[User] "I know more about myself than anyone else!”

[Assistant] “You only know about you, Subaru! How much do you know about the Subaru I see? !” Reflexively, Subaru raised his voice, but Rem’s shout was even louder than his own.

[User] Subaru was shocked. It was the first time she’d raised her voice since they’d arrived here. The shock made his breath catch in his throat. At long last, he realized that Rem’s eyes, dutifully maintaining their neutral expression, had large teardrops welling in them. Of course hearing Subaru’s confession had hurt her. Of course listening to his extreme masochism had brought pain to her kind heart. Yet even so, she believed in Subaru. Rem knew all the horrible things within him that he had told her about, and she believed in Subaru despite them.

[Assistant] “Why do you…? So much… I’m weak, puny… I’m running away…! Even now, I’m running away just like I did before, so why…?” Why do you believe in a pathetic, unreliable guy drowning in his weakness like me…? If I can’t believe in myself, how can you…?

[User] “—Because you’re my hero.” When those words of unconditional, infinite trust hit him, Subaru’s heart quietly trembled. No matter what awful conditions piled atop one another, no matter what flaws he might have, that one sentence was infused with the hope that he would come running and chase evil away. And far too late, finally Subaru realized it. He was wrong. He’d thought wrong. He had been so, so wrong. He’d thought that she, Rem, was the only one who’d allow Subaru to fall as far as he needed to, that no matter how weak, pathetic, and humiliated he was, she’d forgive him—and he’d made a mistake. It had been an error, a lethal degree of foolishness. —Rem was the one, the only one, who would never allow Subaru to give in. Everyone had told Subaru that he didn’t have to do anything, that he should just behave himself. They had said that they expected nothing from him and that his actions were futile. —But it was Rem who would not permit Subaru to be weak. She was the only one who’d kept saying, Stand up. Don’t give up. Save everyone. No one expected anything from Subaru. But she had refused to abandon him, even when he had abandoned himself; nor would she accept his giving up. Such was the “spell” that Subaru Natsuki had cast upon her.


[User] "In that gloomy forest, a world where I had lost myself, a world where I could only lash out without thinking, you came and saved me."

[Assistant] "When I woke and was unable to move, when Sister was exhausted from having used too much magic, you stood up and faced the demon beasts as a decoy so that we could escape."

[User] "You had no chance of winning, and your life was truly in danger, but even so, you survived…and when you returned to my arms, you were warm."

[Assistant] "When you woke up, you smiled and said the words I most wanted to hear, at the time I most wanted to hear them, and you were the person I most wanted to hear them from." One by one, she enumerated the “spell” that Subaru had cast upon her. Those spells had bound her deeply kind heart with the chains called trust, and these firmly bound her until that very moment.

[User] "On that fiery night when I lost everything except Sister, time stopped for me, never to move again." Rem gazed squarely at Subaru as she spoke of a fragment of her terrible past. Her gaze was infused with intimacy that had not wavered to even the slightest degree.

[Assistant] "My heart had stopped, frozen in time, but you softly melted it and gently made it move again. Do you know how much you saved me in that instant, on that morning? You can’t possibly know how happy I was, Subaru."

[User] "That’s why," said Rem, placing a hand on her chest as she continued.

[Assistant] "—I believe in you. No matter how much you might suffer, no matter how much things seem to be going against you, even if no one else in the whole world believes in you, even if you cannot believe in yourself—I believe in you, Subaru." As Rem spoke, she took a step forward, closing the distance. They were close enough to touch. Subaru, hanging his head, did not move as Rem reached out with both arms, wrapping them around his neck. Even though there was very little strength in the pull, the unresisting Subaru could not avoid her embrace. Though Subaru was taller, Rem held his head to her chest, and he heard her voice from directly above.

[User] "The Subaru who saved me is a real hero." From the slippery sensation on his forehead, he knew she had brushed it with her lips. Heat spread from where she’d touched him. Incomprehensible emotions welled up deep inside Subaru’s chest. Blood flowed through his unmoving limbs. The static filling his skull began to clear—

[Assistant] "No matter how hard I tried, I couldn’t save anyone."

[User] "I’m here. The Rem you saved is right here, Subaru."

[Assistant] "I’m empty. There’s nothing inside me. No one’ll listen to me."

[User] "I’m here. If they are Subaru’s words, I want to hear whatever they might be."

[Assistant] "No one expects anything from me."


[User] "No one trusts me… I…hate myself.”

[Assistant] "I love you, Subaru.” The hand that touched his cheek was hot. Her eyes, gazing at Subaru from up close, were moist. That look, everything about her, made him accept that she was truly sincere.

[User] “You’re…fine with a guy like me…?” He’d tried over and over, redone over and over, and he had nothing to show for it. Everyone died. His hand never reached them. He’d let everyone die. His thoughts were inadequate. He was empty, powerless, dumb, late to act, a blockhead dragged around by his desire to protect someone. Was he really good enough for her?

[Assistant] “I’m fine with you, Subaru.”

[User] “I don’t want it to be anyone else.”

[Assistant] If he, who could not believe in himself, had someone who had faith in him…could Subaru Natsuki fight? —He didn’t have to give up on fighting Fate?

[User] “If you really are that empty, if you have nothing, if you cannot forgive yourself—let’s start over, here and now.”

[Assistant] “Begin wh…?”

[User] “Just like how you made time move again for me, we can make the time that stopped for you move again, right now.”

[Assistant] He had taken his regret and shame at his past of achieving nothing, his days of doing nothing, his hours spent in waste and idleness, and tried to give up.

[User] Rem smiled at this Subaru, stating: “Let us start over from here, from step one… No, from zero!”

[User] “If you find it difficult to walk alone, I shall support you. Let us divide the load and support each other as we walk. You said that to me on that morning, yes?” So let’s laugh, hug each other, and talk about tomorrow, he had said. Leaning on each other, supporting each other as they walked, he had said. “Please show me the best in you, Subaru.”

[Assistant] He’d shown her nothing but the worst in him for the longest while. After all, it was Subaru himself who had cast the indelible “spell” upon her. It was his duty to take responsibility and see it through. “…Rem.”

[User] “Yes?” When he called her name, she quietly responded. He lifted his face. He looked straight ahead. He gazed into Rem’s eyes. Softly, gently, they awaited the reply from Subaru’s lips. So he wanted to be the Subaru Natsuki she loved so much.

[Assistant] “—I…like Emilia.”

[User] “—Yes.” Seemingly knowing all along, Rem smiled and nodded at Subaru’s confession. He knew full well how cruel he was being to that smile, that gentleness, as he continued, “I want to see Emilia’s smile. I want to be in her future as a help to her. Even if she told me I’m in the way, not to come back… I want to be by her side.” Now that he’d accepted Rem’s feelings, he again voiced the feeling that remained unchanged inside him. But the way he felt it was different from before.


[User] "The idea that she’d put up with anything from me just because I liked her…was pretty arrogant, huh?” “—” “Even if she doesn’t get it right now, that’s fine. Right now, I want to save Emilia. If there’s a future of pain and suffering coming for her, I want to bring her to a future where everyone can smile." So he offered his hand to Rem, right at his side.

[Assistant] "Will you…help me?" He knew it was an underhanded way to respond to the feelings she had offered to him. He knew he was using her emotions. But it was that Subaru, the Subaru who would not give up on the future of those precious to him, whom she loved.

[User] "I can’t do anything by myself. I come up short in everything. I don’t have the confidence to just walk straight ahead. I’m so weak, fragile, and puny, so… Will you lend me a hand? Help keep me on the straight and narrow when I take a wrong turn?"

[Assistant] "You are a terrible person, Subaru. Right after you dump a girl, you ask such a thing?"

[User] "Hey, it’s pretty tough for me to ask someone who turned down a once-in-a-lifetime proposal of mine, you know?"

[Assistant] Rem was unable to hold back a little sigh at Subaru’s weak chuckle. They smiled at each other for a while. Then Rem straightened up, elegantly grasped the hem of her skirt, and in a display of perfect courtesy.

[User] "If this will bring a future where Subaru, my hero, can smile, then I humbly accept."

[Assistant] "Yeah, you just watch. You’ll have a front-row seat.” Rem took the hand Subaru had offered as they exchanged their vows. She let out a small “Ah” as Subaru drew her close, burying her petite body in his chest. He was grateful that there existed a girl so soft, so warm, and who liked him so much.

[User] “—The man you fell in love with is gonna be the coolest hero there ever was!"


[User] Emilia was watching.

[Assistant] Rem was watching.

[User] He could not yield.

[Assistant] “—” The tale of Subaru Natsuki would begin anew. His life in another world would start over.

[User] —From zero.


[User] The room was silent but filled with a strained sense of tension. Feeling that tension on his skin, Subaru moistened his parched lips with his tongue, grateful that arrangements for the first step of the scenario were in place. To Subaru, each and every face now present was absolutely indispensable. After all, he had no strength of his own. Lacking ability and manpower, all he could do by himself was to die in vain as he had done to that point.

[Assistant] "Now I can finally understand why you have gathered us here and delayed my supper." Crusch Karsten, sitting on the sofa with her hands crossed atop her knees, broke the silence, murmuring with a look of understanding on her gallant face.

[User] "Reawwy? To be honest, Ferri still has some doubts, meow. I mean, how does such a clumsy boy get that look in his eyes all of a sudden?" With an expression as casual as his tone, Ferris kept his guard up as he gazed at Subaru. He was brimming with a willingness to defend his lord from any danger.

[Assistant] Wilhelm kept his silence as he sat to Crusch’s left. Wearing his sword on his hip, the aged swordsman closed his eyes, with only his refined martial spirit hovering about him. There was no trace remaining of the warmth with which he had greeted them upon their return from the lower city. Now, he was wholly immersed in his role as a man wielding his sword for his master, Crusch, rather than for himself.

[User] Subaru was meeting Crusch and her retainers in the reception room of her residence, a place of which Subaru had few good memories. Twice in the past, he had endured bitter hardships there. He was meeting with Crusch, Ferris, and Wilhelm. That much was the same as before. But there was something different this time.

[Assistant] "It feels somewhat uncomfortable to be back so soon after my first visit. I fully expect that Mr. Natsuki will say something to sweep away such misgivings." The blond man of delicate features, defined by his comical beard, commented with a chuckle. This was Russel Fellow, a representative of the Merchant’s Guild who possessed great influence in the royal capital.

[User] Subaru lightheartedly slumped a little at Russel’s apparent diversion. "Rem’s calling one more person over right now, so please wait just a little longer. It isn’t guaranteed my guest is coming but…it’s a good bet."

[Assistant] "I await a prompt arrival. Incidentally, may I inquire as to your evidence for this ‘good bet’?" Russel didn’t even blink in the face of Subaru’s presumptuous statement.

