Watching Arc 4 in The Theater of Despair

by Ostap Bender99

This fanfic is a prequel to the work "The Secret" by Continuer123. The cast is still trapped in an enchanted theater by the enigmatic "Warden". And now they are about to see the trials of Natsuki Subaru that took place in Sanctuary. P.S. - this work is a translation of the finished fanfic.

9. Episode 8

Well, you waited for it. You asked for it.
Actually, you asked for it so much that I start to wonder if the interest to this work will plummet after this chapter.)) Ow, well, we'll see.

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"I was thinking that when you would arrive, I would have become an old granny."

"You're… Otto's helper?" Subaru asked with evident surprise.

Leaning against a tree with her arms crossed was Ram, waiting for them.

"Calling me 'helper' makes it sound as if we are equals. I am an attendant."

Subaru sighs. "You make it sound like you're a Witch and a familiar or something…"

"My orders from Roswaal-sama were to assist Barusu. It was Ram's own decision to seek out Otto to meet that end."

"I wou-u-uldn't abandon our knight in times of trouble. He is a very va-a-aluable ally to me." Roswaal could not resist emphasizing that he also helped the young man as much as he could.

It may not alter anything in the long run, and in the near future margrave will surely have to answer for his transgressions against Subaru. But until that moment arrives, he will at least be able to enjoy the fact the others cannot make him a scapegoat. No matter how much they may want to.

"Ya sure ya didn't mean to say pawn, ya snake with make-up?!" Garfiel couldn't help but snap back.

Right now he was ready to receive insults from almost anyone, except from this scumbag.

"Well, someone has to protect our only knight from the offended tiger-boy-y-y." Margrave replied venomously. Which earned him a lot of scornful looks.

"Don't you dare to bully Garf, you creepy clown!" Mimi was furious, jumping to her feet.

Even Ram shook her head slightly. She didn't like the way her master was pouring salt on the bleeding wound of her childhood friend.

"Ah, so he measured up to nee-sama's standards?"

The screen switched to Ram's memories that showed Garfiel, looking for a merchant, who was hiding in the bushes nearby.

"I just thought if there was no one I could handily use, you would end up dying in vain."

"Crap! I can't deny that!" Subaru instantly acknowledged her point.

"Well, you should!" Otto was indignant.

"For someone who's been confined, you seem awfully composed." Ram noted his strange behavior.

"—eh? Oh…" He looks towards Otto, a grin on his face. "Well, I did just have a good laugh. Ehehehe…"

"Not surprising. A few quiet days in captivity is almost like a resort for him, compared to what he went through quite recently." Ricardo noted gloomily.

"I'm starting to think that the horrors he experienced did not so much temper the spirit of Subaru-kyun, as they gave rise to an unusual form of insanity in him. As if, once a stressful situation happens, his sense of fear and instinct for self-preservation are completely forgotten, nya." Felix said sympathetically.

"Except, they don't disappear entirely, they're just suppressed until he overcomes the current danger. And after that, when a quiet time arrives, it all comes back to him and begins to torment his soul. And he himself, trying to escape from it, torments the body!" Julius added, recalling with anger the scars on his friend's arms.

No matter how hard he tried, he couldn't think of a reliable way to help Natsuki with his nightmares.

"Perhaps, if we let him know that everything is fine, and that he was successful and solved everything, it will become easier for him?" Rem thought aloud.

This thought was evoked by a memory of the scene when she and her sister held Subaru's hands in his sleep and thus helped him to calm down. But will it be helpful now, after all he's been through since then?

' We won't find out until we try! ' The maid firmly decided, thinking over the options. If necessary, she will force her sister to spend the night next to her hero, so that he would feel a bit calmer.

"We're going to escape. Garf can't leave the graveyard while Emilia-sama is taking the Trial. We'll leave while his attention is away from us."

"No." Subaru shakes his head. "Running away can wait until later."

"Natsuki-san?!" Otto asked surprised.

"I'm not saying we won't run, but this is a golden opportunity."

"What are you planning?" Ram's eyes narrow.

"I'm going to do what I was trying to do three days ago, before I was interrupted."

"What is he doing? He's wasting his time, staying here! He's just recklessly risks encountering an aggressive Garfiel!" Emilia was afraid for the fate of her knight.

"Please, be patient, Emilia-sama. Your knight has firmly set on his usual path. No matter how difficult it is." Wilhelm replied to her.

"The most important thing for him now is to gather information. He knows about the timing of the attack on the mansion, and that his appearance will provoke an attack ahead of time. He knows that right now he doesn't have enough strength to deal with the Bowel Hunter. This means that he has options either to try to evacuate the mansion, or to look for strong fighters. But now it's more important for him to understand whether Beatrice is an enemy, and what to do with Garfiel." Anastasia mused aloud, eager to see how the young knight was going to unwind this tangle of riddles.

The scene changed to Roswaal's house.

"Roswaal. I won't let you hide anything from me this time." Subaru said in a serious tone.

"Reunited after three days… it doesn't quite feel like a miraculous mira-a-acle."

"Hey, quit joking around. I don't have the time to put up with your dumb games now."

"It was Ram who let you in, yes? I did orde-e-er her to help you." Subaru nods to this.

"Yeah, and that's why she let me in here without an argument. I put the idea of running away on hold."

"Oh?"

"I want to ask you something, under the assumption that me leaving the Sanctuary is a given."

"Of course. If I have the answe-e-er, I shall give it to you."

"If anything, it's the only thing you can answer." He inhales sharply.

"Is Beatrice… a member of the Witch Cult?"

"What made you suspect that Beatrice is a Witch cultist?"

"I… saw Beatrice in the Library, and she had a Gospel. If she is a Witch cultist, then… That makes her our… my enemy."

"Are you satisfied, you pathetic parody of a spirit?! Your own contractor is ready to write you down in the list of his deadly enemies, in fact! A well deserved decision, after your betrayal, I suppose!" Beatrice hissed softly at herself, not allowing herself to cry.

She felt like she had no right to lament her own situation. Only Subaru and the pain she caused him were worthy of her tears now.

His words unnerved some viewers. Subaru was not someone to just throw such words around. Even knowing that Rem had killed and tortured him, he didn't think about revenge. He didn't hold a grudge against Crusch, Anastasia and Priscilla. The idea that Subaru could declare one of them his enemy was…horrifying.

After all, if Subaru sets himself a goal and has enough time, he could make an ideal plan. Find a loophole in any defense. Come up with a technique against any opponent. The only thing that calmed them was the understanding that Natsuki Subaru possessed an almost abnormal level of mercy and kindness, writing down as his enemies only complete monsters. Which means he won't just take a darker path so easily.

Roswaal's eyes narrow.

"Those are strong words. Words that took true resolve to say. And…"

Subaru's fists shake, a pained expression on his face.

"Even if you say those words with a pained expression… they are not very convincing? The idea that the two of you must become enemies is truly awful. So, I would like to offer a helping hand."

"You, offer a hand to me? That's one of the shadiest statements ever."

' Natsuki-san's intuition is really impressive. Even without knowing about Roswaal's real plans, he already felt who his enemy was !' Otto made a mental note.

"I see you're an unsurpassed master at getting people on your side, clown. Your own butler, to whom, in his memory, you have done nothing wrong, treats you with more distrust than those who betrayed and killed him. How do you do that? The baroness said sarcastically.

Roswaal had seen right through his bluff.

"It is true that what you have seen is something closely resembling a Gospel, and thus, it would make sense to suspect that it would be one. But you have my word that she is not a Witch Cultist.

"— ah! You mean that…!?"

"The book of hers is not a Gospel. It is a magical book that tells the future. Only two of them exist in this world. It is the closest there is to the Tome of Wisdom."

"—Tome of Wisdom? Then, why did she call it a Gospel?" He remembered Beatrice saying: ' Whatever I did, everything was according to the Gospel.'

"That is because it lacks an official name. Thus, it is given the same name as the defective versions."

"Defective?" Subaru shakes his head. "Well, as long as Beatrice isn't a Witch Cultist, it's fine. The question is, how can I get her to help me?"

"He took his words at face value so readily. They probably sounded like music to him." Julius said sadly, seeing how the painful expression disappeared from the young man's face after the margrave's words.

"No wonder. He was worried about her even while he was lying in the dungeon. My heart says that he would not have left the little one, even if she turned out to be an actual cultist. He would just set himself a goal of snatching her out of the clutches of the Cult by any means necessary. And knowing his stubbornness, he could pull it off." Ricardo supported the knight's words.

The mercenary captain sincerely rejoiced that at least this tragedy in the guy's life didn't come true. Which meant that he can devote himself entirely to the issue of finding the way to defeat Elsa.

' Thank you, Roswaal. ' Beatrice mentally thanked her ancient acquaintance, who decided to clear her image in the eyes of her future contractor.

This did not change the fact that he was also responsible for the suffering of her contractor, blindly following the instructions of the book. But at least he didn't take the opportunity to permanently sever the bond between Betty and her dearest person. Although he could. And this would make Subaru even more isolated and lost, which would be beneficial to his plans. But, on the contrary, he revealed one of his secrets in order to convince Subaru of the innocence of the spirit girl. At least for this she was really grateful to him.

"Tell her: 'Roswaal said you are to ask the question'."

"—huh?"

"Should you say that to Beatrice, she will surely respond."

"You mean…" The young man stopped, remembering that Ram had delivered him the same words from Roswaal two loops ago.

"What do these words even mean? Why would they be enough for Beatrice to agree to help?" Emilia asked in disbelief, looking in the direction of the silent spirit girl. But Beatrice showed no signs of activity, staring fixedly at the screen.

"Maybe this is a password implying the execution of a certain command by the Great Spirit?" Tivey suggested with interest. He really liked the idea of secret signs and code phrases.

"Not quite, young ma-a-an. That phrase would let Beatrice know that she has a chance to finally fulfill her pact. If she had heard these words, she would never have allowed the person who told them to be in enda-a-angered." Roswaal did not want another wave of empty speculations to ensue about what any little thing could mean if it will be shown later anyway.

"I see." Roswaal interpreted his expression in his own way. "It appears those words are insufficient for you."

"H-Hang on, what…? Insufficient?" Subaru started to argue, but Roswaal interrupted him:

"Then tell her this: 'I am that person'."

"That person?"

"Get Beatrice to ask the question, then answer it affirmatively. If you do that, she will, without a doubt, ally with you."

"…how can you be so sure?"

"Because it is in a contract that she is powerless to override."

Subaru growls.

"I'll punch you in the face if this doesn't work! No matter what you say, that is what I can promise you!"

"—oh? Very well, do as you please. Once you have allied with Beatrice, she will surely be a great help in solving all the problems in the Sanctuary."

Subaru begins to turn around, heading towards the door. He was intending to slam it, but then he stopped.

"Roswaal, I have a question."

"What is it?"

"You're not actually our enemy, are you?" He turns around slightly, glaring at the margrave.

"Of course not. I am an ally of you." With a bright smile, Roswaal says those words.

"Even if he had openly said 'I am your enemy', it would not have sounded as suspicious as this phrase!" Felt declared, who literally shuddered at how disgusting this clown's smile looked without makeup.

The next scene took place outside again.

"Did you get any answers?" Otto asked, standing next to Patrasche.

"Yeah, quite a few. I think all the pieces fit in together now. What's the plan?"

"A carriage is too noticeable. You and I have to ride together. Is that all right?"

"Right. You'd be in danger if you stayed here any longer. I have no prob— oh, wait…" Subaru realized and turned to Ram.

"Once we're out of the Sanctuary, our first stop is the mansion. We can't just leave Frederica to fend for herself. But if it's just us two…"

"That's hardly a fight if it needs to be." Ram finished for him, lost in thought. "In other words, you want Ram to go with you."

"Well, if you would… I mean… I'd feel a lot better."

Ram would never admit this to anyone, but the young man's phrase made her feel warm inside. To see this obnoxious, useless piece of Barusu believing in her so unconditionally, even despite her constant reproaches against him… it felt good.

Catching the understanding look of her sister, who sensed Ram's emotions through their mental connection, the maid turned her head away with a contemptuous snort, so as not to show the blush on her cheeks. And Rem giggled contentedly, enjoying her dearest sister's reaction. Synesthesia helped her understand much more than the expression on Ram's face.

"I suppose I must." She said after a short pause.

"—ah! You're sure?"

