Season 2 cour 2 spoilers from here on out
Chapter 33: Harsh truth
Roswaal looked at Subaru with an interested look, curious to know what he wants to do about the trial. Subaru crosses his arms and quickly clarifies what he means.
"I want to find a way to have everyone escape the Sanctuary without taking the trial. You should know this place better than anyone, there should be a way out of this."
"A way to leeeeave the Sanctuary without going through the graaaaaveyard? That is quite the bold suggestion. I do believe this might not be the first tiiiiime."
Subaru stayed looking confident yet the back of his mind had fear that Roswaal would kill everyone should things not go his way. He looks down for a moment before answering the question.
"It's the first time we've discussed this. It'd be pointless to even try to count how many times we've interrogated each other now."
Roswaal's eyes widened for a moment, a bit intrigued by what Subaru said.
"It would seem you have quite the histooooory with me."
"I've learned a lot of other stuff too"
"Inteeeeeresting. But forego the graveyard seeeeeems awfully cooooowardly. Do you have a reason for such haste?"
"Of course not. I just...can't bear to watch Emilia keep going in there and getting hurt."
"That is precisely what you are for. Surely you don't mean to say it would pain you to undergo it for her?"
"That's—"
"Not the case? Truly? If you truly love Emilia-sama, it should be a simple task for you. Emilia-sama should come first, and yourself after. Am I wrong?"
"I..."
Subaru was very hesitant to answer the question since he wants to also preserve his life as well. He recalls everything Satella and Sora told him in Echidna's dream world, making him want to value his life as well. Roswaal noticed the hesitation and quickly sighted in disappointment, having expected this the moment Subaru asked for a way out of Sanctuary without the need of going through the trial. His voice was normal tone without his usual mannerisms in speaking,
"I see you still have not sharpened your resolve enough. Just a little...yes, I had just a little bit of hope. That maybe, just maybe, I could see the future I desire..."
Roswaal lays back onto his bed while saying to Subaru, "But you have yet to even stand at the starting line of your resolve."
"The starting line...of my resolve? I don't know what that means! What do you think I—"
"I expect you to possess the will to carry out your objective, even if it means trampling on Emilia-sama's will. Understand? If you truly do it all for Emilia-sama's sake, then you must ignore what Emilia-sama wants. A child who dreams of a childish paradise is not capable of the resolve necessary to walk through the hell you must choose."
"That's totally backwards, isn't it?! If it's for Emilia—"
"There is life. So long as there is life, there is a future. So long as there is life, there is hope. So long as there is hope, there is possibility. So long as there is possibility, people can be saved. Am I wrong?"
Roswaal turns towards Subaru to see if he has something to say only to see the boy hesitate. This gives the magician an answer on Subaru's mindset, disappointing him even further.
"Nothing to say in response, I see." Roswaal goes to grab his book to hug it. "How many more times must you disappoint me? In that case, while you work on sharpening your resolve, let me press you on one more matter. I believe you have already faced many of the problems that arise within this Sanctuary, but those problems are not limited to the Sanctuary alone."
"You mean the mansion? You know about-"
"But of course. The order to have assassins attack the mansion...was one I personally issued."
Subaru was in shock when he heard this, starting to remember everything that happened in the mansion with Elsa having killed him twice, the death of his master, and the destruction of Arlam village. This caused him to start getting dizzy, while trying to catch his breath.
"Wait...wait. Hang on a second. It was you?"
"Yes, I sent assassins to the mansion to help sharpen your resolve." Roswaal spoke with conviction.
"My resolve...?"
"Even with your Authority, even with that keyblade of yours, even having your master by your side, you cannot save both. You must decide which is more important to you. Once you make that choice, you can never take it back. Eventually, you will be perfected..."
Roswaal looks at Subaru with interested eyes, continuing to talk about the boy he wants to mold into his image.
"...as a being who can only save one and no others."
All that goes through Subaru's mind is everybody he lost all the people he cares about in the previous loops once again. He first recalls his death against Elsa, then his second death against her while remembering his last encounters with the people in the mansion.
He then thinks about losing his father to Garfiel, watching Sora get killed, and watching Emilia having lost her mind in the trials. All these thoughts caused him to collapse to the ground to start begging to Roswaal, which did catch the margrave's attention.
