Volume 4, 60 [A Tale Of The End Of The End]

Volume 4, Chapter 60 [A Tale Of The End Of The End]

After his conversation with Frederica came to an end, Subaru went up to the third floor of the Mansion and was now standing in the hallway outside of Roswaal’s study.

The heaviness in his head was perhaps due to the accumulated fatigue, or the weight of the troubles ahead, waiting to be solved.

[Subaru: Once again, I’ll have to wing it......]

Scratching his neck, Subaru scowled at the pitiful hand he had been dealt.

Even though he had far more information than in the previous loops, it wasn’t immediately obvious how any of it related to the problems at hand.

With so many missing pieces, all he could do was fumble around without seeing any semblance of a picture, leaving only the unease of the uncertain future looming inside his chest.

[Frederica: Subaru-sama. What are you doing?]

Seeing Subaru standing frozen in the hallway, Frederica, who was quietly waiting at his side, called out to him.

After concluding their conversation in the lounge, Frederica had opted to accompany him. Hearing her question, Subaru mumbled [Aah, yeah], vaguely nodding in return,

[Subaru: Frederica, after you came back to the Mansion, you haven’t seen Beatrice around...... have you?]

[Frederica: No, I haven’t. She very rarely makes appearances in the first place, but I haven’t seen her even once since my return, I’m ashamed to say]

[Subaru: I guess she’s really doubling down on staying hidden this time. It’s understandable that Frederica couldn’t find her]

In fact, if she was really serious about finding Beatrice, she would have had to open every door that could be connected to the Forbidden Library. It would be one thing if this was only limited to the doors in the Mansion, but there were doors in Arlam village and the Sanctuary to consider as well,

[Subaru: The range is way too wide, and there’s no way to narrow it down. If I were more pessimistic I’d say it’s impossible to solve]

[Frederica: Then, what do you plan to do? You have something to say to Beatrice-sama, don’t you, Subaru-sama?]

[Subaru: If she really wants to stay hidden, there’s no way anyone can find her. That’s just a fact]

Hearing Subaru repeat what he had just said, Frederica furrowed her brows. Sensing her doubtful gaze, Subaru gave his neck a crack and held up a single finger,

[Subaru: But here’s the thing...... No one can find her if she’s serious about trying to stay hidden, but if she’s not serious about trying to stay hidden, that’s a different story]

[Frederica: If she’s not serious?]

[Subaru: She’s not the kind of girl who hides so that no one will ever find her. Everyone who’s played hide and seek secretly hopes that they’ll be found in the end. So, deep down, there’s always going to be a little demon inside saying “I hope they find me”]

Saying this, Subaru took a few steps to the left and did a quick turn. Standing 90 degrees to the hallway, Subaru stopped right in front of the room next to Roswaal’s study―― the archives room. A narrow storage space where all the paper documents have been neatly stockpiled, the result of Otto’s frenzied organization-efforts.

Reaching out his hand to the door, Subaru felt the distinct sensation of CORRECT ANSWER through the doorknob.

[Subaru: Incredibly though, every time I open a door...... or I mean, every time I think about opening a door, I’d just suddenly get the feeling that it’s the one. I still don’t really know how it works]

[Frederica: Subaru-sama......]

[Subaru: Aaaand, we’re open!]

Frederica stuttered as Subaru flung the door open with a sound effect. Behind it, there was something off about space that should have been the archive room―― it was the unmistakable scent of books stowed away for ages that poured out of the room.

Unlike the scent of documents meant to be processed at the earliest convenience, it was closer to the fragrance of ink buried deep within tightly bound pages.

[Subaru: I don’t think I’ll be late, but, if it gets too dark, don’t forget to bring Petra back to the village]

Keeping his hand on the doorknob, Subaru reminded Frederica, who was still in a state of shock.

Frederica blinked several times, before she bowed holding the hems of her dress,

[Frederica: Then I will await your return. Please take care]

[Subaru: Ooooh. I almost feel like an important person after hearing that]

With the maid’s auspicious send-off, Subaru stepped through the door and into the room. As soon as he was inside, the door clamped shut behind him, and, with the sound of a non-existent breeze, the space bent and twisted. The link had been severed, and the Forbidden Library once again stood alone from the world.

Then,

[Beatrice: You finally came, I suppose]

Subaru was met with a paltry, unwelcoming voice. Holding back the wry smile that was encroaching onto his face, Subaru waved hello,

[Subaru: Yo, Beako! Long time no see, you’re still as little as ever]

[Beatrice: Your antics are annoying enough for an entire lifetime, you know. Seriously...... I should give up already]

Beatrice was seated halfway up a wooden step ladder, holding a book with black binding against her chest.

Seeing her there, Subaru imagined that perhaps she only ever sat there. The Forbidden Library had plenty of proper desks and chairs as well. But she always seemed to greet him from that very same spot. For some reason, the thought of it just gnawed at his heart.

