First, I want to acknowledge and thank Reactionist (author of WHDAA), LangstonHugeD (author of Forced to Listen), NamesAura (author of Forced to Leave), and Redeem (author of Shadows of the Forgotten) for agreeing for me to make this story. Please read and support their works. I don't own any of this and all rights for the idea and characters to Tappei Nagatsuki and studio White Fox for the web novel and animated show Re: Zero.
Summary: the cast asks the warden to show them their future so that they can aid and support Subaru in his endeavors. Since the timeline is already shifted due to them knowing about "Return by Death", he agrees, but instead shows them two possible routes: a path where Subaru was forgotten due to Gluttony, accused as the Sin archbishop of Pride, and was betrayed, tortured and killed by his allies (Shadows of the Forgotten chap 1-2). And another route where his closest loved ones forced him to talk about his curse, causing Envy to rampage and kill them. Forced to make a decision, he left them, delivering them an awake Rem as a parting gift for the Emilia camp, never to see them again (Forced to Leave Chap 1-3).
Flow : Season1-Season2- Shadows of the Forgotten as a failed loop-Forced to Leave with him leaving
This is the aftermath after watching those routes:
"And with that, the journey of Subaru Natsuki comes to an end. We'll have a short break and then, I'll be back for the closing remarks." The warden announced as the glass screen slowly fades into darkness, filling the theater with undeafening silence. Muffled sobs, an occasional coughing, and the slight scent of salt filled the room. To say that the cast is shocked, depressed, and filled with terror is quite an understatement.
Emilia was now wrapping herself and was shaking. All of Subaru's sacrifices, sufferings, and deaths were flashing through her head as tears continuously fall to her cheeks. A torrent of emotions swirled within her as she tries to compose herself.
Anger: she was so furious about what Felix and Julius did to her knight: beating, cutting, and torturing him over and over again. Just to be "healed" so start the process once again. Her heart broke into a million pieces hearing his screams of anguish, desperately calling for help and for someone to save him from his misery. If she could, she would like to blast ice crystals to both of them but she also knows that she's not even better.
Despair: Subaru's broken face when she said "Who are you?" will haunt her for the rest of her life. She could now somewhat relate to how he felt when the whole kingdom forgot Rem. Confusion, fear, and despair were well-written on him as he tries desperately to make them remember him, only for her and Beatrice to betray him.
Sadness: it nearly broke her again (like the tine at the Sanctuary) when she saw her knight's last memory of her before leaving them was "Liar". She berates herself for being so stupid and naive, so oblivious of her knight's pain and suffering. Why can't she save even a single person in her life? Mother Fortuna, Juice, and now Subaru.
No. She won't allow it.
She won't allow the person that she "loves" to be gone again in her life. Losing Subaru is too much for her and honestly, she does not know how she'll live for the rest of her life. Call it selfish. Greedy. Disgusting. Emilia does not care anymore. She will save Subaru, no matter what.
Seeing a possible future where he'll suffer again and again at the hands of his "friends and allies", she made up her mind. She wipes her tears and made her way towards the verdant-hair noble.
Beatrice could not believe what she has witnessed on the past screenings. She was sitting away from her contractor, disgusted and ashamed to be even near him, after what she has seen.
It was one thing that she now understands the reasons for her Subaru's nightmares and nightly "excursions", it was another when their future was shown; she couldn't breathe when her counterpart accused Subaru of Pride and leaving him to be arrested by the Royal knights.
She wants to deny it, saying it will never happen to them, but his screams reached the inner cores of her soul that she couldn't take it anymore and run as far away as the black-haired boy was seated, deeply ashamed of herself. Subaru strived and desperately took her hand, filling her life with bright colors, and she repaid it by basically stamping him as a Sin Archbishop, sentencing him to his demise.
As she was wallowing in pain, she also saw her contractor leaving her, all because she wants to "erase" her mistakes and cover them up with false promises. She reached her hand through the screen, begging him to not leave her again.
Lost was the elegant blonde Great Spirit of the Forbidden Library, what was left was a scared little girl, cradling herself with mumbling her Subaru's name over and over.
Rem was downright furious, both on everyone and herself. Make no mistake, it nearly broke her sanity seeing herself torturing her Hero twice. Twice. All on her hatred of the witch's cult that burned their village. Killing an innocent boy just because of the witches' scent she was blinded by her hatred. Subaru's anguished face, when he realized it was her that killed him, broke her heart into a million pieces.
