Warlock of Sin. Arc 3: Linking the Past and The Present

Chapter 33: Dependence

Why… Why am I back here again?

"Ah, Subaru, there you are, I was worried when I couldn't find you"

This isn't supposed to happen, I'm supposed to be dead, my life should have ceased to exist. I vividly remember everything that happened, I definitely died, I definitely felt it, the pain, the fear, I felt it all… so why, why did I come back, to here of all places!

"Subaru? Something the matter?"
"..."

That was no dream, no, it can't be a dream, it's not possible, saying that's a dream is not enough to explain all of this. I've woken up in this exact same spot three times, I didn't notice it at first, but it's all just like the first time, I thought I was living onwards, moving forward but, whatever was happening that time, whatever I've told them that time, whatever I've experienced that time, it's all gone, I've gone back in time.

"Subaru~?"
"...Sorry Emilia, I kinda dozed off here last night while trying to find some clues, sorry for worrying you"

I look towards Emilia and Julius who's come to pick me up just like before, they don't know about Natsuki Subaru being gone, so right now, they still think I'm him. I hope you don't mind Subaru, but I'll be using your name for a bit, so that I can solve this mystery and get back to you. The feeling of death is all too familiar, it felt like this body has succumbed to it many, many times, perhaps this isn't an unusual thing for Natsuki Subaru, to be able to harness such a power and still go on, he must be a guy with a will of steel.

"So, where's everyone else?"
"They're all waiting downstairs while we were searching for you"
"Okay then, let's head back"

I said as I lead the way towards the door. Remembering the way from last time isn't very hard, I've only been here twice, but it's the only memory my mind has, so it isn't hard to recall, this time, I'll be sure to survive long enough to see what will come.

After meeting up with everyone, we had a little discussion on what our next course of action is, thanks to all the information I've gained last time, I'm able to understand the situation much more clearer. To proceed on, we have to beat the red-haired man, Reid, a sword saint from the ages, a formidable foe that not even the likes of both Natsuki Subaru, the warlock, and Julius could defeat, a man that could chop off my head in a mere instant, a terrifying person.

I suggested to them all that we just stay put for now until we're all recovered, thankfully they agreed and thought it was the best course of action, this should give me time to calm myself down and think up of something to bring back Natsuki Subaru.

"That being said, I think it's best if we kept on searching for more clues, shall we begin then?"

Emilia proposed, it's not like there was anything better to do, so everyone agreed. Anastasia, Emilia went to check the library once more while Julius was going to go to the 'first' trial room, a place I haven't been to, so I don't really know where he's going, but he tried to start a conversation before leaving, to which I abruptly told him, "Let's talk about 'it' later Julius"

"Hmm, If you say so"

And so with that Julius left, the danger of Reid suddenly showing up has been dealt with, now, is Meili. I don't know what triggered her to push me down the stairs, but the only way to find out is for it to happen again. "Nhhh…" I feel someone tugging by my sleeve, and I look down, "Beatrice?" She gives me a wary look and asks, "What's this you're going to talk about, I suppose?"

"Hmm? Sorry Beatrice, I can't be betraying my man Julius that easily now…"

She gives me the stink eye, and then pouts away, "It seems you favor that man over Betty, I suppose, as your spirit, I'm disheartened, you're a failure as a contractor, I suppose!" Her body shivers as if she's about to bawl her eyes out, I absolutely can't have that happening, not at all! "Come on, Beatrice, you should respect other people's privacy you know?! I'll tell you all about it when I get the chance okay?"

"Hmph, that's not enough I suppose"
"H-Huh?"
"If Subaru does what he always does to calm Betty down, perhaps Betty shall consider it"

What I always do? Shit, what does he do to calm her down, that's a question I don't know the answer to! Think, how would one naturally calm a little girl down, what's the most natural approach to this, "Pat…" Without thinking, I pat her head, it was an instinctive reaction, before I could realize it, it had already happened, what's going to happen no- "Hmph, that will suffice, I suppose"

Releasing my hand from her head, I screamed internally at the chance of that being right, one wrong step and my cover would've been blown, going on without revealing my amnesia is a little, no, it's 'very' difficult, but I have to prevail, this will all be over within an instant.

