Episode 6: Sunder the "Unseen Hand"

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Men
Ohhhhhh!!

Kyaru
There are so many... Everyone, get ready! They're coming all at once!

Rem
How could they have gathered so many disciples in such a short time...!

Ram
He was just pretending to be cornered. Making it look like we had the upper hand, so that he could turn the tables on us.

Pecorine
T-This is really getting hard to bear... By the way, will these people go back to normal if we take out that guy?

Rem
Once they've already becoming members of the Witch Cult...

Puck
No, that's not necessarily so, is it?

Kokkoro
Great spirit, are you thinking about something?

Puck
People are transformed into Witch Cultists through a power that flows through the "Gospel" that the Sin Archbishop holds. But could those powers really extend to this world?

Ram
So, great spirit, what you're saying is that the transformation into Witch Cultists is only temporary?

Puck
I can't be sure, but yes. I'd much prefer to believe that than just to say, "let's kill 'em all anyway!"

Emilia
Yes, that does sound so very much better! Then, that changes our battle plan completely!

Christina
What are you talking about? If you aren't in the mood to fight, then fall back. We can handle all of the incoming...

Emilia
Chris, I'd like to ask you to fall back instead! Puck and I will be causing a big boom here shortly!

Kyaru
A big boom... N-No way, you can't mean you're going to use that same insane magic from before!?

Ram
There goes Emilia again...! Everyone, scatter! Tell those knights to hurry!

Pecorine
Whoa!? A giant piece of ice is falling from the sky!

Pecorine
I simply can't bear to think how much shaved ice we could make from that!

Kyaru
Quit thinking such useless thoughts and evacuate!

Emilia
Take this!!

Kokkoro
W-What incredible magic... Such immense firepower.

Pecorine
Hmm, wouldn't you call this "icepower" instead of firepower?

Rem
Everyone, are you unharmed? Nobody was crushed or caught up in the impact, were you?

Puck
Honestly, how rude. Lia and I would never miss our mark so carelessly.

Emilia
That's right -- you worry too much, Rem. It's fine... We were right on target.

Kyaru
On target... Ah!

Petelgeuse
Silver-haired half-elf...! You mean to say you were aiming at me!?

Ram
Petelgeuse has been cut off from the rest of the Witch Cultists...

Kokkoro
An excellent idea, Lady Emilia. With this, we can devote our full attention to Sir Petelgeuse.

Christina
And that means it falls to Nightmare to face the rest of these annoying hordes. What rotten luck. But, fine.

Pecorine
Wait, there are a lot of enemies over there. Do you need help?

Christina
Ha ha, what are you saying? Who do you think I am? Who do you think we are? As unsatisfied as I am with our lot, I'll yield the stage to you.

Christina
It wouldn't do to steal the spotlight from your precious displays of friendship. I'm smart enough to know that.

Emilia
Ah! The people who've been taken away might return to normal! So please...

Christina
Try not to kill them? Of course. As knights, we're accustomed to that from our training!

Kyaru
I've heard that the knights' training is a matter of life or death itself...

Ram
In any case, Emilia has surprisingly chosen the most suitable solution to this problem. Rem! We must also take this chance to show off our strengths!

Rem
Yes, big sister! Leave it to me!

Man 1
Uohhhh!

Rem
Then, as a token of our hospitality, allow me to show you how the maids of another world operate.

Rem
Haaah!!

Man 1
Gaaah!

Kyaru
Is that a horn sprouting on her head...!?

Rem
Rem and I are demons. When we become serious, our horns grow from our heads.

Kyaru
Then, the same thing will happen to you...

Ram
When I become serious? Hah! As if that were possible.

Kyaru
T-This girl...! She's just making her little sister do all the fighting...!

Rem
No, just from having my big sister watching over me from behind, my power is multiplied a hundred-fold, or even two hundred-fold! She's incredible!

Ram
Hmph.