"What...are you doing?"
"Please. Please forgive me. It was my fault...it's my fault..."
"Raise your head, Subaru-kun. Nothing is your faul-"
"You're wrong! I want to do the trials, I want to help Emilia but I can't! Echidna took away my qualification."
"What?" Roswaal questioned Subaru with some concern in his voice, not having expected this at all.
"Please! Setting assassins on the mansion won't do any good! No matter who dies, it won't...So please..."
There was a silence while Subaru was pressing his head hard into the floor, hoping that his begging will work yet...
"No, I refuse. In fact, I now see an even greater need to do so. If you truly wish it, Echidna will surely restore your qualification. That's the nature of her greedy personality. You can get the qualification back. You can fix this. Therefore, my actions will not change."
Subaru was in more of a panic than ever before, seeing that Roswaal could aim to just kill everyone but himself and his master, meaning that he would need to restart the world to make sure everyone is still alive.
"I will continue to corner you, to sharpen your resolve...until you are perfected. Don't get conceited, Natsuki Subaru. You're not the only one who understands Echidna!"
'Why...Why...' Subaru was thinking to himself on why Roswaal was doing this, making him conclude that he just simply hates him.
"If...If you hate me, then make me the only one you..."
"Hate you?" Roswaal asked in confusion before making an evil smile. "I could never hate you. You are my hope. The only ones who allow me to feel any kind of hope are you and Ram. From the bottom of my heart, I believe in you."
Subaru's surroundings began to be disoriented while he was in full of fear of Roswaal, scared of the magician. He gets up slowly with a bit of sweat in his head and shaking in his arms, knowing now that he has another big problem to deal with and it has been right under their noses. He walks backwards towards the door while looking at Roswaal still in his disoriented vision before saying,
"I will...I will...never be like you. I'm human. I'll always...be human."
Subaru begins to run out of the room with his vision still disoriented, causing him to trip a couple of times. As he was running out of the building in a panic, he failed to notice that Kenichi and Otto were passing by and noticed him.
The two looked at each and nodded before going after Subaru, realizing that he is in trouble. Sora noticed the two running after wanting to go outside for a bit and quickly figured that Subaru is probably in some sort of trouble.
'What happened this time?' Sora thought to himself, worried that something bad as happened to his apprentice. Sora quickly ran fast enough to catch up with Otto and Kenichi, asking the two on what happened with Subaru, to which the two answered that they are unsure.
"He just ran out of the house as if something bad is happening."
"Well then, we better check up on him before he does anything rash."
Kenichi and Otto nodded at this statement and continued to run towards Subaru's location, the three of them determined to help the boy should he be in trouble.
Subaru runs and runs and runs and runs as fast as he possibly could with his mind filled with fear, despair, sadness, anger, and many other negative emotions all stemming from the fact that Roswaal had been manipulating all of the events this entire time.
He hired Elsa to go to the mansion and since Elsa told Capella about Sora, she wanted to go meet his master which in turn made things worse. He is also the cause of the Great Rabbit even reaching Sanctuary, which in turn just made things difficult to escape Sanctuary without having the trials complete.
All of this made him question what he should do since he is put in such a position that could get anybody killed if he doesn't do things right. As he was running around the forest for a while, he eventually fell down a small hill and eventually hit the ground. As he was on the ground, he looked up for a moment before beginning to panic.
"What am I supposed to do now? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do? What do I do?! What do I do?! What Do I Do?!"
"Would you like us to tell you what to do?"
"Huh?"
Subaru looked up to see Otto walking alongside his dad and his master, surprising the boy who managed to get back some of his sanity. He looked up and saw that his father was offering to help him get back up.
"You shouldn't be on the ground, my son."
"Father...Otto...Master Sora...what brings you three here?" As Subaru asks this, he accepts his father's assistance to get up. As he was up, he noticed Otto to be the one to respond to his question in a confident manner.
"Before we answer that, let's put that aside and focus on you, you were deliriously muttering to yourself with a face like someone about to die."
"I see...I'm sorry I worried you three. I just lost my cool."
"You sure your alright, Subaru?"
"Yes Master Sora, I better think of a plan now."
