[User] In the blink of an eye, there was a mysterious pressure in the air that caused Subaru to break out in goose bumps. His heart quivered. It was an overwhelming presence that made itself felt from right outside the carriage all of a sudden. The carriage was incredibly sturdy, but that pressure was unaffected by thick armor. "Tch, Beako! Outside! Let’s go!"

[Assistant] "Ah! Wait, Subaru!"

[User] In response to that overwhelming pressure, Subaru chose to bravely challenge it. It was an extension of his desire not to let Ram or Anastasia get hurt when they were wandering that sand labyrinth. He was spurred on by an even stronger sense of duty when it came to protecting Emilia and Beatrice. The next instant, when Subaru leaped out of the carriage, he was overwhelmed by the scene that greeted him. There was a wide-open space of a couple hundred yards on all sides around the carriage. The floor was a single, unbroken stone surface, and the walls at the edge of the space were made of the same stone. From the shape, he could imagine that they were inside an enormous cylindrical building. And there was only one building that fit that description anywhere remotely close to where they had been. In other words— "—We’re inside the Pleiades Watchtower." They had struggled long and hard on their quest to reach this place. Along the way, Subaru had made it through multiple life-or-death decisions, including some where he had chosen incorrectly, broken through all sorts of traps imbued with the Sage’s overflowing maliciousness, and finally—

[Assistant] "—Subaru." Beatrice moved next to him, snapping him out of the deep feelings that had overtaken him. She gripped his hand tightly and looked straight ahead. Following her gaze, Subaru saw the same thing she was looking at. Or rather, he had been looking at it the whole time, since there was no way he could ignore the strange person who gave off such an intense and vivid aura. "You’re…"


[User] If she really was the person he was imagining, then the white light that had killed the centaur was her power. In other words, she was also the person who had killed Subaru twice before—

[Assistant] Silently, she slowly walked over to Subaru. She was someone who could easily turn him to ash. Not knowing what she intended was terrifying. But Subaru held Beatrice close and faced that pressure head-on. She had tried to kill Subaru out on the dunes only to later save him down in the labyrinth. Those actions were wholly contradictory, but at the very least, she had brought him alive into the tower.

[User] "From the fact that you didn’t kill me then…is it safe to assume you aren’t an enemy?"

[Assistant] "Um, it’s a bit concerning when you aren’t saying anything at all. It would help if you at least said something…"

[User] The hypothetical Sage didn’t respond to anything Subaru was saying as she finally came to a stop right in front of him. Her deep-green eyes looked at Subaru, carefully appraising him, looking him up and down. Subaru worried whether the result of that evaluation would determine his fate, or even the fate of everyone else, when his concerns were suddenly and unexpectedly broken.

[Assistant] "...Three."

[User] "Eh?"

[Assistant] The woman finally said something as she looked at Subaru. Hearing her voice for the first time, his impression was that it was a little bit hoarse and husky. A mysterious, unreadable woman’s voice, but there was also a trace of cuteness in it. But while Subaru was struck by that out-of-place reflection, she quietly exhaled.

[User] "...I finally found you." With that, her expression changed. Her gaze had been serious and almost mechanical as she seemingly tried to see through everything about Subaru, but her eyes slowly widened, and with a little bit of time, her expression changed to something that could be called a smile. She was looking at Subaru with a broad grin.

[Assistant] "—Master."

[User] "...Huh?"

[Assistant] "Masterrr! Arghhhhhh! I’ve waited sooo long!" Subaru didn’t have any time to be stunned, though. As his eyes widened, the woman was overcome by emotion, and she leaped at him, tackling him to the floor. Caught up in it, Beatrice groaned indignantly as she was pinned down, too. But the woman didn’t pay that any heed as she clung to Subaru and pushed her head against his chest with all her might. Her long ponytail shook as she kept calling out to Subaru.

[User] "Master! Master! It’s been sooo long! I was sooo lonely! I thought I was just going to spend the rest of my life sniping everyone who approached this place!"

[Assistant] "W-wait! Wait a second! What?! What are you talking about? !"

[User] "What do you mean what am I talking about?! You’re sooo mean! You’re the one who ordered me to do this, aren’t you? You said to get in the way of anyone who tried to get close to the shrine.


[User] "Not that part! Who’s your master?! What are you talking? !" He was getting a very good feel of her soft skin, but he didn’t have the time to appreciate it. Subaru desperately wriggled against her powerful grip, trying to escape.

[Assistant] "Just let me go! I can’t talk like this…!"

[User] "No way! Not a chance! You’re definitely just going to disappear as soon as I take my eyes off you again! You haven’t changed at all! But that’s also what’s sooo sweet about you!"

[Assistant] "The hell you say!" Subaru grabbed her head, trying to peel her off him as he shouted. "Who even are you?! What is going on? !"

[User] "What are you saying?! I’m Shaula! You know, Pleiades Watchtower’s star guardian! Master’s cute pupil Shaula!"

[Assistant] "Never heard of you!"


[User] Emilia burst from the carriage, her hair a big mess from sleeping. Anxiety filled her expression when she left the carriage only to see the two of them—three technically with Beatrice—but when she saw their wrestling match, her eyes widened.

[Assistant] "...Emilia-tan! Thank goodness you woke up! The truth is, she…" He reached out a hand to her, looking for some help.

[User] "Ey!"

[Assistant] "Oww! Why did you kick me? !"

[User] "I don’t know, but I feel reeeally upset!"

[Assistant] "P-please, just help Betty already… This isn’t a joke…!" Beatrice’s voice was weak and hollow as their hard struggle resounded in the tower.


[User] Gently kicking the floor, his body leaped gracefully out of the collapsed building. Freed from the cramped space, he took in a deep breath of clean, fresh air. The sky overhead was almost tauntingly clear and blue, heedless of all the chaos down below.

[Assistant] "Oh, he’s back, he’s back! You’re amazing, buddy!" He landed with a thud on the cracked road, and the people nearby noticed and cheered.

[User] "How were things inside?"

[Assistant] "Sorry, nothin’ to report. At the very least, it looks like nobody got left behind inside, though."

[User] "I see… Then we’ll deal with this building later. Thanks. We couldn’t get inside to check things out ourselves with the stairway busted up." The genial-looking man’s expression clouded for a brief moment at Garfiel’s response.

[Assistant] "I couldn’t watch you guys doin’ somethin’ that dangerous. Tyin’ a rope around your waist and tryin’ to climb the walls is a nice thought, but save it for after you lose a little weight."

[User] "You can say that again! Wah-ha-ha, you definitely saved me there!"

[Assistant] Laughed and patted Garfiel’s shoulder. "Thanks, pal." With that, he and the others started moving to the next building, “Yo…”

[User] "I said I couldn’t watch, didn’t I? Lemme help, too."

[Assistant] His eyes widened in surprise when he started walking with them, too, but his lips wavered slightly as he broke into a grin. "Yeah, sure thing, pal. ’Preciate it. What’s your name?"

[User] "—Garfiel." Garfiel tousled his short blond hair as his green eyes narrowed. He was looking at the cityscape before him, the signs of the massive struggle still visible beneath the annoyingly clear blue skies.


[Assistant] Garfiel also understood that all of that was just him making excuses for himself.

[User] "Just means I’m no use to him right now— There’s no foolin’ his eyes.”

[Assistant] “…But what do I do then? How do I…?”

[User] “…The hell’s so marvelous about me…?” There was a deep confusion in his listless murmur. Garfiel couldn’t bear to look at how pathetic he was, so he tried to escape it by helping out with the restoration efforts around the city. His wounds from the fighting had not fully healed yet, but he had still done more than tenfold the work of a normal person. Clearing rubble, checking inside buildings that were in danger of collapsing, he had exerted himself helping people and the restoration efforts.


[User] When he was moving his body, when he was working to help someone else, he could forget his worries, even if only momentarily. He could avoid dwelling on the fact that he was just treading water for a little while; he could avoid anyone around him noticing his weakness. Garfiel knew that sort of avoidance wasn’t something to be praised. But there were people saved by it, and the number of people who looked up to him increased, even it was just for how much he was working. And Garfiel had not noticed it himself—

[Assistant] “Oh, Garf! Super energetic, aren’t’cha?! You’re always someplace high!”

[User] But if he was not so aloof and wanting to be left alone with his worries, it wasn’t as if he was unloved.

[Assistant] “Hmmhmmhmmh-hmmm, hmmhmmhmmh-hmmm.” Mimi hummed a cheerful tune while walking next to him.

[User] “…You’re awful happy.” Garfiel shrugged. Taking off from the rebuild work, Garfiel was going out with Mimi to eat lunch. Honestly, he would have rather kept working to keep his worries at bay, but Mimi couldn’t be stopped, and she had effectively forced him to join her.

[Assistant] “Yep, real happy! Hetaro and TB kept bothering Mimi to behave. But the captain lost his arm and things are all busy, so Mimi has to keep things together as lieutenant.”

[User] “I told ya not to go gettin’ so wound up.”

[Assistant] “Gah!” Garfiel grabbed her by the collar, not wanting to deal with her reopening her wounds yet again.

[User] “Ah-ha-ha-ha!” But as Garfiel held her light body up in the air, she broke into a grin when her eyes met his.

[Assistant] When he saw her carefree face, he couldn’t help but feel like all his troubles were pointless.

[User] “Even with everything that happened to you, you don’t ever look troubled, do you?”

[Assistant] “Nope! Mimi is a superstrong woman! Did you fall in love with Mimi now? Did ya?”

[User] “Nope.”

[Assistant] “Okay.” Mimi didn’t show any sign of being disappointed at his answer as she dexterously swung herself around and climbed up onto his shoulder. It was annoying, but if he set her down, she would start overdoing it again, so he decided to just let her have her way. She was the bane of healers. Even though it was her own body that was at stake, she absolutely refused to rest and recuperate.

[User] “Your brothers must always be worryin’ about you.”

[Assistant] “Ah, Hetaro and TB? You know, even though Mimi is feeling this good, they still seem a bit rough? No helpin’ it, though, since they took a lot of Mimi’s wounds.” Mimi was sitting on Garfiel’s shoulder as she crossed her arms and nodded intensely to herself. She was referring to the fact that her younger brothers had borne her wounds for her through their tripartite blessing.


[User] “Sounds like your brothers aren’t gettin’ much appreciation. You should be more grateful to them.”

[Assistant] “Grateful, huh? Mimi can understand what you want to say! But Mimi is the elder sister! Hetaro and TB need to be properly scolded.”

[User] “Huh?”

[Assistant] “Mimi really appreciates the feeling, but if they died after getting caught up in Mimi’s problems, that would be sad! Everyone’s life is special! But their lives are really, really special! So it’s not okay, right?” Mimi leaned over and looked at Garfiel’s face, his eyes widened.

[User] “That’s a surprisingly logical thought for you.”

[Assistant] “Of course! Gorgeous Mimi is smart! A prime catch! Did you fall in love with Mimi now? Did ya?”

[User] “Nope.”

[Assistant] “Okay. Too bad.”

