――God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I vow never to speak of this as a memory in my lifetime.

△▼△▼△▼△

"――If you're a father, don't you dare lay a hand on a kid!!"

The words struck more fiercely than the fist that hit straight on the face. Witnessing this scene, Old Man Rom imagined the pain Heinkel must have felt. Heinkel attempted to counterattack Flam and Grassis with a strategy relying on his resilience, but it was brilliantly thwarted by Gaston—or more precisely, by the girl who 'compressed' Gaston into the scene.

"Really, quite something..."

While checking on the safety of the twin sisters who had escaped the opponent's grasp, Old Man Rom glanced at the girl on his shoulder—Petra's profile.

"――――"

Petra, narrowing her large round eyes, tightened her delicate cheeks and directed a serious gaze at the two battlefields without letting her guard down. It was the battle between Roy Alphard of 『Gluttony』 and the swordsman who betrayed the kingdom—Heinkel, the 'Backsword Wielder'. Originally, there was also Aldebaran, the main culprit, and his follower Shinobi, as well as the presence of the 『Divine Dragon』 who had fallen under their banner. Although they discussed breaking up this dangerous group and defeating them individually, it was no exaggeration to say that the key to the success of this strategy lay with Petra.

The plan was constructed around the opinion of Clind, who was well-versed in the authority of 『Melancholy』, and everyone worked together to make the strategy succeed, but the greatest contributor was Petra. Without her, this battle couldn't have even started. ――And that remains true even now.

"――"

Petra bit her lip tightly and dug her nails into Old Man Rom's shoulder as he sat. Though the girl's nails didn't cause pain, the turmoil in her heart that led her to do so unconsciously was unimaginable. The burden of holding a witch factor that turns humans into 『Witches』 or Sin Archbishops is something only the person who did it can understand. Moreover, the role Petra took on was one that Old Man Rom's name had also been considered for.

Lacking direct combat power but desirable on the battlefield for quick thinking and judgment. Old Man Rom and Petra fit that description, and ultimately, the difference in their factions was the deciding factor, but Petra's role could have been Old Man Rom's to bear. Therefore, Old Man Rom has resolved that while the primary goal of this battle is to reclaim Felt, the secondary goal is to do everything in his power for Petra. To lighten Petra's burden as much as possible, he commits to ensuring there are no oversights or failures in battle assessment and instructions.

"Three of flowers, queen. Two of thunder, noble. Five of flowers, hunter."

While surveying the battlefield, Old Man Rom issued instructions loud enough for Petra on his shoulder to hear. Each time Petra exercised her authority in response, the marks of her nails deepened and increased in number. Essentially, the opportunity for 'compression' arises in the battlefield against 『Gluttony』. Roy seems to understand that Old Man Rom and the others are involved in structuring the battle, but Ram's maneuvering is exceptionally skillful. She deftly continues to draw the opponent's attention, preventing them from targeting the one giving commands. Even with 'compression', the battle remains a close, back-and-forth struggle due to the sheer number of moves and cards 『Gluttony』 has, but the other battlefield is starkly different with its overwhelming lack of moves and cards.

"――ku"

Amidst the sound of blows, Heinkel's groans of pain were drowned out as he continued to be mercilessly beaten. With Gaston joining Flam and Grassis, the addition of brute strength to the twins' speed resulted in a one-sided violence that could only be described as either lynching or punishment. However, as long as their opponent did not fall to his knees, Flam and the others could not afford to let up.

In both battlefields, a catalyst was needed to shift the tide. —Just as this thought crossed their minds.

"—Old Man Rom," called Petra, as her eyes met with Old Man Rom's.

"——"

With just that exchange of glances, Old Man Rom understood that Petra had arrived at the same idea as him. Without wasting even a moment to nod, Old Man Rom focused his eyes on the optimal moment.

And then—,

"Sun Five, Queen—!"

At Old Man Rom's command, Petra, with her hand on his shoulder and her round eyes filled with determination, activated 'Compression'—successfully driving the combined attack of Ram and the others into Roy with tremendous force.

"—Alright!"

Roy's small frame was swept up by the wind, caught in the attacks of the 『Boar King』 and two other magical beasts, and was blown away. As he was flung into the air, scattering blood, Roy undoubtedly suffered a severe wound.

Just before the decisive blow landed, Roy attempted to use the Authority of 『Gluttony』 on Ram, but it failed, creating a critical opening. —The trap set by Ram and successfully executed, along with Petra's suggestion, was impressive.

