"Well, it was only for a short time, but thank you for your help."
As everyone in the mansion (excluding Beatrice, and there were only four of them) watched in the entrance hall, Subaru endured the itchy sensation and bowed his head.
The three-day stay came to an end, and the day for Subaru to leave the mansion arrived.
Subaru's outfit was simple, wearing the tracksuit he'd worn when he'd been summoned to the other world, a convenience store bag, and a tool case kindly given to him by Roswaal.
The heavy toolbox seemed to contain a fair amount of money, and considering the nobles' financial sense, it was a little scary to look inside. Especially for Subaru, who currently lacked the means to defend himself.
"Are you sure? If you want a carriage, you can just ask Roswaal to call you here."
Among the people seeing them off, Emilia stood in the middle, her expression still full of sadness. Pleased to see her concerned attitude, Subaru raised his hand and waved,
"No no no, it's okay. I'll take it easy and take it easy. I don't want to cause you any more trouble than I already have, actually."
"...Subaru is probably doing well, so there's probably no need to worry."
"Wow, it's a bit of pressure to be so highly esteemed. But it'll be okay. One day, when I'm a stronger, smarter, and richer man, I'll come on a white horse and kidnap you."
"Do you have a handkerchief? Drinking water and... yes, some ragmite for when it gets dark. And then."
"Totally from a mom's perspective!?"
Emilia's worries knew no bounds, and in the end she even asked, "Can you sleep alone without feeling lonely?" Just how lonely does she seem to be?
Or perhaps she intuitively sensed the uncontrollable anxiety within Subaru's heart.
"Well then, Subaru-kun, I hope you're well. It was a short time, but it was fun."
The tall man held out his hand, and as he shook it, he smiled back.
"Yes, thank you for your hospitality. I even got to bring you a souvenir, they were really nice."
"That's the best thing. By the way, it's a souvenir, but don't lose it. I added a little something extra to it to represent the memories of those three days with you."
Roswaal closed one eye as he signaled to him. Subaru understood what he meant and nodded vigorously, shaking the tool bag on his back.
"Yes, it's hush money. I know, I won't say anything unnecessary. I'll even swear to the dragon."
"When I'm with you, I can't help but lose sight of the true essence of my evil schemes. Besides, in this country, swearing to a dragon is the highest oath you can take. I don't doubt that, but you should try your best not to forget that."
Despite being reminded, he raised his hand, then pointed it at the twins behind Roswaal. The two simply stood there in silence, and Subaru tapped them on the shoulder with his raised hand.
"You two have also been such a great help to me. Especially Remrin, thank you for always making delicious meals for me. Ram, well, you're good at cleaning toilets and stuff, aren't you?"
"Sister, sister. Customers are hopelessly bad at flattery."
"Rem, Rem, you customers have a fatal lack of taste when it comes to flattery."
"Oh, no way, I hadn't thought of that. But thanks."
I say my goodbyes to everyone and turn away before I can bear the thought of leaving.
The twins quickly ran over to the entrance hall door and opened it, revealing before Subaru a straight road leading to a nearby village.
They would walk for around twenty minutes to the village, then move from there to another village, and then take a carriage to the royal capital - that was the plan Subaru had explained to everyone.
"Well, thank you for your help. I hope we can meet again someday."
"Yeah, be careful. Don't get hurt."
Leaving a smile at Emilia, who had been concerned about him until the very end, Subaru stepped out onto the highway as she sent him off.
The silver-haired girl continued waving in front of the entrance until she was out of sight of the mansion.
That distant gesture was endlessly endearing, and it rekindled the flame of anxiety that had been dying out in Subaru's heart.
After walking alone along the road for a while, I stopped.
Subaru surveyed his surroundings, and after making sure there was no sign of anyone, he suddenly left the road and entered the forest. The forest on either side of the road was deep and connected to the mountains, and it was a place Ram had strongly warned him not to go into due to the large number of wild animals there.
Ignoring the advice, Subaru pushed his way through the vegetation and headed deeper into the forest. He climbed several slopes, occasionally getting scratched by protruding branches, but he didn't slow down his pace.