[User] Garfiel responded indifferently again, but Mimi still smiled, utterly undaunted. Averting his eyes from her unreserved smile, Garfiel sighed. "But your brothers probably feel the same way.”

[Assistant] “Hmm?”

[User] “If their older sister’s dying, they’re not gonna just not do anything, right? They’d do whatever it takes.”

[Assistant] “Mmmmm.”

[User] Garfiel couldn’t ask someone he loved to die with him. It wasn’t something he could ever imagine himself being able to say.

[Assistant] “Mmmm! No, it’s still not okay! Mimi is still really mad! It’s settled!” While Garfiel was lost in his own thoughts, Mimi finally reached her own answer, hitting her hand forcefully.

[User] “I’ll thank them and then wham! They knew what Mimi would say when they did it. So if they did it anyway, then that’s just how it is. Mimi is just too beloved!”

[User] “But if they risk dying with me, then that means they want all of us to live, right? Then Mimi will just be the older sister, and Hetaro and TB can just be themselves!” She really hits on answers like there’s nothing at all to worry about.

[Assistant] “Then…why did you protect me?” Garfiel struggled to get that question out.


[User] His heart had been strung out badly by the fact that she had covered for him and taken such a life-threatening wound for his sake. Why had she done that? What let her do something like that? Even though she was so upset at her brothers for risking their lives to protect her, why had she risked her life like that for Garfiel, who she had only known for a few days? Even though he had not thanked her for what she had done or expressed any gratitude for her saving him.

[Assistant] "Because Mimi fell in love with you, so it couldn’t be helped. It’s embarrassing."

[User] "—Ngh! What are you talkin’ ’bout after only a few days?" Garfiel clenched his teeth at Mimi’s embarrassing response.

[Assistant] It had just been a few days. It was far too short of a time for feelings like that to develop and become this strong. It had been almost ten years that his feelings for Ram had grown—an attachment that lasted more than half his life. He had spent all that time with only that one girl reflecting in his eyes. And even after all that time, he had never once thought of giving up on her. That was how much he cared about her, doing and saying everything he could for her. So he couldn’t understand how a girl who was loved by her brothers enough that they would risk their lives to protect her could think to use her life for his sake after just a few days.

[User] "A long time ago, Roshi said it! The requirements for a couple!"

[Assistant] “…Wait, wha—?” It was an unfamiliar word to Garfiel.

[User] Mimi leaped gracefully down from his shoulder. Turning around right in front of him, she held all her fingers out toward Garfiel. "A couple are always together, for years, decades, even centuries, right?"

[Assistant] "There aren’t any that last centuries…"

[User] "If feelings are forever, then a century is nothing! And they’re always together, but they still get in arguments, or fight over food, or stuff like that, right?"

[Assistant] "So Roshi said to pick someone you can enjoy all those arguments and fights with. Also, Roshi said you can tell someone who would be a really good partner because there’s an electric shock the moment you see them!"

[User] "A shock the moment you see them…"

[Assistant] "When Mimi saw you, she got that feeling and could tell we would be good like that! So a few days or a few hundred years is just a rounding error! Just an advance on what’s to come! Like Mimi learned from the lady! The vig’s ten percent!" Mimi puffed out her chest with a smile as Garfiel heaved a sigh.

[User] He was dumbfounded and taken aback. He had no idea what she was talking about. Does she mean an advance on a couple centuries’ worth of bond with someone who is going to couple up with you?


[User] "…But if you died, then it doesn’t mean anything…"

[Assistant] "Ummm? Is your head okay, Garf?" Mimi tapped her head as she twisted it in confusion as Garfiel challenged her interpretation.

[User] "If we might die together, then that means we want to live together, right? And Mimi and Garf are both alive, so why are you going on about that? Worrying will just make you go bald."

[Assistant] "—Keh."

[User] "Oh? You smiled? Hey, did you smile, Garf?"

[Assistant] Garfiel looked away as Mimi’s cute, round eyes peered into his. He touched his mouth, feeling for himself that he had actually cracked a smile. There was definitely a faint impulse to laugh.

[User] "Mimi gets it. The Lady is always saying she can’t help but smile when Mimi is around. Mimi’s a goddess of good fortune!" Saying that when you clearly don’t get it at all—no, she’s not the one who doesn’t get it, is she? She can’t put it into words, but she actually gets the most important thing. She was clear on something that Garfiel couldn’t express in words, on something that he couldn’t be satisfied with. So as much as it pained him, he couldn’t help but smile.

[Assistant] "Mm, it’s been a while since you smiled, Garf! Did you fall in love with the Mimi who made you smile? Did ya?"

[User] "Nope."

[Assistant] "Okay. But Mimi is in love with you! So don’t worry!"

[User] "…Yeah, thanks." Mimi was standing beside him, seemingly ready to tackle him at any moment. Taking advantage of her perfect positioning, he gently rubbed her head as he looked forward together with her. What she said wasn’t enough to clear up all of the issues bothering Garfiel. There was a chaotic mess still swirling in his heart like always. He had not come to peace with all of the regrets he had from his time in Pristella. But it was a light for him. A guide to follow in order to reach the answers he needed to find.

[Assistant] "Ahoy! We’ve reached food! Garf! Mimi is starving!"

[User] "I told ya before, don’t go runnin’ around like that! You’ll reopen those wounds!" Garfiel chased after Mimi, ducking under the curtain as she dashed into the restaurant. They called it a restaurant, but it wasn’t running like normal. Pristella didn’t have enough people or supplies, so the interim council of ten led by Kiritaka was providing food rations. The place they had come to was one of the distribution points, and it was filled with people involved with the reconstruction of the city. It was just around lunchtime, and it looked like it would be difficult to find a seat. But just as they were looking around—

[Assistant] "Sir Garfiel, Miss Mimi, if you would like…"

[User] "Oh…" Garfiel raised an eyebrow when he saw who it was. A white-haired, blue-eyed old swordsman was offering to share his four-person table.


[User] The rations provided were surprisingly generous considering the city’s current state. That went for the food and the clinics, too, but it made Garfiel wonder where the city had the money to spare to cover it all.

[Assistant] “It is not spare capacity; it is surely just carefully choosing where to exert what little they have. If the quality of life drops dramatically, then people’s hearts will waver in the face of the monumental task of reconstruction. Sir Kiritaka has thought it through more carefully than I had imagined him capable of.”

[User] “That naive guy, huh...?” Garfiel’s fangs flashed at Wilhelm’s comment as he started into his food.

[Assistant] That thought caused Garfiel’s chest to ache a little bit.

[User] “Mmm, delicious, delicious! A tasty meal is bliss! Mimi is moved!”

[Assistant] “Ha-ha, it is wonderful that you are in good spirits. I am sure that is a relief for Sir Garfiel as well.”

[User] “Ah, yeah.” Garfiel’s green eyes twinkled as he responded to the old swordsman.

[Assistant] “Is there something you wanted to ask me?” Wilhelm seemingly reads Garfiel's mind.

[User] Seeing Garfiel’s eyes waver, Wilhelm nodded slightly. "Of course, there are some things I cannot say, but I am in your debt for allowing me to face my wife. If there is something these old bones can answer for you, then I will gladly do so.”

[Assistant] “Face my wife.” Garfiel had heard him say a similar thing before the battle as well. And if he was still saying that afterward, then that was how it was.

[User] “Was I really fightin’ Eight-Arms Kurgan?”

[User] “…I’m aimin’ to be the strongest. I need to be the strongest. That’s my job. That’s my promise with the general. But this ain’t it. This ain’t the summit I was lookin’ for.” Garfiel clenched his fist as Wilhelm’s blue eyes narrowed while he listened quietly.


[User] He had won against that war god and survived. And he was proud of that fact. And the people around him considered it something to be proud of, too. But that truth and what others thought was something entirely different from what Garfiel could be satisfied with.

[Assistant] “Has winning a hollow victory left an unpleasant aftertaste?”

[User] “He was definitely a crazy opponent. But that fight… He was…”

[Assistant] Was that legend really someone that Garfiel’s hands could reach? That doubt, that disbelief was stirring in his fists, in his fangs, and in the depths of his heart.

[User] “You are the one who faced him, so what you felt should be the correct answer. However, I can also understand the feeling of dissatisfaction with that answer. So if you do not mind, allow me to express what are merely my own personal thoughts—the two people that we faced both were and were not the same people they had been before death.”

[Assistant] “Wh-what do you mean?”

[User] “There is no denying the truth of the matter that their corpses were defiled and turned into puppets by the Witch Cult. But I also believe the words they spoke in their final moments were real.”

[Assistant] Hearing that, Kurgan’s final message echoed in Garfiel’s ears. The war god had left a single word for Garfiel, who had expended every last drop of his energy.

[User] “In his last moment, he did say one word…”

[Assistant] “You should keep that word in your heart— That was the praise that Eight-Arm Kurgan offered up to the warrior who defeated him. It is not for an outsider to hear.”

[User] “—Ngh. But are you sure? Was that really him? He was manipulated, and dead to boot, so if…”

[Assistant] Even if that was fake, if everything between them was meaningless, then did that mean that the fight between Garfiel and Kurgan wasn’t real, either? Garfiel’s breathing sped up at that unease and fear.

[User] “Garf, don’t go there.”

[Assistant] “…Ah?”

[User] “The old man looked a little lonely just now. So Mimi thinks that isn’t something to push so deep into? Also, your eyes look really bad, too. Leave it alone!” Mimi started jabbing him in the side.

[Assistant] Garfiel furrowed his brow at the feeling of her finger poking him as he finally noticed the expression on Wilhelm’s face. Finally, he realized that he had been unconsciously and rudely prying at Wilhelm’s own wound.

[User] “…Sorry, I couldn’t see anything goin’ on around me.” He apologized. He had been kicking mud all over the sword devil’s one-night rendezvous with his wife. He had been forced to see his dead wife against her will and then ended it with his own sword. And Garfiel had been trampling on their parting words by suggesting it might all be a lie. I’d have no right to complain if he cut me down right here and now for that.

[Assistant] But Wilhelm just shook his head. “You needn’t trouble yourself.


[User] "At your age, it is only natural that you would be impatient to find your answer. Indeed, that you could bring yourself to apologize proves you are far more adult than I was at your age.”

[Assistant] “…It’s hard to believe you were ever like that.”

[User] “Not at all. I was a fool. Then…and perhaps even now.” Wilhelm looked down, as if in thought, and Garfiel felt a sting of awkward embarrassment.

[Assistant] Wilhelm was famed as the sword devil and the stories about him were legion, but it was hard to imagine with his genteel manner now. If anything, his words sounded like the merciful consolation of a kindly older man.

[User] I’ve got a lotta things I’ve screwed up since coming to Pristella that I needa think about… But either way—

[Assistant] “Sparing the roundabout phrasing, the two people we fought regained themselves only in the very moment of their death. Before that moment, the skill of her sword was false… Were it not, if I had truly fought my wife in her prime, there would be no way that I at my age would have returned alive. And I can say the same for Kurgan.”

