Chapter 14

"Whoa, Itsuki, you're not making any sense." Subaru said. "What do you mean Roswaal has a book that instructs him? Also, he can't know about Return by Death. No one but us remembers the loops."

"Did you not just listen to me?!" Itsuki shouted. "The book explains the loops! It doesn't say how, but it tells him that we, more specifically YOU, are looping!"

"That's insane." Subaru said.

"No! Nono!" Itsuki began to think as he paced back and forth, his mind working a mile a minute. "First Felt, Elsa and the Lute house. Then the mabeasts in the village. Next is the Witch Cult and the Sin Archbishop of Sloth along with the White Whale. What happens after that?" Itsuki had brought his voice down to a whisper. "Gluttony. Greed. Sanctuary. Great Rabbit. Trials."

"What are you going on about, man?"

"What comes next?" Itsuki grabbed his head. "Did I stop there? No. No, I read more. What was it?!"

Watching him, Subaru felt a massive pit in his stomach as he watched Itsuki. Reaching out, Subaru placed his hand on Itsuki's shoulder getting Itsuki to looking at him.

"You okay?" Subaru asked.

"I need to know more." Itsuki told Subaru. "I need to read that book again."

"Now?"

"No." Itsuki looked to Roswaal's office, seeing he was still sitting by the window. "In a few days. Let's make sure a new loop point has been achieved before taking any risky moves. I don't want to redo what we've done here. And I get the feeling Roswaal will be less than friendly if he sees me reading his book."

"You think Ros would kill you?" Subaru asked.

"Right now, I'll say that man will do just about anything." Itsuki said.

"Hm." Subaru leaned against the railing. "I still think it's next to impossible. Then again, I have the ability to reset when I die. Anything's possible, I guess."

"If you could distract Roswaal, I might be able to sneak another glance at that book." Itsuki said. "If that book really is instructing Roswaal to manipulate events, then this has become much more difficult."

"What do you wanna do?"

"For now, we should wait." Itsuki replied. "Confirm a new loop point, then try to get that book and see exactly what's written."

"Alright." Subaru pushed himself off the railing. "Let me know when you want to make an attempt for the book. If your hunch is correct, and Roswaal will become hostile, I'll be sure to loop."

"Thanks, Subaru."

One week later

Slowly and silently opening the door to Roswaal's room, Itsuki slid inside before shutting the door behind him. This was his first time back in Roswaal's room since he first discovered that mysterious book. Itsuki waited for the right opportune moment, and today he got one.

A few minutes prior

"An emissary from the capital is here visiting us." Ram informed Subaru, Emilia and Itsuki. "Lord Roswaal is attending to them now. Please join him, miss Emilia."

Current time

With Itsuki left to do his usual work, and Roswaal confirmed to have his hands full, this was the best time to get another peek at the book.

Lifting up the pillow on the bed, Itsuki let out a breath as he laid his eyes on the familiar black book. Picking it up and opening it a few pages in, Itsuki began to read the text which made itself clear to him immediately.

"After the events in the village, the next catastrophe will be with the Witch Cult and someone called a Sin Archbishop." Itsuki thought as he read. "Tell Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti where Emilia is so the Witch Cult can...provide Satella with a compatible vessel?! What the fuck am I reading?! Subaru will reset until he saves Emilia and defeats the White Whale. Another type of mabeast?" Turning the page, Itsuki continued to read. "Roswaal will then take everyone to sanctuary except Beatrice and the two new maids hired. Petra and Frederica. Along with them, Rem...will stay behind in a comatose state..."

"What?!"

Itsuki stood up, staring at the text.

Shaking his head, Itsuki continued to read. He needed to know everything this book had to offer.

"Subaru will take the trials to free Sanctuary. While that happens, Roswaal will hire...Elsa and someone named Meili to attack the mansion with the objective to kill Petra, Frederica and Beatrice... this will force Subaru to choose, either sacrificing the Sanctuary, thus allowing Emilia, Roswaal and Ram to die, or sacrifice the mansion and allow the others to die." The words on the pages explained things in much more complicated way, so Itsuki was doing his best to simply as much as possible for himself.

"This..." Itsuki closed the book as he heard the doorknob turn. With no time to replace the book in its original spot under the pillow, Itsuki quickly shoved it into the pocket inside his butler jacket. Just as he did so, Itsuki froze when a voice spoke to him.

"What are you doing in Roswaal's personal room, Itsuki?" Ram spoke.

Gulping, Itsuki slowly stood up straight.

"This is Roswaal's room?" Itsuki said, playing dumb. "I was just cleaning."

"In the dark?" Ram asked.

"Yeah." Itsuki said. "What? A guy can't prefer to enjoy the dark more than the light?"

Ram narrowed her eyes.

"You are a fascinating individual, Itsuki." Ram told him.

"Why do you say that like it's some sort of disease?"

"Come." Ram said as she left the room. "Roswaal doesn't like people in his personal room."

"Right..."

Leaving, Itsuki had one question enter his head.

"Where do I fit in Roswaal's book?"

Shaking his head, Itsuki had to focus on what is to come. He had to figure out preparations for the Witch Cult's arrival. Deal with that, then whatever this White Whale is. Not only that, but also make sure Rem doesn't fall into this comatose state. That would be his top priority.

