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Chapter Text

Prologue:The beginning of penance.

After the cast witnessed all the suffering and pain that Subaru endured, they were now prepared to leave the theater to help Subaru heal from his anguish.

The most determined to do this were Emilia and Rem, the two girls who held a special place in Subaru's heart, along with Petra, who, despite her young age and innocent crush on him, also wanted to help.

Most of Emilia's camp was eager to assist, including her two friends and brothers-in-arms, Otto and Garfiel, as well as Beatrice, or Beako (as only Subaru has the right to call her), who had suffered greatly seeing her contractor (Subaru) die and endure pain at the hands of both friends and foes. They were all willing to help him.

Ram and Frederica also wanted to help, although Ram wouldn't admit her desire due to being extremely tsundere, while Frederica felt compelled to assist Subaru because he helped her brother (Garfiel) escape the sanctuary and reclaim his people.

Meanwhile, Roswaal acknowledged that his chances of resurrecting his teacher (Echidna) were now extremely low, as his crimes had been exposed. The truth about his apprenticeship to the Witch of Greed (Echidna) and the fact that he had stolen the bodies of his descendants to live for centuries were enough to see him rot in a cell or face execution.

As for the other camps, their members were reflective about everything they had seen, including their failures and the loops in which they denied helping Subaru.

**Crusch's Camp**

Crusch was particularly troubled, realizing how unjustly she treated him when she denied him help, thinking he was mad when he revealed the existence of the cult. It was painful to hear him say she would be a tyrant and to recognize how Felix's loyalty to her was toxic, failing to notice and correct his unhealthy mindset.

Felix felt small and disappointed in himself for having treated Subaru so poorly and for trying to brainwash him into forgiving Julius for the beating he endured at the castle.

Wilhelm, the Demon Sword and servant of Crusch, felt sympathy for Subaru, seeing him as a grandson. Thanks to Subaru, he managed to kill the White Whale and avenge his wife, Theresia. The theater helped him understand his grandson and want to assist him, despite his many flaws as a grandfather and father.

**Anastasia's Camp**

Anastasia, who used Subaru's fragile state to gather information, felt somewhat disgusted by her actions. She wanted to make amends by perhaps inviting him to her camp, where she could exploit his ideas and transform him into a new Hoshin, bringing revolutionary inventions that would be better utilized than in the incompetent camp he was currently in.

Julius, Anastasia's knight, felt like garbage as he witnessed all the sacrifices Subaru made and recognized how he shattered his self-esteem by beating him in the castle. Despite this being done to protect him, it made Julius realize he wasn’t a good friend; in fact, he couldn’t even be considered a friend after what he did.

Mimi and Tivey felt sympathy and pity for Subaru and everything he had been through.

Ricardo also sympathized, knowing that Subaru had suffered more than he had during his time as a demi-human slave for his mercenary career.

**Felt's Camp**

Felt was overwhelmed with sadness and pity for her older brother (Subaru), who had suffered greatly. She felt a strong urge to help him, even considering killing Roswaal to make him suffer for what he did to Subaru.

Reinhard, the Sword Saint and Felt's knight, felt like a failure. Despite having all the divine blessings in the world, he couldn’t save his friend and never managed to help him.

**Priscilla's Camp**

In contrast, Priscilla found Subaru’s plea for her help repugnant, deeming him greedy like a pig. Nonetheless, she found his journey intriguing and the fact that he overcame impossible challenges was interesting. She had enough confidence and arrogance to believe that eventually, Subaru would join her camp, where she would fix his sickly mentality of sacrificing himself for the half-devil (Emilia). Perhaps, she could make him worthy enough to be her knight or a potential lover.

Al, or Aldebaran, Priscilla’s knight, felt sympathy for her brother from another world (Subaru). He knew he had endured tremendous suffering and died in horrific ways to save everyone. He wondered how long it would take for him to completely break, as no human could endure such pain and remain unchanged. Yet, he hoped that even as a rival camp member, he could help his brother.

After all the camps had their internal conflicts, patience was wearing thin, as the director had not appeared to release them from the theater.

Fed up, Felt shouted at the top of her lungs:
Felt: "YOU SON OF A BITCH, DO US A FAVOR AND GET US OUT OF HERE, DAMMIT!"

Priscilla became irritated by Felt’s language and outburst.
Priscilla: "Silence, you filthy rat! How dare you damage my divine ears?"
Felt glared back at her.
Felt: "Shut up, you bitch!"

Priscilla glared back angrily, saying in a furious tone:
Priscilla: "Now you will see, you filthy rat!"

She was about to summon the Yang Sword when a deep, unfamiliar voice resonated throughout the theater.

??: "Stop this commotion."

Everyone fell silent, trying to discern the source of the voice, which was not the director's. The mysterious voice spoke again.
??: "Well, it seems you are quite confused about why you haven't left and what happened to the director. It's simple: I am replacing him as he had to resolve some serious issues. I will be responsible for showing you a possible future for Subaru Natsuki."

Everyone was surprised to learn they would see the future. Emilia and Rem questioned whether they would be married to Subaru in this future.

Ram decided to voice her thoughts sarcastically.
Ram: "What could this possible future hold for our dear new jailer, Barusu?"

The voice replied seriously.
??: "A rather dark one, for a change. You should pay attention, as it is anything but pleasant. What you will see will make all the suffering and pain you witnessed Subaru Natsuki endure seem like child's play."

Everyone was in shock upon hearing this. If what he said was true, what they were about to witness would be anything but agreeable.

Emilia felt anxious, wondering what could be shown that would be so terrible.
Emilia: "My knight, what have you gotten yourself into, and what are you going to face in this future?"

She looked down at him, still unconscious in her lap. Rem was also anxious; she didn’t want to see her hero suffer more, but she felt curious about this future as well.

The other members of Emilia's camp were quite uncomfortable and concerned about this possible future, especially Otto, who questioned whether their camp would win the royal selection, and Roswaal, who wondered if he could at least resurrect his teacher despite his crimes being revealed in this future.

The other camps were also curious and apprehensive, not knowing if the future they were about to see would be as dark as the new director suggested.

Before anyone could say anything further, the new director spoke:
"Well, you can sit down, as it is about to begin."

Afterward, everyone sat down, and the screen in front of them began to glow. A massive word appeared in red on the screen: "BLASPHEMOUS."

Chapter Text

The cast was apprehensive, as they did not know whether the future would be good for them or not. The word "blasphemous" that appeared on the screen did not seem pleasant to most of the audience, who did not understand the meaning of that word, as it was in a language they could not understand, except for one person: Al.

Al recognized the language as English, and translated it into Japanese, "blasphemous" meant "blasphemy." He wondered if this word was a sign that the future would not be pleasant. However, he decided not to express his thoughts to Princess Priscilla and the rest of the cast, who were waiting for the preview to begin.

The screen flashed and images began to appear, accompanied by a female voice echoing.

On the screen:

"Now, take the mask of penance and follow me."

After the voice, an image of a strange mask appeared. The mask had a pointed design, adorned with a crown of thorns around it. Then, a very familiar figure appeared: Subaru Natsuki, dressed in silver armor and a red cord around his waist. His face was exposed, with dark hair and eyes that gave off a disconcerting feeling. He placed the strange helmet on his head, completely covering his face.

Off-screen, everyone was shocked to see Subaru, especially by the strange armor and mask he wore, something that didn't seem to exist in any of the kingdoms.

Garfiel decided to voice his opinion about Captain Subaru's armor out loud.

Garfiel: "What the hell is that weird armor the captain is wearing? And he looks a lot older! What do you think is going on, bro?"

He asked the question to Otto, who was also perplexed by the situation and whispered in Garfiel's ear.

Otto: "Honestly, I don't know. Whatever it is, the armor Natsuki is wearing doesn't look like what any of the knights would wear; it looks much more religious and even ceremonial."

The two were wondering if this armor could be used by the knights of Lugnica in the future. Emilia and Rem were quite surprised to see Subaru dressed like that and couldn't help but think that he looked a bit more attractive despite the unusual design.

Rem thought that her hero, Subaru, really did look like a knight, and felt that despite his strange appearance, he looked like a true knight in shining armor. She imagined Subaru carrying her like a princess in that armor.

Emilia, for her part, felt a little happy to see her knight wearing armor that truly looked worthy of a knight. She felt proud, realizing that he had become more mature and elegant. She blushed slightly at the thought; even though she didn't fully understand what love was, she couldn't help but feel that Subaru had become more attractive.

Julius and Reinhard wondered if this was the armor that all knights would wear, and were somewhat disturbed, as they felt that the design of the armor was not suitable for a knight. It looked much more religious and ceremonial than ordinary armor.

Wilhelm also questioned the armor Subaru was wearing, doubting that the sages would allow knights to wear such armor. He felt that whatever armor this was, it did not belong to any known kingdom. Wilhelm had never seen anything like it during the demi-human war, and suspected that it might be something used in Gusteko, a theocratic and religious nation. However, he dismissed this idea, as he doubted that Subaru would leave Emilia's camp because he loved her too much.

Felix found the armor really ugly and strange, and hoped he wouldn't need to wear it, because he doubted he would be able to fulfill his role as a healer wearing something like that, because he thinks it would be a laughing matter to wear it if it were embarrassing.

Mimi and Ricardo found the armor funny, because its design wasn't very pretty and it was really unusual. So Mimi let out a little laugh and commented:

Mimi: "What a ridiculous armor! I would never wear that."

Richard held back his laughter, recognizing that the armor was really funny, despite Subaru's face looking a little strange.

Tivey looked at the armor analytically and wondered who had created it and for what purpose, considering its unusual design. He also wondered if the armor had anything special or if it symbolized some religion.

Roswaal also questioned the armor, because in centuries of stealing the bodies of his descendants, he had never seen anyone wearing such armor. He wondered if Subaru had converted to some religion to wear something like that, because, like the others, Roswaal considered that such armor could be used in religious ceremonies, and not in combat.

Al was also questioning the armor, because the design of the mask resembled a capirote, and the armor strangely resembled that of a Templar knight. This made him wonder if Subaru was in another world or had returned to his home world and somehow traveled through time, because only then would it make sense for a mask like that to appear, since it did not exist in any kingdom.

Frederica and Ram wondered about the armor and why Subaru was wearing it. Ram wondered why Barusu was wearing that ridiculous armor and conjectured that maybe he had converted to a cult or something, but denied it, because she knew that the "disgusting pig" loved his sister and Miss Emilia too much.

Frederica also found the armor strange and questioned whether Subaru had joined some religion, but like Ram, she doubted that.

Meanwhile, Petra watched everything with her eyes shining with admiration and passion, because in her eyes, Subaru looked like a true knight in shining armor.

Beatrice wondered why her contractor was wearing such a strange armor and wondered why she wasn't on the screen scolding him for wearing something so ridiculous.

mixed opinions about the armor. Felt just thought it was strange that her big brother was wearing that bizarre armor, and wondered if the knights would have to wear something so ridiculous in the future.

Crusch and Anastasia were intrigued by the armor, wondering about the unusual and unusual design and also wondering which of them won to decide to use such a strange design for the knights' armor and suspect that Priscilla would do it because the baroness is very unpredictable and she would do anything to have fun.

Priscilla watched everything with disappointment, finding the armor ugly and ridiculous, something that only a court jester would wear. She thought the commoner was humiliating himself by wearing it and questioned whether his lack of pride persisted in the future.

After everyone expressed their opinions about the armor, they turned their attention to the screen, as they heard the strange female voice again.

On the screen, a brown-haired woman appeared, dressed in peasant clothes and a necklace. The voice spoke again:

"The father's sword is reborn."

After that, the scene cut to a frame with the image of the peasant woman, and the female voice narrated:

"It was forged from the worship of the blessed soul that claimed it."

Then the voice continued:

"Thus she surrenders herself to the capricious but holy will of our miracle."
As she said this, the figure of a woman appeared, but with an exposed skull and skeletal hands, wearing a brown dress with several tears, looking more like a monster than a human being.

She carried on her back the picture where the image of the peasant woman resided. The image changed, showing the peasant woman impaled with a sword in her chest, apparently dead.

The voice continued: "She knew the fate that awaited her if the ancient appeal were heard. We cannot understand the reasons behind her sacrifice, for these are known only by the will of the painful miracle."

"She knew the fate that awaited her if the ancient appeal were heeded. We cannot understand the motives behind her sacrifice, for these are known only by the will of the sorrowful miracle

The voice continued:

"The message is clear: it is time for the guilty blade to find a new bearer, who will carry its weight in penance."

The scene changed, showing Subaru with the strange woman who carried the painting on her back, in a forest with dry, leafless trees. They were both looking at a sort of castle or chapel. The mysterious voice spoke again:

"We're close."

Off-screen, everyone was in shock at seeing these scenes, especially the woman being impaled, and were curious to find out who that mysterious voice was and what this "miracle" meant.

Roswaal was extremely curious about the woman and the "miracle" she mentioned, wondering if it referred to divine blessings or something else. He couldn't help but wonder if he could use this "miracle" to aid him in his plan to revive his teacher. He pondered the strange creature that carried the peasant woman's painting and why the woman had been impaled, trying to find an explanation.

Roswaal (thinking): "Whoever this impaled woman is, it must be quite important for the creature to be carrying a painting of her. But I'm still curious about what this miracle the voice mentioned is."

Beatrice also wondered what this miracle was and what its connection to Subaru was, as well as the strange creature beside her and the castle he was observing.

Beatrice (thoughtfully): What does this woman have to do with Subaru, since she's dead? And that sword that impaled her looks really strange.

Emilia and Rem are extremely worried because they don't know what Subaru is involved with and also about the strange creature near him and they ask about what he is doing with her and also about the mysterious woman who was impaled.

Emilia is wondering why this woman was impaled and also what her connection was with her knight (Subaru) and if he was involved in something dangerous and Emilia in her thoughts is full of concern for him.

Emilia (thoughtfully) What have you gotten yourself into, my knight? I hope you try really hard because I've seen you suffer a lot because of my incompetence.

Rem was also questioning because she didn't know what her hero's relationship was with that impaled woman and she was wondering about the "miracle" that the voice mentioned.

Priscilla is a bit pensive about this so-called "miracle".
Priscilla (thinking): what could this miracle be, what this irritating voice is referring to, and also what that commoner who was impaled has to do with it, and also what the commoner with the devil sock has to do with it, and also that disgusting creature next to him that doesn't seem to be attacking him or have hostile intentions.

Al was also a bit curious and had his own thoughts about what he was seeing.

Al (thinking) this is really weird, this creature that is with the brother (Subaru) looks like those undead from RPGs and also what is this miracle and also what does that impaled woman have to do with all this?

Reinhard and Julius were quite intrigued about the miracle because they had never heard of it in their lives and questioned if it was some religious symbolism and also about what the strange sword that the woman was impaled with is. They asked if this sword could be one of the 10 swords of power but they were in doubt because they had never heard of it and especially Cecilus who they know collects several swords and they had never seen a sword like the one the woman used to impale herself.

Ricardo and the twins didn't think much about it because Ricardo covered the twins' eyes so they wouldn't see it because despite having some experience with death and suffering, when they saw Subaru die repeatedly, Ricardo wanted to preserve some of the innocence that remained, despite both being mercenaries, they didn't try to take Ricardo's arms from his eyes.

Anastasia and Crusch questioned about the miracle and asked more and more what Subaru's relationship was to the miracle and also about the impaled woman who looked more like a religious figure than an actual person.

Felix despised the woman for having committed suicide, even though he knows Subaru's motives and sympathizes with him. He still can't stand suicidal people and in his thoughts he can't help but wonder if this woman had some religious symbolism involved.

Felix: It's disgusting that this woman committed suicide, but I can't help but wonder if this woman has some religious symbolism involved because this creature that is with Subaru seems to have a connection with this woman and also what is this miracle that the voice mentioned?

Garfiel and Otto were wondering what their brother had gotten himself into and wondering if he had joined some religious cult and they hoped not since they didn't need to imagine Subaru as a cultist because of all the terrible things they had seen they didn't need to have the mental image of their brother as a cultist.

Frederica and Ram were silent, wondering about what they were seeing because it seemed more and more that religious themes were related to it.

