4 [Re:Zero Watching Him Die Again and Again]

As the screen flashed rapidly with images from unknown events at a fast-paced speed, the rest of the watchers were left to ponder the question Emilia had uttered to herself.

One such person couldn't help themselves.

"You think there could be more things your knight is hiding from you, Emilia-sama?"

The half-elf sitting to the side of the sleeping boy couldn't help but flinch at the question coming from the judging Crusch.

"He… He never told me about any of that. I did try to question him for everything he seemed to know at the loot house… But he was just too injured after saving me..." The half-elf was looking at her clenched fists with a deep frown of confusion. Her heart couldn't help but feel heavier with each thought of Subaru not trusting her enough with these horrible memories.

"Oh? So you do recognize that since Natsuki-kun didn't reveal any of this to ya, he might be hidin' more than jus' that power of his,' Anastasia asked with a bit of a curious gaze towards the saddened half-elf.

"I… I don't know-" Emilia's voice cracked as she kept her hands to herself, "He didn't trust me enough to tell me about this so I'm sure there's more he wouldn't want me to see."

"Ah…" Anastasia shook her head and backed away from the half-elf. Clearly, the girl was in the middle of a crisis on her own, the merchant queen did not have to intervene.

But she wasn't the only one as the blonde silent spirit sitting on the other side of the half-elf was found frowning deeply as well.

"Neither did he talk about it with Betty, in fact."

Emilia glanced at the small drill-haired girl beside her sleeping knight with a look akin to one of deflation as the spirit's last interaction with her still kept the half-elf in a frenzy of hurtful emotion regarding Beatrice's words to her.

"A-Are you sure, Betty-san?" Emilia's silver bell voice sounded hesitant to speak with the girl, even going as far as to change her honorific for the loli. A distant, cold, and professional one.

"Yes, I suppose," Beatrice replied simply.

"I mean… It would make a ton 'f sense if the boy didn't talk about this with anyone. I doubt anyone would believe 'em."

Some in the Emilia camp stared at the shrugging dogman in outrage.

"N-No way. He had to have told at least Otto-kun and Garfiel-san! They are his most trusted friends!" As she said this while refuting the dogman, Petra's blue desperate eyes wandered to the two boys sitting in the front seats. She only saw one grim look and dimmed stares from both Otto and Garfiel.

"Y-You, guys?" Petra's eyes widened when all she received from the boys were shakes of their heads.

"Cap'n didn't share this with me," Foregoing any of his pent-up frustrations and questions, the blonde muttered rigidly with conflicting emotions showing on his face. The merchant beside him didn't find it appropriate to blow up a second time so he just settled for fixing his hat with a grim frown.

"I didn't have any idea about this either, Petra-chan."

Petra's eyes widened, wondering over Emilia, Beatrice, and Rem in desperation.

"None of us knew, Petra-chan," Frederica whispered from behind the girl with a hand on her shoulder. "Sit down."

"B-But…" The little one sat down with tears in her eyes that had yet to flow down her cheeks. "He can't be keeping that to himself… Not on his own!"

Rem and Emilia looked even more heartbroken when they heard that shriek from the little maid. The guilt was filling both of them for not being aware enough of Subaru's constant disruptions and mental scars.

But the blonde sitting to the right of the sleeping boy was showing signs harsher than mere guilt. She was biting her lips harshly as she held on to her contractor's hands. Tears still not slipping by but the tortured look on Beatrice's face explained how shattered the little girl was feeling after seeing her only one having such a bad beginning.

"It seems Natsuki Subaru has the ability to go through time. This is all but confirmed to us now," Crusch mused loudly, finally gaining attention as she felt it was the right time for a discussion about… things, to start.

"So…," Felt narrowed her eyes at the duchess, feeling a bad wash growing over the room.

"He must've used it against the Whale and Bishop of Sloth, Nyan~, It seems we've been played," Felix growled halfheartedly while thinking of all the ways Subaru had exploited Crusch's camp by using his time traveling power to gain her loyalty. No wonder he was so good at the negotiations table! The boy was a threat.

"Oi! You think I'd let that slide, ya bastard?! Cap'n always does what's best for oth'rs even more than mineself! Don't go around calling him a trickster for no reas'n, ya hear me!"

"Garfiel, calm down!"

"Calm down now, fella. That's not a good way to go 'bout this."

Frederica and Ricardo tried to calm down the absolutely furious-looking Garfiel, ready to bounce on Felix for accusing Subaru and displaying no sympathy for his Cap'n's pain.

The catboy knight held his tongue but delivered a scathing glare towards the rough blonde in the seats below.

Garfiel met him with his sharp teeth gritted.

"Felix-dono, please take care of your tone," Wilhelm firmly admonished, starkly surprising the healer sitting beside him.

"But Old Man Wil, this is all too dangerous for us to ignore!"

"It doesn't matter now. Keep those thoughts to yourself until we have actual evidence to speak in such a way of Subaru-dono," the old man assessed rigidly, earning a look from the green-haired duchess.

"You still think Subaru Natsuki is to be trusted, Wilhelm-dono? Even after what we've seen of the boy's abilities?"

At his lady's curious query, Wilhelm only provided an answer that was loud enough for everyone in the theater to hear, "We've only watched a boy die and realize how scarce his fortune is in our world, Crusch-sama. I fail to see how that makes him our enemy."

As the old swordsmen bowed his head to her, Crusch's amber eyes only narrowed.

"Hmm, it seems like you've forgotten that this boy isn't exactly serving yer lady, old man," smoothly and amusedly, Anastasia took the words from Crusch's lips and delivered them to the old man and those hearing her.

"He may use this ability to gain popularity for the candidate he serves~."

Anastasia and Crusch looked at the old man with their own gazes of mischief and firm hardened amber eyes.

The old Demon of the sword arts met both his mistress and one of her rivals with a look of compassion and confidence, "Fighting beside him gave me all the answers I need, my lady."

The two candidates seemed struck by this, making the duchess lose herself in her thoughts and the merchant queen backed off to stare at the chair in front of her.

"You might be wrong, Old Man Wil," Felix muttered smoothly, earning a shake of the head from the old man.

"Damn, the old man is really cool, huh," Al grunted chillingly as he rubbed his stump. Feeling a bit happy at the display below.

"I have no care for the rattle of dogs happening beneath us, Aldebaran. Use that tongue of yours for something useful to me instead of mangling useless words," the red princess beside him cruelly cut him off by forcing his body to the floor of the theater at her feet with a simple grab of his helm by one hand.

"I know you are thinking about it too, Princess," the stumped knight said with humor in his tone as he inched his face closer to the lady's raised foot.

"Shut your mouth, worthless grime!" Priscilla shouted, pinning his head beneath her shoe like usual.

Ignoring him, Priscilla's scarlet eyes were honed on the black screen, frustration overwhelming her as she tried to figure out what someone of her divine provenance was doing in a room like this? Why did the world that served her summon her here? Surely it can't be just about that pathetic boring boy and his useless journey.

The thought that her time was wasted for someone so worthless made the Vollachian matriarch fume with rage.

"Princess, please… The carpet doesn't taste so nice…"

darker than he would've ever liked to believe anyone he liked dealt with. Especially not the boy he called a friend.

And now the candidates were all starting to notice how closely they should've been focusing since the beginning.

"This will not end well…" Roswaal muttered without an accent since no one could hear him. Ram was currently focused on staring at the back of her sister's head with a look of guilt.

The clown-dressed man was sitting in the back by his lonesome with a frown of frustration shown behind his gloved hands.

This was very bad. Very very bad.

"Not only has my gospel not mentioned that cruel detail… Now that all of them knew about it as well, in time, it might show something about me-"

"E-Excuse me!"

Roswaal's thoughts and worry fell as his focus was placed immediately along with all in the room on the blue-haired maid that had her arm raised.

"Excuse me, Screen-sama!"

[What is it? ]

Everyone waited with bated breath, to see what the young girl was going to say to the entity she so bravely called upon.

Rem's face looked a little ghostly for some reason. She was frightened to speak but her fist remained over her heart as she forced through.

"D-Do we need to see more? Is there more that Subaru-kun… is hiding from us?"

"Rem…" Ram's eyes narrowed as she noticed the slight tone of fear and dread in her sister's voice. She was hiding something.

[Yes. There's more to see about this kid, of course.

I just thought you all needed a moment of rest before we got to the real beginning of his story.]

At this, many eyes widened, especially Rem's own fearful ones.

"Wait wait wait! You're saying Natsuki-san went through more?! And he refused to speak about his deaths?!" Otto asked in outrage, saying everything that was on his camp's mind.

The other candidates and camps watched with great interest and sympathy unlike the Emilia one. Where everyone close to Subaru just felt betrayed and worthless with each passing second they find out that Subaru was just going through his own story without them even knowing about it.

[Oh… I mean…

Fuck. They're following me.

Look, just watch this, alright?

It will explain what I mean and what you need.]

"Not again!" Garfiel shouted while slamming his fists as everyone realized with the screen's flashes stopping so suddenly and the light dimming that another viewing had begun.

"I guess all we have to do is watch then," Frederica whispered with a really uncomfortable feeling in her stomach.

"Yeah… Watch…" Rem's voice whimpered softly, her hands clenching the hem of her skirt as the fear inside of her was sending all sorts of thoughts into her mind.

If Subaru truly can live through painful deaths and go back in time… This meant… She might've done something regretful.

