「My apologies for the rush, but why don't we take a little detour (and rest)?」 (Subaru)
「...We are still on a patrol mission, and moreover, there is a conflict we must resolve.」 (Hina)
「Eh, ーーThat's right! We had work. Hey, you, the trump card summoned by the 'Fateful Draw,' why don't we delegate the work to Ako and go on a date?」 (Subaru)
「......\"Hello, Iori...ーー"」 (Hina)
Subaru had experienced numerous bad endings—indeed, deadly endings—which made him realize the danger of this world.
The most dangerous factor is the "firearm" that is widespread among the public and pointed at each other, due to the high endurance of their bodies.
「I didn't intend to tremble now because of a knife or something similar...」 (Subaru)
Subaru followed his memory and first guided them toward the girl who had asked for help, the one who was the reason he met the "General Services" office. It would not be fitting for a happy ending to abandon her and proceed to the main objective.
Subaru now felt an urge to reach into a plastic bag, search through its contents, and eat a snack. As if munching on popcorn in a movie theater, he tossed a piece of the corn soup-flavored snack into his mouth.
Suddenly, Subaru choked. Fragments of the snack he had bitten into lodged deep in his throat, causing him to cough. He beat his chest to catch his breath, then looked toward Hina.
「—With her bare hand!」 (Subaru)
「Hitting with a bare hand... this is the first time I've ever seen that.」 (Subaru)
「This method is faster in narrow spaces.」 (Hina)
Hina stated that, yet Subaru's strained face, which had been contorted in a bitter smile, did not easily return to normal. As Hina withdrew her fist from the robot, Subaru worried about the girl. Remembering Kayoko's words, Subaru quickly suppressed that strained smile after informing Hina that a muscle relaxant had been administered by the robot.
Subaru's internal shout of "Do it! / Execute it!" was good, but the fact that Hina managed to take down three Kaiser organization robots in mere moments using a palm strike and a punch... that was astonishing.
In this world, it would be impossible for anyone to pierce a mass of iron with their bare hands, save for a lunatic from Cyber City who underwent complete mechanical body modification—or Hina... I suppose so. Maybe.
「With this, we have practically solved Mission No. 1... As for the rest...」 (Subaru)
Subaru looked around. At this moment, he was the party receiving help, but more importantly... ーー*he* was the one who had earned the credit and the debt owed to him, having died dozens of times.
Subaru realized that he certainly could not ask Hina to continue dealing with opponents while carrying this student on her back, so he quickly approached and carried the girl onto his shoulders.
「Mmmmmm... The date is practically about to happen... Hmm?」 (Subaru)
Suddenly, the girl on Subaru's back seemed agitated.
「Ah...」 (Girl)
「Th-thank you...!!」 (Girl)
......
「ーーYou were incredibly brave, too. I wouldn't have noticed your situation if you hadn't raised your voice.」 (Subaru)
「Besides, I couldn't save myself, either.」 (Subaru)
「I know you are unaware, but with this, we are even. I also owe you a 'thank you,' so come on, listen to me and repeat after me... Thank you.」 (Subaru)
「THANK YOU!!」 (Girl)
The girl's weak, strengthless arms wrapped around Subaru's neck, and then the gripping force in her shoulders was released as if they had completely relaxed, making the girl almost slip.
Her heart, which was overwhelmed by fear, coldness, tears, and terror, was warming up as she hugged the boy carrying her with all her might.
She closed her eyes, calming herself with the feeling of security.
-----At that very moment, Hina Sorasaki registered that figure in her memory.
「Everyone here is small-sized; I can't believe they are the same age as me...」 (Subaru)
「...I have already called Sena. We will go to Schale once we hand her over to them... ーーIt is exactly as you predicted, a kidnapping operation by Kaiser... How did you know?」 (Hina)
「That is a professional secret! Just as the Lady possesses an hidden secret, having a secret of my own increases my attractiveness as a man. Anyway, the real trump card...ーー」 (Subaru)
At that moment, a voice announcing its owner's name loudly reached the alley.
「Wait! You villains, here you are... How dare you...」 (Aru)
「...How kind. I'm grateful to you for willingly falling into our bait.」 (Subaru)
Fortunately, Aru Rikuhachima arrived from the other direction, wearing a dark red coat and aiming a sniper rifle. She was undoubtedly planning a grand entrance... but she was now turning her face away in confusion.
She seemed to have rushed through the city center, beads of sweat dripping from her...
「No, that's cold sweat.」 (Subaru)
「Even the Problem Solver 68... ーーIs this also part of the plan?」 (Hina)
「Well, yes. If you put it that way, it can be considered so.」 (Subaru)
Situations like this... can be described as the frog staring down the snake.
The three other members arrived from behind Aru, who was frozen—no, petrified, as if she had been stared at by Medusa, not just a snake.
The other fighting force Subaru sought had gathered. ーーThey should not be just any random people. Rather, they needed to be entities capable of confronting the calamity-fox (referring to disaster's cunning), and simultaneously, they needed to convince Hina even further.
They are individuals who are easily attracted to trouble, ignite with enthusiasm for bravery and justice, and could certainly come to an understanding with Subaru if he spoke to them.
