"It's all good, Nichan. The captain's just lying down, but he's completely fine."
Tanaka's voice carried smoothly through the Metia—a hand mirror gleaming faintly with a blue light. It was one of the enchanted devices Anastasia had entrusted to him, twin mirrors linked so that voices could cross distance. He had given the second one to Subaru before their paths split, a thread of connection across the growing distance between them.
On the other end of the mirror came a booming laugh of relief. "Hah! You have no idea how glad I am to hear this." Ricardo's voice rumbled like rolling thunder.
"If you want," Tanaka teased lightly, "I can forcibly wake him up so you can be absolutely sure."
"Oh gods, no. Don't even joke about that. Let him rest—he's earned it. I'll give him a proper call once we're back in the capital."
Tanaka smirked faintly at the reply. He had already met Ricardo face-to-face and knew firsthand how dangerous the man's "rough affection" could be. Before the White Whale's subjugation, Ricardo had tried what he thought was a casual pat on Tanaka's back—a friendly gesture. The result had been Tanaka hurtling several meters forward as if he'd been struck by a charging bull.
Ricardo was the very image of a stereotypical gym jock turned superhuman, all heart but utterly unaware of the destructive force behind his every movement.
Still, this call wasn't just about lighthearted banter. Tanaka's tone grew more serious, his grip on the mirror tightening.
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The world around him shifted. The space seemed to ripple, the air bending unnaturally as the darkness that had been pressing in around him dissolved like smoke at dawn.
Tanaka blinked rapidly, his eyes straining against the sudden change. For a moment, it felt as if he had been pulled from one reality into another.
Crusch, seated across from him, immediately noticed the change in his demeanor. Her emerald gaze sharpened as she asked, "Is something wrong, Kazuki Tanaka?"
Tanaka exhaled slowly, rubbing at his temple before letting his eyes fall shut. "Sorry," he muttered, his voice quieter than usual. "I just feel… a little dizzy."
But his thoughts spun faster than he let on. The first, most dreadful suspicion hit him like ice water: Subaru had died.
His hand twitched as he opened his eyes again, scanning his surroundings with restless urgency. The familiar wooden walls of the dragon carriage framed his vision, the muffled sound of wheels against earth grounding him back in reality. He glanced outside the small window—rolling hills, open fields, and the slow crawl of clouds told him enough.
They were still on route to the capital. He shared the carriage with Crusch and Rem, and judging by how far the scenery had shifted since he last looked, at least two hours must have passed since their departure.
Relief came, but only in fragments. His next action was already clear.
Tanaka reached into his cloak and retrieved the mirror—its surface gleamed faintly, a quiet pulse of mana threading along its frame. The Metia.
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On Subaru's end, consciousness lurched back into place. His body felt sluggish, like a puppet that had only just remembered how to move. His vision cleared slowly, revealing the open field—the aftermath of victory.
"Hum… mm—"
A sudden prick of sensation snapped him to attention.
"Oi!" Subaru jolted, swatting at his ear. "What the hell—?!"
Ferris leaned back with a mischievous grin, her tail swaying lazily. "You were spacing out, so I had to pick on you. Nyow, that reaction was totally worth it."
"Ferris…?" Subaru's voice was still shaky, disoriented.
"Who else do I look like?" Ferris tilted her head, ears twitching. "Don't tell me you sucked in too much of the White Whale's fog."
Subaru blinked hard, pulling himself together. "No… no, I'm fine. That alone told me what I needed to know."
His gaze swept the field. The broken battlefield was already quiet, half the forces having marched back toward the capital. The remaining soldiers lingered, readying themselves for the inevitable clash against the Witch Cult.
And Subaru understood immediately.
He'd gone back. Return by Death had thrust him once more into this moment—after the White Whale's defeat, but before they advanced into Mathers territory.
His chest tightened with a storm of conflicting emotions. Relief—because the nightmare of fighting the White Whale again had been spared him. Dread—because he knew what still lay ahead. And frustration, bitter as ash, because his death had been both inevitable and preventable.
His thoughts scattered when a faint glow seeped from his pocket. Subaru's hand moved automatically, pulling free the small mirror Tanaka had entrusted to him. Its surface pulsed with a soft blue light, alive with mana.
The reason for the call was obvious. Tanaka wouldn't reach out unless something demanded it.
"Sorry, Ferris," Subaru muttered quickly, rising to his feet. "I've gotta take this one."
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Tanaka and Subaru had long since formed an unspoken pact. When it came to the loops—to Return by Death—they had to dance around their words, talking in riddles, in fragments, never directly. To do otherwise risked suspicion, or worse, invoking the taboo that clawed at their hearts like razors.
