...
{3rd Pov}
After the villagers witnessed the corpses of the Witch Cultists firsthand, all traces of doubt vanished from their hearts.
They now fully believed in Subaru's words.
Still, the sight before them left them shaken to their cores.
The lifeless bodies scattered across the ground were twisted in unnatural positions, their faces frozen in unbearable agony, mouths open in silent screams that would never end.
Even now, faint streams of dark, clotted blood continued to ooze from their eyes, ears, and noses — as if their bodies refused to accept death.
Several of the villagers covered their mouths, while others turned away, pale and trembling.
None of them could comprehend how Subaru — the same cheerful young man who often joked around with them — could be responsible for such devastation.
In the end, the villagers came to their own conclusion.
Subaru must have been a powerful magician, far stronger than he appeared.
They convinced themselves that he had used some kind of long-range magic to destroy the Witch Cultists from afar, which would explain why not a single stain of blood or dust marked his clothes.
To them, it was the only explanation that made sense.
After all, how could a normal person wipe out the entire Witch Cult and walk away looking completely unscathed?
(A/N: The type of person who had seduced the Witch of Envy Ahem Ahem)
With their doubts eased, gratitude soon replaced fear.
The villagers surrounded Subaru, bowing deeply and offering him their heartfelt thanks.
Some of them even began gathering small valuables — coins, food, and trinkets — insisting that he accept them as a reward for saving their lives and protecting the village.
Their sincerity was genuine, their voices filled with emotion.
However, Subaru raised his hand and stopped them before anyone could hand him a single thing.
He gave them a tired smile and shook his head.
"It's fine. You don't need to give me anything. I didn't do it for a reward."
The villagers tried to insist, but Subaru's tone made it clear he wouldn't budge.
Eventually, they reluctantly agreed, though the respect in their eyes for him only deepened further.
As he turned away from the crowd, Subaru's thoughts quieted down, his smile fading slightly.
'This time was different,' he told himself silently.
'My goal wasn't about glory or recognition. I did this to save the villagers… and to kill Petelgeuse, no matter the cost.'
He exhaled softly and rubbed the back of his neck, glancing back toward the forest where the bodies still lay.
'If I ever do something like this again in the future, then sure… I'll accept a reward. But not this time.'
The previous so-called "rewards" he had received — asking for Emilia's name and becoming her servant — now felt almost insulting compared to the sheer effort and suffering he had endured.
They weren't rewards at all, not in proportion to what he had done or what he had sacrificed.
Subaru clenched his fist lightly, his expression firming.
'I won't degrade myself again like that,' he thought.
'No more pretending that serving someone for free counts as gratitude. Not anymore.'
And yet, despite his conviction, a small grimace tugged at his lips.
The truth was, he was still practically broke.
No savings, no steady income, nothing. He could barely afford proper supplies, and the little money he had was dwindling fast.
He gave a small sigh and muttered under his breath, "Well… being strong doesn't exactly pay the bills."
Still, he turned his back on the villagers' offerings and began walking away, determined to hold onto his pride — even if it meant going hungry for a while longer.
Since Subaru had finally decided to leave Roswaal's mansion and cut all ties with Emilia's camp, a strange emptiness began to settle in his chest.
The very goal that had once kept him moving — saving everyone, proving himself, and earning their trust — had already been achieved.
And now that it was over, he found himself standing in the quiet aftermath, unsure of what to do next.
He was undeniably happy in a way — the villagers were safe, the Witch Cult had been eradicated, and Petelgeuse was gone for good — yet there was a hollow feeling behind that satisfaction.
A dull question kept echoing in his mind: What now?
Should he go back to Emilia, stand before her, and flaunt his accomplishments until she forgave him?
The mere thought made him scoff.
'As if I would lower myself to that bitch again,' Subaru thought, his lips curling into a cold smirk.
Whatever sympathy or admiration he had once felt for her had long evaporated, replaced by something sharp and bitter.
He still didn't know the full extent of Emilia's connection to Satella — or if there even was one — but at this point, he didn't care.
Just looking at her face would be enough to reignite the anger and humiliation that had been festering inside him.
Her silver hair, her gentle eyes, that expression of pity she always wore when looking at him — it all felt like mockery now.
Ironically enough, he could now tolerate the Witch of Envy more than he could Emilia.
At least Satella's appearance changed often, her silver hair turning into pitch black strands, and her soft amethyst eyes darkening into deep violet pools that didn't resemble Emilia's anymore.
When Satella looked at him, she looked at him, not through him.
Her devotion was insane, obsessive even, but it was real — not the empty, half-hearted kindness Emilia always tried to project.
Still, the irony wasn't lost on him.
The same Witch he once despised — the one who ruined his life again and again — was now easier to endure than the girl he once swore to protect.
He clenched his fists.
"No," he muttered under his breath.
'I won't be grovelling at someone's feet again', Subaru thought.
What did Priscilla said?
He was a pig huh? He will never give these people another chance to utter those humiliating words.
In the end, Subaru chose his pride.
Chose himself.
Rather than continue as some pathetic servant constantly getting insulted, belittled, and treated like a burden, he would rather walk away entirely.
He made his decision.
He would leave Lugunica — this cursed kingdom that had given him nothing but pain and disappointment — and never look back.
He didn't belong here anymore.
Maybe he never did.
Subaru had finally made up his mind—he would leave Lugunica and this cursed kingdom behind for good.
There was nothing left here for him anymore, no reason to stay bound to a place that had brought him nothing but pain, humiliation, and endless cycles of suffering.
His new goal was clear: he would start his own company, using the knowledge and inventions he remembered from Earth.
After all, Subaru had already considered this idea long ago—right after his very first death in this world.
Even back then, he knew that for someone as weak as him, relying on strength or magic was pointless.
The smartest way to survive and succeed in a world like this was through knowledge, creativity, and business.
But as usual, things didn't go the way he had once planned.
In the end, Subaru had thrown that dream away, just like all his other ambitions.
