"First off, there's something I'd like to say. You look pretty good in that uniform." Subaru said and the opening started.
Echidna was surprised that she got complimented by Subaru because she wore a school uniform. She blushed secretly to prevent Rem from seeing her in a different state.
"Yeah, she is." Kazuma said.
"Now you do have some fetishes to witches, huh?" Tanya asked.
"Shut it! I just agreed to what he complimented to her! That's all!" Kazuma replied.
"Why, thank you! Hearing you say that tells me that recreating it from your memories was worthwhile." Echidna said.
"What did you do... on Subaru-kun's memories?!" Rem angrily yelled.
"Calm down, Rem!" Ram said.
"My? Is there anything wrong about it?" Echidna asked.
"You two stay silent!" Naofumi said.
"So what is this place?" Subaru asked.
"As one who is qualified, you entered the graveyard. Thus the trial began. That's all there is to it. Didn't you hear me say "First, you need to face your past"? Echidna asked.
"I'm gradually starting to remember. What did you do to me? I had completely forgotten about you." Subaru said.
"He took the trial... But how...?" Garfiel uttered.
"There are things that we can't explain, Gar." Ryuzu said.
"What do you think about their looks once they see Petelguese's normal face before?" Kazuma whispered.
"They'll be blown into shreds." Tanya replied.
"You're too rude, Tanya." Naofumi said.
"It was quicker to meddle with your memories that it would've been to trust that you could keep a secret." Echidna said.
"And? Did I pass the trial?" Subaru asked.
"Having seen every moment of it, I think the result you achieved was more than suitable." Echidna replied.
"Every moment? Wait, you-" Subaru said.
"I'm so sorry!" When you said that, even I teared up a bit." Echidna said.
"Shut up! Don't tell anyone about that! It's too embarrassing!" Subaru yelled.
"It's too late, they did." Naofumi said and some laughed at Subaru's reaction.
"Do witches like you cry a bit too? That's weird." Ram said.
"Hey! Don't treat us like we are monsters on your sight!" Minerva yelled.
"And then how do you want us to address you? As angels? Hell no!" Otto said while shaking his head.
"O-Otto-kun... please d-d-don't get angry at u-us..." Carmilla sobbed and approaches him.
"Mhmm! Don't get mad at us! I just wanted food, that's all!" Daphne said and she approaches Otto too.
"Wha-What's with you two?!" Otto cried.
"And they f-" Kazuma stopped as he realized what he is saying.
"You..." Tanya uttered.
"...bastard..." Naofumi uttered with their cold looks at Kazuma.
"Anyway, so this world is actually..." Subaru uttered.
"Yes, that's right. It's a fabricated world that I recreated with utmost faithfulness to your memories. Everything, including your parents. Understand?" Echidna said.
"You fabricated all that? Really? But some stuff was mentioned that even I didn't know." Subaru said.
"Are you sure you didn't know? Did you never once entertain the thought of your father being different in any way from what you'd pictured? Did you really think you could hide the parts of your heart that you thought no one knew about?
The desire to have them know, so you'd feel less burdened... The selfish wish that they'd still love you, even if they knew... Can you state with certainty that you did not seek any of that from your imaginary parents? That would be far too idealistic, not to mention convenient. Don't you agree?" Echidna whispered to Subaru's ears.
"Don't make fun of my parents, Echidna." Subaru said.
"What?" Echidna asked.
"I gave all of my answers, and both my mom and dad accepted them. They told me to give it my all, and to take care. Their voices, their smiles, and everything else shattered what I had imagined. My parents are too big to fit in my puny imagination!
Don't underestimate them! I told them everything I wanted to say. I'm not gonna let anything you say sidetrack me." Subaru said.
"Tell her more, Subaru!" Felt cheered.
"Don't let her dominate your memories, Natsuki-san!" Otto added.
"Even if they weren't real, don't make fun of Subaru's feelings, Echidna!" Emilia said.
"I get it, I get it. I'm sorry." Echidna chuckled and the gods gave her a menacing stare.
"H-Hey! I'm apologizing to them, you know!" Echidna cried.
"Prepare for a surprise power later, your greed." Kazuma said while warming his right hand.
"Crap." Echidna gulped in fear.
"This trial is over, in the truest sense. I look forward to seeing how you handle the next question." Echidna said.
"Wait, "next question"? What does that mean? There's more than one trial?!" Subaru asked in shock.
