Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

Crusch didn't consider Priscilla's current psychological trauma.

Disliking Priscilla is one reason, but more importantly... watching herself get beaten black and blue, then defeated, died, chopped into mincemeat, and then broadcast to the whole world—how unbearable would that be for someone as proud and arrogant as Priscilla?

Crusch didn't even dare to think about that kind of embarrassment; just imagining it made her scalp tingle with awkwardness.

It means she's happy to see Priscilla suffer, but to the point of being this embarrassed is really too much of a shock.

250. Priscilla's Route: The Advantages of a Bad Woman

Priscilla was as arrogant as she was before, and now she is as ashamed.

Vincent could imagine the shame, but he didn't have time to think about it now.

Sitting on the emperor's throne, Vincent rubbed his temples, his feelings indescribable. It was certainly a good thing that he could see that the empire's strongest azure lightning was not a traitor and had no intention of participating in the power struggle, but his royal sister, who had come to avenge him, had indeed been killed by the azure lightning.

This really left him speechless for a moment.

After much deliberation, Vincent could only pretend nothing had happened. As emperor, safeguarding his power was a far greater priority than the relationship between blood relatives, and he couldn't possibly hold a grudge against the blue lightning.

However, no matter how much they pretended nothing had happened, the two siblings had become somewhat of a laughing stock, which was what troubled Vincent the most.

"With a hand caressing his heart, Hachiman Hikigaya suddenly awoke to see the beautiful sunset on the horizon, Priscilla, Al, Arachya beside him, and the familiar forest."

"The last time I returned from death, I went back to almost twenty days ago, but this time I only went back half a day. How exactly was this rule made? I can't understand it for a while."

"There are two possibilities: a sense of security or a safe situation."

Inside the convenience store, Hachiman Hikigaya made a definitive statement. Having read so many Return of Death stories in the main canon, he already understood it perfectly. However, for him in this timeline, it was indeed a very mysterious matter.

…But if possible, Hachiman Hikigaya hopes that his future self will never understand this, because that would mean that Return by Death has been activated far too many times.

"—Ugh, cough cough ugh!!"

"After the initial confusion came the relief that there was still a chance to save three lives, followed by an overwhelming urge to vomit, which made Hachiman Hikigaya dizzy and extremely uncomfortable."

"The moment his gaze fell on Priscilla, he immediately thought of the pile of minced meat he had chopped up himself. Forget about concentrating on how to persuade Priscilla to move away from Celsis immediately, even taking a normal look at Priscilla was a luxury."

"This nausea immediately displeased Priscilla. She frowned and kicked a piece of firewood away. The firewood whistled through the air, and the wind it created was painful."

"If you dare disturb my rest again, you'd better check if your head is still there."

Priscilla's cold and arrogant voice warned Hachiman Hikigaya. He used to hate such a tone and words, but now, hearing this voice, the vomiting Hachiman Hikigaya surprisingly calmed down.

"Meat scraps can't talk... With this thought of redemption in mind, Hachiman Hikigaya cautiously opened his eyes again and glanced at Priscilla. This time, what he saw was no longer the disgusting mass of meat scraps he had created, but a stunningly beautiful widow."

“Priscilla…” he called out.

“Hmm?” Priscilla raised an eyebrow.

"Hachiman Hikigaya looked around and saw the three living faces, murmuring, 'Priscilla... Al... Arachya...'"

Priscilla grew increasingly annoyed. Hachiman Hikigaya's call sounded like it was directed at a dead man. "What's wrong with you? Just because you're a dog doesn't mean you can bark at will. No matter how merciful I am, I won't bestow such a favor upon you so easily!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya, contrary to his usual behavior, didn't say a word back."

"But he wasn't bowing down. Hachiman Hikigaya's attitude was as if he had already retaliated against her too much, so much so that he could ignore her sarcasm. Because in his eyes, compared to the retaliatory retaliation he had given her, these sarcasm were insignificant."

"...Priscilla simply cannot understand."

"To understand this, she snorted coldly and walked with disdainful steps to the base of a large tree with Hachiman Hikigaya, who had extended the invitation."

"How about we head this way tonight and rest here?" Hikigaya Hachiman pulled out a map and pointed in a direction. "I think this way is safe. Your Yang Sword is almost exhausted anyway, so it's better to hide these next few days. It's not worth dying. The world is so big, there's bound to be someone you can't beat."

"His words didn't sound like advice at all; they were more like provoking Priscilla's rebellious side... In fact, that's the truth."

"Hachiman Hikigaya knows exactly what kind of person Priscilla is, and his advice will definitely not have any effect now. In that case, he might as well not try to persuade her at all."

