Re:Zero EX: "Accreting Life in Another World from Zero (Kasaneru/Greed IF)"

This is the annual April Fools' project! This is not the main story, but a story of an IF world! The content is a branch from Arc 4, Chapter 74 of "Re:Zero -Starting Life in Another World-," so please be careful if you have not read that far yet.

Furthermore, since this is a story of a world completely different from the main story, the relationships between characters have changed significantly. Please understand this. Only those who can enjoy it with that understanding, please proceed.

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A dream—he was having a dream.

A dream that did not fade, a dream that repeated, an endless dream, a dream he would not let end—.

Accumulating time and again, redoing time and again, erring time and again, correcting time and again. Spinning a thousand times. Connecting ten thousand times. Surpassing a hundred million times. Before he knew it, he had forgotten how to count.

There is pain, there is shock, there is confusion, there is ruin, there is hatred, and there is madness. He is worn down, shaken, twisted, decayed, made to wail, and his heart is shattered.

Even so, there is a place he wants to reach. Even so, there is a wish he wants to protect.

Even if no one knows the shape of the tragedy that is repeated and accumulated, so that he does not forget. Even if no one ever notices, so that he alone can never forget.

—Even if the person he wants to save cries, he wants to save them.

That is why he has no regrets, even now, for taking that hand. If there was anything to regret, it was his own weak, fragile heart that failed to reach the strength of steel, feeling hesitation and doubt in taking that hand.

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—When he awakens from a hollow dream, the first thing he always feels is a dull headache.

"————"

Opening his eyes while resisting the fingertips of drowsiness, he blinks a few times to bring his consciousness to the surface. Vaguely, an indistinct mist remains over his consciousness, but the poor blood circulation lasts only a few seconds. Soon, his consciousness peels away from sleep, and awakening brings vitality to his body.

"Ah, aaah—"

Contrary to the awakening of his body, a drawn-out voice leaks from his mouth. At first glance, it might seem like the behavior of someone half-asleep, but this too is one of the important morning rituals. While lying on his back, by letting out his voice like this, various pieces of information flow in.

The tone of his voice, the establishment of self-awareness, the safety of his limbs, the organization of memories, the execution of his daily routine, the presence of life—. By performing fixed actions every morning without fail, these things are confirmed.

That itself serves as proof that Natsuki Subaru was able to greet the morning without any major issues.

"Fuaah."

With a yawn, he pushes aside the duvet and sits up by swinging down his raised legs. Scratching his head roughly, he looks around to see a familiar room—the interior of his own room, furnished with reasonably luxurious items and a canopy bed, comes into view. However, Subaru did not wake up in the canopy bed, but on a sofa placed in the back of the room. Wrapping himself in a blanket there and curling up to spend the night has been Natsuki Subaru's sleeping habit for these past—no, for these last few years.

That said, there isn't a particularly grand reason for not sleeping in the bed. He is simply struggling to provide even a slightly better sleeping environment. As a result of such trial and error, he learned that he feels a sense of relief sleeping on the sofa rather than the bed. He has done so ever since. That is all there is to it.

"————"

Rubbing his eyes, Subaru steps down from the sofa he uses as a bed and heads to the washroom to get ready. He washes his face in the washroom adjacent to the bedroom, reflects his wet face in the mirror, and observes his own face closely. A countenance where fatigue remains, and a gaze that suggests a sense of hollow exhaustion. Combined with his sloppily relaxed cheeks, he was missing all three marks and looked spiritless. To tighten that face, Subaru slaps his own cheeks with both hands as hard as he can. Tears well up from the dry sound and the numbing pain, and he splashes cold water on his face to wash them away. Then, reflecting his wet face in the mirror again, he carefully kneads his expression, gaze, and cheeks while praying.

"Smile, me. If you can't, die."

Chanting the magic spell, Subaru then forms a mean-looking smile with the corners of his mouth distorted. The smile, showing white teeth and narrowing his sanpaku eyes, is the villainous face he has been stuck with for over eighteen years. His eyes, expression, and complexion are all being 'mimicked' without issue.

"All right, good, keep it up."

Confirming that smile, Subaru wipes his face with a towel and quickly starts changing his clothes. When spending time in the mansion, Subaru's attire is not a servant's uniform—but rather, the reasonably prestigious formal wear of a nobleman. However, he has dressed it down by taking off the stiff jacket and rolling up the sleeves of his white shirt. But such attire, appropriate for the outside world, is now naturally required of him. It is all somewhat suffocating, but it was also unavoidable. Dressing appropriately for one's position is an obligation, and it is a position that Subaru himself desired and obtained.

"It's almost time for the usual."

Finishing his change of clothes, he looks up at the magic clock crystal installed above the door and mutters. The crystal, glowing a deep green, indicated the arrival of morning and that his scheduled wake-up time was imminent. It seems he spent a bit too much time forming his smile this morning. In a few minutes, a girl who is punctual with time will knock on the room door as scheduled. Before that, he must finish what needs to be done.

"————"

Switching his consciousness, Subaru bares the chest of his shirt. Hanging there is a pendant, which he never removes even while sleeping, connected by a thin chain to a 'black crystal.' Holding the mysteriously glittering black crystal in his palm, Subaru closed his eyes. The sensation of the cold, hard crystal stone—as soon as it was enveloped in Subaru's palm, its presence increased as if it had suddenly gained heat, and it began to pulse as if it were a living creature.

Naturally, his subconscious began to count the rhythm and frequency of the strange heartbeat generated in his palm. A crystal stone that continues to beat faster and higher than a pulse after a full sprint. That pulsation eventually overlapped with Subaru's own heartbeat, and the heart's thumping and the crystal stone's pulsing became equal. When his brain understood this, Subaru's consciousness was released from the yoke of his physical body and was invited into another space that could not exist in reality.

In an instant, sound and presence vanished from the world, and instead, a dazzling light enveloped his consciousness.

"————"

His consciousness, painted over by light, is slowly led to awakening. Opening his closed eyelids, what pours down is sunlight so bright it stings his eyes. And what spread out before his blinking eyes was a magnificent grassland where the wind blew through.

A vast, green grassland that continues forever. A sea of grass stretches as far as the eye can see, and the clusters of short grass sway softly in the gentle breeze. Overhead, there is a clear sky without a single cloud, and the pouring sunlight glittered like jewels. The blue of the sky and the green of the earth continue endlessly, and they meet faintly at the far-off horizon. There was a silence that felt eternal, fitting for a dreamlike world lacking a sense of reality.

A magnificent, clear, and empty space. —In such a world, there is only one heterogeneous part.

"————"

In the center of the grassland, if Subaru, standing there, looks back, there is a gentle slope right behind him, which leads to a small hill. On top of the hill is a modest flower garden, and right beside those lovely flowers, there was a parasol catching the sunlight and a white table.

"————"

In silence, Subaru climbs the hill and steps under the parasol. On the white table sits a steaming cup, and the ceramic was warmly filled with an amber liquid. Two cups were laid out, and white chairs were placed as if sandwiching the table. One was prepared for himself; without even confirming, Subaru sat in the chair, put his lips to the cup that seemed to have just been brewed, and moistened his throat with the tea.

—As usual, it's a strange tea that feels neither delicious nor disgusting.

However, he must always take the first sip of this tea. That was the promise he made with the master of this place, and it served as a greeting for their strange relationship. However—,

"Ah—, drank it, drank it, thanks for the treat. Now, let's get straight to the point."

"—It's true that I said the first sip is as good as a greeting. However, I don't believe that meant it's fine not to actually greet me."

Subaru's words after draining the tea and tossing the cup onto the table. In response to that content, the person facing him across the table filed a complaint while smiling faintly. To that grievance, Subaru scratched the bridge of his nose with his finger and said,

"...Is a greeting even necessary? For someone like you who observes the inside of my head twenty-four-seven, meeting or parting probably doesn't mean anything anyway."

"That's a separate matter. In the first place, I'd like you to stop using such a scandalous way of saying I'm peeking at you twenty-four-seven. Even if that were the case, I am at an age where I'm a maiden who puts flowers to shame. If it were known that I was constantly staring at the boy I'm interested in, it would be beyond scandalous."

"A maiden who puts flowers to shame? Did the concept of how to use words change while I wasn't looking?"

"How harsh. Well, it might be a bit of a stretch to insist on being a maiden at my age."

Saying so, the other person's mouth relaxed enjoyably, contrary to the content of the complaint. An exchange of banter they were completely used to; the other person was quite tolerant of Subaru's impolite attitude. —Or rather, it seemed as though she was even enjoying such verbal sparring.

Being smiled at like that, Subaru's heart couldn't help but feel a mounting, distorted sense of guilt. Even so, he didn't even know what the correct way to interact with her was. Only against the person in front of him did the means of finding that optimal solution fail completely.

"As I thought, you're a nasty woman."

"I'm glad to hear that. For someone as kind and greedy as you, rather than being one of the many likable people, or an indifferent stranger you find no value in reaching out to save, it's far more pleasing for me to be the hateful person who cruelly wounds your heart and drives in an unremovable wedge."

To someone so thoroughly seasoned, sarcasm and spite do not work. Subaru snorted with a displeased look at the response, but that only resulted in pleasing the other person even more.

"Now then, it would hurt my heart to buy any more of your resentment and be hated. It's about time we fulfill the purpose of this morning's tryst."

"Wasn't being hated what you wanted?"

"It's what you'd call a girl's cute bluff. I'd like you to see through it and accept it."

"Cute...?"

To Subaru, who tilted his head with genuine suspicion, the other person gave a faint smile. And then—,

"Truly, you are a human who is undaunted to the very end. As the 'Witch of Greed,' I find that part of you quite to my liking. —Natsuki Subaru."

That her contractor was worthy of her, the 'Witch of Greed'— Echidna narrowed her eyes enchantingly and smiled with genuine happiness.

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"Today is the fourteenth day of the Month of Kisdam. ...There's no mistake about that, right?"

"You can rest assured. You fell asleep last night without incident and woke up this morning without incident. No worst-case scenario occurred during the night. You don't have to worry so much."

"Don't be stupid. There have been times when I went to sleep thinking nothing was wrong, only to find I'd died when I woke up. No matter how much I brace myself, it's never enough to know when or where I'll die."

Clicking his tongue at the Witch's optimism, Subaru recalls the 'Death' where he tasted a hopeless sense of loss. Just idly, the tomorrow he never doubted would surely come—how much terror and disappointment it brought when it was snatched away without warning, when he 'Returned by Death' out of the blue, and faced the reality of being forgotten by the people he had spent time with; there was no way he could forget.

"You're right. I was being careless just now. I apologize."

"...You're unusually honest."

"If I think I'm wrong, I'll apologize. I intended to show you properly that I'm not such an unreasonable woman."

Winking at Subaru, who was overreacting and feeling awkward, was a girl in black clothes. When trying to speak of that girl, the first things that catch the eye are her demonic beauty that steals the eyes and ensnares the heart, and the startling fact that only two colors express that beauty.

Her long, snow-white hair reaches down to her waist, and her slender, supple limbs are wrapped in a black dress resembling mourning clothes. There was a decadent allure in her figure as she sat in the chair with her long legs crossed, and there was an abnormally enticing charm in the way her thin lips swallowed the liquid from the cup. It was a demonic countenance that one could intuitively sense would lead to unavoidable destruction if touched by force—nevertheless, she was the Witch of calamity who brought about the end, of whom legends remained of those who never ceased to challenge her.

That is the true identity of the white girl dressed in black, Echidna, who entered into a contract with Subaru.

"—Stare."

