Chapter 11: Ep 9 Director's Cut

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As soon as the screen went dark, the crowd of disturbed watchers retreated into separate corners and rooms to rest and reflect.

Everybody was surprised by the sight of Emilia standing up with the sleeping Subaru in her arms as if he was a mere stuffed bear she was carrying with her elven strength.

The princess had a look of pure sadness as she quickly ran to the room resigned for herself and locked the door, keeping the boy to herself as she cried tears of pain and guilt while hugging him.

Beatrice wiped away her tears and sniffled loudly as the image of both her old friend and Subaru's suffering and anger hurt and tore her soul apart.

Why did she have to see him die so many times? Why is it that this world can't stop hurting her contractor?

"Bubby…. " Beatrice's sadness overwhelmed her at the scene of her Subaru's death at the hands of her brother.

The spirit girl curled up and cried as her conflicting feelings for her brother and contractor clashed and made her feel nothing but confusion and pain.

A blue haired maid sat beside the spirit with tearfilled eyes staring at the wide screen in horror. What she just witnessed was beyond nightmarish. It was hell.

"Subaru-kun… Subaru-kun…" Rem held her head and closed her eyes in sadness and guilt at everything her hero went through.

Ram just couldn't help but feel sympathy for the boy. She would've thought him pathetic and cowardly for scarring himself when he has so many that love and support him. But after that last death…

The older sister clenched her hands in pure anger and sadness as she remembered what the man did to her little sister. She wasn't hot headed to forget that the disgusting creature will be dealt with but she couldn't help but want to be there when it happens so she would make it more… Let's just say she wanted her own try at killing the damn monster.

Garfiel quickly ran into his room and shut the door. The blonde boy didn't show any emotion on his face… His sister noticed this and knew that her brother needed her.

Frederica slowly shook her head from Subaru's last viewing and kissed the sleeping Petra on the forehead before standing and slowly moving toward her brother's room.

Otto didn't say anything as he continued to stare at the screen with emotionless and with dried tears flowing down his cheeks. The memory of Subaru's mind broken screams replayed in his head as an homage to his failure as a friend. He was nothing but a useless merchant.

He couldn't ever deal with pain like Subaru's.

'Who the hell am I to judge if Subaru harmed himself?'

Otto cried in desperate agony as he replayed the image of every body Subaru came across.

'I have no right to criticize or even force him to ask for anyone's help. I'm a useless, good for nothing coward. On what grounds do I get to call Subaru my friend while he suffers in silence and goes through these trials time and time again? How can I ever help him with something so scary?'

The merchant glared through his tearfilled eyes at the floor while gritting his teeth in anger and frustration at his weakness and pathetic self's incompetence.

He couldn't help Subaru no matter what he tried… Because Otto Swan was a coward the would've ran away from the first death. He had no right to try to understand what Subaru had been through.

With that thought in his head, Otto completely broke down into a fit of sobs.

Yellow eyes that were filled with pain and anger slowly moved from the screen and towards the gray mop of hair belonging to Otto.

Julius slowly wiped the few tear droplets that were shed and narrowed his eyes towards the crying merchant.

The knight's heart was filled with so much pain and misery right now, he could feel himself cracking each time he replayed the entire viewing and Subaru's last two loops in his head on his hatred for the incompetent self he called Julius The Greatest Knight.

"Goddamn… It." Julius gritted his teeth while slowly rising from his seat. The disturbed and hurting Knight walked toward the crying merchant sitting at the front.

"I don't like this! I don't like this at all!" Mimi was crying into her brother's arms as Tivey hugged her and cried tears of his own.

"Wh-What the fuck was that?!" A little blonde girl shouted in anger as she stared at the black screen with wide horrified eyes that were leaking tears of painand anguish for her friend.

"That wasn't even fair to Big bro! All of those villagers, Emilia, and Rem, none of them deserved all of that! And why is that stupid cat killing Big bro in such a demented way?! I will kill him! And I will kill that green bastard too! They won't get away with this!" Felt shouted at the top of her lungs while her tears continued to flow endlessly as she remembered every single moment from the loop and how Subaru's psych was completely broken.

She breathed in and out heavily as she cried in sadness at the pain she had witnessed him go through alone.

"B-Big bro…"

The little blonde held her head in pain, needing a moment to herself.

The redheaded young man beside her was just staring at the screen while remembering all of the bodies and the suffering Subaru had to go through.

Reinhard never felt more incompetent and weak in so long… "I'm so sorry…" He whispered as his wide aghast eyes kept staring at the screen while the images of blood and bodies played in his mind.

The memories were he failed to be a hero and a friend… played again and again in his head.

He couldn't even shed tears for them and the suffering his friend went through.

Guess he was a failure as a human being as well.

"I'm sorry…" He whispered once again to the dead that he couldn't save or help.


"That was disgusting." A fiery headed woman growled while fanning herself and looking away from the screen.

"You don't want to watch anymore, princess?" A helmeted young man asked her with hope in his tone.

"Hmph! Don't be ridiculous! I'm quite hooked and entertained by this boy's selfish being, it's just to vulgar sometimes." Priscilla snorted and smirked behind her fan while remembering certain parts she had liked in the last viewing.

Al slumped his shoulders defeatedly and sighed. "Goddamn it! I didn't want to see anything else out of this kid's story." He cursed and turned away from his mistress.


"So what did you think about that?"

Crusch's haunted eyes narrowed and changed into an expression of darkness. "I won't be telling the truth if I didn't say how much I want to cut something or someone down at this moment in time."

The green haired duchess gritted her teeth and clenched her fists as she berated herself for letting the boy leave her mansion unguarded like that. She should really work on her ethics and tactics to deal with her perceived enemies.

"The way Natsuki-sama just broke… It was ugly and unbecoming… I'll not let that boy hurt himself by suffering like that." The noble lady's heart throbbed in pain for the boy she fell for and how many scars she had seen on his sleeves.

A boy from another world, facing nothing but his closest ones' deaths and hatred while dying most horrible deaths.

Anastasia sighed and nodded her head while rubbing her fox scarf in thought.

She couldn't really use anything she saw in the last viewing to her advantage and she was completely put off and disgusted by the cultist and his doings.

The tears in her eyes were not for a certain black-haired boy's pain and agony.

She was not crying because of her sadness for a boy that was in love with another rival.

She wasn't.

Anastasia's face remained on a scowl, however.

One she had ever since she saw the boy's scars.


*Knock * *Knock *

"Leave."

"It's me, Garf."

"I said I don't want anyone 'ere!"

Whom ever it was standing outside the door either was deaf or they just ignored Garfiel's shouts as they opened the door and slowly looked in.

A tall blonde maid frowned sympathetically at the sight of the trembling boy huddled in the corner with his arms around his knees and his face contorted into a crazed glare with tears running down his emerald eyes.

He no longer resembled the proud rugged warrior he always portrayed himself as.

Just a scared little ki-

"Get the 'ell outa here! I told you I don't want anyone in my room!" The boy shouted hoarsely at his big sister while glaring furiously at her.

He sounded tired and weak.

"You've been crying for a while…"

The boy looked to the side with a grunt. "Thanks for the assessment Miss obvious."

The boy looked so angry and confused. He hugged himself as if he was alone and scared.

Frederica slowly trotted up to him until she was right infront of him.

"If they need me ta come and watch, I'll be there in a sec. Just get out… I need a minute." The blonde warrior whispered in a rough tone while closing his eyes and facing away from his observing sister.

Frederica's heart clenched tightly at the sight of her brother. Whimpering and despairing in place.

She slowly knelt down to face him. When he slowly looked up she… hugged him.

"Shhhh~ It's okay, Garf… It's all alright…"

The blonde boy could only close his eyes tightly and tremble in his sister's arms. He just kept on hugging her and weeping silently into her shoulder.

Frederica whispered sweet nothings into his ears while rubbing his back softly, eyes filled with sadness and warmth.

"Talk to me, Garf." The maid whispered while rubbing her brother's back softly.

The boy sucked in a breath through his sobs and spoke in a broken quiet tone as if he had just came out of a cave with no water on him for days.

"I… Ghk! I didn't want that to happen to Cap'n! I could've 'elped!"

Frederica tapped her brother's back as he wailed and cried his grieving.

"All I could do was watch. I could've definitely saved those villagers and Rem, oh Sis, Rem! I wanted to kill that bastard I wanted to make him pay."

Garf choked while holding on to his sister tightly. Shivering and growling hoarsely as he remembered the green monster twisting and killing the maid.

Frederica teared up a bit herself. She couldn't help but feel like she had failed her brother. She knew he was too young a child to watch that horror. She could barely keep her breathing at bay as her eyes watered at the memory of the Arlam massacre and her peers' deaths especially the horrifying way, Rem was…

It was just too much to remember.

But one thing was for sure, she felt nothing short of fear and disgust towards the man that had done all of this to her domain's residents.

"Subaru-sama managed to take care of him, Garf. You don't have to worry sweet little brother. He saved them."

Garfiel only sobbed into his sister's arm.

"He looked so angry, sis. He couldn't even move! I don't want to see that scary look on 'em! I wanted to see the awesome badass Cap'n that saved me-"

Frederica nodded her head and rubbed his back softly. She understood that her brother had nothing but upmost loyalty for Subaru. To him, Subaru was nothing short of a legend straight out of a fairy tail.

Even though he was weak, the boy was brave and reliable were it counted, loyal and generous, loving and compassionate. Things Garf respected and desired in heroes ever since he learned how to read stories.

But now, he was forced to see his Cap'n fail time and time again. The blonde boy was heartbroken that the hero he looked up towards was just as lost and confused in this world as Garf himself was.

"He was supposed to be amazin', I didn't want to see him die again! But that damn cat-"

Frederica winced and hugged him tighter as she tried to keep her own tears in.

The sight of the boy's head rolling off his body as the entire world froze was truly terrifying. It made her shiver in place. She honestly couldn't figure out which one of them was shivering more.

It was daunting.

"He wasn't supposed to die." Garf choked out sounding defeated.

"He's not supposed to hurt himself like that." The boy softly whimpered more as he remembered the sight of his Captain's scarred hands.

Frederica closed her eyes and let her tears stream down her brother's hair.

"He's… He shouldn't go through such pain, DAMN IT!" The boy howled as he hugged his sister tighter in despair for his hero and brother.


"So, I'm supposed to believe that you have nothing to say about what was shown."

Otto slowly looked up at the knight standing infront of him, his expression empty and confused.

"I don't get what you're saying, Julius-san."

The elegant knight narrowed his eyes at the gray haired boy.

"Are you telling me that you're not blaming yourself for not helping Subaru Natsuki?" Julius asked sternly.

Otto's desolate eyes pointed down as he expressionlessly muttered his answer. "Of course, I am. How could I not? I let him hurt himself like that while I was living in the same building as him."

"You didn't know of what he was doing."

"Doesn't mean I shouldn't have noticed."

"He was good at hiding his scars."

"What are you trying to do here?" Otto finally looked up and stared at Julius with anger clear in his eyes. The tears were visible at the corners of his glaring optics.

The knight looked at Otto with a stern expression. "I'm trying to make you see what I couldn't. What you made me see just then before this one started."

"What's that?!" The angry merchant shouted into Julius's face.

For the first time, Julius's eyes filled with despair and unequal compassion for Otto.

"You're not facing this guilt alone!"

The merchant could only look at the unknightly Julius with shock.

"Everyone needs a bit of time before we see what more wrongs and horrors Subaru faced without any of us helping or knowing of them. He may as well have died a hundred more times because of us."

Otto gritted his teeth and looked down with a few tears flowing down at the memory of his brother's head flying off in a pile of snow.

"But that doesn't mean we must give up on trying to help him."

Otto looked at Julius with face of total defeat.

"What's the point?"

Julius quickly grabbed Otto by his collar and stared him in the eye.

Otto gave an empty defeated stare.

"I dare you to explain." The knight warned in a threatening tone.

"I mean he's been through all of that… He has already seen horrors we could never imagine and dealt with them on his own. He died and maybe even seen us all die with him as well."

Otto's eyes suddenly turned furious and glared straight back into Julius's own.

"Help him with what, Julius-san? You're the knight that was supposed to be the greatest in our kingdom, right? Where were you then?"

"...Ghk!" Julius gripped Otto's collar tightly as his composure began disappearing.

"All those kids and all these deaths, you couldn't stop them. Those cultists would've been running around free of any consequence for their crimes had it not been for Subaru."

As Julius trembled at his incompetence being called out, Otto slowly held the knight by his own collar and glared hauntingly into his eyes.

"If Natsuki Subaru already took care of the problem before you could, what more could you or I ever do to help him?"

The despair ridden merchant extended his arms wide and shouted his rage into Julius's face.

"What can any of us do to help him?! We don't even know what death feels lik-"

*SMACK! *

"Julius!"

"This doesn't concern you Reinhard, please don't get involved."

"You just hit a civilian." The redhead shook his head in disappointment at his friend.

Julius simply snorted and waved his hair elegantly as he got some composure back. "Hmph! A civilian that had already assaulted a royal knight from before. Consider it payback."

Otto looked up from his place on the ground and glared at the knight while rubbing his cheeks.

Julius tightened his fist and looked down at the boy with yellow determined eyes narrowed.

"You won't get away with calling me out on my misgivings in regards to knight Natsuki, "

Reinhard's eyes widened in shock as he heard his colleague speak of Subaru with the title of a knight.

"You should practice what you preach. How could you lose faith and give up on helping him when you've been fortunate enough to be his friend all this time?" Julius growled out fists shaking while glaring at Otto.

The boy glared right back with his own fist clenching in despair.

"Didn't you see how broken he looked?! How can we ever understand him?" Otto full on cried as he glared at Julius. "I-I want to help… but what else could I do?! I have nothing to make him deal with everything he's been through."

Julius gritted his teeth harder and moved to grab the merchant's collar.

"Julius, that is enough!"

In an instant, Reinhard moved between the two and glared at his friend.

Julius paid him no mind and stared at Otto furiously. "You, the one he calls friend, are just going to give up on him." The knight's tone was one of absolute fury. How could this guy just throw away his duty as Subaru's friend like that?!

Otto looked down with trembling cheeks and clenched eyes as Subaru's death played in his mind again and again.

"I won't give up then… I will be the one to help Natsuki Subaru from now on."

"Julius…" Reinhard looked struck by the knight's declaration.

Otto looked up with a small frown.

Julius simply stared at him with an elegant glare. "If you've truly given up on trying then I'll take on your duty as well."

"What are y-"

"I won't give up on Natsuki Subaru's pain. I will help him no matter the pain and horror he has been through." Julius declared with his entire form filled with conviction. Eyes firm and expression telling of his determination to see his words through to the end.

He looked like a soldier ready for war.

Reinhard and Otto could only look at the man in shock and awe.

Julius was even more elegant at that moment than he was before the throne to the kingdom.

Otto looked away with a frown as the knight walked to his seat.

Reinhard remained frozen in place with his head low.

"C-Could I help Subaru as well?" He whispered to himself as the sight of his friend's determination set something akin to shame in his heart.

Did he give up on Subaru too?

"I want to help him… right?" Reinhard was unsure if he wanted to help Subaru or not.

Sure he wanted to be his friend, but after everything Reinhard had seen, he couldn't believe that his guilt would allow him to be a true friend to the boy.

He never understood what a friend's duty was supposed to be.

He couldn't think of anything except his guilt for not being able to save everyone in that village.

He wanted to be greedy and have Subaru's friendship… but was he worthy of it after his incompetence as a hero to save Subaru?

The knight looked down with his teeth gritted in frustration.

"You shouldn't look down like that."

Reinhard's entire form went rigid in shock. He didn't want to look back. He couldn't meet those eyes again.

"I understand how guilty you must feel… But shouldn't let that make you think that you're not a worthy friend to Subaru-dono." Wilhelm slowly patted his grandson's shocked shoulder from behind and walked away.

Reinhard couldn't breath as tears willed up in his eyes.

It was the first time his grandfather had spoken to him with something akin to sincerity in his tone.


"Was that so hard nyow?"

Wilhelm sighed tiredly and sat down beside the healer.

"I just did what I could to help his confidence." Something he had destroyed a while ago.

Felix shook his head and looked at the old man with sadness. "I don't think you're fooling anyone with this act. You're just too guilt ridden to reconcile with your grandson. It wouldn't be this hard if you just let go of the past and be there for Reinh-"

"I don't like talking about this subject, Felix-sama."

The catboy's mouth instantly turned to a frown as he obeyed.

When ever Wilhelm called him by inciting his higher ranking as a knight and healer meant that the old man was serious.

Felix sighed and leaned back in his seat. "I'll let it go. For noyw~."

"I appreciate that."

"You still thinking about what you saw?" Felix muttered as he looked at the dimly lit screen with forlorn eyes.

The old man looked slightly upset for a second before cooling his expression.

"I would think that everyone in this room was upset by what we've just seen."

"Of course we all are! What I meant was what you thought of that viewing, nayn?!"

The old swordsman just looked down and closed his eyes, his expression, one of grief.

"Subaru-dono… That young lad has truly led a steep road."

Felix couldn't help but want to chuckle at the sheer absurdity. "A road filled with trouble." The healer's face turned to one of sadness and frustration.

"Horrifying and unbelievably painful kind of trouble, Nyan!"

Wilhelm closed his eyes and remembered the scars he saw on Subaru's hand. The man's eyes were filled with anger. His heart clenched in guilt and rage at the prospect of this shining young man to be reduced to such a state.

Felix trembled as he remembered all the bodies he saw on that screen. Had he been in Subaru's position, he wouldn't have ever came back there. He wouldn't ever look any of these people in the eye again. Knowing that their laid a monster and his followers at the end of the road.

Not to mention the many times he saw Subaru freeze to death by some messed up entity that wanted to end the world.

Felix would never be as strong as Subaru Natsuki. That was a fact that the healer accepted plain and simple. Subaru wasn't the weakling… Felix was.

A selfish, disgusting, and self absorbed.

"That's who I am, nyan…" The cat human sighed while looking at the floor in sadness and deep self loathing.

Could he… be one of Subaru's friends too?


"Beatrice-sama."

A regal short girl turned around from the door she's been glaring at for the past hour and looked at the blue-haired maid before her.

"What is it, I suppose?" The ancient spirit asked in her usual snarky tone.

Rem bit her lip and looked reluctant to speak. But her eyes fired up once again and stared Beatrice with determination.

"Please, Beatrice-sama, tell me everything my hero spoke of when he told you about his nightmares." The maid bowed before the unimpressed spirit with pleading eyes.

"Hmph! Why should Betty reveal her Subaru's secret-"

"Please."

Beatrice looked at the maid with a raised eyebrow.

Rem closed her eyes shut and trembled in place with her head bowing as low as she could to Beatrice.

