Chapter 121 — Volume 4, 72 [BAD END 1, 5, 11]

――How many times does my heart have to break before I can be forgiven?

[???: And it’s already over…… this job really wasn’t worth taking]

In a dark warehouse, gazing down on the three corpses submerged in an ocean of blood, a black-robed beauty slightly tilted her head.

Even in this blood-suffused scene, the absurdity of her skill ensured that she wasn’t touched by a single drop, while the abnormality of her mind was such that she remained utterly unfazed by this carnage.

Without a doubt, this was what they’d call a monster in human skin.

Stepping across the floor soaked in blood, the monster looked over the fallen corpses with interest.

A giant old man with one arm severed at the shoulder and profuse blood draining down his head. A black haired youth with a perfect line sliced across his stomach, having died writhing as his intestines spilled out.

――And, a silver-haired girl, slashed in two from her left shoulder to her right waist.

――How many times had he struggled and fought just so he wouldn’t have to witness this scene?

[???: In terms of the outcome of the assignment, this is as bad as it gets…… Now just what is all this, I wonder]

Holding a finger to her red lips, the monster casually made this awfully out-of-place mutter. Dangling in her other hand, was a sinister, bloody, crooked blade―― her Kukri Knife.

Swaying the weapon that had just stolen three―― no, four separate lives in this loot house, the monster named Elsa let out a splendid smile.

[Elsa: ――Aya]

Elsa tilted her head, and lightly leaped backward.

Immediately, a blade of ice stabbed into the floor where Elsa had been standing. A sequence of icy spears followed, pursuing Elsa’s steps with shearing, biting fangs.

[Elsa: Now this is……]

[????: How―― dare you]

Before the evading Elsa, dim specks of light gathered in the empty space as the figure of a small spirit took shape.

The floating cat-spirit――Puck’s expression was perilous, while his androgynous voice was trembling with rage.

[Puck: You shall regret taking Lia’s life――]

[Elsa: Ah, so the girl…… was a Spirits-Arts User. Marvelous… I’ve never opened a spirit’s stomach before. ――Though]

Facing the battle-ready Puck surrounded by floating ice lances, Elsa’s expression reveled in the premonition of battle. But, before raising her guard, she squinted a single eye,

[Elsa: Why didn’t you show up before that child died? Spirits and Spirit-Arts Users should be teams of two――it’s a shame if I can’t enjoy the full experience]

[Puck: Shut it with your drivel, murderer. ――If I weren’t bound by my contract, I…]

Puck shook his head with an expression twisted in vexation.

He bared his fang, pointing his little arm at Elsa,

[Puck: I have no intention to chat. I will freeze you, and lay Lia’s soul to rest. After you, the Kingdom, the world, then the Dragon and the Witch. Everything]

[Elsa: Hhaa~, marvellous―― I’ll be enjoying this!]

Elsa leaped, crawling along the walls and ceiling like a spider. With her slender frame as the target, icicles shot forth in quick succession, piercing the walls of the loot house and freezing the atmosphere, as its shrill shrieks rang through the air.

All vision clouded over with white, until nothing could be seen.

Not the incidentally intertwined fingers on the floor, nor Subaru and Emilia’s corpses. Nothing.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

――How many times do I have to be betrayed by this world before I can be rewarded?

[Rem: I was merely preventing the situation from getting any worse. By the time I found him, Subaru-kun’s state was already beyond saving. ――He would have wished to be put down immediately]

[Emilia: And, so…… that’s what that… horrible end…was. Is that what you are saying… Rem? Subaru was my benefactor, and there was so much we would have liked to talk about…… and you…]

He heard the quarreling words of his two beloved girls.

One voice called out within Subaru both immense adoration and insurmountable grief.

And the other voice, when he stood in the face of adversity, how many times, how clingingly, how imploringly, and how sweetly, had he wished to be touched by that voice.

