A defenseless position. Garfiel stands naturally with his arms hanging down.
Seeing him standing in a position blocking their path, Subaru instantly turned his eyes to his surroundings on guard, worried that there might be someone else hiding there besides him.
However, he had half concluded that such caution was unnecessary when the opponent was Garfiel - if he was going to come, he would definitely come alone.
As expected, there was no one around him within Subaru's senses. After confirming that this was nothing more than an unfounded worry, Subaru let out a sigh and stroked the back of Patrasche's neck, who was still on guard,
"I thought you'd come on a business trip without any foreshadowing, but I wish you'd stop trying to woo someone else's partner so quickly."
"I'm not the type to lie or flatter people. I just say what I think. That often gets me scolded by the old hag and Ram, though."
Garfiel clucked his fangs at the dismissive remark, then his smile vanished as he looked up. Subaru faced the glare with his one eye and raised one finger,
"It feels really weird that you're here, can you explain?"
"It's not a big deal. With the fangs of this 『Sanctuary』, you guys couldn't escape the eyes of 『Sanctuary』. That's all. Well, I guess it's a consolation prize."
Subaru frowned as Garfiel spoke, waving his hand lightly.
If what he called "eyes" was, as Subaru had imagined, a slang term for something like "grass," then "eyes" would naturally have the connotation of an observer. However,
Subaru: "Even Ram hasn't told me anything about such a thing being in the 'Sanctuary'…"
"You think the people outside of Sanctuary know everything about it? There are loads of things that Roswaal doesn't know. That's just one of them... I don't know about you though."
Garfiel's words were merciless to Subaru, who was vague in his frustration. He snorted at the silent Subaru, then turned his attention to the line of dragon carriages behind him,
"...Are all of the people there going to evacuate?"
"Ah, yeah, that's right. Hey, Garfiel. I know I'm sorry for coming out without saying anything, but can you just let me off the hook here? It's not a bad deal for you, is it?"
"Huh?"
He glared at him with fierce eyes, but Subaru ignored him and gestured behind him,
"The reason we're letting these hostages escape from the Sanctuary right now is to avoid the possibility of any more conflicts breaking out inside. I've heard that skirmishes have already broken out here and there, but the idea is to put a stop to it before it escalates into a full-scale conflict."
"――――"
"You're in the same position as Lewes, and you want the Sanctuary to be liberated, right? It would be inconvenient to leave the embers inside. There's more merit in letting them go."
Subaru quietly tried to somehow persuade Garfiel. In fact, what Subaru said was not just a temporary solution. In fact, given Garfiel's stance, this evacuation should be an action that would bring him many benefits.
Aside from the fact that he had carried it out silently and in secrecy――
"Whether or not you can tolerate that given your personality, just swallow it for now..."
"Hey, aren't you misunderstanding something?"
"misunderstanding?"
"You've been so convinced from the start that I came here to get in your way. But as you said, I have no reason to interfere with this evacuation. All of your excuses and smooth talk are completely useless."
Garfiel interrupted Subaru as he tried to continue, snorting as if mocking his assumption. Subaru was taken aback by his response. His appearance had given him a bad feeling that had led him to continue speaking, but logically, what he had said was correct. However,
"Well then, what exactly are you doing here..."
"It's like seeing them off. You guys are free to come if you want, but if someone from the 'Sanctuary' doesn't make sure to see them through, it's the same as running away in the middle of the night. If you can say that you saw me leave, then you can shut the others up."
"...You're thinking about a lot more than I thought."
While half-surprised that Garfiel had the intelligence and thought to convince him with such logical reasoning, Subaru agreed with what Garfiel was saying. He nodded with his arms crossed in response to Subaru's somewhat rude remark,
"Of course. When I get to be a bit egocentric, I'm not only strong, I'm also considerate of others... I'm crazy."
"Oh, that answer is a bit reassuring. And while I'm at it, I won't mention the matter of my right eye."
"Huh? Ah, I see. So you noticed because I took off the blindfold. There are some people who do unnecessary things. Right, hey."
