3 ( PART 2).

His Captain wasn't one to wallow in self-righteous misery.

[An image of Emilia smiling brightly flashes.

Slowly,

Subaru's feet turn.

And he runs.

Yeah. If I have the knowledge that people, I used to know will be killed,

Images of Emilia, Felt, and Old Man Rom smiling at him play in his mind.

I can't just ignore it!]

"Man, he's cool." Otto admitted as he watched with a smile.

Garfiel just nodded and tapped his brother's shoulder with his fist while looking at the screen with wide star-filled eyes.

"YES! Cap'n is still there!" The blonde rejoiced in his thoughts, happy that he got to see such a fairy-tale like moment of his hero.

"He's an honorable young man." Julius let his lips quirk upwards for a moment. Subaru might have some stupid embarrassments, but he had his moments.

"So he's just running into the fray knowing he might die? What a depressing way to start a journey in another world." Al shook his head in disappointment. "He could've had a perfect way out. A life of peace."

"He would've eventually gotten roped into trouble. Barusu's ability to cause chaos is astounding." Ram retorted needlessly with a small grin on her face.

"At least he is helping innocent people." Felix grumbled silently, not liking how unprepared the boy was and knowing this fact might lead to him being injured and killed again.

Beside the cat boy, Petra was celebrating with her fists going up in the air.

"Settle down, Petra-chan!"

"S-Sorry, Frederica-sama!"

Meanwhile, the candidates had their own reactions to this scene.

One silver-haired half-elf, in particular, looked mortified and happy at the same time for what she had seen. She was worried about the boy, but her happiness that he chose not to leave her because of his goodwill to save others made her extremely admire and love the scene even more. "Subaru's coming back!" The half-elf happily chortled, looking tired from all the doubt and despair this showing had induced on her.

"At least he will meet Betty, I suppose." Beatrice kept her head resting on the limp arm beside her, feeling the boy's warmth to make sure he's alive and not cold and lonely. She held a smile on her face since she secretly still wanted him to return with the elf. Sadly enough, it was the only way she would get to meet him.

Anastasia herself looked like she was disappointed for a moment, "I woulda wanted ta see him grow his own business. But I get that he needed to be the hero for the lil' princess." At the end of the day, the merchant queen sighed and let her frustration go. After all, she probably would've never met the boy had it not for these chains of events.

"There he goes again." Crusch was thin-lipped as she watched with absolute focus. "He goes head first without thinking about himself again." The duchess muttered pointedly, not liking how troublesome this habit of the boys was.

"Big bro's the best." Felt warmly uttered with a shining smile. Feeling hope returning to her full force as the determination shown enlisted her to give him confidence.

He will save her! And everyone else in that damn loot house damn it!

Above all of them, the lady in red waved a leg in annoyance. "He passed trails with a power given by devils; all he can say is self-sufficient justice to make him appear in a better light. What a pig!"

Many glared at the red lady but she didn't give them the time of day as she waved a fan over her and kept her head high. Ignoring them all.

"Nasty lady…" Frederica muttered, not caring if her little protege heard her disrespect nobility or not.

[Subaru ran until he was back at the ever-so-familiar appa stand.

"Hey, mister!" Subaru stopped to catch his breath as the salesmen looked at him with an unimpressed stare.

"What do you want, broke kid?"

"There is something I want to ask you. Have there been any pick-pocketing incidents around here?"

"Asking questions without buying anything? You really do have guts."

Subaru looked worried at this but the man sighed, tired.

"Incidents like that aren't uncommon at all. Though, the last one was unusual… "

Subaru perked up at this.

"They threw some magic around in the streets a few times. Things that looked like icicles flew around and lodged in the wall. But they disappeared fast."

Subaru looked at a house beside him that had holes all over it as if something burst through the concrete.

"I'm too late? I thought if I could keep the insignia from being stolen, then maybe…"

"Maybe what?"

"Oh, just talking to myself, but… thanks, mister… for telling me, even though I didn't buy anything." Subaru smiled sincerely at the appa man.

The salesmen shows some compassion at this and chuckles. "It's no big deal! A broke kid, like you, just helped my daughter after she got lost earlier."

Subaru smiled as he thought about Emilia.]

Emilia blushed faintly and caressed her knight's hand.

["I guess fate is a compelling force, too… "

"What're you smiling about?"

"Nothing! I'll buy an appa next time!" Subaru turned to leave.

"Sure. Buy one, and you'll be a customer. Get to work, broke kid!"

Subaru raised his thumb in the air as he ran away from the man.

"That means there's only one way! Before Elsa comes to the loot house, I have to buy the insignia from Felt, and return it to Satella."]

"He's already got a plan. Perfect." Mimi rubbed her hands evilly getting excited by the boy's determination.

Emilia winced one more time when she heard him refer to her as Satella once again.

["Wait…"

Subaru is running through a few alleyways as he thought about something.

"'Satella' was just an alias, wasn't it? Then I've gotta get her to tell me her real name this time-"

Subaru stops as he finds the exit to the alleyway blocked by the same fucking thieves.]

"This is seriously boriiiing!"

"Come on, In fact!"

"T's is a joke!"

["What are you babbling about?"

"If you don't wanna get hurt, cough up whatever you got."

Subaru looks at them, deadpanned.

"I'm getting sick of seeing your faces, Larry, Moe, and Curly. After doing this four times I've learned my lesson!"

The thieves appeared to be taken aback by him as he took a deep breath.

The three looked at him as he readied himself.]

"Beat their ass Cap'n take rev'nge!"

"Yeah!"

Otto and Garfiel stood with their brother. To the very end.

[Subaru kicked the ground.

And screamed like a bitch.

"Guard!"

"What the hell, you bastard?!" The three looked around in fright.

Subaru smirked. My memory from before was right.

The time he was killed by them was shown as a flashback.

This world does have some kind of police force!

"Someone! P-Please, I need a man!" Subaru imitated a woman as he screamed for help.]

Garfiel was laughing his ass off while Otto stood beside him to face the crowd.

"We don't know this man." with a deadpanned delivery he sat down beside the dying Garfiel as he cried tears from the laughter.

The people in the room chuckled and giggled at the way Subaru sounded.

Even Emilia, Rem, and Beatrice couldn't help but let a few silent giggles at the boy's display. Fond as it is, they were still under the influence of the heavy show they watched.

A little happiness by laughter goes a long way. Even if the watchers were only relieved for a few seconds…

But no one was happier than…

"This is it." Reinhard whispered as he remembered the situation clearly.

["Damn it, shut up!"

"No, don't touch me… stop. I can't hear you, you're not being sincere enough. Police… Huh?" Subaru stopped screaming like a bitch and looked around nervously as no one came to his rescue.

"Don't scare me like that! I might have freaked out, just a little." the larger thieve got his barrings together and smirked uneasily at Subaru.

"Just a little bit."

"Just a tiny little bit."

All of the thieves quickly took out their weapons, revealing that all of them had blades and knives all along.

"Trying to run won't help you."]

Julius looked genuinely displeased, "He will have to go through them by force again."

"It may be another false endin' for the poor lad." Ricardo pointedly added.

"I swear…!" Felt gritted her teeth with absolute hatred as she waited to see if she actually should imprison those three and torture them for a lifetime.

[Subaru glares at them as he prepares to fight.]

Rem did not like the look on his face. She was displeased that the boy she loved would constantly be fighting for his life even after the horrible endings he's met. The maid's only hope was the fact that she knew he would eventually reach her. She would take care of him. He was her Subaru-kun.

But for now, she would have to watch as the boy struggled against obstacles he didn't deserve to face alone.

[Then…

A voice sounded out.

"That's enough."]

Emilia looked more than thankful that someone came by to help Subaru this time. She also recognized who's the voice was.

"Yes!" Petra, the smart little girl whisper shouted to herself as soon as she saw the figure and realized who it was that came to her hero's rescue.

[Everyone looked behind Subaru to find an imposing figure standing in the light.

"Red hair."

"And a knight's sword, with scratches made by dragon claws."

"It can't be… Reinhard?"

"The master swordsmen Reinhard?"

The charming knight smiled at this.

"Seems I needn't introduce myself. Though, that nickname is a bit much. I don't know how much my modest strength could aid him. But if you wish to resort to extreme measures, as a knight, I would have to fight back." Reinhard stood side by side with Subaru and faced the goons.

Slowly, Reinhard moved his hands over his sword handle as if he was about to unsheathe it.

