14 (part 3)

"That's one scary possibility," Reinhard said with coated anger in his tone. Wanting nothing more than to stop this cult from hurting any other innocents.

"An entire group of heavily influenced people with the authority of a witch… What have you done, Geuse?" Beatrice whispered in heartbreak. Trying to figure out the reason for Geuse's sudden change.

How did he acquire the sloth factor?

The small spirit was thinking in disbelief and shock while Emilia stared at the screen in horror.

She never witnessed a situation more unlucky than where Subaru was right now.

Her worry increased when she learned that the entire faction could possibly have the same madness that had been instilled into her previously kind mentor as well.

The half-elf princess was practically disturbed by how similar this cultist's mannerisms were to the insane Petelgeuse that ruled this faction of the cult.

"What happened to them?" Emilia asked dryly, her expression one of anger and pain as she thought of more people like her Geuse who had been nothing short of kind and goodhearted getting forced to turn into broken shells of themselves.

It angered her greatly.

"H-How…. Why would that monster do this?!" The half-elf growled while shaking her head. The pain of what had become of her old friend and his faction combined with her worry for the sweet brave boy trying to stop them.

"I'm so sorry Subaru," Emilia whispered while glaring at the screen in agitation and discomfort.

[As the others mulled this over in their heads, a black-haired young man weakly spoke in a tone filled with guilt and grief.

"I dragged you all into this," Subaru spoke through gritted teeth.]

"What an idiot, I suppose." Beatrice shook her head with a sad look on her face.

Rem simply looked down in shame for not having been able to stay by his side and prevent him from sinking into such regretful thoughts about himself.

Emilia and Crusch simply shook their heads with closed eyes. Their disappointment at the boy's thinking was clear in their expressions as they both held on to his hands fondly.

[Scene change…

The group tasked with saving Subaru came back from the woods to a gruesome scene of an entire clearing filled with blood from the grass to the tree trunks as well as the dirt.

Ten bodies were covered with blankets indicating the casualty count this finger had caused.]

"Sloth… What disgusting power… anything that has come from the witch will always be dishonorable and disgusting no matter." Julius muttered as he bowed his head in respect to those who died on screen.

Just because they were from another timeline didn't mean that he wasn't grateful for their help and extremely angry for their unfair ending at the invisible hands of another Sloth… Or possibly… the same one.

The purple-haired knight gritted his teeth once more at the disgusting thought and watched with increased emotion and agitation showing all over his usually calm features.

He wanted to know how Subaru would get out of this. How will he deal with such a problem?

"Everything is still similar to our run with him… So what had he done that was different?… more so… How did we fail to protect Subaru in this one?"

These were the same thoughts that Julius lamented over.

They were voiced by a worried-looking healer who had been sitting on the edge of his seat with his worry increasing as he thought that Subaru was going to be killed by the demon then and there.

[Subaru could only look at the scene and close his eyes, trembling in place.

"If I could've realized it sooner… I knew what kind of power it was, so I… " Subaru trembled in despair and held his shaking fists tightly.

"Subaru-dono."

The boy turned to the owner of the firm voice to find the Sword Demon glaring at him.

"I'm sure many thoughts are going through your mind right now. And I'm certain none of them are superficial. But while it may be inelegant of me, I must say this."

Subaru prepared himself for whatever harsh words the stern old man would deliver next.

"Fight!"

Subaru was taken aback.]

Wilhelm grinned softly and nodded his head. Happy that his on-screen self took the time to help the boy's mental anguish.

"What a lad you are, Subaru-dono." The old man shook his head with an exasperated smile. The boy truly had the same habits and attitudes as his younger self. He hoped that this boy was wise enough to not make the same mistakes he did when he was younger.

"Bullshit…" Heinkel's scoff could be heard loudly, making the whimsical Wilhelm change his expression to a more reserved and closed one.

Reinhard didn't look back at either of his family members, reserving to watch with a worried glare towards his friend.

["Even if you have regrets, even if you are remorseful, you must fight. If you have decided for yourself to fight, to struggle, then fight with all you have. Don't give up for one second, one moment, for one instant. Cling greedily to the victory you have within your sight. If you can still stand, if your fingers still move, if all your teeth haven't broken… stand and fight."

Subaru's eyes slowly lit up with determined fire to fight the tide once more as he listened to the old man's speech.

"You must fight." Wilhelm delivered softly and father-like while glaring into the boy's eyes with care masked with sternness.

"You're telling me to get stronger?" Subaru asked while looking down.

The Old Man simply answered. "No. I'm telling you to be strong."

Subaru slowly lifted his face and looked at the old man with determination showing in his eyes.

Wilhelm smiled softly. "Ready to go?"

Subaru smiled confidently. "Yeah. Let's go. Lend me your wisdom and strength!"]

"He is undoubtedly stronger than anyone predicted." Anastasia snorted dryly as she remembered all the loops from before and what the boy had to go through.

Emilia softly turned to the old swordsman behind her and bowed her head in gratitude. "Thank you very much for encouraging my knight to not give up, Wilhelm-sama. We owe you a great deal."

The humble man simply bowed his head down with grace. "It was my honor to help Subaru-dono with all I have, Emilia-sama. He's incredible heart is what gave me the chance to avenge my beloved after years of stagnation. And after what we've been shown of his struggles…. I'm more than honored to have helped such a promising young hero." The fond tone Wilhelm used never went unnoticed by the half-elf princess.

Emilia smiled softly and turned to the screen with relief flooding her heart as she saw her knight's incredibly confident smile. Even through all of this pain, he could still find something to keep smiling.

"Such a dummy."

[Scene change…

The screen shows Subaru and his army meeting up with the merchant carriage network that came to help the villagers with the evacuation.

"We're gonna start evacuating the mansion and the village! Don't waste a single second!" Subaru shouted as he steered Patrasche with everyone running behind him.]

"That attack by the second sloth was really damaging to his plan, huh?" Al muttered dryly while watching his brother's efforts with an annoyed shake of his head. The helmeted knight can already tell what all of this hard work will lead to.

Yet another death.

"I mean…. None of us would've expected the Cult to have such powers. You can't blame Natsuki-san for this." Otto argued back from his seat at the front.

Garfiel looked at the helmeted man with such a glare as he stood up protectively of his cap'n's honor.

Al just shook his head. "Calm it, bros. I'm just saying that the kid has been known for his impossibly smooth takedown of the sloth guy. Do you think any of that was smooth? Half of the mercenaries are now dead meat. And if the entire cult had the same unseen hands power, then the attack will not go that smooth at all."

"We know…" Tivey was the one to mutter, earning everyone's attention. " We already know that this is a failed loop… We are doing our best to help him."

"I didn't mean to say that you guys are at fault, man." Al rubbed the back of his helmet. "I honestly feel bad about this."

Otto and Garfiel had to stop glaring at the knight, already accepting what they were going to see in their ways.

[Felix suddenly came up beside the nasty-eyed boy to speak. "Right now, the Witch's Cult hasn't noticed yet that the plain is wide open. We can get Emilia and the others in carriages, and get them to safety in plain sight."

"With Emilia-sama and the others safe, we won't have to worry about them, so we can focus on subjugating the Witch's Cult. It's not easy to fight when you know you have a weak point."

Subaru smirked tiredly. "You're making my ears hurt… But that's exactly right."

Slowly, Felix leaned into Subaru's ear, which was impressive since they were both on separate dragons.]

Crusch and Rem frowned deeply at the catboy getting closer to Subaru. They both haven't forgotten the little 'bomb' incident where the healer tried to take control of Subaru's mind without the permission of his lady or anyone else.

Crusch couldn't hide her disappointment and shame at her knight's actions in one of the boy's loops. The fact that Subaru was willing to talk with Felix with a smile was a miracle in itself.

"He's too forgiving, I suppose." Beatrice sounded what the maid and the duchess where secretly thinking in their heads with an elegant frown.

Felix heard these words and noticed how disappointed his lady looked with him on screen.

The healer clenched his dress with tears in his eyes as his shame intensified at all of his wrong doings against the boy.

And he was happy that he got this closer to him.

["While I'm at it, let me say one more thing. Subaru-kyun, you should really make up with Julius soon."

"Soon? We already reconciled after our fight. Didn't you see?"

