A/N: I have returned! I promised you all I would, and here, I have. Re:Reader (Rem x Reader) returns once again for ACT IV, on Rem's birthday (2/2) no less! It's been nearly a year, but there are fruits to this long awaited chapter! I have 380k+ words to add to this story over the next ~36 chapters, as well as chapter art! Chapters will resume once a week, Friday nights until this ACT is completed.

That's not all, however. In this near-year, I have also been diligently working on another fanfic I'm planning to release! On Feburary 29th, her birthday, (which only comes once every leap year!) I will be releasing the first chapter to my second fic: Yunyun x Reader (God's Blessing For This Poor Lonely Girl!). Please look forward to that as well! I will be releasing them simultaneously, however, I will NOT be posting this particular one onto FFnet, so please look to WP and AO3 for that one.

Without further wait... Please enjoy the continuation of Rem x Reader!

Chapter 110: Hard Reset

Hearing the name of his beloved spoken as if she didn't exist, YN was silent in reply to the half-elf's question.

YN: — — —

His only reaction was the clenching sound of his hands tightly gripping the fake leathery-plastic of his steering wheel.

With Subaru tilting his head to Emilia as well, his mind couldn't comprehend the profound turmoil that those simple words were making in YN's head. To Subaru, his mind remained tranquil and calm, his curiosity lightly piqued as to what Emilia meant, where is to YN, these words were causing a mighty tempest to rage.

There's no way... It has to be a fluke!

Emilia: YN? Did I say something odd?

Looking at Subaru with an invisible question mark above her silvery haired head, YN's mind rushed with possibilities as to what this meant.

They defeated the Whale! Unless Rem was hit with the mist, how could she just be forgotten?! That's not possible with it dead!

Trying to rationalize it in his mind, he knew there was no denying it. Emilia simply did not remember Rem.

Wait, what if it's just Emilia?

Turning up to his rear mirror, he angled it towards the young girl who sat behind him.

YN: P-Petra-chan. You know Rem.

With Emilia also turning to the auburn haired girl, she slumped her shoulders with so many eyes on her now.

Petra: Umm... No, I don't...

Feeling like she was being put on the spot, she became somewhat bashful. But even as she was uncomfortable with such a pivotal question being asked of her, YN couldn't accept her answer.

YN: Don't you recall what you told me while Emilia and Subaru were talking together? —right before we all got in this self moving carriage? You were telling me about how Rem used to never smile when she came to the village until we started coming together!

Timidly shaking her head "no" as she held onto Subaru's arm, Petra denied having said that.

Petra: I'm really sorry... but I don't remember that as part of our conversation.

Letting the desperation in his voice get the better of his emotions, YN continued until—

YN: But—!

Subaru: —YN.

Realizing now that something indeed was wrong with everyone's memory, Subaru was level headed enough to halt YN from interrogating those in the car that were innocent in their current knowledge.

YN: Subaru... you at least—!?

Subaru: Why don't we drive ahead of the convoy and meet back up with Rem with the wounded?

Wording his response to show he at least still remembered Rem, YN shook his head to regain his composure and then nodded.

YN: Y-Y-Yeah... That's a good idea.

Accelerating to pass the various carriages and coaches of the convoy, YN broke ahead using his superior speed.

In truth, while his emotional state was rocked to the core, his mind was split.

One half wanted nothing else but to race as fast as he could ahead, if only to quell his heart and have Rem comfort him, knowing she had to be okay.

While the other half dreaded going ahead, worried he'd come to find out some terrible fate had befallen the one he loved.

Caught somewhere in the middle, YN moved ahead at a breakneck pace, but not all out speed, the two halves evening out to allow such a pace.

Rem... I'm coming!

Having found a great coincidence in which carriage she had been lifted onto by her beloved, Rem sat to the side of the rival to whom her employer had sponsored

Crusch: Rem, you are more chipper than normal, especially given the peril your comrades may be facing.

While Crusch was only on acquaintance level terms with Rem, the times they had spoken one on one were very amical and friendly. In those times, the Duchess had gotten a better picture of Rem's real personality than most others had ever seen.

It most likely is because of the efforts of one very dedicated individual.

Recalling just how closely Rem had followed him around, it seemed the maid was inseparable from him.

He had her wrapped around his finger practically.

So it had surprised Crusch when she saw Rem away from him on the eve of the Battle with the White Whale.

Smiling in a bashful manner, Rem's innocence was childlike in her inability to hide the great commotion currently unfolding in her heart.

Crusch: What we spoke of before we departed, did something come of it?

Harking back to their exchanged words on the balcony of the Karsten Manor before her forces departed to the Lifaus Plains for their fight, Crusch recalled the conversation she and the maid had held.

It was one of the rare times Rem had so outwardly shown her true self to anyone before.

Wilhelm mentioned it was only because of YN that she is able to begin to speak freely with others...

In their conversation, Rem had even gone as far to mention that even as a confidant of a rival candidate, she admired the Duchess. Namely, her ability to speak with such confidence, and the firmness to say what she wanted with such conviction, was a very new thing to Rem.

Rem had mentioned to me she was vexed in regard to words she did not feel she had the courage to say...

Wondering if her current composure, one that was far from how she idly behaved, was due to a development in regards to which she had only been vaguely descriptive about to her in their balcony talk, Crusch asked Rem of this struggle she faced.

Fidgeting with her hands, the blue haired girl seemed to barely contain herself, her maidly training being the only cap to the gushing flood that was in her heart.

Rem: Yes... Something very good came of it.

Quivering from just recalling the look of acceptance his eyes had when she said what she thought she could not, she weakly smiled at the Duchess, afraid her joy would boil over like an unwatched pot.

Crusch: Well, are you going to share what it was, or will the Head Maid of the Margrave remain vague as she was before?

Jabbing at Rem in a friendly manner, the maid was humbled by the woman she admired for her courage. Keen on reciprocating that strength, Rem figured it was much less difficult to speak of successes on the words she thought she could not say, rather than say them to the person she thought she could not in the first place.

In a sense, Rem realized saying this wasn't nearly as hard to tell Crusch of than what she had managed to confess to her beloved.

Rem: Rem had found it impossible to tell YN-kun of her truest feelings for him. But thanks to the strength and trust he had in his Rem, she was able to find the motivation to finally say them.

While still being vague as to what her final push to say what she had said to him was, Crusch could only be warmly amused.

Crusch: I must wonder, were such words even necessary? It was plain to all just how in-depth your feelings for one another were.

While Rem knew the Duchess was correct in that observation, she shook her head to it nonetheless.

Rem: Rem is very much aware it was obvious her and her YN-kun were in an intimate relationship. But as to how in-depth it was, Rem was truly afraid if he would ever let it go deeper—, to let what we have be more than more.

Crusch: 'More than more...'

Repeating the words of great importance back to the maid, Crusch had a clue as to what it maybe meant.

Looking down at the carriage's floorboards, Rem described it was well as she could.

Rem: With as much as Rem and YN-kun have been through, a great fear of her's was that his mind would never allow himself to be 'more than more' with Rem—, and even if he did, it would not be allowed in his inner self.

Again, Rem could only vaguely describe from where her hesitation had stemmed from. She could not hope to describe the fears she feared YN had of her, or what the cause of those fears may have been. And she most certainly could not say of how she became privy to them.

Crusch: These fears were rectified though. That much is seen. But I am still curious to what degree.

Knowing Rem was being vague, Crusch could not see the winds of deceit swirling around the maid with her Divine Protection. To that, the Duchess was blunt in her fascination of the growth before her.

Crusch: What was his reply?

Her face turning red at the thought, Rem smiled with a great joy.

Rem: He was speechless.

Looking upward at the canvas above her, Rem was no fool. Crusch would not be satisfied with such an answer.

Rem: Everything Rem needed to know was said in the look of her beloved's eyes.

With a hand over her heart, Rem felt the need to brace herself as it beat with a great emotion flowing through it. Turning her gaze to the marshal Candidate, Rem spoke of the words she said.

Rem: The one whom Rem loves more than anything feels the same for her.

Smiling in reply to the maid, the Duchess nodded her head.

Crusch: So it was a confession of the highest tier. A confession of love, and the acknowledgment of it being reciprocal.

Looking up like Rem had, Crusch built what she said next off her previous statement.

Crusch: Natsuki Subaru was correct about one thing regarding the relationship you and YN share.

Further recalling another past interaction, namely the discussion the Duchess and Subaru had just after the negotiations that involved Anastasia and Russell Fellow, its impact was now plain for Crusch to see.

Rem: —?

Crusch: He said before you and YN got to know each other, YN had promised to protect your smile. From how you are now, I can indeed see why he would be so moved to. Such an impression is a marvel.

While Rem did continue to gush with flushed red cheeks, a smile that refused to subside lingered on her adorably round face. While Crusch knew what she was witnessing from the maid was something quite rare for anyone else to see, she was more surprised by how the blue haired girl responded.

Rem: Rem also thinks that when Crusch-sama smiles, it is also a marvel.

Amused by the maid's honest compliment, Crusch bashfully acknowledged it.

Crusch: Unfortunately, it is a skill I regret failing to master unlike yourself. Had I done so, maybe even I could have swayed the hearts of others like you have.

Throwing the compliment right back, the two's blissful moment of peace was brashly interrupted by the sound of screeching wooden tires and grunting ground dragons.

Looking forward and past the driver of the carriage they currently rode in, the carriage past them erupted into a mass of dust, dirt, and debris.

Alarmed, Crusch immediately stood, taking only a fraction of a second to regain her composure.

Crusch: Enemy attack!

Running to the back of the carriage, the Duchess waved to the carriages following behind them.

Crusch: Rally! Break formation!

Commanding her forces, she returned to the helm of her carriage to gain more insight into the situation unfolding before them.

As Rem joined her, out of the cloud of dust before them, a single silhouette could be seen. With his figure emerging, Crusch could not recognize them, and thus spoke her order.

Crusch: Run them through!

With no warriors dismounted or ready, the Duchess was ready to counter attack with what she had at her immediate disposal.

Yet, as they got closer.

Something is not right!

Alarm bells rang intensely in Rem's mind, and causing her to act, she took a bold initiative.

Rem: Crusch-sama!

At the very last moment possible, Rem took the Duchess' hand and leapt upward with all her strength, damn the landing point.

