CHAPTER 87: ONI OUT, CLOWNS IN
Two surprised gazes land on the out-of-breath, just-barged-in Subaru. Both of these people were ones Subaru considered entirely unrelated to the concept of 'looking surprised'. Feeling some satisfaction at their reactions, the wicked smile on Subaru's face intensifies.
Roswaal: “—A bet?”
Mutters Roswaal on the bed as he narrows his odd-coloured eyes. His face with its supposed clown make-up is presently devoid of any paint, and bare. This was the plain face of Roswaal, which Subaru had only seen once before during any loop series.
The skin beneath his white cosmetics is pallid. Without his eyeliner his looks give a homespun rather than sharp vibe, the impression incredibly and excessively different from what Roswaal himself puts out. His face—which when wearing makeup appears that of someone calculating and shady—transforms swiftly into that of a fine young lad, just by ditching the paint. Handsome's handsome without needing anything, is how Subaru internally appraises the bare face as he gives Roswaal's mutter a nod.
Subaru: “Yeah, a bet. You and me, staking a wish... a real one-shot make-or-break.”
Roswaal: “—”
Subaru raises his finger as he magnificently states his line. Roswaal's expression is one of careful scrutiny over the proposal. But before he can say anything, a silhouette cuts into the space between them—it's the pink-haired maid, Ram. Roswaal to her back, Ram's gaze as she faces Subaru is severe. While Ram's looks toward Subaru are usually sharp, and she is always ready to scold him should there be opportunity, that does not compare at all to her eyes in this moment.
Ram: “Hold, Barusu. You come barging into the room, and just when we wonder what you're going to say... do you mean to burden Roswaal-sama in his convalescence? Surely disrespect in the utmost.”
Subaru: “Considering his actual situation, injury or sickness's a pretty weak reason to be easing up on him. And that's all unrelated to his looseness of tongue or blackness of spirit... I'm gonna be having him push himself for a sec.”
Ram: “Barusu—”
Subaru: “And I'm gonna be doing it no matter what anyone says!”
Ram's eyes host a blend of irritation and dangerousness. But before she can act, Subaru takes the initiative by giving the floor a big, loud stomp. He points at Ram, who halts in caution.
Subaru: “I've got no reason to stop or need to hesitate. We had enough of a thing between us for at least this much, Roswaal.”
Roswaal: “—Hrm.”
Subaru: “Or is some straying from your diary all it takes for you to sulk and your motivation to shoot to zero? Where's your backbone to get a little bit crazy for your coming selves?”
Roswaal: “...An intriguing statement. My coming selves, hm.”
Subaru chooses his words so that they will communicate to Roswaal without directly touching on the topic of RETURN BY DEATH. Ram's brows furrow in confusion, but Roswaal does look to comprehend. A slight vigour returns to his lifeless face.
Roswaal: “Ram. Stand down. ...No, raaaaaaather, could you excuse yourself outside for a moment?”
Ram: “...Yes, but, Roswaal-sama.”
Roswaal: “Nothing to worry, nothing to worry. Subaru-kun isn't thoughtless enough to suddenly start attacking just beeeeeeeecause we're alone. And it would be very easy to defeat him anyway. Yeeeeeees?”
Subaru: “Yeah, pathetic as it is. If we got into strength-wise combat, I'm not confident I could even pull him off the bed.”
Ram's cheeks twist in tooth-grinding frustration as Subaru gives his assent, waving his empty hands about. She again sends Roswaal her gaze, gloomy.
Ram: “—I request you might abstain from anything that may encumber you.”
After a dignified curtsey, she heads for the exit of the room. She sends Subaru a glance just before passing him by.
Ram: “—There'll be no concessions should anything happen to Roswaal-sama.”
Subaru: “Rather you worry more about him pulling something in his self-destructive fit.”
Seeing Ram off with a shrug, Subaru watches the door shut before turning back to face Roswaal. Roswaal's expression remains thoughtful as he closes one eye, catching Subaru in the gaze of the yellow.
Roswaal: “Again your expression looks cooooooonsiderably different from what it was at parting laaaaaaaaaast night. Has some mental shift occurred in only these few hours?”
Subaru: “Mental shift, 's I guess not wrong. Got a lecture, had a punchout, and then friendship... or really no it was too one-sided to be a punchout and felt more like having a re-realization.”
Touching the cheek that Otto punched, Subaru thinks back on the still-faintly-red happening from this morning. Despite his delicate frame, Otto is surprisingly strong. Probably came from a difference in the number of dilemmas he's been through compared to Subaru. Subaru had gotten in quite a few confrontations since coming to this world, but apparently he hasn't caught up yet.
