Subaru, Ram, Emilia and Roswaal all walked down to the village. The sight was not pretty.
Subaru: [What... happened here?]
There was blood splattered on the ground as dog-like beasts were running amok. Emilio rushed in.
Emilio: [Huma!]
Emilio fired off multiple spikes of ice as they hit the beasts, killing them.
Emilio: (How could this be happening? How could so many people... die like this?)
Roswaal floated up into he air.
Subaru: [Ros-chi, what are you..?]
Roswaal: [El Goa!]
Roswaal fired multiple fireballs that exterminated the Mabeasts in an instant. He floated down towards the trees, inspecting one of them.
Roswaal: [The barrier was broken. It's been tampered with.]
Emilio: [Tampered with...]
Subaru began hyperventilating at the sight of so many corpses. Petra was dead. Her arms and legs had been torn off. Subaru looked at her with a haunted expression. She gritted her teeth.
Subaru: (I'm so fucking useless. I was so desperate to protect myself that no one was here to check on the barrier. I caused this.)
Subaru gripped her hands.
Subaru: [Everyone, evacuate to the mansion. You'll all stay there until the barrier can be fixed.]
The villagers began moving towards the mansion. They had tears in their eyes and blood dripping from their wounds. Petra's mother clung to her daughter's corpse desperately.
Subaru: (Petra's... mother...)
Subaru gritted her teeth.
Subaru: (Someone broke the barrier, and it's one of these people.)
Subaru: [Before you walk past me, identify yourselves and how long you've been in the village.]
Subaru sweated.
Subaru: (But what if the mabeasts...)
She looked to Emilio. Then to Roswaal. Then she knew. There was nothing to worry about. The villagers began moving towards the mansion, identifying themselves. It seemed as if everyone who moved past had been in the village their entire lives or at least for 5 years. Their fellow villagers attested to these accounts.
Subaru: (Ugh, none of them have any reason to do this. They're all innocent...
Subaru then realised in a panic.
Subaru: (Meili... where is Meili?)
Subaru looked around. She was nowhere to be found.
Subaru: [Where is Meili?]
Lucas: [Meili was... Meili was taken into the forest by the Mabeasts. I... I saw them drag her off. I'm scared.]
Subaru was prepared to dash into the forest, but Ram stopped her.
Ram: [Boy. How long have you known Meili?]
Lucus: [A month, I think? I'm not sure.]
Subaru's eyes widened before looking to Ram.
Ram: [That brat! I'll kill her.]
She began marching towards the forest.
Subaru: [Hold on, Ram!]
Subaru stood in front of her as Ram glared at her.
Ram: [You said you'd help Ram. Don't get in Ram's way, Barasu.]
Subaru: [Meili is just a child. There's a chance that she's being coerced or threatened.]
Ram grabbed her collar.
Ram: [And be able to act like a regular child? Do you seriously believe that?]
Subaru tried to argue, but Ram's logic was sound. No child should be able to hide their terror or fear, and the barrier had been broken. With these two pieces of evidence, the most logical answer was that Meili was doing this of her own accord.
Subaru: [But why? Why would a child do this?]
Ram: [Are you a fool, Barasu?]
Subaru: [What?]
Ram: [You're a royal candidate! I don't know how people found out about you yet, but of course, there will be those who want to sabotage you.]
Subaru fell to her knees.
Subaru: [This was all just to... discredit me?]
Images of torn bodies with flesh stripped from bone flashed through her head.
Subaru: (So many people died because of me and Meili... she's killing people just to discredit me... I've ruined everything since coming here.)
Emilio walked over with an uncharacteristic anger on his face.
Emilio: [Ram, stop it! This isn't Subaru's fault.]
Ram: [Ram never said it is. Only that an attack like this is not unexpected.]
Emilio: [Even still, you...]
A tear fell from Ram's eyes.
Ram: [Ram should have... Ram should have never gotten involved in all of this.]
Ram turned her back, rushing into the forest. Roswaal walked over.
Roswaal: [This will be a devastating blow to your candidacy. Please work hard to recover from it.]
Roswaal, however, grimaced.
Subaru: (Recover? From this? I don't want this. I want to『Re: Start』all of this...『Re: Start』... all... of... this... 『Re: Start』...)
Subaru got up and rushed towards the forest.
Subaru: (I'll save Ram and die trying so that I can『Re: Start』.)
Suddenly, her eyelids drooped as she fell to the floor.
Roswaal: [Though wanting to help Ram is admirable, do not throw away your life, Natsuki Subaru-sama.]
Her eyes closed as she fell unconscious.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru's eyes slowly opened as she sat up in her bed.