"Roswaal-sama did order me to help Barusu, after all. But…"

"Is it just me, or are you using this order as an excuse to help Natsuki-kun in all possible ways, aren't you, Ram?" Anastasia asked playfully, enjoying the scenes of the girl's communication with Subaru.

"That's because it was an order from Roswaal-sama. As a devoted servant, I consider it my duty to carry out all his orders as meticulously, as possible! The importance of Barusu himself, in this case, is negligible." Ram said without turning her head.

Anyone who had already figured out the character of the pink-haired maid didn't need a blessing like Crusch's to see through her bluff.

She looks up at Patrasche, who's eyes show sheepishness.

"How will we travel? There is only one ground dragon and three of us. Even if both Barusu and Otto amount to only half a man, you each take up enough space for a full man. I don't think the three of us will fit on a ground dragon."

"—was the half-man comment necessary!?" Otto was indignant.

"Havin' a cozy lil' chat while ya take a walk?" Ram, Otto, and Subaru jerked.

"Well, since I'm here, why not let me in on the fun?!" Garf's voice suddenly rang out.

Several people could not stand it and gave out a groan of resentment, due to the abrupt turn of the situation to the worst.

"So, Subaru-kyun won't be able to escape after all." Felix accepted the inevitable.

"He shouldn't have wasted time talking, but leave right away, as he was advised." Tivey decided to criticize the irrational decisions of the hero on the screen.

"Subaru-kun's actions may be illogical, but they are very appropriate!" Rem hurried to stand up for Subaru. "After all, he managed to figure out the extremely important fact that Beatrice-sama is not a member of the Witch Cult. I'm sure it took a huge stone from off his heart!"

"I agree." Crusch nodded at the maid's words. "No matter how this loop ends, Sir Natsuki has gained important knowledge. Also, now he knows that he can rely on Otto-san as an ally. And he won't worry about Beatrice-sama's Gospel anymore."

Beatrice continued to sit in silence, but still cheered up slightly. At least this disaster in their relationship was avoided. Now she had to think about how to atone to her contractor for all the times when she turned out to be a useless girl, instead of being a great and wise spirit.

Growling, the ground dragon sprung forth, protecting the three behind her. Garfiel approached, furious. He was radiating a red aura, and his eyes glowed menacingly.

"The brighter it shines, the farther away the margizza goes, as they say!"

"Shouldn't you be overseeing the trial by now? Why are you wasting time here!?" Subaru tried to laugh it off.

"My amazin' self's job is to protect the Sanctuary! So if the Sanctuary is under threat, ya better believe I have the time! Ya bastard couldn't escape the Eyes of the Sanctuary!"

"'Eyes of the Sanctuary'?"

"I'm sayin' that yer lil' plans were leaked!"

"What did you mean by that, Garf?" asked Emilia.

But the blond man didn't hear her. All his attention was focused on the screen. The armrests of the chair creaked slightly from the force with which he squeezed them.

Emilia also had to make a lot of efforts to remain calm. Once again, her knight was in mortal danger. And where was she? Did she sleep like a log, drugged with herbs so as not to suffer from nightmares? Not surprising that no one took her seriously at the time, and that she was considered nothing more than a 'decoration' needed to launch the royal elections.

"So, where'd ya think yer headin' off to? Well?!"

"We're going to get Barusu out of the Sanctuary." Ram took the initiative. "He'll cause trouble for Garf if he stays here, too. So I'd say this is the best option for you."

Garfiel spreads his arms out, that furious smile getting wider. "Think ya know what's goin' on in my head!? Damn, there ain't nothin' lovable about you at all! That's what I like about ya, though."

Subaru, "So, can we assume that you're letting us go?"

"What!? My amazin' self knows damn well it'd be a pain in my ass to keep ya here! Ya don't just smell like the Witch, ya smell of trouble! The thing is… 'Hoshin was Banan's sunset'!"

"Damn it… not that!" The blond man whined, almost crying, lowering his head into his hands.

"What does this mean?" Emilia did not understand the meaning of the phrase.

"This is an ultimatum. Garf intends to fight to the death if his conditions are not fulfilled." Otto explained to her in an empty voice, guessing how this loop will end.

This was what he was most afraid of, and what he warned his sworn brother about. He had prayed to all the higher powers up to this point that it would not come to this. Now he could only try to soften the inevitable blow to the teenager's psyche:

"Hold on, Garf. Remember what I told you. Natsuki-san doesn't hold a grudge against you. Even if you fought, even if you crippled him… or even worse. In the end, you became his friend. Think about it." He whispered to his little brother, squeezing his shoulder in support.

"I'm… I'm trying." Yer're right. But… damn… Cap'n…

"Oh, really? I still don't understand your idioms at all, but as long as you realize—"

Before Subaru could finish, Ram and Otto positioned themselves in front of him, much like Patrasche. Despite his nervousness, Otto still held strong for his friend, while Ram narrowed her eyes, her hand ready to take out her wand.

"What's with you two…?"

"Given your poor education… Barusu won't understand that."

"'Hoshin was Banan's sunset' is a saying based on the legendary trader, Hoshin, who brought the small nation of Banan to ruin. It gives your opponent two options: surrender or face an all-out attack…"

"Surrender or an all-out attack!?"

"Garf, are you so dumb that you didn't understand Ram?"

Garfiel punches his palm with his fist. "Yer the one who'd better watch what ya say, Ram! Just cause I have the hots for ya, doesn't mean I won't twist yer arm! Take him back where he once was!"

With a swish, Ram took out her wand, her stance changing into one that was ready for battle.

"Y-You're really fixated on keeping me inside that cell, aren't you? Just listen, keeping me here is bad news, so if you can let me go right now for free, why wouldn't you!?—"

Garfiel points at him. "I dunno who or what ya are! That means I can't let ya outside!"

"That decision may upset Roswaal-sama. Because to Roswaal-sama, Barusu is…"

For a second, she thought, wondering if she should say what Subaru was to Roswaal. Subaru noticed this, confused by the look. But it wouldn't be wise, she noted. "…a useless employee. He could be easily discarded."

"You've got some nerve, nee-sama, saying that now!"

"I'm starting to think that Ram will not be able to say a single compliment towards Subaru-kyun without any wisecracks, even if her life depended on it!" Felix decided to try to joke, although, even he couldn't laugh at his own joke. The atmosphere in the room was too tense.

"Ram is trying to portray Subaru-sama as a figure who can't pose a danger even if he wanted to. This is her attempt to protect him from Garf's wrath." Frederica expressed her opinion about the maid's motives.

"A futile one if we consider everything we saw so far. Pal just can't get a break, is he?"

"—It would upset Roswaal?"

Subaru's entire body went tense, while Ram clutched her wand tighter, with Otto slowly extending a hand towards him.

"How much do ya think he cares 'bout this place, about the old hag or anyone else!? HE DOESN'T GIVE A DAMN! NOT ABOUT YOU EITHER, RAM!"

"Roswaal-sama—!"

"SHUT UP! SHUT UP! SHUT UP!" Using his fist, Garfiel made an indent in a nearby tree, and it was cleaved in half. The top part fell, crashing with the ground, some of it breaking into splinters.

"Wow!" Mimi marveled.

"Sister. Now is not the time." Tivey said softly, in such a serious tone that it penetrated even her spontaneity. Mimi realized that everything was serious now.

"I hate adult quarrels. Only fools deal with them!" She whispered, crossing her arms and lowering her head resentfully.

"I DON'T GIVE A SHIT ABOUT THAT BASTARD! WE'RE DONE HERE! HAND HIM OVER! I'M GONNA TIE HIM UP—!"

"RAM-SAN! Otto reacted.

"GO, NOW!" The maid ordered.

Otto picked up the Subaru, ignoring Garf's screams, hoisted him onto the Patrasche, then climbed on it himself. The Earth dragon sped away, covered by Ram.

[Next scene is taken from the Web Novel]

After Patrasche rushed into the forest, there were only two people left. Watching Ram's wand, which didn't move an inch…

"Y'said things not fuckin' needed. Gonna be a damn pain chasin' 'em now."

"You think I will let you leave?"

"You think y'can stop me? 'F you think the power balance 'tween us ain't changed since then, yer dead wrong. Bein' in love n' bein' beaten down ain't the same thing."

Garfiel clicks his knuckles, threatening. But he knows this girl is no coward. Ram stands without any change in her complexion. Garfiel rigorously scratches at his short, blond hair.

"The' hell're yer thinkin', Ram? What'll happen 'f you do this? My amazin' self ain't heard anythin' bout it. Ya doin' this means it's on Roswaal's orders?"

"… Inaccurate, Garf. My presence here is by my will, unrelated to Roswaal-sama's noble orders. For presently, at least, there is no need to respect his directions."

"As I see it, you have repeatedly tried to help him escape from my traps. I'm curious, Ram. At what point did you realize that Subaru-kun can make things go against what was written in the Gospel?"

"I started to think that Barusu had potential after he saved the village children from the Mabeasts. And then my little sister when she lost herself in rage. His victory over the Witch Cult had completely convinced me that he was able to help me achieve my goal." At these words, the maid guiltily lowered her head and added a little more quietly:

"If only I understood the cost of these successes, I would have done more. I would let him know that he is not alone, that he has people who care about him."

"Any of us would have acted differently if we had known what Natsuki Subaru was going through. And his whole journey would have taken a different path."

"Would you refuse to follow the instructions of the Gospel? Ram asked skeptically.

"Of course not. Nothing will make me give up the main goal of my life, and you know it. I dare say that if I had known how his power worked, he would have died even more often. But, of course, I would do it so that Subaru-kun would not suffer before death. And I would build my plans so that he would not have to go through the horrors that befell him, unless absolutely necessary." The ancient magician finished very quietly.

"I don't get it, Ram. Even more so if this isn't ya, followin' Roswaal's orders, can't think' a single reason why yer did that."

"Truly?"

"Eh?"

"Truly, do you… not understand why I am doing this, Garf?"

Ram asks quietly, her expression and tone no different from usual. But Garfiel, recipient of her gaze and words, has a great change. Confusion. Doubt. Shock. And wrath.

"Yer…"

Taking a step forward, Garfiel drives his heel into the ground. Clicking his fangs in unbearable rage, his eyes narrow as he glares at Ram.

"I don't goddamn believe it. Ya doin' this kinda fuckin' thing is…"

"—For Frederica, and for you."

"Don't your mouth say the name of that traitor!" Roaring, the ground caves beneath the swing of Garfiel's foot, earth-shattering. Smoke rises in billows, the force enough to bend the nearby trees. The forest fears, the air silencing itself in terror of his rage. Faced with that pure wrath, Ram's expression remains nonchalant.

"Do you believe everyone will follow you if you give these obstinate and childish displays of strength? Garf, how long in this constrained forest will you be running circles?

"Don't talk like ya know! Ya… Ya, and Frederica, all of ya who threw away SANCTUARY, just how much could ya know?!"

"I was really actin' like a dumb brat. Blamed everyone around me, fancied m'self the only one who could protect his grandmother and the others from the outside world. When in fact I was shakin' with fear before it." Garfiel muttered in a sad voice so that only the neighbors could hear him.

At that moment, the young man was ashamed of himself, as he had never been before.

Ram's chiding words do not reach an enraged Garfiel. He stomps the ground, this time without the accompanying force.

"Fer my amazin' self? It's fer my amazin' self? You… I got no room t'believe that at all. How fuckin' dare you say that to me, after so long…"

"Garf…"

"My amazin' self never asked for compassion or pity. How fuckin' high n' mighty're you gonna be. Not me, n'not granny n' the others, ever wished t' be pitied!"

Covering his face with his hands, breathing ragged, Garfiel squeezes the statement out. His sad figure gives the illusion of him being even smaller than he is.

Taking deep breath after deep breath, Garfiel removes his hands from his face.

"I was just pathetic, wasn't I?"

"You were confused back then and didn't know what to do. And there wasn't anyone around to beat a little courage into you, until Natsuki-san showed up." The merchant tried his best to calm him down.

Garf only grunted weakly in his direction, but then a voice from the right caught his attention.

"He's right, Garf-kun. You're not the only one who's been living dead in the water for years, avoiding facing your worries and fears. You do know that I was the same until Subaru-kun came to my rescue."

Rem looked at the young man with kind, understanding eyes.

"We are both terribly lucky that Subaru-kun appeared in our lives and turned it upside down. In his typical manner — rudely trampling on our personal space and butting with his head."

"In my case, the cap'n had to assemble a whole team to deliver the punches." Garf couldn't help but chuckle sadly, recalling that memorable day.