Oh, how her heart ached at the thought.

"Sister…" Ram called out in a voice above a whisper. Her seating in the back didn't allow the blue-haired girl to hear her. Ram didn't like how insignificantly her sister treated the sadness around her heart, it was like the blue twin was focusing more on someone else's pain rather than herself. Ram could see this, feel this cold negative feeling coursing through her dear family from the other side of the theater. And yet she couldn't help but feel… That it was Rem's fault she felt this way.

"What did you do, Rem?" The pink-haired maid whispered to herself one more time, with her heart beating fast from fear. The older twin wasn't stupid. She can feel it through her connection with her sister, she can see guilt.

Realizing that, Ram's eyes were the last to turn up to the screen.

She needed an answer. Who was best to answer her, than the placate window of flowing visions stuck on to the wall before her?

And then the screen lit up.

[Season 1 Episode 3 Director's Cut

Begin.

The dark screen lights up on Subaru's sleeping face as he laid on a massive bed wearing robes.

He slowly opened his eyes and commented on the first thing he saw.

"I don't know that ceiling."]

"It must feel surreal for 'em, huh,' Anastasia commented a little bemusedly, earning the attention of Crusch and her own camp.

"What's that, boss?" Ricardo inquired of the shrewd merchant queen.

"Hm, can't you see? This was the first time he opened his eyes to somewhere other than that appa stand." She pointed out a simple fact that shocked the people listening in.

"That's…" Oddly enough, Frederica was the one to try and respond to the thought with coherence and it failed. Much like the stunned blonde, her little student sitting by her side was also stunned by the thought. Mature enough to feel the corruption of being finally able to find yourself in a mansion room instead of the place where your death restarted the world around him. Petra was slowly beginning to feel the horror beyond just dying. A horror her beloved hero is subject to and forced to explore all alone. The little girl was more than hardened enough to watch more of Subaru's journey, but it gave her comfort that he was at the very least under Emilia-sama's and Ram nee sama's protection for the time being.

"He can take it on." The little maid firmly spoke, having a surprising assurance and assertiveness in her tone which surprised her own sensei." Subaru-sama has all the help he needs now!"

Emilia, Ram, Frederica, and even Beatrice glanced at the little girl with surprise and disbelief.

[Subaru sat up straight and moved his robes to look at his naked belly.

"The wound is gone. Considering all this, it must've been her… Emilia's healing power, huh?"]

"He thought it was me who helped heal him?" Emilia had a soft smile of amusement on her expression while Beatrice just raised a brow at the screen. Unimpressed.

[Subaru got up and started walking out of the room, he looked at a weird forest painting on the wall next to his door.

"Well, at any rate, it seems I got out of using Return by Death this time… still, isn't it normal to wake up and see a girl by your bed. Asking, 'Are you awake?' after she'd cared for you the whole time? Feels kinda flawed, for a story about being summoned into another world."]

"In his world, stories usually cater to a male audience so they make the protagonist a girl magnet. I suppose." Beatrice immediately explained while secretly marveling at their confused faces.

"So he thinks that girls should fall all over him since he was summoned from another world?" Julius snorted at the stupid thought.

"What a jackass," Tivey nodded along with his sister.

"I mean… he grew up on such stories so he's inclined to believe them ideas."

Crusch nodded slowly with Felt. "Yes, Natsuki's world had stories about heroes summoned from another reality. Like us, they thought it was impossible."

"So when Natsuki-kun was transported here, he immediately began following the tropes and cliches of his world's fantasy stories," Anastasia kept looking at the screen as she concluded Crusch's thought with ease.

Emilia was silent throughout this discussion about what her knight was thinking and felt entitled to because of his circumstance. Stuck was she on having to cut this entire chat these candidates were having about her own knight. As if they knew him as she did. As if they had fought with him because of this mentality he had at the start of his journey as she did.

And she was stuck for one and only one reason. It was her guilt that broke any confidence of projecting her relationship with Subaru against the others. Of standing up for him.

Emilia was ashamed that everything these other girls were saying about her knight's unflattering way of thinking about her as a doll was indeed very correct.

"But I'm so much more than that to him. He said it himself."

Emilia's thoughts slowly cooled down her conflicting storm of guilt and anger, "He said he loved me. He was wrong to think of me like that," she whispered calmly to herself as she managed to calm down again.

Her heart didn't calm down as another thought struck her.

"Why did you not trust me with Return by Death then, Subaru?" Emilia's thought was cold, calculated, furious, and uncaring to the name of the curse her knight had to suffer from. The Silver-haired girl was beyond furious with the boy's self-indulgent habits.

[Subaru continued walking and stopped when he noticed the same painting on another door. "A looping hallway? Is this one of those things where I can't get out until I find the right room?"

Subaru quickly moved to the door beside him. "The typical pattern dictates that the first door is likely the goal!"]

"Hmph!" Priscilla snorted haughtily at the logic.

Honestly, he amused her greatly even if he was a buffoon.

[Opening the door, Subaru was met by a little girl sitting on a stool.

"What profoundly aggravating man you are, I suppose."]

Nearly everyone in the Emilia camp showed absolute shock with this scene, prompting a few of the other people around them to ask why Emilia, the maids of the Roswaal mansion, and even Roswaal himself had their mouths ajar.

"Wha's wrong? Cap'n's meeting with the lil' one is basic," Garfiel asked, surprised how shocked his own sister looked and finding it hard to see what they were so shocked about.

"I think I might have an idea, Garf-san."

"Hm?"

Otto failed to notice how he earned the attention of both Garfiel and the other occupants in the room as he muttered with a thoughtful face, "This must be related to what I was told about when I was welcomed into Roswaal-sama's estate for the first time by Natsuki-san and Emilia-sama. Beatrice-sama never left her great Library and no one in the mansion could find it since it's magically hidden or something of that sense."

"How come the boy managed to find her on the first go then?" Anastasia breezily asked from above the young man, her eyes filled with interest. Her own knight kept his gaze on them with a glint of excitement showing in his gaze.

"I… Did not know that Subaru-sama found the great Library right from his first day in the estate. Truly fascinating!" Frederica spoke breathlessly in amazement.

"Seems like Barusu manages to sniff out his own likings on accident, hm."

"How do we take that?" Ricardo sweated at the rigid pink-haired girl's statement.

"It seems you two have been connected since the very beginning then, Beatrice-san. That's amazing!" Emilia voiced her own amazement and happiness for the little girl, finding the entire situation foreshadowing Beatrice's link with Subaru.

Oddly enough, the little blonde spirit was silent throughout this. Emilia almost thought that the girl was still angry with her and was ignoring her again.

"Subaru-kun really is close to Beatrice-sama," Feeling closed in on herself and awkward, Rem couldn't help but express in a sad voice. It didn't feel good to be left out and seeing everyone talk about how foretelling this moment was for both the spirit Rem had scarcely met in her years living under the same mansion and the boy she loved with all of her heart.

"Betty and her contractor are always connected, in fact," The great spirit herself spoke in an affirmed confident tone. However, there was no cheer in Beatrice's voice or eyes

["First NPC found! You're gonna ruin your cute face with that cold attitude. Come on! Smile! Smile!"

"The only smile worth giving you is a derisive sneer."

"Are you mad because I guessed it right on the first try? I've always been a pretty lucky guesser. I can understand why game masters would want me in all the events, but sorry!"

Beatrice grips her book harder as he continues to talk. "So, what is this place, anyway?"]

"Hm, did you feel it at such an early moment, Beatrice?" The magic savvy lord whispered slowly. Roswaal's eyes were narrowed on the way the little girl was gripping her book.

["Hmph! It's Betty's multi-purpose room, which serves as a library and bedroom, I suppose," she replied in anger.

"Talk about a typical response. Are you one of the manual girls everyone's into now?"]

"He doesn't realize he was in the presence of a great spirit inside of her domain nonetheless," Shaking his head in disappointment, Julius couldn't help but let frustration show on his expression as he saw Subaru disrespect a great being that any knight would bow before.

"He's not familiar with that stuff, pal. I think he gets a pass on this one," Al shook his head as he thought back to the last time Subaru did something wrong in front of the regal knight. "Such a stick in the mud this guy…"

"I have assessed that thank you. Natsuki Subaru is from a different world than ours…" Julius' eyes lowered in thought.

"Still feels unreal, huh?" Al chuckled from above as he noticed the knight's confused state. Julius mainly gave a nod before trailing back on the screen. "Still… To meet with a great spirit and be contracted with her even with his attitude… His spirit attraction must've been higher than my little buds had told me."

"Cease your pointless theorizing. Betty's Subaru didn't need something so insignificant to earn Betty's loyalty, in fact," her voice cold and firm, Beatrice reprimanded the foolish spirit knight sitting in the rows behind her. Her eyes bored at the screen as her tiny hand found itself on the sleeping one of Subaru.

"This meeting was nothing short of fate, in fact," she whispered to herself, "Even with how rude Betty turned out, I suppose."

Beatrice chuckled desperately to herself. Feeling shame at this first meeting between her and the boy beside her.

[Beatrice closed her book and jumped down from her stool. "Betty has had just about enough."

The girl walked closer to Subaru until he was pinned to the door. "Time to teach you a lesson I suppose."

"Hey, what are you gonna do?" Subaru was startled when Beatrice glared up at him.

"Don't you dare move! Anything you'd like to say?"

"D-Don't hurt me."]

