Natsuki Subaru is chasing his back

Chapter 44: Dark Humor

The person standing behind him was Beatrice, who didn't know why she had appeared here.

Because of Beatrice's presence, Subaru Natsuki dropped the sickle in his hand onto the ground and turned to face her, asking,

"What are you doing here? Aren't you supposed to be guarding your library?"

Subaru sighed inwardly.

Because Beatrice had appeared, he couldn't end his own life in front of her.

Even though if he loaded a save, no one would remember, Subaru didn't want Beatrice to see his death.

Maybe she wouldn't even be sad about his death, but that was just a possibility. Therefore, he couldn't end his life in front of her.

"Hmph, because of your escape, the mansion's in a mess. Betty came to bring you back."

"Is that so? Too bad I can't go back with you."

"Ah, of course, someone wanting to end themselves wouldn't go back with Betty.

But Betty is curious—these things have nothing to do with you, so why did you run away?"

Subaru was stunned for a moment, then gave a bitter smile and said softly,

"Yeah, these things don't concern me. I really didn't have to run.

I don't even know those villagers well, and I don't know Rem, who died in the mansion, very well either. But some things only I can do."

Hearing Subaru's words, Beatrice frowned and looked at him with an angry tone:

"What foolish nonsense are you spouting? Have these things scared you silly? You, who are utterly powerless, what things do you think only you can do? Don't get too arrogant, human!"

Hearing that, Subaru glanced briefly past Beatrice to the area behind her, then focused his gaze on her face and took a step toward her.

"Beatrice, Rem is Ram's little sister. Their bond is very deep.

Seeing Ram cry really makes me feel awful.

Those villagers were kind people, yet they died like this. Isn't that just too cruel?"

"That's normal, isn't it? How many people in this world die mysteriously? That has nothing to do with whether they're kind."

"Yes, it has nothing to do with whether they're kind. And I can't save everyone in the world, but I don't want them to die."

"Looks like you really are crazy. They're already dead."

'So only I can do it. Using one person's life to exchange for everyone else's life isn't a bad deal, right? And I won't die.'

With a smile on his face, Subaru stopped in front of Beatrice and slowly crouched down, placing his hand on her head.

"Beatrice, they are very kind.

The children in the village are mischievous but good kids. And the outside world is beautiful.

Staying locked away in your library means you see nothing."

"Why are you saying these things? Betty obviously already knows!"

"You want to see the outside world, don't you? You want to leave that library.

Sorry, but this time I can't take you with me. Next time—next time I definitely will."

Hearing this, Beatrice violently pushed Subaru's hand away.

She stepped back and looked at Subaru's smiling face, saying,

"You're really crazy. Betty must be an idiot to chase after you. Do you think Betty would believe your baseless words? Betty isn't a child, she's not so easily fooled."

As she spoke, light radiated from beneath Beatrice's feet and she disappeared from Subaru's gentle gaze.

After seeing Beatrice completely leave, Subaru stood up and looked at Ram, who was walking toward him from nearby.

"Senpai, don't you think magic is really mysterious?"

"Tell me everything you know!"

"Telling you won't help anymore. Rem is already dead, and everyone in the village is dead too."

As he spoke, Subaru's expression grew fierce. Smiling, he opened his arms and shouted,

"See? I've done my job well. You people have all been fooled by me. I—"

Before he finished, Subaru's face remained twisted in that fierce expression.

His head fell from his neck, and as his consciousness faded, his eyes closed and a smile appeared on his face.

'Ah, next time won't happen again.'

His head dropped to the ground, and Subaru's body fell backward stiffly. Ram, who had done this, looked at the fallen head with an expression so complex it was hard to read.

"Lady Beatrice."

Ram watched as Beatrice slowly walked out from the side.

She noticed sadness on Beatrice's face she hadn't seen before. Without saying a word, Beatrice picked up Subaru's head and placed it on his body, then used magic to restore Subaru's corpse to completeness.

Looking at Subaru's final smile, Beatrice slowly spoke,

"What exactly are you hoping for... liar... there is no next time after death..."

.

.

.

"Ah, I died again, huh? Hmm... this time it's 120 points?"

Lying on the ground, looking at the enhanced status panel, Subaru couldn't help but doubt whether this thing was useful.

Honestly, after leveling points twice, it didn't seem very significant.

This made Subaru start thinking—either the enemies he faced were too strong, or this thing only gets powerful when points are added later on.

After thinking for a while, Subaru decided to put a point into defense first. It cost 80 points at once, leaving 60 points. Then he put one point into strength, and then one each into the abilities he didn't understand yet—superpower and mana.

Thus, Subaru's status panel became: Strength 2, Defense 4, Agility 2, Superpower 1, Mana 1.

After finishing spending his points, Subaru stood up, ready to begin his rescue journey, but realized he had somehow changed locations without noticing.

Coming back to his senses, Subaru looked around, pursed his lips, and sat down roughly in a chair.

Looking at the god sitting across from him, he raised the tea on the table and took a sip.

"So, what do you want from me this time?"

"Nothing much, just came to check on you after finishing everything. But I saw you've only died three times so far. That's a little low."

"Hah?! Low?! You really have a dark sense of humor."

Subaru complained unhappily, since he couldn't win against the god.

"Oh, by the way, someone asked me to give you something, but seeing how you are now, you don't need it yet. I'll wait to give it to you next time."

"Wait, what is it?!"

But there was no reply.

When Subaru woke up again, he saw the ceiling, then Puck's head.

"Ahhh! That god with the dark sense of humor!"