"There are three graveyard trials in total. You must pass all of them to set the Sanctuary free. I'm so glad I finally got to tell you this! Seeing you so surprised makes my heart leap. It's already starting to disappear. If you go outside, you should find yourself back in the graveyard." Echidna said.
"Three trials..." Emilia uttered.
"I know your future self can do this, Lia!" Puck cheered.
"I'm wishing for the best of Emilia-sama in that triaaaaal." Roswaal said.
"You know what, I'm starting to get some bad vibes about you in the Sanctuary, Roswaal. What are you up to?" Crusch asked.
"Oh? Why do I experience such treatment as if I am the villaaaaain?" Roswaal asked.
"We'll know every detail of the future, Roswaal. We want to know your true colors. And how we should trust you." Anastasia said.
"Go ahead. None offensive statements were taken." Roswaal said with a smile.
"Hey, Echidna..." Subaru said.
"What is it? You want me to let you hit me? You do have that right, it's true. But I'm a girl. My face is-" Echidna was stopped by Subaru's one word.
"Thanks. Even if they weren't real... Even if I didn't get to say it to my real parents... It's thanks to you that I got to say what I wanted to say. So... Thanks." Subaru said.
"You are a very intriguing human. I just can't comprehend you. It actually frightens me." Echidna said.
"It's an honor to know I can frighten a witch." Subaru said and he walks away.
"Baru can't frighten me!" Typhon said.
"Mhm! But I can smell some feast later on!" Daphne exclaimed.
"So glutton." Hetaro said.
"Yeah." Tivey said on Daphne.
"Oh, yeah. It sounded like you really want me to go through the next trial, but I can't grant that wish for you." Subaru added.
"Meaning?" Echidna asked.
"I'm not the one who'll pass the trials and set the Sanctuary free. Someone else is gonna grant that wish from you." Subaru said while pointing his finger at Echidna.
"Is that so? I wonder..." Echidna said and the Subaru returned to the graveyard in reality.
Subaru wakes up and coughed after the trial he faced just now from Echidna.
"Where... Oh, right. I went through the trial. Emilia!" Subaru yelled at Emilia who fell unconscious with him as well. As he touches her cheeks, she woke up and started to cry again.
"Emilia?! Hey, hang in there! Emilia! Emilia!" Subaru called.
"Subaru? Right... I was undergoing the trial... and..." Emilia uttered in fright and she stuttered in horror while looking around.
"Emilia?" Subaru asked.
"I-I'm... It wasn't me!" Emilia yelled.
"Huh?" Subaru asked.
"It wasn't! And yet... I keep telling you it wasn't me, and yet..." Emilia wailed and covers her face.
"Hey, calm down! Look at me, Emilia!" Subaru said.
"What in the heck of a trial you gave to Lia?!" Puck angrily asked. Emilia on the other hand was shocked to see herself in a state no one expected.
"The half-witch, half-elf now started to feel agony on her trial. Which makes sense that she can't take on her past, unlike Subaru." Priscilla said.
"What did you say?!" Rem angrily asked.
"I hate to admit this but, I guess she was right. What if Emilia-sama can't face her past and she starts to witness the traumatic events in the past that are because of her? And it could be that Witch?" Otto said.
"How you two can say that to Lia?!" Puck asked.
"Analyze it properly, you floating cat! What they're trying to say differently is that Emilia can't get past her first trial because there were memories of her before that she can't remember started to reappear once again and in that, she receives such blames that the Witch of Envy might do from before and she was the one to frame, just like me!" Naofumi said.
"Hey, you apocalyptic beast. Have you tried reading Emilia's memories?" Tanya asked.
"I-I haven't..." Puck replied.
"Then suffer from watching her future self get horrified of what happened before." Tanya coldly said.
"Lia..." Puck uttered.
"It's okay, Puck. I can see through here how things ended up for me." Emilia said.
"No! Don't look at me like that! No! No! It wasn't me!" Emilia cried.
"It's okay! Come on, it's okay! I'm with you! I'm here! I won't leave you alone! It's okay!" Subaru calms Emilia down while hugging her.
"Father... Help me! Puck! Puck!" Emilia cried. The scene shifted to Emilia now sleeping in a room after the trial was taken.
"She's finally calmed down and is resting now. The aroma hypnosis will prevent any nightmares." Ram said.
"Sorry to put you through the trouble." Subaru said.
"I didn't do it for you. Still, the Sanctuary is even farther from being set free now." Ram said.
"Um, may I say something?" Otto asked.
"What's up, Otto?" Subaru asked.
