Chapter 10-21 "Six Tongues" —The Kingdom of Lugun...

Chapter 10-21 "Six Tongues"

—The Kingdom of Lugunica’s unprecedented peril: a crisis of national ruin.

"——"

On the bed, having pushed himself upright as he heard that, Subaru first tugged at his own cheek. Ouch. In other words, this was definitely reality, not the continuation of a dream.

In short—

"It'd almost be better if someone told me this was just the continuation of a nightmare; the 'what the hells' just keep coming... Am I, like, cursed or something? There’s way too much shocking stuff happening..."

"In that case, it wouldn't be just Subaru who's cursed. Take comfort in that."

"Not comforting at all, but thanks for being cursed with me. I love you."

"Betty, too, I suppose."

He lowered the hand that had been pulling his cheek and, instead, used it to pat Beatrice on the head.

By the bed, his dependable partner who proclaimed herself in the same boat, she didn’t seem to have been briefed any more than Subaru about the current situation either.

That being the case, he’d like to finally ask all sorts of questions of the 'White Sheep,' who seemed to have the most information here, and of Russell as well—but—

"—'Shocking.' It means being surprised, or shaken... was it?"

"Huh? Ah, yeah, that’s right... that’s right, but why? Usually the only one who can parse my hometown lingo on the first try is Otto."

"No, it’s nothing significant. It’s just that, in the letters I’ve been receiving from Roswaal lately, unfamiliar words like that slip in from time to time. ...Since cipher-breaking already takes a bit of effort, I do wish he’d stop with the pranks."

"You’re exchanging letters with Roswaal... are you?"

At Russell’s explanation of why he’d understood the word Subaru used, Beatrice narrowed her round eyes, her wariness ticking up a notch.

Normally, hearing the name of an ally ought to be a bit reassuring, but being unable to take it at face value—that’s so very Roswaal.

Apparently thinking much the same, Russell shrugged with a "good grief," and—

"I can’t help but feel uneasy, even as an outsider, about how Roswaal is dealing with Lord Natsuki and the rest of your camp. In my defense, though, he and I are old friends. Going on, what, some fifteen years now?"

"Fifteen years...! That’s a pretty long relationship. Eh, then could it be that, during the White Whale Subjugation, the one who lent a hand was..."

"Ah, if it’s that you’re worried about, rest easy. Business and friendship lie on entirely different lines. My cooperation with Lord Natsuki back then was my own decision; there was no room for Roswaal’s involvement. If anything, had he asked, I might have refused."

"Hmph, sounds like you’ve got a proper read on Roswaal. If you’d called yourselves best friends who get each other without a word, I was about to walk out right now."

"Only by badmouthing him do you earn Beako’s trust—that’s so Roswaal..."

That said, Russell’s answer just now was pleasing from Subaru’s point of view.

For the White Whale Subjugation that Crusch and the others had planned, the ones Subaru took the initiative to approach and talk into joining as allies were Anastasia and this Russell.

If the negotiations that brought Russell in had been arranged by Roswaal, even if the result were the same, it would put a little dent in Subaru’s self-assessment.

"U-Um, 'Silver Fox'... shouldn’t we move the conversation along?"

The one who interjected there was the 'White Sheep,' who had been left standing outside the topic.

She lifted her gaze to Russell, as if in concern, trying to nudge the discussion along smoothly—but that one remark added an extra, worrisome element.

"—'Silver Fox,' huh. May I expect you to tell me the details around that?"

"Of course. Now that we’ve been able to receive Lord Natsuki like this, it’s on us to open our hearts and show a stance of asking for your cooperation. However, before that—"

"...Before that?"

"I’d like to verify that Lord Natsuki is not a dangerous element. —Yes, 'check,' was it, in your homeland?"

Perhaps he learned that from Roswaal’s letters as well; stroking the neatly trimmed beard at his chin, Russell deepened his smile and looked at Subaru.

Unwittingly, Subaru’s throat clicked; it was a reflex to the sudden dryness in his mouth. —Called a dangerous element, the first thing that crossed his mind was what the 'Black Dog' had said: the suspicion that Subaru was an Archbishop of Sin. It was the humiliation of being lumped together with a crowd who deserve every curse in the world.

However—

"Mr. Russell, I don’t know how I’m supposed to prove it, but that suspicion is wrong. Me being an Archbishop of Sin or anything like that..."

