Re:Zero EX: "Patching Together Life in Another World from Zero (Tsugihagu/Gluttony IF)"

This is the customary April Fools' project.

Since this is a parallel story to the main plot, the character relationship chart has changed in various ways, though some characters remain unchanged. Please proceed only if you are okay with that.

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Patchwork, patchwork, giving it shape. 　Patchwork, patchwork, molding it. 　Patchwork, patchwork, adding color.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, bringing it closer to completion.

Patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork, patchwork.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, and even now, while patching, it remains incomplete—.

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"—Hey, do you know my name?"

At that question, the girl, Amyu Sears, caught her breath slightly.

It was an ordinary, trivial question. It should have been a boring question that required neither much time nor resolve to answer. If you know it, you know it. If you don't, you don't. That should have been all.

"————"

However, at a question that seemed so simple on paper, Amyu could not find her voice.

Life is a series of choices. That was a truth that even Amyu, who had only just turned fourteen, had learned well enough through the experiences of her short life.

In life, one must make decisions about everything. It starts with the trivialities of daily life and ranges to major decisions that sway the course of one's existence. But regardless of the scale, life is made entirely of decisions.

And now, the question posed to Amyu Sears carried the greatest weight of her fourteen years, and perhaps represented the biggest decision of her life. And yet, it was that very same boring, unspecial question.

"—Hey, do you know my name?"

The repeated question tightened around Amyu's throat. However, the person who posed the question seemingly had no such intention. Repeating the question once more was an act of kindness; the sense of consideration felt strangely unbalanced.

If the one tormenting Amyu was the questioner, the one most concerned for Amyu was also the questioner. She understood that all he truly sought was the answer to the question. That was why Amyu had no choice but to grope for the correct option without any clues, finding it through a dialogue with her inner self.

—What, exactly, was the correct answer?

Did knowing it or not knowing it better suit the questioner's expectations? Or, even if she didn't know, would it be better to say she did? Even if she did know, would it be better to say she didn't? —Amyu's heart screamed at the restricted choice.

"—Hey, do you... know... my... name?"

As if growing impatient, the phrasing of the repeated question was broken down into finer segments. Perhaps he was worried that his words weren't getting through; that anxiety clawed at Amyu's chest. Honestly, she was certain that failing to say anything, failing to produce an answer, and failing to make a decision was the one thing that would absolutely never suit the questioner's intent.

She couldn't end this without saying anything, without giving an answer, without making a decision. She wouldn't be released. —That much was certain.

"————"

Unable to speak, Amyu stared back into the black pupils directly in front of her and pondered. Inside those black pupils that looked empty, she saw her own haggard, terrible face.

Though she didn't go out of her way to say it, she had been aware that her appearance was decent enough to be looked at, but now there was no trace of that; she was simply cowering, terrified by the dominant power of the questioner before her. As if she had aged decades in an instant, Amyu's face was exhausted. She felt so weak, as if she might die from the pressure of the question alone—,

"—Hey, do you know my name?"

Suddenly, the pressure that suggested death instead gave Amyu a sense of hope. While experiencing the sensation of her chest being crushed by breathlessness, a premonition took hold of her: that by answering the question, she might be released from it. The moment she thought that, she felt the heavy sensation dominating her entire body begin to fade.

The breathlessness came from the pressure of suspicion and doubt over what she should answer. Because she wanted to be released from that, she suppressed her anxiety regarding the initial question. It might have been a kind of self-preservation instinct, but to Amyu in this moment, it felt like a divine revelation. Therefore, her lips trembled, and she stared back into the black pupils once more.

"—Hey, do you know my name?"

By answering the question, she would be released from this moment's breathlessness. With that single-minded thought, Amyu finally moved her twitching tongue and spun the words.

"N-No..."

She didn't know; Amyu followed her heart and answered so. Moving her thoughts away from the choices that had been spinning endlessly in her head, she answered the question with a pure state of mind.

In fact, she knew neither the name nor the face of the questioner before her. Living in a remote backwater, a place that should be called the frontier, even the great events of the kingdom she heard rumors of felt like occurrences in a far-off land. So, no matter how great a person he might be, to her, he was a stranger—,

"—I see."

It was a short sentence. She couldn't distinguish whether the emotion contained in those words was deep feeling or disappointment. However, Amyu's decision had been made. The rest was a matter for the questioner.

If life is a series of choices and decisions, then it is the same for everyone. Just as Amyu had chosen, the questioner would also choose.

"————"

Quietly, the fourteen-year-old girl waited for the questioner's choice.

—Alone in the middle of a village where no one but herself remained, she waited for the answer.

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"Hey, Subaru. Isn't it about time for lunch?"

Stopping at that call, Natsuki Subaru rubbed his stomach. The time was already past noon, and now that it was mentioned, he did feel a fair amount of hunger. The reason he hadn't noticed until it was pointed out was that he had been focused on walking with a blank mind. The highway was so long, continuing forever, that he had to concentrate just on walking. Thinking about the road ahead, it was a dauntingly long journey that made his heart feel heavy.

"Though, rest is important. Sorry, Emilia-tan. Did I make you tired?"

"No, I'm perfectly fine. But I was just worried about you, Subaru, since you've been walking the whole time. If you're okay, then it's fine..."

"No, no, I was just getting hungry myself. My stomach was about to stick to my back. Phew, that was close."

"Really? That sounds like a ve—ry dangerous situation..."

Hearing Subaru's answer as he exaggeratedly held his stomach, the silver-haired girl—Emilia—put her hand to her mouth and giggled. With a voice like a silver bell, the most lovely-faced girl in the world smiled. Seeing that smile up close, Subaru scratched his head and let his own lips break into a grin. Then, from the side of the two—,

"I suppose you shouldn't tease Emilia so much. No matter how hungry you are, it's impossible for your stomach to stick to your back, in fact."

"Oops."

Turning toward the voice, there stood Beatrice with her short arms crossed and a composed look on her face. At the critique from the girl in the flamboyant dress, Subaru narrowed his eyes slightly. Seeing that, Beatrice sharpened her well-shaped eyebrows, saying, "What is it, I wonder?"

"That look on your face, Subaru, it's bothering me for some reason. What's wrong, I suppose?"

"I just thought it was cute how you said you were hungry. Say it one more time."

"Muki—! Don't get hung up on weird things, in fact!"

Blushing, Beatrice snapped at Subaru's pointless banter. Seeing Beatrice like that, Subaru and Emilia looked at each other and laughed. Seeing them, Beatrice puffed out her cheeks even more, looking adorable. —This sensation was certainly unmistakable. And she would surely be displeased if he told her that directly. After confirming that, Subaru rolled up his sleeves with a "Right," and—

"Well then, I'll take Emilia-tan up on her kindness and make it mealtime. I'll show off my skills today. Any requests?"

"Ah, then, I'd like you to use mayonnaise. Look, Ram just finished remaking some mayonnaise for us, right?"

"Yes, yes, for Emilia-tan's order, it would be my pleasure! Fortunately, thanks to Ram, we have plenty of stock. That girl finally realized the charm of mayonnaise..."

"—Stop saying such foolish things."

"Whoa!?"

Subaru, who had put down his luggage and started setting up camp off the side of the highway, was looked down upon by a pair of light pink eyes as a set of slender legs suddenly stood beside him. A valiant figure with arms crossed. It was a girl wearing a maid uniform, yet possessing a gaze entirely unrelated to the spirit of hospitality—,

"That's quite a greeting, Ram. At least let me finish what I was saying."

"Hah! Stop making me laugh. The only reason Ram lends a hand in making mayonnaise is because it's a business order. Ram, opening her heart to a condiment that is merely white and sour? Horrifying."

"Horrifying is going too far! Besides, even you can't deny the destructive power of using mayonnaise on steamed potatoes! I won't let you call that taste a lie!"

The flavor of slathering plenty of mayonnaise onto hot, salty steamed potatoes. The sweet and forbidden taste that dominates the tongue is a paradise that anyone who enjoys mayonnaise should experience at least once—there is an ultimate, inseparable compatibility between potatoes and mayonnaise. Recalling that magnificent harmony, that symphony of flavor, Subaru's throat tightened. Right next to him, he saw Emilia and Beatrice's eyes sparkle, as if they were imagining the same taste.

"Look at the reaction of those two cute gluttons! Can you still call mayonnaise a heresy after seeing this!?"

"...I see. It's as Barusu says. The greatness of steamed potatoes is such that it even gives value to a dubious condiment like mayonnaise."

"It's not that, it's the other way around! No, it's not even about being the other way around, you're stubborn, Nee-sama!"

Ram would not budge, insisting that the contribution of the steamed potato was the greater one. Subaru's fist trembled at her stubbornness, but Emilia stepped between them with a wry smile and a "Now, now."

"Calm down, Subaru. I like steamed potatoes, and I like mayonnaise, and I like dishes with mayonnaise on steamed potatoes. Besides, Ram is just being a little bit dishonest."

"...Emilia-sama, please stop acting as if you can speak for Ram's thoughts as you please. The way you put it makes Ram's target age seem lower."

"Eh, I'm sorry. But, target age...?"

Emilia was bewildered by Ram's irrational and cryptic phrasing. However, what permeated their exchange was not hostility, but an undeniable sense of trust and affection. With this, Emilia and Ram had built a surprisingly ideal relationship. It was a bit problematic that Ram had too little awareness of being a servant to call it a master-servant relationship, but there was a bond between them that transcended that. Subaru, more than anyone, understood that well. At any rate—,

"It's too bad for Nee-sama, but Emilia-tan's words take priority over everything. That's the style of this party. So, today's lunch is decided: all mayonnaise!"

"Yay, hooray!"

As Emilia clapped her hands happily, Ram let out a weary sigh. Still, the fact that she didn't press the matter further showed that she was plenty soft on Emilia. Of course, since Subaru was a born mayo-lover, this menu was a result of favoritism.

"Of course, Beako loves mayonnaise just like I do. You're happy, right?"

"I won't deny it, in fact. But it's irritating when you say it like you've seen through me, I suppose. Betty's anger won't be cleared so easily, in fact. In exchange, I desire a delicious meal, I suppose."

"Hehe—, as you wish—."

Subaru bowed to Beatrice, who puffed out her flat chest and made her cute order. After confirming that Emilia and the others looked satisfied with his theatrical attitude, he set about preparing the meal. That said, he couldn't do anything too elaborate for an outdoor meal. Of course, if he used the power of magic, he could utilize fire and water to some extent, but—

"I'm sorry, Subaru. I can't really help you."

"I told you, there's no need to apologize. This is exactly where I get to show off my ingenuity, right? On the contrary, you're free to fall in love with me all over again for my unexpected creativity."

"Geez, you're such a dummy."

Smiling back at the faintly smiling Emilia, Subaru put effort into the meal with the ingredients on hand. Food is the vitality of daily life. He didn't want to cut corners here. Checking the contents of the luggage, Subaru labored to prepare a meal that would meet everyone's requests as much as possible.

The members accompanying him were all people who looked like they enjoyed their food. He hadn't thought about it much before, but it's a joyful thing to have the food you've made eaten with such relish. It also leads to motivation for the one cooking.

If it was such a simple thing, he should have properly conveyed his joy to his mother.

"Hum, hum, hum..."

Keeping such sentiments in a corner of his mind, Subaru's cheeks softened at the sight of Emilia and the others looking curiously and happily at his hands as he cooked. He could even hear humming. She was tone-deaf.

"Oh my, today's cook is Big Brother. I'm a little worried."

As he was preparing the meal, Meili peeked her head out. She toyed with her dark blue braid with her finger, directing a gaze at Subaru that was far more alluring than her age would suggest. Subaru looked back at her with a suspicious expression.

"What do you mean, worried? I won't let such a cheeky girl eat."

"Oh no, that's abuse. Besides, Big Brother, you try to put that mayonnaise condiment on everything, don't you? I don't really like that stuff very much."

"W-What did you say... Even you don't understand the charm of mayonnaise...!?"

"Don't make a face like it's the end of the world."

Meili sighed in exasperation at Subaru's stunned face. However, the shock Subaru received from her response was immeasurable. If not the end of the world, he felt a shock equivalent to the end of the year.

"Still, you are taking it a bit too dramatically. Miss Meili is simply saying she cannot keep pace with your attitude of trying to pair mayonnaise with every ingredient."