Kyaru
What's the deal with these demon sisters!?

Man 2
Uohhhh!

Pecorine
Ah! Wah! They just keep coming one after another!

Emilia
Pecorine, crouch down! I'll create an opening for you to take him out!

Pecorine
Ooh! A combo play with me and Emilia! Then, let's show Petey our super effective teamwork!

Emilia
I'm not sure what this "combo play" thing is about, but with our powers combined, we'll be unstoppable!

Pecorine & Emilia
Hi-yaaah!!

Man 2
Gaaah!

Emilia
Kokkoro! Please take care of the fallen!

Kokkoro
Yes, leave it to me! I'll bind them and bring them away from the battlefield!

Kokkoro
Master, and any knights who are available, please lend me your help.

Yuuki
1. "Got it!"

Royal Knight 1
A-Ah, leave it to me! Allow me to help!

Kokkoro
Thank you very much. We're slowly whittling down the enemy's numbers this way, but...

Petelgeuse
Anywhere and everywhere... One after another! You are all ruining my plans!

Petelgeuse
Ahhh, this will not do! At this rate, I'll never be able to demonstrate my faith, my love -- or my diligence!

Pecorine
Hmm! He looks like he's clutching his head in pain -- now that the path is clear, this could be our chance!

Pecorine
Petey, get ready!

Kyaru
Nice, Pecorine! Get him!

Pecorine
Yes! I'll just... H-Huh!?

Petelgeuse
... My brain is quaking.

Rem
Pecorine froze mid-jump?

Pecorine
Ugh... H-Huh? This is... a little hard to bear!

Ram
Her armor is bending...? No! You may not be able to see anything, but get away from there, Pecorine!

Pecorine
Gaaah!!

Kokkoro
Ah! Pecorine was flung out of the air!

Pecorine
Ouch! Ooh, I landed really hard on my butt!

Kyaru
Quit playing around! What was that!? Why did you freeze in the air like that!?

Pecorine
I didn't have anything to do with it... I just felt something catch me in mid-air, and I felt like it had a really tight grip...

Pecorine
I feel like I was only able to get free by using the full power of the Royal Armament...

Kyaru
... You had to use the Royal Armament's full power!?

Emilia
What is this Royal Armament? It sounds so very powerful...

Kokkoro
It's a special piece of equipment owned by Pecorine. By using its powers, she can exert force far beyond what any normal person could.

Pecorine
But in exchange, I get really hungry...

Kyaru
To think that Pecorine would have trouble escaping, even with the Royal Armament... The rest of us might just be torn apart...!

Christina
Now that you mention it, he did also use attacks on me that were invisible to the naked eye. You'd best be careful!

Kyaru
You should've said that sooner! Don't keep important information like that to yourself!

Ram
So, we're in trouble, then. We can't afford to draw near him carelessly.

Petelgeuse
Now you understand the position you're in, it seems. But still, this was quite a surprise!

Petelgeuse
I didn't expect a girl like you, on your own power, to be able to escape the authority granted to me by the witch!

Petelgeuse
However, your assault ends here! There is no way you can break through my authority!

Kokkoro
Sir Petelgeuse does have a point. Master, what are we to do...

Yuuki
1. "Pecorine, can you?"
2. "Emilia, could you?"

Option 1.

Pecorine
Buy time? Leave it to me! With the Royal Armament's power, even if I'm caught, I should be able to escape!

Pecorine]
But I'm going to be really hungry after this, so we'd better have a big feast once we're back in Landsol!

Option 2.

Emilia
Strike him from a distance with magical attacks, right? I'm not sure that they'll have an effect, but... Yes! This isn't the time to hesitate!

Emilia
There must be some way we can win! I'll do what I can to buy time until we find it!

End of branches.

Petelgeuse
Then, what will you do? If you simply hand over the silver-haired elf and the half-elf, then...

Kyaru
I refuse!

Petelgeuse
Oh, my.

