After the loop reset, the group convened as DJ told everything he found out when he confronted Roswall.

"So Roswall's behind all this? I knew there was something untrustworthy about him." Tanya said.

"He hired Elsa and Melli to kill everyone in the mansion, and he's got a copy of the tome of wisdom, like the one Beako's got." DJ said. "Meaning, he knows our every move before we can make it, and his hired helpers will know exactly how to respond once he gives the marching orders."

"And all of this is to break Subaru and mold him the way he wants so he can complete the trials in Emilia's place." Le Kraken said, Subaru in question was missing from the meeting, as he was using his tentacles to hold Kazuma back, as he desperately tried to break free and run to find Subaru.

"Let me go! Let me go, dammit! I have to save him! Where is he?!" Kazuma demanded.

"Haa…Subaru went back to the ruins to try and speak with Echidna again." Theo said.

"No, we can't let him complete the trials, you said so yourselves!" Kazma said. "Let's go, right now! We gotta stop him! We gotta stop this madness! We gotta… I gotta…!"

"You've got to get a hold of yourself, Kazuma!" Aqua said. "You're driving yourself nuts trying to do things on your own!"

"Like you'd be any help!" Kazuma snapped at her. "Let…me…go!"

"Le Kraken, keep Sato coiled tight until he finally gets a grip on himself, if you would." Tanya said.

"But of course, Grande petite terreur." Le Kraken promised.

"So, what do we do now? Dogpile Roswaal? Knock him out and stuff him in a closet?" Ultra asked.

"No, that would get Ram turning on us." DJ said. "She's head over heels for clown man."

"...You're kidding." Nemo deadpanned.

"I wish I was." the former assassin shook his head.

"Guess she and Rem both have certain tastes in men." Ty said. "And anyway, attacking him head on won't do anything either way. Like you guys said, he'll just see anything and everything we do coming."

"What if we told him exactly how Return by Death works?" Viktoriya asked. "You said he's under the impression that Subaru can control it, right? If he finds out he doesn't, then-"

"Then he'd just keep killing him over and over until he gets what he wants." Tida said. "Besides, after our little run in with Miss Jealous Third Wheel, I'm not so sure we wanna run the risk of getting her attention, even if she's focused on Natsuki."

"We don't have many options, do we?" Grantz asked.

"This is what I'm saying! Theo, we gotta call Tempest, have them brute force this barrier down, then get everyone out of here and never come back to this stupid world!" Kazuma said. "Have somebody nuke it from orbit or something!"

"You don't mean that." Ethox said. "You're scared for your friend. We get it."

"But destroying a world is not the answer." Lycan said.

"We're adventurers. And we don't run away from challenges, especially when it involves one of our own." Theo stated.

"That's all well and good, but the question stands: what do we do?" Mirror Match said. "As long as Roswaal has that book, any plan we make will have countermeasures set up in place."

Ty then thought about it before he got an idea. "What if… we make a new plan? One big plan that's so complex with multiple paths towards the true ending that Rozzy can't keep up with even if he does use the tome?"

"A plan with multiple paths? That wouldn't work. The only thing that could trip him up would be if we did something that wasn't in his precious book like…getting Subaru's status in the trials revoked!" Theo said.

"His status in the trials being revoked?" Le Kraken repeated. "A fine plan, but the only one who could do such a thing would be Echidna."

"That's right. And what exactly is her title again?" Ty asked.

"The Witch of Greed…. The only reason she's allowing Subaru to take the trials is because once he's broken, she's aiming to get him to tell her everything he knows about Return by Death." Darkness realized.

"So if we expose Echidna's lies right in front of Subaru…!" Megumin started.

"He'll tell her jack squat!" Ethox finished. "That's a great plan! So…how do we do that?"

"Uh…well, we'll need to get inside her domain…which we can't do on our own…" Theo said, faltering a bit.

"...Oh yeah." Ethox remembered. "We'll have to wait for her to bring us in. If she does."

"...Tell us more about your 'nuke the place from orbit' idea." Aqua asked Kazuma.

"Look, it's not a big problem!" Ethox said. "We just have to find a way to get inside the Witches Domain so we can expose Echidna."

"Yeah right. Only way would be doing her dumb trial." Seiya said as a number of the adventurers looked at him.

"Seiya, you're a genius!" Michiru said. "One of us has to take the trial! That's how we'll get inside!"

"Are you guys crazy?! We'll never complete them, and we'll never come out the same, just look at what happened to Emilia last loop!" Kazuma said.

"She was lacking in proper emotional support. That's why she broke down." Tanya said. "On the other hand…if someone with a bit more mental fortitude took the trial, they would surely overcome it. If someone outside of this world completed one, Echidna wouldn't be able to resist the urge to know exactly how they felt, what they saw."

