Sword Demon Battle Ballad: Act 5

Sword Demon Battle Ballad: Act 5 (剣鬼戦歌――五幕) is a side story featured in Monthly Comic Alive. It is the fifth of nine total acts in Sword Demon Battle Ballad and a sequel to Re:Zero Ex Light Novel Volume 3.

Summary
In the commercial city of Picoutatte, a guard hastened towards the source of a quarrel. He was charged with mediating quarrels that occurred in the city between various traders and customers. He possessed a Divine Protection called the Divine Protection of Empathy. Before he could use it on the two who were quarreling he was interrupted by Stride, who asserted how despicable he found the guard because of his divine protection. Stride killed the guard as the latter tried to use his Divine Protection to calm Stride down. Kurgan and Melinda then joined him as he proclaimed to the world that his test was complete, and for the audience to look clearly at what the world will decide. His stage was set at Picoutatte.

Whilst this was happening, Wilhelm hastened back to the Astrea mansion in the Royal Capital, having received a message by Earth Dragon that it had been attacked half a day ago. He hastened back and found out that Grimm had been heavily injured, and Theresia had been kidnapped. What's more, Carol was gone too. Bordeaux informed him that it had been Carol, controlled by Stride, who had wounded Grimm. Finally, Boredaux told him in a hushed tone that Veltol had died protecting Theresia and Tishua.

Wilhelm hastened inside to speak with Tishua, who had been grievously affected by the events that had preceded. Wilhelm apologised with all of his heart, prostrating himself beneath her. Tishua accepted his apology and told him to give himself into anger and take revenge for what had happened. She then solemnly informed him that she too had been cursed by one of Stride's rings. She had been turned into a mouthpiece for Stride. She delivered him a message from Stride that sounded as if it came straight from Stride in that moment, which told Wilhelm that he was awaiting him in Picoutatte.

A subjugation force was assembled at blazing speed which was led by Bordeaux himself. They rode towards Picoutatte by a dragon carriage convoy. On the way, Wilhelm learned more information about the magic circles from Roswaal J Mathers, who had tagged along once she had heard that her friend Carol was in danger. She mentioned how the magic circles would cut the link between the world and mankind itself, and disrupted the effect of the metaphorical barrier that was wound across the Kingdom of Lugunica so that the dragon's warning system would not activate in this time of need. Just as they arrived at Picoutatte, a shockwave engulfed the dragon carriage convoy.

Meanwhile, a little earlier in the topmost room of the steeple at the centre city, Stride had cursed Theresia with his curse rings so that if she disobeyed him he would snuff the breath out of the baby in her womb. Stride is accompanied by Kurgan, and then Shasuke and Raizo who had returned with two more captives. Stride demanded for the Shinobi to bring him his wife, Melinda. One of the Shinobi obeyed his request and brought her in. Stride asked her if her Evil Eye ability was at its limit, to which Melinda replied with a fervent "no".

Eventually satisfied that Melinda was still fulfilling her part of the plan, Stride turned towards the captives he had in the room. There were 20 in total, not including Theresia. He mentioned that the 20 were sacrifices. He took out a curved dagger and killed one of the captives, looking thoroughly bored as he did so. He declared that killing the rest was not worth the effort, and instead gave the task to his puppet, Carol, whose curse had placed her under his control.

Carol proceeded to kill the remaining 19 captives whilst tears streaked down her face. After doing this deed, Stride led them all upstairs to the rooftop of the steeple. Stride revealed that the dagger used to kill the captives was called the Dragon's Fang and would allow him to summon a blood-crazed dragon. He had waited until Theresia was weak enough with her pregnancy that she wouldn't stand in his way. He summoned the dragon, and a three-headed black dragon, namely Valgren, appeared in the city of Picoutatte. Using his curse rings to bind it to his will, Stride directed its heads towards the approaching dragon carriage convoy and made it exhale its fiery breath straight at the dragon carriages which contained the subjugation force.

Characters

 * Grimm Fauzen
 * Wilhelm van Astrea
 * Valgren
 * Miklotov McMahon
 * Bordeaux Zellgef
 * Stride Vollachia
 * Kurgan
 * Theresia van Astrea
 * Carol Remendis
 * Conwood Melahau
 * Roswaal J Mathers
 * Clind
 * Orphe
 * Cragrell Dawson
 * Garitch Fabless
 * Veltol Astrea
 * Tishua Astrea
 * Pivot Arnancy
 * Gionis Lugunica
 * Shasuke
 * Raizo
 * Melinda
 * Volcanica
 * Roswaal K Mathers
 * Valga Cromwell
 * Razak Gildark