In the quiet, tense atmosphere of the classroom, Kazuma spoke up with a casual, almost lazy smirk, "I vote no."
Every head turned towards him, some confused, others incredulous. Darkness and Aqua gawked at him like he'd sprouted a second head, while Megumin looked slightly more understanding but still shocked.
"Kazuma!" Darkness exclaimed, her voice laced with disappointment. "Are you saying you'd rather stay in this strange world than return home?"
He shrugged, unbothered. "Honestly? Yeah. Way fewer expectations, and I can actually live a little. You know, without dying constantly."
A snicker rose from the back, but as everyone's attention remained glued to Kazuma, no one noticed Subaru's quiet, bitter laughter building up.
"Kazuma!" Aqua shouted, stomping her foot. "Have you completely forgotten our mission to defeat the Demon King? We're supposed to be heroes!"
Kazuma rolled his eyes. "Yeah, you guys want to go back to your crazy problems. Go right ahead. I, on the other hand, am good."
"You can't be serious, Kazuma," Megumin muttered, trying to suppress a sigh. "As weird as our world is, it's still home."
Kazuma opened his mouth to retort, but Subaru's chuckle erupted from the back of the room, morphing into dark laughter. Slowly, the chuckling stopped, and the smile left his face, replaced by a cold, almost vacant expression.
Everyone turned to him, and a silence fell over the room. Subaru's gaze was distant, and when he finally spoke, his voice was flat but steady. "No."
Ainz was the first to respond, his skeletal face perplexed. "Subaru, what do you mean?"
Subaru's laugh was bitter. "I mean no. I'm done. I'm not going back."
Emilia's nervous chuckle was barely audible. "Subaru, you're just joking, right? This is serious. We all want to go back."
Subaru's gaze met Emilia's, his eyes cold and unyielding. "Serious? You want to talk about serious, Emilia? Sure, let's talk. Let's talk about what going back means."
Ram scoffed, folding her arms. "Oh, here we go. As if anyone here actually cares about your whining, Barusu."
"Funny, coming from you," Subaru retorted, his tone biting. "You think I'm the problem? How many times have you called me worthless, insulted me, told me to kill myself? And for what? Just because I was trying to survive in that hellhole?"
Ram's eyes narrowed, but she looked away, almost flinching.
Emilia's face softened, her voice barely a whisper. "But Subaru… we… I care about you."
His laugh was sharp and mirthless. "Care about me? You care about what I can do for you. You only notice me when I'm saving you, risking everything. Every single time you needed something, who was there?"
Emilia seemed hurt, her hands clasped together. "I thought… I thought you wanted to help me."
"Want?" Subaru's voice grew louder, the frustration he'd kept inside finally spilling over. "Of course, you'd think that. But you don't see me. All you see is the guy who gets up no matter how broken he is, as if I don't have my own breaking point."
The silence was thick and uncomfortable. Rem, standing by the door, looked at Subaru, her expression pained. "Subaru, you know… I've always believed in you."
Subaru's gaze softened slightly when he looked at Rem, his tone gentler but still filled with resentment. "You were the only one who ever saw me for me, Rem. I can't even begin to tell you how much that meant… means to me."
He glanced back at the rest, his face turning cold again. "But the rest of you? I'm done with being your hero, your backup plan. I refuse to go back."
Ainz leaned forward, his voice booming. "This attitude is pointless. You're needed in your world, Subaru. People depend on you."
"Good for them," Subaru replied bluntly, his voice devoid of care. "They'll have to learn to manage without me."
Tanya scowled, crossing her arms. "What's gotten into you, Subaru? We have duties back there, purposes."
"Not my problem," Subaru said icily, staring back at Tanya. "Maybe you want to go back to your nightmare, but I'm tired. I am tired of constantly having to prove myself, of having no one understand what I go through."
Beatrice, who had been silent until now, looked at Subaru with a mix of curiosity and sadness. "So… you're just abandoning everyone who's ever cared about you, I suppose?"
He met Beatrice's gaze, and for a brief moment, his face softened. "I'm not abandoning the people who cared. I'm abandoning the ones who never did. You… Rem… Beatrice… You two are the only ones I ever felt truly understood me."
The weight of his words hung in the air as silence once again descended on the room.
Kazuma, who had been watching the entire exchange with a smug expression, finally chimed in, "See, I told you. We're not all eager to go back to a place that treated us like trash. Subaru gets it."
Megumin shook her head. "I can't believe you two. There's always something worth going back for."
Kazuma shrugged, leaning back. "Maybe for you, but not for us."
Subaru crossed his arms, his expression hardened. "Also, I want to point something out, especially to you, Ainz and Tanya. You're lucky compared to Kazuma and me." His gaze sharpened, and a few members in the room exchanged uncertain glances. "Your groups respect you. You're leaders, powerful ones at that. We? We don't get that luxury. Kazuma and I? We get disrespect, ridicule, and expectations that none of you understand."
