[ "Ah, what a pity... Ignoring my diligent attempts to converse with you, your hostility shows no signs of abating. Satisfying oneself without understanding why is more 'slothful' than anything!"
The battle, twenty years in the making, begins. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Hmm..."
Rem, Emilia, and others held their breath.
This time was different from before. Whether it was their world or the previous world where the Archbishop called himself "Pride," killing Petelgeuse had only succeeded after multiple loops.
Now, because of Rem's "live on," Subaru's life could not be easily sacrificed.
"But why can we see the Unseen Hand now?"
Anastasia asked.
"What we see is Subaru's perspective. This means Subaru can see the Unseen Hand. But why can he see it?"
Roswaal pondered.
It was strange. Previously, in Subaru's perspective, the Unseen Hand was visible; Rem seemed to have been killed by an unseen force. But now, it was invisible.
The Witch's Scent explanation also didn't make sense; Subaru hadn't died in this loop.
Could it just be hatred?
"If Subaru dies here, it would be too tragic."
On the other side, Ferris said.
"Go, Boss! Kill that guy!"
—
[ Although he couldn't receive the cheers from Garfiel and the others, Subaru lunged at Petelgeuse as soon as Garfiel shouted,"Go!"
The second, third, and fourth strikes... all were blocked by Petelgeuse.
"Ah, finally, I've seen you! Seeing that you haven't changed at all in twenty years, I'm relieved. I've been eagerly awaiting this day!"
"Twenty years?"
Subaru and Petelgeuse spoke while fighting.
Petelgeuse spoke as if reminiscing.
"Ah... ah! Yes, yes, I remember! Twenty years ago! The night in the cave, the girl and the favored boy!"
"AHHHHH!"
Subaru seized the opportunity, his gaze fixed on Petelgeuse's neck, then stabbed— ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Did he get him?!"
Felt hurriedly asked.
"Subaru-kun!"
Rem's voice denied Felt's expectation.
—
[ "Is that all you've got?" Petelgeuse blocked the attack and struck Subaru with an Unseen Hand, sending him flying.
"Ugh... ah."
Subaru had just tried to stand up when he was knocked down again by the Unseen Hand.
"You've been searching for me to avenge that girl from back then, haven't you? For twenty years, you've single-mindedly carried hatred, abhorrence, disgust, and shame towards me, and finally, we meet again... But reality is cruel; this level of strength is far from enough to take my life!"
Petelgeuse approached step by step.
"Hmph!"
Subaru sneered, as if he had finally waited for an opportunity. He raised his left prosthetic arm, as if activating something.
Then, a mechanism hidden in the prosthetic arm suddenly shot out. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"What is this!?"
Yuriusu exclaimed in surprise.
"Indeed, if he only had one life, Subaru-dono would never have attacked Petelgeuse so carelessly."
Wilhelm said.
—
[ The mechanism was a stake as thick as an adult man's wrist, which pierced through Petelgeuse's heart.
"This is the end!"
Subaru shouted, then picked up the sword that had broken during the fight and stabbed Petelgeuse in the head.
Petelgeuse fell.
"He's dead... right?"
Subaru showed an unreal expression. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Subaru-kun won!?"
The two Rems were overjoyed and lowered their hands from their chests.
"Boss is so cool!"
"...Petelgeuse still has the ability to possess 'fingers.' It's not enough."
Yuriusu said.
The two Rems put their hands back on their chests worriedly.
—
[ "Ah, my brain is trembling!" Another Unseen Hand rushed over fiercely.
Then, a Witch Cultist... a Finger, walked over.
"An exact copy? No, that's not right...! You bastard, you're Petelgeuse, aren't you?"
"Yes! I am Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti, Archbishop of the Witch Cult, in charge of 'Sloth'!"
"What kind of structure is that!"
"I have no obligation to tell you that."
Round two began.
Because Subaru had already used his trump card and was extremely exhausted, he collapsed after a struggle.
"Hmm-hmm! It seems this body is also reaching its limit."
The Finger looked at the fallen Subaru, speaking as he left.
"PETELGEUSE!"
Subaru shouted his name one last time before falling unconscious.
The second round was Petelgeuse's victory, and Natsuki Subaru was unable to fight anymore.
The screen darkened. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Boss! Damn it... At least Patrasche, that good woman, can save Boss..."
Garfiel bared his teeth in regret.
He couldn't kill the guy who killed his big sister-in-law.
Whether Big Sister-in-Law and the other sisters-in-law agreed to Boss getting revenge or not, this big brother absolutely supported revenge.
"Subaru-kun... don't do this anymore..."
Rem whispered, praying that someone could save Subaru-kun.
—
[ "—Huh?" When the screen lit up again, it was already dusk.
In front of Subaru was the person who saved him.
It was the curly-haired girl, Beatrice.
"You're quite noisy for someone who just woke up, I suppose."
"Bea...trice?"
"Don't move. As you are now, you're too heavy for Betty to heal."
"Ah!?"
"I told you, don't move. For now, I've provisionally reattached all the parts that could be reattached. Consider it emergency treatment." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"So it was Beatrice-sama... Beatrice-sama truly is so kind to Barusu, no matter which loop it is."
Ram smiled slightly.
In Emilia's camp, one of the very few people who treated Subaru well was Beatrice.
No matter which worlline.
—
[ "Beatrice, why are you..." Subaru was a bit confused.
"...This injury, you're beyond saving, I suppose."
"...I didn't expect to be saved. But I won't die, I still, I can't die... Please, Beatrice, help me..."
Subaru asked Beatrice about Petelgeuse.
He learned about the evil spirits and possession transfer.
Then, the screen darkened again.
Subaru was riding Patrasche, with Beatrice beside him.
They arrived at a treatment facility. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Beatrice already said Subaru was beyond saving. If even Beatrice can't save someone, then who else can?"
Roswaal said from outside the screen.
Then, as if he realized something, he looked at the ace healer with the title of "Blue"...
—
[ "Hey, this is a treatment facility! And there are inpatients resting inside, so please be quiet—"
On screen, Ferris walked out of the door of the sanatorium.
Then, seeing the heavily injured and unconscious person in front of him, he exclaimed in surprise:
"Subaru!?" ]
....