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.

25. Episode 24

The chapter is rather small, but that's because there are no revelations, twists or new material. Everything was already discussed. Even the most emotional scene was touched upon before.

Huge thanks to 'Vincent Gray' for his rigorous beta-reading, or, should I say, beta-rewriting of the chapter. Thanks to him, the quality of the next has skyrocketed.
Also thanks to 'Cake' for providing the transcript of the episode!

One...last...push remains.

---

The opening scene shows Emilia coming out of the tomb and discovering a terrible snowstorm outside.

"W-why is it snowing..."
The blizzard that had greeted her outside the Tomb was harsh, cold, and aggressive.

"Emilia-sama!"
The shout of her name made her look. Just below are the villagers, guarded and under an ice half dome that protected them from the blizzard.

"Where'd that structure come from? We know Roswaal caused the snowfall, but Emilia was in the tomb at the time, so she couldn't have known what was happenin'. So who made the shelter?" Anastasia asked herself.

"Perhaps one of the Sanctuary's residents was proficient in fire magic?" Crusch made an assumption.

"It was Puck. He took the initiative to shelter the villagers from the cold on his own." Emilia explained to them.

"Sorry if this sounds harsh, big sis, but from everything we've seen, it's clear that that cat doesn't give a damn about anyone's fate except yours." Felt said skeptically.

"I can't deny your accusations, Felt. Still, when we were in the Sanctuary, Puck did everything he could to help others without me ever needing to ask him. It could be that he only did all those things to convince the villagers to place their faith in me. Maybe he did all those terrible things to Subaru and others because he was grieving my death. I don't know for sure, and I won't until I can ask him myself. But the fact remains, it was Puck who created that shelter and saved the villagers from the blizzard." Emilia firmly stood her ground.

Seeing them alright, Emilia walked down the steps of the Tomb. "Everyone, what happened!? Why is it snowing?"

"It only started to fall moments ago, and it's already accumulated this much. And of course, we cannot evacuate, we've escaped it thanks to this, but…" Village head Milde explained.

Emilia looks up, taking in the ice dome that protected the villagers. "Who made this for you?"

Hearing that, the villagers made confused noises, looking past Emilia, at her, at each other, or the dome. The village chief spoke." It wasn't you, Emilia-sama?"
"W-What? Me, no…"

"But the spirit said if we wanted to thank someone, we should thank Emilia-sama… or rather, 'Lia'." Milde said.
Hearing that name, Emilia's eyes widened. There was only one person other than Mother Fortuna that called her that—

"Puck…"
Quietly, she closed her eyes, planting a hand on the ice dome that her former Great Spirit. Suddenly, she heard a large crack. Looking towards the forest, she saw a huge ice tree towering above it.

Emilia sincerely hoped that the actions of her foster father in the Sanctuary would at least slightly improve his image in the eyes of the audience.

These little moments gave her hope that Puck was not as uncaring as she had come to believe over the course of her stay in this horrible theater. Perhaps there was more to the spirit. Such thoughts strengthened her resolve to obtain a new housing crystal for Puck in Priestella and restore his ability to communicate. When she did, the half-elf planned to have a very serious conversation with her adoptive father, and it wouldn't be a pleasant one. Not for her, and certainly not for him.

She needed to confront him about his treatment of her. How he kept her tucked away in a cocoon of ignorance, stifling her growth as a ruler and a person, shielding her from worry and hardship. She needed to confront him on the more questionable details of their pact that he neglected to mention, such as the destruction of the world in the event of her death. But above all, Emilia wanted to say what she thought about Puck's attitude towards her knight.

How he was ready and willing to coldly sacrifice the man to whom she owed her life so that his adopted daughter would not risk herself. How he persuaded her to break off her relationship with Subaru and distance herself from him.

She didn't know if she'd ever make a new pact with her foster father. But she knew that if she were ever going to consider it, she would be the one to set the terms!

For a moment, she thought that she would see Puck.

"You still have a job to do, don't you, Lia?"

Remembering and envisioning that, Emilia nods. She turns, addressing the villagers in the dome. "Everyone, I've finished the Trial! But I think it'll be too dangerous to move now. So, please, take shelter in the Tomb!"

The village chief then addressed her. "And what will you do, Emilia-sama?"
Emilia turns, looking towards the frost-covered tree, and past that. "It seems like I have to go over there. Can you stay safe and wait for me?"
All the villagers either nodded, gave verbal affirmations, or noises of such.

"We will keep the promise we made before you started the Trial. Emilia-sama, please stay safe..."

Emilia nods before turning and beginning to walk in the direction where she heard the crack from.

"I must admit, you've learned how to carry yourself like a leader remarkably fast, Emilia-sama. It was only a few weeks prior that you were afraid to speak to these people, yet here you act with confidence and dignity, even when faced with such an uncertain situation. A necessary trait for any competent ruler." Crusch praised her.

She found herself deeply impressed by the remarkable progress her friend and rival was making. She was equally pleased, seeing that of the half-elf's chosen knight. Not only was the man whom she sees as a valuable ally growing as a person, but so too was the woman he'd pledged his undying loyalty to. And this excited the duchess to no end. After all, the stronger your opponent is, the greater the glory when you defeat them.

At the rate she's developing, when Crusch takes the throne, she will be able to offer Emilia a place by her side with a pure heart and conscience. Providing her plans for Subaru don't interfere with their friendship, of course. But these were thoughts for the future. Right now, the duchess was content sitting back and enjoying the final episodes of these fascinating viewings.

The scene changed to a charred and devastated field, left after the battle of an ancient genius magician, a Great Spirit of fire, and one exceptionally determined maid.

Roswaal was kneeling, holding in his arms his most loyal servant, the maid that had thrown his Book of Wisdom into the fire, who had made him think...for himself.

"Ram…"

She lay unconscious in his arms. Her outfit tattered, dishevelled and covered in scuff and scorch marks, blood trailing down her open mouth and forehead… where her horn used to be.

"You lost your temper when she burned the book. That's… not like you. But, she was prepared for what would happen. She's strong." Puck commented with an unusually serious tone.
"Ram… why… why did you…?"
"Ram… Roswaal-sama… I love you."

Remembering her voice, her face at that moment, Roswaal's fingers tightened on her shoulders.

"I hope you have since come to understand Ram's actions on that day, Roswaal-sama.

"I still find them rather strange, to be honest. I will not lie and say that I was not touched by the strength of your feelings. But you must also understand that I have no intention of abandoning my goal. I loved Grace, I truly did. But even my love for her didn't stop me. I have invested too much time and effort, sacrificed far too much, to back down." The clown remarked gloomily, remembering the woman who came much closer to his heart than many. And whose death left a deep wound on the tortured soul of the magician.

"Ram is not deterred by this. I have already taken the most important step towards my dream. Ram is content with the current situation, for now. After all, thanks to Barusu's immeasurable masochism, I have a future that I can look forward to."

"Do you even believe in those words yourself, Ram? Or are you just trying to steady your own nerves? You know very well that after all that has been shown here, it is unlikely that I'll simply be allowed to leave without paying for all I've done. No matter how slim their chances of taking my head, legally or otherwise, they will not abandon their efforts to bring me down. And they may well join forces to throw a wrench in my plans at every turn."

"Ram is sure we'll figure something out. Barusu didn't forgive you, even after all you've put him through, just to allow Emilia-sama to lose her chance at winning the Royal Selection. Sure, he may be a pervert and pathetic beyond comparison, but he won't back down no matter what. It pains Ram to admit this, but Ram will stay close to him and pull him out of the mud at every step from now on. Though, Ram admits such generosity is wasted on Barusu.

"I truly wonder if you will ever begin to speak sincerely about your desire to help Natsuki Subaru?" Roswaal was barely able to restrain a laugh, but the smile on his face almost reached his ears.

"I don't know what you're talking about, Roswaal-sama." The maid replied, as always, unperturbed. And her cheeks are reddened now because of the proximity to her beloved, who communicated with her so quietly and tenderly. Exactly! That's the only reason why!

"You've lost, Roswaal. She achieved her goal, and crossed that final line. Lia will complete her Trial soon, and that book you relied on is gone. Your attachment to it was impressive, but—"
Before Puck could finish, something caught his eye. Something white floated down, hitting and melting into the ground. Seeing that, he stopped himself, looking up towards the sky.

"Snow?! But… When did he manage to summon it?! The battle's clearly over already! Ram intercepted him before he even started casting the spell!" Tivey exclaimed in surprise.

"The screen didn't show it, but there is a good reason my master is considered the most outstanding magician in the world. He is able to cast several spells of different types simultaneously. While Ram and the Great Spirit Puck were fighting with him, he was preparing the spell to cause the snowfall." Ram could not help but emphasise the sheer magical prowess of her beloved master.

Those who knew her well noted with curiosity that at that moment Ram looked very much like her sister when she praised Subaru in front of others. But in her case, they found it far less endearing.

"To carry out such a complex spell while fighting against a Great Spirit…. It's difficult to admit, but after seeing that, the reputation of the Mathers family as unsurpassed magicians seems justified." Crusch admitted with some well-hidden nervousness.

"—Snow…? No, it can't be…!" A look of realisation crossed the Great Spirit's face. "You… you tricked me. You've prepared the spell that calls the snow clouds before the battle began? The snow… it'll fall. This… this will turn out just as Subaru thought and feared…! I'll be going to try and stop it."
The Great Spirit flew upwards, circling for a moment before turning back. "Roswaal, you amaze me. You're a great magician. As far as I know, there's no human alive as skilled as you."
Despite the situation, Puck couldn't help but give his praise.

