Re:Modern Warfare

by ArcherFromArnor

The cast of "Watching Him Die Again And Again" are inside the theatre, as the screen shows them missions of Call Of Duty Modern Warfare 2019. Only the protagonist they see on the screen, is Subaru.

3. Mission 3: Embedded

Holy shit, this one was hard.

Alright, let me first all apologize for that looooong ass wait. You have no idea of the number of bullshit that fell on my ass this past weeks while I tried to write that chapter and make quality of course.

So I'm sorry for the damn delay, but here we go, chapter 3 of RE:MW.

Sincere thanks to my very good friend and second hand Killthstory for his precious help as always and Reactionist as well for helping me out with some reactions.

That being said, I hope you enjoy your read.

---

As the screen went black, silence fell upon the theatre. The only thing that could be heard being sniffles and sobs from every corners of the room.

"Are you all okay?"

Some people turned their eyes to the screen again, only those who had the strength to raise their heads again. Even if a few decided to speak.

"Do we look okay…?" Growled Al, holding his helmet. This last viewing really was hard on him.

A man who lived 18 years without a glance of his own world, only to see this side of it when he finally had the chance to glance at it once more.

Al was on the verge of being broken.

But the thing that made him truly despair this viewing out of all…

Was how Subaru, the only one who was like him, the only one he could attach himself to as sharing the same origins…Truly never had a damn break, may it be this world or the ancient.

Truly, that was infuriating.

Priscilla glanced to her knight, holding her fan to her face, as her main focus didn't move from the black-haired boy in the front row.

The same boy who just took the decision only he could. A boy who didn't fail at his task to entertain her all along since the beginning of this viewing sessions she lived. That last thing she saw disgusted her to an incredible level, so disgusting she wouldn't even have gave this screen the honor of having her eyes directed to it. The only thing that kept her attention to it, was him. That brave one. That bold one. The one soul who decided to face an army by himself for the sole purpose of saving the lives around him. Truly one of a kind. Yet... Somehow, she was the only one praising him for that.

The fiery princess closed her eyes and sighed to the fools around her, as she knew some of them…Would resent him for this.

Truly a bunch of disgusting fools.

"I think a break would be much needed for now." Voiced the princess out loud to the screen.

"…If you are the one asking miss Priscilla, I suppose it's necessary."

In normal circumstances, some people would be taken aback by someone like her asking for this or for the seemingly tired tone of the warden that just spoke.

But for now, no one had their minds for this.

Everyone went ahead to join the people they were the closest to. Starting by Frederica and Petra going down to meet their camp. The older maid taking her little brother in her arms, more for herself than him.

Garfiel was proud of his captain. He understood his choice, he understood his burden. The reason for his tearful eyes were the deep respect he held for him. So, for the first time, it was him who had a duty to soothe the nerves of his big sister, crying in his shoulder for the lives cruelly taken she saw before her eyes.

Petra just looked at the both of them hugging and smiled a bit, a little bit, as she was happy for her big sister's relief, even if it meant for her to be lonely for a short moment.

Something that couldn't be tolerated by someone, who wrapped her arms around the little maid and held her close, to the surprise of the little girl, startled by the sudden hug.

"E-Emilia-sama…" She stuttered as she looked up to the silver haired half elf.

Emilia simply smiled to her, her eyes still crying tears as she held Petra as close than she could.

The little maid tried her best to smile to her as well, her best to hold the face of a strong girl. She fought with all her might to not let those tears go out of her eyes.

She tried.

And ended up burying her face in the princess's chest, holding her tightly as well.

She could try and claim herself to not be a strong woman, deserving of Subaru's love…But she was still a child. She sure lived more than anyone of her age…She remained innocent from most of the horrors they saw today.

Of the horrors Subaru had to fight.

Again.

Emilia…Emilia didn't know what to think. She didn't know what to do. She was seated near her knight, her wonderful, goodhearted, kind knight. The one she loved, the one she cherished so much…

She didn't even know what she was seeing. It was Subaru's world, it was him on this screen again. But he was…So different.

Was it her Subaru?

Was it a fake?

She was confused. He was still a hero…Saving people, doing his best, not caring for his own self.

But…

"It doesn't look like any of you can continue for now…I would suggest you to all take a break. Go to your rooms, sleep a bit, maybe have a drink, I don't know. But rest. You'll need it."

In the theatre, everyone looked at each other with tired eyes and rather blank stare. The viewings they saw until now didn't give them a possibility to think things through…Some of them knew war and battles yet nothing could have prepared them for this.

Brutality is a thing.

Madness was another.

So they all obliged to the warden's request.

As they all gained their room, slowly the only ones left were nothing but the front row.

Garfiel and Otto nodded to one another as they retired to their respective rooms, needing a good break from what they saw.

Why would their brother always go through such pain?

Beatrice let her grip loose to her contractor's jacket to go and rest as well. She didn't feel like letting go of her contractor, but she definitely needed rest.

Ram and Rem did much the same. Ram having to push her sister to move, as she didn't want to let go of Subaru just yet.

In the end, only few were left inside the dark room.

"Crusch-sama…" Felix voiced with a weak tone, at the sight of his lady not moving.

Crusch was standing there, her forehead stuck to the back of Subaru's head, her eyes closed as her mind was nothing but a storm of thoughts.

"It's okay, Ferris…Wilhelm…" She slowly replied. "I will join you in a moment…"

Felix looked quite a bit disheartened at his mistress's sudden request, as such he wanted to step closer and actually comfort his lady, only to be stopped by Wilhelm.

The old butler held a hand on the cat boy's shoulder, looking at him with a tired gaze, shaking his head.

It wasn't difficult to actually understand the meaning of these actions. Sometimes, one just needs to be alone with itself.

Yet, Felix didn't feel like acknowledging her lady's demands. He was worried, he was troubled. This isn't the usual look his strong lady harbored on her face.

It was the look of a hurt person.

A look she wore only once in the past.

Felix's eyes slowly turned towards the one she was holding, seemingly without any intentions to let go, as he started to feel anger grow in within him.

"it's your fault…" Felix growled between his teeth.

Why? Felix grew to respect Subaru after everything he went through. So why was he so angry towards him?

"Felix-dono…" Wilhelm said again, tightening his grip on the boy's shoulder.

"We have to give some time to our lady…" He continued.

Gritting his teeth and tightening his fists, Felix walked away with his head low, followed by Wilhelm, who glanced one last time towards the boy he cherished as much as his mistress. Though, probably not to the same extent.

Because Wilhelm was old and lived a long life, he came to recognize some faces and expressions.

Like someone worrying for their beloved.

"Crusch-sama…"

As she was soothing her nerves, face buried in Subaru's hair, the Duchess slowly raised her head to meet with the soft voice calling for her.

"Crusch-sama…We need to go and rest…" The half elf spoke, bringing her hand to hold the gloved one of her friend.

Because she knew exactly what Crusch was feeling right now, as she kept holding onto the boy with her eyes closed. She knew it perfectly.

It was fear.

"Emilia-sama…" Crusch replied, pearls of tears forming in her eyes.

Emilia softly smiled as she nodded to the Duchess, both sharing silent words as they came to let go of the boy and walk towards their rooms.

It wasn't something to discuss anymore. For both of them, that boy was very dear. They loved him. Their heart beat for him.

"But…Wait…" Crusch stopped, looking at Emilia.

"Are we really going to let him here…While we go to rest?" The Duchess said, frowning a bit as she found the idea quite rude.

Emilia's eyes widened as she realized how unbecoming that was, to let this poor boy stay seated for this long.

"Oh…W-well I guess you are right…Maybe I should…Bring him with me…? Subaru is a good boy, he deserves to rest too…" Emilia proposed, her eyes uncertain.

Those words echoed in the duchess's mind, as her eyes widened to the half elf, her mouth slightly open as something struck her. She didn't understand at first, it was like something so impossible to believe she thought she might be dreaming or seeing things because of exhaustion.

But it was real.

"Emilia-sama…" Crusch growled in a threatening tone.

The silver haired half elf looked at her with worry and alarm, she recognized an angry look on someone's face when she saw one. And Crusch was definitely angry.

Emilia tried to search quickly in her mind what might have caused this, how she could have done anything to earn such a glare from someone she was sure, she could call a friend.

The duchess…Crusch…Karsten.

And she began to take a step back, holding a hand to her mouth as tears streamed from her eyes again, intimidated by the green haired woman glaring at her with her fists shaking.

She understood.

And Crusch exactly understood what was happening as well.

"Don't you have any shame…" Crusch growled again, hardening her gaze against the half elf.

Because what she saw was the last thing she could ever bear to see. The last thing she would ever except from Emilia.

The wind blowing over her.

Emilia started to cry even more. Not bearing to look into the amber colored eyes emanating nothing short of wrath towards her.

It was a genuine feeling of anger that Crusch felt.

Because she wasn't only hurt by Emilia's words.

She felt betrayed.

Not being able to hold this much pressure, Emilia turned around and ran off to her room, tears of guilt soiling the floor, slamming the door behind her in the process and leaving the duchess behind, holding her hand slowly raised in the air…As she tried to stop her.

Like she wanted to catch her up, perhaps to try and fix things.

But it was too late.

She quickly felt guilt and sadness fill her. This wasn't the outcome she wanted at all. But on the moment her heart ached. So, Crusch hung her head low. Holding her arm in anger towards herself, cursing the world, the universe and the others, for bringing such pain over the one she loved.

Slowly, she turned around.

"Miss Karsten."

Even if the screen was calling her out, she kept walking towards him.

"Miss Karsten, you need to go and-"

"Please." Crusch weakly said.

She then raised her head towards the screen, with a tired and broken look in her eyes.

"I will…But for now…For just a little longer…" She continued.

"…Just don't break any of his bones. I'm tired of healing him every damn time."

Nodding to the screen with a small smile, as to show her gratitude to his blessing, she kept walking until reaching him. The one she cherished, the one she loved. Asleep and innocent.

She leant a bit forward, elevating the handles of the chair next to him and took her seat, before grabbing the boy and delicately pulling him down…Resting his head on her lap.

She then gently took of her gloves and put them on the side, as she wanted to feel his touch for that moment.

Slowly…She approached her hand to his sleeping face and posed it on his cheek, feeling his soft skin with her surprisingly delicate fingers, always hid in those gloves. As she felt his skin, a smile formed on her face, a warm smile of a woman contemplating something that made her heart flutter.

"I…Am sorry, Subaru." Crusch murmured, caressing his hair.

"It seems this version of you…Is filling people's heart with doubt…"

The duchess continued to play with the boy's hair as she melted to the warmth of having him so close to herself.

"But…I won't." She strongly stated, staring deep to the boy's sleeping eyes.

"I am ready to vow it. What we will see…Won't change how I see you. How I feel about you." She continued, closing her eyes as she remembered the precedent viewings.

"To be honest…It is only making me respect and cherish you even more than I originally would…Living such things, from a place to another and still keeping this smile of yours for those you care so much for…"

Tears started to fall on the boy's face, leaking from the duchess's eyes. She quickly put a hand to her eyes, trying to stop herself…But the mere thought of thinking about it was enough for her to crack.

"You really are one of a kind…Subaru…" She softly whispered, wiping his face with her fingers to erase her tears.

"Mmhh…."

Crusch's breathing hitched, her eyes widened in alarm as she panicked with all her soul, to the sight of the young boy still on her lap twitching his eyes and mumbling something between his lips, as he started to move and turn to his right, his face directed to the lady's front.

The green haired woman stood frozen, her heart beating so fast under the pressure she thought it was about to burst.

"Woops, that's my bad. I lost control for a moment."

She glared at the screen with fury and gritted teeth, her face red in shame, then breathed out loudly with a hand on her chest, relieved to know things wouldn't go as far and difficult to deal with that she initially thought.

Calmed down, her eyes fell on Subaru again, sound asleep as she could feel his warm breath hitting her clothes, covering her belly.

"Are you sure about the road you're taking, miss Karsten?"

The duchess closed her eyes as she thought about this whole situation again, smiling as she caressed the boy's head.

"Yes. I am." She confidently replied. "This is the first time I have ever felt like this. And this is a feeling I do not wish to let go of."

"You do realize, you will have it hard to obtain what you wish. Needless to say he himself, might not return your feelings."

Crusch nodded her head to the words she was hearing, still with her confident smile and soft gaze pointed towards the boy.

"I do. But I feel like my life will be filled with regret would I ever let go of him. I always trusted my instincts and never walked away from my dreams. I do not wish to start cowering now." She gently exclaimed.

"…Mh. I guess you are true to yourself."

"Is it wrong?" She asked with a smile, head raised to the screen.

"I observe, miss Karsten. I do not judge."

The duchess chuckled to these last words, as she finally decided it was time for her to go. She raised Subaru's body to sit him on his chair correctly, putting the handle down and her gloves back to her hands.

"I wish I could bring you with me, but I feel like I might start a war would I ever do this…. So this is the least I can do." She softly added.

Crusch kept looking at the boy for a few seconds, her eyes softening every time she got to look at his cute sleeping face. If it was her body moving unconsciously or herself, no one knows.

But she leant forward, grabbing the boy into a last embrace, his face buried in his chest as she wrapped her arms around his head.

"If it is for your wellbeing…I am ready to see whatever will be shown by that screen…Subaru." She whispered to his hear, before pulling back.

There she stared at his face, gently, slowly, leaning forward…And for a moment…

She met the boy's lips with hers.

It was a short and quick meeting, but for her, the time felt like it stopped all around them two, as she melted to the explosion of emotions she felt right now. A part of her wanted more, while another was sure things would only go to the worse if ever she would do so.

She stopped and recoiled, opening her eyes slowly as she realized what she just did. Her eyes widened and her face was as red than the color of her sleeves. She immediately stood up and walked towards her room in a slow pace with a hand on her lips, thinking over and over of the feeling she felt by kissing a man for the first time.

She definitely wanted to feel it again.

"…Did she forget I was there?"

"I'm disgusting…" She whimpered.

Hidden under a blanket as her eyes streamed tears of pain and guilt, was the silver haired half elf, Emilia.

The candidate of the throne, the one wearing the same physicals traits as the witch of envy, the one who destroyed an entire part of the world and made her entire race hated.

A woman who always lived alone. Away and hated from people. Even the members of her camp that she was sure she could call them all friends, still unconsciously avoided her sometimes because of her appearance.

Except one.

He always walked alongside her, he always cheered for her, he always told her how much he loved her and how much of an amazing woman she was. He never looked at her like any of the others ever did. He was Subaru.

And her…Upon seeing him on a screen fighting people, killing people…Upon seeing him going through unbearable lengths to save the lives of people again…

She was scared of him.

She was scared, afraid, frightened.

She couldn't believe her Subaru could fight with such brutality and rage.

And she didn't like that at all.

But more than that…She didn't like how she felt reluctant towards him now. How she didn't feel like being near him, how she didn't feel like hugging him, praising him or kissing him.

Because of how much she was scared of him.

"I am so disgusting…" She cried even more, holding her hand close to her heart as she felt it beating in pain.

"You died so much for me…You suffered so much for me…You continued to face the entire world for my sake…You saved all those people there by taking beatings after beatings… " she stuttered between her sobs. "And just by seeing this I'm doubting you!"

She felt horrible. She felt guilty, disgusting, gross, reluctant, distasteful…

She was exactly like the world viewed her to be.

After a long moment, while people either took a nap or rested their mind, the theatre's lights started to lit up again, inviting the cast to take back their seats inside the theatre.

As she went out of her room, Emilia met with the honey-colored eyes of the duchess walking past her, suddenly stopping as she noticed how the half elf was looking at her.

Both just stood there, looking into each other's eyes. None was really able to say anything as the earlier events was still fresh in their minds.

So the half elf simply hung her head down and passed the duchess, going towards her seat, leaving her friend and ally behind, clenching her gloved fists.

She advanced towards her seat and began slowing her pace as she came near to Subaru, her eyes fixed on him as she came closer and closer…

"Move."

All eyes of the theatre turned towards the stern, feminine voice who just spoke to the half elf.

Turning back…Emilia met with the scarlet eyes of the fiery princess.

Priscilla Barielle herself.

"W-what…?" Emilia stuttered.

"You heard me well. Move aside. You're not taking this seat." She replied with a cold tone.

Felt's face contorted in a scowl as her eyes were glowing in fury. She remembered really well how that distasteful person treated Subaru. Thus she was on the little princess's list of people to take care of.

Reinhard, Julius and Felix looked to one another, worried and troubled about the situation getting a bit heated inside the theatre. Not knowing how they should really react, they turned towards the princess's knight himself, who was holding his helmet and shaking his head, desperate of his lady's actions.

Anastasia narrowed her eyes to the scene, glaring towards the half elf and the fiery lady arguing in the middle of the theatre. Priscilla was smart. That's a fact Anastasia knew pretty well, thus she might not be acting on impulse right now.

She was merely putting her chalks on the deck. She had to move too.

"What the hell?!" Roared Garfiel, aiming to the woman attacking the leader of his camp. "Who the hell do ya think ya're?!"

"It's true!" Continued Otto, anger clear in his voice as well. "I don't know why you should be the one to seat near Natsuki-san!"

The fiery princess glanced towards the two boys and huffed before aiming the half elf with her dazzling eyes again.

"You know exactly why you won't take this seat." She lowly admitted to the elven princess. "Do you really think you are worthy of staying by his side at the moment?"

She said it. The words that struck Emilia, made her shiver to the depths of her soul, paralyzing her.

Priscilla hatefully glared towards the half elf; her eyes akin to fire as her furious aura was emanating from her. That woman did nothing but bring death to this boy and after seeing a fragment of his past, where he acted more as a hero than anyone, she was doubting him?

Truly, Emilia could not be more disgusting in the eyes of Priscilla.

Emilia…And the duchess situated near Priscilla were the only ones who heard those words, as such, the entire theatre was left speechless to the sight of the discussion between the two candidates, especially since Emilia seemed to not be able to argue anymore.

Crusch clenched her fists and stepped forward to face Priscilla, glaring at her with the same fury.

"And why would you be more worthy than her, than us? Emilia-sama is his lady. Moreover, do you think we forgot what you did to him?!" She growled between her teeth as she faced her.

Emilia widened her eyes in surprise, surprised…And happy, to see the duchess standing up for her. Their last interaction convinced her they would feel nothing but resent now.

"Are you in any rights to speak, since you did something akin to my actions or, even far worse, as you had the power to tell if he was lying or not and still decided to let those people die in that loop?" She answered as her face was hidden behind her fan.

Crusch gritted her teeth as the princess closed her fan and stared right in the eyes of the duchess.

"Do you think the boy have forgotten about your actions, "Duchess" Crusch Karsten." She added.

Those words struck the duchess so hard, she felt like her heart would not take it. She felt so horrible and heartbroken by this. She betrayed him, she left him to die. Even if this was something that never happened for her, Subaru would always remember it.

Defeated as well, Crusch karsten could only look down in shame, as the princess walked pass her and took the seat, left to the boy.

