Arc 5, Chapter 58 – “――Faith”

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Translated by:

• Nanashi

Proofread by:

• PaperLightning
• u/Ringo17
• u/GracedHarperd
• SSCaide

Realigned by:

• SSCaide, based on the comp by Phantaminum

Art sources:

• Setowi
• Norvak

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ALL RIGHTS BELONG TO TAPPEI NAGATSUKI, THE ORIGINAL AUTHOR OF RE:ZERO STARTING A LIFE IN A DIFFERENT WORLD FROM ZERO, THIS IS A TRANSLATION OF THE FREE JAPANESE WEB NOVEL INTO ENGLISH

JAPANESE WEB NOVEL SOURCE

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Regulus: [Fufufu.]

It was immediately after Emilia spoke, having placed her hand on her chest.

What rang out was a laugh that could not be hidden. Although what leaked out was at first only a breath, he soon could endure no more, and his voice gradually escalated in volume, until it became cachinnation.

Regulus: [Hahaha! Ahaha! Fufu, hahahahahahaha!]

Straightening his back, Regulus laughed loudly as if he had heard a great joke. Sticking a hand into his white hair and tousling it, the murderer was now immersed in a fit of laughter that no one else could understand.

Subaru could tell from his smug demeanor that Emilia’s speculation was correct.

Subaru: [You bastard, what’s so funny!?]

Regulus: [Of course it’s funny, isn’t it!? Or rather, you are, I really must suggest that, in this desperate situation, you should give up on trying to think and we can all laugh together. On that note, do you understand the current situation? You, with your own hands, pushed the most critical of critical points into this calamity!]

Subaru: [Guh…]

No words could be fitting. Only in this moment, was Regulus’s reply so perfectly reasoned that it could be met with naught but speechlessness.

Subaru turned his head to look to Emilia, confirming with her whether the speculation could be taken as proven.

However, towards Subaru’s searing gaze, Emilia shook her head.

Emilia: [There’s no mistake. I’ve had the Micro Spirits confirm, and I can feel it myself. Inside me, there’s something extraneous that doesn’t belong to me. It feels reaaally disgusting.]

Emilia assertion brought with it a desperate presentation of the current situation.

The effect of Lion’s Heart had moved to Emilia. In other words, the only way to stop Regulus now would be to stop Emilia’s heartbeat as well.

Subaru: [In the first place, why is Emilia’s heart… Could it be I made a mistake regarding Little King’s effects? His heart… anyone he so wishes…]

If it were that kind of ability, there existed no loopholes in Regulus’s Authority. If he could give his heart to even hostiles and strangers, that would mean that as long as the human race lived on, a way to kill Regulus would not exist.

Rather, if it was that his heart could replace that of any living creature——

Subaru: [Truly shameless.]

Regulus: [The worthless howls of a defeated dog are pleasant to hear. Hahaha, it doesn’t matter what you have to say. Just keep running with your temper; searching for some ridiculous excuse for your failure is the right of the loser. And enjoying superiority while hearing them is my right as the winner… Ahh, this isn’t bad! Not bad at all!]

Emilia: [I don’t meet your standards for a wife, you were saying that earlier.]

Regulus: [So annoying. Going on and on arrogantly as if you’re strong enough to speak of your own rights. More importantly, how are you planning to take responsibility for killing my wives? My ideal wives… How long do you think it took to gather such a group? How many years do you think it takes? Obviously of age, but lacking anything like a wife or lover, do you want me to be one of those garbage widowers who no one wants? Until I find a new wife, you have the obligation to join me!]

Regulus used stern words to smack at Emilia, full of spirit as he voiced his abhorrent rhetoric.

The violent reasoning that the murderer believed in, completely convinced that his heart was indeed within Emilia. If so, the possibility of removing Regulus’s heart from Emilia——

Regulus: [Would you like to try? To see if there’s somewhere else you can move my heart to?]

Emilia: [————]

Regulus: [The method is simple if you want to try it. Right now, just kill this girl before you. If you stop her breathing, you’ll naturally understand whether or not my Authority will stop. Very, very simple, effective, and reasonable… Hahaha! You can’t do it, can you? If you do something like that, with the motives and values that you’ve challenged me with in the first place, won’t you have lost your self-justifying reasons!?]

Although hard to admit, Regulus was right. Subaru did not possess the courage to sacrifice Emilia. Call him selfish, call him arrogant, only that could he not do.