"Please, I need to know more of what I missed. I need to make up for all the pain my hero had to go through while I was away." As Rem begged and pleaded with the spirit, Beatrice could only glare in disgust.

"You're such a selfish child, maid."

Rem looked up at Beatrice with tears in her eyes.

She was surprised to find that Beatrice was also crying as well.

"You think that you're the only one that can help Subaru?" Beatrice growled out as she glared at her.

Rem stepped back in confusion and shock. "I.."

"He's Betty's Subaru, infact! I'm the one he's been coming to for help and guidance ever since you fell to Gluttony. The boy's troubles have always haunted him through the night and it was Betty's duty to hold his hand for that. What more would you do, maid? Tell me what more could Rem do, that Betty can't, I suppose?!"

Rem only trembled in place as she remembered the scars on Subaru's hand. "Wh-Why did you let him do that then? Why did you just watch him hurt himself like this?" Rem asked in a desperate broken tone.

Beatrice looked down and shook her head as she scowled deeply.

"I stopped him many a time before he cried himself to sleep on my lap asking for the darkness to go away. He… He was in need of something to take his mind of these horrible nightmares. He eventually made Betty promise to not tell anyone she turned a blind eye at least once a week, I suppose."

"...Ghk!" Rem choked in horror at the prospect of her hero suffering through such pain, willingly and of his own accord.

"Subaru-kun has been suffering without me all this time… I wish only to learn of what I missed, Beatrice-sama. I just want to help my hero."

Beatrice stayed silent as she looked at the maid with a tired glare.

Rem looked sad and guilty but also determined.

"You could stop killing yourself in such a stupid manner then."

Both, Spirit and Oni turned their heads to find an angry looking Ram, glaring at her sister in disappointment.

"Sister?" Rem was genuinely frightened as her older sister never gave her such a hate-filled look.

"Oh, so now you care about your useless sissy?"

Rem flinched in shock at her sister's sarcastic and anger filled tone.

The pink maid stepped forward and glared her younger sister down.

"If you truly care about that boy, then you'd be wise to stop sacrificing your own life."

Rem only stared slack jawed as her sister glared at her with tear-filled eyes.

"Have you any idea how many nights Barusu spent at your bedside, telling you made up stories about how he was a respectable man all day long to make you proud."

"Are you insinuating that Betty's Subaru is some kind of pervert?" Beatrice snorted and smirked tiredly at Ram's tough love.

"Hmph! Barusu's true nature well reveal itself to all of you soon." Ram looked down a bit with soft, and dare Rem say it, sad, eyes.

"That man… suffered a lot because of you Rem. Your tendency to just give yourself up like nothing matters forced him to see you die over and over again. Something happened when you lost to Gluttony. I'm more sure than ever after all I've seen that Barusu wouldn't just let you get hurt like that and not do anything about it. It hurt him a lot. Seeing you forgotten and erased while the rest of the world carried on." Ram full on cried as she admonished her sister before Beatrice.

"You're hurting all of us by your self demeaning nature, Rem. So stop it! For the love of the great waterfall, stop thinking that you're a convenience that needs to be used and abused and care about yourself!"

Rem couldn't stop her tears from falling as her beloved sister screamed at her. Everything Ram had said was so true. She was thinking herself as dispensable and usable to make her loved ones' lives easier.

"I'm sorry...sissy…. I-"

"Don't be sorry, Rem… just care about yourself more." Ram quickly took her little sister in a tight hug as she assured herself that she was alive and not killed by the cult.

Rem choked out a sob as she gave into her sister's hug.

How could she make her own blood feel such pain like this? She truly was a slothful one.

Beatrice sighed and shook her head. "Betty wants to hug her Subaru, I suppose." The maid could only sob at the memory of her own little brother freezing and killing the boy without mercy.

Betty well never forgive that from Bubby.

The small girl sniffled and glared hotly at the door in which a darned Half-elf girl carried her contractor and locked the door behind her to have him to herself.

"Selfish, silly girl." Beatrice growled as she wished she could break the door.


"I bet you're having a load of fun, aintcha?"

Roswaal raised an amused brow at the dogman glaring at him. "Hmmm? And why would I be happy that my camp is falling apaaaart?"

Ricardo snorted and glared away from the clown and watched the crowed of depressed people interact through the theater.

"Dunno, but I bet you're happy they've stopped treating ya like some baddy that can't be trusted for shit."

"Ho ho! I don't think you should be making such daaaangerous claims. You are representing a royal candidate after alllll."

The dogman shrugged and continued to look away from the creepy clown make up wearing man with disgust written all over his furry face.

The twins started blowing raspberries at the clown as they glared at him with mistrust.

Roswaal himself remained smiling and watching the chaos of the despaired crowd.

For a moment…

His eyes narrowed as his fist clenched.

"So after all of that… You really couldn't become like me? Is it strength… or are you just too weak?"

The man's lips slowly turned downward.


"Where am I?" A small child like voice asked in confusion and fear.

"Frederica-sama! Ram-sama!" The child yelled out for someone to save her from the darkness.

My apologies, Petra.

The little girl sniffled and looked up at the dark void's ceiling in confusion.

"S-Screen-chan? Why am I in here? What happened to the rest of the guys? I wanted to see what happened with Subaru!"

Again, I apologize. But I had to knock you out to stop you from watching with the rest of-

"Why is that?!" Petra pouted and rudely interrupted the very handsome warden speaking with her.

Chuckles… I had to stop you from watching the rest of the viewing because you wouldn't have handled the scenes that were going to be shown.

"How do you know?! I'm a grown up already! I could handle the blood and the deaths shown."

Hmmm, I don't know…

"Hmph! I could handle anything! All I want is to just be there and help Subaru."

Even seeing a monster killing your entire home?

"Wh-What?"

That's what everyone else saw in that episode you slept through.

Your home was burned down.

The entire village was destroyed.

You were killed.

The other kids were killed.

Ram and Rem were dead.

Emilia was dead.

Subaru was dead.

Subaru broke.

He could only watch with tears of horror and despair in his eyes.

Do you truly want to see all of that, Petra?

"…"

The little maid was staring into the void with shocked, horrified eyes that were leaking tears of agony with the pain her hero had to go through.

The little girl was overwhelmed with shock at the news of her family and friends getting massacred.

But her pain full on intensified as she thought about how hurt and disturbed Subaru must've become because of these alleged experiences.

The little maid felt her heart give a tug as she remembered the way Subaru had saved her village and singlehandedly took care of the threat with a real awesome pose.

He was so brave and amazing…

and she knew how much pain he was hiding under all of that bravado.

The little girl wiped her tears as she thought about her hero and how much he suffered and had to suffer till now.

The pain.

The horror.

The cruelty of Subaru's life…

"I want to see it all."

What?!

The little maid glared with determination into the black space covering her.

"I want to see everything like the rest from now on."

But-

"No buts! You must be a dum dum to think that I'm someone who can easily give up on Subaru! If someone as stupid as him can get through this then I can too! I won't fail so you better let me watch everything with the rest of the group!"

D-Did you just call me dum dum?!

"Yes, I did! If you think I will let Subaru go through this alone then you're nothing but a big fat dummy!"

"…"

I knew I would get a chance one day.

"The chance to what?" Petra asked with her determined glare in place and her tone keeping the commanding aura intact as she demanded of the very handsome owner of the voice.

The chance to punch a child in the face.

"…"

"Please don't hurt me!"

Sigh… I'll let you watch with the rest since you seem to be adult enough… still a rude runt though, but a few rejections of a certain knight's love and you'll be straightened.

"Um, thank you for understanding my point, Screen-sama, but what do you mean by the last part?"

Nothing… Just go through that portal to return to the theater.

Keep in mind, the other's have finished watching the last viewing you missed so you may be short on the details.

Although unhappy, Petra nodded her head and swiftly exited the void with a determined glare.

She was ready to prove to the others that she was an adult.

As the girl disappeared and the portal closed behind her… The black void remained silent for a moment.

Before a loud sound of screeching filled it.

A horrifying scream that was ugly and haunting.

Shit… sigh Fuck me! What is it doing here now?! Those two weren't enough?!

We got a holy fucking dragon attacking as well now. Fuck.

Just….fuck!


The scene played in her head.

That scene played over and over again.

A scene that shattered her heart and made her want to throw up.

"I-I didn't know you went through so much… "

A beautiful Half-elf princess looked down at the sleeping black-haired young man that was laid down on her bed. Some would think it was inappropriate for her to stay in a room with a boy sleeping on her bed.

But the princess was too distraught to care about other people's opinions. She didn't care that others wanted to see him, to stay close to him like she was doing now.

"I'm so selfish…"

The whimper she gave was small and pathetic. Her sobs were all she could give.

"I didn't want them to die…" The lonely girl whimpered into her knight's chest. The haunting sight of the innocent happy villagers she had made friends with getting mulled and murdered just because they lived near a half-elf.

Just because they lived near her.

"I'm so -Sniff- so sorry…" Her amethyst eyes could no longer emit tears but her sadness made her heart clench painfully.

The pain overlapped with her immense guilt as she remembered all the bloodied and torn bodies of her friends and the innocent children of the village.

The pain was too much for her. It was too much for Emilia.

The only thing to ease this horrible pain and guilt was the warmth and the rhythmic beats of her knight's chest. Emilia had her arms wrapped around the boy's waist and the side of her head was resting on top of his chest.

"It's so comforting…. To be so close to you… My knight…"

That moment played in her head once again.

The moment where he told her how much he loved and wanted to make her happy.

On a grass field, after he had saved her and everyone else from these dangers.

A moment where those villagers were alive and happy to be saved by their hero.

The moment where she and everyone else saw Subaru as this brave kid that was always there to do the impossible to save his loved ones.

Emilia's empty eyes looked down to the boy's arm. The exposed wounded looking arm.

Her hand moved on its own… touching his scarred skin gently, afraid that somehow she would wake him by her touch.

"Why do you have all these wounds, Subaru?"

Emilia emotionlessly asked as she stared at his arm. Analyzing the scratch marks all over his skin.

"Why would a hero as amazing as you are, resort to such a thing? Harming yourself…. That's not what I expected of you…"

Disgusted, angry, horrified…. Emilia thought all of those things.

But not about Subaru. No. Emilia thought those things about herself.

She now understood how much pain Subaru was hiding. If she couldn't cope with what she had seen become of the village, then how does this boy cope with it?

Emilia's mind raced to all of his deaths. A death that was caused by her incompetence at a loot house, one where he was asking for help in the same hallway while dying of a curse and getting his head caved in by a mace while she slept soundly and warmly in her quarters. One where she was ignorant of his torture in the forest, and one where she failed to contain the situation and let the boy run away to a ledge that gave him the chance to kill himself.

Ignorant of his pain and trauma, she left him alone in her rival's care. She left him alone because she thought the way he treated her was too obsessive. The way he treated her was too uncomfortable to what she wanted of him.

Too embarrassing for her.

She left him on his own.

And he had to see those horrors and face all these painful situations by himself.

Seeing her death was painful. The idea of death scared the half-elf immensely. She didn't want to die.

"But you… You've died a lot of times… so many times… To save us."

The more Emilia thought about what he had to push through… the more she feared Subaru and regretted watching him. She hated how angry he looked. How disgusting his rage was.

But then she saw how scarred he was… How the tears fell from his fury filled eyes as he screamed in rage…

"Those scars on your arms… You've been suffering alone… So alone…"

How could she ever want this boy to stay with her?

She had doubted him, left him, killed and tortured his soul because she didn't trust him.

He wasn't a monster… He dealt with death and the memories of his loved one's deaths as well, he had been killed by his friends and still opted to save them. He had faced a monster and was killed by another just to save the people she couldn't.

This kid was no monster and he was no hero… he was so much more than that.

"Subaru… You are…" Emilia raised her head slowly and carefully to look at the sleeping face of the boy she called her knight.

So gentle and calm his features were. Nothing like that maddened rage-filled expression from before.

"I like you a lot when you're like this…"

When did he ever look this peaceful with her?

"There was that lap pillow…" And that was it.

Subaru was always suffering because of her. Always dying and fighting for her, that he never rests or gets any sort of relief.

"Father Guise… Puck… You faced them because of me too."

She gently caressed his cheek while softly sobbing through her clenched teeth.

She couldn't believe how twisted and broken her mentor looked. She would never forgive Pandora for hurting her sweet Guise so much, but now that she had seen what had become of the man and much less what that insane man had done to her sweet wonderful knight…

Emilia wanted nothing more than to kill Pandora.

She was angry and she would never resort to such violent actions because she wouldn't want to be hunkered down at the same level as those who hate her…

But she had long understood how much of a greedy selfish winch she was.

And she wanted Pandora dead for what happened to her sweet friend and what the witch's actions caused on Subaru as well as the village of Alram.

Emilia also could never forget that part of the blame laid on her. She won't forget that.

The half-elf calmed down her sobbing and sat upon the upper part of the bed to look down at Subaru as she toyed with his hair.

An angry expression found its way on her soft tired face.

"Puck… I hate you…" Emilia growled out as she said words that were once obscene to her.

But after she had witnessed the horrifying way Subaru's head rolled off his shoulders while the cat watched emotionlessly… She could no longer see him as her loving dotting father.

No father would promise their child to kill the entire world after their death…

No father would kill an innocent haunted kid just because he was too weak to protect their child.

The way Subaru died in that frozen landscape as her father watched… it was so haunting to Emilia. Her trust completely shattered as the boy's ice turned neck did.

"I promise to never make a contract with him… He won't hurt you again." Emilia whispered softly as she leaned down and kissed the boy's forehead.

Puck had betrayed her. He was no longer someone she wanted in her or her knight's lives.

"It hurts me still… I can't just throw away all that he did for me… But I know that you don't approve of these things and actually want to help me be better… Puck doesn't want that. He just wants to keep me in the dark. To threaten and scare away everyone that actually cares about me just because they aren't good enough for him. I can't live with someone like that."

She wished to change Puck to be better. She wished she could help Subaru with all the pain he's been through.

She couldn't do all of those things.

Emilia kissed Subaru's forehead again.

"I won't let you go away. I don't want to be alone."

It was her fault he went through so much pain.

"It's all my fault."

It was her fault he hurts himself and scars himself every night just to get some sort of relief. Self-harm was something Puck always warned her about. She understood what individuals compelled to do such a horrible thing to themselves wanted.

Something to numb the dark thoughts. And the pain they got would make them feel less horrible about themselves.

That day, when Ram joked that Subaru drinks alcohol to numb the stress life had over him, Emilia felt pity and guilt for not helping.

It was a joke and she was proud of her knight for not drinking such beverages.

But then she started noticing how the boy belittles every single complement and praise thrown at him.

"Do you think so little of yourself? Do you think that you're inadequate to be with us? Is that why you made that display at the royal hall? To make yourself noticed?"

Emilia glared and pulled a little on his hair as she demanded an answer from this stupid wonderful boy.

A boy that can't see how amazing he truly was.

"Just because you embarrassed me, doesn't mean that you're not fit to stand with me."

The heartbreaking fact to Emilia was… She understood that there were many more things wrong with this boy sleeping on her bed than she could ever understand.

The pain of dying and watching the horrors of other people you know and love die was something she didn't want to ever experience.

"But you did… Poor boy… You did experience all of them." Emilia rubbed his hair and looked up at the dark room's ceiling with a pained expression as she once again remembered his despair and suffering look before Puck froze him brutally.

She'll never forgive that damn cat.

And she'll never forgive herself for placing Subaru in such a situation.

"I will make it up to you, I promise." Emilia spoke softly and desperately.

She accepted one thing about herself at this moment. As she ruffled his hair, soothing her worries and guilt by being close to him.

Emilia accepted her selfish greedy desire to not be alone and to have Natsuki Subaru serve as her companion and knight.

As the one she truly and full-heartedly was starting to 'love'.

"It's always been you Subaru…" Emilia smiled softly to the boy below as she rested her back on the headboard of her bed.

Her expression then turned to a glare of pure determination and admonishment.

"I may have no right to say this to you. But I promise to never let you do this to yourself again. My knight should never deal with this darkness by hurting himself. I won't stand for it, mister!"

Emilia rolled down his sleeves and glared at him as she stood up from the bed.

"I will keep working to be the queen. To be worthy of this knight. I won't let anyone hurt you. Even yourself." Emilia vowed as she glared down at the sleeping boy on the bed before her.

After all, she did to him. All the pain she caused for him. She was still selfish and greedy to want him to stay with her.

She learned a long time ago that it was alright to be greedy once in a while. From a very rude boy that kept yelling at her in a dark tomb.

"Sorry, I'm not some good-hearted doll that you want me to be-" Emilia smirked softly as she remembered her argument with him in that tomb.

"But I won't let you go… I will keep working to make up for all the pain. For all the horror I caused you."

Her smile turned soft once more as her eyes finally watered with sadness.

"So please, keep holding my hand while I watch what you've been through, alright? I know it's arrogant and disgusting for me to ask this, but you're the one who wanted to be my knight." Emilia giggled softly and sadly let her tears fall.

It was bizarre.

She was sad and happy at the same time.

Sad for all the terrible things she put this boy through. For everything, her beloved had to go through.

Happy that after everything he still wants to stay with her. Warm.

Only Subaru would make her feel like this.

"You're reaaaally something else huh? You cruel man." Emilia wiped her eyes and looked at the mirror.

She looked so disgusting. So gross.

"And as long as I keep him by my side, even after all the pain I put him through… I'm fine with being like this."

The guilt-ridden princess glared at the reflection of her selfish disgusting self and made her promise.

She would help her knight deal with this pain. From now on… he would never be alone of her again.

Emilia slowly lifted the boy in both arms and began carrying him out of the room and to the theater stationed outside.

She couldn't help but giggle at the image of Subaru protesting with a large blush of embarrassment at being carried by her like this.

"I wish you would wake up so I can tease you like this!" Emilia shouted as she carried him bridal style effortlessly and walked out of the room.


As Emilia slowly opened the door to her room and walked out with Subaru sleeping in her arms, She could only frown sadly at the sight of everyone in the room.

"Oh no…" Petra softly whispered as she looked around and noticed how distraught everyone around her looked. "I'm not sure if I want to ask about what they all saw." the little maid whispered in fear and sadness as she understood the full implication of these horrified, traumatized expressions on everybody's faces.

Subaru was hurt… badly. Her village was probably also…

The little maid shook her head and glared up at the screen.

She will be there for Subaru. She promised.

Grown ups keep their promises.

Emilia slowly placed her potato sack knight on his seat and frowned guiltily at the two girls standing beside her. "I'm so sorry, Beako-chan, Rem-rin…. I took Subaru away from you guys and-"

"It's okay, Emilia-sama." Rem couldn't smile so she kept her head facing the ground and sat down in her seat as her sister's words played through her head.