"Words of self-justification mean nothing. That is the terror of the Witch's Cult. You know this as well, do you not?"

"——"

「――Therefore, please take this.」

An unwavering, cold remark made Subaru start to lower his head. In Subaru's field of view, Russell, who had approached from the room's entrance, suddenly held something out to him.

Seeing it, Subaru caught his breath. What was there was――

「…A cell phone?」

Letting out a hoarse murmur, Subaru stared intently at the cell phone he had been handed.

There was no mistaking it: a cell phone. And not just any phone—it was the flip phone Subaru himself had favored, one of the few belongings he'd brought from his original world that he had parted with long ago.

He could never forget how he let it go. He had handed it over to Russell right in front of him as payment in return for cooperation in the White Whale Subjugation.――And he had artfully rephrased things so it wouldn't be an outright lie, saying the phone had an effect like a sensor that alerted you to the approach of mabeasts.

「No, um, Mr. Russell... this is, well, there's not much room for excuses, I guess, but it wasn't out of malice—I was forced by necessity—and if we're saying whether it was bad or not, I'm super totally in the wrong here, but…」

「W-w-what's the matter, Subaru? You're all over the place, I suppose.」

「I didn't expect to run into the symbol of the sin I abandoned in a place like this... B-but! Treating me like an Archbishop of Sin over this would be going way too far, I mean—unlike those guys, I'm actually prepared to apologize properly!」

「――No, that won't be necessary. I've confirmed it. You are without a doubt Lord Natsuki.」

An Archbishop of Sin can't apologize.――No, there are Archbishops of Sin who'll say "thank you" or "sorry" with empty words, but none of them should be able to truly reflect and apologize from the heart.

So Subaru, who had been about to use that as grounds to deny the Archbishop of Sin theory, was instead thrown off by Russell’s unexpected answer, letting out an "Eh?"

「What do you mean 'confirmed'? I was just handed my phone... Ah, is it because you knew the word "cell phone"? Does that prove I'm innocent?」

「No, that's not it. Before it came into my hands, we cannot account for where and how Lord Natsuki might have shown this off, or to how many people he may have spread its name. Therefore, rather than such external factors――I verified it with my own eyes.」

「Your eyes... like a merchant's intuition?」

「Not entirely wrong. A Boon. It's called the 『Boon of Appraisal』, and my eyes can discern the value of what they see.」

Pointing to his own eyes as he revealed the 『Boon of Appraisal』, Russell then aimed that finger at the cell phone in Subaru's hand and continued, 「And—」

「That 'Meteor' only has its value skyrocket while it's in Lord Natsuki's hands.」

「――」

「Most likely, it's an item only Lord Natsuki can truly handle. In my hands or anyone else's, that 'Meteor' would emit no radiance at all. But in your hands, it's different. Granted, it has been silent for quite some time now…」

「…It's probably just a dead battery. But it's still shining in my hands?」

「Yes, dazzlingly so.」

「I see. Even if it could be brought back to life, the only one who could do it would be me…」

Savoring the all-too-familiar feel and weight in his hand, Subaru mulled over the words, breaking down the logic Russell had used to judge its authenticity.

The phone can be used by no one but Subaru. Therefore, if it shines when held in Subaru’s hands, that proves he is the same person now as he was then――

「…Huh? Does that mean, Mr. Russell, you knew from the start you couldn't handle the phone yourself…?」

「I became certain after you ceded it to me as payment. In my hands or my subordinates', it held virtually no value. I imagined that, should I ever get the chance to press you on it, it would give you quite a surprise.」

「'Serves you right for getting fooled'… won't work on Subaru, I suppose.」

「You seem to understand quite well.」

In a negotiation between equals, Subaru made Russell believe in the phone’s value without telling a lie. Crusch’s 『Wind-Viewing Boon』, as a witness at the time, would attest to that――but as Beatrice says, Subaru feeling guilty about it is another matter altogether.

Even so, he hadn’t expected that the phone he’d unexpectedly been reunited with would vouch for Subaru’s identity. He wanted to say that, but this still wasn’t enough to say the problem was solved.

「I hate to say it, but all this proves is that the me from that discussion and the me now are the same. What if, before that, I—I… I was a Wit— Witch's Cult—」

「Eeh, even as a hypothetical, you look like you're really hurting.」

「That's how much your body and heart are rejecting it, I suppose. I get how you feel.」

「Anyway! What if I'd been with the Witch's Cult even before that? What if I were even an Archbishop of Sin?」

Even I hate making this assumption, but if we want to clear away suspicion, being completely spotless is preferable. Even in the worst-case scenario, there is meaning in Subaru saying it himself.