"—? What is it? Staring so intently at my face. Is there something on it?"

"Yeah, eyes, a nose, a mouth, ears, and hair."

"...I wonder why. Even though you're saying something obvious, I feel strangely insulted."

Echidna frowned at Subaru's response, looking dissatisfied. Subaru raised his hand to her, saying "Wait, wait," and—

"I didn't mean it as an insult or anything. I just thought, for all the rumors, a Witch isn't really that much of a freak of nature after all."

Although he had used various expressions like decadent and perverse earlier, when actually talking to her like this, she was a normal girl, albeit one with some strong quirks, whom one might even call friendly. Of course, he didn't deny that she had parts that were distorted in a Witch-like way.

"Ho-ho, that's quite a rare opinion."

And at Subaru's impression, Echidna relaxed her lips somewhat enjoyably. She placed her cup on the table, recrossed her long legs, and brushed back her white hair.

"Even so, I am one of the Witches who left various legends in different regions four hundred years ago. To catch me and call me normal is something I can't just overlook."

"You've started saying things like a middle schooler who longs for special treatment."

"If you add 'to you,' it gets quite close to my feelings. But that's not all. I should have told you that when we first met, too."

"Ah—, what was it? I think you said you have a look that makes people who aren't resistant vomit at first sight."

"If you only cut out that part, I feel like my character image is being severely misunderstood."

The dignified aura of a Witch vanished, and Echidna sulked at Subaru's response. Subaru responded appropriately with a "There, there," and set about correcting the diverted topic. That said, the content of their talk was sufficient for a morning routine.

"This isn't the time to be stuck in idle talk. I'm going to head back to reality quickly."

"Are you leaving already? No one will complain if you kill a little more time here. As you know, the time spent here does not affect reality. If it's any consolation, you can stay as long as... I, too, am hoping for that."

Echidna said this to stop Subaru, who had stood up from his chair and was stretching. At the Witch's sweet words, Subaru cracked his neck and said,

"You're right. Honestly, I know I'd be saved by the option of staying here for a long time, but..."

Cutting his words there, Subaru looked down at Echidna as he turned around. The Witch's black eyes and Subaru's black eyes met and intertwined directly. But—,

"I have no intention of spoiling myself with you like that. You should know that's not the kind of contract we have."

"Honestly, you're so stubborn. Even though I intend to be the only accomplice in this world who can share your suffering and sadness."

"—I have no intention of entrusting my suffering or sadness to anyone. This is mine alone, and keeping it as mine alone is the reason I contracted with you. Right?"

To Echidna, who shrugged with a sulky face, Subaru asserted in a low voice. In response, Echidna lowered her eyes and put her lips to her cup in silence. It was an expression of intent that she had run out of words to argue and had lost the reason to continue the conversation. Seeing that, Subaru turned his back to her and stepped toward the bottom of the hill. But before that, he stopped and looked back at the Witch.

"By the way, you didn't deny that you're peeking at me twenty-four-seven earlier, did you?"

"...I believe I said 'even if'?"

"In my linguistic understanding, saying 'even if that were the case' is a context that implicitly admits it is a fact."

"――――"

"――――"

At Subaru's pursuit, Echidna gave a small sigh. Then she put her lips to her cup again. It was an expression of intent that she had lost the reason to continue the conversation—and,

"You'd better not think I'll back down if you do that. You're stopping the peeking when there's an ethical problem, right? Hey, you are, right?"

"Of course. I'm not so vulgar as to peek even at the scenes where you're bathing or relieving yourself. However, as long as I can't be certain that nothing will happen in those defenseless moments, as your contractor, I cannot look away. This is merely an act out of a sense of duty as the 'Witch of Greed' who observes the covenant..."

"From now on, I'm taking off the pendant when I go to the bathroom or the toilet."

Saying that to the Witch who was making excuses at a rapid pace, Subaru descended the hill while biting back his sense of shame. At the bottom of the hill, at the point where Subaru first appeared in the grassland, a door had appeared before he knew it. A single, independent door; it was the only door that allowed entry and exit to the outside world.

"――――"

Arriving in front of the door and placing his hand on the doorknob, Subaru looked back for no particular reason. Then, on top of the hill, Echidna, standing restlessly while holding down her hair fluttering in the wind, was looking down at his back. Noticing Subaru's gaze looking up at her, she hesitated for a moment, and eventually waved her hand slightly at Subaru. Without giving any reply, Subaru left only a sigh and passed through the door.

—Immediately after, his consciousness, which had been trapped in the dream world, was released and returned to reality.

"――――"

When his consciousness returned to reality, Subaru was standing still in the middle of his room, still clutching the black crystal stone. Exhaling a long breath, he turned his eyes to the magic clock crystal above the door. The color was green; there was no change in its glow. The proof was that the time spent in the dream world was only a few seconds in real time.

"Still, I can't get used to it..."

Visiting the dream world and spending time at the tea party with Echidna is a daily morning routine. However, returning to reality from there, the sense of incongruity created by the gap between perceived time and actual time does not easily settle in his brain. It is a sensation different from 'Return by Death.' Subaru sighed at that. Then,

『How about reversing your thinking and getting used to not being used to it? It's only a consolation, but it might make things a little easier, you know?』

As if whispered in his ear, the voice of the Witch he had just bid farewell to was heard. It wasn't actually whispered in his ear. That voice was the Witch's thought waves flowing in through the crystal stone hanging from his neck, via their contract. Even without going to the dream world, a path is connected between Subaru and Echidna by their contract. Therefore, the Witch is able to speak directly to Subaru from the dream world like this. However—,

"I told you not to talk to me thoughtlessly when there's no business."

『There's no one around. I don't think it would hurt to pay some attention to me when you're alone in your room.』

"What if I accidentally do the same in front of people and get thought of as some cringey guy talking to someone invisible?"

『I feel like that evaluation is a bit late now. Besides, it's not rare for spirit users to talk to their contracted spirits via thought waves. Talking to yourself won't stand out that much.』

"In the case of spirit users, it's thought waves on both sides. In my case, you're thought waves and I'm talking to myself. From an outsider's perspective, I'm the cringier one."

『Yes, yes, I understand. As you wish, I'll stay quiet except when necessary. To try and make a Witch do your bidding, you really are quite the domineering husband.』

"S-H-U-T-U-P-A-L-R-E-A-D-Y."

『Good grief. Please feel free to call on me if you have any business, Sir Contractor.』

When he mixed anger into his tone, Echidna withdrew after leaving behind some theatrical words. Still, the Witch must be peeking at the world through the pendant, but for now, he pushed that thought out of his head and let out the sigh that had become a habit. From now on, he would make sure to shove the pendant into his back pocket or something during the timing of the bath and the toilet. —It was just when he thought that.

"—Subaru-sama, are you awake?"

The room door was knocked from the outside, announcing the arrival of the usual wake-up time. At the soft voice addressed to him, Subaru cleared his throat slightly. Then, placing his hand on his cheek and being conscious of making the smile he had confirmed in the mirror, he gave a spiritless reply, "Oiyo—." Receiving that, the door was slowly opened, and a girl entered the room.

"Good morning, Subaru-sama. It's a pleasant morning again today."

The one who said that with a smile was a girl in a maid uniform—Subaru's personal maid, Petra Leyte.

She, who was still a young bud when they first met, had entered her growth period and was now in the process of blooming beautifully. Compared to before, her height and limbs had grown, and the lovely maid uniform suited her more and more. Her movements and behavior were by no means inferior to her charming outfit. Originally, she was a girl with a good memory and quick wit. The current Petra had reached the level of a first-class maid.

At the flowery age of fourteen—at Petra's thoroughly grown-up smile, Subaru also responded with a smile.

"Good morning to you too, Petra. A pleasant morning... I agree. Being able to see Petra's cute face from the morning, I'm also very satisfied."

"Oh, Subaru-sama, saying things like that again. ...But there are clouds over the sky beyond the forest, and it looks like the weather might break from the afternoon. I have plans to go shopping in town today, so I hope it stays clear."

Tilting her head at Subaru's greeting, Petra muttered as she softly turned her eyes toward the window. A faint trace of childishness remained at the end of her words, and Subaru let out a small chuckle.

"Ah, no, Subaru-sama."

"No, no, just now, the shell of a fine maid was cracking a little bit. It's very Petra-like."

"Geez, please stop treating me like a child. I've become a full-fledged adult. I've been doing maid work for two years now... I'm a professional."

Shaking her reddish-brown hair, Petra blushed with embarrassment and pouted her lips. At the sight of his lovely younger-sister-like figure, Subaru patted the girl's head while still laughing. At the sensation, Petra narrowed her eyes happily, and then let out a regretful sigh.

"So, what will you do this morning? It's still early for breakfast, but..."

"Ah—, for now, I'll just finish my usual daily routine, and if it seems okay, we'll all have breakfast together. If it's tough... for now, just as usual."

"...Yes."

Lowering her eyes slightly at Subaru's answer, Petra made a difficult face. It was painful to let such a lovely girl make that kind of face, so Subaru scratched his head and said,

"Anyway, thanks for today too. For going out of your way to come wake me up."

"――――"

"Petra?"

"Subaru-sama, you're really clumsy in that way."

Evaluating Subaru, who was bad at changing the subject, Petra sighed as if exasperated. Then the girl shook her head and, making a smile like a blooming flower, said,

"No—, this is also my job. Besides, Subaru-sama never oversleeps, so it's very easy. ...Even though it would be fine if you were a bit more slovenly."

"Hmm?"

"It's nothing. Well then, see you later. Excuse me."

Finishing her morning duty as Subaru's wake-up call, Petra gracefully pinched her skirt and performed a curtsy. And, while being seen off by Subaru, she left the room. The door closed, and Subaru nodded with satisfaction at Petra's growth.

"Petra's become quite impressive too. As her older-brother-figure, I'm proud."

『It seems she doesn't think of you as an older-brother-figure, though.』

"...You just said you'd stay quiet except when necessary. I guess Lady Witch breaks promises quite easily."

At the interjection to his monologue, Subaru was exasperated by the Witch's lack of patience in being unable to endure the silence. But, immediately leaving behind a sigh of resignation, he turned his eyes to the door where Petra had disappeared.

"I'm that girl's older brother. And Petra is my cute, cute little sister. That's why I'll make sure she becomes happy. —That's a certainty."

『"I'll make sure she becomes happy," is it? ...Unexpectedly, those might be terrifying words.』

Echidna said that to Subaru's firm tone, not in a teasing way. Ignoring the Witch's words, Subaru stretched lightly and left the room. The mansion's hallway was chilled by the early morning air, and Subaru shivered as he began to walk, cutting through that cold air with his shoulders.

—Because he had to get to his daily 'routine.'

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For these past few months, a fierce 'deathmatch' has been unfolding in the morning at the Roswaal mansion.

However, calling it a 'deathmatch' might be offensive to the parties involved. But, for Subaru, who watches the struggle from the side, there is no other way to describe it than a 'deathmatch,' as such intense exchanges are being traded. In fact, there is no doubt that at least one of the two clashing parties is attacking with the intent to kill. But sadly, the other party facing that ferocious fighting spirit parries it lightly. The difference in skill existing between the two was hopelessly clear to anyone's eyes. Of course, that was precisely why such a dangerous daily routine was being continued every morning.

"Ru, AAAAA—!!"

Howling, a kick foot explodes with the force to blow away the lawn of the courtyard. Stepping in and gaining fierce propulsion, a golden shadow charges straight ahead, striking the enemy shadow with beast claws. It was a ruthless blow that would easily tear through thick iron plates and turn a human body into minced meat—the beast claws became countless barrages, raging and attacking as if to seal the prey's escape. However—,

"It's a pity, but your opening is large."

