?: Absolutely not, I suppose!

When Subaru opened his eyes he was sitting on a chair with Beatrice on his lap, his mind was trying to catch up to the events that were happening currently. The last thing he remembered was Elsa cutting him open. However, the pain was completely gone.

As more memories flooded back he remembered everything that happened at his last loop. Everything from, Garfiel's attack to Roswaal's sudden confession to the massacre that happened at the Mansion.

Subaru: AH!

Subaru involuntarily let out a scared cry, as if his body was trying to find some way to cope with this sudden rush of memories.

?: Subaru?

Subaru's attention was suddenly moved toward the two people who said his name, Frederica and Beatrice.

Seeing their worried faces he let out a small chuckle.

Subaru: Ah, sorry I just uh- remembered something worrying, anyway what were we talking about?

Beatrice and Frederica looked at one another before Beatrice spoke,

Beatrice: Subaru you really need to stop remembering things out of nowhere. You did the same thing while we were making a plan against Sirius, I suppose.

Frederica: On that note, we were talking about meeting Roswaal at the Sanctuary, but Beatrice objected.

Beatrice: Roswaal is absolutely not going to help us, he is already obsessed with a goal, I suppose!

Subaru hearing this for a second time, realized now what Beatrice truly meant. He would go so far as to destroy the lives of others to complete whatever his "goal" is. Calling him obsessed would be understating it.

Subaru: Well if that's the case then maybe we shouldn't meet him, no point in trying to get him to join us if he won't, right?

After the events of the last loop, Subaru wasn't in any hurry to go back to the sanctuary. The original reason he went there was to get Roswaal to join him in his plan to take down the Witch cult and make sure his authority doesn't make him insane. But after what he found out, Subaru wants nothing to do with him.

Both Frederica and Beatrice looked at him with a curious look in their eye,

Subaru: What did I say something weird?

Beatrice: Betty thought you would've protested, I suppose?

Frederica: I believed that too, considering how excited you were after hearing that Master Roswaal was still alive.

Subaru: Well, if Beatrice says he won't help then he won't right? She does know him best, right Beako?

Beatrice: You would be correct, in fact.

Subaru: Exactly, what Beako says is the law.

Beatrice: Hmph, if only you would actually listen to that law, I suppose.

All of them let out a small chuckle after hearing that,

Frederica: Well with that set to the side, if it's not too much trouble, Subaru, may I ask you what that sudden cry was about?

Subaru: I already told you didn't I? I just remember something.

Frederica: Well, you did tell us that, I meant what did you remember?

Subaru: Well, uh- If you really want to know then ill tell you. As much as I hate to talk to her, Lyra told me something interesting. She said she suspected that the mansion might be attacked again, however, when I asked she refused to explain why.

Frederica: If she refuses to explain, why should we trust her allegations?

Beatrice: Lyra is a Witchcultist, perhaps her Gospel told her. Even though the Gospels the Witch Cultists have aren't as good as the originals but they can be correct, I suppose.

Subaru let out a sigh of relief, even though he felt horrible for lying to Beatrice, it was the only thing he could come up with on the spot.

Subaru: I hope with that out of the way, you guys understand why we can't focus on Roswaal if he most likely won't help us.

After the two of them nodded, Subaru spoke.

Subaru: Anyway, with that aside we should focus on how we plan to defend the mansion from these supposed attacks.

After the two of them gave him a nod, he continued.

Subaru: I was thinking we face them directly instead of waiting for them to come to the Mansion and take us by surprise.

Beatrice: Why do you say we do that, I suppose, we don't know where they're at. Marching in would be very reckless and impossibly stupid.

Subaru: Well, I have my suspicions that whoever planning to attack us is somewhere near the Arlam Village, and as for why, I think it would be better to face them head-on, they probably won't be expecting that... Whoever they might be we would've never known that they planned to attack us if a gospel didn't tell us. They must've been purposefully trying to hide away from us.

That was one reason, but the main reason Subaru wanted to go was to try to talk to the attackers, Elsa, and whoever she was with likely wouldn't reason with us. But the people in the white cloaks or one of them at least helped Frederica During the last Loop, so maybe they could be reasoned with. Subaru knew the risks of rushing into a situation, it was the same thing he did when he was fighting Petelgeuse, and that led to Rem dying, But this was a risk Subaru was willing to take.

Beatrice: You have a point, I suppose. Betty was just trying to make sure you weren't trying to do something like that without thinking first.

Subaru: C'mon Beako, I am not that stupid!

After that comment, both Frederica and Beatrice let out a small chuckle.

Frederica: If that is the plan, I recommend leaving someone here to protect the mansion while you are gone, Of course, as a maid of the Roswaal Mansion I will stay here to protect it. But if you wish to leave some people here I won't complain.

Subaru: You're right,...ill leave some of the cultists here, and ill also make sure to tell them they have to listen to you while we are gone.

