Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"I won't give up," Emilia was still afraid, but even so, she didn't back down. It was as if she was forcing herself forward for some reason. "Tomorrow, the day after tomorrow... I will absolutely, absolutely pass the trial and break the barrier. Hey, Hachiman, do you believe me?"

""…I trust you.""

"It's a bit strange... If Emilia really wanted to take the initiative, Hachiman Hikigaya would definitely be all for it. But something's not right... She's giving off the feeling that she's being forced by a tiger to chase a lion."

"However, you should get some rest tomorrow, Emilia."

Hachiman Hikigaya gently shook his head. "Tomorrow, I'll first escort the villagers back with Otto, and then return to the manor. I need to instruct Frederica to organize a grain transport team to deliver supplies."

"To win people's hearts, food and money are always the most tangible things."

"Huh?"

Emilia looked at Hachiman Hikigaya with reluctance, but she couldn't bring herself to ask him to push all his work onto Otto and stay here with her, to indulge her in her capriciousness.

"...She also noticed it, and subconsciously breathed a sigh of relief. It was as if she was celebrating Hachiman Hikigaya's departure, celebrating that she no longer needed to force herself to avoid disappointing him. This feeling sent chills down Emilia's spine."

"Hachiman Hikigaya failed to notice this minute, almost non-existent detail."

"His keen observation skills are used to dissect enemies, not to keep a close eye on his best friends all the time. As for Emilia, Hachiman Hikigaya's current mindset is one of absolute trust. He has absolute trust in Emilia, who once comforted him in that way."

Before setting off with the residents and Otto on his earth dragon, Hachiman Hikigaya went to see Roswaal again, wanting to find out from him what the interim results of Emilia's challenge trial would be.

"Rosswaal couldn't answer at all; he knew nothing."

"Is it true that you can't get a prophecy just because you want to, but rather that you can make prophecies because you've received them?"

"After leaving the Sanctuary, Hachiman Hikigaya and Otto split up. Otto led the villagers back to their village, while he rode the earth dragon back to Roswaal's mansion alone."

"Roswaal said that Frederica can be trusted. Although one cannot completely believe what this person says, there is no need to lie about such a matter, so Hachiman Hikigaya is not worried about his safety."

"That's what he was thinking before he returned to the mansion."

"But when he pushed open the door, entered the living room, and called out the names of Frederica and Petra without receiving any response, Hachiman Hikigaya's expression changed drastically. The fact that they didn't come out to greet him could be interpreted as them being too busy with work in such a large mansion, or as them finishing cooking and taking care of Rem."

"But if there's still no response, then there must be a problem!"

Sensing danger in the silent air, Hachiman Hikigaya didn't hesitate and immediately turned to run away.

"Just as he was about to do so, his heightened sense of danger, honed through countless experiences with death, thwarted this foolish act. The sound of a cold weapon whistling through the air from behind forced him to push off with his legs, which were already in motion, and leap forward, dodging the sudden attack."

"His clothes were cut open, and his skin and flesh were slashed open, leaving a bleeding wound. If he hadn't been moving at the time, he wouldn't have had time to dodge it all; this single attack would have killed him."

"This kind of injury is still fresh in Hachiman Hikigaya's memory; it was the first time he had ever died in his life."

"Elsa Gransilt, the Bowel Hunter!!"

"With a tone full of surprise, Hachiman Hikigaya drew his sword the instant he turned around, completely focused. He looked up and saw the all-too-familiar killer."

135. Hachiman Hikigaya kneeling

"What's going on?!"

Shirogane was startled. When the Gut Hunter first appeared, he cut open the intestines of four people in succession, leaving them covered in blood, which terrified most of them.

This isn't some movie or TV show; the raw, bloody impact of real death is terrifying the more you think about it.

"Wasn't she imprisoned in the capital's prison? How did she end up here?!"

Shirogane Miyuki was also frightened, but he was smarter and bolder than his sister. He quickly deduced the truth based on the available information: "Reinhard is not in the capital. The Crusch camp is in a mess and unable to take care of itself. The chaos caused by the Archbishop of Sin's attack on Crusch will definitely frighten the Sages, so they have transferred a large number of guards to strengthen the city gates for warning and defense."

