Crusch Karsten leads the expedition to defeat the White Whale.
The command authority for the extermination squad organized by Crusch is in her hands, and the commander of the squad is a man of the lineage of the Sword Saint - the "Sword Demon", Wilhelm van Astrea.
The punitive force following Wilhelm was divided into about ten platoons, each of which was led by one of the veteran soldiers who had attended the speech in the garden.
The platoon consisted of around fifteen members, putting the total number of members in the extermination force led by Crusch at around one hundred and fifty.
On the other hand, the total military strength was not limited to them, there was a mercenary group of beastmen led by Ricardo, loaned by Anastasia - a group of 30 people commonly known as the "Iron Fangs". This group was led by Ricardo, with two vice-leaders under him.
The vice-chairman was,
"It's Mimi."
"It's Hetaro."
And the two of them bowed their heads deeply――no, it was two cat-like beastmen.
Its short fur was a shade of orange, and its height, which only reached down to Subaru's waist, closely resembled the image of a dwarf beastman that Subaru had in his mind.
In addition, she has a very cute face, and the pure white robe that completely covers her body except for her head suits her well.
"She's so cute I want to kidnap her."
"That's often said."
"Big sister said that again..."
The girl who called herself Mimi nodded in response to Subaru's comment, and the boy who called himself Hetaro scolded her, looking slightly flustered. It seemed they were twins, with identical appearances.
Subaru nodded to the two, wondering in his mind whether beastmen gave birth like animals, with many babies being born at once.
"I heard they were vice-captains... but are the two of them really skilled?"
"Of course. Together we're the best."
"Eh... Ah, yeah. That's right. My sister and I will do our best."
Is this a relationship in which the assertive older sister is held in check by the more passive and cautious younger brother? I also wonder if the twins in this world basically only have older sisters who follow up on their younger siblings.
Anyway,
"The chief is a leader, but when the battle begins he rushes ahead and doesn't look around at all."
"We act as the leader and give instructions to everyone."
"Ah, I see... I can imagine how hard it must have been."
You can imagine the giant's figure laughing heartily and charging belligerently into the center of the battlefield.
As if the two of them agreed with Subaru's imagination, Hetaro slumped his small shoulders and said, "That's right."
"We will follow Crusch-sama's orders, but we will fight the White Whale using our own methods. In that regard, Subaru-san, I would like to avoid causing any confusion… Subaru-san?"
"...No, I'm surprised at how thoughtful you are. Even though you're so small, you're really thinking about so many things, it's impressive."
"Hmm, isn't it amazing?"
"Big sister will soon get carried away again... Cute."
Mimi becomes proud and puffs up her chest when he praises Hetaro, who seems to have shown up for a legitimate reason. Hetaro then scolds her and finally lets out his true feelings. It seems that her arrogance is also due to her younger brother.
--Currently, the White Whale subjugation squad, consisting of about 180 members, was marching towards the base of the Great Flugel Tree, where the final battle with the White Whale would take place.
After the preliminary speech at Crusch's mansion, Subaru and his companions quickly met up with the extermination force outside the royal capital, and from then on they made their way without any rushing, spending about half a day on the journey.
According to his cell phone, there was only half a day left until the scheduled time for the White Whale to appear. Five hours had already passed since they had left the Royal Capital, and considering the remaining distance, they were now at the halfway point - they would have time to take a breather before the final battle with the White Whale.
"Once we reach the Great Tree, we'll have to confirm our plan once again. I think my approach will be quite important at this point."
"This time, it would be better for Rem to stay close to Subaru, rather than go to the front lines. I definitely don't want to end up regretting it like I did with Juggernaut."
Rem, who was sitting next to Subaru on the driver's seat, was holding the reins and quietly burning with determination as she listened to Subaru's mutterings. As she pulled the reins to steer the earth dragon, she gently glanced at Subaru,
"The truth is, Rem is against it. I think it's too dangerous to attract the White Whale with the witch's lingering scent... and first of all, that smell is coming from Subaru-kun."