"It might be possible to get everyone outside the barrier without doing the trial and freeing the Sanctuary." Otto said.
"Huh? What're you talkin' about? There's no way in hell." Garfiel scowled.
"Just hear me out. I know that anyone of mixed blood who touches the barrier loses consciousness. I saw it with my own eyes. So... Why don't those of us who aren't affected by the barrier carry the others through it while they're unconscious?" Otto asked.
"That's a good idea!" Felt said.
"Is it just the other type of idea but still, will have the same result as the usual effect?" Kadomon asked.
"D'oh." Otto said.
"Nice try, Otto." Daphne said while sniffing her.
"Stop it, will you?!" Otto cried.
"I get it! That way, we could get everyone-" Subaru was stopped by someone.
"An amusing idea, but one you would be better off not trying. I would rather not become an empty shell of a soul." A petite girl with long, fluffy pale red hair that curves outward at the ends walked into the room.
"You're that girl from- Ow, ow, ow!" Subaru yelled in pain as Ram touches Subaru's cheek with a hot cup of tea.
"Sister!" Rem pouted.
"You can't blame my future self, Rem." Ram said with a smug.
"Barusu, here's your tea." Ram said.
"Tea, my ass! That's hot! You're gonna burn my cheek off! I didn't know what's going on!" Subaru yelled.
"So dramatic. What a pathetic excuse for a man. Avoid making unnecessary comments." Ram whispered to Subaru.
"Ram, get me some tea, too." Garfiel said.
"It's coarse tea. I just brewed some leaves I picked up. Show your gratitude to me for making it by drinking every last drop." Ram said.
"You picked up?! What if it is poisonous leaves?!" Otto cried.
"Have you seen yourself drinking a tea? If no, then shut up." Ram coldly said.
"But what if Natsuki-san and that... hot-headed guy might get a stomachache?" Otto asked.
"He's just worried, Sister. And he can be right too. You can't tell if they're safe or not." Rem said.
"Now I'm screwed." Ram said with a defeated look.
"I heard you had brought in more people from outside, Young Gar. What a noisy boy he is." The small girl said.
"Um... And you are..." Otto uttered.
"I am Ryuzu Blima. It is my duty, you might say to represent this community, though I am old and frail, as you can see." The girl named Ryuzu said.
"Old? But you look cute, Ryuzu!" Petra said.
"Thank you for the compliment, Young Petra." Ryuzu said.
"How you can be old, Ryuzu? You're small!" Mildo said.
"Being so tall means that we are old?!" Naofumi angrily asked and some laughed.
"As we can see? So you're what they call a loli hag? I figured I'd meet one eventually, but you really fir the stereotype." Subaru said.
"How dare you call me an old woman when we've only just met. Well, no matter. And you are Barusu... which makes you Young Su." Ryuzu said.
"Young Su?" Subaru asked.
"So, Ryuzu-san, what makes you say my idea won't work? Something about an "empty shell of a soul"? Otto asked.
"Have you not heard? When one of mixed blood touches the barrier, it takes away their consciousness. More specifically, it repels their soul." Ryuzu replied.
"Repels their soul? Uh..." Otto uttered.
"So when a mixed-blood tries to force their way through the barrier, their soul is separated from their body, and only their soul remains inside the barrier, leaving an empty shell, right?" Subaru asked.
"Ah, you do catch on quickly. That is the gist of it, yes. When a body without a soul exits the barrier, it is, in other words, dead." Ryuzu replied.
"Dead?" Otto asked in a worried tone.
"E-Eh!? Then how about us?" Kadomon asked in shock.
"Idiot. We can go in and out of this place because of us. The barrier won't work on us because we are just watching from somewhere." Naofumi said.
"Natsuki Subaru got the idea of Otto's plan. It means he is already aware of what will happen if they do pursue the plan." Crusch said.
"This tea's gross! It tastes like grass!" Garfiel yelled and coughed after drinking Ram's tea.
"See?" Rem said on Ram and she didn't look on herself anymore.
"How you could that to me, Ram?!" Garfiel cried.
"Heh." Ram said with a quick smug on her face.
"Did you actually make it with grass? Still, if the qualification to undergo the trial is having mixed blood, doesn't that mean you or Garfiel could do it if you wanted to?" Subaru asked.
"If we are speaking only of making the attempt, it stands to reason that we could. But we cannot free the Sanctuary. That is the contract that has been handed down among us residents of the Sanctuary for generations." Ryuzu replied.
"That's why the trial exists. They may go out of the Sanctuary but they cannot free it from the trial." Roswaal said.
