Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"The book records that the Witch of Envy is so powerful that she inspires fear. Rem and Ram have always kept her secret, and even the gentle Emilia remains silent. Only Beatrice would mention this existence in small amounts."

"The scent of a witch."

"Hachiman Hikigaya is certain that he doesn't know any witches, let alone have any contact with them. However, Rem wouldn't make up a lie so casually as to deliberately tell such a lie in order to kill him."

"Is one of these people—Sword Saint Reinhard, Felt, Rom, or the Bowel Hunter—related to the witch? Hachiman Hikigaya invited Rem to sniff, and it was confirmed that Emilia doesn't have a witch's scent, so that possibility can be ruled out."

"Did I have contact with the so-called witch? It's possible, at two key points."

"One is time travel, the other is death and return."

"Given the powerful description of the Witch of Jealousy in the book, these two things might not be impossible for her."

"There is no evidence, but this can basically be considered a fact."

"Having seen through this truth is the reason why Hachiman Hikigaya laughed so freely when Rem beat him to death."

"Why do I smell like a witch? Ugh... Honestly, this strange witch scent is causing me a lot of trouble. If possible, Beatrice, could you help me get rid of it?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya, who was sincere and earnest, received a speechless look from Betty, as if she were looking at him as an idiot."

"Sigh, although I don't know where you got that witch's scent, don't worry." Betty waved her hand helplessly. Her next words were for Rem and Ram's ears, vouching for Hachiman Hikigaya, "He's definitely not affiliated with the Witch Cult. Betty isn't so oblivious as to not even realize that."

"The maid sisters, both delighted and disappointed, simultaneously wore extremely complicated expressions."

"Be honest with each other."

"If you have a clear conscience, you have nothing to fear from ghosts knocking at your door in the middle of the night."

"Hachiman Hikigaya's way of dealing with this witch's scent that inexplicably stuck to him was the most upright and aboveboard strategy."

"In the art of war, the simplest strategy is the open one, the most profound is the open one, and the most unsolvable is also the open one!"

"The filth smeared by the Witch Cult on me has now been washed away in one fell swoop."

"One faction, four different mindsets? Wrong!"

"He, Hachiman Hikigaya, will hold the reins and pull the maid sisters with their differing intentions toward his own side!!!"

32. Taking a longer route

"It looks like we've come to terms with each other and are having a great time. Rem and Ram don't mind my alleged involvement with the witch cult, and I don't hold a grudge against Rem for killing me. It's really a harmonious scene."

Hikigaya Hachiman's sneer contained a hint of self-mockery regarding his own stinginess: "If I weren't Hikigaya Hachiman himself, I'd probably think the same way."

Beside him, Yukino Yukinoshita noticed his self-deprecation and immediately said decisively:

"Revenge for wrongs, repay kindness for kindness, an eye for an eye, a tooth for a tooth—this is the most correct and fair way!"

“I would retaliate without hesitation against even Miura-kun’s unintentional bullying and arrogance, let alone the time between dying once. If you can forgive such hatred so readily, you would be half a saint, Hikigaya-kun.”

These words, which sound like praise and compliments, actually contain a tacit understanding between the young couple: You feel that you are being too stingy and want to make fun of yourself, but I am even stingier than you, so aren't you indirectly scolding me?

The sensitive young woman, after a long journey of mutual help and support, has clearly figured out how to effectively handle this awkward and stubborn artsy guy.

Hachiman Hikigaya paused for a moment, then suddenly twitched the corner of his mouth.

Once she uttered those hurtful words, Hachiman Hikigaya was too embarrassed to continue belittling himself. At this point, he was completely bound hand and foot by this beautiful girl.

After a moment of realization, Hachiman Hikigaya, feeling both helpless and relieved, suddenly clenched his fist!

"Ah, yes... If I, Hachiman Hikigaya, were truly magnanimous, why would I have gone to such lengths to publicly denounce Sagami? In reality, I, Hachiman Hikigaya, am even more petty than you, Yukinoshita! It's only natural that I'm not magnanimous enough!"

Being generous to those close to you is enough.

The next morning, Puck teased Hachiman Hikigaya, who was struggling to control his magic in the courtyard: "You seem to be in a good mood. How are you? Are you satisfied with Roswaal's mansion?"