"At the same time, a high-ranking prisoner like Petitchius, a bishop of great sins, would certainly require a large number of guards. With so many changes, the Bowel Hunter has been well-behaved since being imprisoned, and it is very likely that the number of guards will be reduced, making it not impossible for him to escape."

"The question is, why does she keep haunting Roswaal's mansion, and even has a high probability of killing Frederica and Petra? Is it for revenge? Or is it—"

"Or has the employer who hired you to steal Emilia's badge given you a new mission?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya figured out the cause and effect of the Bowel Hunter's successful escape in just a few seconds. Based on his brief conversation with Elsa at the prison before the White Whale, he didn't think that the woman was simply looking for revenge. She didn't seem like that kind of person."

"Oh, right? I told you this in prison, I won't reveal any information about my employer, no amount of money will help."

"Elsa licked her scimitar like a coiled serpent, her eyes gleaming with excitement as she scanned the tense Hachiman Hikigaya: 'Fantastic, fantastic, fantastic—you're the first person to put me in jail. I really want to cut open your intestines and see just how beautiful they are. I've endured this for so long, ahh, it's been so hard to hold back.'"

"Employer? No need. Hachiman Hikigaya already knew the identity of that employer... His only concern right now is how to save people and how to survive."

"Frandelica—where is the maid here!"

"Oh, Frederica? I don't know which one you're referring to. I've already taken care of both the older and younger ones; no one will bother us."

"The two people, one big and one small... Although I feel very sorry for Frederica and Petra, and I am genuinely angry and sad for them, when I heard that Rem had not been discovered yet, Hachiman Hikigaya felt a sense of relief."

"But he quickly lost that luxury."

"Elsa was like a sword drawn from a bow. Her legs were nimble and agile, and her speed was dazzling. Hachiman Hikigaya's vision was still stuck one second, but the next second she had already leaped to another place. Hachiman Hikigaya could only keep up with her movements by focusing his gaze on the cold, sharp light reflected in the night by the two curved swords that had killed countless people."

"The clanging sound of clashing cold weapons echoed countless times in the air."

"In less than a minute of fighting, Hachiman Hikigaya had deep wounds on his cheeks, arms, and back."

"These weren't Elsa's doing; they were her own doing. She used these spots to block attacks that her sword couldn't reach in time."

"Each of Elsa's attacks was aimed at his abdomen, trying to cut open his intestines. Hachiman Hikigaya barely managed to block these predictable attacks with the rest of his body."

"Elsa is toying with him, torturing him. Although his strength has improved considerably, a professional assassin like Elsa, who specializes in dealing with enemies of humanity, could kill him in about ten moves if she wanted to, without having to engage in a stalemate with him. She deliberately targets only his intestines each time, letting him predict her moves."

"The panting Hachiman Hikigaya deliberately fought his way back. He had lost a lot of blood, but he didn't think he was going to die... When he retreated to a door, he used the Shadow Magic Veil that Puck had taught him, opened the door, went in, and then closed it. The movements were so fast that Erza, whose vision was obscured by the veil, was stunned—and then she lost sight of Hachiman Hikigaya."

"In the forbidden library, Betty, holding a book, stares expressionlessly at Hachiman Hikigaya, who is covered in wounds."

"So, you're still alive... Beatrice."

Hachiman Hikigaya gritted his teeth. It was impossible for him not to feel sorrow for Betty's inaction in leaving Petra and Frederica to their deaths, but there was no time to dwell on that now. "Beatrice, kill Elsa... help me kill her! Help me!"

"When Elsa discovers he's gone, she'll definitely open all the doors to check, and that might lead her to Rem—he exposed Betty to get help, not to put Rem in danger."

Betty was silent for a few seconds, then said coldly in a trembling voice, "...Betty has no reason to do such a thing. Those outsiders have nothing to do with Betty."

"If a reason is needed, didn't you save me without a reason?"

"Betty didn't save you! You barged in here on your own! And you didn't—"

"—! ! !"

"Betty's pupils contracted abruptly. She could no longer maintain her expressionless demeanor. She stared in disbelief and astonishment at Hachiman Hikigaya, who was kneeling before her."

"Help me, Beatrice! Please, at least, save Rem!! -- Just save Rem, I'll figure out Erza myself, please! I beg you, Beatrice, help me!!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya's knee had already been slashed by Erza earlier, and the pain was constantly stimulating his nerves."

