Satisfied.
He was Satisfied with the completion of his work.
He had burned down and destroyed everything from the Witch Cult to the Sword Saint to reach his goal.
He was finally… Satisfied.
?: I love you.
The comfort of the void began to unravel as he felt these strange words shake his entire soul.
?: I love you but I can't have you. Not like this.
He could not respond. He could not object. But within the recesses of his mind he felt a mixture of betrayal and confusion. I am Satisfied. Let me stay here. Let me stay Satisfied.
?: I will always love you. Please, this time, try to love yourself too. Want more than to fulfill your one goal.
He did not understand. He failed to understand. He did not need any love. He did not need anything more than the fulfillment of his goal. He needed nothing but himself and her victory.
?: Natsuki Subaru… Be Greedy.
He opened his eyes to find himself sitting in a chair with a knife in hand. He was dressed, not in his Witch Cult robes nor his tracksuit, but in a formal outfit befitting the nobility. He looked around, observing the room he found himself in.
Subaru: So I'm in some sort of mansion, possibly that bastard clown's…
His gaze shifted to the blade pointing towards his throat.
Subaru: And it looks like I'm a moment away from suicide... huh...
?: "Oh my. Well this is an unexpected development."
He frantically jumped out of his chair, nearly knocking it over, and turned to see who the hell was whispering in his ears.
?: You know, it wounds my maidenly heart for you to flail about like that.
Again, Subaru desperately searched for the source of the voice but he seemed alone in the room.
Subaru: Who's there?! Who are you?! What do you want?!
?: As amusing as this is, we'll go nowhere at this rate. Touch the pendant around your neck if you desire answers to your questions.
Subaru didn't particularly trust the voice that he was now convinced was just in his head. Instead of following its instructions, he ripped the black-jeweled necklace off and tossed it across the room, landing it on the chair he previously sat in. The voice ceased and he breathed a sigh of relief.
Subaru: I already have enough weird shit going on in my head. I don't need DID too.
Having calmed himself, Subaru once more surveyed his surroundings, this time taking in what there was rather than searching for a speaking entity.
There was a large, lavish, and seemingly unused bed in the center of the room, a few meters to the right of which sat a couch with a disheveled futon upon it. Between them was the chair he initially found himself in and the previously talking black crystal he pointedly ignored.
Sunlight was streaming through the large closed windows present opposite of the room's primary wooden door. There was also what seemed to be a large dresser that stretched from floor to ceiling on the wall opposite to the bed. To the right of the dresser, on the same wall, was another door that he assumed led to a bathroom or closet.
Besides the numerous pieces of furniture which dotted it, the room was largely plain and undecorated. Had it not been for the messy futon and oddly placed chair, he would have assumed it to be unused.
Before he could even begin to process this strange situation he found himself in and develop a plan of action, a knock and a voice came from the door.
?: Subaru-sama, dinner is ready!
The voice was a new one yet they knew his name. It did not seem to hold malicious intent but he knew better than to trust appearances. He chose not to answer, hoping they'd go away.
Subaru: …
?: Subaru-sama did you hear me? Are you there?
Sounds like she's getting a little desperate. I don't want her to come in and see me so I guess I have to respond.
Clearing his throat, he said in a calm voice, "Who's there?"
?: What? Jeez, Subaru-sama don't tease me! It's Petra!
"Who?", whispered Subaru under his breath.
Petra: Anyyyyways, dinner is ready! Emilia-sama and Roswaal-sama are already down there!
Subaru would have liked to let the tension out of his body at the stranger's departing footsteps, but a whole new feeling filled him at the mention of his beloved's name.
Subaru: That's not possible… None of this makes any sense.
With a nervous gulp, Subaru walked forward cautiously and opened the door. He saw the somewhat-familiar hallway of Roswaal's mansion. Although, something about it was off to him. But what could he know? He's only been there a handful of times and never for long.
I guess I should go to wherever that girl was headed. I won't pass up the chance to see my beloved again if she really is here.
He began walking in what he assumed was the direction of the dining room as he lost himself deep in thought.
Anyways, what the fuck is even happening here? First, there's that weird talking crystal. No idea what that's about. Next, there's this awfully tacky outfit I'm wearing that's completely unbecoming of both a NEET and a sin archbishop. And why was I holding a knife in hand like I was about to kill myself? It's been thousands of loops since I've needed to do it myself rather than letting my enemies do it for me. Speaking of which, why am I alive? Why am I here? What the fuck is happening? I completed my goal! Emilia killed me and became King! There's no one who could possibly alter that! No human can counter Return By Death! No… human...
Subaru stopped walking for a moment as he thought.
I killed all the sin archbishops and not even the Divine Dragon could permanently kill me. That leaves really only The Sage Shaula, who I'm convinced is a fairy tale, the Witch of Envy herself, who should be sealed away, and The Sword Sai-
Subaru's contemplative expression turned into a sour, angry one.
That bastard Reinhard. It must have been him. He killed me thousands and thousands of times and finally must have gotten some god-forsaken Divine Protection to stop me.
A smile formed on the madman's face.