"Ga, A—!?"

The shadow dodges the downpour of fatal beast claw flurries with minimal evasion. Immediately after, with a shout, a long leg leaped up, piercing the beast's torso from directly below. A cry of agony rose at that blow, and the body of the attacker was launched straight up—

"Ga, zuo—!?"

—or so it should have been, but it didn't happen. The body being thrust straight up was intercepted by a heel swung down as if to meet it, and crashed into the ground. The impact created a circular crater in the lawn ground, and the beast fell completely silent in a spread-eagle position, unable to move.

"Shall we continue?"

"—Ah, ooh."

The victor asks the loser, who is groaning, about his intention to continue. It was not sarcasm or irony, but words thrown purely at his fighting spirit. That was exactly why it deeply wounded the loser's soul. That's why—,

"You're probably doing it unconsciously, but it's only coming off as sarcasm. Have some mercy and stop it."

Interrupting the scene where the outcome was already decided, Subaru called out while scratching his head. At those words, the young man who had been looking down at the opponent lying spread-eagle turned around and smiled. The young man with flaming red hair raised his hand to Subaru and said,

"Ya, good morning, Subaru. You're early this morning too."

"Not as much as you guys. Even so, don't you get tired of it, or rather, don't you ever learn... You don't have to go along with him so faithfully, Reinhard."

"His ambition to become stronger isn't wrong. And it's also a fact that he's getting stronger day by day. I think the time when he catches up to me will come before long."

"Is that so? ...I can't really imagine it, though."

Reinhard's—the red-haired young man's—words didn't have the atmosphere of a joke or humility. Subaru squinted at his self-and-other evaluation and looked at the person still lying on the ground.

Lying there is a boy with short golden hair. He is gasping painfully and is still in an incapacitated state, but the fighting spirit dwelling in those green eyes has not faded at all. However, his body does not follow his will, and he is just gnashing his teeth regretfully. Having an understanding of that feeling of regret, Subaru reached out his hand to the boy.

"Here, can you stand, Garfiel? Don't be so down. You..."

"...Don't try to touch me so casually. I can stand without borrowin' your hand."

Brushing away Subaru's reaching hand, the golden-haired boy—Garfiel—bared his fangs. But it was clear to anyone's eyes that it was a bluff. Pain was thick on his face, and his breathing was rough. However, Subaru couldn't be immature enough to make fun of that bravado. Lightly shaking the arm that was brushed away, Subaru sighed at Garfiel, who was picking himself up, and said,

"Well, if you say so, do as you like. But before breakfast, take a bath and wash off the sweat and mud. Otherwise, Ram will hate you."

"...Shut up. I know that without you tellin' me."

Frowning at Subaru's bitter advice, Garfiel stood up while grimacing. His knees were still shaking, but even so, he wasn't unable to walk. Recovering with extraordinary resilience, Garfiel glared at Reinhard, who was standing coolly.

"Next time, I won't lose."

"I'm looking forward to it."

At Reinhard's answer, which lacked even a hint of a lie, Garfiel snorted. Then the limping boy, when passing by Subaru's side, glanced at him and—

"—Keh."

—with a resentful click of his tongue, he withdrew from the courtyard to the mansion. Watching that scene with a wry smile, Subaru shook his head in exasperation. His pride was wounded, and there must be some awkwardness. Even so, it would be fine if he washed away the ill feelings along with the sweat before breakfast. Truly, he is at a difficult age.

"Sorry for leaving him all to you. If you're tired, you should take a bath... wait, it'd be a problem if you bumped into him in the bathroom."

"You're right, it would be bad for him. Fortunately, I haven't moved enough to break a sweat, so I'll pass. It would be pitiful to bring Garfiel in front of Ram-san while he's covered in mud."

Reinhard smiled as he said this to Subaru, who had spoken to him after seeing off Garfiel. As he said, no trace of the morning practice could be seen on the 'Sword Saint.' He had completely treated Garfiel, who was attacking with a sword-point that could kill, like a child. On top of that, with a cool face, he smoothed the lawn where Garfiel had been slammed and dented with his foot. Then, by what principle it was, the lawn beautifully returned to its original state. Was this also the power of the countless Divine Protections he possessed? —He is truly a person who makes one shudder when thinking about what would happen if they became enemies.

For that reason, being able to pull him into their own camp could be called Subaru's greatest achievement.

The 'Sword Saint' Reinhard van Astrea. His current affiliation is with the camp of Emilia, a royal candidate backed by Roswaal. Immediately after the start of the Royal Selection, the 'Sword Saint,' who had been supporting Felt as her knight, had reigned as the greatest adversary under his prominent fame in the kingdom, but—

"—I shouldn't say this, but it makes me shudder to think that if Felt comes back, I'll be enemies with you again."

"――――"

"What's wrong?"

"...No, I appreciate you worrying about me, but I probably won't be able to return to being Felt-sama's knight. It seems I was judged to be unworthy of her. If that weren't the case, she wouldn't have disappeared somewhere and left me behind."

Averting his eyes sadly at Subaru's remark, Reinhard shook his head. Closing his eyes at his answer, Subaru exhaled while hiding his inner thoughts.

—It has already been nearly a year since the girl Felt, who was one of the royal candidates and Reinhard's master, disappeared from before her knight.

That cat-like girl had abandoned the Astrea family and run away from the Royal Selection, taking along only the old man she could trust like family, leaving behind the 'Sword Saint' who had sworn loyalty to her. That is the public reputation of her, and it is almost equal to the truth.

In fact, Reinhard was abruptly excluded from the Royal Selection without being told anything by Felt. His master, to whom he had pledged loyalty, had vanished, and it is immeasurable how much of a sense of helplessness the 'Sword Saint' felt at that fact.

The one who reached out to him and pulled him into a new camp as an ally was Subaru. Reinhard, who had been stubborn with self-reproach and a sense of responsibility, was moved by Subaru's desperate persuasion and agreed to pledge his sword to Emilia as his new master. Since then, the 'Sword Saint' has become the sword of the Emilia camp and has played a very large role in the Royal Selection. The descendant of the 'Sword Saint' who once sealed the 'Witch of Envy' had joined the position of supporting Emilia, who is despised as a half-devil. The meaning of that was larger than imagined.

And, even outside of matters related to the Royal Selection, he is being helped by Reinhard's presence. Dealing with the rebellious Garfiel, even though they belong to the same camp, is one of those things.

"I can't thank you and Ram enough. Otherwise, I can't even imagine how many times I'd have been beaten up by Garfiel by now."

"He wouldn't do something so indiscreet. It's true that on the surface, Garfiel is harsh toward Subaru, but that's a reflection of him recognizing your ability. It's just that your strength is hard to see at a glance. That's just something he can't easily accept."

"Well, anyone would be pissed if they were constantly being smoked out by such a series of small tricks. I have no regrets or reflections because there was no other way."

Shrugging at Reinhard's defense, Subaru recalls the events at the 'Sanctuary.' The 'Sanctuary,' where the escape of the villagers was said to be impossible due to the barrier linked to the Tomb. The threat of the Great Rabbit swarming in—to break through that difficult problem, Subaru made many moves. Garfiel, who feared the liberation of the 'Sanctuary' and tried to stop Subaru and Emilia by any means—it can be said that Subaru poured the grace of 'Return by Death' with all his might into dealing with him.

That was truly the beginning of the contract between Subaru and Echidna. Subaru, who chose to take the Witch's hand, repeated 'Return by Death' in that 'Sanctuary' an unimaginable number of times and layered all sorts of trial and error. As a result, Subaru grasped the actions of all personnel staying in the 'Sanctuary,' and by completely leaving Garfiel out of the loop, he fundamentally neutralized all of his interference.

He secretly broke through the 'Trials' of the Tomb to lift the barrier, Roswaal finished the groundwork for Ryuzu to guide the evacuation, and he let the residents escape before the threat of the Great Rabbit attacked the 'Sanctuary.' During that time, he suppressed all of Garfiel's resistance as he struggled to somehow push away the moment of liberation that was approaching before his eyes.

In the end, it was after everything was over that Garfiel understood everything. The evacuation of the residents of the 'Sanctuary' was finished, and Garfiel, knowing it was too late, still resisted staying in the 'Sanctuary.' However, the 'Sanctuary' was attacked by the Great Rabbit, and the boy was driven to the brink of death without even being able to resist alone. There, he was saved by the hands of Subaru and Roswaal.

Lack of strength and errors in judgment; the circumstances that had kept the boy's heart stubborn for over ten years were resolved by outsiders in a landslide, and moreover, outside of his knowledge, and Garfiel's ambition was covered in wounds.

It's only natural that he would turn his pent-up emotions into anger and hate Subaru afterward. If it weren't for the persuasion of Ram and his sister Frederica, Garfiel might not have made the choice to join the Emilia camp even in form. The one who became the outlet for Garfiel's indignation was the newly joined Reinhard.

In short, what Garfiel could least forgive was his own lack of strength. Garfiel, who is struggling to become stronger recklessly, has begun to show signs of change little by line by knowing the strength of the 'Sword Saint' as a clear goal. If he does that, the day may come when he reaches the answer he couldn't obtain in the 'Sanctuary.'

"So, if he can get along with me even a little bit, I'll be satisfied."

"Your feelings will get through to him before long. There's no need to rush."

Reinhard shook his head as if to comfort Subaru's passive conclusion. Then, the red-haired knight turned his eyes toward the mansion and said,

"Please leave Garfiel to me for now. ...If you still expect something from me, who couldn't even gain Felt-sama's trust."

"Don't be so self-deprecating. Who can I trust if I can't trust you? I'm counting on you."

"I understand. Then, you do what you must. —That is the duty of the First Knight."

Reinhard put special emotion only into the last sentence. The 'First Knight,' that is a position allowed only to those bound by the strongest bond in a master-servant relationship. Reinhard could not become that for Felt. He didn't want Subaru to become like that; it felt like such a feeling was contained.

"Well then, see you later."

Without showing even a hint of such sentimentality on his face, Reinhard patted Subaru's shoulder and left the garden. At his feet as he walked away, there was not a trace of the battle until just now on the lawn that had been dented. Standing on the lawn that had returned to its original state, Subaru confirmed that Reinhard had completely disappeared from the garden and let out a sigh.

"I've left Garfiel to you... huh."

『That was quite a well-practiced performance. You've become quite audacious yourself.』

"――――"

Again, the voice of the Witch who broke the agreement was heard. But Subaru no longer said anything. Taking that silence as permission, Echidna sent thought waves through the crystal stone and said,

『It's your freedom to pity Garfiel. But we should have discussed the problem-solving of the 'Sanctuary' thoroughly. You repeated the trials that many times and should have chosen the best one. You didn't hurt anyone, didn't let anyone die... and finally saved everyone's lives. Isn't that right?』

"I know. That's why I'm not saying anything."

『There's no need to feel guilt about Reinhard, either. In the first place, that girl—Felt—shouldn't have been enthusiastic about the Royal Selection. That's why you presented her with an escape route with no loose ends. She's probably living peacefully in Kararagi with that giant old man right now.』

"――――"

Echidna carefully, carefully comforts Natsuki Subaru's choice as if peeling off a scab.

