Dear lord, end this! These exams are killing me! This is my second year and this fucking pandemic is making this session into a hell, have any of you already had to write a 10 lines long explanation about a lawsuit in 5 minutes? Not fun, trust me.

So here is the chapter 7…That will be quite something I have to say.

This is actually the first time I'm making a chapter this "chaotic" while trying such a…Special way for Subaru's character development. Some of you might find it a bit too much though, which I would understand but my decision is taken now so…Bear with me.

Thank you all again for the reviews and feedbacks.

That being said, I hope you all enjoy your read.

(I read that chapter 3 to 4 times before posting it to be sure nothing was missing so please tell me if you see anything. I also apologize for any spelling msitakes, I didn't really write that chapter with a rested mind. No, I'm never fully rested. Not with that fucking 300 pages european law book to study.)


"It's my fault."

His vision was blurred, his mind was a total mess, he couldn't think about anything even if he wanted to. His eyes were completely emotionless, glaring at a point with no meaning behind while the slight glint of light in them seemed to have faded. In the middle of this storm of thoughts that had no beginning and no end, a faint voice echoed in his mind.

[?] "A probl…."

"What…Where…."

Yet around him, everything was black, even if he seemed to perceive faint forms in this abyssal darkness. Strangely, his body was perfectly visible to him.

He slowly raised his hands and looked at them, his own clean and pink skinned hands, until he narrowed his eyes leaving them appear covered in blood in a flash.

He didn't even flinch at this horror vision; he somehow didn't have the strength to.

The only feeling he had was a weight becoming heavier and heavier in his heart, resulting him to start breathing heavily.

[?]" He-…Si-…"

Lost in his confusion and thoughts, he was left with nothing more but his mind. His senses; touch, taste, smell, vision and ears were all down, truly leaving him face to face with himself, something he didn't know if he had to be scared of or not.

His gaze fixed on his hands, he looked in front of him to see a wooden door appear, he began to unconsciously walk towards it as each of his steps, seemed to splash into a liquid.

In front of the door, his hand started to reach the handle while the more he got close, the more pressure, pain and anguish he seemed to feel, making his entire being tremble. He didn't know, or maybe he didn't want to know, but his soul, seemed to remember what was laying behind.

[?]"H…H-Hey!"

In that ocean of darkness and thoughts, a voice finally reached him, pulling him out of his illusion growing to nothing more than a nightmare.

His senses suddenly came back, as he opened his eyes once more the see the paved ground of the capital streets and the sound of the people around him. Tiredly, he raised his head towards the voice calling him, right in front of him, to meet with a green haired woman staring at him with confused, slightly worried and alerted eyes.

Her hands were a bit raised, like she was trying to reach for him but stopped herself in the middle of the process for unknown reasons… Or maybe she was getting ready to catch him if he was about to faint since he seemed really weak and frail right now.

[Crusch]" Can you hear me? Is there a problem?"

[Felix]" Crusch-sama you should stay back! He doesn't seem normal..."

The duchess didn't take her servant's words into account as she approached the man a little more, narrowing her eyes in caution, ready to react if anything were to happen. Yet the only thing the black-haired boy did was to take a step back from her with a hand held out to stop her from coming any closer.

[Subaru]" Yes…I…I'm just…"

With weak tone, Subaru held his forehead with his other hand as he felt a sudden headache taking him over, he was feeling dizzy and looked ready to pass out right at the moment.

Closing his eyes in pain, he could see nothing else than this door standing in the middle of darkness.

[Crusch]" You don't really seem convincing…"

The duchess turned to her servant, about to give him an order when Subaru suddenly opened his eyes with a shocked expression. He finally perked up, he remembered that door, where he saw it. He remembered where he was, this situation and what he was doing.

His eyes widened in revelation as he started running.

[Crusch]" W-wait!"

Crusch stood there slightly troubled by what just happened, she raised her hand towards him a bit only to let it fall as he was already too far away.

Her servant leaned towards her in curiosity, about why she was so insistent about this man she just met, the catgirl got a bit worried when she realized her gaze was filled with distraught.

[Felix]" Crusch-sama…?"

[Crusch]" The wind…Was going crazy around him, in a split of a second…Just what was the meaning of this?

Just like before, Subaru was running. He had only one thing in mind; the tavern, Rom, that door. He knew there was something else, he knew something was wrong, he knew he had…Returned by death.

But he couldn't remember how, that was the thing.

"Please be safe!"

This wasn't his priority now anyway, he didn't want to think about how he died, the only thing that mattered was to save Rom. That was the only thing in his mind, he needed to get to that tavern by all means before it's too late.

Thankfully, he remembered where it was, the south of the slums. He started to run like a maniac, emptying his lungs, ignoring the growing pain of his feet as he ran. Arriving at the main passage, the tavern was far off in front of him, at the end of a long road, he could make it in time, hopefully.

Until he got stopped by someone coming in his way.

"Hey, stop right there!"

3 people found themselves in front of him, 3 people he knew only to well. But he ignored them.

Without breaking his run, he bumped into them, throwing the little one and knife guy on the ground, before the toughest of them who was still processing what just happened.

"What the fuck!"

"Don't you ignore us BASTARD"

Knife guy got up and started to create a fireball with his hand, sending it towards the running black haired boy.

"GOA!"

(Author note: I know there is something about El/Al/Ul before throwing a spell but I couldn't really remember which was the one for a simple fireball so I decided to simply write the spell.)

Turning back in extremis, Subaru dodged the fireball who went to explode on a wall near him.

[Subaru]" What the…"

"You're being less cocky now uh?! Don't you dare make another move!"

With a glare and veins appearing on his forehead showing his clear anger, Subaru grabbed the handle of his sword and took it out while facing them.

[Subaru]" You guys really have a habit to fucking get in my way in the worst time possib-"

"What the…"

"He has a sword now?!"

"Yeah but I'm sure he can't use it anyway! Right? Come on he is nothing but a weak…What is he doing?"

Suddenly, the candidate stopped speaking. He had a weird feeling coming all over him as he gripped on his sword, suddenly feeling dizzy again. Just like before, in flash as fast than a blink of an eye, the blade of his sword appeared darkened in blood from the guard to the tip, but this time he was conscious and could process what he just saw.

Saying he was shocked would have been too easy, now the boy was more in a mix of shock, confusion, worry and fear altogether.

From the outside perspective, it sure was rather weird for the three thugs to see their supposed victim who was about to come at them staring at a sword with wide eyes and trembling hands.

But it wasn't enough yet. As he was getting himself together, he suddenly fell on his knee holding his head as he felt like getting hit by a truck, paralyzed, as he saw one thing and one thing only…a wooden door in the middle of darkness.

"What the hell does that mean….That door…Where did I see it…"

He slowly opened his eyes while panting loudly as his headache wouldn't leave entirely yet. Subaru perked up and understood this as a warning about not messing around and get to the tavern.

He got up still in pain in front of the bewildered trio and started to run towards the far off tavern once again, ignoring his pissed opponents.

[Subaru]" Rom…You're in that tavern right…?"

"What the hell was wrong with him?!"

"I don't know…Should we go after him…?"

"I…Ugh…He is too far now isn't he…?!"

After intense minutes of running, Subaru ended up in front of the tavern, again. With a mind solely focused on saving his friend, he entered hesitantly, to face with an entire room filled with people staring at him, at how tired and weak he sounded.

Subaru didn't take their looks into account and began looking around him to find the thing that had been haunting him from the very start of that loop.

And that is where…

In the middle of that crowded room…

He stopped, his eyes filled with terror.

Staring…at that door.

The opened door in which the first man he killed was about to enter, looking back to meet his eyes, the owner of this tavern.

He equally stared at him with an uneasy feeling, examining him and his clothes, he knew something was wrong but regarding the situation, he couldn't act recklessly.

Suddenly, a hand fell on his shoulder. When Subaru turned around, he met with a man speaking to him with worried eyes and a concerned tone.

"You okay kid?"

It took him some time, but as he stared in his eyes, he recognized that man.

He tried to answer but eventually blinked his tired eyes to found himself in darkness again.

Darkness everywhere except his own body, gaining slowly a red color.

The darkness started to lift up, bit by bit all around him, reveling the reason why his steps made a liquid sound when he walked towards that door and what he was trying to hide himself.

Death.

Dead people all around, torn to shreds, an entire room filled with only red and lifeless bodies.

A haunted expression found it's way on Subaru's face as his memories finally came back to him, as he knew why he would have tried to lock them away.

[Subaru]" What…Have I done…?"