In order to defeat Regulus, they had already tossed aside the lives of his wives. Even with the revelation that there had been no alternatives to those sacrifices, in no way could they compare with the life of Emilia or his other comrades.

Natsuki Subaru’s choices were, as always, selfish to a disgusting degree.

Regulus: [You see, someone like him could never. In that case, how about offing yourself in proxy? Simple, isn’t it? Just like what you did to the others. Or what? You can’t do it? You’ve clearly taken the lives of others without consent, but because you treasure your own so much, you can’t do it? How amazing, and how repulsive, isn’t it?]

Emilia: [——Subaru.]

Subaru: [Wait, you can’t. Seriously, that is unacceptable.]

At Regulus’s provocation, Emilia seemed to be calling to Subaru with a determined sound. Hearing the unsparing tone of her voice, Subaru hurriedly stopped Emilia in fear.

Even if she gave in to the provocation, surely she would not immediately make the choice to abandon herself.

However, Emilia had already done a good job of choosing the worst option if she did not have the means to win.

And so, Subaru had only the thought that he would absolutely not choose that path. In that case, they had lost. Calling Emilia’s name had stopped her, but he could speak no further words.

Regulus: [Then, in that case, we’re about ready to draw this to a close, aren’t we? Although keeping a filthy woman like you isn’t in my interest, for the time being, I’ll compromise. Before finding my next wife, you’ll join with me for a bit. Though, I’ll just have to kill this guy. He’s already infringed on my rights to this point… Ah, that’s right. So, did you laugh earlier?]

Before Subaru, who clenched his teeth, Regulus happily turned the corners of his mouth upward.

A torrent of Mana welled around Emilia, as she planned to make her own decision. At the same time, Regulus, not caring at all, laughed.

Regulus: [You’re that guy, aren’t you? That loud voice in the city that yammered on right before my wedding? Killing a single Sin Archbishop or whatever… What a joke, right? My condolences if you really thought you could best me, just because you killed that disgrace. That man, both before and after becoming a Sin Archbishop, has never accomplished anything, he has always been a damn fool.]

Regulus stood, giggling. What his words referred to was, without a doubt, the madman Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti, who Subaru found abhorrent as well.

Petelgeuse had been the worst kind of lunatic with no redeeming qualities. He felt not a shred of goodwill for the lunatic, instead hating him down to his bone marrow; he would never spare him, even were he to come back as a ghost. But nevertheless, seeing the Sin Archbishop ridicule Petelgeuse who was supposed to be his comrade, in Subaru’s heart grew a terrible and primitive feeling of unpleasantness.

It compounded further into this extreme situation, with the possibility of defeating Regulus, with Emilia’s life and death at stake.

Then again, Petelgeuse——

Subaru: [——Ah.]

——Should have been a loathed lunatic of an opponent, mad bloodstained laughter appearing in his mind. While thinking back on him, he lifted his face. Then, something felt as if it began to stir within his chest, and he seized it, swallowing his breath.

Could it be, that something like that, was also possible?

Subaru: [Could it be done…?]

Incomprehensible.

Strictly speaking, no one could guarantee the possibility that had appeared within Subaru’s mind. Just like bringing an empty table to a negotiation—— or rather, it was closer to being the product of Subaru’s delusions. Merely Subaru’s own feelings.

But that was precisely why. That was precisely why only Subaru was able to arrive at this possibility.

That notion now, based just on intuition, even a god would not know if it could succeed—— but,

Subaru: [Emilia.]

Emilia: [————]

Feeling the Mana that seemed to have risen to its limit, Subaru called to her.

Emilia remained silent, only revealing the realization of a tragedy. Nevertheless, deep in her eyes, a hint of emotion flashed through. That was her expectation and trust in Subaru, who watched her.

As if to lend support to those feelings, Subaru asked,

Subaru: [Emilia.]

Emilia: [Mhm.]

Subaru: [——Can you completely trust me, and leave everything to me?]

Emilia: [Mhm.]

Her response to this question came simply and without hesitation. Emilia placed a hand on her chest, and for the first time since returning to the battlefield, revealed a smile.

Emilia: [I believe that Subaru can do anything.]

Ahh, damn it, how despicable this was. A girl who he liked treating him with unflinching trust, how could he fail? Whether holding tight with hands or biting tight with teeth, he was not allowed to fail here.

Subaru slowly breathed deep, then slowly released the breath.

Then, he glanced toward Regulus, who watched them in silence. Regulus did not obstruct their conversation, just waiting leisurely with arms crossed.