Subaru: “Seriously though what a vicious world...” Roswaal: “Really now, is it. Weeeeeell, we had just confirmed yesterday as well that I hadn't cornered you enough, buuuuuuut it seems no mistake to judge that your comeback was swift.”
Subaru: “Still at my absolute limit though. ...Just doing everything I can.” It feels like Otto's words and fists have slapped his warped willpower back straight. And used a horrifically graceless, simple method to do it. Having a friend punch you back on track was incredibly babyish, and if it had happened to someone else then Subaru definitely would've poked fun at them for it. Subaru: “But I don't think it was bad. Getting a buddy's help when the stalemate looks about hopeless and figuring things out feels good.”
Roswaal: “Naive. Young, immature. ...Ultimately you can only solve the suffering of this world by yourself. These nerveless ideas about relying on friends are unneeded for you.” Subaru: “Relying on friends, relying on ties, relying on feelings... not gonna work out, huh?” Roswaal: “Wooooon't work at all.” Subaru: “Really. —Well then, all we can do now is challenge each other.” Roswaal's expression shifts. Subaru approaches Roswaal on the bed, stepping forth as he clicks his fingers, and points the clicked finger at Roswaal. Subaru: “As said, let's make a bet. The chip is a wish, the table is a one-round limit.” Roswaal: “Let's listen toooooooo what there is to hear.” Confirming that Roswaal is not outright rejecting the proposal, Subaru aims his outstretched finger to the ceiling as he proofs the prerequisites. Subaru: “On this attempt, I won't be acting in accord with your hopes. And that's not limited to just now, I'm not intending to accord on following attempts either, but... even saying I keep insisting that, it's just a parallel line between me and you. So let's establish a limit.” Roswaal: “A limit?” Subaru nods. Subaru: “Yeah.” He wets his lips with his tongue, glaring Roswaal straight in the eye.
Subaru: “On this attempt I'll bust through things using my way. And if it looks to be a bungle... from next time onwards I'll act the way you want me to. That's the limit.”
Roswaal: “—You're dismissing the privileges of your ability to redo?” Subaru: “You said it yourself. Your methods for cornering me weren't enough. I agree. —The consequences of getting cocky about redoing was that debacle.”
Though of course he has no intention to entirely disown the concept. What could Natsuki Subaru manage in this cruel world without RETURN BY DEATH? He had no intention to invalidate the boons he had gained through RETURN BY DEATH, and nor to be shameless about them. But his thought process had changed. He'd do whatever he could, and if that ended in a RETURN BY DEATH then he would begrudgingly accept it. But if that was not the case, and he was dying before he lived to his full, then—
Subaru: “That's heresy against those who'd cry for me. I'm not doing that any more.”
Roswaal: “And that's what you're limiting yourself for... iiiiiis it. While I hadn't asked for it, it is a favourable condition fooooooor me, but where is your guarantee that you will abide by this? Subaru: “So, a guarantee.” Roswaal: “Yes, a guarantee. Those are veeeeeeery important. Aaaaaaafter all, you with your ability to redo can make it so that this promise neeeeeeeever happened. You fail, reset to return to last night, deeeeeeejectedly decide to attempt another method...”
Subaru: “Roswaal.” Subaru quietly calls the name of the anxiety-speaking Roswaal. His statements cut off and faced with Subaru's gaze, Roswaal's eyes widen slightly. Subaru continues, his tone of voice the same.
Subaru: “Do you think I'd do that?” Roswaal: “—” Subaru: “If you do, then... this talk isn't going to happen. That's all.” Roswaal narrows his eyes. Then lightly raises his hands, sighing. Roswaal: “No, nooooo,” Roswaal: “Let's heeeeeeeear the rest of it. I can decide at the end.” Subaru: “...Please. But like I said before, we'll set a limit. I'll put everything I have into this attempt.
If it doesn't work out then I'll do things the way you say to. Since either way... if this method doesn't work, I doubt there's anything left.”
Roswaal: “You're confident, is not the case here. But you are resolved. ...Weeeeell then, I will have to answer to that. Now, you're establishing a cutoff, and stating that this attempt is the last. So what could it be you're demanding frooooooom me, then?”
Roswaal's tone is beginning to return to normal. With these negotiations, exchanges, mutual agreement to ideas going on, Subaru claps his hands.
Subaru: “My demand's simple. Supposing hypothetically that on this attempt my methods break the deadlock, the consequent future will differ from your desires. In that case you'll probably lose will to live in a world differing from your gospel, but... there'll be none of that.”
