Crossover anime, starting with Hachiman Hikigaya replacing Subaru Natsuki!

"Echidna gritted her teeth, her expression twisted, she raised her fist and raised it at Hachiman Hikigaya, who turned to look at her with a bewildered expression, as if to say, 'Ah, what's wrong? Why are you suddenly angry?' In the end, she just snorted softly."

"A little mischievous, but not at all willful. Very lively and healthy. Never argues with anyone, obedient and well-behaved, yet with her own opinions. Emilia was just as cute as Komachi when she was little, huh? Echidna, what's wrong? You look so pale. Echidna? Are you sick? Echidna?"

"Echidna had already closed her eyes and covered her ears, squatting on the ground like a wronged little dog, pouting."

"You're saying that's not Mother? How could that not be Mother! Roswaal, you must be insane! Four hundred years... Your soul has been possessing and suffocating your bloodline for four hundred years, can't you even recognize your mother?"

At the Witch's Tea Party, Echidna's behavior did indeed chill Betty's heart, but now, her lively mother was indeed the mother she remembered.

“The one who doesn’t recognize the teacher isn’t me, it’s you. Your obsession is just finding ‘that person,’ but I’ve lived for four hundred years to bring the teacher back to life! Beatrice, you’re so naive, that’s not the teacher, it couldn’t be!”

Roswaal shook his head, his mind a jumble of emotions as he looked at the 'Echidna' from the Sanctuary who was putting on an act of emotion, pretending to be his teacher.

As for Emilia's past, neither Betty nor Roswaal cared at all. They were the only ones who didn't care about Emilia's past at this moment.

While in his room with his dozens of wives, Regulus remembered.

"Oh, so that's what happened back then. That's right, that's really right. If I think about it carefully, I must have already met Emilia back then."

"So that's how it is! So she was already my child bride back then. She had long been in love with me, and she was already my possession. Tsk, Petitchius, that fool, before and after, dared to arbitrarily deprive the woman who admired me of her right to approach me, and violate my freedom to have a living, breathing new wife. Ha! Who does he think he is, you idiot!"

"A good-for-nothing who hasn't made any progress in a hundred years, it's only natural that he dies."

"Echidna hated Emilia, she hated her so much that she wanted to drag Emilia down to the dirtiest mud. But for the time being, she remained silent."

"Pfft."

Inside the convenience store, the cashier and some customers couldn't help but laugh out loud. They looked at Echidna, who had been subdued, as if they were watching a clown.

"The guy who insulted Emilia deserved it, he brought it on himself!"

"Well done, Hachiman, keep it up!"

They raised their fists in support of Hachiman Hikigaya. While it's wrong to insult a woman's age, Echidna, that bastard who looks down on Emilia, that bastard who quickly changes her attitude and uses Hachiman Hikigaya as material, is hardly human.

Hachiman Hikigaya's expression was subtle. Although he would eventually turn an entire village into his fanatical followers, he was already experiencing a portion of that feeling in advance, and he really didn't know how to describe it…

The only thing that's certain is that he was quite pleased to see Echidna shut up.

Even Yukinoshita, who was in his arms, couldn't help but show a beautiful smile.

Everyone knew a storm was brewing. The present moment was peaceful and warm, but how could something as peaceful as the past, which had caused Emilia to faint from crying, be anything but? Everyone was on edge, barely daring to breathe, preparing for tragedy.

Echidna's setback slightly eased everyone's anxiety.

"I'm not gentle to everyone, I'm only gentle to those who deserve it. Hmph... Echidna, that old hag, was out of the running from the start."

Crusch puffed out her chest, radiating unparalleled confidence. Even if she couldn't keep up with Emilia's progress, Crusch was still far, far ahead of that scheming mistress, Echidna!

156. The Beginning and End of the Past

After telling her mother, Fortuna, everything about sneaking out to play without permission, meeting Juce, and how Juce, despite being an adult, cried, Emilia wasn't scolded. Fortuna just looked at Juce, who was more energetic than ever before, with a mixture of helplessness and relief.

"After that, when Jus delivered supplies, Fortuna no longer kept Emilia locked in the treehouse."

"Jus spent longer and longer periods of time in the forest each time, taking great care of Emilia and calling her 'Lady Emilia'."

