Severing the connection between humanity and the world—that is the "Fall of the Morning Star."
"The Judgment of the Evening Star" is more suitable for Higashino Makoto.
The evening star is an extension of the morning star.
The Fall of the Morning Star severed the world, while the Judgment of the Evening Star connected a new world!
As for that world?
This is naturally Higashino Makoto's own little world.
Therefore, within the Garden's domain, he will be able to utilize the power of the small world.
The Garden Domain is a projection of the microcosm onto this world.
Within that domain, he was the master of the small world; he was practically a god within that domain.
"Severing and connecting..."
Hmm, this reminded him of an interesting character, Kiritsugu Emiya.
His origins are quite similar.
How about we try making the Origin Bullet?
Lost in thought, Higashino Makoto walked out of the water gate, stood on the canal bank, and looked up at the sky dyed red by the setting sun.
"This Authority... is perfect for me."
A slight smile played on his lips as he stretched out his hand, a ball of purple-gold light appearing in his palm.
The Garden unfolds.
Light emanated from his palm and spread in all directions.
Within this domain, all Authority and protections become ineffective.
The birds flying in the distance, the fish swimming in the water, the people walking in the city—they felt nothing.
Because they have no protection, no Authority.
But if they were, they could lose everything in an instant.
Higashino Makoto stood there, sensing everything within the domain.
He can perceive every tiny change, every subtle fluctuation.
He could sense the disappearance of those blessings, the silence of those Authority, like lamps being extinguished one by one.
Then, he reclaimed the territory.
Light surged back into his palm from all directions and then dissipated.
"Good."
He turned around and walked towards the outside of the Watergate City.
Reisen.
"Exist."
Reisen emerged from the shadows, her long, pale purple hair shimmering softly in the setting sun, her rabbit ears standing straight up, and her crimson eyes staring at him.
"Master, you succeeded?"
"Yes, it worked."
Higashino Makoto stretched out his hand, and a ball of purple-gold light appeared in his palm before dissipating.
"Authority of Pride, quite fitting."
Reisen looked at him, her crimson eyes flashing with a complex light.
"Master, you look very happy."
"I'm so happy, this experience was more rewarding than I expected."
Reisen's lips curled into a slight smile; her master's happiness made her happy too.
"What's the next step?"
"Next, we'll get our hands on the Melancholy Witch Factor, and then we'll hunt down the Sin Archbishops and witches."
The night breeze of the Watergate City blows from the canal, carrying moisture and the scent of distant lights.
Higashino Makoto stood in the middle of a stone bridge, his golden eyes gazing at the figure waiting on the other side of the bridge.
His posture was strange; his hands were raised high above his head, as if he were embracing the sky, or as if he were praying to something.
His body was trembling slightly, a morbid, almost fanatical excitement.
His lips were moving incessantly, as if chanting scriptures or talking to himself.
Petelgeuse Romani-Conti.
Sloth Sin Archbishop.
"Diligence...diligence...diligence...diligence...diligence...diligence...diligence...diligence...diligence...diligence--!"
His voice echoed in the night wind, sharp and hoarse, like a roar squeezed from the depths of his throat, suppressed for too long.
"Diligence--diligence--diligence--diligence--diligence--"
Higashino Makoto looked at him, his golden eyes devoid of any emotion.
Reisen stood behind him, her long, pale purple hair swaying gently in the night breeze, her rabbit ears standing straight up, and her crimson eyes warily fixed on the crazed figure.
"Owner."
"Um."
What is he doing?
"He's going crazy."
Higashino Makoto strode forward, stepped off the stone bridge, and headed toward Petelgeuse.
His pace was neither fast nor slow, as if he were strolling in his own Garden. But with each step, Petelgeuse's voice grew softer.
He sensed a familiar aura emanating from this man.
The scent of a witch.
"You--!"
Petelgeuse turned his head sharply. His green eyes widened, and Higashino Makoto's image was reflected in his pupils.
His face was streaked with tears, tears of ecstasy and morbidity.
"Who are you?!"
"A passing merchant."
"Just passing by--just passing by--just passing by--just passing by--!"
Petelgeuse's voice rose again.
He clutched his hair with both hands, his fingernails digging into his scalp, blood flowing from his forehead and down his cheeks.
"How could a passerby have that smell?! How could someone have that smell?!"
What does it taste like?
"Witch--witch--witch--the scent of a witch--!"
Petelgeuse loosened his hair and reached out his hands toward Higashino Makoto, as if embracing something or grasping at something.
"You're a member of the Witch Cult?!"
"No."
"Then—then why—why do you smell like a witch?!"
Higashino Makoto did not answer.
He stopped and stood about ten paces away from Petelgeuse.
"You are the Sloth Sin Archbishop, aren't you?"
"Yes--yes--I am--I am Petelgeuse Romani-Conti--I am the Sloth Sin Archbishop Witch Cult --I am the most diligent--the most diligent--the most diligent--!"
"Oh, that's right, I'm here to kill you."
Petelgeuse laughed, a twisted and insane laugh, as if he were trying his best to express joy.
"Do you want to try it? Do you want to try my Authority? Do you want to try the might of diligence?!"
Higashino Makoto looked at him, his eyes devoid of any emotion, and he didn't even immediately unfold the Garden.
"Give it a try."
Petelgeuse's smile froze for a moment.
Then he laughed—louder, more maniacal, more distorted.
"Haha--hahahaha--hahahahaha--!"
His body began to tremble.
It wasn't fear, but excitement.
"You are so diligent."
Then he attacked.
The Unseen Hand.
Higashino Makoto, however, could see it.
In his eyes, those Unseen Hand were clearly visible.
They emerged from behind Petelgeuse, numbering about a dozen, each resembling a tentacle composed of dark shadows.
They attacked him from all directions, but their speed was actually quite average.
Higashino Makoto did not dodge.
He raised his right hand and clenched it in mid-air.
He grabbed the unseen hand.
Petelgeuse's body trembled violently. His green eyes widened even more, their pupils filled with disbelief.
"You—you saw it? You—you know—you know—you know—?!"
Higashino Makoto casually crushed one of his hands, released it, and took a step back, looking somewhat disappointed.
That's it?