And Petra was a little scared to see that creature and also a little uncomfortable to see Subaru near her even though she didn't seem like she would try to hurt or injure him.

After everyone had their own thoughts about it, their attention was taken by the female voice speaking again.

"The sad will changes what it looks at, molds it as it wills, condemns what it kisses." After saying this, the screen cuts to show Subaru and the creature walking through the forest towards the mysterious castle.

And the voice continues: "For centuries it has blessed and punished this land and all of us equally. Ever since the first miracle occurred, since the coming of the first saint: the father."

And as soon as the voice speaks, it shows a scene focusing behind Subaru and the creature that are purple flowers that seemed to sprout out of nowhere.

And the voice continues again.

"The Church, Mother of all mothers, educated our players, repressed our fervor, established faith, a faith of unbreakable steel within. A faith of golden ornaments and incense without."

The camera on the screen focuses on a twisted man tied to a wooden pillar and with a mask on his face with several chains around him.

The voice continued:

"The petition of your holiness has been heard, and what seemed asleep has awakened, has been contained within the bars of its own prison, thus welcoming the will of the miracle that has shown us all a new face, a new era."

The voice continued its speech.

"From the martyrdom of his eminence grew the great burning tree, whose ashes buried everything around it. Thus, we all succumbed to its gray mantle."

The scene cut again, showing Subaru and the creature walking through the forest towards the castle. With each step, purple flowers sprouted from the ground.

The voice began to speak again in a melancholy tone:

"The sad one knows we will find him.

"He knows me.

"From my innermost thoughts to the last pain in my gut."

After that, the camera cut away, showing the creature's skeletal face.

And the voice continued:

"He condemned my youth, my voice and my will to the captive reflection of this rough canvas framed in gold, leaving my true body increasingly decrepit, obsolete and ulcerated, leaving my face withered, a face of empty looks, of empty eyes."

The voice continued:

"Only the name forsaken, which was given to me at birth, survived his touch.

"Now he has focused his thoughts on you and is beginning to know you. The proof of his first gift was that his vow of silence is forever irreversible. But do not worry, even if I do not have your voice, I have your purpose, for I am a guide and scholar in the ways of miracles."

Off-screen, everyone in the cast was trying to process all the information they had received.

Roswaal and Beatrice were even more curious to know what this miracle was and also about the creature that apparently had the name "forlorn". This made the two immortal beings wonder why religious themes were being mentioned so much in the visualization and what Subaru's relationship with all of this was.

Meanwhile, others, such as Wilhelm, Julius, Reinhard, and Felix, began to suspect that Subaru had, for some reason, joined Gusteko. The fact that the impaled woman and that strange man who had appeared seemed to have come from Gusteko made the four of them even more suspicious that something was definitely not right.

The candidates were also very uneasy, as they couldn't help but feel a sort of growing uneasiness as the viewing progressed.

Especially Emilia and Rem, who felt that Subaru had gotten himself into something he shouldn't have. They wondered if he was in Gusteko, as the fact that that twisted man seemed to be from there made them question what the hell he had done.

Anastasia and Crusch also can't help but think that Gusteko is somehow related to the impaled woman and the twisted man they saw, who looks like someone who came from Gusteko.

Priscilla is increasingly intrigued by the "miracle" as it has been mentioned several times in the visualization. She wonders if the miracle is some kind of entity, rather than something like a divine blessing, and ponders this:

"This miracle, whatever it is, must not be connected to the Ode Laguna. From what the annoying voice said, it seems to be some kind of religious entity, which is quite annoying for a goddess like me to see something so profane."

Al notices that Priscilla is thoughtful and decides to question her:

"Princess, are you also intrigued by the miracle that is being mentioned so much?"

Priscilla, instead of answering, kicks Al.

"Aldebaran, don't you dare ask me such a question, you idiot."

After that, she turns back to the screen.

The others in the theater have their own thoughts about the revelations on the screen, but decide not to express them to the others, just stare at the screen as the female voice begins to speak again.

Off-screen:

— We're close.

The camera shifts to show Subaru and the creature in front of the castle gates. The two enter the castle, where there is a kneeling statue resembling the peasant girl from the beginning, holding the sword that impaled her, surrounded by several candles. The voice begins speaking again:

— This chapel houses the Kneeling Stone, whose heart was pierced to grant her wish.

The voice continues:

— We will never know the name of this tormented soul, only the color of the petals that continue to fall at its feet.

After this, the scene shows Subaru approaching the statue and picking up the hilt of the sword that is embedded in it.

The voice speaks again:

— Remove the guilt from the Stone, and from now on...

After this, he removes the sword from the statue and raises it above his mask.

And the voice again, this time in an imposing tone.

"I will call you penitent."

Off-screen.

Everyone in the cast was surprised to see the statue of the woman and also the title of Subaru.

And Garfiel questioned this.

Garfiel: Why is the captain being called penitent, bro? Otto, lost in thought, stared at the statue and the sword, wondering if that woman had been turned to stone. Rem, distressed, wondered what had happened to her hero to earn him such a dark title. Rem (muttering): "What happened to you, my hero, to earn that title? I hope that in the future you will not have suffered so much and that we can heal your wounds." Emilia shared the same sentiment, wishing that Subaru had not gone through so much suffering despite being given such a heavy title. Roswaal, for his part, was curious about the statue and the sword that Subaru had taken out, wondering if there was any connection to the "miracle" mentioned. He speculated that the miracle was not a religious metaphor, but perhaps some kind of entity or even a god, though he was skeptical about it. Ram (thinking): "I hope Barusu didn't do anything stupid in the future." Frederica and Petra, on the other hand, felt uncomfortable with Subaru's title, fearing that he was carrying a burden of guilt and penance. Petra, who loved him, hated the idea of ​​him having suffered more than they had ever seen. Julius, Reinhard, Wilhelm, and Felix were intrigued by the sword, which seemed cursed and unlike any other they had ever seen. Ricardo, Mimi, and Tivey were unsure how to react to the information, especially about the sword, which gave off a disconcerting feeling. The other candidates, such as Felt, Anastasia, and Crusch, had not fully formed opinions, but remained attentive to what would happen next, although Felt and Crusch were uncomfortable with Subaru’s title.

Al, on the other hand, wondered what this statue and sword actually represented, and how Subaru had learned to wield a sword despite Wilhelm's earlier criticisms of his lack of talent.

Everyone turned their attention back to the screen, eagerly awaiting the next revelation.

On the screen, Subaru is seen opening a door, and the creature stops following him. He enters the door where a female figure is waiting for him. This figure is wearing golden armor, a helmet and mask similar to Subaru's, and is wielding a crimson red sword.

The female voice that had been speaking throughout the visualization now seems to be coming from the female figure in golden armor.

— Our faceless helmets point clearly to the same sky, for we are both penitents before the eyes of our miracle of greatest pain.

The voice continued:

— Yours of iron, without voice.

— Mine, of gold, without gaze.

After that, the figure in golden armor advanced towards Subaru.

And the voice continued:

"Our penances, however, are different, opposite, and yet complementary."

The figure in golden armor clashed his sword with Subaru's, and the voice continued:

"But neither can exist without the other.

Off-screen, everyone was surprised by the female figure and her monologue. However, they were focused on her fights against Subaru and were even more impressed to see that he was able to defend her attacks so well, with Wilhelm in awe. Everyone was now staring fixedly at the screen.

The fight was intense, and the golden figure threw Subaru back with her sword. The female voice spoke again:

— Your progression and mine intersect here.

After that, the golden figure made a cut on Subaru, who, for some reason, did not scream in pain, and blood began to stain the cloth of his armor.

The voice spoke again:

"This is the first test."

Then, it made another cut on Subaru, this time more fatal, making him fall to the ground, apparently dead.

The voice spoke again:

— Your first kneel.

Off-screen, everyone was extremely furious and worried. Garfiel was furious with the golden figure for attacking his captain and swore that he would kill her if he found her.

Otto thought the same thing as Garfiel and also wanted to kill that damn thing.

Ram, Frederica, Petra, and Beatrice were worried about Subaru, wanting to help him even though they couldn't.

Meanwhile, other characters were also worried about Subaru's condition, such as Priscilla and Al, who were wondering why RBD hadn't been activated, but the two decided to focus on the screen reluctantly.

On the screen, the golden figure grabbed Subaru's foot and began to drag him with one hand, leaving a trail of blood. The female voice spoke again:

— Your blood marks in these saffron lands point the way to the brotherhood where the vow of silence is born.

The voice continued as the golden figure dragged Subaru to a cliff:

— The one chosen by the sacred will and who will not be questioned.

After they reached the cliff, she threw him, and Subaru's body fell in free fall.

The voice continued:

“Now, fall.”

“Return to your brothers and sisters.”

After that, Subaru’s body fell into a pile of bodies with people wearing the same mask as him.

The voice continued, as the golden figure looked directly at Subaru’s corpse:

— Sleep and share your dream with those who have failed in penance, those who continue to hide their faces and prolong their lies, long after their clothes have turned to dust.

The voice stopped speaking for a moment, and the camera focused on the expressionless mask, now stained with his own blood.

The voice continued:

— If the miracle was truly foretold to you, you will rise from the dead.

And the voice continued:

— In the face of the pain of the statue of the twisted father who will watch over you.

The camera focused again on the face of his mask.

The voice continued:

— If this is your destiny, then we will meet again.

— And so will be your second kneel.

After that, the screen went dark.

Everyone in the cast was in shock, trying to process everything they had seen, when they heard the new director's voice:

"It seems like you're in shock. I'm going to give you a break."

After that, everyone was silent, wondering one thing: what the hell was the miracle?

To be continued.

Chapter Text

Everyone in the cast was perplexed, not understanding anything, especially what the miracle mentioned in the previous visions really was.

Among the most curious was Roswaal, who kept wondering about the meaning of this “miracle” and why Subaru’s Return by Death had not been activated. Countless questions arose in his mind as he tried to piece together the puzzle.

Roswaal (thoughtfully): What the hell is this miracle? Can I possibly resurrect my teacher? And why did Subaru-kun lose his RBD? When did that happen? I need to find out when he lost his power, because that will allow me to prepare. If I can't do it, my plans will be ruined—even more so than they are now, with everyone in the theater aware of my actions at the shrine thanks to the visions. Reinhard and Julius will definitely arrest me when they leave the theater. What if it's not just arrest, but execution? The odds are against me, and that frustrates me to no end.

Roswaal's uneasiness grew with each passing second. He knew that his past actions had put him in a vulnerable position, and the thought of losing everything he had worked for left him in a state of agitation. The search for the miracle was becoming not just an obsession, but a desperate necessity for his survival and the fulfillment of his goals.

Ram observed his master's behavior, noticing that he was deeply disturbed. He wanted to comfort him, but his thoughts were on Barusu, questioning why the RBD had not been activated and the nature of the strange armor he wore, which seemed more ceremonial than practical for battle. What had happened in that dark future?

Ram (thoughtfully): Barusu, what the hell did you do? What happened to make you lose your power?

While Roswaal and Ram were lost in their own thoughts, Emilia and Rem couldn’t take their eyes off the screen. Tears streamed down their faces. To them, the analysis of the Miracle or the armor was irrelevant. What mattered was the pain of seeing the man they both loved seemingly permanently dead.

Emilia felt a tightness in her chest, as if part of her soul had been ripped out. Emilia: Subaru... why did this happen to you?

Rem, on the other hand, could barely breathe from crying so hard. Rem: I can't accept that you're gone, Subaru-kun...

However, no one was as devastated as Beatrice, Subaru’s great contract spirit. She was still in shock, frozen by the sight of what seemed to be the final death of her beloved contractor. Uncontrollable tears streamed down her face as guilt overwhelmed her. Once again, she had failed to protect him. Once again, Subaru had been taken from her.

Beatrice (desperately): B-Bet... Betty... can't take it anymore... this pain... no more...!

Garfiel, watching everything in silence, felt a tightness in his chest. To him, Subaru was his captain, someone he admired. The thought of not being there to help him in the future consumed him with guilt and frustration.

Garfiel (frustrated): "Where was I? How did I let this happen?"

Otto, equally shaken, couldn't stop thinking about the "Miracle". The woman in golden armor had referred to the "Miracle" as if she were a god, which made him even more suspicious. Could the Miracle be related to Ode Laguna? He also thought about the purple flowers that had appeared in the forest when Subaru and that creature were walking. Something about that vision didn't make sense to him.

Otto (thoughtfully): "These flowers... Could it be that the Miracle caused them? And why does Natsuki carry the title of 'Penitent'? What's happening to him?" And also why that woman made that insinuation that he would revive that doesn't make sense unless she knows about RBD but that doesn't explain why RBD wasn't activated when she killed him.

Petra was in tears, the pain of Subaru's apparent permanent death consuming her. She was comforted by Frederica, who held her tightly, sharing her sadness at the permanent loss of someone so dear.

At Crusch’s camp, the duchess was equally shaken. The news of Subaru’s death affected her deeply, but her mind was also intrigued by the woman in golden armor who had killed him. This enigmatic figure had been the narrator of the entire visualization, incessantly mentioning the “Miracle.” Crusch felt increasingly uncomfortable with the lack of information about this power, since no one, not even her, could understand what it truly meant.

Crusch (thoughtfully): "What is this 'Miracle'? Why is it so crucial that it's mentioned repeatedly during the viewing? And as for that sword that Subaru took from the statue... I've never heard of a sword like that before. Why does it resemble the same sword that the peasant woman impaled him with so much?"

Crusch was not the only one bothered by the image of the peasant woman. Her knight, Felix, was also bothered by this and full of disgust that the woman had been killed for no apparent reason, but he also wondered why that woman had taken her own life for no apparent reason and also, the fact that there was a statue of her that had the sword she used to impale herself stuck in the exact place where the peasant woman was injured and this made Felix reflect deeply on what it all meant.

Felix (thoughtfully) "Why did that woman kill herself like that? And why would they erect a statue of her, exactly as she was at the moment of her death? What does all this have to do with the so-called "Miracle"?

Wilhelm, the veteran swordsman and Crusch’s servant, was equally intrigued, but for different reasons. He was impressed by Subaru’s skill with a sword, something he had never expected to see. The bladesmanship Subaru displayed in the fight against the golden-armored woman was exceptional, despite the battle being short and Subaru having perished. Wilhelm had analyzed the young man in the past and concluded that he did not possess a natural talent for swordsmanship. It made him wonder how much time had passed in this future they were witnessing.

Wilhelm (thoughtfully): "This level of sword mastery cannot be achieved in just days, weeks, or even months. It takes years of training to reach this level... I wonder how long he trained to reach this level. It's a shame... he died despite this."

In the camp of Anastasia Hoshin, the merchant queen, the uneasiness was also palpable. Known for her vast network of information, Anastasia prided herself on always being well-informed. However, the “Miracle” was something that had never crossed her path, and it made her deeply uneasy. The lack of any data regarding this phenomenon puzzled her. Furthermore, the ceremonial armor that Subaru wore was also something completely out of the ordinary for her.

Anastasia (thoughtfully): "What is this Miracle? How have I never heard of it before? My information network never fails... And that armor of Subaru's... No knight in their right mind would wear something like that. What's going on here?"

Julius, Anastasia’s knight, was equally perplexed. The sword Subaru was using intrigued him deeply. In all his life of studying, he had never heard of a sword like it. He had read countless history books, including those about the Ten Swords of Power, but none of them resembled the one Subaru had taken from the statue. This mystery bothered him, and he couldn’t shake the idea that this weapon might be cursed.

Julius (thoughtfully): "This sword... Why have I never heard of it? I've studied everything about legendary swords, but this one doesn't appear in any book... Could it be a cursed sword?"

While Julius pondered the nature of the sword, Ricardo tried to comfort Mimi, who was visibly shaken by Subaru's graphic and bloody death. Although they had witnessed his death several times before, this time it seemed to be final, which weighed even more heavily on Mimi's heart. The image of Subaru lying there, bloodied and lifeless, had left a deep impression on her. However, Tivey, unlike his sister, was more focused on trying to understand the "Miracle" that had been mentioned several times during the exhibition. He also wondered about the statue of the peasant girl.