—Ram, now known as Ram Leyte. The unnatural adoption that turned the system on its head was a clever strategy that betrayed the intentions of the Sin Archbishop, applied to all those on the front lines who might have been targeted by 『Gluttony』.

"But with this..."

The situation shifted. Old Man Rom clenched his large fist, realizing the move they needed to break the stalemate had been achieved. Riding that momentum, he turned his attention to move the other situation as well—,

"...Nobody move. If you value this person's... this lady's life."

—A change in the situation had occurred there as well, as they faced the worst predicament: Heinkel holding Felt in a headlock with a sword pressed against her.

△▼△▼△▼△

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear never to speak of my favorite stories for the rest of my life.

△▼△▼△▼△

"I'm sorry for everything. In every sense, I've put too much burden on you, old man."

Aldebaran's apology came after he had mercilessly knocked out Heinkel, who was about to act rashly while talking with Felt. Heinkel, aware that he had nearly done something irreparable, knew he had no right to complain about being hit. There was no option but to accept the apology.

However, the fact that Felt had caught on—that was something he absolutely could not leave as it was.

Heinkel's wife, Luanna Astrea, who continued to sleep. The cause of his beloved wife's slumber was linked to his son, Reinhard.

"Well, hold on. I don't know the details of what happened between you and Miss Felt. But I told you, right? I'm sorry for putting all the burden on you, old man."

"...I don't get it. You apologize, and then what?"

"Of course, I'm not saying that because I apologized, you should continue to endure. For now, we'll handle Miss Felt."

"Even if you say handle..."

"I'm not going to do anything dangerous. It might be rough, but not violent."

Aldebaran shrugged his shoulders as he spoke, causing Heinkel to tense his cheeks. Aldebaran was a man with an inscrutable air, making it hard to discern his thoughts. Even so, Heinkel understood that Aldebaran had begun to turn the world against him, driven by the sorrow of losing Priscilla. At the core of Aldebaran lay a deep affection for the intense 'Sun Princess.'

However, Aldebaran still retained a sliver of common sense that stopped him from sacrificing everything for that cause. Yet, it felt as though he had shaken off his restraints and removed his shackles.

"What are you... what are you planning to do?"

"I won't do anything bad to your old man. There's just one thing I want to confirm."

Unconsciously, Heinkel felt a strong thirst in his throat. It was a certain premonition that only cowards possess, wanting yet not wanting to hear what came next. Aldebaran, oblivious to Heinkel's inner turmoil, posed his question.

It was—

"The name of the royal who was kidnapped from the castle fifteen years ago—"

Uttering that name had become a taboo within the Kingdom of Lugunica, especially for Heinkel. Fifteen years ago, a daughter of the king's brother was kidnapped from the Lugunica Royal Castle, and since then, her whereabouts had remained unknown. In the long history of the kingdom, there had been royals who led unfortunate lives, but she was the only one whose birth was celebrated, yet her growth and end remained untold.

"—Filore Lugunica."

She was the daughter of Ford Lugunica, the brother of the 41st King of the Kingdom of Lugunica, Randohal Lugunica, and a royal accused of being kidnapped by Heinkel fifteen years ago. Although the kidnapping charge was false, it ultimately led Heinkel to commit an irreparable act of disrespect against the royal family he had sworn loyalty to, and to Ford, to whom he owed a great debt. It was a betrayal more explicit than treason against the kingdom, a betrayal of friendship with the royal family.

"—Itadakimasu."

The sinful and grotesque ritual performed before his eyes. Heinkel had anticipated it from Aldebaran's question and perhaps even hoped for it. Despite knowing that the ritual had triggered many tragedies, he still hoped. Because if it succeeded, Heinkel wouldn't have to kill her.

"Gochisousama deshita!"

As Roy clasped his hands together, signaling the end of the ritual, Heinkel snapped back to reality. He had been so lost in thought, trying to avert his eyes, that he literally missed the act before him. Each time he engaged in behavior unbefitting a knight, he found his own heart's resistance amusing. As Roy laughed joyfully, Heinkel stepped forward to take his place.

And then—

"—Lady Filore."

Kneeling on one knee, Heinkel addressed her. What kind of response had he been expecting? If she responded that it was her, it would mean the ritual had failed. If she replied that she didn't know what it was, Heinkel would still be troubled. Ultimately, the answer to Heinkel, who didn't even know what he sought, was—

"Who might that be? Or rather..."

