——Lord, Buddha, and Od Laguna. I swear to never show favoritism for my entire life.
△▼△▼△▼△ ——「The
To begin with, how did Petra end up in the position of safeguarding the「Melancholy」Witch Factor?
The original owner,
Ultimately, beyond Clind, any owner would have sufficed.
Of course, there were differences in aptitude for wielding the「Melancholy」Authority, and those like
Which meant that Petra — promoted to Witch Factor holder ahead of candidates like
——In short, because Petra was the one who could wield the Authority most skillfully.
"That — the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony... this Roy bastard, he's been gobbling up everything in sight, and sure enough his moveset is anything but normal. What do we do?" "He's proficient in close-range, mid-range, and long-range attacks — that's the problem." "Unfair. Just like Lady Reinhardt." "If he were the same as Reinhardt, nobody could beat him!" "Don't shout so loud! Glassis, mind what you say. You'll make us all dizzy." "Ha! Aren't you two close. If you've already decided you've won, then Ram would like to share in those feelings too." "This girl and her snide remarks..." "But the maid sister's got a point. What about hands?" "The basics stay the same. Certainly the enemy has options for every range, but..." "But?" "No matter how many cards he's got, there's only one head to choose them with. If we keep pressing in waves, he's bound to make a wrong choice." "Even setting that aside, the enemy's wounds run deep. Once he loses patience, he'll try to force the situation. Rom did well, all things considered." "Heh, my Old Man Rom is awesome, right?" "Indeed. Lord Rom is dependable." "Clap clap, Lord Rom." "This is a life-or-death battle!" "Sorry to ruin the fun, but we've got stuff to say to the Horse King and the others too, and my head's about to split, y'know?" "「——Sorry!!」"
——That strategy meeting, which amounted to putting their faces together and thrashing things out down to the last detail, Petra「compressed」using the「Melancholy」Authority, making it a moment's affair.
Layering on top of that the「compression」of the process where each person agonized over their best ideas until they were fully formed.
*If I can compress travel distance and time like Clind did, then compressing thinking time and consultation time should be possible too... it's the kind of conceptual pivot that always comes with abilities like these!* "Clind brother was stuck in his ways — he'd been using it the same way for so long his thinking got rigid."
While focusing on fine-tuning the Authority's effects, Petra exchanged casual quips with the semi-imaginary Subaru.
They were in the middle of a battle. Normally one might complain that this was a distraction, but for the current Petra, this back-and-forth with「Subaru」was an enormous help.
The small box storing the Witch Factor of Melancholy — inherited from Clind — tucked against her chest, Petra continued to feel, with her very soul, the terrifying gravity this power exerted.
"I hate to say it myself, but 'gravity' is just the perfect word for it."
The sensation of being irresistibly drawn in — likening it to gravity, Petra admonished herself.
If she let her guard down for even a second, the Witch Factor would immediately whisper "You can do this too" and "You can do that too," tempting her to undo the vital restraints that held her together as a human being.
Without anything anchoring her, she would be overcome by the sensation of drifting aimlessly — like peering over a cliff's edge and being pulled in. But — "But I can't."
The sense of omnipotence is sweet nectar that intoxicates a person.
The Witch Factor exploits precisely that weakness of the human heart. Moreover, its method of attack is to dangle the means of granting your deepest desire as the bait.
The more precious things one cherishes, the more unyielding one's wishes, the more powerless one is against that temptation.
Surely even the Witch of Greed, and Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti — the Sin Archbishop of Sloth — were no exceptions.
Petra herself shuddered to think what she would have become without the anchor that sustained her sense of self.
But — *Petra! Tonchin needs support!* *Camparlie's resting right now, so leave it to me!* Struck by that boyish, valiant voice echoing in the drums of her mind, Petra activated the Authority —「compressing」the thought processes and communication between Lachins and
The two switched to handling the simultaneous incoming attacks: Gaston absorbed the Blood Scythe with his「Flow Method」, while Lachins blasted away the filth with a Gatling of fireballs, and they weathered it beautifully.
Subaru gave a thumbs-up, and Petra returned the gesture with a thumbs-up of her own.