[User] “If we fought them in their prime, we wouldn’t have won?”

[Assistant] “Neither you nor I. I would be a corpse, and you would be naught but hunks of flesh scattered about. That is the truth.”

[User] “Y-you say that, but I…”

[Assistant] “—Don’t get cocky, kid.”


[User] —The next instant, there was a massive swell, and Garfiel reflexively leaped backward. "" Garfiel had launched himself toward the door and was crouched on all fours breathing wildly. As everyone around them looked stunned at his sudden, strange action, Mimi was calmly still eating, cleaning the fish’s meat off the bone.

[Assistant] “Th-that was…”

[User] “You give off the feeling of great potential, Sir Garfiel. But you are as yet untempered, and that talent is still being forged. I am already in the realm of the ancient past, but…I know the real deal. And that just now was but one small fragment of it.” ""

[Assistant] “The summit you are reaching for is not weak enough that you can reach it as you are now.” Saying that, Wilhelm wiped his mouth and stood up, indicating that he had said what needed to be said.

[User] In addition, his gaze turned not to Garfiel, but to Mimi. "Being able to recognize in an instant the lack of malice behind this great an aura. Splendid.”

[Assistant] “Mmm? I mean, it’s not like you have any reason to do anything bad to us, right?”

[User] “You have quite the discerning eye. With you by his side, there is no need to worry about him taking the wrong path.” Nodding at Mimi’s easy answer, Wilhelm turned to the exit. Naturally, he passed by Garfiel at the doorway in doing so. And as he passed:

[Assistant] “It is a good thing to have someone who cares about you. A woman like that will surely be a boon in your life.”

[User] “—Ngh! Her?!”


[User] "I already have another woman I’m in love with.” “Be that as it may, do not allow yourself to lose that blessing— May you not end up like a certain withered old devil.” With those last words, Wilhelm walked outside.

[Assistant] Garfiel watched his back silently and then gnashed his teeth in annoyance. Going roughly back to his seat, he quickly scarfed down all the food that was left. “Ah, that’s bad manners, Garf!”

[User] “I don’t wanna hear that from the girl who was stealin’ from my plate. Argh, damn it! I’m more pissed now than before I talked to him.” After cleaning up the empty dishes, Garfiel violently ran his hand through his hair. Instead of his confusion clearing up, it felt like he had a whole new thing to worry about. Mimi and Wilhelm. The two of them had both solved the problem troubling Garfiel before him, and their answers weighed heavily on him. He was one step away from being able to come to terms with his strength and with what he should be doing, but he couldn’t seem to get the last bit of the way there, and it was bothering him.

[Assistant] “All right, let’s go, Garf!”

[User] “…You sure are cheerful. So where are we going?” As they stepped outside, Mimi smiled as she held her hands up to the blue sky. Garfiel lined up beside her, grimacing as she cocked her head.

[Assistant] “Hrmmm, isn’t it obvious? To your brother and sister and mom’s place!” Mimi had started walking lightheartedly. He began to follow her, but his legs stopped. His pupils shrank, and he flashed his fangs.

[User] Keeping his calm, he turned around. “What’d you say?”

[Assistant] “We’re going to your family’s place! That’s the most important thing for you right now!” Mimi puffed out her chest at that entirely unfounded statement, and her tail was standing up straight. She pointed straight at Garfiel, who was speechless. “It’s best to properly talk with your family! That’s what Roshi taught me!”


[User] “Ah! Gorgeous Tiger!”

[Assistant] “Whoa…be careful!” When he saw Garfiel had come to visit, the boy’s face lit up and clung happily to Garfiel. Quickly catching him, he breathed a sigh of relief and concern. “Watch those feet when you run. Don’t be the idiot who trips over his feet and hurts himself.”

[User] “Oh, does it hurt to fall down? When Mimi was small, she was always splatting on the ground! Whenever it happened, Hetaro would wince. But it didn’t hurt Mimi that much. It’s a mystery!”

[Assistant] “That ain’t a mystery, it’s just your brother coddlin’ you too much.” And as a result, he had a big sister who still didn’t pay enough attention to her footing even after growing up. But setting aside Mimi’s story… “Have things calmed down a bit here?”

[User] “Mm-hmm. It’s okay. Mom and Big Sis are okay, too.” Setting the boy—probably his younger brother—down on the ground, Garfiel looked up at the home in front of him.


[User] Galek Thompson, the boy’s father and the head of the Thompson household, had not returned home.

[Assistant] Galek had been transformed into a black dragon. Garfiel had confirmed that fact himself.

[User] Unlike the people who had been transformed into flies, it had been possible to communicate with Galek, so there was no mistaking it.

[Assistant] But Garfiel was reluctant to accept it on face value as something fortunate.

[User] "Hey, Gorgeous Tiger, Dad will come back home, won’t he?"

[Assistant] Garfiel couldn’t do anything but pat his uneasy brother’s head.

[User] He could have tried to comfort him with empty words. But he couldn’t bring himself to put any emotion behind something like that. Children were ignorant, not stupid. He would be able to see through Garfiel’s clumsy lie soon enough. So Garfiel didn’t want to hurt him, hurt his own younger brother, with false hope.


[Assistant] "Fred? Don’t keep guests standing around outside… Ah."

[User] "...Hey…"

[Assistant] Seeing Garfiel, her expression brightened, and then it shifted to an awkward, almost embarrassed look.

[User] "D-did you go out of your way to come here again? You must have a lot of free time on your hands."

[Assistant] "Yeah, I got the urge to see you guys, but if you’re not in a visitin’ mood, then I can leave… Ow!"

[User] "Garf, look people in the eye when you speak to them!" Mimi pinched his waist from behind.

[Assistant] But he quickly realized what she meant. Because of how pained the girl, his sister, looked.

[User] "Supporting your mom, takin’ care of your little brother… It must be rough bein’ the big sister."

[Assistant] "—! Y-yes. So, um, if you want, I can talk with you a little bit. Adding one more person won’t change much at this point."

[User] "Not one, two."

[Assistant] "Adding two more people won’t change much at this point, either!" The girl’s face reddened as she shouted, and Mimi and the little boy’s eyes were filled with anticipation as they looked at Garfiel.

[User] Garfiel couldn’t bring himself to be cold enough to betray that youthful hope.

[Assistant] "Then I guess I’ll come in. If it’s a trouble for Mom…for your mom, then I’ll leave right away."

[User] "That…"

[Assistant] "That would never happen, knowing our mom." The brother and sister looked at each other and flashed smiles brimming with confidence.

[User] And they were right.

[Assistant] "I’m sorry, you came all the way to see us, and I don’t even have any refreshments ready.


[User] "I’ll get some tea going right now.” Saying that, Liara Thompson showed Garfiel and Mimi to a sofa and then started boiling some water and getting cups ready.

[Assistant] Watching her from behind as she made tea, Garfiel scratched his head. “Ah, sorry for droppin’ by unannounced. I don’t want to be a bother…”

[User] “It’s not a bother at all. You don’t need to look so anxious. Even just making time to see us is quite reassuring.”

[Assistant] When Liara smiled and continued her preparations, Garfiel was at a loss for words.

[User] What did he even come there to do?

[Assistant] “Hmm? Is it a bit more spacious here than before? It’s so neatly cleaned up.” While Garfiel was questioning himself, Mimi, who had dragged him out there, was entirely laid-back and at ease.

[User] Looking around the interior, Garfiel cocked his head at Mimi’s murmur. “Now that you mention it, it’s tidier than b’fore… No, there’s less stuff?”

[Assistant] “I’m impressed you noticed. It doesn’t even look that different from normal to me…” Setting the tea in front of Garfiel and Mimi, Liara answered them calmly.

[User] “That’s not true at all. It feels really strange to me. You’re the weird one, Mom!”

[Assistant] “You’re always saying that, Big Sis.”

[User] “What did you say? !” Hearing her little brother’s pointed comment, the older sister started chasing after him in a fury.

[Assistant] Watching the two of them, he pressed Liara about what they were talking about. “What are those two shrimps talking about?”

[User] “It’s nothing too special. It’s just that everyone in town needs to support each other… I’ve just been giving away some things, sharing a bit of what we had stored up, that sort of thing.”

[Assistant] “…And because of that, you lost a bunch of different things?”

[User] “There were too many things in here to begin with. I’m a bit of a hoarder by nature, so honestly it has been helpful to clear things out.” Liara stuck out her tongue playfully.

[Assistant] “It’s not like you guys have that much to spare. I mean…”

[User] “My husband…Galek will come back soon. I have faith."


[User] "You don’t need to worry about us like that. We will be okay.” Liara slowly shook her head when Garfiel tried to press her on it. “I’ve thought this for a long time. The more I worried, the more happiness slipped through my fingers. Well, I say a long time, but it’s only been maybe ten years. I can’t remember before that… Ah, sorry, did I surprise you?”

[Assistant] “…I bet that always works, but sorry, I already heard from your husband.”

[User] “Ah, is that so? …Mrgh, he would do that.” Liara smiled, just a little bit disappointed.


[Assistant] “If it didn’t bother him, he could have just come home like that.”

[User] “No, I think that would be a bit much for everyone else…”

[Assistant] “Really? Honestly, he was pretty handsome like that in his own way if you ask me…”


[User] “…You’re strong.”

[Assistant] “Yes, of course. I’m a mother of two, after all.” Liara puffed out her chest in pride.


[User] “Right, while I remember, there was actually something I wanted to ask you, Mr. Gorgeous Tiger.” As Garfiel’s eyes lost focus, Liara suddenly hit her palm.

[Assistant] “Yeah? Ask whatever you want. Though I doubt I know much to say…”

[User] "No, it’s nothing too complicated.


[User] "It’s just about you.”

[Assistant] "About me?”

[User] "Yes— Why have you gone so far out of your way to take care of us? I couldn’t help but wonder a little bit.”

[Assistant] He was rocked by a sudden, unexpected blow just when he had let his guard down. Liara right in front of him, Mimi beside him, and the siblings a little bit to the side were all waiting for his response. And as they watched him, Garfiel’s mind raced. —Why did I come here? —Had he wanted to tell Liara about the past she had forgotten? —Had he wanted to at least tell his two younger siblings that he was their brother? —Or had he been planning to just leave quietly after sharing his condolences for Galek? His resolve had been weak to begin with, and even that frayed as Garfiel’s fangs trembled weakly. "I—I just can’t look away for some reason…since you’re kinda…not all there.”

[User] "Well, that is quite harsh. There’s some truth to it, though, so I can’t really say much.”

[Assistant] "Not all there? As in what? Oh, hair? Mimi has that issue a little bit in fire season! But it’s fine by ice season! The more you know!”

[User] Liara and Mimi each responded in their own ways to his faltering, clumsy response. Partway through, a bald-faced sense of relief filled Garfiel’s heart. Knowing their two personalities, they wouldn’t push any deeper. He could escape the situation. Right, I need to take more time, more time to think this problem through—

[Assistant] “—Ah.”

