Tens of minutes after Subaru took Hoshino's hand and they separated to take a momentary timeout, Subaru was gazing at the sky from the classroom window, staring at the horizon, when he received a notification from Arona that the council meeting had concluded.
The result was a vote of approval for his appointment. He also received a call from Rin, to which he curtly replied "Yeah, yeah" and began that declaration of war. (Note: Rin was extremely angry).
「... Hacking complete. Disconnecting from the communication network to prevent reverse tracing.」 (Arona)
「Thank you! Arona! Aaaah... I was so nervous! Really, I can't do anything without you. Once again, I'm grateful you exist, Arona. I love you, Arona.」 (Subaru)
Subaru planted a "lip kiss" on his mobile phone without any real meaning. It was a gentle "Mwah" like a mother gives her child, old-fashioned style.
「──... Thank you.」 (Arona)
「... Oho? Are you blushing? I feel your response is usually a bit faster~?」 (Subaru)
「...」 (Arona)
「Hehe, silent... Well, I'm not in a position to joke, since I do shameful things and trouble you a lot.」 (Subaru)
「── I deny that. You are not a bother. I am the support AI program dedicated specifically to Subaru.」 (Arona)
「... Arona is truly the best partner, far beyond my level. I haven't expressed this much gratitude to my mom and dad since I was born.」 (Subaru)
「Ah no... maybe I fight with my dad more. Wait, the Octopus Hold (Manji Gatame) Shiroko did was exactly like my old man's...」 (Subaru)
「...」 (Arona)
She is truly a "wonderful girl," far surpassing an existence like Subaru.
Although she is an AI, she has moved beyond being just a "robot" or "emotionless." At first, she was reserved, but now she possesses bashfulness.
── She is truly a partner beyond description. If she weren't my partner, she would have been able to guide me to a path where everyone is happy quickly, without needing Return by Death.
Even if Subaru weren't special, just an ordinary adult... Arona's presence would have allowed him to advance on a path without Subaru's mud or wounds.
「I'm sorry, Arona.」 (Subaru)
「── Don't apologize.」 (Arona)
「... Thank you, Arona.」 (Subaru)
「Okay.」 (Arona)
There was a time when Subaru thought emotions couldn't be expressed by text alone.
But in that "Don't apologize," he can read the clear anger embedded within.
Subaru doesn't understand much about girls' bashfulness, often, and he still doesn't understand why Arona is slightly angry now.
「Life, never goes as planned ──...」 (Subaru)
「── True, Subaru, really... it doesn't go well.」 (Hoshino)
「Oh.」 (Subaru)
Hoshino leaned her elbow on the window frame next to Subaru.
「Ah... well, even if it was a lie... ── I apologize for using Hoshino-senpai's name for the plan.」 (Subaru)
「That was a pretty harsh blow, you know~? But I didn't expect you knew nothing and relied only on words you picked up by chance.」 (Hoshino)
「── Don't forgive me. If I were you, I'd slap myself in the face dozens of times to make him pay.」 (Subaru)
「But... even if I resort to violence... nothing will change.」 (Hoshino)
Subaru also leaned his elbow on the window, looking at Hoshino, who murmured quietly while looking down.
Their eyes met at the separating window frame. Subaru felt a slight itch, and suddenly realized he still suffers from communication issues as if nothing had changed.
He let out a breath he had been holding slightly, then reached his hand toward the neighboring Hoshino's head.
「... ── Hoshino.」 (Subaru)
「What is it, Subaru.」 (Hoshino)
「── Don't push yourself.」 (Subaru)
Pon, he placed his hand on her head.
Hoshino's small head; he could cover it entirely if he spread his hand.
── In this world, where everyone carries more than they can bear on their small shoulders.
In this world that produced a girl whose body stiffens with suspicion when someone extends a helping hand, he wanted her at least to relax her shoulders.
