5

Sheep's blood and Wolfs Cloth:

It was as if time stood still around the Sin Archbishop of Greed, the wind did not blow through his hair, nor did Regulus require to breath, he spoke bitterly the most, but made expectations for those willing to show 'respect', "Regulus Corneas, Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult representing Greed"

Subaru nodded, "I see, then if we are both willing to give our names and speak on equal terms, could we come to reason?"

Regulus smiled, "But of course, in fact, I hate fighting, it ruses me up for no reason, its gross, irritating, and distracts me from my goals at hand, its unnecessary really, and I'm glad that we could come to common terms as to equal parties as tha-"

"ENOUGH" shouted an angered Oni, and a morning star in pursuit, Regulus went flying leftwards.

"REM!" Subaru yelled out in anger

"WHAT, HE WAS REMS ENEMEY, A FILTHY CULTIST THAT HAD TO DIE!" The blue haired maid yelled back

"Rem, you think I don't know that?!" Subaru threw his left hand to the side in anger, "If I had wanted to, I would have attacked him from the get-go!" replied a pissed raven youth

"Rem- no, that was the only way-" the Oni continued before she was abruptly faced with a dirty child

"REM" Gluttony licked his palm and moved to tap Rem's forehead-

"I don't think so" and Julius Juukulius, the knight of knights, slashed towards Gluttony from the side, only for the dirty haired boy to dodge and move away seemingly instantly,

"Such gourmet meals!" The boy smiled sadistically, "Today we will feast!"

Regulus couldn't understand why he had been thrown away, more so ever, why anyone would dare to, because, in fact, attacking someone without reason nor their consent was in due course, rude. With Regulus being perfect as he is, was enraged, so much in fact, that he wanted the person who attacked himself to be dealt with quickly and violently, not daring to create even more of a waste in time that he had already delt with. Truthfully be told, it was not the boy with black hair that Regulus was mad at, but that boys' accomplices, an idiot knight, and a violent Oni, for what reason had Greed been attacked for?! Fighting for his individuality? Standing merely contempt as he was? No! He was attacked because idiots existed, imperfect lifeforms if you may, and seemingly, the closer to perfection one was, the more of a burden others around the individual became, and with the midnight boy, who spoke an equal tongue, with as much respect as he could muster, the boy was surrounded by lesser beings, who just as Ley was a burden to Regulus, the two accomplices of the boy were a burden to him. Regulus sighed, he didn't necessarily want to fight, and the fact that the other party's leader was perfectly content with talking was more motivation for Regulus to leave the situation at hand and complete his, as the Sin Archbishop of Greed's, ordeals. Shaking his head and rising to his feet, Regulus walked calmly over to the other party, who in this case, was deep in battle with Ley, who for all that he was worth, was struggling, a spirit knight and an Oni maid, Ley was losing to those buffoons? Greed sighed once more and now took on the full gaze of Natsuki Subaru, who like Regulus who stood in front of him, who seemed to have no intention of fighting, "It is unfortunate really, to have inconsistent allies who do nothing but merely waste you time and cause you struggle?",

Subaru nodded slowly at Regulus' words,

"But I suppose that remains an issue for those who strive for perfection" Regulus sighed. "Natsuki Subaru, I Regulus Corneas wish not to fight you, merely, I have indeed taking interest in you, as one individual would in another, not in a romantic sense, nor that of ill contempt, but rather that of fondness, but in saying that, I do not promote the ideas nor the actions of your compatriots ", Regulus stated as Ley, the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony, went flying in the background, a hard hit from the blue Oni's morning star, "Such actions are inexcusable to me, that's why I ask of you, out of good will for the both of parties, to discipline such allies?"

"Hm" Subaru nodded.

At this point, the raven youth couldn't make sense of everything that was anything, the witch's cult's own Sin Archbishop of Greed, the most powerful man in the cult, one who could single handedly level a city, was refusing to fight, merely because Subaru had used words over actions, and better yet, he was treating Subaru as if they were equal, like there had been no power gap whatsoever, Subaru swore, if Regulus wasn't a cultists, he'd befriend the white themed man here and now. Someone who could understand the cruelty of this world, although easy to anger and a bit unfair, Regulus Corneas was certainly someone who Subaru could understand, slightly.

