Crusch Karsten's estate was luxurious, cold, and a silence that had become the prelude to horror.
I shot up in bed, my heart hammering, covered in a cold sweat. My body was shaking, unable to forget the sensation of Puck's biting frost, the horrible snap of Emilia's neck, and the giant yellow eye staring at us in the fog...
And Rem.
Rem. The erased Rem. The Rem no one remembered. My only emotional shield, my most faithful friend, erased.
I gasped, my vacant gaze fixed on the wooden ceiling. I was back. Again.
Rem: "Subaru-kun!"
The soft voice made me jump in terror. I backed up against the headboard, eyes wide, hand raised, as if I expected her to vanish in smoke.
Rem: (Standing up from the chair, face twisted with worry) "What is wrong? Are you ill? Did you have a nightmare? You're drenched in sweat!"
I stared at her. Her blue hair, her usual smile (now replaced by panic), her maid outfit intact. She was here. My save point had given her back to me. But the pain of the oblivion remained. I knew that if I lost her again, that loss would be permanent for everyone but me.
Subaru: (Voice broken, a whisper) "Rem... You... you're here..."
Rem: (Approaching cautiously) "Of course I am here, Subaru-kun. Trizz-sama ordered me to stay with you until your complete recovery. Please, lie down. Should I call Felix-sama?"
I shook my head, desperately trying to regain control of my trembling limbs. The urgency overwhelmed me ,the attack was coming in two days, and the time I'd spent begging for useless alliances was lost.
Subaru: (Taking a forced deep breath) "No. No, I'm fine, Rem. It was just a... a very bad dream. Lots of blood. Lots of cold." (I had to stop talking. To avoid the penalty.)
I forced myself to calm down, recalling the facts:
Emilia is dead (again).
Rem has been erased (I must not let her go near the White Whale).
The Cult strikes in about 48 hours.
Trizz is aware (well, he will be when he wakes up).
My only advantage was the knowledge.
Subaru: (Getting out of bed, ignoring the pain) "I... I'm getting up, Rem. I can't stay here. I need to do something."
Rem: (Worried) "Subaru-kun, Trizz-sama said..."
Subaru: "I know what frizz said." (I owe him my life, and I owe him yours, Rem.) "But I can't afford to be weak anymore. I can't waste any more time. Where is Julius?"
Rem: "Julius-sama hasn't arrived yet. He should be here in a few minutes. Why..."
Subaru: "Perfect. Then I'll wait for him outside. At the training ground. Just get me something to wear, please."
I couldn't wait for the dialogue to start anymore. I had to be proactive. I won't get killed in the forest, I won't lose Rem, and I won't let Emilia die.
(Time skip)
I headed to the training ground. I needed Julius, and fast. Not to become a warrior, but to have a credible excuse and a connection to Crusch's camp.
A few minutes later, Julius arrived, his expression stiff, his glittering clothes contrasting with the dirt of the place. He looked at me with his usual disdain.
Julius: "Subaru. I see you've decided not to flee from your humiliation. A slight improvement, at least."
Subaru: (I clenched my fists, ignoring the provocation. I didn't have time to fight with him.) "I'm here for the training. As your debt requires."
Julius: (His gaze darkened slightly) "I see you're in a better mood. But before we start, you owe me an answer. Your friend... Trizz-kun. Has he returned to Roswaal's domain?"
I had to lie. I had to buy Trizz time.
Subaru: "Yes. He returned to the mansion with Emilia. He was... in perfect condition."
Julius: (He frowned) "Perfect condition? That's curious. Felix insisted on keeping him under observation, his flank wound being... atypical."
Subaru: "frizz is atypical. But he has a promise to keep to Emilia and Beatrice. He couldn't stay here."
Julius: "Hmph. Nobility is not the only kind of arrogance. Very well. Let's begin."
The training began. Julius was relentless. He only used non-lethal strikes, but every blow reminded me of my own futility. Julius didn't need his Gate or his spirits to overpower me. He taught me the basics balance, how to be a decoy.
For hours, I was beaten. I vomited, I fell, I got up, again and again. It was no longer a question of honor; it was a matter of survival. I had to remember this pain, this technique.
Julius: "Your concentration is improving. You are no longer a 'sack of flour,' but at most, a 'very slow sack of sand.'"
Subaru: (Gasping) "Thanks... for the compliment..."
Julius: "Don't thank me. Thank Trizz-kun. His self-destruction forced my hand."
I collapsed, the daylight beginning to fade.
" Two days... I lost half a day of Loop 2 begging. I won't make that mistake again. Frizz should have woken up hours ago. He should have come here to tell me about "Plan C"!"
I straightened up, my eyes sweeping the mansion gate. It was empty.
Trizz knew I had the ability to return. He knew I had failed against the White Whale and Petelgeuse. He knew we had to form an alliance. In the last loop, he arrived at this same hour to insult me.
But Trizz wasn't here.
Subaru: (Thinking) Where is he? He wouldn't have stayed at Roswaal's mansion. He knows we only have two days. He must have already left!
The panic returned, colder than Puck's frost. If Trizz had woken up earlier, he might have made a unilateral decision and left without me. Trizz had a habit of sacrificing himself. He might attempt to attack the Cult directly.
Subaru: "Julius! Training is over."
Julius: "Are you mocking me? You lasted two hours, which is respectable. But you need to recover."
Subaru: "I have to leave. Now."
Julius: (His expression hardened) "Leave where? You can't reach Emilia-sama in your state, and your friend is supposed to be safe."
Subaru: (I had to force an opening. A credible opening.) "No! Something terrible is going to happen to Emilia. I have to go!"
I knew I had to say something I couldn't clearly explain. I had to use a name that only Trizz would understand, but which would alarm Julius without triggering the penalty.
Subaru: (Letting out a disguised cry of frustration) "The Cult is attacking the mansion in a few days I can't stay here"
Julius looked at me as if I had gone mad, but a flicker of alarm showed on his face. The Archbishops and the Witches were taboo subjects.
Julius: "You don't know what you're saying! This is an insult to the Kingdom!"
Subaru: "Honor is nothing when death strikes! The Whale... the Whale is on the road." (I couldn't say what it was doing, but its presence was a known fact.)
Julius froze.
Julius: "The White Whale? How do you know?"
Subaru: "I can't tell you. But if you want to honor frizz's debt, you'll help me. We need Crusch-sama. The road to the Capital is blocked. The army won't pass."
I had to bet on the only thing Julius, Crusch, and Trizz had in common: strategy and fear of the White Whale.
Subaru: (Looking Julius in the eyes) "frizz made a deal with you, Julius. Now, I propose a deal. Help me get Crusch's army to bypass the Whale, and you will no longer owe frizz anything. You will protect the Kingdom, and I will save my friends."
I couldn't waste time. Either I risked being ridiculed and locked up, or I forced Julius to act. And Julius was a man of honor, bound by Trizz's promise.
The mention of the White Whale and the blocked road hit Julius hard. His disdain turned into intense concentration, but before he could respond, panic completely overwhelmed me. I couldn't wait for him to digest the information. I had just remembered the erased Rem. Emilia dead.
Subaru: (Panicked, backing away from Julius) "No, it's too slow! Crusch won't believe it! She won't believe it! I already tried!"
I flailed my arms, my voice rising to a hysterical scream. The memory of Emilia's broken neck and the forgotten Rem burned.
Subaru: "I can't, I can't afford to wait anymore! Frizz went alone! He went to die! He's already gone, Julius! He won't come back here!"
Julius: "Calm down, you idiot! What are you talking about?"
Rem: (Running in, fear visible on her face) "Subaru-kun! Stop! Trizz-sama would never want to see you like this! Please, breathe!"