"You were at your wits' end, right? And you want to know what you should do? Just leave it to us."
"Leave what to you three?"
"Now, listen. This will take preparation."
"Preparation?" Subaru asked as he wasn't sure what Otto was getting at.
"Yes. First, take a long, deep breath."
"Huh?"
"Quickly, now."
Subaru was confused by this yet he trusted Otto's words and began doing what he was told to do and began taking deep breaths. As he did this, Otto looked at both Sora and Kenichi to see if they were ready for the next part.
The two nodded before Otto waited for the right moment for him to punch Subaru's face, making sure he woke up mentally. Once he did this, Subaru fell to the ground with his face hurting while Otto held his fist up high with an angry facial expression,
"Stop trying to put on a tough front around your friends and family, Natsuki Subaru!"
Subaru looked up with his mind completely blanked for a moment, seeing his friend Otto standing besides his master and his father. All three looked at him with a serious expression before he got up and quickly bowed at them, feeling stupid for not having learned a thing until now.
"I'm sorry, it's my fault for still doing things on my own...Otto, Master Sora, can you give me and my father a moment alone? I want to speak with him privately first."
Otto and Sora both looked at each other for a moment before looking at Subaru and giving him a nod, understanding that there is something he needs to do first. The two quickly went far away to give the two privacy before Kenichi turned towards his son and asked him,
"Mind if I asked what is wrong, my son?"
"There is something I want to talk to you about before anything happens...I want you to know the truth."
"The truth? About what son?" Kenichi asked, having a worried look in his face. Subaru knew that he had already made peace with his father yet he had to do it once again but this time with his father that is from his world, not the trial version of him.
"I wanted you and mom, back home before you got involved in all of this...before I was taken from our home, to call out my weakness, since I was the only one in pain. To tell me I'm an unbelievably small person, an idiot who's never good enough, and a self-righteous scumbag. I wanted you both to beat that into me and make me give up. After all, I've always had this way of somehow managing to squeak through anything, you know? Like in schoolwork and sports. But...I don't know when it started...But I was no longer the best at things I used to be the best at. When used to be my 'best' grew smaller and smaller. I started thinking that it all made no sense. Working my hardest at school seemed stupid. And why is being a fast runner something to brag about? Making everyone laugh seemed way cooler to me, and I was way better at it. But if I kept that up, it became apparent that I'd always have to do something bigger the next time. I didn't want people to think I was boring. I thought I could do anything. I made everyone think I would do anything. And so the things I did got dumber and dumber. I was just out of control, not thinking about anything. I knew they were a bunch of idiots. I wanted them to think that they couldn't have this much fun if they weren't with me. That they could regret whatever they wanted, as long as we spend the boring times doing pointless crap for fun. I decided I would set my sights higher. But the next thing I knew, I was looking around...And there was no one left but me. That's when I finally realized that there was nothing special about me at all. From then on, I just spent all my time trying not to stand out. That's how I got through middle school, then when I got into high school..."
Subaru paused himself for a moment before giving a faint smile, remembering how he made himself look like a fool when he introduced himself to the class.
"I gotta say, I really blew my high school debut. But it was bound to happen. I'd never had any real relationships up to that point. High school wasn't gonna be any better. And then it occurred to me...I just...didn't want to go to school. It all just snowballed from there. One day a week of skipping school turned into one in every three days, then every other day...it didn't take even three months before I stopped going at all. But no matter how pathetic I was, you and mom still treated me the same as always. That's what scared me most of all. I wanted you to say, 'I don't love you.' 'I despise you.' 'You're not my son.' I wanted you to tell me that and throw me out. I wanted you to make me give up. But..."
Subaru paused himself and looked up at the new morning with a smile on his face, recalling his first meeting with Emilia, his first meeting with Sora, all the crazy things they have accomplished since he arrived to this world. All of the things that shape him right now, Subaru looks up with a smile.
"I made a chance to be something in this world. I still have a lot to learn and get over my jealousy towards Master Sora but...I want to now make you and mom proud."
Kenichi was silent for all of this, completely surprised by what he heard which made him process everything his son told him with extreme care since he knew that this is what his son as been feeling for a long time. He took a moment before calling Subaru's name and easily managed to jump high enough to axe kick his son's head while saying, "Father Headbutt!"
