9 (part 3)

"Hey! What's yer problem?!" Garfiel growled at the merchant as the rest of Emilia's camp glared with him.

Anastasia snorted and huffed, "Sorry, but I wouldn't have wanted to be a close ally fer someone who looked so conspicuous. Wouldn't ya mind giving a gal the benefit of the doubt 'ere?"

"It's fine. This isn't what's important right now!" Emilia hastily shut her camp down by hissing at them.

"What's going?" Otto questioned while Beatrice and Garfiel stared at the half-elf.

"I just… Just let it go." Emilia turned from them and focused her eyes upon the screen.

[Subaru gritted his teeth at the insolent purple merchant. "Why you-"

"Hey!" Al raised his voice out loud. "I don't know what's up with the royal selection, so I'd kinda like to hear the rest."

The old man looked from Al to a certain fiery head.

"Priscilla-sama, I'm told this man is your knight. Have you explained the selection to him?"

"Whether I have or not, you men will still ramble on about it, yes? Continue Marcos."

"Then…The reason we've gathered you who are qualified to be the dragon's priestess is because a new prophecy has been engraved in the dragon stone. It says, 'From the five capable of becoming the nation's new leader, choose one priestess to enter into a covenant with the dragon.'"

"Five?"

"Yes, Five." Reinhard smiled warmly. "Currently, there are only four candidates. The royal selection hadn't even begun yet. But today, history is set in motion."

"Knight Reinhard van Astrea, come forward."

"Yes, sir."

Reinhard stood forth before the entire hall and bowed his head.

"Honored members of the council of wise men, I, Reinhard van Astrea of the imperial knights, would like to announce the completion of my mission."

Reinhard rose and showed his stern determination as he proclaimed for the council.

"The dragon's priestess, the fifth and final candidate for the throne, has been located."

Everybody in the hall looked on as the doors opened.

And a little girl with blonde hair and blood-red eyes entered wearing a most regal and refined-looking dress.

"The one I, myself, revere as queen… is Felt-sama!"

Title card:

Return to the Capital

"Felt-sama, thank you for gracing us with your presence."

As the Sword Saint bowed before her, Felt could only smile sweetly.

"Reinhard…" The little girl walked in front of the knight and smiled up at him softly.

He smiled back.

He was no lolimancer though…

That's why when Felt tried to dropkick him in the face, he instantly caught it, cuz he's too used to this.

"You bastard! You dragged me here with no explanation, and what do you call all this?!"]

"Wait, you didn't explain why you took her away?!" Otto shouted with wide-open eyes.

"That's dumb." Felix looked at Reinhard in bewilderment.

Felt just glanced at the knight stink-eyed.

Reinhard looked down and fiddled with his fingers.

["You surprised me. What's brought on such behavior?" Reinhard asked as he held her booted foot.

"Don't just stop my kick and ask me like nothing happened! I've had just about all I can take!"

"Does the dress not suit your taste? It looks lovely on you." Reinhard knelt and placed her foot on the floor.

"I'm not talking about the dress, and I'm not embarrassed!" Felt angrily retorted.

"That's the girl from… " Emilia uttered in recognition.

"I guess it's not that easy to change someone at their roots. And not just me." Subaru sighed at the scene.

Felt looked at him with wide eyes. "What the heck are you doing here?"

"Hey, it's been a while. How've you be-"

Felt kicked him in the stomach.

"Looks like the hole in your gut isn't bothering you anymore," Felt smirked.

"If you were worried about that, be nice to me!"]

"I should've taken him with me…" Felt muttered in disdain.

"It's too late now…" Reinhard muttered in sadness.

["Felt-sama, if you have finished rekindling old friendships, please step over here."

Felt did what was acquired.

"So, what is it you want me to do?" She asked harshly.

"I would like to say, act more ladylike. But this comes first." Reinhard stepped closer and placed the insignia in her hand.

Gasps and sounds of surprise filled the whole as it glowed brightly.

"As you can see, the dragon gem has recognized Felt-sama as a priestess. Now that her participation has been approved, I believe it is time to begin the royal selection in earnest."

All around, the imperial and the royal knights placed their hands on their hearts in respect.

"Even if the Dragon Stone has recognized her, do you not think her selection is a bit problematic?" One of the magic users voiced his worry.]

"Uh-oh!" Otto looked at the screen with worry.

[Marcos looked down at the man. "You believe we, the Imperial Knights, have made an error?"

All Royal Knights and Imperial Knights turned their heads toward the line of Magi users.]

"Shit's about ta get real!" Garfiel bounced in his seat with excitement.

["The air's kind of dicey in here…" Subaru uttered.

"Yea, it doesn't bother me, though." Al shrugged.

"It's nyo big deal to me, either." Felix flapped his ears.

"After all, I've already pledged my loyalty exclusively to one lady!"

"I feel the same. My sword already belongs to Anastasia-sama." Julius said with a resolved stare.

Subaru glared and gulped.

Well, my feelings for Emilia won't come in second to anyone else's!]

"Subaru…"

Emilia and Julius looked on as they understood one important fact.

He…

"He feels inadequate? Is that the reason for that shameful behavior?" Felix snorted out what the two were thinking. "I guess he has a right to be jealous, nayn! He's ju-"

"Felix, that's enough!" Crusch ordered and glanced at her knight.

