[ "Emilia." Subaru's expression suddenly turned serious.
"Hmm," Emilia replied.
"Emilia. I've witnessed the future with my own eyes. I know exactly what's going to happen next. Why? Because I… I used 'Return by Death'…"
At this moment, time seemed to stop.
Two hands of black mist appeared, the left hand caressing Subaru's cheek, the right hand piercing into Subaru's body, caressing his heart.
Then, the left hand stopped caressing, disappearing somewhere unknown.
And the right hand… ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"This isn't right… Before, it always squeezed Subaru's heart, but this time…"
This time, it seemed to be merely caressing.
Puck frowned, puzzled.
"Ugh… Dirty hands, stop touching Subaru-kun…"
The two Rem gritted their teeth.
"Where did the left hand that touched Subaru's cheek go… Could it be?!"
Just then, the screen continued, and Beatrice looked at the screen to confirm her guess.
—
[ "Ah." Emilia let out a soft hum, spitting out a large amount of blood, and collapsed towards Subaru.
"Em… Emilia? Don't joke… What? Hey, what's wrong with you?"
Then, when Subaru realized what had happened…
"Waaaaaahhhhhh…"
Subaru roared in despair.
Emilia, who had died, fell into Subaru's arms. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Even if he overcomes the pain, he still can't say it…"
Otto lowered his head.
Natsuki-san is too miserable.
"DAMN WITCH! THERE AIN'T NO LIMIT TO YOUR BULLYIN' FOLKS, IS THERE?! IT'S OUTTA CONTROL, I TELL YA!!"
Garfiel roared.
"My… daughter… Satella, what on earth…"
Puck murmured.
—
[ "I, I…" Subaru slumped to the ground, his eyes vacant.
"Looking at your expression, it's as if you're saying, 'I'm the unluckiest person in the world'."
"Bea, trice…"
Beatrice stood at the door. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Maybe it's true."
Otto, outside the screen, gave a wry smile.
After so many things, Natsuki-san might indeed be "the unluckiest person in the world."
—
[ "It's only been a few days, and your stupid face seems to have gotten even stupider. Don't you have anything to say?"
Beatrice, on the screen, asked.
"Kill me."
Hearing this, Beatrice fell silent.
"Kill… me. Kill me right here…"
Beatrice trembled, biting her lip as she said:
"To ask Betty to kill you… That's too cruel, I suppose… Betty won't agree to your request, I suppose. If you want to die that badly, find a way to do it yourself… Betty doesn't want to do it, I suppose."
Then, the space here began to distort.
"What are you doing… What's happening around here?!"
Subaru was at a loss.
"Since it's already useless, I can't let you stay here any longer—Betty must at least protect this mansion, I suppose. At least die somewhere Betty can't see, I suppose."
Beatrice showed a lonely expression, tears welling up in her eyes. She released magic, teleporting Subaru away. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Betty."
"Yes, Big Brother. That me, that Betty knows what Big Brother is going to do… So she has to protect the mansion."
In the previous loop, Big Brother must have had a fight with Betty in that ruined mansion…
"Even if the big boss tells her to, she won't go and kill him... My Sis's truly somethin' else, ain't she..."
Garfiel was deeply moved.
—
[ Meanwhile, on the screen, Subaru was teleported to a forest. After understanding everything, he held Emilia's corpse.
"I'm sorry. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm truly sorry… Someone, please… Anyone will do…"
Then…
"I've been waiting for you for a long time, beloved believer."
Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti appeared.
"Oh my, oh my, oh my, could it be that you are holding… Is that not the Half-Elf girl? To think she perished before even receiving our trial… What a tragic fate! What a just retribution! And and and… How diligent you are! To have acted before us! To have taken the Half-Elf's body! Her life! You initiated the trial and took them all!"
"I'm… diligent?"
"Indeed, I'm talking about you! Diligent! How wonderful! We were slow to realize, lacked strategy, and were not decisive enough! But you are different, you were the first to demonstrate the Witch's will!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Hmph, that disgusting old man thinks Subaru is his comrade."
Felix gritted his teeth.
"the boss's death wish is gonna be granted by these jerks?! ain't that the most annoyin' thing in the world."
Garfiel said.
—
[ "Ah, my incomplete body cannot even respond to that great one's thoughts, yet you have completed the trial for me. I need to clarify that I am not slothful to prove my love, so what can I do for you? How can I repay you?"
Petelgeuse spoke frantically.
"Kill me."
"Is that alright?"
Petelgeuse said this without hesitation, sending Subaru flying. Subaru closed his eyes in resignation.
"Speaking of which…"
Petelgeuse approached Subaru, saying:
"To boast so grandly, yet to perish before even crossing the first obstacle… Ah, you are 'Sloth', aren't you!"
Hearing these words, Subaru opened his eyes, seeing the black hand approaching little by little…
Then, he hugged Emilia, pressing her body down to dodge the black hand, and jumped to the side.
"…You, just now, did you see the Unseen Hand? Why, why, why, why… Why could you dodge it?! Can you see it?! This is mine! This is my favoritism alone!!"
Wasn't Subaru seeking death?
Everyone outside the screen was puzzled.
Did he change his mind after seeing Emilia being humiliated?
"I've changed my mind. No matter how I die, it won't be by your hand."
Subaru said, dodging the Unseen Hand, stepping forward, and headbutting Petelgeuse's nose hard, knocking him to the ground.
However, a black hand swept Subaru down, throwing him away.
"I've decided! Although the Half-Elf who was supposed to receive the trial is dead, the one who protected the Half-Elf is still alive! We must eradicate them completely, to dedicate ourselves to favoritism! Before that, you seem to be holding her very carefully… If I destroy that Half-Elf's body, what kind of beautiful melody will you cry out?"
A black hand lifted Subaru, then five more black hands extended, grabbing Emilia's four limbs and neck respectively.
"…Stop it!" Subaru cried out. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"My body… is going to…"
Emilia, outside the screen, narrowed her eyes, thinking she might close them and not watch this scene.
"Are they going to insult Lia's corpse too…"
The temperature around Puck noticeably dropped.
—
[ And in the next moment on the screen…
"What are you doing?"
The entire place fell silent.
"Repeat that. What did you do to my daughter—you beasts."
One of the Four Great Spirits, the End Beast of the Eternal Frost, Puck, descended upon them. ]
.....