Wrath Chapter 10: Peace
A few moments back:
The Purge King ran away from the throne room in one of his many secret passages before heading towards the direction of his office, knowing that his counterpart is heading there to free one of his important and ONLY colors. While he ran towards his office, he began to think on the events that had transpired only minutes before:
'What the hell is going on?! This was nothing like the previous loops...damn my fucking counterpart! Now I have another random person with no colors! Damn it all to fucking hell!'
The Purge King's hatred for Natsuki Subaru increased as he started to see how the boy's involvement really damaged all of his original plans. He was well aware that Reinhard was going to attack, he was well aware that he was a target after having ordered Cecilus to kill Roswaal but he never expected to be facing a version of himself, someone who actually posed a threat to him.
No, not just a threat, but someone that had actionable intelligence in his schemes and plots. Someone that could undo all of his efforts easily. It was an impermissible feeling, the walls tightened around him and he felt even more suffocated. Who would've known a mere counterpart with little underworld experience could undo the Purge King so easily?
Ever since the two had met he hadn't realized just how much of a pain that man was, the person bearing the name Natsuki Subaru. He had eventually grown tired of his counterpart following him on each loop and constantly changing things for the worse, putting Emilia and Ram's lives at risk with the outside world.
With Ram, she was imprisoned to keep him sane, to remind him of someone who truly hates him. Yet, is it really that simple? How fastidious it was to lock someone up for years to enjoy their torment? Has he ever stopped to think about it even once? He had forgotten, he forgot a plethora of things since his mind always trembles and screams of agony.
He was doing this for Emilia's sake, as she is the only person he can allow himself to break down in front of, to feel some form of regret for the things he had done while also having some feelings for her. However, does he even have time to feel regretful? He resents locking her up, yet he knows she has a hidden ace to get out if things are dicey.
Yet, really? Is this what the Purge King is reduced to? A snivelling pissant. A hateful creature? He still struggled finding a way to reconcile with these facts.
While thinking about Emilia, a new thought came into his mind. Something from a previous loop had made him realize something.
'Wait...what about...Emilia-tan!'
The Purge King stopped dead in his tracks and quickly turned around to make his way towards the location of Emilia's room, starting to figure out that Petra was sent here to get Emilia out. This caused him to hit his head a couple of times with his right hand, having been stupid for not realizing it.
"Even she could betray me, a child! I should've seen it coming, those colors were a lie! A fucking lie...no, she is but a child. An innocent child that can be used as bait. Ha, what a fucking twisted individual you must be to send a child to such a place, Natsuki Fucking Subaru."
The Purge King's running increased in speed as he was left with nothing but hatred for his counterpart, seeing just how easily he used his colors against him. He ran for a bit until he accidently tripped on himself, not realizing that he had twisted his ankle when he stepped on the floor at a jarred angle.
He looked at his ankle for a moment before attempting to get up, ignoring the slight pain it was giving him but just as he was doing this, a familiar voice spoke out to him:
"Subaru?"
"Huh...?" The Purge King was confused by this voice since it was familiar, someone he trusts. He turned to see someone he did not expect to see, so soon and out of her gilded cage.
"...Emilia-tan?" His voice slightly trembled for the first time as the Purge King, for in front of him was an individual that could make him feel anything other than animosity.
"I'm relieved, Subaru...it turned out I can meet you properly."
"..." The Purge King was left silent if not dumbfounded. He was confused on why she was acting all nice to him considering that she is out, most likely because of the other Subaru's actions. He got up with her help while he also said:
"Why..."
Deep in his thoughts he pondered:
'Why are you being nice to me! Do you have Stockholm Syndrome or something? Are you daft, or just dumb. Why don't YOU HATE ME?!'
"Hm? Why what?" Emilia asked as she wasn't sure what the Purge King was trying to ask.
"Why are you here?" The Purge King said in a calm and gentle voice, not wanting to harm someone he can see the colors of, yet his inner thoughts went wild as to what was happening. Not wanting to relinquish the feelings he still possesses, of a chance encounter and a girl with a heart of gold.
Emilia could only smile at him while giving a calm and happy response:
"I came to see you, of course, you dunderhead."
His eyes briefly shook as he analyzes the situation, then replies:
"...what is Puck up to?"
"Puck is...Mm-hmm, that story is, well..." Emilia was hesitant since she herself can't explain what Puck is up to, she honestly isn't sure and she doesn't want to trouble the person she is obsessed with in such a trivial manner. The Purge King took notice of this yet he didn't really care at this point. He knew that it was a matter of time until Puck turned on him. He briefly thought:
'Another enemy to consider for the brief future.'
Once upon his feet, he was prepared to go back to his office until he heard something that he never expected from Emilia.
"Subaru, let's run away together. If it's now or never, nobody will be chasing after us."
"...run away, with...me?" The Purge King spoke in a dumbfounded manner, he was troubled by the course of events transpiring. This never should've happened. He was disturbed by the idea that the woman he kept as a bird in a gilded cage said something Emilia was a bit annoyed by.
"Yes! There is someone outside. I am not saying something strange, you know."
After letting out a little anger, Emilia poked the Purge King's nose with a finger. This bizarre act caused the Purge King to question everything. He had expected Emilia to hate him after having forced her into being locked up or harbor some kind of resentment towards him.