Barely managing to clear the carnage that broke out from under their feet, the two escaped what was certain death.

Crusch: —Gah!

Rem: —Geh!

Landing hard, the maid and the Candidate quickly scrambled to stand, but before they could fully get up, a voice froze them in place.

?: Good grief... I would prefer it if you weren't so rude.

Walking up slowly, the same silhouette still approached from the cloud of dust, now renewed by yet another carriage being destroyed. Coming to a halt, the entity of white looked down upon the two in front of him.

?: Trampling someone who's only crime is standing still, minding their own business isn't something well adjusted people would do.

This man's voice radiated an intense and pompous entitlement unlike Rem had ever heard. From the tone all the way to the vocabulary choice they had from the brief handful of words she'd heard them speak, Rem immediately disliked this person, which only served to multiply the alarms going off in her mind.

Crusch: Rem, —tsk, thank you for saving me.

In pain from her landing, the Duchess was finally able to stand now after fully seeing the obvious adversary before her.

Dressed in a suit of white, in combination with his white hair, it amplified the glow of his pale skin and exaggerated the yellowish-gold hue of his eyes.

This man simply stood still whilst destroying two carriages traveling at full speed... Rem wonders what makes that possible...

Analyzing the threat, all of Rem's senses were performing at peak sensitivity.

As the Duchess was now fully recovered, a firm and angered tone filled her own voice as she projected it back to the man of white before them.

Crusch: For you to strike down my men so barbarically. Name yourself.

Replying with an amused expression, the arbiter of the carriages' destruction replied with a question of his own.

?: Ah, so that's how it is? You don't have a clue who I am?

Crusch: — — —

Scowling at his indifferent response, Crusch listened as the man went on.

?: You though, all the Nobility, —No, the entire Kingdom is abuzz with your name on their lips, being one of the Candidates to become its King after all.

Resting a hand to his chest, the man went on.

?: Personally, the politics and happenings of the world don't intrigue me. But I can sympathize with how difficult it must all be, to feel the weight of the whole nation on your back. I do not envy you.

Crusch: Do not waste your breath on such small talk. Answer my question, or I shall end you where you stand.

While the man tried to sound as agreeable and admissive as he could, the Duchess, still enraged from the fall of her comrades, was not going to entertain such disregard to her inquiry.

But with an expression growing on the man of white as if greatly offended, a breeze swept across the plane between those in the midst of a stand off.

Blowing both the girls hair ever so slightly, Rem, while still behind Crusch noticed something peculiar.

That man's hair... and his jacket... neither are affected by the wind.

Feeling an ominous que from such a strange detail, Rem's body readied itself for the worst.

?: My... What a truly appalling thing to say to someone you barely know.

Still failing to answer the Candidate's question even under threat of death, the man continued on with his long winded sentences and words.

?: Maybe though, such tenacity is needed to rule a nation. But alas, while I can understand how difficult it is to bear the responsibilities of the nation, I can't begin to lend the same kind of sympathy to the attitude needed to fulfill the role of the leader of this kingdom. Even when it comes to desiring such a stature, I just can't fathom why one would pursue such an occupation with how much one must put upon themselves. —Ah! But don't take that as me thinking little of it. Rather, I lack the same ruthless tenacity and arrogance you seem to be quite fond of—

Crusch: —Enough!

Striking out her arm, the Marshal Candidate utilized her Divine Blessing of Wind to use her strongest technique, one Rem had seen personally used on the White Whale.

Crusch: One Blow, One-Hundred Fell!

As a mighty shock-wave of wind magic enveloped the man in the midst of this speech, so did a cloud of dust that was stirred up by that same blow. Crusch had grown inpatient with his rambling responses that did not answer her questions.

With they both were expecting a gruesome display upon the dust settling, before it had even begun to wane, the long winded voice returned.

?: ...Just what kind of person does that to someone in the middle of a pleasant conversation? Where does one learn to believe that is an acceptable thing to do?

Shocked to their very core, both the blue haired maid and the Duchess were speechless at how the man before them remained unhurt, —no, undisturbed in the slightest.

? Now just hold on a moment. I'm the one speaking. Me. Okay? Is it not uncouth to interrupt someone by using their voice? It's not as if I desire to seek recompense for the violation of my right to speak, but it should be understood that it's common courtesy to allow one to finish their thoughts. It's a completely separate issue if you want to listen or not, that much I will not contest. It is you deciding where and when it is I am allowed to speak is where I take issue.

Not a hair on his head was out of place, not a single thread on his robe unraveled, not a spec of dirt on his shoes. The blow Crusch had dealt out might not have even existed by the sheer lack of evidence it had against its opponent.

?: —How can you justify your own actions?

With a tinge of what someone might interpret as "dislike" in his final words, Rem and Crusch both tensed up.

Rem & Crusch: — — —

A silence growing between the three, a look of disgust grew upon the man clad in white.

?: So now it's that neither of you have anything to say for yourselves? Do either of you understand how frustrating it is to deal with that contradictory behavior? I suppose that is your right though, isn't it? Just like it's your right to listen to me or not. I will not fault you for that. Who could? But you know what that also means too, right?

Rem & Crusch: — — —

Doubling down on their answer of silence, a sinister glare grew on the man's face.

?: It means you're trampling on my own rights, doesn't it? One of the very few things I personally own.

Extending his own hand and arm out directly before himself, he seemed to be measuring the distance between them, but had his fingers loosely pointed at Crusch.

Suddenly raising that arm high above himself in one pivotal motion, at nearly the same time a horrid ripping and tearing sound filled everyone's ears, it's origin to the side of Rem where Crusch was standing—

Rem: —!

Crusch: —Akh!

Feeling the wash of some sort of intense and indomitable projectile race by her, a mere arms length away to her side, Rem turned to see a ribbon of red blood arc from Crusch's person.

The very same hand she had let her wind magic be called from was rendered from her in a nearly identical fashion as she had attempted to the man before her.

Rem's eyes struggled to comprehend what they were seeing.

An arm, especially Crusch's should not be detached from her, airborne as it was.

Landing with a dull thud behind her, its sound and sight finally pulled Rem's mind to as Crusch dropped to her knees in pain.

Rem: —Crusch-sama!

Immediately rushing to her side, Rem let the candidate put her entire weight onto herself. Rem quickly called forth her healing magic. Focusing, the maid used her rudimentary skills to stabilize the gushing wound, its severity one would expect from a lost limb.

This wound is far too severe to keep fighting like this... We must retreat. Rem will need to get Crusch-sama to Ferris-sama as quickly as—

Trying to keep a level head amidst the threat she was facing, Rem's thoughts were cut off by alarm bells going off in her mind once more. Her instincts telling her to look to the scene behind her, an intense dread filled her soul.

Rem: —!

While their attention had been focused on the one responsible for destroying the first two carriages, both Rem and Crusch had failed to realize what was happening to the rest of the convoy tasked with bringing the wounded and fatigued back to the Capitol.

The entire expedition... everyone...

All across the field behind them was a mess of defeated warriors and mercenaries. Ground dragons laid slain, carriages and coaches destroyed and ripped apart.

There had been a defense mounted, but to what end it was successful at thwarting whoever was responsible for the carnage was obvious in its ineffectiveness.

?: Ahh... What a feast! So much food, yet we're never satisfied! We live to gorge ourselves! It is never enough!

Shambling as if inebriated, a new foe entered the fray.

Short in stature, but with an aura of intimidation akin to the man of white before her, Rem found the source of her alarm.

While his hair was long and unkempt, a sense of intense famine seemed to fill his crazed eyes as he shouted the heavens above.

?: Eat... Eat! We must chew and feast and gorge and bite and chew and tear!

Draped in a ragged cloak, his underclothes were simple and weathered as well. As he stumbled ahead in an intoxicated bliss from this supposed banquet he hollered about, his arms swung about, causing the daggers that were haphazardly tied to his wrists as weapons to reflect glints of light from where they were not bloodstained.

?: Chew chew chew! Bite bite bite! Drink! Crush! Gnaw! Oh, what a feast this was!

With his back turned to them as he yelled upwards to the sky, Rem knew the insanity of the one to her flank was questionable at best. Turning her attention back to the only one she could have a chance of getting an answer that made a smidgen of sense, Rem finally spoke to the man of white.

Rem: Who... Who are you?

Garnering the attention of the crazed one with this question too, the man in white smirked while the one who spoke of nothing but eating turned his head around to glare at Rem with an intense, foreboding stare.

Speaking together, the two introduced themselves.

? & ?: We are Sin Archbishops of the Witch Cult.

Lowering his head and speaking in a low, yet formal tone that seemed unlike him even from the brief seconds Rem was familiar with him, the crazed one was the first to announce themselves.

Rai: Rai Batenkaitos, entrusted with the duties of, and representing Gluttony.

And putting a hand over his chest, the man in white debuted his identity.

Regulus: Regulus Corneas, entrusted with the duties of, and representing Greed.

Altogether, Rem's heart both sank in dread, and burned brightly at the anger she felt towards these two.

Witch Cult members... As well as Sin Archbishops...

A cold sweat began to run down Rem's forehead as she faced the clandestine odds before her. Never before had her mind and body faced such overwhelming threats. It was one thing to face one Archbishop that she knew was mortal, and to have so many powerful allies beside her to take them on. But to face two on her own?

With Crusch passed out from the intense pain and blood loss, Rem realized just how desperate her situation was.

It seems Rem is truly alone here...

Suddenly leaping from behind her, the Archbishop representing Gluttony soared over her to the side of the one representing Greed, causing her to flinch from the pressure she was faced with.

Now regrouped, Rai re-began his mad ramblings of a feast.

Rai: Coming here for a quick meal was a splendid idea! Especially since they killed our pet... What a smorgasbord!

Looking up to Regulus almost like he was an older brother of sorts, Rai became ever more ecstatic over his experience.

Rai: It's great! It's neat! It's nice! It's fantastic! It's good, it's good! It's great, isn't it? Of course it's great!

Yelling upwards, he concluded his ravings.

Rai: Gluttonous eating-tsu~!

Giving the ragged one a look like how a patient older brother might give their overexcited younger sibling, Regulus answered the mad ramblings that had been hollered.