"I'll use whatever I can. If it helps improve my win rate even by a tenth of a percent, then it's a win. I'm lacking in so many areas, so I'll have to do that to make up for lost time."
"Subaru-kun is wonderful."
Faced with Subaru's resolve, Rem stubbornly turns her face away, refusing to give in. It's a small, sulky gesture, but seeing her emotions overflowing, Subaru can't help but smile bitterly.
Rem remained emotionless and calm, trying to keep her emotions out of it.
Although she had opened up after the incident with the demonic beasts and shown some emotional softness, she still had a rigidity about her that was almost impossible to sense now.
Ever since Subaru had confessed his inner weakness and she had confessed her feelings in response, the richness of her emotional expression had been incomparable to what it had been before.
She said that it had made time that had stopped move, and that was certainly true.
That is why,
"I want to win."
She quietly voiced her hope.
I am confident that the current situation is much better than in previous loops.
His relationship with Crusch's camp, which he had expected to be coldly rejected or even abandoned after he had made his demands that no one would listen to, is also good. As for his relationship with Rem, despite the fact that he had let out his shameful inner thoughts, he feels that their bond has become stronger.
But at the same time, it is also true that we are embarking on a more dangerous path than ever before.
The threat of the White Whale is still burned vividly into Subaru's mind, having witnessed it up close.
Even Rem's fighting strength was no match for this giant, and with a single swing of its tail it could even pulverize a large dragon carriage into pieces. Its open jaws swallowed the earth dragon whole, the earth below, and its death throes as its hard, millstone-like teeth crushed the flesh were unforgettable.
Just thinking about coming face to face with it makes my limbs tremble with fear.
However, whenever Subaru's heart started to waver like that,
"――――"
Beside him, Rem's eyes peered into Subaru's, as if she could see right into his heart.
Just that was all it took for Subaru's heart to burn, as if he had forgotten his fear. In front of her, in front of Rem's very eyes, he couldn't allow himself to remain the weak, useless, hopeless Natsuki Subaru.
If you want to cheer yourself up, hopeful optimism is the way to go, not pessimism about the situation.
It is true that the future is currently being forced to take a risky route, driven by necessity and without the time to make all the necessary preparations.
All Subaru could do was call on the best people he could within the limited time he had, and then leave all other duties to them, as he always does: rely on others.
Still, they didn't ask for anything more from Subaru, and it wasn't as if they treated him carelessly as a useless, unwanted person.
Just do your best to do what you can at each moment.
Since the scope of what I can do is extremely narrow, I must at least properly grasp the breadth of that framework and think about what I can do within that narrow framework.
"What's up, big bro? --You look like you've made up your mind."
Suddenly, Ricardo, who was standing next to the dragon carriage, looked at Subaru and laughed.
Glaring at the dog-like beastman carrying a hatchet on his back, Subaru twisted the corners of his mouth in an aggressive manner,
"Yes, of course. It's a little late, but it worked perfectly. I'm so determined, I'm amazing. After all, I won't give up on my future even in death."
"That's just how greedy you are! If Ojou had you, she would be so happy! Big Brother, you'd be the perfect friend for Ojou!"
"If it weren't for our positions, I don't think there's anything wrong with shaking hands… Ah, but there are some people who seem like they'd be a pain if we tried to get along with Anastasia."
Suddenly, I remember the figure of the handsome man standing beside Anastasia.
It seemed like a long time ago since he had beaten me down and left me covered in blood in the middle of the military parade ground. But considering the flow of the world where we can't share the loop, it had only been about five days.
Ricardo put his hand over his mouth as he heard Subaru's words and chuckled, which was unusual for him. Looking at the mischievous look in his eyes as he glanced over at him, it seemed he had heard about the disgraceful behaviour Subaru had caused.
Naturally, a sulky sentimentality welled up in his chest, and Subaru turned his face away,
"If you're going to laugh, then laugh out loud. I know now how completely incapable I was of reading the mood back then."
"No no, the fact that I'm the weird one is a whole other story. Anyway, I'm sure it'll become obvious if I just read on a bit more, and it would be rude to puke here anyway."
Convinced, Ricardo flicked the thin hair next to his nose with his finger to end the conversation.