However when she turned to her seat, she widened her eyes and clicked her tongue in distaste, at the sight of a purple haired lady seated to the right of the boy, smirking innocently to her.

"W-when did she got there?!" Yelled Rem at the sight of her seat taken.

Several people turned their heads to see what was happening, including Emilia and Crusch looking at one another and the seat back and forth.

"W-what?!" Garfiel screamed.

"We were so taken by that argument we didn't notice it!" Otto yelled as he facepalmed himself.

Julius and Ricardo glanced toward one another, looking at the empty seat at their side and their lady.

"That shrewd little…" Ricardo bit his tongue in shame to his lady's actions while Julius held a hand on his forehead, disappointed.

"Why did our lady did that?!"

"Does she not love us anymore?!"

Ricardo sighed as he caressed the twin's heads in shame and worry for them to really believe this.

"No. She's just being…Well, herself I guess." He stated with a tired voice.

"Would you mind explaining me why you took the seat belonging to my sister, Anastasia-sama?" Ram said, glaring heatedly to the merchant princess.

Anastasia smiled at her as she held a finger in the air while winking to the pink oni.

"Why? Well, I'm a greedy gal, ya know? I didn't steal my title and as a merchant, I have to cease any opportunity." She cheerfully said, making the oni twins glare to her in sheer anger.

The fiery princess herself looked down upon her with a displeased glare, as she didn't want to share the front row with this rat. But figures she didn't have a choice.

The situation was becoming more and more tense, the two princess who just got defeated were about to unleash their wraths towards those two pests who dared to steal what was rightfully theirs.

"What is that ruckus, I suppose?" A little loli voiced as she stepped forward the group of people in the theatre.

Roswaal, who has been smiling to the scene until now, frowned a bit at the sight of the little spirit. Beatrice seemed…Tired, down…It was like she didn't get any rest these past hours.

Everyone looked at her as she came in front of the 2 princesses and the oni sisters, looking at her contractor with 2 new hands by his side.

Immediately, she started to glare hatefully to both of them, her beautiful butterfly shaped eyes couldn't even give her some cuteness at all. She was truly terrifying.

"What are you doing here, I suppose?" She growled to them.

Priscilla, who wasn't interested at all by her, simply huffed as she titled her head with a confident smile to the little spirt.

"Mine self simply desired a better change of settings." She voiced with a smile.

"Mmh! Likewise! I mean, no one ever said those seats were belonging to whoever seats first, right?" She cheerfully added, making all of the Emilia camp frown to her.

Not only the Emilia camp now. The Crusch camp and the Felt camp was also about to make hell broke loose to those two vixens.

Otto and Garfiel looked at each other with a nod of approval, as they were stepping forward to make them understand their brother wasn't a plaything.

"Alright, everyone calm down."

Everyone in the theatre turned their heads to the screen. Garfiel and Otto were stuck, not able to move any further as they glared heatedly towards the front row.

"Damn it, I literally left for a moment and you're already all about to declare war to each other? You're all a bunch of savages."

"Have you not seen how they behaved towards us?! This is clearly provocation!" Crusch shouted.

"I'm sure it is miss Karsten. But please, act like adults. You're not a child anymore."

A moment of silence took place in the theatre as they get to hear the Warden sigh loudly and tiredly.

"I don't have time to play games. Since they are already seated, please take another seat, I'm loading the next one."

"W-what?!" Emilia shouted. "You're going to let the-"

"Yes. I will, miss Emilia. First because I'm tired to always heal that boy's hands after every episode. Second because I think both of us knows what's on your mind at the moment and third, because this is my god damn place and I do whatever I want, now seat your ass somewhere else."

The sudden change of tone and bitterness in the Warden's voice made everyone frown and wince a bit for the poor half elf, deprived of her loved one. They were also confused and troubled to know what the warden meant by his second statement, except for certain people.

But in the end, most were resigned to believe it was the best to not dig into that situation any longer, as the master of the place himself gave his approval. They were also reassured about the boy's hands.

However, right after the warden was over, a little blonde hopped from her place to land right behind the seat of Subaru, sitting down with a determined and slightly upset expression.

"Felt-sama?!" Gasped Reinhard, not wanting to start the fire again.

"The place near big bro should belong to me in the first place! Since everyone is changing, I'm saving one too. That's my right, after all!" She sternly stated, her eyes closed as she hung her head high.

Emilia and Crusch looked at one another. Both had attristed and defeated eyes, but they knew this was pointless to push the discussion further.

"Big sis! Tomboy noble! You can come and sit near me!" Felt pointed, showing the seat to her left and right, where Anastasia was previously situated and near Felix.

Some people chuckled when they saw Crusch glaring to the little thief, while Emilia laughed along with Felt.

"Come on, Crusch-sama." She said as she smiled to her. "The viewing is about to start."

Crusch softened her eyes as she saw Emilia smiling again. She knew both of them would need to have a discussion at some point…She truly preferred it to be in a friendly mood rather than anything.

"You're right." She answered, making some people skeptical to their friendly banter, starting by Felix and Wilhelm glancing at each other in surprise.

Before joining the row behind, Emilia turned to the 2 very dear comrades of Subaru.

"I'm counting on you to keep an eye on these two." She pointed with a tired smile.

Garfiel and Otto glanced to one another before nodding and smiling confidently to the silver haired lady.

"Yeah, you can count on us!" Garfiel exclaimed as he puffed his chest.

"We will be sure to keep watch, Emilia-sama." Replied Otto.

With those words exchanged Emilia and Crusch directed themselves to the upper row, as Ricardo and Julius moved to make place for them, taking the seats near the little blonde.

Still pouting and angry about losing her seat, Rem angrily went ahead to sit near Reinhard, between him and the merchant princess.

Ram glared in anger one last time to the two thieving princesses and walked up to join the seat near her lord.

Beatrice walked forward and hopped on her contractors lap, her face expressionless as she was seated between two ladies she despised.

"I'll be watching you, in fact." She growled without looking either of them. "Don't try anything funny with my contractor, I suppose."

The fiery princess huffed and did much the same as the spirit, keeping her eyes on the screen. Anastasia simply pouted, disappointed at the little girl not being cute at all in her taste.

Frederica and Petra looked at one another, ready to join their seats.

"Wait, Frederica-san!" Otto stopped. "Maybe you and Petra could stay here with us, there is still two seats in the front row, after all…" He said with a smile.

Frederica looked surprised to the sudden proposal, before giggling in delight to the merchant boy.

"Oh? Is this your way of stepping forward, Otto-sama?" She answered with a sly smile.

Otto flinched as he looked down, rubbing the back of his head as his face reddened on sight.

"W-well…I just find it unbecoming that you two are far behind while most of our camp is here, that's all…" He answered.

Petra narrowed her little eyes to Otto's behavior. She found it suspicious but she wasn't against the idea of being nearer to her hero at all. As such, she looked up to her big sister, informing that she was okay with the idea.

As such, Frederica bowed in gratitude to the merchant's proposition, making Garifel lifting his thumbs up to him.

Garfiel took the seat at Priscilla's right, narrowing his eyes to her. Otto seated right next him, then Frederica and Petra took the last seats in the front row.

"Everyone is set? Great. Here it is, see you all!"

"He…" Emilia said in worry.

"He sounded like he was in a hurry." Continued Crusch, narrowing her eyes to the screen.

The screen loaded finally to show what looked like a village from above.

Several houses and dwellings located in the middle of arid and rocky terrain, guarded by several people with tanned skin discussing with weapons in hand.

"These guys…" Felix perked first.

"They look like those who made the attack…" Continued Julius with gritted teeth.

Everyone hardened their eyes to the screen, realizing they weren't following Subaru, but his enemies.

The camera continued to advance, past a metal gate, to approach a group of people chatting outside a door, until they turned and saluted, appearing to be a man. wearing a yellow shirt who approached them, greeting them in turn.

they started to speak in Arabic.

"Is the wolf here brothers?"

"He is. Right inside."

"We saw him before too." Wilhelm said as he closed his eyes. "The one who claimed himself as a killer."

"I don't like this…" Felix replied, trembling a bit.

"It's that same language we heard before…" Pointed Felt, remembering where she heard something similar.

Many nodded their heads as they remembered where they heard this as well

"The wolf…" Reinhard whispered as he searched in his memories.

"Yes." Priscilla growled as she leaned in her seat. "This was the name pronounced by the people who attacked the plaza we previously saw."

"It's true…" Anastasia hardened her glare. "So he is their leader…"

"He's called a wolf uh…" Al spat under his helmet.

A wolf didn't remind anything good to him. Rather, it was now nothing more but a symbol of bad luck he hated.

Priscilla narrowed her eyes, slightly upset as well. A wolf also reminded her of things she could never forget.

He nodded to them before entering the house.

When he entered, he met with several others soldiers, speaking and planning around a large table. Which at the end, was a grey bearded old man.

"That man..!" Ricardo shouted.

"That's him!" Mimi added.

"That's the mean looking old man we saw at the beginning!" Tivey continued.

"So he is the wolf…" Crusch narrowed her eyes. That old scum was the reason the man she loved had to endure such things.

Emilia glared to him with an equal anger as she remembered very well what the followers of the wolf did to her man.

"What a repulsive scum, I suppose." Beatrice spat with a glare.

The old man raised his head to the one who entered and smiled. The others looked at him and greeted him as well.

"Butcher. What news are you bringing me, my friend?" Spoke the old man.

"He is named the butcher?" Commented Julius in distaste.

"What an explicit name…" Reinhard winced as he didn't wish to know why was this man named as such.

The man grimaced as he sighed and stood before the man and his comrades.

"Unfortunately, wolf…The news I have, are rather bad." He spoke.

The old man raised an eyebrow, as he looked to the butcher pulling out papers from his bag.

"The attack in London…Didn't go as well as we planned it. Looks like they were fast to react." He said, as he put photos and newspapers on the table.

"London?! The place big bro was?!" Felt exclaimed in surprise.

"The drawings show the places we saw in the last viewing…!" Rem added, eyes wide.

"So…That means…!" Anastasia widened her eyes.

Several people in the theatre started to understand as well.

"We didn't get to record any of the executions as well. All those who were supposed to send us videos, have been killed before they got to accomplish their tasks." He growled, showing the subway entrance.

"That's the place where big boss bro took down the bad guys before they execute the people!" Mimi shouted, throwing her arms in the air, remembering the heroic acts of Subaru.

"Mh….So it waaaaaas really because of him..." Roswaal wondered to himself.

"Hmpf…I suppose you did well, Barusu." Ram said in a low voice.

"I'm not sure I'm following. What where they supposed to do? What's a "video"?" Stuttered the dogman as he scratched the back of his head.

As some people were still confused by the meaning of these events, a woman smirking widely in the front row leaned a bit closer.

"Mh…It seems you were an element they weren't expecting." She whispered behind her fan, making the merchant princess glance at her with wide eyes.

The old man gazed upon the different photos in front of him, showing multiple policemen and bodies covered by white sheets. Photos of the fountain and Piccadilly Circus, along with all the place that got attacked like the bookstore.

"Those are all the places big bro went to!" Felt said as she leaned closer to see better.

"Indeed, that's the place where we saw Subaru earlier." Reinhard continued, grimacing at her remembered his friend and his actions.

And suddenly, his eyes stopped on one photo.

The camera focused on the old man widening his eyes and smiling maliciously, as he took the picture and brought it closer to his eyes as he started laughing.

"What the hell is he smiling for?" Al growled, not reassured.

"I somehow don't like this as well." Julius continued

"What did he see to make him smile like that?" Crusch said in a low voice.

Much like several people, she was worried. This man was smiling in a confident way. A gross way. The kind of smiles the likes of a certain clown could do, a smile that makes you reluctant to look at him, that disgusts you to the core.

"Wolf…?" Asked the butcher, confused along with the others soldiers in the room.

"Of course…" He voiced loud.

"If he was there…It is only understandable." He continued, before dropping the photo on the table.

"He?" Emilia murmured, her eyes wide.

Priscilla narrowed her eyes as she glanced towards the boy on her left.

The photo, was a picture of Subaru standing in front of the fountain.

"…What…?" Anastasia stuttered, unable to close her mouth.

"This man…!" Julius exclaimed.

"He knows Subaru-dono." The old man stated with a worried gaze.

People in the room look at each other and the old man in confusion, wondering why this man would know about Subaru.

Some people, like a certain duchess and an elven princess, started to perk up.

The group leaned over to look at the picture properly, showing the injured young man, as the old man got up to look at the window in front of him, caressing his beard as he was lost in his thoughts.

"So we're meeting again in those circumstances…Sage?" He said to himself.

"Sage?!" Emilia exclaimed with wide and worried eyes.

"Sage…Like sage candidate…?" Reinhard replied, looking at Subaru on his side.

"It can't be…" Beatrice murmured, earning the glance of the fiery princess.

Priscilla narrowed her eyes towards the screen as she was lost in her thoughts, face hidden behind her fan.

Who was that boy?

The scene changed to show a car rolling in the streets of a city, a black car with Crowley and Fowler seated in front.

Everyone's eyes widened as they saw the modern city shown by the screen. If only it was the time for sightseeing.

"Those are capn's squad!" Garfiel pointed out.

"What are we seeing…?" Wondered Julius with a hand on his chin. "We still hear the people of the last scene…"

Scene changed again to the butcher approaching the wolf.

"Wolf?"

The old man turned around to meet his second with what seemed like an amused and nostalgic grin.

"Who…Who is "sage", wolf?" The butcher said, with a bit of bewilderment in his voice.

"Question of the day…" Felix grimaced, glancing towards Subaru and his lady full on worried.

"We're about to find out the truth, are we…?" Al thought, readying himself to hear about his bro.

Scene changed again to the car, as the camera came closer to show the inside and finally show Subaru at the back. It was impossible to see his face as his head hung low.

"Subaru!" Beatrice exclaimed, holding her contractor.

"We can't see his eyes…" Anastasia mused, narrowing her eyes.

"Mh…" Priscilla pursed her lips, waiting for the thing that was about to get revealed.

"Big bro doesn't look okay…" Felt commented, wincing a bit.

Crusch and Emilia both felt a tug in their hearts to see him again like this. Head hung low and seemingly beaten.

Scene changes again to the wolf looking at the picture on the table.

"Listen close, my friend." The old man said, as he looked right in the eyes of the butcher.

"In this world…There is some people, who have no soul, who feels nothing. People you shouldn't get in the way by any means…"

"People who feels nothing…?" Julius said as his eyes showed how confused and troubled he was. What could that mean? Why did he say that after seeing…?

"People you shouldn't get in the way…" Anastasia continued, her face contorting in worry.

"What the heck is he talking about?" Mimi hissed; she was somehow angry with this old man.

"Yeah, I don't get it!" Tivey continued, seemingly angry as hell.

Ricardo gently tapped the twin's head as he looked down.

He was one of the first to understand.

Or rather, to accept it.

Scene changes to show Subaru closer, his forearms covered in white bandages, now soaked in red, his body still covered in blood and traces of smoke, his clothes torn to shreds in several places.

Everyone winced and grimaced to the state Subaru was in. Some were so stuck they felt like they were about to cry again.

However...

Scene change to the wolf again.

"And he…He is one of them."

And the theatre fell silent.

"…"

"…"

"…"

"…W-what…" Emilia stuttered. Trying to cope with the man's words.

Everyone's eyes widened in fear and confusion. Except the fiery princess in the front row, all were confused, all were astonished by these words.

They saw Subaru suffer, bleed, cry, scream…Die.

How could he feel nothing?

"I don't understand…" Growled the butcher as he stepped closer. "He is just one man…"

The old man shook his head, still with his amused grin.

"Sage, is no man."

Scene changes to show Subaru's shredded gloved hands, clenching in anger, as the wolf talks.

"I saw him, butcher. With my own eyes. I saw him roaming through battlefields, spreading nothing but death and desolation, taking the lives of many men like it was nothing. It stills haunt me to this day."

Saying everyone were shocked, would be an understatement…Their eyes where wide, their mouths fell as they were unable to close their jaw, paralyzed, some were shaking, trembling, trying to catch their breath as they were processing what they just saw and heard.

They couldn't comprehend this, they couldn't understand this, they couldn't proceed this!

What was this man talking about?

Why was Subaru the target of such claims?

Subaru, their Subaru…

"Spreading death and desolation…?" Emilia said as she covered her mouth with both hands, tears running on them.

The one they knew, loved, and cherish.

"Taking the lives of many men like it was nothing…" Continued Wilhelm, hanging his head low as he covered his face with his hands.

The boy he cared so much for…Fell on the same path as him.

The boy they all grown to care and wish to protect, for his golden heart was the reason they were all alive.

"Still haunts him to this day…" Whispered Otto in sheer disbelief.

The only one that wasn't surprised by this statement…

"I wonder what kind of paaaaast you hid from us?"

Scene change to show the butcher, eyes wide, bewildered and slightly angry.

"Then he is a threat! Let's hunt him down, brother!" He pointed, stepping closer to the thoughtful old man.

"How many men can you send?" The old man asked.

"He is in London right? We still have many forces, I can send around 20 killers afte-"

"Then we would lose 20 more men." He sternly cut him.

"This look in his eyes…" Crusch spoke, her gaze wide in alarm.

"Yes…" Wilhelm continued. "This man knows Subaru-dono so well, he doesn't even show fear anymore."

"W-what does that mean, old man?!" Garfiel asked, his eyes showing shock and worry.

"That means he is accepting the boy to be his end, should they ever meet him." Priscilla explained, her thoughtful eyes directed to the boy by her side.

Everyone turned their eyes to her, waiting for her to continue her explanation.

"He saw the boy's skills beforehand. He knows him to be an extremely competent warrior. The look he is wearing on his distasteful face…" Priscilla closed her eyes before she turned around to face the crowd.

"Is the look of acceptance."

Everyone felt a shiver run down their spine to the princess's words. If the warchief of the enemies, who resorted to such horrible tactics to meet his goal was so afraid by Subaru that he accepted his inferiority towards him…

"What…What have you done…Subaru?" Reinhard wondered, his eyes crippling in alarm.

"I don't get it…I don't get it…" Emilia murmured, her hands shaking.

"Just who are you, Barusu…?" Ram said as she held her arm in worry.

She belittled and insulted this man every day.

But she had no idea of who he was.

The butcher grunted as he looked to the side, as the old man took back his seat, taking the photo again in his hand.

"He is coming for us." He voiced slowly.

Scene change to show the camera slowly going up from Subaru's hands to his face with the wolf's voice in the back.

"Our best chance, is to wait and find the opportunity to take him down."

Scene changes again the wolf, narrowing his eyes to Subaru's photo as the camera pans down to him. The scene comes back to Subaru again, making a parallel as Subaru raised his head to show his battle hardened eyes.

Now, it was fear that filled the hearts of everyone. Everyone, even Roswaal, even Priscilla, all were distraught and deeply afraid by these sharp eyes piercing their very souls.

