—He had borne witness to countless choices with those blue eyes.
A self that arose from nothingness, from an empty void, was drawn to the great light that was right beside it. While touching that warmth, it slowly began forming the outline of a vessel.
At first, it was harshly pushed away. But his inherent kindness would not allow him to be thorough about it, and it was continually overlooked for lingering nearby.
Eventually, it was not merely overlooked but actively reached out to—and was finally recognized as a new existence. Given a name.
Rejection and compromise, conflict and acceptance, trust and faith, and forgiveness and pardon— He had always made choices.
Countless choices, innumerable choices, inexhaustible choices—he continued to choose with his own will and stride. She witnessed this sometimes up close, sometimes from afar, sometimes transcending both physical and spiritual distance.
Not all of his choices had led him to where he wanted to be.
And yet, using every ounce of power he possessed, he never stopped choosing.
With nothing to rely on, she had continued to watch that figure as her model. Even when a painful prayer ended in a conclusion that made one want to weep, he never stopped walking.
What wonder was there in longing for that back, that way of being?
—She too, had to make a choice.
As someone fortunate enough to have witnessed his rejection and compromise, his conflict and acceptance, his trust and faith, his forgiveness and pardon—she wanted to follow in his footsteps.
It seemed she had committed many faults and mistakes herself.
Those scars, carved deep so they would never fade—not to close them, not to compensate for them, but so as not to forget them or pretend they never existed.
Not whether it was right, but believing she wanted to be right—just as he chose his path.
So that
"I never expected you to come to me saying you wanted to talk."
Beyond the door that felt heavy not physically but in spirit, a black-haired man seated at an impressive desk, going through bundles upon bundles of paper, spoke those words.
With those sharp black eyes, he too had stared down countless choices, chosen the one thing he could choose, and taken that seat.
All of it was the result of the man's choices—and also of his choices.
And then— "I have nothing to say about his current state. At the very least, I cannot make the trip myself, nor should I. —If that is what you wish, that is."
Hearing that, she shook her head firmly side to side.
There was something she wanted from the man before her, but it wasn't directly about him.
What could be done for him now, she probably couldn't do—just as many others around him already could. That was why she had come here for a different reason.
Surely, in the end, he would choose to stand up.
She had come here to prepare for the moment when he stood up.
When he chose to stand, she too—so that she could be someone who had properly chosen— "Then, what is your purpose?"
Gazed upon by the man's black eyes, she met them with her own blue gaze, and held it for a heartbeat.
In all likelihood, within this vast Empire, the ones who had witnessed his choices most closely were her blue eyes, her gentle lavender ones, and the black eyes of the man before her.
That was precisely why she opened her mouth to the one who understood the weight of choice.
And then— "—!"
A single life born from an empty self took a step forward—to choose.
△▼△▼△▼△ —On the day that Subaru and the rest of
"Seriously, I hate the Volachia Empire..."
Subaru twisted his lips and muttered, unable to fit in with this land from beginning to end—not even given the courtesy of a proper send-off.
That said, while he did hate the Volachia Empire, his encounters in this country hadn't been so bad.
If anything, that was the most bittersweet thing about the time he'd spent here— "Flop-san, thanks for everything! Take care of yourself back in the Kingdom!"
"What are you saying, Boss? You're the one who helped us out—and you never stopped helping! I haven't been able to do a single thing to repay you..."
"Haha, don't be ridiculous. Do you have any idea how much fortune you brought to me and my sister with everything you did? I even found myself a partner. It's a total win!"
So saying, Flop thumped his thin chest proudly.
The man who had shown his true colors while Subaru was mucking about had, remarkably, managed to successfully propose to Taritta—and Subaru didn't know whether to be surprised or impressed.
Taritta, like her sister Mizelda, had always been driven by appearances, but she'd apparently been drawn to Flop's character. Hearing it had all worked out, Subaru was happy for them.
Subaru had nothing but gratitude toward both Flop and Taritta.
"Boss, thank you."
"—"
Yet, being embraced head-on by Flop like this, Subaru caught his breath. As Subaru instinctively stiffened, Flop spoke in his usual—if not even more impassioned—voice: "That day, when you showed up carrying your wife over your shoulder, hoisted on a chair in front of me and Medium, I thought I'd just had the most fated encounter of my life. And I was right. From under a distant sky, I wish for the happiness of you and the people precious to you."