"Maybe someone who is…overpowered but way too cautious?" Naofumi asked.

Everyone then looked to Seiya again when the Shield Hero said that.

"Of course it had to be me. I'm the only one who wouldn't end up crying like a baby." Seiya scoffed.

"So you'll do it?" Ethox asked.

"Don't want to…but I guess I have to." Seiya sighed as he sat up. "Besides, if we don't help Snow Scalp get through this, we'll be stuck here forever. I'll miss my deadline to kill the Demon Lord."

"Just get through at least one trial. That should allow us to go in with you, and then we'll be able to catch Echidna like the greedy girl she is." Ethox said. "And… no matter what happens in there, we'll be there for you."

"Whatever." Seiya said as he stood up. "Normally, I'd need at least two weeks to prepare myself…but unfortunately, we're on a clock. I'll go in five hours."

"You'll go now!" the group yelled in unison.


Seiya and Michiru made their way to the Sanctuary, stepping through the door as they saw Subaru rolling on the ground passing in and out of consciousness.

"He must be going through the second trial right now." Michiru said.

"Must be takin' a lot outta him." Seiya said. "I still don't see why you had to come along, Ring-eyes."

"Because somebody had to go with you, and if something happened to you, Rista would definitely use an Order to help, which would get her in trouble." the Beastman said. "Anyway, you're going to have to be gentle-"

Seiya unceremoniously shoved Subaru to the side and sat down.

"That's the opposite of gentle!" Michiru yelled, before she winced in the boy's direction. "Sorry Subaru…"

"I'm perfectly prepared." Seiya said as he closed his eyes. "I am one hundred percent ready for this."

"I hope so…" Michiru said, as Seiya's first trial began…


Behold, an unbearable past…

Michiru then opened up her eyes and found herself in a different world entirely, at the foot of a grassy cliff.

"What the…what is this place?" Michiru said to herself.

"Does he ever listen to a single thing we tell him?!" the Beastman heard a girl yell, as she turned to see three people sitting, as if waiting for someone. The one who yelled was a girl who had shoulder-length dark brown hair that had a large pink bow tied in the back with bangs covering her forehead and purple eyes. "I can't deal with this!"

A young man in green with blonde hair laughed. "This is how he handles everything, isn't it?"

"Do you actually think this is funny, Colt?" the brunette asked, turning to the man named Colt.

"Relax, Tianna. I'm sure it'll all work out in the end. It always does, right?" said a woman in a blue and white dress with familiar red hair.

"Whose side are you on, Aria?" Tianna asked. "I just don't think we should encourage his reckless behavior."

"Try not to let it get under your skin." Aria giggled.

"Wait… Aria?" Michiru asked. "Hang on… that can't be who I think it is… and it is! That's Ariadoa! Rista always tells us about her in her spare time, how she's saved millions of Adventure Universe worlds. But why is this part of the trial? Seiya never-"

Michiru was cut off when she saw a younger looking Seiya appear, walking towards the group with self-confidence and a relaxed air she had never seen from him before.

"Alright guys, let's go wipe out the Chimera." Past Seiya said confidently.

"Hold on, Seiya, we're not ready. The Chimera's level is way higher than ours. We should probably take some more time to train." Tianna advised.

"We don't have time. Sooner we fight, sooner we win. Besides, I've got a strategy." Past Seiya said.

"Well could you please share it with the rest of us?" Tianna asked.

"Yeah. Let's do our best," Past Seiya said. "We're fine, relax."

"That's the dumbest thing I've ever heard, that is not a strategy!" Tianna said. "We need to be 100% ready to win, no matter what."

"It's gonna be okay. Everything will work out." Past Seiya assured.

"What?! We have to take this battle seriously!" Tianna said as the party headed out. "Wait, Seiya, where are you going, we're not ready! Seiya, I don't think this is a good idea!"

"Was that really Seiya? He never acted that brash and reckless the whole time I've known him! Even I wasn't that bad when we met! …Well, I was probably close." Michiru said. "Wait a minute… there's not a rule that says people can be summoned to two different worlds as a hero to each, right? So does that mean… Seiya was summoned here first?"

"So you get it. I'm so glad…" a voice next to Michiru said suddenly.

"WAH!" Michiru jumped back to see a girl next to her. She was a young girl with red eyes and pink hair, wearing a scarf and very baggy clothes. There was an air of meekness to her, one that made her seem adorable. "Don't sneak up on me like that! I feel like my heart stopped for a second! Wait, who the heck even are you?"

