Arc 6 – 52, 'God, Please Forgive Me”

Arc 6 – Chapter 52, “God, Please Forgive Me”

―An unpleasant sword dance began to unfold, with the stage being the Fifth Floor Atrium.

「――――」

With his long, red hair flying about, the eyepatch-clad man flawlessly weaved left and right, with absolute control of his burly body, wielding only short, fragile sticks of wood. Unfolding right on the stage was an unbelievable spectacle.

「―KSHEEEEEEGHHH!!」

A Witchbeast in the form of a Centaur rushed towards the Redhead, its half-human, half-horse form raising a cry that sounded like something a newborn baby would emit. On its upper-half, the human part, the Witchbeast had no head. It wielded a sword of flame, carrying it in both hands – were you to come into contact with this immeasurable, scorching heat, even if were to graze you then certainly your body would end up becoming carbonized. And, yet, how was it that the man was doing this? He had twisted his body into this dance within the searing heat, fending it off as if it was childsplay, using only those plain-as-day wooden sticks that he carried about.

Flames did not alight upon the wooden sticks which had successfully warded the creature off. They didn’t catch on fire. Why!?

―Perhaps it was just because he was swinging those wooden sticks faster than they could catch on fire and burn.

The must be the reason why. The reason he managed to fend off the sword’s fiery blow was because he had deflected the flash of its sword with a nonchalant parry. And, it seemed like the reason why that man found this so enjoyable, as the air around him became red-hot with murderous intent, was because he was absolutely insane.

Fully enjoying the prime of this world, Reid in this crazed state resumed the『Trial.』

Reid:「Looklooklooklook Looklooklooklook!You, what happened ?!You, are ya playing?! Unlike before, ‘s time t’ get serious, you. Use your companions around ya, time t’ take vengeance on me! Youyouyouyouyouyouyouyouyouyou!」

While bellowing angrily, with spittle flying from his mouth into the midst of the flames, Reid held a wooden stick in each hand. In a similar manner to how those blue eyes glared at him, Julius was encircled by the flames around him.

As Julius dealt with the Witchbeasts around him, with his sword in hand, a sudden feeling of tension and bewilderment floated across his face; he didn’t want to pay any heed to the words of Reid, who, as expected, was treating this as if this were song and dance. And with that same expression, Julius shouted out.

Julius:「What the heck, what are you thinking!? These Witchbeasts came from the basement! This is a big deal for the tower, we should combine our strength!」

Reid:「Wowzers! Slave of the sword is even a slave of the sword in his thinking. You, like this, can you even enjoy living? From my experience, guys who hold off on doing what they wanna do, live much boring lives than guys who do what they want, understand, you?」

Julius:「What do you-......」

Reid:「First of all, what’s the problem with letting those disgusting burning horseys run around? They’re only as bothersome as rain t’ me. ‘Cept rain’s plenty bothersome, cuz I’m a clean freak, ya see」

Julius’ argument had come from a sensible point of view, but Reid laughed at it like it had been madness-spurned nonsense from a madman’s reasoning. Comparing the flock of clearly murderous Witchbeasts of flame to something on the same level as the rain served as proof that any reasoning within Reid was long dead. To reason with him would be impossible, for everything left within him was meaningless, save for chaos.

Julius:「―hk!」

When Julius heard this, he was disturbed by a thought he’d never even considered, and as a result, a trace of hesitation was born in him as he brandished his sword, and his parry to the Centaur’s attack was belated.

Julius:「Damn―!」

Julius did not meet the arcing, flaming sword with his sword, he instead dodged it with something like a backward somersault. And straight afterwards, another Centaur came to trample his head under its hooves. He avoided it by jumping forwards using his momentum from his landing. He thrusted his sword towards the body of the Witchbeast that had been wielding the flaming sword just before as the Witchbeasts behind them screamed―

Julius:「―Mmmphn!!」

As he went to turn around, a hoof-kick caught Julius’s left shoulder. A muffled sound, and then a look of anguish ran across his handsome features. Even so, he used the momentum of the hoof to turn his body around, and with his sword, he cut down the Witchbeast by its legs, and with one mighty sword sweep he ran his sword through its body. Then, he slammed the pommel of his own sword into his bleeding left shoulder. The sound of raw meat and bone reverberated, and far more drastic than had been the case when Reid had treated Subaru’s own shoulder, his bone slotted back into place.