Subaru points to his own right eye as Garfiel praises himself. Referring to Subaru's lost eye, he turns to Otto, who had rescued him. Otto, sitting in the driver's seat of the dragon carriage behind him, shrugs his head, trying to hide from Garfiel's sharp gaze as much as possible.
Garfiel cracked his neck at her weak attitude and continued, "You can still do that."
"You seem pretty calm considering you've lost your eye. To be honest, I was prepared for some bitter complaints and retaliation, you know?"
"If I start complaining, I'll have so much to say that it will last until dawn, but I don't have the time. And even if I wanted to retaliate, if I attacked you, I'd end up losing my left eye too. I'd rather not have that kind of reaction."
"What's that? -- I don't like it, hey."
Garfiel seemed dissatisfied with Subaru's response. However, Subaru decided that there was no need for further interaction, and gently stroked his right eye with the palm of his hand,
"Is it okay for us to just let you go and let everyone return to the village?"
"I just want to get rid of the bad appearance of you leaving quietly. Do as you like."
"Well then, I'll take you up on that offer..."
"--however"
Garfiel interrupted the voice that was about to start the train of dragon carriages, leaning forward slightly. Then, from below, he glared sharply at Subaru, who was straddling Patrasche,
"You're no good, stay behind. I'll let the hostages through. I'll let that troublesome big bro through. And Ram too… I'll let you through. But you're no good."
"...What do you mean?"
"It has something to do with Emilia-sama's motivation for the Trials, but the biggest problem is your existence. That witch-like bastard, there's no way we're just going to let you out that easily."
"That again..."
The blonde young man flicked his nose with his finger as he threatened Subaru. Subaru was getting tired of hearing his complaints, which he was now used to, but he nodded as long as that was the condition,
"The condition is that I remain in the Sanctuary. You have no objections, right?"
"It's good that you're honest and easy to understand. Even if you tell me a long story, my brain won't be able to understand or remember it all."
"You're being very honest... I get it. I'll go tell everyone behind me, so please wait."
If he had gotten to the point, the negotiations would have ended easily. To be honest, it wasn't really a negotiation after all. Subaru took what he said at face value, and turned around to address the main group - the drivers, Otto, and Ram.
"So, if I stay behind, they'll let me through. It'd be foolish to argue, so I think I'll just go along with their proposal…"
"I want to say that it's an excellent condition if we can just pass through, but I wonder if that will convince the people behind us. In the first place, they were so stubborn that they refused to escape if Natsuki wasn't there."
"Ah, it's true that persuasion is tough… But, we've come this far, and everyone is hoping that we can return to the village like this. If it's just an accident like me having to leave halfway through, I think their hopes will win out and they'll swallow it."
In response to Otto's concerns, Subaru put his hand to his chin and pondered.
In reality, the evacuees' desire to return to the village must be stronger than anything else. I'm glad they're weighing that desire against Subaru's safety, but I think it's difficult to strike a balance now that things have progressed this far.
"Natsuki-san..."
"Well, since that's how he thinks, I don't think it will be difficult to persuade him. But, I guess it'd be bad if I didn't have to say anything. I'll be back soon, so everyone prepare the dragon carriage so that we can move out immediately..."
"I don't like it."
But just as Subaru was about to give quick instructions, Ram suddenly interrupted him.
Combined with Otto's concerned gaze, Subaru felt as if his hopes had been thwarted as he glanced at her, scratching his head and saying, "You see,"
"Garfiel just told me that, but don't keep saying things that will dampen people's spirits..."
Subaru: "Balus, don't you realize what you're saying right now?"
"What are you talking about?"
Subaru tilted his head at Ram's words, but no matter how much he agonized over it, he couldn't think of anything. Not understanding what she was trying to say, his brows bulged in confusion.
Seeing this, Ram sighed in disappointment and said,
"If you don't know, that's fine. I understand what you're saying, Lord Roswaal. If that's the case, then will all of Ram's actions have been in vain?"
"Wait, what have you been saying all this time? So you know something too? You know, and yet you're here like this..."
"That doesn't mean anything to you right now. It's a waste of time."
"You..."
