The sound of a tumultuous torrent could be heard.

A fierce water noise. A waterfall splashing with tremendous force as it cascades down under the pull of gravity.

As the relentless roar echoed both in his ears and within his skull, Subaru’s consciousness was led from oblivion to awakening.

Light became visible, and then—

“—Ugh, huh?”

A choking sensation gripped his throat, and breathing patterns became erratic as Subaru gagged.

The rhythmic inhalation and exhalation turned muddled, causing his oxygen-starved body to shake violently while drooling, Subaru opened his eyes.

“Gah! Ahah!”

He lay on the ground, face down, arms pressed against the earth in a position reminiscent of a prostration. Placing his right arm over his chest, he repeated his breath as if to soothe his aching lungs.

As the pain eased, he spat out the saliva that had nowhere else to go, his body regained its composure, and oxygen seeped into his brain, allowing him to take a deep breath. And then, he remembered.

“Ugh, what!?”

He felt a hollow void opened in his chest, a sense of loss as if all his insides had flowed out.

Touching his chest with the palm that had rested there, he confirmed there was no cavity causing this feeling of loss, momentarily dissipating the tension in his whole body.

Overwhelmed by astonishment, his limbs tingled as Subaru rubbed his forehead against the ground, gaining friction and experiencing the pain of his rashness, reminding him of his tangible existence.

“What, the… last…”

He sensed blood leaving his fallen body, feeling as if his soul was being drawn out through the same hole. Yet, the source of this consuming sense of loss was not that. The true terror lay in the fleeting ember of life that lingered just before death, during the brief moment before being ushered into death.

Even with consciousness blurred and memories faint, he vividly remembered one thing.

—He was ‘devoured’ by something unfathomable.

“I’ve experienced various deaths like being slashed, bludgeoned, frozen to death, and falling to my doom… But being finally eaten by something, that was a first…”

Saying it aloud made him shudder as he focused on his body and what had happened in the end.

The direct cause of death was a loss of blood from the chest cavity, and he certainly did not intend to belittle ‘death’ itself. However, he had tasted the possibility that ‘death’ might not be the end.

To feel his body being devoured by something was accompanied by a loss profound enough to leave him reeling. Despite having lost fingers and toes before, this was an entirely different kind of revulsion—

“Fingers!?”

As he thought that, Subaru suddenly felt a surge of anger toward the sluggish flow of blood in his head.

It was undeniable that ‘Return by Death’ had occurred. He was presently alive despite sustaining injuries that should have led to death, and no one was more acquainted with ‘death’ than Natsuki Subaru in this world. He had died and returned—there was no doubt about that.

What remained uncertain was to which time frame the dead Subaru had returned.

If he had found himself back in a time that could not be salvaged, where did that leave Subaru’s determination and oath?

“Ah…”

Casting a bloodshot glance around, he desperately tried to ascertain his location and the current moment. But he was abruptly halted by the sensation of three fingers on his right hand, which he had assumed were lost, clumsily wiping away the sweat trickling down his forehead.

“Fingers… there means—”

Lifting his right arm as if to confirm, he lowered his gaze from his fingers to his elbow. There was no sign of loss or even scars as he examined his wrist and elbow, all the way up to his upper arm. Notably, the scars from his wounds during the beast commotion were still there, but that was a separate matter.

After confirming his arm was intact, Subaru moved on to check his shoulder and waist—each place where he had been attacked by Elsa. The skin felt tight, but he affirmed that he had returned at least to a moment before confronting Elsa and was overcome with relief.

“For now… at least…”

By a stroke of luck, he had avoided an episode of despair layered atop death.

Feeling relieved, Subaru lowered his gaze and silently thanked his bad fortune. Then, he suddenly turned his head sideways and realized—

—In the corner of the dark room, he saw Emilia struggling painfully.

“Emilia…!”

He instinctively rushed toward her, only to realize he and she were in a damp and dimly lit hole. The last time they spent this kind of time together was an encounter he could easily recall.

Which meant,

“Restart point—unchanged…!”

It was where he had returned right after breaking through the ‘Trial’—the cemetery, still a place of starting over, where he hadn’t gained anything, yet had lost nothing.

—There was surely still a way to do something about everything.

Subaru’s mind surged with positivity that he could hardly associate with the person he just trembled with moments ago.

