Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu web novel

　Even to Subaru's eyes, Garfiel, standing there, looked completely injured.

　His whole body was stained red from excessive bleeding, his shoulders were shaking up and down with heavy breathing. Blood was still seeping from the numerous lacerations that had been carved into his body, and his small but well-trained body was exposed except for a loincloth-like garment covering his lower abdomen.

　Seeing her barefooted figure, without even her shoes, Subaru lowered his raised hands,

"...You're coming to greet me in an outfit that's quite different from what I imagined. I expected you to be furious, but I didn't think you'd be in such a state."

"Don't worry about it. I just slipped and fell there."

　Subaru's words made his cheeks twitch, and Garfiel responded with a displeased look.

　Of course, that was nothing more than a joke, but the sight of his injured body stirred up unpleasant thoughts in Subaru.

　Garfiel had been running around the Sanctuary searching for Lewes, and had fallen for Subaru's plan to buy Otto and the others some time.

　There was only one possible scenario that could have led to him appearing in the way he did before my eyes.

"You idiot Otto, I told you to throw up everything and run away right away…!"

"That was really brave. Not only did you never want to fight, you'd never even been in a proper fight before, right? But you said it was for the sake of your friends...well, you did a great job."

　Frowning in disgust, Garfiel touches the white scar on his forehead.

　That was the only scar that had been there for a while, but the other scars on his body were all from the fight with Otto, surely?

　It was too one-sided to be called a fistfight, but Subaru knew because he had exchanged blows with Otto. Compared to Subaru, he was used to fighting, but still, in a world overflowing with people who were insane when it came to fighting ability, he should have been someone who could be called a non-combatant.

　And yet, there was no way that he could win against a fully-fledged fighter like Garfiel, who was clearly at the top of his league even amongst those Subaru knew.

　Moreover, Subaru had not given Otto any strategies beyond using tricks to buy time.

"...You're not dead, are you?"

　A line of cold sweat trickled down Subaru's forehead.

　The worst thing that could happen would be for Otto to be torn apart by Garfiel's claws. I want to laugh it off and say it was just my imagination, but seeing Garfiel's condition, I can't say that.

　Garfiel himself had been so badly injured and had such a difficult time, so it would be selfish of him to insist that Otto be treated with mercy.

　But still, if Otto was dead, it would be meaningless.

　It's not Otto's death that will make Subaru's life lose its meaning.

"...Subaru."

　Subaru instinctively held his breath and was about to look down when he heard a silver bell call out from behind him.

　The fingertips he had hesitated to touch finally touched Subaru's shoulder, which looked weak and ready to collapse. Subaru was about to look down when he felt a faint sensation from behind, but stopped himself.

　Turning his head, Subaru saw Emilia standing diagonally behind him, looking at him with a considerate look. Emilia had still not come to terms with the feelings within her.

　From her point of view, it would be impossible to understand why Garfiel, covered in blood, would be standing there in anger. Still, she could tell that something was not right. The eyes she looked at Subaru were filled with more sadness than anxiety.

"It's okay, Emilia. Sorry for suddenly showing my pathetic side… But now I remember who was standing behind me, and I've calmed down."

　Supported by that gaze, Subaru took a deep breath and turned to Garfiel.

　The entrance to the tomb is slightly sloped, so Subaru is looking down on Garfiel. He has a hunched back and a bad attitude, and his sharp eyes pierce Subaru as if to shoot him to death.

"You guys, while I was running around, you guys seemed to have been doing pretty much whatever you wanted. Sneaking around...huh? It seems you understood how much I hate those kinds of filthy little tricks, didn't you?"

"I didn't know I needed your permission to do anything here. I mean, it's easy to tell that you're that kind of person, so I know just by looking at you. In fact, I knew you'd get angry, but I didn't think it would go beyond that."

"Huh?"

　Subaru shrugged and replied to Garfiel's intimidating attitude. Perhaps because his tone was no more confident than usual, Garfiel wrinkled his nose and groaned.