The cat boy shut his mouth and glared at the screen. Why was his lady so adamant about standing with this guy? He let her lose her memory!

The duchess sighed and nodded to the old man.

Wilhelm understood that everything needed to be explained after whatever shameful incident Subaru had made.

[The magi corner of the room were muttering to themselves as they inspected Felt.

"She doesn't have the self-awareness to become a ruler."

"You may dress her up, but she still lacks grace."

"She's uneducated, as well."]

"Those horrid men!" Frederica glared along with Petra and Rem at what the girl was dealing with.

Felt just snorted. "Whatever, I'll destroy them once I become queen anyways."

["Silence!" The old councilman ordered.

"Knight Reinhard, would you begin by explaining to us what led you to your discovery?"

Reinhard quickly placed his sheathed Heavenly Dragon Sword on the carpeted floor beside Felt and knelt on one knee before the council.

"I took custody of Felt-sama about one month ago, in the slums."

"She's a gutter rat from the slums?!"

The magi users began muttering and growling.

Felt sighed tiredly and turned around.

"Well, sorry for being a gutter rat! You were the ones who dragged me here against my will!"

Priscilla sighed. "All of this long-winded blather could not be more tedious. Of course, I suppose you lived as a gutter rat in the slums because you could only manage tedious conversation."

"What? If you want a fight, you've got one."

"What insolence. Who do you think I am?" Priscilla glared as the air around her began to emit a dangerous aura.

"Princess, that's not…" Al called from the back in worry.

Priscilla had already moved her fan and sent a wave of attack at the little girl.

But she was instead met with Reinhard's bowing head. "Many pardons, Priscilla-sama."

"What are you thinking, in a hallowed place like this?" Emilia scolded as she stood behind Reinhard and shielded Felt.]

"Thanks, big sis." Felt was touched that someone cared about her like this.

Emilia just smiled at the girl.

["I was only trying to teach an undisciplined little bitch her place."

"You won't even apologize?"

"Then, will you also apologize for being born? You silver-haired half-elf."

"I'm not connected to the witch at all…"]

"I hate her." Rem growled as many in the audience shared that statement.

"*Sigh * Looks like you've made a lot of enemies, princess."

Priscilla just fanned herself.

[Subaru glared hatefully at Priscilla while Al scratched his helmet from behind him.

"Princess, could you drop it now? I'll be the one to suffer if you make too many enemies, seriously."

"Are you all quite finished?" The old councilman asked in a tired tone.

Marcos took the chance.

"Then, royal selection candidates, please come forth.

Priscilla Barielle-sama and her attendant, Al."

"The selection is pointless. I am the one suited to rule this nation! All you people need to do is grovel at my feet and serve me!"

"Head of the Karsten family, Crusch Karsten-sama, and her attendant, the knight Felix Argyle."

"Should I become the new ruler, I will make the dragon forget the covenant it demanded.

The dragon's empire of Lugunica belongs not to the dragon, but to us."

"Anastasia Hoshin-sama of the Hoshin Company, and her attendant, the knight Julius Euclius."

"I'm a greedy gal, so I want everything. No amount of commercial success can satisfy me. I want my own nation!"

"Emilia-sama and the man endorsing her, Margrave Roswaal L. Mathers."

"I have only one wish. For all to be equal. I desire to create a nation where all citizens are equal."

Roswaal looked around with a smile as he mused to himself. "Still, after the introduction of all those knights as attendants, I feel terribly out of plaaaaace here!"]

"Man, these choices suck." Otto lamented making everyone from respective camps glare at him. Even Emilia.

Garfiel couldn't help but chuckle into his hand at how scared Otto looked.

"This definitely is not the best selection of people." Beatrice mutters much more quietly, feeling bored of this whole thing.

["Finally, Felt-sama and her attendant, the knight Reinhard van Astrea."

"Hang on! Don't get the wrong idea! I never said I'd be the next ruler! Who'd want to be in a royal selection?!"

"Are you saying you withdraw?" Marcos asked in surprise.

"Damn right I am!"]

"You didn't want to be queen?" Petra asked ludicrously, unable to believe someone would give up the chance.

Felt just glared at the screen. "Hmph! Why would I participate in something I don't care for."

"So, why did you?" Frederica couldn't help but ask.

"Watch and you'll see."

["This is a joke!" A magic-user shouted.

"I've overlooked this because the situation was urgent, but to drag it out this long is senseless!"

One of the wise men (Eyebrow guy. Fuck eyebrow guy) suddenly sounded his agreement with the magi.

"He's right. The Astrea family offers a gutter rat to rule us, while Margrave Mathers endorses a half-devil? Utter foolishness!"

Subaru stared at the man with hate.]

"Capn's gonna blow," Garfiel growled out as he himself wanted nothing more than to punch that eyebrow off his face and let the second one hang in place.

Otto looked at Emilia and noticed that she was closing her eyes tightly.

Now that he looked around, many of the knights and the candidates were cringing their faces.

Except for Priscilla and Crusch. These two were staring at the screen like hawks.

"What are these two looking for?"

Otto failed to see that Wilhelm and Julius were looking for something too. Only Julius was glaring hatefully as he stared.