Rem tried to take my hands, but I pulled away, my terror beyond her ability to comfort me.
Subaru: "Don't touch me! You don't understand! If I take you, you'll disappear! And Emilia, Emilia will...!" (I cut myself off sharply, my throat tight. The penalty.)
Rem: (Tears in her eyes) "Disappear? Subaru-kun, what are you saying? Please, tell me!"
Subaru: (Desperately searching for another way out. The thought of Trizz, of his unlikely contacts, struck me.) "Felt! Felt! That's it! I have to go see Felt!"
Julius: (Incredulous) "Felt-sama? The Royal Candidate? But why her? She has no military force apart from Reinhard! And she never liked you!"
Subaru: "She's the only one! Frizz! is friends with her, they have a strange bond of hate for the order!" (I blurted out bits of information frizz had given me before, cryptic references he liked to use.) "Frizz entrusted her with his duel! She has to listen to me! She loves frizz, she's against the nobles, she has no army except Reinhard!"
It was insane, but it was a chance. Felt hated the system, and she loved trouble. She might be my only hope for immediate aid, or at least, to use her camp's authority.
Subaru: (Addressing Rem with trembling authority) "Rem, you stay here. No matter what I tell you, you don't move from the Capital. The road is cursed!"
Rem: (Refusing to let go of me) "No! I'm here to protect you, Subaru-kun! I won't let you go into danger alone! Trizz-sama forbade me to leave you!"
Subaru: "That's an order, Rem! Your existence depends on it!" (I realized the clarity of that sentence too late.)
Julius: (Intervening, clearly exasperated by the chaos) "Enough! This commotion within Crusch-sama's mansion is intolerable. If you are so eager to ridicule yourself, so be it!"
Julius ran a hand over his face, disgust mixing with a certain fatigue.
Julius: "I will take you to see Felt-sama. Not to help you, but to ensure you don't drag Rem-san onto the road of death. And especially so that you stop uttering abominable words here."
Subaru: "Thank you, Julius!" (A feeling of gratitude was born despite my hatred. He was acting out of obligation, but he was acting.)
Julius: "Don't thank me. This is the last time I will involve myself in your arrogance. And if Felt-sama rejects you, you will return here for training. That is the only condition."
I nodded, grabbing Rem to hug her one last time, ignoring her confusion and fear.
Subaru: (Whispering to Rem) "I'll be back soon. Hold the fort. And don't forget if frizz comes back here, tell him I went to ask Felt for help and he must wait for me here."
I turned away from her, leaving her in tears, to follow Julius towards Felt's Mansion. It was stupid, but it was the last name I had left before having to risk everything, alone, against the horror.
(Time skip)
I followed Julius into Felt's mansion. The building was less ostentatious than Crusch's, simpler, but the contrast between the simplicity of the place and Julius at my side was still striking. Felt was sitting on a sofa, playing with a dagger, while Reinhard stood, immaculate, by her side.
Felt looked up, an instant smile lighting up her face. It was a smile of recognition, but not for me.
Felt: "Hey, Julius. Did you drag this bum here? Wait... Oh, the little guy from the duel! Hi, Subaru! Good to see you again." She tossed her dagger. "But where's Onii-san? He's not with you?"
Her tone was light, but I heard the impatience. She only cared about me as an accessory.
Subaru: "frizz is gone. He's not here."
Reinhard stopped smiling, his expression becoming polite, but serious.
Reinhard: " "frizz"? I beg you to respect the friend who defended you."
Subaru: (Raising my hands, annoyed) "Spare me the sermon, Mister Perfect. I call him frizz because he's a damn maniac. He's gone, he's always gone, he only thinks of himself, and he's the only one responsible for half the crap happening in this kingdom!"
Felt: (Straightening up, eyes shining with amusement) "Maniac? Hahaha! That sounds like Onii-san. What did he do this time? Another suicide duel? Is that why the nobility calls him the Suicidal Genius?"
I swallowed. Felt found this entertaining. It was their language.
Subaru: "There's nothing funny, Felt. His 'suicidal genius' is just a total lack of respect for his own body. He makes crappy plans, gets carved up, gets treated by a crazy Felix, then starts again. He went to see Priscilla for a damn ego war, she now considers him her new favorite toy, something to watch die for entertainment."
Felt laughed heartily, clapping her hands.
Felt: "Ah! Priscilla. I knew she liked him. The show is all that matters to that bitch! So, why do you call him frizz? It's a nickname that suits him."
Subaru: "Because he's cold, damn it! He's as cold as ice! He makes plans that cost us everything! He put his own life on the line to force Julius to do something stupid, and he leaves me to deal with the only threat that matters with Rem!"
Reinhard: (Intervening, visibly uncomfortable with the revelation of the nickname) "Subaru, I beg you to control yourself. Trizz-kun's behavior is his own business. We are here for another reason."
Felt: (She ignores Reinhard, her smile widens, interested in the nickname) "Cold as ice... frizz. I like it! It's true he always looks like a corpse that's just been warmed up. And he's even crazier than me. Okay, I get the nickname! I like it. Now, what is so urgent that you dragged Julius here, and you're about to vomit from panic?"
Subaru: (I gritted my teeth, stepping forward, my voice lowering slightly, but the urgency was there) "The Witch's Cult."
The effect was immediate. Felt stopped playing with her dagger. Reinhard, whose posture was previously relaxed, visibly tensed. Julius, next to me, let out a silent sigh.
Felt: (Her amusement dies, replaced by a cold fury) "The Cult... Are you serious? What did they do?"
Subaru: "They are going to attack Roswaal's Mansion. In two days. And the White Whale has blocked the road. It can erase people."
Felt: (Annoyed, she hits the dagger on the wood of the sofa) "Damn! These maniacs can never stay put! And what do you want me to do about it? I don't have an army, I only have the strongest guy in the world. That's not enough for a siege!"
Subaru: "I'm not asking you to lay siege! I'm asking you to do what frizz would do! Be the chaos! I need Reinhard for the evacuation and for the fight. I know how they will attack the mansion! I can help you trash them, but I need immediate striking power."
Felt: (She looks at me for a long time, her eyes scrutinizing my despair. She smiles, but this time the smile is mocking and cold, very "street queen") "Onii-san taught you the lesson well. You get that you win nothing without getting your hands dirty. Okay. Reinhard will help you evacuate. He will do everything you tell him to save your friends."
Subaru: (My heart accelerates, a mix of hope and distrust) "Really?"
Felt: (She tilts her head, her smile widening) "Of course. But in exchange, I want what I'm owed, Subaru. Tell Onii-san he has a debt to me. A big debt. I want him to come visit my camp once a week. I want him to use his damn 'suicidal genius' to help me cause trouble. I want him to tell me how he humiliated the nobles and Knights during his stupid plans. I want his crazy brain at my service, and not just when the nobility forces him. That's the price for Reinhard."
Julius: (He turns to me, horror painted on his face. He whispers, his voice low and disapproving) "Subaru! You are selling your friend's freedom! How can you accept such a bargain? It's... it's abhorrent."
Subaru: (I looked Julius straight in the eyes, fatigue and rage overcoming any politeness. Trizz's voice resonated in my head: "That's the price, Barusu.") "Frizz is already selling his body, Julius! He sold it to Felix to stitch him up after every stupid plan, he sold it to Priscilla for damn entertainment, and he sold his body to mortally wound you!"
Subaru: (I practically spat the words, despair had become my fuel) "The only difference is that Felt wants him alive and usable. Felt wants him as an advisor! That's better than letting him get eaten by the White Whale or torn apart by the Cult! And so yes, I'm selling him. I'm selling his time. His life is more important than his honor. And unlike you, I'm willing to do dirty deeds to save my friends."