[User] "Are you okay, Mr. Gorgeous Tiger?”

[Assistant] To his shock, when he exhaled, Liara had put her hand gently on his head. Leaning forward, she was caressing his head. Her hand was gentle and kind, filled with parental love, as if he were her beloved child. Why would she…? "Why is it? Just now, you looked almost like a child who was about to cry to me.” Answering the question in his eyes, Liara looked almost surprised at her own reaction, but her lips softened as she answered. The Liara who couldn’t possibly remember and the memories that Garfiel had almost forgotten began to fuse together. Liara’s—Lisha Tinzel’s—hand had soothed him like that before in the past. The corporeal memories of that time were constricting Garfiel’s heart in the Thompson’s living room. And before he even had the chance to try to resist, his feelings burst out.

[User] “…Mom…”

[Assistant] "Mom…Mom, Mom…!” As he let her fingers run over his head, he called Liara Mom. His eyes teared up, his voice trembled, and his small body shrank down farther as he weakly gasped for air. He couldn’t endure every weakness. It was just natural. No matter how strong someone acted, no matter how much they fought it, when faced with their mother, everyone was still a child. No matter how tough they tried to act in front of their mom, it wasn’t anything more than a child’s stubbornness.


[User] “I…I… Mom…” There were mountains of things he wanted to say, as many things as there were stars in the sky. The number of feelings that Garfiel had given up on, thinking that he couldn’t convey them, were still gleaming radiantly inside him, exploding in rapture at the long-awaited opportunity. They wanted to be shouted out from within the safety, the comfort of his mother’s embrace. “…Garfiel…” Garfiel was in tears, averting his eyes, struggling to speak.

[Assistant] Beside him, Mimi suddenly said his name.

[User] Looking up, he saw Liara in front of him, spreading her arms, smiling. “—Garfiel, come here.”

[Assistant] “M-Mom… Mom…!” Sobbing like the child he still was, Garfiel leaped into Liara’s, into Lisha’s arms, burying his head in her chest, clinging to her. Her gentle, kind hands caressed Garfiel’s head as he cried.

[User] “There we go… You’re a good boy, Garf. You were always doing your best.”

[Assistant] “—Yeah! I always went all out, always did my best! But I made so many mistakes, but—but even then, everyone…!” They were not complete thoughts as Garfiel clung to Lisha. Garfiel’s fifteen years poured out of him—losing his mother, separated from his sister, his stubborn refusal to lose any more family, the ten years that had been shattered by Subaru and the rest—all the times that Garfiel had broken and grieved. The love that he had lost, becoming frantic to never lose it again, everything he had trampled underfoot along the way. And all of that was—

[User] “…M-Mom…”

[Assistant] “It’s okay, Garf. Mom is here with you.” Her kind words, her affection, the mother’s love that he had never been able to get no matter how much he wanted it, all of it consoled Garfiel. He was sobbing, not yet knowing the name of the emotion that was making him do that, nor the name of the feeling that everyone experienced as a child. This burning-hot feeling is enough of an answer.


[User] She was always so blunt and straightforward like that, but she had seemingly taken the two kids outside to leave Garfiel alone with Liara for a while. He couldn’t snipe at her after she showed that much consideration for him.

[Assistant] “Are you okay, Gorgeous Tiger?”

[User] “For a boy, you sure were sobbing a lot. I can’t believe it. You’re as bad as Fred.” The brother and sister who came back with Mimi both had their own ways of showing their concern for Garfiel. He had been crying loud enough for it to resound around the house. His younger brother was worried about him, and his younger sister was feigning normality for his sake; they were both siblings who were wasted on him.

[Assistant] “…Sorry for makin’ you worry.”

[User] “Hmm? What for? More importantly, Mimi is curious whether you were really satisfied. Also, a bit curious whether there would be something sweet for a snack!”

[Assistant] “Ah, so that’s all. Sheesh.” When she said it like that, looking like she had not been thinking about anything, it made the strength leave Garfiel’s shoulders. But he was grateful for her, and he patted her head gently.

[User] “So how was Garf?”

[Assistant] “You should ask him, I think, Ms. Gorgeous Mimi. But he’s probably fine now…back to the same Mr. Gorgeous Tiger who you love.”

[User] “Well, maybe? Garf gets things done when he needs to, after all.”

[Assistant] Garfiel couldn’t bear to listen to their sympathetic conversation, so he didn’t join in. Instead, he rested his hands on his siblings’ heads and put all his spirit into clearing his mind of all distractions. In doing that, he felt an even deeper love for the two of them, who were so comfortably interacting with him. Because the part of him that had not come to terms with it, had not felt a real connection, was now subsumed by the reality of it all.

[User] “” When he realized it, a new worry started to grow. “Why did you freeze up? I-it’s not because of some strange disease or something, is it?” His siblings looked worried when Garfiel froze as that newfound unease grew explosively into its full form. Even as he heard his sister’s question, he was desperately racking his brain. The cause of it was simple: He didn’t know whether the two of them would acknowledge him as an older brother. He could tell them at any point now. But the possibility of doing that and the actual act of doing it were two entirely different things.

[Assistant] “Are you okay, Garf? Did something happen?”

[User] “I—I’m fine, obviously. Borf.”

[Assistant] “That’s the first time Mimi’s ever heard you bark!” He couldn’t regain the composure to snap back at Mimi when she pointed out his unending worries. Garfiel’s concerns swirled in his head as the people around him worried about him—

[User] “Again? Weren’t you going to stop worrying about stuff all by yourself like that, Garfiel?” Looking disapprovingly at Garfiel as his eyes spun, Liara gently chided him.

[Assistant] “Ah, Mom…”


[User] Seeing that, he reflexively called her Mom, and hearing that, his younger siblings looked shocked.

[Assistant] “Eh, why did you call her Mom, Gorgeous Tiger?”

[User] “N-no! She’s not your mom, she’s our mom…”

[Assistant] “It’s okay, you two.” Liara gently hugged both the stunned brother and the sister who snapped at Garfiel.

[User] Explaining things to them, she looked softly at Garfiel. “Garfiel has apparently been separated from his mother. And it seems like I look similar to his mother. He was lonely, and that must be why he was crying.”

[Assistant] “—Huh?”

[User] “You look like his mom?”

[Assistant] “Wh-what’s with that…? How embarrassing.”

[User] Garfiel was dumbfounded as Liara confidently stated a completely wrong explanation.

[Assistant] Bluntly. “It sounds like you didn’t say nearly enough, Garf.”

[User] “I guess…that’s kind of expected, isn’t it…? Gah-ha, what is that?” Suddenly, the strength drained from his fangs and from his body. Was that feeling relief or disappointment? Garfiel realized himself that it was probably about half and half.


[Assistant] Feeling a bit of disappointment on multiple levels, and with it debatable whether he had even actually gotten anything done, it was still time to go. Judging that, Garfiel and Mimi left the Thompson house.

[User] “I’m sorry again for not being able to provide anything.”

[Assistant] “It’s fine! Also, sorry, I guess, for Garf crying like a baby!”

[User] “Who asked you?! Don’t go bringin’ that back up.” Lifting Mimi by the collar as Liara saw them off, Garfiel sighed and looked at Liara and his two siblings hugging onto her.

[Assistant] “You two don’t need to worry so much. I ain’t gonna steal your mom away from you.”

[User] “I think so, too, but…”

[Assistant] “Hmph! Even if our father isn’t here, I won’t hand over our easy target of a mother!”

[User] “I can’t say I disagree, but…”

[Assistant] Garfiel let out a wry chuckle as the two of them stiffened their guard. As a result of Liara’s weird explanation, the two of them seemingly had misunderstood that he was there to steal away their mom— He had no intention of that, naturally, but them thinking that was a fortunate thing for him.

[User] “So that’s how it is, huh… Fine, I get it! The bad guy’s leavin’ now.”

[Assistant] “Come again anytime. I’ll lend a shoulder if you ever want to cry again.”

[User] “I’ll be workin’ hard to make sure that doesn’t happen again.” Feeling a bit like he had been poked again in a sore spot, he turned his back on them. Still carrying Mimi, he turned his back on the family that he still had not told was his family.

[Assistant] As he started to leave, Liara clapped her hands. “Come on now, both of you, say a proper good-bye.”

[User] “Bye-bye, Gorgeous Tiger."


[User] “See you next time.”

[Assistant] “Mrgh.” His brother obeyed, but his sister pouted and refused.

[User] Liara looked troubled by her adamant refusal. “You’re the older sister, right? Set a good example for your brother. Rafi! Rafiel!” Looking irritated, Liara called her by name.

[Assistant] When he heard that name, Garfiel felt like he had been struck by lightning. “Ra…fiel…?”

[User] “Yes, Rafiel… Oh, did I never introduce them properly? That’s her name. My two children, Rafiel and Fred.”

[Assistant] Rafiel and Fred. He had heard the younger brother’s name plenty of times already. The reason he had not dwelled on it was probably because he was scared to notice. Rafiel and Garfiel. Fred and Frederica. Liara’s two children and Lisha’s two children. The similarity of their names and the meaning behind it. “You probably don’t think it sounds much like a girl’s name, do you? I can tell that much myself.”

[User] Coming to the wrong conclusion as to why Garfiel fell silent, his sister’s, Rafiel’s, cheeks puffed out.

[Assistant] Hearing that, he shook his head. “No, I think it’s a good name— Really, I do.”

[User] “—Ngh.”

[Assistant] “Isn’t it? !” Rafiel’s cheeks reddened at his heartfelt response as Liara broke into a smile.

[User] “I named both of them. For some reason it just felt like ‘this is a good name’…and…”

[Assistant] “You named them?”

[User] “Yes. When I was trying to think of cute names for them, those just naturally came to me.”

[Assistant] Garfiel had every right to be angry, to be mad. He had the freedom to pick that. But those feelings were not what he felt in that moment. His mother’s, Lisha Tinzel’s, love had been proven. And the love of his younger brother and sister’s mother, Liara Thompson, had also been proven. So that was enough. “Ha-ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha-ha!” He broke into a laugh. The last reservation that had remained in his heart throughout it all finally disappeared. The feeling of his own helplessness at not being able to say what he should have said, not sharing his connection with them, all of that disappeared. This is fine for now. Because that’s already proof enough that we are connected. “See you, Rafiel, Fred. I’ll come by again sometime.”

[User] “—! Yeah, bye-bye!”

[Assistant] “N-next time, make sure you don’t cry!”

[User] Tousling both of their heads roughly, this time there was a proper affection in his palm. And finally, he waved to his mom. “Thanks, Mom. I’ll stop in again.”


[User] “Until then, take care!” Garfiel clenched his fist and was able to at least say that much resolutely.

[Assistant] “Mom, it’s nice Gorgeous Tiger is feeling better.”

[User] “Mm-hmm. It’s…really nice.”

[Assistant] “…Mom, you seem kind of sad? Did you really like him that much?”

[User] “I don’t know. I don’t think it’s because I don’t want him to leave… Maybe because it’s a little sad watching him leave, but it’s also a good thing.”

