Arc 6 – 70, 'The Earnest Star”

Arc 6 – Chapter 70, “The Earnest Star”

ーーWithin the collapsing tower, basking in Reid’s decapitating slash, Natsuki Subaru’s? life had burned out.

Quite literally, burning out had accurately been his moment of death.

There were various things which he was pained by and which he needed to confirm, such as the way to cope with the mass of the shadow drawing near, or what he intended to do afterwards, and above all, somehow or other confirming a scaffold within the crumbling tower, and all those of his efforts had gotten abandoned.

What alone was confirmed was that Reid’s final flash had swallowed Subaru, and vaporized him away.

Perhaps, it had not hurt, is what he thought.

Of course, he did not believe it had been Reid’s benevolence at all, but pain and fear not accompanying the moment of 『Death』 was an unexpected occurrence for Subaru, who had died several times within a short frame of time.

Yes, neither had he felt pain nor fear. ーーMerely 『Rage』 was what he held.

Subaru: “ーーI will”

For just how many times continue to pile up meaningless deaths, is what he thought.

Things he had taken with him, hints that would break him out of the deadlock, as long as those were present, Subaru’s 『Deaths』 would not be meaningless, and the 『Deaths』 he was continuing to pile up would not be put to waste.

That was, terrible deceit.

That was, merely an excuse to turn his eyes away from his own powerlessness.

He had died meaninglessly, powerlessly, without will, without heart, aimlessly, and he did not want to think that, that was all there was to it. That is why, for not having merely died, he desired meaning in his 『Death』.

If only he could have had been more strong.

If only, he could have had been more smart.

If only, instead of his current self, he could have had been stronger, smarter, bolder.

Subaru: “But......”

The only one here was merely the weak, stupid, pathetic Natsuki Subaru.

Because nobody, ever, tried to leave that Subaru alone.

That was, because they were supporting his current self’s wound-filled resolution.

Subaru: “That is why, I amーー”

That is why, Natsuki Subaru isーー.

※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Subaru: “ーーIf I tell you to die, will you die?”

The moment he declared that, it was not as if he felt no hesitation.

That was because he had been unable to anticipate what kind of a reaction his opponent would give him the moment she received that question. ーーNo, if it was merely anticipation, then he had done so.

With various patterns of imagination, he had thought of what it eventually would be.

If so, then the faltering he had embraced while declaring that question, for what reason did he possess that indecision.

At any rateーー,

Shaula: “ーー? If Master-sama told me to die then I’ll? die, you know?”

He felt his chest ache upon Shaula’s indifferent response, who had a finger touching her cheek.

As if he was being stabbed, to the point it would form cracks, painfully, he let out a shriek within the core of his chest.

“ーーーー”

Oozily, upon the painful optical illusion, Subaru gripped to the pit of his stomach and deeply exhaled.

Though he himself had voiced out those wounding words just now, he thought himself comical for feeling hurt. Looking at that Subaru’s state, Shaula rounded her eyes in curiosity.

With no ill intent, Shaula’s attitude seemed as if she had been asked about the menu for today’s evening meal and she had merely responded appropriately.

That reaction of hers, was the second worst in the patterns he had predicted.

With no pretence, selecting the option of accepting the instruction for her to abandon her life was Shaula.

That was no lie or humour, that was her real intention with no second thoughts, he was able to understand that by a single glance into her straightforward eyes.

Subsequently having caught a glimpse into her dark self-interests or plans might have had saved Subaru’s heart.

However, the reality was that Subaru had not prepared for such an escape route. Whether that was compassion or mercilessness, at this stage he would not be able to even differentiate between the two, butーー,

Subaru: “......Is that, so.”

Shaula: “Does Master-sama, want me to die? Hmm, if it’s Master-sama’s request then I’ll listen to anything, and I’m perfectly fine with it personally, but again, isn’t it quite a weird timing for such a thought? Right now, it’s a total fiasco inside the tower......”

Subaru: “I know. I know.”

Hearing Subaru’s husky reply, Shaula tilted her neck while having her finger remain on her cheek. Going along with that movement of her neck, her long braidーー scorpion tail swayed about.

Scorpion tail. If considered, that was quite an ironic naming as well.

Similar to 『Shaula』 which bestowed meaning upon the Scorpius, her name was expressed even upon her body. That was made apparent not merely through her name, but through various other aspects of hers as well.

That was surely because she had no intentions of concealing it.