Regulus: I don't think I can understand that aspect of you. Why are you never satisfied with what you have now? You can only carry with you what will fit in the two hands you were born with. Surely you can come to understand that.

With an expression now as if wounded by his words, Rai meekly responded.

Rai: We hate being scolded for the way we are. We prefer to avoid that. Nothing matters to us besides the pain of hunger.

Finally getting her composure back, Rem interrupted the two high ranking Witch Cultists before her.

Rem: Is the reason you've both appeared because of the defeat of the White Whale?

Turning their attention back to the maid, it was Rai who's face once more turned to one filled with fervor as he answered her.

Rai: Don't misunderstand us, we're very curious about the people responsible for killing it. The White Whale roamed these lands for four hundred years before someone strong enough came along to kill it. We hoped that those people would be weakened and ripe for the slaughter...

Grinning maliciously, the Archbishop's sharp teeth reflected the tenacity that followed in his words.

Rai: —But you're an even better find!

Caught off guard by his word choice, Rem listened on while the one responsible for Gluttony shrieked and hollered on.

Rai: So much love! Such a devoted spirit! Hatred! Kindness! Guilt! Compassion! All sealed away and left to marinate for such a long, long time! Is there a finer delicacy in the world?! No! Absolutely not! Nothing can compare!

Leaning forward, as if struggling to keep himself back, the Archbishop spoke lower, but the tenacity in his voice remained.

Rai: What a joyous treat for our hunger!

Feeling an immense pressure and intense intimidation, Rem took a half step backwards and braced for what felt like would be combat, only for her reaction to be questioned by her other adversary.

Regulus: Oh there's no need for that.

Managing to halfway placate the alarmed oni, Regulus spoke to her as if there was no reason for her to be so on edge.

Regulus: I'm just here by sheer coincidence. I don't have the same innate desire for violence and rash behavior like he has.

With a gesture over towards Rai, the Archbishop of Greed monologued his intentions.

Regulus: I'm not one for violence and conflict... If events find themselves to be calm and tranquil, that is well and good enough for me. I don't seek out trouble and that is for the best. In truth, I have no greater ambitions for anything more than what my meager hands can manage to hold. Since I'm just one person, my hands are already occupied trying to protect what little I have to call my own.

The Archbishop had been prattling on whilst a dark air rose over Rem. Finally coming to a point in his sermon where he looked to see how his words were being received, Regulus frowned.

Regulus: You... You haven't paid attention to a single word I've said this entire time, have you?

Saying that as his frown morphed into a twisted look of malice, he went on.

Regulus: If I had nothing to go off of besides that attitude of yours... you've cared very little for anything I've had to say this entire time, haven't you? That's infringing on my rights, you know...

Taking a moment to respond, Rem searched deep within herself to find the resolve she needed to meet this threat.

Rem: Are you through wasting your breath, Witch Cultist?

Speaking of their name as if it were an insult of its own, the sound of her words was followed by the rattle of chains and rusty pipes. Rem followed this up by surrounding herself in an aura of ice crystals, all floating with their tips pointed towards the two she deemed her foes.

Defiant to the end, Rem's words were filled by the heat on her breath as she held her morningstar.

Rem: Others may seek to subjugate you for your evil deeds, like they have with the White Whale, or the Archbishop of Sloth.

Thinking of Subaru and his power to turn a hopeless situation into the best possible scenario, Rem was assured that with his wit and perseverance, these two would be done in by him.

But what Rem was more sanguine of, was the potential of one other person.

Rem: —But no matter how selfish your actions are... No matter how much misfortune your self satisfactions cause... No matter how much suffering it causes others... If Rem falls today, that will only set in motion the undeniable certainty of your end, for there is one person who she knows will unleash a divine wind on those responsible for it.

Thinking of his face, Rem felt her mana boil inside herself as her horn emerged.

Rai & Regulus: — — —

And as if waiting for her to speak of who this was, the maid boldly proclaimed his identity.

Rem: The one person Rem treasures most in this world... And the one she loves the most! —her Hero!

Opening his eyes wide, Rai found her declaration intriguing.

Rai: Oh ho ho!? A 'Hero' is he?

As if greatly excited by the prospect of who this person was Rem spoke of, the Archbishop of Gluttony rationalized his excitement.

Rai: While it does sound like he would be extremely tasty for us... you speak of him as if he wasn't responsible for the defeat of our pet.

Skeptical of the person whom Rem spoke of being able to carry out the threat she announced, Rai's excitement was reinvigorated nonetheless.

Rai: But if you trust him so much then surely he'll be a delicacy regardless!

With Rem's instincts telling her combat was imminent, her maidly habits had her introduce herself, if only out of pride for her skills in formality.

Rem: As the head maid under the employment of Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers—

Halting her words, she reconsidered how she not only should speak of herself, but how she also wished to be known now as, especially given she was empowered by the acknowledgment of her deepest feelings by the one she felt them for.

Rem has a new title she wishes to go by... a new identity to be known as... to go along with the future she has secured for herself and her beloved, that she now must protect.

Blooming with strength in her words, Rem re-began her own introduction in a new way. With a hand over her chest which housed the heart that radiated a near infinite love, she spoke the words that perfectly reflected who she now was.

Rem: All this maiden is... is but a woman in love!

Her horn now fully glowing and apparent, the blue haired girl resounded her strength.

Rem: Having become more than more to her YN-kun, the one this maid loves and adores is her Hero... And this is the woman he loves! —Rem!

Able to finally introduce herself how she had wished to be known for so long, Rem's confidence fed itself to her power.

Rem: Ready yourselves, Archbishops! For no matter how this concludes, Rem's Hero will smite you!

Lashing out with her morningstar, Rem began the altercation of impossible odds.

Rai matched her swings and projected ice crystals by leaping high above her, using the daggers attached to his wrists to meet and deflect each potential blow.

Quickly the two were locked into a stalemate of blows, lashes, and slashes, neither advancing nor retreating.

Rem: Ha! Ha! Yah!

Rai: Yes! Yes! Resist! That's what we crave the most!

On the peak of her skills, Rem held back the Archbishop, her only hope now being that she could outlast her opponent on sheer stamina alone, something only her oni blood could afford.

However, she faced two opponents, not just one.

Regulus: Let's move this along.

On a single flick of the wrist, the Archbishop of Greed sent a light shock-wave to disrupt the oni so bravely thwarting his Gluttonous associate.

Rem: —Gah!

Breaking her motions, she was left defenseless as Rai closed in.

Rai: Now without holding back, let us feast!

With absolutely no way to counter this, Rem, in what she knew were her final moments in this world, thought of what she treasured the most.

It is Rem's sincerest wish... that this Loop, the one she so tragically finds herself in... does not end for YN-kun in a way that takes him back further than when she gathered her courage to say what she thought she could never.

In truth, what Rem feared most was not her death, be it temporary, or even permanent. What Rem feared was her feelings not being known by YN, and also her knowledge of them being reciprocated.

If this Loop were to set her YN-kun back before Rem spoke those words to him, she is nearly certain she would never be able to say them like she was allowed to in this one.

The Loop that Rem currently existed in, was the only one she could ever hope to have found the courage to say what she thought she could never. Had things not proceeded as they had in this— had not everything lined up perfectly, Rem's truest feelings would never have been spoken so naturally of her own accord.

It was one thing for YN to know of her profound feelings for him, but it was an entirely different point for herself to go on, having been the one to tell him directly or not.

For if in the future she hadn't been the [Rem] to do so, she worried just how sincerely she could ever hope to reciprocate those feelings back to him as earnestly as she did now.

For a future where her words of love are to become unspoken, is one Rem cannot allow to unfold, —even if it means her own life...

Resigning herself to her fate at hands of her enemy's Authority, Rem's dwindling thoughts were of YN.

Above all else, even if this is the end, and regardless of if her words of love are lost forever... Rem hopes that once YN-kun learns that she is gone, he will at least remember Rem, —this Rem, as the [Rem] who said she loved him.

Not with a bang, nor even a whimper, and all unbeknownst to him, the woman YN also loved more than anything in any world, was erased from it in the most cruel way.

Only their own love was more tragic a fate than this.

Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic Panic—

Engine roaring and tires kicking up dust, the more panic'd side of YN's mind got the better of him after passing the rest of the convoy and seeing the wide open expanse beyond him, devoid of any clue that might assure him of Rem's safety.

Petra: C-Can we please slow down?

Emilia: Yes, can we? This feels reeeaaally scary...

Taking curves in the road as it snaked along as fast as they could, the lack of a Divine Protection of Wind like the ground dragons bestowed upon the carriage they pulled made the ride feel not only uncomfortable for the car's occupants, but also greatly uneased them.

YN: — — —

With no response to Emilia, the half-elf looked to Subaru for an answer, hoping he could talk some sense into his friend.

Scratching the back of his head, the black haired boy struggled to answer.

Subaru: Umm, Emilia-tan, the issue is—

YN: —There! What's that?!

Cutting off Subaru, YN had finally spoken up, choosing to yell and point at a far off object on the horizon.

With all three behind him choosing to lean forward to get a better idea while squinting, it was Emilia who was at best angle to see.

Emilia: That... doesn't look good...

Unsure of what it was exactly, the rising dust cloud and uneven mass of debris was not something someone expected to see out in the Lifaus Plains.

Heeding Emilia's words though, YN sped the car up faster, making a b-line directly the oddity on the horizon.

Petra & Emilia: —Waah!

Screeching to a halt, YN immediately threw his seat belt off and exited the vehicle in a great haste.

Emilia: YN! Wait!

Climbing over both Subaru and the center of the front seats, Emilia worked herself to the passenger seat where it was from there she could exit on her own.

Emilia pulled the handle on the door like she'd seen YN do, and exited in a similar fashion, but poking her head back in, she gave instructions to Subaru.

Emilia: Subaru, stay here. And make sure Petra doesn't leave. —or look out of the window...

As Subaru kept his hand over the young girl's eyes, he did so for a good reason.

Going to follow YN, Emilia ran after him.

Petra: Subaru... Why can't I look out of the window? And what smells so bad?

With her innocent question, Subaru swallowed the lump in his throat as he tried to find the right words to answer her.

Subaru: Petra... this is something you shouldn't see while you're so young... No. —Actually, this isn't something anyone should see...

