Re:Zero Kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu

--Subaru shakes his shoulders quietly as he holds the little scorpion in his hand as it emerges from the dust.

I wanted to save her.

I wanted to get her out of this lonely tower of sand.

I promised to help her, I promised to do so.

He had failed to keep his promise.

Natsuki Subaru is always making promises that he can't make.

----

No one is able to speak to the silent Subaru as he squats on the sand.

Neither Beatrice beside her, nor Julius or Mary behind her, could find the words to say to her.

Only, as if to comfort Subaru, who forgot even his sobs and wept, a scorpion on his hand ran down his arm, climbed up Subaru's shoulder, and leaned in close to his neck.

Subaru doesn't know what this little scorpion is all about.

The Red Scorpion's huge body, this scorpion that emerged from the crumbling dust, what kind of relationship could this scorpion have with Shaura? Or perhaps this scorpion is her very own--.

It's not.

There were words that Subaru exchanged with Shaura in his last moments.

Whether that exchange was in fact with her or just a daydream Subaru had when they parted, is not clear.

But Subaru was sadly convinced that it was indeed what had happened.

Shaura was lost.

Its existence was tied to the rules of this Pleiades Watchtower itself, and ultimately, like the raids and the monoliths of the three levels - the stage set for the 'test' to proceed.

Hence, once the Watchtower has finished its previous role, she too must leave.

She died for her role as a "stage set" until the very end.

It can't be a mere 'stage set', she opened a hole in Subaru's chest.

----

That open-hearted smile, that annoying need to touch each other, that voice of master and teacher and mindless affection, everything is gone.

If Shaura had cried out and screamed at her that she didn't want to disappear, Subaru would have done everything in her power to find a way to do so, and she would have given her life to help, as often as she could.

But she didn't want that.

She laughed and said just that, that she wanted to see him again, and then she was gone.

I don't know how to do that, or if it's really possible.

I don't know--but.

All right. ...... I'm sure one day I'll meet you again. So,

She smiled brightly and told me she loved me, and I granted her wish.

That's why--

So, for now, goodbye, Shoura.

The sand wind took away her thoughts, the remnants of her thoughts, which had become red dust.

Watching it, Subaru exhaled. When she looked, she saw a scorpion huddled around Subaru's neck, plucking at her ear with its scissors as if it were asking her to cheer up.

'Ow!'

There's a sharp pain, and I feel like I'm being pushed back, like I'm making a dent.

With tears in his eyes from the pain, Subaru nodded, "Okay, okay," and grabbed the scorpion by the neck and tried to pull it away from his ear.

But--

Ouch!　No, okay, you can let me go now: ......　Hey, this one is bleeding from the ears: ...... This guy!　This guy is serious: ......!

...... Your brother, what are you doing?

I feel a sense of urgency for the Little Red Scorpion, which is trapped between my ears and can't be pulled off at all.

It's a good thing that you can't get rid of them.

She looked dumbfounded, and then she turned to Subaru and grabbed the Little Red Scorpion with her small hands.

Even though she's a little girl, she's a hexenbiest, so if you don't go near her face, she won't know if she's going to get her eyes and nose eaten.

'Eyes and nose!　But this guy imitates that: ......

You're a Hexenbiest. --I'm not the naked lady.

----

Saying that, Merrily popped the Little Red Scorpion on top of her own head.

Unlike the tyranny on Subaru earlier, the Little Red Scorpion didn't work badly with Maely's head. It seems to have come under the influence of Maely's 'Magic Control Blessing' and hid its ferocity.

Without saying it, it was proof that the Little Red Scorpion was a demonic beast that was able to get through to Maely's Blessing - the fact that it had no ego as a Shaura, was also proof of that.

''Subaru, we need to treat your wounds,''

Beatrice pulled Subaru's sleeve, who was about to turn over again, and gently took care of her body.

Biting his lip at that consideration, Subaru nodded deeply. He couldn't stay in the sandy sea for long.

''--Subaru!　Guys!

In the distance, Emilia rushes towards us as she opens the great door to the entrance of the watchtower.

She was also in the guise of being involved in quite a big disturbance, and it could be seen that it was not an easy road. Including that, let's all exchange words with each other.

There are too many things that need to be talked about and too many goodbyes that need to be done.

(▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼)

...... Shaura was an amazingly hard worker.

After hearing the explanation of what had happened, and the fact that Shaura was nowhere to be found at the scene, Emilia stared at the sea of sand where even the dust had dissipated and mourned its loss as she would.

Gently, a white finger touches the little red scorpion on top of Merrily's head. Even though Meily ordered him not to go out of control, the little red scorpion accepting Emilia's finger looked pleasant, even though he didn't know the expression or gesture.

''Emilia-sama, how was the first layer?　I hope you completed the 'test' safely?

After finishing Shaura's explanation, Emilia turned a gloomy eye on a sunken-faced Subaru.

However, it was Julius who chose to dare to proceed with the topic there. At that Julius' call, Emilia nodded, "Yes.

'I didn't understand what was going on, but I think I managed to get it done. ...... And Julius, do you understand me properly, too?

I mean... Yes, I know. Certainly, I can remember it clearly.

Emilia asked timidly, and Julius replied with a huff.

Putting his hand over his own mouth, Julius ruminated again, "Emilia-sama," and nodded, confirming that Emilia's presence should have disappeared inside him.

'Beatrice!　Do you know who I am?　Where's Mary?

...... Don't worry about it, I hope you remembered. I mean, I'd almost forgotten about it until you told me I'd forgotten about it. Isn't that a creepy feeling?

I remember you, too. You remember me and the promises you made to me, don't you?

Of course not. I would never forget you. Good. Ram and little Patrush remembered, too, so I knew it would be okay. ......

Hearing Beatrice and Mary's answer, Emilia patted her chest in relief.

At the girls' reaction, Subaru called out, "Wait.

Then, when everyone's attention was drawn to him, Subaru cleared his throat - and

'That's tremendous good news, but I need to get this straight. I mean?　Did you guys remember Emilia-tan safely?　It's, um, ......

Lady Lamb avenged Rai Batenkaitos.

----

Subaru's eyes widened at Julius, who drew a conclusion and assured him so.

Rai Battenkaitos - the Great Sin Bishop of "Violent Eating", one of the three, and the most causal enemy of Subaru and Ram.

In this tower as well, he ate Emilia's "name" and was also the one who made her lick his lips many times during her rampage.

It's not just a matter of time before you can get your hands on a new one.

The reason being that Rai Batenkaitos had fallen is because...

"You mean he's taking back what he took from you ......?　Then,

If Emilia's 'name' is back, then the effects of the other 'binge eating' rights should also be lifted.

Pretending to be a "gourmet", BattenKaitos has been taking too much away. If the stolen items are to be released, then the people of the sluice city Pristella will also be released.

----

Thinking that far, Subaru shook his head.

Let's not deceive ourselves. Let's keep a lid on our own minds and stop trying to lie to us.

At this moment, Natsuki Subaru had a terribly selfish, egoistic hope.

If Rai Batenkaitos is defeated and his authority loosened.

You remember Lem, don't you?

The girl who was forgotten by everyone, and whose sheer presence created a huge hole in Subaru's chest.

This journey is a journey to reclaim the things that were taken from her - and for Subaru, it is the journey itself to save Rem.

The irony is that the watchtower that sought the wisdom to do so was attacked by a "violent food", but it doesn't matter as long as the results it brings are the same.

Hastened by such wandering hope, Subaru looked around at the faces of everyone.

That Subaru's question, however--.

...... I'm sorry, Subaru. I still can't remember Lem.

"--Hey!　Why!

Betty, too. I don't think she can remember her sister yet. Besides, you can go to .......

And?　Besides, what. What's still going on?

Denied by Emilia, Beatrice follows suit, and Subaru is blindsided.

Rejected for his budding hope, Subaru stuffs Beatrice, who is at a loss for words. At Subaru's desperate eyes, Beatrice indicated backwards, Julius, with her white chin.

'I still can't even remember Julius. I wonder if all of the damage from the Binge Eating has returned.

Julius' .......

Following Beatrice's story, Emilia nods as well, after all.

Mary, who originally didn't know Julius before he was deprived of his 'name', shrugs her shoulders, but there is no reason for Emilia and the others to lie about it.

If that's the case, neither Rem and Julius have their "name" back--.

On that note, I can only imagine why my 'name' won't come back.

Julius, the other Julius, said that amidst the bewildered Subaru and the others.

Then Julius looked back at Subaru and the others with his slit eyes and continued.

It was--.

"-Bishop Roy Alphard, the 'violent' sin bishop, has been taken alive. Technically, my 'name' is the thing he took away from me. So I guess that's why I'm not back yet.

△▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼

When I returned to the Pleiades Watchtower after passing through the main gate, the dragon carriage that brought Subaru and the others to the sand tower was placed on the fifth level, and I was greeted by a figure waving at the side of the carriage.

''Emilia-san, and Natsuki-kun, it's been a long time since we've seen you.

...... Are you sure, Anastasia?

Subaru's eyes widened into a stare as he saw the figure smiling half-heartedly and waving his hand loosely.

He confirmed that it was natural in its gestures, demeanor, and even its expression. This is a complete reproduction of the humanity that the artificial spirit echidna had dressed up as and could not be traced - no, it is not a reproduction.

It is the nature of the original person. I wouldn't call it a recreation.

I mean...

Miss Anastasia!　Did you get up?

Yeah, yeah. I'm afraid I've been asleep for a long time now, and I'm sorry to worry you. I had to ask echidna how you've been doing these past few months.

Echidna's okay?

Somehow. It's unlikely I'm going to die from something other than remorse.

Anastasia answers Emilia's question, the collar around her neck moves, and the white fox nodded in an apologetic manner.

Stroking Echidna's head, Anastasia scolded her, "Hey,

You blame yourself for that again. I told you. It's my own choice, so there's no need for Echidna to be upset about it. You would think so, Julius.

Me?　...... That's right. I have to admit, I was quite harassed by Lady Anastasia's decision, and it's hard for me to answer that you are right.

I'm sorry, what?

'It's a knight in shining armour to hear why you've kept to yourself.

Julius' lips parted and he answered gracefully. Hearing her answer, Anastasia laughed with her hand over her own mouth, "Well, it's not according to you," she said.

It's quite a breathtaking exchange. When it comes to being like this sovereign, it's like being a sovereign.

'Really, Anastasia, you've forgotten about Julius, haven't you?　And for that, it seems like the horses are awfully good together: ......

'I don't remember what the original relationship was ......, which in itself is no longer something for us to have patience with because of the munchies in our stomachs. ......!　What is it? ......!

I'm trying to be patient. Fortunately, I can tell you what I've learned about Julius in the last two months. Apparently, that's what I was born to do.

...... You seem to have swung off in a weird way, too.

Anastasia's lips tremble with a waggle, and Beatrice says just a few gentle words to Edna, who defines herself by her neck.

Hearing this, Echidna sniffed her fox's nose and nodded, "Oh.

Edna, an artificial spirit with no past, who came to the watchtower as a substitute for Anastasia, also had some thoughts and seemed to have come to a positive conclusion.

Safely, Anastasia's regaining her own body must be part of it.

Anastasia's odo, the regret of her activities by cutting it down, and the resolution of her innate problems, those things have not been cleared up - but

That's not a very nice thing for us to poke at.

The issue between Anastasia and Edna is something the girls should discuss.

Of course, if they ask for help, they'll worry about it together and help solve it. It should be safe to assume that that much of a bond has been nurtured by the last two months of sand travel.

''-- Hey, Anastasia-san. I'm soooo glad you're back safely, and I have so much to tell you .......

I know. You mean Bishop Julius, the Archbishop of the Deadly Sin?　Julius has done this and that, and he's left them on the dragon carriage.

Julius is this and that: ......

Shrugging her shoulders, Anastasia indicates the dragon car behind her.

Next to Emilia, who was ruminating over her words, Subaru looked at the dragon car with a gasp. In this one, Roy Alphard, the Great Sin Bishop of "Violent Eating", was captured.

----

He strokes the neck of the tethered earth dragon - Gyan - before turning around behind the dragon wheel.

The thick, four-legged Agares species earth dragon is the unexpected architect of Subaru's victory in the last battle with Shaura.

It wasn't the best result. But that doesn't spoil Gian's concern. And, moreover, Mary's survival is the result of Giannis's spirit.

'You've saved my life. ...... help me if anything happens after this.

----

Gian, being stroked on his thick neck, snorted as if to say he was burdened.

Smiling slightly at that, his cheeks quickly tightened, Subaru went to the dragon carriage carriage. He then nodded to Emilia and the others and looked into it.

There, the Great Sin Bishop of 'Violent Eating' -.

It's...

Subaru looked into the dragonwheel with a sense of urgency and shrugged his shoulders when he saw what was inside.

Inside the Dragon Wheel, there was indeed an Alphard. However, the way he was restrained was different from what Subaru had imagined.

Roy Alfardo's entire body was wrapped in a black crystalline substance, and he was restrained - no, he was sealed with his white eyes removed.

''The other party is the Great Sin Bishop ...... It would not be enough to just seal him off. So, I've locked them up as tightly as possible.

What's the principle behind this ...... that hardens?

In principle, it's an application of Yin magic. A shamak is used to disengage the attacker's consciousness and cement it in place. ...... That's a pretty nasty way to go about it.

So this black thing is a chunk of shamak: ......

Hearing Beatrice's explanation, Subaru looked at the seal again, cringing.

Shamak was the magic that Subaru had relied on most in this world before he signed a contract with Beatrice, but the effects it brought about and Julius's sealing tactics in applying those effects could only make his tongue wag.

Seeing such a reaction from Subaru, Julius prefaced it by saying, "I don't want you to misunderstand me, but...

'This is not a technique that I invented. The most famous seal in the world uses this same technique, even if the scale is much larger. Even if it's on a different scale.

The world's most famous ...... is no way.

The Jealous Witch, right?

Emilia, who was observing the hardened Alphard, and Julius nodded deeply in affirmation to her words, "Yes.

He said that the seal of Alphard, it is the same method as the 'Jealous Witch', the 'Jealous Witch' that is sealed in his land - further east from this watchtower, the same method as its four hundred year sleep.

In other words, the method of trust and performance, if it was Julius who applied the seal, it should be more trustworthy. However, that's not the issue.

'The question is, why do they keep this guy alive?

Subaru: "......

Emilia lowers her eyebrows at Subaru as he looks at the sealed Alphard and says so.

Her gaze pained her heart, and Subaru said, "Because it is, isn't it? And looking back.

"With the death of one of the 'binge eaters' ...... Batten Kaitos, everyone remembered Emilia-tan. If that's the case, then the rest of the 'memory' is if this guy dies ......

There's no guarantee he'll be back. And that's the main reason I didn't cut him off.

----

'There is no doubt that Lady Ram has defeated Batenkaitis. But is the release of Lady Emilia's 'name' really what was established by simply defeating her?　I can't wipe out the possibility that I did that ...... that made him return to something else, active. If it's premature, we could lose everything.

Julius' words, as he continues to chide Subaru for going off on a tangent, is a good argument.

It's a very good argument that even Subaru can't seem to make a sound.

But--.

Then how about The Book of the Dead if it's ......?

As an alternative, Subaru presents a method that exists only in this watchtower.

There is no better way to expose other people's thoughts than with the Book of the Dead. After all, it is a means of reliving a person's life itself.

If you question him, there is no guarantee that he will tell you the truth. If that's the case, it's better to use the Book of the Dead to find out what's in his heart ......

'Subaru, I don't think it's a good idea to do that ....... That's the way ...... works.

But it should be a sure thing. This would be .......

Like that?　Can I interrupt you for a moment?

When Subaru suggests using the Book of the Dead, Emilia is reluctant to do so. When Subaru tries to take a bite out of it, it is Anastasia who raises her hand.

She looks at a snorting Subaru and clasps her white hands together in front of her chest.

I've heard from Edna too, and there may be a few omissions here and there, but ...... was that 'Book of the Dead'?　Isn't it dangerous to be overconfident?

How did you know it was dangerous?

You've experienced it yourself, haven't you, Natsuki?　I'm not talking about the fact that while I was sleeping, Natsuki lost his own body or something.

----

Anastasia gets a sore spot when she realizes how much she could talk to Edna in a short amount of time.

However, Subaru's amnesia and the danger of the Book of the Dead did not strictly coincide with the danger of the Book of the Dead. It is not because of the influence of the Book of the Dead that Subaru has lost his memory.

However, this does not eliminate the danger of the Book of the Dead at all.

In fact, by reading the Book of the Dead, part of Subaru's thoughts and emotions were almost destroyed by her personality.

Subaru doesn't consider herself to be particularly mental or ego-driven, but even so, there's no telling what would happen if she were susceptible.

Or, as a result, there was no way to say that there wouldn't be a new Roy Alfard, taking over the spirit of Roy Alfard.

'So ...... then, Anastasia, are you saying that it's right to keep this guy alive, too?　How much this guy has ever done!

If you're talking about right and wrong, I don't think it's right to keep Bishop Gracchus alive in our home. If the memory of Julius returns after killing this person, that's fine too. But I have my own theory.