"He pointed in the direction of the blue lightning Celsis. Priscilla will definitely not take his advice, so let Priscilla reject the wrong option herself. However, this provocation is too obvious, therefore—"

"My itinerary is none of the business of clowns interfering."

"Priscilla was very clear-headed. She did not change her decision under the stimulation and chose the same place as in the previous cycle, ignoring his advice and remaining unaffected."

"Hachiman Hikigaya wasn't disappointed at all. He never thought he could successfully provoke Priscilla's arrogant and self-centered personality... In the end, someone like Priscilla would never accept other people's advice."

"If she were to do what someone suggested, it would only mean that she had already considered doing it before receiving that suggestion."

"All things are equal, but Priscilla is above them. In terms of stubbornness, Hachiman Hikigaya agrees with this statement. Although the world is vast, he doesn't believe anyone can change Priscilla's mind."

"This is just an attempt. It doesn't matter if it fails. It's just another way to save Priscilla and repay her debt of gratitude. Until then—"

"Priscilla," Hachiman Hikigaya earnestly posed a hypothetical question, "If one day you die and I am still alive... before you die, will you ask Arachya to let me be buried with you?"

Priscilla glanced at Hachiman Hikigaya a few times, then suddenly swung her fan and hit him on the shoulder. She then grabbed his collar with a terrifying expression.

"Your contemptuous insults towards me seem to be growing increasingly unrestrained. If you don't know when to stop your clown-like ridiculous remarks, one day you will lose my favor."

"She grabbed Hachiman Hikigaya by the shoulder and then shoved him hard. Hachiman Hikigaya stumbled and fell to the ground. His thigh seemed to hit a rock that was half-hidden in the ground, but he looked relieved."

"Although the answer has already been given... in the last reincarnation, until the very end, no such order was ever issued, but he wanted to hear it with his own ears."

"Then, he will go and save them."

251. Priscilla's Route: The Villainous Woman Who Protects Her Attributes

"Priscilla's words had only one meaning, but at the same time contradicted herself twice. She was saying that she could not possibly die, but she was also saying that she would not stoop so low as to let her subordinates die with her."

Miyuki Shirogane stroked his chin. "It seems that Arakia really did act on her own... Although she is an arrogant and bad woman, arrogance has its advantages. Priscilla is not completely evil after all."

Kei Shirogane, who had been seeking answers from his brother recently, shook his head, expressing a different opinion: "What's the point of not making Hikigaya-senpai die with him? Insulting and bullying him all day long is already bad enough!"

"Besides, she refuses to listen to Hikigaya-senpai's advice now. If she causes him to die again because of this, wouldn't that be objectively causing him to be buried with her?"

Priscilla's looks and figure are no less stunning than Emilia's, and her haughty, wicked charm is unique. Although her wicked personality makes most people dislike her, these unique feminine charms still increase men's tolerance towards her to some extent.

As a girl herself, Kei Shirogane was able to ignore these charms and more clearly remember Priscilla's many bad deeds, which were too numerous to recount.

Anastasia and Rem were even more eager for Hachiman Hikigaya to skin Priscilla alive.

Although they all knew it was wishful thinking, after all, he only chopped that arrogant bastard into mincemeat just to protect Priscilla's reputation and innocence.

"But it's okay, I can do this kind of thing."

With a sly smile, Anastasia, as cunning as a fox, delivered her resolute decision in a relaxed and comfortable tone.

"Crackling and popping, the flames scorched the firewood, and as darkness fell, at some point after nightfall, Hachiman Hikigaya suddenly stood up, claimed he needed to go to the toilet, and left alone."

"Leaving those three people behind, in the direction he was heading, he finally encountered Celsis, who had two swords at his waist."

"Hey, are you kidding me?"

"Celsius rubbed his forehead, looking disgusted. 'I had no intention of participating, yet I deliberately came to this remote place, and how could I still run into this... Ugh, so troublesome, so very troublesome, whether I use a sword or my feet, it's all so troublesome.'"

"With a sword? With your feet?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya tilted his head in confusion. "Is Mr. Celsis, the strongest man in the Empire, talking nonsense? There are no enemies of yours here. Could it be that Mr. Celsis is actually a ruthless killer who would mercilessly murder an ordinary civilian of the Empire?"

""oh…""

"Celsius seemed to have seen something very interesting. He was looking at the portrait of Hachiman Hikigaya—one of the four who were causing trouble within the Empire. How could he be wrong?"

"Speaking of which..." Hachiman Hikigaya took out the dagger he always carried and cut several lines on his face, disrupting the harmony of his features. If he did something further, it would be very difficult to recognize him.