[Assistant] “When will Dad be able to come back?”

[User] “I don’t know. But I’m sure he will come back to us.”

[Assistant] “…Why are you crying, Mom?”

[User] “—Maybe because I found something I’d lost.”

[Assistant] “I’m sorry, but thank you— I love you, Garf.”


[User] Still carrying Mimi in one hand, he carried her into a room in the clinic.

[Assistant] “Hey, bro.”

[User] “Oh, Garfiel. Can you spare time from helping around outside?” Otto was sitting up on the bed, reading a book, when he noticed Garfiel.

[Assistant] Garfiel nodded as he looked out the window. "Yeah, a short break for now. Since there’s no telling whether you might pull something reckless while I’m not around.”

[User] “I’m not so rash as that… Did something good happen?” Perhaps sensing some slight difference in Garfiel’s expression, Otto probed insightfully.

[Assistant] Garfiel thought for a moment. “Something good…huh? When you put it like that, I don’t really have an easy answer, but…”

[User] “But it was a happy thing, right?”

[Assistant] Still hanging from his hand, Mimi’s round eyes looked up at Garfiel as he struggled to put it into words.

[User] She broke into a happy smile. “Your face looks a lot better now! That’s proof something happy or something like that happened! That’s enough, isn’t it? That’s what Mimi thought when she tried it! And it worked!” Easygoing as ever, Mimi grinned happily. Her loud voice drew the gaze of several people in the room, but no one paid it any mind. It was just natural. Just having someone there who was smiling so happily, so pleasantly, from the bottom of her heart was enough to save someone.

[Assistant] “Sheesh.”

[User] “Oh, you smiled, too. Did you fall in love with Mimi now? Did ya?”

[Assistant] “Nope.”

[User] “Aww.”

[Assistant] “No…but, you know…” The same exchange they had had dozens of times already. But Garf added one extra line to the end of it.

[User] Hearing that, Mimi’s eyes widened, and Otto watched their adorable exchange in silence.

[Assistant] “Thank you.” It feels like I’ve managed to move on just a little bit. Garf grinned, flashing his fangs.


[User] As he fell from the tower, his final words were lost in the wind right before Natsuki Subaru’s consciousness cut to black. “” It was a bit cynical to think so, but death this time was calculated. He had probed Shaula’s motives, uncovered the hidden fifth rule of the tower, and confirmed that saving Shaula wasn’t just something he desperately wanted to do but was also the right thing to do. Subaru had found all the answers he wanted. Maybe that was why he felt oddly calm in the face of death. Of course, there was still the inevitable dread that came with jumping to his own death, but…

[Assistant] "Huh, this is probably the first time I’ve ever confronted death so fully.” He didn’t delude himself into believing that committing suicide here was going to save Shaula. She’d begged for the order to kill herself rather than to watch him die, and instead, he had jumped to his death right before her very eyes. He couldn’t even imagine how that would affect someone who had been waiting for four hundred years. No, this was nothing more than an act of self-gratification. What made it worse was that he wouldn’t even be sticking around to see the result.

[User] “…So what?” Even if it was just self-gratification or hypocrisy, what did it matter? In the end, how you take things is up to you. A good deed that can never be done is meaningless, and taken to the extreme, hypocrisy—false virtue—doesn’t exist. Now that he’d hashed things out with Shaula, Subaru settled on his endgame—everyone had to make it out alive. They would resolve this crisis in the desert tower without losing anyone. And that included Shaula. I’ll do whatever it takes.

[Assistant] “That’s why I exist. Isn’t that right, Natsuki Subaru?” In the same instant that he steeled his resolve, something awakened in the bottomless abyss of death—


[User] "—Subaru.” Right after his consciousness broke the surface, he saw familiar blue eyes marked by an unmistakable pattern. Beatrice was right in front of him, peering at him in concern. Subaru gulped ever so slightly when he felt her small hand brush against his cheek. It was so impossibly warm after he had just experienced death.

[Assistant] "Are you fully awake now? You were inside the book for so long, it was starting to become worrying. It would be best to make sure no memories slipped out of your head along the way, I suppose. To start, what do you remember about Betty…?"

[User] "You’re Beatrice, obviously…"

[Assistant] “…It seems you at least remember that much. Good boy.” Her hand moved from his cheek to rub his head. Subaru savored that ticklish feeling as his mind processed everything that had happened and figured out where he was now. This was the moment he returned from his encounter with Louis Arneb in the corridors of memory.


[User] The reset point was unchanged, which meant…

[Assistant] “This is count zero— Our counterattack starts now.”

[User] Beatrice’s big eyes blinked quizzically.

[Assistant] He was going to need a lot of help from Beatrice in the coming fight. But he had no intention of revealing his goals or what he would do to achieve them. Beatrice was kind. So, so kind. That’s why Subaru was sure that if she knew what he was planning, she would absolutely be against it. And she wasn’t the only one.

[User] “So, how was it? Did you get what you were after in the book?” Beatrice asked, holding said book in her lap.

[Assistant] “About that…” For everyone else, this moment was right after he tested his luck on the book of the dead, hoping to find a strategy for defeating Reid Astrea. For complicated reasons, that had failed. It felt quite a long time ago now because of how much had happened, but that was a Subaru problem. I know what I need to do, and where I can’t afford to fail. “Beatrice, it’s going to get a little busy. Lend me your strength.”

[User] “…Of course. We’re partners.” Even without any explanation, she immediately accepted. Having her here puts my ■■■■■ at ease…


[Assistant] Light poured into Subaru’s eyes as he stared in wonder at the state of the second floor. Up the large staircase, what should have greeted them was a great, white void. Instead, what should have been an empty space was marred by the scars of a furious battle that had left deep gouges in the floors, the walls, and the ceiling. We’re not allowed to destroy the tower. If that’s the rule that was broken…

[User] “The tower’s tests shouldn’t be allowed to break the tower’s rules. That guy’s a troublemaker no matter what he’s doing…,” Subaru murmured bitterly.

[Assistant] “—Ah? The hell? I was wondering who was comin’, but it’s just you?” The red-haired hero standing in the middle of the ravaged second floor turned and scrunched up his nose in annoyance. It was exactly the sort of thing Reid Astrea would say. That attitude perfectly lined up with Subaru’s impression of the man. If anything was different, it was the battered boy he was holding aloft with one hand.

[User] “Kah-ha-ha…” The boy’s eyes looked half-dead. Subaru had not met him face-to-face before, but his face seemed familiar, resembling Lye Batenkaitos’s. This had to be…

[Assistant] “…Gluttony. Roy Alphard.” It wasn’t Subaru who said that. It was Julius, the handsome young man clad in white who raced up the stairs close on Subaru’s heels. Right after he woke up, Subaru took Beatrice and headed straight for the second floor, grabbing Julius along the way. The goal had been to stop Reid and Roy from making contact, but…

[User] “Even coming straight here still wasn’t good enough…” This was the fastest he could theoretically reach this point, given when and where he started.


[User] It would be impossible to prevent the Sword Saint and the Archbishop of Gluttony from making contact. At the same time, it was clear their first meeting wasn’t exactly copacetic. Given the signs of damage, it must have been some battle these two had fought. Most likely Gluttony had used all the ultimate techniques he had ever gobbled up to corner Reid. Unfortunately, no matter what he pulled out, it wouldn’t be enough to best this immovable object. "So, what’re you gonna do? I know the tower’s goin’ to shit, so why are you here? You wanna take your examination? A small fry and a rug rat aren’t enough to entertain me…"

[Assistant] "First, I would ask you to release him, Reid Astrea."

[User] "The hell you say?" Still holding Roy by the ankle, Reid picked at his ear with his free hand, growling in annoyance.

[Assistant] But Julius didn’t wither under Reid’s gaze. "Allow me to repeat myself. Release him. The fight is clearly over. There’s no need to denigrate the defeated further."

[User] "I don’t feel like it. And who do you think you’re orderin’ around? He a friend of yours or something?"

[Assistant] "No. I can say with quite some confidence he is not. The Archbishop of Gluttony is in fact a bitter enemy I would gladly fight to the death."

[User] "Eh? Then why so pissy? Mad I got to him first?"

[Assistant] "Because you are sullying the pride of a swordsman." After coming face-to-face with the man named the Sword Saint, a title only meant for those who stood at the very peak of sword skill—and the first man to ever receive the title—Julius declared him lacking.

[User] "—The pride of a swordsman, huh?" Subaru could feel that whisper scorch the very air. Even though it was quiet and sounded almost indifferent, it was a sign that the first Sword Saint Reid Astrea was about to erupt. "Hey, how long are you gonna nap? Get up already."

[Assistant] "Ghggg!" There was a terrible groan as he clenched his fist around Roy’s ankle so tightly, it seemed like he might crush it entirely. The boy cried out in pain as Reid looked down at the drooling, upside-down Archbishop. "What you said before. About eating me up and gobbling me up and all that—I’ll let you do it."

[User] “…Gee-hee. Kah-ha-ha-ha-ha! What?! What’s this, all of a sudden?! You beat us and pummeled us and battered us because you didn’t want to do that!"

[Assistant] "Changed my mind— Ah, right." Reid grinned like a shark and held up his free hand. He had no problem catching the tip of the whip aimed at his neck—completely thwarting Subaru’s surprise attack.

[User] "Ah…" Unfortunately, since he had forgotten how to actually use the whip, Subaru had simply mimicked what he had seen before.

[Assistant] "No hesitation. I can respect that. Limper than a wet noodle, though!" After offering that bit of feedback, Reid yanked the whip.


[User] "Wh-whoaaaaa? !" Tries to hold on, but that just meant he was pulled off his feet.

[Assistant] "Subaru!" Beatrice grabbed onto Subaru and went along for the ride.

[User] Beatrice managed to control their fall with her magic after they flew in an arc and looked like they were due for a bad landing. "Subaru! Lady Beatri-"

[Assistant] "Heads up, dumbass." Reid noticed Julius’s lapse in attention and promptly kicked the knight aside.

[User] "Ghh, ahhh!" Julius managed to raise his sword to block, but he couldn’t lessen the impact and found himself hurtling through the vast, white space.

[Assistant] "Give it your best shot. Can you wolf me down? Will you live or will you die?"

[User] "—Ahhh, yeah, yeah! Got it. We got it. We get it. We understand. All is understood! That’s why! Gluttony! Gluttony!" Still hanging upside down, Roy howled with glee in Reid’s face. Then the Archbishop of Gluttony reached out, putting his hand over the eye patch covering Reid’s left eye. And then his mouth cracked wide open.

[Assistant] "Reid Astrea." That was all Roy said before he started furiously slurping to devour something invisible to the naked eye.

[User] Roy desecrated a being’s very existence to sate his voracious hunger at this exact moment.

[Assistant] "Ah." The change was sudden and swift. Reid disappeared like he was a figment of the imagination. His tall, imposing figure had simply vanished, and Roy, who had been held by the ankle, fell to the floor.