It was now the second night after arriving at the “Sanctuary.” Taking into account the information from the first and last loops, he began to organize the conditions and events and map out a possible solution.

As always, the grim details might well be deemed an annual tradition, but feeling stumped at the beginning or finding himself perplexed due to overwhelming circumstances was yet again a customary experience.

“However, this time it doesn’t seem like one simple approach will do.”

After all, it was clear that he didn’t fully grasp the entire scope of the ongoing loop. He had yet to find even a clue for an effective solution against an overtly apparent threat.

Currently, there was clearly a significant threat embodying pure combat power: Elsa. As effective strategies through distractions had proven fruitless, her nuisance might even surpass Petelgeuse’s.

Dealing with her assault on Roswaal’s Mansion remained a priority. However, it seemed that wasn’t the only issue at hand,

“Why was ‘Sanctuary’ empty during the last loop…”

It was baffling how he was transported to ‘Sanctuary’ by Beatrice, but the subsequent strangeness of the deserted ‘Sanctuary’ surpassed even that situation. Despite running around inside and calling for people, he received no responses.

And thus, what hit Subaru in his pursuit for answers at the cemetery turned into the last calamity.

Having a hole opened in his chest, Subaru couldn’t comprehend what kind of wound had been inflicted upon him before he fell silent. Recalling the vivid scars haunted only painful memories along with threads of terror without offering anything he could grasp.

What exactly had been happening to the ‘Sanctuary’ at that time? What had transpired to him? What were Beatrice’s motives? And Emilia—?

“…No way…”

Having come to this conclusion, Subaru was struck with alarm at the contradictions within his own thoughts.

Understanding the significance of organizing the preceding situation was crucial. Establishing future goals along with plans to achieve them was also paramount. Collecting dispersed information into a coherent structure, delivering it to reach the desired future—these should take priority.

“—”

But was that an action to be taken while neglecting Emilia, who was right in front of him and still combating her current nightmare?

“I…”

Having experienced the ‘Trial’ and being tormented by the present agony, Emilia was facing her past, and the heavy cross she bore was cruelly tormenting her body and soul.

That torment would continue unrelentingly, and she wouldn’t receive any respite until it abruptly ended.

Subaru knew that. He understood how much sadness, how much deterioration, and how much weakening of spirit would befall her.

He couldn’t bear to watch, so he resolved to complete the ‘Trial’ on her behalf. He planned to clear every possible hurdle to pave the way for her.

Yet now, right before him, Subaru felt relief watching her suffer.

He was relieved that he had returned in time to where she was in pain. And with the knowledge of how this suffering would conclude, he prioritized his own thoughts over her wellbeing.

The moment he realized this, he became acutely aware of falling into the depths of a grotesque existence.

Standing before a valuable person, knowing she was gasping in unbearable pain, he could still turn his eyes away, persisting his self-centered thoughts.

This foolishness was precisely the despicable weakness that Subaru should loathe.

“In any case…”

He had no time to be tormented by guilt or the contradictions within his own heart. He had to awaken Emilia as quickly as possible and get out of this place.

He could find time to gather his thoughts outside. There was no reason to prolong her suffering. Additionally—

“At this point, there’s already someone I have to hear out.”

He was infuriated by his previously overly soft attitude—leaving matters ambiguous despite having individuals at the core of the situation.

That resulted in the mansion’s tragedy and the unreasonable ending of deaths in the ‘Sanctuary.’

If driving the current situation forth would only see him gain a future while remaining small—

“I’ll wipe it all out.”

He uttered this as he reached out to awaken Emilia.

Subaru’s profile, twisted beyond control in his rising emotions was something even he himself couldn’t notice.

—

“—What do you know, and how far do you know, Roswaal?”

Upon opening the door and stating that, Roswaal, resting on a cot, squinted at Subaru. As he caught sight of himself reflected in Roswaal’s mismatched colored eyes, Subaru stepped into the room without reservation and slammed the door behind him as a concise expression of his feelings.

—Having taken care of Emilia, who had just returned from the ‘Trial,’ Subaru had headed towards Ryuzu’s home to lay her to rest. He had asked Ram to care for Emilia until she awoke, and he departed for Roswaal’s healing residence.

Before leaving the house, he had felt uneasy under Garfiel’s silent glare directed at him, but fortunately, he had arrived without any incident.

