[Echidna: ――Why does love, always fade?]
She whispered those words, heavy with unspoken regret, into the quiet hush of the meadow. The vast expanse of green grass gently rustled in the breeze, echoing the subdued tremor in her voice. Across from the Witch of Greed's monochrome figure, nothing but emptiness spread out; Subaru had already departed through the dream door, returning to the realm of reality.
Though spoken as a question, no one remained in that dreamscape to grant her a reply.
※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Subaru blinked back into consciousness, hand clenched around the thin chain that bore the black crystal. True to routine, morning sunlight filtered in through the mansion's window, filling his room with warmth. A swirl of disorientation washed over him—just moments ago, he had felt Elsa's blade slicing clean through his neck. The residual phantom pain made him instinctively rub at the skin there, as if to confirm he was in one piece.
[Subaru: …Returned. And it's still the same morning.]
He mumbled that brief confirmation, forcing a deep breath to steady himself. The Magic Hour Crystal affixed near the door radiated a gentle green—a sign that dawn had yet to slip far into the day. Despite the mundane scene, a heavy weight pressed upon Subaru's chest. He had taken his own life once more, or rather let Elsa do the deed, just to confirm the new "save point" for his Return by Death.
[Subaru: A new morning, the same as always. Right… gotta get moving. No point waiting around.]
Leaving the sofa, he headed for the bathroom. His morning ritual persisted without fail: face washed, teeth brushed, posture straightened, that faint, crooked grin summoned to disguise all pain. It was the face he wore to ensure no one questioned the composure of Natsuki Subaru.
[Subaru: Right. Let's do this again.]
He drew open the door before Petra could knock this time, catching her by surprise.
[Petra: Aaah! Su-Subaru-sama!?]
Her large eyes blinked in bewilderment, cheeks turning slightly pink.
[Subaru: Hehe, good morning, Petra. Sorry for jumping the gun—but it's another splendid morning, right?]
[Petra: Y-yes, good morning. And, um, yes, it looks like it will be a wonderful morning… oh, but the clouds—]
[Subaru: Don't worry. The clouds aren't going to bring rain; trust me.]
At his smooth assertion, Petra tilted her head, lips parted in confusion. Yet she did not question him long. Possibly, she already sensed there was something distinct about Subaru's words, as if he had peered into the future.
[Petra: …Well, if Subaru-sama says so, I believe you. But you're always so mysterious lately.]
[Subaru: Mysterious? Maybe I should learn a disappearing trick to match my personality, then. But come on, let's go. We have a busy day, right?]
He tousled her hair gently, eliciting a disgruntled huff followed by a soft giggle. Petra curtsied and departed, heading down the corridor with light steps, while Subaru—
[Subaru: First, check in on the courtyard.]
He knew exactly what was waiting there. Every morning, Garfiel and Reinhardt clashed in their one-sided spar. It had repeated so many times that Subaru could practically picture it with eyes closed. And yet, it was important to see it again—verifying details ensured no unseen change threatened the timeline. If something out of place had occurred, it could be a clue to the hardship he was meant to overcome.
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[Subaru: …Sure enough.]
Just as expected, Garfiel had been driven into the ground; Reinhardt's stance was unruffled. His flaming-red hair caught the early light, giving him an almost divine air. Garfiel struggled to stand, baring his fangs in frustration. Sweat ran down his forehead onto the grass, matting the golden strands around his temples.
[Garfiel: Dammit… I was sure I was close this time…]
[Reinhardt: Another day, another lesson, Garfiel. You're improving; I can tell. Try not to lose heart—victory comes slowly, but it does come.]
The Sword Saint's calm words only stoked Garfiel's smoldering pride. He pushed himself onto one knee, refusing Reinhardt's offered hand. With a fierce scowl, he wrenched himself upright, turned away, and noticed Subaru standing at the edge of the courtyard.
[Garfiel: …Feh.]
Subaru's presence was acknowledged only by that short exhalation. Garfiel stomped past him, the grass torn under his boots.