"Mm..."

Julius, the handsome man whose very walk seemed elegant, followed up on Meili's statement as she showed her rejection of mayonnaise. Julius, approaching them, gave Subaru a faint smile and—

"If I may add, I am of the same opinion as Miss Meili. Mayonnaise itself is not so bad, but if it is paired with everything, the initial impression fades. Please exercise self-restraint."

"You're a nitpicking, noisy guy. This is a problem between me and Meili, so you don't need to butt in."

"Maintaining a healthy environment for the group is also a role of a member. If the seeds of discord are overlooked, they may bud and bloom into something regrettable. I consider it my duty to offer advice before that happens, do you understand?"

"You always have a comeback for everything, don't you!"

Julius poked at Subaru's lack of foresight with his usual roundabout phrasing. Becoming irritated by his words and actions, Subaru raised his voice. Then, Emilia, who had been listening to their exchange, burst out laughing with a "Fufu," and—

"Emilia-tan?"

"As always, Subaru and Julius are such go—od friends."

At Emilia's gaze, which looked upon them as something heartwarming, Subaru's shoulders slumped in exhaustion. Julius, who was in the same position, also closed one eye while touching his bangs. Only at this timing did Subaru and Julius's opinions seem to coincide, but there seemed to be a vast gap between their opinion and Emilia's perception. In her jewel-like dark blue eyes, the exchange between Subaru and Julius just now appeared to be a scene of close friendship.

"Listen, Emilia-tan. I say this all the time, but that's..."

"That's?"

That is, no matter how you look at it, a great misunderstanding. Subaru tried to explain to the tilting Emilia—

"That's..."

"————"

The words of explanation he tried to continue suddenly stuck, and Subaru's tongue stiffened. Immediately, the movement of Emilia, who had been smiling and tilting her head before him, froze. —No, it wasn't just Emilia. Around Subaru as he cooked, the people who had been talking peacefully until just now stopped moving exactly as they were, everyone becoming completely rigid.

—As if the world had stopped time, waiting for Subaru's next reaction.

However, the sound of the wind, the scent of the trees, and the boiling water told him that wasn't the case. The world had not stopped. —Only Emilia and the others had stopped.

As if waiting for Subaru's image, which tried to reproduce them, to catch up. Only Emilia and the others had stopped—

"—Master~! I took a quick look ahead!"

"————"

Suddenly, an anomaly broke into that frozen world of silence. A figure that had leaped vigorously jumped in front of Subaru, who was sitting on a large rock and tending the fire.

"Shaula has returned with a flourish! Master, please praise me, hug me, and love me!"

The one who said that with a full smile was a tall, beautiful woman. She was a person with long brown hair tied in a single ponytail, boldly exposing her healthy white skin. Showing off her feminine, curvaceous body without hesitation, she—Shaula—wore a carefree smile.

"————"

However, Subaru's reaction to Shaula's full-on display of affection was not favorable. That was only natural; the place she had jumped into was the very spot where Emilia had been smiling just a moment ago. Her noisy, grand leap had scattered Emilia and blown away the other frozen figures as well. Subaru frowned at that fact.

"A-Are? What's wrong, Master? Did I do something again?"

"...No, it's nothing. Don't worry about it. It's not like it's your fault."

"Is that so? Then I won't worry! Ah, more importantly, Master, I'm so happy you're preparing food! I was starving~"

Shaula's face clouded for a moment at Subaru's expression, but she immediately took his excuse at face value and, with a face that had forgotten her previous anxiety, clung to Subaru's arm. Feeling the intense softness of Shaula's body pressed against his elbow and shoulder, Subaru curtly brushed her off, saying, "Hey, let go."

"Ahn! Master, you're so mean... but I won't give up. I'll keep attacking like this and aim for Master's heart, ulterior motives, and manliness."

"It feels like all of those are on the same target line... Also, don't grab the arm of someone who's cooking. What if I cut myself or get burned?"

"If that happens, I'll gently lick the affected area for you! I'll lick and lick and never let go, twenty-four-seven!"

"That'll just make it soggy..."

Shaula asserted herself with both hands raised, acting more with momentum than anything else. Subaru's shoulders slumped at Shaula's attitude, and he laughed weakly. Seeing that, Shaula raised her eyebrows with a "Yaya!"

"Did Master just laugh? Did something funny happen?"

"The funny thing was you, you."

"Eh, is that... a proposal...?"

"No, it's not!?"

He didn't know how the conversation had leaped so far, but Subaru delivered a flick to the forehead of the blushing, fidgeting Shaula, conveying both protest and denial. Receiving it, Shaula groaned, "Auu~," and—

"But, but, 'You're an interesting woman' is a classic exchange for a man and woman falling in love! The words that follow should only be 'Become my woman'!?"

"Where exactly does your biased knowledge come from? That's a pattern so worn out you can hardly find it even in my hometown anymore..."

In shoujo manga or games for women, male characters who used such first-meeting events might not have been rare, but Subaru didn't know if that still worked today. At any rate, the reason he found Shaula amusing wasn't to woo her. It was just that Shaula's reaction, to Subaru—

"—What you say is unpredictable and fresh."

"————"

"So, talking to you is... not bad. That's for sure."

He wouldn't go so far as to say that talking to anyone other than Shaula was painful. However, when he talked to anyone other than Shaula, Subaru naturally became aware of his own inadequacies, and that was painful. It wasn't anyone's fault. —The one at fault was always himself.

"The one at fault is always me. So..."

"In other words, this time it really is a proposal!?"

"I said it's not!"

The atmosphere for a serious conversation didn't even last a second, and Shaula exploded with dissatisfaction at the shouting Subaru. She flailed her arms and legs, saying "Ehh~," and—

"But, but, the development where someone blows a fresh breeze into a boring and gray life is the classic of classics, isn't it~"

"No, like I said, where is your fountain of biased knowledge springing from..."

Subaru gave up, as his attempt at a serious talk was completely derailed by Shaula. With a faint softening of his cheeks, Subaru concentrated on cooking.

At Subaru's hands as he cooked by the side of the highway, the meal prepared was for two. For Subaru and Shaula—there was no portion for Emilia, Beatrice, Ram, Meili, or Julius, with whom he should have been enjoying conversation until just now.

—Re-recognizing that fact, Subaru's chest felt terribly empty and cried out in pain.

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Patchwork, patchwork, giving it shape. 　Patchwork, patchwork, molding it. 　Patchwork, patchwork, adding color.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, bringing it closer to completion.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Being reminded time and again that he was an incomplete existence wore down his nerves. It was obvious that even just imagining it wasn't a healthy mentality, but having actually been placed in that environment, he could vividly feel the sensation of his soul being worn away.

To put it simply, Natsuki Subaru's current state of mind was exactly like that.

"—Master, Master, where are we going next?"

"Let's see..."

Shaula walked beside Subaru, humming happily. Raising his gaze at her question, Subaru thought while looking down the highway.

"For now, it would be best to head west. You're aiming for a human settlement, right? If you want to get away from people, you should turn around and plunge into the Great Cascade."

"Nee-sama makes some incredible suggestions... I'll just take the sentiment."

It was a very Ram-like way of speaking, mixing poison with honest advice. Keeping that in mind, Subaru followed the suggestion and decided on a policy of heading west.

"I plan to keep heading west. ...But what about you?"

"Eh? Well, I'm sticking right by Master, of course! We were separated for so long, I can't bear to be away from Master for even a second. Please take care of the Shaula who will watch over your life from 'Good Morning' to 'Good Morning'."

"From 'Good Morning' to 'Good Morning'... That's scary! That's all day!"

"Every day and every night, too."

While trembling at the rather intense stalking notice, Subaru looked down with a troubled face. Honestly, the situation of walking together with Shaula felt strange.

Subaru, who harbored dark and gloomy guilt, and Shaula, who acted wildly and openly. As a combination, they might be balanced in terms of positive and negative tension, but while Subaru was saved in no small part by Shaula's words and actions, he couldn't see any merit for Shaula in being with him.

"The fact that Master is Master is the most important thing to me."

"...Honestly, I don't really get it. Are you seriously going to follow me forever?"

"Of course! Until death do us part! The love nurtured by the time we couldn't meet won't wither from something like this~. I'll never leave Master's side no matter what. I'll even give birth to enough children for a baseball team."

"You're throwing some serious fastballs, aren't you..."

Puffing out her ample chest, Shaula looked at him with sparkling eyes. Blocking that gaze with his palm, Subaru's heart as he sighed was complex and mysterious.

Shaula's direct words and actions—he wasn't sure if he should call them a courtship, but Subaru didn't exactly feel unhappy about them as a man. Setting aside her eccentric behavior, Shaula was beautiful and charming.

"————"

However, Natsuki Subaru's heart was not swayed by Shaula's temptation. Because such human emotions were only permitted for proper humans. In short, they were a qualification that the current him could never reach.

"I think you should be a little kinder to Shaula, Subaru. It's pitiful when she's trying so hard."

In response to Subaru's hesitation, a silver-bell voice suddenly cut in. Turning his gaze slightly to the side, he saw Emilia peeking at his face. At her cute, pouting expression, Subaru closed one eye.

"...Emilia-tan, you say that, but that's a pretty cruel thing, you know? Even though you know how I felt about you."

"Mm... yeah, maybe. Maybe so. I'm sorry. Of course, I'm lonely too, but I think it's no good to mope forever. Because..."

"Because?"

"Because, I'm already—"

Narrowing her dark blue eyes, Emilia tried to continue her words. Instinctively, Subaru wanted to cut her off, not wanting to hear it, but that was a difficult thing to do. Not listening to Emilia's words was harder than interrupting the words of a god. However—,

"Oops."

Even if it was impossible to interrupt voluntarily, being interrupted by an external factor was permitted. Suddenly, hearing a noise approaching from behind, Subaru shifted his consciousness away from Emilia and gave way to the side of the highway. The sound of approaching wheels announced the approach of a running dragon carriage. Quickly pulling Shaula's arm, the two of them escaped from the dragon carriage's path.

"Yan, Master, you're so forceful..."

"Get off me."

Taking advantage of being pulled by the arm, Shaula clung to him, but Subaru elegantly evaded her. The avoided Shaula crashed into a tree along the highway and let out a cry of "Gyafun!" Ignoring Shaula, who was now rubbing her reddened nose, Subaru waited for the dragon carriage to pass and tried to return to the highway—,

"Hm?"

Ahead of his gaze, the dragon carriage that had overtaken them came to a noisy stop. It didn't look like a mechanical failure. In that case, the only reason for the stop he could think of was Subaru and Shaula. It was still high noon, but it was a deserted road. Subaru momentarily heightened his vigilance, wondering if they had encountered bandits.

"—By any chance, are you Mr. Natsuki Subaru?"

However, that vigilance quickly dissipated at the call from the person who got down from the driver's seat of the dragon carriage. Called by name, Subaru relaxed his guard as a tall young man, who should have been sitting in the driver's seat, approached him.

He was a person of about the same age as Subaru, with gray hair tied back. His gentle face made him look slender, but his build was surprisingly solid. He didn't have the air of someone engaged in manual labor, but perhaps his work wasn't entirely unrelated to such things. Setting aside those first impressions, what was important to Subaru was that this young man recognized him and called him by name.

"Ah, I knew it, it is you, Mr. Natsuki. It's been a long time."

"Ah—, er..."

The young man approached with an air of being an acquaintance, despite the slight distance. Hesitating on how to respond, Subaru looked around. Receiving that gaze, Emilia, Beatrice, and the others shook their heads, indicating to Subaru that they had no idea. If Emilia and the others didn't know, Subaru was at a loss, but he hesitated to start a conversation as if he knew the person. That was Subaru's specialty, but for various reasons, he didn't want to do that now. Seeing Subaru hesitating in such a state of mind, the young man frowned his well-shaped eyebrows and—

"Oh, have you perhaps forgotten? It's me, Regin Suwen... My brother, Otto Suwen, has been in your care. We met once before in the village."

"Regin... Oh, Otto's brother!"

"Calling him 'that Otto' makes it sound like it's someone else's business."

Laughing at the unnatural phrasing, Subaru clapped his hands in front of the young man—Regin—as he finally understood. Unfortunately, he didn't remember Regin's appearance, but he knew Otto. Now that it was mentioned, Regin and Otto's faces shared many similar features. It was certain that they were brothers and that he was an acquaintance.