Rem
Only in your dreams would things work out like that. Sin Archbishop, you will fall here by our hand!

Petelgeuse
What friendship! But you will come to regret this choice!

Pecorine
He's using his mysterious power again! Everyone, please break off and escape!

Emilia
Pecorine! I'll keep on backing you up!

Pecorine
Yes, I'll be counting on you, Emilia!

Petelgeuse
Sticking so stubbornly to your mistaken decisions! That can only be sloth... Sloth, sloth, sloth sloth sloth!

Petelgeuse
Unbearable, idiotic sloth!!

Pecorine
That's cold-hearted of you to call it sloth! I take my work pretty seriously here! You can't eat if you don't work, after all!

Emilia
I might have Ram and Rem to help me out, but I also try to manage my own affairs as much as I can!

Ram
... I know that they're buying us time with this, but they're really not on the winning side of this argument.

Rem
Our attacks don't work on him, and we don't understand the true form of his... Even Emilia's mana and Pecorine's physical strength have limits!

Kyaru
Then, what are we supposed to do!? We can't defend against attacks we can't see! Isn't this cheating!?

Kokkoro
...? Master, what is it?

A flashback.

Nostradamus?
One last thing. Above all else, watch out for the "Unseen Hand"!

Nostradamus?
Then, good luck! Stay alive, brother!

End of flashback.

Yuuki
1. "Is this the 'Unseen Hand'?"

Kyaru
Huh? What are you talking about? The important thing right now is his invisible attacks...

Ram
So that's it -- the "Unseen Hand."

Rem
Do you know about it, big sister!?

Ram
Yes, I know what he's doing. I can see the mechanics behind the Sin Archbishop's authority.

Ram
Naturally, they cannot be seen by the naked eye.

Kyaru
Don't just stand there looking smug! If you know something, then just tell us without hesitation!

Ram
Of course, I intend to tell you without hesitation.

Ram
In order to foil his plans, I will need every ounce of everyone's power -- including you two, Kyaru, Kokkoro.

Ram
Tell me. The prophet, Barusu -- what did he say we needed?

Kokkoro
According to Master's story...

Yuuki
1. "He said that 'dust' would be our lucky situation!"

Later.

Pecorine
Hah! Yah! Hi-yah! Uryaryaryarya!

Emilia
Ah! Pecorine! Not that way! He'll catch you! Turn around, turn around!

Pecorine
Grrr, Royal Armament, full power!

Pecorine
I got out! But my stomach's so empty that it hurts... Ooh... I'm starting to get dizzy...

Puck
I don't have any snacks on me, unfortunately. Hmm, at this rate, we'll collapse from exhaustion... Should we retreat before then?

Emilia
No! Chris and the others are still fighting over there, and if we don't take out Petelgeuse here, it'll be terrible for them!

Petelgeuse
What big words! But no matter what you say, it won't change the fact that you're purely on the defensive!

Emilia
It's true, we've only been buying time here, but...!

Petelgeuse
But what!?

Pecorine
It's simple! The two of us aren't the only ones here!

Pecorine & Emilia
We have friends!

Petelgeuse
Wha...!?

Kyaru
Take this!!

Petelgeuse
Magic!? But you missed...!

Ram
No, her aim was true. You're even better than I'd thought, Kyaru. Though you're still far from the likes of Roswaal.

Kyaru
You're not bad, either. I didn't think this business about the "Unseen Hand" was actually real. But it looks like it wasn't any match for my magic anyway.

Kokkoro
I feel like you two are quite similar.

Ram & Kyaru
How so!?

Petelgeuse
... What are you doing? You can't possibly be thinking of trying to blind me!

Ram
... A good joke, Sin Archbishop.

Kyaru
Why don't you take a look yourself at how your vaunted "Unseen Hand" is doing now?

Petelgeuse
...! Fools! You've made the "Unseen Hand" visible by coating it in dust!?