[Subaru: Good morning, oh sunshine and daisies to you too, Garfiel.]
[Garfiel: Yeah, whatever. 'M gonna wash up, so don't get in my way.]
Grumbling under his breath, Garfiel marched toward the mansion. Subaru scratched his cheek with a wry smile, then turned to Reinhardt, who looked on with gentle concern.
[Subaru: Sorry for always making you handle him. He's… well, he's complicated.]
[Reinhardt: He's truly earnest at heart; that's why he's frustrated. If he channels that frustration in a healthy way, he'll find a path to overcome his limitations. In time, I believe he'll find that path without losing sight of himself.]
[Subaru: I wish I had your optimism. But you're probably right. He's a good guy, deep down…]
The memory of the Sanctuary, of countless attempts to keep Garfiel from causing mayhem, flickered in Subaru's mind. In most of those repeated loops, Garfiel had opposed everything Subaru tried to accomplish, spurred on by fear and misguided loyalty to the place he called home. Subaru always found a way to outmaneuver him, sometimes coldly excluding him from any real knowledge until after the fact. And so, the boy's frustration festered.
[Reinhardt: Subaru, is something troubling you?]
[Subaru: …Nothing major. Just the usual worthless daydreams. Sorry. Let's talk again later.]
[Reinhardt: Of course.]
With their short conversation ended, Reinhardt excused himself, lightly placing his hand on the battered earth—a faint shimmer righting the damaged lawn once more. Soon enough, the courtyard looked pristine, as if the fight had never happened.
[Subaru: …Cheat codes, man. Even for me, that's overkill.]
"Echidna: He is indeed a formidable existence, though it's thanks to you that such power stands on your side."
The voice rang in his head, the Witch of Greed addressing him through the black crystal around his neck. Subaru's lips tightened into a flat line. He offered no reply, turning his back to the courtyard.
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The next destination was the mansion's library, a normal, large-scale one that had been rebuilt in the eastern wing. Pushing the doors open, Subaru let the familiar smell of old books and parchment flood over him.
In a far corner, huddled upon a small wooden stepladder, was the forlorn figure of a little girl in a frilly dress.
[Subaru: Beatrice.]
She had not moved from that spot, clutching her knees, her face hidden. Candlelight from the glowing magic crystals cast long shadows across the floor. Stepping closer, Subaru could see how her tiny shoulders trembled when he called her name. But she did not speak.
[Subaru: Hey, you… any chance you'll greet me today?]
[Beatrice: …]
Silence.
As always, he felt the ache in his chest at her pitiful state. Beatrice, who had lost her "Forbidden Library" in the blaze of the mansion so many months prior, had been stranded in this new library—an imitation that barely resembled her true domain. The heartbreak of losing her contract's purpose, her mother's last directive, remained a cruel anchor.
Every day, Subaru tried to talk with her, tried to coax her into seeing the light, tried to say something—anything—that might spark even a flicker of normalcy. Yet…
[Beatrice: Stop… it's bothersome, I suppose.]
A faint voice, half anger, half exhaustion. Despite it being so soft, it sounded like a blade scraped against stone. Subaru exhaled, approaching anyway, determined.
[Subaru: …I won't. You're important. We're the same, in a way—stuck in a cage with no exit. But I'm not giving up on you.]
She hugged her knees tighter, those small hands clutching the fabric. Subaru reached out, carefully, ready for her to scratch his neck or lash out at him. And indeed, she flung out her fingers, nails bared. But this time, her half-hearted attempt merely grazed his sleeve.
[Beatrice: Don't… come any closer… Betty's fine… Betty is…]
[Subaru: You're not fine.]
Embracing her slender body, Subaru hugged her close, bracing for her shrieks of protest.
[Beatrice: L-let me go, I suppose! This is… humiliating—hkh…]
A sob wedged itself beneath her fury, twisting her words. Subaru felt warm tears seep through the frills of her dress. The scratch across his chest was mild compared to the sharp ache in his heart.