"Betty won't question you any further on this topic, I suppose"
"Really? Thanks, Beatrice!"
"Though I will ask, who is this Beatrice, I suppose?"

"Huh?"

What was that sudden question? Who is Beatrice? Isn't she Beatrice? She is Beatrice, no doubt about it, blonde hair, frilly magenta dress, it's no doubt, "You're Beatrice, my contracted spirit? Who else is Beatrice?" I ask as if confused, I truly am, there should be no reason she should be asking this question, right?

"Of course, I am Beatrice, but to you, I am not Beatrice, I suppose…"
"What? What does that mean?"
"Beako…"

Huh? Beako?

"Where has that frivolous nickname you've dubbed me with gone to, I suppose? Last I've heard, you couldn't stop calling me that even for a second, Beako! Beako! You went, what's with the 'Beatrice' all of a sudden? Huh, tell me, what happened to 'Beako' the precious name that Subaru has given me… what happened to Betty's precious Subaru… Who are you…"

I felt a chill go down my spine, just when I thought I've diverted my suspiciousness away, it comes biting back at me the next second. A nickname, formalities used by people who've shared a close bond, there was no way in hell I could have guessed that, I'm not Subaru, so I would have never known.

"I… I am…"

I still don't have an answer for that, this is the second time I've been asked this question, and I don't know how to answer that, it's kind of frustrating, "I don't know… but I do know one thing, and it's that I'm not Natsuki Subaru…" I saw full out, no intention on hiding anything, I'll lay everything out to her, it's my only choice.

"Hmm…?"

"I'm not Natsuki Subaru… I don't' know where he's gone, but I'm in his place right now. I don't know who I am, I don't know where I am, and I don't why I'm here… I'm trying to find him, so that I can return his body, this isn't mine to keep after all…"

"I understand, I suppose…"
"Huh? You… understand?"

"You have lost your memories? Or rather, you had none the first time you woke up, am I correct?"
"Y-Yes, I woke up with no memories in the library and Emilia and Julius found me…"

"Seeing that you know our names, you've already died once, am I right?"
"Yes!"

I shout out loud by accident, she knows? Does she know about this power that I have experienced? Then, could it mean, "Do you remember what happened-" "Sadly, I do not, I suppose. That power is exclusively Subaru's own, she probably remembers… but that doesn't matter right now, I suppose" She grabs my hands and drags me towards the door, "We're going somewhere more secluded, I suppose…"

.

I was dragged out to another room, a room I haven't been before so I made note of the path there, "So, tell me what happened, I suppose…" Beatrice sat by the edge of the room, leaning back on the wall, very nonchalant, just like she would usually act the first time we met. Such a difference is caused just by me not being Subaru, indeed, he was a special person to everyone here, "I've, as you said, 'returned by death'... a total of two times. Once, I was pushed off the spiraling staircase, and the second time, I was killed off for listening to the secret 'Subaru' had with Julius…"

"Do you know who killed you, I suppose? Perhaps knowing that would help us…"
"Meili the first time, and Reid the second…"
"Meili? Betty understands why that man would kill you, but her?"

True, even I'm baffled on why she would do that, "Does she hold some sort of grudge towards us or something? Then again, she is an assassin, did she just feel like killing me on the spot? People don't get those kinds of impulses right?" No, what am I thinking, of course, they wouldn't, no person would do such a thing. "Well, perhaps you taking down Elsa could be a reason, I suppose…"

"Elsa? She did say something about that person last time we talked, though she just mentioned her… who is she?"
"We don't really know their relationship I suppose, we've never asked her… though, they most likely were close, it wouldn't be hard to think it's hatred she's feeling"

"Was this Elsa, another assassin? Like Meili?" Beatrice nodded, birds of a feather flock together, it'd be weird if she wasn't an assassin. "Indeed, though I'd say she was a much more troublesome assassin, I suppose, splitting open bowels, rubbing warm blood all over herself, she's an animal… it's good that we have disposed of her…"

She must be a really scary person, I'm glad I don't have to mess with her, "That being said, is there anything else out of the ordinary? Perhaps, something linked to your amnesia, I suppose?" Ah yes, the amnesia, of course, that's the main problem here, "I don't remember much other than it happened in the library, I was reading a book, and someone else was there with me, it was last night… before, you all expected it to be Reid, but I doubt he's the type to do something like that. He feels more like a muscle brain…"

"True… then if it isn't him, could there be another person we are unaware of in the tower, I wonder?"
"Ah, I do remember Shaula saying something about feeling something when we returned from the 'first trial' if that is any help?"

