Satella now chased Subaru and Garfiel to the forest after she swallowed everyone in the Sanctuary with her shadow.
"We're goin' to the mansion?!" Garfiel asked.
"I know what's going to happen, and I have to stop it! She's drawn to me, which means-" Subaru hurriedly replied, looking back at the destruction in its wake.
"If you say we gotta use you as bait, I'm gonna bite off one of your fingers! The old hag and Ram and everyone else already got swallowed up! I'd be a disgrace if I let it get you, too!" Garfiel yelled and the two of them stopped.
"We all... got swallowed up by the shadow...?" Otto asked in horror written all over his face.
"I can say that you guys got drowned in that black oozing shadow earlier in this future. And there's no way you can swim back up to the surface." Tanya replied.
Naofumi sighed, "You're comparing the shadow engulfing around to a flood, Tanya."
"Does that mean that we are all dead in this loop?" Ram asked, her expressionless face watching her imminent future.
"Yes, child. We are already as good as dead at this point," Ryuzu replied with a monotone tone.
"I'm wondering... Why were you wearing two types of robes earlier, Ryuzu-san?" Otto had noticed this before but didn't question it up until now.
"So you didn't notice it, boy?" Ryuzu chuckled and Tanya beckoned at her with a stare.
"Notice what?" Otto was clueless, just as always.
"Nothing. You'll see why that happened, later on..." Ryuzu responded.
"She can switch two outfits faster than we can assume? That's amazing!" Mildo exclaimed, his innocent eyes shone in excitement.
"Ah, another idiot assumed she did that. Little did they know that there were multiple Ryuzus..." Tanya facepalmed, but decided to let it go. It would be brilliant to watch their reaction once they find out the truth. She couldn't wait for that to happen, palm on her mouth as she creepily smirked beneath the facade.
"The shadow... swallowed up all of them?" Subaru muttered in horror.
"Yeah... The whole ground was engulfed by the shadow before I even realized it... If Ram hadn't sent me flying with her wind, it would've gotten me, too..." Garfiel replied while gazing down, guilty of being unable to save those he held dear and loved so much.
"So Ram and Ryuzu-san were just... And Otto... And Emilia, too...? Damn it! Why now, of all times?! Subaru angrily demanded an answer, but unfortunately, no one was able to reply.
Nothing like this had ever happened in his previous loops.
Why did it happen?
"Who's there?!" As he was thinking about the whole tragedy, he heard the sound of bushes moving from behind them.
One by one, small figures stepped in front of Subaru, seemingly bearing the same face, clothes, and expressions, albeit their eyes held no life nor soul.
The clones of Ryuzu arrived to assist both of them and in order for them to defeat their enemy, they were a vital source of power.
"Ah! There's so many of them!" Otto yelled out.
"What do you expect from the clones, Otto?" Kazuma asked mischievously.
Al gazed at the screen seemingly confused, "Where did they come from? And how could they be of help to them? They are so small!"
"Decoys or baits, probably. They'll be sacrificed for that pathetic Subaru." Priscilla spoke, fanning herself with her beautiful ornament fan.
"Subaru, give me a go signal. I'll choke her to death." Satella muttered with a sharp piercing gaze, penetrating the very soul of Priscilla, but she was confident enough to maintain her calm.
'Everything around this world revolves around me after all! Hmph! Just try to do something!' She mused as she hid her smile behind her fan.
"Ah, no, no, no! Don't do that! Don't kill anyone! Everyone relax!" Subaru sounded really desperate, almost unable to hold Satella back.
"What kind of joke is this?" Subaru asked, resting his gaze on the small figures.
"I was hopin' you wouldn't have to see this," Garfiel answered with a heavy sigh.
"Are those...clones of Ryuzu-san?"
Garfiel shook his hand and explained, "Don't worry about them. They ain't her. They're empty on the inside. No soul."
"What are you planning to do?" Subaru inquired. The situation was already hopeless and he knew he had to reset either way but still...
"What do you think? We're gonna bust through with sheer numbers and crush it!" Garfiel replied, clenching his fists in anger and slowly transforming into his enormous feline form.
"Do you think it will work against her? You've heard him say that the shadow had swallowed everyone just like that... So, how are those numbers you have, going to have a chance of beating her?" Julius asked, feeling that the chances of winning were rather low if not null.
"We won't know if my future self won't try!" Garfiel yelled.
"It will lead you to your death. There is no other choice but to reset now, I swear," Echidna sneered.
Garfiel bared his fangs towards the usually quiet Echidna, "Huh!? Wanna say that again!?"
"She's no ordinary witch. That kind of simple plan won't stop her from getting what she wants. You're just committing suicide by attacking her. Should have just left and prayed for your life."
Sehkmet stretched and let out a loud yawn, "I agree with Echidna. There's no way you can scratch her with those cheap dolls. It might make her angrier though."
"Why are you always yawning?!" Otto yelled, but once everyone's sight was glued back at the street, he did the same.
It seemed like everyone was already used to his usual outbursts.
Satella now stood behind Garfiel and the clones of Ryuzu as she had finally caught up to them.
"I love you," She whispered.
"There you are!" Garfiel shouted as he transformed into his feline form and lunged towards Satella. But the witch effortlessly caught him within her shadows and stopped him in mid-air.
"Go!" Garfiel yelled. The clones dashed towards Satella with their numbers, but they explode as they get hit with the shadow spikes of the witch.
Due to this, Garfiel managed to break free and jumped high in the air to launch himself to Satella so sliced off her head in one huge swing, but he got impaled by her shadow and it burst out of his body, his body parts lifelessly hitting the ground, as a pool of crimson blood appeared in front of her.
"I love you," She spoke yet again, ignoring that she had just killed tens of clones and Garfiel in a matter of seconds.