[Beatrice: You’re making that spineless face again. It’s unsightly, I suppose. You’re free to feel as hurt and confused as you want, but it’s unpleasant when you do it in front of Betty, so please stop immediately]

[Subaru: Haughty as ever. Sorry, but I have no reason to follow your request. I still have to confirm whether we have that kind of relationship or not]

Subaru was almost trying to hint about what he had learned about her in the previous loops. Beatrice’s face darkened at his words, and muttered [Is that how it is, I suppose......] under her breath,

[Beatrice: Fine. It seems we both have cards in our hands now, I suppose]

[Subaru: It’s still pretty questionable whether my cards are gonna have any effect. But let’s have imagination make up for the rest]

[Beatrice: Do as you like... since either way......]

Suddenly, Beatrice’s rigid expression unraveled.

The stubborn, mask-like facade fell away, revealing a glimpse of her calm, gentle smile and the dream-like gleam in her eyes―― inadvertently, Subaru fell silent as his throat froze.

Then,

[Beatrice: The term of this long, long, long contract is coming to an end. ――At the end of the end of the end, this time, Betty will be released from this stagnation, I suppose]

Her voice was almost lonely as she spoke.

[Subaru: At the end of the end of the end......huh. That’s quite a poetic expression]

Seeing how Beatrice seemed to be ready for what was to come, Subaru shrugged and tossed in that feint. Briefly looking her over, his gaze landed on the black-bound book in her arms――if what Roswaal said was true, this would be one of the two perfect Gospels in existence.

A book which foretells the future. While there is a prophetic aspect to it, Subaru felt that it was closer to “A book which instructs on the future”.

Convinced of the Gospel’s significance, Petelgeuse of the Witch Cult had followed its incomplete entries to the point of fanaticism. And it was precisely because the incomplete version failed to record the outcomes that the madman was ultimately slain by Subaru.

[Subaru: That know-it-all expression of yours... is it also thanks to that book?]

[Beatrice: ......I should be asking you. Just how much do you know about this book, I suppose]

[Subaru: Roswaal ran his mouth over all sorts of things, you know. I think I got the basics, more or less. ......It’s similar to the ones the Witch Cultists have, but better. The only two left in the world are split between you and Roswaal]

[Beatrice: That blabbermouth Roswaal. I can just imagine him happily yammering away the moment you gave him an excuse, I suppose]

Sensing Beatrice’s scorn in those words, Subaru’s brows furrowed.

Even though Beatrice was often critical of Roswaal in their day to day life, Subaru had always put it off as a sign of their amicable relationship. But her words just now did not carry even a hint of that affection.

Instead, it was a statement of Beatrice’s sincere and genuine disgust towards Roswaal.

[Subaru: I still don’t know what kind of relationship you have with Roswaal. But you two share the only two copies of the Gospel between you, and you’ve sealed a contract with his bloodline forcing you to live inside his Mansion]

[Beatrice: Whatever are you trying to say, just say it]

[Subaru: Then I’ll cut right to the chase. The position you’re in is way too murky]

Beatrice narrowed her eyes. An intimidating presence quite unbecoming of her adorable appearance emanated from her body, giving Subaru the illusion that he was being swept by a violent wind.

Of all the pages covering the floor around her, not a single one of them had a word recorded on it.

Of the hundreds upon hundreds of fallen pages, what were the chances of them all landing on their blank side?

[Subaru: It’s supposed to be a Gospel...... why’s there nothing on it?]

Rather than believe in a miracle where only the blank sides landed facing up, it would be far more reasonable to conclude that the pages were simply blank to begin with.

Yet, following from that reasonable conclusion, Subaru was struck by an another, all too unreasonable fact.

[Subaru: This is supposed to be one of only two complete Gospels, why’s there no future recorded in here? Is it because only the owner can read it? Maybe it’s not like Petelgeuse’s?]

Maybe it was a difference between the perfect and imperfect Gospels, but Subaru had only ever had an imperfect version for reference. The texts on that book were visible even to someone who wasn’t its owner. It had been in Subaru’s keeping ever since it lost its owner, and fortunately, there hadn’t been any new entries appearing.

Consequently, Subaru had been under the impression that the Gospel’s texts would be visible to anyone, regardless of who the owner was.

[Beatrice: It has been so...... so long]

[Subaru: ――huh?]

[Beatrice: How many years it has been... since that Gospel stopped showing Betty the future......]

Collapsed on the floor with her face downcast, Beatrice quietly whispered.

“What’s that supposed to mean?”, Subaru barely managed to control his urge to ask her while anxiously waiting for her next words.

Beatrice hunched forward and pressed her hands into the scattered pages, and clenched them until they crumpled. Her fingers were trembling, and her voice was interspersed with sobs.

[Beatrice: The role given to Betty is to watch over the Library of Knowledge. Until the day comes when we meet again, I will guard this place...... I suppose]

[Subaru: Library of Knowledge...... is that, here?]