"Well, it doesn't really tell us much besides confirming the presence of another person, I suppose, then again, that in itself is enough information, the next step is finding this person…" It's the only logical step to take, I can't think of doing anything but catch that person, "Okay, so what's our first course of action then, Beatrice?

"It's already too late to do anything now, I suppose…"
"H-Huh?"

I turn to see her face, conflicted and worried, did something happen, "Listen, you're not Subaru so Betty doubts you know how to fight, and Betty herself can't protect you for long… if worse comes to worst, we're all going to die soon…" What? I'm going to die again? We? What does she, "Run!"

"...!"

Without even a second to waste, I dash over to an open door as I hear what could only be crackling of ice, I was afraid to turn back so I just kept running forward.

.

Forward and onward. I didn't know what was chasing me, I didn't even care, all I had to do was run. I know it would be a futile attempt, but just as long as I can live for a little longer, if I could, then I'll be able to figure something out, I'll be able to find out a clue, even a single clue is fine! So I didn't stop at anything, that was until something stopped me, "Woah! Y-You gotta be kidding me!"

I stare downwards at the spiraling abyss that had once taken my life, "To think that'd I'd end here again…" "Move, I suppose!" I felt something light grab onto my waist as it dragged me straight towards the gaping hole in the center of the staircase, "W-W-Wait!" "No time, Ul-Kardese!" She flipped us around so that our feet touched the wall and our faces stared directly downwards, I also saw a purple streak of light in front of me.

"What… what is that!?"

I see something massive, white and pristine heading straight for us, at an incredible speed! "Hang on-" It slammed into the wall of purple light, was that some sort of barrier? It should be, it's stopping that massive iceberg from coming any closer to crushing us into bits, "Hkk-" Her foot was implanted onto the wall behind us, and I noticed a crack forming under it, we're in trouble, aren't we.

"Get down!"

As the wall continued to crack under her feet, she shoved me down the center of the staircase, I made a freefall straight to my doom, "Shiit!" "Quiet would you, I suppose!?" I felt Beatrice getting shoved right behind me, we were speeding down even further. I look up and see a blinding flash of light, ice reflecting whatever light there was in the room down towards me, and a radiant figure appeared, "E-Emilia?!" "No need to state the obvious, I suppose!"

Beatrice clutched herself onto me as she brought her balled up fist into the air, "Al-Minya!" I circle of light engulfed whatever was in front of us, she was preparing to counter the next move with a move of her own, "Ul… Huma!" I heard her voice, shaking and angry, just what was wrong with her all of a sudden, and where was everyone else?!

"Graah!"

A surge of large purple bolts shot out and smashed onto the giant icicle that was crashing its way towards us, it's not getting any slower, even with all the force Beatrice is exerting, "We're not going to make it!" I cried out. The icicle closed in as we fell down faster and faster, Beatrice grabbed on me tightly, "No… At the very least, you can make it!" And with force equal to that of a large animal, she hauled me over her and slammed me into an opening, my arm broke upon impact.

"Beatrice-"

And she was crushed by the high-speed icicle before I could even call out to her, "Arrgh…" I suddenly felt the surge of pain from being slammed straight into a wall without any notice. I drag myself up, I have to run, run until I find something, even though there may be nothing left to find, at this rate, she could just as well destroy the whole tower.

"Oh no…" I flopped down, it seems my legs were also heavily damaged, now I can't even walk, still, I can't just give up- "Ghh…" I hear a growl from above me, and I see Emilia, her face twisted with rage, I shuddered, a sight I didn't want to see, "Just… just kill me already…" I give up, there's nothing left to find, I might as well just get this over with.

Drooping my head down in defeat, I offer it to her, the faster I'm done with this, the faster I'm done with everything, I just want to give this body back to Natsuki Subaru, I don't want to suffer like this anymore- "Hkk! Gh… Akh!" I hear someone choking and I immediately looked up.

