――Having witnessed numerous choices with those blue eyes.

The self that emerged from the empty void was drawn to a great light nearby, slowly taking shape while it touched that warmth.

At first, it was strictly kept at bay, but the inherent kindness didn’t allow it to be completely dismissed, and it continued to linger close.

Eventually, it was no longer ignored, but was actively reached for, ultimately being recognized as a new existence, granted a name.

Rejection and compromise, conflict and acceptance, trust and belief, as well as forgiveness and pardon――.

He had always been making choices.

Continuing to select from countless choices, an endless array of options, with his own will and steps. He saw that sometimes up close, sometimes from afar, sometimes transcending physical and mental distances.

However, not all of his choices led him to the place he desired.

Even so, he never ceased choosing, utilizing all the power he possessed.

In the absence of assistance, he followed the example presented before him. Even if a painful prayer awaited him at the end and a conclusion that made him want to cry, he never stopped moving forward.

What’s so strange about admiring that back, that way of being?

――He too, must make choices.

As someone fortunate enough to know his rejection and compromise, his conflict and acceptance, his trust and belief, as well as his forgiveness and pardon, he wanted to follow that way of walking.

Mistakes and errors, it seems this body has committed many.

To not seal those scars, which have been indelibly engraved without fading, to not cover them up, and to not forget or ignore them.

Believing not in whether it’s right or wrong, he wanted to be right, just as he chooses his paths.

To ensure that he—Natsuki Subaru—doesn’t become a mistake for having chosen him.

“――I never thought you would come and say you wanted to talk with me.”

Beyond the door that felt heavy not physically but mentally, a black-haired man sitting at an elegant desk glanced up from a pile of papers and said so.

With his sharp black eyes, he too was gazing at many choices, selecting just one from them, landing him in this very seat.

All of it was the result of the man’s choices, and also the outcome of his choices.

And then――,

“As you can see, I am busy. I took the time because it was… Medium O’Connell that requested it, but I cannot spare much. If you have something you desire, I will accommodate you if it’s worthy of your efforts. However――”

The man paused, lifting his gaze from the stack of papers, looking at me. He was a clever king, filled with various intentions behind those deep black eyes.

He continued to gaze at me standing before the door, opening his thin lips,

“I have no words for his current state. At the very least, I cannot imitate the act of visiting him, nor should I. —If that is your wish, however.”

Having heard that, I shook my head rapidly.

Though I had something I wanted to ask of the man before me, it didn’t directly involve him.

What I could do for him right now, I likely could not provide. Just like many others surrounding him. Therefore, I had a different reason for coming here.

Surely, he would choose to stand once again.

The reason I came here was to prepare for when he chooses to rise again.

When he selects to stand, I also want to be able to choose properly――,

“Then, what brings you here?”

Staring into his black eyes, I met them with my blue ones, pausing for a moment.

Perhaps, among all the many people in this vast, grand empire, the one who has witnessed his choices the most alongside me with my blue eyes, and along with her gentle light blue eyes, and the man before me with his black eyes.

Therefore, to someone who understands the weight of choices, I finally opened my mouth.

And――,

“――U!”

A life born from an empty self stepped forward to make a choice.

△▼△▼△

――On the day that Subaru and his companions from the Emilia camp set out from the Volakia Empire, it was a rare rainy day from morning, quite unlike the endlessly clear days that typically stretched out in Volakia.

“I really dislike the Volakia Empire…”

Subaru grimaced, muttering that he had never been able to acclimate to an empire whose climate wouldn’t even allow for a pleasant send-off.

Despite disliking Volakia, his encounters in this country hadn’t been too bad.

In fact, it could be said that was the worst quality of the time he spent in this country――.

“Thank you so much for everything, young master! Please take care in your kingdom!”

“What are you talking about, Flopp? I’m the one who’s been taken care of by you. I haven’t been able to repay even one act of kindness…”

“Ha ha ha, don’t say silly things! With what you did for me and my sister, do you have any idea how much luck we’ve had? Both me and Medium gained partners. It’s a huge win!”

With that, Flopp enthusiastically thumped his rather flat chest.

While Subaru was still feeling a bit down, it was astonishing and admirable to hear that he had successfully proposed to Talitta.

Given that Talitta had been attracted to Flopp’s personality, as well as being a face man like his sister Mizelda, Subaru was relieved to hear it had worked out well.

He felt nothing but gratitude for both Flopp and Talitta.

“Thank you, young master.”