"—but… no matter how far you go… you're still human. You'll never be like that devil."

"So we were right. The clown makeup, the bizarre manner of speaking, all of it is a consequence of the crushing defeat that Roswaal suffered at the hands of the Warlock of Melancholy." Julius nodded understandingly.

"At this point, I wouldn't be surprised if he's been planning to get his revenge on that clown along with bringing back his beloved witch." Ricardo grunted.

'We'll see about that. Even after four hundred years, I am still just a human, but if I ever do encounter Hector again, I will not be acting alone.. Not only will I have the power of the demon god on my side, but also the power of someone who can alter the course of fate itself. Will you be able to counter that with your Authority, Warlock of Melancholy?!'

With his words finished, Puck turned back and flew away to try to stop the snow, sparks of blue following him.

The snow continued to fall, yet Roswaal did not move. He only kneeled, holding Ram in his arms, and his hand trembled. It twitched. It tightened.

"—I made the snow fall, as the Book of Wisdom dictated…what… what should I do now…?"

Then he remembered. He remembered how Subaru slammed the door open, talking about a bet... and extending a hand to him. He remembered a conversation he had with Ram when she was younger. When she had found out that Roswaal knew that her tribe would be attacked.

Hope. His two hopes, personifying as the two he hurt the most.

He wondered, for a moment, 'How many times did you use your Authority because of me, Natsuki Subaru-kun? When did your feelings of hatred become love, Ram?'

"Ironic. All this time, this scoundrel was the only one who realized how much anguish he had caused Subaru." Julius growled quietly.

"Ram… that's right, Ram…"

Ram could hardly contain her emotions, enjoying this moment. Even though it was hard, painful, and almost cost her her life, she was able to win that day. A victory over the monster her beloved was deliberately turning himself into. And the victory over the witch who molded him into said monster for her own purposes.

Even if her chosen one had yet to abandon the idea of bringing this vile woman back to life, at that moment, he was thinking only about her. Now she could always be by his side. Now she had the power to stop him from making any reckless decisions. So the maid decided to allow herself to let the pleasant feelings wash over her as she waited for the cherished moment. She was looking forward to seeing the Ram on the screen wake up from the sensation of her beloved's tears splashing on her face.

Extending his hand, he placed it on top of her forehead. Gently moving away her bangs and hair, Roswaal began to try and heal her. He was never good at healing, never receiving the title of 'Blue' that had instead gone to Felix Argyle.

And yet, he still tried.

Instead of healing, however, he transferred his mana, like he always did for her.

"Teacher… what… what am I… what am I supposed to do, Teacher!? I-I don't… I still… I still don't know anything…! So… so give me your guidance again… Teacher…!"

"Ha! Even after living for hundreds of years, you understand nothing! You try so hard to look powerful and important, but at the end of the day you are still the same whiny, lonely brat that can't do anything on his own! What a pathetic sight, indeed!" The baroness added venomously, being thoroughly disgusted to look at these screen snot.

"If there's one thing I've learned over the centuries, it's to distinguish genuine superiority from false posturing." The magician said calmly, but with a pointedly, receiving a look of hatred from Priscilla.

The scene shifts to Emilia, who was standing in front of the tree, made of ice.

"There's so much mana here... Is this what's making the snow fall?"
Suddenly, from the top, the tree broke. It evaporated into sparks, forming a ball of mana and flying past Emilia toward the ancient building nearby.

"Puck is waiting. I have to go!" She said, and sprinted after the ball.
Inside, she found a very peculiar scene. In a room with a huge mana crystal in the center, all the copies of Ryuzu Meyer gathered at once.

"Ryuzu… san…?"
"E-Emilia-sama? Why are you here?" Ryuzu, in black robe, was surprised by her appearance.

The other Ryuzu's immediately turned their attention to Emilia, their eyes blank and unfeeling as they awaited orders.

"This many of you…? That must have been re-e-eally rough on your mother."

There were a few good-natured laughs in the room. The half-elf's naive and childish disposition still resonated well with the audience.

"Well, considerin' her limited knowledge of the place, I can't call it a bad guess." Anastasia said frankly.

"At the very least, that assessment sounds much more plausible than the area being a laboratory for creating copies of a single girl over the course of centuries." Julius added, agreeing with his lady.

"Mimi wants to find this laboratory to make many-many copies of Mimi! We're already the strongest, but with lots of Mimis, we'll be the super-strongest and have way more fun!" The mercenary girl declared with burning enthusiasm in her eyes.

"We're sure to see one hell of a jump in firepower if that were to happen." Ricardo nervously chuckled, considering this statement.

Poor Hetaro might find himself in happy comatose at the prospect of his sister multiplying.

Anastasia found herself torn between happy thoughts about the prospect of being cuddled by a whole pack of cute twins and horror at the bills she would regularly have to pay for their antics.

Meanwhile, Tivey found his fur standing on end from sheer dread. Just one Mimi was enough to turn the lives of her two brothers into a kaleidoscope of utter chaos. And that was on the slower days. He couldn't begin to imagine the calamity that would befall the world should his sister gain the means to self-replicate.

'No! Never! I will not let that happen!' Tivey thought with determination he never felt before.

Even if the facility still exists and functions, then it would be much more reasonable to add a couple more copies of Tivey instead. Then the analytical and organisational capabilities of the "Iron Fang" will reach heights never seen before! One to deal with finances, another to analyse intel, and another to manage logistics. What's more, all three critical functions could be carried out simultaneously. Now that would be nothing short of perfection.
"Explanations about us clones can wait. Please, for now, just stop me!" Ryuzu turned back, but the clones reached out, blocking her path and grabbing her wrists.

"Stop… Ryuzu-san…?" Emilia looked up, seeing the large crystal that held another Ryuzu in the foggy room. Her eyes trailed up further until she saw the only white-robed Ryuzu that had feelings in her eyes. "You're Shima-san, right?"

Shima turned her gaze. "The fact that you are here, Emilia-sama, must mean that you have overcome the Trial. Young Gar's wager was correct."
"Is that Ryuzu-san inside the magic crystal? Are you here to get her out? Should we all take her to the Tomb together?"
Shima sighed, saying in not her own voice, 'Unbelievable. You see this, and that's the first thing you think of? Hmph.'

"Yes, that is our Emilia-sama. As always, her main priority is to help everyone around her, even when she finds herself completely out of the loop." Frederica said good-naturedly, covering her smile with her palm out of habit.

"That's why we love our Emilia-sama! She's so kind and helpful!" Petra supported her fervently.

The half-elf herself blushed deeply from such laudatory statements addressed to her. Even after a year, it was still unusual for her to hear such sincere compliments from someone other than Subaru or Puck.

"Those are certainly wonderful traits, which should be welcomed and nurtured in every subject of the kingdom. But do they make for a good ruler?" Crusch said skeptically.

The duchess immediately saw the inevitable issues such a monarch would create should they try to help everyone with every problem. After all, she firmly believed that governing a country was the art of solving issues, maintaining balance, and developing with a constant shortage of resources to solve them all.

Therefore, the matriarch of House Karsten firmly believed that people of Lugunica should become stronger and more independent in their own lives if they are to overcome life's tribulations by themselves, without constantly relying on outside assistance.

"After all, it's always the selfless types that end up being the easiest to deceive." Anastasia nodded in agreement, always wary of those who ask for help. A sincere request for aid could just as easily be a fraudulent scheme to extort money, and you likely wouldn't know until it's too late.

"I'm well aware of such shortcomings, I assure you. Please keep in mind that a year has passed since the events we're seeing now. I've grown significantly in that time!" Emilia tried to protect her image in the eyes of her competition.

Emilia nodded at her own words. "Yes, it's fine! If we make a sled and put her on it, I think we can all pull her there."
"We do appreciate it. However, the reason I came here is to fulfil my role, alongside with my progenitor, who sleeps within this crystal."

Seeing that Shima turned her gaze back to the crystal, Emilia blinked. "Fulfil your role…"

"This crystal is the core of the barrier surrounding the Sanctuary. You undid its spell, Emilia-sama. Now, once the core is gone, the Sanctuary's role will be completed, and it will be liberated. If it is gone, that is."

Otto noticed how much his younger friend on the right tensed up. Digging into his memory, he remembered that they had not seen Shima since their last conversation. Right after the events in the Sanctuary, Garfiel recovered rather quickly due to the number of sudden changes in his life. And the rest of the Ryuzus also helped him to cope with the loss. But now he will have to personally witness the last moments of Ryuzu Shima.

"Garf… you holding up?" He asked his friend quietly.

"Yeah, don't fret 'bout me, Brotto. I know wha's gonna happen next, and I made peace with it a long time ago. But... still, 'tis hard to see it."

"Then, perhaps, you shouldn't look?"

"No… I must. The old hag did wha' she did so my amazin' self and the rest could go outside without fear. I mus' respect her resolve!"

"U-Um… Does that have to happen right now? It's snowing re-e-eally hard outside—"
"—in the event that this facility is destroyed and the one who runs it is lost, the resulting damage will be irreparable. We are the key to preventing that."
Emilia went silent as Shima turned to her.

"Emilia-sama, take this."
Shima threw her something, and Emilia stretched her arms out to catch it. In her hands is a glowing blue crystal, and Emilia understands quickly. "Wait! Is this Puck?"
"The Great Spirit visited here in advance and delayed the spell's activation. He's exhausted all of his strength to save everyone."
"He made that wall of ice to protect everyone from the snow and pushed himself this far to let me know. How many other impossible tasks did you do?"

