2

A clown sat in his study happily humming. All of the previous events followed his gospel.

[ Soon teacher I shall meeet you agaiin.] The Margrave thought joyously.

[Natsuki Subaru must have finished Sloth subjugation by now. Truly to think that worthless boy rewind would be this powerful. Ah well no need to fear, his only worth lays in his power, manipulating him would be a given.]

A wave of power crashed his thought train, the world shuddered for a Heretic God descended.

[ Damn it why now?! When Everything was going so well ]

Death descended upon this World only to be slain.

Natsuki Subaru became a Campione.

[The situation can still be salvaged. I still have both the puppet and Rem in my grasp using his feelings for those two I can still manipulate him.]

A light suddenly shined within the [Book of wisdom].

[ Teacher heard my plea and came to my aid, how magnificent] with renovated hope Roswaal strode toward his Gospel eager to know his Teacher's instruction.

[ Let's see, Impossible! Why are the pages blank] In a panic he quickly turned the page and the whole book was blank. One cannot chain a Campione the future predicted by the Gospel was shattered upon Subaru's ascension.

[ All my work is gone, 400 years of sacrifice lost. Everything is over. I shall never see the Teacher again.] Roswaal thought despair overwhelmed him. His life work was destroyed before his life; his determination burned out upon witnessing the empty book, only an empty husk was left.

Subaru finished eating, he was alone save for Beatrice he had yet to encounter any resident of the mansion.

[ Roswaal isn't here, hah damn it. At least Beako explained the situation to me. Well no matter let's return]

"Hey Beako, I want to try something, let's go into the forest," Subaru spoke while facing his partner.

" What does Betty's Subaru want to try I suppose ?" She asked, distracted.

" I want to try the authority thingy. If I want to be prepared I must learn to summon them." Subaru answered promptly.

Both made their way towards the forest. Upon arriving in a clearing far away from the mansion both stopped.

Subaru turned toward Beatrice.

" I have no idea what I'm supposed to do? Any idea Beako?" He asked his partner.

" In fact, Betty's Subaru should just concentrate deeply and he'll discover his authority."

" Only one ?"

" Generally upon killing a God a Campione usurps one authority in rare cases they get more than one, I suppose."

" I see, well it's time to meditate I guess."

[Well now let's see. Feel Subaru feel.]

After a few minutes of concentrating, Subaru felt a power rising. The knowledge of the authorities he possessed jumping to his mind.

" Yes! I finally got it" he yelled excitedly.

" Betty's Subaru did well I suppose."

" Guess what Beako, I got not one but two authorities! I have [Death's shroud] and [ Dominion of Life]" Subaru told her.

" That's impressive what can they do I suppose ?" The blonde asked him.

"[ Dominion of life] this gives me the ability to impose or undo death used at its maximum it generates a one-hit kill attack. It got a cooldown of one week thought

[ Death Shroud] allows me to hide my presence from all that lives."

Subaru answered puzzled by something he asked his companion.

" By the way Beako the long chant is necessary or what? The other spells I heard were not that long."

" An authority is far more potent than mortal magic, the chant reflects it and is necessary I suppose. In fact, these two authorities are impressive for your first kill." Beako answered

" Haha, I got lucky this time." [ That must be the luckiest I got since coming in this world] Subaru thought.

Unknown to him it was his high compatibility with death, as someone who died numerous times, that granted him two authorities.

" I want to try Dominion of life a bit but a week cooldown that's a bit too much"

" Betty's Subaru could practice mortal magic, your gate is now healed I suppose." The loli declared.

" You're right, let's try now! " Subaru perked up.

After a few hours spent practicing magic with Beatrice, Subaru made his way to the dining room.

Once again only his companion accompanied him.

After a hearty meal, Subaru went to his room to sleep.

Subaru thought about the past

[ Many things don't add up like Roswal always leaving before an attack happens, the fact that no guard guards the village. The mansion has the twins and Beako, I guess that's enough. When Rem died from the curse he was calm like he excepted it.] [ From the beginning Roswal was strange his get-up and disastrous makeup nonwistanding]

Subaru was deep in thought, his situation seeming more and more strange.