[Subaru: Even if you hate me for it, I'll keep holding on. I'm not "They" who you waited four hundred years for…but you're alive. As long as you're alive… one day, maybe…]
[Beatrice: …You're horrible, I suppose. You always say that… but you never… do anything else.]
Her fragile voice trailed off. He could not refute it. He had no magical fix for her heartbreak, no easy cure for her stolen purpose. Only time, repeated gentle coaxing, and the persistence he had forced upon the entire world. He had to believe it was enough.
Eventually, Beatrice went limp, ceasing to struggle. Subaru placed his hand atop her head in silent comfort. Moments later, she shrugged him off, pulling free of his arms. Her eyes, brimming with tears, stared at him with a defiant emptiness.
[Beatrice: Leave, in fact. I…I don't want you here.]
[Subaru: …Alright. But I'll come again tomorrow. And the day after that, and the day after that—]
She closed her eyes, shutting him out. Their conversation had ended.
He forced himself to walk away, heart heavier than before. Echidna's silent presence in the pendant was palpable, but for once she remained quiet, letting Subaru sort out his thoughts unmolested.
Once the library doors closed, he pressed his forehead against them and exhaled.
[Subaru: That's right, the day is still long. Next… next is Rem.]
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Rem's bedroom was peaceful, as always. Ram, in her crisp maid uniform, stood vigil at her sister's bedside. She had just finished wiping Rem's pale cheeks with a moist cloth, brushing aside the girl's short, sky-blue hair. Though Ram accepted that the unconscious girl was her kin, her eyes carried only the barest flicker of warmth.
[Ram: …Natsuki Subaru-sama. Good day. Thank you for visiting my sister.]
[Subaru: That's my line, really. You're the one taking care of her day in and day out. I'm grateful.]
[Ram: I only do so because Roswaal-sama and Emilia-sama commanded it. Please do not misunderstand. This is no more than my duty.]
Even after all this time, Ram's voice remained carefully formal, her devotion entirely to Roswaal. Subaru swallowed the bitterness that rose in his throat. Ram's old, sarcastic banter was gone—crushed by the events at the Sanctuary, by the revelations and manipulations that shaped her loyalty into something mechanical. She recognized Rem as a sister, but felt nothing she once might have felt were her memories whole.
[Subaru: Right… of course. Well, thanks anyway.]
Hearing no reply, Subaru approached the bed where Rem lay sleeping. She looked so fragile—her breaths light, her expression serene. As always, he gently took her hand, absorbing the faint pulse through her cold fingertips. Over two years, her appearance had scarcely changed; time for her had stopped entirely.
Rem was absent from the world's collective memory, save for Subaru. And so, to Subaru, she was a monument of all that had been stolen from him—one he could never abandon.
[Ram: …Will that be all, Subaru-sama?]
[Subaru: …Yes. I'd like to be alone for a bit, if you don't mind.]
[Ram: Very well. Please call if you need me.]
Ram departed with practiced footsteps. Subaru remained, seating himself in the chair beside Rem's bed. He lifted her hand to his forehead.
[Subaru: Rem, it's… it's me again. Do you even know how many times I've done this? How many times I swore I'd save you?]
He closed his eyes, remembering all the "dead ends," all the resets that had stacked upon one another. Every path that failed to bring Rem's consciousness back, every strategy undone by the ephemeral Sin Archbishop of Gluttony who never, ever appeared to be captured. And so, his solution became the same as always:
—To make Emilia king, secure the Divine Dragon's blood, and free Rem from her cursed sleep.
"Echidna: Just so. Nothing has changed. Now, get up, Subaru. Roswaal should be waiting."
He heard the witch's voice in his mind but did not answer, his lips pressing a soft kiss to Rem's hand. With that small gesture, he set the hand down and rose.
[Subaru: Wait for me, Rem. I promise—I won't let even one more day slip by without trying.]
※※※※※※※※※※※※※
Exiting the room, he nearly collided with a garishly clad clown in the corridor. The jingle of Roswaal's elaborate attire was faint, yet instantly recognizable. His heterochromatic eyes flicked to Subaru's face.