"Everyone in Elliot Forest loves Emilia very much. Among them, the one who loves her the most is Mother Fortuna, and Archie will inherit Mother Fortuna's duties and status. However, after she met Jus, Jus became the second person who loves her the most, and even seemed to have a tendency to surpass Mother Fortuna in his affections."

"Lady Emilia...Lady Fortuna...Ah, ahhh...My brain is trembling—what is this, what is this? No, no, no, no, no, no!?"

Memories that seemed to exist yet also seemed to exist echoed the past as revealed in the future, crashing against Petitchius's mind in waves, causing him unbearable pain. Even though he had long been accustomed to self-torture, this pain originating from the depths of his soul was still unbearable for him.

Far away, in a place different from where Petritchius was, Sirius Romani-Conti, the Archbishop of Wrath, whose body was wrapped in bandages, stared blankly at these past events, and fell into a strange state, motionless.

"Jus played with Emilia and brought her things. If it weren't for Fortuna, Jus would have spoiled Emilia to the point of doting."

"Even a hundred years later, the power Emilia used as an elven sorcerer was discovered by Jus during this period, who then suggested that she develop in this direction."

"During this time, Emilia said more than once, 'I always felt that Fortuna and Jules were like a mother and father.'"

"Her innocent and childlike remarks often made Fortuna blush, stammer, and steal a glance at Jules."

"Juss had a very high regard for Fortuna, and he liked and respected her very much, but he would always earnestly explain to Emilia that he and Lady Fortuna were not in that kind of relationship. This would immediately turn Fortuna's shy blush into anger."

Fortuna's feelings were perfectly clear, but Jus, who was even more oblivious than a blockhead, just couldn't figure it out.

The five Nakano sisters all turned to look at Uesugi Fuutarou, seeing themselves and Fuutarou reflected in Jus and Fortuna. He looked completely bewildered.

"This can't be faked."

Shirogane Miyuki shook his head. In the past, he might not have been able to tell the difference, but now there were two pieces of evidence in front of him.

First, despite watching Jus for so long, Hachiman Hikigaya showed no anger toward Jus or concern for Emilia.

Secondly, with the counterfeit Echidna as a comparison, just by looking at Echidna and then at Jus, one can immediately distinguish the difference between the counterfeit and the real thing.

But precisely because of this, Shirogane Miyuki is even more desolate... The contrast between a good person's fall from grace and his former friends and relatives turning against each other is far more tragic than that of someone who was a villain from the very beginning.

"..."

Felt and Reinhardt both fell silent.

Because of his identity as a sword saint, he was very aware that he might have caused his grandmother's death, and Reinhard was acutely aware of the pain of having loved ones' lives on his hands. Even so, at least he didn't kill his grandmother with his own hands.

"To protect her husband, you used the power your adoptive father taught you to fight against his madness... The burden you bear is heavier than I thought, Lady Emilia."

Felt breathed a sigh of relief. Thankfully, Hachiman Hikigaya stopped Emilia from killing Petritchus; otherwise, it would have been a completely irreversible tragedy. Although it hasn't happened yet, it's already enough to cause sadness and despair.

"So, Lord Hachiman died several times at the hands of Emilia's two adoptive fathers?"

Crusch's face turned ashen. However, looking at the warm and loving Jules, she found it difficult to bring herself to berate such a person.

So what exactly turned this 'Jus' into that 'Pettyus'?

"It was a beautiful, sunny day, just like any other. After their playful fight, Fortuna and Jus were preparing to return to the treehouse with Emilia when, in that instant, a sudden sense of threat, the pressure of death, accompanied by the sound of footsteps approaching abruptly."

"Who is it?!"

"He was a man with short white hair and an average-looking face."

"Regulus Kornius, Archbishop of the Great Sin of the Witch Cult."

"That's how he introduced himself."

"—?!"

Despite having an unremarkable, ordinary face, the moment this man appeared, not only Jus and Fortuna, but also people in both worlds couldn't help but break out in a cold sweat.

"Regrus Kornias... Is he still the same after a hundred years? I originally thought he could at least outlive me by the time it takes to die, but now it seems he is invincible in every way, without any flaws or weaknesses."

Even Kiyotaka Ayanokoji found it difficult to remain calm.