"Ahhh! (Not again!)"
"See that, Subaru? That was my most loving Father headbutt, packed with all my rage!"
"That was an axe kick! Nothing about that was a headbutt!"
"Hehe my jumping skills are impressive and my leg goes up pretty high too. But aside from that, you are pretty dumb, aren't ya?"
"H-Huh?"
"A lot about what you said bothers me, but you know what's the worst? You wanted me to hate you, so you tried to achieve that by playing hooky? Are you dumb?! And if you want to get me to throw you out, pick something a little more active! What parent would ditch their own child just because he retreated into his shell?!"
Subaru was a bit dumbfounded by this since he had this exact same scenario play out in the trial, so seeing it with his actual father felt slightly relieving.
"You're so twisted, you're on the fastest way of being a dumbass!" Kenichi punched his fist into his other hand and started to crack his knuckles. "I'd be glad to set you straight by force if you want..."
Subaru sighed at this before he was dragged back onto standing level by his father, having seen that his son had grown since he had been taken away from japan.
"But it looks like you've already been knocked down and got back up, so there's no need."
The two stood silent for a moment before laughing a bit, having both found some inner peace within. As they laughed, Sora and Otto both returned, having felt that it has passed enough time for them to make their return.
As the two were approaching the father and son, Subaru looked at his father and quickly ended it off in, "I promise you that I will repay you and mother by working hard in this world so you both no longer have to work. It's the least I can do."
"Haha don't expect us to just sit around, son. I got to show how amazing your cool dad is and your mother would want to show off her skills as well but I thank you for that."
Otto and Sora both ask Kenichi and Subaru if they are alright to which the two Natsuki members nod before Otto tells Subaru,
"Alright, now that you had your father and son moment, tell us what is going on?"
"Yeah, sorry to worry-"
"No, don't hide under a sorry! You keep showing a facade to hide what you feel! Tell us what caused you to run out of the building!"
"..." Subaru was surprised that they managed to see him run out after having learned the truth regarding the events of The Sanctuary and The Mansion. He stood silent for a moment before he finally answered Otto,
"The Great Rabbit is coming to Sanctuary."
"What?"
"Great Rabbit?"
"Subaru, are you sure?! This is serious!"
"Yes Otto, I am serious. Roswaal confirmed it after confirming as well that he hired The Bowel Hunter to attack the Mansion."
"That son of a-"
"I knew he couldn't be trusted!"
"What?! W-Why would the Margrave do that?!"
"He wants to shape me into a perfect being in his eyes, but we don't have time. We only have four days before the mansion is hit. If we don't think of something, we will all die."
Otto was surprised by this, having a lot on his mind from the information he got from Subaru. Sora had a tight fist since he knows that Rem is in the mansion defenseless, making him want to start running towards the Mansion to save her. Kenichi stood silent as he knew that things just got serious, making him slightly excited since he wants to help his son.
"Subaru-san..."
"Yes Otto."
"There's no way I can pretend I didn't hear this and run away now, is there?"
"What the hell Suwen-san?!"
"Now hold on Kenichi-san, I'm just asking. I mean we are trapped in a place with the Great Rabbit approaching, to escape we have to rely on Emilia and her questionable capabilities of defeating the Trial, if we at least try to evacuate the people who won't trigger the barrier we get impeded by Mr. Clueless, and if we do reach the mansion we'll find that an assassin is visiting on the Lord of the Manor's orders...just what kind of situation is this?!"
"I know how you feel Otto but you do believe this insane story?"
"..."
"Do you?"
"Sora-san, Subaru-san, up until now, I've ventured around quite a few locales, and although I may be me I have had interactions with rather many people."
"...Can you tell if someone is trustworthy by looking in their eyes or something?"
"No, I don't adhere to that superstition. When you're a merchant, you'll come to learn very well over your experiences that people are beings who can deceive and ruin others without any fog in their gaze at all. I do have some amount of experience with that."
Although Subaru would tease Otto that he had been tricked a number of times to reach this point of being able to tell despite the fact that he is bragging about this ability, Subaru stays quiet as Otto continued to speak.