[Roswaal: My my, Subaru-kun. How is Rem faring?]
[Subaru: The same. She's not waking up.]
Roswaal nodded as though that answer had been expected. His expression was difficult to read, but Subaru sensed a curious, calculated acceptance behind it.
[Roswaal: Then nothing has changed from yesterday. That is well. Or perhaps it's not well, but it's stable. Stability grants you time, doesn't it?]
[Subaru: It doesn't grant me relief, if that's what you mean. But yes, it means I still have time.]
[Roswaal: Precisely. Until the day that small fragment of the Archbishops rears its head or you reach the Throne of the Dragon, there is time. And you'll use it, as you always do—failing, winning, repeating, rewriting it all until you grasp the best outcome. That is what we are all counting on, after allllll.]
His voice dripped with unmasked delight, and Subaru's teeth clenched. He still hadn't forced Roswaal to come clean regarding the final piece of his "long-cherished wish." Their alliance was a twisted co-dependency: Roswaal needed Subaru's bizarre ability, and Subaru needed Roswaal's political power. One misstep, and the entire arrangement could crumble.
[Subaru: Listen, I don't have time to bicker with you right now. I need to check on something.]
[Roswaal: Go ahead. But I have a suggestion, if you please.]
Roswaal's thin lips curved into a mocking grin.
[Roswaal: Would you be so kind as to greet Emilia-sama? She's been cooped up in her studies since early this morning, but she asked me when you might come. And we have some official business to discuss… regarding the Royal Capital's invitations, you see.]
[Subaru: …I see. That was on the schedule, right. Fine, I'll go see her now.]
[Roswaal: Naaat-su-ki Suuubaru… do be thorough. That girl's heart is fragile, after all.]
Leaving those parting words, Roswaal drifted away, his footsteps carrying that theatrical flair. Subaru watched his retreating form, a storm of anxiety churning in his gut.
[Subaru: Well, it's Emilia… so yeah, I can't just leave her alone too long. She must be waiting for me.]
He had no illusions about what state Emilia would be in. And sure enough, the moment he reached her door on the second floor, he heard a soft hum—a wordless tune, trembling on every other note.
[Subaru: Emilia? I'm coming in.]
[Emilia: Subaru, come in!]
Her voice was bright, artificially so. She'd clearly been anticipating his arrival, if only to ease whatever uncertain feelings plagued her. Stepping into the room, he found her at the ornate desk, silver hair cut short around her shoulders, a slight flush on her cheeks.
She rose instantly, nearly knocking over a quill and inkpot. Subaru chuckled, closing the door behind him.
[Subaru: Careful, careful. You'll get ink all over those lovely clothes. Petra would cry if her sewing gets ruined.]
[Emilia: Ah—sorry! I got excited hearing your voice. Um, well, I was studying like you told me to. Look, I've been writing out all these laws and references. It's a little hard, though…]
She gestured to the scattered notes. Indeed, it was advanced reading, old Lugnica decrees and legislative texts. Hardly the kind of subject matter for a novice. Subaru put on his best encouraging smile, glancing at the neat paragraphs, ignoring the pang of guilt that shot through him. Even though he had insisted she do these tasks, in truth, he was exploiting her subservience to keep her from facing greater dangers.
[Subaru: You're doing great. Even a noble's child wouldn't be able to read and summarize all that quickly. You're amazing, Emilia-tan.]
[Emilia: …Really? You're not just saying that so I don't feel bad?]
[Subaru: I'm serious. You always do more than I expect. I'm proud of you.]
Her amethyst eyes sparkled at his praise. She clasped her hands together, took one step forward—and then, paused. Subaru saw the shift in her expression: it was a fleeting moment of unease, a flicker of some dark memory. It threatened to unravel her.
[Emilia: Subaru… you'll stay with me for a little while, right? If you say I should keep studying, I will. But can you… um… can you just talk to me while I do it?]
