Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"Does being a high-ranking member of the Sages' Council mean you can do whatever you want?"

"After watching for so long, even though she's a half-demon, Emilia isn't necessarily some kind of calamity! This is just too unfair!"

In the streets and alleys, after casting aside their self-righteous prejudices, people with their own eyes are now spontaneously speaking out for Emilia, much like when the light screen first started playing!

"Thank you, thank you... thank you all..."

The cries of injustice from the capital city converged and resonated, reaching the heavens and the earth, for so many people were supporting Emilia!

A lump formed in Emilia's throat, and tears suddenly streamed down her face, unstoppable.

All of this started with Hachiman Hikigaya, and was brought to her by Hachiman Hikigaya.

"Really... sob..."

50. To refuse or to accept?

"Sizzle—"

"It was purchased at great expense in the capital. It is the finest sword among ordinary items. The moment it is drawn, its silvery blade reflects a pure white light."

"This is a sword that has never killed anyone and has never been stained with human blood."

"However, the moment Hachiman Hikigaya angrily drew it from its sheath, the oppressive force it exerted on the insolent members of the Sage's Guild was like a raging storm, comparable to facing a ferocious killer like the Bowel Hunter!"

"What do you mean by this?! What are you doing! Hachiman Hikigaya, are you attempting to openly attack the council of sages in the very hall of the royal selection?! Are you trying to rebel?!"

The councilor of the Wise Men paused, anger overwhelming his fear. His prestige and authority had been challenged here. "Unforgivable! Knights! Knights! Are you dead?!"

"Clang!"

"The knights, possessing both virtue and strength, stepped forward in perfect unison, their arms resting on their sword hilts, their eyes fixed on Hachiman Hikigaya. If he made any inappropriate move, they would kill him on the spot."

"Huh? No, that's not right, it shouldn't be like this, how could it have turned out like this, Hachiman, hurry up and tell me..."

The entire audience fell silent!

"Members of the Council of Wise Men, members of the Knights, nobles with impeccable manners, several opinionated candidates for the throne, and their retinues."

"At this moment, right here, everyone held their breath involuntarily, and everyone's eyes were fixed on Hachiman Hikigaya. The hall was so quiet that you could hear the faint breathing of each person."

After a moment of confusion, Emilia, her face filled with panic and anxiety, immediately grabbed Hachiman Hikigaya, trying to make him bow his head and apologize.

"Hachiman Hikigaya said nothing and gently brushed aside the girl who was on the verge of tears."

"This was the first time he had rejected Emilia, in order to uphold his own will."

"The pressure on Hachiman Hikigaya's shoulders was immense. He felt as if he were surrounded by a net filled with deadly poison, with eagles and wolves swarming around him. Yet, he paid no attention to anyone else. His gaze was fixed solely on the culprit who had dragged him into the net."

"That spider—that wise council member who so blatantly insulted Emilia!"

"I regret to inform you that although you, sir, hold a prestigious position and are eloquent, you alone cannot represent this country. Such a heinous crime as rebellion is one I cannot bear."

"Hachiman Hikigaya stood up straighter and more upright than he ever had in his entire life."

"His lips were slightly upturned, but the feeling he gave off was that this silent, eerie smile was far more terrifying than shouting."

"He raised his sword, pointing it at the ugly-faced senator, and the sound of him slamming his fist on the table stopped abruptly."

"Felix kept giving him meaningful glances, Reinhard looked worried, and Crusch looked on with a sudden realization."

"Just a second before the Knights were about to make their move, Hachiman Hikigaya, with the loudest voice he had ever uttered, accomplished the most incredible feat of single-handedly holding off the enemy!"

"To insult one's sovereign is utterly disrespectful—even to a friend should not be tolerated! Now, even as a member of the Council of Wise Men, you are no more esteemed in my eyes than a filthy worm!"

"The one I, Hachiman Hikigaya, trust and am willing to dedicate everything to is named Emilia, not this Kingdom of Lugnica, not you, you ill-mannered and utterly immoral senator!!"