Keep Rem safe.

After all, he'd be returning the favor. She saved his life, so he'll save hers. Thanks to Roswaal's book, Itsuki knows she'll fall into a coma between the White Whale event and this Sanctuary event. He just has to stick by her side between those two events and keep her from any and all harm.

On top of that, Itsuki had to stop the Witch Cult, the White Whale, the attack on the mansion, Rem's comatose status...

It was all too much!

Groaning as he grabbed his head, Itsuki felt as though his brain was on fire, rivaling the heat of the sun itself.

"Itsuki?" Ram said as she stopped to face him.

This was all too much for a single person to do alone! How many times would they-

"Wait! That's just it!" Itsuki thought to himself. "Maybe if I talk to Roswaal, I might be able to convince him to stop doing as the book instructs!"

"Would you please move your feet, Itsuki?" Ram said.

"Hey Ram?"

"What is it?"

"Where's Roswaal?" Itsuki asked.

Minutes later

Walking into Roswaal's study, Itsuki saw Emilia standing in the room with Subaru across from her and Rem standing behind Subaru. Seeing the room filled with people, Itsuki had a sudden idea pop into his head. If Itsuki confronts Roswaal with other people present, then Roswaal might not get hostile.

With a deep breath, Itsuki approached Roswaal.

"You're in a battle for the throne, right?!" Subaru said, continuing his conversation with Emilia. "I want to be there and help you in any way that I can!"

"Huh?" Rem let out a breath as Itsuki walked by her.

Ignoring everyone else, Itsuki stopped before Roswaal, who was seated on the couch in the center of the room.

"Hmm? What a sur~prise. How may I help you, It~suki?" Roswaal asked.

With another deep breath, Itsuki slowly reached into his jacket for the book.

"Care explaining what this is, Roswaal?" Itsuki asked, showing Roswaal the black covered book.

With those words, Itsuki drew the attention of everyone else in the room.

"Itsuki." Rem said softly.

"What?" Itsuki glanced back at her, only to see she had a look of pure hatred and anger plastered on her face.

"Why are you holding a Witch Cult gospel?!"

"So that's what this is." Itsuki said, looking the book over. "Just so you know, I found this in Roswaal's personal room." Itsuki told the blue haired girl.

Roswaal slowly blinked his eyes.

"Su~rely you must be mistaaaaaaken." Roswaal said. "I would ne~ver have such a thing in m~y possession."

"Really?" Itsuki opened the book. "It states here that you hired Felt to steal Emilia's insignia."

"What?!"

"Not only that, but you hired Elsa to buy the insignia off Felt, also giving the order to kill anyone who got in the way." Itsuki continued. "Are you also not behind the mabeast attack on the village?!"

Roswaal's eyes slowly widened, finally breaking that calm persona of his.

"You're able to read it?" He asked.

"Every last word." Itsuki said.

The room fell silent as Subaru walked over and took the book from Itsuki.

"Let me see that."

Staring at the book for less than a second, Subaru gestured to the pages.

"All this is is blurred text." Subaru stated. "I can't make out a single word."

"What?" Itsuki took the book back.

"Hm." Roswaal rose to his feet. "It appears I underestimated it." He spoke. "I assumed you were of little significance, Itsuki. With the book not once stating your existence, I figured you were somebody who just wasn't even worth mentioning."

"Yeah, well, I guess that's on you then, ain't it?!" Itsuki growled.

"Of course." Roswaal smiled. "But know." Roswaal approached Emilia. "This is on you."

With a quick motion, Roswaal plunged his hand straight through Emilia's chest and out her back. Everyone in the room fell into a shocked silence as they watched Roswaal rip his hand free and allow Emilia's body to fall to the ground.

"Emilia!" Subaru shouted her name as he quickly knelt beside her lifeless body.

"Roswaal! You side with the Witch Culti-" Rem was cut off as Roswaal used wind magic to quickly decapitate her.

"I can't have anyone know this." Roswaal said. "Surely you understand."

As he stared at Itsuki, who was stunned by shock, Roswaal's eyes sharpened.

"When Subaru loops, and he will loop, everyone here except him will forget this moment occurred. Including me." Roswaal said. "Now that he knows what will happen if you read my Book of Wisdom, I assure you, Subaru will stop you, Itsuki."

"Rem..." Itsuki said as he stared at her head.

"I won't allow anyone to stop me from reaching my goal. If I cannot achieve it, then another Roswaal will." Roswaal stated before he looked down at Emilia's body. "I guess I'll let you free now."

Following Roswaal's gaze, the gemstone on Emilia's chest glowed as Puck emerged from it.

"You murdered my daughter, Roswaal!" Puck growled, his voice booming with power, and distorted with hatred. "You will pay with your life!"

Roswaal, closing his eyes, allowed himself to be killed by Puck. In a single instant, Roswaal's entire body was frozen solid before shattering into countless smaller pieces.

Looking around the room, it began to freeze over as well, chilling Itsuki to the bone as Subaru continued to kneel over Emilia's body.

"To uphold my contract, I will now destroy this planet!" Puck stated. "For if I cannot live in a world without my daughter, then I will bring that world to an end!"

In a flash freeze, Itsuki and Subaru both were frozen.

End of chapter 14