He felt an ache in his throat. A single misstep—any moment of negligence—and Emilia might slip into that icy panic. If she had a flashback to the Trial's illusions, the entire mansion would freeze over in a matter of heartbeats.
[Subaru: I'll be right here. …I promise.]
Emilia's soft smile returned, more earnest this time. She beckoned for him to sit, so he took a chair near the desk. It felt strangely domestic—like a tutor watching his pupil. Yet the fragile tension remained.
For a while, he simply watched. Emilia read lines aloud, stumbling here and there, repeating whenever Subaru gently corrected her. He would occasionally crack a joke, garnering a small laugh. That laugh soothed the guilt roiling in his heart. Echidna's presence lingered near, silent now, but he felt her cold disapproval. The Witch had never hidden her disdain for Emilia.
[Emilia: Hmm, next… oh, Subaru, there's something about resources from Kararagi. I don't really understand this… production tax?]
[Subaru: Let me see. Production tax… oh, that's a tariff mention. You—]
He kept explaining, mind drifting automatically into problem-solving mode. Ever since forging his contract with Echidna, Subaru's intellect for "finding an optimal approach" had sharpened unnaturally. His memory for details of repeated loops was already strong, but with the Witch's advice, he caught on to political intricacies too. It was all for the goal of making Emilia queen—a stepping stone toward retrieving the Divine Dragon's blood and saving Rem, all while never losing anyone else.
Time passed in quiet study. At length, Emilia lifted her head.
[Emilia: Subaru, thank you. Um, I think I should review these sections one more time, but my eyes are kinda tired… c-could you, maybe…
[Subaru: …Hm?]
[Emilia: Could you, you know, stroke my hair? If you think I did well, that is…]
She bowed her head, face reddening in shy anticipation. Subaru's chest constricted, remembering how docile she had become, how she gave him absolute trust. A fleeting flash of shame crossed his face. Yet, with careful motion, he lifted his hand to rest gently on her head, threading his fingers through her silvery locks.
[Subaru: Good job, Emilia. You're doing great.]
[Emilia: Mm…]
Her eyes slid shut, a small sigh of contentment escaping her lips. For a moment, Subaru let the serenity settle around them, ignoring the goosebumps rising on his arms—the silent warning that he was using her dependence to keep her "safe."
※※※※※※※※※※※※※
When at last he left Emilia's side, the Magic Hour Crystal showed it was already past midday. He felt exhaustion setting in. Recalling the day's next scheduled tasks, he weighed his options. If any new threat was on the horizon, his best move was to gather intel. A flicker of memory reminded him that he had assigned Elsa to sniff out yet another possible Witch Cult hideout in the southwestern region.
[Subaru: She might come back soon… and if it's another dead end, I'll have to think of something else.]
As he walked along, lost in thought, a presence slid behind him. The corridor's shadows stirred. With inhuman grace, a figure emerged, faint as a wraith.
[Elsa: Good afternoon, Master. Am I interrupting?]
[Subaru: Elsa. You're back quicker than I thought. Did you find anything?]
Her black hair swayed, braided in that familiar style. She stepped right up to him, the faint scent of iron following. In her hand, she toyed with a kukri knife, the same weapon that had severed Subaru's head on the previous iteration of this morning.
[Elsa: Nothing of note, I'm afraid. The rumors about a hideout turned out to be… ordinary brigands, mostly. I "freed" them. But none had the aura of the Sin Archbishops. Especially not Gluttony.]
Her luscious lips curved into a small, disappointed pout. Subaru felt the frustration twist in his gut, but forced it down.
[Subaru: Another dead end, huh…]
[Elsa: Sorry. I searched thoroughly. Their remains aren't talking, if that's what you're wondering.]
Despite the grim jest, Subaru nodded. For Elsa, that was standard procedure. He grit his teeth. Yet again, chasing down rumors of Gluttony had yielded nothing. He remained no closer to freeing Rem from her timeless sleep through direct confrontation.