They felt it in their core.

The threatening aura emanating from Subaru.

"Wait for the devil to come."

"The devil…" Emilia whispered, trying to stop her tears and calm her beating heart.

"Devil..."

Her voice trembled with fright as her heart clenched in her chest, feeling nothing but a suffocating cloak tightening around her entire soul, forcing her to feel pressed against herself, unable to breath, unable to cry, unable to speak, unable to look away from scene as disbelief covered her expression.

"S-Subaru…"

The girl that was frozen choked out in a half heartbroken, half guilt-ridden sob as she held her hands on her mouth to stop more of her confused sobs from streaming out of her open mouth.

The beautiful girl's amethyst eyes stared up at the screen with pity and sadness.

"He isn't a devil." Emilia's lips trembled as they parted to show her trembled teeth.

Confused, troubled…The half elf clenched her fists so hard, her knuckles began to turn white, as a part of her refused to believe him as the monster he was just described to be…But…

Beatrice, with threatening and hardened eyes towards the screen, took a hold of her contractor's jacket.

"Who do you think you are, in fact…" She growled between her teeth. "Who do you think you are to call Betty's Subaru a devil, while you are yourself…"

The little spirit's eyes started to leak tears of rage, as she lowered her gaze and hugged her contractor.

"It doesn't matter anyway, I suppose. Betty will always be with her Subaru." She whispered to him.

"Oi…Oi…Capn'…!"

Garfiel whispered those words in a dread tone, his heart beating fast as he saw felt the piercing gaze of his captain shaking his very core.

"Why…Why are you lookin' like that…" He continued to whisper, eyes twitching manically.

"Why are you looking…Evil…" He continued with a hushed and broken tone.

His captain was a hero…Heroes were not supposed to have such a look in their eyes.

Such a murdering attempt.

"What are you doing…" Otto said, holding a hand to his heart to his brother's eyes still sending shivers down his spine.

"The devil…To come…" He said again, looking down with crippling eyes.

Petra just hid her face onto Frederica's embrace, trembling in fear to what she just heard. First about her hero having spread death everywhere he went…And now…

"Why…" She sobbed. "Why are you calling him that…?"

Frederica hardened her eyes, trying to hide her fear as she glanced towards her distraught little brother. Her heart ached…It truly did. For him, for her younger maid…And for the one asleep boy she was supposed to respect so much.

She looked towards her brother. She wished he would be close to her right now so she could hug him…As she clenched her hand into a fist.

'Maybe…Maybe Garfiel should stop to look up to you…If you truly are what you are called…' She thought to herself.

Up in the back, a certain clown just leaned forward in eager to see more. A wide smile on his face, as he loved what he was seeing right now.

Subaru Natsuki…Falling into anger.

"Truly delightful." He said to himself.

Ram tightened the grip on her chair handles as her hands were trembling in fear…For the eyes that scared her, for the name he was given…And for her sister, having to see and hear this.

"You stupid Barusu…Why didn't you ever…" She whispered, biting her tongue in frustration.

Her sister, Rem…Was on the verge of being broken. Her love and her savior…Her hero…Harbored a look in his eyes that was nothing like she ever saw before. Eyes reflecting wrath and anger…Worthy of bearing the name he was just given…

"Subaru-kun…Why?!" She cried loud, her hands covering her face.

"You're not a devil…. You're not, are you?!" She sobbed.

Reinhard's was breathing heavily and slowly, his sky blue eyes fixed on those of his friend, pupils glowing in sheer anger.

It was safe to say that between all the people in this room, the sword saint was the most affected of all. Why would a hero such as Subaru…Be called a devil? Be exactly like the thing he was fighting against?

Why was this hero…

"A monster…" He whispered to himself…Only to cough out his words as he nearly chocked at the end of it.

Subaru wasn't like that.

"Right…?"

Crusch felt a tug in her heart, her face lifted and her eyes staring to Subaru's. She wouldn't back down. She wouldn't look away. She hated to see this face, she hated to hear that wolf talk about him like this, she hated to see him become what he was described to be! She was angry, towards the man and towards Subaru.

"I won't let you harbor that face." She growled between her teeth.

"I swear that I won't."

In the middle of the duchess and the half elf…A young, blond little girl, gritted her teeth in fury. Glaring at the screen in an anger nearly comparable to the eyes of the one shown to her.

But this wasn't for him.

"How dare you call him a devil…" She growled as she clenched her fists.

"How dare you even speak about big bro…?!"

Wilhelm looked away, hurt and unable to see more. He knew that look. God only knows he knew it all too well. And to see it on the face of this young hero whom he respected above all ...

"Why…" He grunted.

"Why, Subaru-dono…? You weren't supposed to be like this."

Felix didn't say anything as he couldn't look up to meet these eyes…They were too scary and too disgusting to his taste.

"So that's what you really were…" He spoke in a low voice.

The twins did nothing but hide their face in Ricardo's chest, scared about Subaru.

Ricardo gritted his sharp teeth, as he hated what he was seeing. The one he respected being called a devil and the past he held…

He was one of the few to understand.

Julius lowered his head and winced in such a strong way that he instantly lost his good face. He had learned since arriving here how special his friend was. And that was something he admired him for.

The fact that Subaru never became like his enemies.

The fact that he always held his head high and ready to fight in an honorable way…

But knowing this…

"Really now…You damned fool…" He growled to himself.

Up above, Al shook his head in disappointment and tiredness.

Not because of Subaru, even if the eyes he saw sent shivers down his spine as well as the others.

But rather because he knew they would all understand this wrong.

"I really shouldn't be impressed anymore. But damn, everything works just way too well for her uh?" He said as he leaned in his chair, looking in the front row.

"At least I will have your back bro."

And in the front row, near the boy…

A certain princess sighed in disappointment and annoyance.

Annoyance towards that damned warden who put her in this room along with all these despicable fools around her.

Worthless swans, not able to see through things, not able to pierce something so simple right before their eyes. Her beautiful ruby eyes lightened in anger as she breathed out heavily to appease her nerves, as she was truly furious towards them…

For holding the boy responsible and taking him as the one he was not.

Like the time they passed in here didn't teach them anything.

Of course, such a situation was bound to happen since she gave an order plain and simple for the world to follow.

She just wished it would have been done in a better manner.

So…The fiery princess glanced down to her left, and slowly directed her hand towards the one of the sound asleep boy to her side, taking it in hers delicately.

The feeling she felt when their skin met…Wasn't half bad.

"At the very least, you won't ever need to be called as such by my side." She spoke behind her fan.

On the other side, Anastasia grimaced in distaste to the eyes that were shown to her. She slowly lowered her head to hide behind her scarf. Scared of that look, that felt like judging and taking her as a target.

Quickly looking around her…She wondered if seating here was a good idea, after all.

The scene shows now Subaru stepping out of the car, going inside a building with a dead, tired stare. His eyes showed no will, no life.

Everyone in the theatre winced to the sight of the young man. He seemed so…Done. Defeated.

"Subaru…" Emilia spoke in a hushed tone.

Crusch winced at the sight of him being this beaten…But in a way, she felt as it was justified after what he took.

"Just why is it happening to him all the time…" Felt wondered, a tear running down her cheek.

His entire body now in view, multiples injuries could be seen added to those he already had, his pants were shredded and cut at several places, his neck was covered in dried blood. He bled from a cut up his left eye on his forehead and his hair was a mess.

"Hell that's even worse that we thought!" Ricardo exclaimed in fury.

"They didn't give him any time to rest after all…" Julius grimaced, holding his chair handle tightly.

Priscilla widened her eyes to this. Such injuries, such blood and such suffering…But still he was standing.

Truly a wonder.

Subaru walked inside the building and came close to someone seated behind a desk about to call him out. His breathing hitched as Subaru turned his eyes to him, until he dropped his weapon to his desk and walked away, leaving the man gulping in fear as he took his dusty weapon.

"He looks scared!" Mimi pointed out.

"Wimp!" Tivey continued.

"I mean, both of you were pretty much cowering like never before when you met that stare. So maybe you shouldn't judge…?" Otto said as he turned to the twins.

They both huffed and looked away, not willing to admit that.

The scene changes again to Subaru entering a room with a white floor tile.

"What is this room?" Anastasia asked, curious to see what is was.

"It looks like…" Ram started as she narrowed her eyes.

Rem didn't really know what to think as she understood as well.

How should she feel about this?

He started taking off his plate carrier, and then his bandages, showing his numerous cuts and injures on the forearms.

"Oh dear dragon…" Reinhard winced at the sight of such injuries.

"That's…" Felix stuttered, not willing to know how painful would these wounds be if ever he would be the one having them.

"Subaru…" Emilia sobbed, not bearing to see her knight so hurt.

She looked down as she was surprise to see a little blonde girl holding onto her loose clothing, not preying her eyes off the screen as well.

He continued as he took off his vest, and then his shirt, showing off his muscular back, covered in numerous cuts, new and old. Battle scars of each size harboring the entire surface of his back.

Numerous people were staring at it, in awe and pity to what this man had to suffer…

"How come I never saw those…" Ram wondered, looking at the boy in the front row.

Frederica held a troubled expression as a light shed of red found it's way to her face, all the while she was covering her little's maid eyes, who was herself trying to get free to see more.

Felt stared at the wounds in shock and awe, even if she was a bit red herself.

Rem held a hand on her mouth as a huge blush covered her face. Sure she was feeling bad for her Subaru, but nevertheless...This sight was truly having an effect on her.

Anastasia's mouth fell as she analyzed his back, leaning forward. She was wondering what kind of weapons or situation could have lead to cause such wounds on someone's skin, in what kind of battles this young man found himself in…So she stared and looked at it, focusing as hard as she could, not realizing that she leant a lot forward to see it more clearly. To have more information.

Certainly not for another reason.

Crusch winced as she wanted nothing more than to take the boy in her arms right now. This pain, those wounds…He had to feel it by himself and survive them…And some of them didn't look simple at all! Her heart ached as she held a hand near to it, trying to appease herself, staring deep to the screen in pity and understanding. What she was seeing really made her respect and cherish him even more. Just looking at him like that made her feel warm inside.

Emilia widened her eyes in alarm as she tightened her grip to her chair handles. Her eyes crying again in pain and agony for everything her knight went through and what he would have to face again. For what would come and scratch that skin again, wound that skin again, mark it again…

The skin of her Subaru…

The silver-haired royalty couldn't help but let the disgust overwhelm her once again.

Priscilla widened her eyes, face hidden behind her fan, as she stared at these scars in absolute awe. She didn't care much about the physical wonder that the boy was, no. What made her this impressed…Was to know about such pain one could take…And keep standing up whatsoever.

She wondered, deep in her thoughts, what kind of marvelous, mighty, and powerful look he had to bear when he stood up once more after gaining such wounds. Just like she saw earlier…The one who kept moving forward as he wouldn't allow himself to fall without accomplishing his duty.

The princess bit her lip as she held the boy's hand a bit tighter.

He was truly impressive.

They all stared at it, more or less with the same thoughts in mind…

Until…

"HOLY HELL, HE'S RIPPED!" Screamed Ricardo out loud.

"Yeah! Man, I knew he wasn't a mere soldier but that's another level!" Whistled Al, laughing a bit.

Immediately after…

Rem looked down, trying to hide her extremely reddened face nearly fuming in shyness, holding her dress down.

Emilia felt like a sudden snap as she covered her face with her hands, hiding her red cheeks as she realized how she had been staring at him, repositioning herself in her seat properly.

Crusch instantly looked away as she coughed into her fist, also trying to hide her red face as some memories flashed into her mind. She widened her eyes and sat down immediately, glancing multiple times to the Subaru in the front row and cursing the two ladies who took these seats with all her soul.

Anastasia glanced around her with an eyebrow raised and a dead stare, disappointed by the people around her as she shook her head to these weak minds.

Her hand wasn't slowly crawling towards another one.

Absolutely not.

Priscilla only giggled in delight as she found that statement to be very true. In fact as she realized what was happening, the fiery princess decided to clearly state her dominance in that situation.

So she put her fan away and slowly turned around, looking at the two ladies with a wide smirk as she leaned to her side…And stuck the boy's arm on her chest, all the while she gently caressed his hair with her other hand.

A direct challenge to absolutely all of the girls around her, who were fuming in outrage and anger while the men where either looking to one another in worry or pity for the young man.

And the fiery princess loved that.

"OI! YOUR HANDS OFF MY CAPN" Garfiel screamed.

"Would you mind putting your hands away from betty's contractor, in fact?!" Beatrice screamed, forcing Priscilla to retract her hands.

Finally naked, Subaru turned around, which showed his muscular front as well, as he entered the shower and rolled up the handle, making the shower rain water on him.

Several women cleared their throat at this sight.

"Well, was to be expected." Al scoffed, truly impressed by his bro's musculature.

"He truly looks way more…different…" Julius said as he narrowed his eyes in suspicion.

Subaru is shown passing his hands in his hair, making them fall down in front of his eyes as he breathed out, showing his tired eyes in the middle of his downed hair.

Al whistled as he made a rapid head move, impressed by his bro's looks.

"Woah! He looks really better with his hair down…" Felt pointed out with a smirk.

Emilia and Rem had a troubled smile as they couldn't deny it all the while they knew they needed to calm down.

Crusch softly smiled as she closed her eyes…Softly remembering about the feeling she had after meeting the lips of the boy. She unconsciously brought her fingers on her lips again as she readjusted herself in her seat, putting her head slightly down to avoid people to see her reddened face.

Yes. Hair down truly suited him better.

Near her, a certain catboy glanced towards her with pain in his eyes, as he felt his heart hurting him.

Felix Argyle knew he lost that battle for a long time now. But it was not easy.

As she finally had the courage to look up again, she meet with the narrowed, malicious eyes of the merchant princess who looked at her with a wide smirk.

Crusch got taken aback at first as she stared at her with a confused expression…

Until Anastasia slowly brought up the hand she was holding to her with a large, triumphant grin.

She then turned around, leaving the outraged Duchess behind as she caressed Subaru's hand with a chuckle.

"Each their turn, Duchess Karsten." She whispered to herself.

"Don't get ahead of yourself, in fact." Beatrice growled to her as she noticed this entire interaction.

Anastasia simply huffed and looked away. That little girl wasn't being cute at all.

Priscilla softly and slowly tapped her fan under her lips as she softly stared to the boy in the screen and the one near her.

Pondering a bit, she finally seemed like she took a decision as she leant on her side again, in front of everyone in the room who stared at her, as she combed the sleeping boy's hair with her delicate hands to make them fall in front of his eyes.

Finally done, she leant back to have an overview and smiled wide.

"Yes. As I thought, you are truly handsome enough." She softly voiced as she leaned back in her seat.

Crusch and Emilia looked at each other with widened eyes…What did she meant by that?

Otto and Garfiel glared at the woman with hardened eyes as they didn't like their brother to be toyed like that between every powerful woman of this camp.

He was their brother, not a stress relief!

The camera focused on the side of Subaru's face, his head was hung low as the water poured on the back of his head. He breathed heavily and hoarsely as he closed his eyes, remembering the Piccadilly attack.

"Wait…" Otto said, confused about what was happening.

"It's him…" Ricardo said in a hushed tone. "He is remembering…"

Voices started to echo in his head, along with the memories.

"Hm…I woooooonder what is happening…? Roswaal thought loud, with a smug on his face.

Brooks getting shot in front of him.

"GUN! GUN!"

Al, Felt and Petra grimaced as pearls of tears formed in their eyes. He didn't deserve this. No one did.

Ram widened her eyes as her mouth fell, looking at Subaru in alarm. She was the first to get it.

The screams of a woman in the middle of the place, near the fountain.

"Help! Help me!"

"Oh by the gods…" Frederica winced, wanting nothing more but to covers her ears to these horrible sounds.

"Subaru…" Petra started to cry as she remembered these events herself.

The terrorist in the electronic store, ready to execute civilians.

"For the wolf!"

He started to breathe louder and louder.

"What…" Reinhard was the first to speak as he started to perk up with was happening.

"He is…" Felix's breathing hitched.

"No…" Wilhelm spoke in a broken tone. "My boy, no…!"

the voice of the bomber running to him.

"For our leader! For the wolf! You will die here!"

Priscilla hardened her gaze hatefully towards the screen, with fury so great it was a good thing she let go of the boy's hand at the moment. Anger so threatening and so great it couldn't be scaled… That was for the memories she saw.

It was another feeling that she held for the one having them.

"You must overcome it." She whispered. "Because there is none but you..."

The screams of people.

The cries of children.

The corpses all around him. The blood around him.

"Big bro!" Felt cried out, holding onto Emilia's cloth, and gritting her teeth. She understood as well.

"Big boss bro!" Mimi shouted in worry.

"No…" Tivey spoke in a low voice, holding onto Ricardo.

"They're everywhere!"

Shot, exploded, burned, wounded.

Everyone stood absolutely horrified as the bits of images of the dead people in Subaru's memories were shown. Most of them looked away. Others closed their eyes in solemn respect and anger.

Anastasia hardened her eyes and her grip on the boy's hand as well, as the memories of those who wasted their life to cause nothing, but pain and suffering brought nothing but sheer fury to her mind.

How could such disgusting being even exist…?

And why…Would HE always have to be the one dealing with them?

All the lives who perished, all the lives he couldn't save.

The pressure was growing, the sounds becoming more and more loud as everyone started to feel bad, as the atmosphere around of the room became intense and unbearable.

They heartbeat increased, their breathing were fast and loud as they remembered themselves about these horrible memories they saw not so long ago.

But a question was dandling on the lips of absolutely everyone…

"Why…" Emilia whispered, trying to stop her heart from beating this fast.

"Stop…Subaru, please!"

And…

"I don't want to die mate!"

"I want to see my girls!"

"Please! Please help me!"

The lives he took.

"S-Subar-" Crusch couldn't finish her sentence has an unknown pain paralyzed her throat, as tears streamed out of her eyes again.

"Don't…Please, don't blame yourself!" She cried out quietly, wishing to take him in her arms.

Subaru is shown trembling and shaking, his head hung low and his teeth gritted, and when he opened his mouth, the screen went black.

"AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRRR"

The chill that ran down everyone's spine paralyzed and scared all those present. Their blood itself froze as they all watched the screen with crippling eyes. Even Roswaal grimaced to the scream of a broken man he heard.

"He will now carry it…This pain and this guilt…I suppose…" Beatrice whispered, hugging her contractor close.

Priscilla closed her eyes in respect and understatement, her hand over Subaru's.

Anastasia lowered her head in her scarf, as she leaned in her seat, face turned towards the sleeping boy at her side with a pitying look.

Emilia curled up in her seat, holding both her hands over her chest and crying with her head hung low, disgusted about herself to the core. She had no claim and no place by his side.

After all…

In what right did she ever dared to doubt Subaru?

Crusch put a hand to her mouth as she cried silently, the scream she heard echoed in her mind over and over. The scream of pain and guilt…What sounded like a call for help.