Subaru was about to say something about her flirtatious attitude, but he gave up, knowing that pressing her would not yield a satisfactory answer, and decided to talk about something else.
"Now that I think about it, I've been wondering about it ever since I left the royal capital."
"Well, ask me anything. I'm close with my brother, right? We don't even know each other that well, but I'll tell you if it's something really important! If it's something really important, then it's all up to money! Money!"
"You must be a Kararagi to be so strict about that sort of thing... That big dog you're riding is incredible."
Pointing at the creature they were riding, beneath the excited Ricardo's rear end, Subaru spoke, unsure of how to express it.
The beastman mercenary group controlled by Ricardo and the others was a completely different creature from the earth dragon led by Crusch's extermination squad.
A large dog would be the closest description. Its body was that of a large carnivore - in the original world, it was a giant that surpassed lions and tigers, and aside from its low posture, it had a presence that was not inferior to that of an earth dragon.
Ricardo nodded in understanding to Subaru's question, "Hmm," and lightly patted the dog's back with his large palm,
"You don't see them much around here. This is a creature called a Liger, and it's just as prized in Kararagi as the Earth Dragons are here. However, due to territorial disputes and such, it seems it's difficult to breed them in other countries like Lugnica, so there are very few of them."
"liger..."
At first glance, based on Subaru's experience, it looked like a subspecies of Urgarm or something, but there were no horns to be seen on its head, and compared to the ferocious look on its face, it was clearly more charming.
If magical beasts are more like wolves, then ligers are certainly more like dogs.
However, seeing Ricardo, a dog-type beastman, riding on that extra-large dog, from an outsider's perspective――,
"There's something really strange about that scene. Don't you feel something is off?"
"People say that to us from time to time, but it's nothing to me. From our perspective, we can clearly distinguish between beastmen and animals, even if they only look alike. So don't worry, it doesn't bother us or make us feel uncomfortable even if people think that."
"Well, I was also wondering what I was saying, so I'll apologize. Sorry."
"Hahaha, that's very honest!"
Ricardo bared his teeth in a laugh, then he gently stroked Liger's nape. Liger didn't respond, but the way it rocked its master on its back seemed to have the same sense of loyalty as a dog. It seemed that the bond between them was something they shared in common, even across worlds.
"The Liger may not have as much horsepower as the Earth Dragon, but in return it is far more agile. If it comes to a melee in a battle with the White Whale, we'll have no problem with it, so just wait and see."
"Horsepower, huh. Even though dragons and dogs are popular, I guess that's how pulling power can be compared...Come to think of it, I haven't seen any horses around."
I've heard stories of them from Emilia and other sources, but judging by the fact that I've never seen one before, it seems like they're pretty rare.
Subaru then pointed to the rear of the marching punitive force,
"So, you're pulling one vehicle with a lot of people like a dog sled? If you think about the fact that the dogs might get tired before the main event, wouldn't it have been better to leave it to another earth dragon?"
"We should take care of our own luggage. I don't like the idea of you worrying about us, but the Ligers who pull the carts should be trained specifically for that purpose. We shouldn't pamper them, and it's not necessarily the case that the White Whale is the only enemy."
Subaru was startled, and tried to hold back the uneasiness that was in his heart from showing on his face. Meanwhile, Ricardo seemed unaware of Subaru's surprise,
"If you get into trouble with thieves on the way, you won't have time to waste on handing over your luggage, right? So, take care of yourself as much as possible."
"...If they had the courage to attack a group of fully armed people like this, they wouldn't be bandits. Even if they did, it wouldn't be courage, it would just be a roundabout way to commit suicide."
"Of course!!"
Laughing cheerfully, Ricardo slapped Liger on the back, which made Liger respond with a low roar and take a step forward.
He ran towards the front, this time heading towards Crusch, who was at the head of the march.
Seeing her leave, Subaru took a breath and turned his head.
The battle with the White Whale is approaching - even if Subaru overcomes this big challenge, there are still many hurdles that he must overcome.
"It's pretty tough being a hero, man."
