The Beginning of Despair
In the instant when he could no longer perceive death, and at the moment when his consciousness returned, the voice of a girl's questioning continued ringing in his ears.
The flickering light in his vision alternated between red and white, and Subaru felt the entire world twisting and warping.
His limbs were numb, and the torment of his insides being twisted made his throat tear open as he screamed loudly.
He twisted his body, every movable part releasing an inexplicable passion.
Even the pain of his foot being crushed, the scars left by chains cutting and burning his body, the agony of his entrails being pulled out — all had vanished without a trace.
Subaru could no longer tell what was what.
"—!"
It seemed like he heard something, someone's voice.
'Blood is flowing out, life is draining away, I am about to die.'
"—!"
Mixed in was a beast-like roar, and he heard the desperate voice of someone relying on him.
'I don't want to die. Sadness, pain, discomfort, grief, fear — all of it is so hateful.'
"—!"
He couldn't understand, didn't grasp the meaning, and didn't want to know what was being said.
'I want to run away from everything. Everything I can see, touch, and feel — I want to escape it all.'
Hearing it was useless.
Even if he listened, it would only cause more harm; even if he heard it, nothing would change.
Though his brain resisted all of it, the world gradually took color, sound, and shape.
The feeling of blood flowing through his hands and feet, the chaos of his whole body struggling, was correctly conveyed to his mind.
His flailing arm struck something hard; his nails broke, and the back of his hand was scratched and bleeding.
The sharp pain shot straight to his forehead, and his screaming energy slightly calmed.
Then he noticed that his aching arm was being embraced by someone, almost like a covering.
His foot felt a similar touch—something covering his legs from above, immobilizing his foot.
His vision slowly recovered, and above him was the white ceiling he had seen many times before.
He realized he was lying on a soft bed.
His exhale felt like collapse, and his stiff body gradually relaxed, but then...
"Guest, are you alright?"
It was the voice of Winston, the last betrayer discovered.
"Meow, you really scared Ferris so much she jumped, meow."
That was the white light of the water magic healing his wounds.
"—!"
Subaru screamed again, forgetting even to shout before.
.
.
.
In an empty corridor, a boy ran swiftly, his eyes filled with fear.
Even when he fell to the ground, he wouldn't stop moving forward — he was that panicked, as if a murderer were chasing him.
When a person is filled with overwhelming fear and panic, they instinctively run to the place they believe safest, like a child running into a parent's arms after being hurt.
For Subaru now, the dangerous Astrea Manor was the safest and most trustworthy place left.
—Almost there, almost there.
Subaru pushed open the familiar door where they had first met.
The red-haired girl was surprised but was quickly embraced.
She was silent for a moment, then released her hand from the sword hilt and with her left hand stopped the approaching servants.
She felt the boy trembling violently and gently held him, stroking his back like a mother.
"It's alright now, it's alright, don't be afraid, I'm here..."
Her voice was incredibly gentle, confident, and resolute.
Subaru's panicked heart gradually calmed at her words.
Here, he thought, he would be safe, he would not be harmed.
He was in the arms of Reinhild!
He noticed the sensation in his hands, the touch on his back, and the softness on his chest.
His chaotic reason began to return, and then he saw the angry eyes outside the window — the eyes of the old man who had attacked the manor alongside the eight-armed giant.
Click.
Something seemed to snap in his mind.
Instinctively, he wanted to push the girl away, but his strength was too weak compared to her, so he couldn't.
Because she held him, he didn't fall due to recoil, but this restriction accelerated the breaking of his mental string.
"Are you alright, Subaru?"
The girl asked with concern, noticing his struggle and letting go of him.
"That guy... he will bring people to massacre the manor."
Subaru pointed at the figure outside the window and shared the information he had painstakingly obtained.
Many who sensed Reinhild's sword intent rushed over and looked at Subaru in surprise.
If it were the normal Subaru, he would have noticed something was wrong, but he clearly wasn't himself now.
"Subaru, go rest first."
"Wait, why don't you believe me? We have to arrest him now to prevent a tragedy. He's going to massacre everyone in the manor with a blue, eight-armed strongman. Elsa and the others will also come. If we don't act now, everyone in the manor will die."
The atmosphere stiffened.
Reinhild's expression was unpleasant, but her knightly virtues kept her from holding it against her benefactor.
Naturally, her servants wouldn't speak before she did.
But one person was different.
"What nonsense are you talking about, meow? Even paranoid delusions have limits.
Lord Wilhelm would never attack here.
Such talk is only fit for dreams."
Ferris, Wilhelm's colleague and Reinhild's friend, who had just arrived, spoke up.
"Wait, you're in cahoots with them. I know it — you gave the poison to Winston, right? The strongest healer's poison, no wonder it can't be detected."
"Meow, why would I poison the manor? Do I have any reason to do that?"
"For your Lady Crush, although there are only five candidates to become king, only the noble-sounding one and the incredibly wealthy Anastasia have the potential. She surely wouldn't want a strong rival suddenly appearing, so she sent you here."
"You…"
"You're angry because I'm right. First, weaken the manor's people with Winston's poison, then lure Reinhild away, and finally send Wilhelm..."
"Don't you dare insult Lady Crush! The greatness of that lord is beyond the comprehension of someone as despicable as you."
Ferris, touched on a sore spot, didn't wait for Subaru to finish before grabbing his neck.
Blue light gathered in her hand.
At the critical moment, the girl grabbed Ferris's hand.
"That's enough. After all, he is my guest."
A powerful aura erupted from the petite body, and the mana in the air instantly abandoned Ferris.
Bang!
"What are you doing, Reinhild?"
Jumping through the window was the old man named Wilhelm.
He held a sword with both hands, staring at Reinhild with overwhelming pressure.
In the next moment, swords were drawn by Reinhild's guards who had arrived shortly after Leander.