[User] Subaru’s lips twisted as he faced off against a real merchant with a head, mouth, and tongue superior to his own. "It’s a simple story. The person I invited is sensitive to the smell of money, or so I heard them say personally. If that’s true, there’s no doubt."


[User] "That was true for you as well, wasn’t it, Russel?”

[Assistant] “My, my, you certainly have me there.” Russel put a hand to his forehead, seemingly indicating that Subaru had scored a point on him.

[User] Of course, even Subaru wasn’t blithe enough to take the gesture at face value. He was well aware of the danger posed by the narrow tightrope he planned to walk. The rope was just about set to be tied on both ends. The crossing was yet to come. Subaru would do it, supported by the power of borrowed courage.


[Assistant] A few minutes later, the door opened and a lone girl—Rem—appeared.

[User] “I am sorry to have kept you all waiting.”

[Assistant] “That’s okay!” Subaru brought up his right thumb with a wink as she walked to his side and leaned her face close to his ear. “She said that she would be slightly delayed but that she would definitely come.”

[User] “—That so. All right, good work, Rem.”

[Assistant] With that, preparations for Subaru’s tightrope performance were complete. Before arriving at the negotiating table, he’d prepared the argument he would use to move the deal in the direction he desired. Subaru’s memories and experiences in this new world had led him to a single answer. “Apparently, the last participant will arrive slightly late, but all the actors will be on the stage. No point waiting any further—should we start?” Subaru’s statement brought a change in the air and various reactions from others in the room. Crusch made a thin smile; Ferris strongly pursed his lips. Wilhelm maintained his silence, his expression unchanging even then. Russel slowly sank into his chair. Seeing their reactions, Subaru took a deep breath and calmed his emotions. He could feel his own heart pounding rapidly. His blood circulated throughout his body. The deep anxiety simultaneously residing in his head made everything before his eyes seem dim. But Rem, right beside Subaru, gently touched his sleeve in an effort to put him at ease.

[User] “Subaru.” She wasn’t holding his hand, nor was she asserting her own existence. That little act of consideration was very Rem-like. The sense of relief enveloping him was as if ten thousand cavalry were riding to his aid. Rem was watching. He could not disappoint.

[Assistant] “—Okie.” Subaru hid his fears behind an impetuous smile and challenged the first wall. He needed to thread the eye of a needle, both to get to a Happy End and to take one step closer to becoming a hero—for the sake of the girl who believed in him, the girl who’d told him she liked him. Just as Subaru lifted his spirits and faced forward, Crusch raised a finger and spoke.

[User] “Subaru Natsuki, there is something I wish to confirm—I would hear, from your own lips, the purpose of this gathering.” As she sat, she raised a hand and rested her chin against it as her sagacious gaze landed on Subaru.


[User] Even though she knew full well the answer to her question, her posture showed no sign of softness that would allow Subaru to say so. Now that he had failed time and time again, he understood. —The game was on before he had even spoken a single word. "Of course, what I want is—" So Subaru made a grandiose gesture, smiling powerfully to keep himself from being cowed by Crusch’s rapier-like gaze and repeating his earlier failures.

[Assistant] "A negotiation so that the Emilia camp and the Crusch camp can become allies on equal terms." He thus began to challenge the first of many obstacles standing in his way.


[User] The exchange with Rem along Main Street had made Subaru decide to restart in a true sense. This was his sincere answer to Rem, who’d told Subaru she believed in him even after he’d bared everything inside his heart. Thanks to that, he gained a clear awareness of what he had to do. "There’s way too many walls I have to climb over to get there, huh…?" Subaru scratched his head as if he was trying to put his thoughts in order. "But I’ve still gotta do something. Will you help me, Rem?"

[Assistant] "Yes. If that is what you desire, Subaru…" Rem readily nodded. Even after Subaru opened up to her, the same trust hovered in Rem’s eyes as before. They lit two fires inside Subaru: courage and a sense of duty. Subaru no longer held any thought of hiding from Rem his own humiliation and panic at having his hands tied. After all, he’d half bawled his eyes out while venting every complex he had. Rem, too, had revealed truths that had raged within her; in a true sense, Subaru and Rem were now friends for life. And because Subaru had set his heart on something, his head remained remarkably clear.

[User] "First, let’s double-check the time we have left. If we head back now, that’ll be just under an hour…and then…" As previously established, the time limit until the Witch Cult caused upheaval in the Mathers domain was five days—or rather, to be precise, they had a grace period of only four and a half days. He also needed to consider the sealing of the highway during that time. In reality, he had only two days to prepare. "And those two days are full of unavoidable problems to deal with." The number and nature of the barred gates they had to bust through put previous sets of loops to shame. Clearing any of them alone was hopeless. A fist large enough to smash through the lot of them was required. The first problem was, naturally, the Witch Cult. If they didn’t stop the fanatics under Petelgeuse’s command, there was no way to save anyone at the mansion, let alone the residents of the village.


[User] "—Whole bunch of ’em." Subaru murmured under his breath, underlining the depth of the problem.

[Assistant] Rem, watching Subaru as he sank into thought, made no reply to his murmur, nor has Subaru been looking for one.

[User] With Rem silently watching him, Subaru used his limited time to search his memories for any clue, any way to break out of the trap of limited time.

[Assistant] "There’s a…possibility?"

[User] "Rem. We need to talk. I have a few things I wanna ask you."

[Assistant] "Yes?"

[User] "Now that Emilia’s participating in the royal selection, it looks like the Witch Cult is gonna move. If they go after Emilia, there’ll no doubt be harm to the mansion and the village.


[User] “I wanna stop that.”

[Assistant] “The Witch Cult…” A grave look came over Rem’s eyes the instant she heard the words.

[User] As Rem nodded at Subaru’s words, her self-control held those emotions in check. “Master Roswaal also has concerns that the Witch Cult might make a move. Though I do not know the details, I believe that he has studied the matter and drawn up countermeasures.”

[Assistant] “But that’s not gonna be enough.”

[User] In fact, Subaru didn’t really know what countermeasures he’d taken against the Witch Cult. He didn’t know if they hadn’t been executed or if they had just proven ineffective. Either way, whatever preexisting preparations Roswaal had set weren’t up to the task, and he knew that hell would come to pass without fail. Now that Subaru knew that future, he had to secure the power to protect the lives at the mansion and the village without relying on Roswaal.

[Assistant] “I’m pretty sure the Witch Cult is gonna come in a quick, decisive battle. Rem, what does the mansion have to fight with?”

[User] “…This is a difficult thing to tell you, but the possibility Master Roswaal is absent from the mansion is quite high. He had planned to visit an important associate within his domain upon his return from the royal capital.”

[Assistant] Based on Rem’s prevaricating reply, the situation was the same as last time. Roswaal wasn’t there. The only people at the mansion at present were Emilia, Ram, and Beatrice. Only three people, and one of them was Beatrice. He was deeply suspicious that the uncooperative girl would willingly engage the Witch Cult in battle. That made Subaru recall the exchange between Beatrice and him the last time around, if only a brief one. He remembered that he’d asked Beatrice to kill him. He remembered Beatrice’s face, turning eyes toward him like that of a child whose hopes had been betrayed—

[User] “Right now…I’ve gotta set that aside.” Subaru somehow brushed off the girl’s tearful gaze and faced Rem once more.

[Assistant] “So that leaves two people to fight. Even if you and I go back there, we’d just be two drops against a bucket.”

[User] “As the majority of the main residence’s fighting strength rests with Master Roswaal’s personal abilities, I cannot deny it. If Frederica was still with us, it might be a different story, but…” Rem lowered her gaze as she ruefully invoked the name of a former coworker at the mansion.

[Assistant] Subaru patted her shoulder in consolation as he mentally filled the gaps in his own understanding. There was no point speaking any further of the mansion’s available combat strength. Therefore, the next issue was the main one.

[User] “Rem.” Subaru sat up straight and stared at Rem.


[User] Then, as Rem, detecting that the atmosphere had changed, lifted her face and looked at him.

[Assistant] “Please tell me what Roswaal ordered you to stay in the royal capital to do.”

[User] “—” Subaru thought her expression was dubious, or perhaps surprised that he had gone for an unguarded opening. However, Rem’s reaction thoroughly defied Subaru’s expectations.

[Assistant] “—Yes. As you wish, Subaru.” Rem nodded to Subaru as a small smile came over her, as if she was happy from the bottom of her heart. A single tear rolled down from the corner of her eye.


[User] He was now in the reception room at the Crusch residence. "An alliance…you say.”

[Assistant] Crusch murmured with all eyes falling upon Subaru as he answered her question concerning the goal of the meeting.

[User] She lowered her head, falling into thought briefly before shifting her gaze from Subaru to Rem.

[Assistant] Rem quietly deduced the meaning of her probing gaze and slowly shook her head. "In accordance with Master Roswaal’s instructions, I have proposed nothing—this is something Subaru arrived at by himself.”

[User] “I do not doubt your loyalty. However…I see…” The face Crusch made seemed to indicate that she understood, even if she did not exactly accept it. "Then should I take this to mean the right to engage in these negotiations has…shifted from Rem to you, Subaru Natsuki?”

[Assistant] “Yeah, that’s what it amounts to. Roswaal was a real jerk with how roundabout he set this up, though.” With an exaggerated sigh, Subaru expressed his personal thoughts as his clown-faced employer floated into the back of his mind. Secret orders concerning the royal capital had been kept from Subaru, handed down to Rem alone. Roswaal had strictly instructed Rem not to reveal the details to Subaru so long as he did not realize that fact for himself.

[User] “It’s not like it wasn’t bothering me a little from the start. In the first place, it’s plain as day that our side is short on manpower. So he’d leave Rem in the capital without a set plan? Rem, the one from the mansion who’d be most missed? There’s no way. I really should’ve realized that earlier.” Of course, the cover story was that Roswaal couldn’t take responsibility for healing and repaying the man who’d saved his own domain from crisis without at least a single person to look after him.

[Assistant] “But I don’t think that eccentric would let go of Rem for a humanitarian reason like that. When you think, ‘There’s gotta be something else going on’…”

[User] Crusch recrossed her legs, picking up where Subaru left off to state her conclusion. “So he naturally settled on her as the one who had the best opportunity for an audience with my house…”

[Assistant] “Besides, I heard that Rem and Crusch were having secret meetings every night.


[User] “I hate myself for being an idiot and not considering what the discussions were about, though.” He couldn’t even manage a laugh for how he’d been unable to see beyond himself that whole time. After all, even though Rem had actually dropped plenty of hints to convey Roswaal’s secret intentions, it had taken him until the fourth time to look back and realize it.