「...」 (Hoshino)
「You are kind, Subaru.」 (Hoshino)
「No, I'm a bad guy, you know?」 (Subaru)
「Why?」 (Hoshino)
「What good is it for someone who never watched how hard you were working to say 'Don't push yourself'? I expected to be told: 'Who do you think you are, you bastard.'」 (Subaru)
「── That's truly harsh; I can't say something like that to an uncle (Oji-san) like you~」 (Hoshino)
「Am I at the age of an 'Uncle' (Oji-san)...???」 (Subaru)
Looking at Hoshino as a human being, she is far more mature than Subaru. She bears the burden of "responsibility" for the students and all of Abydos, yet she never shows her pain.
But he doesn't consider not showing pain to be maturity.
「... Yume was Hoshino's Senpai, right?」 (Subaru)
「... Yes.」 (Hoshino)
「...」 (Subaru)
「She was a good Senpai, wasn't she?」 (Subaru)
「──...」 (Hoshino)
「A junior grows up looking at the Senpai's back. When I see Hoshino now, I see Yume's back too.」 (Subaru)
「── She was a good Senpai, Yume.」 (Subaru)
For a moment, it seemed as though something had collapsed or burst somewhere.
A distorted expression appeared, where all emotions were entangled.
Takanashi Hoshino is the one who found the body. Subaru has no way of knowing why Kuchinashi Yume died of distress, or what fate she faced; that is something existing only within Hoshino.
── Nevertheless, Subaru sees "Kuchinashi Yume" in Hoshino.
「T-True... Yume-senpai...」 (Hoshino)
「...」 (Subaru)
「Yes, she was a Senpai worthy of respect. She taught me many things, was a bit clumsy and foolish... and easily deceived.」 (Hoshino)
「She is a Senpai to me.」 (Hoshino)
She looked out the window again, slowly absorbing the words.
What her words contained was illumination, not forgiveness; confession, not punishment.
She merely told that an existence named Kuchinashi Yume was real.
「...」 (Subaru)
Having heard that, Subaru also leaned his elbow on the window frame again, and looked at the sky.
Subaru and Hoshino's session of observing the blue sky continued, basking in the sun.
── And they remained side by side, until the sun began to set.
●○●○●
『Phew... Yaaawn, the sun is almost setting~...』 (Hoshino)
『I'll sleep early to prepare for tomorrow, so goodnight, Subaru.』 (Hoshino)
Hoshino left, and Subaru remained alone by the window where the cold wind blew.
He wondered what Shiroko was doing, but when they were looking outside together...
『Nn, Hoshino-senpai... let's warm up.』 (Shiroko)
『Sparring again~? This old lady is tired... ──』 (Hoshino)
『That excuse won't work on me, or do you hate losing to me for such a trivial reason?』 (Shiroko)
『── Fine, let's do it. Subaru, wait a bit, okay?』 (Hoshino)
"Like father, like son," as they say... although there is no blood relation, Shiroko clearly inherited her sharp temperament from her adoptive guardian Hoshino.
Hoshino is Hoshino, and Shiroko is Shiroko. And although the student follows the Senpai's footsteps, there are limits... it was honestly scary.
After that... Shiroko began maintaining her weapons, preparing for tomorrow.
There is no food and no ammo. He requested support from Rin anyway, and supplies might arrive by air tomorrow, but preparing in advance is always better.
「...」 (Subaru)
What occupies Subaru's mind now... ── is his helplessness and weakness.
With Arona's help, he found a strange blank spot in the Abydos desert. The word "found" might be misleading; because he scanned all surrounding areas except that isolated spot, only that area appeared as a floating, conspicuous void.
By analysis, the presence of Ayane and Serika there can be assumed. This is the detention site, and he planned to explore it with everyone tomorrow.
And here, the factor hindering progress is ── Subaru himself.
「It's better if I don't go with them; it would be easier for them without me.」 (Subaru)
Even if he finds a large number of Kaiser soldiers, Hoshino and Shiroko won't lose.
