CHAPTER 72: BAD END 1, 5, 11
—Say his heart breaks countless times, would he be forgiven?
???: “And it's already over... this job certainly lacked in anything worthwhile.”
Inside a dark warehouse, gazing down at the three corpses submerged in an ocean of blood, a black-robed beauty tilts her head. With her bizarre skill she existed in this blood-suffused place without a single drop of the stuff on her, and with her abnormal mentality she observes the slaughter without a single change to her complexion. Unmistakably, this woman was a monster garbed in human skin.
Her footsteps crossing this floor soaked with blood, the monster looks interestedly at the corpses. A giant old man with his arm sliced off at the shoulder, and incredible bloodflow spilling from his neck. A black-haired boy with a perfect line shredded across his stomach, having died writhing about the floor with his innards spilling out. —And, sliced in two from her left shoulder to her right hip, a silver girl.
—How many times had he rebelled, voicing his desire not to witness this scene?
Monster: “It's the worst of outcomes for a commission... although, I wonder what all this was.”
Putting a finger to her red lips, the monster mutters in a horrifically out-of-place and casual tone. In the hand other than the one at her lips there wavers a sinister, bloody, crooked blade—a kukri. Leisurely letting sway the weapon that stole three—no, four—lives in this loot house, the monster called Elsa smiles resplendently.
Elsa: “—Oh my.”
Tilting her head, Elsa lightly takes a leap backwards. Immediately, a blade of ice stabs up from the ground where Elsa had been standing. Frozen stalagmites spear out in sequence as they pursue Elsa's path, these gnashing fangs, pressing in to bite.
Elsa: “Goodness...”
???: “How dare you.”
In the space before Elsa as he evades the iceblades, there concentrates a gathering of dim light, a small spirit forming itself a shape. The floating cat spirit—Puck—bears an acerbic expression, his rather androgynous voice shaking in rage.
Puck: “You're going to regret taking Lia's life.”
Elsa: “Right, that girl... she was a spiritualist. Truly excellent. I've never opened up a spirit's stomach before. —Though.”
Faced with a battle-ready Puck and his floating ice lances, Elsa smiles indulgently at the portents of battle. But, before she takes fighting posture, she closes one eye.
Elsa: “Why didn't you show up before she died? Spiritualists come with the practitioner and the spirit in one grouping—if I can't enjoy the full experience, it's a detriment.”
Puck: “Shut your prattle, you damned murderer. —If I just weren't bound by the contract, I...”
Shaking his head, Puck's expression twists in vexation. He bares his fangs, pointing his little arm at Elsa.
Puck: “I have no intention to talk. I'm turning you to ice, giving Lia's soul its peace. After you're gone will be the country, the world, Dragon and Witch, everything.”
Elsa: “Ahh, so excellent—I'll be enjoying myself, now!”
Springing, Elsa crawls over the ceiling and walls like a spider. With her slender frame as the target, consecutive firings of ice spears bore into the loot house's walls, the atmosphere beginning to freeze, the air raising a shrill shriek. Pure white covers the view, rendering everything invisible.
Toppled on the floor with fingers coincidentally intertwined, Subaru and Emilia's cadavers included —everything invisible.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
—Say the world betrays him countless times, would he be rewarded?
Rem: “My actions were nothing more than a preventive defence against degeneration of the situation. By the time I had found him, Subaru-kun was already beyond any chance of rescue. —He would have desired to be put down immediately.”
Emilia: “And, so... that's what that, terrible end was, is what you're saying, Rem? Subaru is my benefactor, and there were going to be so many things for us to talk about... and you...”
He hears the quarrelling voices of two beloved girls. One voice beckons to Subaru adoration and grief. One voice belongs to who, every time she is made to stand through adversary, Subaru wished for her to touch him sweetly, needily, imploringly.
The blue-haired girl and the silver-haired girl face each other, a turbulent atmosphere flowing through the room. Setting is the mansion's living room, the two seated on either side of a table in a livewire situation.
Roswaal: “Nooooooow now, let's go without you getting carried away also, Emilia-sama. Why doooooooon't we start by prooooooperly listening to Rem's side aaaaaaas well?”
Emilia: “Roswaal... do you understand what's happened? Rem has... your servant has, led my benefactor, and also your guest Subaru, to... to his death.”
Roswaal: “I do quiiiiiiiiiite understand. Which iiiiiiiiis why... we must have a clear discussion on the topic. —For the sake of preventing any misunderstandings in your mutual sentiments, aaaaas well.”
