It couldn't be that easy, could it?
No. Of course it couldn't be that easy. Not everything can be that easy. Maybe he was greedy for wishing everything to be easy.
The world had been very kind to him during all this time. Maybe he should be more grateful for everything he had lived through.
The first day he had arrived in this world, the first day he remembered, he met, or rather recognized, several people who today would be his friends.
The next day, he reunited with more than one person whom he considered a true part of his family.
The following weeks he was able to live inside a luxurious mansion surrounded by great people.
He had gained a good relationship with the nearby village. He had gotten along well with children and adults alike.
He received an invitation to go to the very castle and witness the King of this Realm in person.
He had managed to meet dozens of friends and family throughout that journey. He had managed to recover part of his memories.
He had managed to remember all the good moments he had spent with a certain nee-san and a certain dragon.
And even when he had problems, the world had already granted him a great number of contacts, tools, and help to completely counteract them.
Yes. Subaru Natsuki was truly fortunate. Everything had gone well so far. Anyone who saw him from a third-person perspective would consider him a really lucky man.
And still… why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why?
"WHY!?"
Emilia shouted, frustrated that the world itself seemed to have turned its back on Subaru Natsuki this time.
How could it be that, after all the good things he had lived through, fate would play this against him right at this precise moment?
"Arghhhhh! Yes! It's perfect. It's been decades since I had such a PERFECT body!"
Subaru… No. Everyone would consider it an insult to call their friend by that personality.
Petelgeuse shouted, whether from pleasure or euphoria. His face, which was now his friend's, seemed to be the most disturbing yet. The muscles of that face, which used to tense with concern, now twisted into a grimace of ecstasy. The eyes that used to shine with determination now looked like two empty pits, wide and bright with madness.
"Truly fine! Truly a splendid body! It's been decades since flesh felt so comfortable! The perfect resource to supplement my lost fingers!"
There was no sign of the black-haired boy's exhaustion. No trace of his kindness. Not a glimmer of Subaru in Subaru. All that was there was a disgusting slothful creature pretending to be him.
Every gesture, every movement, every word that came out of that mouth was a desecration of everything Subaru had built with his own hands.
"The feeling of this body! The multiplied scent emanating from me! Everything about him! It's absolute madness! Truly, that IS the appropriate term! Yes, I am crazy for love! Love, unwavering love, memories of love, loving love, kind love, warm love, benevolent love, thirst for love, reverent love, familial love, culminating love, private love, pure love, precious love, effusive love, filial love, trusting love, deep love, virtuous love, sensual love, bitter love, profound love, charitable love, resentful love, faithful love, kind love, humble love, partial love, delirious love, fraternal love, romantic love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, love, LOOOOOOOVE!!"
The torrent of words came from his lips like an overflowing river. Each syllable seemed like pure poison that contaminated the ears of everyone who heard them.
Those who heard that voice would definitely like to completely erase it from their minds.
"…This is wrong."
It was the first time Emilia felt no happiness nor gave any sign of a smile upon seeing her friend laugh.
That laughter was not his. That joy was not his. That body, which she had come to love so much, now housed a monster that reveled in his misfortune.
Her hands trembled, and she felt that the determination she had gained a couple of hours ago was slowly slipping away from her body.
"Wretch!"
"Get out of Subaru's body now!"
Carried by their instincts, the two swordsmen, Julius and Wilhelm, drew their swords and pointed them directly at their enemy's face.
The steel shone under the light filtering through the trees, reflecting the determination of two warriors who had sworn to protect their own.
"Hmm? Get out? You were the ones who forced me to take this body as a last resort."
Unfazed by the blades' edges, nor the cuts they had made on his cheek, Petelgeuse replied calmly.
He was too pleased with his new body to feel terrified. The blood that flowed from the cuts on his cheeks was red, warm, real.
And yet, the smile that accompanied it was cold, alien, as if that flesh did not belong to him.
"Ngh!"
Wilhelm and Julius immediately pulled their swords back upon seeing that the Archbishop had no qualms about harming their friend's body.
Frustration painted their faces, a mix of rage and helplessness that no training could have prepared them for.
"This body will be my new finger! It will be my new self! Two SINS working together! Double SLOTH! Double PRIDE! Double HER LOVE! This couldn't be more PERFECT!"
"Barusu! Stop saying stupid things and react already!"
Being the next to be carried away by her emotions, Ram spoke while clenching her teeth and seeing her brother's body being dirty stained by the cult's actions once more.
Her voice trembled. Imperceptibly to the point that no one could notice it. But at that instant, seeing her little brother trapped in his own flesh, the Oni goddess felt her hard coldness crack.
"You've always been a fool noisier than anyone, who never shuts up no matter who speaks! Be yourself for once!"
"It's too late!" Petelgeuse didn't stop smiling while looking at those red eyes that looked with fear and hatred. "This body is already MINE!"
"Nii-san, come back!"
Mimi also shouted, while gripping her staff tightly with her right hand and tears beginning to fall.
