――Natsuki Subaru had a compulsion to avoid this situation.

He didn’t know why. There was no basis for it. It was just a vague anxiety. Yet, the certainty that it must not happen resided firmly in his heart.

On the hill, Emilia, with her silver hair swaying in the wind, extended her palm towards him, while Petelgeuse, with arms wide open, seemed to welcome her with joy written all over his face.

Subaru had unconsciously worked to avoid bringing these two together.

Yet now, in this dead-end, desperate situation where he could do nothing, she had stumbled into this exact moment.

“What the hell…!”

Before surprise or regret could take root, anger surged within him.

His anger was directed at himself for not making enough effort to avoid this situation, and more than anything,

“Didn’t you know we shouldn’t have encountered—Pack!!”

His roaring fury pierced through the grassy plains, reaching the spirit floating beside the silver-haired girl. Yet that spirit, instead of turning to face Subaru, remained fixed solely on Emilia’s profile.

Waving his hands, Pack darted around Emilia, a frantic anxiety etched upon his face.

“Emilia! No! Get away from here right now! That’s the Archbishop of Sin! You’re not supposed to meet him! You shouldn’t be here!”

“I can’t just turn back now, and I don’t intend to. Everyone’s fighting so hard out there. I wasn’t raised to just sit back and relax!”

Despite Pack’s desperate plea, Emilia’s expression hardened, tension flooding her cheeks. Pack pressed his hands to his face and shook his head, “No, no! That’s not it! It’s not about who’s fighting! It’s the Witch Cult! The Witch Cult! Oh, I just remembered! The Trial! The Archbishop will put you through a Trial! And I’m bound by contract not to interfere with Trials! I can’t go any further! So…”

He cut off, his expression tightening as if he had been forbidden to speak any further. Though he always exuded an air of confidence, the sight of this little cat caught even Emilia off guard, her eyes widening slightly.

“Pack… do you know something?”

“I know nothing! But I feel there is something I should know! That’s why, Emilia! You must return! If you stay here and meet with them, something far worse than death will definitely happen!”

Pack’s responses failed to answer Emilia’s questions, but he didn’t forcibly stop her nor did he suppress this situation with his overwhelming power.

His frustrating situation made Subaru’s anger boil over. He couldn’t comprehend why his chest felt so heated.

“If Emilia shows up here… what was I even trying to do?!—You!”

“Are you saying that out loud!? Emilia is ignoring my words and putting herself here for what reason…!”

With a face twisted in frustration, Subaru shouted, and Pack, too, strained to voice his reply.

Yet at that moment, Subaru realized a truth he couldn’t look away from, and was overwhelmed with self-reproach.

It was a natural and obvious conclusion.

The reason she got off the dragon cart that was escaping and returned to the battlefield was singular.

Without saying anything, without conveying anything to her, Subaru and the others remained in danger.

Choosing only actions that would cause detriment to themselves for others, she wouldn’t simply accept a life where she was only protected.

It was a mistake in judgment. Again, Subaru made the same error.

And while it was too late to rectify it, things were about to come to light at the worst possible timing.

――The situation allowed no more room for delay.

“Pack is…”

Still on the hill, Pack implored Emilia, seeming to cling to her, coaxing her to reconsider. But there was no way to bend her firm will.

Emilia, half resigned and seeking Pack’s assistance, closed her eyes and began casting her spell solely relying on her own magical power.

And the eerie madman, Petelgeuse, remained silent.

“How wonderful… Oh, what a lovely day. Truly, there is no better body than this reflection, this vessel…”

With tears flowing down, the madman trembled with uncontainable passion as he stepped forward toward the hill. His legs wobbled, yet his march signaled nothing less than the countdown to destruction.

“――”

With Pack proving unreliable, Subaru rose, driven by a sense of mission.

As soon as the connection of their hands broke, Patrasche’s breaths quietly ceased. A single tear rolled down Subaru’s cheek. He roughly wiped it away with the back of his hand and took off running.

“Subaru-kun?!”