Or if they could take even a little of that as grounds to trust us, that'd be a windfall—but—

「By 'before that,' you mean... around when the start of the Royal Selection was announced, yes?」

「Yeah, that's right.」

「Speaking of the start of the Royal Selection, I hear Mr. Natsuki delivered quite a bold tirade at the royal castle.」

「Y-Yeah, that.」

「I understand he drew a great deal of resentment from many present, but fortunately there was no outbreak of violence, and in the end it only further damaged his reputation.」

「R-Right...?」

「And in that state, would the Witch's Cult really take Mr. Natsuki's place?」

「Yeah... the me back then would have been abandoned even by the Witch's Cult...」

He tried to cling to human sentiment, but the merciless barrage of sound logic broke Subaru's heart.

In truth, any Witch's Cult that would approach thinking they could use him after learning of Subaru's blunder at the royal castle would be foolish, and if they had contacted him before that, then Subaru would be the fool for messing up at the castle. In other words, through the foolishness of his own actions, Subaru proved his innocence himself.

「Is there seriously anything good to come out of that event besides my mental growth!?」

And from the sound of it, the mock battle with Julius after the blunder has been erased because Julius's 『Name』 was eaten, which would mean the aggro from the Kingdom's knights toward Subaru is probably off the charts.

Could that even be part of why he's being chased right now?

Anyway—

「So, from your point of view, Mr. Russell, I'm innocent?」

「Yes. From my perspective, including your many achievements, Mr. Natsuki is, in the present Kingdom of Lugunica, the person I would most like to rely upon; I do not think that is an overstatement.」

「O-Oh, ooooh... I'm saved...! Right now, my heart was saved...!」

「Why are you getting so choked up over this man's words! Betty is the one who believes in Subaru the most, right here by your side! Emilia and the others, too!」

「No, that of course makes me stupidly happy, but being believed by your own people and being believed by outsiders hits different. It's like, a difference in difficulty, you know?」

「Hmph, Betty is in a foul mood now. Next time you're suspected of something, there's a five-minute penalty before Betty takes your side.」

「Five minutes without Beako backing me up...!? Can I even endure that...?」

Turning her face away with puffed cheeks, he pulled Beatrice onto the bed and plopped her into the cross-legged seat he'd made, then Subaru said 「So」 and looked back at Russell.

Russell's assessment of Subaru was complete. Next, it was finally time for Subaru to press from his side.

「Time to tell me. The story about the Kingdom being in trouble matters, but before we get to that important talk, I want to know who you and yours really are. You're not just big-shot merchants of the Royal Capital, are you?」

Of course, up to this point you could just barely make it work under the category of capable merchants. But Russell had said it at the start—the Kingdom is facing a crisis of survival, and it was brought about by their long-standing archenemy.

「A foe that could destroy the nation and a longtime archenemy—that's not the sort of thing an ordinary merchant would talk about. And you being called the 『Silver Fox』 as well. You and those 『White Sheep』 over there must really have a different line of work. That is—」

「—『Six Tongues』」

「—!?」

Subaru had leaned forward to pry open Russell's mouth, but a voice from an unexpected direction startled him, and he turned that way.

The one who spoke was neither Russell nor a 『White Sheep』. It was someone who, up till now, had been silently listening to Subaru and the others' discussion, waiting for his moment—

「Rachins, when did you wake up?」

「A little while ago. With this much talking, you think I could keep sleeping? When I heard Russell Fellow had shown up, I almost let out a shout.」

The one who answered was Rachins, who had pushed himself up on the long bench. Stripped out of his sewage-stained clothes and wrapped in a blanket over only his undergarments, he looked safe enough for now, and Subaru felt relieved.

「Putting aside the eavesdropping while playing possum... what did you just say? Six...?」

「『Six Tongues』. To put it bluntly, they're an intelligence group operating in the shadows of the Kingdom of Lugunica... I never doubted they existed, but I didn't expect the head to be the representative of the merchants' guild.」

「An intelligence group... so, a spy organization!?」

The moment Rachins's explanation was digested in his head, Subaru couldn't help but let his voice jump.