Even though he was speaking tiredly, Subaru's expression formed a smile.
What you have to do and what you want to do are aligned, and there are people who encourage you to do it. Could there be a more rewarding situation than this?
Our fighting spirit is in top form for the upcoming battle - let's challenge fate once again.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
Fortunately, the march had gone according to plan without any trouble, and by the time the extermination force reached Flugel Tree, the moon had just begun to rise - the beginning of night, with approximately six hours until the White Whale appeared.
Due to circumstances he hadn't been able to observe it closely last time, but the thickness and height of the trunk, which surpassed the great trees in his original world estimated to be over a thousand years old, really spoke to Subaru's heart the more he reached the base and looked up at it.
"That's huge."
"You look happy, Subaru."
Subaru announced in an excited voice as he placed his foot on the roots of a large tree that was writhing and swaying above the ground, and Rem, who was beside him, pointed out with a small laugh. Subaru replied, "But..." as he jumped down from the roots,
"Men are creatures that are naturally impressed by big, strong-looking things. I was impressed the first time I saw the earth dragon, but nature is no joke. Flugel, you did a great job."
I honestly praised the great achievement of the wise man who planted a tree. It seems that he was a great man who I have no idea what he did other than planting trees, but it's okay if he accomplished at least one achievement that will leave his name in history. I just hope that it's not the result of his desire for self-expression.
"Oh, there's a name carved into the trunk. I'm not a school trip student, so who would do something like this, really? That's bad manners. Rem, lend me your carving knife."
"I don't have the money, and even Subaru-kun won't be able to help me."
Rem scolds Subaru, who is about to smack the trunk with his palm to stamp his unnecessary opinion upon it. Subaru pouts in dissatisfaction, and Rem laughs softly, then looks up at the tree,
"This is where the White Whale appears."
"Yes, I'll answer. When the time comes, my cell phone... this magic device will ring."
Taking out his cell phone from his pocket, he hooked the strap around his finger and let it dangle as he answered Rem. The timer was set to ring when the white whale appeared at 15:13.
There was nothing false about this, and Crusch and the others had been convinced at the meeting after their arrival. Not being able to tell them the truth did make them feel guilty, but for now they had no choice but to accept it once they saw the results.
Not telling the truth, even to Rem, would require him to endure even greater pain, but――
"That magic device will let us know of the presence of magical beasts..."
"Yeah, that's it. To be honest, without this, my value is..."
"--That's a lie, right?"
When Rem suddenly asked him that question with narrowed eyes, Subaru's heart certainly stopped.
He let out an inaudible sigh, and his heart began to beat again. What had Rem just asked him? He raised his head, looked back at her face, and confirmed once more that the intention there was not a mishearing of Subaru's, his lips trembled.
"Wh-what are you talking about? If this is a lie, then how can I..."
"You're speaking in Kararagi dialect, and it doesn't suit you, Subaru-kun."
"No, really, what kind of suspicion is there that this is a lie? Crusch-san and the others are convinced…"
Judging that deception won't work, Subaru still persists in his lie.
If she were to be pursued, it would undoubtedly make the situation worse. During a previous loop at the mansion, the Witch's Palm had been activated when Subaru was forced to let out information about "Return by Death."
It wasn't because Subaru wanted to speak. Even in situations where he had to speak in order to get through, that hand still hurt his heart. --So what if he had evolved to the point where he could crush Emilia's heart now?
--Rem must never find out about it.
"Crusch-sama and the others have simply decided that there is no need for Subaru to lie. Rather than a matter of necessity, I think they have considered the drawbacks of lying. If he did that, he would not only turn against Crusch-sama, but also Anastasia-sama and the Royal Capital's Merchants' Guild."
"it is..."
It's an undeniable fact.
Crusch would have been able to refute Subaru's clumsy argumentative arguments to any extent. The same could be said for Russell and Anastasia, two people who were used to negotiating.
Even so, the reason they were turning a blind eye to some suspicious points was largely due to consideration of the situation rather than any trust in Subaru.
Subaru was the one who set up that scene, so there was no need for him to do something like this and deceive the people there.
