Archive of Our Own

Chapter Text

He had blinked and now he was in a weird place, it was a big black room, dimly illuminated but enough to see some rows of red chairs, each row a bit higher than the last one.

He looked at the other side, there was a big black rectangle, it was different from the black walls the room had, that much he could tell, and he felt it was important.

Just before he had arrived at the weird-looking room, he had been walking towards a room where a black-haired kid was resting after a really good battle.

Blue-haired kid: “A good battle indeed! I knew Basu was able to make it, not like I doubted him to begin with!”

What the blue-haired kid had seen was an amazing fight, he had seen how a kid had managed to save three grown men from dying.

Blue-haired kid: “Yes, yes, I also took part in this so I was also part of the show! If I hadn’t woken up that girl then maybe someone would’ve died.”

He said, boasting about his actions as if it had been the most important part of the fight, actually, it had been an important moment.

The moment he was boasting so much about was when he had decided to go wake up the deer girl Basu had arrived with. Thanks to her both the black-haired kid and those three men had survived, but if he had to say who was the star then it would be who he was calling Basu.

Blue-haired kid: “I hope Basu wakes up soon so―”

It was at that moment when he had blinked and had appeared in the weird black room.

Blue-haired kid: “I guess seeing Basu is going to be put on hold for now. Now it’s time for me, the leading actor, to have some fun with all these people I don’t know!”

He said as he now looked at the people he had been ignoring all this time, he was not alone inside the big black room.

—

Tanza had just bowed her head and in the process she had also closed her eyes, so when she looked up she was shocked and a bit scared.

The last time something like this had happened was back at Chaosflame, not at the same scale of it but at the same level of confusion. She was also tired, they had just defeated the Great Disaster and stress was piling up.

She looked around, it looked like a room, it had some seats and they were all positioned to look at a big black rectangle, that was what caught most of her attention.

The other thing that also caught her attention was the people that were in the room, some she knew and some she didn’t. They all looked as confused as her, some shocked and some others weirdly relaxed.

She then felt a hand being placed on her shoulder.

It was a blue-haired kid.

Tanza: “Cecilus-sama…?”

Cecilus: “Sama? Hmm, I do like that, yes! If you know my name then I guess Basu has woken up, right? So tell me, your name is Tanza right?

Tanza: “Uhm, yes, I’m Tanza.”

Tanza was confused, why did it sound as if he didn’t know her? It was getting more and more weird by every second that passed until Cecilus broke the silence.

Cecilus: “I see, I see, seems like something is bothering you right? You can tell me!”

Cecilus had a big smile as he was reassuring Tanza, he had noticed she seemed to be thinking about something important so he decided to help her.

Tanza: “Cecilus-sama, you know who I am, right?”

Cecilus looked at her, he stared for a while until a grin appeared on his face.

Cecilus: “I see. Seems like the audience will be getting an even better show! Now, to answer your question, yes! I do know you, you are the girl that arrived with Basu to Ginunhive and the one who just saved Basu and those three men from dying in Sparka!”

As those last words came out of Cecilus’s mouth, Tanza tensed up. She knew Cecilus could be weird and could say strange things, but there was a certain word in the sentence he had said that didn’t feel right to Tanza.

Cecilus had called Schwartz-sama Basu instead of Boss.

Tanza: “Cecilus-sama…, what are you talking about? What do you mean when you say that I just saved Schwartz-sama? We just won against the Great Disaster…”

Cecilus: “Oh well! Seems like I just got the information I needed to be sure about something.”

Cecilus could see how startled Tanza was, that had been half the information he needed to confirm his crazy theory, but what came out of her mouth made it all clear.

Cecilus: “Well, Tanza-san, seems like you come from a near future I haven’t experienced yet! And that means this will be the greatest show someone’s ever seen!”

—

Vincent had been occupied all night, the Great Disaster’s finale didn’t mean everything would be ok, no. It meant that the next challenge had begun, to fix what had been damaged in the battle that could’ve destroyed all the Empire.

But he had blinked and now he found himself somewhere, with people he recognised and people he didn’t.

He started to analyze the situation.

Vincent: “Natsuki Subaru’s allies, the O’Connel siblings are still sleeping and those two.”

He glanced at those he didn’t know, but he pieced everything together quickly.

Vincent: “Those must be the other candidates for the throne of the Kingdom of Lugunica. But that woman and man… Could they be related to Natsuki Subaru?”

Vincent was looking at those two, they seemed out of place, for some reason he couldn’t tell why he thought like that.

Yet, those were his thoughts.

Looking closely he started to confirm his suspicions, the man had the same hair style and hair color as the one who helped against the Great Disaster and the woman had the same scary-looking eyes as the one who had punched him.

Without a doubt, those were Natsuki Subaru’s parents.

After he had deduced who all those people were, he looked up. They were in a room, a room with some rows of seats, clearly more than enough for the amount of people present in the room.

There was also a peculiar black rectangle, it felt important.

Vincent: “Seems like we were transported to this place and that rectangle must be some type of metia…”

He was a bit shocked, who could have transported them to such a place and what was the meaning for it.

Whoever or whatever it was wanted them for something.

Vincent: "Now, what will that answer be?"

He mumbled as he looked in the direction of a confused boy with a woman clinging to him.

—

She was looking at the prisoner they had captured, the Sin Archbishop representing Wrath, Sirius Romanée-Conti.

Felt was looking at her with anger and spite, she detested the creature that was wrapped in chains. But then, after she blinked, there she was, in a place she didn't recognise.

What caught her eye the most was the people she was with, all people she knew apart from a small group she didn't and two others who looked like someone she knew..

On an instant, Felt ran towards Reinhard as it was the only good choice for the situation they were in.

Reinhard was on his way to talk to Subaru and the others on what to do about Lust and Gluttony's victims when he noticed he was in a room. He could tell it was a room, but didn't let his guard down.

One quick glance around and he noticed those he knew and those he didn’t, which were only five people.

Then he heard some footsteps behind him and as he turned around he saw it was Felt.

Felt: “Reinhard! Good, you are here, where are we?”

Reinhard: “Lady Felt, I’m glad to see you are ok. And I’m sorry but I do not know where we are. And on top of that, it seems I’ve lost both my weapon and my Divine Protections.”

As Reinhard finished the sentence, Felt was shocked. How could Reinhard, the strongest being in the world, lose something as important as those two things.

Felt: “What…”

Reinhard: “I’m sorry, Lady Felt. I―”

Felt: “Don’t apologize! We might be in trouble but if we are not dead yet then whatever brought us here doesn’t intend to hurt us. Plus, we get to be a bit happy, we were able to capture a Sin Archbishop! And one was defeated by you and Big Bro, so don’t say you are sorry.”

Felt wanted to punch him, but didn’t as she was feeling a bit nervous. To think Reinhard could lose something like his Divine Protections and his sword was something no one could ever imagine.

Still, she reminded him to cheer up as they got great results in the battle against the Witch Cult.

A gentle smile appeared on Reinhard's face.

Reinhard: “As you wish Lady Felt.”

Felt: “Ugh, whatever!”

She was feeling embarrassed, but at least her knight understood her.

Felt: “Anyways, we should go see if everyone else is ok, then we try getting out of here, ok?”

Reinhard: “I understand.”

Reinhard nodded to Felt’s request and they began to walk towards the people from Lugunica, but they were stopped by a man and a woman.

Scary-looking eye woman: “Excuse me, do you know how we got here?”

Black-haired man: “Or are you as confused as us?”

—

Anastasia had been talking with Emilia for some time now, she was thinking about the promise the two of them made.

They were talking about the great battle that had ended, but as soon as she blinked she found herself in a strange place.

It was a room, that much she could tell, and it had some seats and a big black rectangle, it looked important.

Looking around she could see people she recognised, she knew all of them but there were three who she didn’t know. A man and two women.

Eridna: “Ana, that’s Shaula. The other two I don’t know.”

Anastasia wasn’t able to properly meet the supposed Sage, but she had been told about her.

Mostly that she wasn’t the real Sage, only his apprentice, she was also told how she would call Subaru her master.

As for the other two, they were far away from where Anastasia was standing so she couldn’t see quite well how their faces looked.

All she could see were their weird clothes and how desperate they were as they frantically looked around.

Anastasia: “I see, quite interesting. But even more interesting is this place, I’ve never seen anything like this.”

Anastasia’s greed was big, so being somewhere she had never seen made her feel excited. But there was also a subtle nervousness hidden in her thoughts.

Anastasia: “Julius, tell me, what do you think about this peculiar place we’ve been placed into?”

There was a man next to her, a man that wore clothes that looked like a uniform and had a scar under his left eye, a scar earned in a fight where he ultimately lost.

Julius had been helping the people of Vollachia, he blinked and then he appeared inside the room.

As Anastasia, he analyzed the room and its people and just as her, he didn’t recognise those two people.

Julius: “Well My Lady, I think it’s a strange place. I’ve never seen anything like it.”

At a quick glance it looked like a normal room with some rows of seats, but it was the big black rectangle that made it completely strange.

Julius: “If I had to say, it’s a metia. But I’ve never seen anything like it.”

Anastasia: “All we can do is guess, at least for now. Let’s go talk to His Excellency.”

—

She had just arrived at Priestella, a city built within water, a truly beautiful city.

But as soon as she blinked it all transformed into a dimly illuminated room.

Crusch was confused, then she felt a hand on her shoulder.

Felix: “Crusch-sama! Are you ok?”

It was Felix, her knight. He was concerned for Crusch’s well-being, but was also confused as to where they were.

Next to him, a man with a stern face and a butler outfit was standing, analyzing their surroundings.

