Re:Zero EX: "Sacrificing Life in Another World from Zero (Sasageru IF)"

It’s the annual April Fools' tradition, and as usual, I’m late! My apologies! I agonized over what to do this time, but in the end, I think I’ve come up with something good. This story is another "IF" scenario, but I believe it has a different flavor compared to the ones I’ve written before. Well then, please enjoy! I’ll see you in the afterword!

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never call upon anyone’s name.

—A roaring, bone-chilling wind enveloped the entirety of the Great Glacial River.

"————"

Even bundled in thick winter gear, the piercing cold of the air was palpable. He forced his eyes open, though his vision was nearly obscured by the haze of his own white breath, and looked ahead. If the cold were his only opponent, he could have layered on more clothes. But the true enemy he faced here was not the wind or the snow. It was a threat far more explicit, one that held a blade to his very life.

"Are you... afraid, I suppose?"

Hearing that sudden question, he became conscious of the soft sensation of the hand in his. The warmth he felt in his left hand, which he had not let go of, belonged to his greatest partner—a source of nothing but trust and affection, someone who would never abandon him no matter the hardship.

"Nah. I’ve got protective instincts, cuteness, passion... I could pack in just about every positive emotion there is. I don't have enough words to praise you properly."

"Hmph, of course, in fact. I would love to hear those 'insufficient words' for as long as time allows, but... it seems we have a bit of a nuisance in our way, I suppose."

"Right. Seriously, I knew it was coming, but I wish he’d give us a break."

Agreeing with his cute partner, he shrugged while keeping his gaze fixed forward. Despite the light banter, his vigilance toward the figure standing there did not waver for a second. To be honest, no matter how much tension or caution he poured into this, it would never feel like enough against this opponent.

"I wonder if it's right to still use him as a yardstick... but compared to how dangerous you are, Regulus is almost cute... No, he’s definitely not cute. Regulus is like a flea compared to you."

"—I shall take that as a special evaluation from you, and accept it as such."

The opponent caught his grumbling with ears like a hawk's and replied with stiff formality. The man stood with a relaxed posture, his tall frame clad in magnificent attire. His eyes showed a will of terrifying strength, and his skin was slightly tanned, as if burnt by the snow. Faintly visible on that skin were mysterious tattoos resembling Sanskrit characters. The man, who looked extraordinary in every sense, was indeed far from ordinary. At the very least, looking across the entire world today, there was likely no one who could defeat him.

—Known to the world as the "Mad Prince." That was the formidable foe they were currently facing in the Great Glacial River, amidst the swirling, freezing gale.

"Facing off, huh... I wonder why we have to fight like this."

"Is that a question for yourself? If it is a question for me, I must question your attitude in questioning it. As for the 'why,' I believe I have exchanged more than enough words with you. Despite that, we reached an impasse. Thus, it has come to this. —Even for me, this is most regrettable."

"Regrettable? And why is that?"

"I harbor neither grudge nor hatred toward you. Our likes, dislikes, and animosities have nothing to do with the reason we must face each other like this. However—"

The "Mad Prince" cut his words short, narrowed his eyes, and lowered his gaze slightly. In doing so, the direction of his stare shifted from Subaru to the partner at his side. In that instant, a thick, viscous, and inextinguishable hatred leaked from the man.

It was an emotion the "Mad Prince" never directed toward Subaru himself. Yet, it was the absolute reason why that man and Subaru could never reconcile. While letting that undisguised hatred flow, the "Mad Prince" spoke.

"—Regarding that filth, you and I are incompatible."

"First off, I can't understand your aesthetic sense at all, calling my super-cute partner 'filth.' That’s why I can never be friends with you."

"Most unfortunate. It is so unfortunate that it cannot be helped. Unfortunately, however, I will not back down."

Slowly shaking his head, the "Mad Prince" sighed as if lamenting the failure of persuasion. But if he truly thought that constituted an attempt at persuasion, the gap between their values would never be bridged.

"He really is someone you can't have a conversation with, I suppose. ...Cecilus was easier to talk to, in fact."

"It’s a bit sad for Cessy to be compared to him. Cessy could actually talk... it’s just that the conclusion of the conversation would always land wherever Cessy wanted it to. The logic of the strong, basically."

"But we can't let that logic pass, I suppose. —You know that, in fact."

"—Yeah, you don't even have to say it. Though hearing it gets me fired up."

Subaru squeezed the hand he was holding, and they exchanged a quick glance and a smile. Facing a powerful enemy, his sense of solidarity with his partner was perfect. —And then, the reason they had chosen this place as the battlefield and spent so much time talking suddenly arrived. It was a prism of eternal ice that flashed for a split second at the edge of his vision—

""—E·M·M!!""

In an instant, their voices overlapped as the incantation was cast. The absolute defense magic enveloped Subaru and his partner, shifting their existence half a step away from the world to nullify all interference. A white light, intended to ruthlessly blow them off at the knees, passed right through their blurred physical forms and pierced the air behind them. Had they not blocked it, the two of them standing side-by-side would have had their legs shot through, rendering them unable to fight.

The light had targeted the "Mad Prince" in the same way, but—

"—Is that your full strength? Or do you wish to anger me? If this is a provocation, you shall receive your recompense. I am the one who gives, and you are the one who receives."

As he spoke, the "Mad Prince" caught the white light between two raised fingers. The light slowly lost its brilliance at the man's fingertips, eventually revealing the form of a long needle before crumbling into mist. —This technique of firing magically constructed needles at ultra-high speed was known as:

"Hell’s Snipe... which means..."

"—Is it you again? You never learn. It’s the same no matter how many times you come."

"————"

The voice suddenly falling from the sky made Subaru catch his breath. The wind was still roaring. Despite that, why? Why did that voice vibrate so clearly against his eardrums even in this gale? Perhaps the "logic of the strong" possessed the power to twist and subjugate the very laws of nature. If that were true, it made sense that her voice could cut through the blizzard. After all, the being appearing serenely in the sky above the Great Glacial River was—

"—It has been a long time, 'Witch of Melancholy.' Have you been well?"

"Could you not talk to me like we’re acquaintances? I’m not your friend, nor a casual acquaintance, nor anything to you. Whether I’m well or not doesn't matter to you, does it?"

"Not quite, not quite. After all, currently, you and the man here are definite obstacles to achieving my goal. If there is a season where you are unwell, I would certainly like to take advantage of it."

"Heh, is that so? Then, if I spread a false rumor that I’m in terrible shape, will you come flying in like a fool believing it? Wow, just go die."

The woman floating in the freezing sky clapped her hands lightly in front of her chest and laughed cruelly.

"————"

She was a beautiful woman. Her long, reddish-brown hair was tied with a ribbon, and she wore a dress with a unique pattern mixing pink, light blue, and gold. Her attire, which exposed her slender white shoulders, was unbelievably thin for the freezing glacial region, but for her, who didn't even let her breath turn white, it seemed to be no obstacle at all. Just as the sound of the blizzard could not drown out the beautiful melody of her voice, neither heat, cold, nor foul weather could hinder what she wanted to do or how she wanted to look.

" —She’s here, I suppose."

That call pulled Subaru’s consciousness back from where it had frozen. His partner, looking up at the same person and surely reaching the same state of mind, was desperately suppressing her overflowing emotions out of consideration for his feelings. He didn't feel pathetic or apologetic for being cared for like that. —He simply took a deep breath, determined not to let her kindness go to waste. And then—

"—We finally meet again, ■■■!"

"————"

He called out loudly to her, across the white, hazy wind. Unfortunately, unlike her or the "Mad Prince," he didn't have the means to subjugate the wind. And he absolutely didn't want to do something as uncool as repeating his words just because they didn't reach her in this long-awaited moment.

Just how long had he waited for this instant? How much helplessness had he tasted and overcome to get this far?

Seeking the fruit of all those efforts, Natsuki Subaru took a breath and stared at ■■■. While staring, he spoke.

"I’m taking you back, ■■■. —Bring it on, Fate!!"

That was the culmination of the long time Natsuki Subaru had spent until he stepped onto this frozen land, the reason for all the days he had decided to devote everything.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never carry anyone’s life on my back.

—Dark. Dark. Dark. I continued to drift in a dark abyss.

Vague like a slumber, uncertain like eternity, scattered like a mire. I was drifting in an endless darkness, vague, uncertain, and scattered, as if I were perpetually on the boundary between the pages of dreams and reality within a single book.

Just how long have I been like this? Just how much longer will I be like this? Just how far will this endlessly repeating instant continue?

Even those natural thoughts, questions, and propositions were stretched thin by the darkness. Stretched out, they became like thin sheets of paper that would tear easily with a slight poke, losing their connections and eventually losing their original shape.

I must have repeated this many times already. Gathering the scattered consciousness, huddling it together, joining it, only to break it apart again with the slightest application of force, shattering it back into fragments.

I should just stop trying to hold together something that has broken so many times I’ve lost count. —And yet, I cannot.

—Dark. Dark. Dark. I continue to drift in a dark abyss.

Vague like a slumber, uncertain like eternity, scattered like a mire—but I continued to drift in a darkness where I was never alone.

I am not alone. I will not be alone. The reason that I am not alone holds me back from the stretching instants, the repeating failures, and the drifting darkness, refusing to let me vanish.

My self-definition is incomplete, and the evidence that I am not alone is shrouded in a black mist, yet I cannot throw it away, let go, or give up.

I cannot give up. —Because giving up doesn't suit me.

Therefore—

"————"

The moment my vision opened and I was thrown out into the world, a flood of information surged into my head, throwing it into total chaos, and my body writhed violently.

"—gh!"

My vision flickered, and the contrast of red and black alternately violated the world. My limbs stiffened with tension, and the overexertion of a body whose unconscious brakes had been removed caused every muscle, from my fingertips to my joints, to cramp in sequence. Pain, a pain that reached every corner of my mind and body, gripped me and would not let go.

"He’s burnt out!! Wait, wait, wait!? Is this okay, I suppose!? Is he like a fish washed up on land, in fact!?"

"Be silent, Lumera. No matter how abnormally adorable your appearance may be, I do not recall permitting you to shriek in my ear. Besides, this is surely the natural result."

"Natural!? Your Excellency, did you just say natural? You knew this would happen!?"

"My 'Yang Sword' burns what I wish to burn and cuts what I wish to cut. However, since it was manifested without following the proper procedures, it is undeniable that some inconveniences would arise."

"...Did you say that beforehand?"

"One should know such things without being told. All of you are older than me, despite my wisdom and youth. Or did you all collectively slack off on life?"

Visual, auditory, olfactory, gustatory, tactile. Swallowed by the torrent of information captured by the five senses, my consciousness was forced into a stir. Above me, those voices were flying back and forth. Those voices, too, were new information. In other words, part of the surging torrent.

"Bad, bad, bad! If he dies like this, years of hard work will go down the drain! I’ve run all over the place, rubbed my head in the dirt, and finally got this far... Ugh, I won't be able to look anyone in the eye!"

"This is no time for that, in fact! In a case like this... yes, drastic measures! If the results follow, even a little pain is elegant! I’m sure my Master will smile and say 'well done,' I suppose!"

"That’s it! Can you do it, Miss Lumera!?"

"It’s totally impossible, in fact! I am fire-attributed to the point of blazing! All flames can do is the 'destruction' part of destruction and rebirth, I suppose! Ohohoho!"

"Is this just a huge waste of time right now!?"

Noisy information, standing out even within the flood and torrent, moved from right to left. While feeling the exchange centered around me, I gained a new piece of information amidst the physical and mental pain—the approaching threat of suffocation.

"—h..."

My stomach wall convulsed, and the tube serving as the airway was being blocked by internal contractions. It was a tragedy caused by the unnatural writhing of the flesh, but what awaited beyond was a comedy no one could laugh at. My body, already weakened by extreme exhaustion, was losing its function due to respiratory failure. And yet, in the midst of being disturbed by so much information, I couldn't find a way to do anything about it.

"Are you lot content to keep making a racket? This fellow is on the verge of death. Since he is a man I have no acquaintance with, his death causes me no pain, but that is not the case for you, is it?"

"No, that’s really, truly the case, but we’ve also poured our resources in to the absolute limit, so we don't have any leeway! How about putting him back in that sphere from earlier—no, that’s no good, yeah, okay!"

"He solved it himself at high speed. An entertaining man. —Hmm, I see. Even with my brilliance, there is nothing I can do for a dying clown... but this one is different."

"What are you planning to do?"

"Fool, why do you have such an indifferent face, 'Cloud Dragon'? —Setting that man aside, there is something this lovely girl can do."

Unable to cope, the suffering grew and grew. The suffering, the pain, the convulsions—everything was being painted over, and the instant that should have been stretched into eternity was being covered by a heavy end. Like this—

"————"

—Is it over, just like this?

"—Subaru!"

In an instant, another piece of information struck my darkening consciousness. However, this time, it wasn't something that merely prolonged the pain and suffering. It was something that wiped away pain with pain, suffering with suffering, and information with information. And—

"You mustn't die, I suppose. Don't die, in fact...!"

Because that information, that suffering, that pain, was something precious and familiar.

"—ah."

The writhing stomach wall, the closing throat, the tangled tongue, the flickering vision, the consciousness that was about to be swallowed by the instant, the life that was supposed to be scattered into the dark distance—it stayed.

Don't let go of anything. Don't throw everything away. Cling to the world. I have to do that, I have to be able to do that, only by doing that—

"h... e... o..."

"Subaru!"

The annoying red and black light vanished, and I saw teary eyes illuminated by backlight. Eyes with a distinctive butterfly pattern, a beloved voice calling my name, a large presence in a small body desperately holding back a scattering existence.

"e... a... ko..."

"—Yes, that’s right, I suppose. It’s okay, in fact. I’m right here, I suppose."

With a body that wouldn't move, with a heart that was fragile, numb, and tattered, I still spun words to prove myself, to tell her that I remembered her. She accepted them. Yes, like walking across a bridge of trust with eyes closed.

"No matter what happens, Betty and Subaru can get through it, I suppose."

Holding that reliable and encouraging word tight, my consciousness cut out.

—That was the resumption of Natsuki Subaru’s journey, the event of the first day.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never think of yesterday.

When my eyelids opened slightly, the first thing that jumped out at me was an unfamiliar ceiling.

"—o... ah."

I tried to say what I saw, but my mouth was bone-dry and my throat was incredibly rough, so it wouldn't produce a proper sound. All I could do was groan awkwardly. It was like the death throes of a crushed frog. However—

"—You’re awake, I suppose. You’re such a sleepyhead, a naughty boy, in fact."

It was enough to convey the message to the person waiting by my pillow for me to wake up. A small hand reached out and tickled my forehead along with my bangs. Subaru narrowed his eyes at the ticklish sensation and looked over to see a girl with softly drooping eyes—Beatrice.

Her unchanging appearance, her unchanging gaze, her unchanging warmth. She was there, without a doubt, exactly as she had been burned into his consciousness—Beatrice.

"e... a... ko..."

"Yes, it’s Betty for sure, I suppose. Don't worry, but you mustn't push yourself, in fact. Right now, Subaru, the wiring between your heart and body is a mess, and you’re incredibly restricted, I suppose."

"ha... au..."

It wasn't that he was trying to push himself that much. He just wanted to sit up, scoop Beatrice up in his arms as his emotions dictated, run out of the room, and spin around with her in a wide-open space. But for the current Subaru, even that seemed like a tall order. —The wiring between heart and body, as Beatrice had metaphorically put it.

"—o..."

In fact, it seemed true that Subaru’s brain had forgotten how to move his body. At the edge of his unmoving eyes, he could barely see Beatrice, which was how he caught her, but let alone his fingers, even his eyeballs wouldn't roll the way he wanted them to. Forget sitting up; even the fact that he was somehow breathing felt like a miracle. Should he say he was glad his heart hadn't forgotten how to beat?

"Actually, it’s no laughing matter, I suppose. While you were trapped in there, setting Betty aside, Subaru’s life activities had almost stopped, in fact. To the point where your body forgot the most natural things, I suppose."

"—ah."

"That space... it was an incredible thing woven with Yin magic Betty didn't know, I suppose. Without a doubt, Mother’s hand was in it, in fact. Why that man had mastered a forbidden art made by Mother is an endless mystery, I suppose."

"—i..."

"I have no intention of debating that with Subaru, I suppose. No matter what Subaru says, to Betty, Mother is Mother, an irreplaceable person, in fact. Pui, I suppose."