He chose Emilia—he always did.
He chose her over his own happiness, over his own future, and even over the idea of living freely.
He gladly accepted the role of her servant, smiling and acting proud to be by her side, even though deep down he knew the truth—it was Emilia who needed him to barely keep herself standing.
Without him, she might have collapsed long ago.
Now, having finally decided what to do and no longer wanting to repeat the same mistakes, Subaru came to the Mathers Mansion together with Rem. T
he two walked through the familiar path leading to the courtyard, and as expected, the first person they saw was Ram.
She was "watering" the plants—or at least pretending to.
In reality, she was just splashing water from a mug in random directions, barely hitting the plants at all, and acting as if her job was done.
It was still early in the morning, the sun barely rising over the horizon, and yet Ram was already calling it a day like she had worked nonstop since dawn.
Ram instantly noticed Rem and Subaru approaching from the distance.
The moment her sharp eyes landed on them, she stopped what she was doing, put the mug aside, and walked straight toward them with that all-too-familiar expression of scorn plastered across her face.
Her pink hair swayed lightly with each step, and her gaze locked on Subaru as if she were staring at something disgusting that had somehow crawled back into her sight.
"Barusu," she started, her tone filled with clear irritation and contempt.
"I heard what you did back in the Capital... Do you have no shame left at all? To show your face here after disgracing Lord Roswaal and Lady Emilia in front of all the nobles and knights?"
Her words carried both anger and disappointment, and it was obvious that Ram was completely dissatisfied with him.
Subaru didn't flinch at her words.
Instead, he looked at her calmly, his voice composed and lacking the old nervous energy he used to have.
"Do you really hate my face that much?" he asked, his tone flat, serious even.
The carefree and loud way of speaking he once had was gone, replaced by something quieter and more mature.
Of course, Ram didn't notice the change—she never did.
She only saw the same "Barusu" she always mocked, and her lips twisted in disgust once again.
"Your face," Ram said, her voice dripping with mockery, "is the most unremarkable I have ever seen in my entire life. Honestly, even a drunkard who's been lying in the gutter for days has a better face than a loser like you."
Her words were sharp as ever, meant to sting.
Rem's reaction was instant.
Her eyes widened in fury, and she stepped forward, ready to defend Subaru like she always did.
Her voice was about to rise in anger, but before she could speak, Subaru gently grabbed her hand, giving her a subtle squeeze.
The gesture was quiet but firm—telling her not to say anything.
Rem hesitated, looked at him, and though frustration flickered in her eyes, she stopped herself.
Ram, however, wasn't done.
She crossed her arms and gave Subaru another cold glance, continuing her verbal assault.
"Your face," she added mockingly, "looks like that of a man who has never faced a single hardship in his entire life. You wear that same pathetic expression, pretending to understand pain, but it's obvious you've never truly suffered."
Her tone was cutting, her words designed to hurt.
Subaru slightly narrowed his eyes at Ram's words.
'Faced no hardship?'
The thought echoed in his mind, and for a moment, he genuinely wanted to laugh at the sheer irony of it.
The statement was so absurd that it almost felt funny in a sick, twisted way.
Because ever since the day he had been dragged into this world, he hadn't known a single moment of true happiness.
Not one.
Maybe—maybe—the only exception to that was Rem, the version of her that had changed, the one who genuinely loved and understood him.
Other than her, everything and everyone else in this world had only ever given him scorn, contempt, and rejection.
No matter what he did, no matter how hard he tried, it was always the same.
Disappointment, hatred, or pity.
Even Emilia—yes, even her—was no different in that regard.
She smiled, acted kind, but deep down, Subaru knew it was never truly for him.
It was for her ideals, her dreams, and her own fragile sense of self-worth.
He was just a tool to her, a disposable helper who existed to keep her world from falling apart.
That was why Subaru wanted to laugh—loudly, bitterly, maybe even hysterically.
He wanted to throw the truth right in Ram's face, to spit every word of it until she finally understood.
Ever since he had come to this world, he had died.
Not once.
Not twice.
But countless times.
Over and over again, he had died in pain, in fear, in despair—each time for the sake of people who didn't even remember it, people who didn't care, and people who, when given the chance, abandoned him the moment he became inconvenient.
Some of them had even been the very ones to kill him.
And yet, what disgusted Subaru the most wasn't them.
It was himself.
He felt sick just thinking about it—about how low he had sunk, groveling for scraps of affection like some desperate dog begging for food from an owner who would never love it.
'I've already disappointed my parents enough back on Earth…' Subaru thought, clenching his fists so tightly that his knuckles turned white.
'If they could see me now… if they could see what I've done, what I've become—throwing away my pride, my dignity, everything—for people who don't even give a damn about me... how disappointed would they be?'
The thought burned in his chest, heavy and suffocating, but Subaru didn't let it show.
On the outside, he looked calm.
Inside, however, he was drowning in disgust and self-loathing.
Subaru turned his gaze toward Ram, his expression calm but his voice carrying a quiet, cold edge.
He spoke slowly, each word deliberate and heavy.
"Ram… my presence has always disgusted you, hasn't it?" he said, his tone neither angry nor sad—just tired.
"Very well then… you'll be glad to know that soon, you won't have to see me anymore. You can finally be joyful knowing I'll be gone from your sight for good."
Rem immediately flinched at those words.
Her heart tightened, and she couldn't hold back her reaction.
"Sister!" she blurted out, her voice trembling slightly with frustration and emotion.
"Please, apologize to Subaru! You're being too harsh!"
Ram, however, only snorted dismissively, folding her arms with that same smug look she always wore when she felt superior.
"Sissy," she said mockingly, dragging out the word, "your taste in men is absolutely revolting. Honestly, you should just dump him already. He's not worthy of you in the slightest."
(A/N: Don't wanna hear from you who chose a 400 years filicide old lolicon clown)
Her tone was laced with disdain, the kind that cut deep, and it was clear she had no intention of backing down.