[Roswaal stopped walking back into his position and smiled up at the man. "It's not at all nice to call a half-elf a half-devil."

Subaru could be seen shaking in place.

"That silver-haired half-devil"

Subaru gritted his teeth.

"She matches the appearance of the Witch of Envy as it has been described for generations! Why do you not realize that even allowing her in the throne room is dreadful?"

Emilia closed her eyes and walked down from the stage as the councilman shouted.

"Filthy Woman!"

"Enough of your crap!"]

"Enough of 'tis shit!" Garfiel was standing up, the air around him blowing with an aura of rage as he glared at the screen.

"Oh no!" Petra cringed in horror as she watched Subaru.

"This is it." Otto sighed and watched what was known as the humiliation of the half-elf's knight to the people of the city.

He always wondered what caused such an incident to happen.

"Subaru…" Beatrice called out with an uneasy look.

"You're about to see the nasty side of this hero." Priscilla mused mockingly.

[The hall fell into silence as a lone butler boy stood in the middle of the room.

Roswaal smirked wide.]

"Why… you fuck." Otto uttered in sheer disdain.

Emilia stared at Roswaal with shock.

"Y-You knew?!" Emilia asked in despair.

Roswaal's face was that of disinterest, "Anyone that saw Subaru's eyes could tell this was the set path, Emilia-sama. I couldn't do muuuuch to prevent thaaaat."

This only further enraged Emilia and Otto.

[Emilia looked down and in dread. "Subaru, it's all right! Stop this!"

"I will not stop! You people are full of crap! Apologize to Emilia!"

"Subaru!"

The boy flinched from her shout.

Emilia slowly turned to the council.

"Allow me to formally introduce myself to the honored council of elders. My name is Emilia. I am accompanied by Puck, a great spirit who controls fire, and I am a silver-haired half-elf."

"A great spirit?"

Mutters of shock and indignation covered the hall.

Emilia turned and faced the entire room. "I understand that my half-elf lineage and other similarities to the witch subject me to prejudice. However… I adamantly refuse to let all my potential be plucked out simply for that reason."

"Emilia..."]

"That was very well done, Emilia-sama." Ram complimented.

But Emilia was cringing as she waited for something.

"Damn Barusu." Ram snorted and watched for whatever the boy did.

["By the way… What, exactly, is that young man's position?" The old bearded councilman asked.

Emilia quickly turned around with a struggling face. "Hug? Um, well, he's… "

"It's okay, Emilia. I've made up my mind, too."

"Your mind? To do what? Hey… Subaru, what are you going to do? Wait!"

Subaru walked up and stood before the Dragon Throne of the kingdom.

He placed his hand behind him and bent both knees.

He did a fucking pose, as he declared.

"Nice to meet you, members of the council of elders. My name is Natsuki Subaru. I am a manservant in Roswaal's mansion and I serve as this candidate's… Emilia-sama's best knight!"]

"The hell?!" Garfiel wanted to laugh out loud by the sheer audacity he witnessed. No one but his captain could do something so stupid and look cool doing it. One thing's for sure, this man had balls.

Ricardo chuckled at the absurdity of such a scene.

Many in the room shook their heads either in disappointment or in fondness.

Wilhelm was once in such a position so he understood the young man's nerves got the better of him. He still soured at the scene after though.

"How stupid is he?" Tivey commented in awe at the sheer debacle.

"I don't think it gets better watching this for a second time, nyan!" Felix oozed with satisfaction and contempt.

"I believe you all shouldn't be so hasty to judge what Subaru did!"

"Petra! Shush!"

"B-But they can't just-"

"Leave it be," Frederica whispered hesitantly to the little maid. The girl was filled with anger and rage and it put tears in her bluish eyes.

Frederica couldn't find it in her heart to disagree with her little prodigy.

[The hall looked on as the butler declared himself a knight with a pose aimed to the sky.

"Hmm… A knight, is he?" The councilman asked.

Roswaal turned away while cringing. "Ah, he knows little of our woooorld… "]

"No, shit." Al snorted.

Julius understood many things about his supposed friend, maybe he wouldn't have done what he did if he was aware of them.

"But what was it that drove him to hate me from the beginning?" Julius knew that whatever he did to Subaru, it had no effect since the boy had an impression of him from that moment at the imperial headquarters.

["Forgive me for interrupting, but there is something I must ask him… "

Julius stepped forth and looked at the posing Subaru. "If you truly proclaim yourself to be Emilia-sama's knight."

"What do you mean by that?"

"You just declared that you are a knight. And you audaciously did so here, before the Knights of Lugunica!"

The entire army stomped their feet on the marble floor. And held their swords out of their sheaths.

"That was pretty well-coordinated. Did you guys practice that just for this meeting?"]

"Nooooo." Petra covered her face, feeling embarrassed for Subaru.

Frederica cringed as well.

["Of course. To make known to all the dignity of our empire, we are highly conscious every day of who we are. Do you have the resolve to match that?"

Subaru flinched back… surprised.

"I want to make Emilia-sama the ruler. No, I will make her the ruler!"

"And you believe you have the resolve and strength to do that?" Julius stared hard at the sweating frantic Subaru.

"I don't have anything as grand as resolve, and I'm well aware that I lack strength. But I'm going to make Emilia the ruler! I'm going to make her wish come true!"]

