/The screen lit up.
[ "...Let's go, Rem." Natsuki Subaru picked up Rem's corpse and walked out step by step.
He arrived at a fork in the road, one left and one right. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"We're... back."
Emilia whispered.
Every time they returned to their original world, Emilia felt a sense of relief.
Because the Subaru she knew was back.
"We're back... Last time, in that world, he chose the right path, so this time he'll surely take the left path?"
Otto said.
—
[ Indeed, this time Subaru carried Rem's corpse and walked to the left.
"Kill, kill, kill, kill, kill you..." Subaru walked forward step by step. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"What's going on, nya?"
Felix, outside the screen, was puzzled by the scene before him.
Subaru's breath began to turn white.
The temperature seemed to be plummeting.
"....."
Puck fell silent.
He understood perfectly what was happening.
"Next, Subaru would die, and I, a hero, would face my end."
—
[ "W-what happened... What did he do to make it like this..."
Subaru approached Arlam Village step by step, but the current abnormality forced him to stop.
Roswaal's mansion had collapsed.
Equally strange, the area was covered in white snow.
The villagers were frozen to death one by one.
Including Petra.
"PETELGEUSE!"
Subaru roared.
And then he looked up—
"Ah..."
Before him was a giant beast.
Its entire body was covered in grey fur, and its eyes glowed golden.
"Sleep... with my daughter."
A blizzard wildly lashed at Subaru.
The boy held the corpse, and his head rolled off.
/The screen slowly darkened. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"It's been so long since I've seen you in this form, one of the Four Great Spirits—the Beast of the Eternal Frozen Earth's End."
Roswaal no longer drew out his words.
"Oh, oh, that's quite an oppressive feeling."
Al spoke.
"Puck..."
How long had it been since Emilia had seen Puck in this form?
—
[ When the screen lit up again, a falling sound was heard.
"Whoa?! W-WHAT'S WRONG, YOUNG MAN?!"
Kadomon asked worriedly when Subaru suddenly fell.
"Nothing... just slipped."
"Subaru-kun, are you alright?"
Rem rushed over to treat him.
Subaru looked at Rem, his lips trembling.
"Re...m..."
"Yes, Rem is here."
"Rem."
"Subaru-kun?"
"Rem, Rem... Rem."
Subaru kept calling Rem.
Rem, having healed Subaru's injuries, intended to let go of his hand.
But Subaru held Rem's hand tightly.
"Seriously, what's wrong? Subaru-kun actually took the initiative... Um, Rem is happy that Subaru-kun would do that, but if it's too sudden, it'll scare Rem."
"...So warm."
Subaru seemed to be feeling Rem's fingers.
"Of course it's warm, because Rem is alive—Subaru-kun?"
Rem noticed Subaru's trembling...
"It's alright. It's alright. It's alright."
Rem patted Subaru's back, comforting him. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Subaru is... anxiously confirming Rem's life."
Emilia said.
Calling her name repeatedly, feeling her warmth, and still not feeling at ease after confirming she was alive, but rather fearing death would come again.
"Oh, right. Rem-san."
Yuriusu seemed to have thought of something and turned his expectant gaze towards the two Rems.
Rem, however, showed a look of regret and pain:
"I am very sorry. This is different from Rem's memories."
Although Rem didn't say it directly, it proved that this was still not a broken loop.
Tragic experiences still awaited Subaru.
"Ah, why is boss so miserable..."
Garfiel was speechless.
Then Otto said:
"Although Natsuki-san also bears responsibility in these loops. But fate is too cruel to him... Ah, and this Natsuki-san doesn't look too good, does he?"
Otto pointed at Subaru on the screen.
—
[ Subaru's expression was a little off.
"Subaru-kun, may I ask you something? Perhaps Rem is mistaken. It's just that Rem feels that the... bad smell on Subaru-kun has gotten stronger."
"Bad smell, huh... Don't make such a strange face, Rem. It'll spoil your cute face and make the future gloomy."
"I'm sorry. Rem worries too much, always feeling..."
Then, Subaru took Rem's hand.
"Well, look. If you're worried I'll disappear, then just hold onto me like this. I definitely can't win against you in strength, and it'll feel safer this way, right?"
"Hai!"
Rem smiled and nodded happily. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Yes, that's the expression."
Otto, outside the screen, said.
The Rem on the screen might have been so engrossed in holding hands with her beloved that she didn't notice anything amiss.
But onlookers see clearly, and the audience outside the screen notices.
"Otto-dono's judgment is correct. That is... a look of hatred."
Wilhelm narrowed his eyes.
Although Subaru-dono was trying his best to avoid showing emotion, the inadvertent way it was revealed couldn't be mistaken.
Wilhelm was all too familiar with it.
It was a look of immense hatred, wanting to kill his enemy.
—
[ Then the scene shifted.
"In that case, we'll need to find more troops to support the battle."
Subaru said.
"I didn't expect the last visitor today to be you, interesting."
Just now, after Subaru decided to increase his combat power, he planned to request troops.
His first target was Crusch.
After his first meeting with the business magnate Russell Fellow, Subaru arrived at the reception room. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Ah, is brother finally getting smarter?"
Al even felt a bit relieved.
After so many situations where the enemy was strong and they were weak, he finally thought of calling for reinforcements.
"Being able to think of this is indeed a growth, nya. But what will Subaru do to impress Crusch-sama?"
Felix looked at the screen.
—
[ "Since you came to me, you may begin. Tell me, what do you want?"
"The Witch Cult is plotting to attack Roswaal's territory. To crush their ambition, I hope Crusch-san can lend me a hand."
"..."
Crusch was silent.
Subaru was a bit confused by this.
Crusch responded:
"What's wrong? I should have told you it's your turn to speak."
"But I... didn't I just say it?" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Huh? What's this? Why only state the request and not the benefits?"
Felix, outside the screen, was dumbfounded.
"Natsuki-san, after his last experience, still thinks Crusch-san's faction is a charity organization?"
Otto covered his face with both hands.
"Barusu is really, utterly naive."
Ram also shook her head.
—
[ "Do you perhaps think that stating your request is the end of it? Why do you make this request? What exactly do you wish to gain? What benefits would agreeing to your request bring to our side? Without clarifying these points, it cannot be considered a negotiation."
And Crusch on the screen thought the same.
"Then... um, about the benefits... C-can't it just be a simple favor...?"
Natsuki Subaru once again said something astonishing. ]