Subaru’s interjections were nothing more than raspy breaths. However, Beatrice, receiving them, established a conversation with an outstanding level of understanding. On top of that, while still touching Subaru’s forehead, she puffed out her cheeks in dissatisfaction and turned her head away with a pui. That appearance, which couldn't lean toward either affection or complaint, was excessively endearing, but—

"...Is that really a conversation? To me, it looks like Beatrice-chan is just getting emotional all by herself."

The voice that suddenly spoke belonged to a third party, neither Subaru nor Beatrice. In his vision, Beatrice looked toward Subaru’s feet with a "mu," so the owner of the voice seemed to be standing there. Unfortunately, Subaru had no way of seeing that way. To the person outside his vision, Beatrice said with her cheeks still puffed out:

"Don't say such rude things, I suppose. Besides, the bond between Subaru and Betty is infinite... Betty can tell what Subaru wants to say just by looking into his eyes, in fact."

"I see, I see. As expected of a spirit user and a contracted spirit, I guess? I have spirit-related people around me quite often, but that’s a bit hard for an outsider to grasp intuitively."

"Setting others aside, the relationship between Betty and Subaru is one of a kind, I suppose. Well, every contracted spirit probably thinks that, so it’s for your own good not to talk like you know everything, in fact."

"Yes, thanks for the advice. Well, well, is it about time I gave my greetings too?"

Saying that, the person at his feet seemed to have asked Beatrice for permission to greet him. Beatrice, having been petitioned, gave a small sigh and stared at Subaru with her large eyes. To her, as she checked if it was okay to let him greet him, Subaru nodded with his feelings.

"—u."

"I’ll let you see his face since it can't be helped. Be grateful, is what he says, I suppose."

"Well, that’s much appreciated! Your sharp tongue is just as I heard, really."

While talking, the owner of the voice approached, his footsteps thumping on the floor. Somehow, the tone was familiar—but the voice itself was not. He could only welcome the approach of such a person in a state like a carp on a cutting board. As Beatrice slowly stepped back, he saw the face of the person who peeked into the secured space in his vision.

It was the face of an "unknown" gentle-looking man with green-based clothing, a large hat, wavy gray hair, and an androgynous atmosphere—

"Hello, nice to meet you, Natsuki Subaru-san. —My name is Nicola Suwen. I have various titles, but for now, 'merchant' is probably the most common one."

The gentle man—Nicola Suwen—introduced himself with drooping eyes. At the mention of the familiar surname "Suwen," Subaru’s eyes widened. However, as if to spur on his surprise and confusion, Nicola continued. It was—

"I’m sure you’re surprised by this sudden turn of events, but while your body still won't move, I’ll tell you something even more shocking, though it’s cruel. —Approximately four hundred years have passed since you were sealed by the hand of the 'Rebel' Aldebaran."

"————" "————" "————"

"—. ————. ——————ah?"

"Four hundred years. Do you understand? You... no, you and Beatrice-chan woke up four hundred years after your era. Also, let me tell you this."

Subaru couldn't keep up with the understanding at all. He was washed away and swallowed not by the quantity of information, but by its quality. Before Subaru, Nicola—who had the same characteristics as his well-known friend—continued. It was—

"—No matter how you look at it, you kept us waiting far too long, Natsuki-san."

It was the exasperated scolding of a friend, delivered across four hundred years and through many lives.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never mourn someone’s death.

"It really was a long, long history of hardship. It was truly a grand project passed down through the Suwen family for generations. —The recovery of you two, who were submerged in the depths of the Mograde Great Fissure."

While talking, the gentle man—Nicola—gave a deep sigh as if reflecting on the hardships he had endured, twirling his removed hat with both hands. Subaru felt a tightening in his chest as he saw Nicola’s posture of carrying those hardships and his way of speaking as if saying "it couldn't be helped," which reminded him of his friend—Otto Suwen. They were similar. So similar that trying to deny it only felt empty.

But if he admitted it, he would have to accept it. That this situation Natsuki Subaru was in was not a dream or an illusion, but reality.

"Nicola, I understand your excitement, and I can't thank you enough, I suppose. But Subaru is more than just recovering, in fact. Actually, he even fainted just from seeing your face and hearing your name, I suppose. No pushing allowed, in fact."

"No, I get it! I get it, but I’ve also been kept waiting, or rather, I’ve run out of patience... I was kept back at the salvage site and at the first meeting, so when can I finally feel the realization of the Suwen family’s four-hundred-year-old wish being fulfilled!?"

"Betty should have made you feel it enough, I suppose. Have you not been sent here and there enough with 'Door Crossing' yet, in fact?"

"Could you stop saying it like I asked you to do it!?"

Nicola, lamenting with his eyes wide open, was the spitting image of Otto. However, Nicola was slightly younger than Otto and had a more slender build. His hair was longer than Otto’s, tied in the middle of his back, giving him the appearance of a scholar rather than a merchant. Despite the differences in detail and the commonalities, Nicola Suwen was undoubtedly, as he claimed—

"He’s a guy who reacts when you poke him, I suppose. As expected of Otto’s descendant, in fact."

"I honestly feel sorry for my ancestor, wondering what kind of relationship he had with you two. Well, I guess it’s a familiarity born of closeness."

"—Yes, in fact. He was a good person and an excellent man, I suppose. To the point where having his descendants dig up Subaru and Betty is almost too much, in fact."

That felt like an episode symbolizing tenacity rather than excellence. Certainly, Otto had been active with a level of competence that made it hard to believe he had joined by chance, but what truly made Otto "Otto" wasn't his internal affairs ability or the power of the 'Divine Protection of Soul Language,' but his natural courage, wit, and guts.

A tenacity that spared no effort to achieve a goal. —That was Otto Suwen’s greatest weapon, and he had finally accomplished it by even utilizing his descendant, Nicola.

He was truly an amazing man. —And yet, there was no longer an opportunity to praise him directly. He could no longer talk or laugh with him.

"—u."

"Subaru..."

Beatrice, noticing Subaru, who had choked up as tears surged ruthlessly and blurred his vision, gently wiped the droplets with a handkerchief. While his sadness was wiped away by Beatrice’s kindness, Subaru sobbed.

He admitted it. He had no choice but to admit it. The cruel flow of time and the conclusion of their defeat.

"————"

Slowly gathering Natsuki Subaru’s scattered consciousness, his last memory before waking up was a scene in the Pleiades Watchtower, surrounded by the bookshelves of the 'Books of the Dead.' —The instant he was betrayed by Al, who was concerned for his heart, and was sealed along with Beatrice by a forbidden art at Al's hand.

And since then, Subaru and Beatrice had remained sealed for four hundred years, waking up in this era. —In this era where no one from those days remained.

"—i."

He couldn't hold back the overflowing sobs and tears. He was just so frustrated with his own incompetence that he wanted to die.

It was pathetic, miserable, unsightly, so uncool he wanted to die, and stupid. With just one mistake, irreparable things happen. He should have known. Priscilla’s death, of all things, should have taught Subaru that.

And yet, Natsuki Subaru had messed up. He messed up, leaving everything behind, throwing away all his duties and missions, and ended up in the present.

"—gh."

He wanted to die. That wasn't just because of misery or helplessness; it was a 'death' worth attempting as a practical matter. If he 'Returned by Death' now, he might be able to go back. To four hundred years ago. However—

"————"

Subaru’s body wouldn't move. He couldn't even die on his own. Even if he could, Beatrice, who was watching over Subaru without leaving his side for a moment, could never permit Subaru’s decision to seek 'death.'

He couldn't die. He couldn't die. Even 'death' had now slipped from Natsuki Subaru’s hands.

"I understand how much you want to cry, I suppose. Shed many, many tears, Subaru, in fact. No matter how many tears you shed, Betty will wipe them all away, I suppose."

Beatrice’s gentle touch wiped away Subaru’s continuously overflowing tears. Unable to even hold the hope of drowning in tears, yet at the same time tasting the feeling of being saved by Beatrice’s thoughtfulness, Subaru’s heart was thrown into chaos by the contrast between hope and despair.

If he had been thrown into this unfathomable future alone, Natsuki Subaru’s heart would have undoubtedly broken, and he would have had no choice but to rot away. But if Beatrice hadn't been here, Subaru might have been able to choose suicide. Of course, with his body unable to move, that was only a possibility he couldn't choose anyway.

"————"

Hope and despair, life and death, past and future violated Natsuki Subaru’s soul. Nothing could be done. He couldn't do anything. There was no way for anything to happen. In such a dead-end despair, however, there was one point—

"—ah."

There was one doubt that made his violated soul grow hot. It was—

"—e... i... ia..."

"—I know, I suppose."

Beatrice accepted the uncertain sound spun by his trembling lips as a certain sound. Four hundred years had passed, the world had changed, and many of the people who were in the world Subaru and the others lived in were no longer anywhere in the world. However, there were some exceptions to that. Even after four hundred years, beings whose lives did not end—the prime example was—

"Nicola."

"Yes, right. —Emilia-sama, isn't it?"

"————"

He felt like he was clinging to a spider’s thread hanging from heaven. And yet, that name was spoken plainly, making Subaru’s heart leap so strongly it hurt. It was frustrating that he couldn't sit up with that momentum, grab Nicola by the collar, and shake him. But perhaps his spirit got through, as Nicola leaned back slightly, saying "That’s scary," and—

"I’ve already told Beatrice-chan since she asked earlier... but, well, Emilia-sama is..."

"————"

"Actually, I don't know."

"—ah?"

He had waited with a feeling like his heart was being tightened by a vise, but it was a letdown. Subaru, who had unintentionally let out a menacing voice with his restricted throat, made Nicola wave his hands in front of his face in a panic, saying "No, no, no," and—

"P-Please don't get angry. I’m not joking or being evasive; I really don't know! Whether Emilia-sama is safe or not."

"...Tell us the reason, I suppose. Otherwise, we can't be convinced, in fact."

"Is it too much to ask for that to come from Beatrice-chan’s mouth? Oh, man, I can't leave it to Miss Lumera or Her Excellency Rosalind, so I’ve really drawn the short straw."

Nicola scratched his head vigorously and gave a large sigh, as if he had no choice. Then he held up one finger and said, "Listen," and—

"First, let me tell you this so there’s no misunderstanding: Emilia-sama is alive. That much is certain. It’s just that there’s no way to contact her, so we don't know if she’s safe or not."

"...i... ia..."

"It doesn't make sense, does it? Let me break it down a bit more. Emilia-sama is currently at the Agzad Ravine on the border between the Unified Empire of Vollachia and the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko—she has frozen that great ravine and cut off all contact with the surroundings. And that was—"

"————"

"—after she trapped the 'Rebel' Aldebaran in that eternal ice along with herself."

Subaru was forced to catch his breath again as information he could hardly believe was poured into him. If the movement of his eyelids were more free, he would have blinked his eyes, which were flickering between white and black, two or three times. That was how shocking the fact Nicola revealed was.

—Emilia is alive. However, she is in a frozen state with Al in the Great Ravine.

"————"

He understood the principle. It was the same as how the people who fell victim to the Authority of 'Lust' in the Watergate City of Pristella were put into cold sleep. Emilia herself had said she had a past where she was trapped for over a hundred years. She had performed the same thing on herself and Al, withdrawing into the ice. The reason was—

"To keep that man from dying, I suppose. And that was..."

"o... e... tachi... o..."

"—To not lose the way to get Subaru and Betty back, in fact."

Subaru agreed from the bottom of his heart with the words of Beatrice, who had reached the same conclusion as him. The background of Emilia freezing herself along with Al—it could only be thought of as being to keep Al from dying. And the reason Emilia did that was because she thought only Al, who had sealed Subaru and the others, would have the way to undo that seal. At the very least, if Al’s life were lost, the option to hear that would be lost forever. Emilia took drastic measures to prevent that.

"In fact, considering what the 'Rebel' Aldebaran did, he wouldn't have escaped execution even in the situation at the time. Well, in the end, we used a different method to undo Natsuki-san and the others' seal, so we didn't rely on Aldebaran’s knowledge."

"de... o..."

Since he had been saved, he couldn't complain about Nicola’s choice, which made Emilia’s struggle meaningless. But conversely, now that Subaru and the others had been recovered, the reason for Emilia to keep herself frozen and maintain a situation where no one could interfere should have vanished. If so, it should be possible to release the frozen Emilia. —Though he didn't know what he should say to Al, who was frozen along with her.

However, if Al’s goal had been to eliminate Subaru forever, that aim had also failed, and a conclusion with no winner would only be exposed after several hundred years. Even so, even so. If he could at least meet Emilia—

"—Actually, that’s not the only reason. The reason we can't meet Emilia-sama."

"—gh, I haven't heard this, I suppose. Betty thought that if we just melted that ice, we could get Emilia out, in fact. Did you trick us!?"

"Don't say such hurtful things! I didn't trick you; it’s just that, well, it would lead to a complication of the situation, so the explanation was difficult... anyway! Emilia-sama froze herself so no one could interfere, but there’s a problem other than it being powerful magic."

"so... e... a?"

"—It’s a 'Witch'."

"————"

Subaru and Beatrice caught their breath at the unexpected word. To have either the Witch Cult or the 'Witch of Envy' stand in their way here—just how long-lived a problem was this? However, the words Nicola continued further betrayed Subaru and the others' imagination. Because—

"—The 'Witch of Melancholy' has made the Great Glacial River where Emilia-sama is her stronghold, and she attacks anyone who tries to approach. That’s why no one can interfere."

Because it was the rise of a 'Witch' that Subaru and the others, who had crossed four hundred years of time, did not know.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never embrace anyone.

"—Natsuki Subaru-sama! I heard you have awakened, I suppose!"

"Gefu, gafu, gofu!"

Surprised by the door being noisily slammed open, the porridge Subaru was eating went into his windpipe. Subaru choked violently, and Beatrice, who had been feeding him in front of him, took the spat-out porridge full in the face and tumbled over, crying "Ukyah, in fact!" In an instant, the bedroom had turned into a scene of carnage.

"W-W-W-Why did you cough right at Betty’s cute face, I suppose! All the rice grains hit Betty’s face, in fact!"

"a... ui... because... I was... looking... at you..."

"Mu... then it can't be helped, I suppose. Here, show me your face. I’ll wipe around your mouth, in fact."

Beatrice, who had finished wiping her own face, wiped Subaru’s face with a sigh in response to his excuse, which still carried the aftereffects of his choking. However, contrary to her gentle touch, the voice that continued was somewhat cold. But that wasn't directed at Subaru, but at the person who had caused the current situation. At Beatrice’s cute but thorny voice, the other person’s shoulders shook with a violent start.

"You jumped in quite noisily, I suppose. If you’re visiting someone who’s just recovered, there are such things as manners, in fact."

"A-Ah, Beatrice-sama... I had no ill intent whatsoever, for your information, I suppose? I was just single-mindedly praying for the safety of you two, as if I were burning, in fact..."

"If that’s the case, you almost put an end to those prayers with your own hands, I suppose. ...I don't think you did it on purpose, so don't make yourself so small, in fact."

"My! I am larger in body than Beatrice-sama, for your information, I suppose. This Lumera has grown large, large like a blazing fire, in fact!"

"When your tension goes up, the room gets hot, so restrain yourself for Subaru’s sake, I suppose."

"Uu, yes, I suppose..."

The person who slumped her shoulders at those words was a tall, beautiful woman with long, bright, wavy crimson hair and eyes, wearing a dress of the same color. She was taller than Subaru, perhaps over 180 centimeters. She was a possessor of striking beauty, with a voluptuous body suited to her height and a flashy, gorgeous outfit to match. Subaru, who was sitting up in bed and being fed by Beatrice’s own hand, blinked his eyes at the appearance of another woman he didn't recognize.

"e... e... to?"

"Oh! Oh, oh, oh, my! You look much, much healthier than I heard from Nicola-sama, and I am moved as if I were spreading fire, I suppose! Besides, both you and Beatrice-sama are truly unchanged... I offer my heartfelt congratulations, in fact!"

"Lumera! It’s hot... no, it’s already burning, I suppose!"

"Oh, my! To think I, who am like a boiling fire, would do such a thing!"

