Chapter 356. Ram's Boiling Murderous Intent
「"Eh? No wonder Big Brother looks at me with such a terrifying gaze, exactly like back when he was still deciding whether or not to kill me. Amnesia, huh? This is really bad. Am I going to be hanged?"」
「Having returned and understood the situation, Meili cried out in alarm, hiding behind Emilia.」
「Hikigaya Hachiman rubbed the corner of his eye, resolving to improve his acting to hide his thoughts, while saying: "I don't particularly like you, but I wouldn't go that far... And even if I wanted to hang you, you wouldn't exactly sit there and take it, would you?"」
「Meili pouted and made a face. "I wouldn't, but what can I do? I can't beat Big Sister."」
「She accused him, "If it were Big Brother's command, Big Sister and Otto would definitely obey immediately. Rather, even if Big Brother wanted Big Sister and Otto to commit suicide, they would probably execute it instantly."」
「"You're exaggerating."」
「"That's right, exaggerating is ve~ry bad. Meili needs to correct that."」
「Thinking Meili was just joking, Hachiman spoke his piece, followed immediately by Emilia educating Meili. He nodded, about to say "See?", but before he could speak, Emilia's next words made it impossible for him to utter another sound.」
「"I wouldn't do it instantly. I'd at least have to ask for the reason first."」
「"If I die, I can't be with Hachiman anymore. So, I would definitely think hard about other ways to solve the problem without dying first. I'd only do it if there was absolutely no other way."」
「Rigid and sincere, there wasn't a trace of falsehood on Emilia's face. She smiled and patted Meili's head. "So, I can't quite do what you said, Meili."」
「"...Big Sister, you really are something else." Meili was as dumbfounded as everyone else. She had only meant it as a metaphor to illustrate how this "Big Sister" followed "Big Brother's" every word; she hadn't expected it to actually go that far.」
「"If it makes Hachiman happy, I think I'm pretty great too, but Meili is also wonderful! Once you've atoned for your sins, you can be great too!"」
「Emilia wore a proud, magnificent smile. Having finished educating Meili, she turned back to look at her knight, only to see that Hachiman, Crusch, and Anastasia had all seemingly turned into frozen statues.」
「"What's wrong?"」
「She tilted her head innocently, her silver hair cascading down.」
「"Perhaps your feelings are simply too shocking for the current Hachiman-san."」
「While explaining, Otto walked over and gently patted Hikigaya Hachiman's shoulder, whispering: "...Even if you've lost your memories, I implore you to treat Lady Emilia well, just as you did before. I truly cannot bear to see the two of you grow distant, Hachiman-san. You will definitely fall deeply in love with Lady Emilia again, I guarantee it."」
「To Otto, who had been fed "dog food" (forced to watch their romance) for a year, this couple—Hachiman and Emilia—was the representative of the most sincere and purest love in the world.」
「Therefore, he knew perfectly well how well-matched they were. So what if he had amnesia? As long as Lady Emilia was given some time, she would inevitably win Hachiman-san's affection once more.」
「Otto's gaze was sharp, his peripheral vision sweeping over Crusch and Anastasia...」
「Anastasia was smiling, making it impossible to read her. But Crusch was staring at Emilia with a face full of shock, frustration, and admiration—her "homewrecker" heart was practically written on her face.」
「Otto didn't say much openly. He waited until everyone had dispersed and finished resting. On the eve of setting out with enough water and rations, he privately sought help from Ram, instructing her that it would be best to keep some distance between Hachiman-san and that Lady Crusch.」
「He didn't make it explicitly clear, but Otto believed she would understand. Regardless of whether Lady Crusch had ulterior motives, Otto's actions were meant to nip any trouble in the bud.」
「Ram, whose heart was entirely with her sister, was already annoyed that she hadn't seized the initiative to "deal with" Lady Emilia when the amnesia first happened. She would never allow a new rival to enter the field and would certainly do her utmost.」
「...In reality, if possible, Otto wanted to go to the Pleiades Watchtower himself to look after them the whole way, creating opportunities for Hachiman-san and Lady Emilia to accelerate their relationship.」
「Unfortunately, he had to set off quickly to help rebuild Watergate City. As the representative of the Emilia camp, he had to secure a share of the spoils and boost their prestige.」
「Under these circumstances, Hikigaya Hachiman's group began their journey.」
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"Hmph, don't expect Ram to forget what he did before."
Outside the Royal Capital, Ram snorted coldly. She remembered everything. Back then, if Otto hadn't distracted the Great Rabbit, Hikigaya Hachiman wouldn't have seen the blackened, yandere Emilia.
If that hadn't happened, at the very least, he would have been spared one of Emilia's kisses.
"Bam!"
In the Karsten mansion, Crusch slammed her fist onto her chair, her teeth gritted.
Why? Why was it always her, Crusch? Anastasia is a "vixen" too, is Otto blind?
To think she had praised Otto so highly before, feeling that Sir Hachiman finally had a reliable and loyal helper.
Now it seemed that his loyalty to Hikigaya Hachiman and Emilia had become a wall obstructing her path!
The joys and sorrows of people are truly not the same.
Anastasia and Priscilla were both amused. The former suppressed a wide smile, while the latter crossed her legs, highly interested.
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「It would take twenty days by dragon carriage to reach the Augria Sand Dunes where the Pleiades Watchtower was located.」
「During this time, Hikigaya Hachiman was frequently dragged away by a displeased-looking Ram to look after Rem. It was called "looking after," but in reality, it just meant sitting nearby and observing Rem's sleeping face.」
「"...Since you're her sister and you don't mind, I can certainly do it, but could you please pick a different time next time? Why do you always do this suddenly when I'm chatting with Crusch, or when Crusch comes to find me?"」
「Hikigaya Hachiman asked: "Is there some grievance between you and Crusch?"」
「"Hmph. Pure coincidence. Don't try to slander Ram. It's your own fault for not picking a better time to have a tryst with that 'other woman'."」
「Ram's words were thorny and filled with venomous sarcasm. This attitude irritated Hachiman. "Don't slander her. It ruins Crusch's reputation. She couldn't possibly have those kinds of feelings for me."」
「"Who knows?"」
「Ram spoke indifferently, continuing to look down at Rem while sighing heavily in her heart.」
「As an "incompetent" sister, she wanted her sister to see—at the very first moment she woke up—a Hikigaya Hachiman who was still full of love and single-minded for Rem, not a Hikigaya Hachiman who was busy attracting butterflies.」
「"If only Lady Crusch and the others didn't have such special statuses, Ram could..."」
「Mana began to condense, boiling with intent.」
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