Stay Alive, Ram
「"Which time is this?"」
「Getting straight to the point, Roswaal, draped in bandages, spoke with eerie calm. "Given your intelligence, you should have discovered many suspicious points by now. Yet, you didn't come to speak with me—that isn't like you. The only possibility is that you have already seen through those doubts. Now, answer me: Which loop is this, Hachiman-kun?"」
「"Which time... You really have the nerve to ask me that, Roswaal."」
「Roswaal tilted his head, understanding dawning on him. "That reaction... I see. So you already know everything?"」
「He broke into an intoxicated smile. "You hate me. It's only natural that you'd hate me, Hachiman-kun. After all, I am the one forcing you to make a choice. But, you must eventually choose."」
「"Having stayed in Emilia-sama's room for so long, there is no doubt you cannot abandon her. Perhaps it's this time, or perhaps the next, but you will eventually make the choice—you will choose Emilia-sama."」
「"And once you do, my goal will finally—"」
「"Take your Gospel and keep dreaming, Roswaal."」
「Rudely cutting off Roswaal's ecstasy, Hikigaya Hachiman stared at him expressionlessly, enunciating every word: "I am the man who rejected your teacher, who rejected the personal request of the Witch of Greed, Echidna herself. And now, you say you're going to use one of her scrapbooks to make me submit? You think a mere book can make me—someone who has already exceeded her own calculations and expectations—bow to you?"」
「"Wh—?"」
「Roswaal's smile vanished instantly. He stared at the man before him who dared to speak such bold words.」
「"I will not accept the arrangements of the Gospel, nor will I be a puppet for your plans." Hikigaya Hachiman was not intimidated by Roswaal's terrifying gaze. He spoke with invigorating momentum, letting it all out in one breath.」
「"I'll save the Sanctuary, I'll save the manor, and even you, Roswaal—I'm going to save even you."」
「"I'll shatter the Gospel's commands. I'll make you realize the Gospel's impotence and Echidna's weakness. I'm going to drag you out of the swamp of the Witch of Greed and that book. I want to see the look on your face when you question your life, the world, and your very self because of Echidna and the Gospel's failure."」
「"I want to see that expression, and then—"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman took a deep breath, pointed his finger at Roswaal, and spoke with resounding force: "When that time comes, I'm going to settle the score with you properly. Prepare yourself for your punishment, Roswaal!"」
「"You certainly have a big mouth, Hachiman-kun."」
「Fury came first; he almost wanted to grind this man, who disparaged his teacher, into ashes. But remembering Hachiman's importance, Roswaal had to suppress the thought.」
「"Such things... even if you are smart and cautious, how could you possibly achieve them?"」
「"Whether I can or not isn't for you to decide with a verbal rejection."」
「Roswaal tilted his head, thinking for a moment. "Is that so? ...Hehe. Well then, shall we make a bet, Hachiman-kun?"」
「In this moment, Hikigaya Hachiman thought of many, many things.」
「"If once isn't enough, then three times; if three times isn't enough, then five, ten..." That was the method Emilia wanted to use to pass the trial. That method was too painful, so he wouldn't allow her to do it.」
「But, if it was him, it would be fine.」
「Rem, Emilia—he refused to give up on either of them. And the important people: Otto, Ram, Garfiel, Frederica, and Petra.」
「Setting his pace, he walked past the clown-like Roswaal. Looking up at the sky, Hikigaya Hachiman did not look back.」
「"I have the conviction, the ability, and the opportunity... Therefore, your opinion is irrelevant, and your bet is utterly laughable. At this stage, I have nothing left to say to you—I have only one sentence for you: prepare to repent, Roswaal."」
「"..."」
「Gazing at his departing back, Roswaal breathed shallowly.」
「In his eyes, there was anger, bewilderment, and... a glimmer of hope so faint that even he failed to notice it.」
「Then, a sigh drifted on the wind: "The you from before was never this aggressive or willing to pay any price... You have already partially transformed toward the direction I recommended, Hachiman-kun."」
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"Hmph!"
Crusch snorted coldly. If there was anyone she hated most right now besides Echidna, it was Roswaal.
"Such a man doesn't deserve Sir Hachiman's salvation. And he's still being so self-righteous... Sir Hachiman's aggressiveness is actually a residue of Priscilla's influence."
"Four hundred years of toil for a beautiful teacher in his memories, without regret... but is he actually feeling tired? Hmm, refusing to give up voluntarily, hoping for a powerful external force to compel him to stop, yet resisting with all his might when that force appears. A very contradictory psyche, and very interesting too."
In the tomb, Echidna wore a brilliant smile. Just as she was about to continue her commentary, the chair beneath her suddenly cracked. As if from age and disrepair, it suddenly broke, losing a leg.
Echidna fell to the ground completely off-guard. The teacup in her hand dropped, spilling its "body fluids" all over her. She looked utterly disheveled.
As the other Witches watched her pathetic state, Echidna stood frozen for several seconds.
"PRI—SCI—LLA!!"
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「"The villagers are all ready and can leave at any time. Garfiel too; he's finished the cleanup. He said all the demi-human residents will wait outside the trial grounds and hide inside the moment Emilia-sama finishes the trial to avoid the Great Rabbit... I mean, is that legendary Mabeast really going to appear here? It's too dangerous!"」
「Otto was rambling. On the eve of leaving the Sanctuary, after Hikigaya Hachiman finished checking things with him, he stood before Ram.」
「"...There it is again. What is with that look? Suddenly acting like this, Ram finds it disgusting."」
「...What kind of look was it?」
「Hikigaya Hachiman didn't know. He only knew that in his mind, he was thinking of that most terrifying failed future—the Ram who roared with a heart solely seeking death.」
「"Ram." He composed himself and said softly, "I have no intention of killing Roswaal right now, because you wouldn't agree to it. But, remember this—you must remember this—if you die, if you die in the battle to destroy the book, I will have no reason to hold back. I will definitely kill Roswaal."」
「"If you don't want him to die, then do your absolute best to stay alive, Ram."」
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