Without a shadow of a doubt, Roswaal confessed his knowledge of Return by Death.
Subaru swallowed his breath and immediately noticed the danger of the situation.
The conditions were now exactly the same as at Echidona’s tea party.
If he allowed Roswaal to continue talking about Return by Death like this, the disaster where the Sanctuary was engulfed by shadows would only be repeated.
In fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if the Witch snatched him this very instant.
Drawing the breath into his stomach and releasing it in a deep exhale, Subaru confirmed that time hadn’t stopped.
That is to say, the Witch hadn’t grasped his heart as punishment. This ruled out the possibility which, as unbearable as it may be, would also have been the safest.
While the other possibility ――
[Roswaal: ――“Silence is as good as proven admission”, I wonder whoever sai~~d that]
Plunging his thoughts into risk aversion, Subaru forced his mind to turn at an incredible speed, but Roswaal, apparently growing tired of waiting, interrupted with those words.
His confession just now must have held some rather large significance to Roswaal as well.
Seeing Subaru ignore him without saying a word, Roswaal furrowed his brows in a rare sign of displeasure.
[Roswaal: We~~ll, the fact that you’re not de~~nying it as some absurd assertion does say a lot about your ho~~nesty]
[Subaru: I――]
[Roswaal: Oo~~ho, that’s fine. It is one thing for me say it, but there could be some unpleasant consequences if you were to confirm it. That was why you were never able to say it out loud, i~~sn’t it? Although…]
Stopping Subaru at the first syllable, Roswaal continued until his voice abruptly trailed off.
Seeing Subaru biting his lip, Roswaal cast him a glance with a revolting smile,
[Roswaal: Perhaps, you were also afraid of what they’d think of you if you to~~ld them?]
[Subaru: ――――gh]
[Roswaal: It is only na~~tural. A~~fter all, the power to rewind the world is an outrageous and te~~rrifying thing. Time-Interference is the absolute pinnacle of the pinnacle of Dark Magic. Even Beatrice, exhausting all her strength, could only bring it to a stall. But to reverse it would surely be a dream upon a dre~~am]
Unable to refute a thing as he listened to Roswaal read into his genuine repressed fears, Subaru’s face stiffened as he suddenly heard Beatrice’s name.
With Elsa’s blade plunged into her back, the final expression on her face as she vanished from existence was still vivid in his mind.
[Roswaal: ――Judging from your reaction, it would se~~em that Beatrice had fulfilled her ro~~le…]
[Subaru: Her role…… what would you…… but, yes]
As the conversation moved away from Return by Death, Subaru took the opportunity to rein in his unsettled thoughts and redirected his attention to take a bite out of Roswaal’s unruffled face.
Did this man even know about Beatrice’s lonely cries?
[Subaru: You knew how she’s been suffering… didn’t you? Bound to that Mansion, clinging to a promise made in some ancient contract…… letting herself be worn to the core, huddling in a corner, you knew all of this, didn’t you!?]
[Roswaal: O~~f course I knew. Beatrice and I have kno~~wn each other for a very long time. Since I was born, in fact. There is a loneliness in her heart, I’ve al~~ways known this]
[Subaru: Then……!]
[Roswaal: Why didn’t I do anything about it? I~~ would rather you did not say that. There is no one who can relieve her of her sadness other than herself, I’m sure you understa~~nd this?]
Just as Subaru was on the verge of screaming, he was struck down by Roswaal’s irrefutable reasoning.
Subaru could have screamed out his accusations at Roswaal just so he could hear a fragment of Beatrice’s sorrow. Although he could have, the fact was that it would’ve been meaningless.
Beatrice was already dead, and no one could heal her of the sadness of her heart.
Only Subaru, who possessed the means to rewind the world, could be there in her final moments as many times as it would take. But how was he supposed to heal four hundred years of sorrow?
Four hundred years―― not even Subaru could reach back that far.
Watching Subaru fall silent, Roswaal slightly shook his head.
Then, he said,
[Roswaal: How I e~~nvy her]
[Subaru: ――Envy, her?]
Subaru repeated, pressing his voice low. But, paying it no mind, [Yes…], Roswaal went on, nodding,
[Roswaal: How enviable it is. Beatrice fulfilled her long-cherished wish, and disappeared. The fact that you are here means exa~~ctly that, no?]
