“So, since both Rem and Ram can’t come to see Subaru tonight… I volunteered to supervise your studies instead.”

“Oh, really? Wow, that’s a delightful surprise! Oh, sit down, sit down. You definitely want some tea, right? Oh, and I snuck out some special snacks!”

As Emilia entered the room, Subaru hurriedly began preparing the welcome.

He dashed through the hallway, entered a staff-only pantry-like room, quickly prepared tea and snacks, and raced back. In just two minutes flat!

Using the skills he honed from his life as a servant in the mansion, Subaru accomplished tasks even Roswaal himself wouldn’t have seen.

“I’m back! I brought my special tea leaves and some snacks for the occasion, so let’s eat together while saying ‘aah’!”

“It feels like you’ve forgotten the main topic… um, can I ask something?”

Subaru tilted his head in confusion at Emilia’s question about the bed he had just pointed to while holding the tray awkwardly.

“Isn’t this bed a bit too meticulously made?”

“Oh! No, not at all! I wasn’t planning anything suspicious; I was just trying to put Ram-chan to bed! No ulterior motives here!”

“What were you planning on doing by putting Ram to sleep in your bed?”

“Whoa, the misunderstanding turned on a dime, huh?!”

He placed the tray on the table, and under Emilia’s doubtful gaze, Subaru dove onto the bed, wildly disheveling the neatly arranged bedding.

“See? It’s all ruined now! A girl like Ram-chan, the mischievous one, a messed-up bed is just right for her!”

“It doesn’t change the fact that you still plan to let her sleep here, does it?”

“I can’t defend myself! Pack, come back!”

“It’s bedtime already, so I won’t wake her up… though it’s not like I mind!”

Subaru clung to the gray cat, Emilia quietly wrapped her arms around herself, avoiding eye contact as she said,

“It’s fine for you to be friendly with Ram and Rem, but you really have to keep it respectful. After all, those two are still young…”

“Hey, I think that their strong sense of chastity is a pretty good point! By the way, isn’t there someone else more suited to say that? Hint: Long hair and a pervert!”

“Ah, I’m done with him… I’ve given up on reforming him.”

“The level of despair in Emilia-tan’s eyes just made me shiver!”

Her attitude was like that of an abandoned puppy, sparking a desire to protect within Subaru. To put it simply, no matter how she looked, to Subaru, Emilia was cute.

“Emilia-tan, seriously the best angel!”

“You’re making that silly face again… Maybe you actually are starting to understand Subaru.”

“Wow, how flattering! But don’t get the wrong idea; I’m not that easy to read! Oh, here’s your tea!”

“Oh, thank you so much!”

Receiving the tea with a gentle sip, Emilia took a seat at the desk while Subaru settled onto the bed, sipping his own tea.

They shared the exclusive snacks, and a relaxed, peaceful time flowed between them. This might be what happiness feels like.

“That’s how I feel, Subaru.”

“Even though you’re saying something completely ordinary, it somehow resonates with my heart.”

“It’s a trick of words! The key is to pronounce it like Hiragana. I’m just stating the obvious in a way that sounds obvious.”

Perhaps having gotten used to Subaru’s whimsical speeches, Emilia’s demeanor seemed casual.

Knowing that she was enjoying this tranquil moment brought a certain happiness. Time passed quietly…

“Hey! We’re not just here to hang out; you can’t be that relaxed!”

“If a guy and a girl meet alone at night in a guy’s room, what else could it possibly be other than a night out? We might get burned!”

“I think you know I can use magic even without Pack, right?”

The air cracked sharply, and the room’s temperature abruptly dropped.

Realizing that prolonging this moment was futile, Subaru gave a wry smile and faced the desk.

“Okay, okay, I get it. Let’s study. A thrilling lesson with Emilia-tan in a private room at night… I’m getting excited just saying it!”

“Yeah, yeah, whatever. But how do you usually study?”

As Subaru switched places to sit in the chair, Emilia leaned against the backrest and asked curiously. Feeling her breath close by, Subaru opened his notebook, feeling somewhat flustered.

“I’m currently practicing the basic ‘I’ characters… This fairy tale collection is mostly made up of ‘I’ writings, so my goal is to read it fluently.”

