The Consequences Of Wrath: Part 4

The world had lost its colors. Since that fateful encounter with Puck, everything appeared in shades of gray. The trees, the sky, the people, everything faded into monochrome. It was as if the world's palette had been drained.

A civil war raging across the country had torn its people apart, dividing them into warring factions.

Since his last encounter with Puck, something had shifted within Subaru.

Something changed...

The confrontation had marked a turning point in his life, a catalyst for the darkness that now enveloped his heart.

Eight months had slipped away since that event. Eight months of relentless struggle and painful rebirths.

Subaru had taken to exploiting his ability, using it to gather information that he could then peddle for profit. How many times had he met his demise in the process? The count had become irrelevant after the 16,754th death. The agony of each end had dulled into a monotonous blur.

Guilds, organizations, merchants, mercenaries—any group willing to pay, Subaru would serve up intel, often throwing himself into perilous situations that inevitably led to his death.

Now, he resided within the opulent confines of a sprawling mansion, purchased with the blood money earned from his treacherous trade. The mansion was a fortress, its grandeur a stark contrast to the turmoil within Subaru's soul. He had even amassed a mercenary retinue to further his schemes, their loyalty bought with coin and fear.

"I will..."

And yeah...

"I will make you all pay.." 

He often mutters that during his sleep.

Subaru's voice, haunted by determination and bitterness. Such were the murmurs that filled the silence of his slumber, bearing testament to the festering resentment simmering within him. Unbeknownst to Subaru, Tanaka bore witness to it all, forced to silently observe.

During the period when he moved to live on his own and worked part-time jobs, doubt had often clouded his thoughts. But if back then there were only uncertainties, now his existence had truly become meaningless.

One month after he left the capital, he had a mental breakdown, it was inevitable since he was prisoner who was being tortured for over ten years. He lost his mind as he was killed and killed over and over again, due to Subaru engaging in deadly situations for his convenience. The memories of those countless deaths, the screams of agony, the sight of his own blood spilling time and again—it all culminated in a fractured psyche.

He just stopped caring. No matter how desperate he was, no matter how much he suffered, no one answered. His cries for help, his pleas for mercy—ignored by the world. And so, he got tired and accepted his fate.

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"I'm here to report sir."

Over the past eight months, Subaru had brokered deals and alliances with various individuals, weaving a tangled web of connections amidst the chaos of war. But now, he had chosen a side, a decision that would shape the course of his fate and the fate of the nation.

The mercenary standing before him extended a letter.

"Is it from Abel?" Subaru inquired, his voice a low rumble.

"Yes, sir," came the reply.

Abel, or as Subaru had come to know him, Vincent Vollachia, the Seventy-Seventh Emperor of the Sacred Vollachia Empire. Rumors had swirled throughout the land of Vincent's demise, sparking the flames of war that now engulfed the nation. Yet amidst the chaos and uncertainty, Subaru had unearthed the truth of his identity.

Subaru opened the envelope and started reading.

-----------------------

Dear Renegade,

I trust this message finds you well. I am writing to express my appreciation for your invaluable assistance in hastening the resolution of our conflict. Thanks to your efforts, the end of this conflict looms closer than anticipated. Regarding the inconveniences you face, rest assured, I will honor our agreement.

Regards,

Abel

-----------------------

"Any new information about the Bowel Hunter?" Subaru's voice cut through the air, his tone tinged with urgency and determination.

"No, sir," the reply came swiftly from a middle-aged man who was old enough to be his father. "We've scoured the borders of Lugunica and Kararagi as you ordered, but there's been no sign of her."

"Good," Subaru nodded, his gaze fixed on the departing figure of the bearded man. "And remember, don't take any actions that are uncalled for. Report immediately through Metia if you suspect any sighting."

"As you command, sir," the man affirmed before exiting the room.

Despite the evident age gap, everyone showed Subaru respect. No, it was more like fear; he imprinted fear in everyone who got acquainted with him.

"Elsa should be in the Kararagi states now," Subaru murmured to himself once the room fell silent.

The main purpose of Subaru's venture into the Vollachian Empire was to capitalize on the goldmine of information offered by the ongoing civil war. However, lurking beneath this motive was a deeper, more personal agenda—avoiding Elsa.

Elsa Granhiert... 

—the assassin hired by Roswaal—had haunted Subaru through countless loops, claiming his life repeatedly in the capital. Despite his efforts to evade her, Elsa's relentless pursuit had led to a cycle of death and torment for Subaru and his associates. It was a harsh lesson that had taught Subaru the futility of relying on mere mercenaries to confront such a monster.

Not only that, but she captured one of his man and tortured him into revealing Subaru's identity and location, leading them to get killed by her again and again until they finally got away.

Overall, Subaru learned his lesson and understood one fact. 

The realization had dawned upon him that to combat monsters like Elsa and Roswaal, he needed to wield comparable power. Hence, his alliance with Vincent Vollachia and his coveted Nine Divine Generals.

The Nine Divine Generals..

A group of elite soldiers within the Vollachian military, consisting of the strongest or most accomplished members in the army, who enjoyed considerable influence within the country.

Although some generals went rogue, the majority of them were still loyal to the emperor. And thus, Subaru made the decision to strike a deal with Abel. 

"You want information, do you want to save this country? I will guarantee you that. Only if you promise that you lend me one of your top divine generals.."

That was the deal Subaru made with Vincent, and his contributions were no joke. He saved thousands and equally killed thousands of Vincent's enemies, turning the tides of this war completely, he even prevented a the great disaster, one of the four major disasters, taking place in the Sacred Vollachia Empire. It was an apocalyptic predicted by many so called star gazers, individuals that are capable of seeing certain events of the future.

The great disaster didn't occur in this reality but they witnessed it all before, It is an armed conflict where the deceased citizens of Vollachia were brought back from the dead as undead by a pink haired Elf. It took countless attempts but Subaru managed to avoid that event.

"He better hand me one of his top three generals." 

Though the path ahead was fraught with peril, Subaru remained undeterred. No matter what, he needed power to kill Elsa and take revenge on Roswaal.

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The letter from Abel arrived precisely twenty-four hours before the encounter that would alter Subaru's fate.

A youthful man of around twenty years exuded an air of distinction that set him apart from the crowd. His eyes, though colorless to Subaru's vision, still held a striking glint, suffused with a playful yet enigmatic quality. They seemed to pierce through Subaru's facade, windows to a soul shrouded in mystery. His hair, long and tied haphazardly into a messy ponytail, appeared in shades of gray to Subaru, yet he imagined it was as striking as the man himself.

"I didn't know Abel was so generous. To think he would send me the number one ranked divine general..." Subaru's words hung in the air, laden with a mixture of awe and skepticism.

Cecilus's lips curled into a smirk, his demeanor oozing with amusement. "That's a low price compared to saving an entire empire. Don't you think so, Purge King?" His voice dripped with subtle sarcasm, a playful challenge to Subaru's perception of the situation.