"That was just for starters, wasn't it? You're still subconsciously harboring some resentment. You can rely on Julius. Though I admit he's a but unapproachable and incomprehensible." Felix urged without leaving any room for argument.]

"Am I now?" The purple-haired knight bemusedly smiled at his friend with a glint of gratitude clear in his eyes.

Felix gave his fellow knight a small smile and a wink.

Julius noticed how much of his friend's smile lost its cheer. He assumed that Felix was feeling down for the event to come. Which everyone dreaded to watch.

The elegant warrior looked back at the screen with unfocused eyes. Not sure what to think of this scene. A scene where he and Subaru truly make up for their rough meeting.

And it wasn't something in his memory. He truly didn't know if he should feel angry or happy that he would see this.

Maybe he and Subaru could remember this moment and laugh about it. Hopefully.

[Subaru looked at the back of the young knight treading on his blue dragon. He hesitated and looked away from comfort.

"Go on, hurry up."

Subaru gritted his teeth at the stern catboy's urgency. Reluctant and dismayed, Subaru steered Patrasche to run beside Julius's dragon.

"Uh…" Subaru stuttered as he found it difficult to start a conversation with the knight. "So, hey, there's something I wanted to say to you… "

Subaru's eyes widened instantly as he noticed a blue flower petal fly across his vision.

Suddenly…

His entire world turned bluish as the petal flew away.

He looked around and noticed that he was now alone in the street.

"Huh? Ehhh?!"

He steered Patrasche but the dragon was unresponsive as she appeared to be frozen in time.]

"What is going on?" Petra asked with a confused childish expression.

"What's happenin' to the world around him? Why is it blue all of a sudden?" Felt asked with a glare at the screen.

"A new threat?" Reinhard asked with surprise. Astonished that his friend had to fight through so much.

Emilia gritted her teeth nervously and looked at the screen with a disgruntled look. Handling his hand with care.

"What's more is how everyone has suddenly vanished," Crusch noted with a firm glare as she tried to recall if there was any type of attack the cult could use that had such side effects. She also held the boy's hand in her own firmly as she was lost in thought.

"Hmmm…. It seems that this is some illusion magic, I suppose." Beatrice called out with a nod as she leaned some more into her contractor's chest.

"Who could have such a powerful ability?" Otto asked the small spirit with a frown. He and Garfiel look at her with serious battle-ready looks to find out who could hurt their friend.

The spirit snorted and crossed her small arms. "It's how Subaru managed to fix the blank letter problem so fast, I suppose. He's being attacked by one of Roswaal's cronies."

"B-But… that means… " Frederica sighed and looked up at the frozen pink-haired maid.

"Are ya serious?" Anastasia sighed tiredly and rubbed her forehead.

Ram simply stared at the screen with a heavy heart. She could be the one to kill the boy.

[From atop a hefty hill, A hooded figure had a glowing blue flower in their grasp while tampering with their hood as they inspected the boy.

Through red eyes, the pink-haired maid glared down at the confused boy while holding her blue flower.

Title card:

A Flash Of Sloth]

"Sister?!" Rem looked back at the pink-haired maid in disbelief.

Emilia and Crusch also glanced back with a surprised expression. The duchess widened her eyes as she understood what had been happening in this loop.

"You were thinking that Subaru Natsuki was coming to wage war against the Emilia camp weren't you?" Crusch asked with a curious glance.

Ram looked back at the duchess with an unreadable look on her face.

"Seems like this is a problem Natsuki-san has to combat on top of everything left." Otto sighed while rubbing his face.

[In the frozen, bluish-covered world, a distressed Subaru struggled to move off of his dragon to figure out what the hell was happening.

"What the hell is going on?! Is this the Witch Cult's doing?" He asked in distress and forced his frozen form to jump off of Patrasche's saddle.

"Hey! Anyone? Is anyone there? Answer me!" The boy shouted in distress to the empty world, finding none of his friends or allies around him. He took a small whiff of something in the air and instantly held a hand to his nose in disgust.

"Wh-What is that intense smell?"

Subaru looked around and found something that caught his attention.

A blue smoky trail was being emitted from a small blue flower stuck to the side of the road.

"Huh?" Subaru stared at the small plant with bewilderment before screaming in terror as the plant sent a huge green vine to latch on his wrist.

Grabbing, the flower sent another vine, wrapping around his neck and choking him.

He struggled, Subaru could only look at his only company in this blue world besides the deadly plant.

"P-Patrasche!"

But the dragon was frozen as a statue. Not even breathing or blinking.

Figuring that she was useless, Subaru turned to face the flower while trying his hardest to get out of the vines.

"No… A flower like this couldn't actually exist. And Patrasche wouldn't just let me die… Which means… this is an illusion. It's all make-believe!" Subaru shouted while gripping the vines with his hands as they wrapped around his body and squeezed him.]

"If this is truly illusion magic, then he should be just fine after the vision ends." Felix issued softly as he looked on at the boy's struggles with worry.

" I fear that that's not the c~aaa~se."

"What do ya mean?" Anastasia quickly took the lead in staring the eccentric clown down.

Roswaal smiled and leaned on his palm as he explained to the crowed below. "That's a special spell I t~aaa~ught my dear staff to use on intruders if they found themselves to be c~ooo~rnered!"

Rienhard and Julius glared at the smirking clown heatedly while Garfiel was already standing to punch him in the face.

Roswaal smirked as he gloated to them. "Special illusion spell using elemental plant life. You die in the illusion's world… you die for real."

Eyes widened.

"R-Ram! You said that we would've talked with Subaru! I told you that it was a mistake and he wouldn't ever try to wage war on us!" Emilia shouted at the maid with a betrayed look on her face. Hurt that her pleas for the boy went ignored by the maid and now Subaru had to suffer a death unknown to all but himself.

The maid simply looked down with a shame-filled expression. "Please think a bit Emilia-sama. I didn't intend to kill Barusu. I was only distracting the army around him so that I could pull him away from his forces and see if he truly wanted to invade my lord's domain out of spite and petty for leaving him behind."

Emilia shook her head and looked back at the screen.

"You better hope that you're telling the truth. This isn't 'you' after all." Felt glared at the maid with her scarlet eyes burning with rage. "Big bro is still dead."

Many flinched at the girl's growled words as she forced them all to acknowledge the reality of the boy's upcoming death.

"This camp is truly nothing but a bunch of murders and freaks waiting to seethe rage into the world." Priscilla snorted and waved her crossed legged in amusement. "As expected of the half-wit's leadership." The princess delivered cruelly, making the entire Emilia camp flinch at all of the painful trauma each of them caused Subaru.

"I…" Emilia simply shook her head in despair and sat back down in her chair. Unable to refute the nasty lady's words as the truth in them left a clear sour taste in everyone's mouths.

"I mean… it is true." Anastasia mused softly while glancing at the sleeping boy with pity in her eyes.

"We didn't do him any charity either, Anastasia-sama." Crusch spoke dryly while trying to avoid the conflict between the half-elf and the smirking proud noble above.

The duchess needed Emilia to learn of how much Subaru had been hurt because of the flimsy way she ran her camp.

Julius simply shook his head and balled his hand into a fist while glaring at the screen in anger.

He wanted to see what Subaru had to say to him. He was really looking forward to it.

But now there was a good chance he's been killed off by Roswaal's magically capable maid for the blank letter misunderstanding.

"Damn." Ricardo cursed while ruffling the worried twins' heads as they watched in worry and frustration.

[Suddenly, The small red spirit showed up and hovered over the hostile flower.

Once it descended over the plant, an inferno of bright flames covered it, turning the small flower into ash.]

"Ia for the win!" Mimi shouted and jumped on Ricardo's lap with her arms out while Schult and Petra cheered happily.

"Hmph! I shall give that wimp of a spirit the chance to help Betty's contractor since Betty wasn't with him, I suppose." Beatrice snorted in disgruntled upset as she had to watch another lesser kid save her Subaru when she couldn't even care to try.

Julius felt a little honored that this great spirit acknowledged his Ia… but also quite offended for having her insult one of his little puds.

["A lesser spirit? Did you come to help me?" The boy asked the diving red dot in confusion.

The spirit entered his jacket pocket and forced a spell on him.

