A/N: Hello everyone! We have another chapter! I hope everyone is continuing to enjoy this mini-arc and that the story is staying entertaining and the narrative is engaging. This chapter is going to have a lot second hand viewing in it, so I hope it offers a unique reading experience.
EDIT: Sorry, looks like I accidentally overwrote this chapter with chapter 61 when fixing some typos. Sincerest apologies.
Chapter 60: The Endless Eight – Part 6
Waking with a soft feeling under his head, YN slowly opened his eyes to a familiar hue of blue looking down at him.
Rem: Did YN-kun enjoy his nap?
YN: Ugh, my head kind of hurts.
Awaking more, a fog of pain clouded YN's mind like a bad hangover or really bad caffeine crash.
Rem: Here, sit up.
Helping YN to his knees from her lap, Rem rubbed YN's shoulders as he continued to adjust himself.
Rem: It appears Beatrice-sama is also coming back.
Having put herself into a zen-like state, Beatrice stood, frozen in place, hand still extended from having cast her magic. The drill haired girl wore a blank expression, unfitting for her cuteness. Slowly, her own eyes opened, revealing the butterfly pattern in them.
Opening fully, she shut one as if on reflex, and cupped her extended hand back to her own forehead, as if suffering from a headache of her own.
Rem: Beatrice-sama, is your mind sore as well? Rem can fetch some tea—
Beatrice: —No.
With both YN and Rem caught off by Beatrice's sharp reply, the drill haired girl fixed her posture while giving them each a very brief, but nonetheless existent look of pity.
Seeing her words had an impact on them, Beatrice corrected herself.
Beatrice: —N-No thank you...
Looking down at the floor, she continued with words under her breath.
Beatrice: You've both done plenty...
YN: Beatrice-sama?
Turning both her hands at her side into tiny fists, Beatrice recomposed herself and looked back up.
Beatrice: Nothing. Betty did not find anything of significance. These phantom memories of yours are just random daydreaming, I suppose. The Scent as well, appears to be unrelated.
Turning away from them, Beatrice continued.
Beatrice: Rem, take YN to ready the carriage, it will need to be readied soon.
Rem: Yes, Beatrice-sama.
Standing up, Rem offered a hand to YN to help him up, but he did not take it. He couldn't. After all, he had just heard something too strange to
YN: You—, You just called us by our names.
Surprised she hadn't noticed it, Rem put a hand to her chest in silent reply. But knowing she had slipped up, Beatrice remained with her back to them both, not saying anything.
YN: You don't ever do that.
With silence between them for a moment more, Beatrice finally spoke as she walked back to her chair and books.
Beatrice: Betty is done here and has to find where she left off in her book, I suppose. Please, find your way out or Betty will have to assist.
Knowing Beatrice had threatened to blow YN out of the library last time as well, Rem grabbed YN's hand and brought him to his feet.
YN: W-wait, Beatrice—
Rem: YN-kun. Beatrice-sama is correct, we are short on time.
Not wishing to argue with Rem, YN relented. With no choice but to accept Beatrice's word, the two departed. Opening the door for Rem, YN let her through, and following her, he shut the door behind them. Deciding that it was pointless to push the issue of Beatrice using their names, YN was ready to admit the endeavor's failure to Rem.
YN: That was a waste of time... I'm really sorry for making a fuss over such a stupid—
Swiftly turning back to him, Rem gave YN a serious look.
Rem: Rem never once told Beatrice-sama we would be leaving.
Blinking a few times at Rem's sudden observation, he tilted his head.
YN: I don't follow.
Rem: How would Beatrice-sama know that we should 'ready the carriage' when Rem, or anyone else for that matter, has never informed her we would be leaving later this evening?
Turning around to the door he had just closed that led to the forbidden library, instead of answering Rem, YN went for the door handle. Twisting it open, an empty guest room was all that met his spontaneous choice.
YN: Damn it. Rem, you're right. We need to find her again, it shouldn't take long to—
Rem: Rem is afraid we're out of time...
While it was obvious Beatrice was acting strange, YN and Rem both knew it could be for a medley of reasons.
As they both looked down, YN spoke up once more.
YN: Rem, do you think we just made a bad decision?
Putting a hand to her chest, Rem softly swayed her head.
Rem: Rem isn't certain... Only time will tell.
Sighing, YN could only agree.
YN: That's true, huh? Well... I guess we should try and make up for lost time.
Rem: Yes. We have only so long before we must depart.
As the two walked down the hallway and towards the stairs, a quick regret came to YN's mind.
YN: —Crap! I didn't finish watering the flower beds! They're gonna wilt in this heat.
Rem: YN-kun is correct. Rem will ask Nee-sama to take care of it.
YN: I hate to ask that of her when it's my job...
Rem: It's unavoidable. YN-kun did cover for Ram during the chef's visit, so Rem believes this is fair.
YN: Yeah but she counted setting up the room for our dinner date as payback for that...
Continuing on with other topics, Rem and YN set about getting everything ready for the departure in a few hours.
But as they did, Beatrice remained in her library with her thoughts.
Her thoughts of all she had just witnessed that had supposedly taken place over just a few days.
Sitting in her library, Beatrice was unable to concentrate on her book. The longer she stared at the words on the page, the less they made sense.
Having re-read a passage for what felt like the fifth time, Beatrice shut the book she held and pinched between her brows and shut her eyes, letting out a large, and dramatic sigh.
Why must Betty's mind be plagued by such things I suppose?
Staring at the door that had just been shut recently, a flash of the images she had seen played back in her head, but her expression stayed neutral all the say.
Tactfully, Beatrice had started with what she felt from his memories, in the form of the invisible book in her hands, were about a week prior, but had skipped forward to what was supposed to be today.
Betty's first clue should have been the amount of time she could still access between then and the present.
Having witnessed Emilia drink from a glass that wasn't meant to be hers, Beatrice watched as the world progressed into what she believed to be the future. Packing the luggage, riding to Costuul, none of these events had happened yet. But here she was, witnessing it.
