Тут должна была быть реклама...
――Возвращаемся во времени до того, как Сесилус Сегмунт убил звезду.
???: [Вот почему вокруг летают люди, которые мотивированы сильнее меня. Пока они не сильнее меня, думаю, проблем нет.]
???: [Люди сильнее Халибел-сана…]
Халибел: [Единственный, кто абсолютно сильнее меня — это Королевский Святой Меча. Кроме того, это зависит от совместимости и обстоятельств.]
Мягкий ответ Халибела вызвал у Субару одновременно чувство облегчения и беспокойства.
Если сильный человек гордится своей силой, как это делал Сесилус, это было не чем иным, как обнадёживанием для союзника. Это было особенно верно, если они были среди сильнейших в мире.
Именно поэтому он не мог не быть поражен тем, насколько необычен был Райнхард, чья сила была «абсолютно» гарантирована некоторыми из сильнейших в мире.
???: [У вас двоих наверняка полно времени поговорить, не так ли?]
Угрюмый голос Абеля прервал разговор Субару и Халибеля.
Нарисовав огненную линию своим драгоценным алым мечом, он повел группу с мечом Ян в руке, уничтожая нежить на своем пути и воспламеняя само их существование.
Сила Меча Ян была невероятной, позволяя Абелю, который изначально был способен только на кошачьи драки с ребенком Субару, двигаться так же хорошо, как первоклассный мастер боевых искусств.
Честно говоря, вид Авеля, с такой ловкостью пинающего землю и танцующего с мечом, был достаточно сильным, чтобы заставить его содрогнуться.
Винсент: [Вы, непочтительные ребята, не заставляйте Императора сражаться за вас.]
Субару: [Заткнись, это твое наказание за то, что ты спрятал свой козырь. К тому же, я не заставляю тебя делать все это――]
«Работа» , — собирался сказать Субару, но его прервал тремор.
Субару: [――――]
Земля содрогнулась из-за двух мертвецов, упавших с неба.
Гигант и высокая фигура приземлились, словно преграждая им путь, готовя оружие позади угрюмых Абеля и Субару, которые смотрели на него. Это было похоже на то, как будто эти двое пытались заставить их заплатить за глупые споры на поле боя――,
Винсент: [Рука монстра, Рондандо.]
Спокойные черные глаза Абеля отражали нежить позади Субару, когда он выкрикивал это имя; он вонзил свой Меч Ян в другую нежить, которая появилась позади него, сжигая ее существование.
Accepting the offered name, Subaru looked back at the man standing behind him, who had only an oddly-developed right arm, and saw Halibel catch the surprise attack with one raised finger.
In their contest of strength, the giant did not overwhelm his opponent.
Halibel: [Don’t’cha be disappointed, you’re real powerful. I just gave ya some ground.]
Halibel stood with his heels in the air, the streets rippling like the surface of water beneath his feet before dissipating. That highlighted the difference in status between the still-herculean might of the Monster Arm and Halibel.
Whether that was a relief or not was unknown, but in any case, it was helpful.
Subaru: [Rondando!]
???: [U!]
Onto the body of the Monster Arm, who had been stopped from moving, Spica’s palm was placed as she held Subaru’s hand. The next moment, the role of the undead was stripped away, and their opponent, clouded by hostility―― Rondando blinked his eyes.
Turning to dust from his fingertips, Rondando was released from the mission that had been imposed upon him. That their face looked relieved as they disappeared, was most likely because Subaru wanted to believe it so.
???: [That’s a more peaceful way to go than having your soul burned away, I suppose.]
Beatrice, who held Subaru’s hand opposite from Spica, understood his sentiments.
To the kind judgment from his partner, Subaru said “Yeah” and squeezed her tiny hand back, and then he looked up at the wolfman beside him.
Subaru: [That was helpful, Halibel-san! Thank you!]
Halibel: [No worries, no worries, it’s just as the Emperor-san said. I shouldn’t be just lookin’ ’round all the time, I at least gotta make up for the sleepin’ kid.]