　Looking down at the frustrated expression on his face, Subaru tightened his expression,

"Garfiel. What happened to Otto?"

"Well, you did a stupid thing... you ate it all up, and the remains are probably becoming fertilizer for the forest."

"――――"

　Emilia gasped at Garfiel's response, as he clicked his overly sharp canines and licked his tongue. Garfiel's whole body emanated an incredible rage. That alone told you just how well Otto put up against Garfiel.

　Garfiel also couldn't have slacked off.

　that's why,

"So, he's still alive. What's with that, making me worry... I was honestly scared, thinking everything was going to be ruined."

"...Huh?"

Subaru: "But why would she do something like this… She said she'd secured Ram's cooperation, but I hope she didn't tell her anything strange. Ram isn't the type to do something like that… She didn't tell us how to act at this crucial moment."

"Oi, oi, don't mess with me."

"In that case, Ram must have helped Garfiel get so beaten up. Right? There's no way Otto could have done that much on his own. What's this? I thought that that bastard Otto was hiding some kind of hidden power, and it almost caused a rift in our friendship..."

"--You! What the hell are you talking about! Huh!?"

　Garfiel roared in rage, and the ground he slammed into exploded into pieces as he slammed his emotions into it.

　The ground collapsed from where his heel had been stepped on, creating a crater with Garfiel at its center. At the bottom of the crater, with cracks in the earth on all sides, Garfiel, smoke billowing from the ground, bares his fangs.

"I said I killed him, but that guy did a good job! He used some incomprehensible divine protection to get the whole forest on his side, and made fun of me with insects and mice. In the end, he finished me off with a single blow of a great magic spell that I shouldn't have been able to use. So... I also showed my respect for that bastard who was willing to fight. --With these claws and fangs!"

"To allies in the forest… I see. So that's one way to use the 『Blessing of Words』. That bastard, he's hiding something so important…"

Subaru: "And Ram, who was tempted by that big bro! Not only did Ram but she also interfered in our match, and attacked us mercilessly… so I killed her too."

"..."

　Gritting his teeth, Garfiel covers his face with his hands and looks up at the sky.

　As Subaru silently watched Garfiel's lamenting figure, Garfiel's words kept replaying in his mind.

　As expected, Ram had also joined forces with Otto to face off against Garfiel.

　Or perhaps, with Ram's help, he had almost cornered Garfiel, but even so, the wall of the beastman was too thick.

"I don't intend to go after those who managed to escape while we were buying time. But, I have no intention of overlooking what you guys have done. So stand back and don't come any closer. No one can enter the tomb anymore. I'll destroy it with my own hands."

"If we do that, we will no longer have any way to open the barrier. … This 『Sanctuary』 will become a closed off miniature garden forever. Is that really what you want?"

"That's fine. Everything else is bad."

　With that statement, Garfiel heads out of the crater and towards the tomb.

　There was no trace of hesitation in his steps, and it was clear that he had no hesitation whatsoever in carrying out his words.

　Covered in blood and wounded, even in that state, there was a clear difference in ability between Subaru and Garfiel.

　Even with all these injuries, the man called Garfiel's true strength exceeds Subaru's.

　This was clear from the blow he just made to the ground and the demonic aura he was unleashing.

　but,

"I-I won't let you do that."

　Besides Subaru, there is one other girl here who can stand in Garfiel's way.

　Emilia pops out from beside Subaru and stands in Garfiel's way as he approaches the tomb. Garfiel looks up at her with a blank look on his face,

"Hey, hey. Don't let a weak woman get in my way."

"No, I'll get in the way. I won't let you destroy the tomb. I will definitely overcome the Trial."

"Of course it's impossible. You've been whining and crying every single day. On top of that, you must be feeling really lonely now that your friends are gone, right? Go and cry in your bed wrapped in a blanket. If you do that, I won't do anything for you."

"----!"