"S-Screw this! It's not worth it!" The three thieves ran away scared from the Sword Saint's glare.

Reinhard smiled as he let his hands fall at his sides and looked at the bewildered Subaru.

"I'm glad we're both safe. Are you unhurt?"

Reinhard charmingly asked.]

"Is this…?" Rem glanced towards the red-haired knight sitting to the side of the front row with near hope filling her blue irises. "Is this something you remember, Sword Saint-sama?"

The knight couldn't help but shoot the quivering maid a small pleasant smile as his own excitement and happiness nearly filled the air around him contagiously, "Yes. This is exactly how I met Subaru."

It didn't dawn sooner on the others around him what that had meant. Not until the small blonde sitting beside the affirming knight quickly took his collar in her fists and made him face her standing glare.

"Rein, does this mean what I think it means?!"

The powerful knight smiled reassuringly at his desperate yet hopeful plea from his lady.

"This I remember clearly." he affirmed their question with a nod and a bright smile, "Subaru and mine's meeting was exactly like this."

By now, people started to catch the meaning of the knight's words, "This means…"

"That he might not meet his doom this time around." Julius carried through Otto's sentence. Seeping surprise painted both their faces as both young men couldn't help but feel relief for their black-haired friend's safety.

"Oh~" Anastasia's eyes lit up with rapid curiosity, "This means we're gonna see him deal with the assassin for the last time. I'm more than curious to see how he plays it right this go 'round."

As the merchant queen sounded her own excitement to see how Subaru succeeds this time, a pair of blue looked upright toward her with surprising bewilderment, "Assassin?"

"Why deary you must've noticed that the Bowel Hunter was paid by someone to steal your sponsor's insignia, ain't she? Meaning that she's a hired help to another shadowy figure that has it out for yer princess." Anastasia answered Rem's faint question, reminding both, the maid and the silver-haired half-elf sitting in front of her of the true issue Subaru was trying to stop.

It wasn't just his deaths and constant reworking of time he was dealing with. Both Rem and Emilia realized what nearly all of the other candidates, knights, maids, and the great spirit sitting beside them had been in the know of since this all started.

Subaru was also dropped in the middle of a great conspiracy that held the royal throne as its interest and he was unwillingly dying tortuously because he didn't have a single idea of what was happening around him.

"W-Who could this contractor be?" Emilia whispered brokenly, her guilt seemingly increasing by the second as she realized how much her involvement caused Subaru so much pain. The silver-haired girl hadn't also forgotten that there was someone out there actively trying to kill her.

"As much as I wish we have more to tell you, Emilia-sama, I can't help but disappoint. We don't know anything about the people who sent Elsa after you."

Emilia nodded her head, thankful for reassurance yet still at her wit's end with the knowledge that nothing has been found of her would-be murderer… or successful murderer… had it not been for Subaru's cruel power.

"I have so much to make up for…". Emilia whispered in staunch determination, vowing to help put these people to justice and give them the punishment fitting for the pain they've caused this random kid that did nothing but get kidnapped into their world.

She did not see how the pink-haired maid that had answered her turned towards the silent lord of their camp with a look of desperation.

"R-Roswaal-sama…". Ram's voice quivered in fear, her eyes wide as she soon figured out exactly who placed Elsa to perfect his robbery that caused Subaru literal lives.

She couldn't believe it… Was this what the book's gaol had entrusted her master to do?

Was her beloved really that cruel?

"Let us just watch, Ram." Roswaal shocked her with a tone of a broken, haunted, downright child-like confusion as he too wanted answers to receive but couldn't have them from anyone in this room.

"Let me watch… Please." He begged silently with no accents.

The maid relented… afraid and worried about what her master had done to both himself and the boy sleeping on the other side of the theater.

[Subaru smiled and straightened his back with his hand on his heart.

"A-Allow me to thank you, from the bottom of my heart, for saving my life! I, Natsuki Subaru, deeply admire your selflessness!" trying to act cool and respectable in front of Reinhard, Subaru spoke in a grateful tone.

Reinhard just smiled at this. "No need for such formality. Once it was three against two they lost their advantage. If I'd been alone, it would have been different."

Subaru just looked at Reinhard in disbelief.

H-His nice-guy index is off the charts.]

Reinhard smiled and rubbed his head, sheepish and embarrassed that this was his friend's first thought about him. A little flattered even.

"So humble~" Felix sang from the back, making a few chuckle at the knight's overall attitude.

"You seem to have hit it off better than I had," Julius noted monotonously, looking a little displeased with the scene yet not wanting to overturn his happiness that Reinhard managed to have a normal friend that did not know of his power or status.

[Reinhard smiled innocently at him.

Subaru just sighed in shame that he wasn't like him. But had a look of conviction on his face as he looked up at the knight.

"Uh… Reinhard-san, right?"

"You may just call me Reinhard, Subaru." Reinhard replied cheerfully.

Subaru looked a little nervous.

He closed our distance like it was nothing…]

"Sounds like you just wanted a friend!" Felt looked at the knight beside her smugly, as if this was a recurring thing between them.

Reinhard himself gave a graceful apologetic smile, "Subaru was just too interesting to not converse with, Felt-sama."

"I told you to go outside and get some friends already." The blonde replied smugly and turned away from the embarrassed hero.

Wilhelm watched the entire interaction with an unreadable look in his sharp eyes aimed for his grandson at the front. The old man's frown was clear on his lips, however.

["Well thanks again Reinhard, You're the only one who heard me shouting and came to help… talk about lonely." Subaru looked defeated at this.

"For most, it's too risky to face off against people like them. As far as it goes, you were right to call for the guards."

Subaru looked at Reinhard's attire.

"Are you a guard Reinhard? You don't look like one… "]

"How ironic." Felix chuckled heartily while Julius and Reinhard just smirked at the situation. A normal person calling the greatest Sword a 'guard or something'.

This wasn't lost on the candidates either as most of them reacted with small chuckles and smirks of amusement while Emilia just pursed her lips in displeasure as Subaru's lack of knowledge about their world's mythos reminded her that he's still calling her Satella instead of his loving Emilia-tan.

"It is really convenient that Natsuki-san ran into the all-mighty Sword Master on his first day of being in the capital," Otto noted thoughtfully.

"Mhm! Right when he needed help as well!" Petra chirped cheerfully, on clouds of relief since she thought Subaru would ask for Reinhard's help to deal with that scary woman.

Frederica patted the girl's head affectionately, happy that the little one was strong enough to forget about the dark endings her hero faced to get to this point.

Frederica's golden-haired brother, however, didn't have the same compacity for relief as his sister as his thoughts were waning a harsh reality on him.

Reinhard must've not succeeded in stopping the black-wearing vampire… If he had, then why did his Captain enlist Garfiel's own shields to stop her in the mansion?

"This is trippy…" Garfiel growled in disgust as he realized that his captain must've dealt with way more than just these two deaths… The blonde looked hardened enough to take this fact that Subaru must've died somewhere else but his heart sang a different tune of despair and remorse that he wasn't good enough to help his hero.

"Sorry, Cap'n." The boy whispered dryly and continued to watch the legendary meeting between his heroes on the screen with a grim expression.

["I'm off duty today, so I'm not in uniform. And I realize that I don't appear particularly intimidating." Reinhard shrugged sheepishly.

"Come to think of it, didn't they call you a master swordsman?"

"My family is fairly unique. Every day I feel I'll be crushed by their expectations. "

Subaru looked at Reinhard with pity as he noticed the glint of sadness in his blue eyes.]

"R-…"

"What was that, Wilhelm-dono?" The duchess inquired of her servant.

"... Forgive me, Crusch-sama. A slip of the tongue." the older butler kept his tone of dinginess and carried through watching the screen with no more to add.

The Duchess glances at him before shrugging and watching with interest how Subaru will enlist the help he needs here. This formula for dealing with things seems very familiar to her. It looked just like what he had done when he enlisted her to help him in his fights after all.

She wanted to see if the boy had actually believed in this power of his yet. If he actually started using it in ways other than his own death.

The duchess was more than interested now. She wanted to know more about this journey of his just like the merchant beside her and bemused red princess above.

[The swordsmen killed his sadness and turned to Subaru. "Anyway, Subaru… You have quite the unusual hair, apparel, and name. What nation are you from?" Reinhard sounded excited as he asked this.

Subaru looked down at his clothing.

"At the moment, Lugunica is a bit more restive than in peacetime. If you have a problem, I'd be glad to help you."

Subaru's face lit up immediately. "Would you come to the loot house?!" Subaru asked filled with hope.

