Arc 7, Chapter 63 - 'Sparka”

Arc 7, Chapter 63 - “Sparka”

――Let us rewind the clock a little.

Gustav: [――From now on, you gentlemen shall be tested to ascertain if you are qualified to be gladiators on this Island.]

Subaru was taken out of the healing room and forced into another room, and Gustav crossed his four powerful arms, eyeing around the sight before him.

That mechanical, frigid stare was directed at a total of four people, Subaru included.

A lizardman with gray scales in filthy rags, a skinny man with tattoos all over his naked upper body and bald-shaved head, and a fearless-looking young man with rust-colored hair.

All of them had been crammed into the same room as Subaru had.

From what they had just been told, Subaru and the men were probably in the same situation, as far as Gustav was concerned.

However, there seemed to be some disagreement with that idea among those who had been pushed into the room.

???: [Wait, Governor Gustav! Are you going to start Sparka now? With this child in our ranks? We aren’t playing around here!]

Seeing Subaru, whose back was pushed into the room, the young man with rust-colored hair cried that out.

He had a reasonably good-looking face, but his stubble and exhausted expression, along with the frustration on his face showing his dissatisfaction, cut down its quality considerably.

However, his appearance was irrelevant here. Proving this, two more people also lashed out at Gustav, as if caught up in the heat of the moment.

Lizardman: [Yeah, man! How’s a brat gonna help us!? My damn life’s on the line here!]

Tattooed Man: [Not making gladiatorial combat a cruel spectacle. That was the Governor’s policy, or so I’d heard, but...?]

Rust-Haired Man: [It’s exactly as they say. We’re going to need a good explanation. In the first place, even if we were to add the child to the group, we wouldn’t have enough people. Five people per group, that’s what you said!]

The lizardman, the tattooed man, and the rust-haired man all raised their voices in unison, their anger directed at Gustav.

Not fully understanding what Sparka consisted of, nor how it involved them, Subaru was in a situation where he could not easily butt in. However, somehow or the other, he had been able to grasp some stuff.

Apparently, Subaru had seemingly betrayed their expectations, and they were directing their dissatisfaction to Gustav because of that.

Subaru: [...Gustav-san, this is what everyone has to say, and yet...]

Gustav: [I heard them, Schwartz. In my capacity, I only have two ears like you, unlike the number of arms I have, but I intend on performing my duties to the fullest. Including this only head of mine.]

Rust-Haired Man: [If that’s――]

Gustav: [――Silence. If you interrupt me in my capacity, it is tantamount to obstructing the will of His Excellency the Emperor.]

With just those few words, any further remarks from the rust-haired man were shut down.

Gustav did not change his expression, nor the tone of his voice. Even so, the meaning carried in his words was much heavier than before.

The rust-haired man, as well as the other two, shut their mouths. Seeing this, Gustav nodded.

Gustav: [Very well, I shall continue. As I have declared, I shall now begin your Sparka. The audience is already set to be composed of the Island’s resident gladiators, with no visitors from the outside. This is a litmus test, to ascertain if you are capable of entertaining such important visitors.]

Subaru: [Audience...]

Quietly, with a sense of displeasure, Subaru muttered.

The fake Cecilus, who had been with Subaru up until he was pushed into the room, had told him “Good luck! I’ll be watching from up there!” as of their parting.

He did not confirm what sort of significance it held, but this gave him a rough idea.

Subaru: [Don’t tell me, you’re going to make us fight each other...]

Lizardman: [Ha! Ya really dunno anythin’, do ya, brat? If that were the case, surely, we’d be oh-so-happy to have someone like ya in the mix!]

Subaru: [Uh...]

As soon as he put his thoughts to words, the lizardman ridiculed him, letting out his long tongue.

But they had a point. If Sparka was to be conducted by the members present here, then a child would have been welcome amidst them.

Rather, what they were worried about, was that Subaru would not be a capable fighter――,

Subaru: [Rather, all of us are going to fight something?]

Tattooed Man: [Yer pretty clever, kid. Me, I’ve got a short temper. So shut yer trap for a sec...]

