Subaru even chased Emilia out of his room, and his fourth week got off to a gloomy start.
On the morning of the first day, after hurting Emilia with a thoughtless remark, a meeting with Roswaal, who had returned to the mansion, awaited him.
His arrogant attitude hadn't changed, but he felt as if he was looking at him appraisingly, which made him feel uncomfortable. Subaru didn't know right now whether this was just a one-time thing, or if it had been the same the previous time as well.
The conversation was brief and I don't remember much about it.
However, I think I did receive something along the lines of, "I'll be treated like a guest."
It felt like he was just being convenient and telling me to stay as long as I wanted.
It could be said that this was a wish come true for Subaru, but it could also be said that it was something that no one really cared about.
If he were to wander out of the mansion now, he would surely be killed to silence him. On the other hand, if he was deemed a burden to Roswaal's camp, it was clear that he would soon be turned into minced meat.
Whether you go or stay, it's a BAD END.
I feel like I saved the game at a point where I couldn't avoid the approaching BAD END. It was an auto-save, so it's an absurd setting.
Cursing like that, Subaru spent the day crouching in the corner of his room, lazily spending the day. It was probably the first time he had done so much since coming to the other world.
Thinking about it, Subaru was now living the life he had always longed for: being supported. He was given food even without working, and no one complained even if he stayed shut up in his room.
Even though he is in a different world, he is living the same reclusive life as in his original world. He should have been looking forward to it, but he doesn't feel any nostalgia for the time he craves.
Unable to choose the appealing option of indulging in a lazy sleep, Subaru was unable to even sleep on his bed in the guest room, and spent the time in vain, holding his head.
He holds a quill pen in his hand, the tip stained with dried blood from having been dipped into it countless times. Every time his sleepiness overtakes him and his eyelids begin to droop, the back of his hand stabs him, forcing the pain back into consciousness.
Though he was barely moving on his bed, Subaru was breathing quickly and roughly through his mouth. His heart was beating quickly and in short bursts due to the constant tension, and his eyes were constantly wandering about, gripped by suspicion as to whether anything unusual had happened in the room.
He had already died three times, and his days at Roswaal Manor were now entering their fourth.
In Subaru's experience, he had died three times on the first day of his summoning. For Subaru, who had made it through that day on the fourth try, a fourth death was uncharted territory.
--If I die here now, I might not be able to come back next time.
I can't find a way to avoid death, but I still don't want to die.
But living here is just too painful and difficult. All Subaru can do, as his mind is about to go haywire, is choose a conclusion that can only be interpreted as meaning that his mind is going haywire.
In other words, to doubt everything, resist everything, and cling wholeheartedly to life.
It was already the afternoon of the second day of the fourth week, and the time I had spent idly was so different from the previous ones that I could no longer rely on my memories from the last time.
He didn't know what was going to happen, and it wouldn't be surprising if anything did happen. And even if something did happen, it would only be to Subaru's detriment.
Disappointed by reality, despairing at the situation, and resigned to the future, Subaru's heart is broken.
Now, all that remains is the shameful remnants of that past, continuing to struggle in vain.
Day doesn't feel like day, and night doesn't feel like night; even the passage of time becomes blurred, and even the space between consciousness and unconsciousness flickers like a heat haze.
The only thing I remember vividly is the pain piercing the back of my hand, and the vividness of the sensation makes me slightly happy, so I dug at the wound over and over again. Dug. Dug.
"--You've got quite a pathetic look on your face."
Suddenly, I heard that voice and looked up as if I had been knocked back.
Subaru's gaze glared like a beast, gripping the doorknob and leaning towards him, was a girl he hadn't met even once on this tour.
Beatrice's visit was the first of the four repeated worlds, and Subaru became extremely vigilant.
An abnormality that could only occur this time - that would inevitably lead to consequences that would endanger Subaru's life.
"...It's you this time."
I was surprised by the low, husky voice that came out.
