Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"However, the meeting with Roswaal still exceeded Hachiman Hikigaya's expectations."

"Ross...Wal?"

"The man lying on the bed, his body wrapped in bandages, seemingly seriously injured, without any clown makeup. His pitiful state slightly delayed Hachiman Hikigaya's thought of stabbing him in the face."

"Your pathetic appearance truly befits the fate of a deserter."

"Don't even think that Ram will allow you, a mere freeloader, to speak disrespectfully to Lord Roswaal, even if you become Lady Emilia's knight!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya's sarcastic remarks were met with no response from Roswaal. Ram, who was standing to the side, glared at Hachiman Hikigaya as if his sore spot had been touched, looking like he was about to attack him at any moment."

"Eh? Eh--Um, even Lum can't fight Hachiman! Everyone should get along well!"

Emilia had no intention of being enemies with Ram, but she still immediately stood in front of Hachiman Hikigaya, gathering her magic power and keeping a close watch on Ram, while tugging at Hachiman Hikigaya's clothes.

"Roswaal must have had some difficulties not participating in the witch extermination campaign. Hachiman, don't be so angry with Roswaal. Let's all get along well."

"Hachiman Hikigaya was silent for a moment, then nodded slightly. In the instant his head lowered, he felt an overwhelming sadness."

"So she really doesn't remember? Even as a sister with whom he shares a deep connection, Ram has completely forgotten Rem... Before going to the royal capital, Rem had already made her feelings for him quite obvious. If Ram still remembered Rem, no matter how much she respected Roswaal, she would never have laid a hand on the person her sister liked."

Hachiman Hikigaya glanced at Ram.

"He'll have an unvarnished, probing conversation with Roswaal, but that'll require finding an opportunity. With Ram present, it's entirely predictable what will happen."

"Your responsibility for evading the Witch Cult war will not be pursued for now."

"Hachiman Hikigaya went straight to the point he cared about most: 'Why are the villagers being held captive in the Sanctuary? If you can't even answer that question, then there's nothing more to talk about.'"

Roswaal smiled, completely absolving himself of any wrongdoing: "Oh—well, you're wronging me. It wasn't me who detained the villagers, but the demi-human residents of the Sanctuary."

"What's the reason?"

"This sanctuary... though called a sanctuary, is essentially the tomb of the Witch of Greed, Echidna, and has been managed by the Mezas family for generations."

"Roswaal explained in detail, 'Half-blood demi-humans who enter through legitimate channels will be protected here. However, once they enter, they can never leave; they will be imprisoned here for generations to come.'"

He smiled and looked at the thoughtful Emilia: "I'm sure Lady Emilia can understand that feeling too."

"Huh? It seems like...that's the feeling..."

"Having received Emilia's affirmative answer, Hachiman Hikigaya did not get angry easily. He did not believe that Roswaal would do something so foolish as to do nothing more than this. There must be more to it."

"However, there is a trial within the Sanctuary. If Lady Emilia can pass that trial, the Sanctuary's barrier will be broken."

"After explaining, Roswaal looked completely unperturbed, as if he had no problem whatsoever, and was wholeheartedly serving Emilia."

"Hachiman Hikigaya, however, wouldn't indulge him and directly filled in the logical gaps: 'The demi-people wanted to break the barrier, so they detained the villagers to lure Emilia over. Frederica is your maid, and you supported the demi-people's actions, helping them trick Emilia and me into coming here.'"

“I’m really sorry to trouble you like this,” Roswaal waved his hand at Ram, indicating that she didn’t need to do anything. “If possible, I don’t want to involve Lady Emilia. All my injuries are from participating in the trials.”

"You can't even pass this trial, and you want Emilia to go?" Emilia's power as the number one mage in the Kingdom of Roswaal is something Emilia can't match at the moment.

"I wasn't injured during the trial, but rather because I attempted the trial without being qualified."

Roswaal gently shook his head and said, "The trial requires qualifications."

"Is Emilia the only one with a trial qualification?"