"The loot house?"

Flashes of when he held Emilia's hand as she died beside him played, spooking him and making him rethink this decision.

"N-Never mind… Forget it. I can't trouble you with that…" Subaru looked a little spooked by something as he shrugged his worries off.]

"Why didn't he…"

"It's because he thinks he can save everyone before Elsa arrives," Julius answered for everyone in a disappointed tone at his friend's pride.

"I think he just didn't want to involve any more people. He probably thought Reinhard-sama was not so strong as to battle Elsa." Surprisingly enough, Ram was the one to retort on Subaru's behalf this time.

[Reinhard noticed this and stared at the boy unconvinced.

"I'll handle the rest on my own, somehow."]

"Absolute fool…"

Beatrice was surprised to hear this right before she said it herself to insult her own contractor's idiocy. And more so from the person who spoke it.

Roswaal grits his teeth silently, his fingers intertwined in a death grip as he seethed in place at the boy's stupid mentality.

"Ah, shit. This is going to go south isn't it?" Ricardo shook his head knowingly as soon as he heard those fatal words.

"Yeah, something gonna go wrong… If it does go without backup." Tivey murmured beside him.

"Thankfully it didn't happen since this idiot was there to help us when we needed him!" Felt, now encouraged by the fact that Subaru wasn't about to die again, had no problem with displaying her confidence in the knight beside her.

"So you went there even when Subaru brushed you off?" Julius asked with surprised gratitude.

Reinhard shuffled in his seat while muttering, "I just felt something was wrong with him and had to check for myself."

"Thank you, Hero-sama." Rem said without hesitation, smiling brightly at the man. Felt nodded her head with pride, glad her friend was being acknowledged.

[Subaru smiled and waved at the knight as he walked away, but stop for a moment.

"But… I'd appreciate it if you could deliver a message."

"I'd be glad to, of course. To whom? And what?"

"Well, I don't know her name, but… have you seen a girl with white robes and silver hair nearby?"

"White robes and silver hair?"

Subaru suddenly turned around and pointed at Reinhard with a wide smile.

"She's also extremely gorgeous!"]

"Suuuubaru!" A sweet bell-like voice squeaked in embarrassment as one lady with extremely red-tipped pointy ears hid her face from the others around her.

Rem couldn't help but giggle at Emilia's reaction even though it hurt hearing him say that a bit.

Crusch was also smiling at the girls with amusement as she remembered a few words spoken on a moving carriage between her and the blue-haired girl.

"This is amusing, I have to admit."

["No, I haven't"

"Then, if you do see her, tell her not to go near the loot house, no matter what. I'll find what she's looking for and bring it to her myself." Subaru smiled confidently

"Very well. If I see her, I shall relay your message."

"Thanks. I'll repay you one day!" Subaru quickly turned and ran to the loot house.

"Yeah. Take care." Reinhard continued to look at Subaru as he ran.]

"So that's why you were near the slums that day," Felt concluded.

Reinhard nodded. "I knew something was going to happen with Subaru from the divine blessing of emotion-sensing and all I sensed was intense fear."

[The scene changes to the rooftops of the slums.

"Felt's den?" Subaru is seen talking with the same guy that pointed him and Emilia to Rom's loot house in the first loop.

"Yeah, just two streets down that way."

"Thanks so much! I appreciate it, bro!"

"Don't mention it, bro. Live strong."]

"Damn snitches! Can't have garbage in these slums!" Felt facepalmed as she learned how Subaru got to her secret hideout.

"Even privacy is not welcome in the slums huh." Otto laughed nervously, thinking of how him and the camp will go about fixing such piracy places in the kingdom if Emilia should take the throne.

When she took the throne…

"You don't even know…". Felt's tone was one of pure warning and seriousness. Nothing to joke about.

It truly made the merchant boy wonder what gave him or anyone else the right to rule over such a place… Shouldn't people who actually lived through these struggles take the lead into fixing them?

The head interior shook his head and kept a firm grip on the object in his pocket. His desperation to fix it and see what help it could offer increasing even though he knew it was wrong.

[Subaru sped up his walk as the sun began setting.

"The question is whether Felt will return there… I'd rather catch her before she goes to the loot house and trade her the cell phone for the insignia-"

BUMP!

"Whoa!" Subaru bumped into someone while he was walking with his eyes on his phone.]

"He's still planning on giving up such a valuable thing, I suppose," Beatrice grumbled disappointingly.

"He is doing so for my sake." Emilia admitted with increasing guilt.

"Betty should be there to smack him on the head, in fact. So don't start wallowing in shame now." The spirit surprised Emilia with a few detached words of comfort. Not even glancing at her but keeping a firm grip on Subaru's arm while she glared at the theater with her butterfly-shaped irises.

"He's clumsy with that thing." Frederica winced at the harsh bump he received for his inattention.

"It's not his fault, he's trying to make a plan to help!" Petra defended softly even though Frederica wasn't refuting the notion. The older maid found it adorable how quick to defend him the little one was.

"Hold on!" All eyes turned to the shouting shocked looking, Felt. "That cloak!" she pointed with a horrified expression, making the rest of the cast turn and see what she was pointing at.

"Oh, hells!" Ricardo grumbled loudly, already distasteful towards the person on the screen.

["Oh, Dear! I'm sorry. Are you all right?" the person called as Subaru was about to fall on his ass.]

"Oh no!" Petra screamed in fear as soon as she recognized the voice.

Everyone was now leaning in since confusion began to fill them.

"I thought ya' said that this was the one?" Anastasia inquired seriously of the shocked Sword Saint.

"It's supposed to be…" Reinhard muttered silently, watching with worry clear in his eyes.

[Subaru managed to regain his footing and smiled at the person.

"Yeah, I'm fine. I don't look it, but toughness is one thing I… have… "

Subaru opened his eyes and noticed just who it was standing before him.

Flashes played of the times she smirked at him. His hand instinctively held the area on his stomach as of protecting his bowels.

Before him… was Elsa.

She giggled a bit. "What is the matter? You don't have to be scared; I won't do anything to you."

"I… I'm not scared… what gave you that idea?"

"Your scent. When people are scared, I can smell their fear. Right now, you're frightened. You are also angry, yes? At me."]

"Hmph. The fool couldn't even mask his emotions. Worthless." Priscilla tutted while swinging her fan in boredom.

"He's a kid, princess. Of course, he wouldn't be able to do anything." Al shrugged his shoulders without seeming to be retorting his lady's words.

[Subaru looked at her with wide frightened eyes with his body shaking. Elsa giggled and licked her lips as she stared at him.

"It's fine. I am a little curious, but this is not the time to start a commotion." Elsa smiles and walks to leave Subaru behind.

"That's not a very nice thing to say… if you're too scary, that beauty will go to waste-" Subaru turned around as he spoke in confidence. But then he stepped back in pure fear as he found Elsa standing right behind him with a smile on her face.

"Oh, very good. Conceal your hostility, and you will be even better." Elsa stood with her nose touching his and her hand holding the one he had on his belly.]

"She can even smell his anger and fear!" Otto broke out in a whimper as he watched helplessly.

"Barusu is in a bad spot." Ram nodded from above.

["Well, I shall be going now. Something tells me we shall meet again."

Subaru remained frozen as he watched her walk away, once she was far away from him, he quickly let out the air in his lungs.]

"Thank the spirits!" Ricardo breathed the same way Subaru did.

"I didn't know Subaru went through such a situation on his own… He was reeeally lucky. I'm so thankful and relieved!" Emilia couldn't help but ramble with heavy breaths as her worry and stress for the boy sleeping beside her made her lose all forms of emotional dignity. She didn't know how he dealt with it himself!

Rem just nodded to the lady's words while letting out a sigh of relief herself.

"Thankfully she seemed more focused on her mission rather than her bemusement of Natsuki Subaru." Crusch doted in a relieved sigh.

"Too close!" Felt shook her head and looked at the screen with a brave face again.

"Cap'n can handle it." Garfiel surprised them all by his cool attitude towards the scene even though his friend looked like his heart was about to jump out of his chest. The blonde had an easy, confident smirk on his gruff face, displaying a lot of belief in the man he called captain.

[Subaru walked up to a broken house that had a tree covering it.

"Someone actually lives here?"

Subaru stepped closer with a worried look on his face.

"Elsa hasn't already been here and trashed it, has she?"

"I-It's fine, I'm sure… I don't smell blood."

Subaru got in and sniffed the air. "But it does smell like garbage."]