Rem cried her heart out as she curled up in her seat, wishing to be here for him. To prevent him from ever feeling this pain.

Garfiel clenched his fists so hard, he was nearly about to shred his own palms. How could he had ever thought of his captain as evil?

"I'm pathetic…" Garfiel whimpered in silence, held against his own sister's trembling arms as Frederica quickly engulfed him, embrace as tight as the love she had for him, as painful as the phantom poison running through her lungs while screams of the people mixed up with the soul crushing soul from the boy. She was really choking herself with her last thoughts now…

As strong as their training and duty to their code was, most of their grim-filled faces couldn't hide the shame and horror that showered them as the haunting event finished playing before their desperate eyes. The fire of hatred and spite filled their veins for the sheer dishonor and cruelty shown from these inhumane, sickly men.

"Truly," Sliding his purple-flocks away from his narrowed forehead, Julius glared through his blurry eyes with nothing but pure hatred for everything he had such witnessed. "These monsters are truly no better than the Witch's Cult!" Shouted the greatest of knights as he held his fists on his damp clenched knees.

"Monsters…." Whispered the young red-haired, as he hid his furious blue-eyes behind a trembling palm. "How could such rancorous beings exist in our skin… " The Sword Saint's tone was filled with malice for a moment of surprising weakness. The raw scream sending the hero's instincts and desperate habit to jump in and help everyone and anyone he could torturing his nerves as he couldn't do anything but watch, hear, and remember the suffering everyone of these people went throw… especially the dark-haired boy that had just broke before him.

The boy he called a friend.

Many of the other warriors felt exactly the same as the two greatest knights sitting beside them, feeling the same anger and disgust at the scene. Nothing filled them with such hatred as this scene they had witnessed.

With a grim look in her eyes, Felt let go of Emilia's cloth as she got up and leaned forward, carefully taking a hold of Subaru's as she wrapped her small arms around his neck and cried silently in his hair.

"I'm sorry…" She whispered. "I'm sorry…."

"How're ya dealing with all this and still goin'?" Ricardo huffed out, expression of tiredness and grief clear on his bestial face.

"Because he has to." Priscilla answered for herself at the words of the dogman.

Beatrice looked up to her, tears in her eyes, as she wanted to know why the princess said those words.

Priscilla breathed out as for the first time, she gently smiled to the little girl near her.

"Because if he doesn't…Who will?" She continued for her.

Beatrice widened her eyes…Staring to the twinkling ruby-colored ones of the princess by her side as she held a hand to squeeze the clothing she wore near her heart.

"You are right…I suppose." She ended up answering, turning back to the screen.

"Betty's Subaru…Is amazing, after all." She said as she smiled, with a hushed tone.

1 DAY LATER.

CITY OF DAMASCUS, URZIKSTAN.

"Urzikstan? This is the place he was in the beginning of the viewing yeah?" Felt asked as she turned to the duchess.

"Indeed." Crusch answered for everyone else.

"Damascus? Are we going to see another city of Subaru's world again?" Felix asked with glint of cheer in his voice.

Maybe seeing something as incredible as the city they saw before will make people in the room smile more.

The screen lit up to show an immense bird shaped like thing, making a loud noise as it was approaching what looked like mobile stairs coming near to a door in the front.

Everyone widened their eyes in shock and awe.

"WHAT IS THIS?!" Otto shouted uncontrollably.

"It's…A bird?" Julius tried to answer with a slacked jaw.

"Eh, those got bigger…" Al scoffed under his helmet.

"Mh! I told about these, I suppose." Beatrice said with a huff. "These are planes. Bird shaped like object that can fly and transport people."

"But didn't you saaaaaay those were for war my deeeaaaaar Beatrice?" Roswaal inquired to the little spirit.

"Hmpf! I never said exclusively for war." She replied, not bothering to look at the clown.

The door opened as one man wearing a blue uniform was hooking the stairs to the door and going down, leaving the way for people to go out of the plane.

"Who is this?" Asked Wilhelm as he narrowed his eyes.

"His uniform looks like what Lady Karsten is wearing." Ricardo pointed out, making several people look towards the duchess.

"Mh…We're not the same at all …" She silently tried to argue, looking at her clothing.

Multiple people came down, when the camera focused to one man in between, wearing black cap and rather casual clothes along with a large bag strapped to his shoulder, Subaru.

"Subaru is wearing other clothing again!" Petra exclaimed, trying to cheer people up.

"Those choices of clothing is truly something else…" Julius said as he wondered, tapping his hand on his chin.

"Yeah, never seen things like that in here…" Anastasia answered with stars in her eyes. "The design, the quality, the look…"

"But is it me, or big boss bro looks good in any things he wore by now?" Mimi pointed out, making people stare at the outfit.

"Yeah! Capn' is always cool after all!" Garfiel cheered, acknowledging the little cat's words.

"Yes! Subaru-kun is always handsome!" Rem cheered while leaning forward.

The scene changes to Subaru coming closer to a man wearing a military uniform and a weapon to his waist to whom he gave papers out of his vest. He took it and opened a kind of little book in which we could see a photo of Subaru along with things written on the side.

"What is this…" Crusch asked in wonder with eyes narrowed.

"Subaru is presenting it to this man…Maybe it's a rule?" Emilia tried to answer.

"You're on it, lady Emilia." Al voiced out loud.

Everyone turned toward the helmeted man in hurry. Now that they all knew he shared Subaru's origin, he was the one who could answer most of their questions easily.

Seeing the attention on him, Al cleared his throat to explain out loud.

"It's what we call a "passport". Basically, when you travel from a country to another, you need to have these papers with you." He explained." It shows your identity, where you come from and sometimes can justify the reason of your trip."

Several candidates widened their eyes, like Crusch, who put a hand on her chin as she stared the floor, deeply thinking about this.

"It could be a good thing to incorporate here…" She whispered to herself.

Anastasia was one to have the exact same thoughts as the knights looked at each other with surprised faces. The idea didn't sound bad for them as well.

The man looked back and forth to the photo and Subaru, before closing the little book and looking at him right in the eyes.

"American?" He said in a weird accent and a stern gaze.

"Only working for them. I'm Japanese." Subaru replied confidently.

"Doesn't matter." The man replied, with a bitter and upset expression. "You should know that western people are not welcome here."

"Why is that guy so mean?!" Mimi shouted.

"Every time he gets somewhere, he is greeted by dislikable people…" Tivey winced, continuing the thoughts of his sister.

Several people reluctantly nodded to this statement.

"Who is that guy anyway? Is he important?" Felt asked, outraged by his way of greeting her big bro.

"He looks like a guard or something…" Otto answered, analyzing the outfit.

"Yea. He's carryin' a gun like capn'." Garfiel pointed out for everyone, showing the pistol at the man's waist.

Petra frowned and pulled her tongue to the man, showing her displeased thoughts in the least rude way she could.

Frederica patted her head as she was proud, she did so.

Subaru rolled his eyes as he sighed in frustration. Then he nodded his head and turned his gaze again to the man.

"I'm not here to be liked. I'm here because I have a job to do." Subaru told him as he pointed to the second paper under his passport.

The man narrowed his eyes and looked to the second paper that he unfolded to see another picture of Subaru along with "PRESS" written on it.

"Journalist?" The man said with a raised eyebrow." What are you here for?"

"Journalist?" Repeated Ricardo with a confused expression.

Several people instantly turned to Al.

"Er, journalists were the guys who had a job to inform people of their country about things that happens in the world." Al tried to explain.

"What? But isn't Subaru-kun a soldier?" Rem argued with a confused expression.

"He was…Don't tell me he is doing several jobs?!" Ricardo exclaimed as he immediately leant forward, thinking about a revelation he might have made.

"What?! Another work after what is he already going through?!" Emilia shouted as she looked back and forth to the screen and Ricardo.

"My hero is really working too hard…" Rem winced while cursing the merchant princess from stealing his place.

"Stupid Barusu…" Ram uttered under her breath. "Why do you keep worrying those who care for you...?"

Subaru took his bag as he opened it to the man, showing filming materials and one giant camera.

"Rammaza." Subaru spoke with a rather cold tone.

The man widened his eyes in shock.

"What?! But…" The man stopped as he noticed the serious look in Subaru's gaze.

"Woah, woah…What is happening now…" Felt said with a worried tone. She didn't even let go of Subaru yet.

"The name of that city seems to have surprised him." Priscilla replied, narrowing her eyes. "Something might be happening there."

"Something not good…" Frederica whispered. Worried for Subaru…And her brother.

So he backed up and sighed as he looked around him with something akin to pain in his eyes.

With a nod of understanding, he looked to the papers as he folded it back in the passport and handed it over to Subaru.

"Enjoy your stay in Damascus." He said with a low voice.

"شكرا " (Thank you) Subaru answered.

"Did he…" Emilia uttered with wide yes.

"Yes…He just spoke another language." Ram said with surprise in her eyes.

"Well he just said "thank you" though…Everyone can do that nya." Felix exclaimed.

Wilhelm glanced to him, noticing the glint of bitterness in the knight's voice. Which made him shake his head in disappointment as he understood.

Scenes changes to Subaru making a sign to a car, that stopped in front of him.

The driver put the window down, an old man with gray hair and beard who looked at him with a smile as Subaru handed a paper to him.

"OI IT IS EA-"

"No garf!" Frederica corrected with a tap on his head. "The car isn't eating anything."

"BUT YOU SEE IT DON'T YA?!"

"Ah…Rammaza?" He said with an Arabic accent as he looked at him with a small smile.

Subaru nodded his head in approval, then the man made him a sign to get in which he did.

Scene changes to the back of the car as the engine started to roll away from the airport, the camera going up and showing more and more of the buildings all around the airport, made of stone and looking less well done as the precedent city the cast saw, along with the plains of sand around the rocky area and the mountains in the back.

Everyone looked at the scene in awe and shock. This place was nowhere near the modernity and luxury of the previous city they saw. Some were impressed by such differences while the most minimalistic ones where already wondering about the standards of living and situation of this place.

The scene changed to the inside of the car, as Subaru was looking out of the window, narrowing his eyes to the dilapidated buildings and the people outside.

"This place doesn't look too good…" Anastasia winced, noticing the buildings to be damaged.

"Indeed." Priscilla answered behind her fan." It seems this place is in a lower level than the last we saw."

Several other people watched the screen with troubled expression following the princess's words.

Children were playing as the adults were seated outside, watching them, speaking to each other with smiles and laughs, in the middle of the streets of the city.

Subaru winced a bit, even if he had a small smile to the sight of the people being happy and alive, as he knew the quality of their life wasn't as great as it was supposed to be.

'Damascus…I would have loved to see what you looked like before...When you were not the shadow of yourself…'

"…What?" Emilia uttered with a hand on her mouth.

"That's what we thought." Crusch sighed In grief." It looks like this city have been damaged by something…"

"Not something. We know what." Ricardo growled as he remembered the last viewing.

Mimi and Tivey looked up to the dogman with confused and saddened expression.

"War…" Roswaal whispered to himself, narrowing his eyes to Subaru in the front row.

"How much will I discoooooover about you, Subaru?"

The old man in the front looked in the mirror up his head, reflecting the determined eyes of the young man gazing upon the city he was passing in, he smiled himself as he focused back on the road.

"Mh? He seemed pleased?" Tivey said with a curious tone.

"I think this one is a good guy, don't ya worry, I have my instincts for that." Ricardo said as he pated Tivey's head.

Suddenly, in the radio up front, a song started to play, a song that made the man widen his eyes and smile widely, humming in unison of it.

"What's this?" Felt asked as she heard the song.

"Sounds like a…A music?" Reinhard answered as he searched from where that could come from.

"I see no bard with them…" Julius said as he rubbed his eyes, suspecting his eyesight. "No wait, there is several instruments…There can't be only one."

Al scoffed at the people searching for the music as he leaned in his chair with a nostalgic smile.

"Man, that's one of the thing I missed the most." He chuckled as she closed his eyes to appreciate the song. Whatever it was, he didn't care. He just wanted to hear it.

"Dali oh…Dali oh…" He started humming, catching Subaru's attention.

"That's not the driver, his voice is different…" Anastasia pointed, still searching.

Priscilla found herself to be looking for the source of the song as well, as troubled as the others to find out what was creating this melody.

"Hey that song sounds nice!" Mimi said as she listened.

"It's true that it sounds…Appeasing?" Emilia wondered, her eyes twinkling in awe to the melody.

"Why do I feel it familiar…" Otto said as he narrowed his eyes.

Subaru started to listen as well, as a man started singing, the screen providing subtitles to the cast.

"Oh…To that our heart is sad for…"

"Our eyes have been tearing for years…"

"Oh, my lovely country…"

"I am sorry, the Arab world is still asleep."

"What is that…" Rem stuttered in a low voice, reading the subtitles.

"Is it the lyrics of the song? What the man is singing?" Felt said with stars in her eyes…Until she read the subtitles.

Her smile started to fade, as those didn't seem cheerful at all.

"While the melody is pleasing…It doesn't seem like the words spoken are." Priscilla thought out oud.

Everyone silently agreed with her.

Subaru widened his eyes as he came a bit closer.

"Elder, what is this song?" Subaru started speaking, in a language that has been heard before.

Everyone widened their eyes in surprise and shock, as Garfiel and Otto immediately turned to Felix.

The old man widened his eyes in surprise as a wide smile found its way on his face, laughing softly to the sudden words he heard.

"Young man, how come you speak the language of our ancestors so purely?" He asked with a fond smile.

"Well…He-"

"Nah, shut it now." Garfiel laughed.

"Yes. Do not worsen your case, Felix-san." Otto replied with a sly smirk.

Felix gritted his teeth as he looked away from them with a huff, as Crusch turned to him with worried eyes.

What might be happening to him…?

"Big boss bro is really polite with him…" Mimi said with a soft voice, in wonder to the tone of voice Subaru was taking.

"He is showing him respect." Wilhelm answered for everyone with a fond look in his eyes. "Subaru-dono has proper manners."

Emilia looked at the old man and nodded her head several times in acknowledgement.

"Mh! Mh! Subaru is reaaaally well-mannered!" She said with a proud smile.

Her knight was having such a good figure now!

"I'm sure he must have some wonderful parents…" Crusch wondered with a small smile.

Subaru rubbed the back of his head sheepishly.

"I…I learned, elder. Some time ago already…" The camera focused on Subaru's eyes turning a bit grim as he spoke those words.

As he seemed to remember something.

"He learned the language…" Julius voiced out slowly, eyes wide in awe.

"Hmpf! You are all impressed for such stupid things that it worries me to know you by Betty's Subaru's side, I suppose." Beatrice huffed with a smug.

"How many times do I have to tell you that my contractor is not to be underestimated, in fact?"

Emilia and Rem both chuckled at Beatrice's statement. They both knew how true it was, after all.

"Wait, how many languages does he speak?!" Otto shouted in frustration.

"We'll never leave you alone Gaza!"

"Who is Gaza?" Emilia asked, turning to Aldebaran.

The helmeted man just shrugged in confusion.

The old man turned his eyes back on the road as he sighed with a nostalgic feeling in his eyes.

"This song, young man…Is an history. The history of our people." The old man spoke.

"The history of a country that has been invaded, raided, tortured…While the entire world watched and did nothing." He continued, sighing in remembrance of his own words.

Subaru frowned as he looked to the driver with confused and troubled eyes.

"What…" Reinhard uttered, eyes wide.

"They watched the country suffer and did nothing?!" Felt roared in fury from her place.

"I mean…They might have a reason…" Ricardo trying to understand, unsure of his words.

"It's surely a war." Julius said as he leant in his chair with a respectful look for the driver.

"No. A war is a thing. If the rest of the world just watched and did nothing to help them…" Crusch growled as her fists were shaking. "Then it is nothing but unacceptable."

The duchess growled her words making everyone hear and wince to them. They knew what she was referring to. They couldn't blame her for that.

"They got sick due to endless problems."

"And the corruption of the governments."

"Corruption of the governments?" Anastasia frowned deeply as she read the subtitle.

"Could it be…That they got betrayed by their own…?" Frederica winced with a hand on her mouth.

"You are speaking like you saw everything up close…" Subaru commented, noticing the look in the eyes of the old man.

"Rawaji is the sound of the oppressed people!"

"Whom you do not hear!"

The old man continued to smile as he carefully listened to the music.

"I did see things, young man. I had to make choices and that is one of the reasons I am here now." He confidently admitted.

"What a courageous old man…" Petra said with a smile and tears in her eyes to the song.

"Yeah…Despite what he lived, he's still smiling" Garfiel said as he nodded to the old man's bravery.

Subaru leaned back in his chair as he seemed thoughtful, before nodding his head as he looked into the old man's eyes using the mirror.

"I am sorry." He ended up saying. "But I can see you are still smiling; it is a good thing. That means you are still able to look forward."

The old man started to laugh as this comment, making Subaru chuckle as well.

"Seems they have a friendly banter…" Rem commented, happy to see someone finally treating Subaru kindly.

"Man, Natsuki-san is way too good with words…" Otto said as he smiled to his brother on screen.

"Yeah." Emilia said in a hushed tone. "He is."

"We are aware of your manipulation!"

"Because we are eagles who do not bow!"

"This song sounds really…Saddening and inspiring at the same time…" Crusch commented, impressed by the strong words she read.

"I was thinking the same." Wilhelm continued." It has to be something to boost morale."

"It most surely is…" Al voiced to himself under his helmet.

"Well, I have to." He continued with a fond look. "If they take away my happiness, they win. Smiling to hatred is my own personal revenge."

"That's…" Frederica uttered.

"A very powerful way of taking revenge." Wilhelm strongly stated.

"There is no better vengeance than showing your happiness to those who tried to drag you down."

"Something that Subaru does every time…" Petra said with a small smile, holding onto her big sister's cloth.

Everyone in the room acknowledged those words immediately.

In the front row…A fiery princess widened her eyes as she stared to the screen, lost in her thoughts. The last words of Wilhelm still echoing in her mind.

"Showing your happiness to those who tried to drag you down…" She whispered to herself as she slowly looked to the boy by her side.

What a foolish old man. Equal to that foolish boy.

Right…?

Subaru smiled to these words as he leaned back in his chair, looking out of the window again as the music continued.

He closed his eyes as he started to think about this entire situation over.

'Yeah, I remember about it. One of the first thing we've been taught when entering the army was here... An entire other world. A world where people cannot sleep, eat or breath less they want to be killed by cowardly kings and oppressive dictators. Corrupted leaders that couldn't handle a global wide revolt happening towards their thrones, who decided to kill and burn their people and nations down to the ground just to keep their power with support from outside invaders, being cowards and traitors. All the while selling their resources and countries, honor and heritage just to keep sitting on their thrones until they are not needed by those who holds them on a leash…Middle east in a nutshell.' He thought to himself as he gazed to the dusty horizon of the road.

"Such a horrifying world!" Unable to keep her horror to herself, Frederica shouted in distraught as all around her were slack-jawed at the grim turn of judgment upon the people who lived through these lands.