Roswaal: “None of that, refers to me losing my determination? Hoooooowever, I'm forced to say that that is a difficult demand. While of course I likely could manage a superficial faaaaaaacade, in my truest thoughts I would...”
Subaru: “But whatever, Roswaal. It's not like I want us to always be as enemies.”
Roswaal: “—Hn?”
Roswaal tilts his head, confused by Subaru's statement. Subaru rubs his finger against his nose in response.
Subaru: “I know that you'd hate the future to differ from the gospel, and veer from the route for the future you decided. But even saying the future varies from the gospel, I'll still be bustling on all I want to make Emilia Ruler. And I'll definitely be relying on the power to redo. —Who cares about the route getting there, the ultimate results won't deviate from your goals.”
Roswaal falls silent.
Subaru: “My demand's simple, Roswaal. If I open a path to a continuing future which differs from the gospel... then you throw the gospel away and come with me. I'm making Emilia Ruler. I need your help for that.”
No matter what unforgivable deeds Roswaal sullies his hands with, his aid is necessary for Emilia's goals. Subaru himself still did harbour a lack of understanding, a lack of comprehension, and a disgust for him. Should things be left as they are on this timeline, then his machinations will conclude to an irreparable aftermath. —But Subaru himself would snuff that conclusion, and avoid a definitive divide.
Roswaal sighs a long, deep sigh. Eyes closed in thought as he strokes his chin, Roswaal's lips part slowly.
Roswaal: “That's the ultimate compromise you're looking for... I see, then.”
Subaru: “It's a pretty convenient thing though. But y'know, me, I love convenient things. Emilia puts in all her efforts and becomes Ruler, I celebrate that from beside her, and so now you come join us as one of the crowd included.” Roswaal: “This is a difficult proposition for me, when I have kept to one method for a long, loooooooong time. If you're to get me to act, theeeeeeen... that would necessitate strict conditions, yes?” Subaru: “Yeah, does.” Roswaal shuts one eye. Subaru gives him a nod as he raises two of his fingers.
Sensing that Roswaal's attention has focused on the tips of those two fingers, Subaru gives one of them a light flick. Subaru: “There's two conditions. Two conditions you said were impossible, never happening. Once I clear those conditions, I'm winner of the bet.”
Roswaal: “And should the conditions remain unfulfilled, the victory is mine. I will have you discard your humanity.” As he speaks in low, heavy tone, Roswaal watches Subaru with both eyes. Nodding, and in the path of Roswaal's gaze, Subaru grits his teeth once before slicing right to the topic.
Subaru: “First condition. —I make Garfiel an ally, and bring him outside.” Roswaal: “—” Subaru: “You said it's never gonna happen that SANCTUARY-obsessed Garfiel is gonna come outside. I agree. Agree, but... we need his strength, for the future too. And also out of consideration for the people of SANCTUARY, we can't just leave them with an impossible, tantruming kid. In the persuasion of Garfiel which you proclaimed isn't gonna happen, I am going to succeed.”
Roswaal: “—The second?”
The instant he hears the first condition, a darkness passes through the depths of Roswaal's eyes. But Subaru goes without mentioning it as he nods to Roswaal. Subaru: “—I'm gonna have Emilia beat the TRIAL. The one to overcome the tomb's TRIAL and free
SANCTUARY will be Emilia. Not me.” Roswaal: “That is impossible!” Yelling, Roswaal strikes his palm against the bed.
The thud rings out, Roswaal's visage twisted in rage. He squares his shoulders angrily, jabbing his finger at Subaru. Roswaal: “I informed you yesterday. That thing is incapable of beating the TRIAL. And it is not possible that Garfiel would abandon his obsession for SANCTUARY, either!”
Subaru: “Won't know that until I try it.”
Roswaal: “Exactly, you would not know that until you tried it. And is it not exactly because you have repeated that numerous times over that you came to me so entirely overwhelmed!? Your visage then, and your very resolve now, is the proof that those two do not merit any hope!”
Says Roswaal, practically yelling, his shoulders heaving up and down. While he takes ragged breath after ragged breath, it is Subaru whose expression remains calm. Subaru: “Well isn't that some fucking spirited anger.”
Roswaal: “What?” Subaru: “It's to your advantage that the conditions on me are strict. Makes no sense to start getting pissed about their harshness.”
Roswaal: “This is a discussion on a different dimension, of the potential realization of the bet. When it is not handicaps but in fact propriety which is questionable, the very outcomes of the bet are liable to ruin. It's natural that I would be cautious.”
