With no understanding whatsoever of what had just happened, Subaru looked around the room.

“———”

It wasn’t exactly familiar, but the interior of the room was known to him.

Green vines covered the walls, floor, and even the ceiling, and Subaru himself was sitting up on a bed woven of vines.

In front of him were two girls—a beautiful girl and a beautiful younger girl tilting their heads. Right next to the bed sat a huge lizard, folded up like a cat. On the other bed in the room lay a girl with blue hair, her eyes closed.

There was absolutely nothing abnormal; this was the Green Room of the Pleiades Watchtower.

“But… huh? Why am I here again?”

Whether he had just woken up or not was unknown to him.

He ran his hand over his head, trying to recall the recent events.

If he remembered correctly, there had been a discussion about challenging the second layer of the tower, and before that, he was supposed to check if he had any special abilities. In the end, it was concluded that he had no abilities, and then he was walking inside the tower to regroup with Emilia and the others—

“Um? What was next again?”

He couldn’t quite remember the sequence of events.

The strong impression that he had suddenly found himself back in this bed lingered.

As he fumbled through his vague memory,

“Hey, Subaru, are you okay?”

“Whoa! Emilia-chan, you’re too close!”

Emilia’s beautiful face was suddenly right in front of him, close enough that he could feel her breath. With her long eyelashes framing her dark violet eyes, Subaru saw his own reflection, and the shock made him leap to the other side of the vine bed to create some distance.

Seeing his excessive reaction, Emilia widened her eyes,

“You don’t need to be that surprised. Besides, I was the one who was startled.”

“Startled you?”

“Of course! I thought you had disappeared, so I searched and found you collapsed. It’s odd if I’m not worried.”

“Seriously? I collapsed again?”

With her arms crossed, Beatrice snorted in exasperation. Subaru was shocked at her words and started patting his own body.

However, there was no sign of abnormality. After all, it was questionable whether someone who had lost their memory could even recognize any abnormalities about themselves, but he found no external injuries.

“But collapsing twice in such a short time feels pretty bad… Even if it was just for a few hours, I should consider it lucky that I didn’t completely lose that memory?”

“What are you mumbling about… Subaru, you should have something to tell Betty and the others.”

“Something to tell…?”

While gazing at his open hands, Beatrice threw those words at him. Subaru tilted his head in confusion and looked at both Emilia and Beatrice.

What was it that he needed to tell them? He pondered for a moment and then replied,

“Oh, right. Um, I’m sorry for worrying you. I was saved again.”

“That’s fine.”

“Hehe, you’re welcome. But I’m really glad you’re okay. You’ve relieved my worries.”

“Yeah, I guess so. I also feel bad for bothering Emilia-chan at this fast pace.”

As he raised his hand to express his gratitude to Emilia, she frowned at his words.

After that, her dark violet eyes filled with confusion as she spoke,

“Um, about that… What’s wrong with you, Subaru?”

“What’s wrong? That feels like a pretty vague question. What issue are you referring to?”

“Well, you keep calling me Emilia-chan since a while ago. For some reason, being called like that by you makes me feel really uneasy.”

As she said this, Emilia entwined her fingers in her long silver hair and gazed at Subaru shyly. The desolation in her gaze made him gulp involuntarily.

A defenselessly intimate girl with a striking appearance that perfectly hit his preferences—however, her current demeanor seemed to diverge deeply from Subaru’s feelings.

“Subaru’s teasing isn’t something new, right? More importantly…”

Beatrice interjected in a disgruntled tone during their exchange. Shaking her impressive curly locks, she pointed her finger resolutely at Subaru.

“And you should tell Betty why you went into the ‘Taygeta’ library again during the night. What was the cause of your collapse?”

“Wait a minute! What? Did I collapse in Taygeta again?”

“Again?”

“Seriously, Taygeta is a really terrifying place… What was I even doing going back there? Just being at a place known for peculiar occurrences should be considered reckless.”

Subaru was puzzled and overwhelmed by the facts he had relayed and felt the unsettling sensation deepen.

His recollection before and after his consciousness faded was hazy, but he shouldn’t have had a reason to return to Taygeta in the first place.

Honestly, it would have made more sense if someone had tossed him into Taygeta after he collapsed in the tower. That aside, he couldn’t fathom what advantage such an act might serve.

“Wait a second, Subaru.”

Yet, in the midst of his confusion, Beatrice interrupted him.

“Yeah?”

“It feels like there’s a misalignment in our conversation. Can you speak accurately?”

“Accurately, as in…?”

“As in, tell Betty and the others the exact situation you’re in.”