"It's not okay to me, I suppose! That was Betty's Subaru you took with you, not some doll!Betty deserve to have hugs with her contractor, infact!"

"I'm soooo sorry, Beako! I reeeeeally needed to have him for myself just for a moment." Emilia bowed deeply with a sincere look of guilt to the spirit.

Beatrice relented her anger and changed her pout to a small grunt of upset as she moved over to her useless contractor.

"Um…" Emilia looked at the spirit as she sat down with an unsure and even slightly jealous look.

"Problem, I suppose?" Beatrice asked with a smug smile and raised brow.

Emilia pouted a little but shook her head while keeping her eyes honed on the little spirit.

Beatrice met her with her own while wiggling on her seat and smirking at Emilia.

Emilia pouted further and sat down beside Beatrice.

"He's Betty's contractor, I suppose. It's he's job is to bring me comfort, hmph!" The girl leaned back in her contractor's chest with a content grin, further fueling Emilia as well as Rem's jealousy.

"You're mean, Beako!" The half-elf pout and squeezed Subaru's hand to relieve some frustration. She shouldn't be this jealous! Beako had a right to sit on Subaru's lap anytime she wants… except that this was her knight so he was really Emilia's first…

She squeezed harder.

Rem was just silent as this happened as her mind thinking of how much Subaru had been hurt because of her low self worth.

Clap! Clap!

The sound of two claps gained the attention of everyone in the room.

Alright, everyone back in your seats. We need to finish this arc.

"A-Are you alright?" Emilia asked as she noticed how rough the screen's voice sounded. As if the person behind was tired out.

I'm… Fine.

Let's just watch…

Garfiel moved into the room with his sister walking away from him and toward her seat.

The blonde had a tired and angry glare on his face as he blobbed down next to the defeated looking Otto.

"What's yer problem?" He grunted to his brother while looking at the screen hatefully.

"I hate this so much…" Otto sighed and admitted.

Garf could only agree with somber eyes.

"I don't think everyone is in the mood right now… but aren't we going to discuss what might happen in this one…" Reinhard asked with a nervous look.

Most of the cast remained silent or looked at the knight in confusion.

"I think we should just watch… We're not in the mood at the moment." Ricardo suggested from his seat, making almost everybody nod with him.

Alright, it's here.

"Let's see how the boy deals in this one." Frederica whispered in dread.

Emilia held her knight's hand tight with an angry pout on her face. She was determined to see what pain she has caused on him.

Season 1 Episode 9 Director's Cut.

Begin.

The scene opens up to reveal Wilhelm talking to a formal dressed blonde man at the front of Crusch's mansion.

"If Crush-sama's goal should be attained, I'm sure it would suit your desires, Wilhelm-dono. I expect the best." The blonde man smiled to Wilhelm sincerely.

"So you were planning on conversing with Fellow without my camp's alliance? Why did you ask for us then?" Anastasia mused as she recognized the blonde man instantly.

Crusch shook her head and kept glaring at the screen. "It wasn't I who prepared separate deals between the guild and our two camps. It was Natsuki Subaru."

Anastasia frowned deeply at the duchess' answer.

"So he prepared the negotiations based on his loops… thats…" Anastasia clenched her fists in anger. "Such a disgusting ability."

Crusch heard her whisper and commented. "You still want him under your banner? Even knowing how cruel such a power is?" The noble lady had a tone akin to a growl as her fiery orbs glowed at Anastasia.

The merchant head looked at Crusch with small scowl on her face. "The boy would be useful nonetheless since he has other worldly knowledge. Your camp isn't concerned about the economy or the advancements that could be made in our society using this kid."

"And you think that he would want to be used like a tool instead of helping the people be free from tyranny?" Crusch growled out with a stern look of disgust.

"Hmph! The boy is smarter than he looks, he must realize that money and opportunity rules over all. At least… he wouldn't need to die when he's with me."

Crush's eyes widened as Anastasia turned to the screen with a hardened serious look.

The duchess didn't expect such a sentiment from the opportunistic merchant.

The two older men instantly looked to their side to find a black haired young man with sharp eyes walking into the mansion's grounds toward them while holding the hand of a worried looking blue-haired maid.

"My, how unusual it is to see you!" The blonde man commented and smiled to the black haired boy.

"My apologies. I am the treasurer of the capital's merchant guilt. My name is Russell Fellow. It's a pleasure to meet you, "

Russell slowly raised his head and smirked mysteriously to the black haired young man.

"Natsuki Subaru-dono."

The boy said nothing…

His face was obscured…

"H-How did he know Subaru's name?" Emilia asked while feeling intensely worried about her knight's face being hidden.

Garfiel still looked away even if the screen didn't show his captian's face. The blonde boy didn't want to see that anger again.

"He's a powerful politician, Emilia-sama. He already had his sights on Subaru-kun because the boy seemed like an easy opportunity to get closer to another one of the camps. Subaru did proclaim he was your knight infront of the crown after all."

Everyone lamented on Roswaal's words in silence as the morbidness of him not talking with his accent and sounding quite disgusted as he glared at the image of the man on screen was weirding everyone out.

"So he seeks to use Big bro and scam him? Reinhard, no more deals with that guy."

"I did warn you lady Felt. That man is very shre-"

"No more deals with that guy."

"I understand, Felt-sama." Reinhard realized how serious his lady was as she glared hatefully at the man on screen.

He wished he could feel that intensely for his friend.

Emilia just frowned deeply and caressed Subaru's hand. "No one will use my knight when I get him back." She growled out silently while watching the screen with pure adamant anger.

As the blonde man left on his carriage, Subaru, Wilhelm and Rem watched as it left the grounds of the estate.

"Wilhelm-san, who was that?" Subaru asked with a bored tone as he continued looking at the moving carriage.

"Russell Fellow. He is, despite what he said, a shrewd man with dealings in all of the capital's inner and outer financial matters." The older man answered stoically and turned to the boy.

"Now, I was just about to head back inside… "

The frozen youngman finally turned to face Wilhelm… face still hidden from view.

"Do you have something to say?" The old butler asked while staring at Subaru intently.

Rem glanced at her love with worry in her eyes.

Opening Theme 2: Paradisus-Paradoxum

"Why can't we see Subaru's face, I suppose?" Beatrice asked in concern.

"I believe it has something to do with what happened in his last loop." Crusch mused sadly as she remembered the events that led to many in the crowed grimacing and closing their eyes in sadness.

Petra looked around her and nodded her head with a small frown on her face. She may need to thank that screen guy for keeping her from watching with them.

"S-Subaru wasn't able to move because of shock in the last one… I don't think he could just get out of such a mental state that easy, nyan." Felix pointed out with a nervous and a little scared of what he will see next. The bodies he saw of the children and the twisted Rem haunted him and sent shivers through his body every time he imagined them.

"Subaru-san's rage forced him to get a grip I guess." Otto muttered from the side with a guilty upset look on his face.

Garf grimaced and shook his head as he remembered the last face his cap'n made.

The scene changes to show that Subaru had requested an audience with Crusch and her camp.

Making him sit before her desk with all of Felix, Wilhelm and Rem present beside them both.

"I'm guessing this didn't happen?" Felt asked while keeping watch on the screen.

Crusch shook her head while looking at the scene with fear. 'If he died in this loop… Could it be that I didn't help him, again?'

The lady cursed herself and held a hand to her chest as he body shook in anger and grief.

Her twisted since of politics may have led this boy to get killed… alone.

Again.

"Damn…" Wilhelm cursed as well as he understood how these events play out. His fist shook as he realized that the boy will get killed again because he had no support. He really hoped that Crusch would at least help the young man in this one with anything.

"Some people calling themselves the Witch's Cult plan to attack Roswaal's domain in three days. I want to ask for your help in stopping them." Subaru laid out his plan with an obscure expression.

"Oh, so he did ask you in this one." Anastasia held a finger to her chin and frowned.

"Could that mean that Subaru already made the deal with Crusch-sama and moved to take on Sloth immediately?" Julius asked in hope and reluctance as he noticed some key differences in the details.

"I don't think so, He went to arrange a meeting with my faction first." Anastasia shook her head and looked at Crusch suspiciously.

"Th-That means he died even with Crusch-sama's army backing him." Rem whispered in heartbreak as she held her love's hand.

Crusch kept her head down.

"So he died with Crusch's army and decided to add more numbers to his cause so he went to my lady and made a deal with her!" Tivey shouted with happiness as he rejoiced not having anymore deaths shown.

Rem frowned and looked at Crusch with a little bit of suspicion. "If it was that easy… then why was he so adamant on running away?" Rem asked while tearing up at the memory of her hero's defeated rant about how much he hated himself. Something else made him feel like this.

"I won't help him…"

Everyone turned to Crusch with wide eyes. Felix's hopeful look turned to one of despair as he remembered as well.

The lady was looking down at her knees with a guilt ridden face.

"What do ya mean?" Garfiel asked in alarm.

Crusch seemed to crumble in on herself as she looked away from Emilia's worried glance.

"He… He still hadn't made contact with the Whale…"

Anastasia's eyes widened as did Julius.

Crusch's eyes lost all light as she realized. "The only reason I decided to help Natsuki Subaru was because he knew where I could find the whale."

Otto slowly turned to the screen with an outraged shocked look. "So you'll leave him…" He whispered, shocked and horrified.

Beatrice, Rem and Emilia just stared at Crusch for a moment before their eyes fell on the boy between them.

"I see. So they have made their move." Crusch commented with a frown.

"It seems so. Of course, from the moment Emilia-sama, a half-elf, entered the scene, we foresaw something like this happening." Felix spoke from the side.

"I understand the situation. My next question is why you chose me to assist you."

"Because, to be honest, you seem the most likely to help right now. You've helped me and Rem-"

Crusch just looked down and get her eyes closed. She knew that she won't look good in here.

"Don't misunderstand. I helped you two because I was contracted to do so. If you wish to negotiate, you need to show me what I stand to gain. Otherwise, there is nothing to negotiate. If, with my assistance, you can eliminate the threat posed by the Witch's Cult, what would my profit be? Tell me that."

"He has nothing to give right now… So if he was refused in here…" Julius slammed his fist on the handle of his chair in frustration.

"That is why he used the white whale in his deal with us… he learned from this loop." Wilhelm concluded with his grip on his own handle tightening.

Subaru remained silent for a split second.

"If you help me out with this problem, I'll owe a huge debt to your camp."

"Should I accept that proposal, it would mean Emilia drops out of the royal selection. You understand that?"

Emilia's eyes widened in betrayal.

"I-I…" Crusch closed her eyes tightly in shame.

Subaru's face wasn't completely shown, but his mouth was shown forming into an expression of shock.

"Why can't we see the boy's face?" Priscilla asked in annoyance. She was paying no mind to the betrayal and pain being felt across the room.

"What did you expect? To place your own domain's survival in the hands of another lord calls into question your ability to rule the nation. With that in mind, I ask you again… If you incur a debt to me through this deal, it will mean the elimination of Emilia's camp from the race. Are you sure that's what you want?" Crusch stared intently at the boy.

Emilia clenched her fists tightly as the words echoed in her head. They were true. Had she been strong enough, Subaru wouldn't have to suffer so these countless dead bodies and the horror of death because of her spirit's stupid ignorance.

"Maybe… I'm really not ready to be kind of queen would bring such pain and despair to a boy that just wants to help her?" Emilia whispered in guilt and sadness as she realized how heartbreaking this well be for Subaru.

Subaru's mouth shows the boy hesitating for a bit.

"Even so… I still want your help. If she dies, everything ends, anyway."

"He agreed?!" Otto shouted in surprise.

"Subaru…" Emilia looked down and nodded her head. It was his best action at the moment… but she couldn't help but feel a bit betrayed.

"I understand. In that case, the Karsten family will lend you no assistance whatsoever."

"Why though? He was willing to do what you wanted." Al mused.

Crusch just shook her head and refused to meet Emilia's eyes.

"Huh?"

"First of all, the condition of Emilia's withdrawal, which you offered in desperation as an advantage to me, carries no weight in this negotiation."

"Why is that?" Felt glared slowly at the lady.

Crusch simply kept her head low and gritted her teeth.

"But why? Isn't removing one of your rivals enough compensation?!"

"Are you really not aware? Emilia's elimination from the royal selection will happen with or without my involvement."

"What…" Rem slowly raised a hand to her mouth as she caught the meaning.

"Don't tell me…" Otto glared at the duchess.

Emilia had tears of betrayal in her eyes as she watched in disbelief.

Subaru's body is shown shaking… his face is still hidden.

"Then you'll just let the Witch's Cult slaughter all the people of that village in Roswaal's domain?!"

"Don't change the subject, Natsuki Subaru. It is Emilia who lacks the power to protect that domain, and Emilia whose people will die for her incompetence. Not me."

"That is a fair point to make. But after what we saw happen to the villagers… " Anastasia shook her head and winced at the messed up situation.

Emilia nodded her head as she agreed in silence with the on screen Crusch. She was truly incompetent as a lord and as a liege.

Subaru's fist began shaking.

"Uh-oh!" Petra watched in alarm and worry. She didn't think this will go well if Subaru blows up.

"B-But isn't it wrong to know people will die and not stop it?! If you have the power to save them, why wouldn't you?!"

Felix growled and stepped forward with an angry glare. "Hey! I've heard enough of-"

Crusch raised a hand. "It's fine. Allow me to correct one idea you have. Say the Witch's Cult does make a move. That what you say comes to pass. However, the problem comes afterward."

"Afterwards?"

"It's simple. How do you know when and where they will attack?" Crusch asked while staring at him critically.

Garfiel winced as did many in the crowd around him. "Damn, she does have a poin'."

"Subaru can't tell her how he obtained such information so Crusch-sama will remain suspicious of him." Wilhelm shook his head in frustration.

Crusch bit her lip and glared at the floor. "So that's why he lied about the phone detecting the whale's location… He had to overcome me as an obstacle as well." The noble lady slowly raised her head and looked at the screen with a guilt ridden expression as she realized that she contributed to the boy's suffering.

Subaru's face, still hidden, was reflected on the tea before him to show him struggling to come up with an answer.

"Th-That's…"

"If you are a member of the Witch's Cult, it would make sense." Crusch mused to herself loudly.

"This is making Crusch-sama look bad…" Felix gritted his teeth as he understood and hated the reaction of his mistress on screen.

"That's the logical conclusion I suppose." Beatrice shook her head with a worried expression.

"That's bull-" Subaru was shown gritting his teeth with the rest of his face hidden.

Rem decided to cut in. "Crusch-sama, please don't make jokes. Of course Subaru-kun isn't a member of the Witch's Cult."

"Really? Given what he said, if he can't explain how he knows these details, I can draw no other conclusion. Have you never sensed any such inclination in him?"

"Never." Rem answered immediately and coolly.

Crusch stared at the maid for a moment and looked down. "Regardless, I cannot lend assistance to Emilia- "

But the lord was interrupted.

"The Witch's Cult is coming!" Subaru shouted making all in the room stare at him in alarm.

"They're going to slaughter everyone in the village!" Subaru growled in anger and despair as the images of Alram's bodies played before him. His body trembled but his face was still hidden from view.

Emilia frowned in sympathy and pity for her knight's struggle.

Petra gasped in shock and horror and began trembling in agony as she witnessed her entire family and home slaughtered and bleeding.

"Kill them…" He growled out as his fists shook. "We just have to kill them! All we have to do is kill every single bastard in that cult!"

"Cap'n…"

"Subaru…"

Julius and Garfiel glared heatedly at the way their comrade and brother was ranting and shouting.

"He's lost and angry." Wilhelm uttered and closed his eyes in guilt.

Subaru's face was shown to the screen to reveal an angry, dilated intense look that held no small amount of insanity and rage.

"That will solve everything! Everything!"

"Disgusting." Priscilla spat out, her scowl large and deep.

Garfiel slammed his fist in the ground, wishing to have been there to knock some sense into him.

Rem held a hand to her chest. Seeing her hero falling into rage and insanity like this was so painful. "Subaru-kun… No…"

Beatrice hugged her contractor and nuzzled her head into his chest, refusing to look at the screen. "Not my Subaru, infact." She muttered while sniffling softly.

Emilia's eyes grow dimmer as her hand squeezed the boy's own.

Petra's eyes widened in shock. "Subaru! Why do you look so evil?!" The little maid found it more than heartbreaking. To her… this was…

Subaru stood up and glared at Crusch with his glowing furious eyes.

"You get that, right?" He stepped closer with his glare in place. "We can't let those bastards live! I'm going to kill them!"

"Damn, he's looking really scary right now." Ricardo winced at his comrade's stare.

"He's evil!"

"Barusu's rage… It's uglier than his true self." Ram scowled at the scene.

A clown beside her was humming to himself while watching with a smile. "This is the attitude you should've had when coming to me at my teacher's tomb… " Roswaal's smile turned into and deep hateful scowl.

"So how the fuck did you fix yourself?!" Roswaal growled in anger and frustration.

Subaru slowly got down on the floor and placed his forehead down to Crusch.

"Please help me!" Subaru pleaded with tears in his eyes.

Crusch's eyes only narrowed at the pathetic display.

"Is this why you behave as you do?"

Subaru opened his eyes and looked up at the noble.

"Your hatred for the Witch's Cult… Is that your real reason for approaching Emilia?"

"If Subaru could just explain himself a bit better without seeming suspicion or insane…" Reinhard said with a grimace.

"I think he's just angry right noyw." Felix looked down in sadness.

"Of course, he's angry." Ram snorted and turned away from the screen.

"No! I-"

"What else could one call that glint in your eyes but murderous intent?"

Subaru's shaking eyes widen with rage and fury.

"Are you suggesting I'm using Emilia as a pretense of revenge against them?!" The boy slammed his hand to the floor and his glare grew more intense and diabolical.

"My hatred has nothing to do with how evil they are! They can't be allowed to live! That's why we have to kill every one of them! That will save everyone!"

Subaru ranted with his eyes glowing with murderous rage. He stood up to the shocked and slightly disturbed crowed of four around him.

Unlike the maid and her knights, Crusch was only staring at the fiery boy with a look of determination.

"I'm certain I told you, Natsuki Subaru, that if your own lie doesn't fool you, it won't deceive others."

Subaru began panting heavily. "Why…"

"You don't know why? Because you haven't once said… That you want to save Emilia."

Subaru's face turned to one of shock and despair in realization.

"So you were trying to help him realize a better way to go about this other than rage and slaughter." Anastasia commented with eyes wide in understanding.

"So she was trying to help Subaru… " Emilia uttered while slowly turning to the noble lady with a look of understanding.

Crusch just closed her eyes in guilt, unable to look Emilia in the eye.

Rem looked away from Crusch with a sad frown. She was confused on whether to be angry at the lady for not helping her hero or sympathize with her since Rem had done much worse to the boy than Crusch ever well.