"Yeah, yeah. We got it." Felt said.
"The clown talks too proudly right now, huh?" Tanya asked.
Morning came and Emilia wakes up from her sleep, then she sees Subaru sitting beside her.
"Subaru?" Emilia asked.
"Morning, Emilia-tan. Did you sleep well?" Subaru asked.
"Morning... Did you stay with me all night?" Emilia asked.
"I wouldn't have been able to sleep in my room, anyway. Otto talks in his sleep, you know." Subaru said.
"Huh?! I talked?! That's crazy!" Otto cried.
"I wonder what kind of things did he talk about..." Kazuma hummed.
"Please! If there's a chance you'll show it, please don't! It might be embarrassing!" Otto cried.
"I'm sorry about yesterday. I really lost my composure in the graveyard." Emilia said.
"Oh, don't worry about it. More importantly..." Subaru said and he stopped as Emilia puts her hand on his hand, making her blush the moment she realized something.
"I-It's not like that! What? That's funny... Why did I..." Emilia uttered in worry.
"Are you finally getting assertive enough to reach out for me subconsciously?!" Subaru asked in excitement.
"No, no, it's not like that at all! I think I just wasn't thinking..." Emilia quickly defended.
"You denied that so fast! And you "weren't thinking"? Really?!" Subaru whined.
"That hurts." Julius said.
"Eh?! What do you mean?" Emilia asked in confusion.
"Rejecting someone at the speed of lightning. Ouch." Reinhard teased.
"H-Hey!" Emilia cried and covered her face in embarrassment.
"Keep defending yourself, Emilia. You'll give in soon to Subaru." Naofumi said with a smirk.
"E-Eh?!" Emilia cried. Rem on the other hand blushed a bit and smiled for Emilia.
"I mean..." Emilia uttered.
"As long as you can smile, it's all right. You can undergo the trial again tonight." Subaru said.
"Again... tonight..." Emilia uttered. They didn't notice Ram heard everything that they talked about inside the room.
"I need to tell you something, Barusu. Not all of the residents are in favor of setting the Sanctuary free." Ram said.
"What do you mean?" Subaru asked.
"Only the heavy-handed people like Garf, led by Ryuzu-sama, are pushing for its freedom. There is a conservative faction that doesn't want the Sanctuary to be freed." Ram replied.
"There are people who don't want to set free?" Subaru asked.
"The conservatives believe that having minimal interaction with outsiders is ideal. In their opinion, destroying that will cause nothing but trouble." Ram replied.
"I get Garfiel, but they don't even trust Ryuzu-san?" Subaru asked.
"Or Frederica, either.
(Creepy Music plays)
It was Frederica who gave Emilia-sama the glowing stone." Ram said.
"So you think Frederica started this whole thing?" Subaru asked.
"Circumstantial evidence suggests that Frederica has some plan in mind. As it is, Emilia-sama escaped disaster by a hair's breadth, thanks to your noble, your relatively noble sacrifice." Ram said.
"You didn't have to amend that. I mean I didn't sacrifice myself, so you can amend that, but..." Subaru said while scratching his neck.
"Just be careful, Barusu. To the one who oppose setting the Sanctuary free, the best way to assure they get what they want is to harm Emilia-sama. You never know who might be your enemy. Be alert at all times." Ram said and walks away.
"Frederica-san...?" Otto asked as everyone looked at Frederica?
"What? I-I don't even know what kind of scheme I did in the future." Frederica said.
"Why some people don't want to free the Sanctuary? Aren't they be lonely if they live forever inside of it?" Lucas asked.
"No... It must be someone, who has some plans in mind that convinced everyone to not free the Sanctuary." Reinhard said.
"It could be..." Julius uttered as he looked at Roswaal once again.
'What kind of schemes he is hiding? Is he the one who convinced the people not to freed the Sanctuary?' He thought.
In the evening, everyone gathered outside the graveyard to support Emilia's undergoing trial. The graveyard shone as usual and the same goes for Emilia who lied down on the floor.
"C'mon, Ram, join us." Garfiel said to Ram.
"Hmph." Ram looked away.
"The hell? You're no fun." Garfiel said.
"Do you like Ram or something?" Subaru asked.
"Well, she's hot, ain't she? Nothin' unusual about a guy bein' attracted to a strong, capable girl. I hope it works out better this time. We don't want a short nap for a morolok to be a whole day's sleep for the rest of us." Garfiel said.