"So there's how I met various people, and did my breed of business negotiations. It's been about four years since I left my home to begin merchanting, and although through both good and bad I've managed to survive. Through those days I lived as a decent merchant...And I'm confident that I have always opted for the choices I could calculate as more likely being the successful. That didn't mean they always produced results, but...or really, it was more that the side I had thought the winner would afterwards be an incredible disaster, and so there were no results..."
"Hey..."
"Leaving aside whether the outcomes were good or bad, I've intended to pick my choices in a way where I would not regret the decision itself. Since I believe it necessary to know clearly what it is I'm staking and what it is I'm wagering."
Subaru, Sora, and Kenichi were all silent as they tried to understand what Otto was saying, unsure if he will help them in facing the problems caused because of Roswaal. As they pondered for a moment, Otto managed to speak once again.
"And so this is a first, Sora-san, Subaru-san, Kenichi-san."
"Huh?"
"First of what?"
"For acting with disregard to chance of success, and so opting for the choice with no visible hope of winning, this is a first."
Sora and Subaru both were excited to see that Otto is going to back them up while Kenichi had already known this, having paid attention to Otto's actions before being asked if he will join them. They all cheer before Kenichi asks his son of the plan.
"I think the first thing is to deal with Roswaal, he has this book that tells him a set path so if I don't do something about it, he might just kill us all."
"I think I can take it, I mean how hard can it be."
"Sora-san, do you think that you can take on the Margrave and Ram?" Otto asked with some concern in his tone of voice.
"I can beat them, though I do not wish to fight Ram of all people."
"Master Sora, I do appreciate that but being hostile like that wasn't what I had in mind. What I had in mind was placing a little bet with Roswaal."
"A bet?"
"Yes, I want to challenge his book and have it destroyed once we succeed in this fight for The Sanctuary and The Mansion."
"Alright my son, we will trust your judgement."
"Thank you father."
Subaru nodded at his father after having finished thanking him before the four continued to discuss the goals of the bet he will be making with Roswaal, allowing the three to understand the things they will need to focus on. After this, Subaru along with the group quickly headed towards the house where Roswaal was located with Subaru and Sora entering the room. Ram and Roswaal both looked at the door to see a confident Subaru speaking.
"Roswaal! Let's make a bet. Between you and me, with a wish as the chip."
Ram and Roswaal were both a bit surprised to see Subaru full of energy, more for Roswaal since he last recalled that the boy was engulfed in fear from their last encounter. He was a bit intrigued by the wicked smile in Subaru's face, making him ask, "-A bet?"
"Yeah, a bet, you and me, staking a wish...a real one-shot make-or-break."
"..." Roswaal was cautious with this, completely unsure on what the boy is thinking while Ram gets in between the two with her eyes full of anger as she views this as a disrespect towards Roswaal.
"Hold, Barusu. You come barging into the room, and just when we wonder what you're going to say...do you mean to burden Roswaal-sama in his convalescence? Surely disrespect in the utmost."
As it seemed like Subaru was going to respond to what Ram said, Sora stepped up for his apprentice and quickly pulled out his kingdom key. Ram noticed this and quickly pulled out her wand, ready to fight Sora should he pose a threat to Roswaal. Sora took note of this and quickly looked at Ram with a serious facial expression.
"I'm not here to fight but if you do something that is uncalled for, I will fight you."
"Hmph!"
Subaru looks at Roswaal and proceeds to speak his mind.
"I've got no reason to stop or need to hesitate. We had enough of a thing between us for at least this much, Roswaal."
"-Hrm."
"Or is some straying from your diary all it takes for you to sulk and your motivation to shoot to zero? Where's your backbone to get a little bit crazy for your coming selves?"
"...An intriguing statement. My coming selves, hm."
Subaru was very careful on his words when communicating with Roswaal, making sure he communicates it in a way that doesn't directly touch the subject of Return by Death. Ram looks confused while Sora is somewhat understanding, knowing that Subaru has knowledge because of something Satella did to him yet he can't remember why.
"Ram, Stand down...No, raaaaather, could you excuse yourself outside for a moment?"
"...Yes but Roswaal-sama-"
"Sora-kun, could you also excuuuuuse yourself? I would wish to speeeeak with Subaru-kun alone."
"That is fine, I have a feeling that nothing violent will happen here. I trust Subaru after all."