Smiling, Emilia hugged the crystal close to her chest.

"In the end, even that monster tried to do something right for a change. Not like he managed to influence the outcome in any capacity." Priscilla said venomously.

"I wouldn't be so certain, Priscilla-sama. Without Puck's intervention, Roswaal's spell would have taken effect earlier, and the Great Rabbit would've arrived at the Sanctuary faster. Who knows how things would've turned out if those monsters attacked earlier? I was close to losing control of my magic when Subaru and Beatrice arrived." Emilia argued with her.

Emilia's words made several people consider what might've happened if Puck didn't spend his last reserves to stall Roswaal's incantation. Especially Julius, who still found it hard to believe that a Great Spirit could be so heartless.

"You know, I'm starting to have second thoughts regarding the Great Spirit's motivation. It's true that previous arcs have shown him to disregard the needs of all, save for Emilia-sama. And his treatment of Subaru was downright cruel!

But his behavior has changed drastically in these recent episodes. His efforts to safeguard the villagers and delay the snowfall can be written off as nothing more than an attempt to improve his daughter's image. But what could he have been thinking when he chose to assist Ram in her fight against the margrave? I find it rather hard to believe that was done purely for Emilia-sama's benefit."

"Ram feels obligated to mention that she made a temporary contract with the Great Spirit before she faced Emilia-sama and pledged her loyalty to the princess. "

"Thank you for clarifying, Ram-san. That makes it clear the Great Spirit decided to help her of his own volition, without orders from Emilia-sama. Perhaps he did so as a result of Subaru's persuasion, but that's beside the point. He still acted to aid someone other than his contractor."

"And what do ya propose? Do we pat him on the head and say, 'Sorry we said mean things 'bout ya?!'" Anastasia asked sternly.

Whatever her knight was trying to insinuate, she wasn't going to change her opinion about Puck.

"Hardly, Anastasia-sama. I just wanted to express the possibility, that the Great Spirit's actions could be driven by more complex reasoning than we assume right now. It's also possible that his entire personality has shifted dramatically after severing his contract with Emilia-sama. He did mention to the margrave that he remembered certain things. Perhaps these new memories are responsible for the change we're seeing."

"I propose we close the topic of Puck and his motives until we have an opportunity to ask him personally. To be frank, I'm a little tired of discussing theories without any concrete evidence to support them."
"He lent us aid in many forms. Now that we have been given this opportunity, it is my responsibility to fulfil our role." Shima said, reaching out, placing her hand against the crystal.

Ryuzu Bilma shook her head. "I understand your role, but—"

"Why is she trying to stop her?" Felt did not understand what was happening.

"Ryuzu Shima is going to repeat the same thing that original Ryuzu did that fateful day, in fact. She will use her own Od to activate the crystal and remove the barrier around the Sanctuary. And, just like in the case of the original Ryuzu, this one will be gone after that, in fact."

"She's going to sacrifice herself?!" The realization horrified Petra.

"It was one of the purposes of the laboratory administrators, and the only way to free the Sanctuary. Looks like Echidna did not account for copies of Ryuzu to become self-aware." Frederica explained to her ward, trying to suppress the pain in her own heart.
"—our beloved grandson has been with me for ten years. Garf, our grandson, is giving his all to make it to the outside. I will give him a push."
Bilma's eyes widened as Shima turned to her. "Please watch and see where it takes him, my sisters made half of me."

"Granny…" The blond man in the front row muttered softly. His body was shaking slightly from suppressed tears.

'Don't worry granny, you'd be so proud of how much Garf has grown!' Frederica thought, silently wiping away tears of her own.
Bilma teared up, a low sob coming from her throat. Then, conceding, she closed her eyes tight as tears streamed down, Emilia walking towards her and placing her hands on the clones shoulders. She looked up." I'll take care of the rest."
"You have grown a shocking amount in only half a day. This is the one thing old folks such as me take pleasure in." Shima said with a content smile and turned back to the original Ryuzu Meyer, and murmured words that Emilia couldn't hear.

The moment she was finished, a bright glow overcame everything. Both Shima and the crystal were gone, leaving the room unlit and dark.

Garfiel had to dig his claws into his palms to hold back the tears. He had already accepted that granny Shima had left them that day. He was glad that she passed away happy and feeling proud of him. But that didn't make watching her final moments any easier on the boy..

He also did not expect the strong hands of his sister, who decided to support her brother during the sad moment, to hug him from behind.

"You did great, Garf. Grandma Shima was proud of you. That means you did everything right, little brother."

"I know, sis… I know."

"When you get back from Priestella, how about we go visit our grannies and make them our meat pies together? Frederica suggested tenderly.

"Ya bet we will, sis. They're gonna be the best pies they ever had."

Emilia's mouth was parted from shock, while Bilma trembled, sobbing quietly. Gathering herself, Emilia inhales sharply. "Let's go, Ryuzu-san."
Ryuzu turned back to her.

"There's something we need to do."
"Emilia-sama…"

"A desire has been entrusted to me, and I have a wish I want to fulfil. So crying and all that can wait. That's what the people I love told me, always with a smile! So, please, tell me where Ram and Roswaal are."

The clone nodded.

"Shima-san was absolutely correct. You've matured quite a bit in just one day, Emilia-sama." Wilhelm acknowledged the half-elf girl's progress.

"Emilia-sama did learn how to demand others follow her orders, because they are needed for the cause. Even when they are hit hard by life. An important trait for a ruler." Reinhard commented with a thoughtful face.
And so, with the empty ones following her, Emilia ran throughout the harsh blizzard. She followed until she came into sight of a field that smelled distinctly of ash and smoke. And within that field—

"Ram! Roswaal!"

Creating an ice line, Emilia skated on it until she was near the maid and margrave.

"Wow! That's a cool way to move around! Mimi wants to learn that trick!"

"It's flashy but extremely wasteful, I say!" Tivey remarked with an air of importance. "It probably takes a huge amount of mana to create such ice tracks! No wonder we never saw other fire mages using this."

"Really? I don't feel tired in the slightest after using magic like that!" Emilia remarked nonchalantly.

"Emilia-sama, after everything we saw, you should just accept that the capacity of your Od is well beyond that of the ordinary mage." Julius was genuinely impressed by what he saw on the screen.

And a little disturbed by the careless way the half-elf princess handled her magic.

Emilia slid off, placing her hands on Roswaal's shoulders and shaking him. "Come on, Roswaal! You can't stay here! You can't freeze solid—!"
She stopped, seeing his mismatched eyes. They were devoid of anything. Then, her eyes trailed down, gasping.

"Ram!? Ram?! Ram!"
Panicking, Emilia frantically brushed off the snow that had fallen on the catatonic maid. In response, Ram's face contorted in pain, bloody lips clenching tightly.

Emilia sighed in relief. "She's alive! It's alright! There's still time, Roswaal!"

"If you want to know, it was one of the few moments in my life when I greatly regretted never mastering the arts of healing, no matter how many years I tried."

"Ram is happy to hear it, Roswaal-sama. You don't have to be so self-deprecating, though. You are still the greatest magician, even without the talent for healing."

"Remember what I said to the knights and their obsession with honor? What's the point of being the greatest mage in the world if, in the decisive moment, you lack the only skill you need the most?"

"But you did save me that day, Roswaal-sama. Ram still remembers that wonderful day like it was yesterday."

"Wonderful day?" Roswaal expressed genuine surprise, "That day you nearly died at the hands of the one you love and mana exhaustion."

"Kindly leave killing the mood to Otto, Roswaal-sama. He's much better at it."

Then, she noticed where his left hand was. Where the horn of a demon should be, has mana being poured into.
"You're helping Ram, right? Roswaal, just bring Ram and come with me. I'll do what I can, so don't give up—!"
"—it doesn't… matter…"
Emilia froze. "What…?"
"It doesn't matter anymore."
Furious, she grabbed his cloak and shook him.

"Don't you dare say things like that! What do you mean, 'it doesn't matter anymore'?! Of course it still matters! Don't just give up and accept that it's over! For me, for Ram, and for you… there's not a single thing that doesn't matter anymore! I completed the Trial! The past I was afraid to face, the happy present that could've been, the tragic future that might come one day… I saw it all! I saw it and still made up my mind to walk this path! And now I finally get to start walking!"
"I can almost see Sir Natsuki saying the same thing. Adding a few insults along the way." Crusch said with a light chuckle.

"Yep, there is only one person who could have had such a bad influence ova' an innocent, naive gal from the woods." Anastasia added with a smile.

"Honestly, I can watch people being inspired by Rem's hero all day long."

"That does sound like a good way to spend some free time, I suppose."
Her grip on his cloak tightened further, only for Roswaal to go limp, his head turning to the right. Angry, she grabbed his face and turned him towards her. "When you're talking to someone, you need to look them in the face! I won't let anyone say it doesn't matter anymore! As long as you're alive, there's nothing that doesn't matter anymore! So I'm never going to give up on anyone again!"
Noticing something from the corner of her eye, Emilia shot up, sending out magic and freezing a group of rabbits that tried to attack. They came from the trees, red eyes glinting and fangs bared.

"Emilia-sama!" Petra began to tremble slightly, afraid for her mistress. She was all alone in the woods against the Great Rabbit.