Tivey (thoughtfully): "Why would anyone make a statue of a woman who took her own life? And how did the sword she used to kill herself end up there, stuck in the stone? What does that mean?"

At Priscilla’s Camp

Priscilla Barielle, always impassive, watched the visualization with a mixture of curiosity and amusement. For her, the definitive death of the commoner (as she called Subaru) was not something that moved her, but the concept of the "miracle", mentioned almost fanatically by the woman in golden armor, aroused her interest. Priscilla wondered why the new director showed them this vision if the commoner was dead. Furthermore, the strange castle that Subaru had entered to confront the woman intrigued her. The design of the place was something completely alien to her. Although Gutsko was a possibility, Priscilla quickly discarded that idea — there was no snow, and despite being a fanatical and theocratic kingdom (something she despised), this place seemed even more bizarre.

Priscilla (thoughtfully): "What is this foolish new director trying to show? If the commoner is dead, why are we still watching? But I can't deny it... I want to find out what this 'miracle' is. Maybe that will entertain me a little. And that strange armor he was wearing... how ridiculous."

While Priscilla pondered, her knight, Al (or Aldebaran), also had his own doubts. He couldn't understand where Subaru was. The mask he wore, similar to a capirote, and the armor, which resembled the Knights Templar of another time, left Al confused. Had his "bro" (as he affectionately called Subaru) been transported to another world again? Or had he traveled back in time?

Al (thoughtfully): "What happened to the other candidates? Who won the Royal Selection? And how did bro lose Return by Death? Did the princess win the Selection?"

At Felt's camp.

Felt, the youngest of the candidates, known for her foul mouth, cried in the arms of her knight, Reinhard Van Astrea, the Sword Saint. She was devastated by the final death of Subaru, whom she called "big brother". Reinhard, in turn, was equally shaken and blamed himself for not being able to help Subaru again, reliving the fateful scene in his mind.

Everyone in the theater was lost in their own thoughts, dealing with their anxieties and questions. However, they were interrupted when the director's voice echoed once again.

Director: "The break is over. Let the viewing continue."

With these words, the screen turned on again, drawing everyone's attention back to the story being shown, although some, like Rem, Emilia and Petra, were quite disdainful of the director for appearing to be insensitive, but decided to just watch the screen in silence.

On screen

an enigmatic phrase emerged:

"It is not the sun that is rising, but our sins."

— Anonymous.

Off screen

No one knew exactly what to think about those words. They seemed like a poem, something deep and dark. Silence filled the room, and everyone decided to just observe, without interrupting with comments.

On screen

a female voice rang out, filled with pain and regret. She spoke slowly, almost as if praying.

Female Voice: "I claim you, painful miracle, for the fault is mine."

The image revealed the woman from the previous view, the humble-looking peasant woman. She was kneeling, holding in her hands a small statue of a distorted and grotesque man. With a desperate gesture, she tried to stab the statue into her own chest, but the action had no effect. The woman, persistent, whispered again:

Female Voice: "Make my chest suffer with regret."

Once again, she tried to pierce herself with the statue, without success. With heavy breathing and eyes full of pain, the woman continued to mutter:

Female Voice: "Forge your punishment... drive it deep."

She tried again, but again, nothing happened. The desperation in her eyes was evident as she uttered yet another plea:

Female Voice: "Mold, once again, my fault."

This time, a dull sound of something being pierced echoed through the room. The screen went completely black for a moment. When the image returned, what had been a statue in the peasant woman's hands had transformed into the sword that Subaru had pulled out earlier. The woman, now lifeless, lay still kneeling, and a golden glow enveloped her body, transforming her into the statue that everyone had seen before. Purple flowers began to mysteriously bloom around the statue.

The scene then returned to the moment when Subaru had removed the sword from the statue, as shown in the previous preview.

Off screen

The silence that hung over them was one of absolute shock. No one could believe what they had just witnessed. Each was lost in their own thoughts, trying to understand the meaning of that disturbing sight.

Garfiel: "What the hell? How did that statue become the sword the captain uses? And what was that? Did the woman turn into a statue?"

Frederica glared at her brother for his foul mouth, but since she herself was confused and disturbed, she decided not to reprimand him. She also wondered how it had happened.

Otto, muttering in disbelief, almost without realizing he was speaking out loud, asked:

Otto (muttering): "What the hell is going on? How did this woman become a statue? And why did she beg so hard to be punished? What did she do? And how did this statue become a sword?"

While Otto was lost in his reverie, Petra, Rem, and Emilia were equally disturbed. The idea of ​​someone taking their own life with such vehemence was hard to accept. They wondered what could have driven this woman to beg for punishment so much.

Rosswaal and Beatrice were equally surprised, though their faces remained more serene. In all their years of life—Rosswaal with his vast experience and Beatrice with her centuries of knowledge—they had never witnessed anything like this. Rosswaal stroked his chin thoughtfully.

Rosswaal: “I wonder if this is related to the ‘miracle’ she mentioned?”

Beatrice, on the other hand, felt a slight uneasiness. Something about this "miracle" seemed greater than anything they had ever faced before, and it also bothered her that she had never heard of it in her centuries of existence.

Ram, always critical, seemed even more suspicious. She watched Subaru with a sharp gaze, silently questioning what he was hiding.

Ram: "How did Barusu know where to find this woman and this sword?"

The knights, Julius, Reinhard, Felix, and Al, were no less confused. As their trained minds tried to make sense of what they had just seen, they also wondered how Subaru knew so much. Who was that woman, anyway? Why did she beg for punishment? How could a statue become a sword?

Priscilla and Anastasia, on the other hand, were intrigued. Their natural curiosity led them to wonder what this “miracle” meant and what exactly Subaru knew. They were less focused on the horror than on the answers they could draw from this situation.

Priscilla: “This miracle… is it truly divine? Or just a pathetic illusion?”

Anastasia, more practical, silently pondered the potential use of that sword and the benefits she would have if she found it when they left the theater.

Meanwhile, Crusch and Felt were more concerned about why the woman was so insistent on being punished. There was a fanaticism in her attitude that made them uncomfortable, as if they were dealing with something much bigger than simple power struggles.

Crusch: "Such blind devotion... what drove her to this?"

Felt, by his side, clenched her fists, still bothered by all of this.

Felt: "No one should beg to die like this. This is all wrong." She remembered all the times Subaru begged to die to start the loop.

Ricardo and Mimi were clearly confused. To them, everything was a big enigma: how did the woman turn into a statue? How did the statue turn into a sword? Nothing made sense. Mimi, with her simplicity, just shook her head, while Ricardo tried to think of an explanation. 

Tivey, on the other hand, had a more analytical outlook. To him, the "miracle" seemed more like a curse. It made sense, but it still didn't explain how the physical transformation had occurred.

Tivey: "If this is a curse... we still need to understand why a statue became a weapon."

Wilhelm watched everything silently, with a stern look. The sword... something about it disturbed him deeply. In the previous visualization, he had not felt the weight that now seemed to surround that blade. His instincts screamed that something was wrong. That sword was powerful, but it also carried with it a darkness that could not be ignored.

Wilhelm (thoughtfully): "Subaru... that sword will lead you down a dark path if you're not careful."

Everyone was still processing their own thoughts when the male voice began to be heard on the screen.

On screen

a male voice reverberated with a mixture of melancholy and fatalism:

Voice: "And then guilt, regret, grief, and all the pain of the soul became visible and manifested in tangible form... in all of us."

As the voice narrated, images of people kneeling in prayer filled the screen, their expressions of suffering intense.

Voice: "Sometimes in the form of blessing and grace..."

The screen showed a woman in chains, crowned, being worshipped by a fervent crowd.

Voice: "Sometimes in the form of punishment and corruption..."

The image changed, revealing people being transformed into grotesque monsters, including a creature that looked like a monstrous fusion of a moose and something more sinister.

Voice: "This divine will, equally merciful and cruel, which we can never fully understand, was called a miracle."

The screen briefly went dark, and a strange symbol appeared in the center.

Off screen

A heavy silence hung over each of the camps. Everyone tried to process what they had just witnessed. Otto was the first to break the silence, clearly confused.

Otto: "Wait... so the 'miracle' is a blessing and a curse at the same time? How does that make sense?"

He shook his head, trying to understand how something could be both at the same time. Everyone in the group shared the same doubt. They had never heard of anything like it, much less people being turned into monsters as a result.

Julius and Reinhard were especially troubled. How was it possible that people could be transformed into beastly creatures? And why would they call something like that a "miracle"? Julius, uneasy, decided to confront Roswaal.

Julius: "Roswaal, answer me. Do you know anything about this miracle? With all your years of immortal life, don't tell me you've never heard of it."

Julius’s voice was thick with disgust, reflecting his contempt for the immortal sorcerer. Roswaal, however, seemed unaffected by Julius’s tone and calmly replied.

Roswaal: “Unfortunately, I’ve never heard of anything like that. I don’t know anything about this ‘miracle’.”

Suspiciously, Julius looked at Crusch and Reinhard for confirmation.

Julius: “Is he telling the truth?”

They both nodded, confirming that their divine blessings indicated that Roswaal was not lying. This made Julius even more uneasy. If not even Roswaal, with his vast experience, knew what the miracle was, how could they have predicted the impact it would have?

Among everyone, Beatrice seemed to be the most worried. She remembered the words of the golden-armored woman who had killed her previous contract: that he would be brought back by the miracle. This terrified her. If Subaru was revived by this “miracle,” would he still be the same? Or would he become something like an undead, like the ones Subaru had mentioned in things called “movies” to her before? She began to fear what the future held, and whether this miracle could really bring someone back from the dead… or something worse.

Priscilla, seemingly oblivious to the tension around her, decided to butt in.

“Can someone please shut this pathetic knight up?” she said, in her usual tone of contempt. “I am curious and amused about what this ‘miracle’ really is, and your whining is getting on my nerves.”

Felt, visibly irritated, wasted no time in responding:

"Only a bitch like you would find something so twisted amusing. This doesn't deserve to be called a miracle!"

Priscilla’s eyes narrowed dangerously as she glared at Felt.

“Shut up, slum rat. I don’t need to hear the filthy opinions that come out of that puny mouth of yours.”

Felt almost lunged at Priscilla, but was restrained by Reinhard, who held her firmly by the arm. The tension in the air was palpable.

As the argument raged on, Emilia, Rem, and Petra were caught up in their own worries. The words of the woman in golden armor echoed in their heads. The “miracle” would bring Subaru back, but under what condition? Would he be the same Subaru they knew, or would he become a monstrous creature like the others?

Each one, immersed in their own thoughts, turned their attention to the screen when a familiar figure appeared.

On screen.

The camera revealed a huge man, chained to a wooden pillar. His body was distorted and twisted in a grotesque manner.

The scene abruptly changed, showing Subaru lying on a pile of corpses. His lifeless body lay among other corpses wearing helmets similar to his own. His sword lay beside him, and the silence around him seemed to confirm his death.

The camera remained focused on his corpse until something unexpected happened.

Subaru suddenly stood up. With a slow, determined movement, he began walking straight toward a staircase that led down into the depths.

off screen

Shock gripped everyone in the theater. Subaru had been resurrected.

Roswaal, ecstatic, could not contain his excitement. If the "miracle" could bring back the dead, then that meant he might finally find a way to bring his beloved teacher back to life.

Beatrice, though relieved to see Subaru alive, was uneasy. Had he really returned? Or was what was walking around now just a shell, something corrupted and no longer human?

The other spectators, still in shock, remained in absolute silence, unable to look away as the scene continued to unfold. The mystery surrounding the "miracle" only grew, and the fear of what was to come hung in the air like an unrelenting shadow.

On screen

Subaru quickly descended the stairs and entered a room illuminated by a strange blue light. The place looked like a large castle hall, with several platforms. Subaru jumped nimbly between them, making a long journey until he reached the exit. Along the way, he passed several altars, but one in particular caught his attention. It was a golden altar with a bell on it. Without hesitation, Subaru knelt down and prayed before it. The altar glowed brightly, and Subaru resumed his path.

As he moved forward, he passed more corpses, all wearing helmets similar to his own. None of this seemed to faze Subaru. He continued forward until, on the horizon, a gigantic figure appeared. Initially hidden by shadows, it was holding a large object and appeared to be hammering something. Then, suddenly, the creature leapt up and revealed itself.

It was a giant, dressed in green liturgical robes and wearing an iron mask. In his hand, he held an immense golden candelabrum.

Off screen

The sight of the giant terrified everyone in the theater. Emilia, Rem, and Petra were the first to scream.

The three of them: "Subaru, run! You don't stand a chance!"

Fear took hold of them. For Rem, the thought of seeing her hero die again was unbearable. Emilia was on the verge of despair, fearing for Subaru's life. Petra, in turn, was terrified by the sight of that giant and feared that Subaru was in great danger.

Wilhelm was equally shocked. He had faced a giant in the demihuman war before, as Valga, but Valga was not as colossal as the giant on the screen. He knew that Subaru was in danger.

Wilhelm: “Subaru-dono, be careful. A single mistake could cost you your life.”

Julius and Reinhard and Felix were also worried. They both thought that Subaru would have no chance against that creature and should warn him to run away.

Meanwhile, Priscilla, always curious and unfazed, turned to Anastasia with a mischievous smile.

Priscilla: — Cunning fox, what do you think of a bet?

Anastasia raised an eyebrow, intrigued.

Anastasia: — What kind of bet?

Priscilla: — I bet the commoner can defeat that giant abomination.

Anastasia thought for a moment before smiling.

Anastasia: — I accept. But I bet he'll run away.

And so, the bet was made.

Al, watching everything in silence, was sweating coldly. In his mind, there was only one thought:

Al (thinking): — Dude, run away. You don't stand a chance.

But Garfiel, unlike the others, was optimistic, shouting with confidence.

Garfiel: — Captain! You're going to crush this giant like you crushed the White Whale!

Otto and Frederica and Ram tried to calm Garfiel down, but deep down they also wanted to believe that Subaru would succeed. Beatrice, silently, also prayed for her contractor to return to her, safe and sound.

Beatrice (thinking): — Subaru... win. Go back to Betty.

Roswaal, on the other hand, watched everything with an almost morbid curiosity. He wondered if Subaru could really defeat that creature. The size of the giant, even larger than Valga, intrigued him deeply.

Felt was worried about her "big brother", while Mimi and Ricardo shouted words of encouragement. Tivey, however, remained skeptical.

On screen

As soon as the giant noticed Subaru, he slammed his golden candelabra into the ground with colossal force, sending out a shockwave that threw Subaru away. He fell heavily to the ground, but got up quickly, managing to dodge an attack from the giant that tried to crush him with another jump, causing a tremor upon landing.

Taking advantage of the opening, Subaru advanced, striking with his sword, which made the giant scream in pain. Angered, the giant tried to hit him with the candelabra again, but Subaru, now more aware of the attack patterns, dodged nimbly and landed another blow.

The giant, ignoring the pain, jumped once more, aiming at Subaru with all his fury. However, Subaru, already familiar with the attacks, dodged the shockwave caused by the candelabra's impact on the ground.

Off screen

In the theater, everyone was tense, watching the battle closely. Some, like Rem, Emilia, and Petra, silently prayed that Subaru would come out alive. Even Ram, with his normally cold demeanor, was rooting for him to win, as he knew that Subaru's death would bring sadness to his sister.

Wilhelm, despite his concern, was impressed by Subaru's swordsmanship, along with Julius and Reinhard who were impressed by such skill.

On screen

Subaru began to turn the tide. He had learned to dodge the attacks and shockwaves, taking advantage of openings to strike. His sword cut through the giant with precision, while he moved with impressive skill.

After several hours of intense fighting, Subaru finally found a fatal opening and delivered a decisive blow, killing the giant. The colossus fell to the ground, defeated.

Off screen

The theater erupted in cheers. Everyone was relieved that Subaru had won, except for Anastasia, who realized that she had lost her bet with Priscilla. She crossed her arms in disgust, while Priscilla looked at her with a mischievous smile, as if she had known she would win from the beginning.

Al, Garfiel, and Otto sighed in relief, happy that Subaru had survived that battle.