"Tch! Damn it." Garfiel gritted and looked away.
"Aren't you scared that you got killed so brutally?!" Otto cried out, questioning his friend.
"And why the hell should I?! I know that the loop will be changed so I don't give a damn!" Garfiel yelled back at him, "But still...I am pissed off that I was unable to do anything!"
"The clones didn't work against her. At least you tried your best to hold Satella away from Young Su." Ryuzu consoled him.
"Unlike any other villain, she'll just say she loves Subaru-kyun after she kills someone. Talk about being terrifying." Ferris muttered.
"Shut up..." Subaru uttered.
"I love you. I love you. I love you." Satella said repeatedly while waving her body left and right.
"Shut up!"
"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. Subaru-kun..."
"Don't you dare call me that!" Subaru furiously roared.
"How dare you call Subaru-kun so casually!" Rem indignantly stated.
"Subaru..." Emilia stated, caressing her silver hair.
"Well, she loves him after all. So she has the right to say that." Naofumi responded.
"Even if Subaru hates her?" Reinhard asked, but he didn't get a reply.
"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you..."
"Cut the crap! The first real "I love you" I was given in this world was so powerful, it made me think a loser like me could actually become a hero! The number one and number two places in my heart are already taken! There's no room in here for you!" Subaru added.
"I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you."
"Compared to you, I'd have an easier time loving Echidna or any of the other witches!" Subaru screamed and just like that, Satella stopped moving, creepily gazing his way.
"Eh? You didn't have to say that to her, Subaru..." Echidna said with a flustered look on her face.
"Hah! Take that, Satella!" Minerva yelled, happily punching the air with her fists.
"Baru likes us more than you, Tella. How unfortunate." Typhon teased her.
"You guys... Why are you..." Satella with a sobbing expression.
"Eh?! Are you crying because of that?!" Subaru was filled with shock.
"That's odd to see her crying like that," Halibel replied.
"Subaru-kun... Why are you so... persistent..." Roswaal bitterly uttered.
"Oof! Someone's getting pissed!" Kazuma taunted Roswaal who in return didn't seem to care about it at all.
"Who? Where?" Mildo asked but Ram smacked the boy's head.
'Why is Roswaal-sama getting angry?' Ram stared at his lone figure.
The Witch now rushed into Subaru and swallowed him alive into the pool of shadows in which she used to swallow everyone earlier.
"Subaru!" Everyone yelled.
"Did she eat Subaru?! Waaaah! Subaru!" Mildo, the little kid started crying.
"What did she do?!" Otto asked.
"It's impossible for her to kill him. Maybe she imprisoned him somewhere else. In a place that's under her control." Echidna responded.
"I love you. I love you. I love you. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me."
"This isn't... death," Subaru uttered.
"Love me. Love me. Love me."
"Why does she love Subaru-kun? Why? Can you give us small spoilers, gods?" Rem begged.
"Should we?" Kazuma asked the others.
"An episode, later on, will explain why Satella loves Subaru and chose him to have that power. But I guess, giving them a little hint would enlighten their minds on why that damn witch loves him." Tanya agreed with it.
"I agree. But we should explain it in a small but proper way." Ainz also concluded.
"Yeah." Naofumi accepted their proposition.
"The reason why that Witch loves Subaru is that... Subaru was the one who gave light to her life, the person that allowed her to see the outside world, and he was by her side when she needed him the most." Kazuma spoke.
Some of them were confused about this and some still couldn't believe this was the real reason she loved him.
"You mean, what Subaru sees around, does that mean, Satella can see it too?" Emilia asked.
"Not really. Although Satella felt happy that Subaru was with her, she can feel at ease as if she was freed from the seal that locks her in." Naofumi replied. (If you want to add corrections, please do add them in here.)
"It shall all be unveiled soon, everyone. Everything we just said is a complete truth." Ainz stated.
"I would prefer to wait for the moment when the Witch herself tells why she loves that pathetic man. Kazuma-sama! Please!" Priscilla begged Kazuma who ran away while swirling the undies of Priscilla.
"The shadow is surrounding me... engulfing me... It's just... going to keep loving me... forever?"
"Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me. Love me."
"Here we go... The face-reveal of Satella..." Tanya muttered.
"Face reveal? Does that mean we'll see if she really is that stinking half-degenerate? Great!" Priscilla asked and gave Emilia a menacing stare.
"Priscilla!" Puck furiously roared.
"Stop it!" Wilhelm spoke in a low tone.
"Are you an adult, or a child? Behave yourself. Gods are watching." Echidna mumbled.
"Petra's handkerchief... Did Echidna... know this was going to happen?! That damn witch!" Subaru grunted. The handkerchief on his wrist shined brightly and slowly took a shape of what resembled a blade.
Being out of options, he was forced to stab himself with it to escape from Satella's hold and go to the next loop.
The witch saw Subaru killing himself and let out a gasp of shock, not expecting he would do something like that.
Subaru on the other hand slowly reached for Satella's veil and removed it. Silence had befallen the place.
The last thing he had witnessed before forever closing his eyes, was the witch's appearance, which looked nearly identical to that of Emilia.
"Eh... Eh...?" Otto's mouth was wide open, and he without a doubt looked just like everyone else who was currently watching the screen.
There was no longer any doubt...
Emilia was the Witch of Envy.
Satella's true face was that of Emilia.
Many people's expressions glowed with anger, and they all directed it at Emilia.
Some of them were still shocked and couldn't take their eyes off of Satella.
"I knew it! It was you! You are Satella, the Witch of Envy! Disgusting half-breed!" Priscilla proudly exclaimed. She knew she was right all along.
"Wait, wait!" Emilia tried to calm everyone down.