"Emilia, the candidate for kingship, and her attendant Hachiman Hikigaya... how can you expect to escape unscathed when they insult the monarch I have chosen right in front of me, their attendant?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya stood tall in the center of the hall, like a sleeping tiger awakening and sweeping across the world. He looked around and spoke in a powerful and resounding voice: "

"—I, Hachiman Hikigaya, in the presence of all the kings, chosen ones, knights, and nobles, formally challenge this councilor who insulted my lord to a duel, to the death!!!"

"You could hear a pin drop."

"You... gulp..."

The councilor of the Wise Men's eyes widened in shock and rage. His imposing presence had been completely and utterly overwhelmed, and he felt a sudden surge of tension. "You're saying you want to challenge me to a duel? What a joke! I'm not a knight! You're a madman!"

"Hey, Knights! Knights! Get to work now! Kill this outsider who defies the Sages, defies Lugnica, and disrupts the Royal Election! Hey, hey!?"

"Isolated and helpless, no one responded."

"The knights of the Order were still groping for their sword hilts, but compared to before, they all seemed to have suddenly become useless in name only. Upon closer inspection, they couldn't muster any muscle strength at all."

"The knights, led by Julius, were still watching Hachiman Hikigaya intently, but their gazes were now filled with surprise, admiration, respect, and recognition, unlike before."

"This is truly... Ah, did you see that, Al?" Priscilla snapped her fan shut, and her usually haughty eyes, which held a rare glimpse of other emotions.

"Click."

Reinhard took a deep breath, slowly stepped forward, knelt on one knee, and gave a chivalrous salute to the disgraceful council member, a factual salute devoid of sarcasm:

“I’m sorry, Councilor, but based on the demands and reasons given by Hachiman Hikigaya, as Lady Emilia’s attendant, he naturally has the right and obligation to defend his monarch. Therefore, Hachiman Hikigaya—is innocent! We knights have no obligation to arrest the innocent!”

"Reinhard, how dare you...!!" The senator, his eyes blazing with fury, was nearly driven mad. "Are you trying to disobey orders?!"

"Knights have their own code of conduct and constraints. Our knightly discipline forbids the Order from illegally arresting a righteous person whose actions are all reasonable and lawful! Please understand, Your Excellency."

"That's exactly right, Your Excellency."

"Following Reinhardt, the best knight, Julius, gracefully performed the knightly salute, his voice firm and resolute."

"Whoosh—"

"The entire knightly order performed a knightly salute."

"They were kneeling on one knee, yet these knights, seemingly in a weaker position, possessed a powerful aura that came from the bottom of their hearts, and that earth-shaking 'Your Excellency, Councilor'..."

"At that moment, the members of the Wise Men's Association were so frightened that cold sweat broke out on their foreheads."

"Ta-da!"

He backed away in fear!!!

51. To refuse or to accept?

"Damn it!" The council member of the Wise Man Society was ashen-faced. He looked at Hachiman Hikigaya, who was closing in, swallowed twice, and changed the subject. Although he still maintained his composure, he was clearly being overwhelmed.

"Half-demon...half-fairy, beings associated with the Witch of Envy are wrong. This is a global consensus, Hachiman Hikigaya. Are you going to defy this point and deny the entire world?!"

"The high-ranking senator still possesses intelligence and emotional intelligence. He quickly changed the subject, turned the tables, and tried to regain his majority by leveraging everyone's shared hatred of the Witch of Envy."

"This is a deeply ingrained bad habit on this continent, their way of thinking. It's something Hachiman Hikigaya can't change in a short time, but he doesn't need to change it!"

"Mr. Congressman, are you going to refuse my challenge to a duel?"

"I'm talking about half-demon..."

"Answer me!!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya's voice, like a roar, echoed throughout the hall, deafeningly loud. He stared coldly at the ugly man: 'Refuse, or accept?'"