"Do not be woed by his wording Natsuki Subaru" the archaic voice called out dissatisfied

(But why not? He seems like a genuine guy?), Subaru replied hastily

"Thou art an idiot if thou believe this cur to have nothing but decent meanings, remember, for he is the enemy" Stride replied in a frustrated tone

(So then how should I approach this? How do I drive off the single most powerful cultist to ever live?)

"Thy have already managed to woe Greed thyself, hurry him along by convincing the archbishop that this situation is nothing but a waste of time" Stride responded sternly, forcing Subaru to take note of his wording

(Yeah yeah I get that) Subaru retorted in a disrespectful tone, he didn't care to much at this point, the raven youth just wanted to get to the capital, the day had been long enough already.

Stride hissed, "Thou are drunk on confidence and attitude, remember who mineself is or I will treat you with just as much disrespect" the archaic man sighed, "Remember, convince the archbishop kindly, for the last thing thou would wish for is that Greed will grow to be irritated"

The nasty eyed boy sighed, (as you command boss)

"Regulus Corneas, I have not much to say, but I completely agree", Subaru paused and Greed smiled, "For the actions of my allies were.. to say the least, uncalled for"

Regulus nodded, "But of course, for one to attack another while they are content, without permission nor hesitation, such a crude action is impolite, or at the very least, annoying, I'm glad, that you as an individual are able to recognize the shortcomings of your accomplishes, however if I may, speak onto you, I wish that your allies recognize just how rude they have been, I have shown nothing but kindness and respect, and having being treated this way-"

"This wasn't supposed to happen", and to Regulus' annoyance, a women.

A women who looked as pure as first winters snowfall,

A women who paced herself as a commoner but had all the presence of a goddess,

A women who had sapphire eyes that could challenge the shade of the deepest of oceans,

A women who held such a benevolent posture,

Subaru gulped at her stance, then looking to the Sin Archbishop of Greed, Regulus had grown an angry expression.

"Why are you here you irrefutable women? Can't you see, I, myself, as perfect as I am, discussing matters with another individual, with such individual not being you, I see no reason for you to be here, and then, the audacity!? To come and speak over me while I am in the middle of a conversation, to speak you're flawed ideology while I stand, not willing to hear? Rid yourself of your presence, as continuously being here is a violation of not just mine, but any individuals' rights partaking in said conversation, so once again, rid yourself and begone, for I do not have the time nor the patience for you!"

The platinum haired women smiled, "How heartbreaking you see me this way bishop Corneas, but alas, I cannot agree to your terms, doing such things would cause... a hinderance"

"What?! Hinderance?! You speak of such things as-"

"Bishop Corneas never reached the Lifaus Highway, he is at home with his wives", the women spoke.

"What?!-" and Greed vanished, without a trace, an action thus artificial, Natsuki Subaru wondered if the women Infront of himself had hacks enabled.

Then gazing toward the raven-youth boy, "Ah now that is a wonderful thing Natsuki Subaru, to from a contract with another, one set in your od, a bond so beautiful" She began to clap, a few tears, "I applaud such magnificence"

"Uh" Subaru at a loss couldn't understand a single event, he was confused, slightly concerned for both his wellbeing and for the women at his gaze, and utterly, well, dumbfounded.

Wiping her tears, the platinum women with Sapphire eyes began to move forward, in the background Gluttony rushed an attack directed towards Julius, who parried with his sword, a black dagger clashing against the spirit knight's pristine blade.

The women began to speak, "However, this was not supposed to happen, as much as it amazes me, such things were not fated to occur" She reached her hand forward

Two meters, he looked warily,

One meter, he sweat,

Thirty centimeters, he gulped

Contact,

.

..

…

But nothing happened,

The women grew a frown on her face, as the palm of her right hand touched Subaru's chest, she rose a confused brow, "what is thi-"

A look, a look so dreadful that took all the women's beauty a way,

She drooled, she cried, she shook uncontrollably, and she fell,

To her knees, she shook on the ground, twitching slightly, her eyes blank.

"Um", Subaru continuously stood dumbstricken, "Beggars can't be choosers I guess…", the Japanese teen patted the top of his head along his right hand and stared to the women's body awkwardly, "Did she have a stroke or-"

And from behind him, she spoke, her body seemingly disappearing at Subaru's front gaze, "Who are you to decide your fate?"

"Huh?!" Subaru turned around,

The women had a dissatisfied look on her face, "Tell me Stride, who decided such a thing?", she reached again touching Subaru's chest, the same process occurred, she fell, she cried, and she shook her head.