Garfiel's stagnation, Reinhard's suffering—it is all the result of Subaru's choice. Garfiel's matter is still fine. That was a necessary process to resolve the problem of the 'Sanctuary' without sacrifice. But Reinhard's matter is different. Separating him and his master was completely Natsuki Subaru's scheme. It's a plot where condemnation and contempt are unavoidable if the facts are known. But however—,

『To repel the malice of the Witch Cult targeting Emilia, you needed power. You can't save anyone with pretty words. You just made the right choice, after all.』

"Shut up."

『Being able to save Pristella peacefully was also possible because of that choice. How much could you have countered the calamity that struck that Water Gate City without Reinhard?』

"――――"

『Of course, with the forces gathered there, you might have been able to repel them by other means. But the reason you were able to repel multiple Great Sin Archbishops without a single casualty in such a major incident was undoubtedly because you had Reinhard before the incident.』

Echidna's words, which were being layered, continued to produce the opposite result while seeming to comfort Subaru. It is the blade of words that falls time and again to justify his actions. It made him think that her true aim was to tear Subaru's heart to shreds like that; the blade of words accurately carved up Natsuki Subaru's actions and deceptions.

No matter how many times, dozens of times, hundreds of times he repeated it, it wasn't enough.

He was overwhelmingly lacking in power. And that power could never be supplemented only by the experience of Natsuki Subaru, who continues to repeat 'Return by Death.' Memories and experiences of the future; there existed despairs in this world that could not be overturned by those alone. Even so, if he could have compromised, he might have been able to overcome the hardships. However, Subaru could not become strong or weak enough to allow sacrifice for the sake of his own safety.

If he accepted giving up, allowed compromise, and turned a blind eye to sacrifice, it would be meaningless. The meaning of stopping putting his own life on the scales and taking the Witch's hand would be lost.

That's why he ran around to obtain the necessary power and to gather the necessary forces. As a result, he ensnared the strongest sword, Reinhard van Astrea, and made him an ally.

Felt's withdrawal from the Royal Selection, which was necessary for that—how much trial and error he layered to realize that event; he has no energy to tell it all. Hostility with Reinhard, and falling before that sword; it wasn't just ten or twenty times. Still, in the end, it was achieved peacefully, without a single sacrifice. That result alone is the salvation for Natsuki Subaru.

Even if his heart is wounded, as long as lives are saved—

"There is life. If there is life, there is a future. If there is a future, there is hope. If there is hope, there is possibility. If there is possibility—"

『—People are saved. You are right. You are not wrong. I guarantee it.』

"I don't need your guarantee..."

Admonishing himself, encouraging himself, Subaru speaks the thoughts at his core. The Witch affirmed, understood, shared, and praised it.

While responding to those words with abuse, it is also a fact that he is being saved by the Witch's words.

Life, it's life. As long as there is life, he can redo it. There is possibility. He can connect hope.

Sacrifice refers to lives other than Subaru's. If lives other than Subaru's, which he has stopped including in all accounts, are protected, there is always value in continuing to challenge 'Return by Death.'

—Even if the person he wants to save cries, he wants to save them.

That itself is the salvation for Subaru, which he decided to accomplish even if he had to grab the Witch's hand.

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Receiving the Witch's cruel comfort, Subaru leaves the courtyard. Watching Reinhard and Garfiel's morning practice was actually an event unrelated to Subaru's daily routine. He just happened to pass by that scene and ended up having to call out to them as a result. Subaru's true daily routine will be carried out from now on in the mansion's library.

"—Yo, Beatrice. I'm coming in."

The library exists orderly at the very back of the east wing of the mansion. If he pushes open the heavy double doors, the first thing that overflows from inside is the overwhelming scent of paper. In the room illuminated by the dim light of magic lamps, bookshelves are pushed in as if there were no space left, and all of them are packed with thick books. It could be said that the amount of books was not inferior to the 'Forbidden Library' that once existed.

That is probably why. Even though she knows this place is not the 'Forbidden Library' she should protect, the girl continues to stay here because she sees a trace of her former home there.

"――――"

In the corner of the dim room, there is the figure of a girl hugging her knees. Immediately after entering the room, her fixed position was sitting on a wooden stepladder. Because that memory is still vivid, even though her crouching figure has become longer now, the sense of incongruity remains as an unerasable lump smoldering inside Subaru.

With her dress attire unchanged, Beatrice is crouching with her forehead pressed against her knees. In that posture, the girl does not show a single movement or reaction to Subaru's presence or voice as he entered the room. However, the fact that she was not sleeping was clear from the fingers tightly hugging her small body, which were filled with enough strength to turn white.

Beatrice, who used to look displeased but proudly called herself the librarian and welcomed Subaru. That dignified posture, backed by pride and responsibility, was nowhere to be seen.

Squinting at the girl's appearance, Subaru discards the emotion that crossed his chest for an instant with a blink. Then he makes a foolishly bright smile and throws open the library curtains. Unlike the Forbidden Library, this is a physically existing space. Naturally, there are windows, and the doors cannot become barriers to refuse entry. That's why—

"Hey, Beako. It's a good morning today too. A pleasant breeze is blowing. Don't you feel like stopping being cooped up in a musty room and playing energetically outside soon?"

"――――"

"If you don't want to get your dress covered in mud by playing outside, at least let's eat breakfast with everyone. Come out to the dining hall like before. That much shouldn't be too hard, right?"

"――――"

The curtains are opened, and sunlight pours into the library from the window. At that sunlight and Subaru's open-hearted call, Beatrice kept her silence without raising her face. The arms hugging her knees kept the girl bound, and that seemed to Subaru as if she were punishing herself.

"Hey, Beako..."

"...Just shut up already."

"――――"

Beatrice suddenly said this to Subaru, who was about to walk up to her, unable to watch her figure. Her voice was deeply sunken and even raspy. However, Subaru felt relief at such a voice. Because hearing her voice was something that had become extremely rare lately. If the days of being completely sunken and unable to exchange a single word continued, even words of rejection or denial would directly lead to joy. Regardless of Subaru's inner thoughts, Beatrice continued without raising her face.

"Betty is tired. I've already given up, I suppose. Disobeying Mother's instructions... breaking the contract... and yet, still surviving... why?"

"Beatrice..."

"If you had just abandoned me back then... why did you come to save me? ...No one, for someone like you, someone like you, even though you're not 'That Person'..."

It is an unerasable grudge, it is an unfading resentment, it is an unforgivable remorse—

The feelings Beatrice had been harboring all alone for four hundred years, and her magnificent resolve to let go of those feelings; it was the hatred toward the fact that it was trampled upon, and that she was trampled upon.

Inside the Forbidden Library, the spirit who had resolved to abandon her mission was, however, kept alive contrary to her resolve. By living longer than she wished, what was given to her was a time of life that had lost its reason. The Forbidden Library was lost along with the burning mansion, and her home was lost forever.

Even so, Beatrice does not forget the fact that she gave up and abandoned her mission. That remains cruelly as an unerasable wound in her heart, which harbors a strong sense of responsibility. It was to the extent that, ever since that night the Forbidden Library burned down, she was forced to spend her days crouching in a corner of the library and crying endlessly.

Even so—

"—! Let go! Let go, I suppose! Don't touch Betty...!"

Unable to watch her figure becoming smaller, Subaru hugged her body as if to envelop her crouching form. Beatrice's voice cracked at that embrace, and she bared her loathing and anger, digging her nails into Subaru's neck. She scratched him without holding back, and droplets of blood surfaced on the wounds. Even so, he did not let go.

He hugged her trembling small body as if to comfort her. But by doing so, the one who really wanted to be comforted might have been Subaru.

"Why do you come to see me...! Someone like you, someone like you...!"

"As long as you're taking out your anger on me like that, I'll come as many times as it takes. The fire of regret that seems unerasable now might eventually go out if you keep spitting it out."

"There's no way it'll go out...! Betty is!"

"I'm happy that you're alive. That's why I'm waiting for you to stand in front of me and pout again someday. —That expectation is also because you stayed alive."

"—"

When he exhausted his words as calmly and sincerely as possible, Beatrice's resistance ceased. As she was, Beatrice took on a dazed face and sobbed with an absent-minded look. It was proof that she could no longer continue the conversation.

—The exchange of tantrums and daze that was traded between Subaru and Beatrice once every two weeks.

When he loosened the arms hugging her, Beatrice again pressed her forehead against her hugged knees. Subaru could no longer say anything to the girl who looked down and shut herself in her own shell like that. Subaru's words remained unable to open the gate of Beatrice's hard heart.

Even so, if he continues to knock on the gate many times like this, the day may come when it is eventually opened. —The possibility that he can believe so, that is what hope is.

"I wonder if it would have been better if I could have lied and said I was 'That Person' back then."

Leaving Beatrice and exiting the library, Subaru reminisced while leaning his back against the door.

Beatrice, who had harbored hope for 'That Person' at the attack on the mansion and Subaru's presence, and had it crushed. she had resolved to end her long mission and had both her fragile expectations and sad resignation crushed. To the girl who had been waiting for four hundred years for the visit of 'That Person' to whom she could hand over the Forbidden Library, should Subaru have lied and pretended to be 'That Person'? If he had done so, would her heart have been protected without being scorched along with that burned Forbidden Library?

『The loss of the Forbidden Library is irreversible. The fact that those pieces of knowledge were lost without being passed on is a bitter blow to me as well, but it can't be helped. To you, the fact that Beatrice's life was saved should be more important than knowledge.』

"It's out of place for you to say that. You, of all people, shouldn't be able to say that."

Echidna, who stays in the dream world, argued against Subaru, who was leaving lingering affection for the past time. But wasn't it Echidna herself who entrusted the Forbidden Library to Beatrice and made her spend four hundred years of futile time? As a result of the role Echidna ordered, Beatrice's heart was fragrily shattered. And yet—

"If you hadn't told her to wait for 'That Person'...!"

『Wait a moment. Isn't that a substitution of logic, no matter how you look at it? I had my own reasons and needed to do that. Of course, I am also responsible for the fact that Beatrice spent a long time in solitude because of that. But I didn't intend to force unhappiness on that child. I'd like you to understand that.』

"Gu..."

Receiving Echidna's counterargument, Subaru became speechless, realizing his own venting of anger. The Witch's words are correct. In the end, Subaru blaming Echidna here is just pushing the responsibility for what he couldn't do onto her.

"...Who was 'That Person' in the end?"

『Unfortunately, I cannot reveal that from my mouth. Since the Forbidden Library has been lost, there is no meaning in discussing it. Even if you were to find that person, he probably wouldn't understand that anymore.』

"He... so it's a man."

『—Did I let that slip? But the method to find him is nonexistent. In the first place, what would you do if you found him? Let him meet Beatrice? Or do you want to impose some kind of punishment on him? If so, for what crime? You cannot judge someone for a nonexistent crime when the person himself has no opportunity to realize it. Besides, you don't even have time for that.』

Subaru clicked his tongue at Echidna's rhetoric, which didn't let him think it was a slip of the tongue. As a fact, the Witch's words are all correct. He can't find him. He can't judge him. Subaru doesn't have the time to be bothered by such things.

『Beatrice certainly spent a pitiful time. But that doesn't become a reason for the future to be that way as well. Just as you said, unexpectedly.』

"――――"

『Even if she is overwhelmed by regret now, the time will eventually come when that child is also liberated. When that happens, someone has to accept that child. You, or someone else even if it's not you, can become that someone. That is the possibility of being alive.』

It was a sophistry. It was a convenient glossing over. But it is also, undeniably, hope.

What seemed like Echidna's sweet words was, however, a possibility that Subaru had no choice but to believe.

That's why Subaru cannot deny her argument, even if it's transparent that the Witch connected by the contract is just manipulating words. He clings to her and leans on her. On her presence as the only accomplice, who always makes him conscious of his sins and does not let him forget them.

