Chapter Ten: Counter-Attack (Part Two)

Subaru still remembered the day of the invasion...

The sight of Rem, bloodied and bruised, yet standing with her weapon in hand.

The horn on her head, burning bright pink with violent energy.

—In the distance, the growls of Mabeasts became more apparent, as Subaru and his entourage progressed deeper into the forest.

As the guttural noises grew louder and louder, Subaru felt a hand on his shoulder. He stopped, turning to the person in question.

Rem, with a gentle smile and rosy cheeks —

Rem did not restrain herself, baring teeth and glaring with intense fervor as she mowed down each beast, one by one.

It wouldn't be long, until Rem bared her fangs towards Subaru, and a barely-conscious Ram — the duo that was desperate enough to bring Rem back to her senses.

"Please, excuse me." Rem brushed past Subaru, her Morningstar trailing just behind her. Subaru gave the girl a curt nod, as he watched her get into position.

Following suit was Emilia, as she stood right next to Subaru... before outstretching her hands,

"I've got your back, Rem!" She gave a bold declaration, as Rem picked her weapon up.

Seeing Rem as a threat, the Mabeasts lash out—

It was a mess, trying to avoid both beast and maid. It took everything Subaru had, to salvage a happy ending from that moment.

Subaru's fists tightened, as he watched Rem move—

*PCKSHHHH! ! !*

—An cleave through two of the three beasts in their way, with the last one narrowly escaping certain death.

However, before said beast could touch the ground—

"Huma!" Emilia exclaimed!

*Thnk—Thnk, thnk!*

Three icicles intruded itself into the beast's ribcage, effectively killing it.

"Good job..." Puck spoke, with a certain distaste as he watched his daughter kill the Mabeast.

It truly was a miracle he came out of that moment alive, yet... A part of him wished he could've done more. Wished he could've done better.

A rustle, as more dogs ran towards the group—this time towards Subaru, Emilia, and Puck.

"How rude, I suppose!"

—Only to be cut by blades of wind, and shards of encased mana; Minya.

The dogs fall flat on the ground, as Subaru turns to Beatrice and Ram, the air around both of them charged with mana.

Ram makes a small huff, "I guess even mutts like these can resort to cheap tactics."

She turns to Subaru, brushing her hair aside, "...Maybe I should've saved one. Let 'em nick Barusu to build character."

"Ram!" Emilia exclaimed, clearly not enjoying the joke. Subaru held down a chuckle.

Men are about guts. Women are about beauty.

One last, quiet rustle was heard, and Subaru whirled around to Rem. The maid was already prepared, smelling the last beast that would make an attack towards her, before quickly lashing out.

Emilia, catching wind of all this, makes a motion to cast Huma—

But stops when Subaru holds out a hand, as he gives her a smile.

"I got it." –He quickly whispers, reassuring the Queen-to-be.

After her attack, Rem lands on her feet, and the beast continues to growls at her, keeping its distance. The lone wolf knew it was at a disadvantage: he would not afford breaking sight of her.

She makes a motion with her Morningstar—

Only to stumble a bit as the earth shakes, just for a moment.

Her gaze falls back to the beast—to see it confined midair, unable to move.

"Gotcha!" Subaru yells out, his arm making a curved motion, like he was carrying a dumbbell.

Unbeknownst to the group, Subaru just made his Unseen Hand phase through the ground—only to appear underneath the beast as a surprise attack.

While it was a risky experiment considering Rem's life was at stake, Subaru had a feeling it would work... If those damned hands can reach for his heart, why wouldn't they be able to take on solid ground?

Rem's gaze lands back at Subaru, being very much aware of his unique power, and watches with careful curiosity.

Subaru's grin falls a bit, as he curls up his hand—

*...Cccrunch.* —And the beast crumples under the unseen pressure onto its body, drawing its last breath.

Rem's eyebrows furrow, hearing the noise that spelled death for the beast.

Emilia gets tense from the action, watching Subaru slowly stand back up and release the dead Mabeast.

Puck couldn't help but glare at him, as his matter of defeating the beast was grotesque, at best.

Ram and Beatrice simply opt to stay silent, watching Subaru all the same.

"'Build character,' huh?" Subaru speaks, cutting through the silence like butter, "Man, I wish I could pull a witty retort right now..."

Subaru rolls his arm around, "But... I think I'd rather pour all that energy and focus on this mission. Even more so now, considering you're all here with me "

Emilia watches Subaru turn to all of them, sans Rem who was walking her way back to the group.

"Until we all make it back home, safe and sound," Emilia could see a certain glimmer in Subaru's eyes. Cautious, yet hopeful.

Still, his grin was tight and confident.

"I'm going to be fanatical, like a real demon!"

While it was a look meant to inspire, Puck only saw it as a red flag.





Meili could feel the puppy in her lap perk up, his ears in the air as he turns towards the forest canopy.

The girl lets out a quiet whisper.

"They're coming."

The puppy turns back to his Master, hearing her voice weary and uncertain. Said Master looks up to the sky.

"Onee-chan..." Her voice was wistful, thinking of her surrogate sister, "What should I do?"

Her thoughts dampen, as she recalls the man she met earlier... killing all the Mabeasts she sent their way.

Surely, he was seeking revenge towards her.

The puppy paws towards his Master, making a small yip. Meili nods, her lips thinning.

"I know..." She stands up from her spot under the tree, before reaching out to grab her partner, "I have to get moving."

The pup lets himself get picked up, as she turns towards the direction of the group.

"If I don't confront them," Her eyes grow jaded, as she steels herself for what's to come, "Mother will be very upset..."

Meili's grip tightens on the puppy. The Mabeast keeps its displeasure shut under its maw.

"I have to continue my mission, for Onee-chan's sake." –With conviction, Meili walks into the forest, with an entourage of Mabeasts close behind.





Nearly a half-hour later, Subaru and friends were deeper in the forest. The sheer amount of monsters that welcomed them, told the group they were on the right track.

"They just don't quit, do they!?" Subaru yells out loud, using his power to keep the Mabeasts away from the group. The looming presence of Unseen Hand gave the Mabeasts a troublesome time to find openings.

"What's wrong, I wonder?" Beatrice gives the boy something akin of a stink eye, "Having second thoughts about this mission of yours?"

"Of course not!" Subaru looks towards the spirit, to find a beast making a move behind her, "Hey—Behind you!"

Wordlessly, Beatrice jumps up, and makes a motion with her arms, summoning Minya to attack the beast that was going for a counter!

The shards of darkness hit their mark, turning the Beast into shattering crystals.

"Wow! You have some crazy reaction time, Beako!" Subaru promptly gives two thumbs up, "That's my favorite spirit! Way to go!"

Beatrice, knowing that this was Subaru's way of raising morale, was quick to brush it off.

"Save your stupid nonsense for after the fight, I suppose!" Beatrice, sounding a little flustered, gives the boy her thoughts, "We still got mutts to fight off!"

"Loud and clear!" Subaru turns his attention to the beasts, bringing his Unseen Hands close, "Come get some!"

Close to the duo, the entourage of Emilia, Puck, Rem, and Ram cover each other from another group of Mabeasts.

"Huma!" Rem and Emilia cry out, almost in sync as ice magic shoots out in separate directions!

Said magic hit their mark for some targets, but many Mabeasts simply dodge by jumping in the air—

"Too easy!" Puck confidently arms even more shards of ice, easily being capable of doing so with his massive reserve of mana. The surplus amount of ice mows down the rest of the Mabeasts, helpless in the air.

Puck felt his earlier worries fade a little, finally having an excuse to use this surplus of mana that he was building up for years now.

However, on Ram's side—

"Fura!" Ram exclaims, sending blades of wind towards her share of Mabeasts!

The magic cuts through one beast... but three more still remain.

"...Shit." Ram curses, feeling the drawbacks of using mana so brazenly, in her attempt to match the pace with the other three.

Rem notices this, and begins to say something, "Nee-sama—"

—Only to be cut off by a large glacier of ice, summoned by Puck to finish off the last of the demon beasts!

"Alright..." Puck crosses his arms, floating between the two Oni sisters, "That should be the last of 'em."

"Puck!" Emilia cries out, looking at her surrogate father with a tense look, "That was going way too far! What would've happened if you hit Ram or Rem!?"

"'Lia, you know that I'd never do something like that." Puck waves an arm in a passing manner, but "Lia's" glare makes him tense up, as he looks elsewhere, namely at Subaru who was off in the distance—

Or, he would, if it weren't for the slab of ice in his way.

"I guess... I'm sorry. I think I got too carried away." Puck's tone gets a little sheepish, looking at the feat of magic and ice. He even started to feel guilty for the three Mabeasts trapped in there... but quickly shook it off.

It was outlandish to see the massive structure of ice, existing in the warm, spring forest.

Maybe his emotions were getting the better of him?





"Whew~ " –A whistle of one tone came from Subaru, as he and Beatrice regrouped with the others, only to see Puck's latest creation.

"Lemme guess..." Subaru passes a glance at Puck, as the spirit puffs up his chest...

Before turning to the Throne's Heir, "Emilia-tan, right?" –The spirit that was cocky before jumps up— "Amazing! I knew an angel like you could pull this off!"

"Hey!" Puck cries out, offended.

"Don't be ridiculous, Subaru-kun." Emilia shakes her head, smiling, "Of course it was Puck, not me."

"Ah, seriously?" Subaru draws out his surprise, turning to Puck with a fake-shocked look, before shrugging, "Oh well, Puck was my second-best guess."

"You know, I ought'a teach you to respect your elders, Subaru..." Puck starts rolling his arms in an intimidating manner, only for Subaru to find it cute thanks to his small size.

Disregarding the dry threat, Subaru quickly perks up and turns to the deeper part of the forest canopy;

"Alright, team!" Subaru waves the group to follow him, "Let's keep moving!—"

"Please wait a moment!" An earnest request stopped Subaru; Especially since it was one from Rem.

"Hmm? Rem?" Subaru turns back to the maid in question, as she was looking to her sister—

"...Rem... I'm... fine." Ram makes a weak glare to her sister, as Rem looked at her in worry.

"Oh dear..." Emilia held a hand into her chest. Puck gives a look at the maid, then at Subaru.

Puck watches him with interest, knowing that if he proved to be any lesser then the leader he was supposed to be, he would pull both himself and his daughter out of this mess.

Subaru chalked the girl's behavior to one, easy reason: Of course Ram wouldn't keep up with everyone. Ram was hornless, compared to her sister.

Nodding to himself, Subaru reaches for the medical bag strapped on his waist, walking up to the two maids.

