Silence filled the room as soon as the words slipped out from the warden's "mouth". The thought of something bad crept fear to their hearts as they almost forgot that their captor has a set of abilities that are "even" greater than Satella herself. Making Reinhard sit down, healing Subaru's crushed hands for the nth time, limiting their magic, disarming their weapons and contracted spirits, and magically fixing the broken chairs and walls.
So the news from him is either bad or has some sick twist to it.
All eyes focused on the dark blank screen as the warden got all of their attention. As much as they want to continue their argument as to who'll take the nasty-eyed black-haired knight, the thought of other news quipped these interests. So most of the hostility simmered, but not died down.
"So? Spit it out. What's this news you got for us?!" Felt broke the silence as she was both annoyed and curious as to where this was going.
"What my gracious and elegant liege Felt-sama means is that what news do you bring to us Warden-sama? As we are in the middle of a very important discussion." Reinhard clarifies as he shook his head from his lady's rash behavior to their benefactor and covers up for her.
"Such unruly behavior, befitting of a gutter rat such as you. Such a waste that the Astrea fortune supports such an intolerable brat." Priscilla jeered as she continued fanning herself.
"Shut it, you stuck-up bitch." Felt shouted back as she's getting more pissed. It's one thing that Reinhard is being a "kiss-ass", it's another that this annoying orange-haired princess even utters a single word.
Her reply startled the sleeping twins and young maid that Ricardo and Frederica respectively try to help soothe their initial shock and fright, as all little ones assumed that it was a cry of agony from Subaru from one of the previews.
"See gutter rat? Your inconsiderable behavior awakens those little commoners from their slumber. Truly, your disgusting attitude has no bounds." Priscilla snaps back, looking at the ex-thief with her chin held high.
"Priscilla, I suggest that you should prevent making enemies as long as we are still together in this predicament." the verdant-haired duchess glared at the baroness as she tried to ease the already high tension.
"So, what is it you want to talk to us, Warden-sama?" Wilhelm remarked as not to derail the train of the conversation. As tiring as it was, he wished to get this over with. The sooner they are done here, the faster they can help Subaro-dono.
"Oh, yeah. Sorry about that. Well, again, I have some news for all of you. Some good news and bad news. Since most of you are so agitated and a bit shook, I'll let you choose which one you want to hear first."
"Wow, how kind of you for thinking of our well-being." mocked Ram as she finds it ridiculous as accounting everyone's emotional state considering everything they have seen thus far.
"How about the good-" Emilia suggested but was suddenly cut-off.
"As much as I want to believe it to be a "good" one, I suggest we should first discuss the bad ones. As to not rattled our already jumbled mindset." Anastasia interjects as she doesn't want to get her hopes up and dampen the mood.
As if it wasn't damped enough.
" I agree with Anastasia-sama as well. We need to listen to the bad ones first to take account and formulate whatever countermeasures we can." Otto added while earning a smirk from the merchant queen.
In the world of business, taking account of the disadvantages first—more so when you're under pressure—gives more room for addressing short and long-term outcomes. While Otto admires Emilia's optimism, her innocence, idealism, and naivety hold him back. No matter, he owes it to Subaru to take care of Emilia's shortcomings.
"My sincere apologies, Emilia-sama." Julius bows down to the half-elf for the actions his lady enacted.
"It's okay, Julius. I'm not offended by it." Emilia replied with a tired smile. As much as she wanted to be mad, Anastasia and Otto were right. From what they have experienced and watched so far, every good thing that they have seen is always superseded to something horrible and terrifying. It was as if Od Laguna wanted them to suffer no matter what.
But they didn't. Someone else decided to take that burden by himself.
Someone that wasn't born here, has no magical abilities, and no combat experience.
Someone who decided to take all the pain and suffering while smiling at them and wishing them to be alive. Loving them with all his heart.
At the steep price of him hating himself and his sanity slowly degrading.
Emilia's fists were shaking as few tears slipped through. "Subaru, please wait for me. I'll save you, no matter what." she whispered to herself her knight's first promise to her at the loot house." I promise to not be useless and be by your side, whether you like it or not." she concluded with a slight blush on her face.
"So we're starting with the bad news then? Alright buddy, take it away." Al concluded while rubbing the back of his helmet.
Thank you Al. Alright, the bad news: due to some technical difficulties and inconveniences, you will still be stuck at this place for one week. As well, your magic is still limited but non-aggression spells such as healing are still viable. I can still give you some provisions by then, but in the worst-case scenario that someone dies or is gravely injured, it's up to you to heal and save them, as I'll focus my attention to send you back to your world. So please don't die till then.
...
...
...
"That's qui~te the predicament we're i~n." Suddenly, the hostility returned at full force as everyone glared at the Margrave who gave them an ominous smile. Even though all of them are on different sides, most of them all agree on one thing: their hatred for the clown for everything he had Subaru put through, just to shape him to be like him.
"Shut it, you bastard!" Garfiel growls at Roswaal, his fangs gritting and showing. His anger to the Lord was amplified seeing all of his schemes and crimes, and most of all, using his crush as a tool to achieve his twisted goal.
"Garfiel, show some respect to lord Roswaal! I won't stand by seeing him disrespected as such!" Ram immediately snarled at the blonde demi-human as her pink eyes glared at anyone that would disrespect her master.