"Hey!" An angry blonde girl blew a raspberry at the screen.

[He looked around the small broken dump and was startled by an angry Felt glaring at him from behind.

"What do you think you're doing, peeking into someone's house? Sorry but there's nothing worth stealing in there."

Felt sheathed her blade and aimed it at him.

"Beat it!"]

"This is your home?" Priscilla chortled with laughter.

"It's still cleaner than your personality, your bitching grace." Felt retorted easily without even glancing back at the outraged royalty she had insulted in the back.

"Forget it, princess… She's only a dumb kid. Please be a little cautious here, we don't need more enemies."

Priscilla just forced her knight's helmeted head into the floor between the seats with a simple shove with her hand. "Mineself didn't allow you to bark!" She raged haughtily at her fallen knight.

"..Argh… Sorry princess."

["W-Wait that's not what I was doing!"

"Shut up! Don't argue!" Felt began slashing at Subaru with her blade.

"Whoa stop… Calm down! This is no time to fight! Before it gets dark."

Subaru continued to dodge her strikes but fell after stepping on a rock. Felt trapped the sword over his head and looked down at him.

"Before it gets dark, you'd better be gone."

"I told you, you have got it all wrong!"

Felt looked upset that he would argue with her so she grabbed her sword and prepared to attack again. Subaru rolled away from her and dodged the strikes aimed at him by her.

He rolled until he managed to touch a table. Throwing it up in the air and jumping to catch it, Subaru used it as an effective shield against Felt's strikes.

"You don't give up, do you? I told you to get out of here!"

"Just listen to me!"

Felt continued to slash and stab at Subaru as he blocked her blade with the table.

Subaru stepped on another rock and fell into the small house. Felt quickly broke the pillars supporting the house, making it collapse on top of Subaru with his body pinned beneath it and his head sticking out.

Stepping on his pinned body, Felt pointed her blade in his face while looking down at him.]

"Sorry about that, but you can never trust someone in that part of th-"

"We understand don't fret." Otto smiled at her.

Reinhard frowned at the way his lady was living before he came along.

Before Subaru came along.

"It's like fate brought us together…." Reinhard smiled a little, thankful that he had met the boy. Subaru was the reason he found Felt-sama after all.

["Please! Just hear me out, Felt! I came to see you on important business."

"How do you know my name? You want me to steal something for you? You should have said that first!"

"You attacked right away! You know this is a greedy business you're running. Do you pride yourself on sticky fingers?"

"It's all a matter of how to stay alive. If not for this, I'd have no choice but to sell my body. So, what's your business with me? Spit it out."]

Reinhard's eyes narrowed dangerously at the thought before he closed them and shook his head. "Ya alright?"

"Yes, Felt-sama. Something in my eye that's all."

The blonde girl shrugged uncaringly and continued to watch with interest. "It's so weird to see this happen from the outside eyes. I can remember it happening but it feels… different to watch me talking to him like this." Felt sounded more than astounded as she explained the surreal experience the theater was providing.

[Subaru looked up at her with pleading eyes. "There is one thing I want, here and now, I want to buy the insignia you stole!"]

"Getting ahead of the curve. Making her cough up the goods before the meeting is initiated, such a good technique." Anastasia gave a few claps of approval.

["You aren't associated with my client. Are you a business rival?"]

"Yeah, but I'm still a stubborn gal." Felt winced painfully as she knew where all of this would lead, "I won't let a good deal slip even if there was danger involved."

"Can't blame ya'." Anastasia shrugged easily and sounded almost accepting of the girl's habit.

It was one of the ways of being a good merchant she supposed.

["Call her a rival, or call her the one who killed my parents… or even the one who killed me!"

"You make no sense. Well, I'm only interested in selling to whoever pays most. If you have an offer the might be profitable, I'll listen."

"Very shrewd… I have something worth more than twenty holy coins. I want to buy your insignia with it." Subaru got his hand out of the rubble and showed Felt his phone.

"It's what everyone wants these days, a metia." Subaru took a picture of Felt and showed it to her. The scene shows Subaru out of the rubble and standing while holding his phone to Felt.

He was explaining how it works to her.]

"It does hold qualities like our Metias. I guess he was in luck that he was transported at a time where those things became noteworthy yet were still so rare to find." Julius noted with surprise at the fantastic luck Subaru had with regards to his device and the timing of its arrival here.

"I think his timing got a lot more things right other than the metia's rise as a luxury, Julius-kyun~."

"Right." Julius nodded his head to the amused healer. He shouldn't forget the royal selection and Subaru's entanglement were all so perfectly put together by his transporter's timing as well.

["You don't seem to be lying. But that's supposed to be me? I'm way prettier."

"If you look this good without makeup, you're doing fine… "]

"Nah, I look better than that. His cellifine thingie isn't as amazing as I'd hoped." The little blonde boasted with a prideful turn of her head.

["Well, it is unusual. I'll give you that. But twenty holy coins? Not likely. I'm not so stupid as to unquestioningly believe everything a prospective buyer says."

"Well, of course not."

Felt nodded and looked up at Subaru, her mind made up.

"At the far edge of the slums is a loot house. The fair thing is to have the codger who lives there, Old Man Rom, appraise it."]

"He still needs to go into that place." Petra sounded disappointed for a moment.

Felt slammed a hand on her face for retribution.

"It's okay… It went well…" Emilia weakly responded, not knowing if having the boy fight till exhaustion, and end up unconscious after losing half of his blood from a gut wound a good ending or not.

But hey! He ended up with her after it so it must've been the good end!

[Subaru curses under his breath. "So, it still comes to that…"]

"Facing death and an uncertain chain of events, pal. What will you do?" Al inquired inside of his helmet. The one-armed man was clearly disappointed with the next scene.

[Subaru quickly took Felt's hand and pulled her with him as he walked. "Alright, let move. Come on let's go. On the double quickly! We'll have him take a look and get out of there!"

"Hey! Hey!"

]

"Course you woulda chosen the fight." Al sighed uselessly and watched as the boy squandered himself in a petty fight for some roach's life.

"He's just not selfish enough, I suppose." Beatrice muttered, conflicted.

"Would you have had it any other way, Beatrice-sama?" Ram questioned rigidly from atop, curious to the Spirit's hypocrisy.

"I wouldn't, in fact."

[The scene shows Subaru and Felt walking together.

"What's with you? Why are you in such a hurry? "

Felt looked at the hurrying Subaru up and down. "You're soaked with sweat."

Felt looked away from him and glared.

"Live strong."]

"Course he is! He's running against time itself!"

"I didn't know that here, okay?!" Felt shouted at Mimi's disappointed jeers.

[Subaru looked at her with a questioning look. "Everyone in the slums says that. Is it some kind of slogan?"

"Don't lump me in with those guys! they're all talk! they're not strong at all! They're a bunch of stingy losers at life."]

"One thing we agree on, slum rat." Priscilla hummed with amusement.

["That's a bit harsh…"

Felt runs ahead of him and stops to glare in his way.

"I'm not like the people here. I have no intention of living out my life in these back alleys!"

"And you think twenty holy coins will make your dream come true?"

"It's true that'd be a huge leap toward my goal. Even if I were alone, it isn't as I couldn't get by with effort."

Subaru looks at her with surprise. "If you were alone…" memories of her and old man Rom playing flashed through his mind.

"Never mind…"

Subaru smiled warmly at her.

"What are you smirking about? You really piss me off!"

Felt was startled when he stepped closer to her, his smile never faltering. "Don't worry about it." Subaru smiled and patted her head softly.

"H-Hey, what're you doing? Stop!"]

"It's the secret Lolimancer technique!" Ricardo fake gasped as he pointed with fake awe in his eyes. The twins laughed at their captain.

"Julius-kun, write that down!" Anastasia joined in the fun making fun of Subaru's name.

Everyone laughed, while a blushing Felt told them to shut up.

"That was Betty's I suppose!" Beatrice huffed heatedly, extremely jealous.

[As Felt tried to get his hand off her head, Subaru smiled wide as his spirit was full with determination.

"Just gotta make it work, huh?"

"I said stop! don't get all sentimental and blabber nonsense, I'll bite you!"

Subaru kept his hand on her head and thought about the times he spent with Emilia.

I'll change the fate that's waiting for me!

"I told you to cut it out!"

And to do that, I'll…

Felt then actually made good on the promise and bit him.

"AAAAAAHHHHH!" Subaru screamed into the sky.]