Her childish voice broke in each syllable as the words got stuck in her throat.
That shout, added to that tone that spoke with so much pain, created a slight crack in Petelgeuse's thoughts, who had suffocated Subaru completely up to that point. For an instant, he stopped smiling...
And then…
"W-what is this?! What are you…? As if I need to spell it out, you damn idiot…!"
"…!"
Surprised by the very words he himself was saying, there was a faint hope in all those present as they saw their friend's body and his spirit fighting each other.
The madman opened his eyes in surprise, shaken by the torrent of emotions surging within him.
"I am… Petelgeuse Romanée-Conti… Shut up once and for all, I am Natsuki Subaru…!"
The voices overlapped each other. Even if they sounded the same, everyone could differentiate them as easily as if it were natural.
One was manic, crazy, sickly. The other sounded frustrated and tired and at the same time determined. It was obvious which was which.
"Do you really think you can beat ME by will?... Shut up! You're just a slothful spirit!"
"Bury it. Hide it. Don't let them out. Keep it deep inside your mind."
Emotions, memories, thoughts, and more were shared within the same shared brain. It was Petelgeuse's madness against Subaru's rationality, a tug-of-war of wills.
Every happy memory Subaru treasured was a part Petelgeuse tried to corrupt. Every moment of pain the Archbishop offered him was an anchor Subaru clung to in order to react.
It was one of the worst sensations he had ever felt. The heat of his own blood, the beat of his own heart, the weight of his own lungs—everything about him no longer fully belonged to him, and it was horrible.
At that moment, he almost wanted to give up to stop feeling altogether.
"Subawu!"
"Barusu!"
"Subaru!"
Each name. Each word. Even simply each voice.
Even though he was always happy to be with them, this time, every time his friends called him, it caused great pain within him. He wanted silence. He wanted peace. He wanted everyone to shut up at once. But no matter how hard he tried, that damn voice inside his head refused to lower.
And it seemed that it was that voice that was winning the battle.
"Min… ya..."
"Ngh…!"
Subaru, or Petelgeuse, without really knowing who it was, raised an arm. While at the same time a darkness attack was generated behind him.
The crystals trembled in the air without being launched, but ready to kill their targets with a single impact.
"Subaru, react!"
Everyone instinctively shouted while taking a defensive pose.
The swordsmen took guard.
The staves were prepared in defense.
Spells began to be conjured.
And everyone's hearts beat faster.
Were they really going to have to fight? Were they going to fight the boy they cared about? Were they going to raise their weapons against the one who would give everything for them?
"Subaru… please!"
Emilia's gaze carried a desperate plea added to tears that peeked out from her pupils.
There was no hatred or resentment in her eyes. Only pain. Only fear. And above all, the hope that her friend could return.
Her hands were pressed against her chest, as if trying to contain the heart that threatened to burst…
To make such a beautiful girl cry like that… Both Subaru and Petelgeuse were, without a doubt, monsters for bringing so much suffering to everyone.
"Emilia… tan."
Subaru also felt tears in his eyes.
Were they tears of pleasure, from the madman's euphoria? Were they tears of anger and frustration from himself trying not to attack his friends? Were they tears of happiness and sadness in equal parts from both of them?
Or… were they tears of fear and terror of what he planned to do?
"…Eh.?
"Eh!?"
The madman inside him shouted in bewilderment. His friends also shouted in shock and fear.
For, thanks to the sheer willpower of Subaru, the crystals, the attack that he himself had generated with the intention of hurting his friends, drastically changed direction.
Now, all the attacks… were directed at himself.
"Minya!"
The darkness spell soared through the air, not towards his allies, but towards his own chest. Ready to end this battle.
"Don't do it!"
Faster than she thought she could jump, and dropping her staff without hesitation, Mimi's body ran and pushed Subaru to the ground.
The impact made them roll between the earth and dry leaves, and the little cat felt how her body filled with scratches and bruises as they barely dodged the suicidal attack that the human boy had tried to do to himself.
"What are you doing!?" She held on tightly. "Don't give up so soon!"
"Ngh!… Let go of me, Mimi!"
Subaru tried to push away without aggressiveness from the little girl. While in his thoughts there was a whirlwind of emotions that dazed him beyond measure.
"If I die, everything will end. If I die, everything will be over. If I die, they won't die. If I die, I can return. If I die, everything will be solved. All I can do is die"
The little strength Subaru had managed to gain against the Archbishop had a single objective.
He knew he couldn't win; it was only a matter of time before he lost complete control of his body.
And when that happened, he knew he couldn't even control the moment when his body, controlled by that madman, would start to escape or kill his friends with his own hands, before his own eyes.
Unable to do anything else, dying and resetting was the best option. No matter how scared he was, no matter how much pain it brought. And yet…
His friends were only making it harder than it should be.
"What are you doing, idiot?!"
"Let me go!!"
"I won't allow you to commit suicide in front of me!"