Ram passes an annoyed eye towards Subaru, "...Got something to say, Barusu...?" –Her tone was sharp, not happy to be seen in such a state.

"Yeah." Subaru's tone was gentle, as his hand leaves the bag and unfolds in front of the maid, "Eat."

Ram's eyebrows furrow in confusion, before looking at the item in question that Subaru held—

"A bokko fruit...?" Ram's eyes widened, and she glares at Subaru, "Did you take this from Roswaal-sama without his permission!?"

"...Please tell me you are not giving me a hard time over fruit." Subaru's face deadpans, as the maid continues to glare at him.

"It's not about that! It's the principal!" Ram's initial exhaustion was replaced by adrenaline, as she grits her teeth, "I refuse to take anything you stole from Roswaal-sama!"

With that outcry, a small moment of silence ran through the group. Subaru's lips thinned a little... before growing to a smile.

"Seriously, Ram..." Subaru shakes his head a little, "You think Roswaal finds some puny fruit more important over his two beautiful maids? I'd think a clown like him would be smarter than that."

"Barusu—" Ram was about to yell at him to defend Roswaal's integrity, but—

"Roswaal told me to take care of you." Subaru cuts her off, his tone dead serious as he looks to the others, "All of you... And I'm not taking any chances, here."

Puck, feeling a iota of pride from the young man's declaration, decided to finally squash his uneasiness with Subaru.

"Subaru-kun is right, Nee-sama." Ram's sister quickly followed suit, and she looks to her in shock.

"Rem, you can't be serious!" Rem gives a gentle smile to her sister.

"I'm sure Roswaal-sama would agree to our use of his much-treasured supply, Nee-sama." Rem insists, her tone firm and confident.

Ram wanted to lash out once more, but... couldn't find another reason to. She found it harder to resist her waning strength, let alone the confidence her sister had in Roswaal... and in Subaru.

And, frankly speaking, if she was to continue fighting like this, she could use all the help she can get.

With a huff, she quietly snatches the small pepper-like fruit from Subaru's hand, and stuffs it into her mouth. Subaru nods his head with relief, watching the result come forward.

An electric current runs through Ram, as she stiffens up for the fruit to run its course, her gate forcing forward more mana,

"...Haaah."—before letting out a soft exhale, as she stands up straight.

"Looking good, Ram." Subaru gives a bright smile, before turning to the rest of the group, "Alright... let's get moving!"

Ram watches Subaru march forward, and the rest of the group following suit, only for Beatrice to remain behind.

"I'd give you a warning about what that fruit's side effects are..." Beatrice shakes her head, "But, I know better than to tell you of all people, I suppose."

A displeased look came from Ram. She knew what Beatrice was talking about.

After all, the reason Roswaal had a stock of the fruit was mainly for her. It was reserved for periods of time where Roswaal wouldn't be in the mansion.

However... in comparison to the warm, soft embrace of her Master, giving her just the right amount of mana to live...

The disgusting fruit made her want to vomit.





After a few more battles, Subaru and his group walk out of the forest to find themselves in a clearing, with wide fields and dipping hills that stretched far before the forest made itself known again.

To Subaru and Emilia, they were familiar with this spot.

"Hey, Subaru..." Subaru turns to Emilia, who has a cautious look on her face, "Isn't this... where we first found Meili?"

Subaru quickly nods, his lips pursed, "Yeah. Can't believe we made it back here again."

"There's no guarantee the person you seek would simply stay in the same spot." Beatrice shakes her head, cutting the conversation between the two.

"I know, I know." Subaru makes a small chuckle, looking away ever so slightly, "But I'm sure we're getting close to her location. She couldn't have gotten far from here."

"How can you be so certain?" Ram eyeballs the boy, clearly not buying his statement.

"Heh," Subaru slowly rises his hand in the air...

Before making a bold pose, pointing a thumb towards himself, "This guy's got a knack for putting himself in trouble! You want to ruin a absolutely perfect day? Leave it to me!"

The cocky, showboating tone Subaru uses comes off as a surprise to the group; Beatrice and Ram look stunned, and Rem stifles down a giggle.

"Hey, now," Emilia holds out her hands in a comforting manner, "That's not something you should be proud of, Subaru..."

"Au contraire, my dear angel," Subaru points finger guns at the Queen-in-the-Making...

Before drooping them sightly, "I'm actually doubling-down on this quirk of mine to bring Meili around! Let me have this moment, alright?"

Emilia's shoulders hike up a slight bit, "O-Oh, well... I'm not quite sure how that works, but..." Her hands ball up into fists, and she loosely pumps them into her chest, "I-I'm rooting for you!"

"Ah..." Subaru looks at how cute Emilia is, and starts shaking a bit, until—

"Alri~iight!" Subaru exclaims, shooting both his arms into the air, "With EMT counting on me, there's no way I can mess this up!"

He points a confident finger towards some direction in the clearing, with a bright and stubborn grin,

"You hear that, Meili!? Come out and show yourself, already!" He yells out, surprising the group.

...However, only silence was there to greet them, cutting the surprise down in size.

"...Really, Barusu!?" Ram was the first to speak her displeasure, "What happened to all that talk about being 'Fanatical like a Demon?' Take this seriously—!"

"Nee-sama." Rem's request cuts the pink maid short, as she stares at her sister with a bit of frustration—

But, she quickly notices that Rem was dead-serious, her nose making quick movements as she sniffed the air, constantly.

"...Mabeasts." Beatrice, who also possessed the ability to 'smell' miasma, makes the report, "A lot of them, up ahead."

"A lot...?" Emilia's lips thin, as she turns over to Subaru.

Subaru's grin falls down to a neutral frown, but his hand was still pointed—

"Glad you took my request seriously."

Emilia blinks, turning to the person Subaru was talking to.

The little girl, Meili.

She had a small smile, a smaller pup in her arms... and an army of Mabeasts, following her with obedience.

"You've got a big mouth on you, Onii-chan."

Subaru blinks, before letting out a small fume of air out his nose,

"Mmyeah, ain't the first time I've been told that." He shrugs his arms, "Definitely won't be the last."

The pup below Meili growls out, not happy with the boy in front of them. Meili looks down, her smile falling.







"Why did you come back, Onii-chan?" Subaru's arms fall, as Meili talks, quietly, "After what you did to my friends... I don't want to capture you anymore, you know?"

"..." Subaru's face falls into a grimace, recalling how he lost control, fighting off the Mabeasts with the extra Unseen Hands.

Rem held a similar look of discomfort, passing a glance at Subaru.

Subaru could tell in her tone of voice: She was scared of him now.

"So what..." Meili looks back at the boy, with questioning eyes, "...Do you want from me... Onii-chan...?"

Subaru stays quiet. His group behind him shares concerned looks with each other.

He then makes a deep breath, and opens up:

"I want to save you, Meili."

The girl's eyes widen considerably, expecting a lot of answers... but not that one.

"Wh... Save me?" she whispers, confused.

"That's right," Subaru nods, balling up his fists, "Someone as young as you shouldn't be out here, alone, living with thesec monsters!"

"You should be back at the village, with everyone else! Playing with Petra, Lucas, Mild, Cain, and Dine!" Subaru lists off the other kids names, as he knew them fairly well, "Living a normal, happy life! Don't you want that, Meili!?"

The young girl, who was thrusted into a life of loneliness, felt a pang in her heart as Subaru made his earnest attempt to reach out to her. A small, small part of her wanted to just... take the opportunity!

"...Mmmruff!" –A bark from the puppy below her snapped her into her senses, and she remembers the consequences if she took the bait.

The sister that would hunt for her guts. The Mother that would seek out her head.

A life like that simply wasn't on the table for her.

"Sorry," A simple response made Subaru jump, as Meili gives a curt smile.

"...But... I'm happy with the way things are now..." Meili kneels down, and lets the pup stand on their feet. The Mabeast never breaks sight off of Subaru.

"That's a lie, and you know it!" Subaru exclaims, gritting his teeth!

"...Maybe..." Meili whispers, admitting her feelings to Subaru. However, her smile never disappears, "But I don't understand the appeal of living the life you talk about, either."

She stands back up, looking around,

"The forest is my home. These," She gestures to the Mabeasts by her side, "...Are my friends!"

Her cheerful attitude sends a pit of doubt down Subaru's stomach, as her eerily-happy voice rubs him the wrong way,

"And you..." Meili's eyebrows fall, as she glares at Subaru, "Are my enemy."

Subaru stiffens up from the declaration—not noticing the surge of mana from below his feet, glowing violently bright!—

"Subaru!" Emilia dashes towards him, pushing both of them away from the blotch of mana, as it reaches its maximum charge—

*FWA—PMMMMM!*

The mana results in a seismic explosion from the ground-upward, as fragmentation of rock and stone shoot in all directions!

"Tch!" Beatrice summons a shield of mana, deflecting the rocks away from her, Ram and Rem.

However, for Subaru and Emilia...

"Khh... Huh?" Subaru expected pain to hit him, but only found the comfort of Emilia's soft embrace, as she rested on top of him...

And found Puck above her, covering them both with a sudden glacier of ice, "Puck!"

"Stop acting so reckless, both of you!" Puck calls out, frustrated with the turn of events,

Puck glares at the boy, "From here on out, Meili is our enemy, Subaru!"

Subaru's teeth tighten, but he doesn't refute the spirit, "...Okay, got it."

Puck nods, before turning to Meili and her army of Mabeasts, "You lot have some nerve...!"

An array of icicles, of all shapes and sizes, start to form above Puck en masse, as his aura grows intense!

"Attacking my daughter! !" –With a loud cry, Puck shoots the storm of ice towards the Mabeasts, mowing them down quickly!

"Ghh!" Meili stiffens up, but the pup below her falls into a stance—

"ROARRR! ! !" –And lets out a mighty roar, unbefitting for the small dog. A wave of mana redirects the icicles away from Meili—but not saving any Mabeasts near the two of them...

The storm of ice cuts a hole in Meili's forces, enough to shock the little girl into her senses.

Meanwhile, Puck looks towards the pup, recognizing who the real opponent was, "...I had a hunch you were more than just a mutt."

"Yeah," Subaru stands up, supporting Emilia onto her feet, "That small dog's the boss here. Don't let your guard down around him."

"Subaru, you knew?" Emilia asks, knowing that the pup was in Meili's arms, when it was just her and Subaru.

Subaru nods, but keeps his focus on Meili, "...You wouldn't believe me if I told you how."

Subaru's low tone makes Emilia blink, confused... but she sets it aside for another time, watching the spirit and twin maids approach them.

"Subaru," Rem calls out, and the boy looks over.