"Is there no end to this world's darkness?" Reinhard spoke through a hoarse tone that showed his despair and heartache for the people that were cursed to live in such a land.

All of the candidates, even the naive Emilia could only stop and think about what might happen to them had they been the ones who lived in such a place. Would they fight for their own or for their people?

"These people are born at a disadvantage… and they keep fighting?" Anastasia asked as the thought of being stripped of all dignity and sheltered by oppressive regimes filled her with horror as she couldn't think of a higher power that oppresses entire populations.

Moreover, the horror turned to absolute disgust from everyone else as they all heard about the leaders of this world…

"Corrupt dogs." Priscilla spat softly as she waved her fan around and kept her eyes closed while imagining herself decapitating all of these cowardly scum.

Emilia's frown couldn't show just how heated she truly was as her fists clenched up in anger.

"This world is one where these amazing creations were invented… yet these heinous crimes are allowed to be present?" The silver-haired lady whispered in a spine-chilling tone.

"Unfortunately… it appears such a world has been dealing with the consequences of that. 'A world wide revolt.'"

Emilia, Anastasia, and Priscilla all looked at the green-haired duchess as she kept watching the screen with a look of battle hardened resolve.

All candidates and knights couldn't even comprehend such a massive movement being true.

"Who could just help me?"

Everyone's breathing hitched to these last words…Until.

Subaru finally sighed as he leaned down in his seat with a tired smile on his face…Opening his eyes with a pure look of determination.

Emilia held a hand to her chest as she gritted her teeth to Subaru's look, as a smile slowly formed on her face.

"He will…" She whispered. "Subaru will!"

"Of course he will!" Felt exclaimed as she heard Emilia's words, making everyone turn to her.

"Now that he's here, he will help them! He will make things right!" She continued to shout to everyone.

Priscilla could only give a roll of her eyes at the cheesy display of the commoner queen-wannabe. Of course he will. It was such an amusing habit.

As the scarlet-eyed candidate thought this, Anastasia couldn't help but frown a bit in contempt or in worry, her face looked like it hadn't seen emotion in a long time. Such is the way of a merchant.

But she was truly compelled to rub on her beloved scarf with her trembling hands.

She didn't like this.

And it seemed as though the noble head of the Karsten house agreed as Crusch's face formed into a hesitant yet slightly down-word smile.

Showing her worry for the boy as well.

"In what kind of mess did I put myself in again…" He whispered to himself.

Otto and Garfiel both chuckled to their brother's thoughts. While it didn't feel like it, they knew he was saying that with a false desperate look.

"You're used to it, moron!" Otto laughed loud.

"Yeah! Don' try and look like it's somethin' new!" Garfiel roared with a smile.

Julius and Reinhard chuckled to this as well, sharing the thoughts of these two as they perfectly knew Subaru was here…To help.

"It's what you always do after all…" Reinhard said with a smile of gratitude.

"You fool of a hero…" Julius said a he shook his head.

The scene changed to the car rolling away in the dusty roads, out of the city as it disappeared down the road, the camera going up to the mountains away and the sun coming up.

"Mh…" Crusch tapped her chin with her gloved finger, as she admired the scenery.

"Crusch-sama?" Felix asked, curious of the look his lady was harboring on her face.

Crusch snapped out of her thoughts as she turned to her knight.

"Doesn't this place looks like…Or at least, seems like a description of the Augria sand dunes?" She thought loud for everyone to hear.

All the knights of the kingdom instantly widened their eyes, along with the green merchant.

"That's true!" Reinhard exclaimed.

"While I have never really been there, it does seems like this resembles the description…" Julius continued with eyes wide.

"What a marvelous observation, Crusch-sama!" Felix cheered.

"So that's why it felt familiar…" Otto whispered, staring a the screen with eyes glued to the scenery.

The scene changed to the car stopping by the road, as buildings and structures of a town is seen far ahead.

"Here, young man?" The driver asked as Subaru got out of the car.

"Yes, elder. It will be enough. I will walk for the rest." Subaru answered with a smile as he gave money to the driver.

"He's stopping here?" Emilia asked, troubled. "Isn't the city still far?"

"He has something in mind." Crusch continued, tapping the princess shoulder softly." Look at his eyes. There's something he is thinking about."

The old man reached his hand to take the money and looked back and forth to Subaru and his hand.

"What is this?" Anastasia asked with a raised eyebrow. "Is he paying him with this? With paper?"

"That's not paper lady. That's money." Al answered for her.

"They're paying with paper in your world?!" Felt exclaimed in surprise.

"Is paper so rare that it became an exchange currency?!" Otto asked in surprise to the helmeted man.

"Since when is paper rare!" Petra exclaimed to the merchant.

"What? No it's jus-" Al stopped as he saw several people debating on that under him and the claims they were making.

"Oh, fuck it." He sighed as he leant down in his seat.

"You have been through a lot haven't you, young man?" He said.

Subaru seemed really surprised as he got taken aback by this sudden question.

The cast was equally surprised as they looked to each other with critical and worried eyes towards the old man and Subaru.

"How…" Reinhard thought out loud.

"I recognize these eyes." The old man continued with a laugh as he held Subaru's hand.

"Peace be upon you."

"…"

"…"

"…"

"He…He knows?" Felt said in a low voice, directed towards Emilia and Crusch.

"He does." The duchess answered in a hushed tone. "He definitely does."

"How…?" Emilia asked with confused and worried eyes.

"Sometimes…" Wilhelm closed his eyes in respect. "One lives a life long enough to recognize things at first sight."

Upon these words, everyone closed their eyes in solemn respect to the old man.

"Peace be upon you too, honorable elder." Julius and Reinhard both bowed as they whispered in respect for him.

Subaru nodded his head as the old man turned around and drove away, leaving him on the side of the dusty road, as he narrowed his eyes to the city onward.

"There we go?" Otto inquired with a drop of sweat on his forehead. "Usually it's when Natsuki-san is looking at his target that things starts."

"Yeah that's true…But we're not in his point of view yet?" Felt pointed out.

"Hm…Maybe this isn't the beginning yet." Priscilla voiced out.

(The Mandalorian theme starts playing)

Scene changes to Subaru going on the empty, rocky area as he takes place behind a giant rock and opens his bag in which he takes out a piece of tan cloth and the camera that he started to dismantle, the angle showing the entire thing to be actually empty of any electronics as he takes several pieces inside, including what looks like a grip and lower part of a pistol.

"What? Wait that's thing is empty?" Otto asked with a raised eyebrow.

Al stood frozen as he slowly started to understand what was happening.

"Not supposed to be!" He chuckled out loud.

Subaru then starts to assemble the several pieces together in a decent speed, as it bit by bit takes the shape of a pistol, a colt 1911.

"HOLY HELL!" Al shouted in awe. "That's some next level cover up!"

"Wait…You mean that…" Ricardo said as he turned around.

Al shook his head while laughing.

"My man used the journalist thing as a cover to smuggle his weapon. Now he passed security and guards armed up to do his "job"." He explained.

Emilia slowly turned from Al to Crusch…As both of them harbored the same shocked expression, before turning to the screen.

They didn't know what to think between being impressed by this…Or a bit scared by how shrewd and cunning he was.

"BIG BRO IS AMAZING!" Felt screamed in absolute awe. "He had the perfect strategy!"

"He didn't try infiltration…" Mimi said as her mouth fell stupidly.

"No, he really just passed in front of them all like it was completely natural…." Tivey continued, gulping his saliva.

"Walked off, hiding right under their nose…" Anastasia whispered.

Priscilla smiled in absolute delight to the boy's plan. That was really more and more exciting.

Meanwhile…

"WHAT?!" Julius exclaimed, his voice filled with fear. "He constructed his weapon this fast from pieces?!"

"How?! He can do that?! He just needs pieces and he can craft a…A gun?!" Felix shouted with horrified eyes.

Reinhard gulped down as he didn't want to think about a scenario where Subaru would do that…In this world. He was really glad to not have him as an enemy…

Everyone else stared at the screen with wide eyes and slacked jaws, some shivering to the idea of having to meet a gun.

"Mh...That's…Unexpeeeected…" Roswaal uttered in worry.

Ram cleared her throat as she gripped her chair handles tightly, afraid and worried…

And Al…Oh Al was laughing his ass off in the last row, looking above everyone shitting themselves to the simple idea of Subaru going rogue.

"I mean yeah, they have a right to be scared." He said between his laughs.

Then, he took up a map in which coordinates were written along with markings that he read along with his phone in which a compass was, all the while he seemed to scan the area with his eyes, until he stopped to a building.

He looked back and forth to the map and the building, nodding and taking bullets out of his bag that he put inside a magazine, before clapping it inside the pistol and loading the barrel, as he reassembled the camera and put it in the bag again.

"Alright, now that is becoming serious…" Ricardo exclaimed.

"Gun is loaded…He's ready for it to go down." Al continued.

"But what did he do just now…? It's like he was looking for something." Felt inquired to everyone.

"I think…" Reinhard wondered as he was still half in his thoughts. "That what was written on the map and his…Metia, helped him to find the building he was looking for."

Several people turned to the sword saint, as his explanation seemed coherent.

"He's really resourceful." Anastasia whispered as she bit her lip. "There's no way I'm leaving him in her care."

The scene changes to Subaru approaching slowly from the other part of the city, observing the guards as he comes closer to the building without being spotted, before entering by a cracked window.

Inside, he is shown taking his gun and approaching forward in the darkened corridor, only lightened up by cracks in the ceiling.

"Am I the only one who's feeling hot right now…?" Otto commented as he pulled his collar with his finger.

"It's really starting to get worrying, indeed." Julius said as he leant forward.

The angle changed to the side, showing Subaru slowly walking and approaching towards a door…Until a barrel came closer to the back of his head along with a loud *click*.

Emilia gasped in fear as she recognized the barrel of gun.

"Subaru-kun!" Rem cried.

"No!" Crusch shouted.

Priscilla narrowed her eyes in confidence with a smirk. She knew there was nothing to worry about.

"Not Russian? And not a bad approach at all…" A rather feminine voice spoke in Arabic.

Subaru sighed as he slowly put his hands up, showing the gun in evidence.

"I am here to meet Karim…Captain Price sent me."

And the screen faded black.

"What?! What happened?! Why is it turning black?!" Emilia started to cry in worry, her heart not stopping to beat under her chest.

"Hey, hey calm down! We didn't hear any gunshots!" Al argued. "He's surely not dead."

Emilia looked up to him with tear filled eyes as she tried to calm herself down. Her eyes slowly lead to Subaru right in front of her, as she saw Felt gazing at her.

Felt smiled in understanding and loosened her grip on him, inviting Emilia to feel him a bit. An invitation that she gladly took as she slowly posed her hand on Subaru's shoulder, happy to feel his warmth.

"Thank you…Felt-chan." She whispered to her, earning as wide smile from the little thief.

Crusch looked at her on the side and frowned as a pout formed on her face…It was a bit unfair for her wasn't it?

She turned to the screen again, awaiting for it to lit up. Waiting for Subaru to come back on sight.

"You're okay…Right?" She whispered to herself.

Scene changed to show the city of Rammaza from above as the sky was clear and the sun hitting the city with its bright light.

A rather loud sound was heard as a plane passed in front of the screen, shooting a place in the back and creating an explosion.

It's…!" Otto tried to say before he saw the explosion.

"By the dragon…" Reinhard uttered in shock.

"It happened so fast! It just passed and created an explosion!" Julius continued in shock.

"Yes." Beatrice winced as she took a hold of her contractor. "This is what I told you. A war plane."

Several people in the room shivered to the name itself. Fast flying object that was creating such damages instantly? That was perhaps the most horrifying thing they ever heard.

"Pfft." The clown chuckled." I can do that tooooo"

"Yeah, but you're a disgusting creep. A warplane is looking cool at least." Al scoffed, making everyone in the room laughs to the rant.

Ram growled towards the helmeted man in anger. How dare he insult her master?!

URZIKSTAN.

RAMMAZA.

"Al-Qatala's claiming responsibility." A feminine voice started to speak, recognizable as Laswell.

"On orders from the wolf in Urzikstan…" A male voice replied in a tired tone, which was price.

"Those are…er…" Garfiel scratched the back of his head.

"The guy's voice is Price!" Ricardo exclaimed, remembering the badass bearded man.

"Yeah, and the girl is Laswe-"

Otto stopped speaking immediately as he felt a threatening aura coming off of certain people near and behind him, making him choke on his last words.

"Ya okay man?" Garfiel said in worry.

Frederica titled her head in worry as she tapped the back of the merchant, coughing loudly as he glanced to his left, meeting with the scarlet eyes of the devil.

He simply gulped down as he redressed on his seat.

"Yeah…I'm fine…Thanks Frederica-san…" He said as he rubbed the back of his head.

"Subaru should be on the ground there by now. Looking for the stolen gas."

The screen started to slowly go down as Subaru was seen being brought by 2 others inside a building.

"Subaru!" Emilia exclaimed.

"What is happening?" Felix said as he observed the screen.

"Looks like he has been taken prisoner…" Wilhelm said as he understood the situation.

"That was to be expected…" Julius said as he cleared his throat, noticing the several worried gazes.

"I'm ready to bet right here and right now that he is prepared." Ricardo voiced as he puffed his chest.

"Yeah!" Garfiel smiled to the dogman. "Capn' always has a plan!"

"Well, he'll need the liberation forces on his side, so I made him contact the CO." price replied.

"So, you know commander Karim?" Laswell questioned.

"karim? That was the name Subaru-kun mentioned." Rem noticed as she remembered the last scene.

"Indeed." Crusch nodded her head." It's planned. I'm sure."

"We're acquainted." He briefly answered. "I told him to use my name…Or they'll kill him."

"Hell, good luck with that." Al scoffed, earning glares from everyone in the room.

"I wasn't referring to his-Er…Nah, nothing." Al grunted as he ignored them and kept looking at the screen.

Scene changed to Subaru being brought inside of a room as he is forced to sit down, held at gunpoint by a soldier on his side.

In front of him, a large table, onto which Subaru recognized his weapon, lightened up by a small window on the side with three other people at the other end shrouded in the darkness, as a woman advanced closer to the table.

"What is your message from captain price?" Spoke the lady in a rather cold tone.

"Her tone and her position…"Crusch narrowed her eyes in suspicion. "She is the one in command."

Priscilla nodded her head to the duchess's words as he came to the same conclusion.

Subaru cleared his throat as he looked at the lady with a focused gaze.

"Commander Karim…" He started. "I'm-"

"CIA." She cut him, expressionless. "You are not the first one to come around here. However you are the first one trying to contact us."

She crossed her arms as she as she looked down on him.

"I'm listening, CIA." She sternly added.

"Harsh treatment again for our boy…"Ricardo winced.

"It's normal this time…." Anastasia explained as she closed her eyes. "Natsuki-kun is a stranger who came from nowhere to contact them. There's no reason for them to trust him."

"I hope for them that they don't do anything to my contractor, in fact." Beatrice growled out.

"Yeah, what you're gonna do? Go in their world and make them pay?" Mimi laughed.

However, she stopped her laugh rather quickly as she noticed that Beatrice was hardening her gaze to the screen.

"Wait you're not serious?!" She exclaimed in shock.

"I don't think we should underestimate the loli." Al said with a troubled tone. "If it's her she might damn do it."

Subaru sighed as he looked briefly around him and meet the eyes of the lady again, inspecting him from her position.

"This is rather classified…" He noted, making a sign to the people around them.

The woman titled her head as she narrowed her eyes to him.

"Go cousins, get ready." She spoke in Arabic.

"Alright, so she's really the one in command." Otto said as he gulped down.

"I hope this doesn't become too hard for him." Frederica said as she hugged her little maid.

"There's no way Subaru would mess up!" Petra tried to argue…Something that some people strongly doubted regarding certain events.

People in the room all acknowledged to the order as they went towards the door behind Subaru and left the room, as Subaru glanced to them until the door was shut.

The woman leaned forward, taking support on the table as she looked right at Subaru.

Subaru turned to her.

"Forty-height hours ago, terrorists stole a shipment of Russian gas."

The commander titled her head as she seemed thoughtful for a brief moment.

"Only Al-Qatala would do this." She replied.

"Things are getting serious…" Julius said a he leaned closer, narrowing his eyes.

"Yeah, it seems like they know those…"killers" nya." Felix continued, remembering the meaning of "AQ."

"I remember that "Price" fella speaking about the resistance forces." Anastasia pointed out. "Maybe those "killers" are their enemies too."

"The killers would have the power of an entire country while a resistance fights them?!" Reinhard exclaimed in shock.

"Talk about a messed-up situation…" Otto winced.

Subaru scoffed as he got up from his chair to the side of the table.

"The Russians makes no distinctions between Al-Qatala and your people."

"And I make no distinctions between Al-Qatala and the Russian army." She replied with a forced chuckle. "they are both terrorists."

"Uh…Wait why did the "Russians" entered the discussion?" Tivey said in a confused voice.

"I agree." Crusch said as she nodded her head. "Is the situation more complex than we first thought?"

Emilia breathed out with a troubled expression as her eyes stood glued to the screen.

"In what situation did you put yourself in again…" She whispered.

The scene changed to show Subaru standing before the sunrays of the window.

"We would never use those poisons." She said confidently.

"Poison? The gas?" Anastasia questioned.

"What is a "gas" anyway?" Garfiel said in a loud voice.

Several people turned to Al, curious and eager to see what he would respond…As the helmeted my simply clicked his tongue and ignored them.

"Eh…Come on man." Ricardo asked with a friendly smile.

"Nope. Don't remember." Al answered.

"…You are lying…" Crusch pointed out with worried eyes.

Al stood his ground as he kept ignoring them, keeping his sights on the screen.

"Then help us track it…" Subaru answered with a nod to her previous words. "Before they-"

"Before they what?" She cut her with a false, curious tone. "Take it to Europe? To America?"

The lady scoffed as she shook her head, the situation being falsely amusing for her.

"We live like this every day…"

"What are they living…" Reinhard said in confusion and fear. "Why does she look so desperate…"

The door behind her suddenly opened as a man entered, speaking sternly.

"Commander, it is time to go-" He stopped as he looked to Subaru standing.

"Who is this?" He said as he turned towards the woman.

She glanced towards him and crossed her arms as she turned back to Subaru.

"CIA, this is my brother and lieutenant, Hadir." She presented.

"The commander…The lieutenant…This resistance has an organized army." Julius said as he crossed his arms.

"This is the base of every military force to have a hierarchy." Wilhelm pointed out. "Some are made to command, some to fight."

Hadir narrowed his eyes as he walked towards him in a slow pace.

"You are CIA?" He inquired.

"He works with Captain price." She answered for him.

Hadir scoffed as he past behind him, as Subaru kept keeping an eye on him.

"Then you kill Russians, yes?" He asked.

Beatrice narrowed her eyes in anger towards that man.

"Woah eh…" Ricardo growled with an unhappy expression.