"Don't worry, Petra! The rabbits never got to me, although I must admit that at one point I became really scared when I started losing control of my magic because of overexertion.

"Do you mean to say that you held back the onslaught of the Great mabeast on your own?!" Ricardo asked with disbelief.

"Well, I guess I didn't have a choice. They wanted to get to the villagers, and I just couldn't let them get hurt!"

"You really are incredible, Emilia-sama!" Rem commented admiringly, envious that she would never achieve such potential in magic.

"They're following me…? Right… because I'm a Witch. Or is it because Puck is with me…?" Murmuring that, she held up the crystal in her hands.

"Take Roswaal and Ram! When we get to the Tomb— I will protect all of you!"

"Hm…an interesting parallel." Reinhard muttered.

"What are you talking about, Rein?" Felt asked, not getting what he meant.

"I mean the way Emilia-sama addressed the Ryuzu copies. It started exactly the same way Subaru said during the last failed loop. The difference is, Subaru told them they could do whatever they want after reaching the Tomb, while Emilia-sama vows to protect everyone."

"I see. It really shows how Subaru-kun managed to turn such a hopeless situation into a shining victory with the help of his friends!"
Stretching her arm out, she sent a large swirl and helix of snow and ice towards her opponents, making an ice path. The gaze of the ever-hungry beasts followed as Emilia ran, chased after by the Ryuzu clones holding up Roswaal and Ram while being chased by bloodthirsty fluffies.

"Damn, that was good! My amazin' self has to say tha' watchin' the princess gettin' real serious is almost as awesome as watchin' the Cap'n's shenanigans!

"It's really impressive how quickly everything's changed, nya. At first, Emilia's camp looked like a group of damaged people who could barely tolerate each other. Now all of a sudden, they're a cohesive unit, taking down famous assassins and legendary mabeasts." Felix commented with surprise and even with a hint of envy.

"That's where the true potential of Sir Natsuki lies. Rather than focusing on his own strength, he elevates those who decide to put their trust in him." Crusch answered with a proud smile. If only she had him in her camp from the start. The things they could've done for the benefit of the kingdom together. And…perhaps, not just for the kingdom.

The scene shifted to Roswaal's burning mansion. In the Forbidden Library, Beatrice sat with her inner monologue being voiced.

'Betty first began waiting for 'that person' right after I lost Ryuzu, and the Sanctuary was established in her place.'

She stared down at the empty Book of Wisdom, remembering a conversation with her Mother.

"Beatrice, I'm leaving you in charge of the library filled with my knowledge. I want you to continue protecting this library until the time comes."
"—what?"
"I know. We'll call it the Forbidden Library. I will write down all of the knowledge I possess and store it there." Saying that, she looked around the large room, humming to herself.

"W-Wait…!"
"Build the library in Roswaal's mansion. I'm sure he will help you."
"Wait, I suppose! W-What Forbidden Library? I don't know what you're talking about! Betty wants to stay with Mother!"
Echidna shook her head. "I'm sorry, but you'll be of no help against an enemy Roswaal can't handle. If both you and I die, what becomes of that accumulation of knowledge? I am obligated to pass it down."
"I wonder if Echidna really thought that Beatrice wouldn't be able to help. Maybe she just didn't want Beatrice to risk her life?" Emilia muttered thoughtfully.

"On one hand, I really want to get mad at Echidna for prioritizing gathering knowledge over staying with her own daughter. But on the other hand, after learning about the witch factors and how they affect their hosts, I can't muster up enough anger to judge her." Reinhard admitted honestly.

"You really think it's only because of witch factors? Just imagine how many children are left behind by their parents without any ancient bullshit corrupting them!" Felt hissed with anger.

"Felt-sama is right. That's precisely how Elsa became who she did." Otto reminded them about what led to her developing into an assassin.

Beatrice saw her reflection in Echidna's eyes. "Y-You mean… Betty's power exists… for this moment?" Echidna's eyes softened. "Mother… you knew it all from the start?"
Seeing the Great Spirit shake her head, Echidna took the Book from the table, walking and holding it out to Beatrice. Beatrice's breath stuttered at that.

"What is this…?"

"It is incomplete, but it's a replica of the Tome of Wisdom, the Authority granted to me. It should serve as a simple guide to its owner's future, at least. There are two copies of this book. This one's for you, and I gave the other one to Roswaal. I'm sorry, but please understand. Let's discuss the time frame. If, for some reason, I don't return, someone suitable for inheriting my knowledge will come for you."
"Come... for Betty...?"
"For now, let's just call them 'that person'. Wait for 'that person'. This is my last request."

Beatrice's breath stuttered again, this time with tears budding at the corners of her eyes.

"Betty… I want you to grow up healthy, at least."

"That was the last time Betty saw Mother alive. After that began four hundred years of loneliness in the library, in fact.

"How could one bind her own daughter with such a vague pact?" Frederica shook her head.

"But Echidna never said that the right person would be mentioned in the Book of Wisdom." Felix pointed out.

"However, she never said a word about Beatrice being free to choose the one who will inherit the library and become 'that person'. Perhaps it wasn't her intention to lock down Beatrice in the library forever, but her actions still condemned Beatrice to four hundred years of loneliness!" Emilia felt outraged at such injustice, also because she had personally experienced the harmfulness of the Witch of Greed.

"You sho-o-ouldn't be so categorical, Emilia-sama. True, Echidna didn't give Beatrice the whole picture, but it is also true that she didn't forbid Beatrice from making her own deci-i-isions.

"Yes, Roswaal, we already know why she would do that! She used Beatrice as a tool in her inhumane experiment! She said it herself!" Emilia sent an icy glare towards the margrave.

"Ask yourself, Emilia-sama, what would yo-o-ou do if you found yourself in a similar situa-a-ation?"

"I would look for a way to free myself from this pact! Because it's just wrong!" The half-elf answered immediately.

"Exa-a-actly! This defiance is what distinguishes those who have the free will from those who la-a-ack it, Emilia-sama." Roswaal said with a content smile. "Only a free mind is ca-a-apable of making independent decisions and even going against the established ru-u-ules. And the day when Beatrice had chosen Su-u-ubaru-kun as her partner, she proved to be a real person, not just a tool with a cute exte-e-erior."

Seeing the thoughtful expressions on several faces let Roswaal know that his attempt to protect his Teacher's decision was not in vain.

'As Mother instructed, Betty relocated to Roswaal's mansion, built the Forbidden Library, and became its curator. At some point, Roswaal started visiting the Forbidden Library frequently.'

Supporting himself with a cane and wearing his signature makeup while, Roswaal opened the door and spoke. "Hello-o-o-... I'm back for another visit today."

"It hurts to see such a promising young man become so broken." William remarked melancholically.

"He went up against an opponent that only a Sword Saint could handle. Considering what was shown to us, it seems to me that even Volcanica would have a hard time with such a powerful enemy." Ricardo calmly replied.

"It hurts even more to see the monster he became for the sake of revenge!" Felix said, twisting his face.

"And can you gua-a-arantee that your lady won't follow in the same path if she grasps an opportunity to do the sa-a-ame?"

"My lady would never make such detestable decisions!" The healer exploded with emotions.

"A lo-o-ong time ago, I also couldn't imagine using intrinsic rituals to transfer my memories into my own dece-e-endants. However, life had other plans in store for me. The desire for vengeance is an emotion that can be matched in intensity only by lo-o-ove. One could think that some members of your camp understood it better than o-o-others." Roswaal said with a hint, glancing at the Crusch camp with his yellow eye while closing his blue one.

Felix fell silent in shock as he realized what the magician was hinting at. Crusch balled her fists, trying not to let her feelings show. She believed herself to be incapable of even considering such heinous actions. Even for Fourier's sake.

Still, it was her desire for vengeance that served as the driving force for her choice to join the royal elections. Another thing she didn't want to think about: the only difference between her and Roswaal's situations was that, unlike him, neither she nor Felix had the means to save Fourier. The only solution she knew of was the Sacrament of the Immortal King, which the prince had specifically forbidden to use on him, leaving his friends with no way to save him.

But what if there had been a cure she was unaware of that may have saved him? What would she or, better yet, Felix, be prepared to pay or do in order to seize this opportunity?

Wilhelm, for his part, thought he comprehended the margrave's line of reasoning despite himself. Had he himself not spent thirteen years consumed by a sense of resentment and a desire to exact revenge on the monster responsible for the death of the most precious person in his life? Didn't this feeling drive him to ruin his own family and his friendship with his former comrades? And given the opportunity to gratify that yearning, what would he consent to?

The elderly warrior could only thank Od Laguna for meeting honorable individuals along the route to his revenge, such as his lady and Subaru Natsuki. What if someone, like Pandora, had offered him a 'helping hand' instead? Would he refuse if she offered him the chance to grant his wish, or even more, to bring back his beloved Theresia? The old man feared that he would be able to predict with ease the type of response he would provide.

On the steps of one of the two sets of the library, Roswaal murmured to himself, fingers tracing the writing. Beside him were more books, piled up and rifled through.

"Replicating a soul... saving it in a vessel..."
'We rarely spoke to each other at all.'

"Everything is as Roswaal said before. He continued Echidna's research on achieving immortality." Crusch said thoughtfully.

"And managed to outdo his teacher since he successfully transferred his memories from one descendant to another. It's scary to imagine how rich you could get by selling this magical technique to wealthy aristocrats. Although, maybe that's what you've been doing?" Anastasia asked suspiciously.

