Re:Zero kara Hajimeru Isekai Seikatsu web novel

Even now, when I think back to that moment, I am overcome with regret.

　He shook off my outstretched fingers and called my name lovingly.

　Her parting words were filled with affection, her smiling eyes were filled with tears and determination, and there was more than enough to silence my voice.

"――――"

　I still don't know what I should have said.

　I can't remember now what I was thinking.

　I still don't know what I should have done.

　ーーAnd so even now, Beatrice remained alone, crouched in the Forbidden Library, unable to move.

"...Lewes."

　What spilled from my lips was a fragment of a memory so old that even making it into a sound felt nostalgic.

　When Beatrice's emotions exploded and she spoke that name, the stagnant time inside her, the empty four hundred years, all came pouring out in an instant.

　It was after the girl named Lewes Meyer was lost, and in exchange for her existence, a place called "Sanctuary" was established, and the demon Hector was defeated, that Beatrice began to lock herself away in the Forbidden Library, waiting for "that person" who would eventually come.

　The loss of someone so close to me, the only person I was close to.

　It was clear to everyone how exhausted Beatrice was, having lost it right before their eyes due to her own lack of ability, and everyone knew that the only thing that could heal her wounded heart was time.

　Therefore, my mother's conclusion was simple and clear.

"Eventually, that demon will return to destroy me. I intend to prepare a countermeasure before then... but I can't say it's perfect."

"Yes, mother."

"If we ever meet again, it will be a decisive battle, in which we will give it all we've got. Considering the strength of our enemy, my chances of survival are fifty-fifty... or maybe a little low? Unfortunately, with the damaged gate, Roswaal is no use in battle."

　Echidna lowered her eyes, but Beatrice maintained her calm demeanor.

　It's not that I was holding it in, but since that day, most of my emotions had stopped coming out. I wonder how much of an impact such a huge sense of loss can have when the emotions come back to haunt me.

　Or perhaps it was because he understood this in his heart that his emotions were frozen.

　Seeing Beatrice's expression not changing at all, Echidna ran her fingers through her own white hair,

"To begin with, I am one of the witches least suited to combat. If I cannot even borrow the powers of Roswaal, a magical genius, then I will have to exhaust all possible measures before I can finally see victory in sight."

"...Betty, what should we do?"

　It was a well-known fact that Roswaal was driven half to death during the battle to ensure the functioning of the Sanctuary. With all of his gates destroyed, his path as a magician was all but cut short.

　Thinking of her companion lying in bed, still hovering between life and death, Beatrice asked Echidna a question in a somewhat desperate voice.

"Will I bid time until Mother's magic formula works, just like Roswaal did? Or should I offer up my body, a powerful mass of Aerod, and become the core of the formula? For Mother, I have nothing to be stingy with. Please, use me as you like."

　Curtsing and holding the hem of her skirt, Beatrice shows her utmost trust in her mother.

　In reality, that feeling was too fragile and fleeting to be called 『trust』. However, Beatrice did not understand her current mental state, and even if she did understand herself, her answer would not have changed.

　A resigned desire for revenge, a sense of indignation at powerlessness - the only difference there was whether they were aware of it or not.

"--I see. When you say that, I can ask you for a favor without any qualms. You really are a good girl, Beatrice."

"...Yes. Betty is mother's daughter."

　Normally, she would have felt unparalleled joy at being praised like that by her mother.

　Echidna knew this, and rarely spoke out loud to praise Beatrice. Those magic words now fell on her empty chest with a terribly hollow sound.

　No matter what anyone says, the heat may never be ignited in my heart again.

　Thinking like that, I was unable to react immediately to Echidna's next words.

"Beatrice, I leave the management of my library of knowledge to you. Until that time comes, you will continue to protect this knowledge as the keeper of the library. --So that no one can steal it from you."

"...Eh?"

"Fortunately, you have an unparalleled aptitude for Yin magic. Using the power of 『Door Crossing』, you can connect isolated spaces with familiar places....Yes, let's call it the 『Forbidden Library』. I want you to store and protect all of the knowledge I possess, compiled into books there."

　Leaving Beatrice with her eyes wide open in shock, Echidna spoke briskly.

　Beatrice had thought for sure that she would be ordered to accompany Echidna to the battle she was about to enter, at the risk of her life, but she could only be dumbfounded at being given a role she had never imagined.

　Despite seeing the girl's confusion, Echidna continued speaking without hesitation,

"It would be best to connect the Forbidden Archive to Roswaal's mansion. I will dispose of all of my research facilities and prepare for the final battle. I'm sorry, but I cannot allocate personnel to escort the books. I want you to rely on Roswaal to prepare the shelves and provide manpower."

"Wait..."

"I won't set a deadline. Both you and I have already been freed from the yoke of mortal life. The length of the seasons doesn't mean much. However, considering the possibility that I could be lost, saying it will last indefinitely would be irresponsible. In that case…"

"Wait, do you want that?"

　Take a breath and shout as loud as you can.

　Beatrice couldn't comprehend what her mother was saying right in front of her.

　No, his instincts were telling him that he must not understand. Echidna's thoughts were profound, always easily surpassing the realm of comprehension for ordinary humans. Therefore, whatever she said was the absolute optimal solution, and he had never even considered interrupting her.

　But now it's different. It's different.

　If he were to make Echidna say all those words now, he would surely regret it.

　Once her opinion has been fully expressed, it becomes the optimal solution with no room for argument. The world will follow the trend of affirming that opinion, and Beatrice will not be able to go against it.

　So, the only way to prevent this is to interrupt them before they can finish their sentence.

"Mother... what are you talking about? I don't think you understand anything about the Forbidden Library or anything. What about Betty! Together with mother!"

"Unfortunately, your presence doesn't have much of an impact on our battle with the demons. Of course, our chances of victory would be higher if you were there rather than not... but it's negligible. You could even say it's within the margin of error."

"Th-That's better than nothing, so Betty, help mother! That would be better."

"That won't do. The risk of both you and I being wiped out is greater than the slight chance of success. Since my chances of surviving after the battle are less than fifty-fifty, I believe I must make an effort to pass on my knowledge to future generations."

　The task of leaving this legacy for future generations is to entrust the management of the Forbidden Archive to Beatrice.

　Beatrice cursed her own power of 『Door Crossing』 and the power to create unique dimensions. If she didn't have these powers, her mother would never have asked her to take on such a role.

"Wait, so... Betty's power is for this moment?"

"――――"

"Mother, you knew from the beginning that this would happen... If that's the case, then you should have not only avoided a place like the Forbidden Archive, but also the Sanctuary..."

"Having the ability to see into things and using it are two different things. It's true that I had the means to see the path that this would take, and also the means to avoid following that path. However, I have sworn to my way of life that I have not used that power. I want you to believe that much."