*That's it, Petra! Keep it up! Looking cool!* Even though it was nothing but an illusion, the sight of her beloved's satisfied smile set her heart ablaze.
This was it. This was what let Petra remain Petra and push past her limits. Unlike the many who had been ensnared by Witch Factors throughout history, Petra was not alone.
That was what prevented Petra from falling into corruption as the「Witch of Melancholy」.
Because — "I don't want Subaru to think I'm lame."
Mock that vanity if you must. Point your finger and laugh at Petra all you want.
If the occasion called for it, she could produce as many pretexts as needed. This was a battle to save the world. To save the many people living in the kingdom from anxiety. She had to protect the grand stage of the Royal Selection. She carried everyone's expectations on her shoulders.
There were plenty of reasons beyond pretexts. Ram-nee-sama, who usually wanted to slack off at everything, was giving it her all. Frederica-nee-sama, holding down the fort, was praying for them. Otto-san was always pushing himself too hard. Being moved around according to His Excellency's whims was truly hateful. She wanted to show Emilia-nee-sama and Rem-nee-sama a good showing. She worried about Garf-san's share too. Meili-chan, don't make that worried face.
All of those were precious things, and no doubt part of why Petra tried so hard — but the top reason was different.
The top reason was you.
She didn't want to show you anything uncool. Didn't want to show you anything pathetic. She never wanted to let her guard down for even a second in the way you saw her.
Because if she had to dazzle the person whose eyes were always drawn to someone who sparkled — then she would sparkle too.
She had long since fallen, pulled by that gravity.
The Witch Factor could stay out of it. —Her entire being was made of love and longing.
"So I'm fine."
No matter how much the Witch Factor tried to lure her in, Petra would never break.
As long as this love existed, neither Gluttony nor the Black Snake were the slightest bit terrifying.
△▼△▼△▼△ ——Lord, Buddha, and Od Laguna. I swear to never cry for anyone's sake my entire life.
△▼△▼△▼△ The latent power of the Aldelbart group — no, what should be called the「Witch of Melancholy」and her apostles — far exceeded Roy's expectations and imagination.
"Nice, nice, that's nice, nice, right, can only be called good, precisely because it can be called good, that's why it's praised as good! Binge drinking! Binge eating!"
Ultimately, Roy couldn't understand what the「Witch of Melancholy」was doing.
But it was clear that she was utilizing her Authority to its maximum potential, opening up paths for everyone in
Even in battle, Felt and the others weren't producing results beyond their actual ability.
What they had — their upper limit — was simply being drawn out to its fullest, each and every moment. And what made that possible was the effect of the「Melancholy」Authority.
However — "It shouldn't be something you can just use as much as you want, though?"
As mentioned earlier, Roy had heard from his mother's mouth the drawback inherent in the Witch Factor of Melancholy.
The Witch Factor, which could never synchronize with anyone else, granted its holder the immense power to interfere with the rules of the world — but it was a defective item that demanded payment in exchange.
In other words, even the seemingly perfect adaptability of the「Witch of Melancholy」would eventually reach its limit. When that limit arrived would depend on how far the price could be paid.
"I know, I know — Petra-chan loves Mr. Natsuki too much, after all."
If one traced the most recent「memories」stored within the「Soul Stomach」— the treasury Roy had devoured — the noble resolve of this world's newly born「Witch」pierced one's chest with bittersweet poignancy.
She was young and immature, but this was a girl who would not hesitate to sacrifice her life for her burning love.
If told she needed something other than her life as fuel to reclaim what had been stolen, she would offer it without the slightest hesitation.
And in truth, that was exactly what she was doing. —But her reserves were not unlimited.
"So the question is, which of us runs out first."
Just as the「Witch of Melancholy」had her limits, Roy also had the ticking clock of his life.
He deliberately refused to heal the wounds that bled profusely, because that very blood could be transformed into armament to serve his purpose and weaponized as a means of resistance.
That massive blood loss was lighting the fuse on
This battle had truly reached the line of devour or be devoured.
"Haha—"
Exhaling hot, feverish breath, Roy gave thanks for the hunger that drove his soul.
Until now, Roy had gone by the name「Evil Eater」, devouring and scattering everything in sight. To eat, lick, gorge, and masticate — to「erode」countless lives — all in search of something that might satisfy the hunger Roy Alphard had been born with.