Of course, Subaru knew this when he negotiated the alliance, and there was no denying the fact that he had maintained equality by elevating the existence of others to his own insignificance.
That was why it could even be said that there was no need for Crusch and the others to seriously try to expose the truth of the lies Subaru had told. As long as the results came, they could forget about the minor discomfort they felt about what Subaru had said.
But Rem, on the other hand, is not like that.
Rem's position remains unchanged and she is Subaru's ally, and Subaru is well aware that in this other world, she is the one who has treated him with the greatest kindness.
Continuing to lie to her eats away at Subaru's heart in a completely different way than the lies he had told Crusch and the others. He even wants to confess those feelings, to cling to the pure love she shows him.
But that's absolutely impossible.
"Rem, I..."
"It's fine, Subaru-kun."
"picture?"
Subaru schemed to somehow protect her by using soft words.
However, Rem rejected it with a smile on her face and a shake of her head.
Rem looked at the shocked, speechless Subaru with a serious look,
"Rem can at least tell when Subaru is lying. She's been watching Subaru all this time."
Smiling shyly, Rem jokingly puts a finger to her mouth. Then she points it towards Subaru,
"I understand that you can't tell me the reason for that lie. But there's no need to worry about you not telling me, Rem."
"――――"
"Because Rem believes in you completely, Subaru-kun."
The wind caressed the two of them as they faced each other at the base of the Great Flugel Tree.
Placing her hand on her chest, Rem declared in front of the silent Subaru.
"If you say you know where the White Whale appears, I will believe you. If you say the Witch Cult is targeting Emilia-sama and the others, I will believe that too. If you say the moon will fall and the country will be destroyed, I will believe that too."
"...I won't go that far."
"Yes, that's true. But that just shows how serious I am."
Her smile vanished, and Rem suddenly looked at Subaru with a serious look. Then she quietly lowered her hips, picked up the edge of her skirt with both hands, and bowed.
"My body, my heart, with all my heart, I am infatuated with Subaru-kun. ーーTherefore, now and from now on, Rem will never doubt Subaru-kun."
"――――"
"So there's no need to try to make others believe it, or to convince them with lies, or to corner yourself in that way."
Subaru managed to hold back the hot sensation that rose up in his throat, almost choking him.
Then, clutching the corners of her eyes, she turned her face up and opened her trembling mouth wide.
"Ah, looking up at a big tree really gets me excited!"
"Yes, that's right."
"For a while, I can't calm down unless I look up at the tops of trees. I can't look down for any other reason."
"Yes, that's right."
Subaru put up a brave face and kept his head up so the tears wouldn't spill.
However, Rem wraps Subaru in kindness and affection and does not expose his weak bravado.
Now, once again, Subaru realised just how stupid he truly was.
I should have just confessed everything to Rem from the beginning.
He couldn't tell her everything, but if he could still tell her about the tragedy that had occurred, Subaru would surely be able to avoid a second and third tragedy.
Unable to explain the reason, and because even if he did explain it, no one would believe him, Subaru decided he had no choice but to do it alone, and he made every mistake he could.
But Rem was different.
She doesn't ask for an explanation. She believes in Subaru without him having to say it. Just like how she still loves and cherishes Subaru, even though he cannot tell her the truth.
"In times like these, I think it's better to say thank you than sorry."
Desperately fighting off the bank of tears, Subaru somehow managed to lower his head and face Rem. Rem nodded with a big smile in response to Subaru's answer,
"You're welcome. And besides, Rem has always, always been grateful to you, Subaru-kun, so it's a draw."
"But, for my part, I can't help but feel like I'm giving back more than I could ever give to Rem."
"That's not true."
Lowering her head slightly, Rem shook her head in denial of Subaru's words.
Subaru raised his eyebrows at her attitude and tried to get her to change her mind by adding more negative words, but,
"In truth, I know that telling you this story will only cause Subaru-kun pain, but it's just Rem being selfish."
"I don't think like that. I'm the one in the wrong for hiding something."
"But I am still being selfish. And yet, I am sorry."