Well I'll just cook up an even bigger Birthday Surprise this time. One that'll really ruin him, Divine Protections or not.
With a quiet laugh and a new spring in his step, The Sin Archbishop of Pride, Natsuki Subaru, gleefully skipped down the halls to see his beloved.
Subaru: I wonder how she'll react to seeing me again~
The dining room held a plurality of the mansion's current occupants. At the head of the table, Roswaal looked around with his usual benevolent smile, Ram by his side, Emilia mindlessly played with her short hair, ignoring anyone who wasn't Subaru, and Petra was serving bowls of soup for dinner, including for those not yet present.
Aside from the maidly work of Petra, the room was largely silent and devoid of conversation. However, this silence was broken with Subaru entering the room with a bright smile on his face.
Roswaal's smile faltered with a single glance at the man. That face, those eyes. They were not the ones hidden behind the smiling mask of his emotionally dead partner struggling to justify his actions to himself. They were those of a madman, one whose mind was broken. He did not look tired anymore, just insane. Yet, in an incredibly off-putting way, he looked truly happy. This does not bode well.
Ah, there she is, my beloved. I don't quite understand the choice of cutting her beautiful, long silver hair but perhaps the stress of being King has gotten to her. Or maybe it was that bastard Reinhard's doing as well. This certainly will not do.
All heads turned to Subaru but he was focused entirely on Emilia. He walked straight towards her before stopping and asking, a mad, expectant look on his face, "Emilia! Do you remember me?"
Confused, she tilted her head slightly and replied with a smile, "Remember you? Of course I do Subaru! How can I forget someone so dear to me?"
The mad smile faded and his eyes narrowed, irritation plain in his expression.
Subaru: Dear to you? The hell is that supposed to mean? I'm the villain! You're supposed to detest and remember me for the rest of your days! If you don't then all of my work was worthless!
Before anyone could respond, the missing two of the missing inhabitants of the mansion arrived: Garfiel Tinsel and…
Subaru: Reinhard van Astrea
Reinhard's default smile faltered as he heard the venom and hate that laced Subaru's statement of his name. Ah finally, Subaru has come to see how worthless I truly am. He will cast me out just as Felt-sama did. I guess it was only a matter of time.
The mansion's lord spoke out to the now tense room.
Roswaal: My oh my, I thiiink we have some kind of misuuuunderstanding going on here.
Subaru's fury was redirected to the unsavory mage.
Subaru: Shut it, clown. I don't want to deal with your delusional nonsense today. Speaking of which, you gave me assurances that he would never be allowed to join Emilia's camp!
Every occupant in the room was shocked at Subaru's outburst because it was both insulting and confusing. Was it not Subaru who brought him into the camp?
The maid by his side was the first to respond, promptly defending the honor of her master.
Ram: Subaru-sama, I kindly request that you cease insulting Roswaal-sama.
The magician waved his hand to her dismissively, keeping his heterochromatic eyes on Subaru.
Roswaal: It's alllright Ram. Subaru-sama, what eeeeever is the maaaatter? Unless… are you not truly Natsuki Subaru?
The last sentence being spoken without an accent and lacking his usual jovial tone sent a chill through the room. Everyone went immediately on edge.
Garfiel: Oi! Th' hell 're ya talkin' about?
The prideful man ignored the strange angry cat man, answering with a hand to his chest and passion in his voice.
Subaru: Of course I am! I am Natsuki Subaru, Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, representing Pride!
At this, Garfiel and Ram immediately jumped at Subaru with killing intent. Ram's wand was at the ready while Garfiel began a partial transformation.
OH SHI-
But suddenly they both froze solid along with the rest of the room besides Roswaal, Reinhard, and Subaru. The ice statues of Garfiel, Ram, and Petra all fell to the ground and shattered, their shocked and enraged expressions destroyed along with them.
The remaining occupants all turned to look at the incredibly angry half-elf standing beside Subaru, her posture indicating she was ready for battle. She held an arm out in front of the man she had just killed for and declared boldly:
Emilia: NOBODY TOUCHES MY SUBARU!
Roswaal was too stunned by Ram's death to take any actions against her but the red haired knight that stood on the other side of the table did not remain in shock.
Reinhard: Emilia-sama, that isn't truly Subaru! That man has confessed to being a member of the Witch Cult and needs to be apprehended and questioned! Subaru's life may be in danger!
She glared angrily at the Sword Saint, ignoring any of the reason in his words.
Emilia: Subaru is Subaru! I will never stop trusting him no matter what anyone says!
Saddened, the knight moved to stand before her, conviction in his step.
Reinhard: Then you leave me no choice.
Reinhard unsheathed his spare blade, light reflecting onto it from the icy room around them, while Emilia began to accumulate more mana, hundreds of lesser spirits appearing around her.
Reinhard: Reinhard van Astrea of the line of the Sword Saint.
Emilia: Emilia, just Emilia.
He swung his sword and she cast her magic.
In a blinding flash of light, the new Roswaal manor was destroyed and, having been caught in the cross-fire, Natsuki Subaru lost his life.