But then, he saved her. He saved the one that killed him. Loved the one that slain him. Offering his hand to run away with him to live a happy life. Initially, she was so proud that she helped her hero in releasing him from the shackles of despair and gave him hope to stride further, showing them her Hero.
Now she having second thoughts if she either made the best decision or the greatest mistake in her life.
She was so angry on the next screenings that Garfiel and Otto had to restrain her from attacking both Julius and Felix. She was seeing red throughout the session, as more fuel was added to her rage. The nail on the coffin came to the most unexpected person, the one she never believed that she would feel any hatred and wrath: her sister.
She cannot believe that she also didn't trust her Hero as much as she was on the failed loops and tried to hurt him as well. The blue-haired oni knows that she still loves her "Nee-sama" but even that stance is starting to waver within her.
Would all of Subaru's suffering ended if she just indulge her selfish desires and took him and run away? Away to all of this? Rem was drowning in her thoughts on what could have been if time let her go back to that moment; that moment that could potentially free Subaru from all of the pain.
As soon as Rem calmed down, Garfiel and Otto slowly went to their seats; their eyes hollow and wrinkles forming on their forehead. As if they're brothers, they shared the same thought: They failed. They failed on helping and saving their other brother from the darkness that had been gnawing at him inside. They failed as both the Shield and the Internal Affairs Minister to their camp. And as if fate wants to spit on their faces, they will fail again soon, letting him die again and again.
Garfiel was surprised himself that he did not lunge and attack the royal knights when they tortured his captain. He was too stunned from the viewings from the Sanctuary arc, where he killed Otto and hurt Subaru, that while drowning in self-deprecation, Rem's angry voice shocked him, and instead of backing her up, he restrained her.
Maybe he wants not to be rash in making decisions and start using his head for once, as his captain.
Maybe he sees himself in Rem, blinded by her ideals that he tries to imitate Subaru and try to calm her down to talk some sense to her.
Maybe he's too guilty to attack anyone when even he was not better to any one of them.
As he was contemplating, Otto patted his back, reassuring him that he's here for him. The ashen-hair green merchant relived the speech he gave to Subaru: "So then, if it's just to compensate for the things you're lacking then how about enlisting some help? —Say, from a friend?". He thought that Subaru did not trust him or even any of them but as soon as his circumstances were should, he was so ashamed about himself for thinking about it.
But when the future was shown, Otto began to question if any of the people in the theater are even Subaru's friends or just scheming to use and manipulate him to reach their respective goals, akin to that sick twisted make-up freak of a backer of their camp.
Being in this camp begins to sicken him personally, seeing them as a cast of murderers with the same common denominator of hurting or killing Subaru. He hopes that when Subaru wakes up, he'll drag him out of this living hell, whether he likes it or not.
Roswaal was having a mixture of shock, rage, and concern written on his clown make-up. He already accepted the consequences of his actions that everyone around him wanted to kill him, one way to another.
So when the following scenes appeared, he was terrified of its implications: his 400 years of planning, scheming, sacrificing, and efforts go to waste if Subaru either gets killed or left the camp. It wasn't helping that he can't interfere and just kill all the hazards along the way because of the oath they made after that fateful bet. One false move, one screw-up from him, his soul will burn in the flames of hell, with no way to return, even with the "body-swapping" technique he mastered could not prevent him from that fate.
It frustrates him to no end that the causes of it are the same ones that the "fool" wanted to protect and love. If anything, simply wiping them all out would have been an easier path. Thus, the royal court mage was frustrated on how to protect his only way to ever meet his Teacher while eliminating the pests that come near it.
Ram saw her master furrowing his brows and took his hand and gently squeezed it, resulting in a small smile from the magician. She was so glad that she could help release some tension within him and focuses her attention on the black-haired boy in front of her.
Understandably, she did not know what to do with Subaru once he wakes up. Run right up to him and apologize? Beg and cry for all the unforgivable and horrible things she did or would do to him? How about Rem? What will she say to her little sister after everything?
Like Beatrice, she labeled him as Pride and attacked him without any room for explanation. He saw fear in his eyes, the same ones that filled him, and decided to jump over the rocky cliff to prevent her from killing him. What made it worse was the hostility Rem shown towards her, asking why she did this and that. It did not help that her synesthesia lets her know what she's feeling.