Before the other people's minds were drawn into the topic of the Witch of Envy by the councilor, Hachiman Hikigaya immediately pulled them back to the level of "a subject fighting to the death for his lord".

The senator was stunned for a moment, then looked anxiously at the Knights.

"And the knights..."

"Still motionless."

"Oh my, this is truly the first time I've encountered such an interesting development! How fascinating!"

Priscilla covered her mouth and chuckled, "Hachiman Hikigaya will do anything to restore that half-demon's reputation. I could have imagined it, but to actually force the old stubborn man of the Sage Society to be speechless is truly... truly... hehe."

Al saw in her eyes a deep sense of recognition and longing for his fellow countryman, and shook his head helplessly. "My loyalty to you will not be inferior to anyone else's, Princess."

“You’re wrong, Al.” Priscilla chuckled with interest. “Hachiman Hikigaya is not loyal at all. He has never once used the suffix ‘-sir’ to address that half-elf. Calling himself ‘subject’ is just a little trick to gain the approval of blindly loyal knights.”

"Rather than a relationship between ruler and subject, Hachiman Hikigaya truly believed from the bottom of his heart that he and that half-demon were close friends with a deep bond and mutual support."

"Interesting, really interesting, hehehe."

"Yes, yes, yes, that's good! That's how it should be done, no, that's the only way!"

At a private get-together between teachers from both schools, Hiratsuka Shizuka laughed heartily and downed three large glasses of beer in a row, patting Kirisu Mafuyu next to her: "See this? This is my student, my most outstanding student! Hachiman, I'm so proud of you!"

“You have a good student, Hiratsuka.” Kirisu Mafuyu couldn’t help but nod. “However, I also have a good student who is just as good.”

Hearty!

The entire Kousaka family cheered with joy, and Kousaka's father wholeheartedly agreed: "That's right, that's right, upholding justice is the right thing to do! We can't just stand by and watch someone be bullied! Kyosuke, do you see that? You should become that kind of person!"

"Yes, Father!"

In the convenience store, Yukino Yukinoshita's eyes shimmered with a strange light. Through this royal selection incident, she seemed to see Hachiman Hikigaya, who had subtly stood up for her during the school festival, showing how he cared more about those close to him than himself, and was willing to sacrifice himself for others.

"You are a hero, Hachiman-kun... You are my hero, I am honored, I am truly honored... Hachiman-kun."

“If I didn’t do that, I wouldn’t be worthy of being me.” Hachiman Hikigaya sighed. He didn’t regret it, not before, not now, and not in the future. “Similarly, I can’t let anyone insult Emilia… Will you be unhappy, Yukinoshita?”

“Hmm,” Yukino Yukinoshita nodded gently, her voice soft, “Of course I would. I’m a girl, you know. What girl wouldn’t be jealous if she saw her boyfriend being so nice to another woman?”

She smiled brightly, showing no sign of any negative influence. "But, but... I think the same way you do."

"If I didn't do that, I wouldn't be Hachiman-kun... Hachiman-kun won't forget the club I started, will he?"

"Yes, I will absolutely engrave it in my soul for the rest of my life, Service Club." Hachiman Hikigaya had a thousand words to say, but he was too moved to express them.

Yukino had a thousand words to say, but she spoke them aloud: "Service Department."

"As a girl who likes Hachiman, I feel jealous, I feel dissatisfied, and I feel envious. But as Yukino Yukinoshita, seeing Hachiman save others makes me genuinely happy."

The girl, who was becoming increasingly free to express herself, tilted her head. "Of course, it would be even better if it weren't about recklessly risking everything, but rather achieving the best of both worlds."

She had another fleeting thought, which she hesitated to voice, but ultimately didn't say, a thought that made her feel ashamed.

'It would be even better if the help were given to men rather than women.'

"Under the Snow".

Hachiman Hikigaya softly murmured the noble name of the girl beside him.

"It's so good to know you..."