Rem's face was dead serious, "Do we attack?"

"..." Subaru's eyes turn back to Meili, who was starting to get intimidated.

"Ruff!" –Meili turns to the pup, who was low on the ground, but had a close eye to the girl.

Meili understood the request they made, but even without her power, she could've interpreted what they said:

"Run!"

With that, adrenaline shot through Meili as she ran away from the scene, not letting Subaru make the call!

"Hey, wait!" –Subaru doesn't honor Rem a response, opting to chase after the little girl. He doesn't notice the pup's aura turn increasingly dense, as he begins to transform into his larger form.

"ROARRR! ! !"—Once again, the beast yells out a massive roar of energy, this time outward, towards Subaru!

"Nghhh!" Subaru feels the force of hot, turbulent winds blow past him, threatening to cause serious damage.

However, Subaru is already familiar with the beast, and his intimidation holds no effect. Subaru, after the winds pass, holds an arm up high!

"Shut your mouth!" –And throws a fist downwards, his Unseen Hand following suit and smashing the large, Cerberus-like beast on one of his heads.

The beast is stunned by the attack, but not nearly out of the fight. Subaru takes the extra few moments to turn back to his group,

"I'm chasing after Meili!" Subaru pumps a fist to his chest, his face dead-serious, "Everyone, please fight without me! Stay alive until I come back!"

Not wasting another second, Subaru runs off towards the direction Meili left, leaving behind a group with mixed feelings.

Ram makes a small huff, "Some leader he turned out to be... That idiot, Barusu...!"

Rem holds her Morningstar, tight, "Subaru-kun was put on the spot, Nee-sama! After all, it was his mission to rescue the girl!"

"...Not even asking me to follow... The audacity...!" Beatrice holds her own frustrations to herself, but summons Minya regardless, "...Is he making my job harder on purpose!?"

"Subaru..." Emilia looks to where Subaru disappeared, remembering something similar happening when it was just the two of them. She tightens her fists, before summoning Huma,

"Come back safe!" –making one last request, she turns to focus on the fight!





"Haa! Haa! Haa!" Gasps were made from Meili, as she ran from the scene, hoping her Mabeast Pup would have everything handled.

"Meili!" –A bite of shock shoots in her, as she hears the boy she's terrified about, hot on her trail, "Please stop running! We need to talk!"

"There's... Hah... No way!" Meili, in disbelief, looks over her shoulder as she ran—

"Khhh!?" –And fails to see a tree's roots up ahead, hooking onto her left leg as she stumbles over!

Meili falls flat onto the gravel and dirt, scraping her right knee deeply and bruising up quite a bit. For a moment, the blitz of pain makes the girl completely forget the things she was running from, tearing up ever so slightly...

"Mei—" The boy's voice was no-doubt behind her, as she heard him gasp, "Wh—Hey!? Are you alright!?"

Despite the concern his voice had for her, she remembered that he wasn't her friend. She was the person that brutally killed her friends—The one who took away her sister.

Was she next? Was this it for her? The thoughts alone were enough to make the girl tremble, fearful for her life.

"...Stay away...!" Meili yells, with a slither of hostility, like an attempt to appear dangerous that failed horribly.

Meili heard footsteps come closer to her, and began to pick herself up off the ground, gritting her teeth as the shock from slamming onto the ground hadn't quite worn off yet—

Meili felt herself get picked up, gently, until she was sitting properly on the dirt floor. Her eyes fell onto Subaru, who had a concerned look that matched his voice earlier.

Subaru makes a gasp through his teeth, looking at Meili's knee. Scraped up and starting to bleed, it was clear Meili wasn't going to walk on that leg without trouble.

Looking back at Meili, their eyes meet only but a second. Quickly, the girl breaks line of sight, looking away to quell her anxiety.

And Subaru, being the mature one here, put aside his goal to question Meili for a later time: She hurt herself pretty bad.

Taking action, he digs into the supplies he readily prepared before this mission, having just the thing to remedy the issue.

Meili takes it as a threat, and makes a movement to get up—

"Ghh..." Only to make a struggled groan, as her leg wasn't willing to work any time soon.

"Woah, hey!" Subaru holds out a hand, stopping his motion, "Calm down, alright? I'm not going to hurt you."

Subaru tries to reason with Meili, but the girl was still hostile, not believing him even for a second. It was only until Subaru pulls out bandages that she started to think otherwise.

...Subaru also pulled out a plastic bottle with some... liquid she didn't recognize.

"We can't have that wound get infected." Subaru, foregoing the fact that Meili was supposedly their enemy, wanted to believe in the Meili he was familiar with: The one that needed rescuing in his previous, successful life.

Striking up a conversation, being the one to initiate it, hoping that it was enough to get Meili to open up... If he can just do that, then...

"...What's that bottle...?" Meili opens up to Subaru a little, and he rewards it with a small smile.

"It's medicine." Subaru answers, not giving the liquid's full name of Hydrogen Peroxide, (Or, rather, this world's equivalent—something he got quickly familiar with as a servant of the Mather's household, in his last life.)

"Now listen, It's going to burn for a sec," Subaru watches Meili tense up, and quickly makes his point,

"But it'll quickly go away, and it's much better than letting that," –Subaru gestures at the gash on Meili's knee— "Go untreated... Alright?"

A moment of silence, as Meili weighs her options with pursed lips, the nagging pain on her knee not going away any time soon...

Finding no hidden motive in Subaru's intentions, Meili's head falls just a bit.

"Okay..." A whisper, but Subaru heard it clearly. Subaru gives a grateful nod.

"Thank you." Subaru holds the bottle above the wound, already having the container uncapped, "I promise this'll be quick."

With that, Subaru pours the clear liquid, and Meili hisses through her teeth as she was given treatment...





It doesn't take long for Subaru's party (sans Subaru) to realize just what kind of monster they were dealing with.

If there was one thing this Mabeast Cerberus had going for it, it was its endurance.

While Ram and Beatrice were fending off the smaller dogs, Rem, Emilia and Puck were tasked with the big one—

"ROARRR! ! !" The beast lets out a cry, as his legs break free from any icy grip Puck and Emilia's magic creates, unfazed by their stream of ice as he did so.

"Lia!" Puck cuts his magic flow off, and gives his daughter a sharp warning, "Jump back!"

Emilia, following suit, listens to her contracted spirit, narrowly dodging a violent plume of energy coming from below her feet. She ducks away from the loose shrapnel—

"Haaaaaaaaah!" –To see Rem going on the offensive, her Morningstar swung wide toward the Mabeast.

A good, chunky hit was placed on its bicep, but the beast makes only but a second to focus after the blow.

Rem grits her teeth, as she watches the beast use one of its heads to bite... onto the weapon's chain.

With a mighty tug, the beast throws Rem like an accessory, as she is launched far away from her group with her weapon soaring as well.

Slamming onto the trunk of the tree, she was lucky to still be standing on her legs. However, she has only mere moments to snap out of it, as the beast's attention was on her.

"Rem!" Emilia makes a cry, and Puck shoots towards the maid to assist her.

A familiar plume of energy rises under Rem, and she was unable to avoid the attack, given the shellshock she was experiencing...!

"Make yourself useful, maid!" –Beatrice's voice came with resounding reverb, stopping her current fight with the mobs as she holds out a hand, "And jump! Murak!"

Rem, able to process the simple request, makes a shaky hop off the ground. Thanks to the effects of Murak, however, the smallest jump pulls the maid upward in the air, as if gravity wasn't a factor.

Puck, arriving by Rem's side, uses his tiny paws to grab onto Rem's finger—

"Get going!" –and swing her towards the group!

"GRRRRAAAA—GHH!" Seeing the obvious move, the Mabeast makes an attempt to chomp on Rem, recoiling only when Puck lands an accurate shot onto the beast's eye.

"What's wrong? Did that hurt?" Puck taunts, purposefully leading the attention onto him as he summons more Huma icicles, "Well too bad! It's only going to get worse from here!"

While Puck was keeping the attention on himself, Rem finds herself 'steering' her body mid-flight towards Ram, and the sister noticed right away.

"Rem!" Ram almost jumps to catch her dear sister, and set her back onto the floor.

"You have my thanks, Nee-sama." Rem bows quickly, before swiping her weapon at the Mabeasts her sister was facing.

Ram takes another second to look at her sister, her vigor unwavering.

She curses under her breath, as she feels her Mana start to fizzle out, once more.

Beatrice releases a long sigh, as she reads the mood around her.

"...We won't hold for too much longer, I suppose." Beatrice mutters, summoning El Minya as Mabeasts surround her again.

Her own source of mana, a resovoir she's collected in the library for years now, was cut by a quarter at this point... she'd rather not use any more than she has, now.

But, unfortunately, she wasn't in any condition to make compromises.





"There!" Subaru knots the bandage around Meili's leg, tight and snug, "Feeling a bit better now, I hope?"

Subaru makes an earnest question, and Meili takes the moment to move her leg around. There was still some pain lingering... and the bandage was a bit uncomfortable... but she was better now, than she was a few moments ago.

Meili stays silent, staring at the bandage that was carefully wrapped on her appendage... and starts to shake once again.

"...Why?" Meili asks quietly, and Subaru blinks.

"Pardon?"

"Why did you help me...?" Meili looks at him with watery eyes, her voice close to a whisper, "Aren't we... supposed to fight?"

Subaru looks at Meili, and simply huffs, "I have no clue what you're talking 'bout." Subaru shakes his head, "All I see in front of me is a little girl who needs help!"

Meili's eyebrows furrow, "I don't understand... Meili's... a bad girl." Her voice was hinting that she was close to tears.

"Who's calling you that?" Subaru sounds offended, "If anyone's giving you a hard time, I can teach 'em a lesson!" Subaru pumps a fist onto his chest...

But quickly looks sheepish, "I mean, I might get my butt kicked in the process, but that's par for the course in 'The Life of Subaru Natsuki.'"

Subaru finishes by giving a cheeky grin, which earns him a giggle in response.

"...Ehehe..." For a moment, Meili doesn't look sad or scared. Just happy, like a normal girl should be.

Subaru takes the initiative, and holds out a hand, catching her attention,

"Hey," Subaru starts, and Meili looks up at him, "Won't you please come with me? I promise I will keep you safe until we make it home."

His voice was gentle, yet serious. Confidence... something that Meili could not muster up.

And yet—

"Home?" Meili asks, wondering. It was a word she yearned to understand.

"Yeah: Back at Roswaal's Mansion, I promise to keep you safe!" Subaru nods, but a word makes her stiffen up.

As soon as he said 'Roswaal', the luster in her eyes dimmed.