"But even Subaru-kun couldn't handle his problems without the support of others. You saw it all for yourself. We all had to make a lot of mistakes before recognizing the need to trust someone else. To tell anyone what's weighing down your soul.

Garfiel nodded at her in agreement.

"I hope Ram was right. It seems tha' she managed to get me to talk. Maybe she'll be able to keep me talkin' and stall fer time. Or, she'll challenge me to a duel. Givin' the cap'n and Brotto time to reach the barrier.

"This's enough. I dun wanna hear anythin'. You go straight back to SANCTUARY, now. Do that n' I'll overlook this one. My amazin' self, is still gonna chase after that asshole."

"I refuse, Garf. If anyone will concede, it is not me, but you. After I return, the approaching ruin is unavoidable. I'm sure you would understand this?"

"Just go back. Won't say it again. Go back, and wait 'till the Trial's cleaned up."

"No, I will not return or wait. There is no gain in standing still. What remains in your hands as you stagnate in this place are only the vestiges of what you believed you obtained. For such a weak, vague thing, why…"

"But still! It's so much better than havin' nothing left!"

Interrupting Ram's words with his scream, Garfiel raises his head. Etched onto his expression are anger, jealousy, and sorrow.

"Ruin? How's that gonna happen? My amazin' self, 's gonna do somethin' fer everythin'. This time fer sure, everything, and everything…"

Garfiel's words made Priscilla wonder what the aggressive young man's true motives were. Considering how he interacted with the pink maid, such a conversation was not something new to them. But it never reached such a degree of aggressiveness before.

' This half-naked barbarian is extremely scared now. Like a cornered rat that's ready to pounce even on a lion. Is he so afraid of changes? Is that why he attacked a commoner like that? Does he see him as a threat to the bubble of stagnation in which he lived? The elder sister left the Sanctuary ten years ago, but did not take the younger one with her. Or, rather, he refused to leave himself, driven by his fears? But what caused him to be so afraid of the outside world?

The departure of parents from the place was not mentioned. So they don't have a mother and father. Are they dead? Or was it only the father who died, and the mother, who was human, left the children? If that is the case, then, until the commoner forces the flea-bearer to overcome his fears, he will not succeed. Or will he find a way to break this barbarian? Will the dog show the insignificance of the idiot's bravado and force him to follow ?

"We are also to blame for the fact that you could not cope with your fears, little brother. I left the Sanctuary too early, and couldn't convince you to follow me, and then never came back. Grandmas tried to protect you in every possible way. Rem needed help herself back then. And Ram, to be honest, has never been good at calmly listening to other people's problems." Frederica, with the kindness of an older sister, tried to calm Garfiel.

Ram only snorted at this, but did not argue. Her pride would not allow her to admit out loud that her colleague was right. And trying to deny her words would be a lie.

"Garf, haven't I always been telling you? —That is merely compensatory behavior."

Ram replies calmly as Garfiel's emotions detonate. Their stances run at parallel lines, both in direct opposition of opinion and neither willing to concede. No compromise is coming. Perhaps sensing this, Garfiel lowers his gaze, closes his eyes.

"Go back, Ram. This's, my final request. With all the feelings I've ever said for you, my request. So…"

"Then, Garf. Would you abandon all except me?"

The question is brief, but carries overwhelming pressure. Garfiel's expression stiffens. His lips tremble. Ram lightly lowers her gaze.

Similarly, in the theater, Garf's expression froze. Ram stared at the screen in surprise. She had thought about such words more than once, but she would never have dared to say them to Garf… if only she had not known that this would be their last conversation.

"Sister?!" Rem turned to her in fear, feeling the raging storm of Ram's emotions through their synesthesia.

"Nothing, Rem, it's nothing. The important thing is to remember that none of this actually happened. Your beloved older sister is here, with you. Remember that."

"Out of every single thing in this world, choose me, look only at me, love only me, devote only to me, be loved only by me, pardoned only by me, sacrifice your everything only to me. Are you capable?"

"I-I…"

"I am." Hand to her chest, Ram speaks firm.

A quiet, but unwavering will. It alone fills her words as she raises her head.

"—I am."

"Her whole life in exchange for his whole life. I'll, probably, neva understand such a storm of feelings. But I can't blame Ram fer offerin' a bad deal." Anastasia commented, trying to figure out for herself if she would ever be able to feel such overwhelming feelings for anyone.

"Of course, such a decision is difficult to make on the go. This magnitude of emotions seems to me unimaginable. Could it be that all demons possessed such a temperament?" Lady Crusch expressed her opinion.

She remembered Fourier, remembered how her heart began to beat faster when they were together. She was thinking about her newfound desire to get closer with Subaru. For her, these were strong, vivid emotions. But they weren't even close to the way Ram and Garfiel looked at each other on the screen.

' I may never experience feelings of such power. On the other hand, realizing where everything is going, I'm not sure if I want to. '

' Is that how strongly demons can love someone? I wonder if Rem is the same? No, she said she wouldn't try to take the Subaru away from me. Maybe this is due to the fact that she still considers herself too insignificant? Would she have made Subaru the same offer, if she hadn't had such emotional issues for her sister? Will I ever be able to express the same level of emotions to him?' Emilia mused to herself, looking at the screen and trying to find in Ram's words hints for the future.

"I wonder, why didn't you set such conditions for me back then, Ram?" With a forced smile, Roswaal decided to ask his maid.

Who blushed a little because of the unexpected question, but still found the strength to answer.

"Do you think our situation is that much different? Hasn't Ram told you all these years that she belongs to you completely? And as for why I didn't demand the same from you… Because I knew that you wouldn't be interested in such a deal. When you want to ask for something, you must first offer something valuable in return. But I didn't have anything to offer that you would be interested in.

"And so you came up with a condition that if you achieve your goal, you will have all of me at your disposal? And that's why the empty shell that I always planned to give to you wasn't enough?" Roswaal guessed. To which the girl nodded silently. "But then why offer Garf such a deal at all?"

"I can't tell. I never thought that I'd actually tell Garf these words. Maybe I wanted to show him how immature he is and not ready for a real relationship. Or maybe I offered him a bet that would outbid my bet on you. But then I would've made sure that he would not accept such a deal." Ram said, uncertain and quiet.

"And what if he had agreed?" Roswaal asked curiously.

Ram thought about the answer in silence for a few seconds.

"I wouldn't dare to betray someone who devoted himself to me completely." The girl sternly replied, returning her gaze to the screen.

Roswaal only nodded understandingly. He understood such devotion better than anyone and highly appreciated such loyalty to one's feelings.

This was Ram's ultimatum to Garfiel. And he must have known it. The ambition vanishes from Garfiel's expression for an instant. Just what expression arose at that moment, only Ram would ever know. He immediately shakes his head, stifling the slip of weakness and baring his fangs.

"Known it fer ages, but yer a stubborn one."

"As are you. —If you will not make me a truly important thing to you, I will not bend to you, Garf. I will not belong to anyone."

"Really." Their gazes meet. Stances argued, neither surrendering. Both speak quietly.

"Farewell, Garf."

"Goodbye, Ram."

These final words platonically were their expression of love. The forest shakes. The roar echoes.

"For what it's worth, Garf… I'm glad we could see this conversation." Ram said softly, even courteously.

"Were ya serious 'bout wha' ya said on the screen?" The blond man answered her surprisingly calmly.

"Yes, Garf. I'm a demon, after all. If we really want something, then we give our all to achieve the set goal. And don't settle for anything less. We demons are always… fanatically inspired when we are trying to get what we want." She repeated one of Barusu's favorite phrases with a slight smile.

Roswaal could only smile bitterly at these words. As faithfully Ram had served him within the boundaries of their pact, just as determined she became in undermining his plans as soon as she saw the opportunity to consider it broken. Right up to open disobedience and direct attack on her master. The ancient magician couldn't help but admire Ram for being so committed to her desires. He understood it very well.

Rem was also thinking about her sister's words. She was the same, after all. Just like her sister devoted herself entirely to the service of the margrave, so she devoted herself entirely to her sister, as a penance for her mental transgression against Ram. And when Subaru became part of her life, she was ready to do anything for him. To sacrifice herself and everything she had for his happiness.

Meanwhile, Garfiel was seriously thinking about what he heard. Ram was honest with him. She said bluntly what she expected from him and what she was ready to give in return. If he devoted himself to her, she would devote herself to him. Completely. And he had no doubts about the sincerity of her words. An extremely tempting offer… and one he would never be able to accept.

He may have loved Ram, but there were always people who counted on him. Once it was just grandmothers and residents of the Sanctuary. And now the captain, the princess, the sister, Brotto and others have been added to the list. The Sanctuary's Shield couldn't afford to protect only Ram. He could never put personal happiness above the common goal and his duties. Which meant he could never have Ram.

"Thanks for bein' honest, Ram." He said, looking into her eyes, then turned back to the screen.

There were the same feelings in his tone that his version on the screen said goodbye to the maid. He put his answer in them. And she understood him.

"You've really matured, Garf. I'm glad." The girl replied with the same emotion in her voice. After that, seeing how her usual tsundere mask was cracking, she hurried to correct the situation:

"I can't believe that Barusu could have such a positive influence on you. Obviously, these are the results of Frederica's upbringing over the past year."

The scene changed to a forest road, along which a lone earth dragon was hurrying.

"Hang on, Otto! Why—!"

"You would have been in danger if we stayed! Ram-san and I made this decision together!"

The two rode atop of Patrasche, who was running as fast as she could through the dark night.

Then, placing his fingers towards his mouth, Otto let out a piercing whistle that reminded Subaru of a bird back on Earth. It was a high-pitched sound that Otto had made, and it was quite impressive.

"W-What are you doing?"

"Something I was hoping I wouldn't have to resort to! In fact, it would be better if I didn't have to!"

In their path, glowing lights began to reveal a way for Patrasche. The lights from lanterns were from… the villagers.

"What the…" Subaru looked around, spotting the people of Arlam. "Those people…!'

"What did I tell you? I have some very reliable helpers!"

"…you weren't just talking about Ram?"

"This will need to be worked on very extensively. Subaru must finally accept that he is not alone in our world. That a lot of people genuinely love and respect him for everything he has done for them!" Emilia gave the command in a stern and authoritative voice.

"It will be done, Princess." Otto answered her firmly.

Many viewers supported him with nods. Even Priscilla grunted approvingly, seeing how the half-elf, for once, showed a grain of leadership qualities.

"Subaru-sama, please take care! This way! In here! Otto-san, take care of Subaru-sama!"

Subaru smiles. "Why are they all doing something so crazy?"

"That's not very convincing, coming from Natsuki-san!"

"Come on, Patrasche! Take the cap'n away as fast as ya can!" Garfiel muttered, clutching the armrests of his chair.

He knew that Ram would not be able to detain him for long, but as long as they managed to cross the barrier, his brothers should be safe.

Patrasche stopped for a moment, in front of two villagers.

"Keep going straight, and then you'll find the barrier."

"What about everyone else?!"

"We'll stall your pursuers! We can buy enough time for you to escape, no problem!"

Before Otto could steer Patrasche, a roar was heard, and the ground beneath them rumbled. For a second, they all looked around. And before Patrasche could run, a large cloud of dust, and the tremors becoming more prominent followed towards their direction, and they were all swept away, yelling as they were.

The shockwave had spanned several trees, miles even. Managing to stop himself, Subaru looks up, using the back of his hand to wipe off some dust.

Loud footsteps began to grow closer and closer, and the large mass easily destroyed anything that got in its way. Then, it soon stopped.

It was a large, ferocious tiger, the remains of a loincloth around its waist. It was yelling in Garfiel's voice.

"Gar…fiel…"

"No… no, no, no!" The blond man grabbed his head, realizing how it would all end.

"Garfiel… how did it come to this?" Frederica said resignedly, giving way to tears. It was almost painful for her to see her younger brother in such a state.

"And what about my sister?!" Rem asked, startled.

"Don't think about it, Rem. I'm here. With you. Remember this!" Ram hurried to assuage Rem's worries. She partly blamed herself for what had happened.

Surely she could have found another way to detain Garf. Start an argument with him, try to explain that Barusu was an ally. Maybe provoke him into an ordinary duel, or even, spirits forbid, seduce him with a kiss … but the pride of the demon did not allow her to choose another path.