"This is hard to watch, I suppose." Beatrice looked away from the screen feeling ashamed for her contractor's actions.

"Subaru-kun…" Rem watched with a frown how much her hero's limited understanding of this world put him through such undesired situations.

[Julius shook his head. "Do you not feel that your answer is far too arrogant? Weakness is something to be ashamed of, not to take pride in. Have you worked hard to earn the right to stand here? Have you done enough service to shame us, the Imperial Knights?"

"I'm still going to make Emilia the ruler!"

"I don't understand. After being so denied, why do you continue to stand here?" Julius looked at the boy in pity.

Subaru's entire form began to shake.

"Because she's special!"

Julius looked taken aback but schooled up to continue his assault. "I understand and accept your reason for standing there. But I do not think I can acknowledge you as a knight."

Julius walked back into his position in the line.

"Anyone who aspires such an expression on the face of the one they wish to stand beside is not a knight."

Subaru's face contorted to panic at Julius's words.

He slowly looked back to the half-elf girl that's been silent this whole time.

He couldn't see her face… so he closed his eyes and hitched his breath.

"I-Is being a knight that big a deal?"]

"Goddamn it!" Otto gritted his teeth and watched with panic at Subaru's stupidity.

"The young man is way over his head." Wilhelm shook his head as he watched Subaru lose all cool and respect in the room.

He still understood the reason for all his actions though. And he felt pity for this kid.

"Subaru-dono…"

[Every knight glared at the boy as his twisted smile showed just how broken he was.

Pathetic.

"You just happen to be born into the job! Don't act like a big-shot with your daddy's name!"

"Natsuki Subaru, that is not a beautiful look." Julius cut him off and stood into position.

"That's enough, Subaru." Emilia slowly whispered and bowed to the council.

"I am deeply sorry to waste your time. I'll make him stand down."]

"Cap'n…" Garfiel felt pure anger that his captain was panicking like this… why was Subaru acting so… unmanly.

"It's even more distasteful to watch the second time." Anastasia snorted with a disgusted glare.

"Big bro just lost to the pressure, that's all." Felt kept her belief in him firm and ignored the whole situation. He saved her life. She won't forget that.

"Barusu," Ram growled at the stupid position he placed himself in.

Crusch just stayed silent and looked into the boy's eyes. "They're…"

"Unnatural…" Al looked at his princess as she said something while staring at the screen with a curious look.

"What did she say?' The knight wondered as he looked through his helmet at the boy's embarrassing moment.

[Emilia quickly trotted out of the hall while grabbing Subaru by the arm.

Before she left, one of the councilmen slowly called out.

"Emilia-sama, if nothing else, he has shown us all that you are not one to be feared. You have a fine attendant."

Emilia stopped in her tracks. "Subaru is not my attendant."

"Natsuki Subaru-dono, please leave the room."

Subaru remained on his knees with a haunted look on his face.

The doors closed behind him.]

"He looks…" Frederica stared with a scared look on her face.

"So weird." Tivey inspected with a frightened look.

"Subaru…" Emilia felt nothing short of confusion and pity for the boy and how he looked.

She was too angry back then to see it. But something was definitely off about him here.

"That's not Betty's Subaru, I suppose."

"Cap'n…"

"Natsuki-san…"

The three looked at their friend, brother, contractor's face with sympathy.

["Now, let us discuss how the royal selection will proceed."

Suddenly… smoke filled the entire room.

"What's going on?!"

Someone could be seen running through the crowd of confused knights towards the candidates.

They managed to reach Felt and quickly carried her through the smoke.

Before they could escape… Reinhard blew a gust of wind with his sheathed sword that cleared the hall immediately.

The smoke cleared to reveal An old dime human giant carrying Felt.

"Old Man Rom!"

Knights surrounded the old man and brought him to his knees.

Marcos stood above him. "I don't know who you are, but for stealing into the castle, you must die."

"Stop! Let him go!"

"Unfortunately, I cannot comply. You have publicly declared that you have no intention of participating in the royal selection. I am not obligated to obey your orders."

Felt gasped and looked at the downed old man.

The old man smirked.

Felt's eyes widened as she understood something. She schooled her expression into that of a nasty scheming smirk.

"Fine! I'll do your stupid royal selection! You want me to try to be the next ruler, right?"

"Wh-What're you sayin', Felt?"

"That old man is my family. So let him go right now. Treat him with care!"

"Very well."

As the old man was let go, he looked up at the girl.

"Felt… I… "

"We'll talk later, Old Man Rom."

The old man was led out of the hall.]

"So that's how…" Frederica sighed as the last scene left too much of a sour taste in her mouth.

Everyone else shared the same statement.

[Felt looked back at her knight. "Hey, Reinhard, was this all part of your plan, too?"

"Certainly not. This was something far greater, guided by fate."

"Ha! Are you a slave to fate or something?"

"No, " Reinhard bowed before her on his knee. "From now on, I am your knight."

"Fine, then. I'll work you to death."

"Now, Felt-sama and her knight, Reinhard, may we conclude that you both intend to participate in the royal selection?"

"Sure, I'm in. But let me just say one thing."

Felt raised her arms at her side.

"I hate the nobility! I hate the knights! I hate this kingdom! I hate everything about it! So I'm planning to tear it all down!"