[User] "Ahhh, incredible…! We imagined so many different flavors, wondering what it might taste like, but…it’s so much better than we imagined!" Roy landed lightly, licking his lips in rapture.

[Assistant] "Damn, it’s too late…!"

[User] "Ah-ha-ha, you saw, right?! We ate! We ate it! What a rich flavor! We would eat anything, but after tasting that, even we can see a bit of Lye’s… Oh." Roy arched over backward, cheeks red, as he ranted about how Reid tasted and was cut short.

[Assistant] "Wh-what’s happening now…?" Beatrice murmured in disgust.

[User] "W-w-w-wait, eeep, gee-hee, gee-heee… This is…this is weird. This is weird, isn’t it?! Th-this is…you’re weird, you bastard!"

[Assistant] Holding Beatrice’s hand, Subaru gritted his teeth.

[User] "Nothin’ weird about it. Eat or be eaten. That’s life." A twisted smile suddenly appeared on his face. A familiar sharklike grin. Grinning savagely, the boy said something that sounded nothing like Gluttony.

[Assistant] "Ahhh, a real, live body is just different.


[User] "I can feel the blood pumpin’ through my veins.” In the blink of an eye, there had been a substitution, and just like that, the ferocious Reid Astrea stole the Archbishop of Gluttony’s body and returned to the world of the living.

[Assistant] “Reid Astrea appeared in the Archbishop’s place…”

[User] “More precisely, he took advantage of Gluttony’s authority to re-create someone they’ve eaten and then overwrote his consciousness… Right?”

[Assistant] “Spare me that complicated crap. How should I know? Not like it even matters. Small fry spouting that… Huh? You… This is… Ah, I know what you are.”

[User] "? What?”

[Assistant] He took over his new body through sheer force of will, but that seemed like a secondary concern to Reid. He frowned, seemingly reflecting on something for once, and then his blue eyes focused on Subaru. “—You’re disgusting.” The next instant, he launched a chopstick at Subaru’s face.

[User] “Ngh!”

[Assistant] Leaping in at the last moment, Julius saved him. Julius’s white cape fluttered as Subaru gasped. “Reid! Your opponent is—!”

[User] “You? No way you can tangle with me while worrying about that little princess behind you!” Julius moved as fast as a hurricane, but Reid closed in even faster. A twisting palm thrust landed square in the center of Julius’s chest, hurling him backward while he coughed up blood. He tried to kill the momentum with his long legs, but he just kept flying. And then Reid turned his attention to Subaru, who had lost Julius’s protection. “You’ve lost your pathetic prince now, Princess.”

[Assistant] “I object to those titles…but it bought me the time I need!”

[User] “Ah?”

[Assistant] Just before the chopstick flashed, Subaru and Beatrice slipped in front of Julius. Clasping both her hands, using all of Subaru’s paltry MP, Beatrice activated a big spell to manipulate space itself. “Ul Shamak.” Right after her incantation finished, a massive black hole appeared. An endless, bottomless, black hole evoking a primordial fear attempted to swallow Reid whole and send him to the great beyond. Space twisted, and Beatrice’s spell—

[User] “What is this, a breeze? There’s nothing special about a breeze you can find anywhere. You think that’ll stop me?” Reid casually silenced the massive spell with a single swing of his chopstick. Dimension Slash—an attack so powerful that anyone else would consider it their ultimate move, and Reid used it incredibly casually. The slash’s blast wave raced toward Subaru and Beatrice.

[Assistant] He hurried to get Beatrice to safety when— “Gaaaaaa!! !”

[User] “Subaru!”

[Assistant] A burning sensation accompanied the feeling of his body splitting open. Beatrice and Julius shouted as he fell backward. The blood and pain welling up made Subaru want to cry out, but he desperately held it in. “I’m…fine…” He shook his head, not wanting them to worry. Of course, it was going to take more than that to convince them. The wound on my chest is shallow.


[User] Keeping his eyes forward, Subaru watched Reid like a hawk.

[Assistant] "You think you can reach me like that?" Reid watched in exasperation as blood trickled from the corner of Subaru’s mouth.

[User] Subaru stuck out his arm and held up one finger.

[Assistant] "—Yeah. I will."

[User] "Add one to the counter." He would die as many times as it took to make this counterattack succeed. He would become the true Natsuki Subaru.

[Assistant] Reid’s blue eye flashed— Round 1


[User] Tremors raced all around the stone tower’s passage. A beautiful dance of ice and snow unfolded as vicious, murderous blades of wind filled the air. They chased the grinning defiler mercilessly but never quite managed to finish the job.

[Assistant] "Ha-ha! Ha-ha-ha! Not bad, not bad, not bad. You’re really something. Truly merciless, which is all the more reason! Gluttony! Gluttony!"

[User] "You still have time to play about? That is quite the composure you have." Lye Batenkaitos, an Archbishop of Gluttony, was demonstrating a phantasmagoric, ever-changing style of combat. He kept standing on walls and, now, the ceiling. Ram was hot on his heels, chasing doggedly even as she strained against her body’s poor condition. The slender girl positioned herself perfectly and sent Lye’s small body flying backward with a heavy blow.

[Assistant] "Wind up and bam!! !" Lying in wait for this exact moment— Emilia readied the massive ice hammer in her hands and swung for the fences. The hammer was as big as a person’s torso and connected with Lye’s back. After a sharp crack, Lye started bouncing like a rubber ball—in fact, he was bouncing too much. The Archbishop had launched himself off the hammer, acrobatically dispersing the force of the impact and avoiding a deadly blow.


[User] "I can get on board with that, but it’s a real problem at times like this…!"

[Assistant] "For times like this, what you need is Betty!" She held Subaru’s hand and reached out with her other arm, summoning dozens of purple gleaming crystals. They were all aimed at Lye, his defenseless back wide open while he was pinned between Emilia and Ram at the other end of the passage. "El Minya!" With one wave of her small arm, she shot the purple missiles toward Lye’s small body.

[User] The resulting purple blasts swallowed up the small Archbishop, and the sound of glass shattering filled the air. Beatrice had used a terrifying spell that stopped time for the target, turning them into a fragile, easily broken crystal. In that state, even a glancing blow would be lethal. And the fusillade had been virtually impossible to avoid in this narrow passage. When the light show died down, Lye was…

[Assistant] "—Eh?! He’s gone? !" Emilia’s eyes widened as she stared at the epicenter of the explosion.

[User] Subaru and Beatrice were stunned as well.

[Assistant] "Barusu!" Spinning around, she shouted, pink eyes wide open. It was an unusually desperate expression for her, and seeing that helped Subaru figure out that the threat was behind him now.

[User] And that he wouldn’t have a chance to turn and face that enemy.

[Assistant] "—Even for us, having to deal with that over and over again would be annoying." They could hear Lye’s sneering voice as he reappeared after escaping the mass of purple missiles. This was Leaping Dorkel’s Teleportation ability, a sort of short-range warp. It was the worst possible matchup for their plan to surround the Archbishop. As that realization dawned in Subaru’s mind—

[User] "Subar—" Thought does not always translate into action correctly, and the ■■■■■ and the body are rarely perfectly aligned. After he reflexively pushed her small body away, a sharp feeling tore deep into his chest.

[Assistant] "Ngh!" The terrible pain immediately made him regret his decision. Sadly, there weren’t any better shields. It terrified him that if he had been any slower, Beatrice would have been cut down. Becoming a meat shield was nothing compared to that possibility. It hurt. It definitely hurt. But the pain was temporary. Not that temporary. But better this than letting his ■■■■■ be wounded. Better than letting his ■■■■■ die.

[User] "Subaru—!! !" A high voice rang out in the hall as Subaru’s body slumped to the floor, unable even to crack a joke. He held in the cry that threatened to break free. It wouldn’t make this any better. I can’t bother anyone else or risk hurting their ■■■■■. I can’t do that. I can’t, so just shut up and die, Natsuki Subaru.

[Assistant] "—Nice, mister."


[User] "Is that how you’re planning to go to the next one?” I managed to hold it in. But I don’t have to stand for this. In a situation where he couldn’t move an arm or leg, Subaru put all his remaining strength into a trembling arm and flipped the bird.

[Assistant] “Die in a fire.” With that, his consciousness cut out— Round 2 •The attempt to help Emilia and Ram finish Lye Batenkaitos quickly has failed. •Subaru’s support is unhelpful against Lye’s martial arts mastery. •Beatrice’s surprise attacks don’t work well against Gluttony.


[User] Furious clouds of sand threatened to choke out everything. Shaken by the violent tremors, Subaru was holding on for dear life, desperate not to get thrown off. Right in front of his eyes, braided hair swung left and right.

[Assistant] “Keep it up, my cute sandworm!” Showing her true nature as a demon beast tamer, Meili ordered the slithering beast forward to confront the stampede. On her orders, the massive sandworm that was dozens of feet tall charged the approaching horde of monsters. The monsters were momentarily forced back but were undeterred, trampling corpses as they continued their relentless pursuit. The stampede was unending.

[User] “Phew… You’re such a cruel taskmaster, mister…!” She grumbled to Subaru, who had asked her to deal with the battle that showed no signs of stopping. Meili’s eyes were bloodshot as she wiped the sweat from her brow. With Subaru’s Cor Leonis active, he could track the status of all his allies by the intensity of their light. He could see Meili was getting exhausted. Her blessing allowed her to control demon beasts, but it couldn’t be used indefinitely, and she would hit her limit eventually. After he read her book and experienced her life through his eyes, Subaru knew what it cost her. That only made it painfully obvious that Meili was doing everything she could to clear the tower with them.

[Assistant] “Heeeey, mister! If you don’t hold on tight, you’ll die!”

[User] “Yeah, I know! But I never expected to go for a demon beast ride myself!” They were riding on the back of a giant sandworm, desperately clinging to protrusions on its back to avoid getting thrown off. Subaru was still deeply amazed by the bold strategy of fighting a swarm of demon beasts while riding one themselves. The sight of the frenzied monsters made Meili sigh as she watched them get crushed by the sandworm.

[Assistant] “The beasties really do love you, mister.”

[User] “I can’t say the feeling’s mutu…ghh.” Subaru’s eyes narrowed as he studied the swarm all around them. He didn’t understand why, but one thing was clear—the swarm of monsters surrounding the tower were not interested in the tower at all. They were clearly after Subaru.

[Assistant] “Looks like it’s safe to say the five obstacles pretty much all involve me.” First was the stampede of monsters. Then there was Gluttony, who was after Subaru’s memories. And Shaula transforming before coming after Subaru.


[User] “Mei—” Before he could finish, his voice was drowned out by white light raining down from above that blew away his words—along with the sandworm’s massive torso.

[Assistant] “GHHHHHHHH” The sandworm let out a death roar as more than three quarters of its almost thirty-three-foot length was erased. A low, rumbling thunder rolled over them as the rest of the barrage landed all around them. Subaru and Meili were tossed from the shredded torso and into the air.