Deliberately, Beatrice slowly instructed Subaru. The weight of her words and intimidating posture pressed down on him, making Subaru nod reluctantly.

And, being watched over by Emilia’s worried expression, Subaru gathered his thoughts and began.

“First, as I think I mentioned… when I woke up, I had no memory. Not completely blank, but I lost my memories from when I was summoned to this other world…”

“Wait, wait, wait! Memory? What are you talking about?!”

“Huh?”

The dignified expression and demeanor of Beatrice shattered abruptly at the outset of his explanation.

Startled by her unexpected reaction, Subaru watched as Emilia gently supported the panicking Beatrice from behind. However, Emilia was far from calm herself, her gaze fixed on Subaru in surprise.

“Subaru, I’m sorry, but I really can’t understand what you mean…”

“No, you can’t just stop me here; it’s supposed to be the two of you that—”

—were supposed to know this, he wanted to continue, but the words failed him.

“———”

The bewilderment in the eyes of both Emilia and Beatrice was evident. Even Subaru could grasp that this was not an act.

Simultaneously, the realization that their reactions were sincere sent chills through Subaru’s heart.

Why did they forget the fact that Subaru had spoken of his memory loss?

Could it be that this tower possesses the trait of absorbing memories, and that Subaru wasn’t the only one losing them? What if everyone had their memories gradually siphoned away, rendering conversations and interactions completely meaningless?

Then, just like that, Subaru had an epiphany.

“The interactions I’ve had with both of them after waking up…”

He recalled those moments sharply—no, not vaguely. His memory had been clear. The first meeting with Emilia and Beatrice—at least for Subaru, it was their first meeting. The dialogues exchanged then were eerily similar to what he was faced with now.

To elaborate, the situation of waking up in the Green Room and lying on a vine bed mirrored the condition of the Subaru who had lost his memories upon waking up.

“———”

Realizing this fact, Subaru gulped audibly.

Glancing at Emilia and Beatrice, he saw they remained unchanged in their attitudes. However, what resided in their uneasy eyes was not distrust but genuine concern directed at “Subaru.”

That lack of facade further cooled Subaru’s heart.

In honesty, Subaru’s heart was churning in confusion like violent waves.

But surveying the situation—

“I’m seeing the same scenario… In other words, it’s a prophetic dream.”

Considering the circumstances at the moment he awoke, this seemed to be the most logical conclusion.

If that was the case, it made sense why his memories from the instant of unconsciousness were ambiguous as well. Dreams inexplicably slip through one’s fingers when trying to hold onto them, simply put.

Alternatively, this prophetic dream was the unique ability granted to Subaru upon being summoned to this other world—

“Such a peaky ability with a tough application, huh…”

But there was no denying that if mastered, it could wield immense power.

In simple terms, prophetic dreams were forecasts of the future. The higher the accuracy, the greater the advantage in resolving the situation.

Unfortunately, at the moment, there wasn’t much usable info derived from this prophetic dream—

“——I’d like to calmly discuss it with the two of you.”

Subaru straightened up, having come to grips with his ability, and directed those words toward the two of them. Emilia and Beatrice exchanged glances before nodding in agreement.

With determination on their faces, Subaru hesitated slightly and then said,

“I’m not sure if you’ll believe me, but it seems I’ve lost my memory.”

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

After all, Subaru had awakened in the Taygeta library, memoryless.

It took both of them about the same amount of time it took when he had first seen the prophetic dream to digest the undeniable truth Subaru had disclosed.

“Hey!”

With a crisp sound of air being expelled, Emilia slapped her own white cheeks vigorously. Opening her anxious eyes wide with the pain, she rallied herself with a resolute “Alright!”

This brave, manly determination was the very scene Subaru had seen in his prophetic dream.

“I’ve got my spirits up now. I can’t be down about this. Subaru’s definitely struggling way more than we are, so we can’t keep looking worried too. Come on, Beatrice!”

Emilia shouted with rallying vigor, shaking Beatrice by the shoulders. Beatrice’s confused expression was evident, but,

“I understand that you’re surprised and feel sad too, but right now, we need to think about who’s really suffering most. It’s up to us to do something about this, right?”

“B-Beatrice is…”

“———”

As Beatrice hesitated, Subaru observed her while grappling with the pains in his chest.

What Beatrice would say or the expression she would bear, Subaru had an inkling.

But knowing that only compounded the anxiety flooding Subaru’s heart.

To betray someone’s feelings, to break their expectations was painful and frightening.

No matter how many times he’d confront it, how similar the issue might be, or even if it was a second occurrence, it remained the same.

