Consciousness awoke.
— It hurts.
In my childhood, it was a common game among elementary school children: swinging on a swing set hard and jumping from the highest point. I was arrogant... at that stage, I thought I feared nothing.
Because no one was watching me, I jumped from the highest possible point to get attention.
「Ah....」 (Subaru)
It hurts.
I feel like I've returned to the moment my father sat on top of me on the sofa, right after they had placed compresses all over my body.
「What is this...」 (Subaru)
「What a weight... who is this...?」 (Subaru)
It hurts, and it's heavy. I feel now as if my father is sitting on top of me on the sofa, exactly after they had placed compresses all over my body.
「Darkness...? Hadn't the sunset just begun?」 (Subaru)
He hears nothing, and he sees nothing.
No... after some time, he could barely see with only one eye.
Subaru chastised himself on his hot and painful body, recalling the phrase: 「I will do what can be done,」 and tried to get up as usual.
— At the very least, he should push away this heavy body pressing down on him...
「...Ah?」 (Subaru)
「Heeyik...! ?」 (Subaru)
The rising fear drove him, so he pushed the thing that was on top of him with both hands.
Was it a cabinet, a wardrobe, or a desk?
That thing that was covering Subaru...
「Aro...!! I'm so—... I'm sorry, I'm sorry!!」 (Subaru)
Subaru tried to embrace the girl he had pushed with both hands, but his legs and hands wouldn't move.
— It hurts.
The pain was solidifying Natsuki Subaru's heart.
「What is this... Ah... Mu-Mutsuki! Kayoko!!」 (Subaru)
Subaru scanned the room with his semi-open eye, shouting the names of the General Services members.
But there was no response.
Where did the Calamity Fox who was just fighting go? What is this situation? Before pain and fear could take over his heart, Subaru began to crawl, trying to save the soul in front of him.
「Aro! Aro...! Are you alright...?」 (Subaru)
When he looked closely, he saw that the halo above her head had vanished, and the coat that had appeared in the corner of his vision earlier was burned and ripped.
He reached out, groping, trying to see if she was alive, and placed his hand on her nose and mouth to check her breathing.
「Oh, that's a relief... she's still...」 (Subaru)
But her breathing was rough. Her body was rising and falling with abdominal breaths, and her trembling, despite her unconsciousness, indicated that her condition was critical.
When he reached out to lift her by the back, his hand was stained with blood.
「Blood... Damn it, as long as she's not dead yet, then... ーー」 (Subaru)
「Stop right there, boy.」
「ーー Ah.」 (Subaru)
The soul that was in his arms was kicked away.
As if she were a worthless object, the girl who was on the brink of death flew far, far away.
「You bastard...」 (Subaru)
「Hmm, was it true that you don't possess an aura? To be this damaged by that shelling is unfortunate. I don't have compresses with me, so struggle on.」
「...」 (Subaru)
Subaru tried to move his eye, which couldn't open completely, and his body, which wouldn't move, attempting to condemn the perpetrator of this act... ーー Finally, light began to enter his eyes for the first time.
It was an artificial light, like a flashlight...
「Welcome, black-haired and black-eyed boy. Call me "The President".」
「ーー The Kaiser... Corporation...!」 (Subaru)
「Yes, precisely.」
His tongue stumbled, for the pain from his burnt throat and the pain in his entire body, which he was only now beginning to feel, all transformed into fear.
Nevertheless, he clearly saw that the room was filled with heavily armed robots.
And on every robot surrounding all the unconscious members of General Services, a familiar logo was engraved.
The robot wearing the suit and standing before him had introduced itself as the President, meaning the top of the Kaiser Corporation, the primary nucleus of Kaiser, was looking down on Subaru with contempt.
「Hmm... His eyes are burned from the aerial bombardment; he can barely see with his right eye, his left leg is useless, and his right leg is torn... yet he's still not dead.」
「Did General Services protect him? If you had died here, it would have been easy for you.」
「Why...?」 (Subaru)
「Do you think we would overlook an employee who failed to submit a mission completion report? Everything belonging to Kaiser, from individuals to vehicles, is managed equally.」
「And when we checked the car's GPS log, we found this precious prize as well... Kuk kuk kuk, it seems great fortune is indeed smiling upon me.」
Did he fail again? Did Natsuki Subaru fail again?
As his regret intensified, his heart wished for an end to his life.
He possesses the trump card granted to a man who can do nothing: the power to return everything to the beginning. If he dies here, then 「next time」 he won't use the car... ーー.
「...」 (Subaru)
He spat out this vile feeling of disdain, looking at Aro who had covered him, and at the members of General Services who had helped him.
— He is not dead yet.
「Death」 is far away; 「Death」 has not corrupted his soul.
If he hasn't died yet thanks to her, then...
「I can still move!!」 (Subaru)
「Halt.」 (The President)
Adrenaline surged through his body, but his jump was not directed toward the President... ーー but toward the now-dark tablet that had fallen at his feet.
「ARONA!!」 (Subaru)
「What? Damn it, is that the... Shittim Chest!?」 (The President)
「Voice verification complete. I am A.R.O.N.A, at your command, Sir.」
Coinciding with the President raising his foot to crush Subaru's hand.