Felt smirked at all in the room. "How about that?"]

"Shit!"

"I'm kinda rooting for her."

"I knew my lady's words would reach the people's ears. Would accept Felt-sama as your queen and savio-"

"Stop trying to make people enter your weird-ass cult, Rein!" Felt kicked her excited knight in the face as he was preaching.

Naturally, he caught the kick and sat down.

["Wh-What are you saying?!

Mutters of fear and anger flowed through the room.

"If I become the next ruler, I'll destroy everything! I'll take down every last one of you, and bring a little fresh air into this country!"

One of the councilmen mused from the side to the standing Reinhard.

"Your mistress is quite the intense lady."

"Felt-sama's words will one day reach the ears of all."

"In any case, all of the candidates are here at last. The royal selection will now begin!"

Scene change…

Reinhard and Felix are shown standing in front of a sitting Subaru.

"And so, the royal selection has finally begun, Subaru."

"Subaru-kyun, you're Emilia-sama's knight, aren't nya? Let's both do our best."]

Garfiel and Otto glared as Felix was clearly mocking their friend.

Crusch also narrowed her eyes on this.

[Subaru remained silent.

"Forgive me for interrupting."

Subaru glared at the young man that had stood before him.

"What the hell are you doing here?"

"I wish you wouldn't make such an unpleasant face. I didn't expect you to warmly welcome me, but if you take that attitude-"

"If I do, then what?" Subaru hatefully glared at the knight.

"The respectability of those in your company will come into question. Do be careful. Now, you asked me why I'm here, did you not? I came to see you, of course. I'd like you to come with me for a bit."]

"What's this about I suppose?" Beatrice asked threateningly.

Julius remained silent.

Emilia looked down too ashamed of herself to speak.

[Scene change…

Subaru is standing in the middle of an arena. The place is filled with disgruntled-looking knights that were glaring at the arrogant boy.

Reinhard could be seen talking to Julius from the other side of the arena.

"Julius, you shouldn't do this. It's not like you."

"He insulted us knights in front of the candidates to be our future ruler, and he made light of the chivalry we practice."

"I admit that he said some things that went too far. But for such a matter, he need only be warned and corrected."

"No, this is not only my problem. I hereby administer the death penalty to this insubordinate man who has sullied the knighthood's honor!" Julius shouted as the crowd roared in reverence.]

"What?" Otto looked back at the knight to see an emotionless Julius staring at the screen.

"Otto-kun."

The merchant was surprised to find Reinhard calling for him and gesturing for him to sit down.

"This had to be done. Nyan!" Felix cheerfully disclosed to the room.

Many in the Emilia faction looked on not liking this one bit.

"Subaru-kun…" Rem growled as she watched. She remembers the wounds he had when he was brought back.

["Normally, it wouldn't be unusual for you to be slain for insolence. However, much to my dismay, you are Emilia-sama's attendant. Therefore, we will fight using wooden swords."

"Shall we begin?"

Subaru glared at the man that stood opposite him.

"Sure! I'm not gonna hold back!"

Subaru ran towards the knight and flipped mid-run to splash dust in his face.

That didn't deter Julius from delivering a blow straight towards his gut making him roll on the ground.

"It appears you truly have no pride. What a simple, vulgar way to live." Julius spat and began smiting Subaru's face with his wooden sword.

As the crowds cheered.

The scene changes to a knight entering the hall where all the candidates stood.

"Reporting! The knight Julius and Natsuki Subaru-dono are having a mock battle with wooden swords in the training ring!"

Emilia gasped with eyes wide. "How did that happen? I have to-"

"I just wanna know one thing. Which one of 'em issued the challenge?" Anastasia asked with a cheerful smile.

"I'm told it was the knight Julius. Natsuki Subaru-dono accepted, leading to this fight."

"Well, I'm against stopping them, then."

"But your knight and my, um… friend are fighting! Aren't you worried?"

"Worried? About what? That Julius will go too far, and I'll have to pay for your boy's treatment?" Anastasia cutely tilted her head.

"If we're questioning their mock battle, I can't agree with stopping it before they finish, either." Crusch gave her opinion.

"If they're just duking it out, you could've waited until it ended and told us who won." Felt admonished the guard.

"Yes, ma'am! But the fight was, well… It was just so one-sided that I… " the guard nervously glanced at Emilia.

"I have to stop it!"

"We should go. You like watching weak creatures be tormented by vicious beasts, don't you?"

"Don't misjudge me with your own unfounded imaginings, Al. But yes, I do love that."

Scene changes to the crowd of knights looking at the battle with pity and shock at the brutality.

"Why don't you admit that you've reached your limit? I'm sure you've now realized to a painful extent just what the knights that you insulted and made light of really are!"

Julius can be seen beating a heavily bruised up and bleeding Subaru to the ground.]

"What the hell is this, Julius?!" Ricardo winced at the beating.

Rem and Garfiel were full-on glaring demonically at the knight.

Wilhelm had a surprising look at such a brutal scene. He knew what the knight was doing, but he didn't need to be so brutal about it.

Emilia looked on with tear-filled eyes.

"Why Subaru…"

Beatrice glared at her.

["I believe continuing would endanger your life."

Subaru slowly got up with a manic crazed glare.