"Wimp!" "Scaredy cat!"

"Be a man!"

Garfiel glared at the trio of Ricardo, Mimi, and Tivey.

"Is he going to be alright?" Reinhard found himself asking in worry what the great spirit might do to the boy.

He found his answer from the stretched accent of the clown lord above, "She wouldn't actually huuuurt him regardless, Reinhard-sama~ Please be at eaaaaase," Roswaal was staring intently at the screen, trying to find out why Beatrice was giving the boy the time of day, unlike the hundreds that came to her in the past decade of this generation period. She would throw out anyone that didn't satisfy her noble words. Yet she's interacting with this random human with no problem expressing herself.

"Intriguing…"

[Beatrice looked unimpressed and raised her hand at his belly.

Subaru looked confused at first.

Then he screamed as Beatrice sucked his mana dry.

Subaru fell, paralyzed and in pain.

He looked up at Beatrice as she looked down at him.

"What did you do to me, you drill loli?" he asked in pain.

"I only collected the mana from your body, I suppose. It confirmed that you are not an enemy."

Subaru slowly looked up and smirked in exhaustion. "You're not human, are you? I don't mean your personality."

Beatrice is smiling smugly at him from above. "It took you long enough to notice, I suppose."]

The girl in the theater was not smiling as her screen counterpart as she witnessed her faulty beginning with her contractor. She couldn't help but apologize under her breath for the little spell she had forced on him back then. "Betty will make those up to you, I suppose," Beatrice whispered under her breath while holding Subaru's arm tightly.

"Just come back and I'll give you all of the hugs you need you, foolish contractor, in fact," Beatrice held a small smirk coming through her desperate-looking eyes as she faced the unmoving form of the sleeping Subaru beside her.

She vowed to give him this.

"Beatrice-sama used to be so mean!" Petra yelled at the distasteful attitude Beatrice was showing.

"Yes, I don't think I have ever seen Beatrice-sama smile in all my years working for Roswaal-sama." Rem said as she recalled the very scarce times she had interacted with the spirit.

"Beatrice-sama always was lonely in her library. Her attitude changed since she started going out more." Frederica explained to the two maids. Petra was a new maid so she didn't know anything. But Rem was already VERY familiar with the spirit since she's lived years with her in the same mansion.

"Beatrice-sama… started going out of her library?" Rem asked with piqued interest.

"It's because of Barusu's moronic plans."

Rem looked at her sister even more interested. "What did Subaru-kun do to Beatrice-sama?"

Otto and Garfiel laughed suddenly.

Rem looked at them in surprise, she was more confused when Emilia and Petra started giggling.

"What?" The frustrated Oni asked.

"Hehehe, Subaru-kun kind of forced Beatrice to contract with him." Emilia giggled at the conversation she had with him about it. She was happy to take her mind off his secret power so the giggles just came out from the distress.

"How did Subaru force a great spirit to contract with him?" Julius asked with great interest and a smile as he knew that the boy did something genius and equally reckless at the same time. He loved that trait in Subaru.

"Simple! Subaru-san knew that Beatrice-sama wasn't going to leave the library. So he decided to get rid of it." Otto explained with a tired smile at the memory.

"What do you mean get rid of it?" Crusch asked interestedly as well.

"Barusu had to deal with many threats at the time, one of them was that someone put a hit on the mansion and everyone in there was to be killed by the Bowel Hunter," Ram explained, omitting some details about who it was that put the hit and what dangers Subaru had to fight. She didn't want everyone to start thinking about how the boy dealt with the threats.

They didn't want to think about him dying again.

"So how did he deal with Elsa?" Reinhard asked with a guilty frown. He shouldn't have let her get away.

"Cap'n made my amazing self hold dat bitch off while he did his thing," Garfiel smirked at the memory while his sister shook her head in annoyance.

"You actually left the Sanctuary Garf?" Rem asked in surprise. The boy found himself shocked by the relative warmth the normally cold Rem gave him.

"Barusu was responsible for that too."

"Yep, Cap'n held off in a fight against me and managed to impress me enough to join 'em." Garf still had pride not to admit losing to his Captain. Not with that Sword Saint dickhead sitting around.

"Yeeees Subaru-kun managed aloooot of feats while you were in a coma, my dearest Rem-chan. It's why he has been officially declared Emilia-sama's Knight." Rem looked at her employer in shock. She smiled proudly and ruffled her hero's head.

"I knew you could do it." she softly said.

"Don't derail the conversation! What did big bro do to save Beako-chan." Felt asked annoyed that they changed the subject.

Everyone in the room was now looking at the Emilia camp with interest as to how the boy managed to save the mansion's residents.

"Hmph! He burned the mansion and the great library, Betty was protecting, I suppose! Coming into my library with tears in his eyes, begging Betty, in fact! Asking for my help with one hand while burning the library with another. A sad sight of a pathetic boy, I suppose," Beatrice yelled in frustration which made those around her laugh harder since she started yelling the unfairness she was subjugated to by Subaru's rash decisions.

Julius and Reinhard just stared with shock at the laughing camp, their knightly code always taught to give the great spirits the utmost respect.

"Why am I surprised?"

"Yeah, that's something Subaru would do."

The two knights calmed down when they thought about the nasty-eyed boy's personality.

Manhandling a spirit into a contract to save her was something expected from him. Both smiled at the image of an angry Subaru throwing books into a raging fire while screaming how he will save the girl. It was hilarious.

"Subaru burned the mansion, contracted Beatrice-sama, became a knight, and freed Garfiel?" Rem looked around sadly as she missed so much.

She forgot that the screen was gonna show her potentially hurting… him.

The maid just prayed that nothing bad would happen to him… even if she knew that wouldn't be the case. But her weak heart forced her into a state of denial. This discussion with her hero's camp made it easier to forget the thought of…. What she might have done to him. But it did make her upset that so much happened in the short time she was in a coma.

"Damn, Gluttony."

["I take it back. Your personality isn't human, either."

"Do not measure a proud, noble being by your standards, human." Beatrice walked away from him as he fell into unconsciousness.

Darkness…]

"And that… is how Sir Natsuki caught his second loli." Al chuckled.

Ricardo laughed along with the twins.

"Who's the first?… Why are you holding me so tight Reinhard?" Felt asked as the Sword Saint looked at the screen with determination.

He will beat the Lolimancer! Felt-sama was his lady!

[Opening theme 1: Redo.]

"Again? This seems like a play more than a telling of Natsuki-kun's story."

"Well, it does make it more enjoyable to watch," Crusch spoke to Anastasia.

Garfiel and Ricardo started nodding their heads along to the music.

Everyone began enjoying the music even though the disturbing sight of their friend running for his life was playing.

They knew more distressing things were gonna be shown so they took the chance to rest and enjoy something.

[Theme end.

The screen shows Subaru's sleeping form once again on the same bed.

He opens his eyes and comments on the first thing he sees once again. "I know that ceiling."]

"Wow, you did a number on him Beatrice-san."

Otto shivered at the glaring girl.

Beatrice looked at the screen in sadness. She was thinking about something...

"How did you know about the curse, I wonder?" Beatrice softly asked. Her eyes dark from despair, she watched with a brave face. This was her contractor's burden. The thing that made him hate himself and hurt himself before he slept beside her every night.

It's my duty to watch and live through this for him, I suppose.

Beatrice watched and waited... for the person she chose shall die before her once again.

["Oh, he has awakened, Sister."

"Indeed, he has awakened, Rem."

Two voices spoke off-screen as Subaru smiled to himself.

"Me, a denizen of the night, waking up in the morning? I'm getting all emotional. I'd better go to sleep a second time. No, I woke up earlier, so this makes the third."

"My, what deadbeat thing to say. Did you hear that, sister?"

"Yes, truly the words of a loser. I heard him, Rem."

As the voices mocked him, Subaru quickly sat up and looked around with a glare.

"Alright! Who are these two voices that keep criticizing me in stereo?!"]

Some of the watchers laughed loudly at the interactions.

None of them noticed how the twin's faces were growing cold…

They had confirmation now. Rem had a few tears in the corner of her eyes and steeled herself to watch in silence. Her heart pounded. She wished to the gods that she didn't… do it.

Ram watched with a stern glare. How much will this boy suffer? There was nothing about good timing here. She couldn't help but feel anger at the thought of the boy suffering once more with her under the same roof as him.

"It must've been the mabeasts," She suddenly thought to herself in a split second as her mind finally found a matching timeline that made sense. He must've died to those dogs in Alram village. That's how he managed to navigate through that situation so well!

The twins watched and waited…. For Subaru to die, for they had noticed that these interactions were all wrong.

[The screen shows two cut maid twins with pink and blue hair posing with each other.

"N-No way… Maid costumes exist in this world too?! Maids were always the very personification of elegance in my mind… "]

Rem blushed a little and wished she would have been told this by her Subaru-kun.

Frederica giggled in delight while Ram glared at the screen. Stupid Barusu.

Petra smiled happily as she knew that choosing this job was the right way to earn her hero's attention.

[Subaru looks away from the two and raises his fist in happiness. "This ain't so bad, either!"

"How terrible. You are being violated in the mind of our guest, sister." Rem said.

"It is terrible. It is terrible. You're experiencing the ultimate shame in the mind of our guest, Rem." Ram hugged her sister.]

"We should talk like that!" Mimi told her little twin. Tivey sighed in frustration.