The silence in the room was deafening as all stared at Subaru.

The boy began stepping closer to the desk Crusch was setting.

He would've been within arms reach of the lady if it wasn't for a tall man intercepting him.

Subaru looked up to find a stoic elegant Wilhelm looking down at him.

"I cannot allow you to come closer."

Subaru looked to his side when he felt his sleeve being pulled. "Subaru-kun, please calm down."

The boy looked at the maid with defeat written on his face.

"I can generally tell when the person I'm speaking with is lying. I'm quite proud of the fact that I have never been deceived in negotiations."

Subaru looked confused as Crusch stood up and stepped closer to him.

"Speaking from those years of experience, I can say you aren't lying."

"Well, then…" Subaru tried to speak but Crusch cut him off with a glare.

"You adamantly believe that your rantings are true. That is nothing short of madness, Natsuki Subaru." Crusch delivered with confidence.

"Yeah, I would think that too." Felt agreed while biting her lip in anger and frustration.

"He's a guest… I should've done more to help…"

"Crusch-sama…" Felix's ears dropped in sadness at the state of pure self loathing his lady seemed to have fallen in.

Subaru could only shake from his anger with wide intense eyes. He started biting his lip so hard it drew blood.

"Felis, heal his lip." Crusch ordered from her place.

"Don't bother! Rem, let's go." Subaru wiped the blood away and began turning to the door.

"Do you have anywhere else to turn?" Crusch inquired sternly.

Subaru didn't turn. "I hope you become a great ruler. The kind of dictator who abandons the weak." With that, Subaru left the room.

Before she could follow him, Rem bowed to the noble and her knights in the room.

"I thank you in my master's stead for the care you have given us."

Crusch was so heartbroken at what Subaru had said she bit her lip just as hard as he did and drew blood down her chin.

"Crusch-sama!" Felix quickly healed the lady's cut with tears falling from his eyes.

"Crusch-sama, you needn't blame yourself. The situation in the loop is different from ours. We didn't know that Subaru-dono had lived through such horrors, you were liable to make that decision regardless. It's I who should've at least understood him better, since I had the same blood thirst for the whale." Wilhelm bowed his head solemnly and admitted his sin of ignoring Subaru's pain in the loop.

The noble lady stared at the ground once more, her eyes dim. "Raise your head Wilhelm-dono. It is I, who shall be shamed for hurting our ally today."

Crusch turned slowly to the half-elf and Oni maid infront of her and bowed her head in shame.

"Emilia-sama, I've failed you as an ally and as a friend. Please see to it that my punishment fits the pain I will cause Subaru Natsuki."

Emilia could only stare with wide eyes at the lady bowing to her.

"Crusch-sama, No! What if she makes you drop out of the race?!" Felix shouted in shock.

"Then it would be a small price to pay for Subaru's pain."

"Lady Crusch…" Julius whispered in shock and solemn respect at the headstrong candidate and the dedication to her morals.

"Oh, now this is interesting! How far have your 'respect' for the boy made you fall, oh proud Crusch-sama~" Priscilla smirked sadistically and watched with mirth in her eyes.

"I guess that's what happens when you focus too much on idealism instead of reality." Anastasia sighed and looked away from the woman sitting beside her. "You were a good opponent I guess, I enjoyed our deals." The merchant cheerfully added while hiding her frown behind her scarf.

Felt just looked on without a care for Crusch's situation. Had it been her that was punishing the duchess, Felt would have made her drop all she owns and holds dear in life to the poor just to make the noble feel the pain she wants to inflict on the people of the kingdom after she becomes queen.

Especially since this one hurt Subaru…" Hmph! One less noble, I guess."

Reinhard looked down and felt truly sorry for his grandfather and his mistress's situation.

"Noooow this is a lucky break, isn't iiiiit! By remoooving this one from the race, our camp is muuuuuch closer to the foretold destiny." Roswaal clapped with delight.

"No one is asking you!" Felix shouted in rage and tears.

"Yeah, shut up!" Garfiel surprisingly stood up and growled threateningly at the clown. The boy was angry at Crusch's situation. He admired the lady for her guts and will but he truly disliked that his brother was going to die once again so he wanted to take his frustrations out on something.

Crusch remained bowed before Emilia's seat. She ignored everyone and waited for her punishment.

"You want me to punish you?" Emilia looked down at the green haired princess with confusion and pity in her amethyst eyes.

"Yes, Emilia-sama. Please make sure I pay for my sin."

"Why?" Emilia asked in hurt tone, unable to look at Crusch like this. This wasn't her confident friend.

"Because I left you to die. I let the boy who clearly couldn't protect himself and that you left under my protection to go on his own because I saw it an opportunity to eliminate you from the race." Crusch's fists shook as tear droplets fell on the floor.

"Please… I can't live with this over me."

Rem felt her heart shatter as she recognized the guilt ridden tone. It was just like hers when she learned of what pain she had caused to Subaru.

The maid looked at the half-elf pleadingly but Emilia was glaring at Crusch heatedly.

"Is that how you see it?That you were purposefully sending Subaru to his death without help to ensure mine?" Emilia sternly inquired.

In the silence, Crusch trembled. "Yes."

The duchess answered while keeping her head down low as she waited for her dreams and ambitions to be crushed underneath Emilia's foot.

Everyone watched in silence as Emilia glared coldly at the green haired girl. Priscilla licked her lips in excitement as she hoped to see the half-elf humiliate the proud Karsten heir.

Rem felt really horrible watching this without interfering to help her friend she was about to plead for Crusch's behalf.

Felix watched with tears of defeat and shame.

Wilhelm kept his gaze down and away from his lady's worst moment. She might not be his lady anymore in a few minutes but he will serve the Karsten head for the rest of his life. She was the only one to help him find solace for his beloved… along with a nasty eyed boy.

Beatrice couldn't careless about what happens to this winch that had killed Subaru… she kept hugging the boy and watched with no emotion.

Emilia sighed tiredly, breaking the long held silence.

"Crusch-sama, please raise you head."

The duchess refused and kept bowing her head. "I have no right to look you in the eye aft-"

"Look up, please." Emilia softly ordered.

Crusch's tearful face slowly raised up for all to see. The proud honey colored eyes that were once shinning were now dimmed and strained, filled with tears of shame and guilt.

Emilia's own eyes were filled with sympathy and understanding.

"Crusch… Do you know how Subaru spoke of you when we got back from the capital?"

The lady stayed silent as she stared at the half-elf.

Emilia shook her head and smiled a little.

"He had nothing but amazing things to say about you."

Crusch's eyes widened… Her blessing must be broken… "Surly not…"

Emilia nodded her head and recounted with a thoughtful look. "I remember that whenever you came up in conversation, he would always praise both you and Wilhelm with a reeeally admiring tone. I think he may look up to you two." Emilia giggled a bit while ruffling the boy's hair.

Crusch's eyes were saucers as she uttered in disbelief. "B-But I refused to help him!"

Emilia nodded her head, "And you had a good reason to. Subaru isn't in the right state of mind and as a stranger, you had every right to question him."

Crusch closed her eyes in shame. "But he remembers what I did to him… "

Emilia gave a smile at this. "He says that you're an awesome leader."

Crusch immediately stared at the elf eyes wide.

"Huh?"

"When we were in the carriage after Subaru saved us. He was gushing about how awesome you commanded the army against the whale with stars in his eyes. When we got back and found you and Rem… He was kept asking Felis how you were doing after every time he checked on Rem."

"Yes! Yes! Subaru-kyun asked about you everytime he saw Felis in Rem-chan's room." Felix replied honestly and cheerfully trying to get his lady's hope back.

Crusch looked shocked at this. She did blush a bit.

The duchess slowly looked up at Emilia with an unsure look.

Emilia smiled warmly and stood up from her seat. "Right!" She clapped her hands cheerfully and pointed at Crusch.

"I have decided what your punishment will be." Emilia announced while smirking at the lady.

Everybody leaned forward in anticipation. Crusch closed her eyes and prepared herself.

Roswaal and Priscilla both snorted and looked away.

"Such bullshit."

"Stupid elf."

"Ruining the fun."

"Cunt."

As the two whispered insults hatefully at Emilia for wasting such a delicious opportunity to crush Crusch beneath her white boot and giving them something truly entertaining to watch, Emilia herself continued to piss them off by her next demand.

"I want you to stand up and sit down in my seat."

Crusch looked at Emilia as if the half-elf was talking Pakistani. (The duchess was confused)

Emilia giggled and nodded her head.

The noble lady slowly and cautiously walked through her row, passing both of her knights, and moved down to the front row where Emilia was standing and waiting for her with a smile.

Sighing and slowly stepping closer to the half-elf, Crusch finally had the courage to glance at Subaru.

'He's kind of cute when he's asleep.'

Emilia nodded at her again, signaling the duchess to do what was told of her.

Crusch slowly and awkwardly placed herself in Emilia's seat. Right beside the knight.

Blushing and feeling quite uncomfortable, Crusch looked at Emilia, pleadingly asking for the next step.

The half-elf was merciful as she smiled warmly and issued her next command.

"Now wrap your arms around my knight, and give him a hug."

"...Ghk!" Crusch blushed beet red as she wished to have been executed instead of this.

Wilhelm instantly held the outraged Felix and muffled his voice with a bowtie.

"I should be the one sitting there!" Felt shouted in outrage.

Anastasia shrugged and looked on to the farce in boredom. She was frowning in annoyance at how close Crusch's arm was to the boy.

Otto and Garfiel just stared at the sheer number of women huddling around Subaru with haunted faces.

Garf slowly turned to his brother and asked the question that well one day unite Demi-humans and humans together on a cultural journey.

"Otto… Is that what happens if you have a long thick-"

"No! No! No! NOOOOO! NO. Don't ask me that question"

"-Personality… What's wrong with ya?!"

Back to the blushing Crusch slowly moving her arms around Subaru's shoulder, stiffly edging closer to him and having her body leaning on his.

The lady slowly relaxed into her onesided hug with the man that made her heart warm. The sheer euphoria of drowning warmth she was feeling was indescribable.

"This is incredible." Crusch whispered softly and tightened her hug while sitting properly.

She felt whole for the first time in while. A long while.

Having this boy by her side like this… it just felt right.

"I hope you're having fun, I suppose."

"Shouldn't you be getting punished? I mean it looks like you're having fun."

Crusch could only blush harder and instantly shoot off the boy and jump out of Emilia's seat after hearing Anastasia's and Beatrice's snarky comments.

Emilia smiled warmly and nodded to Crusch. "I hope you're feeling well, Crusch-san."

The lady managed to calm her nerves and heart after that hug and breathed deeply. "Yes, Emilia-sama… Thank you."

Emilia nodded her head and smiled, showing that there were no hard feelings.

Although sad that she couldn't stay beside the knight to be longer, Crusch understood that this was a one time thing and began moving away in disappointment.

As both girls moved to take their respective seats, Crusch was stopped from walking up to her row with Felix and Wilhelm by Rem.

"Crusch-sama wait!"

The duchess turned to look at a smiling standing Rem.

"You could sit in my seat, Crusch-sama. I think you need it more than me right now."

Crusch's eyes widened in surprise. "I wouldn't want to take your place beside Subaru-sama-"

"I insist." Rem bowed curtly with the him of her dress raised.

She was smiling warmly.

Crusch looked unsure of what to do as she was truly wanting to take the opportunity. She looked at Emilia and Beatrice.

One was beaming at her warmly while the other was just nuzzling Subaru's neck like a cat disinterestedly.

Glancing at her knights, She couldn't see Felix anywhere, but she did see Wilhelm raising a thumps up for her.

His hand was vibrating for some reason.

Shrugging Crusch bowed her head in respect and smiled excitedly. "Thank you, Rem-san."

The maid nodded her head and moved to sit where Crusch was sitting. Behind Subaru.

She was aware of what she gave up. But she knew how much Crusch needed to feel closer to Subaru right now.

The duchess slowly sat down beside Subaru's left side and looked around as if she was in a foreign land.

She slowly and awkwardly… Held the boy's hand in her gloved one. She squeezed a bit.

Crusch never felt such pleasure and comfort.

"Thank you… Emilia-sama, Rem-sama."

Both girls beamed in satisfaction at the truly beautiful smile Crusch had.

The green haired princess leaned back in her seat and kept her hand on Subaru's with a smirk of confidence.

Change scene to Rem speaking with Subaru in a room at an inn inside the capital city.

"What well we do? If what you say is true, we have little time."

Subaru quickly turned to the maid in surprise. "'If' it's true?"

Rem ignored him and carried on. "We have little time. Shall we return to Roswaal-sama's mansion?"

"No, there's not much the two of us could do by going back there now. There aren't enough of us. What the hell is Roswaal doing?" Subaru asked in thought.

"Roswaal-sama has been required to visit some officials within the domain. He will be staying with them for a few days."

"I doubt that's the truth, I suppose." Beatrice called out as the rest of the Emilia camp, minus Ram looked back up at the smirking clown.

"You bastard…" Garfiel growled hatefully, making Julius and Reinhard glare at the clown.

"So he made many more crimes against Subaru." Reinhard muttered softly.

"Just you wait." Julius vowed as he turned back to the screen.

Roswaal shrugged at all the boys giving him attention.

"I feel like I belong~"

"That's why he can't do anything about the attack? Then we won't get anywhere unless we can bring reinforcements… What about Reinhard? Wouldn't he help us?" Subaru asked with hope in his eyes.

Rem looked down in disappointment. "He said yesterday that he would be away from the capital for a while on a courtesy call."

Subaru slammed his hand on the window. "Damn it! Why are you all so useless?!"

Reinhard looked down along with Felt as they remembered how much the boy he had to suffer.

"Damn! Where the hell was I?!" Felt asked while glaring at the floor.

Seeing how frightened Rem was looking at him, Subaru quickly cooled his anger and looked down. "Tomorrow, we'll have to look for someone else to help us. You head to the knights' station. I'm going to talk to one of the other candidates."

"Very well."

"Oh, which one will it be?" Anastasia perked up with interest.

Scene change to a golden palace.

"The Witch's Cult?"

The screen pans to show Subaru standing before Priscilla as she sat on her throne.

"Ahhhh, Shit!" Al cursed as he saw what will happen way before it will be shown to him.

"This is not gonna end will." Otto growled, angry that his friend was so desperate he would ask this bitch.

"Subaru…" Emilia clenched her knight's hand and kept her grip firm. She didn't like the fact that he went to this woman to ask for help.

Crusch was thinking the same thing as she kept her hand firmly locked with the boy's and glared at the screen while cursing her stupid otherworldly self for pushing the boy away and making him go to this winch.

The fiery princess herself smirked underneath her fan and leaned forward to enjoy the show.

"Yes. If left alone, they'll hurt lots of people. Emilia won't be their only victim. I want to defeat them before that happens! That's why I-"

"Hahahahah! Amusing! You are amusing! Of course. Any jester who makes it this far has mastered his act." Priscilla smirked high from her golden throne at the boy.

"Disgusting, I suppose." Beatrice growled as she glared at the woman.

Emilia, Rem and Crusch did the same.

"Wh-What's so funny about this?!"

"I can appreciate your desperation, but you haven't thought things through. In trying to aid your ally, you corner them, benefiting the enemy, and lose all control. You're better off dying." Priscilla smiled warmly and stood up from her seat. "In fact, I could just lop off your head for you right now." She quickly picked up her fan and placed it under his chin. "Still, even in the face of such harsh treatment, the devotion you show for your master, at least, is commendable. So…"

The fiery princess stepped back and grinned sadistically at the boy.

"I will give you an opportunity."

"A-An opportunity?" Subaru asked in surprise.

"Yes, an opportunity. What you would call a chance. " The lady pushed Subaru and made him fall on his behind infront of her.

Subaru looked up and found her raising her bare foot in the air while looking at him.

"Lick it." Came her simple order.

"You fucking bitch!" Frederica shouted in outrage.

Many in the audience cursed the lady on the screen.

Emilia and Crusch stared wide eyed in shock, furious at the scene.

Ram actually glared hatefully at the Priscilla that was beside her.

"Huh?"

"Crawl on the floor, savor the shame and humiliation, and like a wretched beast, like a baby suckling on its mother's teat, lick my foot. If you can do that, I'll consider your proposal. If you don't want to, that's fine. If you'd rather favor your minuscule pride and abandon the mistress you wagged your tail for to the wasteland, then fine. Either choice you make will entertain me." Priscilla looked down with uncharacteristic glee as she waved her bare foot infront of the boy.

"I hate this bitch." Felt growled in anger and fury.

Petra looked down and bit her lip in rage.

"Fuck 'ff damn lady!" Garfiel growled in outrage at the way his Cap'n was treated.

Otto and Julius looked away instantly. They knew what was coming… they both understood the state Subaru was in.

Desperation.

Subaru looked down and thought back to his fight with Emilia.

With shame and despair, the boy conceded. "F-Fine."

"Cap'n no!" Garfiel screamed and slammed his fist on the handle in shame.

Wilhelm and Reinhard looked away with glares and disappointed glances clear on their faces.

The girls all looked at the screen in shock and disgust.

All the girls.

Except for Priscilla… she was smiling smugly.

Priscilla looked on with her fan hiding her face and watched as the boy held her foot softly and slowly moved it to his mouth.

Once his lip were grazing her foot, her fan moved away to reveal a disgusted glare on her face. "I guess you really are just an insignificant man!"

Kicking him across the room, Priscilla glared with disgust at the boy.

"What you just displayed was neither loyalty nor devotion. It's something more filthy, like a dog's dependence or a pig's greed. You lazy pig who knows only how to want! A pig's greed is the ugliest thing there is!"

Subaru, bleeding from his mouth, slowly tried to get up from the floor. But Priscilla had already stepped toward him and picked him up by his collar as she shouted her disgust at him.

"Even if the Witch's Cult is defeated, I will strike down any camp you are part of! Your careless behavior and attitude have led me to that decision!" Priscilla threw the boy away making him roll and bleed all over the palaces floor until his back met the large doors.

"You Witch!"

Rem immediately flew toward the candidate and was about to kick her in the face. Before a helmeted man came between her shoe sole and the princess's smug face.

Rem quickly stomped the helmeted knight to the floor with her foot on his face keeping him pinned and not interfering with her swinging her arm and punching Priscilla in the face.

Only her arm was held in the air, inches away from the smug smirking lady.

I understand you anger. But you can't fight in this room.

"But look what she did to Subaru!" Petra shouted in anger as she and the twins were cheering Rem on with glares of hatred on their faces.

"Come on man, let us have this one." Ricardo begged as he snarled at Priscilla.

Garfiel's eyes were blood red as he couldn't careless what his Cap'n was thinking. This humiliation of the man that saved him will not stand.

Rem moved her hand back once again and striked at the princess.

Priscilla simply stopped the punch with the tip of her fan.