Leaving behind Felix’s astonished voice, Subaru forgot the wrenching pain in his body and sprinted onward. To the side, he had no time to glance at the battlefield clashing between Witch Cultists and the hunting party; all that Subaru focused on was the girl on the hill.

Only he could now prevent the encounter between her and the madman.

He had no idea how much help this small, insignificant body could provide. He didn’t know, but still, he had to do something. Otherwise, why—?

“Please do not interfere—!!”

Sensing Subaru’s presence rushing toward him, Petelgeuse turned his head just to the side, as if to glance back—black magic hands burst forth, rushing toward Subaru to ensnare him.

With a grasp that seemed intent on tearing off his limbs, Subaru twisted his body, darting through the openings, not losing speed. At this moment, the fatigue and injury weighing down on him seemed to sharpen his focus.

It was, in other words, the manifestation of disaster-induced strength.

His movements exceeded limits, enabling him to continue dodging the approaching hands by a hair’s breadth.

Petelgeuse clicked his tongue at Subaru’s extraordinary agility.

“Damn you, you can see my invisible hands…!”

“Just shut that filthy mouth! You aren’t going to do anything else!”

The distance between them fell below twenty meters, and as the flood of magical hands rushed to rend Subaru into pieces, their sheer number began to blot out his vision.

Yet the fear of being torn apart did not exist. What propelled Subaru was not the fear of death but the roaring flames of desperation, determined to burn him to his very core.

He edged in close, barely evading a blow that grazed his face. His left cheek tore open, blood bursting forth in a torrent, the pain singeing through his nerves. But even as the searing agony threatened to pull him down, Subaru pushed his body forward—and as his outstretched arms aimed to grasp Petelgeuse’s slender shoulders—

“If that means facing my invisible hands, then there’s no helping it!”

“—Stop struggling!”

“—Uldona!”

With a seemingly bored face, Petelgeuse began his short incantation.

The moment that word settled in Subaru’s ears, the ground he was standing on violently shook, knocking him off balance.

“No way…!”

“The invisible hands are a sign of my granted favor… but to claim I can wield only them? Have I said such a thing?”

Tilting his head at a ninety-degree angle, Petelgeuse sneered with wicked sarcasm as he moved further away.

No, the earth under Subaru’s feet trembled fiercely, upheaving and propelling him skyward.

The whole area beneath his feet shot up like a spring-loaded platform, sending Subaru soaring into the air with ease, propelling him over ten meters high—

“—Ugh, ah!?”

He slammed down to the ground, gasping as his chest hit hard. The impact clouded his consciousness, and as Subaru was thrown back down, he had no means to effectively evade his fall.

Falling from heights, and assuredly, smacking his head down proved deadly based on the “Murphy’s Law” he discovered previously. Falling headfirst, he faced the dislocation of his neck, ready to pay with his life—just at that moment,

“Subaru—!!”

At the same time as silver bells cried for urgency, a translucent mass shot up from just below, catching Subaru’s fall.

Though it had been specially designed to mitigate the impact of the fall, it could not completely avoid damage due to its nature. As the firm sensation and the chill stung his skin, Subaru struggled to open his eyes, realizing he was laying upon…

“A mountain of ice? No, a tower…?”

To rescue the launched Subaru, a mast of ice had been constructed, risen to the same height as that of the ground. It was this frozen mass that saved him from a fatal fall.

His blood-soaked skin stuck to the icy mountain, the pain of being skinned caused him to grimace as he regained his senses, experiencing both relief at surviving and a simultaneous realization of an irrevocable mistake.

――Thinking of who or what had formed this icy mountain was needless.

“—Emilia!!”

Turning around, Subaru lifted himself on the slippery ice mountain, anxiously glancing toward the hill. However, the upheaving earth obscured his view, isolating Emilia and Pack from sight, along with Petelgeuse’s movements.

Yet, Emilia’s invocation had been interrupted. And she could not see Petelgeuse’s invisible hands—!

“Worst… the worst of all! To get around this wall…!”