"――――"

"—Who am I?"

The response, signifying the ritual's success, ultimately wounded and troubled Heinkel.

"Filore, that's my name... it doesn't feel right."

The attitude of Filore, whose 'memory' had been devoured, was truly like that of a different person. Her gestures, behavior, and manner of speaking, which once exuded roughness and poor upbringing, now carried the grace and gentleness befitting royalty, greatly surprising Heinkel. If not for the tragedy fifteen years ago, she would have been one of the beloved royals by everyone.

"In exchange, she might have died from the same illness as the rest of the royal family."

Aldebaran said this heartlessly to Heinkel, who was feeling such sentiments. But it was indeed true. That mysterious epidemic, which seemed to target the royal family, would not have spared Filore if she had been in the castle. — What this meant, Heinkel was on the verge of realizing, but he closed his eyes and refused to face it.

Heinkel was already overwhelmed both physically and mentally. With the fulfillment of his long-cherished desire in sight, his heart couldn't withstand the shocking truths that kept surfacing one after another.

"Are you worried about something?"

It was Filore who asked this to Heinkel, who had unconsciously covered his face with his hand. Despite lacking 'memory' and being in a far more uncertain situation herself, her concern for others allowed Heinkel to see the blood of the Lugunica royal family in her. At the same time, he was convinced of the cruel truth — the fact that she was undeniably Filore Lugunica, as confirmed when the authority of 'Gluttony' was activated.

Thus—

"…So, the royal selection is over."

"Why's that, old man?"

"What do you mean why? The reason for the royal selection is to find the 'next' suitable for the throne, right? To put it bluntly, it's a second-best measure because the royal family was thought to have ended… If it's found that it hasn't ended, everyone will undoubtedly change their stance."

Ironically, it was the death of Priscilla, the rampage of Aldebaran who broke 'Gluttony' out, and the revelation of the truth before Filore lost her 'memory' that exposed this fact. It was almost as if the world had orchestrated these events to place Filore on the throne.

Of course, Heinkel didn't insensitively claim that even Priscilla's death was for this purpose, and ultimately, if Filore ascended to the throne, it was what he desired. Awakening Luanna was his ultimate goal, and if that was achieved, everything would fall into place peacefully, which was also Heinkel's wish. Therefore, with the retreat of the 'Witch of Envy' and Filore ascending the throne, it was what he desired.

"Orta, this is the best way to resolve things smoothly. Do you have any complaints?"

"…Barely, you managed not to hurt the young lady. I think it's a brilliant solution, Origin. But—"

"But?"

"Did you come up with this plan all by yourself, Origin? It doesn't seem like you."

"——"

As Heinkel convinced himself of this, Aldebaran and the 'Divine Dragon' were having such a dispute over the handling of Filore. Nonetheless, at least the problem Heinkel was grappling with was shelved. However, it was also undeniable that a new issue had arisen — the matter of taking Filore, who had no 'memory', along with them—

"In that case, it won't be a problem at all~. Right, Al-sama?"

Heinkel gasped as Yae peeked her face out from right beside him. She seemed to see through Heinkel's inner anxiety, casting a mocking sidelong glance at him before coaxing Aldebaran in a sweet manner. There was no sense of discomfort in Yae's condescending attitude. The discomfort lay in Aldebaran's attitude towards her.

"...That's right. I made a promise to the old man, after all."

"Huh? Promise?"

"Felt... no, we said we'd handle Miss Filore here."

With those words, Aldebaran nonchalantly, yet with a clear hint of ruthlessness, executed that 'handling' while ignoring the bewildered Heinkel. Heinkel was flustered by Aldebaran's decisive—no, extremely resolute attitude, for better or worse.

The change in the relationship between Aldebaran and Yae, the feelings of the 『Divine Dragon』 towards Filore, the expanded range of actions permitted to 'Gluttony', and the revealed truth about Filore. Though they could not be said to have a united relationship, Heinkel was beginning to feel the growing distortions and discrepancies.

In the midst of all this, Heinkel resolved to at least keep his sanity. No matter how suffocating the predicament, it would be Heinkel who would be troubled if the group collapsed before their goal was achieved. Therefore—

"—At least I will remain sane."