Frederica was furious hearing this. Of course, he was her master and was grateful for taking her in and giving the necessary resources to help her people. But as she and most of them found out about his schemes and machinations, it raises her doubts on whether she should be thanking him for helping them or be disgusted as they were pawns to the real "tool", which was to obtain Subaru and his ability to redo.
As Frederica was about to retort to her fellow maid, someone unexpectedly answered back to the pink-haired oni.
"Are you still going to defend him, after EVERYTHING he has done to all of us?!" Rem barked at her sister which startled everyone. Like Subaru, she loved her sister so much to the point of obsession. So to see this development shows how much emotionally-broken most (or all) of them are right now.
Stumped and dumbfounded, Ram tried to answer back but her mind was jumbled up. She wanted to think and answer back but Rem's glare scared and hurt her so much that she instead bowed her head, averting her gaze. Heartbroken and her fists shaking, tears fell to her eyes as she didn't want that look on her younger sister's face. Much so directed towards her.
She now knows how Subaru must have felt when her counterpart from a failed loop gave him a murderous gaze, cursing to kill him for something that wasn't even his fault in the first place. As much as she tries to tell herself that it doesn't count as it didn't happen, she knew it was her pride talking. Her selfish ego washing away the guilt as such an event didn't occur in their loop.
Yes, it didn't happen and it wasn't experienced by them.
But for Subaru, it did happen…
He saw those murderous eyes filled with wrath and murder.
Which results in him killing himself by jumping at the jagged cliff.
But with a smile on his face, promising to save both of them.
"How long will you keep defending him, Nee-sama?! How long will you defend someone who burned down our village and killed our parents?! How long will you defend someone that broke YOUR HORN?! How long will you keep on being on his side when he used you as a TOOL for his sick twisted love for the WITCH OF GREED?! The one who nonchalantly left everyone, the villagers, our friends, and even YOU to be killed as if it was NOTHING?!How long, nee-sama? How could you love someone that left me to be forgotten by everyone except my hero? The one you insulted non-stop, belittled, and killed?! You even didn't remember ME! DO YOU LOVE THAT BASTARD CLOWN MORE THAN ME?!"Rem screamed furiously at Ram as tears continuously streamed down on her face.
As much she was enraged at her, she also felt sad and lonely that despite everything that was shown to them, the sins, schemes, and deaths, her sister continued to defend Roswaal. As it wasn't painful enough to be forgotten by your only kin but to see your said kin defend a murderer for the selfish reason of love, it was too much for her.
"Whoa there Rem, please calm down!" Garfiel's anger was immediately washed and replaced with concern and pity. He gently placed his hand on Rem's back, in which the blue oni started to fall, exhausted from all the crying and screaming she did. Otto and Garfiel both grab her arms to impede the impact. Rem fell on her knees but looked at Ram for the last time and uttered:
" ...do you hate me that much?"
She proceeds to cry her heart out for the "nth" time as Otto and Garf hugged her by each side. As much as she wanted it to be Subaru, Rem equally accepted the gesture as she sob uncontrollably to their shoulders.
Ram's heart shattered into a million pieces as Rem pointed out every one of Roswaal's sins, each allegation crushing the fragments in specks of dust.
She wanted to say something.
She wanted to hug and comfort her little sister.
She wants to tell her that she's wrong and that she loves her.
But she can't.
Her guilt was too much for her to bear that she too fell on her knees, covering her hands to her face as she cried loudly. Screaming her soul out, she let everything out.
For the first time, Ram felt lost. Lonely. Alone.
After what seemed to feel like an eternity of pure sadness, pity, and awkwardness, both oni's cries settled down. Garfiel and Otto kept on rubbing circles on Rem's back while Ram was left alone by herself, still on her knees. Most of them expected Roswaal to at least carry her and comfort her, seeing at what lengths she did to him. But there he was, overlooking the situation with a frown etched on his make-up face.
"What an asshole." All of them thought, one way or another.
After sensing the situation was okay to proceed, Ricardo tries to lighten the mood.
"Phew, love sure is a powerful emotion huh?" He slowly mentions while smiling at both of the twins.
"Yeah, considering that they both lost to girls with silve-" Mimi gleefully continued but was muzzled by Tivey and Ricardo, both agitated and afraid to look up.
Damnit! We're supposed to lighten the mood, not add fuel to the raging fire..
Most of them snapped their heads at the trio with eyes wide open, except for Emilia who was confused about what was going on. Fortunately, both onis didn't notice what the demi-human said as they were lost in their world. Averting this, Anastasia cleared her throat and changed the subject.
"Anyways, there's something ominous about what the warden said. Why did he mention about someone dying or being killed in here when our magic has been limited ever since we got here?" She mused as she ruffled her scarf.
"We may have been disarmed and handicapped, but our physical attributes remained my lady," Julius answered her while bowing down, trying to compose himself back to normal. Though still shaken up and broken, he sucked it up to try to please and serve his lady to the best he can, desperately trying to hold on to his title as the "Knight of knights" despite being disgusted with himself.
"Thank you Julius-kun, but that's not what I meant," Anastasia replied with a small smile. She appreciates his efforts to please her but she can't help but feel sad that Julius wasn't honest to his true feelings. Even though he was bowing, she knows what expressions are drawn on his face: Sadness, disgust, self-loathing, regret. As greedy as she was, the merchant queen wished Subaru to wake up and assured him and cheer him up.