The blue-haired girl and the silver-haired girl faced each other, as a turbulent atmosphere flowed throughout the room.

The place was the lounge in the Mansion, the two were seated on either side of the table, and the situation was set to explode.

[Roswaal: We~~ll now, Emilia-sama mustn’t get carried away, either. Fi~~rst of all, we should he~~ar what Rem’s ha~~s to say, no?]

[Emilia: Roswaal…… do you understand what has happened here? Rem…… your servant, has caused the… dea… death… of my benefactor… and your guest… Subaru]

[Roswaal: O~~f course I understand. Tha~~t is why I’m…… making sure we keep the conversation in line. ――We mustn’t let any misunderstandings get in the way of our mutual fe~elings]

Roswaal narrowed his yellow eye as he replied. Then, the clown turned his gaze towards Rem, seated beside him. Sensing his gaze, Rem nodded,

[Rem: Late last night in the East Wing…… there was an intruder on Emilia-sama’s level. Alerted to this by the alarm gems, Rem immediately went to the scene, and that’s when I found Subaru-kun crawling on the floor]

[Ram: Barusu was already under the curse’s effects by then]

[Rem: Yes, it is as big-sister-sama said. Subaru-kun was weakened to the verge of death. The curse’s effects had sapped his life-force to its absolute limit, and I determined that saving him was impossible……]

[Emilia: And so you crushed him to death with your flail. ――That only added to his suffering]

[Ram: Emilia-sama――]

Holding Rem’s hand at her side, Ram shot a harsh glare towards Emilia. But Emilia’s sharp, unrelenting gaze remained locked onto Rem,

[Emilia: The facts are facts. ……Subaru’s body, his arm, and his head… If you wanted to put him out of his misery, there should have been a gentler way. Instead, why did you…]

[Rem: That’s, because……]

[Emilia: …………]

Rem couldn’t answer Emilia’s question.

She did not say anything further, perhaps because her personality was not one for telling lies, and Emilia’s words had struck the core of her true motives.

Rem had harbored intense distrust towards Subaru back then.

After the second round of the loops in the Mansion―― having failed to conceal Subaru’s corpse after crushing him to death in the hallway, events led to this current discussion here.

Subaru’s friendly interaction with Ram must have only further inflamed her hostility, to the point where she could no longer resist her murderous intent.

――Just what was she thinking when she swung her iron flail towards Subaru in the upper floors of the Mansion?

Perhaps even Rem didn’t know this herself.

[Emilia: ――It was a slip of the hand… or because you hesitated…… those were the answers I wanted to hear…]

[Rem: ――――hg]

With closed eyes, Emilia sadly murmured as Rem’s face shot up.

It was unclear how much of Rem’s true feelings Emilia had grasped when she said those words. And it would always, forever remain unclear.

[Roswaal: Emilia-sama, where are you going?]

Seeing Emilia stand up, patting off the hems of her skirt, Roswaal’s expression vanished as he asked her this question.

Hearing it, Emilia brushed her hand over her long, silver hair,

[Emilia: ――I’m leaving. It has only been a short while, but thank you for your hospitality. Without your backing, I would not have been able to participate in the Royal Selection. But…… I cannot trust you anymore]

[Roswaal: Even if you don’t trust us, surely our relationship of mutual utilization would still be beneficial, don’t you think? Forfeiting your place for the sake of a tantrum couldn’t be called a wise decision]

[Emilia: Tantrum……?]

Hearing Roswaal’s remark, Emilia stopped in place as her expression stiffened in shock. Then, she promptly turned her steps towards Roswaal, and,

[Roswaal: ――――]

No one could have stopped that crisp sound from ringing out.

Her white fingers slapped hard across Roswaal’s blue-white cheek.

In front of the reddened, swelling cheek, the single slap already left Emilia out of breath. The one who had been slapped made no reaction, but instead held Ram back as she was about to stand with her changed complexion.