Just how?
Knowing she was pressed for time and with little interest in the finer details, Beatrice skipped over many details, arriving to the day everyone reached Saluzzo. From there, she only briefly watched small intersections, never focusing on any one conversation for more than a few moments.
That was, until a large, multi-armed monster attacked the festival they were at, taking YN away. Watching the later altercation, she had observed the man responsible.
'Leo' is he..? A Yin magic user...
Sizing up herself as a fellow caster of Yin magic, she deemed the man a novice, someone she would have no trouble crushing.
Watching as the fight went on, Beatrice was struck to see Emilia sacrifice herself.
Foolish half-devil... Why would you do such a thing Betty wonders.
But from her death, came a bone chilling cold even Beatrice could feel through her shared feeling with YN's senses in this moment.
That cursed contract I suppose... Bubby...
Still unsure if she was somehow glimpsing into the future, she had begun to surmise what she saw as being similar to the trials her Mother had sought to create for Sanctuary.
Letting the altercation play out more, Leo had pulled out a violet orb, and utilized its power. Analyzing his threat of its power and seeing its effects on Subaru, Beatrice was stunned to see such a powerful Yin magic.
For such a power to exist...
For the first time in many long years, Beatrice was frightened by what she saw.
To rip away memories... Betty thought only a power like that could come from a beholder of a Factor...
Seeing YN be caught up in the light, the memory ended, casting a dark shadow on Beatrice's nonexistent body. But—
Just—! Just how I suppose!
Somehow, while continuing to play out the memories, they had skipped back, like a misprinted book. Feeling for the pages she felt, according to them, everything was exactly how it should be. Yet after seeing YN fall victim to the violet light, here he was, back in the mansion.
From there, Beatrice saw the minute differences play out.
Rem smelled the Witch's Miasma, where she had not made a mention of it before. But one major thing was different this time.
Betty can be sure... Something is definitely different here...
As she had watched ahead, the events played out in their same order, but with herself in company along with the other four, traveling to a festival that had already happened, encountering all the same things for a second time.
Beatrice watched in silence. Had anyone ever had the luxury of seeing themselves in memories that should not exist? This must be a first...
Moving onward, she saw herself carried on YN's shoulders, and from that conversation she learned how she had come to be the fifth party member. And onward to the festival, she saw herself casting magic on the same shape-shifting beast that had kidnapped YN the first time as well.
Betty was unable to make a difference then... That means results surely were the same as last time then?
Watching as the fight between Leo and herself raged on with no clear winner, Beatrice had underestimated the middle aged man. Coming to a draw, the 'Merciful' had offered a point of peace, asking for Beatrice herself to become his partnered spirit.
As if Betty would! The nerve... Just like all the others that have sought out Betty I suppose... After four hundred years, the sheer number of those who have asked... And he thinks he can threaten Betty with it?
Denying him, the violet crystal orb was once again brought out, and it's terrible power was unleashed. Watching as Rem, Subaru, and Emilia all suffered its fate in unison, a mix of emotion filled Beatrice.
Was this guilt? For humans? It couldn't be.
Betty cares not for them... Sure Betty would—
Catching her observer self off, Beatrice saw herself move to protect YN from the incoming violet light. Casting Al Shamak, she brought them both to an alternative dimension to avoid the light.
However, she was too slow.
Only partially connecting with YN, upon exiting Al Shamak, only something she herself could do, Beatrice could quickly see the effects of the halfway exposure.
YN was rambling, and confused. Beatrice needed to remind him of several things as the snow storm intensified.
Between seeing so many fall victim to something she could have prevented, failing to save YN, and then seeing an up close view of the consequences, Beatrice was beside herself.
Why... Why did Betty act!? Now Betty is involved and—!
Feeling nonexistent tears run down her nonexistent face, Beatrice clenched her nonexistent fists in frustration with herself.
Finally in white out conditions, she saw herself fade away from the mana-exhaustion, and the world begin anew, once more.
In the end... failure...
Indeed, she nonetheless found herself back in a world where these actions had yet to happen. Realizing this was an unfounded opportunity, Beatrice felt determination fill her frustrated self. Having reached memories of only moments ago for YN, the last thing she saw was their most previous conversion, and with that, Beatrice exited the realm of his memories.
Betty will change the future, I suppose. These sins will not be for her to bear...
She was, however, unsure of where this motivation suddenly came from. Was it guilt from not taking the peaceful option? Was it the sorrow she felt seeing everyone she knew that was still alive suddenly being ripped away from something she couldn't prevent? Or was it the shock of seeing how she truly reacted in the heat of the moment by saving someone she cared not for?
Still staring at the door whilst she sat in her chair, Beatrice mulled over these thoughts again, and again, and again. Playing them out in her mind, looking for reason or clues.
Finally standing up, Beatrice went to put her book away back on a nearby shelf. Stepping back from the bookcase, she looked all around her, indexing her mind for a book that may shed some light onto magic that could rewind time.
Just how is that part happening then at all...
Taking a deep breath, Beatrice knew she needed to first source something that may prove to be a problem even if she managed to successfully save everyone.
Betty can think of nothing else other than that crystal orb... That must be the utility causing everything to return to normal...
Putting a tiny hand to her chin, Beatrice put the theory against her better judgement and magical knowledge of four hundred years.
Unable to convince herself, she mulled over the negatives.
Beatrice: It's already taking memories through some unknown magic... If the crystal orb already did that, there's no reason as to why it would also rewind time... What would be the point of taking a few memories beforehand?
Thinking aloud to herself, Beatrice contained.
Beatrice: Why would it have two functions where one makes the other pointless... It would already take an enormous amount of mana to erase memories and that would be dwarfed by the amount needed to turn back time... there must be some other source of power to accomplish that—
Theorycrafting, Beatrice came to a conclusion.