She's not the only one that wanted Subaru to wake up and assure them of course.
"What she means, in fact, is why the warden mentioned this despite being an obvious statement, I suppose." Beatrice continued as she slowly walked to check the trio of Rem, Garfiel, and Otto who were still kneeling. "For starters, it's odd that for the duration of the viewing, he has always controlled our actions and magic to prevent hurting one another. What makes it different in this current predicament, I suppose?"
"Maybe he's trying to warn us from going at each other's throats after what we have seen so far?" Wilhelm stated as he tries to help Felix by slightly shaking him to snap him back to reality, to no avail as his hollow and bloodshot eyes reflected Wilhelm's. The old butler proceeds to lift him and place him beside Crusch as she looks at her knight with pity and shame. Another loved one she couldn't save: Fourier. Subaru. Felix.
As soon as the Sword Demon said that, a loud click echoed in their minds as they processed what they had heard. Each one started to gather with their respective camps, trying to protect one another. Emilia huddled closely to Subaru, wrapping her hand to his, glaring at anyone that gets close to him.
Crusch also wanted to hold his hand as well but the half-elf's hard cold glare sent shivers to her spine. Despite that, she stood her ground, narrowing her eyes with Emilia while Wilhelm came to back her up.
Julius proceeded to go closer to Anastasia while Reinhard did the same to Felt. With this going on, Roswaal sighed and finally picked up the catatonic Ram and placed it on his lap to let her rest.
So much tension and hostility in the air, but at least all threats and hurdles will eliminate themselves without his efforts. "At least my hands are clean for once in this bloodshed." the clown mused as he started to inject mana towards the broken pink-haired oni.
Everyone stared at each other for a long time until a loud snap of a fan echoed in the theater.
"I laugh at you mongrels for being so foolish and dense. Such a simple thing is etched onto all of you yet you can't understand it." Priscilla pointed her fan to all of them. " Such senseless violence irks me and with such baseless reason nevertheless. I pity all of your stupidity."
"I had enough with you, bitch!" Felt exploded as she used her Divine Blessing of the Wind to accelerate herself to kick the living shit out of the baroness. As she was about to smack her, Al blocked her with his arm and both of them were sent flying after the impact, with Felt being caught by Reinhard while Al stumbled to the corner.
"As much as it disgusts me to admit it, the princess has a point," Anastasia said as she tried to move Julius to the side to face everyone. She looked at everyone's agitated state while trying to calm herself by ruffling her scarf.
"What do you mean? What's the point?" Emilia asked as she was frustrated and scared as she cannot comprehend what was going on. The tension rises and falls like waves on the sea that everyone's heart rate beats faster like a bullet train.
"Priscilla-sama, I think I understand, may I explain what you're trying to imply?" Wilhelm solemnly bows to the matriarch to ask her permission to get to the heart of the matter.
"Hmph, as if a commoner can comprehend the mind of the goddess. So entertain me, if you can." Priscilla huffs as she points her fan to the old butler.
"Thank you." The Sword Demon graciously replied and then turned to the others." What Priscilla-sama implies is that the viewings of our "future" couldn't happen at all. Since we already know about Subaru-dono's 'ability', we, at least, can try and help him." He ended before looking at the sleeping knight with a caring gaze — he would love to have him as a grandson, to give him advice of self-help and value in his life.
A sense of relief filled everyone as that thought settled on their minds. It was as if they were allowed to breathe again. Each of them felt a bit lighter as the weight of their sins was lifted, even for a second.
But...
They're not foolish enough to forget how incompetent they were to Subaru. The poor soul literally sacrificed himself for their happiness and future, even though they weren't aware of it. This greatly applied to those he considered his friends and family, especially the Emilia camp. The horrors of him living all the failed "loops" seeing everyone dying around him and experiencing the gruesome process of death either by the hands of his allies or his enemies, while them not knowing any better.
Them not knowing any better...
Them not knowing...
Not knowing...
Them...
"How can we be so sure about that?"
As their happiness was likened to a shining ray of hope, it was then clouded with gray clouds of doubt. Fittingly, as the ashen-haired green merchant voice this thought.
"How can we be so sure that Subaru didn't experience this? He could have just kept quiet about it as he can't divulge due to his curse?"
Otto was shaking as this realization was voiced out. Yes, he's being paranoid and a bit agitated, but from what he learned from what he has seen, they couldn't know what his brother experienced.
Because it didn't happen to them.
Only he experienced the pain and suffering.
"What do you mean bro?" Al asked while theorizing how this will turn out, expecting it to go south quickly.
"How can we know that Natsuki-san didn't experience any of this?! How can we be certain that any of this didn't happen already?"
The horrendous and excruciating ways to die were evenly humanly and mentally impossible to live up to.
As they again started to be filled with remorse and despair, some tried to deny the possibility.
"It can't be. The first one was at Pristella. Now that we know that the witch cult would attack, we can counter it and save everyone and Subaru as well." Reinhard tries to keep his composure, as guilt was already overflowing him. How slothful of him, finding excuses to reason out for not saving his friend. Not only did he "killed" his grandmother, but he also did nothing to either aid and save Subaru, other than at the loot house.