Betrayal.
Doubt.
Hostility.
Wrath.
Ram clenched the helm of her skirt, swallowing all of these with tears on her eyes. She wants to console Rem but a quick look at her lets her know that she does not want to be near her. Ram's heart broke seeing those same hostile eyes that she gave to Subaru come back to haunt her again with Rem.
For the first time in her life, Ram was lost, confused, and scared. She did not know what to do anymore to fix all of these. But her pride won't allow her to look weak in front of everyone, thus building a stone-faced facade, while her soul yearns and screams for help and consolation to this pain in her heart.
Frederica carefully tucked Petra beside her, positioning her head to her lap. The poor girl fainted from all the crying and screaming she did during the screening. The screams of anguish and the sounds of blood spilling froze her as the peasant girl and demi-human maid watch Subaru being tortured by the Royal knights. As incoherent sobs came out from the chestnut-haired girl, the final blow that broke her heart was her crush/hero leaving them with a painful expression on his face.
Of all the horrifying deaths, sufferings, and pain she's seen throughout the session, the thought of Subaru Natsuki leaving her shattered her mind so badly that she slowly loses her consciousness and wallow in the darkness.
Why?
Why must he suffer?
Does the Od Laguna hate him so much that he's fated to suffer, even when he tries his earnest to save everyone?
Even the ones that hurt him?
Even the ones that are supposed to protect him in the first place?
As Petra drifted towards her consciousness, the tears still flow through her chubby cheeks, wishing anyone to save Subaru. Frederica wipes her tears and regretted not being too close to help the poor boy. The same boy who helped her foolish brother to move forward. The same boy who saved her people from the machinations of her master. The same boy who had to bear all of the pain anguish, just to see everyone with a smile.
The blonde-haired maid hoped it wasn't too late to find a way to help, in any way she can, to ease Subaru's pain.
Meanwhile, the Crusch camp was also in a mess. Their leader, Crusch Karsten was holding her head with her hands as she goes through everything she witnessed from the moment she appeared in this room.
The adventures of an amazing guy that has no special qualities but was special to their world. The guy who was unfairly transported to their wretched world was confused, foolish, and scared.
But with his kindness and determination, he surpassed the impossible. He achieved feats that were nigh impossible to accomplish. He has no magic, no battle experience, no skills, and no Divine Protection. With only the "curse" to redo, he was able to save everyone he holds dear to his heart.
Crusch's heart flutters when she saw how Subaru faced the White Whale and forced it to fall when he faces Sloth and defeated him, and how he helps trapped the Great Rabbit and lets it disappear out of existence. Indeed, for someone that was lacking in everything, Subaru proved to be a force to be reckoned with.
So when she saw how he was mistreated by the Royal knights, brutally beaten to a pulp, her knight torturing him in her name, culminating in his hanging, Crusch was devastated. To see some who asks for nothing. To save everyone while his sanity is gnawing away just to see all of them safe and sound with a smile. To be given such treatment, Crusch couldn't stand it, she bawled her eyes out, feeling betrayed as to why would her precious knight do that to the one she loves.
How could a pure soul such as Subaru Natsuki was subjected to all of the unfair treatment, just to see his efforts go to waste? She is aware that the previews were "possibilities" that may or may not have happened to their future, but it was not to say that she was terrified that it may have come true. She did not want it. She won't allow Subaru Natsuki, the boy, no, man, that helped and possibly save her at the subjugation of the White Whale, the man who blames himself for her amnesiac state.
As she was wiping her tears, she noticed Emilia was approaching her.
"Emilia-sama? What is it you want to talk about?" She asked, trying to compose herself in front of another royal candidate. She admits, she's a bit jealous that Subaru's heart belongs to the half-elf and not to her. Nevertheless, she's a tenacious fighter, she'll find a way for him to look her way.
"Lady Crusch, as soon as we leave this place, I'll formally end our alliance." Emilia replied, with no emotion.
The duchess was shocked. surely, this is a ruse, right? "I beg your pardon? I think I missed on what you just said Lady Emilia." she blurted out as fear began to creep in her voice.
"I wish to cut our alliance, Lady Crusch. Thank you for your support and for everything you have given and done for me and especially, for him." Emilia stated, her hollow eyes staring at the duchess, sending shivers down her spine.