“Hmm, a fairy tale collection, huh…”

Emilia took the reddish-brown book, flipping through its pages until her fingers paused.

“Is there a story that caught your attention?”

“Well, not really, but kind of. You’ll understand once you can read it, Subaru.”

Closing the book with a thud, Emilia settled down on the bed. Seeing her sit on the disheveled bedding ignited a strange excitement in Subaru.

However, she seemed oblivious to his animalistic instincts as she stretched her body.

“Honestly, I wanted to talk to the kids I can only meet on the feast days, but since Ram and Rem asked, I’m prioritizing Subaru today. Better appreciate it.”

“I’m super grateful! It’s like divine guidance!”

“W-well, being thanked like that makes me a bit shy.”

“Thanks! Ram-chan! Rem-chan! I will never waste your kindness! Natsuki Subaru is going to become a man!”

“Wait, is that supposed to be for me?!”

After shouting his thanks to the twins, Subaru turned to the slightly dissatisfied Emilia and declared with both hands outstretched,

“Of course, Emilia-tan gets the utmost gratitude! And after studying, how about I give you a massage? With all that devotion, I’ll help you melt away those daily stresses. Hehehe.”

“That sounds indecent, so no thanks.”

“Damn it! My honesty! But I don’t hate that part of you either!”

Emilia sighed at Subaru, who was dramatically pretending to cry, and with a familiar gesture, she interrupted their conversation with a clap.

“Come on, let’s not just fool around. You have work tomorrow, so let’s finish this quickly. Now, let’s continue.”

“Got it! Oh, Emilia-tan, help yourself to the leftover snacks, okay?”

“Sure, thanks… though it’s technically a snack.”

It’s apparently a common trait even in this other world to hold back on snacks for feminine reasons.

Gathering this useless knowledge, Subaru began writing out today’s practice letters with Emilia behind him.

Once he started typing, he was determined to focus on his studies. Even though Emilia’s presence was distracting, with the fundamental principle of “clearing the promise” seeming achievable, he had no real reason to rush.

Thanks to this mental clarity, he wrote steadily. In the midst of their quiet time, Emilia unexpectedly spoke up from behind.

“Hmm, you’re not getting derailed as much as I thought.”

“I’m focusing! When I get into something, I tend to lose sight of everything around me. So I’m straight as an arrow toward those I like!”

“Let’s hope that holds true. We’ll see how it goes as long as you keep trying to flirt with me.”

Subaru was stammering at Emilia’s teasing tone. It seemed his earnest attempts hadn’t been taken seriously, making it quite likely that she’d ignore his advances.

He wanted to believe they’d at least be worth a few points.

“But I can’t flirt seriously without my usual lightheartedness. I’d honestly embarrass myself halfway through. I’m just a noble who falls in love and shrinks from it!”

“Haha, right. If only you’d be serious a little more often… Otherwise, Ram and Rem will abandon you.”

Facing Subaru, who held his head in despair, Emilia whispered this while hugging her knee on the bed. With her skirt being short, it was kind of risky, but she didn’t seem aware of her vulnerability.

Leaning a bit, Subaru gave his utmost effort to divert his gaze. He couldn’t let her see him staring, so he had to pretend he was looking away while stealing glances.

“This is the hidden stealth technique as one of the ‘Shadows’!”

Fueled by a bizarre sense of purpose, Subaru worked himself up. Unbeknownst to him, Emilia, striking an alluring pose with her eyes closed, was oblivious to his thoughts.

Suddenly, she muttered,

“Hey, Subaru. I don’t want to pry, but… why aren’t you taking this seriously?”

“My policy is to be unseriously serious… though I don’t think you’re hinting for a deep answer. Umm?”

“Yeah, a serious talk… Ram’s been a bit murky about it too. She feels like you’re kinda slacking off during your work.”

With a tone that felt accusatory, Emilia started, perhaps realizing she was dropping a dime. However, Subaru winced internally at the pain of it landing too close to home.

If that meant they saw him slacking off during work, then that was an incredibly accurate observation.

The truth is, Subaru hadn’t really committed seriously to his tasks. Rather, he had been calibrating himself to repeat roughly the same outcomes as before.