A palpable tension enveloped the room as Subaru and Cecilus engaged in a silent duel of wills. Each assessed the other with keen scrutiny, their gazes locked in a silent exchange of intent.

Breaking the uneasy silence, Subaru's voice rang out with a hint of accusation. "So Vincent betrayed me after all."

"That's a surprise, to think you know his true identity. But what makes you say that?"

"It's obvious by just looking into your eyes, you came here to kill me.."

The revelation sent ripples of agitation through the mercenaries gathered in the room. Some instinctively reached for their weapons, their unease palpable in the charged atmosphere.

"Don't draw your weapons," Subaru commanded, his tone firm and authoritative. "There's no way for you to even scratch him. Just leave this room right now."

Reluctantly, the mercenaries complied, their movements hesitant as they filed out of the chamber, casting wary glances back at Cecilus.

As the last of the mercenaries departed, Cecilus remained, his expression inscrutable. "You are truly full of surprises," he remarked, his tone tinged with genuine intrigue. "But you still got it wrong."

"What exactly am I getting wrong? I never mistake those eyes, those are the eyes of someone dead set on killing." Subaru demanded, the doubt evident in the furrow of his brow.

"The emperor did indeed ask me to come and serve you," Cecilus explained. "But I'm not just going to serve someone because the emperor said so. You have to at least provide something that deserves my services. You just need to answer a question, If you don't, then I will cut you down."

Subaru bristled at the audacity of Cecilus's demands. "I already paid for that service by saving the empire," he retorted, his voice laced with defiance. "I'm not obliged to do anything else. You can go back to Vincent and tell him to send another divine general."

Cecilus's gaze narrowed, his resolve unyielding. "I can do that, but I won't," he replied coolly. "After all, it should be an easy task when you prevented the great disaster."

Subaru's mind raced as he considered his next move. "What is my dearest, most important wish?" Cecilus's question hung in the air like a challenge, demanding an answer that eluded Subaru's grasp.

Subaru faltered, his expression betraying uncertainty. "I don't know it," he confessed, resignation creeping into his voice. "You can go ahead and kill me. Preferably, make it quick."

"I didn't think you were the type of person to give up so easily," Cecilus remarked, a hint of disappointment coloring his tone. "Well, don't worry. I intended to make it painless to begin with."

'Painless huh.'

Subaru's thoughts churned with bitter irony at Cecilus's mention of a "painless" death. Death, he knew, was anything but painless—a brutal, terrifying ordeal that awaited all who dared to confront it. It was not a gentle release from suffering, but a relentless onslaught of agony and despair.

"Just one thing," Subaru interjected, "Can you tell me about that wish of yours before you kill me?"

Cecilus hesitated for a moment, considering Subaru's request. With a small smile, he shook his head. "I don't want to," he replied cryptically.

With that, Cecilus drew his sword with swift precision, the gleaming blade poised to strike. Darkness descended as Subaru's body and head separately fell to the ground in a pool of blood as darkness claimed him.

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"As you command, si..."

Subaru's senses reeled as he jolted back into consciousness, the disorienting sensation of returning by death washing over him like a tidal wave. Dizziness clouded his vision, and he struggled to regain his bearings amidst the swirling chaos of his mind.

"Are you okay Sir?"

The old man's concerned voice pierced through the haze of Subaru's disorientation, prompting him to refocus his attention. Blinking away the remnants of his confusion, Subaru forced himself to compose a semblance of composure.

"Huh?" Subaru's gaze flickered to the man who addressed him, a fleeting moment of uncertainty crossing his features. He glanced down at the letter clutched in his trembling hand, a tangible proof of the loop in which he found himself ensnared.

It appears to be that the check point from the previous loop was one day before Cecilus arrival.

As clarity slowly returned, Subaru offered a strained smile. "Yes, I'm fine," he managed to reply, though the words tasted like ash on his tongue.

Sensing the mercenary's lingering doubt, Subaru hurriedly waved off any further inquiry, eager to conceal the truth of his predicament. "You may go," he added dismissively, his tone brusque as he sought to expedite the man's departure. The weight of his hidden burden pressed heavily on his chest, each breath a reminder of his ceaseless struggle.

But as the mercenary turned to leave, a sudden impulse seized Subaru, halting the man in his tracks.

"Wait!"

The command echoed through the chamber, drawing the mercenary's attention back to Subaru with a mix of surprise and curiosity.

"Is there something else, sir?" the mercenary inquired, his confusion palpable.

Subaru squared his shoulders, steeling himself for the task ahead. "I want you to inform your comrades," he began, his voice steady despite the tumult of emotions raging within him. "Tell them to drop all current missions and focus their efforts on gathering information."

The mercenary's brow furrowed in bewilderment, clearly taken aback by Subaru's abrupt request.

"D-Drop everything?" he echoed, his tone tinged with disbelief.

"Yes," Subaru affirmed, his voice resolute. "I need information on Cecilus Segmunt—the Lightning Sword. His past, his achievements, and most importantly, his goals. I need to know if there's something he desires above all else."

The mercenary hesitated, clearly unsure how to proceed. But Subaru's urgency brooked no delay, and with a crisp salute, the mercenary acknowledged his orders and swiftly exited the room.

Alone once more, Subaru's thoughts raced as he considered the gravity of his situation. The return by death had become a harrowing cycle, each loop stripping away a piece of his humanity. Yet within the repetitive torment lay the glimmer of an opportunity—a chance to wield the power he so desperately sought.

He quickly covered his mouth with his hand and knelt by his desk. At first glance, it seemed he might be about to throw up. But behind that hand, he was hiding a creepy smile.

"I finally found it," he murmured to himself, the words dripping with sinister intent. His voice echoed in the empty room.

Unfathomable power, an invincible strength. That's what he lacked. If such power were to back him up, nothing would stand in his way.

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"You wish is to defeat Reinhard in a duel," Subaru ventured, his tone tinged with uncertainty as he broached the subject with Cecilus.

Although it seems like he rarely takes his opponents seriously, he turned out to be overly passionate about fighting, as he was elated seeing how skilled Julius Juukulius was when he attacked him. Following his initial loss against the Sword Saint Reinhard van Astraea, Cecilus went to great lengths in order to illegally trespass the closed borders with the Empire and fulfill his desire to fight the famed Sword Saint once more in order to finally defeat him and prove his superiority. Though, despite his arrogance and childishness, following his duel with Reinhard, he admitted that Reinhard was an incredibly tough opponent and rather than sulking in his failure, decided to strive and do his best to surpass the Sword Saint.

But Cecilus's response was anything but predictable. With a dismissive wave of his hand, he brushed off Subaru's assumption with a casual remark.

"Boo-poo, wrong answer. Although, I still wanna have a re-match with Reinhard-San," Cecilus quipped, his demeanor playful yet inscrutable.