Spies—though they often appear in fiction, in real life they top the list of things you almost never encounter. Ninja are a similar category, but Subaru had actually seen a real one, and even tasted how terrifying they are.

But to think that, here and now—

"So the shadowy boss who oversees the Kingdom of Lugunica’s underbelly—that’s Mr. Russell’s true identity!"

Eyes widening rigidly in astonishment, Subaru looked anew at Russell, who was standing with impeccable posture.

At Subaru’s overblown reaction, Russell raised his brows slightly, then slowly shook his head from side to side,

"Please refrain from broadcasting that so loudly. —It could cost you your life, Lord Natsuki."

And, right after the business with the ninja, he gave an answer that seemed likely to make Subaru taste the terror of spies as well.

△▼△▼△▼△

"Originally, the 'Six Tongues' was organized for the kingdom’s counterintelligence activities, on the occasion of the 'Demi-Human War.' One factor in the civil war’s protraction was that we underestimated the high level of the demi-humans’ intelligence-gathering abilities."

"Ah, that tracks. I’ve got a friend who can camouflage himself as a wall or the ground."

"Yes. In light of such traits, blessings, or 'Meteor'... a specialized organization was required—one equipped with knowledge of them and with the practical capability to respond. That is why the 'Six Tongues' was established, and I currently hold the position of Chief."

"Chief...! That’s the first time I’ve heard that title from this side...!"

"What is it with Subaru getting all worked up over every little thing? These people haven’t gotten any less suspicious. If anything, they’ve gotten more so."

"Yeah, you’re right. But in this case, when it comes to a special agency, the deeper the mystery, the richer the flavor..."

While poking the pouting Beatrice’s cheek with his finger, Subaru shot a sidelong glance at Russell.

Russell was responding with the same posture and the same expression as ever, but knowing his true identity as the head of an intelligence organization lent conviction to his bearing and the pressure he exuded.

In fact, the history of the 'Six Tongues' coming into being made sense. —The friend of Subaru who could mimic was Hiain of the Pleiades Combat Squad, and in the 'Demi-Human War' many demi-humans were said to have taken part in the fight against the kingdom. And in war, it isn’t only combat strength that proves useful.

"By the way, Lord Rachins, from where did you learn of the 'Six Tongues’' existence? From your father?"

"Huh? You think that old man would blab the kingdom’s secrets just because we’re family? I only figured something like that obviously had to exist, and connected a few words I’d heard in rumors now and then, that’s all. Never for even a speck did I think you were the one heading it."

"I see. As expected, Lord Rickert Hoffman is the model of a loyal retainer. Since then, have you been in contact with your father?"

"...Hey, your bad spook habits are showing. It’s your turn to talk right now; it ain’t the part where I’m the one going on and on. Don’t get carried away."

"You’re quite right. My apologies."

As Rachins’ already white-rimmed glare grew even sharper, Russell gave a theatrically exaggerated bow. But even from that exchange, it seemed to substantiate what Rachins had revealed in the sewers—that his family really was of the kingdom’s nobility.

With a "to return to the matter at hand," Russell turned his gaze back to Subaru.

"I cannot speak to details that touch on classified matters, but our paramount objective is national defense. Myself included, our members conceal our stations, assume false identities, and engage in counterintelligence. The title of representative of the Royal Capital’s merchants’ association is likewise a veil to hide the truth."

"For a disguise, isn’t 'association head' a bit too lofty?"

"It’s the result of balancing the public-facing authority and voice we need. And don’t worry—it’s not as though every influential figure in the Royal Capital is a member of the organization."

"—But apparently, right now, that would have been the better situation."

"Yes, embarrassing as it is, that too is exactly as you say."

Shaking his head slowly, Russell put on a solemn face at Beatrice’s point. No telling how much of that face was his true feelings, but at last it seemed they could cut into the main issue.

The peril now assailing the Kingdom of Lugunica—surely it isn’t unrelated to the fact that Subaru and the others were driven into a corner and that even Emilia had evil hands reaching for her.

At the center of it is—

"—the 'Beloved Children.' That is, at present, our—no, the kingdom’s greatest enemy."

"So is it fair to say they’re trying to wreck the Royal Selection?"

"Not incorrect. However, it’s more accurate to say that what they aim to destroy is not the Royal Selection, but the kingdom itself."

