To successfully navigate the week at Roswaal’s Mansion, Subaru faces two major hurdles.

The first is gaining the trust of the mansion’s residents. This includes not only Ram and Rem but also their master, Roswaal.

If he fails to meet their standards, Subaru’s life could very well be snuffed out under the pretext of silencing him.

This conclusion came after countless thoughts during his previous loops when he had plenty of time to think.

Likewise, leaving the mansion without their permission falls into that category. Any suspicious behavior could lead directly to a DEAD END. It’s a crucial point requiring utmost caution.

The second hurdle—this one he hasn’t even begun to grasp.

Specifically, the identity of the curse user attacking Roswaal’s Mansion.

A sorcerer who claimed Subaru’s life the first time, stripped away his mind and body the second time, and in the fourth loop caused Rem’s death.

As he enters the fifth world, there’s still no sign of their identity, and tracking them down and defeating them is the ultimate objective this time.

In summary, if Subaru can earn the trust of Ram and Rem while simultaneously defeating the evil sorcerer, he might have a chance to break the loop.

After dying four times, he finally sees the victory conditions.

On top of that, there’s still a lot left unknown about meeting those critical conditions, giving him the feeling of returning with no plan.

He can’t help but sigh over the difficulties ahead, but Subaru shakes his head, determined to move forward.

No matter how high the walls before him, he cannot afford to back down.

He had come back even at the cost of taking his own life. He returned, betting on conditions that may never allow him to come back.

Having chosen to die once,

he should now challenge himself with the mindset that he’s already dead.

—Subaru resolved to do just that.

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“So, Ram? From your perspective, what do you think of his evaluation?”

It was the time of night where the moon hung in the sky, and in the top-floor office of Roswaal’s Mansion, a secret meeting was taking place.

There were two participants: Roswaal, the lord of the mansion, and opposing him was the pink-haired maid—Ram.

With her hands clasped on the desk and a smile forming on his lips, Roswaal awaited Ram’s thoughtful response, who slightly tilted her head as she contemplated.

In response to Roswaal’s unusual query, Ram hesitated, prompting an arched eyebrow from Roswaal, as if witnessing a rare sight.

“Hmm, it’s quite rare for you, Ram, who usually makes quick decisions, to be pondering like this? Did you not gauge him in one day?”

“That’s not the case.”

Though she quickly replied with denial, the content held a certain lack of clarity. Touching her lips with a finger, still slightly bewildered, she continued,

“That person—Balus is, in terms of capability, utterly hopeless. His performance as a servant is barely above amateur level. Whether he’s suited for it or not is irrelevant; he’s beyond the scope of evaluation.”

“Hmm, it’s strange indeed. He requested to be allowed to work, yet here we are.”

Roswaal chuckled as he recalled their breakfast meeting. He had invited the awake guest to the dining table to discuss his contributions and rewards.

Roswaal’s impression formed was that he was “a boy with a decent education, an average intellect, and capable of self-preservation.” It was a reasonable evaluation and, in another sense, worth monitoring.

Therefore, he had assigned Ram as his tutor under the pretense of supervision and scheduled this report.

He hadn’t expected results from day one, but the fact that Ram’s demeanor was causing unease signified a troublesome subject.

“It’s strange, but…”

“Yeah, go ahead. Don’t hold back. Speak freely.”

“Although he lacks any ability, Balus displays a sort of unnerving positivity.”

Ram chose her words carefully, searching for the right expression, visible frustration written on her face.

“He chatters away without a care, continues smiling even when he fails, and shows an alarming level of devotion toward us…”

“…What are your thoughts on that?”

“It’s different from what I had been told by Emilia.”

Ram merely responded to his low inquiry.

Roswaal, having little experience with Balus, couldn’t grasp the depth of her concerns. However, given the sisters had acquired a fair amount of experience within the mansion, trusting their insights was imperative.