[Subaru: Then it has to be the Royal Selection. If we keep winning political support, eventually Gluttony or some other Archbishop might be driven into a corner…]
"Echidna: Or the Divine Dragon's blood, yes? The same old refrain."
That hush of a voice—it sent a chill through Subaru's chest. Even Elsa, who could not hear Echidna, raised an eyebrow at Subaru's sudden pause. He forced out a quick breath.
[Subaru: Elsa, for now, rest up. I have no new target for you. Just make sure you're not spotted lurking around the mansion. We don't need Reinhardt suspecting anything. I'll call for you again when I have a lead.]
[Elsa: Of course, Master. …I look forward to it.]
Her dark eyes glimmered with a suggestive light; then, as easily as she had appeared, the assassin melded into the shadows again, vanishing down the corridor in utter silence. Subaru exhaled, pressing one hand to the wall to steady himself.
He could sense a creeping despair in how fruitless his attempts to track down Gluttony had become. Achieving "zero sacrifices" was growing more precarious each time new difficulties arose. The more time that passed, the more potential threats might converge upon them. The Witch Cult, possible intrigues from other factions… everyone who had witnessed Subaru's spectacular feats might scheme anew.
[Subaru: It never ends… but that's fine. I didn't think it would.]
Staring at his faint reflection in the polished floor tile, Subaru reviewed his next steps. Protecting the mansion, protecting Emilia, saving Rem, eventually pulling Beatrice out of her shell—none of it would happen if he gave in to exhaustion. His life was infinitely expendable as far as he was concerned. He could do this. He must do this.
"Echidna: That's the spirit, Subaru. Now, keep moving."
[Subaru: Right…]
Muttering that in reply, Subaru strode forward. Step by step, the day wore on. He would do everything as before, re-check every piece of the puzzle, ensuring no new horrors lay in wait. If the day came to a successful close, then the next day, too, might yet hold the answers he sought. That was precisely how Natsuki Subaru managed to ward off the darkness: by forging a path of illusions that one day, eventually, would become reality.
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And so, the day repeated itself.
Conversations unfolded in the same corridors, the same rooms; bitter aftertastes festered in whispered thoughts, regrets that Subaru alone carried. The afternoon passed, drifting inexorably toward evening.
And at last, well past the orange glow of sunset, Subaru found himself seated alone on his bed. The mansion lights were dim. Outside, the forest's night-sounds gently thrummed.
[Subaru: …What did I miss? If Return by Death has advanced my save point to this morning, it means somewhere in these next few days or weeks, something's big enough to require it.]
Alone, Subaru let the worries swirl. He must keep the palace factions appeased, must shield Emilia from mental breakdown, must ensure Garfiel doesn't explode from frustration, must keep Elsa's activities a secret from Reinhardt, must somehow warm Beatrice's heart, must maintain good relations with Roswaal, must rescue Rem… The myriad tasks piled high, each a mountain. And if he slipped, even once, it might cost someone their life—or lead to a "bad end."
"Echidna: So many burdens. But I am here, to share them. Right?"
Subaru gave a slow nod. In truth, he had no illusions about relying on her wholeheartedly. Yet, ironically, in that silent, moonlit space, the Witch's voice offered a cold solace.
[Subaru: Echidna… I'll keep borrowing your power. It's the only way.]
He whispered, closing his eyes. The black crystal pulsed faintly at his chest. And, in his mind, an image of a white-haired witch sipping tea with an enigmatic smile flickered across his vision.
For a moment, it felt as though he could sense her answer—hear her breathy laughter.
Yet no voice came.
No scathing comment.
No teasing jibe.
The night stretched on, silent and dark. Subaru's consciousness drifted toward exhausted sleep, uncertain what tribulations the next sunrise would bring.
He only knew that, no matter what new horrors would surface, he would face them as many times as it took. He would cling to this vow for Rem, for Emilia, for everyone he cherished, even if it meant crushing his own heart over and over again.
――A dream, repeating, spinning, connecting, overcoming.
And so, morning would come once more, as surely as ever.
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