Crusch could not comprehend this. Why is Emilia so adamant to break their alliance? Initially, the alliance was formed by Subaru. Even though she is his liege, she feels that only Subaru has any point to talk about it.
"Why?" She stuttered, starting to become frantic. The thought of losing someone she loves reminded her of a certain blonde red-eyed prince and how he died from a mysterious sickness. She vows not to make the same mistake again if she can help it.
The silver-haired royal candidate took a deep breath and look her in the eye. " I will not allow anyone to come near MY knight. He's mine and mine alone. No one will go near him unless I say so. And I'll be damned if ANOTHER damn cat will torture MY SUBARU!" Emilia shouted, with tears brimming on the corners of her eyes.
Crusch was stunned. It makes sense to cut ties to those who hurt you, much more to punish them. But to prevent others to help Subaru from his pain while whitewashing their own was a big slap on her face.
She doesn't want to cut ties with Subaru, no matter what.
She wants to repay him for everything he had done for her. He even killed himself just to regain Rem's and her memories for crying out loud.
Call it prideful or greedy, she does not care.
As much as she does not want to fight someone especially Emilia, she'll stand her ground no matter what, so when the day comes when Subaru needs her, she will be by his side. So with that in mind, and with a deep breath, she resolved herself while apologizing to her friend beforehand.
"With all due respect, Lady Emilia..."
As the two royal candidates argue with one another, Wilhelm deeply sighs as the two ladies argued while gazing at the back of the head of the sleeping boy. From the moment he saw those eyes of his, Wilhelm knew that it was the eyes that saw hell and back.
What did he doesn't know was the frequency the poor boy had to travel to hell and to return. He was both amazed and concern to the lad, which he sees a bit of himself. Stubborn, determined, and kind-hearted, he was so proud of the boy that he sees him as his grandson, maybe a bit more than his own.
As the scenes of him betrayed and left alone, Wilhelm vowed to help him to repay his debt to him, even if it costs his life. A slight jerking motion broke him from his thoughts and looked at the broken figure beside him, a frown etched on his face. "Reinhard," he thought, "please be strong, like Subaru-dono".
As for the final cast of the Crusch camp, he can be found in front of the half-elf's knight, bowing on knees, with his face down to the ground unmoved.
Felix's eyes, once sparkling with joy, have become lifeless and dull. Initially, he despised Subaru, being weak, foolish, and immature while taking advantage of others around him.
But as reality slaps him, he deeply regretted his prejudice and vow on his title as "Blue" to beg and make up to him.
As time passes by, he was shown again and again that no matter what, he'll hurt his "friend" with the same abilities he vowed to his liege. Instigating the torture of the man that saved many lives, hurting and breaking him, Felix began scratching his arms with his nails and biting his lip, asking for forgiveness to Subaru as his screams echoed the room.
It took Wilhelm and Ricardo to immobilized the healer while Crusch patched him up with bandages. As Felix kowtows to Subaru, he continuously mumbles to himself.
" I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I'M SORRY." He hopes that some way Subaru can hear his plea. He felt like scum.
Speaking of scum, Julius is hiding himself, his face covered by his hands while sobs can be heard near him. He cannot believe it. He was "The Knight of Knights". But the screening proved him otherwise, failing to save his kingdom while someone took the burden from them, at the cost of his sanity.
He thought that Subaru was rash, annoying, and petty but as the story goes by, he grew into someone that he wanted to befriend with. In hindsight, he winced when he saw how he beat an innocent bystander who had no knowledge of their world and was cursed by the witch. He promised to help him from his self-deprecating thoughts and aid him to the best he can. He promised to never use his sword again to kill him, hoping to have a chance to redeem himself.
However, this all changed once he saw what he did in the "future". He, together with Felix, brutally beat out Subaru's life, making it a living hell. As he pleads and desperately tries to ask for mercy from both of them, saying that they're friends, they "repaid" him by amplifying the beatdown. Julius never felt so ashamed in his life. He failed. Again. He was shaking, his breathing hitched, and with tear-filled eyes, he witnessed how his counterpart made Subaru die inside, culminating with a broken smile once he was about to be hanged by him.
He couldn't.
He could not face him again.
Julius does not deserve to be friends with Subaru.
Time and time again, he failed and will fail tremendously. It broke him seeing that all of Subaru's sacrifices will be in vain, all because of him. "Subaru, I hope that you'll give me a chance." he whispered, desperate to have his selfish wish to be granted.