He had to descend from the icy mountain and scale the earthen walls. The earth, which bulged to block their path, had now turned into a near-vertical cliff, making it difficult to maneuver around to the other side. It was utterly impossible for Subaru alone.

The skin of his palms stuck to the ice; the pain of tearing caused his mind to flare. Tears welled in his eyes from the sharp agony as he literally bled while descending the icy mound.

Fortunately, there were several places to grab onto, which turned out to be a blessing; in tandem with sheer desperation, he managed to slide to the bottom of the ice mountain faster than one could believe.

But without a moment’s pause, he looked up at the wall and felt utterly defeated.

“This wall is… Damn it, that bastard was playing me after all…!”

Pounding his bloodied hands against the ground wall, Subaru bit down in frustration, regretting his shallow thinking once again.

He had assumed that if he could just neutralize Petelgeuse’s “Invisible Hands,” he could render him powerless. But he had underestimated him, and now he had been thoroughly outplayed—!

“—Lord Subaru!”

“…Wilhelm-san?”

From behind, the aged swordsman hurried toward Subaru.

With minor injuries and bearing his treasured sword, he nodded at Subaru, glaring at the wall.

“For a moment, I laid eyes on Lady Emilia. —Is the Archbishop of Sin on the other side?”

“Yes… Exactly! We messed up! Emilia must not meet with that man or Petelgeuse! It will lead to a bad ending… I can’t fully explain, but it’s just no good. That’s all!”

Unable to articulate the reasons for his urgency, Subaru clung to Wilhelm, the latter nodding at Subaru’s incoherence.

“Leave it to me. I will carve open this wall with my hands now!”

“Carve it open… but how?”

To Subaru’s question regarding how to breach this towering wall, Wilhelm illustrated a simple answer through action.

In other words, he gouged the wall with a flashing white blade, launching a flurry of slashes that began tearing through the earth. The answer was straightforward; he was literally “carving it open.”

“Uh, oh…”

Having witnessed the serious strikes of a swordmaster so close, Subaru could only be entranced by his overwhelming skill. Even in this crucial timing, the beauty of his flashing blade and the apex of his strikes made it apparent—one could understand that this was, indeed, the existence of swordsmanship’s pinnacle.

Behind them, the battles between the Witch Cultists and the hunting party escalated.

The hunting party—the beastmen mercenary group fought valiantly, and Ricardo’s massive blade sent Witch Cultists flying. And beyond that, Julius appeared, accompanied by six distinct shimmering spirits.

“Ia, Qua, Iku, Aro, In, Nessu—everyone, lend me your strength!”

As each of the named spirits responded to his call, Julius’ slender sword glimmered with six lights, transforming into a rainbow-colored blade and sending “the Best Knight” into the fray.

“Finally ready, eh? You kept me waiting way too long!”

“Sorry, Ricardo. I’ve burdened you greatly during your fierce struggle. —Now, I will show you the fruits of that labor!”

In response to Ricardo’s scolding, Julius elegantly brandished the rainbow-hued sword. The air shimmered as the rainbow traced the arc of his blade, sparking the light.

It was fantastic. However, the practicality of that blade remained ambiguous as Julius approached the Witch Cultists. Sensing his presence, the black-robed ones drew daggers poised for him, confidently charging toward the knight.

“Right now, my sword interferes with all phenomena. —To challenge it is futile.”

As the rainbow flashed, the short dagger of the black-robed cultist disappeared along with his arm.

No blood even spilled from that slash. With both arms severed to the elbow, the black figure could not even fathom the meaning of the damage he had sustained before he faced another cut and vanished.

“Come on—only those who wish to be fascinated by the radiant glow of the rainbow step forward before me!”

Julius proclaimed grandly, raising his sword, as the Witch Cult came rushing in. Together with Ricardo standing beside him, Julius was ready to repulse their assault—what a dependable sight.

And here too,

“I will break through this wall!”

“—Shh!”

Beyond the advancing slashes, a faint light began to filter through the wall, prompting Subaru to shout out in anticipation of a breakthrough when, in a spectacular manner, the tip of the treasured sword perfectly pierced the wall.