Before he could blink, the bluish world dissipated into normal colors.

"Subaru!" The concerned voice of Julius sounded as the blurry colors merged to reveal the true normal state of the world around Subaru without a blue filter.

"It was you?" Instantly recognizing his surroundings, Subaru asked with a hint of annoyance if the knight had saved him.

"That spiteful tone means it's definitely you." Julius only smirked at the downed boy. "I can't imagine my subconscious creating such a realistic imitation of you."]

"You two are acting so much like a married couple," Tivey snorted, unable to keep it to himself what everyone was thinking.

"I think it's pretty telling of their strong respect for one another even after their troubles." Reinhard gave a small smile towards his friends.

Julius simply nodded his head to the praise, keeping a sharp eye on the screen. "If I had been good enough then we wouldn't need to worry about what ends it for him."

[The two looked around at the road behind them which had been empty once before. The road now revealed the many carriages they brought with them stopped on the road, their drivers completely immobilized and moaning on the dirt of the road.

"It's a bewitching spell. You and I are the only ones who have returned to normal. How did you make it back?" Julius asked sternly.

"I burned a flower in my illusion." Subaru answered bluntly.

"I see…Someone put a suggestion spell on the flower's scent." The knight slowly raised his fist and manifested six colored orbs above his palm.

"Hey, is that…"

"It's the glow of my little buds. I will know teach everyone how to break out of the bewitching spell. In Nes!"

The six buds suddenly latched on to each other and forced an explosion of color around Subaru.]

"They are so pretty…" Schult looked at the sight with astonishment painting his expression. The child seemed so engrossed in the lights that he stopped worrying about what might happen to Subaru.

Julius clicked his teeth at the sight, being noticed by Anastasia and Otto who were closer to him than most.

"I apologize… Just seeing them after being seperated for so long… It's my weakness for not expecting this to aggravate me." Julius bowed his head for what he saw was shameful conduct, letting Otto and Anastasia glare at him.

"You're a spirit knight without his spirit. This place didn't just take away our freedom, it separated you from precious friends. Nothing to apologize for." Otto scoffed and turned away from the knight, while Anastasia slapped a hand over Julius' head.

The knight didn't rub where he had been hit due to not being able to seem hurt by such a hit.

It did hurt him emotionally though.

[Once the blow was dealt, Subaru and Julius found themselves standing in a distorted world filled with the terrorized voices of those bewitched around them.

"Hi-ho! Hi-ho!"

"There's nobody here!"

" Where am I?!"

"We've been strayed away… No, we've been pulled apart!"

"This is bad! If I don't do something..."

Is his affinity too great?

Julius wondered as he watched Subaru whether around in pain, holding his hands to his head and groaning in agony.

I'm sorry. Take a deep breath and endure it. I can't spare the energy to fine-tune it just for you.

Julius stared sternly at the agonizing boy as the voices of their comrades filled the void around them.

Bringing them back is our priority.]

"Just how great is your knight's affinity to spirits?" Anastasia asked Emilia, who was too busy looking on with shock and worry for her knight as he cried in pain.

The small spirit girl snorted and took liberty to answer since she was the most knowledgeable about Subaru's affinity.

"Hmph! Betty's Subaru has the highest affinity for spirit arts Beatrice had ever seen, in fact. Much more comfortable than any knight in your kingdom." Beatrice held her head high as everyone, especially the knights, looked at her with slack-jawed faces. "It's one of the reasons why Betty chose him in fact."

Julius and Reinhard could only slump back with rigid shock as the great spirit before them gloated how powerful Subaru's spirit arts was. They couldn't help but be impressed and a little jealous of the boy.

Emilia simply registered the information for a second before looking on at the screen with fear for her knight still present in her eyes. The information about how special Subaru truly was never surprised her since she was already seeing his amazement first hand.

[Julius slowly closed his eyes to carry on his rescue of everyone around him while Subaru fell to one knee while screaming in pain.

They both suddenly looked up as a figure rocketed towards him from the sky.

The figure dropped before Subaru and held his wrist to drag him away. The boy managed to get out of their grasp but the figure instantly took his collar in their hand and ran while carrying him.

They would've escaped with their prey, had it not been for the blade pointed at their hooded face.

"That will be quite enough." Wilhelm ordered the figure as he stopped them from running with the boy.

Ricardo and Felix surrounded the small hood as she threw the boy away.

Pulling her hood down, Ram sternly demanded of her captures.

"Kill me. I won't accept this disgrace."]

"Always hot headed…" Otto said nervously, showing some happiness that it didn't end badly for Ram or Subaru.

Ram breathed a sigh of relief as her scowl returned full force. She will punish Barusu for this disgrace. But she was glad that she wasn't going to hurt him….. except for that plant thing. But she was sure that her amazing skills were going to save him before any damage happened.

[Scene change…

"And? What is all of this? You will explain it to me, right, Barusu?" Ram was shown asking the boy as everyone else got back on the carriage.

"That's what I'd like to ask you. You're the one who attacked us first. What were you thinking?" Subaru asked, miffed out.

"That's rich, coming from an ingrate like you." The maid bluntly answered without remorse.

"Ingrate?" Subaru asked a little hurt.

Ram only glared at him. "You are, aren't you? After everything Roswaal-sama did for you… Once you're done with him, you rush to wag your tail for another master."

Subaru just looked confused.

"Hang on! I think you've got your stories mixed up!" Subaru tried to argue his confusion only to be met with a hardened stared from her.

"So this is what it means to bite the hand that feeds you." Ram said spitefully.

"Listen to me! The handwritten letter! I wrote a letter about it! Wasn't it delivered to the mansion?" Subaru asked frantically, ignoring the disappointed glance thrown at him from Julius.

"Yes, I did get a letter from the capital. But… That was quite an amusing scheme sending me a blank letter."

"A blank letter?" The boy sounded out in confusion as the elegant knight took it upon himself to answer his confusion.

"To send a blank letter is a metaphor meaning you have no intention of speaking to the recipient." Julius shook his head with a hardened look on his face, "It could easily be interpreted as a declaration of war."

Subaru's face trembled into shock and alarm before quickly turning to one of desperation as he looked at the maid pleadingly. "This is a huge misunderstanding! Do I even look that clever to you?" The boy pleaded with the scowling maid.

"So this is what it means to bite the hand that feeds you."

Subaru just held his head in his hands in grief. "You're still saying that?!"

"I can't say it enough. But I get the gist now. The blank letter was some kind of mistake, and you are still Emilia-sama's dog. Correct?" The maid slyly slyly demeaned the boy infront of everyone around them.

"Not really, but… Okay, sure. Dogs are like family, anyway. I'm fine with being a dog if I'm Emilia's." The boy smiled excitedly at the idea.

An old man standing beside him had to comment. "Wouldn't you say that standard is a bit low?"]

Laughter filled the air as everyone reacted to Ram's relationship with Subaru.

Rem simply shook her head with a smile of amusement and happiness on as she saw her sister believing in her hero right away.

The boys from Otto and Garf to the knights all gave small snorts and chuckles at their friend's abuse from the Oni girl.

"At least he wags his tail to his master." Priscilla sighed with a disappointed look on her face at the way the boy gave up all dignity for a chance to be some half-wit's plaything.

Said half-elf was currently blushing so hard and trying to cover herself by holding her hands up.

The thought of a leashed Subaru, following her around and barking whenever she pleased was just…. Ew!

"Stupid, disgusting, Subaruuuuu!" The half-elf whined pathetically while covering her face up.

Almost all the ladies around the boy started giggling even Petra and Frederica.

Which made Emilia pout even harder.

["In any case, these guys are reinforcements. They're friends. We pulled them together to wipe out the Witch's Cult. There's no time. We need to start by evacuating the villagers."

Ram listened intently to what the boy had to say and reluctantly nodded.]

"You believed in him right away?" Heinkel glared at Ram from the side, since he was in the same row as her.

"Barusu's a bad actor when it comes to hiding his worries. Seeing that face explains everything within his heart no matter how perverse the intentions." Ram huffed proudly, making Heinkel blink rapidly in confusion.

"So do ya like 'em or hate 'em?!" He asked with another glare aimed at the maid.

