Plans to kill a Whale

Subaru was looking at the witches as he was looking at a board; the board was the plan to take down the White Whale and make Subaru not have to use Return By Death in the process.

Subaru just sighed as he spoke. "You girls are going all out for this, right?".

Daphne then spoke as she laughed. Yup, just a few planning to kill the thing I made; this one is going to be easier to kill them, the Black Smoke".

Subaru looked at his Son, Able, as the little boy was playing with Typhon, as a way to distract him, as he remembered how he was Black Smoke and the many loops that were too to kill him. "This one better not be 69 loops as well".

Minerva then looked as she spoke. "Don't remind me; we had to see all death remember".

Pandora then spoke. "The Black Smoke was smart, it had intelligence, it adapted to you". She sighed as she spoke. "The best of Daphne Creation, but you still managed to kill it".

Subaru pinched the bridge of his nose, exhaling heavily. The memories of the countless loops against the Black Smoke weren't something he liked to dwell on. Each death, each failure, each moment of despair—he had endured them all, but they had left their mark. He glanced at Able, watching as the boy laughed while playing with Typhon, blissfully unaware of the weight his father carried.

Shaking his head, Subaru refocused on the board. "Right, so no dying this time. Let's make sure of that." He turned to Daphne, who was still grinning, clearly unbothered by the destruction her creation had caused. "Since you made the damn thing, you better have some good insight on how to kill it efficiently."

Daphne tilted her head, her ever-present hunger not dimming her enthusiasm. "Oh, don't worry, this one's way dumber than the Black Smoke. The White Whale's strong, but it doesn't adapt like that thing did. Just lots of strength and mist. Lots and lots of mist." She giggled. "Oh, and it eats people's existence! That's fun, right?"

Subaru groaned. "Yeah, real fun," he muttered, shaking his head.

Echidna adjusted her glasses, tapping the board. "In theory, our strategy should ensure your survival. But, as always, it depends on execution. You must ensure the timing is perfect. If the plan falls apart mid-battle, we'll be right back where we started."

Minerva crossed her arms, frowning. "You better not mess this up, Subaru. You die, and we all have to see it. Again."

Pandora, who had been observing quietly, nodded. "It's not just about death. It's about fate. The Black Smoke was intelligent—it evolved and countered you at every turn. But this time, you're fighting something that doesn't think. That is both its greatest strength… and its greatest weakness."

Satella, who had been silent up until now, finally spoke. "We will protect you, Subaru. No matter what."

Subaru looked at her, seeing the gentle, unwavering devotion in her eyes. A part of him wanted to argue, to remind them that he was the one fighting, he was the one risking his life. But another part of him—the part that had endured all the suffering—knew that they wouldn't back down. They had all suffered alongside him, even if not in the same way.

He took a deep breath, straightening his posture. "Alright then. We take the Whale down, without Return by Death. No more unnecessary suffering."

Daphne giggled again. "Oooh, I like the confidence! Let's see if you can back it up, Subaru!"

He smirked. "Oh, you better believe I will."

With that, the strategy was set. The White Whale's reign of terror would end—this time, for good.

Sekhmet then spoke as she yawned. "Plus, don't forget about this, we need to add this to the calculation".

She then opened the Sin system, and they saw the new mission Subaru had.

Ding!

[New Mission Activated!

Quest: Slay the White Whale with Style!

Objective: Eliminate the White Whale in a way that completely shatters its legend and humiliates its existence.

Bonus: Defeat the White Whale without letting it even touch you.

Bonus: Make it an unforgettable spectacle for the world.

Bonus: Record the entire fight.

Rewards: ???]

Minerva sighed as she spoke. "Ok, I know each of you individually took time to program this system for Subaru and even Program the mission. Who wrote it, Daphne?".

Carmilla raised her hand shyly, as everyone felt like their brain died, and Subaru looked at her. "Why?".

Carmilla fidgeted under everyone's gaze, her face turning red as she avoided eye contact. "I-I just… thought it w-would be… um… nice?" she mumbled, twiddling her fingers.

Subaru blinked, still trying to process it. "You wrote this?" Of all the witches, Carmilla was the last one he expected to come up with a mission that sounded like something straight out of a shounen anime.

She nodded hesitantly. "I-I thought… i-it would be g-good for you. Um… to be c-cool…"

Minerva groaned, rubbing her temples. "So let me get this straight. You—of all people—decided to make him a mission about humiliating a legendary monster and turning it into a spectacle?"