Subaru: [Aren’t you a bit too relaxed?]

Regulus: [Aren’t I usually relaxed?]

Any trace of failure and the like, not even a speck remained.

Regulus had revealed all his preparations, and wanted to slaughter Subaru. In truth, Regulus’s Authority, Lion’s Heart, was perfect. Even after its mechanism had been clarified, victory was still placed somewhere nigh-unreachable.

However, precisely because he was convinced of his impending victory, he would watch Subaru’s struggles and efforts from the sidelines, without intervening, allowing others to worsen the situation.

He had no idea what was happening. And that point was true for Subaru as well.

Subaru: [————]

If Beatrice were here, there might have been another method. If that intelligent girl had been by his side, there would have certainly been a less risky way to win.

In the depths of his chest lay the connection with the girl who was his comrade. Certainly, after all this was over, he would be in for a scolding from her. Not being scolded would not do.

So now that he was alone, recalling the times when he had been alone, the memories remaining within his chest—— those were certainly not ones which brought happiness, awakening only an initial landscape of terror and agony.

Emilia: [Subaru.]

Subaru: [————]

Emilia: [Do it.]

Emilia’s call became strength, for him to make the decision.

Subaru violently seized his own chest, rousing something within him that was truly difficult to consider his, concentrating his consciousness on the center of the whirlpool where this chaotic black force swirled, liberating it——

In this moment, he would call it what it truly was. In order to have the murderer who had insulted the lunatic understand what was about to happen, only this once.

This power, this power inherited from that abhorrent madman would be declared by name.

Subaru: [Come forth… Unseen Haaaand——!!]

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——Invisible Providence. Or rather, Unseen Hand.

The force that surged through his body, defined by Subaru as the power of a Witch, had its origins in the Witch Factor. He had heard from Echidna, in her Dream Citadel, that he had gained the Witch Factor upon killing the madman Petelgeuse—— what detriments it had were yet unclear. However, the power which had bestowed an invisible, magical hand to Subaru undoubtedly had its origins there.

Therefore, until now, Subaru had never sought to use the Witch Factor as his own source of power.

The nature of this power being similar to that of the madman’s, was because the Witch Factor of Sloth inherently held this nature. That was what he believed. He did not even want to consider the possibility of Petelgeuse running amok within him.

——But if that were the case, what was this feeling?

Echoing, lively, silently cheering from inside Subaru.

Cheering for being called upon. Cheering for once again being able to use its power. Cheering for being requisitioned, being able to fulfill its goal. And then, there was only an unspeakable incomprehensible joy.

Accompanying the liberation of that power, that happiness and appreciation, as well as that feeling of gratitude. These incomprehensible waves of emotion were in no way a problem that Subaru himself could solve.

Regulus: [Huh!?]

Accompanying Subaru’s loud scream, was Regulus’s own astonished cry as he looked to the sky.

He should not be able to see it. Because this was an invisible, magical hand.

This dirty trick, perfect for assassinations due to its invisibility—— Regulus had showered it in insults, scorning it as insignificant and a failure. Furthermore, yes; it was nothing more than a watered-down version of that failure of a power.

Only one in number, with an incredibly short range, and too many unknown factors.

As the key to breaking through this situation, there should have been a limit to its unreliability.

Subaru: [————]

The first step of summoning the magical hand had been passed. Starting now, he would move on to the unknown second step and the final, third step. With his own consciousness, Subaru commanded the fingertips to take action, infusing his own intention into the magical hand that seemed woven by shadow.

Subaru: [Emilia!]

And once again, he confirmed whether she was ready. Looking to steel himself.

Along with that sound, Emilia closed her eyes, nodding as if she understood what would happen after this.

Emilia: [It’s fine—— You’re here, Juice.]

Emilia’s eyes were filled with warmth and understanding as she spread her arms.

Repeatedly preparing for what Subaru was planning, as if having foreseen what would happen, she shortened the distance to her heart. Subaru did not hesitate as he brought the magical hand into her chest.

Subaru: [————]

The invisible hand slid towards the center of Emilia’s chest. As the fingertips passed through her white skin without resistance, Emilia’s shoulders jumped as if she had felt something.

However, the hand did not hitch. Through the sternum, passing to the space between the lungs, finally it reached the pulsating source.

——The magical hand had arrived at Emilia’s heart.

The second step had been accomplished.