[Assistant] “So every night you’ve been meeting about forming an alliance. I heard from Rem all about what my side’s offering for the terms of the deal.”

[User] “The deal chiefly concerns magic crystals in the Great Elior Forest and the mining rights thereof.” Just like that, Crusch exposed what Subaru’s words had only hinted at, seeing that there was nothing to hide. The instant the words reached the ears of the lone merchant present, his eyes glimmered.

[Assistant] “My, my, that is quite a fascinating tale.” Russel, who had maintained his silence to that point, positively glowed. He sounded pleased now that the details finally concerned him in some way.

[User] “When one considers how magical stone craftsmanship has advanced by leaps and bounds in recent years, magic crystal mining rights hold ever-increasing value. That goes all the more for virgin territory.”

[Assistant] Subaru could not conceal his surprise that the merchant had bit on the hook harder than expected. When he’d first heard about the mining rights from Rem, the fact that Crusch had held out so far convinced Subaru that it wasn’t all that attractive an offer. “Does it really have enough value to put you in such a good mood, Russel?”

[User] “But of course. Magical stone craftsmanship thrives in the markets of Kararagi, and magic crystal craftsmen of my own nation have polished their talents over many years. Recently, their products can be seen here and there, even gracing the hands of the general public. These days, the more magic crystals the better. Until now, we have relied upon trade with Gusteko to the north for most of our supply, so I am overjoyed to learn of the existence of a rich local vein.” Russel held up a finger and spoke with a buoyant tone as he answered.

[Assistant] “A magic crystal is composed of mana; it is pure crystallized magic. Their attributes are greatly influenced by the land of their origin and the skill of the craftsman who wrought them. In turn, the hand of a skilled craftsman can be applied to a variety of magic crystal crafts. If not mishandled, their intensity is excellent, lasting reliably for a period of several years. Surely it goes without saying that they make for very attractive merchandise.”

[User] “However, the craftsmen able to work magic stones are few in number. Once a magic stone has been wrought, it is unprofitable to redo the work.


[User] "At present, many mines have been placed under the kingdom’s management, with the majority of magic crystals being distributed for public works. Though you say some reach the general public, it represents only a fraction.” Russel carried on undaunted.

[Assistant] “There are no untouched mining sites that are not immediately snapped up the moment they are found. There is a rich history of succeeding generations of the marquis of Mathers tapping undiscovered veins to build a fortune. And we have the knight of Lady Emilia, a candidate in the royal selection, to vouch for it. It is a trustworthy bet.” Russel spoke in a fervent tone, slyly glancing at Subaru all the while.

[User] "Yeah, I don’t mind if you trust that. I don’t think we’re villains enough to bluff at the first people we team up with over the course of a long royal selection.”

[Assistant] Russel seemed to recoil deliberately in response to Subaru’s answer. “I see. You would appear to have truly embraced the role of negotiator. I apologize for my rudeness in speaking as if I was testing you.”

[User] “Nah, it’s fine. After all, I plan on using all the stuff you just said for all it’s worth over the rest of the conversation.”

[Assistant] Russel put on meaninglessly grandiose airs of amiability to conceal the tension in his cheeks. “Having said that, since he’s apologized, I expect you to overlook one or two rude things I might say.”

[User] “So you seated Russel Fellow at the same table in hopes of this? You are an unexpectedly crafty man yourself.” As Subaru flippantly commented, Crusch smiled slightly and voiced her appraisal to end the exchange.

[Assistant] Even as he felt a cold sweat at having climbed over the first gate, Subaru maintained his friendly smile as he looked at Crusch. “Well, I also wanted an adviser, since this is talking about profits, but…calling Russel here has to do with the main topic coming next.”

[User] “Really now?


[User] "The main topic?" Subaru continued, and the atmosphere inside the room grew tense once more.

[Assistant] Crusch, who had merely been humoring the conversation to that point, rectified her seating and quietly closed her eyes for a time. After that, she slowly opened her amber eyes; their gaze pierced Subaru like an arrow.

[User] Before its power, sufficient to bring to mind a cold, blowing wind, Subaru did not falter. The tightening of his mind served only to make him straighten his back and put his feelings in order as he faced her.

[Assistant] "Subaru Natsuki, I formally acknowledge you as the proxy of Marquis Roswaal, and also as an envoy from Emilia, and whatever details you and I negotiate will also hold true between Emilia and me."

[User] Subaru felt goose bumps rise as exclamation points danced inside his head. As he quietly shuddered, Crusch extended a hand to him, firing the opening salvo to announce the start of the negotiations.

[Assistant] "I believe you have already heard, but I shall state it regardless. Rem and I were negotiating the sale of mining rights, but I have not accepted the offer. Though I imagine you already knew this?"

[User] "...Yeah."

[Assistant] Subaru would take those two laments and regrets and put them to good use to avoid future distress—and so that all his previous failures would not be in vain. "I wanna make sure of something myself. So the offer just isn’t good enough as it stands? Each camp lays off the other, mining rights for the Great Elior Forest are sold to you, and you work out the fine details of what to do with the magic crystals themselves later?"

[User] "The draft proposal came from Rem’s side. I suppose I should say, as to be expected of Marquis Roswaal. On top of securing profit for his own camp, he offers just enough advantage so that my house might accept it. Normally, it is an offer one would never refuse. Such a proposal makes me want to have a written agreement prepared immediately, but…"

[Assistant] Subaru couldn’t speak in any informed manner about the arithmetic behind the deal. If he did clumsily say something, it could wind up being taken as, Okay, take all the mining rights, then! "In this case, what would follow such negotiations is the problem.


[User] "Do you understand?"

[Assistant] "It’s not simply that…you don’t trust Roswaal?" Subaru was of the opinion that if Roswaal’s conduct was being questioned, he could rectify that by behaving with absolute propriety henceforth, but that wasn’t Crusch’s problem with it.

[User] "Making a deal with Emilia would mean an agreement with a rival royal selection candidate… Furthermore, one slandered as a half-demon. If one considers the consequences, caution is inevitable."

[Assistant] Subaru was unexpectedly discouraged to hear Crusch quietly speak such words. The image he had of Crusch was of someone so steadfast, the words majestic and sincere suited her. She had been the living incarnation of those things when stating her convictions at the royal selection conference. It was precisely because he had heard her address that made her acting as if she cared about rumors seem so odd—

[User] "Don’t tell me this is merely a justification for saying no?"

[User] "Subawu? Ferri thinks that is really, really not the sort of thing you should say during an important negotiation?" Ferris had held his silence since the start of negotiations, but Subaru’s careless remark brought anger to his smile. A vein on his forehead was bulging as Subaru quickly covered his mouth and lowered his head.

[Assistant] "Goodness, this puts me in a bit of a bind." As he did so, Crusch, watching the exchange, loosened the corners of her lips very slightly. "It is I who is embarrassed to have my justification exposed so bluntly. I shall learn from this. The opportunity does not often arise." With convoluted logic, she overlooked Subaru’s present rudeness.

[User] That said, being saved by the awkwardness of his opponent’s position put him in a precarious place.

[Assistant] "So that is an excuse for… Then you don’t really think that forming an alliance with Emilia is a terrible thing in and of itself?"

[User] "Subaru Natsuki, I shall correct one misconception." Crusch raised a finger, pointing it toward Subaru. "A person’s worth is decided by how her soul lives and how it shines. A person’s true nature is absolutely not determined by the circumstances of one’s birth and where someone was raised." Of course, even Crusch understood that they had an indirect influence. She did not lack the power of imagination to deduce how the senseless cruelties inflicted by Emilia’s environment, simply because she was a half-elf, had strengthened her in the process.

[Assistant] "Her words at the royal selection site were not false. It is because I am certain of her pride and resolve that I acknowledge Emilia as a rival."

[User] "Well, that’s convoluted. In other words?"

[Assistant] "Forgive me. I have a fondness for theatrics." Crusch pursed her lips slightly, seemingly fully aware of just how grandiose her own statement was. A moment later, her expression tightened. "I am not refusing an alliance with Emilia because she is a half-elf. From my perspective, Emilia, who is in no way politically opposed to me, is not someone I need to go out of my way to antagonize.


[User] "I would even be willing to ally with her.”

[Assistant] "Meaning that…”

[User] “Do not be so hasty to reply, Subaru Natsuki. It is no exaggeration to say that what you utter, and how your words are interpreted, will determine the course of these events.” Crusch chided Subaru for assuming her reply was favorable as she threw the ball into his court once more.

[Assistant] In other words, now that Subaru held the right to negotiate, she wanted to see what cards were in his hand.

[User] “Mining rights for the Great Elior Forest would be highly advantageous for my side. On the other hand, it is a fact that there is no need for me to rush to get ahead in the royal selection. The period of time is three years. Too much haste to stir things up would sow the seeds for troubles down the road.”

[Assistant] “So you’re saying the advantages and disadvantages of forming an alliance with Emilia don’t match up?”

[User] “Not precisely. At present, the advantages and disadvantages cancel each other out. By my house’s thinking, we require convincing, a push for us to take that one final step.”

[Assistant] Crusch seemed personally in favor of the idea of forming an alliance. On the other hand, a noble house was apparently too large to be swayed purely by Crusch’s private opinion on the matter. Hence, she sought “something” from Subaru—something that would silence the voices around her urging her not to stir things up.

[User] Subaru tried to speak, he was a little surprised at how his own throat seemed to be blocked. The tension and anxiety welling up in his chest blocked his throat just as he was on the verge of stepping forward. From here on would be completely ad-libbed in a way he had never before experienced. He hadn’t checked it with anyone. It was possible he was reading this wrong. But Crusch would probably bite. —Yes. Subaru believed in his own idea.


[Assistant] “To form an alliance, we’re offering mining rights…and information.”

[User] “—Information?” When she heard the word, Crusch stroked her own long hair as she prompted him to continue. She hadn’t decided yet. Now came the hard part.

[Assistant] “Yeah, that’s right. I’m offering a certain piece of information with it.”

[User] “Then I would hear it. Will these words from your lips stir us to action?”

[Assistant] Naturally, Subaru’s entire body trembled from anxiety and tension. But a slight warm sensation to his elbow drove all that away, for Rem’s fingers, touching Subaru’s arm, were the spark that lit the borrowed courage within him.

[User] “—The card I’m playing…is the time and place where the White Whale will show up.”


[User] Thank you very much! This is Volume 6. This is Tappei Nagatsuki. This is also Mouse-Colored Cat. This time around, let me say words of thanks before anything else. Namely, I am truly grateful that you have stuck with this work, Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, all this time.

[Assistant] Arriving at the contents of this sixth volume of a work originally serialized on the web was one of the milestones I set when I started. When I reached this point during the web serialization, I had a sense of achievement then, too. I am purely grateful, and honored, to be able to relive that sense of achievement by getting it in print. Truly, thank you very much.