Taking his eyes off Emilia, Subaru looked back out his window to what he wished to keep Petra from seeing.

The bodies were stacked two or three high in some places, and spread out all over the battlefield, or in this case, the slaughter-field, were they all had perished... whatever it was that had caused the destruction of the convoy that housed the wounded and fatigued from the White Whale battle, it was a merciless thing.

For YN's sake... I hope he doesn't have to dig under all of that to find Rem...

Combing the field, YN was in search of just one person though.

Where is she?! I've gotta find her! Where, where-where-where—?!

Frantically, frantically, he looked about for a glimpse of her azure hair, the hue of blue that to him, always meant good things. Nothing like this.

Kneeling down by a few of the fallen, to search if they were obstructing his view, he was surprised to see a few appeared to be completely uninjured, and if so, appeared to actually be asleep.

YN went to test his luck, seeing a soldier with his helmet knocked off, YN grabbed the plate breast armor he wore and tried in vain to wake the footman.

YN: Hey! Now's not the time for a nap! Wake up! I need to know what happened!

Shaking and shaking, YN garnered no response.

YN: Damn it! What's wrong with you—!

Emilia: YN stop!

Catching up to him, Emilia could see the state of panic in his eyes as he looked at her.

Emilia: I can understand you're upset and looking for something— or someone... But you need to be respectful of—

Halting her words, something familiar had caught Emilia's amethyst eyes.

Emilia: *—Gasp!*

Her eyes going wide, the half-elf ran a short distance past YN and knelt down before calling back over to him as she immediately began casting healing magic.

Emilia: YN! It's Crusch! She's badly injured!

With no hesitation, YN rushed over to see the marshal Candidate, knowing she knew of who he was looking for.

YN: Crusch-sama!

On his way over to her, just like something had caught Emilia's eye, something now caught his. Recognizing the object's clothing pattern and matching armor style, YN looked to the object and the wounded Candidate near him.

That's—!

Laying off to the side, as if discarded trash, was the arm of Crusch Karsten.

YN's eye's could not stop switching between the two.

The arm, the wound, the arm, the wound, the arm, the wound.

If someone managed to do that to Crusch...

The arm the wound the arm the wound the arm the wound the arm the wound the arm the found the arm the wound—

—than what could have happened to—

Armwoundarmwoundarmwoundarmwoundarmwoundarmwound—

—Rem!

Reaching for the detached arm, YN picked up the powerless limb and rushed it to Emilia's side.

YN: Emilia-sama! Crusch-sama's arm!

Looking up in surprise, Emilia's eyes went wide as it was placed next to her.

Recalling Rem's words, YN looked to Emilia for answers.

YN: Can you reattach it?! Do you think your healing is good enough?!

While the half-elf was still doing her best to stabilize the still bleeding wound of the Dutchess, she answered.

Emilia: My healing magic is not that advanced... We'll need to take her to Ferris immediately. YN, please bring the car over here and—

YN: —We can't yet!

Standing up, YN denied Emilia.

YN: We need to find Rem first! There's no way I'm leaving her here!

Giving YN a weak look in reply, Emilia did not doubt the existence of this person, knowing they must be incredibly important if they were getting him to be this concerned.

Emilia: YN...

But as much as she wanted to understand his concern, she could do little in helping to find someone whom she was not familiar with.

Emilia: —I don't wish to frustrate you more, but please, tell me what this person, —Rem, looked like.

Taking a deep breath, trying to calm his nerves from just causing him to explode, YN had to tell himself that Emilia was only trying to help.

YN: She's Ram's twin sister. —She's identical except that her hair is blue.

Looking past YN, such a description did seem familiar to her, surprisingly enough.

Emilia: YN... would she be wearing a maid uniform then?

Knowing Emilia could only half guess at that, a great emotion sprung up in YN.

YN: Yes! Where—!?

Pointing out behind him, Emilia gestured to the path she had taken in pursuit of him.

Emilia: There's a blue haired girl in a maid uniform just behind there...

Without another word, YN spun around and bolted in the direction he was told.

YN: Rem! Rem!

Calling for her, his head was on a top looking for her.

YN: Rem! Rem! R—!

Looking all about, his vision blurring and his body becoming dizzy from the fast paced head and eye movement, he finally saw it.

A Black and white dress, and heavenly azure hair. As it gently swayed in the wind, its blue hue was hard at work putting to shame the sky above it in terms of beauty.

YN: No... No! R-Rem! Rem!

Running over and skidding on his knees to her side, there she was.

The woman he knew he loved.

Hoisting her back to his knee, he gently shook her while calling out.

YN: Rem! Cmon wake up Rem! You gotta wake up! Rem!

Try as he might, no reaction was had from his beloved.

As tears began to flood his vision, he shook his head in disbelief.

YN: This can't be happening... This can't be happening! Rem! Wake up!

His shaking becoming harsher, but still being weary and gentle, a greater desperation slid into YN the longer he saw Rem's lack of reaction. Pulling her completely onto his lap, YN let loose a yell that scared the various birds that had gathered to pick at what they could find.

YN: REM!

With the three other conscious people in the vicinity feeling the pain in his yell as it echoed across the vast plain, none could gather the courage to look upon the one grieving so.

As the echo gave way to sobs of remorse being faintly heard by all. Emilia finished what she could for her rival Candidate and rushed over to see if she could be of use to the one she'd never seen so disturbed.

Kneeling down opposite of YN, the silver haired girl first got a better look at the one her confidant held.

His description of her couldn't have been more spot on.

Laying in his arms, being tightly held with tears drops on her maid uniform, fallen from agony filled eyes, was the spitting image of the maid Emilia knew well, Ram.

The half-elf could see YN begin to shake as he held her, as if he were trapped in an intense blizzard. His breathing was unsteady, and his expression was deadpan.

Never could she have imagined seeing him this way, especially over someone she did not know.

But as the girl was held in his arms, she noticed something.

She's not dead... She's breathing!

Holding her hand before the mouth and nose of the girl in YN's arms, Emilia felt the incredibly faint sign of life.

Emilia: YN! She's breathing! She's alive!

Almost as if snapping him out of a deep trance, YN was caught off guard by Emilia's words.

YN: Wha— huh? Rem is—?!

Using his hand like Emilia had, he felt her breath, and then immediately went to place two fingers on her neck. Feeling a pulse, albeit a faint one, the life returned to YN's face as Emilia saw it.

YN: Y-You're right! She is!

But—!

But—

A new worry and realization hit YN.

Emilia: She's just like the others...

YN put two and two together and remembered the soldier he had been chastised for in trying to wake.

It looked like he was napping... And his breathing was really faint like this... Yet he wouldn't wake up...

YN: Don't tell me... she's—!

Without a doubt, the woman he loved was in a coma of sorts.

Remembering though, this was a world of magic and many skills, YN's mind leaped to the best solution he could think of.

YN: —F-Ferris! Maybe he can do something!

Taking the Sleeping Beauty in his arms and standing, YN boldly announced what they needed to do next.

YN: We've gotta get back to the convoy! Let's get Crusch along too!

Emilia: It may be dangerous to move her too much!

YN: I'll bring the car over!

Running with Rem in his arms, YN struggled to keep his vision ahead of him, and rather than on her as he ran back.

He felt as if he took his eyes off her for a moment, her breathing would pause, and she truly would be lost.

C'mon Rem! I know you can beat this! You have to!

As he approached the car, Subaru saw YN's condition and the person with whom he arrived. Reaching over to open the passenger door, Subaru saw him hastily, but gently place the Sleeping Beauty into the seat, and buckled her in. Sliding across the hood, YN started back up the car and drove to where Emilia was waiting with Crusch.

Exiting once more and lifting the rear hatch, Emilia gently placed the Duchess in the rear.

Emilia: There's not enough room for her elsewhere, so please allow me to ride in the back with her to keep her stable.

YN: Gotcha, I'll toe the line between speed and carefulness.

Setting out, YN piloted the car back to the convoy they had left behind, keen on getting those that needed help, as soon as possible.

Reaching over, YN grabbed the limp hand of the one he loved.

Hang in there Rem! Just please... please be okay!

YN: Hey! Stop the convoy! We've got an emergency!

Hanging out his own window, YN called out to the foremost driver of the line of carriages and coaches currently en-route back to the Capitol. With the convoy halted, he quickly parked his car and had everyone get out.

Subaru: Petra, run and get Ferris okay? He's got cat ears and a tail, you can't miss him.

Petra: O-On it!

As YN ran around and opened the rear hatch for Emilia, she gingerly emerged with Crusch in arms.

Emilia: We need to be careful moving her! I can't stop the blood-flow completely.

Subaru: Got it. Hey! We need blankets or a table or something over here! We've got injured!

While Subaru called the foremost carriages to assist as they could, YN had moved back to the passenger seat to retrieve the one he cared most for. Checking for sure to see if she was still breathing, he confirmed she was still alive, albeit still asleep.

Holding the Sleeping Beauty in his arms, a carriage passenger passed two large, rolled canvas sheets to Subaru. Spreading them across the ground, Emilia gently set the Duchess down on one, along with her detached arm, where YN set Rem right on the next sheet over.

Hearing more people run up, a familiar voice asked what was going on.

Felix: What's this about more wounded? Who—

Pausing his words, the demi-human looked downward as he rounded the car. Seeing what was a horrid sight to him, his entire expression lit up with panic as he rushed to the side of the woman he served.

Felix: Crusch-sama!

Quickly assessing the situation, before he even spoke his next question, the Kingdom's most skilled healer set to work. Moving Crusch's lost appendage into place and covering both it and her shoulder in a brilliant hue of blue, he worked with great diligence.

Felix: What happened!? What caused this!?

Subaru: We don't know! The entire first convoy was destroyed...

?: What happened to the convoy?!

A new voice showing up, it was followed by another new, but also alarmed voice.

?: Crusch-sama!

While the first inquiring voice belonged to the finest knight, Julius, he moved aside as soon as the second voice, Wilhelm, appeared and also rushed to the side of Crusch, kneeling right next to Felix.

Wilhelm: Ferris-dono, how is our Lady?

Felix: I think... I think she's going to be fine. She was brought back here just in time...

Letting go of her arm, Felix looked to the car they sat behind while still applying healing magic to Crusch.