"We were right! You are the witch of Envy!"
"Wait a minute! It isn't Lia, everyone!" Puck puck was also trying to explain but couldn't, no one was listening.
"You can't fool us anymore, Satella! How can you explain that person we're seeing right now?! Your twin? A clone of yours?!"
"Why are you still trying to defend yourself!? It's as clear as day!"
"We believed that you weren't the Witch of Envy, Emilia-sama. But what's the meaning of this?! How can you do this to us, and to Subaru-sama?!" The villagers yelled in anger and also directed it at Emilia.
"Please, everyone, let me talk-" Emilia was stopped by another villager who threw an apple at her.
"Huh? Where did that apple come from?" Kazuma asked.
"Emilia-sama..." Rem uttered.
"These people..." Ram added, ready to use her wind magic if it came to the worst.
"Hey! Stop throwing rocks! Where did it come from?!" Otto asked while standing in front of Emilia.
"Why are you doing this?! Why do you keep haunting us and Subaru-sama?! Why? Why?!" The villager yelled, almost crying. They had enough of this whole thing.
"Is this true...? Emilia..." Crusch uttered, still in disbelief.
"I knew it. You were the Witch of Envy..." Ferris angrily declared. "I will protect Crush-nya from you! Don't you dare come close, nya!"
"Emilia-sama..." Wilhelm also wasn't sure what to think. The resemblance was uncanny, but they couldn't paint the picture of the whole situation yet. So it wasn't wise to draw to the conclusion yet. There must have been some other explanation.
"Ooh. This is surprising, right Emilia, or shall I call you, Satella?" Anastasia smirked.
"That's not true! I am not Satella!" Emilia cried.
"Yes, you are! Stop lying! The revelation is here and you still dare to reject who you are?!" One villager asked.
"There must be a misunderstanding about this..." Reinhard spoke, he stood in front of Emilia, defending her from incoming apples and rocks with his divine protection.
"I agree. It could be that she has the same looks as Emilia-sama but that's not Emilia-sama for sure!" Julius added.
"If it's a different person, why does she look like Emilia-sama? That just concludes that she has a connection with her, if you still insist that it wasn't Emilia-sama right now in our faces, then explain that!" Al shouted.
"Crap, look at the massive confusion and hatred they're showing towards Emilia, well...it was to be expected," Halibel frowned.
"Emilia..." Subaru silently whispered. He himself wasn't sure about anything, but he knew that no matter what the truth was, he would be staying on her side.
"Poor Emilia..." Satella uttered while looking at Emilia who got attacked by the harsh words of the villagers and everyone from Lugunica.
"Stop!" Ainz roared and everyone fell silent after the thunderous roar that echoed in the huge room.
"Everyone, calm down. We aren't done watching the second part of Subaru's story, yet, you are all barking at Emilia like a bunch of stray dogs. Does this small revelation make you think Satella is Emilia? Because they look the same? Don't you dare throw another apple or other projectile at Emilia or I'll grab a Panzer from nowhere and order it to blast your head!" Tanya warned the villager who was about to grab another apple from his bag.
"You're ruining the apples, young man!" Kadomon shook his head. "Let's watch, as the gods had said, we might get a plausible explanation soon, there is nothing we can do now." The vendor added.
"Panzer? What is that?" Kazuma asked.
"Something dangerous." He didn't know who replied but decided to drop the issue.
"All of these pathetic humans go rage and act crazy after an incomplete revelation of the witch herself. An explanation would make it complete and will let these people know if Satella is really Emilia." Tanya spoke, shaking her head.
"I... swear... I'm going... to save you." Subaru uttered while wiping Satella's tears. He soon woke up in a new timeline and coughed loudly after what happened.
"See?! Subaru even did say that to Satella! That concludes that it is Emilia-sama who is the Witch of Envy!" One villager asked.
"And does that count as an explanation on Emilia being the Witch, huh?! Is that an explanation, villager?!" Tanya angrily asked.
"Eek! N-No, Ma'am." The villager replied in a bit angry, yet scared tone.
"Stand straight and face me. Don't you dare throw anything at someone whom you accuse as the Witch of Envy if everything about them isn't explained completely! Do you understand?!" Tanya angrily asks as she hits the villager with her rifle in their knees and points the rifle in his face.
"Hey Tanya, you're going too far," Naofumi uttered.
"This is how their leaders should discipline their soldiers. What do you want me to do? Let them do whatever they want?" Tanya coldly asked.
"Jeez, I'm just saying what's good for them," Naofumi uttered.
"I made it back. Emilia!" Subaru called as he tried to touch Emilia but he started shaking and couldn't reach her.
"What?" Subaru asked. He grabbed his hand and his teeth started to tremble.
"Why am I shaking? I can't... actually be... Emi... lia..." Subaru uttered and now touches her face.
"Subaru? Where... Wait, I was just... Subaru? Why... do you look like you're in so much pain?" Emilia asked and touched his face. Subaru had a shocked expression while looking at Emilia and he started to cry.
"It's alright. It's all right, Subaru. I'm right here, see? I'm right here." Emilia said while comforting him.
"Wait a minute. If she wasn't the Witch of Envy, why is she at the Sanctuary now?" Mildo asked.
"Because in the different loop, she returns to her caring innocent expression and tries to charm Subaru with her antics!" One villager replied.
"Huh? Is that even a considerable reason for you to get angry at Lia?" Puck angrily asked.
"Throw one more apple or I'll beat you up..." Kadomon warned.
"Oh, crap. That old man's scary, he considers apples highly valuable. No one will ever feel like throwing apples again." Felt whispered.
"Mhm..." Old Man Rom said.
