Pride Chapter 5: A Struggle Not Too Late

Subaru and Julius were both silent after hearing everything Roswaal had said from what he knows of this worlds Subaru. Julius was completely shocked yet understanding just how dangerous and intelligent this Natsuki Subaru is, not knowing that both his version and this world's version of Natsuki Subaru are only intelligent because of their ability to loop back in time while Subaru himself started to understand what he was seeing.

'So this bastard and insane version of me uses Return By Death...no, he abuses it. If he wants to know the maximum amount of information, he will die as many times as it takes until he gets it right. That's just...wrong in so many levels.'

Subaru says this in a disgusted way, seeing his counterpart has the opposite of him. This made him think back on the second trial of the sanctuary he took a little over a year ago, how he witnessed how he had to witness the worlds after he died and how they continued. Had his counterpart tried to take that trial, he knows that he wouldn't pass due to the amount of worlds he in theory would've left behind thought he knows one crucial detail.

'Even if he did took the trial and saw how much pain he left behind, he wouldn't care. He is what Roswaal wanted me to be, a person who can only save one and no other.'

Being reminded of the events of Sanctuary only made Subaru want to move on to something else. He crossed his arms and with a serious facial expression he said to the Roswaal of this world,

"Take me to Natsuki Subaru, I want to deal with him myself."

"And why shoooould I do that, Subaru-kuuuun?"

"I mean I can always have your book destroyed, right Julius?"

Julius nodded and had his fire spirit, Ia, standing by as the spirit prepared to burn the book, causing Roswaal to quickly responded to this.

"No need to do that, Subaru-kuuun. I'll take you to my co-conspirator."

Roswaal was closing in on Subaru, ready to take him only to do something different by grabbing Subaru's neck and creating a fireball on his free hand, holding it next to Subaru. As this happened, Julius and Ram both got ready for a fight only for Roswaal to say,

"Noooooot so fast, I have your friend hostage. Do any suuuuudden moves and Subaru-kuuun dies."

"Of course you would do something like this, Roswaal-sama."

"You know me, Raaaaam. Always playing my caaaards right."

"Julius, don't listen to this clown."

"Thaaaat is quite hurtful, Subaru-kuuun."

"Oh shut it you wannabe clown. Even if you do anything to me, I can still get out of this situation."

"Is thaaaat right?"

Roswaal looked at Subaru and could see that he is smiling with confidence, not afraid of dying there. This tipped Roswaal off that something is off since his version of Natsuki Subaru was also the same, not afraid of dying, as if death is only the beginning. While Roswaal did this, Subaru was bluffing since he doesn't have Return by Death and can only loop when his counterpart dies. There was a silence in the room with everyone on edge until all of a sudden Roswaal let Subaru go, confusing both Ram and Julius.

"What are you—?"

"Pardon me buuuut I must take care of something first. Pleeeease excuse me."

Roswaal begins to fly before leaving, causing Subaru, Ram, and Julius to all three be left confused by this altercation. Subaru approached Julius to get Roswaal's gospel in hopes of being able to read his book to find out what he is up to. Once he opened the book, he tried to read through the pages yet like Petelguese's book, he couldn't read anything.

"Hm. I guess this is protected. Damn. That would've helped."

"What is Roswaal-sama up to?"

"I think that he might be going to find my other counterpart, why else would he leave?"

"Hm. Then we better move quickly."

"Agreed."

Subaru nodded at what Julius said before the three of them started to leave the forest to go after Roswaal.

Natsuki Subaru was running around to look for Reinhard, wanting to figure out where is he located. While he was looking for the sword saint, he started to think about what he had just learned from Garfiel.

'So, Roswaal was behind my struggle against Elsa. I'm not surprised considering that he was so eager to be partners with me, someone who was a part of the witch cult.'

Subaru at first had a smile on his face since he knows that he can send Roswaal to his death or even change the events to be different from the clown's book. As he thought about this, his smile turned into anger since he realized that their goals align with Emilia winning the royal selection. This made Subaru approach a burned body to start kicking it, wanting to let out his rage.

"This motherfucker! He knew that she was in danger and made me suffer on my first goddamn day in this fucking world!"

Subaru kicked and kicked before starting to stab the body, wanting to let out more steam before he was able to regain his calmness. As his mind came back to him, he just look up at the sky with his mind processing all the things he had just learned.

'Okay, I'm going to brag to Reinhard and get him to kill me. That way on the next turn of events, I get information from the clown before killing him and his maid, the two traitorous bastards. After that, I will—'

"Stop there, villain."