Felix: If you two hadn't been so fast... I fear what might have happened.

With all attention focused on the Candidate that took up half the space everyone was revolved around, YN impatiently held the Sleeping Beauty's hand as he waited for Felix to diagnose her.

While Felix wished to thank YN for his fast traveling machine, he could see the great amount of anxiety in his eyes and by how his free hand tightly gripped the fabric of his pants.

Felix was a skilled healer in his abilities alone, but in conjunction, he was also a skilled professional. From the many numerous patients he'd worked with and practiced on, one key thing he'd come to recognize was the look of a loved one desperately hoping that something could be done for that patient. Sometimes that was a mother, or a father, hoping that their child could be healed from whatever ailment plagued them. Sometimes it was a spouse hoping the same for their significant other.

What Felix saw in YN's eyes as he looked down upon the young woman in front of him was no different an emotion.

Felix: YNyan. As soon as Ferri is done here, he'll take a look at—...

Pausing his words, he continued after carefully choosing them.

Felix: ...this person you're so worried over.

Looking up at the demi-human, YN solemnly nodded.

He doesn't remember Rem either...

With another blow to his morale, YN's heart sank lower whilst the others conversed.

Julius: I need to inquire, what prompted your group to go look ahead? Had you not done so, one of the Royal Candidates may have perished. As a Royal Knight, I am tasked with finding out who caused this catastrophe.

Questioning the chance the group had been so fortunate to go ahead and find Crusch just in time to be saved, Julius posed this inquiry to Subaru, Emilia, and YN.

But before any could answer, Wilhelm spoke up.

Wilhelm: I do believe the answer is right before us.

Looking at the girl dressed in a maid uniform and crowned with brilliant azure blue hair, everyone's attention now turned to the Sleeping Beauty.

Julius: Come to mention it... I don't recognize this person...

Felix: Me nyither... Ferri didn't mean to be rude earlier, but he almost assumed this was the maid who attended to the Margrave's side, but clearly she isn't...

Emilia: There's a good reason for that... They're twins.

Julius: I'm afraid I don't ever recall her having a sister...

Felix: Nyither does Ferri...

With a pause growing over the group, while the Sword Demon had a grasp on the reasoning why they all had gone up ahead and were able to find wounded, he realized he needed to better get those here to understand how that came about, should members of rival Candidate factions begin to throw accusations.

Wilhelm: YN-dono. You know who this is, correct?

Wilhelm could spot the unmistakable gaze of deep love anywhere. And right now, he saw that gaze radiating from YN for none other than the girl he too could not recall. But trusting that gaze more than anything from his many years of loving the one he cherished, his own wife, it gave the gentleman butler all the info he needed to know about why they had gone ahead.

As YN mulled in quiet panic after being asked the identity of the one he loved, he finally answered.

YN: Y-Yes... This is Ram's twin sister, Rem. The woman I love more than anything —hk!

Choking up as he said those words, a great guilt cloaked itself as tears returned to his eyes, and shaking returned to his hands.

YN: —and she can't wake up... and for some reason... no one remembers her.

Spoken through clenched teeth desperately trying to keep their owners' composure together, Felix, Julius, and Wilhelm were caught off guard by the raw emotion flowing from YN, something they felt didn't fit their idea of him.

Felix: That's why. You... —just like we did. You realized no one suddenly remembered such an important person they should. That's why you all went ahead.

Clearing up the meaning, a wash of guilt now cloaked itself on Julius' shoulder.

Julius: I-I see, how foolish of me to overlook that. I apologize for so hastily questioning you.

Offering an apology to YN, he simply shook his head in reply.

YN: None of that matters right now... Just— *hic* please... wake her up. I don't understand why no one else can remember her, but right now I just want to see her awake... Please.

Felix: Ferri is done with Crusch-sama, it looks like her arm will be just fine. Now, I can't make any promises...

YN: —Just do what you can.

Accepting that there were limits to healing, just as the Sleeping Beauty before him had explained to him at one point, YN moved aside to allow Felix the room he needed.

Seeing he was aware of the limitations, the demi-human nodded to YN.

Felix: Understood.

With the initiative taken, many of the carriages moved around the group still sitting in the middle of the road, behind the dragonless carriage that had halted them. On their way to reach the countless wounded, dead, and motionless that lied up ahead, by the time the final carriage worked its way around, close to half an hour it felt, Felix had done what he could for the Sleeping Beauty.

Having spent the entire time with his hands aglow with magic, trying everything he knew, the demi-human eventually was forced to throw in the towel with a shake of his head, and somberly look to YN.

Felix: I'm sorry... There's nyothing more Ferri can try.

Silent in response at first, all eyes were on YN as he woefully looked down at the girl that was unknown to them all. From the Finest Knight, to the Sword Demon, to the Best Healer in all the lands, to the Silver Haired beauty, to his fellow wayward traveling companion. Even the young village girl, Petra, who had shown back up as the carriages had gone by all looked at him with the deepest of pities.

Wilhelm, the Sword Demon who's love for his wife was idolized by the Sleeping Beauty from the songs sung of his deeds in days of old, could see the pain in YN's eyes were immeasurable.

YN: There's other things we can try right? Has anyone here ever heard of smelling-salt— er, smellingsolts?

Believing there may be some item or physical medication, be it chemical or magical that could be used, YN's hopes clung to what they could.

Wilhelm: Unfortunately, the chances of there being some sort of treatment for this is unlikely. Her condition greatly reminds me of my daughter-in-laws...

Somewhat perking up from hearing that, YN inquired more as to what that meant.

YN: You mean Reinhardt's mother?

Wilhelm: Yes...

Answering in a way that seemed to signal he was uneasy, YN had hoped he would elaborate more than just that, but in Wilhelm's place, Felix spoke up.

Felix: Now that you mention it, Rem-chan's condition is very similar to that of Louanna, isn't it?

YN: H-How did she overcome this? Was it just time? O-Or something else?

If magic and treatments didn't work, surely something else must work.

Giving YN another weak look, it was Julius who responded now.

Julius: Louanna has been in this state for nearly eighteen years. If time was all that her condition needed, surely that threshold would have been surpassed now...

His heart sinking, YN turned his dread filled eyes to the one he loved. Echoing in his mind, was the words "eighteen years" relentlessly wounded his hope.

That's... about as long as Rem has been alive...

Beating faster, a silent panic set into YN as his heart raced. Trapped in his own mind while the conversation around him split off into more niche topics, the words of the ones around him morphed into hollow mumbles as the dread he felt encased itself in his heart where the burning sensation of new love had flourished before.

If even the mother of the Sword Saint can't be cured of this...

Deeper into a downward mental spiral YN fell, all the while the words were spoken around him, it was mostly and namely Subaru asking how others seemed to remember this "Louanna" despite being in the same condition as Rem, asking what causes this, and asking what else could be done to correct it. Despite being knelt just to YN's immediate side in the small circle that formed around the maid and the Duchess, YN heard none of Subaru's inquiries, or their answers until—

Julius: —if I were to guess, Witch Cult activity usually follows the Whale. There may be other Sin Archbishops like the one we encountered who are in possession of strange abilities. Perhaps one of these is to blame.

His theory was a long shot, but it made sense to those around him as being a likely cause. Yet still trapped in his own mind, YN's dark thoughts only became more demoralizing.

With all that money and status, from the Sword Saint no less being useless to heal the same thing, how can my precious Rem ever stand a chance of being cured?

Mouth going dry and body beginning to shake, desperate thoughts he felt were beginning to become desperate actions.

No... No. —If we can't cure this, —if there's no way to fix this, we've gotta go back...

The only choice in YN's cluttered, guilt driven mind was to force a Reset.

We've gotta go back... We've gotta go back. We've gotta go back!

His mind was now fully convinced.

If there was no way to save Rem at this point, he needed to do everything he could to prevent it from harming her again.

We've gotta—

Slowly a dark swell of intention began to brew in YN, his vision became cloudy.

—go back.

His ears began to ring and all sound became garbled and muffled, like a large explosion had gone off next to him.

We've gotta go back. We've gotta go back.

His pupils narrowed and then dilated, his breathing became hard and shallow.

We've gotta go back we've gotta go back we've gotta go back—

Conversing with Emilia on what they should do now, Subaru hadn't noticed YN began to stand.

We'vegottagobackwe'vegottagobackwe'vegottagobackwe'vegottagoback—

Julius: —?

Finding it strange the most afflicted by her condition would be the first to leave her side now, Julius tilted his head in question to what YN was doing.

Felix: YyN?

Wilhelm: YN-dono?

Questioning why he now stood, even Emilia had failed to notice until she noticed a distinct phenomenon that had no reason to be happening now.

Why does it feel like there's a lot of mana moving right now?

The mana in the atmosphere had shifted. And along with it, YN had stood. Silently wondering why this was occurring, Emilia looked to YN from Subaru whom she was mid-sentence with still.

But as she looked at him, she was horrified.

Unbefitting of him, was a look in his eyes she'd never seen before.

Dark. Evil. Murderous even.

Forming her realization, Emilia gasped.

Emilia: YN—!

Poised in his hand, right behind Subaru's own head, was a great deal of Yang magic.

Driven to the absolute end of his sanity, what little consciousness YN still had was on one mission.

We've gotta go back.

Seeing the bright twinkle of light aimed right for a fellow comrade, completely oblivious to what was about to happen, everyone's worries immediately turned into panic as they yelled to stop him.

Julius: —Stop!

Wilhelm: YN-dono!

Felix: —Don't!

His whole body trembling, it was too late for anyone to stop him.

YN's hand, so casually raised to the back of Subaru's head after he had stood, was filled with all the magic his body could summon.

—We've gotta go back!

YN: Jiwald.

As the light erupted from his hand in a white cascade of light, filling his vision, the thing he heard before the world ended and turned to black nothingness, was the blood curdling scream of the young Petra seeing the butler she so adored be killed off in front of her.

Petra: Subaru!

Forcing a Return, YN had done what he thought he'd never do; add his own name to the long list of those that were responsible for hostilely ending Subaru's life.

Spending almost no time in the dark, inky void, and certainly not venturing into the white space that served as a waiting room whilst Subaru remained alive, YN quickly found himself feeling the familiar sensation of his soul reentering his body.