"..." She starts to look away, giving Subaru the idea something was up,

"What's wrong?" He asks.

"I can't." –Subaru was given the answer he wasn't hoping for.

"...Why not?" He asks, a bit dejected. Meili turns a little more, hiding her eyes.

"It's... I can't say it..." She shakes her head, "It's complicated."

Subaru feels empathy, recalling all the times he couldn't explain anything to his friends, using those same words as his excuse.

"...Meili..." Subaru walks forward, closer to the girl, and crouches low, "Just tell me; Why can't I help you?"

Meili freezes up, as her lips purse in a frown. Subaru's honest attempts to encourage the girl was cracking her shell little, by little, by little.

And, for a fleeting moment, she starts to consider confessing to the boy, who held immense strength in his own way...

A small gulp, before she begins to speak—





Amongst a crowd of Mabeasts, Ram's breath gets labored as she runs on fumes of mana, easily blowing through the reserves she got from the Bokko Fruit.

Caught with their own problems, Emilia and the others fails to notice her dilemma, as Ram begins to have trouble standing on her own two feet.

The hellhounds have no mercy, as one lashes out at her direction.

Sluggish and enamored, Ram tries to hold out a hand to cast her magic—

"Ghhhhggg!" –Only to have her arm being chewed on, like a toy, as blood was sprayed in the air.

The cry from Ram finally catches Emilia's attention, as she turns with horror in her eyes, "Ram!"—

Rem, who was beside Emilia in an attempt to take down the boss, immediately breaks away from her and dashes to her sister, Morningstar flying right behind!

"Get away from her! Huma! !" A desperate cry from the maid, as spears of ice are shot at the hounds, hitting their mark with deadly accuracy.

The hound that managed to attack Ram was also slain, releasing her onto the ground.

Rem slides on the grassy floor, immediately looking over her sister's wounds.

Ram had her eyes closed, her breathing was shallow and quiet, and the wound on her arm continued to pour the crimson liquid she needed to survive.

Rem's chest got tighter and tighter, as her mind ran a thousand miles a minute. How could she let this happen? Why didn't Ram tell her she was struggling sooner?

"Rem!" Emilia catches the maid's attention, "Take her and run to somewhere safe! We can handle the rest!"

Rem's lips purse. Run? After what these Witch-loving mutts did to her sister?

It would just be a repeat of what happened, back at their village...

Her eyes fall onto the big Cerberus, the commander. The Mabeast returned the stare...

Was it... smiling...?

These Mabeasts were the same as the Witch-cult... Nothing but a bunch of demons, each and every one of them...

A crackle of pink energy sparked around Rem, catching the beast's attention.

What do I do...?

The Cerberus makes a movement, and Rem felt the energy in the air spike—

"Rem, move!" Beatrice, finally saying the maid's name, calls out in urgence as she quickly notices the blotch of mana beneath Rem and Ram—The Cerberus was going to attack them from below!

The mana glows bright, giving Rem a better look at her sister. The sheen of light reflecting off Ram's skin indicated that she was sweating, profusely. Exhausted, she won't be able to fight any time soon.

"Nee-sama..." She whispers, and in that moment, her mind and heart were made up.

I need to save my sister. No matter what.

*FwwwaaaaAAA—*

Before the mana could explode in a violent wrath, Rem's body crackles a violent pink, and she kicks away from the danger zone, Ram in tow.

*PMMMMMmmmmmm! ! !*

The resulting explosion was much stronger than before, as if the Mabeast was convinced that he could land the final blow on the maids.

Rem lands gracefully onto the ground, carrying Ram like a groom would carry a bride.

Her face was eerily calm, rubbing Emilia and Beatrice the wrong way... until they notice it.

A horn was seen on her forehead, gently humming with energy.

Beatrice clicks her tongue, "Emilia, Bubby, stay far away from that maid."

Emilia's eyes widen in recognition, "R... Rem?"







"Heal her..." Rem speaks, in a calm—almost chilling voice, as her eyes stared at the Cerberus with intent.

Emilia, hearing Rem's demand, makes a small gulp as the tension in the air was thick.

"We better do as she says..." Puck, understanding where his daughter was in terms of strength, gave her advice, "Betty, you too. I'll watch out for the small fry.

"...It's for the best, I suppose." Beatrice nods, carefully watching Rem as she moves around to heal her sister.

Rem pays no attention to Beatrice's stare, as she begins to walk forward, her Morningstar dragging behind her. She passes Emilia, facing the Cerberus.

The beast makes a huff through his nose, cocky about his strength... He puffs out his chest, before leaning over—

"ROARRR! ! !" –To intimidate the maid with a fierce roar, as hot air rushes past her small figure.

Rem stands, unabated by the beast's attempt to make her flee.





(WIP: Animation might be finished (or deleted) within the next week.)



"...Tsuuuuu..." She makes a whistling noise, as she breathes in air through her teeth...

The humming in her horn grows louder and louder, like a small reactor creating fissions as it grows brighter. Darker—almost Vermillion.

Rem's conscious falls into darkness, as the Oni within takes over.



"RrrrrrrrRRRRR̶R̵R̷A̸A̶A̷A̴A̷A̴A̸̳̣̍͝Ả̸̱̠̈́͛A̴̽̉ͅA̶̢̱͎̟̐͋̕Ä̶̰̺͈̮́̇̉Ȗ̷̧̝̲̎̃͊̚ͅG̶̮͕̘̓H̶͔͓̹̗͌H̶̢͇̮̫̿̓̕H̴̠͍̝͔͚͒Ḧ̸̥̗̲́̈́̀͝Ḧ̷̱͕́H̵̭̝͙̗̑!̷͙̉̊͊̓͝ ̵̱̰̗́̎̏͐̈!̵̰͑́͛̚͝ ̸̥͙̬̟̔̚!̷̫͛̓̋"̶̩͉̻͚̄͐̍͜



And a violent burst of mana explodes outward, toward the forest, and furthermore.





"RrrrrrrrRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAUGHHHHHH! ! !"

The blood-curling scream from Rem was heard all the way to Subaru's location, as his hairs stand up in response.

He turns to look behind him, the forest wall blocking his sight, but he could feel the energy rushing past him and Meili.

That was... Rem...!?

Meili's sudden movement catches the boy's attention, however. Subaru turns to see Meili leaving him, "Wait—!"

"It's pointless!" Meili stops to yell this, shaking her head, "The damage is done! I've hurt your friends! Don't you get it!?"

Meili turns her head to Subaru, and tears were budding, "So please... just stop trying to help me, alright!?"

Subaru, seeing the disdain Meili had on her face, tightens his knuckles.

If she left right now, this entire mission would've been for nothing.

"Meili..." Subaru stands up, trying to stay calm, "It isn't your fault. You didn't hurt anyone."

"You...!" Meili's voice was estranged, as she suddenly looks up to the sky,

"Come out!" She exclaims, her voice holding a certain quality that Subaru couldn't comprehend...

Until he sees three Mabeasts walk up from Meili's side, growling at Subaru.

"M... Meili...!?" Subaru has red flags go off on his head, as Meili once again turns to face him,

"If you don't believe me... then..." Her face was a mix of frustration, and one of deep regret, "I have no choice... but to prove it to you...!"

"Hold on! Don't do this!" Subaru exclaims, his own face falling into despair, as he summons his Unseen Hands, preparing for the worst, "Meili, please!"

"I'm sorry..." Meili's whisper cuts into Subaru like a knife, as tears finally fall from her face, "Mother is watching... I can't disappoint her."

His heart falls, hearing about 'Mother' once more.

Both her and Elsa... they were forcing this kid to do awful things—

But Subaru wasn't able to emphasize with Meili, as she pointed her finger at him.

"Attack."

And with one word, the dogs immediately rush Subaru, with the intent to kill.

"Khh!" Subaru grunts, twisting his Unseen Hand to make a counter—

But it was fruitless, as the Beasts could see the hand, dodging swiftly towards his right—

"NnnGAAAAAHHH! ! !"

—And taking a wide bite on Subaru's thigh, making him lose balance.

Losing focus, the Unseen Hands disperse before Subaru hits the ground. The beast's teeth hit crucial nerves on his leg, screaming to his head in pain.

"Ngggh! Ghhhh!" Subaru tries to push the beast off, but the beast would chomp again and again, spilling more blood and lighting his nerves on fire!

The other dogs immediately rush over, mawing on other, tender points in Subaru's body—His shoulder blade, and his ribcage.

"Ghhaaahhkk!" Subaru, bent by the force of three Mabeasts, is unable to properly pull them off.

Losing feeling in his leg, and his body gradually getting colder from the loss of blood, he cracks one eye towards Meili.

Meili's face was full of tears, shaking as she avoided looking at him.

"...I'm sorry..." she whispers, "...I'm sorry..."

His killer was shedding tears for him.

...Killer?

...Was he going to die?

"...ghhk... hhah..." Subaru felt his consciousness fade ever so slightly. The pain gradually started to fade.

...Was this it? Was he going to experience Return by Death soon...?

The pain had faded, and an eerie sense of warmth flooded over Subaru's body. His drowsiness grew more, and more, and more...



...He was dying...



...He was dying...



...He was dying...



Subaru, despite his condition, his failing body, and his ever-growing need for air, blood, and life itself...

Grits his teeth... and lets out a cry... To the person he needed the most!



"SATELLA! ! !"



His cry makes Meili recoil in shock. The beasts ignore him and continue continue to chew onto Subaru—





Until they stop.

Everything stopped.

The world falls into an ashen shade of grey, and the air stagnates around him.

And Subaru could feel her presence, once again.

"Authority of Envy." He felt a hand on his chest, the corners of his vision beginning to grow white, "Everlasting Love."

Like a shot of morphine, Subaru was 'robbed' of his death almost immediately, the eerie sense of warmth gone like a bad dream.

"...ghhhh..." Subaru takes a sharp breath of air in his lungs, being re-kindled to the pain of the three, frozen Mabeasts chomping on him.

"...kuhh..." Satella makes a similar noise, sharing the pain through their link.

However, Subaru felt the pain only for a second, as Satella reacted immediately afterward—

"Stupid!" –One beast thrown, by Subaru's Unseen Hands, controlled by Satella herself.

"Disgusting!" —Another one, tossed like paper machete, made easier thanks to her magic freezing the entire world, sans herself and her loved one.

"Vermin!"—And just like that, Subaru was freed from their restraint, all the Mabeasts tossed in meaningless directions.

"...Hahh... Hahh..." The boy was making small pants, being so close to death only moments prior, as he relished his freedom from the beasts.