Wilhelm: “No need to worry Ferris-dono, we don’t appear to be in any danger, but it seems that my sword has been taken away.”

Just like Crusch, both Felix and the Sword Demon had just arrived at the Watergate City and were witnessing the view, then they were in an unfamiliar place.

After Wilhelm mentioned he had lost his sword, Felix looked at him, his face filled with confusion.

Felix: "You don't have nyor sword and this place looks weird, it makes Ferri-chan a bit nervous, nya!"

Crusch: "Don't worry Ferris, look over there."

Trying to get Felix to calm down, Crusch pointed in the direction of a red-haired man who was talking to a man and a woman. And in an instant, Felix started to regaining composure.

Crusch also relaxed when she saw the Sword Saint, she was also feeling a tad nervous.

In Wilhelm’s case, he felt confused. He deduced that, whatever had taken his weapon and brought them to this strange place, wouldn’t hurt them.

If there was someone capable of doing something like that and it hadn’t harmed them, then it was safe to assume they were going to be ok.

It also helped to see his grandson within the room.

Then the three of them heard a scream in the direction opposite of the Sword Saint.

It was a woman, barely wearing clothes, but she wore a black bikini-bra, black hotpants and a tattered black-and-orange cloak.

Woman: “MASTER!!”

As those words were heard throughout the room, the woman had jumped towards a boy with scary-looking eyes and was now being hugged by the woman.

In an instant, Crusch, Wilhelm and Felix recognised who the boy was.

Scary-looking eye boy: “GUH! What the―?! SHAULA?!”

—

She saw the boy run towards a silver-haired girl, after all, they had just finished a fight and both him and her were really involved.

She had just patted him on the back, so she also closed her eyes as she gave him a big smile, then, as she opened both eyes, she found herself in a place she had never seen before.

There were people she knew and people she didn’t. It was very confusing, how had she arrived at this new and strange place?

???: “Spica-chan!”

She heard her name being called, it was a girl she knew really well.

Spica turned around and saw a blue-haired girl, then she was embraced by her.

Rem: “Are you ok?”

Spica: “Au!”

Rem: “I see, I’m glad, but, where are we?”

Rem had finished talking with both Priscilla and Subaru, and was walking to where the injured were being treated.

She was carrying a pail of water when, as she blinked, she appeared somewhere unfamiliar.

It was a big room, but what caught her eyes weren’t the seats or the big rectangle, it was the people who were there and her hands, she no longer had the pail.

She moved her head, looking for those she knew, and then Rem saw Spica, who was as confused as Rem.

So she said her name out loud and began walking towards her, then she hugged Spica.

Rem: “I can see Nee-sama, Emilia-sama, Abel-san…, and that person is also here, that nasty smell has increased once again.”

By seeing people she knew Rem relaxed, but then a particular smell reached her.

The boy who had been with her since the start, at first she didn’t trust him but as time went by she began to trust him bit by bit.

As she remembered their journey a scream was heard throughout the room.

It was from a woman who barely wore any clothes.

Woman: “MASTER!!”

Rem and Spica watched as the woman ran towards Subaru, jumped and hugged him, making them fall to the ground.

Rem: “...Let's go help him Spica-chan.”

Spica: “Auu.”

—

It had been a tiring battle and they had been able to succeed.

Therefore, Emilia was feeling a bit desperate, her knight had just disappeared after all.

So when she blinked and saw the weird room, she started to panic.

Emilia: “W―What is going on…?”

She was looking around but her shock and confusion didn't help much.

Beatrice: “Calm down, we are ok, in fact.”

As Emilia, Beatrice felt nervous thanks to the scenery before her eyes.

She was worried about Subaru, but now she had to keep herself calm.

An unprecedented thing had just happened to them and she needed to understand what had happened.

Beatrice: “I don't feel any traces of yin magic…”

Beatrice was trying to find an explanation to their problem, sadly, she couldn't get an answer.

Ram's face was as always, but she was feeling extremely worried about her sister, and, whether she liked it or not, she was also worried about Subaru.

And, thanks to their sudden arrival to this new place, that worry for both of the missing people increased.

Ram: “I really hate this, but I’ll need to rely on Barusu to take care of Rem for now.”

Even if she didn't want it, the situation begged for her to think that way.

She had to stay focused, an unfamiliar place was in front of her.

Emilia: “I see people we know, but there are some I don't recognise…”

Emilia mumbled something, but Ram and Beatrice didn’t hear anything she said.

Ram and Beatrice noticed something. When they were at the tower they located both Rem and Subaru, they were south and very far away.

But now both of them felt them closer, so they looked at where they were being told to look at.

But before they could do anything a woman shouted at the top of her lungs.

Woman: “MASTER!!”

Emilia, Ram and Beatrice knew that voice, but it should be impossible.

The owner of that voice was Shaula, someone they had seen die and seemingly transform into a small red scorpion.

They saw as she jumped towards a boy and made them both fall to the ground, Shaula embraced him while he just seemed extremely confused.

And then they realized who he was, it was Subaru.

Beatrice and Emilia began to relax while Ram noticed something else, some distance away from Subaru was a blue-haired girl.

That girl had been sleeping since Ram met her. It was her sister, Rem.

She was awake and standing, with a blonde small child by her side, holding hands.

Ram wanted to cry out of happiness, but she needed to control herself.

So the three of them began to walk towards those they wanted to see.

—

Otto and Garfield were resting inside a carriage. The time in the Empire had been stressful and both of them were able to relax at last.

So when they fell to the ground it was a big surprise to see a room full of people, chairs and a big black rectangle.

Otto: “Uhm, Garf, where are we?”

Garfiel: “My amazing self doesn’t know Ottobro, but stay close, I’ll protect us!”

Otto looked more confused than scared and Garfiel decided to get into a defensive stance.

One second later and he felt someone approaching him, it was his sister.

Frederica: “Calm down Garf, it’s me.”

Garfiel: “Sis! You are also here!”

He was happy to see her, thanks to her he relaxed. Otto was also happy to see a familiar face.

Otto: “I’m glad to see you are ok, Frederica-san.”

Frederica: “Thanks, I’m also glad to see you both are doing alright.”

Frederica had been helping the people of Vollachia when she appeared inside the strange room.

Tired and confused she looked around and saw her brother and Otto, so she decided to talk to them.

Garfiel: “Any ideas where we might be?”

Frederica: “Sorry, but I don’t really know, I’ve never seen some of the things in this place, not even these weird chairs.”

She pointed at the grey theater seats, but she then looked at the black rectangle.

Otto: “Great, first the Empire and now this. It just keeps getting worse.”

Otto let out a tired sigh, Garfiel as well. Frederica looked to where the people were.

Their trip to the Vollachia Empire to retrieve Rem and Natsuki Subaru had just finished.

But now a whole new problem has appeared.

Frederica: “Hmm…, looks like all the other camps plus the people of the Empire are here. But who is that woman clinging to Subaru-sama?”

They didn’t hear Shaula’s scream and both Otto and Garfiel were sitting on the ground, so Frederica, who was standing up, looked over to the lower parts of the room.

She could see some people gathering around the boy, who was trying to get Shaula off him.

Frederica: “Why don’t we go down and talk to the others?”

Otto: “Huh? Oh, there’s more people! I didn’t even notice.”

Garfiel stood up and started following his sister, Otto following behind.

—

Roswaal had just covered Subaru with his jacket and the battle had ended.

They had saved the Empire.

So when he blinked and saw his view had changed he let out an exasperated sigh.

He was sitting on a grey chair with some blue strokes.

Roswaal: “Veeeeeery interesting.”

Looking around he noticed the big black rectangle, which he presumed was a metia.

He was also figuring out he was transported to this strange room and like Beatrice, he couldn’t find an explanation.

Roswaal: “Weeeeell, it seems like everyone is heeeeere.”

Looking at the crowd of people who were next to the metia and also to the ones between the seats or at the back of the room.

In front of him, two rows below him, were the Sword Saint and the candidate Felt were speaking.

When they were leaving to talk to the other people in the room, they were approached by a man and a woman in strange clothes.

Those two peaked Roswaal’s interest. They resembled a certain boy who had won against the Great Disaster.

Roswaal: “Hooooow interesting~.”

After looking around for a bit, he decided to sit back down and wait.

—

It had been 1 year and 6 months since their son, Natsuki Subaru, had disappeared.

Naoko would always dream about their last conversation.

‘Take care’. Those were the last words she told him before he stepped out of the house to never come back.

In her dreams she would say other things. ‘Subaru, it’s too late, don’t go’ or ‘Subaru, can you please wash this cup first?’ Sometimes Subaru would say something like ‘I’ll be fine’ or ‘I’ll be fast!’

In the end it didn’t matter, he was gone.

Kenichi felt as bad as his wife, he would also dream about Subaru once in a while.

When he didn’t come back home after two hours they started to get nervous.

Then three hours, four hours, five hours, it kept increasing. When it had been six hours they called the police, they were scared.

When the police arrived they explained what had happened.

After some investigation they ended up at the last place he was seen.

The convenience store.

They asked the cashier and from what he told them Subaru just walked out of the shop.

When they checked the cameras they saw something interesting.

Subaru could be seen walking, then stopping as a car passed by.

But as soon as the car passed the recording stopped. The camera had been broken.

It was unexpected and extremely weird, so their only logical answer to the parents was that someone had kidnapped their son.

It made sense. It explained the camera breaking and him disappearing.

Both Kenichi and Naoko were scared and confused.

Who would want to take their kid. Why?

The police talked to them, saying they would find him.

Pamphlets were in every wall in the city, every suspicious detail was taken as a clue, it even made it to the news.

But two weeks passed, then three, then a month, then two, then half a year, then a year.