[Subaru: Cherished…… wish? She…… died… like that….. and you’re telling me that’s her long-cherished wish!? Are you seriously saying that!?]
[Roswaal: It was nothing more than what Beatrice desi~~red, no? What right would we have to criticize what someone else holds dear? Neither you, no~~r I, have the right to sully Beatrice’s death]
Sensible words, and impeccable logic. It was true, that they had no right.
Subaru and Beatrice may as well have been strangers. He had never understood her wish, and he never even once considered fulfilling it.
But, even so, was that really what Beatrice wanted?
――If it was, then why did she protect Subaru at the very end?
[Roswaal: Beatrice’s long-cherished wish had been fulfilled. For that, I truly envy her. ――Since it seems that I would no longer be a~~ble to fulfill mine]
[Subaru: ――――]
There was something strange about the way he phrased it.
Subaru couldn’t tell where, or why.
But it was certainly there.
[Subaru: And what is…… your wish……?]
[Roswaal: I cannot say. My contract forbids me from revealing it, and that is as mu~~ch as I can say. What I have told you is already pushing the limit of what I can compromise with the contract. Bu~~t, I can tell you this]
[Subaru: ――――]
[Roswaal: To see that my wish is fulfilled, I have always, always, always, always devoted my utmost. Not a single action I have taken was without purpose, and not a si~~ngle one do I regret]
Roswaal shamelessly declared without the slightest hint of remorse.
Stunned by his audacity, a black rage began boiling in Subaru’s chest.
It was a begrudging rage that was the cumulation of all the severed emotions that had built up inside him. But, although it was there, he did not lose himself in it.
[Subaru: Necessary……? Killing Ram and Garfiel, burying the Sanctuary in snow, everything……. you’re saying that it was necessary……?]
[Roswaal: Hmm, as for the former…… no, that would put a damper on this conversa~~tion. But as for the latter, yes, would be my a~~nswer]
[Subaru: For what!!??]
Baring his teeth, Subaru swung his arms, shouting.
[Subaru: Why the hell are you doing this!? Making snow fall on the Sanctuary, tormenting the residents like it’s some sick joke…… what’re you trying to accomplish!? What’s the point in doing that!? Why don’t you come out and say it! Roswaal!!]
[Roswaal: That too, was necessary. ――To isolate Emilia-sama]
[Subaru: ――Wh…at?]
[Roswaal: I will say it again. Snow falls and the residents suffer. Emilia-sama is isolated, and descends into an unsettled state of mind. Isn’t that what happened?]
Roswaal spoke as if he had seen it himself. Indeed, Emilia’s condition inside the Tomb was exactly as Roswaal envisioned. But Subaru had no intention of admitting this.
More importantly, Roswaal’s statement just now was by far the most senseless thing Subaru had heard to date.
[Roswaal: The Sanctuary is a land closely tied with the Witch, and Emilia-sama is taking the Trials to liberate it. A~~t such a time, if a natural disaster were to befall the Sanctuary…… just what would people think of Emilia-sama?]
[Subaru: What…..]
[Roswaal: Here is where the impulsive Garfiel comes into play. He, if anyone, would be the first to doubt Emilia-sama, and to loudly proclaim it. With the volume of his voice, anyone would begin to think the same. ――That Emilia-sama was the cause of this disaster]
Roswaal’s analysis was spot on, and Garfiel had just been dancing in the palms of his hands. From the moment Subaru returned to the Sanctuary, it was already clear that Garfiel was convinced that Emilia had caused the blizzard.
Even though there was someone else who could have done it, this land, and this world, chose to direct all of its hostility towards Emilia.
All thanks to the demon named prejudice that had tormented Emilia from the start.
[Roswaal: And what happens once Emilia-sama is isolated? Despite appearances, Emilia-sama is actually a terribly weak person. It’d be no wonder if she wished to entrust everything to a person who would be willing to give her approval. And if that person could support her with their entire heart and soul, then I would be satisfied]
[Subaru: Wait……wait……wait wait wait wait wai……t]
Subaru held out his arms, calling for Roswaal to stop.
He got a feeling that he had heard something outrageous just now.