Anastasia watched her knight with sad eyes as she ruffles her scarf. With everything that she had seen throughout the screening, she digested and processed all information that she's given, trying to make an advantage from it.
But now, how can she benefit from it after seeing someone being tortured and being forced to leave?
She regretted being too greedy, asking the warden to show them their future since the timeline was messed up because of their appearance at the theater. Now, she ate more than she can chew, seeing a possible future where the poor boy will suffer regardless and seeing all his hard work and perseverance go to the drain.
She shook her head, focusing herself on the things she can control. Reassessing and coming up with a scheme or to "help" the poor soul by coming to her camp.
It angers her to no end seeing the incompetence of Emilia on how she and her camp treated Subaru. A person with knowledge from another world, with so much potential for new inventions that can make Lugunica prosper, imitating that of Hoshin, maybe even greater.
Instead, he follows her like a love-struck puppy, dying and suffering without being properly compensated. It infuriated her that Subaru's talents are wasted on someone who didn't have the decency to say "I love you" back after all the horrible things he had to experience. Twice. TWICE.
She had enough for this.
She had enough of this disgusting cycle of Natsuki-san given so little to none compensation for all the literal blood, sweat, and tears he bled for. As a merchant, there should be a proper and equal exchange to all negotiations. She will teach Subaru about ambition and choose the right people to trust.
However, Anastasia is in a difficult situation. How can she lead and persuade the boy to join their camp in his volition? His heart is already set to that naive half-elf, which frustrates her, and now, Natsuki-san might have some resentment toward her knight. No matter, it was a possible future. She'll make sure that those previews will not happen. She'll keep Subaru close to her so that no one, even Julius, can harm him.
Ricardo was cradling Mimi and Tivey as the twins finally settled down and took a nap. He loves those two as if they were his kids. So it hurts to see Mimi, who idolized Subaru, crying and sobbing uncontrollably while he and Tivey comforted him. The screening amplifies his respect for the boy even more, as he watches how he defeated the impossible.
As much as he was amazing and was alike a legend from a fairy tale, he was also human, prone to being hurt.
He was shocked to see the same boy from being so accomplished and respected, to be broken and hollow. It didn't even help that the party responsible were the Royal Knights themselves and the boy's camp. He gritted his fangs when he saw Subaru crying desperately to be saved and heartbroken when he left Lugunica, never to see his loved ones again.
It's too much for someone who had a heart of gold and was willing to do everything to save everyone, even if it kills him over Od know how many times it takes.
Ricardo won't allow the time when the guy he respected will be an empty shell of himself. He'll help his lady to come up with a plan to lead the boy to theirs, in his own will, despite the difficult circumstances of his relationship with Julius.
Felt was glaring at the screen while sobbing uncontrollably. She was left by Reinhard when a surprising turn of events leads him to finally release his pent-up emotions and cried. If not for the events that happened, she would have been amazed, concerned, and be by his side. But, here it is, full of wrath and frustration.
She was mad at everyone that hurt her Big Bro, who was the most amazing person she knows. She was proud of his accomplishing all challenges, emerging victorious. The White Whale. Sloth. The bet between that creepy-ass clown, which she orders Reinhard to throw him to jail. The assassins of the mansion. The Great Rabbit. And finally, being the knight to the girl he loves.
She had the biggest smile watching, with a nagging frustration that her knight wasn't greedy enough to take him to her camp. But everything changed when the screening took a turn to the worst.
She felt justified when she declared during the Royal Selection that she'll tear the kingdom down to the ground. As shown to her, the Royal Knights beat up her poor Big Bro, rendering him as an empty shell of himself. She swears that that damn healer cat was next to her shitlist. It nearly broke her, seeing Subaru desperately beg to them while they continued, up until his execution.
If it wasn't enough, it broke her heart seeing Subaru immensely crying and left Lugunica. She can't believe that they didn't give him a chance to explain, instead, they overwhelm him so much so, the Witch rampaged and killed them. She had a conflicting feeling for her Big Sis, labeling him a Liar when everything was out of his control, to begin with.
Nevertheless, she wants to help Subaru. The one who saved her, her grandpa Rom, and Emilia from that fateful day at the loot house. And from there, she met Reinhard and her life turned upside down. She'll make him take responsibility for this. She'll keep him safe and no one will use or hurt him, with the Sword Saint with them. He's too kind and good for them, even from his camp.