Halibel laughed appreciatively and bobbed his kiseru up and down between his teeth.
The wolfman was holding the unconscious Jamal in his arms, but contrary to boasting about his overwhelming strength, he was probably being overly modest about his performance.
Jamal was in a bad state, but this reinforcement more than filled the gap that he had left behind.
Beatrice: [It would be troublesome if you were satisfied with simply working as a replacement for Jamal, I suppose. An outlier like you must work even harder, in fact.]
Subaru: [I didn’t say that…!]
Halibel: [Well, ain’t’cha a fierce lil’ pup. But, it’s more invigoratin’ when someone expects that much from ya. Though, if I get too enthusiastic ‘n die, the wolfmen might end up gettin’ wiped out.]
Subaru: [Let me just say this, I feel like if it’s a situation where Halibel-san would die, I have a suspicion that the entire world would be destroyed, not just the wolfmen…]
This was not an exaggeration; it bore repeating that this was a battle on that sort of scale.
As was always the case, Subaru was frantically fighting against the obstacles that stood in his way, fervently trying to deal with them, and persevering to somehow overcome these obstacles with all his friends.
Subaru: [Could lower-level people like me please not have to fight against the enemies of the world… what’s with those eyes, Spica?]
Spica: [Uuau…?]
Beatrice: [The day that you became Betty’s partner and Emilia’s Knight, it was already too late, is what Spica is trying to say, in fact.]
Subaru: [There’s no way Spica would have such a detailed overview of the state of the world!]
He objected to Beatrice’s arbitrary interpretation. Nevertheless, Spica’s reaction seemed to indicate that it was generally correct. He tried to stare at his hands, but could not do so because both of them were being held by the little girls. How unfortunate.
Halibel watched the scene with thread-thin eyes, in a good humor――,
Vincent: [――Enough of this frolicking.]
Again, Abel spoke in a cold voice that seemed to split the air.
However, no one, including Subaru, could complain about his latest request―― because, they had finally arrived before their destination.
Subaru: [――The Crystal Palace.]
Even from a distance, the towering majesty of the Palace was overwhelming, but looking upon it up close like this, that impression was not diminished, but only intensified.
It was not for nothing that it was praised as the most beautiful palace in the world.
Beatrice: […Such an outrageous palace, I suppose!]
Beatrice muttered as she tightened her grip on Subaru’s hand. What was contained in that murmur was not an admiration of the beauty of the palace, but a quiet fear.
When Subaru gave her a sidelong glance to inquire about her true intentions, her eyes, with their distinctive patterns, flickered,
Beatrice: [To amass such a large amount of rare and highly pure magic crystals is something extraordinary, in fact. Even if we were to overturn the Empire, we would never be able to build something like this, I suppose.]
Subaru: [That being said, it’s actually here, right?]
Beatrice: […So, this means that they crafted the Magic Crystals they lacked, in fact. It’s no wonder that the number of Spirits willing to lend a helping hand to others is extremely low in the Empire, I suppose.]
Subaru: [That’s…]
Subaru was taken aback by Beatrice’s grim face and her words.
In short, a Magic Stone was a mass of condensed Mana, and their purest form was called a Magic Crystal. The fact was that Beatrice, after seeing the Crystal Palace, which had been made lavishly from it, looked extremely displeased and said what she had just said.
Vincent: [Magic Crystals can be artificially created by preparing a large amount of colorless Mana and condensing it. There is no denying that such a process was involved in the completion of the Crystal Palace.]
Beatrice: [Not just Subaru, but Betty is telling you too, in fact. ――This Empire is detestable, I suppose.]
Abel’s words and Beatrice’s reaction gave away the fact that many Spirits had had their lives sacrificed to build this castle. This was something Subaru, a Spiritual Arts User, certainly had some feelings about――.