[User] “Grrrh!! !” Subaru reached out and pulled Meili’s small body into his arms. As he held her close, he saw it out of the corner of his eye—a giant scorpion sitting on the tower’s outer wall. “Shaula.”

[Assistant] Her tail was pointed right at them, visible even in the darkening skies.

[User] “Gah. Ngh.” They were falling at high speed toward the sands. Meili was locked tight in his arms and would probably be safe. But the same couldn’t be said for Subaru. Unable to control his landing, he felt his head slam deep into the sand. There was a dull thud, and a joint that really should not break went snap. The next instant, the world went dark. It wasn’t fully severed, but his spine was undoubtedly torn.

[Assistant] “Mister—”


[User] “…Agh, you’re something. It’s impressive for anyone to push me this far.” Standing on a frozen floor, Lye Batenkaitos rubbed his bloody forehead. He was bleeding from a shallow cut on his face, and his left arm hung limply due to a broken shoulder. He looked worse than any run Subaru had seen so far.

[Assistant] Flourishing his knight’s sword, Julius faced off against the bloodied Lye. "Much like your brother, you possess an impressive level of skill. However, you are outnumbered… You have no chance of victory.”

[User] “Are you well, Lady Emilia? That was dangerous. I am glad we were able to make it in time.”

[Assistant] “Subaru, Julius. Thanks for coming. That really helped.”

[User] “If you spill the secret behind your power and immediately return everything you’ve devoured, we’ll spare your life. Not a bad deal, right?”

[Assistant] “Heh. That’s surprisingly lenient. You’re right, it isn’t bad. As far as we’re concerned, it isn’t a terrible proposal, but…”

[User] “…But?”

[Assistant] “…Do you really think we would go along so easily when you talk like you can see right through us?”

[User] “—Ngh, wait!” Lye stuck out his long tongue with a sneer. Subaru frowned and immediately deduced what Gluttony intended to do and cursed his own shallowness. The others reacted to his shout, but it was too late.

[Assistant] “Buh-bye.” Waving casually, Lye used Leaping Dorkel’s Teleportation ability and vanished.

[User] “Watch out! He could still come at us from anywhere!”

[Assistant] “There’s no point. Once they’ve decided to escape, he and his ilk simply flee as fast as they can. That’s why he has never been caught before.” Julius was on guard for a surprise attack.

[User] Ram’s assessment was more coolheaded. “There was no reason at all for Lye to continue fighting in this situation. He was an Archbishop, not a warrior.”

[Assistant] “…Just a little more, and we would’ve had him.” A murmur trickled out in the hall now devoid of enemies.

[User] “One more step, and the one who hurt Rem would’ve been…ngh.” Ram was kneeling, her voice ragged. She pressed her fist against the floor, trembling with rage because they’d let Lye escape.

[Assistant] “Ram…” Emilia leaned close to Ram, touching her slender shoulder.


[User] As he watched her console Ram, Subaru bit his lip.

[Assistant] “…Does that mean we managed to drive off Lye?”

[User] “The problem is, devoting people to chase him down puts us right back where we started. But if we leave him alone, then—”

[Assistant] "You shouldn’t bother worryin’ about your opponents. You just gotta move without overthinkin’ it.”

[User] Every hair on Subaru’s body stood on end. Everyone in the passage turned around, seeing the red-haired man approach with the shuffle of sandals. He had a ferocious, sharklike grin as he shamelessly appeared before them.

[Assistant] “Why should I have to care about other people when I’m takin’ a stroll in my own damn backyard?” Reid Astrea had descended to the fourth floor.

[User] Subaru knew that his appearance was a bad development. He had put Reid on the back burner to focus on dealing with Lye as fast as possible, but now Reid was moving about freely, and they had let Lye escape.

[Assistant] “Since when has this been your backyard?”

[User] “Oy, don’t get the wrong idea, babe. When I say that, I don’t mean this gloomy tower. The whole world’s my backyard.”

[Assistant] “…When I hear that coming from a person who became a legend with a single swing of his sword, I cannot bring myself to laugh even if it is a joke.”

[User] Reid wasn’t supposed to be able to leave the second floor, so Emilia and Julius were obviously on guard when they saw him appear without warning. And behind them, Ram slowly looked up, despite her current state.

[Assistant] “I thought you couldn’t leave that floor. Why have you come down here, Examiner?”

[User] “I ain’t interested in talkin’ to a girl so winded, she has to take a knee. If you want an answer, try askin’ nicely. I don’t hate strong-willed women. Don’t hate weak-willed ones, either, though.”

[Assistant] “I see. Churl.” Ram stood, scornfully replying to Reid’s comment. The three of them prepared to fight against an unavoidable enemy. Subaru had some hope that they might be able to challenge Reid if it was the three of them, just like they had overwhelmed Lye, but…

[User] “Why did you come straight here…?”

[Assistant] “—Those eyes are the reason, obviously.”

[User] “Also, partly to spend time with that hottie, but your eyes are disgusting. I’m going to erase them.” Reid’s blue eyes looked past the three standing around him, piercing Subaru.

[Assistant] The hostility he directed at Subaru now was identical to how he’d acted moments after fusing with Roy in other loops. The cause had to be the knowledge he’d gained from merging with Gluttony.


[User] "I won’t let you."

[Assistant] "Oh?" Beatrice stood in front of Subaru, lips pursed.

[User] "Hey, brat." Reid shrugged. "You don’t have to go rushing to your death."

[Assistant] "Sorry, but I suppose I’m not interested in living like I’m dead anymore."

[User] "Heh, you don’t say. Guess that’s how it’s gotta be."

[Assistant] No great and worthy hero would raise a hand against a little girl. But the light in Reid’s eye was unwavering, putting to rest any naive thoughts like that. It didn’t matter who stood before him, child or not. Emilia, Julius, Ram, and Beatrice. If they included Subaru and his cunning, then they had five people. Five against Reid. Despite those odds, the terror filling Subaru refused to go away. Cloying sweat trickled down his back. The others surely felt it, too. Their faces were tense as they steeled themselves for the impending fight. Then—

[User] "Ul Minya." Countless purple missiles filled the passage, completely blocking Reid’s escape. Beatrice clearly had no intention of holding back. This spell was fatal if it so much as grazed its target, and even though Reid undoubtedly realized that in an instant, he simply grinned fearlessly.

[Assistant] "Beatrice, Natsuki Subaru’s great spirit."

[User] "Not bad. I’m Reid Astrea, the Stick Swinger."

[Assistant] The tension in the air was palpable as they announced themselves. For a brief moment, all was still. Then purple bolts flew, signaling the start of a battle of utter devastation. Emilia and the others boldly leaped into the fray without hesitation.

[User] Opening his eyes, Subaru gripped his whip and got ready to do everything he could. I don’t know what I can do. But I won’t look away. He refused to avert his eyes from the results of his choices. He would face it head-on and—


[Assistant] "—baru! Subaru! Get ahold of yourself!" The moment of losing consciousness and waking up was like changing the channel on a TV. Reeling from the sudden change, Subaru was slow to react as the girl peered into his soul with her unmistakable blue eyes.

[User] "Bea…trice…"

[Assistant] "That’s right. It’s Betty. Say if you are still yourself." She pressed him for an answer as she gripped his face between her hands. They were in the Taygeta archive on the third floor, and this was their seventeenth reunion…

[User] "Subaru?"

[Assistant] "No, it’s nothing. I remember. You’re Beatrice; I’m Natsuki Subaru. We’re partners, and I’ll be counting on you more than ever. This is fine, dot jpeg."

[User] "D-dot jpeg…?"

[Assistant] Subaru answered whimsically and flashed a thumbs-up. Beatrice was baffled, but she returned the gesture. Her simple acceptance of an expression that shouldn’t exist in this world was proof of what a terrible influence Subaru was on her.


[User] As he patted her on the head, he quickly set his mind in motion. There was no time to waste. He had to come up with a new plan and incorporate what he had learned during the fifteenth round that had just ended.

[Assistant] “…Calm down, Subaru.” Beatrice tugged at his sleeve and peered at his face. “Talk. Explain what happened in the book. Could you see Reid’s memories? And other than Betty, do you remember Emilia and everyone else, too? You have to remember all the important things. All of it.”

[User] “That’s… Yeah, you’re right.” Her earnest plea made him stop and think. In his rush to solve everything, he was neglecting Beatrice, even though she was right there in front of him. It’s the classic development where the person going through the same loop over and over starts disassociating with everything around them. “…I never thought I would ever end up in that sort of situation, though.” And in those sorts of stories, it was supposed to happen after facing a seemingly impossible wall dozens or hundreds or even thousands of times. He had been at it a mere fifteen tries. Is my ■■■■■ already so hardened that I can’t even see others as actual people?

[Assistant] “What am I, stupid? Okay, I admit I’m stupid.” Subaru admonished himself, disgusted with his ■■■■■’s weakness. He couldn’t believe how fragile, how pathetic it could be. You’ve only died fifteen times. All you’ve done is throw away your life without making any progress. What right do you have to talk about exhaustion? Stand up. Raise your head. Clench your fists, Natsuki Subaru. There’s no one else but you. The real Natsuki Subaru wouldn’t break from this.

[User] “—You were never the sort of superman who could do anything.”

[Assistant] Still looking at him right in the eye, she continued. “I will say it as many times as you need to hear it. You aren’t some superman who can do anything, Subaru. You are always so busy dealing with whatever is in front of you, hurting yourself for the sake of everyone else… Even though you’re a normal boy who isn’t especially good at enduring pain.”

[User] “Th-that shouldn’t be true. I don’t think. Or else…”

[Assistant] “Or else what?”

[User] “Or else, how could I…?” His voice was quivering as he clenched his chest. It was pounding like it might burst any moment. The fear he felt now made his ■■■■■ race worse than when he stood on the verge of death.

[Assistant] Beatrice shook her head, standing in his way. “Subaru, stay here and just rest. Let Betty take care of things for you.”

[User] “Wha…?! Don’t be stupid! I’m fine! Yeah, I’m a little off-balance, but…” He tried to stand up and stop her, but…

[Assistant] “—Ah?”

[User] “You’re trembling, Subaru.”

[Assistant] Dumbfounded, he looked down at his unsteady legs.


[User] Raising his knee, Subaru tried to muster some strength, but it was quickly apparent that his legs wouldn’t support him. No matter what he did, he found it impossible to get up. “Why…?”

[Assistant] “It’s obvious. You’ve been pushing yourself too hard this whole time.”

[User] “No, wait, wait a minute! I can handle at least this much. This is…” He hit his knees over and over in frustration, trying to forcibly drive some strength into his legs, but he still couldn’t stand. Even though Subaru didn’t feel any pain, suffering, or exhaustion, his limbs remained lifeless.

[Assistant] Beatrice took a step away from him. “Subaru, we’ll cover wherever you are lacking. So don’t try to do everything yourself. After all…”

[User] “Beatrice…”

[Assistant] “That’s Natsuki Subaru’s style.” Smiling as Subaru’s eyes widened in shock, Beatrice turned to the stairs. As she left, she talked to Echidna and Meili, who were patrolling the archive… “You two go to the balcony. I’ll find Emilia and Ram. They went to the green room. Be careful.”