"Then how can we be assured that Subaru didn't experience it first and devise a plan to defeat them when he wakes up?"
"How can we be so sure on how many times it took him to know how to overcome it? How can we know that we didn't fail him in Od knows how many times?!"
" As far as we know, he's great at keeping secrets. We did not even know of his self-harm tendencies!"
At this, Otto vented out all his frustrations and remorse as tears fell. How ironic, he was the one that said to his brother to trust and seek help from others, now he was second-guessing if they're ever so useless that Subaru has to carry all of them on his back, or his brother's big heart couldn't take on seeing them suffer, shielding and swallowing everything with a smile on his face while bleeding and dying on the inside.
"How can we know that he was already tortured by..."
"It's impossible for it to happen! I would never hurt Subaru-kun! " Surprising everyone, Felix slowly voiced this shakingly while looking at Otto with despair. "Surely, he wouldn't have experienced anything that was shown, right?! I'm the greatest healer, I can't be the one torturing a poor innocent bystander, at most a friend?!" he ended while looking at everyone with hollow eyes, desperately seeking anyone for confirmation.
It was painful to see someone as cheerful as Felix have fallen into such a state, so broken and empty, desperately clinging to anything to keep his sanity in check.
But not everyone pitied the demi-human knight.
"Shut up! You even tried to brainwash the captain at the mansion instead of healing him. Who says that you're not capable to hurt and torture him!?" Garfiel growled at him with disdain and hatred at the healer.
"Garfiel-san, please calm down. Don't agitate Felix." Reinhard lamented as he didn't want another confrontation to happen, especially between his friends.
"No! From what we have seen, from the beginning, he was so angry and disgusted at him and always insulted my captain in every opportunity given. Now that we know that he'll beat up and torture him, you expect me to stand by and not do anything?!"
"Fuck you! You're a selfish and annoying piece of shit that only cares for your lady and will do anything, even dirtying your hands, to cure her and not care to anything else at all."
"Bullshit, I have enough of being a useless Shield for my captain. Time and time again, he dies without being protected. This ends now! I'll become a shield to him so that NO ONE will hurt him ever again!"
"And I'll be damned if THAT stupid cat and purple knight get near to him!"
Garfiel ended his speech with rage and fury in his eyes, bloodlust could be felt to those who were near him. If he could, he would transform and scoop his captain and get away from them.
"I am fully aware that I lack virtue, no... I know that I am not fit to say this, but I swear to you Garfiel-san, that I would never hurt my friend." Julius muttered as he slowly stood up to help Felix, who was shivering from fear from Garfiel's glare.
"Like how you beat him up at the arena with one hand at your back?" Al jested as he looked at the commotion with a sigh. Seriously bro, why do you save these clowns?
"Like how you doubt Natsuki-san in abusing his power and manipulating everyone at the election?"
"Like how you observed and enjoyed beating and killing a person just because he's a witch cultist without evidence?"
"Without a proper investigation and just tortures him just because he's an "enemy" without proving his innocence?!"
"Not even knowing it was who you wanted to be your "friend"?!"
Otto spits this as he looks at the knight with sad yet wrathful eyes. He knows that he's being petty, but damn it! He was an emotional mess as everyone here.
"This is nonsense! We are speaking with hindsight. How could we have known if it wasn't for our current predicament?" Julius frantically tries to counter as he wants to deny that he'll hurt, beat up, and kill the one he wants to call a friend.
"And yet, because of our current predicament, we can see the possibility of you and Felix hurting and killing him. I'm sorry Julius, but I agree with Garfiel, we'll not let anyone get near him other than our camp, whether you like it or not." Otto barked as he stood up with Garfiel with determined eyes. No one will hurt you ever again Natsuki-san.
No one will come near you and kill you again. As your brother, I and Garfiel will make sure of it.
"Surely, Otto-san, would you believe what this entity has shown to us?! He may have infringed some of the details to let us fight one another?" Julius tries again to deny the reality that he and Felix could hurt and kill someone in their code as Royal Knights for not only the of their respective camps but for the kingdom as well.
"THEN TELL ME JULIUS?! HOW CAN WE BE SO DAMN SURE THAT SUBARU DIDN'T DIE BY YOUR AND FELIX'S HANDS ?! HOW CAN WE BE SO DAMN SURE ABOUT IT?! PLEASE PROVE ME WRONG KNIGHT OF KNIGHTS! PROVE TO ME THAT EVERYTHING WE SAW ABOUT SUBARU'S SUFFERING WAS A LIE?! TELL ME THAT THIS IS JUST A RUSE?! PLEASE AS EVEN I WANT TO SEE THIS AS A SICK JOKE! BUT NO!"
"IF YOU CAN'T EVEN PROVE THAT DAMN THING THEN IT'S A POSSIBILITY THAT YOU, FELIX, AND EVEN REINHARD WILL KILL MY FRIEND AND BROTHER! Otto vented out, shouting at Julius who was seeming shrinking from guilt. It would be blasphemous and a great disrespect to Subaru to tell that all that they have seen was a farce.
All his sacrifices, sufferings, and pain. All to save everyone. To say that it was false was even a grave offense than his code as a knight. A code that was useless compared to what he had done with only his "curse".