"Hot? That maid's hot?" Mildo asked on Ram which brought her to direct anger.
"Haha! Isn't she?" Garfiel asked.
"Good for you, Sister." Rem said while patting Ram's back.
"I want to die than to fell in love with him." Ram coldly said.
"Now, now. Just accept him slowly into your life. Just how I slowly forget all of the things I've done on Subaru-kun." Rem said with a sad look.
"These twins are one heck of a different species." Naofumi said.
"Yeah. I agree." Tanya said.
"Is there something you want to do after getting out of the barrier?" Subaru asked.
"Well, that came outta nowhere. What do I wanna do once I'm outside? A guy who can come and go as he pleases wouldn't have a clue how the old hag and I feel." Garfiel said.
"What about Frederica?" Subaru asked.
"Huh?" Garfiel asked.
"What does Frederica think about the Sanctuary?" Subaru asked.
"Didn't she tell you a damn thing?" Garfiel said.
"She only said she couldn't explain it to me in detail. All she told me about you was your name, because of some oath." Subaru said.
"Oath, my ass. Hah! Talk about a handy excuse. Sounds just like her damn master." Garfiel said.
"Garfiel..." Frederica uttered on Garfiel.
"What?! You heard my future self, right? Now what's the deal?!" Garfiel asked.
"Things are getting intense! I like it!" Mimi exclaimed.
"You're... scary." Otto said.
"Are you and Frederica not even that close at all?" Subaru asked.
"If you're askin' whether we get along or not, nope, we don't. Anyway, when you were in the graveyard yesterday, didn't you-" Garfiel stopped as a cry inside the graveyard was heard and the glowing light went off as well as Emilia walks out crying and covering her mouth.
"Emilia!" Subaru quickly rushed to Emilia after her trial.
"I'm sorry! I... I... again..." Emilia cried.
"She failed again, I guess?" Al said.
"Indeed. What a poor candidate." Marcos said.
"Good thing it wasn't the same event before where Subaru got sucked into his memories once again." Reinhard said.
"I see. That is unfortunate. Still, just learning that you cannot lose your right to undergo the trial is something." Roswaal said on the Subaru as the scene shifted back to the village.
"Well? What did you call me in here without Emilia to talk about?" Subaru asked.
"Just a bit of conspiracy. I am not so big-hearted that I would invite one who cannot be trusted." Roswaal said.
"Can't be trusted? Are you talking about Emilia? What the heck are you-" Subaru said.
"Be calm, Subaru-kun. I would like you to continue to help and support Emilia-sama as you always have." Roswaal said.
"You don't have to ask me to do that. But what are you going to do?" Subaru asked.
"The same, naturally. I will give my utmost to help Emilia-sama win the royal selection. What I mean to say is that we are partners in crime." Roswaal said.
"Shouldn't you just say we're partners? You keep contradicting yourself." Subaru said.
"Oh? And what might that-" Roswaal was stopped by Subaru.
"Quit playing dumb! Everyone knew the Witch's Cult would start causing trouble when Emilia's participation was announced to the public! And what the hell were you doing?! You hid information about the Witch's Cult from Emilia, didn't you?! Emilia didn't know anything! If she had, everything would've been different! And if it had... that wouldn't have... You should've been there. If you had been there, that wouldn't have happened. If you had been protecting everyone..." Subaru uttered in anger.
"But you fulfilled my role in my absence. As a knight, your performance was commendable." Roswaal said.
"Who gives a-" Subaru was about to punch Roswaal but Ram blocks his hand.
"Calm down, Barusu." Ram said.
"Ram?!" Everyone called on Ram.
"I... I just did what's good for both of them. I stopped Barusu from causing trouble." Ram said.
"But are you just gonna agree all the time to what that guy said because you love him?!" Otto angrily asked in surprise.
"Otto?!" Felt asked in shock.
"He's pumped up in anger now." Al sighed.
"You...!" Ram is about to slap Otto but Tanya and Naofumi block her hand and the soldier points her rifle on Ram's head.
"Isn't it embarrassing that you are getting hated after you're protecting someone who might be the root of all of their problems ever since? Still in the blind's side?" Tanya asked.
"The future is going to expose more of their secrets. And I can't believe that you can't agree to Subaru-kun even once, Sister!" Rem cried.
"Rem... I..." Ram uttered.
"Ram, you're okay with all this?! You were left behind at the mansion like a sacrificial pawn!" Subaru yelled.
"I condone everything that Roswaal-sama did. No matter how I was treated, even if I was cast aside, that wouldn't change." Ram said.
