“Well then, I’m off for a bit. I’ll be back tomorrow… I’ve said this a million times, but you really don’t have to force yourself to take the ‘Trial’. You should rest a little.”

“I get it already! Subaru, stop looking so worried! I promise to behave and rest today, okay?”

With that, Emilia puffed out her lips and shot a pouty glance at Subaru on the carriage.

While he smirked at her adorable demeanor, Subaru consciously tried to hide the aching feeling inside.

It was shortly before noon, after finishing discussions with Garfiel that morning, and he had come to see Emilia a few hours later.

“Natsuki-san, everything’s ready on our end. We just need to head out now.”

“Yeah, I gotta hand it to you. Your efficiency in packing up and making a hasty exit is commendable. Can I start calling you ‘Otto the Midnight Runner’ from now on?”

“I have no idea what that ‘midnight run’ means, but I’m pretty sure it sounds disreputable, so I’ll decline!”

Otto replied to Subaru’s jab with a twisted smile, and Subaru returned with a nonchalant chuckle. Looking behind Otto, he noticed another carriage forming a line apart from the one they were riding.

There were six carriages total — accommodating forty-two people, which included evacuees from Araham Village and the merchants who had accompanied them. In other words,

“Still, it feels a bit anticlimactic that our request was accepted so easily…I honestly expected a lot of resistance.”

“Well, that’s because Balus slyly spoke to Garf ahead of time. Ryuzu is someone who can be reasoned with, and without Garfiel intervening, there was no reason for negotiations to hit a snag.”

With a finger scratching his neck, Subaru heard Ram, who was in her maid outfit, throw in that comment from beneath the dragon cart. Her pink hair framed her perpetually haughty expression.

“I would like to complain about not negotiating to return Roswaal-sama to the mansion.”

“He was too well-suited to being a hostage. I had no clever words to carry negotiations forward. Just getting the villagers back can be considered a success, so take that as a win.”

“I’ll call it good for Balus this time. Be grateful to Ram.”

“If I say thank you now, won’t that mean I’ve lost?”

Subaru shuddered at Ram’s self-congratulatory demeanor while glancing again at Emilia, who seemed to squirm by his side.

Her deep indigo eyes carried a hint of worry and unease, which she dismissed as soon as she caught Subaru’s gaze.

“Thanks, you know. If you hadn’t suggested this, I might not have realized it was necessary.”

“Emilia-tan has her own burdens, so leave the support for everything around to us. First comes the urgent matter at hand. Just leave the rest to me, and everything will work out fine.”

Puffing out his chest proudly, Emilia covered her mouth and stifled a giggle, then wiped away the tears lingering in her eyes and nodded.

“Okay. I’m depending on you, Subaru. So…”

“I got it. After sending everyone off, I’ll be right back. If I forgot my favorite stuffed toy at the mansion, I’ll grab it too.”

“I graduated from that ages ago. And I’m not exactly begging you to hurry back. Though of course, I’d be happier if you did…”

“So, what were you trying to say then?”

“…Be careful. While fast is good, it would be better if nothing happens.”

“Aww, you’re making my heart flutter.”

Feeling a tingle in his heart, Subaru clutched at his chest as he took a step back. Emilia tilted her head in confusion at her unintentional confession, while Subaru repeatedly took deep breaths, holding out his palm.

“Okay, okay, got it. I’ll return quickly and safely. Shall we pinky swear?”

“If you lie, you’ll get it from Petra, right? …Alright, understood. We’ll do it.”

“Wow, so obedient!”

Bending down for Emilia, Subaru and Emilia’s fingers intertwined over the cart and ground. They recited the customary phrase, and their promise was sealed with a cut of their little fingers.

Emilia stared at their linked fingers, then reflected back into Subaru’s eyes.

“Subaru. For spirit magicians, promises are…”

“Super duper important, right? I’ve learned that lesson hard. I won’t break my promise with Emilia-tan anymore. I’ll do my best to keep my word to others too. So just accept it!”