Beatrice stepped in between Subaru and the beautiful woman who was approaching with long strides, pushing her back with her small body. That beautiful woman—the person called Lumera—pressed her hands together in front of her chest, blushed as if ashamed of her momentum and actions, and laughed with an "ohoho" to hide her embarrassment. At her energetic approach, Subaru felt a certain heat approaching. What Beatrice said was true—Lumera was clearly responding to the mana in the surroundings and emitting heat. And it was something unconscious and intense, responding to the heightening of her emotions. From that fact and her somewhat otherworldly atmosphere, Subaru vaguely guessed her true identity.

"s... pirit...?"

"—? Yes, it’s a burning affirmation, I suppose! Of course, I am no ordinary spirit, for your information, in fact. I am a Great Spirit! A long, long time has passed since then, I suppose, and this Lumera has also reached the level of a Great Spirit, in fact!"

Lumera, who broke into a smile, placed her hand on her ample chest and looked proud. In other words, a human-shaped Great Spirit like Beatrice—he had heard that when spirits grow, they can choose their own appearance, but those that take a human form are much fewer. So, to have two human-shaped spirits, Beatrice and Lumera, together like this was a very rare sight. However, Subaru felt a strange catch in Lumera’s words and actions.

"hanashi... a... mi... e... ne..."

Since Lumera used a somewhat unique way of speaking, it might just be that her choice of words was strange. But in every part of her attitude, there was not just joy at being able to meet Subaru, but a nuance of rejoicing at a reunion. But Subaru had no memory of her. In the first place, he had almost no acquaintances among spirits, so there was no need to even search his mind.

"————"

"A-Ah? Oh, oh, oh, my? What is the matter, Natsuki Subaru-sama... could it be that, in a way as terrifying as smoldering, you are not rejoicing at our reunion, I suppose?"

"That’s surely too much of a persecution complex, I suppose. Subaru is just surprised to hear that you’ve become a Great Spirit, in fact. He’ll get used to it soon... Subaru?"

Beatrice, who had sensed Subaru’s confusion at his poor reaction, was the one who followed up on Lumera’s anxiety. Beatrice, who should have been Subaru’s absolute ally, for some reason didn't notice that Subaru had no memory of Lumera’s existence and had a face that said it was natural for him to know. Subaru tried to clear up the misunderstanding for now, wondering why such a disagreement had occurred.

"i... a..."

"—Yes, I suppose!"

"e?"

The moment he tried to make a brief "no," Lumera suddenly replied in a loud voice. Subaru’s eyes widened again at her reaction, as her face brightened instantly. Ignoring Subaru’s surprise, Lumera breathed a sigh of relief and stroked her chest.

"Phew, I am relieved from the bottom of my heart as if I were burning out, I suppose. I was wondering if Natsuki Subaru-sama had forgotten about me, in fact... besides, it’s been a long time since I was called that, and I am happy, in fact."

"nama... e..."

Subaru thought about it, having been told that he had called her name. However, immediately after that, Subaru realized what part of his words had made Lumera think so, and he also guessed what it meant, catching his breath with an "ah." She had indeed reacted thinking her name had been called. Because Lumera was—

"i... a...?"

"Yes, that’s right, I suppose! It is the first time we meet in this form, for your information, in fact. —I, Lumera Ia Euclius, have been searching for Natsuki Subaru-sama and Beatrice-sama to fulfill a burning special mission from my Master, I suppose!"

"————"

At that intense, burning affirmation, Subaru stared at her intently. Lumera Ia Euclius—the person called Ia, who had affirmed it, was indeed a being with the right to rejoice at a reunion with Subaru.

One of the six quasi-spirits who contracted with the 'Greatest Knight' Julius Euclius and supported his skill and fame as a Spirit Knight—no, a being who had been promoted to a spirit and finally reached the level of a Great Spirit. Four hundred years ago, Subaru had also been helped by her when she was still a quasi-spirit. That Ia had appeared before Subaru like this as Lumera. —No, that wasn't it. She had also lent her strength to recover Subaru and Beatrice.

"Lumera is Nicola’s collaborator, I suppose. She lent her strength to pull Betty and Subaru out of the Mograde Great Fissure, in fact. All of that was on Julius’s instructions, I suppose."

"yuri... u... su... ga..."

"That’s right, I suppose! Currently, we six Spirit Princesses are acting as minor lords governing the Euclius territory, in fact. Actually, Lapicha, Soyone, Dorena, Kiara, and Sinica were all waiting for a reunion with Natsuki Subaru-sama to the point of being scorched, but it is very regrettable that they could not come here, I suppose."

"so... ka..."

Lumera was as forward-leaning as a roaring fire. The many names she spoke were probably the names that the spirits Julius had with him were now using as Great Spirits. Their original names were used as middle names, and their surname was Euclius—that seemed to be how it was.

"...To have kept the promise with Julius for four hundred years. How dutiful, I suppose."

"My! We are all single-mindedly devoted to our Master to the point of burning, in fact. If it is to fulfill that person’s wish, four hundred years is only natural, I suppose! To that end, we collaborated with Nicola-sama... no, no, that was a mistaken way of putting it to the point of being extinguished, I suppose."

"mista... ken?"

"Correcting myself, it was in collaboration with the successive generations of the Suwen family, in fact. The accumulation of many years has borne fruit and been fulfilled in this generation, I suppose."

Not taking the credit only for themselves was probably due to Lumera’s dutiful nature, as well as her recognition of the good relationship she had built with Nicola. Subaru sighed at the fact that the existences of Otto and Julius were in the background.

"...You idiots."

To bind the spirits who had contracted with him and served him for a long time with a covenant that wouldn't vanish even after his death was a choice lacking the elegance typical of Julius. And to proceed with that in cooperation with Otto, with whom he had been clashing in the Vollachia Empire, was choosing means too much. —No, perhaps that wasn't limited to Julius and Otto.

"Everyone..."

Because Nicola and Lumera, who had direct connections, were there, it was easy to see the results of Otto’s and Julius’s actions, but the other members couldn't have been unrelated to this. He knew. He could be certain. —That everyone had been desperate for Subaru and the others' sake.

Garfiel. ■■■. Frederica. Ryuzu. Meili. Patrasche. Roswaal. Clind. Annerose. Ram. Spica. —Rem.

Emilia, who used her power to leave a way to save Subaru and the others for the future. There was no way the members of the camp, excluding her, hadn't moved for Subaru and Beatrice. After Subaru and the others were suddenly lost, what kind of time did everyone spend, and how did they get to the present? Just how did everyone spend their own era, and how did they reach their end—

"—gh."

Everything was just beginning. Getting better, and aiming to make things better, was all just beginning. The future that should have been there was lost, the hope that should have reached them was missed, and he no longer knew anything.

"...Lumera, how much do you know about Betty’s companions, I suppose?"

"I am very sorry, I suppose. I do not know much about the people in your camp, in fact. Too much happened around the time you two disappeared and the Agzad Ravine became an eternal glacial zone, I suppose."

"—. Honestly, you’re a useless fellow, I suppose."

"Uu... even though I am now a Great Spirit who stands shoulder to shoulder with Beatrice-sama, I still can't hold my head up to someone who has passed through years comparable to the Four Greats, I suppose..."

Beatrice, seeing that Lumera couldn't give the answer Subaru wanted as he was struck down, said that especially coldly, making the large Spirit Princess slump. Subaru knew that was Beatrice’s consideration to keep him and Lumera from feeling awkward. Because he knew that, he felt even more pathetic for being carried and supported. At least—

"as soon... as... possible..."

He had to become able to move and check this world with his own hands and feet. Because the current Subaru didn't even have the right to regret in a grand manner.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never leave my name behind.

What Beatrice called the messy wiring between heart and body—he was told that a long and harsh rehabilitation would be necessary to reconnect it properly.

"It’s an aftereffect of having your soul separated from your body for a long time in that space, I suppose. The story is different for humans bound to a vessel of flesh and spirits like Betty, in fact."

"a talk... about... superior... beings... after... a... long... time..."

"I just verbalized the difference from Betty so Subaru wouldn't blame himself excessively, I suppose. To have it interpreted maliciously, Betty is greatly hurt, in fact. Pui, I suppose."

Beatrice, who turned her head away so cutely, didn't show the aftereffects of having been hit by Al’s Al Shamak, unlike Subaru. The reason was as he had heard, and while it was joyful that Beatrice alone was safe, it was also true that his frustration grew. Unlike a spirit whose body was directly connected to Od, Subaru had to check the connections between his soul and body one by one, and then make his brain remember how to operate the connected body. If he were to make a mistake in the wiring, he was told that a mismatched situation where his foot moved when he tried to move his hand could occur.

"rehab... huh..."

Subaru muttered that in a halting voice at the condition of his extremely restricted body. Since neither Subaru himself nor anyone close to him had fallen into such a situation, it was only an imagination, but perhaps a person who had been bedridden for a long time would have similar hardships to the current Subaru when trying to do rehabilitation. If so, the knack for it was probably the same. —Not being too impatient, having a firm goal, and moving toward it step by step. And in terms of moving toward a goal, it could be said that there were few people with as strong a motivation as the current Natsuki Subaru. However—

"—What is this? I expected you to be at least a little better than before, but it seems you haven't changed since last month. To waste my time like this is disrespectful, disrespectful."

There was a voice that strictly evaluated Subaru’s results as he challenged his rehabilitation. It was a harsh opinion, but Subaru couldn't say a word in return. In fact, that evaluation was correct. Even looking at it objectively, Subaru’s efforts could not be said to have borne fruit at all. To Subaru, who remained unable to talk back, the person who gave the evaluation gave a "hun" snort and—

"You don't even seem to have the spirit to talk back. You’re a man I’ve looked down on. At least if you don't grit your teeth and refuse to lose in your heart, the people who spent time on you won't be able to rest in peace."

"Your Excellency, that’s too much."

"Even to a dragon, he looks pitiful, in fact."

"Hah, the people around him are just not saying enough out of consideration. You’re so great for being able to chew your food properly. You’re quite something just for being able to swallow. —Why don't you drown to death in your own tears of frustration?"

"That’s... too... much... gh..."

Subaru also got angry as requested, thinking he didn't deserve to be told that much. But even hearing that squeezed-out angry voice, the other person brushed it off with a cool face, so he had to say she was truly hateful.

"Leave if you’ve come to interfere, I suppose, Rosalind. Subaru is busy with rehabilitation, in fact. You should be in a busy position yourself, I suppose, Unified Empress."

"To treat me, who took time out of my busy schedule to visit, so crudely. Lumera and the others are the same, but how long do you spirits intend to stay outside the order of the world? The land you live on and the food you get are all from my territory. Beatrice, if your appearance weren't of the utmost loveliness, I would have had your head cut off by now."

"Why don't you just say it? ...That you’re worried and can't focus on your work, I suppose."

"Mind your tongue, 'Adamantine Princess.' Your lack of respect for me is the same for you and the 'Cloud Dragon.' Don't get too carried away thinking I’m an artistic type who loves beautiful things."

A young girl, Rosalind Vollachia—the current Empress of the Vollachia Empire and a descendant of Abel and Medium—let out a large sigh, as if it were lamentable, making statements that were hard to tell if they were strict or not. Seeing that, the two people standing as if sandwiching the person in question from left and right—a silver-haired dog-person and a small girl with black horns—exchanged glances. Both were faces Subaru and Beatrice knew. They weren't people they had met in this era—

"You two also have endless hardships, I suppose. —Alakia, Madelyn."

"A dragon doesn't need unnecessary consideration, in fact."

"Better... than Cecilus."

The ones who responded to Beatrice, who had spoken words of concern alternately, were two of the 'Nine Divine Generals' of the Vollachia Empire from four hundred years ago—Alakia and Madelyn. Surprisingly, the two who had reunited in this era had remained as members of the Vollachia Empire for four hundred years, without changing their appearance or position. And the one who was leading them was—

"You lot have quite some nerve. Who do you think I am? I am the great Unified Empress, Rosalind Vollachia. To ignore me is disrespectful, disrespectful."

The young girl, Rosalind Vollachia, who exploded with dissatisfaction appropriate for her age—she was the current Empress of the Vollachia Empire and a descendant of Abel and Medium. The proof was that her arrogant words and large attitude were those of the Vollachia imperial family, but her golden hair, blue eyes, and lovely appearance with round eyes in contrast to her tone were very strongly showing the elements of the O'Connell siblings Subaru knew well. Once, when Subaru had become small at Olbart’s hand, Medium had also become small at the same time, and she looked very much like that Medium.

"Like this... even if her mouth is bad... she’s just cute, like Abel..."

"You mean the late Emperor Vincent Vollachia, who was known for his excellent rule. Well, I don't care about an emperor who had less talent than me anyway. More than that, since the 'Adamantine Princess' won't tell me no matter how much I beg, tell me the story of the 'Blue Lightning'."

"No. Don't."

"Do it, do it! Tell me the legend of the 'Blue Lightning'!"

The young Empress noisily pestered him, kicking her short legs. Alakia had a look of extreme displeasure at that request, and Madelyn had an exasperated face. Since Rosalind’s visits had already exceeded five times, Subaru had come to understand that this young Empress seemed to greatly admire Cecilus. But since the mouths of Alakia and the others, who should have known him at the time, were heavy, she sought a substitute from Subaru. Of course, there were many stories of the 'Blue Lightning' that Subaru could tell.

"When you come, the rehabilitation schedule gets messed up, which isn't good, I suppose. Alakia, you should just tell her without being mean, in fact. You were supposed to have stayed with Cecilus until the end, I suppose."

"Totally... different."

"Is it different, in fact? If you were there until he died, it’s not strange to say you stayed with him until the end, a dragon thinks, in fact. And—"

"—. What."

"As Cecilus asked, she lent a hand in searching for these guys, in fact."

Madelyn said that with a mean smile, and Alakia’s look of displeasure reached its limit. Perhaps thinking it was no use no matter what she said, Alakia gave up on arguing and just pursed her lips. But it was an indescribable feeling to know the background of her lending her strength for Subaru and the others' sake. To think that Cecilus would entrust the stage after he stepped down.

"It seems you lot left behind quite a lot. My lending the flame of the 'Yang Sword' was also because of a story passed down in the Vollachia imperial family... a plea from an oni girl."

"————"

"Without my 'Yang Sword,' you lot would never have seen the light of day. Never forget that."

While talking, Rosalind gripped the 'Yang Sword' Vollachia, which she had drawn from an empty scabbard, in her raised hand. While smiling wryly at the young Empress’s attitude of showing off that bright red blade, Subaru felt deeply moved by that story, which wasn't the first time he had heard it.

The 'Yang Sword' Vollachia, passed down to the Vollachia Emperors, had a powerful force that destroyed the black sphere of Al Shamak that had sealed Subaru and Beatrice. That was the result of Nicola and Lumera seeking cooperation, and the reason Rosalind responded to that request was her previous statement—the existence of the oni girl who had wished for and secured a promise of help for Subaru and the others' rescue from the Vollachia imperial family.

"—Rem."

Bit by bit, as the footprints became clear, Subaru would taste an indescribable itch and the heat of tears that it brought with it, no matter how many times he experienced it. Rem also, after the tragedy that struck Subaru and the others, went to the Vollachia Empire to do what she could, and there she made a deal with Abel and the others. Or perhaps Cecilus’s thought of entrusting the future to Alakia was also due to the influence of Rem’s existence.

Too many, too many people had tried to save Subaru and the others, and in doing so, they had actually reached the future of rescuing them. Therefore—

"I..."

"Speaking of which, I heard. Once you lot are able to move, you intend to challenge that Great Glacial River. —To confront the 'Witch,' or so I hear."

"—. Yeah."

Subaru nodded with few words and affirmed Rosalind’s question. Currently, the purpose of Subaru’s challenge to rehabilitation to regain the freedom of his body was a reunion with Emilia, who was said to be in the eternal glacial zone. —Nicola and Lumera had told him it was extremely dangerous and wanted to discuss it again after his body could move, but he had no intention of bending.

Certainly, because of what happened, Subaru and Beatrice had no choice but to give up on many things. But unlike things they had to give up on because they would never reach them, Emilia was definitely there. That would never, absolutely never, be a reason to give up.

"It’s a thorny path, but the attitude of daring to go that way isn't bad. The Witch Cult and such vanished in exchange for the destruction of the Kingdom, and in a world where the fear of the 'Witch of Envy' has almost become a formality, the reason why the title of 'Witch' still carries awe is because of the existence of the 'Witch of Melancholy'... if that were to vanish, it would be meaningful for me too."

"————"

"Mu, why have you become silent? It’s disrespectful, disrespectful."