Standing in the middle of the room, dark and humid with a small part lightened by a fallen lantern, was standing a young man with a sword in his hand stained in red, just like his clothes.

As he seemed to collect his thoughts his eyes went wide, replacing his anger…By fear.

He slowly raised his hands to see them covered in blood, the blood of the man…He just killed.

A man that was down on the ground, now entirely soaked in his blood who wouldn't stop pouring out of his chest, where Subaru just stabbed him.

He breathed heavily and started shaking, he dropped his sword to hold his head in pain and fear, nearly pulling his hair off and covering his forehead with traces of his red fingerprints.

"I killed him…I-I…"

He stepped back until meeting a wall onto which he stuck against and slowly fell down, ending up seated on the ground, facing two dead bodies.

He looked right up to Rom, muttering the same words over and over.

[Subaru]" I'm sorry…"

The memories he had with the giant for the past few days played in his head as he did his best to not look at him, he didn't want to meet his friend in that state.

Even though he couldn't, his guilt wouldn't let him look anywhere else.

Like a punishment for his failure, he was unable to close his eyes.

He was unable to look away.

[Subaru]" I didn't want that…Rom…I…"

Tears of pain started to pour out of his tired eyes, he let his head drop and put a hand before his eyes to stop the tears, he didn't have the right to cry for him, since everything was-

[Subaru] " But…"

But then his eyes went a bit down to stare at the dead barman, whom he narrowed his eyes at.

Suddenly, as he remembered his brief talk with him, those same pitiful eyes started to narrow more, in anger.

[Subaru]" No…"

He slowly got up, standing in front of the dead body. He leaned down to take his sword back. Towering over him, his body in the light of the fallen lantern and his head plunged in darkness, leaving his brown, yellowish eyes glow with hatred.

[Subaru]" It's your fault…"

He growled to words to his victim and turned back to the stairs leading to the main room of the tavern.

[Subaru]" It's…All your fucking fault!"

He climbed up the stairs until going out of the trap, meeting a door, the same door of his nightmare, the same door who led to a place… He wanted to forget, he tried to forget.

He opened the door in a crash, reveling to the entire room filled with drunkards, a blood-stained boy with a sword equally red, staring right back at them with his sharp eyes filled emanating his murderous intent.

Really, none of the men in this room were fighters or warriors. Sure some of them looked pretty tough but this was rather because of the manual jobs they had to do in order to survive in these slums, for the same reasons the only weapons they could eventually carry were small daggers or kitchen knifes at the very least.

[Subaru]"It's all your fault!" He whispered in a dread tone.

"Hey what the hell?! You had too much fun with the giant?"

A man got up and approached him, he was a tall and muscular man with a rough beard and amused grin. If it wasn't for the words he just spoke, he would've given the first impression of a nice guy.

As Subaru heard those words, his mind simply went blank, his pupils shrunk as he stared at him with teeth gritted so hard that he could nearly break them. He didn't need anything else, he was like a gun ready to fire and these words just pulled the trigger. In a swift move he cut the thigh of the man, making him scream in pain as he fell to his knee holding the bleeding wound, before getting a blade plunged into his throat, transpiercing his neck.

The sheer brutality of this quick kill ran a shiver down the spine of every living soul in the tavern, everyone got up in fear or anger to the actions of the black-haired boy, some already ran out of the tavern to avoid any troubles, while others started to storm him as soon as he killed their "comrade".

Usually, he would have ran away. But right now was anything but usual, Natsuki Subaru was gone. Long gone.

A first man tried to strike him down with a kick, he simply dodged it and sliced his belly with a horizontal strike, making him fall on his knee to hold his bleeding stomach, screaming in pain and horror, making the others heart fill with fear once more.

A second man followed right after, taking a bottle of booze on a table to hit him with, Subaru stopped him halfway by grabbing his raised hand up by the wrist and stabbed his sword through his torso, before taking the bottle in his hand and smash it on his head.

When a third tried to sneak on him to the side, Subaru struck his jaw with his elbow, before stabbing his neck with the broken bottle, leaving him to walk some steps away with a hand on his neck before falling, drowning in his own blood.

Kicking the man in which his sword stayed in, Subaru retrieved it to face the few remaining people of the room. He wasn't natural, he wasn't human. Even a demon wouldn't be a word strong enough to describe him…He was far worst.

But this sight as fearsome as it might be, didn't stop the remaining people to attack him anyway, like they could have done something.

Maybe thinking that taking the boy down would earn them some praise or a reward of some sort, or maybe they were just stupid enough to let their pride speak instead of themselves, who would ever be able to say they ran away from a younger man? It seemed that this thought was enough to put their life on the line a the very least.

Poor fools.

Another one attacked him, too slow, with his fist raised high.

Subaru cut his hand and beheaded him in a swift and perfect move that went right after the other. While the blood got on his face, only adding to his fearsome look.

The boy was long gone now, he looked like a bloodthirst monster, as he walked more and more toward the crowd of people at the other end of the room spreading nothing but death at each of his steps.

Yet another one attacked him. And another one, and another, and another. Each only adding to Subaru's death count as they were foolish and drunk enough to attack him completely unarmed with their bare hands.

Grunts, struggles, screams and blood.

"Why?"

In the end, in a room filled with a carpet of dead bodies, a man who seemed way more sober and experienced than the others, faced him with dagger at hand.

Subaru wasn't impressed, or rather, he wasn't feeling anything at all. Anything but hatred.

The fact of having killed someone and the guilt of Rom's death because of all this mess made his primal instincts kick in, he had nothing but hot blood and burning anger within him.

Some of them had backed off at the sight of the madman murdering everyone in his sight in such a short time, but some were determined to make him pay, even if their number were little.

They were two, two who looked more like combatants than civilians, who took their weapons thinking this situation had to be taken seriously, one thing was sure they couldn't let the boy go after this.

"Now what the hell is wrong with you, I wonder?"

Subaru raised his eyes to one of the men speaking to him, with a short sword in his hands.

[Subaru]" It's your fault…You killed Rom!"

"Who the hell is Rom?!" Asked the one holding a dagger.

The other man stepped near him, answering the question of his comrade.

"The owner of the loot house, the giant."

The man looked a bit troubled by his comrade words, he turned back to Subaru with a scowl.

"So what, the death of one man is worth an entire room's one? What the hell was he, a fucking saint?!"

Subaru tightened the grip on his sword at the man's words.

He simply sighed in frustration with a disappointed tone, he knew the boy he faced was young, he didn't like the idea of taking his life one bit, but he had to. He was dangerous, he knew how to use a sword and his previous actions were nothing short of madness.

"You're being unreasonable kid. Really."

Subaru and the man faced each other with their weapons raised, and the fight started.

With the sound of metal clashing, the few people who stayed in the tavern observed as their comrade and the young man engaged each other in a death battle, it could clearly be seen than the man had the edge, seeing how Subaru had to parry some hits way to close to his skin.

But the thing was that Subaru didn't really slack off in his training, fighting against a royal knight rather than a slightly skilled man with a dagger.

When his instincts of battle and survival took the edge, he remembered one thing Reinhard have been teaching him, "studying the opponent's fighting style" to gain the edge, which was exactly what he did.

Even if he appeared to be skilled, the man was in the end, only repeating the same movements with his dagger, trying to stab either the legs, stomach, shoulder or throat. He wanted to end it quickly with a decisive blow without exposing himself to danger, but with a missed hit, being exposed was inevitable.

When his pattern was somewhat understood, Subaru decided to fight back.

As he tried to aim for his shoulder with a side slash, Subaru ducked down and turned on himself to the side of his opponent, completely exposed. He widened his eyes to the young man as he understood his mistake, both meeting the other's eyes, one with shock, the other with pupils akin to fire.

Continuing with the flow of his move, Subaru sliced the side of the man with a powerful slash, shredding his coat, his back and breaking few of his ribs with the blade transpiercing them.

"Shit!"

The man screamed in pain as he stepped back, leaving the fight to his comrade who immediately followed, but this one wasn't as skilled as his predecessor, swinging and trying to hit with his short sword wherever his could, his fighting style was rather close to none, more like a strong man trying to do whatever he could with a weapon.

Subaru easily took the edge on him, striking more than parrying this time. His opponent was quickly overwhelmed by the young man's hits, until one strike disarmed him, leaving him bare handed before the madman as his short sword was sent flying in a corner of the room.

He didn't wait a second more before cutting his arm off and slicing him with a lateral strike, shredding his entire front so fast that the man didn't even had the time to realize he had been disarmed.

As he fell down on his knees, lifeless, the last opponent Subaru faced appeared instantly right behind his falling comrade using him as a distraction to cover his approach.