Rem's expression hardened.
She couldn't help but feel irritated—no, angered—by her sister's words.
Ram had always looked down on Subaru, always acted like he was beneath her, and Rem had tolerated it for long enough.
Because she had seen what Subaru was capable of—his strength, his resolve, his intelligence.
She had seen his achievements, the things he had done that no one else could even imagine doing.
In her eyes, it wasn't a matter of Subaru not being worthy of her. I
f anything, it was the other way around.
She often felt she wasn't even worthy of being Subaru's second wife, much less his equal.
But she knew arguing now would only make things worse.
Before Rem could speak again, Subaru let out a quiet chuckle, more out of exhaustion than amusement.
"I don't have much time," he said, brushing off Ram's words entirely.
"Why don't we go inside and meet Emilia? It's better to finish what I came here for."
He turned slightly, motioning toward the mansion, his expression tightening for a moment.
Every corner of this place—the walls, the corridors, the smell of the morning air—it all brought back memories he didn't want to remember.
Memories of him acting like a fool, fawning over Emilia, worshipping her every word, thinking that serving her was some kind of purpose worth dying for.
The very thought made him feel sick now.
He wanted to leave this place as soon as possible.
Just standing here, breathing the same air, made his stomach twist with disgust—not for anyone else, but for the pathetic version of himself that used to live here.
Ram, hearing Subaru's words and seeing the expression on his face, decided to do as he said without any further argument.
In her mind, there was no need to waste breath on someone like him.
Once Subaru met with Emilia and heard her disappointment firsthand, Ram believed he would finally understand how far he had fallen—that his actions in the Capital had not only shamed himself but also tarnished the name of Lord Roswaal and Emilia-sama.
She was certain that reality would humble him more effectively than any insult she could deliver.
Without another word, Ram turned around and began leading Subaru and Rem toward the mansion.
The wooden floors creaked softly under their steps as they entered the familiar hallways of the Mathers estate.
Everything looked the same as ever—the polished floors, the elegant curtains, and the faint scent of flowers carried from the garden—but for Subaru, every detail only reminded him of his countless humiliations in this place.
After leading them inside, Ram went ahead to deliver a message to Emilia.
It didn't take long before the silver-haired half-elf appeared in the main hallway, her footsteps light but her presence commanding enough to make the room fall silent.
The moment her eyes landed on Subaru, her expression shifted—she looked at him with a complicated mix of disappointment, confusion, and faint irritation.
It wasn't anger, but it wasn't kindness either.
It was the look of someone who didn't quite know what to do with him anymore.
Subaru, on the other hand, clenched his fists the instant he saw her.
His jaw tightened as memories of his humiliation in the Capital resurfaced—the mocking stares of nobles and knights, the pitying glances aimed at him, and Emilia's own silence that cut deeper than any sword.
The disgust he felt back then crawled up his throat again, it wasn't aimed at anyone else. It was aimed at himself.
"Subaru…" Emilia finally spoke, her tone hesitant yet cold enough to show her disapproval.
"You were supposed to be in the Capital, weren't you? Your healing shouldn't have been finished so soon."
Subaru's lips curved into a bitter smile, his voice low but carrying a sharp edge.
"Yes," he replied, "I was supposed to be in the Capital, healing from my wounds. But in the end—because of you—I had to come here."
There was a faint venom in his tone, restrained but impossible to miss.
Emilia blinked, momentarily taken aback.
She didn't understand what he meant.
To her, it sounded like Subaru had come running back out of obsession, like he was once again trying to force his way into her life despite everything that had happened.
She completely missed the underlying meaning behind his words, the bitterness buried under his calm tone.
Since Subaru and Rem hadn't sent any letter or message before their arrival, Ram was unprepared and unaware of the situation.
She didn't know anything about what had happened earlier that morning, nor about the Witch Cult's sudden movements or the chaos that had unfolded.
Neither Emilia nor anyone else in the mansion had yet been informed about what had transpired in the Capital or in the Arlam village or in the path between the two, so to them, Subaru's early return seemed suspicious and unwarranted.
And just as the tension thickened, a soft, familiar sound of magical energy filled the air.
Tiny motes of ice-blue light appeared beside Emilia, swirling in the air before forming into a small, cat-like spirit.
Puck manifested in his usual floating posture, his tail swishing slowly, but his expression was far from playful.
A deep frown darkened his small face as his eyes fixed on Subaru, and a faint growl escaped his throat—low, warning, and filled with displeasure.
Puck immediately sensed the hostility radiating from Subaru the moment he appeared.
His fur bristled slightly, and his eyes narrowed as he floated closer, his tone losing its usual playful edge.
"Boy," he said sharply, his voice echoing slightly in the hallway, "you'd better wipe that look off your face before you regret it. And tell me, do you even understand what a promise means to a spirit contractor? Or is that too much for your human brain to handle?"
His words carried both irritation and authority, the kind of tone that demanded obedience rather than discussion.
Subaru didn't flinch.
Instead, a slow, mocking grin stretched across his lips as he raised his eyes to meet Puck's.
"Ah," he said with a hollow laugh, dripping with sarcasm, "and here comes the so-called great spirit—the useless spirit of the even more useless half-elf."
His tone was calm, almost conversational, but every word was dipped in venom.
The entire hallway fell silent.
Ram froze in place, her eyes widening in disbelief.
Rem's breath caught in her throat.
Even Puck was momentarily stunned, the insult hitting harder than he expected.
And Emilia—she stood there like someone had just punched her straight in the chest.
Her heart twisted painfully as she stared at Subaru's face, at the same cold, disgusted expression she had seen countless times from others.
It was the same look that the world had always given her—the look that said she was a failure, a monster, an unwanted half-elf.
"S-Subaru!" Emilia finally shouted, her voice trembling, the sound of it cutting through the silence.
Everyone's attention immediately shifted to her as she glared at him, her purple eyes filled with a mix of hurt and anger.