A pet theory ......?

'With or without life, fighting for and taking away is the last resort. --As far as I'm concerned, the person who lets people die easily will end up in a bad way. Hossin's Own Words and Not Ours.

Subaru's eyes widened at Anastasia's words.

In this fantasy world, where there are both swords and magic, a rebellious spirit arises, what a sweet thing to do. But at the same time, the ethics within Subaru felt it was the right thing to do.

Even Subaru believes that the fewer human deaths, the better.

Not to mention the fact that not only our allies, but also our enemies, the fewer human deaths we suffer, the better.

However, that theory is only true when the opponent is worthy of your warmth.

"He made a lot of people unhappy, and he's still making people suffer. ...... Even a guy like that, Anastasia, you're saying not to kill him.

"If I have to kill you, I'll kill you. That's what I decide to do, and I'll get my hands dirty if I have to. But that's not the same as giving in to your impulses. --I think Natsuki is one of those people.

No, that's not possible: ......

I'm sure you can shed a tear or two for someone who is gone. ...... We'd rather have a long-lasting relationship with you than the bloodless and heartless Natsuki-kun.

Anastasia traced her own cheek with her finger, pointing out the marks of Subaru's tears.

A moment later, the wound that made Shaura lose her tingles, and Subaru turns over quietly. Anastasia's, the way she said it, was not fair. But it was definitely effective.

'...... Subaru, I'm of the same opinion as Anastasia. I wish I could hurry up and solve this problem for Julius and the sleeping Rem, but ......

'At least don't worry about me. When things get to this point, certainty should take precedence over haste. ...... My brother's life depends on it.

Joshua, the man he left behind in Pristella, is on the brink of reviving his memories, and Julius' opinion is cautious - but, as mentioned, it's the right thing to do.

He wants to make up for the pain of his loss, but he wants the results to be urgent. That's probably exactly what Subaru's current state of mind is.

'Let me sum it up. The opinion of Ana and Julius is to transport Bishop Roy Alphard ...... of the Deadly Sins of "Violent Eating" to King's Landing to find out how to save the victims of the authority. After that, no pardon would be granted. He should not be spared the extreme penalty.

'There are limits to the extenuating circumstances for age. I suppose there will be eventually.

Echidna and Anastasia look at Subaru, who unclenches his fists and organizes the conversation.

Emilia doesn't disagree with the treatment of Alphard, either. His custody was transported to the king's capital in a sealed state, and in a sense, he would be in the same position as Sirius who was taken away earlier.

''Emilia-san and the others, so yeah?''

Yes. I want to remember the people I've properly forgotten, too.

At Anastasia's confirmation of her intentions, Emilia looked up and replied unreservedly.

Her words, which did not interfere with her objections, were dependable and bitter at the same time, and Subaru turned away from the dragon car's deadly sin bishop, where he unexpectedly fell to his knees.

'That .......'

Subaru!　Oh my God, I knew I was being too reckless!　I wonder if I deserve to be like this after having to carry that creepy thing with me all the time!

Beatrice yells at her, supporting Subaru's shoulders as her head gets heavy and her vision wobbles.

Her pretty voice echoed in her head, and Subaru realized that she was more worn out than she had thought.

It was only natural.

Losing his memory, dying many times in between, dying many times afterwards, facing himself to regain his memory, waking up and colliding with the five obstacles attacking the tower, fighting while taking on the burdens of his comrades by right, and finally losing Shaura--.

There was a dramatic wear and tear on his mind and body.

That's what it's like to spend five years or more in this tower, even though it's only for a few days.

"Yeah, I--

'Subaru, I'm fine, I'm fine. Now, can you just get some rest?　I'll talk to you properly when you wake up again. I have a lot to tell you, too.

Emilia holds Subaru, who has gone limp and slumped into place, in front of her. The soft touch and the sweet scent, which would normally make her stiffen, are as effective as a deleterious drug on Subaru right now, and her consciousness falls quickly into darkness.

If he lost his life in the depths of darkness, would he be able to go back to the scramble surrounding this tower and find a way to save Shaura there?

He half-understood that there was no such thing, but he couldn't help but hope.

Slowly, Subaru's consciousness was being swallowed up by the darkness.

△▼▼▼▼△△△△△△△△

Good boy.

Emilia breathes as she picks up Subaru's unconscious body.

The limp, eyelids closed, Subaru's deep, almost deadly sleep is proof of how hard he worked to solve the problems of this watchtower.

How desperate Subaru must have been to save Emilia and the others.

He was so happy that he came to Emilia's rescue, even though he too had lost his memory and was suffering from memory loss, but BattenKaitos had stolen his name and everyone had forgotten it.

I want to tell you that kind of thing properly.

I don't want the hard-working Subaru to be too hard on himself.

What happened to Shaura is not Subaru's fault.

It's the responsibility of Emilia and the others, all of them, and more importantly--

"I think Master Flugel is a bad man.

He was the one who forced Shaura to take credit for her achievements as the "Sage" and then put her to sleep along with the renewal of her role in the Pleiades Watchtower.

Even if he was one of the three heroes who saved the world, as soon as he made Shaura feel lonely and made Subaru cry, he was one of the villains in Emilia's mind.

Naturally, there was no chance to meet and talk to him, so no one could clear up this haze.

''From the looks of it, you're worn out, but it's ...... nothing important. It's just a matter of giving it a rest and it will recover. Are you going to continue to be in that 'green room'?

'Yes. Ram and the others are there too, and ...... you've been watching over Rem while you come to my rescue, haven't you, Anastasia?

'It's not that big of a deal, okay?　But after Uchi regained himself, he just saw off Julius, who went to save Natsuki-kun, and Ram, who went to save Emilia-san and others. ...... Unfortunately, there was no change on Rem-san's part.

Yes, .......

Emilia frowns formally at the thought of Ram, Rem, Patrash and the others who are waiting in the "Green Room".

I'm sure you'll be able to find out more about this in the next few days. However, what is important is that she wakes up, and since that has not been fulfilled, the success or failure of the enemy's defeat is only a trivial matter.

At least, Ram would say so without hesitation. What matters is the return of Lem, he said.

'Let's hope we can find out more about that from Roy Alphard. There are still too many unknowns about this Watchtower ...... No, there are also too many unknowns about the Great Library Playades.

The Great Library of Everything ...... That was Shaura's point. She was the right girl, but that's why she shouldn't be twisting the story she was told. I'm pretty sure that's what was included in the story that this is the Great Library.

They would have to find out if its function as a great library meant the Book of the Dead, or if there were other possibilities.

On top of that, Emilia had to talk to Beatrice and the others.

'You know, after I gave Subaru a break in the 'green room', there's something I want you guys to come with me to. There's someone I'd like you to meet at .......

...... I wonder if that might have something to do with one layer?

Up to one level, Emilia has passed the last 'test'.

That in itself is a story that Beatrice and the others know. The problem is beyond that we haven't talked about yet.

Specifically, what happened in the first layer, who she met, and what happened to Emilia.

It was an event that was so outlandish and transcendent, so difficult to put into words whatsoever - and

It's not a long story, but it's complicated, so can you meet me in person?

Emilia said, pointing to the top of the tower above her, far above her own head.

(▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼)

"You have reached the top of the tower. You have reached the top of the tower, thou shalt tread on one level, petitioner of the Almighty.

----

Guided by Emilia, those who arrived at the top level of the Pleiades Watchtower - the first layer - were overwhelmed by the greeting of the giant dragon and were speechless.

Seeing them all, Emilia said, "Isn't that a surprise? He tilted his head and

I went up to the first floor and found the Volcanica waiting for me. I was so surprised. ......

We'll just have to wait. We'll just have to wait. You can't just be surprised at this!

In front of the blue scaled 'divine dragon', Beatrice ate a bubble and turned her voice inside out.

Flapping her hands up and down, Beatrice looks uncomfortable. However, she is not the only one who is upset.

'This, is ......'

We didn't expect it either. What is it? Wasn't "Shinryu" said to be on the other side of the Great Waterfall?

I should have known. According to the prophecy in the Dragon's Watch, in the year of the King's Election, he would appear to renew his pact with the newly-elected Anna of Lugnica.

Next to Julius, who was exclaiming, Anastasia, who was in a state of peace, couldn't hide her cold sweat, as expected. Even the echidna around her neck, her voice was slightly above the surface.

Just late to the reaction of these women, Julius corrected his posture and said, "Excuse me.

The great dragon and protector of our kingdom, the Divine Dragon. We have shown our disrespect to the redeemer, Volcanica, who has given us so much over the years in keeping with our pledge.

