7

Campione held Humanity Hope in their grasp and yet so few of them lived up to it.

Most evoked fear by their very presence.

Thus the world was quite shocked by one Natsuki Subaru.

Not only did he forgive the one who humiliated him he also proved himself to be quite the hero.

The white whale and the archbishop of Sloth he slew before his ascension. Such acts were truly miraculous considering the state of the world.

The archbishops of sins were on the par of Divine Ancestor after all.

Their pseudo-authority could affect anyone, despite their divine protection, they were unstoppable. All of them also possessed a form of immortality.

The young Campione had defeated the oldest of the four Great spirits in defense of Banan.

Thus the world breathed a small sigh of relief.

A small one, for Campione, was still, no matter how kind, a Tyrant.

He had yet to unleash a Campione true wrath, for now at least.

Subaru was truly enjoying himself. Alongside his friends, he visited all the great cities of Kararagi.

He was now on his last stop, Fusumi, a city where white sakura bloom surrounded by mountains.

The sight gave Subaru a stop.

[This place is perfect for Hanami] He thought in awe.

Beatrice was also amazed by the sight before her; she was currently holding Subaru's hand.

" Fusumi is popular thanks to these white sakura flowers. But they are not the main attraction of the city. " the shinobi explained.

" What is it then? " Subaru asked distractedly.

" Its main attraction is its hot water source " Halibel started to explain only to be interrupted.

" Onsen ?! Here !? " Subaru yelled excitedly.

" Natsuki-san don't yell so loud let Halibel-san finish " Otto scolded, the gazes of all the people present in this clearing were turned towards them.

The presence of the Admirer made a few people take a double-take.

It was well known that the ninja was accompanying the third Campione in his travels around Kararagi.

Many connected the dots and paled.

Natsuki Subaru was described as a black-haired and black-eyed young man just like the one before them.

" Oh come on Otto you're excited too after hearing this right ?! " Subaru spoke lightly, his eyes focusing on the green merchant.

[Even in a kimono Otto stays in green. Ah well, who cares. Onsen, there are onsens here! I'm glad that I made this trip !] Subaru happily thought, his vacation in Kararagi was truly great.

The country had numerous beautiful sights, and Japanese culture was truly predominant here, something that he deeply missed.

Beatrice squeezed her contractor's hand.

These bouts of sadness he was prone to, worried her.

Each time they happened she made sure to remind her contractor of her presence.

[In fact, Betty will never leave her contractor .] She thought seriously.

When she took his hands she sealed her fate.

No matter what she had to overcome.

Be it Gods or Demons Beatrice would stand steadfast at her contractor side such was her oath.

Such was the depth of her loyalty.

Zarestia looked at the scene with confused eyes.

In their travels, they had already visited public baths.

She did not understand what made these so special. Thus she chose to ask.

" What's so special about these Onsen anyway? "

Subaru turned towards her with stars in his eyes.

Before he started his explanation, utterly biased towards Japanese onsen, Halibel chose to answer.

" The water from these baths comes directly from the Geyser and mountain. These baths possess much more healing and rejuvenating properties than other baths, that's why Fusumi is especially popular in that domain. " The ninja finished his explanation while smoking from his pipe.

Zarestia's eyes were shining with amazement. She had enjoyed the previous bath but now she was told that the one here was even more amazing.

She looked ready to dive into the nearest body of water.

Seeing this Melty chuckled nervously.

Though her companion noticed the shine in her eyes.

She too was excited by the prospect.

Following Natsuki Subaru allowed her to enjoy the world, something she could not do in the past.

The past few weeks spent traveling were to her one of the best moments in her life.

Yet she knew that this happiness would not last forever.

She dreaded the time when she would be ordered by Mama to betray Subaru-sama.

Either Mama's plan would succeed and she would be once again chained to her.

Forced to use her evil eyes at the will of the archbishop.

Or she would survive to endure whatever punishment Subaru-sama would enforce upon her for her betrayals.

