Arc 6 – 75, 'Louis Arneb”

Arc 6 – Chapter 75, “Louis Arneb”

ーーWant to become, happy.

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ーーWhat are termed as the positives and negatives of life, are great gambles determined by birth and environment.

That had been the philosophy Louis Arneb acquired, upon the extremity of eating and hunting down the lives of innumerable humans, as the Sin Archbishop of『Gluttony』.

Louis Arneb, was the youngest sister among the three siblings who were Sin Archbishops affixed with『Gluttony』.

By nature, contrary to the scale and unsound state of control of its activity, was the Witch Cult with surprisingly unascertained true state of affairs, though much regarding the Sin Archbishops especially was enveloped in mystery.

Although the principal source for that was that the majority of people who happened upon them had lost their lives, the ones to have their names well known even amongst Sin Archbishopsーー no, it is past tense, so the ones who “had their names well known” must have been the two of『Sloth』and『Greed』.

Aside from those, even if it was identified that the Sin Archbishops of『Wrath』and『Lust』, and finally,『Gluttony』existed, for several years it had been fogged with enigmas what kind of a bunch they were. Much less, the very existence of Louis Arneb, the youngest sister among the trio of siblings of『Gluttony』, save for fellow Sin Archbishops being the only exception, was unknown.

The concealed Sin Archbishop, that had been the position Louis Arneb stood at.

“Well, it’s not as if we wished for it, you know.”

So whispered Louis, stretching her legs within the white space she had been in since birth.

Impotently, Louis could not exit this white space, and did not have the ability to meet anyone. Unable to avail the Authority of『Gluttony』anywhere except in the location where it was highly restricted as well, it was what is called an unused treasured possession to her.

However, thanks to her two elder brothers, only when it came to meals was she not incapacitated.

That was because the『Memories』and『Names』her elder brothers ateーー that is to say, the lives of others, she could unassociatedly snitch that food and be able to fulfill her hunger.

“Why, do we have to be like this?”

Fulfilling her hunger through her elder brothers’ leftovers, whilst indulging in the lives of others, Louis, who was having her self-identity moulded and taking form little by little, immediately discerned that she was in circumstances entirely different from others.

Without a body that could be free, what she could operate was merely consciousness.

Though she possessed the『Memories』of having walked, she possessed no experience of having walked. That was, the defective article known as herself.

“Ah...... we are, in such unhappy circumstances.”

That was how Louis recognised to herself, that she was in a『Sorrowful』environment.

And, she understood these circumstances shan’t change, regardless how much she lamented.

In order to console their younger sister lost adrift within such sorrow, her elder brothers seemingly vied with each other and ate. And provided their little sister, the platters same as what they had eaten themselves.

Those platters which her elder brothers served to her, were brimming with respective individuality.

Ley, who named himself『Gourmet』, loved lives with strong flavours for both better or worse.

Roy, of『Bizarre Eating』, anyhow gave precedence to amount, becoming entranced for fulfilling hunger with off-flavours.

From Louis’ perspective, if she had to say then she had been able to enjoy the platters chosen by Ley on numerous occasions, but on numerous occasions she had also made gains from the platters chosen by Roy, who ate and hunted in an unprincipled manner.

Chewing and digesting eleventy lives, comparing flavours by rolling them atop her tongue and within her mind, what she came to understand. ーーThat was, the difference in the absolute amount of『Joyfulness』.

Louis, who possessed the power to compare the lives of others through her own sense of values, graded various items such as the difference of wealth and poverty or the presence or absence of affection, from the environment of growth to family and friends, the existence of lovers, through a formula based on their extent, awarding scores to the lives of others from one to the next, and continued rating.

For being prosperous by birth. For being loved by parents and siblings. For living a life sailing smooth without any trials or tribulations. For having a great number of friends, who could be reached out to in times of difficulty. For possessing overflowing talent, such that it was possible to stand above all others.

Either this or that or this or that, regardless of fortune and misfortune, countless reasons, such that some could be discarded.

Though it was an idea terribly prideful and conceited, Louis possessed the Authority to make it attainable.

If it were to be expressed in alternate words, that was equivalent to the act of peeping onto the screen of a game other people were playing, complaining and pointing out they should’ve done this and they should’ve done that all whilst ridiculing them.

