Archive of Our Own ^beta

Chapter Text

Chapter 1: Free At Last!!!

One of the greatest days in Luginica history was about to happen. The bustling streets of Lugunica were vibrant today. Businesses were thriving, families were having outside picnics, the day was nice and cool, perfect for everyone. Although, one major event was going to be the star of the show for today. People from all over the world began to crowd the middle of the Capital—Kararagi, Vollachia, even the Slums, and everywhere else. Why is everyone grouped up in the middle of the Capital on such a random Monday? Was there some famous Idol who was coming to sing? Was it an auction? A political rally? A sporting event? What was it?

Simple.

Today was the day where the people of the world were about to witness the execution of the Archbishop of Pride, Natsuki Subaru.

Sitting on top a tall and large platform lay Subaru on a guillotine with guards to each of his sides, armed with swords if Subaru tries to do anything funny.

Although, the guards being there was kinda useless.

Subaru has since lost his resolve to fight back against the accusations of him being Pride. He was tired of being burned, skinned alive, drowned, hung, stabbed, and pretty much every single torture method and death you can imagine. His once fierce eyes, now expressionless and hollow. His black hair? Now it's a solid white from being under constant stress. His entire being, once filled with energy and happiness, now reeks of death and suffering.

“Just end me. Please. I want to die. I want to see Tella-tan.” Muttered Subaru under his breath.

Few Months Back:
After the battle of Priestella, everyone was celebrating the aftermath of taking down Greed and two of the Gluttony siblings, while wrath was captured and Lust retreated.

Subaru was still in shock that Julius was now Gluttony’s newest victim with nobody being able to remember him, so he decided to take a walk to clear his head. While Subaru was walking, he stumbled across a little girl in an alleyway with blond hair, her clothes dirtied and torn. Subaru didn’t like to see people like this, especially children. He believed that they should be living in a mansion, having the best service imaginable, without fearing for their lives. So, Subaru decided to walk up and help the little girl.

Subaru: “Hey little lady, are you okay? Here, you can have my jacket. Sorry, it’s a bit bloodied but it’ll keep you warm and safe from any danger. Where are your parents? Would you mind telling me your name so that we can find them? Oh, um, well maybe I should introduce myself first since I don’t want to be seen as some kind of creep. My name is Natsuki Subaru. Knight of Emilia-tan, contractor of the Great Spirit Beatrice, and the slayer of Sloth, Greed, the White Whale and the Great Rabbit. Hopefully we’re able to find your parents wherever they are.”
As Subaru finished his mini speech, the little girl looked at him in his eyes, Subaru felt a bit uncomfortable at how long the girl was staring. Then, the girl’s facial expression changed as she had one of the biggest grins on her face now, and with that she touched Subaru’s arm, said his name, and licked her hand, leaving Subaru only a fraction of a second to react before the girl started speaking.

???: “Thank you soooo much Natsuki Subaru for helping me. I was starving, on the verge of death, but now I have gotten such a wonderful meal. Good luck with everything Subaru. Just try and survive, okay? Bye bye now.”

With that the little girl, now the 3rd Archbishop of Gluttony sibling as Subaru had realized then and there, disappeared without a trace.

Subaru was processing what had happened and after a while, his face contorted, his breath became ragged, his eyes stretched, his entire body was trembling.

Subaru: ‘No. No. Nononononononono. This can’t be happening. My Emilia-tan. My Beatrice. My Rem. My friends. They can remember me right? Surely Gluttony’s authority doesn’t work on them. They must remember me. They have to remember me. I don’t want to be alone. I have to talk to them.’

Subaru then walked back and made his way back to where everyone was, each step much more hesitant and loud, heart thumping and miasma sprawling everywhere. Once he reached where everyone was, they all looked at him as if he was a lost puppy. Emilia looked concerned, Beatrice became instantly furious at the sight of him. Julius was unaware of who Subaru was now, so he was a bit worried by the expressions of everyone else. Out of the corner of Subaru’s eyes though, he found Reinhard and Crusch staring at him too, but Subaru knew that their divine protection was the only way that he could claim his innocence. So, Subaru then started walking towards them, ignoring everyone else, eyes locked with the people who were his only hope.