And now, Subaru knew Beatrice better than the first time. Thus, now it hurt far more than it had on the first occurrence.

“…I can’t believe it at all! You really are such a troublesome contractor, Subaru!”

With those words, Beatrice shattered the shell of unease and confusion intertwining through her spirit.

While feeling a sense of relief from this development, Subaru simultaneously felt a wave of intense self-loathing.

—Is this really all there is? Am I really satisfied like this? Yes, Natsuki Subaru.

—Should I really reconstruct the sandcastle built atop the bonds and trust you’ve created?

“———”

Witnessing the gentle yet painful determination of Emilia and Beatrice, Subaru clenched his jaw.

He hadn’t disclosed the fact that he had experienced the prophetic dream.

For the exchanges right after waking up and his recollection of their names were far from completely missing, he had navigated through explaining what he could.

In truth, the memory loss, combined with the scattered tidbits of his recollection, was entirely Subaru’s report. He could hardly doubt the two of them, nor did he desire fruitless dialogue.

Most importantly, he wanted to gauge just how high the accuracy of his prophetic dream actually was.

For that reason, he reasoned it best not to create any major changes deviating too greatly from his prophetic dream. Although there had already likely been some variation at the start, he hoped it wouldn’t lead to significant deviations from the norm.

However, there was more than just that reason behind Subaru’s hesitance to share details about the prophetic dream.

“———”

Neither Emilia nor Beatrice, nor Ram, Julius, Echidna, nor anyone else had disclosed to Subaru about his having the ‘prophetic dream’ ability. Neither had Shaula nor Meily.

It seemed unlikely that any of them would hide such information from him. It was hard to believe that anyone would orchestrate such an extensive alignment of intent under those circumstances, and moreover, it would bear little meaning.

Thus, the only possible explanation for their lack of knowledge about the ‘prophetic dream’ was that Natsuki Subaru himself had never revealed his ability.

“…What was Natsuki Subaru thinking?”

Subaru called his own name, feeling as if it belonged to someone else.

—No, saying it belonged to someone else isn’t quite right. He was a different person.

To Subaru, “Natsuki Subaru” was an unknown figure whose very existence he was ignorant of. He could not fathom their thoughts, nor could he engage in discourse. There was no circumstance that could lead him to understanding.

Why hadn’t “Subaru” revealed his powers to Emilia and the others?

Was it perhaps the intent to avoid altering the course of the prophetic dream as much as possible? If that was the case, then surely there would have been a moment to disclose it once a resolution had been reached.

If not, were there reasons he couldn’t share? Reasons he simply wanted to avoid?

A sense of distrust towards “Subaru” burgeoned within him like a simmering pot.

“What are you…?”

—What were you thinking, “Natsuki Subaru”?

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Afterward, the events unfolded pretty much as seen in the prophetic dream.

“So, everyone must be surprised, but… Subaru is in a lot of trouble right now. Even in this situation… No, especially because of this situation, please lend him your strength.”

Emilia explained to the other members about Subaru’s loss of memory.

Although her explanation was lacking in clarity, given the need to avoid misguidance that would significantly alter the situation, it was ultimately Beatrice who took up the mantle of fighting to assist.

And then—

“Is this some kind of joke, Balus?”

Ram questioned whether Subaru’s situation was serious.

“Yet, really Master, you just never learn, do you? Just how many times do I have to be forgotten before you’ll be satisfied?”

Shaula accepted Subaru’s odd behavior with a carefree attitude.

“My, this older brother of yours is certainly a troublesome one.”

Meily, possibly intrigued or possibly disinterested, smiled mischievously as she reveled in the confusing situation.

“I want to give him a little time to settle down. Would that be alright?”

Echidna, concerned for Julius who was panicking over Subaru’s memory loss, proposed offering a small respite.

Accepting that suggestion, Subaru stepped out of the room to fetch water at Ram’s invitation.

Once alone, Ram pinned Subaru against the wall, taking hold of his collar—

“…Please, tell me everything.”

Though her dignified facade remained intact, there was a tremble at her core.

Hearing Ram’s quiet anguish, Subaru was filled with conviction as he returned to the group.

—The prophetic dream was accurate. Infuriatingly precise, completely tracing the situation.

Subaru, of course, didn’t capture every single word or action from everyone around, but he knew that the notable parts remained unchanged.

If there was an issue here—

“Natsuki-kun seems remarkably calm given this situation.”

After going through introductions again and revealing Anastasia’s consciousness had been overwritten by Echidna, the two related their respective bombs to one another, and Echidna said to Subaru in that moment.

“———”

At Echidna’s words, Subaru felt his mouth go dry.