Beatrice: It's the memories themselves I suppose!
In regard to Beatrice's rationale, memory theft was something that was possible, given enough mana and the knowledge of how to perform such a feat. But the time was another aspect.
Beatrice: Somehow... it must be the memories that are being used to turn back the time.
Imagining it must be collecting the memories as a catalyst for its time manipulation, she figured this must be the case.
Beatrice: It's a farfetched theory...
But at this juncture, Beatrice was already dealing with so many unknowns.
Looking back to the door one final time, Beatrice was determined.
She would save everyone.
She would defeat this evil.
She would not let the world perpetually loop.
Beatrice: Mother... Betty wishes you were here to help solve this...
Feeling the bitter cold bite at her nose and fingertips, Beatrice stood resolute. Amongst the shattered wooden structure all around her, the boards of splintery remains began to be buried under the snow. Soon, a familiar figure would come to raze the world of everything she knew.
But before her stood a man. A middle aged man she was unfamiliar with, yet had seen before ever meeting him. Having offered her a role she would never take, she had once again led things to a disaster where people who she knew had been hurt, or worse, killed due to her refusal.
Being the first to have caught a shard of Minya meant for YN, Emilia had sacrificed herself, and in the midst of a brutal offense, Beatrice had failed to protect her.
Rushing to her side, had been Subaru. Unknown to him though, the ice she had summoned was lethal, and in the best Beatrice could have done to save him, she used her magic to push him away from touching Emilia, preventing an instant and lethal flash freeze. But in doing so, she had thrown him into a pile of debris, knocking him out.
Next had been Rem, failing to deflect a projectile of Yin magic meant for Beatrice as she tried to protect Subaru. Unable to see what had become of her though, Beatrice impaled the ground with her El Minya, erecting a wall with her and YN on one side, and everyone else on the other. Grinding her teeth at another failure to protect someone, Beatrice doubled on saving one last person.
YN: Beatrice! Let me get to Rem! I have to—!
Beatrice: It's useless I suppose!
Readying a mass of mana in his own hand to blast his way through the wall of Minya with a Jiwald, Beatrice shot more flaming dark crystals of her own. Unsure if this was an attack at first, YN ducked, and in doing so, he heard a clash of more magic right above him.
YN: —tch!
Having collided with Beatrice's crystals, were ones of ice that had rained down from above. YN put a hand up to shield himself from the fallout of ice and yin shards. Looking up though, all YN and Beatrice saw through the near whiteout conditions and fizzle of broken mana now were two yellow orbs. Eyes.
With tears forming in her eyes, Beatrice cried out to the owner of them.
Beatrice: Bubby, please! You don't have to do this!
Moving his large face forward, YN felt an immediate pressure fill the air around him as the owner's silhouette could be seen through the snow. A tiger's head, with the same pair of glowing yellow eyes. In his thunderous voice, he commanded his reply as his words boomed across the frozen battlefield.
Puck: Betty, you know I'm honor bound to fulfill my contractual deal with Lia.
YN: And what would that be?! Attacking Emilia's friends?!
Hearing defiance to his words, Puck turned his mighty gaze to the one who dared to speak up.
Puck: I cannot fault your confusion. Your understanding of spiritual contracts is so close, yet so far away.
Unsure of how that answered his question, YN wanted to shout back, but was cut off by Beatrice.
Beatrice: Does Bubby not consider how anyone else would feel?! Does—... Does he not even consider how Betty would feel?!
Puck: I feel nothing in a world in which Lia does not exist, for that, I am not only obligated by my contract with her, but also in personal preference to destroy the entire world.
Speechless from hearing this revelation, YN already had a hard time believing what he saw now was Puck, but since Beatrice had taken it so seriously...
YN: He would... destroy the whole world just for Emilia...?
Speaking under his breath, YN was bent over, bracing his upper body on his knees at this shock of knowledge as his breath steamed into his own face.
Puck: Betty... you of all people should know what it means to honor a contract no matter what.
Clenching her fists, the drill haired girl yelled back.
Beatrice: Not like this! Nothing like this I suppose!
Seeing even Beatrice, who adored Puck, was defiant to his reasoning, it spurred YN to yell more too.
YN: How would Emilia feel right now if she knew you'd actually do this?! She would be ashamed of you!
Leaning in further to YN, a large feline face, full of dull, grey hair and whiskers filled his vision, as one large snort exited its nose, Puck replied.
Puck: Those are big words from someone who claims to know Lia's feelings while all they did while she was alive was deny them at every juncture.
Unsure of what he meant exactly, his words were filled with the malice YN clearly associated with someone who was about to kill him.
Feeling his time was at an end, a sudden interruption broke the hostile interaction. Dark Yin crystals smashed into the side of beast-Puck's body, but not from the side in which Beatrice could have managed to shoot from.
Taking no visible damage, the beast form of the familiar little grey cat looked over to the source of the spell.
Hand outstretched, was the man who had come to cause all of Beatrice's pain and frustration, as well as YN's.
Leo: It appears while I struggle against one spirit, I am powerless to a Great one.
Puck: You should know you are powerless against me.
Leo: I am well aware.
With an uptick in the snow being blown around, YN and Beatrice found themselves both snowblinded, and unable to directly look at Puck or Leo, about ready to have their final showdown. Covering their faces, they could only listen in while taking brief glances.
Puck: Because you have removed my daughter from this world, I am now forced to destroy it, and I'll start by ending the man who killed Lia.
Leo: I'm afraid I cannot allow that. I have too much research to focus on.
Reaching behind him, Leo brought out the accursed item that sent shivers down Beatrice's spine. Having seen it for the first time in person, she had an immediate reaction to send out as much mana as she could muster, hoping to knock it away.
But gathering her mana to do so, a sudden realization washed over her mind, causing her eyes to open wide.
This chance... it's already failed... If he rewinds time then—!
Coming to a massive realization, Beatrice grabbed YN's hand.