[Roswaal: Ram]

[Ram: But, Roswaal-sama――]

[Roswaal: It’s fine. You can stay seated. Emilia-sama, my apologies for Ram]

[Emilia: You’re always like this with me…… but when it’s Subaru… you won’t even say a thing……]

Biting her lip, Emilia glared at the collected Roswaal. But despite the furious rage churning in her amethyst eyes, Roswaal never lost his composure for an instant.

This was only a testament to their irreconcilable standpoints.

[Roswaal: Once you leave the Mansion, and return to the forest―― what will you have left?]

[Emilia: I was wrong to have been taken along by your beguiling words. My atonement…… my penance will come in many other forms. It was because of my mistake… that Subaru died]

Emilia closed her eyes, and quietly answered Roswaal’s question.

Then, with a slight shake of her head,

[Emilia: I will bring his soul with me, and lay him to rest in the forest. ――For Subaru, and the others, for as long it takes, I will devote my time to tend to their souls. That is all I will say]

With this, Emilia backed away from Roswaal, indicating that she had no intention to continue the conversation.

Her silver hair swayed as she turned her back, while Roswaal watched on with his mismatched eyes. Still seated in his chair, he reached out his hand towards the leaving figure―― but put it down again.

[Roswaal: If it has deviated from the writ, then…… this is where my pa~th ends]

[Ram: Roswaal-sama……]

Hearing Roswaal’s powerless whisper, Ram spilled a voice of concern as she took his hand. The clown glanced back at the girl’s worried gaze, while a weak smile rose onto his face,

[Roswaal: Ram, it seems you’ve won the wa~ger. Here is where my purpose reaches a standstill…… that is to say, the contract can now be fulfilled]

[Ram: ……yes. Yes, Roswaal-sama]

Leaving the two to their quiet exchange, Emilia proceeded toward Rem, who had stood up to open the door. Before passing her by, she looked to her solemnly bowed head,

[Emilia: Take me to where Subaru is]

[Rem: Emilia-sama, that would be……]

[Emilia: He’s in an awful state, I know. I will restore him as much as I can…… and take him with me… to the forest]

Watching the side of Emilia’s grief-stricken face, Rem’s expression stiffened as she lowered her head. Within that expression was something like regret, as well as something like anger.

Why did it have to turn out like this, she must’ve been wondering.

――Why did it turn out like this? No one knew the answer.

[Emilia: I’m sorry, Subaru―― I couldn’t do anything at all]

Emilia whispered at the very end.

――How many times do I have to be hit with my own stupidity before I can understand?

[???: DESU, DESU! DESUDESUDESUDESU, DESU!!]

The shrill, deafening cackle echoed on.

Chest pumped, mouth stretched wide, drooling from the lips and mussing her long, red hair, a young woman was howling.

This woman’s abhorrent behavior, her bloodshot, gawking eyes, and the deranged posture she had taken were nothing like those of a human.

[Woman: FOR LOVE! TO LOVE! IN LOVE! BY LOVE! THE REPAYMENT OF LOVE IS! EVERYTHING! DESU! AAH! OH WITCH! O BELOVED WITCH! DESTINED HARBOR OF MY LOVE!]

Falling to her knees, with both hands stretched to the sky and tears streaming from her eyes, the woman extolled her love.

All around the crazed woman, were submerged corpses scattered in an ocean of blood. Limbs torn apart, heads gouged open, lay countless cadavers stripped of human dignity.

In their midst, was the body of a black-haired youth, his throat pierced by his own sword.

Blood drowned every corner of Arlam village, as every member of the expedition lay upon the ground, deprived of the last sign of life.

The moment their most powerful asset, the Sword Demon, fell in the ambush, the tide was already set.

The rest was a massacre by the “Unseen Hands”, an uninterrupted chain of death-wails until the last of them met their end.