"So... You were supposed to help Emilia-sama, but you only caused trouble for her. Why are you even alive?" Ram asked as Emilia and Subaru met them outside of the graveyard.
"After you came in hoping to help me, it's really a shame you got so worried that you started crying," Emilia said.
"Emilia-tan, you're gonna make me cry again," Subaru said in an awful look.
"But you're always the one helping me. So a part of me is relieved that you let me see this weaker side of you." Emilia said.
"I'd rather not let you see that side of me, though," Subaru said.
"Huh? Why not?" Emilia asked.
"Because I only want you to see the part of me that's trying to look good. I want you to forget that I'm actually a weak, helpless loser." Subaru said.
"It's good to hear he knows his true worth," Ram said.
"Whose side are you, Ram?" Otto asked.
"Loser. Hahaha! Pathetic!" Priscilla said. She felt cold underneath her and gets tickled by it.
"Why is it... so cold...?" Priscilla asked.
"Since you are one hell of a pathetic woman, I stole this from you," Kazuma said as he swirls Priscilla's underwear.
"I-Is that...?!" Priscilla asked in shock.
"Ooh. Lingerie red panty, huh?" Al asked.
"D'oh!" Reinhard gulped in shock as they saw a royal candidate's underwear and some knights tried to look away from it.
"H-Hey! Can I get my undies back?!" Priscilla cried.
"You've been too annoying from the beginning against Subaru, Priscilla. Now, this is the time for you to get annoyed by not wearing any underwear with you. Suffer." Tanya coldly said.
"I'll decide when I will give this back to you. Since you're a nasty woman!" Kazuma yelled.
"Please! I'll do anything! Just give me my underwear back!" Priscilla cried.
"It is out of character of her to see her like that. But when it comes to personal items such as that, I can't blame her." Ainz said.
"She had a good choice, huh?" Kazuma said while looking at Priscilla's underwear.
"Kazuma-sama!" Priscilla cried and tried to beg him but Al stopped her.
"Using Steal without chanting... it is terrifying. Damn, Kazuma..." Tanya sighed.
"Hey! I'm not going to hate you just because you showed me a moment of weakness!" Emilia pouted.
"Hah. That pride isn't very convincing after you've just bawled your eyes out." Ram said.
"Do you have to rain on my parade every single time?!" Subaru asked.
"Now, now. Ram-san's attitude is just how she shows she's worried." Otto said and Ram gives him a death stare which made him shiver in fear.
"Is that true, sister?" Rem asked.
"Hmph!" Ram looked away from her twin.
"Eh..." Rem chuckled.
"I guess my future self was right." Otto chuckled and Ram pinched his ear.
Subaru looked at Garfiel who didn't talk to him, made him look worried but Garfiel suddenly smiled.
"Yeah. I wasn't sure what was gonna happen for a minute, but I'm glad ya made it back all right. I guess a little breeze won't knock the ganglion fruit off the tree, and that ain't nothin' to sneeze at!" Garfiel laughed and smacked Subaru's shoulder.
"Wait... that's it?" Subaru asked in confusion.
"Huh?" Garfiel asked in a friendly tone.
"Why did you become friendly towards Barusu, Garf?" Ram asked.
"Why are ya askin' that nonsense question?! How should I know..." Garfiel angrily asked.
"This is a good start for Subaru in this loop. Everything seems to be fine..." Puck said.
'Well, if nothing else, Garfiel isn't hostile right now. The trial didn't break Emilia's spirit, and Garfiel is still maintaining his neutral stance. This is the best starting point I've had so far.
Now I just need to work out what I can test, and what I can bring back. I have to make use of this the best I can.' Subaru thought.
"Ram, there's something I want to talk to you about," Subaru said as Garfiel and Ryuzu can be seen walking away from the house.
"Pervert," Ram said.
"You're jumping to conclusions and making me sound bad!" Subaru cried.
"Hmph," Ram said.
"Sister..." Rem uttered.
"What? I'm just fooling around with him. Heh." Ram smugged.
"For me, she's pretty... weird," Ainz said.
"Probably another low-key goofball," Naofumi uttered.
"Goofball?!" Kazuma asked.
"For one thing, I've never looked at you in that way!" Subaru said.
"True. You usually look very vague. What is it that you want to ask of me?" Ram asked.
"It's about Garfiel. I'm about to do something behind his back, and there's a good chance he'll try to interfere. So I want you to keep him here." Subaru said with a serious look.
"I don't like that look in your eyes, Barusu," Ram said.
"Get over your weird suspicions, would you?" Subaru asked.
"Very well, then," Ram said.
"Thanks, I appreciate it," Subaru said.
"Ten favors in return will do." Ram quickly said.
"That's a lot!" Subaru cried.
"Ram knows how to be funny and at the same time, also to ruin a serious moment for the both of us." Subaru sighed.
"Well, she's Ram after all. You can't blame her for that." Halibel said.
"I wonder what would be the ten favors that she wants?" Satella asked.
"And you were thinking it too seriously, Satella?" Subaru sighed.
Subaru now runs around into the forest to look for the place he was before in the previous loops.
'When I was inside that shadow, I merged with many consciousnesses. Those were probably her victims' memories. It's all disjointed fragments, but I was able to bring back more than my own life is worth. Now all that's left is to verify those memories.'
"Found it," Subaru said as he found the cave he's looking for. He found a hole to place the glowing stone Garfiel used before to open a secret door and placed his to it. A blinding light covers his eyes and as the door opens, he finds a huge crystal with the true body of Ryuzu Myers on it.
"Is this... Ryuzu-san?" Subaru asked in shock.
"I never expected you to discover it only half a day after arriving here, Young Su." The clone of the true Ryuzu Meyer said from behind together with another clone.
"Wait for a second! If that's the true Ryuzu san, then..." Reinhard uttered.