"Straight on the killing matter uh?" Felix spat in a angered tone.

"Wait, isn't these people…Those Subaru isn't allowed to attack?" Reinhard voiced out loud as he remembered the first viewing.

"Yeah!" Mimi exclaimed. "Laswell lady told him he couldn't!'

"Tch."

"Then why do they talk about killing them…? And why is Subaru the one asked that question?" Julius pondered…Trying to understand.

"Subaru isn't a killer!" Emilia exclaimed in anger.

"No but he is a CIA." Al answered, making Emilia glare at him. "I told you these guys are the elite for a reason lady. Don't think they earned their reputation by sitting down around a table with their enemies and talking things through."

Emilia and Crusch widened their eyes as they gritted their teeth towards toward the one-armed fighter situated above.

"Even so, you do not need to phrase it like that. You know Subaru-sama, you know he isn't this kind of man!" Crusch shouted back.

"Oh I know lady, but I'm tired of y'all screaming and low key berating him for killing bad guys. He's strong. Hell he even have a reputation strong enough to make their leader fucking piss himself just by seeing him and you're all here crying out every time he's fighting or that his skills are recognized." Al spat out with a condescending tone.

Everyone in the room stared at him with mixed feelings, confused and troubled expressions. His mistress herself stared at him with narrowed and mean looking eyes.

But not because of him.

Because he was right.

"I'm not questioning him to be a good guy people." He concluded. "But he's doing what needs to be done, exactly because he is a good guy."

And those last words…Echoed into the minds of everyone.

"I have…Friends who can help us." He answered with a nod. "But your sister decides what's next…"

"Of course,…" He replied as he came back to Subaru's right. "My sister is in command…"

"…And the Russian army is still here, Farah." He said as he looked at her.

"Why do I feel that his words were aimed at her right now?" Anastasia said with a raised eyebrow.

"Because that's the case." Priscilla continued, unhappy to see that man seeming to question his sister to be in command.

The commander looked at both of them.

"This occupation must end." She said as she put a point in the last word. "That we can all agree on, right?"

Subaru nodded his head.

"An occupation? Military one?" Wilhelm raised his head, troubled.

"Wait a sec…Are these Russians…" Anastasia started to pierce through.

She sighed as she leant forward the table, as the screen went up, showing the entire map from above with circles traced on it.

"General Barkov's men control the city. We have plans to change that." She said as she took a bullet and placed it in the middle of a red circle.

"G-General Barkov?!" Reinhard exclaimed in surprise.

"That's the mean guy from the beginning! I remember! Big boss bro had to steal his gas before being attacked!" Tivey exclaimed, making everyone remember.

"Holy shit!" Ricardo grunted.

"That's true!" Garfiel roared as he stepped forward.

"So these "Russians" are here? In this city?!" Felt inquired, earning nods from everyone.

"We have no missiles but…We have our ways. " Hadir said as he lifted his head with a smirk towards Subaru.

"Missiles?" Crusch repeated with suspicious eyes.

"I…Kind of don't like that smile." Otto scoffed.

"Me neither." Frederica continued.

Behind all of them…Al laughed silently.

"That's going to be awesome…"

The camera changes towards the lady's face as she focuses her eyes to Subaru.

"If you stay, we can help you. But if you stay…You fight." She said, harboring a strong gaze.

Many people stood impressed by the will the lady's eyes.

"Alrigh' she has some backbone!" Garfiel roared in excitement.

Priscilla and Crusch both nodded their heads, acknowledging the lady's behavior.

"Did she just asked Subaru to fight?" Julius chuckled.

"Dumbest rhetoric question I heard." Felt chuckled back.

Emilia softly smiled to the little blonde. She had to recognize that when it came to fighting, Subaru would never back down.

Subaru looked at the map before raising his eyes towards her and smiling as well.

"Then, let's fight." He answered in arabic.

Hadir chuckled as he nodded his head, picking up the colt on the table and tossing it to Subaru.

"Welcome to Urzikstan, CIA." He said with a wide smile.

"Damn he's cool." Otto said as he shook his head tiredly.

"Let's go Capn'!" Garfiel roared in awe, stars in his eyes.

Rem smiled confidently, soft eyes directed to the screen.

"Go, my hero…Help them."

Priscilla softly smiled as she looked at him.

"Come on. Impress me even more like you always do."

Subaru grabbed his pistol as he nodded to him with a confident smile on his own.

"Follow me." The commander said as she took her rifle, showing the way to the two other men going after her.

The camera then came closer to the map as the music became louder and louder, focusing to the red circle and bullet situated on the table.

And the screen went black.

"Alright, now it will start…" Otto said again, now sure of his words.

Everyone leaned forward, ready to see the viewing.

"These tunnels are our lifeline." Farah said as the screen was still black.

A screeching sound was suddenly heard as a red light suddenly appeared in the hands of Farah, with what looked like a flame at the end of it, revealing her, Hadir and showing the cast that they were seeing in the perspective of Subaru.

"Yeah. Yeah, there we go…" Ricardo said in a low voice, picking up Otto's words.

"What is she holding? It's a flame?" Felt asked with a curious look on her face.

"I have no idea but it does look like fire." Reinhard answered, curious as well.

"We have intel Russian troop commanders are in town today. We're going to ambush them." She informed him

She started walking in the tunnel towards a ladder as Hadir and Subaru followed her.

"How?" Subaru asked.

"Explosives." Hadir answered with a laugh.

"Uh uh…That's one hell of a ambush." Ricardo laughed.

"…Well, that'll get their attention." He scoffed back.

The dogman scoffed to the similarities.

"And pull security away from the Russian base, leaving it open to our attack." Farah continued.

"We must hold nothing back." Hadir said in a cold tone as he directed to Subaru.

"Too far on that path and we lose ourselves." Farah corrected her brother.

"Wise words, lady…" Wilhelm said as he shook his head. "Wise words…"

He knew perfectly what it was to lose himself on a darkened path.

Several other people nodded to her words.

"You have no idea." Roswaal commented.

Ram simply looked up at her master with a worried look.

The three fighters approached a ladder leading up and out of the tunnel. Farah handed off her flare toHadir.

"Get set for the airbase attack." She ordered him.

"Be safe." Hadir nodded to his sister, before turning to Subaru, handing a pack to him.

"C4 with remote detonator."

"Thanks."

"Watch my sister. Good luck."

"Watch his sister?" Ricardo laughed. "Did he just…"

"Sounded like an "authorization" for me!" Al laughed loud…Making several ladies including his glaring at him.

Subaru nodded to him as he took the C4 and followed Farah.

"You too."

Subaru climbed up the ladder behind Farah, eyes up in front of her behind. Farah knocked on the trapdoor leading out of the tunnel, which is opened by one of Farah's men who helps Farah out of the tunnel.

Beatrice kicked the chin of her contractor immediately to punish him, making Reinhard wince immediately for him.

Rem glared at the screen in anger, her horn nearly showing.

Emilia harbored a troubled expression before shaking her head strongly. Subaru isn't like that after all.

Crusch grunted as her honey-colored eyes glared in anger to the screen.

Priscilla scoffed as she saw this inferior rear on the screen.

"Pathetic." She commented.

Anastasia simply chuckled to these idiots getting jealous for nothing.

As she was squeezing the hand of the sleeping boy a bit harder.

"Hello, Tariq."

"Quickly now, come!" Said the old man as he helped her to go out.

Following Farah, Subaru goes out of the tunnel as well when he is noticed by the soldier.

"Who is that...?" He said with a wary tone.

"He is trustworthy." Farah replied as she directed towards the table in front of them.

Farah guided Subaru to the table as she hands a scarf to him.

"Here. Put this on."

Subaru took it and wrapped it around his face, making it so only the eyes are visible while Farah makes a hijab with her scarf.

"How do I look?" Asked Subaru.

Farah narrowed her eyes as she came closer, approaching her hands from Subaru's head as she was adjusting the scarf a little bit.

"Hand-"Beatrice started

"Hands off!" …Crusch screamed, to the surprise of everyone looking at her…

The duchess's face became as red as blood when she noticed her scream and everyone staring at her, before she cleared her throat and quietly seated down.

"Mh. That'll do." She smirked with a satisfied expression.

Priscilla and Emilia did however glared heatedly at the tanned woman.

"Tariq, what's the report?" She asked the man as she came closer to him, while he was observing the front of the house by the window.

"Russians are just outside. If they see your weapons, they will shoot." Tariq informed as he saw Subaru's weapon at his waist.

He then took a device that he handed to Farah.

"If that happens…" She said as she took the device. "Our plan fails before it even starts."

"Things seems to be calculated…Let's see how this goes." Julius stated as he focused on the screen.

Subaru nods as he open his vest to conceal his pistol there. Farah put her scarf up her face and made Subaru a sign to follow her.

The door opens to lead into the front of the house, in the streets of Rammaza. There, Russian soldiers are seen interrogating several civilians, beating up one, and leading another away in front of everyone's eyes.

"What the-" Garfiel jumped out of his seat with anger in his eyes.

"WHAT the fuck!" Ricardo growled out.

"What are these soldiers doing?!" Anastasia commented with critical eyes. "Beatin' up civilians?!"

"Those are Russians…" Reinhard glared in anger. "The occupation forces…"

"Please! I don't know what I did wrong! I don't know!" A man cried as he was getting beat up.

"Because of you- no more rations today!" The solider shouted while he angrily hit him multiple times.

"I didn't steal anything!" The man cried more.

"I don't get it…Why…Why are they doing this?!" Emilia screamed as she felt horrible for these people.

"It seems they accused him to steal…He's paying for that." Felix answered, still angry.

"What is wrong with those soldiers?! This is nothing but a supposition!" Felt screamed in fury.

Priscilla hardened her wrathful glare as she felt strongly like burning these Russian soldiers to death.

Subaru is growling in anger as he assists to the scene, seeing everyone looking away and Farah continuing to walk in the streets of the city. Understanding that he can't do anything, he simply continues to follow Farah.

"Farah…" He called the commander.

"I know." She immediately answered, keeping the pace.

"Subaru…" Emilia whispered. She understood how much guilt he had to carry right now…To be this powerless.

"SHIT!" Felt screamed while punching her chair handle.

Reinhard hung his head low in guilt and pain. He knew he couldn't do anything right now. And he knew his friend was feeling the exact same thing right now.

Subaru grunted as he followed her into the passage of what looked like an abandoned bazar.

Loudspeakers throughout the city boomed with the voice of General Barkov.

I am General Roman Barkov, your superior and commander of these territories.

"Genera Barkov…" Crusch growled out in a threatening tone.

"Commander of these territories…He's the one ordering these soldiers…" Wilhelm said with a grunt of anger.

"Not for long…!" Garfiel growled in his chair with gritted teeth. "Capn's here now! He's goin' to fuckin' fall from high!"

Several people found themselves smirking to the tiger boy's words.

"Damn right." Felt commented, grabbing her big bro's collar.

As they approached, Subaru had a better look of the place, which was a bombed-out bazaar, completely destroyed, dilapidated and raided. Several holes pierced the ceiling as dust and little rocks were falling from it while the entire other end of the ceiling was missing, seemingly destroyed as well.

"Well this place knew some shit." Al commented with a whistle.

"Damage of war…Poor people." Anastasia winced.

Inside, Subaru saw more Russian soldiers abusing the civilian populace. As he passed by a Russian soldier with a guard dog that barked to him, another one dragged a civilian inside a store and shut the door. Earning Subaru's attention as he looked back and forth to the door and Farah who looked away, as a man shouted.

"No…NO PLEAS-"

"Oi…Oi…OI!" Garfiel screamed.

"What are they doing?! What was that?!" Emilia uttered in fear.

Frederica instinctively covered Petra's ears as she took her in a hug.

Only to get cut by several gunshots echoing behind the door.

Everyone startled in fear as they suddenly froze in place, eyes stuck to the screen as they crippling eyes slowly started to blink again.

"Wha…" Emilia tried to speak, slowly turning towards Crusch who looked at the screen, paralyzed as well.

"Bastards…" Felt whispered between her teeth as her face slowly contorted in fury. "BASTARDS!"

Subaru breathed out loudly as he stared at the door, until he met the eyes of a Russian soldier who noticed his eyes and found them unpleasant.

"Subaru…!" Julius shouted as he looked at the screen in alarm.

"Don't try anything stupid…Come on man, don't!" Al shouted…Wishing for his bro to listen.

"What's your problem?! You want to get shot?! Back the fuck up!" He yelled in Russian.

"Don't you TOUCH him!" Beatrice screamed, emptying her lungs.

"I'M GOIN' TO FUCKING KILL YOU!" Garfiel roared in sheer anger.

"Garf! Calm down!" Otto exclaimed as he pulled his brother back on his seat.

Subaru stepped back as Farah looked at him from afar, before making a sign with his hands to apologize to the solider.

"Now you see what I see in a daily basis. I understand your anger." She whispered to him as he came back to her side. "It does relieve me in a way, that you feel like this for us. It proves that you have the heart to stop this as much as we do."

"It is more than that…" Reinhard winced as he clenched his fists in anger. "He feels far more than that…"

"Subaru-dono…" Wilhelm whispered as he held a hand on his wrathful eyes.

Subaru sternly nodded to her as he kept walking to the other end of the passage, where several other civilians were situated.

"Barkov's forces occupy the entire city. They separate our men and women. Today will be very strict. Their officers are coming." She explained.

"Will Barkov show up?" Subaru asked with a glint of bitterness in his voice.

"Woah, he's already set to kill the biggest fish of all?" Ricardo praised with a glint of anger remembering the general. "I freakin' like the little boss more and more."

Anastasia huffed as she found the will to smile to her mercenary's words.

Comradery was a very good thing between members of the same faction.

"Almost never. He hides while others do his dirty work." Farah replied with a growl.

Subaru and Farah walked out of the bazaar and into open air again as they witnessed the Russian soldiers standing guard over the civilian workers, directing them to their places.

"What kind of dirty work?"

"Punishment. For fighting back."

"They oppress them. They occupy them, beat them…And when they fight back, they punish them…" Emilia whispered in a dread tone.

"Damned dogs…" Priscilla growled in fury.

"Come on, miss Priscilla! Damn it!"

Several people got startled by the warden suddenly appearing…Until they leaned closer to see the crushed hand between the hand of the fiery princess getting slowly healed.

Emilia, Crusch, Rem and Felt all glared to her in anger as they saw the hands of Subaru, only for Priscilla to simply click her tongue as she kept ignoring them, focusing on the screen.

We already know goddess can do mistakes!

As they came closer to the area, another solider approached them, showing directions.

"Men on the work line! Women to the trucks!" Shouted the soldier.

"They're not beating around the bush with their authority." Winced Julius.

"Yes, it seems they even enjoy it." Felix continued, noticing the tone and behavior of the soldier to be familiar.

"This is where we split up. You'll need to comply to blend in... Get through that main door. I'll find you on the other side."

Farah then walked off with the other women to the trucks while Subaru blended in by joining the male workers that are taking the cinder blocks.

He grabbed one and started carrying the cinder block to the main door where the Russian guard scoffed as he mistook him as a worker and let him pass through.

While he was walking to the working area, a voice started to echo again in the loudspeaker, which was the general Barkov.

"In spite of my generosity and protection, there are still forces in Urzikstan... who refuse to learn the lessons that will keep them safe and bring them peace and prosperity."

"What protection are you talking about?!" Otto shouted in anger.

"YEAH!" Garifel growled out. "Wait until capn' finds your ass! Damned fucker!"

"Protection uh…Damned Fucker." Subaru growled between his teeth.

Both Otto and Garfiel looked at each other in shock before smiling wide and laughing their asses off, as they pointed the screen with a proud expression.

"That's our boy!" They screamed in unison.

Reinhard, Julius and Felix grimaced to them…In envy and jealousy. They wanted to be able to shout like them. They wanted to shout with them.

They hoped to have this occasion.

As he passed through to the other side, he saw a Russian soldier spot Farah and raise his rifle at her.

"Don't move! Sto-" He tried to yell, before getting shot through by a throwing knife piercing his head.

"Woah!" Mimi jumped while widening her eyes.

"That was fast!" Tivey continued.

"Those are some damn skills!" Al whistled.

"She's good!" Ricardo added.

Emilia and Crusch both grunted silently.

Subaru faintly whistled to the clean throw as he continued to advance.

"Go left, down the alley." She told him.

Subaru took left, down the alley where he spotted a lone Russian soldier standing guard while the screams of a woman were heard, seemingly in front of the soldier.

"No, no... please!" She cried.

"Get over here! NOW!" another solider shouted.

"What is happening…" Rem uttered, fear in her eyes.

"A woman's screaming…They're torturing someone?!" Anastasia exclaimed with disgust clear in her eyes.

"…" Ram glared heatedly at the screen as she clenched her fists. "Barusu…What are you waiting for?"

Subaru heard the screams and looked at the solider, trying to think of a plan to act, until Farah spoke.

"See that soldier?" She noticed him.

"Yeah…" Subaru growled.

"Approach him, slowly. Get his attention..."

"Teamwork in action?" Petra said, urging Subaru to save this woman.

Frederica wordlessly gazed to the screen as she comforted Petra…Urging the same thing to the black haired boy.

Understanding that the commander had a plan, Subaru walked further, making noise with his footsteps to make the soldier look towards his direction, immediately raising his weapon.

"Stop right th-" He tried to shout.

Farah suddenly bursted through the door into the alley and kicked the Russian soldier's knees, debilitating him. While he dropped to his knees and tried to aim to her, Farah stabbed him again quickly, killing him immediately before grabbing his body out of sight.

"HELL YEAH!" Garfiel and Ricardo screamed at the same time.

"That lady is a tiger." Wilhelm complimented.

Priscilla nodded her head as she appreciated this demonstration of strength.

Emilia winced a bit to the kill she assisted, but couldn't deny that these were enemies and deserved it.

"Help! HELP-!" The woman continued to scream.

First impressed, Subaru rushed in the house through a blown-out section of the wall, where he saw the woman crying as another soldier continued to physically abuse the woman as he stands over her and hits her.

"You fucks killed my friend. Did you show him mercy? Yell all you want. No one is coming!" He shouted in Russian.

"You motherfuc-" Felt started to growl.

"Fuckin' asshole!" Garfiel growled as he stomped the ground…Until realizing something as he widened his eyes.

"Uh oh…" Al chuckled.

"He's done." Priscilla smirked.

Subaru rushed closer and kicked the back of the man, projecting his face right in the wall. As he turned around immediately to see his attacker, Subaru smashed his face with the cinder block, crushing the back of his head against the wall and the front against the block.

The soldier then dropped dead on the ground, as Subaru threw the cinder block into his face, to vent his anger and make sure he was dead.

"He deserved worse, I suppose." Beatrice huffed.

"Holy…" Ricardo winced for the dead man with a small laugh.

"Got what he deserved." Felix said with a smirk of satisfaction.