With her unrelenting attitude, she cornered the stubborn and scared boy. Left him with no choice, but to kill the one he was in love with in a desperate attempt to protect his home and family from a non-existent threat. Forced him to throw away his humanity so that he would not have to live with the realization of his crime.

' Even without the horn, I'm still a real demon, am I… ?' She thought to herself, fighting with tears. Perhaps it really was for the best that their race was destroyed.

"What happened to him?" Al asked cautiously, however, already guessing what answer he would hear.

During his career as a gladiator, he had seen similar eyes on the faces of his opponents. And it didn't bode well for his pal.

"It's… not Garf anymore." Ram replied, mobilizing all her will, not letting her emotions get the better of her. "I've never seen him like this. Right now, it's just a mindless and bloodthirsty beast."

"So it's useless to try to talk to him. He's no better than a mabeast now." Anastasia clenched her fists in anger.

When will this end?! Why couldn't Natsuki-kun get lucky with others at least once? And also this miasma, because of which he was hunted down again. ' This damn witch! '

"Be strong, Garf. Remember what I told you. Natsuki-san has forgiven you! He didn't push you away! Just like Rem-san, you have earned his trust and friendship!" Otto grabbed the blond man by the left shoulder and began to appeal to him, trying not to let him sink into the depths of self-hatred.

Garfiel shrunk into a ball, hugged his shoulders from stress, and started to unconsciously dig his nails into them, spilling blood. But then his left palm got covered by Rem's little fingers. Not expecting this gesture, Garfie gave her a haunted look. There was no trace of anger or condemnation in the blue-haired girl's eyes. Only sadness and understanding of his pain.

"I'm… going to kill him, Rem… I'm going to… kill… my cap'n… I don't want… I don't want it." He barely managed to get out of himself, starting to cry.

"I believe you, Garf. I believe you." She said softly and soothingly, stroking his shoulder, to stop him from further self-harm.

Even if she wanted to be angry at him, for what will happen to Subaru, for what happened to her sister, she would suppress her anger at any cost. She will not judge someone who has been forgiven by her hero. Not after what she herself did. If Subaru-kun considered Garfiel worthy of salvation, then there was a reason for that. And she would follow his decision.

Garfiel was sitting in an armchair and looked more like a scared, crying baby than anything else. It was hard for the others to watch what was happening. The whole scene was painfully reminiscent of that creepy episode when Rem tortured Subaru. Now the same thing was happening to Garfiel. Some people wanted to get mad at the obnoxious guy, to blame him.

But they remained silent, because they understood that they had no right to condemn the young man. Many of them were no better. And his condition showed that he was more troubled than anyone else, and being forced to watch this was a bigger punishment than anything they could come up with.

Even Felt was now more angry that she, as always, was not there to help her big bro, than at the tiger boy. And Mimi was worried that she wasn't sitting next to Garf and couldn't hug him to calm him down. After all, he was very sorry about what they would see now. He appreciated the mini-boss as much as she did.

"Okay." Subaru said resignedly, while Otto and the others tried to come to their senses. "Have it your way. Please stop. Don't touch them…"

Garfiel raised a huge paw for a fatal blow. Subaru didn't even think about escaping.

"Will he just let himself be killed like that?!" Priscilla said with some disgust.

She liked this plebeian less and less. Even if you are immortal, to admit your defeat so easily and give up — this was a lot of despicable weaklings. And she despised such weaklings.

"He no longer considers his life to be something of value. It's much scarier for him to see the death of people dear to him." Crusch answered her sadly.

"Also the constant fear that the save point will move, and he will no longer be able to save those who died." Anastasia added.

Felix desperately suppressed the seeds of hatred for the young man. He had no right to judge Subaru for what he was going to do. Subaru's case was unique. He did it because he wanted to live. And live happily ever after.

' This ability is too cruel…'

Felt could only clench her fists in anger. No matter, when her big bro will join her camp, close to Rein, he will no longer have to fear for his life or for others!

"YOU COMPLETE IDIOT!" Otto shouted, running up to the Subaru.

A push, the guy falls to the ground, and the merchant remains in his place. A paw strikes and Otto is torn in half. Natsuki watched in horror as his friend's body flew away. It was as if he didn't even understand what had happened to him. Otto fell to the ground and died without making a sound.

"OTTO!" Frederica screamed in anguish, covering her mouth with her hands.

To see her little brother so brutally kill the one he considered his best friend was a monstrous experience for her. Now it was Petra's turn to hug her older colleague, patting her on the shoulder in a futile attempt to calm her down.

"This… just can't be happening." Emilia said, seemingly in trance.

For Garfiel to do this to Otto?! He adored the gray-haired merchant. He treated him like an older brother. The naive part of the princess's mind demanded to declare that everything that was happening on the screen was nothing more than a nightmare. But after all she had seen, she could no longer use such a convenient trick. What was shown on the screen happened. And her knight lived through it all. Which means she'll have to go through it too.

"At least now Subaru knows how loyal Otto-san is to him." Julius said hollowly, trying to find at least some crumbs of positive changes.

"Another fucking 'hero' appeared! Another scar for the pal's psyche! Is it any wonder after this that he prefers to act on his own?!" Al was angry at everything that was happening.

He was angry at Garf, who had only muscles instead of brains. He was angry at the pink maid, who clearly had some influence over the kid, but when it was really important, she couldn't do anything to cool the hot-headed ruffian. At Otto, who, with his idiotic heroism, only added fuel to the nightmares of his pal. At Emilia, who, for all her power and magic, proved to be completely useless in any critical situation. And at Subaru himself for his mania for saving everyone, no matter how much it costs him.

"Well, and where will you end up at this rate? Are you going to try to carry the whole lake in your bare hands? In the end, this lake will crush you, and all the water will spill and soak into the ground without a trace." The one-armed warrior grumbled.

"Bro…~hic… brother… I… I'm sorry… ~hic, I…" Garfiel began to hiccup uncontrollably from the shock of what he saw.

"Don't worry, Garf… All of this… is not our reality… I am alive… and you are alive… and Natsuki-san is alive… we are all… alive." Otto tried to speak confidently, but his voice and gaze were empty.

Even he wasn't sure if he believed what he was saying. For the first time, he saw his own death on the screen. And it was scary. He just died! Instantly. Without warning, without pathos, without events leading up to the moment. Of course, he realized long ago that he was mortal. But he never thought that he could be so suddenly mortal.

' It turns out that life can end in such an unexpected way. It's just… bam… and you're gone…. ' the merchant thought to himself in fright.

"Gaaarfiel!" Subaru shouted with grief and anger in his voice, turning to the tiger.

The young bully at this moment wanted to be swallowed by the ground from shame and self-hatred. The captain had never addressed him even remotely like that. With a voice full of hatred and pain. Never looked at him with those eyes. Garf knew that for the rest of his life he would not be able to forget either that exclamation or that look…

' Cap'n… don't… don't look at me like that… Please, don't… I didn't want this to happen! '

Emilia could only clench her fists and get angry at herself. Where was she at that moment?! Did she sit in the house and cried again after another Trial failure? Continued to be an obedient girl, following Roswaal's commands, instead of putting all her strength into finding a Subaru, like Otto did.

Had she been more persistent and confident back then, she would not have stopped searching for Subaru, even if she had to go to the other side of the world! She would have questioned all the spirits of the Sanctuary if she had to, but she would have found him. And then she would've helped to stop and calm down Garfiel. And the horror they were seeing on the screen would never have happened!

But all this was nothing more than empty desires to fix mistakes that had already happened. In reality, her knight was forced to face these fatal obstacles again without any support from his lady.

Garfiel roared furiously in his direction. The force of his voice made Subaru be blown a few meters away onto a few rocks. He was surprised that his spinal cord didn't break. Garfiel's loud footsteps echoed, and Subaru froze at the sight of the villagers in front of him.

"S-Stay away from Subaru-sama, you monster!"

"They are ready even to overcome fear of such a beast, just to protect Subaru." Reinhard said in amazement and admiration, marveling at the bravery of ordinary peasants.

"That's how highly they regard big bro. He is a man who is able to inspire and lead an entire army if necessary!" Felt agreed with him, thinking about what kind of career Subaru could build in various fields if he only got down to business seriously.

"They are ready to devote their lives to the wrong person. But I admit, these commoners are more worthy than many earthworms. I will provide them with a worthy sovereign to swear allegiance to when the time comes. They deserve it." Priscilla praised the peasants, making a note that among them, it may be possible to find worthy soldiers for her army.

And considering that the youngest of the maids comes from the same place, maybe there will be some more noteworthy characters there.

"They are scared and know that they have no chance to win. But they still want to protect Sir Natsuki. The people of Arlam truly deserve the respect of the whole kingdom. To go out with sticks and stones against such an opponent." Duchess Karsten said, admiring the strength of the spirit of ordinary people.

"And make it all even worse for the pal in the end!" Al spoiled the elated mood with his harsh comment.

Mimi and Petra looked at him questioningly, but the adults caught the gist of his words faster.

"No matter how much they show their willingness to even die to protect Subaru-dono, he will only blame himself for every death. No matter how many people say that they will go to hell if he asks, it will be like a waking nightmare for him." William explained the words of the one-armed warrior.

"Just like it was with Rem when she tried to distract the White Whale. That's because he knows he's not going to die completely. And all the others can be saved only if he can pull it off without losses." Julius nodded sadly.

"And the more there are people he cares about, the harder it will be for him to keep everyone safe." Felix said sympathetically.

"So now the guy is in for a nightmare, worse than the massacre of the village. Back then, he saw only the aftermath…" Ricardo said gloomily.

Hugging the twins to him, he gave them the order to turn away from the screen. They've seen enough already. Frederica also hurried to hug Petra, warning her not to open her eyes in any case.

"And once again he will be convinced that it is better to do everything on his own, to die as many times as necessary to achieve the perfect result. Relying on no one but himself." Anastasia summed up, sadly lowering her gaze.

Too preoccupied, Subaru failed to notice the wounded Patrasche forcing herself forward. Gently, she nudged his face, and he turned to his ground dragon. She opened her mouth, her jaws gently grasping his collar as she began to drag him back as fast as she could.

Despite knowing that they would die, the villagers still rushed forward.

"Stop it! Please!"

And they met the same fate as Otto, cleaved cleanly in half with viscera flying through the air.

"No one needs to die but me!"

"Stop it! Garf! Please! Don't kill them!" Petra screamed through tears, clinging to Frederica in fear.

On the screen, people were dying, with whom she had lived side by side her whole life. Her mind was in such turmoil, she could no longer separate reality and what she saw on the screen. Petra heard their voices and, even without looking at the screen, she understood who had just died.

For a young boy in the front row, the words of a little girl sounded like a sentence. The Camp's Shield? What a twisted joke. He was just a monster… a beast hiding behind a human form. Not a hero, but a murderer. A murderer who would fit nicely in the Witch Cult.

He was preparing himself to become the captain's executioner. He thought in advance how he would apologize to him when he finally wakes up. But even so, he could not imagine that, besides the captain, someone else would fall prey to his claws. And he couldn't cope with it anymore.

The head maid could only hold the girl tightly in her arms, pat her on the head and whisper soothing words to her. Although she herself could no longer find the strength to look at what was happening. Never before, she wanted to whip herself like now. In her own eyes, she had completely failed as an older sister. And was directly responsible for the fact that Garf, deprived of parental love and attention for ten years, could not get help even from his own sister, the last member of his family.

"And Subaru-kyun forgave him after this?" Felix asked, completely vexed, not even trying to fight back the tears.

"Subaru-dono's mercy is truly transcendent. Our world doesn't deserve a man like him." William said stoically.

He suppressed his anger towards the young man sobbing in the front row as best he could. He had no right to judge Garfiel. Not with the weight of mistakes that destroyed his own family. The old warrior committed his greatest sins, while being a seasoned veteran. How could he then throw accusations at an immature, scared kid?

"Sir Natsuki personally experienced this and still offered him to become a comrade and friend. So Garfiel did something later to earn such an honor. Just like Rem before him. We need to wait for this moment." Crusch said firmly.

Her iron will and the horrors she had seen earlier had tempered her spirit enough not to lose her composure. She will wait patiently. She trusted Subaru's judgment. If he decided to extend his hand to the tiger, then there was a good reason for it.

'Because that's all I can do. I can only die and restart everything. As long as everyone else sees tomorrow, alive and happy, that's enough. Just kill me, please. No one else should be hurt or die for my mistakes.'

