Chapter 349. Anastasia Accepting the Marriage Proposal (Part 1)
「There were many applicants wanting to go along, but after screening, many had to gloomily accept the result of being rejected.」
「In order to stabilize the uneasy hearts of the people in Watergate City and to guard against the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony launching another sneak attack, Reinhard had to remain stationed here for at least a month.」
「Wilhelm needed to quickly transport his wife back to the Royal Capital, using his connections to assemble the kingdom's most talented experts to find a way to liberate the corpse soldiers.」
「Furthermore, because they did not trust Roswaal and because escorting Hikigaya Hachiman to the Sage's Tower would take time, neither Emilia nor Beatrice could be spared. Therefore, Sirius could only be taken over by Garfiel; together with Wilhelm, who was escorting Theresia, they would first transport her to the Royal Capital to be imprisoned.」
「Ricardo, as a well-traveled veteran mercenary, needed to stay in Watergate City to guide Felt in the reconstruction efforts.」
「Mimi made up her mind to follow Garfiel, while her two younger brothers stayed with Ricardo to work in Watergate City.」
「In the end, the personnel for the journey were temporarily set as Hikigaya Hachiman, Anastasia, Julius, Emilia, Crusch, the soon-to-awaken Beatrice, and Meili, who was imprisoned at the Roswaal mansion.」
「Meili, who had once attacked the mansion alongside the Bowel Hunter, possessed a Divine Protection that allowed her to control Mabeasts. Precisely because Emilia said that the pre-amnesia Hachiman had already made arrangements for Meili to handle the Mabeasts along the path to the Sage's Tower, Reinhard was able to feel at ease staying in Watergate City.」
「Ferris, on the other hand, was so anxious his tears were about to fall. He was practically throwing a tantrum, unwilling to leave Crusch's side, terrified that she might suffer some harm the moment they parted.」
「...Unfortunately, there were still many wounded left in Watergate City, and as the kingdom's number one healer, he simply could not step away to go to the Sage's Tower. Under Crusch's consolation, he could only reluctantly accept the arrangement.」
「After the meeting adjourned, Crusch went to comfort Ferris, and Emilia went to find Sirius. Although both of them, like Reinhard, intended to talk to Hikigaya Hachiman, Anastasia had already spoken up first to "reserve" him before they could.」
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"Tch..."
In the Sanctuary, Garfiel gritted his teeth. He knew why his future self would take on the task of escorting Sirius. It was because he, this useless "Shield of the Sanctuary," simply had no face left to see the General!
"Stronger, this young master has to become even stronger—strong enough to protect the General!"
When the results of the selection came out, no one felt that Reinhard or Wilhelm were being ungrateful. They truly had urgent matters that they had to attend to.
Moreover, no matter how you looked at it, the lineup for the Sage's Tower was sufficiently powerful and safe.
The current Emilia was an existence who could duel an Archbishop one-on-one and emerge victorious. With the Sin Archbishop of Greed dead, there were only a handful of people in the world who could defeat her on the surface.
And those few people wouldn't happen to be bored enough to go to the Sage's Tower and just happen to start a conflict with her.
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「Brightly shining stars flickered in the sky. Under the curtain of night, Anastasia tightened her Dona-fox muffler, letting her pale purple hair flutter in the strong wind.」
「"Actually, I've always had a certain doubt weighed down in my heart."」
「She spoke abruptly, her lovely, pitiable face carrying a teasing smile as she looked at Hachiman. "Loathing gazes, a posture of dislike... even though you've tried your best to hide it, the traces are still there. I didn't expect my attempt to 'clear my previous shame' would be realized so pathetically at a time like this."」
「"What are you trying to say?" Hikigaya Hachiman wanted to flatly deny it, but seeing Anastasia's certain tone, he knew he had already been seen through by this merchant.」
「"—Don't be in such a hurry or so guarded. I'm not some great villain. Just listen quietly for a bit, can you?"」
「Anastasia was not affected by his sharp hostility. Her eyes glowed with sentiment as she said: "Loathing, dislike, and confusion... you're very perplexed. You don't understand why you, who should really hate me, would maintain a good relationship with 'this kind of person'."」
「"Led by confusion and unease after losing your memories, the current Prime Minister is full of openings. I just used my knowledge of you to observe a little bit. So please, don't make a face like 'this girl might have a mind-reading Divine Protection'."」
「Anastasia's sharpness made Hachiman uncomfortable, giving him the illusion of being stripped bare. Consequently, his responding tone wasn't particularly good:」
「"Merchants are always thick-skinned, I can understand that. But since you've seen this much, you should know that getting close to the current me has no benefit for you at all."」
「"But actually, I've already gained a benefit." Anastasia reached out her left hand, gently closing it as if grasping the air, and slightly closed her eyes. "I feel very much at peace right now."」
「"Yes, at peace."」
「She murmured the word again. "The post-amnesia Prime Minister is exactly the same as before. You haven't directly become a different person with a completely changed personality like Miss Crusch. Having confirmed this, I am satisfied."」
「"You..." Hachiman knit his brows. "Miss Emilia, Crusch, and you as well... how do you people judge this? Where is the evidence?"」
「"There is plenty of evidence, but I imagine the Prime Minister wouldn't acknowledge it?"」
「Anastasia smiled. Whether it's the same person, whether there's been any change—after knowing someone for so long, how could you not notice? Even if it was only through exchanging letters, that was enough. Besides, every time, she would reconstruct Hachiman's image in its entirety from the words of the messengers she sent.」
「"Feelings are hard for you to believe in, so, let the facts prove it. Even if a person's memories are lost, the things they've done won't change."」
「"I am a 'Fake,' a greedy merchant, a cold-blooded bastard, a scheming piece of trash. I guess the current Prime Minister probably views me that way in his heart?"」
「"..." Hikigaya Hachiman said nothing. He couldn't refute it, nor did he want to.」
「Anastasia just laughed nonchalantly and spoke softly: "Julius surely told you that your relationship with me is very good—and that's true."」
「"But he definitely didn't tell you that over a year ago, two months after you arrived in this world, during your first meeting and first transaction with me, you schemed against me ruthlessly and made me take a very big fall."」
「"The pre-amnesia you, when first meeting me, actually hated me just as much as you do now~"」
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