Crusch seemed a bit taken aback by Subaru's brutality. However she couldn't hide that she was satisfied by this man's death.

Emilia on the side, really wasn't okay with Subaru performing such gruesome acts.

All the while covering the little maid's eyes, Frederica nodded to the man's death. Without really accepting the gruesome way he was killed.

Farah went ahead towards the woman to help her back up.

"K-Karim?" She whispered with shock and relief.

"Stay safe, sister." She told her in Arabic.

The woman nodded her head as she got back up and walked away.

"You're resourceful." She praised him, looking towards the dead solider. "Good."

"You bet he's resourceful." Otto winced, sorry for the man's death.

Priscilla smirked widely behind her smile, utterly satisfied with what she saw as she tapped the sleeping boy's hand with her finger in amusement.

Farah opened the door and looked out to be sure everything was clear, as

"Let's go. I have contacts posted just ahead. They'll have more explosives for us. A bigger blast will pull more forces away from the Russian base." She explained.

"They're really going all out." Felt commented, eager to see the explosions.

"Yes…I think that's for the better. If that will help these forces to retreat…" Reinhard voiced out, holding resentment for the Russians soldiers.

"Better off dead." Felt replied with a huff.

They both walked down the alley as they suddenly noticed a couple Russian soldiers standing guard by the building.

"Shit. Barkov's soldiers have found my contacts. They may be dead already…" She growled.

Subaru observed the soldiers and looked all around him to see any way of solving the situation, scanning the area with his eyes and spotting everything he could.

"I can't see any other way. We'll have to make some noise…"

"You all saw that?!" Ricardo shouted in amazement. "He made a recon of everything around in seconds!"

"His training must been impressive as well…" Nodded Julius as he noticed how fast Subaru did the same thing as he did; observing the situation.

"So they'll fight?" Anastasia pointed out. "Mh…They have the surprise effect on their side at least."

"Yes but the sounds of the guns might alert the enemies nearby." Crusch informed, keeping her gaze locked to see what Subaru would do.

"I-I'm sure he has a plan." Emilia stuttered. "He wouldn't do something as reckless…"

Emilia tried to somewhat defend her knight…Though she wasn't sure herself of her words.

"Find an oil filter. It will silence your weapon.Check civilian cars. I'll keep watch on the guards." Farah informed him.

Subaru nodded to her before going in a nearby garage to open looks for an oil filter in a parked van, while Farah stood guard behind a truck and watched the soldiers converse with each other in Russian.

"He's looking for…An "oil filter"? What's that?" Otto wondered as he scratched his cheek softly.

"Why would oil need a filter?" Mimi questioned.

"Maybe not the same oil?" Tivey continued.

"The locals are arming the women and children."

"Children?!" Emilia repeated in shock.

"What does that mean?! Are children combatants?!" Crusch continued in anger.

"What kind of messed up situation is this…" Anastasia growled in anger.

"The leader of the militia is a woman..."

"Animals... Barkov warned us."

"I will not be killed by a female."

Crusch, Emilia, Anastasia, Priscilla, Rem, Felt, Frederica, Ram, Mimi and Petra all huffed haughtily with a glint of anger in their eyes to the man's words.

All of them could literally kill him in seconds.

"Watch out for the women, I'm telling you."

"There are other ways to tell the difference.

"Well, shit- I guess they were terrorists...

"Gregor's a damn wolfhound."

"Get him to go door to door then. We'll find them all in a week."

"Nah, Barkov needs some alive."

"What for?

"Free labor. The women serve and the men work 'till they die. He told us, "Learn to use every part of the animal."

Absolutely everyone in the room, even Roswaal, felt disgusted and angered by the last soldier's words. So much the cracking of the chair handles could even be heard.

"Reducing people to animals…" Emilia whispered in a dread, threatening tone.

"You damned…" Anastasia bit her tongue before speaking further, knowing they would be dealt with anyway.

"These monsters…" Crusch growled out. "You don't even have any shame…!"

"Fuckin' Russians…" Garfiel roared silently. "I hope you deal with them good Capn'!"

"How ironic for a pathetic dog to call others animals…" Priscilla spat in disgust.

"These insurgents continue to launch senseless attacks in the name of so-called "freedom." These homegrown terrorists are the cancer in this great country."

"It's impressive, I never knew I could hate a guy so much the more I hear him talk." Ricardo growled in disgust."

"I hear you." Julius commented as she glared at the screen.

As he found the oil filter, Subaru pulls out a red cylinder that he attaches it to his sidearm.

"That'll do it."

"What will that do?" Tivey asked in curiosity.

"Hey, remember? Big bro had the same kind of thing on his…Gun last time…" She reminded everyone.

"Could it be…" Crusch thought loud as she started to understand.

"Good. Head back and flank right." She replied him.

Subaru stepped out of the garage and want down the right side of the truck past Farah.

Inside the building, a woman is heard screaming.

"NO!"

Before gunshots were heard.

"Fuck…" Subaru growled.

"By the dragon…" Reinhard winced as he understood.

"You must feel horrible boy…I am sorry…" Wilhelm added with gritted teeth.

"You get two. I'll take the rest." Farah said with a grim tone.

Subaru put himself into position, hidden behind cover and aimed his weapon at two of the Russians before shooting them. Farah throw a knife in the third soldier by herself and kills him as a fourth soldier opens the door and walks outside to investigate the noise he heard.

"Woah! It…" Garfiel stuttered.

"That's it." Crusch concluded with wide eyes and a smirk. "It silenced the gun's noise."

"Oh…Smart~" Anastasia praised.

"…That was lady Farah's idea though…" Petra whispered to herself.

"What the hell?!" He yelled in Russian.

Farah immediately charged forward and tackled the last Russian soldier. He tried to counter attack but Farah kicked him in the belly, before taking another knife and stab him multiple times until he dies.

"Clear. Stay low." She said while panting a bit.

"SHE'S GOOD!" Ricardo yelled with his arms up.

"YEAH! COME ON LADY!" Garfiel cheered, making a certain catgirl pout behind him.

"She's not to be messed with too eh? I like her!" Felt added, impressed to see her fight.

"Yup…" Subaru answered, looking at the dead man.

All the men laughed to him wincing for the poor man who just got beaten.

"Wouldn't want to be him, that's for sure." Julius snorted.

"I think no one would pal." Al chuckled.

Subaru then followed Farah inside the building where she peeked around the corner for signs of trouble. There, she spotted three Russian soldiers inside the next room, searching for weapons while a dead woman lies on the ground nearby.

"Hold up. Stay away from the door." Farah says as she stopped Subaru from coming closer.

Inside, the soldiers started to speak to each other.

"Watch for traps, they had explosives."

"Now, go check the back room.".

"Do you have a shot?" Farah asked.

"Yep."

"Take two. I'll take the other."

Subaru and Farah then breached inside as Subaru shot two of the men down, as Farah threw a knife in the head of the third.

"Woah, they're making a great team!" Otto laughed.

Emilia glanced towards him with a pout on her face…Subaru was her knight! He should look good with HER.

"This way."

Subaru saw the knife stuck on the wall that Farah left and grabbed it as Farah took the backpack filled with explosives that her contacts had been holding for her.

"Sorry about your contacts." Subaru said in a low voice.

"We have the explosives. Their sacrifice will not be in vain. Hide the gun. We're going back outside." She said, not taking the time to take a look at the body. "Follow me. I'll lead."

"She seemed…Unfazed by her comrades deaths…" Julius said in a low voice, troubled. "It's disturbing…"

"She said it herself." Priscilla replied to him with an expressionless face. "She lives like this every day."

If there was one woman who knew more than anyone how to grow unfazed by war thanks to the days passed on a warzone…It was her.

Farah leaded Subaru back out into the open. As they go out, Subaru's eyes widened in wrath as he came upon an execution staged by Russian soldiers, hanging three civilians with a crane that is slowly lifting up, as they struggle and screams with bag on their heads.

Gasps of fear, shock and anger were heard from everywhere in the theatre at the brutal display they were witnessing. Some still couldn't process this was an execution, others glared with an anger so great that the room could be shaken off by their strength gripping the chairs and stomping the ground.

"They are hanging them…" Emilia whispered.

"This is a public execution..." Crusch said as she looked away, clenching her fists.

"..." Beatrice just stared at the screen, expressionless.

Anastasia was paralyzed, eyes glued to the screen as she felt the needed to rub her scarf and squeeze the hand of the black haired boy as hard as she could to relieve the anger slowly building up inside her.

With crippling eyes…Otto was surprised to find a hand gripping his cape coming from his right. As he turned slowly…He met with Frederica, head hung low as her blonde bangs covered her eyes…

Seeing her like this only made Otto even more angry, as wrath was clear in his eyes.

Taking his courage in his hands…The merchant boy raised his arm to approach Frederica closer as she buried herself in his arms, while holding Petra in hers.

No one was there to notice them. No one had their eyes for it.

No one had their hearts for it.

The other civilians are forced to watch the executions as they are held back by the soldiers. On the side, several more accused civilians stood bound by the soldiers. Awaiting their turns and their deaths.

"If you defy General Barkov, you will be made an example of!" The soldier shouted loud.

"Barkov…" Reinhard growled in a threatening tone.

As they passed by it, one of the Russian soldiers spotted a man comforting a weeping woman and walked over to them.

"What is this?" He inquired.

"Please- she's just scared..." The man answered.

The civilian male stepped forward only to get aimed at, in check by the soldiers raising their weapons at him. The chief soldier waves them back with his hand.

"Stand down. I know what she is." He says as he come closer to the woman, grabbing her shoulder. "Do you understand why we do these things? They hang because they killed our soldiers. Now look at them."

"THEY HANG BECAUSE YOU ARE MONSTERS!" Otto screamed in fury, holding the maid a bit tighter.

"Go burn in hell! Damn it!" Ricardo growled out as he covered the twins eyes.

"I would kill you myself…" Felt growled out. "I WOULD SO KILL YOU MYSELF IF I COULD!"

"This is inhuman…There is no honor and no merit in this!" Julius screamed as he held his knees and glared at the screen.

"RAAAAAAAAAHHH" Garfiel roared in fury as he stomped the floor, making the entire theatre shake.

The soldier then left her and walks around in front of the people, speaking loudly for everyone to hear.

"We can live peacefully, but only if we help each other! It is the terrorists who cause the pain for all of us! Unite our causes, expose these terrorists, and you will be rewarded!"

"Oh they're calling for snitching?!" Felt spat in a outraged tone.

"Collaboration in exchange of favors and rewards…They are calling for the population to betray each other!" Reinhard said in shock.

"Their disgusting tactics knows no bounds nya!" Felix shouted with disgust clear in his eyes.

"They want to divide them to better control them." Priscilla spoke out loud for everyone to hear. "This is a common tactic. By making them feel safe on their side, they're taking out all threats to eliminate all resistance…Then, when all the non fighters are left…"

"They are done for…Either enslaved or killed." Crusch finished with her eyes glowing in fury.

"I so hope to be by your side just so I could cut them down myself, Subaru…" She whispered to herself.

"Let's get moving." Farah says as she walks off.

However, Subaru stood there looking at the hanged civilians with a wrathful glare. Farah noticed it and went back to take Subaru's arm, telling him to move.

"CIA, we need to move…" She told him, as he stood as a rock, glaring heatedly to the people getting killed.

"Subaru…" Emilia whispered in an emotional and tone, tears forming in her eyes.

"He's about to lose it!" Ricardo shouted as he nearly jumped out of his seat.

"No!" Felt shouted as she held onto him. "There is too many of them! He can't do it!"

"Come on capn'…" Garfiel grimaced to the screen.

"Don't be an idiot, in fact!" Beatrice shouted. Tears finally forming in his eyes.

He knew more than anyone that feeling. He was sharing the exact same thoughts of his captain right now. The urge and the rage to murder all these men on the spot. But he wasn't stupid either…He couldn't survive this man guns pointed to him and so his captain couldn't…

"CIA!" She said a bit louder, gaining his attention.

When he turned to her, Farah backed up a bit, eyes wide as a shiver ran down her spine to the wrathful eyes she just witnessed. However, she gained her composure back quickly.

"She was frightened for a moment…" Anastasia noticed.

"I think anyone would my lady…" Julius said as he sighed in frustration.

"Yeah, I wouldn't want to meet Subaru's eyes right now." Felix admitted.

All of them were afraid for him in this situation. But if they would be afraid of his eyes directed towards them right now, that was a certitude.

"This is a fucking war crime…" He growled in disgust.

"A war crime…?" Crusch said as she narrowed her eyes to these words.

"What could a war crime be…?" Otto thought out loud…As he turned to meet Frederica's face in front of his own, looking at him with confused eyes…

Until both of them finally noticed they were still stuck to each other.

They immediately let go of each other as they turned to the opposite side, a large shade of red on each's faces.

Thankfully, no one noticed them…Except a certain little maid.

And a dogman smirking.

"I told you that Subaru's world had rules when it comes to war, I suppose." Beatrice explained to everyone, holding her contractor's jacket.

"Do you mean…That they have rules when it comes to the battlefield?" Wilhelm asked with surprised eyes.

"Yes." Beatrice concluded. "They have strict rules about weapons and actions. Such as killing civilians and unarmed combatants."

Everyone looked at each other in shock and surprise. Rules in war…?

"What happens if they don't respect it?" Anastasia asked to the spirit, curious.

"Either they get punished by other countries or attacked in justice by a coalition regrouping different countries of a continent, forcing them to atone for their crimes." Beatrice explained.

"So there is still solidarity in justice in this world…?" Reinhard asked with a glint of hope in his eyes.

"Only when it matters man." Al said as he shook his head.

"Remember about the song, remember about the boy's thoughts. No one is a hero there."

They all turned again to the screen…Mixed feelings in their minds.

"This is a punishment, for the stolen gas... Barkov blames us for stealing it." She answered as she led the way.

"And What can we do?" Subaru inquired.

"Accomplish our mission, and put an end to Barkov's cruelty forever..." She sternly replied.

"That he will." Reinhard answered in a stern voice.

"Damn straight." Felt continued with an equal tone.

Subaru and Farah entered a building and climbed up a ladder to the roof.Several helicopters fly outside and landed on the nearby rooftops of the adjacent buildings.

"Barkov is sending in helicopters. We take them out, forces from the base will come running..."Farah explained.

"Giving us a window to attack..." Subaru answered, observing the helicopters.

"Yes. Set explosives on the helicopters. I'll cover you. Guards get in your way, take them out- quietly. Meet back here when you're through."

"So she's staying behind while Subaru will go and do all the work?! "Emilia inquired, a bit outraged.

"Someone needs to keep guard, Emilia-sama." Crusch stated. "She is certainly letting Subaru-sama go because she knows he is more competent."

Emilia winced as she was still a bit mad at that Farah girl, but couldn't deny the duchess's words.

Subaru nodded to her as he went down and started his way to the first helicopter.

As he advanced towards it, the loudspeakers in the city started to shout again, with general Barkov's speech.

"There can be no order and no peace... until those who side with these savages are permanently eliminated. I am a fair general, and a man of swift justice. There is no judge or jury here. There is only crime and punishment. One by one, we will eliminate these agitators from our streets... and create a safe place to work and prosper, under my authority. This revolt brings war to the peace-loving citizens of Urzikstan. These "freedom fighters" and their collaborators... threaten the safety and security of those who follow the rules. Today, they will be punished. Those who believe that my forces will be defeated by these terror tactics and secret plans... have made a grave miscalculation. I will never, ever, be pushed out of this land by an army of thieves and terrorists... We will root out these interventionists and hold this territory, forever. There will be no victory for our enemies... only death. Russia is here to defend your lives, your liberty, your independence. My reserves of manpower are inexhaustible. I will not be defeated by citizen soldiers. Urzikstan is bleeding. Her reserves of manpower are dying out. These terrorist criminals are destroying this land and today... we can make an example of those who refuse to follow my orders. These enemies are your friends and family. These conspirators among us are carrying out unspeakable acts against our people... with the blessing and support of the United States and their partners in the UK. ANYONE who collaborates with these groups, will be sentenced to death. Today, the people of Urzikstan are far better off under my command. This country could share in its riches... but it must earn that privilege through loyalty and obedience. Together, we can build industry and harvest raw materials. Russia is your ally. We can be partners here."

"That's a lot of talk for nothing but bullshit right here, general." Subaru growled out as he sneaked near the helicopter.

"Pathetic scum." Priscilla spat. So much words and so much obvious lies in that snake's voice.

A combination of lots of thing she couldn't stand.

"Was about to say the same." Ricardo laughed.

"I hope that guy dies!" Mimi shouted.

"I'm sure it's only a question of time, Mimi." Julius pointed out.

He was too disgusted by the general's words. But he knew there was Subaru, A.K.A the CIA agent right here in his territories.

He wouldn't stand long. The greatest knight knew it perfectly.

As he approached from below the first landed helicopter, Subaru stopped as he saw two guards speaking to each other, keeping the alley. Thinking quick, he immediately stopped a man walking towards him with a cinder block to take it. The civilian looked to his eyes only one moment, enough to understand, before thanking him and walking away.

The two guards snorted to this and continued their talk, as Subaru walked towards them his head hung low.

Once behind them, he whistled faintly, making one of the soldiers turn around, only to see a cinder block smashing his face with such strength it projected him against the wall, the sound of his facial bones breaking, echoing loudly in the theatre.

Immediately after, he made another swing to the other soldier's face, breaking the cinder block on his helmet as he pinned him on the ground, before stomping his throat down the dirt and killing him on the spot.

Everyone leant back in their chair to the demonstration of power that Subaru just held before them, some blew out of their mouths in reflex about the pain these soldiers had to feel when they got attacked.

"Hell he's not even using his guns!" Ricardo laughed.

"That was brutal…" Felt uttered. "Damn right in their faces!"

Emilia got taken aback by her knight's brutality, again, it didn't feel like him…

"I think he's venting a little bit…" Otto pointed out as he grimaced by the sheer kills.

"Well you can blame him? I would too after seeing this bullshit." Al spat on the side, making many agree with him.

The people in this room were rather the first one to act impulsively while angry after all. They all did.

Priscilla snorted in amusement to the boy's takedown. They were so satisfying to see.

"Well…That was something." Farah scoffed. "If you are that skilled with nothing but a cinder block, I wonder how you do with weapons."

"You would be surprised while he can do with barely nothing lady." Julius commented, remembering his friend's adventure.

"I think he'll get another one if he keeps going." Al laughed.

"What do you mean?" Rem asked, curious. Along with several other women.

Al just shrugged. Probably to avoid something dangerous.

"Yeah. You know about the citation saying that world war IV would be fought with sticks and stones?" Subaru replied as he took one of the part of the broken cinder block.

"Wouldn't that be some useless weapons?" Wilhelm commented with his eyes in suspicion.

"I believe it was Einstein." Farah replied.

Subaru climbed the stairs, ending up behind the pilot of the helicopter who was checking something on the side, before smashing the block on his face and dragging his body away.