Taking Subaru off guard, he managed to be fast enough to stab him in the stomach before he could dodge or parry.

He coughed blood and felt pain but the adrenaline made it less painful, still in his violent state of mind Subaru grabbed his wrist and torn it earning a loud scream from the man and kicked the him to the ground. He slowly pulled the dagger out and tossed it away, not thinking twice about what he just done, the blood wouldn't stop flowing now…But Subaru Natsuki wasn't done yet.

With fire of hate in his eyes growing even stronger towards the man, he approached him menacingly as he grunted in pain.

The dying man couldn't move anymore, all he could do was to look at Subaru approaching and wait for his death.

He knew this was over for him, but at least he wouldn't die without trying to take the boy with him.

After a painful walk of a few meters, he reached the man. Both looked right in the eyes of each other and didn't say a single word, each knew what was about to come.

Subaru took his sword backwards and planted it right in his belly, piercing his body and the floor under him.

It was over. The tavern was now empty, without anyone left except Subaru and the dying man.

Using his sword as a support to not fall down, he had his face right in front of the man he just stabbed who was breathing hoarsely and heavily as he felt himself dying.

"At the very least…I'll take you with me…That wound, you won't survive…"

Subaru looked down to his wound that he held with his hand. It was bleeding a lot, he indeed wouldn't survive without immediate care, something he wouldn't have anyway.

"All that…For one man. For one Giant…I hope you're proud of yourself…"

Subaru gritted his teeth to the man with the same angry glare.

[Subaru]" You killed him…You only got what you deserved!"

"Did I?"

Subaru looked at him with confusion. The man had no smile or rather, no expression at all, he was emotionlessly talking to his killer. He looked around him to all the dead people since he knew the boy who caused this would follow his eyes and continued.

"I didn't touch him young lad…*Cough* didn't go near him…"

Subaru's eyes widened as he started to understand.

"I had no idea about who or what you were talking about...How many people in this room…Were like me I wonder…? How many people, were just minding their own business and having a drink…?"

Subaru lips trembled with fear and pain, as he finally understood.

The man saw it, he realized what he had done. A part of him was kind of reassured to know that boy still had enough humanity to understand this.

With the last strength he had, the man grabbed Subaru's collar, staring in his now broken and tear filled eyes, himself had a look of pity as he didn't want it to end this way, but he had a duty to make the boy face his sins.

"You killed innocent people kid…"

And with that, the man took his last breath, lightening his grip, making his hand fall on the blooded ground of the tavern.

Subaru got up slowly, still using his sword as a support. Up on his feet, he held his wound and started to walk to the door of the tavern, stagging in pain and holding his wound until finally, he lost all strength in his legs.

He had lost way to much blood by now, he was starting to feel cold and weak and his mind was a total mess of emotions and thoughts.

[Subaru]" It's…"

He felt his mind going away. Gathering the last bit of strength he had, Subaru turned around…To see a vision of hell itself, to see something that no one should ever see, to see something…He had done.

Blood, death, pain…

People sliced, shredded, beheaded…

The walls were covering in red, as the ground was, as his sword was. The stinking iron smell of blood filled the air and was so heavy, someone who would come in right now would puke right away. The flowing blood of the combined victims reaching his feet, Subaru looked down to see his reflection in the clear red mirror.

It couldn't be, whoever it was it couldn't be him.

Yet…All these deaths, all this blood, all this mess…

All because of…

[Subaru]" Me…"

All did by…

[Subaru]" Me…"

He understood now. Rom's death, the barman, the people in this room.

[Subaru]" It's…My fault…"

He killed Rom with his foolishness.

[Subaru]" It's my fault…"

He killed innocent people out of anger.

[Subaru]" It's my fault…"

Because he didn't want to see that sooner, all of this, because he needed someone to blame.

And as his eyes shutting down for good, those were the only words that Natsuki Subaru could think of, repeating again and again in his mind as darkness was taking him over, as his conscience was battling between to sides, one trying to justify him and the other to blame him, as he saw the wooden door leading to the cave one last time, as his vision turned into a blurry one, in a room leaving only him and this door in his vision.

Only him…And the door leading to his failure.

[Subaru]" It's all my fault…"


"Kid?"

Subaru just stood still as he was remembering everything his mind tried to hid of his previous life, unable to breath properly and with broken eyes. He was not able to support his own weight anymore, his whole body was shaking in terror after his memory was returned.

And looking around, he saw the confused and puzzled faces of the different customers ... Faces he couldn't help but compare to those in his memories.

They were alive weren't they? But they couldn't know the truth behind the boy's twitching eyes.

His breath was getting faster and harder, uncontrollable ... And when this situation took on an unbearable level under this pressure and pain, his mind blacked out.

"Hey kid!"

In a place with no beginning or end, like the surface of an ocean leading to a boundless horizon, was Subaru, lying on his back with his head skyward.

He had a very tired expression, like a man who had lived through several battles without a single moment of peace. Because a moment of peace seemed to be the only thing he wouldn't be entitled to.

"So that was it ... that's how I came back ..."

His memories of his previous life came back to slip before his eyes, as if to haunt him.

"This is how ... I failed to save him ..."

Despite the insistence of his nightmare, he was trying as best he could to replace the bruised image of Rom with the one he used to have on seeing him. That of a smiling old man, a little brutal and protective towards his granddaughter.

This is the image he wanted to keep of old Rom. How he wanted to remember him.

"Hold on..."

And he started to open his eyes in shock…Why would he try remember an image of him?

"He doesn't need to ..."

He gritted his teeth as he remembered the barman and his words.

As he remembered the situation.

As he remember who he was.

"I can still ..."

His eyes started to slowly reopen as he saw a blurry figure of two people speaking in front of him, one of them leaned towards him to see his face more clearly. It was the barman, trying to see if he ever remembered the boy before.

When Subaru fully opened his eyes, he immediately stood up and pushed him aside to meet with the one he once fought.

"Hey easy kid…"

[Subaru]" How long did I stay asleep…?!"

"Kid you should-"

[Subaru]" How long!?"

The man was a little surprised and speechless at the sight of the young man. He emitted an aura of authority and concern; he didn't expect to be so unsettled by him but he seemed truly preoccupied.

With a hesitant voice he answered him.

"About half an h-"

He jumped up, ignoring the barman trying to ask him a question and the different stares he got as he ran to the door separating him from what he refused to admit.

"No, no, no!"

The barman quickly took notice and urged to stop the boy from opening the door, which was too late.

Subaru had now opened the trap and ran down the stairs as fast as he could, followed by his previous opponent, the barman and a few of the people intrigued by the situation.

[Subaru]" ROM!"

Yet.. He was too late.

In this cave lightened by only one lantern were the corpse of the old man, in nearly the same state that he was in his previous life. Beaten up, shattered, belly cut open and hands stuck to the wall, the only thing that was different seemed to be his throat, wrists and ankles left untouched.

But Subaru was once more too late, he was once more guilty.

"Kid! What ar- OH GODS!"

Subaru feel to his knee in front of the shell-shocked man who followed him, into a slightly warm pool of blood. A few behind them who saw the scene puked in horror as they couldn't possibly stomach what they were witnessing while others simply looked away from the gruesome scene displayed.

Just what was happening here, under the room where they were just enjoying some drinks?

[Barman]" Argh shit…"

The combatant turned around to face the barman, as he shown by his tone of voice a more annoyed expression than an horrified one.

He glared at him dangerously with a large frown on his face, this whole situation didn't please him one bit.

[Combatant]" By the dragon what the hell is that?! What the fuck have you done?!"

He yelled and grabbed the barman's collar with a clear threatening tone in his voice, yet this one wasn't impressed whatsoever.

[Barman]"That doesn't concern you and if you want to keep coming to that tavern you'd better forget about it, same goes for all of you!"

After these words he pushed back the combatant who was looking at him with disgust.

The small crowd behind were conflicted with confusion, disgust, fear and outrage. They were absolutely grossed out by the dealings this guy was doing in his basement and they wanted answers.

"This is murder! What is wrong with you?!"

"My spirits…I can take this any longer…"

"Fuck your tavern! I'm not coming in here any time soon if you're running that kind of shit show!"

"Hey, isn't that Old Rom?"

While the barman turned to argue with the small group, the combatant turned his gaze back to the broken young man in front of the mutilated corpse of the giant and approached him to lift him up a bit.

Subaru didn't really pray him off or fought back, he was too guilt ridden to do anything, he kept thinking about how he failed him, how he failed Felt, how his death was his only fault.