Subaru gritted his teeth at Ram's condescending look. Just as the atmosphere between the two of them was about to become tense, Otto stepped in and said, "Now, now, now!"
"You two should stop arguing. It's exactly as Ram said, a waste of time. A waste of time, which means a waste of an opportunity to make money. Let's save face and put an end to this. Let's do that, it's settled!"
"Tch. Anyway, I'll explain."
"Tch. Ram has nothing more to say."
"Could you two please stop clicking your tongues at me?!"
Otto was dissatisfied with the way he was being treated the same as always, but it couldn't be helped since that was his role. Thanks to Otto, the group somehow managed to avoid splitting up, and Subaru showed up at each of the dragon carriages and explained the previous exchange exactly as it happened.
Everyone in Arlam village was unhappy that Subaru had to stay behind as a condition, but when Subaru himself explained that he was okay with it and that if he returned, life as an evacuees would be prolonged, they reluctantly agreed.
Subaru was grateful for their sympathy and managed to convince everyone. After returning and telling the others, he then straddled Patrasche and faced Garfiel.
"This discussion is over. Your terms are fine. Let's all pass."
"Everyone except you, that is. Let them go quickly. Is that earth dragon still here?"
"It would be physically tough to go back on foot. It would just prolong Patrasche's uncomfortable feelings."
When I put my hand on the back of my partner, who I was going to have to put up with, Patrasche trembled and turned her head away as if to say, "There's nothing to worry about, oh well."
Interpreting his partner's movements in this way, Subaru watched as the dragon carriages continued on their way through the Sanctuary alongside Garfiel. Looking down at Subaru from the carriage window, the villagers looked on with questioning looks on their faces, and he gave a wry smile and waved,
"Otto, when you return to the village, don't show your face at the mansion. If possible, just come back."
"...? That's an incomprehensible order, why? I think it's essential that I report these matters to Frederica-san."
"Anything. I think you'll probably be back in the village tomorrow morning... but just to be on the safe side, don't show up until the afternoon at the very least."
Otto's face expressed incomprehension at Subaru's instructions, and without being able to clearly answer his doubts, Subaru jerked his chin and said, "Go for it."
Tonight is the fateful fifth night - in other words, the final deadline for Elsa to take action against the mansion. If we follow the content of the first episode, there is no doubt that events have already occurred.
Even though Elsa was reckless, she probably wouldn't descend upon the village and massacre the villagers. As long as they didn't enter the mansion, Otto and the others would be out of danger.
Of course, that would mean abandoning the safety of Frederica and Petra, who were in the mansion, and Beatrice, and Rem.
"...This time, I'm going to put all my effort into finding out what's going to happen in the Sanctuary. Yes, I'm sure I've decided. If I get greedy and don't get anything, I don't understand why I'm overlooking it."
A feeling of guilt for overlooking the worst-case scenario floated in his heart. Subaru forced it down with a sense of mission and duty, and scolded himself for the cruel state of his mind.
Steel. Become a heart of steel. Use every possible means to grasp at the best possible future, no matter how much it costs you emotionally by accepting and accepting sacrifices along the way.
"If I can have the last laugh, then I...we have won."
So when faced with sacrifice, you just have to suppress any wavering emotions.
Don't hesitate to lay the groundwork for everything you can eventually get back. There's nothing to be regretful about right now.
"――――"
Subaru sighed as he watched all the dragon carriages pass by and disappear into the depths of the forest.
With this, we were able to create a state where only the original residents and those connected to the Roswaal Mansion remained in Sanctuary. All we had to do was wait until tomorrow morning to see what would happen in Sanctuary, and we could consider the goal of this loop to be accomplished.
"If we stay here any longer, the bites will only get worse, so let's go back. It's not nice being under your watch."
Subaru: "Don't tell me what to do… Now that I think of it, you didn't listen to anything about tonight's 'Trial' by Emilia-sama."
"I took the fact that you were here as a direct answer. I'd be lying if I said I didn't think this time would be tough."