Reid:「And that’s that. Heh, not bad, that expression of yers.」

As their giant burning bodies and trampling hooves transformed the fifth floor into a burning hellhole, only one person, Julius, had dared to fight against everyone’s despair. Reid was pleased by this, with a cruel smile taking form on his face. Were the Witchbeast unable to reason, it would consider Reid and Julius equally harmful opponents; however, if it were intelligent, then the answer would be clearer than flame.

Stained with blood, lacking his usual elegance, Julius’s sword kept the Witchbeasts’ attacks at bay and steadily cut them down one by one. Meanwhile, Reid didn’t seem troubled, and with martial arts skills that were about the same, or higher than Julius, he was reaping the lives of the Witchbeasts as if he were a Shinigami. And, in the meanwhile―

Julius:「―GH」

Reid:「I like to move forward, but there’s danger everywhere?」

Picking his ear seemingly in boredom, Reid’s long leg slammed into the back of Julius, who had been turned away from him. How much power had been in that kick? Having received it, Julius’ body was blown away with ease, just like a stone, wrapped up in a piece of cloth. His body crashed into the tower wall. His crash could be felt reverberating all throughout the tower, the Witchbeasts let out a shrill cry, welcoming their prey’s predicament. Hunched down on the floor, the herd of Witchbeasts rushed forward in a mad scramble towards Julius, who was coughing up blood.

Julius:「Gh... aaa!」

Julius slid his torso up from the ground, and as he kicked out at one of the hooves with his long legs, he jumped back onto his feet. Using that momentum, Julius clambered up using the shoulders and the torso of one of the Witchbeasts that had rushed forward as a foothold, and tried to break through their encirclement. He pointed his left hand towards a gap left in between the Witchbeasts.

Julius:「――――」

Nothing happened. Grasping his left hand, Julius’s face showed bitterness. The Witchbeasts had turned around, drawing nearer towards Julius―

Reid:「―Even at a time like this, ya ain’t gotten serious yet, you.」

Julius found himself between the Witchbeasts, while Reid sighed and waved his stick. Holding one each in both hands, a heavy gust of wind was raised as he swung them, lifting up around about 10 of the Centaur’s up into the air. A sensation of being unaware at what had happened rose up in the Witchbeasts as they felt their hooves floating in mid-air.

Reid:「Die, ya useless horses!」

Right there, Reid gently took a step and jumped up, towards the Witchbeasts, one by one, he cut the torsos in half, pierced their heart, broke their upper body, destroying all of the Witchbeasts, massacring them all, total annihilation on a completely different scale.

Flying in the air, he landed on a place where all the bodies were scattered, everything happened in about three seconds. The Witchbeasts, known for their tremendous lethality, killed without any help, all destroyed. Then, the fifth layer filled with the Centaurs was swept away, and in this case, it felt like there was room for some relief―

Reid:「Jeez, cut it out already. One after another, they emerge from their nest.」

Reid clicked his tongue, and, as if to confirm what he had said and indicated, from the stairs that led towards the Sixth Floor underneath, the sounds of hooves and the cries of their baby-like voices were once again approaching the Fifth Floor.

If this went on, due to the accumulation of the corpses, it would only be a matter of time before the Witchbeasts would go up. If the desert outside was the natural habitat of these Witchbeasts, it was unimaginable how many of them there were.

Reid seemed to have a similar idea, and he slowly crossed his arms together,

Reid:「Destroying the mood of people wanting to go out for a walk is like getting disturbed while cleaning the plates for the leftovers. Kicking those shits, they are bad guys, mhhhm? Oi!」

Julius:「Wait, go out? That’s already the case, and you’re still saying you want to go out?」

Reid:「You, heard me, that’s my conclusion. Like I said. These guys ain’t nothing but drops of rain, playin’ with ‘em ‘s just borin’. They’re really nothin’ special. Only the smokin’ hottie was capable of playin’ with me... The rest of ya, you, can’t match up t’ my level at all.」

Julius:「―Tsk!」

Clenching his teeth, Julius was highly dissatisfied with Reid’s attitude, but he hesitated to express that.