Knocking disdain and mockery across the entire screen, she criticised the lives of others as per her own conveniences as a bystander. Showering jeers as well, striking frank impressions lacking all distinction between likes and dislikes as well, all to her own contentment.

Those were Louis’ deeds. Rating as per her principles, egoistic abuse and slander.

However, that which she enjoyed at first, soon turned wearisome as well.

That was natural. What Louis could do, was to review the『Memories』passed onto her, she could not interfere with anything further. She did not possess the ability to speak of the present and the future.

Even if she tried to speak ill of or correct the gameplay of others, there was nobody who would lend an ear to what she would point out, that is why she lost her initial amusement.

To incessantly look at the play of unskillful humans, was close to torture rather than just being tedious.

“Even though if allowed to, then we would do it so much much mu~ch better. Because each and every single one is incompetent.”

Despite possessing feet to walk their own life, despite having arms to cut through distress, despite owning a head to picture the future, all of the other people were brainless.

Louis’ elder brothers, Ley and Roy were no exceptions to that either. Rather, they could be called the incarnation of ineptitude.

If『Memories』would be peeped into, it could be well understood what that life failed at, and at what point was it unable to recover. All of them, accumulated failures terribly simple and trivial.

Why would one stumble at such a spot, Louis was unable to comprehend at all.

“Incompetent, incompetent, incompetent. If you’re going to live irresponsibly, then? hand it over to us, that life. We will do it way way wa~y better. Everyone everyone everyone, is too brainless.”

From one to the next,『Lives』ought to be felt contempt for were itemized in the form of platters.

Chewing and digesting numerous, multitudinous of them, Louis was overwhelmed with rage, and became nauseous.

Without realising such emotions of Louis’ ■, her elder brothers, who successively resumed eating for fulfilling their own desires, she also felt irritated at. Without even feeling anxious for their younger sister, who was making a nauseous expression, the folly of continuing to provide filled platters incessantly, what could she possibly detest could she not detest that.

“Ah, you sure eat while finding it delicious, onii-chan.”

“Ah, you sure eat while finding it fun, nii-sama.”

“ーーAh, we are, we are, even now even now, feeling nauseous, you know.”

That was the reason why Louis Arneb, named herself『Satiation』.

The starvation not fulfilled no matter how much is eaten.

For what was starved was not her body, but her ■.

△▼△▼△▼△

ーーWant to become, happy.

ーーWant to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy.

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“ーーAhahahaha! This is, this is the feeling of walking outside, isn’t it! Both onii-chan and nii-sama, doing this the whole time...... a~h, unfair unfair unfair!”

Within the enforced confinement, her shackled self-consciousness followed the lone road to expansion.

Just as eating facilitated healthy growth amongst humans, while being provided with platters unwished for as well, Louis underwent favourable growth vigorously.

The same was also the case with Ley and Roy, her two elder brothers.

Her elder brothers too, had their own ego enlarge rampantly, having their ■ feel greater zeal for meals. The insensible food selection by such elder brothers of hers, Louis anyhow felt irritated by.

That change had been, a byproduct of Louis’ such growth, and irritation.

“This is the air of outside! This is the water of outside! This is the soil of outside! This is the blood of outside! A~h, amazing amazing amazing! It’s real! It’s rea~l!”

Lying sprawled on bare earth, whilst lovingly licking the soil, having his fill of the world with his entire body was a young boyーー no, though that very flesh body belonged to the personage who named himself as Ley Batenkaitos, the content within it was disparate.

It was not Ley wielding the right of control over that flesh body, and moving about freely.

Believed to possess the fate of being unable to leave the white world congenitally, Louis Arnebーー the Sin Archbishop of tragedy, it was her form having broken through the white cage for the first time.

It had been a coincidence.

Certainly, she did not think the Authority possessed such an ability. Or perhaps Louis’ craving spirit had stimulated the Authority to bloom instead, there was no definite answer. Neither was it momentous.

What was momentous, was that this had been realised. ーーThat she, had walked outside.

“Ahahahaha! Ahahahahahaha!”

Intervening between her restricted reality, Louis grandly guffawed for the fruit it bore.

