Endless Loop (Part One)
"What you're talking about should be... Possession." After listening to Subaru's explanation, Beatrice spoke while eating rice drenched in mayonnaise.
"Possession?"
"You can understand it as a kind of contract. Whether it's successful or not depends on a person's compatibility with a spirit of that attribute."
"I see, so the so-called 'Fingers' are people who had compatibility and made contracts with that Petelgeuse guy. Thanks, Beatrice."
"I'm only fulfilling the contract, that's all."
Subaru didn't know if it was just his imagination, but he felt Beatrice's attitude had grown much colder.
"If you keep mumbling like that all the time, you're going to ruin the mood around here.
And besides, the stench of the Witch on you is too strong. Anyone noticed by the Witch is doomed to be trouble. Don't drag this mansion into any kind of conflict. To Betty, this mansion is an irreplaceable place."
Beatrice said this somewhat boredly, with a mocking smile on her lips.
"Beatrice, you can feel the Witch's lingering scent too, huh... I'm not trying to start any conflict. I just want to extinguish the sparks flying my way."
Subaru spread his hands in a gesture of helplessness.
"Are you leaving now?"
"There's something I have to do. Thanks to you, I feel like I can pull it off this time."
"I didn't do anything... Just go already, I need to move the door."
Subaru slowly closed the door, catching a glimpse of Beatrice's sorrowful eyes.
.
.
.
"Witch Cult Hunting 2.0: Even a Monkey Can Understand It"
"Um, why is it version 2.0?" Emilia raised her hand in confusion.
"Mm, because it's been optimized once based on Beatrice's suggestions." Subaru proudly declared with arms raised.
"So we first have to deal with the ten 'Fingers' of the Sin Archbishop of Sloth. Subaru, do you have a way to lure them all out at once?"
"Probably not. Honestly, I can't imagine them leaving their assigned areas. We'll have to fish them out group by group."
Subaru answered Otto somewhat helplessly.
Otto showed a contemplative expression.
"I see. Then Subaru, you order the Witch Cultists to continue their operations. Brian, you pick some people to track them.
Even if we outnumber them, don't act rashly.
Wait until we've grasped all their hiding spots before launching a full assault. What's wrong, Subaru? Is there a problem?"
"I just think... you really are cautious. Impressive."
"Well, we don't know how often they communicate. If we act impulsively and take out one group, Sloth still has ten lives, right? Life only comes once — better to play it safe."
.
.
.
"The Fingers lying in ambush in the forest were suddenly wiped out, destroyed, annihilated.
But, that can't be helped! The lives of the devout believers, so important, so precious, should not be wasted in vain!
They existed for now, for this very moment! Ahhh! Love! Your affection! Dearest Witch!!"
Petelgeuse shouted excitedly as he bit off one of the fingers of his right hand, one after another, a total of four fingers — did that represent four battles starting simultaneously?
He even bit off the ring finger guarding the Sanctuary — perhaps some kind of communication method beyond understanding?
After all, the Witch Cult invented the current communication devices like the dialogue mirrors, so it wouldn't be strange for them to have their own methods.
Petelgeuse laughed maniacally, blood dripping down his wrist, as black magical waves began to spread.
"Everyone, be careful." Subaru warned. In an instant, those at risk quickly retreated.
Rem's ice spear and Brian's katana once again slashed toward Sloth.
"Well then, let us commence the beginning of destruction, and then offer the end of endings! And then, and then… in the face of my love, in the face of my diligent devotion! Your body, life, and soul — offer them all!!"
Petelgeuse loudly declared.
The hands covering the sky all fell toward them — while the frenzied Witch Cultists surrounding him charged forward, holding cross-shaped short swords.
They charged at Subaru.
The earth was stained red with blood.
Subaru stood alone on the spot. He couldn't move a single finger due to his drained stamina. A brown-haired woman stood laughing maniacally before the sole survivor.
—Considering there's already a "Betty," should this one be called "Betty-2"?
Subaru idly wondered with the last of his remaining consciousness, then looked at Petelgeuse before him.
"How did you discover our movements?"
"It was love. My fingers and I are connected by love, bound by love…"
"I've heard enough of your nonsense, Archbishop. —Since it's come to this, let me introduce you properly."
"What! Who? What are you talking about—?!"
"The one you yearn for day and night — the Witch herself."
Subaru said cheerfully. Since he was going to die anyway, he might as well go out with a bang.
Petelgeuse's frenzy disappeared. What remained was shock and dumbfounded silence.
—For the first time, Subaru saw the other side of his madness.
"I can use 'Return by Death'—"
Subaru spoke the forbidden words.
The world lost its color, and everyone's movements came to a halt.
Thud thud thud thud...
Bodies fell one after another.
All the Witch Cultists returned in that moment to the embrace of the Witch they longed for. But Subaru didn't have the energy to rejoice at the scene.
The sky went dark — or rather, it was engulfed in shadow.
The shadow turned into a giant web that enveloped the entire forest. As if noticing Subaru's gaze, the Witch sitting on a throne was brought forth by it.
The next second, the shadow covering the entire land expanded explosively.
A sea of darkness swallowed the forest, the flames, and life.
—The world was being devoured by shadows.
Yet Subaru had no strength to care about the world being swallowed. His consciousness was completely captured by the being before him.
"…"
Subaru trembled, unable to speak further. Noticing his silence, the Witch of Envy — wearing a black dress, with long jet-black hair and a face veiled in darkness — spoke.
She expressed her feelings in the clearest way possible.
"I love you."
Her words were filled with such passionate love, it seemed the world itself would melt.
"I love you."
That sweet, tender affection rang in his eardrums, mind, soul, and heart.
The shadows bound Subaru's body and soul. He couldn't move, only stare wide-eyed.
Attack.
"I love you. I love you."
Subaru said nothing, frozen in place. The Witch slowly reached her hand toward his face, her infinite love pouring toward him.
Just as she was about to touch him — just as her love was about to dominate Subaru—
!!!!
Blood splattered.
A sword wound appeared on the Witch's right wrist — a blow that should not have existed in this world.
It was a strike from Sword Saint Reinhild in another cycle, who had once staked her life to save Subaru.
The curse was dispelled in that moment.
Subaru finally regained a moment of freedom.
In that instant, he moved. He grabbed his sword, and then—
"Don't…"
Once again, consciousness faded into darkness.