Before Subaru took another step, the blonde Loli girl started shouting at him.

Beatrice: “Stop right there! What do you think you are doing, I suppose?”

Subaru: “Beako, it’s me. Subaru. I just need to talk to Rein and Crusch for a sec.”

Beatrice: “How do you know my name, I suppose!?”

Subaru: “Beako, what do you mean? I’m Subaru, your contractor. The one who saved you from the mansion fire. You chose me as “that person” and we have lived happily since. I’m Emilia-tan’s knight. I killed Sloth, Greed, the White Whale and Great Rabbit. I’m friends with everybody here. Are you okay? I think you’ve had a bit too many sweets for today.”

Beatrice: “Shut up. Betty knows that Emilia saved her from the fire. Betty is Emilia’s contracted spirit. Stop with your pointless ramblings, I suppose. But, I do know who you are.”
Subaru’s face lit up the instant Beatrice said that last line, hopeful that someone did indeed remember him.

Subaru: ”Really Beako? Thank god, I knew you were the greatest spirit ever. Now, tell all of them who I am. They must remember who I a-”

“That stench of yours, the witch's miasma is unmistakable, I suppose. It’s pouring all over you. You can’t fool me or anyone here. YOU are PRIDE, I suppose!” Angrily exclaimed the loli spirit.

“Wait, no, I’m not! I can prove it to you.” The anxious Subaru then turned towards Reinhard and Crusch again, body trembling even more than before.

Subaru: “Crusch, Rein, use your divine protections on me. I’m not Pride! Trust me, I really am not Pride! I’m innocent!”

Reinhard stood still, unsure of what to say next. His divine protection was telling him that Subaru was telling the truth, but he didn’t want to accept the truth that this supposed Archbishop used to be a knight and his friend.

Before Reinhard could say anything, Crusch was the first person to speak up, her mind filled with hatred and determination. She didn’t want to let an Archbishop free, not when she had suffered her memories being erased by Gluttony and Lust cursing her with dragon’s blood.

Crusch: “Subaru…the winds of untruth are overpowering you. That along with the witch scent Beatrice-sama described, it is clearly spelled out for everyone here. You are an Archipshop. You are Pride.”

“You don’t know what you’re talking about!’ Shouted the boy. “That’s not proof! Do you know how much I sacrificed!? I saved this kingdom’s ass over and over again!”

Reinhard: “And yet Subaru…I can’t deny the miasma that I’m sensing too. It’s way too similar to that of an Archbishop’s. Even my divine protection of judgement hesitates on your statements.”

Subaru then began to breathe more heavily.

Subaru: “So you’re telling me that I’m lying? Tell your divine protection to fix itself because I know damn well that I ain’t lying!”

Crusch: “What I am saying…is that…I can’t risk Lugunica’s safety, not even for you.”

There was a massive moment of silence that surrounded the area.

Subaru’s alibi, the one hope that he hung on to, gone. Just like that. Now he was going to endure hell incarnate.

But before he accepted defeat, he tried one final thing on the person who he relied on and loved so much.

Subaru: “Emilia-tan! Please–look at me! You know that deep in your heart I am not Pride! I am your knight emilia-tan! YOUR KNIGHT! YOU chose me to be YOUR knight!”

Emilia began to slowly walk towards Subaru, trying to calm him down. She wanted to believe that Subaru was telling the truth. She really wanted to, but everyone else proved her otherwise. As Emilia stepped closer to Subaru–-she smelled it. The witch’s scent. A choking wave of miasma hit her, suffocating and pungent, crawling everywhere on her body like millions of invisible claws. Her vision became dizzy, her throat tightened and clenched.

Emilia: “S-Subaru...I-I’m sorry. I can’t trust you anymore. Not after what everyone has said otherwise. The scent on you is also too much for me. Please, just turn yourself in. Don’t make this any harder than it already is.”