If he would express that here, the fight with Reid would break down. In this case, the situation would be against both Reid Astrea and the Witchbeasts. Yes, Julius was thinking correctly. Glancing at him, he saw Julius’s hesitation in an instant,

Reid:「Nothin’ can be done about it, it’s their nature.」

Reid was disappointed from the bottom of his heart, and he muttered, which made Julius’ cheeks become stiff. How much anguish was coursing through there? Julius’s, his expression and overly complex emotional vortex, it was like a child heading for the top of the mountain which was covered by clouds.

The pain within his heart was absolutely invisible to everyone other than him.

―However, it was immediately after that the hellfire which spouted from below rose up aiming at Julius. All of what was happening below was well visible to the『Mediocre Guy』looking down at the battlefield from up above.

Subaru:「―Aah」

While everything had reached this point, Natsuki Subaru overlooked the fifth layer fight from above, he realized that he had even forgot to breathe because of the situation downstairs.

「――――」

Under his eyes, Reid and Julius were facing a war against Witchbeasts. Subaru wanted to intervene as a mortal piece of meat, even considering such things were an act of arrogance. Struck with admiration towards Reid, who operated far outside the norm, he could feel nothing but fresh-born awe towards him. But, for the first time, Subaru witnessed Julius’s fight. His swordsmanship and skills, were at a level at which dust like Subaru could not be beneficial.

If Subaru challenged him, he would definitely be shot down in an instant; it would only be an ugly defeat. To face him without utmost seriousness, with only a wooden practice sword, well, that frank face would never waver; there would only be agonizing, crushing defeat.

Whether it was Emilia, or Julius, or Ram, it was all the same.

Or, let’s say Beatrice and Echidna, not to mention Shaula, and everyone in this tower, Natsuki Subaru’s meagre power could not be compared with theirs. He had taken them, the people of this world, the inhabitants of this fantasy world far too lightly.

Weak and young, Meili was the only one he had killed. Even then, it was『Natsuki Subaru』who did that, which meant that Subaru did not participate in that.

He can’t kill what he can’t kill. Natsuki Subaru realized that he did not have the strength to fulfill the『Book of The Dead』plan.

「――――」

After realizing that, Natsuki Subaru’s heart became hesitant. Amazed while standing, Julius lost his calm, and did not notice the Witchbeasts behind him. Reid noticed them, but he did not warn him.

At this rate, Julius would be burned to death by the flames of the Witchbeasts, who were approaching him from behind― Through Subaru’s mind, the fulfillment of such a notion flashed.

Julius’s『Book of The Dead』would also be added to the library.

Subaru could not allow this situation to unfold with his own hands.

It would be a tragedy, by going with the flow of the situation, Subaru would push Julius into his『Death』―.

Subaru:「―BEHIND YOU, JULIUS!!」

Julius:「―Tsk!」

Upon hearing that scream, Julius’s body reflexively unstiffened. Without hesitation, his slender body flew to the right, over the hellfire that had been set loose from behind him swept across the floor of the Fifth Floor, incinerating everything in its wake. Explosive flames which dyed the air crimson; the source of this continuous emission was a witchbeast an entire size larger than all the previous ones. Adolescent and adult― whether or not such distinctions existed amongst witchbeasts, Subaru felt such a discrepancy in their power levels.

「――――KSEEEEEEEEEEGH!!」

Embraced by the flames, the big centaur that made a piercing noise, gathered several other centaurs around him. Once again the fifth floor was swarmed by a herd. The situation turned once again back into a stalemate. Having been caught up in the aftermath of the hellfire, Julius flung off his burning cloak in which flames had set it alight from the hem without turning back towards the Witchbeasts with his nimble figure. His eyes turned to the other side. Julius faced Subaru, who was feeling desperate and unable to move.