"There are some residents in the Sanctuary who are qualified, but they cannot break the barrier when they participate in the trial. This is a great feat that only Lady Emilia can accomplish~"

"Through questioning and answering, Hachiman Hikigaya learned all the known information about the Sanctuary and the Trials."

"Hey, when are you going to start the trial after all this dawdling?"

"Garfield, who had been eavesdropping outside the door for a long time, seemed to be just as convinced as Roswaal that Emilia would have no choice but to undergo the trial if he were also locked up here."

"Garfield, if you continue with this attitude, Emilia will not participate in the trial."

"Hachiman Hikigaya suppressed his urge to kill Roswaal. His face remained calm and composed, revealing no flaws. He turned around and uttered a shocking statement."

Emilia was taken aback... but since it was Hachiman Hikigaya who had acted on her behalf, she obediently stood side by side with her chief knight, indicating that she absolutely supported him and did not object.

"Garfield's face suddenly darkened. "What did you say? Hey, do you want to die? Or is this princess actually a coward?"

"You have no gratitude, Garfield—do you, and the other residents of the Sanctuary, think it's only natural for Emilia to undergo trials, because her own freedom, and the freedom of the villagers, are here?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya was not afraid of Garfiel's fierce expression. With Emilia protecting him, Garfiel was not someone he could kill easily."

"He and Garfield were looking directly at each other."

"You've probably heard from the villagers that the Witch Cult is after Emilia. In that case, staying in the Sanctuary isn't a bad choice; at least it's safe."

"Amelia and I don't have an obsession with going out."

"Garfield clenched his fist. "What...wait, what about the royal selection? Isn't this princess supposed to participate in the royal selection?!"

"Compared to life safety, that kind of thing is not important at all!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya lied without hesitation!!"

107. Subduing Garfield

"Emilia once said that she had a reason to participate in the royal selection and to win it, but Garfield, who was hiding in the Sanctuary, could not possibly know that."

"Roswaal, who was watching the show, vaguely understood something, but he didn't say anything to remind the bewildered Garfield. This level of deviation was completely negligible."

"You bastard, you're not thinking of giving up the royal selection with the princess and living a life of ignominy here, are you?!"

"Garfield's performance wasn't as... like he'd lost his lifeline as Hachiman had imagined. Although he still wanted to force Emilia to undergo the trial, he seemed conflicted, as if he had a hidden sense of compromise, like he could accept not breaking the barrier."

"Noticing that Garfield was not resolute enough, Hachiman Hikigaya didn't mention the remaining two of the 'three reasons why Emilia didn't need to develop her strength,' and skipped directly to the last step."

"Whether or not to do that is not up to me and Emilia, but to you, Garfiel—you, and the other inhabitants of this sanctuary."

"The safest approach is to negotiate from behind Emilia's back."

"However, just two encounters were enough for Hachiman Hikigaya to see through Garfiel's personality. Compared to a coward hiding behind a woman, a brave man who stands tall, fearless of threats, and dares to confront him is the one who deserves to enter his field of vision and have an equal conversation with him."

"Hachiman Hikigaya walked step by step to Garfiel, who was grinning and raising his fist, and stared straight into his eyes."

""stop!""

"I'll be blunt, Garfield."

"Huh? What? I'm all ears!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya's every word was firm and resonant: 'Emilia can participate in the trial, but not for the villagers, not for herself, but for you.'"

""you……""

"Garfield had barely finished speaking when Hachiman Hikigaya interrupted him unreasonably: 'Are you even a man, Garfield?'"

"What did you say?! You want to die? I'll grant your wish—"

"Garfield was furious and immediately grabbed Hachiman Hikigaya's clothes. He was about to throw a punch with his other hand when Emilia summoned her ice spikes. At the same time, Hachiman Hikigaya did not spare Garfield at all and grabbed his clothes as well."

"I don't know if you want the barrier to be lifted, but the fact that you're detaining the villagers proves that most people in the Sanctuary want it lifted—so be it!"

"Garfield, tell me, is Emilia helping you? Is she doing this for you?!"