"Apologize to Puck right now! He's not useless!"
Subaru's grin didn't fade.
Instead, he gave a low, humorless chuckle, one that sounded far too bitter to be real laughter.
"Apologize?" he repeated, his tone mocking as he looked her straight in the eyes.
"Emilia… I'm not your dog. I don't exist to listen to your every word and obey them like some mindless servant."
His gaze hardened, filled with resentment and contempt that made Emilia involuntarily take a small step back.
Emilia didn't know how to respond.
She froze, her lips parting slightly, but no words came out.
The truth was, she didn't really know how to deal with people—not deeply, not honestly.
Her childhood had been a blur of rejection and isolation, and the fragments of her lost memories left her even more uncertain about how to connect with others.
Most of what she believed, most of what she thought she knew about how to treat people, came directly from Puck's teachings and guidance.
Because of that, Emilia had always feared confrontation.
She avoided angering others at all costs, always trying to be polite, gentle, and agreeable—especially with people who hated her.
But with Subaru, things were different.
He never hated her, or at least that's what she had believed.
He had always stayed beside her, obeyed her words, comforted her when she was insecure, and protected her even when she didn't ask.
That unwavering loyalty had made her unconsciously assume it was natural—normal—for him to listen to her commands.
And to make things worse, Puck and Roswaal's constant lectures about status and order had further warped her sense of hierarchy.
They drilled into her the idea that, as a royal candidate, maintaining authority and expecting obedience was not arrogance—it was necessity.
So when Subaru began defying her, refusing to follow orders, she didn't see it as the act of a man hurt and betrayed—she saw it as insubordination, as something wrong that needed to be corrected.
That was why she had scolded him in the Capital, why she had felt disappointed when he didn't bow his head and follow like before.
She couldn't understand why the person who had always been so loyal suddenly stopped obeying.
But now, standing here and facing him again, she was about to experience it firsthand.
"S-Subaru, what are you saying!?" Emilia stammered, her voice trembling with disbelief and panic.
She took a step forward, her silver hair trembling with her movement, her fists clenched tightly at her sides.
"Apologize right now! You've already caused enough problems as it is!"
Her tone wavered between anger and desperation, the kind that came from not knowing whether to scold or plead.
Subaru's glare hardened instantly, his expression twisting into one of pure bitterness.
"Problem?" he repeated, his voice dripping with venom.
"You're calling me a problem?"
He let out a sharp, humorless laugh before snapping back, "Huh! The biggest problem here isn't me—it's you, half-witch!"
The words hit Emilia like a physical blow.
Her eyes widened, and for a moment, she couldn't even breathe.
The insult cut deeper than any wound.
Subaru's voice, the same voice that had once comforted her, that had once praised her beauty and kindness, was now spitting the same venom the world had always thrown her way.
Emilia had never truly had friends.
Apart from Puck, there was no one who genuinely stayed by her side.
Every attempt she made to connect with others had ended in fear, suspicion, or rejection.
And though she had tried to convince herself that Subaru staying away from her would be better for both of them—that his distance would help them move on—deep down, she couldn't deny the truth.
Somewhere along the way, he had carved a place for himself in her heart.
So hearing him, the man who had once showered her with affection, who had risked his life again and again for her sake—hearing that same man throw the very insult she dreaded most, the same one that haunted her entire existence—it shattered something inside her.
"I-I'm not…" Emilia's voice broke mid-sentence, her words dissolving into sobs.
Tears welled in her eyes and began to stream down her cheeks as she shook her head in denial.
The pain in her chest was unbearable, like a knife twisting deeper with every second.
Seeing her cry, Puck's fury ignited instantly.
His small body flared with a chilling aura, and the air around them dropped several degrees in an instant.
Shards of ice formed in midair, floating around him like a deadly halo.
His once soft, childish eyes were now filled with pure rage as he glared at Subaru.
"Boy," he growled, his voice low and dangerous, "you've gone too far this time. Beg for Emilia's forgiveness right now, or I swear I'll kill you where you stand."
But Subaru didn't flinch. Instead, a cruel sneer appeared on his face.
"Oh? You'll kill me?" he said mockingly, his voice rising with scorn.
"That's rich. Tell me, where were you, mighty spirit, when those nobles were mocking her at the Capital? When they humiliated the girl you swore to protect? You didn't show your face until it was late then, did you? You're nothing but a coward hiding behind empty words."
Puck's expression darkened even more, but Subaru continued mercilessly.
"You know what, Puck?" he spat, his tone dripping with disgust.
"You're the most useless being I've ever met. Even shit has its uses. But you? You're just a worthless cat spirit who can't even protect the person you call your daughter!"
The entire hallway froze in shock.
No one moved, no one spoke.
The silence was suffocating.
Rem gasped audibly, her hands trembling as she turned to look at Subaru, horrified by the venom in his words.
Her heart pounded in her chest as she shifted her gaze toward Puck.
The temperature dropped with every second, the atmosphere growing heavier and more
Puck's expression turned merciless, his rage fully unleashed.
The air around him crackled with raw mana, and frost began crawling rapidly across the marble floor.
Emilia immediately noticed the sudden shift in his demeanor—his fur standing on end, his eyes glowing with that murderous gleam she had only seen once before.
Her heart skipped a beat as she realized what was about to happen.
"Puck, wait—!" she tried to stop him, but her voice was drowned out by the deafening hum of mana.
In the next instant, dozens of razor-sharp ice projectiles materialized in midair, each one glimmering with deadly precision.
They shot forward with lethal speed, all aimed straight at Subaru.
The sound of shattering air filled the hallway as the icicles sliced through the space between them.
"Subaru!" Rem shouted, her instincts kicking in.
She swung her morning star from her back, summoning all her strength to intercept the barrage.
But before she could even move forward—everything stopped.
Literally stopped.
The ice projectiles froze mid-air, inches away from Subaru's body.
The howling mana in the air fell silent.