Felt made up her mind. Once that damn clown was arrested, she initially thought of combining her camp with Emilia's. But after what she had seen, she decided to take only Subaru instead, now when she thought about it, most of them succeeded or tried to hurt him, one way and another.
With that in mind, she turns her attention to her knight. "Poor Reinhard, he must be so confused and angry right now.". She thought as she observed the red-haired knight clinging to his grandfather.
Huh, what a weird way to reconcile a lifetime of resentment and regret.
Reinhard kept on crying at his grandfather's shoulder. If it was in a normal case, he would not fathom doing this, as he blames himself for his own grandmother's death; being a "monster" he is. A curse that broke his family: his mother in a coma, a father a drunkard and spiteful, and his grandfather who hated him immensely. He won't even dare to look him in the eye, as he blames everything that happened to the Astrea name. He was no hero, and yet everyone celebrated him as one.
No, the true hero was the one he met at the alleyway. A boy with weird clothing, mean yet kind eyes, and a heart of gold. Subaru Natsuki smiled and thanked him, a MONSTER, for saving him and treat him not as the Sword Saint, but as Reinhard Van Astrea. He even told him that he's his FRIEND.
Reinhard never felt so much happiness in his life that someone made him feel like a normal human being. Sure, he was also friends with Julius and Felix, but something about Subaru made him feel relaxed and for once, be himself. He wished that he can hang out with them, but because of the trauma he experienced, has was socially inept.
So imagine his utter shock and despair as he sees his friend being killed, stabbed, betrayed, mauled, frozen, tortured, sliced, possessed, cursed, and eaten alive as his journeys unfold to them. He was mad in himself, as another sin was added to him for not protecting his friend. After the initial screening, he vowed to himself to never again be unavailable and help Subaru Natsuki, defending and killing those who hurt him.
And then, the next set of previews happened.
Reinhard's eyes cannot look away from the screen. He was so shellshock that Subaru was forgotten by any of them. How can he forget his dear friend? As he watches his counterpart doing nothing to save or even defend the boy, his bottled-up emotions almost filled to the brim, he wished that nothing worse would happen to him.
Well, reality had other plans.
The bottle exploded when he saw his friends instigated and torture the one he wanted to befriend. As Subaru's screams and cries of help echoed within him, Reinhard finally cried his heart out.
Why?
Why must you suffer?
Why must you, the hero, be betrayed by the ones you called friends? While he, a monster was free from judgment and roam blissfully? Why must Subaru Natsuki suffer despite saving everyone, encouraging them with a smile, and lifting their hearts while his very own was broken into a million pieces? Those kind eyes that soften even the hardest of hearts turn hollow and empty. The smile that lifts the spirits of his friends became a broken one, finally relieved that his end has finally come. Why must the hero constantly suffer and be punished while the MONSTER is free from all and was permitted to roam and be praised instead?
Reinhard's tears wouldn't stop flowing, a first-time experience for him, as his emotions went haywire, so much so that Wilhelm instinctively hugged him and tried to console him as much as he can. At first, it was so awkward that both initially frozen until the red-haired knight tightly hugged his grandfather, squeezing him without crushing him.
As he was almost finish crying, he looked up at the screen seeing Subaru's corpse dangling at the gallows. That moment scarred him, even though he knows that future may or may not happened, he won't ever let it happened if he can help it, a terrifying thought came to him:
How will he know that it will NEVER be going to happen when HE is ALWAYS never around Subaru? How can he be so sure that these events will never occur when he is away from the Emilia camp, serving his lady?
As he was pondering on these thoughts he didn't notice the continuation of the said "future". When he looked up, it was in the exact moment when Subaru tearfully said farewell to Lugunica.
This shook him so much to his core. His friend, leaving him? When he didn't even repay him for the things he had given to him: a friendship, his destiny as a knight for a royal candidate, avenging his grandmother and at the same time giving closure to his grandfather, and saving many lives, even if it wasn't his responsibility at the first place?
Reinhard shudders at the thought of Subaru leaving so much that he inadvertently shook while having hollow eyes, getting Wilhelm's attention. The old butler consoles his grandson by rubbing circles at his back with a frown expression on his face.
Al and Priscilla had the same feeling within them after watching everything: wrath. The one-armed knight was furious that his "bro from the same world" didn't just fucking leave and lived his life free from suffering. He admits that there are some good points of being a hero, but as soon as he thought of that, the next series of events proved him otherwise. Why does this world want to screw him over?