"----

'It is a pleasure to meet you in this way. I am Julius Euclius, a member of the Kingsguard of Lugnica. Anecdotes about you, my dear fellow, are very close to my heart.

Julius, kneeling on the spot, removes the sword from his waist and places it on the floor in a most respectful manner.

Then, as a knight in the service of the parent dragon kingdom, he gave a sincere courtesy to the sacred dragon. In response, Volcanica narrowed her golden eyes.

"I am Vulcanica. I am Vulcanica, and by the ancient pact, I challenge the aspirations of all those who would go to the top.

'Ha!　I have dedicated myself and all my faith to Anastasia Hossin, who is here with me. The next king, the next pact will surely be with Anastasia ......

Julius, are you crying?

Anastasia is upset by Julius, who remains on his knees and cannot hold back his tears of emotion. At the Lord's words, "I'm sorry," says Julius, wiping the tears away with the back of his hand

''Not only was I able to exchange words with Raid Astraea, one of the 'Three Wise Men', but I was finally able to meet the 'Divine Dragon' Volcanica. As a knight of the Lugnica Kingdom, what greater honor could there be? ...... What a tower this is.

Julius' voice quivered as he was touched by something so awe-inspiring.

Feeling very sad, as if his excitement was watered down, Emilia cut him off, "You know, ......", as if it was hard to say.

'Julius, it's hard for me to say this because I'm soooooo happy ......'

... I'm sorry, Emilia-sama. I took the liberty of attempting to talk to the 'divine dragon' without permission from Anastasia-sama and Emilia-sama. ......

'Nope, that's fine. It's just that it's Volcanica: ......

How should I explain it, Emilia struggled to choose the right words so as not to hurt Julius. Then, it jumped over Emilia's head.

"You have reached the top of the tower. You have reached the top of the tower, thou shalt tread on one level, petitioner of the Almighty.

...... Wait a minute. I think I heard that line a while ago.

Hearing the repeated words, Anastasia was the first to distrust them.

However, the same doubts were propagated to the other sides. It's not surprising, but all of them immediately noticed the anomaly of Volcanica repeating the same mouthful of words.

And--.

'It's Volcanica, but I think I waited too long here and it's made me blurry. My body is fine, so I can be very violent. ......

Volcanica, with his advanced dementia, his dragon strength is real, but it's also true that his head has been beaten down by the passage of so much time.

The "divine dragon" was exerting a tremendous amount of power to thwart Emilia's challenge to the pillar, perhaps for the sake of a further "test", but once Emilia reached the monolith and decided that she had overcome the "test", she once again reverted to her original vague state.

In addition, even though the 'test' was over, they still keep talking about the 'test'.

The great 'Divine Dragon' has been blown out of the water: ......?

Julius, can you calm down?　Come on, you must be a little tired.　Isn't it better to sit down?

Julius is the one who is greatly shocked to hear that Emilia's story.

Following the raid, the second legend he encountered was also different from the story he had heard, and his knees were shaking.

Emilia also didn't want to disappoint Julius, whose eyes were sparkling, so she felt her own chest ache somehow.

But--.

'Emilia, maybe it's not. This isn't a blur.

What?

'Echidna, I wonder if you can feel it too. This isn't a blur: ......

'Oh, yes. I didn't understand it at first, but now I feel it. This is not the wear and tear of the spirit. It's an empty soul.

"My soul is empty. ......?

Emilia tilts her head at the conversation between Beatrice and Edna, two artificial spirits who understand each other.

While Julius and Anastasia, both of whom also looked dubious, Beatrice prefaced the conversation by holding up her finger, "It's a simple story.

My soul is empty ...... I mean, I wonder if it's not filled with substance. So I can only make predetermined statements and limited responses. Just think of it as 90% sleep.

Ninety percent of the time, even ...... was soooo strong, you know?

If it had contained a soul, it would have been nothing compared to that.

Emilia is horrified by the nuances of Edna's words that she saved her life.

With the help of the ice soldiers, Emilia was the one who barely survived the last-minute attack and defense. Such a confrontation with Volcanica was as good as falling asleep, from his point of view.

The similarities between blurred and sleepwalking are completely different in their quality.

''But even if his soul is empty, I wonder if it must be the body of a 'divine dragon'. Then there might be a way to help the humans of Pristella.

"--!　How to help people?　How does that work?

I see. "You're getting the dragon's blood, "Shenlong," right?

Anastasia snapped her fingers, and Beatrice nodded at her words.

Hearing that story, Emilia also rolled her eyes, "Ah.

The blood of the 'divine dragon' Volcanica, it is the source of the various anecdotes passed down in the Lugnica Kingdom.

It is said that the blood of the dragon is said to have amazing effects, reviving the dry earth, promising fertility, and quickly ward off death from illness and injury.

It's not just a matter of time before you'll be able to get your hands on a new one.

''If I can get the blood of the 'Divine Dragon', I might be able to undo the people whose 'Color Lust' rights were transformed by Pristella. Of course, we'd need to dilute it thousands of times.

Does it work that well?

'It's an elixir for all things, that's what they say. In fact, there are stories of it saving a desolate and devastated land. I think it's well worth a try.

With Julius and Edna's approval, Emilia also feels a surge of hope.

Um, I crossed the Augusta Dunes to help the people who had suffered so much. If you can bring back a way to solve both the 'binge eating' and the 'color lust' thing, it's best.

Otherwise, we can't reward Subaru for hurting us so badly.

'How soooo selfish of me ......'

It was a very selfish idea to give meaning to Shaura's sacrifice.

She had her intentions and wishes, and she spent a long time in this tower. It is Shaura herself that gives it meaning, not Emilia.

'Hmm, okay. Let's ask Volcanica for help. Maybe she won't be able to talk to you at all, or maybe she'll go on a rampage if you try to get her blood.

'Does that bother you? Emilia, you're supposed to be the new administrator of the Pleiades Watchtower. I don't see how that can't help you.

The authority of the administrator ...... not at all, and you don't even know it. ......

After solving the riddles of the three layers and breaking through the raids of the two layers, she showed her aspirations to the Volcanica in one layer.

Looking at those conditions alone, Emilia could indeed be said to be a watchtower treader. However, if it brought Emilia an understandable change, it was a no.

The only thing I can vaguely discern is...

I guess that means no one will refuse to come to this watchtower or the dunes to come to this watchtower anymore: ......

'Is that what you chose to do, Emilia?　The Book of the Dead seems to be a very troublesome object, and it's also a bit of a gamble, isn't it?

There may be some dangerous things, but that's exactly what I think we should do, all of us, to be careful. There are a lot of things we can't judge on our own, I think.

What the watchtower holds is too big for Emilia and her team to conclude with this small number of people.

For better or worse, Emilia and the others do not have the right to do anything about this place. That's why we should bring together more people to share our wisdom and find the best way.

''I think so, no?''

...... It's a bit much to expect from others, but that's your conclusion. I wouldn't be opposed to it if Anna and Julius didn't oppose it.

Thank you, Edna.

Emilia thanks Edna for being the first to show her approval.

Then Anastasia waved her hand, too, saying, "Okay, okay.

We don't have any objections, either. The fact is, even if you hide it, it's hard to get rid of it. ...... If that's the case, it's much better to share the credit for the discovery and settlement. It's also possible to bring back the matter of the 'binge eating' and the blood of the dragon.

"Do not wish for much, much less be tainted with baseness. Above all, it is Emilia who has reached the top of this tower. We shall respect that will.

Anastasia, Julius, thank you!

They agreed, and Emilia laughed and thanked him. Then she looked back at Beatrice, who hadn't made a final statement of intent yet.

Where's Beatrice?　Do you think it's irresponsible?

'If we're going to talk about irresponsibility, it's better to abandon this place without checking. I wonder if Betty would disagree. Personally, I find it interesting.

Thank God!

I patted my harried chest, wondering if my closest relatives would oppose me.

Surely if everyone brought their wisdom to the table, they could find a good use for this watchtower.

''All right, so it's the blood of the dragon. ...... If Volcanica could come with us, that would be the easiest way for us to talk.

I have a feeling that's going to cause a lot of problems for us.

Sure, the Volcanica is very big, so it might be hard to try to take it around and bump into it all over the place. But Volcanica can fly, so if you have them fly all the way into town, you won't have to worry about bumping into them.

Hey, Volcanica. "Hey Volcanica, can you come with us?　Or, if you must stay here, I'd like to share a little blood with you: ......

"----

Volcanica?

Emilia, half expecting and half giving up, spoke to Volcanica, thinking she had a carryover of the 'test' from Volcanica, and she raised her eyebrows at Volcanica's reaction.