"It's a parallel line."

『Yes, it's a parallel line.』

In the end, finishing the talk like that is Subaru and Echidna's way of facing their sins. Entrusting hope to the future, believing that there is a path in possibility, and waiting for the arrival of the day when they reach their ideal.

Even if there were countless opportunities, Subaru would still reach this place after all. Taking Beatrice, who was desperate to stay, out of the burning mansion, and wanting her to live even while knowing that the days of breaking down in tears would continue, even while making her lose the Forbidden Library. In the worlds he repeated thousands of times, layering trial and error, Subaru could not find a way to save Beatrice without letting anyone die.

Like that, while self-supplying hope, he continues to walk on and on. Being saved, having been saved.

Making those words the food for the future, praying that possibility will sprout, today too.

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

"O-o-oh, isn't that Subaru-sama there? Are you on your way back from Beatrice's place?"

"――――"

Suddenly, a voice was called out to his back as he walked down the hallway, and Subaru stopped reflexively. From the tone and voice, he immediately thought of who the other person was. For that reason, he regretted stopping, but since he had stopped, he couldn't ignore him either. When he turned around reluctantly, the other person was standing calmly right behind Subaru.

"Roswaal, huh."

"Yes, that's right. Good morning. How was it with Beatrice this morning?"

"...I wonder if she talked to me for the first time in a while. Well, please look forward to future progress."

"I see. ...It seems you were quite harshly treated."

The one who narrowed his eyes of different colors at Subaru's sullen response was Roswaal. His gaze was directed at Subaru's neck and cheek. There, the scratches from Beatrice digging her nails in earlier remained painfully.

"Unfortunately, I am quite unsuited for treating wounds. It seems I won't be able to heal those wounds. Those who can use healing magic are... only Beatrice, Garfiel, and Emilia-sama."

"The former two are a bit tough. Asking Emilia is also... well, I'll think about it."

"She would surely be happy to heal you if you asked. Or perhaps the pain of the wounds is a comfort to you now."

"――――"

Instead of the tight-lipped Subaru, the edge of the talkative Roswaal's tongue was sharp every time. Especially the last sentence; when Subaru narrowed his eyes at its content, Roswaal shrugged with a clownish gesture. Clown makeup and eccentric clothing; Roswaal's appearance and behavior are unchanged from before, but there is a part that is decisively different from before.

His way of interacting with Subaru, his attitude, and the certain respect behind them. That was proof that Roswaal had, unexpectedly, recognized Natsuki Subaru's presence as useful.

"But there is no need to worry. Given time, you will surely find a breakthrough. You are someone who is obsessed with grasping the best by any means. If you wish to save Beatrice's heart, you should surely be able to obtain that method as well. There is no need to rush."

"You say it so easily. Even though it's not such a convenient story."

"Don't be so humble. —And I don't think it's easy, either. However, that fact does not cloud your achievements so far; that's all it is."

Bowing respectfully, Roswaal straightforwardly praised Subaru's achievements.

As a fact, only Echidna, who is in a contractual relationship with Subaru, understands that Subaru's heterodoxy is 'Return by Death.' However, the one who understands the heterodoxy of 'redoing' similar to that and evaluates his achievements along with that fact is Roswaal. Since Echidna does not have realistic power, it is not an exaggeration to assert that Roswaal is the one who evaluates Subaru most correctly.

"The Royal Capital, my mansion, the Royal Capital again. And the 'Sanctuary,' Pristella. —You have continued to exist until today without missing a single thing. That is an undeniable result and is undoubtedly a feat you have accomplished. Eventually, you will surely fulfill my long-cherished wish as well. I will not spare any cooperation for that. Please use me to your heart's content."

"You're optimistic. ...There's no certainty that I'll dance in your palm."

"But you want the Dragon's Blood. Otherwise, that girl—Rem—will not wake up. As long as that conclusion exists, you will make Emilia-sama the King. Right?"

At Roswaal's low, probing gaze, Subaru also glared back with a cold gaze.

It is a relationship of mutual cooperation established on a precarious footing between those who grasp each other's vital points. Roswaal has a purpose he wants to accomplish by using Subaru's 'Return by Death,' and he intends to guide Subaru into a situation where he must fulfill it in a landslide. And Subaru, while understanding that intention, must proceed according to his intention in order to save Rem, who is still sleeping.

"What, it will never be a bad deal. You fulfill your wish, and I fulfill mine, which we want to fulfill by any means. We use each other for that. That's all it is."

"――――"

"My power should be useful. I spent four hundred years for this moment. Just as your power is to me, you see."

Subaru cannot argue against Roswaal's conviction. That is an answer that has been out since he learned of Roswaal's betrayal in the 'Sanctuary' a long time ago. For the Royal Selection and as a means of countering the obstacles trying to block that progress, Subaru and the others cannot do without Roswaal's presence. Even if he is plotting to use Subaru and fulfill his own wish.

"If you would just tell me what you want to do more honestly and with your true feelings, I might be able to cooperate without being so stubborn."

"Unfortunately, that probably won't happen. You won't choose that."

Roswaal cut off Subaru, who tried to ease the tension even a little by approaching him. When Subaru's eyes widened at the content, Roswaal, while still smiling mysteriously, said,

"It's even more so if you're not self-aware. You will surely push forward your most prioritized circumstances with all your might. If you judge that it could become an obstacle or a cause of holding you back, you will easily discard even a wish, no matter the circumstances. You can do it, you end up doing it. I've already decided so. That's why you became my trump card."

"――――"

"Isn't it fine? I'll fulfill my wish as I please, and you'll fulfill yours as you please. If we don't reach it, it's just that the feelings of the one whose wish wasn't fulfilled weren't enough."

"...Yeah, I guess so."

Mad obsession; he already knows that it is supporting Roswaal. And that he has no intention of revealing where that fundamental thing is generated from. Understanding only that much, Subaru cut off the conversation with Roswaal and quickly started walking. To that attitude showing the severance of his heart, Roswaal remained stopped and said,

"Oh, yes, yes. Ram is in Rem's room right now. I'll tell you just in case."

"――――"

Without answering anything to that, Subaru turned the corner and escaped from his gaze.

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

"Thank you very much for taking the trouble to visit for my unworthy sister, Natsuki Subaru-sama."

Since the contract in the 'Sanctuary,' or perhaps it might be more accurate to say since Natsuki Subaru's way of being was determined. In the mansion and outside, it was unavoidable that countless changes would visit, but among them, her change might be called one of the largest.

The maid with peach-colored hair bowed deeply toward Subaru as he entered the room. The opening remark was undoubtedly made by that Ram.

She, who had a personality that seemed to be the epitome of arrogance and insolence, had her attitude toward Subaru change drastically now that she had gone through the events of the 'Sanctuary' and overcome various events since then.

"I can't get used to that attitude of yours no matter how much time passes."

"...Again and again, I am sorry for my previous rudeness. Due to Ram's ignorance and lack of self-awareness, I caused great trouble to Natsuki Subaru-sama. However, I have been instructed by Roswaal-sama and Emilia-sama to pay the utmost respect to Natsuki Subaru-sama, so such a thing will surely never happen again. Please rest assured."

Without changing her expression, Ram answered Subaru with the perfect movements of a lady-in-waiting. In that attitude, not a hint remained of the previous familiarity or the closeness of the distance that could be called friendliness. It was a wall—no, if it were a wall, it could be overcome. But that, for which no method of overcoming existed, was more accurately called a gap in the world rather than a wall.

Ram, who is devoted to Roswaal and respects his way of being. Just as Roswaal changed his way of interacting with Subaru, the value of Subaru's presence within Ram also changed significantly. The result is her attitude of regarding Subaru as an object of respect.

Averting his eyes from such a Ram, Subaru looks at the blue-haired girl lying on the bed in the center of the room—the reason he came to this room—Rem. Lying on her back, she is the girl who has been in an unchanged state for over two years—Rem. Time leaves her behind heartlessly while he remains unable to reach the conviction to fulfill the oath he made to wake her up.

"Any change in Rem?"

"None. She remains sleeping as before... While there are many problems to worry about, I have no words for making you worry about Ram's foolish sister."

"Don't say that. Rem is... thinking about Rem is never a waste. Never do that again."

"—Yes."

Ram responded shortly to Subaru, who told her so strictly. There was no dissatisfaction or complaint, no relief or gratitude there. Toward Rem, whom he calls her sister, Ram has no realization or understanding. She recognizes Rem as her sister in form, but in her heart, there is probably no longer a place for Rem.

Her heart has completely made her loyalty to Roswaal its only support. The influence of Subaru's actions, which took the choice to cut off the wish Ram had harbored by going along with Roswaal's intentions, is strong.

Even if Rem wakes up, will the place for her sister return to her heart? To the sister she adored so much, to the sister she doted on so much, will the sisters be able to return?

"—! Ram, sorry, but leave me alone with Rem."

"...I understand. Please call me if you have any business."

Gnashing his teeth at the shuddering imagination, Subaru felt terror at being in the same room as Ram. Before that trembling could miraculously come out in his voice, he drove her presence out of this place. Fortunately, Ram did not argue against Subaru's words, and after leaving only an elegant curtsy, she quietly left the room. With that, only Subaru and Rem were left in the room.

"...Rem."

"――――"

Lying on the bed, the girl who repeats a breath that cannot be called a sleeping breath does not answer. Only the fact that her chest rises and falls slightly and her body, through which warm blood flows if touched, are the proof that she is alive. Coming to this place, always holding that hand, and confirming the weak pulse is all Subaru can do for Rem, and it is all the time of comfort Subaru allowed himself.

"...Echidna."

『—It's rare for you to call me from your side.』

Echidna responded to Subaru's call as he sat by the bed and held Rem's hand. The Witch, who seemed to be aware of not being called and of starting to talk even without being called, quietly waited for the words of Subaru, who was soaked in the lukewarm water of emotion. Eventually, did the silence continue for dozens of seconds, or perhaps several minutes?

"The method to wake Rem up is as you said before, right?"

『Yes. Questioning the Great Sin Archbishop of 'Gluttony' who caused her sleep. However, I must say the possibility of this is low. Finding them is extremely difficult, and even if you catch them, the method to make them talk... if you can just make contact, finding a method to make them talk might be easy with your power.』

"Yeah, that's right. That's right. If I can wake Rem up by finding those guys, catching them, and making them talk, I can challenge it no matter how many tens of thousands of times. And yet..."

He can't find them. The Great Sin Archbishop of 'Gluttony,' the hateful blasphemer, does not show himself. Even when the Great Sin Archbishops of 'Wrath,' 'Lust,' and 'Greed' gathered in the Water Gate City Pristella, the crucial Great Sin Archbishop of 'Gluttony' did not show himself. Why, why, why, why, why—

"If 'Gluttony' is no good, what about the Sage's Tower? If it's the 'Sage' Shaula, who knows everything..."

『I'll assert as a Witch. Even if you head to the Pleiades Watchtower, you'll only end up on a fool's errand. The 'Sage' will not respond to your expectations. On the contrary, there's even a possibility that the 'Sage' will not allow your existence. You shouldn't want a meaningless death or a detour, either.』

He is denied. He is denied. Natsuki Subaru's wish is, by the 'Witch of Greed' carefully. The Great Sin Archbishop of 'Gluttony' is not found, the presence of the 'Sage' is not helpful, and he reaches a deadlock. Then, what on earth should he do—

『—That's why you have no choice but to obtain the Dragon's Blood.』

"If there is Dragon's Blood, I can wake Rem up."