The Kaiser soldiers standing at the destroyed room door scattered, and the sound of violent shotgun blasts, accompanied by a roar like that of a predator, echoed through the area.
When the President turned, startled by the sound, the last remaining member of General Services came into his view: it was Haruka.
「Madam Aro.」 (Haruka)
「... Do not touch her.」 (Haruka)
「You wretched girl... ーー What was the General doing!!」 (The President)
「Get away, you scum!!! I won't forgive you! I won't forgive! I won't forgive! I won't forgive! I won't forgive! I won't forgive! I won't forgive! I won't forgive! I won't forgive!」 (Haruka)
"President!! Total defense system collapse! One of the members..."
「Concentrate fire on all troops! Don't let her approach the President!! Hmmm!?」 (Soldier Commander)
In a fleeting moment, the troops formed a wall around the President, but this forced them to avert their attention from Subaru and General Services, thus granting Natsuki Subaru the opportunity of a lifetime.
「ARONA...! Can you do something?」 (Subaru)
「Yes, I can use all the remaining energy in the Shittim Chest to execute a temporary disarmament of all soldiers inside the room.」 (ARONA)
「Do it...! Please...!」 (Subaru)
「However, I cannot guarantee Natsuki Subaru's safety afterward.」 (ARONA)
「Don't worry! My life can go to hell!!」 (Subaru)
「... Understood. Initiating countdown. 3.」 (ARONA)
「Haruka!! Take care of General Services, please!!」 (Subaru)
Amidst the gunfire and chaos, it is uncertain whether Subaru's burnt voice reached the ears of the enraged Haruka.
Nevertheless, Subaru screamed until blood flowed from his strained throat, entrusting everything he could 「do」 in this situation to Haruka.
「2.」 (ARONA)
For this reason or another... it is uncertain.
「1.」 (ARONA)
— Haruka responded to the call and rushed toward her three sleeping comrades behind the wall of soldiers, taking a barrage of bullets into her body.
「0.」 (ARONA)
「Ugh!? Operating system breach!? Total firewall failure... ーー」 (The President)
「Haruka!!」
Subaru received a quick glance from her, and then Haruka carried all the General Services members.
The only escape route was 「outside」, through the completely shattered building window. She ran towards it, traversing the space.
His worry did not last long; he heard the loud sound of glass shattering from the floor below, signaling that Haruka had sacrificed her shotgun and hands to use them as brakes, and then slid downward along the wall.
「Goodbye, Natsuki Subaru. I wish you luck 「next time」.」 (A.R.O.N.A)
「Farewell.」 (ARONA)
With A.R.O.N.A's final sentence, the 「Shittim Chest」 powered down.
The power down meant the paralysis of the Kaiser soldiers vanished.
「... We underestimated you, thinking you were merely human, but you were the only being in this world capable of activating the Shittim Chest, you imbecile.」 (The President)
「ーー H-heh heh... Enjoy your ruin, you insignificant worm...」 (Subaru)
「Well, that's fine; this is merely child's play in the end... You made a mistake, idiot.」 (The President)
「...Ah?」 (Subaru)
「Why did you help General Services? Although I know the reason, is it because you are a foolish child and only thought about what was right in front of you?」 (The President)
「You should have... ーー activated Sanctum Tower. However, this stupid action of yours, which didn't even satisfy your own self-conceit, will cause a much greater loss.」 (The President)
「I wondered about the nature of the entity left by that superhuman man, but he was just a child who couldn't see beyond his nose... Apart from the activation privilege, you are disappointing.」 (The President)
「Therefore, this is what will happen.」 (The President)
— Is it an earthquake?
What struck Natsuki Subaru's body was a powerful ground tremor.
This earthquake-like tremor served as an alarm bell to inform Natsuki Subaru of the truth.
The arrival of light followed.
A very strong light assaulted Subaru's sole eye, which was directed outside the building to bid farewell to Haruka.
It was not a small light like a flashlight, nor a bright, warm glow like the sun.
The source of the light that tore through the darkness of Kivotos was...
「Ah...」 (Subaru)
「Intercontinental cruise missiles. Gematria has surrendered to this world.」 (The President)
The small mass of light appearing in the distance was the continuous bombardment destroying Gehenna.
「Ah, A, AAAAAHH...」 (Subaru)
Subaru felt his brain scattering; everything he had witnessed in Gehenna—Hina, Ako, Sena, and the entire Gehenna Academy—was burning in his memory.
Because of Natsuki Subaru's choice... everything.
A hell that he did not want to, and could not, imagine began to float into his mind, wreaking havoc and shattering Subaru's heart.
The pain, the regret, and the weight of the rifle he should have returned were all pressing down on his heart.
It's not because of him, not because of him...
「The anti-air defense system is disabled due to Sanctum Tower's lack of response.」 (The President)
All Natsuki Subaru could do was curl up and console himself.