Either way, no happy ending would await her or so she believed.

She did not use her eyes power on anyone in this group.

She had touched the hand of Subaru when she met him for the first time, only for her power to be immediately repelled.

Beatrice and Zarestia were Great spirits had she tried to bewitch them they would have noticed on the spot.

Beatrice, as young for a spirit as she was, still directly took mana from a Campione.

Spirit being composed of mana, the potency of Subaru's mana due to its divinity gave her an important edge on others spirits.

She could now match her nii-chan in a fight and still have the mana to spare.

The limits she had imposed on herself were no longer needed in the few months she was contracted to Subaru; she had gathered thrice more mana than in the 400 years she lived.

A Campione was truly a mana reservoir of the highest order.

The divinity in Subaru's mana also protected Beatrice from all mortal curses.

Anyhow, using Melty's evil eye on her would have been a waste of time.

Melty also avoided touching Halibel and Otto, she had a good excuse for it.

A nun such as her could not impunity touch other men.

Especially when she was sent as an offering to a Campione.

Thus Melty had yet to commit any act that would be seen as a betrayal against Natsuki Subaru.

Beatrice looked at Melty intensely.

[The nun's emotions are all over the place, I suppose. To jump from excitement and happiness to dread and deep-rooted fear is strange in fact] Beatrice analyzed the nun emotions critically.

Since their meeting with Tiga, Subaru had asked her to monitor Melty in secret.

He believed that the girl was being pressured by the Church to act as a spy, explaining her fear of him.

Yet the fear Beatrice felt was not directed at her contractor.

Beatrice exchanged a quick look with Subaru to inform him of the situation.

Subaru nodded and chose to change the subject not wishing to let Melty ruminate in sorrow and fear.

" Well let's find an inn everybody! " He declared energetically.

Subaru was concerned by Melty regardless of her status as a potential spy he still considered her a friend, he wished to help her.

[People should not have to live in fear like this] He thought stubbornly while being led to a prestigious inn by Halibel.

High in the mountain, she watched.

From her perch, she could feel something nagging at her senses.

The huntress' instinct was agitated; she chose to head them.

A worthy prey had appeared.

After checking at the inn the group made their way to try the famous onsen.

Beatrice had to be separated from her contractor, something she did not like.

Since having contracted him she seldom left his side.

[Betty is a great spirit she has seen more than many in this world. Why would she need to leave her contractor I suppose] She pouted.

Had it not been for Subaru's frantic dissuasion she would never leave his side.

[Betty's Subaru is such a child I suppose] She thought ironically.

Melty looked at the sullen spirit nervously.

Zarestia had already left them behind jumping excitedly in the water.

" Come on Beatrice-sama let's enjoy ourselves Subaru-sama would be disappointed if you did not appreciate the Onsen he held in such esteem " She tried to appeal to Beatrice's love for Subaru.

It was a success Beatrice looked at Melty and then nodded.

" You have a point, nun very well Betty shall enter this onsen," the loli declared.

Melty smiled hearing this.

Both entered the bath joining a happily humming Zarestia.

Meanwhile, Subaru was also enjoying his bath.

[Aaaah I feel ten years younger] Subaru happily sighed.

Otto was also thoroughly enjoying the experience.

[It was worth following Natsuki-san only for this] He thought joyously.

The aches and the trouble he felt melted away.

Halibel was drinking sake while enjoying a peaceful moment; he did not regret following Subaru.

He had been thankful for his rescue of Banan.

Had the third Campione not intervened Halibel doubted that he could have defeated Reise who possessed at that time all of Zarestia's power.

Banan would have been most likely destroyed in the ensuing fight.

Halibel was very grateful, during his travels he also took note of Natsuki Subaru's behavior.

The young King was truly a kind one.

A King he did not mind serving.

It made him wonder about the future.

Once Subaru would leave Kararagi; that was a fact, for all he enjoyed Kararagi the Campione had no intention to rule it at least for now.

What would he do?