I turned to Felt.
Subaru: "Deal. Reinhard, you're coming with me. We have little time."
Felt: (She smiles, satisfied) "Well done, frizz Junior. Reinhard, you heard the boss. Go save those idiots. And bring Onii-san to me afterwards."
(Time skip)
Felt's carriage, luxurious but incredibly fast thanks to Reinhard's divine blessing, sped through the city, leaving the hustle of the capital behind us. Sitting inside, elbows on my knees, I felt the pressure of the two Knights beside me. Rem, sitting opposite, looked at me with silent worry, her return being the only ray of hope in this infernal loop.
Julius broke the silence, his voice tinged with barely masked disgust.
Julius: "I find it hard to believe what I just witnessed. You exchanged your friend's time and freedom to guarantee your survival. It is the greatest offense to honor I have ever seen. You are the worst kind of opportunist."
Reinhard: "Julius, calm down. Felt-sama's will is mine. And it is true that the danger of the Cult is real."
Julius: "Danger does not excuse baseness, Reinhard. Trizz-kun may have erratic behavior, but he has dignity. And now, that dignity is stained by that idiot's whim. Subaru, you threw him to the wolves."
Rem: "Subaru-kun, what did you do?"
Subaru: (I sighed, my fatigue turning into a cold cynicism inherited from my failures) "To the wolves? Felt is a wolf who wants a crazy advisor to have fun in politics, Julius. It's the best offer he's ever had."
I leaned forward, staring at Julius, my eyes burning with frustration.
Subaru: "You talk about honor, but your honor didn't prevent him from being carved up in a stupid duel. Your honor didn't prevent him from going to wage an ego war with Priscilla who just wants to see him die for entertainment!"
Subaru: "If you want to talk about honor, talk about Crusch's honor, she was ready to let him die because he wasn't reliable! You think I'm a bastard for selling him? Frizz sells himself after every stupid plan!"
Subaru: "I prefer frizz to go manipulate Felt by telling her how he humiliated you for a bet, rather than him launching himself, alone and wounded, on a suicide mission against the Cult or him trying to destroy the entire Knight Order a second time just to prove he has the biggest pride in the country."
Julius: (His jaw clenched. He couldn't refute the brutal logic of Trizz's self-destruction.) "That is a terrible argument. It is the argument of a man without faith."
Subaru: "I've seen what happens to men with faith, Julius. They die. Frizz is a rough diamond, it's true, but he doesn't know how to polish himself without breaking. Felt will force him to use his brain for political nonsense and twisted jokes, not to die."
Reinhard: "Subaru, the route we are taking is longer. It is a safer path to avoid the White Whale's fog, but it will cost us several hours."
Subaru: (I nodded, my heart twisting at the thought of lost time) "I know. But the safety of Emilia, the villagers, and especially Rem, comes before speed. We cannot risk contact with the Whale. And we must arrive at the Mansion before the Cult strikes. How long?"
Reinhard: "At least eight hours. We will arrive at the Mansion at first light."
Subaru: (Internal monologue) Eight hours. That only leaves us twelve hours before the attack. That's enough for the evacuation plan, but not to find frizz. Let's hope he's smarter than me... which is likely.
I turned to Rem, who squeezed my hand.
Subaru: "We are almost there, Rem. We are going to save Emilia. And we are going to stop frizz before he gets himself killed."
(Time skip)
Felt's carriage stopped in front of Roswaal's mansion at first light. The journey had been an hell of tension, between Reinhard's heavy silence, Julius's icy disapproval, and Rem's anxious presence. We had gained time, but we had lost Trizz.
I jumped out of the carriage. The estate was bathed in the rising sun, offering an image of perfect serenity. A strange calm, too perfect. It was the same calm I had seen before the horror was unleashed. The calm before the storm.
We headed towards the entrance.
Subaru: (To Reinhard) "The priority is the evacuation of the villagers and Rem. Then, we stand guard. Attacks usually happen at night."
Reinhard: "Understood, Subaru-kun."
We entered. The mansion seemed asleep. Then, we saw the familiar scene: Emilia was sitting in the living room, a book open on her lap, so peaceful she looked like a painting.
Next to her, the other Ram, was busy, watering a large vase of flowers with a disinterested grace.
I breathed a sigh of relief. They were alive. Still.
Subaru: (Stepping forward, my voice trembling slightly with relief) "Emilia! Ram! We're back!"
Emilia looked up, surprised, but her expression brightened when she saw me.
Emilia: "Subaru! You look... you look like you finally rested but your Gate is still not repaired... you broke our promise!. And you brought guests. Hello, Reinhard!"
She smiled at me, but her familiarity with Reinhard reminded me that they had met during the insignia incident.
Subaru: "It's... a long story, Emilia. Where is... where is frizz?"
Ram froze, but her expression remained neutral, which was always a bad sign. Emilia replied with her usual innocence...
Emilia: "Oh, Trizz? He came back last night with me. He insisted on going straight to the library. He said he couldn't let you get bored in his absence, so he started looking for a 'contingency plan' for you. He's been with Beatrice for hours. He reads a lot, doesn't he?"
I froze. A lie. Ram would have let Emilia believe Trizz was safe with Beatrice if he was actually in the mansion. Ram looked at me with an empty eye, but her gaze pierced me, full of menace. She had just given me a warning signal "Trizz is not here, and we must maintain calm."
Subaru: (Clenching my fists, I forced a smile.) "Alright. That's so frizz. I see. Emilia, there is an emergency we need to address immediately. Could you wait here?"
I gestured to the group and to Ram, leading them into the corridor adjacent to the living room.
As soon as we were out of Emilia's earshot, the atmosphere exploded.
Ram: (She dropped the forced smile, her tone becoming sharp, icy, and full of venomous sarcasm.) "I see our 'hero' has finally deigned to show himself. And I note that frizz (she pronounced the nickname with exaggerated disdain) is not with you. Did you forget our strategist at the enemy's mansion?"
She crossed her arms, staring at me, Julius, and Reinhard like a jury.
Subaru: "He wasn't there when I woke up. And I know he's not in the library. Where is he, Ram?"
Ram: "How should Ram know where that vagabond goes? He came back with Emilia-sama, muttered something about a 'Plan B' with Beatrice-sama, and that's it. He didn't even take the time to get treated properly. But I see that you, Barusu, have returned in great company."
She swept Julius and Reinhard with a scornful look.
Ram: "A Perfect Knight whose reputation frizz ruined, and the Sword Saint, the right-hand man of a rival camp. What happened in the Capital for you to trade such powerful enemies and rivals for a simple conversation?"
Julius: (Intervening, his voice low and full of bitterness) "I accompany Natsuki Subaru to honor a debt. And out of obligation to my Lady. I completely disapprove of his methods, but the threat of the Witch's Cult is... an emergency that cannot be ignored."
Ram: (She laughed, a dry, joyless sound.) "The emergency, is it? And to obtain that precious Reinhard van Astrea (she emphasized the name as if it were dirty money), what did you sell, Barusu? What did you mortgage? Frizz, the only one who washed your honor after his duel?"
Subaru: "I exchanged frizz's time, Ram! His time! Felt wanted him as a political advisor in exchange for Reinhard's protection!"
Ram: (She moved closer, her marble face nearing mine. Her anger was palpable.) "You sold our strategist to a rival camp. Frizz, our only brain, the only one capable of finding a way out of this political disaster, is now an object of entertainment for the barefoot brat! All because you couldn't keep your mouth shut and your body out of trouble!"
