I am the Witch Cult, Archbishop of Sin representing "Pride," Natsuki Subaru!

[[]]

Massive flames ruthlessly engulfed the city.

Subaru held the girl's corpse, gently closing her eyelids.

[[]]

"This is... the royal capital!"

Reinhard looked at the scene with great surprise.

"Ah! Why is that my corpse!"

Meili looked at her own dead body in shock.

"Ah—so that's how it is..."

Elsa nodded as if she understood, a hint of sadness finally appearing in her eyes, and then said:

"Meili... really didn't meet a good big sister."

"Ah, what good big sister or not. I'm very happy following Elsa."

Meili said to Elsa.

[[]]

"Even... so."

In the scene, Subaru desperately ran towards a specific place...

What was Subaru going to do? What happened here?

Just as everyone was pondering what had happened, a somewhat miserable but familiar voice interrupted their thoughts, drawing their attention back to the screen.

"—It ends here."

That hero arrived once again.

Subaru saw the incomparably radiant Reinhardt and said:

"Reinhard van Astrea... ahh..."

It seemed clear now.

Subaru had burned down the royal capital, and Reinhardt had come to stop him.

[[]]

Reinhard's gauntleted hand clenched unconsciously, the metal creaking under his grip.

The scene before him—Subaru standing amidst the flames of the royal capital, eyes burning with determination to fight him—was a truth too cruel to deny, yet impossible to reconcile with the boy he knew.

"Subaru..."

The name left his lips like a plea, heavy with disbelief.

Subaru not only burned down the royal capital but also wanted to fight him.

"With Barusu's pathetic strength, why would he...? Hmm—"

Ram had thought that with Subaru's strength, he shouldn't be fighting Reinhardt head-on, but she guessed the reason—

"Just like Meili just now, everyone Barusu could manipulate is already dead. Even that cursed 'Return by Death' has its limits, it seems."

"Indeed... so, that includes me. It seems my revival count has run out."

Elsa said softly. Her smile was disturbingly serene, as if discussing the weather rather than her own demise.

Emilia's breath hitched.

"Why would Subaru do this...? For... me?"

Her voice trembled, hands clutching her chest. Even if it's for me, there's no need to burn down the royal capital, right?

I don't understand... I really don't understand...

If it's to burn down the royal capital for me... then...

[[]]

"It seems I don't need to introduce myself. I also can't control myself to have a heart-to-heart talk with you."

[[]]

"What am I..."

Reinhard's breath hitched—a rare, human imperfection from the flawless Sword Saint. His gloved hands trembled slightly as he stared at the projection, where a version of himself stood drenched in unnatural shadow, eyes burning with something utterly foreign: hatred.

"Oh, this is truly—amazing, the peerless 'Sword Saint' Reinhard~ is actually filled with hatred? My, my~."

Roswaal's sing-song voice sliced through the tension, his heterochromatic eyes alight with perverse delight. He fanned himself lazily, as if watching a particularly entertaining play.

[[]]

Reinhard's eyes in the scene were no longer calm but filled with passion, the passion of hatred.

"You can hate people too, 'Sword Saint'!"

"I'm also surprised. I didn't expect such emotions to exist within me."

Natsuki Subaru clapped his hands with a smile:

"Discovered a new you? Happy birthday. Happy birthday to you, Reinhardt."

"Sorry, today is not my birthday. But, it will become your Memorial Day."

[[]]

Al's helmet tilted with audible metallic creaks as he rubbed his chin, the amusement in his voice barely concealed.

"Hmm... How's lil' bro gonna handle Mr. Perfect Hero? Might be useful intel for later, haha!"

The hollow echo inside his visor made the laugh sound more ominous than cheerful.

Across from him, Reinhard sitting motionless - the very image of the heroic ideal cracking at its foundation. His cerulean eyes, usually bright with unwavering resolve, were now clouded with something unprecedented: hesitation.

"Subaru..."

The name tasted like ash on his tongue. In his mind's eye, he already saw their inevitable confrontation - the Sword Saint's blade meeting his friend's desperate fury, but then...