"But still, since you're nice, I have just been pampered..."
"—Is it, I wonder? It was something like that I've been thinking about."
"Emilia?" Inquired the Purge King, as his eyes narrowed and he felt his breathing become rough, for this idea would have been entertaining when he was amassing his forces in kararigi. But not now, not at this critical junction. Such thoughts simply aren't dared to be entertained.
With his hand on his chest, it was as if Emilia had coldly spoken, as if feeling like everything he did had no meaning from those words, he lowered the corners of his eyes. That hesitation brushing past her heart, was it that The Purge King had abducted her, was it that she had spent so much time here? How many times had she gazed at that hated opponent's sleeping face? In that time The Purge King had received salvation, but to Emilia it would have been filled with humiliation.
"Ah, that I was angry at Subaru, I did think that. But, it was reaaally only at the beginning….. From then, that Subaru's help I was definitely receiving, I thought that."
"From me, receiving help...?" The Purge King asked as he wasn't sure what she meant by this.
"Because it was me that Subaru had been needing. Nobody would ever need me, that was how I had felt. Nobody ever liked me, or talked sincerely with me, or let their head rest on me you nincompoop. Jeez, even at the mansion I had no one but Puck, I've never really had a close friend. Memories of someone arise yet they are always stiff and disappear. Subaru had freed me of that, so..."
Codependency, such words surfaced inside The Purge King's mind. Just as The Purge King needed Emilia's presence for peace of mind, Emilia had definitely, at that time, inevitably within her need of relationships, if wanting to feel reliable and dependent wanted someone to trust her, this he had concluded. And so the pair, each in turn relying on the other, had fallen into a codependent relationship.
A very toxic codependency that he knew would lead to nothing but misery.
"I want to be with Subaru. So, let's run away?"
"...Like that, you saying it, makes me happy, but..."
Responding while stuttering, he could not accept Emilia's confession. He had received a big shock inside his heart. He had feelings but his thinking drew out more realistic views in reply. Running away would not be possible for him. Reinhard and Garfiel were after him, his counterpart had put him in such a corner where he couldn't run and there was a crowd of enemies blocking their path from something like a glorious escape into the sunset.
As for the outside of the castle, the Purge King had no allies left to call upon as he burned every single bridge. The only realistic ally he could try getting would be Elsa but he dismissed the idea since he would rather get stabbed to death than work with her, someone he hates. Everyone has clearly become an enemy to him, making the Purge King realize that he is going to die here. It is an inevitable as a wristwatch telling the time, as eventual as when the sun turns a splendid crimson and goes to sleep as its twin the moon rises up. Although he will make sure to take Natsuki Subaru down with him, he will fall here. It's simply fate, it's simply predestined to occur, he feels it in his very soul.
"...then, I'll die together with you."
"—"
At this moment, the Purge King had been stunned by the words he had heard from the silver haired half elf. More than when he saw Reinhard, his counterpart, or Petra. He turned to see the smiling Emilia gaze on him with words that contained love and definite affection.
"I'll finish it together for you. You, in a place where you won't need me, I don't want to stay somewhere like that."
"..."
He trembled as his way as his world came crashing down, as everything he had thought of turned to dust and scattered in the wind. How, why, no...this isn't possible. Before these ideas could take hold of his mind she kept speaking:
"Please, Subaru. I need you. I wish you would come with me."
"...let me ask you something, Emilia." The Purge King spoke as his eyes were for a moment, blank of expression. "Did you speak with Natsuki Subaru?"
"With you?"
"The other me. Sorry, I probably should've specified. The other Natsuki Subaru."
"Yes...he said some things about you but I don't care! I was a little angry but I didn't care. I want to be with you."
"Ah...I see..."
The Purge King felt silent as Emilia was getting closer to him, wanting to be with him only, clinging onto him. Emilia looked closely at The Purge King's face and noticed that he wasn't responding or reacting at all. This put some concern on her, causing her to call his name, wanting to gain his attention.
"Subaru...?"
The Purge King stood silent for a few seconds before his eyes shifted from nothingness into pure hatred and fear. He held Emilia's shoulders and shoved her off him. Emilia was caught off guard by this and just looked confused while The Purge King was shouting at her,
"Ly-Lying..."
"Suba—"
"No! No, please stop, stop it! Why me? Now come on, why! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Please Stop!"
The Purge King had finally been filled with nothing but fear, afraid as he started to play horrible memories on his mind.
("—Stinking so much of the witch.")
("—My sister is too kind.")
("I'll make your death swift, pitiful man.")
He covered his eyes and screamed his head off, engulfed in the fear that caused him to run away, to accept Beatrice's help in trying to run away from Ram.
"I! If you hated me, I would be happy, content, and everything would make sense! I, if you thought to avoid me, I would have been glad! Hell, if you had taken Natsuki Subaru's side, the other me's side, I would have been happy, and accepted the outcome!"
"..."
"YET WHY! WHY ARE YOU TURNING LIKE THE OTHERS. WHY ARE YOU BECOMING GREY?!"
Emilia was fading into gray, her beautiful colors becoming into that monochrome world that was washed away. All the Purge King knew was that everything was a lie, a deception.
"Subaru—"
"Don't act kindly towards me...!"