「Kivotos will transform from a city of academies into a city of corporations, and areas of chaos like Gehenna are an obstacle to this. The survival of a faction like General Services changes nothing. Didn't I tell you? You are naive.」 (The President)
「Presi...dent...」 (Subaru)
「The General Student Council President was "ahead of her time." Although I valued that capability of hers, it is regrettable that she disappeared.」 (The President)
「Even though she was an obstacle, I would have liked to speak with her once about a profitable deal, but her disappearance led to this fate.」 (The President)
「The dawn is beginning, the mystery will vanish, and Gematria will depart. At that point, the Kaiser Corporation is the most deserving to control this world.」 (The President)
The President deliberately stepped on Subaru's hand, which was gripping the 「Shittim Chest」, then seized it and dusted it off.
「Ugh... Aah...」 (Subaru)
「With that, you are no longer of any use, nor is there any justification for your existence. Arrogant children need discipline.」 (The President)
「«The Black Suit» will attend to you. He is useful and should remain... ーー Take him away.」 (The President)
「Understood.」 (The Soldiers)
「Kaiser... President...」 (Subaru)
While being led away, Subaru realized that his last scream directed at that emotionless robot was truly his final attempt.
Preparing to drift quietly into sleep, he left his final words.
「Absolutely, I... no matter how many times this repeats...」 (Subaru)
「I will save them all.」 (Subaru)
「...」 (Subaru)
「Hurry and take him away; the barking of a defeated dog is unbearable to hear.」 (The President)
●○●○●
— Consciousness awoke.
It hurts.
When I was hurting, my father and mother used to help me.
「Kuk kuk kuk... Kukuk, what an understanding.」
Whose laugh is this? It sounds a bit frightening.
「Since the matter follows the will of the person himself, was the Shittim Chest truly calibrated for Natsuki Subaru?」
「Kuk kuk kuk kuk... This is very interesting... ーー It seems you have woken up.」
「... ーー」
Subaru could not speak, nor could he ask who he was or inquire about his current condition.
Furthermore, his eyes saw nothing.
「I apologize for this situation, but allow me to introduce myself.」
「I am The Black Suit, affiliated with Gematria. We have replaced your eardrum, so you should be able to hear well now... If you can hear, could you give me a sign?」
How kind this was; the sounds he had been hearing intermittently were now very clear.
Subaru tried to raise his right hand as a sign of response...
「... ーー?」
「Kuk kuk kuk, thank you.」
「...」 (Subaru)
— He had lost feeling in his right hand.
「When we brought you here, your right arm and left leg had already suffered damage, and we were forced to amputate them to avoid the danger of death.」 (The Black Suit)
「When we brought you here, your right arm and left leg had already suffered damage, and we were forced to amputate them to avoid the danger of death.」 (The Black Suit)
Was that the reason? That's why that pain disappeared...
Wait? Then why? Why is the feeling of pain intensifying all over his body?
Is it pain? No, it's cold. A chill, as if there is an air conditioner installed inside his body.
「Stop, maintain your calm.」 (The Black Suit)
「We are opening your body now.」 (The Black Suit)
「... ーー?」 (Subaru)
「... ーー」 (The Black Suit)
「...??」 (Subaru)
Coldness. A chill. Why is this happening?
Without knowing the reason, Natsuki Subaru was dying.
「The Ship of Theseus... ーー We are using you to learn how to deal with the Shittim Chest ourselves. Kuk, kukukuk... It's marvelous that such an interesting connection still exists in Kivotos.」 (The Black Suit)
Subaru did not understand what was said.
But he realized one thing: the cold.
He was being tampered with, polluted, opened, cherished. The hand of the man who introduced himself as The Black Suit was entering his body.
Pain, regret, and sorrow were all coated and covered by the coldness, by the coldness of an ocean in mid-winter.
— Piercing cold.
In a world of eternal darkness where he sees nothing, in a world where he does not know when this coldness will end, the only thing controlling Subaru's empty heart was...
When his soul and mortal body would reach 「Death」.
「Well then, we shall begin the removal of parts.」 (The Black Suit)
When will I die? Am I still alive? Haven't I died yet? It hurts, does the pain mean I haven't died yet?
It hurts, it hurts, it hurts, it hurts. He feels something, something precious leaving his body.
Does the heart still beating mean I am alive? Can I be called alive in this empty body where nothing remains? Can this be called life, when the authority over life and death is in someone else's hands, and they are toying with me without me knowing who they are? What is life? Why is death frightening?
— Did my life have meaning until now?
To be born, study hard in elementary, middle, and high school, want to raise my head before my parents, reach this place, want to repay everyone, strive, try to help General Services, and strive.
Cold, cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold cold.
A chill that does not stop flowing.
Ah, I will die. 「Death」 is approaching.
Subaru remembered that this is the true 「Death」, and the hand of fear began to crush his heart, which rejected death.
It is approaching, — terrifying. It is approaching, approaching, — terrifying. Terrifying, terrifying terrifying terrifying, I will die, it is approaching the soul, Death is approaching.
The moment fear flooded Natsuki Subaru's brain.
Ah, he died.
With this feeling as the last impression, Natsuki Subaru's life was simply consumed.
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[Power stones and reviews please]
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