For that purpose, Roy had gone on an exhaustive search of the entire world until he found the taste he craved — and with that mindset, he had continued his feasts, eating and being disappointed, eating and being crestfallen, eating and being let down, tormented endlessly by a hunger that could not be sated no matter how much he「eroded」.
Now, a change had emerged from those past feasts.
The cause was — *Go on, try it. See if you'll devour me alive or die. Hey, you.* In that tower rising from the Sand Sea, the overwhelming soul of the one who had nearly burst Roy Alphard's vessel to its limits had driven him mad.
——
Having touched the soul of the man called the first「Sword Saint」brought about an enormous transformation for Roy.
Despite calling himself「Evil Eater」and exerting himself in feasting across the land, Roy had been wracked with worry — that the hunger embedded in his very existence might never be satisfied.
*It's not like you're anything special or anything, y'know? Me, everyone else, every single one of us — we're all chasing after love we can never fill. I'll just help you find that nameless thing you're after, how's that? In exchange, what I'm after is... you get it, right?* Saying that with a sultry, sadistic grin, the monster declared she would become Roy's mother.
She didn't earn his trust, nor did he become dependent on her existence — Roy used his mother to obtain a possibility he couldn't find on his own. Probably, it was mutual.
But no matter how much he devoured, even taking into hand hands stained with love, the thing he wanted was never obtained.
Rai sought to fill his hunger by finding value in every meal. Louis seemed to have a concrete vision of the thing needed to fill the hunger.
It was only Roy. Only Roy lacked that. —And now, he had finally found it.
*No need to overthink it, you. Devour or be devoured — isn't that what living is all about?* Yes, exactly. That was precisely right.
What he wanted was the sensation of being alive. A reason to laugh from the heart and say, truly, he was alive.
*Pouring everything into what you want — that's just the obvious thing to do, right?* Yes, exactly. That was precisely right.
Even without a shred of love or respect, that one teaching from his mother was incontrovertibly true.
Therefore — "I've gotta pour in every last thing I can throw — hold nothing back — and that's the only way I can call it love!"
Since the opposition was pushing beyond their limits, he had to match them in kind.
To have prepared a feast and not be able to finish it would be a disgrace to the name「Gluttony」.
"Come, come, come, come — eat, and watch the taste!"
In exchange for the limbs growing cold from blood loss, his mental voltage climbed to its peak.
He shaped the flowing blood into barbed legs modeled after insect limbs, and in resonance with Roy's surging vitality, the Black Snake behind him soared skyward as a pillar of corruption, resuming its single-minded hunt to topple everything.
*————* With a thunderous howl of wind, the miasma plummeted into the forest without ceremony.
What was born was a grotesquely blasphemous, seemingly unstoppable tsunami of poison. It literally devoured the battlefield in black, pressing down on everything to sicken and kill it.
But — "Stronger — !"
"「——Live!!」"
A bellow like a fool's one-trick echo and its answering cry became the vanguard of a united counterattack.
Ram's gale split the black wave, and the pack led by the Horse King under Meili's command carved open a breach. The burly men who followed — including those newly summoned — formed a single iron fist, and the hammers they unleashed shattered the earth to create a bulwark against the noxious poison.
It was the combined might of individuals who would otherwise be outmatched — a fight where the concentrated effort of patchwork life pushed back the onrushing tide of death.
"If I'm reading this right, Petra-chan's Authority shortens events, yeah?" "Hmph. Not telling you." "Such a cold answer really gets me going!"
Without pausing his assault, Roy charged through the rain of the Black Snake's corruption in his armor of blood, seamlessly switching between the otherworldly abilities, arts, and aberrations of each different person he had consumed — fists, magic, and curse songs cascading in layered volleys upon his prey.
But each time, the women instantly reformed their formation, weaving together physical and magical attacks in a counterpoint — by now it was impossible to tell who was defending where. Only the fact that they all endured together and pushed back as one reshaped the battlefield.
——Even amid that battle, Roy's eyes roved ceaselessly, appraising his prey.
The「Witch of Melancholy」's Authority was indeed「Compression」, no question about it. She was using it to reduce travel time and distance, and — most likely — to economize on thinking and decision-making time as well.