"One cannot place the word love and hate to someone like Barusu. Both are disgustingly insufficient."

"Huh?! How much do ya hate 'em then?" Heinkel was starting to get frustrated by the maid's confusing attitude.

"One cannot measure the limit of something larger than the Od itself."

"..." Heinkel rubs a hand on his face. "How much do ya like 'em then?"

"One cannot punish me enough to admit the existence of such a myth." Ram shook her head while holding a hand to her chest.

"Fuck this," Heinkel sighed. "I don't care anymore."

[Scene change…

Showing the Alarm village's humble market square, the screen showed almost every man, woman and child standing in it. Huddled up as a group while Subaru's army stood around them in a circle, scaring some kids and making the villagers spare odd glances to the many armed men around them.

Seeing the distress, Julius slowly leaned to Subaru's ear. "Subaru, they seem rather uneasy. Remember to be considerate."]

Julius and Felix both leaned in to watch with interested looks.

"What is it, Julius-kun?" Anastasia quickly spotted her knight's interest and decided to deprive him of information.

The knight looked surprised to be called out but he turned to his lady with a small fond smile on his face.

"It's just… Subaru did something… very incredible to get the village to trust his word and follow him out…. I wanted to see if he did the same thing in this… " Julius lost his smile as he looked down. "… this loop."

Anastasia's eyes softened and her smile turned to a warm quirk towards the young man.

"I'm sure he will do what he can to make everything go smoothly. He has a trader's spirit."

Julius was about to comment his shock at his lady talking about someone as if they were true traders… and she was talking about Subaru as well! He had to know what's been going on with his lady!

Noticing Anastasia's smirk, Crusch had to comment.

"Seems like you've taken a liking to a certain trader's potential." The duchess weighed her words carefully so as to not alert the interested looking Emilia as she watched the screen with rapid focus on how her knight will lead.

The merchant's mischief-filled eyes stared into Crusch's predatory own.

"Someone might make a weapon out of yer words some day, Crusch-sama. Please be careful not to hurt my feelin's." Anastasia whispered coldly, not flinching at the stern competitive glare the duchess sent her way.

Crusch softly smirked for a moment…. And held her hand up to show Anastasia something…. She was holding Subaru's hand.

Crusch's smirk widened as she squeezed his hand in front of Anastasia's face. Making the merchant candidate's lips go thin as her expression turned unreadable.

Ana was pissed.

The green-haired noble lady simply kept her smirk and turned to watch the boy lead her army against the evil of Sloth. Comfortable for her victory.

Julius did not know what the hell was going on.

Otto and Garfiel on the other hand looked at each other and sweated bullets.

They needed to do something… fast.

[The nasty-eyed boy nodded his head and stepped forward before the massive crowed of villagers.

"Okay, attention! I haven't seen you guys in a while. How you been?" Subaru slowly stretched out his arms and smiled at the village. "Look, I know this is sudden, but I need to ask you all a favor! It seems mabeasts are up to no good in the forest near here again. So I've brought some specialists to exterminate them," Subaru pointed at the army behind him and smiled confidently.

"But while they're working, You need to stay away from the village."

"Don't try to fool us!"

Subaru was taken aback when one of the youngmen of the village shouted at him from the crowd.

"You're trying to sound cheerful about this, but the villagers are frightened! We've feared all along that the Witch's Cult would try something!"

A merchant that was standing with his fellow colleagues suddenly piped up with a stern glare aimed at Subaru.

"The Witch's Cult? No one told me about that."]

"Oh… this is looking bad…" Otto shook his head as he understood quickly how panicked these people must feel.

"Cap'n will take care of it! He always does!" Garfiel nodded his head confidently without even a second of doubt in his mind.

Julius and Felix looked disappointed that Subaru had to try begging them to get them to listen but they understood now that he did what he had to do to save these people's lives.

[As the fear and panic started rising between the merchant groups and the villagers, Subaru's allies could only look on with tired disappointment.

Subaru only looked down with a frustrated glare as his teeth grounded against one another.

"You don't deny it, then?" The young man asked while the villagers casted glares and betrayed looks towards the boy.

"So it was true!"

"Why would they bother with a remote village like this?"

"Why else? Because of that half-elf!"

Subaru's hand clenched.]

"Oh come on!" Felt facepalmed with gritted teeth at the people's stupidity while Rienhard shook his head at the narrow minded state people were in when panic took hold.

"They're still right though." Emilia whispered sadly while looking down a little hurt that her knight had to convince them to follow him under her name when it was giving him so much trouble.

She could only find comfort in leaning her head against his shoulder softly and watching the screen with tearful eyes.

Hoping that he would be safe and the people wouldn't mistrust him after all he's done to help them just because of her.

["Because the lord of the domain endorses a half-elf for our ruler!"

"Why do you have to make it about that?" Subaru growled while looking at the ground in anger. "The half-elf thing… Emilia has nothing to do with it!"]

"Will he explode again?" Petra shook her head as she felt nothing but anger at her people for having that way of thinking about someone as sweet as Emilia. She also felt extremely scared of what an angry Subaru might do.

"Fufufufuf~ Even in your domain, the subjects don't trust in you! How amazing the world's irony is! Fighting for the leadership of the kingdom while almost all of her followers distrust her. Hu!" Priscilla laughed out loud with a bolstering grin as she sadistically watched the Emilia camp grow more furious.

"I'mma slap 'er!" Garfiel growled while barely holding himself back by grabbing both chair handles with all of his strength.

[The youngman stepped closer with a frustrated look on his face. "She has everything to do with it! If you mess with a half-elf, the Witch's Cult shows up. Even the children of this village know that!"

Subaru just stared at them with a disturbed expression. "You guys seriously believe that? That it's all the fault of the half-elf in the mansion?!"

Gazing at the stern faces of all the adults, Subaru could only go back to a distant memory…

Back when he asked Emilia for their first date… When he had to go through some of his worst times against an invisible assassin that turned out to be his second love.

" The village, huh? "

" But it might cause trouble for you. "

Subaru's face tightened as he looked down in realization. "Does that mean I'm just being selfish again?"]

"What a state of mind to be in. I don't envy this kid at all." Al shook his head at the complicated situation and sighed in frustration at his brother's useless attempts at being a hero.

It will only lead to ruin. The best thing is to just survive.

Emilia could only watch with guilt-ridden gaze as her own incompetence and selfishness set the stage to another obstacle Subaru had to overcome in this part of his story. How many times the boy died because of her was yet to be counted since this wasn't even close to the ending.

Emilia shed tears of pain and fear as she held Subaru's chest folds tightly while watching.

[* THUUUUMPPP!*

"...UGH!" Subaru looked back to the gloved hand that had slapped him on his back.

To find Felix standing with an assuring smile on his face. "'Lift your head. Don't look down.' That's what Crusch-sama would say." The boy advised softly, trying to assure his friend.

"You…"

"Did you think what you were doing was wrong? If not, there's no reason to look down. Or is it harder to lift your head here than to throw a tantrum in the castle?" Felix gave a shit-eating grin. Making Subaru glare at him.

"Now, listen… " Subaru grinned, "You're right. Compared to that, this is nothing!" He moved to the center of the square once more.

Confidently, he yelled out to make his voice reach everyone's ears. "I understand your feelings and concerns very will! I won't tell you to try and change them now. Obviously, you'll have your own opinions. It hurts, but I understand."

The youngman and the villagers looked taken aback by the boy's sincerity.

"But for now, please accept my request. Please do as I say! It's dangerous to stay in the village! That's the truth!"

Everyone looked at the sincere begging boy with reluctance and hesitation.]

"You did well Ferris. You did really well."

The healer looked taken aback. Almost shocked at his lady's sincere compliment.

His happiness exemplified once the puffy-eyed half-elf turned to him with a smile on her face so warm it made him feel fuzzy inside.

"Thank you for helping him, Ferris-san You're a truly good friend to Subaru." Emilia said warmly with glints of tears around the corners of her eyes.

Rem nodded her head and bowed her head in thanks.

Felix could only take all of this with a frozen expression of bewilderment.

His tears were those of disbelief and happiness.

[But their attention moved as soon as the calm commanding tone of the maid behind him sounded out.

"The words of my household's employee are those of our master, Roswaal-sama, himself."