"Anyway, something about me, you will come to hate won't you? You will suspect me, won't you? Since I'm an obstacle, you will want to kill me, hate me, curse me, and will betray me!"
"Then, please stay like you hate me from the start! Without changing, if you had just stayed like that I would have been exalted! Hateful, just that, hateful, just that...!"
"..."
The Purge King was shaking, completely in a state of fear, not sure on how to handle the black and white Emilia he saw in front of him. The only people remaining that have their colors are his counterpart, Petra, and Ram. Those three have been true with what they feel, even Subaru almost lost his colors until he showed how much he hates him.
He had hoped that maybe it would be the same with Emilia, where she will regain her colors and yet she is still trying to show kindness towards him. This was something he just couldn't accept. He figures that Emilia is only showing kindness to eventually betray him in the future, which is no different than having been betrayed already.
"When you'll just betray me one day, pretending to be in love with me, please don't you do that!"
"Eh!"
The Purge King pushed Emilia out of the way as he ran, befuddled by his thoughts. Confused by the horrible misunderstanding he is unaware he committed. Knowing that he needs to kill Natsuki Subaru and then try to get either Petra or Ram to kill him. If one of the two could kill him, then he would be at peace.
Present time:
"Your last colors? Here I thought Petra would've blinded you with her color. She's pure, unlike what you've twisted everyone else into being." Subaru said with anger in his voice, having had enough of his counterpart speaking about those he 'trusts' having colors. It's clear that the delusions of his doppelganger that speaks of colors as trust are merely byproducts of a different mentality. A damaged one, he's saddened that it seems he broke, despite his intelligence and foresight. The Purge King did not appreciate what he heard and started to say:
"What the fuck are you implying, you fucking prick?"
"That YOU are the one who made everyone lose their colors around you! Everyone was trying to help you, Natsuki Subaru, and you threw it all away in a moment of fear!"
They both collided with their stares and fists clenched. They couldn't accept each other. Try to join hands, it wasn't possible. They were too branched off and different.
"You son of a bitch. I had no choice! You should fucking know that!"
"Don't even try that 'woe is me' crap on me cause I know to call out our own bullshit! Of course you had a choice! You ALWAYS had a choice! You chose to run, you chose to view the world in nothing more than colors and you chose to take the same colors away from everyone else to fit your own twisted worldview to justify all of your actions. The world didn't take your colors, Natsuki Subaru the Purge King, YOU DID!"
"I ran away from a murderous woman and a heinous misunderstanding. You fucking killed yourself! You jumped off a cliff to return by death for the sake of one individual you had met for days! I'm nothing like you, nor will I ever be! This ability of ours is a fucking curse, a dejection. Fate's greatest gift is allowing death to happen, yet we DON'T EVEN HAVE THAT!"
"You are nothing but a fucking coward, Purge King."
The Purge King heard this and before anything, he took a moment to breath before saying:
"FUCK YOU, NATSUKI SUBARU!"
The Purge King charged at Subaru with hatred in his eyes. The boy from another world noticed this, causing him to hesitate for a brief moment since he knows that he can't leave Ram and Beatrice on their own. This prompted him to use his invisible providence, knowing that it might assist in pushing his counterpart back. As he summoned the unseen hand, the Purge King for the first time noticed it.
'That's...a hand! Being summoned by that bastard's chest area!'
The Purge King was so dumbfounded by what he saw that he didn't think to dodge the attack, causing him to receive a hit to the face. This caused him to be sent flying back for a bit before his back hit the ground with force. As the Purge King was on the ground, Subaru for a moment felt nauseous, sick, and exhausted which caught Ram and Beatrice's attention.
"Are you alright, Barusu?"
"Y-Yeah, I'm fine." Subaru said as he tried to be reassuring yet Beatrice nor Ram bought that. If anything, Beatrice started to shout at her contractor for his foolish actions.
"You are a stubborn contractor, in fact! Stop using the sloth witch factor! It is harming you, I suppose!" The drilled haired loli spoke with anger as she was extremely concerned for her contractor's sake.
"Hehe...sorry...about that Beako..."
"Beako...?" The Purge King spoke as he was completely unaware that the little spirit was even among Subaru's group. He looked at the drilled haired loli spirit with tears from his eyes, recalling how he stabbed her, killed her.
("Are you, they?")
("――You are, Betty's, they, I suppose?")
("I am, your they.")
('Then… I'll free you from your torment.')
(She looked at him with tearful eyes yet a joyous expression as he plunged the knife in her heart and she replied as her mana scattered and she faded into nothingness: "Thank...you.")
But, he just did as she wanted, he fulfilled her wish. Yet, why is she looking so splendid next to that bastard, why does he feel a pang of loss, and his heart ached at the sight of the trio. Why, why, why, did he feel like the villain of the scenario?
"You are, with those colors that fit you well, very pretty you know." The Purge King said as he was still amazed when seeing the little spirit, still being able to see her colors. A swirling turbulence of magenta with cyan thunder inside, he doesn't recall ever seeing such a beautiful aura, or colors on anyone before he started losing them.
Subaru had nothing but intense rage when he heard this, recalling that this was the exact same thing he said to the Beatrice of this world before killing her. Ram and Beatrice both were disgusted by this, seeing the Purge King nothing more than a pathetic excuse of a human. Yet, they faltered in their hatred, since this wasn't their place to interfere with just yet. A certain senpaku eyed boy had to do some more after all.