The proof was that the「Melancholy」apostles appearing and vanishing across the battlefield — even those newly entering combat — adapted to the sudden situation without hesitation. No — they「compressed」the moments of confusion, enabling themselves to join the fray immediately.
"But how much longer can she keep that up!"
He was impressed by their adaptability and morale, but limits drew near for both sides. If anything gave Roy a slight edge, it was the looming threat of the Black Snake waiting in reserve — even if the「Witch of Melancholy」's group could break through Roy, they still had to deal with this ferocious magical beast.
In other words, they couldn't afford to exhaust themselves against Roy. That dilemma — the fact that they could not afford to give everything they had — "This is where the battle ends, or should I say — the feast!!"
The Black Snake's colossal body soared skyward once more, the corruption ready to pour down in a deluge. Bracing for that, the「Witch of Melancholy」's group steeled themselves — and Roy unleashed his「memories」.
That was — "——「Erosion Chain Star」"
Neither a Solar Eclipse nor a Lunar Eclipse, but Roy Alphard's own original table manner, unleashed upon them all.
△▼△▼△▼△ ——Lord, Buddha, and Od Laguna. I swear to never look to the stars with anyone my entire life.
△▼△▼△▼△ What burst across the battlefield in that instant was a portion of the countless coarse「memories」Roy Alphard had devoured but never deemed worth preserving.
After his experience at the
Gratitude for every ingredient. Reverence for every coincidence. —There was no bad ingredient in this world. He had simply been the fool with an untrained palate who couldn't appreciate their goodness.
For example, there were poisonous fish. But if one properly prepared the organs that harbored that poison, one could savor a delicacy surpassing the poison itself.
The same applied to his prey in「Gluttony」's case. From head to tail, there was no ingredient without use, no ingredient devoid of worth. Nothing in this world was truly worthless.
Every ingredient had a usable part. —And so, he used it.
"——「Memories of Pain」"
Everyone had at least one or two memories of pain so excruciating they would have been unbearable if they'd lived an ordinary life.
From the「Soul Stomach」where Roy had stockpiled them, he extracted, blended, and flung countless「memories of pain」toward the battlefield before him. —It was invisible to the eye. That meant there was no way to dodge it. It was the blasphemous act of jamming a concept into one's opponent.
Mind you, simply hurling「memories of pain」at them didn't directly affect the target. They were literally「memories」that the victims had no personal experience of, so there was no room for the prey to actually feel that pain.
So what happened? —It simply triggered the chain-recall of similar memories.
"——Ah"
At first, a faint voice leaked from the group.
These were people who — until moments ago — had worn courage and resolve on their faces, harboring the unflinching resolve to charge headlong into every obstacle. The very picture of valiant warriors.
From their lips came not a battle cry, nor each other's names, but a high-pitched sound.
"Ah, ah, ah, aaaaah — !!"
And once it started leaking out, it would not stop.
Eyes blown wide, mouths gaping open, pressing hands involuntarily to the very orifice that had become the source of the scream, they unleashed blood-chilling shrieks.
And it wasn't just one person. Everyone present had begun screaming.
"「————!!」"
The「memories of pain」Roy had hurled en masse recalled — like reliving them in this very moment — the approximate pains that anyone within the concept's range had experienced before.
If it were a pain from the past, could one endure it? —The answer was no. Pain that had been unbearable in the past remained unbearable whether in the present or the future.
"But —"
Wordless cries rose from Felt, from Ram, from Old Man Rom, from Meili, from Flam, from Glassis, from Gaston, from Lachins, from Doltero, and from the apostles who had been summoned to the battlefield by the「Melancholy」Authority — one after another after another.
No one could endure it. And the one who screamed the highest was none other than — *——Petra!!* Petra Reite — the same Petra who had been made to experience the multitude of pains that had led
△▼△▼△▼△ ——Lord, Buddha, and Od Laguna. I swear to never arrange a meeting with anyone my entire life.
△▼△▼△▼△ *——Petra!!* She heard the desperate scream of Imaginary Subaru and realized with relief that he — as a vision only she could see — hadn't had to taste this pain — except she couldn't.