That is whyーー,

Subaru: “ーーShaula, you, aren’t you capable of taking the form of a large scorpion?”

Lacking any sluggish phraseology, Subaru frankly cut into the opponent’s secret.

The five obstacles that attack the Pleiades Watchtowerーー one of those, the existence of the jet black titanic scorpion. Subaru had been halfway convinced that it had been Shaula.

However, for Subaru, that answer he had sensed was merely his interpretation of the feeling he got from the powerful Authority of unidentified nature, 『Cor Leonis』.

If he were to try and gain confirmation for that answer he had sensed, enquiring the opponent directly about it would be the fastest.

Of course?, if he had time to then he may have chosen a different option as well, and if he had been unable to trust his opponent’s response, then he might have been obligated to employ a different method.

However, Shaula kept her neck tilted at that inquiry of Subaru’s,

Shaula: “Take the form of, the nuance is a bit different from that, but yup I can~. Ah, but, it damages my PRETTINESS so I don’t really like it too much. I just think that the design given to me by mother-sama and Master-sama is the best.”

In spite of the question being one lacking any chain of logic, Shaula readily answered with no hesitation yet again.

“ーーーー”

She possessed no intentions of hiding anything.

And the nature of Shaula herself, it could be said that it had been established with this proof. At the same time, the titanic scorpion which made its appearance in the towerーー its true identity had been her, he had gained that confirmation now.

The effect of 『Cor Leonis』, the moment he perceived the positions of his comrades within the tower, the reason why the titanic scorpion had been indicated in that perception, that had indeed been the trick instigating it.

Shaula: “Master-sama? Are you okay? Your face has a pretty bad colour, you know? Would you like to REFRESH yourself with my lap pillow, arm pillow, chest pillow, hug pillow or something like that?”

Subaru: “......Don’t say things which dampen my spirits. First of all, we don’t have such time, you yourself said that, didn’t you.”

Shaula: “It’s true that it’s a fiasco inside the tower, but for me, Master-sama is on the top of my priority list, everything else can be kept for later. That’s why, if Master-sama slips into confusion and says he wants to be locked in a grapple with me, I’d welcome it super openly. I’m getting fired up.”

Subaru: “Don’t get fired up. Get some water.”

Shaula: “Just as always, geez Master-sama~.”

Sharpening her lips, Shaula made a pouting face.

His back and forth with her, along with her expression, if only these were to be taken into consideration, it could be misunderstood that the situation that had come up around Subaru and the others was seemingly one of peace.

“ーーーー”

However?, reality was not kind to Subaru and the others at all. It was the farthest thing from peace.

Whilst Subaru and Shaula leisurely conversed like this, Emilia and Ram were making efforts in order to hold off 『Gluttony』, and Beatrice had joined in with them for support. Julius was colliding with Reid = Roy on the second layer, Echidna had grouped with Patrasche, and must be evacuating to 『Taygeta』 along with Rem. And, Meili was holding off the hordes of Witch Beastsーー the very best they could do to strike the five obstacles.

However, even that was merely deceit for the sake of conversing with Shaula.

Because, in these surroundings, Natsuki Subaru wasーー,

Shaula: “M-Master-sama? Are you seriously alright? If you stare at me with such imposing eyes, I won’t be able to hold back this four hundred year old wait I have experienced, you know......?”

At Subaru’s gaze staring at her self, Shaula hugged her slender figure with her arms. It seemed to be the usual feign, but that was not it.

She truly was in a situation where she was feeling uneasiness by Subaru’s attitude. It was unlike herーー no, that’s wrong. Perhaps these were her true feelings.

She had not felt shaken even when Subaru had told her to die, but when Subaru acted abnormally, her fragile heart had shaken up, almost astonishingly. ーーAkin to, a baby bird innocently yearning for its parents.

“ーーーー”

When he had fired his first question at Shaula, Subaru had thought of several possibilities.

Amongst those, the worst one was that the instant she would get struck by those heartless words from Subaru, she might murder him impulsively at the very same pace. ーーIn the case that Shaula’s attitude till now had been mere acting, and anything and everything had been fabricated.

It was not impossible.

Though he had possessed no confirmation before that question, she had a track record of having changed into the form of the titanic scorpion and murdering Subaru, Echidna and Beatrice. Otherwise, in the tragedy where Subaru had been unable to find a single person alive in his surroundings, it was highly possible that she had a hand in that after turning into the titanic scorpion.