Like he had just been told some absurd, impossible fact.
Like something he mustn’t hear was――
[Roswaal: You cannot turn yourself away if Emilia-sama relies on you. Of course not, since you love her. If your beloved Emilia-sama were to entrust everything to you, there is no way you could push her aside]
[Subaru: That――]
Would never happen.
At least it shouldn’t.
But the fact was that, in this very loop, Subaru had managed to keep himself from drowning within Emilia’s clinging embrace. He had withstood it, and left her to come here.
It wasn’t that he rejected the temptation of Emilia’s loving whispers.
But it was because he knew that she didn’t truly mean it, and that her fallen engrossment was only――
[Roswaal: “That wasn’t the case this time.” Is that how you wanted to answer? I can only say that is unfortunate. I suppose you just have a few too many superfluous things about you right now]
Roswaal took a single, silent step towards the confounded Subaru.
Hearing the sound of a splash from his foot stepping into the pool of blood, Subaru’s body inadvertently froze.
A groan escaped his throat,
[Subaru: Are you, going to kill me――?]
[Roswaal: Kill you, now tha~~t would be a rather vi~~olent idea. I would be quite troubled if you died. Since, one way or another, I will need you to rewind the wo~~rld]
[Subaru: Hh――?]
For a moment, Roswaal’s words as he approached stunned Subaru into silence.
But he immediately noticed the discrepancy in his understanding.
Roswaal knew that Subaru could “Rewind” time, but he didn’t know that it was through “Return by Death” with “Death” acting as the trigger.
Thus, his intention was to corner Subaru so that he would willingly choose to “Rewind”. Although, that would likely involve far more agony than if he was instantly killed.
If Roswaal had no intention of killing Subaru, then there was still a chance.
[Subaru: ――Everyone! Inside now!!]
Raising his hand, Subaru shouted his command.
The instant Roswaal furrowed his brows, the room’s doors and windows, as well as those of the adjacent living room, simultaneously shattered. And flying in alongside the frigid wind, were small, scrawny shadows, numbering twenty in all―― each of them a little girl with light-pink hair.
Without a shadow of a doubt, Roswaal confessed his knowledge of Return by Death.
Subaru swallowed his breath and immediately noticed the danger of the situation.
The conditions were now exactly the same as at Echidona’s tea party.
If he allowed Roswaal to continue talking about Return by Death like this, the disaster where the Sanctuary was engulfed by shadows would only be repeated.
In fact, he wouldn’t be surprised if the Witch snatched him this very instant.
Drawing the breath into his stomach and releasing it in a deep exhale, Subaru confirmed that time hadn’t stopped.
That is to say, the Witch hadn’t grasped his heart as punishment. This ruled out the possibility which, as unbearable as it may be, would also have been the safest.
While the other possibility ――
[Roswaal: ――“Silence is as good as proven admission”, I wonder whoever sai~~d that]
Plunging his thoughts into risk aversion, Subaru forced his mind to turn at an incredible speed, but Roswaal, apparently growing tired of waiting, interrupted with those words.
His confession just now must have held some rather large significance to Roswaal as well.
Seeing Subaru ignore him without saying a word, Roswaal furrowed his brows in a rare sign of displeasure.
[Roswaal: We~~ll, the fact that you’re not de~~nying it as some absurd assertion does say a lot about your ho~~nesty]
[Subaru: I――]
[Roswaal: Oo~~ho, that’s fine. It is one thing for me say it, but there could be some unpleasant consequences if you were to confirm it. That was why you were never able to say it out loud, i~~sn’t it? Although…]
Stopping Subaru at the first syllable, Roswaal continued until his voice abruptly trailed off.
Seeing Subaru biting his lip, Roswaal cast him a glance with a revolting smile,
[Roswaal: Perhaps, you were also afraid of what they’d think of you if you to~~ld them?]
[Subaru: ――――gh]
[Roswaal: It is only na~~tural. A~~fter all, the power to rewind the world is an outrageous and te~~rrifying thing. Time-Interference is the absolute pinnacle of the pinnacle of Dark Magic. Even Beatrice, exhausting all her strength, could only bring it to a stall. But to reverse it would surely be a dream upon a dre~~am]
Unable to refute a thing as he listened to Roswaal read into his genuine repressed fears, Subaru’s face stiffened as he suddenly heard Beatrice’s name.