"Ram…" Subaru uttered her name, aghast that she stood beside him.

"Follow his instructions immediately." Ram ordered without glancing at the boy.

Scene change…

"You saved me back there. Thanks. But…"

"What?"

Subaru turned to smile at the maid while the rest of the village grabbed their crucial belongings and settled into the merchant carriages.

"Having you take my side so easily is kind of a new feeling. Does that mean you've acknowledged me?"]

"Ha!" Ram turned away with a fake disgusted look on her face.

"..." Heinkel gave her the middle finger as he tried to yet again figure out what side she was on when it came to Subaru but failed.

"Sister is truly charming. Thank you for helping my hero when I couldn't." Rem smiled brightly and almost adoringly at her only twin.

Ram quickly turned her sour look into a smug smirk as she held her head up. "Well, of course. Sissy needed her plaything to be safe while she was away." She replied haughtily…. Making a few heads turn as they heard the word plaything.

"This relationship with Natsuki-san and Ram-sama is kind of abusive don't ya think?" Otto whispered to his blonde brother, who just punched his shoulder and smirked wide.

"Tha's just how Ram is." Garfiel laughed himself to the ground while Otto gazed at him exasperatedly.

[The pink-haired maid's expression soured. "Ha!" She scoffed and turned away from him.

"Subaru!" A childlike voice shouted from afar.

"Hey, Petra. What's up?" Subaru smiled as the adorable orange haired girl stepped in front of him with a nervous look.

"U-Um, will the lady from the mansion run away with us?"

"Huh?"

"She came to the village told us we should take refuge in the mansion because it's dangerous here, just like you said. But no one in the village would listen to her… "

The screen showed Emilia trying to talk with the people of the village only to be shunned and shouted at at every door step.]

"Big sis is too good for them! Hmph!" Felt shouted and pulled her tongue out at the people of the village as their behavior reminded her too much of the slum dwellers in the capitol.

"Does that mean you've tried doing that every loop?" Tivey asked with a scared expression on his face.

Everyone's looks soured at the mention of the loops and the memory of the butchered kids came up instantly into their minds.

"So that's why only the children managed to make it into the mansion." Crusch muttered while grimacing.

Emilia only held her knight and leaned on him while watching with a silent expression.

[The worried Petra only received a headpat from the boy as he smiled down at her. "It's okay. She wouldn't get mad or anything. Anyway you should hurry and run."

"Okay!" Petra quickly ran to her mother's side and walked toward a drawn carriage.

"What happened to Emilia after that?" Subaru asked his only present ally that was in the mansion at the time.

"You should know that she's not so perceptive as to back down the moment someone denies her."

"But I also know she's not the kind of girl who wouldn't be hurt by mean words."

"She tried to convince the villagers to leave, but they refused. But she couldn't just do nothing, so she repaired the forest barrier. She feared there might be a mabeast attack again." Ram told him in a soft tone.

Subaru sighed tiredly. "That's not a bad decision in and of itself, but still… "]

"You're hopeless, Emilia-sama." Otto shook his head in exasperation and smiled softly at the girl's kindness.

Emilia only frowned deeper at Subaru's last perception of her. He looked quite tired of her already… maybe he had every right to be tired of her uselessness.

It's what he had told her in that tomb….

What did he go through if she was at her most useless state back then.

Emilia ignored the thought and held her mouth by the hand to keep herself form puking. Her guilt and sadness overwhelmed her being.

[Scene change…

The greatest knight was sitting in the shade of a tree, looking at his blade as it glowed sharply.

"Julius."

The sharp, handsome eyes of the knight widened in surprise as he found the nasty-eyed boy standing in front of him with a request as he had his hands in his sweat-suit's pockets.

"I'm going to explain things to Emilia and the loli in the mansion. It'll be more convincing with you there than without. Just take it as a sign of my repentance for going nuts in the castle."]

"Hmph! I don't care for his stupid made up words, I suppose!" Beatrice yelled out in anger and pouted a little miffed.

Julius' eyes widened in sheer excitement as he watched with rapid interest what might become of this conversation. He desperately wanted what every interaction with the boy and himself truly looked like.

[The elegant knight smiled softly and stood up.

"I see. Understood. If that will help the discussion to go more smoothly, don't hesitate to use me." As the knight moved to walk side by side with Subaru, the boy surprised him by sharply calling.

"Also, you were the one who put a spirit on me, weren't you? Explain that. I get that you're a spirit arts user."

Julius had a look of acceptance on his face. "More precisely, I prefer to be called a 'spirit knight'. I do use the spirit arts, of course, but that hasn't prevented me from training with the sword." Proudly Julius smiled at the boy he'd once beaten to death.

"Eh? And you were the one who set the little red one on me?" Said boy looked at him with an annoyed glance.

"'Set it on you' is a harsh way to put it. I was only having her, Ia, secretly keep you safe."

"By the way, what was that thing you did when you broke the illusion?"

"A high class of magic known as 'Nect'. It connects the gates of all who are in range so they can communicate with each other. It appeared to work a bit too well on you though." The knight looked troubled as he remembered what had happened to the boy when he casted his magic spell.

"I thought I was about to lose myself."

"It's unusual for the spirits to mistake the tuning. It may be that you have a strong affinity toward spirits." Julius smiled challengingly at the boy.

Subaru snorted in amusement. "Sadly, the only spirit I ever made friends with was a gray cat."]

"Stupid, worthless, unworthy contractor, I suppose! How dare you forget about Betty?!" Beatrice kept kicking the sleeping boy's chin with no hint of stopping as she pouted in anger.

(Copypaster:- ..... Now i understand why i don't like anyone else other than ram as a waifu)

Emilia's expression soured a little at the mention of the gray cat that had broken so many promises to her. Willing to pat Beatrice on the shoulder in order to get her to ease up on Subaru's sleeping body a bit.

(Copypaster:- Not even going to heal him...)

[Scene change…

"Well? Did you patch things up with Julius? Did it work?" Felix was sitting on a box inside the back of a drawn carriage as he spoke to Subaru.

"I'm gonna take that matter back with me and mull it over carefully before making an optimistic decision." Subaru answered quickly trying to change the subject.]

"Oh come on!"

Julius didn't expect for Otto to be the one voicing his own disappointment that he didn't get to see the resolving of their conflicts.

The greatest knight had a small eloquent smile grazing his face as he saw the outraged look Otto had for him.

"What a stubborn idiot!" The merchant face palmed at Subaru's persistence to hate and not love.

["Come to the mansion with me. I'll need at least one person from Crusch's camp with me, to smooth over the misunderstanding with the letter."

Felix chuckled a bit and stood up from the box. "I'll do that after I finish my work here." Softly, Felix held Subaru's hand and dragged the boy into the covered cart of the carriage.

"Come help us too, Subaru-kyun. It's dangerous work involving the Witch's Cult. The contract said he'd buy their cargo at the asking price, so we need to inspect the goods thoroughly."

Subaru slowly glanced at the boy that had no right to like so cute in a knight's outfit with a confused expression.

"Huh? But that shouldn't be our job. Isn't this more importa-"

"Oh come on." Felix whispered huskily as he hugged Subaru's back with his tail wagging.]

"Oi!" Garfiel quickly moved to stand and punch a sexual assaulter in the face…

But he noticed how serious glares were being shot towards the screen.

From Wilhelm, Felix, Ricardo, Julius and even Emilia and Otto.

"Wha's going on?" Garfiel asked firmly as he sensed something not right.

"Those merchants had Cultist spies operating within them." Julius answered firmly while staring at the screen.

"What?!" Felt shouted as she looked at the people around her.

"Unfortunately that is the truth. Subaru-dono managed to get all of the spies without alerting any of the cult's networks splendidly before we could even get to the village… But… he doesn't seem to have done so here." Wilhelm's tone set the stage for a very grim next set of scenes.

"So he knows of the spies because of this loop exposing them. What else is there?" Anastasia nodded her head and glossed over the fact that the boy's death was mentioned. Focusing on the more important details to the plan.

Not the very obvious ones.

It was Emilia answered immediately as her amethyst eyes narrowed with anger and frustration.

"There was also a bag of fire stones set to explode once the dragon carriage's wind protection wears off."