[ Ah no choice, I'll speak to Ros-chi tomorrow. For now, let's sleep.]

Subaru changed his cloth and was going to sleep before a knock on the door interrupted him.

" Yes, who is it? "

" It's Betty I suppose."

" Beatrice, what are you doing there ?"

Beatrice stood before him wearing a nightgown with her hair down, she looked embarrassed before gathering herself. She spoke up.

" Subaru is Betty's contractor it's normal for them to not be separated Betty will sleep with Subaru for now I suppose." The loli declared face red from shame.

[ Ehe ] Subaru thought in shock before looking at the spirit. Her eyes were begging him to accept. She was worried that upon waking up her contract would be nothing but a dream. She didn't wish to go back to those days of loneliness ever again.

After a while, Subaru spoke.

" Come here then Beako the bed is wide enough for both of us." He gestured to the space on the bed.

Beatrice smiled in relief and made her way toward her contractor. She jumped on the bed and started hugging him.

" Good night Beako " Subaru smiled softly.

" Good night Subaru." She answered her smile rivaling the sun.

The pair fell asleep in each other's arms.

[ Yosh! Today I'm going to get answers from Ros-chi] Subaru, though determined while pumping his fists.

" What is Betty's Subaru thinking about I suppose? Beatrice asked, surprised by her contractor pose.

" I'll finally get an answer from Roswaal Today!" Subaru declared.

" Does Subaru's Betty need to come with you, I suppose ?" The Great Spirit asked concerned.

" No need Beako, It will be quick."

" Fine Betty will wait for you in the Library I suppose." The loli declared turning to make her way toward her room.

" Thanks, Beako"

Subaru made his way toward Roswal's study.

Roswaal sat in his study last night events hollowed him; he no longer had the will to move. A knock interrupted his thought. He did not answer for nothing mattered anymore.

Subaru knocked many times on the door he was getting tired of receiving no answer.

After a while, he pressed the doorknob the door was opened.

Subaru entered and looked around the room annoyed. He found Roswal sitting on his seat, his face betraying no emotion.

" Why didn't you answer ?"

Roswaal's mind was going at miles per minute.

[ Nothing matters anymore, I will never reunite with my teacher. It's better to die at the hands of someone I wronged at least.] Light shined in Roswaal eyes.

" Subaru-kun I knew of your Rewind since the beginning. I sent Elsa to kill Emilia for you to meet her and bring you back. I knew of Sloth attack and purposely left. All thanks to this single book " Roswaal declared while showing a black book to Subaru bewildered face.

" A gospel ?! You were a witch cultist! " Subaru yelled in shock.

" No the [Book of wisdom] is vastly superior to the Gospel. This book was created by my teacher, the Witch of Greed Echidna after all" Roswal enounced slowly.

" You knew ...What ... Why are telling me this now ? You..." Subaru asked, shocked by the truth revealed before his eyes.

" It doesn't matter anymore. Nothing does anymore." Roswaal declared his tone filled with despair.

" It doesn't matter you ... YOU! How dare you !" Subaru yelled fury clouding his mind.

Roswaal thought derisively that he deserved it. He was currently being crushed by a Campione wrath.

[ How amusing what an amazing way to go ] the clown thought at last.

His legs snapped under the pressure, the mansion trembled under the God slayer's wrath.

" Was it a game to you ?! All I suffered under your roof, I died ! I died damn it because of your machination! My life was worth so little in your eyes!" Subaru yelled furiously. He didn't notice the effect his wrath had on his surrounding.

Space bends around him the entire focus of his rage was on the ground he could no longer stand his bones crushed under the pressure.

" You damn Clown you could have spared them so much pain had you decided to do your damn job! All you did was hide and let others do your work and for what! To follow a damned book, you useless Witch cultist! " Subaru yelled his rage fuelling the pressure around him.

Beatrice was concerned she left her contractor to talk with the margrave. Yet from her spot in the Library, she could feel the mansion trembling.

She tried to connect her door to Roswal's study in vain. The pressure around the study stopped her efforts.