Carmilla hid her face in her hands. "I-I wanted Subaru to l-look like a h-hero…"

Subaru sighed, shaking his head. "Carmilla… I appreciate the sentiment, but do you realize what you just did? Now I have to do it. Otherwise, I'll never hear the end of it."

Daphne giggled, clearly enjoying this. "Oooh, it's perfect! Imagine the White Whale's dumb face when it gets absolutely clowned on!"

Echidna smirked, adjusting her glasses. "Well, if the mission is active, it means it's possible. That means Subaru can do it… if he's willing to push himself far enough."

Sekhmet yawned. "Meh, just don't get lazy and die."

Subaru ran a hand down his face. "Great. Just great. Now not only do I have to kill the damn thing, I have to do it with style or Carmilla will be sad, and I'll feel guilty."

Carmilla peeked out from behind her hands. "Y-You don't have to…"

Minerva rolled her eyes. "Oh, he has to. You know he won't be able to just ignore it now."

Subaru sighed in defeat. "Fine. We'll make it flashy. But I swear if this turns into another 69 loops situation, I'm making you rewrite the damn system."

Carmilla nodded shyly, while Daphne just kept giggling.

Pandora smiled. "Then let's make history."

Subaru sighed, staring at the board filled with strategies. "Alright, let's go over this one more time before I inevitably get thrown into some ridiculous fight choreography that'll probably end up being recorded for the ages."

Echidna tapped the board. "The White Whale is dangerous, but predictable. Its fog can erase people from existence, but we have countermeasures for that." She glanced at Pandora. "You'll be ensuring that anyone important to Subaru stays remembered, right?"

Pandora nodded gracefully. "Of course. If the Whale attempts to erase anyone's existence, I'll simply rewrite reality so that never happened."

Subaru shuddered. "That's still terrifying."

Typhon grinned. "It's cool, though! Big Brother gets to go all out without worrying about his allies disappearing!"

Sekhmet yawned. "Still, there's a problem. Even if we have counters, the Whale can still be a threat. You need to kill it fast. The longer you drag it out, the higher the chance of something unexpected happening."

Minerva crossed her arms. "Not to mention, you need to make it stylish if you want to fulfill Carmilla's mission. So no hiding in the shadows and stabbing it like a coward."

Subaru groaned. "Right, because that would be too simple."

Daphne grinned. "Hehehe, let's make it fun instead! What if you rode on top of it? Maybe rip off its horn and beat it with it?"

Subaru stared at her. "That's the most anime thing I've ever heard."

Echidna smirked. "But can you do it?"

Subaru clicked his tongue, thinking. "Tch. With the right setup? Maybe." He glanced at Able, who was still playing with Typhon. "I don't want my son seeing me struggle with this thing. So yeah, I'll go all out."

Sekhmet grinned lazily. "Then let's make it happen."

Meanwhile, in the Future

Future Subaru sat on his throne, watching through his third eye with a smirk. "Hah. That's the spirit." He glanced at the deck of cards in his hands.

One of them glowed.

"…Looks like he's getting closer." He chuckled, tapping the card. "Can't wait to see how he pulls this off."

The next day happened.

As Anastasia looked at Halibal as she spoke. "My my, I do say, it is interesting to find in Lugunica".

Halibal smirked at her, hiding the fact that this was still part of Subaru Plan. "What can I say, I wanted to know why so many people in Kararagi were being drafted, so many Mercenary, but seeing that it was about the White Whale, I gotta say, joining will be something I am in for".

Anastasia looked as she spoke. "That is great then, we really could use your help".

Halibal chuckled as he spoke in his mind. "Subaru, this plan is working, let's see if the other have an easier time or not".

Meanwhile, in the Roswaal Mansion, as Subaru was there in the Garden, a Letter came from the bird; he opened and read it before he burned it.

[Daphne then spoke in his head. "So your little group has been recruited by Anastasia as Kararagi machinery".

Pandora then spoke. "I gotta say, having The Witch's Hand Member pretend to be Kararagi Mercenary, so no one finds out about The Witch's Hang Being Involved, you are getting smarter"]

Subaru rolled his eyes as he spoke back in his mind. "I had to; the Witch's Hand is still in the grey area with the people in Lugunica; we may be taking down the witch cult, but that is the only thing that the Public knows about us. Doesn't our name is the Witch's Hand".

Subaru sighed, letting the burned letter's ashes scatter into the wind. He crossed his arms, looking at the mansion's garden. "So far, so good… but there's always a catch," he muttered.

[Echidna's voice echoed in his mind. "There's always a catch because you plan things like a gambler betting on loaded dice."]