"The one we're seeing in that crystal might be the true Ryuzu Meyer." Puck replied.
"Eh? Eh?! Eh?!" Otto cried.
"How can we know the differences between you... four...?" Felt asked in shock as the 4 Ryuzus met everyone from nowhere.
"Now... there's four of them... What's going... on?" Otto asked and fainted.
"Otto...!" Carmilla cried and rushed to Otto.
"Otto! Don't die! We'll have a feast later! So don't die!" Daphne yelled.
"Ah... Simps..." Sehmket yawned.
"Where did you learn that word?!" Ainz asks and Sehkmet points to Kazuma who keeps twirling Priscilla's undies.
"What?" Kazuma asked while stopping Priscilla who begs to get her undies back.
"I'm sorry if I didn't introduce myself properly to everyone around here," Ryuzu said.
"You weren't wearing different types of robes but you were letting the other clones take your place in dealing with Subaru, am I right?" Reinhard asked.
"Yes. And I know it was confusing for some of you about who we really are." Ryuzu said.
"It was a memory. The memory of someone who was swallowed up by the Witch of Envy, someone who knew of this place. Is the girl on the left the one who led me here this afternoon?" Subaru asked.
"That is unlikely. This girl is one of the guards assigned to this place. It was another who met you in the forest. One of the Sanctuary's eyes, nothing more." Ryuzu said.
"There's something I want to ask you. After that, I'd like to request your help, if possible." Subaru said.
"I shall not ignore your request, Young Su, Apostle of Greed. That is... what has been written in the contract that binds us, the copies of Ryuzu Meyer." Ryuzu said. The three of them return to the house and the clone known as Ryuzu Blima holds Subaru's tracksuit shirt.
"She seems awfully attached to me..." Subaru uttered.
"You do know who is responsible for creating this place, do you not?" Ryuzu asked
"I think it was the Witch of Greed, Echidna, right?" Subaru asked.
"Yes, this is a land built by said witch's hand, an experimental facility meant to fulfill said witch's dream," Ryuzu replied.
"What was she experimenting on?" Subaru asked.
"Can you not see it right in front of you? Was there not a girl who looked just like me trapped within the magic crystal? That was the truth, the first, Ryuzu Meyer. All the other Ryuzus, including myself, are copies of her. We are imitations. Does knowing that I am an imitation change how you see me?" Ryuzu asked.
"I don't know. I'd really like to say that it doesn't. I would, but..." Subaru uttered.
"How kind you are, Young Su. Our replica bodies are built upon cores of artificial od that have been produced by magic. Those cores are wrapped in mana and given physical form, resulting in these bodies." Ryuzu said.
"Wait, you're talking about literally creating life! Why the heck would she do an experiment like that?" Subaru asked.
"To add something to those bodies, obviously. Specifically, to add personalities, memories, and knowledge... In other words, a soul. She filled Ryuzu Meyer's body with her own being, and each time a body perished, she would make a new vessel to inherit its soul, which would make her..." Ryuzu uttered.
"...basically immortal. So that's it! That's why she kept acting so familiar with me!" Subaru said.
'My Return of Death makes me basically immortal, too. Was she just happy to find a kindred spirit?'
"You... What are your true motives against Subaru?" Emilia asked.
"I hope it wasn't the one that I was thinking about," Reinhard said.
"And what could it be, Reinhard-sama?" Rem asked. Tanya and the other gods read Reinhard's mind and it was exactly what Echidna's plans are so they stopped him.
"And that is-" Reinhard stopped as Ainz plants a gooey slime on his mouth.
"Eh?!" Emilia and Rem asked.
"He is about to spoil everyone if he says it. We read his mind and his hunch about Echidna's plans are all accurate. I'm sorry but we're not gonna let you say it." Tanya said.
"O-Oh..." Rem uttered.
"Safe..." Echidna uttered in relief.
"How unfortunate..." Al uttered.
"So was Echidna's experiment a success?" Subaru asked.
"No, Echidna's soul was not inherited. The witch's plans only came to pass in an imperfect form." Ryuzu said.
"An imperfect form?" Subaru asked.
"Ryuzu Meyer was an insufficient vessel to house the Witch of Greed," Ryuzu replied.
"And she couldn't have figured that out before she tried it?" Subaru asked.
"After the witch's death, this facility remains, and more copies continue to be produced. Since our bodies are made up of mana, our saving grace is that we require no resources to survive. *sips tea*" Ryuzu said.
"Looks like you're drinking tea, though," Subaru said.
"This is merely a hobby of mine. An individual quirk that I acquired over my long life. I was one of the first four copies made, 400 years ago now. I was given the wisdom and personality to manage the ever-increasing copies, as well as the Sanctuary." Ryuzu said.
"You were created that way?" Subaru asked.
"I did suffer at first. I had no memories, only a job to do. I know not how many years passed before I truly felt as if I were alive..." Ryuzu said, making Subaru feel sorry for her.
"I'm sorry to hear that from you, Ryuzu-san," Ferris said.
"It's okay. I have endured the pain through all those years and still survived." Ryuzu said.
"If a kid like Mildo or a crybaby like Otto would be in Ryuzu's position, maybe they won't last a year," Naofumi said.
"Please don't make Otto... look awful... Naofumi sama..." Carmilla sobbed.
"O-Oh... Okay..." Naofumi uttered while blushing.
"Hey!" Tanya and Ainz elbowed Naofumi from the side.
"Wh-What?" Naofumi asked in an annoyed tone.
"But what about me?! No one's gonna care for me?!" Mildo cried.
"There will be people who'll care for you if you survive the battle against the USSR when I send you to my world soon," Tanya said with a menacing stare.