"Ah..."
"If you ever come back to the Empire, don't hesitate to reach out. And if I ever make it to the Kingdom, I'll be counting on you for sure! I'd really love your help!"
Pulling away,
From their very first meeting to this moment of parting, he had never once lost that cheer—and the presence of a man like that shook Subaru to his very core.
In the Volachia Empire, the first person he'd met was the masked Emperor, and after that it was the Shudrak people who fought alongside him. But surely, the greatest blessing Natsuki Subaru had found in the Volachia Empire was the O'Connell siblings—Flop and Medium.
Feeling that truth renewed and deep— "Yeah—thank YOU, Flop-san! I love you!"
Subaru shot back with equal warmth, pouring in all the gratitude the Empire had given him.
△▼△▼△▼△ "...You really shouldn't go around telling everyone you love them so casually. It makes all your words feel weightless."
"I'm not saying it to everyone! Only to the people I actually love."
"Is that so? What about Emilia-san and little
"I tell Beako morning, noon, and night, but it's a little harder to say to Emilia-tan... Oh, but I think I did tell
"Huh?"
"Sorry, it was just the heat of the moment, but important is important!"
Glowered at by sharp lilac eyes, Subaru shrank back and stammered apologies.
Just moments ago, he'd been putting on an emotional farewell with Flop—the contrast was staggering. Still, he'd managed to hold back tears in his friend's presence, at least.
"A man can't just cry easily, you know. A man's only allowed to cry three times in his life."
"Is that so."
"Yeah, it is. ...Huh? Don't people usually ask for the breakdown of those three times?"
"That look on your face, hoping I'd ask, was so off-putting..."
"Off-putting is a bit much!?"
At Subaru's raised voice,
Over the past few days—largely because of his own issues—Subaru had been awkward with Rem and the others. He'd probably, almost certainly, worryingly caused them a fair bit of grief. From here on, he intended to mend his ways and make up for it through action.
"How about you, Rem? Were you able to talk properly with Kacha-san?"
"Properly, I'm not sure... but yes. She said she'd write me letters. I'd like to write to her too, but I don't know what to put in them."
"They're letters between friends, right? Like 'How've you been?' or 'Here's what's going on with me'—that sort of thing? I've never actually exchanged letters with a friend, so I'm not really sure."
"Is something that unfocused really okay?"
"I think so. Something that unfocused."
Answering the troubled Rem, Subaru unabashedly tried to imagine what Kacha was feeling.
As Todd's fiancée and someone who had witnessed his end, Subaru hadn't really had a proper sit-down with Kacha. Even so, he had nothing but gratitude and goodwill toward her—she'd stayed with Rem when she was taken, and she'd become Rem's friend.
He didn't think what Kacha looked forward to in exchanging letters with Rem was some grand drama.
"What matters is proof of connection—that you're thinking of each other. Even if you're not within arm's reach, knowing you have a place in each other's minds—that's what's important to convey."
"—"
"W-was that creepy? Did it not make sense?"
"—No. For once, I found myself agreeing with you."
At Subaru's tentative question, Rem shook her head slowly. Then she relaxed her lips and continued: "You're right. There's no need to worry. If I put myself in her position, looking forward to Kacha-san's letters isn't anything special—it's just that her letters will arrive."
"Exactly."
At Rem's reply, Subaru gave a thumbs-up and grinned. The gesture was ignored, but Rem walked alongside him without complaint.
Considering how their new relationship in the Empire had begun, this too was a change as dramatic as a miracle.
"—"
And so, having said their farewells, Subaru and Rem walked side by side toward their next destination—where they too had to exchange parting words.
The person both Subaru and Rem needed to speak to together was— "—
"Ua-uh! Eh-uh!"
Spica turned at the call, her face instantly brightening. She shook her golden hair—tied back behind her head like a tail—and came bounding toward them.
Subaru opened his arms wide to catch her— "Whoa—"
"—That's where you're going?!"
As Subaru whiffed completely, Rem caught the leaping Spica in her arms.
"Eh-uh—" Spica nuzzled her face and head against Rem's cheek, and though Rem was startled at first, a look of tender affection soon crossed her face as she stroked Spica's head in return.
Watching the two of them, Subaru interlaced his fingers behind his head with a helpless "Well, well."