Once again, the knight of knights felt so incompetent. A useless man that only wields a sword and uniform as a facade. The one that should be able to do these great feats with the Od-given talents, divine blessings, and status he was showered with. Nonetheless, someone did it for them, without them knowing.
Reinhard was lost. On one hand, he wanted to stop this as he didn't want to see his friends fight one another. On the other hand, he was guilty and downtrodden that Subaru's closest friends would not allow anyone of them to try to help and make up to him.
He was devastated by Otto's last sentence. Him hurting Subaru?! No, it can't be, right? He wouldn't, right?!
But then a voice echoed to his subconscious...
MONSTER...
MONSTER...
YOU KILLED THERESIA...
YOU KILLED LOUANNA...
YOU LEFT SUBARU TO DIE…
YOU LET HIM DIE…
YOU WILL LET HIM DIE...
SO IT ISN'T IMPOSSIBLE FOR YOU TO KILL HIM TOO...
YOU FAILED...
YOU FAILED AT EVERYTHING...
YOU'RE A FAILURE REINHARD...
...how slothful are you...
HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!
The Sword Saint was shaking, holding his head with his hands, keeping himself from hearing those thoughts. They are here again. The voices. Echoing, haunting him, mocking and jeering him.
Stop!
Please, no more!
Please!
PLEASE!
As Otto and Garfiel continued berating the knights, Reinhard was slowly losing his mind. Despite being the strongest in the group, his mental fortitude is weaker compared to them thanks to his unfortunate upbringing. As he desperately cries for help to release him from this pain, the others tried to break up the ongoing conflict.
"Woah, Woah, settle down guys. It's not a great idea to start blaming each other." Ricardo putting his hands in front of the members of the Emilia camp.
"Please, Garf. No more. Please." Mimi hugged Garf's torso while weeping in front of him. She didn't like to see him mad and hostile. It didn't suit him at all.
"Let's calm ourselves and evaluate everything we have seen. We can't come up with a solution if we always go to each other's neck." Tivey informed them while looking at the green merchant.
" I think it's for the best Julius-san and Felix-san to keep a low profile and stay away from them and Subaru-dono for the time being. I understand that they are being overprotective of the one that means so much to them, so forgive their hostilities towards both of you."
Wilhelm immediately barricaded the two knights, whose shoulders were sagging from the weight of their guilt. As much as they want to deny and desperately want to reach out to them and subsequently, the one they "wronged" so much, they know that if they were in their place, they would be overly protective and despite anyone that will hurt their friend.
But it hurts that the ones that were or will kill him were THEM. Self-hatred and disgust filled them from within as they looked at Otto and Garfiel with pleading eyes.
"Please, let us make up with him."
"You okay buddy? Seems that you're a bit dazed?" Al mused as he helped Reinhard get back up to his feet. His eyes are busy searching for an invisible entity, finding where their voices are lurking within the place. Mocking, jeering, sadistically laughing at the knight's demise.
Priscilla watched in amusement from behind her fan, watching as the world is slowly working in her favor, delivering the boy to her. As much as it annoys her seeing a commoner squabble, it was also entertaining to see all of her hurdles and competition be crushed and obliterated without lifting a finger. Now, it will be a matter of time, and a bit of effort, to persuade the boy to lick to her feet.
Meanwhile, the other candidates had mixed reactions to the occurrence.
Anastasia was initially sad for her knight but was also proud of Ricardo and the twins for extinguishing the commotion. Though a furrow of her brow was observed when she saw Mimi hugging the blonde-haired demi-human especially tightly." That will be a discussion for later." she mused as fluffing her scarf.
Felt wanted to run and comfort Reinhard as he's having another breakdown. As much as she was happy that he's finally letting his emotions out in the open, this wasn't what she anticipated to happen. "Big bro, please save Rein." she pleaded as she gripped her fists tightly.
Crusch was filled with rage, sadness, and guilt as she oversaw Wilhelm holding the ship together while she's barely keeping herself from breaking down. As much as she wanted to keep her strong facade to all of them, deep inside, she wanted to crawl and cry her heart out to the sleeping knight, letting her haywire emotions spilling out.
As for Emilia...
The half-elf felt the world spinning around her. Everything was falling apart and her head was a mess.
Seeing her "father" treating her as a doll, sheltering her, and preventing her from growing, resulting in her foolish naivety and innocence.
The revelations of her knight's true suffering and pain, as well his countless deaths and nightmares.
Her backer, the mastermind of all of their suffering from step one, seeing her as a tool to obtain Subaru and to achieve his sick goal.
The oni-maids, one killing and torturing her first love solely for being suspicious while the other greatly blamed him on something that wasn't his fault.
Her shield and internal affairs officer giving their outcry to their brother to the ones that "will" beat up, torture, and subsequently hang the one she desperately wanted to love.
And finally...
Everyone is plotting on either absorbing her camp or taking away the one she desperately wants to love.
Emilia feels so disgusted and sick of herself for taking her time to give her answer to the black-haired knight. These viewings gave her a reality check on what Subaru has done for not only her but everyone, especially her camp.
His loyalty, determination, and most of all, his warm and comforting love for her serve as his motivation to keep moving forward despite suffering, being tortured, and dying many times.
And what did she do?
Gave a lap pillow to let him vent out his frustrations?
Abandoning him at the capital because his loyalty was so new and unnatural to her?
Thank him for saving her while setting aside his feelings of love?