With Elsa’s blade plunged into her back, the final expression on her face as she vanished from existence was still vivid in his mind.
[Roswaal: ――Judging from your reaction, it would se~~em that Beatrice had fulfilled her ro~~le…]
[Subaru: Her role…… what would you…… but, yes]
As the conversation moved away from Return by Death, Subaru took the opportunity to rein in his unsettled thoughts and redirected his attention to take a bite out of Roswaal’s unruffled face.
Did this man even know about Beatrice’s lonely cries?
[Subaru: You knew how she’s been suffering… didn’t you? Bound to that Mansion, clinging to a promise made in some ancient contract…… letting herself be worn to the core, huddling in a corner, you knew all of this, didn’t you!?]
[Roswaal: O~~f course I knew. Beatrice and I have kno~~wn each other for a very long time. Since I was born, in fact. There is a loneliness in her heart, I’ve al~~ways known this]
[Subaru: Then……!]
[Roswaal: Why didn’t I do anything about it? I~~ would rather you did not say that. There is no one who can relieve her of her sadness other than herself, I’m sure you understa~~nd this?]
Just as Subaru was on the verge of screaming, he was struck down by Roswaal’s irrefutable reasoning.
Subaru could have screamed out his accusations at Roswaal just so he could hear a fragment of Beatrice’s sorrow. Although he could have, the fact was that it would’ve been meaningless.
Beatrice was already dead, and no one could heal her of the sadness of her heart.
Only Subaru, who possessed the means to rewind the world, could be there in her final moments as many times as it would take. But how was he supposed to heal four hundred years of sorrow?
Four hundred years―― not even Subaru could reach back that far.
Watching Subaru fall silent, Roswaal slightly shook his head.
Then, he said,
[Roswaal: How I e~~nvy her]
[Subaru: ――Envy, her?]
Subaru repeated, pressing his voice low. But, paying it no mind, [Yes…], Roswaal went on, nodding,
[Roswaal: How enviable it is. Beatrice fulfilled her long-cherished wish, and disappeared. The fact that you are here means exa~~ctly that, no?]
[Subaru: Cherished…… wish? She…… died… like that….. and you’re telling me that’s her long-cherished wish!? Are you seriously saying that!?]
[Roswaal: It was nothing more than what Beatrice desi~~red, no? What right would we have to criticize what someone else holds dear? Neither you, no~~r I, have the right to sully Beatrice’s death]
Sensible words, and impeccable logic. It was true, that they had no right.
Subaru and Beatrice may as well have been strangers. He had never understood her wish, and he never even once considered fulfilling it.
But, even so, was that really what Beatrice wanted?
――If it was, then why did she protect Subaru at the very end?
[Roswaal: Beatrice’s long-cherished wish had been fulfilled. For that, I truly envy her. ――Since it seems that I would no longer be a~~ble to fulfill mine]
[Subaru: ――――]
There was something strange about the way he phrased it.
Subaru couldn’t tell where, or why.
But it was certainly there.
[Subaru: And what is…… your wish……?]
[Roswaal: I cannot say. My contract forbids me from revealing it, and that is as mu~~ch as I can say. What I have told you is already pushing the limit of what I can compromise with the contract. Bu~~t, I can tell you this]
[Subaru: ――――]
[Roswaal: To see that my wish is fulfilled, I have always, always, always, always devoted my utmost. Not a single action I have taken was without purpose, and not a si~~ngle one do I regret]
Roswaal shamelessly declared without the slightest hint of remorse.
Stunned by his audacity, a black rage began boiling in Subaru’s chest.
It was a begrudging rage that was the cumulation of all the severed emotions that had built up inside him. But, although it was there, he did not lose himself in it.
[Subaru: Necessary……? Killing Ram and Garfiel, burying the Sanctuary in snow, everything……. you’re saying that it was necessary……?]
[Roswaal: Hmm, as for the former…… no, that would put a damper on this conversa~~tion. But as for the latter, yes, would be my a~~nswer]
[Subaru: For what!!??]
Baring his teeth, Subaru swung his arms, shouting.
