Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

Betty covered her ears; she didn't want to hear it.

"How could it not be my mother..." she murmured to herself, unaware that her voice was so weak and lacked confidence.

"Back in Emilia's bedroom, without revealing Roswaal's secrets, Hachiman Hikigaya simply assigned tasks."

"This time, he instructed Emilia not to challenge the trials again, but to rest and recuperate, and to prepare to deal with Dora the Rabbit. If she saw heavy snow falling, she should first gather the villagers, then stall Dora the Rabbit until he brought back reinforcements."

"I agree to everything."

"She didn't question how he knew how many rabbits were in the Sanctuary, nor did she question his advice not to trust Roswaal. Emilia agreed to all his arrangements."

"But when Hachiman Hikigaya said he was going to leave the Sanctuary temporarily, Emilia hesitated. She looked conflicted and subconsciously wanted to stop him."

"But until the very end, she never uttered any willful words to try and persuade her to stay."

"Emilia."

"Hachiman Hikigaya hesitated for a moment, then finally said, 'If it doesn't work, if you can't protect yourself, if you can't even save yourself, if no reinforcements appear, then... hide in the grave, hide in the trial, you alone, hide until the snow disappears and the rabbits retreat.'"

"This was the only order Emilia didn't accept, and the only one that Hachiman Hikigaya didn't look at when she heard it."

"Then, it's time to leave the Sanctuary."

"Before that, the last person Hachiman Hikigaya wanted to meet alone, his name was—"

"Otto Sewol".

173. Ramblings rebroadcast

"Even after driving away from the Sanctuary, Otto was still dizzy. He would glance into the car every now and then, then quickly turn back, pressing down his hat brim as if to hide something, his heart pounding."

"I really don't understand... Although Mr. Hachiman has always trusted him, his behavior today is beyond normal enthusiasm."

"He actually hugged me tightly the moment we met, and he even looked like he was about to cry... I was happy, but I was also really flattered. Sigh, do I deserve this kind of treatment from Mr. Hachiman? This is such a headache... I have to work hard to repay this kindness!"

"This man, who was saying he had a headache, had such a wide smile that the corners of his mouth were turned up so much that they couldn't be tucked down like the brim of his hat."

"Actually, they weren't that enthusiastic. At most, they were three or four times more affectionate towards me than they were during the past trials—that's all!!"

In the karaoke bar, Hayama's lips twitched. He looked at the smug Otto with a sullen expression, utterly exasperated. "First there was Julius, now there's Otto Suven. Although I've never actually fought alongside Hachiman, and I certainly can't risk my life to save him..."

He wasn't envious or jealous, after all, he had seen Otto's true manly performance firsthand, and it was only natural that he couldn't compare to him.

However, there is a certain degree of anxiety and uncertainty.

He let out a breath and comforted himself: "Oh well, at least I'm third on the men's side. Yukinoshita is only third on the women's side, so I'm not at a loss."

Just as Ye Shan was getting over it, he heard a series of eerie sounds coming from a nearby corner.

"Hehehe...hehehehe...Hachiman x Otto, going to the hotel to catch Hayama-kun cheating and questioning him about 'I was here first,' hehehehehe..."

Ebina, standing to the side, had a fanatical look in her eyes, as if she were worshipping a true god. She was originally a fujoshi (a female fan of BL), and during this period, she had undergone a baptism, making her symptoms even more severe.

However, since Ye Shan had retreated a bit further away, neither she nor her classmates seemed to think anything was wrong with her.

After all, Hachiman Hikigaya's attitude towards Otto was really... It's fortunate that everyone saw the whole thing; if they didn't know, it would be easy for them to overthink things.

For example, Emilia, who was standing in the sanctuary watching them leave, clearly seemed hesitant to speak, and had a sense of crisis about having her man stolen.

"Senior, Senior Ebina!"