Screamed at him for being a promise-breaking liar?
The half-elf felt very inferior to the nasty-eyed boy that gave her his all while she's prancing around, smiling and oblivious to the pain and despair that happened behind the scenes.
Worse, if the succeeding previews were true, she'll likely either leave him behind again to suffer and die or call him a liar for "not trusting her".
As much as she wanted to help him, her guilt, incompetence, and disgust are holding her back in coming up with ways to help him in his dark abyss.
As she was mulling over this, an annoying voice broke her trance, as well as the others.
"I~ think we're getting side~track here. Let the war~den complete his announce~ment." Roswaal notifies as it seems that everyone is busy thinking of other stuff than what is in front of them.
This brought everyone's attention and despite the hostility, they feel for the Margrave, they know that there are still things that are left to say.
"As much as it disgusts me to say this, Roswaal is correct." Crusch begins while taking a deep breath and facing the screen. "So, what's the other news, Warden?"
"Oh! Sorry about that. It was just, you guys were so busy that I didn't want to interrupt what was going on. Hahaha."
"Forgive the commotion Warden, our emotions got the best of us." Wilhelm bowed at the screen.
Everyone agreed as well since even though it was just half of the announcement, most of them started to either lose themselves in their thoughts again or started to go against each other.
"It's okay, it's normal in these situations. Anyways, for the good news, since you already finished watching Subaru Natsuki's journey as well as the extras, I'll wake him up shortly. Don't worry, I'll give him all of his memories, so there's no need to be suspicious of me. "
"H-he w-will wake up now?" Petra stuttered as she as well as the other cast were shocked with this revelation. After all of the previews, the protagonist of the viewings will finally show up. He'll be awake and talk to us again.
A sense of catharsis filled again the theater as after a long time they could finally talk and ask the nasty-eyed boy anything: from forgiveness, to what does he think of them, and for the half-elf, to answer him with her love to him as he gave his heart to her.
However...
As the initial elation had settled down, another side of the spectrum overwhelmed them: regret, anxiety, and despair. Questions started to come up from their minds.
What will he do once he knows that they know his dark secret?
How he died again and again for their sake with his sanity slowly gnawing away?
How can they convince him that they want to help him in his self-harm and self-deprecating mentality?
What will he think of any of them as far as it stands now?
Will he be mad at some of them for killing or betraying him?
Will he leave them after all of the horrible and unforgivable things they have done to him?
Will he be tired of their uselessness and incompetence?
Will he want for eternal repose, just to finally rest from the endless suffering of looping?
Will he leave all of them to get away from this endless cycle of mental and emotional torture?
Will he hate himself more now that they know everything: his mistakes and failures?
Will he "reset" so that they'll never remember any of these?
...
...
...
...
"And what are you doing, I suppose?"
Beatrice glared at the ex-thief as she tried to pull the sleeping boy away from the dazed Emilia and Crusch.
"What do you think I'm doing?! I'm making sure that Big bro will be away from EVERYONE that will hurt him." Felt glared back at the Great Spirit with her own ruby eyes.
"What?! How dare you say that?! We would never hurt him! Take that back Felt-chan!" Emilia snaps back as the thought of her hurting Subaru was foreign to her. She'll be damned if she can't save someone ever again. Much more to the one that she loves the most.
"No offense Emilia-sama, but from what we have just seen and know by now, your camp is the biggest factor in Subaru's pain and suffering. You didn't even know about his self-harming tendencies." Crusch added but with a tinge of sadness in her commanding voice. She didn't want to fight a friend but it would not do justice if she'll let her mistakes slide.
"You didn't even compensate him with ANYTHING! Sure you comforted him with that lap pillow, but without that, your naivety and stupidity cost him his life multiple times. There's a limit of being gullible, it's another for being a foolish, incompetent liege." Ana berated as she wanted to slap the silver-haired royal candidate for not fully optimizing someone with as much talent and skill as her knight.
"Big sis, your sponsor tried to kill all of you! Those maids tortured and killed him one way or another. His great spirit constantly throws him at the window! That demi-human rampaged when he tried to liberate his people. Do you think I want Big bro to be surrounded by people that will hurt and kill him?" Felt recounted every one of Emilia's sins from the viewings as she wanted her Big Bro to be away from those nasty people.
If it's the cost of the one that you love, then I'm sorry Big bro, but I don't want you to die.
"Mineself won't allow this farce to go any longer. I have had enough of the half-wit playing the boy's heart in the palm of her hand. As a decree from a goddess such as I, your incompetence ends this instant." Priscilla dictated as her eyes pierced toward Emilia filled with burning fury.
"I..." Emilia mumbled as every royal candidate pointed out everything that was shown at the theater. The countless amount of sins each of them committed.
The endless cycle of death and suffering. The constant screams of agony. The numerous scratches from his nightmares and self-hate. All those under their noses while he hides them with a smile. Sure, they noticed it here and there, but they assumed it was "Subaru being Subaru, I guess". In hindsight, they should've tried harder to help him or even beg to let him spill his secrets.
But still, despite all of this, and knowing she's being selfish and sick with herself, she wants to help him and only them. As if everyone was "clean" from anything.
Therefore...
"But still, after everything we have seen, I will not allow Subaru to go anyway unless he's with me!" the half-elf slowly builds up her confidence as she starts her counterattack to the other Royal Candidates.