"Nooooo!" Mildo cried and some kids looked at him in a weird way.
"What did they do to you...Mildo...?" Lucas asked.
"Poor fat boy..." Felt uttered.
"Now, do not look so sad. In my own way, I have come to find significance in fulfilling my purpose." Ryuzu said.
"Okay, and what did you mean by "Apostle of Greed" earlier?" Subaru asked.
"Put simply, it refers to the one who has the right to command us copies of Ryuzu Meyer. Did the witch not bestow upon you as a symbol of her apostlehood in the graveyard?" Ryuzu asked.
"What kind of symbol?" Subaru asked.
"A part of her body, such as a strand of hair or a fingernail," Ryuzu said. Subaru remembers drinking Echidna'a bodily fluids back at the tea party.
"Wait, the Chidna tea?!" Subaru asked in shock.
"Chidna tea?" Ryuzu asked.
"What a cute name for my bodily fluids..." Echidna said with a gleeful look.
"Hmmm..." Roswaal uttered in a pissed tone.
"What's wrong, Roswaal?" Crusch asked.
"Ah, nothing," Roswaal replied with a grin, however his closed eyes were twitching up and down, indicating he was angry.
'Why does he sound annoyed and angry when he reacts to Subaru's expressions towards her?' She thought in suspicion.
"That clown's suspicious..." Old Man Rom uttered.
"She got me to drink her bodily fluids cleverly disguised as tea, twice," Subaru said.
"So you ingested a part of the witch. All joking aside, that surely must be it." Ryuzu said.
"That brat! What the hell did she make me drink?!" Subaru angrily asked.
"Ehehe..." Echidna uttered.
"Why so proud about it?" Puck asked in an annoyed look.
"This is getting crazy now... Echidna's showing a different personality towards everyone so that no one can realize her true motives in this one." Kazuma said.
"Because one day... these people around her will surely get mad at her," Naofumi said.
"So, let her do whatever she wants. To prevent them or us from spoiling some major details." Ainz said.
"Wait...If the right to command the copies is what makes someone her apostle... Did Garfiel enter the graveyard and undergo the trial, too?" Subaru asked and Ryuzu nodded.
"Ryuzu-san... Don't tell Garfiel that I'm an Apostle of Greed, or that we've been in touch," Subaru said.
"And why would you do that?" Garfiel asked in a pissed look.
"Hey, hey. That doesn't mean he'll beat your ass later on for him to escape the Sanctuary. I know he's up for something that can benefit your side and his side." Kadomon said.
"Hmm... Seems enough for me to convince you to not get angry with this..." Garfiel uttered.
"Young Gar certainly would have something to say if he knew that a relative of his was meeting with his lover," Ryuzu said.
Garfiel suddenly realized this situation and this made him get even angrier. Rem and Ram noticed it and they tried to stop him, but Otto, who just woke up, pats his shoulder.
"Why get angry, Garfiel? Maybe that was just an example from Ryuzu-san. Don't get offended so quickly about it." Otto said.
"Otto...!" Carmilla calls and slowly hugs Otto from behind.
"Ah! So you're not dead? Wonderful!" Daphne greeted.
"H-Hey! I'm just fine..." Otto chuckled.
"Hmph. Better that one was an example in the future, Old hag..." Garfiel mumbled.
"That was incredibly mean, plus it would make me incredibly sinful! But, yeah, I guess we're okay, then. I'll probably need your help again in the future. I hope I can count on you." Subaru said.
"Do as you please. I cannot defy you. Should you need a Garfiel war, or a hug pillow-" Ryuzu was stopped by Subaru.
"Could you stop making me sound like some guy who's eternally frustrated?! I'll need you to keep up the good work as an eye," Ryuzu said on the clone and it walked away.
"Thanks, Ryuzu-san. By the way, you said the original surname was Meyer, but yours is Bilma, right? Where'd that come from?" Subaru asked.
"To go by the name "Ryuzu" is the duty that had been instilled in me. Therefore, we just express our individuality in other ways, such as hobbies, preferences... and names. Say, Young Su...
If you do not mind, would you ask me the same question again... after tomorrow?" Ryuzu asked. Subaru now wanders into the forest after his talk with Ryuzu.
"I need to get everyone safely back to the village somehow," Subaru said and he remembers the tragic deaths he had before, including the one with the Witch of Envy.
'I don't want to go through that again.'
"Subaru? What are you doing out here? Hey... it's a real shock when you act super-duper spooked like that." Emilia says from nowhere as she meets him in the forest.
"Super-duper? Who says that in this day and age?" Subaru asked.
"I guess I was worried for nothing," Emilia said.
"I wasn't doing anything worth worrying about. Everything's fine." Subaru said. He stopped as he realized the beauty of Emilia while wearing a white robe around her sleeping attire.
"Emilia-sama, you're beautiful in that kind of attire," Julius said.
"Well, thank you, Julius," Emilia said with a smile.
"She looks like a goddess..." Dyne said.
"Yeah. She's so pretty..." Petra said.
"Simps," Kazuma said.
"You almost look like a fairy, Emilia-tan," Subaru said.
"Hey! You shouldn't say mean things like that about someone! Even I can get angry, you know." Emilia said.
"It was supposed to be a compliment!" Subaru whined.
"Fairies are a type of evil spirit, aren't they? You won't fool me into thinking that's a compliment!" Emilia pouted.
"Another pick-up line failed by the cultural barrier! Anyway, what're you doing walking around here so late at night? If Puck were here, he'd tell you that's bad for your skin." Subaru said.
"I guess, um... I have no excuse for that. I just haven't been able to sleep since then, so I went for a walk to feel the night breeze for a bit." Emilia said.
"Because you're worried about the trial?" Subaru asked.