But Subaru's presence will make it difficult; they must fight while protecting a "paper wall" (Subaru) that falls to a single bullet. And on top of all that, even if he goes, all he can do is scan the structure using Arona.
「We launch the attack tomorrow morning, and before the next day comes...」 (Subaru)
「Proposal: Use Schale's investigation authority regarding Izayoi Nonomi personally, to show doubts about her expulsion decision.」 (Arona)
「Okay, let's do that. And then...」 (Subaru)
He kept muttering and muttering, weaving plans until the sun set and the stars appeared.
Subaru lacks everything, and possesses no power to save everything.
So, he stacks stones. Even if they are tiny pebbles, if stacking them leads him to the dream, he will gather thousands, millions, billions of them.
How to act? What to do? How to fight? He isn't skilled enough to decide in the moment and move.
If you are an ordinary person, assume the impossible. If you are ordinary, think of a way until you die.
Using this principle as his foundation, Subaru continued to think.
「What to do... I can't borrow Hina's power. Ako? No, would she even understand my talk? Tentatively... I must contact the Three Great Schools, and after that... ask something from the Federal Student Council? ── It's starting to look like a 'Nabe' soup (Yose Nabe - random mix).」 (Subaru)
「But... I have no connections (Wasta) or anything; will they help if I bow and ask for cooperation? Rather, I'm asking them to forcefully get involved in trouble, so refusal is the natural response.」 (Subaru)
「If you use Schale's authority to request cooperation from other schools to solve the Abydos problem, it might lead to a contraction in activities due to distrust in Schale's power, and Abydos might be viewed as under the protection of Schale and the Federal Student Council, which could be exploited in political conflicts.」 (Arona)
「Seriously? Then I'll stop borrowing Schale's power, and go back to bowing my head again...」 (Subaru)
Since coming to this world, most of his time with Arona is spent in strategy meetings; Subaru proposes solutions he has, and Arona clarifies the problems and deficiencies.
An hour passed while he talked anxiously, and lacking anything to hurt himself with, he unconsciously scratched his wrist scritch-scratch while thinking of a way to "solve everything."
── While they were talking like this.
「── !」 (Arona)
「Subaru-sama, a car is approaching from the vicinity. It is not a Kaiser car, but... I suspect it is dangerous.」 (Arona)
「Haaah ──」 (Subaru)
「Should I go wake Hoshino...? Damn it, if it's not Kaiser, who is coming?」 (Subaru)
「... Morse code signals received. The approaching object identifies itself as 'The Black Suit'.」 (Arona)
「... Morse code signals received. The approaching object identifies itself as 'The Black Suit'.」 (Arona)
「──...」 (Subaru)
A completely unexpected character trying to reach Subaru. Upon hearing the name, confusion seized his mind. The "Last Boss" move is too random; he should have acted more mysteriously to maintain the image of the "evil mastermind" in Subaru's imagination. Don't shatter my dreams and hopes with this sudden appearance.
Then, Arona relayed the text of the Morse message to Subaru.
「Beginning translation: 『Pleased to meet you, Natsuki Subaru』.」 (Arona)
「『I would like to speak with you; could you come down alone?』」 (Arona)
「... Tell him I understood.」 (Subaru)
「Roger.」 (Arona)
However you think about it, this is a trap. "Come alone"—this is the perfect setup for kidnapping Subaru.
Furthermore, this bastard is an expert in kidnapping; he has a criminal record and skillfully stole students from Hoshino. If Subaru walks nonchalantly into this and gets kidnapped, he won't even be able to use "Return by Death" effectively.
── The decision is one of two: either call Hoshino, or go as he is.
With Hoshino's stealth abilities, she wouldn't be detected even if he took her along. But just as he managed to defeat Hoshino with Arona's help, the power "Gematria" possesses cannot be measured.
If he ignores the request, and it ends with Hoshino being discovered...
── There will no longer be any guarantee for the safe return of the kidnapped students.
