Chapter 322. Anastasia's Total Fall
「"...No matter what happens later, I have nothing to do with you right now! I don't need you to face the anger of my subordinates for me. Don't be so self-righteous, Hikigaya!"」
「While forcefully rejecting Hikigaya Hachiman as a form of "punishment," a look of pained concern flickered across Anastasia's weary face. She stood on her tiptoes, looking up at Hachiman's cheek. "Does it hurt?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman let out a wry, self-deprecating laugh. "If even this hurt, how would I ever protect all of you?"」
「"Nonsense. It's clearly turned red... you're too cunning for telling such a lie."」
「Speaking with an air of relief, Anastasia raised her delicate hand, gently stroking Hachiman's cheek and rubbing it considerately.」
「She stole a glance at this cunning man. From Hachiman's bare upper body, she saw all sorts of fresh blade and sword wounds. Julius wasn't the only one who had paid a price.」
「Anastasia said gloomily, "I'm not that great of a person. Whether the people of Pristella are saved or not doesn't really matter to me; I don't have that feeling of 'I must save them'... If I had known it would lead to everyone's utter defeat and so much blood being spilled, maybe I wouldn't have invited you all here for a gathering."」
「"But, I want to thank you for that."」
「"Eh?"」
「Anastasia froze in shock.」
「"If believing the Water Gate City must be saved counts as being great, then I'll be shameless and play the great man for once."」
「Hikigaya Hachiman lowered his head, smiling as he patted Anastasia's long lavender hair. He said gently, "Maybe I'm a hypocrite; either way, I don't like seeing people lose their lives. Having the chance to save so many people is all thanks to your invitation, Anastasia."」
「"...You're so smart, yet you always love doing these foolish things with no profit." Anastasia gazed blankly at the man before her. She couldn't help but hold her breath; for some reason, her heart was thumping.」
「Her voice grew lower, mixed with a faint sob. "You don't get any money for comforting me with such nice words."」
「Hachiman burst out laughing. Seeing that this greedy merchant could still think about money made him breathe a sigh of relief. "If these words make you feel a bit lighter, that's better than earning any amount of money. Rest easy; this isn't a debt, don't feel burdened."」
「"...Really... too cunning." Anastasia looked away, muttering with a slightly flushed face.」
「In this brief, warm moment of forgetting exhaustion and worry, she couldn't help but notice Hikigaya Hachiman's exposed chest and the overwhelming masculine scent radiating from him.」
「The sound of soldiers' footsteps hurrying past the hall startled Anastasia, causing her to jerk her hand away from Hachiman's chest.」
「Though she didn't repulse the feeling... there was simply no time to waste on such things right now.」
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"Even in a crisis like this, you can't help but find time to flirt with Anastasia... Hikigaya, just how much do you like this woman!?"
At the Shirogane house, Shirogane Miyuki—who supported Emilia, Rem, Crusch, and even Priscilla, and had sworn never to support Anastasia—let out a wail.
Being someone who unilaterally considered himself to have an irreconcilable feud with Anastasia, he immediately found a factual-sounding excuse: "That's it! Sirius's Authority amplifies everyone's emotions. In other words, Hikigaya's affection for Anastasia has been amplified!"
Shirogane Kei snorted at her brother's self-deception, showing zero mercy. "But doesn't that just mean that every other emotion in Hikigaya-senpai's heart can't compare to his love for Big Sister Anna?"
The powerless Shirogane Miyuki fell silent.
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「The snapped-back-to-reality Hikigaya Hachiman stopped stroking Anastasia. He used official business to redirect his emotions, briefly describing the battle at the City Hall and sharing the information on the three Sin Archbishops.」
「Although their side had suffered damage, the City Hall and the broadcasting station had been reclaimed. Next, they could use the broadcasts to instill confidence in the citizens and, once preparations were ready, use provocation to draw the three Archbishops to the City Hall for a second battle.」
「Subsequently, Anastasia relayed three pieces of intelligence.」
「First, among the Ten-Man Council who knew the location of Typhon's remains, nine were already dead. It was unclear if they committed suicide or were killed by the Archbishops.」
「The second was good news: Kiritaka and his White Dragon's Scales were now guarding the four floodgates. As long as no Sin Archbishop staged a surprise attack, ordinary cultists could not retake them.」
「"I also found something good."」
「When it came to the last point, a delighted Anastasia took Hachiman's hand and led him toward a room. "This is also thanks to your reminder. I can guarantee this definitely relates to the secret of Regulus's Authority."」
「In that room, a group of women in white dresses was crowded together. They ranged in age from their teens to their twenties. Every one of them looked numb, harboring a faint, uneasy fear.」
「Every single one was a woman of outstanding beauty. While they didn't match Emilia, some could already rival Rem or Crusch.」
「"They are all Regulus's wives, but they are all virgins."」
「Anastasia's introduction left Hikigaya Hachiman deeply shocked.」
「"I had the children of the Iron Fang mercenary group observe these women while Reinhard and Regulus were fighting. They are all terrified of Regulus. At first, they didn't dare leave that house no matter what; I had to force them."」
「Anastasia showed a fox-like, cunning smile. She pointed south and said meaningfully, "The interesting thing is, right around the time these women arrived at the camp—that is, when they were a significant distance away from Regulus—at that exact moment, Regulus moved the battlefield a certain distance in this direction."」
「"And after that, presumably because he no longer had to worry about harming his wives, his attacks became even more reckless, destroying the terrain beyond recognition."」
「"Worry about harming his wives?" Hachiman blinked, sensing something was off... How could someone as self-centered as Regulus ever worry about harming his wives?」
「"But after I questioned these women individually in turns, their answers were strikingly consistent. They all said Regulus normally doesn't allow them to make any movements—not even a smile. Every action must be ordered by him."」
「"And up until now, Regulus has wantonly slaughtered dozens of his own wives for various whimsical reasons."」
「"A man who treats his wives like that normally... but then worries about their lives during a moment of extreme rage in battle?"」
「A sharp light flashed in Anastasia's eyes. Brilliant as she was, she—just like Hikigaya Hachiman—had arrived at the correct conclusion:」
「"There is only one possibility—if his wives all die, it would definitely cause some kind of loss for Regulus!"」
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