“Hmph, I guess there’s no helping it.”

With a smile, Emilia beamed at him. Seeing her smile, Subaru straightened up, spun around, and then looked up at the sky, raising both hands toward the heavens.

“Alright, let’s get going now. Our destination is Araham Village, and the total personnel is forty-four! It’s quite a big move, so everyone, let’s do our best!”

At Subaru’s shout, lively replies rang out, and the grand migration began.

—The journey back to the village, carrying the freed hostages won through negotiation.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Having concluded the discussions with Garfiel, Subaru made a decision while gazing at Emilia’s sleeping face, which was surely heavy with sorrow—he would accept Garfiel’s proposal and negotiate to liberate the hostages from the ‘Sanctuary.’

After tucking Emilia in, Subaru gathered the key players at Ryuzu’s house, waiting for everyone to wake up to present his proposal.

Due to the recent verbal battle with Garfiel, he anticipated considerable opposition—but to his surprise, Ryuzu nodded in agreement with Subaru’s viewpoint, even suggesting some compromises. Although they had achieved their goal, Subaru couldn’t shake the feeling of being blindsided.

Afterward, he shared the news with Emilia when she woke up, and the same explanation was relayed to the evacuees gathered at the Cathedral. Initially shocked, their faces erupted in joy upon realizing they would safely return to their village, a reaction that made Subaru genuinely happy.

Ironically, the circumstances that had forced them into this predicament were a result of Subaru’s suggestions, yet as he explained their release, the villagers’ gratitude was overwhelming, leading to an awkward moment for Subaru. Still, crossing that hurdle led them to the journey now unfolding.

“Honestly, that was unexpected.”

The one who spoke up was Otto, who held the reins next to Subaru just like on the way there.

With Patrasche and Furufu pulling their carriage, Subaru responded, “Huh?”

“Didn’t you take a nap just now?”

“I was just lost in thought, cut the wild guesses. I didn’t catch what you said because I wasn’t fully conscious.”

“Can you at least finish what you started? …Anyway, I was surprised. I didn’t expect this situation to unfold so easily.”

Subaru’s casual demeanor contrasted with Otto’s more serious tone. Clearly, Otto was getting used to Subaru’s nonchalance. He turned to engage with his previous comment.

“I didn’t think they’d release the villagers so readily. From a merchant’s perspective, holding onto weaknesses is typically favored for future benefits.”

“Are you sure you’re speaking as a merchant, not a corrupt official? I feel like you’re gradually changing jobs to someone much shadier.”

Reflecting on this, Subaru realized he rarely saw Otto acting like a proper merchant, remembering him only claiming to sell a bunch of oil. Perhaps he was secretly an arsonist or something. Now he was suspicious of Otto’s true nature.

“What’s with that suspicious look?”

“That’s the very definition of a suspicious look. Are you really a merchant? Have you done anything merchant-like in front of me?”

“You were there when I was forced to handle a pile of confidential documents. Seriously, how’s your memory?”

“No, thinking it over, that was more like covert spy work than merchant dealings….”

“Directing your unpredictable thoughts is a task only God could undertake!”

“Hey, did you hear that, Patrasche? The guy beside me is saying he wants to become a god… that’s a bit scary!”

“Ah, damn it! Why do you have to say such things? Ah! Even Patrasche-chan feels sorry for me now! Please stop!”

Patrasche’s small whine prompted Otto to clutch his head in despair. Apparently, that comment mixed Otto’s perspective with Patrasche’s sentiment.

“Seriously, you guys never change, huh?”

Garfiel’s voice chimed in as he ran alongside their dragon carriage.

The convoy still on the beast path of the forest wasn’t moving quickly, but it was still much faster than Subaru’s full sprint. Effortlessly keeping pace, Garfiel ran alongside them.

“If I weren’t guiding you, I’d at least expect you to show a bit of cuteness like in stories, you know?”