Nonetheless, just after laying eyes on Roswaal, that concern had completely dissipated.

“Hmm…”

Looking up at the agitated Subaru, Roswaal breathed deeply. With a finger pointed directly at Subaru, he jiggled the tip and added,

“You’re much angrier than you were earlier. That’s a positive sign!”

“Don’t play around with this. I currently lack the mental bandwidth for jokes or casual banter. I’m prepared to take action if necessary.”

Subaru barked at carefree Roswaal, standing close to the bed. He loomed over the jester and declared:

“I’ve just returned from the ‘Trial.’ I have a mountain of things I want to ask.”

“…I see. You engaged in the ‘Trial.’ How fascinating. How very fascinating indeed.”

To Subaru, who felt like he was several days removed from parting with his parents, such an experience had occurred only a few minutes ago in real-time. And every time Subaru mentioned the ‘Trial,’ Roswaal’s perplexed reactions had been notable.

The first time, he’d seen a raw, fleeting emotion burst forth. The second time, he seemed somewhat calmer, still revealing a sentiment that felt out of place for him.

For the third time, how would he respond this time? From Subaru’s perspective, a furious response akin to the first world would be preferable. Even Roswaal would speak more easily when consumed by anger.

But contrary to the hopes of Subaru, Roswaal placed a tiny smile at the edge of his lips and said,

“Now then, I’d like to pose a question myself.”

“Huh? What are you saying? You? A question? Don’t mess with me; if you keep fooling around, I’ll genuinely get angry, you bastard.”

“I know well that your anger is justified. Knowing that, I’m gonna ask my question. If it aligns with my interest… well, I wouldn’t have any reason to hold out on you.”

“After I answer that question… No, wait, hold on.”

As Roswaal’s actions made it seem like he was about to offer a suggestion, Subaru attempted to entertain the notion of acceptance. But instantly, he rejected that course of action. He was aware that he could easily become swept up in the atmosphere Roswaal crafted, just like before.

He had received pain for surrendering to it. If he wanted to change the direction of the situation, it had to start right from that very moment.

“I won’t answer your question. I’m the one who wants to talk here. I’ll be the one to speak first.”

“…Oh, now that’s quite presumptuous of you.”

“I won’t say I don’t answer questions, but I’ve got a gut feeling that handing you the first turn will lead to nothing good. So I’m going to nip that in the bud.”

Roswaal’s amused expression remained unchanged, lightly closing one eye and sighing softly. He proffered both palms forward, invitingly urging, “Go ahead.”

“I won’t have to lead this conversation, sure.”

“There’s something oddly unsettling about how agreeable you are… But well, it’s pointless to dwell on it, I’ll accept it. Here’s my question. What kind of contract do you have with Beatrice?”

“—”

The sudden silence indicated to Roswaal that this was an unexpected question.

Subaru inwardly felt affirmative that his words had struck a critical chord as he noticed Roswaal’s cheeks stiffen slightly.

Throughout the previous loops, with the newly discovered truths that had arisen, he discerned that a response to these might well be necessary. Among them, questions regarding Beatrice were those he could only address with Roswaal, as there there was no one else to ask in either the ‘Sanctuary’ or the mansion.

More than anything, the exchange he had experienced with her upon parting, along with the ‘Gospel’ she held, were etched in his mind.

This was crucial for any future interactions with her. There was no way he could gloss over it, and he needed to make an informed decision.

—An unavoidable conversation about how to engage with Beatrice in this loop.

“I want an answer, Roswaal. Don’t give me some dull response saying you won’t answer since I didn’t answer your query. Let’s hear what you have to say.”

As Roswaal maintained his silence, frustration mounted, and Subaru’s insistence intensified.

He felt his anxiety dwelling inside, wishing against all odds for the unexpected to occur.

For him, a single second of silence felt like an eternity waiting for a response. At last, Roswaal slowly opened his mouth and uttered:

“—The fact that such a question comes up suggests you might have remembered something, haven’t you?”

But that wasn’t the answer Subaru had hoped for; it simply redirected the inquiry back toward him. That response stirred irritation in Subaru, who clicked his tongue and waved Roswaal off, “Shut up.”

“Why are you replying with questions? Even conceding here and treating your question as valid, you’re answering me first. Don’t expect me to change the order.”