[[]]

"Hahaha, really. Don't make me laugh, Reinhard! 'Sword Saint'! The sword of the Kingdom! You, are you a knight protecting the Kingdom of Lugnica!? Take a good look around. Where have you protected this country!? Tell me!!"

Subaru hysterically yelled.

[[]]

"No! Look around!"

Julius' voice cut through the stunned atmosphere like a blade, his knightly composure shattered.

This scene shocked everyone completely.

The revelation struck like a physical blow. Before them, the entire Kingdom of Lugnica burned—flames licking at the sky, turning dawn into hellish twilight.

"HOW THE BLOODY HELL DID THAT BRAT MANAGE THIS!?"

Old Man Rom shouted.

"This fire... Ahh~... Such warmth."

Elsa admired the masterpiece of her beloved.

Besides the fire, there were also the wails of men and women.

It was like hell.

Ram's fingers dug into Rem's shoulder—both sisters frozen as the scent of burning wood and flesh resurrected childhood nightmares.

words were needed; the memory of their village's destruction flashed between them.

"It's just like... the demi-human... war."

Wilhelm and Old Man Rom clenched their fists.

And Reinhard—

—The Sword Saint who never faltered—

—bit through his own lip.

The coppery taste of blood grounded him as the screen showed his failure incarnate: A kingdom he swore to protect, reduced to ashes by the one person he couldn't save.

[[]]

"This is, the birthday present I give to you! A trap I prepared to kill you! Do you like this gift!?"

"To... kill me...?"

[[]]

"I... I understand."

Julius's features couldn't help but twist:

"He doesn't want to kill Reinhard... but to kill the 'Hero,' to remove his name..."

"Kill... the Hero?"

Emilia's silver eyelashes fluttered in confusion.

"Even the Sword Saint is merely human,"

Julius continued, each word laced with knightly anguish.

When he stands powerless before a kingdom reduced to ashes, when countless lives slip through his fingers... the legend of the 'hero' dies. This—"

"—is how you kill a "Hero"."

Julius, who valued the name of knight immensely, understood this pain, so his emotions fluctuated greatly at this scene.

Reinhard remained motionless.

The golden hero's head bowed slightly, his usually radiant sapphire eyes shadowed beneath lowered lashes.

For the first time in his life, the man who could wield any sword found himself defenseless against a blade aimed not at his body, but at the very meaning of his existence.

[[]]

"Do you think I tried how many times to kill you!? Do you know how many times I challenged you? Several times, dozens of times, thousands of times!"

"—"

Reinhardt in the scene didn't understand, of course he didn't understand, in this world, only Subaru knew what had happened.

[[]]

"Subaru..."

But Reinhard outside the screen could understand.

Why would Subaru say that? Thousands of deaths just to defeat me?

I... don't understand... Subaru.

"...Thousands of times..."

Rem painfully repeated Subaru's exaggerated record of his own deaths.

Death, in Subaru's eyes, was just a number, but Rem would never treat it as a number.

"Thousands of deaths... for... me...?"

Emilia wasn't moved by Subaru's great dedication, but felt very complicated, so complicated that she didn't know how to express it, but Subaru in the scene probably knew that this was wrong.

Emilia couldn't help but scratch the back of her right hand with her left hand, hoping to alleviate this discomfort.

[[]]

"So! I, will kill you from the level of a knight! Smash the exaggerated signboard of 'Sword Saint' to pieces! Trample it underfoot, defile it with spit!"

"Just for, this kind of thing."

"Just for this kind of thing!? Ahh, yes, that's right! It's just for this kind of thing that I used up the lives of everyone around me, just to drag you down to the ground!!"

[[]]

"It appears that Ram's expectations were correct."

Ram squinted her eyes slightly and gave a firm nod.

"True enough... though it's unfortunate that he can't be the one to end my life. Still, giving my life for him wouldn't be such a bad conclusion."

Elsa, feeling both sorrow and contentment, embraced this fate as her final chapter.

[[]]

"You are a hero, Reinhardt. Although I can't kill Reinhardt, I can kill the hero—this is, the way I kill you, Reinhardt!"