Subaru nodded at his Master and watched as he also dragged Ram outside, seeing how mad she was at Sora which was a first. As the two were leaving the room, Subaru waited for a moment before finally having his chat with Roswaal. The conversation started with Roswaal wondering of Subaru's change in attitude within a few hours to which Subaru responded confidently,
"I got lectured, a punchout, and a father-son bonding moment before getting back my strength...or really no it was too one-sided to be a punchout. It felt more like having a re-realization."
Subaru touched his face as he recalled the pain of Otto's punch, making him slightly annoyed at the possibility of Otto being stronger than him since he wants to just tease his friend more rather than have the fear of being beaten up.
"Seriously though what a vicious world..."
"Really now, is it. Weeeeell, we had just confirmed yesterday that I haven't cornered you enough, buuuuuut it seems no mistake to judge that your comeback was swift."
"Still at my absolute limit though...just doing everything I can...but I don't think it was bad. Getting a buddy's help along with my master and my father, helping me to get through this hopeless situation and to keep on fighting."
"Naive. Young. Immature. ...Ultimately you can only solve the suffering of this world by yourself. These nerveless ideas about relying on your friends, on your parents, on that foolish master of yours are unneeded."
"Relying on friends, relying on ties, relying on feelings...you saying that those won't work?"
"Wooooon't work at all."
"Really? Well then, all we can do now is challenge each other."
Roswaal's expression shifts. Subaru approaches Roswaal on the bed, stepping forth as he clicks his fingers, and points the clicked finger at Roswaal.
"As I said, let's make a bet. The chip is a wish, the table is one-round limit."
"Let's listen tooooooo what there is to hear."
"Alright then, on this attempt, I won't be acting in accord with your hopes. And that's not limited to just now, I'm not intending to accord on following attempts either, but...even saying I keep insisting that, it's just a parallel line between me and you. So let's establish a limit."
"A limit?"
"Yeah. On this attempt I'll bust through things using my way. And if it looks to be a bungle...from next time onwards I'll act the way you want me to. That's the limit."
"-You're dismissing the privileges of your ability to redo?"
"You said it yourself. Your methods for cornering me weren't enough. I agree. The consequences of getting cocky about redoing was that debacle."
Normally with the assistance of Return by Death, Subaru would be able to help get everyone alive since on his own without it, he would've been dead long ago but his mindset had changed. Thanks to everyone, including the second trial, he had now decided to give it his all to preserve his life and should it end in a Return By Death scenario, then he would begrudgingly have to accept it.
"That's heresy against those who'd cry for me. I'm not doing that any more." Subaru spoke in confidence, not wishing for the possibility of other worlds to exist where people suffer because of him. Roswaal took note of this and finally understood Subaru's reasoning.
"And that's what you're limiting yourself for...iiiiiis it. While I hadn't asked for it, it is a favourable condition fooooooor me, but where is your guarantee you will abide by this?"
"So, a guarantee."
"Yes, a guarantee. Those are veeeeeery important. Aaaaaaaafter all, you with your ability to redo can make it so that this promise neeeeeever happened. You fail, reset to return to last night, deeeeeeefectedly decide to attempt another method..."
Subaru gave Roswaal a stare, not liking the implications the clown is giving to him which eventually caused him to ask if he truly thinks that he would do something like that. Roswaal stood silent which caused Subaru to turn towards the door.
"If you do, then...this talk isn't going to happen. That's all."
"No Noooo, Let's heeeeear the rest of it. I can decide at the end."
Subaru smiled at this before returning his facial expression into a serious one, knowing that he needs to make Roswaal accept this bet.
"...Please. But like I said before, we'll set a limit. I'll put everything I have into this attempt. If it doesn't work out then I'll do things the way you say to. Since either way...if this method doesn't work, I doubt there's anything left."
"You're confident, is not the case here but you are resolved. Weeeeell then, I will have to answer to that. Now, you're establishing a cutoff, and starting that this attempt is the last. So what could it be you're demanding frooooom me, then?"
"My demand's simple. Supposing hypothetically that on this attempt my methods break the deadlock, the consequent future will be different from your goals. In that case you'll probably give up on living but there will be none of that."