"If you're a man, you shouldn't deny or evade the facts! Now, answer me, are you a man? Garfield Tingjil! Shield of the Sanctuary!!"

"Whoosh—"

"It was like a replica of the first time we met. Garfiel's fist stopped in front of Hachiman Hikigaya, the wind from the punch blowing through his hair. Only a few hours had passed since this scene last appeared."

"Ice spikes emanating a chilling aura covered the sky and the ice spikes surrounding Jiafeier also stopped abruptly."

"This great one..."

"Answer me!"

"Phew... need I say more? I am, of course, the most manly man in the world!"

"Garfield stared at the man in front of him with great displeasure. The man's posture, the calluses on his hands, and the sword at his waist all indicated that he was a man who had been trained and had some fighting ability."

"However, the difference in strength between the two sides is obvious, and this man should also be well aware of it. Perhaps the princess will be able to fight him later, but he will be killed by him before that."

"Hachiman, Hachiman... huh? Hmph, I'll remember you."

"My name is insignificant, and I am whatever I am—that was originally the case." However, things changed when he was no longer just Hachiman Hikigaya. Hachiman Hikigaya, with his head held high, reiterated once more, "Hachiman Hikigaya, the chief knight of Emilia, please remember this well."

Garfield scoffed. "Hmph, what nonsense! I don't care about princesses or knights."

He then released Hachiman Hikigaya and arrogantly said, "All this beating around the bush, isn't it just to get us to thank the princess? Of course, we'll do it once the princess lifts the barrier."

"No, gratitude doesn't matter. If it's not heartfelt gratitude, it's better not to say it at all."

"Hachiman Hikigaya glanced at Roswaal, and right there in front of Roswaal, he pointed at Roswaal without any attempt to hide it, and then pointed at Emilia."

"It was Emilia who broke the barrier, it was Emilia who helped you, only Emilia. Don't misunderstand, don't confuse it, it's only Emilia. Roswaal has no credit whatsoever."

"When you leave the Sanctuary, the person you'll swear allegiance to, the person you'll join your ranks, the person who will provide you with money to support yourself—there's no one else but Emilia, only Emilia!"

"Ram's face was grim, filled with hostility. If Roswaal hadn't given the order, she probably would have already rushed up and strangled Hachiman Hikigaya."

"This great one..."

"Having just promised himself that he was a grateful man, Jiafei opened his mouth, but found it difficult to say anything. It was also difficult for him to just agree."

"However, it's a bit too early to discuss these things now. Let's wait until Emilia has completed her trial before discussing the specifics."

"Just then, as if he really thought so, Hachiman Hikigaya offered a step down. Garfield's hesitant attitude, which was gradually leaning towards refusal, suddenly changed. He nodded vigorously, "Yes, yes, we'll talk about it later, we'll talk about it later."

"Just focus on recovering, Roswaal." Hachiman Hikigaya spoke to Roswaal calmly, his manner so amiable it didn't seem like a power struggle. Similarly, the smiling Roswaal didn't antagonize him.

"Did you see that? Phyllis, Lord Hachiman succeeded again!"

Seeing Hachiman Hikigaya gain the upper hand in the fight, Crusch was even happier than Hachiman himself.

"I saw it, meow, but this is just the beginning, meow."

Felix could tell that Garfield had indeed begun to acknowledge Hachiman Hikigaya, but this level of acknowledgment was rather superficial.

"In the end, we still don't know what Roswaal's real plans are, meow."

108. Am I ugly?

Inside the karaoke bar, Yumiko Miura was puzzled. She muttered to herself, "I can tell that Hachiman is smart, but is he really that charming? That Shark Tooth Garfield is obviously quite unruly, isn't he?"

She glanced at her crush, who was intently watching Hachiman Hikigaya, and snorted softly. If it were her own Hayato, he could definitely do just as well. Hayato's charm was far greater than that of the mere Hachiman Hikigaya!

Unaware that he was being lauded to the skies by Miura Yumiko, Hayama Hayato applauded in amazement, not considering himself comparable to Hikigaya Hachiman.