Subaru spoke in carefully chosen words, painting the situation in broad strokes. Betelgeuse—Sloth's Sin Archbishop—was not simply dead. His spirit had lingered, crawling into other bodies. He could even invade Subaru himself after being killed.
From the mirror came Tanaka's groan, low and sharp with disbelief. "So you're telling me… his soul just hops bodies after death? Like a ghost? This has to be a joke! Seriously! So what, can he just possess anyone?"
"No," Subaru muttered, teeth clenched. "I think it only works on people he chooses, ones that fall into a certain category. Though for some reason, he considered me one of them."
Rem's voice cut in, tight with worry. "Then we should return to Subaru-kun's side. If he's being targeted, we must—"
"No!" Subaru's voice cracked sharp, carrying finality. "Don't even think about it. You'd waste hours just backtracking—and worse, if Sloth can possess me, what's stopping him from slipping into Tanaka? You really want him in his body? He could pull off some suicidal spell and take all of us down."
Tanaka had to reluctantly agree, if he is the one who gets possessed, that could never end well. And going back now was not an option as that would take too much time.
"This… is truly a mess," Tanaka muttered bitterly.
Crusch, quiet until now, finally interjected. "When exactly did he possess your body before? I don't recall you ever mentioning this."
Tanaka's jaw tightened. He had to tread carefully. A single slip could trigger the curse—or worse, Crusch's divine protection might catch an unintended lie."…I can't speak too much about it," he admitted slowly. "Both Subaru and I are bound by something similar to an oath-curse. Push it too far, and our souls get torn apart. Death-level pain. All I can say is—we were attacked by the Witch Cult, and we confronted Sloth. That's it."
"An oath curse? That means that both of you swore an oath."
This was the first time he mentioned it before Crusch and Rem in this loop. However, he must make sure he doesn't say something that would trigger either the taboo of return by death or activate Crusch's divine protection by saying a statement that would count as a lie.
"I'm not sure if that's the best description since I have no recollection of taking any oath, neither does Subaru. But the effects are somewhat similar, there are certain topics that if I attempt to speak about them, our hearts will be subjected to an immense pain on the soul level, it might even cause death."
Crusch studied him intently, her eyes narrowing, but her protection whispered no falsehood. "…I see. I won't press further."
"Thank you," Tanaka said softly.
Crusch's gaze lingered, troubled. Ever since meeting Tanaka, her trust in her divine protection had wavered for the first time.
Tanaka exhaled and suddenly straightened. "Wait."
Subaru blinked. "Hmm? Have you got something in mind?"
"When he takes over… can you resist? Even for a moment?"
"I can fight him, but not forever. Eventually, he overwhelms me."
"But can you speak? Even just a few words?"
"…Yes, I think so. But why—" Subaru stopped mid-sentence. His eyes widened as realization struck.
On the other end of the mirror, Tanaka smirked faintly. "That's right. Give him what he wants. Let him take the body he's so desperate for… and then give him the surprise of his life."
"—You're a damn genius!" Subaru burst out, half-laughing, half-panicked. "One good squeeze, and he's out for good."
Rem frowned, confusion written across her features. "What are you two planning—?"
Tanaka glanced at her, his expression deadpan. "Sorry. Taboo."
Crusch's silence confirmed it—her divine protection recognized the truth, even if it unsettled her more than ever.
Subaru's grin was strained, nerves buzzing. "Though… it might take more than one squeeze. You ready for that?"
Tanaka's smirk faded into weary resolve. "…Of course I'm not. But no pain, no gain. If this is all I can do, then fine—I'll call it an assist."
The mirror dimmed as the connection ended. Tanaka lowered it, slipping it back into his cloak. Both Rem and Crusch were staring at him, their eyes full of confusion at the cryptic exchange.
He rubbed the back of his neck and sighed. "Just a heads up. Later, I'm probably going to stop breathing for a bit. Maybe more than once. But don't panic—it's part of the plan."
__________________________________________________________________________________________________________
Only after his call with Ricardo did Tanaka finally exhale, the tension draining from his shoulders. His chest rose and fell as though he had been holding his breath this entire time.
When his gaze drifted upward, he was met with two pairs of sharp eyes—Rem and Crusch staring at him with judgment written plainly across their faces. Their lips pressed into firm lines, their expressions a mix of disapproval and worry. Tanaka blinked, tilting his head slightly, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
"…What?" he asked, feigning innocence though the weight in their gazes said otherwise.