Subaru then turns. "That's enough! That's enough, Patrasche!" He had checked his hand, realizing that it was caked in her blood.

But Patrasche did not listen, and with the last of her strength, she tugged and threw Subaru up forward.

Unexpectedly for others, Anastasia let out a sad laugh, unable to hold back a smile. Even Julius had to make a lot of effort not to give his lady with reproachful eyes.

"My lady. Does any of this seem funny to you?" The knight tried to keep his voice neutral.

Realizing that several people were looking at her accusingly, she hurried to explain the reason for her laughter:

"Yes, Julius, I know that it looked extremely inappropriate. But I couldn't help but laugh at my own stupidity. Because only now I realized that I should have accepted the bet from the baroness. After all, she claimed that there is not a single important member of the camp who would not betray Natsuki-kun at least once. And no one argued with her. Because we all completely forgot about Patrasche. Who has already become closer to him than many and from the very beginning was an indispensable ally for the young man. There is a reason why she considers herself the best girl for Natsuki-kun."

The explanation of the merchant princess found a response among the listeners, who also found the strength to chuckle at how the proud princess was wrong in her cruel assumption earlier. And Priscilla, who heard this, although was forced to admit that Anastasia was right, quickly came to the conclusion that the world had played in her favor again when no one dared to make a bet with her.

And the crystal around his neck glowed. The last thing Subaru saw was Patrasche looking back at him warmly, before she was crushed to death by the tiger.

And then he woke up.

"Why… am I here…?"

He was in the cell Garfiel and Ryuzu had confined him in. He raised his right palm, staring at it while trembling. His hand… the blood was dry. Subaru could only do his best to scrape it off as he got up.

"He is still alive? How would he die then?" Tivey asked in surprise.

"He'll probably commit suicide again, what else is left for him after what he's been through?" Ricardo replied wearily, looking uneasily at the chair where Garf was huddled into a ball.

"Was he just… teleported again? But why here? And why would the pendant suddenly activate? What was the trigger?" Julius asked himself.

"Maybe it's because when Patrasche threw him, he crossed the barrier?" Felix pointed out.

"Then why wasn't he teleported in every previous loop when he crossed the barrier? It happened the first time they had just arrived at the Sanctuary. But after that, Subaru left the Sanctuary twice and the pendant did not react to it in any way!" Reinhard reasoned.

"Hmm… what if it's the pendant that Garfiel handed to Subaru?" Emilia suggested. "The first and second time, Subaru left the Sanctuary after receiving a pendant from Garfiel. And this time he passed the barrier without it."

"Well, right now it's the best theory we have. Unless you start to assume that the tragedy was being watched by Roswaal, who activated the spell inside the pendant at the right moment. Let's just continue." Anastasia said with a shrug.

Leaving the dungeon, blinking in confusion at what he saw. A bright light coming from the entrance.

"It's morning…? How long have I been asleep?"

When he went outside, to his surprise, he saw that everything was covered with snow.

"Snow?"

"Wait, what?! He hasn't moved into the future, has he? Or did he lie unconscious until winter?" Mimi asked in surprise.

"No. This snow is caused by magic. In our reality, the whole Sanctuary was also covered with snow." Emilia replied, feeling a sense of dread growing with every second.

"If it happened in our timeline, then it wasn't Puck's doing. But…to create a snowfall of this magnitude during summer?!" Reinhard was amazed. "It takes a huge amount of mana! Who would even be able to…"

At that moment, he faltered as his gaze fell on the margrave. After that, the question changed from "who" to "why"? And this question came to many people's minds. But what the Sword Saint was most concerned about was Roswaal's emotional state. The magician's mind was filled with a monstrous, overwhelming sense of guilt.

' What do you blame yourself for, margrave? What other crimes have you committed against Natsuki Subaru? And what does the snow you caused have to do with it?' Reinhard mused.

"Why did you cause the snowfall, margrave?" Crusch asked sternly, trying to figure out what kind of trick the costumed magician might be plotting this time.

"It was necessary." It was all that Roswaal said in a completely emotionless voice, without taking his eyes off the screen.

Everything that happened on the screen indicated that he had followed the instructions of the Gospel to the end. But if the Sanctuary is covered with snow, then the Great Rabbit will arrive soon. And since Subaru-kun was still in the Sanctuary… he didn't even want to think about it. No matter how often he called himself a monster, he never wanted his allies or workers to suffer in vain.

"What the hell is this? What is it?" He asked aloud through the snow-covered forest. Falling to his knees, he noticed the handkerchief tied around his arm. The last moments when he saw Petra, Frederica, and Beatrice came back to his mind.

"That's enough! Don't think! Don't think! I'll get them back! Absolutely!"

"That's right, Subaru-kun. You did it. You're a hero that saved everyone. And we won't let you forget it." Rem whispered, caressing her beloved's shoulder as if it could calm his version on the screen.

"Barusu." Ram whispered sadly, worried about the state of the young knight's psyche.

This loop hit the young man hard. Now it was a certainty that he will look for a way to commit suicide. And the longer the maid looked at the snow-covered landscapes, the more she thought that he better hurry up with this. The very thought about wishing for him to finish himself was disgusting to her, but the fear creeping into her mind was even stronger.

'No matter how you decide to end this loop, Barusu, please hurry up. Find a blade, a pitchfork, a shard… anything, but please, hurry .'

When he reached the village, he found the town hall completely empty.

"There's no one here…"

"Where did everyone go? Anastasia asked warily.

"Judging by the mess, I would say that the residents fled from there in a big hurry. Is it possible that there was a fight between the residents of Arlam and the Sanctuary?" Wilhelm wondered.

' I sincerely hope so. ' Ram thought with fear.

She was tormented by a very bad feeling. She couldn't stop trembling until a white-gloved hand rested on her arm. Grabbing her for support, Ram looked at her master with pleading eyes. But she was faced only with an impenetrable, emotionless mask in clown's makeup.

Roswaal's house was also empty. The whole village was depopulated. The camera moved away, showing a panoramic view of the Sanctuary. All around, as far as one could see, there was only a silent snow-covered forest.

Wandering blindly, Subaru suddenly stopped . Because what he saw… was a small bunny that could fit in his hand. It had a single horn, and red eyes. The bunny's ears were not floppy, and instead straight up. It titled its head at him, opening its mouth for a second.

It then shook off some of the snow that had piled up on its head.

"Oh! A rabbit! Look at how cute it is!" The child's spontaneity woke up in Petra at the sight of the most cuddly looking animal.

She really wanted to find a way to distract herself from the heavy thoughts hanging on her soul. And a little fluffy was the perfect way to do it.

"Aah… I want to cuddle him!" Mimi was staring at the screen so eagerly that she didn't even notice how saliva began to drip from her open mouth.

Tivey, who was sitting on Ricardo's knee, unconsciously began to flap his tail, staring at the animal in fascination.

Ricardo could only grin contentedly. Let the kids allow themselves at least a little rest after the terrible scene they just saw.

Meanwhile, Emilia froze in horror when she saw this cute animal. Pressing her hands to her mouth, she wanted to scream in panic, but her throat wouldn't obey. As a result, the princess only managed to make a barely audible wail, which caused others to look at her with worry.

"No, no, no, not them …" That was all Crusch could articulate. Her hands were trembling, just as her voice.

She also immediately recognized who Subaru was facing. After all, the duchess had already fought this monster once before. Ferris also remembered whose little corpses he had seen in large numbers on the Futura Plain, and was literally struck with fear.

"What is going on?! Emilia-sama? Crusch-sama?!" Rem was starting to panic.

For Crusch to look so frightened, the situation should have been truly hopeless.

"It's the Great Rabbit!" Emilia finally managed to squeeze out.

These words evoked a wave of horror in the theater.

"THIS is the Great Rabbit?!" Felt simply couldn't believe it.

"Crusch-sama, are you sure?! It's just one rabbit! Shouldn't there be thousands of them?!" Even Wilhelm dared to express his doubts. Wasn't the Great Mabeast a pack of immense size?

"They're hiding in the snow. And Natsuki Subaru is probably already surrounded by them." Roswaal prompted them in an empty voice.

After that, the audience realized the danger their friend was in.

"A… rabbit? Why is there a rabbit here…?"

It came towards him, so Subaru knelt down.

"Shit! The pal doesn't even know about this monster!" Al guessed.

He had died so many times in this world he won't even dare to try to count, but nothing like this had ever happened to him.

"Big bro…" Felt put her hands over her mouth.

"Subaru… Subaru…" Petra stammered helplessly, unable to fully comprehend the fear that gripped her.

"Barusu, run, you idiot!" Ram, on the verge of crying, shouted desperately.

Everyone was so mesmerized and scared of what was about to happen, they didn't even move.

Garfiel still didn't recover from the previous scenes and was barely cognizant of what was happening on the screen.

"Since he doesn't know, he won't try to run away… until it's too late…" Felix shrank into a ball. He began to shake slightly.

"Because of Betty… this all happened because of Betty? Is it because of Betty you scream so often during the night, I suppose?" Beatrice whispered, not trying to stop the tears and preparing for what she was about to see.

He was curious, so he extended a hand towards it. The next moment, his hand was chopped off and flew off to the side. The guy didn't even realize what had happened right away.

[Melody Playing — Decisive Battle Against the Mabeasts]

It was only after a few seconds that he screamed in pain and saw the same rabbit greedily devouring his finger. Screaming in pain, he tried to move away from mabeast, but lost his balance and fell into the snow. When he felt pain in his leg, he saw that two more rabbits hiding in the snow had bitten off his foot. Hyperventilating from panic and pain, he saw that he was surrounded on all sides by dozens, hundreds of small predators. They all looked intently at him with hungry, little, red eyes. For he was their prey.

"DON'T LOOK!" Frederica pressed Petra's face to her chest, wishing with all her might that the girl would suddenly lose consciousness or disappear from the theater. No way. There was no way she could be allowed to see what will happen next.

Ricardo hugged Tivey and Mimi, who were weeping tearfully. All the horrors of the battles they faced before could not be compared to what was going to be shown on the screen now.

Reinhard wanted to close his lady's eyes, but there was no need. She threw herself on his chest and clung to him. The girl was shaking with fear.

"Subaru-dono… Not you… Not like this…" Wilhelm whispered hopelessly.

Even in those moments when death was breathing down his neck, he did not feel such despair that was gripping his heart now. Not only this wonderful young man was about to meet such a horrible fate. What was worse, it wouldn't be the end for him. He will have to live and remember it.

' Emilia-sama… Roswaal-sama… Sissy… Garf-kun… Witch! Anyone! Please save him! ' Rem prayed to herself, trembling with fear.

She would have given her soul to Satella now without any hesitation if, in exchange, the witch had moved her lover away from this place, or at least given him a quick death by crushing his heart. Anything but that!

Simultaneously, the whole pack attacked the doomed young man. The screams of agony were accompanied by pictures of rabbits tearing him apart, crawling under his skin, devouring him from the inside. And all this time he remained alive and could only scream in agony.

Most of the viewers turned their eyes away from the screen after the first few frames. Even a couple of seconds was enough to give them nightmares for the rest of their lives, with bloody little creatures tearing their friend to pieces.

But it was the sounds that turned out to be much more harrowing than the creepy images. The music, the squeaking of hundreds of bloodthirsty critters and the agonizing screams of Subaru seemed to convey the pain he experienced right to those who heard them. And the sound of teeth. Clacking of thousands of small incisors, eager to dig into someone else's flesh, to tear it away, to chew it and to consume.

Emilia was determined that she would not look away, no matter what. She wanted to see every moment of her knight's journey and let all his pain go through her. But she quickly regretted her decision. The half-elf held out for only a few seconds before she vomited right on the floor. His body was convulsing, his eyes darted in panic. She covered her ears to drown the sounds, but it was too late. These screams already were stuck in her memory and would not subside.

In panic, Rem buried her face in the sleeping man's neck, closing her eyes and hugging him as if it was her lifeline. The feeling of his body warmth was more pleasant to her now than sister's embrace, and the light smell of miasma seemed sweeter than ambrosia. Simply because it was proof that her beloved was alive.

"This didn't happen! This isn't real! You're alive! You're here! With me! You're alive!" The blue maid chattered incessantly.

Barely restraining herself from breaking down, Frederica put her hands over the ears of the sobbing Petra. She was horrified, she was in almost physical pain. This kind boy should have never screamed like that. But all she could do was prevent her student from suffering the same ghastly experience that she was going through now. The head maid could only howl in a strangled voice and shed tears, trying to ignore reality.