We continued walking through the mountains for about fifteen minutes.
"Okay, here it is."
Suddenly the forest opened up, revealing a high sky. After climbing several slopes, Subaru found himself on top of a small hill in the mountains.
Subaru wiped the sweat from his forehead, then the cliff before him - located right next to it, a building below - came into view.
The familiar mansion was none other than the imposing Roswaal Mansion.
After going around the highway and passing through forests and mountains, they arrived at a perfect spy spot from which to observe the Roswaal Mansion from high up.
"You can see Emilia-tan's room to the west very well. If something unusual were to happen, you'd know right away."
Subaru could faintly make out the window of her room from a distance. Apart from that, she was positioned to get a full view of the mansion, including the west side. If anyone was visiting the mansion from outside, he could be sure they would be able to see it.
It was already the morning of the fourth day of the third loop, and from Subaru's experience, there were about sixteen hours left, the same time as his previous death.
In other words, it is believed that this is also where any abnormalities occur in the mansion.
"Then you just wait for things to happen."
If it was for around sixteen hours, even Subaru had the mental strength to stake out the area.
In truth, he had been planning to create this situation three days ago - right after the loop began - but he gave himself a three-day grace period because he felt that going too early would mean he wouldn't be able to maintain his concentration.
Thanks to that, I feel full of energy, stamina, and motivation.
The preconditions Subaru had prepared were to detect any abnormalities at Roswaal Manor in advance, or to create the conditions to be able to rush in to the scene no matter what happened.
If Subaru remains in the mansion and becomes a target for the attackers from the start, he will be rendered unconscious by the same magic as last time.
Given the current situation, where they desperately need every last bit of information about the attackers, this could be fatal.
Therefore, Subaru decided to use Emilia and the others as a decoy to lure out the attackers.
Of course, Subaru, who couldn't be completely ruthless, had put up several defensive lines, and if something were to happen he was prepared to immediately rush to the mansion and run around reporting an enemy attack.
"It would be a good thing if the enemy was so cautious that they would get scared when they heard me scream and run away."
Subaru spoke this wishful thinking as he put down his tool bag and searched inside. He took out a long rope he had borrowed from the mansion's storehouse. From his experience as a servant, he knew very well where such equipment was located.
He had snuck it out without anyone noticing and was carrying it around like this for emergencies.
Tying the rope to the trunk of a nearby thick tree, Subaru fastened the other end to his body. Of course, if he continued using it as a lifeline, he would die from the weight, so he made several knots in various places and prepared shock absorbers.
"All I need is a small knife for cutting ropes... I hope I can just cut the rope."
The blade is about the length of a fruit knife, and it is also intended to be used for self-harm in an emergency.
As a means of resistance against the previous magic, it should be able to thwart the initial weakening of consciousness that attacks. However, I don't think it will be able to withstand the weakening that follows.
"It's better than having no means at all... and besides, this is so we can prepare a countermeasure for the next time, you know."
Muttering to himself, Subaru shook his head to drive away the feelings of weakness.
Suddenly, the memory of the people at Roswaal Mansion to whom he had just said goodbye crossed his mind.
This time, Subaru is sacrificing them in preparation for the next loop. Just like the previous times, this time he is sacrificing the girls with whom he had formed a strong bond.
If I close my eyes, I can remember these past four days.
Although he didn't think he had been able to build as close a relationship as he had last time, he still had many opportunities to interact with Ram and Rem, and he had proactively gone to see Emilia. And yet, he had anticipated that it would cause him so much heartache right now.
It is a punishment. It is a just punishment. It is a deserved punishment.
Subaru, who had once had to sacrifice them, had devised a plan based on the assumption that he would lose them, this was the kind of condemnation he would have to accept.
I felt it was a pity and treated it that way.
I treated her with the feeling that she was adorable.
Subaru had spent the past three days sticking his fingers into the wounds, enduring the pain as if flesh was being torn and bones were being split.
So that I don't forget anything.
"I told you, Natsuki Subaru. Even if everyone else forgets it when I repeat it… you remember it."
So don't think that you can just forget about this incident.