"And they might be inside of the cart where Subaru and Felix-sama are in right now!"

At Emilia's anger filled words and Otto's panicked ones, Everyone's eyes grew horrified.

"Ah shit!" Al cursed as he watched what will be for sure his brother's death.

["Hey, hey! No lovers' quarrels in my carriage!" A merchant with brown hair shouted as he got ontop of the cart to glare at the two lovebirds.

Instantly, Felix drew back from Subaru's back with a soft chuckle. "Hee hee! You got in trouble, Subaru-kyun!"

The catboy slowly walked next to the merchant and locked arms with him.

"Really, what a troublemaker!"

Felix's eyes immediately turned sharp as he gazed into the merchant's.

"There. He let his guard down."

Before the merchant could look alarmed, Felix had placed a hand on his skin and forced some mana into his blood.

In a second, the merchant dropped into the cart with a goofed up expression on his face.

"This guy is one of the Witch's Cult. I touched him earlier to confirm it. There's some weird spell implanted in him, just like the 'fingers' of the Sin Archbishops."

"There was one among the merchants?"

"That's why I stole into his carriage to get under his guard."

Subaru looked aghast at this information and stared as Felix slowly knelt at the man's head and held his hand on his forehead. "Now, tell us all the details of what you're plotting. My hands are the gentlest in the world, but they can do some nasty things, too."]

"It sounds really…"

"I know! I know! Please don't talk about it!" Felix cut Ricardo off with a flustered face as his villainous habit of doing a monologue while torturing criminals was shown to all of his acquaintances and his mistress.

Crusch looked on with a very uncomfortable look on her face but she gave Felix her supportive nod in order to not have him feel worse about himself.

[As his hands began glowing form the spell, the paralyzed cultist smirked in a twisted way. Forcing the healer to look confused.

"What?"

The cultist slowly uttered. "… right."]

"That guy's bad news!" Heinkel alerted them all, foreseeing things going badly even before Wilhelm or Reinhard. The deputy commander glared with his heart pounding from investment. "I know a scardy cat when I see one, that guy's gonna cause havoc to get back at those cornering him!"

"Don't you mean you know how he thinks because you'd do the same thing as him?" Al snorted from the side, unable to keep to himself.

Heinkel's middle finger was raised quickly once more to the other side of his row.

[Felix immediately looked alarmed and shouted at the top of his lungs.

"Ia! Protect him!"

Subaru looked bewildered as the red spirit suddenly appeared before him and made a force-field of red mana around him.

"And now it begins! The beginning of the end!" The cultist shouted in glee.

And a second later…

* BOOOOOOOOMMMMM!*

And the carriage was instantly engulfed in flames all over as a huge explosion rocketed the entire town.]

"Damn!" Ricardo cursed as him and the others looked on in horror at the destruction of the explosion.

"Subaru!" Petra shouted in worry and horror at the giant blaze that had covered the boy.

Emilia and Beatrice held on to him firmly while watching the scene with fear written on their faces.

[Hearing the voices of panicked villagers around him, Subaru forced his closed eyes open through the pain and exhaustion.

He slowly sat back up while looking around him. The entire village was dark as the sky was covered with smoke and dark clouds. Buildings were burning and some even turned to rubble around him because of the explosion.]

"Thank you, Ia." Julius breathed looking a bit disturbed by how much damage the bombs inflicted upon the village.

"Mr. Saisu!" Petra screamed in horror with tears in her eyes as she watched her neighbor getting stabbed to death and her town being burned to the ground. The little girl could not stop holding on to a very sympathetic Frederica and crying her eyes out.

Ram and Rem both looked angry at what the cult had caused across the peaceful town. Another town that they couldn't protect. Another home they would've lost.

[A worried looking catboy, wearing rough rags on his naked bare body smiled in relief at Subaru.

"Thank goodness! You're awake!" Felix sighed in relief.]

"Why you dressed like a hippie? Wha happened to yer clothes?" Garfiel asked with a weirded out look on his face.

The healer was too focused on the horrifying events on the screen to answer the boy. He was glad that Subaru was saved but the slight oversight on his part was the cause of the cultist destroying the town.

["Why are… you dressed like that?" Subaru asked gruffly as he looked at the half naked boy in confusion.

"I had no choice. I can't reproduce clothes with healing magic."

"Regardless, given the situation, I'm glad you and Felis are all right." Julius spoke as he watched something in the far away village.

Subaru looked at the direction the knight was looking in and found that the entire village was burning to the ground, with bodies of the innocent townspeople stabbed and bleeding all over the rubble filled street.

"Run 'em off! Don't back down!"

Soldiers and villagers alike picked up their weapons and tried to fight the oncoming horde of hooded cultists.]

"Oh dear…" Frederica shouted in heartbreak as she watched the massacre.

"Bastards!" Garfiel cursed while gritting his teeth in demonic anger as he watched the innocent getting slaughtered with no one to shield them.

Julius and Wilhelm simply looked angry for all of the people they had failed in this loop.

The soldiers were fighting but they weren't doing much against the massive horde of evil cultists.

Anastasia glared at the supposed lord of the domain that had left it unguarded for this massacre to happen. Her eyes raging with so much fury even her scarf tried to comfort here.

The clown dressed man simply stared at the happenings in the screen with an indifferent expression.

[Subaru got up in alarm, struggling to breath due to pain. "How did they get into the village?"

"They stowed away in the carriages. There was a finger among the merchants, and we didn't take care of him. I failed." Felix looked down in grief and agony.]

"No… It's all my fault… " The healer looked distraught and even disturbed as he realized just how much he's failed at his duty. Not only to his lady but to the innocents of the village as well.

Wilhelm and Rem put comforting hands on his shoulders, trying to give the healer a bit of reprieve.

"What an unruly child." Priscilla didn't even snort as she commented. Her face had a furious narrow-eyed look as she watched the murders of these innocent villagers.

["This is not the time for regrets. We had Tivey and Madame Ram evacuate to the mansion with the , join them and heal who you can." Julius ordered and took the lead immediately.

"Okay!" The healer run away in his ragged blouse while Subaru got ready for the fight.

"Okay, let's crush all the fingers that are left!"

Julius looked at the boy with an unimpressed gaze before turning to surprise as a massive rumble was felt through the area around them.

Subaru and Julius looked ahead to find giant lean unseen hands crushing and bulldozing their way into the many houses of the townsfolk.

It was shown to be the work of an old insane looking man wearing the cults' signature robes as he sent his Authority to smash the person he was fighting.]

"Another one?!" Felt shouted in rage.

"So the fingers are all able to use the sloth powers as well." Crusch noted with a stern look hiding her disturbance.

[Wilhelm van Astrea was revealed to be the one keeping the finger busy as he dodged and jumped out of the supposed invisible hands trying to kill him. The old man could see the hands from all the dust and ash flowing from the explosions played across the city.]

"The old man manged to find a weakness while fighting!" Garfiel shouted his fury and cheered for the old man to beat the mad cultist and avenge the village.

"Sword Demon will take care of him! Go Sword Demon-sama!" Schult shouted with sympathy for the villagers firing him up.

["To think, to think, to think, to think! That you would resist us this much!" The old man twisted his body to meet Wilhelm face to face. Glaring at the old man with Petelgeuse-like manic.]

"Why are they all acting the same?" Al muttered as everyone also was taken aback by how similar this cultist was to the other one and Petelgeuse.

Emilia could only focus on how dangerous and hopeless the situation has become. All because of her, the village was burning. All while she hid in the mansion, the people were being killed because of her heritage.

Innocent lives were perishing because of her own incompetence.

Her own knight had to live through this alone and hide his trauma with a smile because she was so untrustworthy and useless.

Emilia could only sob heavily and watch the massacre with wide tear-filled eyes.

"I'm so sorry…. "

[The old man instantly swiped his blade against the dirt road infront of him, making the dust cloud fill the entire area and revealing the unseen giant hands bursting from the man's back and hanging over him as tall as trees.

"Such tenacity, clinging so to this ever increasing love! As a diligent disciple, I cannot begin to express my respect. Ah! My brain trembles!"

Wilhelm dodged and slashed his way closer and closer to the rambling madman, until he was close.

"Got you!" The old man instantly drove his blade into the man's chest making him scream in agony.