　Garfiel's cold words caused Emilia's expression to turn painful. However, that expression only lasted for a moment, and in the blink of an eye, Emilia swallowed down the pain,

"Unfortunately, I can't back down even if you say that. I have to take on the 'Trial'. And then, I have to face my past..."

"Always, always...!"

　Garfiel interrupts Emilia and clicks his tongue in annoyance, anger shining in his eyes.

　The pressure of the demonic energy increased even more, and Emilia's shoulders were seen shaking. Garfiel quickly snorted at the slight reaction of fear,

Subaru: "So what about your past? If you're scared of me, there's no way you'll be able to overcome the thing you're most scared of. ーーNo one can do anything about it. That witch just does that spiteful thing to mock people."

"That's a pretty nasty way to deny witches."

"Huh?"

　Subaru cut in at Garfiel's words. He turned the scorching gaze he had been directing at Emilia towards Subaru and pointed his finger in his direction.

"What? You think you're trying to protect that sexual demon woman? You say, 'There's no morning or noon in Porttsuk,' but are you truly that witch's slave, huh?"

"――――"

　Subaru was speechless at Garfiel's words.

　Garfiel frowned suspiciously at this attitude, but it seemed he didn't understand why Subaru had remained silent.

　The witch who lies in the tomb is "Echidna." And the source of the witch miasma surrounding Subaru's body is that of the "Witch of Jealousy."

　Garfiel has only heard of it, and as his nose is not functioning properly against the miasma, he is unable to fully comprehend the difference.

　And naturally, Garfiel, whose spirit was broken after only one attempt at the Trial, doesn't even understand the meaning of Echidna's Trial.

"Everything is half-baked, Garfiel."

"...What did you just say?"

　Taking into account his words and past actions, Subaru had come to this conclusion about Garfiel.

　Garfiel responded to Subaru's coldly dismissive words with a low, threatening tone. But even in the face of that terrifying presence, Subaru looked him square in the eye without fear.

"Since I couldn't do it, others can't do it either. I think this way, so he must be that kind of person. — Just how self-centered and twisted have you become, you know?"

"..."

"It's true, as you say, Emilia has failed the Trials many times. I can't deny that she cried when she was forced to see a past she didn't want to see. I can't deny that she was so flustered after Puck disappeared that it was embarrassing, and I can't say for sure that she's recovered yet."

　As Garfiel went silent, Subaru nudged Emilia, who was standing next to him.

　Emilia looked at Subaru in shock, wondering what he had suddenly said, but perhaps she was touched by the expression on Subaru's face as he gave her such a terrible assessment, and didn't say anything.

　Above all, the assessment Subaru had given was one that Emilia herself had already acknowledged. It was undoubtedly an assessment to be ashamed of, but it was not something to cover one's ears with.

　Subaru thinks that being able to judge and face things like that is admirable, even if one is weak.

　that's why,

"Even if I were to take on the Trial now, the outcome might not change. I might lose again today, and come back crying again."

"If you know that, then why do you do it over and over again..."

"But Emilia will challenge me. No matter how many times. — Unlike you."

"----!"

　Garfiel gasped.

　Subaru didn't miss the momentary wavering in her sharp gaze and spoke fearlessly.

　I looked down at him again,

"Garfiel. Emilia is not like you, who lost and ran away."

"--! Don't get too cocky!!"

　As soon as he finished speaking, Garfiel yelled in rage, and his right foot smashed into the ground.

　The impact of the step caused the earth to flip up. For some reason it took the shape of a square earthen wall, about the size of a tatami mat, and Garfiel's left foot kicked into it.

　The lump of earth spun vertically with incredible force, passing just to the left of Subaru's body while being enveloped in a violent storm - and crashed into the wall beside the entrance to the tomb, dealing a major blow to the old building.

　Dust, bits of tangled ivy, and moss all fell from the walls of the tomb with a sound. Subaru stood there, his head covered in it. Emilia, who was beside him, also hunched her shoulders for a moment, but perhaps because she had heard Subaru's words just before, she didn't move from her spot.