Garfiel was one of those few who did not look away from the screen. He didn't even cover his ears. But not because he was ready to bravely face everything that the diabolical magical window had prepared for them.

The young fighter was so shocked by the scenes of the massacre committed by him, that now he simply did not have the mental strength to fully perceive what he was seeing. He just sat there with his eyes and mouth wide open, hardly realizing what his outburst of rage had brought about to his captain. But every frame was literally burned into his memory to stay there for a long time.

' I wanted to help! Just wanted to help a friend! I wanted to save him! It's not my fault! I didn't know! ' Otto thought feverishly, realizing what his noble attempt to save his friend from death had led to. Yes, he saved Subaru…from a quick, almost painless death. And brought him to this in the end.

During the time they've spent in this theater, Ram tried to convince herself that her beloved master was not as guilty of the suffering of the young man, as the rest of Emilia's camp believed. That all this happened because of the machinations of the Witch of Greed and her damned book. But if he knew… if he knew about the appearance of the Great Rabbit and still followed the Gospel's instructions… Then even she won't be able to close her eyes and find excuses for it. Barusu's agonizing cries will not let her do otherwise.

' Roswaal-sama… Tell me you didn't know this was going to happen! Tell me that the witch hid it from you! Please, Roswaal-sama! Tell me you didn't know about it! That you didn't deliberately subject Barusu to this suffering! ' Ram thought with fear, curled in a ball, with her eyes and ears shut, trying to distance herself from the deafening screams of the young man on the screen.

Reinhard, at first, seriously thought of breaking his promise to his mistress and putting her back to sleep by sucking out mana. But he simply froze in shock, looking at what had happened to his friend. The hero of Lugunika watched again as people dear to him died because of his inaction. While he was enjoying the idle life of his mistress's knight, a simple but heroic young man went through all the torments of hell just to save the people he loved. Reinhard felt that it was all his fault.

Crusch wanted to endure out of respect for the heroic young man, but the woman's heart quickly defeated the aristocratic urges. The footage was simply too shocking. Like most, she lowered her gaze, giving herself up to tears.

' How could you continue after that? How did you not go completely insane after experiencing this, Sir Natsuki… ' she thought.

Wilhelm clutched his chest with his hand, barely able to withstand the pain of his pounding heart. The sight of blood and the moans of the wounded and dying were not unfamiliar to him. But he had never witnessed such torment. And even more so, he did not want to see how the one he was ready to call his grandson went through this. He had never felt so powerless and useless before.

Julius was sitting hunched down, with closed eyes and ears, rattling off the stipulations of the knight's codex to himself. He repeated the main virtues of chivalry over and over again, trying to shield his mind from the encroaching madness. But nothing could help to stop his tears. Once again, he thought that all his knightly honor and pride were not worth a damn. How could any knight think that he was fulfilling his duty with dignity, if people in the kingdom met such a terrible fate from the teeth of mabeasts.

Anastasia seemed to be the least responsive to what was happening. She didn't even look away or close her ears. But no one paid any attention to it. Just as no one could have imagined that it was not Anastasia who was sitting in the chair right now, Echidna. The spirit occupied the girl's body when she, not wanting to face such a scene, turned off her consciousness. Echidna did not have that much empathy to react very strongly to what was happening on the screen. But even she sincerely sympathized with the young man who had gone through such a horrific event.

Priscilla, looking away, clenched her fists so tightly that blood dripped from her palms. Using her enormous willpower, the baroness forced herself to focus on this pain. It was almost pleasant compared to the alternative.

' And you didn't break down even after this?! Just what… who are you, if you still could get back on your feet?! Are you even human?! ' She simultaneously felt a mixture of admiration for the incredible resilience of a commoner, and a primordial fear of someone as incomprehensible as the Witch herself. No mortal could remain sane after going through something like this.

It had been a long time since Al hadn't regretted so much that he only had one hand. And now he couldn't even cover his ears. Gripping the armrest so strongly, his knuckle turned white, he bit his cheek, focusing on the pain. He wasn't in the mood to criticize Subaru for his choices and their consequences right now. Right now, all he wanted to do was run away. Anywhere. As far away as possible. Just not to hear these screams. Because he was sure that only he was capable of at least trying to imagine how his pal felt then. And he didn't like it in the slightest.

Roswaal was one of those who did not look away. In four centuries of his life, he had seen enough terrible deaths that even the sight of a man being devoured alive did not shock him as much, as the others. But all he could think about at that moment was the guilt that threatened to crush him on the spot. And the woman for whom he committed all these atrocities.

'Why, Teacher? Why? What for? Why didn't you inform me? Why did you make me do this'? He asked himself questions, although inwardly he realized that he was just running away from reality.

His mind had already put together the pieces of the puzzle and made conclusions about what the Teacher's plan was for Natsuki Subaru. The plan was magnificent and sophisticated. Worthy of a real witch.

The demi-humans in the room had it harder than the others. The keen hearing of Ricardo, Mimi, Tivey and Felix left no chance to escape from the heart-rending screams even when they covered their ears. Felix couldn't stand this suffering anymore and let out a shrill wail, trying his best to drown the sounds of Subaru's agony with his one scream. Mimi and Tivey joined him.

But no one in the audience was more tormented than Beatrice, who was sitting in the back row. With a tearful face, she stared at the screen without blinking, at the same time hating herself for what had happened.

' Look! Look closely, you useless porcelain doll! Don't you dare look away even for a second! YOU did this to him! YOU left him! YOU have condemned your contractor to this hell! It was enough for you to leave your room, wave your hand and become his savior! But you chose melancholy, and he paid for it! So now watch carefully!'

At the end of the scene, when the young man's bloodshot eye was shown in close-up, it seemed to Betty that he was looking directly at her. And blamed her for everything that happened.

For the past year, she had been wondering what was the reason for his constant nightmares. Why, when under strong stress, he began to scratch his hands until they bled.

While sitting in this enchanted room, she gradually received one answer after another. She was angry at anyone who had harmed her contractor in any way, and felt obliged to make everyone responsible repent for their wrongdoings. But now she had found the most terrible answer for her question. The main reason for Betty's contractor's addiction to self-torture… was Betty herself.

How many of his deaths were caused by her inaction or neglect? How many could have been avoided? She wanted to spend more time with him. She wanted to fool around with him, communicate with him, so that he would come to her more often and annoy her with his antics. Betty realized this even before he went to the Capital with the elf girl.

But she ran away from this desire with all her might because of her fears. Because of the memory of what happened to Ryuzu, because of the stupid dream that mother would one day remember her again, or 'that person' would enter the library. And the culmination of her indecisiveness was the excruciating screams of her beloved contractor, who was being devoured alive right in front of her eyes. The pain he had to live with. And from which he'll never be able to get away. Because of her.

"Forgive Betty, I suppose… Betty is sorry… forgive Betty…" Was all she could mutter over and over again.

Without even noticing it, she began to scratch her hand, leaving ugly marks on it. Later, when she found these marks on herself, she could not figure out what caused it. The feelings of guilt about Subaru? The desire to get a little closer to him, even like this? The unexpected consequence of their souls' connection, now that she knew much more about his suffering?

When the sounds abruptly stopped, and the screen went dark, marking the end of this loop, Felix and the twin mercenaries screamed in the hall for a few more seconds. When, finally, their voices fell silent, crying and sobbing in different parts of the room could be heard for a long time. The horror they had experienced was too strong, and everyone took their time to come to terms with the situation.

"He was ~hic… devoured… they just…~hic… devoured him." Garfiel was the first to speak his mind. He muttered those words in a half-trance state.

In a cruel twist of irony, he got through Subaru's extreme death easier than most. The previous scenes, where he killed Otto, the inhabitants of Arlam and Patrasche shocked and mentally devastated him so much that he simply could not react strongly to the suffering of his friend. The realization of what had happened was just beginning to sink in for the young fighter.

' Is this all because of me? If I didn't try to play the hero, this wouldn't have happened? Did he survive because of my stupid sacrifice? Is it because of me that this happened to him? ' Otto sat looking lost, wailing softly, trying to comprehend what had happened.

In his mind the scene of his quick death, when he did not even have time to understand what had happened, was constantly switching with the latest fate of Subaru. And the role he accidentally played in this tragedy. Before the merchant's eyes, an act that he wanted to be rightfully proud of, turned into one of the worst decisions in his life. The one that got himself killed and doomed his friend.

Gently holding onto her loved one's hand, Rem again felt herself sinking into the abyss of self-flagellation. Feeling every scar on his arm with her fingers, she couldn't shake the gnawing feeling that the nightmare she had just seen was on her conscience.

"I'm so sorry, Subaru-kun. If only I was greedier, if only I took your hand, none of this would have happened. You wouldn't have to go through all this. It's all my fault. I'm so sorry." She whispered softly.

Hearing the maid's lamentations, Emilia was surprised to feel rage boiling inside her. She felt furious. At Rem. She was furious at Rem for not running away with her Subaru.

' You could have saved him from all this pain! You could've given him a quiet life with someone who truly loves him! A family, children, peace. But Instead, you inspired him to become a hero… and all for what?! To save the useless daughter of a witch who can't even cope with her own nightmares?! '

While she was thinking this way, Emilia did her best to stop her whole body from trembling and her tears from flowing.

"You know…" Ricardo began, cradling the twins, who were still quietly sobbing, on his chest. There was a frighteningly serious expression on his face. "Up to this point, I could confidently state that even after I learned about the guy's habit of self-harming, I did not lose a drop of respect for him. On the contrary, I thought it was a miracle that, having gone through such a hellish experience, he limited himself to only this. But now… I just can't figure out how, after this , he was able to retain at least a shred of sanity?! Is he even human?!"

"Maybe he doesn't remember that this ever happened?" Felix suggested with a surge of hope in his voice. "I have come across similar cases! Sometimes people who have experienced traumatic events simply forget about them. The mind just locks painful memories in the depths of the subconscious. The only things that are left are phobias and, perhaps, some behavioral quirks that a person himself is not able to explain, because he has forgotten the reason for their appearance!"

Those who heard the healer were inclined to agree with this. The assumption sounded logical. More than that, It sounded desirable . They desperately wanted this to be true. But these faint hopes turned to ashes when a girl's voice came from the back rows:

"He didn't forget anything, in fact. Betty's Subaru… remembers everything that happened to him."

For the first time since she had exiled herself, Beatrice decided to speak out. She would have kept quiet, but this was too important for her contractor. The others had to realize the scale of the struggles Subaru was going through.

"Now Betty understand what kind of nightmares are haunting him, I suppose. It's not uncommon for Betty's Subaru to jump up screaming in the middle of the night. He starts scratching his stomach and chest furiously, tearing the skin until it bleeds, while shrieking in panic: 'they're inside me', 'they're eating me'. It takes a lot of effort from Betty every time to calm him down, heal his wounds and remove the blood. He didn't forget anything, in fact". The great spirit wanted to continue, but tears began to choke her. All the times he had woken up from such nightmares came back to her memory.

"Dear spirits… don't tell me… he's… he's suffering from phantom pains!" Crusch suggested with horror.

The others shuddered at the very thought. Al unconsciously grimaced, touching the stump of his arm. Even after all these years, he sometimes felt pain in his missing limb. But if his pal remembered such torments, then all the tears in this world would not be enough to mourn his misadventures.

"Damn, pal… and you don't even have a last way out of this shit in the form of suicide… it's really hell."

"And we were laughing at him…" Otto said with a hysterical laugh, looking completely broken.

"What do you mean?" Rem asked him.

"There were a couple of times when we encountered ordinary small forest animals or flocks of birds on the street. Natsuki-san, at the sight of them, froze like a rabbi… like a mouse in front of a snake, and began to tremble slightly. Garf and I did not understands the reason for this, and therefore laughed at his 'stupid' fears. What idiots we were…"

"You didn't know about his trauma. No one knew. It's pointless to blame yourself now." Julius addressed him.

"But what can we do to help him? Barusu can't even speak out about what's on his mind because of the taboo!" Ram desperately tried to think of any way to help him, but nothing good came to mind.

Reinhard silently listened to others, immersed in his own thoughts. He, like everyone else, was worried about only one question — how to help Subaru? What can be done to make his friend forget about this terrible death? And Reinhardt had an idea of what he could do. But the very thought of it sent a wave of fear and self-loathing through him.