"Sorry, sorry. My head is a bit full of various things right now. I couldn't come up with your name right away, or something like that."

"No, you must be in a busy position, so it can't be helped. News of the Royal Selection has reached even my ears in the countryside. ...Is my brother causing you any trouble?"

"It's not like Otto-kun is a bother at all. All of us are helped in so many ways thanks to Otto-kun."

"That's right. Otto has been a great help to the entire camp... or something like that. The reality is that things would be much more unstable if he weren't there."

"I see. If that's the case, then I'm glad..."

Regin, who had been somewhat apologetic, seemed slightly relieved to hear about his brother's current situation. Then, he looked back and forth between Subaru and Shaula, who was standing a little distance away.

"Even so, what are you doing in a place like this, Mr. Natsuki? Walking along the highway without even using a dragon carriage must be quite exhausting..."

"Ah—, that's a very reasonable opinion, and I'd use a dragon carriage if I could, but it's difficult due to various circumstances. Also, as for what I'm doing..."

Subaru cut his words there and thought for a moment. Then, finding the appropriate words—

"Right now, I'm in the middle of re-evaluating myself... a 'journey to find myself', I guess."

"A journey to find yourself?"

"Yeah, that's right. A journey to find myself... ku, hahaha."

His own words were so funny that Subaru couldn't help but laugh. Finding oneself is a phrase associated with youth, but could there be any other words so appropriate for the current Subaru? Thinking that, he couldn't help but find it hilarious. Regin seemed to sense something was off about Subaru's behavior and showed concern, asking, "Are you alright?"

"As I thought, is there something wrong with your health? The reason I was a moment late in recognizing you was exactly that; you look quite different from before..."

"My health isn't bad, really. If we're talking about my mood, I'm one step away from the worst. But I was able to hold on thanks to you, Regin. I'm relieved to have met you here."

Interrupting Regin's words, Subaru bowed deeply to express his gratitude. Seeing Subaru's posture, Regin's confusion only deepened. However, that attitude seemed to convince him that the Subaru before him was in an extraordinary state. Regin made a determined expression and called out "Mr. Natsuki," and—

"I don't quite grasp the situation, but for now, please come to the village. Let's talk more at my clinic. You need rest."

"You talk like a doctor, don't you?"

"My patients are earth dragons and livestock, but I am a doctor. Did you forget that too?"

"—I forgot. Ah, that's right. I forgot, huh."

"Mr. Natsuki?"

If it were just a matter of forgetting, Natsuki Subaru wouldn't have had to experience this much of a sense of isolation. But the sensation tormenting Natsuki Subaru was not something as easy as forgetfulness.

"Your village is just ahead, right? Have I stopped by there before?"

"E-Eh, yes, of course. Previously, when there was a bit of trouble, you came with my brother and another person..."

"—I see. Thank you."

He had heard roughly what he wanted to hear. He turned his face toward the taken-aback Regin and continued.

"You talk exactly like your brother."

"Eh?"

"Since you're such a good guy, your brother must be a good guy too."

That's why it's terrifying to 'reunite for the first time' in the future. He would never look forward to it with anticipation.

"—Shaula."

"Yes, what is it, Master?"

"Don't make him suffer."

It was a short, vague call. However, as if she had grasped his intent with just that, Shaula nodded with an "Ara-hora-sassa—." And—

"I'm sorry."

Subaru apologized once to Regin before him. The true intent of this apology was much clearer than the previous ambiguous one. However, Regin would never understand its correct meaning.

—Because, faster than understanding, Regin's head was swallowed by light and evaporated.

"————"

Without even a groan, Regin's headless body fell onto the highway. Intense heat charred the wound, and not even blood tried to flow from the cross-section of his neck. Vivid—it was ethically wrong to praise a method of killing, but it was a strike so refined that one couldn't help but describe it that way.

"No matter how many times I see it, it's a masterpiece."

"I spent four hundred years with nothing to do, polishing this technique by sniping the demon beasts I could see in the distance day after day from the top of the tower. Thinking back, those were gray days unbecoming of a young maiden."

"A young maiden after living for four hundred years...?"

Without any emotion toward the tragedy before him, Subaru tilted his head at Shaula's words. Then, he dragged Regin's headless remains and approached the dragon carriage that had lost its master. However, noticing Subaru and the other approaching, the earth dragon immediately began to run, trying to leave them behind on the highway.

In an instant, a white light pierced through Subaru's side, went through the dragon carriage's cart, and entered the body of the earth dragon pulling the carriage, burning its internal organs and piercing its head, taking its life. It was vivid, but it was a strike he hadn't wanted her to make.

"...Hey."

"I-I didn't mean any harm! It was self-defense! It was the result of me trying to stop it in my own way! My habits as a killing machine just didn't quite leave me!"

"I'm not angry. I'm not angry, but now I've missed another chance to get a dragon carriage. When will our means of transportation evolve beyond walking..."

At this rate, as long as he was with Shaula, he seemed to have no luck with earth dragons. Thanks to that, as long as she was his companion, Subaru would be forced to walk endlessly.

"Tha—t's why I've been saying it all along. Even if it's not an emergency, I'll give Master a piggyback ride anytime~. If you accidentally touch something weird then, I won't mind, we'll just call it an accident! How about it!?"

"I feel like you'd charge me money later."

Parrying Shaula's temptation with curt words, Subaru dragged Regin's remains into the forcibly stopped dragon carriage. The earth dragon's massive body also lay on the highway, having met the exact same end as its master, down to the loss of its head. As expected, the earth dragon was too heavy for Subaru to move.

"For now, pull the dragon carriage and the earth dragon into the nearby forest. I'll go check out the village Regin was talking about. —You know where I am, right?"

"Easy-peasy. I just have to make sure I'm not found, right?"

"As long as you're not found for a little while, that's enough. Hiding them for two or three days will be plenty."

Getting off the dragon carriage, he instructed Shaula to hide the tragedy. Shaula, who accepted with a raised hand, grabbed the earth dragon's massive body and easily hoisted the corpse with her slender arms, then began to pull the dragon carriage as well. While she was hiding the dragon carriage in the forest, Subaru turned his eyes toward the village.

"Now then."

Not aimlessly, but with a purpose, Subaru began to walk. Straight toward the village Regin was supposed to return to.

How many people in that village knew 'Natsuki Subaru'? Whether there were too many or too few, either way made his heart heavy. But even if it was something unpleasant, he couldn't choose the correct path if he avoided it.

It was a cold-hearted choice, but it couldn't be helped. It's okay. —As long as he could take back 'Natsuki Subaru', everything would be...

"It's something that can be taken back, right?"

That's why, for that purpose, Subaru would make the choices that 'Natsuki Subaru' couldn't.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

"—Hah, phew."

The moment his consciousness returned to reality, Subaru dropped the book he was holding in both hands. His knees trembled, and his breathing became ragged. Despite sitting on the ground, he felt a sensation like an unbearable dizziness.

—This, at least, was something he could never get used to, no matter how many times he experienced it.

"Hah, hah..."

Roughly wiping his forehead, which was covered in cold sweat, with his sleeve, Subaru took repeated deep breaths to calm his racing heart. Was the irregular, pulse-like disturbance caused by the confusion of the mismatch between mind and body? Each time he challenged a book, he felt 'himself' becoming blurred within it. If he continued this work repeatedly, would a sane person lose the boundary between themselves and others, melting together and instead losing what seemed like their ego?

"Master, are you okay?"

"...Yeah, I'm fine, I'm fine. More importantly, did you find the next book?"

"A—h, I'm still looking. It's hard to search, like a picture puzzle~. This kind of meticulous work isn't really my style..."

Shaula, who had called out in worry for the breathless Subaru, poked her fingers together at her poor progress. But Subaru had no intention of blaming her for being weak. As she herself was aware, the reason was that he was making her help with work she wasn't suited for. Blaming her for helping for free despite that—there are limits to being heartless. Even for Subaru, who had been running down the path of heartlessness for more than enough time, there was a line he had to draw.

"I know there are things you're suited for and things you aren't, but I'm counting on you, Shaula. You're the only one who can help me."

"I wish you'd say... Master only has me."

"...Right now, you're the only one I can rely on."

"Mufu—, I'll be satisfied with that for now."

With her nostrils flaring, Shaula dove back into the sea of books with a satisfied face. Her good mood probably wouldn't last long, but her eyes were indispensable for searching for books. Even in the simple sense of manpower, her presence or absence was a matter of life and death for Subaru.

"————"

Picking up the book he had dropped just a moment ago, Subaru traced the title on the spine with his finger. The title of the black book was simple: 'Regin Suwen'. A young man who had encountered 'Natsuki Subaru' in the past and had the misfortune of losing his life by encountering the current Natsuki Subaru—Subaru relived his life through the book. In that reliving, there was certainly the memory of encountering 'Natsuki Subaru'.

"...It wasn't much of a relationship. From Regin's perspective, 'Natsuki Subaru' was just some guy who came along with his brother."

Referring to the memory that had become part of him, Subaru sighed in a sense of futility. Honestly, he thought the one who wanted to sigh the most was Regin, who had become a sacrifice, but he couldn't avoid feeling a sense of wasted effort from the anticlimactic sensation.

"Wait, no matter how you look at it, that's a bit much, Mr. Natsuki."

"...Sorry. I've gone through all your memories, but the relationship was too thin, so the reproducibility is low. It doesn't look like I'll have many chances to pay attention to you."

Inside the bookshelf, Regin was looking at Subaru with a very expressive face, staring resentfully at the book with his own name on it. Naturally, his gaze was heavy with reproach. Anyone would be displeased if, after being killed, they were told their death wasn't very useful. Because he understood that, Subaru also honestly apologized with a "Sorry"—

"Well, what's dead is dead. Besides, if Mr. Natsuki's goal is achieved, everything will go back to exactly how it was, right? Let's look forward to that."

"Oh, you're big-hearted. I'm sorry for always relying on your generosity, but I'll count on that. I'll definitely repay this debt once everything is back to normal."

"I'll wait for it without getting my hopes up, then."

Shrugging his shoulders, Regin waved his hand and faded from Subaru's sight. Watching him go, Subaru returned Regin's 'Book of the Dead' to the shelf. Then, he picked up a piece of paper he had on hand and drew a horizontal line through it with a quill. —It was a list with many names written on it, and Regin's name had just been crossed out.

"...Twenty-three people left."

Counting the assigned numbers, Subaru cracked his neck, thinking the road was still long. The unfriendliness of the library where the 'Books of the Dead' were displayed—'Taygeta'—was still present; no matter how many times he visited, it never gave Subaru a search function for the library. Since he used it so frequently, he thought it wouldn't hurt to have a little better service, but it was truly irritating.

"Betty's Forbidden Library was something else, but this place is incomparable, in fact. No one would complain if you called it a day, Subaru, I suppose."

"That's right. It must be extremely difficult to find a specific book in such a vast library. If you don't settle down and take your time, you'll only get exhausted by continuing blindly."

The moment weakness crossed his mind, Beatrice and Julius offered advice while looking around the library. The content was kind to Subaru, but that was exactly why he stubbornly shook his head. It was true that if he chose to take his time as they said, this sense of futility and mental strain might be eased a little—

"In the first place, wanting to be at ease is a luxury. I don't have time to dawdle. I have to reach the answer as quickly as possible..."

"What happens if you don't reach it? Does anything change if Barusu rushes a little?"

"It changes. —Everything changes."

Subaru clenched his fist and spoke with conviction, while Ram watched him with her cold, light pink eyes. Turning his face away from her gaze, Subaru looked down at the list in his hand. It was a list with the names of Regin and the people from the same village. Based on Regin's memories, the possibility of obtaining something decisive was quite low. Low, but not zero. In that case—

"If you read those people's books, will what you want to do come true, Subaru?"

"Emilia-tan..."

Subaru felt a momentary hesitation at the question from the worried-looking Emilia. But Subaru nodded, as if to convince Emilia and, more importantly, himself.

"Of course. Because... because I forgot everything, I caused everyone a tremendous amount of trouble. This is the only way to make up for it."

"Making up for it... you don't have to think about that..."

"—That's not good enough!"

