Chapter 155: I'm Counting on You
"I disagree with dissolving the alliance. It's wrong."
"Crush-sama!?"
Felix stared in shock at Crush sitting beside him.
He could not understand at all why Crush was rejecting the idea of ending the alliance.
"Felix, you need to apologize."
"Huh??"
"Natsuki said it well. The fact that I was attacked and lost my memories is not Emilia's fault. If anyone is to blame, it's every one of us here.
Although I don't know what happened at the time we formed the alliance, since we chose to ally, we must accept the consequences.
Therefore, I am also at fault.
Even if, Felix, you meant well for me, you shouldn't put the blame on Lady Emilia."
Felix looked into Crush's eyes and seemed to see the confident, strong Crush he once knew. He lowered his head and apologized to Natsuki Subaru and Emilia.
After seeing Felix apologize, Crush looked at Natsuki Subaru and slowly spoke:
"Dissolving the alliance might indeed be the best choice, but I don't want to continue down that path.
I want to act according to my own wishes, to recover my memories, and continuing the alliance with you all will help me with that.
Moreover, eliminating the Witch's Cult is the right thing to do.
I am willing to trust you, Natsuki. Though you don't show it openly, I feel that you are sad, suffering, and lost.
I think it's because of what happened to me and that young lady that you feel guilty.
So I believe you, Natsuki, that you won't let such a thing happen again. Even if it does, I will fight."
"If that's the case, then no one here wants to propose dissolving the alliance anymore, right? Also, Subaru-sama, please give me the chance to personally repay and take revenge. I beg you."
Natsuki Subaru saw everyone's gaze focused on him.
He wanted to nod but his body was frozen. He wanted to say something passionate, but he couldn't.
Although his heartbeat was not fast, it felt like time had slowed down—bullet time.
His body was healthy, yet he felt like he could barely breathe.
"Mm."
.
.
.
The night was a bit cold, and the chilly wind blowing on his body was uncomfortable, especially for a big guy like him. A cold gust passed by.
As he felt the chill, his head throbbed slightly. If he just sat outside on the grass with a hot cup of tea and looked up, he could see a sky full of stars.
But Natsuki Subaru couldn't stop moving his wooden sword, swinging it again and again.
His ideal ending was just a joke.
He had prepared so much, died so many times, thought he had fixed everything, but this was the result.
He couldn't accept it. He truly couldn't accept it.
But... the save data was already updated.
No matter how many times he died or tried, he couldn't catch up with what had already happened.
Could this really go on? What if one day in the future, the save point quietly updated without him knowing? What would he do then?
He had relied on the system and the ability to reload saves to get this far.
Without those two things, he was nothing.
He thought he had gotten close to that person, but it was just an illusion.
He was still just someone with a little cleverness.
"Take a rest."
"Huh?! Crush, it's you! Why are you still awake so late?"
Natsuki Subaru stopped his training and wiped sweat from his head. At that moment, he saw Crush hand him a handkerchief.
"Thank you."
"It's nothing. That's what friends do."
Subaru took the handkerchief but didn't wipe his sweat immediately. Instead, he looked at the pristine white cloth and after a moment of silence said:
"Crush, let's dissolve the alliance."
"Why say that? Didn't we already agree during the meeting?"
"..."
Crush looked at the silent Subaru and after thinking for a while, sat down on the grass and said:
"Sit down and let's talk."
"Uh... okay."
Crush looked at Subaru, who sat a little away, then looked up at the starry sky and said:
"The night sky is really beautiful."
Hearing this, Subaru slowly looked up at the stars.
This world had no modern city lights or pollution. The night sky here was one of the most beautiful scenes in the universe.
Since arriving in this world, Subaru had hardly looked at the night sky properly—not only because he was always busy trying to fix himself, but also because the starry sky made him unconsciously think of his family. So he lacked the confidence to look up.
This was a different world, so Subaru wasn't sure if the stars were the same as in his hometown, but now that he sat and looked carefully, he confirmed that even in this other world, the stars were no different.
"Yes, it's very beautiful."
"I can sense that, Natsuki, you are troubled. I have felt it since the first time we met.
Your emotions aren't good. I don't know what happened exactly, but if you want, I hope you can talk to me, a friend."
Subaru was stunned for a moment, then turned to look at Crush.
He raised his hand to touch his face and forced a bitter smile.
Even Crush could see through him now. Who else could he hide it from?
Currently, Crush's understanding of him was pitifully shallow, yet she could tell his emotions were off. Then how could Emilia and the others not see?
They probably just didn't want to let him suffer any more, so they hid it.
"Thank you, Crush, but I can't say much to you."
"That's okay. I know everyone has their own secrets."
"Enough about that. Crush, you've been learning many things lately. So today, let me teach you something."
"What kind of thing?"
Subaru smiled and pointed to the sky as he slowly said:
"I actually really like stars. My name is a star's name, so I know a bit about them.
See that group of stars connected like a spoon? That's the Big Dipper. And the brightest star in it is the Pole Star.
From our point of view, they look like points of light on black cloth, but they aren't really that small. Even the tiniest star is huge. Beyond the sky, there are many other worlds like ours."
"Worlds? Beyond the sky?"
"Ah, that might be too much to say for now. But do you want to know more?"
"Yeah, then please tell me."
"...Ah, I'll do my best... definitely..."
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