Rather than gently praising him for being correct, with bloodshot eyes, the tattooed man gave him a warning.

For now, it felt like their teamplay had definitely started off in the dumps. Though this was no situation for him to speak casually like that.

Rust-Haired Man: [Just what in the world do you intend on having us fight?]

Gustav: [It will not be trained gladiators. You would not stand a chance against them. In my capacity, that is all I can tell you. ――Because this enemy never appears in the light of day.]

Rust-Haired Man: [――? A riddle? That’s in poor taste.]

The corners of his mouth twisting into a grimace, the rust-haired man responded to Gustav’s words.

Then he took a small breath and continued, “So then”,

Rust-Haired Man: [Although you press me to be silent, let me at least ask you this. If that child is the fourth person, then what about the fifth person? Our Unit is...]

Gustav: [Your Unit, its fifth person is still asleep in the healing room. As long as that one does not awaken, only these people will undergo the challenge of Sparka.]

Rust-Haired Man: [Are you insane, Governor...!]

Gustav: [If necessary to abide as per His Excellency the Emperor’s will, I shall utilize either sanity or insanity.]

Faced with Gustav’s cold-hearted answer, the rust-haired man looked away, having gotten nowhere. Then, turning his gaze towards Subaru, he called out with a “You”.

Due to that threatening attitude earlier and being beckoned suddenly, Subaru’s cheeks stiffened,

Subaru: [W-what is it...?]

Rust-Haired Man: [From the looks of it, you’re just some poor kid, but what can you do? Any special skills? Any magic? Perhaps you’d have something strong and useful?]

Subaru: [U-useful special skills...]

Subaru’s eyes darted around in a panic as he was asked a series of questions.

Unfortunately, after shrinking, he did not feel like he could handle the whip properly, and he was helpless when it came to magic without the adorable Beatrice. Other than that, even his various little tricks could not be used properly while he was shrunken down.

Subaru, unable to respond, kept silent. The rust-haired man put his hand to his forehead,

Rust-Haired Man: [Really, he’s just a child... What a mess.]

And muttered in a voice terribly laden with disappointment.

Lizardman: [He, hehe, we’ve got a brat, and we’re lackin’ in people. It’s over. Over! OOOVEEER!]

Tattooed Man: [Don’t raise yer damn voice, scaly bastard. Ya wanna die ‘cause ya pissed me off...?]

Lizardman: [Ahhn? Can’t hear ya, yer voice’s way too quiet!]

The interaction between Subaru and the rust-haired man not to their liking, a big row began between the lizardman and the tattooed man. The two glared at each other, making it seem like a fight was only a few moments away from breaking out. Then, the rust-haired man broke in between the two, shouting “Wait!”,

Rust-Haired Man: [Why are we fighting!? I know you’re feeling sorry for yourselves, but listen to me! I used to be a warrior serving someone highly esteemed before I came here! If you follow my instructions, you’ll...]

Lizardman: [Shut up! Ya were a warrior? Then why the hell are ya here? Because ya were beaten and taken prisoner, yeah!? That’s not a good sign!]

Tattooed Man: [There’s nothing more idiotic than to put one’s life in someone else’s hands. I won’t let anyone control my fate.]

Rust-Haired Man: [Y-you bastards...!]

However, both the lizardman and the tattooed man did not listen at all to the words of the rust-haired man that stood in between them.

To make matters worse, with the two talking back, the rust-haired man turned red and started getting angry. Given that what lay ahead was unknown, this definitely was not a good situation.

Subaru: [G-Gustav-san...]

Gustav: [Schwartz, there is nothing in my capacity left to be said. I, as the official, have already told you my intentions. Even a single drop of blood that is shed within the Gladiator Island shall be utilized for the prosperity of the Empire. Even a single drop.]

Subaru: [Even if you state it once more, I still don’t get it...]

The three had their scuffle, and the one remaining, Subaru, was unable to pick up on the meaning of Gustav’s words.

As he gazed down at the four of them in their immensely desperate situation, Gustav would not speak anything further.