Ram
Hmph! Quite an "Unseen Hand" you've there, now.

Kyaru
What "Unseen Hand"? It's got an impressive name and all, but now that it's visible, it's just a dirty hand.

Kokkoro
Ha ha... The two of you really are similar after all.

Ram & Kyaru
We're not!

Petelgeuse
For such a thing happen to my authority...! You trample upon my love for the witch...!

Emilia
There you have it, Petelgeuse. This is our power!

Emilia
That you fought against so many of us by yourself will surely become the reason for your defeat...

Petelgeuse
... Don't taunt me, you fool of a half-elf!

Emilia
...!?

Petelgeuse
Half-elf, rejected by all other beings! I am the one who is beloved by the witch!! I have no need for your arrogant ramblings about friendship!

Puck
... Don't get carried away, you fool of a human.

Petelgeuse
Wha... Gahhhh!

Puck
You half-baked being who could never even cast half the shadow that Satella did... Don't you dare utter Lia's name out of that filthy mouth of yours again...!

Petelgeuse
Damn... you... You spirits who while away the eternities in idle sloth!!

Kokkoro
Sir Petelgeuse... I do not know what kind of position Lady Emilia occupies in your world.

Kokkoro
But Lady Emilia is our friend. And nobody can deny that truth!

Emilia
Kokkoro...

Petelgeuse
Shut up... Shut up, shut up, shut up!!

Kyaru
A-Ah! He can still move after that direct hit from Puck's ice magic!?

Ram
... It looks like he's still forcing the "Unseen Hand" to move. How stubborn.

Petelgeuse
You are dangerous beings! To be friends with the half-elf is an affront to the world -- to the witch herself!

Petelgeuse
Then, right here! By my hand! By my diligence! To shed my sloth and prove my love for the witch... Die!!

Pecorine
... It looks like he's still completely in the fight!

Kyaru
But things are in our favor now! We should all attack together!

Kokkoro
Lady Pecorine, Lady Emilia will treat your wounds. Please, preserve your strength for the final blow.

Rem
In the meantime, we'll suppress the Sin Archbishop's "Unseen Hand"!

Ram
Yes. Do it, Rem, Kyaru.

Rem
Yes, big sister!

Kyaru
How about you help, too!?

Begin animated cutscene.

Ram
Fura!

Kyaru
Thunder Ball!

Rem
Huma!

Ram
Our opponent is mounting a serious defense.

Ram
At this rate, he may send the "Unseen Hand" at us again...!

Kokkoro
Master!

Yuuki strengthens the others.

Rem
What's this...! I can feel power welling up!

Kyaru
Perfect timing as always! Let's go, useless maid! And competent maid, too!

Rem
I'll act as though you didn't say 'useless'!

Ram
Calling my little sister useless like that -- I like your guts.

Kyaru
You're the one I was calling useless!

Rem
Al Huma!

Kyaru
Grim Burst!

Ram
El Fura!

Petelgeuse
This explosive power...! How could it overcome my "Unseen Hand"!?

Kyaru
Now's your chance to end it! Hope you're rested up, because it's time to run like a race horse!

Pecorine
Yep -- race horse number 1, raring to go!

Emilia
... Huh? Wait, does that mean I'm number 2?

Puck
Then, my powers make me number 3!

Petelgeuse
You underestimate me! And the "Unseen Hand" granted to me through my love!!

Emilia
I won't allow you!

Petelgeuse
You idiot! Idiot, idiot! My diligence cannot be...!

Pecorine
Haaah!

Petelgeuse
Idiot... My diligence, my faith... My brain is... quaking...

End of cutscene.

Kyaru
Is he down...?

Kokkoro
... Yes, he has been defeated. We are victorious!

Yuuki
1. "We won!"

Kyaru
Ha, ahahaha... I might've twisted my leg towards the end...

Rem
It was a fierce battle, so there was no helping it. But the other Witch Cultists...