“――――”

Yet, being suddenly hugged by Flopp made Subaru catch his breath. As he froze momentarily, Flopp, in his usual way—no, even more emotionally than usual—exclaimed,

“The day you came before me and Medium, carrying your wife who was seated on a chair, I thought I had an incredibly fateful encounter. And that was not mistaken. From far under the skies, I wish for your happiness and that of your important ones!”

“Ah…”

“If you ever return to the empire, please do contact me at any time! Conversely, should I visit the kingdom, I promise I will rely on you! I would love your support!”

Flopp O’Connell, bright and cheerful as the midday sun, stepped back, his voice bright and cheerful.

From their first meeting until this farewell moment, Flopp had never lost his cheerful demeanor, leaving Subaru incredibly moved.

In the Volakia Empire, his first encounter had been with a face-hidden emperor, and then he had fought alongside the “People of Shudrak” throughout. However, perhaps the greatest fortune Subaru had in the Volakia Empire was meeting the siblings Flopp and Medium O’Connell.

Feeling that strongly in his heart――,

“――Ah, thank you too, Flopp! I love you!”

Subaru returned Flopp’s heartfelt thanks with his own laughter as the utmost gratitude for his time in the Volakia Empire.

△▼△▼△

“…I don’t think you should say ‘I love you’ so casually to just anyone. It makes all your words feel so light.”

“No, I don’t say it to just anyone. Only to those I truly love.”

“Really? What about Emilia and Beatrice?”

“I tell Beatrice that morning, noon, and night, but I struggle a bit with Emilia… Ah, but I might have said it to my sister.”

“Huh?”

“I’m sorry, it was just in the heat of the moment, but it’s still important!”

With Beatrice’s sharp light blue eyes glaring at him, Subaru shrank back apologetically.

Just before this heartfelt goodbye with Flopp, the contrast was too intense. Still, despite the teary eyes over his farewell with friends, he managed to hold back the tears.

“A man shouldn’t cry easily… A man is only allowed to weep publicly three times in his life.”

“Is that so?”

“Yeah, that’s how it is. …Huh? Don’t you want to know what those three occasions are?”

“That expression of yours wants me to ask, so I refused to.”

“That’s going too far!”

As Subaru raised his voice at the unfair comments, Rem let out a sigh.

In this natural back-and-forth with Rem, Subaru released a deep breath.

Recently, due mainly to Subaru’s issues, he had been very tense among his friends, including Rem. He assumed he’d caused them quite a bit of worry, and from here on, he wanted to adjust his behavior and make up for it with actions.

“How about you, Rem? Were you able to talk with Kachua?”

“Well, I’m not sure if I did it properly, but… yes. She said she would send me a letter. I’d like to send one back, but I’m not sure what to write.”

“A letter to a friend, right? Just updates, like asking how she’s doing or something along those lines. I mean, I’ve never exchanged letters with friends either, so I wouldn’t know.”

“Is it really okay to write something so trivial?”

“I think it is. Something just like that.”

As he answered the troubled Rem, Subaru boldly imagined Kachua’s feelings.

Being Todd’s fiancée and having witnessed his end, Subaru hadn’t really had a proper sit-down conversation with Kachua. Even still, he had nothing but gratitude and goodwill towards her for staying with Rem when she was kidnapped and for becoming friends with her.

What Kachua might expect in her correspondence with Rem surely wouldn’t be anything dramatic or over the top.

“The important thing is the proof of connection or concern for one another. Even if you’re not nearby, just having a spot in each other’s minds is what matters.”

“――――”

“Did I just say something too weird and creepy?”

“――No, I just accepted it for once.”

As Subaru timidly inquired, Rem slowly shook her head. Then she relaxed her lips and said, “That’s right,” and continued,

“Like you said, it’s not something to worry about. If you change positions, my expectations for Kachua’s letters aren’t special either; I just want to receive a letter from her.”

“Right?”

Subaru smiled and gave a thumbs up in response to Rem’s acknowledgement. Though his gesture was overlooked, Rem walked beside him without complaint.

Considering how the new relationships would begin in the Empire, this was a remarkably dramatic change.

“――――”

Having finished their farewell, the destination Subaru and Rem went towards together—was a figure they both needed to greet farewell.

The person they needed to speak to together was――,

“――Spica.”

“Uah! Euh!”

As she turned at the call, Spica brightened and rushed towards Subaru and Rem, her golden hair tied back swinging like a tail behind her.

As Subaru opened his arms to catch her―,

“Wa!”

“…Wait, that’s not who I was expecting!”

Beside Subaru, Rem caught Spica in the act of jumping at her.

Rubbing her cheek and head against Rem with an “Euh”, Spica made Rem look startled at first but then quickly smiled with a motherly grin, patting Spica’s head in response.