Indeed, if explained, this is "Subaru's plan." It is an inevitability Natsuki Subaru reached through Return by Death.
「It's Hina... Everyone, run.」 (Aru)
「Oh dear, Aru-chan... What terrible luck for you...」 (Mutsuki)
「Ah, Lady Aru...! I'll handle it!」 (Kayoko)
「ーーProblem Solver 68, you possess great audacity... to step foot in Gehenna at this exact timing!」 (Hina)
Immediately, everyone assumed a fighting stance. Mutsuki gripped her bag, preparing to use it as cover to allow them to run along the escape route calculated by Kayoko, while Haruka slowly narrowed the distance by herself.
The moment everyone prepared to execute their specific movements to enable Aru's escape... ーーSubaru stood between Hina and Problem Solver 68, standing imposing.
There were guns behind him, and guns in front of him. Subaru stood tall in this place, where grenades were about to be thrown and rabid dogs were gnashing their teeth.
Even though... he would lose his life with a single bullet.
「...Subaru, what are you doing?」 (Hina)
「Hold on, just a moment! Let's end this battle readiness and calm down; there's no need for this fight! There's no reason to point guns like this! Hina, wait a little before arresting them; I want to talk to Problem Solver 68 first.」 (Subaru)
「Talk? Heh! Problem Solver is not a cheap company. Unfortunately for you, we have a client now, and the vow is to complete the mission no matter the cost...」 (Aru)
「The mission is to kidnap someone with characteristics like mine, isn't it? I know you received the job from the Kaiser Corporation.」 (Subaru)
「?! How did you know that...?」 (Aru)
「Furthermore, it is not the nature of outlaws to abandon someone involved in a bad deed! This girl on my back right now nearly fell victim to Kaiser's kidnapping.」 (Subaru)
「...」 (Aru)
「She is crying, screaming for help, so will you turn a blind eye to an entity that allows such an act to happen?」 (Subaru)
「...ーーOr have you decided to side with Kaiser?」 (Subaru)
「O-of course (we haven't sided)!....But... we can never betray clients... Ugh, betraying the pride of Problem Solver...」 (Aru)
「You know this isn't the way of outlaws, don't you... ーーTell me, Aru, allow me to speak. I want to tell you about the 'Greater Evil,' the one someone like you—a true outlaw—needs to know.」 (Subaru)
Seizing the initiative and understanding their thoughts. This is Subaru's advantage, the only benefit he acquired in this world, and the only one gained from Return by Death. Without it, what Subaru says as someone meeting them for the first time would be useless, unlike an old friend speaking to them.
But Subaru knows. He knows who he is talking to, how to speak, and what to say to de-escalate this situation.
Subaru has seen the Problem Solver group working before, stopping when Aru tells them to stop, and advancing when she orders it; this is proof of the mutual understanding and trust they have built together.
「[I don't need a reason to shoot villains; all I need is to pull the trigger]... —There is a strange common denominator between me, who possesses neither power nor ability, and Aru, the head of Problem Solver, who is an outlaw par excellence. It is what is called Instinct.」 (Subaru)
「Do you know what it is? No, I'm sure you already know it.」 (Subaru)
「— Eliminating evil, isn't that the instinct that outlaws possess?」 (Subaru)
「...」 (Aru)
Inside, a feeling of sympathetic embarrassment was at work. Due to the effect of his communication ability (Level 1), he didn't know whether he had said it in a cool manner or not, but he told himself, "Well done, me."
He knows, it was the same in this loop too, that Aru loves this kind of thing. It might seem cool or exaggerated in the style of teenage stories... but Aru, who follows the justice within her, certainly won't ignore this talk.
— Regardless of how many times I have been killed by you, I once saw your magnificent form!
「— Hah.」 (Aru)
「W-w-well... May I know your name?」 (Aru)
「Natsuki Subaru, the free rebel who owns nothing, and the outlaw who burns with wrath for justice.」 (Subaru)
「I am Rokumanji Aru, the head of Problem Solver 68... I don't feel like this is the first time we've met. May I listen to your story about this alleged 'Greater Evil'!」 (Aru)
However...
Subaru and Aru were the only ones immersed in this atmosphere, while everyone around them was left bewildered. (With the exception of Haruka).
「H-h-how dare he call Lady Aru by her first name!!! We must eliminate this insect, this insect...!!」 (Haruka)
「Noooo! Aruu!! Stop her!?」 (Subaru)
「H-Haruka! It's alright! You are fine!」 (Aru)
●○●○●
Gehenna's street.
It is a world where storms of gunfire, curses, and explosions are endemic. One is considered fortunate to walk out into the street unscathed; that is the prevailing law in Gehenna.
Yet, a highly suspicious scene was unfolding before the eyes of everyone who knew this daily routine.
「— So, betrayal from the Student Council and the Kaiser Corporation seizing control of Schale.」 (Kayoko)
「This aligns with the briefing; we were also asked to 'guide Hina to a specific location'.」 (Aru)
「Kaiser?... That means the number of silly conflicts that just happened was also because of them... Hina, do you know the entire content of the abandoned message?」 (Mutsuki)
「No, I don't know the entire content. I assume the person who possesses the complete information is only someone who belongs to the Student Council.」 (Hina)
The Prefect Team President, who is the strongest and most feared, was walking side-by-side with the Problem Solver group, which was exiled from Gehenna.