“In any case, it’s understandable that we can’t see his character in just the first day. He has a debt of gratitude for saving Emilia. —Let’s observe him for a while longer.”

“…If something were to happen…”

The unspoken words were clear in her demeanor—she didn’t want to hear the rest.

Despite her unchanged expression, Roswaal, observing her weakness with his yellow eyes, shook his head slightly.

“Well, if the time comes, we’ll deal with it then. I prefer to resolve matters quietly. —Be careful that Rem doesn’t act hastily.”

Occasionally, the blue-haired girl tends to act on her own, fully understanding their intentions. Generally, she aligns with Roswaal’s decisions but can sometimes hastily squash potential.

This time, especially, such rashness could lead in a bad direction.

“We could eliminate the danger ahead of time, but if the relationship with Emilia deteriorates, that would be a disaster.”

Roswaal needed all three of them as essential pieces.

“By the way, Ram. Is the report concluded?”

“…Yes. I’m sorry I couldn’t provide anything substantial.”

“I wouldn’t blame you for that. Now, let’s finish tonight’s duties. —It’s been two nights; it must be quite painful, no?”

Following Roswaal’s gestured invitation, Ram, with a somewhat dazed expression, complied. She, who had been standing before the desk, approached him with a swaying gait and hesitantly settled herself atop his lap.

“Excuse me for tonight…”

“That’s just your right. It’s always like this, so there’s no need to be embarrassed. It’s an important body—it’s not just yours.”

He traced her cheek with his hand, lifting Ram’s face slightly as he gently brushed her pink hair with the opposite hand, squinting with one eye and gazing down at her with his blue eye.

“So, what role do you play for us? I want things to go well.”

Whispers emerged only in his heart as Roswaal shifted his focus entirely to the Ram before him.

The first night deepened into darkness.

—Ending with the mysterious secret meeting of the mansion’s master and the maid.

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“Good morning! Another beautiful day, perfect for laundry! All good for me, good for you, good for everyone! Good smile!”

Welcoming the second day’s morning with a triumphant declaration, Subaru’s loud cheer filled the air.

Standing in the center of the garden, he squinted against the sunlight, shaking off the sleepiness that clung to him by moving his body all out.

The morning radio exercises, with blood flowing generously through his hands and feet, spread the energy he stored during the night throughout his body.

After stretching both arms to the sky and shouting “Victory!”, the start of his day reached its conclusion.

Wiping the light sweat from his forehead, Subaru turned around, only to hear,

“You’re really lively this morning…”

“Lively? I’m super lively! My energy is everyone’s courage, I love you, we love! Let’s get hyped!”

In the corner of the garden, surrounded by trees, Emilia, who was doing her morning routine, couldn’t help but smile. A gray fluffball, aka Pack, floated nearby, rubbing its small hands against its black eyes.

“When I see you wash your face, it’s just like a cat. That aside, can spirits get sleepy too? Do they oversleep?”

“You all get sleepy if you’re tired, right? Spirits also live off mana, which means they face similar issues. If they aren’t sufficiently stocked with mana, they will continue to feel sleepy… uhh.”

Yawning, Pack’s lethargy caused Emilia to mimic him, pressing her palm against her lips to stifle a small yawn. With a shrug, Subaru feigned indifference.

“You both are the real night owls. I bet it was all about talking about the dream girl late into the night! Come on, come on! Include me too! My dream girl? Umm, it’s a bit embarrassing but…”

He clasped his hands together, closing his eyes while peeking over at Emilia. In response, she waved her hand dismissively.

“I like Pack, and Pack likes me. End of story.”

“Mutual love?! What about me!? Am I just chucked out?!”

“Nope. I’m totally charm-enhancing, and Ram is totally smitten with me. You might not be a bad guy, Subaru, but when compared to me, you’re nothing. Just give up on this girl… nyan nyan!”

Pack deflected Subaru, looking down at him with an air of superiority.