"Ah, I'm sorry! My name is Carmilla. I'm the Witch of Lust." she said. "I'm here because I heard there was someone else taking the trials. I just finished helping Subaru Natsuki, and Echidna told me to provide comfort and affection, so…I came here. Please don't be angry…" she shied away.

"You're a witch? I-I'm sorry, I shouldn't've jumped like that…. Wait, Subaru's already done with his trial?" Michiru asked, trying to ignore how adorable she found the newcomer.

"He's back in Echidna's domain watching Seiya's first trial right now. Your other friends are there too…likely because Seiya began his trial. I think…" Carmilla said.

"O-Oh, okay." Michiru said as she felt even more embarrassed looking at the Witch. "(This is probably her Authority acting up. I don't actually think she's cute, she's just making me feel that way.)"

"W-Well… is it surprising to see Seiya act like that?" Carmilla asked.

"No kidding. I always knew him from the first time I met the Fakebreakers as a really, really cautious person. He always carried at least five swords and 500 MP replenishing potions on him at all times. He's really crazy about it." Michiru explained.

"W-Well…I guess he wasn't like that before." Carmilla said.

"Yeah. What happened?" Michiru wondered aloud as the scene began to change.


From there, Mirchiru and Carmilla together witnessed Seiya and his party's countless battles, working their way up to the Demon Lord. With each and every one, Seiya would always rush in without thinking, and get himself seriously hurt. And Tianna would be right there to heal him and always scold him for acting recklessly. Over time, Michru watched as he and Tiana grew closer, falling in love, and…

"Whoa! Okay, don't need to see that!"

"Ugh…I hate things like that…"

Eventually, the two girls watched as Seiya's group made it to the Demon Lord's castle.

They watched as Seiya's party barely scraped by and defeated the Demon Lord as Seiya landed the final blow, bisecting the frog-like-demon.

"Way to go!" Colt called as Tiana caught Seiya as he fell over.

"And just in the nick of time!" Aira smiled.

"Is he dead?" Tiana asked.

"The Demon Lord's HP reached zero! It's over!" the Goddess of the Seal smiled.

"Thank goodness…" Tiana sighed in relief.

"You see? It's gonna be okay. I told you." Past Seiya said with a thumbs up.

"I know you said that, but you didn't have to take things down to the wire." Tiana chided the hero.

"That was close… my MP's at zero." Colt said.

"For real," Aria said. "I'm a goddess and I almost died."

The group began to laugh, happy their quest was over…

(Cue: The Beginning of the End- Bayonetta 3)

…until Colt was stabbed through by the Demon Lord's tongue, allowing the monster to eat him as the group were stunned in shock and horror as the Demon Lord healed all his wounds.

"It's still alive?!" Michiru asked in shock.

"Impossible! He was dead just a second ago!" Aria said.

The Demon Lord laughed as he leapt towards the group, grabbing Ariadoa. "Foolish heroes! Didn't you know that I, Demon Lord Ultimaeus, possess the Unique Skill Extra Lives? Take one, and I shall return to have my vengeance!" the Demon Lord declared.

"That's why Seiya double kills everything…" Michiru said. "Now I know the reason why he's so cautious… it's because… because…!"

"Y-Yes…" Carmilla nodded, close to tears as Ultimaeus consumed Ariadoa. "It's because the Demon Lord of this world, before Seiya's very eyes, killed his whole party…and someone else."

"Someone else…?" Michiru asked aloud as Ultimaeus turned his attention to Tiana as Seiya could do nothing to save her, having taken too much damage.

"I think you'll make a tasty little snack, girl!" Ultimates laughed as he held the girl in his grasp.

"Stop! Please, just let her go….!" Past Seiya called before he collapsed onto the ground. "No, please…"

"Seiya…" Tiana cried in sadness and despair.

"Hmm? What's this?" the Demon Lord asked as he held Tiana up by his fingers. "Oh? I sense a new life within this girl's belly."

Everyone present was left in shock over this statement. A shock that gave way to horror as Ultimaues got a wicked grin on his face.

"That's your seed growing inside her, isn't it?" the Demon Lord asked, as he raised a claw to Tiana's stomach. " I think I'll have her for one last appetizer before the main course. This Mother and child will be the perfect sacrifice to usher in the new world!"

"Please, no! Stop… I beg you! Don't do this….!" Past Seiya pleaded with tears as he reached out towards Tiana. "NOOOOOOO!"

But there was nothing he could do. There was nothing anyone could do. In one instant, one quick slash…two lives were snuffed out.


Michiru and Carmilla found themselves in a black void, facing Seiya, who was on his knees, facing away from them.

"Seiya?" Michiru asked as she approached the Cautious Hero, reaching a hand to place on his shoulder. "...Seiya?"