Ferris and Mimi held Subaru's arms by force. Ignoring the obvious danger to their own safety, it was clear that none of them were being guided by logic at that moment.
The Royal Healer used all his strength to keep Subaru's arms away from his own body, while Mimi clung to his torso as if her life depended on it.
"You promised Hetaro you wouldn't die!"
"Ngh…!"
Trying to make him see reason, Mimi shouted once more with all the strength of her small body to pull her brother's hands away from himself. While reminding him of more reasons why he couldn't allow himself to give up.
If something happened to him, no matter how well the village had been, this mission would have been a failure. And it wasn't just that. He was her brother! She wouldn't allow herself to lose him again!
"Regain control! Don't let that ugly madman control you! Don't let hi-"
Suddenly, she stopped talking… as if someone or something covered her mouth. Her eyes opened wide with terror, and her hands let go of Subaru to go to her own throat.
When her eyes focused on Subaru's black eyes… She saw strong bloody tears fall from his pupils.
"Arhhhh! That friendship, that kindness! It's truly beautiful. But it's USELESS!"
No one but himself could see it. A dark, ethereal hand, emerging from Subaru's body and squeezing around the little cat's head.
The invisible fingers dug into her skull like iron claws, and Mimi felt the world darken at its edges.
"Nghh! Mpghmmm!"
Her screams were drowned out by the sensation of a hand that wanted to suffocate her and crush her skull in that instant. Mimi's legs began to tremble and kick in the air, while her vision darkened.
Just for a second, there was also a great strong gesture of pain on the black-haired boy's expression.
"Nghh!"
"Ahhh!"
Using perhaps pure willpower—or perhaps the last residue of consciousness he had left—Subaru managed to control the hands.
Or at least, the madness inside him that tried to break free uncontrollably.
Mimi's body was thrown with force towards Ferris, making them both fall and crash violently against a tree.
The impact was dry, and both rolled across the leaf-covered ground.
"Mimi! Felix!"
Wilhelm and Julius shouted at the same time. But neither would have time to go to their aid.
"Ngh…! I'm sorry…" Subaru's voice sounded frustrated, guilty, sad, and broken. "I didn't want to… drown you in SLOTH" Before filling with madness "… ARGH! YES! THIS IS PERFECT!"
Perhaps having used the invisible hands made Petelgeuse regain control. Or perhaps Subaru's last gesture of pushing his friends out of danger—had exhausted his strength?
In any case, the creature inhabiting his body recovered.
"An incredible WILL! I must say! From afar it's clear you were PRIDE! But now! This body is mine!"
Petelgeuse, with renewed strength, raised his arms to the sky while that machiavellian smile grew more than ever.
And without anyone being able to notice, with his eyes beginning to bleed, with madness in every cm of his body, at that moment… the hundred hands he possessed were directed to attack with everything.
"El Fura!"
"Ngh…!"
Releasing her horn, suddenly a cutting gust of wind covered the entire nearby area. The air cut like a scythe, and leaves flew in all directions.
Ram, and her Oni instincts, did not fail. She placed herself in front of everyone and cut all the arms.
She couldn't see the attacks. So what? She just had to attack in all directions around Subaru without hurting him.
Easy for a goddess.
"Argh… all my hands cut…! But even so! My sloth not...-!"
"Just shut your mouth."
Ram's body moved much faster than the madman was able to see. In an instant, or perhaps half an instant, she positioned herself right behind him.
Her hands, firm as steel, held both of her brother's arms tightly pressed. Her chest pressed against his back, and trying to create unnecessary pain, she simply immobilizes him completely with her strength.
"…"
And now… what?
Silence hung over the forest clearing. While everyone realized that simple but great important question at this moment.
Even though they had the enemy captured… They were unable to know what to do with him.
"Arhhhh! Do you think you-? Your hands-? Can a simple hands of an Oni contain my LOVE?"
"Shut up." She shouted at him. "Be grateful I haven't killed you."
"Killed?…" Petelgeuse fell silent, as if a painful memory came to his mind, and yet, he only laughs. "Arghh. Yes. It's true. I'm still alive. But will you kill me? Will you kill me cut from behind again? Will you kill me again, NEE-SAMA?"
His voice broke on the last word. A painful gesture for both Subaru and his sister.
"…Don't you dare use Barusu's voice to call me that, damn Archbishop."
Ram felt the almost need to finish off that Archbishop once and for all. Hatred and the desire to kill the Witch Cultists never lacked at any moment.
Only the safety of her little brother stopped her at that moment. But even so, it wasn't something she was going to put up with for long.
That he called her Nee-sama made her feel happy and proud. That 'he' called her Nee-sama felt like a great insult to her person.
"…What are we supposed to do?"
Mimi, who was still injured, stood up staggering while Ferris helped heal her.
The two had wounds that they were treating each other. Clearly their attention was not on themselves.
But on him.
"Nii-san… Nii-san is suffering" She felt a tear even though she didn't want to cry. "Can't we do something?"