Ram
It's all right, Rem. It seems you have no need to worry.

Man 2
H-Huh?

Old Man 1
Where are we...?

Royal Knight 1
Have they returned to normal?

Christina
It seems that they've beaten the one at the root of all this. Dear, dear, fighting without being able to kill anyone is boring after all. There was nothing we could do about it, but I'm still rather disappointed.

Royal Knight 2
Lieutenant captain, what do we do about the people who've returned to normal?

Christina
Question them thoroughly, and if nothing seems out of the ordinary, then send them home. None of ours were caught in that blast, were they?

Royal Knight 2
Right! Understood!

Christina
Well, dealing with the aftermath seems like it'll be boring. I'm heading home now! See you again, you weird lot!

Christina
I hope you'll be the ones to slay my boredom next time!

Ram
... She comes and goes like a hurricane.

Emilia
But she provided us a lot of help. If Chris and her group hadn't been here, things would surely have turned out much worse.

Puck
That's right. All else aside, those people certainly are a group of splendid knights.

Pecorine
Whew, I'm at the end of my rope. My belly's rumbling so much that I feel like I'm gonna die.

Kokkoro
Good work, Lady Pecorine. We were able to achieve our goals thanks to you.

???
Yeah, looks like it.

Emilia
Huh...

Subaru
You completed the mission splendidly!

Emilia & Rem
Subaru!

Subaru
Yo, good work! Honestly, I was getting antsy just watching over you, but I'm glad I trusted you! That was great!

Subaru
With Pecorine's Royal Armament, Kyaru's destructive magic, and Kokkoro's support from the rear, I was sure you'd pull through.

Subaru
With the way Emilia and the rest of you performed, too, it's no surprise that you succeeded. Good job!

Everyone
......

Kyaru
Um, who are you?

Kokkoro
He seems to be acting very casually with us, but I believe this is the first time we've ever seen him...

Pecorine
Um, I feel like I don't know you, so how did you find out about the Royal Armament?

Subaru
Ah, crap, I screwed up! That's, um... Gah!

Ram
Quit blabbering. Where were you on this, Barusu?

Rem
Subaru! I was so worried about you! Please, be more careful.

Subaru
Ah... Sorry, Rem. And I'm also sorry to your sister.

Rem
If you'd died, I would've decided to abandon this world and die with you.

Subaru
Why are you making such a cute face while saying that!?

Ram
To make Rem say such words... Damn you, Barusu.

Subaru
Could you not say my name like it's a curse!?

Emilia
But we really were worried. Where have you been all this time?

Subaru
Emilia... I mean, I've been doing a bunch of stuff, you know?

Subaru
And anyway, look. This is the result of all your hard work.

Emilia
The "Gospel"! We should be able to return to Lugnica with this!

Subaru
Yeah, yeah! Man, it really has been a long road up until now.

Subaru
The truth is, Petelgeuse has the power to take over the bodies of others. In order to defend against that, I've been running all about in the background.

Subaru
There are some conditions related to who he can take over, but it's hard to say who's vulnerable and who isn't. That's why I've been... well, I can't say anything more about it.

Subaru
Anyway, I've been running about these villages, looking for people who might be susceptible to his "finger" and leading them away before...

Royal Knight 3
Oho, so I see. So you admit that you're the second suspicious person who we've been searching for.

Subaru
Huh...?

Royal Knight 4
There were two suspicious figures who were sighted. One of them has already been defeated, but the other has yet to be dealt with. Black hair, black eyes, strange clothing... You fit the bill.

Subaru
W-Wait, wait! Sure, I might look like that, but I've really been doing my best to save people...!

Royal Knight 3
Enough! You can explain yourself to Nightmare at the royal palace!

Subaru
Wait, stop! Help, Emilia!!

Emilia
Subaru! We'll come to see you later!

Subaru
Whaaat!? What about now!? What do I do now!?

Puck
That's all, folks!