The exchange left Subaru reeling, his mind grappling with the implications of Cecilus's words. Before he could process the full extent of their conversation, however, a sudden sensation seized him—a click, followed by a searing pain as his head was severed from his body.

"Are you okay, sir?" The concerned voice of the mercenary snapped Subaru back to reality, jolting him out of the loop that had ensnared him once more.

Subaru bit back a curse, frustration bubbling beneath the surface as he grappled with the disorienting effects of his return by death.

"Tch, again!" he muttered through gritted teeth, his anger simmering beneath a veneer of calm.

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Subaru takes a deep breath before speaking his guess. "Your wish is to bring glory to the Vollachia Empire," he suggests, his voice tinged with uncertainty as he awaits Cecilus's response.

Cecilus's eyes narrow slightly, a flicker of amusement dancing in their depths. "An interesting response," he muses, his tone contemplative yet enigmatic. "But I don't really care about the empire?"

'Huh?' Subaru was seriously flabbergasted, he doesn't care about the empire even after serving Vincent for more than a decade?

Before Subaru can formulate a response, Cecilus's hand moves with blinding speed, drawing his sword with lethal intent. In an instant, Subaru's world dissolves into agony as the blade cuts through his flesh, ending his life in a whirlwind of pain and despair.

And darkness claims him once again.

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Summoning his courage, Subaru offers his conjecture. "Your wish is to experience the thrill of combat," he suggests, his voice carrying a hint of uncertainty as he awaits Cecilus's response.

Cecilus's gaze lingers on Subaru for a moment, a faint smirk playing at the corners of his lips. "A perceptive guess," he remarks, his tone tinged with amusement. "But is there more to life than mere adrenaline?"

Before Subaru can formulate a response, Cecilus's hand moves with astonishing speed, seizing the hilt of his sword with deadly intent. In an instant, Subaru's reality shatters into searing pain as the blade slashes through his flesh, bringing an abrupt end to his existence amidst the chaos of battle.

And again, darkness envelops him.

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Subaru's frustration mounted with each repeated cycle. "At least give me time to find out your dearest wish," he implored, his voice tinged with desperation. The plea echoed in the stark, colorless room, filled with the weight of countless failed attempts.

One day, it was too short. If he can at least get a bit of time, he will get a step closer into figuring it out.

But Cecilus remained unmoved, his resolve unyielding. His eyes, like cold steel, reflected no mercy or understanding. "That won't work," he stated with finality, his hand already moving to draw his sword once more.

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"Fucking hell!" Subaru cursed, his anger boiling over. "I'll kill him! I'll definitely kill him!" The words echoed in the empty room, bouncing off the cold, colorless walls. Each syllable was heavy with rage, a raw expression of the fury that had been building inside him with every death, every failed attempt to unravel Cecilus's enigmatic wish.

Each cycle was a torturous loop, a relentless dance with death that drove him closer to the brink of madness. His body remembered the searing pain of the blade, the sickening sensation of his neck being torn apart.

But even amidst the chaos of his anger, "Not yet," he reminds himself, his voice a whisper amidst the tumult of his thoughts. "I still have to use him." With a grim determination, he suppresses his fury, channeling it into a cold resolve as he keeps going.

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The cycle repeated endlessly, the loop checkpoint proving too short to gather sufficient information. Subaru grew increasingly desperate with each reset, knowing he needed more time to uncover Cecilus's true wish.

"Go and collect all the information you could find about the ranked number 1 divine general, Cecilus Segment."

"I want you to find things like his goals, objectives. What are the thing that he's striving for, the report must be delivered before 24 hours from now."

Tanaka: 'He's at it again.'

On rare occasions, he starts thinking. He resigned to the bizarre reality of their situation. Tanaka had long given up on living. Ironically, he couldn't end his own life and hoped for the day Subaru would die without resetting time.

Even through he tries to shut off his brain, many times where Subaru gets stuck inside loops that get repeated for thousands of times, and it becomes impossible to ignore him.

"That's not it! It has to be something else! Something more specific!" Subaru's frustration echoes through the room, his voice tinged with desperation.

It wasn't power, it wasn't wealth, it wasn't fame...

All the answers the mercenaries came up were blunt and superficial, it was absolutely useless to count on them. After all, it was their life that hanged on the line after just twenty-four hours.

Therefore, he knew that the only way to get out of that situation was to take matters into his own hands.

Nevertheless, the loop checkpoint was too close, so he got stuck and repeated it thousands of times, until...

After thousands of loops, a new cycle began. A mercenary found himself in conversation with Cecilus. "The boss was expecting you to come," the mercenary said, his tone respectful but firm. "He had some important matters to attend to and has left for a week at most. He requested that we treat you as a guest and asked that you wait for him patiently."

Cecilus's expression remains impassive, but a flicker of annoyance passes through his eyes. He's not particularly fond of waiting, especially when he was looking forward to meet him.

"Alright," he said, sighing with resignation. "I was so excited to meet him, but it can't be helped."

The fact that the man said that Subaru was expecting him was a good enough reason for him to wait.

As the days pass, Cecilus finds himself growing increasingly restless. He's not accustomed to idleness, and the lack of activity within Subaru's mansion only serves to exacerbate his impatience.

To alleviate his boredom, Cecilus decided to explore the confines of the mansion and harass the servants.

Day 1:

Cecilus: "Hey, you there! Servant! I'm hungry. Bring me some cake."

Servant: Nervously nods "Of course, Lord Cecilus. Right away, sir."

Day 2:

Cecilus: "Is he here yet? When is he coming? Has a week passed yet? Hey, hey, tell me where is he? Heyyyyyyyyyyy!"

Servant: Nervously fidgets "I apologize, Lord Cecilus. We're doing our best to make you comfortable."

Day 3:

Cecilus: "Tell me, servant, do you know any good jokes?"

Servant: Surprised by the question "Um, well, I..."

Cecilus: "Oh, come now! Don't be shy. I'm really bored."

Servant: "I'm really sorry Cecilus-Sama."

While speaking as such, Cecilus with dissatisfaction puffed up his cheeks. It was not quite appropriate behavior for a man in his twenties, but considering the immaturity of his mind, it was an action that fit Cecilus greatly.

Finally, after three agonizing days, Subaru returns. Cecilus's eyes light up with anticipation as he catches sight of the familiar figure striding through the doorway. Despite his annoyance at being kept waiting, he can't help but feel a surge of excitement at the prospect of finally facing off against his enigmatic host.

"I see... It's a pleasant surprise, seeing that Vincent honored our agreement by sending the number one divine general," Subaru remarks with an indifferent look on his face.

"You are using His Majesty's true name! Haha! As I thought, you are really interesting!" Cecilus continued with his childish behavior, clearly delighted.

Removing his coat and turning around slowly, Subaru observed him. "But I don't think you are the type of person who would just follow the orders of someone he just met."