"It's not that. No... maybe it is. But I'm not entirely sure what it is myself. I was walking around hoping to figure it out... I guess. I really wish... Puck was here." Emilia said.
"I'm sorry if I wasn't there for you Lia in the future..." Puck said while looking at Lia from the future.
"It's okay, Puck. My future self would understand this too if I were in her place." Emilia said.
"As if you were really courageous enough to face all of those challenges I set for you," Echidna mumbled.
"Are you saying something?" Sehkmet asked.
"Nothing." Echidna replied.
"I guess no matter where I go, I'll always be a pinch-hitter," Subaru said.
"Huh?" Emilia asked and Subaru stood up and walked forward.
"You're amazing, Emilia. No one would blame you for wanting to run away from this. But you face it head-on without backing down. I respect that." Subaru said.
"Wh-What brought this on all of a sudden?" Emilia asked.
"It's not sudden. I've always thought that I just couldn't say it until now." Subaru said.
"Subaru..." Emilia uttered.
"I don't know how much help I can be to you, but I'll say what I feel out loud. You're gonna be fine, Emilia. I know you'll get it done. I'm on your side." Subaru said and placed his fist on his chest.
"Yeah. Thank you. Really, you've given me so much courage." Emilia said.
"It's okay, Rem..." Kazuma said to Rem.
"Eh? I-I'm fine!" Rem said and gave Kazuma a smile. Even deep inside, she felt a bit jealous.
"Hey! Stop being annoying, will you?!" Tanya angrily asked.
"Yes, ma'am!" Kazuma saluted and walked back to their place.
"Natsuki-san, you're back? You were gone for so long. I was worried about you. I thought you'd wandered into the forest and gotten lost." Otto said as he woke up and saw Subaru entering the church.
"What are you, an overprotective mother?" Subaru asked.
"At least let me be the father," Otto said.
"*sobs* I want to meet him, son! He acts like your best friend from another world! And I like his way of caring towards you!" Kenichi said.
"Heh... Yeah, he is, dad. Even though we had our ups and downs before on the first season." Subaru said.
"What a caring friend he is, Subaru," Naoko said.
"Aside from that, he has a unique Divine Protection with him. One that enables the user to talk with all sorts of living creatures, however, the user speaks in the language of the creature they're talking with, making the user look shady to others." Satella said.
"I don't give a damn about the consequences of his Divine Protection for as long as he is a wonderful person around my son!" Kenichi said while sobbing.
"Stop crying about it dad, will you?!" Subaru whined.
"Natsuki-san, I know you've had a hard time lately, but you can always talk to me if it'll help," Otto added.
"This guy says the weirdest things in his sleep. Gross." Subaru spoke, frowning.
"Is that what you say to someone who was worried about you?!" Otto yelled and quickly covered his mouth to prevent the other villagers from waking up.
"Just be quiet and sleep. If your little outbursts get the villagers riled up, we're all in for it." Subaru said.
"Um... I didn't mean that as a joke." Otto said.
"I know, I know. That's exactly why I can't tell you." Subaru mumbled to himself.
'I'm going alone.'
Emilia, I'm going back to Roswaal's mansion to take care of something. It's something I can't tell Ram, Roswaal, or the villagers about. So you don't need to worry about anything. I'll be back as soon as I'm done.
Subaru wrote this letter as he tends to go alone in his mission to Roswaal's mansion without including Ram and Otto in his plan. He places the letter outside of Emilia's room before he leaves.
"I'm in a world where it's assumed that I'll redo everything, so it's not like it even makes sense to do this," Subaru said and walked away. He does not get Patrasche and prepares her for the ride.
"Let's go, Patrasche." He said and they already left.
'Even if this world will disappear, even if I'll end up leaving it behind, I don't want Emilia to look sad. My goal is to win at the Roswaal mansion. I need to figure out exactly what's going on there. If I don't know that, there's no way I can deal with it. But if I can find out, I can even ask Echidna for help.'
"Subaru will..." Julius uttered.
"He's trying to figure out how things will play out in the Roswaal mansion by making different plans this time. So that whenever he dies there, in the other loop, he can start making a plan to stop that event. Subaru's clever..." Reinhard said.
"I'm grateful that I am also included in this plan he has." Echidna said.
"If those things attack the mansion again, then how will Subaru-kun find a way to stop them if the events before will be the same thing to happen again in the future?" Rem asked.
"That's why he needs to go there to know what is the exact plan of the enemy there. And find a way to stop them." Ram said.
"I'll do as many tests as I have to. There's something only I can do." Subaru said. Patrasche stopped as Garfiel was waiting on the road.
"Hah! So much energy first thing in the morning. That's one damn gutsy ground dragon ya got there." Garfiel said.
"Garfiel's gonna stop him again!" Otto said.
"Just let him go!" Minerva yelled.
"Heh! Say that to my future self over there! Go!" Garfiel yelled.
"There seems to be a misunderstanding between you and me," Subaru said.
"A misunderstanding? Like hell there is! You and your witch stench are goin' out to do somethin' evil, aren't ya?" Garfiel asked.
"I won't deny smelling bad, but why bring it up now? You didn't say anything about it yesterday. Looks like that was an inconvenient question for you. It's written all over your face, Garfiel." Subaru said.
"Stop it. Don't go makin' me more pissed off than I already am." Garfiel said and pins Subaru to a tree. Patrasche roared at Garfiel as she dislikes what he is doing to him.
"Don't even think about it, ground dragon! One move and your precious master gets smashed!" Garfiel yelled at the ground dragon and Subaru can be seen smirking at him.
"What're you smirking about?!" He angrily asked.
"You... You're so easy... to read..." Subaru uttered.
"Huh?!" Garfiel yelled.