Kazuma crossed his arms, nodding, a small, bitter smile tugging at the corner of his mouth. Subaru continued, his voice carrying a raw edge that made several people flinch.
"Kazuma," Subaru gestured toward him, "only acts indifferent, or maybe smirks when you all accuse him of not caring, because deep down, he can't stand his party. Not in some comedic way you all like to believe—but in an emotional way." His tone dropped, colder now. "He's told me as much."
Kazuma chuckled darkly. "Yep. Newsflash, everyone: this 'team' of mine? Not exactly the ideal support system. Aqua whines and expects me to fix everything, Darkness drags us into pointless danger, and Megumin…" He sighed. "She's not so bad, but it's always her way or no way."
Subaru shot Kazuma a grateful look before turning back to the room. "And me? I only have Rem. The one person who sees me, respects me, and doesn't treat me like I'm worthless or disposable." His voice grew louder, a bitter note creeping in. "Meanwhile, the rest of you stand there, all high and mighty, judging us as if you have any idea what it's like to be powerless."
Ainz tilted his head, his bony hands folded in front of him. "Subaru, I understand that emotions can cloud one's judgment, but to say you have it harder than any of us—"
"No, Ainz," Subaru interrupted, his eyes flashing, "you don't understand. That's my whole point. You have unimaginable power. You could obliterate anything that opposes you in a single move. Even your followers look up to you, respect you, even if they fear you." He gestured to Tanya. "Same goes for her. They follow her orders, respect her abilities, her authority. It's easy to lead when you're powerful."
Tanya's brows knit together, her tone sharp. "Just because we have power doesn't mean our struggles are any less real, Subaru. I face insubordination and challenges just like anyone else."
Subaru laughed bitterly. "Insubordination? You're kidding, right? Your subordinates respect your orders because they fear you. Kazuma and I? We get insulted and questioned at every turn. Do you have any idea what it's like to feel small, weak, and ignored by the very people you rely on?"
Darkness looked at Kazuma, her face filled with something akin to guilt. "Kazuma… I didn't know you felt that way."
Kazuma snorted. "Yeah, well, you never asked, did you? None of you did."
Aqua huffed, crossing her arms. "Hey! I'm plenty respectful!"
"Really?" Kazuma raised an eyebrow, his voice dripping with sarcasm. "Because I can list a hundred times you threw me under the bus or laughed at my expense."
Subaru shook his head, sighing. "This isn't about pity. We're not asking for it. We're asking for you to realize you're lucky. You're judging us for not wanting to go back, but none of you have the slightest clue what it's like to live a day in our shoes." His voice turned venomous. "Try surviving without your power, your skills. Try getting through a day where the people who are supposed to be on your side treat you like garbage."
Ram scoffed, but her face was slightly flushed, maybe even uncomfortable. "Oh, please, Subaru. You act like you're some kind of martyr. You chose to stay with us."
Subaru met her gaze, a flicker of pain crossing his face. "And look where it got me. Disrespected, unappreciated, and constantly reminded of my 'place.' If it weren't for Rem, I would have left you all behind ages ago."
Ainz's voice was deep, firm. "Perhaps you're right. But to say we 'have it easy' because of our power is oversimplifying it. With power comes responsibility, burdens you clearly don't understand."
"Oh, I understand plenty." Subaru's voice was icy. "You call it responsibility, but at least people trust you with it. They respect you enough to let you carry it. Kazuma and I are shouldering responsibility without that respect. We're expected to save others, even those who don't give a damn about us."
Emilia spoke up, her voice wavering. "Subaru… I never wanted you to feel like that."
He closed his eyes, exhaling. "I know, Emilia. But it's not about what you wanted; it's about what happened. I can't keep pretending it's okay."
Beatrice, who had been silent all this time, looked at Subaru, her voice soft. "So… you would leave us all, in favor of staying in this world, is that it, I wonder?"
Subaru's gaze softened as he met Beatrice's eyes. "You're one of the few people I'd miss, Beatrice. You, and Rem, and maybe a couple of others. But I can't go back to a world where my life is dictated by others who barely see me as a person."
Kazuma snorted, smirking at the rest of the room. "So, here's the deal. If this whole thing about 'going back' turns out to be a farce, then Subaru and I will be here, watching, saying 'we told you so.'"
Aqua let out a frustrated groan. "Oh, come on, Kazuma! You really think you're smarter than all of us?"
"Not smarter," Kazuma replied coolly. "Just more realistic. You're all banking on going back to your worlds like nothing's changed. Good for you. But for us?" He shook his head. "We don't have the same luxury."
Tanya scoffed, glaring at Subaru and Kazuma. "Well, if you two want to be cowards, stay behind. But don't expect sympathy from us if you regret it."
Subaru's eyes were steely as he met Tanya's glare. "Coward? You don't know the meaning of the word. You're calling me a coward because I'm choosing to stay where I'm finally free?"