"Julius..." Felix addressed one of the boys he trusted most. "You're a spirit knight. Can't you do something to expel him?"
Julius clenched his fists. His gaze shifted to Subaru's body, and for an instant, his mask of the perfect knight crumbled.
He looked away from his friend. Unable to see him in that state for long.
"...No. Although I have contracts with spirits, I don't have the knowledge to break a forced possession of a spirit" His respect for spirits suffered upon saying that last part. "Forced possession… what a way to tarnish the image of spirits."
The confession fell very badly on almost the entire group. The only one who seemed impassive was Priscilla, who continued looking at her friend's body with much, much coldness for some reason.
If Julius, the best spirit knight in the kingdom, couldn't do anything, what hope was left for them?
"Could the only option be… to kill him?"
"…Huh?"
When Wilhelm gave that possibility, with a voice darker than he usually showed… a strong shiver ran through everyone's bodies.
"K-kill?" Mimi froze in her position, unable to even speak upon seeing how suddenly… that began to be a plan?
"You're not suggesting killing Petelgeuse by killing Subaru… are you, Wilhelm?"
As if wanting to make sure he wasn't hearing wrong, Julius addressed the Sword Demon, while doing what he could to maintain the image of a knight, almost failing in the process.
Wilhelm remained silent. Bearing the weight of everyone's gaze focused solely on him, as if he had said something totally absurd… And even he considered it that way. But in this situation…
"Wilhelm!"
It was only when Emilia's indignant voice resounded that Wilhelm dared to speak again.
"I also don't wish to harm someone I consider I owe a great deal to, Emilia-sama…" He lowered his gaze, and his voice became a whisper. "But at this point… you know that Subaru is only suffering in a body he cannot control."
He wasn't lying. Everyone knew he was right.
When they looked again at their friend's face, all they saw was the possessed body of a monster that smiled machiavellically while bleeding from the eyes.
Everyone knew they had to finish that monster, but even so…
"I refuse!" Felix shouted, when he noticed they were seriously considering that possibility. "I refuse! I won't let Subawu die! There must be another way!"
He placed himself between his friend and his companions, with arms open as if he could protect Subaru with his own body.
He hated deep in his being his great inability at this moment. Without physical abilities, the only good thing about him is his healing ability.
And yet, at this most important moment, he didn't know any ability that could help his suffering friend in front of him.
What kind of healer leaves a being suffering without being able to do anything in front of them?
And yet… even so, he wouldn't allow this death. He wouldn't allow it in any way.
As a royal healer, as Blue, as Felix, and as his friend, he would totally refuse the idea of killing Subaru Natsuki.
"…"
Wilhelm tightened his hand on his sword, clearly frustrated not knowing what to do.
This was a battle that was doomed to win and lose at the same time.
Every second that passed was a second less of hope and a second more of suffering.
"Arhhh. What diligent kindness."
The spirit that had been silently observing spoke, and everyone looked at him.
Petelgeuse's voice was a mocking whisper that filtered through Subaru's lips.
"Such pure kindness, so beautiful, so diligent… and yet, so USELESS!"
His voice only increased the latent desperation within everyone as they noticed that their chances of winning were directly linked to something they refused to lose.
"Why?… Why? Why are you doing this?"
Emilia shouted. Angry? Frustrated? Sad? Perhaps a mix of the three.
Her hands trembled at her sides, and her voice broke in every word.
Not even she knew how to describe the sensation and emotion inside her as she looked at the face in front of her.
She only knew that she didn't feel good at all. Not at all.
"It… it cost me a lot to kill you! I tried to give you a painless death! Why… why won't you rest in peace!?"
She shouted her frustrations at the only man she considered guilty, and yet, for some reason, she was unable to hate.
Expecting an answer? No. She just wanted to get this feeling off her chest while forcing herself not to lose control of her emotions completely.
"…You think your ice can defeat me? You think you defeated me?"
Petelgeuse's voice sounded different this time. His gaze was fixed on the Half-elf as if she were his only target.
But at the same time, his words sounded with a mix of sickly love and indignation. As if she had insulted his entire being.
"Even if they cut me in half with a sword! Even if they cut me with disgusting wind magic! Even if they behead me in the air, and even if they try to freeze me together with the whole forest again! My love, LOVE for her will NOT PERISH!"
"Ngh!"
Subaru's eyes lost their black color as blood flowed out again with more force. The reason was obvious.
The arms came out of his body again almost without control. Ram tightened her grip and tried to do her best to cut all the air around her based solely on instinct, but even so, it was impossible to destroy them all without the ability to see them.
The arms headed towards the apparently only person the man loved. Without controlling their strength and taking advantage of her moment of vulnerability, the invisible limbs launched themselves against Emilia like an avalanche of obsession, love, and hatred.
They… didn't last long enough to surpass the strength of the only other spirit that far surpassed them.
"Enough."
"Ah!?"
A small snowstorm seemed to form in the place, right where Emilia was standing.
The air turned freezing, and ice crystals began to form around her.