Until the very, very, very last moment, we must continue to search for the happy ending that Subaru desires.
No one has the right to decide that her or their existence is nothing more than a bubble that disappears in the gaps of time.
Lying motionless and biting his teeth, Subaru hid his body among the trees and grass, and watched over the Roswaal mansion from a gap in the forest.
His breathing was light, and although his body was supposed to be tense, his heartbeat was strangely slow, and it was clear that his whole body was affirming Subaru's resolve.
The feeling of my body following me like never before.
Achieving this rare sensation, Subaru continued to wait patiently.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
I lay low and waited for the time to come.
Tension makes the body tense, anxiety makes the heart unsteady, and impatience makes unnecessary things appear in your field of vision.
Subaru quietly avoided such unconscious interference and continued to hold his breath.
Six hours had already passed, and the sunset was casting a vibrant orange glow over the world that was just before noon.
Thinking back, this was the time that, up until last time, she would have been heading to the village to shop with either Ram or Rem.
However, this time, neither of them have been seen leaving the mansion. Perhaps without Subaru, the shopping event will not happen.
"It's just that they had extra food for one person, so they decided to postpone the grocery shopping until tomorrow…"
Having been silent for over six hours, his voice came out more hoarse than he'd intended when he suddenly muttered. With a wry smile, Subaru took out a tube of water from his tool bag and quenched his thirst with the cold water. It was as simple as a bamboo tube, but the water inside stayed cold forever, making it a strange tool. He thought this, too, was probably a tool related to magic.
"After only six hours, how pathetic. This is no time to lose concentration, focus on me!"
As he spoke he slapped his cheek, making a dry thud as he regained consciousness.
There was still nearly half a day left until the expected time. If he gave up now, he would be worried about what would happen next.
We must pull ourselves together and return to our guard duties.
For better or worse, that was the moment Subaru changed his mind.
「――――!!」
A faint, uneasy feeling hit his eardrums, and the moment he sensed it, Subaru's body shot to the side without the slightest hesitation.
Using all his senses, he took evasive action as planned beforehand.
It certainly bore fruit, splendidly saving Subaru's body from the threat of the surprise attack.
Immediately afterwards, the sound of a heavy object breaking a tree in half was heard. The trees were felled and the surrounding area was engulfed in the sound of leaves and branches breaking and scattering.
Subaru ran through it all, leaping towards the cliff in one go.
"---Uwah!"
A faint scream escapes, unable to be killed even with the roots of his teeth biting into him, and he feels like he's floating as his organs turn upside down from the fall from the height. However, after only a few meters, his momentum suddenly stops. The rope tightly tightening around his waist bites into him, and he lets out a scream of agony.
"Emergency, escape...!"
Saying this, he cut the rope with his knife. Freed, he resumed his fall, the soles of his shoes catching on the sloping cliff and sliding as he somehow managed to land roughly on the ground.
Without even a moment to catch his breath, Subaru decided to make a desperate escape. He threw out his tool bag to lighten his load, and literally ran down the mountain with just the bare hands.
Running out of breath,
"I saw it! Ah.... ah! I saw it!"
The object that cut down the trees was a spiked iron ball the size of a man's arms. It was a bowling ball with lethal capabilities, and was a romantic weapon that was connected to its user by a long, long "chain" - its name was a Morning Star.
Something strange had happened in the mountains: the sound of a chain connecting an iron ball. That familiar sound was, without a doubt, the weapon that had taken Subaru's life that night.
Seeing the power and intimidation of it all, Subaru's teeth were clenched in fear.
With an object of that mass and sharpness, it wouldn't be surprising if a direct hit caused the body to shatter into pieces. It also makes sense that the left half of his body was torn off.
"But... you came here!"
Spittle flying as he steps over branches, jumps over ditches, and traverses poor footing.
It was an expected action. There was as much possibility of an attack on Subaru once he left the Roswaal Mansion as there was of an attack on him.
If they were planning to kill everyone involved, there was no way Subaru, who had been there for three days, would be removed from the list. And choosing Subaru as a target meant that
"In the first place, that means he's been watching me being in that mansion for days now."
The attackers had been watching the mansion for several days.