It's a good thing that you're able to get the most out of your time in the world.

An attitude that neither spoke to Emilia and the others who came over, nor did it attack them.

That was clearly a strange attitude, at least Emilia was the only one who sensed it.

And at the same time--

What?

Chillingly, there was a sensation like a cold finger tracing down her back, and Emilia hurriedly turned her attention to the source of the chill - the direction of Volcanica's view, to the east side of the tower.

On the east side of the tower, there is the further end of the sandy sea and the end of the earth, the Great Waterfall - no, the Great Waterfall and a special land.

It is--.

△▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼

U......

The rough texture caressed his face, and Subaru moaned and opened his eyelids.

Blurred vision, and as it took a few blinks for it to take on a decent outline, it was the cause of the rough texture that jumped into view, Patrash's face as he licked Subaru with his red tongue.

'...... patrash, huh?'

----

'I'm sorry for worrying you. ...... You've been working hard again, haven't you?　Always bad.

Gently reaching out to the sorrowful face of the love dragon, Subaru's lips loosened as he stroked its sharp face.

This jet-black earth dragon always always saves me from a dangerous place. Not to mention the debt of gratitude for saving Subaru, who had lost his memory, the role that Patrush was entrusted with in this last lap was very large. After all--.

If it weren't for Patrush, Lem would be in a dangerous place. Bringing this boy home was probably the greatest achievement of Vals' life.

'Don't do it because you can't deny it. I've taken Bearko out and I've also gotten the insignia back for Emilia-tan. In both cases, Rosewar was involved.

Technically, Rosewall was irrelevant to Beatrice's problem, but I dared to say that because it would be more of a counterattack to the other party if I said this.

Sure enough, when Ram heard that, he clicked his tongue evasively and said, "Tsk.

You will be able to get a good idea of what you're looking for and what you're looking for.

The battle with Rai Batenkaitos was understandably a fierce one.

Even though Maely was injured along the way, the burden that Subaru could take on was drastically reduced, which was probably part of the reason for her struggles.

It wasn't even as much as her mouth, and Subaru opened her mouth to apologize for that - and

Hey, Ram. It's my fault you got hurt like that, and so did ......!

'Don't be a fool. Is it Bals' fault that Ram was hurt?　There's not a shred of evidence that Barth is a factor in anything in Ram's life. It's appalling.

'Horrible is an exaggeration!　I'm more afraid of you stuffing chunks of grass in people's mouths than you are of you!

Subaru protests this as he screws a chunk of stripped ivy into his mouth and gets teary-eyed from the foul smell. Hearing this, Ram says "Ha" and doesn't take offense.

There was a hint of a 'chuckle' in such an exchange between Subaru and Ram.

You and your brother and sister are really good friends, aren't you? It's like seeing your brother and sister together.

Saying that, it was Maely, with a little red scorpion on top of her head, throwing her feet out on the floor where the grass mattress was laid.

Merrily chuckling, Ram frowned understandably at her words.

'Balus is my brother ......?　Even if he's a poorly made brother with no blood in his veins, that kind of uselessness would be reduced in the devil's village.

'The village of demons, how serious is it?　I'm so relieved I'm not a demon: ......

'Lies. It's just that Ram was too horrified to talk about it.

Don't complicate things by piling hypotheticals on top of hypotheticals!

As usual, Ram's clause is still the same, and Subaru yells back, spitting at him.

Nevertheless, Subaru can see that that was Ram's far-fetched concern. She is telling me that her injuries are not caused by Subaru's decision.

It's hard to take advantage of that consideration. But if you continue to be stubborn and say that it's your fault, it's more likely that you will incur Ram's wrath.

''You're a really nasty woman, sister .......

''After Mary's delusional words earlier, stop calling Ram my sister. For goodness sake, you don't want someone you don't know to misunderstand you.

The usual sullen reply, feeling the ram feeling to it, Subaru looked around the room - the face of the 'green room'. I'm not going to be the only one who has been in this situation. And then the Sleeping Beauty, who is laid on a bed at the back of the room.

Is Lemme awake?

Hate to say it, you know. I twisted the head off the hateful rude man. So, it looks like you're back with Lady Emilia: ......

'I haven't come back to Julius or Rem. ...... something is missing.

Gulping, Subaru presses his fist into his palm and bites down on his bitter emotions.

A reaffirmation of what he had said to Emilia and the others just before he lost consciousness. --It's a good idea to get the story out of them directly - after all, the only way to completely eradicate the damage of 'binge eating' is to get the story out of them.

'Is it the order in which the injuries were severe here?　Where are Emilia-tans?

'If it's your sister or little Beatrice, she's headed upstairs to see who you want her to meet. It's one layer up, so you know who's up there ......, don't you, sister Ram?

'It's no big deal. It's just a big old bloke with a big old body.

That blurry old man at the top of the watchtower is absolutely a key character: ......

Subaru wrinkles his brow when he is told that there is a new character here.

The blurry old man and the person Ram had described, who is it? Or if it was an examiner, like the raider in the second tier--

It's not Flugel, is it?

"Varus.

If Flugel's in there, I'll never forgive him. I have a lot of things to say to that guy. Otherwise, Shaura would have to go to .......

Valls, calm down.

Calm down?　You, Ram, don't do that, Shaura is ......

Subaru's cheeks played as he strained his knees and deviated into blood as he tried to figure out who the old man was on the top floor of the tower. The reason is the slap of the ram that walked up to him.

The slap on the cheek causes Subaru to look at Ram with his eyes wide open in stunned disbelief.

'Stop using Shaura to belittle your own helplessness.

----

'I've heard about Shaura. She was loud and unclassy, and though her eyes were completely rotten to adore Barth, it wasn't enough to make her ...... have to disappear.

As he said this, Ram gently put his hand on Subaru's beaten cheek.

The cheek that was struck has heat, but Ram's palm, which is touched, is cool and cool. Feeling the heat, Ram continues as Subaru gasps for air.

'If you want to spare me, cry, not anger. Shaura will be more pleased if you cry that you are lonely than if you are used as a reason to take it out on Barus. --and so will Ram.

Lamb: "......

The only person I feel strongly about is the wrong person, and I still do.

A final word is added and a finger is popped on the ram's forehead. The force of this, painlessly, made him fall on his ass, and Subaru put his hand to his forehead where it was popped, "Sorry ......".

If he was calm, it was Subaru's wish that it was Flugel who was in one layer, and moreover, it was a paranoid thing.

If there really was a flugel--.

'Ram and Lady Emilia would have half killed him before Barth could do anything.

...... Aside from Emilia-tan, I can believe that one from Lamb.

When it came to Shaura, anger at Flugel was no small amount, a natural sentiment that all of us in this tower had in common.

It was affirmed by Ram, and Subaru let out a long breath.

It's very interesting to know who this blurry old man is in one layer, though.

Put that aside for the moment. I'm sure that if the old man is of any use to you, it will be the victim of the mortal sin of the Bishop of Color Lust, not the one of Binge Eating.

That's a pretty big story, too: ...... Yeah, right.

That's a clear priority in Ram's mind. The fact that she is able to assert this without hesitation is also a strong point for Ram.

And Subaru is able to sympathize with her thoughts, to no small degree.

It's great to see the prospect of saving the victims of "Color Lust". But.

''But sister Ram, from what you said earlier, you have other ideas, don't you?

But then, in the profile of Subaru, who was so self-conscious, Maely threw those words at him. She poked at the little red scorpion on top of her head with her fingers.

You told me, didn't you?　They say the effects of 'binge eating' are related to time or something.

... Oh, you're such a soft-spoken girl. You're going to need some serious discipline when you get back to the house.

Oh, my God, I'm scared.

A small tongue stuck out and her head in her hands, and above her head, the Little Red Scorpion thrusts his scissors and tail out to Ram as if to protect her. But under Ram's cold gaze, the Scorpion quickly curled up.

In that flurry of gestures, I can feel a glimpse of her former--but

'Ram, is that the theory?　What's that all about?

'It's nothing. It's just that you talked about 'binge eating' as eating other people's memories. I figured if it was really treated like food, it would affect your digestion time.

Digestion: ......

'Emilia-sama was able to get it back in a few hours after it was taken from her. Then what about Julius the Knight, Pristella's victim, and Rem?

Yeah.

Subaru's eyes widened at the simplicity of Ram's hypothesis as he pointed his finger at her.

She was right, the Great Sin Bishop of 'Binge Eating' compared the usurpation of 'Memory' and 'Name' to a meal. If it meant more than metaphorical expression, then it was a nod to Ram's hypothesis.

Deprived "memories" and "names" have time to be digested.

And the reason why only Emilia's "name" returned, and the other things didn't--.