If things go exactly as they did before, just like how they ended last time, Betty can have a second chance!
Beatrice: We need to run I suppose!
YN: Wait— I need to get Rem—!
Beatrice: Please! Trust Betty, she's begging you! Betty will save her.
Heading her plea, and with the promise of saving Rem, YN nodded in agreement, and let the spirit guide him off.
Betty can make sure she gets everything she needs the next time she bears witness to these events. She will be better prepared next time I suppose.
Fumbling through the growing snow drift, a mass of splintered and cracked boards of wood came into their limited view.
YN: Subaru!
Laying, unconscious, but still alive, a small trail of frozen blood ran down his forehead.
Beatrice: We don't have time! We need to get further!
YN: No, hold on a second. Subaru! Hey! Wake up!
Grabbing Subaru by the collar on his Yukata, YN did his best to try and get him up and moving. But pulling on YN's sleeve, Beatrice urged him onward.
Beatrice: Betty will save him too! But for now we need to—
YN: Beatrice! He needs help! I can't just— H-Woah!
Walking to his front, Beatrice held a hand out and blasted the two apart, sending YN cascading far away into a deeper snow drift.
Spitting the snow from his mouth, YN called out.
YN: Damn it! Who's side are you on!?
Trying to free himself up and out of the deep snow, YN began to feel the numbness of the cold.
I gotta get out of here and find Rem!
Getting ready to fire a Jiwald to melt some of the snow and maybe give himself some much needed warmth, Beatrice's silhouette appeared at the top of the indent he found himself in.
Getting ready to bellow to her to help him out, YN quickly realized why he could see her silhouette, even in these intense, blizzard like condition.
Behind her, was a massive, violet colored light.
YN: Beatrice... what's that light behind you...
With no answer, the light grew more, allowing him to see more of the drill haired girl in better detail.
She stood still, but held a book in her hand, and a quill in the other. Fully concentrating on her book, YN was about to inquire why she was reading at a time like this, but rather, she was writing.
Fervently, Beatrice scribbled words down, her butterfly eyes following across the page.
Seeing the light behind her intensify once more, it's increase in luminosity even grabbed Beatrice's attention. Snapping her head back from a moment, she finished whatever she was scribbling on the page, and slid down the snow bank to YN, ditching the quill in her hand.
YN: What's so important that you have to write it all down—!
Beatrice: —Just look!
Holding the wide open book right in YN's face she had grabbed from a pile of debris, Beatrice had scribbled over the words that were properly printed onto the pages. Flipping the pages a handful of times, the combination of their brevity and the fact they were written over other words, coupled with YN's still poor reading skills, he drew no context from what the messages said.
YN: W-What?! Beatrice, I couldn't read any of that—
With another increase in the violet light happening suddenly, it was only a short distance behind Beatrice now. As YN stared at it, it's audible hum lingered in his mind. For some reason, he recalled seeing such a phenomenon before.
Beatrice: You don't need to be able to.
Shaking her head, a tear ran down Beatrice's fade before freezing.
YN: I— I don't understand.
Placing a hand in front of YN, Beatrice waited for just the right moment, closing her eyes.
Beatrice: That was Betty's message in a bottle.
YN: — — —
Beatrice: Betty is sorry she has treated you so rudely in the past, but she promises you—, no, everyone—
Opening her eyes, YN saw them full of determination.
Beatrice: Betty will save you all!
As she declared her promise, the violet light expanded forth once more. And just before it intercepted them, Beatrice called out her last and final spell.
Beatrice: Al Shamak!
Into a confusing, and forgetful black fog, the two went.
Lifting the glass to his mouth, YN's intention had been to quench his thirst with the ice water Rem had left him on this hot, summer day, but rather, he stopped mid sip, feeling an extreme amount of cold all over his body.
With Emilia entering and inquiring why he was coughing, YN needed to excuse himself, and in doing so, caught Rem in the hallway. Meeting up, the two left for a moment of privacy to discuss each of their concerns.
Coming to an idea, the two approached and inquired with Beatrice to let Rem back into YN's memories. After some back and forth, an agreement was made for Beatrice to look for herself.
As she did, much like last time, Beatrice was astonished to see events taking place without her knowledge. She was surprised to see actions being taken by herself that she would not normally perform. And she was dumbfounded as she had thought she reached where she currently was, looking into YN's memories, only for her to see herself leaving these memories.
Beatrice watched as she said she had seen nothing. But Beatrice knew herself. She knew, at that moment, that she was lying.
But she continued to watch, skipping ahead on the emphasis that time was limited. Reaching the end, Beatrice saw all the death and destruction. The snow. The ensuing fight with Leo. And Puck's transformation.
Watching till the very end though, Beatrice saw one important detail. One performed by herself.
To Beatrice in the last loop, the one she now currently looked into the eyes of while the mass of violet light grew larger behind her, this had been her moment.
Beatrice had sent out a message in a bottle with the notes on the pages she had shown YN.
They were quick enough he couldn't read or remember them, but made just so that Beatrice, as an observer, could halt and read them over.
Filling her in entirely, Beatrice in the present read them over, as they fully informed her of all the thinking and figuring out she had done after viewing YN's memories for the first time. She wrote that she hoped with her failure, Beatrice in the present could figure out what Beatrice in the prior could not.
Leaving YN's memories, just like last time, she initially fumbled over her words, but told Rem and him nothing, as instructed.
As the two left, Beatrice went about strategizing with her limited time, determined to not fail this time.
Coming to the final act, Beatrice's revised plan had failed once more, resulting in the death of Rem and Emilia. Having separated from the rest with YN again, Beatrice sought to try again, sending out another message in a bottle like her predecessor, this time telling her future self that she could not hope to win all alone. As the violet light filled her vision, Beatrice cast her magic, again recreating the needed circumstances for a half-amnessic YN and Rem to come to her, seeking to peer into his memories, only for herself to become privy to them.