"Shut...your fucking mouth!" Subaru said as he did everything in his power to use his remaining strength to move slowly towards his counterpart, wanting to beat the crap out of him.
Ram noticed this and with her own limited strength, she assisted Subaru in closing in on the Purge King, both of them desiring to beat the shit out of him. As they work together, Beatrice was the first to approach the Purge King.
"Beako, stay away from that madman." Subaru shouted in fear, worried for her sake yet she ignored her contractor. She closed in on the Purge King's face to look at his eyes, seeing that they hold nothing but death and distrust.
The Purge King wanted to hug the little spirit only to receive the hardest slap he had ever gotten from everyone in his life. He looked to see that at some point, Beatrice had taken her shoe off to give him a good smack to the face.
"You...You are the worst, pathetic, failure, horrible, sh-shittiest Natsuki Subaru I have ever seen, in fact! I...I hate...this you!"
Natsuki subaru's eyes widened as he thought:
'A subaruism?'
The spirit spoke out her feelings with tears in her eyes, struggling to hate this Subaru since he looks like her contractor yet still disliking what he had done. Subaru and Ram noticed this and stopped for a moment while the Purge King had a smile on his face, seeing that this is what he deserves.
"...okay then Beako...kill me..."
"Huh?"
"What?"
"I want...you to kill me..." The Purge King said as he realized that if anybody should kill him, it would probably be the spirit he had killed long ago. It seemed fitting to end like this, it seemed worthy for his life to extinguish at the hands of the petite great spirit. He chuckled and hoped for it to happen, bit noticing how broken his gaze looked.
Despite the fact that his counterpart would still live, he would rather be done with it than try something that would likely fail. Beatrice had a blank expression at this, feeling some connection to this emotion the Purge King was feeling before feeling disgusted.
She didn't hesitate to slap him with her shoe once again before walking away from him, not caring what happens to this Natsuki Subaru anymore. As she walked away, Ram and Subaru were able to stand on their own before Subaru grabbed his counterpart by the throat with his two hands.
"You piece of shit! How fucking dare you request something from my Beako! Have you no fucking shame?!" He screamed as he tightened his grasp on his opposite self, yet he couldn't bring himself to end it, he knew what would happen.
"Shame? For what? Wanting death? All I see is nothing but gray. A world of deception and liars who accused me for something I didn't even fucking do...and you think it is justified for Ram to still hate me..."
"I never justified her actions! Yeah, she was wrong when trying to kill you. You didn't kill Rem, I know that for sure." As Subaru said this, he looked at Ram with a sharp look. The pink haired oni looked back with a sharp look herself. The two were like this for a moment before he looked back at the Purge King. "The thing I criticize your ass is when you chose to run away instead of saving Rem."
"Saving her huh? I should've killed myself just like you and be a fucking tool then...right, the bitch who—"
The Purge King was interrupted when Subaru punched his face with enough force to break the Purge King's nose. Ram was about to do something herself when she noticed the Purge King trying to insult her sister only to be surprised by Subaru doing the deed himself.
"You are going to call her by her fucking name, you piece of shit!"
"...doesn't matter now, I'm a dead man whatever I do, Natsuki Subaru. Why not end this fucking mess right now by killing me? Ending this fucking farce."
"So you can loop back and try to kill me all over again, not happening!"
As Subaru says this, he punches his counterpart again in the face, wanting to let out all of his anger. After doing this, he gets up and begins to walk towards Beatrice, wanting to hug her and comfort her. As he walks away, Ram takes this opportunity to pin the Purge King to the ground, having her hateful pink eyes gaze at his dead brown eyes. The two stared each other down for a few seconds before she spoke:
"Who...killed...my sister?"
"Wha—"
"Tell me, who!"
The Purge King didn't know what to say. He himself doesn't even know since he didn't gain enough information to find out who did it. All he did was look at the ceiling while answering in a blank tone:
"Doesn't matter, you are just going to kill me."
Ram punched the Purge King on his side, breaking a couple of his ribs. As she does this, she continues to shout at him,
"Fucking answer the question, Barusu!"
"Hehe...just...end it...damn it..."
His eyes reflected tears of pain as he thought:
'Why can't no one end me, or kill me or eliminate me. When it's all I want…'
Ram's anger was starting to overwhelm her mind, wanting nothing more than to kill this Natsuki Subaru for all the things he had done. To her, to her love, to her friends, and to the innocents. She moved her hands towards his throat, preparing to end his life until a voice of reason spoke to her from a distance.
"Don't, Ram. It isn't worth it."
"Is that so, other Barusu? After everything he has done, he deserves to die! He may not have killed sister...but he didn't save her either, just like you said. He ran away like a fucking coward! He captured me! He killed Roswaal-sama! He killed so many people! So please fucking tell me why I should even let this scumbag live?!"
Ram spoke with such passion, such hatred to which Subaru couldn't go against. He understood why she hated his counterpart, even though he has a small fraction of that hatred and yet he knows that it won't do any good.
Should he die, everything would reset and all the hard work they have done would've been for nothing. Not only that but they have beaten the Purge King, having him on the floor, helpless to change his situation. He looked at Ram with a confident and determinate expression before answering with:
"You can have your vengeance, you can kill this pathetic excuse of me, but it won't change anything here. Everybody is still dead, no one will come back if he dies. He would be getting an easy out for all the crap he has done. That and you'll allow that hatred to consume you, to change you for the worst. That isn't something your sister would've wanted."