Her tone was laced with self-mockery, but when she looked up, Rem's expression was bright. Seeing Subaru falter at the contradiction in his behavior, Rem tilted her head and said with amusement,
"I want you to be someone that Subaru-kun can entrust to him with even a little of the burden he is carrying. Not being able to be that kind of person makes Rem so sad right now that she can't bear it."
"I am..."
Rem's resolve, the depth of her feelings, are still conveyed to me.
Leaning his back against the trunk of the great tree, Subaru took a deep breath.
The courage to put into words the warm feelings welling up in my heart.
"I love Emilia."
"yes"
It was a rehash of the words he had exchanged with her once.
Subaru knew that those words would deeply hurt and torment her, but he still spoke them again.
However,
"but"
"――――"
"But when I look at you, my heart trembles... I hope you think I'm a terrible person."
I think it's a terribly convenient phrase.
But Subaru's feelings were genuine. He knew he couldn't respond to Rem's feelings, but her words were the only things that warmed his heart this much.
"Hou," Rem sighed, sounding somewhat feverish.
"Subaru-kun is truly a terrible person."
"...I know."
"I'm lying. I love you."
"I... I'm jealous."
Subaru's face instantly turned red as he clearly stated his feelings once again.
If it hadn't been nighttime, when the sun had set, his blush would have been very noticeable. Subaru walked away, trying to hide his blush.
"Let's go back soon. We need to get our minds and bodies in shape right before the White Whale appears."
Before passing by Rem, he grabbed her right hand, which was dangling in the air.
As he held her hand, Rem let out a small "Ah," but quickly matched his pace and, staring mischievously at the boy's profile, who refused to look at her,
"Subaru-kun."
"...What is it?"
"Rem would be fine as a second wife."
Those words almost made me stop in my tracks.
He couldn't help but glance over to see Rem, with a mischievous expression on her face and wagging her tail as she waited for Subaru's reply.
Ah, truly, this girl is just...
"I wish Emilia-tan was tolerant of polygamy."
"Well then, I'll have to convince Lady Emilia when I get back. I'll do my best, Rem."
Rem clenched her fist with her opposite hand and laughed with a small sense of determination.
Those joking words melted his tension away, and Subaru became acutely aware of his own weakness and how no match he truly was.
Whether it's Emilia or Rem, in situations like this, men just can't compete with women.
Unlike his previous weaknesses, he wasn't averse to acknowledging this one.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
--The time approached, and the tense atmosphere of before the war began to fill the base of the great tree.
The extermination force gathered at the site, taking turns eating and sleeping, and was in perfect condition.
The earth dragon and liger, who had been accompanying them on the long march, had now had enough rest and seemed to be eagerly awaiting instructions from their riders.
Everyone waited with bated breath and calm.
They held their breath even though there was no need to, and as if even the sound of the sword moving in its sheath might have some effect, everyone silenced all sounds and waited for time to pass.
The sky above Leafous Highway is windy tonight and the clouds are moving quickly.
Whenever the source of moonlight is blocked by clouds, many people look up as if a giant beast has blocked the light. This is how much they are wary.
"There are only a few minutes left until the scheduled time."
Muttering quietly, Crusch glanced over at Ferris, who was standing next to her and nodded slightly.
Even Ferris, who had served Crusch at her side for many years and should have been used to these types of situations, was now showing no signs of prioritizing his usual humor.
It's not that he's consumed by tension. He understands that he is a kind of lifeline for this extermination squad, and he is committed to fulfilling that role.
Depending on how Ferris performs, the final number of winners in this battle will likely change.
Crusch has no doubt about her side's victory, but she is not so conceited as to think that they can defeat the White Whale without any sacrifices. However, she is confident enough to believe that they can definitely reduce the number of necessary sacrifices.
Though, since this was a sign of trust in his servant Ferris, it was questionable whether he should really call it confidence.
Wilhelm had already unsheathed the two swords from his waist, ready in both hands and ready to run at any time.
The quiet sword energy that surrounded him was in a refined realm, and even at this moment when he was about to face the moment of his greatest desire, it was refined.