Watching that tender moment between the two, Subaru exhaled with his hands clasped behind his head.

“You’re as clingy to her as ever. If I did the same, I’d surely get cold eyes from Rem.”

“Ha? Why are you mentioning such obvious things all of a sudden?”

“See, that’s the problem! Spica is doing this and… huh? Wait, is she mad at me? Is Spica on Rem’s side too? I’m completely isolated!”

Holding onto Rem’s waist, Spica shot an intense glare at Subaru. Deflated by her gaze, Subaru nodded, still clutching his jaw.

Then――,

“――Shubalts-sama.”

After wading through the whole chaotic scene, he found himself in front of a girl dressed in a kimono, who was waiting alongside another woman in a kimono, Yorna.

Stopping to meet Yorna’s gaze before talking, Subaru replied,

“Thank you for everything, Yorna. And…”

“Apologies are unnecessary. That child is a matter between me and her.”

“――――”

“You may come to show your face anytime. If it’s the master, we will welcome you warmly.”

With a gentle smile from the witch of the magic city, Subaru deeply nodded and then faced the girl named Tanzer.

“Calling you Shubalts-sama again, huh?”

“――It’s the most familiar term of address for me.”

“I can’t get used to calling you anything else either.”

With a somewhat puffed-up smile, Subaru crouched down to match her eye level.

Though they used to be the same height, he had to bend his knees to meet her gaze now. Even with this height difference returned, he wanted to speak to her at the same level.

After all, Tanzer was Subaru’s undeniable benefactor in the empire.

“——Next time, I definitely won’t lose.”

“——? What’s that?”

“The magic you cast on me. Because of that, I didn’t give up.”

With eyes wide, Tanzer blinked in search of the same words in her memory. Yet, no matter how hard she tried, those words wouldn’t come.

The huge debt of gratitude that Subaru could never fully repay remained solely within him.

That’s fine. Whether it’s happening in this world or not, it’s alright.

Within Subaru, the feelings of unyielding gratitude and joy definitely exist――.

“I love you, Tanzer.”

“…If you keep up that tone, you will surely come to regret it, Shubalts-sama.”

“I was told similar things by Rem. If only I had more time, I could become close with both of you… Will I die with a cold gaze instead!?”

“Don’t get hyped up on your own and die alone, alright? …Besides, acting like this as if it’s the last farewell will squeeze your neck later.”

“Huh? What do you mean by that?”

“You’ll understand eventually.”

As Tanzer tilted her head, she didn’t provide an answer.

Instead, she lightly clapped her hand against Subaru’s outstretched hand, then, like his comrades from the battalion, she participated in the “Spalca”, before sweetly grasping his hand with both of hers.

“Oddly enough, I have been indebted to you for quite a long while. Please, be healthy in your heart.”

“That long greeting could be phrased much shorter you know?”

“I won’t say that. Now go home.”

With Tanzer’s unyielding demeanor breaking their handhold, Subaru chuckled and affectionately patted her head.

He accepted that he couldn’t turn it away and the small mystery she left behind as gifts from her.

And――,

“U!”

Turning around, he saw Rem and Spica waiting in front of the dragon carriage.

Having already said too many lingering farewells, he thought once more to convey how he wanted to take them with him, but Spica’s embrace interrupted all of that.

Tightly hugging Spica as she jumped at him, he patted her head and lifted his gaze,

“Really, I’m counting on you, alright, Seshy?”

“Got it, boss!”

With Seshy responding with an assured voice but filled with worry, Subaru shared a final high-five with him.

Then, turning back around.

Taking in all the faces there, Subaru took a deep breath.

And――,

“We’ll meet again, everyone! —Victory!!”

““—Victory!!””

With both arms raised to the sky, Subaru exclaimed, his words echoed by the Pleiades Battalion.

Caught up in all the enthusiasm, those who didn’t know the battalion’s rituals were greatly astonished, while the battalion members laughed happily, tears streaming down, creating this ridiculous, noisy scene.

“――What an irreverent fool you are until the very end.”

So commented Emperor Volakia, witnessing the uproar and folly of their farewell scene.

△▼△▼△

“…I wonder if Spica will be okay? Can she manage without us?”

“Goodness, are you always going to be this worried?! There’s no need for concern! She understands reality far better than Subaru does!”

In the dragon carriage heading home, Subaru, propped on his chin and staring out the window, felt Beatrice pulling at his cheek as she scolded him.

As he grimaced at Beatrice’s reprimand, he couldn’t refute it.

In truth, she was right. Just as Beatrice had said, Spica was certainly the more pragmatic thinker.