"That's the purge king for you, your deduction is always on point," Cecilus replied with a smirk.

"That's a shame, it would have been interesting to witness the birth of a new heavenly sword.."

Cecilus's smile faded and his eyes widened in shock.

"What is it? Is it something you wanted?"

"Want? It's the most important wish I've never spoken of to any living person. How did you know?" Cecilus's voice quivered with an emotion he rarely showed—vulnerability.

That was correct, even after using Return by Death tens of thousands of times, Subaru had never once managed to coax Cecilus into revealing his deepest desire. Yet, Subaru now stood before him, seemingly possessing that knowledge with an unsettling certainty.

"Well, you came here with the expectation of me being at least capable of knowing that, didn't you?" Subaru's words hung in the air, heavy with implication.

Cecilus's shock gave way to laughter, a hearty, almost childlike sound that filled the room. "Hahahahaha."

"The path to the heavenly sword, the first step towards it is by following me. Swing your sword on my behalf and become an actor who will perform for the world. With that, you will reach it," Subaru continued, his voice unwavering.

Like his father, Cecilus's sole goal is to achieve the Heavenly Sword, a title that is made for the strongest swordsman existing. Contrary to common belief, if it means achieving the Heavenly Sword, he would easily go against the word of Vincent.

Cecilus, understanding the gravity of Subaru's words, slowly knelt down. The act was deliberate and graceful, befitting a warrior of his stature. With reverence, he drew his sword and laid it before Subaru, the polished blade gleaming under the room's dim light. He bowed his head, his long, dark looking hair cascading around his face like a silken curtain.

"I, Cecilus Segment, pledge my sword to you," he declared, his voice resonating with a solemn resolve and unwavering loyalty. "From this day forth, I shall follow you."

Subaru didn't show any significant reaction, his face a mask of calm.

Then, as if a switch had been flipped, Cecilus's demeanor shifted. He looked up, his eyes sparkling with excitement. Rising to his feet with a sudden burst of energy, he grinned widely.

"So what should I call you? Purge King is a bit too much," he said, his tone now light and playful. He tapped his chin thoughtfully before his face lit up with an idea. "I got it! How about I call you 'boss'?"

Subaru responded with a detached, "Do as you like."

Suddenly, a voice interrupted their exchange. "Do ya think it's alright for me to come out now, Su-San?"

From the shadows emerged a figure, a wolf-human with long black fur clad in a disheveled black kimono with worn-down purple accents. His eyes gleamed with mischief and sharp intelligence, a predator surveying its territory.

Cecilus's eyes widened in astonishment. "The Eternal Playboy! What are you doing here?"

Subaru answered for him. "Halibel is my bodyguard. He was hiding in my shadows, ready to kill you if you tried anything funny."

Cecilus, unoffended, simply responded, "I see!"

"This means we will be working together from now on. Let's get along then, Halibel-San."

Halibel took a puff from his golden kiseru, his eyes gleaming with amusement. "I'm looking forward to working with you, Ce-San."

The stage was set. With Cecilus now pledged to his cause and Halibel by his side, now he was ready to face whatever came next, ready to fix the world, to make it right.

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After getting those transcendental existences to his side, the Admirer, Halibel, and the Blue Lightning, Cecilus Segmunt.

Of the Kararagi City-States, and of the Sacred Vollachian Empire.

Subaru started running wild, the first thing was finding Elsa and killing her. It was surprising to know that all this time, he only found out that she was a vampire and she had to be killed multiple times to make her death permanent. 

After that he kept hunting people that caused his death in the previous loops or even had an negative interaction with, the knights at the kingdom of Lugunica, nobles, merchants and even regular citizens. 

It didn't matter, what path they took in the current timeline. They were murderers, traitors, liars. With the help of Cecilus and Halibel, killing whoever he wished to kill before was as simple as breathing.

And he was there to witness it all.

Purge King: "Tails.."

One short word, a voice was heard saying.

The elder's view tilted, becoming even with the floor.

Even more so than when he was kneeling, the carpet had suddenly grown closer―― And that was the last he felt.

Towards the fall of the man's decapitated body, Halibel was gazing with narrowed eyes.

Purge King: "Oh, ueh… Kh."

Watching the sight of the bleeding corpse, the boy on the throne held his mouth firmly closed.

He had seen the moment of a person turning into a cadaver many times already, but as his temperament was sensitive, he showed no sign of getting used to it.

???: "Acting like that towards the dead, isn't it insulting after giving these orders? I wouldn't ask for you to become used to corpses, but maybe you should at least to aspire to avoid creating them, how about that?"

Purge King: "I'm not killing for enjoyment as well… I'm not. I'm unable to look straight at such a scene, but I'm present anyway. It's the least I can do…"

???: "That's being deceitful."

His employer holding a handkerchief in front of his mouth, fighting off nausea, his colleague's words held no absolution towards him.

Of course, there at the right side―― was Cecilus. That his employer did not show fury at this was evidence he knew his actions had the marks of deception.

While looking at the young boy whose face had grown as pale as the corpse's, Cecilus, with an offhand "Anyhow", continued to speak. His gaze was still directed at the corpse of that poor, fallen old man.

Cecilus: "I'm more so astonished at that contradiction of yours, boss. The conversation ended so peacefully, to give a sudden order to kill is quite surprising even for you."

While speaking as such, Cecilus with dissatisfaction puffed up his cheeks.

His human sort of beauty, and his regular behavior was what was allowing this conduct.

Anyway, to Cecilus's point, the boy contorted his cheeks,

Purge King: "And I did tell you, I didn't want to have him killed. Like I told him, I wanted to believe it. It didn't look like he was lying or anything, either."

Cecilus: "Then, why?"

Subaru: "Even if does not seem like they're lying, liars are gonna lie, after all."

The boy that knelt on the throne bit his lip as Cecilus gazed on at him with curiosity on his face.

On that horribly dry way of life, an unshakably strong will could be glimpsed.

Halibel and Cecilus both were unknowing of what had happened in his past.

However, in that person's past, a situation must have happened to make him adopt this belief.

Subaru: "Anyway, Halibel, what happened to the task I gave you? Did the great spirit give in?"

Halibel: "Well, I think he was angry and did threaten to kill me, but overall, I think he's aboard."

Subaru's gaze hardened with determination. "It's time to finally pay Roswaal a visit."

He muttered to himself, "I'm going to get back what is mine."

Now it was time for him to return, to the place where it all began.

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――Two years have passed since that day

――The day that, the mansion of Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers' collapsed with a whimper.

Cecilus Segment and Halibel stood at the forefront of the mansion, led by Subaru, who stood menacingly before them. The air around the mansion was thick with an unnatural chill, the once lush gardens now coated in a thin layer of frost. Icicles hung from the eaves like jagged teeth, the glass on the windows started to crack and a bitter wind whipped through the grounds, carrying with it the eerie silence of a place long abandoned.