Crusch couldn't help but feel entranced and amazed by the pure nature of the Sword Demon.
Humans are capable of elevating their souls to this level with sheer purity.
I truly hope to reach that level someday too.
The members of the extermination force stood alongside Wilhelm, their expressions showing signs of tension, but their morale was high.
Following Crusch's orders, they had already silently completed preparations for a preemptive attack. Even they would have doubts about tonight's sortie. There was too little time between them and Subaru to build a relationship that would establish the reliability of the information when it came to finalizing the crucial details.
And yet, the reason they still didn't voice their objections was because they respected Crusch's judgment, and Crusch was aware that she had an obligation to fulfill that responsibility.
I can feel a comfortable fighting spirit slowly burning within me.
As the time drew near and the smell of death, fire, and blood drew closer, Crusch began to feel truly alive.
As a leader, I intend to discipline myself and make efforts to be honorable.
However, we do not deny the unchanging nature that is rooted within our hearts.
it is--,
「――――!!」
Suddenly, it echoed across the Leafous Highway, plunged into the dark night.
The light sounds chain together and overlap, naturally becoming music that vibrates the eardrums.
Turning her eyes to the source of the sound, she could see Subaru holding a shining magic device in his hand, and the music flowing from the magic device in his hand.
In other words--,
"Everyone, be on alert--"
According to Subaru's announcement, the white whale will appear within one minute of the magic device ringing.
If he was to be believed, it would not be surprising if that giant body began to swim through the air at this very moment. And since the magic device rang, this must be the right place.
There was plenty of room for doubt, but Subaru had no reason to doubt it. Naturally, Crusch's senses were on edge, waiting for that being to appear.
but,
"――――"
In the silence, there was no sign of the powerful demonic beast appearing.
It wouldn't be right to say she was taken aback, but the fact that a minute had passed and nothing had happened made Crusch feel unusually unsettled.
I don't want to believe that I was being tricked.
The silence that fell on Leafous Highway remained unchanged, and the surrounding scenery remained unchanged.
Even now, the moonlight was being blocked by the clouds floating in the sky, and a large, dark shadow covered the entire field of vision.
"----!"
Looking up, Crusch immediately cursed her own shortsighted thinking.
The moonlight is blocked and shadows are cast.
The clouds blocking the light slowly lowered in altitude and came right before our eyes.
It was a demonic beast that made a huge fish-like shadow float in the sky.
At the same time that Crusch held her breath, almost all the members of the extermination squad realized the same thing. Then, with their minds united, they all turned their gazes to Crusch.
--Preemptive attack, he was waiting for the order.
They managed to get the initiative and prevent the emergence of the White Whale.
All that remained was to launch a surprise attack as planned and take control of the front lines.
"――――"
Taking a breath, Crusch made up her mind to give her first command.
The white whale still hadn't noticed our tiny presence. Its mind was quietly racing, as if it was trying to ascertain where it was, and its movements were unsteady and vulnerable.
"--Everyone."
"All-out attack," he said,
"--- Attack me!!"
"--Alhuma!!"
The command was given over Crusch, and at the same time mana was deployed through the chanting of magic.
Four incredibly dense and powerful icicles were materialized in the world one after the other at once - they were shot into the body of the white whale, and a beat later the white whale let out a scream and spurted blood, raining down on the earth.
She looked over in a panic to see Subaru and Rem racing off on their shared earth dragon. Subaru, clinging to Rem's waist, pumped his fist in excitement, while Rem, who had executed a preemptive attack with a chant, had a look of satisfaction on her face, as if she had completed her role.
The extermination squad was shaken by the sight of these two rushing ahead - or rather, taking the lead.
Seeing this, Crusch couldn't help but feel her mouth twist in a big way.
Not through anger, but through laughter.
"Everyone - those idiots keep going!!"
Crusch's command seemed to dispel the confusion, and the members of the extermination squad responded reflexively and began their attacks.
A tremendous cloud of dust was kicked up, and from beyond it the scream of the white whale echoed loudly once again into the night sky above Leafous Highway.
--The long-awaited battle to defeat the White Whale has finally begun.