The Explanation You Wanted
In truth, Crusch knew deep down that among such a group, only a merchant as vigilant and proactive as Anastasia could have discovered the illusionary wall and the balcony.
This was Anastasia's own capability. No one else would have conducted such a meticulous investigation, including the pre-amnesia Crusch. Even if Anastasia hadn't done it, no one else would have reaped the "balcony bonus."
It's just... she was unwilling. Truly unwilling.
Crusch didn't feel petty jealousy or hatred toward Anastasia, especially not this time. But she had been tricked by her before, and looking back, if Anastasia hadn't taken certain actions, her future self might have had a chance to step up.
Alas, Anastasia seemed to be her natural enemy. Every single time—
No, rather than saying she was Crusch's natural enemy, it was more accurate to say Anastasia was the natural enemy of anyone besides Beatrice who wanted to snatch Sir Hachiman. She was simply too strong—so strong it was appalling, so strong that Crusch could feel zero hope for her future self.
"Try your best, Emilia... I'm already finished. But at least you still have a chance—I was the one who supported you and Sir Hachiman from the start."
"Even if I can't do it, I hope that at the very least it's you and Sir Hachiman, not Anastasia and him!"
Wilhelm and Ferris exchanged a glance, their eyes full of helplessness... 'Lady Crusch, is this what they call being forced to "return to one's original intentions"?'
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Outside the Karsten Mansion, the crowds were buzzing.
For the vast majority of people in this world, the news that the Great Sage Flugel was actually from another world brought a shock far greater than Anastasia's pleasing progress. After all, it was already a consensus that Anastasia was a powerhouse; her making progress wasn't surprising—it wasn't like Crusch had suddenly staged a comeback.
"So, all the smart ones are from another world... Ouch! What are you doing, you bastard!"
Muttering to himself, a hoodlum was suddenly whacked on the head. He turned around, baring his teeth in anger, only to see the tall, sturdy apple-stall owner. His loud voice instantly shrunk in fear. "W-what was that for?"
"What for? For telling you to stop spreading divisive nonsense!"
The owner whacked the hoodlum twice more, saying loudly: "Yes, there are many smart people from the other world—Flugel, Hoshin of the Wasteland, Hikigaya Hachiman—but it's not like our side doesn't have them!"
"Even Hikigaya himself has praised Lady Anastasia's wisdom and sharpness time and time again!"
"Besides, even if those three are from another world, didn't they eventually settle down here and accept our world? You can't just simply divide their identities like that."
"Hikigaya belongs to that side, but he also belongs to this side. Do you understand, you moron!"
The uncle who owned the apple stall—who had appeared in the "future" footage and was the first to sell apples to Hikigaya Hachiman—attracted many listeners with his grand speech.
The hoodlum cried out indignantly: "So what! Why hit me!"
"Because that kind of talk incites conflict in people, you idiot! Use your head before you speak!"
The owner whacked him again. Although by now, too many people respected or even revered Hikigaya Hachiman, one still had to be careful to nip divisive conflict in the bud. Guided by right-thinking people like the apple-stall owner, the potential friction caused by the shocking truth about the Great Sage Flugel was extinguished at the source.
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「Creak.」
「The library doors were pushed open, and the hurried, noisy footsteps came to a halt.」
「Upon waking in the morning, Emilia realized her Hachiman was gone, along with Miss Anastasia and Shaula. A panicked Emilia woke the others. After a brief search of the fourth floor yielded nothing, the group immediately thought of the trial.」
「"—"」
「The sight of a library completely different from yesterday symbolized the fact that the trial had been cleared.」
「But rather than joy at solving the trial, a sense of total absurdity and shock filled everyone's hearts, spreading across their faces and leaving them dumbfounded.」
「Greeting their eyes were three people who had fallen asleep right there, leaning against a bookshelf.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman was turned on his side, his back toward Shaula as if he found her repulsive. Shaula was hugging her Master tightly from behind; judging by the curve of her legs, she wanted to wrap them around his waist but couldn't quite manage it.」
「This was because Hikigaya Hachiman was holding a curled-up Anastasia in his arms.」
「Unlike his rejection of Shaula, Hachiman had one hand resting on Anastasia's pale-purple hair and the other wrapped around her slender waist.」
「In her sleep, the "dishonest merchant" wore a satisfied, cunning smile, her head nuzzled against her Prime Minister's reliable chest in the most comfortable position possible.」
「The three of them were sleeping in a tangled mess. Hachiman and Anastasia looked harmonious, like a well-matched couple, while Shaula looked like a child who had clung to them without permission.」
「At their feet, several books lay scattered in disorder.」
「Julius's brain went buzz. He froze on the spot, his mind completely reeling. He couldn't fathom how things had developed to this extent in just one night. The Greatest Knight had officially crashed.」
「"I feel... v~ery unpleasant!"」
「Emilia's gaze became sharp. She had a limited understanding of romance, but even she knew that her Hachiman absolutely should not be hugging other girls—especially someone from another camp like Anastasia.」
「"Heh... hehe... hehehehe... Fine. Very well. What a fine promise you made, what a fine set of rules you agreed to, Hikigaya Hachiman. How wonderful."」
「Ram let out a dark, chilling laugh as she stepped forward. In the next moment, she was blocked by the petite Beatrice. Crusch, whose expression was also none too pleasant, was allowed to pass by Beatrice, as she at least carried no murderous intent.」
「Ram narrowed her eyes. "Move aside, Lady Beatrice."」
「Beatrice gave a thin smile. "That won't do. Betty is the spirit contracted to protect Hachiman for all eternity. As for you, why don't you try to be a bit more rational?"」
「Watching the confrontation, Meili slowly retreated behind Julius to avoid the splash zone. She swallowed hard. "Big Brother really is a sinful man."」
「Ram remained expressionless. "I can't do that. Ram needs an explanation."」
「"—The explanation you want, I'll be the one to give it, if that's alright?"」
「A cute voice interjected into the spark-filled dialogue between Ram and Beatrice, drawing everyone's attention. It was Anastasia, newly awakened from her slumber, with a smile on her face.」