His eyes closed, and his heartbeat finally slowing down as he took time to process what had happened—

"Guh!?" —Until he felt a new weight press onto his chest.

Subaru looks to see Satella, suddenly sitting on his chest, like it was a natural thing to do!?

"...Paah..." Satella lets out a sigh, hovering her hands above her 'seat' as she looks at his torn jacket, "Good riddance... Don't you agree, Beloved?"

Subaru cracks an eye on Satella, easily being able to distinguish between her two 'sides' now. This was no doubt Envy, once again.

"C... Could you please get off me?" Subaru cracks a weak smile, "Kinda... short on breath, at the moment..."

Satella responds with a rather smug look,

"I~ don't~ want~ to~!" Satella sings in a cheery voice, hopping with every word, illicting small grunts of discomfort from the boy.

She gave him a toothy grin, "C'mon, at least let me have my fun. I saved you, right? It's fair game! Fair game!"

Subaru's gaze lifts from her, seeing how Satella brazenly ignores the problems around her, just to focus on him and only him.

"Well... where's the other Satella?" Subaru looks at the sky, trying to keep his breathing on track, "I just... I need something, here... Meili's going to run the moment you disappear—"

"Rude..." Satella cuts Subaru off, crossing her arms and pouting, "So rude... Asking for the lesser me and talking about another girl... I didn't even get a 'Thank you!' So rude!"

Subaru, hearing her repeat her frustration over and over, immediately looks at her with shock, "'Another Gi'—She's just a kid! What's your problem!?"

Satella starts to actively glare at Subaru, "Problem!? What's your problem!? I'd still love you even if you were just a baby!" she responds, and Subaru's skin crawls a bit.

He didn't think Satella was referring to 'Motherly' love when she said that...

"Get..." Subaru suddenly sits up, and pushes Satella off his body, "Off of me!"

"Uwaah!?" Satella lets out a yelp, landing onto the ground, before continuing her glare, "Mnnngggg! Rude, rude, rude, rude, rude!"

"We're getting off track here!" Subaru tries to change the topic, seeing how heated the witch was getting, "My friends' lives are at stake here! Focus!"







"I've been nothing but nice this whole time...!" –Satella, however, kept the topic nice and hot, her glare getting dangerously dark, "I've saved your life, and I've given you more power... The least you can do is let me have my way!"

Satella's exclamation rubs Subaru the wrong way, and his breath cuts short when he is reminded of the 'blessing' he was given by Satella in her last visit; The one he couldn't control.

The 'blessing' that risked Rem's life, as well.

"Nice!?" Subaru's voice was a few notches higher, forgetting about his current dilemma to address that blessing of hers, "The 'power' you've given me had almost set me over the edge! I was terrified! I thought I was going to kill Rem!"

"Will you shut up about that stupid girl!?" –Satella's voice boomed, matching Subaru's tone as she, herself, was livid, "Why is it always about someone else!? Why are you never focused on me when I'm around!? I'm all that you will ever need!"

"Maybe if you actually take me serious for once, I could return the favor!" Subaru yells back, "I asked for your help, not for some 'Monkey's Paw' bullshit! Am I just some toy for you to mess around!?

Satella's eyes widen, as she grits her teeth, "Th—that's what I should be saying! I'm the toy, here!" Satella starts to cover where her heart was, "Why do you play with my heart like this!? Why can't you just love me, already!"

Subaru felt a burning sensation in his throat. It was overlapped by the angry flame in his chest, and it only grew brighter as their spout kept going.

"...Is that all it is to you...!?" Subaru's voice was low, as she stared at Satella like she was a bug,

"There's more to life than just life than 'Love' you know! I'm here trying to make things right—trying to save everyone! And yet, all you say is "I love you, I love you!"—Don't screw with me!"

Satella's intense glare suddenly changed into one of regret, "Y-You—"

"On and on, over and over, and yet I can hardly believe you sometimes!" Subaru shakes his head, "I doubt you even love me for me! Or if you just love the idea of me—Whatever the hell that is!"

Satella's body starts to shake, "St-stop it—!"

"But even if you love me, you'll still try to kill me! Me and every other person I care for if I ever look their way! What kind of love is that, Satella!? Huh!?"—

Subaru takes one step forward. Satella takes one step back.

If he wasn't so engulfed in fury, he'd be impressed on his ability to intimidate the Witch of Envy.

But he was keen on the current look Satella was wearing. She was deeply saddened by his words.

"If that's your definition of love," Subaru's throat is dry, but he continues to speak, like he was driven by the other Subarus that have perished before him, needing validation,

"Then you can keep it!" Satella stiffens up, her eyes widening terribly, "I don't need it! You're better off saving that love for yourself!"

Subaru's fury fizzled out, and all that was left was disappointment and bitterness. Subaru just watches Satella, who was shaking—



"You are..." Satella's voice was a whisper, but her tone sent red flags in Subaru's head—

"The WORST! ! !" –Satella exclaims, hysterically, as Subaru feels a sudden tug in his chest!



"Wha—!?" Subaru's own Unseen Hands where now grabbing onto his limbs. Way more hands than he was able to control, as each hand held onto a separate limb. Arm, leg, even his neck wasn't spared.

They grabbed, and held on tight. Subaru felt that if the hand on his neck held any tighter, he'd be choking right now!

"The worst! The worst! The absolute worst!"Satella was screaming out, as hot tears ran down her face.

"Nngh!" Subaru tried to break loose. Whether by struggling, or by trying to reclaim control over his authority. However, Envy simply held reign over his own power.

For a second, Subaru considered using their contract against her. To avoid situations like this... that was the point of the contract, right!?

"I can't believe you! Why would you say those things...!?" Satella's hysterics grew dim, and Subaru could see it himself.

Satella looks up to him, and her tears wouldn't stop, "You're awful! Cruel! Terrible!"

The girl, who kept calling him names, who kept crying tears that were faling from her chin, who currently had him restrained and under her mercy...

She was absolutely torn by the words they shared.

Subaru felt like using the contract was a cheap shot... he had to face the mess he made.

"Don't you know how long I waited!? It was hard! It was so hard!" She shook her head twice, "And yet, after all this time, all you do is cause me torment!"

Subaru knew that whatever was said, couldn't simply be forgiven — or forgotten — by Return by Death.

Him and Satella, they were in it for the long run, and moments like these were going to be engraved into both of them.

He knew he was serious about what he said. He was very upset with the way this witch was acting.

...

...

...And yet—

"...Fine..." Satella whispers, harshly. As if she was coming to terms with what he said, "...If you don't want my love... If I can't have your love... Then..."

"Guh!?" —Subaru felt a hand permeate inside his chest, and hover over his heart.

"...I should just..." Satella's face turns into a grimace, "...give you the ending you really want...!"

Subaru feels his face pale, and his body shake, when the icy-cold hand grabs his heart once more.

His heart beats harder, the unnatural magic making direct contact with the organ, eliciting a 'Fight or Flight' response.

With the way things were heading, Subaru knew what'll happen next...!

...However, he doesn't dare show his fear, his anxiety, towards Satella. Not even an inch.

"...It'd be easy..." Satella's voice turned quiet, watching Subaru with tearful eyes, "...It would be so, so easy..."

Subaru watched her. Satella watched him.

Sweat rolled down his cheek. Tears rolled down hers.

A long, permeating silence ran between both of them. Subaru swore he wasn't going to escape this moment alive—

Until Satella simply... drops him.

His feet touched the ground, and he stumbles a little, his knees weak.

Bewildered, Subaru passes a glance at Satella, who was looking at the ground with a defeated look.

"...If I wasn't so..." Satella's voice cracks, her eyes red and teary, "So... So—*hic*... So in-love with you...!"

Satella's admittance was enough to send her over the edge. Falling on her knees, she covered her face to hide her misery.

Subaru, watching Satella, counts his blessings. He was glad he didn't get murdered (once again) by the Witch.

But, as Satella cried, Subaru felt sick at how easy it was to upset her. The one person that granted him his wish to re-do everything once again.

Why did this have to be so difficult? Why couldn't he protect the others, and keep the Witch happy at the same time?

I love you... The words Satella kept saying to him a hundred-times over, and yet he hasn't returned them back. Not once.

...And, for a moment, he considered it.

Did he really have to say those three words? Would she believe him if he did? Would it be the key to saving everyone?

...He opened his mouth, close to giving the Witch what she wanted—

"If I were to say them now, I wouldn't be serious about them. Not until I figure myself out." –He then remembered his promise, to the other Satella, when they were riding towards Roswaal's Mansion.

Subaru bit his lip, immediately. He only wanted the easy way out.

Satella didn't deserve that.

However, the silence was deafening, and Subaru had to say something to her.

Satella's crying dimmed down to a soft sob, with a small hiccup here and there. Even so, she was still in anguish.

Subaru could only hold on to his gut-feeling, and say the next-best thing that comes to mind.

"I want to save everyone... and that includes you, too." Subaru speaks, and Satella perks up.

Don't talk about Emilia. Don't focus on Rem. Don't think about Beatrice, and Ram, and everyone else.

If he learned anything from his few encounters with Envy, it was one thing:

If you want the Witch of Envy on your side, don't make her jealous.

"...Me...?" She whispers. Her voice soft and delicate.

"Yes. You." Subaru looks at his shaking hands, his body not yet finished with the terror he experienced not too long ago,

He stomached his fear, and his pride, to hold out a hand towards Satella.

"Help me." He simply asks,

Despite their fight, he still wanted the Witch's blessing.

Satella's eyes widen, "...You..."

"Help me, so I can save you!" He speaks louder, with confidence.

A selfish-act-turned-selfless, only because he put his focus on Satella.

Subaru could see the Witch's face flush up, not used to the sudden attention.

"...You... aaaah..." She starts shaking her head, ever so slightly.

"Satella," Subaru whispers, holding on to his last bastion of hope, "Please."

And Subaru's heartfelt request sends Satella into a knot.

"Mmmmrrrggg!"Satella lets out an almost childish growl, flinging her hands to her side, "Fine! Fine! Stupid, stupid, selfish—selfless Subaru!"

Satella caves into his pressure, but before Subaru could celebrate—

"—On one condition!" Satella suddenly speaks out, making Subaru stiffen a little.

"Condition?" He repeats quietly, as Satella approached him with a frown.

Subaru felt uneasy once more. This condition could easily risk his friends lives—

No. Focus on her, Subaru.

Subaru lets out a breath, and stares back to Satella,

"Fine. What's your condition?"

Expecting an answer, he locks up when Satella holds a hand onto his chest...

"Authority of Envy—"

He then feels...

...The smallest feeling...

...Of being...