After more than two days of silence and heavy breathing, her throat was dry and raw. There was more hostility in it than she had intended, and the girl was the one who was on the receiving end of that malice.
"How can something decay so much in just a day or two? Humans are such foolish and incorrigible creatures."
"I have no intention of engaging in any loquacious talk. What are you here for?"
Beatrice snorts at Subaru's disgraceful behavior. She frowns in displeasure at the way Subaru has forgotten to be subtle.
"My brother and that girl asked me to come and see your face."
"Puck and... Emilia?"
"You've been acting strange since you woke up, so I suspect Betty may have done something to you when you first woke up. I don't know if that's rude of me to ask."
Emilia must have been hurt by Subaru's heartless words, but she was still concerned about his feelings. She thought that the cause of Subaru's abnormal behavior might be indirectly caused by Beatrice, whom she had come into contact with shortly before, and so she appealed to Beatrice directly.
For some reason, Beatrice was unable to be forceful with Puck, and with the support of Puck, who was quite spoiled by his daughter, it seemed that she had reluctantly shown up at Subaru's place.
Emilia's concern - it left just a little bit of warmth in Subaru's desolate heart. However, her concern was completely misplaced.
The cause of Subaru's sudden change had nothing to do with Beatrice, and this was no longer a problem that could be solved no matter what anyone did.
"Okay. That's enough. I understand what you're saying, so you can go away now. You came to apologize. That's enough."
"I wonder why Betty has to apologize. First of all, she has to correct that, otherwise she won't be able to go home."
Beatrice chases after Subaru, who waves his hand and roughly tries to shoo her away. Then she steps further into the room, dragging the hem of her long skirt as she moves,
"--cormorant?"
Suddenly, he wrinkled his nose and stopped in his tracks.
When he is silent, his adorable profile turns his head and sniffs around like a dog trying to find something by scent.
Eventually, she glared at Subaru with a look of great displeasure in her eyes,
"Not only has the mask become gloomy, but it has also become much darker."
"--teeth?"
"You mean the smell? It's a horrible smell, it's nasty. I think it might be wise to avoid the twins for a while."
Beatrice pinched her nose and shook her hands to emphasize the foul stench.
Subaru didn't even notice her gesture, and his thoughts were turned to a memory that matched the keyword "smell."
Smell, it was definitely someone at the end of the third week――,
"What do you smell from me?"
Subaru asked, lifting his head and his voice filling with emotion for the first time.
Beatrice raised one eyebrow at the question and crossed her arms.
"It's the smell of a witch. It's making my nose curl."
I muttered the keyword "Witch" and a sudden tingling began in the back of my head.
I remember that word. I'm sure I've seen it recently. It's,
"The Quiet Witch"
"In today's world, what else can a person be called a witch?"
Beatrice's mocking words made Subaru instinctively lean forward. He reached out his hand towards her,
"Why do you smell that on me?"
"Well, maybe the witch took a liking to you, or maybe she has made you her enemy. Either way, you're a nuisance because you're being treated specially by the witch."
"Giving special treatment to someone you don't even know the name or face of is creepy."
Beatrice shrugged, implying that she was uncomfortable with even discussing the topic any further. Subaru fell silent at her stubborn refusal, and began to dive deep into the ocean of his thoughts, sorting through the fragmented information he had gathered.
The Witch. The Wet Witch is hated and feared all over the world, and is a world famous figure in fairy tales whose name is so rare that people avoid even saying it.
The only knowledge Subaru has of its existence is what is told in a story that doesn't even have any narrative substance.
Naturally, I have no memory of ever meeting him, nor do I recall having any contact with him.
It was an unreasonable thing to say, considering I'd never experienced anything like the lingering scent of a witch permeating the place.
--Rem had said something similar to Subaru, I think.
If this was part of her excessive murderous intent, then Subaru had once again incurred the wrath of a man he had no memory of. Since all of his crimes were false accusations, Subaru's misfortune of being killed so many times was unparalleled.