Without enjoying his glass of water, YN eluded Emilia's questioning and found Rem. After some discussion, Beatrice went through YN's memories. Seeing everything and being filled in by herself, she planned her next attempt.
With Beatrice ending up being the one to do so, she for a third time, although unknown to her, or anyone else, looked into YN's memories.
Reading her message in a bottle, she was informed of her two former failed attempts and the context that went along with them. Reading she had now failed three times, the current Beatrice still said not a word to Rem or YN, but rather once again spent her time figuring out what she should do.
Failing for a fourth time, Beatrice fell back to her "plan: B" of informing her future self of what had been tried, and what didn't work, and what to possibly try next.
Her plan this time had been to form a coordinated attack on Leo once they all had gathered. But with no way to relay why, or even how, the plan failed spectacularly, causing things to end much like how they did last time.
Showing YN her notes, Beatrice let the world be rewound more, hoping next time she'd be freed from this nightmare.
A drink of water.
Emilia.
Rem.
Beatrice reading YN's mind.
Knowing she was not able to form a team effort, Beatrice doubled down on herself, doing something she thought she would never resort to.
Enacting a contract with YN, if only to access his enormous mana pool, a result of his stretched gate, Beatrice gritted her teeth at having done so.
It's a shame he's so wasteful with his own spells, should he learn to control it, he would be quite formidable in a battle of straight attrition I suppose.
Even with their combined efforts though, Beatrice failed for a fifth time.
But as she watched on to the end, the Beatrice of this failed loop did succeed in sending out her message in a bottle like her predecessor had.
However, this time, it was different.
Since seeing it for the first time, Beatrice's messages had included instructions to the next one to bring a book and ink for this exact reason, if only as a backup.
In these notes, she would briefly surmise what she had found out, what worked, what didn't, and that due to limited time constraints to be viewing memories, to instead skip ahead and read her notes if she finds herself viewing YN's memories again, meaning that a failure had occurred.
This time, Beatrice had not written on her notes what her previous self thought she should try, but rather this time, it was an admittance of defeat.
Stopping to read the pages her former self flashed to YN right before the magenta light hit, Beatrice was struck.
After so much death and destruction going unprevented, there have been a total of five failures. I am unable to formulate a solution to these matters while staying true to my promise to protect everyone. It is for that reason, I am pleading that we give up. I plead that we take Leo's offer. I plead that we stop this endless madness of death we are otherwise powerless to stop. I plead that we honor our promise to everyone. To YN, to Rem, to Subaru, to Bubby. Our sacrifice of a few years is nothing for their safety. Please, take his offer.
Seeing the defeat and remorse in her own eyes, Beatrice was utterly convinced by herself. Each time a "new" Beatrice viewed the memories, she was forced to know she had failed in her promise, and with these growing failures beginning to become heavy, she saw how desperate her state had become. The more she failed, the less likely she was to succeed because of this.
Exiting YN's memories, Beatrice was ready to end all the cycle of suffering she believed only she could prevent, and confess everything to the one person whom she had relied on this entire time.
Waking up, YN felt his head resting on the familiar softness of Rem's lap. With his head turned sideways, he could smell the familiar floral scent Rem's apron she always had on her. Feeling his hair being lightly played with, he longed to lay there longer, enjoying Rem's gentle touch.
But with Beatrice having come to earlier, Rem could easily see the troubled emotion in her eyes. Knowing there would be bad news soon, Rem decided to pamper YN as best she could, hoping to give him some calm before the storm.
Slowly opening his eyes, he looked up at the blue haired girl who's lap he laid his head on.
YN: Rem...
Smiling softly at his drowsy voice, Rem caressed his cheek.
Rem: Did YN-kun enjoy his nap?
Knowing it wasn't just a nap, but a mission, YN pulled his consciousness together, and sat up from the paradise his head was in.
YN: I did, thank you for giving me the lap pillow.
Rem: Of course. Rem will give YN-kun one whenever he wants.
Patting the oni on her head, she blushed at the praise given to her by YN.
YN: Now then, Beatrice, did you find anything in my memories—
Having paid the girl no attention while awaking, YN was shocked to see her standing there like a statue, tears welling up in her eyes.
Rem: Beatrice-sama.
Putting a hand to her chest, Rem had failed to realize the emotion in her eyes from before had grown into something else.
YN: B-Beatrice... Is everything okay?
With her only reply being a simple sniffle, YN or Rem didn't know what to say. They could only look at Beatrice as she looked back upon them.
Beatrice: Betty is terribly sorry for misleading you both so much...
Rem: Beatrice-sama, what do you mean?
Casting her solum gaze down on the floor, Beatrice began to explain herself.
Beatrice: Five times...
Leaning in, YN tried to get a better clue as to what Beatrice was getting at.
YN: Uhh, what about 'five times?'
Making immediate eye contact with YN, her small butterfly pattern eyes welled up with tears as she laid down the dreadful news.
Beatrice: Five times! Five times Betty has failed to save everyone from the impending tragedy and the end of the world!
Taking a step back, neither Rem nor YN knew what to say. Knowing she needed to explain more though as well, Beatrice wiped the tears from her eyes as she struggled to hold herself still and to try and explain.
Beatrice: The two of you have both asked Betty five times now, to look into his memories... And each time Betty failed to prevent everything from going back to today...
Immediately looking over to Rem, she did the same to YN. Hearing what could only be a reference to Return By Death, a cold sweat had broken out on their own brows in unison. Deciding to bluff, YN tried to extrapolate more information on just what Beatrice meant by that.
YN: Hey, it kind of sounds like you're saying we're in some sort of a never ending loop where time goes backwards the next day...
Beatrice: — — —
Rem: That wouldn't be possible, right YN-kun?
As Beatrice looked up at both of the people who doubted her claim, she shook her head.
Beatrice: Five times... Betty has hid this was happening, and five times she's failed to keep it from happening I suppose...