The man didn't ask any question, he saw right away that Subaru was in shock. He knew by his reaction that the old man had to be a friend of his.

When people on the stairs started to make way for him and the young lad, the barman interrupted them.

[Barman]" No, that won't do. I need to have a talk wit-"

He didn't even had the time to finish that he met with the combatant's wrathful glare who cut his words straight as he knew he couldn't bear to hear them. Actually up to this point, he couldn't hear anything more out of his mouth.

[Combatant]" You will stay the fuck AWAY from him you son of a whore, get it?!"

The barman first looked surprised but ultimately narrowed his eyes in outrage, he advanced towards him with scowl showing his anger.

[Barman]"Ugh, you're exaggerating! What the fuck is wrong with you, all of you! He is a half scum! A demi human! Why should we care about what's been done to him!"

Some of the people in the crowd actually started to frown and emit vicious sighs of relief as they heard about the victim being a demi human, some even had the gal to chuckle about it.

"Damn should have told that since the beginning."

"I told you it was Old Rom!"

But it didn't change some to still be outraged by that, because if some of them didn't hide their indifference after the share of this information, others were still standing their ground about the injustice inflicted to the old man.

"And why would that give you a right to torture him in a cave?!"

"Old man helped a lot of us! Fuck's wrong with you?!"

"It remains a crime! I'm not staying here if it's to be involved with your shit!"

The combatant winced at how some people seemed to think about this being justified but felt a small relief knowing that a part of this divided crowd still seemed to have some decency.

But there was someone who couldn't care less about the other part, someone who's been listening since the beginning and was looking at that barman with fire in his eyes yet again, someone who couldn't believe he actually used Rom's race as a reason to justify his acts.

[Subaru]" Just what kind of BULLSHIT IS THAT?!"

Everyone turned to the young man who had eyes filled with wrath and pain.

[Subaru]" How the fuck can you use such a reason to torture someone to death?! Just what kind of a twisted freak can you be?! Even the god damned bowel hunter I had to fight with that old man wouldn't be as sick!"

The black haired boy shouted with all of his lungs, remembering how Elsa at the very least, made quick kills of her victims, from what he had to see. He couldn't understand how anyone would go to such lengths, he couldn't understand what could drive someone to do that, what kind of mindset could justify that. He couldn't.

The combatant had to hold his grip tight on Subaru to provide him to come any closer to the barman. The situation could go worse and he didn't want that.

The barman spat to his side and glared at him with disdain.

[Barman]" I was wondering what might be wrong with you but I think I get it now, you're not from here aren't you? If that's the case I have no reason to argue with you, if you are unfamiliar with the pain those half bastards caused us, this conversation wouldn't lead anywhere."

"You still had no right to do that!"

"Why are you guys defending that giant?!"

"Why are YOU accepting torture?!"

"Well perhaps that was uncalled for but I won't mourn a demi human, screw you."

The divided crowd continued to argue with each other until the barman interrupted them all, with an evil grin.

[Barman]" I knew Rom people. There's a reason why I did that, why "we" did that." He said, while winking to some people in the crowd, including the bearded man who died first in the last loop.

[Barman]" Trust me. And that reason is: that half scum betrayed us."

Everyone looked at the barman bewildered. Subaru on the other hand widened his eyes as he remembered him saying that in his previous life.

"What do you mean betrayed us?"

[Barman]" He, sold us out."

Everyone widened their eyes, some had a scowl of anger, some closed their eyes and sighed…Like the combatant, shaking their heads tiredly.

"Then he had it coming, I guess…."

"Yeah…Nothing else to say."

Subaru looked at them with horrified eyes as he didn't understand why even the people defending Rom would just turn around after some words, he wanted to argue but the barman turned again towards him.

He had a vicious smile, the smile of a villain savoring his victory.

Subaru gritted his teeth and had his hand on his sword. He wanted to draw and attack him. He wanted to make him pay.

But every time his hand would come near to his sword, hellish memories would come back just as fast. He couldn't do anything, he was powerless. He knew that and he hated that.

So instead, he started to tear up, because of his uselessness, because of his guilt and haunting pain.

Some people winced at the state of the boy while others just found it pitiful. The combatant taped his shoulder and took his hand to avoid him to come near to his sword, while glaring with nothing but hatred towards the barman

[Combatant]"Let's go, kid."

He took Subaru with him and started to climb the stairs, making sure he wouldn't look back. The crowd followed them up to the tavern and tried to forget what they just saw. Some even left the place right away.

Out of the building, Subaru looked at the sunset in front of his eyes and spoke without turning back.

[Subaru]" What does that mean…?"

[Combatant]" What?"

[Subaru]" Sold out…"

The combatant sighed before putting a hand on his forehead. He looked at the sunset as well, not wanting to remember the state of the Old man.

[Combatant]" When…Someone sold us out…In these slums, it means he decided to leave and snitch to the upper classes and guards about people here…About deals, names, wanted people, in exchange for money or rewards…It's the highest case of betrayal for us."

Subaru clenched his fists as he listened to those words. Each of them weighed more and more on him. This situation was his fault, it was an undeniable fact now. No matter the suffering Rom endured and his subsequent death ... he was solely responsible.

[Subaru]" I understand."

The boy answered in a hushed and broken tone. Something that the man noticed as well…But before he could have said anything, Subaru had drawn his sword and put it on his throat, before slashing it in one swift move.

[Combatant]" KID!"

He ran towards him in panic as he tried to stop the blood pouring out of the boy's neck and got taken aback as he saw his sharp eyes…Full of determination.

"It is my fault."

As the blood poured, Subaru made a vow to himself, to Rom and to Felt.

"And I swear…I will make it right!"


[Crusch]" Is there a problem?"

He opened his eyes taking a deep breath, touching his throat to feel the previous injury he had inflicted on himself, not feeling anything.

He had succeeded, he made it back.

The Duchess seemed confused by his behavior and approached a little more hoping for an answer now that her interlocutor seemed to have regained his senses.

She finally stood out and met Subaru's eyes. She felt a shiver down her spine as she noticed that they emanated a dangerous aura and took a step back trying to brace herself but to no avail, since Subaru had already turned on his heels and began his run to the tavern.

[Crusch]"…Just…"

[Felix]" Crusch-sama?!"

Her servant who was on guard since the beginning, felt a little bit distraught to see her master backing down from someone, also, the catgirl didn't like the rude behavior of that man who dared to ignore the goodwill of her master.

But Crusch honestly felt confused and…Curious. A part of herself wished to know what the meaning of this was.

[Crusch]" Why…was the wind so strong around him?"

[Felix] " Crusch-sama, are you okay? He didn't do anything to you didn't he?"

Felix looked at her master alarmed as she simply stared to the running young man, deep in her thoughts.

He ran, with fire of will and determination taking his soul over, Subaru ran down the slums of the capital in direction of the place he had been familiar with now. He thought about his previous loops, he also thought about one thing in particular: Time.

In the first loop he took too much time before coming to the tavern. In the second loop, he lost a little bit of time against the thugs and blacked out in the tavern but he didn't know if Rom was still alive or not. One thing was sure though. When he was kneeling in despair in front of his body, the blood on the ground was still warm and some wounds were missing, which means he was still alive a while before, so he still had a chance in condition that he wouldn't lose time.

" Reinhard's help is also impossible since calling him would mean that I would have to go back to the Astrea domain…I'm really on my own for this one!"

Ultimately, the three usual thugs showed up but Subaru saw it coming and already had his sword out when he got near the hallway they would usually wait at, on the road to his destination.

They confidently went out of their hiding place, before making horrified faces at the sight of a swordman rushing towards them.

Without further second thoughts, Subaru attacked the white haired knife guy with a side slash, enough to cut his torso but not deep enough to cause a serious injury.

"ARRGH"

It caused him to fall in his friend's arms who would cover the wound in fear. The two others were so taken aback by this sudden turn of events that they couldn't even speak a word, neither could they think of facing the black haired boy, who was far away now anyway.

"W-what was that?!"

"I don't know! Just help me here!"

[Subaru] " I went easy so he should live, I have to hurry!"

He barged in the tavern nearly breaking the door with a shoulder entrance, taking everyone off guard, especially the combatant and the barman who, startled, dropped a glass on the ground.

In front of him, he saw the wooden door open in which a grinning bearded man came out, he was sadistically smiling, showing off his yellowish teeth cheerfully.

However he regretted smiling like this when his teeth shattered into pieces, sending some to the back of his throat, as the scabbard of a sword smashed into his face.

He was sent across the door and slammed against the wall violently, visibly knocked out.