　Beatrice asked nervously, but Echidna shook her head in denial.

　Echidna then walked up to Beatrice, who was biting her lip, and pulled a book out from the shelf, gently handing it to the girl.

"this is...?"

"It is an incomplete replica of the 『Book of Wisdom』 I possess. The magic formula of the Book of Wisdom is highly advanced and complicated, and I haven't been able to fully understand it… but I think it should be able to provide a simple guide to the owner's future."

　Taking the book that was handed to her, Beatrice stroked the cover with trembling hands.

　When Echidna looked up, her mother was gazing at Beatrice with her usual faraway gaze.

"There are two books. One is for you, and the other is for Roswaal. The rest will be taken care of once Roswaal reads the book. I know this is a selfish request, but I hope you will grant it."

"――――"

　Looking down at the book with trembling eyes, Beatrice realized only too late.

　If I didn't let him say it, if I didn't let him put it into words, then that thought wasn't enough.

　Echidna's mother had already decided all the answers.

　Even if Beatrice cried and clung to him and begged him now, there was no way he would change his answer.

　That's the kind of person Echidna, the ``Witch of Greed,'' is, and that's the kind of witch she is.

"Let's go back to the point of the deadline. Even if I don't return, the archives will have to be opened by someone eventually. When that happens, I'll make it known to you. Someone worthy to inherit my knowledge will come to take you."

"I'm here to pick up Betty..."

"Let's call him 'that person' for now. The deadline will be when 'that person' opens the door to the Forbidden Archives and signals the end of his role to you. —This is my final wish."

　Last wish.

　Beatrice gasped at his words, and looked up at Echidna's face, who was looking back at her.

　My mother's expression was the same as always.

　I felt as if, just for this moment, there was an unknown emotion mixed in that expression.

"Betty. --At least stay healthy."

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

　After parting ways with Echidna, Beatrice followed her mother's words and stayed at Roswaal's mansion, where she used the best of her Yin magic to create the ``Forbidden Library'' and filled it with her mother's books of knowledge.

　Echidna has spent her entire life collecting and writing down the ocean of knowledge. If you stay in a room filled with it all packed into books, you can get the illusion of being embraced by your mother.

　Whether or not she felt that way at the time, Beatrice followed Echidna's orders.

　If she had not been immersed in that role, she would not have been able to bear the constant sense of loss that tormented her small heart. And that feeling continued to eat away at the girl even when she was lost in the time she spent in the Forbidden Library.

"I replicate the soul... and overwrite it into the vessel..."

　I don't know exactly how much time I've been spending in emptiness.

　However, after so much time had passed that he could no longer remember how long it had been since they had had a proper conversation, the adult Roswaal began setting foot in the Forbidden Archives.

"I'll be bothering you a bit again today."

　A skinny, scruffy young man shuffles into the room.

　He leans on a cane and walks with difficulty - with his entire body destroyed in the battle with the demon and most of the functions of his gates lost, Roswaal's body has become such that it is difficult for him to even go about his daily life.

　Despite this, once he had regained a certain amount of strength, he overworked his inconvenient body and faced the bookshelf, putting his life on the line.

　His face and body had lost all flesh, leaving only skin and bones. His well-known good looks had long since lost their luster, and only his sunken yellow eyes were shining with a blaze of madness.

"---Just do as you please."

　Normally, I wouldn't want anyone to set foot inside this Forbidden Library.

　Until that one day person Echidna had spoken of arrived, this place should remain Beatrice's "sanctuary", hidden from all eyes.

　However, Roswaal was an exception. Just like Beatrice, he was the only one who had lent his strength to Echidna's wish and had spent a considerable amount of time with her.

　Only in accordance with Roswaal's wish was I able to open the Forbidden Archives.

　Or perhaps it was Beatrice's humble sense of camaraderie that determined the fate of Roswaal L. Mathers and his family.

"――――"

　Visiting the Forbidden Library and drowning in Echidna's ocean of knowledge, Roswaal struggled to discover something, risking his life for it.

　Whether or not that effort bore fruit was beyond Beatrice's knowledge.

　However, a man named Roswaal L. Mathers, who had studied under Echidna alongside Beatrice, died more than ten years after Echidna and Beatrice had separated - just as he was approaching his thirties, and the management of the mansion was handed over to the next generation.

"Oh, it's nice to meet you, Lady Beatrice. I've only heard stories about you from your predecessor."

"...I wonder if Roswaal is dead."

"The previous Roswaal has passed away. However, please rest assured. I, the current Roswaal L. Mathers, will take over your duties and the debt I owe to Mother."

　Saying this, the second Roswaal smiled at Beatrice.

　--His smiling eyes were heterochromatic, yellow and blue.

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

　After that there is very little to write about.

　A family that continues to bear the name Roswaal even as it is passed down to the next generation.

　Although Beatrice knew that Mathers's behavior was a sign of his respect for his late mother, Echidna, she did not allow any future Roswaal to have unlimited access to the Forbidden Archive.

　Of course. To Beatrice, the only one she could treat specially was the original Roswaal. All others besides the Roswaal who shared her feelings were just impostors calling themselves Roswaal.

　In order to maintain the Forbidden Archive, they were given the Roswaal Mansion, so while they might offer some convenience, nothing more than that.

　If Beatrice were to proactively open the Forbidden Archives from now on, it would only be for "that person."

　The person she was waiting for and the signpost given to her by her mother forced the girl to be alone for a long, long time.

"Your power is wonderful. I would love to have your power as a spirit."

　--Shut up. Go away.

"A long, lonely time in a place like this. What a cruel fate. Whoever ordered it, it should not be allowed."

　--What do you know? The important role that Mother asked of me.

"Shouldn't knowledge be made public? If the knowledge contained here were to be spread, how many people do you think would be saved? You should understand that for yourself."

　--It doesn't matter how many there are. Betty only wants to save a handful. There is only one person who can save Betty.

　It's four hundred years.

　Even though they didn't ask for it and even though they weren't allowed to, there were quite a few who ended up in the Forbidden Archives.

　They all had their own words to say to Beatrice, who acted as the guardian of the Forbidden Library, but in the end they all always asked her to open the library.

　There have been times when I have wavered and wondered whether that offer, suggestion, or order was correct.

　There were many times when the door was pushed open and I noticed the sunlight streaming in from outside, and I thought to myself that this time it might finally be "that person" who had appeared.

　However, despite Beatrice's expectations, none of them knew the role of "that person," and the book in their hands did not identify them as "that person."

　And so Beatrice had shook off and rejected all the words, all the help, and all the people who had reached out to her, and had lived until this day relying only on her mother's words.

　As time passes, Beatrice's heart becomes dominated by resignation and disappointment.

　I should have exchanged more words with the original Roswaal.

　Ever since he was the only person she could share her memories with, Beatrice had had to continue to resist the concept of the vastness of time, all by herself.