"As always, you're all over Rem. If I did the same thing, I'd get the cold shoulder from her for sure, no question."
"Huh? Why do you say something so obvious all of a sudden?"
"See! She's already—Spica, help me!"
"Uu—uh! Ah-uh, ah-uh!"
"Look, Spica's the same with me—huh? Wait, is she mad at me? Spica's on Rem's side too?! I'm completely alone here!"
Clinging to Rem's waist, Spica fixed Subaru with a steely gaze. Subaru's shoulders slumped in defeat, and Rem said, exasperated, "What are you doing?"
Watching Rem and Spica interact, Subaru found himself oddly comforted as he scratched his head.
"—"
Come to think of it, this unbelievable ordeal in the Volachia Empire had begun with these three—Subaru, Rem, and Spica.
The power dynamic had been like rock-paper-scissors: Subaru was weak against Rem, Rem was weak against Spica, and Spica was weak against Subaru.
The shape of that three-way relationship had changed over time, and starting today, it would change once more.
After all— "You don't want to leave Rem, right? Why not forget staying behind in the Empire and come home to the Kingdom with us?"
"Uu!"
"Oh, you're into it! Right? The Empire's the worst, isn't it!"
"She's shaking her head. Stop trying to twist Spica-chan's will."
Glared at by Rem's deadpan eyes, Subaru clamped his cheeks shut and fell silent. Leaning her back against Rem's chest, Spica nodded earnestly, again and again.
Even from that expression, it was clear she had no intention of bending her will.
For Subaru, this was a desperately, excruciatingly difficult decision to accept.
—Spica's choice to remain in the Volachia Empire.
Parting ways with Subaru and the others as they returned to the Kingdom, she would stay behind to take on a certain duty.
That was Spica's own path forward—the policy she'd decided on while Subaru was busy with his 'Sparta' against the Pleiades Garrison, talking things over with those around her.
"Staying in Volachia and sending back every last undead who came back to life during the 'Great Calamity' to Od Laguna via 'Star Eating'... I want to support that idea, but..."
The many undead, revived by the '
However— "It's not like before anymore. They can't infinitely regenerate. Without 'Star Eating,' you should be able to deal with them just by defeating them normally. You don't have to be the one to do this, Spica."
"A-oh. Uu! Uu, uu!"
"You mean, if that's the case, the souls used to resurrect the dead won't be able to return to where they belong? That's... something you understand better than I do on an instinctive level, but is it really that important to you?"
"Uu!"
Despite Subaru's persuasion, Spica nodded with an expression that said her resolve was ironclad.
They'd already had this exchange close to ten times, and Subaru had tried every approach he could think of to change Spica's mind—but to no avail.
What frustrated him was that Abel, upon being consulted about Spica's resolve and decision, had used Subaru's absence during 'Sparta' as an opportunity to fully encourage her.
Of course, even if the tunnel-visioned Subaru of that time had been consulted, he doubted the conversation would have been positive or constructive.
He doubted it—but still: "That guy, pulling every string behind the scenes to get everything his way... That's what really gets under my skin."
"It's not entirely Abel-san's fault. This is Spica-chan's own decision, and she went to Medium-san to talk about it first."
"I know! I know, but still—I can't help feeling this way!"
At Subaru, who could argue only on emotional grounds, Rem shook her head slowly.
That said, the loneliness was plain on Rem's face too. She too had been one of the people who'd earnestly discussed Spica's future with her.
For lack of a better way to put it—for Rem, whose memories hadn't returned, Spica had been a major influence in shaping who she was now. She, more than anyone, should have found it hardest to part with Spica.
And yet— "When you and I are allowed to act on our own thoughts and wishes, why can't Spica-chan do the same? ...This child has been worrying about us for so, so long."
"Rem..."
Gently stroking Spica's head, Rem chose to respect the girl's momentous decision.
Ahead of Subaru, who couldn't be graceful about it, she had firmly resolved to see Spica off. That composure was admirable, and Subaru understood Rem's point perfectly.
"Even so... it still hurts."
Call him ungracious, call him a sore loser, call him overprotective, overbearing, creepy—whatever. It still hurt.
Spica's decision was certainly admirable, but if Subaru were being honest, while he wanted the souls of the dead used in the 'Great Calamity' to find peace, his greater desire was that Spica not be put in danger.
