[ "These are magic stones used for the barrier. They are set up on trees all around the forest. Didn't you notice?"
"What on earth are you talking about… Ah!"
The next moment, countless demonic dogs, Wolgarm, savagely bit down on Petelgeuse.
"Aaaahhhhhhh!" Petelgeuse screamed. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"How does this great me remember Roswaal wiping out all the Wolgarm Mabeasts?"
Garfiel, outside the screen, said.
"In any case, winning is what matters. Can he win?"
Otto asked.
"Even if he is possessed, even if that is the Sin Archbishop of 'Sloth,' the physical body is still that of an ordinary person. Facing that kind of attack, the madman won't last much longer."
Wilhelm said.
—
[ "Mere beasts… 'Unseen Hand'!" Petelgeuse extended the Unseen Hand and swatted the Wolgarm away, but their number was truly too great, and another pack of Wolgarm rushed forward.
"Erahhhhh!"
His body was torn apart, internal organs spilled onto the ground, and the screams were incessant.
Even if left alone, he probably wouldn't survive.
"H-how… is this possible? To be defeated by the Mabeasts…"
"Your preliminary investigation was insufficient. This area is a habitat for packs of Mabeasts; the barrier merely separates their dwelling place."
Now, this physical body was nearing death. Petelgeuse, using his last strength, laughed maniacally and said:
"F-f-foolish! For now, just… let you hold it… I will certainly, certainly… reclaim the love."
Although he was about to die, his smile remained manic and confident. Finally, he collapsed.
"Damn it… what the hell is this guy trying to say?" Subaru roughly scratched his head, then rode Patrasche back to Arlam Village.
The goal was to eliminate the other "Fingers." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"As expected… this is bad."
Yuriusu, outside the screen, frowned and spoke in a deep voice.
Next, Subaru is very likely to…
"Does Yuriusu-dono share the same thought?"
Wilhelm looked at Yuriusu.
Yuriusu, in turn, nodded lightly.
"..."
Beatrice, on the other side, was silent.
Subaru is about to be possessed.
She knew it in her heart from the start, but she didn't say it.
—
[ "…Damn it! He appeared after all!"
"Ah—My brain is trembling, trem-trem-trem-trembling!"
In front was the village, and that middle-aged man with a strong presence was undoubtedly Petelgeuse.
He was seen extending several Unseen Hands, obscuring the sky, and the village instantly grew dark.
Then, those black hands pressed down simultaneously, intending to crush everyone in the village to death.
"No—"
Subaru stretched out his hand, shouting.
The next moment—
"…This is far enough, villain."
A silver bell-like voice rang out; it was Emilia.
Then, everyone outside the screen was stunned.
Because the scene started to slow down, as if paused.
However, a moment's thought revealed that this was Subaru's perspective, and in Subaru's eyes, this moment was profoundly shocking.
Just like the first time he met Emilia, an event that only existed in Subaru's memory.
"I won't allow you to continue committing atrocities… This is the end."
Emilia released a bluish-white light, covering the Unseen Hand. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Oh, how dazzling, Lia."
Puck, outside the screen, said.
"Ah… Mm."
Good night, Geuse.
Emilia thought this.
"After going through so much, meet up with Lady Emilia after it ends, and then reconcile."
Ferris smiled.
"No… It's not over yet."
Yuriusu said, his eyebrows tightly furrowed.
Wilhelm clenched his fist.
—
[ "Emilia…"
The scene gradually sped up, returning to its original pace.
Subaru softly spoke her name.
"Ah, what a…"
From Subaru's perspective, Petelgeuse looked at Emilia and spoke.
"Ah, ah! What a wonderful day! What an auspicious day! What destiny! To think that she has grown into such a vessel! Identical! It is practically a reappearance in this world! I am certain that even if I initiated countless more trials, a good opportunity to encounter such a vessel would never come again… Oh, oh, Witch… my, guiding star of love…"
Petelgeuse was ecstatic, speaking while moving closer to Emilia.
The battle began.
Petelgeuse extended the Unseen Hand to attack Emilia, while Emilia caused the ground where her toe touched to freeze, using the ice for high-speed gliding, dodging the Unseen Hand.
"Just this little trick! Arrogance! Petty cleverness! Before my love, this is nothing more than useless struggling!"
Although Petelgeuse looked disdainful, however…
"I understand perfectly that my beloved daughter, whom I am so proud of, would mesmerize you, but no thanks to the pests."
When Petelgeuse looked around again, he was already surrounded by ice walls.
Then the ice walls shattered, turning into ice spears that shot toward him.
"…Too naive! Too naive, too naive, too naive, too naive, naive, naive, naive, naive, naive!"
He used the Unseen Hand as a barrier and jumped out of the encirclement.
Then…
"Heeyah!" Petelgeuse, who had just jumped out, was knocked flying by Emilia, who was gliding on ice.
Just as Emilia pursued and released ice spears, Petelgeuse once again used that self-tossing movement method to evade the attack. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Oh, just a fierce battle."
Felt, outside the screen, said.
"Spirit Arts Users are often a case where one plus one is greater than two. Even though the attacks are invisible, they can still fight back and forth."
Old Man Rom said.
"Can she win?"
Otto asked.
"Don't worry."
Puck replied.
"But Lady Emilia's chest has been stabbed through and has a hole!"
Otto was terrified by the sight before him.
"Ah, that's fake."
Puck said.
—
[ "This is precisely the result of the favor! It is the fruit of my love! This proves that the Witch responded to my love!"
Just now, Petelgeuse used the Unseen Hand to gouge out the chest of "Emilia," leaving a large hole.
"However, you need not mourn! Even if the soul is lost, we must take the vessel…"
"Heeyah!"
"…Ngh?"
Petelgeuse was kicked flying by Emilia.
Just as Puck outside the screen had said, this was an ice clone of Emilia, not the real Emilia.
With just that one move, Petelgeuse created a huge opening.
"I won't let you escape this time."
Emilia said, releasing ice magic that shackled him.
"Ah, this is truly—Diligence!"
"Thank you for the compliment—Now take this!" Emilia delivered a palm strike, and subsequently, Petelgeuse's entire body was frozen solid.
The battle ended.
Emilia shed a single tear. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"…Geuse, good night."
Emilia, outside the screen, said.
As for why she shed a tear, it was likely those sealed memories weeping.
"It's finally over… Ah, what's happening to the screen?!"
Otto pointed at the screen and cried out in alarm.
The scene before them began to turn chaotic, as if the afterimages of hands were scratching at the display.
"..."
Wilhelm was silent.
"Subaru…"
Yuriusu lamented.
"Subaru."
Beatrice was grief-stricken.
—