“Usually, idioms exist to convey your intentions clearly in short phrases… I feel like I haven’t actually had a proper conversation with you yet.”

“Huh? What are you saying, punk?”

Garfiel scowled at Subaru, who shrugged off his carnivorous expression. Remembering something, Subaru addressed Garfiel.

“It doesn’t look like you’re taking your role seriously, considering you didn’t lead the way despite volunteering to guide us.”

“No, I’m just saying your earth dragon is way too smart. Even though it’s just a path we’ve only walked once, it clearly remembers it almost perfectly.”

“Well, it’s one of our prideful ones, so it’s no big deal! It could even perform other tricks like jumping through hoops or juggling… w-wait, would you stop swerving, Patrasche!?”

Subaru panicked when Patrasche exhibited interest in performing ridiculous stunts while running, prompting a snicker from Garfiel.

“What are you doing over there?”

“Otto is amusing me with his absurd claims. It’s surprisingly fun.”

“Hey, that reminds me! Do you still want to meet up with Balus? Since this is a sizeable venture we’ve brought the entire entourage along.”

“Really? I thought that would be off the table by now…”

Subaru chuckled as he caught Otto’s anxious expression. Yet there was seriousness behind Otto as he mused aloud.

“Those villagers wanted to get back to their homes fast; after all, their lives are hanging on it…”

“Now that’s a fair point. It doesn’t help that you might be able to spin that if you want.”

Subaru remembered Balus’s face when encountering Otto for the first time earlier. Otto had such a bad sense of timing that he couldn’t help but have proper discussions mixing in his nature.

“Anyway, I already got the heads up from Garf if there’s anything about that.”

Garfiel then stated pointedly, showing his sharp fangs while speaking.

“The terms are simple enough: instead of that whimpering princess, let Subaru here handle the rest of the Trials and hurry up the release of the ‘Sanctuary’.”

“That is…”

Otto’s eyes widened at Garfiel’s words, glancing sideways at Subaru with uncertainty.

He wasn’t entirely comfortable, as Otto continued, stuttering in his explanation.

“Natsuki-san, is that really alright with you?”

“What are you implying by that?”

“You’re aware taking on those Trials is a burden, right? But more importantly, is it okay to take that role away from Emilia-sama?”

Subaru frowned at Otto’s question, but it was flattering that he’d rooted deeper.

“I mean, I get that you aren’t really aware of the Trials I have to undertake, but you obviously know Emilia’s situation isn’t great. Still, don’t you think for Emilia to win the Royal Selection, she needs support from the Sanctuary and the people in her territory? It seems reckless to let such an opportunity slip away…”

“Time is something we can’t quantify. If her support wavers during that period, it defeats the purpose. The main issue is Emilia herself…”

“Limit? I don’t believe so. I’ve seen Emilia, and she’s as sturdy as they come. Sure, she gets upset right after exiting the Trial and her emotions flare, but she maintains her composure in other situations.”

Subaru bit his lip at Otto’s valid points.

From Otto’s perspective, Emilia’s condition may not be as desperate as Subaru perceived.

—Though it was a mask only when someone else was present.

It was evident that in the situation of sending the refugees away, Emilia managed to present herself as calm as ever when acting alongside others.

Yet when it was just the two of them, she would immediately lose that collected demeanor and slip back into that unstable state she had when he first met her.

No one could easily conclude that she was relying on Subaru to feel that way.

While Subaru hesitated, Otto was still brimming with words he wanted to voice.

But before he could speak, Garfiel interrupted.

“Cut it off there. We’re approaching the boundaries of the ‘Sanctuary’ soon. After that, I can’t stick around.”

“…Just to ask, what would happen if you forced your way through anyway?”

“Never tried it, so I don’t know, but considering what happened when the princess was here, I’ll probably lose consciousness? Anyway, it’s whatever.”

Taking advantage of the topic veering off, Subaru opted to follow that line of thought.