"..."

'No, this is too early. I can't confront her yet.'

Subaru couldn't turn around due to the fact that he wasn't ready to see her. He wasn't ready to end it all until every loose end is done for. He thinks and thinks for a way out of this situation, knowing that he can't face her just yet.

"I'm sorry but we can't meet, not in this loop anyway."

Subaru made a run for it, managing to enter a burning building to avoid Emilia's attacks but just barely. As he is in the same burning building he was in a previous loop when he faced the knights on his own, he knew where was a good place to escape Emilia, knowing that she would follow behind him or have Puck go in to find him. As he escaped, he looked back for a moment before making a run for it, leaving behind his witch cultist attire and started running around in his original attire he came to Lugnica in. As he was in this attire, he was able to blend in for a bit with the people trying to escape the fire, giving him time to make a plan for the next loop. While he was blending in with the civilians, he was eventually pulled into a alleyway. This caused him to pull out his knife, having felt threatened until he noticed that it was Roswaal.

"What do you want?"

"Well Subaru-kuuuun, I want you to loop nooooow."

"Why is that?" Subaru says this as he prepares to kill Roswaal.

"Your counterpart knooooows more than expected."

"How so?"

"He is awaaaare of your history here and can loooop with you."

"Of course he can, that bastard."

Roswaal points a fireball directly at Subaru with the intent to threaten the boy yet the witch cultist wasn't afraid of this. This made Roswaal finally figure out what is the cause of the looping ability. Before the margrave could force his co-conspirator to loop by killing him yet he was caught off guard by him saying,

"You were the one that hired that crazy woman, the bowel hunter, back a year ago to kill Emilia."

"Hm. Now why wooooould you say that?"

"You know why, jackass. Some guy your maid called Garf told me about what your counterpart did."

"Is thaaaaat so?"

Roswaal stood holding his attack towards Subaru while contemplating on his counterpart, seeing that there is a lot that is different.

'If Subaru-kun is not a witch cultist in my counterpart's world, then what was the change?'

Roswaal knew that this was a problem since not knowing this one crucial information could cause his co-conspirator to kill him in the next loop. He lowered his guard while beginning to say in a calm manner,

"Shall I teeeeell you what the other Natsuki Subaru-kuuuun told me?"

"Hm. Well, that is your job, clown."

"Weeeell, he knows about your hiiiiistory here. He is aaaaaalso a part of the Emilia camp on his woooorld."

"Is that right? Fucking prick has been close to the beautiful Emilia."

"Yes, noooow what is the plan?"

"Hm. If this prick can loop then I need him to be stuck in place long enough for me to pull off my plan. Once I accomplish in getting Emilia the king of Lugnica, my counterpart won't be able to do anything about it."

Subaru crossed his arms for a moment before he told Roswaal to follow him, both of them heading away from the area since they need to work on some plan for the next loop. As the two were walking towards a safe location from the fire, Subaru thought to himself,

'I want to burn you Roswaal L Mathers, for being the reason I joined the witch cult to save Emilia from the sin archbishops and from Elsa herself. I'll make sure of that but first...my counterpart will suffer.'

Subaru, Julius, and Ram all three re-entered the kingdom to see that a horde of Mabeast were starting to take control. Seeing this made the group aware that they need to act fast if they want to get to the Sin Archbishop of Pride while also both Subaru and Julius wanted to check on Garfiel.

"Do you think Garfiel-san will be alright?"

"He is pretty strong. He has defeated that crazy woman before, he could do it once again."

"Yes but...Ferris-san and Meili are helping the Bowel hunter."

"I know it looks tough but Garfiel is strong on his own right. He will make it through."

Julius was still unsure about this but considering that he learned of Garfiel being able to take down their world's bowel hunter, he trusted Subaru's world. He turned towards the burning kingdom, seeing that the fire has gotten worse. Before anything can be done, they notice a knight with red hair and a handsome face approaching them.

"That's far enough."

"Huh?"

Subaru, Ram, and Julius all turn towards the voice to see that it is Reinhard standing in front of them. Reinhard looked at Subaru with anger but that anger itself would be calmed when he notices Julius.

"Reinhard-san."

"Julius. How is this possible?"

"I'm not of this world but I'm still the Julius you know. You seem to be much different my friend."

"Yes, with that monster being next to you, I have to stop him."

Reinhard was preparing to kill Subaru until both Ram and Julius got in front of them boy. Reinhard noticed this and looked at both his friend and the maid he recognized, confused on why they would defend someone like Subaru.