Wiping a tear from her eye, she continued.
Beatrice: Betty doesn't ever remember it, but each time she's looked into his memories, Betty sees her failures and the notes she leaves the next Betty on what to try next...
Only managing to further confuse Rem and YN, it was Rem who spoke up, seeking clarification, as she assumed Beatrice was beginning to have an understanding of Return By Death, much like she did when viewing YN's memories.
Rem: Can Beatrice-sama explain more what she means by 'next try?'
Giving the blue haired girl who asked her question a slight nod in acknowledgement, Beatrice elaborated.
Beatrice: Betty is fully aware that most of the people in the mansion besides the older maid sister and Roswaal are expected to leave later this evening for a festival in the city of Saluzzo I suppose.
Putting a fist to her chest, Rem confirmed that was true.
Rem: Yes. Did Nee-sama by chance—
Beatrice: No. No one told Betty. Betty learned this through looking through his memories.
Snapping his vision over to Rem while Beatrice cast her eyes back down to the floor, for YN, that was all the confirmation that he needed that Return By Death had occurred. Rem was well aware too, silently confirming she was convinced of this as well through a distinct look in her eyes.
The scent was there, and Beatrice had information she would only have from the future. But where were the memories of these loops?
Beatrice said she failed 'five times...' Does that mean me and Subaru have looped five times without even noticing?
As Rem also was again coming to the same conclusion as YN, she could see the panic growing in him as she noticed he'd begun to shake. Talking in his place, Rem could see any words from him at this moment would be shaky at best, so she asked more questions in his stay.
Rem: But wouldn't we all remember such a thing happening?
Asking an open ended question, YN couldn't have approached it better. It had distinctly reminded him of when Ram had used her social skills to pry information out of him in a similar way in the forest after the initial mabeast attack. Truly, they were both trained in these ways as information finders.
Beatrice: No... After arriving in Saluzzo, we are always attacked by a man who holds a powerful mana crystal capable of resetting time.
As Beatrice continued to look down at the floor, Rem raised an eyebrow to YN without her seeing. That information couldn't be correct. Whenever time was rewound by Return By Death, it created an increase in the Witch's miasma around Subaru and YN. The fact that Rem had noticed and smelled this sudden increase was proof that it was Return By Death that had caused this "reset" of time, not whatever Beatrice was claiming.
While all Rem knew that "death" was involved in it, the only person here who truly understood how it was triggered here was YN.
So something is causing Subaru to die... But why aren't we keeping our memories? Why am I the only one who has faint ones?
Looking to Rem, YN gestured with his finger in a rolling motion to try and get more information. They needed to figure out why this was happening.
Rem: Can Beatrice-sama start from the very beginning? What happens before we're all 'attacked?'
Beatrice: After arriving at the festival, when the half devil takes the stage to speak, a terrible monster attacks the venue.
YN: A-A monster? Like a mabeast?
Getting his bearings to speak finally, YN interjected his curiosity at this new price of information. Not only now is there a man, but also a monster?
Shaking her head at his question, Beatrice explained in more detail while continuing her explanation.
Beatrice: No. The monster is some multi-armed menace that is far too intelligent to be a mabeast.
Rem: Is its appearance random, or does it target Emilia-sama?
Automatically assuming that it's happenstance of showing up must not be a coincidence, Rem started by also assuming it must be targeting the most prominent figure in attendance.
But, to Rem's question, Beatrice shook her head.
Beatrice: The beast's target... is him.
Pointing a single and solum finger to YN, he felt his heart drop to his stomach. Somehow, this entire conundrum revolved around him it seemed.
YN: W-Why me?
To YN, and Rem, this made no sense. Why would someone target YN of all people? He had not been in this world long enough to have garnered such a desire from anyone in a negative way.
Looking over to him, the sadness still remained in Beatrice's eyes, but her talking about it seemed to be helping herself.
Beatrice: You are but a means to an end.
With such an ominous answer, Rem interjected once more.
Rem: So is this 'man' the monster then?
Beatrice: No, but Betty is certain it is working with the man. However once it flies off with YN, it simply delivers him to the man with the time altering crystal, and is never seen again.
With Beatrice once more raising more questions then answering, Rem inquired further.
Rem: So this beast can fly?
Beatrice: Yes, and no I suppose. Once it secures YN, it then transforms into a dragon and flies away with him, to deliver him to the man Betty spoke of before.
Having enough, YN resolved himself to calm down, and get the bigger picture from Beatrice.
YN: I'm really sorry Beatrice, I know this must be hard for you, but would you mind explaining exactly what happens during this attack? It's sort of hard to follow...
Responding in a sad tone, Beatrice spoke as if she were deeply hurt that she had confused YN.
Beatrice: Not at all, if Betty cannot manage to protect either of you, she must at least manage to relay the specifics of her failures.
Taking a deep breath, Beatrice started from the beginning.
Beatrice: Once the attack begins, all of the festival goers vacate in a panic, while the four of us remain to fight the beast. Betty has never once been successful in preventing his capture. Each time, all of our combined strength is inadequate. Once all efforts are in vain, the beast takes flight. From there, it delivers him to the man with that cursed crystal...
Rem: So the beast is not interested in YN-kun then? This man is?
Beatrice: Yes. Betty assumes they are working together, and the beast's shapeshifting powers may suggest a more normal form of it, so it's likely it's a person being coerced in some manner into assisting. Although after he is left with this man, Betty has never once seen it again.
YN: Is there any chance this beast and this man are the same thing?
Beatrice: While Betty has never seen them together, with as many stalemates as him and Betty have had, he has never used a shapeshifting skill.
Rem: Beatrice-sama, can you explain in better detail who this other man is? Rem believes she heard that the two of you have had... altercations?
Beatrice: He is a terrible man who calls himself 'Leo the Merciful.' And yes, Betty and him have fought to several stalemates. Even knowing his potential, Betty was unable to defeat him...