Once again, the bro code shined through as the head of the interior and the Shield of the Sanctuary fulfilled their solemn duty to laugh at their brother.

"You two look like siblings ta be honest." Anastasia called out the small blonde with a messy smirk.

Felt simply huffed and crossed her arms, a hint of a smile shined back to the merchant.

Emilia and Rem couldn't help but nod along with the boy's words, smiles of trust and love aimed towards both versions of him.

"Well… He has his mindset." Crusch grinned, feeling the short bit excited at the boy's clear determination.

[The scene changes to Rom holding Subaru's phone while he and Felt waited for him to judge it.

"So, this is what a metia looks like?"

"It's fairly delicate, so handle it with care. Think along the lines of, if you break it, you have to die, as in no do-overs."

"Yeah, I'm definitely impressed."

Felt looked surprised.

"If I were to sell this, I'd take no less than fifteen… no, twenty holy coins. It's worth at least that."

Subaru took the phone and raised his fist in satisfaction. "All right! Negotiations complete! Now if we're done talking then let's get outta here and have a celebration drink."

As Subaru tried to lead the two out of the loot house, Felt instantly caught on.

"Hold it! Why are you in such a hurry?"]

"Ah, crap… why you so stubborn?!" Mimi shouted.

"..Hrghn…" Felt growled in frustration as her idiocy forced the entire fight to happen.

"He was trying to get you both out of the house as well. Granted his excuse for a 'celebration drink' wasn't the best. His heart was still set on saving you two." Julius sounded impressed and a little fond of this little detail.

The other girls surrounding Subaru and Felt looked wide-eyed at the boy's continuous habit of thinking about everyone.

["Life doesn't last forever. Make every second count-" Subaru tried to bullshit his way out of her suspicion.

"Yea, yeah! I don't care about any of that. Why do you even care about the insignia anyway? The insignia is worth a lot more than it looks. That's why everyone wants it."

Felt showed him the jewel and looked convinced.

"In other words, this would sell for more than your metia-"

"Hang on, Felt! that's a dangerous way to think! He appraised it for more than twenty holy coins! Just sell it for that! don't ask for more!"

"El- The woman who asked you for it can't go higher than twenty, either. She won't pay more than that!"

"How do you know that?" Felt asked

Subaru is looking terrified. "You just admitted that you're with them."

Subaru looked at the door in a panic and back at her. "I don't have much time! Please Felt!"

"Begging won't help. I acknowledge you as a negotiating party. But not hearing what my client says wouldn't be fair."

Rom looks at Felt with a thoughtful look.

"The reason I want that insignia is so I can return it to its owner."

"Huh?"

"I want to return it to its owner so please hurry! that's all! So please!" Subaru bowed his head to them.

"Felt, it doesn't look to me like the boy's lying."

"Don't get taken in by him. He's obviously joking. Return it to its owner? Ridiculous! If you're gonna lie, make it believable!"

Rom begins to glare at her.

"I won't be fooled!"]

"He really wants to save you! But you're just making it harder!" Petra moaned as she saw Felt's stubbornness.

Felt just looked down and clenched her fists in anger and guilt.

"I'm so sorry, Big bro."

"Gutter rats and their greed. Their filth knows no bounds." The red princess threw more abuse towards the teen candidate below. This time she was glared at by both said blonde teen and another candidate that was wearing a fur scarf on her neck.

"I'm surprised… You seem more reasonable here." Wilhelm whispered in slight contempt towards the playing image of the old giant. Wilhelm clearly remembered this Rom. He was once on a battleground against him as a matter of fact, and the old butler's shaking fists demanded an end to that battle after he'd discover the giant had lived through the ceiling fall.

Wilhelm must admit that the giant was a lot less hostile since the last time they'd fought. Clearly, age had helped the rebel calm down his instincts a lot. Maybe even taking care of the little candidate may have been a motivator.

[Subaru slowly raises his head in despair.

"Felt…"

*KNOCK* *KNOCK*

"Who's that?" Rom asked as he looked at the door.

"It might be for me. it's a little early though."

Subaru was shaking with fear as memories of when Elsa slaughtered everyone flashed in his mind.

"Don't open it! W-We'll be killed!"]

"This is gonna be the same ending as last time if the wench was the one knocking." Al calmly speculated in his offish tone.

"I highly doubt Elsa would come this quickly. It's still yet time according to the sunset." Crusch devalued the statement sternly.

[Felt ignored him and opened the door, slowly. Like a little bitch.

Subaru stared at the opened door with despair, afraid and shaking in place.

The door opened to reveal…

"Kill you? I wouldn't do something so terrifying."

Subaru and Felt gasped in shock and surprise.

For in front of them was…

The silver-haired half-elf and the true owner of the insignia]

Emilia smiled and intertwined her fingers with Subaru's "This is the one." she said to Rem and Beatrice, making them smile as well with relief.

"So here's the first 'meeting' between you two?" Otto asked with fascination in his tone. No matter where he is, Subaru can always manage to have sheer chaos happening around him everywhere. And the fact that Subaru had met with half of the members of this room under threat of danger or death was an assessment of that.

"Thank you for reaching there quickly enough, Emilia-sama." Rem breathed in relief, knowing the powerful princess can help protect Subaru with her magic.

[Title card:

Reunion with the Witch

The Scene changes to an angry Emilia scolding Felt in the corner of the loot house.

"I'm glad you're here. This time, you won't get away."

Subaru was confused as he watched from the side with Rom beside him.

Why is she here? It's still light out. Wait, if she hadn't been with me, would she have arrived this early?]

"Striking thought to be sure." Crusch winced in sympathy by how much his abilities or lack thereof always seemed to show up in his face.

Priscilla snorted as if this was a comedy. Seemingly taking pride that she was proven correct about him being a hindrance.

"I guess that's true huh?" Al thought about it and found himself agreeing with the idea.

"That must've hurt his pride." Ricardo shook his head sympathetically.

Emilia only looked more guilty because she didn't make it on time the last time he was here and needed her.

[Subaru realized that he really did hold Emilia back and made her arrive here later in the first loop.

"You never quit, do you?" Felt tried to move away from Emilia.

"Sorry, but this is something I cannot give up on. If you do as I say, I won't hurt you." Emilia raised her hand and summoned six icicles all around her and pointing at everyone in the loot house including Subaru.

"I have only one demand. Return my insignia. It's very important to me."

Everyone tensed at Emilia's glare as the ice shards floated around her.

"If she were just another magic user, I wouldn't back down but this one's trouble…"

"What's with you Old Man Rom? Admitting defeat before we even fight?"

Rom ignored Felt and looked at Emilia.

"Young lady, you're an elf, ain't ya?"

Emilia slowly closed her eyes as if she was annoyed.

"Not exactly. I'm only a half-elf."

Felt started to get scared.

"A half-elf… and with silver hair… wait, are you… "

Emilia waved with annoyance at the cowering girl.

"It's an accidental resemblance! Really, it's bothersome to me."]

The blonde winced and moved to attempt an apology but she was met with a slight shake of the head from Emilia. "It's alright." She whispered and smiled warmly at the girl.

Felt shook her head at the older girl's kindness and turned to continue the watch as well.

[Subaru looked between Emilia and Felt not knowing what to do.

Felt pointed at him while glaring. "You set me up, didn't you?" she accused.

"Huh? No, I didn't do anything…"

"After you said you'd return it to its owner, I thought you were suspicious!"

Emilia looked at Subaru, clearly baffled. "What do you mean? You two aren't working together?"

Subaru looked between Felt and Emilia with a hysteric gaze. He was sweating and panicking, trying to find something to use in this situation….

Then he noticed a small flower placed on Emilia's white robes.

The same one…

from the first loop.

Her nature never changes, no matter how many times I start over in this world.

Subaru smiled warmly as he remembered his first loop.]

Emilia seemed to be more downtrodden by this scene. Maybe because she hadn't lived it with him like the first time. Remembering that only Subaru remembered such a memory and wondering why he wouldn't share it with her so he wouldn't feel so alone anymore…

"Subaru…". Emilia whispered warmly with a bit of hurt in her voice.

["Hey what are you laughing about?!"

"Come on, isn't that enough? Return her insignia." Subaru said to Felt.

He turned to the magic-powered Emilia and smiled at her.

"And you Sat- You, hurry and get out of here. Try not to let anyone steal again."

Perplexed, Emilia stared at Subaru with a hand on her hip. "Why are you suddenly being so nice? I don't understand at all."