"He can't help but be silent, I suppose. You should learn to be a bit more considerate of Betty and Subaru, in fact. To Betty and Subaru, events that are in history books are things from just recently, I suppose. Let alone the Kingdom... Lugunica being gone, we can't fully accept it, in fact."

"If you can't overcome the surging hardships, you perish. It’s just a story that doesn't change whether it’s a person, a land, or a country. Lugunica and Kararagi are also names that have quietly vanished into history books."

The Unified Empress—the top of the Vollachia Empire that had swallowed the Kingdom of Lugunica and the City-States of Kararagi—shrugged her shoulders as if that were the way of the world. Honestly, there were so many unbelievable events surging in that he didn't know if he had been able to be surprised enough by that fact. To put it clearly, nothing had shaken Subaru and the others more than the fact that four hundred years had passed and they had left everything behind. Even so, as someone who had been going all out in the Royal Selection for the throne of that Kingdom until just a while ago, the story that the Kingdom had perished was also not easily swallowed.

"In the flow of time, there are things that change. There are things that don't change, in fact. No matter which one you find value in, it’s a foolish thing to just be swept away and regret, in fact."

That might have been the advice or warning of an old dragon-person who, despite her young appearance, had lived with humans for over four hundred years and continued to watch over their activities. Even for Madelyn, Alakia, or Rosalind, the Empress of Vollachia, which had swallowed three countries and become an even more giant nation, the flow of time could not be stopped. That was why he thought she had advised him not to just submissively surrender himself to the flow. In any case—

"—I’ll do it."

"That’s the spirit, I suppose. Betty will also support Subaru with all her might, in fact."

Time was precious. Time was never enough. No matter how much he regretted it, he couldn't put back into his hands what had slipped through his fingers like grains of sand. That was why he had to do it while it was in his hands.

So that he wouldn't realize how blessed he was only after losing it.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never seek peace.

—Contrary to his impatient feelings and the slow progress of his rehabilitation, Subaru and the others' days flowed gently and plainly, ironically without much incident.

"Since it’s Beatrice-chan’s wish, I’ll basically leave Natsuki-san’s personal care to her. If there’s anything you need, please tell me at any time. You’d probably find a large house too much to handle, so for now, if you could just use this house as much as you need."

Subaru was surprised by Nicola, who had said that and handed over a house just like that, but the current Subaru and Beatrice had no choice but to accept his kindness. Even so, when he told him he would definitely pay back the debt—

"Settling debts clearly. That’s a way of thinking I also like as a merchant. But I don't really think of this for Natsuki-san and the others as a debt."

"Why... is that?"

"Let’s see. ...I might be thinking that the reason the long years of hardship bore fruit was because Natsuki-san and the others were saved."

"————"

"I’m quite the eccentric among the Suwen family. My brothers and relatives are a bit more settled, or rather, their way of thinking is more adult, but it just doesn't suit me. I’ve been told I’ll either make it big or die in a ditch. And then, this."

"This..."

"I fulfilled the Suwen family’s four-hundred-year-old wish. For now, even if I die at any time, I’ll be able to hold my head high, saying I accomplished something before dying in a ditch. So, no payment is necessary. Please spend a tomorrow where I can think it was good that I could help."

It was impossible not to think he had a huge debt to Nicola, who had said that so brightly. Besides, he felt it strongly again. —The unhideable Otto-ness of Nicola, who was treated as an eccentric even in the Suwen family.

"I am intruding, I suppose, Natsuki Subaru-sama! How have you been feeling since then, in fact? This Lumera has been worried to the point of boiling, I suppose!"

Lumera, who showed her face quite frequently—wondering what was happening with the rule of the Euclius territory—was probably building a friendship with Beatrice, but she was also treating them very well. He had been being helped by her since her Ia days. Her other sisters didn't visit Subaru, but they were said to be brought up in daily conversation.

"Naturally, it also leads to opportunities to remember our Master, and we are also accumulating precious time to the point of burning, in fact. Of course, there is no day we don't think of our Master, but we are able to enjoy memories with deep colors and flavors, I suppose."

"That’s... a complicated feeling... speaking of which, when you found us..."

"Oh! Oh, oh, my! Do you want to hear about it, I suppose? It was a major event to the point of burning out, for your information, in fact. Because the large hole of the Mograde Great Fissure is connected to the back side of this world, and searching for things that flowed in was a great hardship..."

"...You found us... well."

"Of course, it didn't go well all at once, I suppose. It was something we all accomplished together, spending four hundred years and gathering the technology and strength we lacked, in fact."

"————"

"So, Natsuki Subaru-sama, please, please do not lament and be sad, I suppose. It was also a bitter regret for us that we couldn't bring you back to the era our Master lived in, in fact. But..."

"Yeah. I know, Lumera. —Thank you."

Four hundred years—what could be summed up in just one word had a tremendously large meaning for those who actually spent that time. The days Beatrice spent in the 'Forbidden Library' were also, ironically, about the same four hundred years. —Needless to say, Beatrice knew the weight of that time. That four hundred years was a length that ended the lives of the people Subaru and the others knew well, and then ended the lives of those who followed, and yet still didn't reach. To the point where he was made to realize that the current Subaru and Beatrice existed on top of the struggles of many people Subaru and the others didn't even know to save them.

"It’s a trivial sentiment. For people in our position to be entrusted with wishes by miscellaneous rubbish like you lot is nothing new, nor is it something that will ever end."

Even though he hadn't consulted her about anything, Rosalind saw through the worries and agonies he held with her natural insight and laughed as if making fun of him. It was certainly an excessive attitude toward a serious worry. Yet the reason he didn't feel like getting angry was because he was won over by her appearance, and her actions and way of interacting with him clearly conveyed that her true feelings weren't as sharp as her words.

"Even so, there seems to be no progress that can be called progress, I suppose. When will you reproduce the legendary 'Sparkly,' which I hear became a legend on Gladiator Island?"

"Like I... could do... such a thing."

"Don't worry. Even I have no intention of pitting you against a beast that doesn't understand jokes like Guiltylow. I’ll have the 'Adamantine Princess' or the 'Cloud Dragon' do it. How about that?"

"How about... that... are you stupid?"

"To catch me and call me a fool? It’s disrespectful, disrespectful."

Rosalind, who laughed and showed a defenseless side, also looked like she was relaxing under the pretext of hearing the stories of the legends of the past from Subaru and the others. He could guess that Rosalind’s excellence was probably not inferior to Abel’s if her age were taken into account, but there must be extraordinary labor in managing the Unified Empire, which had become nearly three times larger than the era Abel ruled. While he had no intention of being pampered, since Nicola and Lumera didn't try to rush Subaru, Rosalind’s harsh way of speaking also had the effect of pushing him, and his spine was straightened. However—

"Miscalculation. I thought if you talked, Her Excellency wouldn't ask me anymore."

"And yet, the more she knows, the more her interest seems to be increasing, in fact. It seems Alakia’s face of dislike is also Her Excellency’s hobby, so she’s being swung around, in fact."

"...Madelyn also... won't help me."

"Don't get ahead of yourself thinking you can have a dragon as you wish, human, in fact."

Alakia, who was firmly getting the short end of the stick from Rosalind’s attitude, seemed to find the posture of Subaru and Madelyn, who encouraged it, unwelcome. Honestly, Subaru thought it was a problem on Alakia’s side for not having properly processed the dead Cecilus even after four hundred years, but along with Madelyn, he would just leave it as material for teasing.

In any case—

"—Subaru, good work today too, I suppose."

Whether it was a day with visitors or not, the conclusion was always welcomed with his dear Beatrice. While facing Subaru, who had strong feelings of impatience, Beatrice never showed such a sign, even though she might be in a position with even more frustration. Though he thought that was because of Beatrice’s kindness.

"You’re thinking too much, I suppose. Betty just knows that rushing won't bring good results, in fact. Even so, I am an eight-hundred-year-old adult, I suppose."

"Super... old person..."

"O-Of all things to say, I suppose! I don't rush you, but I do get angry at rudeness, in fact! Besides, if Subaru were to get discouraged, I would scold him properly, I suppose."

"If I... get discouraged..."

"Yes, in fact. —Other than that, there is no way Betty would hit Subaru, I suppose. I said it when you first woke up. Do you remember, I suppose?"

"————"

"No matter what happens, Betty and Subaru can get through it, I suppose."

Yes, that was it. She had said that. And he had to truly do that, and that became Subaru’s driving force.

The days pass. Without much incident. But he must not accept that idly. Time was so precious he regretted it, and he couldn't waste a single day, a single moment, or even a single second. That was—

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never lament a failure.

—What stood in the way of Natsuki Subaru’s progress was a part of an ordinary, unchanging day—in other words, a calamity without warning.

"—I think, and I think. I always think."

That large man suddenly intruded into Subaru and Beatrice’s daily life. He was dressed in magnificent black attire with a white coat draped over his shoulders. His bright yellow-green hair was neatly slicked back, and the contrast with his dark skin clearly made his presence stand out. His rugged but well-featured appearance held a contradictory temperament of wild elegance, and he had a richness of soul that directly carved an unforgettable presence into the brain upon a single glance.

Therefore, he was definitely someone Subaru was seeing for the first time. Unlike with Lumera, it wasn't that someone he knew had changed into a different appearance over time. That uninvited man had suddenly appeared at the dinner table.

Coincidentally, Nicola, Lumera, and Alakia were gathered at the table that day. It wasn't that they had planned it, but it was just when Subaru was enthusiastic about showing the results of his rehabilitation at a dinner table that was noisier than usual.

"In my experience, anger only lasts for about six seconds. Only six seconds. If you get through those six seconds, you can avoid the explosion of the primitive emotion of the manifestation of anger, its maximization."

Subaru was dumbfounded by the presence of the man stepping into the house. However, ignoring Subaru, the other members changed color in an instant and kicked their chairs back to stand up in vigilance. The one who moved particularly fast was Alakia, who had the greatest—no, even looking across the entire world, one of the highest-class suppression powers in this place.

During the 'Great Disaster' in Vollachia, by taking in a part of Muspel, the 'Stone Block' which was one of the Four Greats, the 'Spirit-Eater' Alakia had gained an extraordinary power. Over time, having made that power even more her own, she was called the 'Adamantine Princess' and was showing her power to the fullest as the confidante of the current Empress, Rosalind Vollachia.

"In other words."

From Alakia’s entire body, several bands of light that sparkled and glittered extended, becoming blades of the highest hardness that ruthlessly cut through whatever they touched, surging wildly across the table. Twelve bands of light—what they targeted was the brown-skinned large man who stood tall. On the left side of that man’s face, Sanskrit-style tattoos glowed faintly—

"—In order to make the opponent taste my anger to the maximum, I must settle it within six seconds."

In an instant, the explosion of light that raged around the man swept away the bands of light that were supposed to have cut him to pieces from the front, and divided Alakia, who was the one who unleashed them, into twenty-eight chunks—the aftereffects of that slashing light spread explosively, blowing away Nicola and Lumera, who were to his left and right. And—

"Exactly six seconds."

The man spoke without changing his expression, and in his hands, before anyone knew it, he held twin swords—strange two swords whose blades from the hilt onward were made of light. That was the true nature of the sword dance that had instantly killed Alakia, and Nicola and Lumera with its aftereffects—and had driven Subaru to the brink of death as he was caught in the resulting sword wind.

"—ah."

Subaru, who had fallen on his back on the ground and was showered with the remains of the prepared dinner, groaned. There was no pain. Ironically, Subaru’s body, whose rehabilitation was incomplete, was not just hard to move, but the wiring of his five senses, including his sense of pain, was a mess, and he couldn't feel the sudden tragedy that struck his body as if it were something happening on the other side of a screen. But—

"...Who are you, I suppose?"

"—. I am surprised. I am surprised, and I am surprised. You survived?"

Even if the pain that struck his own body felt like someone else’s business, he couldn't be indifferent to the bravery of Beatrice, who stood with her arms spread wide as if to protect Subaru. Just before the shockwave surged, Beatrice had protected herself and Subaru in an instant. While regretting that her hands hadn't reached Nicola and the others, she bit back that feeling in an instant and glared at the man who was the perpetrator. In her eyes, there was certain anger and a slight confusion. —The reason for the confusion was:

"A human...? Or a spirit, I suppose...?"

"I am either, and I am neither. I am myself. And—"

"e... a... trice... gh!"

The desperate scream of a blood-spitting resolve was a raspy voice that didn't serve as much of a deterrent. It only made Beatrice’s small body harden with a disproportionate resolve and made her challenge him recklessly. The result was, needless to say, a truly miserable one.

"—I shall erase the filth known as spirits. Six seconds."

With that cruel declaration as the last, Beatrice, and then Natsuki Subaru, were wiped out from this world in less than six seconds. After crossing four hundred years of time, as a result of many people connecting their hopes, the end of the spirit and the contractor who were salvaged in the far future was a truly tragic conclusion. And that—

"—I think, and I think. I always think."

The moment his consciousness cleared, it meant the beginning of Natsuki Subaru’s desperate, hopeless, and muddy battle with the 'Mad Prince' Veig Adgard, as he returned to that place where the intruder had appeared at dinner.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never seek understanding from anyone.

—The 'Mad Prince' Veig Adgard.

He was one of the strongest existences of the Four Great Nations who stood shoulder to shoulder with the 'Sword Saint' Reinhard van Astrea, the 'Blue Lightning' Cecilus Segmunt, and the 'Praiser' Halibel. —That was only a story from four hundred years ago when Subaru and the others lived, which was a necessary proviso.

If the 'Sword Saint' of the Kingdom of Lugunica, the 'Blue Lightning' of the Vollachia Empire, and the 'Praiser' of the Kararagi City-States were mentioned, it was customary to mention the 'Mad Prince' of the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko, but for his overwhelming name value, the information about the person himself was surprisingly little. While being a member of the royal family of the Holy Kingdom, he was famous for the episode where he killed over ten of his own kinsmen who were in the same position as him, and it took several thousand troops seven days and seven nights to finally suppress and imprison him—or rather, it was even said that there were no other rumors circulating other than that. He had even heard that because of those truly absurd rumors, the existence of the 'Mad Prince' itself was suspected to be a performance by the Holy Kingdom to deter the strongest of other countries.

However, that suspicion was only a suspicion. The 'Mad Prince' existed. His strength was also that of an overwhelming powerhouse that didn't betray the rumors, and even from the position of knowing all three of the strongest who were said to have stood shoulder to shoulder with him, it could be asserted that he was equal to them. And unlike them, only the 'Mad Prince' had survived until the present, four hundred years later. The mechanism was—

"—A half-human, half-spirit?"

"It’s an open secret. The story that he is the only 'Spirit-Human' in the world."

Subaru unintentionally caught his breath at Nicola’s words, which were like chewing on something bitter. A half-human, half-spirit—he was surprised that such a being could be born, and at the incomprehensible fact that that 'Spirit-Human' was targeting spirits.

Certainly, there were spirits in the world who had appearances and forms no different from humans, like Beatrice and Lumera. But their mana bodies, which were made of mana, were fundamentally different from humans in their mechanism, and it seemed impossible for them to have children. However—

"As a fact, he exists. As the world’s greatest disaster, who doesn't stop declaring that he will exterminate the spirits that bear a part of his own roots."

That confirmed information from Nicola made Natsuki Subaru realize. Until now, Subaru had clashed with all sorts of difficult enemies and had been forced into a hard battle every time. Even so, the existences he really had no choice but to fight, other than the ones with loose screws like the Witch Cult, were only exceptions like Todd Fang and Elsa Granhiert. Subaru sometimes thought that even with Todd and Elsa, it might have been possible to fight together depending on the method and purpose. —That possibility was not with this opponent.

Many of the things Subaru loved were inseparable from spirits. —In other words, the 'Mad Prince' Veig Adgard could absolutely never reconcile with Natsuki Subaru. Because Subaru could never walk alongside an existence that killed spirits.

"—Six seconds."

Above all, the blade the 'Mad Prince' swung would not hesitate to involve the surroundings as long as it was for killing spirits. Therefore, Subaru was killed again.

Once, twice, ten times, twenty times. —The count was ruthlessly layered. It could be said to be a stroke of luck that 'Return by Death,' which he hadn't been able to test even once in this era four hundred years later, had activated. Even excluding the disappointment and dejection that the restart point hadn't been set to four hundred years ago, it could be said to be a stroke of luck. However, it left a major problem. It was—

"—I think, and I think. I always think."