This would have never happened to him if he had just run away from the Kingdom. Al was gritting his teeth thinking about the suffering and pain Subaru had to endure just because he stayed. Truly, it would be easy and painless if he had any pride and common sense to run away from the pain.
On the other hand, Priscilla was fanning herself furiously while glaring at Emilia and Crusch arguing. Her stare, one that metaphorically set anyone on fire, turned to the sleeping black-haired boy. Though she didn't hold any feelings of affection to the commoner, she was frustrated and pissed to see hard work, sacrifice, and dedication has gone to waste.
All these plebeians wasted someone's loyalty and service by killing him over and over like a pig. It even pissed her more seeing the fool playing the martyr, enduring it all, and continues to walk the thorny path.
She'll admit, his "kind heart" has a certain charm in him and his personality entertains him like her jester. But she has to teach him about having pride in himself and let others trample him over. His self-deprecating thoughts and self-harm disgusted her for someone who had great achievements. It even disgusts her that his so-called "friends" are the reason for the aforementioned thoughts and actions.
As she saw that the argument was reaching its peak, she clicked her tongue and closed her fan.
"Silence! Stop this useless babble at once. As the world revolves around me as I will it, that boy will be serving under me. There is no point for this useless chatter" Priscilla ordered as she points her fan to both Crusch and Emilia.
Felt's ears rang as soon as she heard what the orange-haired matriarch said. She glared at her with her red eyes and yelled "What makes you so sure that Big bro will go with you?! You must be so arrogant to think that I'll let you get away with that!"
As Felt and Priscilla stared at each other down, Anastasia interferes with them. "As much as I disagree with Priscilla, you aren't much of an optimal choice as well Felt-chan. What even did you done for him after he saved you? Kicked him at the royal selection?" she mused as she points the time at the Royal Selection, where most of them met the mysterious black-haired butler who made a fool of himself.
"Well, at less I won't use him as a tool! And I think you may had forget, but your KNIGHT will hurt him no matter what." Felt countered as she points at Anastasia. A merchant who wants her brother for his creative ideas while a snobbish princess who wants him for "entertainment", she was damned if she'll allow it
Julius broke out of his sorrowful trance, as he slowly removes his hands, showing bloodshot eyes, unfitting from the elegant knight, and stood up to defend his lady. " I must admit, I have lack in virtue and many more, but over my title as the "Knight of knights" I won't allow anyone defile Lady Anastasia's name. As for Subaru.." he paused as memories of his suffering filled up his mind before continuing "I won't ever allow THAT to happened to him, even if it kills me."
"Of course, we'll not let that allow that to happened, but my dearest apologies Julius, but it's best that Subaru would be with our camp." Surprising everyone, Reinhard spoke as he tries his best to smile and compose himself, backing Felt. She felt so proud that finally her knight is being greedy and wants to have her Big bro with them.
"Ha, the Sword Saint backing the gutter rat? What a shame, such disgusting sight irks me to no end. As I already proclaimed to you mongrels, that "boy" will be mine. Mineself had already decreed it, as such time will tell." Priscilla declared with her head held high. Al just sighs at the display but held his ground to defend the royal candidate, thinking about how many times does he have to rewind to emerge victorious if a fight ensues.
"You're head must be VERY high above the clouds, Princess." Crusch jeered as she finally composed and relaxed from the sudden outburst of the Vollachian. "Anastasia" she turns her attention to the lavender-haired merchant. "You may have forgotten that my camp and his are under an alliance. If someone had to help him, it would be our camp." She declared with her confidence regained. "I won't any harm befall from him and be extorted from the likes of you."
Anastasia burst to laugh at this, as well as Priscilla, which surprised a few of them. After she calmed down, she explained "That's the funniest thing I have heard. In case you also forgot Crusch, Felix instigated Natsuki-san torture. The way I see it, he was having fun doing it, in the honor of your name nevertheless" she then looked at the healer, who was still kneeling in front of Subaru."Maybe even now, he's brainwashing him to join to your camp." she ended with a mischievous mile, trying to ticked the duchess.
As Felix heard this, he jumped away from Subaru, crawling as far as he can from the sleeping knight. He was so agitated that he didn't realize that he was already hitting the wall behind him, bumping his head a few times. Wilhelm immediately ran to him to prevent an injury. Felix then cradles himself, with his arms around his knees, still in a trance.