Both Reinhardt inside and outside the screen fell silent.

Both were shaken.

[[]]

"Ah, this is quite the headache."

Felt roughly rubbed her temples as she made her way to Reinhard's side.

"...Felt-sama? Ah—"

"That... how do I put it? The titles of 'hero' and 'Sword Saint' were just labels forced upon you by those despicable people. In short, none of this is your fault. As I recall, the kingdom has rules that prevent you from going out unless it's a special situation, right? So you're not to blame for not stepping in at the start.

And now that things have spiraled to this point, it's only natural that it's beyond your ability to fix alone.

Rom and I get overwhelmed when we're juggling too many responsibilities, so it's no surprise you feel the same in a situation like this."

Felt reached out and took Reinhard's hand, offering him comfort.

"Felt-sama... thank you."

Yes, how could I let myself be weighed down by this? I still have a duty to help Felt-sama ascend to the throne—not to mention my responsibility to eradicate all the ugliness in this world."

[[]]

Then, in the scene, Subaru dropped the pretense—

"...Why?"

[[]]

"Eh? Subaru?"

Beatrice looked at Subaru in the scene.

[[]]

"Why, are you so strong? Why, are you so strong that I have to let them all die, to reach the point where I can touch you?"

Just like when he first saw Reinhardt's strength.

Subaru cried.

[[]]

"Subaru… he wasn't originally like this."

Beatrice reflected on the resolute Subaru from this alternate world.

This Subaru had just shed the facade of pretending to be strong.

In their world, Subaru sometimes acted tough, but at least they were there to support him. However, the Subaru in this world—

He was utterly alone.

Would Subaru in their world ever secretly cry like this?

Emilia couldn't help but wonder:

"If only I could be like you… If only I could be as virtuous and capable as you, with the strength to save everyone… I… I envy you so much… I… I even hate you for it…"

"Ah, it seems that even Natsuki in this world wishes to be a good person."

Anastasia sighed softly, brushing her hair back with a wistful expression.

Now that she thought about it, when the boy first arrived in this world, he longed for immense power—but what had that desire ultimately led to?"

[[]]

"—I, want to become like you, Reinhard."

"—I, can't understand your feelings."

I... really can't understand, but...

[[]]

Reinhard, observing from outside the screen, contemplated quietly and resolved to make an effort to understand more as time went on.

Meanwhile, within the scene, Reinhard narrowed his eyes and leaned forward slightly, his body language suggesting he was preparing to take action.

"Though verbal attacks did manage to have some impact, it's still insufficient. Mr. Natsuki will likely enter the loop again and search for alternative methods—ah, no!"

Otto exclaimed in sudden realization.

[[]]

"—Is it too early to give up?"

"You are—!"

The Bowel Hunter, Elsa Granhiert, covered in blood, struck again, slashing at Reinhardt with a blade, but Reinhardt easily blocked the attack with a hand chop.

Then, the knife shattered.

[[]]

"Ah, that's wonderful! I thought Elsa had already died! But she really is completely devoted to big brother, to go this far for him. But—"

Meili was relieved to know that Elsa was still alive, yet at the same time, she couldn't shake the feeling that Elsa's fate was sealed, her tone growing somber as she trailed off.

"Elsa..."

Emilia gazed at Elsa, both within the scene and beyond the screen, her expression a mixture of emotions too complex to untangle.

[[]]

"You're really inhuman, you."

Elsa in the scene said after seeing Reinhardt's shocking behavior.

"It seems I didn't manage to die. But seeing this situation, I want to die again."

"Elsa..."

"Meili... is that so, already dead. This little sister really didn't meet a good big sister."

Elsa, inside and outside the screen, said the same thing.

[[]]

"Ah, I've already said it. I'm truly happy to follow Elsa."

Though Elsa couldn't hear her on the screen, Meili responded all the same.

"Ah, this is really, just like then."

Garfiel recalled the day he had first become Subaru's subordinate and went to the mansion to support him.