Since the day they first challenged the Trials, Subaru realized he hadn’t seen Roswaal often. Ostensibly, Otto had been kept at bay like Ram, who was focused on her recovery.

It didn’t take a detective to see through that facade.

After he admitted that he had once challenged the ‘Trial’ and Emilia failed, Roswaal’s expression had changed completely—it left a lasting impression.

It was the first time Subaru had seen Roswaal drop his façade. The look hidden beneath that mask of aloofness was a fleeting glimpse of raw emotion—whether it be anger or sadness, it was a variety of complex feelings mixed into one.

Since then, he hadn’t properly met with Roswaal even once.

“Sorry for the distraction, but when you come back, use the same road you took before. I promise, I’ll make sure not to attack you this time and don’t forget the passphrase just in case.”

“A passphrase?”

“When crossing the boundaries, if you state the passphrase, they won’t treat you as intruders. The phrase is ‘Bailar Bailar under Grimol’.”

“Huh? What? Bye-bye Grimoire?”

The worst-case scenario turned out to be a confusing phrase and gibberish.

Frowning, Subaru immediately recognized that this phrase was likely the brainchild of one person, and that person was currently boasting to herself nearby. Otto was hastily jotting down the passphrase while Garfiel maintained his usual relaxed expression.

“Is that supposed to let you pass?”

“It’s not only me keeping watch, you know? There are some bloodthirsty ones inside too. To those folks, you all are the perfect pawns for annoying the ‘Trial’.”

“…Now that you mention it, you did say something similar before.”

The group led by Ryuzu, wanting to be freed from the ‘Sanctuary’. In contrast, there was also a faction aiming to remain inside it.

Garfiel was warning him not to give those latter people a chance to pounce.

“Got it, understood. I know I’ve burdened you all this time… albeit, we’re going to meet up again in half a day or so. Thank you.”

“Don’t sweat it. It was that old lady’s favor. More importantly…”

As Subaru expressed his gratitude, Garfiel trailed off, and seeing his peculiar attitude made Subaru inquisitive.

After a moment, Garfiel continued, “…After you get back to the mansion, Frederica’s gonna be there, right?”

“Yeah, she should be. By the way, you mentioned earlier you have some background with her. What’s that about?”

“Just a lousy connection we have. I don’t really want to get into it…”

“You might want to mention that you were concerned about her. I think she might say something.”

“…I’m not asking a favor.”

With that, as Garfiel that’s awkwardly looked away, he jumped back in a swift motion again. He leapt from the dragon carriage and stood with his hands on his hips as he faced them, staring at them as he parted from the evacuees near the border of the ‘Sanctuary’ and the forest.

“Make sure you don’t get to running away, Subaru! Keep your promises! That’s the one and only condition for getting you outta here!”

“Yeah, no worries. My promise-keeping power is insane these days.”

Meeting Garfiel’s brows with a grin, Subaru raised his fist in acknowledgment of Garfiel’s departing figure. Garfiel reciprocated, lifting his own fist before disappearing into the shadows of the forest.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

—Once they crossed the boundary and emerged from the forest, the journey unfolded with no significant issues.

The route from the ‘Sanctuary’ to the mansion would take around eight hours if left uninterrupted. They took breaks twice along the way, but the villagers’ eagerness to return to their homes resulted in cutting those rest periods short, leading to a fruitless rush.

Thanks to that, the evacuees returned to Araham Village exactly eight hours later. They set off just after noon and arrived a few hours after the night had fully shrouded the world.

“My butt is sore from sitting for so long… But I’m just glad.”

Stepping off the dragon carriage and stretching, Subaru let out a sigh of relief.

Around him, laughter echoed across the night village as the reunion began, complete with some people weeping tears of joy. Given the threats they had faced, Subaru knew their reactions were in no way exaggerated; not a single soul dared to mock them.

This was Araham Village, bustling again after days of absence, as villagers returned to smiles after the heaviness of the ‘Sanctuary’. The villagers who’d put on glum faces there now lit up with cheer.

