[ "I see. Then there's no helping it. You're unwilling to speak, and I have no way to pry your mouth open. Right now, it's also not convenient to gamble on crying and begging, so let's give up for now. Let's put your matter aside for this time." Subaru said to Garfiel from atop Patrasche.
"This time? Put aside? What on earth are you talking about…"
Garfiel had absolutely no idea what he meant.
Of course, they weren't even in the same dimension.
It was shifting; the offense and defense between the two were gradually shifting.
This conversation was gradually being dominated by Subaru. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Hmm? Garfiel's eyes are flinching,"
Anastasia said.
"'This time' and 'putting it aside', Garf definitely wouldn't understand what that means,"
Ram said.
The "putting it aside this time" naturally referred to putting this loop's world aside.
There was no way Garfiel could understand.
"The dynamic of power and vulnerability in their conversation has shifted,"
Yuriusu said.
—
[ "Don't look so confused, Garfiel. I know you're hiding something. I will definitely find out, absolutely. Because it's something that must be done," Subaru said with a flat expression.
"Shut up… As long as this great self shuts your mouth right now, there won't be any 'definitely' or 'absolutely'."
Although Garfiel said that, his voice trembled. He was clearly just putting on a brave front.
"Sorry, but that would only make it truly 'definite' and 'absolute'. As long as I don't give up, once I know a secret is hidden, it will no longer be a secret. If you want to blame someone, blame yourself for being too careless." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Even though his opponent is this great self, Boss is so cool!"
Garfiel outside the screen couldn't help but praise.
"Subaru's eyes here… are truly extraordinary,"
Yuriusu said.
In Subaru's eyes now, there was a bottomless resolve and the determination to face death.
Garfiel's psychological defense line was gradually being broken down.
—
[ "Do you still want to stop me now, Garfiel?" Subaru's eyes locked onto Garfiel. Facing this fierce tiger who was a hundred times stronger than himself, Subaru did not waver at all, radiating an oppressive pressure.
"This… this great self…" At this, Garfiel couldn't even form a complete sentence.
Faced with Subaru's unknown, bottomless gaze and oppressive aura, Garfiel was clearly at a disadvantage.
"Even if you want to, it would only be a detour. You're just wasting time, so not stopping me counts as a favor."
"You… you bastard! What do you plan to do to this place? What do you want to do to us?" Garfiel had absolutely no idea what Subaru wanted to do, and he shouted.
"I believe I've stated my purpose. I want to help Emilia, and I have no intention of harming the 'Sanctuary'… I've never thought of hurting you guys. But before that is achieved, I will definitely break your heart many times. For that, I apologize in advance. I'm sorry." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Indeed, many heartbreaking things have already happened,"
Otto said.
The onslaught of the Witch of Envy, being eaten alive by the Great Rabbit… and so on and so forth.
"Putting these words directly on the table, I have to say it feels pretty satisfying,"
Felt said.
—
[ "I don't get it, I don't get it, I don't get it, I don't get it… I don't get it at all!" Garfiel roared.
His roar echoed through the forest.
"Acting all high and mighty, who the hell do you think you are?! Nobody asked for your help, you bastard! Mind your own business… You know absolutely nothing about this place, or about the old hag and the others!"
"To continuously understand the things I don't know. I feel like that's exactly why I'm acting now." Subaru calmly responded to Garfiel's roar.
"You only look at the surface, spouting pretty words. What can you actually achieve? Smiling and laughing, talking nothing but nonsense, you're just a bastard liar who tricks people with sweet talk!" Garfiel no longer knew how to argue back and resorted to pure verbal attacks. "Someone who knows neither pain nor suffering shouldn't talk like they understand!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Doesn't know pain?"
Beatrice frowned.
"Doesn't know suffering?"
Emilia whispered.
"Well, he walked right into that one,"
Anastasia said.
"Perhaps in this world, no one has the right to say those words to Subaru,"
Yuriusu said.
—
[ Subaru tightened his grip on the reins and headed toward the mansion.
Ahead lay the mansion, and behind him was the Sanctuary.
How could Subaru not know pain and suffering? Perhaps no one in this world understood them better than him.
The pain of coming to another world, forever separated from his family and hometown.
The bonds forged with others being severed by death.
The feeling of being forgotten, the feeling of being suspected by friends, the feeling of being killed by friends, the feeling of his body being torn apart by enemies.
Countless instances of extreme physical pain, countless instances of mental agony.
A sense of loneliness that no one could understand.
Sacrificing his life, constantly running around just to save others.
Who else but him could understand this feeling?
For anyone to say he didn't understand pain was so ignorant, so laughable, and so childish.
"I know…" Subaru said.
His voice seemed to pierce through Garfiel's heart and reach straight to the audience.
Then, he slowly spoke—
"I know hell."
"Ugh…" Garfiel was speechless, completely awestruck.
His eyes widened, his pupils dilated, and his mouth hung open.
Then, Subaru continued, "I've already seen it many times."
Distortedly, Subaru actually began to laugh.
"One person knowing hell is enough. That's exactly why I came here." With those words, Natsuki Subaru dashed toward the mansion. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"…"
Those words that pierced straight to the heart, along with his firm conviction and stubbornness, left everyone in the audience speechless, just like Garfiel on the screen.
"…"
What else could I say? Yuriusu gave a silent salute in his heart to the one who marched toward death.
"…My, he is truly becoming more and more like me."
Finally, Roswaal broke the silence.
—
[ "Like I said, don't make that surprised face. I have a reason for coming back this time… and it has to do with you."
"I'm not surprised. I'm just a little shocked that you returned so early. And did you return alone? You didn't bring Emilia-sama back either."
The screen shifted, moving to the mansion.
Frederica was speaking to Subaru.
It seemed he had already returned to the mansion.
It seemed Frederica was still pretending to be ignorant of the current situation because of her oath.
After all, unless the Sanctuary was liberated, Emilia couldn't leave at all.
"You know very well why Emilia can't leave the 'Sanctuary', right? There's no need to act anymore. I brought quite a lot of things back, probably more than you think. But thinking about it this way, it's like I've sworn to expose the secrets of both brother and sister. I really am a super annoying guy."
"Eh? Subaru?" Cheerful footsteps rang out, and Petra ran toward Subaru step by step. ]
.....