He turned back to the room, his expression resolute. "If any of you find yourselves stuck here when all is said and done, maybe you'll start to understand. But until then, save your judgment. You don't know the first thing about what Kazuma and I have been through."
...
The atmosphere in the classroom was thick with disappointment, disbelief, and a creeping sense of resentment as the victors returned from the school's sports festival. Everyone had put everything on the line, fighting and strategizing, expecting the event to be the key to returning to their original worlds. And yet, despite their victory, here they were—still trapped. They shuffled in, exhausted and emotionally worn, but two people sat at their desks, completely unmoved by the situation: Kazuma and Subaru.
Kazuma leaned back, arms crossed, his expression flat. He wasn't smirking or gloating. He simply didn't care.
Subaru looked similarly unbothered, resting his chin on his hand as he idly scanned the room, seeming entirely detached from the heavy atmosphere that hung around everyone else. A quiet defiance emanated from them both, as if to say, we told you so.
Darkness slammed her hands down on Kazuma's desk, startling everyone nearby. "Kazuma! Don't you feel anything about this? We all tried so hard, and now we're stuck here—again!" Her voice was filled with frustration and a hint of betrayal.
Kazuma blinked at her slowly. "Didn't I tell you? None of this was ever my problem. You guys wanted to go back so bad, so you did all the work. I didn't care from the start, and it looks like I was right not to get my hopes up."
Aqua stamped her foot, fuming. "Ugh! How can you be so heartless? Don't you want to go back to Axel and all our friends? We're supposed to be a team, Kazuma!"
Kazuma's stare was impassive. "Aqua, last I checked, you were the one begging me to take you on this trip in the first place. You haven't exactly made my life easy since then."
Darkness stammered, her face filled with disappointment. "Kazuma, don't you have any loyalty? Any sense of duty?"
"I have a sense of duty to myself," Kazuma replied coldly. "I'm tired of being everyone's punching bag. Here, I can be more than just 'Kazuma the problem-solver.' I can actually live my life without constant death threats and pointless risks. So yeah, I'm fine with staying."
As the other adventurers gaped at Kazuma's blunt indifference, a soft, derisive laugh came from Subaru. Tanya shot him a withering look, her voice sharp. "Subaru, I thought better of you. I thought you had enough of a sense of loyalty to understand what's at stake here."
Subaru gave her a weary look, unphased by her tone. "Sense of loyalty? Tanya, loyalty's a two-way street. You're respected by your people, they follow you willingly. I don't have that luxury. My loyalty has only ever gotten me insults and expectations I can never meet."
Ram, arms crossed, glared down at him with a sneer. "And what did you expect, Barusu? You think loyalty's some easy, convenient thing?"
Subaru looked up at her, his expression empty of the usual energy. "Yeah, Ram, I get it. I know what you think of me, and I'm done trying to prove myself to people who don't care if I live or die."
Ram opened her mouth to retort, but Rem stepped forward, her face lined with worry. "Subaru, don't say that. We… we tried our best because we thought it was what you wanted, too."
He looked at her, a hint of softness in his gaze. "Rem, I appreciate that. I really do. But this is where I draw the line. I'm not going back just to be a convenient tool for everyone else."
Emilia stepped closer, her voice quiet and pleading. "But Subaru… we belong in our world. I belong there. Don't you want to come back with me?"
Subaru looked at her, his expression guarded. "Emilia, do you really understand what you're asking? You want me to go back and keep doing what I did before—getting hurt, risking everything, with no recognition or respect? I'd be doing it all for a world that doesn't value me."
Emilia faltered, her hands clutching each other. "I… I didn't know you felt that way."
"Well, now you do." Subaru's voice was cool, his gaze unwavering. "So please don't expect me to just fall back in line."
Ainz, his skeletal face expressionless but his voice heavy, turned his hollow eyes on them both. "Powerless or not, you two have a duty. Even without power, we all share the responsibility of facing our challenges. What makes you think you're any different?"
Kazuma shrugged. "Because, Ainz, you're someone people trust to lead. People respect you—even fear you. It's easy for you to talk about responsibility when people actually acknowledge your efforts."
The other members of Nazarick, listening from the back, looked like they wanted to step in, but Ainz held up a hand, restraining them. He looked at Kazuma and Subaru, his gaze unreadable. "So, because you lack power, you'll simply abandon your duties?"
Subaru didn't flinch. "It's not about abandoning duties; it's about knowing my limits. I refuse to go back to a world where I'm nothing more than a disposable pawn."
Tanya scoffed, her expression laced with disgust. "This is pathetic. Both of you are acting like victims when you've barely tasted true hardship."
Kazuma glanced at Tanya, his voice calm. "Think what you want, Tanya. Just don't expect me to throw myself into something pointless. Maybe you can't stand the idea of not being in control, but that's your problem, not mine."