At the very least, like the hostages, she shouldn't be motivated by Subaru's safety. Emilia will need to change something more fundamentally if she is to overcome the Trial. Or perhaps, that will be unavoidable given the current situation where they are rushing to resolve the issues surrounding the Sanctuary.
Subaru: "To ascertain that, you see. I can't consider it until I've confirmed whether we can wait for Emilia to pass the Trial or not, and what will happen."
Trial and error with an eye towards the next time, Subaru ponders the possibilities remaining for him in this third world.
Subaru had died a maximum of four times during one loop. If he wanted to break through to the fifth world, he could only die once more.
"There are so many things I want to confirm..."
ーーEven his own 『Death』 was now merely considered a stepping stone to that breakthrough.
Subaru was unaware of the distortion in his own words. As Subaru instructed Patrasche to return to the Sanctuary, Garfiel looked up from behind him.
"... You're acting like you know everything. Just how much do you really know?"
"Garfiel?"
Subaru turned around on his dragon, searching for the source of the muttered voice he couldn't hear clearly. Right in front of his very eyes, something had suddenly happened.
Garfiel leaps into the air, aiming for Subaru, who is standing above Patrasche, and swings his sword sideways to chop off his head.
As the tip of the finger tearing through the air burned into his eyes, Subaru muffled his voice in shock as the unrealized death he had suddenly experienced was drawing close before his eyes.
It's not that he had forgotten the possibility that Garfiel might attack, but he hadn't really expected him to do direct harm here.
"--!"
There was a sharp sound like a blade being swung, and Subaru was hit by the pain of his flesh tearing, accompanied by blood. He instinctively put his hand to his throat, from which a groan escaped, and found that the tip of his finger had dug a thin dent just below his Adam's apple.
Feeling blood dripping from the gaps in his palm, Subaru quickly took control of the reins and gave orders to Patrasche,
"Garfiel! What are you doing...?"
"You're the one getting in the way. What the hell is that supposed to mean, huh?"
Subaru cried out from on the dragon at the sudden brutality, but Garfiel, who had landed, waving his blood-stained fingertips and yelling in a different direction.
Grimacing in pain, he looked in that direction and saw a girl standing there holding a small cane - Ram, her pink hair swaying, glaring sternly at Garfiel.
"Ram?!"
Subaru: "I had a bad feeling so I stayed behind, and things unfolded just as I expected. You should be grateful to Ram that your head and body are now connected, Barusu."
"If the wind hadn't blown my aim away, my head would have been torn off."
Garfiel shook his head in affirmation of Ram's pushy remark. Subaru nearly lost his voice at the exchange, his thoughts heated by the pain of his wounds.
"What are you trying to do, Garfiel? Were you trying to kill me just now?!"
"I messed up though. If you ask me what I was planning to do, I can't say anything but that's it."
Garfiel openly affirms his murderous intent. Subaru opens his eyes wide at his words, his lip trembling at the incomprehensibility of his actions. Because,
"In that case, you could have killed me at any time. If you had left me alone without giving me any treatment while I was imprisoned, or even before that, I would have died!"
"If I did that, the hostages inside would probably explode. Only after they were gone could I prepare to kill you."
"That's...!"
As I felt my thoughts turn red, I was overwhelmed by Garfiel's words.
If he had been waiting patiently for a situation where he could kill Subaru without causing any problems, then his decision to let him go would make sense. However, there was something else that seemed unnatural about this. That was――
"If you kill me here, what will happen to Emilia's Trial? Since I'm the key to her motivation, if I die, her Trial will never end, regardless of her ego."
This would be an enormous inconvenience for the Lewes camp, who wish to liberate the Sanctuary.
Even if Garfiel had some suspicions stemming from Subaru's witch scent, this was still too big a reason to turn a blind eye.
It would seem like a typical reason for him to have lost his composure in anger, but looking at him now, able to have a conversation, it's obvious that he hasn't lost his composure to the point of losing his composure.
In other words, Garfiel had just launched his attack on Subaru with calm calculation. What does that mean?
"I'm the boss..."
"There's no point in listening to what you have to say, and there's no point in trying to persuade you, Barusu."