She couldn't. There was no such luxury for Petra Reite, who was tasting the pain of「Death」.
"——Ah"
A hoarse breath leaked out. Pain. Pain. Pain pain pain pain. Pain pain pain pain pain pain pain.
"——I"
Sliced belly. Crushed eye. Pierced chest. Stabbed in the back by a passerby. Cut finger from fumbling with a clumsy knife. Chafed hands from kitchen work. Head suddenly smashed to pieces. Body tortured in time with the sound of chains. Throat torn open by wind. Crashing down onto a pointed rock after jumping. Beaten black and blue, body and mind aching. Forced to hold back in showy training sessions, hands and feet in pain. Frosted fingers snapped off, ankles in pain. Eyes licked, the revulsion and pain. Handcuffs frozen and shattered, wrists aching. Kneeling on frozen ground, everything creaking and aching. Shoved down by confused Otto, body in pain. Then chased by the
"——Ugh"
*Petra! Petra! Stop, don't go, Petra!!* Her mind was consumed by pain. Her body's contents, her mind's contents, her heart's contents — everything had been filled with ■■■, yet pain washed over and obliterated it all.
From the crown of her head to the tips of her toes, there was not a single place in her body that didn't hurt. Everywhere, everything that constituted who she was became pain, and she existed to taste that pain, was made of pain, and the pain was pain, and the hurting was hurt hurt hurt hurt hurt — pain pain pain pain — "——Eh"
Her vision flooded crimson, her own voice — far too loud — rang in her ears like tinnitus, the sharp scent of blood hit the back of her nose, death's taste flooded her mouth in a torrent of saliva, and every inch of her skin prickled with unbearable impact.
What had never truly been understood — not by merely reading the「Book of the Dead」— now seeped deep into ■■■'s and ■■■'s very being. Through that pain, ■■■ and ■■■ truly, literally felt ■■■'s and ■■■'s anguish.
The pain obliterated ■■■'s outer form and inner self alike, whole — and she felt it.
"——Oh"
Every pain she had tasted was connected to ■■■'s, to Na■■'s and Ba■'s, to Na■ki Su■a's — to Natsuki Subaru's — memories of regret, accompanied by devastating loss.
*————* It hurt. Emilia died. It hurt. Felt died. It hurt. Old Man Rom died. It hurt. Rem died. It hurt. Everyone in
"I hate this."
Pain. Pain pain. Pain pain pain. —So what.
"I don't want to lose."
Even if it hurt, even if it was agonizing, sadness and regret were far more bitter.
She loved everyone and couldn't give up on them. She loved the you who loved everyone and couldn't give up on them, and she couldn't give up either.
Therefore — "——Who do you think I am?"
■■■'s and ■■■'s, ■■ra's and ■ite's, Pe■ra ■ite's — Petra Reite's memory was sharp, her talent was rich, she was a bundle of potential with a promising future and a bright tomorrow.
That person, those people — they all believed in Petra like that. —Then she would live up to it.
"I can."
You could do it, Petra Reite.
If you didn't want to make liars out of everyone who had told you that you could.
Or were those people who believed in a weak, pitiful, good-for-nothing Petra all liars themselves?
"Obviously not."
I can. I have to be able to. If I say I can, it's not enough to just say it with my mouth. I'll do it. Do it. Do it now. Do it right now. Now! Come on, do it, do it — do it!!
"Compression... no."
Using the power of the「Melancholy」Authority, she「compressed」.
Just as she had compressed travel distance, travel time, thinking time, and consultation time — now she compressed the terrible moment that had befallen Petra and her companions.
How terrible was pain?
Even a trivial pain brought tears, a sharper one robbed one of sleep at night, and a blunt, dull pain could alter the rest of one's life.
Whether trivial, sharp, or dull, the time spent feeling pain always seemed long.
She「compressed」that time — turning one second into ten, one hour into half a day, one day into eternity.
"Everyone, grit your teeth."
*It'll only last a second, but you're gonna feel a hundred times worse — !!* She didn't say it might be ten thousand times worse.
It didn't matter whether she said it or not, whether they were mentally prepared or not — what needed doing wouldn't change.