Meanwhile, it seemed the remnants of the group were feeling relieved at the return of their families.

“Natsuki-san, are you going to head back immediately after this?”

Otto hurried over to Subaru, looking around curiously, as they slipped away from the excitement.

“No, not at all. We need to catch our breath first. Plus, we gotta drop by the mansion and explain everything to Frederica and Petra.”

“Oh, that’s right. I also need to finalize discussions with my merchant buddies.”

“Finalize discussions with your merchant buddies?”

At the point in Otto’s finger were the owners of the six separate dragon carriages.

They had been hired under the pretext of evacuating villagers, only to find themselves confined at the ‘Sanctuary’ just like them. Their shared relief at being liberated led to Subaru’s comment.

“Is it just me, or do I see dollar signs floating in this other world?”

“The terms when we were employed included purchasing cargo and discussing other matters. I figured we should unite our opinions regarding what and how much to charge. Don’t worry, I won’t demand outrageous prices, but they’ll definitely look to offset their burdens from this hostage situation…”

“Well, it’s not my wallet getting hurt, so as long as they go easy on the price, it wouldn’t be too bad to see Roswaal’s face pale for a change.”

“That’s the spirit, Natsuki-san. You get it!”

Clapping his hands, an elated Otto dashed over to rally with his fellow merchants.

The cheers from them echoed in the night village, ringing louder than the joyful bursts of reconnections from the villagers. But Subaru purposely kept his focus away from that and got back on his feet.

There shouldn’t be any issues concerning the villagers; Otto would handle the merchants’ demands, and Roswaal would be tasked with handling it. Subaru felt mildly amused anticipating the kind of displeased expression Roswaal would make.

Fifteen minutes on foot from Araham Village—traveling that distance led them to the conspicuous Roswaal’s Mansion.

In the dark night, the mansion’s light stood out starkly against the shadows, creating an eerily enchanted atmosphere when viewed from afar after the sun had set.

While standing before the front gate, soaking in that awe, Subaru noticed that most of the mansion’s lights were turned off; only the foyer and servant’s quarters were illuminated. There was also a room near the uppermost floor—Roswaal’s office, if he wasn’t mistaken.

“Otto was taking care of the invoice processing, but I bet many new things cropped up this week.”

Frederica was remarkably capable, matching Otto in managing office work well. However, that wasn’t all she was responsible for. Even with Petra assisting, managing the entire mansion would’ve taken a considerable effort.

Remembering all that sorted paperwork until the wee hours made Subaru’s heart ache for her.

“Guess I’ll need to drag Otto into deeper waters to make him work like a machine for the Emilia camp. I’ll turn him into an office drone.”

Just then, he imagined the young man now grinning as he anticipated hefty earnings back in the village. Wondering how to ensnare Otto into his plans, Subaru pushed open the main door and stepped into the mansion grounds.

He walked straight towards the entrance, knocking on the door adorned with an impressive design akin to a hawk and called out loudly.

“I’m back! Sorry for the late visit! Fire Department, coming through!”

The high-pitched knock resonated through the dark, followed by a casual shout.

After saying that, he pondered how emergencies like fires were usually resolved in this world. Curiously tilting his head, Subaru deigned to dwell on such trivial thoughts. But then,

“Hello? Is anyone home?”

Honestly expecting a quick response from Frederica, he found this absence somewhat disappointing.

Waiting for a bit longer only confirmed that no one would come, prompting Subaru to abandon patience. He boldly pushed the door open.

“Alright, I’m back! Food! Bath! Sleep!”

He announced dramatically with all three demands, yet the stillness followed with no response.

Feeling quite the fool in that moment, Subaru turned to head upstairs—the servant quarters first—seeking Petra.

“If Frederica’s there, she should be in her office too. But first, I need to find Petra… and Beatrice as well.”

The three remaining within the mansion came to mind.

While the thought of reuniting with the chatty Petra and the ever-formal Frederica was one thing, facing the girl with the ringlets would require some courage on Subaru’s part.