However, before Garfiel could say anything, Ram cuts in between him and Subaru and speaks sharply. Pointing the tip of her wand at Garfiel, who clicks his tongue,
"Stop hiding your true feelings with plausible excuses, Garf. It's not like you."
"Oh, hey, Ram."
「Stand back, Ram will do the talking. ――In any case, it seems that Garf is planning to kill Barusu.」
Subaru had no choice but to keep his mouth shut in the face of Ram affirming the murderous intent of others.
She walked over to him, glaring warily at Garfiel, and gently traced Patrasche's neck with her outstretched hand.
"Good boy. Do what you have to do, for your master seems to be very insensitive to himself and others."
"――――"
Patrasche responded silently to Ram's calm, somewhat gentle words. In response, she simply licked the tip of the offered finger with her tongue, then, lowering her head, she headed towards the trees without receiving any instructions from Subaru,
"Wait a second. What are you all gathered here for...?"
"Just make sure you don't let go of the reins. If you do that, the earth dragon will do everything in its power to protect you. It's a man's greatest joy."
"Listen! No, tell me! What do you guys know that would make you say something like this!"
Echidna: "There is no time to talk, and it is useless to talk. As I said, Barus. Ram will buy you a minute, so use that opportunity to escape as much as you can. That is the only resistance I can offer you, after all."
Ram's response was vague until the very end, but this time there was no time to question her.
Before he could hear the last of Ram's words, Patrasche let out a small whimper and took off. Subaru, swaying from the momentum of his dragon, felt the divine protection of the 『Windbreak』 unfold, and clung to its back as it plunged into the group of trees.
"Ram――!"
I scream, but there is no answer.
With his view blocked by a group of trees, Subaru could only be tossed around, biting his lip as the situation moved on, leaving him behind.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
Patrasche, carrying Subaru, pushes through the forest, and the two of them find themselves facing each other in a space free of obstacles.
Staring at Ram, who remained motionless with her staff at the ready, Garfiel pointed towards the forest where Subaru had vanished,
"You're saying unnecessary things. It's just making chasing you more of a pain."
"You think I'll let you go?"
"You think you can stop me? If you think the balance of power between me and you hasn't changed since before, then you're very much mistaken. Being in love with someone and not being able to overpower them are not the same thing."
She threatened again, cracking her knuckles. However, Garfiel knew that Ram was not the type of girl to be intimidated by something like that. In fact, her expression didn't change at all. Garfiel roughly ripped her short blond hair and said,
"Ram, what were you thinking? What do you expect from doing something like this? I'm not listening to you. Did Roswaal order you to do this?"
"...I'm sorry, Garf. Ram's decision to be here is her own, and Lord Roswaal's orders have nothing to do with it. At the very least, there's no need for me to ask for your orders right now."
Ram speaks with determination. Garfiel's question has the same origin as Subaru's. He also frowns in response to her answer, showing his incomprehension.
Garfiel's face grew increasingly bitter,
"I don't understand, Ram. If you didn't follow Roswaal's instructions, I don't see any reason why you would do something like this."
"Really?"
"Ahh――?"
"Really, why is Ram doing this... don't you understand, Garf?"
The question was asked quietly, and Ram's expression and tone of voice were no different to usual. However, upon hearing it and receiving her gaze, Garfiel's expression changed.
Mystery. Suspicion. Amazement. And rage.
"You..."
Garfiel took one step forward, his foot roughly trampling the ground. Expressing his unbearable rage by gnashing his fangs, he glared at Ram with narrowed eyes,
"I can't believe it. I can't believe he's doing something like this..."
"--For Frederica and Garf."
"Don't even dare say that traitor's name!"
It roared furiously, and as it swung its feet down, the ground caved in and was crushed with a thunderous bang.
Smoke rose up, the power was so great that the nearby trees tilted to one side. The forest was frightened, and even the air was silent for fear of provoking him.
However, Ram, who had been hit head-on by that rage, remained cool-faced,
"Do you think you can get anyone to obey you by being stubborn and showing off your power with childish tantrums? Garf, how long are you going to keep running around in this narrow forest?"