In his current state of heart, Subaru wanted to put all his precious people in a box and carry them with him everywhere.
"But Spica and Rem won't get in my box..."
"...How did we get from what we were just talking about to boxes?"
"Forget the box—the box doesn't matter! What's important right now isn't the box, it's Spica. Right?"
"You're the one with the box... Abel-san is also taking this matter seriously. That's why he's assigning the two strongest people in the country to accompany Spica-chan."
"Cecil's just strong—that's no good for Rem's upbringing!"
Rem's rebuttal was no rebuttal at all, and Subaru protested loudly.
The two people Abel had proposed as companions for Spica on her journey to hunt down the undead were none other than
Certainly, in terms of combat capability, there was no reason to worry about Spica.
"But that's all there is to it. If anything, the disadvantages beyond pure strength are glaring—it really looks like Abel just pushed the problem onto Spica."
"You're being too suspicious. Arakiya-san... the spirit that woman had taken in was the source of the power to resurrect the dead. That's why she has the ability to sense where the escaped undead are—Abel-san explained it to me, and..."
"I have trauma when it comes to Arakiya too! She's soaked me with water so many times! Cecil, who seems like he should be reasonable but isn't, and Arakiya, who seems unreasonable and really isn't... My anxiety is definitely rising! Spica! I can't let you become a beast tamer—"
He was about to say "can't let you," but Subaru's words were cut short.
That was because Spica, having left Rem's side, leaped into his arms. He caught her light body and drew a breath, and Spica looked up at him from below.
And then— "Ao-uh."
One word, said with a smile—Spica's face made Subaru unable to finish.
"...That bastard Abel, busy talking to Spica behind my back while I was occupied. What a cowardly, filthy move."
"That's going too far. Let's just say he's scheming, cunning, and has a few personality issues, and leave it at that."
"Isn't that basically what I said?"
"...I don't want to be separated from Spica-chan either."
In a weak, hoarse voice, Subaru grumbled his resentment, and Rem answered, hiding the tremor in her own voice.
Understanding the loneliness in Rem's heart, Subaru swallowed his weakness. Then, holding Spica tighter in his arms— "Listen, don't count on Abel or Cecil. If you run into trouble, rely on Medium-san and Flop-san. Have them help you write letters too, okay?"
"Uu."
"Having a purpose and a goal is important, but don't push yourself too hard. Don't rush—take your own pace. Hurrying and forcing things is the most dangerous thing. This is my golden rule."
"A-oh, uu!"
"There's no strict deadline or anything. So I can't really say 'this long' for either of us, but... I'll be waiting."
"Uu-uu, eh-a-uh, a-uh-a, ah-uu!"
"...You've decided how to use your power for yourself. That's admirable, Spica. —I should follow your example."
He truly, genuinely thought so.
Spica had decided, of her own free will, to use the dreadful authority of 'Gluttony' for good. That by using her power this way, she could help ease the worries of an Empire that had been deeply wounded.
That was how Spica would part ways with her wretched past self, with Louis Arneb.
"—Ao-uh!"
Whether his heartfelt admiration reached her, he didn't know.
But Spica spun around, slipped free of his arms, and instead took his hand and began pulling him along. Tugged by her momentum, Subaru was dragged into walking.
As she pulled Subaru along, Spica extended her free hand to Rem— "Eh-uh!"
"—Yes, Spica-chan."
Rem took Spica's offered hand with a smile.
Like that, with Spica in the middle holding hands with both Subaru and Rem, the three began walking together. —They'd been a trio the whole time, but they had never once walked like this side by side.
Honestly, he hadn't thought it possible. But here, on the last day in the Empire, they were doing it.
"Uu!"
Spica happily swung her body, leaning her weight on both Subaru and Rem's hands. Over the top of Spica's head, Subaru and Rem's gazes met.
And then, without warning, they both burst out laughing.
"Pff."
"Hehehe."
"Ah-uh, ao-uh!"
Spica joined in, and the three of them laughed together as they walked to the meeting spot.
It was a final moment—the three of them, closing the story that had begun as the three of them in the Volachia Empire.
△▼△▼△▼△ "—That girl was able to relinquish that troublesome title of being a Sin Archbishop. You must feel some weight off your shoulders as well."
"You and me both..."
