It was a fairly normal day for Natsuki Subaru. He had done his rounds through the mansion almost perfectly this time.
He reflected on the fact that he had managed to take on all of their pain today as he sat down in the chair in his room.
Subaru: I took Emilia on a short date, I helped the maids with lunch, and I even managed to avoid Garfiel the whole time.
?: All in all, this has been a fairly successful loop.
The almost bored voice of his contractor rang out in his mind as he pulled a knife out of his pocket.
Subaru: "Fairly" isn't good enough. You should know that, Echidna.
He held the knife to his throat as he recalled his primary reason for resetting.
Subaru: Reinhard touched me earlier today. And judging by his reaction, it must have activated his Divine Protection of Empathy.
Echidna: And every time that has happened, he has found out about the source of your guilt.
His grip on the knife strengthened.
Subaru: I need to take on their pain, their suffering. Taking him away from Felt wouldn't have been necessary if he found out. That would just make him suffer.
He grit his teeth.
Subaru: But it was necessary. Reinhard can not find out. I must take on his pain, their pain. I must use the one thing I can use.
He took one last breath before determining to take his own life, but then-
Here is where the journey splits, dear reader. The story you may be familiar with, Pride's Greed, tells the tale of a broken man finding solace, new purpose, and a second chance in a world not his own. In a world he has yet to ruin.
But what of the world he left behind? What of the mistakes left unrectified? Well, in this story, we will follow the tale of an old, tired, and determined man who gave up his humanity to save them all as he reckons with the mistakes another him made, as he struggles to save them all when he was apparently the one to kill them all.
This is the story of Greed's Pride.
Suffering.
He wanted to Suffer.
He needed to Suffer.
Only he should Suffer.
?: I love you.
The determination in his convictions remained strong in the face of the shaking void.
?: I love you but I can't watch you do this anymore. I can not watch you hurt for eternity.
He was bound by the shadows. His voice and body were held in place. Yet he screamed in his mind. NO ONE SHOULD SUFFER BUT ME! ONLY I DESERVE TO! LET ME TAKE ON THEIR ANGUISH! IT'S THE ONLY THING I'M GOOD FOR!
?: I will always love you. Please, this time, treasure yourself. Count yourself amongst those you wish to save.
A deep rage boiled in his veins. He understood what she wanted and he hated it. He has no value beyond his own death. He needs to suffer in their place. He is nothing if he can't.
?: Natuski Subaru… Be Prideful.
Fire. A city in flames. Blood coated the streets and his hands alike. In his arms he held the corpse of a familiar girl.
Subaru: Mei...li...
He was struggling to process it. He was struggling to understand. But he knew one thing for certain. I failed her. I let her die. I should have been better.
He fell to his knees but shed no tears. It had been millennia since he had done so. He couldn't even muster more than a light frown.
?: Go no further…
Subaru looked up at the familiar voice. Reinhard can save them. He can save anyone can't he?
He locked eyes with the fiery haired man and saw something strange. In his countless loops he had seen what he thought was every emotional state the Sword Saint was capable of. He had seen sadness, self-loathing, happiness, and everything in between within those blue eyes. But now, he saw something foreign. Hatred. Reinhard hates me. Have I really failed to the extent where my incompetence can corrupt even the purest of souls?
Subaru: Reinhard? What's happening? I don't understand.
The knight strode further to approach Subaru, venom clinging to his words.
Reinhard: You're mad. Your delusions and crimes have gone unpunished for far too long. It ends here, Pride.
Suddenly, Reinhard's march was interrupted by the slash of a kukri knife.
Subaru: Elsa?
Between the furious knight and Subaru stood a beaten and bloodied Elsa. She looked to be on the verge of death.
For just a moment, Elsa looked over to see Meili's corpse in Subaru's arms.
Elsa: My poor sister... I guess that makes you my enemy through her.
She readied her blade to stand off against the Sword Saint.
Reinhard: You can not win. And do you understand who you are defending?
The power in his voice and of his body did not deter her in the slightest.
Elsa: Sorry, but I'm not the best with that sort of thing. All I know is he's my valued customer who lets me do what I want.
As Reinhard moved into a fighting stance, Elsa spoke to Subaru, eyes still on her opponent.
Elsa: Now is your last chance. This has been fun. Wonderful, even.
Subaru: Elsa!
In a tone he'd never heard out of her before, the assassin said goodbye with what seemed like a genuine sadness.
Elsa: Farewell.
The Bowel Hunter, on her last legs, faced off for the last time against the Sword Saint while Subaru got to his feet and ran away. He didn't know why he did it but, perhaps, part of him knew not to waste the opportunity Elsa had bought with her life.
Running aimlessly through the burning city, Subaru merely thought over and over, I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed.
Even when a Guiltylaw snatched him up and ran away with him, he merely thought, I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed.
When said creature was impaled, fell over, and died, flinging Subaru onto the hard ground, he merely thought, I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed. I failed.
But when a voice like silver bells rang out, he was brought back to his senses.
?: That's Enough, Villain.
He looked up to see Emilia; her hair uncut, her voice strong with determination, and her eyes ablaze with anger.
Subaru: Emilia…
Emilia: You know me?
Subaru: I don't understand. What is even happening here? Why is the city ablaze? Why are you and Reinhard so hateful? WHAT DID I DO WRONG?!
She was taken aback by his words. They made no sense to her. Neither their tone nor content were things she had anticipated.
Emilia: W-what? It was you who did all this wasn't it-
A familiar cat-like entity flew out of Emilia's green crystal and looked down on his daughter.
?: It's no use, Lia. Don't take him seriously. Madmen are mad, not rational.
Subaru glared at the spirit with fierce eyes, a strange passion building in him.
Subaru: Puck…
Puck looked over at Subaru, seeming mildly impressed yet still disgusted.
Puck: Using my name so carefree. A bold move, especially with all that hatred laid plain. I wonder, with your crimes, how do you intend on compensating for them?
The man gave a light chuckle, as if he didn't just receive a threat on his life from the Great Spirit of Fire himself.
Subaru: Crimes? I may have sinned many times but never without purpose. Your sins far outweigh mine, you deadbeat!
Subaru stood and began marching towards the spirit, his rage building.
Subaru: If you were just there for her, then she'd-
He was quickly stopped by a large shard of ice piercing his chest. It didn't particularly hurt, but the fact he could no longer breathe properly was slightly annoying.
He fell over, quickly bleeding out, and gazed up at the smoke filled, ashy sky. With his last breath, he reaffirmed his now ancient declaration.
Subaru: I promise... that I will save you all...
In the inferno of the capital, reaching out to the moonless heavens with a bloodied hand, Natsuki Subaru lost his life.