「...」 (Subaru)
「── Let's go.」 (Subaru)
Forcefully, he gripped the handgun Kanna had handed him.
── And Natsuki Subaru stepped forward toward a battle he would fight alone.
●○●○●
The stinging bites of the desert night wind pricked Subaru's skin, piercing him with their cold.
While exiting the school building, he nearly bumped into Shiroko, who hadn't slept yet, but he managed to evade her at the last moment and slipped outside.
He walked for a few minutes on foot, resisting the cold wind, following the signal sent to the specific location, until he finally arrived.
At the promised place, there was nothing but a pitch-black limousine, with no trace of humans or set traps. All the way, he fearfully anticipated someone sneaking up from behind to knock him unconscious like that famous detective in anime series, but nothing of the sort happened.
── Subaru now stands alone before "The Black Suit."
「My, what a surprise.」 (Black Suit)
「I apologize profusely for imposing my desire upon you in this manner.」 (Black Suit)
「Allow me to greet you anew. I am called "The Black Suit," and I am a member of the organization "Gematria." Pleased to meet you, Mr. Natsuki Subaru.」 (Black Suit)
The Black Suit.
When he first heard this name, he imagined a man wearing a formal suit as the name literally suggests.
He had drawn numerous images in his imagination: What does his face look like? What evil aura surrounds him? What are his features? And what kind of human is he?
── He is not human.
Black, pitch black. This is the first time he sees his form, but when he heard his voice before, he thought he was a young man in his prime, however... what appeared before Subaru's eyes was a strange "monstrosity," his face bearing a deep crack... from which flames overflowed.
Subaru felt there were no fitting words to describe this entity. The only symbol expressing this monstrosity is the suit he wears.
Except for being a "Black Suit," he is nothing, and even that crack distinguishable as an eye or mouth cannot be understood as "human" features. And precisely for that reason, he is a "Black Suit" and nothing else.
「I won't say pleased to meet you, Black Suit.」 (Subaru)
「── However, I will acknowledge your diligence, as you came immediately once I asked you to show your face.」 (Black Suit)
In this realistic transfer to another world, things finally started taking a fantasy turn.
Subaru tried to suppress his turbulent heartbeat, focusing his consciousness entirely on the enemy standing before him.
「Kukuku, you truly came alone as requested.」 (Black Suit)
「When sitting at the negotiation table, the situation must always be fair for both parties, right?」 (Subaru)
「I am extremely grateful for that. For with the presence of "Horus of the Dawn"... there would have been no room left for discussion or talk.」 (Black Suit)
「What is that? Another nickname for Hoshino? Doesn't the name sound exaggerated, like something out of adolescent delusions (Chuunibyou)?」 (Subaru)
「Kukuku, it is a name glorifying the greatest mystery and enigma in Kivotos, albeit in the past. It is merely a "symbol," so pay it no mind.」 (Black Suit)
Black Suit invited Subaru inside. As adults in this dynamic, Black Suit was the host, and Subaru the guest.
Black Suit was the host honoring his guest, and Subaru was the guest receiving that honor—a mutual understanding on which they did not disagree. Thus, Subaru stepped into the rear seat of the limousine that Black Suit held open for him.
The interior was spacious, designed with seats facing each other—an experience Subaru was encountering for the first time. To mask his tension and discomfort, he craned his neck around and cleared his throat audibly.
「The seats are incredibly soft and comfortable; I feel like lying down on them.」 (Subaru)
「If they please you, I can prepare a cushion made of the same material for you.」 (Black Suit)
「Unfortunately, my policy is not to accept bribes, especially if it's a gift from an adult man—that doesn't make me very happy.」 (Subaru)
「Kukuku, is that so...」 (Black Suit)
「I hold a very strong interest in you—very strong, very much so... I want to know the nature of your existence.」 (Black Suit)
After a moment of silence, Black Suit sat in the opposite seat, staring at him with those flames that could hardly be called eyes.