As he received the result of that 'handling', Filore—sealed within a black sphere about the size of a juggling ball—Heinkel swore to himself.

He swore it.

"If you don't want Miss Filore to be hurt, back off...!"

—Despite having sworn it. Cornered, Heinkel's resolve flipped, and he held the grown Filore in a headlock, pressing a sword against her slender neck.

"Felt...!"

A well-built man called out to Filore by a different name, frustrated by Heinkel's atrocious act. Flam and Grassis, who had been relentlessly attacking, also halted their movements, their gazes mixed with anger, contempt, and a fair amount of concern and confusion as they faced Heinkel.

For them, the surprise must have been doubled. Just like their own appearances and disappearances, Filore suddenly appeared in Heinkel's grasp, and then Heinkel called her by a different name. It was only natural for anxiety and confusion to be strongly reflected in their eyes.

"I apologize, but I don't want to resort to rough methods. Please cooperate."

Telling Filore, whom he held in a headlock, Heinkel loathed his own deceit. He had tried. Heinkel had tried his utmost not to involve Filore in this suddenly erupted battle. But he gave up. As usual, his efforts bore no fruit. So, he shattered the black sphere entrusted to him by Aldebaran, released the sealed Filore, and used her as a hostage to threaten the enemy that appeared.

"Don't move, you don't want this person to be hurt, do you?"

Even as he engaged in this despicable act, Heinkel's courteous treatment of Filore was evidence that a fragment of decency remained within him. As long as he wasn't sure it was Filore, he could ignore the resemblance of her beautiful blonde hair and red eyes, the marks of royalty, as mere coincidence. But now that he was certain it was Filore, Heinkel couldn't treat her the same as before. If asked whether he changes his attitude based on the person, the answer would be yes. Heinkel had been taught by his parents to be loyal to the Kingdom of Lugunica's royal family.

「――っ」

Filore, the trump card played too late, let out a faint sound from her throat as her face was lifted. Just released from that black sphere, Filore seemed either still groggy or bewildered by the drastic change in circumstances, leaving her at Heinkel's mercy. Though frustrating, the threat was effective, and the opponent's movements were sluggish. Taking advantage of this, Heinkel, while concerned about the vanished Aldebaran and others, first aimed to ensure the safety of both Roy, who was caught in the same battlefield trap, and himself.

"――Felt!!"

Unlike the earlier strained voice of the burly man, this voice was strong. It was a call that resonated across the battlefield, filled with the joy of reuniting with a cherished person, a slight anger as a reverse of affection, concern for her well-being, and the determination to bring her back.

"――――"

At that voice, Filore stirred in Heinkel's arms. Even without 'memory,' and in a position where allies and enemies were indistinguishable, perhaps strong emotions directed at oneself could still be conveyed. Slowly, she blinked her red eyes, a symbol of royalty, and met the gaze of the old giant who had called out to her from afar. Her lips parted, and she began to speak. It was――,

"――Old Man Rom! Get Gaston and the others back! That thing's coming!!"

It was a cry that cast aside the regal grace she had until just before, rough yet powerful—a call from an important person, forcibly retrieving the 'memory' that should have been lost, a gallant and dignified roar of the 'Golden Lion.'

△▼△▼△▼△

――God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I vow never to call people by nicknames in my lifetime.

△▼△▼△▼△

――Of course, the reason Felt was able to appeal to her comrades in distress was not due to some miraculous sentiment as Heinkel thought, a conveniently storybook-like reason.

The cruelty of the authority of 'Gluttony' has been greatly narrated by the tragedies suffered not only by Felt but also by the victims and those around them. It would be absurd to think that such a breeding ground for numerous tragedies could be resolved by the feelings surrounding Felt. Therefore, the reason Felt could return from 'Filore' to 'Felt' here is simple and clear—Felt had never had her 'memory' eaten by Roy in the first place.

"After this, it seems we have to eat Felt-chan's 'memory.'――Felt-chan, won't you cooperate with us?"

Roy said this right after Aldebaran decided to 'deal with' Felt, who had become a troublesome person likely to notice unnecessary things and disrupt group actions. It seemed they intended to have Roy consume not only the unnecessary facts Felt noticed but also her personality, which was cheeky and constantly challenging. As long as her life wasn't taken, Felt would say that losing her 'memory' and no longer being herself was as good as being killed, and she didn't like Aldebaran's way.