Some put their hands before their mouths in shock as the treatment they just saw while others just laughed out loud, except one man who started to run for the door as fast as he could, with fear taking him over as he knew where the black haired boy was going.

Subaru opened the trap in hurry. His eyes widened in shock and relief when he heard a hoarse and painful breathing down the stairs, something he didn't have the hope to hear in his previous loops.

[Subaru]" ROM!"

He jumped down the stairs and found himself before the mutilated body of his friend once again, only this time…

[Rom]" Uh…Boy…? Is that…You?"

Even if he already saw that scene, Subaru couldn't bring himself to get used to it, the only thing that changed was Rom's eyes still in their correct emplacement, the rest was still unbearable to watch, especially his opened front showing his bowels…

Yet Subaru didn't have the time to think about this, he was here for one purpose and he would fulfill it no matter what.

Without second thoughts he put his hand on the bleeding wound, trying to push his insides back while taking off the giant's teared up piece of clothing, the feeling of warm blood drenching his hands was horrible, he felt like he could puke at any moment, but he steeled himself up, he had to.

Rom was grunting in pain but couldn't have the strength to scream right now as Subaru was doing his best to stop the bleeding. He looked up to see that his wrists and throat weren't sliced yet.

"I guess the throat cut had to be the final blow, while they beaten him up and sliced him to slowly torture him…Damn bastards…"

He heard footsteps coming close behind him, as he was covering the wound with the clothes to try to stop the bleeding. He then turned around to meet a frowning barman.

Subaru took his sword out and pointed him with it.

[Subaru]" Don't even think about coming closer. I'm getting him out of here, if you interfere in any way, you're dead."

Rom reacted a bit to the boy's words and tried to lift his head a bit to see what was happening.

The barman spat to the side and glared at him with disdain and anger.

[Barman]" You really think you will bring him anywhere? Look at him, he's already dead."

Subaru turned around to see a really weak Rom, breathing so weakly it was nearly noticeable.

He gritted his teeth in anger and yelled at the barman.

[Subaru]" Then bring a fucking healer here! Right now! Or a potion or whatever, just do something, that's an order!"

He took his insignia out who emitted a faint red shine, barely noticeable light to the man. Subaru frowned a bit as he remembered the insignia shining with a brighter light, but this was not the moment for that.

[Subaru]" That proves my position as a royal candidate for the throne of Lugunica! So either you obey me, or I'll make sure your life will be a hell for the rest of your days!"

Even if he yelled his lungs out with all his might, Subaru was feeling uneasy about using his position to order someone, more even to threaten him. He knew this wasn't the way he had to use, especially if he wanted to help these people. But he didn't have a choice, he was ready to make use of anything to save his friend.

The barman looked with wide eyes as he did hear about the insignia of the throne, he wasn't really reassured about facing a royal. Yet his pride and disgust about helping a demi human let him with only one answer for the candidate.

Nothing.

He said nothing and walked back up, leaving Subaru and Rom behind with a bewildered expression.

[Subaru]"H-he certainly went to fetch something…"

Subaru turned to Rom and got close to hear his breath, he was still there, he was still alive.

[Subaru]" Rom you need to hold it there, you're nearly out…"

[Rom] " Y're askin' a lot from my old self boy…"

He looked to his hands stuck against the wall with nails and saw them still bleeding. He had to stop the blood from coming out of his body, that's what he thought.

[Subaru] " Come on, you might be old but you're tougher than you look, we both know it…"

So he approached his sword to the nails and started to pull them out while Rom couldn't even show his pain, as he couldn't feel his hands anymore.

[Rom] "Ugh…"

[Subaru] " I'm sorry, please bear with it a little more…"

Finally free, Subaru did his best to hold him and seat him against the wall, but his wounds just wouldn't stop bleeding.

[Subaru]" Just hold in there, Rom…Just hold in there…We're nearly out…"

Yet now that he was seated, the cloth that was holding his wound was starting to unfold, leading to Subaru having to hold it with his hands, as he was trying to bandage his hands.

[Subaru]" Damn it! No! Come on!"

Rom wasn't responding anymore. The only thing that was noticeable was a faint breathing, somewhat the Giant wasn't giving up, but it wouldn't last.

"Why is it taking so long?! Could it be that he left us…? That fucking….!"

As if to answer his question, the trap opened again. Subaru turned back with a slight hope to see someone able to heal his friend, only to see the barman going down the stairs.

[Subaru]"What the…Have you brought something?"

[Barman]" No sorry, I couldn't find anyone who knows water magic, but I might have something that could help."

[Subaru]" Whatever is it just use it, we don't have time!"

And as if to respect his wish, he approached him with an object covered with a light fabric.

Subaru had no idea what that could be, he was thinking of a magical item probably, something that might help his dying friend somehow. Due to his so-called "royal" position, he thought he had succeeded in defusing any action that might go against him, given the very different behavior and words of the barman in this loop.

Therefore, in this situation, nothing could have expected him that the object covered with a cloth was a sharp blade, approaching at full speed to his back.

When he saw it, it was already too late to hope to dodge the blow. The situation was settled in advance, only it would have been if Subaru hadn't experienced something almost similar on his first loop.

Instinctively, he grabbed his attacker's wrist with both hands and kept the blade from going beyond the fabric of his shirt.

The barman began to growl and push his attack until he pressed Subaru against the wall.

Seeing no way out, Subaru kicked his leg to make him back up and began to push in turn, sticking him against the wall.

"Hey! What's going on down there ?!"

Subaru recognized the combatant's voice knocking on the door, visibly locked.

[Subaru]" No matter the outcome you won't get away with it! Stop it while you still can!"

Not trying to listen to the advice of his opponent, the barman pushed him away a little more, until he had enough space to grab the lantern located above his head and make it fall on the candidate, bursting on his arm and ending up on the wooden floor, starting to catch fire.

He screamed in pain as his arm burned and fell to the ground, while he was trying to take off his burning jacket.

Having the upper hand, the barman didn't waste a single second brandishing his knife and piercing his abdomen earning a painful scream, so loud that it reached the few men upstairs trying to break down the door, so loud that it reached someone who wasn't quite gone yet.

The barman stooped down to see the angry, pain-filled gaze of the young man he had just stabbed.

"And now you die, 'candidate'! And the result will lead this goddamn country to make the right decision about these-"

And as he focused his gaze on that of the young man, he did not see the gigantic hand approaching the back of his neck grabbing his jaw with superhuman strength.

He didn't even have time to turn his gaze to the source, when the power of that unique hand broke his neck with a sharp gesture, letting his corpse fall near the already omnipresent fire in this narrow cellar.

The giant then fell to the ground, but he wasn't dead yet, not yet.

He weakly crawled towards the painfully breathing boy who turned his eyes towards him as well, he seemed to move his lips, but no words would come out.

[Rom]" B…Boy…"

In his immeasurable pain, Subaru still had the strength to smile to his friend. Even if he knew he would have to loop, at least he could have seen him alive in this one.

[Subaru]"I….m…Sorry…"

Rom widened his eyes painfully at the sight of the young man, the one he just met a few days ago and just sacrificed his life for him, even though he was dying as well. He couldn't believe it, he couldn't believe how someone would go to such lengths for someone like him, for an old and useless man as him, for someone he just met! He couldn't believe that boy just stood up to defend him and bring him back.

Although it was a lie. He knew it was. He could perfectly believe something like that, especially coming from him. Because, after so little time passed in his company, it was perfectly the kind of things that reckless, foolish good hearted boy would do.

And when he realized it, even in his death bed, the old man started to tear up.

[Rom]" Just why…Are ya apologizing…Ya damned fool…"

[Subaru]" Because…I couldn't…protect you…"

And now he was crying. That giant old man was crying, tears of pain and anguish, with a cracked and painful smile towards that boy, as he saw with his own eyes the light of life slowly fading away.

[Rom]"It wasn't y're…Y're duty to do so…It's the elder…It's the elder that should protect the young….! Not the contrary…! NOT…THE CONTRARY!"

The giant was feeling horrible. He was about to die and leave Felt alone. But at the very least he was about to die with the thought of her being safe with Subaru and Reinhard.

But now she would have to mourn two people, for his fault alone. So he was crying, for his uselessness, for the one that was hurt and dying for him. He wasn't smiling anymore, he couldn't find the strength to turn his lips upward even if Subaru kept his visible.

[Subaru]" You…Were not alone…Rom…You won't be…"

[Rom]" That goes for you too…Ya moron…"

The uproar could be heard upstairs as they finally broke down the door, Rom glanced towards the people trying to go down the trap, but the fire provided them to do so until they extinguish it.