To be honest, Echidna’s observation was not unfounded. Subaru himself had struggled to maintain his composure.

Everyone was startled and alarmed, yet still managed to resolve to fight against the absurdity, a sight he could not emotionally engage with.

It was akin to watching a movie he had already seen, unable to experience it as something new a second time.

What arose within him instead was sympathy towards the brave façade they presented and the guilt of leaving them to their own devices, not to mention resentment toward “Subaru” for maintaining this charade.

It was hardly surprising that Subaru’s muted demeanor and heavy expressions would be perceived as unnaturally calm.

Regardless—

“I appreciate the compliment of being calm. I was the type of kid with ‘Lacks Calmness’ on my report cards.”

“I’m not quite sure what ‘Lacks Calmness’ means… Is that from the other world?”

“Oh yeah.”

Squinting, Subaru nodded to Echidna’s inquiry.

Once again, questions regarding the ‘other world’ came up, and Subaru’s answers remained consistent. He was summoned from another world, placed in this current location.

The understanding of Emilia and Echidna concluded that it was all due to something from beyond the “Great Waterfall.”

If the situation couldn’t transcend the limits of what had previously occurred, then any accompanying strong will or determination would ultimately lead back to reality, albeit in modified forms.

It’s a well-known trope in manga and games featuring prophetic dreams.

While responses to sudden situations might shift, a determined person still finds ways to pursue their objectives. Like someone set on asking someone out on a date despite facing rejections—they seek new alternatives for making it happen.

In other terms, Echidna had intended to inquire about the other world regardless of Subaru’s memory loss.

“Considering those times when you haven’t explained anything, it’s strange you casually threw around the term ‘other world’… What are you thinking deeper down?”

Given the nature of prophetic dreams, it would make sense to keep the ability to oneself, but the fact that he hadn’t shared anything about the other world was genuinely perplexing.

—As if resigning himself to the thought that sharing this was pointless.

—As if he was afraid to voice it.

“Ultimately, it’s an odd story that the least confused one is you. Meanwhile, our anxieties keep brewing as we try to solve things.”

“If everyone around me is panicking, the one at the center can become all the calmer, you know? I mean, I’m just as caught up in trying to resolve things as the rest of you. Let’s not let that worry you.”

“That feels like absolutely nothing to ease the worry of others…”

Shrugging, Subaru returned Echidna’s gesture with a smile. Emilia’s expression now reflected more than just a mere observer amidst the tension that filled the air.

It had been Subaru’s action resulting in this mood. Although he had worked hard to replicate the demeanor from his dream, he still struggled with his true feelings.

It’s quite hard to imitate someone who’s genuinely bewildered.

Thus, before he could let slip any more cracks—

“First of all, we’ve at least grasped each other’s situations. I understand there’s confusion, but we need to work together to overcome this hurdle. To that end, let’s get the situation moving.”

Clapping his hands together, Subaru attempted to forcibly refresh the atmosphere.

Last time, after their conversation stagnated like this, he needed to remind them of what they did afterward. Beatrice nodded, following along to what felt like his prophetic dream’s stage directions.

“Let’s ascertain what transpired in that Taygeta library.”

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“Hehehe,”

A glamorous beauty with a slack expression let out a relaxed voice.

With a stiff posture and dignified expression, she would undoubtedly charm many men, and yet now, it was fully distorted as she leaned against Subaru.

“Master, Master! I’m so happy! I’ll make you surely happy!”

“I’m not quite sure how to respond to all that. Don’t cling to my arm. It’s soft and terrifying.”

“Aww, I’d prefer you to soften that mean side of yours, you know?”

Pushing her forehead away, Subaru forcibly distanced himself from Shaula.

The sight of a gorgeous woman wearing such revealing attire already posed a danger, so he hoped she would keep her distance for the sake of his own sanity.

Currently, Subaru and his companions had arrived at the third layer of the Pleiades Watchtower, specifically at the Taygeta library.

Similar to his dream, they were on a quest to investigate the circumstances surrounding Subaru’s memory loss and, if possible, restore his lost memories.

However, he knew that the results would likely yield little success.

If anything, it was frustrating not to have been allowed to partake in the exploration.

As for that issue, what made it even more annoying was Shaula’s extremely familiar demeanor compared to her presence in his dream—

“But you chose me over that little girl, remember?”

“I didn’t choose you. It was all a matter of circumstances.”

Shaula spoke confidently about the moments leading up to their arrival at Taygeta.

It hadn’t actually been that far, but Subaru had adamantly avoided the scenario of having to hold hands with Emilia or Beatrice to make the trip.