　When this happened, Beatrice had no one to rely on, and she had no choice but to harden her heart and shut herself in a wall of loneliness that could withstand any wind.

　As a result, over the long course of four hundred years, the girl's cage was formed.

　Was it locked from the outside or from the inside?

　--By this point, even Beatrice herself was beginning to lose track of things.

"Hey, Betty. It's been a long time. It's me, Puck."

　And with that, that impossible reunion was perhaps the only thing that melted Beatrice's frozen heart, even just a little.

"N-Niicha? Why are you here..."

"My beloved daughter was tricked by Roswaal of this mansion. So I came here to ask for your help. I never expected to see Betty here. I'm glad to meet you."

　The shy little cat spirit washing its face with its small paws is named Puck.

　Just like Beatrice, she was an artificial spirit created by Echidna, and to Beatrice she could be said to be the only person of her kind, having been born into the same family and living in the same circumstances.

　The time Beatrice spent with Puck four hundred years ago seemed long but was actually short.

　Puck, who was created before Beatrice, should have left Beatrice and her companions before the battle with the demons began, and been roaming the world according to his own purpose.

　Beatrice had thought that they would never meet again, and that he was practically dead, but when she was reunited with him, she felt her heart beat faster for the first time in decades.

　However, this joy was short-lived――

"I also wandered the world for about 300 years after I separated from Betty, and finally found Leah. I don't know what Betty is waiting for, but I'm sure her wish will come true."

"Yes, I suppose so. But I'm jealous of you. Betty, you've been given a task by Mother..."

"Mother? Who was that?"

"――――"

　Puck tilted his head quizzically, not joking or anything, and Beatrice remembered something.

　When Puck left Echidna's side, several contracts were made between them. Though she didn't know the exact contents of the terms, a part of it was clearly hidden in the way Puck seemed to have forgotten about Echidna.

"...No, it's nothing. I'm just happy to see you again, Nii-cha."

"Yeah, that was great, Betty."

　Beatrice was dazzled by Puck's figure, who had achieved his goal and was living out the meaning of his birth. However, she also knew that the words she wanted to speak would only get in the way of that path.

　Therefore, the girl keeps her mouth shut and congratulates the future of the person she loves as her brother with a sad smile.

　The unexpected reunion with her kindred brought Beatrice modest joy, but even more sorrow, and the end of those four hundred years was upon the girl's mind.

　Comparing herself to Puck, who had fulfilled his role, Beatrice was astonished at the difference.

　And then I thought.

"...Betty will probably never be able to laugh like Nicha again."

　Beatrice decided to avoid getting involved as much as possible with the half-elf girl whom Puck loved.

　If she didn't do so, Beatrice would surely one day take out all the resentment in her heart on the girl. She would surely make an irreparable mistake on the daughter who was the most precious person in the world to her beloved brother, who had done nothing wrong.

　He was good at calling on his mind to restrain himself and slaying his emotions.

　For four hundred years, the world has been repeating this cycle of sunrises, sunsets, and sinking into moonlight.

　It was a piece of cake. A familiar gesture. An obvious resignation. That's how it was.

　In the midst of such days - a foreign object suddenly interrupted.

"N-no, don't hurt me."

"I'm impressed that you're so thorough with your jokes."

　It had been a really long time since someone had entered the Forbidden Archives without permission.

　Looking down at the boy, who had collapsed from having his mana forcibly collected from his body, Beatrice sighed and stroked her own hair.

　It was simply revenge that caused the boy who left the room to be thrown into the labyrinth using the power to connect spaces.

　It was revenge for having been forced to help treat an injured boy who had been brought in the day before. It was revenge for having been forced, via Puck, to grant the wish of a half-elf girl who had been saved by the boy.

　He was hoping to ease his anger at the boy by causing him trouble, even if only a little, over an incident that he couldn't even complain about.

　That was his intention, but the effectiveness of 『Door Crossing』 was instantly seen through.

　The boy probably didn't even realize how upset Beatrice was inside.

"I guess he's someone I don't want to have anything to do with anymore."

　Beatrice reminisced as she kicked the boy out of the Forbidden Library.

　Even Beatrice doesn't know for sure why he was able to reach the Forbidden Library in one go, but it's possible that it's because his magical aptitude is specialized for the Yin attribute, and he just so happened to be on the same wavelength as Beatrice that day.

　However, even though the boy has an aptitude for Yin attributes, he has no aptitude to be a wizard in the first place.

　Knowing that they would only be staying at the mansion for a few days, Beatrice was able to ignore the small lump that had begun to grow deep in her chest.

"Betty, did you do something bad to that girl? That's not okay, anymore. That girl is also Lia's benefactor, so you need to apologize properly."

　The next morning, Puck showed up at the Forbidden Library and scolded Beatrice for her behavior the previous day, and she was forced to come face to face with the boy she had decided not to get involved with.

"What is this loli saying so soon after meeting you?"

"What's that word? I've never heard it before, but it gives me an unpleasant feeling."

"I mean, she's too young to be a target for conquest. I don't really have any younger attributes."

"...It's a shame that he can be so rude to Betty."

　Tit for tat.

　I never had any intention of apologizing to begin with, but that completely disappeared because of this conversation.

　Beatrice passed the breakfast table in silence, and when she saw Puck's helpless expression, she took a sigh of relief, thinking that she had somehow been forgiven.

　However, in exchange, the boy was about to enter the mansion for a long period of time.

　Beatrice was beginning to curse the situation, and decided to leave breakfast and retreat to the Forbidden Library. After all, this mansion was cursed, and the current situation was one of emergency.

　Boys who seem to lack guts will soon give up and disappear.

　You just have to be patient and wait until then.

"Hey, Beatrice. I finished work and had some free time so I came to hang out."

　Without any regard for my feelings, the boy with a dejected look on his face barged into the Forbidden Library as if it was the most natural thing in the world, and started bothering Beatrice even though she hadn't asked, and he repeated this whenever he found some free time.

　Even Beatrice was left speechless by this brazenness.

　Up until now, there have been several people who have been qualified to enter the Forbidden Archive without Beatrice's permission, but all of them came for the sake of the knowledge contained within, or because of Beatrice's presence as a spirit of great power.

　Whenever they opened their mouths, they would ask for the release of knowledge. Or for a contract with Beatrice. That was all they were.

"Beatrice. --Can I pull those vertical rolls of yours and make them bounce?"

"Do you want to die, honey?"

　I wondered what he was going to say with a serious expression on his face, but the boy just said that everything was as he expected.

　After waking up and starting work at the mansion, he seemed a little intimidated for the first day or two, but after that he became incredibly familiar with the situation.

　Just as I thought that, he suddenly spoke up.

"I'm in a desperate situation and have no choice. To be honest, I need your help."