"Damn it. I'll break."

Subaru began running towards the knight.

"Subaru!" Emilia shouted from a balcony.

Julius looked up at where she was.

Subaru smirked and took a chance.

"Don't Subaru!"]

"You idiot!" Ram shouted as she gripped her fists in anger at his stupidity.

[But she was too late.

"Shamac!"

The arena was filled with darkness.

"This was the ace up your sleeve?"

With one swipe, Julius erased the darkness.

"Your skill level is far too low. Such low-level magic will only work on unintelligent beasts!"

Julius shot towards him and delivered the crushing blow.

"You are irredeemably powerless. You aren't worthy to stand at her side."

Julius said those final words… as Subaru finally fell.

Natsuki Subaru's humiliation… was complete.

"Subaru!"]

"That was uncalled for!" Felt shouted as she glared at the knight.

Many in the Emilia camp stared at the knight with hatred in their eyes. Emilia sat rigid as she heard Julius's words to her knight over and over again.

The candidates and other knights were waiting to stop any scuffle that might happen.

Petra and Frederica glared with disdain at Julius.

[Stand down, all of you. There's more to watch.]

As the voice spoke to the watchers, some calming presence filled the war-ready room.

Making those of Garf and Rem be calm enough to sit back down and continue watching, but with small glares on their faces.

! Scene changes to an unfamiliar ceiling.

Subaru quickly sat up and looked at his bandaged up body.

"So I didn't die, then…"]

Julius winced. 'Did I really remind him of death?'

Rem and Beatrice looked saddened by how used to it he has become.

Emilia looked on with tear-filled eyes. She knew what was coming.

She couldn't understand why Subaru was acting in such a way.

"Even if he said he loved me, back at the Sanctuary, he never treated anyone like this. So why Julius?"

Julius himself looked at the screen in confusion and guilt. He had to do what he did, but he could've been a bit less brutal and discouraging to the boy.

He had to remember his weak self when he fought Subaru.

He remembered the weak bastard boy that wanted to be a knight so badly he made his own brother lose his self-confidence.

And he had to kill any intention of another kid going through that same path he did.

"Was that problem… me?"

Was it Julius that was insolent and disgusting? Taking his anger out on a mere arrogant boy?

"Ah. I guess it's true… " Julius mused to himself silently.

'I don't deserve him as my friend.'

With that… Julius smiled as his heart finally had some rest.

A revelation he had come to once before but this time it was finalized by knowing that he was just as disgusting and depraved as this worse version of Subaru was…

He wasn't a good enough friend to Natsuki Subaru from the very beginning.

[Subaru slowly looked beside him and found a stern Emilia waiting for him to wake.

"Subaru-"

"That talk with the royal candidates…"

"Subaru."

"I see."

"Let's head straight back, then. We need to work out a plan for the selec-"

"Subaru."

"…"

"Let's talk, okay? I have something I want to ask you. A lot of things."

"Yeah, I guess you did."

"Why did you end up, well… fighting with Julius? There must have been a reason, right? Knowing you, it must've been important-"

"I wanted to get him back."

"Huh?"

"I was being stubborn. He said I was pathetic, powerless, and not worthy of you. He was trying to distance me from me, and I hated it. That's why I fought him."

"Just for that?"

Subaru gulped… "Emilia-tan… Emilia, you wouldn't understand."

"I see. Roswaal and I will be heading back to the mansion tomorrow. You will stay in the capital to recover."

"Wait a minute…"

"Huh? That was our agreement, wasn't it?" Emilia asked emotionlessly.

"But wait a-"

"You came to the capital so Felis could heal your exhausted gate."

"Wait a minute… how can you suddenly… I…"

"Because… When I'm with you, you always push yourself to do the impossible things."

"That's not what I'm saying! I just… "

"Just?"

"I just wanted to do something for you, so I… "

"For me?" Emilia whispered dangerously.

"It was for you wasn't it?" Emilia asked angrily.

Subaru's eyes widened at the tone she was using.

"No… I just wanted to do something for you… "

Emilia threw her cloak in his face.

"Stop telling lies about how everything is for my sake! Coming to the castle, fighting Julius, using magic… are you saying all that was for me? I never asked you to do any of that!"

Subaru flinched as Emilia shouted at him.

"Hey, do you remember what I asked you to do?"

"I…"

"I asked you to wait at the lodging with Rem. I asked you not to use magic because using more would endanger you."

"I'm sorry I didn't do as you asked. B-But you're wrong. You're wrong! I didn't do it for myself… " Subaru quickly closed his mouth. "You won't believe me, Emilia?"

"I want to. I want to believe you, Subaru. I want to… but you're the one who won't give me a reason to!" Emilia yelled as Subaru held his hands to his mouth.]

"Why is he so afraid?" Crusch called out as she inspected the scene with critical eyes.

Now that everyone was looking hard at the hard fight between Emilia and Subaru, they could see something in his eyes.

"He seems afraid." Otto mused in worry.

"What is plaguing him, I wonder?" Beatrice quickly caught on that something wasn't right with this Subaru from the very beginning.

"He's had that look in his eye from the start of this." Garfiel softly said as he recalled the way his cap'n looked unnatural since the beginning of this viewing.