“I see. Then let’s adopt a format of exchanging questions alternately. Your inquiry was regarding ‘the contract between Beatrice and me.’ Then—We do not have a contract. That’s the answer.”

“Wha—!?”

Unexpectedly swept away by the rapid-fire response, Subaru fell silent. Struggling over his loss for words, Roswaal extended his hand and said, “Now it’s your turn to answer my question. Have you remembered?”

“…What are you talking about? Just so we’re clear, you and I aren’t close enough to understand each other that well. Don’t assume I’ll connect the dots of your vague statements.”

“Based on your response, I can tell how you will answer my question. Well, that’s a pity.”

As he harbored thoughts about getting his revenge, Roswaal flipped the conversation like a seasoned pro. He glanced away and then spoke with a contemplative expression.

“It appears you may not be able to fully grasp what I’m trying to convey.”

“What do you mean?”

“It’s time for your question. You need to be more nuanced in how you frame it so I can’t escape your query.”

Subaru felt frustration upon realizing he was being deflected. He took a deep breath to calm his emotions and tapped his temple as he contemplated.

“You claimed there’s no contractual relationship with Beatrice. Then, why is she in your mansion? I don’t understand the nature of your relationship.”

“That’s two questions rolled into one, and you seem to be fixated on Beatrice. What about Emilia? Is that little girl too young to be of interest to you?”

“I don’t have a younger-brother kink, nor do I intend to make some romantic play there. I do think I should come up with a way to break this deadlock, however.”

Subaru felt a pang in his heart when he thought about Beatrice.

Nevertheless, those feelings of yearning were distinct from what emerged when he reflected on Emilia or Rem. He couldn’t quite comprehend the significance of that feeling.

He only thought, even now after seeing her with the ‘Gospel’ in hand, that—

—He didn’t want to admit that the relationship between Beatrice and himself was a mere counterfeit, as inscribed within some incomprehensible book.

“To do so, I need to understand her. And apparently, the person closest to her circumstances is you. So, you are my only option.”

“If you keep picking up everything in sight, it might interfere when you finally have to choose what’s important. I think that gentleness is nothing short of a hindrance if you want to find something important in your true heart.”

“I know my hands are tied, so I’ll just have to grab hold of her while keeping my focus on what matters. Got a problem with that?”

“No complaints whatsoever. While it sounds cool what you’re saying, I find it likely you won’t follow through on that in the end.”

While Roswaal agreed with Subaru, he left an unsettling remark hanging in the air. As Subaru’s gaze sharpened with suspicion, Roswaal continued,

“So, the reason Beatrice is staying at my mansion, huh? She manages the Forbidden Library through ties with the Meizars family. To put it simply, she helps oversee it on account of the prior head’s goodwill. It’s a tradition I continue.”

“Meaning she’s essentially a hired handler? Doesn’t that differ from an actual contract?”

“That’s a twist in the question from what I outlined… but well, alright. Given that my questions have little meaning now, that’s fine. You already know Beatrice is a spirit, right?”

Subaru nodded in affirmation, having deduced that Beatrice appeared spirit-like, even if he hadn’t seen her in that light before. Her self-identification and indescribable presence backed it up.

Seeing Subaru acknowledge it, Roswaal raised a finger.

“For a spirit, forming contracts holds significant importance. The relationship between Emilia and the Great Spirit stands as a prime example.”

“Ah, yeah. Emilia’s definitely got her hands full tackling all those troublesome promises. Not that the Great Spirit has shown its face much recently either.”

Having almost been killed three times by Pack, as well as philosophical disagreements regarding a sleeping Rem, Subaru still bore lingering issues with that situation. Entering this mysterious state only added to his complicated feelings toward the little spirit.

“Setting aside the temperamental nature of the Great Spirit, Beatrice is no exception. She has a cooperative relationship with me to an extent, but it’s a non-interference agreement based purely on mutual interests. She won’t lend a hand for my purposes, nor the other way around.”

“It’s clear you and Beatrice aren’t the chummy type, but that still doesn’t connect to the specifics of the contract.”

“Ah, my apologies. Contracts are something entirely different. Given that Beatrice is a spirit, contracts are paramount to her. If she ever speaks of a contract, that spells trouble of a considerable magnitude. She remains bound by a contract forged four hundred years ago.”