[Woman: BEHOLD MY DILIGENCE! WHAT COULD THIS CLEANSING OF SLOTH BE CALLED, IF NOT A TESTAMENT OF MY LOVE! DESU! AAAH! MY ADORATION, MY FAITH, MY UNSHAKABLE LOVE! RECEIVE IT! ACCEPT IT! MAY IT NESTLE WITHIN YOUR EMBRACE――DESU!!]

Decrying her love, tears pouring, the woman barked amid the sea of blood―― her flesh stolen, her mind invaded by the monster, Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti.

After wiping out Subaru’s rescue party in one fell swoop, despite the loss of his cultists, the madman went on proclaiming his love.

When――

[???: ――What… happened?]

A winded girl muttered as she ran down the path trailing from the village.

Impatiently wiping aside the silver hair sticking to her forehead, she scanned her amethyst eyes over the carnage. ――Emilia’s eyes widened at the villagers submerged in the ocean of blood, and noticed it.

[Emilia: suba.. ru?]

Lying in the center of the carnage, was a youth she had known well.

Just what emotion flashed through her mind in that instant? The feelings in those widened eyes were far too complex, such that no one, not even herself, could have understood it.

Only, Emilia’s lips trembled, as she,

[Emilia: why, is…… Subaru, sleeping th…… huh?]

[Puck: Lia――! This is bad, it’s the Witch Cult! A Sin Arch…… why, why now!?]

Emilia’s expression was stunned, and one not accepting reality. In her stead, Puck flew out in a terribly panicked state.

Flying circles around Emilia while fixing his glare on Petelgeuse, standing alone in that carnage, his black round eyes were rife with alarm and hostility.

[Puck: Lia! Now, right now! Get away from here now! That thing…… you mustn’t meet with the Sin Archbishop! The Trial will begin! If it gets imposed on you, it will be horrible!]

[Emilia: Puck……?]

[Puck: I just remembered, I finally remembered! That bastard…… meeting that bastard finally made me remember! Why did I forget…… and there’re so many things I still can’t recall…… unless, I can’t remember until things become like this…… but if so, then!]

Facing towards the sky, Puck stretched out his little body as far as it would go, and screamed.

[Puck: THAT’S NOT WHAT YOU SAID――ECHIDONA!!]

Loaded with frustration and loathing, the shout echoed out as Puck panted, shaking his head. All the while, Emilia fell speechless in front of her utterly changed companion.

Having heard the scream, the madman slowly stood upright.

[Petelgeuse: Well well…… how pleased to MEET YOU! DESU!]

Slanting his upper body, Petelgeuse violently yanked at his long red hair, mercilessly pulling as blood began seeping out of his scalp.

Watching this act of self-injury, horror and disgust flickered across Emilia’s eyes.

[Petelgeuse: I AM Witch Cult Sin Archbishop, Sloth―― Petelgeuse Romanée-CONTI… DESU!]

The madman cackled, his voice quaking the atmosphere.

Just like this, the howling madman slanted his body as he observed the petrified Emilia from head to toe then to her upper body, practically licking her all over with his gaze,

[Petelgeuse: ……in, credible, desu]

He spilled this sigh of wonder.

A crisp peal of a clap. Petelgeuse was clapping, directing his applause at Emilia.

[Petelgeuse: Incredible―― DESU! A FIGURE SO PERFECT FOR A VESSEL! A VISAGE SO REMINISCENT OF THE WITCH IN LIFE! Since you’ve prepared such a magnificent vessel, there is no more need for DEBATE! DESU! THE TRIAL! THE TRIAL TO DETERMINE WHETHER THE WITCH GENE SHALL TAKE ROOT!]

[Puck: Silence, madman! You take one step towards that child! And I will make you regret ever being born――! Utterly!]

[Petelgeuse: In the face of love, pain and fear are all offerings for the sacrifice…… nothing you say would give me reason to stop, desu]

Puck met Petelgeuse’s raving with a threat, but the madman didn’t seem to mind. Dragging its steps along the ground, it slowly approached, while Puck only seemed to tremble, unable to do a thing.