[Subaru wiggled his fingers while looking at them with a creepy smirk. "Don't underestimate my capacity. You're both fair prey in my fantasies!"]

"He's very gross." Julius grimaced at the disgusting attitude he saw on screen.

"Oh calm it, he was just joking!" Anastasia hit her knight on the shoulder.

"Is he though?" Felix frowned, agreeing with Julius on the matter. He also hated Subaru's mannerisms.

They were knights, he was not.

[A gentle knock on the door sounded and made him focus his attention elsewhere.

A beautiful half-elf was standing in the doorway. "Can't you wake up more peacefully, Subaru?"

Subaru smiles warmly at Emilia. Then he looks at her outfit in surprise.

"Whoever picked that outfit totally gets it!"

"I don't know what you're talking about, but the fact that I know it's something stupid is disappointing."]

"She's got the Cap'n figured!" Garfiel chuckled along with Otto and Al at how quickly Subaru was shot down.

They didn't notice Emilia's eyes widening in horror. "But… H-How?! Subaru…" Emilia never felt so shocked and broken… She gripped her knight's hand and hoped that it wouldn't be too painful for him… She needs this. The half-elf prayed that this wouldn't be another false end. That her memory was flawed somehow.

["Listen to this, Emilia-sama. My dear sister was just violated by that man." Rem pointed at Subaru.

"Please listen to this, Emilia-sama. Rem was held prisoner and shamed by that man." Ram pointed at Subaru.]

"My, what a cruel prank to play," Felix commented with a smile.

The twins remained silent…

[Emilia smiled and walked towards Subaru's bed. "And you two, don't tease him too much."]

Emilia closed her eyes in despair. She realized it. This wasn't what happened when she met him in the mansion.

["Yes, Emilia-sama. My sister is very sorry."

"Yes, Emilia-sama. Rem's sorry as well."

"Are you feeling alright? Does anything feel off?" Emilia asked Subaru as she smiled gently at him.

"Huh? Oh, I'm just a bit groggy from oversleeping. It was you who saved me wasn't it, Emilia-tan?"

"Huh? Tan? What does Tan mean?" Emilia tilted her head cutely.

"Uh, you can just ignore that one." Subaru looked away as he blushed then he bowed his head in gratitude. "Still, thank you for saving me."

"No, I'm the one who should thank you. You barely know me, but you risked your life to save me. It's only natural I'd heal your wounds after that." Emilia smiled warmly at him. Subaru nodded and smiled back.]

"It must be so cruel for her to watch this," Ram whispered while slightly glancing in pity at the silver-haired girl.

Rem was also giving her own expression of sympathy and pain for the half-elf princess.

"You must've realized it by now too, Emilia-sama," Rem whispered.

"I have…", Emilia whispered back without a follow-up. Her entire expression was hidden from view. This interaction seemed heartwarming and happy she wanted to be the one who receives it. But it was only wasted on a past version of her that would end up failing Subaru once again.

["Well, then, It's time once again. I guess it's time to start a new day!"

The scene changes to Subaru and Emilia looking over L. Mather's garden. "This place is huge! The yard isn't so much a yard as a field."

Subaru was doing warm-ups on the grass while Emilia watched with a perplexed frown.]

"What is he doing?" Julius asked as he watched the weird movements with perplexed eyes.

"That looks like the new tradition all the villages around the Mathers domain seem to be taking up, they say that it's become a national pastime in the cities of Costuul and the capital," Reinhard answered. He too wanted to learn more about these sudden dances that got popular. He hadn't seen anything sweep the nation's culture like this before.

"Those are Cap'n's train'ng warm-ups," Garfiel slightly smirked while stretching his arms over his head.

"Warm-ups?" Felix asked.

["Those are unusual movements. What are you doing?"

"My homeland's ancient practice of warm-up exercises." he stood up straight. "Come on, Emilia-tan, join me!"]

Emilia looked up from her despaired state with sad tearful eyes.

["Radio calisthenics, number 2! Bounce on both feet to loosen your body!" Subaru began bouncing in place while Emilia looked embarrassed.]

Why hadn't she protected him?

["Huh? You're kidding! What is that?"

Subaru began stretching his arms in circles. "Just do what I do."

Emilia began moving her arms along with how Subaru is moving his.]

"Damn those look fun!" Ricardo commented.

Emilia clenched her hands on her knees.

She brought him into the mansion and couldn't even save him.

["I'll drill the essence of radio calisthenics into you!"

Beatrice watched from the window as Emilia and Subaru moved their bodies in sync.

"Now, raise both arms and shout, Victory!"

"V-Victory!"

Puck suddenly flew out of Emilia's hair and shouted. "Victory!"]

She lost Puck because of her weakness.

[Puck looked at Subaru and winked. "Hi, Subaru! Great morning, isn't it?"

Subaru smiled at the cat. "Well, for me, it's been nothing but chaos since the wee hours of the morning. Looping hallways and a mean little girl on a rampage… and then shedding the sweat of passion with Emilia-tan."]

She couldn't protect the boy that saved her…

That died for her….

That will die for her…

Emilia shook with frustration and anger as she watched with determined eyes, the memories that were taken away from her.

Memories no one but her knight remembered.

"You must've been so alone, Subaru." She softly whispered as she watched how happy he was with her.

How did he die? Why did he stay?

Emilia watched to understand her knight. To at least see his pain and sacrifice. But she was just a selfish girl, wanting to know the unknown about the boy from another world.

["Don't make it sound so scandalous! Good morning Puck, sorry I put you through so much yesterday."

Puck landed in Emilia's open palms. "Morning, Lia. I almost lost you yesterday. I can never thank Subaru enough. I must do something for him."

Subaru smiles cheekily, "Okay, then… "]

A certain merchant princess perked up and hummed with a smirk on her face. "Hmmm, let's see how this goes. I hope that he asks for somethi-"

[

"Let me pet your fur whenever I want!"]

"-g valuable this time." Anastasia glared at the screen. She needed to teach this kid some life lessons about ambition. "Oh, how I wish to have him wake up and unleash Julius on him again." Anastasia giggled at her joke that no one heard.

[Emilia's face changed with surprise. "Huh? That's all?"]

"He is a simple man." Priscilla snorted.

"A simple man that did great things." Crusch snorted back and watched with a smile of amusement at Natsuki's interactions.

["For a first-rate fur master such as myself, being able to love on the object of your petting affections at any time is worth just as much as a multimillionaire's riches! Oh, man, these ears!"]

"I wish Bubby was here," Beatrice was happy to see her brother again… she was happy that something was taking her mind off what's to come.

Emilia nodded silently and stared at the two on-screen. What a cruel joke.

The two she had failed the most.

[Subaru is shown rubbing his cheek with Puck's while Puck enjoys the attention. "I'm in love with how soft you are!"

"I know you feel that way since I can somewhat read your mind, But I'm amazed you can actually say it! it's okay Lia. I can't find any malice, hostility, or ill-intent in Subaru."

"It's so cute how you call her Lia too."

"Not as cute as your Emilia-tan!"]

"Man, he gets along with spirits fast huh?" Al asked, a little jealous of his affinity.

"Subaru-kun gets along with everyone he meets. Even if they hate him at first." Petra said with a smile.

"He does warm up to ya, eh Julius?" Felix bumped the huffing purple-haired young man.

[Emilia looked at the two with an unreadable expression.

"You really are strange, Subaru."

"Huh?" Subaru looked at a warmly smiling Emilia. He blushed.

"Oh? What brings you two here?" Emilia looked at the two maids.

Rem and Ram bowed down and spoke at the same time.

"Emilia-sama. Our lord, Roswaal-sama, has returned."

"Please come inside."

The scene changes to show Subaru entering through a doorway into a room with a big table at the center.

"I was watching you from upstairs, and you know what? It would seem you are quite dumb, I suppose." Beatrice greeted Subaru as she stood from beside the door.]

"Awwwe, Beatrice-sama is jealous." Petra cooed from the back which made the spirit huff in denial.

"Why would I be jealous? He's already Subaru's Betty, in fact," Beatrice shot back at the little maid for the sake of formally meeting her teasing back. In reality, her eyes scanned the screen for 20 different angles or reasons he could end up dead in any way shape, or form.

"He must've found another way to rewind time other than death if there are no possible dangers around him."

"You were even leaving your library for him…" Roswaal was aghast with how quickly Beatrice had actually taken with the boy. She never left her Library to observe people. Never.

["Where do you get off saying that, you loli?!"

Beatrice looked annoyed. "What does that word mean? I've never heard it before and it irritates me!"]

Beatrice realized how much she missed arguing with him.

No one noticed how the little girl took his sleeping hand in hers.

She kept watching and waiting… for a dark story to unfold… for this happy Subaru on the screen to change into the broken kid she saw every night when she pretended to sleep on her spot beside him on the bed. "There must be another way to activate the rewind ability. Other than death. But then he would have to still stay alive and watch his friends die in front of him, I suppose. That would explain his fragility to nightmares and trauma, in fact."

[Emilia came in with Puck on her shoulder. He waved at Beatrice with a smile.

"Hey, Betty! I haven't seen you in four days. Have you been staying ladylike?"

Beatrice's face changed into an excited cute smile. "Bubby! I've been waiting for you to come home! Will you stay with me today, do you suppose?"

"Sure, no problem." Puck jumped from Emilia's shoulder and into Beatrice's open palms. "Let's finally relax together today."