The police had given up when a full year had passed, they told Naoko and Kenichi their son was most probably dead.

But both of them didn’t agree with the police. They didn’t want to agree with them, they also had a feeling he was alive.

It could be called hope or desperation, but they kept searching.

Naoko: “Kenichi, how did it go?”

A tired Naoko was sitting on the sofa. Her eyes looked scarier than ever, not because she was mad, but because she felt horrible. She greeted her husband.

He was coming back from searching for Subaru.

Kenichi: “Nothing, we found nothing. I’m sorry.”

Kenichi also looked tired, his hands were dirty and he was carrying a backpack.

For a while now he and a group of people had been looking in different places throughout Japan, searching for his kid.

But it was always the same outcome. Natsuki Subaru was nowhere to be found.

He went to their room and got changed into something comfier.

Naoko: “Don’t worry, we’ll find him soon, I know it.”

Kenichi: “Mother’s intuition?”

Naoko: “Yes. I know he is alive and I know we are going to find him soon.”

Naoko could feel her husband’s sadness even if he covered it perfectly.

But, in an instant, they were inside a cinema, a really big one.

No doors, only seats, a big screen and people with peculiar clothes and hair colours.

They were confused, how could they be in a cinema when they were sitting on their couch inside their home.

They needed answers, so when they saw a red-haired man, who wore some kind of costume, they walked towards him.

Naoko: “Excuse me, do you know how we got here?”

Kenichi: “Or are you as confused as us?”

—

Getting away from the Augria Sand Dunes. Their most important objective at the moment.

Meili glanced behind them through the window of the dragon carriage, there was a battle going on.

A battle between The Witch of Envy and the Sword Saint.

They were almost caught by her hands, but they were able to escape thanks to the Sword Saint.

Meili: “A bit more and I’ll switch with Petra-chan.”

Garfiel, Ezzo and Flam were resting, Petra was guiding Patrasche to get to the closest town and Meili was focusing on everything that could be dangerous.

Then, in an instant, she was no longer inside the dragon carriage.

She was inside a strange room, one she didn’t recognise.

There were some strange chairs and a big rectangle, no desert to be seen.

She was alone, the ones who were inside the dragon carriage had also disappeared and so had Petra.

She was confused and scared, but she also felt relieved. The Witch of Envy wasn’t in this strange place.

She was sitting down in a seat, which now had some dark indigo strokes while most of the seat was grey.

Meili: “It seems there’s more people…”

She stood up, even if The Witch of Envy wasn’t there she had to tell them all about their current situation, but then she saw someone who should’ve been asleep.

Meili: “Garfiel-chan…?”

Garfiel: “Hm? Oh, Meili! Yer also ‘ere?”

Next to him were Otto and Frederica. They were going down to where most of the people were.

Meili: “Are you going to meet with everyone~?”

Otto: “Yes, we are going to meet with everyone else, maybe they know how we got here and why.”

Meili: “I see…”

Meili was looking at Garfiel, she didn’t know how he was awake when he had apparently taken a lot of damage.

She decided to ask him later, the most important thing to do would be to get all the crowd to listen to her.

She walked towards the three of them and positioned herself in front of the group.

Meili: “Well then, let’s go talk to everyone. I really need to talk with everyone~!”

So they began going down to the group of people who were talking to a woman and a black-haired boy, but Meili didn’t notice who they were.

She also didn’t notice a certain girl who wore a red ribbon on her head was at the back of the theater, watching everyone.

—

???: “Petra…”

Petra: “I know, we are in a cinema right?”

???: “Yeah. That would mean we―”

Petra: “―are in your world.”

Petra finished the sentence the boy was going to say.

He was floating, looking around both surprised and nervous. He looked like a certain black.haired boy.

Petra: “Subaru. Are we safe here? Won’t she come after me?”

“Subaru”: “I don’t know Petra. If we are back in my world then she might be able to. After all, she brought me to your world, didn’t she?.”

Petra: “True, I guess we should go down and talk with everyone…”

As she was talking she saw a woman and a boy, the woman clinging to him while he tried to get her off him.

He was there, Natsuki Subaru wasn’t sealed. It wasn’t an illusion, it was the real Natsuki Subaru.

Petra felt joy, but then she realized something. If he was out and well, then that would mean he…

“Subaru”: “Then I’ve Returned by Death…”

Petra stiffened at his answer, one she had also arrived at.

Should she be happy? Or sad. She was feeling a torrent of emotions swelling up, she wanted to cry, but was it out of joy or because she was scared?

Questions began to appear in her head: Where would his last checkpoint be? Can he prevent everything from happening? How will he defeat Al?

“Subaru”: “Calm down! I’ll figure it out, ok? I always do.”

Petra: “I guess you do… but still, I can’t help but feel nervous…”

“Subaru”: “True, so, what do we do now?”

Petra Leyte, a normal village girl who had learned about the Authority called Return by Death.

An ability no one should ever know or possess, yet there was a man who owned it and was burdened to know about it and never of it.

Return by Death was given to Natsuki Subaru by The Witch of Envy.

The curse that is Return by Death was to never be revealed, but Petra Leyte had discovered it thanks to Natsuki Subaru’s Book of the Dead.

So, the Taboo activated and The Witch of Envy aimed for the one who now knew about what should have never been known.

But, thanks to the Sword Saint, Petra and her companions had escaped from her and had been running away through the Augria Sand Dunes.

But then she blinked and appeared in the cinema.

Petra: “The way we got here…”

“Subaru”: “It’s just like when I got summoned to the Royal Capital.”

Petra: “Yeah. Anyways, what do we do now? Do we go and talk things with Subaru or do we tell everyone about Retur―”

“Subaru”: “WE WON’T TELL ANYONE! She might not be here but if we tell everyone but me then she’ll probably know where we are for sure!”

“Subaru” screamed at Petra, not because he was angry, but because he was scared.

Last time, when he tried telling Emilia about Return by Death she died.

Petra: “Ok ok, I won’t speak about it with everyone else, only with you.”

The reason Petra even suggested telling them was because, just like Subaru, she now had the burden that is the knowledge about Return by Death.

She didn’t want to put everyone in danger, but she was overwhelmed by all that was happening and she needed some time to calm herself.

“Subaru”: “Good, then let’s go with the others.”

—

She had been killing Hungry Horse Kings for some time now, by her side was a little kid who was able to control mabeasts.

Shaula shot every one of them with precision and power with her Hell’s Snipe while Meili used her Divine Protection to control some of the mabeast so they would kill each other.

But then she blinked and was inside a strange room, one she didn’t know.

Shaula: “Hmmmmm, my Hell’s Snipe isn’t working. Well that’s weird!”

She pouted and sat down on the floor with her legs crossed.

She then looked around the room, still pouting, and saw some people she didn’t know but others she did recognise.

Shaula: “If they are here then that means Master is here!”

And then she smelled it, a horrible odor coming from a certain direction.

She looked in the way the smell was coming and there she saw him.

Her Master was there, standing in front of a big black rectangle, lost in his thought.

Shaula: “MASTER!!”

Shaula began to run towards her Master, jumped and ended up on top of him, she started to hug him.

Subaru: “GUH! What the―?! SHAULA?!”

He was struggling to get up so she decided to help him up while clinging to him.

Last time she saw him he had, once again, lost his memories and didn’t remember her.

Shaula: “Maaaaasterrr~! Do you remember me?! It’s me, your Shaula!”

Subarur: “Yes, I remember you Shaula. Now, STOP HUGGING ME SO HARD, YOU ARE GOING TO BREAK ME!!!”

—

They were going back to the closest town to the Pleiades Watchtower, Mirula.

Subaru was thinking about what happened at the tower, trying to recall what had happened while he and Beatrice were sealed by Al.

He couldn’t see the outside world, but by using the Authority of Greed, which he named Cor Leonis, he was able to sense the emotions of the people around him.

This helped him understand the situation, so when he was unsealed he knew what to do.

“――Rem!!”

He felt it, Rem had regained her memories.

He didn't know how, but he knew she had regained them.

And then, after calling out the name of the blue-haired oni, the sound of chains was heard.

Natsuki Subaru had died.

He Returned by Death and was able to seal Aldebaran with the same magic he had been sealed with.

And after crying for a while he decided to go back to the Royal Capital.

Mirula was getting closer and closer and Subaru had many things to think about.

The most important thing he discovered was that the memories and Names eaten by Gluttony could be returned.

He was also thinking about the failed loop.

Natsuki Subaru now understood something about his Return by Death, it was a terrifying, fate altering curse.

Subaru: “He somehow knew about my Return by Death… But how? The Taboo should kill everyone but me who knows about it. And he seemed to have an Authority similar to mine but on a smaller scale.”

It was all too confusing for him at the moment, so he pushed that aside for the moment.

Still in the desert some sand got into his eye, so he moved his hand to rub them.

Then, he opened his eyes and there he was. In the middle of a cinema, in front of a screen.

Subaru: “...Second time this has happened.”

He murmured, it was true, it was his second time it had happened. He was also as confused as the first time.

He was standing really close to the screen but he could hear there were people around.

He decided to think about what just happened and then turn around.

Subaru: “Ok, what happened? And how? Am I back in my world or is this place something similar? I can’t forget how some of Priestella’s architecture resembled that of Japan’s. But, I’ve never seen or heard about something that looked like a screen… So, where am I…?”

The gears in his head were working as fast as they could, trying to get answers but then he heard the loud voice of a woman he knew but shouldn’t be able to speak.

Shaula: “MASTER!!”

He turned around only to catch a glimpse of her almost bare chest getting closer to his head.

Then he was hugged extremely hard by Shaula, making Subaru feel pain on his back.

Subaru: “GUH! What the―?! SHAULA?!”

