Arc 7, Chapter 94 - 'Determination for the Sake of Whom”

Arc 7, Chapter 94 - “Determination for the Sake of Whom”

――A roar, like distant thunder, shook Beatrice’s consciousness as she closed her eyelids.

Beatrice: [...Such an unpleasant sound, I suppose.]

The little girl’s faint whispering brought back memories of hearing similar sounds over and over again in her mind.

Four hundred years ago, in the age of Witches, during a time of constant warfare; it was not uncommon for large numbers of people to clash with each other, exchange blows, and fight for their lives.

Beatrice was not intimately familiar with the battlefield.

She was born and raised in the mansion of her mother, Echidna, a place free from human conflict. Even though the battles were far below her notice, they were still aggravating.

As time passed, she spent four hundred years with the book entrusted to her, during which the world outside was far from the madness of those days, although it could still be turbulent.

Yet, this once far distant madness was now close at hand.

――That being, a struggle for countless lives all around the Imperial Capital.

???: [Umm, I am worried. I am anxious.]

???: [I know how you feel, Shuu. I guess Uu and the others should be leaving too?]

???: [Au! Uau! Aa, u!]

???: [Tha, that’s no good! Our job is to wait! We are waiting!]

Beatrice, endeavoring to close her eyes and conserve energy, overheard the exchange.

What could be heard were the voices of children she had become quite familiar with over the past few days―― Schult, Utakata, and Louis Arneb.

Beatrice and the other children were settled behind the main camp―― where they waited in a tent that overlooked the battlefield from a hill, and although it sounded good to say that they protected the rear of the camp, at least Beatrice knew that this was just a pretense not to be expected of them.

Normally, it would be wise to leave non-combatants like children behind in the Fortress City.

Similarly, the non-combatants among the residents who had relocated from the Demon City with Yorna Mishigure and were unable to survive the battle, stayed away from the front lines and focused on cooperative support like logistics instead.

The reason why children did not do the same was because of their guardians.

Priscilla: [A skirmish is one thing; however, it would be pitiable to keep them at a distance when it comes to the big stage. The fringes of the battlefield shall be acceptable to me. Wherever you may be, you shall not mistake my brilliance.]

Mizelda: [Utakata is one of the Shudraq. Cowards who turn their back on the battlefield and the hunting grounds are not fit to be a member of the Shudraqian people. Naturally, they’ll be taken to the battlefield.]

These were the respective statements of Schult and Utakata’s guardians; opinions that could not be dissuaded since Schult and Utakata were both highly determined.

Both may have spoken from different morals and beliefs, but Beatrice had no right to interfere as long as the parties involved were in agreement for the time being.

To be honest, as a Great Spirit, Beatrice had not been pleased with the situation in which she and these children were being treated as a package. Nevertheless, since everyone in the camp had their own role to play, it was only logical that Beatrice was assigned here considering how restrained her actions were.

The role entrusted to her was――,

Louis: [Uu, au.]

Like Schult and Utakata, Louis had also been ordered to stay behind in the tent.

Beatrice: [――――]

Except her treatment was distinctly different from that of other young children.

Unlike with Schult and Utakata, there was no obvious guardian; however, the main focus was “keep an eye on a certain person”.

Of course, that was the Sin Archbishop. The danger would never diminish, no matter what those who knew her in the Empire said.

So, unlike the other children, Louis was the only one they had no choice, they could not leave her by her lonesome.

Otto: [Currently, she is a bomb with the least inclination to make a move. Beatrice-chan, I do not wish to burden you too much, but please keep an eye on her. We cannot tell Emilia-sama or Garfiel about this, at least we need to remain level-headed.]

Had been Otto’s statement before he decided to participate in the full-scale rebellion.

It may have been a precaution so that Beatrice would not be discouraged by the helplessness of having no role to play and staying in wait to conserve her energy, but it was also an unsettling statement because she started losing the ground under her feet.

The fact that he purposely tried to keep a calm look on his face was unsettling. ――Both Petra and Frederica had the same concerns, so perhaps they could have done something about it.

In any case――,

Beatrice: [You shouldn’t fidget around so much, in fact. Calm down, I suppose.]

Utakata: [Bae, is awake?]

Beatrice: [Betty has been awake the whole time, in fact... Also, that name you used is unpleasant, I suppose. It kind of makes one feel like they’re being Akanbe’d, in fact.] 1

There were no beds in the camp tent to lie on, and no lap of Emilia nor Petra to borrow either. Consequently, Utakata’s lips pouted at Beatrice, who had had her eyes closed as she sat on a simple chair.

Opening her eyes thinly at the reaction, she looked at the three restless people in the camp.