Unlike Ayanokoji Kiyotaka's unique observation point.

"asshole…!"

No one can forget, no one can forget the horror of this man.

He could easily defeat Crusch in a mere instant, turning Rem into a vegetable that even Phyllis couldn't handle. If it weren't for Regulus, Crusch and Rem, even if they joined forces, could at least protect themselves against the Bishop of Gluttony, regardless of whether they could win.

Upon seeing him, Ram's eyes immediately turned bloodshot and his gaze became violent. Crusch subconsciously touched his right hand and frowned.

Jus's pupils contracted. "Why are you here? No one but me is allowed to interfere in the affairs of this forest, wasn't that agreed upon?"

"Regrus seemed disdainful. 'An agreement? That was just a one-sided agreement on your part. To think you could impose it on others and force them to obey a nobody like you—you elf are far too arrogant.'"

"If you're not happy with the agreement, just go to church to discuss it. Why come here!"

"Because that's the order I gave."

A girl's voice broke into Jules and Regulus's argument.

"The girl who appeared behind Regulus was in her teens. She had long white hair and was only wrapped in a white cloth. Like Echidna, she also had white eyebrows."

157. The Beginning and End of the Past

"The moment you see this girl, everyone's instinct will subconsciously realize this fact: she is a danger that should not exist in this world."

"Jules' expression was trembling. It was clear that he respected the girl greatly but was also terrified of her. However, after glancing at the mother and daughter beside him, he still stood firmly on their side."

"—Hand over the seal and the key, for the sake of our Witch Cult's long-cherished wish."

"Pandora!!!"

"That girl, her name is Pandora. This roar, filled with anger and hatred, came from Fortuna's mouth. At the same time, countless ice spikes filled the sky and pierced Pandora's body. The last ice spike, the size of a meteorite, crashed down on her along with Kornius."

"Fortuna's magical skills are astonishing. Hachiman Hikigaya can confirm that Emilia could not have created an attack of this caliber without Puck's full assistance."

"However, Emilia is all alone a hundred years later, and Jus has forgotten her. Therefore, unfortunately, from the very beginning, Hachiman Hikigaya had no confidence in this battle."

"I'm saying this. I came here, I'm standing here, but you all just talk and don't take me seriously. And yet you still launch attacks that involve me. This is a direct violation of my life, my dignity, my rights, and my very existence!"

"The dust settled, the ice spikes shattered, and Regulus, who had been talking to himself, was unharmed, as was Pandora, who had just been torn to shreds."

"here we go again…"

Julius, Wilhelm, and the Nine Gods—all powerful individuals of a certain level felt a chill in their hearts. "That unreasonable defensive power is simply invincible. And it's not just him; Pandora has also been resurrected... What kind of power is this?"

Regulus's power was enough to plunge anyone except Reinhard into despair. Moreover, this time there was another figure above him, the enigmatic Pandora.

Considering Emilia's current predicament, the outcome of the battle was obvious. Some who couldn't bear to see the tragedy unfold had already turned their faces away, unable to bear watching.

"Lady Fortuna, please take Lady Emilia and leave quickly!"

"Fortuna, unwilling to abandon Jus, didn't want to desert, but for Emilia's safety, she had no choice but to do as Jus said. 'Then what about you?!'"

"Please rest assured, I stayed because I was reckless and impulsive, but I have my own trump cards."

"Regulus clicked his tongue, looking disdainful. However, when he saw Jus, who was prepared for death, pull a black box from his pocket, the once unrestrained and self-centered man widened his eyes for the first time and lost his composure."

"That's...! You idiot, you're the last person who deserves to use that!"

"In stark contrast to his attitude," Pandora clapped her hands approvingly, saying, "May you have a good journey, Bishop Romani-Conti."

"Jules took a deep breath and murmured softly, 'Please forgive me, Lord Freuget!'"

"The next second, he opened the box, brought the dark substance inside to his body, and poured it into his body. Amidst a shrill and extremely painful scream, he underwent a transformation. Some changes began to appear on his body."

"Those are...invisible hands?!"

Like the sun breaking through the clouds, everything became clear. The secret of where the various terrifying and bizarre powers of the Archbishops of Sin came from was finally revealed.

“Flugate, that is the name of a great sage from four hundred years ago.”