　--The boy had discovered the source of the monster disturbance in the forest surrounding the mansion.

　After being hit by the beast's ``curse'' and consulting Beatrice about how to break the curse and find its cause, Beatrice sensed that there was something different about the boy she had known up until now.

　And realize at the same time.

　The somewhat distorted rise in the negative power felt from the boy's body.

　The beast incident itself ended without Beatrice's involvement, and the boy seemed to have bridged the gap between him and the serving sisters during the commotion, and was now welcomed into the mansion as a full member.

　Afterwards, while watching the boy's excitement after recovering and his even more familiar and teasing attitude than at first, and a scene where she feasts on the mysterious mayonnaise that the boy has made, Beatrice imagines an impossible "what if" scenario.

　--A boy who shows no particular interest in either knowledge or Beatrice's powers.

　Or perhaps he was the one Beatrice had been waiting for.

　Beatrice was exhausted by the days of constant doubt without any basis, and was about to reach that conclusion, but she managed to hold herself back by opening the blank prophecy.

　Since there is nothing written in the prophecy, there is no way that the boy could be "the one" Beatrice is waiting for.

　To begin with, the boy lacked many of the qualities Beatrice expected in a man she was waiting for.

　First of all, he has a bad look in his eyes. He has a bad attitude. He is uneducated and has short legs. There is something about him that he tries to value more than Beatrice, and he is not kind to her.

　On the contrary, I can't see anything good about her. The half-elf girl and the younger of the blue-haired maid sisters are honestly struggling to understand what's so good about her.

　I have nothing good about me so I'd rather be alone and not be liked by anyone.

　Then, when I show up at the Forbidden Library, I might treat them a little differently.

　I used to think that way too.

"Beatrice. I would like to invite Lady Emilia and Subaru to the Sanctuary."

　Those were the words Roswaal told Beatrice upon returning from the royal capital.

　Beatrice's eyes widen as various questions run through her mind. However, Roswaal silences Beatrice's doubts with a single action.

　That is, he stroked the cover of the prophecy book he was holding in his hand.

"...You understand, right, Beatrice?"

"I, I did. ...Do as you like, I guess."

　Beatrice had no other words to say.

　Having heard that Roswaal had turned his back on Beatrice and set off for Sanctuary first, Beatrice decided to lock herself away in the Forbidden Archives without meeting anyone.

　The writings in Roswaal's prophecy will bring about consequences that will touch the Sanctuary.

　It is true that she had hopes for her own prophecy after hearing this, but Beatrice's prophecy was filled with blank pages, and the girl's heart was left in the wilderness.

　I know what happened to Sanctuary as a result of Lewes Meyer's sacrifice.

　He also knows that four hundred years have passed without that place being liberated. He also knows that it holds within it those who have strayed from the Demi-human race, waiting for the time to be liberated.

　It's also a hurdle that a half-elf girl must overcome if she wants to take the throne.

　--But if that place is liberated, what will become of Lewes Meyer's sacrifice?

　Beatrice felt helpless at that time, not being able to save Lewes Meyer.

　That unbearable sense of loss that led Echidna to say goodbye.

　Feeling her feelings, which had lost their destination and were supposed to have been frozen, pulsating again, Beatrice realized this time that this was the end of her destiny.

　Beatrice doesn't know the details of what happened outside the mansion.

　When the boy returned from the royal capital, he was carrying a keepsake from someone he missed fondly. Seeing it, Beatrice felt that she had once again been left behind in the world, and sent the boys off to the Sanctuary.

　Resigned to the idea that whatever they bring back from the "Sanctuary" will surely be their answer.

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

"So, Betty has made up her mind...!"

　Before he could return with an answer, he felt a surge of violence accompanied by "death" sweep through the mansion.

　And when she realized what the cause of this was, Beatrice realized that this time she had truly been abandoned by fate.

"I won't break my promise to Mother... But I don't think there's any point in wasting any more time!"

　"That person" will never come. But I can't stop waiting.

　In that case, Beatrice's option to "wait" would have to be taken away by someone else.

　For that purpose, he would even be willing to offer his life to someone who would try to take it.

　If possible, if there was someone to whom one could entrust even a little bit of that role, one could believe that at the very end, one's humble wish would have come true.

　And so, when that boy - Natsuki Subaru - had thrown open the doors to the Forbidden Library that night, a wave of emotion that was difficult to put into words had swept through Beatrice's heart.

　It felt like the first time that fate, which had never tried to save Beatrice's heart, had given her something in return.

　If his hands were to take her life and break her promise, then so be it.

"I'm going to take you out, Beatrice. This time, you're going to be dragged out into the sun by my hands, and I'm going to play with you until your dress is completely covered in mud and black."

　What had he suddenly said?

"Is that none of your business? Nobody is asking you to do that."

　I don't understand what you're saying.

　Because up until now, the boy had never once behaved like "that person." He had never stolen Beatrice's prophecy or said, "Sorry to keep you waiting."

Subaru: "Don't keep being swayed by a blank book and a verbal promise from four hundred years ago. ーーYou choose what you want to do, Beatrice."

"――――"

　--But why, now, would the boy disturb Beatrice's heart, when she had made up her mind?

　All I could think about was that it was going to end.

　When he saw the boy return, he had this expectation that he would be the one to end it.

　Despite this, the boy tries to show her a future that is different from the one Beatrice hoped for.

　I don't want that to happen.

　The desire for such a thing has long since worn out over the course of four hundred years.

"If you're... 'that person'..."

　That should have been the case, but as she heard the boy's voice, which did not hide his indignation, something changed in Beatrice's heart.

　Just as flowers sprout when the snow melts, dormant emotions begin to tremble as they emerge.

　Once you say it, there's no taking it back.

　Beatrice loses her attachment to her mother's words that have bound her for four hundred years, and now she clings to something completely new.

　Despite knowing this, Beatrice uttered the decisive wordsーー,

"Will you be 'that person' for Betty?"

"Are you stupid? --There's no way I'm your "someone" because I'm some random person you don't understand."

　The moment he spoke, the boy gave him a mocking look, betraying any hopes that had sprung up in his mind.

　After that, in a fit of anger, I kicked the boy out of the room, and don't remember much.

　However, he was aware that he had said something irreparable and had put an end to the situation before it became irreparable.

"――――"

　What a fool I am then.

　That was just a betrayal of her mother's instructions that she had always followed. A betrayal that was rejected without bearing fruit, and Beatrice's vow became a very cheap one.

"Are you tired already?"

　Then, everything else should go as planned.

　It was a mistake to even think about getting involved with that boy. He wasn't the kind of person with a pure heart who would get his hands dirty for someone else.

　Just like Beatrice, she is a weak-minded person who constantly worries about trivial things, is indecisive and unable to make any decisions, and keeps making excuses.