『It's the Divine Dragon. With the all-powerful power hidden in that blood, you should be able to do something like liberating the soul of a girl trapped in sleep.』

Echidna's words are only a guess. But it was a conviction-like guess. She is in a posture of avoiding explicit statements, but there is a quite powerful ring to the Witch's words. That's why Subaru can believe that it is the method to save Rem.

Dragon's Blood, it is one of the secret treasures said to have been bestowed upon the Lugnica Kingdom by the 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica. It brings fertility to the earth, wards off all pathologies, and is a possibility that brings miracles.

The one who can use that is only the existence in the most noble position in the kingdom. In other words, that existence is—

"If I obtain the throne, it will reach."

『That's right. That's why you must make her—Emilia—the King.』

"――――"

『While supporting Emilia, sustaining her, and saving the people you want to save, you make her the King. And by obtaining the Dragon's Blood, for the first time, you can save Rem.』

Echidna's words soak into Subaru's brain like poison. To save Rem, Emilia needs to become the King. Making Emilia the King is one of the purposes Subaru wants to fulfill by dedicating himself. It's all good. Supporting Emilia leads to saving Rem.

Making Emilia the King is to save Rem. The fact that Rem is saved as a result is thanks to Subaru's ambition of wanting to make Emilia the King. That's why—

『That's why...』

"Stop it, you idiot. ...Don't shake my resolve every chance you get. Why do you always try to lower Emilia's value within me like that?"

『I don't intend to do that, though?』

"You have no persuasiveness. We've repeated this exchange dozens, hundreds of times."

There are parts where he can't let his guard down in the cooperative relationship with Echidna. The Witch calls herself Subaru's accomplice and, as a fact, contributes to Subaru in the form of lending her wisdom, while on the other hand, she plots to use not only Subaru's 'Return by Death' but even Subaru's way of being. However, thanks to her having some naive parts, he has been able to come this far without her poisonous fangs reaching him.

"I shouldn't have any personal interests. No matter what you have against Emilia."

『It's a misunderstanding. Well, no matter how much I say, you won't believe me, so this is also a parallel line.』

"You say that well, even though it's an exchange we've repeated enough to become parallel lines."

Echidna accepted it quite easily when her cause of defeat was stated. Even if she tries to use that as a lesson for the next time, she probably won't be able to do it. Because nature does not change so easily. Because it is not something that can be changed.

Just as Natsuki Subaru is Natsuki Subaru no matter where he goes. The 'Witch of Greed' Echidna can only be the 'Witch of Greed' Echidna.

He has no choice but to live with what cannot be changed as his weapon. Because in life, you have no choice but to play with the cards you were dealt.

"—Rem, wait. I'll surely wake you up. For that."

—No matter how many times I die.

It is a resolve without exaggeration, and it is a stake too light to offer. He continues to pay with his life, which does not run out no matter how much he throws it away. If that eventually leads to her awakening, he has no regrets.

Only that, only that, only that, because it's fine.

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

—He goes around Beatrice's library and Rem's bedroom, and there he reaches the end of his daily routine.

Subaru sent a light knock to the door of the closed room. Then, immediately, there was a knock from the inside in return. Not an answer, but a knock. In response to that, Subaru knocked again. Then the other person immediately knocked. He knocked back without losing. The other person also knocked without losing. Knock, knock, knock—

"—Geez, how long are you going to keep doing that! It's making me so-o-o anxious."

The one whose patience ran out first was the owner of the room. The door was opened from the inside, and the one who showed her face was a beautiful girl with silver hair and purple-blue eyes—it was absolute beauty, the embodiment of supreme beauty that never ceases to fascinate everything. When such an Emilia showed her face while puffing out her flushed cheeks, her loveliness felt more prominent than her beauty, and Subaru unintentionally burst out laughing.

"Ah, why did you laugh? Geez, Subaru is such an otankonasu."

"I don't hear 'otankonasu' much these days. I mean, you're the one who started knocking back first, Emilia-tan. I just went along with it."

"You say it like that. Hmm, fine, but. If that's the case, I just won't let Subaru into the room."

At Subaru's words as he laughed carelessly, Emilia tried to close the door with a sulky face. At that, Subaru hurriedly put his hand in the gap of the door and—

"A-dah!"

"Ah! Subaru, are you okay!?"

Emilia jumped up at Subaru, who let out an exaggerated cry of pain from having his finger pinched. Hurriedly jumping out of the room, she quickly grabbed Subaru's right hand, which was complaining of sharp pain, and—

"Hamu."

"E-Emilia-tan!? Isn't that a bit bold!?"

"Hihihara, fuhohi otonahiku hite te."

He didn't know what she was saying, but he was overwhelmed by Emilia's intensity as she sharpened her purple-blue eyes. Emilia's thin lips were sucking on Subaru's reddened finger. Inside her soft lips, he could feel Emilia's warm peach-colored tongue gently tracing the numbing pain of Subaru's finger. At that sensation, a sensual shiver ran down Subaru's spine.

"Nn... is it okay? Subaru, it doesn't hurt... wait, why is your face bright red?"

"It's a reason that can't be helped for a boy, or rather, I'm in great confusion at the unexpected development... no, I'm fine. Thank you very much. I can keep going with this."

"—? I don't really understand, but I'll cast healing magic, okay?"

Subaru bowed his head while holding up the finger she had licked, and Emilia had a confused face. But she immediately switched her consciousness and cast healing on Subaru's finger with a faint blue wave. The pain that had been eased by Emilia's tongue was completely cured by the healing magic. After that, it was just a matter of how Subaru would handle the finger wet with her saliva.

"Wiping it with my clothes... no, that feels like a waste. But would it be too much of an advanced move to openly lick this...!? But if I miss this opportunity..."

"Ah, sorry. It's dirty with saliva, isn't it? Kyu-kyu, yes, it's clean."

"I messed up—!? It was a time-limited choice—!?"

Unaware of Subaru becoming aghast, Emilia was satisfied after wiping his finger with a handkerchief. Then she suddenly sent her gaze to Subaru's neck and blinked her eyes. There, the scratches from Beatrice, which had not been treated, remained. Emilia, who noticed that sharply, softly touched those wounds with her white finger and—

"Subaru, it looks painful. What happened to these wounds?"

"Ah, oh, this? This is just, I caught it on the way..."

"Liar."

Emilia cut off Subaru's words as he tried to cover it up on the spot. With her large, round eyes wide open, she stroked Subaru's wounds many times with her finger, and eventually muttered.

"—It's Beatrice, isn't it."

The moment she said that, Emilia's voice was frozen without emotion.

Immediately after, what burst from Emilia's body was an enormous amount of pure white power. It swept through the mansion's hallway all at once, and Subaru's skin was stroked by a cold air that felt like it was being burned. Feeling the air freeze and make a creaking sound, Subaru hurriedly—

"Emilia! Emilia, calm down! It's okay, it's okay!"

"――――"

"Emilia! Look at me, I'm here!"

"—Ah."

He forcibly extended his arms, hugged her slender body roughly, and called out to her. He called Emilia's name many times in her ear and shouted while being close enough for his breath to reach her, reflecting himself in those purple-blue eyes. At that voice, the focus of Emilia's blurred eyes met, and a voice leaked out.

In an instant, the cold air that had spread as if to cover the top floor of the mansion dispersed, and the overwhelming pressure surrounding her whole body also vanished, returning to normal.

"Th-that was dangerous. Reinhard was just about to rush over..."

"I, just now, eh...?"

"It's okay, it's okay. Emilia-tan is a good girl, a good girl, it's nothing."

Subaru also sat down along with Emilia, who fell down on the spot while rolling her eyes. Holding her head as she failed to grasp the situation, Subaru patted her back many times so she would calm down. Gradually, Emilia's breathing calmed down, and she looked at Subaru's face timidly.

"S-sorry, okay? I, again in a strange way..."

"It's fine. Trouble caused by Emilia-tan isn't trouble. This is a role I'm taking on because I want to. Rest assured."

"...Nn, yeah."

Emilia nodded while frowning thoughtfully at Subaru's words. Subaru did not let go of her body until her heart truly gained peace.

—Emilia's emotional instability is influenced by the fact that she could not overcome the 'Trials' in the 'Sanctuary.'

The first 'Trial,' what she saw in the trial where she glimpsed her own past, is ultimately unknown. However, those harsh memories broke Emilia's heart and discouraged her will to stand up. And without being able to overcome that, the 'Trials' were ended by Subaru's hand.

Therefore, Emilia's progress may still be trapped inside that Tomb even now.

However, no matter how much she refuses and laments, time continues to move forward without stopping. And neither the world, nor the surroundings, nor anyone allows her to stagnate. That's why Subaru continues to pull the hand of Emilia, who is about to stop.

"Sorry, Subaru. I caused trouble for Subaru again..."

"It's okay, no-pro, no problem. Rather, it's like I welcome it."

"...Fufu, Subaru. Nn, thank you. It's okay, I've calmed down."

After a brief embrace, Emilia raised her face from Subaru's chest. Her warmth left as she stood up straight, and Subaru pouted his lips regretfully.

"Too bad. I wanted to enjoy Emilia-tan's softness a bit more."

"Eto, should I do that? If Subaru says so, I'll do it."

"No, no, no, it's okay. You see, the secret to making this kind of thing last long is to endure it while it's a bit insufficient. If you keep giving food until full, it's just livestock. I think I'll become a wolf that hunts its own prey rather than a pig that is kept."

"Maybe. I also think Subaru is closer to a dog than a pig."

"It's a different story if it's a pig or a dog, though!?"

While exchanging nonsensical words, Subaru was relieved at Emilia, who had regained her smile. Fortunately, she seemed to have forgotten the agitation from the wounds, which was a relief.

『I can't bear to look at it.』

"Shut up."

"—Eh?"

"Ah, I didn't say it to Emilia-tan. Sorry, just talking to myself."

He accidentally talked back to the thought wave that was suddenly inserted and surprised Emilia. Thought waves through the crystal stone naturally only reach Subaru. Echidna, who spat out with open loathing at Emilia's state in front of him; that contempt and mockery also only reach Subaru.

"Sh-should I stay quiet? If Subaru wants that, I'll try my best to be quiet..."

"No! It's fine, so let's talk a lot. You can talk to me."

"...Really?"

Emilia's purple-blue eyes began to moisten with anxiety. When Subaru nodded, Emilia had a relieved face and, overlapping her hand on Subaru's hand, said,

"Then tell me, Subaru. —What should I do today?"

"――――"

"Yesterday, I was studying in my room all day as I was told. Because there's no mistake if it's what Subaru says. So, tell me what I should do?"

—Doing as Subaru says, Subaru doesn't make mistakes, I believe in Subaru.

At those words from Emilia, Subaru struggled to keep his mask of a smile from peeling off. The smile he practiced in front of the mirror; its culmination is demonstrated here. Thanks to that, Emilia is waiting for Subaru's words with her eyes sparkling with expectation, without harboring any distrust.

Emilia, who was frustrated by overcoming the 'Trials' of the Tomb, is trying to protect her heart by completely depending on Subaru's presence.

It's a natural story, if you think about it.

By using the power of 'Return by Death,' Subaru has perfectly eliminated all obstacles standing in front of Emilia. Taking advantage of the fact that Emilia does not go against Subaru's words, he has been doing this all along, mistakenly thinking that he had gained her trust. He was able to notice that Emilia's heart was fixated on Subaru's presence and was in a very unstable state only after he could no longer return to the 'Sanctuary' no matter how many times he 'Returned by Death.'