"Then you're fine with Rem being sacrificed for a stupid reason like that?!" Subaru asked and Ram gave a sharp stare at Subaru.
"I don't even know who you're talking about, but the name of a stranger means nothing to me." Ram replied.
"It's okay... their memories about me were eaten, right? Right?" Rem asked as she starts to cry after seeing she was a stranger for her sister and this is painful even if their memories were eaten. Carmilla and Felt comforted her while she's crying.
"This hurts for Rem, even if our memories about her was eaten." Puck said.
"How could you say that to your sister, Ram?" Felt asked.
"Hey! Like what you all seen earlier, our-" Ram was stopped by Otto's stare.
"You are truly pathetic even you suck at household chores. You suck at understanding the situation even once because of your master." Otto said with a bit of anger on his tone.
"Otto-kun, that's enough!" Emilia scold.
"You have fetishes for clowns, huh, Ram?" Garfiel asked with a disgusted look.
"Why did I conceal information that I should have disclosed to Emilia-sama? Why was I not present at the mansion when the Witch Cult was preparing to attack? There is but one answer to all these questions.
To ensure that I would not have to confront the Witch's Cult myself, I personally... led these events to happen. After all, if I had solved the problem myself, there would be no way for Emilia-sama, nor you, to claim any credit. It had a tremendous effect, did it not? The attitudes of the villagers of Arlam toward Emilia-sama are drastically different than they were before the Witch Cult attacked.
They now see her not as an incomprehensible relative of the witch, but as one who contributed to saving their lives." Roswaal said.
Everyone gasped at this revelation of Roswaal's reason on why he wasn't there when everything happened between Subaru's group against Betelguese and the Witch Cult.
"What did you say...?" Ferris asked in shock.
"You led this to happen, Roswaal...?" Crusch asked.
"All you wanted for is the credit they'll get from everyone? You didn't know how Subaru sacrificed his lives many times in any different loops just to save Emilia and everyone?! Do you not have any conscience on what you're doing?!" Puck angrily asked.
"Oh? Don't put all the blame on me, Puck. Remember, you did two awful things before. One is, you didn't protect Emilia-sama when she needed you the most. And second, you exposed your true colors to Subaru-kun to show how terrifying you are and to show how pathetic he is for us aaaaaall." Roswaal said.
"Shut up! I can't take this! Both of us are to blame, Roswaal! Don't act like you haven't been involved at that moment!" Puck yelled.
"You... used us...?" Emilia asked.
"And Rem... we lost her because of your selfishness... our soldiers... Anastasia's mercenaries...? How could you do this, Roswaal?!" Crusch angrily yelled.
"You damn bastard...!" Ricardo angrily uttered.
"We are not done yet! Let's hear more from the man who did all of this for Subaru and Emilia, which he would think is for the sake of everyone." Tanya said.
"Do you... have any idea what you're saying?! That's only how it looks in hindsight! Do you know how many people died because you weren't there, and didn't tell anyone anything?!" Subaru angrily yelled.
"I do express my condolences for all those on our side who were lost. Or would you rather hear me apologize?" Roswaal asked.
"No! No! No! No! That's not it! That's not what I want! If I was still useless trash that couldn't do anything, what would you have done?! If none of the villagers, or Emilia, could've been saved-" Subaru was stopped by Roswaal.
"I had faith... in you. I trusted that you would do anything in your power for Emilia-sama, give your best effort in establishing an alliance with Crusch-sama, put your life on the line to stop the Witch Cult's attack, and that you would complete all of these tasks with excellence." Roswaal said.
"I only got a little useless because of all that happened after that! And no one else even has any idea what happened after that! What made you believe in me?!" Subaru angrily asked.
"It appears tonight's conversation has reached its end. By the way, if you tell Emilia-sama what we have discussed..." Roswaal said.
"As if I could ever tell her!" Subaru said.
"Even overcome by such outrage, deep down, you understand that all is it should be. That for the sake of her chances in the royal selection, it would not do to create friction between her and myself or the villagers. I knew you would make a fitting partner in crime for me." Roswaal said.
"Now that Lia heard everything, do you have anything in your defense, Roswaal?!" Puck asked.
"Roswaal... I can't believe you... did this." Emilia uttered.
"What I did is for your sake, Emilia-sama. I know that you'll not win in the Royal Selection, so I decided to sacrifice some pieces towards a glorious victory for youuuu." Roswaal said.