Should he keep following the young King?

Such thought weighed on his mind.

[Ah well let's enjoy the moment] He decided to think about it later.

The time when he'll have to choose will come but it won't be today.

Halibel happily sipped his sake.

After a good dinner Japanese style once again Subaru and his companion went to sleep.

The following morning, they made their way towards the mountains.

Beatrice wished to observe the Geysers curious at their appearance; she had only learned of their existence through books and wished to deepen her knowledge.

Zarestia had been curious at the source of water that alimented all the onsen.

Thus following the two Great spirits' wishes to satiate their curiosity they made way to the mountains minus Otto.

The merchant had chosen to evaluate Fusumi market and determine which product would fetch a good price in Lugnica.

" That Otto always thinks of work, he doesn't know how to take vacations, " Subaru complained.

Zarestia nodded.

The rest of the group wondered if they needed to explain to the Campione that a merchant's work was never finished only to choose to remain silent.

They had shared looks and concluded to let Otto handle it.

In Fusumi market Otto sneezed.

" Why do I feel like Natsuki-san will cause me trouble? " He muttered.

Back in the mountains, the group was watching the Geyser in awe.

Beatrice was looking at the rising water with bright eyes.

She also took notes.

After leaving the Mathers mansion she started to keep a diary where she wrote about her travels and the sights she encountered.

No books had prepared her for the wonder of the outside world.

She happily hummed and added another check to her checklist of views she wished to witness.

It was a concept Subaru had introduced to her.

With these " checklists" she had a clear image of what she wanted to do in the future.

After contracting Subaru her time that was frozen for four centuries restarted.

And with it, she now looked forward to tomorrow while savoring the present.

Yet Beatrice knew that even if the events in her checklist could not be realized as long as she remained by her contractor's side she would be happy.

The group spent the whole morning happily exploring the mountains unaware of the one spying on them.

The huntress looked with interest at the group before her.

Two great spirits, a Hime Miko, a ninja, and a seemingly normal young man.

And yet despite not feeling anything from him, her instinct was screaming.

That one before her was a worthy prey.

She chose to head to her instinct and fired her bows unleashing torrents of arrows towards the unsuspecting group.

Subaru felt that something was wrong. He immediately served to the left taking Beatrice with him.

Halibel's ninja instinct saved him from becoming minced meat.

Zarestia caught Melty and dodged.

All of them escaped the arrows.

Only for more to appear.

Subaru with Beatrice's help quickly unleashed a barrier.

Said barrier protected them for a time only to be shattered.

The Huntress was happily watching the scene; her instinct had not wronged her, the ones before she was strong.

Melty had never been the most physically apt person thus receiving an arrow in the gut did not surprise her she could feel herself blacking out.

At the feel of the arrow, she had known that the one they were facing was a god.

This led her to lament at her failure why as a Hime mike had she not felt this god presence before.

Truly she was only a burden, her liege scream had startled her.

Yet she had already lost too much blood.

Melty Pristis Died.

Subaru was enraged as he witnessed his friend being taken down before him he unleashed his power removing Death Shroud.

Beatrice was still trying in vain to heal Melty Halibel was injured, even he could not dodge every shot.

Subaru unleashed his authority to the pleasure of the Heretic goddess attacking him.

" I am the ruler of death by my will all before me shall perish by my power all that lives shall die"

Subaru intoned the chant to activate Death Dominion

The said goddess stood at 2-meter tall bronze-skinned; she looked like an amazon.

She was wielding a great bow.

Zarestia took Halibel and Beatrice with her and escaped; she knew that now they were only a burden for the Campione.

Leaving Melty behind regretfully for she knew that it was too late to save her even Beatrice with a Campione's mana could not heal her.

The Goddess of the Hunt arrow always felled their prey when they connected.

Halibel was lucky enough to not have been hit by said arrows only by projectiles released from the impact of the arrows on the mountain.

The Goddess no longer bothered them.

Her attention was entirely focused on the Campione.