Subaru froze in place, watching as Emilia’s face turned into a sour green.

Subaru: “Emilia-tan? What’s wrong? Are you alright? It’s me. It’s Subar-”

Emilia stumbled backwards. She was trying so hard to hold it in, but her body wouldn’t allow her to. Before she could stop it, her body began convulsing–she vomited all over the floor, shaking in place, holding her stomach in agony as tears began to flow down from her face.

Emilia: “I’m sorry Subaru…I-I didn’t mean to…It was a mistake, I swear it was…believe me.”

Subaru wasn’t listening at all to what Emilia was saying. He was focused on the vomit on the floor. His ears were ringing, his hands lowered, his eyes dimmed further.

That was Subaru’s breaking point.

He didn’t understand why boys back in Japan had an existential crisis after getting rejected by their crush, but now he understood it. He understood it a little too well.

“so this is what it feels like, huh?” Sadly whispered the boy. “hah, even you can’t stand me anymore.”

With that he turned himself in and was locked in prison for a long time.

During Subaru's excruciating days in prison, every time he was returning by death, he had a few minutes with Satella, who was always there for him when he was alone. He was grateful to her for listening and consoling him without hesitation. He didn't care that he was talking to the literal witch who was the biggest threat to all of mankind in all of history.

He loved her.

She was his salvation as all of his other friends betrayed and broke him further by refusing to listen to him.

Back to Present Time:
Julius stood in front of the platform to address the people in attendance.

Julius: “Good morning, everyone. I'm sure you all know that we have fought hard to ensure that Lugunica stays standing every day. As we fought, we were able to defeat Sloth, Greed, 2 of the Gluttony siblings and capture Pride and Wrath. We have sent Reinhard out to eliminate the final sibling of gluttony, so there's no need to fear people. Today, we gather to celebrate one less archbishop to deal with for not only Lugunica, but the entire world. Now I would like to pass this speech onto Felix, my partner in crime who helped in interrogating Pride.”

Felix was not aware that Julius was going to do this all of a sudden. He wasn't prepared with a speech of any sort, so he just decided to wing it with a simple sentence.

Felix took in a deep breath and-

“DO NYA WANT TO SEE UGLY PRIDE EXECUTED!?”

Everyone below started cheering and chanting for Subaru’s execution.

“Kill Pride! Kill Pride! Kill Pride! KILL! KILL! KILL!”

Julius took back the spotlight from Felix as the crowd got quieter, eager to listen to what the finest of knights had to say.

“Thank you Felix for your, uh, motivational comment. But anyways, without further ado, by the order of the kingdom of Lugunica, I hereby declare the execution of Natsuki Subaru, Archbishop of Prid—”

Before Julius could finish his declaration, he fell down on his knees, hyperventilating and shaking. Memories of the innocent boy who he had taken out his anger on and tortured for months returned.

‘Help me…please.’

‘I’m not Pride...trust me.’

‘Just let me die.’

Julius wasn't the only one going through this though.

Everyone who was there at the execution site felt the same thing, one by one, clutching their heads as memories of the boy returned. The hero of Lugunica, who killed Sloth and Greed. The hero who took down 2 of the Great Mabeasts. Now the very person they're trying to kill.

Ram was holding onto a wheelchair, where her sister Rem was sleeping because of Gluttony’s powers. But suddenly, Rem woke up, confused as to why she was sitting on a chair with wheels and in the middle of a big crowd where a white haired man was seen on top of the platform. She turned around and looked at her sister who was already shedding tears, but now shedding even more as her sissy was now awake.

“Where is Subaru-kun?” Asked the innocent blue-haired Oni maid.

Ram’s breath hitched, unsure of how to tell her sister that he was about to be executed. Rem was still confused, but now was more worried because everyone in the Emilia camp was sobbing hard, hard enough to the point where they couldn't shed any more tears.

Emilia and Beatrice were suffering the most after hearing the Oni’s question. They remembered how they ignored the man who saved them more times than they could count. Emilia fell down, streams of tears leaking out of her eyes as she began to start her rambling.