And then――,

△▼△▼△▼△

――The relationship between the four of them remained at its worst, and thus Sparka, the problem at hand, commenced.

Subaru: [――――]

A circular field surrounded by high walls, that was the stage for gladiators called the gladiatorial arena.

On the other side of the wall, there was staircase-like seating for the audience. The seats were gradually filling up with the figures of people sitting down, and one could tell that a quiet enthusiasm enshrouded the whole venue.

What was eerie, however, was that those who overlooked the gladiatorial arena―― the so-called gladiators if Gustav’s explanation were to be followed, were doing so without complaint.

The way Subaru had imagined it, the audience in a place like this was expected to be a vulgar and boisterous bunch.

However, such a large difference from what he imagined was perhaps inevitable.

After all, it was Gustav the one who managed and controlled this island. ――It was unthinkable that the big, unbending man would tolerate any vulgar attitude from the gladiators.

Subaru: [Just running down the hallway would probably have severe punishments.]

Hence, Subaru was doing his best to put on a brave front while averting his eyes from reality.

Otherwise, he would have to force his trembling knees to run away at any moment.

――Slowly, from behind the opening iron gate, the glint of a Witchbeast’s eyes emerged.

Gladiator Beast: [――――]

The Witchbeast stepping out wore a lion’s face, and Subaru recognized its garish body.

It was the large Witchbeast that had been brought into the mansion by a girl wearing braids in the past, and it was also the monumental opponent that had become the material for Subaru’s whip. Although, its name did not come to him immediately.

Subaru: [L-lion...?]

Gladiator Beast: [――AROOOOOO!!!]

As if answering Subaru’s call, the Witchbeast, or rather, the lion Gladiator Beast, roared. The roar echoed throughout the gladiatorial arena, and Subaru could feel the sound reverberating within his body.

A Gladiator Beast larger than Gustav, even just seeing something of the sort at a distance was unbearably terrifying.

Rust-Haired Man: [If we don’t kill that thing, we’re not going to make it.]

Glaring at the lion, the rust-haired man spoke with an unpleasant voice.

Indeed, that was correct. That was the condition to end this Sparka, a challenge that Subaru and the three others had to work together to accomplish.

It was a dreadful challenge with no chance of victory in sight.

Lizardman: [Sh*t, damn it, why am I in this mess...?!]

Rust-Haired Man: [Enough with the whining! We need to do everything we can to survive! Look over there!]

Lizardman: [Huh?]

Covering his face with both hands, the lizardman lamented as if it were the end of the world. Tapping him on the shoulder, the rust-haired man pointed to what appeared to be the edges of the gladiatorial arena―― to be more precise, to something affixed to the left and right edges of the venue, as seen by Subaru’s group located on the corner opposite to the lion.

There, they could see something stick at each of those corners――,

Tattooed Man: [――Are those, swords?]

Subaru: [Oh, it looks that way to me too...!]

Upon agreeing with the tattooed man’s words, what Subaru received was a cold stare. But even if his allies did not agree with him, it was not like what he saw disappeared like smoke.

There were indeed two swords lodged in the ground over there.

Rust-Haired Man: [They wouldn’t simply feed us to that Gladiator Beast without weapons. So our first priority is to secure weapons. However, only the sword on the right is viable.]

Tattooed Man: [...Yeah.]

The tattooed man nodded in agreement to the rust-haired man’s words. Subaru was of the same opinion, though he remained silent, as he thought he would be stared at if he spoke out.

After all, the sword on the right was small, while the one on the left was too large.

The sword on the left was so large, its blade so thick, not to mention how unwieldy it was, that it made him wonder if that sword was possibly for Gustav’s use.

Even if Subaru had not been shrunk, it was so huge that it seemed impossible to lift.

Perhaps the rust-haired man and the tattooed man were also unable to use a sword that large.

Therefore, only the smaller sword could be used as a weapon. If they had a member who could use that large sword, it sure would have been reassuring.

Rust-Haired Man: [It’s too large. There’s no other way but to get a weapon, and aim for that Gladiator Beast’s eyes. We stir up the insides of its head, and finish it off. That’s our only way to win.]