While Miura Yumiko, fearing her man would be taken away, was pulling at Hayama Hayato, Isshiki looked around and secretly slipped away to Ebina's side.

To be honest, she's now slightly inclined to join the church!

At the same time, Otto, surrounded by merchants and the center of attention, just like his future self, pulled down the brim of his hat.

His feelings were clearly reflected in his rosy complexion.

Before returning to the mansion, Hachiman Hikigaya quickly discussed with Ram and Otto how to deal with the attackers.

"One of the attackers has been identified: Elsa the Bowel Hunter. Ram, you and Frederica team up to hold her off. Be careful and play it safe. Just keep her occupied; don't try to kill her."

"And... another enemy should be the Beast Tamers. The ores that make beasts hate and repel them are stored in Roswaal's mansion, Otto. Use them freely when you get there, in conjunction with your animal companions. Similarly, I only have one request for you—drag it out, drag it out as long as you can."

"Yes, Beastmaster."

"This was the last question Hachiman Hikigaya asked Roswaal before leaving the Sanctuary. Roswaal answered readily, 'Yes, Erza wasn't the only attacker.'"

"His shrewdness was not unexpected. As he said, we've come this far, there's no point in hiding it anymore."

"Of course, if Hachiman Hikigaya hadn't thought of this, he probably wouldn't have minded watching Hachiman Hikigaya die again without any information."

"As for the speculation about the Beast Tamer, Hachiman Hikigaya actually felt that it was very likely that he was also there after the first death of the Sanctuary."

"Although he only saw Elsa at the time, it's not hard to guess, since the Beastmaster Melly and Elsa are in the same position. Stealing the badge and the Beast invasion are essentially both aimed at Emilia."

"Moreover, even if it's just Elsa, even if they can't convince Beatrice, even if Roswaal refuses to lend Ram, relying on Return by Death to familiarize themselves with Elsa's actions and have a clear understanding of her schemes, with Frederica and Otto joining forces, plus various arrangements, they might not necessarily be unable to defeat Elsa."

"Hachiman Hikigaya certainly wouldn't recklessly abuse Return of Death, but Roswaal wouldn't know that."

"Mr. Hachiman, you said 'delay'? Do you mean to stall? But Lady Emilia and the Border Count Roswaal are both trapped in the Sanctuary. What are we going to do? We don't have any reinforcements, do we?"

"No, reinforcements are coming."

"It will definitely happen."

"Persuade Betty to help him deal with the attackers at the mansion and the Sacred Rabbit—no one can die before he completes this task, so we need to stall."

Otto withdrew his raised hand, looking at Hachiman Hikigaya, who stood ramrod straight, his gaze sharp, like a pillar supporting the heavens, without the slightest doubt. "Since you've said so, I understand. I will do my best."

After the meeting, Otto went out to drive, and in the car, Hachiman Hikigaya looked out the window.

"...Do you know what Roswaal's purpose in life was, and the principles he followed, in his book?"

Ram was slightly surprised. "Lord Roswaal actually told you all this?"

"It seems you know everything." Hachiman Hikigaya sighed. "And you, Lum, would you want him to live like this?"

Ram coldly replied, "Lord Roswaal's thoughts are none of your business. How he decides to proceed is a matter between Lord Roswaal and Ram, and has nothing to do with you."

"Is this none of my business?"

Turning his head, Hachiman Hikigaya saw the reflection of Ram's figure and appearance in his pupils. Although they looked almost identical and were the same size, Ram's sharp gaze was quite different from Rem's.

"You're wrong, Ram, this involves me."

"Before Ram could refute him, Hachiman Hikigaya's tone became unassailable."

"You're Rem's older sister...we're family. I have the right to know what you're doing and the right to offer you advice."

"Even if Ram doesn't remember having any mysterious younger sister, and even if she did exist, Ram would never agree to her marrying someone like you who opposes Lord Roswaal!"

"And Ram's tone was even more resolute than his!"