Subaru: (Please. I want this all to be a nightmare or... please... let Ram and Rem be standing in front of me. Please let me have just died in my sleep like the worthless scum I am. Please!!!)
Subaru looked up, but no one was there. She hadn't restarted. Ram and Rem were gone.
Subaru: [No! No! No!]
Subaru screamed as Ram walked into the room.
Subaru: [Ram!!!]
Ram: [...]
Subaru: [Everything is fine, right? Rem is still alive. Petra too. Meili isn't a...]
Ram: [That brat is dead.]
Subaru: [...]
Subaru sank her head into her own hands.
Subaru: [Then everything was real... all those people are... really dead.]
Ram: [Yes, they are.]
Her voice was respectful, but it was also distant and dejected.
Ram: [It's thanks to you that Ram was able to avenge her little brother. Ram will... Ram will do her utmost to make you queen.]
Subaru: [I... I don't deserve to be queen. Not after this.]
Subaru: (All this time, I was treating everything like a game. And what did that get me? People dead. Their blood in my useless hands.)
Subaru imagined her hands covered in blood.
Subaru: (Their lives... slipping between these worthless fingers.)
Ram: [Please... I beg of you.]
Subaru: [What?]
Ram: [All that Ram has left is Roswaal-sama. His dream needs you to become queen, so please. I beg of you to become queen.]
Subaru looked at her, gritting her teeth.
Subaru: [Don't you see? I made everyone protect me when I should have thought of the village! If I hadn't been so unreasonable, none of this would have happened. Rem would still be alive. All those people, too.]
Ram glared at Subaru.
Ram: [You think I don't know that?!!!]
Ram expressed her rage at Subaru.
Ram: [You will do this! You will make Roswaal-sama's dream come true.]
Subaru lay back down in her bed.
Ram: [You...]
Subaru rolled over.
Subaru: [I understand already. Please leave.]
Ram: [I'll bring you some food. Roswaal-sama told me it might help you recover.]
Subaru: [Fine.]
Ram left the room and returned with a dish. Ram opened the covering as Subaru sat up, and Ram left the room. Subaru held the knife and fork as she cut a piece for herself. She stabbed the piece with her knife and lifted it to her mouth, taking a bite, but as she lowered her knife, she pointed it at her own neck.
Subaru: (I can『Re: Start』all of this. I can save everyone. If I just die here, I can... save everyone...)
Tears fell from her eyes, pulling the knife away from her neck.
Subaru: [I... I can't even do something so simple...]
She lowered her hand.
Subaru: (I'm so useless...)
Then she remembered that sensation of having her hands held again. She tried to remember the moment, and while her memory was blurry, she knew the two who held her hands were Rem and Ram.
Subaru: [Those two couldn't bear to see me suffering. Even though Rem clearly hated me, he still didn't want to see me suffer. Those two are... good people.]
Subaru tightened the grip on the knife in her hand and held it to her neck.
Subaru: [I swear I'm going to save you. Both of you!]
She stabbed herself. She felt warmth flood from her body and onto her hands as she felt her neck go cold and her strength fade. She wanted to scream in pain, but couldn't do more than gurgle up some blood as she fell back, hitting her head on the beadhead and then... it was over. Natsuki Subaru had died.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
???: [Why... did you do this?]
Subaru felt herself in a darkness that was unending. She felt nothing. She saw nothing. She heard nothing. Nothing except his voice.
???: [I only wanted to... save you...]
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru opened her eyes.
Rem: [Oh, she has awakened, Onee-sama.]
Ram: [Indeed, she's awakened, Rem.]
Subaru slowly got up.
Subaru: [I'm alive... I'm really... alive.]
Ram and Rem walked over.
Ram: [You were healed, Ma'am. You should recover soon.]
Rem: [Indeed. It's as Onee-sama said. You should be fine after some rest.]
Subaru looked to them. She sweated a little after seeing Rem, but sighed.
Subaru: [Please hold out your hands.]
Rem and Ram looked at each other, confused, before offering their hands to Subaru. Subaru held their hands as Rem and Ram were shocked for a second.
Subaru: [You've been taking care of me, right? Both of you.]
Subaru got up and bowed to them.
Subaru: [Thank you for taking care of me.]
Ram: [Ma'am, please lift your head.]
Rem: [Onee-sama is correct. This isn't appropriate.]
Subaru lifted her head and smiled at them.
Subaru: [I hope we can become friends.]
She offered her hand for a handshake when Emilio walked in.
Emilio: [You're awake. I'm glad you're getting along with Rem and Ram.]
Subaru sweatdropped.
Subaru: (Getting along...)
Subaru: [I hope that continues.]
Emilio smiled.