Natsuki Subaru, who returned to just before the violence by the 'Mad Prince' began again, was still in a situation where his rehabilitation was incomplete and he couldn't even stand without someone’s help.

"—Six seconds."

And without being able to do anything, the helpless Subaru’s world was cut to pieces by the slashing light again.

—Among the spirals of 'Return by Death' that Natsuki Subaru had tasted, this surprise attack by the 'Mad Prince' was a hardship that should be classified as the absolute worst.

If he were to compare it, the game of tag with Olbart Dunkelkenn in the Demon City of Chaosflame, or the series of events including the 'Sparkly' on Gladiator Island Ginunhive might be equal. However, even though his body had been small, those obstacles where his hands and feet moved freely and he could check this and that by himself to break the situation felt like heaven compared to now.

After all, even after several months of rehabilitation life, there was almost no improvement seen in the restriction of Natsuki Subaru’s body, and he was in a situation where he couldn't even walk on his own. On top of that, with an opponent who had a power as ridiculous as Reid Astrea, the first 'Sword Saint,' among the enemies Subaru had encountered so far, the chance of survival was even smaller than the eye of a needle.

Therefore, Subaru continued to die. Unable to save Alakia, Nicola, or Lumera, and unable to even let Beatrice escape, but rather blocking their escape route with his restricted body, he continued to let them die and continued to die himself.

"Truly, you are an annoying person to the point of being scorched, I suppose! To target us... because of you, the Euclius territory is in a mess, for your information, in fact!"

Naturally, the Euclius territory ruled by six Great Spirits was the foremost of the lands that shouldn't exist for the 'Mad Prince,' who aimed for the extermination of spirits. Whether there had already been many clashes, Lumera’s feelings toward the 'Mad Prince' who appeared were equally mixed with fear and anger.

"That sword Cecilus wanted. I’ll take it and break it in front of his grave marker."

Alakia’s observation revealed that the twin swords the 'Mad Prince' held in both hands, which had blades of light, were one of the world’s leading demon swords, the 'Cursed Sword' Aion, which stood alongside the 'Dragon Sword' and the 'Yang Sword.' The sword wind of the 'Cursed Sword,' which was said to suck up the owner’s mana and exert a sharpness corresponding to it, easily broke through even the defense of Alakia, who was called the 'Adamantine Princess.' There weren't many ways for Subaru and the others to protect themselves from that raging wind.

"Bad, bad, bad! If I say we were careless, it sounds like we were at fault, but isn't this too much of an unpredictable disaster!? If we end up encountering the world’s most terrifying person without any warning like this, our preparations won't be in time at all, will they!?"

In this place, Nicola, who had no combat power following Subaru who couldn't move, shouted desperately while his face turned pale at the sudden encounter. It seemed that unlike Otto, Nicola was a truly merchant-like merchant, and his courage wasn't settled enough not to flinch at a scene of carnage. However, it was a harsh story to expect that from him, who was younger than Otto, and he was great enough just for not getting in the way of his allies. And above all—

"Betty will protect Subaru, I suppose. —Only Betty is left, in fact."

No matter how many times her life was taken by the blade the 'Mad Prince' swung, Beatrice was there, standing in the way before Subaru’s fate ran out and protecting Subaru with her small body. Because her unchanging devotion roused Subaru’s heart again and again—

"—Six seconds."

Subaru’s heart did not break even in the repeating spiral of 'death.' If it breaks once, he can no longer stand up. Therefore, breaking was the most terrifying thing. So that wouldn't happen, Subaru—

"E... M... T!" "—E·M·T!"

Beatrice, who reacted in response to Subaru’s expression of deathly resolve, activated E·M·T—the field of absolute nullification magic expanded, enveloping Subaru and the others who surrounded the table. In this field, all effects related to mana are nullified. That was the same for Alakia, who was a 'Spirit-Eater,' and Lumera, who was a Great Spirit. For that reason, if it ended with just this, it would be a simple act of helping the enemy, but—

"—It’s a... magic... sword... right!?"

The blade of the 'Cursed Sword' Aion frayed, and the light diffused within the E·M·T field. That succeeded for the first time in cutting off the effect of the demon sword the 'Mad Prince' possessed and distancing the cause of death that had cut Subaru and the others to pieces over dozens of times until now, just as intended.

"A strange magic with a strange effect. It is outside my expectations."

His first strike being hindered by E·M·T, the 'Mad Prince' made a statement other than aggressiveness for the first time. Into the side of that 'Mad Prince's face, Alakia’s kick was fiercely driven.

"Die."

Alakia, who was a 'Spirit-Eater,' had the power of the spirits she had taken in sealed by E·M·T. But even without that, her physical ability was one of the best in the world. The power of the wholehearted kick was like a cannonball, and in fact, the collision sound and the spreading shockwave hidden a firepower that would snap even the neck of a trained warrior in one blow. However—

"Unfortunately, I have no reason to respond to your request, and thus I shall not."

The 'Mad Prince' she was facing was also a monster equal to or greater than Alakia. The 'Mad Prince' lightly caught Alakia’s kick with his hand that gripped the demon sword, which was only the hilt part. He pushed away the various contrasting conditions—man and woman, hand and foot, offense and defense—with brute force. But however, Alakia wasn't the only one who was the 'Mad Prince's opponent.

"I am also here, I suppose!"

The one who shouted that in a loud voice and struck the 'Mad Prince' from behind with a chair was Lumera. The Great Spirit, who had quickly given up on using magic, went around behind the 'Mad Prince' while Alakia was drawing his attention, and struck him with a ruthless downward swing from her tall stature. The wooden chair shattered with a crushing sound, and the 'Mad Prince's posture, having been struck defenselessly on the back of his head, wavered forward. It worked, a slight expectation raised its head—

"You interfered with the composition of mana. You are quite something, quite something. But—"

In an instant, the light blades that jumped out one after another from within the 'Mad Prince,' who had stood his ground, swept away and cut off Alakia’s arms and left leg, and Lumera’s torso, respectively.

"na..."

"—'Divine Protection of Adaptation'."

Subaru caught his breath as he witnessed Alakia and the others being blown away while leaking the mana that composed their existence, and the 'Mad Prince's eyes turned toward him. Immediately, the 'Mad Prince,' who had deemed Subaru and the others dangerous, activated the 'Cursed Sword' within the field where everything should have been nullified, and its light blade was unleashed in a diagonal slash,

"—E·M·M!"

In an instant, the switching of magic by Beatrice distanced Subaru’s life from death just in time.

"————"

Instead of becoming unable to move, attacks wouldn't reach Subaru and the others, who were half a step away from the world. But it wasn't that they had no means of attacking.

"Invis... ible...!"

An invisible black demon hand appeared from within Subaru’s chest, and it approached the 'Mad Prince's nose. He would punch that face and strike Beatrice’s Yin magic into the opening. At worst, it didn't matter if Subaru fainted from lack of mana. He would do something like sending the 'Mad Prince' to the different dimension of Al Shamak.

"An explicit gaze induction. Is it a trap? If it is not a trap, you are immature."

The 'Mad Prince' easily dodged that invisible punch just by tilting his head. E·M·T was responded to, and the defense of E·M·M wouldn't last long. Above all, only Subaru and Beatrice could be protected by E·M·M, and the companions around them remained defenseless. Both Alakia and Lumera needed treatment immediately. Naturally, Nicola too—

"————"

There was no reaction from Nicola. He, who wasn't a combatant, should have stepped back so as not to get in the way of Subaru, Alakia, and the others.

"Honestly, it was so sudden that I didn't have the certainty that this preparation could be used, but."

Immediately after Subaru became conscious of that, Nicola, who had stepped back to the wall, raised his right hand. And then, that finger was strongly flicked, and a high sound was played. That was a gesture his ancestor, who had the same characteristics as Nicola, had favored as a trigger to activate something when he had shrewdly set it up. And that habit and shrewdness seemed to have been firmly passed down to his descendant—

"—Wait, nothing is happening, I suppose!?"

Beatrice, who should have held the same expectation as Subaru, widened her eyes at the lack of change. Subaru felt a sense of impatience run up his back, wondering if it had failed, but there was no tragedy in the expression of Nicola, who had flicked his finger. What was there was the gaze of a gambler who had come out on a do-or-die bet. Facing that, the 'Mad Prince' who held the 'Cursed Sword' narrowed his eyes—

"—That’s strange. I thought I told you not to interfere with the glacier?"

A voice spoke. —In an instant, countless white lights that surged from all directions pierced through the safe house Nicola had prepared from the outside, and a ferocious dance of light violated the room.

"————"

Without knowing what had happened, Subaru stared at the scene before him with wide eyes. In an instant, the temporary lodging Nicola had given to Subaru and the others collapsed, and the site that had been blown away by the light had turned into a scene of carnage where white dust was rising thickly. The figure of the 'Mad Prince' who had been approaching was gone, and a corner of his mind thought the explosion of light had blown him away. Beatrice, who had jumped into Subaru’s chest in an instant, also looked at him with a surprised face while widening her large eyes at the sudden turn of events, and caught her breath with an "ah."

"S-Subaru, your legs..."

"Legs?"

At Beatrice’s trembling voice, Subaru looked down at his own body with difficulty. From the bad premonition of those words, he had a chill that even one of his legs might have been blown off, but as long as the effect of E·M·M, which had continued to be activated, was there, no disaster could hurt Subaru and the others. —Instead, the light had pierced through Subaru and the others' real images, which were shifted in existence.

"This... is..."

Under Subaru’s eyes as he blinked, the light that stood as if piercing through the afterimage—the one whose peeling brilliance was frayed—was one long needle. The needle, which was about the length from Subaru’s elbow to his fingertips and was formed of mana, frayed and vanished as soon as it fulfilled its purpose. —He had a memory of that. Perhaps he had been killed many times by the same light as this. But that was something that shouldn't happen even if he wished for it—

"—Is it you?"

A low voice that suppressed emotion shook Subaru’s eardrums as he was dumbfounded. Subaru and Beatrice, who had turned their eyes in a hurry, saw the faintly glowing tattoos on the face of the terrifying man who had emerged through the thick smoke. Even though he was at the center of that light explosion, not a single scratch could be seen on the 'Mad Prince.' However, among the 'Returns by Death' that had approached a hundred, Subaru saw for the first time the color of vigilance dwell on the profile of the 'Mad Prince,' who had never broken his expression. And the target of the 'Mad Prince's vigilance was—

"Are you bullying the weak again? You never get tired of it, 'Mad Prince'-san."

A beautiful 'Witch' in a dress woven with many colors was there.

"————"

'Witch.' Yes, a 'Witch.' At a glance, Natsuki Subaru—no, every living being—was made to understand by the alarm of instinct that she was nothing else.

If you see a monster as large as a mountain, if you smell the raw breath of a bloodthirsty beast, if you hear the roar of a dragon that has set its sights on its prey, anyone instinctively senses that it is a threat that endangers their life. The same function was saying: that is a 'Witch.'

"It is unexpected, unexpected. To have my actions belittled like that is unexpected."

While capturing the 'Mad Prince' in the twelve o'clock direction and the 'Witch' in the three o'clock direction at the edges of his vision respectively, Subaru couldn't suppress the trembling that surged up. Or perhaps this was the encounter of the most terrifying things in the current world.

But however, there was more meaning than that for Subaru.

"...Subaru."

No. Even for Beatrice, who had just called Subaru. —There was for Subaru and the others. Because the beautiful 'Witch' who appeared there was—

"—Six seconds, right? The 'Mad Prince'-san’s obsession."

"————"

"Then, bye—"

The 'Witch' tilted her head slightly, and her beautiful voice spun those words with a dark and humid gaze. Before she could finish saying it, the 'Mad Prince' moved. The distance between him and the 'Witch' vanished, and the 'Mad Prince's blades were about to sweep away that slender neck from left and right—in an instant, the twin swords of the 'Mad Prince' were stopped by a downpour of light.

The shockwave and explosion produced by the rain of light ruthlessly captured the 'Mad Prince,' who was in combat mode. The 'Mad Prince' struck it away with his twin swords and protected, protected, protected himself. However, the time that occurred there was a painful instant against the 'Witch.'

"I’ll make it a million times. —'Compress Agony'."

Saying that, the 'Witch' flicked her finger with a snap. —In the next moment, the movements of the 'Mad Prince' who manipulated the twin swords lost their brilliance. Sowing the disorder that occurred in the precise sword dance, the downpour of light slipped through the defense and pierced the man’s body one after another. Moreover, it didn't end there. The light deeply gouged the 'Mad Prince's body and exploded at the deepest part of the wound, blowing the world’s strongest apart from the inside.

"————"

He was dumbfounded by the overwhelming clash of power and the instant conclusion. When the pressure of the vision by the light explosion cleared, there was not even a fragment of the 'Mad Prince's figure there. The 'Witch' had slaughtered that terrifying powerhouse in an instant by herself. —No, she wasn't alone.

"Good work, Little Red Scorpion-chan."

The 'Witch' who let out an languid sigh—the one who slowly stepped forward beside her was a giant scorpion—a mabeast—with a crimson carapace as large as a ground dragon or larger. The mabeast the 'Witch' brought with her—that was the true nature of the one that had exerted that overwhelming suppression power of light. And in the background of that combination—

"Hey, are you still going to do it?"

"—No, it is mortifying, mortifying, but I shall admit it. Mortifyingly, it is my loss."

"—gh."

A chill ran up his spine, and Subaru turned his consciousness toward the voice. The center of the explosion where the rain of light had fallen—at a point about ten meters away from there, a haze wavered—no, that was wrong, what was wavering was not a haze, but a figure of a person as thin as a mist. The 'Mad Prince,' whose existence had grown extremely thin, was there like a mist.

"Switching between a physical body and a mana body... such a thing is impossible, I suppose..."

"If we are to discuss whether it is possible or impossible, this form of mine is proof enough. It is irritating, irritating, but what should be said is not impossible, but incomprehensible. Irritatingly."

Beatrice, who had unintentionally muttered that, was answered by the 'Mad Prince' with an indifference toward his own body, as if it were someone else’s business—or perhaps even with a sense of emptiness. When Beatrice closed her mouth after that, the 'Mad Prince' whose existence was thin looked at the 'Witch' and—

"If you are in this place, is the Great Glacial River shorthanded?"

"Maybe. But it’s no use. There’s no way I’d leave without taking any measures, right? Everyone is stupider than me."

"————"

"It’s no use plotting. The time I can worry is different from you lot. Or—shall I make it sixty million seconds this time?"

"What do you intend to pay for that play?"

"Who knows? Does that have anything to do with you?"

A quiet, touch-and-go atmosphere heightened between the 'Mad Prince' and the 'Witch.' Both looked like they were suppressing their emotions, but it was clear they felt each other was a nuisance. Sensing that heightening of battle intent, the mabeast called Little Red Scorpion rubbed its pincers together. For a while longer, that staring contest continued, but—

"—I shall erase all unnatural filth with my own hands. Remember, and do not forget."

"Then why don't you erase yourself first?"

"It is still early, early. —Not yet."

Whether that declaration was to the 'Witch,' or to Subaru who was nestled with the filth he spoke of, the 'Mad Prince's existence thinned and vanished from the spot. He didn't pretend to vanish, but vanished. The threat was gone. However, leaving another threat behind.

"Only a person like that is left, I’m so done."

The 'Witch' let out a small sigh at the vanished existence of the 'Mad Prince' and shrugged her white, slender shoulders. Then she stroked the carapace of the mabeast beside her and turned around with a twirl. In accordance with that movement, her long, bright reddish-brown hair and the large ribbon that tied it shook in the wind. As she was, the 'Witch' started walking with a steady pace, and when she came toward Subaru and Beatrice—she passed right by them and headed behind. Subaru hurriedly followed that back with his eyes and noticed. Behind Subaru and the others were the figures of the battered Alakia and Lumera, and Nicola who was protected by the two.

In that light explosion that blew away the house, all three were alive. Because E·M·T had cut out just before, Alakia and the others, who had become able to use magic, had done it well. However, they weren't unhurt. Especially the one who was seriously injured was—

"Was it you who did something to my place?"

"—gh. I wonder what you’re talking about..."

"Hah, a meaningless maneuver is so tiring. You see, magic patterns are unique to each person, so if I check carefully, I can tell who set what. I have as much time as I want to check. So you did it. That is the recompense for it."

The 'Witch' said that, and her white finger pointed to Nicola’s left leg, which he had lost from the knee down as he sat on the ground.