Tattooed Man: [...Can ya use a sword?]

Rust-Haired Man: [I told you. I used to be a warrior. I can use it better than you can.]

The rust-haired man answered confidently, and the tattooed man closed one eye and pondered. Coercively judging that silence as an affirmative from what it seemed, the rust-haired man turned back to Subaru and the lizardman,

Rust-Haired Man: [When he announces the start, I’ll go and secure that sword. In the meantime, as I’ll be defenseless, keep the Gladiator Beast away from me.]

Subaru: [H-how am I gonna keep it away?]

Rust-Haired Man: [You can draw attention by shouting or making sounds. At least figure that out on your own!]

Subaru: [G-got it...]

At the rust-haired man’s powerful retort, Subaru nodded meekly.

It was a pretty reckless and scary strategy, but it was not like he could think of any other method. And if the rust-haired man’s swordsmanship was as good as his confidence suggested, they could take down the lion.

He needed to get this dreaded Sparka over with so he could figure out his next course of action.

Therefore――,

Gustav: [――Well then, LET SPARKA COMMENCE!!]

With that bold, stark proclamation from Gustav, the unleashed lion poised itself to pounce.

Pressured by its intimidating presence, Subaru took a breath in preparation to get the Gladiator Beast’s attention, so he could buy time for the rust-haired man to secure his weapon.

Rust-Haired Man: [Guaa!?]

Subaru: [――Hk!?]

Faster than he could shout, he immediately became speechless as he saw the rust-haired man collapse to the ground right next to him.

The rust-haired man, who had planned to start running right after Gustav’s declaration, collapsed onto the ground. That alone was a surprise, but what was even more surprising was that a kick struck him in the face.

The one who did that, was the tattooed man, who was supposedly his comrade.

He had swept the rust-haired man off his feet as the latter was about to sprint, and launched a kick as the latter fell. Then, after ascertaining that the rust-haired man had tumbled over and laid sprawled out,

Tattooed Man: [I told’cha. I ain’t putting my life in someone else’s hands...]

With that said, the tattooed man ran off at a brisk pace, heading toward the small sword.

Subaru’s eyes widened at the suddenness of the situation, and panicking over what he should do,

Lizardman: [N-not me! I-I ain’t gonna die!]

Subaru: [Hey!?]

Gustav would not procrastinate in his pronouncement of the battle’s beginning.

Tattooed Man: [Care to explain, ya―― Uh, AAHHHHHH――!!]

A deep voice boisterously declared the start of the battle, and immediately after, the cracking voice of a man cut through the gladiatorial arena.

Anyone looking over would see that the one who had cried out was the tattooed man, pressing the rust-haired man for an answer. Somehow, the rust-haired man had bitten the hands that were grabbing his collar, and he seemed to have bitten those fingers off.

While the rust-haired man’s mouth was stained with blood, he pushed off the screaming tattooed man’s chest and sprinted for the sword.

Lizardman: [N-not me! I-I ain’t gonna die!]

And so, in contrast to the rust-haired man running towards the sword, the lizardman did as he did before and stuck to the wall of the gladiatorial arena, then started to change the color of his scales for camouflage.

Having lost two fingers, the tattooed man was crouched down clutching his right hand, and Subaru’s knees were trembling in fear at the situation before his eyes, which was even worse than last time.

Rust-Haired Man: [Mind, your own...! If only you’d just done as I said obediently!]

Without care for Subaru or the others, the rust-haired man with bloodshot eyes had arrived at the smaller sword.

Cursing that his lie had been discovered and that the tattooed man had grabbed him, he reached out his hand and pulled the sword out of the ground, readying it like a warrior would.

Gladiator Beast: [――――AROOOO!]

Then, having received the “start” signal, the lion pounced ferociously.

The resulting incident was practically identical to what had happened just before once the tattooed man had taken the sword. The rust-haired man did not even have the time to swing the sword he had readied, and both his arms were completely blown off as he was hit by the paws of the Gladiator Beast.

