Chapter 434. Numerous Deaths
After finishing his unpleasant visits with Ram and Priscilla, Hikigaya Hachiman was called away again before he could even seek out Yukinoshita.
Following the world merger, the Melancholy Warlock (Hector), feeling some interest in the changed world, emerged from the far side of the Great Waterfall where he had resided for four hundred years. He wreaked havoc on many innocent people along the way before passing through the Sacred Volachia Empire.
Like Pandora, the Melancholy Warlock was a figure not recorded in history. Four hundred years ago, following Pandora's instructions, he had hunted down the Witch of Greed, Echidna, leading to her death.
Although "Blue Lightning" (Cecilus) and the Nine Divine Generals were powerful, they were surprisingly unable to defeat him. Left with no choice, they sought aid from the Kingdom of Lugunica. Subsequently, the Melancholy Warlock was cut down by a single strike from Reinhard.
Thus, Hikigaya Hachiman arrived to collect the Factor of Melancholy.
Vincent Volachia's eyes were practically red with envy. He had originally intended to intercept the Witch Factor himself, which was why he hadn't asked for help initially and had even suppressed the news. Unfortunately, his own Nine Divine Generals simply weren't up to the task!
The gaze of the grief-stricken Vincent was far too terrifying. Coupled with his status as Priscilla's brother, Hachiman felt it was best not to have any overly deep interactions with this Emperor.
On a broader scale, the Melancholy Warlock wasn't the only one to appear during this time. Zarestia, one of the four great spirits of Kararagi, also began to awaken. She split in two, becoming a rational half and an emotional half dominated by rage; the latter began a slaughterous rampage.
Halibel stepped up without hesitation, leading a group to stop her, but they were no match. Ultimately, Anastasia, unable to bear seeing her homeland trampled, dispatched Julius. He helped imprison a Tiestia who was not yet at her full strength.
For this sake, Halibel let go of the grudge in his heart—the incident from the Anastasia IF line where Anastasia had sent people to gang up on him, her fellow countryman.
The Divine Dragon Volcanica took a flight around the entire world. Wherever it passed, the environment improved and pollution decreased. In areas where nuclear radiation was particularly severe, it would wound itself and let fall a few drops of blood, neutralizing the radiation.
The three other nations besides Lugunica were also blessed. Some of the Empire's infertile farmlands were restored to perfection, and the snow coverage in the northern Gusteko was reduced, greatly increasing the habitable area.
Emilia also directly requested blood from Volcanica to revive the forest that had been frozen since her childhood, unsealing everyone who had been forced into a deep sleep over a hundred years ago.
Anastasia's physical condition had originally required dragon blood as well, but Hachiman's Authority of Vainglory could heal her, so there was no need to trouble the dragon.
"So the Authority of Vainglory has such an effect... I see, so the Prime Minister has been worrying about my health in his heart all along?"
When Anastasia leaned in with a smile, wanting to offer herself as repayment, she scared Hachiman right out of the room.
...Later, upon reflection, he suddenly woke up to a harsh reality: he was being targeted perfectly. Anastasia and Priscilla had both identified his weakness—that he couldn't do much against his "own people"—and were becoming increasingly brazen. Even Rem was starting to look like she was learning some bad habits.
Fortunately, Emilia remained the same as ever, not having been corrupted by Puck.
Thus, when the day to unseal the forest arrived, Hachiman finally dared to meet Emilia there openly, preparing to slay the last of the three great Mabeasts: the Black Snake.
...In recent days, the White Whale had already been slain by the combined efforts of Wilhelm and Theresia. The "Big Five" of Earth had purchased half of the White Whale's body at a high price for research, hoping to find inspiration for a technological explosion.
However, a creature like the Black Snake had to be completely evaporated without a trace to be eliminated, otherwise it wouldn't die. Thus, it was impossible to sell, as there would be no corpse.
"—RUMBLE!!"
Emilia and Fortuna used ice spears to restrain it, while Hachiman, Beatrice, Shaula, Geuse, and Garfiel attacked simultaneously, instantly annihilating the terrifying beast that had once made hearts tremble.
Puck was absent because he had recently terminated his contract with Emilia and fallen into a temporary slumber, though he would wake before long. To back his "daughter" in snatching her man, Puck felt that he had to recover his full strength as soon as possible; otherwise, he'd be stepped on by young, aggressive girls like Priscilla, which would be very bad indeed.
"What happened to us? ...Uh, you are... Emilia? Is that Emilia? How did you grow up so much all of a sudden?!"
As the dragon blood rained down, the half-elf village began to recover. Surprisingly, Archi, who was thought to have died, was restored to perfect health under the dragon blood's effect.
"It seems Archi's life was sustained by your ice seal just before he died. Dragon blood can't bring someone back to life who doesn't even have a corpse."
Hachiman clicked his tongue. "Just like misleading Garfiel into thinking his mother was dead, you made us think Archi was gone for good... Truly malicious, Echidna."
He furrowed his brows, about to think seriously on how to humiliate Echidna later to repay her countless sins, but his thoughts were cut off in an instant.
"Mother Fortuna, Geuse, Archi, and everyone... sob... I'm so happy, really so happy. Thank you, Hachiman. If not for you, I would have... sob..."
Crying tears of joy, Emilia subconsciously turned and hugged her knight tightly. Without any thoughts of rivals or taking advantage, the sobbing Emilia was simply happy from the bottom of her heart. She just wanted her knight to understand her feelings and share this beautiful joy with him.
Feeling Emilia's pure sincerity, Hachiman's tensed body unconsciously relaxed. His raised hands, which had nowhere to go, were pushed down by two small, sudden ice spears.
He turned his head and caught the culprit—it was indeed Fortuna's magic. That former "straight-as-an-arrow" tsundere, after being with Geuse, had learned how to play wingman, secretly contributing to Emilia's romance.
Fortuna gave him a meaningful nod, then immediately pushed Beatrice, Shaula, and Garfiel along to join Geuse in comforting the startled villagers, leaving the area for the two of them alone.
Feeling the devotion and trust of the sincere Emilia, and her unreserved sharing of joy, Hachiman let out a soft sigh.
Lowering his eyes, he stopped resisting Fortuna. He let the two ice spears weigh down his arms and, just as Emilia held him, he gently wrapped his arms around the waist of this magnificent girl.
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