[User] I wonder how the contents of this volume were for all of you who have stuck around for the tale to this point. Even in the web version, the parts I put most of my efforts into as an author were the parts that garnered the largest reactions. At the time, the author and the readers of the web comic shared that sense of achievement. If many of you reading this book come off feeling the same way, there is no greater accomplishment.

[Assistant] When people commented on the web version, they said things like, “This is strong stuff, you’ve gotta end it here (^_^),” but don’t worry, he really does recover and go on the counterattack.

[User] Along with the main character, I will strive so that everyone sticking around during these greatly frustrating developments will be able to appreciate them.

[Assistant] Now then, as is customary, here are the last of the thanks and apologies. To Mr. I the editor, you’ve been a huge help for this entire series. Since the content of this sixth volume was, I believe, the biggest trigger for your calling me up to begin with, thank you very much for helping me reach this point.

[User] For Otsuka-sensei the illustrator, forgive me for the especially large number of guidelines for the illustrations in this volume. There were a lot of them, starting with the no-spoilers cover illustration. In particular, I was really worried about the last illustration, so thank you, thank you, thank you. Also, the two cover illustrations, for the normal edition and the special edition, are just over-the-top cute. The special edition version was even more amazing. Are you a god?!

[Assistant] And for Kusano-sensei the designer, thank you very much for having given this a thumbs-up. I can’t get enough of those cover illustrations, and I am extremely, deeply grateful to have the Re:ZERO series showing off its best. Please take good care of me from here on out.

[User] Also, the Re:ZERO comic versions are going fantastic! Daichi Matsuse-sensei is handling Arc 1 in Monthly Comic Alive, and Makoto Fuugetsu-sensei is handling Arc 2 in Monthly Big Gangan. I’m sorry for pushing you to publish in parallel with this sixth LN volume, so thank you very much.


[User] Matsuse-sensei will also be taking care of Arc 3 later. Best regards. As always, to all the other people whose cooperation made this work possible, including everyone at the MF Bunko J editorial department, sales managers, copy editors, bookstore salespeople, truly, thank you very much. I am even more grateful from the bottom of my heart for all the warm messages and fan letters all of you readers are sending me. Thank you very much for having read this volume.

[Assistant] Well, let us meet again next volume. Expect both author and main character to put up a good fight. February 2015 Tappei Nagatsuki (Who got the date wrong for the first signing event of the year)


[User] "Sooo, this is the traditional next volume preview corner we have every book. In this volume, you saw loud and clear that Rem and I have a partnership for life. Let’s give this our best shot."

[Assistant] "Yes, leave it to me. If it is for your sake, I will do my best as much as needed."

[User] "Hey, this is still the main story so don’t glom too much! They asked us to do this, but it’s a little embarrassing!"

[Assistant] "Tee-hee, you are wonderful even when trying to cover up your blushes, Subaru. Now, the introductions. There are many notifications this time around, aren’t there?"

[User] "Y-yeah. Right! First, the comic versions in Monthly Comic Alive and Monthly Big Gangan are selling like hotcakes! The Alive version’s Volume 2 and the Gangan version’s Volume 1 went on sale at the same time as the light novel Volume 6 here! They’re both filled with their own special stuff, so go check ’em out!"

[Assistant] "Alive is also publishing a Re:ZERO novel short story every month. A second short story compilation is planned to go on sale in June. They show off Subaru working hard at the mansion quite a bit, so I am very happy about it."

[User] "It’s a little weird having people happy to see me shown off that much, but anyway, a second edition means a second go at that! The Ministop joint project is back! Re:ZERO is back at a convenience store near you!"

[Assistant] "Are they going to sell Subaru body pillows, too? I’d buy a hundred of them."

[User] "Er, you can check the Re:ZERO public website and Twitter for the details, but there’s probably no body pillow of me, okay?! But there will be a pile of ultra-fan goods that’ll put the last campaign to shame!"

[Assistant] "Is that so, there will not be a body pillow… That is a pity, but I am consoled somewhat to see a rubber strap is coming with the Monthly Comic Alive special edition."

[User] "Using that as the lead-in to smoothly introduce something else… You’re a scary girl, Rem!"

[Assistant] "It has been decided that Daichi Matsuse-sensei will be handling Arc 3 in Monthly Comic Alive. There will be seven tankobans in all. I really won’t be able to take my eyes off you, Subaru."

[User] "It’s not just me in them. Expect good stuff out of everybody! Well, there you have it, see ya next volume!"

[Assistant] "You are wonderful even when you blush and run away, Subaru."


[User] "—Crossing multiple boundaries to intrude upon even my castle of dreams. Her rudeness truly knows no limits." Echidna's gaze and voice grew pointed as she spat out those words, directing them toward the detestable shadow approaching the table.

[Assistant] Subaru Natsuki gazed in wonder, shocked by her display of such vehement feelings.


[User] —There was an issue that took precedence over Echidna’s raw emotions. Subaru and the Witches watched as the shadow slowly came up the hill.

[Assistant] Cheeks stiff from tension and wariness, Subaru could feel every beat of his heart. He could see the Sanctuary vanishing into shadow, swallowed by the madness and obsessiveness of the Witch. The thought alone left him aghast.

[User] "...Why…isn’t anyone…making a move?" Subaru seemed short of breath as his confusion trickled out of him.


[User] Not a single one of them budged. Not a single one tried to avenge themselves. “The fact that no one is doing anything means…”

[Assistant] Minerva stepped forward, breaking the silence. She crossed her arms, emphasizing her bountiful breasts in the process. A terrible anger was visible on this Witch’s adorable face. “Is…this the you I know? Can I trust you?”

[User] Without flinching, Minerva called out to Jealousy.

[Assistant] Subaru open his eyes wide and gape. That was only natural. As far as Subaru knew, Minerva was the only one of the Witches besides Jealousy who lacked any means of directly attacking her opponent. She was the weakest Witch of all. This was because her power to transform any kind of violence into healing was the least suited for combat. “…So why isn’t anyone trying to stop her?”

[User] Every last one of them had to have some kind of grudge against Jealousy, if not hatred that was comparable to what Echidna harbored toward her. And yet, no one made any move to prevent Minerva’s attempt at conversation. Just as shocking was Jealousy, who had no answer for Minerva’s words. The Witch stood there, paying no heed to her whatsoever. The sight of such defenselessness left Subaru confounded. In terms of brute force, magical ability, and Authorities, if the six Witches challenged her then and there, Jealousy would easily be—

[Assistant] "—I understand how you feel. I raise both hands in sincere approval. If we could erase her in an instant without leaving even a single fragment behind, it would settle so many of the problems swirling around you. Truly, it would.”

[User] “You…” Subaru felt utterly disgusted at how Echidna nodded with a knowing look. But as much as he hated to admit it, if there was anyone who could ease Subaru’s doubts at this moment, it was the Witch of Greed. “Then why aren’t you doing anything? This is a chance to get payback after all these years?”

[Assistant] "Simple. If I attempt to eliminate her, I will expose my back to all the other Witches. Even if we ignore Minerva, I am not strong enough to survive making an enemy of Sekhmet or Typhon.”

[User] "What…?” The incomprehensible logic of Echidna’s explanation baffled Subaru. “I just…don’t get it. Why would trying to kill the Witch of Jealousy mean that you’d end up fighting the other Witches? You might have a particular thirst for vengeance, but isn’t she an enemy to ev…”

[Assistant] “Th-that’s not…true…” Carmilla of Lust’s halting words interrupted Subaru’s question. She ignored Subaru’s gawking, keeping her eyes on the standoff between Minerva and Jealousy. “A-all of us hold a…grudge against Jealousy… That is true. But this isn’t true…for that g-girl, you know?”

[User] “The hell are you…? All of you hold a grudge against Jealousy, but this is different?”

[Assistant] "Thaaat’s right.


[User] "You’re just overthinking it, Subarun.”

[Assistant] When Subaru failed to follow what Carmilla was saying, Daphne of Gluttony spoke in her stead, laughing with a sweet voice. She turned her blindfolded face toward Subaru, smacking her lips as she savored his delectable anguish. “Everything comes down to whether it’s Tella-Tella ooor Jealousy who came. If we don’t know that, there’s nothing Daphne and the others can do. A candidate to be a sage should know that much.”

[User] “Let him be, Daphne, sigh. He doesn’t know, phew. About any of that yet, sigh.”

[Assistant] “Ohhh, is that right? Daphne made an oopsie…” Daphne wore a smile that seemed devoid of any malice as Sekhmet chastised her.

[User] The Witch of Sloth lowered her eyes, which were rimmed by long eyelashes, before emitting a particularly lethargic sigh.

[Assistant] “—! Why you little…” Subaru felt rage welling up when it became incredibly obvious from the exchange and their knowing looks that he had been left out of the loop. He’d gotten this far by being completely and utterly swept along by recent events: a harrowing Return by Death, an undesired second Trial, and learning about Echidna’s true nature on top of everything else. It felt like the Witches had toyed with his heart one after another until finally, he found himself face-to-face with the Witch of Jealousy herself. Daphne’s and Sekhmet’s exchange was the last push that sent Subaru’s head reeling. Just how much were they going to make a fool of him? “Cut the crap already! I…I ain’t got the time or the patience to be messing around!”

[User] “Wow, Baru, so scawwy. Are you mad? You’ll get tired, y’know?” Typhon of Pride poked a finger into her cheek, tilting her head as she innocently questioned Subaru. “Also, get it right. We’re not mad at Tella. But we are mad at the Witch. And y’see, Typhon likes Tella, so…”

[Assistant] “Tella… You mean Satella? That’s…the name of the Witch of Jealousy, ain’t it…?”

[User] “…To put it in simple terms, the world remembered Satella as the Witch of Jealousy. However, what was not recorded in history was that Satella had a type of personality disorder.” Echidna picked up where Typhon’s explanation left off to fill in the blanks with words even Subaru could comprehend.

[Assistant] “—Something like a split personality? That would mean Satella and the Witch of Jealousy are…”

[User] “Perhaps it would be clearer to say that she absorbed a Factor that was incompatible with her, causing a mental abnormality that ultimately created the Witch personality within Satella…not that I personally have any inclination to distinguish between the two.” Echidna was disgruntled, but Subaru could not conceal his shock at the new fact that had come to light. He couldn’t recall ever hearing a word about Satella and the Witch of Jealousy being two distinct personalities. It was natural this information couldn’t be found anywhere in the legends.


[User] “Accordingly, I cannot recklessly go on the attack. If I cross the other five just to eliminate her alone, there will be no hope for victory. After all, if my soul dissipates, even I cannot escape death.”