"——「Compress Agony」"
The power of the「Witch of Melancholy」, having ascended to a new stage, was unleashed.
△▼△▼△▼△ ——Lord, Buddha, and Od Laguna. I swear to never grieve at parting from others my entire life.
△▼△▼△▼△ "————"
The newly unveiled technique detonated without question, cracking the perfect coordination of the prey.
With the moaning of wind in his ears as the miasma-choked corruption and the Black Snake's body crashed downward, Roy heard from the other side a cacophony of screams, shrieks, and howls — an infernal chorus of agony.
It all sounded painful, it all sounded wretched, and if Roy had had the time, he would have spent the whole night weeping for them, then penned that sentiment into a poem and floated it down a river.
But there was no time. And no education to write a proper poem, so it probably wouldn't turn out well anyway.
Still, he truly felt sorry for them. He held no grudge against them. No hatred. It wasn't even a mixture of love and hatred — it was nothing but simple love.
Who would want to watch beloved things suffer and scream? That could only serve as a spice for savoring their lives. Spice wasn't a main course. Making it the main dish was something only a lunatic would do.
"Because we're not that cruel."
The「Erosion Chain Star」, which triggered the chain reaction of「Memories of Pain」, had severed the prey's coordinated action.
Now it was simply a matter of the Black Snake's corruption pouring down — this particular head was assigned「Old Age Suffering」, so it wouldn't kill them outright. It would seal their thoughts and actions, stranding them indefinitely at the threshold of death. Once that happened, it was like a wine cellar. They simply had to wait for the time when their true names were ready to be uncorked.
The threshold they were pinned at had no escape, and the suffering and darkness would continue without end — but ultimately, every last drop of pain they experienced would be collected within Roy and lost, so that was fine. Tasting, licking clean, and savoring that bitterness — that was feasting too.
"Ah, even though I can't eat them right now, gazing upon ripe fruit is —"
He was about to say "tough" when Roy's words were cut short.
There was no counterattack. Quite the opposite. The prey released screams so loud and piercing that they cut to the chest — screams that could have been mistaken for death throes.
For an instant, Roy's eyes went wide, thinking this meant the success of an even greater stratagem — "——!!!"
Then, an impossible response and unity denied the annihilation that should have swallowed the prey whole.
△▼△▼△▼△ ——Lord, Buddha, and Od Laguna. I swear to never walk beneath the sunset with another person my entire life.
△▼△▼△▼△ In that instant, Felt experienced a hellish pain — as though every strip of skin had been peeled from her body, a metal brush loaded with brine had been pressed against her, and Reinhardt had scrubbed her raw.
"Ieu—"
It was the first time pain had made her feel as though her organs had flipped inside out. The corner of her head tingled, and she had the illusion that her blood was flowing backward.
She didn't know what had happened. —No, she did know. Petra had done something.
"That kid's something else..."
Quietly, Felt praised the fighting spirit of this girl who was about the same height as herself.
She knew that during the condensed-to-the-breaking-point strategy meeting, Petra had coordinated the mixed forces alongside Old Man Rom with extraordinary synergy. That was impressive. After all, Old Man Rom was the smartest, most dependable person in the world, so Petra was undoubtedly a genius.
And that genius had done something beyond imagination, obliterating something of the enemy's.
"Still, you — your luck's absolutely bottomless, huh?"
Even as her cheeks twisted into a grimace, what Felt caught sight of at the edge of her vision was a small figure — Camparlie.
Unlike Gaston, who had been in the fight from the start, and Lachins, who had joined mid-battle, Camparlie had held back until the decisive moment to make her entrance. —And right at that instant, the insanely painful thing had been launched. It wasn't just bad luck; it was something else entirely.
But — "——No luck, but the best."
The thing that Camparlie — tears still leaking from the corners of her eyes — held in her hands, Felt snatched away. —The「Star Scepter」, a trump card that could tip the balance for their side.
She fired it. With every ounce of strength in her body, everything she had, all of it packed in.
The question now was — "Where do I aim?!"
△▼△▼△▼△ ——Lord, Buddha, and Od Laguna. I swear to never step on the shadow of the person walking beside me my entire life.
△▼△▼△▼△ "——!!!"