Ram: "And now, you arrive with the Sword Saint and a disgraced Knight, but without frizz, at the precise moment the Cult is preparing to strike the mansion and the villagers!"
She pointed at the door.
Ram: "Do you have any idea what your 'plan' means? You may have secured the military victory in exchange for your friend's dignity, but you have endangered the lives of this village and this mansion by depriving this camp of its only strategic asset! You are incapable of watching over the only man who saved your life!"
Subaru: (I couldn't reveal everything. I had to lie.) "He is safer with Felt than on the road with the White Whale! Or facing the Cult!"
Rem: (She stepped forward, cautiously placing herself between Ram and me, her eyes downcast.) "Ram-nee-sama, Subaru-kun made a choice for the camp's survival. Reinhard-sama is here. Please, tell us what trizz-sama left as instructions. We must act on the urgency."
Rem, my Rem, had just cut the argument with the voice of reason. She knew Trizz wasn't here, and she knew that the urgency came first.
Ram: (She let out a sigh of contempt. She looked at Rem, then at me.) "Frizz's instruction (heavy sarcasm) was simple: if I have to be absent, the idiot who serves as my friend must remain safe and not make political decisions on my behalf. You have failed both tests."
Ram: "But since we now have the Sword Saint on our doorstep and frizz is not here to clean up your mess, we must comply with your conditions."
She turned to Reinhard.
Ram: "Sword Saint. Your mission is simple: immediate evacuation of the villagers with me, Rem, and our idiot Barusu. Then, fortification of the mansion. I will not let the Cult's fanatics approach Emilia-sama."
Reinhard: (Bowing) "I will honor the will of Felt-sama and this camp, Ram-san. I am leaving immediately for the village."
Reinhard left the mansion with unnatural speed. I hadn't even had time to give him the specific details of the Cult's attack, but his mere presence was enough to secure the village. Ram, wearing a light cape, stood beside me, looking like someone who was about to supervise a botched job. Rem followed us, her blue gaze charged with a dark determination, ready to execute orders, regardless of their source.
Julius, meanwhile, remained at the mansion.
Julius: "I will stand guard here. Someone must ensure that if Trizz-kun returns, he doesn't immediately leave again, and that the mansion doesn't fall into the hands of these fanatics in your absence. Furthermore, I have a Lady to protect."
His expression clearly showed that he preferred to face Petelgeuse himself rather than remain with me any longer.
(Time skip)
We arrived at Arlam Village. The usually peaceful atmosphere was heavy with a dull fear. The villagers had been alerted by a messenger sent by Reinhard, but they were confused and hesitant.
Ram: (Her voice grew louder, projected with unexpected authority, cutting short the confusion.) "Listen to me, villagers! There are problems in the forest area that threaten the village's safety. For now, you must all go to Roswaal's mansion. It is the safest place."
Murmurs rose. No one wanted to abandon their home, but the presence of the mansion maid and the still-fresh memory of the Mabeast attack worried them.
Subaru: (I stepped forward, trying to sound reassuring, but the urgency cracked my voice.) "It's temporary! We have help now! The danger is coming from the forest. Leave everything you have, only take the children and essential items. The Mansion is better fortified! Please, hurry!"
The crowd began to move slowly, shuffling their feet, their faces etched with worry.
Suddenly, the crowd's movement revealed a group of children. The village children, always the first to give me trouble, approached me.
Child 1: "Hey, Subaru! You look like an idiot again!"
Child 2: "Yeah! Why do we have to leave? We're safe here!"
Child 3: "Make us laugh, Subaru! Do your weird thing!"
AUTHOR : (Sorry guys, but I don't know the names of the children in arc 2.)
They started to surround me, giving me small mocking taps and pulling on my tracksuit, treating me like their usual punching bag. I needed to ignore them, but I couldn't. They had to be safe.
Then, Petra, the little red-haired girl, approached, her cyan eyes filled with sincere worry, quite different from the usual teasing.
Petra: "Subaru, is it true there's danger?"
Subaru: (I crouched down to her level, trying to calm my panic.) "Yes, Petra. But we'll take care of it, alright? Everyone just needs to stay at the mansion for a few days."
Petra: (She pursed her lips) "But... Trizz, he's here to protect us, right? Where is Trizz? I don't see him."
The innocence of her question struck me. The villagers relied on Trizz. They relied on his reputation as a "Mabeast killer" after he had somehow saved the village from the curse that resolved the village's deadliest problems. His presence was their shield.
I stood up, Ram and Rem by my side.
Subaru: (I forced my voice to be strong, authoritative, as Trizz would have done.) "Frizz has gone to find even more reinforcements! He went to secure the road to ensure no one comes to bother us! He's on a secret mission, so you can't see him! But he gave me the order to get you to safety. Trust him, and trust me! Go to the mansion! Now!"
My lie was flimsy, but the conviction in my voice silenced the children.
Ram: (She said nothing, but I felt her icy gaze on my back, deciphering every word I had just uttered.)
At that moment, Reinhard returned, barely out of breath.
Reinhard: "The village is moving. I've secured the perimeter, and I'm ensuring everyone heads to the mansion. I also dispatched a messenger to alert Crusch's camp of the Cult's presence."
Subaru: "Good! We have to go back! We still have one person to find. And if the Cult strikes tonight, we must be ready."
The evacuation was underway. I had won a tactical victory. But I knew my true mission was not the evacuation, but to find Trizz before he got himself killed in vain, and to confront Beatrice. Time was pressing.
(Time skip)
We headed back to the mansion, leaving the village empty of its inhabitants. Only the sound of our footsteps on the path and the murmur of the wind in the trees broke the silence. Rem walked ahead, her eyes fixed on the objective. Ram stood beside me.
Ram: (Her voice was low, cutting, meant only for my ears.) "You are a talented liar, Barusu. Even if your panic is still nauseating."
Subaru: "I did what was necessary, Ram. The villagers needed a reason to move. If they knew the truth..."
Ram: "The truth? You told that little girl frizz was on a 'secret mission'. Frizz (she pronounced the name with theatrical disgust) only has one secret mission: to commit suicide for his own stupid plans. And you know it."
Subaru: "That's why I went to get Reinhard! So he wouldn't have to sacrifice himself!"
Ram: "Your intention is honorable, your method is despicable. You exchanged the time of our most valuable asset for the most powerful Knight in the kingdom. Hope it is worth staining your friend's honor."
I clenched my fists. I knew she was right about one thing Trizz would kill me for this trade. But I had saved Rem.
The afternoon drew to a close. Back at the mansion, Julius confirmed that the evacuation was complete.
Julius: "All the villagers are safely inside the mansion. Reinhard escorted them without incident, and they are now under Rem-san's supervision, in the most secure wing."
Subaru: "Emilia?"
Julius: "Emilia-sama, alerted by the commotion and the seriousness of the situation, went to take refuge in Beatrice-sama's library. It is the safest place here."
My blood ran cold. Beatrice. I needed her help, but she hated me since my last pathetic attempt to throw Trizz into the Mabeast pack (Arc 2: Chapter V). And Trizz was her 'Apprentice'.
I headed towards the library, followed by Ram. I took a deep breath, opening the door.
The air smelled of old paper and magic. Beatrice was sitting on a stool, arms crossed, her gaze stern. Emilia was next to her, looking lost, holding her book without really reading.
Beatrice: (Her voice was cold, sharp, immediately fixing on me.) "Well. The idiot is back, I suppose. It's about time."
Subaru: "Beatrice, we need you. The Witch's Cult is attacking."
Beatrice: "Hmph! I heard. But that doesn't concern me, in fact. My Apprentice told me he would take care of it."