It had become possible for her to borrow her elder brothers’ bodies, and independently manipulate that body, that Authority.

Andーー,

“Huh? Ley, just what is the meaning of this. While putting on airs as something like『Gourmet』and being fastidious, are you sure you didn’t get too hungry and go crazy?”

“A~hahaha! That’s wrong that’s wrong, that’s completely wrong. That’s wrong anyway, as that’s wrong, that’s certainly wrong, as that’s certainly wrong, that is wrong, because that’s? wrong!”

“ーーーー”

“We are, Witch Cult Sin Archbishop representing『Gluttony』, Louis Arneb.”

Saying so, Louis gave greetings to the baffled Roy Alphard, using the body of Ley Batenkaitos.

For this had been the first time ever since she was born, did she get to even converse with her elder brothers, after all.

“It’s the cute, cute little sister, the third sibling of onii-chan and nii-sama. Please be loving, please be doting, please be well wishing, and please be caring, okay?”

△▼△▼△▼△

ーーWant to become, happy.

ーーWant to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy.

ーーWant to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy.

△▼△▼△▼△

By borrowing the bodies of her elder brothers, she acquired a method to meddle with the outside world.

Her elder brothers’ supply of food did not halt, and as always, never did she suffer with hunger.

However, such long awaited opportunities, and jumping out into the outside world she much yearned for, Louis Arneb grew tired of it before long. ーーShe ended up growing tired it.

“Outside is pretty? boring?, more than what we tho~ught.”

In the end, a borrowed body was a borrowed body.

There lay no change in the fact that the real form of her self, who was unable to be free, was trapped inside the white world.

Rather, by firmly making certain of her shadow, she strangled her throat by herself.

“In the end, something like life...... is not what you eat, or how much you eat. Who you eat with, and yet.”

Her elder brothers, were living lives of their own. For that must be, why they were not seeking it.

Louis alone, had been dispossessed of her own life. For that must be, why she was eternally seeking it.

“Want to become, happy.”

Within the white world, whilst untidily scattering around countless『Memories』, she wished for that with all her ■.

That could have perhaps been the greatestーー or the sole desire, of Louis Arneb.

“Want to become happy.”

A desire unfulfilled.

Unfading regardless of her borrowing ?the bodies of her elder brothers, or kicking others as per her liking.

Albeit tasting rich『Lives』and getting drunk on momentary pleasures, it all perished immediately.

“Want to become happy.”

She grew tired of it. She had grown tired of it.

She wished for a life, which belonged to herself, and her alone. She wished for a body, a soul, a destiny.

“Want to become happy.”

Louis was sorrowful.

The origin of Louis’ sorrow, was that nowhere present a life which was her own.

“Want to become happy.”

However, at the same time, Louis knew herself.

Even if her fickle natured, easily resigning self attained a life that suddenly appeared before her, it would be inconceivable for her to be satisfied by that. After all, she had known.

In this world lay countless lives, in them lay the absolute amount of joyfulness, and they were primarily determined upon the result of the incorrigible great gambles.

In what way would things play out for a human belonging to a poor residence born into the harsh Holy Kingdom of Gusteko.

In what way would things play out for a human weak by birth born into Vollachia Empire, which valued warriors.

In what way would things play out for a slow-footed nitwit born into Kararagi City States, which expected perpetual progress.

In what way would things play out for a mixed race, a silver haired half devil born into the Kingdom of Lugnica, which was spoiled by ancient customs.

By possessing the selves of others, Louis was aware that they would not have a decent time.

However, to say joyfulness? would be being affluent in those aspects, would be an immense mistake as well.

Being born into the household of a great priest in the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko, being born into the household? of a general in Vollachia Empire, being born into the household of a distinguished merchant in Kararagi City States, being born into the household of any kind of an influential? noble in the Kingdom of Lugnica, as one looked upward it continued without? cease.

Louis, did not want to be inferior. She wanted to be affluent. She did not want to be looked down upon.

She had continued rating the lives of others.

Within those, naturally the lives who had received the worst evaluation, but withal the lives who had received the highest evaluation, it was not as if all of the items to be graded within them were the greatest. Even those highest evaluated lives, she could not gain satisfaction by.