Megumin looked at Kazuma, a conflicted expression on her face. "Kazuma… I thought you wanted to fight with us. I thought you wanted to go back to our world."
Kazuma's gaze softened slightly. "Megumin, you're probably the only one I would consider going back for. But even you have to admit that life here isn't so bad. It's peaceful. Why do we have to go back to a world where we're barely scraping by?"
Darkness clenched her fists. "Because that's where we belong! Fighting against the odds, standing for something bigger than ourselves."
Kazuma shook his head. "And look where it's gotten us. Look how tired we all are. Maybe you're content with that, but I'm not. I've been forced to fight, to die, and I'm done with it."
The classroom was filled with a tense silence as everyone took in Kazuma and Subaru's words. Their blatant refusal to return hit everyone differently.
Albedo sneered. "Such cowardice. If Lord Ainz ever showed such weakness, we would—"
Kazuma cut her off. "That's the thing, Albedo. You worship Ainz. He doesn't have to worry about his people betraying him or leaving him out to dry. Subaru and I? We can't trust anyone like that."
Subaru nodded, his voice unwavering. "And that's what none of you understand. You talk about duty, about loyalty. But you don't understand what it's like to have none of that returned. Until you do, don't judge us for deciding to stay where, for once, we're not just tools."
The room was silent as the two sat there, unmoved, while the rest of their classmates grappled with the harsh truths that had been laid bare until suddenly, the intercom of the school blared out, "Go to the autitorium at once!"
As the students filed into the auditorium and took their seats, the tension was thick. Subaru and Kazuma took spots near the back, their expressions indifferent as the others murmured among themselves. The black monitor flickered to life, and a voice echoed through the room.
It began with Kazuma's story.
Scenes flashed across the screen, showing Kazuma's initial death in his original world, his unfortunate misunderstanding with the truck, and his hilariously underwhelming encounter with Aqua. Several students burst out laughing at his expense, and Aqua herself joined in, pointing and giggling.
"Ha! Look at Kazuma's face!" Aqua snorted, slapping her knee.
Kazuma glared at her. "Right, like you didn't have any part in this, you useless goddess. I wouldn't even be here if it weren't for you."
The story continued, showing Kazuma's first fights, each filled with more failures than victories. The crowd laughed, some in disbelief, others just outright mocking.
Subaru frowned, his expression darkening as he heard the laughter around him. He muttered under his breath, not loud enough to draw attention from most but loud enough to make his point, "Pretty funny when it's someone else, huh?"
Megumin, sitting beside him, glanced over, noticing his irritation. "Subaru… are you okay? I didn't think you'd be this defensive about Kazuma."
Subaru gave her a sidelong glance. "What's so funny about someone constantly dying and being mocked? He's got it worse than people realize."
Aqua rolled her eyes, still laughing. "Oh, please, Subaru. Kazuma's just unlucky; that's all!"
Kazuma leaned forward, muttering, "Unlucky doesn't even begin to cover it."
The screen continued, showing Kazuma's encounters with dangerous creatures, his attempts at adventure, and the repetitive cycle of him falling into unfortunate, sometimes deadly situations.
By the end, everyone seemed a little less amused. Darkness looked guilty, her fingers twitching. "Kazuma… you've really been through a lot. I didn't realize…"
"Right. You didn't." Kazuma's voice was flat, his gaze fixed on the screen.
The scene faded, and a new story began. The adventures of Ainz Ooal Gown flickered on the monitor, showing his transformation from a salaryman in Japan to the all-powerful undead overlord of the Great Tomb of Nazarick. Ainz sat up straight, his skeletal face unreadable as the scenes unfolded.
Everyone watched, fascinated, as Ainz's life in his new world played out. They saw him command his NPC followers, the absolute power he wielded, and the lengths he went to protect Nazarick. His calculated battles, the cold decisions he made, and the loyalty of his followers were evident in every clip.
Shalltear looked on, captivated, a proud smile on her face. "Ah, Lord Ainz, how magnificent you are!"
Albedo, sitting nearby, nodded fervently. "I always knew you were incredible, Lord Ainz, but seeing it here is just… breathtaking."
Ainz himself seemed taken aback. "I… I didn't realize the monitor would capture so much of my life. I suppose I've been through more than I thought."
Tanya, who sat near the front, glanced over at him, raising an eyebrow. "An impressive story, but a bit overkill. All that power and yet so… cautious."
Ainz's red eyes glowed slightly as he glanced at her. "Power requires caution, Tanya. Unlike some of you, I cannot afford to act without calculating the risks."
Tanya smirked, her tone mocking. "Still sounds like overkill."
Then, the screen shifted to Tanya's own story. It displayed her origin as a calculating salaryman, her disdain for her world, and her relentless dedication to survival. Then, as if punished for her disregard, she was thrust into a new, chaotic life as a young girl in a brutal, war-torn world. The audience watched as Tanya rose through the ranks of her military, each scene highlighting her cold, ruthless tactics and the strategic cunning that kept her alive.
