Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"Where are you looking?!"

"Accompanied by a cold voice, a silver-white line flashed into view. Elsa made a dangerous lean-back jump shot. In order to complete the jump, she had to abandon her previous plan with her left hand, but a strand of her black hair still left her."

"You're angry? Ah, you're clearly angry that you wanted to kill that demon girl, but because of that, your breathing is even more steady, and your speed is exceptionally fast. You're a monster, a special combat talent, amazing."

"Hachiman Hikigaya had no intention of talking to her. With a slash of his longsword, just as Erza jumped back, the iron chain taut, tearing through the air and carrying a powerful pressure. The whistling meteor hammer, like a cannonball, struck from above with perfect timing, smashing into Erza's parrying scimitar."

"Boom!"

"The meteor hammer, its momentum undiminished, tumbled and rolled, changing direction from the iron chain, surrounding Elsa's escape routes on both sides, creating a deafening roar on the ground."

"The land, plowed clean, was as tattered as Elsa, who had suffered a wound. It had once been bright and beautiful, and she had seemed to be in complete control. Now, her hands were trembling and she was coughing up blood. The force of the meteor hammer was far greater than she had expected."

"She had no time to think of a countermeasure, and Hachiman Hikigaya immediately took over the pursuit. His sword came down to meet her head, but it was blocked by a scimitar. Another scimitar was about to cut into his stomach, but Hachiman Hikigaya swung his scabbard to defend himself and was unharmed."

"The two sides were locked in a stalemate when Erza noticed a meteor hammer flying from the right. She raised her leg and kicked Hachiman Hikigaya's head hard. The kick made Erza stagger and slightly dizzy. Although she managed to withdraw her sword and avoid the meteor hammer, she was then hit by a magical bombardment chanted by Rem. Her leg was injured, and she looked disheveled."

"We haven't seen each other for three years, and we've only been corresponding by letter."

"When they met again three years later, Hachiman Hikigaya and Rem had only been together for a few seconds when they met again, but they were already working together seamlessly. Their tacit understanding did not need words, eye contact, physical guidance, communication, or even hints."

"There was nothing there, but we were so in sync that every movement, every attack, and every coordinated strike was perfectly timed."

""hehe.""

"Shaking her trembling wrist, Elsa smiled, the wound on her leg had healed, and she looked on with a look of blissful enjoyment."

"Hachiman Hikigaya won't forget the information that she can heal herself quickly on multiple occasions. Reinhard obtained it during the interrogation in prison when he captured her."

"Cut off your head, sever your head, smash your head..."

His gaze lingered on Elsa's head. If self-healing had any weakness, it was in her head.

"Yes! With all your might, as you wish, Rem will smash her head!"

"Rem, having received the order, uttered some terrifying words. But these terrifying words were spoken to protect him; Hachiman Hikigaya could only feel warmth spreading throughout his body."

In the time that followed, Elsa watched with great relish as she struggled to stay afloat, gradually driven to the brink of despair by the tacitly understanding couple, her sword piercing her skull and her brains splattering out with the flail.

Her teeth, her scimitar, her dagger—all her weapons were smashed to pieces by that powerful, heavy meteor hammer.

It's clear that in this future, Rem, who survived the Sloth Extermination War, deeply felt her own powerlessness. If she weren't so weak, if she were strong enough to defeat the Archbishops of Sin, Hachiman wouldn't have had to sacrifice his freedom to secure reinforcements.

Although her talent meant she couldn't possibly be strong enough to defeat the Archbishop of Sin, she had indeed become stronger than she was three years ago after three years of training while taking care of Emilia.

"I have to say, they really are a couple. They're quite similar in this respect, it's quite interesting, haha."

Arriving anxiously at her side, Melie was furious. "You're still in the mood to laugh? You can still laugh now? You're going to die, Elsa!"

Elsa smiled and licked her lips, looking as if she hadn't had enough. "Indeed, it would be even more delightful to cut open these two people's stomachs before they die and see the color of their intestines."

"you!"

Mary pointed at her, furious, and stomped her foot. "Honestly, you don't even care about yourself! I'm not talking to you anymore!"

Elsa shook her head, still staring intently at her dead self.