“A~h, want to become happy.”

ーーLey and Roy, around that time, discovered a novel transfiguration of the Authority,『Eclipse』.

The ability the Authority of『Gluttony』was endowed with, was the ability to plunder the『Memories』, the『Names』, from others, chewing? and digesting? them. Applying that in practical use, the Authority of『Solar Eclipse』and『Lunar Eclipse』which reconstructed the plundered populace.

Drawing out techniques or knowledge from the『Memories』of others, and using them as one’s own belonging,『Lunar Eclipse』.

To the utmost it drew out skills, not the benefits of the likes of physical abilities, so the possibility of not utilising that power perfectly was high.

Conversely,『Solar Eclipse』used the captured『Name』as foundation, and reconstructed the person’s existence in its entirety, completely reconstructing the techniques polished by that flesh body, it could manifest strength to its maximum.

As an ability, it went without saying that『Solar Eclipse』was overwhelmingly excelling, but her two elder brothers preferred to exercise not『Solar Eclipse』, but『Lunar Eclipse』. ーーNo, perhaps it would be more accurate to say that they feared using『Solar Eclipse』, and found it repugnant.

According to Ley and Roy’s cognizance,『Solar Eclipse』seemed to drag along the thinking in the flesh body which had transformed.

That sensation felt as if their selves were being damaged, it was unendurable, was the two’s reasoning. Hearing what her elder brothers had to say, Louis, from the bottom of her ■, found it to be utterly ludicrous.

Despite even possessing their own flesh bodies, despite standing on a position where even their person had been established, to not be able to preserve their selves possessing firm beliefs, how deficient and puny must that self-consciousness be.

It was no jest to assume the airs of being more sorrowful than her, who possessed no flesh body of her own, did not have even her siblings be cognizant of her existence for greater than ten years, and had, at last, grown tired of even the sourness and sweetness of life.

The Authority of『Solar Eclipse』was very much splendid. Rather, for Louis it was convenient.

It would be no misstatement to say that precisely this was the power Louis Arneb longed for.

ーーLouis Arneb was craving for a life belonging to her alone, that too, a life which was the greatest.

That was unlike her elder brothers’ self-pleasure, who gained contentment by eating the lives of others and capturing『Memories』. A right further refined and ubiquitousーー Louis, wanted to live.

Birth could not be chosen.

That was the entire source of what brought forth sorrowful humans. However, Louis was different.

Louis, had acquired the power, the opportunity, to choose her birth, her life. She could heist the『Memories』of others, reconstruct them by way of『Solar Eclipse』, and make it to be her own belonging.

She had the ability, to choose life. ーーEverything, she could choose again.

She shall be fastidious, seeking the greatest『Memories』and『Name』which she was yet to see.

Though there had been some aligned favourably amongst what all Ley and Roy had eaten, they had not been perfect. There had been a dearth of novelty and ingenuity.

Happy homes, tender parents, wealthy livelihoods and rich environments, magnificent friends and seemingly destined companions, all of it seemed naught but “happiness which had seemingly been seen somewhere else”.

She was searching for not that, but the greatest life.

Having the ability to choose as per one’s liking, did not coincide with the fact that one would not get tired of what one was choosing. Getting tired of the countless platters lined up before her eyes, what could she possibly find enjoyable.

Louis Arneb, was searching for the greatest life. ーーShe had been searching.

That is whyーー,

△▼△▼△▼△

ーーThat is why, when she happened upon Natsuki Subaru, Louis’ chest pulsated intensely.

“Oho? Onii-san is...... umm, Natsuki Subaru was it?”

To be precise, it did not throb the instant she had met him.

Natsuki Subaru’s? outward appearance was not to Louis’ taste, to make it throb the instant of meeting him.

From start, though it seemed a face not to her taste, in accordance with the sense of values cultivated within Louis, the beauty which a vast majority of humans pictured would precisely be the face Louis would seek.

In that sense, there did not exist even a single atom which would throb for Natsuki Subaru’s outward appearance.

Moreover, from Louis’ perspective Natsuki Subaru was certainly a personage she had already known, but he was not someone she had been attentive of simply because he was in the『Memories』of others.