Subaru: "Don't act like you know everything! You… you and Frederica, those who abandoned the 『Sanctuary』, how much do you think you can possibly understand, huh!?"
Ram's words, spoken like those of a child, did not reach the enraged Garfiel. Unlike his previous step, he dug up the earth with his foot, without any force,
"For my sake? For my sake? You... that's the very thing I can't believe. How dare you dare say that to me now..."
"Gaaf..."
"When did I ever ask for pity or sympathy? How condescending and condescending are you? Neither I nor those old hags want to be pitied."
Covering his face with his hands, Garfiel spoke with a ragged breath.
His somewhat tragic appearance made him appear smaller to the viewer than his height would have suggested.
Taking a deep breath, Garfiel removed his hands from his face,
"That's enough. I don't want to hear anything else. Turn around right now and return to the Sanctuary. If you do, I'll let you off the hook this time. I'll go after that bastard."
"I refuse, Garf. If I have to give in, it's Garf, not Ram. Even if I go back, we won't be able to avoid the approaching collapse. You understand that, don't you?"
"It's fine. Just go back. I won't say it again. Go back and wait until the 'Trial' is over."
"No, I won't go back, and I won't wait. There's nothing to be gained by standing still. If I stay there and stagnate, all that's left in my palm is the remnants of what I thought I had obtained. Why would I go after something so weak and vague..."
"But still! It's much better than having nothing left!"
Ram tried to continue, but Garfiel raised his head and barked, interrupting her. Anger, envy, sorrow were etched on his face.
"Bankruptcy? So what? I'll sort everything out somehow. This time, I'll sort everything out, and then everything..."
"Gaaf, I've been saying this for a long time. What you do is a compensatory act."
Ram responded calmly to Garfiel's emotional outburst.
Their opinions were at odds, and each side's concessions were met with a direct backlash. And there was no moment when they would compromise.
He must have realized this. Garfiel lowered his eyes and closed his eyes.
Subaru: "Come back, Ram. This is my final request. I beg you with all the feelings I've always shown you. So…"
"Then, Garf. Will you give up everything except Ram?"
"――――"
The reply to Garfiel's final, anguished plea was terribly brief, and yet it brought an unbearable sense of oppression to those who heard it.
Opposite him, Garfiel's expression stiffens and his lips tremble.
Looking at him, Ram lowered her eyes slightly,
"From among everything in this world, choose Ram, look only at Ram, love only Ram, devote yourself only to Ram, be loved only by Ram, be forgiven only by Ram, devote your everything only to Ram - can you do that?"
"Oh, I am..."
"Ram, you can do it."
Ram made a firm statement to Garfiel, who stammered and put his hand to his chest.
Silently, with an unwavering determination. With that single word in her mind, she raised her head,
"--Ram, you can do it."
And that was Ram's ultimatum to Garfiel.
He must have understood that. Garfiel's expression lost all energy for just a moment. Only Ram, who witnessed it, knew what expression appeared on his face in that moment.
He immediately shook his head, hiding the glimpse of weakness he had shown, and bared his fangs.
"I've known you for a long time, you stubborn guy."
"It's the same for both of us. --If Garf doesn't truly make her one of the most important people in his life, then Ram won't give in to him. Ram won't belong to anyone."
"Really?"
They look at each other and their eyes meet.
After coming to a mutual decision, the two confirmed that they would not compromise. Then, in quiet voices,
"Goodbye, Garf."
"Goodbye, Ram."
Those were the last words they exchanged, and they were affectionate.
--The forest trembles.
And then a roar rang out.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
"Patrasche! Stop! I told you to stop!!"
While desperately pulling on the reins on his dragon, Subaru called out to Patrasche as he galloped through the forest.
However, the earth dragon didn't seem to listen to what its rider was saying, and simply continued traversing the rough road, steadily moving away from the battlefield.
He had heard stories of horses that would panic and stop listening to their riders due to surprise or fear, but Patrasche's current condition did not fit that description.
His earth dragon's behavior remained the same as usual, and she remained rational, consciously ignoring Subaru's instructions.