He didn't know how many times Elsa had been brought back to life, but in the end, he had finally succeeded in killing her."

[[]]

"It seems I have to add revenge for killing my sister. Can you dance with me?"

"You don't have any weapons. And don't you know who you're protecting right now?"

[[]]

I just can't comprehend it...

Another thing I don't understand.

Objectively speaking, the Bowel Hunter at this moment shouldn't be able to defeat me… so why is she still persisting with her attacks?

Reinhard thought deeply, his brow furrowed in confusion.

[[]]

"I don't really like these complicated things. I only do what I want to do. The person behind me can always let me do what I want to do. So, he is a VIP."

Elsa responded.

[[]]

If it were me, I would probably do the same.

The two Rems looked at Elsa, who was planning to fight to the death, with understanding in their blue eyes.

[[]]

"This time, it must be the last chance. I'm very happy. Really, it's great."

"Elsa! I...!"

Subaru lamented towards Elsa.

[[]]

"Eh, no way? Elsa is thinking of?!"

Emilia covered her mouth, unable to bear to look at the next scene—

[[]]

"Farewell."

Elsa looked back at Subaru one last time, then rushed towards Reinhard.

[[]]

"Elsa—!"

Meili, outside the screen, couldn't help but shout in pain.

"It seems—this is the result. Although I regret that he didn't kill me, it's still okay."

Elsa said this.

[[]]

"—Damn it!"

Subaru took advantage of Elsa's stalling time and quickly ran in another direction.

Just as Subaru was running—

"You are..."

[[]]

"Guiltylowe!"

Otto shouted.

"Little Kiel! Really, a good boy."

Meili praised him with a wry smile.

[[]]

"You... Meili... is already dead..."

With the sacrifice of Elsa, Meili, Guiltylowe, and others. Exchanging for Subaru's escape.

[[]]

"Ah, how should I put it... it's kind of touching, really. It's just that—the bonds between everyone, or something like that."

Otto scratched his head, a sheepish smile forming on his face.

... ...

[[]]

"It ends here, villain."

[[]]

"Eh! It's me!"

Emilia was utterly astonished.

But, yes, in this situation, I suppose I should step forward to help.

[[]]

"—Emilia."

"You know me?"

Emilia outside the screen was a little nervous, in the eyes of herself in this world, this was the first time she had met Subaru.

How would I treat Subaru?

How would Subaru face me?

Emilia looked at Subaru, smiling at her.

Emilia asks: "What's so strange about that?"

"No, sorry. How should I say it? I feel so happy. You that... that what, haven't changed at all. It feels like I've been rewarded."

"What... do you mean? Where did you and I?"

Sure enough, that me hasn't met Subaru.

Even though we haven't met even once, Subaru actually...

Do I really deserve Subaru to do this?

"You are..."

"Lia, no, don't seriously listen to what he says."

"—Is Puck, huh."

[[]]

"As I expected, I haven't met or come to know Subaru either, but Subaru has always kept me in his memories."

Puck gazed at his counterpart from another world, who still held such deep concern for his daughter.

[[]]

"Don't call my name casually. So, you've made such a big mess, what are you going to do to clean it up?"

"It will be cleaned up. Just as I expected... anyway, there's nowhere to escape."

"—Hmm? You're really straightforward; how suspicious."

[[]]

"Subaru said... it will be cleaned up."

Julius observed the conversation between Subaru and Puck within the scene, his expression growing contemplative.

"It will be cleaned up,"

He murmured. With no way for Subaru to escape, the place of reckoning, the final stage for the curtain call, was clear—here.

"It seems Subaru's wish is on the verge of being fulfilled—I truly envy him."

Roswaal spoke, his tone layered with both admiration and a tinge of wistfulness.

[[]]

Subaru unbuttoned his gray-green tracksuit, revealing a black short-sleeved shirt:

"From now on, please treat what I say as the ravings of a madman, so forget it after listening."

[[]]

"Madman... yes, what's the difference between the current Subaru and a madman... no, he is a madman, just like me."

Roswaal admired Subaru with a crazed smile.

[[]]

"Eh?"