[Assistant] “…But this is a big risk for the other five, too, isn’t it? You were lending your soul out to them, right? If you vanish, won’t they go up in smoke, too?”

[User] “They’ve already accepted their deaths. They have no lingering attachments to a prolonged existence as mere souls. Rather than struggle to remain, they would rather perish while living according their beliefs. It is because we are only capable of this destructive way of life that we are Witches.”

[Assistant] “I get you’re all like that. It’s…hard to accept, but I can at least understand where you’re coming from. But that only goes for you guys. For Sate…for that Witch, it’s different.”

[User] Without a word, the pitch-black figure watched on as Subaru spoke with the Witches. No, it was more accurate to say that Jealousy watched Subaru alone.

[Assistant] “It’s better than her attacking without a word like last time we met, but only barely. What did she come to…? What does she want to make me do? What did she…?” —What did she do to me? What does she want to make Subaru Natsuki to do in this world?


[User] “If you want to know the answer…then ask her yourself.” Minerva interrupted Subaru’s thoughts with a voice that was mixed with both irritation and a sense of grief. Standing at Jealousy’s side, she kept her blue eyes wide open, which were brimming with tears as she glared at Subaru.

[Assistant] “I don’t want to hear your lame excuses. This girl came here to meet you. Speak to her directly… If you can’t manage that, then you aren’t the man we thought you are!”

[User] “Aren’t the man you…? The hell are you going on about?! Who asked you to pass judgment on me?! I’m not about to just roll over and do whatever you want!”

[Assistant] "If you aren’t going to talk to her, sigh…then what would you rather do, phew." Lying on her side, Sekhmet suddenly tossed a question toward the emotional Subaru.


[User] Not moving from the slovenly posture that was worthy of her title, Sloth turned her pale face until she was looking directly at Subaru’s reddened one. "As you can see, sigh. We are in a stalemate, phew. At this point, the key, sigh…literally rests in your hands, phew. For better or for worse, that is, sigh.”

[Assistant] Subaru could feel on his skin how Sekhmet’s words drew the gazes of all the Witches to him. Everything had been entrusted to Subaru Natsuki, the weakest, most foolish, and shallowest among them.

[User] The relationship between Jealousy and the other six Witches was just as they had told him. The Witches kept one another in check, while Jealousy’s attention was focused on Subaru alone.

[Assistant] “Echidna, you don’t have any intention of letting me out of here, do you?”

[User] “It is meaningless to neglect this situation, after all. I am a maiden suffering from a broken heart after a certain someone cruelly dumped me. At the very least, I want to see what you will choose in your current position. If I dared to wish for more, I would be very gratified to see you cruelly dump another girl.”

[Assistant] “You really are a Witch…” After hearing that malicious reply, Subaru closed his eyes, exhaling slightly. Then he steeled himself and slowly began approaching Jealousy, the Witch shrouded in shadow.

[User] “…Took you long enough to decide.” What sounded like an insult slipped out of Minerva as she took a step away from Jealousy’s side.

[Assistant] With this, there was no one left to intrude between Subaru and Jealousy. The two faced off against each other, close enough to touch.

[User] Though they were but a few short yards apart, Subaru felt the pressure increasing with every step. Even looking directly at her like this, he could see nothing of her face, hidden as it was behind a veil of darkness. This was not because the shadow was so thick that it obscured everything from sight. His primal instincts had chosen to not see.

[Assistant] "Everyone would prefer to avert their eyes from their most unsightly delusions."

[User] “If you cannot see her face, the issue lies within your own mind.”

[Assistant] From somewhere behind him, someone gave welcome advice that cleared some of his doubts. He wanted to suck his teeth, but he resisted the impulse. More importantly, Subaru didn’t have enough composure to bother with Echidna. Whether it was Satella or Jealousy before him, he could not take his eyes away from either. If his gaze wandered for even a split second, there was no telling what might happen that very—

[User] “—Ah.” Suddenly, Subaru found two hands being offered to him. His throat froze over. Subaru had been on guard, not taking his eyes off Jealousy for even a single second. And yet, in an instant, all his efforts were for nothing. It wasn’t that he failed to see. He saw her move from start to finish.


[User] Jealousy raised her hands toward him.

[Assistant] "Seriously…what’s with you? What do you want me to do…?" Subaru shook his head from side to side, refusing the outstretched hands. Seeing Jealousy’s actions and knowing that she was standing right there in front of him made Subaru feel something hot inside his chest.

[User] "i"

[Assistant] "Wha?" Subaru was mostly occupied by the chaos that gripped heart, delaying his reaction to the faint sound that reached his eardrums.

[User] "—I have always, always loved you. You, and you alone."

[Assistant] An indescribable impact shot through Subaru’s whole body. Subaru breathed unevenly as he backed away. Subaru knew: He could not stay here.

[User] "Stop it…"

[Assistant] "I love you."

[User] "Please stop…"

[Assistant] "I have always loved you, and only you, with all my heart."

[User] "I told you to stop, damn it—! !" With a hoarse voice, he spurned her.

[Assistant] His mind rejected her, but his soul found her a source of comfort. This inconsistency set Subaru’s heart aflame as he wrestled against the contradiction within himself. The very first ray of light Subaru Natsuki had found in this world was his love for Emilia. Summoned to a foreign place with no one to depend on, she was the one who reached out to him in his time of crisis.


[User] He could no longer say that his feelings for Emilia were the only reason he continued forging ahead. Subaru had gained a great many things since his arrival. He had met many people whom he now cared for deeply. However, the Witch of Jealousy’s compulsion was so powerful that it rivaled all those emotions put together. The conversations and warm touches he had shared, the time he had spent with others, the many bonds he had forged—all the love contained within these moments were in danger of being stripped from him despite the fact that there was nothing real between him and this Witch. If this wasn’t the definition of repulsive, then what else could it be?

[Assistant] "You’re insane…you and Echidna both! This place…it’s filled with people who make no sense! I’ve had it! I’m done, damn it! !" Subaru scattered angry shouts with a frenzied face, making his refusal as clear as possible. He didn’t want to be by Jealousy’s side, in front of Echidna, or stay in the company of the other Witches for a single second longer. Subaru had countless other things he ought to be doing. There was nothing he needed here. —This is a waste of time. I want to get out of here, right now. Please, release me…

[User] “I won’t take help from any of you! I’ll deal with all the problems outside by myself. That’s fine, isn’t it?! That’s what I should’ve done from the start!”

[Assistant] “And then? You’ll die again, repeat the cycle, and make everyone cry time after time? Then you’ll excuse it by saying their tears are an unavoidable sacrifice? Wow, how admirable of you.” When Subaru bid them farewell, Minerva applauded him with a sour look on her face.

[User] Subaru turned his bloodshot eyes toward her, yelling “So what? !” and flaring his nostrils as he glared at Minerva. “What does it have to with you? You got a problem with Return by Death? The pain, the suffering, the trauma—those are all my problem and no one else’s, damn it. Either way, it’s none of your business.”

[Assistant] “Must be nice to say you’re resigned to pain and suffering. No matter what the people watching you think, you can keep making excuses by saying you’re the one who has it toughest.”

[User] “What did you say…? !”

[Assistant] “If your suffering is the most obvious, no one around you is allowed to say a word. You’re the one suffering the worst, after all…so the weak voices around you just stay silent. Of course they do.” As Minerva spoke, the tone of her voice steadily grew stronger and angrier.

[User] “Are you—Are you trying to say I’m drowning in some self-made tragedy just to shut up everyone around me?! That I’m only at a dead end right now because I want to star in my own tragic drama? !”

[Assistant] “That’s not really what I’m getting at.


[User] "This it’s fine if I’m the one who’s hurting the most idea is low and unfair. I think Echidna’s a blackhearted schemer, too, and I know exactly how underhanded she can be…but I think you’re twisted in a way that’s creepier than any Witch."

[Assistant] "More than anything, as someone who hits everything that’s hurt to heal it, your way of living isn’t just the direct opposite of mine—it makes you my natural enemy. Something like that is just too cruel for her." Minerva airs all her grievances and slams them against Subaru’s feelings. Minerva finally looked toward Jealousy.

[User] The faint tears in Minerva’s eyes told Subaru that she found it a lonely sight.

[Assistant] “Creepy…? Cruel…?” Subaru bent forward, his shoulders trembling. The trembling gradually grew stronger until finally, Subaru lifted up his face and laughed. It was so overwhelmingly stupid, he couldn’t help but laugh.

[User] “The hell is that supposed mean? Creepy or not, why do you think I decided to do things this way? How do you think I ended up becoming ‘twisted’? The way I see it, my methods and my way of thinking are just a natural result of what I’ve been through. Am I wrong?”

[Assistant] “You! You made me like this, goddamnit! !” Subaru shouted his anger at Jealousy, who seemed to stand there in silence to escape all responsibility.

[User] “The pain, the suffering! All that should be for me! If I’m the only one who gets hurt, that’s better for everyone, ain’t it?! No matter how hard it gets, I’ll just clench my teeth and bear it… That way, no one else has to go through what I do! As long as no one but me gets torn up from start to finish…well, what the hell’s wrong with that? !”

[Assistant] “Shouldering everything by yourself without saying a word to anyone else… It’s as if you think no one besides you is capable of doing anything.”

[User] “If I didn’t do anything, what would have changed? Wouldn’t we just end up with horrible futures? If not me, then who?! Who else could’ve gotten this far? !”


[User] “Earlier, I said I can’t understand you and that I’m sick of all this. Sorry about that. Yeah, I’m sorry. I don’t take even one bit of it back, but it’s true I’m grateful to you, too. It was real shitty of me to forget that in the moment.”

[Assistant] "I’m grateful to you for one thing and one thing only. Thanks…for giving me Return by Death. That’s all I’m thankful for. Without that, I wouldn’t have been able to protect a fly. I’ll keep relying on this power from here on out as well. So for that alone, I’m thanking you.” He was determined to continue making progress through trial and error. The option of running away had disappeared long ago.

[User] “That’s why I’m thanking you only for the power you gave me. Even a guy like me with no redeeming features can bust through a hopeless dead end like…”

[Assistant] “—Don’t.” Jealousy stopped Subaru in his tracks, keeping him from venting the dark emotions dominating the inside of his chest. That faint, whisper-like murmur dulled his momentum.

[User] “A dead end…like…” His cheeks hardening, Subaru breathed hard as he blinked. What did she say to him just then?

[Assistant] “—Don’t cry. Don’t hurt yourself. Don’t suffer. Don’t…make such a sad face.” Jealousy pleaded with Subaru, as if urging him or maybe even praying. Her words clouded the fierce emotions in Subaru’s heart; part of it was anger, part of it was surprise, and the rest was a mix of various emotions that made no sense whatsoever.