Felt stomped her foot down and yelled at him. "I don't understand you, Either! what's up with you?"]

"We were so confused back then!" Felt facepalmed as she understood the reason for his weirdness now. Emilia nodded her head and glared as she knew what comes next.

[Subaru smiled at the two confused girls and looked at Emilia.

He noticed something shining behind the elf girl.

"Puck! Shield her!"

Emilia's back was covered by an ice-made shield that blocked an oncoming strike from a blade.]

"Nice, quick thinking." Crusch nodded in approval.

"How'd he catch that, nyan?!" Felix shouted in shock as that wasn't a normal reaction speed.

"More so, how is he going to catch the next ones?" Al jousted seriously.

[Emilia looked back in surprise.

"That was a bit closer than I expected. You saved us." Puck held his thump to Subaru in gratitude.

Subaru smirked. "Nice one Puck. Thank goodness it was before five, while you're still on duty. Thanks!" Subaru held his thump to the cat on Emilia's shoulder.

Everyone in the room looked at the crouched attacker as she got up.

"A spirit. that's a spirit, right? How wonderful."

Elsa giggled as she faced them. "I have never dissected a spirit's stomach before."

"Hey, what do you mean by that?" Felt asked in confusion.

"If the item's original owner is here, we can hardly negotiate. So, I have changed my plans. I shall slaughter everyone here. You failed to see your job through to the end. You talk a big game but you do terrible work. You really are just another slum dweller."

Elsa tilted her head as she insulted Felt.]

"What a BITCH!" Garfiel growled hatefully wanting to get inside and punch this lady again with all of his might.

[The little blonde glared at the killer with her body shaking in anger.

"You bitch… " Felt looked at her side to find a growling nasty eyes boy.

"Don't get your kicks from picking on a little kid, you gut-loving sadist! Felt is doing her best to live strong… just because your plan was thrown off, you think it's over and flip tables? Are you a kid? You should value life more. Do you know how much having your belly cut open hurts? Well, I do!"

"What are you talking about?"

"I'm in the process of letting the justice and chivalry I never knew I had to denounce all the world's unfairness! And what I consider unfair is you this situation, and… "

Subaru quickly turned around and smirked at the camera.

"Stay tuned folks..."]

"What a pathetic display." Priscilla spat in disgust, not liking how the boy interrupted the fight to jest.

"W-What's he doing here?" Anastasia couldn't help but let a small giggle out at the awkward boy's stance. Some like Mimi and Petra laughed as well.

"You'll see." Emilia answered quietly, not sure if she was on friendly terms with the merchant or not.

[He looked back at Elsa with a smirk and clapped his hands, confusing Felt.

"Done buying time for you, Puck! Get her!"]

"Nice~!" Ricardo put his thumbs up to Subaru's way of doing things.

"At least his tricks work unexpectedly, nyan!" Felix sighed as he calmed himself and his worry for Subaru and the others.

["A brilliant display of awkwardness, which I hope survives through the ages. I better live up to your expectations!" Puck powered up and faced the Bowel Hunter .

"We haven't introduced ourselves, have we? My name's Puck. Remember my name after you die." Puck shot a bunch of ice shards at the killer as he cheerfully spoke about her death.

Elsa covered herself in her black cloak and let herself be encased with ice.

"Did they get her?"

"Don't trigger that flag old man!"]

"Stupid old man!"

"Old Man Rom is NOT stupid!"

"He was distracting the killer for the great spirit to charge up? That's a half-decent trick to be truthful." Julius took notes of what Subaru's intuition is like in most of these situations where his wits were the only thing he had.

[The dust settled to reveal Elsa encased in ice and immobile.

"One should always be prepared." Elsa's voice sounded from beneath the ice as her jacket glowed and destroyed the ice around her.

Her cloak disappeared and revealed her smirking form as she ran towards Emilia while licking her lips and holding her blade.]

"Enchanted cloak. Only a few people make such things in this world." Otto mused glaringly, knowing that this lady must have someone powerful behind her.

"We can run a search for people with required skills that could confess to building such a thing." Julius nodded towards Reinhard and settled their knightly code to blow the fire of determination to stamp out this organization.

Roswaal simply watched silence. No expression on his face at all.

"Teacher's plan. All according to her plan." He repeated in his mind to numb the sense of guilt and long-running hatred for what he did. Nobody in this room understood exactly the magical skill required to create such a nullifying cloak… He would know.

He's the one the created and distributed it to the sadist a morning before this day after all.

["Don't underestimate a spiritual-arts user." Emilia did a pose with her hand and manifested a shield of thick ice in front of Elsa's attack.

Elsa began cartwheeling away from Emilia while dodging Puck's ice shards as he shot at her from above.

"For a girl, you're well accustomed to battle." Puck said as he was shooting at the cartwheeling killer.

"My, it has been a while since I've been regarded as a simple girl."

Elsa jumped on a table and began swiping her blade against icicles being shot at her by both Puck and Emilia.

"Well, from my perspective, all opponents are basically babies. Still, you're so strong. I almost pity you."

Elsa jumped from corner to corner and all over the walls as she dodged the ice shooting due.

"Being praised by a spirit, I am deeply touched."]

"It's as if the fight doesn't mean anything yet it does at the same time." Tivey exclaimed, making Petra and Mimi stare at the screen with amazement as they understood the severity of the fight but they were astonished as to how the spirit and the lady were conversing normally while trying to murder each other.

"Bubby can win this, in fact! He's the best spirit around!" Beatrice shouted support for her brother on the screen, wishing to see him shatter this vampire to shards of ice before her eyes and forgetting that this killer had already been to the mansion once under her nose.

[As Elsa fought with them, the window showed Rom, Felt, and Subaru huddled in a corner to take cover from the ice.

"If it turns into a battle of attrition, we should have a chance."

"No, fer a spirit, the real battle is how long they can stay corporeal."

Subaru winced. "That's right, it must be almost five… " he looked at the window and found the light of the sun had been snuffed as Nighttime fell on the land.

Elsa continued to swipe at the ice shards shot at her as she spoke.

"Oh, and just when we were having such fun. What a bore."

"That's what sucks about being a ladies' man. The girls just won't let you sleep. But you know, staying up late is bad for your skin, so we should wrap this up!"

Elsa dodged a strike and tried to jump away but she found her foot stuck in some ice that prevented her from moving.

"I wasn't just randomly throwing those around." Puck slowly flew down and sat on a smirking Emilia's shoulder.

"Does this mean I've been had?" Elsa shrugged not at all afraid.

"Goodnight!" Puck shouted as Emilia prepared a powerful magic attack with both hands.

The attack left a trail of oncoming spiky ice shooting swiftly straight at the stationary Elsa. It looked like the end for the lady.]

"YES!" The children celebrated amongst themselves, but Frederica and Ricardo stopped them shortly.

"Something is off…" Felix muttered as he scanned for expressions about what was going on.

"Wonderful cooperation with a great spirit, Emilia-sama." Julius had to hand it to the candidate since the sheer magical prowess required to do even half of what Emilia and Puck had done in one battle was far superior to his own by many levels.

"But… I'm afraid it wasn't enough."

"Indeed it wasn't." Wilhelm agreed with Julius grimly.

[But Elsa managed to free her foot and jump out of the way of the trial attack.

"My how lovely. I thought I was going to die." The screen showed Elsa's barefoot completely mutilated from the attack, blood was pooling beneath it. Elsa just looked at Emilia with an excited smirk, completely unaffected by the pain. ]

"Yuck!! "

"Ewwww! "

[Everyone looked at her in surprise.

"But you're a girl, so I don't find that sort of thing very impressive." Puck cooed as he yawned.

"Puck, can you keep going?" Emilia asked the cat on her shoulder.

"Sorry, I'm really sleepy… I underestimated her a bit… My mana's gone, so I have to disappear."]

"No! Mr. Cat was supposed to win!" Petra shouted in shock that the grand spirit was taken down very early in the fight.

"Bubby!" Beatrice muttered in disappointment and fear now that Subaru was alone without her amazing brother's power to protect him.

"Welp, back to panicking for bro's life, I guess." Al offishly unconcerned shrugged the spirit's leave off and continued to watch.

["I'll take care of things here, so you can rest. Thank you."

"If anything happens to you, I'll act according to my contract. If it comes down to it, call me, even if you have to squeeze me out of my od." Puck whispered to Emilia before disappearing into thin air.

"You're going away?" Elsa pouted. She took a piece of ice and placed her foot sole on it. Her foot let off some steam as it started to stick to the ice healing around it.