The boy turned around, to reveal a sight she never would have believed if she hadn't seen it with her own two eyes:

Seiya Ryuuguuin. Crying.

"Ring-eyes…I lost them." Seiya said, choked up. "I lost Tiana. I lost our child…our Kiriko. I…I'm not okay."

"Seiya, I…I'm so sorry…" Michiru backed up as Seiya looked away. "He was so prepared for anything, but he wasn't prepared to relive that. What am I supposed to do to help him?"

"Um…C-Could you let me, then?" Carmilla offered.

"Sure. knock yourself out." Michiru said.

Carmilla then stepped forward, before she suddenly shifted like static and shapeshifted into…Tiana.

"Seiya?" Carmilla asked in Tiana's form, even adopting her voice.

"Tiana…?" Seiya asked, turning to Carmilla and seeing her in Tiana's form. "I…I'm so sorry. I should've listened to you. It's all my fault…"

"It's okay. I'm at fault too. I should have pushed you more." Carmilla said as she knelt down and hugged Seiya. "But in a way, I'm glad it happened, because…it gave both of us a chance to grow."

"Tiana…" Seiya croaked out as he held her tightly.

"I can't say it will be easy now that you remember." Carmilla said. "But I know you'll be fine. You are my hero. You know what to do."

"...Properties." Seiya whispered, allowing a screen to open that (most likely because of the nature of this place, everyone could see) read:

"Be careful. Be cautious. Be overly cautious. You may find yourself alienated or hated, but you have to endure it all. This time, for sure, you'll prove that you can save your friends, your loved ones, and the entire world."

"...I know what to do." Seiya said. "I am perfectly prepared. I…am gonna be okay." he said.

Michiru smiled as she watched Carmilla let go of Seiya and stand back up, shifting back to her regular appearance.

"I-I'm sorry I used her form!" Carmilla apologized. "P-Please don't be angry!"

"Ah, it's okay… I had a feeling it wasn't really Tiana talking in the first place." Seiya said, back to normal, nearly. "But… thanks. For telling me what I needed to hear. Of course, if you try that again, I'll hit you with a fire spell on instinct."

"E-Eep!" Carmilla squealed, pulling her scarf up to cover her face.

"There's the Seiya I know!" Michiru jumped, hugging the Cautious Hero in relief.

"Oh my. What an interesting outcome."

The two soon found themselves in Echidna's domain, with everyone else already there.

"Seiya, Michiru!" Ethox said as he ran up and hugged them.

"Guys! You won't believe this! Seiya's a veteran hero, he's been summoned before! Ariadoa called him to another Adventure Universe world, he was so reckless, and-" Michiru explained.

"We know. We saw the whole thing." DJ interrupted her.

"And you're not the only one with a bombshell to drop." Nemo said, pointing behind him to Rista, crying as she knelt on the ground. "Hey, Seiya! We found your wife!"

"...No way." Michiru said. "There's no way!"

"Yes way!" Ethox said. "I remember Ishtar said that memories can come back to gods sometimes. Seeing all that…it caused Rista to remember that she was Tiana!"

"Quite the bittersweet reunion, I must say." Echidna said with a relaxed smile, unfazed by everything happening. "To think you would put yourself through that, just to get to me…I must say, I'm rather embarrassed."

"In a way, I'm glad we did. Now we know why Seiya was so cautious this whole time. He really did care about us, and the only way he thought to protect us was if he was overly cautious and overpowered right from the start. But.. why did you change to be that way, buddy?" Ethox asked.

"I guess… I never forgot what happened, deep down." Seiya said.

"When a person is summoned to another world as a hero to defeat a Demon Lord in the Adventure Universe by a god or goddess, be it success or failure, that experience imprints onto their soul." Echidna said, as if from memory. "The trauma of losing his otherworldly wife and child, mixed with the guilt, fundamentally changed him as a person. I wonder…did anyone notice how you'd changed back in Japan? Or did they stop caring when you began to push them away?"

"Wow, you are very inquisitive." Ethox said.

"I can't help it…that story you just showed me… I want to know it all, experience it all." Echidna said. "That is why I need a contract with Subaru."

"A contract?!" Theo said. "You're trying to force him into a spirit contract?!"

"Spirit contract?" Ethox asked.

"It would mean Echidna and Subaru would be bonded. However, depending on the price…it can just as easily be harmful to Subaru." Theo said.

"And knowing how much he's been through over these last few loops… he's more than likely to take it." Goblin Slayer said.

"He wouldn't dare!" a voice called out a crashing before them was Minvera. "Don't you dare be such a fool!"

"Minerva?" Ty asked, everyone surprised by her sudden appearance. But it wasn't just her there.