Covered in dirt, Wilhelm kicked through the wall with a forward kick, securing a passage wide enough for a person. Following the swift movements of the swordmaster, Subaru poked his head through to the other side.

A significant amount of time had been lost. During that time, they had been completely unable to interfere with their side. The consequence of which, if Emilia had been lost—

“Emi—”

However, Subaru’s worst fears were being transformed into a completely different reality.

“—Ah, this hurts, it hurts, it hurts, doesn’t it?”

With his voice trembling at the end, Petelgeuse groaned in pain, bleeding.

Numerous ice spikes had already pierced his lower abdomen, with at least one spear jamming his left foot into the ground.

And facing him from behind Emilia were several ice blades still waiting to be launched, making the battlefield unequivocally favorable to Emilia.

Knowing that was precisely why it was the worst possible scenario.

“—Emilia!!”

Subaru shouted, pouring everything he had into his voice in an attempt to keep reality at bay.

However, even before he could finish his words, the dying Petelgeuse raised his palm towards them—extending his dark hands.

The approaching hand moved with an apparent slowness, likely due to Petelgeuse’s own depleted vitality. Even dodging by drawing away from Wilhelm seemed leisurely. Yet, to Subaru, those hands did not signal a threat.

“Watch out, Subaru—!!”

To Emilia, completely oblivious to the situation, it could only be perceived as a deathblow.

Thus,

“Oh, the abandonment of thought—You are ‘Sloth,’ aren’t you?”

With a mad grin on his face, Petelgeuse’s head was abruptly severed by the oncoming ice blades.

Blood gushed from the neck of the decapitated body, which crumbled in submission. The head soared through the air, landing beyond the grasslands with a hefty thud, disappearing from view.

The madman, Petelgeuse, had been silenced by Emilia.

That moment represented an entirely different form of “worst” than what Subaru had initially feared.

“Lord Subaru. It appears that creature…”

Wilhelm, confirming the death of the Archbishop, slightly relaxed his features. Emilia, too, bore a mix of regret for her actions, though relief lingered in her demeanor.

Before those two, Subaru lifted his face and opened his mouth.

“Both of you, get away from me right now—! Or it’ll be too late!!”

Just before Subaru could shove Wilhelm aside, his mouth formed words not intended from his mind.

Instantly after, Subaru felt a swelling sensation beneath him. No, shadows exploded, giving rise to countless arms.

These serpent-like appendages surged silently upwards, targeting Wilhelm who stood close by. Yet, the aged swordsman was just in time. Although he couldn’t see the threat of invisible hands, he swiftly read Subaru’s warning and leapt toward Emilia.

The spitting image of Petelgeuse glared hatefully at Subaru.

“The worst mood… It’s disgusting. To have someone else occupying my brain—how sickening it feels…!”

With his fingers digging into his wounds, Subaru clung to consciousness amidst the pain that threatened to overwhelm him. He was terrified that without maintaining his focus, he would be overtaken in an instant.

The sensation of another’s will residing so comfortably beside him—this abhorrent presence; based on past experiences, he should’ve anticipated such a situation.

That’s why he must have avoided this scenario at all costs.

“What’s… wrong, Subaru? What’s happened to you?”

“Stay back, Emilia! Right now, that is only part of Subaru but not completely him. —Subaru! Are you in your right mind!”

Wilhelm’s concern for the increasingly strange Subaru caused him to restrain Emilia’s approach. Contorting his face, Subaru replied by taking a step back.

His group had been widely informed of the “possession” issue. Wilhelm must’ve recognized that Subaru was struggling against his encroaching madness.

Sensing the urgency, Wilhelm’s expression hardened, directing the tip of his treasured sword toward Subaru. Though he did not immediately lash out at him, he clearly was on guard. And that was precisely what Subaru wished for, even before they had entered combat.

“Thank you for keeping your promise… I—I’m glad, Wilhelm-san.”