"I would rather no-o-ot add more evil to the world than is absolutely necessary, even though you might not belie-e-eve me. Therefore, this technique that I developed shall die with me-e-e."

"Hm... and he's not lying." Crusch observed, a little taken aback.

Then, when Roswaal A Mathers died, Beatrice met the next head. He bowed to her, eyes mismatched with a smile on his face. "Please meet you, Beatrice-sama. I have heard about you from my predece-e-essor. Do not worry, as the current Roswaal, Roswaal B. Mathers, I will inherit your role and your debt to your Mother."
'Control over the mansion was handed down throughout the Mathers family, each head having the name Roswaal. One Roswaal to the next one. Nothing worth speaking of happened for four hundred years after that.'

Every time the door opened to someone that was not Roswaal, Beatrice opened the book. She flipped through the pages as they spout out the same spiel.

' A few people found their way to the Forbidden Library and tried to take Betty out of it, but it never happened. When I was unexpectedly reunited with the one I admired as a big brother, my heart sang for the first time in ages. But I quickly realised that…'

Inside the mansion, Beatrice looked out of the window to see Puck and Emilia, the Great Spirit and Contractor talking and bantering with each other.

'…my brother and I weren't the same. Driven by envy and jealousy, I killed my emotions and stopped talking, so I wouldn't hurt the half-devil girl who was always with him.

"You were jealous of Puck? But why?" Came Emilia's curious question.

"He was able to fulfill his wish and became a contracted spirit. While Betty was rotting away in her library, waiting for someone who didn't even exist. That's why, despite Betty's initial joy to be reunited with Bubby, I couldn't bring myself to be happy for him."

And then—'

"First NPC found!"
It was when she first met Subaru, the foreigner walking out, chirping happily as he talked to her.

"I don't know about you, but I was yearning for this moment to come! The story so far was so sad, only my impeccable masculinity kept me from shedding tears!" Ricardo said boisterously with a wide smile.

"Rem's hero has a genuine gift for showing up out of the blue and improving the lives of those around him!"

'Betty still believes that it was her destiny to meet you and become your contracted spirit. Because no one, not even Tosca would be able to bring Betty so much joy! Even if Betty could go back in time and avoid spending so many years in slothfulness, I would still refuse to become a contracted spirit for anyone else! But this time I will be spending so many years knowing that you will open my door one day!'

'A stranger with his dirty shoes walked in, no hesitation, and so suddenly.'

And he kept on coming back, opening the door and smiling.

"Yo!" "Beako!" "Bea-a-ako!"
'For some reason, he stayed in the mansion. He was somehow different from the others that came to the Forbidden Library. At times, I even thought he might be 'that person', as Mother had talked about. But I was afraid. Afraid that the faint hope I had would end up betrayed, I sent him to the Sanctuary according to Roswaal's plans. Then Roswaal departed for the Sanctuary, saying that he was off to see the Witch of Greed. I realized that he intended to settle the score.'

The door was shut in front of her again, and she wondered—

'What about Betty, then? A blank book, a promised saviour who never came for me… that's when I realized. 'That person' was never coming.'

"If only Betty hadn't turned away that day. If I had offered to assist him, I believe these tragedies would not have occurred, I suppose."

"I would also be afraid to trust anyone if I had been disappointed repeatedly over the years. You shouldn't blame yourself so much, Beatrice." Emilia tried to cheer up the girl.

"I obstinately waited for the right words to appear in the book, in fact. If I hadn't been so obsessed with it, I wouldn't have spent so much time in that prison."

"Beatrice-sama, you never deserved to be alone for so long. You have been cruelly manipulated by the Witch of Greed. Rem feels the only thing she can say to make you feel better is that Subaru-kun came to you as a reward for your patience."

Beatrice unintentionally leaned her back onto her contractor's chest in order to sense his heartbeat more clearly.

"It was an incredibly long wait, I suppose... but it was worth it." Beatrice agreed faintly.

'I've known that for a long time. And... and yet…'

The screen showed Subaru entering the library with the words, "I'm getting you out of here, Beatrice. This time, you're gonna let me drag you out into the sunlight, and we're gonna play till your dress is black with mud!"

Her breath stuttered. "I-If... if you are... would you be... 'that person' for Betty?"

"You really are an idiot. There's no way in hell that I'd be this stupid person or whatever you've been waiting for."

Beatrice immediately freed herself from him, sending out her palm and sending him out of the Library, causing him to hit the wall with a harsh thud.

"…I'm so tired, I suppose…"

The screen started showing various pictures of the burning mansion. The corridors were engulfed in flames and covered in smoke. Subaru ran from one door to another, trying to find one untouched by the flames.

Grunting and covering his eyes, he grits his teeth. "Where are you, damn it, Beako?!"

"Hold on! Is something wrong here, or am I just seeing things?" Ricardo made a point, grabbing the others' attention.

"What? What's wrong? Is something with Subaru?!" Emilia began to worry instantly, despite not knowing what the mercenary was saying.

"Just look at the state of the mansion! There is raging fire everywhere, and Subaru-kyun doesn't have any protective water spells on him! Yet he seems to be doing perfectly fine! How come he's nyot suffocating from all the smoke?!" Felix questioned with amazement, wondering whether any of his Authorities might have provided protection against smoke and fire.

"How on earth did he avoid being cooked yet? The temperature must be extremely high, and he's not even covering his mouth and nose!" Nodding in agreement, Ricardo pondered how the man managed to dash down the flaming hallway without even coughing or ducking.

"Are you suggesting that big bro has developed an ability that keeps him safe?" Felt inquired, astonished but hopeful.

"Maybe it's his clothes from another world? Who knows what unique qualities it might possess? Like fire resistance, for instance!" Anastasia's greed has once more surfaced.

She started wondering how much Subaru would agree to sell her jacket for. Or at the very least, a piece of cloth for study. Of course, these were the final things that tied him to his homeworld, but you can always agree on the price!

"Even If his clothing is fireproof, there's still clearly something wrong with this situation. Natsuki-san didn't even protect his face, as Ricardo previously noted, and he still manages to work in such perilous conditions with no evident difficulty! It's like he doesn't even care about the heat, smoke, or lack of air!" Otto started pondering out loud.

"He's not ducking, either. Even though the choking gas should've caused him to pass out after a few minutes!" Al continued the merchant's thoughts. "In our world, firefighters only enter burning buildings with fireproof gear and unique helmets that provide oxygen to protect them from smoke. And he does all of this without even dousing himself in water!"

"The story goes that the body of the Witch of Envy could not be destroyed by any means, in fact. Not even the original Sword Saint succeeded. And, since Betty's Subaru now possesses at least a portion of her witch factor, it is possible that he learned to subconsciously deploy his miasma to defend himself, I suppose!"

"Or it could be another one of the abilities mini-boss acquired when the Sloth witch factor activated inside him." Tivey expressed his thoughts.

"Does that mean it's possible that Subaru's body will grow to be impossible to hurt over time?" Emilia inquired optimistically.

"The possibility sounds great, but please don't put it to the test in real life!" Crusch prompted her worriedly.

Emilia quickly began waving her hand before her.

"I never would have considered suggesting something like that! It's just… I wish Subaru would become less... vulnerable."
Outside, Frederica and Garfiel could only watch, in fear and concern, an unconscious Meili on the ground. Inside, Petra and Otto ran to Roswaal's room, Petra managing to open the secret door and Otto tightening the blanket around Rem as he ran towards the entrance.

"Up until the moment that I noticed you and Otto-sama heading from the direction of the secret entrance, I was extremely concerned about you!" Frederica gave Petra a tight hug.

"Frederica nee-sama, you shouldn't have worried! It was Subaru-sama who sent me there! He made sure I wouldn't get lost. And, in turn, it was my duty to not let Otto get lost!" The girl responded with a beaming smile.

"Well, you must understand that I had no idea Subaru-sama was such an amazing hero back then. But you did great making sure that Otto-sama made it out safe and sound!"

"Why am I unable to shake the feeling that someone in the back rows is tarnishing my image again?" Otto mumbled without turning his head.

Beatrice waited. In the library, she waited, the Book of Wisdom held tightly to her chest. "This is how it's going to end for Betty, I suppose."
The doors slammed open.

"I finally made it back!" Subaru, covered in marks and soot, was there. He stomped forward, reaching out towards the Great Spirit. "Hey, you idiot! You've got some nerve—"
She stretched her hand out, sending him out to the library. He hit the wall with a grunt, and Beatrice shut the doors immediately afterward. "You're the one that ended our conversation. And now you're… how impudent you are, I suppose…"
The doors opened again. "—cut that out already! You have the temper of a child! If you jump straight to violence, we'll never—!"
"—you need to cut it out!"
She thrusted her hand forward again, but this time Subaru was ready. He quickly latched onto the doorknob, holding on with all his might before he managed to shift his body forward, slamming the doors shut as he fell stomach first to the floor. "Hah…! Haaah…! I endured that one…!"

"I see. It's now a battle of attrition. The one who is the most stubborn wins." Priscilla expressed her amusement.

While it was terribly tiresome to watch two rams shove each other, in this case there were certain emotions she found entertaining.

"I'll never stop admiring Subaru-dono's tenacity. Even though the risk to his life grows with every passing minute, he is obstinate in pursuing his goal to save everyone at all costs."