174. My wife's name is Rem.

"Snapped!"

Ram immediately slapped himself across the face, so fast that even Rem couldn't stop him. The crisp sound startled Petra.

"I've really had enough! I can't take it anymore!"

Ram gritted her teeth, staring wide-eyed at the sky and at the Ram in the light screen, so disgusted that she wanted to beat that person to death.

Terrified that her sister would continue to beat her, Rem jolted and used almost all her strength to restrain her sister's hands. "Um... Sister, look, Hachiman doesn't seem to be blaming you, right? It's okay! It's all the Gluttony Archbishop's fault anyway, there's nothing we can do about it, Rem doesn't care!"

This is a lie.

How could Rem, who loves her older sister the most in the world, not feel heartbroken after hearing such words?

However, just thinking that it was an unavoidable, uncontrollable external factor makes me feel much better.

“Yes, yes! Petra also thinks Rem is right!” Petra nodded repeatedly like a chick pecking at rice, and the two girls, one big and one small, finally managed to pull Ram back.

"Having lost Rem's memories, perhaps all the affection you had for her, all that beautiful tenderness, has been transferred to Roswaal."

"Otherwise, it wouldn't make sense. Although Ram liked Roswaal before, it's clear that his feelings have increased significantly now."

"Hmph." Ram scoffed dismissively, assuming that Hachiman Hikigaya was either insane or deliberately trying to sow discord. If they weren't already close to the mansion and needed to prepare for battle, she would have certainly been scathing in her words."

"Of course, even without any follow-up, those words were probably a huge insult to Hachiman Hikigaya, who wanted to become her 'sister's' husband."

"That's what Ram was thinking... However, what she saw was a spirited and high-spirited Hachiman Hikigaya, as if he had won a battle."

"It's only natural that they would behave this way."

"Ram didn't make a direct comment on Roswaal's way of life, but from her expression and evasive words, Hachiman Hikigaya had already discerned her attitude—a clear lack of support, which could escalate to opposition."

"Then, after persuading Betty, he can try to persuade Ram to cooperate with him. As long as he focuses on 'destroying the Book of Wisdom' and doesn't kill Roswaal, he might be able to turn Ram to his side."

"It would be too pathetic to stand against Ram."

"Mr. Hachiman, we've arrived!"

"Outside the carriage, the earth dragon stopped, and Otto's voice was excited and impassioned."

Hachiman Hikigaya responded and opened the car door, taking the lead to get out. He suddenly paused, turned back, and said, "Whether you agree or not, it's fine."

"Rem likes me... no, she loves me. So, you and I will always be family, nothing more."

"On this matter, Ram, your opinion is irrelevant—except for Rem and me, nobody else's opinion matters."

"Until the very end, Hachiman Hikigaya still didn't have the courage to say to anyone other than Rem, 'I love Rem, Hachiman Hikigaya deeply loves Rem,' just like he did in the trials of the past."

"However, there is one fact that it doesn't matter how many people oppose it, or who opposes it."

"Hachiman Hikigaya will marry Rem in the future; this is an inevitable future that will never change, a happy fact that will definitely come!"

"He said something really cool."

Inside the convenience store, Hachiman Hikigaya shook his head slightly with a wry smile. Saying such words in this manner was something he had never dared to dream of before; it was just too cool.

"But... if only I hadn't said those words."

He certainly wouldn't abandon Yukinoshita in his arms for a promise that hadn't even happened yet, but watching himself make an increasingly unbreakable vow to Rem was truly...

It's hard to describe.

Even though she was still here, holding Yukinoshita in her arms, the true feelings in her heart would always uncontrollably tear apart, one by one, and fly towards Rem and Emilia with longing.

"The feeling of cheating is truly strange..."

Yukinoshita glanced at him and said dejectedly, "Hachigaya-kun, you've already had enough emotional infidelity, so remember, at the very least, you can't have physical infidelity, understand?"