When in front of the half-elf's body appeared the spirit of a cat looking angrily at the man in front of him, his eyes shone with contained fury.
And everyone could feel how the temperature of the forest had dropped drastically just by his presence.
"P-puck?"
"A spiiirit!?"
Petelgeuse's face contorted upon seeing what seemed to be a total blasphemy to him. His smile twisted into a grimace of disgust, and his eyes opened in surprise.
"…!"
Everyone was also surprised by the presence of such a being. It's not that they hadn't seen him before. But even so, his presence made them all tremble for a second, even if he wasn't their enemy.
Puck looked fixedly at the madman in front of him. His gaze, while not one of pure hatred, didn't seem entirely kind towards that being either.
But it didn't matter. Unlike everyone else, he believed that the answer to this problem was actually very easy and simple.
"All of you seem to be hesitating to attack this man…" He spoke with a cold voice, while looking at each of them, evaluating them. "In part I understand it because that boy is important to you. But… you know what needs to be done, don't you?"
"…!"
When he said those words, a thousand and one thoughts exploded inside their heads once more.
If even the Beast of the End had decided on the final solution to this problem, if even he seemed to have no other way to save that boy without hurting him in the process… was there really no other way?
They gritted their teeth and wanted to resist. Guided solely by their emotions and their stubbornness to protect their friend.
Julius thought for a second about raising his sword and facing the Spirit with all his might. Even he was surprised at how willing he was to do it, but he didn't want to stay still when he knew there was no other way.
Someone who wasn't surprised at all by her own disposition was Ram. Who brought Subaru's body closer to herself and took a step back with him. Even if the Beast of the End wanted to fight, she wouldn't stay behind.
However, their resistance didn't surprise Puck at all. In fact, He believed it was normal for them to resist or show some anger towards him for simply stating the obvious.
No. What really surprised him...
"Lia…?"
"I'm sorry… But no. I can't let you hurt Subaru."
Was that his own daughter pushed him back, making space between him and the human.
Emilia stood with her arms open. Even with that great amount of nervousness in her eyes, there was also a determination to face her spirit father.
Her body trembled, but her voice was firm. She had waited so long to reunite with her friend, and she wouldn't let him simply leave again.
"Lia…" Being the only person he cared about, Puck was unpleasantly surprised that his daughter stood in the middle for the first time. "He is an enemy."
"But he is also my friend! I can't… I can't let him die!"
She pleaded with her gaze to her father. And it even seemed that she wanted to confront him if that ensured the safety of the boy behind him.
"…"
Puck sharpened his gaze towards the boy.
Although the boy was already dangerous by himself with his simple presence near his daughter. That he was possessed specifically by that spirit, made him twice as dangerous.
He believed this was the perfect opportunity to finally get rid of one of the greatest dangers to his daughter. But in this situation… he felt that if he tried to attack him, he would create a distance in his relationship with her.
"Lia… I don't want anything to hurt you. But that human is only suffering the longer you prolong his death. And we have no way to free him, right?"
"That's not…! I can… I can free him. Just… just let me talk to him!"
"Lia, it's dangerous for you to approach him, he...-"
"I already said I would try to save everyone I can now! I can't stay quiet if there's still a minimum possibility of doing something!"
"…"
Even Emilia knew that the words she was saying came more from the desperation to do something than from a plausible possibility.
Even so, it was a hope that still existed, and it was much better than simply doing nothing.
"Just give me a chance!"
"…"
Puck stopped advancing, yielding to his daughter's plea. Mainly so as not to create a bad image in her eyes.
But it didn't matter, according to him, that boy's fate was already sealed.
"... Subaru."
Emilia approached Subaru's body, which was still being held by Ram. Each step was an effort. Each breath was a pain. But she didn't stop.
She crouched down until she was right in front of him. Close enough to feel his breath.
The image of his eyes crying blood was something she almost wanted to look away from solely because of the pain it brought her.
Why would the world want to turn the boy she considered beautiful into this image?
Holding back her own fears, she tried to speak with him.
"Subaru… I know you're there. Please… look at me."
The boy looked directly into her violet, beautiful, perfect eyes. Even though his vision was stained with blood, that didn't hinder his view of the perfection of her body.
"Please… it's me, Emilia. Don't you remember me?… We're friends. You're my friend…"
"…"
"Please…" She slowly placed her delicate hands on the boy's cheeks. "If there's anything of you… a part that remembers me, no matter how small… just give me a sign…"
"…"
Subaru's eyes seemed to light up for a single second, as if he were processing her words.
Was it understanding? Recognition?
It seemed that his mind traveled to the past. Very past. Very, very, very past.
He wasn't sure if it was his memories, or the madman's who was with him, but he got, even if only for half an instant… the image of a girl he loved and wished to be with…
And only then…
"Argh!"
"Ngh!"
The spirit simply reacted to the possibility of obtaining HER love. Ignoring absolutely everything else as he lunged at the girl who had her guard down.