"In the moments before she was beyond healing and about to die, before her head was smashed into mincemeat by the meteor hammer, Elsa used her last strength to suddenly change the attack of the chipped scimitar in her right hand and slashed it inward."

"She cut open her own stomach, and her wriggling intestines spilled out onto the floor."

"Ah, so beautiful... My intestines are this color~"

"A flippant soliloquy, a final glance, and Erza, the Bowel Hunter who once stood in Hachiman Hikigaya's way, lost her life in Rem's fierce battle."

""finally--""

"The meteor hammer was discarded like trash. Hachiman Hikigaya was covered in blood, while Rem, who was clean and tidy, didn't hesitate for a moment and threw herself into his arms, holding him tightly."

She breathed deeply, burying her head in Hachiman Hikigaya's chest and nuzzling him like a sweet, cuddly puppy.

"Finally, finally..."

Her trembling sobs were very faint. "I've always, always, always... wanted to see you, wanted to see Hachiman. I've been reading Hachiman's monthly letters, always wanted to abandon Emilia-sama to come find you, always endured such unbearable pain... Rem's mission, finally, is to meet you... I've been looking forward to this day."

"Me too... I've missed you so much, Rem."

"A thousand words, three years of accumulated feelings," Hachiman Hikigaya reached out and stroked the blue hair of the girl in his arms.

"I... will never leave Emilia again, I will never leave you again, Rem."

226. Crusch Route: King vs. King, Crusch's Attack

"...I want one too."

On the main street of the royal capital, Emilia, feeling somewhat uneasy, muttered under her breath, "So cunning, Rem is always like this, bad boy... I want one too."

She draped her pale hands over her shoulders, stunned, feeling a little empty inside. Although she had occasionally felt that way before, especially when 'she' had hugged Hachiman in the royal capital, it was more pronounced now.

Emilia looked around dejectedly, filled with envy, but no matter how she scanned, Hachiman was nowhere to be found.

"It will happen, it will happen, be confident, Leah." Parker lay on his daughter's silver hair, beaming with joy.

After so long, guided by it, and stimulated by Rem and Anastasia, its two biggest rivals, its own simple-minded daughter has finally become envious and jealous, harboring a desire that she refuses to share with others.

"Everything will be alright, Hachiman will definitely be yours, absolutely!"

If not, the Beast of the End of the Permafrost will make it clear to everyone that this is not a discussion, but a public announcement!

In any case, a knight among knights like Reinhard would definitely not get involved. Therefore, a few oni or unscrupulous merchants, even if they are the heads of the Karlsten family, are not a big deal at all.

"Eh?!?!"

Unaware that someone had already reserved her head, Anastasia sadly took off her hat and hid it in front of her eyes, her hatred for Rem burning like a madman.

Rem had been hugged and kissed before, but at that time she hadn't fallen for her prime minister yet. Her thought at the time was to applaud and think it was nice that the lovers got together.

Anastasia now only wants to travel back in time and slap herself in the face.

You idiot! Someone is openly trying to steal your Prime Minister right in front of you! And you're actually applauding your rival? You're incredibly stupid!

Julius, standing to the side, kept a straight face. He really wanted to smile with relief, after all, he had once supported Hachiman Hikigaya marrying Rem, and although his stance had changed, that feeling was still there... But after glancing at Anastasia's expression, Julius decided to pretend to be blind.

Try to keep a straight face, lest you accidentally burst out laughing.

"Ooh ooh ooh!!"

In Roswaal's territory, cheers resounded throughout the entire village. They were all in support of Emilia and Rem. If Rem hadn't gone to the capital with her sister and had stayed here, she would have been enjoying the highest level of national treatment.

In the Sanctuary, Garfield grinned, genuinely happy for his general, and didn't forget to boast, "If I were here, the Bowel Hunter and Julius would be no problem at all! The fight wouldn't be so troublesome!"

"That's great..."

With longing in her eyes, Chitanda Eru clasped her hands together in front of her chest, thoroughly enjoying the scene of the two embracing. "It's so beautiful, love... I'm really curious, um..."

She glanced furtively at Oreki Houtarou, hesitated, and made him look around awkwardly before managing to slip away unnoticed.