Subaru kept his eyes wide, whatever the seemingly benevolent women at first glance had been trying to do, it obviously wasn't working.

"Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you? Who are you?" and she paused, she fell back, standing, watching, her eyes focused on Subaru, a frown still on her face, "I am sorry for my crude behavior Natsuki Subaru" she shook her head, "We were never meant to meet here at this time"

"What?"

"I apologize once more" grasping her hands, the platinum themed women turned around, "The Witch Of Vainglory had left upon Greed's disclosure", and she disappeared

"Vainglory?" Subaru trailed as he stood, confused, slightly anxious, and then, looking to his left-

"Hrghhh!" a dirty child was sent to the ground as a white beam incased the boy.

"Nowwwww, just where did our very own Natsuki Subaru runnnn off too?", asked a flying jester aloud as a pink Oni clung to the clowns arms in bridal position.

It had been fifteen minutes, at least since the duo of master and servant had passed the corpse of the white whale, upon the news that Natsuki Subaru had slain the beast, the Matthers grew a frown, all more to prove the looping boy had formed a contract with a being much powerful then himself. Afterall, to defeat the same great mabeast that had murdered the previous sword saint in merely one punch, it was quite unbelievable Afterall. So, Roswall began to think, he had the time to do so Afterall, and the clown dressed lord, putting his four-century year old brain to work came to a few ideas, a spirit, the witch cult, or perhaps, The Witch Of Envy herself.

Roswall flying along the air came to witness two figures, both green, however in different spots respectfully, one bodied by the color in full, the other along the hair, Roswall smiled as he knew who he was to come into contact with.

Slowing to a halt and gradually descending downwards the magi lord called to duo figures, "Ahhh, jussst what do we have here~?"

The figure entrenched in green gulped as the man became clearly visible, he had a fair tone to his skin and sported ashen hair, his robes would tell he'd be a merchant, and his mannerisms aided to a nervous persona.

As for the women, Roswall was able to recognize her immediately, long green hair, amber eyes, and the persona of a Valkyrie, Crusch Karsten.

"Is that you Matthers?", the women called out from the ground,

"It isssss, and might you be the duchess perhaps?", the indigo haired jester replied happily

"Hmph", she nodded.

"I seeeee" Roswall smiled, "You look quite distressed, what seems to be the problem?"

The duchess tensed, rising her left arm behind her and pointing upward to the highway in the rear, "The witch cult, they attacked us while we were in a dragon carriage"

"Issss that so, may I ask just who you were with?"

The amber eyes of the king's candidate darted towards those of the monochrome Matthers and grew a frustrated expression, "Rem, one of your maids, Julius Juukulius, and... Natsuki Subaru"

Roswall eyes widened, "Buttt of course"

Crusch sighed, "Wither they have been successful in fending off the witch cult or not I do not know, what I can tell you is that the situation is dire, both the Sin archbishop of Gluttony and Greed are present, It cant be decide-"

Roswall kept his eccentric tone, "I seeeee, so it is necessarrrrry that I reach the battlefield immediately"

"Right" the green haired women nodded,

"then I shall take-"

Far off in the distance, a bright light, encasing a chunk of the Lifaus highway came from behind the duchess

"Hm" Roswall looked curiously, the duchess turned wearily

The Matthers took off, forwards towards the previously casted light

"Hrghhh!" Ley fell into a mix debris and highway, he was wounded, severely, not enough to kill the bishop of Gluttony, but enough to render himself in cable, and he looked around, turning his head hurt, but the child had no time for pain, he needed to feast. But what Ley, with all his desires, couldn't understand, the gourmet had beat him, Regulus abandoned him, and, at one point the dirt covered child had sworn he'd seen Pandora lazing around, drooling on the ground, and finally, staring him down in disappointment, Pride made his move.

"You tried I guess, but, both Rem and Julius, let me tell you buddy, from firsthand experience, those two can cause you a pretty damn hard beating" Pride remarked and began to move to Ley's side, "So it probably sucked having to face both of them eh?"

"Subaru" the Oni maid called out

"Just what are you doing?" The gourmet knight questioned hastily

"Mm, checking something" Subaru reached out his hand, tapping Ley's shoulder…

…

…

…

"Damn, so it's kind of like Petelgeuse, I really hoped not all of you Archbishops were like that" Subaru sighed and fell back to sit beside Ley, "That'd be rigged"

Ley, blood on his face, hunger in his eyes, weakly rose his arm towards Subaru, "Su-baru"

"Ah, I wouldn't try that" Subaru shook his head, "Yeah, you'd make this Vollachian guy I know pretty damn angry"

"Subaru what are you talking about?!" Julius called out, his patience now behind.