"What are you doing?"

"This isn't Sin Archbishop of Pride, this here is Natsuki Subaru, Emilia-sama's knight and a fellow friend of ours."

"Friend?"

The Sword Saint stood still as he used the divine protection of wind to read Julius, making sure the once dead knight wasn't lying. Seeing that he was telling the truth, Reinhard had a moment to contemplate on the situation. Considering that Julius was telling the truth, then the Subaru in front of him is probably from that different world but then that would mean that this is a Subaru before he went mad. Not wanting to take that chance, he pointed his finger at Subaru's direction while addressing to both Ram and Julius,

"Stand back. I can't allow him to become anything like this world's Sin Archbishop of Pride in your world."

"Wait a minute Reinhard-san, this isn't—"

"Julius, please stand back or I won't have any choice but attack. You too, maid."

Reinhard was trying to be polite yet both Ram and Julius did not move. This caused the red haired knight to look sad for a moment, seeing that he will need to fight innocent people to get to Subaru. He pulled out a sword from the ground before looking at Julius, seeing that the two will be fighting.

"I'm sorry my friend but I can't allow you to."

"I'm sad to hear about this, Julius. Reinhard Van Astrea, the Sword Saint."

"Julius Juukulius, a member of the Royal Guard."

The two knights looked at each other for a few seconds but before their fight began, Julius turned towards Subaru to say,

"Find Garfiel-san before confronting your counterpart. Ram, make sure Subaru-san doesn't get himself killed."

"Understood knight-sama."

Ram nodded at the knight before turning back to Reinhard, commencing his fight with his friend as the two charged at each other. As both their swords clashed, they both had a smile on their faces since Julius has always wanted to fight against the sword saint while Reinhard somehow felt satisfied that he is facing against a former friend, having been a while since the two clashed swords. Ram and Subaru ran around the kingdom for a bit with her mind having now been on Garfiel, surprised that her childhood friend from the Sanctuary left the place since he is scared of the outside world. This made her curious to know this different Natsuki Subaru. She looked at Subaru for a few seconds before looking forward while saying,

"How did someone as stupid as you get through Garf?"

"Okay, I see the insults are still there."

"Hmph. They are criticisms. You still have ugly eyes like the monster and you are short like him."

"My eyes and my height I can't do anything about but about Garfiel, you'd be surprised but it took the combined efforts of your counterpart, Emilia-tan, Otto, and myself. When Emilia-tan had disappeared because of reasons, you and Otto both held back Garfiel while I helped Emilia-tan pass the trials. Before she could start taking the trials, you prompted Garfiel to take the trials first which he did and passed."

"Hm."

Ram kept a blank facial expression but deep down she felt happy that her counterpart managed to help Garfiel.

'Garf...I'm so proud of you.'

Subaru looked at Ram for a few seconds before looking forward, having noticed the small smile on her face even if it was a little hard to see. As the two ran around the burning kingdom, Ram started to use her clairvoyance to find Garfiel, starting to worry about him. Subaru noticed this and quickly used Cor Leonis to see how his friend's status is. As he looked, he noticed that he was still alive but not in very good shape.

"Ram, I know where Garfiel is located. Follow me."

Ram looked at Subaru for a moment before nodding, trusting the boy's instincts to find her childhood friend. They ran into a couple of destroyed buildings before they approached near the area Garfiel was at. Once they arrived, they noticed Garfiel was keeping up with Elsa's attacks yet he was badly wounded.

"Garf!"

"Huh? Ram?"

Garfiel was distracted for a second before returning focus on the fight, knowing that he now as more motivation to beat the bowel hunter and the fallen knight. Ferris would wait before attacking Garfiel, assuring that Elsa doesn't get beaten. Meili was in the distance, hiding due to the fact that all her Mabeast had been killed by the demi human, making her useless. Subaru noticed this and stood thinking for a moment before turning to Ram while saying,

"Think you can help Garfiel?"

"Yes. What will you be doing?"

"I have to find my counterpart and put an end to this."

"Hmph. Just try not getting youself killed...Barusu."

Ram goes into the fight while Subaru was stunned for a moment, a bit surprised that this version of Ram had called him by his nickname yet it did bring a smile to his face.

'Seems like this world's Ram is still not yet gone...despite Rem being...gone...'

Subaru felt his heart breaking when thinking this, feeling sad since he wished to see Rem again. He stood standing for a few seconds before returning his focus on the situation at hand. He ran towards Meili to check on her only to see her run away from him.

"Hold on there."