["You promised me… but you threw it away, just like that, and came all the way here! You won't keep your promise to me, and you ask me to believe you? I can't do that! I can't!"

Subaru closed his eyes and hiccuped.

"Hey, Subaru… " Emilia called softly. "Why do you keep trying to help me like this?"

"Because you helped me."]

"Is he scared of death?" Tivey uttered in horror.

Everyone looked on with analytical faces. Julius and Emilia looked at the scene with shocked and twisted faces.

What was that look on Subaru's face for?

["I… helped you?"

"Yes."

Image of her saving him in the very first loop in this world.

"You don't even realize how the things you've done for me have saved me."

"No, I don't, Subaru."

"I don't expect you to! But it's true! You saved me! So everything I've done has been to repay you!"

"I told you, I don't understand!" Emilia screamed loudly.

"Maybe you don't, but please listen to me! It's the truth! You were the… When I first came to this world, you were the-"

Black hands attacked and slammed his heart.

Subaru struggled to breathe and held his chest.]

"Oh…." Crusch whispered softly as shock overtook her.

The entire theater looked on with silent surprise.

Emilia began shedding her tears as she hugged her knight. She understood now. She understood why he looked like that.

"You were haunted by your death. All this pain. All of it, because of me!"

"I'm so sorry Subaru!"

[Emilia looked at him disappointed.

"Once again, you won't tell me anything."

Ending song: Stay Alive

"Why won't you understand? I thought if anyone could understand, it'd be you… " Subaru began shaking in place as despair filled his crushed heart.]

Anastasia looked down as she finally felt a little guilty for thinking so coldly of the boy.

["The version of me that lives within you must be amazing. She can understand everything, even if you don't explain it to her. She can feel all your pain, sadness, and anger as her own." Emilia sounded tearful.

"I can't understand if you don't tell me, Subaru."]

"I'm so sorry," Emilia begged as she hugged him tighter.

Rem and Beatrice looked at her with pity and sadness.

They too were hurting for the boy.

[Subaru's form gave in to the despair and darkness, he couldn't tell her, he wasn't allowed, he couldn't tell her about his issues, about his crushed heart, about his fear of losing her…. So he told her what he could…

"I've… All this time,"

Emilia looked at Subaru...

Subaru took the plunge into the darkness and gave in to his intoxicated mind's ramblings.

"I've made everything work out all right, haven't I?! When your insignia was stolen, I saved you from an insane killer at the loot house!"]

"Cap'n no!" Garfiel wanted to jump in and help his captain from this self-destruction.

Otto clenched his fists and tried to keep the tears in as he understood his brother's burden and suffering.

[He gave in.

"I risked my life!"

He gave in and shouted.]

"Big bro…" Felt stared with shock at what Subaru had been reduced to because of his pain.

"He's breaking…" Reinhard closed his eyes in guilt as his actions yet again led to someone dear getting hurt.

"I should've stopped the fight."

["All because you were important to me!"

He couldn't ask for help.

"At the mansion, too!"

He smiled and hid it.

"Things worked out because of me!"

He gave in and began hiding it with anything he could think of. His pain would be hidden.

He would make Emilia love him.

"Without me, it would've been a lot worse!"]

"He's just saying whatever he can because he can't tell the real reason. He's hurting because of that." Frederica watched with tears in her eyes as pity filled her at the hopeless situation.

[He will stand beside her. If she sees how useful he was.

"All of it, all of it, all of it!"

All of it because he was at her side.

"All of it was because I was there!"]

"He's saying anything to make her stay with him."

"Yea, but it's not the right thing to do."

The twins looked down as they saw a dear friend suffer silently and do whatever he could to get through it.

"Did he have a choice?" Al asked emotionlessly.

[He could see his own reflection in her amethyst eyes.

He looked mad… he looked broken… but it's the best he could tell her.

So he gave in more.

"You should have a greater debt to me than you could ever repay!" he screamed and breathed heavily as his darkness overwhelmed him.]

Wilhelm looked down and nodded his head.

"Subaru-dono is just like me," Wilhelm remembered a time he had the same rant to his wife.

He remembered how crushed he was back then.

If this boy was reduced to such a state with a witch and death hanging over him… Wilhelm couldn't blame him.

["You're right. I owe you so many debts, Subaru." Emilia looked down sadly.

"Yeah, that's right! That's why I… "

"So I'll repay all of them now, and we'll end this."]

"No…" Julius clenched his hands as he looked on to what he had caused.

[Subaru looked up in fear and shock.

His darkness… had failed him.

Emilia walked away from him.

"You've done enough, Natsuki Subaru. You know, I had hope for you. I thought maybe you, only you, wouldn't give me special treatment. That you'd look at me in the exact same way you look at everyone else."]

Emilia just buried her face into her knight's chest.

"I don't want you to believe that."

["I can't do that."

Not even darkness or light will make him change this sentence.

"I can't look at you the way I look at others. It's impossible."

Emilia glanced at him one final time. And left the room.

Subaru gripped her cloak in both hands… and cried…

It was because… He stayed alive.

Title card:

Self-Proclaimed Knight Natsuki Subaru

Episode 7 Director's Cut. End.]

"That's not a healthy way of going about things at all…" Crusch whispered brokenhearted.

The entire theater was silent save for a few sniffles from Beatrice and Emilia.