[Puck: Wh..y. Why, does this have to be the moment when I…… no, that’s wrong. I remember now. That’s wrong. Yes, that’s wrong, that’s wrong! That’s wrong! I’m…… I, am]

[Emilia: Puck! Wh-what should I…… what should I do!? I-I’m…… and Subaru… over there he’s……]

[Petelgeuse: THE TRIAL! THE TERMINUS OF THIS DILIGENT SOUL IS SELECTED DESU! AN OCCUPIED VESSEL, WOULD INTERFERE WITH THE INJECTED SOUL DESU! THE CONTENTS, ARE UNNEEDED――DESU!]

Emilia desperately called to Puck, who was hugging his head. While Petelgeuse went on towards the bewildered pair without stopping.

Watching Petelgeuse making strange motions with his fingers and licking his lips, blaring alarms sounded inside Emilia without end.

At the sight of his deranged eyes, Emilia gasped, and, in a choking voice,

[Emilia: no……I’m scared, daddy……h]

She whimpered, pleading for someone to rely on.

Seeking help in a voice so quiet that no one could have heard it.

Petelgeuse completely ignored this as he extended his hand towards Emilia. Surely, beyond that hand, would be the invisible Authority of Sloth, the Unseen Hand.

It would be reaching to bind Emilia’s petrified body, to enact its evil designs――

[Puck: ――Get your filthy hands away from my daughter!!]

The next moment, a wall of ice of incredible density and height emerged in front of Emilia.

Dividing the space between her and Petelgeuse, the wall continued to expand, bursting from the ground.

In the matter of an instant, even Petelgeuse, with his Unseen Hands outspread, was forced to leap backwards.

[Petelgeuse: That’s――!]

[Puck: I’ve finally remembered the most important thing of all…… In order to protect it, contracts and constraints can go to hell for all I care. What a worthless thing I’ve been bound to… now, I finally remember]

Hearing this rare sign of hesitation in Petelgeuse’ voice, the little cat floating in space quietly proclaimed.

The aura of bewilderment had vanished, as the spirit glared at the madman with a liberated air.

[Puck: I remember now, why I’ve become like this. It was to protect my daughter, at last―― if the price to do so was such a constraint… that vile wretch…]

[Emilia: Puck――a]

Emilia extended her fingers towards the rueful Puck, when her throat froze.

At her breast, was a crystal glowing with green light. It was Puck’s spiritual residence, the vital stone tying him and Emilia together.

But suddenly, without the slightest touch, the stone shattered into dust.

[Emilia: What…… wh-why……!?]

[Puck: I…… I have broken the constraint, and the consequences have begun. Perhaps even this was foreseen from the start…… but still]

Turning around, Puck floated down to the level of Emilia’s eyes.

A flicker of doubt flashed through Emilia’s pupils at Puck’s gesture. But, gazing into her, Puck’s expression was that of someone gazing at something precious and beloved.

[Puck: Lia, this is goodbye――]

[Emilia: wh……]

[Puck: The constraint has been broken. I cannot be tied to this body anymore. As much as I wish to stay by your side, that too is part of the price. ――I’m sorry]

[Emilia: No, don’t, Puck…… everyone… everyone’s gone…… Subaru is… he’s…… everyone’s… gone! Puck… if you leave me too…… I… I’ll be all alone…… I don’t… want…to…]

Like a whimpering child, Emilia pleaded as tears poured from her eyes.

Puck used his long tail to wipe away her tears, and gently touched his lips to the tip of the crying girl’s nose.