Subaru's eyes narrowed as he observed the freezing conditions. "It seems Puck decided to switch teams," he muttered, the cold mist of his breath hanging in the air. This marked the beginning of the end for Roswaal's mansion.

Subaru turned to Cecilus, his voice firm and resolute. "Cecilus, you go take out Roswaal... And yeah, make sure you let him know who sent you."

Cecilus grinned, his childlike enthusiasm shining through. "Alright, boss. Should I tell him I was sent by the Purge King?"

"No," Subaru replied, his demeanor unchanged. "Tell him my other name as well—Natsuki Subaru."

In an instant, Cecilus vanished, his presence marked only by the open door of the mansion.

Subaru then addressed Halibel, his tone authoritative. "And Halibel... you are coming with me."

Together, Subaru and Halibel followed Cecilus's path, but at a slower, more deliberate pace. As they walked into the mansion, Subaru's eyes roamed the familiar surroundings, memories flooding back. He relived the moments he had once spent there as a butler, a period that now seemed like a grain of sand in the desert compared to the supposed two years he had spent trying to get back. In truth, he had lived almost as long as some entities like Puck and Beatrice, repeating days tens of thousands of times.

Thoughts swirled in Subaru's mind.

――What if Rem never died on that day 

――What if they got along and never had to run away

These speculations were meaningless.

Subaru then looked at his left and stared at the kitchen's door, he recalled how he was struggling to peel the potatoes and Ram was instructing him and Rem teasing and making fun of him.

'It was probably all fake anyway,' he thought bitterly.

Door Crossing connects its space to the interior of a single building, otherwise to the place Beatrice most recently knew. It can't connect over especially long ranges, however even if it's long range, if she has deep ties to a place, Door Crossing can connect to it. 

"But that only applies to closed doors," Subaru muttered to himself.

Following the plan in his mind, Subaru turned to Halibel. "Halibel, go open the other doors. I will be waiting for you here."

Halibel nodded, his eyes narrowing with understanding. Without another word, he took a deep drag from his golden kiseru, the ember glowing brightly before he exhaled a plume of smoke. The tendrils of smoke twisted and coiled around him, blending with the shadows of the dimly lit corridor.

In a seamless motion, Halibel's form seemed to dissolve into the darkness, his silhouette merging with the shadows.

Subaru stood still, his senses heightened as he waited.

Less than a minute later, Halibel reappeared, emerging from the shadows as effortlessly as he had entered them.

"It's done, boss," Halibel reported, his voice a low, reassuring rumble.

"Good job," Subaru responded, nodding appreciatively. "Now hide in my shadow and don't come out unless it's absolutely necessary."

"As ya say, boss."

With another fluid motion, Halibel seemed to fold into himself, his form blurring and then vanishing entirely as he slipped into Subaru's shadow.

Despite everything they had been through, Subaru felt a knot of nervousness tighten in his stomach. Doubts clouded his mind.

What if she was the same as everyone?

Such thoughts clouded his mind.

Taking a deep breath, he tried to recall and replicate the same attitude he had before he escaped. Fortunately all his worries vanished as soon as he opened that door. 

???: "――Yo, Beatrice."

She was there, brimming with colors.

Tanaka: "Beatrice..."

Unlike everyone else, despite the memory being so distant, she didn't change at all. They saw everyone and everything else in black and white but she was an exception, just like Ram.

Calling out to Beatrice from the other side of the open door, they waved their hand.

That voice and attitude, she remembered it. Because of this, Beatrice's body shivered with fear.

The face from her memories and the face now seen in front of her didn't seem to match up perfectly. While it was in concordance with the general parts of her memory, they were already almost like another person.

Beatrice: "You, why are you giving me that look, in fact?"

To that dark, dark gaze ahead of her, Beatrice shook her head.

Far from improving, it had changed in a way that drew even more revulsion.

That rare-to-find black hair and black eyes remained, yet the hair had lost its luster, while in those eyes that had lost their shine darkened emotions were dimly revealed.

Surrounding those eyes reminiscent of gloom were deep dark circles, thin and frail cheeks lay underneath, and what could be seen of the fingers displayed a corpse-like pallor.

With long dark clothes wrapping their body, exposure of the skin minimized―― among that united uniform of black, what stuck out was a bright orange scarf. Just that, and that alone, was quite strongly betraying their gloomy impression.

Some years had passed.

But despite that, too much had changed. How could a human become so different?

Beatrice: "You, your mood has seriously changed, I suppose."

Subaru: "Same goes for you, then. Is your growth spurt over? Normally, you'd become a little more mature after two years have passed."

In a blank voice, to Beatrice's words they replied with a joke.

Two years, was it? If that person said so, then certainly that would be the amount of time that had gone by.

Just two years, from Beatrice's perspective, was like the blink of an eye. To humans, especially to the one standing now in her sight, how meaningful would those years be, she wondered.

――Was that stretch of time so meaningful for that boy, who had been near death, to return for revenge like this?

"Do you remember, Beatrice? We ate snacks together here," Subaru said, referring to the second loop in the mansion where he sneaked some snacks and shared them with Beatrice.

Beatrice: "――That memory does not exist, in fact. Eating together with you never happened, I suppose."

At the words of that human, Beatrice crinkled her brows.

The two were facing each other in the dining room, on the first floor of the mansion. White cloth draped the table, and in the center seat was that person, asking Beatrice a mysterious question.

Subaru: "…Ah, that's right. You, yeah, you wouldn't know that. Yeah, that's my bad. That just now, it was my bad. It's always my bad."

Beatrice: "What happened… No, it's not something that needs to be heard now at this point, in fact."

For a single moment, in Beatrice's heart hesitation brushed past.

But, that girl in the blink of an eye commanded herself to seal away those unnecessary distractions. And then. Towards that troubling human, she pointed her small palm.

There, with her sense of pride as the Librarian who guarded the Forbidden Library―― Or rather, it was her fleeting sense of duty, a desire to martyr herself for her part, a part no one wished upon her.

Beatrice: "You might have a righteous right to wish for revenge, I suppose. Even so, Betty has, for Betty, a role to fulfill, in fact. For that…"

Subaru: "――――"

With strength, Beatrice focused on her own role, glaring at him to suppress any violence from that person.

Seeing this, his expression tensed slightly. Something, perhaps an attempt to endure some difficult feeling could be seen, and at the moment Beatrice set down her foot――

Subaru: "Come on now, Beatrice―― Wasn't there a Contract to protect me?"

――At that moment, in Beatrice was born a lethal hesitation.

Beatrice: "…Ah."

Contract, at that sound Beatrice's whole body was pierced with shock, and she grew stiff.

And that rigidness did not unravel itself, unchanging, regardless of what Beatrice's will was. Something of the mind was not the culprit. Physically, her movement had been blocked. That was――

???: "Forgive me. With this, you won't be able to move."