Roswaal narrows his yellow eye as he replies. The clown shoots a gaze to the Rem seated beside him, and perceiving the glance, Rem nods.
Rem: “There late last night in the eastern wing... on the floor housing Emilia-sama's room, was an intruder. The warning gems alerted me to this as I promptly headed for the scene, which is where I had discovered Subaru-kun loitering about.”
Ram: “Barusu was already under the curse's effects by then.”
Rem: “Yes, My Sister is exactly correct. Weakened, Subaru-kun was on the border of death. The curse's effects had sapped his vitality to the absolute limit, and having determined that to save him would be impossible...”
Emilia: “You beat him to death with your flail. —And brutally.”
Ram: “Emilia-sama.”
Sitting beside her younger sister Rem, having held her hand, Ram's eyes as she looks at Emilia are harsh. But Emilia faces Ram's sharp gaze with strength.
Emilia: “The facts are the facts. ...Subaru's body, his torso and head were in awful condition. If you were just meaning to give him an execution, there had to have been a gentler way. So then, why?”
Rem: “That, would be...”
Rem is stuck for words. That she does not say anything further is because Rem's personality is not one for telling lies, and because Emilia's statement hit accurately on her motives.
Rem harboured intense distrust for Subaru back then. After the second loop in the mansion loop series—where Rem had bludgeoned Subaru to death, failed to conceal the fact, and was resultingly having this conversation. You could also say that Rem's hostility for a Subaru interacting familiarly with Ram had intensified, and she could not keep from actualizing her desire to murder.
—On that upper floor of the mansion, when she swung her flail at Subaru, just what had Rem been thinking?
Perhaps the whole affair was uncertain even to Rem.
Emilia: “—Your aim was off, or it was because you hesitated... those were the answers I wanted to hear.”
Rem: “—hk” Emilia mutters sadly, her eyes closed. Rem's face jerks up. It's unclear how well Emilia's words had perceived what the truth of matters were for Rem. And it would always, forever remain unclear.
Roswaal: “Emilia-sama, to where are you going?” Emilia stands up, brushing at her skirt's hem. Roswaal's expression vanishes as he asks her his question. Hearing it, Emilia pats her long, silver hair. Emilia: “—I'm leaving. It was only for a short while, but thank you for having me. I know I'm incapable of participating in the Royal Selection without the backing of you all. But... I can't trust you any more.” Roswaal: “Even should you not trust us, do you not believe a relationship of mutual utilization yet beneficial? Abdicating due to a tantrum cannot be called a wise decision.”
Emilia: “Tantrum...?” Emilia's face stiffens in shock. Then she promptly walks over to Roswaal— —No one could have stopped that peal of flesh on flesh.
Those white fingers of hers slapped Roswaal across his pallid cheek, hard. Emilia falls out of breath with that one single strike against that reddened, swelling cheek. The slapped Roswaal doesn't do anything, but instead Ram's face pales as she moves to stand up and—
Roswaal: “Ram.” Ram: “But, Roswaal-sama.” Roswaal: “It's fine. You can stay seated. Emilia-sama, my apologies for Ram.” Emilia: “This is what you're always like to me... but you're still saying nothing about Subaru...” Biting her lip, Emilia glares at the calm Roswaal. A furious rage churns in her amethyst eyes, but
Roswaal's composure remains completely unrattled.
Roswaal: “Leaving the mansion, and returning to the forest—would he have left you with some feeling?” Emilia: “I was wrong for going along with your wheedling. Atonement... my penance can be done in lots of other ways. I was mistaken about it. And because I was, Subaru died.”
Emilia closes her eyes in response to Roswaal's question, announcing her reply in quiet voice.
She gives a slight shake of the head. Emilia: “I'm bringing his soul with me and placing it peacefully to rest in the forest. —For Subaru and for the rest, no matter how long it takes, I'm devoting my time to their repose. And now, the conversation is over.”
Having no intention to speak with them any further, Emilia takes distance from Roswaal. Her hair sways with her departure, Roswaal watching on with his heterochromatic eyes. Still seated in his chair, his arm reaches out for the retreating back—and falls.
Roswaal: “Should this veer from the writ, then here... wooooooould be where my track ends.” Ram: “Roswaal-sama...” Whispers Roswaal powerlessly, Ram speaking with concern as she takes his hand. The clown glances at the girl gazing worriedly at him, a weak smile rising on his face.