Kazuma snorted. "Figures she'd be some ruthless workaholic. Doesn't surprise me."
Ainz nodded, thoughtful. "Indeed. It seems like each of us was destined for a role that fits our… strengths."
Tanya shot them both a glare. "I don't need pity or admiration. I just do what's necessary to survive. Some of us know how to make use of our situations."
Aqua rolled her eyes. "Ugh, you're all so intense. Can't any of you just enjoy things for once?"
Then, the screen flashed again, and a new story began. Subaru straightened, feeling a slight tension rise in his chest.
This time, the screen showed Natsuki Subaru's journey. It started with him leaving a convenience store late at night, and the sudden shift as he was transported to another world. His eyes were wide with wonder, then filled with confusion as he stumbled into the strange, fantasy-like town.
Kazuma leaned over to Subaru, mumbling, "Guess it was exciting at first, huh?"
Subaru gave him a weak nod, his eyes fixed on the screen, unsure what would be revealed.
The scene changed, showing Subaru's desperate encounter with a group of thugs, only to be saved by Reinhard. The audience watched, impressed by Reinhard's heroics, but several people started to notice how frequently Subaru appeared helpless. Then came his work with Ram to save Rem, his fierce determination evident despite his clear lack of strength. The screen flickered between moments of triumph and gut-wrenching scenes of Subaru facing seemingly impossible odds.
Darkness whispered to Megumin, "He really does put everything on the line. I didn't expect that from him…"
Emilia, who sat near Rem, whispered, "I never knew Subaru went through so much… He never mentioned half of this."
Ainz's gaze lingered on the screen, his red eyes narrowing slightly. "Something feels… off about this story."
Moments of Subaru's journey continued flashing across the screen, showcasing his struggle against the White Whale, the fierce battles that showed him pushing himself to his limits and beyond, all for the sake of his friends. The weight of each moment seemed to bear down on the room, the scenes growing darker, the risks more intense. Those watching couldn't deny the bravery Subaru displayed—his willingness to sacrifice everything for the sake of others.
But some, the keen-eyed ones, began to notice something peculiar. They shifted uncomfortably, glancing at each other.
Beatrice, her usual expression softened, whispered to Rem, "Something's wrong, I feel. Subaru's journey… it doesn't add up, I wonder."
Rem nodded slowly, her brow furrowed. "It's as if there's something hidden—something Subaru has never told us."
The others began to feel the same, each noticing that for every courageous act, there was an unspoken tension behind Subaru's actions, a burden that seemed to weigh him down.
A heavy pause filled the room as the scenes sped up, as if they were rewinding, and the screen displayed something else—a black symbol flashing across the monitor with stark, white letters forming into a message:
The journey is a lie.
As the ominous words lingered on the screen, tension filled the auditorium. Whispers and confused glances spread through the crowd, each group trying to make sense of the message.
Kazuma, arms crossed, raised an eyebrow. "What's that supposed to mean? 'The journey is a lie?' Sounds like something out of a bad game script."
Ainz frowned, leaning forward. "There's more here than what we're seeing. Subaru's life has had… strange moments."
Tanya crossed her arms, her sharp gaze locked on the screen. "I suspected there was something off about him. He's too fragile to survive some of those situations. This message just confirms it—there's something he hasn't told us."
The screen shifted suddenly, displaying an 16-bit version of Subaru walking down a pixelated street. Cheerful music played, a catchy, upbeat tune that seemed innocent enough, almost comically so.
Aqua tilted her head. "What is this? Some kind of game? It's so… old-fashioned!"
Rem and Beatrice watched the screen, their expressions tense. Subaru remained silent, his face pale as he continued to watch, a creeping dread settling in.
In the next instant, the 16-bit version of Subaru stumbled forward, his eyes going black, and he collapsed, as if mimicking a death animation. The cheerful music cut off sharply, replaced by an unsettling silence.
Emilia covered her mouth, her eyes widening. "Subaru…"
Ram looked away, her face tense. "What is this? Why are they showing it like that? It's… disturbing."
Kazuma's face contorted with discomfort. "Man, that's creepy. They're treating his death like it's a game."
Before anyone else could react, a low, chilling whisper filled the auditorium, repeating over and over, "You won't die. You won't die. You won't die…"
The room went dead silent as everyone strained to hear the eerie voice. Its repetition sent a chill down their spines, an unsettling mantra that seemed to echo from somewhere beyond the screen.
Darkness shivered. "What… What is that voice? It sounds so… desperate."
Ainz's face darkened, his gaze fixed on the screen. "It's like some twisted promise. As if he's bound by it."
The whisper continued, and then, out of the shadows on the screen, a faint figure appeared. A woman with flowing white hair, her image flickering in the pixelated format, but unmistakably eerie and haunting. Her eyes were wide with an unsettling affection, her gaze fixed on the small, 16-bit Subaru with a look of obsessive adoration.