[User] “Wh-why are…you saying…” His throat caught in shock. He didn’t know how he should respond. All he could do was stare at Jealousy, bewildered…

[Assistant] “Love, please.”

[User] “I-in the end, that’s what it’s all about…? You twist my feelings, then tell me to love you? Who’d love someone like…”

[Assistant] “—No.” When Subaru tried to reject her through his trembling, Jealousy engaged him in conversation for the first time. Even then, he could not see her face. However, in his soul, he knew what expression Jealousy was making as she gazed at him from the other side of that curtain of darkness. He knew what face Jealousy—no, Satella—was looking at him with at that very moment.


[User] "—Love yourself more." —She was surely gazing at him with a look of affection.

[Assistant] "What the hell…are you even saying?" The moment understanding spread through his mind, Subaru’s heart was overwhelmed by a wave of indescribable sensations.

[User] "Don’t hurt yourself. Don’t be sorry. Take…better care of yourself."

[Assistant] "Shit, you’re the one who gave me Return by Death. You’re the one who gave me this power that lets me move forward, damn it!"

[User] "—I love you. That’s why…I want you to love and protect yourself."

[Assistant] "If you take away the way I cope, the way I defend myself, then what the hell do I have left?!" Rejecting Satella’s whispers of inexhaustible love, Subaru shouted, pressing his hand hard against his own chest.

[User] "You know, don’t you?! I don’t have any power! No smarts or special skills, either! I don’t have a single advantage of my own! I don’t have anything but the Return by Death ability you gave me! That’s why the only thing I can pay with is my own life!"

[Assistant] "Don’t be sad."

[User] "If I’m hurt more than other people, if I see more things than other people, if I can run around protecting everyone, then no one but me has to go through this awful stuff! That’s all I want!"

[Assistant] "Please don’t cry."

[User] "You don’t really care what happens to me, do you?! Whatever happens to a guy like me, no one’s gonna shed a tear! No matter how beat-up I get, if everyone can reach the future safe and sound, then that’s…!" After all, if Subaru didn’t stay on the front line, continuing to be hurt like that—

[Assistant] "If I can get to tomorrow without losing anyone, that’s…" —There was a chance he might lose someone in a way he could never undo.

[User] “…Rem’s…gone.”

[User] "It never would’ve happened if…if I was smarter, if I had any power, if I’d cared less for myself, if only I’d laid my life on the line in the first place…" The sense of loss and despair from that time still weighed heavily on Subaru Natsuki.


[Assistant] "If I don’t believe that…if I don’t believe that there has to be a way to make this work…"

[User] "I…! I don’t wanna lose anyone else like how I lost Rem—!


[User] Clutching his head, Subaru screamed in denial of anything and everything beyond himself. He realized that at some point, he’d slumped to the ground. With Satella right before his eyes, he was cowering inside his shell, shutting out her soft, tiny whispers. She was poison. A deadly substance. Satella’s very existence was like a sweet venom that melted Subaru’s hardened heart. As it melted, frigid despair seeped into the cracks that had opened up, dredging up the crushing loss he felt that day.

[Assistant] "You’re not a child, are you?" Out of the blue, he heard a voice murmur. As Subaru tearfully shouted while stubbornly clinging to the conclusion he’d reached all alone, one of the Witches who had been silent so far looked directly at Subaru as she muttered, shaking her head in disapproval.

[User] "…a sad, lonely child, no?" With a pitying voice, Sekhmet passed judgment on Subaru. Not one of the wordless Witches present uttered a word of denial. Everything she had said rung true.


[User] In this moment, Subaru was nothing but a small, frail child. It was too painful to even watch.

[Assistant] "—Baru, are you crying…?" As he remained on his knees, Subaru abruptly felt his head being enveloped by something soft. Through his teary vision, he saw Typhon, the olive-skinned little girl who governed Pride. Standing at his side, the little girl was gently embracing Subaru’s head. Then, without moving from her spot—

[User] “It’s so sad seeing you cry like this… Who’s the one who made you cry?” Pitying Subaru, Pride surveyed the Witches gathered at the tea party with her red eyes. He sensed that the dangerous look in her gaze was slowly but surely causing the strained, tenuous equilibrium between the Witches to crumble.

[Assistant] "Was it Tella? Daffy? Milla? Sigh? Or was it Nerva who…well, I guess probably not. Then was it Dona who did something bad to you again? Who was bad?"

[User] “Wh-why did you take me off the list right away? Even I can h-h-hurt someone, you know.”

[Assistant] “Your face goes pale just from imagining it. You’re not capable. More importantly, why was I the only one who came out as a firm suspect, I wonder? It makes me want to meet the parents who raised you and question them in great detail…”

[User] “Because that is a daily affair for you, sigh.”

[Assistant] Typhon vigilantly watched the Witches as they reacted. She was eager to root out the “bad person who made Subaru cry.” The fact that the suspects were her fellow Witches was no reason for them to be exempt from her punishment. Still, these women all possessed supernatural powers that could destroy whole nations or perhaps even the entire world itself. With all of them gathered in the same place at the same time and ready to lash out at the slightest provocation, this tea party was more dangerous than playing with matches next to a powder keg. Pride, clutching the head of the crying boy, was keen on punishing whoever had sinned. Wrath, siding with her own murderer, was adamant on making sure the quiet Witch’s feelings were heard. Sloth, keeping an eye on everyone equally, was lazily waiting to instantly smash whoever would make the first move. Gluttony, showing no interest in the changing circumstances, was craving to take advantage of everything going on to satisfy her hunger. Lust, maintaining her neutrality, was clutching at her own head as if to protect herself alone. Greed, with a faint trace of hatred remaining in her glimmering eyes, was inquisitively watching for any shifts in the balance of power. And finally, the Witch called Satella, who was apparently not the Witch of Jealousy—

[User] “—I…love you. Because you…gave me light. Because you took my hand, and you taught me about the world outside. Because…when I trembled on lonely nights, you never stopped holding my hand. Because when I felt lonely, you kissed me and said that I wasn’t alone."


[User] "You gave me so many things… That’s why I love you. Because you…you gave me everything.” She showed no intention of cutting short her whispers of love for the kneeling Subaru, who didn’t seem to register anything she said.

[Assistant] He couldn’t understand. He didn’t get any of it. He’d never met Satella before, nor had he ever exchanged words with her. Everything she was saying had to be the product of her delusions. She wasn’t any different than Petelgeuse, another person who had gone mad with love. All that should have been true. And yet, Subaru Natsuki knew. “What the hell…? What’s this…inside me? I don’t want any of these feelings. Don’t…tie me to memories I don’t have… How could… How could I…for someone like you…? !"

[User] I hate you is what he wanted to add. The word hate did not truly suffice. He detested this person. He didn’t feel a single shred of good will toward her. If she was going to force such self-centered feelings of love onto him, he might as well see what kind of face she was making. It would be something to behold, no doubt. —How can you do this to her…?

[Assistant] “—!” Having reached the pinnacle of a supposedly impossible contradiction, Subaru’s mind went blank. The next moment, Subaru “addressed” the confusion. There could be no more direct way to do so.

[User] “…Baru?” It was Typhon, touching Subaru, who was the first to notice the change. The little girl’s eyes went wide as she realized that strength had drained from Subaru even as he remained kneeling within her arms. She immediately noticed something else. A large quantity of blood was dripping from his mouth. Subaru had bit his tongue.

[Assistant] “—Ahh, so this is another option you have, Subaru Natsuki.” As the various Witches reacted to his decision, Echidna was the only one whose cheeks slackened in joy.

[User] “—Gh, puh.” This was Echidna’s castle of dreams. Subaru’s real body wasn’t here. Accordingly, dying in this place was a death of the mind, which ran the risk of leaving his body an empty husk. Even after considering the possibility, Subaru tried to end it nonetheless. Death was Subaru’s only hope—

[Assistant] “You…absolute idiot—! !" The moment Minerva noticed Subaru trying to take his own life, her face reddened as she flew into action. She raised her fist, brimming with the power of healing, and prepared to slam it into Subaru. But before she could, Typhon stood in her way. The young Witch spread both arms wide, shielding Subaru behind her as much as her little body could.

[User] “Baru chose this himself! Don’t get in his way, Nerva!”

[Assistant] “Hurting yourself, killing yourself, hurting others, killing others—I won’t allow any of it! Mental suffering is beyond me! If I can’t see it, there’s no way for me to know when someone’s hurt! So that’s why instead, I never ignore any wounds I can see, even it means destroying the world!"


[User] With one determined step forward, which left a crater in the hill, Minerva slammed her fist into Typhon’s face. It wasn’t an exaggeration to say it hit like a cannonball that could crush whole boulders. However, the instant her fist came into contact with a living thing, the force of her blow changed from being destructive to healing—and so, only the momentum of the impact remained. With an explosive roar, Minerva’s strike sent the young Witch’s childlike body flying. However, while she had managed to overcome the obstacle, it was not just Typhon who’d taken damage. The right arm Minerva had swung with cracked like a shattered glass window. The Witch of Pride had deemed her actions evil; this was the result of being touched by her judgment. The pain of having lost her arm made Minerva turn her face up toward the sky, opening her mouth wide in—

[Assistant] "—Piece of caaaaake—! !" —what was decidedly not a scream of pain. The Witch of Wrath was so sensitive to the suffering of others that she put her own aside no matter what. Her calling Subaru’s methods twisted while stubbornly adhering to her own extreme ideals was truly the pot calling the kettle black.

[User] “Anyway! With this, I’ll…!”

[Assistant] “Sigh…the next one to interfere…is me.” An instant later, a blow that came from straight above knocked Minerva off the hill. After her entire body was forced into the ground, Minerva left a human-shaped indentation on the grassy plain.

[User] Lifting up her head, she looked toward Sekhmet with a face marred with rage. "Don’t interfere, Sekhmet! !"

[Assistant] “I can do no such thing, phew. Emotionally, I am on the boy’s side, sigh. You could probably say I’m also on Typhon’s side, phew. So you see, I have no reason not to interfere, sigh.”

[User] Faced with Sekhmet’s declaration of opposition, Minerva resentfully bit her lip and scanned the area. Unfortunately for her, Daphne and Carmilla were maintaining their neutrality in this dispute, while Echidna was nothing but a detached observer awaiting the results. And Satella was—


[Assistant] “Agh, aghhh…” Subaru continued heaving up terrible amounts of blood as the Witch knelt in her black dress, her voice shaking as she spoke to him. The frothy blood pouring from the boy’s torn tongue was blocking his throat. Subaru was drowning in his own blood as he caught sight of Satella. Finally, I’ll be free, he thought. But the moment he noticed her grieving, his relief evaporated like ephemeral mist.

[User] “Why haven’t you realized…? That somewhere among all the things you wish to save, shouldn’t there be a spot for you, too…?”