Though it was something not requiring much thought, the『Memories』present within Louis went up to enormous numbers. It was not simple to draw out the intended『Memories』from within that.

All the more when the opponent was one she held no interest in.

The reason why Louis yet recollected the opponent’s name at a single glance was because, not Louis, but one of her elder brothersーー Ley Batenkaitos had been considerably attached to that name.

If not mistaken, then there had been something mightily attached to Natsuki Subaru amongst the platters Ley had eaten.

‘ーーーー’

“This place? This place you see, is the cradle of Od Lagna...... the『Hall of Memories』. The place where the souls of dead people are filtered. As it’s rare for a person to come here maintaining? one’s self, you shall be welcomed, onii-san. We, have too much boredom at hand, you see.”

Smiling sinisterly, Louis gave a warm reception to the visit of the rare guest.

Truth be told, there lay no dishonesty in those feelings of welcome. Louis longed for others, quite a bit.

The birthplace of Louis Arneb, the white world she could not leave, the『Hall of Memories』.

To know a scenery unknown, to have taken birth in a world untold, all were finest quality full courses which would fulfill the hunger called the inquisitiveness of Louis’ ■.

However, the speciality of Natsuki Subaru which was deserving of utmost attention wasーー,

“ーーMemories of『Death』.”

Not supposed to exist. Absolutely unattainable, there existed the memories of『Death』and beyond.

This was principally dissimilar to something like near-death experiences, which were like cheap test tours. A phenomenon established due to the『Soul』shattering, life slashed into a thousand fragments, the lifeline terminating in its true essence.

The other side of the River of Three Crossings, the border of the living world and netherworld, which was impossible to rebound from. Neither swimming through it nor striding across it, the『Memories』of redoing the life supposed to have been robbed awayーー.

“ーー『Return by Death』.”

That was how Louis read the greatest showpiece of the『Memories』blossoming within herself.

Accumulating the experiences of sundry『Deaths』as memories, that which could not be carved into『Memories』even once he handed over to his next self as something certain.

And that Natsuki Subaru had surmounted all kinds of hardships.

“Amazing amazing, onii-san! Truly amazing! We’ve been moved deeply. We admire it from the bottom of our ■. You really can do something like that. Overcoming『Death』, with complete freedom!”

‘ーーーー’

“No no, no need to be modest. We are serious, you know? We really do find onii-san to be enviable. After all, something like the memories of『Death』, nobody possesses it no matter what ~tsu.”

‘ーーーー’

“Also also, why is it so? Why are you all composed despite getting『Memories』stolen by us? What specialness is it?『Soul’s』save? Backup? Invariance? Makes no sense makes no sense!”

Within the struggling, writhing Natsuki Subaru existed numerous, multitudinous『Memories』of the time of dying.

That was stimulation Louis, by no means, managed to acquire. Furthermore, to continue to die interminably, the power with the ability to stockpile『Death』was the target of her jealousy.

“ーーWant it.”

She desired the power of『Return by Death』.

Not for it being capable of repeating『Death』. Naturally, that fresh stimulation was also a factor eternally captivating Louis, but what was further momentous was the ability to『Redo』.

ーーLouis Arneb was searching for the greatest life.

And, the conclusion derived by Louis, having indulged in diverse lives, was that what was termed as the greatest life was neither being affluent, nor being loved by many, nor being blessed with a high status.

What was termed as the greatest life, referred to the life which “went as one wished”.

Anything and everything, would occur as one believed, as one expected, as one wished.

Without any flaws, without any incompletion, without any irrationality, the perfect world view.

She had always searched a method for its realisation. The answer to that was an endlessly unbearing darkness within Louis, but finally, she understood.

“ーーIt’s『Return by Death』.”

Should she procure that, she would be able to recover from conflicts, from failures.

Should she know what shall happen in future, she would be able to cope with it. If only she can know, what failure shall occur, what irrationality shall await, what incompletion shall she come across.

“We can, live the greatest lifeーー!”

‘ーーーー’

“What should be done? What should be done in order to steal it? If onii-san’s『Return by Death』is an Authority, then it can’t be stolen by just eating. It’s different from things that come attached with『Memories』and『Names』. Witch Factors are the antithesis of Od Lagna, after all! It won’t come detached easily! That’s why......”