Even so, Subaru does not think this situation is the worst.

"Then, it's a request for Emilia-tan. For today, continue studying just like yesterday! When I'm going to do something big again, I'll let you know properly in advance."

"Like Pristella or something?"

"Yes, like Pristella or something. Until then, nourish your spirit. Improving yourself in preparation for an emergency is the most important thing for the current Emilia-tan."

"Mumu, yes, I understand, Professor Subaru! I'll do exactly as I'm told. That's why—"

Emilia also joined in with the same energy as Subaru, who was putting in some playful acting. Emilia, who received the order with a salute-like gesture, hesitated a bit with her words at the end, and—

"—That's why, if I can do it properly, will you pat my head?"

"――――"

Emilia spoke while peering at Subaru with an upturned gaze, anxiously and shyly. Subaru gasped at her figure, and a stagnation was born for an instant. If that instant had continued for just a few more moments, it is not difficult to imagine that despair would have crossed Emilia's eyes. But fortunately, Subaru made a smile before that happened and said,

"Of course. Rather, I'm the one who wants to ask and legally touch Emilia-tan's hair."

"—? If Subaru wants to touch it, I'll let you touch it anytime, but..."

"That's why! That's also a reward, so it's no good. When something good happens, that's the promise. Just like Emilia-tan's patting. OK?"

"Nn, okay."

Emilia also nodded haltingly at Subaru's confirmation as he gave a thumbs-up and showed his teeth. Then she remained with her hand overlapping Subaru's hand regretfully, but—

"Then, I'm going back to my room."

"Yeah, I'll have Petra bring the food, so let's eat together."

"Nn, I'll be waiting. Well then, see you later."

Waving her hand, Emilia went back into the room. —Watching her shortened silver hair sway sadly, Subaru managed to endure letting out a sigh until the end. Eventually, the door closed with a sound, and the connection between Subaru and Emilia was physically severed.

『Truly, there is a limit to how hideous it can be.』

"――――"

As soon as Emilia's figure disappeared, Echidna began to speak ill of her. Subaru did not answer anything to her words filled with loathing. Not exchanging any words; that was the way to deal with her harshness toward Emilia, which he learned from his association with Echidna.

Not telling, not letting her tell. To Subaru, who maintained a stubborn attitude, the Witch also realized the futility and stopped opening her mouth.

Only regarding Emilia, Echidna is absolutely unreliable. And the relationship between Emilia and Subaru, while seeming unchanged from before, has still become something else, and there is no time to correct it now.

『It's more convenient for your purpose if she becomes an obedient doll, after all.』

"—!"

His throat became clogged at that cruel point, and Subaru regretted reacting. It was a remark that should not be affirmed, but it was a remark that could not be denied.

By protecting lives, protecting the future, protecting hope, and protecting possibility.

For that, he is sacrificing Emilia's heart's 'now.' And Subaru is aware that it does not stop only with Emilia.

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

In the dining hall, when he declined to participate in the breakfast with the whole camp, Petra, who was in charge of the food, had a disappointed face, but she carried the food for Subaru and Emilia into the room.

During the meal, while following up on Emilia as she wavered mentally several times, after breakfast, Emilia was in a posture of obediently heading to her own office desk as Subaru instructed.

"I have to do exactly as Subaru says and become a fine King."

Encouraging Emilia as she put in her spirit, Subaru left her room. He acts as a proxy for part of Roswaal's lordly duties, and Emilia's knowledge of the Royal Selection is incomparable to when they first met. The results of her efforts are being proven day by day. But—

『No matter what she does, she always asks for your approval at the end. She's growing into a very interesting King.』

"Shut up."

『You also harbor anxiety about that. I know you're always wavering about whether it's okay to put that on the throne as it is. But you have no choice but to do so.』

Echidna pours poison as Subaru leaves Emilia's room and walks down the mansion's hallway. It is a fact that Emilia's spirit has become unstable and her ambition at the beginning of the Royal Selection is wavering greatly. Even so, she will surely take the throne of the Lugnica Kingdom. No one else, Natsuki Subaru will make her do so.

By repeating 'Return by Death,' Subaru has eliminated all obstacles in front of her perfectly, and no matter what obstacles stand in her way, he will repel them, and Emilia's great ambition will surely be fulfilled.

And doing so leads to saving Rem as well, not just Emilia. Supporting Emilia, saving Rem, and keeping close people away from suffering. —Isn't that exactly the future Subaru desired by contracting with the Witch?

—I'm sorry, Natsuki-san. We're parting here.

"――――"

Suddenly, a voice vibrated not his eardrums but his memory, and Subaru's feet stopped. Turning around and looking around, there was no one. Then, if he thought it was the Witch's bad taste, it couldn't even be her thought wave. It was another call from his memory.

The voice continues.

—I, Natsuki-san. Even so, I thought of you as my benefactor. You were someone to whom I owed a great debt, and I wanted to repay it as much as possible.

The voice continues.

—But, seeing your decision, I understood. You're not seeking anyone's help, and on the contrary, you try to do everything alone, and you end up being able to do it.

The voice continues.

—So, this is my way of repaying the debt. Probably, you'll be desperate to protect everyone around you together, so I've decided to get off.

The voice continues.

—Well then, goodbye, Natsuki-san. Take care of yourself.

The voice continues.

—I thought of you as a friend.

The voice continues.

—You probably didn't, though.

"—!"

The moment the last words echoed in his mind, Subaru slammed his fist against the wall with all his might. A hard sound echoed in the hallway, and Subaru's fist cracked painfully. While letting blood seep from his knuckles, Subaru let out a rough breath and grabbed his head with his other hand.

What he heard just now were the words left by Otto Suwen, which he would never forget. After going through the 'Sanctuary,' repelling the Great Rabbit, and taking Beatrice out of the burning mansion, Otto said that and left the mansion to Subaru, who had cut through everything only with his own experience.

His back as he left has not disappeared even though more than a year has passed since then. It was as if he were blaming Subaru, who chose to save everything.

『But you didn't stop him, either. In fact, it should have been a blessing for you that the number of people to protect decreased.』

"No. I didn't stop him for such a calculating reason. I just respected his will. In the first place, he was a guy who had no reason to stay here."

Buying up the cargo and being rescued from the Witch Cult. But regarding the repayment of the debt, the debt was cleared at the point when he flew the ground dragon and helped save Emilia, who was supposed to be blown up by a timer. As for the cargo, the debt was also cleared at the point when he handed over a corresponding amount of money.

Otto Suwen has no reason to cooperate with the Emilia camp. If he were to stay here without such a reason, it would only be established if there were a reason in this place for him that exceeded leaving to continue being a traveling merchant.

That's why he didn't stop him when he decided to leave. Besides, Otto's 'Divine Protection of Soul Language' was useful, but it couldn't be called essential for winning the Royal Selection. In the first place, continuing to be involved with the Emilia camp cannot wipe away the danger from the two points of the 'Royal Selection' and the 'Witch Cult.' It's better for Otto to leave here. He hasn't heard any rumors since then, but it was only about a two-week association. It wasn't a big connection.

There are other people Natsuki Subaru must protect by throwing away his life.

"――――"

Trampling the dripping blood with the sole of his shoe, Subaru shook his head and started walking. Lately, he has been raped by thoughts about things that can't be helped too much. It's irritating. It's frustrating. Above all, Echidna seems to be enjoying it.

There are countless things to think about. He has no time to be bothered by things like his own head.

He must choose the optimum, the best, the finest, the highest, and the maximum. And yet—

"――――"

Walking quickly through the hallway, Subaru returns to his room. He couldn't afford to have his current face seen by anyone, even by accident. Natsuki Subaru is calm, rational, optimistic, and unchanged from usual. He must make everyone in the mansion believe that he is so. Otherwise, he can't protect what he wants to protect—

"—Oh, you seem to have returned in quite a hurry."

The moment he entered the room and locked the door behind him, Subaru raised his face at the voice from inside the room. Observing Subaru's excessive reaction, the 'Woman in Black' sitting on the bed smiled enchantingly and softly brushed back her long black hair, which was in a braid, with her hand.

"I should have returned on time, but it's a problem if you glare at me like that."

"—Elsa, huh."

"Yes, that's right. 'Bowel Hunter' Elsa Granhiert, having come here according to my master's orders. —Was it a nuisance?"

Saying so, the beauty wrapped in a black outfit that unsparingly exposed her feminine body tilted her head with a sensual gesture—Elsa, who radiated a glamorous but viper-like beauty. Without sound or presence, Subaru accepted the woman who had gotten into the bedroom ahead of him smoothly after the initial surprise. Naturally. She is not an enemy. She is not an ally he can trust, but she is still an ally. After all—

"I saved you by pulling you out of the burning mansion. I'll have you work for that much."

"I know. I have no dissatisfaction with you, my current employer. I'll have you let me choose the requests within the range that doesn't go against my hobbies, though... so far, I have no complaints."

Pulling out the kukri knife equipped at her waist and showing its dull glow, Elsa laughs. He is currently asking her for cooperation as a behind-the-scenes worker for the camp.

Emilia, who is the top of the camp and a symbol who cannot be defiled. Reinhard, who has gained an unwavering evaluation as the 'Sword Saint' publicly. And Natsuki Subaru, who has stopped and overcome numerous difficulties with zero casualties.

Instead of Subaru and the others, who cannot move freely under such bright evaluations, he has Elsa get her hands dirty with dirty work many times. Of course, even if it's called dirty work, the content is not necessarily despicable—

"So, how was the result?"

"It's a pity, but it seems 'Gluttony' was not at the base you told me about. There were only countless Witch Cultists... I let myself do as I pleased with every single one of them, though."

"Yeah. You can do as you like with that. ...But it's a miss, huh."

At Elsa's report as she licked her vermilion-stained lips, Subaru frowned and let out a breath. A miss, again he doesn't reach. He has made many moves to catch the Great Sin Archbishop of 'Gluttony,' but no matter how he struggles, he doesn't reach him.

"In the end, I only managed to kill 'Greed'."

"And 'Wrath' is captured. I think it's a good result, but it might not be so for you."

"...Anyway, I understand the report. For now, stay on standby as appropriate. When there's something I want to ask, I'll contact you from here again."

"I see. —Then I'll be waiting."

Without dealing with Elsa's words, Subaru quickly told her only that. Receiving that, she stood up without particularly caring and headed toward the window. Subaru's room is on the third floor of the mansion, but did she come in through the window? There's no surprise even if she performed such a feat—

"Ah, wait, Elsa. There's something I want to ask."

"—? What is it? I don't understand difficult things, though."

"It's not such a big deal. If you came here from outside... how was the weather beyond the forest? Was the rain okay?"

"Weather? Yes, there was no problem particularly. The clouds are a bit thick, but there's probably no worry of it breaking. What about it?"

"No..."

Tilting his head, Subaru looked at the magic clock crystal in his room. The time was already the Hour of Fire—past seven o'clock on a sunny day, and it was already past noon. After confirming only that, Subaru walked up to Elsa, who had her foot on the window frame, and—

"I have something I want to ask. —Behead me with that knife."

"—I wonder if you've gone crazy."

"I'm saying it while being perfectly sane. I'm just asking because it's necessary."

At Subaru's remark, Elsa unusually widened her eyes, and then she emitted a ferocious aura. However, even when bathed in that, Subaru's posture did not change at all. At his dignified appearance, Elsa shrugged.

"Normally, a human whose head is cut off usually dies."

"I think I'm also one of those who fall into that category. I don't know about you, though."