Compared to the earlier time when he hadn’t understood much of the work, Subaru now at least had some grasp of it. All his servant skills, which were previously all ‘C’ rank, had at least upgraded to ‘C+’ rank.

Realistically, he was just at the stage of starting to climb the long and winding path of being a servant, but that tiny difference still managed to fool the seasoned staff members.

Naturally, guilt weighed heavily on Subaru’s lips.

Seeing Subaru at a loss for words, Emilia murmured, “I figured that was the case. You don’t feel guilty at all. You seem diligent in some weird way, but still skip studying at times.”

“Well, I have my reasons, and studying is partly for myself too… But you know, I just realized that I’m totally acting on my own agenda.”

That was possibly the worst thing he could say.

He had troubled the twins due to his own matters and was reaping the rewards only when it served him while slacking off in other areas. It was the trifecta of terrible.

“From tomorrow, I’ll change my mindset and do my best so please forgive me, your majesty!”

“Um, that’s acceptable… but that feels a bit off.”

She seemed to realize her phrasing was strange as she tilted her head.

Having sensed Emilia’s attitude relaxing, Subaru made a firm resolution that tomorrow, his words would be genuine.

At the very least, it was a fact that tonight felt like a good stopping point. He didn’t need to trace back to the last time, nor did he have to intentionally slack off again.

In these four days, he planned to repay the favors he owed to Ram and Rem.

Of course, even if he stopped slacking off, it didn’t mean his abilities would shoot up instantly.

“The most critical thing is my determination. The sincerity behind my efforts holds priceless worth. Call it priceless!”

“You’re joking again… Are you done studying?”

“I’m done for today! Oh, Emilia-tan, there’s a favor I’d like to ask, will you listen?”

Fidgeting with his hands and gazing up at her with puppy eyes, he tried to strike a direct hit on her maternal instincts, but Emilia looked at him skeptically.

“I have an incredibly bad feeling about this.”

“Is your perception that negativity high!? Not at all! I just want a bit of a reward for working hard from tomorrow onwards! That’s it!”

“What kind of reward? Just so you know, I don’t have any money I can use freely.”

“I’m broke until I get paid too! B-but just hear me out. From tomorrow, I’ll be serious… so let’s go on a date!”

He posed triumphantly, giving a smile that sparkled.

In response to Subaru’s familiar pose, Emilia stared at him wide-eyed, “What do you mean by ‘date’?”

“Well, if a man and a woman go off together, that’s already a date. What happens in that time is known only to the goddess of love!”

“Then does that mean you went on a date with Rem today?”

“Wait, has my date virginity been stolen!? I’ve been sullied!”

As he hugged himself, almost crying, Emilia laughed and waved her hand dismissively.

“I get that you want to go out together, but where are we actually going?”

“Oh, um, there’s this super lovely dog near the village just close to the mansion! And there are flower fields that are really beautiful too. I want to immortalize Emilia-tan dancing among the blooming flowers with my magical device!”

In the corner of the room was an assortment of initial gear salvaged from Thieves’ Repository, having survived battles alongside Subaru.

He hadn’t touched the contents of the plastic bag, which included a phone, snacks, and instant noodles.

“If I had a charger and outlet, I could fill up all the memory with images of Emilia-tan… and change my wallpaper daily. Man, I really want to do that. Why wasn’t I summoned to this other world, Thomas!”

He dramatically called out the name of that great inventor, lamenting the disparity in their world’s level of civilization. The phone’s battery showed one less tick, and time was running short.

Soon, he’d have to rely on the possibility of recharging it using thunder magic.

“That sounds like a solution from a children’s manga…”

“Hmmm, talking about the village…”

As Subaru unconsciously muttered this, Emilia placed her chin on her palm with a pondering look. Thinking back, she seemed to have been dealing with something similar last time too.

Recalling that she hadn’t shown a negative attitude towards going out with him, he tried to piece together how he had pressed her to join him back then.

“That dog is so cute! Let’s go!”

“But, I might be a bother to you, and the villagers…”

“The kids are just innocent little angels; let’s go!”

“…I understand. Alright, I’ll go with you.”

“The flower fields are super colorful and wonderful; let’s go… wait, are you serious?”

Somehow, she seemed less resistant than before, which caught him off guard.