On screen

Subaru approached the giant's limp body and removed his helmet. Walking over to a large open wound in the creature's chest, he did something unexpected: he filled his helmet with the giant's blood until it was overflowing. He then placed the helmet back on his head, and blood began to seep through the holes in his mask.

The screen went black.

Everyone in the theater was confused by Subaru's act, and some were visibly disgusted, like Priscilla, who frowned in disgust.

Priscilla (annoyed): "Why did the commoner do this?"

Before they could ask any more questions, the director's voice echoed through the room.

Director: "This was today's viewing. We'll take a break now."

With that, everyone in the theater decided to take a break to process what they had just seen.

Continued

Chapter Text

Everyone in the theater remained silent after the screening, deep in thought about the shocking revelations they had witnessed. Rosswal, in particular, was lost in deep thought.

The new information about the “Miracle” awakened within him a flood of possibilities. He pondered intensely how he might manipulate this power to carry out his plan, despite the odds now stacked against him. With the intrigues of the Sanctuary revealed, Rosswal knew that he would likely be arrested—or even executed—as soon as he left the theater. Yet a glimmer of hope remained: if he could harness and mold the “Miracle” to do his bidding, there might yet be a chance of achieving his ultimate goal.

Rosswal (thoughtfully): "If I can bend the Miracle to my will... maybe I can finally bring my teacher back."

While he was lost in these thoughts, he noticed Beatrice approaching. Her gaze was cold, reflecting the distrust she felt towards his intentions. Seeing her arrive, Rosswal decided to disguise himself and approach her casually, pretending not to understand her hostility.

Rosswal: “Well, well, Beatrice. What brought you here? Are you lonely, perhaps?”

Beatrice kept her expression impassive and replied in a clipped tone, her words laced with sarcasm and contempt.

Beatrice: “Don’t underestimate Betty, Rosswal. I know you intend to use the ‘miracle’ for your own ends. But let me warn you: all this power will bring you is suffering and misery.”

Rosswal was silent for a moment, before staring at her coldly.

Rosswal: “And what makes you think that?”

Beatrice let out a bitter laugh and replied sarcastically.

Beatrice: “Oh, I don’t know… maybe the fact that the ‘miracle’ is both a curse and a blessing, and moreover, a force known to be uncontrollable.”

Roswaal’s gaze grew more piercing, almost challenging, as he replied in an icy tone.

Roswaal: Interesting to hear that from you, Beatrice. Especially considering that it was the “Miracle” that brought your contractor back to life… even though he had lost the power to return from death.

Roswaal’s words cut deep, and Beatrice fell silent, as she still felt uneasy about her employer’s resurrection through the “Miracle.” Deep down, she feared that such power would not come without serious consequences. The idea that someone could return to life without any cost felt wrong, as if something dark was lurking.

Roswaal observed the conflict in Beatrice’s eyes and, satisfied that he had put her at ease, he slowly walked away, leaving her alone with her thoughts. She silently wondered if her employer was still the same person she knew, or if he had become something different after his resurrection.

Meanwhile, the other members of Emilia’s camp were equally thoughtful about the latest display. Otto, in particular, seemed to be in a whirlwind of thoughts, unable to stop questioning what he had seen of Subaru. He remembered the peculiar armor Subaru wore, and the fact that in none of the displays had he uttered a single word. Even when injured by the golden-armored woman, Subaru had not made a sound of pain or any expression of suffering.

(Otto, thoughtful): “What happened to Natsuki in this future? Why is he like this? And that sword stuck in the woman who turned into a statue... how did he find it?”

The scenes he had seen were disturbing to him. The countless corpses with helmets identical to Subaru's, scattered across the ground, left a dark feeling in Otto's mind. Even after two viewings, the answers continued to elude him, and more and more questions emerged about that distant future and what was really happening to his friend.

Lost in his doubts, Otto barely noticed Garfiel beside him, who was impressed by Subaru's strength in the future, especially after seeing him defeat the giant. Garfiel wondered just how powerful his captain had become.

Meanwhile, Emilia, Rem, and Petra were also deep in thought. While they were happy that Subaru had come back to life, they were also somewhat wary. There had been something strange about him since he had been resurrected, something that had deeply troubled the trio. The three of them wondered if the man they loved was truly the same Subaru they knew, or if something different had taken his place after his resurrection.

Ram and Frederica, though composed, also felt uneasy. Ram, in particular, had noticed Subaru's complete silence since the beginning of the screenings. He was like a statue, which made her uneasy.

Ram (thinking): "What happened to you, Barusu? Why are you wearing that strange armor? How did you know where to find that sword? And why did you bathe in that giant's blood?"

While the half-elf's group was drowning in doubt, Crusch's camp was also perplexed by the previous scenes, and questions about what the future held made them uneasy.

Crusch was immersed in her questions about the screenings. One of the points that bothered her the most was that, so far, in the two screenings they had watched, none of the candidates for the royal selection had been mentioned as winners. Furthermore, the location where Subaru was located was completely unknown to her.

On the other hand, the group had gained new information about the "miracle", but this also made her uneasy. Crusch wondered why anyone would beg for the "miracle" to punish others; it didn't make sense in her view, especially considering that the "miracle" offered both blessings and curses. This duality intrigued her, but also somewhat frightened her, as it aroused a growing curiosity about the true nature of the "miracle".

Crusch (thoughtfully): "Why would anyone want the 'miracle' to inflict pain? What's really at stake here? If it can grant blessings, why not use it for that alone?"

While Crusch was pondering, her knight Felix and her butler Wilhelm approached to speak with Reinhard and Julius. The group was in a corner, visibly shaken by the information they had received. They remained silent for a while, until Felix decided to break it.

Felix: "Nya nya, there's something really strange about this thing called a 'miracle'. I can't understand why it offers people both curses and blessings. It makes me suspicious... It doesn't make any sense."

As soon as Felix finished speaking, Wilhelm decided to share his own reflections on the previous visualizations.

Wilhelm: “I apologize for intruding, Felix, but there are even stranger things beyond the ‘miracle’ itself.”

Reinhard gave his grandfather a curious look and asked:

Reinhard: “What exactly do you find so strange, Grandpa? Other than the ‘miracle’ itself?”

Julius and Felix then turned their attention to Wilhelm, waiting for his response.

Wilhelm: “Well, the giant Subaru-dono faced is, in itself, something incredibly strange. Back in the time of the Demi-human War, I fought a member of the giant race named Valga, but he wasn’t even half the size of the creature Subaru faced. This makes me wonder: is that being really a giant, or did the ‘miracle’ alter his body to make him even larger?”

Hearing the veteran swordsman’s opinion, the three knights began to ponder this possibility. Wilhelm had a valid point, especially considering that the ‘miracle’ did, in fact, seem to alter the bodies of those it touched with its curses. This idea sparked a disturbing possibility in Felix’s mind, one that almost sounded like madness,and he decides to reveal it there to his fellow knights.

Felix: "Guys, what I'm about to say sounds crazy, but... is it possible that the 'miracle' is responsible for the illness that killed the Royal Family? It makes sense if we consider that the 'miracle' can both bless and curse. That would explain why I was never able to cure them."

Upon hearing this, the three initially considered it unlikely, but soon realized that they knew little about how the "miracle" curses actually worked. This lent credibility to Felix's theory and could explain why the disease that devastated the Royal Family was incurable.

Although it is a very strong theory, Julius raised another point that had not yet been discussed.

Julius: "Felix, honestly, your theory is very plausible and may explain the illness that killed the royal family. But we're ignoring an important question: who was that woman who became a statue? And that sword stuck in her which was once a statue—what's the story behind that?"

This questioning made everyone realize that, despite the revelations, they were still in complete darkness about what the "miracle" really was and about the past of those elements that appeared in the visions.

While the knights and Wilhem discussed the matter, at Anastasia's camp, Anastasia herself pondered whether there was any way to profit from the "miracle."

Meanwhile, at Anastasia's camp, Anastasia herself pondered whether she could somehow profit from the "miracle." The idea that it could grant blessings made her wonder if there was a way to capitalize on this ability for her own benefit, even though she was currently in debt to Priscilla due to the bet she had lost. However, deep down, Anastasia knew she could not do that; the "miracle" was an uncontrollable force, something far beyond her comprehension.

Ricardo and Mimi were quiet, still perplexed by the scenes they had seen, while Tivey, ever analytical, felt that they had been given more questions than answers. Although they had learned a little more about the "miracle," he knew that many questions still remained unanswered. Tivey awaited the next showing with a mixture of anticipation and curiosity, eager to unravel more of this enigma.

At Priscilla's camp, she was still disgusted by the sight of Subaru bathed in the giant's blood. Furthermore, something intrigued the Sun Princess: Subaru had been completely silent since the beginning of the displays, and did not even express pain when injured. This coldness aroused Priscilla's interest and curiosity.

Al, Priscilla's knight and court jester, noticed how thoughtful she was and decided to approach her cautiously, hesitating, because he knew that if he said anything stupid, he might end up getting kicked.

Al: "Princess, are you also intrigued by the bro's behavior in the last few performances?"

Priscilla remained silent for a moment, which made Al nervous, until she finally answered.

Priscilla: "Aldebaran, if you don't want me to force you to lick my feet, tell me right now: do you have any theories about why the commoner remained silent throughout the entire exhibition?"

Despite being irritated by Priscilla calling him by the name he hated, Al swallowed his pride and decided to respond.

Al: "Well... my guess is that the 'bro' took a vow of silence."

Priscilla's curiosity grew.

Priscilla: "A vow of silence? What would that be?"

Al: "It's something common in religious matters. People promise to remain silent for a certain amount of time, or even forever."

Priscilla was intrigued by the possibility that the commoner had become religious in the future. To her, the Commoner had always seemed more devoted to the half-elf. However, this new behavior made her wonder what had happened to lead him to such a decision.

Priscilla: "So the commoner may have become religious in the future… Interesting. I didn't expect someone like him to take that path. But since you said something useful, I'll spare you my wrath, Aldebaran."

Al sighed in relief as he returned to his seat.

Back at Felt's camp, the girl was uneasy about the events shown in the previews, but at the same time, she was happy to see her "big brother" grow stronger in the future. However, she also wondered why he was so quiet throughout the entire screening. Before she could think any further, everyone in the theater heard a voice announcing the next screening.

Director: "Ladies and gentlemen, the next preview is about to begin. Please take your seats."

Each camp quickly took their seats, eager for the next reveal. The screen flashed, beginning the new preview.

On screen

The preview continues where the previous one left off. Subaru, wearing his bloodied helmet, advances towards a door, leaving behind the giant's corpse. He walks through the door and finds himself in a room filled with corpses—all wearing helmets similar to his own. However, he ignores the bodies, focusing only on the next exit: a door blocked by bars. Noticing that the bars are connected to a lamp hanging above, Subaru simply breaks the lamp, which unlocks the passage. He walks through the door and finally emerges outside.

Upon exiting, Subaru comes across a colossal figure, visibly larger than himself. The creature is incredibly tall and is bound by heavy ropes that wrap around its body. It wears a peculiar mask, made of ropes intertwined in spiral knots, and wears a green robe with a pointed hood. In its hands, it carries an immense scroll, which appears to be of great importance.

Off screen

Everyone looks at the figure with a mixture of astonishment and curiosity. Felt, more impulsive, ends up expressing her surprise without filter.

Felt: "Who is this guy? And why is he tied up? And how is he so tall? This guy is even bigger than Big Brother!"

Reinhard was about to reprimand Felt for her rash words, but Wilhelm intervened before he could.

Wilhelm: "Miss Felt, I believe this man is a demihuman of the giant species. His height and presence seem to be in keeping with that race."

Felt ponders Wilhelm's comment, considering the possibility that the figure is, in fact, a giant. However, something still intrigues her, and she can't help but wonder if this person is a threat or possibly an ally of her Big Brother.

In the other camps, the other participants are also watching closely, with the same feeling of curiosity and apprehension. No one has yet expressed their opinions, preferring to wait for the next moments of the exhibition, attentive to any detail that might reveal more information about this enigmatic figure.

On the screen

The tall figure, still holding the enormous scroll, begins to speak in a deep, solemn voice.

???: "Repentant be the heart, Penitent One. The Firstborn's anguish has come to an end."

He pauses briefly, as if pondering his own words, and then continues.

???: "I am Deogracias, witness and narrator of the acts of the Painful Miracle. This is my penance, as is yours, and silence."

Off screen

Everyone is surprised by Deogracias' presence and voice. Garfiel, intrigued by the name and what it represents, is the first to break the silence.

Garfiel: "Deogracias? What a strange name! And what is this 'penance' thing he's saying the Captain is following?"

Otto, in turn, begins to partially understand the reason for Subaru's silence, but still does not understand why he would be undergoing this penance. He wonders what Subaru could have done to impose such a sacrifice on himself.

Emilia, Rem, and Petra are visibly distressed. They cannot understand why Subaru would impose such a strict vow of silence on himself. Each of them, in their own way, wonders what the man they love would have done to make him choose this path.

Reinhard, Felix, Julius, and Wilhelm share a sense of deep curiosity. They wonder about the kind of penance Deogracias mentions and how Subaru is able to endure silence and pain without even screaming.

Tivey, reflecting on Deogracias's words, begins to wonder if the "miracle" he refers to could be something alive, as the tone in which he speaks suggests a personal and reverent connection.

Ricardo and Mimi are the most confused. They exchange glances as they try to understand why Subaru and Deogracias are subjected to such severe penances.

Anastasia, Crusch, and Priscilla watch intently. Deogracias seems to be keeping many secrets about the "miracle" and carries an aura of dark wisdom that further piques the curiosity of the three. Priscilla, in turn, feels satisfied to see that Al was right about Subaru's vow of silence.

Felt shifts uncomfortably; Deogracias gives him a bad feeling, as if he carries something dark within him.

Al, on the other hand, feels proud of having guessed correctly about Subaru's vow of silence, but the question remains: why did he choose to remain silent?

Everyone present has their own thoughts and questions about Deogracias, but they all decide to keep their eyes on the screen, hoping to get more answers.

On the screen

The camera focuses intently on Deogracias, who looks directly at Subaru with an intense expression.

Deogracias: "The cradle of affliction is what you seek."

He continues his speech, his voice deep and resonant.

Deogracias: "Find it in the mother of all mothers of the churches."

Off screen.

Everyone is quite intrigued by Deogracias' words. A series of questions echo in their minds: What could be the "cradle of affliction"? What did he mean by "mother of all church mothers"? The enigmatic nature of his statements provokes a mixture of curiosity and confusion, amusing Priscilla, who is excited at the prospect of meeting Deogracias. She imagines that if she can bring him to her camp, he could make an excellent court jester.

Despite the fascination generated by Deogracias' words, the participants decide not to express their opinions. At this point, everyone is completely focused on what Deogracias will reveal next, attentive to the screen.

On the screen.

After uttering his enigmatic words, Deogracias begins to speak in a dark and mysterious tone.

Deogracias: "It is a remote place, separated from the rest of these lands by a huge, sacred and forbidden door."

He continues, his voice now filled with a warning.

Deogracias: "Even a wise penitent like myself is completely unaware of what lies beyond these high walls."

Off screen

Roswaal is extremely intrigued by what Deogracias said; his words sound like a prophecy. He had never heard, in his centuries of existence as an immortal, of the "cradle of affliction" mentioned by Deogracias. In his thoughts, he questions the situation.

Roswaal (thoughtfully): "This Deogracias is quite intriguing, I cannot deny it. His enigmatic tone is irritating, but despite that, he is providing useful information. I sense that the camps will either take advantage of this knowledge or attempt to find him once we leave the theater."

Roswaal reflects on the greed he perceives in some of the candidates, something he respects to some extent.

Everyone in the room shares the curiosity sparked by Deogracias' words, which continue to resonate like mysteries to be unraveled. With that, they decide to turn their focus to the screen, realizing that Deogracias can offer relevant information that explains this possible future.

On the screen.

After the last sentence, Deogracias resumes his enigmatic tone, his voice echoing with a deep mystery.

Deogracias: "But know that, according to the law, you must perform the three humiliations to have access to what is there."

He pauses before continuing, as if every word is sacred.

Deogracias: "The first must be performed in the high mountains, covered in thick layers of snow and ice."