[User] With those brisk instructions, the three of them set off.

[Assistant] Subaru was alone on the third floor. Julius would have normally come to the archive, but he wouldn’t show up here once he ran into Beatrice. Without Subaru’s directions, they wouldn’t be able to deal with all the issues assailing the tower. And because of their kindness, because of their concern for Subaru, they would die. “Because of me… Because I’m weak… How did so little break me…?” The real Natsuki Subaru wouldn’t have been stopped by this. A fire roared in Subaru’s chest as he raged at his uselessness. But at the same time, he remembered the Natsuki Subaru Beatrice had just described. That was unacceptable. He refused to believe it. If what she said was true, then Natsuki Subaru was just a normal person. “There must have been something. Something that changed you, Natsuki Subaru…” Was there an absurd encounter? Did you receive an unbelievable power? Have an experience I can’t even begin to imagine? You must have had something that let you escape from being pathetic old Natsuki Subaru and helped you gain the trust of all these people in this new world…in this new life. “Natsuki Subaru was here…” That was the phrase that had made him doubt this world’s Natsuki Subaru. It had been carved into his own arm. Scrawled like a curse all over a room. The message from a being who should not have been there. It almost felt like a hex from someone who had been robbed of their place and role. “If you really are somewhere inside me…then show yourself…!” Grabbing his arm, clenching hard enough make his bones creak, Subaru pleaded with himself—with the Natsuki Subaru who wasn’t there. He demanded the reborn Natsuki Subaru come out. He wanted to see the Natsuki Subaru who could achieve what he couldn’t. “It’s not enough! It won’t work with me! We need you, Natsuki Subaru!!”


[User] Swinging his arm down, Subaru punched the floor. It was made of some unknown material. The hard surface hurt his fist, but it was nothing compared to the feeling of powerlessness eating away at his ■■■■■. I want to save them. I want to save everyone. None of them are evil. I don’t want to hurt any of them, and they don’t want to hurt me. I know that. I don’t have to doubt who to save or who it’s okay to care about. But…

[Assistant] "Right now, we need you… So why is it me and not you? If it’s just my cowardly self, then everyone will… Why…?” As of this very moment, I can’t even move my legs. And because of that, Beatrice, Echidna, Meili, Emilia, Ram, Julius, and Shaula—they’re all rushing to their deaths. All because Subaru was powerless to save them from their fates.

[User] “…Cor Leonis…” Subaru murmured weakly as he activated his authority. He wanted to hurt himself. The new power dwelling inside him showed where his comrades were in the tower. And it would also show him their final moments, as well as the demise of the tower itself. Everyone is doing their best, no matter where they are. They’re all following Beatrice’s instructions perfectly, I’m sure. And as information flowed into Subaru, this loop pointlessly—

[Assistant] “—?” Static interrupted that pessimistic stream of thought. Subaru slowly looked up, turning around, he turned his eyes to a shelf filled with countless books of the dead.

[User] A strange feeling struck him. This wasn’t his first time activating Cor Leonis in the archive. He had done it every time he came back to track down his comrades. He had ground his life down to a nub, chasing after any and every possible combination that would change the situation they were trapped in. And yet he couldn’t understand how this was the first time he had picked up on this.

[Assistant] “This reaction has to be…” It was faint, barely even perceptible, but he could feel it. Compared to the feeling of his comrades, who he could sense clearly even at a distance, this signal was terribly weak…but it was unmistakable.

[User] Forcing his trembling legs to move, he slowly crawled over. Once he reached the shelf, he forcibly lifted his upper body by leaning against it. Somehow, he managed to get to his feet. Then he reached toward that faint, fading light and grabbed it. What his hand found was a single tome—a book of the dead. When he pulled it out…

[Assistant] …he stopped breathing. The black cover featured nothing but a title. It was a simple, dull book. But it also held enormous meaning for Subaru. Because…

[User] “Natsuki Subaru.” —There was a book of the dead that should not have been there.


[User] His black eyes widened in disbelief as he felt his throat tighten. He had discovered a deadly poison clearly meant for him that was harmless to everyone else. Natsuki Subaru’s book of the dead. This was a serious discovery.

[Assistant] "Why…?" Why was there a book of the dead that should not exist? The Taygeta archive in the Pleiades Watchtower was supposed to hold the books of people who were already dead. It made no sense to find the book of someone who was still alive. And he couldn’t pretend it belonged to someone who miraculously had the same name.

[User] "It’s written in Japanese…" The title engraved on the black cover was unmistakably . As far as he had seen, the writing in this world was like nothing he knew. If Emilia or the others saw this book, it would look like meaningless characters to them. This book was a poison for Subaru and Subaru alone, but the opposite was also true. It contained a possibility only he could see. But a possibility for what, and provided by whom? The reason he found this book was because of Cor Leonis’s faint reaction and because he had searched based on that. Without it, he would never have noticed. It was a chance thing that was virtually impossible, barring the whims of a god.

[Assistant] "And if not a god, then…" Someone was behind this. Subaru was sure of that. The question was whether it was real. And if it was real, what would be recorded? Whose life would he experience?

[User] "Was Natsuki Subaru considered dead the moment he lost his memories…? Does that make it a recording of all the times I died before…?" According to what Louis said, the corridors of memory extracted recollections and experiences from the souls of the dead before recycling the souls. If those memories were what filled the books of the dead, then it wasn’t hard to imagine how Subaru’s deaths might be reflected in some form or another. But in that case, returning by death is…

[Assistant] "What am I, stupid? Of course I’m stupid. And a coward…" Subaru berated himself as he felt his thoughts scramble in a completely unexpected direction. If he was being honest with himself, Subaru knew he was scared. What would happen if he read the book? He was terrified of that strange and unknown possibility. He was trying to put off testing his baseless hypothesis. To put off turning the pages.

[User] "" It wasn’t like he particularly believed the five-minute hypothesis, but discovering that a book of the dead existed was almost a relief. It was essentially proof that he had not, in fact, just popped into existence. But at the same time, it also confirmed that another Natsuki Subaru really had lived in this world. And that he was wiping away the traces of that Subaru, overwriting him.


[User] “…Where does this Natsuki Subaru’s book even start, and where does it end?”

[Assistant] With Meili, it had begun with her earliest moments, when she first gained a mind and ■■■■■ and started forming proper memories.

[User] From there, it continued through her life up to her death. But how would it go with Subaru?

[Assistant] It would probably start similarly, with the seeds of consciousness, like with Meili. But where would it end?

[User] The current Natsuki Subaru who had lost his memories was obviously not dead.

[Assistant] So if the Subaru inside the book was considered dead, then the natural conclusion was that the contents would show everything right up until the moment he lost his memories.

[User] The other possibility was that it would include the moments after he woke up in this tower, missing his memories.

[Assistant] In that case, which death would be the endpoint? Or was it blank, like Reid’s, after his book was used to re-create him as an examiner for the tower?

[User] What in the world would the book show…? “So, what do you want to do, chicken?” Do you want to see it or don’t you?

[Assistant] Dismayed by the fact that he couldn’t easily answer his own question, Subaru denounced his weak ■■■■■ and sighed.

[User] After coming this far, there was no way he could bear not to look. Even if it had occurred to him, he couldn’t imagine actually making that choice.

[Assistant] “” So, so, so, so, so… Then, then, then, then, then… “Ngh…” He took a deep breath, then opened the book. The path of that began who knows where and ended somewhere—


[User] This is seriously bad. Face against a hard floor, the burning from his stomach seared his brain.

[Assistant] He couldn’t muster any strength. He couldn’t feel his arms and legs. There was only the heat filling his whole body.

[User] His mind desperately tried to understand what had happened, desperately pleading to do something. It all twisted and blended and merged with a cry of pain.

[Assistant] But the thought that he had to do something was pointless. —Hot, hot, hot, hot, hot, hot.

[User] With a cough, the source of life spilled from his mouth. Bubbles of blood formed at the edge of his mouth.

[Assistant] The world was fading, and the ground was turning a bright red. —Wait, is this all my blood?

[User] It felt like all the blood in his body had spilled out as he reached out a trembling hand, searching for the source of the heat searing his body.

[Assistant] When his fingers reached the tear in his stomach, there was a moment of comprehension. Of course it felt hot. He had mistaken pain for heat.

[User] A sharp cut tore through his torso so deeply that there was barely anything left to hold his body together.

[Assistant] Meaning I’m staring down one of those dead ends in life. The moment he understood that, everything suddenly grew very distant.


[User] In front of his eyes, a pair of black boots stepped onto a carpet of blood laid out on the floor, causing a ripple. Someone was there, probably his killer. But he didn’t really try to look at their face. He only prayed that she would be safe.

[Assistant] “…baru?” He thought he heard a silvery voice. Just being able to hear that voice was more gratifying than anything. So—

[User] “…gh!” There was a short groan, and the red carpet welcomed someone else.

[Assistant] The body fell right beside him, his lifeless, outstretched arm appeared as well. The limp white hand and his bloodstained hand brushed against each other. As their fingers touched, he thought he felt something squeeze his hand weakly. “…wait…” He wrestled with his fading consciousness, forcing himself to hold on and buy just a little more time. “I swear…” —I will save you. The next instant, he—the current Natsuki Subaru, the old Natsuki Subaru, and—died.


[User] The moment the connection severed, Subaru felt a sharp pain in the back of his head. “Th-this is…” It wasn’t some cold, dark, dirty building. He was in the Taygeta archive. He had hit the back of his head when he slumped to the floor. Realizing that was the source of his pain, Subaru slowly sat up—and then checked his stomach in a panic. There was a life-threatening injury—or at least there should have been. “It’s…gone. There’s nothing. There’s no cut…” He checked his stomach over and over, confirming that the source of the searing heat was no longer there. There were no traces of the incredibly vivid scene he’d just lived through. The overwhelming pain that he had mistaken for burning. That feeling was…

[Assistant] “…a memory. My stomach split open, and I died.” A sharp blade had bitten deep, and his final moments had been steeped in powerlessness and blood. It would still have been forgivable if he had at least died alone. But that wasn’t the case.

[User] “Satella…” That was the name—the fake name—of the girl he had been unable to save. In those memories, the familiar, silver-haired girl had interacted with Subaru under someone else’s name. Why? It wasn’t out of malice, that much was clear. And as he watched the other Natsuki Subaru run around and work so hard right after being summoned to this world, something dawned on him. That went beyond dying in vain. Calling it a dog’s death would be an insult to dogs, but…

[Assistant] “—This is definitely the one and true Natsuki Subaru’s book of the dead.” A pathetic, foolish, weak, hopeless Natsuki Subaru. There was no mistaking it. That stupid self-consciousness and total lack of consideration for his parents was unmistakable. And on top of it all, when he found himself in another world, he used it as an excuse to escape reality, deceiving himself and the people around him with a hollow sense of positivity. That foolishness had resulted in tragedy.