Roswaal is untrustworthy of these conditions which are too disadvantageous to Subaru, and too advantageous to himself. But Subaru's cheeks twist at Roswaal's reaction. To deepen his wicked, wicked grin.
Subaru: “Roswaal, looks like you don't get it.” Roswaal says nothing. Subaru: “I'm too disadvantaged? Well yeah, glancing over them they definitely are harsh conditions.
Only with this much can you save face about having to revise your masterplan, is a thought I've been thinking. Is, but this is still about something else.” And with the smile still on his face, Subaru: “You're who said it, Roswaal.”
Roswaal: “—” Subaru: “When I'm cornered, I'm the strongest card. —It isn't in the shape you want, but you're talking to the strongest card without a doubt. Still unsatisfied?”
States Subaru definitively. Roswaal is silent. He simply stares fixedly at Subaru, getting his breaths back in order. And once his breathing has calmed down, Roswaal raises his finger.
Roswaal: “—Contract.” Subaru: “—”
Roswaal: “Fair enough. We'll have me aaaaaaaaccept these conditions you've presented. —The liberation of Garfiel from his curse, and Emilia-sama's liberation of SANCTUARY. Once both of these have occurred, I will discard my plan, and travel the path you construct. Let us form a contract for this purpose.”
A dim light flickers atop Roswaal's raised finger. The rainbow-coloured concentration of mana highly resembles the light Julius used in destroying Betelgeux, which was a combination of multiple classes of magic.
Roswaal: “Through our gates, we will carve the contract into our souls. No matter who you may deceive, you cannot deceive your own heart. —The contract engraved in our souls will persist over distance, over time, even over worlds. It will likely have effect against your resets, too.”
Subaru: “What, has to be something you can do about them. ...But, eh, convenient for me, doing this. We're both bound by contract, and it saves me time beating the tantrum out of you when you lose the bet.”
Roswaal: “It doesn't appear that you're regarding this lightly... but, very well.”
Roswaal does not say much about Subaru's willingness to accept the contract. The gleam on his finger moves to contact the centre of Subaru's chest, and then comes the sensation of something seeping into his body. Immediately, a wave pulses out from inside him, as if opening all the pores down his body. He exhales.
Subaru: “Au, hauhh—”
Roswaal: “Identically, I will engrave it on my soul. —Once Natsuki Subaru's contract has been fulfilled, Roswaal L. Mathers' contract shall also be fulfilled.”
The rainbow light bursts identically on Roswaal's chest. For an instant the glow permeates down Roswaal's whole body, him returning to normal in the space of a blink.
Subaru: “Is that the end?”
Roswaal: “That is the end. ...There's no rescinding it now.”
Confirming their mutual inability to flee, Subaru gives a small gulp. Roswaal puts his hand to his chest.
Roswaal: “Just as you shall invest your greatest efforts into fulfilling your conditions, I will be acting to actualize the gospel's writ. You won't fault me for that, will you?”
Subaru: “—The snowfall in five days is happening again.”
Roswaal: “...If Emilia-sama does not bring the snowfall, it will likely turn out thaaaaaaat I will be doing it.”
Meaning the time limit is set.
The Sizeable Hare will attack in five days' time. Emilia needs to liberate SANCTUARY, and Subaru needs to liberate Garfiel from his curse, before then. Subaru: “And with that, time is precious. I'm off getting started now.”
Roswaal: “Subaru-kun.” Subaru moves away from the bed to immediately start his activities, when Roswaal calls him. Subaru glances back. Roswaal averts his gaze somewhat.
Roswaal: “The mansion is the same day. —I'll be praying for your good fight.”
Subaru: “Because if I try my very hardest and fail, next time I'll probably act exactly how you want me to... right?” Roswaal: “—” Roswaal answers to Subaru's reply with silence.
After giving him a wry smile, Subaru finishes off by pointing at Roswaal. Subaru: “Roswaal, it's throwing your vibe off so put the clown makeup back on.” Roswaal: “Hrm, actually... this would be the first time I've spoken to you without cosmetics.” Subaru: “In this universe, yeah.” Subaru can tell that Roswaal's eyes widen at this insinuation.
Feeling Roswaal's reaction at his back, Subaru starts walking.
Subaru: “This's a match between me and you. A couple of clowns tossed around by fate—let's have us doing it fair and square.” With those words, he leaves the room.
The conditions of the bet are in place. —And so, here is where it begins. Natsuki Subaru's final challenge, with SANCTUARY's freedom as the wager.
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