　Therefore, the 『Death』 that would end Beatrice would take a completely different form――

「I finally made it back! Hey, you idiot. Don't kick me out in the middle of my story. I don't care, just make sure I finish it...!」

"--!"

"Plot?!"

　As if to interrupt his thoughts, the boy once again violently burst into the Forbidden Library.

　The moment she saw the boy about to say something, Beatrice's emotions boiled over and she unleashed a wave of magical power, blowing the boy away.

　Unable to bear it any longer, he rushes out of the Forbidden Library and watches as the door slams shut.

　The talks had completely broken down, and it was all ended with one fatal word from the other side, so what a brazen mentality.

　Beatrice couldn't understand how someone could make such a statement and then brazenly show their face like that.

　Beatrice put her hands to her small chest as if to endure her irritation, and let out a sigh――

"Stop it! Is this just a childish tantrum? If you resort to violence right away, we won't get anywhere..."

"You're the one who's got to stop messing around!"

"Woah!"

　Without holding back, he shoots through the head and then sends a wave of magic power straight into the torso.

　The boy screamed and fell to the ground, hitting his head on the wall outside the door and colliding in agony. Once he was sure of it, the Forbidden Library and the corridor were once again sealed off.

　It was incredibly persistent.

　Perhaps he did not know what it meant to give up, or perhaps he was unaware of how much his insensitive words had hurt Beatrice, but in any case, the boy continued to refuse to part ways with the "Door Crosser."

"...You've got to be kidding me."

　Muttering in disgust, Beatrice dragged a stepladder from the back of the room and took her usual position in front of the door, glaring at it while holding the Book of Prophecy.

　--That boy will come pushing open that door again.

　It always appears in selfish reasoning and the forced selling of emotions without consideration for the other person's feelings.

　Reject it again and again and drive it away.

　Because you are not "that person".

　After all, he had given up the right to take Beatrice away.

　That was why Beatrice would never let herself be taken away.

　I want to end up here with unfulfilled promises.

　Doing so was the only salvation for Beatrice right now.

※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※

He was blown out of the room and slammed into the wall, choking on his breath.

　Since my attempts to persuade Beatrice had failed, this was the sixth time I'd attacked the Forbidden Library and been rejected. I feel like I've gotten better at defending against invisible attacks thanks to being beaten down so many times in a short period of time.

　Instead, Beatrice's magic wave attack seemed to be determining the limits of what Subaru could do without causing any serious damage, so it was a situation where he could never let his guard down.

「What the heck, this is no time to be honing stupid skills, damn it! I can't understand what you're saying...」

　Wiping the sweat off his face with his sleeve, Subaru scolded his knees and stood up.

　He had been running nonstop since the previous day, and had wasted his energy bleeding and mending broken bones. He was exhausted, his eyes were blurred, and he was only moving his body supported by his willpower.

"The fire is about to get serious..."

　Subaru crouched low and looked around, clicking his tongue at the fact that fatigue wasn't the only reason for his poor visibility.

　Due to a fire that broke out while eliminating a giant magical beast, the entire mansion was engulfed in flames.

　Most of the lower floors of the main building were already engulfed in flames, and black smoke could be seen rising from the west and east buildings.

　Thanks to the spreading flames, many of the monsters in the mansion had fled, and there were no monsters blocking Subaru's path as he ran around. However, the temperature inside the building was like that of an oven that had started to heat up, and the sweat that was streaming out was evaporating from the edges, threatening to scorch his skin at any moment.

　It won't be long before the building begins to collapse, and Subaru's fate will be sealed in the flames.

　Before that happens, I need to accomplish my goal and get out of here with Beatrice.

　And yet, Beatrice's heart, which is the most important thing, remains stubbornly closed.

"Thanks to the mansion being on fire, the number of possible doors has decreased, which is a relief, but..."

　That's probably the only positive thing that can be attributed to the fire.

　The effect of "Door Crossing" that connects to the Forbidden Archives only works on functioning doors inside the mansion. In other words, open doors and burnt doors are not subject to "Door Crossing".

　The more the mansion burns down, the fewer possible doors leading to the Forbidden Archives will be available.

"Even so, I'd sooner get steamed before there are fewer doors."

　Besides, I don't want to think about what would happen if all the doors in the mansion burned down.

　It was unclear exactly how Beatrice's "Door Crossing" connected different spaces. Perhaps the burning of the mansion had led to Beatrice's Forbidden Archive being separated from the alternate space forever.

　The only place I can think of that could possibly be connected to this other than the mansion is the laboratory in the Sanctuary where the crystal in which Lewes Meyer sleeps is--

"In his current mental state, is it possible that he could connect that place to the mansion...?"

　Previously, Subaru had been transported to the Sanctuary by Beatrice's "Door Crossing".

　Subaru had one theory as to why that irregular incident occurred.

　At that time, Beatrice had exploded with emotion and forcefully kicked Subaru out of the Forbidden Library.

　Beatrice's "Crossing the Door" was against her will, and she was extremely conscious of "separation" -- what if Subaru was sent to that place as a result?

　For Beatrice, that place was a symbol of painful and sad separations. Perhaps that was why Subaru was sent to the Sanctuary at that time.

　If that was the case, it was unlikely that Beatrice's 『Door Crossing』 would lead to that place this time.

　Rather than thinking about separation, Beatrice is now thinking about the end.

　If Beatrice loses her connection to the world of the mansion, then she will finally reach the end.

　Subaru couldn't help but think that this was her decision at the moment.

"I would never let you end like that...!"

　Taking a deep breath, Subaru crouched low to the ground and began running.

　Leaving the door he was thrown out open, he went deeper into the mansion, clearing away the black smoke, in search of the next door.

　The building materials were burning and the sound of something popping in the raging flames continued to pound against my eardrums.

　My skin burns and the hot air threatens to burn my eyes, so I grimaced and endured.

　Almost coughing from the smoke creeping into my nose, I found a door that was still open and grabbed the doorknob as if jumping.

　The heated doorknob emitted high temperatures, mercilessly burning the palm of Subaru's hand as he gripped it. The skin on his palm was already melting from the repeated burns. He was used to gritting his molars in pain.

　Feeling a sharp pain piercing my temple, I kicked the door open.

"――――"

　I jump in and tumble into a room enveloped in the smell of old books.

　He opened his mouth wide, took a breath, and lay on his back, glaring at the dark ceiling.

　The familiar atmosphere and the scent of anger prickling his skin - this was none other than the Forbidden Library.

"You've shown no remorse again...!"

「Haa! Of course! No matter how many times, I will come and kidnap you. If you don't like that, then let me take you away this time! If you do, this will be the last time we ever have this exchange!」

"Enough with the nonsense! I know the mansion is on fire! You have to get out right now, otherwise you'll end up getting burned to death!"