They ended up on the ground, but he tried to get up and Shaula helped him while clinging to him.

Shaula: “Maaaaasterrr~! Do you remember me?! It’s me, your Shaula!”

Subaru: “Yes, I remember you Shaula. Now, STOP HUGGING ME SO HARD, YOU ARE GOING TO BREAK ME!!!”

When he shouted at her Shaula backed off, a bit scared as she didn’t want her Master to be mad with her.

Subaru was angry, but he was even more confused now.

Subaru: “How is Shaula here?! And like this!”

He then realized there were three figures in front of him.

They were Crusch, Ferris and Wilhelm.

Crusch: “Are you ok Subaru?”

Subaru: “Huh? Crusch-san, you are here? ――!”

At first he was shocked to see Crusch but then he looked better at her and saw she didn’t have any of the Dragon’s Blood curse he was baffled.

Subaru: “Wait! What happened to your curse?! Were you able to find a cure for it while I was away, Ferris?!”

Felix: “Huh? What are you talking about Subaru-kyun?”

Subaru: “H―Huh? I’m talking about the Dragon’s Blood curse… What else could I be talking about?”

Felix: “Dragon’s Blood curse?”

Both parties were confused. Subaru was startled, how was Ferris so relaxed when that horrible curse had done horrible things to Crusch.

Crusch’s camp was also confused, what was Subaru talking about?

If Crusch had been cursed then Ferris would’ve known and would’ve saved her.

Whilhelm: “Subaru-dono, may I ask, what do you mean Lady Crusch was cursed?”

Wilhelm looked at Subaru with a confused expression.

He didn’t know what Subaru was talking about and he felt that there was something wrong with the interaction.

Subaru: “W―Well, I’m talking about the curse she got thanks to the Sin Archbishop representing Lust in the battle against the Witch Cult in Priestella. There’s no w―!”

Shaula: “Maasteeeerrr~! Don’t ignore me! But I guess Master wants to play hard to get, hehe~”

Shaula had been trying to get her Master’s attention but wasn’t able to succeed because of Subaru’s shock.

So she decided to jump on his back so he would notice her.

Subaru: “Shaula! Get off! I’m talking about something important and a little confusing here, so shut it!”

Shaula: “Hmph! Master’s a meanie! But I’ll wait…”

She hopped off Subaru’s back and sat back down, pouting and sad.

Crusch: “Subaru, who is she?”

Felix: “And why does she call you Master, Subaru-kyun?”

Both Crush and Ferris were intrigued by who the woman was, while Wilhelm, who heard what Subaru said, was extremely confused.

They had just arrived in Priestella before being here but Subaru was talking about something that had never happened.

Subaru: “Oh right, you wouldn’t know her. She’s Shaula. As to why she calls me Master is still a mystery even to me.”

Shaula: “That’s right! I’m Shaula! The Star-Keeper of the Pleiades Watchtower! And Master’s cute apprentice!”

Shaula happily proclaimed her title to the three of them while trying to hug her Master’s arm, but failing to do so.

Felix: “――Subaru-kyun…”

Subaru: “HEY! Don’t look at me like that! I didn’t even do anything!”

Felix: “Still, isn’t the Sage supposed to be a man? And when did you even meet the Sage? That would mean you…”

Subaru: “Well, she isn’t the Sage, she’s his apprentice. And what do you mean when? I went to the Pleiades Watchtower after the events in Priestella and yes, we conquered it!”

Felix: “What events?! We only just arrived at Priestella! And you too, nya!.”

Crusch: “He’s telling the truth, Ferris. And… so is he…”

Subaru looked completely confused at Felix’s statement but then Crusch confirmed what they both had said.

It made both knights and the candidate widen their eyes.

Before any of them could say anything Subaru felt something on his head. It was Spica.

Spica: “Uau!”

Subaru: “Huh? Spica?! You are also here?”

???: “We both are.”

At the sound of the mysterious voice they all turned towards it and saw a girl with blue hair.

Subaru: “Rem! So happy to see you are ok! Oh and I’m also glad to see you, Spica.”

Spica: “Au!”

While the little reunion was happening, Crusch, her knight and Wilhelm looked at Rem.

Felix and Shaula: “SHE’S AWAKE?!”

Subaru, Spica and Rem were a bit surprised at their reaction while Crusch and Wilhelm stared at her with disbelief.

—

Before Subaru’s arrival at the theater, a conversation started.

Naoko: “Excuse me, do you know how we got here?”

Kenichi: “Or are you as confused as us?”

Both Felt and Reinhard turned their heads towards the voices and saw a man and a woman in their 40s.

For a moment Felt thought the man was Subaru thanks to the similar hair, but after a second she realized it wasn’t him, the man didn’t have the scary eyes Subaru did.

But then she looked at the woman, those were Subaru’s eyes, but the woman had them.

She wasn’t completely sure but she was sure they were Subaru’s parents.

Reinhard arrived at the same conclusion but he needed to verify it first.

Reinhard: “Sorry sir, but we are as confused as you both are.”

Kenichi: “I see… I have another question, are you a cosplayer?”

Reinhard: “Sorry, but I don’t know what that means.”

Kenichi: “Really? Weird.”

Kenichi was confused, how did he not know what a cosplayer is when he was dressed as a character from an anime.

Naoko: “And what about you? Are you his sister?”

Naoko looked at Felt, who had been looking at her eyes for some time now.

She thought the little girl was scared of them but when she looked back at her she saw an interesting look from her eyes, so she decided to talk.

Felt: “WHAT?! EWW NOOO!”

Felt was disgusted at the inquiry.

Reinhard was a little hurt at her answer.

Reinhard: “Actually I’m her knight, Reinhard van Astrea”

Kenichi looked at the red-haired man, a bit confused.

Naoko: “Her… knight? Are you doing some kind of roleplay?”

Reinhard: “Sorry, but I don’t understand what you are saying.”

Naoko: “Hm, alright. I guess I’ll introduce myself. I’m Natsuki Naoko, nice to meet you both.”

Kenichi: “And I’m Natsuki Kenichi!”

Felt and Reinhard were in shock for a moment. They just confirmed their suspicions.

They were the parents of Natsuki Subaru.

Felt: “Wait, for real! You are Big Bro’s parents?!”

At the sudden question both parents looked at the little girl.

Felt was a bit nervous being stared at like that, but she could see hope on their faces, like they heard something that was more valuable than money.

Kenichi: “You know Subaru?! Can you tell us where you last saw him, please!”

Both Reinhard and Felt were taken aback by their sudden need for confirmation, as if they didn’t know where he was.

Naoko: “Please, tell us.”

In Naoko’s eyes some tears started to appear, this made Reinhard realize it was something serious.

Maybe Subaru had ran away from home without telling them and they had been searching for him.

But it didn’t make sense, they would’ve heard about him thanks to all the things he had done the last year.

Reinhard: “Don’t worry Naoko-san, we know where your son is at the moment, he was with us moments before arriving at this place. We were with him at the Watergate City of Priestella in The Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica and he’s safe.”

Felt: “Yeah, no need to worry! Him and Reinhard were able to beat the Sin Archbishop of Greed without getting hurt.”

As both of them finished talking a confused expression arose in the parent’s faces.

Kenichi: “Watergate City? Lugunica? What are you talking about boy?”

Reinhard and Felt were now as confused as Kenichi and Naoko, both pairs didn’t understand each other.

Naoko: “Sorry but, is that a place in Europe we haven’t heard about?”

Felt: “Huh? What’s this Europe place you talk about Naoko-san?”

Reinhard: “Yeah, we’ve never heard about a place called Europe.”

Now they were all confused, there was something they were not understanding.

But then they heard some screams from two people that came from the other side of the room.

??? and ???: “SHE’S AWAKE?!”

Felt: “Seems like something is going on over there, we should go check it out.”

Reinhard: “Yes, please accompany us Mr. and Ms. Natsuki. From what I can see they are people we know.”

The married couple looked at Reinhard and gave him a nod, but before they could start walking Felt turned around.

Felt: “I almost forgot, my name is Felt! It’s good to meet Big Bro’s parents!”

Naoko and Kenichi smiled at the little girl and proceeded to walk towards the ones screaming.

—

Standing next to the O'Connel siblings was the Emperor of Vollachia, Vincent.

He had been by the siblings' side for a while, wondering how they were sleeping after being transported to the strange place.

But after a bit they woke up and Vincent explained to them their situation.

He heard footsteps behind him and both Flop and Medium looked happy at those who approached them.

Vincent turned around.

Vincent: “One of the candidates for the throne of Lugunica, Anastasia Hoshin and her knight, Julius Juukulius.”

Anastasia: “His Excellency, Vincent Vollachia. Seems like ya are also here.”

Julius: “Your Excellency.”

They were Julius and Anastasia, both bowed to him.

At first, they had only one motive to go to Vollachia, to retrieve Natsuki Subaru and Rem.

But when they arrived at the Empire they got involved in the Great Disaster and decided to assist both him and Subaru, who wanted to help Vincent.

Flop: “Oh! It’s Finest-kun and Anastasia-sama! So you are also here.”

Medium: “Great to see you both!”

Both Flop and Medium waved at them while Vincent looked at both of them.

Vincent: “So, do any of you have an idea of how we got here?”

Vincent went straight to the point, he needed answers and perhaps the ones standing in front of him could have some clues.

Anastasia: “Sorry but no, but it seems like whoever sent us here doesn't want to harm us.”

Vincent: “And why is that?”

Anastasia: “Because it looks like the spirits that were contracted to my knight have been taken away.”

Vincent looked at Anastasia and then to Julius, the latter nodded.

Julius: “Lady Anastasia is correct, His Excellency, they were taken away and so was my sword.”

