Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

He no longer had time to be sullen; he clapped his hands and exclaimed in sudden realization, "Brilliant! Excellent, excellent, excellent!"

He gazed at his girlfriend with deep affection. In fact, both of them could sense that the honeymoon phase was gradually fading, and they were recently troubled about how to continue their increasingly sweet relationship.

Rem and Hachiman Hikigaya served as role models of success, providing him with inspiration and examples.

Yukino Yukinoshita took a deep breath and silently repeated in her heart: Don't be angry, don't be angry, don't be angry.

She knew that her own Hachiman was completely helpless against Rem's tactics.

If Rem had directly said "I like you," Hachiman Hikigaya would have definitely resolved the situation quickly. But instead, she neither confessed, nor hinted, nor concealed her feelings.

Just like Yui Yuigahama before, this kind of behavior caused Hachiman Hikigaya to struggle with his own inner conflict:

Does she like me? Has she crossed the line? Should I just reject her? But she didn't say she likes me. Is it possible that I'm just overestimating myself? If I open my mouth now, we'll lose all our friendship, and that would be a disaster. It would be a huge loss.

The difference is that Yui Yuigahama did it on purpose, for her own sake, while Rem...

Yukino Yukinoshita couldn't blame her.

This girl was clearly thinking purely about Hachiman Hikigaya.

"If I were in Hikigaya's shoes, I might even want to marry a girl as wonderful as her."

From Zero World, Ram hugged her best sister, Rem, with satisfaction. "Well done, Rem."

Rem's face was as red as the sunset, possessing a pure and charming beauty. "It's not enough... Rem is still too useless. She doesn't understand Hachiman's political affairs and can't share his burdens."

Echoing Ram's relief and composure, far away in the capital, Parker's eyes suddenly sharpened. A ferocious and terrifying smile appeared on his lips as he raised his claws, secretly pondering how to eliminate his daughter's rival without anyone noticing.

But soon, it lost the leisure to indulge in such wild thoughts.

Parker's heart leaped into his throat!

"Something terrible has happened!" Rem reported anxiously. "Something seems to have happened to Lady Emilia. Rem and her sister have a connection that's like sensing each other's presence, and today we suddenly sensed something very ominous."

"Bang!"

Hachiman Hikigaya's chair tipped over, and he grabbed Rem's hand: "Come with me."

"He didn't suspect Rem, nor did he panic or get anxious. After realizing what was happening, he acted swiftly and decisively, putting down all his work and gathering the merchants and mercenaries."

"I'm giving you only two hours to prepare. After two hours, set off at full speed with me to Roswaal's territory."

"This is too rushed, and it's not what we agreed on—under the onslaught of money, no one is making a sound."

"During those two hours, Hachiman Hikigaya made a special trip to the prison, where Elsa the Bowel Hunter was still being held."

56. An inescapable hurdle

"Bringing mercenaries along increases our combat strength, because we don't yet know how many enemies are coming or how strong they are. Rem alone might not be of much use."

"The merchants are advancing at a slower pace than the mercenaries so they can arrive just in time for the cleanup after the battle, to offer supplies to the villagers who may have been attacked..."

Miyuki Shirogane's voice gradually decreased and then disappeared. He didn't have time to analyze it. He swallowed and followed Hachiman Hikigaya, who was moving at top speed. Even through the screen, he could feel a sense of urgency that was about to happen.

"This long, fully armed dragon legion winds its way along the Green Pass outside the capital city to the Roswaal territory. The empty wilderness is tinged with a murderous atmosphere by the thunderous stomping of a dozen earth dragons."

"The mercenaries, paid to do their jobs, wore brand-new armor provided by Hachiman Hikigaya, which clanged as they gripped their swords tightly. They were ready to fight at any moment, with a strong sense of crisis, and were on guard against enemies and battles that could appear at any time."

"Hachiman Hikigaya and Rem rode together, their speeding dragon carriage washed grayish-white by the sorrowful emotions within it. Their carriage was in the lead, carrying the fastest and most enduring earth dragon. Its pilot was a man they had found a month ago who was very skilled at riding earth dragons; his name was Otto."

Rem never put down the meteor hammer she was gripping tightly. She looked at the mercenaries behind her. They were all equal to or even slightly stronger than her. Even so, a strange anxiety lingered in her heart.

"There have been rumors of beluga whales appearing outside the capital recently. For safety reasons, we can't use the fastest route and have to take a detour, which will waste a whole day."