Emilia: “No…I just…I just wanted to protect everyone and keep them safe…It wasn’t my intention…I’m sorry Subaru…I’m really sorry. All this time…You were suffering all alone. All this time…You were telling the truth.”

Beatrice: “It’s my fault, in fact. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. My fault. I’m the worst spirit of all. Betty doesn’t deserve Subaru, I suppose. He was so kind to me even when I treated him like garbage back in the mansion. Betty is so sorry Subaru. Please, just forget about me, I suppose.”

“H-h-he’s going to be executed Sissy.” Ram said, trembling and trying to stay as calm as possible.

Rem’s eyes widened and looked back at the white haired man. As she looked more meticulously, she noticed the eyes and hair of the boy, which she found similar to a certain hero of hers.

That's when she put 2 and 2 together.

The white haired man that was on the platform?

That was her hero.

Her hero was going to be executed.

Before Rem could lash out and start yelling for her hero, Julius stood up and immediately began shouting.

“STOP IT! STOP THE EXECUTION! STOP IT NOW!"

Subaru was laying motionless as this entire commotion was happening.

Julius rushed over to Subaru, unbuckling his restraints, shaking while doing so.

Julius: “Subaru! Are you okay!? I'm sorry! Really, I'm very sorry about everything. Just say something please! Anything! Felix! Start healing his wounds, NOW!!!”

Julius: ‘Oh Od, what have I done?’

“Now you remember.” Subaru muttered quietly. “Now, it’s too late.”

Felix flinched at Julius for shouting but immediately rushed over to Subaru to start healing him. As he was doing this all he could think was, ‘I-I tortured him…and I found it so much fun.’ As Felix reached Subaru, Subaru looked at Felix dead in the eyes and started to open his mouth.

“NO! DON'T TOUCH ME!” Yelled Subaru at the top of his lungs, who started to walk back and keep his distance from the two knights.

Both Julius and Felix looked concerned for their friend as they both tried to calm Subaru down.

Felix: “Subaru-kyun, calm down. We're just trying to help you. Please let us help you.”

Julius: “Subaru, let Felix heal you, all your friends are waiting for you.”

Subaru: “Friends?”

While Subaru was contemplating what Julius just said, he heard a noise from behind him. Low and behold, the entire Emilia camp was there, trying to get the boy to come back to them.

“Subaru-kun! It's me! It's your Rem! Are you okay Subaru-kun? Look at me! I'm right here!” Said the panicking Rem as she threw herself onto Subaru. She was sobbing as she got to see a closer look at the ”new” Subaru before her, littered with scars and blood all over his skinny body.

Subaru: “Ah. Funny joke. haha.”

Subaru stared at the blue girl for a while, thinking that this was all a dream until he felt her tears drop to his cheeks. His pupils dilated in shock and he immediately tensed up.

“R-rem? Is t-t-that y-you?” Gasped Subaru, who couldn't believe the person who was asleep for all that time due to gluttony finally woke up.

“Yes! It's me, I'm awake Subaru-kun! I'm never leaving your side again. I’ll always be there when you need me, so come back to me, my hero.” Happily exclaimed the teary, puffy-eyed Rem.

“You might just have to let me go this time around.” Whispered Subaru with a sad smile on his face.

“Huh?” said the confused Rem. Rem tried to talk to Subaru about what he just said, but suddenly, she felt someone shove her to the side as she fell down on her back on the wooden platform.

Beatrice: “SUBARU!”

Emilia: “SUBARU!”

Both girls started to hug Subaru tightly, too tightly. He was literally suffocating to death.

Beatrice: “I’m sorry for failing you Subaru. I'm sorry, I'm sorry. I'm sorry. I really am the worst spirit, I suppose.”

Emilia: “Subaru, stop struggling. It’s me, Emilia. I’m so sorry I forgot about you. I’m sorry me and Beatrice left you to rot in the prison. I just- wait Subaru stop trying to get out of our hug.”

Subaru: “s-stay back.”