"Now I've got a good idea of what gets a reaction out of you, and what makes you mad," Subaru replied. He smiled more and this made Garfiel drop him.
"Looks like you lost there, beasty boy," Al said.
"What did ya just call me?!" Garfiel angrily yelled.
"Every word Barusu spits out of his mouth, whether you agree or not, it makes you pissed, right?" Ram said.
"Now calm down, Garfiel. We don't want to put you to rest if you dare to attack someone in here." Naofumi said.
"I ain't gonna attack anyone in here!" Garfiel yelled.
"You bastard! You were testing me?! You're insane! What the hell do you think you're riskin' your life for?!" Garfiel angrily asked.
"If my life was enough, it'd do pretty damn well with the end result. Keep an open mind and key me off the hook, would you?" Subaru asked.
"If I let you go now, can you guarantee you aren't gonna do anything bad to us later?" Garfiel asked.
"I won't betray Emilia, and I won't do anything bad to the Sanctuary. Trust me. Garfiel, I know you're hiding something. But I'm going to find out what it is. I swear!" Subaru said.
"Shut up!" Garfiel yelled.
"So long as I don't give up, there are no secrets. You'd be wasting your time trying to stop me." Subaru said.
"What do you wanna do to this place?! To us?!" Garfiel angrily asked.
"I told you what my goal is: to help Emilia. I have no intention of doing any harm to the Sanctuary. I might put you guys through some hardship, but I want to help you all." Subaru said.
"Subaru..." Emilia uttered in awe for Subaru's goal for them.
"No matter how strong the enemy is, if Subaru-kun has the chance to win against them, he can defeat them." Rem said.
"Like what? Chit chats like that? Fine." Ram said.
"Just agree to her more sincerely," Otto said and gets stared at by Ram menacingly, making him yell in fear.
"Stop it..." Carmilla warned Ram about her threats to Otto.
"O-Oh... Fine." Ram said and walked away.
"Who the hell do you think you are?! You don't know shit about this place, or the old hag, or anyone else!" Garfiel yelled.
"What I don't know, I'm going to learn. I consider that the reason I'm doing this." Subaru said.
"What the hell are you gonna accomplish with that uppity bullshit?! You have no idea what pain or suffering even is! Quit runnin' your damn mouth as if you do!" Garfiel yelled.
"I do know. I know hell. I've seen it many times." Subaru said, making Garfiel get shocked by Subaru's expression.
"I'm the only one who needs to know hell. That's what I'm here for." He added as the title "I know Hell" appeared on everyone.
"Should we leave the mansion and take cover in the village for now? This is what you wish for us?" Frederica asks as Subaru gives them his request after his encounter with Garfiel.
"Huh?! How did we teleport here in the mansion?!" Mildo asked as everyone now reappeared back in Roswaal's mansion.
"First time?" Naofumi sighed.
"So he has finally reached the mansion without getting attacked?" Kadomon asked.
"Yeah, if you would. Sorry to make you deal with this, but I know you can handle it." Subaru said.
"Goodness, what a pick-up line. You certainly know how to win a maid's heart, Subaru-sama." Frederica said.
"Me, too! I agree with her!" Petra added.
"Hmmm..." Rem with a suspicious look on Frederica and Petra.
"Subaru needs to let these two maids fill in the third and fourth places for his heart after Emilia and Rem," Halibel said.
"Wha-?!" Subaru gasped in shock.
"Don't get angry, Rem. Not to sound rude but, you don't have the right to get angry because you're just the number two in Subaru's heart. Got it?" Tanya asked.
"Y-Yeah. Right..." Rem replied with a depressed look.
"Take it or leave it. That's what matters." Tanya coldly said.
"You're so harsh," Kazuma whispered.
"Throw those panties away or I'll burn them right into your face," Tanya said.
"Thanks for the protective charm. It really helped, though maybe not in the way you intended." Subaru said.
"Really? I was useful to you?" Petra asked.
"Yeah. You saved my life... Well, that's not totally accurate, but that's how helpful it was." Subaru replied.
"I'm so glad! In that case, you can thank me with one date!" Petra said.
"Eh?! B-But you're too young for that, Petra!" Otto said.
"Teehee! My future self knows what's better for me!" Petra smiled.
"Petra..." Frederica chuckled.
"Got it. It'll be an honor to be your first date. I'll get fired up for it." Subaru said.
"That's a promise! Well, I'm going to go get ready!" Petra said with excitement and left.
'Let's be sure to make more promises like that.' Subaru thought.
"She is a very good girl," Frederica said.
"Yeah. Take care of Rem, Petra, Patrasche... and yourself, too. I'll join you as soon as I can." Subaru said.
"I will eagerly await the moment you join us along with Beatrice-sama," Frederica said.
The scene now shifts to the library as Beatrice awaits Subaru as he opens the door.
"You're finally here, I suppose," Beatrice said.
"I'm here for a different reason than last time," Subaru said.
"Do as you wish. It's all quite ironic either way, I suppose. The end of a contract that lasted a long, long time... By bringing an end to the end of the end, I will truly be set free this time. Of course... The fact that it has to be with you makes it an ending far too ironic for me, I suppose." Beatrice said and the whole surroundings blacked off.
"Set free? Beatrice?" Emilia asked.
"It seems that we are closer to the things that everyone doesn't know about me, I suppose," Beatrice said.
"Are you ready for iiiit?" Roswaal asked.
"Don't sound like you aren't gonna get angry about what will happen in the next episodes, I suppose," Beatrice said
"Now, now. Let's continue into the next one!" Kazuma said while whirling the undies of Priscilla in the air.
"My underwear!" Priscilla cried angrily while tears flowed from her eyes.
"Ah, satisfaction." Al muttered.