"The gloom was compounded by bad luck. Despite all the misfortunes, Hachiman Hikigaya was able to withstand the pressure. He didn't lose his composure, but he got up early the next morning and urged the mercenary group to set off again."

"Faster, faster!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya is nervous, but not particularly nervous. He has Roswaal, Ram, Beatrice, and Emilia. Even if things don't go well, he won't be unable to hold out for even a day. There is only one like the Sword Saint Reinhard."

"Yes, that was what he originally thought."

"But something's not right—the closer they got to Roswaal's territory, the more Hachiman Hikigaya's brain and heart tightened, his whole body trembled and rattled, and his mind was stretched to its limit."

"There were no other scattered dragons on the road, no passing merchants, no people working at sunrise, not even the chirping of insects or birds. The earth dragons were all resisting continuing to advance in that direction!"

"This is not normal, this is extremely abnormal! A very bad feeling is swirling in my mind."

"No, I want to..."

"Boom!!"

"Hachiman Hikigaya didn't have time to think about what was happening. His body spun around, and in a flash, Rem jumped out of the carriage and caught him between his arms. He watched helplessly as the dragon frame was turned into splattered flesh and blood by the sudden fireball. Even the optimistic Otto didn't have time to let out a wail."

"Aaaaaaahh ...

"The towering flames and the magic that bombarded from all directions caused the earth dragon to roll back and forth. The mercenaries who fell out of the carriage scraped against the ground. Their helmets protected their cheeks and bodies, preventing them from being as bloody and mangled as the earth dragon, but they were still dazed from the shock."

"Enemy attack! Enemy attack!"

"Experienced mercenaries ignored their wounds and quickly got up, while many of the inexperienced ones remained in place for a moment, becoming easy targets, and were blasted into mincemeat by the magic that followed."

"The culprits of the attack were... a group of shadowy figures, all dressed in black, wearing hoods, with eerie appearances, moving silently, and terrifying shadowy figures."

"Rem's head buzzed, her breathing became rapid, her bloodshot, menacing red eyes widened, lightning flickered above her head, and a magical horn suddenly rose up."

"The Witch Cult Aa ...

"Trembling lips, uttering a trembling cry."

"Abandoning Hachiman Hikigaya, Rem, resembling a wild beast, charged madly into the enemy ranks. Her meteor hammer, imbued with terrifying power, swung wildly, slicing several witch cultists in half at the waist. Their bodies flew backward like cannonballs, crashing heavily into trees!"

"Attack! Attack!"

"Rem's incredible power dispelled the mercenaries' fear. The men, astonished by her formidable fighting prowess, were overjoyed. They drew their swords and swarmed forward, their ferocious momentum causing heavy casualties among the Witch Cult members!"

"Lady Rem, please... *pfft*!"

"A mercenary collapsed backward, his silver armor deformed and shattered. If the witch cultists hadn't approached and Rem, who needed a weapon, hadn't retrieved her flail in time, his stomach would have been torn apart like his armor."

"What's going on? This woman has gone mad!" Another mercenary accidentally entered her attack range.

"Whether enemy or ally, once they attract Rem's attention and enter her perimeter, they will be met with the merciless and deadly attack of that meteor hammer that symbolizes death!"

The mercenary captain gritted his teeth, grabbed Hachiman Hikigaya by the collar, and shouted, "What's going on? Hachiman Hikigaya, you never told me this woman would kill without distinguishing friend from foe!"

"No... I'll handle it!"

"The astonished Hachiman Hikigaya received too much information to process in just a few minutes, but he knew he had to rely on these mercenaries now."

Even though he was completely lost, he still had to put on an air of confidence.

"The Witch Cult has been reduced to few in number due to the resistance. The mercenaries have scattered and moved away from the crazed Rem. Hachiman Hikigaya watches coldly as he is about to enter Rem's attack range—it's acceptable for friends to lose their lives because of the Witch Cult's attack, but to die at the hands of friendly forces because of the employer's cover-up is simply the greatest tragedy!"

""thunder--""

"Hachiman Hikigaya rolled to the side, but his cheek and shoulder were still scratched by the flying meteor hammer, and blood was gushing out. It was a serious injury. If it weren't for more than a month of consistent training, he probably would have collapsed and wouldn't be able to get up."

"What's wrong with you? Wake up! Think of Ram! Rem!"