"「————!!」"
Screams and roars that could no longer be distinguished from the howls of magical beasts thundered through the air, and the Black Snake's serpentine body — bearing a thousand disasters bundled into one — was blown back by an explosion from directly beneath.
Light and darkness rampaged across the battlefield, and an impact as though the sky were being torn open scorched Roy's entire body with shock.
What had happened. How. —All of it, Roy refused to question.
"Petra-chaaan!"
That much was certain — whoever had done it — and Roy Alphard reached a climax.
Incredible. A standing ovation. Along with the countless「memories」inside him, he had to send her a round of thunderous applause.
Just how much of herself would she have to sacrifice to make the「Melancholy」Witch Factor do something like that?
If one could imagine, if one could guess — without relinquishing every last shred of ordinary happiness, could this battlefield, this close contest, that level of unbridled arrogance even be realized?
——He wanted to be happy.
That was supposed to be the absolute, unshakable, inseparable wish of being human.
Not even Roy — no, not even Rai, not even Louis, not even the Sin Archbishops, not even villains, not even criminals — could escape that absolute prayer.
That was why they lived. But to achieve it, she had to let it go — in this situation.
"————"
Drying the tears of joy from his eyes with a single blink, Roy watched Felt seize the white staff from her ally.
At this final hour, this diminutive member of the small-folk — who hardly seemed like a combatant — had gone out of her way to bring a secret weapon. It had to be something special.
In other words — "If that doesn't work, I really will cry!!"
A rainbow of butterflies danced, spears of ice and fire rained down, Blood Scythes were unleashed from every direction, a crushing press closed from front and back instead of left and right, and a boyish soprano sang a cursing song.
"Don't protect Felt!!"
Wind shredded every last butterfly, ice-and-fire magic bullets shattered the spears of ice and fire, the Blood Scythes bit into thick muscle but were caught, the advancing earth was pierced by a twin flash that cleaved the front and back, and the curse song that unraveled flesh and blood was blocked entirely by the old man and the boar-man's massive frames.
"Beautifully done! But —"
His wave of attacks had been deflected by an ironclad coordination, yet Roy did not falter.
He finally activated「Teleportation」, which he had held in reserve until now. In the blink of an eye, Roy appeared in the center of Felt's group — and his target was not Felt but — "These two are important too, right?"
He aimed for the backs of the two girls who lacked even the strength to stand, among those who had stepped up to intercept.
The「Witch of Melancholy」and the「Beast Tamer」 — both essential fighting forces in maintaining the stalemate against「Gluttony」and the「Black Snake」. No one could reach Roy, who now stood behind them.
Roy licked his lips, housing「Fist King」in his right hand and「Snow Eater」in his left, and gently — ——In that instant, Meili's hair writhed, and a beam of white light pierced Roy's left eye.
"Ggyau—!?"
A searing sensation of being burned through, and Roy's left sight was gone. Clutching his remaining eye, he saw the mystery technique that had destroyed his left eye — a tiny scorpion concealed in Meili's hair.
A creature unknown to him. A trump card, a hidden ace — a total-war wildcard not found in any「memory」.
"Even this small an ally —"
He was about to continue with "devoting herself so bravely" but couldn't finish.
Faster still, the ground beneath his feet betrayed him and launched him skyward without the slightest warning.
"————"
It wasn't magic. He hadn't felt any mana wavelength.
Then it was the「Witch of Melancholy」again. —No, even she didn't have eyes in the back of her head.
What had occurred was an eruption of earth — unheralded, unplanned, a sudden upheaval.
"——Goddammit, my allies are way too damn reliable."
The voice that reached him suddenly was one that matched a certain「memory」all too well — a sharp, piercing voice.
Those feet, in resonance with the earth, made whoever stood upon it an impregnable fortress — so dependable that it was precisely why that voice should not have been heard.
Roy tumbled through the air, the earth inverted in his vision, and there the festering nest of magical beasts raged.
Unlike before, the distance between Roy and them had widened. His blood armor was peeling, but if corruption rained like filth, their hands would be split between dealing with it and other threats.
"Sit dooown!"
A tearful shout momentarily disrupted the Black Snake's movement.