"Yeah, well maybe he was right. Cinder blocks are effective." He chuckled as he approached the helicopter and placed a charge while the two other soldiers were talking to each other.

Most of the room chuckled and laughed to the black haired boy's actions and words.

"Man, I really don't want to have him as an opponent, fuck it." Ricardo laughed out.

"You bet." Al replied, laughing as well.

"Charges set. This'll make one hell of a distraction..."

"That's the plan... Now get to the other helicopter." Farah informed.

Subaru acknowledged and started to make his way to the other helicopter, passing under the pad and joining the stairs.

"Use the stairs. Stop! There's a guard- top of the stairs, left side!" Farah noticed, making Subaru stop as he saw the guard on the left.

"That was close…" Otto said as he noticed the soldier too late and held his heart in feart.

"Good eye..." Subaru whispered, taking his gun.

However, the solider got shot before his eyes, a bullet right in the eye.

"You have cat like reflexes…" Subaru praised.

Ricardo, Al and Garfiel whistled in awe.

"I'm more of a dog person." She replied with a scoff. "Regroup on my position when you're done."

Subaru quietly posed the charge and left the rooftops, returning to Farah's position as he looked around to be sure he wasn't followed.

Farah waited for him up the stairs, watching over the helipads.

"We're clear. It's time." She said as she nodded to him. "Blow it."

"Fire in the hole." Subaru sighed, pushing the button.

"So basically those helicopters will explode right?" Anastasia inquired to the rest of the room.

"Should we cover our ears? It was loud last time!" Mimi pointed out.

"That's true! I would rather do it." Tivey said as he covered his ears.

As he detonates the C4, the helicopters to explode. The entire ground is shaking a the helicopters explodes, making everyone scream and panic in fear. The commotion causes some shouting among the civilians and the Russian military that disperses everywhere.

Everyone widened their eyes at the sheer destruction taking place in front of their eyes.

"Woah! You talk about a party!" Al snorted;

"That's a distraction?" Crusch said in shock. "May I be damned it this doesn't work…"

"Fucking beautiful CIA, Well done! Now, this way..." She informed, ready to go.

"Wait... Take the left!" She said while she stopped him, telling him to take cover.

As Subaru crouched , he glanced to the side to see an ambulance driving through the streets with its sirens wailing, followed by Russian military vehicles as they came to a stop. Paramedics jumped out of the ambulance while soldiers jumped out of the trucks to secure the area.

"What are those? Never red cars like these!" Anastasia pointed to the little spirit.

"Yes, those are ambulances. Cars designed to carry and heal wounded people." Beatrice explained.

"They are really prepared for everything…" Felix whispered in surprise to see what he could qualify as healers going out of the cars.

"The speed in which they reacted is impressive." Reinhard praised. "They didn't even wait more than a minute."

"This is the kind of things where they are always ready pal." Al informed. "They must be set to go anytime."

"Look, it worked! Troops from the base are rushing in to defend." Farah exclaimed, happy to see her plan working.

Subaru smirked as he saw them taking the bait. When the troops passed, both of them went down of the balcony towards the trucks and started to crawl under it, Farah taking the lead.

"Looks like their plan is working well." Priscilla said as she leaned back in her seat, closing her fan.

"Now let's see the next steps."

"Okay, the trucks are undefended. We'll take them out next. Come- Under the truck!"

As they both crawl under it, some other soldiers are seen coming towards them, making the 2 fighters freeze until they pass. When they were finally out of sight, Subaru turned back in front and froze again, as he was right in front of Farah's behind. (Again.)

"Are they gone?" She whispered.

"Y-yeah. It's all good." He said as he forced himself to look elsewhere.

"Yo he was lookin'!" Ricardo laughed.

"DEFINITELY!" Al laughed back." I mean who wouldn't?!"

"LUCKY!" Garfiel screamed as he cursed his captain's luck, only to get slapped on the back of his head by Frederica, outraged by her little brother.

Julius and Felix both sighed in disappointment to the others male of the theatre, while Reinhard had an uneasy smile on his face when he glanced to Subaru…

As Emilia growled in fury, wanting nothing more than smack Subaru on the head for his dirty behavior. He did look!

Crusch snorted, disappointed by Subaru's behavior…As she quietly glanced towards the boy with a glint of anger clear in her eyes, before quickly glancing to her back.

'Isn't…No, mine is bett-"

Anastasia frowned with a dead expression as she huffed to Subaru's disgusting behavior.

Rem pouted in anger as she thought about lecturing Subaru for not looking more at h-

Priscilla narrowed her eyes in annoyance as she gradually squeezed the poor boy's hand harder, outraged by him looking at another woman's a-

"Yo. I'm watching you."

Farah grunted as she crawled forward, taking a bomb out of her bag and sticking it under the truck.

"A parting gift- for when they return." She said with a chuckle of malice.

"How generous of you..." He chuckled back.

"I really like that gir- HEY!" Garfiel shouted as someone just kicked the back of his chair, turning to see Tivey looking at his sister confused while she huffed and looked away.

Ricardo shook his head in disappointment to the tiger boy, staring at them confused.

"Minus 20 points boy." He spat in a hushed tone.

Both of them crouched out from underneath the truck and made a run for their next position, needing now to join back their base.

"A shame to miss the show, but we have to get on with our attack before it's too late. The next street will lead us back to the tunnels, under Tariq's-"

However, just as they turned a corner, they encountered a large group of Russian soldiers heading in their direction along with large armored vehicle.

Everyone gasped in fear at the sight of the approaching troops.

"FUCK!" Garfiel roared out.

"SUBARU! NO!" Emilia screamed.

"SUBARU!" Crusch screamed.

"RUN, I SUPPOSE!" Beatrice yelled as she held on him closer.

"DON'T STAY THERE, BIG BRO!" Felt continued as she held onto him.

"Shit! Go! Get back!" She shouted as she turned in the opposite direction, throwing her explosive filled bag towards them.

The backpack exploded in a loud roar, however screams and sounds of engine approaching. Subaru and Farah made a run for it as they spot more Russian soldiers closing in on them and opening fire on their position.

"Fuck this one was loud!" Ricardo yelled as he held his left ear.

Mimi and Tivey much did the same.

"We're getting boxed in!" Subaru yelled, following Farah as he kept his head low to avoid shots from the enemies coming from everywhere.

"I'm going to blow it!" She replied as she pointed the truck.

"What? Another?!" Frederica yelled as she prepared to cover her ears.

They both took cover behind a wall just as Farah detonates the explosives under the truck. The explosion taking out another group of Russians, before Farah ran down the alley with Subaru following in tow.

"Right CIA! Go right!" She yelled.

"They need to get the hell out of here!" Julius growled with a frustrated tone, his legs shaking.

"Come on…COME ON!" Otto yelled.

"Don't stay here Subaru!" Reinhard yelled as well.

"Natsuki-kun! Go faster!" Anastasia ended up screaming as well, much to her knight's surprise…If he wasn't sharing the same thought .

They both ran inside a builiding that rumbles from the explosion.

"Holy shit!" Subaru cursed as some gunshots pierced the door behind him.

"SUBARU-KUN!" Rem cried, emptying her lungs.

"Stupid Barusu! HIDE, NOW!" Ram yelled out.

"How the hell is he avoiding this?!" Al uttered in disbelief.

"Subaru-dono! Keep running!" The old butler voiced loud as he leaned forward.

"What a thrill…" Priscilla whispered behind her fan. A large smile forming as she felt her heart beating slightly faster. She wasn't about to fear for him like these people. She knew he would go out of this. She just wanted to see more of his exciting actions, her hand on the boy's softly caressing it.

"Window!" She pointed, not losing time.

Subaru and Farah jumped through a window and out into an alley, as they opened another door leading out to a yard. Inside the yard, they came across piles of civilian corpses murdered, mutilated and seemingly tortured regarding their wounds.

Everyone in the room widened their eyes in absolute disgust and fury. Frederica immediately caught Petra just like Ricardo did for the twins as Reinhard cursed himself to not be by his lady's sight, looking at the scene with crippling eyes.

"What…The…Fuck…"Uttered Ricardo.

"Goddamn it…" Al said as he coughed under his helmet in disgust.

Roswaal kept his malicious smile as nothing of this truly impressed him much…However, he did feel a slight of uneasy feeling in him.

Ram widened her eyes in fear, unable to close her mouth as she noticed children between the dead, mutilated bodies.

Emilia held a shaky hand to her mouth while staring at the scene with a disturbed and broken expression…How could this be? Who could do this…?

Rem completely thought like she was about to throw up just by the sight of the children murdered. She already saw something similar when they observed Subaru's journey in this world.

It didn't become easier.

Beatrice gritted her teeth in sheer anger as she hugged the front of her contractor, disgusted and afraid.

Otto stared at the screen with a look of morbid, disgusted and shocked expression. His eyes Just empty, like he blacked out from this scene.

Garfiel just held his head in both heads, roaring loud and breathing in and out to the cruelty he had to witness…By his captain's eyes.

Crusch's eyes burned with sheer fury ass he nearly shredded her gloves with her nails as so much she was clenching her fists right now.

She was absolutely disgusted as her heart screamed justice for these poor souls.

Wilhelm simply stared at the screen with a wide opened mouth and broken eyes.

Felix gasped in fear as he felt anger slowly growing in him, wanting nothing more than kill these soldiers with his own hands and water magic.

Felt began breathing out loudly as soon as she saw the dead bodies of the children and instantly buried her face in the back of the black haired boy's face to soothe her nerves, much like the duchess to her left did before her.

Anastasia could barely process what she was seeing. She saw things similar. She saw the cruelty of the men everywhere…But this was still too much.

Frederica looked away as she kept holding Petra in her arms…Taking a grip on Otto's cape as she herself needed something to hold on.

Priscilla just held her fan to her face, eyes hidden in darkness as the only thing visible was the fire of her eyes glaring at the screen in sheer fury.

"Oh you..." She whispered behind her fan.

Subaru's breathing hitched as he looked around with, eyes crippling in confusion.

"Farah…What the hell is this?" He growled out.

"More of Barkov's war crimes." She coldly replied, a glint of hurt in her voice.

"That fucking son of a…" Ricardo spat out, disgusted to the core.

"Wait for it…" Al whispered as he shook his head. "Just fucking wait for it. He's coming for your ass "general"!"

"Y-…YOU DAMNED BASTARD!" Garfiel roared as he punched the floor multiple times to vent his anger.

However, voices of Russians were heard as they were coming close.

"The blast came from the street!" One of the men pointed out.

"Get down!" She silently shouted as she heard them coming.

"No…There's no way out…What are they doing?!" Emilia voiced out loud, worried for Subaru.

"I-I think they have another plan in mind, Emilia-sama…" Otto pointed with wide eyes as he saw Subaru lying down.

"What he's about to…" Reinhard bit his tongue as he understood.

Subaru and Farah crouched down in the tall grass amid the bodies as several Russian soldiers appeared in the yard, looking for the perpetrators of the attack that just shook the city.

"Hide your gun, there's too many..." She whispered.

"Stay awake, boys, they could be anywhere." One of them said as he walked in the middle of the field.

"Oh dear dragon…Please…" Julius said in a hushed tone as the entire theatre was silent, so silent the sound of multiples heartbeats could be heard everywhere inside.

Like they were all there, with him.

Subaru stood immobile, slowing his breathing as the soldiers passed near him, mistaking him for one of the dead bodies. When they were past, the only ones that were left were 3 men pouring gasoline on corpses.

"It worked…" Felt whispered as she didn't let go of Subaru's neck.

"Yeah, they're going away…" Anastasia continued.

Crusch glared to the screen as she saw the three other soldiers who stayed coming in the field.

"There's more…"The duchess said as she observed them. "What are they doing?'

"They are…Pouring water on the bodies?" Felix said with a confused voice as he turned to Wilhelm, who shrugged as he didn't have a better explanation.

"Arf, that stinks!"

"That's why we are burning these things."

"Yeah, maybe they'll get the message this time."

"They want to burn the corpses!" Reinhard exclaimed in outrage.

"Not even respect for the dead…You damned scum!" Julius growled out.

"How could they do this?!" Felix continued with disgust clear in his eyes.

"Burning?!" Mimi said as she looked at her brother.

"The water can burn them?!" Tivey exclaimed in shock.

"That's not water kid. That's gasoline." Al spat aside. "You combine that to a spark and the entire thing is on fire in a blink of an eye."

"They want to burn them down to send a message?!" Rem inquired in fear.

"Or maybe to hide their own crimes…" Wilhelm spoke out, making everyone glare at the screen in absolute disgust.

"Yeah, had to be that Karim."

Farah is looking at them as she prepared a plan, yet Subaru started to slowly get up before her. She wanted to catch him back, but he didn't wait for her.

"What is he doing now?!" Emilia exclaimed in fear as she leaned forward.

Priscilla smirked behind her fan as she giggled silently. She wanted to say how he was about to deal with this.

Frederica took the reflex of hiding Petra's eyes as she knew Subaru was about to get brutal.

As he stood up, Subaru rushed towards the first soldier, whom he sliced the throat in a swift move. However, he screamed before dying, alerting the two others who turned around to see their comrade down as Subaru was now aiming for them.

Flipping his knife, Subaru threw it right in the eye of the farthest one as he rushed to the third and last soldier.

He tried to aim his weapon; however, Subaru was already too close from him and kicked in his rifle, making him drop it. He then pinned him against the wall with his forearm placed on his throat to choke him.

The soldier tried to fight back, as he tried to reach for his knife in one last attempt. He grabbed it and tried to stab Subaru, who saw it coming as he grabbed his wrist and slammed his forearm against his throat to destabilize him as in he same time, he grabbed the knife and plunged it in his throat, looking at him slowly dying out.

"And burn in hell." He uttered between his teeth.

Once again, all were taken aback in fear and awe to Subaru's demonstration of power, as he single handedly took out three armed men in seconds.

"HELL YEAH!" Garfiel roared loud. "THAT'S IT CAPN'!"

"FUCKING YES." Ricardo roared back.

"You got it bro!" Al whistled." You damned got it!"

Everyone in the room were satisfied to see these scums die. Even Emilia regardless of her knight's brutality, couldn't lie about feeling nothing for these people's deaths.

"You deserved even worse!" Felt spat out "Damned bastard!"

"May you burn in hell indeed." Julius huffed.

Reinhard cleared his throat, uneasy to see such brutality. However, he knew Subaru didn't have a choice.

"May they all rest in peace, knowing they are slightly avenged." Wilhelm spoke in solemn respect, having mixed feelings as he didn't know how to feel about the boy's actions.

Priscilla however…Was absolutely delighted by what she saw. She wasn't just satisfied, no. The brutality and the rage she held towards these men was perfectly translated by Subaru in his actions right in front of her eyes. As such she couldn't be more satisfied than she was right now.

Would he be awake, she would have rewarded him.

Farah stood behind him, eyes wide as her mouth was certainly wide open in shock if it was not for the scarf covering it.

She briefly shook her head as she came closer to take the lead again.

"I like your style…" She chuckled. "Very efficient."

"JUST A QUESTION OF TIIIIME" Al laughed to Ricardo as some people still looked at them in confusion.

"Yeah. Only when I have to be…" He whispered to himself as he glanced towards the dead men.

"Don't worry. No one will hold you accountable for this." Crusch whispered with an understanding look.

"I think you did well, at least."

"To the tunnel, quickly. More may be coming." She told him, as she climbed up the wall.

As they reached the other side, up ahead at the end of the alley, Subaru and Farah watched as several Russian military helicopters flew by in the direction of the explosions.

"Look- reinforcements from the airbase. Our plan is working!" She said with a relieved tone.

"Now that I see what these "Russians" have done…I'm quite glad their plan is working so well." Anastasia didn't hesitate to say.

Many nodded their heads with her.

Both then reached a corner and took cover to hide from more Russians coming on them. They watched as the Russians ran in the streets in front of Tariq's safehouse.

"Stop! Shit, Tariq's door is open." Farah said with a bitter tone.

"Where's Tariq?" Subaru asked, looking at the commander.

"Dead." She coldly answered. "He would never abandon his post..."

"…Another dead one…The cost of war is truly horrible." Wilhelm said as he looked down in grief.

Both waited until the Russians cleared out of the area. When no one was in sight anymore, they made their move towards the safehouse.

"Let's go." She ordered, taking the lead as she entered the house.

"Clear. Let's head down, get to Hadir..." She said as she pointed the ladder.

"So they are over?" Otto inquired, asking for everyone's opinion.

"I think so…This is the tunnel where they started isn't it?" Ram pointed out.

"Indeed. Maybe this viewing will finally come to an end…" Rem said with a tired tone.

"I think we all had enough, yeah…" Felix said in a hushed tone, making his mistress pat his head to try and comfort him.

Subaru went first as he grabbed the ladder's handles and started to go down, looking up to Farah before she followed him.

"You lost good people today…" He said with a respectful tone.

Farah unveiled the lower part of her hajib as she crouched down in front of him.

"That is the cost of this war." She said as she closed her eyes in respect." Now, let's take Barkov's airbase so their deaths are not in vain."

"True. That was but one step of the plan." Al remembered, making everyone widen their eyes.

"Oh no…" Emilia whispered in a dread tone.

"We're in for a hell of a fight." He noticed her.

"So are they." She smirked. "Hadir has a plan."

And on these last words, the screen faded to black.

"So the next viewing will be a great battle?" Crusch wondered with a hand on her chin.

"It seems so…They made a diversion now to attack an base." Ricardo answered.

"Man this was already exhausting in his own way, we're going to see a real battle in the other viewing…" Garfiel said, his voice mixing eagerness and worry for his captain…Nah it's his captain. He'll be fine.

"What do you mean? We saw real battles…" Otto replied, remembering the other viewings.

"No." Priscilla corrected the merchant boy as she closed her fan. "What we saw was an infiltration, an ambush and a defense in civilian city. Not battles."

"What Priscilla-sama is saying is true. A battle is when two armies face each other in a territory." Wilhelm followed.

"So the resistance and Subaru…Against the Russians." Reinhard thought out loud.

"Yes, just by adding 'Subaru' to a side, you already know who will win." Petra cheerfully voiced out loud for everyone to hear.

And they all chuckled and laughed out loud to the little girl's words.

They were hard to deny, after all.

---

OUAH!

That was one hell of a chap wasn't it? You feel the thrill?

Because you fucking better be, I spent all nighters on that shit.

So you all need to know some things.

Re:MW will be put on hold for a little while as I need to focus on the rework of Dragon King and finally have the courage to attack Priscilla if again.

I know a lot of you like this story and eagerly awaits for the updates, but I can't only focus on this. So bear with me.

I thank you all for your support and I hope you enjoyed your read.

(By the way, my very dear friend Evon made a wonderful art for a certain scene of this chapter, please check the fan arts of the Re:zero subreddit to see it in all it's glory.)

(Also damn it Dyn, this intro went wild because of you.)

(And don't forget to vote for Armstrong as president. #Armstrongforpresident2024)