Chapter 346. The Root of All Evil is Rem
"Whew..."
Hori Kyouko let out a long breath, her emotions a whirlwind. Her gaze was fixed on Crusch in the video, her face beaming with joy, feeling immensely gratified by Crusch's counterattack.
"You really do like her, Hori-san," Miyamura Izumi said from the side, a hint of envy in his voice. "Ever since Crusch first appeared, you fell in love with her at first sight."
"Of course! How could I not like someone as upright, straightforward, and incredibly cool as Crusch? I want to become strong and amazing like her; she's my idol."
Hori Kyouko stood with her hands on her hips, looking like a winner. She had supported Crusch for so long through all the downs, and now she finally saw the dawn.
"I didn't like the post-amnesia Crusch much at first, but after experiencing that powerlessness in Watergate City, she's gradually regaining her old self besides her fragility. She's becoming reliable and cool—it's great."
"I declare that from now on, I like and support Crusch both before and after her memory loss!"
Looking at his triumphant girlfriend, Miyamura Izumi shook his head with a sense of relief. "It's a good thing Crusch isn't a guy, otherwise it would be terrifying."
"Eh? What's that, Miyamura? Are you jealous? Jealous that I'm paying more attention to Crusch than you?"
Hearing her boyfriend's murmur, Hori Kyouko found it hilarious. Without a word, she flipped over and pinned Miyamura down, initiating a kiss.
"I like Crusch, but I obviously like you more, Miyamura."
"Mmph!"
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In the convenience store, while the Crusch partisans were secretly excited, Yukinoshita's gaze grew sharp.
She finally understood. During this bout of Hikigaya-kun's amnesia, although she had enjoyed an initial "dividend," it was because she was too reserved and unskilled—and most importantly, she hadn't followed him to the other world.
The benefits only lasted for the initial wave; she would likely be forgotten as things progressed.
It would be fine if no other "Genuines" entered the fray, but Emilia and Crusch—the two original "Iron Straight-Laced Girls"—had been personally trained and refined by Hikigaya-kun. Now, they were both becoming increasingly skilled.
While Crusch's speech couldn't completely dismantle Hikigaya-kun's mental defenses and confusion, it could certainly chip away at them.
"When Rem, Emilia, and Anastasia were leading by miles, I felt a bit of pity for Crusch, thinking she was a kindred spirit in suffering. But looking at it now, I don't have the right to pity her at all."
Anyone could pull off a massive turnaround except for her, Yukinoshita. And...
"Stealing my Hikigaya-kun—no matter how much of an underdog she seems, a vixen is a vixen. They are all rivals plotting to steal him!"
Feeling besieged on all sides, Yukinoshita's throat felt dry. She couldn't jump to the future to deal with Crusch, so she settled for glaring fiercely at Hikigaya Hachiman.
"It's all your fault, Hikigaya-kun. If you weren't so 'skilled,' you wouldn't have made Crusch so 'skilled' either!"
What could Hikigaya Hachiman say? Actually, he wasn't skilled to begin with. Everything started from Rem's confession; Rem had taught him everything.
He couldn't blame the world's number one, Rem, so he could only submissively accept the condemnation from Yukinoshita.
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「Twilight faded into a dim night. The two walking side by side still maintained a certain distance, but their mindsets had changed. Following the invitation, Hikigaya Hachiman and Crusch entered the camp's main hall to attend the post-war meeting.」
「Everyone at the meeting looked travel-worn. Although all the Archbishops had been dealt with by the afternoon, the post-war mess—helping the wounded, distributing food, managing authority, clearing debris, checking for remaining Witch Cultists, and strengthening security at the four floodgates—kept everyone busy without a moment's rest.」
「It wasn't until nightfall that they finally managed to find the time.」
「The meeting was chaired by a haggard Anastasia. This time, no one competed with her for leadership, but she looked at the quiet Hikigaya Hachiman and sighed instead.」
「She wasn't wearing her hat, and seeing the dust on her pale purple hair, it was clear she had personally inspected many scenes. She was a leader who led by presence, not just words, which caused Hachiman's opinion of her to rise slightly.」
「"First, the battle report. All Witch Cultists who invaded Watergate City have been eliminated. Of the four Archbishops, two were killed, Gluttony fled, and Wrath was captured alive. Regarding the disposal of Sirius—"」
「"Sorry, I have a request." Emilia's eyes were red, looking as if she had just cried. She lowered her gaze and said apologetically, "Wrath... can she be left entirely to me to handle?"」
「Anastasia, having been interrupted, tilted her head. "In terms of capturing Sirius, Miss Emilia deserves the primary credit. Leaving her to you isn't a difficult request, but can you tell us the reason?"」
「"I..." Emilia bit her lip, filled with guilt, but continued, "I unwrapped Wrath's bandages. That... she isn't 'Sirius' at all... that person is actually my foster mother from over a hundred years ago!"」
"—!?"
As soon as these words came out, it wasn't just the people in the future who were stunned. On the streets of the Royal Capital, Emilia was dumbfounded.
"How... is that possible..."
"No, it is possible." Puck thought for a moment. "Since Geuse was taken away and turned into Petelgeuse, given Pandora's sick sense of humor, the possibility of her taking Fortuna, who was at death's door, and reconstructing her is very high."
"Mother Fortuna... is alive... Mother Fortuna is still alive..."
Muttering tremulously, memories of the beautiful past she could never return to flashed through Emilia's mind. She had thought it was beyond salvation, but thanks to the future broadcast, she now knew it wasn't.
Before Geuse and Mother Fortuna could commit their ultimate sins, she would defeat them and bring them to Beatrice to find a way to undo the distortion and brainwashing.
Emilia felt exceptionally fortunate. Luckily, Mother Fortuna was the Archbishop of Wrath. In the Watergate City incident, she hadn't actually killed anyone—though she initially made dozens of people get their heads blown off with her, that had been reversed by the loop.
In reality, she was neutralized without causing any casualties.
If Mother Fortuna had been Capella, even if it was only the "future," Emilia could never be thick-skinned enough to wash away her crimes after she had harmed so many people.
"...As expected, it is Fortuna-sama!"
Geuse breathed heavily. He changed direction; he had to find Fortuna. "Emilia-sama is currently in the Royal Capital and is safe, but I don't know if Fortuna-sama can regain her senses like I did."
"Wait for me. This time, I will definitely... Fortuna-sama!"
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