Subaru smirked. "And yet, I keep winning, don't I?"

[Minerva's voice joined in. "Tch. I still don't like how we're relying on so many unknown factors. Even if we disguise The Witch's Hand, there's no guarantee someone won't dig too deep."]

Subaru leaned against a tree, staring up at the sky. "That's why we have contingencies. If they find out? We control the narrative. That's the whole point of making sure we handle the White Whale with style. If we do this right, we become heroes of Lugunica, not a shady organization."

[Pandora's voice carried amusement. "A hero who operates from the shadows… how fitting."]

Subaru chuckled. "Yeah, yeah. Now let's hope our 'mercenaries' don't get too much attention before the battle starts."

Meanwhile, at Crusch's Camp

Wilhelm sharpened his sword, his eyes filled with quiet determination. As he tested the edge of his blade, Ferris approached, arms crossed.

"You sure you're ready for this, Old Man?" Ferris asked, tilting his head.

Wilhelm didn't pause. "I have waited decades for this day. There is nothing more I desire than to bring down that beast."

Ferris sighed. "Well, Subaru-kun better know what he's doing. His plan's got a lot of moving parts."

Crusch approached, her expression composed. "If Subaru Natsuki says he has a plan, I trust him. He has already proven his resourcefulness many times over."

Halibel, disguised as a Kararagi mercenary, chuckled from the side. "Heh. If you knew how much he planned, you'd be even more surprised."

Crusch narrowed her eyes at him. "You speak as if you know more than you let on."

Halibel smirked. "Let's just say… I have a good eye for people who think five steps ahead."

Crusch nodded slowly. "Then let's hope Subaru's foresight is enough to ensure our victory."

With preparations underway, the stage was set. The White Whale's days were numbered.

Late that day with the Roswaal Mansion, Subaru was looking at Roswaal as he looked back at him.

"So what does your fancy book say".

Roswaal chuckles as he opens his Gosbal, as he spoke. "Near Flugle tree".

Subaru spoke in his mind. "Why does this man keep coming with important". But outside, he was calm. "Fine, but is up to you to convince the other to somehow go there, without everyone knowing you have that book, and die in the process".

Roswaal chuckles as he speaks. "Mmm~ But Subaru Kun I came die".

Subaru blinked as he spoke. "What?"

After a while, Subaru was blinking looking at a Second Roswaal, as Roswaal started to explain

"This here is Me, Homunculus flesh Puppets, that my soul will be transferred to in the event of my death; it has no souls inside of it right now, so we keep in a constant state of Euphoria to keep from Killing everyone in the Mansion".

Otto just screamed Potion at it. "WHAT!

Subaru looked at Emilia, Rem, Ram and Frederica. "You girls knew about this didn't you".

Elsa then spoke blinking as she chuckled. "And here I thought hiring me and Meili as Maid/Body Guard was the craziest thing he had done".

Subaru pinched the bridge of his nose. "Okay… so let me get this straight. You have a backup body just lying around in case you die?"

Roswaal nodded with an infuriatingly smug expression. "Mmm~ That is correct, Subaru-kun."

Otto still looked pale. "And you keep it in a constant state of euphoria so it doesn't murder us all? How is that even remotely okay?!"

Ram, standing beside Roswaal, huffed. "Master Roswaal's methods are beyond your comprehension, Barusu."

Rem, on the other hand, sighed. "I… will admit, it is unsettling, but Master Roswaal always has a plan."

Frederica folded her arms. "We did not question it, as it is ultimately his decision."

Subaru groaned. "Right. Sure. Totally normal. Just another day in the madhouse."

Elsa smirked, crossing her arms. "I have to admit, Roswaal, this is a level of insanity I hadn't seen before. Almost makes me regret not trying to kill you when I had the chance."

Meili, standing beside her sister, tilted her head. "So does this mean if we kill him, he just pops into another body?"

Subaru shook his head. "That's exactly what it means. And let's be real, it explains so much about why he's so reckless." He then turned back to Roswaal. "Okay, so you want to die at the Flugel Tree?"

Roswaal chuckled. "Mmm~ Not want to, but if it happens... at least now you know it won't be the end of me."

Subaru crossed his arms. "You do realize I'm going to have so many questions about this later, right?"

Roswaal smirked. "Of course, Subaru-kun. But for now, we have a hunt to prepare for, don't we?"

Subaru sighed. "Fine. But I swear, if I find out you have a whole army of backup Roswaals somewhere, I'm burning them."

Roswaal simply chuckled in amusement.

To be continued

Hope people like this Ch and give me power stones and enjoy