They would manage to do so sooner or later so the giant had a slight hope they could at least save the boy…But when he looked at him, there were no light in his eyes, there were no hope.

So he crawled again, in the last portion of the room were the fire didn't catch up yet to grab the boy. And with the last strength he still had in him before going away as well, he brought him into his arms, to shield him under his body.

If he had to die here with him, he would at least protect the remaining of the one who gave his life for him, to give him a proper burial, where he could be recognized by those who knew him.

That was the last wish Old man Rom had.

His own sacrifice.


[Crusch]" Is there a problem?"

[Subaru]"…"

His head down, Subaru slowly lifted his face up to meet with a green haired woman. She had a serious and cold expression yet her eyes had a glint of concern.

He looked at her with a thoughtful expression, as he never took the time to observe her. Every loop he made until now, he just straight up ran away to the tavern, realizing also how rude he could have been to do something like that.

Wearing a blue, military uniform along with a small hat from the same color and a sword at her waist, she surely didn't look like a classic wandering town woman.

"Maybe a medieval style cop? She is beautiful though…Even if cops can get beautiful, there's no reason why they wouldn't be after all."

He sighed heavily and looked up to see the clouds moving in the blue sky of the capital, a place that seemed so peaceful and alive, even though there was something so sinister happening under one roof.

[Subaru]" A problem uh..?"

Subaru spoke with a calm and composed tone, like he didn't have the strength to use any other. He started to remember each loops and each things he done. The decisions he took, the people he killed, those he couldn't protect. He couldn't find any other culprit than himself and yet, he couldn't find a way to fix things.

Crusch looked at him with a confused and thoughtful gaze as well, reading the wind, she saw that the young man was troubled and maybe in pain, but he somehow seemed so calm. It was truly something intriguing.

Next to her, the catgirl narrowed her eyes to him as she didn't trust that fella one bit.

Finally, Subaru let his gaze down and looked right at the green haired lady, she noticed his tired yet somewhat strong eyes staring at her and even her felt a little bit uneasy about that.

[Subaru]"Say, lady…"

[Crusch]" Yes?"

The two of them spoke with a calm and collected manner, no matter what she thought, the duchess couldn't bring herself to not respond to him after she was the one who engaged the conversation.

[Subaru]" There might be a problem. And the thing is, I don't really know how to solve it."

[Crusch]" I see, well if you don't mind sharing it, I would be glad to lend you assistance in whatever way I can."

Even with the horrific memories that Subaru held in his mind, a small smile found it's way on his face, as he didn't have the chance to hear someone ready to help until a long time.

[Subaru]" Well, there is someone that might be in danger right now. And the place is somewhat far away in the slums. The time I'll get there, some unfixable things might happen and I don't know how I could manage to reach the place before that happens. The thing is, I'm sure that even if I would run with all my might without stopping right now, I would still be too late."

Crusch had a somewhat troubled and disturbed expression as she carefully listened to the young man's problem. Honestly she wasn't waiting for something like this and her divine blessing of wind reading was proving his words to be true.

[Crusch]" That…Does sounds like a difficult situation…"

[Subaru]" I know, that's why I'm quite desperate right now"

Crusch was quite impressed to see him say those words with a smile on his face, even if it was more a tired smile more than anything.

[Crusch]" If you don't have a ground dragon, it is most certainly impossible to find any faster way to travel there…There is really a small number of solutions left…"

Subaru started to close his eyes in pain as he remembered his loops once again. Was it really about to end this way? Was it really…No way to save Rom?

Crusch looked to her side with a hand on her chin as she thought about this dire situation her interlocutor seemed to find himself in.

[Crusch]" Unless you find a way to slow time as you reach the place or a way to provide or distract your enemies from hurting that person, I don't really see any other way out…"

Subaru listened to each words of the lady. Each of them, and as the memories of his loops played in his head, along with the advices he got, he finally perked up.

His eyes widened suddenly as he suddenly grabbed the shoulders of the lady in front of him, catching her off guard, with a hopeful smile on his face. Surprising her and angering the outraged catgirl behind her.

[Subaru]"Distract them! Slow time! That's it!"

He let go of her and started to run towards the tavern once more, with an utmost determined gaz and will to save his friend. Still troubled by what just happened, Crusch could only look at him with a surprised expression as he ran away.

[Subaru]" Thank you lady, I love you!"

[Felix]" WHAT?!"

[Crusch]"…"

"I suppose he found a solution…Wait! I didn't get to ask his name…"

With a fuming catgirl by her side, Crusch simply sighed heavily as she collected herself from what just happened.

[Crusch]" Calm down Felix, please."

She looked one last time to the running young man with less concerned eyes as the wind seemed to show his determination.

"I wish you luck."

And Subaru started to run again. In the streets he knew so well, towards the passage he knew so well, to meet the people he knew so well.

He grinned when he saw the 3 thugs showing themselves to him, it was exactly what he was waiting for.

"Hey, stop right there!"

Without breaking his run, he bumped into them, throwing the little one and knife guy on the ground, before the toughest of them who was still processing what just happened.

Yet this time, Subaru positioned himself differently in front of the one who would target him.

"What the fuck!"

"Don't you ignore us BASTARD"

Knife guy got up and started to create a fireball with his hand, sending it towards the running black haired boy.

"GOA"

And this time, Subaru simply moved to the side to dodge it and see it go away towards the exact place he wanted that fireball to land.

[Subaru]" What was that? Can't even aim an unmoving target, how much of a loser are you?!"

Provocation, clear as the day. But these people were exactly the kind of impulsive morons who would fall right in the trap.

Visibly angered, knife guy started to shoot fireballs again towards the running away boy, all easily dodged, all going according straight to plan.

Ultimately, knife guy got tired and stopped his magic, the three of them all looked at the running boy with angered faces as they saw him making them a thumb up while running.

Approaching the tavern, he could see the black smoke filling the sky as the smell of burning wood reached his nose. When he had the full building on sight, he could see people going out while covering their mouths, which in the crowd was the bearded man he previously saw going out of the door before smashing his teeth. If he was out now, then maybe he still had a chance.

And there, before the eyes of everyone going out of the place, the black haired boy ran straight inside, finding himself in a nearly entirely smoke filled room. Visibly was reduce but thankfully, it wasn't the first time he entered this room. He covered his mouth and went for the door still opened, along with trap leading down.

"He had to run as fast as he could when he realized what was happening…"

Going down the stairs, Subaru met with a struggling old man, grunting in pain as he tried to free himself. He was beaten up and had what looked like a stab wound on his stomach, Subaru understood that the man was about to inflict him the fatal wound just before the fire. But more than that. He understood he could make it.

[Subaru]" You can move Rom?!"

Rom abruptly turned his eyes to the smiling young man approaching him with his sword in end towards his hands.

[Rom]" Boy?! How did y-ARRGH!"

Without any warning, Subaru just pulled out the nail of his right hand, making him growl in pain as Subaru chuckled.

[Subaru]" If you can still feel pain, that means you're not at death's door yet! So we have to get you out before coming near that situation right? Questions will be for later, let's not waste time for now!"

[Rom]" Even so be gentle! Gentle damn it!"

Even if he would be the first to understand how one would dislike pain, Subaru didn't go gently at all as they didn't have much time to get out of here. After another growl echoed in the room, Subaru quickly bandaged his bleeding hands and looked at his belly wound to see it closer.

[Subaru]" Damn it! It still bleeding a lot, might be dangerous if you move to much with that…"

[Rom]" Maybe we should focus about getting out, we'll see that afterwards!"

[Subaru]" What's the fucking point of braving a furnace to save you if it's for you to die at the end, stupid old man?!"

Subaru looked around him to see the walls starting to catch fire as well and had an idea. He looked at Rom with an uneasy smile as he pulled out his sword and placed the blade over the fire.

[Rom]" Oh you gotta be kiddin' me!"

[Subaru]" I hope I would, but we don't have time for another solution!"

[Rom]" Fuck me!"

[Subaru]" Hey! Don't go blurting things like that, what if it comes back in front of Felt?!"

Both smirked to each other before Subaru placed his blade on Rom's wound to cauterize it. This time, Rom bit onto a piece of his clothing to muffle his scream.

[Subaru]" Right, that should be it…Come on, now we get out!"

[Rom]" Y're really askin' a lot from my old body boy!"

Subaru led the way as he climbed the stairs to the now fully smoked main room of the tavern, he tried to wave his hand to dismiss the smoke but it was too strong and thick now, but again, it wasn't the first time Subaru had been here.

[Subaru]" Rom! You take a deep breath and grab my hand! I'll get us out of here, I know the way! It will only take a few seconds to get out!"