Her scarlet eyes stared deeply within Rem's blue angry ones.

"Your beloved's rage was too disgusting for me in that reality. I thought to show him how good he truly was in that state. Where he will always belong to if he continued acting on his rage like that. At the bottom of the chain, crawling and licking feet. That's what was waiting for him had he continued on such a path so the me in that world decided to help him realize that." Priscilla huffed and let the maid's hand go to fan her self.

Rem's face was one of shock and confusion as she thought the words through.

The maid glared at the lady with hatred. "It's still a disgusting way to go about it." She growled making many in the crowd nod.

Emilia seethed with rage and horror at the treatment her knight was subjugated to and just how low he thinks of himself that he was willing to do such a gross act in her name.

She was angry. At Subaru's stupidity. And at Priscilla's nastiness.

The half-elf sat down and swiftly cracked the boy's hand in her superior strength filled grip as she glared at the screen.

Crusch was in a much calmer state-

The duchess had already completely malformed Subaru's other hand in her own gloved hand as she kept staring at the screen with a stern serious expression.

The fact that Subaru did all of this because she refused him made Crusch more angry at the boy for some reason… So she continued to tightly clenching his broken hand.

"Excuse me! Can you stop using me as a doormatt?!"

Rem stopped glaring at Priscilla to look down at the man she was pinning to the floor via her shoe sole pressing on his metal covered head.

The maid found it appropriate to to press just a little bit more harder until the helmet began to bend by her foot's strength and forced it to be shaped like her footwear bottom.

"Hey! Hey! What the hell is wrong with you?!"

Rem smiled warmly as she stepped off toadmire the new look on Al with her shoe sole imprinted on his metal helmet.

"I hope you like my gift!" The maid smiled in a sickly sweet tone.

"The fuck you mean, gift?! You crushed my helmet! It's a very strong helmet too! How strong are you?" Al shouted in fury as he touched the spot Rem's shoe had marked.

Rem kept her sweet smile as she explained innocently.

"Why I wanted to give you something that your dear mistress would like. Since she likes feet so much to have a fetish for them, I decided to stick the shape of my foot on your face so she could finally kiss you properly!" Rem growled out her last sentence and glared at the two while the crowed, (Garf, the twins, Felt, Petra and Beatrice) Went wiled with hoots and howls thrown for the maid.

Priscilla, you'll not kill Rem. So stop tying to summon your sword.

The lady snorted and sat down in her seat with her fan hiding her pissed off glare, aimed at the maid. Rem slowly stepped back towards her seat beside Felix, not seeing how Garfiel blushed deeply while looking at her in awe.

Your helmet is fixed man, stop taking hits for her.

"Thanks, pal!" Al sighed in relief as he tapped his newly fixed helmet.

Priscilla's face twisted in rage at the disgusting creature before her. The lady looked away and closed her eyes in disdain. "Aldebaran."

The door opened to reveal a helmeted man with one arm looking in and staring at the downed Subaru.

"Hey, now, what happened in here?"

"Throw that detestable fool out of here. Or kill him if you want. It matters not."

Al moved to pick up Subaru on his shoulder. "I think that matters quite a bit." He stood up with Subaru on his shoulder and whispered softly. "Let's go, brother."

He briefly turned around to the lady. "Don't get so mad, princess. That fierce look will make your cute face drop in value."

"The face does nothing to the rotten soul." Julius and Reinhard nodded with Felix's growl.

"Unless you want your ruined face further ruined, take him away at once, Aldebaran."

"I've told you not to call me that."

The knight walked out with the injured Subaru.

Scene change to Al helping Subaru as he limped towards the exit of the Barielle estate.

"Can you stand, brother?"

"Yeah." Subaru limped out of the gate with a bleeding cheek and a disappointed look.

"You seem okay.I didn't know what you were talking about, but it looks like it didn't go very well." Al stood there awkwardly not knowing what to say.

Thankfully, a blue-haired girl ran towards them with a worried look on her face.

(A scene from the novels and manga that got cut from the anime.)

"Subaru-kun! Why are you bleeding like this?!" Rem quickly began wiping away his bloodied cheek and nose with a wiper and a worried almost furious expression on her face.

Al sighed and turned around briefly. "Well, I'm going back inside, before she orders me to cut you in half for real."

At this, Rem instantly whiplashed toward the man. "Kill Subaru-kun?!" She growled fiercely.

"Don't make such a face, I'm just saying that she may say something like that.Wasn't your name Ram? Take care of him for me."

As Al began walking away from the duo, Rem couldn't help from commenting.

"Ram's my sister's name. Rem's name is Rem, Al-sama."

The one armed man stopped walking and an aura of shock surrounded him. "Rem?" he asked in a disquieted tone. As if something had disturbed him.

The man turned around and stared at the maid. "Don't kid around with me, aren't you Ram?"

"Do ya know 'em Ram?" Garfiel asked as he and the audience began to get a weird feeling.

"I have never met this man before… I think." Ram scowled suspiciously at both Als. The one in the theater room stayed silent.

"I'm Rem, excuse me, but have you met my sister?"

"So you're Rem and your sister is Ram."

"Yes." Rem answered with a confused and suspicious expression.

"I hate to ask this… but is your sister alive?"

"My sister is obviously alive." Rem answered with an offended expression.

"Hmmm, This is very peculiar." Roswaal muttered while frowning at the screen.

He didn't like this Al fella one bit.

The aura around Al turned to one of pure malice and contempt. "This isn't a joke!" The man growled out as the air condensed around him.

"Subaru-kun!"

"Yeah."

Both of them got ready to escape as the aura around Al increased in intensity.

And suddenly… it all stopped.

"Don't worry. I'm not going to do anything. You guys better go, as it seems, I'm also in a bad mood."

Rem slowly bowed a little with her gaze full of suspicion. "I understand… Please tell her that we're thankful for her taking the time to see us."

"Got it, you guys be careful."

Al watched the two walk away with a few thoughts in his mind.

'So It's still alive… that makes me sick.' He thought in disgust as he stared at the disappearing maid.

"Th' fuck you mean by tha'?!" Garfiel glared as he prepared to give the man a punch so hard it shatters the helmet into pieces.

Rem was ready to wipe the floor with him for saying such thing about her sister.

"I suggest you explain yourself." Julius warned as he noticed how angry Roswaal looked. His makeup wasn't even hiding the wrinkles created by his very intense glare.

The knight remained silent and refused to answer the crowed.

"It's nothing against you folks, but I have my own secrets that I need to keep." the knight offishly spoke as if nothing was bothering him.

He's right… you all need to leave this be for now.

Everyone suddenly felt calm enough to sit down and forget about the situation.

Al wiped his helmeted brow and looked at the paper that fell on his lap.

You owe me twice… Fake Pride.

Al froze in place.

Scene change…

Subaru walked through the crowds of the marketplace with a glare on his face.

That stuck up bitch! She keeps forgetting that I saved her when we first met.

Subaru stopped short and bit his lip in anger, making it bleed from the other side.

"Okay, change gears. This is no time to be bogged down by those idiots." Subaru wiped the blood away and closed his eyes in frustration.

He suddenly heard a child like voice from below him.

"Sniff, sniff. Sniff, sniff. That looks super painful! Are you okee?"

Subaru opened his eyes to find a short little girl smiling at him.

"Hey! Hey! This is where I enter the story!" Mimi jumped in glee at the scene.

Anastasia perked up in interest at how her true first meeting with Subaru went.

"Huh?"

"You smell like blood, and not just from your lip.Was your nose bleedy?"

"Now, Mimi, no getting into mischief."

The girl turned around to the owner of the voice. "Kay!"

"I'm awful sorry she's been botherin' you. Hmm? Aren't you… Right, you're Natsuki-kun."

Subaru's eyes widened as a purple haired lady wearing a fur coat and scarf stepped toward him.

"Emilia's knight, Natsuki Subaru-kun."

"Anastasia Hoshin." Subaru uttered in something akin to relief.

"It's kind of convenient how he's coming across all of the candidates on his own." Otto mused with a sad look.

"Yeah." Garfiel answered with a deadpanned expression. The scene of his Cap'n at that woman's feet was just… so disgusting and shameful.

What would drive a man to such extremes?

Garfiel was so worried for his Cap'n's self worth now.

Did he have no pride?

Scene change…

"let's eat!"

Subaru is shown sitting in a restaurant with Mimi and Anastasia.

"So, about the dragon-drawn carriage… " Subaru spoke surprising the lady.

"You don't beat around the bush. You won't make anyone happy by puttin' your own goals first. The basic rule of negotiation is to try to get on the other's good side. That's where you're lackin', Natsuki-kun."

"Sorry, but I've got a real problem here. I want leave the capital tomorrow, so… "

The lady interrupted him with a small smile.

"When you're up against my kind, tryin' to appeal to sentimentality is the worst strategy there is. But I applaud your effort."

Anastasia took a quill and began writing on a paper.

"It's no easy task to find a dragon-drawn carriage in the capital right now. Apparently, someone's buyin' up all of 'em. Here. The place at this address should have a carriage left. I've signed it with my own name. This well square everything away."

"Hey I remember that, the carriages have all been bought because of Crusch-sama's excursion forces taking them to fight the whale." Otto commented and nodded in understanding.

She slowly slid the paper toward him but then stopped and kept her hand ontop of it.

"Don't put on airs." Subaru grunted.

Anastasia smiled. "I surely will put on airs. It's no fun if I just hand it to ya normally, right? I just wanted to chat with ya about this an' that."

"Oh, here we go." Ricardo sighed and shook his head.

Julius waved his hair and rubbed the tip of his nose in annoyance.

"This will not be a good image for my lady."

Anastasia clapped her hands in excitement. "So that's how he managed to do an impressive deal with me and Russel as well as Crusch! What a marvelous teacher I am!"

Crusch shrugged as Emilia looked at her for answers.

Subaru looked apprehensive at this.

"Why bother with that? You don't gain anything from it. "

"I believe there's nothin' in this world that has no meaning. Ya never know who might give ya some inspiration."

Subaru sighed uneasily. "What do we talk about?"

Suddenly, the small cat girl sitting with them stood in her seat with crumps all over her mouth.

"Hey, my lady! I wanna eat some more! Can I order?"

"Sure. Eat all ya like. Oh, but don't get your mouth all messy with sauce."

"Wipe my face, please! Yay! I'll be back!" The little girl ran towards the counter with a smile.

Subaru's lips turned upwards a little as he watched her run.

"Despite her looks she's second-in-comman in my private army." Anastasia commented as she noticed his smile.

"Tha' kid is a soldier?!" Garfiel asked in shock.

"Hey! I could totally beat your butt, tiger boy!"

"What dida say?!"

Subaru's attention was gained immediately. "Private army?"

"It's quite famous in Kararagi. The Hoshin Company's personal mercenary squad, Iron Fang. Ain't she super cute? Nothin' beats sleepin' with her in your arms!" Anastasia gushed and smiled warmly, her attention was suddenly elsewhere as she heard a loud dragon carriage pass by the building.

"Lots of people have been gatherin' in the capital lately. Have ya noticed the atmoshpere's different now, Natsuki-kun?"

"Now that you mention it, everyone did seem to be in a frenzy. Because of the royal selection?"

"When those at the top move the people move. When people move, things move. By the way, the value of goods in the capital is fluctuatin' a lot now, but some of the most valued are iron products. Weapons like swords and spears are bein' gathered from both inside and outside."

"Iron and weapons?They're not planning to go to war with those things, are they?" Subaru asked with a panicked look.

"It's also possible their objective isn't to acquire the items, but to get the economy rollin'."

"The way you said that… Is it well known who's gathering all this iron?"

"It's someone you know well, Natsuki-kun." Anastasia smiled innocently. "Duchess Crusch Karsten."

"So this how he knew about our secret operation!" Felix proclaimed in shock.

Crusch and Wilhelm nodded as they glared at the screen. "What is it that you want Anastasia?"

The merchant kept ruffling her scarf with an innocent smile.

"Information."

The Duchess and Half-elf narrowed their eyes.

Rem and Beatrice glared at the merchant with hostility.

Subaru's eyes widened at this. "It's Crusch?" He's expression turned into a thoughtful one. "Come to think of it, she did have a constant stream of visitors… I get it. That's why that Russel guy was there."

"Russel Fellow? He's quite the big fish." Anastasia's face turned to one of delight. "This has been fairly informative. Thank ya, Natsuki-kun!"

Subaru stared at the paper she slid toward him in bewilderment.

"You just left Crusch-san's place after fightin' with her last night, right? So I figured it'd be easy to get all sorts of information from your mouth, eyes, and expressions!"

Subaru looked at the smiling Anastasia…

He slowly understood how played he just was.

"You set me up from the start? Are you happy with yourself, using underhanded methods like that?"

"If ya want to convince someone you're righteous, you've gotta show somethin' to merit it. And I see no such thing in you. The only way to change your reputation is to replace it with another. What determines your reputation is the things you've done… that is your past. And there's no way to change your past, so my opinion of ya isn't gonna change, either. The things you've done won't ever go away." Anastasia smirked haughtily at the boy she had just duped.

Subaru gritted his teeth in anger and stood up from his chair.

A long wand was pointed at him in a second.

Mimi smiled with crumbs on her face as she held her death stick toward him. "You don't wanna get any closer to my lady. I'm super strong, you know."

"Thanks, Mimi. But ya don't have to do anything. There's nothin' Natsuki-kun can do, anyway." Anastasia cheerfully spoke to the little girl in a proud cheerful tone.

"Both of you are absolute scum! Screw you!" Subaru moved to tear the paper to shreds making Anastasia open her eye at him in disappointment.

"I guess Julius's efforts went to waste. It's partly my fault though."

Subaru slowly lowered his arms down and kept the paper in his hand.

"I guess even you wouldn't do something that dumb. I'm relieved. Mimi lets go."

"'Kay!"

Subaru just glared at the table as the satisfied Anastasia began walking out.

"One last thing." Subaru looked up to find her holding a finger up to him.

"The key to negotiation is how prepared you are before ya come to the table. Know what the other person wants, and dangle it in front of 'em. And since all you do is want, that's where you're lackin'."

Subaru's teeth grinded in anger.

"Now, shall we go, everyone?" Anastasia clapped and smiled cheerfully.

All Subaru could do, was look on in shock and awe as every single person in the restaurant stood up and began exiting.

"Bye! See ya later." Mimi waved and ran out behind Anastasia.

"Is he going to get left behind by all of you?!" Felt asked as she could only stare in shock at the screen.

"Hey boss… that wasn't cool. Using him like that…" Ricardo looked down in shame at his lady's actions to their brother in arms.

Crusch and Emilia were outright glaring at the merchant princess with malice in their eyes.

Julius looked down and sighed deeply. How could Subaru eve trust anyone after all of these ugly rejections for his calls for help.

"I wish…" the knight clenched his fists in anger. "I wish you would've asked me for help…." Julius gritted his teeth in frustration.

Anastasia simply ruffled the fox scarf and kept her eyes on the screen expression emotionless.

"At least I gave him a bit of good advice before leaving 'em behind to die." Anastasia whispered hoarsely while looking at the screen.

Subaru slammed the table in frustration. "Damn it!"

Rem finally showed up and entered the empty restaurant. She noticed her companion angry glaring at the table and stepped over to him.

"Subaru-kun, what's wrong? Did something happen?"

"Nothing! Rem, how did it go?" Subaru looked at the maid with desperation.

"I reported the maneuvers of the Witch's Cult to the knights' station. I gave them Roswaal-sama's name, but… "

"We didn't get the response we wanted?"

Rem looked a little despondent. "It seems the knights have received several such reports already. They said, since the Cult's background is unclear, they receive countless anonymous tips that cannot be verified."

"If that's how the real cultists stay hidden, it's no laughing matter. If we can't scrape a military force together… " Subaru looked unsure of how to continue.

"What shall we do?"

Subaru's mind began playing moments of his previous loop. Death. Bodies. Rem. Laughter…

"We'll go back to the mansion. We'll go back and take Emilia and Ram away from there." Subaru's shaking hands gripped the paper he had and held it up.

"To the capital or to where Roswaal is… Anywhere's fine. Where they are now is dangerous! There's no time, We should leave now."

"It's the only plan that could work… but the villagers…. " Frederica didn't want to continue the sentence because of the horrified little maid sitting beside her.

"Let's see how he fares here." Ram commented while watching with great interest what this boy lived through to change him so much.

Emilia and Crusch held on to his hands and watched with stern, determined expression.

One girl, left him behind.

The other, forced him to go alone.

Scene change to Subaru and Rem riding a run down smaller dragon carriage.

At this pace, we should reach the mansion by morning. Then we'll have plenty of time to take Emilia and run from the Witch's Cult.

The question is how to transport her…

Subaru's eyes widened as he noticed a camp of dragon carriage riders resting to the side of the road.

He noticed a gray haired boy waving at them.

"That's…" Subaru whispered in surprise as he noticed Otto.

"Another meeting… I hope I actually help him this time." Otto muttered with a very weary tone. He had a look of defeat on his face.

Something Julius noticed and scowled over immediately.

Scene change to night time and Subaru and Rem sitting at the camp fire with the merchants in a circle.

"From here to the Mathers domain?"

"Yeah." Subaru answered making Otto's expression to turn uneasy.

"It's already late. Isn't it too dangerous? We were planning to camp here tonight. Would you care to join us?"

Suddenly, an old merchant spoke from the side with a glare on his face. "You say that, Otto, but I bet you just wanna get rid of some of the oil in storage that you bought out of season, right?"

The entire circle of merchants laughed outloud as the green dressed boy waved his arms frantically.

"That's not my intention at all! Though, it's not as if I wasn't hoping you could use a little oil… " he smiled sheepishly to the two.

"What's all this about oil?" Rem asked from the side.

"Oh, I just made a bit of a mistake, and now I have a lot of oil that isn't worth much right now. Even if we go to the capital, I don't know if I can sell it all off… and if I can't, I'm ruined!" Otto slumped his shoulders in defeat.

"HHAHAAHAHAHAHAHA OIL! RUINED! OUT OF SEASON!"

"Shut up!"

Garfiel and Anastasia laughed out loud at the boy's mistake. The blonde boy laughed because it was his duty to laugh as his bro. The purple haired princess laughed because that was such a classic noob mistake it was hilarious to her as a merchant herself.

"Ruined…"

Subaru suddenly widened his eyes. "Otto, I need to talk- I mean, ask for you help."

Otto slowly looked up at Subaru in confusion.

"I'll buy all the oil you have in your carriage, so lend us transport in return." Subaru smiled and looked at the gathered crowed.

"All of the merchants and carriages here. Anyone who'll sell transportation for money, sell it to me! We're transporting people!" Subaru yelled out to the crowd.

Otto quickly intervened. "People?! We don't want any part in human trafficking!"