As if he couldn't bear to watch the reckless Subaru, he had unintentionally raised his voice at the darkening Emilia. At Emilia's surprised face, Subaru stared straight into her eyes and continued.

"Please, don't say that. I will definitely take back 'Natsuki Subaru'. And then..."

"...And then?"

"And then, I'll meet you all one more time. ...I'll meet you and start over."

It's too late to realize how important everything was after losing it. Why is it that people can't realize that what they had in their hands was irreplaceable until the load they carry becomes lighter? Why is it that it's only after everything has slipped away and can't be taken back—

"————"

As Subaru muttered as if squeezing the words out, Emilia watched him with eyes that were somehow fragile. The emotions in those dark blue eyes were complex, and even Subaru couldn't read them all. If it were her, he should have seen through everything as if it were in his own hand, but the fact that he didn't know what she was thinking in this moment made Subaru feel terribly anxious.

What was Emilia thinking, what was she feeling, and how would she accept the current Subaru? The answer was—

"—Master! I found the next book! Praise me, praise me!"

"A-Ah, good job. You're a good girl, Shaula."

"Uhehehe~"

The jumping Shaula forcibly ended the dialogue with Emilia. When Subaru patted her head, she relaxed her face in a silly way and rejoiced. The book she held in her hand certainly had a name that matched the list.

"...How much of 'Natsuki Subaru' is sleeping inside you?"

Taking the book from Shaula, Subaru posed a question to the book that would never answer. Naturally, the book didn't give a concise answer to Subaru's question. However, the answer was inside the book. Everything was for that act of barbarism, a necessary sacrifice.

"Objective, fragmentary information is fine. I'll gather it and bring it closer to the completed form..."

Evaluation is determined by being measured by someone else's yardstick. If so, then if he could check the yardsticks of every person, and if every person measured by those yardsticks could be confirmed, he should be able to reconstruct that person.

—To take back 'Natsuki Subaru'.

That was Natsuki Subaru's top priority, and everything was a step toward that. Not to mention the sacrifices that had already occurred, and the sacrifices that would be created from now on—everything was an act necessary for Natsuki Subaru to take back 'Natsuki Subaru'.

If 'Natsuki Subaru' could be taken back, if only he would return.

"...If it's you, you should be able to do something about everything."

The memories of Emilia, Beatrice, Ram, Meili, Julius, and many other related parties besides them wished for something similar. So, 'Natsuki Subaru' should have that power. So, with that power—

"—Save me."

I'm counting on you, 'Natsuki Subaru'. If you're a hero, help me.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Patchwork, patchwork, giving it shape. 　Patchwork, patchwork, molding it. 　Patchwork, patchwork, adding color.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, bringing it closer to completion.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

—'Murder becomes a habit.'

Those were words left to the world by the famous great detective, Hercule Poirot. The meaning of those words is not that a person who has killed someone awakens to a taste for murder and repeats the crime to satisfy their own desires. It means that someone who has once tried to solve a problem through murder will, when the next problem arises, think of breaking through the situation through murder again.

—'Murder becomes a habit.'

But if committing murder truly leads to the solution of a problem, can it be said that it's a result of murder becoming a habit? Could it not be said that this is not because murder became a habit, but because there were unavoidable circumstances? If murder is included as an option not because it became a habit, but because there are no other options, then it cannot be said that it became a habit, can it?

—'Murder becomes a...'

In the first place, what's with Hercule Poirot? Don't talk so high and mighty, you fictional detective. Don't think you can see through everything. Everything and every situation has various, complex, and closely intertwined circumstances. Don't mock me by trying to fit them all into a single set of words.

—'Murder is...'

This is just because no other means exist. It's just that no other means that are the most rational and lead to the correct answer exist. So, this didn't become a habit.

—'Only murder becomes the answer.'

Yes, that's right. That's it. That's the only answer, the only correct one. The only way to break through this dead-end sense of despair.

"Subaru is my knight who always helps me and solves everything."

"If Subaru hadn't been there, Betty would still be all alone in the Forbidden Library, I suppose."

"Barusu is... well, he's a man with good timing. Ram will at least admit that much."

"If Big Brother hadn't interfered, I'm sure I wouldn't have failed at my job."

"Subaru, you may not be aware, but I was also saved by you. Your way of being was a path of hope for me."

"I know."

I know you all love 'Natsuki Subaru'. I know you all cherish 'Natsuki Subaru'. I know the 'Natsuki Subaru' who saved you is a superman.

I am aware that I have completely ruined everything the 'Natsuki Subaru' who saved you did. So, I have to take it back.

If only I take back 'Natsuki Subaru'. If only I do that, everything will go well. It will go well.

It must go well.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

"—Natsuki Subaru lost his mind and laid hands on Emilia, Julius, and the others who were with him. I also barely managed to escape with my life, and that's why I'm here."

At the report Anastasia brought back, the gathered members all frowned in unison. The meaning shown by those expressions was simple.

"It's only natural for you to judge it as hard to believe. I also feel a sense of bitter regret at having to bring back such a report. But considering his dangerousness, we don't have the luxury of escaping reality."

"Anastasia-sama, even if you say that..."

"—I am Echidna. Ana is still sleeping deep inside this body. Or perhaps for her, it might be happier this way."

"...It is an story that is, frankly, hard to believe."

The one who spoke with downcast eyes in front of Anastasia—no, Echidna—was the red-haired knight, Reinhard van Astrea. The place was the Watergate City of Pristella—those gathered there were people involved in the Royal Selection, and they were the ones who had been eagerly waiting for the report of the return of Subaru and the others, who had headed east some time after the battle in the city had ended. The great damage caused by the Witch Cult's Archbishops in Pristella—Emilia and the others headed east to seek the wisdom of the 'Sage' for a means to recover from that damage.

There was anxiety. But they believed they would bring back good news. The reason for that belief was none other than Natsuki Subaru. —To think that he had lost his mind.

"It is not a story I can simply nod and say I understand."

"Even if you can't believe it, it's a fact. The current him is not the him you know. Natsuki Subaru has lost his memories and is obsessed with taking them back. As a method for that, he chose the worst means."

"The worst means...?"

"The 'Books of the Dead' that were inside the Pleiades Watchtower... books that make it possible to read the memories and half-lives of dead people. Unfortunately, I haven't read a single one, so I don't know the extent of their power."

Receiving Echidna's response, even after hearing about books with strange powers, they still weren't convinced. Of course, the threat of losing memories had already been more than sufficiently proven. That was also one of the damages Subaru and the others had aimed to do something about. But who could have predicted that the journey for that purpose would cause such a thing?

"—I don't think Mr. Natsuki could have done that alone. Even if reading the 'Books of the Dead' was the goal, how did he carry it out?"

"Otto, do you believe it?"

Reinhard's eyes widened as he turned toward Otto, who had asked the question in a cold tone. Into the 'Sword Saint's' blue eyes, Otto nodded, "Yes," and—

"Anastasia-sama... or rather, Miss Echidna, was it? She has no reason to tell us such a lie. It's too far-fetched and meaningless. In fact, the fact that she returned alone like this means that nothing but an unexpected situation could have occurred."

"That's... but..."

"I don't want to believe it either. Something like that."

Otto, clenching his fist, spoke with a trembling voice to the persistent Reinhard. Hearing the tremble in his voice, one could tell how much strong emotion Otto was suppressing in his gut. At the profile of his older brother figure's regret, Garfiel, standing next to him, looked concerned, saying "Otto-bro..."

"...Otto-kun's assessment is correct. Even if Natsuki Subaru's code of conduct changed after losing his memories, it should have been easy for Emilia and Julius to restrain him as he was. The one who foiled that plan was his collaborator, Shaula."

"Shaula...? That's the name of the 'Sage' who's supposed to be in the Watchtower. That person and the Captain... no, my head's getting confused. It's 'Osmund's Hesitation'..."

"Unfortunately, I don't have the luxury of waiting for your confusion to subside. As you've guessed, Shaula is the name of the observer who was in the Watchtower. To use her own words, the 'Sage' is her master, and she herself is not."

"There are many things I want to ask, but... that Shaula is cooperating with Subaru?"

When Reinhard confirmed, Echidna nodded. At her affirmation, the place was on the verge of chaos.

The hero who tried to save the Watergate City from the Archbishops—his unexpected apostasy, and the one accompanying that transformation was one of the Three Heroes who had been talked about for a long time, the 'Sage'. In a cruel environment where one sees a nightmare within a nightmare, who could not lament the world?

"...The reason I brought this fact back isn't because I want revenge."

Suddenly, in the center of the chaos spreading from the report, Echidna, looking down, muttered. Hearing her mutter, Reinhard raised his eyebrows, saying "Echidna?" Gathering multiple gazes, including his, Echidna took a short breath and—

"Thinking of Ana's feelings and the time I spent with Julius, it would be right to harbor anger toward Natsuki Subaru, who laid hands on him. ...But I'm tired."

"Tired?"

"I'm tired of hating and being hated, and I'm tired of the fact that the one who comes at me with a raised fist is just a desperate child."

Shaking her head weakly, Echidna slowly stood up. With Anastasia's face and voice, but with a weak expression that she would never have worn, she said—

"I'm stepping down from this stage. The cruelty of returning Ana to this stage is unbearable. We made an irreparable mistake."

"That's not..."

"I know you mean no harm. But when giving up is the best option, being persuaded not to give up is nothing but pain. I'm done."

And so, no one had the words to hold back the woman whose heart was completely broken. Echidna also knew that there was no one to hold her back. Because she knew, she turned her back on the audience and left the place. —That was, as she had said earlier, the act of stepping down from the stage of the Royal Selection itself.

"I wish you luck. —Please, be careful."

That was the final report left by the only person who had safely returned from the group that had set out for the Pleiades Watchtower, and it was everything that stirred up a heavy anxiety.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

"...What do you plan to do from now on?"

Echidna closed her eyes as Ricardo, walking beside her on the way back, asked. The injury of losing one arm was heavy, and Ricardo's lost part did not have his former thick and sturdy arm. Instead, a hook-like thing was attached, and that in itself showed his attitude of not giving up on fighting, which was very like him—

"It's as I said. I'm giving up. That's wise. I don't think I can even pretend to be Ana in her body anymore. ...At least, I'll fulfill the minimum responsibility to the Hoshin Company."

"The minimum responsibility is..."

"I have to dissolve the company and take care of the next jobs for the employees. The company itself should do well if I leave it to the vice-chairman, Chuden."

"————"

"I understand your dissatisfaction. But it can't be helped."

Although she hadn't revealed her true identity, Echidna and Ricardo's relationship was reasonably long. It was a one-sided acquaintance, but she had an understanding of the strong emotions Ricardo felt toward Anastasia. Because they were of the exact same nature as the ones Echidna felt toward Anastasia.

If Ricardo felt a father-like affection for Anastasia, Echidna might have also felt a mother-like affection for Anastasia in the same way. So—

"I'm thinking of letting go of the 'Iron Fang' as well. From now on, Ricardo, you can do as you like."

"If I can do as I like, I'll look for a way to wake the Little Miss up."

"...If you still aim for that even after the best possibility has been cut off, I have nothing to say. Especially if the children of the 'Iron Fang' follow you."

Echidna couldn't dismiss Ricardo's attitude as stubborn. He was also serious about not giving in on what he couldn't give in on, and about protecting what he wanted to protect. There is nothing more cruel than judging something as meaningless before the person has even started it. Just because Echidna gave up didn't mean Ricardo had to give up. However—

"I don't know if Ana would be happy with that attitude of yours."

"...If I'm going to be scolded, then so be it. I can't just give up before I've even confirmed that. I'm Ana-坊's father figure, after all."

"————"

"What kind of father has the right to be a father if he abandons his daughter? No matter what anyone says, I won't give up."

Ricardo's firm declaration was by no means sarcasm toward Echidna. However, the reason it pierced her heart was because Echidna was more aware of her own weakness. Therefore, Echidna wore a dry smile and praised Ricardo's strength. And—

"—Ricardo, you really are..."

Strong, Echidna tried to continue her words. Or perhaps she wanted to ask if she would have a chance to gain the same strength if she took the time.

—But it was too late.

"————"

A sensation like the earth rumbling was transmitted through her feet, and in an instant, Echidna saw Ricardo reach out his arm. His thick, hook-like arm caught the scruff of Echidna's neck, and her feet left the ground. She realized Ricardo had picked her up, and that was the end.