"Relax, the kid's gonna die eventually, it's just better to get something out of him beforehand" the raven youth sighed, "To be honest" Pride locked his nasty eyes with Ley.

Ley Batenkaitos struggled to understand this new Pride, he was, sincere, calm, and confident, it wasn't kindness he showed the starving boy, but a peculiar form of fondness, the nasty-eyed boy was, bizarre.

"So, Ley was it? Since you're gonna die, why not talk to me? About all those experiences, all those memories eaten? Unless you believe the whole 'righteous' path of the witch cult to be your main motivator"

"Roy" he muttered under his breath

"Roy?" Pride raised a brow

"Roy is still under that woman, kill her, free him, we need to"

"Under that woman?" The black haired Pride kept a curious gaze, "What's with this we-" he paused, nine seconds passed and the black haired boy shook his head, "I see", Then raising himself upward, Pride looked down at the defeated glutton, "Julius, lets not kill him just yet, Lugnica's better off keeping him a prisoner so we can further learn about the cult"

"Subaru…" the knight of knights paused, "He's dangerous"

"Of course he is, he's a witch cultist", With his nasty eyes, the raven youth shook his head, "But there's a saying from where I come from" Subaru paused and exhaled, "The greater the risk the larger the reward, I mean- this is A Sin Archbishop were talking about, it's a once in a lifetime opportunity to get the information we need-"

"HE DESERVES TO DIE" Rem threw her morning star, Subaru wasn't quick enough, it headed to the broken down Gluttony-

"I~ don't thinkkkkk that was such a good idea my dear Rem~" the Matthers.

"Roswall" Subaru began to chuckle and folded his arms, "For once in my impulsive life, I'm glad to see you"

"Ahhh, I can say~ somethinggg similar dear Subaruuu" stated a jester as he held a morning star in his left hand, he shook his head and looked towards a shocked Rem, "You realllly should listen to others my dear maid~, jusssst howwww many times have we hadddd a conversation like this?"

Rem shook her head, "No, I-"

Subaru looked downward, "I'd leave it at that, Rem"

Rem paused, she looked towards her lord and then towards the one she loved, she slowly retracted her morning star and bowed, "Rem apologizes for her inadequate actions"

"Wither you are forgiven or not is up to our dear Natsuki Kun" Roswall turned to Subaru,

Subaru shook his head, "She's not my responsibility right now"

Roswall nodded, "Choose you words carefully dear Subaru, youuuu are stillll under my household afterall"

Subaru paused and then looked up to the jester in blue décor, "Didn't Ram tell you? I relieved myself as a butler of your domain?"

The clown grew a frown, "Just howww could I forget" the matthers shook his head, "I see then, then do youuuuu plan on leaving Ms. Emilia as well?"

"I do"

The clown's world froze

What was he supposed to do, this boy stood in full confidence, listed his bashful wording without a second thought and all he could muster after all was a sturdy gaze at the Matthers,

What was Roswall to do?

What could he do?

He wanted to be the last, the last of his four-hundred-year-old legacy,

But he couldn't be,

And that's why he'd force Natsuki Subaru to restart.

Roswall slowly walked over to Subaru, a now sinister aura to his stride,

Subaru took note of this sudden change in the atmosphere and backed up slightly,

"Natsuki Subaru, ifff you do not intend on serving Ms. Emilia, thennn I'm afraid I am going to take drastic messssures"

Another step,

Subaru scoffed, "Is that so?"

"Indeed" the matthers stated in a continuously eccentric tone,

"…"

"I willlll give you one last opportunity~"

Subaru looked at the Matthers, beginning to formulate a scapegoat behind his nasty hazel eyes,

"Restart the loop"

"…"

The wind dared to whistle as the world stood still,

"You.." Subaru stood wearily, "You know?- That I can?-"

"Wellllll, I do not know the specifics, I certainlllly know you have beeeeen messing with this worlds flow"

"You…" The boy turned silent and looked to the jester, the jester who could make note of the sudden stir of emotions developing on the otherworldly boy's face smiled.

"Hmmm~" Roswall raised an eye,

What the two weren't expecting was for the knight of knights of all people to come in-between,

"I apologize if this may seem rude, Lord Matthers, but Natsuki Subaru is currently under my watch, and therefore, my protection, should anything happen to him, such a situation would reflect on me instead" Julius made note as he kept a pristine blade raised.