　Seeing the faint but definite trust between the two, Garfiel's eyes widened. His bloodshot eyes took on a ferocious glow.

"What? I don't like you two! Ah! I don't like it! I don't like it! You act like you understand! You act like you're so relaxed! If I get in the mood, you two will be like indistinguishable minced meat! Don't you understand that, eh!?"

"I know," said the man. "I know you can't do that."

　Breathing heavily, kicking the ground, Garfiel threatened again and again, but his forceful threats no longer resonated with Subaru.

　Subaru had finally come to understand what was at the core of Garfiel through all that had happened up until now, what Lewes had said, and the current situation.

　Despite showing such anger and viewing Subaru and the others as his enemy, Garfiel--

"You won't kill me or Emilia. No, you can't. I mean, Garfiel... you've never killed anyone, have you?"

"――――"

"You should have fought Otto and Ram, but there's no way you could have killed them. Otto might have been okay, but Ram definitely wasn't. The fact that the two of them haven't shown up suggests that they've been immobilized, but… that's about it."

　Subaru's words caused Garfiel's irritated behavior to cease.

　Garfiel stares at Subaru with bated breath. Hearing the words Subaru has just spoken to him, Emilia has a look of confusion in her eyes.

　Having only seen Garfiel's usual temperament, Emilia probably had a hard time accepting what Subaru was saying now.

　But Subaru was certain.

　Garfiel, at least in his human form with a will of his own, is incapable of making the decision to kill someone.

　--In the previous loops, Subaru had clashed with Garfiel many times.

　They had different opinions. Or Garfiel would suddenly turn on Subaru. At one point, he struck Subaru to stop him from committing a violent act against Roswaal, and lost an eye.

　However, it was Garfiel who treated Subaru after he lost an eye, and even when they were enemies, Garfiel ultimately never killed Subaru.

　There was one exception. When Garfiel had turned into a beast and massacred all the refugees. It was a memory he didn't want to remember. But it was a memory that was burned into Subaru's mind and was hard to forget, and even now it was an incident that caused him to have difficult feelings towards Garfiel.

　However, when I think back to that time, I realize something.

　Garfiel, transformed into a beast, cannot speak. He is reduced to a mere beast, wielding his claws and fangs by instinct. When he pointed his weapon at the villagers, he was no doubt doing so instinctively.

　But at that time, Garfiel had hesitated until the very last moment, when he had killed the first villager - the first person who had sparked the massacre.

　At the time, I was so angry and frustrated that I couldn't understand.

　When Garfiel headed towards the first person, it seemed like everything had slowed down in his haste. But that wasn't the case. It was genuine hesitation.

　And it was only after he killed someone and lost all hesitation that Garfiel became a true beast.

　Natsuki Subaru remembers with hatred the eyes of the great tiger that had known the taste of blood and life.

"Your eyes are different from what they were back then. You haven't killed anyone yet."

Subaru: "What kind of basis is that? Putting Ram aside, there's not the slightest reason for me to hesitate to kill your companion, Onii-chan."

"Yeah, Ram aside."

"Hey, hey… do you two have some grudge against Otto-kun…?"

　Emilia timidly commented on Otto's unfortunate treatment during the conversation.

　However, Subaru, perhaps for the first time, consciously ignored Emilia and pointed his finger at Garfiel, whose fierce anger from moments ago had been gone.

"Even now, if I had wanted to hit him, I'm sure I could have. But I just didn't think to hit him. I only used it as a threat. Is it a fashion statement or murder? I wonder who's the scarier one."

「Oi, oi, oi… Watch your mouth, you bastard. Any more than that, who knows what your final words might be.」

"Stop threatening people you can't keep. I've had enough of those idiots hanging around in the back alleys pretending to be strong when deep down they're scared. They still had the guts to stab me."