The next moment, an explosive current of water approached, swallowing Echidna, Ricardo, and the city, washing everything away.

—The flood damage the Witch Cult had failed to complete now struck the Watergate City, which had once escaped disaster.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Looking down at the city being swallowed by the great water, Subaru took a short breath. The design of the city, built in a bowl shape, was indeed effective, showing an overwhelming effect like flooding an ant's nest if water flowed in.

"As expected of a city for decisive battles against demon beasts... the effect of the trap is outstanding."

Originally, as per the knowledge that it was a city established to defeat demon beasts and witches, the effect of opening the great sluice gates was immense. The violence of the water dragged the city to the bottom in an instant, swallowing the residents before they could escape.

"I see, isn't it quite a sight? With this, many of the people who know you have been taken care of all at once. ...You could say your search for yourself is progressing well."

"...Shut up."

Behind the Subaru looking down at the tragedy, a tall figure in clown attire muttered an indiscreet impression. His expression wasn't one of satisfaction, but he seemed to have gained a corresponding sense of achievement from the result before him. Since it was a plan executed with his knowledge and advice, his thoughts weren't hard to understand, but still.

"Master is really in bad taste..."

A girl in a maid uniform looked at her master in the clown attire with a gaze of contempt. The girl, who gave a cute and intelligent impression, leaned against Subaru and gently took his hand. He squeezed her hand back and nodded to her.

"Petra, how does it look?"

"Um, it looks like Shaula-san did her job properly. She was able to move all four control towers, so I don't think anyone escaped. ...Probably not even the shelters."

"...I see. Sorry for making you give such a painful report."

By the time he asked for an objective opinion, Petra wore a brave smile. The her Subaru knew had a strong core, but her inside was just an ordinary girl with nothing special. It wasn't that he didn't feel guilt for involving her, but—

"If you're going to feel such sentiment, you shouldn't have started this in the first place. Mr. Subaru, you are a half-hearted person, aren't you?"

"If you say that, I have no words to talk back."

The anger of the blonde maid, Frederica, who was denouncing him, would not be cleared easily. She emphasized the tragedies that happened to the people around her more than the tragedy she herself met. In that sense, she would never forgive Subaru's actions. This was not a matter of logic, but of emotion. Although she looked rational, the fact that she was surprisingly honest with her own emotions made him feel her blood relation to Garfiel.

"Even so, I only know Garfiel through other people's stories."

Muttering wearily, Subaru gently ran his fingers through his bangs. He scratched his head roughly and exhaled strongly. To switch his consciousness and concentrate on the battle.

"So? What do you plan to do next, Subaru-kun?"

Leaning forward, Roswaal peeked at his face from right next to him, and Subaru clicked his tongue. Then, Subaru said "It's decided" as if spitting out a curse, and—

"We'll go according to plan. —First, it's the best policy to attack the most troublesome one."

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Patchwork, patchwork, giving it shape. 　Patchwork, patchwork, molding it. 　Patchwork, patchwork, adding color.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, bringing it closer to completion.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

"Gobo, eho...!"

"Otto-bro, are you okay!? Spit out the water! Spit it all out!"

To spit out the water that had entered his lungs, Otto coughed violently and shed tears. Seeing that state as dangerous, Garfiel helped with the work of spitting out the water, but as expected, being held by the feet and shaken upside down was hard on his mind and body. Thanks to that, he succeeded in spitting out the water in his lungs.

"Damn it! What the hell happened...!?"

"...The great sluice gates of the city must have been opened. And then, the water swallowed the town. Even though it was a battle we fought desperately to stop against the Witch Cult, everything has gone down the drain."

Otto muttered while looking at the scene of the submerged city around them. Hearing that, the emerald eyes of his younger brother figure distorted in pain, and Otto looked down. With a glance, the scene of the city in a desperate situation could be confirmed in all directions. Fortunately, Otto was carried by Garfiel, who was by his side, and barely managed to escape to a height where the water couldn't reach, but how many people in the city could have done the same?

"Everything is at the bottom of the water..."

Garfiel stared blankly, devastated by the flood damage that had struck the city. Otto hadn't heard the details, but he had sensed that Garfiel had experienced some big encounter in Pristella. And that the person was someone he liked and was important to him.

—This great water had heartlessly washed away even that bond of Garfiel's.

"...No, that's not all."

Garfiel's mental state was also a concern, but what Otto should be worried about was the other related parties. Anastasia—Echidna, who had brought back the unexpected report, and the members including the Royal Selection candidates who had gathered to hear her report, must have also met this damage. The plan to gather them to call for caution among the related parties had instead backfired.

"I'm going to say something harsh. Garfiel, stand up. We have to deal with this situation. Just like we did during the previous Witch Cult attack."

"O-Otto-bro... but, you know..."

"What will happen if we're dazed now!? Mr. Natsuki isn't here, and Emilia-sama isn't here either! Stand up, Garfiel! We're the only ones!"

"————"

Grabbing him by the collar, Otto shouted at his weak-looking younger brother figure. He knew it was a cruel encouragement, but he swallowed and chewed it up for this moment. He scolded the withered heart, fired it up, and made him stand up. By doing so, he didn't care if he was called cold-hearted. —Even if he was hated by Garfiel later, it was much better than not being able to fulfill the role he should fulfill.

"We'll search for survivors and join up with the Royal Selection candidates and the knights. If this is an attack by someone hostile to the city, we have to unite and face it..."

"—! Otto-bro!"

"—!?"

Otto was trying to convince Garfiel of his cold-hearted judgment. Pushing his chest away, Garfiel roared. Immediately after, a light pierced through the front of Otto, who had fallen on his backside on the roof of the building, at a speed so incredible his eyes couldn't follow.

"Gu, uuuuu!"

In an instant, he was made to taste a pain that burned his whole body from the light that had grazed his chest just slightly. There was no bleeding. But Otto saw that the chest of his clothes was charred, and the skin underneath was carbonized. A tremendous amount of heat—that was the true identity of the white light just now. And that white light—

"O, oooooooo—!!"

Garfiel roared and forcefully struck down the white death that was approaching at super speed, which was coming continuously. With silver shields attached to his arms, Garfiel challenged the eye-blurring, overwhelming volume of white death from the front. A super-dimensional battle unfolded, which Otto's eyes could not follow at all. However, he could imagine the event that was happening, if only slightly.

"From where...?"

While enduring the pain, Otto looked around and peered at the launch point of the white light. The perpetrator who was sniping Otto and Garfiel was also the perpetrator who had opened the great sluice gates. The enemies he could think of were naturally the Witch Cultists and—

"—From such a distance!?"

At the edge of his vision, he could see the top of the control tower of the great sluice gate—almost at the opposite side of the city from where Otto and the others were—shining. Just as he thought his vision had flashed for an instant, the light immediately burst toward them. For now, Garfiel was somehow preventing it, but—

"At this rate, we're just waiting to die! Otto-bro, look for a place to hide! I'm gonna crush this bastard!"

"Garfiel! Is it okay to close the distance!?"

Garfiel roared, but the situation was by no means in his favor. The speed of the approaching white light was extraordinary, and the distance from the opponent barely allowed Garfiel's defense to make it in time for the light. If the distance shortened, the time to deal with the light would decrease accordingly. Even if it was a difference like a blink, it was fatal in a super-dimensional battle.

"Even so, I gotta do it! We're the only ones! Right!?"

"—. That's right. Garfiel!"

"Hell yeah!!"

Repeating Otto's previous words, Garfiel leaped with a powerful step. Using the buildings that could barely be used as footholds in the city swallowed by the great water, Garfiel moved forward fiercely and boldly attacked the city's control tower, the launch point of the white light.

"O, oo, oooohhh—!!"

While tasting a shock that made even the marrow of his bones numb with each shot, Garfiel held on with a body that seemed like it would be blown away, and clung to victory in a situation with poor footing.

It was a tremendous opponent. Not only the skill to accurately hit the target from such a long distance, but also the amount of mana possessed to fire attacks of this power almost without pause was abnormal. Considering the starting position where the distance was taken, it was an overwhelmingly advantageous situation for the opponent.

"Just because of that..."

He wasn't sensible enough to give up, thinking the opponent was better. More than that, what the opponent had done was much, much, much heavier and unforgivable.

The Watergate City of Pristella had sunk to the bottom, and probably more people than imagined had been sacrificed. Before the scars left by the previous Witch Cult attack could even heal, a succession of tragedies had covered the city. —Among them was Garfiel's blood-related family.

"—!"

Garfiel bit his back teeth and desperately shook his head, thinking he shouldn't think about it. However, trying not to think about it was, in the end, no different from thinking about it. In the depths of his chest, sadness and anger mixed, and Garfiel's heart was swallowed by a dark passion and became frayed. If he put that dark passion into his claws and fangs and struck this enemy—

"—Garfiel."

Suddenly, a voice reached the skull dominated by passion. His name was just called. If that were all, Garfiel wouldn't have given it a second thought. But—

"—Captain?"

It was a different story if that voice belonged to the person whose return he had been waiting for. Turning his emerald eyes, Garfiel searched for the owner of the voice in the super-speed offense and defense.

—Garfiel didn't believe the information Echidna had brought back from the start.

Garfiel wasn't someone who could trust an existence with a name like Echidna. Of course, he had appealed to Subaru about the danger of the existence with that name, and then he had barely agreed to head for the Pleiades Watchtower. Even so, seeing Echidna in Anastasia's form return as a result, Garfiel regretted that his thoughts had been shallow, sweet, and green. He thought he should follow them immediately to search for Subaru, Emilia, and the others.

The great water had flowed into the city right after he had brought that consultation to Otto. Otto seemed to have his own thoughts, but Garfiel put strength into his fangs and absolutely couldn't accept such a wrong thought.

Garfiel didn't think Subaru would fail. So, hearing Natsuki Subaru's voice in this situation, Garfiel found hope. He thought he might change the situation where everything was swallowed in a dead end. As if clinging to such a convenient fantasy, he searched for the figure—

"You can't cut it off at the most crucial part. —As expected, the eyes of a family member are accurate."

The moment the owner of the voice entered his eyes, Garfiel deepened the frown on his forehead in confusion. It wasn't because the mutter reached his ears. He didn't hear the mutter. Purely, the surprise at what he saw produced a change in Garfiel's expression.

"————"

Below, looking up at Garfiel flying toward the white light, there was a figure looking this way. The shape and form certainly looked the same as the existence he knew, but—

"—Who the hell are you?"

If he concentrated his consciousness on his nose, a familiar scent would slip into his nasal cavity. However, his instinct, not his five senses, tried to deny that it was the opponent he knew.

A blank space in his thoughts that didn't even last a split second. But a fatal blank space. There—

"—Yes, boom!" "Na"

In front, with a carefree shout, a black-haired woman rushed in and delivered a kick. He instinctively received it with his shield and killed the power, which was like a dragon carriage's charge, with both arms. However, with his consciousness scattered in two directions, in front and below, she wasn't an enemy he could deal with.

"It wasn't bad, but my love for my Master was a hundred times better."

The palm of the grinning woman was held in front of Garfiel's face. In an instant, Garfiel stiffened at the sensation of his hair standing on end, and instinctively pulled his face back—

"Bu"

The shock pierced through Garfiel's abdomen and scattered his internal organs from his back.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

—While watching the flower of blood bloom in the air, Otto was spinning his head.

"—"

Biting his teeth, Otto hurled abuse at the cold-blooded part of himself. It was truly hateful that there was a part of him trying to calmly grasp the situation in this situation. Even though his younger brother figure was blown away in front of him, he couldn't become completely emotional.

As if seeking a way out even in an overwhelmingly disadvantageous state, Otto's consciousness was paying attention to his surroundings. If he applied his 'Divine Protection of Soul Language', he could leave a ray of hope in any situation. He had overcome all kinds of difficulties by believing in that thought. So—

"Unfortunately, it's so evenly flooded that even mice would drown. No one will listen to your talk."

"————"

The voice hit Otto's eardrum quietly, accompanied by footsteps. In the world that seemed to be terrifyingly silent, footsteps approached slowly. Turning around and looking toward the footsteps, Otto choked his breath for a moment. Then, he exhaled the choked breath shortly and—

"...You look quite different, Mr. Natsuki."

