[ "Gar… fiel…" Subaru stared dumbfounded at the giant beast before him.
Then, trembling, he said: "I'll… listen to… you. But, don't…" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Rather be bound, continuing in that endless darkness and loneliness, than see others get hurt… is that it?"
Anastasia said.
"…Stop saying those things, Boss… run, get out of here quickly. That me… that version of me can't hear you anymore, Boss."
Garfiel pleaded.
—
[ "What?" Subaru froze.
Garfiel hadn't accepted Subaru's surrender; rather, he didn't even know about it.
He raised his massive forelimb, bared his claws, and slammed them down hard towards Subaru…
"You big idiot!" Another impact sent Subaru flying.
In the next instant, Otto Suwen's entire body was smashed to pieces, turning into a mist of blood.
"Gar—FIEL!!" Subaru roared in anger. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Brother Otto!"
"Otto!"
Garfiel and Emilia cried out in unison.
This was Otto's first appearance on the screen.
"I didn't expect my first time to be here… Eh? Garfiel?!"
"Waaah, Brother Otto! I'm so sorry! I'm really, really sorry!"
Garfiel clung to Otto's leg.
"Tch, save the grieving for later, Garf. Also—"
—
[ Outside the screen, Ram spoke as stones were seen pelting Garfiel. It was the young men of Arlam Village.
"Get… away from… Subaru-sama. You… damned monster…"
Not just him, but the other young villagers also stood up, picking up anything nearby that could be thrown and hurling it at Garfiel.
Of course, all of this was completely useless…
Splat!
With the first swipe, several people were crushed.
Splat!
With the second swipe, several more were crushed.
Splat!
With the third swipe, several more were crushed.
Throughout this process, not a single person gave up, and not a single person ran away.
"Why, aaaah?!" Subaru grabbed onto Garfiel, only to be flung away. He grabbed onto Garfiel again, only to be flung away once more.
"Wait… stop… if you want to kill, just kill me… everyone…" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"…This is too tragic."
The scene was so gruesome that Yuriusu knit his brows.
"Everyone… that's enough, everyone…"
Run away, don't sacrifice yourselves anymore.
Emilia said, her heart aching.
"Subaru-kun and everyone in the village…"
How many times had Rem lamented her own helplessness?
"To think that in a place I didn't know about, I did something that hurt everyone so much…"
Garfiel clenched his teeth, his fists tightening until they let out a sharp crack.
"Garf…"
Frederica didn't know what to say, so she could only stroke Garfiel's hair.
"And little bro seems to be in quite a hurry here."
On the other side, Felt said.
Eager to die—was he trying to restart the world as quickly as possible to minimize the casualties?
—
[ "Ngh… ah?" Subaru, who was eager to die, was picked up by Patrasche in her jaws.
Patrasche was covered in wounds, looking just like the Patrasche from the previous loop.
Even though the worlds were different, her actions remained the same.
"It's… enough… It's enough already. Really, that's enough, Patrasche…"
By this point, everyone present except for Subaru and Patrasche had been slaughtered by the rampaging, beastified Garfiel.
Patrasche mustered all her remaining strength to run, flinging Subaru away.
"Patrasche!"
Next, Patrasche was added to the casualty list.
Patrasche was torn in half by Garfiel. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Sister-in-law! Damn it! Then how did Boss… eh?"
Garfiel noticed Subaru was glowing.
More accurately, something in Subaru's breast pocket was glowing.
"It's the pyroxene!"
Frederica realized what was happening.
In that case, Subaru was safe.
…For now.
"Hmm… It's taking a bit long—this time. Shouldn't it be about time for that to arrive?"
Roswaal spoke in his usual drawl, sounding highly mysterious.
"It… co-could it be?!"
Beatrice gasped.
—
[ "Ugh… ah…" On the screen, the light expanded, enveloping Subaru.
Random teleportation to make those without qualifications lose their way—that was the effect of the pyroxene.
And now, the pyroxene had activated, and the teleportation began.
The screen went dark.
Did he faint?
…
"Ngh… haah."
When the screen lit up again, Subaru woke up. Looking around, he found himself in a place that resembled a crude prison.
The sky had already brightened; it seemed Subaru had been unconscious for at least the entire night.
If there was anything strange, it was that Subaru's breath formed white mist when he exhaled. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"This is the place where the Boss was imprisoned."
Garfiel explained.
After all, it had been pitch black when he was locked up, making it impossible to see the surroundings clearly.
With Garfiel's explanation, the others finally understood where this was.
"That… white mist is…"
Emilia had an ominous premonition.
C-Could it be…
"The great snow. The great snow is coming, and that thing is about to arrive."
Roswaal answered cryptically.
"Subaru, no, get out of there quickly…"
Beatrice suddenly realized that leaving would be useless under these circumstances.
There was absolutely nothing that could be done; it was a complete dead end.
"Um… may I ask what exactly is happening?"
Seeing the tense atmosphere, Rem felt extremely uneasy.
—
[ Subaru dragged his body toward the exit.
After taking a few steps, he grabbed the pyroxene in his pocket and tossed it away.
With a clink, the pyroxene rolled off into the distance.
Coming to the exit—
"Huh?" Subaru was utterly bewildered.
It was snow. It was snowing heavily outside.
The snow had dyed the entire world in a silvery white. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"What's with this snow? And why did the boy throw the pyroxene away?"
Felt asked.
"It's likely because Subaru realized this loop is coming to an end, making the pyroxene useless. But this snow…"
Yuriusu didn't know what it meant either.
What was the cause of this snow?
Anastasia, Wilhelm, and the others were all deeply puzzled.
"What on earth is going on?"
Even Garfiel didn't understand.
"Garf doesn't know… ah."
Ram was about to comment on Garfiel's poor memory, but then she remembered that when the great snow fell, Garfiel should have been fighting the Bowel Hunter at the mansion, so he likely wouldn't know. Thus, she kept quiet.
"N-No!"
Emilia also realized what was about to happen, and her body couldn't help but tremble.
—
[ "Haah… haah." Subaru wandered aimlessly through the white snow.
"Damn… it…" He pulled out Petra's handkerchief and wiped the sweat from his forehead.
"My… promise with Petra is also… But, I… will take everything back, and make it all start over."
…
"There's… no one…"
Subaru visited various buildings, searching all over, but there was nothing but snow.
"It snowed, and then… everyone… is gone…"
Aside from the snow, there was nothing, and nothing could be seen, until—
"Huh?"
Until a rabbit appeared in front of Subaru. ]
.....