At Beatrice's side, having risen from the shadows, one person had manifested there.

Wearing a disheveled black kimono and biting on a gold-colored kiseru pipe with the sharp teeth that lined its mouth, there stood a beastman―― a tall man, with a wolfen visage.

He gazed downwards at her with slitted eyes, as Beatrice only came up to his waist. Finding no emotion in those small pupils, Beatrice's throat let out a squeak,

Beatrice: "That, is…"

Subaru: "A mysterious shinobi technique of binding shadows, something of the sort. Think of it as a secret art. No need for concern however, it shouldn't be active for very long… You are my benefactor, after all."

Rigid, her body's freedom taken away from her, Beatrice could do nothing but listen to that voice.

There was no trembling in the words he spoke, no mistakes in the memories he shared. Slowly rising from his seat, and drawing nearer to her side, that person's eyes were dark, but any signs of discomfort could not be found in them.

To get revenge, was that person's reason for finding this place, Beatrice had concluded. But the glint in that human's eyes could not be perceived by Beatrice as one of revenge.

In those black eyes filled with dim light, some feeling that was ripping at his chest could be found.

Subaru: "Back then, you let me run away, and now I'm still here. That's definitely something I wanted to tell you."

Beatrice: "If this is your method for that… You really are an aggravating man, I suppose… Definitely aggravating."

Subaru: "I'm sorry about that. But, I figured something out, Beatrice."

Interrupting Beatrice's jagged speech, he slowly shook his head. Those lips, drawn in the shape of a smile, silently looked down at Beatrice.

Subaru: "――That you and I, we're of the same kind, that is."

Beatrice: "――――"

The corners of his eyes sagged, and only now did his eyes return to how they had been before, to how the eyes of the boy had first been.

The boy had returned to how he had been during those few days at the mansion, before becoming this weird being.

Subaru: "At that time, I had no other path but to die, but you didn't give up on me, you saved me. Even now, how many times, how many times do the thoughts of that red-glowing sunset come to my mind."

Beatrice: "You…"

Subaru: "I'm still thankful for that, Beatrice… Why didn't you kill me, back then?"

Beatrice: "――Kh."

Were those words of gratitude, or of resentment?

Regardless, Beatrice had been blindsided by the words spoken by a face displaying both joy and sorrow.

So this was the work of her influence, the all-consuming despair in his heart, she accepted.

Beatrice: "…That is, the lowest confession."

Subaru: "I don't disagree."

At his words, Beatrice replied with empty feelings.

And then, in that thinly smiling boy's black eyes, Beatrice saw the truth―― the dark emotions within were so familiar to her, she realized.

It was a most foul lesion that would nestle in the hearts of many beings, eventually eroding all hope.

―――A disease called despair, within him, within herself, had been quietly nesting.

Subaru: "Halibel, a kunai."

Tanaka: 'As I thought..'

An entity that was silent throughout the whole invasion finally showed a reaction. At first he had a similar reaction to Subaru's when he saw Beatrice possessing colors.

He was relieved.

But as they kept looking at her eyes, they saw it.

Tanaka understood why Subaru said that he and Beatrice were the same kind.

She was miserable.

At that request, the beastman standing by Beatrice raised his eyebrows.

Silently, looking on at those two's exchange of questions and answers, the beastman now shook his kiseru up and down.

Halibel: "…Ya sure?"

Human: "A kunai."

Tanaka knew why and for what reason he's going to do what he's about to do.

And to some extent, he understood why Subaru killed most of those people. 

Even through it wasn't right, even if it was plainly wrong.

He understood.

They committed crimes and evil acts against Subaru and other people in other loops.

But Beatrice? What did she ever do wrong? 

Again, he understood why he was approaching her with a kunai, but...

It was sad.

She deserved better than this but it was what she wanted.

Subaru: "You have been waiting for a long time, isn't that right Beatrice?"

Beatrice: "――――"

Subaru: "The same goes for me...."

At that moment, Beatrice's eyes opened wide, and filled with heavy tears.

Subaru: "But I think I'm going to wait a bit longer. Afterall, this is the least I can do for you."

In her blurry sight, that person gently overlooking her was there. As she blinked, tears began to flow down her cheeks. Shedding tears like that, to gaze at his appearance to the end, was what she wished.

He had stated that himself and herself were of the same kind.

Then, there was definitely a reason, there was a reason as to why he was here for her.

What she had done at that time, it had greatly affected his life unknowingly.

If that was how it had ended up being, then that was how it was going to return to her.

If he, now, for Beatrice, was doing this, to try and save her――

Beatrice: "Are you…"

Subaru: "――――"

With a numbly stiff tongue, shivering and shaking, Beatrice weaved speech.

Those words that came out like a sigh, when heard by the boy standing right in front of her eyes, caused him to cease moving.

He was giving her the time. For bitter words, or whatever it may be, he would accept everything, that kind of resolve could be seen.

To that determination, Beatrice――

Beatrice: "――Are you, Betty's That Person?"

That question's meaning, they did not understand.

That there would be an answer, Beatrice was not even hoping for that much.

It was just, if it was her end, if it was that which had come looking for her, she must try to hear it still.

Subaru: "Yeah."

――So, with that smiling, agreeing appearance, Beatrice's heart was crushed and broken.

There was dearness in that smile, kindness in those words, and a blessing in that raised blade.

Subaru: "I'm, That Person."

Once more, a large teardrop, flowing over that girl's reddened cheeks, fell.

*********************************************************************************************************

After the collapse, Subaru took Emilia and a maid named Frederica back with him to his hidden castle nestled deep in the Kararagi States. This fortress, a relic of old, stood isolated amidst dense forests and jagged mountains, shrouded in perpetual mist. And from there, Subaru continued his murderous rampage. His methods became more erratic and gruesome; he now decided the fates of his victims with the flip of a coin. Each toss determined whether a monochrome soul would meet its end, a twisted way to spare the dwindling number of colored individuals. If he continued unchecked, he feared he might have to eradicate the entire world.

Return by Death, his once-reliable lifeline, had fallen into disuse. Guarded by two of the strongest entities in existence, the need to rely on this power diminished. These protectors, whose very presence invoked awe and dread, ensured that Subaru's mortality was kept at bay.

Subaru frequently visited Emilia, confined in a stark white room within the castle. This room, devoid of any color or comfort, symbolized the purity and isolation of Emilia's existence. Here, she lived in a state of suspended animation. Despite her deep dissatisfaction with Subaru's violent path, she couldn't bring herself to abandon him. Her eyes, filled with a mixture of sorrow and silent reproach, haunted him during every visit.