The true reasoning was a sense of guilt concerning Emilia and Beatrice.

He was aware of what might transpire in the prophetic dream and was reluctant to disclose the results of that knowledge to them— so with that in mind, he observed them from a distance as they engaged in side discussions.

Thus, he opted to stay with the empty-headed Shaula during their wait at the Taygeta search.

“At long last, Master has acknowledged my charm! I’ve been waiting for four hundred years! I’m so happy I could kiss you deeply!”

“That’s not the case! Stop! That’s too frightening! Please just cut it out!”

As Shaula lunged in, her abnormal strength pinned Subaru to wall, resulting in a pressure much like “wall slam” rather than just a mere “wall press.”

Close to the edge of being robbed of his first kiss, only destiny intervened—

“Okay, okay, big bro clearly doesn’t like that. You should tame yourself a bit.”

“Ouch, ouch, ouch!”

From behind, Meily yanked on Shaula’s long braid. Her childish strength, while small, managed to inflict significant discomfort.

However, after Shaula twisted her neck to reclaim her braid, she drew it close, cradling her flowing black locks tightly.

“What do you think you’re doing to my hair? You frightful little brat!”

“Because, you see, I wouldn’t want to get chewed out by the silver-haired lady or Beatrice-chan! I’ve got to keep an eye on Don Juan here so he doesn’t misbehave with a half-naked lady.”

“How infuriating! Master, you must say something about this!”

“Shaula, stay at least two meters away from me. It’s terrifying.”

“You’re the worst, Master!”

Pretending to tear up, Shaula turned her back on Subaru.

As the smooth skin of her exposed white back was laid bare, Subaru turned his face away, scratching his cheek. Then, he glanced back at Meily, who stood with her arms behind her back.

“Ah, thanks for stepping in. I hesitate to say this to someone labeled an assassin, though.”

“Don’t worry. It’s like I’ve retired from that job anyway, and now I just listen to big brothers and big sisters. Just like how I get those poorly behaved animals to help out, you can utilize me well.”

“———”

Her uninhibited assertion, devoid of any malice, struck Subaru deeply.

Meily spoke innocently, treating her statement as casual. Though it merely highlighted the differing values between her world and his,

“———”

Saying nothing, and more importantly, wearing an expression that suggested deep-rooted uncertainty, Meily observed Emilia and the others as they rummaged through the library.

The girl’s stature was small, her face carrying youthful innocence, and while her body had yet to develop fully feminine contours— she was undeniably still a child.

The fact that she accepted such harsh perspectives made it incomprehensibly challenging.

“I’ll probably still be relying on you quite a bit, so I’m counting on you.”

“——? Well, I’m saying that, right? So I’ll need you to use me well!”

“Not use, rely. This isn’t about being a tool, it’s about a human relationship!”

“… Hmmm?”

For a fleeting moment after hearing Subaru’s words, Meily appeared momentarily dazed, and then she averted her gaze with seeming significance. Yet the intensity of her reaction lacked any discomfort, giving Subaru a sense of relief.

Even if she held onto that dry worldview, it didn’t mean everything she felt was entirely disconnected from what Subaru understood.

The fact that they could bridge their unknown situations was a form of solace to Subaru at that moment.

“… You really don’t remember anything at all, do you?”

“Uh? Oh, regrettably so. Do you have any clues that might jog my memory?”

Surprised that Meily brought up the subject of memory, Subaru countered her inquiry. In response, Meily touched her lips thoughtfully, a charming smile gracing her features.

“It sounds like Petra-chan would probably cry upon hearing this.”

“Ugh… another unfamiliar name.”

“Petra-chan is a girl who absolutely adores you. She was really worried about sending you off here, so I bet she’s thinking things are just as you told her.”

“Curse you, past me! What a careless mistake I made…”

Subaru grimaced at the thought spawned by this unknown girl named Petra. Just how many echoes of “Subaru” would he have to gather from the past?

“Seriously, I also think yesterday’s you was so careless.”

To Subaru’s inner turmoil, Meily stood on her toes and said so with a distinct tone.

The strangely out-of-place sensation accompanied her words—was it merely an impression from Subaru’s perspective?

In any case, before they could pursue that line of thought further, Emilia and the others returned.

What they brought back was nothing— the reality of having no leads, merely a confirmation of how accurate the prophetic dream had been.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

When the Taygeta search ended with no results, the next phase would turn to preparations for ascending to the second layer.

In other words, this was the limit of Subaru’s foresight as observed through the prophetic dream, beyond this point lay the unknown— at this moment, Subaru no longer doubted the abilities afforded to him from prophetic dreams.