" This one knew thou was a worthy prey!" She yelled bloodily.

Subaru quickly created a new barrier.

Tanking the arrow of the Goddess before him.

The Goddess approached him immediately after.

The barrier shattered.

Subaru unleashed [Death dominion] full power.

The Goddess readied her bow attacking.

Both hits connected.

Natsuki Subaru died alongside the unnamed goddess

In the boundary between life and death, a lavender-haired woman looked at her youngest son with a troubled face.

She needed to come to a decision.

He did slay the goddess even at the cost of his life.

He could return to life earning a new authority yet his companion would still be dead.

Or he could use the authority he gained upon entering this world from the original sin and turn time back, undoing his victory.

After a timeless moment in doubt, the Goddess chose to wake up her son and let him be the one who chose his path.

Subaru woke up startled.

[ I died again didn't I? But where am I?] He thought nervously thinking that he was once again in the Witch grasp.

Yet mist surrounded him.

Grey filled this place.

No shadow hand of Darkness swallowed him.

" Are you quite alright my son?" A young woman's voice asked him.

[ Huh?! That's new?] He thought, shocked.

He turned toward the voice.

He was facing a twin-tailed young girl.

A girl of thirteen years old stood before him. Her lavender hair was tied in twin tails; her green eyes were focused on him.

The All giving woman observed her son with joy she spent so little time with her children, though the circumstances were special.

" Who are you?" Subaru asked with trepidation.

" I am the All giving woman and the mother of Campione you can call me Mama!" She exclaimed happily.

"Huh?! '' Subaru processed her words.

" I politely decline; I already have a mother!" Subaru declared and bowed in apologies.

The one before him brought him back to life and helped immensely after all.

The mother of Campione smiled softly at the sight.

" No need for that, you are my child after all" she spoke softly.

Subaru looked at her again this time more critically her timeless eyes were without a doubt a sign of her immortality.

[ Still, why is she so young?] He thought; confused.

The Goddess pouted upon hearing these thoughts.

She relented and chose to go to the heart of the matter; their time together was limited after all.

" My son, you must choose: return to the living in this time or return to the past." She announced seriously.

Subaru looked hesitantly.

" What does it change?" He asked at least.

" If you return now you will be granted a new authority from the Goddess you just slew. Yet your friend the Hime Miko will remain dead." She explained.

" What about Melty?! Death dominion should be able to bring her back right?" He asked more hesitantly; he felt guilty about Melty's death had he been faster, more prepared she would not have died.

" The Hime Miko body was destroyed in your fight. The Great spirit of the wind saved your companions all except the young priestess survived." She announced sadly knowing the impact these words would have on her son.

Subaru looked like he had been struck; he paled rapidly upon hearing that news.

Part of him was relieved that the other survived.

Without a body, he could not use Death dominion.

Without it, he can't bring her back from Death.

Subaru started despairing.

" Wait!? I can return to the past right?!" The sentence she previously uttered filled him with hope.

She looked at him seriously.

" Indeed you can return to death before the nun's death yet you will have to face the Goddess of the Hunt once again, you will not retain the authority you just gained. Your Triumph is not assured. Choose wisely" she concluded, already knowing her son's answer.

That child of her was kind after all.

Subaru's eyes shined with determination.

He had already decided.

" I chose to return to death !" He announced.

He then asked with more hesitation.

" Why can I still Return to death ?"

She smiled sadly.

" What you call Return by death is an authority, a piece of a fallen Goddess you obtained upon entering this world." She answered.

" Why did it choose me?" He muttered he was thankful for the power he obtained still Rbd was a nightmare come to life.

" It was due to your compatibility with Pride and your otherworldy statue" she replied.

" I see?" He murmured.

The Space around him started to blur.

He was returning to the world of the living.

Knowing that Subaru yelled one last thing.

" Thank you for saving me ! Haha-ue!" He spoke with gratitude.

He was met with a radiant smile.

Natsuki Subaru returned by death