Separated.

"Jealous Possession."





If this Mabeast Cerberus had any sort of lead on Subaru's group, it was easily smashed by Rem's overwhelming power: Rem was single-handedly fighting off Meili's underdog.

Just the Oni alone could put the beast on its knees, no doubt thanks to the surging mana Rem's horn provided her. If Emilia, Beatrice or even Puck could join her, it would surely be enough to put the mutt in its place!

"Rem's really taking on that beast all by herself..." Emilia's tone was wistful at best, as she continued to take care of Ram. She wouldn't dare feel happy about this development, even if it appeared to be in their favor.

"We shouldn't let our guard down, I suppose." Beatrice, helping Emilia with her own magic, mutters a response, "An Oni going on a rampage is bad news for all of us."

Puck, finished with all the small fry Mabeasts, gently floats to the two girls, with a particularly intense look, "...Is Ram healed up yet?"

"Puck!" Emilia calls out, happy to see her surrogate father once more, before quickly dropping the look, "Y-yes... maybe. I'm not sure if she'll wake up anytime soon."

"I see..." Puck's attention was turned to Beatrice, "Betty, I want you to—"

*KHHHRACK*

Puck was cut off, as a rather meaty hit was heard. They all saw Rem fly a few meters away from the boss.

"Hggggh!" Rem grinds her teeth in pain, with the beast landing a solid blow on her with his tail. However, she isn't even winded, as she quickly stands up, and holds out her hand,

"HuuMaa!" –An intimidating tone comes from the once-gentle maid, as a barrage of piercing icicles shoot toward the beast.

The beast gives a smile, and promptly leaps up in the air, away from the barrage—which was now flying towards Emilia and the others!

"Duck, now!" Puck was quick to yell out a command, and the girls quickly brought themselves onto the ground.

Puck throws out his arm, summoning a giant wall of ice to block the maid's attack!

*THNK— THNK— THNK— THNK— THNK—*

While some icicles fly past the wall aimlessly, other icicles nail the wall viciously, shaking the sturdy defense with every hit.

Emilia, convinced the danger had passed, sits upright to find... the very tips of the icicles, poking out from the wall.

"That maid's mana has grown this dense..." Beatrice remarks, with a frustrated look on her face, "There's no telling if she's still in control anymore..."

Puck makes a grimace, before shaking his head,

"Betty, I want you to send us back to the mansion."

A shock runs through Emilia, as she hears Puck make this declaration, "Wait—!"

"I guess it was only a matter of time, I suppose." Beatrice doesn't seem fazed from the request, as she gets up and puts her focus on the three of them: Emilia, Puck, and Ram.

"Hold on! We can't leave just yet!" Emilia passes a look at both of them, "What about Rem? What about Subaru!?"

"Lia, the longer we stay here, the more we risk putting you in harm's way!" Puck is quick on the rebuttal, as all three of them glow a mystic pink light, "Subaru's 'mission' isn't worth losing you, and you know the reason why!"

"But if we leave them behind...!" Emilia's throat gets tight, as she considers the consequences, "They could get killed, Puck!"

Puck is quiet, opting to let Beatrice's magic run its course rather than answer his daughter.

"You worry matters not, I suppose." –Beatrice speaks up once more, "I will stay behind and help them."

"Beatrice...!?" Emilia whispers, clearly worried for his dear friend.

"Are you sure about this, Betty?" Puck asks her, spirit-to-spirit. The small girl simply nods.

"I have a contract that I must see through. I will not fail so easily." Beatrice replies, uncaring if Puck's contractor was listening in.

"'Contract?'" Emilia whispers, given another tidbit of info she wasn't sure what to do with.

Beatrice pushed her mana forward, and the reaction was instant; Like a comet, the trio were sent away from the battle, shooting towards the Mansion they called home.

The reaction was loud catching both the beast and Oni's attention. The brilliant colors of the magic were enough to quell Rem's rage, as she watches the comet retreat.

"...Ram...?" A whisper, as Rem almost snaps out of her daze...

The Mabeast sees this as an opening, and moves itself to launch a decisive attack on the distracted girl—

Only for a violent wave of mana to burst forward, catching Beast, Oni, and Spirit's attention alike!

The mana was dark and overwhelming, despite it being so far away from the battle!

It was coming from deep within the forest...





"Mmm... Mnn..." Subaru let out a small groan, feeling like he was just waking up from a nap. His eyes were tired, and his limbs felt weak...

"Rise and shine, sleepyhead." Subaru hears a voice, one of a male quality...

In fact, if anything... It sounded like him...?

"Huh...? Where...?" Subaru's own voice, one he was used to, had changed comletely. It was light and gentle; completely different from his normal one.

"Ah... You're so cute when you're waking up..." The voice — his voice — showed an unhealthy amount of joy and appreciation.

And finally, he could see 'Subaru,' looking at him with a gentle, almost eerie smile.

The smile sends a shockwave of revelation to Subaru.

"W-wait... Satella!?" He replies with his lighter-than-usual voice.

Subaru could pick up a key feature about himself that was different; His eyes were a mix of purple, brown and white... Not to mention the large tuff of hair on his head had changed to an ashen grey.

"Bingo~!" 'Subaru' gives him an big smile, "Bingo, bingo~! Ehehe..."

"Hold on...!" The real Subaru is catching on quick, as he begins to look at himself, and notice all the changes about him,

"What's going on!? Why are you, me!? And... Why am I Meili!?"

In typical Satella-fashion, she—or rather, he, dances around Meili-baru and hums a tune,

"Too many questions~!" –Satella effortlessly picks up Meili-baru, given her small size, and puts her on her feet, "Don't you have that Oni brat to save, hmm...?"

"That's not...!" Subaru wanted to press on his questions, and try to figure out Satella's logic, but is reminded of his dearest person once more, "...Ghh... Damn it...!"

Subaru tries to condense all his questions into one, meaningful request: "Tell me why you're controlling my body!?"

Meili-baru's voice made them only sound like a barking chihuahua, but their glare was intense. However, Satella's smile doesn't waver.

"Because I love you..." Subaru speaks, and suddenly gets a heavy blush, "Aaah... I love you, I love you...!"

The air gets heavy as Satella's mana gets intense, the shadows beneath her growing darker and darker.

"Your voice... Your body... Your very essence...!" Subaru's hands climb all around himself, and Meili-baru could only watch in discomfort,

"I love everything about you...!" Satella, seemingly spurred on by Subaru's voice saying 'I love you,' has fallen into a trance of her own design.

"Satella! Hey!" Meili-baru jumps up, and grabs her/his arm, "Snap out of it and give me back my body!"

"This is my one, and only, condition, Beloved." Satella is immediate with her response, despite being in a trance earlier. Meili-baru reels back a bit.

Satella turns back to Meili-baru, and sighs, "Besides... If I give you back your body, then the girl your controlling will run away." Their tone was sharp.

"Th-then... why don't you control this body!?" Meili-baru makes the request in earnest, hoping to make some sense to Satella—

"It's not the same, Subaru-kun." Satella cuts him off, grabbing Meili-baru and pulling her close.

"Huh!? Satel—!?"

"Let me have my fun, alright?" –The shadows beneath them grew thicker, and started to rise—very much like when Subaru first met Satella outside the temple,

"Just keep that girl you're controlling out of harm's way..." If Subaru wanted to say anything, he chose not to, just to avoid swallowing the dark shadows once again.

He wasn't able to see the dark glint in Satella's eyes...

"...And I'll show them just how powerful you really are, My Hero..."





From a mass of shadows, Subaru and Meili appeared in the clearing, surprising the three that was currently fighting to survive.

"Subaru!?" Beatrice calls out. Rem's eyes flicker with recognition.

Once Meili was freed from the shadows grasp, she perks up from Beatrice's call, and started to run to her.

Subaru just passes a glance, before focusing on the Oni and Mabeast.

Beatrice was quick to respond, holding out her hand immediately towards Meili, "Stop! Not another inch, I suppose!"

She quickly stopped and, remembering who she was, started waving her hands in a panic, "N-No, I'm not your enemy anymore, promise! I'm on your side!"

Beatrice blinks, but doesn't buy it for a second, "If you think I'm just going to believe that, you're sorely mistaken, I suppose!"

Meili has a cold sweat run down her cheek, as she runs out of things to say—

"Beatrice!" Subaru is quick to call out, catching the spirit's (and Meili's) attention, "Stop making things complicated and just protect her, alright!?"

Beatrice, albeit surprised by Subaru's quick intervention, was quick to retort, "Are you kidding, I wonder!? Her pet's still trying to kill us!"

Beatrice's comment sparks an idea for Meili,

"Wait, that's right!" Meili quirks up, before turning to the beast, "Um... Stand down! Please!"

The large Mabeast stares at the girl for a moment, before roaring at her in response, "ROOAARRR!"

"Ngh!?" —Meili, feeling hot air rush past her small frame, immediately decides against making another attempt at controlling the beast, "I don't understand... how did she do it last time...?"

"If I were you, I'd advise trying to get that beast's attention ever again." Beatrice, almost standing to her height, looks at her eye-to-eye... Noting how brown those eyes were—

"No, you don't understand! If he listens to me, I can—"

"Don't bother!" Subaru suddenly calls out, facing the mabeast, "He won't be a problem for much longer..."







Beatrice, about to make another quip, cuts herself off quickly when she heard how... icy his tone was. Meili gains an uncomfortable look, watching him carefully.

Subaru starts to walk toward the beast. Rem, behind the dog, begins watching the boy as well.

However close Rem was to returning back to her old self, it was quickly interrupted by how putrid Subaru smelled. The scent of the Witch was overpowering, as if he was the Witch herself—

"GRRRRAAAAGH!" –The beast doesn't share this sentiment, as he makes the first move: A familiar plume of energy grew from beneath Subaru, violently growing bright as it was close to exploding—

"Move, you idiot!" Beatrice exclaims—

*VMMM—pffff...* —only to find the attack snuffed out... by his shadow?

"...But how...?" Beatrice's understanding of the boy started to crumble, as he denied the beast's attack.

Subaru continues to walk, unabated. Rem continues to cover her nose, as her vision blurs from her senses.

The beast's maw uncovers its teeth, as the monster growls in frustration, before finally lunging at the boy with his large mouth—

"KhhHhh!?"—Suddenly, the beast feels a pressure on his neck, and sees one of Subaru's shadowy limbs, Unseen Hand, suddenly drawn out from his chest in a surprise attack.

Beatrice, Meili, and Rem had full visage of Subaru's performance.

"Tut, tut..." Subaru's tone is quiet, and cold, "Bad dog..."