With a firm grip on the sword, the rust-haired man’s arms were torn off from the elbows down; and just as he stared in astonishment and let out a thin cry of “Ah”, the lion forcefully hurled itself at the man’s armless body and sent him flying, throwing him against the wall head-first.

The rust-haired man became a stain on the wall, and the roaring Gladiator Beast, ignoring Subaru and the tattooed man, ferociously sprinted straight for the rear wall of the gladiatorial arena.

Lizardman: [Stop, stopstopstop, getawaygetawayGETAWAAAAAAAAY!!]

The lizardman, having disguised himself as a wall, shrieked at the intimidating air of the lion running toward him.

Having given away his position by yelling, the lizardman hurried to change positions, but he did not have enough time. The lion’s charge crushed the lower half of his body, mortally wounding him as he vomited out his own internal organs.

Then, the lion that had murdered the two men in a blink of an eye slowly turned to Subaru and the tattooed man, and let out a bloody roar.

Subaru: [Eek...]

Tattooed Man: [Sh*t, it just keeps getting worse...]

His brain numb, his paralyzed thoughts slowly began flowing anew. Because of that, Subaru’s body remembered the fear, his teeth clattered, and his internal organs tightened.

As the tattooed man grinding his teeth had stated, the worst kept piling on top of the worst, and as a result, it had become an even worse and hopeless situation.

There had been no significance in calling the rust-haired man a liar.

Although nothing good would have come from exposing the rust-haired man’s lie there, Subaru had still done it without thinking. Because of that, everything was a mess.

Tattooed Man: [...Still wanna live, kid?]

Subaru: [Huh...]

Tattooed Man: [If ya wanna live, pick up the sword.]

The man with the tattoos spoke this to Subaru, the latter’s vision blurry, looking as if he was about to break down crying at any moment.

Gazing towards him, the tattooed man pounded the ground with his bleeding right hand, and stood up while breaking into a greasy sweat. As he did so, he jerked his chin to the sword lying on the ground―― indicating what had fallen to the ground together with the rust-haired man’s severed arm.

Tattooed Man: [I’ll draw that monster’s attention... Ya grab that sword, and throw it to me.]

Subaru: [B-but...]

Tattooed Man: [Even if I’m missing two fingers, I can use it better than ya, kid...]

Having been told so clearly, Subaru was at a loss for words.

There were two swords, one large and one small, and although he had been referring to the smaller one, it was still a sword too long and large for a child’s body to use. Just as the tattooed man had stated, even if Subaru were to wield it with both hands, the only outcome would be that he would tumble due to its length and weight.

However, when the tattooed man declared that he would take the sword and defeat the lion, Subaru thought of it as impossible, remembering his death last time.

And yet――,

Subaru: [I don’t... want to give up, either...]

Tattooed Man: [...Yer better than that fraud and that scaredy-cat.]

Bearing the pain, the tattooed man contorted his lips, welcoming Subaru’s determination.

And with that, the tattooed man glared at the lion who was carefully observing them, and, bit-by-bit, widened the distance between him and Subaru,

Tattooed Man: [It’s Weitz...]

Subaru: [...Huh?]

Weitz: [That’s my name, Schwartz.]

Being called Schwartz, Subaru’s eyes widened in astonishment.

Subaru wondered where the man had heard that name, but Gustav was the only one who had referred to Subaru as Schwartz. That was why the tattooed man―― Weitz, remembered the name he had been called during their first meeting.

Of course, that did not really amount to anything, and he knew that last time, Weitz had been a coward as he tried to outmaneuver the rust-haired man.

He knew that, but――,

Weitz: [――Go!]

Weitz’s shout just then became his reason to rely on him and run without hesitating.

Subaru: [――――]

Firmly enduring his urge to scream, Subaru ran along the ground of the gladiatorial arena with all his might.

Naturally, he was slow. His childlike body had short limbs, and his internal organs, contracted by fear and tension, were in terrible pain. Even though he already often suffered from a lack of strength under normal circumstances, this body was a far-too-lacking one.

Still, he ran, desperately. He ran, and ran, and ran, until he reached the sword.

Subaru: [Uh, kuh...!]