Roswaal: “Ram, you would appear the winner of ooooooour bet. Here is where my purposes have likely hit an impasse... in short, the contract can be fulfilled.” Ram: “...Yes. Yes, Roswaal-sama.” With these two having their quiet exchange at the corner of her eye, Emilia proceeds toward Rem, who has stood up to open the door. Before passing her by, Emilia looks at Rem and her solemnly bowed head. Emilia: “Lead me to where Subaru is.”
Rem: “Emilia-sama, that would be...” Emilia: “I know he's in awful condition. I'll put him back to normal so much as I can... and, take him with me to the forest.”
Her expression stiffening at seeing Emilia's horrifically sorrowful face, Rem looks down. In her expression is something like regret, as well something like anger. She's surely conflicted on, why did it have to turn out like this?, he thought.
—Why did it have to turn out like that? Nobody could answer. Emilia: “I'm sorry, Subaru. —I couldn't even do anything.” Murmurs Emilia, at the close.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
—Say his foolishness strikes him countless times, would he be capable of understanding?
???:デス、デス！ デスデスデスデス、デス！！
Out echoes the high, shrill cackle. Chest swelled, mouth agape, drool dribbling from their lips as they hoot, the young redhead girl violently musses her hair. With this woman's repellent behaviour, and more importantly with the mad gawking of her bloodshot eyes, she is clearly lacking in decent humanity.
Girl: “To love! Of love! By love! In love! To repay love! Is to what
AMOUNTS! Aaah! Oh Witch! Oh Witch And Well Beloved! Oh Site Of My Love's Harbour!”
Fallen to her knees with arms stretched to the sky, tears torrent from her eyes the girl extols love. In the environs of this crazed girl are many cadavers scattered in a sea of blood. Limbs plucked, necks gouged, corpses violated of their human dignity. Among them is the corpse of a black-haired boy, who stuck himself through the throat with a sword.
Pools of blood drown the ground of Arlam Village, every member of the armed subjugation squad too lying prone, their lives extinguished in entirety. The moment the surprise attack felled the squad's primary powerhouse, the Sword Demon, the trend was set. What remains is a massacre brought by UNSEEN HANDS, death wails ringing out in turn as the last of the numbers meet their end.
Girl: “What ought my diligence! What ought my downing of the slothful be called, if not a deed
LOVE! Aaah! The Fidelity Of My Love, The Fidelity Of My Creed, My Love Never To Waver! Receive it! Accept it! I beg it be
ENSCONCER!!”
This woman screaming loves, trailing tears, howling in a sea of blood—her flesh stolen and mind invaded by the fiend, Betelgeux Romanée-Conti. The madman had caught Subaru's group in one fell swoop, and despite having lost his cultists, he continues stridently shrieking love. When—
???: “—Something's happened?”
Says a winded girl, running down from the path continuing out from the village. She annoyedly gets the silver hair sticking to her forehead out of the way, her amethyst eyes looking over the slaughter. —Emilia's eyes shoot open at the villagers drowned in an ocean of blood, and she notices—
Emilia: “Suhba, rhu?”
—That collapsed in the middle of the carnage is a boy she knows of well. Just what was the emotion which flicked through Emilia's mind in that instant? The feelings churning in her wide-open eyes are too complex, that not anybody, and not even herself would know.
Emilia's lips simply tremble as she, Emilia: “Why, is... Subaru, sleeping th... huh?” ???: “Lia! Huge trouble, it's the Witch Cult! The sins're... why at this timing!?” Her expression stunned, Emilia fails to accept reality. In contrast to her, Puck flies out in a terribly panicked state. He flies around Emilia's surroundings as he fixes his glare on Betelgeux, the only one left standing in the carnage. Puck's black eyes host intense wariness and hostility.
Puck: “Lia! Right now, really right now! Get away from here right now! Meeting that thing... meeting a Cardinal of Sin is an absolute don't! The Trial'll start! If you're saddled with that, it's gonna be something terrifying!”
Emilia: “Puck?” Puck: “I remembered, just now, finally! Meeting that... meeting him finally made me remember!
Why did I forget about this... and there's so many things I still can't recall... so long as it's not like this, make it so I can't remember... but if that's true!” Facing the sky, stretching his little body out as far as it will go, Puck screams. Puck: “You said different—ECHIDNAAA!!” His voice echoes loud with panic, loud with loathing. He shakes his head with his breathing ragged.