"His urgent calls were met with one terrible attack after another. Hachiman Hikigaya's gaze swept over the single horn that had appeared on Rem's head for the first time. Whether it was real or not, he could only try to grab that horn now."

"Rem!!!"

57. Unable to skip class

“The Witch Cult, huh?” Crusch shook her head with a sigh. “Once the news of Emilia’s participation in the royal selection was announced, I knew that day would come. It came really fast. They are a bunch of ruthless madmen who kill without blinking an eye.”

“If it weren’t for the competition for the throne, I would be happy to help Lord Hachiman.”

Felix also sighed softly, "These lunatics from the Witch Cult, it would be great if the future Lord Hachiman could find a way to wipe them all out, they're always a hidden danger."

"Hmm...it's too early to say, he still has to get past the demon girl first."

Compared to the others who remained calm as long as it didn't concern them, the Rem and Ram sisters in the courtyard erupted in furious killing intent almost the instant the Witch Cult appeared.

"The Witch Cult!" Rem's eyes instantly reddened, and she gritted her teeth, uttering each word with extreme resentment, "They took away my sister's horns, they took away Rem's peaceful life, wasn't that enough? Now they want to take away the man Rem finally met and loves?"

"I will not let you go! I will never let you go! Damn Witch Cult!!"

Ram's chest heaved violently, her blood pressure soared, and the moment she saw the witch cultists harm Rem, the unforgettable hatred once again filled her mind and body.

“The Witch Cult…” Emilia’s face turned pale. The discussion around her made her realize what Roswaal had never told her before: the attraction that half-elf beings had to the Witch Cult.

What happens to her is secondary; if it affects others... no, it already has. The mercenaries who died, and Rem who went mad and injured Hachiman Hikigaya—all of this originated from the fight against the Witch Cult that she had attracted.

"Lia, you have to trust Hachiman Hikigaya. He might be able to bring Rem back to her senses." Puck still had the energy to comfort Emilia. She didn't think she couldn't protect her daughter at the base.

Emilia prayed frantically, "Please, Rem...stop it! Don't hurt Hachiman or yourself..."

Meanwhile, on Earth, many people were dumbfounded and shocked, feeling sorrow and heartache for Hachiman Hikigaya.

"You finally have a reliable and strong fighter who is completely devoted to you, but it turns out that he loses himself after going all out and unleashing his unicorn horn?"

Seeing Hachiman Hikigaya covered in blood-gushing wounds as he charged toward Rem, Kei Shirogane gritted his teeth and said, "Seriously, can't you give Hachiman a break? Please, please, Rem-senpai, wake up already."

No one dislikes Rem, but anyone with a modicum of common sense knows that the culprit to be punished is the Witch Cult.

But seeing these two people, who were once as loving and tacit as a couple of many years, suddenly break up and fight each other is like the sky falling and the earth splitting apart for many of those who have been healed. Their hearts are in turmoil.

"Emilia's surroundings are too dangerous. It seems that the world's hatred of half-elf is not unfounded, but rather that the half-elf bloodline itself brings man-made disasters."

"Indeed, when Hachiman Hikigaya was busy outside recently, he heard several times that the Witch Cult has special ideas about half-demons."

Kyosuke Kousaka clenched his fist. "Go for it! Go for it!"

"You go ahead first. If there are any more witch cultists, kill them on sight! I'll pay double the commission later!"

"The mercenaries had heard of these madmen, the Witch Cultists. Although they were dissatisfied with Hachiman Hachiman and Rem, for the sake of their commission and to protect any ordinary people who might still be alive, they nodded and rushed over."

Clang!

"The meteor hammer came crashing down, and Hachiman Hikigaya narrowly dodged it with his sword, but nearly half of his right forearm was scraped off, along with the skin and flesh, causing him excruciating pain."

He forced a smile, trying to say something melodramatic to distract himself, but the pain was too much for him to even do. Right now, all he could think about was—

"We're getting closer!"

"The meteor hammer was pulled back, and the iron chain slammed into Hachiman Hikigaya's waist and knees. This man, who had endured the pain of having his intestines cut open, suddenly displayed extraordinary endurance at this moment, when necessary."

"Hachiman Hikigaya forced himself to ignore the injuries that would normally have caused him to scream in agony. He leaped up, lunged forward, and with his blood-stained hand, gripped Rem's single horn!"

"You can vent however you want from now on! But right now, I'll kneel down and beg you, please wake up, Rem! We have important things to do!!"