Ram looked at Subaru for a moment before turning back towards the Purge King, seeing that he wasn't even putting up a fight. All he was doing was just waiting for death to take him, preferable by her now since she also contains colors. Just as she was going to choke the life out of him, she closed her eyes and really processed everything Natsuki Subaru had said to her.
She knew that this wasn't going to bring anyone back, that this was just something she desired to do and yet, she chose to do something else. She moved her hands away from his neck and stood up, surprising The Purge King while Subaru smiled as this was the right thing to do. He slowly got up despite the broken ribs and started to question Ram as he gasped in pain dye to his broken self:
"Wh-What are you doing?"
"Being better than you, Barusu. I'm not ever going to be forgiven for having unfairly pinned my sister's death on you...but I won't let this twist myself into being like you, a murderer."
"...I wanted your wish to come true...to exact justice for your sister and to give the two of us happiness by doing that act." The Purge King spoke with a disappointed voice, noticing that the colors of Ram were slowly fading away as well. Ram herself was left silent by what she heard, causing a swarm of anger to try and come out. The Purge King could see this and was about to say something until he noticed Ram beginning to speak.
"I have wanted you dead, Barusu. Every single second in my mind has wanted you dead by my own hands. I have wanted to grab your throat and crush it, choke you, destroy the chance of you breathing. I have wanted it for so long but realizing just how pathetic and weak you are...you aren't worth killing. Death would be too kind for the likes of you."
The Purge King had anger in his eyes, hating that she isn't following her desires, the desire to kill him. That is the only thing that is keeping Ram's colors from fading.
"Y-You are lying...you are going to kill me! It doesn't matter what you say right now! You are going to kill me the first chance you get—"
"I'm a demon. A demon burning with hatred in her wish to avenge her sister."
"Then why don't you fucking kill me then?!"
"Because you are not worth the time to kill. You are not the one I'm after. Thanks to the better Barusu, I see that I misplaced my hatred."
The Purge King's eyes widened as everything he had believed was changing. He saw that Ram had officially faded into gray, causing him to lose his mind as she was the one that had her colors be brighter than the others. As he was screaming in his mind, he looked at his counterpart with the most hateful gaze he could muster. Seeing that everything has changed because of his counterpart caused him to try and attack the boy.
"This...this is all your fucking fault! I'm going to kill you, Natsuki Subaru!"
The Purge King tried to go and charge towards his counterpart, wanting him dead more than anything now only to be blindsided when Ram punched him in the gut, stopping him in his tracks. As he was stopped, he looked at Ram and could see that she was giving a disgusted gaze towards him.
"Honestly...there's no help for you."
As Ram says this, without hesitation she knocks the Purge King out with a single kick to his jaw, knocking him out cold. As the Purge King collapses to the ground, Ram also falls to the ground with her stamina completely drained. Subaru and Beatrice both notice this and quickly approach Ram, wanting to make sure she is alright. As they approach her, the two hear a voice from off in the distance.
"Subaru...?"
"Huh? Emilia-tan?"
Subaru spoke as he was a bit confused why Emilia was right there. He had recalled that Puck was supposed to be leading Emilia out of the castle and into safety last time they spoke. Wanting to know some answers, he got up and asked:
"Where is Puck?"
"Puck...he is um...gone..."
"Gone? What do you mean gone?!" Subaru asked as he didn't know what she really meant by this. Emilia stood silent before noticing that she was speaking with the Natsuki Subaru of another world and not her Subaru. She looks to the left side of the hallway to see that her Subaru was knocked out. This caused the room's temperature to drop rapidly with Subaru and Beatrice both on their guard.
"What did you do...to my Subaru?" The way Emilia said these words were much colder than the room, filled with nothing but hate and sadness. She pointed her hand towards the two and fired a powerful wave of ice towards them.
"Beako! E M T!"
"On it, I suppose!"
Beatrice quickly with the mana she has, created a sphere around the pair and both Ram and The Purge King, protecting the four of them from Emilia's attack. The madness in her eyes leaked as the Witch of Glaciation unleashed her full might. Ram, with her little conscience she had left noticed this and was surprised just how strong both Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice were together.
Emilia noticed this and was surprised at first yet she continued to attack Subaru, viewing him as a threat considering how her Subaru acted after asking her questions of the other world Natsuki Subaru. She blamed him, cursed him, despised gin , for twisting and corrupting her Subaru.
This caused the two sides to be in a stalemate for a bit until suddenly Emilia stopped using her ice magic on the group. Subaru and Beatrice were confused by this and looked closely until they saw that she collapsed to the ground with Otto and Wilhelm standing behind her.
"Otto! Wilhelm!"
"Good to see you are alive still, Natsuki-san!"
"Yes, I'm glad to see you alive as well, Subaru-dono."
Subaru smiled as he heard the nice words from the two before he and his contracted spirit returned to assisting Ram, seeing that she was barely holding on. Otto, Wilhelm, and the group of knights approached them with them noticing a knocked out Purge King. Wilhelm looked at this version of Subaru and couldn't help but feel sad for this version.