"The kingdom itself... and the chaos in the Royal Capital now is the result of that, huh. ...Come to think, earlier you said something like they were a longtime enemy—what did you mean?"

"Yes. According to the records... there are records that they had been operating in the shadows for more than thirty years."

"Thirt—!?"

When the completely unanticipated number was stated so flatly, Subaru's eyes flew wide.

He could imagine five years, ten years, but not thirty years. In the first place, if the 'Six Tongues' was an organization created after the 'Demi-Human War', it should have been about forty years since its founding.

"And thirty years of that... you've been fighting almost since the day you were formed..."

"Yes. Hence, you could call the history of 'Six Tongues' a history of shadow war with the 'Beloved Children.' But the 'Beloved Children' are an adversary whose true nature is unknown, and we've been perpetually on the back foot... Barely managing to keep them from running wild within the kingdom has been the most we could do."

"Hah. For an organization that's supposed to be the kingdom's pet project, that's pretty pathetic. So you've just been taking it on the chin?"

"I have no rebuttal. In truth, across the kingdom there has been no end to things like lords and power-brokers suddenly changing their minds, or acts of treason such as passing information to other nations. In the dozen-odd years since I succeeded as Chief, we found no decisive blow to break the stalemate and merely applied stopgaps. —However, the situation has changed."

"Changed?"

"Yes. —The 'White Sheep' and the 'Black Dog.'"

At that, Subaru silently looked to the 'White Sheep' standing behind Russell.

The 'Black Dog' named alongside her wasn't here, but it was these women who helped Russell's 'Six Tongues' escape the dead end they'd been trapped in.

As Subaru wondered just how they'd managed that, the 'White Sheep' set a hand to her chest, her lovely features tightening slightly, and said,

"I was originally one of the 'Beloved Children.' The 'Black Dog' was in the same situation."

"—! You turned a member of the enemy to your side!?"

"There were several coincidences that worked in our favor. But as a result, with the 'Beloved Children' whom we had opposed for many years... we were afforded a chance to learn what lay behind them."

"Yes. ...That said, it's not like I knew everything clearly; there were things I could talk about and things I couldn't."

"Even so, what you could gain is huge. I'm impressed you could make that call..."

The 'White Sheep' looked abashed, but that seemed at odds with Russell's appraisal of her.

After all, as a person who could be the key to moving a fight that had seen no progress in thirty years, 'Six Tongues' must have felt as if they'd found an oasis in the desert.

At Subaru's thought, the 'White Sheep' lowered her gaze slightly,

"—... Right. Even I was surprised. That I had that kind of courage. ...If only I'd done it sooner..."

"—?"

"Ah, no, it's nothing! Anyway, that's the position I'm in!"

As the 'White Sheep' flapped her hands, Subaru knit his brows a touch and held his tongue.

But before he could press that point, a rough "Hey" from Rachins cut in.

"You sure we can trust this talk about betrayal? For all we know, that so-called enemy, sick of you lot being a nuisance, sent them as plants to yank your strings."

"If so, it would be more natural that we'd have been crushed long ago. It's already been over a year since the 'White Sheep' and the others joined us... In that time, the number of clandestine operations by the 'Beloved Children' we've thwarted is more than you can count on one hand. There would be no point to contributing this much otherwise."

"...Maybe there is. I'm saying you're not cautious enough."

"—No need to worry. We have measures in place to prevent their betrayal. By that, they purchased—no, earned—my trust."

With sharp gazes, Rachins and Russell faced off, trading views.

For his part, Subaru could see Rachins's point, but he couldn't help holding a strong impression of Russell as shrewd and thorough. With Rachins, the first impact of him as a back-alley thug just wouldn't fade, making it feel clear the two were on entirely different levels.

"Is it cold of me to think that after they've helped us...?"

"If we're just counting times, being sheltered here is the beard's doing. Even if you count the rescue in the sewers, it's even between the thug and the beard."

"True. As expected, my Beako can do arithmetic—"

"—Um, Natsuki Subaru."

Rocking with Beatrice nestled in his crossed legs, Subaru, wavering over which side to back, let out a weird "Huh?" at the 'White Sheep's' call.

But then she fixed Subaru with a serious look and bowed deeply.

And then—

"We were able to get out from the 'Beloved Children' thanks to you all. So I've been wanting to say this for a long time... thank you!"

"Uh, you're welcome, but which thing are you thanking me for, exactly?"