...... Don't tell me it's all digested?

'--I don't know. It may just take a reasonable amount of time to come back. If so, there is hope. There's also hope for Julius and the other victims' 'memories' ...... of Lem's to come back.

----

When it could be taken as bad or good, Ram offered no further explanation.

Subaru, too, knew what Ram was thinking. This is a question that cannot be answered right now.

However, under the circumstances that Batten Kaitos was defeated and Alphard was also captured, Subaru had a new - no, a new major concern.

Louis Arneb: "Louis Arneb: ......

The last "binge eating" we encountered in the Corridor of Memory, and the last "binge eating" we left behind there.

The girl who did evil by not having a body of her own, but rather the bodies of her two brothers and the parasites of Natsuki Subaru, was she really a target of the witch factor?

The ability itself was comparable to that of 'Violent Eating'.

However, if what was needed to undo all the damage of the authority was the order of the Great Sin Bishop of 'Violent Eating', then how should he defeat Louis Arneb in that place?

In the first place--.

Does that place have any concept of death or non-death?

That place was there as a spiritual entity, without a physical body.

Following the concept of comic books and video games, the death of the spirit might apply, but does the death of the spirit, i.e., the unleashing of the witch factor, apply?

That place, and Louis remaining in that place, are all unclear.

Besides, even if we could answer that question - and

'Julius defeated the raid and its role as a 'test' is over. If that's the case, then the blank slate in the Raid's Book of the Dead is back in place, isn't it?

The reason why Subaru was able to go to the Corridor of Memory, the place called Odo Laguna's Cradle, is because of the existence of the Book of the Dead, which was just emptied and led to that place.

Raid Astraea's soul was used for the test, thus leaving a void in the Book of the Dead, which led to the Corridor of Memory. If it were gone.

Natsuki Subaru may have even missed the opportunity to overthrow Louis Arneb.

----.

Without confirming the possibility that this is Subaru's imagination, and that the Raid's Book of the Dead is still a blank slate, there is no way to know. In addition, Subaru also has the option of challenging Subaru's own Book of the Dead. This is also a trump card to connect Subaru with the Corridor of Memory.

It would be necessary to experience the hell of seeing one's own death once again, but it is much better than cutting off the possibility of anything. Much better, it should be.

It's better than giving up on the idea that you've made a number of irreversible mistakes.

You're an idiot.

Sister?

''You'd be much wiser to rest your body and your head if you had time to dwell on this nonsense.'' --You're not the only one in this tower who couldn't pick the best solution.

Shaking his head, Ram gently touched his forehead.

A delicate scar remained there, where Ram's horns should have once grown. Gently stroking that old scar, Ram then reached those same fingers to the rem of the bed.

Then she stroked her sister's forehead lovingly.

'I enlisted Rem's help in defeating the 'binge eating' deadly sin bishop. We won in the end, but it cost us dearly. ...... would have made this kid pay a pretty heavy price.

Burden: ......

"It worked when I had horns. Barus would have just blown up from the inside.

That this is not an exaggeration is clear enough to Subaru, who has taken on Ram's usual suffering. Just breathing and behaving in a matter-of-fact manner, Ram is going through hell.

Such is her seriousness. -- and how much feedback that feedback is.

Without exaggeration, if Subaru had received it, I'm sure some part of her body would have been irreparably broken.

Having put that burden on Rem, Ram closes his eyes, framed by long lashes.

But she says, "Okay? And the words.

'That might make the waking Rem resent me for it. But I won't regret it. Ram is Rem's sister. Whether this boy hates or resents her, it's the same. If you're ......, we're just going to touch each other to make it better down the road.

“-- Lem wouldn't hate you.

I'll bet. --He's a good boy. I'm so proud of you.

Yes, smiling confidently, Ram looked at Subaru with his light red eyes.

He should have only known about Rem, the sister he shouldn't remember, only through Subaru's transmission, but when he loved her sister through and through, there was no hesitation in such sentiments.

Instead of regretting the past, he said he would take on the challenge of making the future better.

...... That's a hell of an earful to say to me.

Where he deviated from Ram's intentions, Subaru scrambled many times to twist the past.

From the point of view of Ram, who is the ultimate in positive thinking, it is no exaggeration to say that Subaru's "turning back to death" is the ultimate in backward thinking.

Returning to death' to change what happened is always the result of regretting the past.

In the end, the less you use it, the better. ......

Squeezing, Subaru laughs as he unclenches his fists again.

He admitted that he was trying his best to use "Return to Death" to grasp the future of laughing with everyone. On top of that, he reminds himself not to indulge in "Return to Death" itself.

Because I've heard so many tears and so many voices in this tower, and I've heard so many voices of regret for Subaru.

'I don't know, but your brother seems to be feeling a little better.

Seeing the change in Subaru's expression, Merrily mumbles as she stands on her knees on the floor. She's in a gymnastic sitting position, stroking her own braids with her hands.

I'm sure your sister or sister Ram will do it for you, but you can't cheer up your brother, so don't be too upset. You promised to show me a proper back, didn't you?

Yeah, we had a deal. Oh, I'll keep that promise this time.

Looking at Maily and the little red scorpion on her head, Subaru nodded vigorously.

Then, as if to encourage Subaru's determination, the patrush beside her rubbed her cheek. Her scales are intense skin, but once she gets used to it, she can meet her cheek without feeling pain.

At such an expression of affection, Subaru also returns her sincere affection and rises to the occasion.

Earlier, he was so worn out that he couldn't bear it and collapsed, but he seems to have recovered some of his lost strength. The 'Green Room' spirits, their treatment varied.

"Come to think of it, it was an all-out battle with even Gian, but I can't thank the spirits in this room enough for how much they helped me. ......

Although the Green Room is used as a recovery room, Shaura explained that originally there was a curious spirit here that healed the injuries of the creatures that entered the room.

Although these spirits have no body and have no intention to talk to each other, their intentions to heal wounds were clear, and Subaru and the rest of the team looked after this room many times while attacking the tower, which was full of fresh wounds.

In fact, ever since they arrived at the tower, Rem and others have been in this room.

Well, we didn't want them to soak it in, but...

"Spirits, Barus's ...... No, it was useless to say that. Why don't you force it to materialize under the effect of Julius's Blessing of the Induced Spirit?

'I see what you're saying, but I'm not regretting it because my charm is a suicide mission to Bear Boy. In fact, if it's the effect of Julius' blessing, I wonder if we can talk about it: ......

Julius' 'Blessing of Inducement' is, simply put, a blessing that makes it easier for the spirits to like it. With that effect, you're in contract with six quasi-spirits - no, you're currently in contract with Ea and others who have been promoted to spirits, but if you can talk to the spirits in the 'green room' with that effect, that's one move that opens up possibilities.

A spirit that spent as much or more time in this watchtower than Shaura.

If it's an unnamed entity, it can help solve the mysteries of this watchtower.

"--?

As Subaru thought about this, a faint breath suddenly leaked into the room.

It was Ram who spilled that breath and scowled formally. She looks around the room with her gaze, her pale red eyes narrowed.

'Ram?　What's going on?

...... I have a weird vibe about something. This.

--Yes, that was the moment when Ram uttered a sense of modulation.

“--?

What?

Suddenly, a phenomenon that occurred in the center of the 'Green Room' - light flooded out, startling Subaru and the others.

Suddenly stiffening up, Subaru and Ram went underneath Rem as if they had been played. Maely and Patrush are also alert and move backwards from the light.

"What the hell is going on?

I don't know!　Just stay with us!　No matter what happens ...... wow!

The words of caution are interrupted by a hurriedly hurriedly sheltering Mary behind her.

The light in the room was so strong that it burned Subaru's eyes. Then, covering his face with his arms, Subaru fearfully looks toward the light.

In response to the strong luminescence now, the light was slowly weakening and disappearing. Without knowing whether to embrace relief or alarm at that, Subaru saw 'it'.

''-- What?''

Seeing 'it' appear in front of him, at the point where the light disappeared, Subaru doesn't know what it means.

He is raptured, astonished, and once again exclaimed.

'...... girl?'

Next to Subaru, Ram muttered dubiously as he saw the same thing.

That perception is correct. Subaru is seeing the same thing as she is. However, her knowledge of the "girl" is clearly different from that of Subaru.

Subaru knew the name of the "girl".

Because the name of the girl lying on the floor of the Green Room is...

Louis Arneb.

△▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼

In the center of the Green Room, a girl, Louis Arneb, appears with a light on the floor.

The youngest sister of the three siblings of the bishop of "Binge Eating" and the youngest of the three siblings of the bishop of "Binge Eating", who was supposed to have no body - Subaru was astounded that this "Binge Eating" had appeared in reality.