Everyone stared at the figure in more confusion as her voice echoed through the auditorium. "I love you, I love you, I love you…"
Emilia's face went pale, and she clutched Rem's hand. "Rem… who is that?"
Rem's eyes were wide with fear. "I… I don't know. But something about her feels… wrong."
Beatrice's usual aloof expression was gone, replaced with unease. "It's her, I wonder… She's the one Subaru told me to avoid at all costs."
Tanya squinted at the figure, her brow furrowing. "Love? That's what she calls it? She looks more like a crazed stalker."
Aqua's face twisted in disgust. "Ugh! That's not love—that's an obsession!"
Albedo, who was normally quick to defend any form of intense devotion, looked unsettled as she muttered, "Even I have my limits. This woman… she's terrifying."
The 16-bit Subaru seemed frozen on the screen, almost as if he were trapped under the gaze of this woman, her obsessive, murmuring "I love you" filling the auditorium. Then, suddenly, the scene rewound to the beginning of his walk down the street, but this time, tiny blue pixels ran down the character's face—tears.
The cheerful music was gone, replaced by a cold, hollow silence that made the room feel colder.
Megumin's voice was barely a whisper. "Why… why is he crying?"
Darkness clenched her fists, her voice wavering. "It's like he… knows what's coming. Like he can't escape."
Ram, usually dismissive, looked away, guilt flashing in her eyes. "This isn't right. Barusu… he's suffered more than I realized."
Emilia shook her head, her voice desperate. "Subaru… What does all this mean? Why is he… why is he crying like that?"
Ainz was silent, his eyes narrow, analyzing every detail. "This isn't just a memory—it's a message. Something beyond his control."
Kazuma glanced at Subaru, who remained impassive, but a hint of dread lingered in his eyes. "Hey… Subaru, what's going on? Why does it look like you're… respawning or something?"
Subaru stayed silent, his jaw clenched, the dread in his eyes deepening. He had no words, nothing he could say to explain what they were seeing.
As the scene froze with the tear-streaked 16-bit Subaru on the screen, the audience was left in a heavy silence, a darkness settling over them as the horrific truth began to dawn on some of the sharper minds in the room.
A quiet, piercing voice broke the silence.
"That woman… she's the Witch of Envy, isn't she?" Tanya muttered, her eyes wide with shock as she stared at the screen.
Beatrice's voice was a whisper, haunted. "It's her… Subaru, I… I'm so sorry, I wonder…"
The terror was almost palpable among the members of the Emilia camp, each member realizing, piece by piece, that Subaru's journey wasn't what it seemed. And yet, none of them could fully understand the horrifying reality that Subaru had endured.
Sure enough, the screen went back to the beginning of his adventure...but with everything that was hidden now shown. Music was in the background which was the theme from Higurashi When They Cry.
The first scene played: Subaru lying in a pool of his own blood, eyes glazed over, his expression vacant and defeated. The audience gasped. Before anyone could react, the screen flickered to the next death—Subaru falling from a cliff, his scream echoing as he plummeted to his demise. And then another, and another—each more brutal, more heartbreaking than the last.
Rem's reaction was immediate. She fell to her knees, sobbing, her voice a broken scream. "Rem is sorry! Rem is sorry, Rem is sorry, Rem is sorry! Subaru-kun, I'm so, so sorry!"
Emilia was wailing, clutching her chest as if the weight of each death was tearing her apart. "Subaru! No… Subaru, please, no…! SUBARU!"
The video continued mercilessly. Each death revealed a new horror, and Emilia could barely contain herself, her tears streaming uncontrollably as she shook with each scene. She leaned forward, trying to reach for Subaru, her fingers trembling as they stretched out in desperation. "Why didn't you tell me? Subaru, I… I had no idea!"
Beatrice clung tightly to Subaru's arm, tears flowing freely down her cheeks as she buried her face against him. "Betty… Betty is sorry, I suppose! Betty had no idea… No idea Subaru was going through all this. I'm sorry, I'm so sorry!"
Subaru's face was pale, his expression hollow, but he remained silent, his eyes locked on the screen as the scenes played out. He couldn't look at any of them—not Rem, not Emilia, not Beatrice. He just sat there, rigid and unflinching, forced to watch his deaths unfold as the others finally learned his truth.
Ram, who was usually composed, was frozen in shock, her mouth slightly open, staring at the screen in horror. Her usual insults and scorn were gone, replaced by a hollow emptiness. She couldn't comprehend what she was seeing—couldn't process the countless scenes of Subaru dying, each one more painful, more graphic than the last. She whispered to herself, "Barusu… what… What is this?"
The deaths kept coming, each one piercing through the hearts of those watching.
Darkness gripped the edges of her chair, her hands trembling as she watched Subaru's agony unfold on screen. "Subaru… You… You went through all this…? How…?"