"————"

"Does it hurt? Then please stop already. It’s unpleasant to be used conveniently."

After telling that to Nicola, who was bleeding profusely and had greasy sweat on his face, the 'Witch' ignored Alakia and the others who were glaring at her, smoothed her hair, and turned her back. The 'Witch' who was about to leave without calling out to Nicola and the others, or to Subaru and the others—Subaru had unintentionally called out to stop her. For that reason, the words he called out were—

"—■■■"

And yet, the words he should have called out somehow didn't become words.

"Ah?"

"————"

The voice he should have uttered didn't become a voice, and Subaru doubted his own throat. But no abnormality could be felt there. If he were to say, it remained the same frustrating throat that had been restricted all along. He had made the pronunciation. He had called the 'Witch.' —The name of the 'Witch' he should have known.

"■■■... ■■■! Why... ■■■!"

"...You."

The 'Witch' who turned around looked Subaru in the face for the first time. Those thin blue-green eyes vaguely reflected Subaru and formed an image. Expecting a positive emotion to sprout there, Subaru waited for the words to follow. Frustratingly, while rolling what wouldn't form properly in the back of his throat—

"—Why do you have such a desperate face? How strange."

However, the 'Witch' didn't show the expected reaction, and with her eyes that looked at the world as if it were tedious remaining as they were, she was about to resume her walk after leaving only that. He didn't want to let that back, which was about to move away, go just like that.

"W-Wait, ■■■... gah"

"Subaru!"

The hand he tried to extend didn't extend, the foot he tried to move didn't move, and Subaru’s body, which had become insufficient in both, fell miserably and unsightly on the spot. At Subaru’s pitiful figure, Beatrice let out a voice like a scream and knelt right beside him.

"■■■... I..."

He couldn't spare any consciousness for Beatrice’s support right now. Right now, the 'Witch' who was about to move away before him was the priority. Because if he let her go here, if he couldn't meet her anymore, that would be. So, even if it was for just one second, he wanted to stop the 'Witch' before him, ■■■—

"Hey, is one second that important?"

Suddenly, perhaps his desperation had drawn her interest, as ■■■ knelt right before him and peeked into his face. The 'Witch,' who rested her elbows on her folded knees and placed her small face on them, tilted her head slightly, saying "Then." Beatrice, seeing that, changed color and—

"S-Stop it, I suppose! ■■■...!"

"I’ll make it a million times. —'Compress Agony'."

Immediately after the 'Witch' chanted that as if singing, Subaru’s consciousness was enveloped in darkness. But what he didn't understand at first, Subaru would come to untie slowly, taking time. After all—

"—ah."

—Because a million seconds of blank space were brought to Subaru by ■■■'s hand.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never rejoice in any success.

—The 'Witch of Melancholy,' ■■■ ■■■.

That was the trump card Nicola had used to repel the 'Mad Prince' Veig Adgard who had suddenly appeared, and the spider’s thread everyone had clung to in order to survive.

"It was a stroke of luck that it ended with just one leg. Fortunately, magic tools have also progressed more than in Natsuki-san and the others' era... an artificial leg isn't that inconvenient either."

Nicola, who had lost his left leg from the knee down as a substitute and saved everyone, laughed bravely like that. Of course, he couldn't laugh that it was okay for the loss of the leg of him who was still young, just as he said. Nicola had saved everyone with his thoroughness, wit, and in exchange for a future of being healthy. While deeply thanking him for that, Subaru couldn't help but check.

"The one who was fighting with that Mad Prince was..."

"Yes, the 'Witch of Melancholy.' As you saw, she is a calamity itself that scatters danger in all directions, but there is one thing that can be trusted from objective facts."

"That is..."

"That 'Witch' does not kill people. So, the retaliation was also just one of my legs. There are people who have interfered with the 'Witch of Melancholy's territory for various reasons, but I’ve never heard a story of anyone who directly fell at her hand. There are people who died because they messed up the subsequent measures, but that falls into the category of self-responsibility."

That wasn't relying on the 'Witch's character or personality, but was a guess derived from objective data, and it was like Nicola to base it on that. In fact, Nicola’s prediction was correct, and the 'Witch of Melancholy' didn't take anyone’s life. What was taken was Nicola’s leg and the two weeks of Subaru, who had been hit by the Authority of 'Melancholy'—the number of days he had remained unconscious without regaining consciousness, just about that much.

"Tell us, Nicola, I suppose. How did you call out ■■■... the 'Witch of Melancholy' to that place, in fact?"

"I told you before, but the 'Witch of Melancholy' makes the Agzad Great Glacial River her stronghold. She basically doesn't interfere with events outside, but only when her territory is interfered with, she absolutely does not permit this. She identifies the opponent and always retaliates."

"...In other words, you dared to interfere with her territory and lured out the 'Witch,' I suppose?"

"Well, that’s how it was. I prepared a formula to activate remotely, and it was a mechanism to meddle with the territory with that. ...Can I sell this information as a measure for emergencies?"

"I am impressed by that commercial spirit, but I don't think there are many situations where you have to go as far as having the 'Witch' come, I suppose."

"Right. That was also my true intention as a measure against the 'Mad Prince'."

Nicola wanted to prove the maxim that he wouldn't just fall for nothing, but perhaps thinking he was at a disadvantage, he pulled back that proposal dejectedly. And the last word he added strongly drew Subaru’s consciousness.

"Did you know he would come?"

"—. I thought it might happen eventually. I didn't think he would sniff us out so quickly, so it was my fault for not telling you."

"Your fault..."

"As you probably know, the 'Mad Prince'... Veig Adgard is an extreme spirit-hater. You could say he hates spirits. He started with the assassination of the 'Spirit Beast' Odglass, who was even called the Mother of the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko, and has been killing spirits all over the world."

"Odglass... she’s one of the Four Greats, just like Big Brother, I suppose. To kill her..."

"It’s not limited to 'Spirit Beasts.' The 'Slasher' of Kararagi was also killed, and Alakia-san, who contains the 'Stone Block,' is also being targeted. Lumera-san’s sisters, who were Great Spirits, were also—"

"Eh?"

Among the 'Mad Prince's atrocities being listed, Subaru and Beatrice’s eyes widened at the content Nicola had unintentionally blurted out. At that reaction, Nicola put his hand to his mouth and made a face as if he had realized his slip of the tongue. As he was, he said "I’m sorry" and continued:

"Could you please act like you didn't hear that just now? I promised Lumera-san that I wouldn't tell Natsuki-san and the others."

"...That’s... impossible."

"With that way of putting it, Betty and Subaru have a duty to hear it, I suppose. Lumera’s sisters... the five other than Lumera, could it be..."

"—. They fell at the hand of the 'Mad Prince' and have already passed away. All of them were prepared for that and faced the rescue of Natsuki-san and the others."

"————"

It was a secret they had agreed not to tell, and also not to let Subaru and the others hear. Naturally, the possibility that it was related to Subaru and the others was high. But specifically how their lives were used was outside his imagination.

"Finding Subaru and Betty, who were drifting on the back side of the Mograde Great Fissure, is not an easy thing, I suppose. That is like a giant mana pool, and to pick up only the small, small black sphere from within it, you need time, labor, and opportunity, in fact. And..."

"————"

"And if a Great Spirit were doing such a thing, anyone who was keeping an eye out would notice it quickly, I suppose. To not be interfered with, you have no choice but to place a decoy, in fact."

"T-That role, could it be..."

"—For us, that was a natural decision, I suppose."

The deduction Beatrice had built was backed up by the person involved. Lumera, who had intruded into the room where Subaru and the others were talking with Nicola, looked at Nicola, who had revealed the secret, with a look that said it couldn't be helped with her red eyes, and—

"Nicola-sama, what a loose mouth you have, I suppose. You won't even listen to the last request of my sisters, in fact."

"...I have no excuse."

"Well, it’s Nicola-sama, whom I’ve known since he was a baby, I suppose. It can't be helped that you want to talk about my sisters' achievements, in fact."

Lumera’s hand gently stroked the head of the dejected Nicola. From that appearance, their relationship looked like that of an older woman and a boy, as they appeared. In fact, in a place Subaru and the others didn't know, Nicola’s and Lumera’s lives had crossed, and there were twists and turns until they welcomed today. —There, also the promise that Lumera’s sisters would risk their lives to save Subaru and the others.

"Why..."

He couldn't help but press her, asking why they went that far. Subaru knew it was bad to think such a thing in a position where he had been saved. But this was strange. It was wrong. The size of what was spent to save Subaru and Beatrice was too out of balance.

The descendants of Otto before Nicola, the Euclius territory Lumera and the others were keeping, and even Emilia, who had frozen herself along with Al to keep him from being killed. Too many things were sacrificed for Subaru and the others. Just among Lumera’s sisters, five were sacrificed for that. He couldn't conveniently think it was okay because they were spirits. And even if they had spent so much labor and time and devoted their lives to finally rescue Subaru and Beatrice, there was already—

"No one is here anymore."

He couldn't be skillful enough to rejoice at being thrown out and left behind in such a world. Wanting to resist the sense of duty, mission, and the helplessness that surged when he closed his eyes, Subaru desperately tried to find meaning and devoted himself to rehabilitation. —But in a corner of his heart, he had been thinking.

"There is... no meaning."

So what if he became able to move, walk, and grab.

Move? For what. Walk? Where on earth. Grab? In this empty future.

In a world where he could no longer meet or talk with many of his precious people.

"I want to see them."

Surely he should stand up to check. Even if he tried to throw it away, saying no one and nothing was left, even if their forms weren't in a position where his hands could reach, only she still remained in this world. He should make an effort to stand up, with only the hope of a reunion with Emilia, who had trapped herself in the permafrost to save Subaru and the others.

He should struggle desperately, seeking only a reunion with her. He should. He should. He should. He knew he should. But—

"If."

Was Emilia even really in the depths of the ice.

"If."

If even Emilia had been sacrificed to keep Subaru and Beatrice alive.

"If."

If it were a lie Nicola and the others had conspired to tell in order to give him a reason to live. If the truth was that no one, including Emilia, remained in this world anymore.

"If."

If he lost even that reason, if he confirmed that she wasn't there, what would happen to Subaru. What would Subaru do, having been brought back to this land where no one was left, after everyone had paid every sacrifice.

No one is here.

Emilia, Rem, Ram, Otto, Garfiel, ■■■, Frederica, Spica, Ryuzu, Meili, Roswaal, Annerose, Clind, Reinhard, Felt, Old Man Rom, Anastasia, Julius, Crusch, Ferris, Wilhelm, Priscilla, Al, Schult, Abel, Medium, Flop, Taritta, Cecilus, Yorna, the Pleiades Battalion, the 'People of Shudrak'—no one, no one, no one, no one, no one, no one, no one, no one, no one, no one, no one, no one, no one, no one is here—

"No one."

Is here. Not here? Not here. Not here. Not here? Then—

"—What about ■■■?"

The name that couldn't be pronounced spilled out. He tried to revive the memory he couldn't remember.

Poroporo, poroporo, poroporo—from the edge of what he had almost grabbed, it crumbled poroporo, and he wanted to doubt the discomfort that had arisen within him. He wanted to doubt that he had felt the discomfort. Was there even a reason to feel the discomfort. What was ■■■.

"■■■..."

Why didn't it become a sound. That was too frustrating. He needed a sound. To keep it in his memory, to tell it to someone. ■■■, ■■■, ■■■. ■■■! ■■■! ■■■—!!

"■■■... gh!"

Remember. Keep it in your head. Don't let it be scattered anywhere. As if forgetting a dream he had seen upon waking up, his brain tried to forget ■■■. If his brain was useless, he thought about carving it into his body, but before he could put strength into his nails, ■■■ lost her outline, and he became unable to remember what he had tried to draw.

Unnatural, unreasonable, absurd, incomprehensible, merciless, irrational. Why couldn't Subaru remember ■■■ correctly.

"—gh."

He gritted his teeth and tried to resist the unnaturalness of trying to forget ■■■. Even if he tried to divide ■■■'s name into ■ and ■ and ■ and keep them in his memory, at the moment he recognized that they were parts of ■■■'s name, it was treated the same whether he tried to take them apart or scatter them. Not being able to call ■■■ correctly was a rule of the world that couldn't be resisted. And things like ■■■, whose names couldn't be recognized correctly, were forgotten by the world.

Until he saw ■■■, Subaru, who should have known and remembered ■■■, couldn't notice that he hadn't been able to recognize ■■■ correctly. Surely even if he forgot ■■■, he would live tomorrow having forgotten ■■■ again with an unconcerned face.

"Don't mess with me..."

How much did they think he had lost until now. How many things did Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice lose to get here. My heart is already almost broken. It’s full of cracks and a mess. And yet, were they telling him to forget ■■■, let go of ■■■, and live.

"If that’s how you’re going to be..."

Someone he didn't know set a rule while Subaru and the others weren't there. A world where it was natural for that coercive force to work—if he wanted to object, he should have been there, but since he couldn't do that, the rule was concluded while he didn't know. I see, I understand. Very well.

Who would follow such a stupid rule, you idiot.

"■■■. ■■■. ■■■. ■■■. ■■■."

If he forgot to think about ■■■ for one second, just one second, that one second would be expanded to two seconds, two seconds to five seconds, five seconds to ten seconds, and the expanded blank space would drive ■■■ from his head. That was the trick of fate, to make him forget and act like it never happened. —If so, from now on, Natsuki Subaru would not forget about ■■■ for even a single second.

From now on, for the rest of his life, until he died, he would continue to carve the thought of ■■■ into a corner of his head. He would eternally devote a part of Natsuki Subaru’s heart for ■■■.

She was certainly there, ■■■ was. Even if she was called the 'Witch of Melancholy' and treated as a calamity by all sorts of people all over the world, and became such an extraordinary existence that she was used as a trump card against the 'Mad Prince' who was said to be the strongest in the world.

■■■ had certainly appeared before Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice.

"I’ll do it again, ■■■."

Breaking many times, forgetting many times, throwing it away many times, being discouraged many times. Deciding many times, carving it many times, raising his face many times, standing up many times.

Even if it was a stupid, unlearned, ugly, and unsightly way of walking, he would do it again.

"—Beatrice."

"————"

He moved his lips for the first time in a long time. The skin of his dry and stuck lips tore, and blood flowed. There was no pain yet. The wiring between his brain and body was still not reconnected. But he would do it again. He had decided to do it. This time for real, even though it took a long time.

"■■■ is alive. Surely Emilia is too. So"

"————"

"So, I’ll do my best. Sorry for making you wait."

A determination he had repeated along with giving up, a resolve that even he thought lacked persuasiveness. Even so, however, he said it. Without shame or regard for appearances, he said it. Because—

"Waiting is only natural, I suppose. —Betty is Subaru’s partner, in fact."

Because he knew his best partner would say that.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never push anyone’s back.

—12,622,788,800 seconds.

That was the result of converting four hundred years into seconds. With the Authority of ■■■, who had turned into the 'Witch of Melancholy,' Subaru tasted for a brief moment the terror of spending a long, long time in vain.

"A million times one second is a million seconds..."

Roughly calculated, a million seconds was eleven and a half days. He was surprised that it didn't seem like much time when converted into days. Even though it felt like walking through a dark tunnel with no end in sight.

And the four hundred years ■■■ had spent was approximately 12,000 times that million seconds.

"...That, 12,000 times."

Of course, it wouldn't have been days with nothing. It was precisely the era where the name of the 'Witch of Melancholy' became known all over the world, the people she knew passed away one after another, and finally even the Kingdom and the City-States perished, leading to the present. It was no exaggeration to say she had experienced a turbulent era.

"But I understand. That has nothing to do with it."

Even if major events that rewrote the world occurred in succession, if they weren't things that moved the heart, no matter what happened, it was no different from a gale outside the window. Only when one could feel it as their own business, with heat and a sense of reality, and only when such sensations were tasted, did all sorts of experiences become a part of one’s life. A life where that couldn't be obtained was empty and the same as nothing existing. —Truly, it was hell on earth.

■■■ had spent that hell. Without dreams or hope, just by inertia. The long, long empty time had robbed her of those sparkling things and had created ■■■ as the 'Witch of Melancholy.' If it weren't so, her current way of being couldn't be explained. And—

"—Everyone is telling me to do something about that, right."

Saying that, Subaru straightened the collar of the clothes he had changed into by himself and tied his shoelaces tightly. It had taken an unfathomable amount of time to talk, move his hands as he wished, and reconnect the wiring between his heart and body until he could stand and walk.