"But how about the lives that were taken away because of the battle? Don't you have any conscience to their families who are waiting for them to come home?!" Felt asked.
"Roswaal-sama... how he can do this...?" Reinhard asked.
"I'm confused on how I'll treat Roswaal-sama after what we just discovered about him." Julius said.
"Roswaal-sama... why...? Why?!" Rem cried angrily at Roswaal.
"I'm sorry. I failed again." Emilia said.
"You don't have to beat yourself up so much. It looks like you can't lose your right to undergo the trial, so it all just depends on your own feelings now." Subaru said.
"My own feelings..." Emilia uttered.
"I can tell this has been hard on you. But there's no point in freeing the Sanctuary if you're not the one to do it... I think... Think you can try again... to make that happen?" Subaru said.
"So sweet!" Petra said.
"So lovely!" Mildo added.
"Hey! You're hurting someone's feelings, y'know!" Kazuma whispered while secretly pointing Rem.
"Ah! We're sorry!" The two quickly apologized.
(Lovely Music Plays)
"Subaru, you jerk." Emilia said.
"Wait, why the sudden abuse?!" Subaru whined.
"When you ask with such gentle eyes and words, how could I say I can't do it? I'm not very smart, but I do know that this is my duty. Don't spoil me. Just believe in me. I mean, I know I'm probably not very convincing right now-" Emilia said.
"That's not true! I'll be waiting, and believing in you!" Subaru said.
"Good. Thank you. But I know I'll be causing trouble for the people of Arlam. That's the one thing I regret about." Emilia said.
"Oh, about that... Would you mind leaving all that to me?" Subaru asked.
"All right. I trust you. I wouldn't start doubting you know, after all this. I trust you." Emilia said.
In the morning, villagers were gathered at every cart as they are ready to be transported somewhere.
"Anyway, I'm impressed you were able to convince Garfiel." Otto said.
"It took two whole days, though. He understands that since Emilia is already inside the barrier, setting the people of Arlam Village free won't cause any problems." Subaru said.
"I was sure he was the type that would never listen to what we had to say." Otto said.
"For a trader, you're pretty lousy judge of character." Subaru said.
"Should I take that as an insult?!" Otto cried and Daphne continued to sniff him.
"Don't get so exaggerated about negativity always, Otto-san!" Petra said.
"R-Right." Otto said.
"Victory." Daphne said while sniffing Otto.
"Ram should be the key to them convincing Garfiel, am I right?" Reinhard asked.
"Certainly." Ram said.
"Now, now, don't ya go sulk after what we discovered from your future!" Garfiel said while comforting Ram and he gets punched on the gut.
"Ouch." Al said.
Subaru is about to carry a box but he saw the cloth she tied on his hand and remembers her.
"That's quite an old-fashioned good luck charm." Ram said.
"Petra gave it to me before we left. Right after Frederica hired her as a new maid." Subaru said.
"Frederica would never do anything mean to a new recruit. She would never be that fiendish. You don't need to worry about the girl." Ram said.
"Is that how cruel am I to you, Ram?" Frederica asked with a nervous smile.
"I'm just stating to Barusu that he musn't worried about Petra in the future." Ram said.
"Even if you have those sharp claws! Roar!" Mildo teased.
'This kid...' The gods thought.
"Do you have faith in Frederica or not? I can't tell." Subaru said.
"I don't know what she's planning, but Frederica is Frederica. I have no doubt about that. Also, I have a message from Roswaal-sama.
If you're worried about having to face Frederica, turn to Beatrice-sama. And tell her this: "Roswaal said to ask the question." Ram said.
"Question?" Subaru asked.
"I don't know the details. But when Beatrice-sama hears those words, everything will change. That's what Roswaal-sama said." Ram said.
"Now that small girl is involved in this case too?!" Lucas asked.
"Mind your manners of treating me, I suppose!" Beatrice said.
"Yeah. Think about it, you've been so quiet ever since, Beatrice-sama." Rem said.
"Do I need to react to that fool's future? As if I care so much about him, I suppose!" Beatrice said.
"So you aren't worried about what we may discover in the future from you, too?" Tanya asked.
"Why would I?" Beatrice asked.
"She doesn't know how will people react in an episode where she let Subaru die." Kazuma whispered and Naofumi nodded.
"Subaru!" Emilia called.
"Hey!" Subaru called.
"Um... was I interrupting your conversation with Ram?" Emilia asked.
"Nah, no problem. We weren't talking about anything important. Besides, you take priority!" Subaru said.
"That makes me really happy, but you should give priority to the villagers right now." Emilia said.