Going out of his way to see them off while never missing a chance to be snide—that was the Emperor for you.
"Seriously, don't go staging a coup and getting beheaded for a regime change or anything. I'm sick and tired of running around trying to save your ass."
"Fool. Your services are no longer needed. Hurry back to the Kingdom."
"You bastard."
"You have your own duties to fulfill. See to it that you do not fail in them."
"—"
It sounded like the kind of snide remark Abel dispensed as casually as breathing, yet it carried a subtle, deeper meaning—one that was hard to pick up on but undeniably there.
It was a little worrying that the Emperor needed someone else to catch these nuances if he was going to run the Empire properly going forward, but— "Well, I guess with Medium-san and the others around, he'll be fine."
Having heard about the coming 'Great Calamity' and the 'Star Seer' prophecy of losing the Emperor, Abel had driven himself without rest, public and private alike. Now freed from that restraint, he would go forward as Vincent Volachia, an emperor bound by nothing other than preparing for the 'Great Calamity.' He might be bewildered at first, but surely he too would start looking out for those around him a little more.
As proof— "In this crisis, that girl played a great role. Furthermore, she has pledged her efforts to remove the Empire's future woes. —I shall bestow upon her a reputation befitting her notoriety."
"—"
That was the true meaning behind Abel's decision to let Spica stay—and to support that decision.
The story in the Empire had begun with Subaru, Rem, and Spica—the three of them. Abel, who had been the first to intervene in that story, was paying Subaru back in his own way.
No matter how many words one used, the fact remained that Spica's past was that of the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony—and there would be many who would condemn and reject her for it.
Those who harbored such negative feelings could not—and should not—be denied.
Even so, if one wanted to affirm that a girl named Spica had the right to live, to exist—to give that form—then there was only one way: to build.
A reputation for bravery that outweighed her infamy—so that Spica could live as Spica.
"Remember this, Natsuki Subaru. The sword wolf of the Sacred Volachia Empire never forgets a wound. Whether that wound was born of hatred or of fellowship, it matters not."
"Abel..."
"If anything happens, say the word. You, and those who walk your path, are all kin to the sword wolf."
With those words, Subaru felt that he had been shown the heart of a man—Abel, Vincent Volachia—who would never bow to another, never bend to another.
Feeling a tremor from the deepest roots of his being at that sensation, Subaru received Abel's nod: "It has been arduous. —On the road ahead and from tomorrow onward, walk with your feet firmly planted on the ground."
"...Same to you. And I'm not lending you a hand if you fall again."
"Fool."
The corner of his mouth, as he hurled that insult, held a smile that was undeniably something beyond mockery.
Witnessing that— "—"
Turning his back, Subaru walked toward the dragon carriage.
Walking with the Emperor's gaze on his back, Subaru was met by Emilia and the others waiting by the carriage. Looking over the crowd that had come to see him off, and spotting, naturally, the members of the Pleiades Garrison among them, Subaru drew a small breath.
"—"
'Sparta,' which had begun at Subaru's pleading—and the settlement of nine hundred thirty-one, which couldn't end with six hundred seventy-three still remaining—that was what Subaru had pleaded, and everyone had refused to listen.
Now, all of them gathered together, their eyes meeting Subaru's— "—Ah"
—and one by one, the members of the Pleiades Garrison raised their hands, their rough, calloused palms forming a flower-lined path for Subaru to pass through.
Understanding their intent, Subaru lifted his head once. He held back, held back, held back, and held back the welling in his eyes so it wouldn't spill over—and then— "I love you, everyone!"
Shouting the very words Rem had scolded him for, Subaru ran.
He reached out to meet the many hands extending from both sides, his own palms clapping against theirs. The sound of hand striking hand echoed out, chaining together endlessly like the patter of rain.
Some hands didn't just clap—they pounded his back. Subaru was jostled, rubbed, and ruffled, and in the process, probably forgot all about the six hundred seventy-three remaining as those who knew Natsuki Schwartz lent their strength to his 'Sparta.' "My day job was pretty fun too, actually."
A pair of thick, enormous hands slapped his back.
"Thanks to you, a mere flour-mill son got to chase a dream!"
He clapped hands with a man whose sturdy, resilient build was impossible to guess from his appearance.
"You the man! You the man! Thank ya, Schwartz!"