Kazuma's usual smirk was nowhere to be seen. He looked at Subaru, horror in his eyes. "So this is why you… Subaru, you went through all that alone?"
Tanya, who had initially thought Subaru weak, felt a cold chill run down her spine. She'd seen death before, but the repeated scenes, each more gut-wrenching than the last, stirred a strange unease in her. "This… This isn't just bad luck. This is something else entirely."
Ainz remained silent, his skeletal face unreadable, but his hands were clenched tight. "Subaru's been through… more than any mortal should ever have to endure."
The deaths continued to play out, each scene highlighting the suffering Subaru had endured. Some showed him collapsing from poison, others from fatal wounds inflicted by friends and enemies alike. But one by one, they realized something truly horrifying—that many of these deaths were caused by those sitting right beside him.
Emilia buried her face in her hands, her voice raw with guilt and sorrow. "No… No! I didn't know… Subaru… I never wanted you to…!"
Rem's face was twisted with anguish, her voice barely coherent as she sobbed, "Rem didn't understand… Rem would have never… Subaru-kun, Rem is so sorry! Rem is so sorry!"
Beatrice's hands shook as she clung to Subaru, desperately trying to comfort him even though he remained silent. "Betty had no idea. Betty would have helped if she knew, I suppose! Why didn't you tell me, Subaru?"
Kazuma watched in stunned silence, the weight of Subaru's suffering hitting him hard. He turned to Subaru, his voice barely above a whisper. "Why didn't you say anything, man? All this time, you… you just kept it to yourself?"
Subaru's silence felt like a wall, cold and impenetrable. He simply kept his gaze fixed forward, the emptiness in his eyes unchanging as the scenes continued.
Shalltear looked away, shaken, muttering under her breath. "For once, I… don't envy what he's been through. This is… this is inhuman."
Ram's voice trembled as she forced herself to speak. "Barusu… I called you worthless. I told you… I told you to… to die…" Her voice cracked, and she couldn't finish, horror dawning on her as she relived her past words.
The video continued, showing one of the last scenes—a chilling depiction of Subaru, cornered by an enemy, his face twisted in agony as he reached out, crying for help that never came. The last image lingered on the screen, an unspoken reminder of the suffering Subaru had endured time and again.
The screen shifted once more, and for a brief moment, everyone thought the torment was over. But the new scenes proved to be even worse than the deaths that had played before.
The first scene depicted Subaru standing in front of a crowd, desperate and wild-eyed, yelling and making a fool out of himself at the ceremony as he tried to defend Emilia. His voice cracked, filled with frustration and helplessness, as he faced ridicule from all sides. The screen cut to the merciless duel with Julius, each blow further breaking Subaru's body and spirit. The arrogance on his face melted into horror and shame as he lost, humiliated and abandoned.
Emilia looked away, her face twisted with guilt and regret. She hadn't realized how deeply that incident had affected him. "I… I thought he was just… being stubborn. I didn't know…"
Beatrice's grip on Subaru's arm tightened as she whispered, "Betty didn't know. No one knew… Subaru was trying to help, I suppose… and everyone just watched him fall apart."
The next scene shifted, showing Subaru stumbling into a village that had once been alive with laughter. Now, he saw the bodies of children scattered across the ground, the horrifying image of Petra among them, her small frame lifeless and a blank stare on her face, one eye brutally gouged out. The blood pooled around her, staining the earth, as Subaru's face contorted in pure, unadulterated despair.
Rem's eyes widened, and her hand shot up to cover her mouth, but her body betrayed her as her hand shook uncontrollably. "No… Petra… Subaru-kun…"
Kazuma's face turned pale as he took in the scene. "Dead kids… This isn't just bad luck or fate. This is cruel… Subaru, why… why didn't you ever say anything?"
Darkness, usually infatuated with any sign of suffering, was left speechless, her face mirroring a rare horror and disgust at the sight of the innocent lives lost.
The screen flickered to yet another memory, this one revealing the unimaginable horror of Rem's torture. Subaru's broken form was tied down, barely able to breathe as Rem mercilessly struck him, his cries of pain echoing in the air. Every cut, every strike, and every agonizing scream rang through the room, filling the air with a heaviness that choked everyone present. Rem's face, once filled with a cruel, detached hatred, was now pale, her expression horrified as she watched her past self torturing Subaru.
She began to shake, her fists clenched so tightly her nails dug into her skin. Without thinking, she raised her right arm and began hitting it, again and again, as if punishing herself. "I'm sorry… I'm sorry, Subaru-kun. Rem… Rem can never take it back. I'm so, so sorry…"
Emilia reached out, trying to grab Rem's hand to stop her from hurting herself. "Rem, please stop… I can't bear to see this. I can't believe he… that he went through so much."
But Rem kept hitting her arm, her voice choked with sobs as she continued to apologize over and over.