"Sometimes I think thatSubaru-kyun's resolve is the only thing that keeps him going, nya."
"You don't know when to give up!"
"Until you actually shut me out for real, I'll just keep coming back over and over again!"
"Betty is shutting you out for—!"
Subaru swiped his hand to the side. "—not true! As if! If you're actually serious, how would I be able to come back so many times?! You're just putting on a front!"

"He-he! This time, the Cap'n had her all figured out! If Beatrice 1really meant it, she would have completely separated the mansion and the library, makin' it impossible for Cap'n to find her!" "She keeps telling him to leave her alone, and yet she always leaves him with the means to find her again and again." Julius noted with a smile.

She clutched the Book tighter, gritting her teeth. "Even so... you're not... 'that person'! You said it yourself that you're not! You said it! You did, I suppose! If you were 'that person'... if you'd said you were, even if it was a lie, Betty knows she would've believed you! Even knowing it was a lie, Betty would've had to believe you!"
"Beatrice…"

"Betty was very angry at how well her future contractor understood her, although we didn't communicate with each other much, I suppose. And now I discover that, in actuality, he understood me far better than all of the others put together. If only I knew the price he paid for such information."

"So his guess about your reasoning was on point? You wanted him to keep coming back even though you keep throwing him out? What for? What would you do if he really gave up on you?" This behaviour confused Felt.

Beatrice wasn't sure what to tell her. It would seem that the answer was obvious, but she was still ashamed to admit what she wanted.

"As was previously stated by Beatrice-sama, she wished for her contractor to put her first. So that no other duty or person would ever take priority over her. For this reason, she was testing Subaru's resolve to make her his partner." Julius explained.

He wasn't thrilled by the Great Spirit's childish attitude and the dangers Subaru faced as a result of her stubbornness. On the other hand, it was his decision to throw himself into the fray to get her, and Great Spirits could put anyone willing to seal a contract with them through any kind of ordeal.

"Is that why she was so stubborn? The mini-boss only wanted to get her out of that dusty room and make her his favourite loli!" Mimi was surprised that such a clever spirit girl failed to grasp such basic concepts.

"Don't forget there was also the contract binding her. At least that's what she believed in back then. When Natsuki-san recklessly stuck his foot in his mouth, he lost the chance for her to accept him as 'that person' and fulfil her pact.. So he just had one option left. To prove to Beatrice-sama that he was committed to getting her out of the Library. To show her that no risk or danger will make him give up on her!"
"—but you said you weren't, I suppose! You said you weren't, and I was stupid! That's what you said! Because Betty is a fool… a huge fool who can't forget a four hundred-year-old promise! So no matter what you say, IT'S OVER, I SUPPOSE!"

Her hair and her dress were carried by the wind magic she furiously emitted. But Subaru endured, and he stood tall and stood his ground. He clenched his fist tightly.

"I'm…"

Beatrice listened. She listened intently. Hoping, even if she knew it was a lie, that he would say—

"Whoa! Cap'n's expression has grown stern! He's about to say something really awesome!" With unbridled joy, Garfield nudged Otto with his elbow.

"Or something really straightforward and dumb." Julius smiled and argued with him.

"Most likely some mixture of the two." Otto concluded.

"Even when Subaru-kun says absurd or foolish things, he speaks them from his heart!" Rem took a stand to protect her beloved.

"…I'm not whoever 'that person' is. I'll say it all you want!"
Beatrice's breath hitched as she looked down, holding back the tears of despair that threatened to spill out. Even when she told him, he had chosen to be honest with her.

"But… "
She looked up.

"I want to stay with you, Beatrice."
Earnestly, honestly, sincerely, he said that to her. It made Beatrice freeze, even as she refused to let up the wind magic she poured out of her being.

"I want to be near you so you won't be sad, because you're a nice girl!"
Beatrice teared up, clenching her jaw tight as she held back a sob. She looked down at the Book, opening it with her wind magic and flipped through the pages, hoping, wanting for some kind of passage to be there.

"It was that moment Betty recognized she would never come across a better contractor for herself! That's why Betty opened that damned book again, desiring with all her heart to see the necessary words. Betty thought that if Subaru' won't be recognized as "that person" after everything he said, then they would never appear. That's what Betty was thinking at the time, in fact."

"So those words never appeared in the book?" Emilia inquired.

She was somewhat curious if Beatrice's desire to choose 'that person' on her own was a prerequisite for the book providing her with an answer.

Beatrice merely gave a head shake.

"Then how did Sir Natsuki convince you to become his contracted spirit?" Crusch asked in surprise.

Did even such genuine sentiments fail to touch her heart? After hearing Natsuki's speech, if she were a great spirit, she would not have been able to refuse.

"It will happen a bit later. This dishonest hero applied pressure to Betty's most vulnerable area, in fact. Admitting his complete helplessness without her assistance. Betty simply couldn't resist such a heartfelt plea for help because she's a benevolent spirit!" Beatrice responded with a huge smile.

She slammed it shut as Subaru froze as he saw the Forbidden Library begin to distort around him. "W-What the…?!"

Shelves started falling. Books that held infinite wisdom and words clattered onto the floor. Pitch black dimensional creaks started appearing. The Forbidden Library was collapsing and losing its connection with the rest of the world.

Subaru looked around before understanding what she was doing. Seeing how the space around the girl began to distort, he rushed to her. "BEATRICE!"
He ran towards her, hand out to grab her, to hold her close and to get her out of there. But just as he was about to—

A line of darkness, edges glowing purple, broke them apart.

"—NO!"

"Betty-chan!" Petra screamed in fear, completely forgetting for a moment that everything will be fine in the end.

"Fuf…this is getting intense, nya!" Felix wiped the sweat from his forehead.

Otto gave Beatrice a worried look. The spirit girl never stopped smiling, which was encouraging. Nevertheless, the young merchant chose to confirm again. "Just to be sure, Beatrice-sama, everything we're seeing now does match your memories, correct?"

"Be at ease, Otto. Betty remembers everything as it is depicted. You'd be a fool to think that Betty's contractor would be deterred by such a tiny setback, in fact!"

These words significantly helped to reduce the tension in the theater.
Separated from her, Subaru couldn't walk or run to her, couldn't reach out and ask her to come with him. He watched as the sobbing girl opened her mouth, saying words that made him freeze up.

The front doors of the mansion opened, and through them, the young man was hurled out of the mansion. Gathering himself, he got up slowly.

"The entrance to the mansion… is she telling me to just leave for good?"

The entrance crumbled, supports and hinges burnt away.

"If all the doors of the mansion burn down, her Forbidden Library will…"

"I wonder what would have happened to the library and the Great Spirit if the mini-boss had not succeeded." Tivey's endless curiosity kicked in.

"Had the library been cut off from the outer world's supply of mana, it would have vanished into the abyss between the realms without a trace, I suppose. Betty would have gone with it if she had stayed." Beatrice gave him a somber response.

"Sounds creepy!" Mimi declared, pressing her ears to her head.
A look of fear and horror crossed his face as he realized what would happen to her. That's why she said—

"—Farewell."

"I would be re–e-eally scared for Beatrice if she weren't sitting here with us right now and letting us know that everything is well." Emilia put her hands to her chest and spoke with a grave expression.

"Even though I know it will all work out, I can't look at it calmly! I still feel afraid for Beatrice and Subaru-sama!" Petra told the truth. He clenched his fist tightly, feeling the ground underneath his knuckles. "'Farewell' my ass! You think I'm just going to let you end it like that?!"

"Oh, boy! Cap'n s'got really angry!"

"Of course he is. Some stupid fire is blocking his way to his favorite loli!" Mimi declared with a smile.

"Do not come between the Lolimancer and his prey." Al snorted.
Getting up, Subaru ran into the mansion again. He ran through, covering his mouth and shielding his eyes. The screen depicted him in the midst of a fire, unsuccessfully seeking for at least one undamaged door.

"Come on, pal! Your loli-prime is waiting for her hero!" Ricardo encouraged him loudly.

"Betty honestly didn't believe that he would come to her again. Betty was sure that she said her last farewell."

"And yet he barged in your life again when you least expected that." Rem said softly, enjoying the knowledge that her hero will win again.

"Are there no more doors left…?"
He was on the verge of giving up, but suddenly recalled the memory of the failed loop when the witch cult stormed the mansion. Behind the bookshelf in Roswaal's office .

"There is one!"

"And once more, Sir Natsuki's incredible memory provides him with the most important information in a dire circumstance!" Crusch found the young man's resourcefulness truly admirable.
He made his way through, stumbling as he felt the mansion rumble and crumble above him, causing him to go near a wall and protect his head. When it passed, he looked at the door, the door that would either spell out his salvation or demise. It burned, flames wisping out of the gaps.

"Damn it, Bro! Have you decided to put together all the cinematic tactics for increasing the suspense at once?!" Al sounded apprehensive.

"What'll happen now? What is threatening Subaru's life this time?!" Emilia turned to him in fright. Almost all the viewers did the same.

"Do you see how the door shakes and the flames dance behind it? I've seen it in the movies. We refer to it as the backdraft effect. The moment he opens the door, oxygen will rush inside, causing the flame to flare up fiercely and engulf him like a dragon's breath!"

"It looks like trouble won't leave the guy alone until the very last minute." Ricardo gave a head shake.

"Al, how do you know so many amusing and useless facts?" Priscilla asked curiously.

"I was a big fan of movies."

"I see." The baroness nodded, who, thanks to her jester, already knew what a 'movie' was.