Medium: “They were taken?!”

Julius: “Yes, how it was done is something I don't know.”

Vincent: “Then it's powerful enough to take away someone's contracted spirits…”

Vincent took all the information and started thinking.

While he was trying to find an answer to the problem, Flop, Medium and Julius started to talk.

Anastasia was looking around, speaking telepathically to Eridna.

Anastasia: “So, anything that's caught your eye?”

Eridna: “Sorry Ana, nothing much, only those talking to the Sword Saint.”

Anastasia: “I see, they do look familiar.”

Eridna: “I think they might be Natsuki Subaru's parents.”

Anastasia: “Natsuki-kun's parents!?”

Among everyone in the room, those who she didn't know anything about were Natsuki Subaru's parents.

They were a mystery to her and, therefore, to everyone else.

When she investigated Subaru she couldn't find anything about him.

find anything about his past.

The first time he was ever mentioned was when he got involved in an incident in the capital.

Vincent: “Those are Natsuki Subaru’s parents, correct?”

Anastasia: “They seem to be, but I can’t confirm it.”

Vincent: “Is that so? Well, then you don’t know where they are from, right?”

Anastasia: “I don’t.”

The both of them kept looking at the married couple who were talking with the Sword Saint.

??? and ???: “SHE’S AWAKE?!”

A scream interrupted their thoughts, making them look in the direction it came from.

Anastasia: “Seems like there’s something interesting happening there. Let’s go Julius, sorry His Excellency, but we must see if they know something about all this.”

Both Julius and Anastasia decided to walk towards the location where the scream came from.

Flop and Medium looked at Vincent, he nodded.

Vincent: “Go ahead, I won’t stop you. I’m not your father.”

With that said he sat down on one of the many grey chairs, but then they appeared some black and red strokes on it.

Vincent: “Hmm…, when those two were sleeping the chairs the strokes had different colours. Medium’s were pink and cream while Flop’s were blue and cream. Then it has to do with the person, it represents them.”

With that sudden problem solved he began to think about the other problems he had at hand.

Flop and Medium caught up to Anastasia and Julius by that point so they talked about the battle they had fought while they got closer to the loud ones.

—

In a corner of the theater there were two small kids, Tanza and Cecilus.

Tanza: “I… guess I understand what you are saying…, but how can that be?”

Cecilus: “No idea! But it does sound fun, right?”

Tanza: “Fun?”

Cecilus: “Yes, fun. If we are from different points in time then we are going to have lots of fun! People will be confused and drama will start. And we’ll see what happens in the future!”

Tanza was still confused, how could they be from a different point in time? Who could be powerful enough to make such a thing happen?

Tanza: “Then what now Cecilus-sama? Should we go talk to the other people in the room and try to figure out if they are from another point in time?”

Cecilus: “Hmmmm, I think we should, but I also have a feeling all will be explained at some point.”

Tanza: “Really?”

Cecilus: “I mean, whoever or whatever sent us here will surely explain it all so everyone is not confused.”

Tanza thought about it herself and it made sense.

???: “Tanza-chan, Cecilus-san! I’m glad to see you both again.”

Before Tanza and Cecilus could walk towards the group of people someone called out to them.

They turned around and they saw a girl with a red ribbon on her head.

Tanza: “Petra-sama! You are also here.”

Petra: “Please just call me Petra and yeah, I’m also here.”

Petra didn’t want someone who was almost as old as her to be addressing her so formally, Tanza just nodded at Petra’s request.

Cecilus: “So you must be someone I know in the future?”

Petra: “Cecilus-san… it’s weird to see you once again as a child and I guess you have also figured it out, right? We seem to be from different points in time because I already know you.”

Petra was smart enough to understand that not everyone seemed to be from the same point in time.

She figured it out thanks to seeing Subaru and the black orb he had with him.

And now she had confirmed it thanks to Cecilus’s size.

Tanza: “Petra, where were you before arriving here?”

Petra: “I was at the Augria Sand Dunes, close to the Pleiades Watchtower. And this is after we left the Vollachia Empire by the way.”

Cecilus: “So you are from the furthest future so far. Tanza here had just finished fighting the Great Disaster and I was in Ginunhive, right after Sparka.”

Petra listened to him, he explained some more the situation he had been in. Then Tanza explained her part.

“Subaru”: “Petra… I hate to say this but…”

Petra: “I know, I’m 100% sure you died a lot inside Gladiator Island and the same goes for the Great Disaster…”

“Subaru”: “Yeah…”

It was something Petra didn’t want to think about, but she was sure he had suffered a lot.

Tanza: “Petra, are you ok?”

Petra: “Huh? Oh yes, sorry. Ok, so now I’ll explain my part―”

Before she could tell them in detail the situation she had been in, someone screamed.

??? and ???: “SHE’S AWAKE?!”

Cecilus: “Alright! We are going there so we can see what’s happening!”

Tanza: “Cecilus-sama! Wai―!”

Before she could finish Cecilia had already run towards the ones who screamed.

Petra: “Let’s go Tanza-chan, we need all the information we can get!”

With that Tanza and Petra walked towards the people closest to the screen.

—

Subaru: “So yeah, she woke up after we conquered the Pleiades Watchtower.”

Subaru had explained to Crusch, Felix, Wilhelm and Shaula how Rem was awake.

But even he wasn’t sure why she had woken up specifically after he got teleported to Vollachia.

Subaru: “Now that I think about it, it could’ve been because Nee-sama killed one of the Gluttony trio.”

Wilhelm: “Lady Crusch.”

Crusch: “He’s… telling the truth…”

At this both Wilhelm and Felix widened their eyes.

Felix: “Wha―What? But… but that hasn’t happened!”

???: “Yet!”

Out of nowhere a voice was heard and then they saw him.

A blue-haired kid wearing some clothes that seemed to be from Kararagi.

Cecilus: “Woah, big Basu!”

Subaru: “Huh? Ceci?! Why do you look like that again?!”

Cecilus: “Because we are not from the same point in time Basu! Don’t you get it?”

At the word of Cecilus everyone froze for a moment.

Crusch, Wilhelm and Felix wondered who the kid was, but when he uttered those words something clicked inside them.

Shaula was trying to understand what he meant while Rem and Spica thought about it.

Subaru, on the other hand, immediately knew Cecilus was right.

It made sense and it could prove why Crusch was ok and the others seemed to not understand what he was talking about.

Subaru: “Then, tell me Ceci, where were you when we got transported here?”

Cecilus: “Right after your first Sparka!”

Subaru: “I see…”

Wilhelm: “Then, Subaru-dono, what you told us was what will happen in the near future in Priestella, right?”

Felix tensed up, everything around him stopped for a second, even his heart stopped.

If what Subaru had told them was what would happen then he…

Felix: “...Did Ferris fail Crusch-sama…?”

He was disappointed with himself, he was angry with himself, he felt like he hadn’t felt for a long time, but this time it was way worse.

Wilhelm noticed Felix and decided to place a hand on his shoulder, Felix looked up and saw Wilhelm’s face.

It was a comforting face and it carried a message for him.

Don’t carry it alone.

Wilhelm was telling Felix to let him shoulder part of that guilt the cat-eared boy was feeling.

Even if he understood, there was no one who could help him feel better with himself.

He had already decided to carry it alone, he knew it was his fault no matter what everyone wanted to say to him.

Wilhelm also knew this, but even so, he wouldn’t stop trying to convince him.

Meanwhile Crusch and Subaru were talking.

Crusch: “Then tell me Subaru, how long has it been for you and where were you before being here?”

Subaru: “Oh, well, uhm… I was in a dragon carriage with Beatrice, Garfiel, Petra and Meili. When it comes to how long it has been since the battle in Priestella I think it’s been about six months.”

Rem: “Wait, you said you were in a dragon carriage?”

Subaru: “Yup, what about you, Rem and Spica? Where were you?”

Rem: “Well, I had just finished talking to you and Priscilla and went to help with the injured.”

Spica: “Uau au.”

Subaru: “I see, that already happened to me, so you are also from the past from my point of view. And what about you Shaula?”

Shaula had been listening to everything while sitting down, she looked at Subaru, expecting to get his approval to get up and he nodded so she jumped and did as her Master wanted.

Shaula: “Weeeeell, I was with Ankle-Biter Number Two killing all those mabeasts when POOF! I was here, unable to use my Hell’s Snipe.”

Subaru: “Ok, I think I know at what point in time you come from. Wait, am I the one furthest away from everyone else in the timeline?”

???: “Well, I think I might be the closest to you Subaru.”

While Subaru thought about this a new voice was heard, he turned around and saw Petra, who was the one behind the voice, and Tanza.

Tanza: “Schwartz-sama, I’m from the same point in time as Rem-sama and Spica, only that just a bit behind Rem-sama. It was when we had just defeated the Great Disaster.”

Subaru: “Tanza! It’s good to see you even if you are not from the same point in time as me.”

Tanza bowed towards Subaru, while all this happened the Crusch Camp looked at her, not knowing who she was.

Subaru noticed this and decided to introduce them.

Subaru: “Right, you wouldn’t know each other. Tanza, she is one of the candidates for the throne of Lugunica, Crusch Karsten. Her knight, Ferris and her butler Wilhelm Trias! The three of them have helped me many times and I’ll be forever grateful. And she is Tanza, someone who has helped me more times than I can count!”

As Subaru introduced them Tanza bowed towards them and Crusch and Wilhelm smiled at her.

Felix was still lost in thoughts.

Wilhelm: “It’s a pleasure to meet a friend of Subaru-dono. And sorry about him Tanza-san, but he isn’t in the best state right now, so please forgive him.”