"I also think I'll die if my head is cut off. ...Are you really okay with this?"

"I should have told you when I first saved you. —I'll have you listen to one thing I say, regardless of the request. Now is that time."

At Subaru's attitude of asking again, Elsa narrowed her eyes. Then she took her weapon, the kukri knife, in her hand and rotated its sharp blade in her palm, and—

"Any last words?"

"Don't make it hurt."

"――――"

"Ah, also, you can do as you like with my bowels after I die, but don't lay a hand on the people in the mansion. Well, for that, I've left Reinhard—"

Before he could finish those words, Elsa's arm cut through the wind. For an instant, Subaru's vision flipped beautifully. While looking around the familiar room as it spun, he saw blood being splattered in the room, and—

—Ah, the cleaning of the room, I did something bad to Petra.

—while thinking that, Subaru's life snapped and vanished.

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

—When he awakens from a hollow dream, Subaru always tastes a suffocating sensation.

However, the liberation from that is fast this time. Probably because Natsuki Subaru was reconstructed in a way different from awakening from sleep.

"――――"

Jumping up his upper body roughly, Subaru puts his hand on his forehead where sweat had seeped. The cold sweat was closer to the greasy sweat that flowed while dragging the shock of falling to his death rather than night sweat. Anyway, Subaru's body was on the sofa in his room, and sunlight was pouring in from the window.

"Morning, huh."

Touching his neck, which should have been beheaded, Subaru slowly stands up. Twisting his neck and confirming that his head would not accidentally fall to the floor, he checked the time with the magic clock crystal above the door. The crystal glowing faintly green indicates that the time is early morning. The problem is 'when' that morning is—

"――――"

To confirm that, Subaru touched his pendant. The one where the black crystal stone was connected by a chain is like a pass connecting Subaru's reality and the castle of dreams. A hot sensation and pulsation flow in from the crystal stone held in his palm. If that and Subaru's heartbeat match, what visits is the white light and the proof that the world has switched.

"――――"

Opening his eyes, Subaru is again standing in the middle of that vast grassland. If he looks back, there is a hill, and under the parasol right beside the flower garden, he could see the Witch in black clothes elegantly tilting her cup toward the white table. He climbs the hill and heads toward the Witch.

"Hey, today is..."

"――――"

Placing his hand on the table, he snapped at the Witch who was continuing her elegant tea time. But she did not answer anything to that and just quietly pointed to the seat in front of her. What is there is an empty seat and a tea cup brewed for the guest. And that is the minimum condition she presented to Subaru for participating in the tea party—

"Damn it, I just have to drink it, drink it!"

While clicking his tongue, he grabbed the cup and drained its contents down his throat all at once. Suddenly, he widened his eyes at the heat of the freshly brewed tea, and—

"Gobuah—!?"

"Waa—!? Wait, wait! Isn't that a bit much, no matter how you look at it?"

"Shut up! Because you act like a difficult Witch and try to make me go through troublesome procedures, this happened... geho, gaho, buho!"

At Subaru, who was choking as the tea flowed back, even Echidna hurriedly stood up. Then she put her hand on Subaru's back and continued to rub his back until his coughing settled down. After Subaru did that for a while,

"Ah—, the tea?"

"Haa, it's fine this time. I can't stand having the tea I went to the trouble of brewing spat out again. Besides, it's pitiful to leave the table dirty."

Echidna shook her head at Subaru, who was trying to start over while wiping his mouth. The Witch looked at the table dirty with the tea Subaru had spat out and lightly snapped her fingers. Then the table melted as if dissolving and vanished into dust.

"Good grief, it's even on the chair a bit. There weren't many people who made me stand and talk... you're a sinful man too."

"It's just a story of me choking and spitting. —More importantly, it's an important talk."

Cutting off Echidna's teasing words, Subaru raised his finger. The thing he must confirm is only one.

"What day is it today? The fourteenth day of the Month of Kisdam... is that right?"

"――――"

"Echidna?"

"I just tried to tease you a bit. If you're too impatient, things will escape."

"—Echidna."

He has no time to go along with the Witch's games. Echidna shrugged at Subaru's words and said,

"It's correct. You can rest assured. Your 'Death' brought you back to the morning of the day. It seems the starting point this time is fixed on the morning of this day. Did you have conviction?"

Answering Subaru's question, Echidna conversely asked back. On the other hand, Subaru was relieved to be able to confirm that the point he 'Returned by Death' was the morning of the same day. And, with that feeling, he shook his head at Echidna's question.

"No, I didn't have any particular conviction. I thought I might return to the previous save point at worst."

"The previous one would be two months ago. You did something quite bold."

"Maybe. Every time, I feel a strange feeling that even Elsa gets surprised."

However, if the employer suddenly says to kill him, even Elsa, who is that thrill-killer, would naturally doubt his sanity. Still, she usually discards her hesitation quickly and follows him every time; she is very excellent as a 'Return by Death' device.

"But the fact that the 'Return by Death' point is this morning is, that."

"Yeah. If that's the case... something else is going to happen soon."

Echidna, who closed her eyes, agreed with Subaru's remark as he frowned. The beginning of 'Return by Death,' the transition of the save point; for Natsuki Subaru, that is a sign that a hardship that cannot be overcome without 'Return by Death' will fall. And that means—

"I'll be borrowing your power again."

"What, that's the contract. Besides, there's nothing in particular I can lend you power for, as before. —At most, it's my best to give you my opinion here."

"I'm quite saved by that 'at most' quite a bit, after all."

"...You shouldn't try to roll a Witch in your palm so easily. If you think I'll do as you wish so easily, I won't be able to show my face to the other Witches."

Averting her gaze, Echidna muttered such a thing somewhat shyly while running her fingers through her long hair. Subaru did not feel anything like a heartbeat at her figure, but even so, he felt like he had seen something heartwarming before the battle.

"Anyway, I'm counting on you, 'Witch of Greed'."

"Fine. I, too, am greatly looking forward to your struggle. If possible, I'd be happy if you became more cooperative to satisfy my curiosity, but..."

"I refuse that. If I go along with your infinite curiosity, it's only a matter of time before my humanity withers away. Who could do such a thing as trying out such infinite choices?"

"That's a pity."

When Echidna said that with a playful gesture, the tea break before the new battle was over. The point of 'Return by Death' changed in an unexpected way, but in a sense, he could take it as having gained an opportunity for a preemptive strike.

"Will 'Return by Death,' which is always being preemptively attacked,まさか be useful for a preemptive strike?"

Reminiscing so, Subaru heads toward the door to return to reality after descending the hill. To his back, Echidna raised her voice slightly and said,

"By the way."

"Hmm?"

"If you didn't understand the change of the 'Return by Death' point, why did you go to the trouble of 'Returning by Death'?"

"Ah. That's—"

That's—

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Passing through the door of the dream world, Natsuki Subaru's consciousness returns to reality.

"――――"

Looking up above the door, the time indicated by the magic clock crystal has not changed from before. As usual, without getting used to the difference between real time and actual time, Subaru headed to the washroom. He washes his face, brushes his teeth, struggles with the formation of a smile, and then quickly changes his clothes. And, just when that was finished,

"—Subaru-sama, are you awake?"

The sound of a knock reached from outside the room, and Subaru stood up from the sofa, thinking it was on time. And he put his hand on the door of the room and opened it from this side.

"Wa."

"Yo, good morning, Petra. You're cute this morning too."

The door suddenly opened, and Petra, who was standing on the other side, widened her eyes. But she immediately realized that it was Subaru's prank and smiled as if she were shy.

"Geez, don't surprise me."

"Sorry, sorry. So, Petra. Aren't you going to greet me?"

"Really reflect on it, okay? Honestly... yes, good morning, Subaru-sama. It's a pleasant morning again today."

Without mentioning Subaru's frivolous attitude, Petra continued so while smiling lovably. Those words were exactly the same flow as the morning before he 'Returned by Death.' If that's the case, her next remark will also be the same.

"A pleasant morning, I agree. Today Petra is cute, and I have nothing to say."

"Again, Subaru-sama saying things like that. ...But there are clouds over the sky beyond the forest, and it looks like the weather might break from past noon. I have plans to go shopping in town today, so I hope it stays clear."

Hearing the girl who speaks such a desire, and whose age-appropriate face peeps out at the end of her words, Subaru almost burst out laughing unintentionally. Seeing that, Petra puffed out her cheeks, but Subaru said, "Sorry, sorry," as a preface,

"But rest assured, Petra. Today, it'll stay clear all day. The clouds are just for show and no problem. I'll assert so."

"Eh? Really? That's a big help. ...But why do you know?"

"That's, of course..."

Widening her eyes at Subaru's assertion, Petra tilted her head. To the girl's question, Subaru said while laughing and showing his teeth.

"—Because I returned at the risk of my life for that purpose."

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

In the fixed position where the green grassland, the small hill smelling of the flower garden, the white parasol, and the white table exist, the white girl wrapped in a black outfit like mourning clothes elegantly tilts her cup. While enjoying the taste of the warm tea with her tongue, the Witch let out a breath of enchantment and said,

"Offering one's own life to save someone, to protect them, and not to hurt them. That is very noble, sublime, and a feat that should be praised by anyone. And to challenge such a repeating penance not just once, I can't help but think so more and more."

Placing her hand on her own chest, the Witch recalls the figure of the boy who contracted with her. Desperately seeking the ideal, not stopping to resist while being struck by reality, making the worst heterodoxy of 'Return by Death' his own, and fighting hard, the lovable human.

"—But offering one's own life with 'Return by Death' to protect those around you is a double-edged sword. By neglecting your own life too much, you became too obsessed with the value of lives other than your own. Because you could no longer find value in your own life, you became too desperate to protect the lives of your important people... and this time, you don't look at anything 'other than' the lives of your important people. That is, to the very end."

To the very end, to the very end, the posture of clinging to only one thing is too foolish. And being foolish, being ignorant, means being able to know.

"—You are truly a person to my liking."

Blushing her cheeks like a girl in love, the Witch thinks of the boy who is not in this place. Through the crystal stone, through his gate, the world is transmitted as if she were holding it in her hand. And the hardships that fall break him, and every time, he unconsciously depends on the Witch.

While intending to keep his spirit strong and endure the Witch's temptation, even if he becomes a puppet. Even if he has become a mental state where he doesn't mind 'Returning by Death' to confirm even a single piece of weather, without even noticing such a thing.

"But please rest assured. I will also vomit out my wisdom to protect the lives of your important people with all my might. So, for that, you too—"

—Please continue to be an accomplice to satisfy the Witch's inexhaustible curiosity.

Times of hardship, unreasonable fate, will fall on the boy many times from now on. No matter how painful it may be, no matter how high the wall may be, however, the boy and the Witch will hold hands, lend each other strength and wisdom, and overcome them.

That is the burning 'Love' that the 'Witch of Greed' offered.

"Ah, even so—"

While feeling the people who were wounded in many of their hearts as a result of the boy running around to protect them and being protected by the boy, through the boy's gate, the Witch sighed.

That is a proposition that will never be solved, a mystery that does not let her go even after death. Ah, even so—

"Why, I wonder, does love diminish?"

In the end, if Natsuki Subaru neglects Natsuki Subaru, he starts to treat his own life lightly, and protecting other people's lives becomes an excuse, and he ends up neglecting anything other than other people's lives, such a story. As those who have read from Arc 4 onwards can see, a certain character [Hint: Witch!] is telling a lot of lies. If the impression "Witches are really pieces of trash!" comes out, then it's good.

But in the official, while doing cat cafes and such, the original author is doing this in the background.