The faint sound of chains rattling somewhere far away vanished.
The entire world had gone still.
Rem's hand, suspended mid-motion.
Ram's expression frozen in a mix of shock and annoyance.
Emilia's tear-streaked face locked in panic.
Puck, his fangs bared, completely motionless.
Everyone—except Subaru.
A chill much darker than Puck's frost began to spread across the room.
From beneath Subaru's feet, the black shadows on the ground began to ripple like liquid.
A familiar, suffocating presence emerged, heavy enough to crush the air itself.
From that darkness, the figure of the Witch of Envy manifested—Satella herself.
Her body rose from his shadow like a nightmare taking form, her shape half-visible through swirling darkness.
Dozens of black, clawed hands burst from her back, moving with terrifying speed.
The shadowy appendages shot forward like javelins, tearing through the air, shattering all the suspended ice projectiles into dust before they could even touch Subaru.
But they didn't stop there.
The hands redirected instantly, turning toward Puck, aiming straight for his tiny, frozen body.
Their intent was clear—annihilation.
"Stop," Subaru commanded firmly.
At once, all the shadow hands halted mere inches away from Puck's face.
The frozen spirit didn't even realize he was seconds away from being obliterated.
The sharp claws lingered near him, trembling slightly, hungry for destruction, yet completely bound by Subaru's will.
A smirk tugged at Subaru's lips.
"Death would be too much of a mercy for him," he said quietly, his tone filled with cold satisfaction.
"Tell me, do you have a way to make him suffer—without killing him? Something that makes him feel pain endlessly?"
Satella turned her head toward him, her form trembling with excitement as she whispered in her eerie, overlapping voice, "Yes... yes... yes... yes... yes."
Her tone was almost childlike, filled with disturbing eagerness to please him.
"Good," Subaru said flatly.
"Do that."
At his words, the Witch obeyed immediately.
The swarm of shadow hands withdrew one after another, fading back into her body, except for a single one that slithered forward like a snake.
The lone shadow hand coiled around Puck's motionless form, its touch gentle yet sickeningly precise.
It slid up his small frame and pressed directly against his chest for a brief moment before retreating.
The deed was done.
Satella had corrupted Puck's spiritual essence—not enough to destroy him, but enough to break him beyond repair.
His core would not heal, not even with time or magic.
The corruption would remain inside him, spreading slowly, endlessly torturing him from within.
His power would fade day by day, and the pain would never stop.
It was a fate far worse than death—a punishment without end.
Subaru looked at the Witch and, for a brief moment, his expression softened.
He reached out and patted her head gently, his fingers brushing through her dark, ethereal hair.
Satella let out a faint, content sigh, her form flickering briefly before melting back into his shadow like liquid night.
Then, as suddenly as it had stopped, time resumed.
The sound of shattering ice filled the air again, followed immediately by a piercing scream.
Puck's body convulsed violently, and he let out a cry of agony that echoed through the entire mansion.
He collapsed onto the floor, clutching his chest as his body trembled uncontrollably, his fur standing on end as he howled in pain.
The temperature in the room dropped even further, but this time, the cold came from his suffering—not his magic.
"Puck!" Emilia screamed in disbelief, her voice trembling as her eyes darted toward the fallen spirit writhing in agony on the ground.
Panic gripped her chest, and she rushed a step forward, but before she could even process what was happening, another incident happened.
Ram, who had been standing silently all this time, too shocked to act earlier, finally snapped out of her daze.
Her crimson eyes burned with fury, and without a word, she reached beneath her maid uniform, pulling out a hidden dagger that gleamed under the dim light.
Her expression hardened.
"You've gone too far, Barusu," she hissed coldly.
In one swift motion, she lunged forward with deadly precision, using wind magic to amplify her speed.
The dagger gleamed as mana surged around it, and she swung with intent to kill.
A blade of compressed wind shot from her weapon, slicing through the air toward Subaru like a guillotine of pure rage.
However, before it could reach its target, a loud clang echoed through the hall.
The blade of wind shattered against the heavy iron head of a Morning Star. Sparks flew from the impact.
Ram's eyes widened in shock.
It wasn't Subaru who blocked her attack—it was Rem.
Her twin stood in front of Subaru, weapon raised defensively, her expression grim but determined.
The spiked ball of her weapon hovered protectively between Subaru and Ram, its chain rattling faintly as mana flickered around it.
"Rem! Have you gone mad?!" Ram shouted, her voice filled with disbelief and anger.
"Do you even realize what you're doing right now? This is no different from betraying Lord Roswaal himself!"
Her tone was sharp, cutting, but Rem didn't flinch.
She took a slow breath, her grip tightening on her weapon.
Her usually gentle face was now marked with rare defiance, her blue eyes staring straight into her sister's.
"...Nee-san," Rem began, her voice steady and serious.
"I've been hearing all your complaints about Subaru-kun for so long. Every insult, every time you belittled him, every sneer you gave him when he tried to help."
Ram's eyes narrowed, but Rem continued, her tone growing firmer.
"I've watched how you treat him—how everyone treats him—and I must say... I'm disappointed. Deeply disappointed. In all of you."
Ram gritted her teeth.
"He attacked Puck, Rem! Are you blind? He harmed Emilia-sama's spirit! That alone—"
"Because Sir Puck attacked him first!" Rem snapped back, her voice louder this time, her anger surfacing.
The Morning Star trembled slightly in her grasp, reflecting her restrained emotions.
"You saw what happened, Nee-san. Or did you choose to ignore it? He defended himself! And you didn't even stopped to think why! You just jumped to conclusions!"
Ram's expression faltered for a brief moment, her mouth opening as if to respond, but no words came out.
Rem took a step closer, glaring at her twin with uncharacteristic hostility.
"You talk about loyalty, about honor, about protecting Emilia-sama and Roswaal-sama... but what about justice? What about fairness? You're so blinded by your own prejudice that you can't even see reason anymore."