He continues, his voice low and somber.

Deogracias: "The second, deep within a dark and buried church, where the Sleeper resides."

And then he completes the riddle.

Deogracias: "And the last, at the end of a path dug by supplicants, which descends from an iron spiral into the depths of the bell called Jondo, penetrating the bowels of the earth."

Off screen.

Everyone is intrigued by the "three humiliations" and the prophecy uttered by Deogracias. The atmosphere is filled with tension as they ponder the meaning of this enigma.

Julius, restless, voices his doubts out loud.

Julius: "Three humiliations... What does that mean? And how does he know so much about this 'miracle'? I still don't understand why he calls himself the 'narrator of the miracle'."

He looks at Beatrice, searching for answers, and decides to question her.

Julius: "Great Spirit, do you know anything about these three humiliations?"

Beatrice, with a cold expression, answers without hesitation.

Beatrice: "Unfortunately, Betty has no knowledge of these humiliations, nor of the prophecies related to them."

Beatrice's answer disappoints Julius and leaves the rest of the theater in shock. The fact that neither Beatrice nor Roswaal—two of the oldest beings there—have any information about what is happening on screen is, to say the least, unsettling.

Priscilla expresses her disdain, giving Beatrice a scornful look.

Priscilla: "Well, well, it seems the 'great spirit' is as useless as I imagined. Still, I admit I'm curious as to how this commoner knows so much about this prophecy and the so-called 'miracle.'"

Priscilla's words irritate Beatrice, who restrains herself from reacting, even though she wanted to reprimand her for her disrespect.

Meanwhile, Roswaal becomes even more intrigued by Deogracias, considering his vast knowledge of the "miracle"—something that even he, centuries old, did not know about. This ignorance leaves him disturbed and curious.

Ram senses her master's interest in Deogracias, although she herself feels uncomfortable around the enigmatic man. To her, Deogracias does not make a good impression.

Crusch and Anastasia also share the interest, considering the possibility of a meeting with Deogracias in the future. They both feel that he could have valuable information about the "miracle", information that could perhaps help them avoid the curses that could come with it, although they still do not understand how such a "miracle" could generate something so dangerous.

Each of those present has their own questions about the three humiliations, but seeing that Deogracias seems to be about to reveal more, they decide to focus their attention back on the screen, waiting for more clues about this enigma and what awaits them.

On screen

Deogracias, his expression even more somber, raises his hand, revealing a cruelly sharp thorn in the aged parchment he holds. His voice sounds even more enigmatic and full of mystery.

Deogracias: "Take this thorn and place it in the hilt of your sword."

He pauses for a moment, his gaze fixed and intense, before continuing with an almost prophetic tone of warning.

Deogracias: "If one day, as you hold your weapon tightly, you realize that the thorn is hurting you and making you bleed…"

He continues, his voice like a whisper carried by the wind.

Deogracias: "If you notice that it has grown, sprouting more thorns that twist around the figure of the Father carved into the pommel…"

Deogracias raises a warning finger.

Deogracias: "This will mean that you are at the mercy of the Painful Miracle, whether you receive punishment or forgiveness."

Off screen.

The spectators are visibly uncomfortable with Deogracias' words, the idea of ​​a thorn inflicting pain on the bearer causing a mixture of unease and indignation.

Rem, unable to contain her indignation, protests loudly.

There's: "How dare he give something so dangerous to Rem's hero?!"

Emilia also shares the concern, looking at the screen with an expression of disgust.

Emilia: "Why would he want to give something that could hurt my knight? That's evil."

Everyone thinks it's crazy for Subaru to accept such an item, especially considering everything he's suffered since coming to this world. For many, the idea that he would accept further harm is inconceivable.

But Priscilla, with a slight smile on her face, seems intrigued. She wonders if Subaru will really have the courage to accept this thorn, despite the inevitable pain it will cause. There is something fascinating, to her, in watching how far he is willing to go.

Frederica and Ram, on the other hand, are apprehensive. They both wonder if Subaru would really choose to endure more suffering, after everything he has already been through. The burden seems too great, and they wonder how much he would endure.

While everyone silently wonders whether Subaru will be able to accept this offer, many wish he would refuse the thorn and avoid further suffering. Still, there is an air of growing anticipation. They decide to focus their attention back on the screen, eager to find out what Subaru's decision will be.

On the screen

After Deogracias' words, Subaru hesitantly reaches out, but finally takes the thorn from his hands, feeling the symbolic weight of the object. As soon as the thorn rests in Subaru's hand, the screen abruptly goes dark, deepening the mystery.

Off screen

A heavy silence falls over everyone. The abrupt interruption of the viewing leaves everyone surprised and uneasy. Before they can express their frustrations, the Director's voice echoes through the room.

Director: "That was today's viewing. Rest for a few hours until the next viewing."

Some of the spectators, visibly displeased, exchange glances of dissatisfaction. Roswaal, intrigued by the mystery of the thorn and Deogracias's words, can barely hide his frustration.

Priscilla crosses her arms, arching an eyebrow in disdain. She mutters to herself, annoyed by the slow pace of the revelations, but with a curious glint in her eyes.

Priscilla: "Tsk. This wait is an insult to my precious time, but I must admit... I want to see where this leads the foolish knight."

Despite the general impatience, everyone decides to follow the Director's instructions, knowing that watching the show may provide more answers after the break.

Continued

Chapter Text

The cast waited impatiently for the next viewing to begin. The air was thick with anticipation, especially for Roswaal, who could not hide his curiosity about Deogracias.

Roswaal, with an almost maniacal smile, pondered deeply, "Who is this man? How does he know so much about the 'miracle'? Perhaps he is the key to reviving my beloved teacher... but could I control him?" Little did he know that toying with forces beyond his comprehension could lead to disastrous results.

Meanwhile, Beatrice, Emilia, and Rem were discussing in whispers, clearly worried about the thorn Deogracias had given Subaru.

“Why would someone give something so cruel like that?” Emilia muttered, frowning.

“It’s just irrational!” Beatrice grumbled, crossing her arms. “That object only causes pain, and that man… tch, he irritates me just thinking about him, really why would he give something so dangerous to the Betty contractor when he’s already suffered too much pain since he arrived in this world.”

Rem, more reserved, just nodded in agreement, although her eyes showed a slight fury.

Frederica, Ram, and Petra also shared their own doubts.

“Could this man’s intentions be good?” Petra asked uneasily.

“Unlikely,” Ram replied dismissively. “Deogracias seems like a very unpleasant and manipulative person, and it’s likely that he’s just using the barusu.”

Frederica, however, hesitated before answering:

“Maybe… maybe he’s not evil, he didn’t seem to have any hostile intentions towards Subaru-sama.”

As the side conversations continued, Otto was visibly deep in thought. His eyes seemed to wander off into space as he pondered Deogracias’ prophecy. The words “three humiliations” kept coming to his mind, as did Subaru’s insistence on remaining completely silent and showing off his entire self.

Garfiel, noticing his friend's condition, decided to act in his own way.

"Hey, bro!" he said before giving Otto a firm slap on the back.

"Argh! That hurt!" Otto complained, looking at Garfiel with irritation.

"You had to, bro. You were lost in thought, like you saw a ghost. I bet you're thinking about that weird guy, Deogracias, aren't you?" Otto sighed, nodding slightly.

"Yeah, of course I am. He's too suspicious, and there's something very wrong with him. I can't trust someone who hands out spikes and speaks in riddles."

"Yeah, you're not alone in that," Garfiel replied, crossing his arms. "That guy gives me the creeps, and I'm a fighter. If he tries anything to do with the captain, I'll crush him, simple as that."

While the two were talking, the candidates’ knights gathered in a corner. Reinhard, Julius, Felix, and Wilhelm were having a serious discussion, although the latter preferred to be called a butler, since he had abandoned the title of “sword demon.”

Julius was the first to speak:

“The last visualization made me uneasy. Deogracias seems to know a lot about the ‘miracle,’ more than anyone should. Also, those ‘three humiliations’… what do they mean?”

There was a moment of silence, broken by Wilhelm's deep voice:

"I'm also intrigued by it, but what bothers me the most is the thorn. Why give an object that clearly hurts the one who needs to fulfill a prophecy? That seems... too cruel, and very illogical."

Felix, in a lighter tone, tried to lighten the mood:

"Nyahaha, maybe he just likes to complicate other people's lives. Or maybe Subaru is more important than he himself realizes."

Reinhard, who had remained silent until then, finally spoke up:

— Regardless of Deogracias' intentions, our duty is to watch the previews so we know about the future and if a disaster has happened we will be able to know how to avoid it, as well as get answers about what happened to Subaru in this future because I'm still confused why he's been completely silent the entire screening.

While the knights debated, the royal candidates had their own thoughts on the latest display, each approaching Deogracias from different perspectives.

Crusch was deeply intrigued. Deogracias’ unusual appearance, combined with the fact that he was serving penance, raised many questions. “Who is he really?” she wondered. Furthermore, the connection between Deogracias and the Miracle seemed to run deeper than he had shown thus far. What would he really gain from helping Subaru? These questions swirled endlessly in her mind as she tried to piece together the puzzle.

Anastasia, ever practical and strategic, had a different approach. She saw Deogracias as a potential gold mine of information about the Miracle. “If I can find him,” she thought, “maybe I can negotiate with him and acquire information that no one else has.” For her, the key was finding the right approach and offering something of value in return.

Priscilla, on the other hand, saw the situation in a much more carefree way. Deogracias was, to her, a peculiar and amusing figure. His eccentric appearance and his vast knowledge about the Miracle aroused in her both curiosity and a hint of arrogance. “If he knows so much about this force, it’s only a matter of time until I find out everything too,” she thought, with her typical smile of confidence. After all, in Priscilla’s mind, the world always conspired in her favor.

Felt, on the other hand, was the most suspicious. Ever since Deogracias had given Subaru the thorn, she couldn’t shake the feeling that something was wrong. “I don’t like this,” she muttered to herself. To her, Deogracias’ presence was not comforting, but rather threatening. The idea that Subaru was involved in something so dark made her uneasy and determined to protect her “big brother” in case something went wrong.

While the candidates pondered, the members of their camps also discussed their impressions of Deogracias and the previous performances.

In Anastasia's camp, Ricardo, Mimi, and Tivey had their own opinions.

"This guy... he's really weird, huh?" Ricardo said, scratching his head. "The way he talks, this 'Painful Miracle' thing, it's all really weird."

Mimi, beside him, nodded excitedly.

“Yes, yes! But his outfit is funny, hehe. I wonder if he gets hot with that hood on?”

Tivey, the most analytical of the group, seemed lost in thought.

“Of course his appearance is unusual, but what really intrigues me is his connection to the Miracle itself. Why is he helping Subaru? And what does that title he mentioned mean… ‘Narrator of the Miracle’?” he asked, more to himself than to the others.

Ricardo shrugged, but kept Tivey’s comments in mind. Deogracias really was a figure who raised more questions than he answered.

At Priscilla’s camp, Al, her self-proclaimed “knight” and court jester, was also deep in thought.

“Did Brother join some religion?” he muttered to himself, remembering Deogracias’s statement that Subaru had taken a vow of silence. “I never imagined my ‘brother from another world’ would be the religious type.”

He shook his head, trying to gather his thoughts. Not only was Deogracias suspicious, but he also seemed to be hiding a lot of things. Something about him made Al’s instincts scream.

“This guy is dangerous. No matter what he says or does, I’ll keep an eye on him if I see him. I don’t want Brother and the Princess to get mixed up in something that could destroy them.”

As everyone reflected on the previous screening, the director's voice echoed through the room:

"Return to your seats. The next screening is about to begin."

The murmurs ceased almost instantly. Everyone present, intrigued and restless, returned to their seats. The atmosphere seemed charged with anticipation and tension.

After a few seconds of absolute silence, the screen in front of them began to glow. Slowly, the images began to appear, and the screening finally began.

On the screen

The show continued. Subaru, now with Deogracias's Thorn in his hands, advanced with determination through a dark and desolate terrain. After walking for some time, he spotted another altar similar to the first. Without hesitation, he knelt before it, performing a sort of silent prayer.

The altar began to glow an intense golden hue, and an energy emanated, enveloping Subaru for a brief moment before disappearing. He stood up and continued on his way, now more resolute.

The next area he came across was a dark forest. Huge trees cast grotesque shadows, and some of them seemed to have skeletons embedded in their trunks, as if they were part of the wood. The atmosphere was suffocating, filled with mystery and danger.

As he walked through the forest, Subaru came across a man dressed in peasant clothes holding a knife. The man looked insane, his eyes wide and his movements erratic. Before he could attack, Subaru, in a cold and calculated move, drew his sword and killed him with a few precise cuts.

Without any hesitation, Subaru continued to advance through the forest. Soon, he was confronted by men wielding golden wheels, symbols that seemed to have some religious significance. They attacked aggressively, but Subaru reacted with impressive speed, counterattacking and cutting them down efficiently.

Further ahead, other men, dressed as peasants and armed with knives, appeared on the path. Subaru fought them mercilessly, cutting them down before they could even react. His expression remained neutral, almost apathetic, as he advanced deeper and deeper into the forest, leaving behind a trail of bodies.

Off screen

Silence filled the room as everyone watched Subaru's actions. The atmosphere was thick with tension.

Emilia looked deeply troubled, her eyes wide as she watched Subaru on the screen.

"What... what happened to him?" she murmured, her voice thick with pain and confusion.

Rem, beside her, was equally shaken. Her expression was one of disbelief.

“Subaru-kun…” she whispered, barely believing what she was seeing. “He… is so different.”

They both had trouble processing the fact that Subaru, who had always refused to take lives, was now killing in such a cold and calculated manner.

On the other hand, Julius and Wilhelm were impressed by Subaru’s skills.

“Your swordplay is incredibly refined,” Wilhelm commented, his eyes fixed on the screen. “These movements are precise, almost perfect.”

“I agree,” Julius replied, even more intrigued. “This isn’t something he could have learned in a short time. He trained a lot… or had an exceptional mentor.”

Priscilla, in turn, watched everything with a curious smile on her face.

“The commoner has changed a lot, hasn’t he?” she muttered to herself. “He used to hesitate even to lift a weapon, but now… he’s killing without blinking. What could have happened to change him like this?”

Felt, on the other hand, seemed suspicious.

“There’s something wrong with all this,” she said, crossing her arms. “He doesn’t seem like the Brother we know.”

While everyone had their own doubts and reactions, they decided to keep their questions to themselves and continue watching the show.

---

On the screen

Subaru continued to advance through the forest until he came across a swampy area. The ground became treacherous, and parts of it seemed to move strangely, as if they were alive. As he stepped into a section of the swamp, the ground gave way, revealing hideous creatures that resembled partially decomposed corpses.

They slowly emerged from the swamp, stretching their bony arms toward Subaru. With agility and determination, he leapt out of the dangerous area, narrowly escaping the creatures’ 

As he continued on, his eyes caught sight of something shining on the ground ahead. It was a blue-colored object that pulsed with a faint light. Subaru bent down and picked it up. As he did so, words appeared floating in the air before the audience in the theater that were seemingly invisible to Subaru.

"Verdiales of the Settler"

The message seemed to indicate the name of the mysterious item. Subaru studied it for a moment before putting it away. He continued forward and soon encountered another group of insane men, all dressed as peasants and wielding crude knives. However, the men were hesitant to attack him, as the path between them was covered in the same quicksand. Without waiting for them to take the initiative, Subaru did something unexpected: he thrust his sword into the ground with force. A bright glow erupted from the blade, followed by a wave of blue fire that spread out like a devastating current.

The flames consumed the men instantly, reducing them to nothing. Not even ashes remained, as if they had never existed. The heat disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, and Subaru, oblivious to what he had just done, continued on his way through the swamp, crossing the treacherous terrain with caution.

---

Off-Screen

The impact of the scene was immediate. A mixture of confusion and fascination took hold of the spectators.

“What was that item?” Roswaal asked, frowning as he leaned forward slightly. “And… that fire… is it comparable to the Goa spell or even the Al Goa?”

Priscilla, with an amused smile, crossed her legs and placed her fan in her mouth and murmured.