Subaru stood up and looked over the countless bookshelves that filled the room. All the books stored here, a few of which he himself had flipped through, Subaru had always assumed to have belonged to the House of Mathers, but,

[Subaru: All the books here... are Echidona’s?]

[Beatrice: She was fond of...... gathering knowledge]

[Subaru: To the point where she’s calling herself a Witch, I guess]

She went so far as to call herself the “Incarnation of the Thirst for Knowledge”. Boasting of her desire for all the knowledge in the world, it was just what one would expect from someone bearing the name of “Greed”. The countless volumes collected on these shelves must just have been the result of her efforts.

And Beatrice would be the librarian of Echidona’s shelter of knowledge.

[Beatrice: From the sound of it...... you’ve been in the Tomb, I suppose]

[Subaru: Yeah, I have. I got treated badly and had a pretty painful experience...... but now I’m glad I went. Having Echidona as a confidant is kind of a double-edged sword, you know]

Even though she was the only person he could mention his Return by Deaths to, when he did, he had invited the wrath of the Witch of Envy. Since doing so again would mean another certain death, he intended to avoid it if he could. Though he would repeat it if he must.

[Subaru: ......Just now, you said the Gospel hasn’t shown you the future in years?]

[Beatrice: That is, the truth]

[Subaru: I’m not doubting you. No, I mean, I still am, but. Because, right? Otherwise, when you...... if there’s nothing written on the Gospel......]

――Then all those times she saved him, she had chosen to help Subaru.

In the loop before last, in the moments before their parting, Subaru had first learned of her Gospel’s existence, and it shocked him to no small degree.

He had been made to believe that Beatrice’s every action and every thought had been because it was recorded in the Gospel and her own feelings had no say in the matter.

And so, in spite of the distress of the girl before his eyes, somehow, he was more relieved to know that there was something real inside her.

To know that Beatrice’s actions were reflections of her own heart―― though he couldn’t understand why, he felt relieved nonetheless.

Even without knowing the reason, all along, Subaru had felt it.

Beatrice had been kind to him for no discernable reason at all, and he didn’t know what he could have done to make her feel this way.

[Subaru: Why...... did you help me? It wasn’t written in the Gospel, right? You could have just left me there]

He knew that it was an unfair and roundabout question.

Placing all the burden of answering on Beatrice, Subaru knew that he was only caring about what he wanted. He knew, and he chose this cowardly approach anyway.

Subaru just wanted to ask Beatrice, plain and simple.

――Do you think of me as your friend?

[Beatrice: Betty...... helped...... you, because......]

[Subaru: Yes. You’ve helped me so many times. You healed me when I was on the brink of death, you cured me from the Wolgarm’s curse, and when I was so ridden with curses that there was no doubt that I was going to die, you told me the truth]

And there were so many, many more occasions beyond that.

In the loops beginning in the Mansion, when Rem was murdered and no one in the Mansion trusted Subaru, only Beatrice and Emilia chose to save him.

In the time he spent being tormented by loneliness and fear, Beatrice alone kept her promise to him. It was a kindness from a lost world that remained only inside Subaru’s heart, one he could not allow himself to forget.

And so,

[Subaru: If you didn’t do it for your Gospel, then......]

[Beatrice: ――In the end, I was told......]

Tossing all the other questions aside, the only thing Subaru wanted to know was whether Beatrice considered him a friend.

Was she someone he could trust with all that he was―― now that Rem was gone, and Emilia’s weaknesses were laid bare before him, could Beatrice take their place?

In a sense, it was an all too selfish request.

And,

[Beatrice: ......that one day, “that person” will visit Betty’s library. And I must protect the library until then]

[Subaru: ......that person?]

[Beatrice: So I was told, I suppose. Until “that person” comes, Betty must keep watch over the library. Whether you are “that person” or not, Betty isn’t sure]

Subaru’s eyes flared with passion as he looked to Beatrice, but her melancholy words soon made them lose their lustre as his brows furrowed with uncertainty.

He couldn’t understand what Beatrice was saying. Impossible to understand. It was impossible, and yet――he had a feeling that he must stop her from saying what she was about to say next.

[Beatrice: Betty doesn’t know... whether you’re “that person” or not...... but]

[Subaru: Wait, Beatrice. We’re both getting a bit ahead of ourselves. Let’s just calm down and......]

[Beatrice: Whether you’re “that person”, or not...... it doesn’t matter, I suppose]

Beatrice lifted her downcast face.

Her two drill curls swayed with her movements. As if at a loss, as if hesitating, it was as if her heart was reflected within Subaru’s.

An ominous premonition tightened in Subaru’s chest, impossible to wipe away,

[Beatrice: Even if you’re not “that person”, I don’t care anymore. So...]

[Subaru: Bea――]

[Beatrice: Please kill Betty, and end this contract once and for all, I suppose. Bring an end to the end of the end. Betty wants to be released]

Tears welled up in Beatrice’s eyes, and a feeble smile appeared on her lips,

[Beatrice: You, will become “that person”――]

-=Chapter 60 End=-