"Sure." Subaru said. Emilia places her hand in his chest to bless him.
"May the blessing of the spirits be with you." Emilia said. The scene shifted to everyone now traveling with their carts.
"Thanks for volunteering to take us as far as the barrier." Subaru said.
"It's fine, man. Anyway, small fry... You went through a trial at the graveyard, didn't you? You don't have to hide it. I can tell." Garfiel said.
"And what's the point in asking me this?" Subaru asked.
"It's simple. You can go through the trial in Emilia-sama's place." Garfiel said.
"I can't! The precedent would-" Subaru was stopped by Garfiel.
"Is it really even necessary to overcome your past? I watched Emilia-sama go through the trial. I saw how it broke her. And every time, she comes back totally freaked out. I can't stand to watch it." Garfiel said.
"Thank you for the concern, Garfiel." Emilia said.
"I'm just worried about yer appearance after taking the trial, shall I say?" Garfiel said.
"What Garfiel can do, Kazuma-sama?" Otto whispered.
"Hm? Like his abilities? I won't spoil you." Kazuma said while shaking his head.
"I have faith that Emilia can make it through the trial. So I-" Subaru said.
"You can expect what you want from her. But does she really want to overcome her past? When she cries about how scared she is, ain't that how she really feels?" Garfiel asked.
"How Emilia... really feels? Does Emilia actually..." Subaru uttered.
"Barrier's close now. This is as far as I can take ya. Take this." Garfiel said as he gives the blue stone.
"This is..." Subaru uttered.
"I'm not gonna tell you my reasons. But if you don't come back, we're gonna be the ones suffering. Show it to Frederica if push comes to shove." Garfiel said.
"What kind of plans does Frederica really have in mind?" Rem asked.
"Rem, I'm afraid I can't answer you at this moment." Frederica said.
"This is the first time I've seen Garfiel, isn't it, to be so calm and friendly at Subaru." Echidna said.
"Shall I do it?" Kazuma asked.
"Idiot." Naofumi said.
"Steal!" Kazuma yelled at Echidna and a bright light covered the reddish area they're standing right now.
"Huh? Why do I feel cold... downwards?" Echidna asked with a small blush.
"Hm? Still black also?" Kazuma asked while swirling Echidna's panty.
"H-H-Hey! Is th-th-that my?!" Echidna cried.
"This is for making fool of Subaru's parents and his memories! And for Rem too!" Kazuma exclaimed.
"Kazuma-sama, I thank you for the concern but, I think it is..." Rem uttered.
"Kyaah! Please give it back to me! It's cold!" Echidna cried.
"When she comes here, I'll give this back to you!" Kazuma said and puts the panty on his bag.
"Why do I have to get punished?" Echidna asked.
"Because you're too greedy about that scumbag." Priscilla said.
'You're next, queen of pride!' Kazuma thought.
The scene now shifted to a reddish afternoon as everyone now went far from the barrier and they started unpacking. Subaru now arrives at the entrance of Roswaal's mansion and pats Patrasche.
"It's okay." Subaru said. He knocks on the door but no one opened the door for him and he started to enter the mansion.
"No one's here?" Subaru asked. He keeps walking around the mansion but he can't see anyone nor hear them.
"Why is this place so quiet?" Ricardo asked while walking.
"Something's not good in here." Julius said.
"Where are our future selves?" Petra asked in worry.
"I hate the color around. It's like... bloody." Al said.
"What's going on?" Subaru asked. He walked past a room opened and he realizes something.
"Rem... What about Rem?" Subaru asked and he quickly ran into Rem's room. He ran fast to the door and all of a sudden, he got stabbed in the stomach, which caused him to crash on the floor. He now starts to lose his consciousness and a blade appeared on his back.
"You promised, didn't you? That you'd take good care of your bowels until we met again." The killer who is known to be Elsa said and Subaru closes his eyes. The title "A Step Forward" appeared around.
"Subaru-kun!/Subaru!/Natsuki-san!" Everyone except some people cried at him.
"No! No! Subaru-kun!" Rem cried.
"Elsa!" Reinhard said as he prepares his sword but the title appeared and Elsa disappeared as well.
"Damn it! How did this happen?!" Garfiel angrily asked.
"Who knows? Brawnhead? Now, into the next one!" Naofumi said.
"Subaru... Subaru... not again. Subaru!" Emilia cried and Roswaal looked away with a simple smile on his face.
"Subaru..." Echidna uttered in shock and worry.