YN: So to be clear, you've faced him five times?
Shaking her head, her hair drills moved in motion, and seemed to be drooping, matching her somber expression.
Beatrice: Not personally. My predecessors, the Bettys from other attempts have. Betty herself has only seen their notation through YN's eyes.
Rem: What if everyone involved makes a concerted effort to win? If Emilia-sama, Beatrice-sama, Rem, even YN-kun try and—
Beatrice: —That has been tried, in fact. It only managed to put everyone else at increased risk... It did not end well at all.
YN: There's gotta be—
Beatrice: —Betty even formed a contract with you in the last attempt.
Rem: —!
Taking a slight step back, Rem was profoundly surprised to hear that.
With the concept of 'contracts' still being a foreign idea to YN though, it didn't have the exact impact on him.
Beatrice: Make no mistake, it was not something Betty wanted to do. But it was truly a last resort that was not made lightly.
YN: W-What exactly did that entail?
Beatrice: Betty simply used your ignorance of contracts to form one and have access to your pool of mana.
Looking down as if she felt ashamed for having been so desperate, she continued with a tint of regret on her voice.
Beatrice: This fight was something only Betty could be involved in... So she sought to turn the tides where skill was even and instead overwhelm him using YN's vast mana reserves.
My 'vast mana reserves?'
Thinking back on it, YN had remembered she had said something similar back when he first arrived at the mansion, when him and Subaru had accidentally found her library for the first time. After zapping Subaru of his mana, she had commented on YN having much more than Subaru had before taking it all.
If that's the case, why do I faint after one higher level spell?!
Realizing this wasn't the place to ponder such thoughts, YN drew his attention back to current matters.
Rem: Rem wants to assume that since we're here, that didn't work.
Beatrice: Correct. Betty's predecessor, after failing, made a plea to Betty to just give up. To become Leo's spirit through a contract.
YN: I don't get it, if you two are in contract, does this mean you could make him not attack?
Shaking her head, she answered.
Beatrice: No. His title of 'merciful' seems to be derived from his willingness to cease hostilities if one gives him what he's looking for... Twice, he's offered this.
Rem: What a very twisted sense of 'mercy...'
YN: Okay, back to basics.
Feeling like this conversation was going into tangent after tangent, YN felt a strong desire to get a clear course of events. Standing up, he asked Beatrice to return to his original request.
YN: I want to get this straight then. We go to the festival where Emilia is set to speak, and we're attacked by a large shape-shifting monster. I'm kidnapped and dropped off to this Leo guy. You fight him and he manages to beat you.
Crossing his arms, he concluded his point.
YN: I don't want you to think I'm doubting you. I fully believe what you're saying. But I'm still lost on several things. Why does he target me? And if I remember correctly, you said something about the world ending?
Stepping back forward next to YN, Rem put a hand to her chest once more, also expressing the same thing.
Rem: Rem remembers Beatrice-sama saying YN-kun's kidnapping was only 'a means to an end.' Does that imply this man— Leo was holding him for ransom to get Emilia-sama to pay it?
Being asked two of the hardest questions yet, Beatrice clenched her tiny fists for a moment before letting the tension go as she struggled to reply, the weight of the answers being the cause.
Beatrice: YN was kidnapped to lure you out.
Pointing at Rem, Beatrice limply raised her hand with a single finger out.
Rem: — — —
YN: Wait. He's after Rem?
Beatrice: Not entirely. Leo is an arcane researcher of sorts, and for some reason or another, has sought the horn of an oni.
YN: And with Rem being the last one to have one—!
Looking over to Rem, he could see the cocktail of emotions in her eyes. Anger, fear, guilt.
Beatrice: Leo sought to use YN as a bargaining chip I suppose. Once we located where he was being held, the younger maid sister was always first to rush in to save him, from there an altercation would follow.
Looking past YN and Rem, Beatrice seemed to stare right through them as she continued, a dreadful emotion in her eyes.
Beatrice: Leo would promise to end all hostilities and never harm any of us ever again if Rem willingly gave her horn up...
Placing a hand on Rem's head to erase any doubt she had preemptively, YN tightened a fist in his other hand.
YN: I won't let anyone harm Rem. I won't—
Rem: But if it means saving YN-kun—
YN: Rem. Our promise that we made was to lean on and support each other. If I let you give something up that important just for my safety, I've failed to uphold my end of the promise.
Knowing he was right, Rem gently grabbed the hand on her head with both of hers and held it to her shoulder where she rested her tilted head on it, embracing it in a hug.
Letting Rem hold onto it, YN turned his attention back to Beatrice.
YN: Now I've got to ask, what was that next part about saving the world?
Seeing a tense emotion build on her face, Beatrice had no choice but to explain.
Beatrice: Every time... Emilia-sama would perish... And in accordance with their contract... Bubby would... Bubby would...
With more tears filling her butterfly-eyes, she did her best to speak while pushing back her emotions.
Beatrice: Bubby uses his powers to destroy the world... making it a frozen hell.
Hearing this revelation, Rem slowly let go of YN's hand, seemingly troubled by the news.
YN: I— What? How can he—?
Rem: YN-kun, Puck-sama isn't referred to as a 'Great Spirit' for no reason at all.
YN: But if he's that powerful why wasn't he more helpful when Elsa attacked in the capitol?!
Such a thing couldn't be possible. How could it?
Beatrice: Bubby has enough restraint to not destroy an entire major city, the half devil would never stand for it I suppose. Besides, Betty believes his most destructive powers as the Great Spirit of Fire are locked behind his contract.
While YN was still struggling to wrap his head around the idea of Puck, the cute little grey cat he knew was strong enough to destroy the entire world, Rem went forth with a question of her own.
Rem: Rem can only assume during these attempts that Emilia-sama somehow perishes at the hands of Leo? This then prompts the Great Spirit-sama to act on his contract?
Beatrice: Precisely.