He gave his best friend a look that suggested he tell a joke or something, but was shocked to find that his best friend had been entangled with a woman even earlier than him. Ibara Mayaka was staring intently at him, like a hungry wolf eyeing a piece of meat.

If it weren't for the fact that Hachiman Hikigaya's future is still airing, I don't even dare to imagine what the Classic Literature Club would have become.

"Three years... Even though he knew that this girl had confessed to him in a half-hint, half-explicit way, he still ordered her to stay with Emilia for the past three years and not to come to see him."

Even so, she had no complaints whatsoever, and her emotions upon reuniting were one of heartfelt celebration and joy.

"Such a wonderful girl deserved this treatment from him... but he didn't regret it. He didn't regret giving that ruthless order at all."

"Communication is already his limit. If Rem comes over, he might not be able to hold back and start thinking about going back to Emilia prematurely, and it might be hard to suppress."

"From any perspective, this is unacceptable."

"Although his freedom was restricted by the agreement, Hachiman Hikigaya never disliked Crusch. On the contrary, he respected Crusch and liked Crusch very much... Crusch was the best, whether as a friend or a lord."

"Ultimately, is his value really high enough to make Crusch agree to the agreement? Hachiman Hikigaya has absolutely no confidence in that... Crusch's help, respect, and praise for him always make him wonder what kind of person Crusch really sees in him."

"Is that kind of perfect person really Hachiman Hikigaya?"

"The gifts Crusch has given him are now countless, and he can never repay them all."

"But I'm sorry... I'm really sorry, Crusch."

"Rem is so moved, so very moved... The real Hachiman, Hachiman holding Rem, Hachiman who can talk... This isn't a dream, Rem, it's not a dream..."

Overjoyed beyond words, Rem clung to him tightly, refusing to let go.

"Hachiman Hikigaya wanted to hug Rem like he hugged himself, but he didn't have the courage, nor the right... He just looked around, waiting for the final challenge to come, waiting for Crusch to appear."

"But no, unexpectedly, for a full two or three minutes, the surroundings were completely silent, except for Rem's greedy breathing and the sounds of the two earth dragons, there was no other movement."

"Aren't you coming?"

"It's hard to say whether it's relief or disappointment and despair; Hachiman Hikigaya's eyelids droop. It's also hard to say whether it's disappointment born of despondency or an escape from facing reality."

"With Rem behind him and riding the earth dragon, Hachiman Hikigaya sped off into the distance in the darkness. At the same time, the bombing from the direction of the royal capital ceased, the outcome was decided, and Julius, exhausted, collapsed on Reinhard's back."

"The earth dragon galloped toward its destination."

"As night deepens, then the day shifts, dawn, morning, noon... On the second day, bursting with potential and increasing speed, the earth dragons, traveling day and night, will arrive at the Great Forest of Elior."

"But before that, this vast, uninhabited frozen land had already received a visit from an outsider."

"Green hair, handsome face, sword at his waist, and a military uniform."

"Tap, tap, tap."

Crusch's footsteps broke the silence of the place.

227. Crusch Route: Emilia, More Than Just Emilia!

"It was five in the morning when a crisp knock on the door made Emilia's eyes light up."

"...Rem?"

She asked timidly.

"At this time of year, it's not time for Parker to come out yet, and Rem, who has been with me day and night for the past three years, suddenly reported in the last two days that she would be going out, so the forest is very quiet... This quietness is keeping Emilia tossing and turning and unable to sleep."

"In these three years, Rem's attitude towards her has become much closer than it was back at Roswaal's mansion. Although she often gets strange looks, as the only two living people in the forest, their relationship is still very good."

"This is Rem's first departure in three years, and Emilia is so uneasy that she can't sleep at all. So her sudden return is definitely a surprise."

"But before she could open the door for Rem who was knocking, the door creaked open, and the figure standing in the doorway made Emilia's pupils shrink suddenly. She shivered and trembled all over, a sense of fear rising within her, as if she were seeing the most terrifying nightmare in the world."

"Dusty and weary from their journey, their uniforms and faces were slightly dusty from their hurried travels, but their backs were straight and their faces were grim."