[Rom]" Are ya sure about what y'are doin'?!"

[Subaru]" Yeah, I'll need you to trust me on this one!"

[Rom]" I already trust ya! I'm more concerned about y're safety!"

Subaru smiled warmly to him, he knew what kind of man Rom was, he couldn't help to be touched by the old man's will to put him before himself.

With a nod to each others, they both took a deep breath and started to run through the smoked room, right to the exit.

[?]" Help! Help me!"

Subaru stopped halfway as he heard the screams of a man, he put his head low to try and see from where it was coming…To see the barman under stuck under some debris, screaming in pain for his life.

Subaru recognized him and glared angrily at him, remembering the loops and what he had done. He then lifted his head and took his decision, running again towards the exit.

Just as Subaru said, it took only a few seconds. Only, as luck didn't seem to be on their side, the burning room started to crumble down on them, making a wooden beam fall right on them.

Knowing they couldn't dodge it, Rom immediately pulled the boy under his gigantic figure and caught the burning beam with his hand, growling in pain, as he threw it to the side.

Subaru looked back in fear to see him breathing heavily and painfully. He was old, he was injured, doing something like that was really ill advised, but here they were, a few meters from the exit, a few steps from the ending Subaru wanted so much.

[Subaru]" Hell no!"

Only left with his willpower, Subaru took Rom by his arm and pulled with all the strength he had, nearly breaking his arms as he slowly dragged him out of the burning place.


[Combatant] "Bring water, quick! We need to kill that fire!"

"Come on! Come on!"

Outside the tavern, the combatant and some previous customers were doing everything they could to extinguish the fire that was raging the entire building. They were all panicked and doing everything they could to put the it down.

Some folks that were passing by joined them and did everything they could to help, luckily, there weren't any injured by now as they all rushed out when the first fireball hit the place.

[?]" What is happening here?!"

The combatant turned around to meet with a green haired woman, along with a weird dressed catgirl. It didn't take much time for him to recognize her, even if he lived in the slums, it was still the capital.

[Combatant]" Lady Karsten! I don't really know what I should say right now, we were all having a drink the we heard an explosion outside…And before we knew it, fire started to spread to the entire place!"

The duchess looked around her to see the various people who just went out of the burning up building, she looked at the combatant with stern eyes. The situation needed to be handled, now was not the time for backing down, so she took a deep breath and advanced towards the people.

[Crusch]" All of you! Listen to me!"

In an instant, the crowd of people immediately turned towards the confused and scared people. Some recognized her, others knew she had to be from nobility.

[Crusch]" All those who can still walk, stand up and bring water from the nearby wells and sources! Those who can use water magic, put it in assistance of the wounded first and evacuate those who are unable to move by themselves!

The people were confused, troubled, but one thing was sure, listening to the commanding lady over there was a better option than doing nothing but watch. So they all stood up and started to act according to her orders.

[Felix]"It seems that your commanding voice is powerful enough to reach even the hearts of the people you just met, truly the mark of a leader nya!"

Crusch smirked at her servant's words and turned to her.

[Crusch]"Felix, go lend your assistance to whoever needs you, I need to know more about this situation."

With a bow to her master, the catgirl went ahead to the injured.

[Combatant]" Truly an incredible aura you have lady, I'm impressed."

[Crusch]"Thank you. Do you know if there is still anyone inside?"

The combatant winced a bit as he remembered something and looked towards the burning place.

[Combatant]" I remember we all went out right away, some with more difficulty than others but from a quick glance it seems we're all out…"

Crusch waited patiently with a stern expression as she knew there was something more.

[Combatant]" But right after we went out, a boy in black apparel just came out from nowhere and jumped right inside…"

[Crusch]" What?!"

The combatant got startled by the sudden raise of the duchess's voice. She seemed alarmed for some reasons.

[Crusch]" Did he had black hair and a sword to his belt? Along with a noble like outfit?"

He widened his eyes at the green haired woman's description, which fitted perfectly.

[Combatant]" Yes! That's exactly it! You know him?!"

The duchess turned towards the burning building in concern, she didn't know what this entire situation was but she surely met that boy just before all this, and knew about his troubles…

"Hey! Someone is going out!"

Everyone turned around the main entrance, to see a gigantic black figure going out of the burning tavern. Some immediately backed away in fear of whatever that might be until it steeped into daylight, revealing a boy doing his best to carry a Giant man, pulling him on his back.

[Combatant]" It's the boy!"

Crusch was unable to close her mouth, astonished by the sight before her, until precipitating towards him when he fell on his knees, finally out of here, with a still breathing Rom.

Arriving to him, she quickly grabbed his arm to lift and help to support him. When he raised his face covered with black traces of cinder to her, he recognized the green haired lady right away and smiled a bit to her.

[Crusch]" You'll have to give me some further explanation about this!"

[Subaru]" Sure, I will…But first, can I ask you to help my friend over there lady? We need healing, I can see your cute catgirl doing something akin to that over there"

Subaru pointed to Felix who looked at him with a frown as she was speaking with his lady, even if she was equally impressed just as everyone else to see him drag a giant out of a burning building.

Up on his feet, Subaru let go of the lady's grasp before turning back to the burning tavern, in front of everyone looking at him with horrified and shocked expressions.

"Don't tell me!"

"Is he mad?!"

[Crusch]" W-wait! What are you doing?!"

[Subaru]" Honestly…"

He turned towards the green haired lady with a warm smile while she had herself a shocked expression.

[Subaru]" I have no idea!"

And he jumped right into the flames.

[Combatant]" What the hell?! Is he crazy?! He have to be!"

The duchess simply looked at the burning place with full worry as she finally understood what would push someone to jump right into a furnace. She gritted her teeth and turned around the people around her.

[Crusch]" Don't be distracted! It is time to redouble efforts, there is still people to save!"

"If the extent of your courage is enough to risk your life for someone else…Then I shall not turn my back to you!"

Usually, the fire should have been even more intense now, but thanks to the duchess orders and people all working together, things weren't as worse than it was supposed to be, even if it was still plenty dangerous to put a step in here.

[Subaru]" Hey dickhead! Where are you?!"

Waving his hand to see around him and covering him mouth with the other, he did his best to try and spot where the barman was, trying to remember where he saw him. But still, the smoke was hurting his eyes and his repetitive coughing would not let him much time to act.

After a few seconds, he finally noticed the foot of the man he was looking for. He knelt down to see him more clearly. The barman was stuck under some debris of the roof that feel on him and was visibly unconscious. Subaru started to free him from it and realized it wasn't that hard, but looking at his arms, they were probably broken since he surely used them as protection.

Subaru lifted him as best he could and began to drag him, holding him by his shoulder.

Despite the efforts of the people outside, the tavern was still made of wood, so it was inevitable that it began to collapse bit by bit, leading Subaru to have to act on it.

The situation took a most dramatic turn when the entrance collapsed before his eyes, leaving only a wall of flames.


"Damn it!"

[Combatant]"That's not true! Kid!"

Crusch clenched her fists and had a painful expression at the sight of the collapse. She put her hand on the hilt of her sword, wanting to hit the entrance with her wind magic, but that would only scatter the flames around and was way to dangerous.

She could only watch.

And hope.


He looked around, trying to find a solution. The multiple collapses of the ceiling dispersed the smoke from the room, allowing better visibility, but oxygen was seriously running out.

He looked around frantically, then saw to the side a cracked wall through which the light was coming from outside.

Without thinking twice, he hurried towards it, as it was surely his only chance.

Still carrying the heavy barman, he started kicking the wall, it gradually began to break but it was not enough.

Suddenly another wooden beam fell directly behind them, pushing Subaru to the ground and preventing them from backing up. Subaru couldn't help opening his mouth in shock and inhaling smoke. He was now trapped and was having trouble breathing properly.

He remembered the various loops he had suffered so far and clenched his teeth in anger, all his soul screaming at him to get up; he had come too far to fall now.

So he stood up, grabbed the baman, and hit the wall with his shoulder.

"Come on..."

Again.

"Come on!"

A crack was heard in his shoulder, just as the crack showing the light from outside grew larger.

"COME ON!"

And with a last blow, with a last push, he broke the wooden wall leading outside, falling into full light as he pulled the unconscious barman with him, in front of the astonished and shocked eyes of everyone present.

"What..."

"H-how?!"

The combatant and the duchess immediately rushed towards them, still trying to process what just happened and dragged them away from the flames.

[Combatant]" The barman…He was still in there…Damn it, this kid!"