"None of that, refers to me losing my determination? Hoooooowever, I'm forced to say that is a difficult demand. While of course I likely could manage a superficial faaaaaacade, in my truest thoughts I would..."
"Doesn't matter, it's not like I wanted us to be enemies."
Roswaal falls silent to this, confused by Subaru's statement while the boy continues his talk.
"I know that you'd hate a future that is different from your gospel, but regardless I will still be fighting to make Emilia ruler. I will rely on the power bestowed upon me, who cares how I will get there but I will get there. Which is why my demand is simple, Roswaal. Should I find a way to break this deadlock without the gospel, I want you to throw it away and to join me in making Emilia the ruler. I need your help for that."
Subaru is aware that if he leaves things how he normally does, should the path he carved be different from Roswaal's gospel, then he would be in trouble and things would just end with everyone dying. Roswaal sighs a long, deep sigh before he speaks.
"That's the ultimate compromise you're looking for...I see, then."
"It's a pretty convenient thing though. But you know me, I love convenient things. Emilia puts in all her efforts and becomes Ruler, I celebrate that beside her, and so now you come join us as one of the crowd included."
"This is a difficult proposition for me, when I have kept to one method for a long looooooooong time. If you're to get me to act, theeeeeen that would necessitate strict conditions, yes?"
"Two conditions, two that you would think that are impossible. Once I clear them both, I win the bet."
"And should you fail on either one oooooor even both, then victory is mine. I will have you discard your humanity."
"Alright then, the first condition is to make Garfiel my ally and bring him outside."
"Thaaaaat would prove rather difficult considering he diiiiiistrust Sora-kun."
"Master Sora and I will deal with that but I will succeed in this, after all we can't leave Sanctuary with a tantruming kid. We also might need his strength in the future so there is that."
"Whaaaaat is the second?"
Subaru hears this question and quickly gives a confident response with a smile on his face.
"I'm going to have Emilia-tan beat the Trial. She will be the one to set Sanctuary free, not me or my master."
"That is impossible! That thing is incapable of beating the Trial and it is not possible that Garfiel would abandon his obsession for Sanctuary, either!"
"Ha! I won't know that until I try."
Roswaal was very angry by this, feeling like he is being mocked by Subaru's bet since it is way too one sided on his favor.
"Exactly, you would not know that until you tried it! And is it not exactly because you have repeated that numerous times over that you came to me so entirely overwhelmed!? Your visage then, and your resolve now, is the proof that those two do not merit any hope!"
"Well isn't that some fucking spirited anger."
"What?" Roswaal asked while looking very angry at Subaru.
"It's to your advantage that the conditions on me are strict. I get it, it's probably suspicious that I'm making a bet when I'm at such a disadvantage but there is a reason why I'm going to win this regardless of the massive disadvantage."
"Ooooh, what might thaaaat be?"
"Because my friends will be what'll get me through this. If there is one thing Master Sora taught me is that friends are our power. It is what got me back my keyblade." Subaru summons his Starlight keyblade for a moment to show off a little before putting it away. "That's the difference I will be doing in this loop."
Roswaal stood silent, he simply stares fixedly at Subaru, getting his breaths back in order. Once his breathing has calmed down, Roswaal raised his finger to tell Subaru just the simply word, Contract Subaru stood silent for a moment before the Margrave continued to speak,
"Fair enough. We'll have me aaaaaaacept these conditions you've presented. The liberation of Garfiel from his curse, and Emilia-sama's liberation of Sanctuary. Once both of these have occurred, I will discard my plan, and travel the path you construct. Let us form a contract for this purpose."
Roswaal dim light flickers atop his finger, creating a rainbow-colored concentration of mana.
"Through our gates, we will carve the contract into our souls. No matter who you may deceive, you cannot deceive your own heart. The contract engraved in our souls will persist over distance, over time, even over worlds. It will likely have effect against your resets too."
"What, has to be something you can do about them. But, eh, convenient for me, doing this. We're both bound by contract, and it saves me time beating the tantrum out of you when you lose the bet."
"It dooooooesn't appear that you're regarding this lightly...but, very well."