The silence that followed was heavy, broken only by the faint sound of Puck's pained groans echoing in the background.
Rem's voice grew colder.
"You are being so unreasonable... I feel disgusted."
Her words hit harder than any blow.
Ram's eyes widened slightly, her breath catching for a moment.
The weight in her sister's tone—the disappointment, the disgust—cut deeper than she expected.
Finally, after a long moment of tense silence, Ram exhaled sharply through her nose.
Her hand trembled slightly as she slowly lowered her dagger.
After a short pause, she sheathed it back beneath her dress, though her pink eyes remained locked on Subaru, filled with restrained fury and confusion.
She didn't say another word.
But her glare spoke volumes—warning, resentment, disbelief—all tangled into one expression.
Rem, however, didn't back down.
She simply stood her ground beside Subaru, her posture firm, her eyes unyielding.
The divide between the twin maids had never been so clear.
"What did you do to Puck?!"
The cry that came from Emilia was filled with raw emotion—fear, confusion, and fury all mixed together.
Her usually gentle tone was gone, replaced by a sharp, almost trembling anger that made even the air around her feel heavy.
For the first time since Subaru arrived, she glared directly at him, her silver hair fluttering as mana began to gather around her.
The familiar blue glow of ice magic radiated from her palm as she raised it toward Subaru.
The temperature in the hallway plummeted instantly.
Frost began to crawl up the walls, the ground shimmered with a thin layer of ice, and soft flakes of snow started falling within the mansion corridor.
The atmosphere turned chillingly tense.
Her magic power flared violently, as though it was responding to her emotions rather than her reason.
Her violet eyes shimmered with tears and rage.
But Subaru didn't move.
He didn't flinch or step back.
His cold, empty gaze fixed on her like that of a man who had already lost all attachment.
He looked at her not with fear—but with disappointment, disgust, and a deep, silent rage simmering just below the surface.
He took a slow breath, his tone low and dangerous.
"So you've decided to raise your hand against me too, Emilia?" His voice dripped with venom as a twisted smirk appeared on his face.
"I suppose I'll have to punish you as well then…"
Just as the air between them reached the point of breaking, a voice cut through the icy tension.
"Stop, Emilia!"
It was Puck.
The spirit's voice was strained yet commanding.
Emilia froze, her eyes going wide as her magic abruptly dispersed.
The swirling cold vanished in seconds, and the faint snowflakes that had begun forming melted into mist.
"Puck!" she gasped, turning immediately to the floating cat spirit.
"You're… you're alright!" Her relief was evident, her anger melting into concern and affection as she rushed a step closer.
Puck hovered weakly in the air, his expression grim, his usual playful demeanor nowhere to be found.
His small body still radiated pain, and faint wisps of blackened mana flickered around him—the residue of the Witch's corruption that continued to torment him from within.
"Yeah… I'm still breathing," he said with a forced smirk, but his voice lacked its usual warmth.
His eyes, however, were focused entirely on Subaru—sharp and full of wary respect, mixed with restrained resentment.
After a brief silence, he spoke again, his tone quiet but serious.
"S-Say, boy… Will you leave Emilia and go away from here?"
Subaru stared at him for a moment, his gaze emotionless.
Then he exhaled through his nose and replied, his voice firm and unflinching.
"That's the plan," he said flatly. "And honestly… I doubt I'll be able to control my disgust if I have to see her any longer."
The words hit Emilia like a slap.
Her eyes widened, and her lips parted as her heart twisted painfully in her chest.
She had heard those same words before—words of hatred, of rejection—from strangers, from villagers, from nobles who saw only the Witch's shadow in her face.
But hearing them from Subaru… the one person who had once smiled at her without judgment, who had stood beside her through trials and tears—it broke something inside her.
She stepped back slightly, her trembling hand lowering to her side as she whispered, "S-Subaru…"
Her voice cracked, tears threatening to fall again.
Puck's expression hardened, his tiny claws curling into fists as he glared at the boy before him.
He could feel the corruption still lingering in his body, but he forced himself to remain composed.
Grinding his teeth, he finally said, "Alright then… If that's what you want, I won't stop you. But before you go, is there anything you want? Anything at all?"
Subaru's lips curled into a grin, though his eyes remained cold.
"Yeah, there is something," he said casually, as if they were discussing a business deal instead of standing amid the ruins of broken trust and pain.
He folded his arms and continued, his tone cutting and confident.
"I didn't get a reward for wiping out the Witch Cultists. Considering how much trouble I saved you people, I think it's only fair."
He smirked faintly.
"Just give me thirty Royal Gold Coins. That'll do."
"What nonsense are you talking about?" Ram snapped, glaring daggers at Subaru.
Her tone was sharp and filled with irritation, the same arrogant tone she had always used whenever she thought she was in control.
But this time, Subaru's reaction wasn't the same as before.
He didn't shout back or stammer nervously like he used to.
Instead, he turned his head slowly toward her, his eyes cold and unblinking—like he was staring at something beneath her rather than at her.
"You should shut up, Ram," he said in a low, calm, but terrifyingly steady voice.
"Because if you don't… I'll make you shut up myself."
The words carried no yelling, no drama—but the raw intensity behind them made the air in the room feel heavier.
Ram froze.
For the first time since she had known Subaru, she couldn't find a snarky retort.
Her lips parted slightly, but no words came out.
She clenched her teeth in frustration, yet the look in Subaru's eyes made her throat tighten.
It wasn't just anger—it was something far darker, something that made her instinctively take a step back.
She looked away, pretending to be unbothered, but the truth was clear—his gaze scared her.
It wasn't the same foolish, overly emotional boy who used to stumble over his words around Emilia or try too hard to prove himself.
This Subaru felt different—harder, sharper, and far more dangerous.
Rem, standing beside him, was trembling slightly.
Her heart hurt hearing him talk about leaving Lugunica for good.
But as she processed everything that had happened—the way he had been treated, the insults, the humiliation, and now seeing the new strength he carried both in body and in resolve—she couldn't bring herself to stop him.