It was only thanks to Ram's intervention that his attack only managed to graze her cheek, slightly cutting her skin softly.
Blood flowed from the superficial wound, but the physical pain was nothing compared to the pain of seeing her hopes shatter, and being attacked precisely by him.
"…Good. That proves it."
Puck approached the human body in front of him again. Barely hiding his great hatred upon seeing the beautiful image of his daughter with that red wound on her cheek.
Slowly he floated closer and closer to the boy. Ready to freeze his entire body and end this danger once and for all.
"P-Puck! Wait-!"
"Wait."
But a voice stopped him. Dry and cold.
When he looked back, towards the origin of the sound, he found himself observing the orange-haired girl who returned his gaze with great seriousness.
"It's not necessary for you to kill him."
Priscilla, who until now had remained in absolute and total silence, finally says her first words in minutes.
She had remained silent, coldly observing the words that Petelgeuse, inside her friend's body, had said, as if she wanted to see through them.
But now, after having obtained some interesting information, and seeing that the half-elf seems incapable of protecting him on her own, she decides to end this circus that had been set up.
"…Priscilla?"
Emilia looked at the Sun Princess with faint hope in her eyes. Happy to know that, apparently like her, she also wanted to protect the boy from another world.
Emilia didn't have the best image of Priscilla, not after her first impression, and after her presentation at the castle.
Perhaps she had judged her too quickly. Perhaps, despite her arrogance, Priscilla had a plan that didn't involve Subaru's death. If so... perhaps there was still a chance.
"I myself will take care of finishing him."
That hope shattered when she said that word.
The next second, Priscilla hid her hand behind her dress, and appearing from what seemed like nowhere itself, a light shone, and then, a beautiful crimson red sword became present in her hand.
"…Huh?"
Everyone immediately understood her intentions with just that action.
Quickly, the most impulsive ones showed reluctance at that possibility.
"W-wait! What are you…?"
"What we all came to do, isn't it? Kill the Archbishop of Sloth once and for all."
She began to walk proudly and without hesitation forward. As if it wasn't even worth turning around to those who said those words.
"B-but he's in Subaru's body! He's possessing him!"
"And he thinks that just because of that he's going to survive? I had already declared that I myself would put an end to his life, and that's not going to change."
Priscilla took another step forward, with her sword prepared to give a single cut.
"Spirit, step aside. I'll take care of it."
"…Go ahead."
Puck stepped aside, leaving the path clear.
This suited him. If anyone else were the one to dare to end this enemy, his relationship with his daughter wouldn't be so strongly compromised if he did it himself.
With that in mind, He let Priscilla get closer and closer.
"Don't you dare-!"
"Ngh…!"
More than one voice was heard behind her. But she didn't turn around.
Puck, without moving from his position, made an ice attack towards all those present. But not with the intention of hurting them, only to keep them at bay.
Wilhelm, Felix, Mimi, Julius… And even Emilia too, he had made a crystal for each one, preventing them from moving from their position.
"Why do you want to do this!?"
Emilia showed her anger towards Priscilla. Without even trying to sound kind or pleasant towards her. She didn't have the strength for that.
"Isn't he your friend!?"
"Of all people, you are the least qualified to tell me that, Half-demon. Precisely because he is my friend, I will be the one to end him."
Priscilla gave a single look towards her, before ignoring her as if she meant nothing to her.
Then, and seeing the only one in front of her, she looked into the red eyes of the Oni goddess.
"…Are you also going to be as naive as her?"
"…"
Ram stared into the Sun Princess's eyes for several seconds. Doubting her intentions and consequently, what she should do.
After thinking about it for a while, the Oni finally decides… to do nothing, while still holding her brother defenseless before the Sun Princess's sword.
"…Good, there's someone worth it in that camp besides the plebeian, I see."
Giving that single compliment, Priscilla didn't smile as she finally…
"Arhhh? Do you think that sword can KILL me!?"
Petelgeuse's body didn't seem to tremble with fear as he looked at Priscilla. Perhaps it was certainty that she wouldn't dare to attack him. Or perhaps the madness inside him had desensitized him to terror.
"Even if you stab me with that SWORD. Even if you try to KILL me. My love for HER! WILL NOT DIE! WILL NOT DI-"
Petelgeuse's voice froze mid-sentence when a sharp blade rested on his chest...
The next instant, his entire body was flooded by inextinguishable flames, which burned the deepest part of his spirit.
"Arghhhhhhh!"
Petelgeuse's scream resonated with force and suffering in the middle of the forest.
The voice that accompanied it was not human. No. It was simply the sound of pure, hard, agonizing suffering.
Petelgeuse could feel how the fire seemed to burn absolutely everything in his body, from his chest to his flesh, bones, mind, and spirit. Leaving nothing of him unburned.
As if every cell of his body was burning at the same time.
"Arghh! Arghh! Arghh!"
His hands, which were still being held by Ram, began to tremble and try to free themselves out of pure desperation. In a clear sensation of pain. His fingers clenched in a gesture of seeking something to hold onto.