The situation unfolded precisely as Subaru knew it would.

If there was a problem, it was that there had been no substantial outcomes from his predictions.

“Confirming the fact that I can foresee the future is indeed significant, no?”

Still, that conjured a puzzling thought.

Subaru had no understanding of what spurred the activation of those prophetic dreams in the first place. Was it a guarantee that they activated simply upon sleeping? Was there a key required? Or was it entirely random?

In times of pressing urgency, it seemed odd that he’d waste time simply sleeping. He wanted to understand the conditions in detail a bit more.

To get down to it, he wanted to figure out what he could do with this foresight.

“For now, I did manage to convince Beatrice to leave me alone just like in the dream—”

Subaru had asked Beatrice to take a breather to engage in various trial and error, claiming he believed he had powers to transform and thus had needed her to step away.

Oddly enough, it felt like Beatrice had fought harder to contest that than she had done in the dream, which may have been impacted by the less time they had spent together than in his dreams.

Regardless, there was a reason behind the desire for solitude.

“I need to determine why I woke up and what led up to that moment just prior to awakening.”

It could be as simple as being stirred awake by some external force. There might also be other conditions regarding awakening that might arise when situations of high tension arise.

For instance, experiencing a horrific event or enduring pain might fit the bill there.

“Truth be told, I felt a chill through me just now, but waking up in a prophetic dream of some kind feels too reminiscent of a butterfly dream.”

The butterfly dream refers to a famous philosophical question pondering whether a person is dreaming of being a butterfly or if the butterfly dreams of being human when a butterfly dreams itself.

Caught in such looping thoughts, it raises existential inquiries that push one’s being into an uncertain place.

In terms of Subaru’s current situation, it begged the question of whether this was reality after waking from a prophetic dream or a prophetic dream masquerading as reality.

He didn’t want to fathom a scenario where he would find himself waking up in that green room again, surrounded by Emilia and Beatrice—

“Well, if I want to avoid that, the key is to proceed beyond the dream. If I can manage that much, there shouldn’t be an issue in revealing the prophetic dream to Emilia and the others.”

The Subaru who had been deprived of his memories had evidently avoided sharing information with Emilia and the others for some reason.

For some inexplicable motive, he had veiled the truth about his prophetic abilities until now.

Now that he had become someone who lost everything, he had needed to take active measures to determine how to navigate through challenges.

—That unresponsiveness, that was likely the point that left him feeling misaligned, struggling for the next steps.

In the absence of insight, all emotions flowed into uncertainty beneath the surface.

Feeling the fanfare of his emotions gushing up, still he voiced the website held its value:

“—The approach is set.”

In time, focusing on his own position, Subaru decided to share his prophetic dream.

Yet he knew that the path ahead remained painfully uncharted for him. Curiously, after parting ways with Beatrice, Subaru’s recollection of trying out various transformational poses grew darker and more tenuous.

Thus, if ever called upon to prove the truth of his prophetic dreams, he would need everyone’s cooperation, encompassing the activation conditions too.

If properly harnessed, it could evolve into a powerful weapon. Perhaps it might just become the most essential weapon needed to navigate through the trials of this Pleiades Watchtower.

And so, with that determination in mind—

“Natsuki-kun seems rather dangerous to bring along in this state of confusion…”

“———”

On his way to merge back with everyone, Subaru held his breath upon reaching the large room.

The intelligent tone he had heard belonged unmistakably to Echidna.

For reasons unbeknownst to him, Subaru instinctively pressed himself against the wall, hesitating to introduce himself. While he stewed in place, the discussion inside the room advanced without realization of his presence.

“Echidna, what do you mean by danger?”

“It’s a fact that needs no confirmation, is it? Based on everything I’ve observed, it’s evident that he has lost his memory. His mannerism proves that case. The explanation of ‘other world’ is proof enough.”

“Other world…?”

“Surely, you don’t truly believe he hails from beyond the Great Waterfall?”

There was a faint rustle from Julius and Emilia upon hearing Echidna’s remarks.

At the same time, a surge jolted through Subaru’s heart. He desperately wanted to leap out and verify the meaning behind Echidna’s statements, suppressing the emotions that sought to break free.

Even without him intervening, the others would surely—

“Admittedly, it was quite an absurd explanation.”

“Are you doubting Subaru as well, Ram?”

Echidna’s unemotional observation prompted an astonished response from Emilia. To this, Ram shortly addressed Emilia, “Emilia-sama.”

“Ram isn’t outright disputing Balus’ allegations. It’s just that Balus brings forth strange knowledge and actions ripe with unheard-of customs. He may have the right to be believed to have originated from an unknown realm.”