The scolding came swiftly. Both women reproached him for the recklessness of his plan, their words sharp enough to cut through his thin shield of nonchalance. And when Subaru finally carried it out, Tanaka's bravado cracked. A searing pain shot through his chest, stealing his breath and forcing him to clutch at his heart. His knees nearly buckled under the invisible weight, and for a moment, panic flared in the eyes of both Rem and Crusch as they reached for him.
Through ragged breaths, he managed to rasp out an explanation.
Subaru and the forces would strike down Betelgeuse and each of his Fingers, one by one. With no vessel left to possess, the Sin Archbishop's soul would lash out, seizing Subaru's body as its final refuge. But Subaru had a countermeasure: to deliberately invoke the taboo. By attempting to reveal the unspeakable, he would trigger the unbearable soul-crushing agony—pain that would not only shatter himself and Tanaka, but also drive Betelgeuse out, forcing him to endure the torment as well.
When the storm of agony subsided, Tanaka drew in a slow, shallow breath and managed a strained grin.
"Well, it all worked out. Everyone's safe, so no worries."
"Do you and Natsuki Subaru often resort to this? Breaking a taboo so dangerous?"
Tanaka shook his head. "Not really. The first time, Subaru tried to speak of it without knowing, and we both paid the price. That's when we realized it was a taboo. But besides the pain… it also draws witch beasts like moths to flame. He even used the same method against the White Whale."
Crusch exhaled softly, almost in disbelief. "What a reckless tactic."
Tanaka chuckled faintly, though the sound was brittle. "Reckless, roundabout—call it what you want. But if it works, it works."
Everyone was helping. Everyone was bleeding.
That's the least they can do.
Of course, he spared the worst detail. That each time they broke the taboo, they were tainted by the Witch's scent. Rem already knew, but she too understood it was better left unspoken.
Crusch's lips softened into a small, knowing smile. "Well, I suppose you've earned the right to be relieved, Kazuki Tanaka."
Tanaka looked at her, brow furrowing. "…Huh?"
"After all," she continued, her voice steady, "it seems Natsuki Subaru has chosen the path of a hero."
It was something he said that one night.
I believe he will take one of two paths: either he becomes a hero who saves countless lives… or a villain who ends them.
A laugh slipped out of Tanaka before he could stop it. "Pft… yeah, I guess he did."
But behind the faint amusement was unease. Tanaka worried constantly about Subaru—about the weight pressing on him, about the expectations that could crush him until he snapped.
And yet… perhaps that worry was misplaced.
Because at his core, Subaru was good. As long as he had people who cared for him, who believed in him, who stood beside him… the changes in him wouldn't corrupt him. They would only sharpen him, shaping him into someone who could truly protect others.
Tanaka's laugh slipped out before he could stop it, quiet and unguarded. For a moment, both Rem and Crusch were caught off guard, their eyes drawn to the rare, fleeting softness on his face.
Crusch's lips curved faintly, her voice carrying its usual calm poise."A smile suits you, Kazuki Tanaka. You should do it more often."
Tanaka blinked, startled by the unexpected compliment. "Where did that come from?"
"Crusch-Sama is correct," Rem added, her tone earnest yet shy. "Tanaka-Kun is more approachable when he smiles."
"Wow! Your way of praising sounds more like criticism!"
Still, the warmth lingered. It wasn't the first time he had been told this. Back in his school days, there was always a girl named Hana in class who insisted he should smile more, saying it was a waste otherwise. But he could never fake it. For him, smiling was something that had to come naturally—something the world had to allow. And as much as it hurt to admit, those chances were rare.
His gaze softened as he leaned back. "Honestly, that applies to you two as well. If you're both willing to make the effort, then… maybe I'll try too."
Crusch's eyes flickered briefly, the mask of composure slipping just enough for honesty. "It's something people say to me as well. And I despise it. I cannot laugh carelessly in front of others—it only makes me appear more unsociable. A woman difficult to approach."
As Tanaka was about to respond, his approach was interrupted.
Shouts pierced the air, muffled from the leading carriages. Horses brayed, wheels groaned, and someone yelled with sharp urgency:
"Hey! Get out of the way!"
Tanaka's head turned instinctively, his body leaning forward, intent on checking the commotion. His fingers brushed against the carriage wall—
And that was all.
There was no warning, no chance to understand, no time even for fear. Something struck with impossible speed and force, swallowing everything in an instant.
The world collapsed into nothingness—light, sound, thought itself snuffed out as though the fabric of reality had been torn away. One heartbeat he was alive, breathing, his heart beating. The next, there was only silence.
Darkness claimed him before his mind could even grasp the shape of his own death.