Their last farewell had ended badly.

He hadn’t gleaned any answers to his pressing questions, but was instead chased off with tear stains reigniting old feelings of guilt.

“I guess it’s weird to apologize…since I’m not even sure I’ve done anything wrong.”

Regardless, he had hoped that they could talk and that something might change.

Having somewhat parted ways with the past, he thought it might give him the push to confront her again.

To achieve that,

“Let’s start with a warm-up… or so I thought.”

He knocked against the door and then kicked it open, trying to spring a surprise but merely encountering an empty room instead.

He hadn’t expected to meet someone mid-change—especially not a girl—but thankfully, he ran into an empty space instead.

The room was tidy, adorned with adorable trinkets reflecting Petra’s taste, yet the main occupant was absent.

Illuminated under the crystal lamp, Subaru tilted his head.

“Leaving the lights on isn’t like diligent Petra… but if she’s not here, could she be studying in the office?”

Frederica being strict in typical maid fashion certainly made that plausible.

While earning her certification as a complete maid, she might be training Petra to become a multi-talented help. That’d be extremely helpful, but considering he was already lagging behind with how he managed household tasks, Subaru would need to step up.

“No, no, I swear I excel more in mathematics; my modern Japanese education is top-notch!”

With that, he bounded up the steps—charging on to a higher floor—to reach the double doors for the office, then cleared his throat before knocking.

The sound echoed loudly, and he felt without a doubt that it reached inside. Yet, no reply came.

“—”

Finally sensing something was off, Subaru shifted into a heightened state of alarm. Despite his other thoughts and jokes, his focus narrowed down the hallway between the walls, then to the doors of the office, applying his ear against the thick panels. Yet, no sounds penetrated from the other side; the chances of obtaining information from out here were slim.

—Petra’s room hadn’t been ransacked.

Everything was tidy, and her bed looked freshly made as if prepared for the coming night.

From his brief glance around the mansion, everything appeared normal and orderly. Cleaned meticulously, not a speck of dust was left on the window sills.

This heightened his already growing suspicion about her absence.

“—”

Gritting his teeth, he slightly pushed open the door without making a sound.

As he did so, a burst of light spilled into the corridor, guiding his gaze deeper inside. A dark wooden desk, a leather-upholstered chair, bookcases against the walls—yet, the window was closed, and the sensation of cold wind breezed through the room; something was wrong.

Stealthily slipping into the room, Subaru followed the path of the wind and—a realization struck.

At the back of the chamber, the shelf was sliding aside, revealing a secret passage hidden on the wall, sized correctly to allow someone to move through. Beyond that portal, a spiraling staircase stretched downward, extending far beneath.

“Right… this hidden passage existed.”

He remembered, quite vividly.

During his previous loop, the entire village of Araham was slaughtered by the Witch Cult, and he’d stumbled across Rem and Ram’s lifeless bodies inside the mansion.

His broken psyche had led him down this hidden passage that then plunged underground, where—

“Pack was frozen in ice, if memory serves.”

He had little proof—yet he remembered seeing frozen corpses laid out from travelers who likely used this same hidden way to find escape.

Noting he was among those who fell victim to that horrifying fate and experienced the ‘Return by Death’ thereafter.

This had been a path he took for granted and forgot about revisiting until now.

“What on earth happened now…?”

Utilizing this passage could only mean escape was deemed necessary.

And if anyone were to exploit its existence, it had to be someone well aware of both the mansion and the secret passage—Frederica, most likely. It seemed simple that she would take Petra and escape through here. The big question, however, was…

“What did they need to escape from?”

She was too intelligent; there must have been a concrete reason behind such a hasty decision.

Given that there were no signs of a struggle within the mansion, it was likely that any imminent danger had been sensed beforehand. Subaru fleetingly thought of the Witch Cult, only to shake that notion off.