Fifteen years ago, he had already used a similar power. Without any permission, he influenced the mind of the commander of the royal Knights, Marcus. He did it with the best intentions, to help his father. But good intentions led his father to become fearful and hateful of him in the end. And he demanded an oath from little Rein that he would never use this power again.

Right now, Reinhardt was torn between the duty to honor the oath he had sworn to his dad and the desire to use the power given to him by this world to do something worthwhile for once. To help his friend. But he was too scared to make up his mind. It's scary to break a vow. It's scary to get into a friend's mind without his permission. Furthermore, it's terrifying that Subaru, upon learning about this, will call him a monster just like his father. This was what he was most afraid of.

But staying idle also seemed to him like nothing short of betrayal. He couldn't choose what to do next. Over the years, he had become too accustomed to being just a tool in the hands of the kingdom. The tools don't decide what they need to do, they just execute commands.

In the end, Rein firmly decided that he would talk to his mistress during the break. She was wise, she would tell Reinhard exactly what would be the right thing to do.

"Crusch-sama." Emilia suddenly addressed the duchess.

And everyone was surprised by the tone of her voice — firm, cold, domineering. One of those rare occasions when Emilia began to behave like a ruler, and not a young, naive girl.

"Yes, Emilia-sama?" Crusch was so surprised by this change of behavior that she had to suppress an instinctive urge to stand up and bow.

"I will have to ask you for your knight's services again, Crusch-sama." The half-elf said, turning to her rival friend.

"Of course, no problem. Ferris?"

"Y-yes! I am at your service, Emilia-sama!" Felix jumped up, ready to do anything if it would help the sleeping young man.

"I'm afraid, Sir Felix, I'll have to relinquish one of the promises I demanded from you earlier." Emilia said gloomily, looking straight into the eyes of the healer. "I want you to use your mind-altering technique on Subaru again."

"What?!" Felix, Felt, and Julius asked at the same time, not believing their ears. Reinhard looked at her as if the girl had grown a second head.

"I want you to use this technique and rid my knight of these terrible memories." With each word, anger could be heard more clearly in Emilia's voice. Her hands clenched into fists. She was angry at the world in general and at herself in particular.

"Lock them in his subconscious, suppress them, replace them, BURN them away! Anything! Just make it so that my Subaru doesn't remember how those monsters devoured him alive anymore! I give you my permission and I will take full responsibility! Including Subaru's anger, if he shows any!"

"I… I agree with Emilia-sama's suggestion. Subaru-kun has been through too much. If there is a way to somehow reduce the severity of his memories, it should not be ignored. If necessary, I will personally beg him to agree to these procedures." Rem calmly and sadly supported her, looking at the sleeping man.

"I concur, in fact." Beatrice did not remain silent and supported this idea.

The best healer in the kingdom felt great pressure from the looks of everyone present and the complexity of the task that he faced. Nevertheless, he understood that this was his chance to do something truly worthwhile for his friend.

"I understand you, Emilia-sama. I have never had to influence other people's memories, but I swear to you on my knight's honor, when we are free, I will immediately begin to study this issue and do everything in my power to help Subaru-kyun!"

"If you can find a way to erase this memory, then why not do the same with the rest of his deaths? That's how we can help him start living a normal life again!" Julius suggested, seizing the opportunity.

"Don't count on it too much, Julius. It's one thing to influence emotions. They are inherently simpler than memories and fickle by nature. It is absolutely no problem for people to cry their eyes out at one moment and laugh sincerely after just an hour. That's why I decided to use this technique at that time. After all, I just needed to moderate Subaru-kyun's anger and redirect emotions in another direction."

Felix thoughtfully shook his head, trying to explain the intricacies of the situation.

"But affecting memories will be a much more difficult task. We'll have to make him remember what he's been through. So that this memory shines in his mind the brightest. Then, perhaps, it will be possible to isolate it and lock it in the depths of the mind. But the more you interfere with memories, the higher the risk of causing irreparable harm. The mind will try to somehow fill in the gaps in memory and change the picture of what happened. We all, as individuals, are what we remember. Consciously and subconsciously. By erasing too many memories, you can destroy what makes Subaru-kyun himself. I'm not ready to take such a risk."

"I understand, Ferris. I'll trust your judgment." The best knight nodded to his friend.

Maybe not all of them, but if they could erase at least this death from Subaru's memory, it will already be a victory.

"Then it's settled. Upon his return from Pristella, Ferris will begin to study the question of how to influence memory. As soon as we have any news, we will notify you immediately, Emilia-sama." The duchess summed up.

"Thank you, Crusch-sama. We will be looking forward to hearing from you." For the first time in a long time, Emilia smiled sincerely.

She had a small hope that they will find a way to somehow lighten the burden of her knight's memory.

The others were also a little encouraged by this prospect. They themselves really wanted to just forget about the last scene that the screen showed. Emotions had mostly subsided by this point. The younger ones stopped crying. Gradually, everyone came to something remotely resembling the norm.

"I suggest we continue watching. Each session lasts approximately the same time. According to my observations, we have only a few minutes left. We need to get to the end of this episode, after which everyone goes to rest. If no one objects, of course." Wilhelm decided to draw the attention of the others to the screen.

There were no objections, and all eyes turned to the dark screen.

Subaru woke up in the tomb in a state of shock. He was shaking, and his pupils had narrowed to the size of a pinhole. He seemed to keep feeling the bites all over his body. He looked at his hands, felt his face, unable to believe that he was whole again. Clearly out of his mind, he began banging his forehead on the floor, repeating one word over and over again:

"Why… Why… Why?"

"Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?"

"It's like he's still feeling the pain! Just why? Why can't he at least return to the past without suffering?" Emilia asked with anguish.

"That's exactly the phantom pains that Crush-sama mentioned before. His body is fine, but during the last moments his mind was so concentrated on the agonizing sensations he was experiencing, that as a result the pain is all he can think about nyow…" Felix explained.

"It would have been naive to expect anything else. It's impossible to get through such horror and stay sane." Felix said depressingly, lowering his head.

"But somehow he was able to calm down and continue to live normally. Well, at least pretend that he lives normally…" Julius decided to argue.

"It is possible that he killed himself in a fit of madness many times in the tomb before his spirit calmed down." Roswaal put in a frightening idea.

"We can only watch and observe. Strengthen your hearts. It may well be that now we will have to witness many frightening scenes of madness. And the deaths caused by it before Subaru-dono's suffering mind calms down and can think again." The old butler decided to warn everyone.

The others tensed in fear, agreeing with Wilhelm's words and trying to prepare themselves for a series of short but terrible rebirths of Subaru in the crypt, followed by suicide due to insanity.

"Why? Why? "WHY—?!" At the end, he screamed like a madman. Blood was flowing from his bruised forehead.

Suddenly, the world froze around him. Echidna's voice sounded in the young man's voice:

"You've earned that right again. I invite you to a witch tea party."

A flash of light and Subaru was back in the castle of dreams of the Witch of Greed. Who, as before, was sitting at the tea table.

"Did Echidna call him again? Maybe she can help?" A new hope emerged in Emilia's soul.

Right now she would have approved of help even from the Witch of Envy, if she could save her knight from these torments.

"At least he looks calm now. It's as if being transported to a witch had knocked him out of this spiral of madness. I am ready to thank her just for that alone." Said Julius, rejoicing at any positive change.

"I don't often invite the same guest to my tea parties twice. Feel free to be proud."

Subaru stares at her, his hand going up to his head. The wound wasn't there. "I feel so calm, it's kind of creepy… What's going on?"

"It's because of the tea you drank last time. It directly affected your Sloth Witch Factor, encouraging stability. If it weren't for that, your soul would have crumbled into pieces."

She smirks, placing a hand near her ear. "Now, I'm ready to hear your gratitude!"

"Never in my life I thought that I would be ready to sincerely thank the witch…" Rem said aloud what many thought.

Whatever plans or intrigues were swarming in her head, they could not deny one thing: without her intervention, Natsuki Subaru would most likely have ended up in a perpetual horror loop with his mind utterly destroyed.

' I wonder what you will say, Rem, when you figure out that the one you are now ready to thank for saving Subaru Natsuki is the one who set him up for this blow?' Roswaal thought bitterly.

He did not even think about absolving himself of the blame for what had happened. On the contrary, he would be happy to take on all the sins of his Teacher, so that in the eyes of others she would remain a frightening, incomprehensible woman, but at least worthy of respect.

But these sessions have already made it clear enough that such naive hopes should be discarded. All secrets will be put on public display, all dirty deeds and intrigues will be revealed. In one of the episodes, everyone will learn the identity of both the organizer of this tragedy and the executor. And the more Roswaal saw on the screen, the more convinced he became of his guess for what purpose the Gospel had given him exactly these specific instructions.

"…can I assume that this will still work even if I'm outside?"

"Well, we are talking about your mental state. So as long as you remember what happened here, you'll be fine. So, where's the gratitude?"

"Echidna… is there a way to overwrite the vow?"

"—mh?"

"You know, the one that makes me forget you when I step outside. So long as it stands, my soul is most likely to fall apart."

"Well, that's true, but…"

"So that's how he managed to keep his sanity and continue on his way. He will persuade Echidna to change the terms of the oath and remember their conversation. This will be his primary defense against those terrible memories." Tivey guessed.

"Once again, Sir Natsuki demonstrates the ability to quickly find a way out of a situation. If the problem has a solution, he will definitely find it." Crusch smiled at how the young knight quickly regained his former confidence and tenacity of mind. These were the traits that attracted the girl to him.

Subaru begins to walk towards her.

"Besides, my soul isn't the problem here. Regardless… I want to be able to remember you."

Subaru slammed his hands onto the table, leaning in rather close to her. Echidna's eyes went wide, her mouth moving wordlessly as the blush on her face increased.

"If it comes at a price, I'm willing to pay whichever one it is. In return, don't hide yourself in my memories."

He really didn't notice the large blush as well as her wordless mouth, her eyes wide as she blinked repeatedly at the bold action Subaru had done.

"What's wrong with her? Why is she so scared? Or is she surprised?"

"Maybe she's just amazed at the incredible audacity with which Subaru-kyun invades her personal space?" Felix guessed.

"It could very well be so. She's a witch. They were always feared. This means that no one would dare to approach her like that without aggressive intentions. Only my big bro has the courage and spontaneity to communicate with a witch like that." Felt replied, pleased with how the witch had been knocked off balance, and now she looked like a simple, shy girl.

' Or is it a well-calculated reaction designed to show Natsuki Subaru that he is in control of the situation, and therefore can relax and trust the Teacher even more. ' Roswaal reasoned mentally, sincerely enjoying every expression of his teacher. It didn't matter if they were sincere or feigned, any of Echidna's emotions were priceless to him. Especially those when the teacher showed her feminine side.

"Y-Yes…" She managed to say, looking down in embarrassment.

"You big-mouthed devil! You did it again!" Al said with a deliberately cheerful voice.

He desperately wanted to switch himself and the others from the memories of the previous nightmare. And judging by the reaction of others, they wanted the same thing.

"I'm starting to regret that the guy was not transported to the past of our world before the Great Calamity. With his charms and ability to meet the most influential people, he would have definitely found the Witch of Envy, make her fall in love with him and turn her into an ordinary, happy girl." Ricardo said dreamily.

Registering her affirmation, a broad smile comes across his face.

"Really!?" Excited, he grasps Echidna's hands, intertwining them with his own as he moves them up and down. "Thank you so much! And no changing your mind, got it!?"

"I wouldn't do something so shameless! I wouldn't, but I think you're being a little unfair…" Bashful and flustered, Echidna began to play with her own hair.

' You play your role beautifully, Teacher. If I didn't know you personally, I would've believed in the sincerity of these emotions. But even so, they're still captivating to look at. '

Subaru, though, was relieved. He sat back down into the other chair, relaxing. He grabbed the cup of tea, placed it in his mouth and drank it.

"And then you gulp down my body fluids…"

Subaru immediately spat it out, remembering that yes, it is, in fact, body fluid tea. "I FORGOT!"

He went down to his knees, doing his best to get rid of the taste of the Dona tea, almost ready to force his fingers down his own throat to vomit.

"So, where's my gratitude? I do believe I haven't heard it yet."

"Fine, fine! Thanks for the disgusting body fluid tea! Damn Witch!"

"That kind of gratitude wounds my maidenly heart."

"I still can't believe what I'm seeing. He's talking to a witch. THE WITCH OF SIN… as if she was the most ordinary flirtatious girl." Felix declared in amazement.