"Well…the boy isn't wrong but…" Carmilla said appearing next. "There are some things…Echidna isn't sharing."

"Carmilla's right, Subaru, don't take this! She just wants to know about Return by Death, and you're the only connection to it she's got!" Michiru said.

"Wow…a stupid raccoon. Sigh. You all really just blather anything about stuff you don't get." said a woman lying on the ground dressed in purple and black and having dark skin.

"Another one?" Theo said.

"The Witch of Sloth, Sekmet." Ivy said.

"This is just going to be one of those things where it begins with In the End. Sigh." Sekmet said.

"Oh wow…you all are here too." Typhon said appearing next.

"Oh this is amazing. It's been so long since we had a tea party. I hope I was invited." Daphne said coming next.

"Whoa, Wrath, Pride, Sloth, Greed, Gluttony, Lust… almost every one of the Seven Witches of Sin is here." Ethox said.

"In the end…Echidna…you told me before everyone arrived that you would guide me to the best possible future." Subaru said.

"Of course." Echidna said.

"And to get to that future, would I get there too without anything bad happening?" Subaru asked as Echidna just stood there in silence with her never changing smile. "Answer me, Echidna! I know you heard me!"

"In order to obtain it, certain sacrifices have to be made along the way. You made the same resolution yourself. You do remember, yes?" Echidna said.

"Wait, wait, wait!" Subaru said.

"You have no idea how useful your Return By Death authority is. With it, you can reset the world as much as you wish to reach the future you covet. It's the ultimate ideal any secret could possibly wish for. Of course I would never force you to return by death. You'll continue to use it to achieve the result that you crave and I'll lend my support by giving you the knowledge you need to fulfill your wish. All of the results have come about in the process of getting additional chances will contribute vastly to the satisfaction of my curiosity. We'll agonize and struggle to solve the same problems together. As I say, you will use me and I will use you. A contract of equality as work together towards the same future. This is to satisfy my own greed but you will save everyone you care about. That's why I need you to use me for all the greed I have. That is everything. All of the passion in my heart. It's a vow of love. Now what is your answer…after all…that is one of the replies that will satisfy my curiosity." Echidna said.

It was at this moment, Subaru understood one thing. Echidna was absolutely, unmistakably, a sociopath. Everyone looked at him, and knew he was at his limits. He was about to say exactly what he thought…

But Kazuma beat him to it, by charging Echidna and punching her in the face! Everyone was left in shock at what he'd just done.

"Kazuma…you do realize who you just punched, right?" Ivy asked.

"Yep." Kazuma said, without a hint of shame in his voice.

"You do realize she could kill and or torture you in various ways?" Ivy aid.

"Uh-huh." Kazuma said.

"Then…why the hell did you do that?!" Ivy called out.

"Two reasons. One, I am a believer in true gender equality." Kazuma started.

"Sato, I swear to god…" Tanya growled.

"Second…it's the only way she's going to focus on what I say next." Kazuma said before he turned to the prone Witch of Greed. "Listen up! I knew from the moment I met you that you were bad news. That you wanted to use Subaru. And I'm pretty sure you were planning to make that same offer to a few of us, right?"

"That…was my intention, yes." Echidna confirmed.

"Yeah, thought so." Kazuma said. "I figured you were bad news. And you know what? I was right…and wrong."

"Where is he going with this?" Filo asked.

"I have no idea." Theo said.

"You wanna know everything about us? Well, here's the main point you gotta know about me: I am a total asshole! I cheat, I mess with my party members, I can be a pretty big perv, and I am a coward! I'm the kind of guy who'd prefer to live as a shut in once I finally make enough money to do so!"

"So you admit you're a pervert!" Megumin said.

"Not the time!" Kazuma said before he continued. "So, ask yourself: if I'm such a big coward…then why the hell am I still here?!"

"I've already figured you out." Echidna said. "You want to atone for your failures. You think saving Subaru will make up for your absence when Eikichi died."

"Bingo! That's part of me too!" Kazuma said. "I know I've got parts of me that shouldn't fit together, and yet they do! So…how about you?"

"...I beg your pardon?" Echidna asked, as everyone started to look interested.

"You claim you want to use Subaru, and that you want him to use you…but you're not going to force him to make a contract with you. Or maybe you could…but you won't." Kazuma said. "And on the subject of contracts, let's talk about Beako!"

"What about Beako?" DJ asked.

"I think he's referring to the fact that Beako's been ordered to follow Echidna's instructions." Subaru said.

"I think you're mistaken. I never gave her an order. I only told her to guard the sacred library until 'that person' would come to relieve her." Echidna said.

"And that's the thing, isn't it?" Kazuma said. "'That person…it's no one in particular, isn't it? You couldn't determine who that person is…because it was Beako's choice to make. You just didn't tell her that part."