Taking the weight of her past as a Sin Archbishop seriously, Spica had begun to act to cast away that infamy. Even if it was the sin of a “self” she had no memory of.

“You’ve treated her coldly on numerous occasions, so that child had chances to learn about her own position.”

“Oh, really? Despite the circumstances, it seems you’re still jaded regarding the girl who is so fiercely devoted to you, Bals.”

“Ugh!”

While the demon sisters across from him threw daggers with their words, it was a critique of Subaru’s footsteps that he couldn’t argue against. Their synchronized banter is heartwarming, but it was a sharp scene that could not be dismissed lightly.

“Personally, I’m quite relieved with her decision. If anything, having her to bring back requires managing the crisis of confining her in a box…”

“Doesn’t seem the details of your box and mine are a bit different in function and comfort?”

“Who knows? Regardless, in any case, we will be complicit with both the empire and Anastasia’s faction regarding this matter… I would say the outcome is quite promising.”

“Guess it’s tough to understand, but once the zombies are all cleaned up, she’ll come home from the empire, right? So, let’s wrap this up soon.”

As Otto discussed matters with a strict, realistic lens, Subaru found Garfiel’s attitude, which simply looked forward to Spica’s return, comforting.

Garfiel likely had some distaste for the Sin Archbishop――,

“I’ve similarly been in a position where I’ve gone toe-to-toe with the generals and could have easily killed them off. Once the ‘Double Dip of Vinueil’ happens, that wouldn’t exactly be a bad thing.”

“Your outlook is broad. In comparison…”

“What I’m saying is that labeling it all on you and Natsuki’s account is inappropriate.”

With Otto yelling that and raising his voice, Subaru and Garfiel clinked their fists together.

Hearing Otto’s vibrant voice after quite a while was a breath of fresh air. Finally liberated from the heavy burden of needing to save the Empire, Subaru felt he was regaining his former rhythm.

Still, that didn’t lessen his concern for his friends or his worries about being apart from Spica――,

“――We’re all together, you know.”

With her gaze narrowed, Emily placed her hand softly in Subaru’s.

When he turned to the gentle feeling of her grasp, her soft indigo eyes seemed to look at him with affection, tightening his chest.

No one had asked Subaru.

Whether he was alright or if he was feeling down, none of the standard questions.

He was indeed down, hurt, and couldn’t confidently say that he was alright. They understood without even needing to ask.

“Thank you, Emilia. —For coming to save me.”

“Mm.”

“Thank you, everyone. —For coming to save us.”

Subaru expressed his gratitude to Emilia and everyone else who came to assist them in the battle-torn Volakia Empire.

In response to Subaru’s gratitude, everyone responded in their own way――,

“――――”

There were certainly some things lost along the way.

Things that slipped through the cracks of his fingers, never to reach him.

That was her own way of living. Nothing would ever go exactly as Subaru or anyone else desired. Until the very end, no matter how far it went, truly.

Perhaps that’s why, though he had countless regrets――,

“—Right now, I can only recall your smiling face.”

He mourned for the girl who had burned such an arrogant and defiant figure into his memories.

That was Natsuki Subaru’s heartfelt gratitude mixed with a final farewell to the girl who had chosen to use her last moments talking with him.

And――,

“――――”

While blessed with his friends close by, Subaru turned his attention towards another dragon carriage headed to the kingdom—the surviving members of the former Priscilla’s faction.

As for what would become of Priscilla and the Barielle territory, surely Roswaal, who rode along with them, would be advising them, but Subaru’s focus lay on another matter.

That was――,

“—Al.”

In the scene of Priscilla’s final moments, Al had been the one holding her tightly until the very end.

While Subaru took on “Spalca” and Abel busied himself committed to remembering his sister’s will, many struggled to fill the void left behind by her absence, and he remained trapped alone in a room.

It wouldn’t have been strange to think he might just disappear altogether, having been so devastated by that sense of loss, now he was on the journey back to the kingdom.

The purpose Al had in returning to the kingdom was――,

“—Brother, I have a request. I overheard something. About the ‘Sage’s’ tower. I want to read the book inside that contains the records of the dead.”

“…Priscilla’s ‘Book of the Dead’.”

Holding that book could trample all over the ambition of the incredibly noble Priscilla as she passed on, which gives Subaru doubts.

Despite that, having been there during their farewell, and understanding Al’s despair, Subaru wanted to be of help.

Thus――,

“Can I ask for your power once again, Shaula?”

To journey once more to the tower at the end of that sea of sand was Subaru’s way of responding to Al, beyond “Return by Death”.

 

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