Wilhelm said as he looked at Felix, who was looking away from the little girl.

Tanza: “Oh don’t worry Wilhelm-sama and the pleasure is all mine.”

Crusch: “I hope we can get along Tanza-san.”

Tanza: “I hope so too Crusch-sama.”

Subaru: “Ok, now this is Cecilus Segmunt but infantilized thanks to a bastard’s magic and has lost his memories from when he was an adult, but, still as strong. And lastly, she is Spica, someone I trust a lot nowadays.”

Spica waved her hand at them and Cecilus just smiled and waved at them while standing on Subaru’s shoulders.

Wilhelm was shocked at the revelation of who the little boy was, Cecilus Segmunt was said to be the strongest in the Vollachia Empire.

But now he was just a little kid, and yet possessed his powerful aura which Wilhelm could feel.

Crusch had been learning about everything she had forgotten for the past year, so she wasn’t able to conclude too well if the kid was powerful or not, but from what she had been told he was on par with the Sword Saint.

Then both looked at Spica, who was in front of Subaru, and smiled at her. She smiled back.

Shaula: “Master!! Don’t ignore me! Introduce me to the sleeping girl and the new ankle-biters as well, don’t be meaaaaan!”

Shaula wasn’t introduced, so she was upset at her Master for letting her out of it.

Subaru: “Geez, ok, ok. Tanza, Ceci, Rem and Spica, this is Shaula, the one who watches over the Pleiades Watchtower and the fake Sage.”

Shaula: “WHAT?! Master you meaanieee!! I’m the Star-Keeper of the Pleiades Watchtower and your apprentice! You have to say it right, riiiight!”

Subaru: “OK! No need to shout into my ear, sorry.”

Tanza: “Apprentice…?”

Subaru: “Don’t listen to her.”

Shaula: “Masteeeerrr!!”

Shaula sat back down, farther away from her Master and pouting once again.

Subaru looked at her with a smile on his face. He wasn't able to save her but seeing her once again made him happy.

Tanza looked at Shaula, Tanza was still wondering why Shaula called Subaru her Master.

Cecilus: “This is even better than I imagined Basu! It really is great to have you around, there isn’t a moment with you that is boring!”

Cecilus moved on top of Subaru’s shoulders and then jumped to the ground.

Crusch and Wilhelm were looking after Felix for the moment as he was lost in thoughts and blaming himself about Crusch’s future.

Rem was now holding Spica’s hand and also looking at Shaula, the look she was giving her was one not even she could describe.

Then Subaru felt someone poking his back, it was Petra.

Subaru: “Hey Petra, sorry, didn’t introduce you to Ceci and Shaula, but now he’s just jumping around and she’s just being stupid, so there’s nothing I can do about it.”

Subaru looked at the two he mentioned, then at Petra. She was looking at him with a worried face.

Petra: “Subaru, can I talk with you about something?”

Subaru was caught off guard by the tone in her voice, it was serious and nervous.

Subaru: “Right, want to go talk over at that corner?”

Petra: “Yes, that would be great.”

Both of them walked away to one of the corners of the room to talk, what Subaru hadn’t noticed was the arrival of a red-haired knight and a little girl who were accompanied by a man and a woman.

—

They decided to go upstairs to the top row of the room where they could talk without anyone interrupting them.

Almost no one saw them going up there, only Rem and Cecilus, who were observing Petra and Subaru talking and then walking away.

But the both of them decided to let them be for the moment.

Petra: “Subaru…”

Petra’s voice carried something that could be described as hope mixed with fear and anger.

He was confused and worried so he asked her a question.

Subaru: “Petra, tell me, what were you doing before arriving here?”

At the question Petra stiffened, Subaru saw this and got a bit more worried.

Petra: “I… I was guiding Patrasche through the Augria Sand Dunes to get to Mirula…”

Subaru was nervous, he could feel Petra’s voice getting more and more unstable.

He had a bad feeling, but it was just that, a bad feeling he didn’t want to think about, so he didn’t.

Subaru: “Ok, when did this happen? Because I was just doing the same… Oh! Maybe like a few minutes ahead of me?”

Petra just looked at him, her gaze carried pain and concern, but also love.

Petra: “N―No… Subaru, this has already happened to… you, I th―think…”

More and more, her voice wavered and Subaru’s confusion rose up.

But there was something else, fear.

Subaru: “Petra. Tell me, please.”

Petra: “Subaru… it was… it was after…”

Tears began to fall from Petra’s eyes. She didn’t want to think he had died once again to save them all from the fate that awaited them.

She didn’t know what to say, not because she didn’t remember, but because she knew about Return by Death.

It was tearing her apart, she wanted to cry, to scream, to get angry.

Subaru looked at her, he didn’t know what could cause her to feel that way by just telling him what was happening to her before arriving to the room.

No, he did have an idea of what could be happening, he just didn’t want for it to be the truth.

He didn’t want to think about that possibility because just thinking about it made him sick.

If Petra, this Petra, was from a failed loop then from which one was she?

He didn’t know the answer, but once again that was a lie.

By her looks and what she had told him he knew what loop she was from.

Subaru: “Petra, does it have to do with Al?”

She looked at Subaru in an instance, her eyes filled with tears.

She needed to say it, but would she find them? It was something that could happen because the problem wasn’t telling Natsuki Subaru about Return by Death.

It was her telling Natsuki Subaru about Return by Death.

Would she be killed? Hurt? Or would Subaru be punished for it?

She didn’t want to, but she had to, she had to make him know he wasn’t alone anymore.

This time it wouldn’t be a witch comforting him, it would be Petra Leyte.

Petra: “Subaru.”

Subaru: “Tell me Petra, does it have to do with Al?”

Subaru wanted her to answer her question but she seemed a bit lost in thoughts, so he activated Cor Leonis.

With it he had been able to get a grasp of what was happening outside when he had been sealed by Al, so by using it now she could look into Petra’s deepest feelings, those he could not see just by looking at her face.

She was scared, really scared. But above everything she was determined, thus she opened her mouth.

Petra: “Subaru, I know about Return by Death.”

Silence

The world hadn’t stopped, it was just pure silence.

There was no sound around them, there couldn’t be, how could there be sound after those words were uttered.

Pain, a pain he was familiar with.

Every time it was so painful, there were times he wished he died as he was feeling that pain.

It would last for a small amount of time, but the pain would always get the job done.

Even after all that excruciating pain time and time again he would always feel something else.

Love, that was what he felt.

A sick and twisted love, but love nonetheless.

Right now he wanted to feel that pain, he was sure it was better than having to confront the little girl in front of him.

One…

Two…

Three…

Four…

It never came.

The world would not stop and the pain would not come.

In that instant, the eyes of the human known as Natsuki Subaru, sparkled once again in this wondrous world.

—

Frederica, Otto, Garfiel and Meili were walking towards where someone had shouted.

Almost all the people inside the strange room were there so it was a wise decision to meet up with everyone.

Meili had to tell everyone about the danger they were in, but something crossed her mind, were they actually in danger inside this place?

Because of the fear she had been feeling she hadn't come to that conclusion yet, but now that she was a bit more relaxed she thought of that possibility.

???: “Meili! I’m reaaaaally glad you are here!”

A voice that sounded like silver bells sounded from behind Meili and her group, it was Emilia, who was with Beatrice.

Meili: “Onee-san and… Beatrice-chan?! You are also here…”

Emilia: “Mhm! Ram was also with us but she went towards Roswaal-sama before coming with us to see Subaru.”

Emilia and the others started talking, but Meile was shocked after what the half-elf said.

Meili: “Onni-san’s here?! But he was taken hostage by Al-san… wait, the crowd of people, is it because of him? It has to be!”

Meili began to think more about what had happened in the tower.

Al had taken Beatrice and Subaru as hostages and imprisoned them; they had been sealed.

After that he had escaped and began fighting the Sword Saint with the help of Volcanica.

Then The Witch of Envy appeared and they were able to get away thanks to the Sword Saint intervening.

Meili: “And then there was that book Petra-chan had read before The Witch attacked. She passed out and then woke up, she was behaving a bit weird after she woke up…, actually, where is she? If Onee-san, Garfiel-chan and Onni-san are here then Petra-chan has to be here~!”

She started looking around, trying to catch a glimpse of Petra’s red ribbon and after looking around she found her, but she wasn’t alone.

Subaru was with her and they seemed to be talking.

Meili: “Alright, I need to talk with―!”

Before she could run towards the two of them she felt someone grabbing her shoulder.

It was Beatrice, who looked at her with a stern face.

Beatrice: “If you are going towards Betty’s contractor then let me go with you, I fact. He got swallowed by those shadows made of yin magic before we got here, I suppose.”

Meili looked back at Beatrice, she understood what she was saying, but she didn’t understand why she was saying it as if it just happened.

But she ignored it and agreed to her request, so they ran towards Petra and Subaru.

While they ran, the others finished talking and went back to their original plan, going towards the crowd.

Emilia: “Huh? Wait, where did Beatrice and Meili go?”

Frederica: “They must’ve went towards the crowd while we were talking.”

Emilia: “Then let’s follow them, I reaaally need to see if Subaru’s ok.”

—

Felix had calmed down enough for him to speak again, he was now sitting down on one of the grey chairs, but this one now had some light blue and white strokes.

Wilhelm: “Ferris-dono…”

Wilhelm wanted to give the cat-eared boy some words of consolation, but he couldn’t find any.

Crusch also wanted to say something, but she couldn’t.

Her memories had been wiped, maybe the Crusch who had known him for years could’ve said something to him, but still, he cried because of her so there was nothing that no one could say to make him feel better.

???: “Crusch-sama! You are…”

Crusch: “Reinhard, I’m ok yes, but not because of some cure or something similar.”