The complete change in this person so familiar to her strikes Emilia speechless. Having heard the scream, the madman, slowly, stands upright.
Beet: “What have we here... Why, I am pleased to
YOU!” Betelgeux's upper body slants aside as he violently yanks at his hair, bustles pulled at out the unmoderated force, droplets of blood welling from his scalp. Witnessing this self-injury, terror and disgust flash through Emilia's eyes.
Beet: “I am Witch Cult Cardinal of Sin, Bishop of Sloth—Betelgeux
-CONTI!”
Cackling, the madman retains his slanted posture as he stares, observing Emilia's neck, upper body, practically licking her over. Beet: “...In, credible.” He lets slip a sigh of wonder.
Peal—the sound of applause. Betelgeux claps his hands, directing his applause at Emilia. Beet: “
! How such a form so suited for the vessel! How such a visage so reminiscent of the Witch in life! Should a vessel of such vivacity have been prepared then there is not a single moment
DEBATE! The Trial! To determine whether the witch factor shall take root, the Trial!”
Puck: “Shut it, madman! You just try taking a single step closer to her! I'll make you regret being born! Entirely!”
Beet: “In face of love, ache and fear and all sum become offerings of sacrifice... you propose no rationale
STOPPING!”
With laggard steps the madman approaches—but Puck merely trembles, unable to do anything.
Puck: “Wh, y. Why, does this moment have to be where I... no, that's wrong. I'm remembering. Wrong. Right, that's wrong, wrong! Wrong! I'm... I-I...”7
Emilia: “Puck! Wh-what should I... what should I do!? I-I'm... I mean Subaru, over there he's...!”
Beet: “The Trial! I choose the terminus for this diligent soul
HERE! An occupied vessel will influence the
INJECTED! These innards—
UNNEEDED!”
Emilia frantically calls for the distressed Puck. Betelgeux walks on without any hesitation, approaching the confused pair. Twiddling all his fingers in very strange motions, licking his lips, Betelgeux triggers all of Emilia's internal danger signals to full throttle. Seeing his crazed eyes, Emilia swallows her breath, and with her voice weak—
Emilia: “No... dad, I'm scared...”
She murmurs, clinging for someone to rely on. Seeking help in a voice so quiet, no one would hear it.
Betelgeux completely ignores the whisper, reaching his arms out for Emilia. Next would be him outstretching the invisible UNSEEN HANDS of his Authority of Sloth. He goes to catch Emilia's rigid body, ready to actualize his evil plot—
Puck: “—Get your filthy hands away from my daughter!!”
—And a wall of ice, possessing incredible thickness and height, appears before Emilia. The wall divides the space between Emilia and Betelgeux, with more of them bursting from the earth to expand the divide. Instantly, Betelgeux with his once-outstretched UNSEEN HANDS jumps backwards in retreat.
Beet: “What—!”
Puck: “Finally, I remembered the most important thing... If it's to protect this, then contracts and bindings and goddamn whatever don't matter for crap. Got bound to this worthless thing, and now, I remember it.”
7 Puck's pronoun changes from his usual 'boku' to 'ore'. Bold I's from Puck are 'ore', italics are 'boku'. I's that are neither bold nor italic mean the line had no pronoun in the japanese and I added it to make more readable. Puck's speaking style changes drastically on some lines from this point. If pressed to describe it, I would call it 'a lot like Subaru'. For other lines it sounds more like normal Puck.
Betelgeux's voice trembles, shaken as the cat quietly announces his piece.
All signs of his previous disarray are gone as the spirit glares at the madman, expression liberated.
Puck: “I remember why it's that I'm like this. It's to protect my daughter, finally—if the confine for doing that was this, that damn asshole.” Emilia: “Puck—a,” Emilia reaches her fingers out for an irritated Puck, when her throat freezes.
At her breast is a crystal emitting green light. That is the homespace for the spirit Puck, a precious stone tying him and Emilia together. That crystal, even though she had not touched it, crumbles to dust.
Emilia: “Th... wh-why!”
Puck: “I... I broke the confine, so the dues've started. So from the beginning it was taken into consideration even that it'd turn out like this... but that said.” Turning around, Puck floats down to meet eye level with Emilia.
Emilia's eyes waver in confusion at Puck's actions. As he gazes at her, Puck's expression takes the hue of looking at something beloved. Puck: “Lia, this's goodbye.”