Subaru finally successfully squirmed to get out of Emilia and Beatrice’s hug and walked back towards the middle of the platform, where he was being cornered by Julius, Felix, and the guards on one side, and the Emilia camp on the other.

Emilia: “What are you doing Subaru? Why are you backing away from us? We care so much about you. We want you to come back to us. I want you to come back to me. You’re my knig-”

Subaru: “Shut up.”

Emilia: “What?”

Subaru: “Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up.Shut up…..
…….
…….
……..
SHUT THE FUCK UP YOU HALF-DEVIL!”

Emilia was shaken a bit from the boy’s shout, but she stood as still as a rock. It took her a bit to understand what Subaru had said, but when she finally understood, she started to panic.

Emilia: 'Half Devil? What is he talking about? What a dunderhead. He’s obviously not talking about me right? RIGHT!? He’s never called me that. He’s alwayyys called me ‘Emilia-tan.’ There must be some other person he’s referring to.'

Emilia: “Subaru, where is this so-called ‘Half-devil’? I don’t see anybody who looks like me you dunderhead. Surely, you must be mistake-”

“It’s you.” Subaru said in a deep undertone which sliced the thick atmosphere in two.

Emilia: “............”

Subaru: “Say something, will you? I’m talking to YOU, HALF-DEVIL!”

Emilia: “s-stop j-joking. W-what are you t-talking abo-”

Subaru: “Quit playing dumb with me bitch, I know who you are! YOU are Tella-tan’s cheap imitation, a bootleg copy of her. How dare you mock her beauty by trying to seduce me with that body of yours. There is no way in hell I’m letting you take advantage of me again Half-devil, not anymore.”

“Tella-tan? Asked the befuddled Emilia. “Who is that? Stop playing tricks on me Subaru. I’m getting sick of this already. Just be a good boy and come back with us to the mansion where we will help you.”

“Good boy? GOOD BOY!? I am NOT your fucking dog! I am Natsuki Subaru, Sin Archbishop of Pride!” Loudly exclaimed the white haired boy. “Yeah, you heard me, I am an Archbishop. Now you have to kill me, an archbishop shouldn’t be alive!”

Everyone on the platform was stunned by the boy’s declaration, but they knew that he knew that it wasn’t true. They knew that he was plotting something, but couldn’t really put their finger on it.

Julius: “Archbishop of Pride? Subaru, although we have mistaken you for Pride, we now know that you aren’t Pride, so stop fooling around and tell us what you have planned. We won’t kill our dearest friend.”

After hearing the word “friend,” Subaru became even more hostile than before.

Subaru: “Again with the “friends ” thing. I don’t have any “friends”. Where were my “friends” when I was rotting inside of that cell? Where were my “friends” when I wanted them to listen to my pleads of innocence? What type of “friends” torture each other? Huh!? TELL ME!!!

Those words shut Julius up for good. Felix tried to intervene too, but couldn’t find any words to say because he knew that what Subaru had said was true. Subaru then turned to face the Emilia camp to vent out his anger and stress.

Subaru: “I’ve had it with all of you! I used to hold all of you guys in high regard, always thinking that you were on a higher level than me. You guys pretend to care for me and love me, but all I’m seeing are a bunch of manipulators, ready to take their weak prey. You want to know my goal? I want to see and live with Satella, the woman I love!”

If the atmosphere wasn’t bad enough yet, now it was the equivalent of outer space’s atmosphere. The first person to react to Subaru was Rem, who started to cry again.

Rem: “Subaru-kun, what are you saying? Are you hearing yourself correctly? You’re talking about the witch of envy. The witch who destroyed the majority of our world! Why would you care about such a monster? Why would SHE even care about you? Monsters don’t have feelings.”

“Shut it Rem!” Immediately retorted Subaru. “You’re the one person I can forgive as of now because you were asleep, but you’re making it more difficult now that you have insulted and slandered MY woman. Stop talking before you make it worse. I know you have feelings for me and trust me, I also had feelings for you and Emilia too. But now, I can’t love you both anymore, not after what happened to me. The only person who was there while I was in prison was Satella. The only person who listened to me was Satella. The only person who consoled me was Satella. Why can’t you all understand that I have moved on to something more important than you all?” Subaru started to sob too, but quickly wiped his tears as his eyes became more fierce and determined.