"I'm not running that kind of side business." Subaru sighed tiredly and shouted to the men around him. "There's a village near the Mathers mansion. I want you to take its residents somewhere else!"

The men looked unsure at one another… but they soon gasped in shock and awe as Rem held a big bag full of holy coins with a smile.

"We will, of course, thank you properly."

"Not a bad plan…" Reinhard nodded his head and smiled, happy that his friend was finally using his head.

"Finally something that might work!" Felt threw her arms up in celebration.

"My hero is doing everything he could." Rem smiled in sympathy and ruffled the boy's hair, making Emilia and Crusch smile at him.

"It's not bad…" Priscilla nodded silently to herself, approving the plan he came up with.

"Truly interesting, let's see how this one faaaaails." Roswaal yawned from boredom.

Scene change…

The small group of dragon carriages began speeding through the dark road.

"If we run through the night, we should enter the Mathers domain by morning." Otto spoke with a cheerful smile.

"Sorry we can't take breaks." Subaru looked apologetic.

"No problem! If I can get rid of my excess stock and even earn transport fees, I feel invincible!" Otto held his fist in excitement and glee.

Subaru chuckled nervously and turned to Rem as she spoke to him. "Subaru-kun, I'm sorry. I'd like to check the map to confirm the remaining distance."

"Map?"

"It's in your bag."

The boy found the map and opened it. "It's too dark to see anything, though… Oh, I know."

Subaru quickly git his phone out of his pocket and flipped it open, making it illuminate brightly through the screen.

"Subaru-kun, what is that?" Rem looked at the phone in his hand with wonder.

"A bit of lost technology… I mean, it's future technology called a cell phone. I guess it's a good thing it just barely has some battery left. Here look at this." He smiled and moved the map over to Rem and held his phone to give her some light.

"Natsuki-san, what is that?" Otto asked as he stared at the phone in wonder.

"Never seen a crystalight like that before." Another merchant gushed out as he stared at the phone.

Subaru turned to him with a confident grin. "It's a secret tool the margrave gave me." He turned to Otto with a scary smirk on his face. "Sorry, but you should probably forget you ever saw it."

"Heh, nice." Roswaal nodded his head approving of the way his name was used.

Otto shivered in his seat. "Whoa, why does that sound like dark dealings that reek of nothing but money?"

"Otto-kun!That is something that a reeeeally bad boy would say!" Emilia pouted at the merchant from her seat with a hurt look in her eyes.

"N-No, Emilia-sama! I'm a really good boy." Otto frantically tried to justify himself, making everyone in the theater burst into laughter. From Roswaal and Ram to Priscilla and Al. To the entire Emilia and Crusch camps minus Emilia and Wilhelm. As well as Felt. Reinhard looked at him in sympathy… and a small smile.

Anastasia's camp was all over the floor however. Julius was just chuckling and trying play them off as coughs.

"Well *Wheeez * Well you be a good boy, Otto-kun? A good wittle boy~ hahahaha"

"Shut up!" Otto shouted cheeks blood red as Anastasia had fun playing with the lesser merchant before her.

Rem turned to the road with a smile. "Just a bit farther, and we should see Flugel's Tree. If we head northeast from there, the Mathers domain isn't far."

"Flugel's tree?"

"It's a huge tree standing so tall in the Lifaus Highway, it seems to pierce the clouds."

"Legend has it that a wise man named Flugel planted it centuries ago."

As the merchants explained to Subaru, the boy could only look up-ahead to the now visible gigantic tree.

"Woah! Tha's so cool!" Garfiel shouted with an expression of awe and jealousy that he didn't get to see such a sight because of the Sanctuary.

Wilhelm and Felix hardened their eyes.

The old man's eyes were filled with nothing but hatred and contempt as an aura of murderous intent surrounded him.

Ricardo and the twins looked down and glared.

"So this is how he meets it…" Crusch muttered while holding Subaru's hand tightly. A forlorn frown on her face as she watched.

"I can't call that anything but amazing." Subaru whispered in awe…

Wait…

He turned around to the merchant that was just explaining the tree to him.

There was no one beside him.

"Uh, what?" Felt turned to Emilia in confusion. "You saw that too right?"

the half-elf nodded her head and began feeling worry for some reason.

Rem's eyes widened as she remembered… "It's the whale!"

Beatrice and Emilia widened their eyes with the maid and gasped in horror.

"Wait! We're gonna see th' Whale?!" Garfiel shouted in wonder and surprise.

"Subaru had to face both the cultists and the whale as well…." Julius looked at the boy with admiration for managing such a feat.

"Yes, he did all of that on his own." Otto emotionlessly added without looking back at the knight.

Julius glared with disappointment clear in his eyes at the defeated way Otto looked at the screen.

"Where'd the guy in the bandana go?" Subaru looked around with a disturbed face and couldn't find the man or his carriage.

"He didn't get distracted by the tree and run off course, did he?"

"What's wrong, Natsuki-san?" Otto asked in confusion.

"Where'd that buddy of yours go? The older guy in the bandana, who was riding on this side of us?" Subaru asked as he turned to Otto.

"What are you talking about? No one was riding on the opposite side of me." The merchant asked bewilderment.

"Huh?" Subaru glared, dumbfounded.

His attention was soon grabbed as white thick fog filled the area around them.

"What happened to th' guy?" Garfiel asked in wonder while watching the screen on the edge of his seat.

"The fog…" Frederica narrowed her eyes in worry as she remembered the stories told of the calamity.

Rem quickly hugged the boy's neck and softly rested her cheek against his while looking at the screen in fear.

"It's here." Beatrice and Emilia stared Rem with panicked glances.

Petra was trying so hard not to hide and be strong for Subaru. But the atmosphere was really terrifying.

A redhaired young man looked at the screen with an expression of despair.

"No…" Reinhard's heart clenched in pain and guilt as he understood what he was about to see.

Subaru slowly looked up to see a dark mass floating above, covering him and the rest of the small flock of carriages.

The boy blinked in wonder and slowly opened his phone's flashlight…

And pointed it at the huge mass beside him.

Inches away from Subaru… A 20 foot tall slimy yellow eye opened and stared down at him.

Sharp, Bestial, Malicious.

"Fuck!" Ricardo shouted in anger.

Julius and Otto stared at the scene in horror for their friend. "Subaru…" "Natsuki-san!"

Garfiel choked and stepped back, excitement gone as he witnessed the size of the mabeast.

Emilia and Beatrice both gasped and stared at the screen slack jawed.

"Run! Big bro!" "Subaru Run!"

Felt and Petra shouted at the same time with terrified eyes.

Wilhelm scowled deeply at the monster on screen.

Reinhard's face contorted to one of anger as his aura flared up. "The Whale…" The knight's cool charming smile was gone, replaced with one of an angry child at the beast that ruined his life.

At the beast that well kill his friend.

Subaru stared at the eye.

The eye looked down at him.

Subaru's face contorted to one of horror.

The eye widened and stared at him.

The thing floating above him moved and roared infront of them making the wind itself burst in circles.

Subaru shouted as he was knocked by the wind of the monster as the fog filled up the entire road.

Title screen:

A Pig's Greed

"Woaaaaahhhh!"

"Subaru-kun!"

The wind riled up and pushed Subaru off the moving carriage.

Rem quickly caught him and jumped to the back of the carriage with Subaru in her grasp.

The boy fell over with his phone knocked beside him and showing him the time.

The monster above them began spraying white smoke that was so heavy it demolished the carriages around Subaru and Rem. Otto struggled to turn the cart away from the destruction of this monster's fog.

"What happened? What the hell is going on?!"

"Subaru-kun, stay down! We've lost our divine protection of Windbreak!" Rem held his hand as the cart began moving with increased speed.

Otto, who was operating the cart had a look of pure despair on his face as he shouted to the two.

"You didn't know? There's only one being that can fly through fog with such a huge body! The White Whale!"

Subaru's eyes shown with fear and despair as the giant Whale roared through the foggy atmosphere above him.

"So he really did meet the whale before making that deal with us." Anastasia commented while watching the intense seen in worry.

"How many times must he suffer like this, I suppose?!" Beatrice shouted while hugging her contractor tightly.

Emilia and Crusch refused to look away as they both wanted to watch how much the boy had gone through because of their incompetence.

Reinhard gritted his teeth in despair as he witnessed the same monster that had killed his grandmother attacking and slaying innocent people and trying to kill the boy he wants to call a friend.

Was this his punishment for helping the Whale kill his grandmother? Was Subaru's death another crime commited by his useless disgusting self?

The Sword Saint looked at the screen with tears in his eyes. "S….top." The knight begged with his eyes wide open in despair.

"Rem, do you see the white whale?"

"I can't it's too dark."

"What happened to the other carriages?"

"It seems they've scattered and fled. But I don't know where they've fled to!"

"Damn! After we finally found some transportation… "

Before they could blink, a large mouth suddenly opened out behind the moving cart and began sucking in the air and fog around them. Like a tornado, the wind was sucked into the Whale's large mouth making Subaru fly almost get sucked into it's mouth had it not been for a horned Oni jumping and delivering a strong hit with her mace to the Whale's nose.

"Thank you Rem!" Frederica held a hand to her chest and breathed a sigh of relief as Subaru was safely on the ground.

"Nicely done miss Rem." Wilhelm nodded his head firmly, approving of the way she made the beast bleed. Such a fearsome young lady.

Garfiel sat down with saucer like eyes and a wide opened jaw at the whales form.

"That was reckless of you, Rem. You could've been hurt because of Barusu's uselessness." Ram admonished while glancing down at her sister in disappointment.

Remembering their talk before the viewing, Rem hugged Subaru tightly and looked at the screen in worry.

"If I can't sacrifice myself… How will I show him what I'm good for." The maid whispered softly to herself as her eyes teared up.

Rem landed right beside Otto and ordered.

"Run past it to the left!"

"Left! Left! Left!" The boy shouted and managed to place the cart just past it's original place… where the Whale's mouth was now residing.

Subaru's robe was cut and the boy was sent flying out of the carriage.

But a chain was quickly wrapped around his waist and he got pulled back into the carriage.

Rem glared at the whale as she held a large wooden box.

"Eat this!" She throw the box in the eye of the beast.

* RAAAAAAOOOOOOOORRRRR*

"Rem is so awesome!" Garfiel shouted and jumped in his seat in anticipation and fear for his Cap'n.

Rem glared at the whale on screen and cursed it for trying to hurt her Subaru.

Emilia's hurt clenched as she felt guilty for not being there to save the boy from this henious monster.

Crusch's hold on Subaru's hand tightened even further as her fear for the boy facing the mabeast increased.

"Natsuki-sama… Forgive me." The lady whispered in shame as she watched him facing down the monster on his own because she didn't believe him.

"It didn't work!" Subaru called out as he watched the huge monster fly steadily behind them with an open mouth.

"Wh-Why is it zeroing in on us? There are other carriages out there!" Otto blabbered scared out of his wit.

"Complaining won't change anything! Think… Think, think! We need a way out! Isn't there something? Anything?!"

Rem watched the boy mutter and shout in desperate need of a plan. Her face turned determined.

"Subaru-kun." He looked up to find her handing him a bag of coins. "Please accept this."

"Did you come up with something?" Subaru looked at her with hope.

"I will get off the carriage and intercept it.You escape the fog in the meantime."

"Rem!" Ram shouted in anger as she glared down at her sister.

"NO!" Petra shouted as she looked with fear.

"It's the only thing she can do." Ricardo sighed and shook his head in sadness.

The twins both looked at one another with tears in their eyes for the maid.

Rem just hugged Subaru and wished that he won't get hurt by her decision.

The nasty-eyed boy stared at her with shock but Rem was already moving.

"Otto-sama, please take care of Subaru-kun. He has the payment we promised you."

"P-Payment? That's the least of our problems right now! We have to stay alive first!" The merchant shouted from the front while operating the ground dragons.

The maid smiled softly to the shell shocked Subaru.

"Subaru-kun, I'm not very smart, so this is the only plan I can think of. Please…"

"Hold on, Rem! I won't let you! I won't let you go! If… If you die too, I'll… "

Subaru hugged Rem into his chest tightly as he whimpered in despair, shielding her from falling over the tumbling cart.

The maid's eyes widened as she held her love close.

"I believe I was born for this very moment."

"Don't think like that Rem, Subaru cares about you a great deal!" Emilia shouted at the maid in sadness and pity.

Crusch shook her head and glanced at the maid in sympathy.

Ram couldn't stop the tears from falling as she saw to what extent her sister's self worth had dropped.

Subaru looked at the maid he was hugging with confusion.

"What are you talki-" * SMACK*

Subaru slowly began falling down on the cart after Rem chopped him on the neck.

"What did you…" The paralyzed boy gasped as his body was slowly placed down by Rem.

"It will be alright. I'll always be watching over you from behind." Rem smiled and stepped away from Subaru.

The boy's eyes widened with agony and misery as he witnessed Rem smiling at him one last time… before jumping into the fog.

"D-Damn it!" Garfiel shouted in anger as he once again couldn't save anyone and had to watch and suffer as his friends died like his cap'n.

"I just wish he misses me." Rem whispered selfishly.

"I guess that might work…" Anastasia sighed and shook her sadness off.

Scene change…

Subaru and Otto were riding through the foggy and dark road.

Things were quiet now, the Whale was nowhere to be seen.

The paralyzed Subaru had fell asleep a while ago. But a tumble from the cart forced him to wake up.

Subaru slowly opened his eyes and noticed that he was holding on to a bag full of coins. He looked around the empty cart.

"Where's Rem?" He asked in alarm.

"Natsuki-san, you're awake? Please don't move. The ground dragon's still running at full speed! I don't have time to worry about you!" An alarmed Otto shouted from the front.

"I don't care about that! Where's Rem? What happened to Rem?! Answer me, Otto! What happened to Rem?!" Subaru shouted hopelessly.

The merchant looked distraught and remorseful as he drove the dragon.

"So that we could escape, she jumped out of the carriage to intercept the White Whale." He solemnly delivered.

Subaru's eyes widened with shock and horror.

"Go back."

Otto slowly turned to him with a dumbfounded look. "Huh?!"

"I said go back! We have to… We have to save Rem! Go back right now!" Subaru jumped beside Otto and began grabbing his collar.

"No you idiot!" Felix shouted and looked on with a panicking expression.

"He can't be real!" Al growled out in disgust.

Rem's eyes were wide. "Did… Was I the reason he dies here?"

"Hmph! Of course you are I suppose." Beatrice glared at the maid and hugged the boy tighter.

Emilia kept her gaze on the screen, her heart shattering for her friends and especially for her knight's suffering.

"Wh-What good will that do? Didn't you see how terrifying that White Whale monster is? That would be suicide!" Otto screamed as Subaru held him by the collar.

"I saw the monster up close! That's why I'm telling you to go back!"

Otto pushed Subaru off and shouted. "Have you gone insane?! Do you want the hope she left with us to go to waste?"

"Don't you dare talk about Rem! You abandoned her! You have no right to talk about her! Go back!"

"You damn idiot!" Otto shouted at his brother on the screen and held his fists to his sides in anger at Subaru's way of thinking.

He just hoped that this Otto doesn't leave Subaru behind this time.

"Please save him me." Otto begged and watched with worry painting his face.

"You still don't understand how terrifying the White Whale is?!When a punitive force assembled by Lugunica set out to subjugate it, that monster killed the first Master Swordsman! There's no way we can win!" Otto shouted and turned to operate the speeding cart.

Subaru was taken aback by this. "It killed… the Master Swordsman?"

Reinhard and Wilhelm glared at the ground, both trying to keep the tears in.

Felt held her knight's hand and patted it sympathetically.

Julius, Felix, Crusch and Ricardo bowed their head in respect to the memory of the previous Sword Saint.

Garfiel grounded his fist to the floor in anger, wanting nothing more than to slam his fists into the whale's eye.

Otto could only look up ahead. "I'm weak, and so are you. So there's no way we can save that girl."

Subaru's face twisted with misery as he looked back into the foggy road.

"But I know Rem isn't actually strong, either."

"We were fortunate to escape it for now, but in this mist, there's no telling when it'll show up again." The merchant spoke with a smile on his face, making Subaru glare hatefully.

"What the hell do you mean 'fortunate'?!" Ram shouted in fury at the merchant while Otto stared at the screen, eyes wide in confusion.

Many in the room raised their brows at the sudden change in tone.

"Otto, watch what you say!"

The merchant looked confused at this. "Huh? What do you mean, Natsuki-san?"

"Don't talk like this is some game! We were 'Fortunate'! You must be joking! Do you know how Rem felt when she-"

"Who is Rem?"

Subaru's outraged look turned to one of confusion. "Huh?"

"What?" Otto gasped eyes wide in confusion.

Rem's eyes widened as she jumped to intercept her sister's punch.

"Get out of my way, Rem."

"Sissy it's not Otto's fault."

Rem tried to hold Ram off from killing Otto. Garfiel quickly placed himself behind Rem and glared Ram protectively of his friend. Otto just looked lost and confused.

"I-I don't understand." Otto uttered in bewilderment.

"Just watch what happens, sis. You'll understand."

"Hmph! Fine I will." Ram walked up to her seat and sat down beside the amused looking clown.

"Don't get too angry now… Your master is the cause of all of this pain and suffering after all."

Ram glanced at Roswaal in surprise. The lord had never been open about his plans or his guilt for them to her before. Yet here he is, sounding guilty with a hint of shame in his usually fake eyes.

Ram just smiled softly and leaned on him. "I know that you'll always take care of me and my sister, Roswaal-sama."

The lord closed his eyes and frowned secretly.

"Of course." He whispered.

Otto glanced at Subaru worriedly and bewildered. "There was no one with that name among the merchants who separated from us. Who are you talking about?" The merchant asked while staring at Subaru innocently.

* SLAM!*

The disturbed Subaru punched Otto in the face so hard the cart began stumbling and moving unevenly for a moment.

Otto kept his hold on the dragon's barring and held his cheek in pain. "What do you think you're doing?!" He asked in shock.

"Cut the crap! You talk about how Rem let us escape, and then ask who she is?! Do you have a death wish?!" Subaru shouted while grabbing hold of the merchant's collar.

"So the stories my mercenaries brought with them were correct, The whale has the power to erase people out of existence." Anastasia spoke in wonder and fear of such an ability.

"That's… What a cruel ability…" Frederica closed her eyes and mourned her colleague's sacrifice.

"You didn't believe the reports?" Ricardo looked at his lady in surprise.

"The talk of an ability to make someone's very existence was really far fetched to me. I couldn't really grasp it. But now…" Anastasia bit her lip and shook her head at the way the maid was just erased.

"Gluttony did something akin to that as well, Nyan." Felix growled in anger.

Ram's eyes went wide as she remembered how her sister was completely gone from her memory as if she never existed.