Subaru and Julius arrived at the scene with shocked expressions.]

The children all cheered at the old man's appearant victory over the finger. Even the tear shedding Petra was screaming her cheers for the old man as she saw him avenging her village.

Wilhelm however… he could see what his on screen self couldn't… He was too careless once again.

The old man gritted his teeth in frustration.

"I'm sorry my boy… I couldn't save you all." He whispered in a gruff voice as he saw the end of his own life coming because of how weak minded he was in this battle.

[The old man smirked manically. "If one focuses on what the unseen arm does in battle, one will fail to see what is visible. That is sloth, yes?"

Before anyone could do anything, The old man quickly revealed a cultist blade from within his sleeve, and instantly drove it towards Wilhelm's wide eye.

"Yes!"

* Boooomm!*

An explosion took over the man and Wilhelm. Once the cloud died down, The man's body was revealed torn into bloody pieces all around an unconscious and beaten Wilhelm.]

"No!"

"Wilhelm-dono!"

Reinhard and Crusch shouted their worry as the rest of the cast had their eyes wide in shock.

"..." Heinkel was the only one who stood on his feet impulsively, surprising Wilhelm with the speed.

"Old man!" Garf shouted in despair as he had to watch one of the most awesome heroes die before his own eyes.

The old man simply held his head low in shame. "I failed you all… I'm sorry, Subaru-dono."

["He self-destructed." Julius noted hatefully while glaring at the remains of the madman focused on the enemy.

"Wilhelm-san!" Julius looked beside him to find Subaru holding the struggling butler's head in his hand while Wilhelm groaned.

"We can't leave you like this. We've gotta get you to Felis!"]

"He's alive!" Felix shouted with tears in his eyes as he laughed in joy.

Reinhard sighed and calmed his beating heart in relief.

Everyone else was breathing heavily but started calming down to watch what will unfold now that the old man is gone.

"At least ya managed to take a finger out." Anastasia noted with suspense while watching with the rest.

[Before Subaru could carry the old man, a loud voice shouted from across the courtyard.

"Why?!"

Julius and Subaru looked back in alarm.

The source was another cultist without her hood on. Showing a face filled with malice and anger with the same wide mad eyes filled with soullessness.

"Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?Why?!"

The mandwoman screamed while a pack of witch cultists rose from the ground behind her.]

"Another one?!" Felix shouted in rage.

"Are ya kidding me?!" Ricardo howled with a pissed off look along with the twins.

"Just how many cultists are there?!" Garfiel yelled out as steam came out of his nostrils from pure fury.

He wanted so bad to get in there and save his captain and the innocent villagers but his inability to do anything was infuriating him.

["Why are you still alive? After the attack you just endured… why?!" The madwoman slowly bit her finger off and spat it on the ground while manically shouting at the three men infront of her. "Why do you not bend to my diligence?!"

"A time like this, and still they just keep coming!" Subaru growled hatefully as he stood side by side with Julius and took out a black book from his back pocket.]

"He's planning to take on the archbishop alone?!" Crusch asked in surprise, making the many girls around her widen their eyes in worry.

"No!" Felt shouted as she couldn't see her big bro dying a gruesome death at the hands of this freak.

"Subaru run!" Petra screamed in horror as she noticed how the finger was looking at him.

["Hey, look here! This is what you're looking for, right? It's a gift from your precious witch!"

The madwoman slowly scratched her face while her wide eyes focused on Subaru.

"You thief! So you really did have it!"

"Quit shouting. If you keep yelling at me like that, it'll make my brain tremble." Subaru smirked as he pointed at his forehead.]

Otto held his head in both hands as he watched in shock and disbelief. "W-WHAT ARE YOU DOING?!" The merchant began to cry as he saw how Subaru was sacrificing himself to distract the finger.

Julius leaned forward with a pleading expression. Praying that he won't fail the boy and help him live.

"Come on, Subaru!" Julius whispered dryly.

"You can still live." The knight begged as his mind pushed the thought of this being a failed loop away. Wanting nothing but hope.

Hope that he hasn't failed his friend here.

[The finger had a look of disbelief as she slowly held her head in her hands.

"You must… DIE!"

And several hands sprouted from her back.

"Julius, I'll handle things here. You handle things on your end. And take care of Wilhelm-san."

The knight unsheathed his sword and glanced at his ally/friend.

"That is quite a vague order, but very well." The knight smirked confidently as he prepared to fight the cult.

Subaru looked reluctant for a moment but spoke. "Julius…"

The knight looked at his ally/friend.

Subaru bit his lip and shook his head.

"Actually, it can wait!"

Julius could only watch in confusion as Subaru ran ahead, making the finger follow him.]

"It's a battle, Julius-kun. You can do nothing but trust in your allies." Anastasia comforted her clearly distraught knight with a small smile yet a stern expression that told him to be strong.

Julius bowed his head silently and respectfully and watched the screen with grimaced eyes.

He had totally forgotten about the many innocents that his on screen self also had to protect.

Not just Subaru.

The boy bought him time so he could save the people.

It was haunting how… "Good his heart is." Julius muttered while watching the battle with a heavy heart. Feeling ashamed of himself for forgoing his duty to protect the innocent.

[Subaru jumped over and rolled on the dirt over a wooden fence while the black hands of the finger followed him and crushed the fence entirely.

"Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait!Wait right there!"

Subaru was shown running deeper into the forest, dodging and jumping away from the black hands sent to crush him as the finger screamed at him as they ran into the deepest parts of the forest.

"You cowardly, foolish, insolent little man!" The lady shouted while grabbing and breaking trees and bushes off from the ground trying to crush the boy.

"No matter where you try to run, it is futile." She laughed in glee as she followed him.]

"Run, I suppose!"

"Come on Subaru!"

"Cap'n run!"

They all looked on as the weakest amongst them distracted and evaded the evil follower of the Witch's Cult.

All waiting for him to die.

"He's doing what he can." Reinhard grimaced in shame at his notable absence in this fight. At his failure as the kingdom's greatest knight.

[Subaru stopped suddenly noticed a glowing green stone hanging by a handle on a tree trunk.]

"He's a fool." Ram said sternly in astonishment as her expression showed how distraught she was.

"What is his plan here?" Crusch muttered as he held his hand tightly.

"Plan?" Rem asked the lady beside her urgently as her fear overwhelmed her for the boy's life.

"Why did he lure the finger here?" Emilia whispered softly as she watched the screen above her with rapid interest mixed with worry for her knight.

["What do you expect to find wherever you run to?"

Subaru quickly grabbed the jewel and jumped away from the oncoming hands trying to kill him.

Rolling and turning down a bushy hill, Subaru could only let out a groan of pain while the cultist grinned at him.

"At long last, it would seem end has come!"

Subaru only smiled confidently at the villain as he stood up, holding the glowing stone.

"Do you… know what this is?" He asked, holding the stone out for the villain to look at.

"Eeeehhhh?"

"It's a magic stone for creating barriers. They were stashed in trees throughout the forest. You didn't notice?"

"What are you talking about?" The cultist tilted her head in confusion.

* RUSSELL*

* CREAK*

"Huh?" The madwoman looked back as she heard sounds of rustling and movement through bushes from behind.

Slowly, A pack of Ulgrum dogs surrounded both her and Subaru.]

"Wha..?!" Felix uttered his confusion at the suddenly dismal situation.

"Why's he putting himself in such a situation? These dogs will kill him!" Frederica whispered hauntingly as she watched the sacrifice.

Petra held the older maid's arm tightly while watching the screen with tears in her eyes. Fearing that her hero might die from either a witch cultist or the mabeasts.

Emilia, Rem and Ram all had their eyes wide however.

"What a sudden and demented plan!" Ram facepalmed as she understood what the stupid boy was doing.

Rem and Emilia looked on with worried looks exchanged between them.

["This area is a mabeast breeding ground, and we're prime feast for them… " Subaru smiled undeterred of the dogs around him as he held his green stone close to his chest.

"If you don't have one of Emilia's barrier stones!"

"AAAHHHHH!" The woman's screams filled the air as the pack completely tore her body apart with their sharp fangs and ate her.

Subaru looked toward the village with a serious gaze. "Only one finger left now. Once we get rid of that one… "]

"Holy shit!" Ricardo laughed in utter disbelief.