However, Ram next to him did not miss the words of Subaru.

"Louis Arneb ...... 'Binge Eating', that's the name of the last one.

This time around, Subaru hadn't been able to tell Ram and the others any details about Louis, whom he had met through the Book of the Dead. He only told them a touch, but Ram's memory was certain.

That question left Subaru perturbed.

'Oh, oh yes. That guy is the last one ...... Louis Arneb, the last of the 'binge eaters'. He's the sister of Battenkites and Alphard, we're talking about .......

... I can see that he's unconscious.

He observes Louis calmly, and at Ram's words, Subaru also confirms that she is asleep.

Asleep, or should I say, the specific situation is completely unclear. In the first place, why did Louie, who was not supposed to have a body, appear here in the first place?

It was hard to imagine that she, who had been so fearful and terrified of Subaru and desperate to 'return to death', would recover in the hours since then and challenge him again.

--It's a good thing that 'death' is something that leaves such deep scars on a person's heart.

'Thinking about it doesn't get us anywhere. ...... Marylee!　Go get Emilie-tans!　It's me and Ram, and he'll be watching for you!

Oh, you're a bit of a messenger. ...... Don't die without permission, will you?

It's time to step back and Mary went to the entrance of the "Green Room". Before slipping out of there, Subaru gave a thumbs up to Marylee's words as a reminder.

You're going to be able to find out what you're going to do with it.

And instead, Subaru and Ram, who are left in the room--

'I'd like to think it's nothing, but for now, shall we tie it up with some random ivy?

You don't want to be a bad influence. ...... And Balus, are you aware of that?

"--?　For what?

Ram asks Subaru about the treatment of Louis, pulling him back by the shoulders. Subaru tilts his head, unsure of the intent of the question.

Then, Ram shucks his chin and indicates the ceiling of the "Green Room" - no, the room.

The healing power in the room is wearing off. The genie is gone.

What ......, are you kidding me?

I'm not lying. Even Varrus could feel it if he concentrated. I knew it was empty.

Moved by Ram's words, Subaru looked around the room.

Even though it was called concentration, the main ways Subaru could feel the spirit's presence were by picking him up, rubbing his cheeks, or cuddling with him, and he didn't know how.

However, Ram was right, I don't feel the gentle vibrations that were pale and enveloping my entire body.

The disappearance of the spirits in the "Green Room", it seems to be an event that has indeed happened - and

If that's the case, it's probably not unrelated to that Bishop of Great Sin, is it?

----

Subaru could not deny Ram's speculation.

Subaru also thought the same thing. The spirit in the "Green Room" was gone, and Louis Arneb thus appeared in its place. It could be, or--

"--. Anyway, let's not jump to conclusions. We should wait for Emilia-sama and Beatrice-sama to return. When Lady Emilia and the others return...

Once again, let's discuss how to deal with Louis.

Perhaps it was those words that Lamb tried to continue.

But that Ram's words could not continue.

Because sooner than that - the black demise had struck the Pleiades Watchtower.

''--?

With a thud, the bodies of Subaru and the others emerge as if a large explosion has occurred under their feet.

Immediately afterwards, his entire body struck the ceiling and walls with all his might, and Subaru said, "Gah! I screamed. Then he shook his head and realized what had happened.

-- at the approach of a horrific presence that makes all the hairs on my body stand up.

'Ma, Saka: ......'

I stand up, shaking off the premonition I felt that this couldn't be possible. But the chill grew stronger and stronger, trying to imprint more certainty on Subaru's suspicions.

It was an obstacle that he thought should not have come - in fact, it could not have happened until this moment, and yet it came to this place as an enormous destruction.

'Patrush!　Rum--!

"--Huh!

Picking up Ram's body, which had been crawling on the floor and unable to stand, Subaru quickly threw her over to Patrush.

Patrash, despite the horrific wounds all over his body, took it and, sensing Subaru's intentions, rushed furiously to the entrance of the room.

'Balus, you idiot ......!

So selfishly moved Ram's resentment, but there was no time to lend an ear.

It's a good idea to have a good time with your friends. Then he picked up her body and followed the patrush to the entrance of the room--,.

----

--Just before that, the image of Louis rolling on the grass passed over the edge of my vision.

''--!　Oh, shit!　Fuck you!

Cursing indignantly, Subaru uses his battered body to exert his idiotic power of fire. He cradles Rem's body with his right arm and forcefully grabs Louis' arm with his free left hand.

Both bodies are light. In an emergency situation, in this situation, you can carry it out without regard to its weight.

Yes, with the two of them in his arms, Subaru was on the verge of running out of the "Green Room".

----

As if to separate the entrance from Subaru and the others, a black shadow broke through the floor of the "green room" and flowed into the room. --Yes, a black shadow.

It is also a good idea to make sure that you have a good idea of what you're looking for.

'Ram--!

Barking, Subaru tries to escape out of the gap in the shadow, if only to get Rem out of it.

However, the black shadow covers the front of Subaru's vision and never leaves a gap. On top of that, the influx of black shadows did not stop, and the shadows swallowed not only the front, but also the left and right, and the back as well.

'Damn ...... so far, it's only ......!

Frustration reigns in Subaru's chest as he looks for an escape route as he watches the shadows approaching.

If the shadow engulfs him, he will lose his life and have to 'return to death'. If he returns to death in this watchtower, he will have to start over with Louis Arneb inside him, unless the restart point is updated.

If that happens, he will be ruled back by the Great Sin Bishop in the form of this white girl.

That's why I feared that, and that's why I did my best to make this loop the last opportunity--''

'--Barus!　Stay with me!　Lem is going to cry!

"--Huh!

The frantic voices of Ram and Patrash fly from behind the black shadows.

I sucked in a breath to answer it, but I couldn't get the words out.

--because earlier than that, the black shadow had swallowed Natsuki Subaru whole.

(▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼

-- engulfed by an enormous black shadow, Subaru's consciousness slowly shakes in the darkness.

----.

The sensation of hands, feet, blood and flesh being deconstructed and conceptualized as you are.

Something tremendously immense is engulfing me, and I am being painted over by an immense emotion.

I love you.

Yes, he heard someone whispering to him in the empty, pitch blackness.

It seemed like a very familiar voice, and Natsuki Subaru's consciousness mocked itself.

I love you and I'm used to being called that, it's like some graceful knight who is loved by six spirits.

Naturally, Subaru doesn't have that much worthiness. The love you give them is also all you can do with your hands and back. And that's pretty much pushing it, too.

You know, I'm trying to do the impossible: ......

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

'Sorry, but I ain't answering that one. ...... Now that word is a land mine for me. I just failed to grab the hand of the person who said that to me.

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

...... You don't listen to me and I don't listen to you. Then drink it all up.

An empty space, things have come to this point, and there was no hope of getting out of here alive.

Then Natsuki Subaru would lose his life unceremoniously in this darkness.

I accept that, not with grief, but with anger and excitement.

'If I go back, it could be the worst thing that could happen to me. Maybe Louis, with a clearer head, will try to take 'back to death' this time.

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

But I can't lose. I'm not gonna lose. I'm gonna fight you, again and again. I'm gonna fight you over and over again. And I'm not gonna let that happen again.

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you.

I'll fight for tomorrow's tomorrow as often as I can.

I don't let the words "I love you" repeated over and over again crush me.

I'm sorry, but if those words hurt your heart, it was completely damaged a short time ago. You can't bind Natsuki Subaru with that kind of love now.

However, the words of love piled on top of each other do not take into consideration such rejection of Subaru.

Indeed, the world itself is being swallowed up by the blind words of love and the existence of Natsuki Subaru is being swallowed up into the darkness.

I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. I love you. Love you.

"--I am Volcanica. I am Vulcanica, and by the ancient pact, I challenge the aspirations of all those who would go to the top.

The next moment, a tremendous blue light pouring down from directly above hit the darkness that enveloped the world.

And then the fierce light devoured the darkness, and the world changed color all at once--

And then...

Change, and--.

▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼▼.

U......

A rough touch caressed his face and Subaru groaned as he opened his eyelids.

Consciousness slowly surfaced. As it happened, the blurred vision behind the open eyelids gradually took on a decent outline.

All the while, there was still a rough feeling on Subaru's cheek.

It's a good idea to have a good idea of what you're looking for. I understand. I'm up. I'm up already ......

Subaru squeezes his voice out at the feel of a gagging pressure and licking his face.

It's not just the fact that it's a good idea to have a good time, but also the fact that it's a good idea to have a good time.

''No, how spoiled are you ......, you're going to show such a cute little thing and jump to the top of the next heroine race ......''