"But he still knelt down, even though it would aggravate the pain and wounds, he still knelt down without hesitation—he screamed hoarsely, abandoned his dignity, and knelt down for the first time in this world, without any hesitation."

"Please, please help me save Rem and Beatrice!!"

"I...I understand—"

"Betty, who seemed to be sulking and becoming indifferent for some reason, and was taking her anger out on Hachiman Hikigaya for some reason, deeply realized the resolve of the man in front of her, and just how important that little maid was to Hachiman Hikigaya right now—"

"But just as she was about to agree, her face turned pale, and she didn't dare to look at Hachiman Hikigaya. Her mouth was agape, "N-no! It's...it's all gone—"

"She was so ashamed that she couldn't speak clearly."

"However, her meaning was conveyed accurately, reaching Hachiman Hikigaya's ears and his heart."

"Hachiman Hikigaya kneeling on both knees."

Tears flowed like a spring.

136. The Sanctuary, First Death

Damn it!

Reinhard lost his composure in that instant. He clenched his fist, gripping the Dragon Sword tightly in one hand, his face filled with anger and self-reproach.

In the future, he had promised Hachiman Hikigaya that he would keep Erza firmly imprisoned, but now the reality is that Erza not only escaped, but also caused his best friend to kneel down without dignity. Even so, he still couldn't save his beloved's life.

"What did I do?!"

"Elsa Gransilter!!"

Everyone in the capital could feel the anger and regret emanating from the Sword Saint Reinhardt; his soaring sword intent contained a determination to kill the Gut Hunter.

White Whale, Witch Cult... none of the previous enemies could anger Reinhard like Elsa.

Reinhard was not the only one who harbored a murderous intent towards Elsa.

At the Karlsten residence, Crusch's face was grim. Unconsciously, she crushed the armrest of her chair. Her anger was no less than Reinhard's: "Lord Hachiman..."

Even Elsa, lurking in the shadows, couldn't help but frown at this moment. She wholeheartedly agreed to taste Hachiman Hikigaya's intestines, however... making this man kneel and beg was definitely not something she wanted to see.

Wanting to kill Hachiman Hikigaya doesn't mean you hate Hachiman Hikigaya, nor does it mean you want to see him make a fool of himself.

Rather, the best enjoyment would be to corner Hachiman Hikigaya and watch him fight back with dignity even in his dying moments. In the current situation, even if she were the culprit, even if she were the murderer, she wouldn't find any pleasure in it.

"It's too cruel, this reality is too harsh."

Miyuki Shirogane turned his head away; he couldn't bear to watch anymore. Hachiman Hikigaya had abandoned his dignity for Rem; such genuine devotion to someone he cared about deserved worldwide applause, but…

Rem is dead.

How ironic that abandoning her dignity to kneel and beg for mercy resulted in Rem's death.

"..."

Although she knew that everything was Elsa's and the employer who hired Elsa's responsibility, the furious Shirogane Kei glared at Betty in the video, unable to resist taking her anger out on Betty for not being there in time.

"Parker too, Roswaal too, Beatty too! They're all traitors! They all have ill intentions towards Behiro-senpai! They're constantly causing trouble!!"

Shirogane Miyuki sighed as he looked at his emotionally charged sister. He really wanted to remind Kei that Rem was actually a mole from the beginning... but Rem had already redeemed herself with her subsequent actions.

"This is really too difficult, Hachiman."

In the courtyard of Roswaal's mansion, Rem's face was as cold as ice. She looked at her sister without saying a word. The younger sister and older sister were of one mind, and Ram nodded heavily.

May her future sister die, may her future brother-in-law kneel before her, and may her current sister suffer from mental imbalance and depression.

Needless to say, even if they have to chase them to the ends of the earth, Ram and Rem will definitely kill Elsa!

As for Betty, who stood by and did nothing...

Ram glanced across the mansion and saw Betty standing by the window at the entrance to the forbidden library, her face pale as she gazed at the sky.

Although there might be some subconscious anger, Rem would not agree, nor would Hachiman Hikigaya.

"Hachiman Hikigaya endured a heart-wrenching pain, as if he were being torn to pieces. When he realized that Rem was dead, he was instead able to observe Beatrice and ponder the reasons behind her strange behavior."