"Satisfied? It satisfies a man's adventurous spirit and his support in not being lazy in that regard, so that's not wrong."

"I regret that I don't understand what you mean, but I'm relieved to see you smiling and relaxed." Emilia shook her head with lingering fear. "A few days ago, Hachiman-kun seemed anxious for some reason, as if he was living on the edge and racing against time."

"Yes, you seem even more energetic after Roswaal went out today."

"Hachiman Hikigaya really wanted to say, 'That's your imagination,' but it was indeed difficult for him to deceive Emilia, who was such a pure and innocent ideal."

He ignored Puck and told Emilia half the reason for his cheerful mood: "This afternoon, I'm going shopping in the village with Remram."

"In the first cycle of reincarnation, which is today, he died that very night after returning from the village."

"This time, Hachiman Hikigaya plans to shamelessly ask Beatrice to examine his body as soon as he returns this afternoon. If all goes well, the culprit will be revealed tonight!"

"Didn't this guy eliminate most of the villagers in the second cycle? Why is he risking his life again? He should just arrest the rest and torture them. That Beatrice talks a big game, but maybe she just happened to run into a curse she can't break."

Felt curled her lip in exasperation. "Hey, Reinhard, don't you think his IQ has dropped?"

"Your cleverness in coming up with this solution is certainly admirable, Your Highness Felt. However, please also remember that Hachiman has many things to consider."

A fleeting hint of shared suffering crossed the eyes of the swordsman Reinhard.

His fighting prowess is unparalleled, so much so that he can sweep across all nations. However, his actions are quite restricted. This is due to his good character, but also because he has many concerns. If he can't deal with you, Reinhard, can he not deal with your family and your homeland?

Hachiman Hikigaya could certainly ask Emilia to arrest someone; the gentle and kind Emilia clearly isn't good at refusing others' requests.

However, from the villagers' perspective, it is foreseeable how serious the consequences would be.

Emilia's already tarnished reputation will be further jeopardized in an instant, adding insult to injury, which will be a heavy burden on the overall situation of Emilia's election.

Reinhard, solemn and dignified, slowly expressed his respect: "Hachiman chose to prioritize Lady Emilia's greater good, sacrificing his own safety... He is a knight, a true knight no less than any other knight!"

"Time flies. Hachiman Hikigaya, with the heroic posture of stepping onto the battlefield, went down the village with Rem and Ram. He was tense the whole time. As soon as he returned to the mansion, he immediately rushed into Beatrice's library."

"Where do you find a sorcerer so easily? Sigh, fine, you insist... Look, there's nothing there. Betty already said so."

"N-Nothing?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya stared wide-eyed, finding it all unbelievable. Today, he not only deliberately contacted the villagers who were suspected, but also, based on his memory, deliberately contacted the villagers he had contacted on this day during his first reincarnation."

"No, this can't be! How could this be? Something went wrong. Did everyone else encounter this? I..."

"etc!!!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya's voice suddenly stopped."

"I didn't encounter any today, that's right, there were some—because I was so tense, I had absolutely no interest in playing with the dog this time. I didn't touch the dog, and I wasn't bitten!"

Hachiman Hikigaya's forehead was suddenly covered in cold sweat, and his voice was dry: "Hey, I'm asking you, Beatrice... can animals cast spells?"

"Animals? Don't be silly, that's impossible. Mere animals wouldn't have that ability, but magical beasts and elves are no problem."

"Like a sudden clap of thunder in a clear sky, it exploded in Hachiman Hikigaya's heart!"

"Oh, I see! So that's how it is!"

"One reason is that he wasn't a native of this other world, so he didn't immediately think of the existence of magical beasts; the other is because of his title as a sorcerer, so he naturally assumed that he was limited to the human realm."

"Hachiman Hikigaya burst out of the door with a bang!"

"Hey, where are you going?" Beatrice's curiosity was piqued, and she followed up with the question.

-

33. Rem, the beginning of the sneaking away

"Rushing through the night, under the moonlight, Hachiman Hikigaya, Rem, Ram, and Emilia, a group of four, rushed to the aid of the village's inhabitants without delay!"