"But that doesn't mean I'm going to like you. First of all, what do you want me to do by cooperating with someone like you?"

"Haha, that attitude is electrifying. But no need to worry, Felt-chan. Detailed strategy planning and perfect plans aren't our style. What we want to ask of Felt-chan is simply to pretend that your 'memory' was eaten."

"…Continue."

Felt, with one eye closed, found value in listening to Roy's story. In response, Roy laughed heartily, saying, "That's the spirit!"

"Sticking with the helmet guys isn't bad, but if we don't make a move, we'll just be used and discarded at the best part... Look, we've got the curse mark on us, and our situation is pretty bad. So, you see."

"So?"

"Felt, you should pretend to have lost your 'memories' while patiently waiting for a chance to strike back as usual. We'll take advantage of any opportunity you might create to try and escape our position as captive Sin Archbishops."

"—. If I tell the helmet guys about this, I could easily cause a rift among you and get rid of you, you know?"

"Exactly, that's the spirit! Go ahead and stir things up."

Roy clapped his hands in delight, and Felt, trying to delve deeper into his true intentions, quickly gave up. She didn't think she could see through him if he was hiding his true feelings, and to her, Roy seemed genuinely sincere.

And indeed, from Felt's standpoint, it was an offer she couldn't refuse. —As things stood, she was in a position where she would lose her 'memories' without any means to resist.

"However, you need my name to consume me, right? That's why your brother ended up in such a mess."

"Well, that's true. But Felt, don't you know somewhere in your heart? That your real name might be the same as the princess known for the kingdom's tragedy?"

"——"

"Ah, or do you want to confirm it? If the 'Eclipse' succeeds with that name, we'll take your 'memories,' but it would be proof, wouldn't it? How about it?"

"Hah, cheap provocation. —I'll take you up on it."

Felt snorted at Roy, who stuck out his long tongue and peered into her face. Who exactly was she? —Such trivial questions were of no concern to Felt. She understood that there were quite a few who didn't see it as trivial, but it was the same logic as earlier, where losing her 'memories' was akin to being killed.

Felt had already built her life as the person known as 'Felt.' Regardless of how it started, a life that wasn't 'Felt' ended before it began. She didn't need such a thing. Therefore, she would also take advantage of the unpleasant 'Gluttony's' scheme.

"I'll be the only one to win."

"Kuku, ahaha! I thought you'd say that! I believed in you! But we'll also take out maximum insurance so that Felt can't win alone, okay?"

"Insurance? Don't say lame things. Bet it all on a single shot."

"That bravery is cool, but what's important to us isn't pride. —It's eat or be eaten, that's all."

Saying this, Roy ground his teeth as if celebrating the formation of their secret pact. And afterward, Roy, as promised, pretended to consume Felt's 'memories' and left her as she was. Felt, too, kept her secret pact with Roy, whom she was half-skeptical of, and pretended to have no 'memories'—playing the role of the unknown royal, Filore Lugunica.

"Sorry, but the only impersonation I could think of was Sister Clind."

As a victim whose 'memories' were consumed by 'Gluttony,' the first person Felt thought of was Clind. Filore, who took inspiration from her drastically changed demeanor and way of speaking, seemed to have found favor with Aldebaran and especially with Heinkel.

Fortunately, the opportunities for Felt to play the role of Filore were neither many nor long, and she was soon sealed within a strange black sphere by Aldebaran's magic. The sensation inside that sphere was extremely suffocating and unpleasant, but there was also a sense of relief.

The reduction in time spent acting as Filore meant that Felt could avoid making mistakes. If Felt unexpectedly slipped up, Roy's 'insurance' would be activated. That was the threat she faced.

Even if Felt didn't agree to the proposal, it was structured so she had no choice but to comply, and even after agreeing, it was designed to prevent betrayal—a literal 'insurance.'

That was—

"—It's coming out of my shadow!!"

She screamed while being held in a headlock by Heinkel, with a sword pressed against her neck.

Roy Alphard, the Sin Archbishop of 'Gluttony,' had prepared a hidden card to deceive Aldebaran and the others and escape from their grasp—the last of the three great magical beasts alongside the 'White Whale' and the 'Great Rabbit'—

"—It's the Black Serpent!!"

Since its birth, the magical beast 'Black Serpent,' the deadliest plague in this world, reacted to the breach of the stipulated secret pact and was summoned to the battlefield for an all-out war between both factions.