“Interesting…” he muttered. “I didn’t think the commoner’s sword could release such powerful flames. It seems like something worth noting. Maybe I should look for it when this is all over.”

Julius and Wilhelm exchanged glances, clearly intrigued. “That sword is impressive,” Julius commented thoughtfully. “The flames were devastating, and the precision of the attack shows that Subaru has complete control over its power. But… with Subaru’s mana portal broken, how was he able to use something so intense without suffering any side effects?”

Wilhelm nodded.

“There’s something more to that blade, and perhaps to that item he picked up. It’s not just skill or ordinary magic.”

Beatrice, for her part, seemed even more uneasy.

— My contractor... — she muttered to herself. — How did he manage to do this? Even with the portal broken, he shows no sign of exhaustion. Is it possible that that blue item has something to do with this new ability?

Emilia, still worried, couldn't take her eyes off the screen.

— Subaru has never... never killed like this before, — she said, her voice low and trembling. — This doesn't seem like the Subaru we know.

Rem, beside her, was also deeply shaken, but tried to comfort Emilia.

“Maybe… he’s doing this because he has no choice,” Rem said, though her own voice betrayed uncertainty. “We need to keep watching, even though it’s hard to see my hero doing so much.”

Felt and Reinhard watched in silence. Felt crossed her arms, suspicious.

“This item and this sword… there’s something wrong with all of this,” she commented. “I don’t like where this is going.”

Reinhard, on the other hand, seemed more focused than bothered.

“Subaru has changed, yes, but there’s still a lot we don’t know about what happened in this future. Maybe he has a greater reason for these actions,” he replied, his voice firm and reassuring.

Despite all the doubts and concerns, the group decided to remain focused on the exhibition, waiting for answers to the mysteries that were beginning to accumulate.

---

On the screen

Subaru continued to advance through the treacherous swamp. He skillfully jumped between areas of shifting ground, facing hideous creatures that emerged from the muddy depths. These beings, which looked like reanimated corpses, advanced towards him slowly, but Subaru, agile and precise, eliminated them with accurate blows of his sword, cutting them down before they could attack him. 

Upon exiting the unstable ground, he quickly confronted more insane men, dressed as peasants and armed with rudimentary knives. With fluid and lethal movements, he cut them down one by one, without hesitation. Soon after, he faced the mysterious men carrying golden wheels again. With a quick counterattack, Subaru eliminated them before they had a chance to react, advancing even further into the forest.

Arriving at a new area, Subaru found a series of platforms suspended in the air. Without hesitation, he jumped onto the first platform, where he quickly eliminated another of the men with the golden wheels.

The platforms began to move slowly, demanding precision and speed from Subaru. He jumped from one to the other with ease, showing great control over his movements. On one of the platforms, a group of men holding golden wheels were waiting. Subaru, once again, eliminated them with quick and deadly blows.

As he jumped to another platform, his eyes caught sight of something unusual: a strange golden structure flying in the air. It looked like some kind of floating cage. Before the structure could make any offensive moves, Subaru performed a devastating aerial attack, completely destroying it.

As soon as the cage was destroyed, glowing words appeared in the air for the audience in the theater:

"Children of the Moonlight"

Subaru, however, seemed unable to see the words and remained focused on his path. He turned around, returning to the beginning of the platforms. In an unexpected move, Subaru raised his sword and stabbed it hard into the ground. The impact was enough to reveal a secret passage, which opened up before him. Without hesitation, Subaru entered.

---

Off-Screen

The theater was filled with silence, broken only by murmurs of confusion and astonishment.

"Children of the Moonlight"?" Roswaal repeated the words that had come to him. "What could that mean?" The most powerful mage in the kingdom of Lugnica wondered about this because in his centuries of existence stealing his descendants to prolong his life, he had never heard of anything called "children of the moonlight."

"It sounds like a name... maybe of a group or sect," Julius commented, crossing his arms and frowning. "But it's strange. Subaru doesn't seem to have noticed those words."

"Even stranger is how he knew about this secret passage," Reinhard said, his expression serious. "Until now, there was no indication that he could discover something like that.

Beatrice, even more puzzled, muttered to herself.

“He destroyed that floating cage so easily… and then somehow he managed to find where that passage was and opened it. It’s almost as if he knew what he was doing. But how? Betty’s Subaru doesn’t have that kind of perception… or does he now?”

Priscilla, with a mischievous smile, shook her head slowly.

— The commoner continues to surprise me. He acts as if he already knows this place, as if he knows every secret that this forest hides. There are many things that we still don't know in this future and I'm left wondering how many fun things will be shown to me to entertain me.

Emilia and Rem, on the other hand, remained restless.

“Subaru once again didn’t hesitate to destroy those things… or kill those men,” Emilia said, her voice low. “He really has changed.”

Rem simply nodded, unsure of what to say.

As the questions lingered in the air, everyone turned their attention to the screen, eager to find out what was inside that secret passage.

---

On screen

Subaru advanced through the secret passage, jumping accurately between various platforms. He moved nimbly, facing the dangers of the shifting floor and easily taking down the corpse-like creatures that emerged from the ground. His strikes were accurate, eliminating any threat that crossed his path. 

Eventually, he reached the end of the passage. In the center of the place, amidst the mossy ground and a dull glow, was a peculiar bone: a collarbone. As he picked it up, the words "Dalhuisen's Collarbone" appeared on the screen for the audience in the theater, but Subaru seemed unable to notice them, as if they were invisible to him.

Without hesitation, he put away the bone and began to leave the secret passage, returning to the platforms. Jumping between them deftly, he continued on, diving deeper into the dark forest. The atmosphere grew heavier and heavier, and the dense vegetation seemed to whisper in barely audible voices.

After advancing for a long time, Subaru stopped abruptly. Before him stood a huge door, carved grotesquely into the wood. The door looked like a distorted human face, with exaggerated features and a vacant gaze that seemed to follow whoever looked at it.

---

Off screen

The audience in the theater was divided between curiosity and disappointment.

“Just a bone?” Otto asked, confused. “Why did Natsuki take that?”

“More importantly, why is there a door in the middle of a forest?” he continued, frowning. “And who would have thought of carving such a hideous face into it?”

“It really is… grotesque,” ​​Tivey agreed, crossing his arms in thought as to why anyone would build a door in the middle of the forest in the first place.

Al shook his head thoughtfully. “Maybe the bone is a key… or something important that we’ll figure out later. It doesn’t look like something the Brother just took for no reason.”

Priscilla, ever haughty, watched the screen with a mixture of disgust and curiosity.

— That door is an insult to good taste. Whoever made it should be punished.

Meanwhile, Emilia and Rem looked puzzled.

— Subaru just took the bone without question... — Emilia said, worried. — Does he know what he's doing?

— He might be following some kind of instinct, — Rem suggested. — Something in that passage seemed to guide him, could it be the miracle?

The maid spoke with clear doubt in her words as she also questioned why her hero picked up a human bone.

Beatrice remained silent, but her eyes were fixed on the screen, clearly analyzing every detail of the situation.

Everyone had their own questions about the scene, but before they could debate further, something on the screen caught their attention.

---

On the screen

Subaru stood before the grotesque door as the carved face began to move in a surreal manner, as if the stone that made up the door had come to life. Then, a dark and melancholic voice echoed from it, filled with grief and abandonment:

Door:

"No one answers our plea... The Miracle has abandoned us... My ornate throne turns its back on those who wait here."

As the last word was spoken, the door slowly opened, creaking as if it had been closed for centuries. Beyond it, a new area was revealed, shrouded in oppressive silence. Subaru took a hesitant step inside and found himself in a completely abandoned and decaying village.

The houses were in complete disrepair, with roofs crumbling and walls covered in dust and dirt. The air was filled with a strange sense of sadness, as if the place had witnessed countless tragedies.

Before he could explore further, the screen suddenly went dark, indicating the end of the display.

---

Off screen

The theater remained completely silent. The sight of a talking door and the dark atmosphere had left everyone in shock. It was difficult to process what they had just witnessed.

It was only when the director's voice echoed through the room that the tension was broken:

Director:

— This was the visualization. In a few minutes, the next one will begin. Take the opportunity to rest.

As soon as the director finished speaking, the screen disappeared, leaving the stage empty.

Priscilla was the first to react, crossing her arms and letting out a sigh of disdain:

— A talking door... What an absurd sight. Although Priscilla said that, she was quite intrigued by this door and intends to try to find it there when she leaves the theater.

Otto, still trying to process what he had seen, muttered:

"I... I have no idea what that was. How can a door talk like that? Could this Door have come to life because of the miracle?"

Wilhelm, thoughtful, calmly replied:

"It seems that the 'Miracle' can give life to objects."

Beatrice, with her usual serious expression, stared at the space where the screen had been.

"The place seemed... permeated with residual mana. That village is completely corrupted, I suppose. It will be interesting to see how my contractor will deal with this, I imagine."

Reinhard remained silent, but it was clear that he was analyzing every detail of what he had seen.

As everyone dispersed to rest, the air was filled with curiosity and mystery. No one knew what to expect from the next screening, but everyone was eager to learn more about this strange world and the trials Subaru faced.

Continued.

Chapter Text

The cast waited patiently for the next showing to begin. Silence prevailed, but the tension in the air was palpable. Everyone was intrigued by what was about to be shown. Ever since they had seen that stone door with a face that spoke, the questions about the so-called "miracle" had only intensified. They had never before witnessed something so inexplicable in their lives, and the possibility that this was just the beginning left many uneasy.

---

At Emilia's camp

Rosswal, sitting in his usual relaxed posture, but with his eyes fixed on space, was lost in thought. He questioned the real limits of the "miracle." Everything that had been shown so far pointed to a force that was both a blessing and a curse, capable of altering physical forms and even giving life to inanimate objects.

"If that talking door really was created by the 'miracle' and also managed to revive Subaru, what else could be done with that power?" He pondered, holding his chin. In his mind, he began to draw possibilities: what if the 'miracle' didn't bring his beloved teacher back but gave him more than that? That thought was tempting. If he could master such a force, he would no longer need to rely on Subaru to accomplish his goals.

Beatrice, sitting next to Subaru, watched Rosswal from a distance with a cold and suspicious gaze. She didn’t need to hear his thoughts to know that he was planning something. However, her attention soon turned to the contractor himself. Ever since these displays began, something didn’t seem right.

"Why did he take that vow of silence mentioned by that vile woman's knight who kicked Betty's Subaru?" She thought, looking at her employer with concern. Besides, the armor he wore and the mastery with which he wielded a sword left her disconcerted. Subaru was no good with the sword, he was terrible, so how had he become so skilled? And more importantly: how could he release such intense flames from that sword, surpassing even the Goa and Al Goa spells?

These same questions echoed in the hearts of Emilia, Rem, and Petra. All three of them, in different ways, loved Subaru, but what they saw in the previous screening disturbed them deeply.

The scene of him slaughtering men and creatures without hesitation or emotion was still vivid in their minds. He showed no mercy whatsoever, and it made them fear that the Subaru on the screen was no longer the person they knew. For Emilia, this was especially painful. “Where is the boy who risked everything for everyone, always with a smile on his face?”

Rem held her hands tightly, trying to hold back her tears. The idea that the man she dedicated her life to could have changed so much scared her more than anything, even though she tried to tell herself that the man she loved was the same as always,and Petra was also in the same state because she was also bothered by this extreme change in personality of the man she loved.

Meanwhile, the three of them had their own thoughts about the previous display. Subaru's chest brothers also had their own thoughts about the previous display. Garfiel seemed delighted. He smiled as he remembered the combat scenes. "Heh, the captain is amazing! That fire-breathing sword is out of this world!" To him, Subaru had become something he always wanted to be: an invincible warrior.

Otto, on the other hand, did not share Garfiel's enthusiasm. He drummed his fingers nervously, immersed in doubt. "That talking door... how could something like that exist in a forest? And why did Natsuki seem so familiar with it? How did he know about the secret underground passage? And that collarbone... what did he intend to do with it?"

As the two members of the "idiot trio" talked, Ram found herself feeling uneasy. Barusu, the loud and clumsy idiot, now seemed like a completely different person—silent and relentless. She couldn't reconcile the two images in her mind. Meanwhile, Frederica, although less close to Subaru, also noticed how unsettling his absolute silence was. Something seemed off.

While Emilia's camp was lost in thought, the candidate knights decided to meet again to discuss the performances. With Wilhelm present, even though he was a butler now, his experience as a swordsman made his opinions valuable, and also Al despite not being considered a Knight because he hated them.

Wilhelm was the first to speak:

"Everyone here, I imagine, was impressed by Subaru-dono's swordsmanship skills in the previous display. But I must admit, the existence of that talking door is something I still cannot comprehend."

Silence fell over the group until Felix decided to break it with his usual irreverence:

— Nyaa, it's funny, old Wil. You always said that Subaru had no talent for the sword, that at best he would be average with years of training. So, how did he become so skilled?

Wilhelm remained thoughtful, but before he could answer, Julius intervened:

“Also, we need to talk about those blue flames Subaru produced using that sword. They were more potent than an Al Goa spell, something I can’t understand.”

Reinhard also decided to intervene, always attentive to details, and pointed out another issue:

"There's still what Subaru took in the forest. That collarbone that was in that underground hiding place... what exactly was that?"

Questions piled up between them, but it was Al who brought another perspective:

"To me, what's most intriguing is not the sword, nor the fire, but the brother's vow of silence. He didn't even scream when he got hurt. That's not normal."

Julius raised an eyebrow, curious:

"What do you mean by vow of silence?"

Al explained:

"In some religions, people take vows of silence for specific reasons, going years without speaking. But bro was never the religious type, so I don't know what led him to this."

The knights looked at each other, confused and even more intrigued. Reinhard, with his serious posture, questioned if Subaru had gotten involved with some obscure religion or even with the Witch Cult, although the latter option was extremely difficult and almost impossible.

While the knights discussed, the candidates had their own thoughts. Crusch was concerned about the true limits of the “miracle.” In her mind, she pondered,

“If it’s so powerful, why haven’t we heard of it before? Could this really be the future we’re seeing?”

Anastasia, on the other hand, was nervous. The lack of information about the "miracle" in her vast network of contacts made her uneasy, since she only found out about the "miracle" thanks to the movies. "How can something so significant be completely unknown?" — she wondered. Meanwhile, her subordinates, Ricardo and Mimi, limited themselves to commenting on how impressive the scene of Subaru using the blue fire was, and Tivey had countless questions about the "miracle" that increased with the showings.

At Felt's camp, the young girl was thinking about Subaru's behavior.

(Felt, thoughtful): "Big brother... why are you so quiet? This isn't like you. Could this really be the future?"

While Felt had this question at Priscilla's camp, Priscilla herself, in turn, just smiled, clearly more interested than worried.

(Priscilla, thoughtful): "The commoner's sword... as powerful as the Yang Sword. He's becoming more interesting with each display. Maybe there's something in him that I haven't seen yet besides that disgusting power."

everyone was deep in thought, the Director's voice echoed throughout the room.

Director: "The next screening is about to begin. Please be seated."

The murmurs died down, and everyone took their seats as the screen began to display new images.

on the screen

The visualization picks up right where it left off, with Subaru walking through the decaying city. He passes by another of those golden altars and, with a firm gesture, stabs the ground with his sword. The blade emits an intense glow, briefly illuminating the gloomy environment. Then, Subaru resumes his walk to a small wooden house. When he enters, the scene that reveals itself inside is deeply depressing: three men are lying on the ground, visibly ill, being cared for by some women who, apparently, are doctors. Subaru observes everything with a look of pity.

Off-screen

The shock is immediate. Everyone in the camp is stunned by what they see. The condition of the sick men is clearly serious, and many begin to murmur among themselves.

Felix, visibly agitated, is the first to break the silence:

Felix:

“What the hell is going on in this town? Why aren’t these men being treated properly with healing magic?”

He asks in frustration as he notices that women are kissing the sick, some with visible wounds on their bodies. This, to him, is completely unhygienic. Felix's heated tone makes others in the room feel uncomfortable, but it also arouses a feeling of repulsion in those around him.