Subaru blurted out his question, stunned, and Emilia pouted.

“If that’s going to motivate you starting tomorrow, then I’ll join you. Just don’t loiter around too much, okay?”

“I won’t! I promise that! I would much rather leave the dogs, kids, and flowers behind to be alone together!”

“You just completely disregarded the purpose of our date!”

Emilia bounced back with a playful banter at Subaru’s enthusiastic remark.

For a while, the two argued cheerfully, and when they finally realized how late it was getting, Emilia stood up from the bed.

“Well, if you want, you can sleep on that bed.”

“Why does it look like it’s all ruffled and you’re breathing heavily? I’ll have to politely decline.”

“Damn it! Why is it all messed up… Is it Ram that… even when she’s not here, my hindrance just returns!”

Ram’s face, which had been a peak of gratitude just moments ago, seemed to float in the night sky, looking down with disdain.

Next to Subaru, who was imagining such a sad sight under the starry sky, Emilia suddenly walked over to the window and looked up at the sky.

“Yeah, the stars are beautiful tonight… It’ll surely be nice weather tomorrow.”

“Yeah, and it will be an unforgettable day.”

“Here we go again…”

Leaning against the window frame, Emilia turned with a half-serious intention of scolding Subaru, but her words faded the moment she saw his expression.

Subaru’s face held an unusual seriousness that caught her off guard.

Suddenly realizing the silence from Emilia, he blinked.

“Hey, what’s up? If you take too long, sleepy me might just use Emilia-tan as a pillow, you know?”

“Subaru’s such a weird kid.”

“Excuse me? Is that a sudden scornful critique!? Did I do something wrong?!”

The unexpected blow left Subaru gasping. Emilia left the window and walked across the room, charmingly stating, “Nothing at all.”

She then turned back, placing her hand on the doorknob, and coyly said,

“Well then, Butler-Su, be sure to work hard from tomorrow onwards. Rewards are only given to those who earn them.”

She saluted lightly with a hand gesture that resembled a salute, a smile gracing her lips as her silver hair swayed. Without waiting for a response, she slipped out the door.

Even as he reached out his hand, he could no longer catch her. The door shut with a sound, leaving Subaru alone in the room.

But…

“Whoa, whoa, whoa! Seriously!? Damn it, I’m so motivated now! Like, for real!”

The promise he longed to make had finally been exchanged again.

And thus, Subaru was able to take on this night once more.

Could he make it through the fourth night and reach the promised morning of the fifth?

The time for the showdown was roughly six hours.

“Alright! Let’s do this, fate!”

※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Instead of sitting on the bed, Subaru sat on the floor, using the bed as a backrest as he eagerly awaited the arrival of the morning.

The cool feel of the floor was already warmed by his body temperature after nearly two hours of sitting, making it unhelpful in keeping him alert.

Yet, exhaustion or the hand of sleep never reached Subaru’s body; he was at the peak of wakefulness.

The reason was simple.

“Who can sleep with their heart racing like this?”

His heartbeat thumped quickly and loudly, piercing through his ears like it was booming beside him. He could feel the rush of blood coursing through his entire body intensely, with his fingertips tinged with a slight numbness.

“I’m all hyped up just thinking about the promise with Emilia-tan. Man, I feel like a kid before a field trip! It’s just like when I overslept for a school trip.”

It was like the whole family overslept together, and you could well imagine how much excitement that day had brought everyone. That pain from being the only one forced to have convenience store lunch still dwelled deep in his heart.

As he reflected on these painful memories to distract himself, Subaru continued to gaze up at the night sky.

The twinkling stars remained unchanging, yet only the position of the moon gradually drifted westward.

When the sun rises from the east, maybe there would only be about four hours left.

That felt like a long time, he thought again.

Even with absolutely no drowsiness creeping in, he had to stay alert, not knowing what could unfold at any moment. He couldn’t afford to waste time knowing the possibility of an attack loomed, so he surrendered his drum of a heartbeat to his eardrums, continuing to think; it was the only action he could take at this current moment.

He reflected once more on the entirety of the last four days—indeed, this was his second pass through four days.

Realizing the sluggish start and several differences from the first week, he felt these influences on the road leading up to this moment were likely quite significant.