　He jumped to his feet and glared at Beatrice while breathing heavily.

　The girl was sitting on a stepladder, her round eyes bulging as much as they could, revealing her intense passion for Subaru.

　For an instant, a hint of emotion flashed at the corners of her eyes, and Beatrice's lip trembled.

"Or... would you rather burn to death along with the mansion and Betty?"

「Are you an idiot?! Don't you understand even after I've told you all that?! I don't have the slightest intention of dying with you! I've come to bring you out and not let you die!」

"--! Whatever you're doing, you're really being selfish! Get out of here!"

　Standing up, Subaru leapt onto the bookshelf and dodged the first wave of magic power.

　He felt as if a storm was hitting his entire body, and then a second wave sapped all of his vitality. When he looked, Beatrice was pointing her left hand towards the ceiling, her face distorted in pain and forcing a smile.

"I forcefully took your mana from you. It's been a while since you've felt this way, I'm sure."

"Y-you..."

"If his grip on the shelf relaxes, it'll be all over. I don't think he'll mind Betty anymore!"

　Just as his knees were about to give way, a third wave of magical power struck Subaru head-on.

　Subaru felt as if he had been slammed into an invisible wall of air, and unable to hold his body up, he was pushed towards the door again. He rolled and was about to fly out of the room,

"Ngh, ngh!"

　He stretched out the arms and legs of the rolling body and braced himself, catching the body that was about to be thrown off towards the door.

　From experience, I knew that an intense pain ran through my limbs where I had been hit, and that my arms in particular felt like they had either broken or cracked. I gritted my teeth and forcibly ignored it.

"Huh――"

"Even I'd learn a thing or two about how to survive if someone did this to me over and over again. Are you ready to listen to what I have to say now, in recognition of my efforts?"

"You and Betty's chance to talk is over. You were the one who trampled it out… why don't you understand that!"

"I don't know. In fact, maybe you're the one who's orchestrating it?"

　Subaru puts his hands on the door and stands up, wiping the blood from his cut lip, before declaring:

　Seeing Beatrice frown in disbelief at his words, he couldn't help but smile wryly.

"What's strange about that?"

Subaru: "It seems that my consecutive attacks aren't in vain after all. If you really want to reject me, don't take it lightly, just blow me away. You have the power to do that, don't you? That will be a much quicker method."

"...Betty told me to kill you."

"You can't. I was mean. Sorry. But if you really want to reject me, there must be an easier way for you to do it."

　Previously, Beatrice had refused to kill Subaru with a tearful face.

　Subaru is not yet at the stage where he can know what she was thinking at the time or the reasons behind it. So he can only speculate. He combines the reasons why he couldn't do so with the fragments of her past that he knows.

　And on top of that I'm asking the question now, and I'm really astonished at how nasty I can be.

　But, if I didn't do that, Beatrice probably wouldn't notice.

　The contradiction between her own actions and thoughts and Subaru being here.

"If you really don't want to see my face, then lock yourself in the Forbidden Library, Beatrice."

"What are you doing…? The truth is, Betty hasn't even taken a single step outside the Forbidden Library. And yet, you come barging in without permission…!"

"No, that's not true. If you were serious about staying here alone, there's no way I would have made it here so many times in such a short amount of time. Your refusal is just a pretense."

"That's because you... yes, it's because you've been practicing how to break through the 『Door Crossing』 technique. Also, the mansion is on fire and the number of doors has decreased..."

　Beatrice stammers, her words of refusal gradually trailing off.

　After hearing Subaru's words, she too was beginning to doubt her own heart. Even without that, Beatrice was now shaking, having lost the pillar that had held her up for four hundred years.

　He no longer knew whether Subaru's words or his own feelings were correct.

"――――"

　Even Subaru doesn't really know the situation.

　The reason why he was able to reach Beatrice's Forbidden Library in such a short time without any hesitation.

　Maybe it's because the mansion's door was burned down and their options are limited.

　Or perhaps Subaru's hidden Yin attribute power was unleashing his superhuman strength in an emergency, allowing him to see through Beatrice's 『Door Crossing』 completely.

　It was true as Subaru had said, Beatrice had not yet completely rejected Subaru in her heart, and so the door to 『Door Crossing』 might have been opened to him.

　Subaru hopes and prays that this will be the end.

　But whatever the truth of the matter may be, it doesn't matter. What is necessary is that Natsuki Subaru reach the possibility of being able to bring Beatrice out here, right now.

"You... you! You're not Betty's 'one person'!"

　Unable to bear it any longer, Beatrice grabbed the hem of her skirt and raised her voice.

　Abandoning the thoughts racing through her head, Beatrice tearfully pleaded with Subaru.

"You said it wasn't you! You... you said it wasn't you. If you were 'the one'... if you had said it was true, even if it was a lie, Betty would have believed it. Even if she knew it was a lie, she had no choice but to believe it."

"Beatrice..."

"But you said it wasn't so. I said it wasn't so, that you were a fool. Yes, I think so. It's true. Betty is a fool, a great fool, and she still can't forget a verbal promise made four hundred years ago... so! No matter what you say, it's all over now!"

　Beatrice chose refusal and cried out as an invisible wind surrounded her.

　A torrent of magical power blew the girl's dress and long hair on the wind, and an uneasy atmosphere filled the Forbidden Library. Subaru felt the omens of the strongest wind yet coming, and his whole body trembled in fear of receiving an unrelenting blow.

　A frightened mind that makes you want to step back and run behind the door.

　Somehow managing to push it aside, Subaru bit his cut lip even further and faced forward.

　To convey what needs to be conveyed.

"I am..."

"――――"

"I'm not 'the one' for you. I'll tell you again and again. The prince you've been waiting for won't come. Even if you're here until the very last moment, he definitely won't!"

"--! In that case! Betty will just rot here!"

"That's no good. I won't let you make that choice. I'll come and tell you again and again until you change your mind. 'That person' won't come. I can't keep that promise. —But I won't let you die."

"I really hate you!!"

　Immediately after speaking, Beatrice's emotions exploded.

　At that moment, the torrent of refined magical power transformed with a single purpose, and a white light painted the world before Subaru's eyes.

　There isn't even a gap to feel the wind blowing through it.

　The piercing shockwave hit Subaru from the front to his back, stirring every single organ in his body. The blood in his entire body flowed backwards, and he felt an agony as if everything was being squeezed out of his pores.

　You get dizzy, lose your sense of balance, experience an overwhelming feeling of floating, and lose your sense of sound, smell, and light. Perhaps this is what people call the sensation of near death.

　--However, Natsuki Subaru knows.

"--What's wrong?"

　Holding back the urge to vomit, which felt like his organs were about to spill out of his mouth, he spoke loudly so as not to sound weak.