A lizardman struck fists with him, eyes already misty and tongue flickering as always.
"Don't forget... we're your... comrades...!"
As they passed each other, a solid fist thumped him in the cheek, and Subaru held his jaw and nodded: "Got it."
And then— "—Schwartz-sama."
After being mobbed by everyone, he slipped through to the girl in traditional dress who had been waiting last. She stood with another woman in similar attire—Yorna.
Stopping before them, Subaru first met Yorna's gaze.
"Yorna-san, thank you for everything. Also..."
"Apologies are unnecessary, indeed. That girl's matter is between me and that girl."
"—"
"Do come visit anytime. My lord would welcome you with open arms."
Smiling gently, the proprietress made Subaru nod deeply.
Then, facing
"—That was the most familiar way to address you."
"And I can't feel at ease unless you call me that too."
Wearing a dopey grin, Subaru crouched down on the spot.
They used to be at the same eye level, but now he had to bend his knees to match her height. Even with that height difference between them again, he wanted to talk to her on the same level.
Because Tanza had been an indispensable benefactor to Subaru in the Empire—without question.
"—Next time, I will not lose."
"—? What do you mean?"
"That magic you cast on me. That's what kept me from giving up."
Tanza's dark eyes blinked as she searched her memory for the same words. But no matter how hard she tried, they wouldn't come.
That enormous kindness from Subaru—the one he could never fully repay—existed only within him now.
That was fine. Whether this happened in this world or not—whether she remembered or not—was fine.
Because the gratitude and joy existed, undeniably, within Subaru— "I love you, Tanza."
"...If you keep that up, you'll surely regret it, Schwartz-sama."
"Rem said something similar. If we'd had more time, the two of you might've gotten along... In exchange, maybe I'd have died under their cold stares?!"
"Please stop getting excited on your own and dying on your own. ...Moreover, your attitude as though this is our last meeting in this life—I think it'll come back to strangle Schwartz-sama later."
"Hmm? What do you mean?"
"You'll find out eventually."
Tanza tilted her head but refused to give Subaru an answer.
However, she lightly slapped her hand against his extended hand—a 'Sparta' shared with the rest of the Garrison—and then held his hand gently with both of hers: "It has been a far longer journey than expected. I wish you good health and fortune."
"That long farewell of yours—there's a shorter way to say it."
"I won't say it. Please go."
Released by Tanza's cool demeanor, Subaru smiled wryly and reached out to pat her head.
The fact that she didn't brush it off, and the air of mystery she'd left behind—he took it all as a gift from her.
And then— "Uu!"
He turned to see Spica waiting by the dragon carriage, standing beside Rem.
He'd already said more than enough sentimental things. He'd wanted to try once more to tell her he wanted to take her along, but Spica's embrace shut everything else out.
Subaru hugged the leaping Spica tightly, stroked her head, and then looked up: "I'm really counting on you with Spica, Cecil."
"All right, Boss!"
At the reliable yet worrisome response from his charge, Subaru gave him one last high five.
Then he turned around.
Taking in every face in the crowd before him, Subaru drew a breath.
And then— "Let's meet again, everyone! —Victory!!"
"—Victory!!"
Throwing both fists skyward and shouting that out, Subaru was answered by the roar of the Pleiades Garrison.
The enthusiasm caught the uninitiated off guard, while the Garrison members laughed, cried, and a wonderfully noisy, idiotic scene unfolded.
"—Irreverent to the very end, you wretched fool."
The Emperor of Volachia's comment on the rowdy, ridiculous farewell.
△▼△▼△▼△ "...Is Spica going to be okay? Can she manage without us?"
"Oh my, have you been pestering and pestering this whole time?! There's no need to worry! That girl has a far better grip on reality than you do!"
Riding in the dragon carriage on the way back, Subaru leaned his cheek on his fist and gazed out the window. Beatrice, perched on his lap, pinched his cheek and scolded him.
Pouting at Beatrice's reprimand, Subaru had no comeback.
Because it was true. Beatrice was right—Spica had a more realistic outlook.
Haunted by her past as a Sin Archbishop, Spica had taken action to dispel that notoriety. Even if it was a sin committed by a 'self' she had no memory of.
"You were quite harsh to Spica-chan for so long, and that gave her a chance to understand her own position, you know."