"Oh?

Uh, uh, ......?

He swallowed his spit in his caracara mouth, and where he managed to form words, there was a reply.

But the reply was not what he had expected, and Subaru's cheeks hardened. The sticky licked cheeks, the blurring of vision slowly removed, and what emerges is -.

Uh-huh?

-- it was Louis Arneb, who was riding up to Subaru and licking his face.

'Oooh, oooh--?

Unh!

Astonished by the impossible sight, Subaru quickly pushed Louis in front of him. The movement pushed him, and the screaming Louie rolled over in a rumble.

As he watched, Subaru frantically slid his ass backwards.

What, what, what, what are you?　What do you think you're doing?　Also, screw me: ......

Woo, woo?　Ugh.

Woo hoo!　What, what happened to ...... me, dead ......?

Aghast, Subaru's voice quivered frantically as he stared at Louis.

In front of that Subaru, Louis is lying on his back in the grass, flapping his arms and legs like a child and snarling.

I don't know what his intentions are. Nor is his aim - no, before that.

Where is this: ......?

Without taking his gaze off Louis, Subaru checks his surroundings with increasing caution.

Then, what you see is a bright green plain - it's a wide open grassy field with a few fluttering grasses and flowers swaying in the wind.

'----'

This is an unlikely sight in the Augurian dunes.

To be precise, there were some flower fields in the flowering bear cluster, but this is not such an unnatural product of nature, but rather here as solid natural vegetation.

In the distance, some distance away, one could see a forest, which confused Subaru's thoughts.

This is not the Augurian Dunes. But it didn't seem to be the 'memory corridor' where I confronted Louis.

'Even grass has substance. Even the taste ...... Pepe!　Grass!

Smelling and tasting the picked grass, Subaru made sure it was real.

Then, based on his own injuries and torn clothes, he confirmed that there were traces of the battle just before - the battle surrounding the Pleiades Watchtower, and that it was still there.

In other words, that battle had indeed happened, and Subaru was not yet dead.

The vast black shadow that attacked the Green Room, survived despite being engulfed by it, and...

"-- Yeah, that's right!　Lem!　REM is at ......

If Louis is right in front of him, then so must be Rem, who was holding on to the same thing at that moment.

Leaving Louis alone with that thought, Subaru looked for Rem in the grassy landscape. And not long after, he found her lying quietly in the short grass.

'Rem!　Oh, thank goodness ...... is all right, all right and safe. ......

Rushing over to Rem, Subaru confirms that he is safe and slumps into place in relief.

By the looks of it, Lem is not traumatized either. The heat in his body and his quiet breathing are the same as we've seen all along. Subaru wiped the sweat from his forehead in heartfelt relief at this.

'Huh, that's a relief. If anything happens to Lem, my sister will kill me. ......

If not, Subaru himself can't forgive himself and wants to judge himself.

With that in mind, Subaru looked up and said, "And yet, ......

'Where am I and where did the ...... tower go?　Emilia and the Beacons are at ......

I look around, but I can't see the watchtower that should be visible in the distance.

No matter which way you looked in all directions, it was the same thing.

'Emilia--!　Bear child!　Ram--!

Uh-oh!

Subaru calls out to Emilia and the others, hoping for an answer, even if they can't see it.

But the voice rang out empty, and the only one who answered was Rui, lying in the grass. The fact that he was angry at that fact, but he also really couldn't ignore her presence.

Under circumstances that he definitely can't have what she's up to, but he's the only one who can protect Rem, and Subaru stands up to deal with Louis - and

----

--Someone gently pulled my arm as I tried to stand up.

'--eh.'

Down on one knee, Subaru spilled a snatched breath as he tried to stand.

His arms, the force of pulling on the sleeves of his clothes was not so strong. But he couldn't move.

'----'

The wobbly knees tremble and Subaru's entire body begins to sweat incomprehensibly.

Truly, it was an impulse that was incomprehensible. All of my internal organs began to move at once, and the entire human being, Natsuki Subaru, was struck by the phenomenon and lashing out.

It was an unspeakable shock.

It was an ineffable rage.

It was the most powerful wave of astonishment I have ever experienced in this world.

''--ah.''

Slowly, the eyelids begin to tremble and open thinly.

Closed behind them are pale blue eyes, clear as a lake.

I loved those, which flashed with joy.

I loved them, sometimes shining mischievously, and I loved them.

I loved it, the way it pleaded with me to the point of tightening my chest.

-I had been longing for that glow for a long, long time.

'Le......'

My heart popped, my throat quivered, and I couldn't speak as if I'd choked on something.

I choked. Yes, I did. That's right. This chest, how many thoughts I've been choking on.

The words I wanted to say, the topics I wanted to talk about, the wishes I wanted to exchange, were all piled up.

I'm not going to be able to say that I'm not going to be able to do that.

Rem.

Her lips quivered and she called out his name.

The shameful thing was that I had failed so many times to do just that.

Could he have said it clearly and in a way that would have gotten through to her? Maybe it was only Subaru's illusion that he thought he could have said it, and he hadn't gotten through to her what was important.

That's what scared him, and while panting and breathing, Subaru repeated over and over.

'Lem, lem, lem ...... lem, lem-uh, lem-uh ...... lem-uh ......!

Rags, and every time I called her name once, the tears began to flow out of my eyes as I cried out her name.

Then, each time the tears flowed, her image would blur. Then, if her image became blurred, I was afraid that she would slip off this hand again.

So, with tears and snot all over his face, Subaru wiped his own face with his sleeve, desperately trying not to lose sight of her face.

'----'

Crackling, blinking quietly, a certain light dwells in her dim eyes.

If you've come this far, you'll know that this is not a trick displayed by Subaru's desire.

There is no doubt that she is here - Rem is here.

Oh...

Weakly moving his lips, Rem tried to say something.

Just hearing that one snatched note in her voice made Subaru feel like his heart was going to burst.

All the while, he talked to her sleeping face and made sure that her life was connected to his as she breathed in her sleep.

He had spent many mornings and nights vowing to bring her back to life.

But in all that time, not once did I hear her voice.

If I closed my eyes, I remembered the words she had said to me, the names she had called me on various occasions. -- but that was all in the past.

I wanted to hear a new her voice for the present, for tomorrow.

Now, it will finally come true. It is fulfilled.

It's ...... okay," he said. Just take your time. ......

"Uh-oh.

She moves her lips in a muffled, frustrated manner.

If it were true, I should probably get a glass of water for her. But I don't see a watering hole nearby, and I can't take my eyes off her.

Just one word. If only she could call for Subaru again.

If he could just hear that one word.

Ta-ha.

...... Rem?

Silently, Lem pools his lips into a movement, seeking the faintest moisture in his thirsty mouth.

Moistening his tongue with secreted saliva, Rem managed to regain a modicum of strength and opened his mouth.

Then, with a large reflection of Subaru in his blue eyes - and

Who are you?

----

The voice that spun from his lips, a voice that combined a certain sound and meaning, permeated Subaru's brain.

--Anata Hadare," he said.

----.

On his knees, Subaru stuffed his breath as he looked into Rem's face.

Then he exhaled the breath that had built up painfully in the depths of his lungs and slapped his own chest hard.

Hard, hard, twice or thrice, tapping it twice or thrice, appealing to himself.

-- this possibility should have been expected.

He had considered the possibility that the awakened Rem might not remember Subaru.

Considering the 'binge eating' authority, it's a natural progression. It was quite possible that she would lose her 'memory' or her 'name' and wake up.

Yes, it was possible enough. So it wasn't that I didn't think about it.

Of course, that didn't mean that the impact Subaru would receive would be zero pain.

Still, he didn't have to curse his fate and despair, or feel sorry for himself to the point of being angry at the absurdity and playing the tragic hero.

Most importantly, it has already been said of Natsuki Subaru.

'Show me the cool part, please. Subaru-kun.'

My name is Natsuki Subaru.

Gulping and biting his back teeth hard, Subaru lowered his sorrowful face and twisted his cheeks.

He wiped his face gingerly and smiled at Rem with the best he could muster, a sunny, unfounded smile that was typical of Natsuki Subaru.

With a radiantly unfounded smile, typical of Natsuki Subaru.

'I may not be able to remember it now. But I'm .......

You, are ......

At Rem's snatched question, Subaru cut off his words once and squeezed his eyes shut.

Then he looked back into those blue eyes with black eyes and continued.

'I'm your hero. --Rem, I've missed you.

With that, once again, Natsuki Subaru called himself a hero for the sake of the girl who had taken the oath.

Carrying the scarred statue of the hero on his back, the boy called himself that again for the girl.

-- once again, the vow is here. To start the story with her, from scratch.