When the taboo was triggered, the Witch’s magical hand would easily phase through Subaru’s body, only causing his heart to ache. This was an application of that principle. The only way forth was to gamble on the fact that the Unseen Hand and the Witch’s magical hand shared that property.

However, so far, this bet had been successful. The problem was that, after this step, there was no precedent for that power.

If it were to just seize Emilia’s heart, he could do so in an instant. But that would make no sense. This power was not to be used for that.

So, what was this power for?

——Right now, in this moment, this power would be used to save.

Subaru: [————]

Was this really possible? With his mind drifting in a sea of confusion, Subaru took a deep breath.

Unseen Hand, could it really be used as a hand with which to save others? Wielded by the madman named Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti, how many lives had been stolen by this power?

Even though an ability was all about the way it was used, oftentimes, it would have a limited scope of application. Was Unseen Hand, too, the type of power that could bring naught but destruction?

This power, it was hard to believe it had been created for the sake of keeping someone alive, no matter what——

Emilia: [Subaru.]

Hesitating and doubting in that moment, Emilia’s voice, which he should not have heard, reached him.

Emilia: [It’ll be fine—— Because, I have faith in the both of you.]

Who and what was she talking about? Emilia directed her trust to Subaru, and to another person he did not know.

But with ease, he accepted and believed all of it.

——This hand absolutely, absolutely, would not hurt Emilia.

Subaru: [Come, my third hand…!]

Within his heart, the undispellable doubts about this power dissipated.

How this power had originated did not matter anymore. This power, right now, was in Subaru’s hands, and Subaru had no intent of hurting Emilia, and perhaps, something existed within the power itself.

Inside Emilia’s chest, the magical hand weaved by shadow began to close.

Fingertips touched Emilia’s heart, beating like a metronome, and Emilia gave a slight gasp at the gentle grip on the surface of her heart. Rather than pain, it was akin to a slight itch.

Inside the chest of Emilia, whose cheeks were dyed red, the magical hand closed its fingers to seize something certain.

A heartbeat different from Emilia’s own, that little Lion’s Heart——

Subaru: [Gotcha——!!]

He could not afford to pull it out. So, with his magical hand, Subaru crushed that heart, that which so shamelessly continued to beat within Emilia.

Emilia’s heart received not the slightest bit of damage, merely defeating a parasitic organ; one which was harmful, yet sang odes to love.

Subaru truly did feel a solid sensation from that third hand that did not exist. And then,

Subaru: [Bwah!]

At that time, he experienced the cost of placing unprecedented concentration on a power that was not his own.

His organs feeling a pain as if being carved, what rushed forth was a sense of despair as if he had been tainted. Subaru immediately fell , wracked by harsh coughs tinged with blood.

Emilia: [Subaru!]

Emilia reached out a hand towards Subaru, who knelt on the ground still soaked with water, blood leaking from the corners of his mouth. He took her outstretched hand and placed it on his face.

Emilia: [Ah…]

Subaru: [Still… alive, right?]

Emilia: […Mhm, I’m fine. My heart is perfectly fine, still beating inside me.]

Subaru used the touch and the feeling of coursing blood of the hand to reassure himself of reality, and Emilia used her empty hand to confirm her heartbeat. Without a doubt, in this moment, present there was a heartbeat that seemed to celebrate what had just occurred.

And then, Regulus alone wore an expression of being unable to comprehend the two he gazed upon.

Regulus: [Huh? What, what happened? Casting aside those around yo, for something only those involved with you can understand? What is this farce? Just what happened, you…] [1]

Subaru: […You didn’t notice?]

Regulus: [Huh? What are you talking about? Having noticed what, when not a single change has…]

Subaru: [Your feet, they’re getting wet.]

Regulus: [——?]

Subaru pointed so as to instruct Regulus, who seemed to have succumbed to his anger. Regulus looked at his feet in suspicion, only to see them growing wet. He fell momentarily silent, widening his eyes in shock.

Noticing the reality that his white outfit—— his white shoes and the hem of his clothing were being soaked through by the water at his feet.

Regulus: [You people—— Kah!?]

Noticing this change with a response too slow, Regulus bared his teeth and waved his arm. But a slender white leg struck out, kicking the side of Regulus’s face and sending him flying.

Completely unprepared for this direct kick, Regulus gave a wail as he was kicked towards the ground filled with water. Half his body was drenched further by the water, and a shoe print remained on the side of his face that had been kicked.

Regulus: [Hk, huu… this, this kind of…!]