“Do not make me kill you. …Is there no way to escape from this without being overtaken?”

“What do you think? …Honestly, I’m starting to doubt whether I can maintain my consciousness much longer. If I relax even a little… it’s as if my throat is about to get cut…!”

With both arms trembling, he could feel his fingers slowly inching toward his throat. If left alone, it would strangle him with overwhelming force, bringing an end to his life through excruciating pain. It felt as if the cockroach-like bastard wanted him to off himself.

“After all… when it comes to others, they use this power for themselves… but why is it that I’m the one being pushed toward self-destruction? What the hell is the mindset behind this…?!”

His voice trembled, fingers quaking, vision beginning to blur.

With Petelgeuse infiltrating his mind, he felt gradually losing control of his body. Sensation had long faded from his feet. With an unsettling progression, the essence of Natsuki Subaru was being completely overridden by Petelgeuse.

“This is quite a struggle to possess you; it’s been quite some time.”

“Having a mental chat with a phantom… I guess I’m really reaching rock bottom. Damn it!”

The specter of Petelgeuse materialized within his mind. Images of the initial encounter with Petelgeuse—a visage that should have exploded and turned to dust, now swirled around Subaru, examining him desperately resisting.

“A fine struggle, what a fine expression, and a good try! A Trial! Yes, a Trial! Trials must be like this! Not just for me but for the Witch and for the half-demon serving to her! Trials! Oh, the trials of love!”

“Shut the hell up, quit it with the noise in my ears, you bastard. What’s with the ‘Trials’… If it’s just me overcoming you through sheer will, there aren’t many who could pull that off…!”

He bluffed and posed bravado, rallying his spirit.

Unless he did so, he felt he would immediately succumb to this self-destructive impulse. Or he might allow the arms from the shadow beneath to reach out and ravage everything around him until not a trace remained.

If this was the kind of compulsion Petelgeuse always harbored, then it would make sense how deeply he’d flavored all his previous antics and morbid behaviors.

If he was so hungry for destruction, he could easily chew off a finger without hesitation.

If he possessed such difficult authority to control, then losing balance in his mind was hardly surprising.

――Was this the reality that Petelgeuse beheld?

“――I seek no understanding from anyone.”

Then finally, to Subaru’s shock, the phantasm of Petelgeuse coldly uttered those words.

Petelgeuse had previously expressed rage, madness, and ecstasy as angered emotions. Now, for the first time, his expression was devoid of any hue of emotion.

That, more than any previous demeanor, paralyzed Subaru with icy dread.

“I seek not to be understood. Above all, sympathy! That is an insult to the love that I represent! A disgrace! A shame! I merely care about repaying to that love, thinking about it, being conscious of it! That alone will bring me salvation!”

“You…!”

Petelgeuse’s phantom leaned closer, extending its tongue to threaten Subaru.

Disgust and a hint of pity flashed momentarily in Subaru’s mind, yet it was but a fleeting distraction that he promptly cast aside.

Once again, he found himself fighting for dominance over the possession—when suddenly,

“—Subaru!”

“Subaru-kun!”

“Bro!”

As the last of the Witch Cultists fell, Julius, flanked by Felix and Ricardo, raced toward him.

“Subaru!”

“Lord Subaru…!”

“——”

Meanwhile, Emilia and Wilhelm descended the hill, their expressions a mix of unshakeable vigilance and burgeoning concern, converging toward him.

The sound of their hurried footsteps resonated, thrumming in his heart.

The faces of these gathered allies stirred a whirlwind within him, and above all, Emilia stood right beside him. Her proximity caused Subaru’s heart to tremble like never before, suddenly shining with fierce brightness.

“——”

Suddenly, the shaking of Subaru’s limbs came to a halt.

Until now, he had battled against the tumult brewing within him, and this aftermath of emotion, once manifesting as tremors, vanished as he exhaled a long sigh.

“Subaru…?”

Emilia tilted her head at Subaru’s calm demeanor.

Tentatively, her finger stretched outward toward him, hoping to brush his cheek.