A faint vibration juttered his whole body, much like how he felt whilst sitting in his running car. Pain swelled up into his two hands as they quickly lost whatever tension they previously had from an intense grip. Looking at them, color returned to his flesh as if they had been under a tight strain.

YN quickly noticed the cause however. Just past his fingertips were several deep indentations into the faux leather and padding that his steering wheel was covered in, those very fingers being their cause as they slowly smoothed out and returned the wheel to its original shape.

Subaru: —Gah!

Certainly feeling the sensation of the Return as well, Subaru shook the seat YN sat in angrily.

Emilia & Petra: —Ah!

Startling both the girls that sat to his flank, Subaru paid them no mind as he directed his vexation towards the one responsible for their Return.

Subaru: What the hell was that about?! Asshole!

Emilia: Subaru!

Realizing he had yelled incredibly loud for the confined space they were in, Emilia frowned not because of that, but rather for his vocabulary choice.

Emilia: You shouldn't use such vulgar language in front of young children!

Making the black haired boy wince from her scolding, Emilia had put down what she thought was his rowdy behavior.

Emilia: I only asked YN who it was he was speaking of... It's not that rude of him to try and explain who it is to me if I forgot meeting them...

Assuming Subaru's outburst had been directed at YN for something he had perceived as rude to herself, Emilia tried to show she wasn't offended by whatever Subaru thought that was.

Emilia: Now YN—

Not again...

Emilia: —Who, is Rem?Realizing what this must mean, given he and Subaru had Returned from Death only mere moments ago, YN remained silent until—

Emilia, Petra, Subaru: —YAA!

Skidding to a sudden stop, YN had slammed on the brakes.

Hard.

Emilia: W-What happened?! Did we hit something?!

Trying to get a view out of the front window, Emilia searched for the object responsible for the sudden stoppage. Bringing the carriage behind them and the carriages beyond that to a stop too as the ones ahead continued on, YN held his head low as he ignored the half-elf's question and spoke to them in an even lower tone.

There was silence in the car. Not a voice was spoken as all eyes watched what they believed was un-profound anger simmering in him.

Are we really too late?!

With nothing being said, they only noise that broke the silence was YN's fingers gripping the steering wheel intensely again, it's faux leather creaking under the pressures.

Wishing to say something though, Emilia was about to put her hand onto YN's shoulder, yet before she did—

YN: Emilia-sama. Petra-chan.

Emilia: —?

Petra: Y-Yes?

While the half-elf was now greatly worried about YN's condition, the young Petra's fear could be heard in her voice. Taking a deep breath, YN spoke to the two he addressed by keeping his face away from them, his emotions too intense to make eye contact right now.

YN: I need you both to get out of the car.

Caught off guard by his sudden request, Emilia didn't wish to argue with him, but rather assist in understanding why he had wanted this.

Emilia: YN, please... if something is wrong, let me—

YN: —I need you both to go.

Firmly restating his request as a demand, Emilia knew when she could provide no assistance.

Emilia: Petra, let's go sit in one of the carriages, okay? YN isn't feeling well.

Trying to set the young girl's nerves back to rest, the passenger seat was pushed forward and the two exited from around Subaru.

Before the half-elf departed however, she leaned back inside the door one last time to seek some kind of reconciliation.

Emilia: If something is reeeeaaaally upsetting you, please don't bottle it all up inside, all right?

Without saying anything to her, YN simply kept his death stare fixed to the horizon. While he had heard her words and offer, his eyes were glassed over with worry that he could not ignore.

Choosing not to answer her, YN put the car in motion, and proceeded quickly to where it was this fight that had claimed Rem's mind, but also her existence was unfolding.

If it really is more Witch Cultists, I'll make them pay.

Subaru: We can't help Rem and the others if we crash!

Without a moment to slow down at all, even on slight bends or curves, YN continued to push what his car was capable of all in the name of saving Rem.

Holding onto the handle above his door, Subaru felt any moment a Return might be caused by the car they were in from a roll over. While the Lifaus Plains had little in the way of things for them to hit and impale their bodies on, there were certainly other ways it felt like they could perish from reckless driving.

But in a trance, YN kept his foot hard on the floor and his hands at the wheel, his mind focused on nothing other than saving the woman he loved.

Unable to get his fellow wayward traveling companion to slow himself down, Subaru could only accept that he was now trapped on this wild ride with no way to get off until they reached the battlefield where it was that the maid and Duchess resided.

Closing in, the unfortunately familiar sight of the ruined mess of carriages, wounded, dead ground dragons, and other unsightly things came into view. Yet, as things remained the same despite reaching here significantly earlier compared to last time, and arguably as quickly as they physically could given where they had Returned to, a great swelling of hopelessness grew in YN.

Don't tell me the Return point is after this all happens...

For the first time in a long time, YN began to slow down as he proceeded to where he had found Rem before.

Almost forgetting to park the car where he stopped, YN took no more than three or so steps out before collapsing to his knees.

YN: No...

Before him laid the unconscious body of Rem. Yet again, YN was too late to save her.

Dropping to his hands, a great pain of guilt radiated through his body as his hands gripped the dirt below him in frustration.

Think! Think! What can I do to fix this!? I can't prevent it, so I gotta fix it. How though?!

Racking his mind, YN searched his memories for any clues that could help him solve this problem. While he usually deferred to Subaru to come up with solutions, this time it felt like he couldn't let himself do that.

But as he searched inside himself, he needn't have gone far back in his memories.

Echoing in his mind, was the conclusions of Julius, who had speculated on who was responsible for the Maid's condition.

Julius: —There may be other Sin Archbishops like the one we encountered who are in possession of strange abilities. Perhaps one of these is to blame.

Opening his eyes to the hand-stirred dirt below him, YN's compromised condition let his overzealous and quick forming rationale of his panicked state draw a hasty conclusion.

We didn't pass anyone here... Someone was clearly responsible for this, which can only mean—

Picking himself up, YN thundered back to his car where Subaru had been waiting just outside his passenger side door, unsure if he'd be giving up his seat to the unconscious blue-haired girl.

Subaru: Wait, YN what's wrong? You're just going to leave her here?!

Getting inside the car, YN did not answer immediately, but rather waited until Subaru had also gotten back in.

YN: We're going to come back to her awake.

Subaru could tell YN wasn't acting like himself, in fact, it was so much so that he was becoming worried just from how much YN was deviating from how he normally behaved.

I'm beginning to have a bad feeling his mind is too guided by desperation...

He was entirely privy to just how much YN cared for Rem, it was equal and on par for his own feelings for Emilia. But since Rem had reciprocated those feelings back to him and had for a long time, Subaru could understand why he may be acting this way.

It was only because YN had my back this entire time that I was finally able to get my feelings across to Emilia...

And while Subaru now had his time in the sun with Emilia, namely right before they had set back out with the convoy, he felt as if it were betrayal to the one who had supported him with getting there if he tried to question if what YN was doing for Rem's sake was all in vain.

But as Subaru contemplated all this, YN's vision was affixed to the one he loved, still slumbering.

He had fixed the girl's beautiful azure hair and sat her up against a piece of carriage wreckage, mostly so once she woke up, she wasn't uncomfortable. In her hands he had placed a single wildflower, hoping to convey he'd been there, and that he was coming back.

Seeing the woman who meant more than anything else in any world to him's beautiful hair blow in the breeze that swept across the vast plain, YN finally put the car into drive.

Rem...

Turning the car around and racing off in a new direction, he spotted her growing smaller and smaller in his mirror.

—I will save you. I promise.

Thundering off in a new direction, farther than they had gone in the previous loops, Subaru was still unsure of what the plan of action was.

Subaru: W-Why are we going this way?

Asking as innocently as he could, YN answered bluntly.

YN: This is the way the culprits of this attack have gone. It has to be.

Subaru: What good is going after someone— or the someones that are that strong?

Subaru was not blind to what destruction had beset the further along convoy. The strength of those responsible must be akin, or close to the White Whale or the Sin Archbishop he had just previously faced.

YN: Because, someone is responsible for the condition that now plagues Rem. This obviously isn't a naturally accruing ailment. That can only mean the one responsible might be able to undo it, or might know how to.

Hearing the bold words come from YN, Subaru had begun to think he needed a reality check.

Subaru: So what do you plan on doing? Asking them nicely?

YN: I might. But even then, isn't finding out who exactly is responsible just as important? Is information not something you've thrown a Loop away for before?

Subaru: — — —

Coupled with his former guilt of not wishing to halt YN, Subaru had now been mentally cornered by hypocrisy.

He's got a point...

YN: —Even if we only got a look at those responsible, —even if it's only a peek, that information is worth the world to me. Any spec of knowledge might be the tipping point in saving Rem...

His vision glued to the horizon before them, Subaru could see the wild mix of emotions in YN.

YN: That's why I'm going to do anything it takes.

Feeling an ominous wind blow from him, Subaru had finally felt his consciousness become weary.

But as he did, something made YN's horizon-locked vision change.

Two figures, blurs at best, were on the farthest cusp of his sight.

Stopping the car, each of the occupants inside were both halfway stunned. They found what had to be the culprits responsible for such a catastrophe.

While YN had imagined some sort of monster akin to the beast he'd faced in Saluzzo, or someone akin to Leo, Subaru had imagined something similar, or perhaps some sort of small war band of Witch Cultists.

As the two looked on though, Subaru was finally the first one to speak again.

Subaru: So... What's the plan now?

Looking at YN, he could see how hard he was gripping the steering wheel.

Silent for a moment before responding, the car began to move again before YN answered.

YN: We try the simplest option first—

Really beginning to speed up, the engine revved at its maximum rotation.

YN: —we see if killing them dispels Rem's condition.

With such bold and brash actions on his mind as their first solution, Subaru was finally convinced of it—

—He's been pushed too far.

Rumbling and shaking with great intensity, the two were making a B-line directly for the two figures. While they too were on the Lifaus Highway, YN paid very little attention to the actual shape of the roadway, cutting away at the sides of the path and only focusing solely on going in a straight line, maximizing his speed in the direction of his targets.

Subaru: W-Wait! W-What if those guys are innocent!? What if they're survivors from the attack!?

Nearly topping out the car in speed, the two they were closing in on were beginning to have detail added to their form.