Subaru leaned forward at the remark he simply couldn’t ignore and exclaimed, “That! I want to know all the details of that four-hundred-year-old contract!”

“No spirit casually divulges contract details. Without anyone remaining from that time, it can only be conveyed directly by Beatrice herself.”

“Tch! So useless! If I could just comprehend that four-hundred-year-old contract…”

He might finally find out why that girl always shrank within herself alone in that room.

“Anyway, I can say this with certainty.”

“—?”

“Beatrice is bound by the contract from four hundred years ago. And she can’t enter into new contracts layered atop that one. If you want to pull her out from that place, you’ll need to break that contract first.”

“Break the contract?”

“You could pursue fulfillment instead, but seeing as the party with whom the contract was forged is likely gone, I think breaking it would be the wiser approach.”

Surprisingly, Roswaal’s constructive input on Subaru’s thoughts felt miraculous. The tension thawed from Subaru’s face as he finally recognized Roswaal’s means, triggering realizations in a fashion reminiscent of scales falling from his eyes.

“—What did I even say about wanting to pull Beatrice out?”

Subaru’s tone dropped low as he narrowed his eyes, locking onto Roswaal’s gaze.

While his hands rested on the bed, he counted the seconds using his fingers against the sheets. Unaware, Roswaal squinted, reflecting Subaru within his yellow eyes.

“You truly are a man who notices only what you don’t want to.”

“What do you mean…?”

“Ultimately, this is an irrelevant conversation for me. Should we put a pin in this topic here?”

“Are you freaking kidding me!?”

With a stark transformation, disappointment clouded Roswaal’s expression. Sighing, he dropped his earlier demeanor, making it instantly evident that he had lost interest.

“Anything said now will hardly sway my heart… so I recommend you proceed as you wish.”

“What kind of ridiculous stance is that!? Even now, as we’re trying to discuss something important, that’s how you respond!? I still have things I want to ask…”

“Then, if you have inquiries, ask away. Although whether I’ll respond properly is purely a matter of how I feel about it.”

As Subaru became increasingly incensed, Roswaal, void of emotion, began to lose his composure further. While observing Subaru’s face redden, he dusted off his blue hair, tilting his head.

“Won’t you ask me something?”

“—I got it. I figured out that Beatrice remains bound to a contract in the mansion. I’m beyond satisfied with that information. My real question is about the black book she possessed… what in the world was that?”

“Oh, so you’ve seen it. What’s your impression? What do you believe it to be?”

“Don’t reply with questions. —I think that book resembles something the Witch Cult had with them.”

Subaru’s stuttering voice depicted his unwelcome emotions about his statement. Yet, Roswaal murmured, suppressing a yawn with an uncertain look on his face.

“The ‘Gospel’ owned by the Witch Cult. It mediates the wishes of the Witch and describes the path to future outcomes desired by its owner. While disregarding the directional particulars, it can be described as a fair bit of effort put into a prophetic tome.”

“—! You know?”

“It’s not that it’s anything particularly precious. The Witch Cult is all over the place. For me, managing the ‘Sanctuary,’ they aren’t exactly people we’ve never clashed with.”

“Are they really able to see the future…?”

If they could discern what future lay ahead without dying, that would make it an enhanced version of Subaru’s “Return by Death.” It carried no jealousy; if every Witch Cult member possessed something so extraordinary—

But Roswaal shook his head at Subaru, sensing his trepidation.

“Just because it’s not exactly convenient. The number of written records isn’t as great per believer, and many are vague in nature. There’s diversity in how they interpret it, too. Furthermore, only the holder can read the ‘Gospel’—when someone else looks at it, strangely enough, the contents won’t go into their heads. It merely unveils an incomplete depiction of the future.”

“An incomplete…”

He couldn’t hide his relief at that news. That meant if the ‘Gospel’ indeed held true potency as a prophetic device, it wouldn’t have been possible for Subaru to defeat Petelgeuse. In that sense, even the Archbishop of Sin’s ‘Gospel’ didn’t reach that level. Yet,

“That’s a separate matter. The book Beatrice had…”

“If that question revolves around whether it is the same as the ‘Gospel’ held by the Witch Cult, the answer is—kind of yes and kind of no.”

“Stop evading the question! This is a crucial point!”

“I’m not evading. Beatrice’s is a ‘Gospel’ but has a different origin than the Witch Cult’s. The latter is flawed and incomplete, while the one Beatrice holds is a completed version.”