Both of the rust-haired man’s hands still clung to the sword, and just looking at them made him want to retch. However, this was no time to throw up.

Peeling off the firm, rigid fingers one at a time, he forcibly detached the sword from the rust-haired man’s hands.

Then, while breathing heavily, Subaru lifted the sword.

Subaru: [Yes, I got it out!]

Taking a large breath, Subaru hoisted the sword he had picked up. Then he turned around and was about to throw the sword over to Weitz’s direction, when――,

Weitz: [Schwartz!!]

Weitz’s frantic voice made all the hairs on Subaru’s entire body stand on end.

Subaru turned around, and filling his field of vision was a lion, its mouth gaping wide, barreling toward him. At that moment, he felt like a deer about to be eaten, and the lion’s movements seemed to be in slow motion.

Subaru: [――――]

Slowly, the scary-looking lion was drawing near.

It seemed as if he could dodge it, but since his own movements were in slow motion much like his vision, he would be unable to escape at all. Only, he continued to throw the sword that he brandished.

At the very least, he wanted to finish throwing the sword before the lion’s attack hit him.

――Hurry, hurry, hurryhurryhurryhurryhurry!!

Within the frustrating slowness, the voice in Subaru’s head cried out desperately, wishing upon his arms and fingers.

Would it reach him? The sword finally left Subaru’s hand, whirling around and spinning vertically as it flew past the dashing lion and toward Weitz.

Weitz, his hand outstretched with missing fingers, was shouting something to Subaru, who was being hunted down by the lion. However, he did not understand the true form of that shout. Even though he did not understand, it was okay.

Anyway, he just needed to put the sword that had been thrown to good use.

Subaru: [Uh, WAHHHH――!!]

Right when he thought he had completed his part, the once-slowed world returned to normal.

The howling lion dived at him, and Subaru, screaming and expecting to be torn apart by the Gladiator Beast’s claws or fangs, fell onto his butt. Tears and snot streaming down his face, Subaru accepted that he was going to make an incredibly pathetic dying face.

And yet――,

Subaru: [――Huh?]

The lion’s attack, that which should have killed Subaru, did not reach him.

Because, the lion had stuck its front paws into the ground right in front of Subaru, dispelling its own momentum, then fired off its hind legs into Weitz directly behind it.

Weitz: [Buh.]

Having received the sword thrown by Subaru, Weitz slashed at the lion from behind. Weitz’s face, riddled with tattoos, was smashed to bits by the hooves of the lion’s hind legs.

Exactly as before, Weitz died having had everything above his neck exploded. The sword he had brandished fell out of his hand and rolled on the ground into the distance, fruitless.

Gladiator Beast: [――――AROOOO!]

Then, the lion that had just killed Weitz slowly turned its attention back to Subaru.

There was no lenience there to let him off the hook, only a ferocious intent to kill.

???: [Basu! Basu! Excuse me, but do you think you can still recover from that?]

Behind him, calling out to him from the audience in the gladiatorial arena, was the fake Cecilus, who had been watching this pitiful fight. And as he looked down at Subaru, who had fallen on his buttocks,

Cecilus: [Like some awakening of a hidden power, or the release of some sealed technique triggered by the brutal death of a fellow comrade! Is it likely? Is it unlikely?]

Subaru: [...I don’t have anything like that.]

Cecilus: [Yeaaah~, seems about right. My bad, looks like I was wrong in my expectations! Do you have a message for the girl who was with you, or something? I wonder how story-like would doing something like that be!]

Unchanged from the time he had died earlier, being spoken to in such a relaxed tone, Subaru let out a “Ha”, exhaling. What was different from before was that the bones of Subaru’s body were not yet in pieces.

Even though he might be ripped to pieces after this, and even though he was scared to death, he had yet to die still.

Subaru: [Ceci, just one question.]

Cecilus: [Not a message, but a question? A so-called memento for the afterlife? Whether or not my answer would fulfill Basu’s question will be a test of an actor’s blossoming brilliance――]

Subaru: [That lion, why didn’t it kill me earlier?]

Cecilus: [――Hmm.]