YN: Then we'll rule them out! I don't have time to dwell on those guilts! I don't have time to dwell on anything! —Or anyone! If it means saving, Rem I'll do it!

Subaru: Do you even hear yourself!?

Holding onto the handle above the door with great intensity, Subaru pleaded to the driver to consider all the options ahead of him.

YN: I do! I'm not proud of it, but there's nothing else I can try! If Rem is really gone, Subaru... I don't know what I'll do.

His lower voice greatly contrasting the high revving sound of the engine, their attention turned to the two figures that grew closer and closer every passing second.

They were both visible now. One tall, one short. One dressed in white, one in a dreary brown. White hair and brown hair. Well dressed, and ill kept.

Homing in on them, the two had heard the machine of metal and fumes closing in. Turning to the threat, they each just watched it approach.

That's not a normal reaction.

While they were both dressed eccentrically and carried an air of ill fortune upon themselves, their true give away to their tenacity was the lack of concern they each displayed.

On a train with no brakes, Subaru could only watch in great concern as they barreled towards the two before them.

YN: It's them, Subaru... It's them! it's gotta be them!

While Subaru couldn't exactly deny him even from the glimpses he had so far gotten of these two in detail, he still felt such a rash action was uncalled for.

This isn't the right way to do this... This is a waste if it doesn't work! It... It isn't right just to throw our lives away on brute forcing things like this! Not if it feeds into habits like this!

If this gambit of simply turning those responsible into roadkill was successful, Subaru knew how badly they could damage not only his own psyche, but YN's as well.

We didn't get this far, facing the challenges and problems we do by being rash idiots! If we did it this way we'd have hit a roadblock a long time ago and never gotten past it! And even if we had... Neither of us would be where we are now!

Thinking about how they not only had overcome everything with no losses, but also by securing the faith of the ones they had each met and found strength from in this world, Subaru was sickened by YN's current rationale.

It was only because they acted within their principles did YN secure Rem

It was only because they acted within their principles did Subaru finally get his feelings through to Emilia.

This brash and unruly strategy wasn't that.

But the time to think on that was at an end.

Mere seconds from ending the two, who were just standing in place, staring them down, their time now approached.

Pegged at maximum speed, the moments before the impact, time slowed to a crawl for YN.

*ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum, ba-dum—*

To one side, as if radiating from the shorter of the two, his small goblin-like form covered in ragged clothes, was a steady beat like YN had now heard a handful of times before now.

The origin of this sound was still unknown to him, but unable to contemplate what it was, his attention turned to the taller advisory.

— — —

To the other side, the man dressed in white, with white hair, and pricing golden eyes looked directly at YN. While he still heard the *ba-dum* from the opposite side, YN could hear only silence from the one in white. Like a symphonic melody of white noise, the silence he radiated was somehow audible.

But what YN's mind was truly focused on was—

—I'm going to wipe that damn smirk off your face.

Almost as if reading his mind, the white haired man in the long white jacket turned his smirk into a jeering, half-cocked smile. Letting his contempt— no, his pity for the pilot of this craft hurling towards him be known, not even an arms length away now as time remained slowed, it enraged YN.

I hate that look.

As it seemed time began to flow normally again, the sound of crinkling steel and grinding metal filled the air.

YN: Rrrraaaahhh!

Defying the impact, YN roared out his yell of anger.

As the hood warped upward, the glass shattered and the dash exploded, YN was denied seeing that expression he hated erased.

In an instant it seemed, evening seemed much smaller. There was great, pounding pressure pushed into his chest, about the size of the steering wheel he had been holding onto. There was a pinching sensation at his feet where his shoe remained planted down on the throttle, but it felt as if everything below his knee was numb, so the sensation came with the likeness of pins and needles.

There was now no light, and no sound.

But as the sounds of crunching metal, broken glass, and snapping plastic ceased suddenly, so did the pressures he felt.

So did all his senses, really.

Am I—?

Feeling nothing at all, no pain, no joy, no pressure, no satisfaction, it was all too familiar a situation.

Did we—?!

Death.

Death has come not for the foes he had impaled his car into.

Death did not lend itself to the goblin of which YN already despised by the aura of misfortune he carried.

Death did not lend itself to man in white of which YN hated by his sheer unnerved nature.

No.

Death came for him and his wayward traveling companion.

They were dead now. The lack of all senses and the lack of satisfaction YN felt from seeing the foes who had dared to harm Rem confirmed that.

In the inky black nothingness, a Return had been triggered, there was no denying that. Once again YN knew he'd find himself in the car he had just been sitting in, surrounded by his friends and allies.

We've gotta try again... We've gotta try again!

Determined, perhaps for all the right reasons but for all the worse motivations, he knew soon, he'd be back in a hell that seemed to be his reality now.

Rem I promise... I promise I'll save you. If Subaru could save Emilia, I can save you.

With the sensation of a body returning to him, so did the light of a new beginning— a brand new Loop.
Even if they both were going to disagree on what to do now upon the Return, either to act enraged and with passion, or to be thorough and honor their principles, the two could agree on one thing wholeheartedly.

Those two were definitely responsible.

Their foes identified and seen, the new Loop began.

One sure to be filled with great disagreements and great disappointments.

Coming to, they each gasped for air.

Subaru & YN: —Hah!

Lurching forward and nearly rear ending the carriage in front of them, YN's muscle memory remained as he Returned into a similar position he had before, the only difference being his foot was to the floor.

Harshly, the car skidded to a stop.

His adrenaline still pumping, a cold sweat immediately broke out on his brow as the pressures of sweet, precious time were laid onto himself.

Something... Somehow our car got demolished by those guys. It's like we ran into a brick wall or something.

As Subaru was thinking similar thoughts as YN, he also realized the foe they now faced was seemingly immune to a car barreling at full speed and impacting them.

There's no way we can win against that... There's no way anyone here can win against that!

Trying to think of anyone short of Reinhard who could hope to stand against someone capable of taking that sort of blow, Subaru heard the same names he knew were a losing bet against these foes be said aloud in front of him.

YN: Petra, I need you to get out and run and get Wilhelm-san, Julius, and Ferris. It's an emergency.

While the two girls in the car were just now shaking off the sudden lurch forward and harsh stop, it was YN who asked such a sudden and jarring request to the youngest in the car.

Petra: O-Okay. I can try and see if I can find them—

Not wishing to let down someone who had personally saved her friends in the attack the mabeast had performed on her home village, Petra agreed to fulfill YN's request. However, stopping her was—

Subaru: Petra, hold on.

Holding an arm out in front to halt her, Subaru finally stood up to YN.

Subaru: YN, those three won't stand a chance, you've gotta think this through.

Seemingly being the only one who fathomed the threat of the two, Subaru argued his case.

YN: We can think of other solutions on the way! But for now we've gotta try the quickest ones! Time is everything here, Subaru! If don't act fast—

Subaru: —You don't know that, damn it!

Watching on as this sudden argument with seemingly no source of context she could grasp onto was becoming louder and louder, Emilia finally spoke up.

Emilia: What's all this about? Where is this all of a sudden coming from? Is this about someone we should know? Is it about 'Rem?'

Hearing her name said without a hint of familiarity about it, YN's stress compounded.

YN: —Tch! We don't have time for this!

Pulling around the line of carriages in front of him, YN began to speed up as he passed the long line before him to cut to the front.

Subaru: YN! We need to think this though! We might not be able to do anything right now!

YN: I won't accept that! We're going to keep trying and trying until we save her!

Recalling the faithful night Rem had come to him after learning of his ability to relive his lives, YN echoed the same words he had spoken to the maid that held his heart.

YN: No matter how many times it takes I've got to try! No matter the cost! No matter how much it hurts! I'll save her because she'd do the same for me!

As the car gathered speed, Subaru's mind weighed the facts of the reality before him.

He's lost it. He can't think straight at all!

Petra: Eeee! We're going really fast! Please slow down!

Ignoring the young Petra's requests not out of lack of sympathy, but purely because his mind was far too focused on everything else, Subaru knew everything was at a fever point.

I get he wants to save her, but we won't ever be able to like this!

Biting his lip and drawing a small amount of blood from it at the thought of YN stopping Subaru himself in a similar situation had this been Emilia, he knew what he had to do, damn the consequences later on.

He is right, Rem would do the same for him... Be she wouldn't want him being this recklessly dangerous either!

Subaru: I'm putting a stop to this!

Still too focused to even acknowledge Subaru's defiance, he knew physically grabbing the wheel wasn't an option. With his Yang magic, strength was something he lacked compared to YN, and not to mention the danger that brought Emilia and Petra into.

Thinking fast, Subaru used his sharp wit to improvise a plan to get YN under control.

Leaning over to Emilia, Subaru could tell she was worried about YN's current attitude as well, more so since Subaru had so strongly voiced his disapproval of it.

Subaru (whisper): Emilia-tan, I need you to cover the road under the car with ice as soon as we clear the last carriage, got it?

In rare form, Emilia got the social que to whisper back, knowing what they said needed to be hidden from YN, a hard task since he sat right before them. Bringing a hand up to direct her voice, the half-elf did a double take back to YN twice before finally responding.

Emilia (whisper): What is going on?!

Copying Emilia's way of shielding the sound of her voice, they were each thankful the car offered little in the way of isolating the revving noise of the engine.

Subaru (whisper): Something really bad has happened and he isn't taking it well. We've gotta help him.

Emilia (whisper): He's acting reeeeaaally irrational, I can tell.

Looking back to YN, the half-elf's face was one of sympathy for him. She couldn't quite put her finger on it, but seeing someone she cared for lose themselves in a blitz of reckless behavior seemed to really sting her heart, despite not knowing where that memory had manifested from.

Emilia (whisper): —I'll help though. It might be tough on him, but I trust your judgment on the matter. YN is my friend too so I want to help him as well.

Subaru: —!

Somewhat surprised to hear such an instant agreement from her, Subaru had to quickly regain his composure. He wasn't used to this yet, but it seemed their conversation in the field after the explosion of the mana crystals really did make an impact for the better on their relationship.

Subaru (whisper): I'll signal you when.

Nodding in agreement, that time had approached sooner than they each expected. With great speed, YN cleared the last ground dragon carriage. But as Subaru knew he was about to accelerate, he signaled Emilia cast her magic.