The length of the time he had been rotting, and the time he had spent on rehabilitation. Even so, the time Subaru, who had a strong purpose and a goal he had to accomplish, had spent was much more salvaging than the four hundred years ■■■ had probably spent. He wanted to deliver that salvation Subaru had been given to ■■■ too.

"—Natsuki-san, are you ready?"

Nicola’s voice, which had become completely familiar to his ears, was called out to Subaru’s back as he looked at the room where he had spent quite a long time with deep emotion. When he turned around, there was the same gentle and somewhat unreliable man he had met, but who accomplished great work, standing grandly with the artificial leg he had already mastered. He, who had been moving his life forward even while Subaru was rotting.

"I’m ready. Truly, I’ve been being helped by you in every way. This debt..."

"I told you quite a while ago that it’s not necessary. At the moment I was able to pick up Natsuki-san and Beatrice-chan, I was sufficiently saved. So, debts and such..."

"No, I’ll pay it back. Even if you refuse, your grandfather’s grandfather’s grandfather... anyway, my buddy won't permit not paying back a debt. Or rather, I understood."

"Understood, you say?"

"Why he left such an unreasonable legend to his descendants to pull me and Beako up, that is."

Was the reason he didn't clarify the specific reason his fault, or was it for another reason. Unexpectedly, there was a possibility of the former since he had some parts that were lacking, but considering the events surrounding that goal, he might not have even been able to put it into words. Even so, there are times when actions convey intention more clearly than words. —What Otto Suwen entrusted to Natsuki Subaru by sandwiching his descendants.

"—It was 'Natsuki-san, please save ■■■-chan'."

"————"

"Then, various gears click into place. Sure, the episode that everyone tried to help me is super hot too. But they must have thought of the possibility that I, who came out after they were gone, would become a hollow shell with a soulless spirit. But..."

Everyone didn't do that. No one, not a single person, gave up on pulling Natsuki Subaru up. Because there was something Natsuki Subaru had to do after coming back. Subaru had to save ■■■, whom they couldn't save themselves.

Because for that, everyone who lived in that era made a huge debt to Subaru. Surely more than anyone else, for ■■■ who had paid the price.

"Even so, it’s a troublesome mechanism... a curse, a system, a crap rule. No one can leave anything about ■■■. They can't record it. They can't tell the memory."

"But Natsuki-san remembers. Beatrice-chan too."

"That’s only natural. After all, I twisted one girl’s life and turned her into such an extraordinary thing as a 'Witch.' I have to take responsibility."

To the point where even if he devoted his life, it wouldn't be enough to balance it out. Nicola stroked the unsuited beard he had grown on his chin and laughed at Subaru’s answer of resolve. It was immediately after they had exchanged such a dialogue.

"Natsuki Subaru-sama! The preparations here are all set to the point of boiling, I suppose! Both Beatrice-sama and I are in perfect! Condition! Like a scorching heat, in fact!!"

"Eiei, you’re too noisy, I suppose! In the first place, why are you explaining Betty’s condition on your own, in fact! Also, learn temperature adjustment already, I suppose! It’s hot, in fact!"

Subaru looked at Nicola and then couldn't help but let out a smile at the two shadows, large and small, who came jumping in noisily. And Lumera, catching sight of the two in the room, put her hand to her mouth, saying "Oh, my," and—

"Nicola-sama! Were you in good condition today, I suppose? I had heard that you hadn't been going out much lately, for your information, in fact."

"There’s no mistake in that, but it would be a lie not to come to see you off today. 'Those who cannot find a chance of victory cannot grasp a business opportunity,' a Hoshin proverb. It’s completely out of fashion now, though."

"Good words are good, I suppose. My Master, who was as wonderful as a blazing fire, also cherished such words of the person he served, for your information, in fact."

At the dialogue between the two who cherished the Hoshin proverbs that were out of fashion, the scenes of the past and the people who were there naturally came back to his mind. But that nostalgic and sentimental feeling was sealed for now.

"But Lumera, are you really coming with us? It’ll definitely be a dangerous battle."

"Oh, oh, oh, my, are you worried about me, I suppose, Natsuki Subaru-sama? If that’s the case, all the more reason I should be there, for your information, in fact. Because..."

"To avenge your sisters?"

"No, that’s not it, I suppose. —If it were my Master, he would have definitely fought alongside Natsuki Subaru-sama here, for your information, in fact. So, I will do the same, I suppose."

"...Damn, that guy, he went ahead to a place where I can't even directly complain or touch him."

"Fufufu, that is what 'Greatest' means, I suppose!"

She struck her ample chest with a don and was more proud of the man who wasn't here than anyone. It was a strange feeling to feel the same reliability as the 'Greatest Knight' she looked up to as her Master from Lumera, even though her appearance, personality, and attitude were all different.

"Actually, it’s a tailwind to have Lumera, I suppose. Besides, if the expected clash occurs anyway, that man will definitely interfere, in fact."

"Then it’s better to make it an all-out war for everyone. Seriously, we want to focus on the important role we were entrusted with, but it’s because my Beako is too popular."

"Even if you don't worry, that man has also firmly locked onto Subaru, who won over Betty, I suppose. Being targeted is something we share, in fact."

"That’s good. If we’re targeted together, I don't have to worry about Beako’s infidelity!"

"Nkyah!" Beatrice, who was suddenly picked up and ended up being carried on his shoulders, was surprised. However, she immediately placed her hand on Subaru’s head and let out a sigh that seemed deeply moved by the fact that Subaru had regained the condition of his body enough to do that.

"————"

Subaru didn't touch upon the sigh that hit the top of his head. He could never thank her enough, and no matter how many words of gratitude he used, it wouldn't be enough; he had continued to cause Beatrice a lot of worry and trouble. It had really been a long time he had made her wait, and finally from here, it was from here.

"What is this, it’s damp. It’s as if the air has the humidity of going to a place of death. Do you lot understand the meaning of me lending my 'Nine Divine Generals'? Well, how about it?"

With Beatrice on his shoulders, Subaru went out of the house accompanied by Nicola and Lumera, and waiting there was Her Excellency the Unified Empress of the Vollachia Empire. Subaru widened his eyes at the figure who had left the royal palace and come directly, and—

"Is it okay for you to be in a place like this? I heard you were quite busy. Something about that, right? Like, you found the stronghold of the guys who were aiming to overthrow the Empire or something."

"Fool. At the point where that much is known, there is no way there would be a problem if I manage it. If I only use certain people too much, there is also a fear that the hearts of my subordinates will move away. It is recorded that Vincent Vollachia didn't reach that point well and was often followed up by the Empress."

"Amazing. That guy, the fact that he was cold-blooded and the fact that he was under Medium-san’s thumb is left for posterity. If he knew, the wrinkles between his eyebrows would never be filled."

In any case, whether he was a target of respect or not, if he had been useful even as a negative example for the rule of his descendants, Abel would be able to rest in peace. He could imagine him with that sullen face, crossing his arms and having a blank face. To the left and right of the young Empress who spoke of the shame of the late Emperor were the figures of the two she had just spoken of, who were often used—Alakia and Madelyn. Perhaps it was a consideration to show them the faces of their old acquaintances, as they were often made to accompany her to Subaru and the others' place, but this time the situation was different from before.

"I didn't expect to be able to rent the 'Nine Divine Generals,' even though I asked just in case."

"Naturally, it is also because there is a benefit for us. If you can remove the problem of that Agzad Great Glacial River, the road to the Holy Kingdom of Gusteko, which has been a long-standing nuisance, will open. Now that the 'Spirit Beast' is also dead and the influence of the Holy Kingdom’s religion is low, that country cannot be left as it is."

"Then, the birth of the super Unified Empire of Vollachia that suppressed the entire world."

"There, I shall leave my name in history as the super Empress who achieved world unification. —If there were no illness, that would have been my mother’s honor, how unlucky."

"...You spoke of it yourself, even though you disliked damp stories, I suppose."

"—Hmph, mind your tongue. Just because you are cute doesn't mean I am as soft as my mother."

Even though she said that, she wouldn't punish them anyway. That was obvious to Subaru, Beatrice, and the two 'Nine Divine Generals' who sandwiched the Empress herself.

"I’m deeply grateful for the cooperation, but I’ll have you follow my instructions, okay? I have no intention of killing ■■■... the 'Witch of Melancholy'."

"I’ve heard. Reckless and stupid. But I’ll follow."

"Because it’s an order?"

"No. I also don't dislike that 'Witch'."

Alakia promised cooperation with the best words in few words. Subaru returned a smile to that answer and looked at the other one, Madelyn, and—

"Madelyn, what about what I asked you?"

"You also say reckless things to a dragon. Did you really think it would be useful, in fact?"

"Whether it’s useful or not, I think it won't be settled if you’re not there. It’s a class reunion to bring ■■■ back. The more people, the better."

"Hah... it was a struggle, but I did find it, in fact."

"—! Really! Amazing!"

Subaru unintentionally jumped at Madelyn’s answer as she placed her hands on her waist and let out a large sigh. Honestly, this was even more of a long shot than the rental of the 'Nine Divine Generals.' Moreover, it was something he didn't even have a firm conviction about in the first place. It must have been related to ■■■. It was information recorded in a forbidden book that was sealed at the site of Roswaal L. Mathers’s mansion in the Kingdom of Lugunica, which wasn't clearly shown in the records.

That was the true identity of a certain person Subaru also knew—the whereabouts of him, whose footsteps were unknown now four hundred years later, Subaru had entrusted the search for to Madelyn. Thinking that she, who was in the same position, might be able to find him.

"Quite something, I suppose. Betty will stroke your head later, in fact."

"I don't need that, in fact! Don't treat a dragon like a child, in fact! Neither a dragon nor you are children or anything, in fact!"

"Right. An eight-hundred-year-old drill loli and a four-hundred-year-old horn loli."

"That’s also an unpleasant expression, in fact... but it might be useless even if you hear it, in fact."

"Eh?"

"A dragon thinks he’s lost his spirit and is useless, in fact."

"————"

Madelyn, who crossed her arms, said that beforehand while narrowing her golden eyes. To convey even things that were hard to say clearly was the strength of her being a dragon-person, and what was behind the consideration was the thoughtfulness that sprouted from having lived in human society for a long time. At the same time, Subaru could guess how much despair the person Madelyn had called useless was in. —No,

"Only we can understand that. So, I and Beako will go."

"We’re going, I suppose. Subaru and Betty are always together, in fact."

"Yeah."

Subaru and Beatrice, who was on his shoulders, fist-bumped each other with both hands. Madelyn, seeing that, shrugged her shoulders and didn't say any more opposing opinions.

"————"

Confirming that, Subaru took a large breath in and out. He took the cold and clear air into his lungs, cooled his heated body slightly, and slowly looked back at the companions behind him.

Everyone who had rescued Subaru and Beatrice, who had just been wavering for a long, long time, and had given them the leeway to devote all their strength to what they had to do.

"Nicola."

"Yes."

"Lumera."

"Yes, I suppose!"

"Rosalind."

"I’ll answer for you."

"Alakia."

"Mm."

"Madelyn."

"I’m listening, in fact."

"Beako... Beatrice."

"Of course, I’m here, I suppose."

Subaru looked at everyone’s faces in order, heard everyone’s answers in order, accumulated everyone’s reliability in his chest in order, and let out a large breath.

He had left many things behind. He had parted with many people. That was frustrating. Sad. It’s still painful now. But the hands that had once become empty weren't strong enough to remain empty as they were.

"No, that’s wrong. I was never alone all along."

It was just that Subaru had rotted and felt like he was alone. Beatrice was there, Nicola and the others were there, surely Emilia was waiting, and he was making ■■■ wait for him to come and get her.

"—Let’s go. So that we can be who we are."

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never ■ what I ■.

—And the story returns to the moment of the Great Glacial Zone at the beginning.

"I’m taking you back, ■■■. —Bring it on, Fate!!"

Subaru shouted loudly, loudly, also with the intention of blowing away the uneasy factors like the roaring cold wind and the ominously heightening mana fluctuations. The profile of the 'Witch of Melancholy' didn't waver even slightly at that strong emotion being directed at her. And as the first confession failed easily—

"—Six seconds."

The 'Mad Prince' who strongly stepped on the white-stained ground and closed the distance in an instant swung both his arms. The twin 'Cursed Swords' were gripped in those arms, and the sword wind unleashed an instant later would probably cut Subaru and the others, and ■■■ and the others, together in two. Even if ■■■ could do something about it, it was difficult for Subaru and the others, who had already used E·M·M, to prevent it. Therefore—

"—Unfortunately, I would like you to struggle a bit more. Requirement."

In an instant, the thunder that echoed on the ground became a frontal thunder explosion and attacked the 'Mad Prince.' The exploding light spread shockwaves in all directions, and Subaru could see the frozen ground cracking and shattering in a radial pattern. For a moment, he feared the possibility of that reaching his feet, but he immediately judged that such a thing was unnecessary.

"Because there’s no way the all-purpose steward would make such a mistake."

"It is a great honor to receive such an evaluation, Subaru-sama. And in addition, my gratitude. Great debt."

"A great debt is an exaggeration. I’m the one who’s grateful that you came. —Clind-san."

In Subaru’s vision as he said that, a man with a refined face and slender, supple back—Clind—was standing. He was one of the people who knew the past four hundred years ago, and a familiar person who still survived in this era. —And currently, a dragon-person with two black horns growing from his head with blue hair.

The last piece, whose whereabouts were finally found by the search of Madelyn, whom he had entrusted with the hope that he might be a fellow dragon-person after he had disappeared four hundred years ago.

"I have made a great mistake. In my eagerness for that resolve and future, I failed to notice the true intention of paying a great price. Bitter regret."

What was quietly spun from Clind’s lips was the reason why a person like him had spent a long time in despair, without standing on the public stage or cooperating in the search for Subaru and the others like Nicola and the others for four hundred years. As expected, among the memories where many things had fallen away, Subaru saw through the despair Clind had tasted—that it was closely related to the current situation where ■■■ had become the 'Witch of Melancholy'—from his fragmentary testimony.

Perhaps he too had prepared for death. However—

"I devote my regret and sorrow to you. —This time for sure."

The golden eyes that held resolve, the purple lightning that surged through his entire body—the existence of the dragon-person who had connected his life to this era lent his strength to Subaru and the others' wish and prayer.

"...A dragon-person. You 'Dragons' who wear Dragon Shells or Dragon Halos are possessors of mana bodies in a broad sense, just like spirits. But I do not think of you as direct enemies, and I do not."

A flash of purple lightning—the 'Mad Prince' received the strike clad in lightning that Clind had unleashed with the hilts of his crossed 'Cursed Swords' and only stepped back greatly. That unfathomable power surpassed even the dragon-person who possessed extraordinary strength. —It probably wasn't out of such a conviction of the difference in strength.

The 'Mad Prince' didn't look at his opponent with such easy calculations or pride. That was a crystal-clear fact for Subaru, who had had many opportunities to clash with that murderous blade since the worst first meeting, over the safety of Beatrice, Lumera, and the others.

As if to prove that, the 'Mad Prince' checked the sensation of the 'Cursed Swords' in his hands and frowned with the same expressionless face no matter who the opponent was, and—

"Even so, will you fight?"

"Needless to say. Wise words."

"I see. It is unfortunate, unfortunate. You shall vanish. Unfortunately."

In an instant, the thunder explosion and the light explosion clashed on the ground, and a tremendous explosion pressure that even the sound was drowned out swelled from within the Great Glacial River that had become the battlefield, changing the shape of the world that had remained the same for hundreds of years. It was the beginning of a transcendent battle that would shake the world’s trends for the first time in several hundred years—

"Is it okay? To leave that alone."

Suddenly, the one who asked that was ■■■, who was watching the battle from a distance. She narrowed her blue-green eyes languidly and asked Subaru about the battle between Clind and the 'Mad Prince' with an air that didn't seem to have much interest. For a moment, Subaru almost was dumbfounded by her careless approach, but—

"It’s okay. This is also all according to plan."

"Is that so? But that dragon-person won't be able to win against the 'Mad Prince'-san, right? I think it’s only a matter of time before he’s done for."

"As expected, ■■■ has a sharp eye. —But it’s okay. Soon—"

"—Reinforcements will come, I suppose."