She straightened up, her eyes widening slightly.
Beatrice: "Besides, where is Trizz?" She tapped her foot on the rug. "He's supposed to be here to serve me. And more importantly, he's supposed to protect me and the mansion! I gave him an order. Why isn't he here to keep his promise to Betty, I suppose!"
Emilia's expression clouded at the mention of Trizz's name.
Emilia: "Subaru... isn't Trizz supposed to be in the library? Ram said he's been here since yesterday."
Subaru: (I felt trapped. I had to protect her from panic, but Beatrice knew everything.) "No, Emilia, he... he's... frizz is gone, in fact. But he's safe. He's on a mission, a very important mission for the camp. He went to see Crusch for a last-minute alliance after my training with Julius. He's on his way back."
Beatrice: (She squinted, her gaze piercing mine like needles. A small bitter smile appeared on her lips.) "A lie. How mundane, in fact."
She raised her small hand, pointing her finger at me.
Beatrice: "My Apprentice is not 'on a mission for the camp.' If he were, I would know. His mana is too weak to travel that distance without me. I feel his connection to the Great Library. He is very far away. He left the mansion hours ago, I suppose."
The atmosphere became electric. The lie had just been exposed.
Emilia: (She stood up abruptly, shock cutting off her breath. She lookedthen Ram, then Julius, who had just entered and remained silent.) "You... you lied to me? All of you! Since when has trizz been gone? I spoke to him last night!"
Ram: (She bowed slightly, showing no shame.) "Ram acted in the best interest of the camp and to avoid unnecessary panic for Emilia-sama. Frizz left of his own accord after giving his orders, then briefly returned before leaving again."
Emilia: (Her eyes filled with tears, her voice betrayed.) "But... why did you tell me he was with you, Beatrice? Why did you let me believe he was safe? When there was a problem to deal with, he was there..." She pointed a trembling finger at me. "You came back without him, after everything he did for you! Where is he, Subaru? Tell me the truth!"
Subaru: (I took a step back, hurt by Emilia's gaze, but I couldn't give in to emotion. There was too much to save.) "I... I don't know where he is, Emilia. He left after waking up. He gave vague orders to Ram and left. He was still too injured from the duel with Julius, but he left."
Ram: "frizz just said he would be back, that he had things to take care of to secure the mansion in a way we couldn't understand. He gave no destination."
Emilia: "And you let him go alone? While he was injured? After what you saw during the Mabeast attack?" Her voice rose to a cry of despair. "He... he was going to sacrifice himself! Again! And you let him!"
Julius: (He stepped forward, his disdain turning into grave concern.) "Subaru, your friend is clearly in danger if he acted without the knowledge of his camp. If he left the domain in that state, he is likely an easy target."
Beatrice: (She stood up, her small fists clenched, her gaze fixed on me.) "You are all idiots. My Apprentice would never trust such incompetent people. He went to commit suicide. He fled. And now, the Cult is here, and there is no one to defend Betty and the mansion!"
Subaru: (I silenced the chaos with a sharp gesture, my own panic turning into a cold command.) "That's enough! We won't waste time looking for him. Frizz is a danger to himself, but he's also the best at this game. If he's not here, it means he has already anticipated the plan and taken the necessary measures."
Subaru: "Whether you believe it or not, I know what happens when we sit around crying. We die! All of us! We have the Sword Saint outside. It's our only chance. Emilia, you stay here, with Beatrice. This is the safest place."
Emilia: (She shook her head, tears streaming down her cheeks.) "I can't stay here if Trizz is out there alone! I have to find him!"
Subaru: "No! You stay here! Your safety is the only thing that matters to us. And frizz did what he did to protect you!"
Ram: (She took Emilia's arm, her own anxiety masked by authority.) "Emilia-sama, listen to Barusu. He may have sold frizz's honor, but he brought us Reinhard. Now is the time to be strong. Your place is here."
Subaru: "Emilia, you heard Ram. Ram, you stay here with Emilia and Beatrice. Julius, you know this mansion's flaws. You take the defense of the main door. I'm joining Reinhard. We must fortify the outer defenses. Time is short."
I quickly left the library, followed by Julius, my back heavy with the weight of Emilia's tears and the tacit worry of Beatrice and Ram.
We walked down a dimly lit corridor. Julius broke the silence, his voice resonating with bitter disapproval.
Julius: "You are behaving like a brainless warlord, Subaru. You wounded Emilia-sama to the core by lying to her. You forced your friend to become a pawn in a political game he hates. And now, you want to throw yourself into danger without even knowing the extent of the attack. Your stubbornness is a weakness."
The guilt of making Emilia cry choked me. I had done all this to save her, and she hated me more than ever. I had saved Rem, but I had broken Emilia.
Subaru: (I stopped abruptly, turning to him, the rage that had been simmering for hours finally exploding.) "You talk about stubbornness? Weakness? What about you, Julius? What's your plan, Mister Perfect? Stay here watching my life break and then lament about honor!?"
Subaru: "I'm the one who knows what's coming! You think I'm impulsive because I have the fear of the future in my throat! If you were in my shoes, if you had seen what I saw, what would you do?! Would you stay waiting for the Cult to arrive, elegant and useless?"
Julius: (His face showed no pity, just cold superiority.) "If I were in your shoes, Subaru, I would have the intelligence to keep quiet, to trust my only allies (he pointed to Ram and Rem), and I would have the honor of respecting my friend's choices. You acted like a spoiled child, Subaru, using Trizz-kun's sacrifice as an excuse for your own arrogance."
Subaru: "Arrogance?! It's my only damn weapon!"
As the argument reached its climax, a figure appeared at the end of the corridor. It was Reinhard. He walked with a quick, yet relaxed, step.
Reinhard: "Subaru! Julius! I'm back from a complete inspection of the woods and surrounding areas."
I fell silent, exhaustion and anger vying for my breath.
Subaru: "And? What did you find? Are they already here?"
Reinhard: (His face showed an expression of relief mixed with slight confusion.) "No. The perimeter is completely secure. I meticulously inspected the forest roads and the village area. I detected no abnormal presence of the Witch's Cult or Mabeasts. The area is calm. Too calm, perhaps."
I blinked. Ram, the evacuation, Emilia in tears, the betrayal of Trizz, the deal with Felt... all for nothing?
Subaru: "Nothing? But... but they were supposed to arrive tonight or early this morning! That's what should have happened!"
Julius: (He looked at Reinhard, then at me, a gleam of judgment sharper than ever in his eyes.) "Panic made you act too quickly, Subaru. The Cult's threat may have been imminent, but you acted based on your fears, not reality."
Subaru: (My heart pounded. If the Cult wasn't there, why weren't they there? And where was Trizz?) "He succeeded. Trizz managed to change the timing. Or maybe..."
A terrifying thought struck my mind: What if Trizz, having anticipated that I would return in time, used his 'waking' time to go confront Petelgeuse directly, elsewhere?
The danger might be averted from the mansion for the moment, but it was now focused on my only ally. I had to find him, and fast.
I stood frozen, my brain overheating. Reinhard hadn't found anything. No Cult. No wild-eyed fanatics. No decaying bodies. The emergency evacuation, the deal with Felt, Emilia's tears-everything had been triggered by a threat that, for now, was invisible.
Why?
In the previous loop, the Cult had attacked at this exact moment, taking advantage of the post-duel confusion.
Only one thing could have changed the Cult's schedule...
I remembered Trizz's rage before we left the Capital, his determination not to let me bear my shame alone. He knew I'd come back. He knew the Cult was attacking.
Subaru: " Trizz. He would never have just stood by. He would never have gone into hiding. He's both the "brain" and the "suicidal" one."