"Barusu is the only one who could remember those affected by Gluttony." Ram seethed through gritted teeth form her guilt.

"Subaru was really sad that he was the only one still able to remember Rem." Emilia pointed out in sadness as she remembered how heartbroken he looked when they found Rem.

"The boy seems to have also managed to nullify the whale's power as well and remember Rem-sama." Reinhard commented with a frown.

"The whale's power wasn't as strong as Gluttony. My comrades were able to still remember their families and friends that have fallen to the whale's power even if the world forgot. But Subaru-sama was able to beat both of the monsters odd authorities." Wilhelm's musing seemed to put everyone on the same wavelength as the conclusion came to everyone.

"The Witch!" Felix growled in disgust.

"She's the one who's been killing Subaru all this time, I suppose. Why is she saving him from her followers, infact." Beatrice growled out.

Emilia glared at the floor in hatred. How much has the Witch hurt her and her friends? Why was she so adamant on ruining Emilia's life?

"I'm telling you, I don't know what you're talking about! Why are you suddenly talking like this? Did seeing the White Whale make you lose your mind?!" Otto shouted as he glared at Subaru.

The merchant's eyes roamed to something floating behind the black haired boy holding his collar.

The whale opened it's yellow eye and stared at the two.

Otto screamed in fright.

"It's still after them!" Petra shouted in shock.

Emilia and Crusch watched with wide worried eyes as they held the boy's hands.

Rem hugged the boy tight and trembled in place. "Forgive me. Even in my death was useless." The maid softly whispered as she cried tears of agony for her hero.

"Why is it still after them?!" Felix growled, angry that Rem's sacrifice was for nothing and angry at how persistent this monster was.

Crusch's head perked up at this. "Subaru… Subaru-sama was always being followed by the whale…"

"It's because of the witch's scent isn't it." Ram growled as she glared at the whale that had erased her sister.

Rem nodded her head and kept her grip on the boy from behind.

Crusch remembered back to that legendary scene of a young man jumping off the great calamity's snout and forcing it to follow him down to the floor of the world and stop hiding in the shadows of the clouds and the sky.

The moment when Natsuki Subaru, brought down the White Whale.

"So he used the Witch's scent." Crusch whispered in awe as she understood just how crazy their plan was.

And how much pain this boy had to go through to make said plan perfect.

The ground dragons ran away from it while the merchant began crying and shouting in despair. "Why? Why? Why is it so persistent? I thought we'd left it behind!" The merchant slowly looked at the lamp light beside him and threw it away.

"Why is it only after us? Even in the darkness… why?" Otto looked around frantically, scared, and despaired.

Otto shook his head and understood that it was here where he will see his death along with Subaru's.

He trembled at the thought of death but he could live with the fact that it him that held out to help Subaru till the very end.

"It's all I could do to help you, Natsuki-san. I'm sorry." Otto mourned and waited for his death to appear on screen.

Subaru was sitting with his head in his hands and an expression of agony on his face.

"Rem…"

"Is… Is there some mark that it's following?!"

Subaru quickly looked up in realization after he heard Otto's statement.

"It can't be…" Subaru slowly stood up from his seat and looked behind him into the fog.

"That monster, the White Whale, " He stared in despair as the whale showed itself and roared fiercely behind the carriage.

One thing could be seen from the fog… a giant white horn stemming from it's forehead.

"It's a mabeast, too?" Subaru stared in horror as he realized. "So it's being drawn to me? No…"

Otto slowly looked at Subaru when he heard that sentence.

Subaru didn't notice and kept staring at the whale with a look of grief and despair. "Rem, I… No… It's my fault… " Subaru uttered in pain and misery.

"See, I suppose? Now he blames himself for your foolishness." Beatrice glared up at Rem, making the maid avoid eye contact and nuzzle Subaru's neck to wipe her tears.

"I'm so sorry."

"Natsuki-san, please die."

"…Ghk!" Otto stood up with his hands shaking in shock and despair.

"What?!" Garfiel looked at his brother in shock.

Everyone looked on at the edge of their seats.

Subaru slowly turned to the merchant beside him.

"Huh?"

Otto's tearful terrified face was the last thing he saw before the merchant pushed him off the speeding cart.

"It's all your fault! It's following us because of you! T-Take responsibility! Die! Die so that I can live!" The merchant shouted as he sped away with his cart and insane twisted expression on his face.

Otto could only drop down on his knees in shock and horror at the savage cowardice he displayed.

"You coward!" Felt shouted in fury as she along with Beatrice glared at him.

The merchant just looked at the screen with tears running down his cheeks. "Subaru...No… I-I wouldn't… I would never do th-"

"Yet you did." Crusch growled out while glaring at the boy.

Otto cried and hugged his knees. "He's my friend!" He shouted. "I would never do this to him!"

"Yet you did." Anastasia heartlessly spat out while glaring at him.

Otto slowly turned to look at-

"Don't look at Betty's Subaru, coward!" Otto flinched looked away from the intense glare of hatred, Beatrice sent him.

"Beako! Otto wouldn't do something like that stop making him feel bad."

The merchant looked up at Emilia in surprise.

"Rem, agrees with Emilia-sama, something must have been wrong with him because of the whale." Rem defended while looking at the screen in concern.

Subaru rolled around roughly like a ragdoll, getting injured and breaking many of his bones.

He could only gasp in pain as he watched the cart disappear into the fog.

Subaru slowly tried to move his broken limps and stand.

"HGK! AHHH! GHK…."

"I'm so sorry…" Otto apologized while holding his head in both hands. Crying and gasping in guilt for what he had done to his friend.

He was supposed to be the one that supports Subaru.

Subaru slowly looked up…

The fearsome mabeast of mist was floating right over him. Towering and whaling in sadistic glee as it's yellow eye shined brightly.

"Please…." Otto shouted at the screen while looking on in despair.

Beatrice and Emilia began shedding tears for the state Subaru was in.

Rem just hugged her beloved and looked on.

Wilhelm cracked the chair handles in anger as he cursed the monster's name.

Crusch just kept her hand holding the boy's and put on her brave face, determined to see this through.

It's shining yellow eye turned red as the whale opened it's gigantic mouth and shot the wind towards the broken boy.

"AHHHHH AAAAAAA AHHHHHH AAAA!"

Subaru wailed in pain and agony as the attack forced him to roll on the grassy plains, breaking his arms and legs while bleeding from his bruises and cuts.

"...GHK!" Otto couldn't blink as he watched his brother's final moments on the screen.

"I killed him… I killed him…" The distraught merchant uttered while holding his head and staring at the screen with an expression of despair.

Emilia gasped and tightly held his hand while tears flow down her cheeks.

"Big bro…" Felt choked and held her hands to her mouth at the brutal way the monster was toying with him.

"Goddamn Whale!" Felix shouted, glaring at the screen and keeping the tears at the corner of his eyes.

Julius kept looking on at the screen with an angry expression.

He stopped rolling and slowly opened his one good uninjured eye with tears leaking from it.

"I don't wanna die…"

Otto closed his eyes and hid his head into his knees as he sobbed in guilt.

Petra looked at the screen with her hand on her heart in despair and horror at what he had to go through.

He slowly got up with both eyes shedding tears as he gasped in pain and fear.

"No… I don't wanna die… " He shook his head and cried.

"RGHAAAAAAA!" Garfiel screamed in anger and punched the floor of the theater as he cried for his Cap'n. The blonde boy dropped down and sobbed in despair at his captain's painful situation. Unable to help. No longer a useful shield. Garfiel cried beside Otto at the sheer pain their brother had to endure because of their uselessness.

"Help…"

"Betty wants to help you! Subaru's Betty is here!" Beatrice cried and hugged her contractor.

"I don't wanna die!"

"Subaru!" "Natsuki…"

Both Reinhard and Julius slammed their fists on the handles of their chairs as they watched what their friend had been reduced to.

The two knights watched with shocked, angry faces, as Subaru begged for his life.

Priscilla watched the scene with a small frown. "How much can one take of this?" She muttered.

Beside her… Al was shaking in place, with rage and fury.

Subaru began limping on all of his broken limps and bleeding body. Crawling on all fours while shouting nonsensically.

"I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die! I don't wanna die! No! No! Help me! No! I don't wanna die!"

Wilhelm and Ram both looked away from the screen with droplets of tears falling from their eyes. Deeply hurt. Disturbed severely but the sight of the boy running from the mythical monster.

He crawled and crawled.

Rem hugged him and sobbed into his neck. "Please don't die Subaru-kun!"

Screaming.

Anastasia closed her eyes and held her scarf tight. She didn't want to see any of this.

A few tears slipped out of her eyes.

"Poor kid…" She sobbed.

Crying.

Crusch's tears began flowing as she tried to keep her brave face and glared at the screen while squeezing the boy's hand for comfort.

He tripped and rolled around on his back.

"I don't want to die…" He wheezed and closed his eyes.

Petra closed her eyes and hugged the horrified Frederica.

"H-How much is he going to take?!" The blonde maid shouted in outrage as her own tears fell down.

Something loomed over him.

"How could you not break from all of this?" Roswaal asked while staring at the screen bewildered.

He shut his eyes tight and waited for death.

Emilia watched with tears of pain and guilt flowing down.

As her knight dies again.

Silence.

Slowly, he opened his eyes… to find a shinning moon and a plain cleared of mist.

The Whale… was gone.

"Huh?" Subaru sounded out in confusion.

Scene change…

The injured Subaru could be seen slowly trickling and limping along the dirt path with a tired and malformed bruised up face.

Everyone kept looking at the screen with baited breathes as if no waiting for anything to happen.

"Rem…." He uttered in pain.

"Rem, forgive me."

The maid hugged him tighter and cried tears of guilt and relief.

"H-He made it?" Emilia asked while clutching her knight's hand in shock and worry.

"He managed to survive after all of that?" Anastasia whispered in astonishment.

"Why did the Whale leave him?" Ram asked tiredly and in relief.

"Maybe it's just toying with him?" Felix glared critically at the screen, preparing himself for any surprise.

Subaru stopped and looked at the moving cart running toward him.

"You're…"

"Otto-kun came back!" Petra shouted happily, making the merchant raise his head instantly with hopeful tearfilled eyes.

Before him, the cart stopped to show the dragon carriage he was just pushed off of. But there was no merchant in sight.

"Where is he? Where's Otto?" He asked tiredly.

His answer came when he moved to sit on the driver's seat.

The seat was filled with blood with two blades sticking to the wood.

The blades had blood on them.

"The damn cult… " Julius muttered in anger.

"Otto-kun must've ran into them…" Emilia looked at the grief stricken boy with a look of sympathy.

"Bro, are ya alright?" Garfiel asked, his heart tired from all the panic attacks. He felt anger and frustration that Otto was killed as well by those cultist bastards. But the shape of the merchant was worrying him.

"Otto…"

"Merchant boy?"

Julius and Mimi cautiously called his name and called to him.

Rem looked at the boy, eyes wide.

Otto kept staring at the screen with his eyes wide open with tears streaming. Jaw slack and horror visible on every inch of his face.

Guilt. Hopelessness. Cowardice.

Otto witnessed himself throwing his own brother away to save his skin. He witnessed said brother get killed many times in the most horrible of ways.

And yet Subaru had saved him.

He saved him from the cultists that almost killed him.

Otto died on the screen, but the Otto in the theater was alive and well, living happily because of Subaru's kindness.

"I truly can't help him with anything…"

Everyone stared at the boy with worry and confusion.

Garfield actually carried the catatonic boy to his seat with green eyes filled with worry.

No one understood what the boy's sentence meant.

Except for one infuriated elegant knight. "You damned fool…" Julius growled while narrowing his eyes at the broken Otto.

Garfiel sit his friend down and sat beside him while looking with a worried disturbed look.

"Come on man… This isn't funny."

"I see… *Cough * * Cough* Gkh…!" Subaru slowly sat on the blood filled seat and grabbed the him of the dragon's leash with his broken arm.

"Let's go." He uttered in pain and exhaustion.

The diligent ground dragon looked at him for a moment and began moving the cart forward.

Scene change…

Subaru woke up as the carriage stopped. He looked around him to find that he was at the village.

"The forest?"

"Huh? Subaru?" A child like voice exclaimed from beside him.

"Their still alive!" "That means bro has a chance to save everyone!"

The twins jumped up and down in happiness.

Petra shook her head and stopped the feeling of despair from overwhelming her. She did see their bodies in Subaru's flashback, but she also saw their happy smiles after Subaru had come to save them.

So she had faith and hope in her hero. Her wonderful poor boy of a hero.

Subaru looked to find Petra and another kid looking at him.

"It is Subaru!"

Another two kids ran up from his other side and climbed the carriage. "What happened to you Subaru?"

"You're a mess, Subaru. You stink!"

The children began giggling and laughing at him.

Subaru's ruined face managed to smile a little. "You guys…" Subaru uttered as he looked at the smiling faces of the kids.

"I wasn't too late this time?"

He fell down unconscious.

"Subaru?" The kids shouted in worry.

Darkness…

Scene change…

Subaru's eyes slowly opened. He was sleeping on a fancy looking familiar bed wearing those same white robes from his first day at the mansion.

He was in Roswaal's mansion.

"He made it back…" Reinhard sighed in relief, trying to forget the sight of the whale looming over his friend.

"But how will he die in this one?" Crusch asked in confusion, her heart clenching. The duchess found herself unconsciously leaning against Subaru's arm.

Slowly turning to his side, he found someone sitting on a chair beside his bed.

A blue haired maid.

"Rem!" He instantly shot up from his resting place and held the girl's hand.

The girl that had been peacefully reading a book by his bedside gasped and looked at him with an annoyed stare.

"Why are you so readily touching me, Barusu?I understand that you're happy to see me after a few days away, but don't instinctively jump on me like that. It's indecent."

Ram pulled her hand away and closed her book in disgust.

Subaru could only stare at her in shock as the blue hair was gone and replaced with pink instead.

He mistook Ram for Rem.

"Oh… Yeah, that's right… " He looked down in sadness.

"See, Rem? You've made him live with the fact that he killed you and now he's going to imagine you in my place which means he will be even more perverted towards my charming figure than normal." Ram spat out and admonished her sister.

Rem blushed a bit and perked her head up. "He shouldn't live in guilt for what happened to me! I gave up my life for his own sake!"

"He doesn't see it that way, I suppose!" Beatrice turned on Subaru's lap to face the maid hugging him from behind. Glaring, she seethed. "You're going to make him give up sooner or later, I suppose."

Rem's eyes widened in horror. As if she understood something…

So he gave up… He wanted to run away…

"Because of me?" Rem was horrified at the thought.

The maid changed her look of disgust and glanced at him curiously. "So, Barusu, tell me what happened. You were in terrible shape. Your dislocated shoulder, split forehead, and broken ribs have been mended, but if you move too much, they'll reopen. I've discarded your muddy, blood-soaked clothes."

"Oh, thanks.The one who healed my wounds…"

"It was Emilia-sama."

Subaru's expression turned to one of sour sadness.

Ram raised a brow at this. "She didn't tell me what happened between you two in the capital. I'm not interested. Judging by your reaction, I'm sure you did something you shouldn't have."

Subaru could only reply while frowning in shame and sadness. "That's harsh."

"I think it's an appropriate assessment. Perfect for a loser who's afraid to approach the heart of the matter and would do anything to put it off a little longer."

Subaru struggled as Ram gazed sharply toward him.

He began clenching his fist as he uttered the next words in pain and fear.

"Rem is dead." Subaru's eyes began leaking tears.

"I… couldn't do anything. The fog… the White Whale… appeared on the road. So, to cover my escape, Rem… but… I was left alone in the fog, and…"

"Barusu."

He slowly looked at the maid with tearful eyes.

The maid just looked at him curiously.

"Rem… Who is that?"

Everyone stared at the screen with wide open eyes.

Rem actually gasped in shock and let tears of agony stream down her face as she hugged her hero tighter. The sight of her sister forgetting about her like she wasn't even an existence was so painful. So painful.

"Huh?" Subaru uttered as his face twisted in shock and confusion.

Ram tilted her head and stared at him. "Who is Rem, Barusu?"

"Wh-What do you mean, Who?" Subaru asked frantic and confused.

"Don't be ridiculous! Sh-She's your younger sister! You know, Rem! Rem! That Rem! This is no time for-"

"I have no younger sister." Ram refuted him sharply and emotionlessly.

"D-Damn Whale…" Garfiel gritted his teeth and looked at his brother with a miserable expression.

Otto didn't show any change.

Not a single twitch.

"Don't say that! If not for Rem… That's right! What would you call that whole mess in the mabeast forest?! You, Rem, and I fought those mabeasts and-"

"Something is seriously wrong with you, Barusu. I hate to admit it, but you were half-responsible for the ulgarm eradication. Roswaal-sama and I handled the rest. There was no place in it for this long-lost sister you call Rem."

Subaru could only stare at the glaring maid in shock.

"This is what it must've felt like when Rem fell to Gluttony." Crusch grimaced and leaned in some more on the sleeping boy as she watched.

"Subaru's been feeling this pain for so long." Emilia whispered softly and leaned more to rest on her knight's shoulder. Feeling attached to him and grateful his presence beside her. Something she wished for in the nights he would spend aimlessly talking about his day to the coma induced Rem. Every day.

She wished he would do that to her now. Just speak aimlessly and cheerfully. So she could slap him and tell him to be a good boy and rest on her lap to cry his worries and trauma away.

She gently and softly squeezed the no doubt crushed hand of her knight and hoped to have him whisper his love in her ear.

Nothing came.

"This isn't funny! Even for a nightmare, this doesn't make sense!" He growled in confusion.

"I am always serious. You must be the one who's dreaming."

"Dreaming… Dreaming? Dreaming?!" Subaru shouted and stood up from his bed.

"That's bull!"

"Barusu! You shouldn't stand-"

"Shut up! Just… Just be quiet and watch!" Subaru stomped out of his room and ran towards the room where the blue haired maid once resided.

He opened the room to find it empty with no sign of life or furniture in it.

"It can't be…" He gasped in bafflement and looked around in the room.

"Barusu, are you satisfied?"

"Rem isn't… "

"No such person has ever lived in this room. Go back to your room and sleep.Your exhaustion is making you confused." Ram walked away and left him to his thoughts.

"That's not fair!" Petra spoke in sympathy for her friend, not liking how disturbed Subaru was looking at all.

Subaru is shown walking slowly in the halls of the mansion with a disturbed face.

All I have to do is run away, run away, run away.

"Hmm, it seems like he's finally reached a breaking point. He no longer wants to fight this." Ricardo mused solemnly.

"I would understand him not wanting to fight anymore." Felt whispered in pity for her big bro.

Rem just looked at the screen forlornly.