That was proof that she didn't consider Subaru worthy of her orders.
"So it was your kindness that made you listen to what I had to say up to this point."
"――――"
He didn't listen to what she was told, and he didn't shake off his master either. Every bit of Patrasche's behavior was brimming with consideration for Subaru, and as he was being rocked on her back, Subaru was both grateful and pathetic, and was on the verge of tears.
It's not a cute story about not being able to control an earth dragon. Even the earth dragon was concerned about me, and I was so stupid that I didn't even realize it, and I was losing patience with it.
And the reason why Subaru is currently disappointed in himself is because of all of this.
"Ram's in trouble! I don't want to think that Garfiel would do anything violent to Ram, but... not now!"
Garfiel's thoughts were focused on a conclusion to the point that he had decided to kill Subaru. It was a miscalculation on his part that Ram had stood in his way, but what kind of solution he would come up with to address that miscalculation was terrifying to even imagine.
Subaru had half accepted the sacrifices that had to be made in this loop, knowing that the people in the mansion could not be saved. But Ram's involvement in the process was a different story. If he went beyond the bounds of what he had decided to tolerate, Subaru's heart, which was not yet prepared, would break and he would make a fool of himself.
Subaru: "I don't want to get hurt… but it can be fixed. So…!"
It was a pleading voice, like a whining complaint. But Patrasche had no sympathy.
The wind dragon's speed doesn't slow down, and it doesn't seem to be listening to Subaru's pleas. Ram and Garfiel grow distant. A tragedy unfolds just beyond their reach.
Thinking about this, Subaru's heart is broken once again. Why is his heart so weak, so weak that it never seems to grow stronger?
—And so, having repeatedly made the same mistake by only looking inward, Subaru had once again repeated that same mistake.
"--picture?"
The view suddenly opened up as Patrasche passed through a gap between the trees. Subaru, who had managed to cling to her and overcome the obstacles by now, was left with his mouth hanging open at the sight that appeared in his new field of vision.
"Wh-what's wrong, Natsuki-san? Are you in such a hurry?"
Just like Subaru, Otto had a look of surprise on his face as he said this.
The evacuation group was supposed to have gone ahead. Subaru caught up with them from the side. Subaru had thought that they had entered the forest and were running without a destination in mind, so Patrasche's actions were unexpected.
"You shouldn't be able to get through? What happened to Garfiel?"
"I, I don't really get it either… Ram and Patrasche…"
Subaru tried to respond to Otto while catching his breath, and wiped the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.
--The next moment, a terrifying roar shook the entire forest.
「Wha――?!」
"Huh!?"
Eyes widening in shock, Subaru and Otto simultaneously turned towards the source of the voice.
The thunderous roar shook the air and the hearts of the people, and was so overwhelming that it even made the earth dragons panic.
The only person in the situation who wasn't shaken was Patrasche, who was carrying Subaru on her back.
Therefore, it was she who made the decision faster than anyone else here.
"Oh, Natsuki-san?!"
"Hey, Patrasche!"
She immediately turned her head to the front of the line of dragon carriages, and Patrasche kicked off the ground and took off running. She wasn't heading for the lead carriage - but beyond it. In other words, she was heading for the end of the road, straight to the exit of the Sanctuary without hesitation.
Subaru leaves Otto's calls behind and runs off, receiving his divine protection once again as Patrasche takes over. Subaru doesn't understand the reason for her actions. Just as he tries to raise his voice even more to try and stop her,
「――――!!」
The impact shook the earth, and Subaru heard a scream come from behind him.
He gasped and tilted his head back, focusing his eyes in the direction Otto and the others had been.
With only his left eye visible, Subaru saw a dimly dark forest.
The dragon carriage was thrown into the air. The earth dragon was engulfed in the violent impact, scattering the refugees aboard into the air, and screams and blood painted the sky over the forest a tragic red.
"--ah"
As Subaru looked at the devastation, he saw a beast beneath the remains of the dragon carriage floating in the sky.
--Its entire body was covered in golden fur, and to Subaru it looked like a gigantic tiger.