A new, equally gut-wrenching scene followed: Subaru lying on the ground, blood pooling beneath him as Ram, having just struck him down with a blow from afar, looked on with cold detachment. As she turned away, leaving him to die alone, Subaru's hand reached out in one last, futile grasp for help.
Ram's face twisted in shock and disgust at the image of her past self. She was frozen, her usual calm demeanor shattered. "I… I did that to him? I… I let him die like that?"
Subaru remained silent, his expression distant, even as Beatrice clung to him tighter, tears streaming down her face. She whispered, "Why didn't you tell me, Subaru? Why didn't you let Betty help you, I suppose…"
Julius, who had once faced Subaru in that brutal duel, swallowed hard. "Subaru… I thought you were reckless. But I never realized the pain you were carrying. I should have…"
Ainz, his usual cold detachment softened with a rare, grim respect, muttered, "No mortal should be put through that. He was crushed again and again—and yet he continued."
The screen continued to play, and with each scene, the audience grew quieter, as the weight of Subaru's experiences finally settled in. Each memory, every torment revealed on screen, filled them with an unshakable guilt and shame. Subaru had lived through each of these nightmares alone, and now they were forced to confront what he had endured, the torment they had never known was hidden behind his quiet gaze.
And still, Subaru said nothing, his silence screaming louder than any words ever could.
However, what happened next was horrifying.
It showed a scene which hadn't happened for them yet, yet it would have if they never were brought here.
In the sanctuary, Out of the snow appeared hundreds, then thousands of tiny, monstrous rabbits—the Great Rabbit, a terrifying swarm of creatures driven only by hunger. Subaru's eyes widened as he turned to flee, but it was too late. They descended upon him, clawing, biting, tearing. His screams filled the air, shrill and agonized as they devoured him alive, piece by piece.
The graphic, unbearable sight made the entire auditorium shudder in horror. Several of the students couldn't handle it.
Kazuma, always one to keep his composure, doubled over, his face pale as he covered his mouth, trying not to retch. "What… What the hell was that? That was… that was beyond torture!"
Megumin, usually so calm, stared at the screen with wide eyes, tears streaming down her face. "No one deserves that… No one. Subaru… How could you have kept going after… after that?"
Darkness's face, which normally brightened at the thought of suffering, was twisted in horror, her hands trembling as she held them to her mouth. "That's not… That's not even pain. That's… that's beyond anything I could imagine."
Tanya's face was ashen, her cold confidence shaken to the core as she looked at the screen, her mind racing. "I've seen war. I've seen death. But this… this is inhuman. He was… eaten alive." She turned to Ainz, her voice faint. "Even you must see how horrifying that was."
Ainz's usual calm was shattered, and even with his emotion suppressor in effect, his skeletal form shuddered slightly. "That… That death… Even in Nazarick, we wouldn't subject someone to that level of torment unless someone pure vile."
Aqua stumbled out of her seat, barely making it a few steps before she retched, the image of Subaru's agony too much for her to handle. "No! That's just… That's not right! No one deserves to die like that!"
Emilia was beyond consoling. She had collapsed to her knees, her face buried in her hands as she wailed. "Subaru… Subaru, why didn't you tell us? How could you bear this alone? I would have… I should have…" Her voice was lost in the sobs, her heartbroken cries filling the room.
Rem, who had already been consumed by guilt, was now in a state of utter breakdown. She was hitting her own arm repeatedly, screaming at herself. "Rem… Rem didn't know! Rem would have done anything to stop it! Subaru-kun, Rem is sorry… Rem is so sorry!" Her voice broke into raw, hysterical sobs as she clutched her arm, unable to stop hitting herself.
Beatrice held onto Subaru as tightly as she could, her tiny hands clutching his shirt, her tears soaking into the fabric. "Betty… Betty couldn't do anything, I suppose… Betty should have saved you! I'm so sorry… so, so sorry…"
Ram, who had once taken such pride in mocking Subaru, was frozen, her face a ghostly white as she watched the screen. She clutched her hands together, shaking. "Barusu… that wasn't… No one should die like that… Not even him. And I… I…"
Ainz's followers were visibly shaken. Albedo's usual smirk was gone, her face reflecting a rare, horrified awe. "Lord Ainz, that… That death was worse than anything I've seen. How could a human… survive mentally after such a thing?"
Shalltear, who normally enjoyed cruelty, was quiet, her eyes fixed on the floor as she muttered, "There's no pleasure in that kind of suffering. That's just… wrong."
Emilia, trying to muster the strength to look at Subaru, was horrified by his silence. "Subaru, please, just say something! Anything! How did you survive… mentally, after all of that?"
Subaru said nothing, his face a mask, his eyes fixed forward, as if he were watching something far off in the distance, something only he could see. His silence was deafening.
The video finally ended, leaving everyone in suffocating silence. The screen remained dark, but the image of Subaru's suffering had been burned into everyone's minds, an unshakable, haunting memory of what he had endured, over and over, alone.
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