"…!"
"Ngh...!"
Everyone's faces showed deep, deep pain.
Except for the most serene ones, every single one of them looked with horror at the image of their friend being consumed by flames and screaming in agony, while they could only watch.
Their legs trembled as if their strength to stand had also been burned to ashes.
The only one who showed no hint of emotion… was Priscilla herself.
"…Leave that body and die forever. It's what you deserve after killing him."
With those words, she finally said goodbye to the now deceased Archbishop of Sloth.
Subaru couldn't feel anything.
Not the beat of his own heart.
Not the weight of his eyelids as they closed.
Not even the pain that, from the flames, he should have been suffering.
Everything was calm. A strange calm. It was so strange that he couldn't understand it.
Is this what dying feels like?
No. He had died before. He remembered the cold, the void, the moment when life slipped from his hands.
This was different. This was... peace. A peace so absolute that it almost hurt.
And then, a voice.
"Why do you have that face?"
The world around him suddenly gained color.
The gray tones were tinged with greens, blues, a warm golden that seemed to filter from nowhere.
Subaru turned his head without being able to control it, and there he found her.
She was a girl. A couple of years younger than him, perhaps nine or ten. Her long silver hair fell over her shoulders like a cloak of moonlight. And her eyes, two violet jewels, looked at him with an intensity that didn't match her age.
He couldn't see her face for some reason. But still, he could tell she was truly beautiful.
"That's not a face I want to see when you come to visit me, you know, Subaru?"
Subaru blinked. The weight he had felt began to dissipate, slowly, as if her words had the power to undo knots.
And finally… he forgot all the pain as he spoke with her. While it seemed that she knew him his whole life.
"You're right" He said, and his own voice sounded more childish and higher-pitched than he remembered "Sorry. I was thinking about something ugly."
"Hmm." The girl tilted her head, as if evaluating his words. "I don't want an apology. I want you to be okay."
"Be okay?"
"Yes."
She sat next to him, with the naturalness of someone who has done that hundreds of times
"Tell me, is something wrong?"
"No. Not at all." Subaru shrugged "I think I just had a nightmare before coming."
"Ah! Nightmares are bad. Very bad." She frowned, but her eyes kept shining "Do you want me to tell you a story?"
"A story?"
"Yes. The suuuper cute date of Cid and Emily at the festival. Of course!"
"Isn't that the same story we read a few days ago?"
"It's much better when someone else tells it!"
Subaru laughed at her words. It was a small, light, but genuine laugh.
"You're right" He said, and lay back on the grass, feeling how the ground seemed to embrace him. "I suppose so."
The girl also lay down, next to him, and for a moment neither spoke. They just enjoyed being with the other.
"Even though you already know the story, should I tell it anyway?"
"Of course." Subaru turned his head towards her. "Just talking to you makes me happy."
The girl went blank. She blinked once, twice, as if the words had taken time to reach her brain.
And then, her smile became so big that her eyes almost closed completely.
"I am also happy when I talk to you."
She said with total sincerity.
"Then we're the same."
"That's right." She nodded energetically "And if we're the same, we have to make a promise."
Subaru raised an eyebrow.
"A promise?"
"Yes. The promise of friendship."
She raised a finger, adopting a pose of great importance that she had learned from him—.
"You have to promise that you will be happy, and that you will keep smiling, and that you will come to talk to me whenever you can."
"And if I don't?"
"I'll turn you into a frog."
"A frog?"
"A very ugly frog."
Subaru burst out laughing. It was an authentic laugh, the kind that comes from the stomach and can't be faked.
"Then I'll have to try to be happy, won't I?"
"Yes." The girl extended her pinky "And I'll help you. Because that's what friends do."
Subaru looked at her pinky. Small, fragile, but firm. And he smiled as he brought his own finger to hers.
"And you?" He asked, without taking his eyes off her hand. "Do you also promise to be happy?"
The girl blinked, as if she hadn't expected the question.
"Me?"
"Yes. The promise of friendship is for two. It's not fair if only one tries. I can't be happy if I know you're not."
She was silent for a second. As if she couldn't believe how fast her heart was beating at that second.
"Okay. I also promise to be happy by your side."
"You're not going to ask me what happens if you don't keep it?"
"No need." The girl linked her pinky with his. "Because I know you will."
Their fingers joined in a childish, but deep promise between children.
"…What's with that look? Do I have something on my face?"
The girl asked as she realized Subaru wouldn't stop looking at her.
"No. I just think you look like an angel."
"…I don't know what that word means. But if it comes from you, it must be something very cute. So thank you!"
Seeing such a cute girl smiling and happy in front of him…
Subaru thought, for just a single instant, that he wouldn't mind dying happy at this moment.
"…Huh?"
When Subaru opened his eyes again. He expected to find himself in the same scene he had already lived about 4 times until now.
The setting sun hitting him directly in the eyes, while he said goodbye for the fifth time to the visit from Anastasia's camp…
But instead…
"…Am I seeing an angel?"