“In that case…”

“But that’s merely a speculation on some random land. To accept the existence of the Great Waterfall… let’s humor Balus here and call it another world, but it’s impossible to believe such a place truly exists. At this point, there’s no cornerstone left to trust in what he utters.”

“Ram…”

Emilia concernedly called out to Ram’s voice, what sounded like a bitterness contained within. Yet, there was no response; she audibly swallowed before addressing the room.

“I believe in Subaru. So does Beatrice. Therefore, I ask everyone to please trust Subaru.”

“… Emilia-sama, Echidna is not stating that Subaru is deliberately trying to deceive us. Simply put, she asserts that the current state of him lacks stability.”

“From that phrasing, it seems you’re siding with that spirit, then?”

Emilia persisted against Julius’ reason, pushed back by the inquiry, yet it struck a nerve with Beatrice, who stood adamantly in Subaru’s corner.

A tension enveloped the room as a blanket of hostility emerged, and sweat dripped down Subaru’s brow.

“Calm down, let’s not be fighting. It’s not like you’re going to earn praise from Master doing that.”

“That’s not the kind of discussion we’re having here… but you’re right.”

Continuing in the same position as an observer were the voices of Shaula and Meily. They shared a soft chuckle for a moment, with Meily humorously continuing,

“Why don’t we just ask the big bro directly? Is he going nuts or something?”

“——!”

That toxic phrase compelled Subaru to clamp down on his molars with conviction.

In an unexpected surge of calm, he distanced himself from the wall and, with careful steps, exited the room.

“———”

Once a fair distance away, his cautious gait suddenly shifted to a hurried pace, eventually breaking into a sprint.

Upon colliding with the far end of the vacant corridor, he pressed his forehead against the wall.

“Damn…!”

He lacked clarity on whom to address or what words to articulate; instead, Subaru struck the wall in frustration.

The exchanges had transpired in his absence and had proven more jarring than he could anticipate.

He hadn’t fancied himself as someone confidently banking on the dependence of complete trust. More a bona fide fool within the realm of thought, rather.

It all hearkened back to the premise that trust was supposed to be built.

Perhaps its fragility lay in the fact that Subaru felt overly engulfed in the immersion through the regards of Emilia and Beatrice, who showered him with concern. Unmerited, yet another affirmation.

He’d been too self-indulgent to wish to keep his feelings in check while feeling entitled to their faith allowing him to be in this hold of thought.

As he stood, he saw a figure from another world, thinking there was no doubt such a thing would serve to aid them in climbing this tower.

Yet here he was, a memory-less liability, devoid of reason; where once a valuable perspective could have thrived.

Subaru began to see just how indisputably shameless his condition truly was.

What is trust if not something built upon shifting sands?

It seemed clearer than ever that he imbibed the warped thoughts of such ideals of trust, constraining the understanding’s essence beneath harsh reflections of reality.

What had been won through “Natsuki Subaru” was handed to someone that could

“That means revealing the prophetic dream will only be wasted effort.”

Devoting faith toward the impossible notion that they might accept his memory loss only proved their kindness.

But simultaneously, the rejection of this alleged ‘other world’ only stressed their reasoning as individuals of moral integrity.

And contemplating where the prediction veered upon which scale would falter was painfully self-evident.

“I started without knowing what I was getting into…”

Failure had taken root; he had messed up.

Now? How in the world could he find an opening for reclamation?

What stood to be demanded was not ‘Natsuki Subaru’ but rather someone other than himself.

When returning to the group with a facade intact, would he participate in their ongoing conversation with enough insolence?

Perhaps he’d leave Emilia and Beatrice behind instead, but even if he were to be left behind, which of them would have to keep watch over him?

He could only hope for someone like Shaula or Meily to mitigate the issue, ensuring no downhill spirals ensued throughout their negotiations.

“…How ridiculous.”

As he muttered, Subaru’s view was suddenly illuminated.

There emerged a monumental spiral staircase connecting the fourth layer with the layers below—it was a terrifyingly large watchtower, with a broadness that spanned half of its depth.

“Spiral staircase…”

Suddenly, as he steadied his focus on the spectacle before him, Subaru pondered idly.

It was only the second time he’d encountered this place, if he counted the dream. In reality and in the dream, his memory loss had been only part of a narrative—Emilia and the others had briefly led him through the tower in guidance.

So naturally, it was a given he would recognize this sight, but—

“No, that’s not it. Something feels off…”

An unsettling shiver ran down Subaru’s spine.