That is why, was an Authority to be stolen, there was no choice but to steal the Witch Factor itself.

However, even Louis was unaware of a method to steal as far as Witch Factors. Until now, never had she wished for an Authority belonging to other Sin Archbishops. That kind of a bunch was disgusting to even come in contact with.

Howeverーー,

“Onii-san, the Authority of the killed Petelgeuse, you’re using it......?”

The『Unseen Hand』present within the『Memories』had weakened in both numbers and range from the original, but indubitably was the the power utilised by that lunatic. In other words, that was none but proof that several Witch Factors were being stocked in the interior of Natsuki Subaru.

Stocking Witch Factors, if that was possible thenーー,

“We will absolutely, no matter what, get our hands on『Return by Death』. Onii-san’s Authority, is our hope. If that can be obtained, we will......”

‘ーーーー’

“We will, be able to live our own life ~tsu!!”

Want to become, happy.

Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy.

Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happyーー.

“The method for that, is right there...... the method, for that...... ~tsu.”

‘ーーーー’

“ーー~hk! How arbitrary! Something like『Return by Death』is nothing so good? A person possessing it can’t understand the feelings of a person who doesn’t possess it ~tsu!”

Something like allotted persuasion which had seemingly been heard somewhere else was nothing but tedious.

One who had continued using that power as per his contentment, disliking using that power seemed foolish.

That is why, she shall definitely obtain it. Absolutely, definitely, with certainty.

What shall be doneーー.

“What shall be done, in order to steal the Authority...... wrong. That’s wrong, it’s wrong anyway, as it’s wrong, certainly it is wrong, as it’s too wrong, we’re saying it’s wrong, because it is wrong ~tsu! Gluttonous drinking ~tsu! Gluttony ~tsu!”

Clapping her hands mightily, potently, Louis widened her eyes.

Unraveling her sharp fangs, she applauded suggesting how clear-headed her self was.

Before one could notice, the means and objective switched positions.

However, that wasn’t the case. That was not the case.

Louis’ objective was not to plunder because she wanted to『Return by Death』, because she could amusingly live the greatest life by obtaining『Return by Death』.

It was no good to have the bad habit of considering things hazardously remain clinging, because of having played? something like Sin Archbishop representing『Gluttony』for a long period of time. Problematic. Imprisoning in fixated notions. That was a cause of defeat.

It was simple. If it was not to plunder, but to obtainーー,

“ーーIt’ll be fine if we, just become.”

‘ーーーー’

“It’ll be fine if we, just become onii-san. If we become onii-san, and have him be consumed by the Authority of『Gluttony』...... we can integrate Witch Factors. Since if it’s onii-san, then they can be stocked.”

Saying so, Louis plucked her cheeks with both her hands, continuously, forcefully, tempted into violence.

Not an endearing gesture, but excruciating, she did so wielding the intention of injuring. For what purpose. To tear apart her flesh and blood, and dividing herself, that was the purpose.

“You know the Three Great Witch Beasts? It’s said that those, are monsters created by the owner of the Witch Factor long before us. We too, can do something similar. We didn’t do that because there wasn’t really any meaning in doing so...... but, you see.”

‘ーーーー’

“ーーIf we think of doing it, then we can do anything.”

ーーIf we think of doing it, then we can do anything.

That was, what is called the monster of potentiality.

That was, what is called the potentiality of a pure existence, prior to taking birth.

That was, one affixed with the destiny of living the greatest life, hereafter in the future.

ーーThat was, the destiny of the utmost joyful being, named Louis Arneb.

” “ーーThat is, the existence known as us.” “

The speech of the slowly spinning Louis, was overlapped and enunciated.

The phenomenon of hearing the same voice doubled, was not some kind of auditory hallucination or mishearing. That was in accordance with the occurrence happening, for there appeared two of the same people, with the same voice, with the same tone.

“Got surprised by onii-san’s『Memories』but, Arneb is a star of the constellation of the hare, huh? It was also astonishing that onii-san and the others were the ones to destroy the Sizeable Hare too.”