"Stop it... Stop it..."

　Gritting his teeth, Garfiel looks at Subaru with an angry expression.

　However, the person he faces is Natsuki Subaru. There is no other situation where his talent is more apparent than when he provokes the person in front of him.

"Even if you take care of your proud claws and fangs every day, they're just for decoration. Why don't you try decorating your nails with some stylish decorations? In my hometown, all the girls do it. Isn't it perfect for a whiny girl like you?"

「Stop it――!!」

　Another shock.

　The excavated earth was sent flying, passing over Subaru's head and crashing into the tomb.

　There's no need to dodge. I never intended to hit it in the first place.

"If you're going to play in the mud, do that in the sandbox. Do you realize that what's behind you is an important cultural property? And don't you call yourself the fang that protects this 'sanctuary'? Behind you is the grave of the witch who died here. We're all friends, so don't discriminate."

"We're not comrades! There's no way! That guy! The witch under the earth doesn't want us to be friends... so I... I...!"

　Subaru's smooth tongue moves are top notch, and Garfiel is left breathless by his smooth provocation.

　To begin with, he had pushed through this far despite being completely injured. And yet he continued this exhausting conversation, wasting his energy in a meaningless demonstration. His emotions had accelerated the flow of blood, and even caused some wounds that should have stopped bleeding to reopen.

　Breathing heavily, Garfiel stopped in his tracks and glared at Subaru. Suddenly, he turned his gaze to Emilia, who was standing next to Subaru. Then, as if he had just noticed something, he wrinkled his nose,

「Oi… you idiot. What's with those eyes?」

"..."

"If you have something to say then say it! It pisses me off so much more when you look at me like that!"

　Garfiel roars, wondering what he sees in Emilia's eyes as she silently looks at him.

　Emilia, with complicated emotions in her amethyst eyes, shook her head slightly at Garfiel's request.

"Garfiel... what are you so scared of?"

"I'm the one being scared... right?"

"You're scared, aren't you? That's why you're yelling, stretching your arms out as far as you can, and stomping your feet on the ground to motivate yourself, right?"

"You seem to understand what I'm talking about..."

"I know, because..."

　As Garfiel's voice quietened, Emilia stopped speaking and took a breath.

"---I've always lived my life afraid of many things."

　Garfiel held his breath as Emilia spoke, citing her own weakness.

　Touching her own chest, moving her fingers as if to confirm the feel of the crystal that wasn't there, Emilia continued with a fleeting look in her eyes.

"I've been walking until today, scared of a lot of things. I entrusted a lot of things to Puck, who was with me, and leaned on him...I walked without even realizing it. It was only today, just a moment ago, that I finally felt like I understood it a little."

"Shut up."

"I still don't know what is right, or what I have to do. But I feel like I understand that there is 'something' out there. And that 'something' can be found in this tomb. That's why I can't let you leave."

"Shut up. Get out. Don't say anything to me."

"...Don't you actually already have that 'something'?"

「――――!!」

　At the question, Garfiel, who had reached his limit, raised his head as if bounced. He bent his knees slightly and leapt into the air, exploding his small frame.

　He leapt towards Emilia with incredible speed. But just before Garfiel's body could reach her, Subaru stepped in between the two of them.

"Garfiel!"

"--Tch!"

　He stretches out his arms to shield Garfiel from the incoming attack, crashing into Emilia. He rolls around, struggling with the impact, grimacing from the pain of being hit all over. After feeling his body turn upside down several times, he comes to rest on the ground, face up. Then, Garfiel places his claws on the base of Subaru's neck as he falls, baring his fangs at Emilia.

"Right now! Get out of here right now! Or I'll rip his neck out and dye your clothes red again!"

"Subaru――"

　Emilia prepares herself to face the threat.

　Even though she lost Puck, she is still a spiritist. A powerful person who can use magic by borrowing the power of contracted micro-spirits. She can even fight Garfiel, regardless of the outcome.