　There was a world beneath my feet, and as soon as I became aware of this, my senses gradually returned to my body. I had limbs, a head, my organs had not protruded from my mouth, and my soul had not fallen out of my vessel.

　So basically, I nearly died, as always.

　Natsuki Subaru knew very well that this was not 『Death』.

"That's a lie..."

　Blurred, unsteady and flickering vision.

　The world was just beginning to come into focus enough for me to realize that I was inside a library, and the girl in front of me was staring at her hands as if she could not believe her eyes.

　It's Beatrice.

　She too must find it puzzling that Subaru has not died and remains in his original form.

　There was nothing strange about this. Subaru knew this would happen.

　There's no way Beatrice could kill Subaru.

"Beatrice..."

"――――"

　My consciousness was hazy. Somehow, with sheer willpower, I managed to keep my mind connected to what was almost a broken state.

　The girl was shaking in front of him. However, she looked frightened at the sight of the broken-down Subaru, unable to comprehend why she had been unable to completely reject him.

　So, thinking that now my voice would be heard, I mustered up what little strength I had and spoke.

"I'm... not your... "that person"..."

"..."

"but"

　Beatrice looked like she was about to cry after hearing the repeated words of denial.

　If the conversation ended like that, it would just be a repeat of the previous story. Before that could happen, Subaru spoke up, before Beatrice's emotions could fully boil over.

"I... I want to be with you, Beatrice."

"----!"

"I want to be by your side so that you, a kind person, won't be sad."

"Ah... Ugh..."

　Beatrice's expression distorted.

　It was as if he was holding back anger, or trying not to shed tears, or trying not to show some indescribable emotion.

　Beatrice just swallowed her words, took a heavy breath, and picked up the book she had placed on the stepladder. She turned the pages roughly, her fingertips crumpling the paper, and she groaned softly.

　and,

"--What?"

　Before Beatrice could make any move, Subaru's vision suddenly became distorted.

　This has nothing to do with a hazy consciousness or a lack of blood; it's a very real problem.

　The truth was, the world of the Forbidden Archives was beginning to distort before Subaru's eyes.

　The ground swelled underfoot, and the bookshelves lost their balance and toppled over one by one. The books that had been lined up fell to the floor in a mess, and in an instant the ground was covered with a sea of ​​books.

　And yet, the distortion of the world continues.

　Before long, even the ground beneath Subaru's feet began to undulate like bellows, and he was no longer able to maintain his balance.

"This... what is this...?!"

"――――"

　Desperately clinging to the door, Subaru looks towards Beatrice.

　Looking around, in the constantly undulating room, only the area around Beatrice continued to maintain its shape. The stepladder she had been sitting on remained motionless, and Beatrice leaned her weight against it as she looked at Subaru.

"----ah"

　Before he could say anything, Subaru's feet suddenly lurched.

　There was a sound like tearing paper, and a crack appeared in the floor where Subaru was standing. A black space spread out below the floorboards, and he was sure that he would be sent somewhere else, separate from the 『Door Crossing』.

　Or maybe we're trapped in a non-existent place, like subspace.

"--Shit."

　At that moment, I became aware of the hole and took a step back.

　The world truly tilted sideways, and Subaru succumbed to the laws of gravity and fell backwards. The door opened its mouth and swallowed Subaru, and his body was transported via the "Door Crossing" back into the mansion of flames.

"Azu!"

　Immediately after being thrown out, Subaru cried out from the heat of the wall he had crashed into.

　Looking up, Subaru found himself in the middle of a hallway in a mansion that was now completely engulfed in flames. There was nothing else to distinguish it from the main building.

　With his entire body being roasted by the flames, Subaru looked at the door he had just jumped out of, and was speechless when he realized that the lower half of the door was already engulfed in flames.

　In this state, it was already a miracle that 『Door Crossing』 was possible. Even if he jumped in again, it was highly unlikely that this would lead to the Forbidden Archives again.

"Damn... if this is the main building..."

　If you're on the top floor, you might even find a door that's still intact.

　Subaru vaguely realised from the number of doors that this was not the top floor, and decided to make his way through the flames and somehow make his way to the stairs.

　The smoke stings my eyes, and the tears flow endlessly. My lungs burn with every breath. The black smoke threatens to take my consciousness away, so I hold my jacket over my mouth to endure.

　He wouldn't last even a few minutes. There was no way he would be able to reach the Forbidden Library――No, weakness was not tolerated here.

　Above all, I can't forget Beatrice's final expression.

"That idiot, he's making that face again..."

　The numbness in his limbs, which had been hit by Beatrice's magical wave, somehow went away.

　Dragging his body along with his will, Subaru ran to the end of the corridor, using all his soul to spare.

　Beatrice's expression flashes through his mind.

　That's a face I've seen in the previous loop.

　The face of Subaru when he faced Elsa alongside Beatrice, and Beatrice's life was taken by Elsa, whom he had supposedly defeated.

　Beatrice shielded Subaru and was pushed away, causing her stomach to burst open.

　Seeing that Subaru was unharmed, she wordlessly transformed his body into particles of light.

　But Subaru has never forgotten that last look.

　She didn't feel relieved that she had been able to protect Subaru, nor did she rejoice at witnessing the "death" that she had wanted to inflict upon him; her face simply distorted.

　--She had a look on her face that made it clear to everyone that she hated being lonely.

"That's why I... I'm not going to leave you alone...!"

　He spat it out, jumped into the flames and found a way out.

　He could feel something squirming and unpleasant inside his body, but the heat of being roasted and the pain of his skin burning didn't allow him to notice it.

　At that moment, if there was anyone who could look at Subaru objectively, they might have instinctively stepped back in horror.

　As Subaru ran through the flames, vowing to bring the girl back, he was surrounded by an immense amount of black miasma, and embraced as if by a protective robe of shadow.

　Without realizing this, Subaru broke through the particularly large wall of flame and reached the stairs.

　Taking a heavy breath, he saw the stairs leading up to the upper floor and realized that this was the second floor. He was about to put his foot on the stairs and run up to the top floor in one go when...

"――――"

　Noticing the sound of something wet being dragged, Subaru looked down.

　The sound was coming from downstairs, but reason told me that couldn't be.

　The only sounds that could be heard from nearby were the sounds of burning buildings and crackling flames.

　The mansion was on the verge of collapse, and the first floor of the main building was also the source of the fire. It was impossible for anything to be moving in such a place.

　Subaru, who had run wild through the mansion, understood the fire that had even caused the magical beasts to flee.

　Therefore, this sound of something being dragged must be nothing more than an auditory hallucination.

　--Then what is that?

"...No way."

　A shadow slips out of the flames, dragging something along with it.

　Heading for the upper floor, the shadow stepped onto the stairs just like Subaru, but stopped on the landing halfway between the first and second floors, and, sensing Subaru's presence just above, looked up.