No sooner had she said it, into the battle between Clind and the 'Mad Prince' who were clashing on the ice, figures came jumping in fiercely—the Great Spirit of red hair enveloped in flames rising from her entire body, and the 'Adamantine Princess' who extended contradictory armaments of sparkling diamond light bands from her body, and the 'Flying Dragon General' who had put the Dragon Shell of the 'Cloud Dragon' into practical use after a long time and achieved a coordination of herself x herself.

—Those who were the strongest class in the current world gathered together, and the battle heated up by one or two levels.

"...Certainly, if it’s that, they might last a bit longer. But everyone there seems to be the 'Mad Prince'-san’s targets, right? The 'Mad Prince'-san is the type who gets stronger and stronger while fighting, so isn't it a tactical mistake?"

"————"

"...What? Am I saying something strange?"

"No... I was just moved in my heart to hear things like 'target' or 'type' from your mouth."

Subaru also spoke his honest feelings in response to ■■■'s assessment. Immediately, he was given eyes as if he were something creepy, but it couldn't be helped. The deep emotion was real. But at the same time, ■■■'s tactical evaluation was correct. —In the first place, the 'Mad Prince' was a monster with extraordinary talent, not just in his existence.

Not only did he adapt to any situation or environment with the 'Divine Protection of Adaptation,' but his single-combat ability constantly increased with the 'Divine Protection of Solitude,' and the same movements were accelerated and refined during battle with the 'Divine Protection of Repetition,' and the 'Divine Protection of Fortitude,' which should originally only exert its effect at the moment of death, continued to be activated at all times due to the one-and-only bug of being a Spirit-Human whose heart didn't move. Those, as a possessor of multiple Divine Protections, and the synergy explosion where the winning Divine Protections multiplied. —That was the true nature of the 'Mad Prince's overwhelming combat power, a part of it.

"Reinhard was quite a fool, and Cessy and Halibel-san were also fools, but he’s also a fool on the same level after all."

"What is it? Then, does that mean you know you can't win? Hey, if it’s suicide, I want you to do it elsewhere. I live here, and I’m not free."

"It’s not suicide, I came to win. Certainly, if it stays like this, we’ll lose. But"

"But?"

"■■■, if you lend your strength, it’s a different story, I suppose."

Yes, ■■■ frowned suspiciously at the statement of Beatrice, who held hands with Subaru. The 'Witch' whose beauty didn't fade even a bit even though she frowned like that muttered "I don't understand" without emotion, and—

"Why would I do such a thing? I am the 'Witch of Melancholy.' Do you know? No one can subjugate me, and no one can order me. I am such an existence. Or—"

There, ■■■ cut her words and sent a sidelong glance that was so bewitching it was chilling. That it wasn't a movement based on a positive emotion could be seen by looking at the Little Red Scorpion that didn't leave her side, just like Beatrice who snuggled with Subaru. The Little Red Scorpion was as if it had decided to protect the 'Witch of Melancholy,' whom no one should be able to violate, from all sorts of calamities by sacrificing itself.

"Did someone ask you to protect ■■■?"

"...What is that?"

"No, it’s an imagination. The memories are in tatters, but I thought it would be nice if that were the case."

"Since a while ago... no, from the beginning, I don't understand what you’re saying at all. The girl who’s with you too, but you’re a strange old man."

Dissatisfaction, unpleasantness, incomprehensibility—perhaps all sorts of things were mixed. While remaining low-tension as usual, the word that still had a slight emotion in it was a harsh one that pierced Subaru deeply. Subaru stroked his hair, which had turned completely white, with the hand opposite to the one he held with Beatrice, and—

"Being treated as a strange old man is depressing. I intend to still be young in my heart, but is it no good? My beard is also like this... I trimmed it in respect of Wilhelm-san, whom I admire."

"Betty thinks any Subaru is handsome... it’s a charm that is hard to say is universal and is full of charm that is hard to describe in one word, I suppose."

"Thank you for the follow-up that can't be fully followed up!"

It was a way of being evaluated that he couldn't honestly rejoice in, but he didn't even doubt that there was no lie there. If it weren't so, there was no way she could have stayed by his side and continued to support him for the forty years he spent preparing to accomplish what he had to do—without leaving him for even a moment. He couldn't find an answer other than affection, and there was no need to find one.

"Affection, huh. Right, that’s right. There’s no other reason to work hard."

"You..."

"It was long, forty years. But even that is 1,262,278,080 seconds. It’s only one-tenth of the time ■■■ spent. Truly... truly, you see."

The Authority of the 'Witch of Melancholy.' —Even with that power of 'compression' that was estimated and inferred with Beatrice, the time that passed as someone who actually tasted it cannot be completely crushed. The four hundred years ■■■ lived, the days of hell Subaru tasted while being tormented by self-reproach and self-punishment—they were years that made him want to laugh through his nose. ■■■'s heart was worn down by them.

"Why did you wear yourself down that much, pay everything as a substitute until here, devote your possibilities no matter where, and still reach the present?"

"What..."

"Why is it, ■■■... ■■■!"

"Stop it! Don't call me with that name I can't hear!"

Suddenly, the expression of the 'Witch of Melancholy' collapsed, and she stepped back greatly. As she was, ■■■ who held up her right hand reflexively—that was the preparation to flick her finger and activate her Authority. The Authority of the 'Witch of Melancholy' that doesn't take the opponent’s life but drives them away with the subjective time they experience—the non-killing Authority that never kills—

"Do it, try 'compressing' it."

"—gh, don't say it so easily. Do you think you can endure it? That’s impossible. No human can endure this. Four hundred years is long."

"I know, I suppose."

"————"

"Betty knows. The four hundred years ■■■ spent and the four hundred years Betty spent are different, but even so, I know the loneliness that surely has the same parts, I suppose."

Beatrice also had the unfathomable years she spent in the 'Forbidden Library.' And she knows that there is a day when the empty days that seemed to have no end will end and she will be released.

"Betty wants ■■■ to understand that too, I suppose. You have the right to receive that, in fact. ...No, I want you to receive it, I suppose."

"...Why?"

While hesitating whether to point the finger she held up at Subaru or Beatrice, the 'Witch of Melancholy' who showed an emotion she hadn't shown all along asked that. The sad 'Witch' who had no choice but to let go of even the reason in the process of throwing everything away.

"I want you to be happy. Because all of us think so."

"Everyone...?"

"I, Natsuki Subaru."

"Betty, Beatrice, I suppose."

"Emilia," "Frederica," "Otto," "Garfiel," "Rem," "Ram," "Roswaal," "Ryuzu," "Meili," "Spica," "Annerose," "Clind," "the people of Arlam Village," "the people of Costuul," "family," "companions," "we," "Betty and the others," ""everyone""

"—gh."

■■■ caught her breath and stiffened her cheeks. Every single one was surely a name ■■■ had no memory of hearing. He knew the reason. As was the case with Subaru, ■■■ herself would forget all about the many people related to her just by not thinking of them for even a single second. With that repetition, everything would be completely worn away.

"Honestly, when Subaru said he would eternally think of ■■■ in a corner of his head, I thought it was too much, I suppose."

"Is that so? It’s not a big deal. To devote one place in my head for ■■■."

"Yes, in fact."

They nodded to each other, and then once again, they stared at ■■■ who had a grim look. Subaru and Beatrice answered her "why." The rest was—

"You answer too. To the 'why' from before."

"The one from before..."

"Why did ■■■ go as far as becoming a 'Witch,' being called a calamity, and protecting this place from many people, while overcoming the four hundred years of emptiness, I suppose."

"————"

At Beatrice’s broken-down question, ■■■ caught her breath and became unable to say anything. While facing her, Subaru took a step forward. Beatrice let go of the hand she held and did so, pushing Subaru’s back softly with her small hand. One step, one step forward. The distance with ■■■, who had once stepped back, closed.

"————ghgh"

Between Subaru and ■■■, the Little Red Scorpion stepped in. It was as if it had decided to protect ■■■ from all sorts of calamities that would hurt her, even if it meant sacrificing itself. But—

"Thank you for doing what we couldn't do all along."

"————"

When Subaru stroked its carapace while saying that, the raised pincers of both hands were lowered, and with a sluggish movement, the Little Red Scorpion gave way to Subaru. At the Little Red Scorpion’s action, ■■■ widened her eyes with a face as if she had been betrayed. —It was an honor. If she felt betrayed by the Little Red Scorpion stepping aside here,

"My doing this has a proper meaning for you, doesn't it."

"Ah..."

Right in front, at a position where he could touch her if he extended his hand, ■■■'s eyes wavered as Subaru stood. She was beautiful, and the memories of ■■■ that were raspy and fading in Subaru—she was much more of an adult than the her in those memories, and her beauty stood out more than her loveliness. Even the choice and wearing of the dress, and the set of her hair, she had a sense of fashion like a mass of sense even though she didn't show it to anyone, and it was very much like ■■■. Even after four hundred years, she was there, without changing those parts. That was—

"Because you wanted to meet us—me, right."

"—ah."

The raspy breath was the last resistance the 'Witch of Melancholy,' who was feared by the whole world, could make.

"————"

With his extended hand, he drew that slender body close, and Subaru embraced ■■■ in his chest. ■■■'s body shook as if she were frightened. However, the heated ■■■ didn't try to push away Subaru’s old body, which would easily shatter if pushed. But she didn't embrace him back either. That wasn't her rejection, but—

"She devoted even that, I suppose."

Even the right to embrace someone, ■■■ had devoted and craved this future. Why. Why was it. Natsuki Subaru had no choice but to push the answer. That ■■■ had endured the four hundred years of emptiness because she wanted to meet Natsuki Subaru. And that emptiness was now, the long four hundred years of emptiness was now, ending.

"I, I..."

"It’s okay. If you can't embrace someone, I’ll just embrace you."

"————"

"If you can't call a name, I’ll call your name. If you can't cry in front of someone, I’ll let you push your face into my chest like this. If you can't eat what you like, I’ll make as many new things you like as you want. If you can't hold anyone’s hand, I’ll overlap my hand with yours. If you can't show your weaknesses to anyone, I’ll praise your strength for four hundred years."

The things she could do, what she wanted to do, the future, hope, possibility. The qualification to become the 'Witch of Melancholy' robbed many things from ■■■. ■■■ cannot even wish for them herself in order to obtain or grab those possibilities. But—

"It’s okay, I suppose, ■■■. Subaru is a genius at arbitrarily being considerate of people, arbitrarily imagining people’s feelings, and arbitrarily trying to make people happy, in fact."

"And I also won over Beako with that. ■■■, you become a victim of that too."

"—gh."

Subaru slowly lifted the body he had embraced and looked at her surprised face up close. In her eyes, no tears were floating contrary to the surging emotions. The right to shed tears in front of someone was also no longer in her hands. What possibilities, hopes, and futures were left for her. At least, she hadn't devoted the qualification to look at him with moistened eyes and reddened cheeks.

"I don't understand. All of you, I don't understand."

With a trembling voice, the 'Witch of Melancholy' who had been caught by a mere human spilled that. The 'Witch' who could make any calamity, pain, or suffering into an instant by 'compressing' it trembled her lips as if praying that she never wanted to lose or let go of this one moment.

"I don't understand... and yet"

The 'Witch of Melancholy,' the 'Witch,' ■■■ smiled with moistened eyes. As if to check the emotion that surged within her, without letting go of it.

"—I think I love you. It’s strange, isn't it."

"No? Not at all." "I suppose."

Was she prepared to be rejected. The love she had spoken, it was accepted without a moment’s hesitation, and ■■■ widened her eyes. On that face that had none of the 'Witch'-ness and was just like a village girl, a smile spilled.

"As expected, you’re too beautiful for a village girl."

"...You probably say that to everyone."

"Even if I did, it’s only to a village girl who’s too beautiful for a village girl. I don't think there are many people who fall into that category. In the range I know, it’s only one person."

"I see. ...Then it’s fine."

Hearing Subaru’s answer, ■■■ turned her face away with a sulky attitude. While finding loveliness there, Subaru let out a large breath and—

"Hey, can I put you down? My lower back is a bit bad."

"Don't tell me you’re saying I’m heavy?"

"No! ■■■ is not heavy at all, you’re like down! But I’m a sixty-something old man! I’m not doddering, but even with a biased eye, I’m a geezer!"

"Muu... I understand."

Having obtained consent, he slowly put ■■■ down on the spot. Then immediately, Beatrice, who came running, fit into Subaru’s arms instead. Seeing that, ■■■'s eyes became stern again, and—

"I’m no good, but that girl is fine?"

"You can tell by looking at ■■■, right. My Beako is a spirit and is true down."

"I am down, I suppose."

"Perfect coordination... I’m done."

■■■, who turned her face away from Subaru and Beatrice and slowly started walking, stroked the back of the Little Red Scorpion and small red scorpion and denounced it as a "traitor" in a small voice. Then, she glanced at the legendary-class fierce battle that was still continuing even during this dialogue—and—

"It’s become very dangerous before I knew it, but did you want me to help?"

"Yeah. I want to make Veig stay quiet for a long time here. After that, there are many things I want to borrow your strength for..."

"You intend to use me conveniently and for your own benefit? The type who doesn't give bait to the fish he caught?"

"I’m the type who wants to say I love you every day as much as possible."

"I see. ...Then I’ll not expect much."

While waving her hand and shaking her reddish-brown hair and large ribbon on her back, ■■■ was about to jump into the battlefield accompanied by the Little Red Scorpion. Subaru narrowed his eyes at the ribbon that seemed to stimulate his memory as he often saw it, and—

"—Pe■■!"

"————"

"There’s another girl I love in the depths of the glacier here, will you help me dig her out later too!?"

"Go die, you idiot!"

Wondering how serious she was, ■■■, who said that, stuck out her tongue and went to the battlefield. Subaru scratched his head at that and let out a breath. Then from within his chest, Beatrice poked Subaru’s solar plexus with her fist and—

"Even for making her relax, you’re too unskilled, I suppose."

"Maybe. Is my proud light banter also being left behind by the flow of time?"

"I don't know, I suppose. But..."

"—?"

"I was able to talk with ■■■. Everything is from here, I suppose. I can't let it go to waste, in fact."

Subaru caught his breath and nodded at Beatrice’s words, which held a heat called hope. Yes, that was it. From here, everything was from here.

Subaru and the others had finally only stood at the starting point. Crossing four hundred years of time, taking forty years, finally, at the starting point of the current world.

"Betty and Subaru will also join in, I suppose. Subaru, are you ready, in fact?"

"Of course! Our teamwork, which has matured over forty years, and the twelve original magics we’ve devised will spit fire!"

"They will spit, I suppose!"

Raising a spirited voice, Subaru and Beatrice also fiercely ran toward the battlefield. In the combat zone where the monster who was the most terrifying on earth and the 'Witch of Melancholy' who brought mabeasts with her clashed, while the thunder that clad purple lightning roared, the flames of firepower like the end of the world raged, the great storm of diamond light as if the earth itself were raging, and the divine punishment of the 'Dragon' that dropped hundreds of tons of clouds at will fell.

There, a geezer over sixty, holding a small and cute spirit, ran in. It was surely a life-risking challenge—

"Compared to that four hundred years of emptiness, I’m not afraid of even devoting my life—!!"

Running, running, running, he continued to run. Not to leave behind what he had left, or to leave behind what he had let go.

He was entrusted. He was handed. He was expected, prayed for, and wished for. Together with everyone who was surely there, he runs in this irreplaceable now.

Even if it wasn't the ideal future he had once hoped for—

—Natsuki Subaru lives in this different world with his beloved companions.

—God, Buddha, Od Lagna. I swear that for the rest of my life, I will never forget that I loved.

"Life in a Different World Devoted from Zero" Fin

So, this time it’s a Ninth Arc IF! It’s a branch from the defeat route! Specifically what happened and how, the branching factors are too strong for me to give detailed settings, but as for the content, I think it’s largely a result of the choices of those who were in that place. As you might have guessed, it’s a story for "her" who ended up disappearing at the end of the Ninth Arc, and it’s also an after-story for those who made "her" that way. In terms of the timeline, characters who probably won't be handled in the main story were handled, and it was quite interesting to write. I had it vaguely in my head, but when it expanded, it became like this.

Anyway, I’m sorry to have kept you waiting, but thank you again this year! Thanks to you, the fourth season of the Re:Zero anime will start from this spring... or rather, it’ll start broadcasting within a week, so please support that too! Well then, I look forward to working with you in the future! Enjoy the story!!