"No, you are not onii-s~an."

"I know but at least hear me out. I'm still Natsuki Subaru! But unlike my counterpart, I know about your life, how you met Elsa, and how you had to deal with Capella."

"...you got one minute."

Meili crossed her arms as she was curious to know what this fake Subaru knew about her, still not trusting the boy. Subaru closed his eyes for a moment before speaking on the things Louis had saw in Meili's book of the dead when she possessed his body.

"You were in the forest, you lived with the Mabeast until one day Elsa had appeared and took you to where the assassin organization were located. From there, you were trained to be an assassin and mostly were teamed up with Elsa for most of your assignments. Eventually you were assigned to cause trouble to Arlem village where Petra and the other children live...well more like used to since you succeeded in this world."

"Wait, what do you mean succeeded in this world?"

"In my version of this world, you tried to harm Petra and the others but Rem and I stopped you. You escaped and I didn't see you for a little bit before you and Elsa were assigned to attack the mansion."

"Then what happened?"

"Well...Elsa was killed by the fire that was set to the mansion, you survived and stayed with us to avoid Capella and even helped us in the Pleiades tower."

"...okay, but what is the point of all of this?"

"Because I'm here to tell you that siding with that crazy version of me will lead you towards death. You'll only be remembered as a bad person."

"And? It's not like I care what others think."

"Okay but is this really what you want to do? Is this seriously the life you wanted?"

Meili paused for a moment, seeing that this Subaru is different than the one she knew. This one had determination like her Subaru but at the same time, he was very gentle and caring while the other did cared but left it unsure to her. She looked at the boy with a serious facial expression before a voice interrupted their conversation and her thought process.

"Are you seriously trying that? Man, you are really pathetic, other me."

Subaru and Meili both turned to see that it was Natsuki Subaru, the witch cultist. Subaru and Subaru both looked at each other to see truly just how different they are. Natsuki Subaru, Emilia's knight, was the one to see his counterpart to be more than insane. Natsuki Subaru, the Sin Archbishop of Pride, saw his counterpart not only as weak and pathetic but someone who doesn't deserve to stand next to Emilia, the girl he loves, the girl he had done all the horrible things to make her happy.

"You don't deserve to be near Emilia!"

Both Natsuki Subarus spoke in unison as they both said this, surprising the two at first before the two were angry towards one another. They start fighting each other by the two swinging their fist towards the other's face. As the two attacks connect, they were both set back for a moment before continuing to throw punches, both of them being able to counter each other with the Sin Archbishop of Pride being the more aggressive fighter while Natsuki Subaru was fighting strategically.

"I don't know how someone has pathetic as you could even claim yourself to be Emilia's knight!"

"I don't know how someone like you can even be considered a threat!"

"Because I am Natsuki Subaru, the Sin Archbishop of Pride! The one who killed every sin archbishop! What the hell have you done?!"

"I defeated the White Whale, the Great Rabbit, the Sin Archbishops of Sloth and Greed! I'm Emilia-tan's one and only knight, meaning I am closer to her than you will ever be in a billion loops."

"You fucking prick!"

Natsuki Subaru of the world pulled out a knife after he heard this, having been pissed on how close his counterpart has gotten with Emilia. Natsuki Subaru that is not from the world noticed this and quickly had his whip ready to be used.

"What are you planning on doing with that? Whipping me? I can stab you and be done with it!"

"That is true, but I have some experience with this unique weapon."

Subaru moved his whip towards his opponent's hand holding the knife, managing to knock it off from the Sin Archbishop of Pride's hand. This surprised the boy of this world for a brief second before turning towards Emilia's knight, seeing that this fight is pointless in a pointless loop. Before he was able to act, the two Natsuki Subarus heard a familiar voice speak to them,

"You will not move any further."

"Hm."

The two Subarus looked to see Reinhard standing there alongside Emilia, causing Natsuki Subaru of another world to worry for the sake of Julius while the Natsuki Subaru of this world looked away, not being able to see Emilia's beautiful face. The Natsuki Subaru of another world noticed this and quickly went to criticize his counterpart,

"You really are a coward, aren't you, you so called witch cultist."

"What did you just say? What makes you think you aren't a damn coward?! You are a weak version of me! One who refuses to do what it takes for Emilia's sake!"

"Emilia-tan's sake? You are a psychopath!"

"Oh yeah?!"

The cultist Subaru was about to act until Reinhard all of a sudden stepped in between the two, seeing that something is off about this scenario.

"Enough you two."

"Reinhard, what happened to Julius?"