He had always put Subaru in such high regards, treating him almost like a grandson, and was thankful that his world's Subaru turned out to be the way he is while this one went the wrong path. Otto wanted to stab this version of Subaru, after all the destruction he had caused and yet he refrained himself from doing that when he saw Ram was on the ground. He turned towards a few knights to tell them:
"She needs help."
"Understood!"
The knights quickly went to Ram's position and carried her towards the outside of the castle to have her be sent to the closest village to help her. Before she had left, she looked at Subaru and with a smile on her face, she said to the boy:
"Thank you, Barusu...for freeing me."
"Anything for a friend..."
Ram smiled before finally falling into a deep sleep, having exhausted her remaining energy. As the knights took her somewhere, Otto and Wilhelm both looked at the entrance of the office to see an injured Garfiel carrying an injured Halibel. Subaru also noticed this and couldn't help but find it amusing.
"What? Did you two had enough fighting?"
"We heard the fighting was over, Su-san. So we decided to put our fight on hold to check things out."
"Yea, now where's Ram?" Garfiel said in a worried tone.
"Don't worry, our best knights will be taking her somewhere nearby to recover." Otto responded quickly, wanting to make sure that there was no panic from the demi human. Garfiel was not happy about this and yet he felt relieved. As he sighed of relief, he looked at the knocked out Purge King and asked:
"Wh't 'bout him?"
Everyone looked at the purge king with most of the emotions in the room being hatred towards the boy.
"We should kill him." One of the knights answered, wanting to see this threat be taken out. Subaru took note of what was said and quickly responded to it.
"No, death would be too easy for this pathetic excuse of a human. He needs to pay by being locked up, far away from the world."
"Isn't that too merciful, Natsuki-san?"
"Maybe but I don't want him to just be killed without facing a trial."
"He is right."
The group all turned around instantly when they heard another voice speak out to what Subaru had said. As they turn around, they see Reinhard standing on the hallway carrying an unconscious Emilia while also looking battle damaged.
Subaru smiled as he knew his friend would make it out alive while Wilhelm was still uncertain on how he should react to this Reinhard. He still resented the Reinhard of his world for killing his wife while this world's Reinhard hadn't done such a thing...or so he hoped. Before he can even try to confirm this, Subaru took the attention away when he grabbed Otto's arm and began to say:
"You should take the credit for this."
"W-W-What?! I didn't do anything but f-follow your plan, Natsuki-san!"
"I know but this might free you from your slave debt."
The atmosphere in the room felt quiet when Subaru said this, with Otto stepping back a bit since he did not expect the boy to know about this. Regardless, he wasn't sure if this would necessarily free him from his debt until Reinhard entered the conversation regarding this.
"It might be possible. Should I even vouch for Otto, it might help."
"Wh-Wha...you would really...? But I didn't—"
"I never saw what happened here, so I wouldn't be lying. Not to mention that we can't say that the Purge King's counterpart defeated him. People wouldn't understand."
"That's fair..." Otto said as he hadn't realized how far-fetched the story would be if they tried to explain the truth to people. He turned towards Subaru and smiled before thanking him, seeing that he truly had found a decent friend.
"Thank you, Natsuki-san. I will forever be in your debt."
"Now come on Otto, we are getting you out of a debt, not more debt." Subaru said in a teasing like manner to which caused Otto to get flustered by.
"I didn't mean it like that!"
"You are both so hopeless, I suppose."
As Beatrice said this, everyone started to laugh as they found this interaction quite funny. As they all laughed for a bit, they all eventually grabbed the Purge King before starting to make their way out of the castle. During their way out, Subaru and Reinhard had a chance to chat.
"What happened to Cecilus?"
"I defeated him and he ran away, eager for the next duel."
"I see...so he only joined my counterpart to fight you..."
"It seems so..."
The two went quiet for a bit since they didn't know what else to talk about. Reinhard was still a bit down that he could even save his friend from becoming the Purge King yet he was curious about something.
"What happened to Emilia-sama?"
"She...she isn't right, Rein. She needs help, and I mean a lot of help. Since I can't stay in this world forever, I have one favor to ask you, as a friend."
"What would you like to ask, Subaru?"
"If you can look after Emilia-tan. Whatever my counterpart did, he caused her to be in a horrible state and she'll need someone to look after her. That person should be you."
Subaru said this as he smiled at his friend, leaving the sword saint surprised at first. He didn't think that he would be asked such an important request. He thought to himself for a moment, seeing that things might be difficult since Emilia resembles the Witch of Envy yet with Felt's assistance, they might be able to help Emilia get back on her feet. He looked back at his friend and with a smile on his face, he said:
"I won't let you down, Subaru. You have my word, that I will help Emilia-sama."
"Thanks, Rein. I know it is a big request and you are a busy guy but...with the other me going to get locked away and with Puck gone...she will need someone to be by her side."
"I understand, Subaru. You can count on me."
The two boys nodded with confidence before Subaru went on ahead to check on the two Fredericas and on Petra. As Subaru does this, Wilhelm takes the chance to speak with Reinhard. He approaches the handsome knight and begins to say:
"You did well out there, Master Swordsman."
"No need to be so formal, you can call me Reinhard."
"It's alright, I prefer it this way..." Wilhelm paused himself for a moment, hesitant to say the next thing yet it needed to be said, at least to this version of Reinhard. "You didn't kill Theresia."