From sheer tension, Subaru's throat went completely dry. He tried to cover up his trembling body and cold sweat, but he couldn't stop his physiological reactions, so he shifted his posture exaggeratedly on the wide seat.
Seeing this, Black Suit produced a container filled with Ramune candy from the direction of the driver's seat. Subaru looked at him with a gaze that said, "Are you asking me to eat in this situation?" only to be met by Black Suit's faint smile.
It could be a sleeping drug, or poison? Or perhaps a truth serum? Even if it were mixed with alcohol to intoxicate him into signing a strange contract, that wouldn't be out of the question.
While harboring this amount of anxiety and suspicion, Subaru placed a piece of Ramune in his mouth.
── Nothing happened. The candy made a light, pleasant crunch. It wasn't a refined sweet preferred by adults, but merely cheap candy with a simple sugary taste.
「I apologize for meeting this overflowing generosity with rudeness, but...」 (Subaru)
「── I hate you, and I have no intention of forgiving you for as long as I live.」 (Subaru)
「That is fine. What I am doing is merely a proper response to your sincerity in complying with my request.」 (Black Suit)
「There is no need for caution; I haven't brought Kaiser soldiers with me, and I swear I will cause you no harm in this place.」 (Black Suit)
「Then what do you need with me?... ── Don't tell me you came just because I said 'Show me your face'?」 (Subaru)
「Kukuku... Kukukuku, yes, that is correct. I thought it better we meet sooner rather than later, and to exchange a few words if you don't mind.」 (Black Suit)
What a strange man. He possessed the dignity of an adult, and the leisure of an adult. He had everything that made him an adult, yet he was so honest that it was difficult to cast him aside as a pure "enemy."
It might seem strange—he was the one who tried to deceive Hoshino, and the one who kidnapped the two students, so what was this talk now? But Subaru hadn't yet reached the stage of feeling complete disgust toward Black Suit.
「... Are the two of them safe?」 (Subaru)
「Do you mean Okusora Ayane and Kuromi Serika?」 (Black Suit)
「You are the one who kidnapped them, aren't you?」 (Subaru)
「── Kukuku, it seems there is a misunderstanding. I did not use such a method.」 (Black Suit)
「...Huh?」 (Subaru)
「Rather, it is more accurate to say I saved them. It was Kaiser who discovered the two students in a state of total exhaustion in the desert, and it was I who protected them.」 (Black Suit)
「── And can you assert that their weakness and exhaustion in the desert wasn't your fault?」 (Subaru)
「You are quite observant... ── Yes, I was not the cause.」 (Black Suit)
A debate between a child and an adult. Originally, there could be no negotiation or equal discussion between them, and this situation only existed because Black Suit kept making concessions, which caused Subaru's irritation to accumulate gradually.
「Since you are the adult and I am the child, how am I supposed to believe your words?」 (Subaru)
「Hmm... It wasn't (me). I will tell you that this part alone is the truth.」 (Black Suit)
「...」 (Subaru)
「As I thought, I really hate you.」 (Subaru)
「Kukuku, I've already become hated.」 (Black Suit)
「── It's a contract, Black Suit.」 (Subaru)
Hoshino had said earlier that Black Suit, as an adult, adhered to his responsibilities regarding "Contracts." He might deceive children with his glib tongue, but he wouldn't lie about the terms of a contract. The other party is deceived only through the contract itself, which meant there was room for maneuvering and confrontation.
So, Subaru still had a chance to resist.
「I will win the battle against Kaiser, and although I don't know if you realize it, I will also take back Nonomi from Nephthys. I will reclaim everything from you, commensurate with the suffering you forced upon Abydos. I am the one who will definitely crush Kaiser ──」 (Subaru)
「And furthermore, return Ayane and Serika to me.」 (Subaru)
「...Hmm, kukuku... Are you asking me to relinquish the leverage I hold while simultaneously declaring your hostility toward me?」 (Black Suit)
「Yeah.」 (Subaru)
「This is not a contract; there is no benefit for us in it, and we cannot accept it under any circumstances.」 (Black Suit)
「I know that. No matter how much of a child I am, I don't intend to force this selfishness through brute strength.」 (Subaru)
「Then, what do you have?」 (Black Suit)
From Black Suit's expression and the minute details one could read, it seemed an extremely intense interest was focused on Subaru's response.