"For defeating, of course, the Witch's Cult's Archbishop of Sin, 'Sloth'!"

"...Petelgeuse?"

As Subaru blinked in surprise and asked that, the 'White Sheep' gave a firm, "Yes!" with a nod.

Between the incident at the royal castle that stands as a symbol of his dark past, and the cell-phone-related matter of the White Whale Subjugation, today is a day when the events from the very start of the Royal Selection keep getting dredged up.

Still, while being praised for having defeated Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti made sense, he had no idea why 'White Sheep' would offer him direct thanks for it.

"You're not about to tell me you were one of that bastard's 'Fingers,' are you?"

"'Fing...ers'...? That's not it, but, um, because of that, Mama was all in a flurry, and we slipped away in the commotion..."

"Huh? Huh? Huh? Wait, wait, I'm confused again. Mama flustered because Petelgeuse is gone? In that confusion, you... what on earth...?"

"――I didn't know their true identity for the longest time, either. Every time we met, they had a different appearance, and we never really had a proper conversation... but I finally figured it out."

Subaru voiced his confusion, but the excited 'White Sheep' likewise seemed unable to control her surging emotions. Rather than answer Subaru's question, her eyes gleamed as if she were lifting the lid on a secret she'd kept locked inside,

"The one whom I... whom we, the 'Beloved Children,' were made to obey all this time—that was"

"W-wait, hang on, my feelings haven't caught up yet..."

"――Capella Emerada Lugnica"

"――Huh?"

At that sudden, ominous sound that struck his eardrums, his wandering thoughts chilled over all at once.

All the information and emotion he hadn't been able to process went still as if doused with water, and holding his breath, Subaru stared intently at 'White Sheep'.

Meeting that gaze, she nodded back, moved her thin lips once more, and spoke clearly.

"――The Archbishop of Sin of 'Lust,' Capella Emerada Lugnica. She's the bad person who made us, the 'Beloved Children,' call her Mama and obey her!"

"――. ――――. ――――――――. You’ve got to be kidding me."

It took him quite a while to receive and process the name 'White Sheep' had spoken.

He chewed it up, ruminated on it, swallowed it, then brought it back up again, repeating the process.

"――――"

While Subaru fell silent like that, Russell called out, "'White Sheep'."

There was a faintly reproachful nuance in his voice,

"I had intended to explain things in order. Bringing up that name was a bit hasty."

"Ah, s-sorry. I-I got ahead of myself..."

"I did intend to tell him, but be cautious with information. Your hand is your life. I should have taught you that many times over this past year."

"Y-yes..."

Drooping her shoulders, 'White Sheep' lowered her eyes at Russell's words.

But though he felt sorry for the dejected 'White Sheep,' thanks to that scolding time, the head that the shock had stopped on Subaru's end was starting to work again.

――The Archbishop of Sin of 'Lust,' Capella Emerada Lugnica.

Each and every Archbishop of Sin in the Witch's Cult could be summed up in a single word: the worst. Even among them, the wickedness of Capella's nature made her stand out as the one Subaru loathed most.

He'd crossed paths with her only once—in the battle at the city hall of The Water Gate City of Priestella—but frankly, if he could help it, she topped the list of people he never wanted to meet again.

And to think he'd end up hearing Capella's name now, of all times.

"'Mama,' and the 'Beloved Children'..."

"Put together like that, it's a set of words that just makes one go 'ugh,' I suppose."

"And I can totally imagine it's something she'd say. ...No wonder you'd want to run away, 'White Sheep'."

As Subaru furrowed his brow and twisted his mouth, Beatrice cast him a concerned look.

Fortunately, Beatrice hasn't seen Capella in the flesh, and Subaru thinks that's for the best. Any Archbishop of Sin would be bad for Beatrice's moral education—Capella especially so.

"'Mama'... Capella gathers all sorts of children from all sorts of places and treats them all as her own. She tells them to think of her as their mother. But..."

"Wicked, awful, emotional abuse—I can picture all of it. ...Can't shake the conditioning?"

"It's hard... It's been beaten into everyone's bodies."

Wearing a smile far too pained to be called a wry one, 'White Sheep' spoke of her past.

Even after defecting from the 'Beloved Children' and escaping Capella's rule, the fact that she still found herself calling the very object of her fear 'Mama' was proof of just how great the ordeal had been.