"Oh my, really. Despite the circumstances, that's so like Barusu. Keeping his narrow-mindedness even toward a girl who was so fond of him."
"Guh—"
From across the carriage, the tongues of the demon sisters lashed out in unison.
Yet another accurate indictment of Subaru's shortcomings. The sisters were in perfect sync, which was heartwarming—though they packed too much bite for him to simply smile at it.
"As for me, I'm at ease with that girl's judgment. Originally, if we were bringing her home, we'd have needed crisis management on the level of locking her in a box..."
"Is it just me, or do your box and mine seem to have different functions and vibes?"
"Hmm, hard to say. Either way, the Empire and Anastasia's faction are both complicit in this matter... The resolution is top-notch, I think."
"I dunno about all the complicated stuff, but once the zombies are all dealt with, Spica's coming back to the Kingdom clean and clear, right? Then the sooner the better, I say!"
At Otto, speaking with his sharp, pragmatic eye, Subaru was grateful for Garfiel's straightforward desire for Spica to rejoin them.
Garfiel probably厌恶 the Sin Archbishop title as much as anyone, but— "I've had scraps with the big shots too, even tried to kill 'em! 'The Vineal Double-Dip'—if the chance comes up, can't be bad, right?"
"You've got a heart as big as the sky. And compared to that..."
"For the record, Natsuki-san and Garfiel don't have big hearts—they just have irresponsible holes in them! That's a far more accurate description!"
Otto's loud voice rang out, and Subaru and Garfiel punched fists in agreement.
It had been a while since Otto's voice had carried that kind of fire. The crushing weight of needing to save the Empire had finally lifted, and Subaru was returning to his usual self.
Not that his worry for his companions or his concern for the separated Spica had diminished in any way— "—Everyone, we're together, you know."
Suddenly, Emilia, seated beside him, spoke softly to Subaru's profile as he narrowed his eyes.
Turning at the feel of her gently clasping his hand, he found soft, amethyst eyes looking at him with tenderness—and his chest tightened.
No one had asked him.
If he was okay. If he wasn't down. Any of those obvious questions.
He was down. He was hurt. He didn't know if he was okay. They understood all of that without him having to say a word.
"Thank you, Emilia. —For coming to save me."
"Mm."
"Thank you, everyone. —For coming to save us."
For Emilia, who had crossed the border into the shura that was the Volachia Empire to save them—for everyone—Subaru expressed his gratitude.
Everyone responded in their own way to Subaru's thanks— "—"
There were things he had let slip through.
Things that had slipped through the gaps between his fingers, gone to a distance that could never be reached.
It was so like her. The way she lived—never once bending to the will of Subaru or anyone else, right to the very, very end.
Was that why, despite so many, so many regrets— "—Right now, all I can remember is your smiling face."
He mourned the woman who had burned into his memory nothing but a fearless, arrogant image of herself.
It was Natsuki Subaru's tribute—a blend of heartfelt gratitude and apology—to the woman who had given her final moments to speaking with him.
And then— "—"
Blessed with companions by his side, Subaru worried about the other dragon carriage heading back to the Kingdom—the one carrying the remnants of Priscilla's faction.
Regarding the future of Priscilla's Bariel domain, Roswaal, riding in that carriage, was probably offering counsel. But Subaru's thoughts were on a different matter.
That matter was— "—Al."
Al, who had been there at Priscilla's final moments, who had held her in his arms until the very, very end.
While Subaru tackled 'Sparta,' while Abel buried himself in work to honor his sister's legacy, while many tried to fill the void she'd left, Al had shut himself in a room alone.
He had been so devastated by the loss that it seemed he might simply vanish—and now he was on the road back to the Kingdom.
The reason Al was returning to the Kingdom— "—Brother, I've got a favor. I caught wind of something. About the 'Sage' Tower. Inside that tower, there's a book that can read the records of the dead."
"...Priscilla's 'Book of the Dead.'"
Would obtaining it trample on the wishes of Priscilla, who had departed so nobly? Even Subaru was torn.
But he had been there—he knew of the parting between Al and Priscilla, and of Al's despair afterward. That was precisely why he wanted to help.
That was why— "I'll come borrow your help again sometime,
Making another pilgrimage to that tower at the end of that sea of sand—that was the only way Subaru could repay Al, beyond 'Return by Death.'