The flames dancing ominously on his face grew brighter and more erratic, as if he couldn't wait to hear a single word from Subaru.
── Up to this moment, Subaru had accomplished everything through improvisation.
The fact that Black Suit was more understanding than expected, and his stance of not flatly rejecting Subaru's selfish proposal but showing a willingness to accept depending on the offer.
Subaru absorbed all of that and now thought about the thing Black Suit hated most... and simultaneously, the thing he would be most delighted to obtain.
──.
「...」 (Subaru)
「── I will not recognize you as an enemy. You are a deranged mad scientist who deceives children and tries to force them into signing vile contracts...」 (Subaru)
「I will stop there.」 (Subaru)
「───」 (Black Suit)
「A bad adult, an adult we cannot reach an understanding with—that is all.」 (Subaru)
「Adults have responsibilities, don't they? School regulations, and if you look higher... rules, equality, common sense... In exchange for the ability to do everything freely, an adult bears that responsibility alone... ── I, as a child, have no intention of lecturing you while you live in such a world.」 (Subaru)
「Therefore, Black Suit.」 (Subaru)
「You are not my enemy ──」 (Subaru)
「...」 (Black Suit)
He is an "adult" different from Kaiser. What he is offering this man who hasn't crossed the red lines of being an adult is...
── A proposal not to involve him in this rampaging tantrum of a child.
「...Kuk...」 (Black Suit)
「Kukuku, kukukuku... ── Kukukuku...」 (Black Suit)
「Mr. Natsuki Subaru, I have a question I would like to ask you. When you obtained the Shittim Chest... you also obtained the Sanctum Tower, which effectively means Kivotos was in your grasp.」 (Black Suit)
「Why did you relinquish the administration rights?」 (Black Suit)
「...It was sudden, and perhaps I was too hasty as well, but...」 (Subaru)
「...」 (Black Suit)
Because Hina looked like she was asking for help. Because Rin looked like she was asking for help. And because Kaiser was trying to destroy Gehenna... there were many reasons.
They are all reasons, all justifications, and they are merely simple reasons, nothing more and nothing less. But even these simple reasons ──,
── Even if I told you, you wouldn't understand.
There is no profit, no gain, yet I want to extend a helping hand... something like that.
「Even if you heard it, I'm sure you wouldn't understand its meaning.」 (Subaru)
「Kukuku... Then another question: Why are you trying to save Abydos?」 (Black Suit)
「I think you won't understand this either, but... if I must say.」 (Subaru)
「── That is my responsibility. I am not a human who sees the suffering and sorrow you create and abandon, then says 'Yes, that's how things are' and simply watches.」 (Subaru)
「Since I extended my hand, I will bear the "responsibility" until the end. That is obvious even for adults, isn't it?」 (Subaru)
「Kukuku, kukukuku... I see, I truly cannot understand that, but ── that is interesting.」 (Black Suit)
Black Suit reevaluated the situation and posed a question to Subaru.
「Returning to the subject of the contract, this is still insufficient. I cannot estimate how significant the benefit of you being "not an enemy" is to me... I cannot comprehend it.」 (Black Suit)
「I want you to prove that value to me.」 (Black Suit)
── He was waiting for these words.
Subaru still had a trump card he could play. The strongest, unknown, and worst card of all... the Joker that made even that Hoshino jump away and feel death.
「Alright, Black Suit, listen well.」 (Subaru)
It was the biggest gamble Subaru could take.
「The truth is, I...」 (Subaru)
And for Subaru, it was despair itself.
「...」 (Subaru)
── Natsuki Subaru's "Return by Death" was about to be declared.