“But, if that’s the case then it doesn’t become too much of a surprise? How come we multiplied, or is it onii-san’s great delight that cute Louis-chan multiplied? No, huh. No, eh. So onii-san is the type who doesn’t sexually desire little girls. Hmm, is that so?”

Observing the opponent who was frozen in place, with his eyes widened in astonishment, Louis linked her shoulders with the existence standing immediately beside herーー namely, the same Louis. Within this place, called the『Hall of Memories』which was separated from reality, Louis was merely an existence of a Witch Factor possessing no flesh body and a『Soul』joint together, other than that, it rather seemed that the respective names of the three siblings corresponded with the Three Great Witch Beasts, though that, well, did not matter.

Anyhow, separating the Witch Factor into two, Louis Arneb multiplied into two.

This was a stunt perhaps Ley and Roy, who feared losing their selves upon the utilisation of『Solar Eclipse』, those two were not capable of. To know it was possible to duplicate oneself, also tied together with forfeiting the true essence of one’s real self.

However, that did not apply to Louis, whose self had been established as vague from start.

It was possible to have one Louis, two Louis, and so on.

With this, Louis Arneb obtaining Natsuki Subaru’s Authority was.

‘ーーーー’

“Eh? What?”

The juvenile, the receptacle of the Witch Factor, declared some words.

Upon glancing at the juvenile, aside from the glamour called『Return by Death』, simply feelings of love welled up. Finding that annoying, Louis abandoned the『Memories』emerging to the surface.

Upon peeling them off of her own『Soul』, she discarded and abandoned them with the notion of them being useless.

ーーNo, that was not simply a notion. Truth be told, they were indeed useless now.

All of the『Memories』had been mere fillers until the greatest life was discovered, naught but side dishes. However?, Louis Arneb had finally reached her full course.

” “ーーIf we think of doing it, then we can do anything.” “

That is why, she shall tread onto this path.

Eating into Natsuki Subaru, from the interior. Chewing the eaten into Natsuki Subaru, from the exterior, sparing not a single bitーー Louis Arneb, shall obtain Natsuki Subaru.

‘ーーYou’ll, ■ ■ ■.’

Until the very end of the end, the receptacle continued saying something.

However, what had it been saying, something like that no longer held any relevance. Licking the sediments stuck onto the『Soul』with her tongue, Louis inherited the『Memories』.

And, within the receptacle which had forgotten anything and everything, Louis personally had herself appended to the Witch Factor.

As for the restーー,

“As for the rest, it’s fine to simply wait for completion.”

Unremittingly waiting in the『Hall of Memories』, was something she had grown all too accustomed to.

Problem lied in the usage of the『Memories』. There was a scheme for stealing『Memories』once again from an opponent who had already been eaten once. The gourmet Authority did not deem the menu of the same name, the same taste as a separate article in its judgement.

That is why, there present was a need to alter the flavour from the『Soul』.

Into an article separate to such an extent that it was not possible to recall that it had once been atop the tongue of Louis, of『Gluttony』.

Anticipating it proves to be the taste of the finest quality, that which Louis Arneb had fervidly awaited.

Hoping it achieves completion into the greatest, utmost, supreme dish.

Looking forward to that moment, whilst licking her lips, and longingーー,

△▼△▼△▼△

???: “So. Did you get to see what you wanted to see. ーーLouis Arneb.”

Louis: “Huh?”

Upon the sudden accost, Louis, who had gained awakening of her consciousness, rounded her eyes.

Blinking a few times, she made certain of her location. White environs, white ground and white skies, standing within the world blanketed white, Louis had been making a stupefied expression.

Louis: “ーーーー”

Having her hand touch her face, making contact, she made certain of the sensation.

Since there was no mirror in this place she could not take a look, but this sensation was irrefutably her own face. With there not being even any moderate amusements in this place, speaking of things touchable, only her own face, own body counted as one.

That is why, she had touched her face to an extent one would grow sick of touching it. That is why, upon touching her face she had grown sick of touching, she could immediately know in what state her face, her body was.

Just as before. Yes, just as before. ーーThis was, Louis’ own body.

???: “Did you get to see what you wanted to see, huh?”

Slowly, stupefied, making certain of herself was Louis.