Julius: (His tone was that of a professor reprimanding a stupid student.) "Your rashness betrayed you, Subaru. You've wasted resources and Felt-sama's time. And you acted dishonorably, again."
Subaru: (I ignored him, my eyes fixed on a distant point, my mind reconstructing the timeline.) "Silence, Julius! Think for a moment! The Cult always attacks, always at the most vulnerable moment. If they weren't here, something's stopping them."
Julius: "The order is slow, you idiot. They might simply be late."
Subaru: "No. They never are. The Cult is a perfectly organized force of chaos. If they're not here to massacre Emilia and the villagers, it can only mean one thing: frizz saw them coming and interfered."
I turned toward Julius and Reinhard, my voice low and vibrating with lucid anxiety.
Subaru: "frizz must have woken up shortly after I left the Capital. He understood that the Capital was useless. He knew the only chance to save the mansion was to buy time, to slow down the attack."
Subaru: (I spat the words out, the theory sounding strangely true for the only man I knew capable of such madness.) "He must have thrown himself in their path, alone and injured, to cause them maximum trouble. Either he slowed them down by sabotaging their resources or their travel, or... he's fighting them right now."
A deathly silence fell. Reinhard and Julius, two of the most powerful Knights in the kingdom, were paralyzed by my theory. It made no rational sense, and yet, it perfectly matched the profile of the "Suicidal Genius" they had both met.
Julius: (His voice was choked.) "Confronting the Cult... alone? While he was severely injured? That's... that's pure madness."
Reinhard: (The Sword Saint closed his eyes for a moment, a rare sign of his distress. He opened his eyes, his voice grave.) "No. It's not madness. It's the act of a man who believes he is the only variable in the equation. Given the self-destructive fighting technique he showed us in the arena... it's plausible."
Their judgments, their incomprehension, only amplified my own guilt. I had wasted Trizz's time wallowing in self-pity.
Subaru: (Clenching my fists.) "If he's alone against them, he must be in a critical state. If he couldn't return here, he's either immobilized, or..."
I couldn't say the last word.
Subaru: "We can't stay here guessing. Frizz is more important to this camp than even Reinhard. He's the only one who understands the twisted plans of Roswaal, of Beatrice, and the only person Emilia never pushes away."
I made a decision. The Cult could wait. Trizz couldn't.
Subaru: "Reinhard. We're going to look for frizz."
Reinhard: "Subaru-kun, we have a responsibility to this mansion and the villagers."
Subaru: "The mansion has Julius and, more importantly, it has Ram. Ram knows what to do. Reinhard, if frizz is alone and injured, you are the only one capable of finding him and bringing him back alive. This is a rescue mission."
Julius intervened, his tone regaining a professional urgency.
Julius: "You are wrong. The priority is the mansion. But if your theory is correct, he must have left clues of his passage. We must question the villagers. They are the only external source of information we have."
Julius was right. I couldn't blindly throw myself into the forest. Just like in the first loop.
Subaru: "You're right. We'll question the Village Elder. We need to find the area where frizz might have intercepted the Cult."
We headed toward the wing where the evacuated villagers were settled. The atmosphere was tense, but Rem managed to maintain a semblance of calm.
We approached the Village Elder, an aged and wise man, the only one who had trusted us from the start. He was sitting on a bench, surrounded by children.
Subaru: (I addressed him, trying to be as clear and precise as possible.) "Elder. We need your help. Someone left last night, or very early this morning, in the direction of the Capital. A tall young man, with crimson eyes. Injured. Did you see or hear anything? A cry, an argument, a shadow?"
The old man looked at us, his wise eyes narrowed.
Village Elder: "Oh, the strange, kind young man? Mr. Trizz? Yes. He passed through."
Subaru: (My heart leaped.) "When?"
Village Elder: "Just after midnight. He went quickly through the center of the village. He was limping. He was holding his side. But... he wasn't heading toward the Capital, Mr. Subaru."
Subaru: "No? Then where?"
Village Elder: (He pointed his finger to the East, toward the mountains and less-frequented regions.) "He went toward the old abandoned mines. A place no one ever uses, except hunters. He looked like he was looking for a battleground."
The information hit me like a punch. The abandoned mines. An ideal battleground. A place of isolation to avoid collateral damage. It was Trizz's perfect strategy: draw the danger away from the innocents, sacrifice himself, again.
Subaru: (I jumped up, panic surging through me again.) "The mines! That's where he is! He's fighting the Cult! We have to go there, Reinhard! Now!"
I rushed toward the exit, but two hands firmly restrained me. It was Julius and Reinhard.
Julius: (His grip was steel, his tone grave.) "Stop, Subaru! Your impulsiveness will kill him faster than the Cult!"
Subaru: "Let me go! He's injured! He's alone against Petelgeuse! I have to... I have to make sure he's okay!"
Reinhard: (His gaze was of firm compassion, his other hand placed on my shoulder.) "Subaru-kun. Listen to me. I understand your worry. But you yourself defined Trizz. He's a man who creates impossible situations to solve them."
Reinhard: "If Trizz chose such an isolated battlefield, it's precisely because he didn't want us to go there. He wants to avoid the Kingdom's Knights being exposed to the Cult's schemes."
Julius: "Think, you idiot! Trizz-kun achieved the impossible-he diverted the Cult from its trajectory. He is a danger to himself, it's true, but he's also a genius of chaos. If he chose this place, it's because he has a plan that depends on his isolation."
Julius: "You acted thoughtlessly by exchanging him to Felt, but this time, you must hold back. It's the only honorable gesture you can make for him: respect his sacrifice and his stupid plan."
I struggled against their grip, but my muscles were exhausted by the training and the stress. The truth of their words, however cruel, struck me.
He's right.
My mind, despite my panic, recalled the previous loop, the first one, where I had rushed headlong toward the mansion thinking I could save Trizz and the others, and where I had been miserably killed by Elsa, accomplishing nothing. My impulsiveness had condemned Trizz and the others.
If I run there, I'll only ruin the loop. I die. My save point sends me back. I lose this gain and I lose the time he won.
I closed my eyes, guilt and rage boiling in my chest. Leaving an injured friend to fight alone was torture. But saving him was condemning him to a future death in a dead-end loop.
Subaru: (My voice was just a trembling whisper of contained rage.) "Very well. I... I'll stay. But if frizz isn't back before dawn, we leave, Reinhard. I won't stay here watching the clock."
I abruptly pulled away from their grasp.
Subaru: "Julius, you take charge of the interior defense. Reinhard, you stay alert on the mansion, but conserve your energy for a quick intervention. We must trust frizz's madness to have bought us this delay."
I turned to the Village Elder.
Subaru: "Thank you. You saved a life."
I walked away, my hands clenched into fists. I had made the most difficult decision: that of passive waiting. Sitting on the mansion terrace, I stared at the forest, awaiting the return of the only man who understood the price of death, and of his own sacrifice. I was alive. I had Rem. I had Reinhard. But I felt more alone and more cowardly than ever.
Everyone headed to their assigned post. Julius took position near the main entrance, his stiffness masking heightened vigilance. Reinhard discreetly posted himself in the courtyard, an eye on the forest, ready to deploy at supernatural speed. Rem stayed with the villagers, her presence ensuring calm.
I was where I could be the least useless: in the great hall where the evacuated villagers were taking refuge. Powerless, I watched the worried faces, my own brain consumed by the wait for Trizz's return. The Cult might have been delayed, but it wasn't canceled.
As the darkness thickened, a man burst into the hall. He wore dirty and torn clothes. In his hand, he held a cloth bag that seemed heavy. His behavior was strange, almost spasmodic; he trembled with an aggressive fervor.