　Therefore, Emilia quickly tries to deploy mana.

"Emilia, stop! Forget about me! You're not going to do it anyway!"

"Shut up! I'm fed up with this! Your nonsense and that woman's nonsense will make my ears rot away! If I cut open the corners of your light-hearted mouth and your jaw falls off, will you be unable to spout nonsense anymore, huh?"

"--Zu."

　Leaning over the prone Subaru, Garfiel ran his sharp claws over the left side of his cheek. The tips of his claws dug sharply into the flesh of his cheek, and Subaru cried out in pain.

　But still, his eyes do not yield.

"Get us out of the way, destroy the tomb, and then what will happen... Run, run, run, do you think you can get away with it?"

"It's my own regret. Who could do something about it? That guy never intended to let us escape. I don't understand why!"

"I don't understand, Garfiel. --After all, the past, regrets, can be overcome."

"――――"

　Subaru's assertion.

　At those words, both Garfiel and Emilia gasped at the same time.

"It was so painful, so difficult, and so pathetic that I gave up, thinking I couldn't face them. But I was the only one who thought there was nothing I could do, and in reality, nothing was like that at all."

　Even if it was an illusion, a temporary event, fake parents, a re-enactment of a memory.

　Subaru faced his greatest regret, and received an answer and a farewell.

　The Trials had certainly caused Subaru pain. Just remembering them made his heart ache, and there was no doubt about it: the Trials had burned a stigma of suffering into Subaru's mind along with his past.

"But I swallowed the past, including all that pain. I swallowed it all. ...It's true that witches are evil, and I can't forget how I tried to trust them but was betrayed."

　The image that comes to mind is of a pure white witch, always sporting a bewitching smile.

　No matter how much time passes, the complicated feelings I have for her will never be resolved.

　But, there's no need to betray the feelings I had at that time.

"I'm grateful to the witch. I'm glad I was able to face my past. I kept running, running, and running away, but... I'm glad I wasn't able to get away."

"――――"

"Garfiel. --Are you still running away from your past with your family?"

"Wha...!?"

　Garfiel's face changes color at Subaru's question.

　His face was red with anger, white with shock, and now pale.

　The clicking of the fangs is caused by the teeth vibrating violently.

　Garfiel looked down at Subaru with a chill or perhaps a look of fear on his face.

"My, past... from whom..."

"From pretty much everyone you can think of. Do you consider that a betrayal? Or something else?"

"Uh, ah, fuu..."

　With such a surge of passion, Garfiel couldn't even form words as he breathed haltingly. Intermittent breathing. Subaru continued, witnessing the intense agitation right before his eyes.

"The witch said you were scared of the outside world."

　Garfiel has no answer.

"Frederica said that when she offered her hand to go with her into the outside world, she was shaken off."

　Garfiel has no answer.

"Mr. Lewes said that what you saw at the cemetery was a farewell to your mother."

　Garfiel's answer was――,

"Haha, oh..."

"I've only heard the surface details about you and Frederica's situation. You two are half-siblings with a human mother and a half-demi-human father. You quarters aren't bound by the barrier of Sanctuary. That's why Frederica left Sanctuary to create a place that will welcome the people here when the barrier is eventually lifted."

"Big sister..."

"But you stayed inside without taking Frederica's hand. What was the reason for that? What do you want to do, and why are you still here?"

　I'm out of breath.

　Gradually, Garfiel's hands began to gather strength as he pressed Subaru to the ground. It wasn't an attempt to silence Subaru. Garfiel himself was so exhausted that he would collapse at any moment if he wasn't clinging to something with all his might.

"You saw the past at the tomb. What you saw was your mother leaving you and Frederica behind at the 'Sanctuary'… right?"

"――――"

"Is that the reason you shun the outside world...?"

　Silence is considered affirmative.

　Garfiel remained silent, but looked at Subaru with eyes weaker than ever before. It was a powerless gaze that could hardly be called a glare.