Just before her pale fingertip could touch him, Subaru’s hand shot up and clasped hers. “Ah!” Emilia gasped softly, her deep indigo eyes and his black pupils intertwined.

And slowly, a smile painted Subaru’s cheeks.

“—Emilia, stop!”

“I finally caught you—!”

Bursting forth, Pack’s warning echoed, yet the grin spreading across Petelgeuse’s face was swifter.

As everyone sprang into action to protect Emilia, an enormous black hand surged up, binding them all.

“Meow!?”

“What the hell is this!? Just like Brother said!”

“This is the Archbishop of Sin’s… ‘Invisible Hands!’”

Confined, Felix, Ricardo, and Wilhelm groaned as they found their movements restricted. The arms that burst from the ground grasped them tightly, forcing them all into a position on all fours.

But—

“—It appears there’s someone who doesn’t perfectly match up with me!”

“Seems so… Release everyone safe and sound!”

By a hair’s breadth, Julius dodged backward, readying his sword.

Whatever method he used to break free of Petelgeuse’s grasp, the swordsman met the glare of the envious Petelgeuse, who had commandeered Subaru’s body.

“—A spirit mage, huh?”

“And what do you intend to do about it?”

Petelgeuse clicked his tongue in irritation.

Yet Julius maintained his composed demeanor, likely stalling to devise a strategy. However,

“Delaying is pointless. The vessel is already in my hands—”

Still holding Emilia’s white arm, Petelgeuse hoisted it up. With her trapped, Emilia rose into the air, disallowed from speaking, her incantations cut off.

Casting her desperately writhing form, Emilia sought to escape, yet alongside her, her great spirit, who had continuously watched over her, could only suppress any means to interfere.

“Why… why am I here? Emilia, oh, Emilia, I’m so sorry. Why… if I can’t be of help here, why did Echidna…!”

His murmuring held a tone of regret, oppression weighing down heavily on his small frame.

Hearing that, Petelgeuse suddenly froze. He lifted his head slowly, with an awful creak, gazing down at Pack.

“Damn you, you’re messing with me…!”

That was righteous indignation, an emotion tinged with unbearable fury.

The eruption of emotion momentarily rekindled Subaru’s awareness, chasing away the void that had once blanketed his thoughts.

Having had any intent to resist shattered, he still responded to the pathetic sight of Pack.

“Trials and contracts…… how ludicrous, you punk. Why the hell are you here…! Why… to this extent…!”

“What do you know, Subaru? You don’t know anything. Not even I could remember until this moment. You know nothing about…the Witch!”

Fierce anger glinted in Pack’s eyes as they exchanged glances, bitter hatred exchanged between them.

But after hurling insults, Subaru’s consciousness began to teeter yet again, being engulfed in Petelgeuse’s shadows.

His fading awareness would soon collapse entirely unless he orchestrated something soon.

“—Julius, do it!”

“What are you saying now?”

“If it remains as it is, I’ll be overtaken and we’ll be wiped out… If that’s the case, stop it!”

Subaru entrusted his only hope of conveying his will to Julius, who was still grasping his sword.

He wanted Julius to eliminate Petelgeuse to resolve the ongoing crisis. For the sake of that vessel, he would play the role he needed to.

“No! Subaru! You need to think! I’m a knight and a spirit mage! We’ve formed a contract to assist your purpose! I cannot betray that—”

“My purpose is to save Emilia… That’s what it is. My own life is a different matter…”

Julius’s face twisted in anguish as Subaru forced out those words.

Despite his previous composure, the knight’s shift from elegance to this moment’s turmoil earned Subaru unexpected laughter.

His cheeks softened, releasing a small sigh.

“Baka! Baka! Baka! What on earth are you doing?!”

The spectral Petelgeuse surged back into view, swirling around, berating Subaru for making a decision.

As his antics felt amusing, laughter bubbled within him, finally spilling forth into a soft chuckle.

“Subaru, I am…”

“Make no mistakes, knight—”

As Julius hesitated, his eyes laden with uncertainty, Subaru urged him with a trembling voice. Yet still, Julius was unwilling to commit.