With that behaviour reaching a point where it could pause, abruptly, the accost now overlapped once again. Lifting her face, Louis looked at the personage who had been standing before her, in front of her eyes all along.

Rather short black hair and stabbing sanpaku eyes, with legs the same length as his body, wearing a shabby appearance was the juvenile.

His name, Natsuki Subaru. The existence Louis herself had become one with as a Witch Factor, andーー,

Louis: “ーーAh.”

ーーAnd, the being of unimaginable insanity, wielding the Authority which had the ability to『Return by Death』.

Louis: “No, NOOOOOooooooOOOOOooOOoOOooooーー ~tsu!!”

Louis opened her mouth, and roared.

As long as the strength remained, as long as the possibility remained, with complete devotion she roared.

Should she have not done that, she would get crushed by the pressure. By the terror, by the menace, by the despair.

She would get snared in the insanity of a lunatic, who repeated and resumed continuing『Death』time after time.

Louis: “Don’t want to die! We, don’t want to die! Hate it, hate it hate it hate it hate it, hate it hate it hate it hate it hate it hate it! Hate it! Hate i~t ~tsu!!”

Swinging her head, collapsing onto the bare ground, Louis frantically appealed while drawing back.

Assimilating with that existence, Louis had personally experienced『Death』. She had tasted it. By being taken in by the『Soul』who practiced『Return by Death』by her own volition, she had experienced『Return by Death』first-hand, which turned back even time.

The memories of『Death』that had been incomplete as merely Natsuki Subaru’s『Memories』.

After all, memories were naught but memories. The sensational impact of never returning again upon letting go even once of that instant, of that juncture, of that moment, could never be obtained.

That had been, why she thirsted for that. She had thirsted, for what flavour『Death』had.

Even if『Death』had been something less vivid than what Louis had expected, using the Authority that goes by the name of『Return by Death』, she could gain sufficient change with the right to walk a life in which redoing was a possibility.

That, is what she believed. ーーUntil she herself, tasted『Death』that is.

Louis: “Something like that...... something like that, can never be withstood! That anguish! Sense of loss! No way can it be withstood! Impossible! Impossible impossible! Absolutely impossible! Hate i~t!”

Not even once, had she possessed a way to die comfortably.

Not even once, had she felt『Death』to be luscious.

Not even once, had she wished to die on her own volition.

Natsuki Subaru had tasted that greater than twenty times, and had replayed that.

Louis: “Someone who can withstand that, is not human! Monster! A monste~r ~tsu!”

She could not. No way she could.

Louis had indulged in a great number of lives, affronted all kinds of『Souls』, and had searched a life of her own.

She believed she had possessed the right, the privilege, to do so.

That is why, she stretched her hands even into the『Soul』of Natsuki Subaruーー the consequence, she got her naive ■ shattered.

Becauseーー,

Louis: “ーーThe human heart, cannot withstand something like itself dyi~ng ~tsu!!”

Want to become, happy.

Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want to become happy.

Want to become happy. Want to become happy. Want? to become happy. Wantedーー to become happy.

Wanted to become, happy.

That was, the wish Louis Arneb had envisaged all along, for the whole time.

Trampling upon all aspects of everything, she possessed the right to exercise her power for the purpose of acquiring the greatest life. Louis had remained, believing so without any pangs of conscience whatsoever, until today.

That, that, that, that premise, crumbled.

Wanted to become, happy. However, right now, the wish right now, was different.

Louis: “Don’t want to die.”

Don’t want to die.

Don’t want to die. Don’t want to die. Don’t want to die.

Don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to die don’t want to dieーー.

Subaru: “That is why, when you were trying to eat me, I told you.”

Her arms hugging her head, cowering, shaking her head in fear, desperately trying to protect herself was Louis.

In close proximity to that Louis, immediately above Louis, who did not raise her face, onward came a voice descending.

She did not want to listen to even that. Listening was terrifying. However, something which may befall upon her due to not listening was terrifying. ーーDying was frightening.

That is why, she had no choice but to listen.

And, whilst looking down upon Louis curling herself in fear, the voice continued.

It’s preface, saying you had been warnedーー,

Subaru: “That you’ll, definitely regret it.”