Chapter 94: Erecting High Mental Barriers

"So, those witch's scents on Subaru are also..."

Rem's mind was violently shaken as she came to understand the source of how her past self had misunderstood Subaru.

"So this is what they call—the witch's favored one? But no matter which witch's favor it is, it isn't necessarily—a good thing, you know~"

Roswaal said, drawing out his words, his tone tinged with pity.

"If Mr. Subaru were merely an ordinary man devoid of talent, that would be one thing—he could pass his whole life in ignorant bliss."

"But heaven instead bestowed upon him the favor of the Witch of Envy, and that has brought him ever more desire~"

"If one avoids violent joy, then naturally no grief will come crashing down... A pity that Mr. Subaru clearly fails to grasp this principle."

Roswaal spoke softly, with a sigh of lament.

"Or rather, even if he understands, he insists on doing it anyway... Mr. Subaru, you really are greedy, aren't you."

"Roswaal, don't you go judging Subaru with that shallow mind of yours. Subaru's gentle way of thinking is something a cold-blooded being like you could never understand in a lifetime, I suppose!"

Betty said coldly, warning Roswaal at the same time.

"'Roswaal'... is it? I see—so you already know that I am the very first 'Roswaal.' This too is a variable that the present me has been anticipating."

From Betty's familiar tone, Roswaal realized something; while lost in thought, he tactfully shut his mouth.

"Heh. How is a person who isn't greedy enough supposed to ascend to this nation's throne?"

At this, Priscilla pointed her folded fan toward the Natsuki Subaru on the screen and smiled.

"As long as one's ability matches one's desire, then even if he wished to rule the entire world and gather all the beauties under heaven into his harem, this consort would surely help her husband attain his wish."

Priscilla revealed a confident and proud smile.

"After all, it was precisely this virtue of my husband's that drew me to him in the first place. This consort's husband is, without a doubt, a born king."

Hearing this, Ram's heart was suddenly stirred.

A king... perhaps that was indeed so.

It was only because of her that this born king had lost his "heart."

Ram lifted her head and stared blankly at the screen, light and shadow flickering across her pupils, her gaze forlorn.

[Natsuki Subaru told Emilia that he wanted to be left alone, and afterward the others in the manor came one after another to visit.

Roswaal, Rem, Ram... but Natsuki Subaru paid them little heed, merely calculating within his heart as though his mind had drifted far beyond this world.

"In this manor I've already died three times. Judging from my experience back in the Royal Capital, if I were to die one more time, I might..."

Thinking of this, Natsuki Subaru clenched his teeth, instinctively wanting to flee from the question.

"What a pathetic look on your face."

At this moment, Betty—who had been standing by the bedside silently keeping him company for who knows how long—suddenly spoke up and drew Natsuki Subaru's attention.

"What did you come here for?"

Natsuki Subaru asked coldly; right now he no longer trusted anyone in the manor.

"Hmph~ it was Brother and that little lass who told me to come check on you. Be grateful—who told Betty to be the first one to lay eyes on you? I have no choice but to see my responsibility for you through to the very end."

With her tsundere manner, Betty lowered the arms folded across her chest and walked to Natsuki Subaru's bedside with a vexed expression.]

"Mr. Natsuki's reaction here is far from reassuring. Has he already gone numb?"

Otto sighed, thinking with some degree of agreement: treated this way by the Rem and Ram of the previous loop, anyone would probably react like this, wouldn't they?

"The important thing is that Subaru has already begun to feel resistance toward us in the manor. That's troublesome—an ailment of the heart is the hardest to cure."

Puck rested both hands behind his head, speaking in an inscrutable tone that left others unable to guess his thoughts.

At this point Emilia, who sat below Puck, spoke up; already knowing how the story would turn out, she clenched her fist and said,

"No—in the end all the misunderstandings will be cleared up, because Subaru... is just such a gentle person."

Though she said this, Emilia had little conviction behind her words.

As for why... after all, she had witnessed with her own eyes how the [Purge King] Subaru came to be born.

The images on the screen now were exactly the same as the experiences in her memory; had she not obtained in advance the memories of all of Subaru's loops during the manor incident, she would likely still be kept in the dark.

What kind of ending Subaru would have depended on what kind of choices he made.

However, judging by this cinema's consistent style, what came next would likely still inevitably involve the public screening of the [Purge King] Subaru's experiences that she knew so well.

But that was just as well—it would let her take a good look at what Subaru had actually gone through back then, and exactly what had happened between him and Ram!

[Betty approached to stand before Natsuki Subaru and suddenly gave a sniff with her nose.

"It seems not only has your face grown gloomier, but the scent has grown stronger as well."

Betty pinched her nose, speaking with a look of disgust.

"Huh?"

Seeing Natsuki Subaru's dazed expression, Betty sighed and had no choice but to inform him that a thick witch's scent was wafting from his body, along with the unfortunate fact that he was being given special attention by the Witch of Envy.

Having said this, Betty felt she had done all that could be asked of her, so she turned to leave the room.

"Wait—Betty, there's something I'd like to ask your help with."

Natsuki Subaru called Betty back from behind.

"What is it? It has nothing to do with Betty, I suppose."

Though she said this, Betty stopped in her tracks, wanting to hear what Natsuki Subaru had to say.

"All right then—so it wouldn't matter if I tattled to Puck, would it? After all, the way you drained my mana this morning wasn't the least bit excessive, right?"

Natsuki Subaru gritted his teeth and said it, throwing caution to the wind.

"Oh my, now that you mention it, Betty does seem to feel just a teeny bit guilty about that, I suppose."

Betty pursed her lips, turned around, and pinched her fingers together to show that the guilt in her heart was truly only the tiniest bit.

"In that case, then please protect me until the morning of the fifth day! I only ask to keep myself safe!"

"Ha, you really are a handful. Very well then, hold out your hand."

Betty stared at Natsuki Subaru for two seconds, then sighed and clasped his left hand, interlocking all ten fingers.

"Your wish is granted."

"In the name of Beatrice, a contract is hereby sealed in this place."

Betty raised her head to look at Natsuki Subaru, her gaze plain yet sincere.

"Though it's somewhat baffling, a contract is a contract and must be honored, so I'll consider your request accepted for now."

At these words, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but raise his hand to cover his face, his voice choking up.

"How embarrassing... I'm about to be made to cry by a little girl."

To him, although Betty's attitude had been consistently poor and her tongue sharp,

he could sense from her actions that she was a softhearted, kindly soul.

This made Natsuki Subaru—who had been backstabbed by the Rem and Ram sisters of the previous loop and had thus built high walls around his heart—feel, at this very moment, that light had shone through.

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