Felt looked at her, the last time she had heard about Crusch it was said she had been afflicted by a horrible curse.

But by looking at her Felt couldn’t see any type of curse.

Reinhard: “What do you mean?”

Crusch: “Well, from how the both of you look at me I can deduce the fight against the Witch Cult has already finished for you both.”

Felt: “Huh? What are you talking about?”

Crusch: “This is also something new to me, but some of us had a discussion a few minutes before you arrived. It seems like not all of us who are here are from the same point in time.”

Felt and Reinhard widened their eyes, how could something like that come from her, who couldn’t be deceived, and sound impossible.

Behind the now frozen duo of candidate and knight, Kenichi and Naoko heard their conversation.

They looked at each other, they had heard time travel was possible but it wasn’t possible with their current technology.

Kenichi: “But it must be true, Felt’s face stiffened as soon as she saw this Crusch girl.”

Wilhelm: “Excuse me, but can I ask you both something?”

A man walked and stopped by the couple’s side. He was visibly old, but the both of them could feel he was far stronger than he looked.

Wilhelm: “Are you perhaps related to a boy named Natsuki Subaru?”

In an instant the both of them got closer to the old man, their eyes filled with more emotions than Wilhelm could tell and Naoko’s eyes were about to cry.

It was the second time today that they had heard something about Subaru from people they didn’t know.

It seemed weird, but they would do whatever was necessary to find their son, that was something Wilhelm noticed even if for less than a second.

Naoko: “Yes! We are his parents, this is my husband, Natsuki Kenichi and I’m Natsuki Naoko. Please, tell us where he is. We've been searching for him for over a year now, but no one knows anything. So please…, please tell us where he is...”

Kenichi rubbed Naoko’s back, she was about to cry, but didn’t.

Wilhelm was thinking, Subaru had never talked about his parents so he had assumed something happened to them.

But they were right in front of him, alive and well. And what surprised him the most was what they said, they were searching for him.

Subaru had accomplished great feats over the last year, so the both of them should’ve listened about him.

He felt bad for them, but what made it worse was that they looked like him when Theresia died.

BZZZZ

Right before Wilhelm could open his mouth something sounded inside the room.

At that moment they all blinked and were sitting on one of the chairs, they all were confused and about to talk when the screen showed a room with portraits of different sizes that showed most of them.

—

Subaru and Petra were looking at each other, he was filled with hope while she was filled with fear.

But as she saw nothing was happening she eased up.

Subaru: “Petra, was it because of one of my Book of the Dead?”

Subaru had a vague idea as to how she knew based on what loop she came from, but needed confirmation.

Petra nodded, The Witch wouldn’t come for her.

Subaru: “Ok, not good but also good, you know?”

Petra: “Subaru… I’m ok, or as ok as one can be when they see someone die.”

Subaru was nervous, he didn’t want to show it but Petra saw right through him, she had been him when she read the Book of the Dead after all.

Petra: “If you are wondering which death I saw then it was when you were able to tell that Witch about Return by Death.”

Subaru was immediately hit with the memory, it was right after he was eaten alive by the Great Rabbit, he knew what loop it was and his face became one of a man scared for his life.

That loop had ended with him killing himself with Petra’s handkerchief.

It was his only option, it was that or be forever trapped inside the shadows of The Witch of Envy.

But he knew what that implied, she knew about his past loop and the conversation with Echidna.

She didn’t feel how he had been eaten but she surely remembered.

Subaru: “Petra, are you really ok?”

Subaru asked her in a tone which implied something only the two of them knew about.

Petra: “Yes, I do remember the Great Rabbit, but I didn’t die to it, so it’s only a memory to me, a really bad one.”

Subaru: “Yeah, I know what you mean.”

He let out a small and relieved laugh, but he was still nervous about how he ended the loop and her feelings.

Subaru: “Petra, I’m sorry about what I did to… you know… end the loop.”

She knew what he was talking about and it pained her, but it had to be done.

Still, Petra Leyte had killed Natsuki Subaru.

Petra: “It’s ok Subaru, I’m not mad at you. It was that or…”

Subaru: “Yeah, or staying inside her shadow. Oh and don’t try blaming yourself, you didn’t kill me Petra, it was Echidna’s fault all that happened. It was you who saved me, my little heroine.”

As if he had read her mind Subaru told her something she hadn’t expected, but it was obvious that from the start that was what he thought.

“Subaru”: “He’s right you know? It was Echidna’s fault and by the way, wow! I look cool with that outfit. Now I really look like a proper isekai protagonist!”

But Petra was thinking about that last part Subaru had said.

She was her heroine, her saviour.

A part of her wanted to accept those words, but the other couldn’t, the guilt was too big.

But was it her guilt or his guilt? She couldn’t know which was it, so she just accepted what he said and hugged him.

Subaru just hugged her back, she didn’t know what was going to happen but he did, he knew Petra had become The Witch of Melancholy.

???: “Subaru…”

From behind Petra someone spoke, a worried and sweet voice. One he loved to hear as it was from his contracted spirit, Beatrice.

Subaru and Petra looked at her and behind the great spirit was Meili.

Subaru: “Beako and Meili! I’m so happy to see you are both here!”

Both of them looked at the now standing black-haired boy, both of them were looking at him with worry.

Beatrice ran towards her contractor and hugged him very tightly, he did the same.

Petra: “Hey Meili, let’s talk for a moment, I’ll explain.”

Meili: “Petra-chan…, ok.”

Petra: “Ok, so, you can see Subaru, right?”

Meili: “Yes I can.”

Petra: “And you know he was taken hostage by Al-san, right?”

Meili: “Yes, I know.”

Petra: “Well, this Subaru is from the future, that’s why he’s here and unharmed.”

To the revelation, both Meili and Beatrice, who had been listening to Petra, widened their eyes.

Beatrice: “Wait, that should be impossible, I suppose!”

Subaru: “Beako, where were you before arriving here?”

Beatrice: “At the Pleiades Watchtower, you were engulfed by some shadows and disappeared, in fact!”

Subaru: “Well, that happened to me three months ago. And what about you Meili?”

Meili: “Well, from what I can assume~ Petra and I are from the same point in time~. Meaning that you got caught by Al-sa~n.”

Beatrice was in shock at her contractor’s revelation but then she got really worried at the words that came out of Meili’s mouth.

But before any of them could do anything a sound covered the entire room.

BZZZZ

And just like last time, he had blinked once again and now was sitting on a grey chair with little blue butterflies and black and orange strokes.

Beatrice was sitting on his lap and to his right was Meile, to his left was Petra, all three little girls confused.

“Subaru”: “Oh wow, again. That’s twice today.”

Subaru could see all the people in the room, also sitting and their chairs with different patterns, but next to Reinhard and Felt he could see the heads of a man and a woman, and he recognized that black hair.

But before he could say anything the screen turned on and showed a room with portraits of different sizes that showed most of them.

Then a voice.

――Return by Death.

An Authority that, at the cost of one’s life, granted them the right to turn back the clock, and redo a time that ought to have passed.

At that moment all the room got quiet, but there were two people who stayed the quietest.

Otto: “What…?”

That was a question many of the people inside the theater were asking.

Reinhard: “There exists such an Authority?”

Reinhard was surprised, it was something he could never imagine to be possible.

Naoko: “That… sounds horrible, but I have a question Reinhard-san, what’s an Authority?”

Reinhard: “It’s a power that lets the user interfere and rewrite the world. They are a truly terrifying power and each of them is tied to a sin, for example, the Authority of Gluttony lets the user eat the memories, name or both of a person. If the name gets eaten then you are erased from the world and no one remembers you. If both your name and memories get eaten then you get put to sleep for an indefinite amount of time. That’s the extent of what an Authority can do.”

At this explanation, both Naoko and Kenichi were in shock. At first they thought it was just a lie he was telling them, but soon realised he was speaking the truth when Reinhard’s face looked sad.

Kenichi: “Then…, what about this Authority we are being told? Is it… real?”

Reinhard: “I… I don’t know…”

Meanwhile, Felix was horrified at this possibility. Could there really exist an Authority like that? And a user who could use it without losing their mind?

Others were thinking if something like that could really exist. If it did then the Witch Cult would have the upper hand, but that was the problem.

The Witch Cult had been defeated recently, which meant that it exists but who uses it isn’t ok and therefore can’t be used for their needs. Or what they were being told was a lie.

Cecilus: “Ooooo, that sounds like a truly horrible power to have!”

Tanza: “Yes, whoever has it must be broken inside.”

Cecilus: “Hmmm, maybe. Or maybe not. Who knows, they could be really resilient.”

Close to those two kids a man looked at the screen, eyes widened, hands shaking just a tiny bit and his mouth slightly opened. He was shocked as many others, but he was also afraid.

He wasn’t stupid, he knew what that description implied.

Roswaal: “To redo time at the cost of the… users… life…”

In that instant he felt something not even him could describe.

Then he looked around, searching for someone that had to be there.

And as he saw the boy, a sense of guilt filled him.

Finally, he discovered the price of Natsuki Subaru’s Authority.

“Hello! I hope you can hear me loud and clear. Before any of you try to do anything please listen to me.”

The room once again got silent, the owner of the voice was a man, probably young as he had a high-pitched voice.

Reinhard didn’t sense any type of hostility coming from it, but he couldn’t be sure about it. This person seemed to be the one responsible for their teleportation to the strange place.

Reinhard: “Who are you and what do you want from us?”

“Well, I didn’t expect some of you to remain so calm. Anyways, good questions Sword Saint. You can call me J, and the reason you are all here is because I decided to let everyone know about some of the most important secrets in your world! Doesn’t that sound fun?”