“A completed…?”

“Yes, indeed. While the Witch Cult’s doesn’t have stable content due to uncertain futures impacting its descriptions, hers is not bogged down by this.”

Subaru’s confusion deepened. Yet Roswaal’s demeanor was uplifting in contrast.

His voice conveyed an almost boasting tone. While Subaru remained speechless by Roswaal’s drastic shift in character, the true depth of his bewilderment emerged just a moment later.

“—!?”

Roswaal revealed his right hand from behind, holding a black-covered book.

There was no mistaking it in such close proximity; it was unmistakably the ‘Gospel’ itself.

“The only two remaining completed ‘Gospels’ belong to me and Beatrice… so it appears.”

“—”

As Roswaal raised the book and swung it smallside to side, Subaru, lacking the composure to even pay attention to this act, was primarily struck by the content held within.

Roswaal grasping something identical to what the Witch Cult possessed was shocking enough. Learning that the book Beatrice held counted as a ‘Gospel’ affirmed the untimely exchange he had with her during their last encounter, contributing to his disbelief.

—However, what dominated Subaru’s mind was not all of that.

“That… is that the ‘Gospel’ written with the future?”

“Exactly. This is the genuine article, the ‘Gospel.’”

“So you know the future…? You knew all this was going to happen based on that book…?”

“It’s all documented, yes. Though you obviously can’t read it.”

That detail mattered little.

Whether Subaru could read or not held zero relevance at this moment. Only a single thing mattered to him. He had to know one thing at all costs.

“Does it contain what’s going to happen next…?”

“Not everything about the world is recorded, but portions of the holder’s future can be discerned.”

“Were you aware of this situation unfolding…?”

“Creating the conditions according to the records isn’t exactly a walk in the park, you know? I’d expect some acknowledgment of my efforts shrouded in shadows, so to say.”

He couldn’t curb the tremor of his voice.

The root of that tremor stemmed from the explosive release of overwhelming emotions. He could immediately decipher the direction of these feelings—this was the realization that,

“If you knew, then… you understood that letting Rem die was your choice, didn’t you?”

“Rem, you say? Who might that be?”

“—I’ll kill you!! Roswaal!”

In that instant, the uncontrollable rage spurred Subaru into motion.

Leaping onto the bed, he wrapped both hands around Roswaal’s neck, squeezing it tight. Subaru’s unprecedented grip strength that surpassed any ordinary person was pressed against the slender neck, causing pain to etch across Roswaal’s pale face.

“You knew all of it, didn’t you—you bastard—!”

If he already understood, if he had known better, then he could have avoided the tragedy—he could have spared Rem from that ordeal.

“Did you let Rem be slaughtered—because of you!!”

Excessive fury transcended into a surge of murderous intent directed solely at Roswaal. Impulsiveness stripped away reason, and his feelings turned into overwhelming power.

Roswaal was left speechless, waiting quietly while Subaru prepared to break his neck—

“—’You can disguise yourself all you want, but the stench of Urgalm will always linger!’”

—A shock.

The acute, sharp sensation crashing down on him from the side sent Subaru sprawling.

As he careened off the bed, unable to brace himself, he dashed into the wall before crashing headfirst onto the floor. Instantly, his mind felt shattered, and every nerve in his body ceased to respond.

Blood gushed from his ears and nose, painting his right field of vision in black. His eye might have even been crushed.

“—After crawling out of the grave, the stench’s gotten even worse! I thought I was just being paranoid, but sure enough, I was right! Ain’t that a kicker?”

Heavy footsteps—he felt a disorganized presence edge close by. His body wouldn’t let him crawl. He was unable to move backward or forward as he felt hands grapple with his head and drag him upward.

“What do you plan to do, you stinking witch bastard?! You’re someone we need in this place despite all that! Don’t mess with me, damnit!”

The golden-haired youth—Garfiel. As a mix of confusion, fury, and murderous intent spilled from his voice, Subaru’s consciousness began to drift away.

With half his head feeling as if it had been crushed, he pondered—was he going to die? If this was how he was to go, it would surely be the worst possible ending.

However, would he really be able to cast aside that filthy burden and go back with hopes of saving this place?

“I don’t understand… Rem”

Those words echoed as Subaru’s consciousness plunged into darkness.