However, on the other hand, Subaru thought he had navigated through most events that would remain engraved in his memories. The second week had merely added in some minor sub-events alongside it.

If he were to predict that something led him into this loop, could it be that study session they were about to have?

“I can’t deny the possibility…”

If there existed an entity helping to guide Subaru’s loops, it would be tough to determine whether that entity considered their study session important.

Yet nothing else felt particularly different. His bond with Emilia had not changed; his relationships with Ram and Rem felt better than before.

“What does seem to still linger in my heart…?”

Was the point that he didn’t have the chance to encounter Beatrice tonight?

In the previous world, immediately after making a promise with Emilia, Subaru had barged into Beatrice’s room through the ‘door breaking’ trick.

He barely recalled having any meaningful conversations; thus, deeming it a minor potential flag.

Conversely, this time around had been exponentially less favorable in terms of his relationship with her.

Following the extreme management of his time, Subaru hadn’t had the opportunity to meet her even once in these four days.

“I mean, even last time, we just exchanged insults.”

With that thought, he couldn’t brush off the feeling that something was gnawing at him.

Indeed, while he didn’t remember having any significant dialogue with Beatrice, her attitude had undeniably saved his heart in this second repetition.

It was her openly suspicious demeanor toward Subaru that allowed him to find solace and recover.

“I should have voiced my gratitude… at least for one thing.”

This Beatrice here would likely not have any recollection of him, and if he expressed it, he could only imagine how she might respond.

Even though they had spent much of their time hurling barbs at each other, thinking of Beatrice made a smile find its way to Subaru’s lips.

Even that unchanged banter turned into a memory that made him chuckle.

Once they reached tomorrow, if he could welcome the morning, even more of the things he’d want to do awaited him.

Not just Beatrice, he wanted to tell Ram and Rem, and even Roswaal!

Of course, he wanted to fully express himself with Emilia first.

“Wait, can I really express everything with just a thousand words? Also, I will show what I can’t express in words through my actions…”

In his imagination, he embraced a shy Emilia in a gentle hug and pressed his lips against hers, transforming it into an air action.

Together with the recollections from the last eight days, Subaru felt joy bubbling up within him.

He sensed his previously intense reservations began to dissolve, even though there were still over three hours until morning.

“After getting this far, falling asleep would be no laughing matter! It’s different from when I’m gaming…”

While rubbing his eyes and letting the wave of drowsiness wash away, he suddenly shivered as that very lethargy brought a new wave of chill, which made him chuckle at himself.

Clutching both his shoulders to raise his body temperature, he rubbed himself vigorously. Yet, despite his efforts, that chill clung persistently, and he couldn’t rid himself of the sensation of drowsiness.

—Something feels off.

He’d been optimistic about the situation, but now Subaru had caught onto a change.

—This isn’t just a chill; it’s far more painful.

Looking down at the sleeves of his tracksuit, he noticed his skin crawling with goosebumps, easily perceptible that he was trembling from deep within.

It was an abnormality. The climate in this world was mild. Usually, wearing a tracksuit, the temperature was just right.

Yet now, why was it to the point where his teeth clattered uncontrollably with cold?

“This is bad! No way this is…!”

Feeling a sense of terror instead of chilly shivers, Subaru hastily placed his hands on the floor.

But the trembling didn’t stop spreading throughout his body; even the hands he meant to support him failed to bear his weight.

After about thirty seconds of laboring, he finally managed to stand. However, despite his two legs, his knees were shaking, and with his guard down, he could collapse any moment.

That feeling of blood draining away. The exhaustion seeping into his extremities. The once boisterous heartbeat faded, dulling even his thoughts to a sluggish crawl.

It seemed impossible to exert any strength in his body; if he wasn’t conscious of breathing, he feared he might forget how to do that too.

With trembling lips, Subaru limped toward the hallway, seeking help—he crawled out into the corridor.

“…H-help!”

He tried to cry out for someone but found his throat seized, his voice hoarse.

His throat painfully dry, simply letting in air drew an ache, and the fatigue seemed to constrict his lungs, slowing his breath.

This was bad, that singular awareness dominated Subaru’s mind.