Subaru: “What the hell?! First a description about Return by Death and now it looks like it’ll be revealed?! I’m so fucked…”

Subaru was scared, he didn’t know what to do and he was slightly trembling, Beatrice noticed that so she held his hand a tiny bit tighter. She didn’t know why he was feeling like that but she didn’t want to see her contractor feeling like that.

Subaru felt Beatrice’s hand and a warm smile appeared on his face, he calmed down for the moment.

Petra was also trembling, Meili noticed it so she made the little red scorpion that was on top of her head climb onto Petra’s head.

As soon as the scorpion did that Petra calmed down and thanked Meili, who was a bit intrigued by her reaction.

Reinhard: “Important secrets? Like that description of the unknown Authority you showed us?”

“Exactly! And if you want to confirm if what I’m saying is true then ask Crusch Karsten, who still has her Divine Protection unlike the rest of you.”

Everyone looked at the green-haired woman, and in her cheeks a faint red appeared.

Crusch: “I―I can confirm that what he’s saying is true.”

“See? All good. Ok, now let me tell you all some of the rules of this place as well as some other things.”

Suddenly on the screen appeared the rules and facts, there were eight in total.

RULES and FACTS:

1.-You won’t harm or kill anyone, if you try to you’ll be punished.

2.-Don’t break anything within the room.

3.-Don’t use any type of magic.

4.-Reunions are after the session, so are big talks or discussions. Small talk is ok.

5.-Every time a session ends a door will appear leading to a hall with different rooms.

6.-A timer will appear after each session. It will be different depending on what you watch. Sometimes a timer won’t appear and the session will continue.

7.-There are rooms for eating, bathing and sleeping.

8.-There’s a room assigned for everyone.

9.- ■■■■■■ ■■ ■■■■■ is active and can be used.

The cast looked at the rules and facts, they were simple yet interesting, but the last one was confusing.

Felt: “Huh? Is the last one censored? Why J?”

That question also wondered inside some of the people in the room.

“Well Miss Felt, that one will be revealed later, you’ll understand it when the time comes. Now before we really start let me answer a question some of you have. Not everyone here is from the same point in time. And I’ll show a small portion of what everyone was doing or was about to do before arriving here. All this before we start with the important part.”

With no time to ask questions or argue, the screen flickered.

???: “Have the two of you come to engrave a frown onto my face while I’m occupied?”

Thus asked Abel, brow as wrinkled as his words suggested, upon seeing Subaru and Priscilla arrive.

As Subaru appeared on the screen both of his parents choked on their breath.

It was their son, he looked fine and dressed in some strange clothes, but he was there, alive.

Kenichi: “Subaru…, you look a bit older and somehow more mature.”

Kenichi looked at his son’s face on the screen and he was surprised by what he saw.

Subaru looked fine, he could tell he was better than when he had last seen him. He understood in an instant, he had grown not only in age or body, but in mind.

Naoko wanted to cry, but thought it would be awkward for everyone else, so she didn’t.

But the look her son had in his eyes was way different from the one he had that night before disappearing.

In a corner of the room Subaru looked at Priscilla, sadness in his eyes and a glint of guilt.

Petra was also sad, she knew about Priscilla’s death, but they had not interacted enough for her to be as sad as Subaru.

Meanwhile, Emilia didn’t expect to see Subaru with Priscilla, she didn’t know who the man was.

Emilia: “Well, Subaru seems to be safe.”

This room in the great fortress, albeit not sophisticated enough to call an office, had served as Abel’s workspace for a restless night of urgent planning in regards to postwar measures.

A great shift in tone from having brandished the Yang Sword along with Priscilla against the moving palace.

Reinhard: “Postwar…, what could have happened in Vollachia and why is Subaru there?”

At the word postwar, both Kenichi and Naoko flinched. Where was Subaru? There hadn’t been any wars since he disappeared.

Subaru: "Man, it’s incredibly off-putting for you to be tough now. There’s no way we’d be able to have another catfight."

Vincent: "I have never wished to partake in such bizarre rituals with you. If your purpose is to distract me with these trifles, exit at once."

Subaru: "You say you want no distractions, but…"

Subaru glanced at the sofa beside the desk where the inhospitable Emperor tended to his task. There, Flop and Medium slept shoulder-to-shoulder in harmony.

Medium: “Aww, we look so cute big bro! Look at us!”

Flop: “I know, we do look cute dear sister.”

The O’Connell siblings’ cozy reunion evoked a striking contrast next to the Emperor.

Subaru: "I don’t see you kicking those two out."

Vincent: "…They guarantee me further nuisances if I rouse them, that is why."

Priscilla: "You do not disappoint with your pretexts, elder brother. Your leniency manifests in its full glory when faced with what is most precious. When you had allowed me to flee from the country, that too had been an act of love."

Abel was silenced by Priscilla’s calm words, spoken as she fanned her face.

That could have been interpreted as a silence that would have emerged no matter what had been said, a silence that had emerged precisely because the words had hit the mark, or even both.

Several people widened their eyes and opened their mouths at the shocking revelation.

Those were Emilia, Beatrice, Crusch, Felix, Ram and Felt.

But there were others who, also surprised, were not as shocked, those being Wilhelm and Reinhard. They noticed the way the Emperor spoke, moved and behaved and had a hunch.

Subaru: "You siscon Emperor…"

Vincent: "Albeit I know not the meaning, I presume that those words of yours are the height of irreverence."

Naoko giggled a bit, it was a relief to see her son still had that side she loved so much about him.

But a lilac-haired knight looked at the screen with a shocked expression.

Julius: “Subaru…”

Reinhard: “To speak so casually with the Emperor of the Vollachian Empire, that’s something only you could manage to do Subaru.”

Priscilla: "Cease with the empty threats. Due to the Great Disaster on this occasion, the Empire has forged far too many debts towards the Kingdom and the City-States. Especially towards the camp of Natsuki Subaru’s bunch, is that not so?"

Subaru: "Priscilla… it’s not my camp, it’s Emilia-tan’s."

It was a rare follow-up on the part of Priscilla, but he had to firmly correct her on an important part. Priscilla returned a “You are quite well-trained” with an expression slightly taken aback, and Abel silently massaged his brow with his fingers.

“Woah”, uttered Subaru when he witnessed Abel proceed to close both eyes.

Emilia: “What…? But we hav―”

Ram: “Emilia-sama, remember, not all of us are from the same point in time. This has not happened to us yet.”

Emilia: “Uh, you are right Ram.”

Ram turned once again to the screen but then looked around the room, trying to see if Subaru was there as well, and she did find him.

He was next to Petra and Meili, with Beatrice on his lap. He caught her looking at him and knew why she was looking at him.

Subaru: “Nee-sama, why do I feel like you are making fun of me in your mind?”

She simply gave him a playful smirk and turned around towards the screen.

Ram: “Stupid Barusu, creating even more problems for us in the future.”

Deep down she was relieved to see him ok, but she would never say that out loud.

Vincent: "――What is the matter, Natsuki Subaru? Do you intend to pile up even more irreverence towards me?"

Subaru: "Nah, not this time. Not like I want trouble with you, and since you’re busy, I should just leave."

Pouting his lips, Subaru did not point out the fact which he had noticed. He did not think Abel to be unaware of it, either. That was because the reason and impetus for that change, had occurred in a definite form.

And, it seemed that Subaru was not the only one who considered that a pleasant change.

Vincent: "I extend that to you, Priscilla. I have many matters due."

Priscilla: "So you put the Empire above your dear sister? With a decade passed, have the scales within yourself finally come to a settlement, elder brother? If that is so…"

Vincent: "What?"

As Priscilla cut off her words, Abel made a slight frown. In front of Abel, Priscilla pinched the hem of her dress, and gave a deep bow where she stood.

And then――,

Priscilla: "――Seventy-Seventh Emperor of the Sacred Vollachian Empire, Your Excellency Vincent Vollachia. From the bottom of mine heart, I celebrate your ascendance to the throne."

Vincent: "――――"

Priscilla: "To the utmost, laboriously endeavor to lead the pack of Sword Wolves. For the time being, the days bereft of respite shall only continue."

At that moment Subaru understood why Priscilla had done that.

She was saying goodbye, she knew her time alive was getting close to its end.

Vincent on the other hand was surprised, but he was able to hide that feeling making his face look unfazed.

Vincent: “So this was happening in the near future? I see.”

Medium glanced at him and could tell he was happy, even if his face was as stern as always.

Delivering words of congratulations with a serious expression, and then a warning with a bold smile, Priscilla spoke to her elder brother. At the attitude of his sister, whose tempo was as per her whims, Abel―― Vincent Vollachia heaved a sigh.

Then, glancing towards the O’Connell siblings, sleeping on the sofa with their shoulders pressed against each other,

Vincent: "Priscilla. ――In this entire world, only with you, sister mine, could I prescind from mistrust."

Priscilla: "Ever so sinuous you are, brother mine, even in your confessions of love."

Concealing a provocative smirk behind her noisily-opened fan, Priscilla interpreted Abel’s statement. Subaru found himself in total agreement with her.

If there was only one thing that a third party could add onto that――,

Subaru: "From my perspective, you two siblings resemble each other to an aggravating extent."

And in saying so, Subaru took the brunt of those cognate siblings’ matching, unamused glares.

The room was filled with laughter, Priscilla and Vincent were siblings, that was obvious.

Vincent could only sigh in frustration, he didn’t expect Subaru’s observation to be so accurate, he himself wouldn’t agree to it, but when looking at the interaction from the outside he could only agree with him.

“Ok, now for the next one, this one will cover two people and it’s pretty recent, enjoy!”

Once again, without a moment to speak their minds, the screen changed.