Chapter 24. Long-awaited Return by Death.
~Inside, the Theater~
"That magic beast!"
Two Rems shouted angrily at the same time.
"I've heard everyone talk about the magic beast attacking the village. Although I had doubts before, I can now confirm it. Natsuki-san was killed by the magic beast's curse in this loop."
Otto said.
"Then, in this Loop, the villagers of this village..."
Reinhardt lowered his eyelashes.
"Interesting. I'll see how he breaks this situation."
After Priscilla finished speaking, she put down her right leg from her left leg and switched legs.
[[ "I should go back to my room soon. What about Subaru?"
Emilia, in the picture, asked Subaru.
"I have to sleep with Emilia-tan, so I'm going back too."
"Say that after you've finished your current work."
"How dare you say that? Then, just you wait and see. My legend as a handyman is about to begin!" ]]
...
~Inside, the Theater~
"Lil bro doesn't know that death is right in front of him, and he's still joking around."
Al said, crossing his arms.
[[ "Oh, right, tomorrow, let's go take revenge on the kids in the village... no, let's go on a loving date... no, how about we go see that cute little animal?"
Subaru raised a finger to Emilia, looking at her as he spoke.
"Why do you keep changing your words? And, um, I... I don't mind going with Subaru, and I'm also curious about that little animal."
"Then, let's go!"
"But if I go with you, it might cause trouble for Subaru..."
"Okay, I understand. Let's go!"
"...Were you even listening to me?"
"Yes! How could I miss a single word from Emilia-tan!"
"I hate Subaru the most."
"Ah--ah--what's going on?! Suddenly, I can't hear--any--thing--"
Emilia, in the picture, was amused by Subaru's exaggerated appearance. ]]
...
~Inside, the Theater~
But Emilia, outside the picture, wasn't so happy.
I was worried that I would cause trouble for Subaru because of my appearance, after all, I still felt self-conscious about this appearance at that time...
No, that's not the point. The point is that promise.
"I remember that after that incident, Subaru and I would sometimes go to Arlam Village..."
Subaru remembered the promise and fulfilled it.
And I forgot the promise.
Even though I know I don't remember at all, even though I know that this scene never happened in the world I'm in...
But it's hard.
I clearly value promises so much.
"Subaru..."
Emilia was in pain because of this.
"Subaru-kun."
Come to think of it, although Rem was Subaru-kun's first date, Emilia-sama was Subaru-kun's first invitation...
No, how could Rem think like that? Rem should be thinking about Subaru-kun's loops.
"...Um."
Ram was thinking about something, and then she spoke:
"However, it seems that the starting point of the loop has changed to the first day at the mansion. After all, this time, the memory was different there. Afterwards, we can use this method to determine where the starting point is."
... ...
"It's Betty."
Beatrice looked at the screen--
[[ "Hey, little girl loli, have you been sleeping obediently? If you sleep too late, your growth hormones will be secreted less, turning you into a little adult."
"...He actually saw through the 'Door Crossing' so naturally."
Subaru guessed the door correctly and arrived at Beatrice's Forbidden Library. ]]
...
~Inside, the Theater~
"Yeah, Beatrice, is she--"
"Unfortunately, Lia, once a curse is activated, it's almost impossible to save someone."
Puck shook his head.
"But... but the curse hasn't been activated yet, right?"
"Um... I think it's already starting to activate."
"Why?"
"Because I believe in Betty."
"Eh?"
Emilia was puzzled by this, and Puck pointed to the screen--
[[ "What do you want from Betty?"
Beatrice glared at Subaru and asked.
"No, nothing. I'm just going to sleep, so I wanted to say hello. I was going to give up if I couldn't find you after opening three doors, but I found you on the first try." ]]
...
~Inside, the Theater~
"Speaking of which... why can Natsuki Subaru always guess Beatrice-sama's 'Door Crossing'?"
Crusch was a little curious.
"Because Subaru and Betty are both 'Yin' attributes."
Beatrice responded softly, her attention all on the screen.
[[ "Just how sharp is your intuition..."
In the picture, Beatrice tugged at her twintails as she complained.
"Can I play with your hair like that?"