As if unable to comprehend this reality in the slightest, Regulus blankly lifted his face. Looking down at him, Emilia, who had performed the beautiful kick, tilted her head slightly.

Emilia: [I did it. I finally landed a hit.]

Regulus: [You, youuuuuuuuu——!]

Emilia’s short sentence being filled with a sense of accomplishment made Regulus’s face grow redder and even more agitated. Using the motion of standing to gather water, Regulus scattered droplets of water at Emilia.

However, the pain of taking the kick prevailed, and his posture collapsed, the bomb of water flying in a completely wrong direction and instead leaving him wide open.

Emilia: [Ice Brand Arts!]

Regulus: [Hk——]

Creating a large mallet of ice in her hands, Emilia then slammed it directly into the center of Regulus’s body.

Receiving a swing that caused his bones to creak, the body of the murderer rolled atop the water. With unsuppressed coughs, slamming his fist into the ground many times without pause, Regulus glared at them with reddened eyes.

Regulus: “Why! Whywhywhywhy? You people, people like you, how, what, why, to the Authority of Greed! To my rights!

Subaru: [If you looked at all that and still haven’t figured it out, it’d be useless to explain it to you. Well, it’s simple, a very simple thing.]

As he pitied Regulus as the latter screamed, Subaru endured internal cries of agony from his organs, revealing a sneer.

Revealing a smile so vicious that it would not lose to Petelgeuse’s,

Subaru: [You were played by your opponents while you ridiculed them so much.]

Regulus: [——Hk!]

Even if he did not quite understand the meaning of those words, the intent to taunt would be clearly conveyed.

Regulus screeched with a sound that could not even be called a sound, ignoring Emilia, and taking a stance to launch himself at Subaru. However, he was cut off by Emilia.

Emilia: [Earlier, I attacked you in the stead of your wives—— because that doesn’t seem to have worked, I still have to do land one properly.]

Regulus: [Stop kidding around——!]

Appearing over Regulus’s head, countless icicles had been created.

Each one varied in size, but if they all fell together, they would bring instant death. Emilia’s disgust of Regulus had reached a point that even her gentle self could not stand.

Climbing to his feet with a leap, Regulus struck at the falling icicles with water. Though the icicles shattered, the finer shards still had their uses.

Ceaselessly tossing out bullets of water as if in a storm, Regulus cursed loudly as his body was bathed all over by ice and rain while running across the water.

The snow-white crystals of ice turned to fog, then froze the streets that had been doused in water. For Subaru too, the water along his knees formed a film of ice around him, scaring him into hurriedly pulling his hands out of the water.

Even with consideration for Subaru, such destruction had befallen his surroundings. Of course, Regulus, the actual target at hand, was simply no match for this. But,

Subaru: […Completely unhurt?]

In that scene of frost, after the barrage of ice had ended, Regulus remained, standing and alive.

Knees supporting his arms, spitting out uneven breaths, even though his entire body had been soaked by water, he still avoided meeting his end by being skewered by an icicle.

Regulus: [Absolutely, absolutely, haa, haaaaaa…]

Taking deep breath after deep breath, Regulus clutched his chest.

Looking at that demeanor, Subaru understood. The invincibility from Lion’s Heart could still be used even if the heart were inside his own body. However,

Subaru: [If you stop time to become invincible, you also have to stop the heart inside you—— This is absolute invincibility, but with a time limit, right?]

Regulus: [Guh…!]

It seemed he had struck true, as Regulus displayed his rage all the while enduring the pain in his chest. With a time limit now in place, sooner or later, after repeated attacks, Emilia could land an effective one.

In that case, Regulus was now an army of one that had to put his everything into offense.

Regulus: [That, that’s… don’t you feel despicable in the slightest!?]

Regulus pointed a finger at Subaru, the latter analyzing his opponent’s strength. Additionally, he then pointed toward Emilia’s direction, looking back and forth between the two of them.

Regulus: [Two people ganging up on one person in an act that’s essentially extortion, do your consciences not ache? Isn’t there something wrong with your fundamentals as human beings? Do you truly hold no doubts about yourselves? Having doubts should be only natural, shouldn’t it!?]

Subaru: […Man, you’re really something else.]

This was in fact the same mouth that had, under the advantage of Lion’s Heart, spoken nonstop. Having now lost that effect and being put in a disadvantageous position, he dared to use that shortcoming to request justification out of his opponents.