"Hmm…it seems that for a perverted little maniac, you actually do have a brain." Echidna smiled.

"Oh, I'm just getting started." Kazuma said. "That was a jerk move, and you know it. So why did you call her your daughter? If she's just an experiment to you, why did you use that word, of all words, to describe her?"

"Well, that's…" Echidna started, before she stopped, looking perplexed. "...that's…I don't know…?"

"You know what I think?" Kazuma said, looking more and more confident. "You've spent so much time learning about everything, you forgot to learn about yourself! Do you even remember why you want to learn everything?!"

This declaration made Echidna's eyes widen in shock.

"Kazuma's right. Hundreds of years cooped up in this place, and you might've forgotten who you are, who you used to be." Ethox said.

"You act like you're a sociopath, like you're in control of everything, but you really care about Subaru, Beako, and other people you've considered to be test subjects, don't you? You just buried those feelings under the drive to know crap for one reason or another! You don't know jack squat about yourself! I mean, I'm just some otaku from Japan, and I know myself enough to know both sides of myself! So what does that say about you!?"

Echidna was silent in shock, as was everyone else.

"...Yeah, that's what I thought." Kazuma huffed.

"Uh…it was a good speech, but that's not why we're silent, dude…" DJ said as a shadow fell over the area.

"...Oh, you gotta be kidding me…" Kazuma said, looking at the shadowing figure approaching.

"Hey, it's Tella! Long time no see!" Typhon waved.

"Aw, no! Who invited her?!" Aqua asked in fear.

Everyone prepared to fight, but Ty stopped them.

"Wait, guys, stop!" Ty said. "Lets not get hasty here, we don't need be scared!"

"We SHOULD be! Satella's gonna murder us all!" Rista argued.

"What the hell is your problem? What is it you want from me anyway?" Subaru asked in fear.

"For so long…I've been deeply in love with you. Nobody else."

"Don't say that…"

"I love you."

"Stop this…"

"I've loved only you, for such a long time."

"I said STOP, dammit!" Subaru yelled. "You're insane! I've had it with everyone here! I don't need help, I'll figure it out on my own! Just leave me alone!"

"So you'll just keep on dying over and over and make everyone cry, is that it?" Minerva spoke up. "As long as you're the one who suffers the most, then it doesn't matter what others feel."

"Minerva's right, Subaru! We're not gonna let you kill yourself over and over! Don't you realize how it'll make everyone else feel?!" Ethox said.

"If everyone here cares so much, then why did I get this curse?!" Subaru asked. "Who else would make these choices?! Who else would do the things I've done?! Why would she!" Subaru said, pointing at Satella, "have given me Return by Death if she-!"

"You're hurt." Satella said, causing Subaru to stop in his tracks. "Please don't be hurt now. And please don't suffer. You mustn't look so sad."

The group looked rather confused at that statement, all except Subaru, who looked even more upset.

"You have the nerve…to say…" Subaru whispered.

"Please don't hurt. Love yourself more." Satella said.

"Are you…that desperate to make me love you?!" Subaru demanded. "What the hell are you saying?!"

Everyone was then overwhelmed by Subaru's massive burst of despair.

"Don't be hurt. Don't grieve. Love yourself like others love you." Satella said.

"You're the one who gave me Return by Death!" Subaru yelled. "If I lose this power because I love myself, then I'll have nothing left to give! I've only got my own life, there's nothing else I can use! As long as I do what I can and get hurt more than others, I know that nobody else has to suffer! Who cares what happens to a loser like me?! As long as everyone else can make it to the future, then…then…!"

"Subaru…"

"...Who am I kidding?" Subaru said, as he started to cry. "If I'd been a little stronger…if I'd put myself on the front lines without worrying about myself…then maybe I could've done something! I could've stopped Rem from becoming a doll! I could've stopped all the tragedies we've seen! I could've…I could've been at the damn warehouse too! I…I don't want to lose anyone else…like we lost Eikichi!"

Kazuma was shocked at Subaru's statement. "(He…he felt that way too…)"

Subaru looked at everyone. "Somebody, ANYBODY! Kill me so I can finally end this nightmare! Dying is all I can do… to help us get out of this!" he wailed.

"...No." Ethox said. "Everyone is going to survive this loop. Including you."

Satella then walked over to Subaru and knelt down to face him. "They all love you so much."

"Please…stop…"

"I love you so much, because you gave me everything." Satella said, holding her arms out. "That's why-"

"YAMERO!"

Subaru yelled this at the top of his lungs, shocking everyone to silence.

"Baru…?" Typhon asked as she drew closer to him, before she saw blood running from his mouth.