As the glitter of ice streamed out from the reaches of the car, YN immediately shuffled the steering wheel to keep control, his trance finally interrupted.

YN: Woah-woah-hey—!

Subaru: Ha!

Pulling the emergency brake just in front of him, Subaru had caught YN off guard while his hands were distracted by the wheel. Locking up the tires, the car began to skid sideways before finally sliding off to the grassy plain beside the highway.

YN: No-no-no!

Now facing backwards, the car had come to a stop. With the driver's-side half of the car on the ice covered road, and the other in a deep dirt rut in the grass, YN tried in vain to free the car.

As one tire spun freely on the ice, the other threw clumps of grass and dirt.

YN: Damn it! Subaru—! Emilia—!

Unable to direct his frustration at his friends, even if they had caused this, YN threw his seat-belt off and exited the car. Following him though, Subaru also got out.

Trying to push the car free, while YN perhaps had the strength needed given his mana, he still needed someone inside to accelerate and steer while he was pushing.

YN: Subaru get back in and steer, we gotta get there quickly! We've gotta save Rem!

Subaru: We can't! It's. Too. Late.

Wrestling with his own judgment, YN's feelings won out against his logic once more.

If he can't see that he's just going to doom us to dying over and over again to no avail... Things are going to get a lot worse...

YN: —tch!

Turning around, YN began to sprint off into the distance, deciding to run down the highway if he had to.

I'll save Rem! Even if I'm the only one that will! I'll save her!

Emilia: YN!

Calling out in vain, Subaru knew while it was possible to catch him, getting him to stop was another challenge.

Subaru: Petra.

Now also outside the car like everyone else, the young village girl awaited what was surely a request from the one she admired the most, her eyes showing she wanted to help.

Subaru: —Like YN wanted, go get Julius, Wilhelm, and Ferris. We're going to need them here.

Nodding in acknowledgment, the auburn haired girl ran off to the nearby convoy that now approached and was beginning to stop just behind the disabled car.

Seeing her off, Subaru began a pursuit of his own, waving Emilia to follow along.

Emilia: Subaru, what are we going to do now? Are we going to stop him?

Subaru: We have to or he's going to get himself killed. Can you freeze his feet in place?

Emilia: I can try, but he'll probably break right out.

Subaru: Anything could help.

Damn I liked it better when he was just as powerless as I am!

Lifting her hand and using her magic, a sheet of ice grew between her and YN, and within less than a second he was held in place.

Coming to a jarring stop, YN looked down as the icy sensation entered his feet.

YN: —Tsk.

While only managing to momentarily stop him, the groundskeeper used his mana to augment his strength and with a bit of effort.

*Crack!* *—Snap!*

Freeing himself, he had gone to step back out on his sprint to Rem and the foes that had harmed her, but before he could move—

Subaru: —Ha!

YN: —Gah!

Body-checking him, Subaru threw himself at YN like a professional contact sports player. Knocking him to the icy ground, the two slid before coming to a stop.

Quickly trying to get himself back up, Subaru denied him. Holding him down, he yelled at the top of his lungs.

Subaru: YN! Stop this!

YN: No! I have to save Rem!

Getting free of his hold, YN pushed the black haired boy off of him.

Scrambling to his feet, he was pulled down once more by Subaru, defiant until the end.

With a tinge of anger now forming from Subaru trying to stop him, and at himself also for not being able to overcome the ice, YN pounded the ground.

YN: Don't make me hurt you!

Subaru: You've already done worse!

Referring back to when YN had actually killed him not even five minutes ago, his enraged, one track mind took that statement as a challenge.

YN: —Ha!

Subaru: —Gah!

Serving him an elbow to the face, YN bloodied Subaru's nose in an effort to free himself.

But as he tried to get up, his hand was stuck in place.

Emilia: —I won't allow this violence to continue!

Like a silver bell, Emilia's defiant voice rang out. Upon seeing Subaru's blood drip on the ice she had conjured, she would allow this to go on no longer.

However, even if Emilia stepped in to try and stop him, YN wouldn't allow it. Putting mana into his hand, he forced his Yang magic to melt the ice that encased the very same one.

YN: Jiwald!

Getting loose of the ice once more he was nearly clear of it by the highway's edge. He was so close to the grassy field he could reach out and—

*Slip*

YN: —Gah!

His progress was stopped again by Subaru, this time grabbing his leg in a last ditch effort as he had gone to stand.

YN: Arrrrgghh!

Venting his frustration as he looked out behind him to see the bloodied face of his fellow wayward traveling companion, YN saw four others approaching.

Petra: S-Subaru!

Wilhelm: YN-dono! Subaru-dono!

Felix: What's all of this about?!

Julius: What is going on?

Emilia: It's YN! He's not well and needs to be stopped!

Answering them, they each assessed the situation and could quickly assume this was why Subaru held onto YN as such.

But seeing them as potential hope still, YN called to them.

YN: Wilhelm-san! Julius! Please Rem is in danger! Crusch-sama is in danger! We have to help them!

As it seemed they were all set to assist Subaru, YN's words halted them.

Julius: What does he mean?

Felix: Crusch-sama? Danger?

Subaru: —Ack. He's not wrong but—

Emilia: Right now YN is in danger. We have to stop him, he isn't acting right and he's going to hurt himself.

Wilhelm: I... I understand.

Seeing one of the three he had hoped would help him rally to save Rem be slowly convinced of otherwise the other two followed suit, their obvious demeanor said it all.

With seemingly no one on his side, YN sunk into greater desperation.

*THUMP*

Subaru: —Aahggh!

Using his other free leg to kick Subaru in the head just hard enough he hoped he'd let go, YN got another half step of distance to the grass, free of the ice before he was pinned down again, this time with much more force from a knee to his back.

Julius: YN, Please calm yourself! Whatever this danger is, we can solve it after—

YN: —No! You don't understand! I-I h-have to—!

As he pushed himself up off the ground in defiance, YN utilized all the strength it felt like he possessed, greatly magnified by his mana.

Julius: —! Wilhelm, I require assistance!

Managing to overpower the knee the Finest Knight had on his back, backup was called in to help hold him down.

Bracing his back as well, Wilhelm had also joined in trying to hold down YN.

Unable to overpower the two of them, YN began to flip and squirm like a fish out of water to try and gain himself better leverage, or at least manage to slip away.

Seeing this however, Subaru crawled forward on the ice and grabbed the pair of legs that were thrashing about, further dampening the possibility he could escape.

With nothing else but his arms to use now, YN's panicked mind grabbed at whatever he could. Reaching out to the grass, he pulled at their blades, only for his hands to return with fistfuls of roots and topsoil, and no progress to speak of.

YN: Please! Just let me go save her! I have to save her! Please!

Pleading now with those who held him, it only served to convince them more of the need to restrain him in his fit of desperate yelling.

But even as the three were able to overpower his strength, as great as it was using his Yang magic, their stamina to keep this up was nothing compared to YN's, especially given that Julius and Wilhelm both were still fatigued from their previous fights.

Julius: —Ack. Subaru, I am unsure how much longer we can manage this.

Looking to him for an idea, Wilhelm relayed the same sentiment in his shared expression. Turning his bloodied face to the only other one left standing besides Emilia, Subaru pleaded to the healer for assistance.

Subaru: Ferris! Is there anything you can use to get him to calm down?

Felix: The only thing Ferri can try is potentially kynocking him out with magic.

Subaru could not directly answer that. It already felt as if he was betraying his friend by holding him back from rushing to Rem's aid, but to put him under... That was definitely betrayal, one he sincerely doubted YN would forgive him of.

Julius: That may be our only choice!

Answering in place of Subaru though, the one struggling the greatest against YN's mana-fueled strength of attrition voiced his approval of such an action.

Ferri: Okay!

Hearing the healer kneel down next to him, YN's panicked mind reached new heights.

YN: No! No! Damn it! I have to save Rem! Crusch-sama is in danger!

Becoming hesitant by his words, as the demi-human had gone to put his mana-infused hand onto YN's back, Subaru yelled back in support.

Subaru: Ferris! Just do it!

Second guessing his own judgment, the demi-human's ears flinched from the conflicting emotions he held.

Felix: F-Fine!

For a moment it seemed, YN thought Felix had sided with him in this moment of tension, but those hopes were quickly dashed by the oncoming feeling of drowsiness he felt.

No... No!

Taking away all the strength he was using to focus solely on staying conscious, YN was fighting another losing battle.

YN: —Grrrrr!

With everyone seeing how resistant YN was being, and how much Felix was struggling, he voiced his concerns.

Felix: —Tch! I'm using enough mana to put down a ground dragon but it still isn't enough! Ferri has never had this much trouble before!

Julius: Surely you can use more?

Ferris: I can...but that may harm his Gate!

Looking to Emilia now, Felix was hesitant simply based on the fact YN's stretched Gate was of great concern to her.

But by simply nodding her head, Emilia eliminated those hesitations.

Taking a deep breath, Felix prepared more mana.

Felix: Alright... But for what it's worth, YN—

Feeling his consciousness begin to really fade away, YN struggled in vain to something he had no real way of combating.

Felix: —Ferri is very sorry he had to do this.

Feeling an impulse of mana against his Gate, it was followed by an insurmountable amount of fatigue.

N-No...

As the light of the day faded from his vision, so did the anger and hastiness he felt.

Unable to even close his hand into a fist, YN mumbled his last words of consciousness.

YN: I-I'm sorry... Rem...

I failed you.

Finally, with the groundskeeper sedated, all three took their weight off him.

His mind on the brink of trailing off, only a handful of spoken words was YN able to recognize before everything else became a jumbled, muffled mess that turned into silence.

Julius (muffled): I must ask, Emilia-sama. Who is this 'Rem' he keeps speaking of?

With salt being rubbed into his already broken and bleeding heart, a sweet release from reality was given to his deeply troubled mind.

I... Rem... I'm so sorry...

His last thoughts hurting him the worst though, they had been his true driving emotion this entire time.

I never got to say 'I love you' in return...

A/N: I will be the first to admit, this chapter is setting the tone for some real pain that will be a major part of this ACT. However, without spoiling anything, I will promise you all, there will be meaningful and satisfying Rem content still going forward, it just won't be in a way I think any of you will expect.

Thank you all for your continued support! Until next week, farewell!