Pointing to the Gladiator Beast in front of him, Subaru asked the fake Cecilus perched on the wall.

Subaru was not sure if he, the boy-who-cried-wolf that he was, would give the straight answer that he desired. He just comforted himself with the thought that it was not-so-bad for a useless struggle.

To Subaru’s question, the fake Cecilus spoke as he stroked his slender chin,

Cecilus: [That’s easy, Basu. ――Even if it’s ferocious, a beast is a beast. In that case, a beast only hunts by instinct. Instinct is the power to live.]

Subaru: [...What do you mean?]

Cecilus: [If you were that beast, Basu, who’d you aim for?]

The riddle-like phrasing did not give Subaru that simple question-and-answer sequence.

Irritated, Subaru pondered the meaning of the fake Cecilus’s words. If Subaru were to be that lion, just who would he target?

If he were to aim for someone, what would be his reason――.

Subaru: [――Ah.]

Suddenly, it dawned on him. So that was what the reason was, he understood.

And――,

Cecilus: [When she wakes up, I’ll tell her that Basu was brave. I suck at lying, so thank heavens you were brave!]

Hearing such an insensitive voice, he did not have any time to respond.

Having reached an understanding, Subaru widened his eyes, and the lion standing in front of him swung its paw towards him.

For the first time, Subaru truly heard the sound of his own body being crushed.

△▼△▼△▼△

???: [If we don’t kill that thing, we’re not going to make it.]

His skull had been crushed, his shoulders had been crushed, his body had been crushed, his hips had been crushed, every part of him had been crushed.

Slowly, Subaru experienced just that, a human body being dealt a blow of such unbearable power and speed that it would be brought to ruin in that manner, as if it were from someone else’s perspective.

Of course, it really was not someone else’s problem.

If possible, he would meet the end with the least amount of suffering. With the minimum amount of pain and fear. Still, Subaru’s way of thinking was only possible due to how much experience he’d had at Chaosflame.

――Those ten seconds of hell.

Since that had happened, Subaru deeply understood the importance of a mere few seconds.

And because that understanding permeated his body――,

???: [Sh*t, damn it, why am I in this mess...?!]

???: [Enough with the whining! We need to do everything we can to survive! Look over――]

Right beside him, the lizardman and the rust-haired man became desperate as they accepted the situation before them.

While listening to this already familiar conversation, Subaru called out.

Subaru: [Weitz! Hold that guy down!]

Weitz: [What...?]

The moment Subaru shouted that, the tattooed man―― Weitz, had his facial tattoo distort in confusion.

That was natural. Although he had never once mentioned it, Subaru knew his name. But even if he had been called out by his name, he had no intentions of doing as he was told by some creepy kid.

But neither the bewildered Weitz, nor the rust-haired man, nor the lizardman, startled by Subaru’s sudden loud voice, had time to stop his sudden action.

And then――,

Subaru: [――Lion! Who are you aiming for!?]

Subaru’s tiny hand grabbed the sword lodged in the ground with force as he shouted.

At that moment, without waiting for Gustav’s command, the Gladiator Beast howled, kicked its feet upon the ground, and ferociously barreled forward toward Subaru――.

Cecilus: [If Basu were that beast, who would you aim for?]

The words of the fake Cecilus, like a riddle, had been painfully seared into Subaru’s brain.

Indeed, that was it. If Subaru were the lion, he would go for the “dangerous ones” first. For instance, in this place, that would be the one wielding a weapon.

Gladiator Beast: [――――AROOOO!]

Subaru gritted his molars, and faced the howling lion lunging at him. He had a visceral shudder of fear, but he would not be defeated, he would not run away, and he would not cry.

He had already been killed twice, and no matter how many more times he had to face this scary experience.

Subaru: [Don’t think that just because I’m a kid, I’m gonna cry and give up right away!!]

Cooperating with a coward, a scaredy-cat, and a fraud, with all his might, with all his power, with all his body and soul, he would fight through this Sparka to the bitter end.

――In that decisive moment, the lion’s powerful paw ferociously reaped the life of Natsuki Subaru, along with his third attempt.