Subaru: [How about the two of us go outside and exercise a little?]
Emilio: [Exercise? Sure.]
Rem: [Are you sure you want to be moving around, Ma'am?]
He looked at her, displeased.
Rem: (It'll be difficult to keep an eye on her if she decides to move around the mansion a lot.)
Ram: [Rem is right. You are still in recovery.]
Subaru: [Trust me. I'll be fine.]
Emilio: [I'll be there, so don't worry.]
Subaru smiled.
Subaru: [Of course, I know I can depend on you, Emilio-Kun.]
Emilio blushed.
Emilio: [Eh?]
Subaru winked at him with a smile.
Subaru: [I trust you to take care of me.]
Emilio smiled.
Emilio: [Of course.]
They left the room.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
Subaru and Emilio walked outside into the yard.
Subaru began stretching.
Emilio: [Um... what are you doing?]
Subaru: [I told you, exercising.]
Emilio: [I don't recognise those movements though.]
Subaru: [It's from my homeland. Why don't you try it? It's good for your muscles.]
Subaru: (I need to deal with Meili, but first I need to meet Roswaal.)
Emilio: [From your homeland?]
Subaru nods. Emilio begins copying Subaru's movements as they exercise. They finish with a loud shout of "Victory". That's when Puck comes out and asks.
Puck: [Is something bothering you, Subaru?]
Subaru: [Huh? ... um...]
Subaru: (Crap. Was it that obvious? Make up an excuse. Change the topic.)
Subaru: [Um. I'm actually wondering what kind of magic you use, Emilio-Kun.]
Puck looked at her suspiciously but let it go.
Puck: [It's technically not magic.]
Subaru: [Huh?]
Emilio: [I'm a Spirit Arts User.]
Subaru: [So Magic Users and Spirit Arts Users are different...]
Puck: [Magic Users cast magic with their own mana, but Spirit Arts Users draw from mana in the atmosphere.]
Subaru: [I see.]
Puck: [Well, ignoring that technicality, Lio uses Fire Magic.]
Subaru: [Fire?]
Subaru looked confused.
Puck: [Fire Magic might sound like just fire at first, but it's about changing temperature. I also use Fire Magic.]
Subaru: [Oh! I see! Thank you very much, Puck-Sensei.]
Puck then pointed his paw out.
Puck: [Now pay close attention to this next part.]
He said this in an overly serious tone and face.
Subaru: [Yes, Sensei!]
Emilio smiled with a small chuckle.
Puck: [Magic is cast by expelling it from your gate.]
Subaru: [Gate?]
Puck nods.
Puck: [You use it to draw mana and then expel it when casting spells.]
Subaru: [I see. So like a faucet for mana.]
Puck: [Oh, by the way. You saved Lio. I'm really grateful. Do you want me to help you learn magic?]
Subaru: [Really? Does that mean I can use magic too?]
Puck: [Yep. Can't guarantee I'll be able to help you, but I'll try.]
Subaru: [Thank you, Sensei!]
Puck: [Alright. Let me find out what your attribute is.]
Puck extended his tail towards Subaru's forehead.
Puck: [Magic Users are divided into fire, water, wind, and earth attributes.]
Puck began making a mewing sound as his tail glowed.
Puck: [Alright. I know what your attribute is.]
Subaru: [I wonder which I am. Is it the hot and passionate fire? Serene and flowing water? Gentle and caring wind? Or maybe reliable and solid earth?]
Puck: [It's Yin.]
Subaru: [All of them are rejected?!!]
Emilio: [Oh, whoa, Yin? That's reaaally rare.]
Subaru: [Puck-Sensei!]
Puck: [Yes, my student?]
Subaru: [How could you so cruelly trick this fair maiden into thinking there are only four attributes?]
Emilio laughed a little at this as Subaru smiled.
Puck: [It's just that Yin and Yang magic are really rare. I didn't think they were worth mentioning.]
Subaru: [So what can Yin maic do?]
Emilio: [I think it can block a person's vision, hearing, touch and slow things down?]
Subaru: [So, they're just debuffs...]
Subaru sagged.
Puck: [Yin magic is a lot more useful than just that. If you want, I could ask Betty to teach you. She is the 『Great Spirit Of Yin』afterall.]
Subaru: [Beako...]
She nodded.
Subaru: [I think... I'd like that.]
Ram and Rem arrived.
Emilio: [Hm? What brings you two here?]
Rem and Ram: [Emilio-sama. Subaru-sama. Our lord, Roswaal-sama, has returned. Please come inside.]
Subaru: (It's time. I can solve everything this time. No. I have to solve everything this time.)
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To Be Continued
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Rating Out Of 10 For This Part:
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