Beatrice spun around with a happy smile, giggling as she held Puck and sat down on a chair.

"Yay!"

Subaru watched the scene with a confused look. Emilia giggled and smiled at him.

"Bewildered, aren't you? Beatrice is so taken with Puck."

"Who even says Bewildered nowadays?"]

Emilia's heart gave a tug… she missed hearing him say that.

Subaru's other hand was held by a snow-white one.

[Subaru and Emilia's conversation was interrupted by a man suddenly entering the room.

"My, my! How unusual to see you here, Beatrice! I'm so happy that you decided to dine with me." Subaru looked at the weird man that dressed like a clown.]

"In comes the truuuuue hero of this stoooory." Roswaal declared as he saw himself in the window.

"The only thing you're a hero of is those creeps that think clown makeup is cool!" Petra shouted in anger at her employer. She hated this clown.

"Ooof!" "Godamnnnn!" "Hahahahaha"

"…. That huuuuurts."

Frederica didn't have the heart to correct Petra on her behavior.

The clown almost killed all of them…

Likely killed all of them if what she was seeing on this window was any indication.

["That boy is more than an addle-brained fool for me, I suppose. Betty was only waiting for Bubby." Beatrice's glare at Subaru and the clown turned into a smile aimed at Puck as she held him against her cheek.

Subaru looked at the clown in confusion and smiled nervously.

"You guys hired a clown to entertain you before each meal? I'll never understand how rich folks think." Subaru patted the man's back and smiled.]

"Oh, this guy is an idiot!" Felix shouted in shock.

Julius frowned at the screen and sighed. "He didn't know… "

Priscilla gave a mighty chuckle and watched with a crooked smile.

He's amusing… But what interested her was something else entirely now… Her eyes glazed over towards the eccentric clown sitting in the same row as her.

[Emilia looked at him with shock visible on her face. The clown just remained frozen and silent.

"Um, Subaru, that man is… " Emilia nervously spoke.

"Oh, no, it's quite alright, Emilia-sama," The clown assured her.

Subaru looked at the two confused. "What's going on?"

The clown smiled and glanced at Subaru. "Only that I am the lord of this maaaaanor, Roswaal L. Maaathers, Natsuki Subaru-kun."]

"Hmmmm, I guess this is a failed loop," His eyes hardened, Roswaal watched with the silent two maids, the guilt-ridden half-elf and the crushed spirit girl below him.

But his whisper was heard by the scarlet princess that had taken him as a much rather interesting anomaly to keep her eyes on instead of the screen. Priscilla glared through her scarlet eyes, her mind fully focused on the clown she was suspicious of.

"... He even acts the same as her," Wilhelm commented softly while gazing at Roswaal on the screen with the warmth of nostalgia in his eyes. He noticed the way this generation's Roswaal was clothed and accented in the same manner as one of his dearest friends.

[Subaru stepped back in shock as the clown stepped closer to stare into his eyes.

The scene changes to show the residents of the manor eating food with the maids sitting at Roswaal's sides.

Subaru sips the soap in front of him and his face lights up with delight, "This is way better than normal food!"

"Mhhm, Despite her appearance, Rem's cooking is quite impressive," Roswaal said.]

"What does that mean?" Crusch asked the clown. But she stopped demanding an answer when she saw the narrowed look in his eyes.

What was up with this guy?

Crusch just looked at the screen and tried her best to keep her shiver from showing.

["So this was cooked by the one with blue hair… um… Rem-chan, right? You made this?" Subaru asked as he looked at the standing maid.

"Yes, sir. I do the cooking in this house. My sister is not very good at cooking."

"Ah, twins who are good at different things! Is your sister good at cleaning, then?"

"Yes, that is correct. My sister excels at housework, especially cleaning and laundry."

"So, Rem-rin, you're good at cooking but bad at cleaning and laundry?"

"No, I am generally good at all household tasks. I'm also better at laundry and cleaning than my sister."

"Does your sister even have a purpose?!"]

"Harsh!" Otto trembled and looked at Ram, the pink-haired Oni no doubt will be smacking the wannabe knight for such a comment, so he was prepared to jump in her way and protect his sleeping friend.

What he saw… was a calm, thoughtful-looking Ram watching the screen with no reaction.

She's waiting for something.

Otto concluded and watched the screen with a skeptical eye.

What if… Nah no way with Emilia-sama and Beatrice-sama around… Roswaal is there too!

Otto slowly sat down and calmed his nerves. He wouldn't see his friend die again and he was happy about that.

His panic made him forget that Ram was still waiting for something.

["You are truly a strange young man. You come to the mansion of Margrave Mathers, in the Kingdom of Lugunica, aaaand you saaay you don't understaaaand a thing."

Subaru looked perplexed at The lord of the manor. "Is something bad happening in this country?"

"Well, it is not in an agreeable state. After all, Lugunica's king is currently not present."

Subaru stopped eating and looked at Roswaal with surprise.

"No, there's no need to be concerned… Everyone is quite aware of the reality already."

"Really? I expected a 'Now that you know my secret I can't let you leave here alive' thing."]

"Margrave-sama."

"Hm?"

Julius faced the weirdly dressed man with a hardened face, "Why is it that you didn't put more suspicion on Subaru Natsuki? He clearly didn't know anything about the kingdom's state which is suspicious to say, not only this but also the fact that he managed to save your sponsored candidate from an assassination attempt."

While stating his reasons to suspect the magic lord, Julius failed to see how those in the Emilia camp were flinching hard except for Rem and Petra.

Roswaal only met the knight with a small crooked upturn of his lips, his multi-colored eyes held no color as he stared down at the knight.

"My my~ I was just grateful for this stranger's kindness for saving my Emilia-samaaaa. I had not foreseen any wrongdoing from the boy nor did I sense danger from someone with his… deficiency."

"Deficiency?" Ignoring Julius' stand on the matter, Emilia cut in rigidly with her eyes filled with confusion.

Roswaal's expression softened into a warmer smile as he received Emilia's attention, "I had already asked Beatrice-san to discover everything about Subaru-kun's abilities through her mana reeeeeading when she healed him on the first night of his staaaaaay,"

Emilia's eyes briefly fell on the little girl sitting beside her. The little girl stayed silent.

"You could say that Subaru-kun's state and condition in both magic and physical prowess were… assuring in a sense."

"A-Assuring of what?" Petra asked, not liking how the strange clown-dressed man seemed to revel with the hawk-like glares coming from everyone around her.

"Assuring Subaru's weakness if he was to be an enemy spy of coooooourse!"

This made Emilia and Rem's eyes widen, Otto and Garfiel simply stayed silent with their eyes glaring at Roswaal.

"You already thought of him as a spy?" Julius inquired with a straight face. He received a nod from the lord.

"Indeed! I mean there were too many variables to ignore but what surprised us is how extremely low his knowledge waaaaas of our world and situation politically, not to mention the way his magical gaaaate seemed to have been locked which made him more vulnerable and useless… It surely was interesting to learn about him but that was as close as our relationship would've gooooone."

"Don't speak about him in that way!" As Julius started to narrow his eyes in suspicion, a girlish shout filled with authority cut through the air.

Roswaal was met with two purple irises of ice and fire, equal in their fury and wrath to the sheer innocence they displayed.

"Emilia-sa-"

"Do not bring up Subaru as useless or weak again!" Surprising everyone, the timid half-elf was outright ordering the strongest mage of the kingdom with an expression of firmness and anger as if she was speaking to a servant that had failed her.

Roswaal simply bowed his head with another one of those smiles of which Emilia didn't like, "As you wish, Emilia-saaama~ My deepest apologies. I didn't mean to insult our Subaru-kuuuun, not at aaaaall. I merely was stating how we analyzed the boy back when we didn't make any ties with our friendshiiiip."

"Friendship my ass…" Garfiel snorted with his arms crossed and his nose fuming from fury. A warning look from his sister made him stand down.

Julius, on his part, had noticed all of the Emilia camp's strange attention to detail on the clown, unlike anyone else, select few in the Emilia camp held outright hatred and mistrust with the clown instead of the usual skepticism the other occupants showed toward him. There was something more going on here.

"Julius-san… Please sit down."

"What?"

Otto firmly attested to the knight once more with a strange look in his eyes that looked like the merchant was begging the knight to stay out of this.

"We don't want to delay the watching any further. I'm sure whatever it is you are looking for will be answered."

"Will it?" Julius firmly questioned the merchant head sitting below him.

Otto's hand was firmly placed on his side, his eyes were dim for having to take the heat off the eccentric persona in the back of the theater, but he couldn't let this camp fall just yet. Not when Subaru entrusted him to keep it intact. Holding the reason that explained Roswaal's every strange habit and occurrence in his pocket, Otto knew every answer needed to expose this clown Magi to the greatest knight and his allies right here and now. But the merchant never reveals his or her trade unless there was a price on the line.

And he did not see a good price in having his team break out of losing their one and only sponsor in this race.

While Otto and Julius both stared off against each other, the knight was surprised to see the drippled, fearful boy was suddenly a bit more assertive and steady in his stand. It was determination of sorts.

And when about to speak on this matter more fluently, the knight was stopped by a fur-coated hand.

"Julius-kun~ You're making an embarrassin' scene out here."

"Anastasia-sama?"

The queen of the Hoshin company simply grabbed her knight's arm and pulled him to stumble back in his seat with an innocent smile plastered on her face.