Elsa tapped the new ice shoe she had made and began walking.

"Well, that is very unfortunate." Elsa quickly charged at Emilia.]

"She's just so persistent!" Tivey ruffled his hair in frustration.

"She is annoying! I want to shoot her!" Mimi growled bombastically beside him.

[Emilia manifested a shield and an Ice shard and protected herself from the killer as she ran circles around Emilia and swiped at her.

Subaru looked really anxious and uneasy as the battle continued with him huddled in a corner, unable to move.]

"Wasn't he supposed to be a knight, he should stand and fight for his lady, nyan!" Felix muttered as well, feeling annoyed at Subaru's shaking and hiding while Emilia was pinned down.

"No! He mustn't intervene no matter what!" Emilia firmly refuted already settling her mind to keep the boy as far away from danger as possible the next time a situation arose.

"He can't do anything at all, Felix. Natsuki is a mere civilian at this moment no matter the boasts he's made in the future of this viewing." Julius surprisingly defended Subaru diplomatically with a little dim in his eyes as he remembered just how weak Subaru truly was.

At the front, the blonde sitting beside a deathly worried merchant scoffed dryly at the words spoken around him, "Jus' ya wait. Cap'n's got this!"

[Flashes of images from his failed loops showed him the corpses of the people he couldn't protect.

Subaru's leg began shaking in place as he found it harder and harder to intervene in the fight.]

"I think I understand now, why you fight and work so hard." Emilia and Rem looked at the boy beside them in sadness.

"How many times did you go through this, Subaru-kun?" Rem asked with fear filling her eyes and desperation coating her voice.

Subaru did not answer.

["We can't keep watching, Felt." Subaru looked up at Rom as the old man stood from his place.

Felt stood up with Rom and nodded.

"Yeah, I know. If we're going to run, we should get moving now. About before…."

Felt looked down at the still sitting Subaru. "Well… I guess you kinda saved me."

Subaru looked surprised by the bashfulness Felt was displaying.

"But just a little. Also, don't call me a little kid! I'm fifteen, you know! That can't be much younger than you!"

"I'll be eighteen this year… "

"No way! you're totally a kid! You need to live a life that shows more on your face."

The screen shows Elsa still beating on Emilia's shields. Until finally, the killer managed to land a kick on the half-elf.

Emilia quickly landed on her feet on the bar and jumped out of the way of a spinning Elsa with a blade aimed at her. Emilia slammed against the shelves behind the bar and fell to the ground with all of the objects and collectibles on the shelves falling on top of her.]

"What a weakling. Taken out before saving any of the other rats." Priscilla clicked her tongue in disgust and thought of all the ways she would've handled Elsa herself in place of the silver-haired witch spawn sitting at the front.

"I think princess over there is holding her power back to keep the other's safe." Surprising Emilia and everyone in the room, Anastasia defended easily with a self-conscious smirk.

[Seeing Emilia out of commission, Rom decided to be the next opponent.

"Here I come!" armed with a bat, he charged the killer.

"Ah, but isn't it a bit boorish to cut in on a dance?"

"If you wanna dance, I'll show you the best dancing you've ever seen."

Elsa and Rom trade blows one after the other. Elsa lands in front of the Ice trial left by Pucks' final attack.

Rom charged at her with his bat.

"Here we go roun' and roun'"

Rom delivers a hit so strong it breaks all of Puck's ice.

"Eh? What in the-"

Rom looks up to find Elsa standing on his club.

"You are so strong; I was able to do this." Elsa smirks as she aims a swipe to cut his head off.]

"Goddamn, she's tenacious!" Ricardo yelled out as he watched Elsa smoking them one by one.

"That giant is really packing some power eh?" Al whistled in acknowledgment of the old man's strength.

Everyone was at the edge of their seats as they watched the intense fight.

["Not happening!" Felt quickly throws her blade in the air, hitting Elsa's own, making the killer miss Rom's neck and cut deep into his shoulder instead.

"Old Man Rom!" Felt screamed in shock as Rom fell on the floor bleeding.

Elsa dropped on top of his body with an annoyed stare.

"You bad girl… " Felt recoiled in fear.

"You have neither the resolve nor the strength to fight. You should have at least stayed in the corner, making yourself small." Elsa cooed at Felt teasingly.

Subaru is shown still in the same position as he watched with an uneasy grimace.

Damn, we're done for… there's really nothing I can do.

I guess I'll have to Return by Death and start over.]

"What?! Don't ever think about that, in fact!" Beatrice damn near screamed into the sleeping boy's ear. Her face was red with fury. Her need to go into that loot house and crystallize the damn wench that dared make her contractor think about killing himself a thousand times stronger than anything she'd ever felt.

"He's really starting to think of his own death as a tool." Felix sounded disgusted and disappointed.

Petra looked horrified at the notion.

[The images of his death while bleeding his guts out were shown as Subaru clenched his shirt in frustration and nervousness.

No, I don't want to feel that pain again.

I don't wanna die…]

"My poor Subaru-kun."

Emilia nodded with Rem's words and squeezed his hand as she watched the screen with a grimace of frustration that she couldn't hug him then.

Felix's anger relented and he breathed a sigh of relief, "Subaru-kyun is still there, nyan. He's not a monster, yet."

[Elsa charges at Felt.

I g-guess, as long as I have a life all I can do is fight with all my might.

Elsa is shown to be standing over the cowering Felt. The killer was about to drive a final strike to cut the little girl in half.

She struck.

And missed.

"Hiadara!" Just like that knight that saved the young boy from the carriage, Subaru jumped and held Felt in both hands out of the way of danger.

Elsa turned around and blocked an ice shard.]

"Nice!" Garfiel cheered with approval since he knew how fast her strikes were.

Reinhard was just glad Subaru was there or else his lady would've been lost… again.

[Emilia got up from the bar and weakly shot more ice at the black widow.

"Are you okay?" Subaru asked the fallen Felt.

"Why did you… "

"Listen Felt. I'm going to buy us some time. I'll give you an opening somehow. So, when I do, run as fast as you can!"

"What? You're telling me to tuck my tail and run?!"

"Yes… stick out your butt, tuck in your tail, and run. You're fifteen, and I'm eighteen. That means you're probably the youngest one here. So, it's a given we'd pick the method most likely to keep you alive."

"Give me a break. A minute ago, you were cowering in fear!"

Subaru smiled.

"That was then. This is now. I'm not cowering now, so it's fine."]

Felt looked down and sighed. She's so grateful for him, and after what she saw today, this was a simple understatement of what she owed him. She would've loved to have him spend time with her again, he seemed more fun than the boring old hogwashes in the mansion she lived in.

[The camera shows Emilia blocking Elsa with her shield when the killer suddenly turned around and dodged the bat coming down on her by our lap pillow-loving cunt.

"Take this!"

Elsa quickly stabs her blade at Subaru's face but he manages to block it narrowly.

"Now! Go, Felt!"

Felt ran towards the door while Subaru held Elsa off.]

"He is very reliable." Frederica smiled at the way this boy worked hard to save everyone. But then frowned when she remembered the Sanctuary incident.

How many times did he die to save everyone then?

Her blood froze.

["You think I'll let her go?"

Elsa suddenly manifests a small dagger out of fucking nowhere. And throws it at the little girl.

As the dagger flew towards Felt, Subaru kicked a table blocking the path, stopping the dagger's momentum.

After the dagger fell Subaru smirked as he managed to stop Elsa from hurting Felt.

"Yeah, I'm awesome!"

"But that hurt the tips of my toes more than I expected-"

Subaru was kicked in the face.]

"Worthless Barusu!" Ram shouted with no actual malice but more panic and worry than anything.

[The loot house is shown with slashing and breaking noises coming out of it. Felt is running away from the house with a scared look on her face.

Subaru fell but he smirks at the killer.

"You let one getaway." He mocked her as he tried to stand with the bat acting as a stick.

"For once, I do feel a tiny bit annoyed."]

"Bitch!" Garfiel and Otto were cheering Subaru on. All of the candidates fell silent as they watched the proposing one-sided battle with curiosity as to how the boy would live through this.

["Don't forget about me." Emilia quickly shot another shard at Elsa. But the killer blocked it like it was nothing.

"By now, I have quite tired of that game. Do you think you can still keep me amused?"

Subaru looks over at Emilia. "If you've got some hidden power, now would be a good time to use it."

"I do have a trump card. But if I use it, I'll be the only one left standing."