Schult was anxious, Utakata couldn’t handle the fighting spirit, and it was hard to tell what was going in Louis’s head as she impatiently bounced her shoulders at each sound of the battle.

Beatrice: [――――]

Looking at the behavior alone, there appeared to be nothing suspicious about Louis.

A child who was simply hypersensitive to changes in her surroundings―― other carefree people, who were unaware of the threat of Gluttony, would have inadvertently regarded them as a normal child.

But that was not the case for Beatrice.

Beatrice: [Emilia and everyone else are doing their best to help Subaru and the others, I suppose.]

The reason Emilia and her group were willing to intervene in this rebellion and fight for their lives, despite having no obligation to do so, was that they were likely to find their friends, Subaru and Rem, there.

If Beatrice was unable to fight alongside them, she would at least be able to cut down on distractions by keeping a close eye on Louis.

So, Beatrice braced herself through shallow breathing and――,

Louis: [Uu?]

Beatrice: [...You, what are you up to, in fact?]

Beatrice’s lips pursed, as a small hand caressed her head. She glanced at Louis, who was looking at her with lowered eyebrows.

For a moment, her body stiffened at the risk of being touched by Louis’s hand, but she did not feel threatened by her, nor did Louis make any gesture to snatch Beatrice’s “name” away.

As far as Beatrice knew, Gluttony required calling out the other person’s “name” and eating it in order to activate the Authority, but Louis’ mouth never even uttered the right sounds to begin with.

Of course, if Louis only required awareness, there was still a possibility for her to activate the Authority; so Beatrice was nervous about Louis moving the hand that touched her head to her mouth.

If Louis ever showed the slightest gesture to eat Beatrice’s “name,” then――.

Utakata: [Bae, your face is scary. Do you still hate Lou?]

Beatrice: [What a way to comment on Betty’s adorable face, I suppose. Besides, Betty does not hate this girl, in fact... Despising would be more fitting, I suppose.]

At the sight of Beatrice glaring at Louis, Utakata pushed up both of her own eyes with her fingers while saying her face isn’t adorable and Beatrice let her true feelings come out in the end.

So yes, I find myself hating Louis.

Not just Louis, but the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony in general. ――Everything that caused Subaru and the others to suffer.

Beatrice: [Regretful, in fact.]

For the Emilia camp, and above all for Subaru, Gluttony’s biggest victim had been none other than Rem. Watching Subaru suffer over the girl who was indefinitely asleep, made Beatrice constantly regret the time wasted before she had been contracted with him; when she was indifferent to the world around her.

Wondering what could have been.

If Beatrice had opened up earlier and shown a willingness to cooperate with Subaru and the others, things might have turned out differently. Not allowing the White Whale, the Witch Cult, and the like to do whatever they wanted; Subaru would not have ended up displaying such a neverending expression of sorrow beside Rem as she continued to sleep.

That was why she decided to never let Subaru suffer like that again, and stay by his side for the rest of his life; yet here she was.

After being separated from Subaru, she could not help Emilia and the other members of the group to the fullest extent because she was forced to conserve energy. ――The meaning of her existence was in tatters.

Schult: [Bea, Beatrice-chan, you can’t talk like that to Louis-sama...]

Beatrice: [Betty doesn’t feel sorry for her, I suppose. You’re being imprudent to begin with, in fact. Why do you refer to Betty as “Chan” when the others are called “Sama,” I suppose? You lack respect, in fact.]

Schult: [Ugh... I’m terribly sorry, Beatrice-chan.]

Picking up a sense of danger, Schult interjected as she stared at him.

How did Schult, who did not waver despite being terrified, see Beatrice? Could it be that he thought she was a little girl since she had been asleep all this time?

Beatrice: [In any case, do not fatigue Betty, I suppose. The whole purpose of being left here is to prevent everyone here from doing anything unnecessary, in fact. As much as a pain it is to do exactly that...]

Louis: [Uu.]

Beatrice: [It is much better than letting you run amok, I suppose.]

Beatrice grabbed Louis’s hand resting on her head and made the startled Louis sit down in the chair right next to her.

In the end, she decided to hold on to Louis’s hand and not let go of it.

Beatrice: [You too, in fact. Schult, stop moping around, and Utakata, if you do not have anything to do, just take care of your bow, I suppose. So...]

???: [――It appears that there is no need for me to interject.]

Beatrice: [Wah...?]

As she was dealing with the restless children, she suddenly heard a calm voice enter the camp tent. When she looked, she saw a man with curly hair, Zikr Osman, peeking inside.

Beatrice furrowed her brow at his appearance since he was supposed to be at the main camp, commanding alongside Abel.