He began to harass the villagers, his bloodshot eyes fixed on the children.
Subaru: (I stood up, instinct overriding my fear.) "Hey! You! Calm down! You're scaring everyone! Who are you?"
The man turned toward me, his mad gaze stopping on my face. He ignored my question, speaking in a hoarse voice.
The Man: "The Half-Elf... The Heresy! She holds the key! Thanks to her, we will bring back the... the... Witch of Envy! Love! Love is here!"
I backed away, horrified. This wasn't Petelgeuse, but a Cult fanatic, probably one of his followers. He spoke of the Witch, the greatest taboo.
Subaru: (I had to stop him. I had to shout to alert Julius.) "Julius! Alert!"
But it was too late. The man realized he was spotted. With a maniacal laugh, he raised the cloth bag above his head.
The Man: "Love! Love overflows! Glory to Sloth!"
He violently threw the bag to the floor. The fabric tore, revealing several brightly orange stones, the size of a palm. They began to shimmer, emitting an intense heat.
I knew what it was: the unstable Mana Crystals Roswaal used. But these were even more dangerous Fire Stones.
Subaru: (My scream was lost in a deafening din.) "Get down!"
The explosion was instantaneous and terrifying.
A wall of fire and air shredded the great hall. The last thing I saw was a blinding light, and a noise that burst my eardrums. My body was thrown against the wall.
I came to in a muffled silence, the sound of the explosion replaced by a high-pitched ringing in my ears.
My vision was a fog at first, then it cleared, stained with a deep, wet red.
I felt a sticky heat on my face. I tried to move. My right arm was unnaturally extended, smoke rising from it, the skin and tissues burned down to the bone. The fingers of my left hand were twisted at impossible angles.
Strangely, I felt nothing. The shock must have been so violent it cut off the pain signals. My mind, overwhelmed by horror, was unable to form a coherent thought.
I painfully straightened up, realizing the extent of the disaster.
The ceiling had collapsed in several places. Beams had fallen. The floor was strewn with debris and bodies.
Around me, the red wasn't just the light of the fire that was beginning to spread; it was blood.
Villagers, the ones I was supposed to protect, lay motionless, dismembered by the shockwave. Others were screaming, their faces and arms covered in blisters and deep burns.
Children, the ones who had teased me just minutes before, moaned faintly, the skin on their cheeks burned, revealing raw, red flesh.
Screams of pain tore through the air, cries for help that I couldn't even locate.
Rem.
My mind, finally, focused on the only thing that mattered. She was in this hall. She was supposed to protect them.
I crawled on my valid hands and knees, my heart breaking with every inch, searching for the maid's outfit.
The Cult wasn't late. It had changed its plan, striking directly at the innocents, using a single human bomb, right where we had lowered our guard.
And Trizz wasn't there to anticipate this plan. I had failed, again.
The mental pain was stronger than the physical pain that hadn't arrived yet. I needed to die. I needed to start over.
As I was on all fours in the bloody chaos, desperately searching for Rem amidst the groans and debris, a figure tore through the smoke.
It was Reinhard.
He arrived at lightning speed, the strongest Sword Saint in the kingdom. But for the first time I saw him, his face was not impassive. It was contorted by a deep horror, guilt, and a visible disgust for the spectacle before him. He had felt safe outside, and this single bomb had destroyed his certainty.
Reinhard: (His voice, usually calm, was broken and gasping.) "Subaru-kun! I'm coming! Hold on!"
He threw himself to my side, ignoring the cries of the other injured. He gently lifted me, his hands bloodied by the contact with my burned arm.
Reinhard: "It's a trap! The Cult struck by surprise! But it's not over! Julius is here, Ram is here! We will... we will treat the injured!"
He was trying to give me hope, but I couldn't see it. I was looking through the smoke and debris.
Subaru: (I struggled to speak, my throat was dry, my voice barely a rasp.) "Rem... Where... Rem?"
Reinhard: (He avoided my gaze, his expression tightening even more.) "Subaru-kun, please... calm down. Focus on..."
Subaru: (I forced my head up to look at him, but he recoiled slightly. I felt the panic. Why was he looking at me with that strange look?) "Why... why are you looking at me with that strange look, Reinhard? Tell me! Is my face dirty?"
Reinhard closed his eyes for a moment, taking a deep breath, as if to find the courage to speak the words.
Reinhard: "Subaru-kun... I... I'm truly sorry."
Reinhard: "Your body... is in a disastrous state. The shockwave hit you head-on. Your arm..." (He hesitated.) "Your face is severely burned, and... and one of your eyeballs was ejected from its socket. I can't do anything about the pain right now, but we have to get out of here!"
The shock was total. My twisted fingers, my smoking arm, and... my eye?
I brought my valid hand to my face, feeling the crisp flesh and the horrible empty cavity where my eye was supposed to be. My mind staggered at the image of horror I must represent.
As this horrific vision settled, a strange and sudden wave of cold invaded the hall, silencing the groans and extinguishing the nascent flames. The temperature dropped abruptly. The purest elemental magic.
Then, the remaining ceiling of the mansion tore open, not by another explosion, but by a massive, feline body.
A monster. A gigantic monster, made of magical fur, bigger than the mansion itself, appeared, its body casting a deadly shadow over the debris. Its eyes, fiercely yellow, fixed directly on Reinhard and me.
Puck.
Puck: (His voice boomed, deep and full of icy sadness, amplified by magic.) "Subaru Natsuki... Time is up."
I knew what that meant. Emilia.
Puck: "I'm sorry I wasn't there for her. But you and your friend promised to protect her. And you failed. She's gone."
Panic overwhelmed me. Emilia was dead. Ram had failed to protect her in the library. My sacrifice had been useless.
Puck: "And now, I will make all those responsible pay the price."
The threat was clear. Reinhard, the Sword Saint, immediately recognized the gravity of the situation. Against the enraged Great Spirit of Ice, there was only one option left.
Reinhard: "Back away, Subaru!"
Reinhard let go of me and, in an impulse of pure strength and instinct, threw himself toward the Spirit of Fire. The legendary sword in his hand, he struck the monster's face with all his might.
Subaru: (My last cry was a panicked rasp.) "Reinhard! No!"
The collision was cataclysmic. The shockwave of the impact between Puck's magic and Reinhard's strength tore the air around me.
My body, already broken and defenseless, was struck by an invisible wall of pure power. My bones shattered, my organs gave way.
The last image I had was the terrifying yellow of Puck's eyes, and the invading red of the hall.
Then, black. Oblivion.
I was dying. This was the end. The loop was reset.
My eyes snapped open.
The immaculate white wooden ceiling of the guest room. The smell of medicinal herbs and cleanliness. The slight cool wind blowing through the window.
A scream of pure terror tore from my throat, shattering the silence. It wasn't a cry of physical pain, but a roar ripped from my soul by the unspeakable horror I had just lived. The mutilated bodies. The ejected eye. Puck's coldness.
I sat up in bed, trembling, trying to escape.
Rem was there. She was sitting next to me, just as she was at the start of every loop, gently holding my arm. She wore her maid uniform. She was alive, intact.
Rem: (Her voice was soft and worried.) "Subaru-kun! Calm down! It's just a nightmare, everything is fine. You are safe, you are at Crusch-sama's Mansion."
She was trying to reassure me, but her face, her touch, everything reminded me of the last image of the bloody hall and the burned bodies.
I looked at her, my pupils dilated with terror. Words formed in my throat, but I couldn't utter them.
"The Cult. The orange stones. My eye. Puck. The death of Emilia and the other members of the village..."