Whenever the weight of his actions became unbearable, Subaru would retreat to this room, seeking solace in Emilia's presence. He would collapse onto the cold, hard floor, resting his weary head on her lap. Her fingers, though hesitant, would brush through his hair, a small gesture of comfort amidst the chaos. This tenuous connection, a fragile thread of humanity, persisted until the very end. The days turned into a blur of blood and coin tosses, of whispered apologies and unspoken forgiveness, until the final act of their tragic tale drew near.

____

_____

______

Fear, it was fear.

There was fear. There was nothing but fear. There was only fear. Certainly, only fear.

fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear fear.

???: "――With so much of the Witch's stench drifting from you."

He covered his ears.

He held his head.

Trying to run away from that voice, from that raised shriek, from that audible voice.

???: "――There's a limit to how much you can pretend to be unrelated to her!!"

As to cover his ears.

As to hold his head.

As to try to run away from that voice, from that raised shriek, from that audible voice, but unable to do such a deed.

???: "――Nee-sama is too kind." 

Subaru: "Do you think I would be aware of such a thing, AHHHHHH―― Hk!!"

Screaming loud enough to the point of vomiting blood, Subaru retreated backwards.

Emilia stood up, asking him what was going on. He could not hear it.

With sweet, sugary, tender words, she tried to nestle closer to Subaru. He could not hear them.

Her words, her voice, were not being heard. He did not want to hear them.

Don't be kind to me. Don't treat me gently.

For what reason, are you trying to snuggle up to me?

Such a thing should be impossible.

Just how many evil deeds do you think I've piled up?

Emilia shouldn't have forgiven them.

She really shouldn't.

Was I the one to change that?

Had Natsuki Subaru's foolishness, by having leaned on Emilia, by having relied on Emilia to sleep at night and get through everything, snot pathetically running from his nose, Subaru leaning, his pathetic nose running, on that pajama-wearing Emilia's nights having relied on to overcome, been what had changed Emilia?

Did Emilia change as well?

Subaru: "It, would've been fine if you hated me! It would've been fine if you shunned me!"

Emilia: "――――"

Emilia, was fading to gray.

Color faded from Emilia, washing away, plunged into the world of monochrome.

It was a lie, it had been a lie. That deception had caused Subaru's world to fade in tonality.

The silver, the amethyst that composed Emilia, the colors that made up the beautiful Emilia Subaru believed in disappeared from her, her deception causing her to be tainted by black and white.

That reality, he could not accept. Emilia was noble, and that would never change.

Even if she hated them, she could not keep someone who clung on to her away.

Because he had believed that her kindness was the materialization of her inner heart, and that she would never forgive Subaru, Subaru had been able to indulge himself in Emilia.

But, comprehending that Emilia too, changed――

Subaru: "Don't, act kindly towards me…!"

Subaru: "No matter what, you'll come to hate something about me, won't you? You'll come to doubt me, won't you? Because I'm an obstacle, you'll think of murdering me, of hating me, of cursing me, and you'll come to betray me!"

Subaru: "Then, please keep hating me, like it was at the start! If you'd just stayed like that, without changing, it would've been fine! Just do as you did, and hate me. Just do as you did, and hate me …!"

Suddenly welling up, was anger.

He was proceeding to drown in anger, at anything and everything in the world.

In trying to save his drowning self, he had struggled desperately as to try and take repeated breaths. But having finally at this juncture, even Emilia had betrayed Subaru.

――Something that changed would one day come to betray him, and because of that, it was similar to having been betrayed already.

Subaru: "Please don't you pretend to be in love with me when you'll just betray me one day!!"

Emilia: "――Hk."

Shakily, Subaru thrusted away the monochrome Emilia extending a hand towards him.

Pushed back with resolve, Emilia fell over in the hallway, having lost her support. For a moment, hesitation brushed against his chest, but Subaru fully painted it over with fear.

Even Emilia was no longer tranquil.

That this would come to pass someday, it was the very last possibility he had considered―― He had not been thinking that she would be in such need of him.

――That Emilia could, someday, forgive Subaru.

That such a day would never come had been his hope, and that was fine, but sure enough, it had surely materialized.

Therefore, Subaru, left in this world of only black and white, could only rely on his last resort, the only thing in his possession.

Emilia: "――!!"

That fallen Emilia, was shrieking something.

Leaving it behind his back, Subaru began sprinting.

He could not feel any pain in his side. He no longer cared about such a thing.

There was merely a wish to end everything. Subaru's world of color was disappearing entirely.

What remained was, just that.

The last straw on to which the drowning Natsuki Subaru clung onto, was merely――

――An existence with hatred that would never change, which would not forgive Subaru.

Emilia: "――!!"

That half-mad Emilia's voice did not reach that half-mad Subaru.

The collapse of that den of wickedness, Pandemonium, much like the collapse of its master's mind, advanced at increasing speed.

Within that world crumbling, that world devoid of color, Subaru had finally arrived.

Subaru: "――――"

He arrived at Natsuki Subaru's office, still whole.

Firm protections, like those that had been used for Emilia's private quarters, had been applied to it―― Because, in this room, there was something which absolutely should never be damaged there, much like Emilia.

He had kept Emilia away out of a wish for harm not to befall her, but this was the opposite.

That which had been set up at the place closest to himself, was what Subaru opened up.

The door concealed behind the bookshelf, was truly a door that no one, with the exception of Subaru, would be able to open.

Without haste, Subaru opened it.

On the other side of the open door, the sound of chains, the sound of chains linked to the wall, reverberated.

And, while playing that sound of chains, pink-colored eyes gazed at Subaru, and spoke.

???: "――Finally, did you come wanting to die, Barusu?"

――Solely because of her hatred, the girl that desired to murder his own self held a minute smile, with the color of blood.

*********************************************************************************************************

Tanaka slowly opened his eyes, the harsh light piercing through his lids, forcing him to squint.

"You are finally awake."

Voices echoed around him, a chorus of concern and relief. He blinked, trying to focus on the faces that swam into view. Everyone was gathered around, their expressions a mix of worry and anticipation, as if they had woken him from the deepest, darkest nightmare.

'Where am I?' he thought, his mind a foggy haze. 'How many years have passed?'

His body felt numb, a lifeless weight against the bed. Relief and joy—concepts that once held meaning—now seemed alien to him. He had been a prisoner, locked away for a span far exceeding a normal human lifespan, forced to endure a hellish existence filled with unending horror.

His eyes, once vibrant, were now hollow and vacant, devoid of any spark of life. It was as if the world had ended for him; there was nothing left. Tanaka's eyes twitched slightly, his vision glitching as the color of the world flickered back and forth from vivid to monochrome. Each shift in color felt like a stab to his psyche, a reminder of the torment he had endured.

He turned his gaze towards Beatrice, her figure a blur at first, then slowly coming into focus. His voice, barely more than a whisper, escaped his lips, "You are alive?"

Beatrice, her expression carried a hint of annoyance, quipped, "Of course Betty is alive! What kind of question is that...?" Her tone was light, but it carried an undercurrent of worry. However, she stopped abruptly upon noticing the look on his face. He was an empty shell of a man.