She thought about the only one thing left to do: connect her door to Subaru's room.

She jumped from her seat and ran toward the study.

[ Please let Betty arrive in time.]

Around the mansion, the resident's lives were stopped for none could move or breathe.

Primal fear filled their mind advising them to hide, make themselves small to avoid the wrath of a vastly superior being.

Emilia shook as she was on the ground unmoving she didn't understand what was happening. [ What's that feeling a God descending ?! No, I should have felt him descending before the pressure hit the mansion. That means that is a Campione doing. ] Fear clouded her mind. [Only Subaru is here but that's impossible Subaru is a good boy! Impossible, impossible, impossible, impossible.]

She laid on the ground dumbfounded her mind glitching.

Elsewhere a blue-haired oni was shaking her instinct as an oni urging her to bow, to hide from this presence, and yet her heart pleaded to her, to go help her hero. [ Subaru-kun wouldn't do that without any reason something happened, he must need help.!] Her mind desperately cried, her body stood unmoving.

Ram laid on the ground being the weakest physically, she could not stand the pressure and fainted.

All around the Mathers territory, the Campione's wrath was felt.

Beatrice burst into the study in a panic.

" Subaru ...SUBARU YOU MUST CALM DOWN, I SUPPOSE! " Beatrice yelled desperately.

With an impressive jump, she caught her contractor in her arms in a bid to wake him up.

Subaru was still furious, his mind not computing. Suddenly he felt small hands reaching to him.

Turning his head he saw his Beako crying this woke him from his stupor.

" Beatrice ? ... You what's wrong ?" Subaru asked shook.

" Subaru must calm down, look around you I suppose! " Beatrice declared.

Slowly Subaru turned his head. The study was trashed; it looked like the aftermath of a hurricane passage.

" I... I did that?" Subaru asked no one in particular, dazed.

" Betty's Subaru should follow his partner, I suppose." Beatrice declared while extending her hand to Subaru.

Subaru took her hand.

The pair disappeared into the Forbidden Library.

" He knew, he knew from the beginning Beako he manipulated me since the beginning.!" Subaru cried tears leaking from his eyes. He was sitting on the ground using the Library shelves as support.

Beatrice did not know how to comfort her partner; she hugged him slowly, tracing circles on his back.

Both stayed in this position for a long time.

" Beatrice I must leave this place. I can't stay here any longer. Will you come with me? " Subaru asked

" Of course Subaru's Betty will always follow him, I suppose!" The Great spirit declared determinedly.

After his disastrous meeting with Roswaal, Subaru made preparations to leave the mansion.

All its inhabitants except Beatrice avoided him without a doubt still scarred by his loss of temper. In the forest, he was considering his option.

[ I have Pastrache and the villager from Alram gave me a wagon. It should be enough. With the wages, I saved I can buy supplies from the village. Thought they were rather eager to just give me stuff.] Subaru thought amused by the villagers' actions.

The resident of Alram treated Subaru with respect and kindness even before his ascension. Their attitude didn't change much they were even more respectful of him. To them, he could do no wrong.

" Hey, Beako you said that the Forbidden Library can be tied to wherever you want right? "Subaru asked his twin-tailed companion.

" In fact, Betty can tie the Library in the wagon like Subaru is thinking, I suppose," Betty answered thoughtfully.

Subaru took her in his arms and started twirling her.

" Beako is amazing, truly I couldn't have asked for a better companion !". He exclaimed with stars in his eyes.

[ With this we don't need to go to the inn. Simply tying the Library to the wagon saves us a lot of trouble. We can sleep in a dry-covered place!] Subaru thought happily.

After twirling her a little more he put her down.

" Thanks a lot, Beako" He added.

" Betty is an Amazing spirit, it's nothing I suppose," Betty answered, blushing happily from her contractor's praises.

A shadow approached the pair. Subaru recognized this person, it was Rem.

There she stood before him, the one who brought him to his lowest, the one who exalted him to his highest point.

The one who destroyed his trust and painfully killed him. The one who died for him.

The only one who believed him when no one did.