The combatant has a fond look on his face as he checked both their vitals and saw they were alive. But his expression was more coming from the young man's bravado to jump into a hell room just to save a life.

Crusch had no words for the behavior she just witnessed, it was truly insane and foolish, no one in their right minds would have dared such a reckless tactic. So insane that she couldn't help but have a confident smile with a fond look in her eyes as well.

The combatant turned his head to notice how she was looking at the boy that she held with a hand on the back on his head to provide it from hitting the ground.

[Combatant]" Oh I see! He's a friend of yours duchess?"

[Crusch]" Hm…No, not at all. Actually I have no idea who he is, I really just met him no longer than an hour ago."

[Combatant]" Really? You seem to be caring for him right now."

[Crusch]" Well…I figured he would deserv-"

She changed her expression for a more worried one when the said boy started to cough heavily as he had finally some fresh air.

[Crusch]" Felix!"

The catgirl obliged and ran to her mistress to heal the laid down man before her.

[Combatant]" He doesn't seem conscious…"

[Felix]" he's nyot. His body his simply rejecting the smoke he inhaled naturally, but he's not conscious."

[Crusch]" Thanksfully, there's nothing really serious about his condition.

[Felix]" Well, he also have a dislocated shoulder and small fractures in his arms, looks like he tried to do more than he could with his strength."

The combatant gulped his saliva as he truly felt bad for the kid while Crusch had a tired expression as she put a hand on her forehead.

After a moment using his healing magic, Felix turned to the barman who was in a worse state, but could still be healed.

[Combatant]" It really is a huge luck to have you around here, Felix-sama…"

Felix cheerfully hummed to the combatant with a haughty expression.

[Felix]"Mh! If you have to thank someone, thank my mistress who decided to lend you assistance nya!"

The combatant smiled and bowed to the both of them to express his gratitude.

Both Cursch and Felix smiled back to him. Then a shadow suddenly towered over them, providing the sun from it's light for the trio.

They all raised their heads to meet with a grumpy and terrifying giant who had no smile on his face. Except Crusch, the others felt a bit threatened, until the giant bowed down in front of the duchess as well.

[Rom]" I thank ya, both of ya ladies. In my and this fool's name, we probably wouldn' make it without ya…"

Crusch smiled to him and looked back to the sleeping boy.

[Crusch]"I told him he had some explanation to do, but I suppose he is in no state now."

The duchess stood up and looked around her to see that guards had been called to put an end to the fire, she felt relieved to know most of the people were okay.

[Crusch]" I suppose you were the one in danger he seemed to be troubled about? What happened to you."

Rom let out a heavy sigh as he didn't want to talk about this, but he figured he had to anyway. So he explained everything to the duchess with her servant and the combatant around. How he had been wronged and captured to be tortured and killed and how Subaru ended up saving him from the burning tavern with a really good timing.

Everyone who heard the story were shocked to the core, the combatant was gritting his teeth in anger as he didn't realize someone was getting tortured under his feet while Felix was disgusted about healing that barman.

Crusch was actually the most angered of all. A demi human was one of the dearest person in this world for her, she couldn't bear to hear someone getting harmed because of this.

[Combatant]" You damned bastard…"

[Felix]" You scum."

[Crusch]" I suppose the boy didn't know, or he would-"

[Rom]" No lady, trust me. He knew the barman was the culprit. I saw his eyes when he first noticed 'em, he was really angry, and he rarely gets angry to people without a good reason from what I've seen."

The duchess and the catgirl looked at each other with a confused expression, Crusch more than Felix, as she let her gaze drop to the boy.

[Crusch]" Why would he save him then…"

At this, Rom simply started to laugh loud, much to the surprise of everyone around him.

[Rom]" Who knows?! I bet he didn't know himself! That's just who that stupid boy is!"

Crusch noticed the fond look in the eyes of the giant as he just insulted his friend, truly he had to be important to him. She also remembered the moment when she asked him what he was doing while jumping into that burning tavern to save this garbage man. A soft expression found it's way on her face as this courage and goodwill made her remember of someone in particular.

[Crusch]" He truly must be a fool…But a brave one that's for sure. He did leave quite the impression when he ran to help you after all."

Rom turned to her with a bewildered face, the lady seemed to know something.

[Rom]" Do ya happen to know how he managed to find me, lady?"

[Crusch]"Mh…I'm afraid not. I simply asked him if he needed help since he seemed to be really distraught when I met him. After he told me he needed to rescue someone but had no time to do so, I simply told he should find a way to…stop…"

The duchess's eyes widened as she quickly looked to the burning tavern and the boy back and forth, understanding what just happened. She thought he was insane, but since he did all of this with a smile every time she looked at him, there were no words to describe him.

[Crusch]" Saying it's insane is way too light…"

She turned to the Giant again as he leaned down to carry the boy in his arms since Felix was over with his treatment.

[Crusch]" Wait! If you're his friend, do you happen to know his name? I never saw a noble like him in the capital, I must say I'm quite curious to know."

Rom turned to her with a warm and wide smile on as he looked to the boy and the lady.

[Rom]" Natsuki Subaru! A damned fool who's way too good hearted for that country of ours!"


Far away, up to the north of the capital, a certain man wearing a clown like makeup was sitting in his study, his fingers intertwined under his nose as his eyes were glued on a opened book on the desk in front of him.

[Roswaal]" …How curious…"


"What have I done…?"

Right, now it's time for me to explain you all how I ended up writing that chapter.

My first idea and the first chapter I wrote was about Subaru simply struggling and killing himself in order to make things right because he just killed someone, because some of you told me and even I knew it; Subaru is way to kind to actually kill someone.

But then one of you told me in a review that I could try to use some things I'm studying to help me/inspire me and that's where it struck me.

You know, in court when you judge someone, there a lot of factor that enters the trial and one of it is of course "the state of mind of the accused during the crime." To know if he killed in cold blood or if he was emotionally impacted. That weights A LOT on the final decision regarding the accused, because the human mind is an absolute complex thing, sometimes regarding the situation and the heat of the moment you can literally shut down your mind and only let your instincts lead you. The adrenaline gives you "superhuman" abilities, your strength is multiplied, your stamina is hella increased…(And yeah, after cooling down it hurts as hell.) And it's really hard and even "unfair" to charge someone for something he did when he wasn't himself.

So when I tried to visualize the situation of Subaru killing someone without thinking twice, I tried to think about the possible outcome. Subaru is someone who'd rather run away from his faults rather than facing them, especially at the beginning of Re:zero, that's the principal reason to explain his shitty personality end decisions at the beginning until the Rem talk in ARC 3.

So with that in mind, I concluded that instead of facing the situation, he would rather try to blame someone else, hence the people who killed Rom. Add to that his training with Reinhard and rather impulsive personality, plus the mess of emotions running, providing him to think straight before this bloodbath…And there we go.

Some of you might still find it inappropriate but I really preferred this development rather than the first one, so bear with me, no one is perfect.

The second thing I want to explain to you is a psychological reaction of your brain regarding a trauma, it's called "dissociative amnesia".

When facing a certain event, a trauma, a stressful situation, something dangerous and horrible that you can't take, your brain decides to block out those memories in order to protect your mind. You can't remember those even if you want to, because if you do it might hurt you or have dangerous consequences, and your body doesn't want that.

But nothing ever fades away totally, your memories can't disappear and most of the time the situation is still haunting you which leads to visions, nightmares, flashes. All of that is a part of your mind trying to make you remember while another part is trying to hide them, which create a real internal conflict in you, until you see or face something that trigger your mind and…Boom, you remember everything. In those kinds of cases the shock is so strong it all depends on the type of people to deal with it, some can turn mad, some can refuse to admit it and worsen the case, some can face it and accept it.

(I got the idea from Metal Gear Solid V: the phantom pain when you find Paz.)

That aside, here is your chapter 7 folks!

It sure was longer than usual but…I didn't feel like cutting it in different chapters and I owe you a bit more since I have a hard time updating.

Those exams are killing me, I really needed a break. Looks like writing was a good way to vent out that frustration a bit, the other way was to cutting demons with a crucible.

I really hope you appreciated, for this brand-new route for ARC 3. Before you ask, the combatant or the barman aren't Re:zero characters that I'm trying to hide or original characters, they really are just some random NPC's I added for this part of the story.

You guys have been boosting me up with your reviews, I was super happy to see you all appreciate and follow that different growth of Subaru in regards of the throne.

Thank you all. I'm going back to my exams and lack of sleep now.

This and Doom Eternal are the only things that are actually keeping me together.

Hey what do you guys think about a Doom Eternal and Re:zero fiction crossover?!

I'll see you back at chapter 8!