"Julius and Felix will torture and kill him! Even if it won't happen, now that we have seen that he even promised SATELLA to save her, who's to say that any of you won't kill him nevertheless?!" Emilia cried out as she was disgusted with herself to pull a tantrum and use THAT scenario as an excuse to let only them protect him.
Everyone was speechless as they remembered that moment:
"I am going to save you, no matter what..."
As Subaru chose and took the Witch of Envy's hand, her shadowy veil slowly disappeared, and silver hair and amethyst stared at him tearfully, wishing him to kill her. But the black-haired knight squeezed her hand tightly and instead gave her the same promise he gave to Emilia, he vowed to save her no matter what.
If it was an ordinary scenario, they would have punished and executed him on the spot for the act of treason. But after witnessing everything, a sick thought formulated from all of it: In the end, Satella was the only one that helped the boy. If not for her "gift", Subaru would have died and the dominoes would fall towards Lugunica's downfall.
A horrifying and sick conclusion that some of them want to deny it while others begrudgingly agree to it.
"I may have my shortcomings but I am not so blind as to not notice that you either plan to absorb our camp or take my knight away from me! Emilia voiced informing them that she and her camp are aware of their scheming before she continued.
"I will not allow it! Nothing like that is going to happen! Subaru will stay with me and the only way some of you could get near him is if we trusted you enough for you to be in our camp, after what we saw I don't believe that you are incapable of hurting him." declared Emilia, shocking everyone in the theater. On the inside, she was disgusted with herself for declaring Subaru to be hers like this, like some witch…
Emilia hated Satella all her life for causing her all the troubles she faced solely for resembling her… no, for being identical to her as if they were twins, which still greatly disturbed her but that is a problem that will have to wait, there was something, no someone more important to her that her petty problem. The past viewings made her feel conflicted about Satella, she was still the reason for most of her pains but, she is also the reason why the one she cherished so much could be by her side. Not only that but her dunderhead of a knight was determined to save her, something that could get him in a lot of trouble.
Emilia's declaration surprised candidates Crusch and Anastasia the most, they did not expect the half-elf to be capable of something like this, the implication of what she said was not lost on them, normally they wouldn't be worried about members of their camp leaving and joining Emilia camp, but after seeing what a certain nasty eyes boy went through...
Anastasia glanced at Julius who looked dejected, she would never question his loyalty just like the loyalty of her Iron Fang but deep down she was relieved that she knew that Half-Elfs camp would not trust him enough to join them, especially after the viewing of what could happen.
Julius wanted to be there for the one he wished to call a friend but that will most likely not be possible now that the members of his camp would refuse to let him get close to him. He swore that he would never hurt him, but he knew that wasn't enough, he saw it himself that he can potentially hurt Subaru solely for being accused of being a witch cultist without evidence, just like a year ago when he beat him to near-death solely for speaking out of line, he did not only beat him up, he made sure he would feel unworthy of standing by the side of the one he loved the most, something he most likely feels to this day. Julius couldn't deny it, he was one of the reasons why Subaru's self-worth is the way it is right now.
"I'm sorry Subaru, I went too far," Julius muttered for himself while looking down.
Crusch, on the other hand, knew that Felix would never leave her camp, but when it came to Wilhelm she had her doubts, she knew he had a high opinion of the boy even before they've seen his journey.
'What am I thinking? I have to have faith in those who are on my side.' Crusch reprimanded herself in her thoughts.
However Wilhelm was deep in thought, through the viewings he saw that his grandson Reinhard was not… well… and he knew that he was one of the reasons he is like that, if not the main one. He decided that he will start to do what he can to undo those problems and be there for him.
However, there is another person who looks up to him...Subaru...
He was fond of the lad after everything he had done, even before the viewing, and from what he had seen in time he would think of him as his grandson, the thought of it only made him happier. Just like Reinhard, Subaru had his problems: the boy saw and experienced things he wouldn't wish on anyone.
Seeing his loved ones die, he dying over and over again, sometimes by the said loved ones and so much more, and worst of all the boy blames himself for it even if it wasn't his fault. He wanted to help him, he didn't want to repeat the sin he committed against Reinhard.
That however was easier said than done especially now when his lady and friends were determined not to let anyone near Subaru. At least not anyone they didn't trust and he knew that the only way he could help him now was to abandon Crusch and join Emilia camp.
Wilhelm didn't want to break his oath to the one who, just like the boy, helped him avenge his late wife, especially after both his master Crusch and Felix needed him after Crusch's memories were erased. But now that Crusch's memories were back, she wasn't as defenseless as before. It was the capable one who would manage even without him.
"What would you have done, Theresia?" The old man asked under his breath, conflicted about what he should do.
'So that's how the world will deliver me my victory?' Priscilla was impressed by the half-wit's declaration, but she could only laugh because she knew that some may consider joining her camp and form cracks that will cause the camps of others to fall apart. Then she glanced at Al knowing that, unlike others, she didn't need to worry about her dog leaving her.
Felt was surprised by Emilia's declaration even if she expected her big Sis to make a statement about not giving Subaru up. But that didn't matter to Felt, she would save her big Bro, bring him into her camp, and with Reinhard around he wouldn't need to suffer. The three of them will be together and have fun. But he probably wouldn't want that, then she realized that if they took him against his will, they might unintentionally force him to rely on Return by death so he can return to Emilia.