　He has the face of a small child, afraid that the secret he's been hiding will be revealed.

　A feeling of guilt grows in his chest about opening up someone else's wounds. Subaru pushes back against that feeling and approaches the truth about Garfiel.

　He dug his fingertips into the faintly visible wound, forcing it open, letting the blood flow.

"Because your mother abandoned you. You hate your mother for abandoning you, and you hate the outside world for taking your mother away, so do you hate the outside world...?"

　The conclusion of the discussion with Ryuzu.

　The words left by Echidna were, "Garfiel is afraid of the outside world."

　The loss of his family remains a thorn in Garfiel's heart, a source of pain that continues to this day.

　Garfiel shook his head frantically at Subaru's assertive assertion.

「No! No, no no no no no no no!! What on earth do you think you know! Stop spouting off like you know everything!」

「That's right! What I said was just my imagination, and I was the one who hit you as if I knew what I was saying. Only you can find out your true feelings. If that's not the case, then where is your true feelings!?」

　Subaru cried out, without showing any sign of pain, even as his lungs were compressed.

　Garfiel's expression stiffened as he leaned back at the voice that came from directly below.

"You rejected Frederica when she went out into the outside world, bound yourself to the mission of protecting the Sanctuary, and got in the way of her taking the Trial to open the barrier! What, what are you afraid of?! What are you scared of?! Don't you hate the outside world?"

"N-no...!"

"Don't you hate your mother for abandoning you? You took the Trials, and then you saw yourself being abandoned, and now you're scared of that!"

　Garfiel's expression twisted in pain.

　Removing the hands that were holding Subaru down, Garfiel tried to stand up, trying to escape Subaru's constant verbal pressure.

　I won't let you get away.

　Stretching out his arm, he grabbed Garfiel by the back of his neck, stopping his body from moving away.

　He glared at the blood-stained, tragic face, nearly breathing on it, and pleaded with me.

"Answer me, Garfiel! What were you scared of?"

　The conclusion of his discussion with Lewes, Echidna's words, Roswaal and Frederica's attitudes, the look Ram gave Garfiel - Subaru saw a different answer there.

　What if that's really the case?

"No, I... I..."

"What were you really thinking?!"

"I... I... to my mother..."

　Taking a breath and looking up to the sky, Garfiel shivered and spoke.

"--I wanted you to be happy...!"

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

「You were getting in the way, right? You were getting in the way of my and my sister being happy, right?!」

　Overflowing.

　Everything Garfiel had accumulated up until now.

"I know that! My sister and I were abandoned. That's only natural!"

　The reason Garfiel had kept it to himself and had never told anyone.

"He's a brat who didn't ask for it, and he has demi-human blood mixed in him... Of course, something like that would get in the way of him surviving in the outside world! What's wrong with trying to leave him behind, to throw him away... There's nothing wrong with that...!"

　Unable to hide her trembling voice, she covered her face with her hands as if trying to hide her trembling eyes.

「I know why I was abandoned. That's why I don't hate my mother for abandoning me! Of course not! My sister and I were just getting in the way of my mother's life! She abandoned us and left the 『Sanctuary』 to be happy!」

　When Garfiel was still a child, he saw his mother off as she left the Sanctuary, leaving them behind.

　At the time, he was unable to understand these feelings, but they had certainly taken root and grown within him over a long period of time, eventually blossoming into an answer.

　That's how their mother abandoned them.

　but,

"But, that night... I saw something. Inside the tomb, during the Trial, I saw, I saw it. My mother, who left us and departed from the Sanctuary... as soon as she left, her carriage was caught in a landslide, and she was swallowed up by the mud and sand and died..."

"----!"

"Even Neechan doesn't know about this... Neechan thought that Mom had forgotten about us somewhere and was living happily... But the truth is different! Mom died right after she abandoned us!"

　Garfiel weeps as he tells us fragments of the truth.

　Both Subaru, who knows the situation, and Emilia, who doesn't, are devastated by the cruelty of what it means.