"Well, that's because she acts like an ordinary flirty girl around him. Why would he perceive her as some kind of creepy entity?" Al shrugged his shoulders.

Subaru grits his teeth at her, and Echidna is still smiling. Then… he realized something. Echidna… she saw his memories, didn't she? And somehow… she didn't…

"What is it? Do you have something else to say?"

"Quit playing around. Just how much do you know about me?"

"And what's bothering the mini-boss so much now?" Mimi didn't get it.

"He realized that she knew about his ability. After all, technically, he returned to her right after he finished the first Trial." Tivey explained to her.

"That's to be expected. She had delved into his memory to create the world of the first Trial. I do not believe that a witch so greedy for knowledge would not have looked at the life of a person who came here from another world!" Rem added her thoughts.

"But why didn't she say anything about it then? Wasn't she interested in asking him about this ability? She seems to be an extremely curious girl." Emilia was surprised by Echidna's behavior.

"She was probably planning to use this knowledge for her own purposes! Don't forget that he's dealing with a witch right now!" Ram didn't even try to hide the venom in her words.

Unlike the case with her master, she wasn't going to even try to find excuses for the witch. Even if it was Roswaal who caused the snowfall in the Sanctuary, he did it only at the behest of the witch on the screen.

"If you're asking what I know, I only know what I know. If you're asking what I want to know, I want to know everything in this world."

Subaru narrows his eyes. "There's no way in hell it doesn't seem strange to you. For you… isn't this happening after your last tea party with me? So if you don't find this strange… then…!"

"Then?"

"Then… that could only mean you know what happened. How this happened."

Echidna only smiles. Or is she waiting patiently? He recalled the case when Satella killed Emilia for his attempt to reveal the truth about his ability. The fear of seeing something like this again made him silent.

"Try it, don't be shy." Echidna encouraged him.

"What is she doing?! She's provoking him!" Felt was surprised at such recklessness.

"But if she has access to his memory, then she should have seen what happens when Subaru tries to voice his secret." Reinhard echoed this thought.

"Right now, Su-u-ubaru-kun's consciousness is outside material world. They are now in Echidna's pocket reality, where everything is subject to her own wi-i-ill. We can't say for certain that even the Witch of Envy will be able to get to him the-e-ere." Roswaal decided to share his guesses.

For him, it was both a way to once again emphasize the greatness of his Teacher, and an opportunity to stop unnecessary speculation that would slow down the viewing.

"And because of that she's willing to risk Subaru-kyun's health, or even her life, just to have him tell her that?" But why?" Felix couldn't understand the witch's logic.

"She's probably driven by curiosity and a thirst for knowledge." Reinhard suggested. "She described herself as a witch, eager to know everything. Maybe she's set out to find out if the Witch of Envy would be able to manifest there?"

"We have only one way to find out. Let's continue." Crusch suggested, returning to the viewing.

He then shakes his head.

"Y-You might not even have the time to regret saying that…!"

"If that is true, then can I expect you to break down crying over my corpse?"

After some thought, seeing that the girl was not going to give up, Subaru decided.

"Echidna… I… I've been Returning by Death!" He shouted, preparing for his heart to be squeezed.

But nothing happened. Time did not freeze, the hand woven of shadows did not appear. Echidna looked at him with a satisfied smile.

"Hm… it's a bit embarrassing to have you staring at me like that."

"Nothing?! The Witch didn't get to him?!" Rem was surprised by this turn.

"Apparently the margrave was right. In this place, the Jealous one has no power, and will not be able to punish Subaru-dono."

"So this is the first time Subaru has had the opportunity to tell someone about this?"

"More than that, Emilia-sama! What we see now, proves that the Witch of Envy is watching Natsuki-san from the side, and do not… dwell inside him, so to speak!" Otto was inspired by the idea that originated in him. "Which means it's potentially possible to create a territory where the Witch of Envy won't be able to get to him! And inside it, Natsuki-san could be safe from her influence!"

"This is amazing! If we can create a place where the Witch can't get to him, it will solve a hundred problems! In such a place, Subaru will be able to feel completely safe!" Emilia immediately became ecstatic at the prospect of her knight being able to spill out all his worries and thoughts without any obstruction.

And Subaru repeated. "I… When… When I die… I go back in time and the world restarts… I Return by Death."

"I heard. And before I heard it, I saw you."

"I… Return by Death! Return by Death! Return by Death! Return by Death! Return by Death—!" He began to repeat feverishly.

[Melody playing — The Past's Destination]

Echidna raises her palms, surprised by his sudden chanting. "Hey, calm down! I know how you feel, but—!"

He rushes forward, slamming his hands on the table. The cups and teapot shake, but Subaru doesn't care.

"I Return by Death!"

"I get it, I said! Just listen to m—!"

"He looks so excited…" Said Emilia sadly.

"It's not surprising. For the first time, he was able to at least tell someone about his ability and what was happening to him." Crusch replied in the same tone.

"The inability to talk about it is one of the main reasons for his depressive state. And also the fear that the Witch of Envy will kill anyone to whom he tries to confess. And now he has finally found someone to whom he can pour out his soul." Rem added, patting Subaru's cheek sympathetically.

"He jumped at this opportunity and behaves like a man who almost drowned, but at the last moment managed to surface and start breathing" Julius inserted his comparison.

"Fer him, the very opportunity to speak out was like an unattainable dream. It is easy enough to imagine tha' if someone would start travelin' with him into the past, preservin' their memory, this person would definitely become the most important to Natsuki-kun. And it doesn't matter who it is, unless it's a sworn enemy.

"—I've been…!"

He drops to his knees, his head bowing down. "… Returning by Death… to start again… over and over…"

"…ah…"

Tears slowly began to rush out of his eyes. Sadness, relief, cathartic tears. And he shook.

"I… all this time…! Ever since I came to this world…"

His stomach sliced open, dying in his sleep, his throat slashed, his head caved in, throwing himself off of a cliff, being frozen to death, slicing his own throat open two times, eaten alive—

"I've never, ever been able to say it to anyone…! Over and over… all alone… alone this whole time…! I… I…"

"Subaru… just how rough it is for you?" Emilia tearfully clung to her knight, realizing how lonely he felt.

"Subaru-kun. What am I… no, what can we all do to help? How do we get this terrible burden off you?" Rem whispered.

"Even if he is surrounded by loyal and caring friends, the feeling of loneliness never leaves him." The steel will of the head of the house Karsten was not enough to stop the tears for the wonderful young man who made her heart tremble.

"He always lives with the fear that any good moment with close people can be irrevocably erased by another death. Even if his loved ones let him know that they know everything and that they are ready to help, this will not completely eliminate his fear. For him, this ability is like the wound left by Theresia for me. Even if it doesn't bleed, it never heals. This fate… is too cruel." Wilhelm added hoarsely.

"If I went through such a meat grinder, I would definitely become a hermit or, at least, a sociopath, not letting anyone near me and not having any close relationships with others. Just so I don't have to worry about losing them." Ricardo said grimly.

"The most terrible thing is that Natsuki-san's best quality which make him a real hero, is at the same time the main cause of his suffering. An ordinary person would have run away from everything the first day he came to our world. He just wouldn't go back to that loot shop and go live his life. As he had intended, until he remembered what would happen to the others in such a case."

"It is monstrous to realize that on one side of the scales are lives of hundreds of people and the destruction of the most terrible monsters of our world, and on the other — the suffering that destroys the soul of one wonderful young man from another world. Who just wants to protect people close to him and live happily with them." Frederica said sadly, patting Petra's head.

"The warden won't erase our memories, will he? Otherwise, it was all useless! Which means that when we get back, we can tell Natsuki-san about it. He may still not be able to talk directly about his ability, but at least he's letting us know what's going on."

Echidna comes out of her chair, kneeling down towards him.

"I know."

She threads her fingers through his hair, a comforting motion as she murmurs.

"I know every step you've taken on your path here. I was watching."

She stops, cupping his face, and helping him look up.

"But that was all I was doing. Just watching."

She strokes a few tears away, and Subaru opens his eyes.

"So if you can, I'd like you to tell me about yourself… what you have thought, how you have felt, and how much weight you have carried. I want to know."

With a gentle expression and a smile, Echidna says that.

"After all, I'm the Witch of Greed, who wants to know everything in this world. That's me… Echidna."

The welcoming expression she had made Subaru feel at ease for the first time — what it seemed to him — months.

[Screen title: The Value of Life].

The screen went blank. A soft light came on in the room, marking the beginning of the break.

"Of all the people in this world, the only one who could listen and comfort pal turned out to be a long-dead witch. I'm sick of such irony." Al said dully, there was no trace of the usual humor in his voice.

' If only I could be in her place! ' Emilia, Rem, Crusch, Beatrice and Petra thought at the same time.

They couldn't wait to have the opportunity to tell him that they also have seen everything, that they knew what he had been through, and how grateful they were to him for everything.

"What a correct title it was. The value of life. The price that Subaru-dono pays in order to save the lives of others." Wilhelm asked rhetorically.

"I can't help but feel like a villain here. Because even after I saw what my big bro went through, even knowing about his pain, I… I wouldn't want him to leave us that day. I don't want to die, I don't want Old Rom and big sis to die." Felt clenched her fists, cursing herself for selfishness.

"We're all villains here, in that case, Felt-chan." Emilia said to her. "I feel very, ve-e-ery bad for my knight for such egocentric thoughts, but I also can't accept my death in order for Subaru to go his own way. He has become too dear to me. I can't give up on him.

"You should go and rest. There are still many episodes ahead. We will continue when all the participants gather in the main room again and are ready for the viewing." The Warden's voice rang out.

No one argued with him. Everyone felt worn-out after the last session. No one wanted to talk about anything. Many dreamed of just falling asleep, but looked at this idea with fear. They understood what kind of dreams, or rather, nightmares awaited them. Their "captor" also understood this, and decided to make sure that his "prisoners" did not lose the will to continue due to insomnia and fears.

"In your rooms, you will find medicine on the bedside tables. This is a special sleeping pill that will help you sleep soundly and without dreams. If you are worried about nightmares, then I advise you to take it. There is no need to worry about side effects. And no, Hoshin-sama, I will not sell you the recipe of this medicine. And not even because I'm being petty. It's just that in your world, there are nothing even close to be resemble pharmaceutical technologies sufficient enough to start the production of such drugs."

Anastasia immediately slumped her shoulders. But made another mental note for herself — to discuss with the young man what pharmaceutical technologies are and how they can be recreated in their world.

Garfiel, without getting rid of the of guilt ridden expression on his face, just ran out of the hall. Otto looked at Frederica. She was still hugging her student and indicated with gestures that she would join a little later. Nodding in response, the merchant stood up and hurried after his sworn brother.

Unexpectedly for everyone, Roswaal also got up and left the room. His makeup-covered face showed no emotion. But Ram saw how tense he was. That unexpected move made her face a dilemma.

Two men, whom she greatly valued, albeit in different ways, left the hall in a turbulent state. Garf was consumed with guilt for what he had done in the last loop. The margrave was also very worried about something. She had to choose where to go and whom to help.

And the solution to her dilemma came by itself in the form of Mimi, who jumped off Ricardo's knee and hurried out of the hall alone. There was an extremely uncharacteristic expression of concern on the girl's face. And the target of this concern was a very specific young blond man.

' Birds of the feather. But perhaps this is only for the best. There will be someone to help Garf. I'm sure Frederica will join them soon. Then I'll take care of Roswaal-sama. He needs support… and I need answers. ' Having made a decision, the maid left the hall.

Felt, not wanting to look anyone in the eye, walked briskly to her room. Reinhard, who was looking forward for a break to talk to his lady and receive guidance from her, followed suit.

After a while, having recovered sufficiently, Beatrice also got up from her seat. She went to the same room as Ram, with the same goals. Her contractor had suffered through an indescribable horror, and for the past year she had witnessed what her mother's machinations had cost him. And the ancient magician, whom four centuries ago she considered almost an older brother, was the direct executor of these monstrous plans.

Now she had to determine the extent of his guilt. The fact that she still considered herself the main culprit of what happened did not negate the need to judge the others who brought Subaru so much pain.

The camps of Crusch, Priscilla and Anastasia quietly went to their rooms. There was no need or desire to discuss what they had seen. Everyone just wanted to drink the medicine offered by the Warden as soon as possible and forget themselves in a dreamless sleep.

Little by little, the theater emptied.