"Son of a…he bit his tongue!" DJ said as Subaru fell over.

"He's trying to reset the loop himself! What is he thinking?!" Tida demanded to know.

"How can he keep killing himself like this? Nobody can keep doing this repeatedly, unless…" Ty said. "...He's not afraid to die."

"Ty, are you saying that Subaru's…?" Lily asked.

"He's lost his will to live." Tanya said. "If he could kill himself permanently, if he thought that would save everyone…he would do so without hesitation. He's fighting a one-man war…and it seems he's lost."

"You…complete MORON!" Minerva yelled as she moved to punch Subaru, only for Typhon to get in the way and cause her arm to crumble. "Get out of the way, Typhon!"

"Baru made his own choice, okay?! You stay out of the way, Nerva!" the little girl countered.

"No, Typhon! We can't let him keep hurting himself like this!" Michiru said.

"But why would you all want to save the boy? He's made it clear that's not what he wants." Sekmet sighed.

"Because he's our friend! And right now, he's the one that needs help!" Ethox said.

"Why don't you realize…?" Satella asked, standing over the dying boy. "You should be included among those who need to be saved. It should be obvious!"

"He still has a place in this world, this multiverse! Theo! You wouldn't have invited him to be a part of the guild if you knew you could've helped him, right?" Ty asked. "It wasn't just because he was one of the 10 Isekai. You wanted to help him cherish his own life, right?"

"...Just think back, Subaru." Theo said. "Think about what you've done. Is dying…really the answer?"

"I'm guessing that the second trial was seeing how you see the pasts when you died. A lot of people…they definitely cared about you." Michiru said. "You think we don't care if you die? Don't lie to yourself like that!"

"Think about David, too. When you went missing, he was one of the first ones that searched for you!" Ty said. "Your parents were worried sick when you got sent here too, they're the ones who told him! Kazuma obviously cares the heck out for you, and so do we! Heck… once Rem gets back to normal, is it really the best idea to kick it now and she finds out you broke her heart by quitting?! And what about Emilia, too? Who's gonna look after her and give her support if you're not there?!"

Subaru then thought about everyone. David, his parents, Rem, everyone. He teared up as he thought back to happier days. A time where he saw himself with Kazuma, David and Eikichi as they laughed together.

"It's working! He's second guessing himself!" Ristarte said.

"Typhon, give me my arm back, right now!" Minerva demanded.

"But this is his…" Typhon said before she was pinned down by Daphne. "But why are…"

"They all made some pretty big boasts to me. I kinda wanna see them follow through." Daphne said.

Ty grabbed Minerva's missing arm. "Minerva, catch!" he said, throwing it to the Witch of Wrath as she caught it and punched it back on herself. "Now get us our buddy back!"

"I…I don't want to die!" Subaru thought.

"See?! That's how you truly feel!" Minerva said, before she grabbed Subaru…and headbutted him, hearts flying out as he fell, flat on his back, to the ground.

"Buddy!" Kazuma exclaimed as he ran to Subaru's side. "Talk to me, dude! Say something!"

"...I didn't…see any worth in my life at all." Suabaru said, his voice cracked. "All I could do…was die and come back. I forgot…that the people I cared about…also cared for me. How was I such an idiot?"

"...I'll allow it." Satella spoke up. "You were the one to save me. It seemed only fair…to offer you the same opportunity. My wish…is for you to know salvation. To find happiness in those who cherish you."

"Man, where were you two loops ago?" Nemo chuckled, a flash of understanding coming across Ethox's face at that statement.

"Phew…that was too close. Thanks for the help, girls." Grantz said.

"Y'know, I think Ethox was right. The seven of you? You aren't evil. Sure you did some things in the past, but… you were only living your lives. Doing the things you wanted to do. And people misunderstood you for them. Named you witches." Ty said. "But in the end… you're just seven girls with extraordinary powers who wanted to make a difference."

"Wha-what?! Ty, what are you saying?!" Ivy said. "They're the Witches of Sin! They've caused damage and tragedy for a long time."

"Oh yeah? Well, they just saved our friend!" Ethox said before he smiled. "These girls…are really cool!"

"They're not! I'll prove it by telling you what they've done." Ivy said. "Typhon has conducted millions of massacres as judge, jury and executioner, even when they only feel a little guilty when they weren't."

"Yeah, but back then she was only a little girl. She didn't know how to make sense of good or evil." Ty said. "She's just misguided on how to judge people properly, and needs people to help her see if people are really guilty, or if they're innocent."

"B-But what about Minerva?! Her body count is second highest to Satella's! How can you explain that away?!" Ivy said.

"That's because her Authority doesn't have a proper conduit, genius." Seiya said.