Priscilla, in particular, looks extremely uncomfortable, her eyes narrowing in disdain. She maintains her air of superiority, but she cannot hide her disgust at the scene.

Priscilla (thinking, disgusted):

“This is... disgusting. How can anyone allow my divine eyes to see such degradation?”

Meanwhile, other audience members, such as Emilia, Rem, and Petra, can’t help but feel a deep sense of pity for the men’s condition, wondering what could have caused such a deplorable situation. They all share the same question, but the sadness in the air is palpable.

Emilia (whispering to herself):

“Why would anyone allow this to happen? They’re so… broken.”

But there is no time for more questions, as everyone turns their attention back to the screen. They want to see if Subaru will help these men or not, as Beatrice, Emilia and Rem specifically want to see if he was the same man they knew and who did not hesitate to help people.

On the screen:

Subaru approaches one of the sick men lying on the ground and watches the man closely. When the man begins to speak, his voice is weak and hoarse, almost a whisper.

Sick man (with a weak and hoarse voice):

"Sorrowful be your heart, penitent. Welcome to the village of Albero, sanctuary of the humble brotherhood of the Kissers of Wounds."

The man continues to speak with great difficulty, each word coming out of his mouth as if it took an immense effort.

Sick man (continuing with difficulty):

"There are few left who can still do this, but my name is Tirso."

Tirso, the man now revealed, speaks with brutal sincerity, his words imbued with profound sadness. Subaru simply listens in complete silence, as always, absorbing every word without interrupting.

Off-screen

Silence fills the room as everyone watches the screen, confused and astonished. The name "Chagas Kissers" echoes in the minds of the viewers, but no one can understand the deeper meaning behind these words. The idea of ​​a brotherhood with that name causes palpable discomfort, but also arouses insatiable curiosity.

Some wonder what exactly this village of Albero could mean, since it doesn't seem to exist in any of the known kingdoms. The question looms large, and soon others begin to question what else lies in this forgotten place.

Roswaal (thinking, puzzled):

"Albero? I've never heard of this village, and I've lived here longer than I can count. How could something like this have escaped my notice, especially after so much time stealing the bodies of my descendants?"

His mind, always calm and calculating, is now filled with a mixture of fascination and bewilderment. He watches the screen with wide eyes, as if trying to understand what exactly is happening. Roswaal is not usually taken by surprise, but this village and its strange brotherhood will manage to surprise him.

Meanwhile, other audience members, such as Emilia and Rem and Reinhard and Julius, look on with expressions of both compassion and apprehension. The nature of the village and its connection to the sick makes them question what is really happening there. How can a village with such a name and such suffering still exist in such a devastated world?

Emilia (thinking, with a worried look):

"Wound Kissers... Could it be that these people have been suffering for so long that they have reached a point of despair? But what does this name mean? Do they... kiss the wounds to try to heal?"

As questions continue to arise, everyone turns their eyes to the screen, eagerly waiting to find out more about what is happening in this enigmatic village.

On the screen

After making this last statement, Tirso continues to speak in an even weaker voice, but full of disturbing devotion.

Tirso (with difficulty, but seriously):

"Few of us still care about the sick and the weak..."

He pauses, as if reflecting deeply on his own words, before continuing.

Tirso (continuing, his voice brimming with devotion):

"With kisses of devotion, we bless the wounds of those who seek our protection. Thus, we and they remain at the mercy of the miracle."

Tirso spoke in a tone full of devotion and his eyes showed unshakable faith.

Off-screen

The room where the spectators watch the scene is in an uncomfortable silence. Tirso's words reverberate in everyone's minds, but no explanation seems sufficient for what is being suggested. The "miracle" he mentions leaves everyone uneasy, as they were all fully aware from previous screenings that the miracle was both a curse and a blessing at the same time, but they do not understand why Tirso does not seem to hate the "miracle" for the illness that is being afflicted upon him.

Felix (with a tone of disbelief, trying to understand):

"Wait... are you saying that the 'miracle' caused this illness? That the 'miracle' is the reason why almost everyone in this village is sick?"

Crusch (with a grave and angry look):

"Does this... does this mean that this damn 'miracle' could possibly be responsible for creating the disease that destroyed the royal family?"

Hatred for the "miracle" begins to rise in the hearts of Felix and Crusch, who now see what happened to the royal family from a new perspective, understanding that the illness that plagued them was, in some way, generated by the "miracle".

Anger and disgust at this dark power grow, and the search for answers becomes even more urgent. But what is most disturbing is the calm with which Tirso speaks about this practice of “blessing the wounds,” as if he truly believed that this pain was necessary, an acceptable pain, in the name of devotion. Why did Tirso not seem to hate the “miracle”? Why did he accept it as a part of his existence, even though he knew the devastating consequences it caused?

Roswaal (thoughtful, with an attentive look, almost as if he were reflecting deeply on the situation):

"The miracle... from what has been presented to us so far, a force that gives curses and blessings to people. But Tirso speaks of it as if it were something benign despite the terrible illness that the miracle afflicted.

The others look at each other, still trying to process Tirso's words. The "miracle" becomes increasingly evil and dark as they realize how much it seems to be rooted in the tragedies and suffering they now see before them and with each display.

Emilia (with a sad expression and a worried look):

"If the miracle caused so much suffering, why does Tirso continue to accept it? Does he really believe it is something good? We cannot allow something like this to continue to hurt so many people..."

Everyone's anguish grows as they try to understand what exactly is happening in this village and why the "miracle" caused such a terrible disease to appear in this village. Each answer seems to raise more questions, and the tension increases as they look back at the screen, searching for more clues about what is happening in Albero and how they can help.

on the screen

Tirso, still lying down and visibly tired, continues to speak in a voice that mixes resignation and faith.

Tirso (in a slow and heavy tone):

"Time on the other side of these walls passes in a strange way... in sunsets that we do not need to contemplate."

He pauses, as if trying to gather the strength to continue. His voice becomes softer, but also more filled with an almost desperate plea.

Tirso (with a clear plea in his voice):

"But if by chance your penance should lead you to that kind of heaven... be so kind as to bring us ingredients for our ointments."

Those words hang heavy in the air. Tirso doesn't say anything else right away, but his expression changes, as if he's waiting for an answer, for help, which, for him, seems to be the only way to continue.

Tirso (finishing with a sigh, as if a huge burden has been lifted from his shoulders):

"The will of the miracle will show what those ingredients are..."

Subaru watches in silence, reflecting on Tirso's words. He nods, agreeing to help, but doesn't say a word. As if words weren't necessary in this situation.

Tirso, seeing Subaru's gesture, gives a small smile, weak but sincere. He then closes his eyes and falls into a deep sleep, exhausted. His body seems to finally relax, as if he has found some peace, even if temporary.

The screen slowly fades to black, signaling the end of that vision.

---

Off-screen

All the spectators watch in silence, some relieved, others still processing what they have just seen. Subaru's decision to help the village, even in the face of all the suffering and strangeness of the situation, brings a bit of hope to those watching.

Emilia (with a satisfied smile):

"That was good, my knight. He really is showing himself willing to help, even without knowing much about what is happening, it seems that you are still the same man I knew."

Crusch (looking more serious, but also a little relieved):

"Yes, he didn't hesitate. As always.

Roswaal (thoughtful, with an enigmatic smile):

"Interesting... I see that Subaru hasn't completely changed; his attitude of helping others is still very much present despite the quite noticeable changes in his personality and attitude.

The Director, who had remained silent until then, interrupts the conversation in a calm but professional tone.

Director (in a controlled but somewhat enthusiastic voice):

"That was today's visualization. The next one will begin in a few minutes. Get ready."

With that, everyone starts to gather to talk about what they just saw. The discussions are varied, but they all revolve around Subaru and the choices he makes. Some are still in shock over the revelations of Albero Village, while others wonder what else will be revealed in the next viewings.

---

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Everyone in the cast was surprised to hear the name of a village called Albero, a place unknown to everyone present. Curiosity grew as they pondered the mysterious disease that seemed to have devastated that place. Still intrigued by the previous scene, the group began to debate their theories and speculations in low voices.

Before the conversation could go any deeper, a firm voice echoed, cutting through the hubbub.

Director: Alright, everyone, no more ado. The next preview will begin now, so please save your discussions for later.

Although irritated by the sudden interruption, everyone silently agreed, taking their seats once more. The atmosphere was tense, but the growing mystery kept everyone focused on the screen. As silence fell over the room, the room was filled with the soft sound of static, followed by the activation of the projection.

The lights gradually dimmed, and the large screen lit up with a new sequence of images. The viewing officially began.

On screen

The visualization begins exactly where the previous one ended. Tirso, exhausted from his illness, slept while being cared for by the Kissers of Chagas. Subaru, determined to explore the place, quickly climbs a narrow staircase. On the upper floor, he finds a peculiar object: a large, enigmatic-looking bird skull. Without hesitation, Subaru picks it up, and a message appears before him—visible only to the spectators in the room, not to Subaru.

The message read: "Dove Skull."

After putting away the strange object, Subaru descends the stairs again, repeatedly passing more men lying on the ground, clearly suffering from the same disease that plagued Albero. Despite the horrific scene and the evident suffering around him, Subaru maintains his composure, trying hard not to be shaken as he continues on his way.

After descending several floors, he finally reaches an aged wooden door and, without hesitation, pushes it open.

---

Off screen

Everyone in the room was confused by the sight of the skull and more of those strange messages. What could it mean? And why did Subaru take it? These questions echoed silently in their minds, but before they could formulate answers, the sight of the sick men caught all their attention.

Crusch watched the screen in silence, but there was a glint of sadness in her eyes. The sight of those men, weakened and on the brink of death, brought back painful memories: the critical condition of Prince Fourier Lugnica, her first friend and love, ravaged by an equally cruel and relentless disease.

Felix, beside him, bit his lip, feeling a tightness in his chest. The anguish was almost unbearable. His nature as a healer screamed at him to jump into the screen and ease the suffering of those people, but he knew it was impossible.

Roswaal, on the other hand, seemed more intrigued than shaken. The wizard’s mind was buzzing with questions. Who was Tirso? Why had he never heard of Albero? Could the disease that was destroying this village be the same one that had decimated the royal family of Lugnica?

The atmosphere in the cinema was charged with conflicting emotions. Some were moved, others were uneasy, but everyone decided to turn their eyes to the screen, aware that more revelations were to come.

---

On the screen

After opening the door, Subaru enters a dark space, where he finds himself faced with an ornate altar. In the center of it stands a grotesque statue, an amalgamation of angelic figures. Each "angel" has a pained expression, as if trapped in eternal torment. The sight is disturbing, but Subaru hesitates for a moment, but approaches cautiously.

Suddenly, the statue begins to speak, its voice echoing through the room with a deep, sorrowful tone:

Statue: "Penitent... you who carry the painful guilt in your suffering hands.. ."

Intrigued and suspicious, Subaru takes a few more steps toward the statue. As he does so, one of the faces in the amalgam comes to life and whispers in a pleading tone:

Amalgam: "Lend us your blade... and we will ease our burden."

Subaru reluctantly grips his sword tightly, but eventually gives in, extending it toward the statue. The entity's multiple hands carefully grasp it.

Statue: "Lend us your blade... and dry our tears."

As the words are spoken, the statue grips the sword tightly. A bright blue glow emanates from the blade, illuminating the surroundings. The glow, however, soon dissipates, and the statue returns the sword to Subaru.

Statue: "For this... is an act of penance."

Subaru picks up his sword again, noticing that there is now blood dripping down the blade. However, the blood disappears almost instantly, as if it had never been there. Without paying much attention, Subaru holds his weapon tightly.

Shortly after, a message appears in the view of the spectators, but not Subaru:

"The virtue of Mea Culpa has been elevated."

---

Off-screen

The discomfort among the spectators was evident.

Priscilla frowned in disdain, clearly uncomfortable with the sight of that aberrant statue.

Priscilla: "Disgusting. An abomination worthy of being purged from my divine vision."

Meanwhile, others were more shocked by the supernatural nature of the talking statue and the strange ritual with Subaru's sword. The phrase "The virtue of Mea Culpa has been elevated" intrigued everyone, but no one could understand its meaning.

Crusch, with a serious expression, pondered:

Crusch: "Apparently, the 'miracle' may surpass anything we consider possible. The mere idea of ​​talking statues and sentient doors defies reason."

Roswaal, on the other hand, seemed more fascinated than disturbed.

Roswaal: "The 'miracle' clearly has no limits... I wondered what things I could do with it if I could control it."

As the discussions and reflections continued, Mimi, more sensitive to the images, was still uneasy about the sinister appearance of the statue and the blood that had spurted out on the sword.

Despite the divided opinions and general discomfort, everyone decided to put their doubts aside for now and turn their eyes to the screen, curious to see what would happen next.

---

On the screen

After the strange encounter with the statue, Subaru leaves the room, closing the door behind him. He walks down the hallway, his footsteps echoing off the stone walls. Soon, something catches his eye: a wall on the other side of the room, radiating a bright blue light.

Curious, Subaru approaches and knocks hard on the wall. To his surprise, the wall shakes and begins to open, revealing a secret passage. Without hesitation, he enters the passage, finding himself in a dark and sinister environment. There, there was a pile of human bones scattered across the floor and, in the background, an immense colossal door carved in stone.

Subaru approaches the pile of bones and bends down, picking up a peculiar-looking bone. At that moment, a message appears in the view of the spectators, but remains invisible to Subaru:

"Persin the Bandit's Heel."

Subaru, oblivious to the meaning of the message, puts away the bone and walks to the colossal door. He stares at it for a few moments before entering it since it was open.

---

Off screen

The discomfort in the theater was palpable.

Beatrice, upon seeing Subaru messing with human bones, grimaced in disgust.

Beatrice: "How disturbing... My contractor shouldn't be involved in something so macabre, hmph!"

Roswaal, on the other hand, watched intently with a puzzled look, while forming theories in his mind.

Roswaal (thinking): Bones... Could it be that these 'artifacts' that Tirso mentioned are not sacred or precious objects, but the remains of important people? Fascinating...

The others were also confused, especially after the mysterious message appeared again.

Crusch, with a serious expression, shared her concern:

Crusch: "Why is Subaru picking up bones? That doesn't seem to help at all. Could it be that he knows something we don't?"

Priscilla, on the other hand, rolled her eyes in disdain.

Priscilla: "Hah! Let him play with the dead if he so wishes. It's just further proof of his inferiority and foolishness."

Rem, who was uncomfortable with the whole scene, muttered softly:

Rem: "This is all so weird... My Hero, what are you doing?"

Despite the reactions and theories, everyone decided to turn their attention back to the screen. The strangeness of the situation only increased their curiosity to find out what would happen next.

---

On screen

Upon passing through the colossal door, Subaru is immediately thrust into a vast, gloomy chamber. In the center of the room, a massive coffin rests, overflowing with human bones. The atmosphere is charged with a macabre aura. Beside the coffin, a bald man dressed in a black robe stands in an imposing posture. As Subaru approaches, the man's piercing eyes lock onto him, and he begins to speak, his deep, cold voice echoing throughout the chamber:

Bald Man:

"This servant Solitude has the honor of greeting the Penitent."

He pauses, a grim smile appearing on his face.

Bald Man:

"Welcome to the charnel house of those who will be eternally remembered."

---

Off-screen

The moviegoers in the theater were shaken by the sight of the sinister and disturbing place. The coffin filled with human bones and the bald man, who seemed so at ease in that macabre setting, made everyone uneasy.

Crusch, feeling a chill run down her spine, whispered:

Crusch:

"Why does a place like this exist? Especially in a village?"

Garfiel found that place sinister and admired his captain for having the courage to enter that place and he couldn't help but say words of admiration to Subaru:

Garfiel:

"I congratulate the captain for having the courage to go to that scary place..."

Roswaal, always attentive to detail, tilted his head curiously.

Roswaal:

"Boneyard, why would such an unknown village have so many things?"

Felix, who felt an almost irrational shiver at the sight of that place infested with human bones, murmured:

Felix:

"What a terrifying place this is."

Everyone was intrigued and disturbed, but the decision to look back at the screen seemed inevitable, as the mystery only deepened.

---

On the screen

The bald man continued, his voice resounding darkly and unsettlingly in the chamber.