He looked at everyone on the platform and uttered one simple sentence that sent ripples throughout the area.

“I don’t love any of you.”

With those words, Subaru walked towards one of the guards and yanked their sword, walking towards the crowd below, who could only hear what the people on top were saying, and then started speaking.

“Hello everyone! Sorry for not giving you much attention, so let me reintroduce myself!” Subaru then struck his iconic pose, one finger pointed to the sky and his other arm on his hips, a crazed smile on his face. “My name is Natsuki Subaru, Archbishop of Pride! I’m no hero, I’m a villain, and villains deserve to die a miserable death, wouldn't you agree? Sorry for pushing back the time of execution for so long, but now for the moment you have all been waiting for. Until next time, thank you for showing up people!”

Before anybody in the crowd or on the platform could react, Subaru, without hesitation, plunged the sword to his chest and out of his back, piercing his heart in the process. Blood came gushing out of his mouth and chest, standing idle for 6-7 seconds, before finally collapsing on the ground, lifeless. His final thought before leaving the mortal realm, before leaving everyone behind in this fucked-up world, was, “See you soon Tella-tan. I love you.”

With that, the once Hero of Lugunica, who has died countless times to get his perfect happy ending, died one final time with no regrets whatsoever.

Chapter Text

There was a long, painful silence that loomed over the Capital of Lugunica. Natsuki Subaru, Hero of Lugunica, had just ended his life in front of the people of the kingdom he’d saved again and again. Nobody dared to speak as there were simply no words to describe the feelings inside of them. The only thing that the people could look at was the lifeless body of Natsuki Subaru.

On the platform, there was a much better yet disturbing view of the young man. His body was getting colder by the second, his flesh was beginning to lose color, and his blood covered the entirety of the platform. He looked much calmer and sound asleep though, which could be the only correct way of describing him considering how he had endured endless suffering and torture by the people he once considered as friends.

He deserved to rest peacefully now.

After a while though, the first person to speak up after witnessing this horror show was a certain half-elf.

“What?” Muttered the shocked Emilia, her speech shaking as she was still trying to wrap her head around what she had just watched. Her mind refused to accept what she was seeing, the disturbing image of Subaru–HER Subaru–laying flat on the ground, motionless, sword still plunged in his chest. His blood now covered her heels, but Emilia could care less and only looked at Subaru. She walked towards the boy and held him into a lap pillow position, something Subaru would’ve loved if he was alive. She touched his cold cheeks, slowly moving to play with his white hair, tears leaving her eyes and dropping onto the boy’s face.

“Subaru. Wake up. Please. This must be another one of your jokes right? One of your stupid jokes. This isn’t funny. You got me good if that’s what you want to hear so you can stop pretending now and get up.”

As Emilia kept on rambling, the rest of the camp froze, trying to also wrap their head around this situation.

Beatrice was as still as a statue, shaking so violently that you would think that she was convulsing. Her face, once usually composed and serious, crumpled and contorted into one of devastation and grief.

“S-Subaru…you absolute fool…you dumb and stupid contractor, in fact. You promised me. You promised that you’d be with Betty forever until you die naturally. You…liar, in fact.”

Rem looked at Subaru, then at the bloodied ground, then back at Subaru, then back at the bloodied ground, over and over again, trying to come up with something, anything, to distract herself from this nightmarish reality. In her head, all she could think was Subaru’s words to her:

‘You might have to let me go this time.’

Rem started to walk up to where Emilia was holding Subaru’s body and knelt beside him.

“So that's what you meant by that. I'm so stupid for not noticing sooner. I was foolish to believe everything could go back to normal. I was so blind to think that we could've had something together. I'm so sorry. Rem couldn’t save you. I’m so sorry Subaru. What should we do now lady Emilia? S-subaru is now gone and we can't do anything to bring him back.”