　The shadow was a black-haired woman wearing black clothing and holding a black blade in one hand.

"Erza, huh...?"

"――――"

　The shadow doesn't reply, but its appearance is unmistakably that of the woman in black that Subaru knows.

　Why is she here? Could it be that Garfiel has been defeated? If so, then Subaru's fight to save everything will end in complete defeat.

"No, that's not it..."

　Subaru was about to assume that, so he shook his head.

　Subaru had to believe in Garfiel's strength here. No matter how powerful the enemy, Subaru was betting on him winning.

　Both Otto and Frederica worked hard to bring Petra and Rem out.

　Garfiel also declared that he would do his best.

　How could Natsuki Subaru have come this far without believing in his comrades?

"Garfiel, you can't lose. So why are you here..."

　Believing in Garfiel's valiant efforts, Subaru tosses his words towards the shadows below.

　A woman who shouldn't exist. What is behind her actions?

　However, just as he was about to question him, Subaru realized something.

　No, I was made aware of it.

"--You're not Erza anymore, are you?"

　The black eyes staring up at Subaru contained not a single ray of will.

　There's such a void in there that it's hard to believe there are eyeballs in them.

　The sound of something being dragged was that of a shadow dragging what appeared to be a crushed lower body. The fact that it still acted as if it was alive was too horrifying for Subaru.

　I knew she was a woman with an indestructible life force, but is she incapable of dying even after being destroyed to that extent?

"But I don't have time for pity...!"

　Even if it couldn't die, Subaru had no words of sympathy.

　Considering what Elsa had done before she nearly died, even that was a little lenient. Still, Subaru had no interest in hurting a walking corpse.

　I decided that at the very least, I would be caught up in the collapse of the mansion and be cremated.

Subaru: "Just like that, be consumed by the fire. I will save Beatrice…"

　I shook my head and was about to shake off the shadow below me and head up when...

"--a?"

　There was a soft noise and a shadow leapt below me.

　Then, aimed at Subaru, whose mouth was hanging open, a vicious-looking blade was swung.

"――――"

　Subaru forgot to breathe or even beat as the wind from the blade brushed against his nose.

　That was how natural the shadow was, almost as if it was approaching Subaru to take his life.

　However, the slash barely managed to reach Subaru, and only shattered the floor in front of his toes.

　This wasn't due to the opponent going easy on him, but due to the lack of leg strength caused by the lower half of his body not being able to jump. If that hadn't happened, Subaru would have been dead with that blow.

"You've got to be kidding me--!"

　Subaru quickly kicked the body that had fallen forward and put his foot on the stairs.

　Forgetting to breath, he ran up the stairs in one go, turning around with just his head to look at the shadow. The shadow, having been kicked, shook its head and placed all four limbs on the floor with the awkward movements of a marionette, and chased after Subaru, crawling up the stairs with spider-like movements.

「That's a lie…!?」

　Even though I have mocked her by calling her a spider woman, I have never actually thought that she was that way.

　Stunned by the shadow's actions, abandoning the person, Subaru ran up the stairs to the top floor. Imagining the shadow chasing him, he jumped into the third floor corridor, engulfed in flames.

　The room located in the exact center of the hallway was the office. It was the sturdiest room in the mansion, and at the very least, the door had still retained its original shape.

"--Whooo!!"

"R-R-R?!"

　The lion-headed demonic beast roared, as if to intercept Subaru as he leapt into the flames.

　With its mane gone, and half of its body burned and blistered, it was undoubtedly the same demonic beast that Subaru and the others had burned to death in the dining hall.

　Could it be that the demonic beast, barely breathing, had returned to this door once more to obey its master's commands?

　If that was the case, Subaru was truly in a state of being like a moth flying into a flame.

　The encounter in the midst of flames is no joke, it's just too witty.

　The beast, half of its body twitching from burns, swung its arm equipped with thick claws, chipping away at the wall, and with a blow approaching its neck, even in its near-death state, Subaru's life was easily cut down like a weed.

"It's a Wampa, you guys--!"

　However, Subaru evaded the attack by lowering his body and diving headfirst into it.

　Subaru had learned that it was the nature of magical beasts to aim for the weakest spots of their prey. Judging that it would definitely aim for anything above the neck, Subaru dove and rolled forward, dodging under the beast's armpit.

　The beast, having been fooled by Subaru, tried to turn towards Subaru with its throat trembling in rage. However, it wouldn't give in that easily.

"――――"

"--AAAHH!!"

　Chasing Subaru, the shadow crawled up and bared its fangs at the half-dead demonic beast.

　The demonic beast, with its back turned, was slow to react and received a blow from the black blade raised by the shadow. Its left hind leg, which had been supporting its massive body, was slashed off at the base, exposing the twisted wound and letting out a scream that echoed throughout the hallway as fresh blood spurted out.

　The snake-like tail swung and crashed into the shadow crawling on the ground.

　The shadow dodged it with nightmarish movements that exceeded the limits of the human body, slashed away the tail with the black blade, and plunged the tip of the black blade into the wound in the beast's severed leg, dug open the wound.

　Hearing the unbearable screams echoing through the air, Subaru headed for the door to the office, not wanting to miss this opportunity.

　On the way, he kicked open the door to the reference room, but it didn't lead to the Forbidden Library, so he was just wasting time. Behind him, the battle between the beasts and the shadows was continuing, but all he could hear was the screams of the beasts, and the situation was completely tilted against him.

"Beatrice...!"

　Reaching his office, Subaru opened the door with a prayerful look on his face.

　If the Forbidden Library lay before Subaru's very eyes like this, it would be time to say goodbye to the great monster battle.

　However, all that Subaru saw before his eyes was the office in disarray.

"Shit... this isn't good...!"

　As if to show the strength of Beatrice's refusal, the office turned Subaru's wish away.

　Even if they tried to find another door, they couldn't go back downstairs to the mansion, which was already being engulfed in flames. In any case, there was a possibility that there was another door.

"The secret passage is..."

　It is conceptually difficult to call a hidden passage that opens with a mechanism a door.

　There was a passageway where bookshelves slid open, but the chances of reaching the Forbidden Library through there were slim.

　If there is another door, it would be further back in the secret passage.

"There should have been a door leading to a small room along the way... but..."

　There should be the door where Erza was ambushed in the previous loop.

　However, it was unclear whether this was within the range of Beatrice's 『Door Crossing』. More than anything, Subaru couldn't help but think that this guidance from door to door was Beatrice's intention to drive him out of the mansion through a secret passageway.

　Or perhaps she is aware of the current state of the mansion and is showing Subaru the way to save his life.

　If that's the case, then even if we enter the secret passage, it probably won't lead to the Forbidden Library.

　If he was led straight outside the mansion, to a mountain hut at the end of the evacuation route, Subaru would lose the chance to rescue Beatrice forever.