Frederica: That would be most appreciated.

As Subaru said this, he clapped his hand. And as expected Lyra came into the room, Subaru explained everything to her and she quickly did as she was told. And not too long after everything was set. Lyra and a handful of cultists would accompany Subaru and Beatrice while the rest stayed with Frederica at the mansion.

...

Lyra: So, where are we supposed to go, you never really told us.

Subaru: Somewhere around Arlam village should do.

Beatrice: Betty still thinks this isn't the best way to go about this, In fact!

As the group talked, they slowly started to edge closer and closer to their destination.

Lyra: Do we actually have a plan, if it's to rush in and kill everything then I am all for it.

Subaru couldn't help but be disgusted by that remark.

Subaru: Save your genocidal tendencies for the other Sin archbishop. We're first going to try reasoning with them, and if they don't listen to reason we'll fight them.

Beatrice: If we are going to reason with them first, perhaps you should've worn something less menacing, I suppose.

Subaru stopped looking and look at himself, Beako wasn't wrong. The outfit he was wearing was made by the cultists, it was incredibly familiar to the outfit Petelgeuse was wearing when he first met him. The outfit combined with Subaru's naturally threatening eyes really didn't make him look the most friendly.

Lyra: Don't worry! You don't look that bad, I think you look pretty cool!

Subaru didn't bother saying anything to that comment.

Beatrice: I never said you look bad, betty's partner always looks great, but great doesn't mean less menacing, In fact.

Subaru: Don't worry Beako, I know. Nice to know you think I always look great.

Beatrice: hmhk~! You know what Betty means!

Both Lyra and Subaru chuckled at Beatrice's expense.

After their chuckle Subaru looked at everyone else, all of the Cultists were still wearing servant outfits and Beatrice was wearing her ever-so-familiar pink dress.

Subaru: Oh my god, we look super suspicious! Why would A loli and a creepy-looking young adult be followed by a bunch of servants!?

Lyra: I- uh fair point.

Beatrice: Perhaps, when we find these people we have the cultist hide somewhere so they won't see them?

Subaru: That'll it work!

And as if it was planned, they arrived at Arlam village. And there in the center of the village, a handful of tents were there.

The cultists, including Lyra, hid behind nearby trees and bushes out of sight.

Subaru: Hey! Is anybody- Woah!

Before Subaru could even speak, people wearing white cloaks rushed out of the tent and surrounded the two of them. After a couple of seconds, six more people came out, three of them looked like children, and from what he could tell they clearly weren't human. Another was a large man who also definitely wasn't human, the next one was tall and Subaru could tell he had purple hair, and finally, the last one was slightly small around Beatrice's height and they also had Purple hair and a white scarf around her neck.

?: Oh, what do we have here who might you two be?

The short one with the purple hair spoke out, she must've been the leader.

Subaru: Well, I am Subaru Natsuki- the uh Lolimancer, and this is Beatrice, the loli.

Subaru tried to sound as kind as possible.

?: Natsuki? Honestly, after everything those old men said I didn't think we would see anyone, well anyone alive at least.

Subaru: Oh you already know me, that would make explaining my situation a lot easier... Not too long ago, the Witch Cult slaughtered the Emilia camp, and only me and my partner remain.

After hearing this, they put their hand on their chin and started to think.

?: How did you survive, I understand how the great spirit survived, but how did you?

Subaru: Uh- how is that important-

Beatrice: Betty's partner survived because of me, I suppose. She protected him during the attack.

?: And you didn't protect any of the other members of the camp? Did Roswaal not survive, if a cult could kill Roswaal I don't believe a single great spirit and a human could defeat them.

Subaru: What are you trying to say?

?: I am saying your story is unbelievable. Subaru Natsuki, I believe the last time you were seen you were on bad terms with Emilia, right?

Subaru: What-

?: Did you get the witch cult to help you kill them?

Subaru: Huh! Are- ARE YOU INSANE!? Of course not! I would never, I hate that damn cult more than anyone! I would-

The girl clapped her hands, stopping Subaru from ranting.

?: Actions speak louder than words, Natsuki. You have no way to disprove anything I said, even if you did I would still capture you no matter what you say. You can't deny the fact that it looks incredibly suspicious that you and a spirit are the last surviving members of a camp with powerful people like Roswaal. We were told none survive, but you survived somehow? There is no way, therefore I suspect you and that spirit are the most likely the ones who killed the members of the camp. We needed to capture someone, and you are the perfect person to do so.

As she said the other people wearing white cloaks readied themselves and looked like they were going to attack at any moment.

Subaru: Y- NO! Of course, I didn't!

Lyra: Alright that's enough!

Beatrice: SHAMAC!

As if understanding the situation Beatrice cast "Shamac" and a plume of black came bursting out of her completely blocking everyone's sight.