"Only Onii-chan can touch Betty... Enough, just get out of here."
"It's too unfair for Puck to monopolize you. But whatever, I'm in a good mood right now, so I'll forgive you."
Subaru turned to leave, and Beatrice in the picture said softly:
"...It has nothing to do with Betty."
Closing the door, Subaru seemed to hear Beatrice's lonely mutter, so he opened the door again, but the result was just an ordinary guest room, and opening it again was the same. ]]
...
~Inside, the Theater~
"Do you see, Lia? Betty wouldn't stand by and watch someone die. Since she didn't save him, that means--"
"The curse has already been activated..."
Beatrice said bitterly.
What did I do in those skipped days? If I had noticed earlier...
"That's right. If he could still be saved, Betty would definitely find some excuse, like owing him a favor, to help Subaru undo it, but now it's too late. Now, Betty isn't saying anything, so that Subaru can die in ignorance, without panic, and without pain, although that's a bit of a disservice."
Puck added.
"Ah, it's Rem."
Ram noticed Rem in the picture and said.
[[ "What are you doing? Are you checking if the door is closed tightly?"
Rem in the picture saw Subaru opening and closing the door repeatedly and couldn't help but ask.
"Yeah, yeah, I've been hearing creaking noises in the hallway these past few nights. I was wondering if it was because of that... Ah, it's Rem."
"Is there something on your mind?"
"No, the little girl Loli's Forbidden Library was just here, but now it's disappeared."
"Do you need something from Beatrice-sama? You can tell Rem if you want."
"I was just going to say hello before going to sleep. It's nothing... special. But you're still working, Rem. You have to get up early tomorrow, so you should go to sleep soon."
"I just finished delivering tea to Roswaal-sama and Nee-sama. I'll rest after I clean up the dishes."
"What are those two doing so late... Oh, oh, never mind."
After that, Rem stared at Subaru's hair. ]]
...
~Inside, the Theater~
"She's completely eliminated her suspicions."
Ram said, looking at Rem's reaction in the picture.
"If she still suspected Subaru, Rem-san would be secretly observing Subaru from the side. And just now, she was only looking at Subaru's hair from the perspective of the promise, not staring at Subaru's expression and actions with suspicion."
Julius agreed with Ram's words.
"But Barusu is really, what is he saying?"
Ram blushed at Subaru's "What are those two doing so late?".
"But because of that... but because of that..."
Rem bit her lip, looking at the two who were getting closer.
[[ In the picture, Subaru also noticed Rem's gaze and said:
"I can't find a chance to fulfill the promise at the same time. You seem to care about it too, Rem."
"...No, Rem doesn't 'care' that much... not at all."
"I feel like you care a lot, which makes me feel even more guilty!"
"If you want, how about cutting it now?"
"Cut it now... You mean start cutting it now? But it's already so late."
"Trimming the ends and washing it quickly won't take much time. Because if you don't cut it soon, Subaru will only talk the talk and won't let Rem fulfill her long-cherished wish."
"You're even calling it a long-cherished wish! Um... but sorry, Rem, I have a date with Emilia tomorrow. I need to get up early as soon as possible and finish my work quickly, so staying up late would be a bit..."
"I, is that so... It's okay. It's Rem's fault for making an unreasonable request. I'm sorry."
"Ah... so, how about tomorrow night?"
"...Night, is it? I understand. Then, tomorrow night it is. This time, it's really a promise."
"I don't know what's stimulating you so much, but this time it's really a promise, it's tomorrow night."
The two made a promise, and Rem bowed and left.
"When I go to the village on the date tomorrow, I have to find some reason to send those kids away. Right, before that, I have to investigate if there's a place with a beautiful view or a flower field."
Subaru muttered to himself as he lay down on the bed. ]]
...
~Inside, the Theater~
"Because of that."
Rem outside the picture bit her lip even harder.
After Subaru-kun dies, everything will start over, and the bond that Subaru-kun has built with everyone...
It will be broken.
Then, the screen gradually darkened...
[[ "That's right, Natsuki Subaru--today, will be the moment of breakthrough!"
Natsuki Subaru woke up in the luxurious bed from the beginning. ]]