Emilia: “Wh...” Puck: The confine's broken, I can't stay tied to this body any more. The compensation for staying at your side is stolen too, it's impossible. —I'm sorry.
Emilia: “N-No, Puck, don't... I mean, everyone, everyone's gone away... Subaru's, he's... everyone's gone. They're gone! If you go away too, Puck, I... I, alone forever, I... don't wanna...” Whining like a child, horrendous tears trail from Emilia's eyes. Puck's long tail wipes away her tears, putting his lips to the point of his crying daughter's nose.
Puck: “Be a good girl and listen now. Ram's still at the mansion. Betty's around. If you absolutely need to, rely on Betty. She'll definitely have to accept this request. Though that said I think it's pretty unfair, knowing that and still requesting her.”
Emilia: “I! On someone other than you, I...” Puck: “—Goodbye. My most cherished in the world, cutest, lovely Emilia.” Emilia: “Wai—” Before Emilia can say anything, Puck's little body presses hard against her forehead.
Unable to withstand the unexpected force, Emilia's body goes swimming through the air behind her
—when instantly, a tear in space swallows up her slender frame. Emilia: “Wh—” Within a blink, Emilia's form disappears from the village. —Watching all this to the end, Puck gives a long sigh. Puck: “Sorry for pushing you to this, Beatrice.” He says, offering his apologies to the culprit behind her sudden disappearance.
Puck turns around, looking at the Betelgeux staring at him. Puck: “Just sitting there quietly watching... pretty good manners for a religious crazy, huh.” Beet: “It appeared that the instant I lifted a hand, you would be struck with urge to
ME.
Should I proceed to the mansion events will be entirely the
REGARDLESS. Purposeful aggravations were
UNNECESSARY.” Puck: “Got it. You go around like a crackpot, but your head's in surprisingly decent working order. —You damned scum.”
Spits Puck, scaling the wall of ice to reach Betelgeux's end. Not even Betelgeux pulls anything so reckless as attacking with UNSEEN HAND halfway through Puck's migration. They face each other, keeping a fixed distance between them.
Puck: “There's no time. —Get it started quick and get it ended quick. Everything afterwards I'll be dumping to my trusty little sister.” Beet: “Your tempo feels to
CHANGED. For a spirit, you stink of human.” Puck: “—Yeah probably would.”
Puck rubs his little hand against his pink nose, smiling cynically. Puck: “This's what I'm like now, but before my arms and legs were just a little longer, and if you can believe it my face wouldda been handsome. When my daughter's that cute, don't you think that's only natural?”
Beet: “...Your statements
ME.” Puck: “Well, nevermind it. You don't need to understand it... since anyway, you're dying here.” Puck points his arms towards Betelgeux as his body begins turning white.
He is running out of mana, and losing ability to keep ahold of his body. This would be influenced from his breaking of ties with Emilia, and probably also have to do with the breaking of the confine he mentioned.
Either way, the contours of his form begin to fade— Puck: “Before I'm gone, you're gone. My partner in death's a religious nut, gross.” Beet: “I
TO TELL that for bringing about my cessation, abolishing this body accomplishes
—” Puck: “I'm freezing your soul alongside. —I do that, and then what happens?” Up until now having kept an unshakable, fearless smile, Betelgeux's expression freezes.
The madman's eyes shoot open wide. Puck smiles as if in utter enjoyment. Puck: “Ahha—now there's the face I wanted to see, moron.” Simultaneous with the outline of the spirit unlacing, a white radiance blasts forth, and—
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
—Forced to witness ended worlds in sequence, Subaru lies toppled on the ground.
He couldn't exactly tell where he was anymore. Was this reality, or was it a dream? Was he having one of the repeating nightmares? Supposing he determined them as nightmares, would he be permitted to sort everything up and away? Were they purely just potentials? Or did they actually happen? Or weren't they just Subaru's brain coming up with very convenient worlds? If so then what was with them, flowing with all this information Subaru obviously didn't know? Worlds born from delusion? Were the differing realities encroaching on each other? Whichever possibility it was, the torment to Subaru's heart was colossal. So colossal that he could not stand, not straight, not raise his head, not at all. And so—
???: “Are you no longer able to stand? Subaru-kun?”
He hears someone at his side, speaking words to tenderly uplift his heart. That was the voice of someone precious, he feels.
Subaru: “—”
The hot track of a tear which should not be spilling draws its trail down Subaru's cheek.
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