And if defeating Petelgeuse had helped Subaru and the others free her from that hellish position—

"I'm glad you got out, 'White Sheep'."

"Natsuki Subaru..."

「Ah, but I think that guy from the 『Black Dog』 is lacking in gratitude. Looked like he intended to roast me and cute Beako to a crisp all at once. Trying to repay kindness with spite. I won't forgive him unless he apologizes.」

「We won't forgive him, no.」

In sync with Subaru, who pointed sharply, Beatrice pointed at the 『White Sheep』 with the same motion. Seeing the two fingers thrust at her and the simultaneous wink from Subaru and Beatrice, the 『White Sheep』 blinked, then gave a small smile,

「Yes... Understood. I'll make sure the 『Black Dog』 apologizes.」

「Do that. However, the opponent is Capella... Is 『Beloved Children』 like the name of a unit within the Witch's Cult? Like Petelgeuse's 『Fingers』 or Regulus's 『Bride』...」

「If she heard you put it that way, Sylphy would slug you. Don't say such careless things. As it is, Subaru, Sylphy doesn't think very well of you.」

「I did contribute a fair bit to taking down Regulus, though... Well, I'm all for having more kids who support Emilia-chan, so someday we gotta get fired up talking about our fave.」

Even now, Sylphy, one of the members waiting at the Roswaal Mansion, was originally a woman who had been Regulus's Bride, but at present she has become a staunch supporter of Emilia. Thinking about that, with Subaru being hunted and even Emilia captured, their camp is in dire straits, so among those staying behind at the mansion, Sylphy and Ryuzu—and Ryuzu's copy, Meyer—are a concern.

As for that side, we can only pin our hopes on Roswaal, who can operate outside the Royal Capital.

「Setting that worry aside for now... from 『White Sheep』-chan's understanding?」

「...At the very least, I myself had no such awareness. Nor have I ever met any Witch Cultists.」

「I-I see... So it's a separate detachment from the Witch Cultists, or like personal troops for each Archbishop of Sin? In any case, calling them beloved children—what a disgusting turn of phrase.」

It's not exactly He that hates the tree hates the leaves., but when Capella is involved, Subaru feels like finding fault with anything and everything.

「——」

Glancing over, Subaru reflexively looked toward Crusch, sleeping on the bed beside him.

Leaving aside Subaru's own arms and legs, the 『Dragon's Blood』 poured into Crusch's body is also a claw mark Capella left behind. In Pristella, there are many people whose forms were altered by her hand and who continue to sleep within ice. —Just like 『Gluttony』, 『Lust』 ruins people's lives far too much.

「And it makes sense that Mr. Russell and the others couldn't get a lead for thirty years. She changes her appearance and form as she pleases. So...」

「Until now, she had never been correctly identified. It only became clear at last when the information on the Archbishop of Sin of 『Lust』 who exposed her form and wielded her Authority in Pristella matched the profile of the person known to the 『White Sheep』.」

「So she's been plotting in the shadows, doing whatever she wants, huh...」

「Yes. The fickle changes of heart and acts aiding the enemy by lords and notables were nothing mysterious. —They were all likely replaced.」

「She's someone who can do that sort of thing. Truly the worst—」

As he nodded at Russell's conjecture and was about to spit out a curse at the vileness of it, Subaru realized something.

If the current line of conjecture is taken further, it means affirming something unimaginably terrifying. And that is unmistakably—a quiet and thorough invasion, and a crisis threatening the very survival of the kingdom.

「Hey, hey, hey, don't tell me...」

「—It's the worst.」

At the same time, perhaps having reached the same thought that Subaru had sensed, Rachins, his face stiff, spoke with a trembling voice, unable to put the further possibility into words.

Beatrice, too, huddled her shoulders as she sat in Subaru's lap and shivered.

「Mr. Russell...」

「Yes. The three of you have imagined correctly. Therefore, the kingdom's greatest peril.」

To Subaru's question—asked though he feared the answer, yet could not help but ask—Russell, who had already wrestled with the shock and moved on to the next stage, gave a deep nod.

And then, the man who is the Chief of 『Six Tongues』 and bears the mission of protecting the kingdom announced:

「The kingdom's 『Council of Sages』, as well as the majority of the high nobility, have been replaced by Capella Emerada Lugnica, who leads the 『Beloved Children』, and there is a high likelihood that the 『Dragon Scriptures』 are in the hands of that 『Lust』.」