He couldn’t think of any specific countermeasures, nor did he have any understanding of what was happening to him.

The only certainty he had was the stark realization that his life was in danger.

Gasping, he struggled through feeble steps toward the stairs. A path he was familiar with that wasn’t particularly long. Yet, that destination felt impossibly far off.

Having merely reached the staircase, he was already panting, and from there advancing upstairs became a trial that chipped away at his soul with each single step.

“Ha… ha…”

He used all his limbs to ascend each step and barely made it to the higher level. The place he sought was further down a dimly lit hallway—there lay the person he needed.

An uncomfortable sensation of bodily melting mixed in with his degradation while suppressing the rising nausea and tears, desperate to move forward as he crawled.

Emilia. He had to get to Emilia.

A sense of duty, obligation, and an indescribable emotion pushed him onward.

Already stripped of the shame of wanting to survive, there lingered a primal sense of compelling urgency that demanded he go there, despite it being a pathetic sight.

In Roswaal’s mansion, at the farthest end of the west wing on the upper floor, lay Emilia’s room.

By the time he reached the same level, Subaru was almost at his last breaths. If someone were watching him, they might have turned away from the gruesome scene on display.

Leaning heavily against the wall, he leaked bodily fluids—all while his face was stained with tears and vomit—his form was more than just grotesque.

His body felt weak, every muscle in his body refusing to obey him. The vicinity of the destination felt endlessly out of reach.

“――――”

His breathing came quick, while a sharp ringing echoed in his ears.

Thus, it was only by pure coincidence that he even noticed the bizarre sound cutting through the haze.

It resembled the sound of chains clanking.

That unease made Subaru’s legs freeze in place. Suddenly unable to support his body any longer, he began to slide downwards. He struggled to hold on, but it was no use. He crumbled to the floor, landing with a thud.

“—Huh?”

In the next moment, a shockwave slammed into Subaru.

The whole body jolted, the previously collapsing form being violently hurled back.

It was not until he bounced off the ground several times, scrubbing his face across the floor, that he finally comprehended the enormity of the impact.

There was no pain.

Just an unpleasant sensation creeping from the tips of his fingers and belly. A numbness reminiscent of cut-off blood flow invaded, obliterating any semblance of feeling.

“What is—”

He uttered in disbelief, trying to push himself up while still lying face down. However, his trembling arms struggled to find purchase on the ground; what was even more bizarre was the lack of coordination—his left arm was nowhere to be seen.

The dim corridor grew darker, as if the fading light was rejecting even the slightest assistance. Blurred, distorted perceptions printed the picture of despair as he struggled, gazing at his desperate right arm only to then yield his attention to the absent left.

It was then he realized—his left half had been severed at the shoulder.

“—Huh?”

As he collapsed all the way to his left side, he became stunned.

The two arms he needed to stand each bore no weight; the left half of him had vanished. His left arm had been blown away, and from the gaping wound, jagged bone and raw flesh were exposed.

Even in the cold night, the pink color inside remained vibrantly clear, pouring forth bright, relentless crimson.

The wound not only ravaged his shoulder but also extended to his torso, where part of his insides bulged grotesquely from the deep gash. Just how many times had he now come to face his own intestines?

In a dazed state, that thought echoed in his mind, only to be met with an immediate surge of pain from the sight of his injuries penetrating throughout his entire body.

Those feelings had become indistinguishable from what it was to experience heat or aching; instead, they turned into spurts that choked Subaru’s throat, robbing him of the capacity to scream as he writhed about.

“Ahhhhhh—”

His vision flickered, as red and yellow lights danced across the front.

They painted over the once-familiar sights of the mansion, dragging Subaru’s consciousness to another realm entirely.

I want to die.

I want to die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die! Die!

The meaning of being alive was lost on him.

To call this living would be a blatant lie.

He was merely not dead yet. Soon he would die. He was on the brink of death.

Confusion clouded everything, everything felt distant.

He couldn’t even recall what he was attempting to do. He couldn’t remember who he was. Everything felt inconsequential. Nothing mattered; all he wanted was death.

Such was Subaru’s desire that, at its very core, it resonated as a final wish…

“The sound of chains…”

A faint echo, the last thing he heard before his skull was pulverized.