Therefore, even Subaru who had left the mansion was not left out of their sight. And the fact that they had managed to find Subaru hiding was proof enough of this.
How could that be possible without following Subaru as he left the mansion?
"--Ugh!"
At that moment, I was so focused on my thoughts that I neglected my feet.
The roots of the tree caught Subaru's foot, causing his body to tumble spectacularly. He rolled on the ground and slid down the slope. Then, as if aimed precisely right over his head, the iron ball passed by.
If only he hadn't fallen over now, a shiver ran through Subaru's heart.
He rolled over onto his side, got up, spat out the dirt in his mouth, and resumed his escape. He had completely lost sight of the path, but he couldn't stop.
He was out of breath. His lungs hurt. And to begin with, Subaru lacked endurance.
I'm confident that I'm above average in all areas of physical ability, but my stamina is really the worst. Just thinking about chasing someone on a mountain path means there's no chance of winning. If there's no chance of winning just thinking about it, there's even less chance of winning if you actually do it.
In other words,
"So it was inevitable that I would be cornered..."
Before his eyes, a cliff rose up, as if trapping Subaru inside.
The stone wall, with its hard, sharp shards peeking out, was a natural fortress that refused to be climbed or used as a foothold. Naturally, Subaru currently had no way of getting over it.
Turning around, I take a deep breath, exhale, regulate my breath, and prepare myself.
In front of me, the darkness of the forest had already deepened, and the trees obscured the sunset, giving the place a sense of loneliness, as if it were cut off from the rest of the world.
"If you're coming, come..."
Pushing away the complaints with force, Subaru opened the front of his tracksuit and took off his jacket. He spread it out in both hands and quietly waited for the attacker to arrive.
He was cornered. He was cornered. Subaru was now nothing more than a helpless prey caught in a predator's trap.
But I can't let him eat it for free.
I've made so many sacrifices, so at the very least I'll get something in return that matches it.
--In an instant, violence came flying at high speed from beyond the darkness, accompanied by the sound of chains.
"Hmm... is it in there?!"
With the sure-to-be-fatal blow right in front of him, Subaru's body displayed an uncanny reflex.
He lifted the jersey jacket he was holding in both hands and caught the flying iron ball from directly below, slightly deflecting its momentum and narrowly avoiding a direct hit to his torso.
However, his jacket had been ripped off from both his arms, and his body, unable to absorb the impact and slammed into the rock wall, was still not completely unharmed.
However, the moment he raised his head and saw that the iron ball had missed its target and was stuck into the wall, Subaru let out a smile of satisfaction and grabbed the fully stretched chain tightly.
And then, he grabbed the other end of the chain, facing the direction of the attacker,
"Show yourself, you bastard! It took me a week to see that face!"
He motivates himself by shouting angrily and using foul language.
No matter who appears, he stares into the darkness, never wanting to miss anyone.
It was a dire situation, but somehow I managed to survive.
Alternatively, it may be possible to avoid sacrificing this time and repel the attackers if they do show up.
Subaru's excited thoughts brought to his mind thoughts that could hardly be described as optimistic.
In a situation where he had once almost given up, he desperately reached out to the ray of hope he saw.
In that light were Emilia, the twins, the cheeky girl, and Roswaal. I forgot about the situation and felt a warm smile on my face, and,
"--It can't be helped."
The sound of chains could be heard, and the feeling of them bending as they reached their owner's limit was heard.
However, leaving such trivial sensations aside, Subaru opened his eyes wide.
Her lips trembled and an inaudible moan escaped from her throat.
Without realizing it, his fingers had let go of the chains he had been gripping, and his head was shaking weakly from side to side as if in refusal.
Her figure slowly emerges from the darkness, stepping through the grass and over the branches.
She wears a black apron dress and a pure white prim on her head. She holds a chain connected to an iron ball that is completely out of proportion to her small stature.
"It would have been best if you had just let it go without anyone noticing."
Her blue hair was shaking, and she tilted her head with that familiar expressionless look.
"That's a lie... Rem."
The girl he had wanted to protect was swinging an iron ball in front of Subaru.