He couldn't back down out of fear now. He knew full well he was a coward and small-minded. But even if he was terrified and trembling, as long as the execution brought results, he had no right to complain.
He lashed himself with a rebuke—whether born of weakness or strength, no one could say—and Subaru opened his mouth.
If Subaru was right, "That Thing" would inevitably come.
The curse that forbids telling others that he "Returns by Death," the nightmare that traps Subaru in a cage of despair.
Subaru acted as if he were breaking a taboo, speaking what was forbidden. The flames on Black Suit's face, which had been watching intently to hear what Subaru would say, froze.
No ── Time stopped.
The world lost its colors, sounds vanished, and the concept of time was obliterated from its roots.
In this world where stagnation was imposed equally upon everything, the sole, unique existence that escaped those constraints suddenly appeared before Subaru's eyes.
「── We haven't met since yesterday.」 (Subaru)
His muttering did not become actual sound.
Yet, he charged it with every ounce of irony and desire he could muster to reach the thing standing before him. If even a fraction of these toxic emotions reached it, that would be enough to cool his anger, if only a little.
── In the world where time stopped, only one shadow remained unaffected.
It appeared from nowhere and began to form the shape of an arm before the brave-acting Subaru. Fingers were born, a wrist formed, an elbow sprouted to branch into an upper arm, and it continued changing until it reached the shoulder, taking a human shape just as before.
Even if it had something resembling a face, one couldn't tell if it was truly a face, nor discern any expression or movement in it.
But the fingers slid from the extended arm without hesitation. They pierced the thin flesh of the chest, caressed the ribs, and headed straight for the heart protected within the sternum.
Even knowing it was coming, pain is not something one can endure once it crosses a certain threshold. Not to mention, the "churning of entrails" that happened last time was unbearable suffering. But it seemed different this time.
── A fist squeezed his heart directly. In the end, this too fell into a realm impossible to describe without screaming and writhing in madness.
A long, agonizing time of unbearable torture continued.
His heart beat insanely in the face of death, blood flowed chaotically, and his entire body was violated.
Bloody tears exploded from the intensity of the pain, and he wanted to bite off his tongue inside his clenched mouth. Perhaps that would distract him from the agony, even slightly.
He continued to receive pain that would normally drive one insane, exposing his wretched state mercilessly and without resistance before Black Suit.
Finally, the time of pain began to recede, and his vision was dyed in total whiteness ──,
「...」 (Black Suit)
「Kuk... Kukukukuku ──!!」 (Black Suit)
「Kukuku... Kukukukuku... ── I understand. Let us conclude the contract. I will return the two girls to you tomorrow, though I cannot guarantee their condition.」 (Black Suit)
「Heh, I'm counting on you, Black Suit.」 (Subaru)
「And allow me to offer some sincere advice... ── Please do not use that thing. Your life belongs to you; that is a truth that does not change for anyone, so do not waste it.」 (Black Suit)
「── Once again. Natsuki Subaru, your life belongs to you alone. Never forget that.」 (Black Suit)
No one knows what Black Suit sensed from Subaru.
── Yet Subaru's solitary battle ended silently with the result: 『Subaru's Victory』.
●○●○●
── And so. (The matter ended, their secret meeting concluded.)
「Truly, my predictions were correct.」 (???)
── Together. (Although we are supposed to work together.)
「Until the end, until the very last moment... before I trusted him completely.」 (???)
「It is good that I managed to endure [and maintained my caution].」 (???)
•
°
•
°
👑 Get early access to 18+ advanced chapters on Patreon!
Your subscription grants you full access to all other available works, including: Assassination Classroom, Jujutsu Kaisen, Sword Art Online : Sundering Spear , and Detective Conan.
The monthly subscription fee is very reasonable considering the quality and the variety of stories offered.
🔗 https://www.pat-reon.co-m/c/Raven737
(Just remove the hyphen (-) to open the link!)
💬 Enjoying the story? Drop a review!Your support really helps the series grow—thank you!