Subaru: [Beako, I know how you feel. But, that and this fight are…]
Halibel: [Now, now, there’s no need for ya to say nothin’, the kid gets it just right. Ya see, Vollachia’s history’s bloody ‘n unequaled, but the shinobi‘re just as bad in retrospect.]
Beatrice: [Don’t compare two bads and talk about which is better than the other, in fact.]
With her cheeks puffed out, Beatrice responded to Subaru and Halibel.
Then, noticing the gaze of Spica peering at her through Subaru,
Beatrice: [It’s alright, Spica, I suppose. My conclusion is the same as Subaru’s, in fact. Despite hating the Empire, there are people living here who have helped us, and there are even those whom Betty doesn’t dislike. That’s why Betty will fight earnestly, I suppose.]
Spica: [Eao…]
Beatrice: […Just now, Betty felt like you called her “Beako”, in fact. Only Subaru is allowed to call her that, not you, I suppose.]
Saying this with even more dissatisfaction than when she had seen the Crystal Palace, Beatrice then smiled. At that smile, Spica let out a “Uuu~” of relief, which came along with a deep sigh from Subaru.
On the other hand, Abel, who had lived in this castle which was the root of all evil, remained indifferent to the emotional compromise of Subaru and the others as he gazed upon the castle.
Subaru: [It’s not just about you; it’s about the deeds of your ancestors. Show some remorse.]
Vincent: [The Emperor does not easily bow his head. If you truly wish to pursue those responsible from that period, you should take a walk. Those who were involved in the construction of the castle might be around.]
Subaru: [You…]
Abel’s inability to stop talking was met with a glare by Subaru, but the argument came to an impasse as the castle appeared within sight. ――In the front of the Crystal Palace, figures began to spring up.
Halibel: [These fellas must be elite, here ta stop us from goin’ in. Seems like they’re real strong, so it’s gonna be tough…]
Subaru: [If the castle is well-defended, it must mean that something important is hidden there. Abel! Where should we aim for in the castle?]
Vincent: [Since the Stone is being utilized for the forbidden magic, the treasury where the core of Moguro Hagane, the nucleus of the Crystal Palace, is kept, or perhaps the underground cathedral where sacrifices are offered to anchor the Stone. There is also the dungeon next to the cathedral… No, disregard that.]
Subaru: [――――]
In the face of successive obstacles, the group’s readiness to rush in was heightened. In the midst of this, Abel’s retracted words made Subaru squint one of his eyes.
Abel’s brief mention of the Crystal Palace’s underground dungeon―― thinking of who might be chained there, Subaru sighed.
Remaining in the Imperial Capital, it was Priscilla whose whereabouts were unknown.
Her survival had been confirmed thanks to Schult, who could feel their connection, but even with Subaru’s repeated challenges, her presence had not been sighted in the Imperial Capital.
And Sphinx, whom they had just defeated, had attempted to get Abel to return to the castle in order to meet Priscilla.
Subaru: [I already know about your relationship with Priscilla. But even if you are worried about your sister, there’s no need to insist on it.]
Vincent: [Do you plan to seize the Empire’s weakness?]
Subaru: [Shut up, you siscon! Your sister might have the worst personality, but she’s also on my list of people I won’t let die, so I’m just saying we should save her while we’re at it!]
From the beginning, their encounters had never contained pleasant memories, as he had always been manipulated by Priscilla. However, her follower, Al, hailed from the same homeland as Subaru, and he himself had been helped by Priscilla on several occasions.
Also, sometimes he wanted to save Priscilla from a dire situation, just to see the look on her face when she would have to say words of gratitude.
Beatrice: [Knowing her, she’ll probably just say that you’re late or that you’ve done a great deed, in fact.]
Subaru: [I can already imagine it, but I want to confirm that for myself. Abel, that’s my course of action.]
Vincent: [――. Do as you please.]
Somehow, thinking that the reply was somewhat like a rehearsal for Priscilla, who never thanked him, Subaru and all the others except Abel looked at each other and nodded.
For a moment, he was inclined to wait for Emilia and the others to catch up to them along with the former Emperor of Vollachia, whom Halibel had seen off.