That is why, the first question, for Subaru as well, had been a gamble.

Once he said that, the instant immediately afterwards Shaula had gulped down that question, it would not have been strange if Subaru’s head had been sent evaporating, it had been that kind of a gambleーー he could now say that he had won that gamble.

However, merely once is never an end to gambling.

The debt Subaru had unconsciously piled up, the stakes prepared by 『Gluttony』 and the Pleiades Watchtower, in order to regain whatever he had lost till now, piling up such little victories would be far too lacking.

For a huge victory, it is a necessity to make a huge gamble. Henceforthーー,

Subaru: “Shaula, sorry for having so many questions, but I want to ask something. From what I’ve heard, there are supposed to be some rules for the 『Trials』 of this Pleiades Watchtower, is that so?”

Shaula: “You ask that now at this timing when I’m getting all hot!? ......Well, yes there are? I had talked about it before Master-sama crashed his head into the urinal too, though......”

Subaru: “Tell me, about them.”

Rushing over, as Subaru jolted her white shoulders, his arms got grasped instead. And, while painfully? gripping to Subaru’s arms with her slender ones, Shaula spoke.

Gazing intently into Shaula’s eyes, who had said that, Subaru inhaled.

ーーA queer change was occuring in the dark pupils? and irises of Shaula’s? eyes.

Within her spherical eyes, the dark pupil and iris of her eyeball split into three, turning red and pulsating.

The transfiguration which occurred in the right and left eyeballs alongside, it meant that her dark pupils and irises split into six.

ーーSix compound eyes, three on the left, three on the right.

Shaula: “Master-sama......! Right now, I can still make it......”

Subaru: “Make it?”

Shaula: “Right now, if Master-sama commands me, then I can...... I can, still kill myself.”

With her eyeballs pulsating red, white steam started to arise from the entirety of Shaula’s body. Her white skin got engulfed with a tint of red, and even Subaru, who was standing right next to her, could feel the abnormal rise in body temperature.

The principle behind it was ambiguous. ーーJust that Shaula’s body was generating heat, and change was ensuing in it.

Perhaps, it was the initial phase of transforming into the form of the titanic scorpion.

Shaula: “If I transform, I won’t make it. I will become a KILLING MACHINE lacking any blood or tears, and kill Master-sama. I mean, I want Master-sama so much...... I want Master-sama so badly, so badly that I can’t bear it, that’s why.”

Subaru: “Before that happens”

Shaula: “Please tell me, to die...... If you do that, I will, for Master-sama”

Will come to an end before killing you, Shaula was unable to continue her words on to say that.

In place of words, her eyes, her shivering voice, her entire body and soul, were conveying the same.

“ーーーー”

An incomparable dread welled up in Subaru’s body as well. That was, surely the instinctive reaction of a human faced with otherworldly fear.

The 『Human』 known as Natsuki Subaru, was being frightened by the 『Monster』 known as Shaula, who was in front of him.

That is why, Subaru wasーー,

Subaru: “Shaula, tell me the fifth rule.”

Shaula: “Master-sama, this is not the time for......”

Subaru: “If you tell that to meーー!”

Subaru interrupted the words of the appealing Shaula with a loud voice. At that menacing glare, Shaula’s shoulders shivered. He grabbed those shivering shoulders. They were warm. Such that his palm could melt, Shaula’s body temperature had already risen to the level of a fire.

However, he did not let his hands go. Right now, he did not release her body, burning and scorching.

Subaru: “If you tell that to me, I’ll command you. ーーStay calm. Before you turn into a monster, I’ll command you.”

“ーーーー”

Hearing Subaru say that straightforwardly, Shaula widened her eyes.

She then called out to Subaru, saying “Master-sama”,

Shaula: “Master-sama, such a womanizer.”

Subaru: “I don’t remember being one......”

Shaula: “Then, Master-sama is a Shaula-izer. My favourite kind of -izer......”

Smiling weakly, Shaula softly overlapped the hands grasping her shoulders with her own hands.

Andーー,

Shaula: “ーーFifth, it is not forbidden to destroy the 『Trials』.”

“ーーーー”

Shaula: “Look, the colour of my eyes has changed. ーーAt my beloved, Master-sama.”

Saying that, Shaula thrusted away Subaru’s chest.