[Rem] was looking at him with regret and sorrow.

He was leaving her behind and she knew it.

He did not know what to think [ How does one forgive murder? How can I forgive her for killing me? How can I thank her for dying to save me?]

" Subaru-sama no Subaru-kun here take that with you at least" Rem spoke determinedly while handing a pouch to Subaru.

"What is in there Rem?"Subaru asked, receiving the pouch it was quite heavy

" That is the reward for slaying the White whale"

" There was a reward for it ?!" Subaru exclaimed in surprise.

" Indeed this beast roamed the World for centuries and many wished for its death. As such a heavy bounty was placed on it." Rem answered.

" Heavy you say, huh those are holy gold coins!" Subaru yelled, holding a bag filled to the brim with holy gold coin.

" Indeed there are at least 2000 holy gold coins, it should be enough for Subaru-kun to travel for a while." Rem answered with renewed vigor.

" But why did they send us a reward? I thought that it wasn't included in our deal with Crush right?"

" Subaru-sama played a central role in slaying this beast. It is normal for him to receive this reward." Rem answered.

Translation they were originally going to deny him the reward due to him being the follower of a half-elf , after his ascension they sent him the full sum out of fear.

Rem was looking at Subaru with tears in her eyes. Her hero was leaving her and there was nothing she could do. For a moment she thought selfishly that she should have run away with him when he asked.

[ Ah really how awkward I cannot stay here any longer. Still, it's Rem that's why...I can't leave her like that and she deserves an answer at least.]

" Rem I since I came in this World I was only manipulated by those surrounding me I had an awful time. Still, you truly marked my life." Subaru started[ For the better and the worst.]

" That's why Rem I will be back when I reach the answer I seek! I swear I will be back for you!" Subaru exclaimed while grasping her shoulder, his slanted eyes shining with determination.

The blue-haired maid was speechless tears falling from her eyes. Perhaps her hero wasn't going to abandon her.

" Subaru-kun Rem loves you from the bottom of her heart! Rem will wait for Subaru-kun she swears, that's why please come back for Rem!"

Rem wept those words coming from the depth of her heart.

Subaru knew these words to be true, he was tearing up.

[ I don't know if I'm making the right choice and yet for now I wish to be free.] Still, he couldn't give up on Rem this girl so different from the first iteration he met. Without her, he would not have found the courage to stand up.

In the afternoon a wagon led by a familiar earth dragon. Subaru and Beatrice left Roswal's mansion. A blue-haired maid alone wished them safe travel.

A twin-tailed nun sat in a carriage lost in thought.

On the road, she reminisced.

[" Do you understand, meat bag? I need you to become a companion of the third Campione no matter what. Give yourself to him if you must. Your talents as a Hime Miko should spike his interest at least." The monster spoke while holding her face slowly caressing her cheek, fear clouded her mind.

"For the duration of this mission I will release your restriction, you will be able to eat by yourself. No one will supervise you but don't get ahead of yourself meat bag you will never escape from me." ]

Mama's words haunted her.

She was scared, to approach a Campione to spy on him was suicide.

Yet hope burned within her.

Perhaps she'll finally earn her freedom. For now, she must prepare herself to face a God slayer.

Her name was Melty of the three eye tribe and today she was still trapped.

[Once she was whole, now her days of glory long behind her.

Nine sins all hers in the past now fragmented in the hands of worthless mortals.

All that was left of her was her vainglory.

It should have been easy, recovering her pieces should have been a child's play. And yet now Pride and Sloth are being by a Campione of all things. ]

She thought while gritting her teeth.

[ No matter Greed, Lust, Gluttony, Melancholy, and Wrath already belong to her, her beloved archbishops. Envy sealed in a bid to restrain her.] She smiled in Joy.

[Only the Campione is a troublesome one. Had she been whole crushing that usurper would have been a matter of seconds. Summoning another to take care of him is a possibility. For now, let's observe with little luck that one won't last long. Campione always fall in battle before a God or one of their kin.] The thought brings joy to her.

Soon she shall be whole again a Fallen Goddess no more.