"Shush now, I'm sure whatever it is we need will be shown anyways," Anastasia giggled briefly while keeping an innocent facade going, her eyes briefly glanced between Otto and Roswaal, from the bottom row to the very top one where both were seated individually. She can't help her amusement from showing.

"You guys look so different but still act like one. T's truly exceptional. Clowns all 'round~"

"Hey no-"

"That's alright, Garf-san!"

Otto, clearly struck by Anastasia's comment, still had the foresight to stop his friend from saying or doing anything insulting the smug royal candidate.

Roswaal seemed to be intrigued by this as his eyes lingered on Otto briefly.

Priscilla's own eyes narrowed at the man.

Uncaring for all of this, Emilia turned around and waited for the viewing to continue and show her what happened to Subaru here and if he had managed to control this power of his.

Rem was watching all of this with the most confused of faces, barely being able to keep up with what was supposed to be a brief moment.

Why didn't my sister defend Roswaal-sama?

[Beatrice is feeding Bubby with a smile on her face as Roswaal is talking.

"Around the same time, the king went into hiding. An epidemic began to spread throughout the castle. The king and his children are the last of his line. The nation is currently being managed by a council of wise men, and they are now in the process of selecting a new king."

Subaru seemed to be in thought.

"I see. I'm starting to get the picture. On top of the king's absence, the royal selection is causing confusion in the kingdom. Then suddenly, I appear from another world-"

"Wait, I'm totally suspect here!" Subaru's face contorted to one of pure panic.]

"It does seem a lil' suspicious that he would appear in such times and make contact with a candidate t' the throne immediately upon arrival." Anastasia mused.

"Yeah, but we saw how he arrived 'ere. He had no say in coming to our world and he didn't know big sis was a candidate," Felt answered, uncaring towards the entire ordeal previously displayed since she cared little about all of them. Heck, to her, she considered everyone here a clown.

"Yeah, we know that Subaru-kun didn't have a say in coming here at such a crucial time. But we don't know who planned for those events to happen." Anastasia submitted with a thoughtful glance behind her where a certain clown lurked.

"I don't think it's the Witch's Cult," Crusch voiced out suddenly, having been silent and observing the whole time.

"Why is that?" Priscilla asked, clearly interested in taking her eyes off of the scum sitting beside her.

"Subaru Natsuki has been a very troublesome thorn in their side. I don't think they would put him here and give him such a powerful ability just to give themselves a challenge."

"And what if the boy wasn't given his power by the fiends of the cult?"

"Calling him boy now? What happened to a commoner?"

Priscilla remained silent and looked in thought with Crusch's musings.

"Mineself merely noticed a few more things happening around this mortal that it interested me,"

Al recoiled in shock as he had never heard her speak this softly before.

"Pardon me for speaking without permission, Crusch-sama, Anastasia-sama, Felt-sama, and Priscilla-sama." The conversing candidates looked at the knight that held the title of Sword Saint as he gazed thoughtfully at Subaru.

"Speak," Felt ordered.

He bowed. "Subaru has been given this ability by some evil means. I can't find such a divine blessing in The Od, in fact, I can't create it so it's not a blessing or usable magic. Someone powerful and trained in ancient dark arts must have done this to him." Reinhard sat down and looked at the screen to let the room think about what he said.

"How utterly disgusting," Priscilla spoke softly as she watched the window's events with her mind in thought.

["Aaaand on top of aaalll that, you made contact with Emilia-sama, thus becoming connected to my household."

"Wait, why would the lord of the mansion call her Emilia-sama?" Subaru asked in confusion.

"It's only natural to address someone of higher status with due respect." Roswaal casually clarified.

Subaru looked nervous as he turned to the girl beside him.

"Um, so Emilia-tan would be… "

Emilia smiled sympathetically. "My current title would be a candidate to become the Kingdom of Lugunica's forty-second ruler, with the backing of Margrave Roswaal."

Subaru recoiled back. "What!?"

"Sorry to surprise you. I wasn't trying to keep it a secret." Emilia slowly placed her insignia on the table.

"Hey, it's that insignia."

"This qualifies one to be a candidate for king. It's a touchstone for determining if one is worthy of the throne."

"Wait, Emilia-tan, you lost an insignia that qualifies you to rule the kingdom?!" Subaru looked at the half-elf ludicrously.

"Don't put it like that! I didn't lose it! It was stolen from me by a thief!"]

"Sorry, again." Felt rubbed her head softly and tried not to remember that she had caused so much pain to Subaru.

She felt better when the half-elf girl smiled warmly at her.

"It's forgotten."

Felt frowned at her reaction. Emilia wasn't herself and she was looking distant.

["That's the same thing! And what happens if you lose that thing anyway? Will a government office issue another one?" Subaru almost fell off his chair.

"Oh, my! If you'd lost it, then there would be no doubt. If it's believed that one who can't even protect a tiny insignia can't be entrusted for the nation's rule, that would be the end of it." Roswaal explained, still smiling.

Subaru looked satisfied with himself.

"Now that I think about it, I did a damn good job. This totally raises my expectations for a reward!" Subaru wiggled his fingers creepily.]

"What a child," Julius snorted at the excitement shown on Subaru's face.

"I actually think it's a fair trade. Subaru Natsuki did no small thing by helping Emilia-sama and her sponsor," Crusch mused with a raised brow.

"Anyone could do it if they had the power to turn back time…" Felix thought inwardly, biting his tongue as to not initiate any problems for his lady just yet. The cat boy could feel himself on the verge of exploding from his anger, however.

["Yeah, you're right. You're a true savior to me. So ask for anything." Emilia smiled at him, not at all detoured by his finger wriggling.

Roswaal raised his hands wide, "You may have any reward you request. Just name your desire."]

Crusch smirked and turned around to face the crowd. "Bet number three, Natsuki will ask for something small and stupid. The residents are not allowed to bet."

Everyone raised their hands while chuckles were heard.

Except for Anastasia. "I'm sure that Natsuki-kun will ask for a hefty reward and be clever enough to use this carefully."

She didn't notice the warm smiles on the manor's residents

[Subaru chuckled darkly.

He stood up.

"In that case, I have but one request." as he smiled to keep them in suspense. Everyone in the room waited.

"Hire me to work in this mansion!"

Silence.

"Achoo." Ram sneezed.]

Silence.

"When he wakes up… I need to talk with him."

Julius honestly felt scared.

Anastasia was rubbing her fur coat with such a nasty glare on her cute face. He noticed that the fur coat was moving very fluently underneath her caressing hand… As if it was moving on its own beneath Anastasia's hand.

Julius shook his head and focused on the important matter before him.

His lady was angry with Subaru! It was his duty as a knight to whoop his ass!

Sadly, he was asleep.

"You're safe for now Natsuki."

"I'm starting to think that he's an idiot," Felt spoke in shock at the stupid request.

Crusch just chuckled softly.

Priscilla snorted behind her fan at the boy's lack of ambition.

"That's how Subaru ended up working for Emilia-sama?" Petra thought out loud with her mouth agape.

"It's an informal way to be initiated into servitude… But then again Roswaal-sama was never one for tradition."

"Myyy you make me sound so scandalous, Freeederica-chan~"

Petra and Frederica were not the only ones that were fascinated with the way Subaru ended up serving in the manor, but also the two young men sitting at the front as well.

"Yer kiddin' me! Cap'n chose to serve the clown?!" Garfiel blew his nostrils in anger and growled in outrage.

"You shouldn't be that angry Garf-san, it's because Natsuki-san worked for Margrave-sama that we all met." Otto recalled with a smile.

Garf simply let out a huff and crossed his arms.

[The scene changes to show Emilia and Subaru in a dressing room.

"That's not quite right…" Emilia stared at Subaru as he wore unfit clothes. "Wasn't there anything else that fits, Subaru?"

"Oddly, some of the girls' stuff fit me, but…"

"Our deepest apologies, sir… I mean, Subaru-kun." Rem said deadpanned.

"You look ridiculous, sir… I mean, Barusu."

"Um, Nee-sama, you just turned my name into a blinding curse."]

"Huh! You didn't take time letting him settle before starting to pick on him!" Otto couldn't help but point out with delight.

"That's hilarious!" Al and Ricardo laughed at the twins' dynamic with the boy. Even Emilia and the candidates were amused by the trio.

"So I still called him Barusu in this one, huh," Ram thought to herself while leaning her chin on her knuckle to examine her past-on-screen self closely.

Rem was watching through sad, guilt-ridden eyes. She didn't know what would happen in this future, she just hoped that her hero would forgive her if she would've done something… Wrong.

Roswaal watched them both with a keen eye. His own glints of guilt were not lost on one red princess watching him, however.

"What could you be doing…?" Priscilla mused under her fan, her mind totally uninterested with whatever was being shown on the screen, and settled on looking at one of the few things that bothered the princess since being placed in the theater.

Why does that clown look so empty?

[Ram ignored him and looked at her sister.

"Rem, do you notice anything when looking at Barusu's ridiculous appearance?"

"His shoulders are shaped funny, his legs are short, and his eyes are scary?"

Subaru pointed at Rem, glaringly. "Two of those are things I can't do anything about!"

"We can't allow you to work here in such shady-looking attire. People would question Roswaal-sama's dignity. Let us alter the jacket at least. Rem, if you please."

Emilia started leaving the room and waved at Subaru. "All right, I gotta go study for the royal selection. Good luck with your work, too, Subaru."

