person view. Anyone would be unaccustomed to that,"
Al said.
Fighting in the third person; no matter how you think about it, it's weird.
"But if this continues…"
Emilia expressed her concern.
Because the black hands were numerous, a small number of attacks still struck Yuriusu, and due to their shared senses, Subaru also felt the pain.
"It is fine, Emilia-sama. Currently, I am merely focusing on defense and not attacking. Because I haven't fully adapted to this unfamiliar situation, and also to look out for Subaru. Ah, here they come."
Yuriusu said.
—
[ "…My body is gradually getting used to it. Subaru, may I increase the speed?"
"Yeah, I can keep up, don't worry about it!"
"Hah!"
This time, facing black hands from all directions, Yuriusu was not hit again. With an elegant sweep of rainbow light, he cleared the black hands away.
"…So cool." Subaru couldn't help but exclaim.
Because right after clearing the black hands, another large swarm attacked, but Yuriusu, while cleaving through the shadows, nimbly passed through the gaps, advancing step by step toward Petelgeuse to kill him.
"Impossible… Impossible, impossible impossible impossible impossible…"
Petelgeuse constantly launched black hands, yet Yuriusu responded elegantly—cleaving, sweeping, piercing, and slicing, countering the black hands in various ways.
At the same time, because the sky here was obscured by black shadows, this place, which should have appeared dim and lightless, was incredibly brilliant.
After all, every time Yuriusu swung his sword, it flashed with seven-colored light.
Paired with his posture, it was as if he were the protagonist of this moment. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Wow! So pretty, Big Brother Yuriusu!"
Mimi, outside the screen, said.
"It's dazzling to watch."
Otto said.
"Like setting off fireworks at night, right? Ahh, so cool, Knight-kun."
Although Al's words were praise, they sounded more like sarcasm.
"Subaru-kun's eyes provided great assistance."
Rem said.
"Yes. Without Subaru, that battle would have been a complete struggle. This is the result of Subaru and me fighting together. Please do not forget Subaru, the hero who eliminated the 'Sloth' that endangered the world."
Yuriusu stated.
—
[ "This, impossible! How could such a thing happen! Why? Why on earth? My Authority actually… I should have been loved, I should be loved, I am loved! I love the Witch! I am so deeply…"
Returning to the screen, Petelgeuse was extremely flustered.
"I have no time to entertain your incoherent ramblings. That thing you call an Authority has been whittled down enough. And most importantly, thanks to Subaru's eyes, I am sufficiently familiar with your fighting style."
Then, he pointed his sword at Petelgeuse:
"…It is time to bring out my full power and slay you. For a long time, you have endangered the Kingdom… no, a threat that endangers the entire world. I shall slay you here, 'Sloth'!"
"By the likes of you! Don't even think about it! Don't think you can defeat me… I am! For four hundred years! I am the one who has gathered the Witch's favor upon myself, the one who has been diligently striving to embody the Witch's will until now! How could someone of my caliber be defeated by a fool like you with a waste of a spirit…"
"Yuriusu!" Subaru reminded Yuriusu.
"I know—Sin Archbishop, prepare to die! Al Clawuser!" Yuriusu kicked off the ground violently, rushing toward Petelgeuse.
Then, accompanied by an incantation, rainbow light transformed into a vortex centered around him, purging all the surrounding Unseen Hands.
"BOOM—!"
The power of the aurora also affected Petelgeuse, blasting him to the ground.
Taking advantage of this good opportunity, Yuriusu readied a thrust, aiming to rush at Petelgeuse's heart—
"Don't think you'll succeed! Ul Dona!"
Petelgeuse spread his arms wide, chanting magic, and a wall of rock rose from below, serving as a barrier. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Seeing him chant, I can finally sense a bit of humanity in him."
Otto, outside the screen, said.
"But it also shows just how much he was at his wits' end. To only start using magic at this point, who knows how many centuries it's been since that guy last used magic."
Anastasia said.
"It's truly never-ending. Just how many hands does he have, that guy?"
Ram clicked her tongue.
Because on the screen, Petelgeuse had extended his Unseen Hands again.
Moreover, the attack was coming from a blind spot.
If Yuriusu dealt with the black hands, Petelgeuse might escape because of it, but if he dealt with Petelgeuse, the attack from the black hands would be fatal.
"It doesn't matter, after all, Subaru is there."
Beatrice said.
"Subaru-kun!"
Rem watched the scene before her with pleasant surprise.
—
[ "Burn, fighting spirit! Roar, magic ball—my full-power pitch, reaching speeds of one hundred and twenty kilometers per hour!"
Originally, Yuriusu should have been helpless, but he was not alone.
Subaru was seen throwing a red magic stone with all his might.
"Your cause of defeat is disparaging him as a worthless person!" Yuriusu spoke.
The next moment, the magic stone flew past Yuriusu and blasted the rock wall open. Then—
"…Ah." Yuriusu rushed out of the flames, thrusting the tip of his sword toward Petelgeuse's heart.
"The rainbow aurora will shatter both your body and soul. No matter whose body this is, I will absolutely not let the evil lurking within go free—fade away just like this, beyond the rainbow!"
Then, the madman spat blood foam, tears streaming down his face:
"Im, possible. Impossible, impossible, impossible… I, a figure of this caliber, actually!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"But there's still one problem, right? What about the disgusting uncle's possession problem?"
Felt, outside the screen, asked.
This was also something many people were worried about: what to do about the possession issue?
"Next up is Ferris-chan's job, nyan. Although Ferris-chan is just playing a support role."
Ferris said.
—
[ "It cannot end! This cannot possibly end! If that is the case, no matter what I must…"
Then, the madman noticed Subaru.
"I have lost all my 'Fingers', at this rate I will surely perish… However, however, however! I, still have! A remaining vessel… available!"
Then, his laughter became increasingly crazy, increasingly loud—
"Ah—my brain is trembling."
It's coming. ]
.....