"Although I'm just an ordinary commoner in the Empire, I've been incredibly lucky to have met so many sword masters, including Reinhard the Sword Saint of the Kingdom of Lugnica, Wilhelm the Sword Demon, Julius the Best Knight, Marcus the Knight Commander, and Crusch the Swordsman. I've listened to their various insights into swordsmanship, and their unique skills are truly captivating."

"Azure lightning Celsis, a swordsman obsessed with the sword."

"I had heard some rumors about him before. In the last cycle, Celsis's evaluation of Priscilla's swordsmanship and his various ramblings during the battle proved the truth of those rumors."

"If I have the chance in the future, maybe I can go back to them and ask them to arrange a fight for someone, but I'd have to be alive to have that opportunity."

"His hand is now completely exposed."

"Whether he can impress Celsis or not, Hachiman Hikigaya has a rough idea, but he is still very uneasy until the dust settles."

"Speaking of which, it seems there's some former princess causing trouble within the Empire lately. Oh dear, how terrifying. Luckily, I've never met or know anyone like that, otherwise, going against Mr. Celsis would be far too presumptuous."

"Under Hachiman Hikigaya's repeated temptations and hints, Celsis's expression changed again and again. After a moment of silence, he suddenly burst into laughter, his posture shifting from one of imminent murder to one of relaxation."

"That's right, that's right—well, well said. I've never seen any traitors like former princesses. So, are you, an ordinary commoner of the Empire, so poor and destitute in this desolate wilderness that you can't afford to live in the city?"

“I truly have no money right now. If Mr. Celsis doesn’t mind, please allow me to work for you.”

"Hachiman Hikigaya bowed slightly, letting out a sigh of relief as he bent over. Celsis patted him on the shoulder, and the two of them looked very harmonious, as if they had known each other for a long time."

"So, what's your name?"

“…Hayama, Hayama Hayato. ""

"Celsius nodded, glanced around, and then casually turned around, no longer heading in the direction Hikigaya Hachiman had come from. He was about to take his newly recruited subordinates back, and he couldn't wait to hear Hikigaya Hachiman recount the swordsmen's various insights on swordsmanship."

"I repay your kindness, Priscilla."

"Hachiman Hikigaya turned his head and looked around. He couldn't see anything in the dark forest. He clenched his fist, took a deep breath, and followed Celsis. But the next second, the dim forest was suddenly engulfed in flames."

"The kindness I have bestowed upon you, I have not permitted to repay—take back your presumptuous arrogance, and spend the rest of your life gratefully singing praises of my mercy!"

Before Celsis, who felt pressured and placed his hand on the hilt of his sword, Priscilla, dressed in fiery red like the sun, held a fan, with Arachia and Al serving on either side of her.

"As always, she was arrogant, her eyes narrowed slightly, and she sensed a huge threat from Celsis, whose sword intent was soaring."

"Hey, I really don't want to get involved in any political or princess troubles. It's too much trouble. Your subordinates have already defected to stop me. Can't you just appreciate their good intentions and pretend you didn't see anything? Why are you deliberately coming to your death?"

"Celsius smiled, and Priscilla, with whom he had a falling out, simply uttered two words: '

""madness!""

252. Priscilla's Route

Priscilla gave Hachiman Hikigaya a vicious glare, her face contorted with the look of someone who had just eaten a sour plum, and snorted coldly.

"Leaving aside the fact that I have absolutely no chance of not being able to defeat a pathetic pervert who treats two broken swords as wives, I have never allowed you to repay a debt of gratitude—to offer yourself as a gift to this unloved pervert's den, are you tired of living too comfortably, you foolish idiot?"

"She noticed something was off, something was off about Hachiman Hikigaya, and then she followed him. Connecting that with Hachiman Hikigaya's earlier provocation of avoiding this place, the whole cause and effect could be deduced at once."

"While the insults of 'dog' and 'clown' have faded back to the relatively milder image of a fool, Priscilla seems somewhat exasperated. She harbors a kind of anger—anger at having what belongs to her taken away, anger at being unable to protect what is hers, and anger at needing what is hers to protect herself."

"This anger converged into a mighty killing intent, which, under the brilliance of the Yang Sword, shot straight toward Celsis."

"That was indeed hasty, brother." Al shrugged and drew his knife. "Let's not talk about what the princess is thinking. As a fellow countryman, I'm more than ten years older than you, so it's my duty to protect you."

"Arachya, who had remained indifferent to Hachiman Hikigaya until now, also spoke up: 'I acknowledge your loyalty to the princess, but your actions have undoubtedly brought shame upon her. Moreover, the consequence of doing so will be death.'"