“If so, Frederica leaving without leaving a single note seems suspicious. The villagers from Araham hadn’t noticed anything either… If it were truly the Witch Cult or someone dangerous, they’d ensure not to harm the villagers.”

Frederica, who hadn’t shown any doubts about helping Emilia, likely took the most rational approach with all that she could.

However, for the villagers not to sense anything meant it was probably not the Witch Cult.

Regardless,

“Frederica and Petra likely left the mansion… If that’s the case, then I need to…”

Initially stepping to chase after Frederica and Petra, Subaru found his momentum cut short by thoughts of a little girl—her name evading him at that moment.

Assuming Frederica made a choice to leave, would that girl have followed along?

“The Beatrice I know wouldn’t just calmly tag along.”

That little sassy girl would surely dismiss Frederica’s prompt to escape.

Instead, she’d stubbornly barricade her little bookish fortress and play ignorant to whatever was thrown her way, all while wearing that indignant expression on her face whenever Subaru worried over her fate—a repetition starting to form.

“I’ll pull her out…!”

No matter who else tried to save her, Subaru was resolved to take action.

It mattered not how sure she was to believe her own little fortress was impervious. Leaving a little girl behind while the weight of potential danger loomed overhead was simply out of the question.

“So, it’s settled—!”

Turning his back to the hidden corridor, Subaru took a sharp breath, bolting out of the office.

To find Beatrice, opening every single door in the mansion would yield the best chance. He reasoned that he’d instinctively know which door connected to the Forbidden Library; thus, he could hunt for her.

First, he would start from the upper floor, opening every door—

“Whoa!”

But as he sprinted forward, he stumbled awkwardly, crashing to the ground.

Sheer embarrassment washed over him, overshadowing any shame he felt over tripping so early on. It was a lousy look for someone trying to set a convincing tone.

Pressing his hands against the carpet, he turned to see what had tripped him. There, just beyond the threshold of the office’s door lay something.

The pink object stretched out rather long, leading a few steps past Subaru’s feet. Curious about how far it trailed, he discovered it wasn’t what he expected.

—It was his own intestines, spilling out from a neat gash in his side.

“—What?”

His shirt’s left side had cleanly torn open, and from that very spot, pinkish insides were now cascading out.

It all started right at the doorframe of the office and had slithered down to ensnare Subaru’s ankle.

At that, it struck him: he hadn’t realized he was wounded until now.

“…Ugh.”

The instant he absorbed that shocking revelation, a lump of blood surged to his throat, drowning his senses in a bright red haze.

Trying to push the insides back with trembling fingers proved futile and only resulted in him collapsing to his knees. His body unable to sustain itself, he bent forward helplessly.

Nothing made sense. He’d started his sprint just now.

“—Didn’t I tell you? We had a deal, remember?”

A voice shot out of nowhere.

Ahead of the collapsing Subaru, someone was speaking from above.

His limbs felt too weak to lift his head. His awareness drowned by flowing blood and spilled guts, he fought desperately to grasp the world fading from beneath him.

His body temperature plummeted, and each cough drenched him, leaving viscous blood upon his face. With bleary vision, he aimed to regain focus.

This was it, an instinct within whispered ominously.

While Subaru managed to comprehend that he was at the end of his rope, he fiercely admonished himself that he couldn’t just end here.

He needed something—anything, to hold onto before he surrendered to the void.

Echos of footsteps danced across the crimson-stained passage as a black silhouette approached.

A dark robe, slender shape, ebony hair—the下the woman cast a sultry gaze down at him.

Recognition blossomed, and as he recalled the sensation of being cut, Subaru came to a resolute conclusion.

“Not the Witch Cult, but an undeniable menace. It is—”

“Until we meet again, take good care of your intestines.”

A perverse declaration of devotion to madness.

That ‘something’ within Subaru gripped tight—

His vision blurred away.

Blurring, fading, distorting, he faded out, until ultimately—

Everything trailed off, perished, and once again—began anew.

—The fourth loop, rises to the curtain.