Rem couldn't hold back her tears as she now wailed loudly and profusely, everyone could hear the pain the oni maid was going through.

“No.” muttered a voice.

“N-no?”

“No. We can't give up. Not yet.” Sternly declared Emilia after clearing her mind.

“What do you mean?” Tearfully questioned Rem.

“I'm saying there's a way we might bring back Subaru.”

Both Beatrice and Rem looked at Emilia with confused and angry faces, wanting for this arrogant half-elf to explain herself.

“W-what are you talking about, I suppose! Betty's contractor’s soul is no longer in his body! He's gone half-devil! Admit it, in fact!”

“Lady Emilia, from the bottom of my heart, what type of delusions are you on right now? This isn't a joke. My beloved Subaru-kun is really gone and you're making delirious statements about bringing him back? You better explain yourself before I kill you.”

“I'm saying that Roswaal could help us.”

Both girls looked even angrier as the clown's name was invoked. They knew that he had wanted to resurrect his teacher as Subaru told everyone about his plans after the Great Rabbit incident.

Ram was the most annoyed and decided to rehabilitate Roswaal for a few months to get him to only think about her, which surprisingly worked well. Now, when Ram goes to run an errand, Roswaal goes on his knees and begs Ram to stay with him at the mansion. This left the pink-haired maid satisfied at how well her “rehabilitation” went. Though Roswaal was nothing more than a mere simp for Ram, Rem, Beatrice and Emilia still had their suspicions and never forgave him for what he was planning all along.

“What do we do then lady Emilia? I don't want that bastard near my Subaru-kun.” coldly stated Rem.

“I agree, in fact. That scum can go and die for all I care.” Beatrice spat out with hatred.

“I know ladies. I hate him as much as you do for what he has done to all of us, but there must be something useful we can extract from that sorry man. Let's bring Subaru back to the mansion. We must bring him back at all costs.”

In the Shadow Garden:

“Hm? What is this soft sensation I'm feeling? Is it a pillow? A lap? Wait. It can't be…

Subaru then propped his eyes open and stared at the beautiful half-elf who was looking over him with a warm, gentle smile on her face.

“Hello darling. Are you okay? Are you injured? That entire fiasco worried m-”

“LAP PILLOW!” Happily squealed Subaru.

Subaru then grabbed Satella’s face and pulled it into his own. It took a while before Satella pulled out and slapped the boy.

“Ow, ow, ow, ow! What was that for!? I can tell that you enjoyed it!” complained Subaru rubbing his cheek.

“Well although it was nice indeed, I still can't gloss over how you plunged a sword through your body! Even though I knew you were coming here, I still cried, you know!” Said the half-elf, years threatening to exit out of her eyes.

“Oh yeah, I'm sorry about that. Even though it hurt for a little, I don't care anymore. I don't care about anything or anyone except for you Tella-tan. I want to be with you forever.”

“Do you really mean it Subaru? You really want to stay with me?”

“Why would I ever lie to my beloved Tella-tan?”

Satella's heart fluttered at the sincere words the boy had said. She thought about how lonely she had been all along and now there was someone who wanted to be with her forever. That made Satella finally shed some tears and leave a big smile on her face.

“Then yes Subaru. I accept your proposal. Let's stay together from now onto eternity.”

“Of course Tella-tan. Now, what should we do first? I haven't really planned this far out so um-”

Subaru’s face was now the one being grabbed and pulled into Satella's, who smirked and giggled at Subaru’s flustered reaction. She had finally gotten Subaru all to herself and she was never letting go of him. He had suffered through so much, so it was only reasonable to keep him from any harm. Satella had other plans for Subaru’s “friends” though, plans that Subaru himself didn't know of. Plans so vile that anyone would faint on the spot and be traumatized. Satella was ready to enact her revenge on the world once again for turning their backs on her love. There was only one thing that she was waiting for to finally allow these plans to come to fruition. For the time being, she didn't mind spending time with HER Subaru. It was time to express to Subaru how much she loved him.