Panting heavily, he sauntered his way there, looking at the shaking door and, by extension, the knob. "Beatrice, if you can hear me, listen."
Smoke began to breeze out underneath. Normally, Subaru would cover his mouth. But Beatrice needed to hear him loud and clear.

"There aren't any other doors left. This is the last one. If I open it, I'll probably die."
The mansion was breaking. Debris was covering the ground of the once pristine place. His mind made up and firm, Subaru held the knob tightly, gritting his teeth at the searing pain that emitted from the heat of it. "Beatrice… I have faith in you!"
He opened the door and leapt in. Right behind him, the ceiling collapsed, burying the hallway under the rabble.

"Did he make it?! Please tell me if he made it!" With frightened eyes, Emilia asked, hoping that Beatrice would reassure her that everything would be alright.

Sighing and closing her eyes to resist the "puppy charms" of the half-elf, Beatrice exclaimed.

"Stop worrying, girl. Everything is exactly as Betty remembers! The dangers to her contractor are over, in fact. Now he will take his beloved spirit out of this prison and move forward to his next great achievement, in fact!"

He opened his eyes after a few moments, looking above to see the cracks of void that were outlined by violet, then at—

"You're… such a fool."
Beatrice murmurs, her eyes downcasted.

"That's the first thing you say?"
"Well, it's true, I suppose. It's a stalemate now. There is little more Betty could ask for now. My promise with Mother has been fully realized, I suppose."
"Then... hear me out until the end."
He straightened himself the best he could, enduring the pain that shot up his body as he did so. "Beatrice… Please, save me."
"H-Huh…?"

"Subaru is completely helpless without his Betty, I suppose! How lucky that he realized this in time and sought assistance from a specialist in saving such poor folks, in fact!" Beatrice declared with false arrogance, seeking to uphold her persona as a strong and self-assured spirit.

The image was marred only by big tears pouring from the happy-looking eyes, and a quivering voice. Because she was given the opportunity to relive this wonderful moment of liberation from a pact that had lasted for so long.

It took a lot of effort for Rem and Emilia not to rush and hug her. Beatrice was trying so hard to look serious and uncaring, but she was just too adorable.

"Indeed. You've found Beatrice's biggest weakness. She is far too compassionate to refuse a genuine plea for assistance. Even when someone asks her to save an unknown girl from a dangerous dragon. You have my congratulations, Natsuki Subaru." Roswaal whispered, smiling.

He was truly delighted to witness how Beatrice obtained her freedom and happiness. The ancient mage was certain that his Teacher would be pleased as well to see this spectacle as well.

"I thought about it. All kinds of cool things to say. Saying how I was gonna save you from loneliness, but all of those just sounded like stopgaps thought up in the heat of the moment."
The cracks opened further, branching out and waiting to reach the point to fully shatter everything.

"You don't need me to save you. You don't need my help at all. You're strong, you're smart, and you're cute. You're pretty well-equipped to survive on your own. So... saying I'd save you or help you wasn't enough. But... even as strong, smart, and cute as you are, you were afraid, weren't you? Afraid to live alone. You were hurting… and sad, weren't you? So, no one could blame you for clinging to the idea of 'that person'.

She tightened her grip on the book.

"Y-You think… you think you can reject how Betty feels?! What do you know about Betty?!"
Subaru smiled gently, shaking his head. "I do know you. I know that you're a kind girl. You'd hold someone's hand, calm them down when they're wracked by nightmares."
Beatrice's eyes began to water as her voice wavered. "Don't talk as if you know me…!"
"I don't have any strength, so I can't be of help to you. But… if there's anything I can do because I don't want to leave you alone, it's to hang on and keep begging."

"Somehow he manages to make even such self-deprecating words sound like an inspiring speech!" Reinhard announced, smiling heartily.

He walked towards her this time, his words causing a sharp breath to be exhaled from her mouth as she looked up at him with wide eyes.

He brought up his right hand, about to reach out. However, seeing the marks on it, he quickly wiped them away with Petra's handkerchief. When that was done as best as he could, he held out and reached to her, wanting.

"I wouldn't be surprised if Subaru-dono chose to leave those scars, just like he wanted to leave markings from kitchen knife cuts. A living memory of how he triumphed over another challenge and was rewarded with the friendship of a wonderful spirit." With a hint of paternal pride, Wilhelm noted.

"Betty's contractor uses this hand to pat Betty's head, in fact! Therefore, Betty dealt with all traces of his struggles as soon as everything calmed down… However, if Betty had known what these burns cost her contractor, maybe she would have asked her Subaru first before removing them, I suppose."

"Beatrice — please, help me. Without you, I'd be too sad to go on living. So, please help me."

"That's a very underhanded move, Subaru-kun! How could you put our lovely Beatrice-sama in that predicament?! You should be ashamed for asking a cute girl to save you! You are supposed to be a knight!" Rem scolded him jokingly, ruffling the sleeping man's hair with a happy smile on her face.

"You tell him, Rem! That Subaru has a lot of nerve turning to a helpless little girl for help after all those claims he made about saving everyone!" A giggling Emilia encouraged her, seeing the humor of the situation.

"Whom are you calling a helpless little girl, I wonder?! Hmpf!"

"Ha! It looks like he'll take any chance to get what he wants! That's how we do it! Go for it, big bro! You look miserable!" Felt raised her fist in the air and declared her approval with a content grin.

"What dishonorable wickedness! Forcing the girl to save you by making her worry! Such behavior is unbefitting for a knight, Sir Natsuki!" Crusch joined the fun, unable to suppress a satisfied smile.

"Ara-ara, Natsuki-kun. Didn't I tell you that pleading in negotiations is the same as conceding total defeat? Now she can impose any conditions on you! When we get together again, I'll have to teach you a lesson in the art of bargaining. Otherwise, I'll give you up to Julius for reeducation." Anastasia chuckled, taking pleasure in the moment.

"That's when he realized his greatest strength— the ability to charm little girls!" With a haughty demeanor, Ricardo expressed his genuine enjoyment at the events taking place in the room and on the screen. Understanding that everything would be alright from now on was more enjoyable to him than the finest wine.

"This dog doesn't change! As soon as he sees someone stronger than him, he runs to them to ask for help because he's too weak to do anything by himself." Priscilla tried to quip, but only to start thinking.

What would have happened if he had approached her in a different situation, asking for assistance? What if he'd approached her with the same kind of demeanor he was showing now, instead of coming across as a completely worthless pig ready to swallow his dignity and clutch to anything? Stout, determined, and with a firm gaze!

"Who knows, perhaps things would have turned out differently then?" The fire-haired princess muttered faintly. She liked the way this commoner looked now.

Beatrice held back a sob. "No fair…! It's not far… to ask me that…! You said… you said that you're not 'that person'... you rejected Betty."
Tears rushed out of her eyes, wetting the Book that she held dear to her. "And yet…I've been alone for four hundred years… even if I take your hand here and now, you'll just die soon anyway…! Compared to Betty, a human's life is over in the blink of an eye! Clinging to that now wouldn't…"
"But, I'll still be able to hold your hand tomorrow. Tomorrow, and the next day, and the day after! I can't make it four hundred years, but I can spend the days I have with you!"

"How much more awesome can you get, Cap'n? I would have fallen in love with you myself if I were a girl!" With admiration, Garfiel blurted out the words, barely able to control his emotions from the scene.

That was his commander! He looked like the coolest hero, even when he asked for help from a loli!

"What? You mean you weren't in love with him already?" Otto responded cynically, prompting a small but tangible slap on the head from a blond boy.

Further and further, the cracks spread.

"Even if I can't be with you forever, I can treasure you tomorrow and right now!"
Her breath stuttered, her cheeks wet with tears as she began to shake.

"Beatrice… choose me."

"He does know how to make a girl's heart flutter, doesn't he?" Anastasia said with a gentle smile, rubbing her scarf.

"That he does." Crusch nodded in agreement, enjoying the scene, fantasising about what a delightful moment it would've been if he said those words to her.

Emilia was perplexed by the conflicting emotions. She was extremely thrilled for both Beatrice and Subaru. Nonetheless, she felt tiny when comparing her significance in his life to Beatrice's. Once again, the half-elf girl was determined to pick up the slack and do better.
"But… you're not… you're not 'that person'...!"
"No, I'm not. I'm me. I'm Natsuki Subaru. Just forget it, okay? Forget this crush on some stranger you wouldn't even recognize. Instead of fearing a goodbye that might or might not happen, live with me through a guaranteed lifetime of tomorrows! I'm weak, I know that, but I want a lot. Since you're so caring, you'll be busy looking after me. That way, you wouldn't have time to think about being bored or lonely!"

"He acts like a completely self-absorbed slob, and yet those were the genuine words Beatrice-sama yearned to hear. This world makes sense when it comes to Barusu." Ram muttered to herself.
She began to sob louder, holding the book tighter as she shook her head.

"Choose me, Beatrice."

"And you chose him, Beatrice-sama. And your choice made him truly happy." Rem said amicably.

Although a sad idea crossed her mind: when she was offered the same chance, she refused him. She knew she had done the right thing that day on the hill. She was truly happy with her decision, for it helped her beloved become a true hero. Nonetheless, the question 'what if?' persisted in her mind.
"B-But… you'll go away…!"
"There's no forever. The future you're so afraid of will come around sooner or later. But still…"
"You'll leave me…!"

"But still, let's be together! Let's live together! Let's do so much together! Let's make so many memories together that you'll be able to proudly say you've had fun, Beako! Let's take back those lonely four hundred years you've had with interest!"
She sobbed louder and louder and more wretched than the last. "Even if... even if I do... you'll leave me alone eventually!"