Sounding like a ferocious tiger roaring as he bit the towel he pulled from who-knows-where, Subaru clasped his ears as Pack continued to straighten out his whiskers.

“No more bad jokes from both of you! If you keep that up, I’ll get mad!”

““Ow, ow, we’re sorry, we’re sorry!””

Both Subaru and Pack chimed in, fearing Emilia’s punishment.

After freeing their ears, they rubbed the sore spots, while Emilia let out a small sigh.

“Having a good time is nice, but don’t toy with people. If you understand, respond. Yes.”

““Yes, ma’am!””

As they were both prompted by her outstretched hand, they quickly nodded in agreement.

Though it felt somewhat like they were being led by the nose, seeing her satisfied smile made those trivial matters fade away.

A sense of relief slowly brought forth smiles. Embracing that sensation, Subaru nervously put on a smile.

“What’s this heartbeat? Emilia-tan’s showing big sister vibes while I’m in the older brother zone! I’m in a whirlwind of happy screaming!”

“Happy screams despite being sad? What does that feel like?”

“Like kyahiiin! Or something like that!”

He cupped his chin with both fists, bending one leg, hopping a little. The pose resembled something out of an old manga, but surprisingly, his imitation was spot on, leaving him startled.

“I don’t know why, but I’m incredibly disheartened.”

“Unpopular? Why?!”

With exaggerated disappointment, Subaru collapsed dramatically. He performed an iconic move known as “Sheh,” but Emilia’s reaction was rather lackluster.

The moment fell flat, and he slumped down, uttering, “Body humor doesn’t always land, huh…! It’s one thing if it’s about life and death, but for a pose that captivates everyone from kids to adults to fail? Why is humor so harsh?!”

“I don’t know what wall you bumped into, but let’s move on. Come on, Subaru. Sit here beside me.”

With Subaru about to burst into tears over his failed comedic outing while holding himself up on the ground, Emilia lightly patted the grass next to her.

Realizing she wanted him to come closer, Subaru responded at lightning speed, bouncing over to her side.

“I came flying when called! What’s up? What’s with this timing? I’m here to scratch that itchy spot on your back that you can’t reach! Just that, no more!”

“I only invited you to sit beside me; the reaction was beyond what I expected. What should I do now?”

“…”

Emilia, struggling to hide her laughter, couldn’t help but grin. Meanwhile, Pack was silent, touching his own whiskers.

Seeing this, Emilia didn’t count on Pack, so she cleared her throat and turned her gaze back to Subaru.

“So, how did it go yesterday? Did you manage to do your job properly?”

“Oh, about 80 percent failed!”

“I see. So you’re confident at… wait? 80 percent failure!?”

“No, sorry, I overshot it. Probably… if I’m being generous, it’s closer to 60… nah, around 70 percent, maybe 50…”

“That makes it so uncertain…”

Emilia’s face dropped slightly at the realization, and Subaru felt a pang of guilt rushing over him, hunching his shoulders.

Naturally, his expression led to Emilia hurriedly waving her hands.

“But you did manage 20 percent on your first job, right? That’s alright; I’m sure you’ll do well. Just have more confidence!”

“Yeah! For my first time to score 20 percent is like I’m a major league player, right? I’m feeling the wind and about to become a hotshot, I’m totally flying high!”

“Don’t get too cocky now! You must reflect on it!”

“Isn’t that too demanding?! No, wait, never mind, I’m sorry!”

Under her scrutinizing glare, Subaru felt the weight of her fierce presence pressing down on him, forcing him to slump his shoulders again.

Still,

“Well, to be honest, I’m managing thanks to Ram and Rem’s help. It’s no surprise my best effort yields only 20 percent?! I should keep that disappointment for future expectations.”

“If you’re not worried about it, then I’ve got nothing more to add…”

Emilia pouted slightly, showing a childish demeanor that looked incredibly cute, making Subaru’s heart race.