"Yeah, leave it to me, Emilia-tan!"

Rem stepped closer to him and extended a measurement cord. "I will take your measurements. Stand still, with your back straight."

Subaru is standing while Rem is measuring him from behind. He yelps when she has her arms around him.

"Please don't make strange noises. It's unpleasant.

"That was beyond my control! This is awkward for a guy in various ways!"]

Rem pouted a little and wanted more than nothing but to get in there and smack her other self in the face for wasting such a wonderful opportunity with her hero.

Garfiel, Al, and Ricardo found it appropriate to laugh at him while Crusch and Anastasia chuckled at the flustered boy.

Even Julius and Reinhard seemed to be taken in by the laughter.

Wilhelm simply curled a side of his lip in amusement at the hijinks.

[Subaru is walking with Ram now as she showed him around the mansion.

"In a mansion like this, the restroom must be huge."

Subaru stopped to open the door and take a peak but all he found was a little girl playing with a small cat on a bed. Definitely not a bathroom.]

"Again?! How is he doing that?!" Frederica shouted in jealous surprise as Subaru astounded her once again.

Those who were outside of Beatrice's circle just looked confused at the older maid's outburst.

"I guess Natsuki-san was always connected to Beatrice-san, huh?"

Beatrice didn't smile or react, she just looked at the screen with an unreadable look.

What are they waiting for?

Otto asked. His mind was denying reality. His soul was forcing him to stop listening to the truth. His heart was trying as best it can to make him realize…

His friend is going to die.

["You're so great, Bubby! Your fur is the best!"

Beatrice stopped hugging Puck and looked at Subaru in alarm.

"Don't worry. I won't tell a soul. The feel of that fur would make anyone-"

Beatrice growled and sent him flying out of the room, closing the door behind him as he fell on the carpeted hallway floor.

Subaru growled and got up to open the door. "Hey! Let me finish!"

Once opening the door, Subaru was faced with a small bathroom instead of the library and bed he expected.

"That was Beatrice-sama's Door Crossing."

"So it's a spell that can connect any door in the mansion to her own room?"

"Once Beatrice-sama has eliminated her presence, there's no way to find her without trying every door in the mansion." Subaru smiled at Ram and looked around.]

"Bet number four, he fails miserably!" Felt called from her seat. No one raised their hands. Even Reinhard.

Felt pouted.

[He quickly had his sights on a closed-door down the hallway and ran to it.

"She's in here!"

"Aahh!" Beatrice screamed in fright when a smirking Subaru burst the door open.

Puck waved at the boy with a surprised look. "That was impressive, Subaru!"

"You picked the right door again?!" Beatrice growled at him.]

"That is impressive. But how did he do it?" Julius asked with an impressed look on his regal features.

"Is it really not his affinity for spirits that allowed him to counter such a fascinating spell?" Reinhard couldn't help but inquire in greed for knowledge.

The little blonde simply scoffed, "You two don't seem to have heard me. Affinity's and Attraction do nothing to counter Betty's magic."

"So, the boy found you all by himself?" Ricardo whistled in surprise.

Roswaal was staring at the void with a frustrated glance. Had his master's magic really failed to counter such a simple man as Subaru even back then? It seems anything his master makes only gets broken by Subaru's mere presence. Books, libraries, tomes, spells, and all.

[Subaru pointed at himself with a smug smirk. "What did I tell you? I'm a flag crusher who makes game masters cry."

"I don't understand your words, I suppose."

"I don't know who you are either, Ros-chi's little sister?"

Beatrice recoiled in disgust. "I'd never want to be his sister, I suppose! Hmph!"]

"Awe, I thought we were cloooooser than thaaaat."

"Hmph!"

["Betty is the librarian who oversees the Roswaal mansion's forbidden library," Puck explains.

"Roswaal-sama is the greatest magic user in the kingdom. He has many books that mustn't be seen by others. Beatrice-sama is contracted to protect them." Ram explained from behind him.]

"And Natsuki Subaru just burned all that knowledge!" Felix shouted in horror while the others looked conflicted about whether to feel angry or do nothing about it.

"It couldn't really be helped, hehe," Otto rubbed his cheek nervously as he saw looks of outrage from both knights and candidates. Especially Anastasia and Crusch.

Felt and Priscilla looked like they couldn't be bothered to care.

["If you get it now, then go away." Beatrice closed the door in his face.

Subaru and Ram are now standing outside of the manor.

"This concludes our tour of the mansion. Any questions?"

"I know it's no use saying this after it's over, but shouldn't Emilia-tan be the one with me for the tour event?"]

"It's like he only thinks about her…" Petra fumed with jealousy.

Emilia frowned a little but blushed. Why was he so in love with her? It made her feel soooo warm, but she couldn't understand why.

["If you have no questions, let's get to your actual job." Ram walked and ignored him. "You'll help me with my work, Barusu."

"This must be where my hidden skill as a butler reveals itself!"]

"He's still under the delusion that this is a game, I suppose." Beatrice sighed and shook her head in disappointment.

"As expected from a fool that has no life. Perfect description for Barusu," Ram rolled the abuse of her tongue without effort as she leaned back in her seat while watching intently.

Priscilla snorted at that.

["My work today is caring for the front yard and garden, helping to prepare lunch, polishing the silver, airing out the futons, laundry, bathroom cleaning, and the mansion's monthly soot cleaning." Subaru couldn't stop his eyes from twitching.]

"You two do all of that?! Alone!" Felt shouted as she had seen hundreds of servants at Astrea's mansion.

Roswaal had a bigger Mansion than them so it was impossible for the two maids to be the ones taking care of it on their own.

The maids just stayed silent.

Petra and Frederica looked at them worriedly.

[The scene showed an orange sky as the sun began setting. An exhausted-looking Subaru wearing his tracksuit instead of his butler uniform dropped on his bed and breathed heavily.

"I'm exhausted."

Someone knocked on his door. "This is Rem. Do you have a moment, Subaru-kun?"]

Rem's blood froze… her eyes widened and her sweat ran down her forehead.

This was instantly noticed by both, her twin and her lord sitting in the back rows.

Priscilla did not give her a single glance. While Ram and Roswaal narrowed their eyes at the girl in suspicion. The man could read the Oni from a mile away, while the pink-haired maid felt distressed through her link with her twin.

"What did you do sister/Rem?"

Her other self is probably planning on killing him in his room. The blue-haired girl was about to break down as the thought of herself killing her beloved was too much.

The only thing keeping her going was the fact that Subaru showed her the world with his smile. He wouldn't smile like that to the one that killed him, Right? So that means she must have not done the horrible deed to the boy.

Right?

[Subaru slowly and tiredly sat up from his bed. "Sure, I'm good. I won't do anything weird so please come in."

"Your permission actually makes you sound less credible. Pardon me then." Rem entered carrying some clothes.]

"That is true." Frederica giggled along with Petra, and Anastasia.

No one noticed the panicking Rem as she looked on with trembling hands.

["You finished that already?"

"When it's Roswaal-sama's clothing, my priority is to be careful but since this is yours…"

"Did you just imply that you cut corners?"

Subaru quickly put the suit on and looked at himself.

"I hate to admit it, but it's perfect. Well? Do I look good?"

"Combined with the rarity of gray clothes, no one in any kind of strange garment could rival you."

"Okay! Not a compliment at all!"

"So what should we do?" Rem asked as she looked at some cloth.

"This one's easy. Got a needle and thread?"

"I brought them. Shall I repair it now?"

"Nah, I'll do it. Don't underestimate my sewing skills."

Subaru is humming as he threads a needle through the pants.]

"Subaru is really good at sewing; he makes some weird but awesome-looking toys."

Felt looked at Petra with interest.

"Toys…." The blonde realized what she had been missing all this time.

Felt was going to punch Reinhard so hard when he's sleeping, he might drop a few blessings.

Subaru could have made her toys in that boring big manor. He could have played with her! Had this stupid Knight not been so noble as to deny Emilia's request of taking Subaru with her, Felt would have been the one to house and have him serve under her.

Od damn it, Reinhard!

["I'm surprised, I give you full marks for sewing skills." Rem is looking at the boy with a mysterious look.

"Like you, however, it does not seem very useful."]

"You guys are a bit harsh with him…" Ricardo was taken aback by all the abuse the twins were dishing at the new butler.

The twins watched, their minds worlds apart.

One was breathing heavily, thanking god under her breath for something.

And the other was watching her sister with a cold disappointed look.

Why was Ram disappointed in Rem?

Ricardo shrugged.

[The scene changes to Subaru cutting a potato in the kitchen. Actually… he was failing as he cut his finger and began bleeding and screaming in pain.

"You may get full marks for sewing, but you're still useless with a knife, Barusu." Ram is peeling the potato like a pro while Subaru is holding his bleeding finger.

Rem was tasting some food when she turned around and smiled at her sister.

"As always, you make such a lovely image when peeling vegetables, sister."

Subaru glares at Rem. "Your bias is so blatant, it's almost comforting! I'd like a comment on my work, too!"

Rem looked at his plate of poorly cut potatoes. She blinked deadpanned.

"I pity the farmer who grew those vegetables."]

"Me too." Julius smiled, liking the way they were treating Subaru.

"You guys are too mean with him," Emilia uttered worriedly but with dim emotion.

Seeing that her sister wasn't going to answer the silenced Half-elf, Ram decided to play off both girls' jarring unfocused attitude and scoffed, "Barusu is so perverted he considers this a fantasy anyways, Emilia-sama."