His eyes, deep pools of nothingness, stared back at her. His expression was vacant, his soul seemingly drained. He had lost his will to live.

After a few moments, he tried to gather his thoughts, pulling himself back from the abyss. He looked around, taking in the concerned faces of his companions. Each pair of eyes bore into him, full of worry and unspoken questions. He then turned his attention to Subaru, his voice a weak croak, "How many days has it been since we came here?"

He then looked towards Subaru and asked, "How many days has it been since we came here?"

Subaru, his face etched with concern, responded, "This is the third day."

"The third day," Tanaka repeated, his tone flat and dry. So all those years of constant torture, only amounted to a couple of hours.

Emilia stepped forward, her voice gentle and soothing, "Tanaka, if you are unwell, please say so."

"Yeah, I'm unwell," Tanaka admitted, his tone detached. "I was sick for the past few days, and I think I pushed myself a bit too much."

Anyone could tell that his current state was far beyond mere fatigue or illness. Something was clearly, deeply wrong, but no one could put it into words. There was a stark difference between his state before and after his collapse, which had lasted only a couple of hours, yet seemed to have drained his soul.

"I don't think I can go back to work now in my current state. Can I take the rest of the day off, Roswaal? I'm really tired."

Roswaal, with his exaggerated concern and theatrical mannerisms, replied, "Of couuuuuurse, Tanaka-kun! The faaaaaaaaact that you even think I would make you work in thaaaaaaaat state breaks my heaaaaaaaaaaaart..."

Tanaka, expressionless and unamused, cut him off, "Thank you."

With that, Tanaka lay back on the bed, turning to his side to show his back to everyone present. The gesture was one of finality, a silent plea to be left alone.

Roswaal clapped his hands, making a grandiose statement, "How coooooooold! Anyway, everyone, let's let him reeeeeeeeeeeeeeeeest and let's all reeeeturn to our duties."

One by one, they filed out of the room. Emilia lingered for a moment, her reluctance clear in her eyes. She was disappointed to leave without being able to help Tanaka. Subaru was also very concerned as he thought that he was pushing himself too much, Ram was confused, trying to understand what had rendered Tanaka to such a state, and Rem was feeling a sense of guilt thinking that she might have something to do with it. 

Everyone left the room except for one individual. Beatrice stood there, her small frame casting a long shadow in the dim light. Her expression was troubled, her eyes scanning Tanaka's form. Something was deeply wrong, and it unsettled her to her core.

"Oya, Beatrice?" Roswaal inquired, his tone teasing yet curious.

"Hmph, shut up, you clown. I was about to leave, in fact," Beatrice snapped, her voice sharp but laced with concern.

Roswaal smiled back at her and followed her out, leaving Tanaka finally alone. The silence in the room was heavy, oppressive. Tanaka lay there, his back to the door, his mind a whirl of fragmented thoughts and memories.

*********************************************************************************************************

Everyone filed out of the room, leaving Tanaka enveloped in an eerie silence broken only by the sound of his ragged breaths. The sudden collapse and subsequent awakening had left him disoriented, but amidst the confusion, a voice pierced through the haze like a beacon in the darkness.

But Tanaka wanted everyone to leave so he can meet with someone, he was finally going to find some answers.

As soon as he woke up, he heard a voice. 

[???]: "We will talk when everyone leaves."

The voice echoed in the room, clear and unmistakable, yet no one else seemed to acknowledge its presence. Tanaka's heart raced with a mixture of fear and anticipation. Did he finally loose it? Or was there truly someone else there with him?

He requested solitude not out of desire, but out of necessity. The prospect of facing whatever awaited him alone was daunting, but the alternative, this could be his only chance to find some answers.

That was the main reason he asked everyone to leave him alone. In reality, he didn't want them to leave.

He was scared.

Scared of returning to that hell.

Tanaka trembled, his body betraying the calm facade of his expressionless face. He attempted to leave the bed, but his legs, weakened from disuse, gave way beneath him. He stumbled and fell to the ground, the impact jarring his bones and sending a wave of pain through his body. It felt like centuries since he had last walked on his own.

His hands trembled as he reached for the latch, fingers fumbling with the mechanism until finally, with a creak, the window swung open, bathing the room in a cold, moonlit glow. Tanaka stood there for what felt like an eternity, his gaze fixed on the empty expanse beyond, waiting for something, anything, to happen.

But minutes passed, and still, nothing changed. 

"It seems that I got it all wrong."

Disappointment washed over him like a cold wave crashing against the shore, mingling with the confusion and fear that already gripped his heart. Had he imagined the voice? Was he now schizophrenic?

Then, just as he began to doubt himself, small particles of light began to coalesce in the air, dancing like fireflies in the night. It was a sight he hadn't seen in days, the lesser spirits emerging from their invisible realm. But this time was different. Instead of the usual blue beams of light, the particles formed a body, glowing with an ethereal white light that seemed to shine through the space.

[????]: "Sorry for keeping you waiting."

Tanaka's tired eyes widened in surprise, his mind racing with questions. Unlike other spirits, this voice seemed to belong to a person.

"Who are you?"

[???]: "I'm sorry, but I can't tell you yet. There are... complications."

The cryptic response only fueled Tanaka's curiosity further, but before he could press for answers, the spirit changed the subject, its voice carrying a sense of urgency and importance.

[???]: "We have more pressing matters to discuss."

With a sinking feeling in his stomach, Tanaka knew what was coming next.

"You mean the dreams that I was having?" he asked, his voice barely above a whisper.

[???]: "Yes, those are actually..."

"Visions of the future... Is that right?"

[???]:"Yes..."

He suspected that to be the case seeing how the events connected to one another, he had seen the consequences of his actions, the paths that lay ahead, the tragedies and the hell that awaited if he didn't intervene.

"Aren't you angry?" the spirit asked, its voice tinged with a sorrowful curiosity.

He should have been. He had been dragged into experiencing those visions without a break, without explanation, struggling without knowing the reasons for his struggle.

"I think I'm supposed to be, but honestly, I don't have the capacity for anger," Tanaka responded coldly.

In his exhausted state, he didn't want to blame anyone, or rather he couldn't...

The spirit's voice trembled, "I'm sorry..."

The spirit's appearance was merely a ball of light; it didn't have a face, and Tanaka couldn't determine what kind of expression it was making. But the cracking and the tremble in its voice, as if it were crying, sounded sincere.

[???]: "I'm really sorry..."

It seemed as if it didn't desire for him to go through that hell.

"Well, that doesn't change what I have to do regardless," Tanaka stated, his voice firm and resolute.

There was a brief pause, as if the spirit were gathering itself. "What are you planning to do?" it finally asked.

"I will save them," he declared, with a newfound determination. No matter what, he wouldn't allow that tragic future to occur. "I won't let anyone die."