As Crusch was about to respond, the temperature of the theater slowly dropped. Emilia's hair was swaying in the air as the floor under her started to froze. Crusch immediately backed away, as well as the others at the front row. The half-elf emitted such a magical aura that most thought she'll blast a few icicles towards them.
Emilia then calms herself down and took a deep breath, but didn't waver her determined facade towards them. "As much as I am truly grateful and appreciate the concerns you showered towards MY knight, but I'll assure you that we'll do our better than best to help him and pull from the darkness from him,", she said with a small smile in her face, remembering the times Subaru saved her from death and despair with a big grin on his face, showering her with affection and care. Now, she'll try her best to do the same to him.
As soon as the other camp members heard her, it gains a bit of life back to them and rose as well with their lady.
"Yeah, capt'n is or's." Garfiel roared with a toothy grin on his face. "He may be 's awesome 's myself, even better, but he's 's stupid not to see how great he is." He added with a bit of sadness, vowing to protect him and his lady and not let his efforts go to waste.
"With all due respect to all of you royal candidates-sama, but Natsuki-san is still a member of the Emilia camp, as such, as the Head of Internal Affairs, we'll do on what we can to resolve internal issues within our camp." Otto continued while bowing down with his hat on his chest.
"My hero will be always be awesome and great. And we'll be there to let him see it as well." Rem finished with a determined look while putting her hand on her heart. Ram slowly smiled at this, happy that her little sister is okay and resolved, for now at least.
"Damnit Barusu, look what you did to my sweet sister. Please wake up now." she whispered to herself, not noticing Roswaal heard her and gently put his hand on her shoulder. She was initially surprised but slightly blushed and appreciated the gesture.
"Confident for you to say that, considering that your camp are the big reason of his suffering." Anastasia remarked with venomed laced on it.
"An insolent group of murderers and traitors led by a gullible half-wit and sponsored by a rash, eccentric and suspicious lord." Priscilla pointed out, ignoring the deathly glares.
Felt and Crusch were both stumped. On one hand, despite their desires to take Subaru from them and protect him in their way, they know that he'll blatantly choose Emilia no matter what. On the other hand, they agree and can't refute what the merchant and princess said.
" And I have had it for your own stupidity for letting the poor boy getting killed again and again and not give him SOMETHING or ANYTHING to repay him. Just because he loves you does not mean you can be so ignorant for the trouble and pain that he endured for you and your camp." Anastasia blasted off even further while Ricardo and Julius are holding both of her shoulders trying to calm her down.
Even though she's speaking in hindsight, Emilia equally took the insults as a slap on her face, apart from the MANY things she has to repay and make up to "the one she loves" once he wakes up. But at the same time, she was terrified when he knows that they have seen it all.
Would he love her no more and left them for being so incompetent?
Would he be angry and choose the other camps, those that are more competent and show more love to him?
As her thoughts piled up while aching her heart, a small hand took hers and gripped it slowly. Surprised, she looked and saw Beatrice staring at her, with her butterfly eyes drawing to her amethyst. "Don't fret, in fact. Betty's Subaru doesn't want his Emilia-tan to worry but smile to the future ahead, I suppose." the Great Spirit consoled the half-elf with a small smile on her face. "Besides, you're not the only one that needs to apologize to him,in fact."
Comforted by this, Emilia was about to rebut Anastasia's point when suddenly three claps echoed to the theater. All of the cast's attention shifted to the blank screen, as if by instinct.
"Sorry for the delay. I have some good news and bad news for all of you."
Author's note: Finally, I'm done. It's hard making this on a mobile phone. Hahahaha. Hi, this is my first own fic, please don't kill me at the comments section (can hear the sharpening of the pitchforks and torches at the distance). Again, I would like to thank Reactionist, NamesAura, Redeem, and LangstonHugeD for permitting me to write my own react spin to their story. Also, thanks to wodniiiiie (Parent and Friends) and TheGrimbler (A Broken Screen) for being my beta readers and helping me with the grammar. Please read all of the mentioned author's works, as they were my inspiration to make my own. Constructive criticism is well appreciated to make me improve on my writing. You can find me at the Re zero Fanfiction discord (janustempus) if you want to talk, beta-read or I'll help you. See you in the next chapter.