"Damn, why is she so harsh?" Mimi winced and asked her twin. Tivey simply shrugged.

["Stop! You're breaking my heart!"

"You don't know how to handle a knife, Barusu. You should hold the knife still and turn the vegetable."

Ram peeled a potato perfectly and held it proudly with a smile. "Frankly speaking, my best dish is steamed tatoes."

(Apples are called appas. Potatoes are called tatoes. I'm too lazy to go back and change all the potatoes I wrote.)

"How can you say that with such a triumphant look?! Damn it! Just watch! My favorite blade, shooting star, will show you a thing or two!"

Subaru growled and picked up a potato (Fuck you Tatoes!) and began peeling it like a badass.

He cut himself and started screaming… also like a badass.]

The power of the bro code truly is something not to be underestimated. For Garfiel and Otto to have such a strong bond with Subaru, they began laughing at him even before he failed miserably. True friends.

["It sliced right through me!"

A montage plays where Subaru is shown to be attempting to get fired from his job as he turns everything he touches into a shitfest.

Washing dishes? He drops them atop each other, breaking every plate in the sink.

Cleaning the bathroom? He slips and begins wiping the floor with his newly made uniform as he slides across it.

Doing the female laundry? He injures his hand in the water. How the fuck did he do that? Ladies and gentlemen this boy… is special.

Tending to the bushes? He cuts his finger with scissors.]

People could not contain their laughter as some fell from their seats while holding their midsections.

"Oh god!"

"I can't stop!"

"Hahahahahaha"

Even the Emilia camp was giggling and laughing along, happy that something else occupied their minds.

Emilia giggled softly and smiled. He was always so hard working. Maybe she would give him a lap pillow in this reality as well-

Oh…

"That's why you cried so much, right?" Emilia asked her sleeping knight softly as the others laughed around her.

He cried from his deaths. When she gave him his first lap pillow and softly comforted him that night. She wasn't helping a friend from a day's work stress. No… she was receiving the frustrations of a confused boy in a land foreign to him that had known the horrors of death.

"Why don't you tell me? Why won't you speak to me?" Emilia looked at his sleeping face, tired and pathetic.

[The scene showed the mansion surrounded by darkness as nighttime fell.

We go into Roswaal's office where the clown was sitting on a chair with a pink-haired maid sitting on his lap.]

Ram glared hatefully and blushed beet red at the private scene being displayed.

Everyone just watched in silence at the creepy scene.

["How has Subaru-kun been since then? It's been five days since his arrival. We should be seeing something by now."

"Cooking, laundry, cleaning… He is useless at all of them." Ram replied while sounding a bit flustered.

"How strict of you…" Roswaal mused as he rubbed Ram's head.

"And? What of his potential as a spy?" Roswaal narrowed his eyes.]

"Precautions are important," Anastasia noted, her and the other candidates seeing this from a mile away.

"Even though he saved my life, you still wouldn't trust him?" Emilia asked, knowing already in her heart that the twins and Roswaal did not fully trust in Subaru at first, mainly because it's what Puck had told her back then, she didn't like how paranoid they truly appeared. Were they not teasing around? Was Subaru subject to abuse from the maids under Roswaal's command?

While Emilia was seeping through multiple thoughts, a grave tarnished voice spoke out, "I had to make sure, Emilia-sama."

Beatrice and Emilia both glanced up with surprise at the sincere-looking Roswaal.

"I assure you, I only asked my staff to ensure Subaru-kun isn't harmed. Only investigate if he had suspicious ties."

"He appears to be telling the truth, Emilia-sama," The Sword-Saint rallied to the half-elf from his seat.

The Duchess nodded along, having the same ability the young knight had used to tell if there was a lie uttered.

"He seems to be telling the truth, I suppose."

"Why are ya so suspicious of yer own backer, I wond'r?" Anastasia leaned on her armrest with an easy smile as she fished and hooked for information. This entire spectacle was truly feeding her mountainous thirst to gain information on her rival.

"I don't think that's information useful to you, Anastasia-sama," quickly, her fun was cut short.

Otto quickly took control of the situation while handling his pocket tightly, the feeling of disgust overwhelmed him as he once again protected the great magi responsible for an attempt on Otto and his friends' lives.

"Emilia-sama, please. Let us just watch."

The half-elf stared at the pleading merchant boy for a moment, staring into his hazel oceans with a hidden rage directed at the Margrave barely concealed by her kindness, before moving around and watching the screen, her hands on her lap.

[Ram looked up as she nuzzled her head into his neck.

"I cannot deny it exists, but I believe the possibility is slim. For better or worse. For worse, in particular, he's too conspicuous," Ram closed her eyes and rested against the clown.

"And if he's too conspicuous… Despite that possibility he certainly is carefree. As I personally see it, it would be wise to interfere." Roswaal looked out of the window and inspected Subaru as the boy was sitting in the garden watching glowing spirits playing with Emilia.

"They're both only children. Even if we let them be, nothing will happen." Ram said to her master as she looked at the two from the window.

The scene points at Emilia and shows many beautiful glowing lights around her while Subaru stares at her from the side in awe.

"It's not that fun to watch, is it?"

"Nothing is ever boring when I'm with you, Emilia-tan."

"That makes me happy, even if you're only flattering me."]

"You didn't live through this," Rem whispered in sympathy, seeing how wonderful the atmosphere was.

"Hm, Big bro is eating good~" Felt smirked and approved of Subaru's setup with the half-elf.

Emilia simply glanced away from the screen with an unsatisfied frown. A tight burn in her lungs eclipsed her guilt for a moment, replacing it with absolute fury for whatever made her lose this moment.

[Emilia stopped talking to the spirits and let them leave, making the area darken only lit by the moon above them.

"Besides, we haven't had a chance to just talk for the past few days." Subaru scratched his head nervously.

"That's right. It must have been difficult for you to learn your work here."

"Yes, it was hard! I wish I could be comforted in your arms, your chest, and your lap, in rotation." Subaru rubbed his hands with a stupid smile on his face.

"Yeah, yeah. If you can joke around like that, you must be fine." Emilia poked his forehead and pushed him with her finger.

Subaru dropped on his back and stared at the moon while laying on the grass.

Emilia sat down and looked at Luna beside him.

"The moon sure is pretty tonight."

"Yes, it's far beyond our reach."

"I got a really touching response without even trying!"]

"He's trying so hard," Frederica cooed at the boy and rooted for him to earn Emilia's affection.

Petra growled in jealousy. She wanted him to speak to her like that!

[Emilia smiled warmly at him. "Still, don't you think you're a bit lacking in ambition? Like that time with Puck, and in the capital, when you asked for my name."

Subaru smiled softly. "You just don't get it, Emilia-tan. I want what I want at that exact moment and I want it from the bottom of my heart."

"Huh?"

Subaru looked at the sky with a thoughtful smile.

"At that time, I wanted to know your name. I had no expectations for tomorrow, and I was in a new land, nervous and uncertain of my future. When I think about it calmly, there were probably other things I should have wanted. But I can't lie to myself. "

Subaru started remembering snippets from his past loops, smiling when he remembered Emilia's smile at the loot house.

Emilia just kept silent and listened to him with her eyes glued on his.

"I'm flat broke right now. I could cheat him out of a fortune and live it up, but I can just as easily obtain an ongoing source of livelihood, right?"]

"He's just a boy that wants to do the best he can in a foreign land." Crusch smiled at Subaru's character.

"He has a big heart," Wilhelm spoke in a somewhat proud tone.

["In that case, couldn't you have become a permanent guest, rather than an employee?" Emilia smiled knowingly.

Subaru sat up with his head in his hands.

"I never thought of that!"]

"Your captain is an idiot, blonde boy!" Mimi mocked from the back. Why did she aim at Garf?

It didn't matter to him since he watched the scene with proud tears as his brother had a moment with the love of his life.

He did give her the bird though…

[Emilia's eyes widened when she noticed his hands. They were filled with bandages.

Subaru noticed this and looked at his palms and quickly jumped while hiding his wounds behind his back.

"Ah man, talk about pathetic. You should keep your efforts a secret, huh?"

"Do you want me to use my healing magic?" Emilia smiled at him.

"Nah, I'm fine like this."

"Why?"

"It's kind of hard to explain, but… this is proof of the effort I've put in. I don't actually dislike exerting myself, you know."

Subaru looked at his hands. "Learning to do something I couldn't before… well, it's not so bad."

Emilia blinked but then nodded in understanding.

"That's right… Yes, I think you're right. Really, Subaru, you idiot."

"Hey, what's with that reaction? This is where you fall for me all over again." Subaru smirked.

Emilia turned away from him and glared. "I never fell for you to begin with."

The half-elf girl dropped her stern expression and looked at the boy with a smile. "Honestly, you're so silly."

The wind around them blew and brought pink and white rose petals making a gorgeous scene with Emilia's smiling face.

Where the fuck did the petals come from? Don't ask me.

"EMA…" Subaru breathed as he stared at the image before him.

"Huh?" Emilia looked confused.

"It's short for 'Emilia-tan, major angel."]

Emilia felt so robbed… This wonderful moment… It could have been hers.

"Man, I kind of want them to end up together now," Al admitted, earning an annoyed look from his princess.

"Yeah man, come here and join the club." Ricardo pointed at him, Otto and Garf.