Julius:「――――」

Subaru:「Urkh......」

That moment, even with the distance between them, Julius’s and Subaru’s gazes crossed with each other’s. Even though they are clearly quite a distance apart, in positions where they can’t even see each other’s faces, Subaru felt the complex emotion buried in those yellow eyes, letting out a groan from the depths of his throat. Doubt, confusion, hesitation, worry, various shades of negative emotions swirled around within the depths of his eyes. They pierce straight into the depths of Natsuki Subaru’s inexpressible guilt... and then,

Subaru: 「......My goal?」

Echidna:「Don’t feign ignorance! Your goal, it is the Shrine of the『Witch』, isn’t it!?Because your goal is fulfilled, everything reveals its true nature.......I should have followed Ana’s intuition. I shouldn’t have brought anyone else here.」

Echidna’s voice, speaking with anguish, was filled with contrition and remorse. Subaru knew of no such true identity.

Just now, she was something she had never seen before. Moreover, she suspects that Subaru is related to that. ――But does it even matter? The end of the world is approaching.

Beatrice:「Subaru, Subaru!In fact, what’s wrong with you?! The way you’re talking, it’s nothing like Subaru, I suppose!You cannot stop in such a place like this in fact!」

Subaru:「Like... me?」

Beatrice appealed and pulled Subaru’s sleeve, whose expressions had completely disappeared. The trembling voice shook his ears, and Subaru stared at Beatrice.

Subaru:「What is, being like me. Just where is that being like me, which you guys are looking at.」

Echidna:「... Amnesia. Do you intent to continue your disgusting farce? Ram, who knows she lost memories of her little sister, or Julius who has gotten himself has been forgotten, the people around you have lost such precious memories, and yet you maintain your cruel act.」

Subaru:「Act!? Act you say!? Give me a break! If it’s acting, then isn’t it obvious I’d act with much more determination!? Who would...... who would like to become『Natsuki Subaru』, by their choice! Who would become that disgusting guy!!」

With his brain a total mess, Subaru bursted out with anger at Echidna,

If he had the freedom of choice, if he had the luxury of being picky, who would like to become 『Natsuki Subaru』. Twisted, unbearable, that was the kind of existence he was.

―Just who, would wish to become 『Natsuki Subaru』?

Subaru:「You’re all just ganging up on me! Who do you think you are! I lost everything! I was just coming back from the convenience store! All I remember is that there was just the store clerk with me! From that, suddenly a different world? Sand tower? What I am supposed to do! 『Trial』! Fakeness! 『Natsuki Subaru』! Don’t mess with me! Don’t mess with, me!」

Echidna:「――――」

Subaru:「That’s right! It must be my fault! I came here when I shouldn’t have had! I didn’t want to go back home! I was too scared to bother dad and mom by this face mask of someone fake! So I was all excited in the beginning, but just in the beginning!」

Beatrice and Echidna were quite open-minded about the emotions of the exploding Subaru.

They surely didn’t know their meaning. To them, Subaru’s anguish was simply meaningless.

He also confessed of this being a different world for him.

However, they did not understand the meaning of『Different World』in its truest sense.— There was an unquestionable gap between their understanding.

Subaru was not the『Natsuki Subaru』they were seeking.

Neither if they saved Subaru, would they get the one they were seeking.

Subaru:「Why, are you all suddenly thinking about it now? I don’t know either! But, I have suddenly just reached my limit! Because I am like this, something that was perfectly fine got broken! Even if I want to, I can’t do anything! Not a single thing! So!」

「――――」

Subaru:「So...... just forgive me now. Please forgive me. Please, give me your forgiveness...... If God, wanted to, punish me then, I understand....... it was my fault.」

Subaru said, overwhelmed, with his voice gradually fading away and holding back all his bitterness.

He asked for forgiveness, as he rubbed his forehead on the aisle. He did not know who he should ask this of, so he prayed to God. Taking the name of all the gods that were to his knowledge, he prayed.

He wished forgiveness for the punishment given to him, to his slothful self. All his despair surely stemmed from the drastic change his life suffered.

So, please forgive me.

He no longer wished to have anyone else involved in the punishment resulting from Natsuki Subaru’s foolishness.

He did not want to hurt himself, he did not want to hurt anyone else.