"He is alright, I just knocked him out and made sure he was safe with the other knights."

"Okay...that's good to hear..."

"Who are you?"

"I'm Natsuki Subaru but nothing like that insane man there. I'm not from this world either. In my world, you and I are friends despite being from different camps."

"Is that so?"

Reinhard had tapped Subaru's arm to see if he was insane when speaking since he could see with the divine protection of wind that the boy wasn't lying. Seeing that this Natsuki Subaru wasn't lying, he turned towards the other one to see him attempting to attack him. Without any effort, he shoved Subaru into the wall hard enough to damage the witch cultist boy's back to the point where his injury was fatal.

"Urgh! You...fucking prick...is this what a knight...does...fucking prick...!"

"You tried to attack me from behind, I defended myself appropriately."

"...right, you fucking annoying perfect asshole..."

Emilia looked at the witch cultist and his counterpart, confused on how this is possible yet she felt sympathy for the one standing since he has someone that looks like him and is a villain. The witch cultist Natsuki Subaru looked at Emilia for a moment before looking away, knowing that this won't be the last loop for him yet also knowing that what he does when he reaches the last loop won't make the girl he loves happy. The Natsuki Subaru from another world looked at his witch cultist counterpart and knew that the two would loop back once he dies, making him tap Reinhard in the shoulder to get his friend's attention. Reinhard looked at Subaru and asked him,

"How can I help you, Subaru?"

"Mind if you can take Emilia-tan away? I promise I won't do anything sketchy."

"Don't you worry my friend, I know you are not a threat. I just feel bad that the witch cultist here shares your face. I'll make sure to let others know of this imposter to keep your name from being associated to the witch cult."

"I appreciate it Reinhard. Thank you."

The knight nodded at Subaru before taking Emilia away from the area, knowing that a candidate for the throne shouldn't be around a dangerous person like the Sin Archbishop of Pride. As Reinhard was taking Emilia away, she wanted to know who was the name of the boy who was being framed by the witch cult. She ran towards the boy with Puck by her side and quickly asked,

"Who are you? What is your name?"

"E-Emilia-tan..."

Subaru was caught off guard by this for a moment before taking a moment to calm himself down, seeing that no matter what version of the world he is in, Emilia still looks beautiful. He got himself ready before doing his iconic pose, the same one he did when he first met Emilia and introduce himself. He pointed his finger up and started to say,

"My name is Natsuki Subaru, your one and only knight!"

Emilia looked at Subaru for a moment before giggling, finding this Subaru funny but someone she wants to know. She smiled at Subaru and before she left with Reinhard, she said to the boy,

"I don't know about being my knight...but I hope we can talk soon."

"Hopefully we can."

Emilia smiled and quickly went with Reinhard away from the area while Subaru made sure she was away before looking at his counterpart. The two looked at each other with the two having hatred towards each other. The sin Archbishop of Pride hating how he easily won the girl he love's attention while she ignored him while Emilia's knight hated what the boy has done with their shared name and the amount of damage he had done.

"What do you want?"

"I know you'll just end up looping back soon but let me ask, why are you really doing this? And don't give me the bullshit that it's for Emilia-tan's sake."

"Hmph. I'm the goddamn Sin Archbishop of Pride, the sin archbishops are twisted people so just like Pete-san, my love for Emilia is twisted to hell."

"Pete-san? Ah right, Petelguese...still can't believe you managed to see him as a friend considering how crazy he is. Then again, you are crazy yourself."

"You see, nothing you do will change that and now I have the perfect plan to taking you down."

"You think I'm going to let you win? No, I'm going to defeat you. I have been through hell dealing with shitty situations but I managed to get through it because I had my friends by my side. So next loop we face will be the last one for you."

"Ha!..You think that?...well, I'll agree on one thing...the next loop will be the last...one...no more...looping around..."

"Then it's settled."

Both Natsuki Subarus looked at each other with confidence before speaking in unison.

"Let the next loop be our last battle."

"The knight of Emilia-tan—"

"—and the Sin Archbishop of Pride's final battle!"

The two agreed to this with the witch cultist Subaru managing to grab the broken glass near him to stab himself in the neck, wanting to loop now to start his final battle with his counterpart. Just as the loop was about to commence, the Natsuki Subaru looked at the burning kingdom and knew that this is going to be his last chance to stop his counterpart.

'I promise Emilia-tan, I'll make sure to stop him. With Julius and Garfiel by my side, we will put a stop to this monster.'

Natsuki Subaru closed his eyes and waited for the next loop to begin.