[Puck: Don’t say such things, and listen well. There’s still Ram in the Mansion. Betty is also around. If you ever need to, you can rely on Betty. That child… would never refuse you. Though, knowing this, it is rather mean of me to ask this of her]

[Emilia: I…! Puck, other than you, I have no one……]

[Puck: ――Go now. My most cherished in this world, my loveliest, most beloved Emilia]

[Emilia: Wai――]

Before Emilia could say a thing, Puck’s little body pushed hard against her forehead.

Unable to withstand the unexpected force, Emilia’s body was sent swimming backwards―― when instantly, a tear in space swallowed up her slender frame,

[Emilia: Wh――]

In a blink, Emilia’s figure vanished from the village.

――Watching this to the end, Puck spilled a long, drawn out sigh.

[Puck: Sorry for forcing you to do this, Beatrice]

Puck thanked his accomplice in the abrupt disappearance.

Then, he turned around, and looked to Petelgeuse, who had been staring at him,

[Puck: You just sat there quietly watching…… pretty good manners for a religious fanatic]

[Petelgeuse: It looked like if I did anything, you’d have crushed me in an instant, desu. Either way, it’ll be all the same once I make my way to the Mansion, desu. No point stepping on the tiger’s tail… desu]

[Puck: I see. You may look deranged, but you’re surprisingly thoughtful. ――Scum]

Spitting this out, Puck flew over the wall of ice into Petelgeuse’ side.

Not even Petelgeuse did anything as foolish as using his Unseen Hands to stall the approach.

Then, they faced each other with a certain distance between them,

[Puck: There is no time. ――Hurry up and start, so we can get this over with. The rest… I will leave to my trusty little sister]

[Petelgeuse: Something’s changed about you, desu. For a spirit, you stink of human]

[Puck: ――Yeah, I guess I do]

Puck rubbed his little hand against his pink nose with a cynical smile.

[Puck: I may look like this now, but my limbs used to be a little longer, and my face would’ve been rather handsome, too. When my daughter is that cute, isn’t that only natural?]

[Petelgeuse: ……I’m having trouble understanding you, desu]

[Puck: Well, nevermind. I wasn’t expecting you to understand…… since you are about to die here, anyway]

Saying this, Puck pointed his arms towards Petelgeuse as his body began to turn white.

He was running out of mana, and losing his ability to keep hold of this body. Perhaps, this was partly because his bond with Emilia was severed, and partly because he had broken the constraint he had mentioned earlier.

Either way, the contours of his form began to fade――

[Puck: Before I am extinguished, I will extinguish you first. Who would’ve thought my companion in death would be a religious fanatic. Gross]

[Petelgeuse: Sorry to tell you this, desu, but even if you destroy this body, that won’t st――]

[Puck: I will freeze your soul alongside it. ――If I do that, what would happen, I wonder?]

The dauntless grin on Petelgeuse’ face up to now abruptly froze.

Watching the madman’s eyes widen, Puck smiled an utterly delighted smile,

[Puck: Aaah―― now there’s the face I wanted to see, fool]

In an instant, simultaneous with the unravelling of the spirit’s contours, a white radiance blasted forth, and――

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

――Forced to witness the endings of worlds one after another, Subaru lay collapsed upon the ground.

He could not tell where he was anymore.

Was this reality, or was he inside a dream? Could it be one of those cycling nightmares? And if it was a nightmare, would he be absolved so simply?

Were they really just possibilities? Or were they worlds that actually existed? Could they merely have been convenient fancies that Subaru’s mind had invented? If so, then how does he explain the previously unknown information contained within them?

Were they worlds born out of delusion? Were they alternate realities feeding on each other? Whichever it may be, the torment to Subaru’s heart was colossal.

So much so, that he could not stand, or raise his head, or do anything at all.

And so――

[Rem: Are you no longer able to stand? Subaru-kun?]

He heard someone at his side, gently uplifting his heart with those words.

He thought it was the voice of someone he loved.

[Subaru ――――]

The hot streaks of tears that should no longer be spilling drew their trails down Subaru’s cheeks.

-=Chapter 72 End=-