But the disruption lasted less than the blink of an eye. Even if that time had been seized, Roy's strategy going awry — in that instant, the magical beast's serpentine body reaching for the sky burst apart.
It burst, scattering filth everywhere, and from the fouled earth a shadow came tumbling out.
"Buhaaa — geho, geho-gehoo..."
"No way..."
The red-haired man collapsed in the most revolting mire in existence — coughing, spluttering — and the shock that struck Roy was beyond mere stubbornness or tenacity.
Why was he alive? A question, and a surging appetite made Roy's stomach growl.
"Hey, look over here."
A light jump and the blond boy caught up to Roy in midair, clicking his sharp fangs and swinging his silver-armored fist in an exaggerated wind-up.
If that connected, Roy — in his half-dead state — wouldn't last a moment.
Even knowing this was only a momentary stalling tactic, Roy opted for retreat, activating「Lunar Eclipse」to try to leverage the「Leaper」's ability once more — and — "Pfft"
——A collision from the Zodda bug that had flown in from his left blind spot shattered his concentration.
"————"
Distracted by the annoying buzz and unpleasant sensation, Roy looked toward the source and spotted, in the distance some dozens of meters away, an azure earth-dragon leaning against the trees, and a man — seemingly empty-handed — resting against it.
The man pointed at Roy, and upon noticing their eyes meeting, he grinned. A grin of triumph.
Immediately after, the wind howled, and a fist wreathed in wind pressure was launched straight at Roy.
It seemed deceptively slow, as though there was plenty of time before it arrived — and then Roy realized.
"Is Petra-chan doing this?"
"Yes. I wanted to say it properly at the end. —Serves you right."
The「Witch of Melancholy」standing on the ground declared her victory over Roy within the stretched-out time.
There was, it seemed, nothing more Roy could do. And a tiger's fist — backed by sheer fury — was closing, five coins' worth of distance away.
Between now and that impact, was there anything he could do? He thought, and the idea struck.
"Amazing, amazing — truly impressive, Petra-chan. But say, didn't you sacrifice too much to win?"
"Sour grapes? Nobody on our side went down. For a Sin Archbishop, that's pretty pathetic."
"With the「Witch of Melancholy」as my opponent, I was outmatched. But sacrifice isn't only about lives. It's about futures, hopes, possibilities — things like that. We're genuinely worried that Petra-chan's long, long life from here on out is going to be a lonely one."
Coins remaining — four.
At the very least, he would dig up the cost she would want to hide, and carve himself into her through that pain.
At Roy's vicious brand of feasting, Petra blinked and tilted her head. She couldn't have been unaware of the price she was paying, yet her reaction was — "——Could it be that you've got it wrong?"
"Wrong?"
"Strange. I thought that was more like something Otto-san would say. —Like, 'Our enemy this time is the entire world,' or something."
"————"
Coins remaining — three.
Not directly stated. But there had been that sentiment in the「memories」.
Given what Aldebaran had done and the damage caused, it was a fair assessment. But it should have been nothing more than that.
"Could it be..."
"That's exactly it."
Coins remaining — two.
In the stretched perception of time, even swallowing a breath was an extravagance — but Roy swallowed with his heart's throat, and looked upon the softly smiling woman who smiled like a「Witch」.
The girl who shouldn't have been compatible with the Witch Factor was, without question, the「Witch of Melancholy」.
Because — "The Witch Factor of Melancholy can be used by anyone who pays the price, and anyone can serve as the proxy if the price is properly balanced. —So everyone in the capital is paying it together."
"————"
"So let me say it one more time. —Serves you right."
Coins remaining — one.
Because Roy had never encountered a being who had exploited the Witch Factor of Melancholy to this extent.
If this wasn't the「Witch of Melancholy」, then what was?
"——Ah, thank you for the meal."
Coins remaining — zero. —The strike of the「Gorgeous Tiger」detonated.
"————"
It punched clean through Roy's face without mercy and drove him down to the ground where the Black Snake thrashed. His small body hurtled straight into the filth — and at the last possible instant — "——Shatter!!"
The staff blazing with light in Felt's hands released a world-obliterating radiance.
It struck true — an inescapable blow of divine judgment that consumed the vile and the wicked alike.
——And so concluded the final act of「Evil Eater」's feast.