Sword Demon Battle Ballad: Act 4

Sword Demon Battle Ballad: Act 4 (剣鬼戦歌――四幕) is a side story featured in Monthly Comic Alive. It is the fourth of nine total acts in Sword Demon Battle Ballad and a sequel to Re:Zero Ex Light Novel Volume 3.

Summary
Three months have passed. Theresia is at the Astrea mansion, lying in her bed as a combination of her pregnancy and the troubles that were occurring with Carol were causing her to be quite upset. Her father, Veltol Astrea, tried to comfort her to no avail. Eventually her mother, Tishua Astrea, was able to calm her down. We find out that Carol was currently at the castle, being examined by Roswaal again.

Moving to the castle, Roswaal finishes her examination of Carol to announce she has good news and bad news. The good news was that Carol's curse was not spreading. And part of the bad news was that they could make no progress until Stride was caught. However, that was not all, after testing something out, Roswaal also announced that there was a further dimension to the curse. She announced that Carol's emotions were being eaten away slowly, and when they faded she'd become like a puppet. Roswaal tried to console Carol, but Carol put on a brave face and asked her to keep this fact a secret from everyone but the two of them until she was ready to tell them herself.

Moving to the city of Abiate, the Zellgef corps had been sent there as there had been reports of some men associated with Stride operating in the vicinity. Grimm and Wilhelm rough up some of the people who were rumoured to be associated with him, in a bar in Abiate, and try to get some information out of them. Unfortunately, the information they received did not help at all. The Zellgef corps discovered another magic circle in the area, which had been popping up all around Lugunica in the past months. Wilhelm entrusts Conwood Melahau to destroy it. Wilhelm was still seeing the illusions of Pivot, and has now come to rely on them, using him as a crutch for advice. Wilhelm was then interrupted by Conwood who had brought him urgent news that Miklotov McMahon’s mansion had been attacked.

Wilhelm rushed to the mansion, telling the rest of the Zellgef corps to return to the Royal Capital without him, arriving there after half a day. Wilhelm learned from Miklotov that the mansion had been attacked by a Shinobi and his personal guards had managed to ward the attack off.

Suddenly, a majestic figure appeared from one of the above rooms. It was King Gionis Lugunica, who had been staying at the Miklotov mansion, despite the attack. Gionis had come to deliver a report about what the magic circles Stride was placing around Lugunica were for. Gionis alluded to getting the information from a certain “gentleman” before Miklotov stopped him and the duo told Wilhelm that they were for destroying the covenant the Kingdom had with the Dragon.

Meanwhile, Grimm returned to the Astrea mansion and joined Carol, Theresia and her two parents. But they were interrupted by an intruder. It was none other than Stride himself. He used his curse ring on Carol to make her cut down Grimm, before pointing her sword towards Theresia. Against her will, she raised her sword and tried to cut down Theresia. However, Veltol protected her, giving up his life in exchange for Theresia's and Tishua's.

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
 * Carlan Astrea
 * Thames Astrea
 * Cassiles Astrea
 * Fribal van Astrea
 * Volcanica
 * Roswaal K Mathers
 * Valga Cromwell
 * Razak Gildark