A small part of his brain thought, while his still blurry vision observed what he considered to be a totally beautiful figure that was above him.
It took him a few seconds to gather strength and blink, to focus his eyes. And when he opened them again, managing to see the woman who was looking at him.
"…Emilia-tan?"
"SUBARU!"
Yes. It was definitely an angel.
Emilia's body didn't hesitate for another second upon seeing that her friend had fully woken up, while burying her face in the otherworldly boy's neck, and hugging him tightly.
"Ngh… Emilia-tan!… I can't breathe!"
"Subaru! Subaru! Subaru!"
Without stopping to listen to his words, Emilia ignored the whole world around her as she clung to her friend's body tightly.
Subaru really wanted to tell her to stop because of the great strength she had and that he felt she was going to break his bones.
But when he felt the wetness of her tears fall on his clothes… he was unable to say anything more.
"Am I?… Alive?"
Even though it was obvious, it was still hard for him to accept it.
He remembered his own body being on fire while screaming in pain. He remembered the Yang Sword piercing his body, and even he was completely prepared to die.
But now he found himself alive and feeling Emilia's weight crushing against her.
"Did you really think you were going to die because of a Slothful spirit?"
When a proud voice made itself present, Subaru was able to look at Priscilla, with her Yang Sword still in hand, while she smiled satisfied.
"Priscilla?"
"Haven't I told you?" She tilted her head arrogantly. "My Yang Sword burns everything and only what I desire."
"…You saved my life?"
"I only made that madman receive what he deserved." She put her sword away into nothingness with utmost elegance. "Remember I said I would be the one to kill him in the end, didn't I?"
"…Hehe…"
Subaru didn't know if he wanted to laugh or cry at that moment. It didn't matter, either option wouldn't be enough to release all the relief and joy he was feeling at that moment.
Before he could decide, he felt another body throwing itself at him.
"NII-SAN!"
Mimi crashed into his side with the force of a projectile. Her small body clung to his arm, and her eyes, still bright with tears, looked at him with a mix of anger and childish joy.
"Nghh…! Don't ever do that again! I was very worried! You're bad! Bad bad for almost dying!"
"Mimi…" He writhed from her hug. Even though she was small, she had a lot of strength. "You're crushing me too…"
"I don't care!"
But she didn't seem to have any intention of stopping for a second.
Felix also appeared on his left, kneeling beside him at great speed.
Subaru realized that his body with superficial wounds was being treated by him.
His hands were already shining with the light of healing, and his face, although trying to keep a smile, was crossed by recent tears.
"Subawu... you're a complete idiot."
"…That's the first thing you say to me after I almost died?"
"Yes. Because you are." Felix placed his hands on his chest, while the healing magic finished healing him. "But… I'm glad you're alive."
"…Thanks, Felix."
"Don't thank me" He smiled. "Just don't make us worry about this again."
"…Okay."
Subaru felt the weight on his chest becoming smaller and smaller. Only then was he able to gather enough strength to look around. Although barely.
He managed to see Ram who kept her gaze fixed on him, with her arms crossed and a smile. She didn't seem to have been worried about him at all…
Although Subaru thinks he saw her trembling just a little for an instant. But he won't say it.
A little further back, He managed to see Wilhelm-san, who had a light smile of respect. Next to Julius, who seems to have the same emotions as the rest.
Finally, Puck was floating a few meters away. And he observed him in a way that Subaru wasn't able to read completely.
But… at this moment he didn't care.
He just wanted to rest.
To let himself be hugged on the ground.
To close his eyes and feel that, at last, everything was fine.
"…Subaru."
Emilia's voice came as a whisper. He opened his eyes and saw her, still clinging to him, with her face illuminated by a fragile but genuine smile.
"…Yes?"
She was silent for a second.
This would be the first time she spoke after a full week.
So, what will she say to him?
"... Welcome back."
Subaru blinked. And then, he smiled.
"...Glad to see you again, Emilia-tan."
And at that moment, surrounded by his friends, with Emilia's warmth over him and the clear sky above him...
Subaru Natsuki knew that, at last, everything was over.
Notes:
So? DOES ARC 3 END!?
I wonder if there were people who really thought this was a failed loop. It was impossible for this to fail when I literally had Petelgeuse's counter on your side, you know? Hahaha.Now, moving on to the chapter itself. This was a chapter…
Am I satisfied? Yes, but barely. Clearly the previous one was better. Or at least for me it was.
The truth is that in this chapter barely much happened for it to be the finale. I didn't know what to add, and maybe you found it cheesy. Sorry if it didn't meet your expectations, but you know what? I don't think it was a bad ending at all.
What would you have done?
There's only ONE chapter left to finish arc 3. It will be like an epilogue, I suppose… and a post-credits scene? Haha. You'll understand that when it comes out.
Anyway. Even though it's not my best chapter, I hope you enjoyed it despite everything. I really appreciate your support, guys.
See you soon. Byeee