Utakata: [Zee! We’ve been busy, but now you’re here! It’s time for Uu and the others!]

Beatrice: [You wish, in fact...! But what business do you have, I suppose?]

Zikr: [My apologies Miss Utakata, but it’s not your time. However, there is a possibility that we may move the camp at a later date, so I thought I would let you know in advance.]

Schult: [Moving the camp, you say?]

Zikr’s intellectual, round eyes made Schult tilt his head. Zikr nodded “yes” in response, as he pointed at the battlefield behind him.

Zikr: [Currently, we are devoting our forces to breaching the city walls, but once a bastion has been opened, we will venture forth to the Crystal Palace in the Imperial Capital. At that time, the commander must also go to the front.]

Beatrice: [Abel does not seem capable of fighting, in fact. He is safer in the rear, concentrating on giving orders, I suppose.]

Zikr: [You are right... however, then the troops will not follow us. In the case of us paving the way for His Excellency the Emperor, then no one would allow him to sit on the throne.]

Beatrice: [――. Such bothersome national ideals, in fact.]

The fundamental principle of the Vollachian Empire, was that the people of the Empire must be strong.

However, this apparently applied even to a leader taking over the nation. If the supreme leader did not possess any strength to boast of, they would be overthrown by their subordinates in the blink of an eye.

Zikr: [Yes, it’s bothersome. But that is what our homeland is about.]

Shaking his head gently, a slightly wry smile appeared on Zikr’s mouth.

It was hard for Beatrice to discern what emotions were being mixed in there. He may not have been entirely comfortable with it, but neither was he negative about it.

Schult: [Zikr-sama, could it be you are heading into battle?]

Utakata: [Zee?]

Suddenly, beside Beatrice, who was watching Zikr’s lips, Schult asked him a question, while Utakata called out to him in a quiet voice.

At the children’s gaze, Zikr raised his eyebrows slightly, then,

Zikr: [As you have guessed, I will also be participating. Even though we outnumber them, we are still at a disadvantage in terms of “generals” below General Second-Class, so we have to change that situation.]

Beatrice: [...Why is that, I suppose?]

Zikr: [――? Pardon?]

Beatrice: [Why do you bother to come here, in fact? In your position, you could have just ordered your men to do it, I suppose. What purpose is there in you showing up in front of Betty and the others, in fact?]

Zikr: [Oh, that’s what you mean.]

If one was about to head into battle, one would want to be even more focused at this point in time.

Nevertheless, Zikr showed up at a camp tent full of children, who could not be left behind on this battlefield.

When he was asked his reason, Zikr put up an embarrassed smile,

Zikr: [There are only men at the main camp since the women of Shudraq are also on the front line. If we are in need of encouragement before going into battle, only women can make you truly exhilarated.]

Beatrice: [Huh?]

However, just before each Subaru was shattered, they each landed as much of a hit as they could onto the Flying Winged Blade.

The change in the danger of the Flying Winged Blade was something that ordinary people would not know, but that revolution had very slightly, just a little, a wee bit, weakened. She felt like it had weakened.

Emilia: [Umm! It weakened!!]

She declared it in a loud voice, and it truly appeared like it had become like that.

Using the leeway that the ice Subarus had made for her, Emilia equipped her legs with thick-soled ice boots, placed the two arms of her airborne body on the ground, and met the oncoming Flying Winged Blade with her two legs.

Emilia was well-aware. ――That legs were just a little stronger than arms.

Emilia: [Hiyah, yaaah――!]

Firmly clenching her teeth, Emilia extended her knees using all of her might.

The direct impact from the Flying Winged Blade delivered a shock to Emilia’s entire body, and from head to toe, all the bones in her body were creaking. Firmly withstanding that, withstanding it, withstanding, she would withstand it to the end.

Fully extending her legs, which were experiencing resistance, even while crevices started to form in her ice boots, Emilia’s kick shot the Flying Winged Blade up into the sky.

Madelyn: [Wha!?]

It seemed like it was beyond Madelyn’s expectations for it to have been stopped, so she raised her voice in surprise. Facing that, Emilia got up and leaped, reaching her hand out to the Flying Winged Blade which had been kicked up.

She tightly grasped the edge of the Flying Winged Blade, and into that arm, she poured a considerable amount of strength.

Emilia: [This time... I’m returning the favor!]

The Flying Winged Blade was much heavier than it looked, but Emilia was also someone who possessed indomitable power.

It was difficult with a single arm, so she twisted her body in order to change to a two handed grip. From there, with all her might, she resolutely flung the Flying Winged Blade away with a “Hiyah!”.

Madelyn: [――Hk!]