As painful as it was, she understood.
His decision made sense.
Given the way everyone here treated him, leaving this cursed place might be the only right choice left.
"Subaru… what do you mean by killing the Witch Cultists?" Emilia's trembling voice broke the silence.
Her tone carried both fear and disbelief as she tried to comprehend what he had just said.
Her mind couldn't keep up with the harsh, cold version of Subaru standing before her.
Subaru turned his head slightly toward her. His smirk returned—mocking, bitter, and completely devoid of warmth.
"The Witch Cult," he began, his tone disturbingly casual, "and the Sin Archbishop of Sloth—Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti—were going to attack the village and this mansion."
His eyes narrowed, his smirk deepening.
"And guess what, Emilia? It was all because of you."
Emilia gasped audibly, the color draining from her face.
Her hands trembled at her sides as she took a step back, her expression twisting between disbelief and horror.
"W–Why… why would they…?" she stammered weakly, her voice cracking as she tried to find some reason that made sense.
Puck, who had been floating silently with a dark look, said nothing.
He didn't have to.
From Subaru's tone and his empathy, Puck could tell Subaru was telling the truth.
"Don't you know?" Subaru said mockingly, his voice cutting through her fragile confusion.
"It's because you resemble the Witch."
His words hit her like a dagger to the heart. Emilia flinched as if struck, her violet eyes widening, tears forming instantly at the corners.
"Because… because of my appearance…" she muttered weakly, barely able to hold her voice steady.
Subaru tilted his head, looking at her as if she was stating the obvious.
"You know," he said, his tone dripping with cruel amusement, "if you dressed in black and covered your face with a dark veil, I doubt anyone could tell the difference between you and Satella."
Emilia froze completely, her breath hitching.
Her mind reeled as his words echoed in her ears.
For her, it was the ultimate insult—the same one she had been hearing since childhood—but hearing it now from Subaru, the one person she thought saw her as something more than a cursed reflection, hurt worse than anything else.
(A/N: Bro stop! Stop! She is already dead XD)
What made it even worse was the conviction in Subaru's tone.
He wasn't just insulting her out of anger—he was speaking from what he had seen.
Because Subaru wasn't guessing.
He knew.
He had seen Satella up close, several times.
The Witch of Envy, the very being the world despised, had literally become his pet—his shadow, his servant.
And in his eyes, Emilia truly did look no different.
Puck let out a sharp, low hiss, his body trembling from both the lingering pain and the rage boiling inside him.
His fur bristled, and his voice carried an edge that made even the air around him feel tense.
"Boy! Enough!" he snarled, glaring directly at Subaru.
"Take your gold coins and leave this place. I don't want to see your face a second longer."
He turned his head sharply toward Ram, his icy blue eyes narrowing.
"Ram, handle it. Give him what he wants."
Ram's usual arrogance faltered.
She looked between Puck and Subaru, her face showing visible discomfort.
"I… I can't," she said hesitantly.
"Without Lord Roswaal's consent, I can't hand out that amount of money. It would go against the mansion's orders."
Puck's glare intensified, and his tone dropped into something far colder and more commanding.
"Just give it to him, Ram," he said, his tail flicking with irritation.
"I'll deal with that clown later."
The sharpness in his voice made it clear there was no room for argument.
Ram pursed her lips, then sighed in frustration and nodded reluctantly.
"Understood," she muttered before turning away and walking briskly down the corridor to fetch the requested amount.
Silence filled the hall once again.
The air felt heavy, filled with tension that made even breathing feel like a burden.
Subaru stood there, unmoving, his arms crossed and his expression unreadable.
His eyes slowly drifted toward Emilia.
She was standing a few steps away, her body trembling slightly.
Her hands were clenched against her chest as if trying to hold herself together.
Her lips quivered, and her eyes glistened with tears she was desperately trying to suppress.
Subaru stared at her for a few moments, his face calm but his eyes carrying a hint of something deeper—something cold and bitter.
When he finally spoke, his tone was steady and low, but every word hit like a blade.
"Emilia…" he began, pausing for a brief second.
"I never hated you because of your appearance."
Her eyes widened slightly, her breath catching in her throat as she looked up at him in shock.
For a fleeting moment, she thought she was hearing a fragment of the old Subaru—the boy who had once encouraged her, defended her, and smiled no matter how much pain he was in.
But that hope shattered with the next words that came out of his mouth.
"I hate you for what you are," Subaru said, his voice cold and deliberate.
"Your appearance is just the icing on the cake. What I truly despise is your hypocrisy."
His eyes narrowed, his tone growing sharper, filled with contempt that sent chills down the hall.
"You pretend to be kind and understanding, but you only do it when it's convenient for you. You claim to care for others, but in truth, you only see what you want to see. You're no saint, Emilia. You're just another selfish hypocrite trying to convince herself she's pure."
He leaned forward slightly, his words like daggers as he finished, "In fact… I can even say you're worse than the Witch of Envy herself."
The moment those words left his mouth, Emilia's fragile composure shattered completely.
Her knees gave way as she fell to the floor, sobbing uncontrollably.
The sound of her cries echoed through the marble hallway, raw and broken.
Puck's fur stood on end, his mana spiking violently.
His instincts screamed to attack, to freeze Subaru where he stood, to make him pay for making her cry like that.
But he forced himself to stop, his claws curling tightly as he growled under his breath.
If he attacked now, he knew it wouldn't end well.
Whatever Subaru had become, he was no longer someone Puck could easily deal with.
Meanwhile, Subaru didn't even blink.
He just stood there, unmoved, watching Emilia cry.
His eyes were devoid of sympathy or regret—only a faint glimmer of disgust remained.
In fact, Puck had already realized what Subaru's earlier attack truly was—a Sin Authority.
The moment he felt that distorted wave of power, he understood the nature of it and how dangerously unpredictable it could be.
He knew well enough that to fight someone wielding such a power wasn't a matter of courage but recklessness.