No, the term "side-by-side" is inaccurate, as the entire conversation centered around a man standing in the middle.
Who is that man? The man who carries an exhausted girl on his back... Is he an eccentric who carries no weapon, a lunatic unaffected by the presence of the Prefect Team President and the Problem Solver group wedged between them?
「So, if we hand this girl over to someone named Sena... will we head to Schale?」 (Kayoko)
「Yes, and after that, I want you, Aru's group, to accompany me to Schale. When Kaiser shows up, they will definitely try to stop me at that point. To kill me... and prevent me from activating the Shittim Chest.」 (Subaru)
「... It seems to me there won't be a problem as long as Hina is there?」 (Mutsuki)
「Ah... well, there is something I want Hina to do as well... I'm truly sorry for the many requests, but I don't have enough hands, or even enough time.」 (Subaru)
「Setting aside my inability to explain... nevertheless...」 (Subaru)
「— 'Please trust me', rest assured, Natsuki Subaru.」 (Aru)
「Without you, this girl would have been kidnapped. As someone who belongs to the Prefect Team, I would like to express my gratitude... Therefore, I will trust your strange intuition for now.」 (Hina)
「Damn... this is more than just S.M.M.! Hina-chan is a true angel, I love you from the bottom of my heart, Angel! My Honey! My Moon!」 (Subaru)
「... Hah, I wish you would stop that.」 (Hina)
Natsuki Subaru.
A name heard from that group.
Everyone knows the name of the widely feared Hina Sorasaki, and of course, everyone also knows the names of the dangerous-looking Problem Solver members.
This name, which belonged to none of those, moved from passersby to the general public.
And from the general public to a wider audience.
Natsuki Subaru, Natsuki Subaru, Natsuki Subaru.
This name spread across all of Gehenna in the blink of an eye.
●○●○●
Subaru reached Schale, utilizing the vehicles Hina had arranged, logging the fastest time in history.
Upon arrival, he grumbled about the rough roads he saw, the shattered glass windows of the buildings, and the collapsed structures.
「I've reached the Final Boss Labyrinth—damn this save point for getting me into trouble!!... —I don't just want to be hyped up...」 (Subaru)
「What exactly is happening now?」 (Subaru)
Forces had been gathered, and he had secured the personnel capable of storming the Schale labyrinth.
He felt relieved that he would be able to confront the Final Boss without abandoning anyone. If the situation forced him to break his promises, the current Subaru would not hesitate to even Return by Death.
The condition for a happy ending is that everyone ends with a smile.
This is the only devotion Subaru can offer, and it is his reply to a past where he was repeatedly saved.
Therefore, Subaru maintains his stance, standing before Hina, who showed him goodwill without change even in this 45th world, and before Problem Solver 68, which followed the justice within them.
「Awa, awawawawa...」 (Aru)
「... This, was this also according to your prediction?」 (Hina)
— However, this is certainly not true? What always betrays Subaru is not good intention.
Instead, it is a world filled with malice.
「Smash them!!! Smash Kaiser, the Student Council, and everything! Smash them all without exception!! Let the Revolution commenceeee!!」 (Mass Speaker)
「Everyone gather! I will relay orders from General Kaiser! "Search and Destroy", search and destroy!!」 (Kaiser Leader)
「This day, this is the day that marks the turning point! Begin movement, and the final objective is seizing Schale!!!」 (Kaiser Leader)
「Attention all Valkyrie Police personnel, authorization has been issued to arrest anyone approaching the Schale perimeter! Deploy the defense network! Gehenna's Hot Springs Development Division must immediately report any sighting to Director Kana, and move out at once!」 (Valkyrie Police Commander)
「Hahahaha! Haahaay! Was this the reported area?」 (Calamity Fox)
「...」 (Subaru)
「... What in the hell is this?」 (Subaru)
Schale is located in the heart of the D.U. district.
There, not only Gehenna students but also Kaiser forces, and students Subaru had never seen before, had gathered—all clashing in what could be called a war by all measures.
An unknown world, one Subaru had never known or experienced before, was unfolding before him.
The smoke rising from the Schale building most likely belongs to the Calamity Fox.
The explosions happening here and there are caused by the lunatics roaming the area, screaming, "It's development work!"
The extensive riot shields (Riot Shields) wall looks like riot police dealing with potential demonstrations in Japan.
The sky is covered by Kaiser's attack helicopters, and the ground is teeming with Sukeban (gang leaders), troublemakers, and helmet-wearing girls, all causing chaos as if something has incited them.
「...」 (Subaru)
He had tried to arrive as early as possible to avoid all these risks, and he thought he had prepared for the war to the maximum extent possible.
The point Subaru reached, transcending death and time... is this situation.
「... Aaah... Seriously, nothing ever goes right!!!」 (Subaru)
And so, the stage is organized.
The actors are complete, too, and now begins...
— The curtain of the play whose hero is [Natsuki Subaru].