"I see" Roswall smiled, "Theeeeen it is decided", a beautiful concentration of blue and red flames began to emit from the court mages palms, "If youuuu intend on protecting Natsuki Subaruuuu, youuuu will have to dieee along with him"

The highway roared with the clash of magic, Julius' spirts barely managing to keep up with the matthers fire.

"Al GOA" Roswall yelled and a large flame headed towards the spirit knight,

"Al Huma!" Julius parried the blow summoning a water shield

"Al Fura!" The magi called again, this time a torment of wind blades directed towards Julius,

"Dona!" The ground rose to block the wind,

And this is roughly how the battle proceeded, Roswall striked, Julius parried

But both the Jester Lord and Knight of Knights could tell this wouldn't proceed much longer, Julius was weak as he had fought the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony just moments ago, and now, faced against an opponent as great as Roswall Matthers, how was Julius to compete for long?

The knight of knights sharpened his focus and prepared for the next attack, he glanced quickly on an equal as tired Subaru,

"Do you have a plan?" Subaru asked hastily,

"I do not" Julius replied,

Subaru shook his head quickly, "Then how about this, let me get as close to him as possible"

Julius' eyes widened as he pressed his sword against the large earth dome defending the two from the Matthers onslaught, "That wind would tear you to shreds"

"Well what other plan do we have? He's on the offence, unless we do something quick, he'll have our heads!"

Julius sighed quickly, "Then go, I'll make an opening for you"

"Right" Subaru nodded as he ran towards the edge of the dome

"Al Goa!" Julius raised his voice and the dome exploded forwards, a large fire came off of the spirit knights swords and acted almost like a volcano, quickly over powering the matthers dome with spewing fire.

"Clevvverrr, but not clever enough! Ul Minya!" and shards enclosed on the spirit knight from above.

Julius's looked with sunken eyes, "I'll parry every blow"

And the attack was launched, a purple dust encased the surrounding area in which the knight stood, Julius now no longer visible.

"Nowwww, just wheeeere are you Subarrrru?" The aged magi looked about, the nasty eyed boy was nowhere, not near the previously blown dome, nor with the knight, and certainly nowhere near the ground, which only meant-

Roswall turned his body around backward quickly and violently- a punch

The azure haired magi was blasted into the ground, being rushed backward three fields,

"What-" Roswall was punched again in the opposite direction,

"What is this-" another blow from upward, cementing him into the ground, he couldn't feel his lower body, nor the left side of his face, the pain oozed from all active parts not affected by a solum numb and then, the Matthers, beat in the face raised his eyes upward, and there stood Natsuki Subaru, hunched over, his legs weak, his clothes ruffled,

"Ya know, I couldn't understand why [Strides Eye] wouldn't work on you" he coughed, "So I took to beating the living shit out of you instead"

"S- u- baru-" Roswall was weak

"You're lucky, that I couldn't use the full extend of my authority, otherwise you'd be as good as broken glass" the nasty eyed boy chuckled, "Now Ros-chi, ya tried to kill me and you failed, what your next plan? Apologize on your knees and say you're sorry?"

Roswall was silent,

"Wait that's right, you wouldn't apologize, you're just like every damn other person here, because, unless you have flaming red hair and sky blue eyes, you're a terrible being, just like the rest of this tarnished and backwatered world, but let me tell you, oh great and benevolent Matthers, I'm going to change it all, all my actions, all the justice and righteousness I impose will be for the benefit of everyone, not just for my selfish self, but because I want to help others. And if, if I have to kill, if I have to get rid of the wicked because they will not change for the majority, I will, and for whatever reason, if that starts with you, I'll kill you, just like I did Sloth, I'll purge this world of evil" raising his arms outwards with a broken smile, "hell I might get so good at it the people'll start calling me the Purge King or whatever" he laughed, then taking a deep breath Natsuki Subaru paused, "Now, Roswall Matthers, die-Urgk!"

He was cut, from behind a blade of wind pierced his back, "This, this is-" rolling his head, Natsuki Subaru turned to see Ram, tears in her eyes as she held her wand, "Ram" Subaru smiled and fell, beside the Matthers, the blood of Lord and former butler mixed as both slowly lost their conscious, "Ram you idiot…" Natsuki Subaru fell into a gaze of black