"Hm? You...knew honored grandmother?" Reinhard hesitantly asked which Wilhelm took notice of.
"Y-Yes, she was quite the woman. A dear friend. Just know that you aren't responsible for what happened to her."
Reinhard was just caught off guard by this, not sure how to respond to someone who was a friend to his grandmother. Before anything else can be said, Wilhelm quickly went towards Subaru's position, feeling like saying anything more would be unnecessary. Subaru looked at Frederica of this world and wanted to ask if she was alright. She noticed what the boy had said and responded with:
"I'll be...alright...as long as he is gone, I think I will be fine."
"I'm sorry Frederica...sorry for everything." Subaru spoke with guilt in his heart, seeing that this could've happened to him, becoming the Purge King, hurting those he cares about. Before the guilt could consume him, he felt Frederica of this world's hand be placed on his shoulder.
"There is no need to apologize, Natsuki Subaru. This isn't your fault."
"Yeah, you don't need to blame yourself for that meanie's actions!" Petra added in as she wanted to fill Subaru with words of encouragement. Subaru couldn't help but smile at this and nodded at them before they all looked at the group of knights approaching with Halibel and Garfiel among them. Garfiel and Frederica of this world noticed each other and quickly went for a hug, both of them just happy to be reunited.
"Sorry sis...I couldn't...I couldn't save them..."
"It's okay Garf...I'm just...glad you are okay."
The two hugged with Frederica of the other world smiling, wishing to hug her brother from her world. Subaru and Petra both smiled as they were happy the two siblings were able to reunite. As the atmosphere was filled with happiness, Subaru noticed that a bright light was beginning to shine around them.
"What's going on, Natsuki-san?!"
"Seems like it is our time to go." Subaru said as he figured that he managed to fix the world in some odd way. He looked at his counterpart, being tied up by some knights. He felt hatred towards this version of himself before looking at Otto. He patted his friend's arm while saying:
"I'm counting on you Otto. Make sure he can't hurt nobody ever again."
Otto looked at Subaru with a surprised facial expression at first before he turned it into a confident one, adding in a smile as well.
"Of course, Natsuki-san! You can count on me!"
"I know you can. You are Otto Suwen! My best friend across all worlds, well alongside Garf!"
Otto didn't understand that last part yet he was proud to call this version of Natsuki Subaru his friend. As the two nodded at each other, the bright light got brighter until everything was a white void.
"Did you enjoy your time there? Natsuki Subaru?" A familiar voice spoke to the boy, annoying him since he knows exactly where he is. He got up and looked at the door of Wrath, seeing that it changed into a symbol of patience.
"That world...was pretty freaking hard. I would've liked a warning." Subaru said as he was annoyed at how much effort he had to put.
"Eh, I suppose you are right."
"Anyway, what happened to the world?" The boy asked as he wanted to know the outcome of his friends.
"Well, rest assured with the assistance of Halibel and Reinhard, Otto Suwen took the credit of defeating the Purge King, allowing him to be a free man once again."
"That's good." Subaru said as he had a smile on his face, happy that his friend got to be free once again.
"Garfiel and Frederica both rebuild the sanctuary together with Ram by their side."
"At the very least they got each other now." Subaru spoke, knowing how hard it must've been for Garfiel when he learned that the Sanctuary was attacked by the Great Rabbit. He couldn't help but feel guilty for it but at the same time, he is grateful that his world's Sanctuary never faced a terrible fate in losing to the Great Rabbit. Subaru eventually realized that he was forgetting two people.
"What happened to myself...and to Emilia-tan?"
"...well, Reinhard did everything in his power to help Emilia but she was beyond help..."
Subaru had a sad look since he was hoping his friend could help her but in the end, she was too broken to be saved. Without her codependent partner, she couldn't hold herself together. His expression change to one of a serious one before asking:
"And what about that bastard?"
"Well he lost his mind. No way to undo the events, everything being gray. He just lost it."
"...good."
The watcher looked at Subaru and noticed how much this version of Natsuki Subaru hates his two counterparts, seeing that both as unforgivable people. For a moment the two stood silent, with the watcher thinking carefully on his next words before saying out of the blue:
"Before you ask about them, Petra, Frederica, and Wilhelm had been returned to your world."
"That's good...wait, you said three out of four allies."
"Yes, I know what I said." The watcher spoke with confidence.
"Then where's Beako?" Subaru spoke in a panic, not liking where this is going.
"She is...sleeping."
"Sleeping?" Subaru asked with a bit of hostility in his voice. He looked around again and noticed his contracted spirit on the floor, in deep sleep. He quickly ran towards Beatrice's location but before he could even reach her, a barrier blocked his path.
He tried to force his way through but the barrier wasn't giving in. Eventually he turned towards the watcher with an angry gaze, knowing that he had something to do with this.
"What did you do to Beako?!"
"I still need her to help you in another one of the worlds. Should I have returned her to your world, she wouldn't be able to help you out in the future."