[Assistant] Why did she think about Subaru that way? Just how much had Subaru soothed her heart during those delusions she must’ve had?

[User] “Just like many other people, fate has led you to many dead ends. But just because you have the chance to change those… Why can’t you see…that you’re someone who deserves to be saved, too…?” There had to be…some mistake.


[User] Subaru was an unredeemable person, unable to take care of even the things that were within his reach. He couldn’t even save just the people he wanted to save. He couldn’t break free from his inadequacy, his immaturity.

[Assistant] Hadn’t he sworn to change? To stop being such a fool? Hadn’t he decided to act cool? The part of him that was weak and the part of him that didn’t want to be weak anymore warred inside him. He’d made a vow—a vow to the girl who had chosen him to be her hero. He could not go back on that vow. He had to challenge death, to desire death, to face death head-on.

[User] —If she knew of this, would she be happy? Would she be sad? —What would she think of Subaru, who she’d wished to be her hero? He couldn’t think about it. He couldn’t know about it. This was a dangerous line of thought. Subaru Natsuki was fine with that. He did not think of himself as a person anyone would miss. He was not a human being with that kind of worth. Subaru’s life was an expendable commodity. And so, like any other resource, all he needed to do was use it, and use it as much as necessary to make sure he reached the end. It was simple. In order to gain something valuable, something worthless would be exhausted. It was only natural. The decision was so obvious, anyone would do the same, wouldn’t they?

[Assistant] All Subaru had was his life. He would save the lives of precious people who needed to be saved, lives that would never return. If he could manage that at least, Subaru could—

[User] "What happened in the second Trial…? What did you see…?"

[Assistant] Trial. —Trial. Trial, "Trial." Trialtrialtrial, Trialtrialtrialtrial, Trial—?

[User] Shock and insufficient oxygen had severely dulled his mind. His vision was finally becoming indistinct, and the world began to flash red. White noise like television static filled his thoughts. Subaru hazily considered that the end was near. The end would finally come. With this, how many times would he have greeted death? It was annoying to count, but that was fine. Sooner or later, he would confront death so many times that he’d be tired of counting anyway. He didn’t think the human mind could withstand remembering the number of deaths it had experienced. He readied his heart into steel. A heart of steel that would not be swayed by anything—

[Assistant] Finally, Subaru’s consciousness slowly, gently melted into the darkness—


[User] "—I’ve got high hopes for you, son." There was…a sound. From somewhere on the other side of the white noise, from the chaotically reflecting noises, he heard…something very clear.

[Assistant] "—Come back soon." There it was again. He heard a different sound. But this resonated in his chest in the same way.

[User] "—I…wanted to call you my friend." A different sound, a sound that carried another feeling. The sounds were far from calming. But still, they were comforting.

[Assistant] "Why…why?!!"


[User] “Why, Subaru… How could you do this so easily…!” A different sound again. The sound of parting filled his chest with a sense of desolation and something resembling longing, a feeling that made him want to say he was sorry.

[Assistant] “I knew that…at the very least, you weren’t That Person…but…” A new sound made his chest tighten. It was impossible to remain detached and unemotional. This was a tearful sound. It was the sound of someone who he shouldn’t make cry. Who he had to protect. Who he had to save. Sound. Sound. Sound.

[User] “Please show me your good parts, Subaru.” Reacting to the sound, a kind of thump rang out. The inside of his body grew hot. A sense of duty stirred within him. That sound had always supported him. And then—

[Assistant] “Thank you, Subaru.” There was…a sound.

[User] “—Thank you…for helping me.” —A sound that heralded the beginning of…everything.


[Assistant] He wondered if they would cry. Subaru wondered if the people important to him would be sad about his death. In the world he would leave through selfishly experiencing death, would the irreplaceable people he left behind miss him? Would they be sad at his passing? As Subaru repeated Return by Death, would they, too, be chagrined? There were people who he thought of as precious, who he believed he had to protect, who he yearned to save. —Did he have enough worth to make these previous people miss him? Is it fine to be that conceited? Do precious people think of a guy like me…as a precious existence? Is it all right for me to believe that? To believe I’m needed by the people I want to protect, enough that they want to protect even a guy like me? Is it forgivable to even wish for it? To wish that even a guy like me is worth enough that people would cry if they lost me, that they’d reach a hand out because they want to save me? —Is it all right for me to even think it? To think I don’t wanna die. To think I don’t want to give up, to say this is the only way. To think I don’t want to become the cornerstone that protects the future of the people precious to me, and then disappear. To think I want to be with those precious people in the future I’ve protected, together. Is it all right to think like that? Do I have that kind of worth? If I really do—

[User] “I don’t…wanna die…” A clump of blood made a sound as it fell. There was a sound of air leaking out, and it brought along a different sound. His breathing eased. His consciousness was returning. His hazy vision had begun to return, and with it, color returned to the world. And then—

[Assistant] “I knew that’s how you really felt all along…you jerk! !” …As he tenaciously crawled, the face of Wrath came into focus, right as she healed him with a headbutt.


[User] Subaru coughed, spitting out clumps of blood. He rolled onto his back, faceup as he looked at the sky. He made repeated, ragged breaths, earnestly gasping in search of oxygen, the fuel needed for life. His heart had no time to feel shame at how lowly and pathetic he looked as he clung to life. Just…

[Assistant] "Am I…?"

[User] "Am I…worthy of living…? Me, who can’t die…do I have…any value outside of dying…?"

[Assistant] Through Return by Death, he had saved people he held dear from horrific fates. Subaru Natsuki had believed his only value was in the results he had obtained at the cost of his life. But was it right to think that this was not so?

[User] "Can I think that…a human being like me has value outside of Return by Death…? Is it all right for me to think that…the people I care for…care for me, too…?"

[Assistant] “…I wouldn’t know any such thing.”

[User] Minerva gave Subaru’s frail question that very curt reply. She was in a terrible state. Her arm was shattered, and there were bruises from blunt trauma all over her body. But she calmly rose to her feet, gritted her teeth at those wounds, and regenerated herself. Doing this, the Witch of Wrath stood solidly on her own two feet, crossing her arms as she looked down at Subaru. And then—

[Assistant] “Don’t ask me what worth you have. But that girl wants you to live so much…plus, you saw in the second Trial yourself, didn’t you?”

[User] “…But the second Trial showed me the mistakes, the sins I committed…”

[Assistant] “What are you, an idiot? That wasn’t to make you take responsibility for worlds gone wrong. That was to show you just how sad people got because of the results of your mistakes. —That’s your answer right there, isn’t it?”

[User] “—hh.” They returned to the back of his mind. He remembered. He remembered crying voices. He remembered voices clenched in regret. He remembered strong voices sending him off. He remembered all the people sending him off so kindly. He remembered whispers of love from those who’d believed in him. He remembered the genesis, the trigger of his struggle against fate. He remembered a life that supposedly had nothing awaiting him. Subaru remembered he’d been invited into that world with nothing, with the things he was supposed to have falling from his fingertips. To prove that someone like him had worth, he had to keep struggling. And as he kept struggling to protect those precious things he had gained, he thought he had no choice but to walk an even lonelier path. I’d thought to myself, it’s all others giving unto me. Is it all right for me to think it’s not so?

[Assistant] "—People will cry for my sake? —People will lament their powerlessness for my sake? —People wish to see the future with me, together? —Precious people will give me the privilege of standing and smiling at their side?"


[User] With a heart of steel—a mental state that swayed before nothing—he was disconnected from the softness that would’ve allowed him to smile. Then was it all right to believe? That the choice to whittle away his own heart, deciding it was the price he had to pay for the future of those precious to him… That the choice to desperately struggle to protect his own heart, thus becoming unable to walk his chosen path… To believe that neither need be taken, and that there was another, greedier choice? —Was it all right to believe and to want it? These were Subaru’s thoughts, thoughts he had in no way spoken aloud.

[Assistant] "—I permit it."

[User] Still flat on the ground and faceup, he let his head tumble sideways. Over where Minerva was standing still, someone was kneeling on the grassy field. Her face was drenched with tears, but still she smiled. Even then, Subaru could not see this face, which was covered by shadow. Obstructed by that curtain of darkness, he could not see the expression turned toward him. And yet, he knew she was smiling. "I was saved by you. That is why I permit that you can be saved. And it is my hope to be saved by you.”

[Assistant] Subaru covered his face with his hands. Tears flowed. Sobs spilled out. He continued to hide his weeping face. That moment, he didn’t want anyone, especially her, to see him like that—for the sake of his meager stubbornness.

[User] “…I was surprised that Minerva broke through Typhon and Sekhmet’s obstruction, but I find this action by the two of you even more unexpected.” Echidna made that small comment, ignoring Subaru as he covered his weeping face. —After all, before Echidna was a spectacle of talons stretching from the black, lacquered coffin to restrain Typhon while the coffin’s mistress, Daphne, faced off against Sekhmet.

[Assistant] Daphne responded to Echidna’s words with a low, throaty laugh. Released from her restraints, she stepped barefoot onto the grassy field, tilting her hips as she stuck out her tongue. “There’s no mistaaake that Daphne’s compatibility with Ty-Ty is number oooone. The Centipede Coffin has no head for thinking because it’s Daphne’s arms and leeeegs. And its compatibility with Ty-Ty’s Authority is the woooorst.”

[User] “Uuugh! Daffy, out of my way! Nnnn! Uuu!”

[Assistant] “So…sigh. That means you are holding me back yourself, phew. I’m not Echidna, but, sigh. Why are you doing something like this, phew. Unlike Minerva, I do not understand your reason for getting involved, sigh.” Glancing as Typhon writhed under the coffin, Sekhmet made another weighty sigh. With Typhon taken hostage, the mightiest of the Witches apparently could not act rashly.


[User] Responding to Sekhmet’s words, Daphne shook her head, braids swaying as she said “Nahhhh” and laughed. “Subaru, you seeee, killed the White Whale, then talked big and told Daphne that the Great Rabbit was neeext. Sooo I figured I wanted him to last at least long enough to chaaaallenge it.”

[Assistant] “A most fascinating opinion. Certainly, if he puts his mind to it, he can achieve such a feat. You must understand this as well…but Daphne, do you want the Great Rabbit to be destroyed?”

[User] “Not reaaaally? From the moment they were born from Daphne, those children’s empty stomachs and Daphne’s empty stomach weren’t related anymooore. Where and how it’s destroyed makes no differeeeence…but all the same, Daphne might be interested in just how the Great Rabbit, Daphne’s own inexhaustible hunger, reaches its eeeend.” You see, she seemed to say, sipping her own drool. “If Daphne is satisfied at how it eeeends, that would be a happiness unknoooown to Daphne…”

[Assistant] Smiling at this, Echidna nodded, turning her gaze to the other person to whom she had referred to—the Witch of Lust, standing apart from the group. “Carmilla, what about you? Do you have a reason like Daphne’s, I wonder?”

