8
An instant later, a massive gale consumed the desert.
“Whoa?!”
“What is that?!”
Subaru shouted as he dodged furious demon beast attacks, and Beatrice raised her voice in surprise, too, even as she continued healing Meili.
And, of course, Julius reacted the same while putting on a masterful, superhuman performance against Shaula.
No, his surprise might have been even greater.
Because even though he leaped back, sensing danger in the terrible sandstorm clouding his vision, there was no follow-up attack.
And discovering why, Julius continued to feel shock.
“This is…! Subaru!!!”
Hearing that shout, Subaru coughed up a mouthful of sand and turned in that direction. In doing that, he realized why Julius was so desperate and opened his eyes wide.
“Shaula?!”
“Sssssss!”
What Subaru saw was the crimson scorpion, toppled over in the sandstorm, its legs flailing in the air.
The tower’s keeper—its star guardian, according to her introduction—who had shown no reaction so far to any of the attacks it had faced, who had chased them with ruthless, robotic precision…had suddenly glitched out.
“Julius, did you do something?!”
“No, I did nothing of note. I was merely focused on withstanding the assault. When that sandstorm blew through…”
“Gale…right, that wind…”
The powerful wind that had swallowed them up moments earlier. When Julius called it a sandstorm, Subaru noticed something was off.
The merciless sandstorm that consumed those who ventured into the Auguria Dunes. Ever since they had broken through the problematic barrier and reached the area around the tower, there had not been a single gust of wind.
Certainly not anything that could be called a sandstorm. What blew just now was…
“Subaru! Look! In the sky!”
Beatrice’s adorable voice rang out as his mind raced with thoughts. Drawn by her voice, he looked up and saw it.
The change that had occurred. The incredibly obvious and dramatic change.
“The clouds cleared.”
The Pleiades Watchtower that reached through the clouds, up into the heavens.
The highest floor had not been visible from below because it was shrouded by clouds. The strange clouds that shrouded the watchtower had cleared.
And then he finally realized it. The wind just now had been to clear those clouds.
With the clouds gone, they could see the very top of the tower.
And in Subaru’s optimistic analysis, that could only mean one thing.
“Emilia did it.”
Murmuring to himself, he sensed the locations of his comrades in the tower through Cor Leonis—Emilia at the very summit, and Ram and Patrasche near her.
They had done it. Meaning if his guess was right…
“The tower’s rules have been broken…Shaula! Hey, Shaula! Listen up!”
“Sssssss!”
“You don’t have to fight us anymore! You can be free…”
He didn’t know if the writhing crimson scorpion was suffering because the ancient covenant dwelling inside her had been severed, or any of the details.
But what he did know was that enough was enough. There was no need for her to suffer anymore…
“Right, Shau—”
“—! Subaru!!!”
As he called out and started to approach her, something grabbed his collar. The next moment, as he was dragged to the ground, a sharp tail furiously tore through the space he had just occupied.
Subaru was speechless as he felt the passing wind and smelled something distinctly burnt in the air.
If Julius had not pulled him back just now, that would have been a direct hit.
But what hurt the most wasn’t the sensation of death, but…
“Hey, Shaula! Shaula! What was that?! Get ahold of yourself!!!”
“Sssssss.”
Hearing his frantic plea, the crimson scorpion slowly adjusted itself, regaining its footing. Its compound eyes shook as it stood back up, but it slowly locked on to Subaru while spittle dripped from its ferocious fangs.
That didn’t look like the behavior of a rational creature…
“Subaru, I’m sorry to say…”
Julius grabbed Subaru’s shoulder and started to step forward. However, knowing what he was thinking, Subaru grabbed him by the arm and stopped him.
He understood Julius was trying to bear the unpleasant role himself. But he wasn’t going to let that happen.
“I decided to save her—I’m going to save her.”
“Out of duty to a pupil you cannot recall?”
“No.” Subaru shook his head. That wasn’t it. He didn’t want to help her because he was her master or anything. “It’s not because I’m her master. I’m doing it because I was moved by her.”
“ ”
“She’s like Beako. All alone in this tower in the sands, crying in joy from the couple days we spent here together. How can I abandon someone like that?”
Gritting his teeth, Subaru maintained his grip on Julius’s arm.
Looking back at him, Julius exhaled.
“…You are as stubborn as ever. But that is how it should be.”
“Julius?”
“No, I was just astonished yet again. Once you start putting on airs, they must be maintained till the very end.”
Julius smiled slightly as he touched the scar on his left cheek.
Subaru’s eyes narrowed, and he noticed something soft in his open left hand. Looking, he saw Beatrice there. She was looking at Subaru with those big, round eyes that were more adorable than anything.
“Meili is through the worst of it. All that is left is…”
“Can you help me bring her out?”
“Betty would be a terrible friend if she said ‘no’ now… You really are a helpless partner, Subaru.”
Subaru scratched his cheek with an awkward smile.
And then, holding hands with the great spirit he was contracted with, he faced the crimson scorpion—Shaula.
Two spirit knights stood shoulder to shoulder, across from a crying girl who needed to be saved.
And…
“My body and spirit are exhausted…so hurry up and let us save you, Shaula!”
The final battle of the Pleiades Watchtower was going into overtime.
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