"Grrr..." With what little air the other head could muster, the beast continues to growl.

"I don't understand...!?" Beatrice murmurs, her eyes scrunched in dismay, "What's gotten into him...!?"

"Oh? Are we mad? Ehehe..." A dreadful look grows on Subaru's face as the unthinkable happens:

The Unseen Hand that held onto the first head simply... peels off into another hand, one that quickly claims the beast's other neck.

The beast's eyes change into panic quickly, as his much-needed supply of air is cut off. All-the-while, Subaru's look grows darker and darker.

"Hey!" Beatrice tugs on Meili's arm, demanding an answer, "What did you do to Subaru!?"

Meili looks at Beatrice with worry, opening her mouth to respond—

"How about we teach this old dog..." The grasp on the beast's necks gets tight, as another unnatural force is shoved right into his chest,

"A new trick!" –And, with a violent shove, the beast is suddenly thrown into the air, upside down due to the grip on his heads.

The stunt catches both Meili and Beatrice, along with Rem, off guard.

With a smile, Subaru makes a motion with his fist closed, to thrust his hand toward the ground behind him.

The beast, in kind, continues to fly over Subaru—and slam right into the ground, on his back!

*Crrrraaashhh! ! !*

A loud noise runs through the trees, and the ground seems to shake below them; The mighty beast is effortlessly flipped on his back by Subaru.

In doing so, Rem has a crystal clear view of Subaru, as he stands tall above the beast.

The beast's legs start violently shaking, a sign that it was going through shock.

Subaru leans over the beast, and the beast looks back with trembling eyes.

Subaru looks at the beast through his giant eye. It was big enough to reflect Subaru back like a mirror, garnishing an eerie smile from the boy.

"Aaah... I wonder what he's thinking right now..." Subaru whispers to himself, getting a heavy blush, before smiling to the beast, "...I wonder how happy he'll be, once I finish you off..."

Subaru squirms, as her own thoughts get the better of her. The beast, at his mercy, begins to whine. Subaru laughs.

"No, no, I can't let you go..." Subaru pets the beast, not seen by anyone... but Rem, "You have an important role to fill, after all..."

Rem stares with uncertainty, on the cusp of either regaining her senses, or falling into depths of an Oni-fueled insanity.



This person was Subaru.

Subaru was nice!

Subaru smells horrible, awful, evil...

But... Subaru was nice...?



The beast's shaking slows down, and the beast closes its eyes.

"Good boy..." Subaru stands up, his smile never-ending as he stands up. The shadows grew dark below him and the beast. The evil mana that everyone felt before, returns full force—!



"Bye bye..." Subaru speaks wistfully—

*SSSHLKKK! ! !*



—As the shadows turn into pitch-black spikes, piercing the monster all over.



"...Wha...t..." Beatrice falls down at the sight, the falling sun reflecting the crimson blood dripping from the shadows-made-physical.

"...No..." Meili's tone turned weak, as she gripped her dress, "Not like this...!"

And Rem, who had a full display of Subaru's act, was rendered speechless as her instincts screamed red alert!

Subaru lets out a deep sigh, turning over to Rem, with some splatters of blood on his face...

Yet his smile never ended.



"Hey," Subaru spoke, but it didn't sound like Subaru. His eyes were looking at her, but this wasn't Subaru looking at her...!



"Let's go home, Rem."



The blood-stained hand that was offered to Rem... wasn't Subaru's hand.

Rem landed on a conclusion.

This... is not Subaru.

—Rem's horn made a crack of energy, as her mana soaked the earth—

It's not Subaru! It's not Subaru! It's not Subaru!

—Subaru watched Rem grit her teeth, whatever little conscious she still had faded into the depths of her mind—

It's not Subaru! It's not Subaru! It's not Subaru!

"What the!?" Beatrice snaps out of her stupor to see Rem crackling with energy, "...is she really going to—"

It's not Subaru...

The energy suddenly grows quiet, as Rem glares at the man she was once familiar with, and opens her mouth.



"Where... Is... Subaru...!?" Rem's voice growls out, her breath easily seen by how hot it was.

And Subaru's smile turned wild.



This was enough to shoot Rem past the point of no return, once more.

"Give..."The mana around Rem crescendos into an eruptive, pink haze around the girl!

"Give Subaru BACK! ! !" –Until it erupts, into a violent explosion of charged energy!

"Guh!?" Beatrice, who was expecting her to retaliate, was not expecting the sheer amount of dense mana blazing from the blue-haired girl.

Even in her stunned state, however, she could see the person closest to her start to lean forward, completely focused on the event unfolding.

Meili's lips were thin. Her eyes were intense.

"Ahh..." Subaru let out a soft noise, hovering a hand over his heart, "...Even now, I can feel his love..."

Rem grits her teeth, succumbing to the primal control of her horn and leaping towards this imposter who posed as Subaru!

Losing all sense of reason, Rem throws out her Morningstar without thinking twice of the consequences!

"Don't—!" Beatrice reacts accordingly—

The Morningstar, caught by Subaru's Unseen Hands, shatters into millions of shards.

Rem is taken aback, despite her current state.

Meili —The real Subaru— pairs the event with the first time they fought Rem. When Satella killed Rem.

The possessed Subaru continues to smile.

However, this smile has a tinge... of jealousy.

"...His love... for you." Subaru's voice is colder, as his eyes grow dark.

"No!" Beatrice jumps once Meili suddenly breaks out into a sprint, running towards the two fighters!

"Wait! You're going to get yourself killed!" Beatrice throws herself forward, catching the small girl's arm once more.

"Let me go!" Meili's frantic look was turned to the spirit, "I can save them! Let me go before it's too late, Beako!"

"Like I said, you're just going to—" Beatrice's eyes widened... from something Meili said...

Beatrice gives Meili an intense stare, "Beako... that's Subaru's stupid name... How—"

Meili gives an awkward smile, her brownish-grey eyes reflect an ever-knowing luster—

"Please help me save them...!"—And the tone she used reminded him of... Subaru!?

Rem reels back, with a look of disgust, "Tsssh...!" Hissing through her teeth, she throws down her hands onto the ground, "AL HUMA! ! !"

A gigantic glacier of ice, spurred on and condensed by the Oni's mana, rushes over to Subaru—

"You wish!"Subaru snaps at Rem, thrusting a wave of darkness to cut through her magic, rendering it useless.

Beatrice lets Meili go, and she continues to run towards the duo. Beatrice, with shaded eyes, grits her teeth,

"You have... so much explaining to do... Subaru!" Beatrice hisses out, throwing her mana towards the small girl, "Murak!"

Meili, who was now weightless, jumps off the ground, and soars towards the group!

"Thank you!" Meili's response was heartfelt, as she puts her focus on Rem and the possessed Subaru.

"Ehehe..." The Witch of Envy giggles, sending out two Unseen Hands towards the maid.

Rem, knowing something was amiss, could feel the Unseen Hands approach thanks to the real Subaru's dilemma last time. Rem falls down to her fours, and the Unseen Hands whiff past her.

Satella, who was certain she had trumped over the maid, reels back, "What!?"

Gritting her teeth, Rem surprises the Witch further by shooting straight towards her, aiming to land a clear hit!

"GrrrrAHHH!" Rem's fist lands a direct blow on Envy's stomach!

"Kuh... ghhh!" Satella reels forward, the maid's attack knocking the wind out of her.

"Ghh!?" —And above, through their link, Meili-baru also felt the phantom sensation of the blow.

Now recognizing just how much trouble he was in, Subaru starts racking up ideas in his head.

"...If I can just... stop her somehow..!" Meili-baru pushes aside the gut-blow, and considers using the contract against her once more.

"But if I freeze Satella, Rem will just... nnk...!"Deciding against it, she focuses on another way...

"How dare you...!" Satella throws the maid off, making Rem stumble in the dirt as she collects herself, "You don't deserve Subaru, worthless trash!"

Rem suddenly feels invisible hands locking onto her limbs. A hand on her neck made itself incredibly apparent when it began to strangle her.

Rem's brain shoots adrenaline through her system, and her horn elicits a response by supercharging Rem, taking any and all the mana present near her person.

"...Nngh!?" Suddenly, Satella has a hard time holding onto Rem, as her mana grows bigger and bigger, almost making a shield of sorts, "Damn it... Damn it...!"

Rem, her skin turning pink from the sheer volume of mana, doesn't make a noise. Slipping through the Unseen Hand's grip, she lightly falls onto her feet, locking onto Envy once more...

Satella reads the maid's intent, and quickly swerves out of the way once Rem throws a fist out at her, the shadows carrying her all the same, "Nice try—Kkh!?"

Satella bites her lip, seeing how Rem wasn't done, and before she knew it, she was 'dancing' with Rem—Dodging every attack the maid could make.

"Damn it, damn it, damn it...!"—Satella could only voice her frustration, as the maid's mana made it impossible to grab her, whether with Unseen Hand or shadow magic.

Rem, at this point, was nearly unstoppable.

The two moved erratically, making Meili's job that much harder as she simply floated above them.

"...How am I going to do this...?" Meili-baru whispers, exasperated. Both of them were incredibly powerful, yet incredibly deranged. He could get Meili killed if he didn't think this through!

Subaru, with a gulp, decides to wait on a key moment: If either Satella or Rem fail to keep the pace, he will attempt to stop the fight.

...Ironically enough, he was hoping Satella would be the victor here: Rem was a wildcard in this situation.

Beatrice, who was simply a witness to 'Subaru' and Rem's scuffle, could only watch with baited breath as she fit the pieces together...

"This power..." she whispers, and her eyes shimmer with worry, "It couldn't be... It can't..."

"Beako!" Beatrice, snapped out of her moment, looks to the floating girl in the sky, "When I make the call, I want you to dispel the magic, got it!?"

"Wh—" Beatrice passes a quick glance at the battle, then back at Meili-baru, "Are you insane!? There's no way you'll get out of that unscathed, I suppose!"

"Don't worry! I'll make the call the moment I see an opening! I'm pretty good when it comes to—"

A searing pain on his left arm.

That was what caused Meili-baru to lock up, and cut his train of thought.

It was an awfully familiar sensation, too.

Did... did Meili's arm get cut off?

"Nnn... Nghh...!?" —Shaking, Meili-baru turns to her left, fearing the worst.

Only to find it still intact...?

Meili, trembling from the pain, looks down to Subaru and Rem—

"...Ah..." Envy stood straight, as her senses light aflame, "Ah... Ahhh... Gggghhh...."

Rem, who wanted to simply grab Subaru's arm, unknowingly ripped it off due to her sheer volume in mana;

Her own body was like a hot knife, cutting through butter!