As if sensing his unease, a voice broke through the tension, speaking solemnly.

“—Subaru-kun is on the verge of being overridden, and Julius cannot decide to put an end to this struggle. In that case, it seems there’s no helping it, right?”

Feigning a smile amidst the strain of his struggles against the bonds of the black hands, Felix somehow managed to raise his head.

Sweat beaded his forehead, and the way a strand of hair fell out of place was enchanting, even as one aware of his gender sensed an allure about him.

And the smile that split his red lips was fittingly dubbed as “bewitching.”

“Wait, Felix. What are you—”

“Since there’s no turning back… I’ll make it happen!”

Felix’s small click of his tongue rang out in defiance as he set off to counter Julius, leaving Subaru uncertain of what Felix might mean?

However, as the dizzying moment prolonged without a hint of change,

――Instantly, Subaru was consumed by a boiling sensation throughout his body.

“—Aah, ha!?”

It was hot. Hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot hot!

His throat felt hot, his eyes burned, body scorched, even his soul felt aflame.

Blood boiled, his insides bubbled, and his brain faced a temperature so high that the world around him whitewashed his vision.

Suddenly engulfed by this bodily turmoil, perilous in nature, Subaru lost the words he wanted to express.

“That’s what you deserve, huh…!?”

As he boiled near oblivion, the suffering he experienced echoed in the shape of Petelgeuse, who was similarly tormented by the pain.

Being connected in this way, Subaru’s torment mirrored his.

And that equivalency meant that this unavoidable end would also be tasted by Petelgeuse.

――Feel the wrath of that coming back at you.

Struggling, convulsing, he found himself unable to move any longer.

When he finally realized everyone, previously restrained, had returned to freedom. Naturally. With the one meant to use the hands incapacitated, who had the power to confine anyone else?

“Felix! Why…!”

“It’s not what he wished for. You wanted to protect something, right? That was part of the deal… right?”

Having run low on strength to move a finger, expressing his agony became an impossible task for Subaru. He understood that Felix was the agent of this change, yet the fact that he countered Wilhelm placed him in a complex situation.

Emilia squatted down, shaking Subaru’s shoulder, deep concern flooding her voice.

“Wait… Subaru, it’s not like this! Please. Wait… this isn’t right… I’m going to save you…!”

Her voice trembled with tears. Who was she crying for? Was it for someone else? She was always so selfless, almost too good at being kind.

Maybe it would be nice if that person turned out to be himself, he thought.

“Damn it, I can’t watch this.”

Ricardo’s massive frame shook as he turned away.

Then, just beside him stood a paladin, with slightly tousled purple hair—Julius, gripping a rainbow sword, which bore a shadow of melancholy across his face.

“…My unworthiness is what has brought this upon Felix. In due time, I will face this penalty.”

“Don’t stress it! There’s no point worrying!”

The encouragement he intended to offer became mired in disbelief.

“Keep worrying! You absolutely must remember all this! You can’t erase the suffering you’ve endured, or you’ll never find peace.”

――The tip of the rainbow sword was laid against the neck of the fallen Subaru.

“Stop… don’t, Julius. Because Subaru is still…”

“His life force is failing him… no more than this…”

Emilia attempted to speak with Julius, but the knight only shook his head, ignoring her pleas.

The exchange grew distant. Fading away into a realm unknown.

“This can’t be happening… I, I should be… I was supposed to be blessed by love, the gospel…!”

――Shut up, welcome hell.

As he dropped into nowhere, down and down, he fell.

Ah, would he die again? Plummeting to the depths, losing everything, embracing the weight of his failures—again would he die, most pitifully.

He looked back at the world.

“Oh… what went wrong? I must remember that cause.”

“—I’m sorry, Subaru.”

A trembling voice played, and in the last moments of consciousness, he recognized the one voice he wished to hear.

And finally, he understood. The failure, the reasons behind it.

“I…”

――Subaru shouldn’t have made up with Emilia.