Emilia in the scene was deeply puzzled.

Of course, she was puzzled; after all, she neither knew what Subaru had done for her nor knew Subaru as a person.

[[]]

"Ah, I think I get the gist of it. Lil'bro is planning to push all the credit for this onto the half elf-sama, huh? This is really... is that what they call 'a heavy burden'? That half elf-sama looks incredibly stressed right now."

Al glanced at Emilia, who was watching from outside the screen.

Emilia's expression was a mixture of emotions; she seemed to want to say something but hesitated, her breath catching slightly as she held back.

[[]]

"The fire that burned the royal capital was set by me. And not only the royal capital but the whole country is now in this sea of fire; no one can stop it, including the 'Sword Saint.' Reinhardt's name will be swept away."

"Burned the whole country? You... you're planning to destroy this country?"

"No, that's not it. The reason I did this is because this is the only way to let you become king."

[[]]

"Subaru!"

Emilia anxiously clawed at her slender arms, tears welling up in her eyes. Did he really go through all of this… just for my sake?

"Ah, as expected, half elf-sama couldn't handle this kind of emotional weight and could only resort to this method to ease the discomfort. Lil Bro's performance is truly overwhelming, leaving half-elf-sama breathless and only adding to the pressure."

Al thought to himself.

"Just as I thought—Subaru... no, Accomplice-sensei is going to—"

[[]]

"The flames of destruction that will push this nation to ruin—the one who ignited this calamity wasn't defeated by Reinhardt, nor by the Divine Dragon, but by you. None of the other royal candidates could ever achieve a feat as great as this."

"You are the hero who shattered the stagnation of this world after four hundred years, vanquished all the Archbishops of Sin, and saved this world!"

"This… how could that be possible…? What… what are you saying!? Stop it! I don't understand any of this at all! What are you talking about?! I don't… I don't understand!! You're lying, lying, lying! Because… I… why… why are you doing this for me…?"

Emilia sobs uncontrollably within the scene.

[[]]

"Why do you have to go this far for my sake... right..."

Forcibly assigning merits to Emilia that aren't hers, without considering her feelings, and making her cry...

"Is this truly what you desire... Subaru?"

Beatrice spoke with a pained voice.

"I don't want it, I don't want any of this! I just want the Subaru I originally knew! This Subaru is too strange!!"

Emilia shook her head violently, her hair whipping around as tears flew back and forth, scattering to both sides.

[[]]

"—Look at me, Emilia. Look at me, hate me, remember me."

Subaru opened his arms and walked towards Emilia step by step—

Then, he put his left hand on his right clavicle and bowed—

"I am the Witch Cult, Archbishop of Sin representing 'Pride,' Natsuki Subaru! I am the one who burned the world, shook the country, killed the hero, and then—"

Subaru rushed towards Emilia with all his strength.

From the moment Subaru started announcing his name, everyone suddenly understood.

Currently, only the Archbishop of Pride is absent among the Archbishops of Sin. Emilia is only one Pride away from eliminating all the Archbishops of Sin, so he needs to be killed by Emilia.

[[]]

"Archbishop of Pride...?"

Wilhelm murmured softly, his voice tinged with uncertainty and quiet contemplation.

[[]]

"I am the one who burned the world, shook the country, killed the Hero, and then—"

[[]]

"Subaru! No!!"

Emilia, watching from outside the screen, screamed and wept, but alas, Subaru couldn't hear her cries.

[[]]

"—The man who was killed by you."

Subaru's heart was pierced by the ice pillar Emilia had released.

[[]]

"No!!"

The very thing she had feared the most had come to pass.

Even though this tragedy had never occurred in the world she knew.

[[]]

"Why..."

Emilia was extremely puzzled, She wanted to ask the reason before Subaru's flame of life was extinguished.

"..."

[[]]

"Subaru?"

Emilia, outside the screen, with tears streaming down her face, gazed blankly at Subaru with a heart full of sorrow and confusion.

[[]]

"—I love you."

As the words fell, the screen gradually darkened...

"So, the Pride IF is officially over. Next is the main line."