I tried to open my mouth to tell. To warn. To scream the danger. But the horror of the previous loop had broken me.
My body was pinned to the bed. I couldn't move anymore. The images of the burned children and my own mutilated body flashed through my head. The brutality of death, the total failure of my strategy, the betrayal of Emilia.
Subaru: (Internal Monologue.) I didn't make it. I lied. I trusted Reinhard. And everyone died.
The only thing I could do was stare at Rem, my eyes wide, my expression frozen in mute horror. I had become the cowardly, weak Subaru from the beginning again, traumatized by the violence. The survival instinct of Return by Death was there, but it had frozen my body and my speech.
I couldn't say anything. I couldn't do anything. I was a prisoner of my own bed, my memories, and a frozen face, that of a man who had seen hell.
Rem: (She frowned, worried. She placed her hand on my forehead.) "Your fever has broken, but you seem... terrified. What happened, Subaru-kun? What did you dream?"
I couldn't answer. I could only stare at the wall behind her, recalling Puck's roar. Time was running out, and I was petrified.
Rem leaned over me, her worry growing in the face of my muteness and the look of dread etched on my face. My inability to speak or move, the pure terror in my gaze, put her on alert.
Rem: "Subaru-kun? Please, make a sound. Tell me what's wrong."
She understood that her efforts were futile. She straightened up, a firm decision taking shape on her face.
Rem: "I'm going to get help. Stay here, Subaru-kun. You are safe."
She hurried out of the room.
A few minutes that felt like an eternity passed, each second filled with the echoes of the screams and explosions of the previous loop.
The door opened again. Rem returned, accompanied by Crusch and Felix.
Crusch approached the bed, her expression serious. Felix, with his usual lightness, was visibly troubled by my state.
Crusch: "Natsuki Subaru. Your maid alerted us to your condition. Explain yourself."
My body trembled slightly. I wanted to scream "The Cult! The bombs! Trizz! The eye! But my lips remained sealed, a psychological barrier preventing me from betraying the horror."
Felix: (He approached, an expression of concentration replacing his usual smile.) "Felix will check right away!"
He placed his delicate hands on my chest and forehead, activating his healing magic. A blue glow briefly enveloped me. He performed a full examination, checking for internal injuries, fractures, or remnants of a curse.
Felix withdrew his hands, his face tightening in incomprehension.
Felix: "It's... it's very strange, Crusch-sama. There is nothing on his body. Not a scratch, no fever, no poison, not even a trace of dark magic or a curse. He is in perfect physical health."
Crusch: (She looked at me intently, with her sharp deductive gaze.) "Nothing, Felix? Even after the state of fatigue you observed yesterday after the duel?"
Felix: "Nothing. His body is surprisingly healthy, almost as if he had had complete rest. The horror is all in his head, Crusch-sama. He must have suffered a psychological shock of rare violence."
Rem: (Her voice was distressed.) "A psychological shock? But what could have caused that, while he was sleeping peacefully?"
Crusch stared at me, my wide eyes reflecting theirs. My inability to move confirmed the psychological paralysis.
Crusch: "Rem. Felix. Leave. Leave me alone with him."
Rem hesitated, but obeyed her liege's order. When the door closed, Crusch sat on the edge of the bed.
Crusch: "Subaru. You had a nightmare that broke your mind. But we don't have time for that."
She paused, her gaze sharpening. She leaned slightly closer.
Crusch: "Felix said your body is perfectly rested. Yet, last night, you were on the verge of exhaustion. And your friend... Trizz-kun... acted strangely just when he was severely injured."
She raised an eyebrow.
Crusch: "Tell me, Subaru-where does this strength, this ability to heal himself despite himself, come from? Is it a Divine Protection? A contract? Why does he act like a man who can afford to die for his plans?"
My brain started screaming. Death! Return by Death! Regeneration!
I had to answer! It was the key to the alliance! I had to lie or find a subterfuge. But my mouth remained sealed. The fear of death, of the penalty.
I continued to stare at her, the expression of terror etched on my face.
Crusch: "You are not answering. Your friend is not answering either. But you are the only ones aware of his secret. I could force you, Subaru. But I won't. However..."
She changed the subject, her gaze becoming strategic.
Crusch: "Where is he now? Trizz-kun. After setting up this duel, he disappeared. Did he leave to seek help? Did he warn you of a danger? He is the only credible source of information from your camp."
Silence. Still no response from me.
Crusch stood up, frustrated by my muteness, but visibly concerned by the regeneration and Trizz's plan.
Crusch: "If you give me no information about the danger your friend represents, I cannot help you. Your silence is suicide, Subaru. Think of Emilia-sama."
She headed toward the door, leaving a final summons.
Crusch: "I will wait. But if you are unable to speak or act by the end of the day, I will send you and Rem back to Roswaal's mansion. And your life will depend solely on Trizz-kun's madness and luck."
She left the room, leaving me alone, trapped in my body, facing the countdown to death.
Hours passed, heavy and silent, leaving me alone with the ghosts of my last death. The paralysis persisted; I still couldn't move or speak. I was the helpless witness to my own imminent failure.
The door opened gently. It was Rem. She entered and placed a meal tray on the small bedside table, the soft aroma of the food failing to break the wall of my terror. She looked at me with worry, then left the room without insisting, understanding that food was useless as long as my mind was in crisis.
The sun began to set. Crusch hadn't returned. My dismissal to Roswaal's mansion, and certain death, drew closer.
The door opened again. This time, Rem did not return alone. She was accompanied by a strange man.
My heart leaped. Trizz? Is Trizz here?
But it wasn't him. The man was of average height, dressed in the ordinary clothes of a merchant, and exuded an aura of nervousness and timidity. He nervously fiddled with the edge of his tunic.
Rem: "Subaru-kun. This man came here specifically to see you. He says he has an important message."
The man bowed awkwardly, avoiding my gaze.
The Man: "U-uh... Hello. I'm sorry to bother you in this state. I... my name is Otto."
Subaru: "Otto? What is a merchant doing here? I don't have time for this!"
I gathered all my will to chase away this intruder and signify my urgency. A hoarse growl, my first sound since waking up, managed to escape my throat. I tried to make a gesture with my hand, even though it was trembling.
Subaru: (Attempting to speak, a muffled sound.) "G-g..."
Otto: (He took a step back, frightened by my appearance.) "O-oh! I'm really sorry! I didn't mean to bother you. But... but it's very important!"
He swallowed heavily.
Otto: "I came here because... your friend, the strange guy, Trizz-sama, found me yesterday in the Capital. He paid me dearly to bring you this letter. He told me it was a matter of life or death for you, and that you were the only one who could understand it."
A glimmer of hope, intense, pierced the veil of my terror. Trizz! He was alive! He had anticipated my Return by Death and acted immediately! He had a plan!
All my physical and psychological paralysis was swept away by the urgency and the certainty that Trizz had finally acted for the camp's survival. I rushed out of bed with a newfound strength, my body trembling, but my mind focused.
I approached Otto, who, terrified, handed me an envelope sealed with a wax I recognized-Emilia's camp seal.
I snatched the letter from Otto's hands, ignoring the worried Rem and the frightened merchant. My eyes scanned the contents, Trizz's perfect calligraphy, his words... his precise orders.
As I read, my eyebrows furrowed. My expression shifted from hope to confusion, then to utter shock. His instructions were impossible. They were absurd. They were utter madness.
I lowered the letter, my trembling hand holding the crumpled paper. The growl I had made earlier transformed into a clear and enraged thought, finally free from the Witch's constraint.
Subaru: (I clenched my fists, my voice hoarse and disillusioned, but liberated.) "That... that man is a fucking maniac!"