"Is that so? When it's yourself, it's hard to tell..."

"You'd know for sure if you looked in a mirror. Ah, I see. According to Miss Echidna, you lost your memories. Is that why you don't know?"

"Haha, maybe. If you had been more clearly different in every way, I could have given up on that... but..."

While scratching his cheek, the opponent laughed at Otto's provocative way of speaking. What should he call that person—Otto's head, calm and outburst shouted at the same time. He hesitated to call that person correctly, hesitated because there was no other way to call him, and shouted.

"You are..."

"You know without me saying it. My name is Natsuki Subaru. The world-renowned penniless man."

"————"

"I've heard a lot about you, too. I've heard rumors about you for a long time. We finally met, Otto."

So saying, that person—the person who had the appearance of Natsuki Subaru, but was decisively different from the him Otto knew—sneered. With a cloudy and lightless left eye, and white hair that had turned completely white for some reason, Natsuki Subaru was sneering with a grin that seemed like he had lost his mind.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Patchwork, patchwork, giving it shape. 　Patchwork, patchwork,整形していく. 　Patchwork, patchwork, adding color.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, bringing it closer to completion.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

"————"

While facing the wary Otto, Subaru exhaled a long breath. 'You look quite different'—he was accurately saying the things he didn't want to hear. Of course, even if he were told he hadn't changed, Subaru's current state of mind would only take it as sarcasm, but being told to his face "You are someone else" was quite hard to take.

Such a straight way of speaking wasn't heard from the members who were in the tower, nor from the people he had encountered and added to the patchwork since then.

"Honestly, I'm having a lot of trouble."

"...With what, exactly?"

"Didn't you hear my purpose from Echidna? My memories were blown away, and I've gone crazy and I'm running wild... something like that."

"As for that, for now. I also heard that you are obsessed with taking back your memories."

"I don't remember talking that much... well, it's a reasonable inference. As expected, everyone is capable. The only incompetent, useless person is me."

Gently stroking his left eye with his hand, Subaru muttered so as if mocking himself. While watching that gesture, Otto swallowed his saliva and—

"Can I ask what happened to that eye?"

"Eye... ah, my left eye. It looks a bit blurry, but it's no big deal. It's just that when something shocking happened at first, I hit my head too much. My hair, too, didn't have anything done to it, it just became like this on its own. You can laugh."

"Hahahaha, I can laugh. Are you satisfied with this?"

"I'm far from satisfied. I still have a long way to go before I'm satisfied. It's so far that my heart feels heavy."

At Otto, who returned a dry laugh, Subaru also responded with a dry laugh. Originally, Subaru and Otto were said to have been good friends, and indeed, he could understand. He understood not only from the eyes of Emilia, Beatrice, and everyone in the camp, but also as a realization.

"Subaru and Otto-kun were always frolicking together happily, and it was ve—ry heartwarming."

"Well, basically, Subaru was often swinging Otto around, in fact. I suppose that hasn't changed much even now, I think."

Surrounding Otto from left and right, Emilia and Beatrice explained each in turn. While nodding at their explanation, Subaru moistened his lips with his tongue and said, "Now then."

"I've been looking forward to 'reuniting for the first time' with you for a long time, but I know you're a dangerous guy if I give you time. Sorry, but I'll finish this quickly."

" 'Reuniting for the first time' is a quite unique way of speaking, but setting me aside, considering your purpose, wasn't this a failure?"

"What?"

Subaru tilted his head and frowned. Then, Otto continued, "Well, you see," and—

"In fact, it was an effective move. Waiting for the related parties to gather all at once and attacking with an inescapable suppression attack to finish them off... I take my hat off to you. If the opponent is a disaster, whether it's a master of the sword or a mercenary group, they can't possibly push it back."

"————"

"At this rate, wasn't it also part of the plan to let only Miss Echidna escape from the Watchtower? You let her escape and made her report, gathering the people who know you all at once. In that case, the place where they gather is likely Pristella, which is at the center of the problem. There are sluice gates here."

"...I'm honored by your praise."

While showing an attitude of accepting the praise, Subaru was inwardly impressed. Rather, the one who should be praised was Otto. Including the fact that he allowed Echidna to escape, Otto was guessing the facts almost accurately. However,

"The truth is that it was a coincidence that Echidna escaped at first, and I didn't chase her because I realized I could use her after she escaped."

"I see. As expected, I'd be surprised if you had seen through that much. It's not a matter of being troublesome if you become more capable after losing your memories. —But,"

Cutting his words there, Otto stared straight at Subaru. Receiving the strength of the will contained in that gaze, Subaru put strength into the back of his eyes. At Subaru, who was bracing himself, Otto continued.

"You messed up at the very end, in the finishing move."

"Messed up? Me? What do you mean?"

"...It's another phrasing I don't quite understand, but there's no meaning or anything. There aren't many opportunities to catch someone off guard in such a perfect way. If you were serious, you should have carried out your original intention."

"Original intention..."

"You shouldn't have been greedy, and you should have aimed straight for Mr. Reinhard."

Otto pointed his finger and clearly told Subaru so. At that assertion, Subaru's eyes widened, and Otto continued to Subaru, who was showing his surprise.

"If you're planning to take yourself back by using the 'Books of the Dead' that can read other people's memories? Then Mr. Reinhard will be your biggest enemy. And if you're going to aim for him, it can only be the first strike. After that, he'll be on guard. It will never reach him again."

"So, I shouldn't have let go of the moment the first fang reaches. Is that what you're saying?"

"Yes, that's right. Therefore..."

"Ku"

"—?"

Suddenly, at the inexplicable sound heard from Subaru's throat, Otto raised his eyebrows. It was a reaction of surprise, confusion, and chaos. It was a reaction that came out naturally from Otto himself, not acting or a trick. It might be natural to have such a reaction, in a way.

Even though he could read the situation this far, he was messing up the finishing move at the very end.

"It's you, Otto. You're the one who's misunderstood."

"That's..."

"I didn't aim for Reinhard. Of course, it would save me trouble if he died in this flood, but I don't do things like relying on such a coincidence."

Reinhard's extraordinariness has been painfully realized through advice from all kinds of people. He's a 'Sword Saint' he's only heard rumors of, but killing him is an extremely difficult task—anyway, it's necessary to pile up, pile up, and pile up measures just to kill him. Dying from being hit by an accidental lucky punch is not a death that can be expected of a hero.

"So, if I'm going to try to kill him, I'll look for a means for that. Whether it's weakening him, catching him off guard, trapping him, or taking hostages. If I need to kill him, I'll do so. ...But the priority is low."

"Then, was the flood simply to take care of the people who know you all at once? Indeed, because of the recent incident, the number of people who know you in this city has exploded..."

Subaru held out his palm to Otto, who was trying to continue with "increased." Subaru also knew the story he was trying to tell. The outrage of the Witch Cult that occurred in the Watergate City of Pristella—that event has already been viewed from various angles. Indeed, using this city in that sense was also one of the purposes. However, that was a trivial matter compared to the biggest reason. The purpose for which Subaru created the damage from the flood with the Watergate City as the stage is one. The biggest purpose, that is—

"—Otto, it's you."

"...Huh?"

"It's a method I set up to kill you for sure. The other dead people are, well, a bonus."

"————"

Otto froze as if he didn't understand the meaning of the purpose he was told. At Otto, who was stunned, Subaru closed one eye and looked around the roof while reflecting the world with his blurry left eye.

"...Why, me?"

"Why did I do such a large-scale thing just for you? That's an expression of my maximum vigilance toward you. Including the fact that Garfiel is by your side, the truth is that I layered safety measures on top of cautious measures."

"————"

"I'm telling you, this isn't just my idea. I don't trust my own ideas. Even if I use my useless head and squeeze out my non-existent wisdom, it's not much."

Yes, Subaru's cunning is not much. Subaru, who is naive about the rules of this world, distant from the loopholes of this world, and doesn't know the laws of this world, can't even come up with a decent idea. So—

"I consulted properly."

"————"

Otto, who was silent and devastated, was surrounded by reliable companions who were never reflected in Otto's eyes and were only visible to Subaru's left eye.

Emilia, Beatrice, Ram, Roswaal, Petra, and Frederica—the companions who were united as the Emilia camp—were surrounding Otto. Looking at each of their faces, Subaru shrugged his shoulders and said, "Right?"

"Among the people who know me, who is the most troublesome guy?"

"Otto-kun."

Emilia answered.

"Among the people who know me, who is the most troublesome guy?"

"Otto, I suppose."

Beatrice answered.

"Among the people who know me, who is the most troublesome guy?"

"It would be Otto. It's irritating, though."

Ram answered.

"Among the people who know me, who is the most troublesome guy?"

"Otto-kun, isn't it—?"

Roswaal answered.

"Among the people who know me, who is the most troublesome guy?"

"Mr. Otto."

Petra answered.

"Among the people who know me, who is the most troublesome guy?"

"It is Mr. Otto."

Frederica answered.

"—It's a unanimous decision. If Garfiel had joined this line, he would have surely said the same thing."

"Who on earth are you talking to...?"

"It's no use trying to buy time. I told you. I flooded the city to kill you. —In a place where there isn't even a single mouse, even you won't find a way out."

For that purpose, Subaru opened the great sluice gates and sank the city to the bottom. Neither water dragons, nor mice, nor even insects could get close to Otto Suwen. By moving him away from the ground, he wouldn't even let him use his specialty magic.

Using the knowledge of his family to the full, Subaru had done this much. All of this was—

"—I don't underestimate you. I don't underestimate anyone but myself. You guys are amazing people. So, I'll kill you without holding back."

"You are..."

"—Master."

A voice interrupted Otto, who was trying to continue something after receiving Subaru's full-on declaration of war. The one who landed lightly on the roof was Shaula, who had half of her body stained with bright red blood. She stroked her chest area, which was sticky with blood, with her hand and—

"I finally finished. Yeah, he was stubborn, stubborn. I thought he was immortal, since he could move even after having his insides blown away that much."

"I thought it took a long time for a reason. ...Did you finish it properly?"

"I crushed his head, so probably. Humans die if you crush their heads, except for Master, right?"

"I don't understand why you excluded me. I'd die too if my head were crushed."

"There you go again~"

Shaula laughed and pushed his shoulder as if she didn't believe him. From Subaru's point of view, that thought was much more incomprehensible, but it was also boorish to poke at Shaula's values. More than anything, she had fulfilled the role assigned to her. For now, that was enough.

"Good job, Shaula. The rest is..."

"Just to finish off the main target, right? But, but, was he an opponent you had to go this far for? He doesn't look like that to me at all..."

"If we're talking about strength alone, I'd be twisted and crushed by you with one hand."

Otto's strength is in a part that is hard to measure with Shaula's yardstick. That's the conclusion Subaru reached by synthesizing the stories he heard from Emilia and the others. Hearing Subaru's answer, Shaula was convinced, saying "Hae—, indeed." On the other hand, Otto looked at the exchange between Subaru and Shaula with pure hatred and—

"I never thought the highest evaluation of my life would backfire. It's the worst feeling."

"The highest evaluation of your life? You're misunderstood."

Subaru told Otto from his heart, not with sarcasm. It was the truth seen by Subaru, who had viewed the books of everyone in the Emilia camp. There was no mistake.

"You've always been the highest evaluation from everyone in the camp, Otto!"

"—Drop dead, you fake."

At Subaru, who laughed and showed his teeth, Otto also laughed ferociously and showed his teeth. That one sentence pierced Subaru's chest quite a bit, but—

"————"

—The next moment, white light pierced Otto's whole body, and the conversation was forcibly cut off.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Patchwork, patchwork, giving it shape. 　Patchwork, patchwork,整形していく. 　Patchwork, patchwork, adding color.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, bringing it closer to completion.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

"—That's enough."

The moment he heard those words, Natsuki Subaru slowly opened his closed eyelids. In front of him, at his feet, lay Otto's remains with his upper body blown away, and a little distance away on the water's surface, the defeated Garfiel should be floating.

In such a situation, what Subaru was doing was a very hypocritical thing, but it was a silent prayer.

Subaru didn't have a grudge against Otto or Garfiel. He had no reason to harbor a grudge against anyone whose life he had taken so far. —No, he thought the original Subaru should have had some grudges against Roswaal, who had done quite a lot, but the current Subaru didn't know those true feelings.