Deciding it wasn't worth mulling over Puck's hidden strength, YN sought more clarification.
YN: So after Rem denies Leo her horn, the fight continues?
Beatrice: Yes. Once the ordeal breaks down into Betty and him exchanging spells mutually, he will offer to end all hostilities, much like he did with the younger maid-sister's horn, but wants Betty to be his contracted spirit.
YN: So after seeing your own skill, he decides you're more worth it than Rem's horn? He throws away everything he had just set up by kidnapping me and getting Rem close by?
Beatrice: Over the years, many have sought out Betty to become their contracted spirit, but she has declined each time. Her answer to Leo was no different... But Betty is afraid she must oblige to that now...
Rem: And Beatrice-sama always denies him this, yes?
Nodding softly at Rem's question, Beatrice answered.
Beatrice: Yes... Betty selfishly denies him... This has always inevitably ended with the deaths of everyone, including the half devil, I suppose.
Holding her hands out in front of her, Beatrice opened and closed them a few times as she continued explaining.
Beatrice: Once Leo is confronted by Bubby, that's when he utilizes his trump card... that terrible, terrible mana crystal that steals memories and resets the world.
We're back to this crystal now, are we?
Rem: Beatrice-sama, can you explain more about this crystal?
Beatrice: Yes. From what Betty can understand, it steals the memories of people and uses them as a substitute for mana... from there, it turns back time.
Casting her eyes downward, Beatrice shut them as she finished.
Beatrice: It is both a curse, and a blessing. While it's enabled much death to happen at Betty's own fault, it's also allowed her many new chances to prevent such tragedies.
Rem: How does this crystal steal memories though?
Beatrice: A large violet light grows from it, like a barrier. If the light touches a person, they lose all their memories... Betty has seen it strike YN and Subaru each time.
YN: It must not be perfect then, after all, the reason we're here is because we asked you to check out my memories because I had an odd influx of unfamiliar ones.
Beatrice: That is... because of Betty.
Cupping her hands and looking down on them, she explained further.
Beatrice: Once Betty first saw its effects on Subaru, she sought to protect herself and YN. By using Al-Shamak, a predecessor Betty had just only engulfed him in its protection right as the light hit him. While being taken away as it hit, some of your memories remained, where most did not.
Giving YN a guilty look from having treated him as a tool, Beatrice continued.
Beatrice: That method was used many times to allow Betty to see into your memories upon time winding back. Betty began showing future Bettys' written notes after the memory loss to let her know what was happening, and what to try next.
YN: And not long after Puck awakening and the memory loss magic, the world resets without your knowledge?
Giving a final nod of confirmation, YN had all the answers he felt he needed.
Puck trying to freeze the world is more than likely what kills Subaru, causing everything to return. But since Beatrice doesn't know that, she just assumes it's the crystal doing that... When we return, our memories are kept, if nothing else. But in this case... that's not happening. Once we return, our former selves are restored as if nothing happened.
Beatrice: This is why... *hic* This is why...!—
As tears really began to swell on Beatrice's face, YN thought that such a sad expression didn't belong on it.
Beatrice: This is why Betty must give in... Becoming Leo's spirit is Betty's only option to fulfill her promise to save everyone.
Wanting to deny Beatrice her defeatism, Rem was about to speak up, but felt a familiar sensation enter her mind.
Where... Where are you?
Putting a hand to the side of her head, YN noticed something was different with Rem.
Synesthesia...
Rem: YN-kun, Rem is sorry to say we've spent far too long here... Nee-sama must have been looking for us and is worried now...
Being familiar with her Synesthesia, YN knew exactly what had made Rem react as she did just a moment ago.
YN: Wait, doesn't this take priority? We should hash out a plan and—
Rem: YN-kun. Rem thinks we should leave so as to not draw suspicion.
YN: But—!
Beatrice: She is right, I suppose. Betty has many things to do before she leaves. But in addition to that, Betty would like to ask that you two please not tell anyone else in the mansion about this until after their safety has been secured... Especially Subaru... Betty does not think he would take the decision very well...
Knowing she was completely correct in her judgment, Rem and YN both didn't object to not informing Subaru.
Beatrice: But just in case either of you get any ideas—
Looking right at YN, she continued.
Beatrice: —every single reset, before everyone left, you promised the older maid sister to protect the younger. Betty is sure she doesn't need to remind you that following her plan is the best way to do that.
YN: — — —
Unable to respond, YN was out of things to say, or argue back with.
Feeling another spike of Synesthesia, Rem pulled YN's sleeve.
Rem: YN-kun...
Sighing, YN lamented.
YN: I guess there's nothing left to be said...
Being led out of the Forbidden Library, YN turned to see Beatrice was facing away from them now, heading down one of the many isles of the Library, attending to whatever needed to be done before her departure.
I'm not about to let this end this way... No way, no how.
Being the last to leave behind Rem, YN shut the door with a great amount of guilt.
YN: Damn it...
Cursing under his breath, Rem knew the frustration he felt.
Rem: Rem knows there is much to discuss, but can we please first find Nee-sama? She is beginning to become very worried she cannot find Rem...
Hearing her name, YN was once again subdued by a rush of guilt of the promise to her he had made, to protect Rem, something that now he was conscious of, he must fulfill.
Taking a few steps down the hallway, YN stopped.
Rem: —?
Turning to see what had stopped him, an idea, no, a solution popped into his mind.
YN: Rem. I have a plan.
Rem: YN-kun... Please, Nee-sama is worried—
YN: Nee-sama is exactly who we've got to see.
Taking the lead for a rare change of pace, YN and Rem descended back down to the foyer in search of Ram to quell her worries and bring her into the fold.
A/N: That's this week's chapter. I think a lot of people are going to like next week's one though, it had a few small scenes I really enjoyed writing. But until then, take care!
EDIT: Sorry, looks like I accidentally overwrote this chapter with chapter 61 when fixing some typos. Sincerest apologies.