Coldness enveloped his blood, the ringing in his ears seemed all the louder. There was an uptick in his heart’s tempo, his breaths quickening, and for some reason, his knees were trembling.

Clicking teeth met against one another, a sound marked with uncertainty as Subaru acknowledged an anomaly.

Yet, this change hadn’t resulted from plunging temperatures or external influences.

The turmoil streamlining through him and the chaos were derived from Subaru himself. More crucially, this influence was rooted in his mind—or whatever deeper aspect of him—

“—!”

There was a sudden shock as Subaru unwittingly placed one foot forward.

Not quite stepping forward in the usual sense.

Movement wasn’t complete without ground beneath his feet.

His foot had stretched forward—

And that foot had swept across empty air.

Therefore—

“Ah!

　　Ah!

　　　　Ah!

　　　　　Ah!

　　　　　　Ah!

　　　　　　　Ah!

　　　　　　　　Ah!

　　　　　　　　　Ah!

　　　　　　　　　　Ah!

　　　　　　　　　　　Ah!

　　　　　　　　　　　　Ah!

　　　　　　　　　　　　　—!?”

He was falling, plummeting, he was in freefall.

His body engulfed by the sensation of floating, the world reverberated wildly as his surroundings blurred.

As the gravity of the situation set in, Subaru came to the stark realization he was plummeting.

No, there had been a light jolt. He hadn’t simply dropped.

He had been pushed “Ahhhhhh!”

Screaming to the heavens, Subaru reached out furiously, desperately searching for something to grasp.

Nothing present, nowhere to cling to, the world spun like a kaleidoscope of perceptions lost.

Every bit of him seemed to be pulled bottom-up, an obliterating sense of nausea ripping through him. It poured forth from his mouth, subsequently spewing forth yellow bile, raining it into the void above.

He was familiar with this feeling.

Amidst the tumultuous unease and wrenching agony, the hazy memories expanded into sharpening clarity.

Yes, yes indeed—that was right.

Before plunging into consciousness, at the end of the prophetic dream, he had faced this very encounter.

Spinning through the air, lamenting his predicament; only to succumb to the lack of sensation within his awareness—

Thus, this would soon come to a conclusion; he would awake from the prophetic dream, landing back in that green room—

At that moment, an impact shattered Subaru’s right side to fragments.

“Kyah!”

The sound of air ripping apart, a lightning-like shock exploded through his body as Subaru gasped in shock.

Following that was an impending wave of pain so tremendous it felt like being overwhelmed by godly injustice.

“GYYYYYYYYYYYYAAAAAAA!”

With a flicker of the eye, he saw his right arm — bent grotesquely at the elbow, as bone protruded glaringly forth. Blood stained his clothes, ruptured at the seams, while the pinkish muscle and pale bone were laid stark against the visual.

He had collided.

By harnessing the force behind a gruesome drop from a deadly height, Subaru’s body met the staircase in a vicious collision. Momentum sent him rolling yet further downwards, destroying his corporeal shape with the incessant onslaught of force.

—No, it wasn’t just that—

“Ah! Go! Goddamn it!”

As blood colored the air, his body turned and thrashed as it collided with the next step.

It was dumb luck that the subsequent strike would have most unfortunate timing since it would ricochet against his head.

A fierce impact caved the surface of his skull, spilling the contents within to jigsaw chaos.

In a moment, his consciousness exploded, unraveling into nothingness, before forcibly reconnecting him through the agony of those fracturing bones bent asunder.

“Ahhhhhh! Gyaaaaaaaaaaahhhhhh!!”

Pain, pain, pain pain pain pain pain.

Pain seared through him, suffering blossomed in his chest, waves of excruciating heat slammed against Natsuki Subaru’s existence.

His arms, his legs, his face, battered and broken against the stone steps, battered until he no longer resembled a human. Nor was he anything of Natsuki Subaru.

—Memories are what shape human beings.

“Feh!”

Bleeding profusely, Subaru abruptly heard voices whispering within his turmoil.

Were those the ones who spoke those foolhardy proverbs?

What was meant by that? It was a good sentiment—the idea that memories shape our identity was nice.

If true, then what becomes of a being who loses their recollections and thus the essence of themselves?

“———”

The throat mangled to the point he could only let out a wretched, choking scream.

As far as reaching firm ground below remained, Natsuki Subaru could become nothing but fragmented.

The dream would cease to awaken. Natsuki Subaru had failed.

Those who failed never received second chances.

A closure approached.

Slowly, darkly, the world began to dim.

――Who are you?

Amidst the agonizing heat and torrents of blood, Natsuki Subaru’s existence lay shattered.