Except for such subtle hangups, Subaru didn't have a grudge against anyone. Always, the one to be hated is himself. The one to be hated is himself, who is not 'Natsuki Subaru'.

The self who is a 'fake', not needed by anyone. The pathetic Natsuki Subaru who was trying to form a patchwork self by gathering fragments of 'Natsuki Subaru', patching them together, and somehow forming a patchwork self. So—

"I only feel sorry for you, too."

"...Subaru."

Turning around, Subaru stared straight at Reinhard, who was standing on the edge of the roof. It was a figure he had seen in many people's memories, but there was not a single cloud in that orderly standing posture. In fact, there wasn't even a trace of being wet on the edges of his clothes, but how on earth did he do it?

"I see, you're extraordinary."

"Subaru, is this what you did? ...Otto, and Garfiel."

"If you mean I made them be killed, then yes. Not just these two. Many people in the city were sacrificed in this flood. ...That's also my doing."

"Why... why!? You, to save the people of this city..."

"Headed for the Watchtower, right? I know. I know ve—ry well. As always, I lack a sense of reality, but I have a vague knowledge like I read the synopsis of a manga."

While being denounced by Reinhard, Subaru spread his hands and showed the city. The city had met the misfortune of being submerged, but he knew it had been through a lot even before this flood damage. The scars carved by the rampage of the Witch Cult were deep, or rather, distorted. Taking away people's memories, changing their appearance to something not human, forcefully making those who don't agree follow with overwhelming power, and forcefully pushing distorted thoughts and making them empathize.

It goes without saying that they were the worst kind in the sense of trampling on humanity. However, at the same time, he was made to think this.

"—The plan is full of holes. They probably think of rushing in with such a ridiculous plan because they think they can't possibly lose."

The Archbishops, who seem to have supernatural powers, are all sitting on those abilities. Did no one tell them? No matter how powerful a force you have, if you use it in the wrong way, any human will be defeated. Whether it's wisdom, numbers, or a stronger talent, they will surely be defeated.

"I don't challenge a match with half-hearted resolve. I'll identify the way to win and only set it up at that timing. For that, I consult."

"Consult... was it the woman next to you who seduced you?"

"Eh, me?"

Shaula, who was by Subaru's side, widened her eyes as she was suddenly brought up as a topic. She pointed to herself and stared at Reinhard.

"If I could do such a wicked woman move as seducing my Master, I would have done it a long time ago! Master won't fall for my sex appeal at all... even though I'm attacking with sexy! Sexy!"

"The one next to me is a collaborator, but she doesn't have the head to join in on a wicked scheme. I wasn't seduced by anyone... no, if I had to say, it was an inner voice."

"An inner, voice...?"

"The sleeping lion inside me is running wild, seeking the time of liberation."

Hearing Subaru's response seriously, Reinhard immediately realized it was nonsense. While seeing Reinhard's eyes visibly dyed in disappointment, Shaula poked Subaru's side with her elbow, saying "Master, Master."

"That guy, I feel a lot of Reid-like air from him. Isn't it dangerous?"

"You noticed well. It's extremely dangerous. Because he's a descendant of Reid."

"De, scendant."

"It's a nuance like a child's child's child's child."

"Uge—! Then he's really a relative of Reid! I didn't hear about that!"

Shaula made a face like she was caught in a trap, appealing to Subaru about the disadvantage. In fact, Subaru and the others have vivid memories of being beaten up by Reid. Naturally, there was no way they could win against Reinhard, who was his blood relative, in a fair fight.

"—Unfortunately, I'll stop your barbarism here. That's the proof of my friendship to you, which I can do."

"Even though we're friends who crashed a wedding together, you're saying something sad. I'm the one who made you say it, but Emilia-tan was so happy then..."

"Subaru, please stop. —Please stop."

"————"

Subaru closed his mouth at Reinhard's plea, at its mournful resonance. From Reinhard's expression, which was painfully distorted, Subaru received a sharp pain as if his chest were being torn.

It's the same as having no grudge against Otto and Garfiel. Subaru has no grudge against Reinhard, either. He knows he's a benefactor who has no fault and no reason to be blamed, and that he was a good friend. Even so—

"—To take back 'Natsuki Subaru', the piece inside you is also necessary. So, I'll come to kill you eventually."

"————"

"But that's not now. Not today. It's a story for tomorrow, tomorrow."

Hearing Subaru's declaration, Reinhard's eyes clouded with a slight confusion. Reinhard is trying to settle things here and now. In fact, if Reinhard so desired, he could finish off Subaru, who was in a position where he could close the distance in one step, in an instant. Even if Shaula turned to defense, it wouldn't significantly affect the result. Even so, the reason Subaru could say such a thing was—

"In this situation, if Felt were to escape, it would be around that place at the edge of the city."

—So, toward the direction the bald giant pointed, Shaula fired a white light.

"————"

In an instant, Reinhard choked his breath and, at a speed that was indeed the same as light, jumped backward to chase the shot that was flying away. Not to finish off Subaru, who was in front of him, but to head for the building where Reinhard's master—Felt—who had survived the flood, was hiding far away, to shoot down the white light.

"If you keep important things close at hand, it naturally means exposing a weakness. That's the same even for the 'Sword Saint' Reinhard, isn't it—?"

Roswaal, who made the suggestion, wore a malicious smile and soaked in the satisfaction of outwitting the 'Sword Saint'. Looking at him from the side, Subaru took a short breath and—

"Shaula, we're pulling back. —That's enough for today."

"Yes—!"

Shaula raised her hand energetically and wrapped her arm around Subaru's waist. As she was, she lifted Subaru with a strength unbelievable from her slender arms, then bent her knees slightly and tried to fly out of the city. Just before that first leap began, Subaru turned his eyes toward Reinhard and—

"—You're not as superhuman or as versatile as you think you are."

So—

"—I'll definitely kill you too, Reinhard."

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Patchwork, patchwork, giving it shape. 　Patchwork, patchwork,整形していく. 　Patchwork, patchwork, adding color.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, bringing it closer to completion.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

"—I'd like you to tell me again. What's your name?"

"A, Amyu. Amyu Sears..."

"I see, that's a good name, Amyu. ...This time was hard, wasn't it?"

"Fugu..."

The red-haired knight, who had knelt down, said so while matching his eye level with Amyu's. The moment she heard those words, Amyu's stiffened emotions broke. Amyu began to shed tears and tremble from the fear that had revived late. While looking at the sobbing girl, the knight—Reinhard—looked around and felt pain in his chest at the tragedy, and bit his lip.

"————"

The incident happened two days ago, in a small village in the northern part of the Lugnica Kingdom. Because it was a remote place far from both the Royal Capital and the five major cities, the discovery was delayed, and the dispatch of the knights including Reinhard was delayed by several days. During that time, Amyu, who became the only survivor in the village, could only hold her knees in solitude. —All of that in an environment next to the remains of her family and close neighbors.

"Subaru..."

Touching the hilt of the 'Dragon Sword' at his waist, Reinhard muttered thoughtfully. Considering the nature of the incident, there is a good possibility that this was a barbaric act by the Witch Cultists. However, Reinhard's intuition naturally identified whose hand this tragedy was by.

"Was it a pair of a man and a woman who did this? A young pair."

"Y, yes... that's right. Ah, but..."

"But?"

At Reinhard's question, Amyu choked on her words while sobbing. Reinhard, who had frowned his well-shaped eyebrows seeking the end of those interrupted words, made Amyu hesitate and—

"I don't know about the woman, but the man..."

"The man?"

"I didn't notice, but he seemed to be talking to someone..."

"————"

Perhaps because she was hesitant to convey vague information, Amyu's explanation lacked strength. However, at Amyu's words, Reinhard closed his eyes and exhaled a long breath. Amyu's insight is accurate. That pair—no, Natsuki Subaru was surely talking to someone else, separate from the woman he was with, just as Amyu saw.

He didn't know who that someone was among the people Reinhard knew, but—

"I'm grateful for the information. Someone from the knights should be dealing with it soon. Do you have any relatives other than your family...?"

"—Ah"

Amyu's finger gently grabbed the hem of Reinhard, who had nodded and spoken kindly. As if afraid of him moving away, Amyu made a face as if she couldn't believe her own actions. But considering her state of mind, that was also understandable.

She lost her family, lost her hometown, and from now on, how many hardships are waiting for her? If it helps to distract her from the anxiety in the midst of that.

"I understand. I'll stay with you until your safety is secured. So, please rest assured. No one will get close to hurt you anymore."

"U, uuu... I, I'm sorry. I'm sorry..."

"There's nothing to apologize for. —Because you've done nothing wrong."

While looking at Amyu, who held his hand and began to shed tears again, Reinhard quietly reminisced in his heart toward the opponent who had caused this tragedy.

"Is this... is this enough for you? Will you be satisfied? What on earth is reflected in your eyes? I don't understand. —Subaru."

So, muttering the name of the existence that wasn't here, Reinhard closed his eyes. The figure reflected on the back of his eyelids was the friend who would eventually appear to kill Reinhard. The friend who wouldn't hesitate to use any means for that.

He was the friend whom Reinhard would eventually have to cut down with his own hand.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

"That Amyu girl, was it around the time she was picked up by Mr. Reinhard?"

"The only survivor of a burned village, huh. A girl of that age would feel relieved and unable to leave if she saw Reinhard. —With this, the pursuit won't make it in time."

"Whether it's bad wisdom or being cunning... well, it's not a story I can talk about."

"That's right. The Captain and Otto-bro, at times like this, you guys are really in sync."

" 'Uge' "

"Oh, you guys are in sync."

Subaru, who was pushing through the pathless forest by pushing aside the bushes with a branch in his hand, made a face. Next to him, Otto, who was stepping through the forest in the same way, had a similar face, and Garfiel, who saw the faces of those two, clapped his hands and made his fangs sound, laughing at the situation.

"Fufu, but I'm glad everyone is finally together. Thanks to that, it's ve—ry lively... it's thanks to Subaru's hard work."

"If you say that, I feel like my hard work was worth it. If I'm in the mood for having done it properly, I'd like Emilia-tan to reward me in various ways... but..."

"But?"

"...Well, I'm a man who can't say it, being a pure-hearted boy."

Seeing Emilia tilting her head innocently, Subaru turned his face away while scratching his cheek. At the direction he turned his face, his gaze collided with Ram, who was directing a gaze of contempt, and—

"Disgusting."

"Don't cut me off so bluntly! Besides, I didn't say it! I want you to praise my feelings for not saying my embarrassing desires!"

"Ram? Praise Barusu? It would be better if the heaven and earth were turned upside down."

"Lower than a natural disaster!?"

Shrugging her shoulders, Ram began to walk gallantly with her back toward him. When Subaru's shoulders slumped at Ram's attitude, small hands gently took Subaru's hands from left and right, and—

"Honestly, don't get so visibly depressed, in fact. As someone who is Betty's partner, I suppose I'm worried about the future, I think."

"That's right, that's right. It's not like Ram-nee being blunt just started today. In exchange, I'll be kind to Mr. Subaru. Good boy, good boy."

"Hey, hey, is this a little girl sandwich... but Petra isn't that small anymore. Good grief, time is cruel, and it passes while only Beako remains a little girl..."

"Little girl, little girl, you're so noisy, in fact! It's rude to a lady, I suppose!!"

Petra, who was happy to have graduated from being treated as a girl and puffed out her chest, and Beatrice, whose light and dark were divided. However, Beatrice seems to be a little girl by nature, so it can't be helped.

"Fathers and mothers in the world seem to think they want their children to stop growing at the most cute timing, and in that sense, you're a dream-like existence, Beako."

"Mm... does that implicitly mean that Betty is the cutest in the world, I suppose?"

"I'd like to gather candidates and compete for the position of the cutest in the world, but you're the most pretty in the world. I'll give you a medal."

"What about me? Hey, hey, Mr. Subaru, what about me?"

"Hmm, Petra is the most cutie in the world."

"Yay!"

Petra rejoiced and took Beatrice's hand, frolicking. While being swallowed by that momentum, Beatrice also seemed to not feel too bad. There—

"Oh my, oh my, quite a frolic, isn't it—? Setting aside the appearance, considering the actual age, you should be by far the oldest in this group, yet it's quite cute, isn't it—?"