"Why did it turn out like this?"

"Hachiman Hikigaya barely managed to keep up with the main group, and he was panting heavily as he ran."

"Yes, why did it turn out like this?"

"After discovering that the puppy might be an extremely dangerous magical beast, Hachiman Hikigaya immediately informed everyone of this conjecture and asked Rem to go with him to investigate. If it was wrong, asking only Rem for help would not make him seem overly alarmed or rash, and would not give them the impression that 'this person is unreliable at all.'"

"And if the guess is correct, that would be even better—if we win, we can directly eliminate any worries; if we lose, only I and Rem will die, dragging her down with us would be a way to avenge the massacre we suffered at her hands, and in the next cycle we can make detailed plans based on the combat strength of the enemy we face this time."

"The idea is good, but in reality..."

"Oh dear, this is too much of a fuss. If I misjudge the situation, I'm afraid I'll be so ashamed that I'll have to commit seppuku."

"We've already covered a third of the distance, so please don't say such things; it won't help."

"Upon hearing this, Hachiman Hikigaya glared fiercely at Lum, who had made the sarcastic remark, with his dead fish eyes that were filled with sighs."

"It was her. She was concerned about her younger sister Rem and kept nagging, which annoyed Emilia. Emilia, who knew the situation, didn't think Hachiman Hikigaya would talk nonsense, so she immediately decided to cooperate and take action. Ram naturally followed suit."

"Making such a fuss? This clearly shows how effective Hachiman Hikigaya's various actions have been! The people at Roswaal's mansion and Emilia's camp all trust him to varying degrees, which is why they are all willing to set off. They are starting to work together as one."

Anastasia pouted in frustration and slammed her little fist on the table in a fit of anger. "He's getting the benefits and still acting innocent. With him around, Emilia's camp may be insignificant so far, but who knows what will happen later."

"Huh? Huh? Wait, wait a minute, what are you doing? Stop it, Rem!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya, whose strength was gradually waning, was in a panic and bit his tongue. It wasn't because he was afraid of falling behind, but because something even more terrifying had happened!"

"Rem leaped up, turned around, grabbed the lagging Hachiman Hikigaya, tossed him into the air, stretched out her arms, and carried the curled-up Hachiman Hikigaya in a princess carry, then strode forward like a shooting star."

"Her stamina was formidable; even while moving at full speed, she had time to reply: 'Please don't ask such foolish questions, Hachiman-kun. Neither my sister's stamina nor Lady Emilia's status allows you to be included.'"

"That's not what I meant!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya wanted to say that loudly, but his burden lacked the strength to support him, so he could only remain silent quietly, trying to minimize the physical exertion Rem would expend by hugging him."

He deliberately avoided observing the maid, but his eyes were still drawn to her exquisite face, which was not much less beautiful than Emilia's.

"There was no murderous intent, no cruelty, nothing on that face that terrified him."

"As Rem's teammate, at this moment, Hachiman Hikigaya feels only gratitude and reassurance."

"...An eye for an eye, that evens things out."

"Rem tilted her head cutely, and Hachiman Hikigaya's voice was so soft that even she couldn't hear it clearly. The only thing she could tell was that this man's attitude towards her seemed to have undergone some kind of elusive change."

"From afar, you could see the village lit up with countless torches, creating a tremendous commotion."

"The children? Where are the children!"

"The villagers, who were completely bewildered, rushed towards the arrival of Hachiman Hikigaya and his group as if a pillar supporting the heavens had appeared when the sky was about to collapse."

"This is the prestige that Hachiman Hikigaya gained by exaggerating his status. He claimed to be a guest of Roswaal, revealing the 'secret' that Roswaal intended to hire him as a diner."

"He is capable, has a high position, and is a reliable big man, second only to Lord Roswaal on the border—the idea that Hachiman Hikigaya instilled in them is at play at this time."

They pleaded with Hachiman Hikigaya to intervene and save the people, eventually piecing together a general message: "The children are in the forest!"

"A section of the village's barrier has been damaged, and there are numerous magical beasts in the forest. The most urgent task is to repair the barrier; we cannot act rashly, the risk is too high."