"Go Cap'n!" Garfiel shouted as loud as he could as he watched the awesome take down of the Sloth finger by his smart captain.

"Smart~ I didn't expect him to make such a plan on the fly." Anastasia complimented while her wide smirk showed her relief and astonishment at Subaru's plan.

"He truly is amazing!" Reinhard had stars in his eyes as he looked up at his friend with almost adoration like glee. He just witnessed a weak kid face off and trick an Archbishop to their deaths.

"What the fuck… How is this guy so useless but so effective…" Heinkel had to sit back down with a hung jaw from disbelief.

Rem could only sigh in relief and smile at how everyone was finally seeing Subaru for the awesome hero he was.

Emilia and Beatrice could only breath a sigh of relief and lean into the boy's sides more just to feel his warmth and comfort.

[Scene change…

Subaru walked through the destroyed Alarm, with smoke rising out of demolished buildings and homes and bodies of women and children bleeding on roads and in the river as blades were stabbed into them.

"Damn… We have to hurry… "

Subaru growled and glared as he entered the village.]

"Those bastards don't know mercy." Tivey growled out as everyone around him watched the massacre with dulled broken expressions.

Emilia and her camp looked on with shock and misery as they watched what their treasured friend had been through on his own.

["Ah!" "Ah!" "Ah!"

Another cultist without a hood and a doll like manic expression laughed and danced in glee as he heard the cries and screams of the villagers around him dying and getting stabbed by the many cultists that followed him.

"Ah! My brain trembles!" The man danced while knights and soldiers alike were trying to hold off the cultists and protecting the villagers but to no avail as the innocent were cut and butchered without remorse.]

"A-Another one?" Felix whispered in shock and horror as he watched the mad man twisting and killing civilians.

[Subaru entered the blood filled square and contorted his expression to one of pure hatred and malice.

"SLOOOOOTH!"

"HAHAHAHAHAHA!"

And the screen changed rapidly between the man cultist's laughing expression as he killed the innocent, and Subaru's rage filled one as he failed to protect or avenge them.

Both had the same dilated intense eyes.

Madness.

But then…

"That's enough, villain!" A female voice filled the yard.

Subaru and the finger both stared at the source with wide eyes.

As the ash and dust flew freely in the air around her, Emilia stood with her palm opened towards the finger and his followers. A furious expression on her face as she summoned magical icicles all around her.

Shooting the icicles toward the madman, Emilia glared at him as he dodged.]

"Emilia-sama's here!" Petra shouted in pure joy and relief.

"Finally showed up to save your people after half of them were dead." Priscilla snorted in disgust, making everyone look at her glaringly.

"Shut up you shit mouth! Big sis isn't at fault if the people didn't trust her!" Felt glared at the fiery haired lady with all the hatred she could muster.

Garfiel growled up at her with his teeth bared as he got ready to bounce and defend Emilia's honor.

The hlaf-elf herself ignored the comments being made about her and focused on the screen. She wanted to know how it feels like to be him. To be someone that saves everyone around him without being afraid and disgusted with herself.

But she couldn't help but think of him what she wanted. It wasn't ideal.

Subaru was just as scared as she was. He was even weaker than she was. He was insanely broken.

And he looked at her for comfort as if she was the hero in his eyes.

He wanted to be saved by her. To be protected like the rest of her people.

And she was busy wallowing in pity to help any of them.

Emilia held the boy's hand tightly and watched the oncoming fight with the sloth finger. Someone who used to follow another man she had failed and destroyed.

Geuse and Subaru.

Both looked at her as their one true hero.

And she failed both of them.

The half-elf looked on with heartbreak clear in her eyes.

["Emilia." Subaru uttered weakly while looking on uselessly.

"Stand down, villain. I won't allow you to do such wicked things!" Emilia ordered loudly while keeping her hand out.

"A-Ah… Ah! How grand!" The madman cried in joy while holding his head in his hands. "What a grand day! What a lucky day! What a grand destiny!"

The finger manifested his unseen hands while shouting madly.

Subaru quickly took off in alarm.

"Emilia!"

"WAIT!" Subaru looked back as his wrist was gripped tightly.

"I… I can't wait around right now! Do you want to make Emilia fight him?!" Subaru shouted at Felix in anger, to which the healer only smiled softly.

"Have a little faith in her."

Subaru was taken aback by Felix's soft reply.

"The people you want to protect are not just those behind you." Felix smirked as he watched the fight.]

"He needs to learn how to trust his friends more." Crusch and Julius nodded their heads at Otto's words. Even Reinhard and Felt were agreeing with the merchant as they looked at the boy with sympathy and anger.

Emilia frowned deeply at this as she kept her eyes on the screen.

"Hm? Trust whom? He's friends were the ones that killed and abandoned him for most of his failed lives." Priscilla cruelly laughed at the crushed faces of everyone who had wronged the boy.

"Even I couldn't help him, I suppose." Beatrice looked down with a depressed frown.

Emilia held her hand to her heart as the pain of the truth was too great to bare. She wasn't a hero. She wasn't someone that could lead. It's why this weak boy was forced into a role that had him facing all of these horrific endings to his life over and over without having anyone to hold his hand to to stand beside him.

He had died so many times because she couldn't protect him.

"How could he trust that I can protect myself?" Emilia shook her head and watched her useless self fight to protect whom ever was still alive of the massacre.

[Subaru looked on as an unseen hand moved through the smoke, Emilia's ice had emitted.

Emilia's eyes narrowed immediately and she jumped into the air like a bullet, avoiding the hand as it crushed the ground she was standing on.

Softly, Emilia landed on a tree she made out of ice, looking down at the cultist.

"Oh, my witch! My witch! My love's guide!" The man cried while marveling the power Emilia was displaying.]

"Nice!"

"Kick his ass!"

Garfiel and Ricardo cheered dutiful for the fighting maiden as they wanted Emilia to end this cursed mad man once and for all.

[A gray cat slowly revealed himself from within her hair, glaring at the man below him.

"I don't blame you for being charmed by my beloved daughter, but I won't allow any unwanted pests around her!"]

"Fuck you!"

"Garfiel! Watch your mouth!"

Frederica admonished her brother even though she was just as angry with seeing the demon cat as he was.

Everyone in the theater was glaring heatedly at the cat spirit. Even Beatrice and Emilia had soft frowns once the cat had shown himself.

All these two girls could think about when they see Puck is that giant beast that mocked Subaru's worth as a human while shattering the boy's desperate soul as cruelly as he could.

[Puck casted his magic to provide ice crystals sharply pointed down right above the man's head.

Emilia manifested her icicles and both shot towards the madman from all directions.

"Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!Naive!"

The man shouted and swiped all of his hands around him, breaking every ice attack from both Puck and Emilia.

Emilia jumped and landed softly on a standing pole of wood.

"This is love's true ending… The fruit of my love! Proof that the witch has returned my love!"

"That proof doesn't exist. Your crush is purely one-sided!" Puck shrugged in amusement while Emilia shot a giant glaciated ice attack towards the insane man.

"Yes!" The man shouted as the attack impacted him.

Slowly, the cloud of dust fell apart, revealing the man with his arms and legs tightly bond by ice while he had a back drop that looked like a rough cross.

"Ah, this is true… true diligence." Man laughed and uttered madly as Emilia dropped infront of him with her hand out toward his chest.

"Thank you for being defeated."

As the man laughed madly, Emilia enchanted her power to cover his entire form in ice, killing the final finger.]

Everyone looked at Emilia in astonishment and shock.

"Damn, no wonder Cap'n loves you!" Garfiel shouted in awe, making Emilia blush brightly and hide by leaning into Subaru's chest while holding her face.

(Copypaster:- ..... I wish it have more chapter)

"It-It was nothing! I'm sure if I wasn't there everything would've been alright."

"Emilia-sama… You should trust yourself more. Subaru-sama wouldn't like you to belittle yourself."

The half-elf looked up at the smiling duchess with a confused look on her face.

As the boy sat between them, Crusch and Emilia looked at one another with encouragement and surprise.

Emilia softly smiled, feeling the strength given from her friends and nodded to the green-haired noble before her.

The noble that was fighting for her knight's heart.