　As the two lose their voices, Garfiel covers his face and lets out rough, sobbing breaths.

"He died... He couldn't be happy..."

　Subaru couldn't give an answer.

"Why? Didn't you go out into the world to find happiness?"

　Emilia couldn't give an answer.

"Didn't you leave us behind because you wanted to be happy?"

　Neither Subaru nor Emilia can give Garfiel an answer.

"If you abandoned us, and then died soon after without finding happiness..."

　Garfiel continues to ask questions that have no answers.

　That must be,

"What should we do about our loneliness, our sad feelings of being abandoned?"

　-- a question that had been chanting in his mind for a long, long time.

"I wanted my mother to be happy...!"

　There was strength in her tearful voice.

　Removing his hands from his face, Garfiel gritted his teeth and exhaled.

　He clenched his teeth so hard that they threatened to break, his sharp canines punching through his lips.

"The sadness! The loneliness of being abandoned! I wanted you to make me feel that there was meaning to that happiness! I wanted you to make me hate Mother...!"

　With nowhere to go for his mother, Garfiel's heart is trapped in the "Sanctuary" through the tomb.

　With nowhere to direct his rage, it continued to burn inside his body, feeding on his soul.

"But my mother died...! My sister and I just suffered a lot. My mother never found happiness either. She was crushed under heavy stones and sand and died in agony."

　Having reached that conclusion, and amid the ashes of the feelings smoldering within him, Garfiel made a decision.

　Garfiel stood up and separated himself from Subaru.

　Looking up at the tomb, Garfiel said in a low voice,

"--I'll never let you go to the outside world."

　It was a trembling voice.

　It was anger, sadness, the remains of passion, and a still burning flame.

　Garfiel turns around.

　Looking down at Subaru, who had raised his body, he gritted his sharp fangs.

"You can't get happiness by leaving it behind! Trying to change something comes with pain, and not everyone can stand that pain!"

"――――"

"There are a lot of people out there who are beyond help! There are so many of them here! What should we do? Are they supposed to sacrifice themselves for the sake of others' happiness and end up feeling sad? Are they supposed to end up like me and my sister?"

"――――"

"I, I will――protect."

　Clenching his fist.

　Garfiel stops barking, and with quiet determination in his eyes, he exhales.

「I will protect you. I will protect everything within my reach. I will protect, protect, and protect you... I won't let you lose anyone... I won't let anyone feel the way I did about their mother...!」

　Something that is not anger, something that is not sadness, shakes Garfiel's heart.

　Neither Subaru nor Emilia can move in the face of Garfiel's feelings.

　Garfiel spread his arms in front of the two of them, his back to the tomb, and shouted.

"I will become the barrier! A real barrier that separates the inside from the outside!"

"Garfiel..."

「That's why! I! Will protect the 『Sanctuary』, everyone! Granny! Only I can do it! Only I know! It's fine if you don't know!!」

　Garfiel's blood-curdling resolve, his shouts, his determination.

　In the face of that, words cannot be formed.

　Garfiel is now fully prepared.

　Then,

"ーーSubaru."

"It's okay, Emilia."

　Emilia called out to Subaru, who stood up and stepped forward.

　Waving at the worried expression, Subaru stepped forward in front of Garfiel.

　The two of them faced each other, within arm's reach.

　Words can no longer stop Garfiel.

　In that case, there's only one thing to do.

"You stubborn, ignorant bastard..."

"――――"

Subaru: "I understand your resolve. You were mistaken. And, you are still mistaken. So… I will correct that."

　Garfiel lowers his body slightly and lets his arms hang down.

　It may look defenseless, but it is a serious stance that radiates an abnormal demonic aura.

　Right in front of her, Subaru also raised both hands and took a stance.

　He decided that words would not reach Garfiel, and decided to fight on his turf.

「I'll completely defeat you and teach you that you're a kind, weak, fool!!」