Subaru: [There’s no missing the turning point while being so eager! Let’s go!]
Beatrice: [I suppose.]
Spica: [Uu!]
Halibel: [Guessin’ we’ll go with that.]
Vincent: [Do not fall behind.]
Subaru: [Come on!]
△▼△▼△▼△
――For Viva the Dissector, this resurrected state of life was akin to a dream.
Individuals who had been revived as undead were abiding by the will of the caster for various reasons.
Many were reluctant to fight with the goal of destroying their homeland, and thus had been mostly stripped of their sense of self, accepting the instructions to direct their instinctive violent impulses towards the living.
On the other hand, there were also a certain number of individuals who, for the most part, were not under the influence of that mental manipulation.
For example, individuals who were likely to experience an extreme decline in ability under the influence of mental manipulation, would only receive minimal instructions so as not to disobey the caster’s will.
Viva, too, was one of the individuals who was only subject to minimal influence on his mind.
However, that was not because the caster wished to avoid a decline in Viva’s abilities. ――Viva had not even a sliver of a reason to disobey the caster’s will.
The bearer of the Great Disaster, who sought to bring ruin to the Vollachian Empire; did Viva’s lack of defiance against that perhaps mean that he harbored a hatred towards the Vollachian Empire?
Unfortunately, such a question could only be answered with a resounding “no”.
The aspect in which the intentions of Viva and the bearer of the Great Disaster coincided, was not concerning the survival of the Vollachian Empire. ――It was the investigation of the soul and of its true nature.
The reason why Viva had come to be known as the “Dissector”, was because he had done battle with many enemies as a warrior of the Vollachian Empire, and dismembered the bodies of his opponents into thousands, tens of thousands of pieces.
Only, the reason why Viva would dissect his opponents’ bodies to such an extreme extent, regardless of their survival, was not because he harbored any perverted interests. The pursuit of knowledge, that was his reason.
At the extremity of dissection, what Viva had truly wished to ascertain was not flesh and blood, but the soul.
The discrepancies between individual lives, the differences between strong and weak, the distinctions between male and female, just what exactly it was that individualized individuals; thirsting to know, Viva had dissected many a life.
Despite having done all that, Viva had failed to perceive the soul during his lifetime, not even achieving the result of laying his fingertips upon it. He had died in the midst of chagrin. That had been the life of Viva.
But, having been resurrected from death, Viva laid eyes upon what lay beyond his hopes, which ought to have already come to an end.
When he himself was revived by the power of the Witch, who was abusing the usage of souls, he gained a fragment of understanding of the soul, which he had failed to touch even a portion of during his lifetime. The Witch had given him the opportunity to turn that fragment of understanding into an even greater fragment.
Ergo, for Viva, this era was a miraculous one indeed.
Viva: [There are still many, many many, many many many many things, I wish to assess, got it?]
The Witch who had revived Viva, had also affirmed his insatiable curiosity.
In order to thoroughly investigate souls to his heart’s content, Viva had been granted the right to toy with lives in the Palace, and was provided with an environment where he could delight with more test subjects than he could have ever hoped for when he was alive, undoubtedly allowing him to fully enjoy this time of splendor.
If it was for the sake of this curiosity, he did not care how many lives were lost.
Rather, the more people died, the more variety of resources he would have to use over and over to the fullest extent; thus, the more people he killed, the more Viva’s desires would be fulfilled.
For that purpose, there were still many a life he needed to take――,
???: [――Viva the Dissector.]
Viva: [――――]
???: [Both in life and in death, your deeds are unbearable to witness. Therefore, though I may know your name, I shan’t bestow upon you any choice save being scorched.]
A sword flashed red, and before he knew it, his field of vision was spinning through the air.
В тот момент, когда Вива понял, что это произошло из-за того, что ему отрубили голову, он увидел вращающимся взглядом свое собственное обезглавленное тело и стал свидетелем того, как оно вспыхнуло пламенем.