At that greater than expected might, Subaru was thrown back, unable to keep his grip onto her shoulders. When he looked towards the front while lightly coughing, Shaula, while? hugging her own body, crouched downーー,

Shaula: “Ah, ah...... a~h, a~a~h...... ~hk!”

Red steam, like the colour of blood, ascended from the entirety of her body. The steam had changed its colour, it was a sign of danger. Shaula’s? eyes lost its dark pupils and irises as well, and before one could notice, turned bright red.

Shaula: “Master-sama...... hurry. Before I, lose myself......”

“ーーーー”

Shaula: “Please tell me...... to die ~hk! If Master-sama says that, I will......”

With the same mouth which had argued being against Subaru and the others completing the 『Trials』 and leaving the tower, Shaula, using up her life, indicated the path where she could remain without killing Subaru and the othersーー no, Subaru.

Hearing that desperate voice of Shaula’s, Subaru inhaled.

And then,

Subaru: “Shaula.”

Shaula: “Master-sama......”

Subaru: “ーーMy bad. What I said just now was a lie.”

Shaula: “Eh?”

At Subaru’s informing words, Shaula rounded her eyes. Watching Shaula’s reaction for himself , Subaru halted his breath, and at the same pace, leapt backwards.

Having been pushed away by Shaula had been a blessing for him amidst all this misfortune. ーーHad Shaula kept his wrists grabbed, he would have never been able to perform this act.

ーーSubaru’s body crossed over the narrow open-air verandah of the balcony, and was launched into the air.

Shaula: “Ahーー.”

Shaula’s instantaneous voice got engulfed in the vehement sand gusts and was rendered inaudible. At the same pace, Subaru’s body, without any support, fell non-stop for several hundreds of meters.

“ーーーー”

Falling down, he possessed no plans to save himself.

He had not prepared any plans to save himself. What Subaru had done was purely throw himself to death. He did not desire to do this at all, nor did he want to speak of it butーー this was his intention from the very beginning.

If these surroundings, these actions could be excused, he intended to surely do this.

That is because, Subaru could then trust his choice without any indecision.

After allーー,

Shaula: “Master-sama!!”

Similarly jumping out from the balcony herself as well, Shaula chased after Subaru.

Widening those eyes, desperately stretching out her hand, Shaula chased the falling Subaru, and leapt trying not to take away, but save that life with her own hands.

ーーThe true identity of the titanic scorpion, was Shaula.

ーーShaula purposefully, hid the rules of the tower.

ーーShaula had repeatedly killed Subaru or his comrades, and stood in the way as the fifth obstacle.

Butーー,

Subaru: “ーーI just, want to save you.”

“ーーーー”

He could never forget her form, she, who had enduredher transformation against her own feelings, and had requested to be ordered to kill herself so that she does not kill Subaru, till the very end of the end.

Though it was quite a nasty thing to say, he wanted to confirm that.

Whom he should save, whom he should not save, whom he should defeat, whom he should protect, whom he should love.

Because Natsuki Subaru believed he could not advance further unless he confirmed that.

He will no longer perplex over, whom he should love.

Shaula: “Master-sama~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~a~!!”

Shaula’s form, while she stretched out her hand and tried pursuing Subaru, changed mid-air.

Her hand stretching out enlarged, and transformed into large pincers clad in a jet black shell. Her white skin was covered with a rough shell, without leaving any trace behind, and her flesh body expanded, as if bursting open from the interior.

For a single moment, the seemingly painful transformation as if bursting open her blood and flesh, reached conclusion as if a tape being reversed, and finally, the immense ominous incongruityーー the titanic scorpion, had achieved completion.

And, that titanic scorpion’s tail’s tip nimbly established its aim at Subaru.

Perhaps, tail stingers similar to that white lustre would be fired from there, and burn Subaru’s life to nothing in an instant. The mid-air Subaru lacked any technique to avoid that.

Howeverーー,

Subaru: “ーーI won’t let myself be killed by you, because Shaula would cry.”

“ーーーー”

The tail stinger was firedーー but before that, arrived the terminus of his fall.

The two of Subaru and the titanic scorpion came falling down above the hordes of Witch Beasts fiercely advancing onto the sand tower.

The existence known as Natsuki Subaru did not have the ability to endure the several hundred meters long fall.

Bursting open, his life was shed.

However, on the verge of his life being shed, he said a few final wordsーー,

Subaru: “ーーI will, definitely help you.”

ーーHe got the meagre time, to convey the message to the sandy gusts, incomprehensible to the titanic scorpion.