"...No way..." Beatrice whispers, a pit of dread in her stomach.

Rem, looking down at the appendage she grabbed, feels a sudden pang of shock run through her, and loses her focus—The once overpowering 'shield' of mana slowly falling back to nothing.

"Ghh—Hghh... Ghh—Hghh..." As if trying not to hyperventilate from the pain, Subaru's eyes become crossed, "Authority... of Envy..."

Rem's nose picks up a torrent of miasma, and she turns to Subaru—holding his stump of an arm in pain.

The shock of the condition he was in, was enough to snap Rem out of her Oni-like state.

"...Su... baru...?" Rem whispers, trying to make sense of all this, as her horn started to flicker.

"Everlasting Love."With a whisper, the stump shines a bright pink, and like magic, it forms a new arm in the place of the fallen one.

Meili-baru sighs a breath of relief, the overwhelming pain vanishing almost instantly, before turning her attention back to Rem and Satella—

"You... You, you, you, you, you—" Satella began to whisper, loud enough for Rem and Meili-baru to hear.

"Not good!" Meili whispers, trying to motion herself closer to the duo.

Rem recoils a bit, as the floor beneath her floods with shadows. The air around them grows tense and... Hold on, was it already nighttime?

"You— You—You— You— YOU—" Satella's words become intangible, as the miasma around him grows to a near palpable state!

"Ghhh!?"Rem lets out a grunt, blistering wind rushing past her.

Subaru, who was surrounded by the now-material shadows, begins to slowly rise as the shadow carries him, once again

"If he could love..."Subaru's tone wasn't nearly as joyful as it was before, rather it was sharp and cutting,

Rem watches the boy, still thinking it was Subaru.

"A monster like you...!"Subaru's smile was completely manical, as he loomed over Rem.

Rem recoiled, failing to notice the shadows rising—

"Then," The possessed boy hovers right in front of Rem, his crazed smile in full view,







"Surely he can love a Witch like me, too...!"

Rem's mind flooded with noise, mixed feelings of dread and confusion, but she wasn't granted time to comprehend her feelings—

Subaru lifts a hand, trapping Rem in shadows!

"Guh!?" Rem lets out a gasp of air, as her body was compressed into a tight squeeze!

Rem tries to push more mana out of her body to free herself, but to no avail; Her reserves were all but tapped out.

All she could do was watch the person that wasn't, or... was Subaru, decide her fate,

"Wa...it..." she calls out, weakly.

And Subaru —Satella— was all too eager to finish to job.

"Sweet dreams," Subaru whispers cooly, "Rem."

Rem's eyes shimmer a bit, as Subaru makes a motion to squeeze Rem further—



["By our contract, I order you to freeze, Satella!"] —The real Subaru's voice comes through in the bond he and the Witch share, and the reaction was instant.



A bright, prismatic lock appears on Subaru's heart, and a cold sweat appears on his face, "Nngh!?"

Subaru looks up to Meili, who was floating above both of them, "Why!? Why, why, why, why, why!?"

Rem's gaze goes up, and her horn continues to flicker.

Meili hovers above Rem, with apologetic look. To Rem, she could easily be an angel...

"Hey... Smile, Rem." This girl gave off an gentle aura, one that reminds Rem of Subaru—the real Subaru.

"I mean... I've told you, haven't I?"

Meili lifts her hand over Rem's horn, and makes it hold a 'flicking' pose. Rem simply keep looking toward Meili, unable to make any motion to stop her.

"I guess I went too fanatical, huh..." Meili gives a cheerful smile, putting Rem at ease, "I'll learn better next time, I promise."

And, with those last words, she gives her horn a gentle 'flick.' The horn, weakened from using so much mana, makes an immediate reaction:

Rem recoils ever so slightly... before slumping over, and the horn dims completely.

Now, with Rem knocked out, Meili turned over to Subaru, "Let her go." —A simple command.

Subaru, unable to fight the order, dissolved all of his shadows, gritting his teeth.

"I only wanted to help..." Subaru's eyes grew shaky, even watery, "I just wanted to help, yet she went and hurt you again...!"

Meili gently lands on her feet, Beatrice's magic disappearing completely. She turns over to Subaru.

"Calm down." Meili-baru responds. Whether by their contract, or just from her gentle tone, Satella does, in fact, calm down.

"You did help." Meili says immediately afterwards, her words putting the Witch at ease, "Thank you, Satella-tan."

Subaru's eyes widened, before they eased up into glowing, happy orbs. He motions his hand over to Meili, and with a whisper—

Subaru blinks to find himself in his own body, albeit incredibly exhausted. He looks back down to Meili, who had familiar, purple orbs.

"I love you..." Meili's cute voice masked the Witch of Envy's bleeding feelings, "I love you... so... much..."

With those last words, Meili falls over onto the grassy floor in a deep slumber.

The fight was over. Subaru survived.

Knowng this, and watching his partner fall asleep, makes him start to feel drowsy himself. He passes a glance to Beatrice, who was approaching them.

"Subaru." Beatrice's voice was stern, as she held onto the hem of her dress tightly. So many questions, rushing through her head, and she wasn't sure where to start.

However, she sees the sluggish look Subaru gives back. She sighs... it'll have to wait another day.

"Let's... go home, I suppose." Beatrice speaks, defeated. Subaru only gives a goofy smile...

Before falling over asleep, just like Rem and Meili.







The first thing Subaru felt: Sore. Like he just ran a marathon without stretching.

The second? The warm and soft covers Roswaal's beds were fitted with. It helped make the sore pain go away.

It was after this thought that Subaru noticed a third feeling. A hand, wrapped around his right one. One he was all too familiar with.

Subaru wakes up, slowly. He turns to his right to find...

"Rem...?"

Rem perks up, and opened her mouth to say something... But she remained quiet.

This was different, Subaru noted. He quickly got up, ignoring his crying body in order to cater to the maid.

"Did... you hold my hand while I was asleep?" Subaru asks, but quickly scratches the back of his head, "Er, I mean, I probably grabbed you hand, didn't I? Gosh, I'm such a klutz..."

Rem stays silent. Subaru could feel red flags coming off this moment.

"Hey, what's wrong?" He asks gently, making Rem ease up a bit, "Talk to me... Please?"

Rem, who's eyes kept jumping on, and off him, like she was uncertain of something, simply falls down onto his hand. The one she held in hers.

"I... I just..." She whispers... was her voice always this quiet?

"I just wanted to... make sure I..." Rem finally looks up to Subaru, and he makes a sharp breath.

She was tearing up in front of him, "Didn't lose you... Subaru..."

Subaru, who was still not good at handling sad girls, could only muster a chuckle,

"'Lose me?' Ahaha... I don't think I was knocking on Death's Door or anything—"

"No, not that!" Her voice picked up volume, genuinely surprising Subaru, as she shakes her head, "That's not what I meant!"

"Th-then..." Subaru replies sheepishly, "What did you mean, Rem-Rem?"

Rem's mood dampens, despite Subaru's best attempts at lighting it up. All-the-while, Subaru's gut did not let go of the feeling that something went really, really wrong.

"Ah. You've woken up." —He jumps when he hears Beatrice's voice. Rem also jumps, but for different reasons, "That's good, I suppose."

"Beako? Why are you—" Subaru is quickly stopped once Beatrice points at the exit,

"Maid," Beako barks out, giving a gentle glare at Rem, "Please excuse us, I suppose."

"..." Rem is silent, giving Subaru a quick glance, then back at Beatrice, "...Not until I know the truth, Beatrice-sama."

"Leave." Beatrice's order was sharper this time, but Rem held strong, holding onto Subaru's hand tighter.

Subaru, opting to stay on Rem's good side, turns to Beatrice, "Hey... She can stay, Beako. I don't think she wants to go anytime soon."

"I assure you, this is not a conversation you want to keep her around for." Beatrice makes a bold warning to Subaru. He brushes it aside.

"I want to help Rem out wherever I can. If it's 'the truth' she wants, then I will happily obligue." Subaru puts on a cocky tone, perhaps due to the elation of finally saving Meili—

"Not if the 'truth' she wants to hear ends up killing you, I suppose." Beako mutters with a dry tone.

"What?" Subaru was genuinely confused. Rem jumps forward.

"Beatrice-sama, I've already told you: I am not calling upon my horn any longer!" Rem sounds devastated, alluding to a conversation that they had without Subaru.

"Not so loud!" Beatrice responds immediately, then turns to the door behind her and slamming her fist onto the frame.

Subaru watches Beatrice with confusion and worry, and the spirit turns back to him,

"Anyone who walks through that door will be greeted by the Forbidden Library. This is your last chance to send the maid outside."

Subaru was suddenly pushed with the choice of keeping Rem or throwing her out—for a conversation he was still unaware of.

Beatrice really put him between a rock and a hard place.

"C-Couldn't we just..." Subaru passes a glance between both of them, "Wait a minute? I mean, it was long day, going out there to save Meili—"

"Subaru..." Rem replies weakly, "You've been out for three days..."

"...Ah..." Subaru's excuse is quickly snuffed out, "...You don't say..."

"Quite." Beatrice snaps, "Even if it was a speedy recovery like the last time this maid attacked you, I wouldn't let you off the hook so easily."

Beatrice walks closer to Subaru, while Rem felt a pang of guilt.

"Hold on, that's not—" Subaru, quick to defend Rem, was stopped by Beatrice's outstretched hand.

"Although I suppose it was justified, given that the Subaru this maid attacked... wasn't you."

And Subaru felt whatever quick retort he had, crumble into dust.

Oh. It was about... that.

"I've had the past three days to myself, brainstorming and watching over your new tenant all-the-while." Making a mention to Meili, she crosses her arms,

"Rem had only started to talk to me about our recent endeavor yesterday... Frankly, I couldn't trust a single word she said, I suppose."

Rem looked downcast, but felt the grip on her hand get tight, and turns to Subaru.

Subaru felt nothing but dread. What was he going to do? What was he going to say?

Had he celebrated way too quickly? Was Beatrice going to ruin everything, right here, right now?

Or did he ruin everything himself, putting his trust on Envy, once more?

"Natsuki Subaru," Beatrice was stern, not giving an inch of freedom to the boy, "If I am to uphold my contract with Mother, I need nothing but the truth from you."

Subaru doesn't say anything. He simply gives her a weary look.

Rem, relieved she doesn't have to leave, bites her lip for the coming question.

Subaru's silence basically gave Beatrice the okay to continue.

After a deep breath, Beatrice spoke once again:

"Subaru... What is your relationship with the Witch of Envy?"