But he mustered all his self-control to suppress that impulse.

Making a silly gesture, he pointed a finger at her, declaring,

“Well, well, well! So with that said, I’m diving into the servant life while being directed by the maid sisters, and when I get tired of that life, I’ll jump into Emilia-tan’s lap! So keep a spot open for me!”

“… If you half-listen, it might sound just right.”

“A sharp critique wrapped in a cute face! But wow, if you’re only half-listening, that means there’s still some room for me! Alright, tonight’s reserved on Emilia-tan’s lap for me… don’t let Pack steal it!”

Switching his focus to Pack, he declared war. However, Pack remained unfazed.

“Hmph, no matter what you say now, Ram has already offered her heart and soul through our contract. This relationship is set, nyan nyan!”

“You can’t change the contract without my knowledge!”

Emilia seized Pack’s ears, lifting him into the air.

The weight on his ears must have been unimaginable, yet Pack seemed utterly unfazed, floating and swaying with nonchalance.

“Well then, having replenished my morning vigor, let’s get to work!”

“Replenished vigor? What were you doing?”

“Of course, I gained love power from hanging out with Emilia-tan! With two bars filled, I can launch two super specials—this is a sure win…”

“Don’t get so full of yourself. If you keep teasing me like that, I won’t believe you when you really mean it. Haven’t you read that kind of story before?”

“I’ve seen some similar ones! Honestly, I think that’s karma biting back, no chance for a redo!”

“Are you really the one saying that…?”

In response to Emilia’s admonishing gaze, Subaru stuck out his tongue and bashfully smiled as he got up.

Dusting off the grass stuck to him, he turned and stretched.

“I really should head out soon; I’ll end up actually getting scolded. This morning, I’m in charge of breakfast preparations. Emilia-tan, you dislike peas, right? I’ll take them out for you.”

“Even if I dislike them, I still have to eat them… wait, did I ever tell you about this?”

Emilia tilted her head in doubt, while Subaru, with a small grin, waved goodbye.

The momentary surprise at his reply made him completely happy.

He gave one last silly wave while swaying side to side, determined to keep his smile intact until he was out of her sight.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Watching Subaru fade into the distance, Emilia released a small sigh as she looked down.

Ahead of her, the little gray cat fixed its gaze on Subaru’s retreating back. Noticing Emilia looking down, the cat lifted its head.

“What’s with the sour face?”

“I feel a bit… off. It’s hard to put into words.”

Stammering, Emilia struggled to articulate her inner turmoil. In the end, her words evaporated into silent breaths that disappeared into the air.

Observing her conflict, Pack touched his pink nose, squinting slightly.

“Worried about Subaru? That’s unusual. It’s rare for you to concern yourself with others.”

“Don’t speak as if I’m socially inept! I’m not bad at interacting with others; I just haven’t had many chances!”

Puffing her cheeks, she replied to the long-time companion, who expressed calmness.

Such childlike behavior was something she could only display when she was in the presence of Pack, reflecting her way of seeking affection.

Conversely, Pack maintained a gentle expression.

As if pleased like a parent witnessing their child grow—the sentiment was entirely accurate from his viewpoint, yet maintaining that visage, Pack nodded.

“Well, it’s not surprising that you’re confused. Things are becoming a bit complicated.”

“Complicated, is it?”

Emilia’s expression tightened, realizing she couldn’t afford to miss that content despite Pack’s leisurely demeanor.

Normally, Pack’s attitude remained steady in every situation. Whether this was a trait of spirits or merely Pack’s personality is unclear, but the significance of his statements depends on the listener’s interpretation. In short, it falls upon Emilia to interpret.

With a serious expression aimed at her, Pack’s demeanor remained steady.

He toyed with his short whiskers while saying,

“I vaguely touched upon it. Subaru’s heart is really chaotic. His outer appearance and inner self are all tangled. If things stay like this, he might fray really soon.”