[User] “Wh-what are you…trying to say, E-Echidna…?”

[Assistant] “It is very simple. —You were the one who called him back from the brink of death, weren’t you? I do not understand the reason you would go as far as employing your Faceless Bride Authority.”

[Assistant] “You must have called forth countless bonds for him. I thought you were not fond of him. And so, I wish to ask: Why have you done this?”

[User] When Echidna posed her question, Carmilla hid her mouth under the stole wrapped around her neck, glancing around in search of aid from the Witches around them. Left with no other choice, Carmilla leaned forward, gazing at Echidna with upturned eyes. “N-no r-reason, really? I’m satisfied with that boy refusing Echidna’s…mm, advances…so even if others fight, as long as I’m safe, then…just…”

[Assistant] “Just?”

[User] “L-love is important…r-right? You mustn’t hold it in…contempt… You mustn’t. That boy…he thinks he doesn’t want to see it, when ‘love’ is right there, so…I won’t let him…deny what’s there. And besides, I……really hate not repaying a debt.” Her words were halting and plodding.

[Assistant] Receiving this, Echidna dropped her shoulders as she looked at the faces of the various Witches in turn.


[User] "Sekhmet and Typhon tried to honor his will. Minerva, honoring his life, healed him. Daphne cooperated, extending his life so she might watch his battle. Carmilla, who’d kept her back turned to him, used her Authority to make him understand ‘love.’ —Now then, putting each and every person’s various assertions together…all of you were trying to help Subaru Natsuki."

[Assistant] The Witches stood still, neither affirming nor denying Echidna’s assessment. Sloth, Pride, Wrath, Gluttony, Lust—all stood still.

[User] Seeing the Witches like that, Greed twisted her cheeks in amusement. "This is indeed most interesting. —Do you not think so?" She posed this question, casting it toward Subaru, looking haggard as he wobbled to his feet.

[Assistant] His head was terribly heavy. His entire body was languid as if he had a high fever. Even then, his tears had not fully dried. Wiping from his cheek what remained of his tears with his sleeve, Subaru, somehow managing to stand on his own two feet, surveyed the faces of Echidna and the other Witches with insipid eyes. "Really…the hell is wrong with you all…"

[User] It was a question—a natural question for a puny human to have after meeting a Witch. "Curiosity. Sympathy. Compassion. Sense of duty. Expectation. Hatred… Can’t say I really understand or agree with the reasons you had to take my side. I get why they call you all Witches."

[Assistant] "From this insulting attitude, I take it that your willpower has returned?"

[User] “…Dunno.”

[Assistant] From the words that had trickled out of him, Echidna winked and bluntly laid out Subaru’s mental state. "I decided there were things I had to do. That hasn’t changed, even now. And I’d…resolved that…to accomplish them, this was the only way. But…"

[User] Haltingly, Subaru spoke—not to anyone else in particular, but to himself. "My resolve…when I came to this place, the Trial…broke it. Just when I thought you were lending me a hand, I found out what you really thought, then even Satella appeared…my head’s all a mess. You’re all self-serving… I decided what it is I had to do. But then…"

[Assistant] After coming this far, if he clung to his supposedly expendable life, what then? After coming this far, if he yearned for life when using it was his only option, what then? After coming this far, if he internalized that he was loved, what was it he ought to do? "Now I…don’t know what I should do anymore."

[User] Logic pleaded that if he did not desire death, he could save nothing via Return by Death. His memories told him that as death piled higher, the flood of tears from those who had lost Subaru grew greater. Without his death, someone would be sad, and yet with his death, someone would be sad also.

[Assistant] "—Now, I ask you once more, Subaru Natsuki." With Subaru unable to sew his thoughts together, Echidna lowered her voice, speaking solemnly. When he lifted his face, Echidna was standing right in front of him, slowly nodding.


[User] "If I cooperate with you, the people you absolutely wish to save will arrive at a future in which they are saved. You will have no more reason to worry. In extremis, I will find the answers to the problems that you must directly confront. All you need do is put them into effect, thus climbing over the walls. If you are afraid you must continue to worry, one choice you have is entrusting those worries to me. I will not fault you for this. I will welcome it. Therefore, I now ask you once more."

[Assistant] "Since you do not understand what to do, how about letting me lead you by the hand? I promise, I will bring you to the future you desire without fail."

[User] Echidna stretched her hand out to Subaru. If he took that hand, a pact would be formed. Echidna would cooperate with Subaru in accordance with her words.

[Assistant] "Echidna. —I’m afraid of being hurt."

[User] "I hate pain, suffering, and sadness. I don’t want to go through painful times, and I don’t want to watch someone other than me go through bad things, either. —I don’t want to die."

[Assistant] "So because it’s predicated on sacrifice, I won’t—take your hand anymore."

[User] "I don’t know exactly what everyone felt like they lost yet. —But I think I want to find out. If I understand that, I think I can repay everyone in a way besides death."

[Assistant] "…But that is a path of thorns. The shortest way to the future is to choose to use your life as a tool and cut it open. It would have been better if you offered your heart alone. To reject this, and to preserve both your own heart and someone else’s future in your hands at the same time, is most difficult, and moreover—" Echidna cut off her words with a pause of her breath.


[User] "—it is greed.” Affirming its greed, the Witch of Greed joyfully accepted Subaru’s judgment.

[Assistant] Subaru did not understand the thinking of the Witch, who seemed so happy even though he had rejected her proposal.

[User] "What is true is that you came and saved me a bunch of times over… Even if in the bottom of your heart, you think of me as nothing more than a lab animal, that much is true.”

[Assistant] It was undeniable that for some travails, Echidna’s existence had lent support to his heart, allowing him to overcome them. Therefore, his gratitude for the times when she’d saved his heart was also definite.

[User] "—Foolish, pitiable Garfiel fears the outside world.”

[Assistant] “…Eh?”

[User] “What he saw during the first Trial has bound his heart ever since. If you are to get through this situation with your own power, it will surely be necessary to break that curse.”

[Assistant] “Echidna?”

[User] “What, just sour grapes from a busybody. I would rather you did not think All those other Witches are good people deep down, but that Echidna is a bad person to the bitter end or the like. Whatever your thoughts, I am a girl, and it is the truth that I have some degree of fondness for you.” Speaking rapidly, Echidna gave Subaru’s chest a light poke with the hand he had not taken. Then she turned her back, her white hair swaying as the Witch of Greed put distance between them. During that time, Daphne was using her coffin to cuddle Typhon up to Sekhmet, and Carmilla had returned to the fold as well.

[Assistant] Seeing the Witches like that made Subaru sigh. “You really are incomprehensible monsters. I don’t think I could ever come to like or understand you.” These were his true, unvarnished thoughts. The values each Witch harbored never wavered, something that would never sit well with Subaru—no, that was true for any normal person. Thus Subaru could not understand the Witches, nor could he cooperate with them. But just like he thought with Echidna, understanding and gratitude were wholly different things.

[User] “Thanks for trying to let me die. Thanks for not letting me die. Thanks for making me hear the voices that are precious to me. —Thanks for all that.” He bowed his head to the Witches one by one. Pride smiled, Sloth sighed, Lust grimaced in disgust, Gluttony licked her lips in arousal, and Wrath turned her face aside. Then he turned around—toward Satella, who was kneeling on the hill, and began walking to her.


[User] It was a mystery with no answer, but this dream castle had already given Subaru too many. With not a single answer to that question, Subaru opted to keep worrying about it as he crouched down, extending his hand to the Witch.

[Assistant] Seemingly bewildered, Satella stared at the hand offered to her. “I…don’t know who you are. I don’t know why you told me you love me…and I don’t know the meaning of…you telling me that I saved you.”

[User] “—Ah.”

[Assistant] “But it’s still a fact that you saved me by giving me Return by Death. It’s also true that I’ve relied on it to get me this far.”

[Assistant] “To me, Return by Death is…one choice, I suppose?”

[Assistant] “And you’re telling me…not to depend on it, but to love myself…right?”

[Assistant] “I’m not saying it’s as cut and dry as that. —But there’s no mistaking that you gave me Return by Death because you don’t want me to die.”

[User] That was why…“Just like you said, I’m going to…try loving myself, just a little more. I’ll take better care of myself. I don’t know what’ll happen because of it, but that’s fine.”

[Assistant] “…It’s all right?”

[User] “Yeah…compared with death, it ain’t nothin’.” Responding to Satella’s concerned voice, Subaru made a smile, frail as it was.

[Assistant] Seemingly relieved by that expression, Satella took Subaru’s hand.


[User] The next moment, Subaru’s eardrums caught a sound as if the very world had cracked. The colors of the blue sky and the green, grassy field faded. Subaru Natsuki was being freed from the castle of dreams. “—I’m returning outside, huh?” Even then, it was unclear how, and why, he had arrived at that place. What should he do first when he got back? His mind was in chaos over even an issue like that.

[Assistant] “Don’t worry all by yourself. Do it together, with the people who consider you precious…”

[Assistant] “Struggle together with the people who you do not wish to die, the people who do not wish to let you die. —And when even that fails, do not forget to fear death when you die.”

[Assistant] “Do not forget that when you die, it makes people sad—” The world made a sound like it was breaking. Satella’s voice grew distant. And yet, it clawed terribly at Subaru’s heart. The palm connecting him to her was hot. He felt a longing that told him he mustn’t take his hand away.

[User] “I…” He called out to her, but his voice would not come out. His voice could not call her…Satella. If he called her that, he wouldn’t be able to reject her any longer. He would lose to his wanting to accept her. His soul kept on screaming at him, asking how he should deal with that emotion. The sky was falling. The earth was splitting. Light flooded in, and the scene around them had already completely changed. All signs of the Witches had vanished, too. The world consisted of Subaru and Satella alone.


[User] There was a vanishing. And then, there was a beginning. —Still unable to speak, Subaru stared at the Satella right in front of him. “” Suddenly, the curtain of darkness lifted. The subconscious veil that had hidden from Subaru what he had not wished to see became transparent, making visible what rested across it. And then, when he saw the face peering at him from below, Subaru drew in his breath.

[Assistant] Looking at Subaru, Satella made her silver hair sway, narrowing her violet eyes. And as tears coursed from the corners of those eyes— “And someday—you will come to kill me, yes?” She vanished.

[User] She was gone. The world was being erased, and he could no longer see even the girl who was right before his eyes. The only thing that was still certain was the warmth within his palm. And so, Subaru gripped it tight. “—I will save you. You’ll see.” That was all he said to the lovely girl whom he could no longer see.