Subaru was confused by this but only for a moment before just taking a moment to look at Beatrice. He still sees the visions of his wrathful self killing her, accepting being 'that person'. He also contains visions of his prideful self, seeing the amount of death he brought to that world. This eventually caused him to say in a sad tone:
"Tell me something, why are you sending me after the disasters have happened? Why not before my counterparts...ended up the way they did...?" Subaru said with both curiosity and doubt. The watcher crossed his arms for a moment, having expected this question to come up. He closed his eyes for a moment before answering with:
"Sending you to the beginning wouldn't help since you are not aware of the change, not to mention that it would cause even greater confusion. Besides, my powers allow me more to send you and your allies to specific points in the world, after your counterparts had changed."
Subaru was skeptical of what he heard, still not sure on how everything works but something else was bothering his mind.
"Then...allow me to ask this...why me?" The boy spoke in a doubtful tone.
"Hm?" The watcher was a bit curious on what Subaru meant by his question. Subaru looked at him with some doubt in himself.
"Why me of all people? I assume in the infinite masses of timelines, there has to be a Natsuki Subaru who can take these...these versions of myself without the need of allies."
"...You are different."
"How? If anything, I could become the most dangerous Natsuki Subaru...if I took the wrong path, I could..." Subaru sat down as he was having doubts in himself. He has only been to two worlds and he already can see that there are probably even worse versions of himself. "Did you summon me just to...punish me? Remind me of my own failures?"
"...Now isn't that an interesting thought." The watcher said in a blank expression, not expecting Subaru to be this doubtful towards himself. "If I came to punish you, I would've taken away all that you love but that isn't why I summoned you, Natsuki Subaru."
"Then why?"
The watcher looked at Subaru for a moment, noticing the doubt in his tone of voice. He stood silent for a brief moment before answering Subaru's question in a calm manner:
"You are unique, Subaru. Out of all the Natsuki Subaru's I've observed, you are by far the most unique. You have faced many challenges and although you could've ended up like the Subarus you have met and have yet to meet, you are one that will always make it through for his friends, despite your weak combat abilities, despite the madness that is RBD, you alone can do it.."
"...Then what is my future? What am I destined to become?"
"That...I do not know." The watcher said reluctantly to which Subaru took note of.
"What? I thought that—"
"I could see everything? Yeah, I can but your fate is the only one that is unknown for some reason. Not even the powers of my previous warden could see through the future."
"Previous warden?" Subaru asked, making the watcher realize that he spoke too much. He quickly changed the subject by speaking of the next world he will send Subaru in.
"Anyway, this next world is...not exactly what you'd expect."
"What do you mean?" The boy asked with a curious tone.
"You see, when I send you into these worlds, you have currently helped deal with those that want to harm the world itself but you haven't gone to a place where the world itself doesn't need fixing but the person inside it."
"You know, you could say things a bit more direct."
"Yeah, I could...but it is more fun for you to figure it out."
"Yeah but it makes it a pain in the ass to fix things up."
"Fair Fair. This next world you shouldn't have to worry about dying and such...hopefully."
"You do not inspire confidence, you know that?"
"Hm." The watcher smirked a little before he turned towards the door representing sloth. Subaru looked at the symbol and for a moment he felt hatred as it reminded him of Petelguese.
("You are very slothful!")
"...are you sure that there isn't something related to the Sin Archbishop of Sloth in that world...?"
The watcher was about to answer the question swiftly yet he noticed the fear in Subaru's eyes, having recalled some of the worst loops during his time trying to stop the Sin Archbishop of Sloth. This caused him to think his words carefully before speaking in a respectful manner,
"You don't need to worry, this world is like a 'slice of life' kind of world."
"Wait, if that's the case with this world then why am I going there?" Subaru questioned as he needed to know the purpose of going into a peaceful world. The watcher didn't look at the boy, he just looked at the door before responding to Subaru's question.
"It's not the world that'll need help, it is the person there, the other Natsuki Subaru who needs help."
"What kind of help?"
"...you'll see."
Subaru gave a cautious gaze as he didn't like the way the watcher was avoiding his simple question. He looked forward and was about to enter the door yet something came to mind when he was halfway.
"If it is a peaceful world, will I need any allies?"
"Not really but there is one that is needed, not for fighting purposes but for more personal reasons."
"...okay."
Subaru walked towards the door and was about to enter the world but first he wanted to look at Beatrice, wanting to make sure she is alright. As he looked in her direction, he could tell that she was sleeping peacefully.
This made him have a smile on his face before regaining some confidence to enter the door. As Subaru went to the sloth world, the watcher looked at Beatrice with a sad face before closing his eyes.
"Natsuki Subaru, this world should give you a bit of a break from the hell you have gone through...and a chance to make peace...the two of you."
Author's note:
I have to seriously thank my beta readers Cloud Link Zero and Oteyspinster for helping me with this chapter. Now a few things to address:
1. Going to be posting a month from now since I need a little break from writing and a chance to see how Sloth if will play out since I have three different ideas.
2. There was something that was asked and although the watcher himself answers this question, I'll elaborate more on it here:
Q: Why is Subaru sent to the world after everything is well gone to hell? Why not before his counterparts became their respective villain selves?
A: The point isn't to fix that world in that way, his purpose is to take down his counterparts but also learn something from them, which will be elaborated more on that lesson in the sloth if section of the story. Also, it's more interesting to have Subaru see his evil/other counterparts and how he could've possibly ended up.
Well then, I'll see you all in a month. Hopefully you all enjoyed the finale of Wrath if.