Emilia was being strangled, strangled by shadows emerging from me, no, from my something on me, "H-Huh?" I see on my chest, a purple crystal that I have yet to notice, I thought it was some ordinary necklace that Subaru owned, but it was spouting out shadows that are attacking Emilia, "Ghraaaaa!" Emilia flailed around as she struggled to get the shadows of herself, though she was strong Slowly, one by one, she pried them off, I was running out of time.

"Gotta… gotta run away…"

With my broken leg, I slowly go down the stairs but it was no use, the crystal that was attacking Emilia is still on my chest, I can't go unless I let it go, and if I let it go, she'll be able to chase me, this deadlock, i'm dead either way!

Emilia had already taken off most of the shadows choking her neck and is proceeding to glare at me with all her might, it's over now isn't it? I could feel death wrapping around me as she drew closer, it was a nice cold embrace, not warm, cold, it was chilling, but relaxing at the same time.

"..."

"Rgghhh…"

"..."

And then I was slammed out the tower, without dying. "What… Whaaaat?!"

Without a second thought, she chased straight after me, just like a beast would do to its prey, she's completely lost her mind! "Emilia, please snap out of it!" She didn't listen, in fact, she didn't seem to understand a word I said, she's gone berserk!

She formed a bridge of ice to follow me downwards and she was accelerating at an extreme speed, at this rate, I'm going to die.

"Please, do something! Help me!" I say to the crystal in my neck, I might have been crazy, but there was nothing else I could do but freefall down towards the sand dunes, but I was wrong. "Huh?"

The shadows that previously strangled Emilia's delicate neck, enveloped me now, going all the way up to my eyes, and then I felt a sharp pain throughout my body, it was piercing my body, digging inside of me, and the pain felt surreal, "Gghhh!" I felt something sprout from behind my back, large and wide, wings? Not the kind a bird would have, it feels scaly, and haaaard!

They suddenly flapped and I stopped midair as Emilia plummeted down the side of the tower, though she wasn't done yet, grabbing onto the edge of her ice bridge, she managed to stop herself from an anticlimactic end and decided to chase after me once again, this time, upwards instead of downwards.

"She's coming back, what do I- hey… I can't move?!"

It seems the shadows have completely taken over my nervous system, I'm unable to control my bodies actions anymore and I was flying out of control, the shadows couldn't fly either and we crashed straight into the tower again, this time, headfirst.

"Hurts, it hurts! Aaagghhh… damn it…!"

I clutched my head which was bleeding from the immense pain, perhaps this is where I finally end, huh? Yeah, I can already see Emilia stepping in, it's finally over, finally, "Look at me... please…" Her voice spoke to me, unlike last time, it was weak and shriveled, like the voice of someone who's just done crying her eyes out. I look up to the person's voice and I see Emilia, no, it's not Emilia, it's someone different.

"Please… just wait a little longer… Subaru… Subaru will be back so, please… just a little longer, I beg of you…"

While Emilia wore a white dress this girl wore dark gray, they were opposites, just like day and night. And to contrast her usual happy looks, or the current rageful glare she has, this girl seemed week and shriveled, shaky and fragile, "I'm sorry for asking this… but we need Subaru back… he can stop this… And when you go back…" She collapses onto me, I couldn't catch her, both my arms are now broken, my eyes can barely see straight and my back is about to be split in half at any moment, all I could do was let her fall onto me.

"Tell Betty… Beatrice… tell her to watch everyone next time, don't split up… Pandora… she's here…"

"Pandora? Who's that…? Hey… hey, tell me! Tell me please, I need to kn-"

And I died, a spear of ice had launched itself through the both us, sharp, and cold...

A/N

Wooo, I did it, I didn't take a whole month to finish! We're closing in on the main dish of this arc, closer and closer!

Slydino

Wonderful chapter. I'm not sure how I feel about all this memory loss, but I'll trust in your judgment. Anyway, great job and keep up the good work. Can't wait for the next chapter.

I was originally going to not include memory loss, but since the story had a 5-month pause in the past, the Web novel started to catch up and revealed the reason for his memory loss which I found intriguing, and so we arrive here. I will continue, forward and onwards!