"Uge, I suppose..."

Stepping forward with long legs and showing his face, Roswaal made Beatrice make a bitter face. By the way, Petra, who was holding hands with Beatrice, also made a sour face, so the bad standing of this master in the camp is ingrained. Well, it's deserved considering what he did.

"Beatrice-sama, Petra, you shouldn't make such a bad face."

"That's right, as expected of you, Frederica. Properly telling those two..."

"The more you make such a face, the more it only pleases the Master, don't you understand? Because the Master is that kind of person."

"I take back my previous words, isn't it—?"

Receiving Frederica's sharp blow, Roswaal was also out of form. On the other hand, the two, Beatrice and Petra, quietly accepted Frederica's words, saying "Yes" and "I understand, in fact."

"...Well, I feel like it's too noisy, but this noisiness is also a page of daily life."

"I don't mind a page of daily life, but please don't forget about me and Miss Meili, too."

"Mm..."

In front, separate from the Emilia camp members who were walking while talking about this and that, Julius, who was walking behind them, was saying so. He closed one eye and reflected Subaru in that yellow eye, and—

"In facing Reinhard, I pride myself that my advice was useful to you."

"I won't say it wasn't useful, but your evaluation of Reinhard is a bit like a dream boy, so the credibility is suspicious. Do something about your hero syndrome."

"What a response that isn't worth lending a hand for. I suppose I should change my attitude a little from now on."

"Now, now, you shouldn't say that, Julius. You have to make Natsuki-kun owe you a debt properly. Even without a contract, it should function well enough."

Selling words and buying words, Anastasia gently stepped in between the exchange of Subaru and Julius, which was on the verge of developing into an argument. Anastasia, who had completely regained her merchant-like attitude, stared at Subaru with those light blue eyes, and after making him flinch slightly, she said—

"Natsuki-kun, you haven't forgotten, have you? If we cooperate properly, when Natsuki-kun goes back to normal..."

"—Yeah, I remember. When I take back 'Natsuki Subaru' and go back to the time when I can properly make up for everything, at that time."

Cutting his words there, Subaru took a deep breath and continued.

"Finally, I can create a timing to atone to all the people I killed."

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Patchwork, patchwork, giving it shape. 　Patchwork, patchwork,整形していく. 　Patchwork, patchwork, adding color.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, bringing it closer to completion.

When he brings it closer to completion, and the patchwork is finally completed. 　If the patchwork can be patched back to normal, surely.

—Surely, everything can be redone.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

—'Natsuki Subaru' has the power to redo fate.

That was Natsuki Subaru's conclusion.

He can take back the lives of Emilia, Beatrice, Ram, Julius, Meili, Petra, Frederica, Roswaal, Old Man Rom, Garfiel, Otto, Anastasia, Ricardo, Hetaro, Tibby, Mimi, Kiritaka, and Liliana.

If it's 'Natsuki Subaru', it should be possible. Because 'Natsuki Subaru' is—

'My knight' 'Betty's partner, I suppose' 'A man with only good timing' 'A good friend, I think so' 'Well, I might admit it a little' 'I felt like I should work hard thanks to Subaru!' 'I am grateful for being saved many times, Mr. Subaru' 'Subaru-kun, you are the one I've been waiting for for many years—' 'I never thought that young man could do this much' 'Captain! If anything happens, tell me anytime! I'll do anything if it's something that can be done with physical strength!' 'And then, I'm scared that the result of cleaning up after you will come to me, so I'd like you to do it in moderation' 'Yeah, yeah, it's a good thing to be lively. I'll stretch my wings a little more with Mimi and the others' 'Oh, that's a good change for Ana-坊! That's right, you're working too much! It's just right to rest too much!' 'If the Little Miss is resting, I can help with the work...' 'When Mr. Natsuki wants help, I'll make sure the Little Miss can give her all' 'Oh, that! I get it, I get it! Mimi, Mimi too! I'll work really hard with Garf!' 'To repay the debt for saving the city... although it's not easy to say considering the later results' 'There you go again, Mr. Kiritaka, you're holding a grudge too much. Because, because, when Mr. Natsuki Subaru goes back to normal, he'll take back everything!'

With a surging momentum, the companions surrounding Subaru leaned their expectations on 'Natsuki Subaru'. While listening to that embarrassedly, with a feeling like it was someone else's business, Subaru nodded.

"Yeah, that's right. That's it. It's impossible for me, it was impossible, but..."

"If it's Subaru, can he do that?"

"Surely... no, absolutely. Because, right?"

Subaru clenched his fist strongly, and cheers rose from the companions at his assertion. While facing that noise, Subaru raised his eyebrows at Emilia, who was approaching. She beckoned Subaru slightly, and then pointed her finger toward a direction a little away from the circle of companions. Standing in the direction her white finger pointed was—

"Shaula looks lonely. You shouldn't, Subaru. It's pitiful."

"That girl is..."

"Don't make excuses. We also want to work hard with Subaru in various ways. But the one who's working the hardest is Subaru, and the next is Shaula, right? So..."

"————"

"So, you have to cherish her. —Promise."

A promise, what Emilia said to Subaru, had a ve—ry heavy meaning between the two. —No, in fact, Subaru, who is not 'Natsuki Subaru', doesn't know what 'Natsuki Subaru' thought of that weight. However, even if he doesn't know about 'Natsuki Subaru', he knows the trust of Emilia, who is trying to make a promise with 'Natsuki Subaru', so much that it hurts.

"...I understand. It's a promise."

"Mm, that's good. —Then, have a good trip, Subaru."

So saying, Emilia waved her hand while smiling. The moment he recognized that, the figures of the many companions who were in his vision disappeared in Subaru's left eye, which was becoming blurry. After that, a quiet, empty silence was left, cutting off everything but Subaru.

There was no one there, not even the person he made the promise with, nor the promise he should have made.

"—Shaula, come here."

Throwing away that dry thought, Subaru called Shaula, who was walking far away. Hearing that call, Shaula's face brightened instantly, and she came to Subaru as if flying.

"What is it, Master! Is that fun-looking muttering-to-yourself time over!?"

"You say it in a ve—ry straight way. Don't say clearly to someone whose mind is gone that their mind is gone. It's more than just being hurt."

"Tehe-pero."

Shaula poked her own head with her fist and apologized for her slip of the tongue while sticking out her tongue. Was she apologizing? He felt like she wasn't, but whatever. At any rate, Shaula, who has been following Subaru since the Sand Tower—it's not Emilia's words, but indeed, the biggest contributor to Subaru's purpose is her.

He borrows the wisdom, knowledge, and ideas of many companions for the policy of action and the planning of plans. However, what is necessary for any of them is execution power, in short, combat power. To make those possible, Shaula's existence is indispensable. Even so, Subaru has come this far without rewarding Shaula, almost without doing anything for her.

As if with a feeling like a well that can be drawn from anytime. As if he could do anything if he were not 'Natsuki Subaru'.

"————"

"Master?"

Shaula tilted her head curiously at Subaru, who had unintentionally fallen silent. Then, her long black hair slowly flowed down over her exposed white shoulders. Taking note of that, Subaru swallowed his saliva, organized his thoughts, and—

"Shaula. In the end, what do you want to do until the end?"

"Hmm, what is it?"

"What is it, my foot. You should also know my purpose, right?"

Ignoring the thought of rewarding Shaula until just now, Subaru realized he had started his words from such a curse-like attitude. At those words, Shaula had a face that didn't quite get it and knitted her eyebrows. As she was, she approached with a scowling face, so Subaru pressed her forehead with his palm. While pressing it,

"I'll kill everyone who knows me and view the 'Books of the Dead' of all of them. When all the people I can think of are wiped out, the last is you. Then, I'll read your book. Even so..."

The most important part is missing, and Subaru, who can't fill the big hole with his own power, has no choice but to gather 'Natsuki Subaru' little by little, little by little, from all the people who knew 'Natsuki Subaru', and create a 'Natsuki Subaru' patched together in its original form. In that completed form, the memories of all the people who were close to 'Natsuki Subaru' are needed. Just as it was for Emilia and Beatrice, Shaula is no exception.

So, just as he promised Reinhard that he would kill him eventually. He has to kill her, who is in front of him, laughing openly, helping Subaru's purpose without hesitation, and continuing to treat him with a carefree attitude.

"Even so, will you follow me? Shaula."

"Are you worried about me? Is that because you love me?"

"—. Don't make fun of me. I'm asking seriously."

At the question from his heart, Shaula's answer was in the same tone as usual, and because that irritated Subaru's nerves, he ended up asking back a bit roughly. However, receiving Subaru's words, Shaula called back "Master" and—

"I'm not asking as a joke, either. Because loving Master is my meaning of living. So, that's the most important thing."

"————"

"If Master loves me, you can use me as much as you want. My life is Master's. Being used up for Master, that's my wish."

With the same tone as usual, with the attitude of parrying skinship, with a light-hearted atmosphere that was neither serious nor a joke, Shaula stroked her own ample chest. She stroked it and directed those black eyes toward Subaru, smiling faintly.

There was her serious attitude of living with all her heart, without any falsehood, at all times. Shaula is always serious. —Because she's serious, she doesn't even need to tell a lie.

"You can use me as much as you want, until I die miserably. In exchange, I want you to love me and cry for me when I die. I... really, that's all I need."

"...Why do you serve me that much? Because, I'm not 'Natsuki Subaru'..."

"It doesn't matter."

"————"

"Whether Master is Master or anything like that doesn't matter. I'll love what I want to love, as I want to love, as much as I want to love. And if that person loves me back, that's the best. Am I saying something strange?"

Shaula tilted her head, looking as if she had no doubt about her own statement. Watching her, Subaru exhaled a small "Ha." He exhaled, and it soon ceased to be just a breath, gradually pulling his throat and turning into laughter.

Subaru laughed. Not as 'Natsuki Subaru', not acting as 'Natsuki Subaru' in front of Emilia and the others, but he laughed as the empty Natsuki Subaru who had forgotten everything about his life in the different world.

"Oh, good grief, you... you say it so lightly even though I'm worrying about finding myself, you idiot."

"Eh!? Master, did you get angry!? Did I say something strange!? By any chance, will I be thrown away as burnable trash on Mon-Thu-Fri!?"

"I'm not angry. I'm amazed. I'm amazed, and oh, I can't say anything."

Subaru exhaled and shook his head lightly, then began to walk. Shaula watched Subaru's back timidly, unlike her usual self. At the lingering look in her gaze, Subaru exhaled a long breath again.

"Do as you like, so come here quickly."

"Do as I like... by any chance, you won't get angry if I cling to your arm!?"

"As long as you don't put your weight on me."

Shaula's face brightened instantly, and she hugged Subaru's arm to her chest. Even though she's usually rough, when she touches Subaru like this, Shaula's strength is exquisite. As if she were handling a fragile object, as if she were trying not to break an important thing. Because he was made to realize that even if he didn't want to, Subaru hated—no, was bad at being clung to by Shaula. Because being treated kindly made him feel uncomfortable.

Because he thought the one Shaula wanted to be kind to was 'Natsuki Subaru', and no one had any interest or concern for a Natsuki Subaru who was not 'Natsuki Subaru'.

"Master, Master~"

"Ah—?"

"I love Master. Love is over."

"I see. I don't love you, though."

"Ugi—! Master, you're so mean..."

"But."

"But?"

"...I'll kill Reinhard, and then I'll kill you last. I'll make sure the one I, who am not 'Natsuki Subaru', kill last is you."

"————"

"I'll promise you that much."

"A, aha, ahaha! Master, Master, really? I'm the last? I'm Master's last woman?"

"When you say it like that, I want to break the promise already."

"Ehh—! No! It's a promise! It's an absolute, absolute promise!"

"It's a joke."

"Ehh!? A joke, which one is the joke!? Master, Master~!"

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Patchwork, patchwork, giving it shape. 　Patchwork, patchwork,整形していく. 　Patchwork, patchwork, adding color.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, bringing it closer to completion.

Patchwork, patchwork, patching it together, patching it so much that the original shape is unknown, and even if a new shape is patched, still.

Patchwork, and live. 　Patchwork, and live.

Until I die someday, patchwork, live, and go—.

'Starting Life in a Patchwork World from Zero' Fin ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※