Seeing the Flying Winged Blade flung away, Madelyn widened her eyes.

Receiving the vigor of rapid spinning, the Flying Winged Blade soared. Although it paled in comparison to when Madelyn had thrown it, the dangerous weapon still cut through the wind as it flew.

Flying, flying, flying―― towards an incorrect direction, it had flown away amazingly.

Emilia: [Ummm.]

Madelyn: [... You, just what is your intention.]

Emilia: [I may have messed up...]

She was trying to return the favor and deal damage, but she was completely unable to handle the Flying Winged Blade well, so it had flown away. On the forehead of Madelyn, who had been angered by that, a vein had begun to bulge very quickly.

Immediately after, Madelyn’s cheeks stiffened, and she stepped forward in order to chase after the Flying Winged Blade which had flown away.

However――,

Emilia: [That’s a no-no!]

Then, Emilia, her hands outstretched, created a wall of ice ahead of where Madelyn was proceeding.

The wall of ice erected from the ground was thick, and she had also made it fairly long horizontally. Going around it or jumping over it, neither feat would be managed so easily.

She had not been able to utilize the Flying Winged Blade very well, but it would be dangerous if Madelyn were to wield it.

It was not as though that was her aim, but she thought that the current situation of it being at a distance was the most beneficial.

Emilia: [I’m sorry, but I can’t let you retrieve that weapon. If you are to continue, then it shall be without that.]

Madelyn: [――――]

Emilia: [If you surrender, I will properly accept that. Actually, if you do that, it would be reaaally helpful. What will you do? Will you continue?]

Emilia posed a question to the back of Madelyn, who cast her eyes downward as she faced the wall of ice.

If Madelyn, who had lost her weapon, were to surrender, that would be the best scenario. In order to get Madelyn to believe she was at a disadvantage, Emilia once again created the Natsuki Subarus of ice, which had once been annihilated, in her surroundings, and she crossed her arms as she stood.

Eight against one, this time, in a state without her weapon, Madelyn was in a much more unfavorable position.

With all this, then..., Emilia was enthusiastically thinking as such.

But alas――,

Madelyn: [――Why do you think that I, the dragon, would give up?]

Muttering, Madelyn gently placed her hand on the wall of ice before her eyes.

Gazing at that gesture, Emilia reflexively caught her breath with an “Ah”. ――With a crack, the very moment that high-pitched noise reverberated, the entirety of the gigantic ice wall began to fissure with the pattern of a spiderweb.

The origin was naturally Madelyn’s palm, so the fissures that extended across the entire ice wall were centered on her.

Emilia had gone all out when creating that ice wall.

The hardness and density of the ice were just as previously mentioned, and even though it was not something that could be destroyed easily.

Emilia: [Madelyn, you...]

Madelyn: [When talking to you humans, this dragon’s head gets all weird. You, that healer, that senile old fool, all of you are in this dragon’s way...]

Emilia: [――――]

Turning her back, without revealing her downcast face, mixed into Madelyn’s trembling voice were complex and intricate emotions. Anger, sorrow, and all sorts of other things.

It seemed just as if Madelyn herself did not understand which of her own emotions was the strongest.

What she had spoken of were those who were in her way.

Of course, Emilia understood that she herself was in a position confronting Madelyn. Outside of Emilia, the ones she called a healer and a senile old fool, did they also happen to be her enemies?

As a dragonkin, as an ally of the Empire, Madelyn opposed Emilia and the others, and went on a rampage.

Emilia: [Madelyn, for what purpose do you fight?]

Madelyn: [――――]

At the question, Madelyn swayed her head to a tilt.

Her two black horns at a slant, Madelyn’s golden eyes stared at Emilia from above her shoulders. Though she was getting a horrifying, blood-curdling sensation, Emilia did not avert her gaze.

Going against the instinct to turn away, Emilia fixed her eyes on Madelyn.

Thinking about it now, she should have done it sooner, she should have tried to talk like this from the very start.

Both this time and last time, even though Madelyn, who was blocking in the way, had been brimming with fighting spirit, Emilia had gotten caught up in it, and suddenly begun an attack, but――,

Emilia: [If we can talk with each other, then I really think that talking is the best scenario. Madelyn, why do you fight? For the sake of whom?]

Madelyn: [...What about you? Why?]

Emilia: [――――]

Wondering if it would really be necessary to say that, Emilia realized that Madelyn was trying to continue.

The fact that she had responded with that, was something very difficult for Emilia. The reason that Madelyn had given Emilia something she must speak of, that unfortunate occurrence was something which Emilia could not be prepared for.