Subaru let out a long sigh of exhaustion, realizing that the truth was beyond remedy. Seeing this, and perhaps assuming that the conversation would not progress any further, Beatrice ran a hand through his long hair,
"If there's nothing else, then I'll go now. I'll make sure to tell Nii-chan that Betty came to see you."
"Wait a minute."
Beatrice puts her hand on the doorknob and is about to "cross the door", but someone calls out to her, stopping her movement. Beatrice turns to look in the direction of the camera with just her head.
"You think you're bad for me, don't you?"
Subaru asked maliciously.
Although it was a somewhat risky measure, I listened to my heart and decided it was better than doing nothing.
Seeing Beatrice making a displeased face, Subaru lightly patted the sheets and said again,
"You feel bad for me. Answer me with a yes or no."
"I don't think so."
"I'll tell Puck."
"Guu... Maybe I'll just think about it for a little bit."
Beatrice turned towards Subaru with her whole body, crossed her arms and turned her face away arrogantly.
Looking her small body up and down, and then remembering the times he had spent with her up until now, Subaru agonized and came to a decision.
"If you want me to forgive you, please grant me one request."
it is,
"For one night... No, until the morning after tomorrow is fine. Could you please protect me?"
It seemed a shameless choice to beg a girl who looked much younger than him.
Beatrice was quiet for a moment at Subaru's request,
"That's an ambiguous statement. I wonder if that's why they're targeting me."
He answers with a very obvious question.
Beatrice glared blankly at Subaru and began pacing around the room,
"Well, I don't want you to bring your troubles into this mansion. I wonder if this mansion is an indispensable place to Betty."
"…I have no intention of doing anything. I just want to get rid of the sparks."
"Even though you leave that up to others, it's a pretty admirable ambition."
"This time, I have no words to say back."
Beatrice sighed as Subaru looked down.
For a while, silence flowed through the room.
With his head bowed, Subaru expected to hear the sound of the door closing soon. The sound of Beatrice cutting his plea short and returning to her own Forbidden Library.
When he heard that, even the last bit of hope that Subaru had been holding onto would be crushed.
Subaru was filled with such resignation,
"Put your hands up."
Beatrice walked over to the side of the bed and held out her small hand in my direction.
Subaru was taken aback. She took his right hand with an irritated look on her face, grimacing at the back of it covered in bruises,
"It's disgusting. If you have a habit of self-harming, you must be a hopeless pervert."
"Those words are Roswaal's identity. I'm just a chuunibyou patient whose youth has overflowed a little."
"I didn't understand what it meant, but I just felt more hopeless."
Sighing, Beatrice turns Subaru's right hand over to cover the wound, then places her own small palm over his.
Naturally, we were drawn to each other and our fingers intertwined,
"--Your wish is heard. In the name of Beatrice, a contract is hereby made."
Beatrice solemnly declared this, leaving Subaru speechless.
And then, an overwhelming amount of heat was felt from their intertwined palms. It spread through Subaru's palms and throughout his entire body, suddenly slamming into his body, which had lost all vitality.
Confused by his body's sudden heat reaction, he looked ahead to see Beatrice glaring at him with eyes that seemed to say she was truly unwilling,
"Even if it's temporary, a contract is still a contract. It was made in accordance with the ritual and is absolute. I wonder if I'll listen to your incomprehensible request."
"You should be grateful," Beatrice concluded, gazing boldly at Subaru from above despite being below him.
Receiving that gaze, Subaru quickly turned his face away, trying to endure the sudden wave of incomprehensible emotions that came over him.
A surge of passion, a feeling that cannot be put into words.
Unsure of how to handle the thing that was being offered to him from such an unexpected place, Subaru closed his eyes at the heat of the hand that was holding him,
"Seriously?... I nearly made a little girl cry."
"Don't call me a little girl. --Also, if you tell on Nii-chan, I'll never forgive you."
"You're too desperate. You're like a real devil."
Seeing the gaze that was filled with genuine hostility, Subaru responded with a wry smile.
It was the fourth week, and the first smile she showed that whole lap was small but certain.