'Big Bro, why are you such a dumbass?' she thought as she looked at the sleeping black-haired boy.
Reinhard was conflicted, he would never even think about leaving his lady Felt, but he wanted to help the person who saw him as Reinhard his friend first, and Sword Saint second. Felt ordered him to be more greedy, he could not allow anyone to hurt his friend again! But now, it would be difficult, his camp won't let anyone they don't trust near him and he knew they wouldn't trust a monster like him.
After all, everything was his fault, his friend had to go through hell and back over and over again, a friend who was most likely the weakest one in this room with only the ability to return from death up under his sleeve. All these threats could have been easily dealt with by him.
'Yet another person that has to suffer because of my slothfulness.' Reinhard blamed himself for being sinful yet again.
"Betty will not let Betty's Subaru go anywhere, in fact. As much as it stands, he'll be with Betty, in fact." the golden drilled-haired Great Spirit responded while giving her gaze to the others. " As the Great Spirit of the Forbidden Library, I will not allow anyone to touch him, in fact!"
"No...no one will go near him. I don't care if after all of this I'll still be asleep and comatose... No one will lay a finger on my Hero... No one will take my reason to die from me!" Rem slowly stood up with empty but wrathful eyes as she vowed to save Subaru as he saved her again and again.
"He~'s still a Mathers resident. So all mat~ters regarding him are under m~y domain." Roswaal retorted with a big grin while looking at the scene with his yellow eye.
As if from an instinct of their collective hatred for the clown, the royal knights and Wilhelm moved towards the Margrave only to be barricaded by Otto, Garfiel, and Frederica.
"Don't you even dare! If killing my captain wasn't enough for all of you, making his lady drop out from the election by killing this clown is going a notch higher." the Shield of the Sanctuary growled as a bloodlust aura started to come out from him again.
"Please don't be mistaken that we're protecting Roswaal-sama because we want to or obligated as residents..."
"...but it would be a spit on Natsuki-san's efforts if we let all of his sacrifices be in vain. Roswaal is still under oath to him. He cannot kill any of us ever again."
Frederica and Otto finished each other as the former bowed down while holding her skirt while the latter placed his hat to his chest. It took ALOT of mental strain to resist joining them in beating the clown but they know that he's necessary to make their liege to compete for the throne.
The tension intensifies and wanes at the theater as each confrontation is filled with anxiety, despair, hostility, and sadness. As much as each one of them doesn't want to fight one another because, in some weird way, they bonded and understand their every incompetence after watching Subaru's journey filled with suffering and death, each has an agenda to "save or protect" him from one another while achieving their underlying prerogatives.
Yes, they acknowledge that despite everything that happened to him, he'll still choose Emilia and her camp not only because his heart is set on the half-elf, but despite most of them being the instigators of his suffering and pain, his heart was so big that he loves them and so are the others.
But...
It didn't mean that they would let Emilia's "stupidity" and uselessness slide. The other royal candidates, in hindsight, are either feeling remorse or angry for her for being "clueless" and not acting better to her subordinate.
It saddened and infuriated Felt seeing her Big Bro being in constant pain and suffering while she's always missing in action. To see his big heart to accept even the Witch of Envy was either awestruck or frightening to her.
It irritates and enrages Anastasia to see someone with the capabilities of Hoshin being wasted on someone so naive and incompetent. She believes that hard work and perseverance must be compensated. Seeing both the boy's lack of ambition and his liege doing nothing but always takes, she'll try to slap some sense to the nasty-eye boy to see that he's wasting his efforts on someone akin to a "doll" that needs to be ordered to do any damn thing.
For Crusch, it would be dishonorable for her to let go and not repay the efforts exerted by Subaru. He has literally bend life and death to make sure everyone around here today to be alive and smiling while his self-value deteriorates in each death. This and with some budding feelings for him, she'll make sure that she'll be by his side to help and protect him.
Priscilla fans at the scene with an analyzing gaze. Each one of them is fueled emotionally as they stake their claims to have the sleeping knight. As much as it irks her listening to this useless babble, each one of them pointing fingers to who's to blame for the boy's suffering and who has the right to have him, she can't help but leave a tired laugh and sigh.
How many times does herself, a goddess, have to proclaim that it's useless to resist as, in the end, the world favors her and the boy will come to her in the end?
She also sighs as most of the cast forgot one important detail that was announced due to their emotional turmoil...
"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHH!"
..a blood curdling scream pierced and shattered the theater...
AUTHOR'S NOTE: And I am done! Thank you so much for the warm reception of my story. Thank you to all those who liked and followed me. Again, I want to thank my beta reader woodniiie and James Sider, with the former giving me great insights and brainstorming ideas while the latter is a great dude who help complement the story even further. Lastly, I want to thank NamesAura (author of Forced to Leave) for his shout-out for my work. Thank you so much and more power to you as well.
Please read their works as well, they are great and talented authors as well. Thank you for the kind comments and support and I hope it'll continue. So again, see you at the next chapter.
...
"How will you feel seeing the ones that killed you?"
"How will you feel seeing the ones that left you and distrust you?"
"Should you give up and stop chasing pavements?"
"Will you be superficial or be for once, be honest with yourself?"