[ "…Do it. I will never suffer such indignity." Ram, calm and resolute, spoke from within the screen, then lowered her hood.
It was Ram, indeed.
....
"By the way, what exactly does this mean? Surely the ungrateful Barusu will explain it to Ram?" Ram's gaze sharpened with displeasure.
"Ungrateful?"
"Precisely, ungrateful. To be bitten back by one's own dog—this is exactly that situation, wouldn't you agree?"
"Huh? Listen to me… Right, the handwritten letter! To prevent any misunderstanding, I should have penned a letter. Did it not reach the mansion?"
Subaru hastily explained, but Ram's expression grew even more displeased: "Hmph, at first, Ram wondered why such a grand display, even sending an envoy. But upon receiving the letter, it was a blank handwritten missive. What exactly are you trying to achieve, Barusu?" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Just as Miss Ram surmised."
Otto remarked.
"Little Ram is quite clever. By now, little Rem should have been assaulted by Gluttony, and the letter being blank would be misinterpreted as a declaration of war."
Ferris chimed in.
—
[ "A blank handwritten letter? How could that be! And why would you jump to such a conclusion…" Subaru was utterly shocked.
"The act of sending a blank letter is often used to convey 'no intention of dialogue.' Understandably, she would interpret it this way." Wilhelm stated.
"So, after all that, it was just an oversight that I put a blank piece of paper in the envelope and sent it? That's a truly monumental misunderstanding! Besides, do I really look that cunning?"
"To be bitten back by one's own dog—that's precisely the situation. However, no matter. Ram has grasped the general situation. The blank handwritten letter was due to an oversight, and Barusu is Lady Emilia's beloved dog… That's right, isn't it?"
"After all, a dog is practically family, and as long as it belongs to Emilia, I don't mind being a dog." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"No matter how you put it, that ambition is far too lowly, wouldn't you agree?"
Wilhelm, both on and off the screen, spoke in unison.
Heard the old man was a live-in son-in-law, so don't let the pot call the kettle black.
Al mused to himself.
This time, he didn't dare speak, not even in a whisper.
Who knew if that guy's hearing was superhuman?
"Hmm? Sir Al, is something amiss?"
Wilhelm frowned, looking at Al.
"Ah, nothing at
—
[ Next, on screen, Subaru explained the specific situation to Ram and urged the villagers to evacuate.
"By the way, where's Ferris… What's that guy up to?"
In the Alaram Village square, Subaru noticed Ferris was missing.
After searching for a while, he found Ferris.
Ferris appeared to be arguing with a tall man.
"Hey—"
"…Excellent, I was careless."
Ferris narrowed his eyes and touched the man's exposed arm…
"Wah—" With a shriek, the man collapsed.
"Huh?" Subaru was thrown into confusion.
"This person is a Witch Cultist, you see. Earlier, when little Ferris was surrounded by many people, I touched him and then confirmed it—he has a grotesque, just like the Archbishops' 'Fingertips,' implanted within him."
After explaining, Ferris looked at the fallen man and asked, "Alright, what exactly are your intentions? Spill it out, every last detail. While little Ferris's hands are the gentlest in the entire world… they can also do very cruel things, you know."
"Ferris, be careful. If this guy is 'Sloth,' he might still resist even if his limbs are immobile."
"Meaning he might be able to use his Authority, right? We'll leave that for Subaru to guard against."
Then, the fallen man slowly began to speak: "…My brain, it trembles." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"This… What is this?!"
Emilia exclaimed in surprise.
"Have the Witch Cultists infiltrated to such an extent?"
Anastasia frowned slightly.
"…Ian! Protect him!"
Ferris on screen and Yuriusu off screen shouted in unison.
—
[ The next instant, accompanied by a cry of "Alright, the end—it begins!", a massive explosion erupted where Subaru stood.
"…Ah… What happened?"
The screen spun wildly, and Subaru was bewildered.
"Explo-sion… Ian! Come out, Ian! You're there, right?"
Realizing what had happened, Subaru hastily called out to Ian, the red quasi-spirit who had protected him.
Flashing red lights appeared all around, apparently Ian.
"Ian! And Ferris… where did Ferris go?"
"Ferris, where…"
"…Over here, you know," Ferris responded weakly to Subaru.
At a glance, Ferris's clothes were torn to shreds. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Oh dear, it seems little Ferris 'died' once, nyaa."
Ferris, off-screen, sighed and said.
"What does that mean, if I may ask?"
Emilia was puzzled.
"Simply put, little Ferris's clothes can withstand one fatal attack."
So that was it.
No wonder he said he had 'died' once.
"Ah, the villagers!"
Felt noticed that the Witch Cultists had raided the village, and Alaram Village had devolved into utter chaos.
"Was the explosion a signal for the attack…"
Yuriusu's voice was grim.
—
[ "How did those people sneak into the village…"
The Witch Cultists launched their assault, beginning a massacre. The subjugation force also hastily responded.
"Why ask—they were hidden in the dragon carriage's cargo, of course!" Ferris answered.
"Damn it! The evacuation plan is completely ruined! For now, let's get the villagers to the mansion…"
Yuriusu unleashed his rainbow-hued aurora magic, barely stabilizing the chaotic situation.
"Anyway, we need to take down all the remaining 'Fingers'! I'll observe! Yuriusu, lend me a hand!" Subaru said.
"Naturally. Ferris, you go rendezvous with the evacuating allies and treat the injured. You are the lifeline."
"No one can be lost, because little Ferris absolutely refuses to let anyone else go."
The three confirmed their respective duties and then dispersed.
…
"…' Invisible Providence '!"
Then Subaru noticed several black hands appearing on the other side.
"Hold on tight! Sir Wilhelm is fighting not far ahead!"
He seemed to believe that was Wilhelm's location.
However, the very next moment, an explosion occurred there.
"Sir Wilhelm?!"
Subaru and Yuriusu rushed to the explosion site, discovering a severely wounded, near-death Wilhelm. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"What happened?!"
Garfiel demanded.
"…I must have been insufficiently seasoned and grew careless."
Wilhelm paused in silence, then spoke.
—
[ "This is absolutely dangerous! We have to get him to Ferris quickly… Ah!"
"Why? Why? Why? Why? Why… are you still alive? After enduring so many blows! Why have you not yet succumbed to my Diligence!" Another 'Sloth,' Petelgeuse, arrived.
This time, the possessed host was a beautiful woman. ]
....