「――――」

Subaru desperately and tearfully appealed to the silent Echidna and Beatrice.

Beatrice’s palm gently stroked Subaru’s back, who was crawling next to the two of them.

That feeling of the palm of someone not of the same gender as him, why did it still persist with him?

Hearing to the answer of that question was too hurtful for Subaru.

Echidna:「......I don’t believe you.」

Beatrice:「Echidna......」

Beatrice called out to Echidna, who had sighed out her conclusion. At her voice, Echidna loosened her head.

Echidna:「Even if you cradle your head and sob, none of my doubt will be erased. My answer remains the same. I am..... I have the responsibility of borrowing Ana’s body. For her safe return, no matter who curses me, who hates me, I’ll bear it.」

Beatrice:「――――」

Echidna:「...However, I don’t want to do anything that leaves me incapable of facing her.」

Saying that, Echidna gradually lowered her fingers towards Subaru’s forehead. Seeing the fingers lose the pressure they had ever since coming to this aisle, it became obvious that the issue of those fingers holding Subaru’s life had been solved.

But, that had nothing to do with the salvation Subaru wished for.

Echidna:「Beatrice, you’re free to go with him. I plan to go to where Julius is. After reuniting with him, if no surprises arise, we’ll meet again on the top floor」

Beatrice:「... Understood, I suppose. Hey, Subaru, stand now. If you won’t stand, then Betty is ready to even carry you, I suppose.」

Echidna turned her back and recognized that Beatrice respected her beliefs. At that time, as Beatrice tried to lend her small shoulder to him, Subaru stared at Echidna’s back, who was trying to keep distance from his affairs.

―I’m leaving Echidna, Anastasia-sama in your hands!!

Echidna:「―By this, what do you think you’re doing?」

Echidna turned her neck around and glared intensely― at the hand which grabbed the sleeve of her left hand. Echidna, with stiffened cheeks, asked Subaru, whose face was all messy with his tears and a runny nose.

He was unable to answer what he was doing.

Subaru could not stand Echidna’s accusations. Even so, Echidna judged to not take Subaru’s hand and comply with his unreasonable request.

As she realised that, Subaru’s fingers continued to damage her judgement.

Echidna:「I intend to give it away. Even so, how come has it come down to this?」

Subaru:「......Julius, asked me to.」

Echidna:「He did? Don’t joke around. He could....... make this decision, but...」

一At that moment, Echidna, who was the reason behind Subaru’s tears, reconsidered what she was going to say, letting out a “before that”,

Echidna:「Did you meet him before coming here? He was supposed to keep watch at all five layers. And if he met with you...... No, rather than that, what did he ask you for? Right now he is......」

Subaru experienced a crushing tightness in his chest at hearing that short question.

The cracks in his heart hadn’t healed yet in the first place. Just why, did his body act, for a world out of his control, where he could not do anything.

Why did, till he had made that promise with Julius―,

Echidna:「Ah, I don’t get it. Anyway, lastly, where did you last meet Julius, tell......」

Subaru:「―Ah」

Echidna, driven with impatience, picked words to continue the conversation.Looking at her efforts, Subaru sighed.

It was not because he was hesitating to tell her.

A situation even more urgent, than this unavoidable one with Echidna, had come up.

「――――」

Behind Echidna, who was staring at Subaru– a dot of red light floated across the aisle.

Subaru had no idea what it could be.

The dot of red light, floating in the dark and moving slowly, directly faced Subaru’s black eyes.

Subaru understood that this was a situation of being “eye-to-eye” with someone or something thanks to his mere intuition.

At the same time, the eyes of the one who had locked with his own, its figure was faintly visible through the dark. A black body that stood in the dark, with a glowing dot of light, and a pair of strangely developed sharp pincers, and above all, a trembling sharp tail stinger―,

Subaru:「WAH?」

―An unbelievably huge scorpion, with its tailpiece pointing towards them.

Beatrice:「SUBARU ! !」

At the moment when it swung its tail, Beatrice, who was standing next to him, called out.

―The light swept through the aisle, firing shock waves and violently shattering the four layers of stone.