Roswaal didn't say much regarding Subaru's willingness to accept the contract. The gleam on his finger moves to contract the centre of Subaru's chest, and then comes the sensation of something seeping into his body. Immediately, a wave pulses out from inside him, as if opening all the pores down his body. Subaru exhales while Roswaal continues to speak.
"Identically, I will engrave it on my soul. Once Natsuki Subaru's contract has been fulfilled, Roswaal L. Mathers' contract shall also be fulfilled."
The rainbow light bursts identically on Roswaal's chest. For an instant the glow permeates down Roswaal's whole body, him returning to normal in the space of a blink.
"Is that the end?" Subaru asked, curious since he has never done a contract before.
"That is the end...Theeeeere's no rescinding it now."
Confirming their mutual inability to flee from the contract, Subaru gives a small gulp. Roswaal puts his hand to his chest.
"Just as you shall invest your greatest efforts into fulfilling your conditions, I will be acting to actualize the gospel's writ. You won't fault me for that, will you?"
"...The snowfall in five days is happening again."
"If Emilia-sama does not bring the snowfall, it will likely turn out thaaaaat I will be doing it."
Subaru stood silent, having noted now that he has a set time limit before the Great rabbit attacks. He knows that he needs to first get Emilia to liberate Sanctuary and liberate Garfiel from his curse before then.
"Well, seeing that time is precious, I should probably get going."
"Subaru-kun. The mansion is the same day. I'll pray for your good fight."
"Because if I try my very hardest and fail, next time I'll probably act exactly how you want me to...right?"
"..."
Roswaal's answer to Subaru's reply was with silence. This gave the indication to Subaru that he should be more careful since he has only one chance to do things with his humanity still there. He continued to head towards the exit yet before he leaves, he has one last thing to say to the clown.
"This match is between you and me. A couple of clowns tossed around by fate, let's have us doing it fair and square."
With those words, he leaves the room. As he leaves, he knows that this loop's fate rest on his shoulders and on those he trust with all of his heart.
Subaru steps outside with Otto, Sora, Kenichi, and Naoko waiting for him. Subaru was surprised to see his mother there, having expected her to be taking care of Emilia.
"Mom? What brings you out here?"
"Your father told me what is going on. I want to help you out as best as I can my baby boy."
"Thanks mom..."
"So Subaru-san, did you successfully manage to have a contract tied?"
"Yes, went all good. Was worried about the chance he'd be perfectly moody and not agree to the bet but...think the unfavourable conditions on me got us through that."
"They probably did but with all of us working together, we can help you pull this off."
"Agreed Master Sora."
"So son, what are you going to start off doing first?"
"The plan will be this, Master Sora and I will try to see if we can get Puck, the spirit of Emilia, to get out in order to have him help us with Emilia. Mom, you will help Emilia with the trial too. You are going to be there as the mother figure. Father, Otto, you two will alert the villagers of what is going on and get them to not do anything rash. I want them to prepare for when we will get them to escape."
"Escape?"
"If the villagers are here, Garfiel can use them against us and I need him to be focus on me. I need to beat him but for this we will need the help of Ram."
"I think I can get Ram-chan to join our side." Otto says in a confident manner.
"Alright then Otto, I will trust you with that but have my father be by your side, I know with him your chances of success will increase."
"Well of course they will, I'm the best at communicating with people. Wise choice my son."
"Yeah, well we should get moving. We only have five days before both the Great Rabbit arrive to kill us all and the mansion gets attack. Remember we need to get Garfiel to be on our side and we need Emilia to pass the trial. Once both are met, we will surely beat Roswaal at his game."
"Right!" Sora, Otto, Kenichi, and Naoko said in unison, all four believing in Subaru. As Subaru nods, they all head towards their designated areas with Kenichi and Otto heading towards the villagers first to alert them of what is going on before going to convince Ram.
As the two head towards the village, Subaru along with Sora and Naoko go inside the house where Emilia is at. Subaru is confident that this time he will break through this deadlock, although he wished that his previous loop would've been the last one but he is not complaining for now. As Naoko goes to check on Emilia first with Sora and Subaru both waiting outside the room before they get the all clear, Subaru knows that there is a conversation he needs to have with his master.
"Master Sora, we need to speak about something."
"What's on you mind, Subaru?"
"We need to talk about the deal with the organization regarding waking Rem up."