"What good will running do?" Subaru asked in despair as he remembered the way Rem jumped into the fog to save him.

Her eyes went wide.

He had a determined expression as he looked back at the hall.

Walking across it, he stopped at the door to this wing's quarters.

He slowly moved his hand to the handle of the door but he struggled and shook in place.

"Lend me your courage, Rem!" He shouted and opened the door with nervousness and reluctance oozing off him.

*CREAKK! *

The door opened.

"Subaru!" A startled Half-elf stood up from her desk and stepped toward the boy.

"Why… did you come back?" She looked at him with an expression of confusion and hurt.

"You guys still haven't made up for that fight about Subaru's mistakes." Felt grimaced in remembrance.

Emilia frowned at the memory of how it felt like to be upset with Subaru.

She didn't like it. Not one bit.

Subaru's own guilt forced him to hesitate for a moment but he soon steeled himself in determination and stepped closer to her.

"Let's go. We can't stay here!"

"Go? Where? No… Why?"

"Anywhere that isn't here is fine! If you have to ask why, I'd say, 'For your sake.' I came back here for you!"

Emilia looked away hurt and guilty. "That again, Subaru? You came back covered in wounds and worried me to death. Weren't you in the capital being treated by Felis? Why are you here now?"

Subaru's guilty expression turned to one of pure determination as his eyes teared up. "If… If you're going to protest, I'll drag you away if I have to! In a few days, you'll see I was right, whether you want to or not!" Subaru quickly grabbed her arm, making Emilia step back from him.

"Wait, he's planning to leave the villagers behind?" Felix asked softly, heartbroken.

"Cap'n's been through so much shit. 't this poin', he just wants to save Emili' and be done with 't all." Garfiel explained with his face leaking an expression of disappointment.

"But he's being too forceful and too rash with Emilia-sama." Reinhard frowned in worry at the situation.

"What else do you expect? He's trying to get her to do what he wants to prove himself right. That there was nothing wrong with the way he behaved when they fought and that he doesn't have issues he needs to conquer deep within himself." Anastasia explained while shaking her head sympathetically at the boy's troubled antics.

Julius winced and looked down. "I won't let you feel this way again. You damn moron. I will beat you every time you make a mistake like this. I will make a knight out of you." Julius vowed to his friend and watched the screen with an aura of determination surrounding him.

"Wait! Wait, Subaru! What happened to you? You weren't this kind of person before. I thought you… And yet-"

"Just be quite and do as I say!" He shouted in despair.

Emilia looked taken aback.

"You can't stay here! You'll regret it! You will! No one will be saved. I don't want to suffer and cry anymore! Just do as I say! Then everything will work out! It will!"

The haunted look on his face changed to one of pure agony as he scratched and pulled on his hair.

"Why doesn't anyone understand?!"

"S….ubaru." Otto whispered in pity and guilt as he watched with tears of anguish running down his face.

Emilia looked away from him with guilt. "I'm sorry. I don't understand what you're saying. I want to… But I'm not sure I have the time for that right now. There's so much I need to do. So for now… " Emilia stared at the ground with a sad frown.

"It won't work."

Emilia slowly looked up at the boy as he muttered in a tone laced with pain and plead.

"It won't work. You won't work. You'll fail! You can't do it. It's no use."

Emilia held a hand to her mouth and stared at the screen in hurt.

Emilia's eyes widened as she stared at the rambling boy.

"You're all talk! You can't save anyone, or be saved! You'll keep doing rash and unreasonable things, until you see as many corpses as the number of reckless decisions you made! That's your future!" Subaru shouted hatefully without his face being shown.

Emilia's eyes trembled with fear. "Why?" The half-elf stared at him with sympathy and hurt.

"Why are you crying as if you're in such pain?"

As the reflection of the boy's face was shown from the perspective of Emilia's eyes, the most haunted wide-eyed look was plastered on his face as his anguish filled eyes streamed lines of misery filled tears down his cheeks.

"Subaru…" "Natsuki-sama…" "Subaru-kun…"

The four guilty girls sitting around the boy all looked at the screen with tears in their eyes, hearts clenching at the sight of their broken love.

(Emilia, Rem, Crusch and Beatrice.)

"Big bro's in so much pain." Felt's fist twisted in rage at Subaru's state of mind.

Garfiel gritted his teeth and closed his eyes in anger.

Someone grabbed his hand… It was Otto.

The gray haired boy just looked at Garf with an empty stare… tired.

Garfiel nodded his head and watched the screen with a scowl.

The two boys leaned on one another and let their tears slip down their cheeks for their inability to help their best friend.

Subaru slowly looked down and cried in despair. "After… After she sent me here… No, after she brought me here, there's… There's something I have to do for Rem's sake… " Subaru wheezed through his tears.

"Rem?"

Subaru looked up to find Emilia tilting her head worriedly.

"You, too?" Subaru's shoulders slumped in defeat. "You've forgotten Rem, too?"

"Subaru?"

The boy's hands clenched as his tears streamed down his face.

"Fine. I'll tell you everything. If all of you are going to forget Rem, I'd rather expose everything and end up vomiting blood!" Subaru growled out in determination and despair as he held his robs tightly.

Rem's eyes widened in horror as she understood what she had just done.

Because of her, he's going to…

"He's gonna challenge the witch?!" Anastasia looked on in outrage.

"Is she the one that will kill him here?" Ricardo asked with an angry glare.

Emilia stared at the screen with wide eyes.

If you're coming for me, then come. I'll gladly give you my beating heart!

"No!" Emilia shouted in horror.

Subaru glared determinedly at the scared worried elf before him.

"Emilia…"

"Yes?"

"I can use Return by Death to-"

The world around him stopped and clouds of dark smoke like matter filled the room.

Two black hands gently appeared and caressed his chin. One of the hands slowly lowered down and softly touched the beating heart of the boy.

But the hand moved away from his heart after softly touching it.

"Huh?" Subaru asked in surprise as the hands disappeared and the mist around him dissipated.

"She didn't crush his heart?" Frederica whispered, scared out of her wits by the cruel witch's treatment of the boy.

"Huh?" He asked again and found himself able to move. He looked down at his chest with confusion.

What was that about?

Usually…

* Thump*

"Huh?Emilia?" Subaru held Emilia softly and looked at her worried. She had fallen into his arms.

He looked at her to find… blood flowing steadily out of her mouth… As if her heart was crushed.

"Don't… Wha… Huh?" Subaru slowly fell down and held Emilia's bleeding body as a pool of blood formed beneath them.

He had a disturbed expression as he raised her chin to look at her face.

He screamed and cried in horror…

He… killed Emilia.

"Wh-What?!" Felix shouted in outrage.

"He was going to almost talk about his pain to her!" Mimi screamed with tears running down her face.

"So she killed Emilia-sama instead." Reinhard stared at the screen in disbelief at such cruelty.

Emilia was staring at the screen with tears of horror and freight streaming down her face as she hugged her knight's hand for comfort.

The witch had killed her. She had killed her like she was nothing. Crushed her heart infront of Subaru. Erased her from life because she was annoying to her.

"I…. I don't want to die." The half-elf sobbed and hugged Subaru's side.

"You have the look of someone who believes he's the most unfortunate soul in the world." A voice sounded as someone entered the quarters where Subaru was sitting with Emilia's body hugged to his chest tightly.

The disturbed boy looked up to find a girl with twintails glancing down at him coldly.

"Beatrice…"

"Bubby won't come out, I suppose." The girl slowly removed the green crystal from Emilia's neck. The crystal was shattered in half.

"Don't worry. Bubby won't die, I suppose. He just returned to his original form for now." Beatrice solemnly hid the shattered crystal pieces in her pocket and glanced at the boy.

Many eyes widened at this.

"Oh shit!" Garfiel shouted and slammed his fist on his knee while staring at the screen in shock.

"So Subaru will die because of the spirit?" Tivey asked.

Petra turned to him with a shocked expression. "Kitty wouldn't kill Subaru! What is wrong with you?!" The small maid was mourning Rem's and Emilia's deaths. She didn't need such lies.

"It's true, little maid. The boy was killed by the half-runt's spirit because she wished for the world to die if she was no longer in it. Selfish and disgusting as her ancestor."

Emilia couldn't even refute the smug Priscilla. The pain and anguish of what was done with her and what will happen to Subaru by her beloved father's hand was too great for her. So she just cried.

Petra glared at Priscilla not believing a word and stuck her tongue out.

"You have something you want to say, I suppose?"

Subaru slowly looked at Emilia's corpse and closed his eyes.

"Please kill me. Right here." He pleaded pathetically.

Beatrice shook her head slowly with her eyes wide and filled with tears. "N-No, please! Please, don't do it! PLEASE I DON'T WANT TO SEE BETTY HURTING SUBAUR!"

The small spirit wailed in agony while hugging her contractor and crying into his chest.

The spirit's eyes narrowed. "You would ask me to kill you? That's too cruel, I suppose. You understand nothing. You understand nothing at all." The little girl growled in anger.

"Huh? Beatrice?"

"I won't grant any of your wishes, I suppose.If you want to die, then die on your own. Betty wants no part of it, I suppose." The little girl waved a hand and distorted reality infront of the boy.

"What are you…?"

"Everything is already hopeless, but your staying here is a problem. I will at least protect this mansion, I suppose." The girl glared at him as a giant black hole opened up before them.

"Beatrice?" Subaru asked struggling to keep himself and Emilia on the ground as the portal raged and sucked him in toward it.

"Betty is not like Roswaal. Even if it would secure a future for me, I've had enough of pain, suffering, fear… Everything, I suppose!"

"Wh-What are you talking about?" Felix asked in fear and sadness at the scene.

Beatrice kept staring at the screen in shock and horror.

Roswaal just shook his head and closed his eyes for his sister.

Subaru could only stare at her as the portal sucked him and Emilia's body and began closing.

"At least die where I can't see you, I suppose." Beatrice's defeated expression was the last Subaru saw as the portal closed.

Darkness…

"I-I…. " The small spirit could only chock and sob while opening and closing her mouth like a fish. She couldn't explain the feeling of relief for not being made to watch herself killing the boy or guilt that she had thrown him away somewhere unknown to his death.

The broken little girl just cried into her Subaru's chest.

"Betty's sorry… so sorry."

"Where'd she send him?" Anastasia asked not wanting to look at the great spirit in such a state.

Above a clearing in a forest, the night sky tore apart as a portal suddenly opened and out tumbled Subaru and Emilia, rolling on the ground.

Subaru slowly got up and immediately held the half-elf closer to him. "Emilia…"

She was unresponsive. Face cold and blood coming out of her slightly hung mouth.

Subaru's eyes teared up in despair. "Sorry… I'm sorry. "

Emilia grasped his chest in her hand and whispered softly to him. "It's okay. It's okay, Subaru. You shouldn't be in pain. You stupid dunderhead! Don't cry for me… Please don't cry."

"I'm sorry. I'm so sorry…Someone… Anyone…"

Subaru wheezed and screamed into the night sky. "Please kill me!"

And slowly…

A group of dozen hooded men surrounded Subaru.

Petra shouted at the top of her lungs in fear.

"No!" Garfiel slammed his palms on his head and stared with wide eyes.

Subaru's eyes widened in shock.

"I've been waiting for you, believer in love." A figure stepped upfront before Subaru… a raging toothy grin on his disturbed green face.

"Betelgeuse…" Subaru whispered in horror.

Petra started to cry once again and held Frederica by the dress to look away from the insane man. She didn't care who he was. She was afraid of him.

"No, Juice…. " Beatrice uttered in horror.

Emilia sobbed and wailed like a kid as she had to witness her beloved knight getting either slaughtered by her mentor or get frozen alive by her adoptive father.

The man's grin grew tenfold. "My, my, my! The one you're clutching to your chest there wouldn't be the half-devil girl, would it? How diligent you are! Before we could even act, you took the half-devil's life in the name of the ordeal!HEHEHEHEHE!"

"I'm diligent?"

"That's right! You are diligent! Fantastic!" Betelgeuse laughed morbidly before abruptly stopping and glancing down at Subaru.

"Still… Unable to overcome even one Ordeal, much less confront one of the sins, and after all that waiting… She trips over the first pebble in her path, and it's over."

Subaru held Emilia close as the nasty man stepped closer with a grin.

"Ah, you are truly slothful."

Subaru's angry glare turned to a surprised look as he saw two long black hands coming out of the Archbishop's back.

"He could see them now?" Anastasia asked a little frieghtened.

Julius nodded his head while gritting his teeth in fear for Subaru. He remembered the way Subaru used this to his advantage in the fight.

"Soon… He will win soon." Julius needed to remind himself that Subaru will stand up again. All he needed to do was watch what his friend has been through and understand his painful trials.

But goddamn was the greatest knight angry for his friend right now.

There was no sign of elegance on Julius's face… just an angry scowl.

Otto stared at the screen with his tearfilled eyes slowly narrowing and glaring at the green haired man. His overlapping emotions making him feel angry and unstable by the second.

As the hands moved to pick Emilia's corpse, Subaru quickly held Emilia and jumped out of the way.

Betelgeuse's eyes widened in shock.

"Did you see the Unseen Hand just now?" The green man asked softly, appearing disturbed by such knowledge.

Subaru just glared at him and held Emilia tightly.

"No… That's bad… " The Archbishop looked betrayed and angry. "This isn't right! It's all wrong! It's a mistake! A mistake!" He shouted in anger and confusion.

Subaru's eyes widened as the man bit on his finger hard.

"My Authority… "

He bit on his other finger and made it bleed.

"The Authority of Sloth… "

He crushed another of his fingers.

"My Unseen Hand, granted to me by love… "

His entire hand had crushed bleeding fingers.

Emilia, Beatrice and Roswaal stared with wide disturbed eyes. Hurt and anguished as they witnessed what had become of the man they once knew.

"Pandora…." Emilia growled softly while watching through her tears, worried for her knight.

"No others can be allowed to see it!" Betelgeuse screamed maniacally as Six dark hands spurted out of his back and over Subaru.

The boy held on to Emilia and moved to escape but the group of cultists blocked him from all sides.

Subaru could do nothing but struggle in futility as two unseen hands held him by the neck and the leg away from Emilia.

"You held her as if she were terribly precious to you, but how beautifully will you cry when the half-devil's body is torn apart? HAHAHAHAHA!"

"Everyone look away!" Petra shouted making almost all in the room stare at the wall beside the theater. She didn't like the sound of that and she couldn't see how Subaru could save Emilia's body.

Emilia ignored her and stared with a heartbroken sound coming out of her slacked jaw as she imagined her father Juice twisting her body like he did to Rem.

"Damn Sloth…" Wilhelm growled in fury as he watched the boy that was dear to him get assaulted by this monster nonce again.

Subaru struggled and cried as Betelguese sent his hands towards Emilia's discarded body.

The tears leaked as he screamed. "Stop! Stop!"

Betelgeuse laughed sadistically as his hands reached Emilia's corpse.

"Please stop!" He screamed in despair.

*WHOOOOSH! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

*CLANK! *

Both, Subaru and Betelgeuse stared wide eyed as sharp magic icicles were shot down from the sky and panted firmly all around Emilia's body, blocking the unseen hands.

"Is that…?!" Julius instantly understood who did that.

Emilia's eyes widened in hope…

Beatrice cried tears of happiness…

"So it came? Good. I thought this farce was taking too long." Priscilla nodded her head while fanning herself.

A voice growled from the sky.

"What are you doing?"

Betelgeuse looked up… His eyes widened in fear.

The entire sky was filled with hundreds of sharp icicles pointed at everyone around Emilia.

In the middle of this ready storm of sharp death was a floating small cat.

"What are you doing to my daughter, "

Puck growled out and glared at the Archbishop.

"You scum."

Subaru stared at the cat with terrified eyes.

Title card:

Disgrace in the Extreme

Ending Theme: Stay Alive.

Episode 9 Director's Cut. End.

"Wh-What?! What happened after that?!" Felt shouted as she fell from her seat and the anticipation.

Emilia slowly inhaled and exhaled as she calmed her self down at the exhausting viewing.

"What happened next?"

"Come on man!"

"Stop being such a g-"

Shut. The. Fuck. up.

I'm loading the next one in.

Everyone leaned in their seats and waited with baited breathes for the next viewing to start.

Crusch, Beatrice, Rem and Emilia held Subaru as close as they could to comfort him… Or themselves for what was coming.

Julius kept his eyes on the screen… but he would always glance at a disturbed, guilty looking gray haired young man.

Garfiel just stared at the screen, wondering what else his cap'n suffered through that could top everything they've seen until now.

"What a messed up story this is." Felix whispered while waiting for the screen to finish loading in anticipation.

Felt glared condescendingly at the screen and calmed her shaking fists down. "I swear to make you happier Big bro… I won't abandon you like the rest of them."

Reinhard found it appropriate to nod with his lady's statement. Determined.

Anastasia softly ruffled her fox scarf and breathed heavily in and out to keep her nerves in check. She wished she had a hand to hold like a certain green haired duchess now possessed.

"Not fair…" The merchant pouted.

Priscilla kept her smile in place as she witnessed one of the most entertaining loops yet. Only one thing made her love and cherish such a twisted devil loop more than anything else.

"The boy's loyalty never ceases to amaze me. He's very amusing indeed."

The screen activated once again.

Episode 10… Arc 3's continuation…

Start.


Alright. Let me start by saying this.

I'm so sorry for the delay. A lot of shit just dropped upon me and forced me to be unable to write for at least 5 days during this sudden break. We should be back to the normal schedule if anything comes up then I will alert you guys on Reddit.

I'm also so sorry that I haven't replied to you guys at all.

I see all of the comments on Ao3 and FF but I never replied because I had too much going on or because I'm writing as the notification for the message came to me.

Thank you all so much for your support. I love you all.

Merry Christmas to those of you celebrate it, may we meet again in Episode 10… My favorite one :)

Also… Yes, Subaru does self harm in canon. Look at Arc 6 where he murders… Someone… (spoilers) and finds that he has scratch marks all over his arms. You can read it from there since I don't want to spoil the Arc for you.

And also also… This chapter is 30,700 words long.

Goddamn.

Anyways. Thank you again, happy holidays and I hope you've enjoyed.

Bye.


"Hey Joseff."

"Yes, Author-chan?"

"Thanks for giving me back my pillow man. I appreciate it."

"Oh… Y-Your welcome, Author-chan. I was way outta line for steali-"

"Joseff."

"Y-Yes?"

"*Slowly turns around* Where. Za. Fuck. Is me socks?"

"…"

"…"

"Why are you Irish now? I thought you were Syrian."

"Don't fuck with me man! Where are my socks?! I left right here!"

"…"

"…"

"They were too pretty."

"Goddamn it Joseeeeeeff!"

"Why would want them anyway?! *Runs away with my socks like all my gay neighbors do*"

Fuck you Joseff.