"Her healing powers are awesome, but she can't exactly control where the damage goes. I think all those "murders" she committed were accidents, brought on by random people taking the damage she beat away." Ty said.

"Carmilla was the catalyst for an entire country to fall, all because of people falling for her and her rejection. They fall so deep in love that they forget to breathe." Ivy said. "Then there's Daphne. Don't forget she created the Mabeasts that plague the world today."

"Carmilla doesn't want to be loved." Michiru said. "In fact, I think she hates being adored. She never wanted anybody to fight over her, it was everyone else's fault for falling for her."

"And remember what Daphne said the first time we came here? All things need to eat. Daphne probably created Mabeasts in the first place because… well, she was hungry, and needed something to eat." Ty said.

"They're right, you know. When I was made by a certain man, I was starving after I woke up one day. I never wanted to cause destruction with all the animals I made… I just wanted to eat and survive." Daphne said. "I mean, I didn't care…but I think I'm starting too." she added, looking at Ethox as she said that.

"B-But Shekmet…she didn't do much except for snapping the necks of a few men and killing off the Giant Clan." Ivy said.

"Because she didn't know what emotions were like." Ethox said. "I can relate to her, I deal with them all the time, and I still can't understand the deeper context."

"And then we come to Satella and Echidna. Can you really say they're evil too?" Ty asked.

"Satella destroyed half the world. While Echidna isn't exactly evil, she is incredibly selfish and will do anything to achieve her goals, even sacrifice others." Ivy said.

"Oh yes. I would do so in a heartbeat." Echidna said. "But… that was before Kazuma Sato's speech. He's…he's given me much to think about."

"And as for Satella…I think I have her figured out." Ethox said as he turned to the girl. "Satella…you're not the Witch of Envy, are you? You just happen to share a body with her."

"Ethox, what are you on about-?" Ivy asked.

"Dissociative Identity Disorder." Ultra realized, causing everyone to turn his way. "Doctor Revive told me about it once. He said sometimes, whenever one of his patients had gone through a particularly nasty death, when he brought them back…the shock and trauma caused their mind to create a second personality within their brain. And that personality sometimes takes over whenever something happens, like a trigger. What we're seeing right in front of us, is the manifestation of…who I'm guessing Satella was before she got the Authority of Envy. She must've been unable to handle it so…her mind made someone who could. And that someone is the one who's crazy in love with Subaru."

"...Holy crap, that actually makes sense." Rista said.

"What do you think, Ivy?" Ty asked. "It does explain a lot."

"...I…don't really know a lot about psychology." Ivy admitted. "After we're done, we'll never return to the Sanctuary again after this."

"That's okay." Ethox said. "I think we've made a difference here. We're all friends…right?" the Nobody asked the witches.

(Cue: STYX HELIX - MYTH & ROID)

The seven girls were silent for a moment before Typhon spoke up. "All of you…I like you guys!" she giggled. "You all are good people!"

"Eh…not really. We just look after each other." Kazuma said.

Minerva was crying again as she looked at the group. "I can't believe you all are okay with befriending us! I'm so mad…I'll be your friend! I'll heal you every time you get hurt!"

Daphne approached Ethox and looked down at him, her mouth salivating. "It's so weird…when I look at you, I want to eat you. But I also don't want you to go…I want to keep eating you forever. All your feelings, all your thoughts…I want to savor them."

"Uh, guys…? It feels like Daph wants to eat me." Ethox admitted.

"I…don't think that's it." Ultra said.

"Huh? What do you mean?" the Nobody asked.

"Well…" Ultra trailed off.

"She's interested in you, dummy!" Aqua said.

"...Eh?" Ethox said in confusion.

"Y'know what? We'll explain later." Emerald said.

"...I never got the chance to say thank you for letting me help with Seiya. Because of all of you, I witnessed something…that I hated done right. S-So, I-I'm really grateful for that." Carmilla said shyly. "Even though I don't like it…love is important for others. A-And it's crucial that those feelings are given and received in equal measure."

Sekmet sighed. "To be honest, I don't have a lot of interest in you guys… but, you do have a lot of guts and courage to risk everything. I think I'll keep my eye on you. See how things turn out."

"What about you, Echidna? Ivy's right, after this, we won't be able to come back and see you guys." Ethox said.

"That…won't be a problem." Echidna said. "You've provided me with something to…keep my interest focused on for a while. I do look forward…to seeing how your journey will unfold as you get closer to the end."

"Satella…?"

"I've said all I needed to say, especially to Subaru." she said as the sky started to crack apart. "One day…it will come where we meet and that…you will take my life."

"Right…I'll come…and save you." Subaru said as a bright light filled the area and engulfed everything.