"You just left him like that, I suppose?" Beatrice asked in despair as her eyes were glued to the screen.

"Emilia-sama…" Rem tried to comfort her but the elf was just hiding in her knight's midsection as she hugged his sides.

"Natsuki-san…"

"Cap'n…"

"Subaru…"

Julius looked down, eyes wide with shock at what he reduced Subaru to.

"So he does suffer from trauma after all." Reinhard softly said as he finally realized why he looked so weird.

"That explains why he looked so strange." Crusch looked down and shook her head.

"You're saying that he did all of these stupid decisions just because of trauma from his deaths?"Felix asked curiously… and cheerfully since he was happy that this weak man got what he deserved.

"But that doesn't answer why he was so jealous of Julius and so adamant to prove himself to the councilmen." Al thought out loud.

Many lamented the thought.

"Yeah, that's right." Tivey nodded and looked at the sleeping Subaru questioningly.

"That does pose questions," Anastasia muttered as she thought about the way Subaru had been looking since the start.

"Subaru-kun seemed afraaaaid of something since the staaaart." Roswaal mused with a small frown. He began nudging the people towards the truth.

"It's because… of Emilia-sama."

Everyone, including the half-elf, looked at Wilhelm as he spoke gravely.

"Wh-What do you mean?" Emilia asked in confusion and plea… she wanted to find some solace and understand her exact sin to the boy this time.

"What did I do to make Subaru make such decisions?" She asked softly.

"Hmph! It's clear, half-wit."

Everyone looked up to see a smirking Priscilla gazing down at Emilia.

"This doesn't concern you-"

"Oh shut it, commoner, I'll just share my conclusion of the boy's state in this viewing and then you can get back to crying like twarps."

"Fine then." Crusch glared at the nasty woman.

Priscilla honed her eyes across the room and stopped at Emilia.

She had a look of amusement. "That boy over there said it best. It's because you saved him that he has such a disgusting attitude."

"What do you mean?"

Priscilla sighed and closed her fan. She looked at the crowd before her in pity. "So dumb. I guess you should be educated by a goddess such as mineself after all."

"Just get to the point!" Felt growled at her in frustration and annoyance. A sentiment shared with all those in the room.

The lady seemed to ravel in the attention.

"Didn't any of you notice how strange he looked? How scared and afraid he was all the time?"

Many nodded with her statement.

"Good. Now the question is, Why did he have such a look?" Priscilla smirked as they all looked at one another and shrugged.

"Why, Priscilla-sama?" Otto took the bait and gave her what she wanted.

"Hmph! It's because he's become dependent on that half-wit."

Emilia looked taken aback by this.

"But why would Natsuki do all of this and why would he be so attached to Emilia-sama?" Julius asked in confusion.

"It's because she's the only one that saved him."

Everyone turned to see a deeply frowning Crusch looking at the sleeping boy with soft eyes.

"She's the only thing that remains constant in every loop." Ram instantly realized as she put it together.

People started to realize why Subaru had become so jealous and destructive after the maid's words.

"He was so haunted and scarred by his death and the hands, he began leaning more on Emilia-sama as support." Reinhard mused with a surprised look.

"She's the one that helped him from the thugs and helped him from Ram's anger as well as Rem's doubt" Frederica pointed out as she put the pieces together herself.

"Not to mention that cathartic lap pillow that helped him calm down." Ricardo started nodding along with the crowd.

"So he began attaching himself to her, not to mention how strong his feelings run deep for her…" Beatrice stared at the screen in surprise at the revelation.

"That all culminated into him developing a reaaaaally gross obsession with our dear Emilia-samaaaa." Roswaal finalized the thought to the crowd.

"So, Subaru-kun had been suffering all this time, and the only thing that helped him was Emilia? That's why he got so attached to her?" Rem sat rigidly, shocked as she understood the horror of Subaru's situation.

It wasn't just nightmares. His entire mind was affected by this curse.

"So when Emilia tried to go to the capital herself…" Anastasia immediately began theorizing.

"And when Julius, a truly handsome and strong knight, showed up and charmed Emilia…" Felix weighed in with a small smile.

"And when he saw himself standing beside all these knights that he felt were better than him and had them all give their allegiance to their respective masters so eagerly, he decided to do the same," Wilhelm told in a fond tone.

"And when I shot him down, he was so afraid that Emilia would leave him that he began spewing that nonsense about us knights." Julius dropped back in his seat in shock.

"And when miss half-elf asked him why he was doing all of that… The Witch stopped him."

"Which made him panic and force out whatever reason he could to make her accept him and keep her beside him." Al continued Ricardo's thought.

The silence in the room overwhelmed the crowd.

The reason was found.

"And after all of that… The stupid elf left him." Priscilla snorted as she sat back down.

Emilia just sat in her seat with her face stuck on one of despair.

"S-Subaru…"

She held her hands to her mouth as her chest hurt so much that she thought she was going to puke.

She turned this poor boy away when all he wanted was her help.

"I'm scum…"

"I'm so sorry."

"Please, Subaru…"

"Please wake up…"

Emilia sobbed and cried while everyone just looked away in pity.

[Rest once more… You'll need it…]

The warden ordered as the screen turned dark.

[Episode 8… Arc 3's continuation…

Start.]