A single wrong move could lead to his destruction, and even with all his strength as a Great Spirit, victory wasn't something he could guarantee.
Still, after witnessing Subaru's memories and catching a glimpse of the torment that had shaped him into what he had become, Puck decided not to act rashly.
There was no point in fueling an unnecessary fight when the boy's mind was already on the edge.
He would only retaliate if Subaru gave him no other choice.
For now, he took a deep breath and forced his anger down.
The rage that burned inside him, the urge to attack and tear apart the one who had hurt Emilia, was barely contained, but he held it back with effort.
Instead, he floated closer to Emilia, who was still trembling and crying silently.
He gently placed a paw on her shoulder and began to comfort her in a calm, steady tone, trying to stop her from breaking down further.
A tense silence lingered for a while, broken only by the faint sound of Emilia's sobs.
Then, a few moments later, footsteps echoed in the hallway—Ram had returned, holding a pouch filled with gold coins.
Her expression was uneasy, her usual confidence gone after witnessing everything that had just happened.
"Here," she said shortly, handing the pouch toward Subaru without meeting his eyes.
Subaru took it with a cold, detached expression.
He untied the string and carefully counted the coins one by one, as if to make sure there wasn't a single one missing.
Once satisfied, he tied the pouch again and slipped it into his jacket pocket without saying a word of thanks or any other remark.
Without another glance at anyone in the room, Subaru turned and walked toward the exit. His footsteps echoed across the floor until they faded completely as he left the mansion behind.
Ram stood frozen, her hands still slightly trembling.
Even after Subaru was gone, the heavy pressure he left behind remained in the air, suffocating and cold.
She looked at Emilia and Puck, both still silent, and realized how serious things had become.
For the first time, Ram was truly shaken—not because of Subaru's power alone, but because of the emptiness and hatred that had filled his eyes.
...
Subaru finally stepped out of the mansion's perimeter, the cold air brushing against his face as if to remind him that everything behind him was now nothing more than a closed chapter.
Rem followed quietly beside him, her expression uncertain, her steps light but hesitant.
The silence between them lingered for a while—neither spoke, yet both knew countless words hung unspoken in the air.
"I know what you want to say," Subaru suddenly broke the silence, his tone calm but heavy.
His words made Rem flinch slightly, and she looked at him with wide eyes, unsure of what to expect.
Subaru turned his head toward her, and for the first time since his return, a faint, genuine smile appeared on his face.
It wasn't forced, nor was it cold—it was a small trace of the Subaru she remembered.
"I know you love me, Rem," Subaru said plainly, his voice steady.
"And maybe… maybe you even want to come with me."
Rem's lips parted slightly before she answered in a soft but resolute voice, "Subaru-kun, wherever you go, your Rem will always accompany you. That's something that will never change."
Subaru stopped walking and turned to face her fully.
His hand slowly reached up, his fingers gently brushing her cheek before tracing the edge of her lips.
His touch was tender yet filled with a strange mix of sadness and restraint.
"I know that," Subaru said quietly, his gaze firm.
"But… can you let me make something of myself first?"
He paused for a moment, searching for the right words, and then continued, his tone turning serious.
"I finally have a goal now. I'm not defenseless anymore, not like before. But even then, I'm still… nothing. I've had enough of living my life depending on others, chasing after people who don't care about me, trying to prove my worth to them. I want to live for myself this time, Rem. I need to."
Rem stood silently, listening to every word he spoke.
She didn't interrupt, didn't plead—she just looked at him with a soft expression that held sadness, understanding, and love all at once.
Subaru exhaled and smiled faintly again before pulling her into a hug.
She didn't hesitate for even a second; her arms wrapped tightly around him as if afraid that letting go would make him vanish.
"Next time you meet me," Subaru said softly, his voice barely above a whisper near her ear, "you can say to the whole world that I'm your hero."
Rem's grip tightened, her voice trembling as she replied, "You already are my hero, Subaru-kun… always have been."
Subaru's expression softened, but he didn't answer.
After a moment, he slowly stepped back, releasing her from his embrace.
Without another word, he turned away and began walking down the road that stretched endlessly ahead.
Rem stood there, watching his back grow smaller with every step until he finally disappeared from sight.
Subaru didn't know what awaited him beyond this point, or what kind of future he would find.
But one thing had become painfully clear to him—this world, filled with liars, pretenders, and hypocrites, had changed him as well.
In the end, he realized with a bitter smile… that he, too, had become one of them.
To be continued...
(A/N: I cannot believe people hated the fact that I had a giveaway, I thought since sale was going on why don't I share something with my readers? Only two participated and won, one guy got re2,re3, dark souls2 and miside, while the other didn't get any games since all gifting was blocked in his region, I just gave him 3 months Loyal Membership.
Also haven't I said already that I am on hiatus for a month? The only reason this fanfic is uploading is because that the chaps were written like last year, and currently story is like many chapters ahead on other websites and more so on Patreon.
Also I don't get why people compare me to Ghosty Z, I have gifted 25 people membership last Christmas, and now just gifted 5k rs worth of stuff, to random readers who aren't even on Patreon.
I was giving away resident evil requem, re2,re3, cyberpunk, gta iv. Since only two out of six people participated, I gave them equal amounts of reward, it is just one guy couldn't get game due to the problems of him being in Europe.
I cannot say how deeply hurt I am, I am already frustrated due to lack of internet or weak internet here, no privacy, too much cousin and relative noise and them bothering me, still suffering from depression and anxiety and have even stopped using medicines so I stop becoming from drug addicted, and this...
*Sigh*
I will be honest, I won't care about Great Sage audience anymore, I will stop interacting in that fic. As for people from other fics will receive same interaction as before, updates will roll off normally when Hiatus is over, but I will never give a giveaway announcement, discounts, etc on Webnovel.
This is best to not make my actual readers bothered and preserve my sanity, I may lower other interactions in case I need a break)