If Emilia were to refuse her dialogue, and if the result of that refusal was claws being swung, Emilia would wield an ice weapon as expected, and would need to oppose Madelyn.

In that manner, upon Emilia’s cheeks stiffening,

Madelyn: [You, why do you oppose? Opposing this dragon, there is no chance for victory.]

Emilia: [――ah.]

Madelyn: [Why... do you... why do all of you oppose?]

That was the question posed from Madelyn’s side.

Unknowing of Emilia’s circumstances, she responded as such to words she should have brushed off.

On the contrary, being questioned about that, Emilia cautioned her own slow-mind.

She thought she could not respond with anything. However, it was not like that. Just as Madelyn had said, if Emilia could not get Madelyn to speak, then she herself should be the one to open up her heart first.

After all, this battlefield was harsh, so Emilia prioritized the things she herself wanted to do, and the things she herself wanted to say. But even so, at just this moment, for what reason did she think to try and have good manners?

Why, did she fight? For what reason, was she here?

The answer to all of that was――,

Emilia: [I came here to meet my treasured knight... No, everybody’s treasured knight.]

Saying that, Emilia touched the shoulder of one of the ice soldiers―― the imitations of Subaru, directly next to her. She thought she had made them well. She had replicated his hairstyle and “tracksuit” quite proficiently.

Though, no matter how well they imitated him, Subaru’s reliability could not be reproduced.

His positive words, his reliable attitude, his kindness which gave her delight, just about everything.

Natsuki Subaru’s Natsuki Subaru-ness, just thinking about it made Emilia’s chest grow pleasantly warm, and it was impossible for anyone except the person in question to possess.

Emilia: [He’s a reaaally treasured person. That person, and the girl who should be with that person, many people are awaiting their return, so that’s why I am here. For that purpose, I’m trying my very best.]

Madelyn: [――――]

Emilia: [The reason I fight, that’s it. Madelyn, what about you?]

She probably had someone, or something, which she wanted to protect.

If that was the case, they could make a promise to not hurt the other’s treasured thing, and they could probably stop fighting.

Subaru and Rem, it would open the path to reach the two who she wished to bring back.

Those hopes and wishes that Emilia held were――,

Madelyn: [――Balleroy Temeglyph.]

Emilia: [...That, name is?]

Madelyn: [That... was the name of the man who was to be this dragon’s darling. ――He is this dragon’s entire reason for fighting.]

――They were betrayed by Madelyn, who fought for the sake of someone who had already been lost.

Emilia: [――――]

Hearing her voice lose all spirit, Emilia caught her breath.

She was unable to find the right words to say at the spur of the moment, and because she was not close enough to reach her hand out, Emilia could not make it in time.

For that reason――,

Madelyn: [――Kill the man who killed Balleroy. That is this dragon’s long-standing desire.]

A violent sound rang out, as Madelyn crushed the ice wall with her grip.

There was no other way to describe it than “crushed it with her grip”. She tightened her grip with the hand placed on the wall, and from there, the destruction spread throughout the entire ice wall; it had been shattered in one fell swoop.

Taking the Flying Winged Blade present on the other side, Madelyn looked to the figure facing her once more, and while Emilia digested those bitter feelings, she and the ice soldiers headed towards Madelyn.

Having lost someone dear to her, the dragonkin girl was desperate to fill the empty hole in her chest. Stepping forward to chase her, that was the moment.

Madelyn: [MEZOREIAAAAAAAA――!!]

Facing the sky as she bathed in the fragments of the shattered ice wall, Madelyn cried out.

As though it was ripping apart the sparkling ice shards as they danced down, the loud voice echoed throughout the sky of skies. Hearing that, Emilia’s eyes grew wide, and she looked to the sky.

The sound Madelyn had made, Emilia had heard it once before.

Her lips had previously spun that sound, and at the time when it was spun, at that time.

Emilia: [At that time, there was a reaaally big attack.]

A white corona rained down incessantly, and mowing down the Fortress City in the blink of an eye, the very terrain had been altered.

Since Emilia was together with Priscilla at that time, they were somehow able to defend against it. Supposing the same thing happened here, Emilia wondered if she would be able to stand a chance against it on her own.

That would be very difficult. Above the head of the panicked Emilia, the same thing did not occur.

However, despite the fact that the same thing had not occurred, Emilia could not greatly rejoice.

After all――,

???: [――I, am Mezoreia. In accordance with the voice of mine dear child, I shalt become the wind from the heavenly skies.]

Spreading its wings of pure white, a body of colossal scale, clad in the very essence of an overcast sky―― The『Cloud Dragon』Mezoreia, invoked by Madelyn Eschart, swooped down upon the skies of the Imperial Capital.\