With a sorrowful expression, Beatrice tried not to cry at her own words on the screen. She was reminded once more that her Subaru will not last forever, and that eventually he will leave her for all eternity.

Rem's gentle squeezing of the spirit girl's palm distracted her from melancholic thoughts. Looking at her, seeing a kind and compassionate expression, Beatrice allowed herself a sad smile and said softly:

"Betty's counting on you, among others, girl."

"You don't have to worry, Beatrice-sama. Rem is well aware of how important promises are to spirits. She won't let you down. After all, Rem is more interested in this than anyone." Rem responded quietly. At the same moment, her smile took on a cunning tone.

Emilia was engaged in her own melancholy thoughts, not having heard this talk. After all, Subaru was an ordinary human. He won't live much more than a century, at best. And what about her? She won't even have wrinkles when he is already an ailing old man. When Subaru leaves her, how will she spend the remaining time in her life? Will the longing overcome her until it becomes intolerable, or will she be able to accept the loss? Mother Fortuna was willing to die alongside Petelgeuse so that she would not have to spend centuries alone. And only now, when Emilia considered such a possibility for the first time, she started to grasp her mother's perspective.

Perhaps having kids with Subaru will help her get over their inevitable separation? However, they will only be quarter-elves. Which means their life span will be less than hers. Emilia had never considered anything so far off in the future, yet the more she considered it, the more uneasy she became. The girl hurried to get these thoughts out of her head and concentrate on what was happening on screen, deciding it was useless to brood about it now.

He took a step forward. "For someone like you who'll live forever, your time with me might feel like just a moment. So… I'll engrave it all into your soul! The moments you'll spend with me, and the fact that Natsuki Subaru was a guy so memorable that even after an eternity, he'll never fade to sepia!"
"Smo-o-oth operator! That guy sure has a way with words! Makes sense why all the ladies around adore him!" Ricardo said happily.

'The fact that I was a guy so memorable that even after an eternity, I'll never fade to sepia!... I'll remember it. It is important to keep in mind such statements because you never know when you might need to reiterate something similar. It's akin to a marriage proposal. But in Beatrice-sama's situation, it's more of a soul engagement.' With a happy thought, Otto wondered when he might get the chance to speak to someone in a similar way.

"I've been waiting for four hundred years for such words..." Beatrice said in a happy voice, without taking her eyes off the screen.
The door behind Subaru swung open. The fire from the outside burst into the library, surrounding the boy and the girl from all sides. Subaru held his hand out and shouted for the one to make her own choice.

" Choose me, Beatrice!"

"I choose you, Natsuki Subaru!" Beatrice barely stopped herself from saying it as loud as she could.
Her hands on the Book slowly began to go lax, her body shaking entirely.

"You want someone to get you out of here! Isn't that why you always sat right in front of this door?!"
The Book that she clung onto for centuries, that was the last thing of her Mother, was dropped and abandoned. The Forbidden Library that she curated and acted as the librarian, she let it be consumed by the cracks and swallowed up by the fire.

"Big bro!" Subaru!" "Subaru-sama!" Felt, Emilia and Petra cried out, unable to handle the tension.

The sight was too dramatic for young brains, even if Beatrice had already assured them that she remembered every detail of what was happening.

Darkness. When the image appeared on the screen again, the audience saw Rem sleeping peacefully on the grass. Then the camera showed Otto, Petra and the villagers running to the fire.

Otto lowered his head, his face twisted in despair at the idea that Subaru had vanished in the flames.

Suddenly, Petra gasped, slapping him on the face. "Otto-san, look!"
After nursing his cheek, he did so, mouth parting in relief and awe at what he saw.

"Even little girls beat you! How come you are not ashamed of yourself?" Felix joked about the merchant's weakness.

"I was grieving the death of a friend at the time, in case you hadn't noticed! Am I not allowed to display weakness in such situations?" Otto was outraged by the vulgar remark and the ensuing giggles from the representatives.

A bright glow came from the mansion, shining brightly above like a shooting star. Frederica and Garfiel smiled, realizing that Subaru had succeeded in getting Beatrice out.

"What a beautiful moment!" Mimi said, amazed by the scene.

"As expected from Subaru-kun. He can burn brighter than all stars in the night sky!" Rem noted with pride and a hint of jealousy, as she had hoped to experience something similar with her beloved.

"I never believed I would see this beautiful moment again!" Frederica added, smiling.

"It seems that his parents named Subaru after the star for a reason!" Reinhard grinned and concluded.

And that bright glow changed trajectory, moving to the right, and soaring. And within that light—

"Subaru…"
"Yeah, that's right."
"Subaru… Subaru…!"
"That's right. That's my name."
"Subaru! Subaru! Subaru! Subaru!"
"And you finally called me by my name."

"And thus the legend of the great Lolimancer was born! The one who will bring peace and prosperity to all lands using the powers of little girls!" Ricardo declared triumphantly, almost bursting into laughter.

"Now that is to my liking! Al, find a way to recreate this spell. A divine being such as myself desires to soar across the heavens in a similar manner befitting a goddess!"

"Errr…sure, princess." Al said submissively and gulped down. When the princess demands something, you never say to her, 'I can't'! You just postpone the task until she finds something else that will garner her attention.

The scene shifted back to the Sanctuary. In front of the Tomb, Emilia stood, facing the Great Rabbit with the inhabitants behind her. Catching her breath, she panted heavily.

"I absolutely will not let anything or anyone be lost!" She raised her hands, accumulating mana into her palms. "Mother and Geuse, everyone from today, and the words he wrote… so as long as I remember all of them… I won't give up!"

"Well-said big sis! Keep it up!"

"Ho, and when did the half-devil find so much perseverance in herself?" Priscilla said with a hint of respect.
As if in response to her boisterous speech, a pillar of purple light fell from the sky. The girl did not even have time to react when a much-needed voice from behind her could be heard:

"—you don't have to push yourself that hard, Emilia-tan."
Her eyes widened at the voice as well as the footsteps that stopped when they were beside her. When she looked, she saw Subaru, confident and smiling broadly as usual.

"You can stand back and leave the rest to me—we've got beginner's luck on our side."

"Oi! Now that's just cheating! Appearing triumphantly at the last minute is Reinhard's thing!" Al jokingly protested, glad that his friend finally got a chance to show off in all his glory.

"I wholeheartedly agree with the idea that Subaru must have as many moments to shine as he desires! Personally, I would be honored to see him happy and content as much as I can!" Reinhard murmured admiringly, holding a bucket of popcorn in his hands and gazing at the screen with the bright eyes of a teenage boy witnessing a true wonder.

He was so engrossed in what was going on that he didn't even try to stop his lady from stealing his popcorn, allowing her to believe she was succeeding due to her thieving abilities.

"Hm! Such are the privileges you can get exclusively when you sign a contract with a Great Spirit like Betty!" The drill girl triumphantly asserted, defiantly inspecting the nails on her hand.

However, she was terrified of one particular moment. What if the others discovered that her flashy trick, combined with the subsequent battle with the Great Rabbit, had depleted nearly all of her mana reserves? Or that without the library, her sole source was her contractor, whose gates were not only underdeveloped but, what's worse, broken?!
Emilia smiled. "Sorry… I'm not sure what you're talking about."
Subaru laughed before stepping forward, and when Emilia's eyes trailed down, she blinked in surprise at what she saw. Because—

"Don't blame me for whatever may happen next."
Beatrice, the Great Spirit of Yin, was holding her left hand tightly with Subaru's right.

"Sure. After all, we'll make it work out! You and me together!"
[Screen title: Choose Me]

"Ha! Cap'n has arrived, and his battle loli is with him now! Make yerself comfortable and prepare to be amazed by how quickly dey'll get rid of these vermin!" Garfiel replied happily, promptly following his own advice.

"Rabbits are not rodents." Out of habit, Julius hurried to correct him and then added with astonishment. "But I agree with you. It will be incredible to witness firsthand how the second legendary mabeast was exterminated!"

"Those critters were stupid enough to cause trouble for Betty's contractor, I suppose. Therefore, Betty quickly disposed of them, in fact." Beatrice grinned, doing her best to block off memories of Subaru's prior run-ins with the mabeast.

Right now, all she could think about was how many head pats her contractor will receive when he wakes up. And hugs. And sweets.

"And how is the spirit girl going to deal with them? Will she kill every last one with purple crystals? That would be so cool!" Mimi asked enthusiastically, she couldn't wait for a new battle scene.

"That would be completely useless. They'll just keep reproducing until everyone runs out of mana!" Tivey explained, though, he was secretly thinking the same as his sister.

"The little one with the monocle is right, I suppose. Betty initially tried to use the Minya crystals against them, but quickly realized that conventional methods would not be able to cope with this enemy. So Betty decided to demonstrate one of the ultimate skills in the arsenal of a Great Spirit of Yin and got rid of them all at once, I suppose.

"Oh! And what was it?! Felt demanded details in an impatient voice. Half of those present glanced at the great spirit with identical gazes.

"Betty doesn't want to ruin your viewing experience, I suppose. Let us move on to the next episode, where everything will be shown to us, I'm sure." Beatrice replied smugly, enjoying muted groans coming from several directions. She clung to her sleeping contractor and quietly whispered:

"It's time for Betty to start apologizing for all of her errors and failings. And Betty swears, what we are about to see is only the beginning of her way to redemption, in fact."