[Subaru: Why the hell are you doing this!? Making snow fall on the Sanctuary, tormenting the residents like it’s some sick joke…… what’re you trying to accomplish!? What’s the point in doing that!? Why don’t you come out and say it! Roswaal!!]
[Roswaal: That too, was necessary. ――To isolate Emilia-sama]
[Subaru: ――Wh…at?]
[Roswaal: I will say it again. Snow falls and the residents suffer. Emilia-sama is isolated, and descends into an unsettled state of mind. Isn’t that what happened?]
Roswaal spoke as if he had seen it himself. Indeed, Emilia’s condition inside the Tomb was exactly as Roswaal envisioned. But Subaru had no intention of admitting this.
More importantly, Roswaal’s statement just now was by far the most senseless thing Subaru had heard to date.
[Roswaal: The Sanctuary is a land closely tied with the Witch, and Emilia-sama is taking the Trials to liberate it. A~~t such a time, if a natural disaster were to befall the Sanctuary…… just what would people think of Emilia-sama?]
[Subaru: What…..]
[Roswaal: Here is where the impulsive Garfiel comes into play. He, if anyone, would be the first to doubt Emilia-sama, and to loudly proclaim it. With the volume of his voice, anyone would begin to think the same. ――That Emilia-sama was the cause of this disaster]
Roswaal’s analysis was spot on, and Garfiel had just been dancing in the palms of his hands. From the moment Subaru returned to the Sanctuary, it was already clear that Garfiel was convinced that Emilia had caused the blizzard.
Even though there was someone else who could have done it, this land, and this world, chose to direct all of its hostility towards Emilia.
All thanks to the demon named prejudice that had tormented Emilia from the start.
[Roswaal: And what happens once Emilia-sama is isolated? Despite appearances, Emilia-sama is actually a terribly weak person. It’d be no wonder if she wished to entrust everything to a person who would be willing to give her approval. And if that person could support her with their entire heart and soul, then I would be satisfied]
[Subaru: Wait……wait……wait wait wait wait wai……t]
Subaru held out his arms, calling for Roswaal to stop.
He got a feeling that he had heard something outrageous just now.
Like he had just been told some absurd, impossible fact.
Like something he mustn’t hear was――
[Roswaal: You cannot turn yourself away if Emilia-sama relies on you. Of course not, since you love her. If your beloved Emilia-sama were to entrust everything to you, there is no way you could push her aside]
[Subaru: That――]
Would never happen.
At least it shouldn’t.
But the fact was that, in this very loop, Subaru had managed to keep himself from drowning within Emilia’s clinging embrace. He had withstood it, and left her to come here.
It wasn’t that he rejected the temptation of Emilia’s loving whispers.
But it was because he knew that she didn’t truly mean it, and that her fallen engrossment was only――
[Roswaal: “That wasn’t the case this time.” Is that how you wanted to answer? I can only say that is unfortunate. I suppose you just have a few too many superfluous things about you right now]
Roswaal took a single, silent step towards the confounded Subaru.
Hearing the sound of a splash from his foot stepping into the pool of blood, Subaru’s body inadvertently froze.
A groan escaped his throat,
[Subaru: Are you, going to kill me――?]
[Roswaal: Kill you, now tha~~t would be a rather vi~~olent idea. I would be quite troubled if you died. Since, one way or another, I will need you to rewind the wo~~rld]
[Subaru: Hh――?]
For a moment, Roswaal’s words as he approached stunned Subaru into silence.
But he immediately noticed the discrepancy in his understanding.
Roswaal knew that Subaru could “Rewind” time, but he didn’t know that it was through “Return by Death” with “Death” acting as the trigger.
Thus, his intention was to corner Subaru so that he would willingly choose to “Rewind”. Although, that would likely involve far more agony than if he was instantly killed.
If Roswaal had no intention of killing Subaru, then there was still a chance.
[Subaru: ――Everyone! Inside now!!]
Raising his hand, Subaru shouted his command.
The instant Roswaal furrowed his brows, the room’s doors and windows, as well as those of the adjacent living room, simultaneously shattered. And flying in alongside the frigid wind, were small, scrawny shadows, numbering twenty in all―― each of them a little girl with light-pink hair.