Subaru had already completely exceeded surprise, now on the verge of even wanting to respect him. Such an existence without a shred of human dignity had perhaps never been seen from antiquity unto now, and might never be seen again from now hereafter.

Subaru: [That is to say, this is what you believe? Because two-on-one’s too despicable, you hope to be able to fight an upright one-on-one battle. Because that’s the way battles should be. Is this the case?]

Regulus: [Exactly! You just take that for granted, eh? Who do you take me… who do you think I am!? I am Regulus Corneas, the Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult representing Greed!? This world’s most satisfied, most resolute existence…]

Regulus spoke thus in a trembling voice, as he looked down at his hands.

Subaru was now completely speechless. So, in Subaru’s stead, Emilia spoke,

Emilia: [You go back on your word immediately after you say something, and your speeches are entirely devoid of actual meaning. I think… you are the most pitiful person in the world.]

Regulus: [——Hk! Don’t mock me! I… Mocking Greed, I’ll definitely make you regret this!]

Even shallow in his rage at the contempt of others, Regulus repetitively, endlessly repeated the drone of his curses.

Looking at that helpless demeanor, Subaru could finally feel fully relieved. Regulus was genuinely unable to win in any situation where he did not have the highest advantage.

If he could use Lion’s Heart for even a brief time, he still had a chance at victory. Clearly this was the case, but upon seeing a little bit of difficulty, he would immediately give up on the proverbial game without even bothering to look at the whole board.

Subaru: [Scorning progress in life will lead you to fall down in unexpected places.]

Regulus: [Hah…?]

Subaru: [Nothing, talking to myself. More importantly, we’ll accept your proposal of one-on-one combat.]

Regulus: [——! That’s more like it. This is how it should be. Of course, a Knight would not let their liege step up first?]

Smoothly going on-board with that convenient tale, Regulus immediately attempted to attach conditions that gave him further advantage.

Between Subaru and Emilia, their level of combat needed no comparison. As long as he first killed Subaru and caused Emilia to waver, there was hope for his victory. Straining that mind of his that did not exist in the first place, that conniving result seemed to suit Regulus’s tastes perfectly.

However, if he wanted to best Subaru in terms of unrelenting perseverance, he was hundreds of thousands of years too soon.

Finding a chance to win in a situation where victory was impossible, this was Subaru’s truest way of fighting. In terms of determining victory or defeat, the match between Regulus and Subaru had already begun long ago.

Subaru: [Indeed, having a Knight battle is the righteous way.]

Regulus: [In that case——]

Subaru: [So—— Now that it’s come to this again, I’ll leave the rest to you.]

His feet still submerged in a shallow puddle, Subaru spoke after exhaling deeply.

At those words, Regulus tilted his head with a “Huh?” However, Subaru’s words were meant not for him, but for “him”.

???: [Ah, I see—— The one-on-one duel you have proposed, I accept it as a Knight.]

What responded to him was a flame.

In these flooded streets, there stood a young man who caused not a single ripple as he strode across the water in approach. He, contrary to Regulus and his inexplicable mystery, possessed protections bestowed by the heavens on those they loved.

Reinhard: [Of the Kingdom of Lugunica’s Royal Guards, from the lineage of Sword Saints—— Reinhard van Astrea.]

Standing before Subaru and Emilia, the Knight who reported his name pointed at Regulus, his sword sheathed. That demeanor of denomination was an invitation to begin a one-on-one duel. That was something even the Bowel Hunter, Elsa, would respond to, the well-established declaration of a duel.

In contrast, Regulus stood, stretching his hands before him.

Regulus: [Wait, waitwait! This, this is, this isn’t normal!?]

The Sword Saint would not show him any trace of tolerance, as someone who defiled the sacred duel, the very definition of a warrior.

The opening blow came from below Regulus’s underarm, vertically slashing across his body—— Regulus had not even the chance to cry out before being slammed far into the sky.

Regulus: [——Hk.]

Before his eyes was the demolished City of Water—— he had been sent flying to the sky, to an altitude such that he had a panoramic view of the entire city.

Whether a cry or a curse, a scream incomprehensible to all who heard it echoed.

Translation Notes:

[1] – Exact expression is “三文芝居”, read “sanmon shibai”, literally “3 mon play”. “Mon” was the currency of Japan from 1336 to 1870. This expression is used for a (stage) play so bad, one wouldn’t even need to pay for the entrance. Thought this was a neat tidbit (info gotten from here).