Luckily Subaru didn't need to react as Lyra grabbed him and started to run away, of course, she also grabbed Beatrice, after Subaru recovered from his shock he escaped Lyra's grip and Beatrice did the same.

Subaru: What happened to the other cultists?

Lyra: Well I told them to stay back and hold them off, though considering how outnumbered they are it's questionable if they'll be back.

After running for not even 30 seconds one of the people in the white cloaks managed to slip past the cultists that were holding them back and catch up to the three of them.

?: Stop, I suggest you come with me without resistance or ill have to force you to.

The one that stopped them, was the tall one with Purple hair. He wielded a long sword.

Subaru: I didn't kill anybody! Now Beatrice!

"EL MINYA!"

Beatrice aimed her hand and chanted, the crystals launched forward only to be avoided. The man then ran toward Subaru and attempted to cut him to pieces, however, Lyra managed to stop him, just before his blade reached Subaru's it was stopped by Lyra's dagger.

Lyra: You're welcome!

She Jokingly said, as both their blades clashed

Subaru: Not the time.

He angrily spat back, as he backed up

"Clarista!" The seconded the man chanted that, 6 buds appeared and circled around his sword. The sword started to glow and it managed to cut through Lyra's small dagger, luckily she just barely got out of the way, she then quickly retreat back.

"Alo, La, now!" while they were catching their breath, two of the bud came out aimed at the three of them, and what could only be described as a firestorm ran toward him. Without missing a beat Beatrice stopped it using magic of her own.

"MINYA" A barrage of crystals was fired at the man, however, as expected he blocked each one with sheer skill.

Subaru: Now!

Subaru and Lyra charge at him, Lyra took the left and Subaru took the right, Lyra went in for a stab only to have her blade clash with, it was likely she would've lost another blade if Subaru didn't slam into him knocking him back.

Lyra: My hero!

Subaru: Shut up!

Taking her chance Lyra once again attacked, this time, however, the fight lasted much longer. The two of them fought unlike anything Subaru had seen before, Parry, block, dodge, parry, parry, block. It was all so fast-paced it was hard to even see what was happening, it was clear Lyra wasn't as skilled in Swordfighting as the person she was fighting if you could even call it that considering she was using a dagger.

Even though the man was clearly more skilled, she was just good enough to keep up.

Lyra: A little- Help here!

Even if he wanted to, their movements are so precise and hard to follow, almost like they were dancing with their blades. If she tried to help he may only end up making things worse, and after a quick glance to see what Beatrice was doing. She likely realized the same thing Subaru did.

Beatrice: They're moving too sporadically for me to aim at either of them, I cannot use magic on them, I suppose!

Subaru: Maybe we should just leave her behind, it most likely won't be long until the rest of them arrive and attack us.

Lyra: Don't talk about leaving me while I am fighting for my life!

Purple-haired man: Agreed.

Lyra rudely interjected still very much deep in battle,

Beatrice: Betty's already thought of that, he is clearly a somewhat skilled Spirit-arts user. I suggest we get rid of him as fast as possible, he is undoubtedly the biggest threat in their group. That and his Quasi spirits have been watching us, if we tried to run they would definitely try and stop us, I suppose.

Subaru: Beako, you can handle Quasi spirits, right?

Beatrice: Well of course, but it would take some time.

Subaru: That should be fine, just-

Lyra: WATCH OUT!

Their conversation was abruptly ended by a shout from Lyra, hearing this Beatrice and Subaru turned away from the battle and saw another one of the people the man was originally with, it was the beastman. He must've jumped out of the bush, his large sword was making its way toward Subaru, if Lyra didn't warn him he would've never even noticed his presence. Though it was too late, nothing he could do at this point could help him survive.

Beatrice wasn't going to react fast enough, and Subaru couldn't move fast enough to dodge it.

He was going to die

...

"GOA!"

A fireball hit him directly in the chest, it made him recoil back.

"MINYA!"

And before he could recover crystal impaled him.

Directly after that, not even a second after. The three Beast children jumped out of the bushes nearby and screamed, their scream clearly must've been a problem because Beatrice had to step in front of him and block something using magic. Subaru was still too shocked from narrowly avoiding twice.

Beatrice: Subaru, snap out of it or you'll die, I suppose.

Subaru: Right!

Subaru grabbed Beatrice's hand and readied himself,

Subaru: Alright Beako, let's do thi-

Pain, ache, agony, burning, cramping, discomfort, all words that could describe what he felt at that moment. When he looked at his chest and saw what was causing this pain. A sword pierced right through him.

As Subaru's eyes, closed he heard, many things.

Beatrice: Subaru! No- please!

A plea,

?: Get Ricardo to the healers quickly!

A command,

Purple-haired man: A shame really, that ally of yours distracted herself when casting that spell to save you, that mistake costed her. And to think you wanted to leave her behind, she is very kind I deeply respect that.

And a lie.