"No exploding yourself, please… don't do anything hasty."

"I won't use it. Not when you're still here… Doing your best."

Subaru remembers the last time he saw Emilia in his first loop. The last words she gave him.

"Just now, I didn't see anything… " Subaru slowly got up straight on his legs without leaning on the bat.

"Huh?"

"None of that entire conversation ever happened! I finally remembered why I'm here to begin with."

Emilia widened her eyes as Subaru glared determined at Elsa. "I'll kill you shitbag! I won't let you play your trump card!"

"I'll blow you away."

Subaru's eyes lit up with conviction.

"I'll live."

He aims his bat at Elsa.

"I'll get my happy ending." Emilia stared at him, eyes wide.]

"So this is the will that burned my way of the future." Roswaal softly looked on with a frown and no speech pattern. Ram looked at him with a thoughtful gaze.

["Seems you have a bit too much energy." Elsa mocked as she swiftly charged at the smiling boy.

"You black widow!" Subaru began trading strikes and blows with Elsa.

"Well, there's no doubt you'll be the first caught in my web." Elsa was about to strike him but an Ice shard ruined her aim.

"Nice cover!"

Emilia is trying to aim at Elsa but she is afraid of hitting Subaru instead.

Elsa begins cutting and slashing Subaru's hands and face, wounding him and making him bleed.

"Ouch, damn it! How do you like this?!"

Subaru yelled a cry of war as he held the bat as high as he could over his head to strike her.

Only he was duping her as he let the bat go and spun around to kick her in the face…]

"Woah!"

"Nice, Trick!"

[but Elsa swiftly caught his ankle in one hand.

"I caught you."]

"F'ck!"

"This is bad!" Otto was at the edge of his seat. Reinhard only grinned.

[Elsa smiles while Subaru glares hatefully. She giggles as she held her blade high.

Subaru glared and waited for her to cut his leg off as she was holding it firmly.

Suddenly… a loud voice echoed.

"That's enough."

Everyone looked around to find the source of the voice.

Suddenly, something fell through the ceiling of the loot house filling the room with dust.

Subaru quickly pulled his leg out of her grasp and ran into the dust cloud.

Elsa was faced by the source of the interruption.

A red-haired knight slowly emerged from the fog and commanded the air around him to clear the area making his coat rustle in the air.

"It looks like that was a close call, I'm glad I made it in time. Now…"

"You're… "

"Shall we put an end to this?" Reinhard smiled at Elsa.]

"And the hero is finally in!" Ricardo laughed out loud as a new feeling of hope rushed through everybody.

"Reinhard-sama's here!" Petra cheered dutifully, believing the legends people were saying about him in her village.

"No one can run away from Reinhard Van Astrea." Garfiel spoke out in a dark satisfied tone. "yer fucked, bitch."

The knight himself stayed irrelevant to the cheers and echoes in the theater. He already knew his responsibility and what was expected of him. This is just a reminder of what people see when he is near them. Hope.

[The scene changes to show Felt running around the empty slums in distress.

"Anyone! Is anyone here?!" Felt looked around pleading for help but she was met with people closing their doors and shutting their windows in her face.

"Damn it! Please… please, someone… someone help!" Felt ran with tears in her eyes.

She ran with her eyes close calling as loud as she can.

She then bumped into someone, falling on her behind.

Felt looked up.

"Very well… I'll help." Reinhard gave a charming smile.

The scene changes back to Reinhard standing in front of Elsa with a bleeding Subaru staring at him from behind.

"Reinhard?"

"That's right Subaru. We meet again. Sorry, I'm late."

Reinhard observed the woman before him.

"Black hair, black clothes, and a blade unique to the northern provinces. There is no mistaking those characteristics. You are the Bowel Hunter."

"What kind of evil nickname is that?"

"It was derived from her unique killing style. Her name is known, even in the capital, as that of a dangerous individual.

"Reinhard… "

"Yes, a knight among knights, born to a line of master swordsmen, correct? How remarkable, having all my opponents be so much fun."

"There many things I'd like to ask you. I insist that you surrender."

"You expect such a starving predator to resist such a choice, juicy prey?"

Reinhard just chuckles a bit and looks back at Subaru,

"Subaru, stand back a bit. If you stand next to her that would be appreciated." Reinhard points at Emilia as she was healing Rom's wound.

Subaru smirks and nods. "That woman is like a monster so don't lower your guard… "

"As luck would have it..." Reinhard looks Elsa in the eye. "Hunting monsters happens to be my specialty."]

"Badass!" Garfiel had stars in his eyes for the hero's line and posture against this vampire of a woman.

[Subaru kneels beside Emilia and notices Rom breathing in pain.

"Old Man Rom is still alive?"

"He isn't out of the woods yet. I have to heal him now."

Subaru looks at her in surprise. "You really want to? He's part of the gang that stole your insignia."

Emilia starts working on the healing spell.

"That's why I need him to recover, so he'll repay the favor by giving me information."

Subaru stares as Emilia speaks softly. "He wouldn't lie to someone who has saved his life. This is as much for my own sake."]

"You're a really bad liar, ya'know that?" Anastasia shook her head with indifference to Emilia. The half-elf didn't give a response since she really thought what she had been doing was correct.

[The scene returns to the fight between Elsa and Reinhard. The Bowel Hunter charged at Reinhard with sonic speed.

"I would rather not use violence on a woman."

Reinhard kicks his foot on the floor emitting a shock wave around him breaking the wood he was standing on and killing Elsa's momentum, forcing her to stand before him unguarded. Reinhard swiftly kicked her in the side making her roll a few feet away.

"Just as the rumors say… No, you're even better."

"I'm not sure I'll meet your expectations."

"Aren't you going to use that sword at your hip? I would love to experience its legendary sharpness."

"This sword can only be drawn when needed. The fact that it hasn't left its sheath, means that this is not one of those times."

"I do believe I have been underestimated."

"It's an upsetting judgment for me, as well. Therefore, "

Reinhard picked up a sword from the ground.

"I shall take you on with this instead. Do you object?"

"No, it is wonderful. Wonderful! Do entertain me please!" Elsa smirks manically and charges.

Reinhard simply activates his power and the sword glows. He blocked the strike and made Elsa drop the blade from her grasp.

Catching the tip of the blade with his two fingers, Reinhard looked at Elsa.

"If you've lost your weapon, I strongly suggest you surrender." Reinhard threw the blade and made it stab into a pillar.

Elsa looked annoyed and threw the broken handle of her weapon behind her as she charged hands empty.

"She's got a second one, Reinhard!" Subaru shouted from the side.

Suddenly, she pulled a second blade from behind her back and swiped at Reinhard. She would have almost cut his stomach had he not been fast enough to step back.

Elsa kept her eyes on Reinhard but spoke towards Subaru. "I'm impressed you knew."

"Well, I've personally experienced it… "

"But I don't have a mere two fangs, would you mind if we start again?"

"If I divest you of all your weapons will you be satisfied?"

"If I lose my fangs, I'll use my claws. If I lose my claws, I'll use my bones. And if I lose my bones, I'll use my life." Elsa began jumping all over the loot house at demonic speeds that turned her into nothing but a blur.

"This is how a Bowel Hunter fights." Reinhard manages to block various speedy attacks with ease.

"Surely Reinhard won't fail to land the decisive blow, will he?"

"Because I'm using my spiritual arts, he cannot fight at full strength."

"What do those have to do with each other?"

"If he was truly intent on fighting all the mana in the atmosphere would turn away from me. I'm almost done healing him. When I give the signal, let him now."

Subaru looks down to find Rom's wound fully closing up.

"Whoa!"

"Now he's all right. Go ahead."

Subaru quickly turned to Reinhard. "I don't really get it, but do your thing, Reinhard!"

Reinhard nods and activates his blessings, soaking up all the mana in the air around him.

"Oh, what will you show me?" Elsa asked as she watched the mana being sucked into his sword.

"The Swordplay of the Astrea family." Reinhard readies sword.

Elsa smiles and prepares two blades in both hands. Wait. How the fuck did sh-

"The Bowel Hunter, Elsa Granhiert."

"Reinhard Van Astrea, of the line of master swordsmen."

The two faced off as Reinhard's sword glows so bright it blinded everyone around him.

Reinhard raised his glowing sword, emitting Whale noises, and struck Elsa with a blow so strong it made the entire loot house explode.

"Whoa! Whoa! Whoa!"

Subaru looks at Reinhard in shock as the entire Loot house was blown to bits.]