Bald man:

"My duty is merely to offer shelter to each of these bones that rest beneath these intangible veils of dust."

He paused, his gaze fixed on Subaru with intensity.

He paused, his gaze fixed on Subaru intently.

Bald man:

"It doesn't matter how many years or centuries have passed; the bones persist, communicating through crackling and creaking, and also through absolute silence."

He approached the coffin, his eyes glowing with an inner, disturbing fire.

Bald man:

"But these remains need each other to reveal the truth they still hold within them."

---

Off-screen

The spectators in the movie theater exchanged glances with each other, all feeling a mixture of strangeness and repulsion at the bald man's words and behavior.

Priscilla, with her haughty eyes and an air of superiority, expressed her opinion with a disdainful smile:

Priscilla:

"How pathetic... He must just be a raving madman, a man who has lost his mind."

Beatrice, on the other hand, felt intrigued and alarmed. She didn't know whether to take the man's words as an ominous prophecy or just a fragmented delusion.

Beatrice:

"Is this man really telling the truth to Betty's contractor? Or is it just an illusion created by his own madness?"

Crusch frowned, feeling increasingly uneasy. This man’s fixation on human bones and the macabre scene he was immersed in were quite disturbing.

They didn't know how to react to the bald man and his obsession with human bones. Perplexity took hold of everyone, but even so, the decision to look back at the screen seemed inevitable. The truth hidden in this dark scenario was still unclear, but each word and image only added layers to the enigma that everyone was beginning to face.

---

On the screen

The bald man continued, his voice echoing in the chamber with an ominous weight.

Bald man:

"Only together, in close brotherhood, will they attain eternal rest. That is why they call upon you for help."

He paused, his eyes shining with a disturbing light.

Bald man:

"I bring them before me, and thus we will discover the truth they have kept silent."

With a firm gesture, he extended his hand to Subaru. Subaru, without hesitation, handed the collected bones to the bald man. The bald man took them with an almost reverential expression and spoke, in a tone of gratitude:

Bald man:

"The bones are grateful for your help, oh virtuous penitent."

Subaru turned around, his eyes fixed on the path back to the colossal door. He headed out of the ossuary, disappearing into the dark hallway.

---

Off screen

The audience in the movie theater exchanged perplexed glances, all questioning what was so special about these bones that the bald man so desired.

Rosswal, with his calculating and curious gaze, began to formulate theories in his mind. He wondered if these bones were related to the "miracle". There was a possibility that he was planning to go to Albero's village to find these bones and find out what really made them so essential to the bald man and also try to find out more about the "miracle" and how to manipulate it for his own purposes.

Otto, for his part, seemed increasingly worried, uneasy about what Rosswal might be planning. He pondered silently:

Otto:

"Could it be that Rosswal is really considering going to Albero to obtain these bones? They must have something extremely important for that man to ask Natsuki to find them for him..."

Priscilla, always confident and arrogant, could not contain her contempt for the macabre scene. She believed that the bald man was nothing more than a raving madman with no purpose, just like the filthy cultists of the witch cult with their devotion to the witch.

Anastasia, with her pragmatic and objective view, also dismissed the bald man as just an eccentric and irrelevant character.

Anastasia:

"A man obsessed with bones? What nonsense... That doesn't make any sense, bones don't bring any profit."

However, despite the differing opinions, everyone chose to turn their attention to the screen, eager to see what the next scene would reveal.

---

On the screen

Subaru walked through the colossal door, exiting the ossuary. He headed for the secret passage he had entered through, leaving it without wasting any time. He began to climb the stairs, passing by the sick men who were falling to the ground. Subaru showed no reaction upon seeing them, his expression remaining impassive as he ignored them and continued on.

After he had almost reached the top of the stairs, he spotted a door leading outside. He approached it and entered. As he stepped outside, he was startled by the warmth of the sun’s rays illuminating his face. His eyes adjusted to the brightness, and he saw before him a massive structure—a grand church, imposing and sinister.

The scene ended abruptly when the screen went black, ending the viewing.

---

Off screen

The director's voice echoed through the room again, breaking the silence that had settled over the spectators.

Director:

"That was the preview. The next one will begin in a few hours."

The director’s voice ceased, and an uneasy murmur began to spread among the spectators. They exchanged glances and began to discuss the recent screening. The bizarre scenes and disturbing elements they witnessed left everyone disturbed and thoughtful.

Priscilla, with her pride and superiority, expressed her disgust at the grotesque scene.

Priscilla:

"What a repulsive scene. I can't understand how anyone could like something as disgusting as human bones."

Beatrice, always curious and analytical, questioned internally the meaning of the messages and the elements presented.

Beatrice:

"Does all of that have any connection with the 'miracle' or some secret of this village and also what is in these bones that makes them so special?"

Otto, with a worried look, began to imagine possible dangers and hidden secrets that could be behind this decaying village.

Otto: These bones and this church... something is very wrong."

As everyone expressed their own theories and concerns, everyone decided to wait for the next screening, their minds filled with questions and theories that only added to the mystery.

---

To be continued.

Chapter Text

Everyone was still intrigued by the previous display, especially Roswaal, whose curiosity seemed to grow by the second. He couldn’t help but wonder about the mysterious bones that the bald man so desperately wanted Subaru to find.

Roswaal’s doubt wasn’t isolated; others were also wondering what made those bones so special. However, before they could begin a discussion on the matter, the director’s imposing voice echoed again, interrupting the atmosphere.

Director: "My dear viewers, the next screening is about to begin. Please take your seats."

Although the interruption caused some people to feel slightly uncomfortable, everyone complied and sat down. There was a tension in the air, a mixture of anticipation and fear about what they would see next.

After a few moments of silence, the screen began to glow, signaling the start of the new screening.

On screen:

---

The display picked up exactly where it had left off, showing Subaru standing before an imposing church. He walked toward the structure with hesitant steps, as if feeling the weight of the gloomy atmosphere around him.

Stopping before one of the church's closed windows, a deep, mysterious voice sounded from the other side.

Voice from behind the window: "You have knocked on the window of the Royal Shrine Order."

Subaru recoiled slightly in surprise, but remained attentive as the voice continued.

Voice from behind the window: "Here, we gather the remains of those who have been buried and forgotten, so that we may grant them a sacred burial, as prescribed by our charitable law."

The voice, laden with solemnity, seemed to echo within Subaru's chest, as if the words carried a deep spiritual weight.

Voice from behind the window: "Help these poor souls, O Silent Penitent. May the Order bless you."

After hearing these words, Subaru nodded to himself, took a deep breath, and continued forward, his expression reflecting both curiosity and concern.

---

Off screen

The audience was clearly intrigued. The mention of the “Order of the Royal Sanctuary” had caused a murmur among them, and the idea of ​​a “sacred burial” seemed to leave many confused.

Roswaal, in particular, narrowed his eyes and rested his chin on his hand in thought. “Could it be… that these ‘remains’ mentioned are related to the special bones of that man from the previous screening?”

he muttered to himself, clearly fascinated by the possibility. Despite the doubts and theories that had begun to arise, everyone turned their attention back to the screen, eager to learn more about this enigmatic world.

---

On screen

Subaru continued on his way, away from the church, his footsteps echoing on the desolate ground. As he walked, something strange caught his eye in the parched earth. He bent down to investigate and, digging with his hands, unearthed a bone.

At the same moment, a mysterious message appeared, visible only to the theater audience:

"You have acquired the Phalanx of Brannon the Gravedigger."

Subaru, oblivious to the message, held the bone for a moment, looking at it curiously, before putting it away and continuing on his journey.

Walking a little further, he reached a desolate place. On the horizon, dead, leafless trees formed a dreary landscape. Among them stood dilapidated structures, emanating a sense of abandonment and decay.

Another message appeared to the audience, again invisible to Subaru:

"Waste of Buried Churches."

---

Off screen

The audience was intrigued to see the mysterious messages again. Murmurs arose among the group, and curiosity spread throughout the theater.

Crusch, Anastasia, and Priscilla exchanged glances, each formulating their own theories.

Crusch: "It's curious how these churches and religions have appeared so frequently since these visualizations began... This seems more than a coincidence."

Anastasia: "I'm starting to think more and more that Natsuki is in Gusteko. The Theocracy there reminds me of what we heard about there."

Priscilla, however, shook her head in disdain.

Priscilla: "It can't be Gusteko. There's no snow in this place, and the landscape is infested with these grotesque creatures. Gusteko may be cold, but it's not that heinous."

Meanwhile, Roswaal watched the scene with a mischievous smile, his eyes shining with an almost predatory curiosity.

Roswaal (thinking): "Another one of those special bones... What will happen when Subaru gathers them all? Something fascinating is in store, I'm sure."

Although everyone had their own questions, their attention soon returned to the screen, eager to see what would happen next.

---

On the screen

Subaru advanced with determination, but was abruptly stopped when he came face to face with a thin, naked man who looked deformed and was holding a huge statue, similar to that of an angel. As soon as he saw Subaru, the man advanced aggressively, trying to attack him.

Subaru managed to dodge the first blow with agility, but the man did not give up and launched another attack. This time, Subaru used his sword and delivered several quick thrusts, managing to knock him down. The man's body fell limp, and Subaru, still panting, resumed his path.

He soon came across stone platforms stretching above him. Without hesitation, Subaru began running and jumping between them, clinging tightly and using parkour skills to climb. 

At the top of one of the platforms, Subaru was surprised by a grotesque sight: a repulsive monster, an amalgamation of human bodies fused together, that roared deafeningly. Subaru wasted no time in eliminating the creature with a precise strike before continuing up the platforms.

After a long journey, Subaru finally reached the end of the platforms. As he landed on the ground, another deformed man, holding an angel statue, rushed towards him. Subaru, with quick reflexes, delivered a fatal stab, defeating him.

However, before he could advance, rocks began to be thrown at him. Looking towards the source of the attack, Subaru saw another monster amalgamated from human bodies. Without hesitation, he rushed towards the creature and, after a series of quick attacks, defeated it.

With the path clear, Subaru continued forward until he reached a large door. Pushing it open with effort, he entered and found himself in a dark and silent hall. In the center were three statues, all with missing body parts, creating an air of mystery.

---

Off screen

The spectators were visibly disturbed by what they had just seen. The deformed and grotesque creatures, both the naked men holding statues and the amalgamated monsters, caused widespread revulsion.

Emilia: "Why are so many creatures trying to kill my knight? And... what is this place he just entered?"

Emilia’s words echoed among the group, raising even more questions. Many, including Tivey, Otto, Anastasia, Priscilla, and Roswaal, pondered something that was becoming increasingly clear: the absurd amount of monsters Subaru faced in this place. 

Tivey: “Why haven’t we seen almost any normal people? Aside from those sick people in Albero Village, it seems like this world is empty… Just teeming with creatures.”

Anastasia: "That's right. Where are the inhabitants? And what kind of place is this where monsters seem to be the norm?"

Priscilla: "Hmph, it's clear that this is a rotten world. Just look at the scenery; it's as if the land itself is cursed."

Meanwhile, Roswaal was more interested in the peculiarity of the statues Subaru had found.

Roswaal (thinking): "These statues... Could they be related to the bones we saw earlier? Hmmm... fascinating."

Despite the many questions, everyone decided to turn their attention back to the screen, eager to see what would happen next.

---

On screen

Subaru looked closely at the three statues, noticing the missing parts, before moving forward. He began jumping between platforms in a zigzag pattern, reaching the other side, where he came face to face with a thin man wearing only a loincloth, wielding a sword and shield. As the man advanced, Subaru quickly counterattacked with his sword, delivering a precise blow that severed the enemy's head, knocking him down instantly.

Wasting no time, Subaru climbed a ladder and reached an upper floor. The place was decorated with images of saints, reflected in mirrors that seemed to emanate a disturbing aura. In front of him, two more enemies waited: a man in a loincloth with a sword and shield, and another naked man, carrying a statue similar to an angel.

Subaru advanced ferociously before they could react, cutting them down with agility and delivering multiple thrusts with his sword. The two fell dead, and Subaru continued on his way.

He stopped when he came across a terrifying sight: a platform suspended by chains above an abyss filled with hundreds of sharp swords, so deadly that a fall would be fatal. Taking a deep breath, Subaru braced himself and made a precise jump, reaching the platform and crossing to the other side.

As he arrived, another of those men in loincloths appeared, but Subaru quickly eliminated him with another well-aimed thrust. Advancing even further, he spotted platforms below him and jumped between them, again in a zigzag pattern, until he reached a peculiar place: a part of the wall had been destroyed, revealing a secret passage.

Curious, Subaru entered the passage and found another bone. As he picked it up, a message, visible only to the theater audience, appeared again:

"Khalanx of Arthur the Sailor."

---

Off screen

The spectators were silent for a moment, trying to process what they had just seen. The images of the saints in the mirrors sent chills down many of their spines, while the sight of the abyss filled with sharp swords heightened the tension even further.

Otto: “Who would build such a dangerous place? And why?”

Julius: "It's strange. Not only are the dangers extreme, but those men with loincloths, swords, and shields... Who are they? And why are they attacking Subaru with such determination?"

While Otto and Julius expressed their doubts, Roswaal was more focused on something else. His eyes flashed with curiosity and greed as he watched Subaru find yet another of the special bones.

Roswaal (thinking): "What will happen when Subaru gathers all these bones? And could the statues with missing parts we saw earlier have some connection to them? Hmmm... fascinating."

Beatrice, noticing Roswaal's gaze, felt a wave of revulsion.

Beatrice: "Your interest in these bones, as morbid as it is, only reveals your greed, Roswaal, I suppose."

Roswaal gave a mischievous smile, but remained silent.

Despite the countless questions that were popping into their minds, everyone turned their attention back to the screen, eager to find out what would happen next.

--

On the screen

After picking up the bone, Subaru left the secret passage and returned to the platforms, carefully descending until he reached a ladder. He descended to the ground and noticed other statues with missing parts, similar to the ones he had found before. Intrigued, but without time to investigate, he descended another ladder and arrived at a larger hall.

The atmosphere was gloomy, with deformed statues scattered about and stained glass windows displaying images of saints, whose gazes seemed to silently judge any intruder. Subaru barely had time to process the scene before another of those men in loincloths, carrying a sword and shield, advanced towards him.

Subaru dodged the initial blow, his agility saving him from a fatal attack. With a sequence of quick stabs and cuts, he eliminated the enemy, finishing with a blow that decapitated the man. Before he could rest, another similar enemy appeared, attacking him frantically. Subaru, however, remained calm, dodging and delivering precise blows, defeating yet another threat.

Taking a deep breath, Subaru continued forward, passing through an entrance that led him to an even more oppressive environment. The place looked like a macabre underground, with contorted bodies trapped in logs, their expressions of suffering immortalized.

Suddenly, a colossal being emerged from the shadows: a grotesque giant, carrying a huge club, with a strange, fragile-looking little girl fused to his back. The girl's figure wore a green blanket that partially covered her deformed body. As soon as the giant noticed Subaru, he let out a deafening roar and advanced furiously.

---

Off-screen

The audience was horrified by the sight of the giant and the girl fused with it. The atmosphere in the theater was tense, and many expressed concern for Subaru, wondering if he would be able to handle such a monstrous threat.

Emilia: “This… this is horrible! How can anyone survive against such a creature?”

Otto: "What about that girl? She looks like... part of the giant. What happened to her?"

Crusch: "This place is an abomination. Every step Subaru takes reveals something more horrific than the last."

While most shared the same concern, Wilhelm remained calm, his confidence unwavering.

Wilhelm: "Subaru-Dono has a chance. He's already faced and defeated something even bigger, remember? That giant who was much bigger than this one. Don't underestimate his determination."

Wilhelm's words gave the audience a small relief, but the tension was still palpable. Even with his confidence, no one could predict what Subaru would face next.

With their eyes fixed on the screen, the audience decided to put their fears aside and watch the imminent battle unfold.

---

On the screen

The giant charged forward ferociously, slamming its spike into the ground, the impact generating massive shockwaves. Subaru managed to deftly dodge it, but the force of the blow nearly made him lose his balance. Taking advantage of the gap, he began to attack with his sword, delivering quick and precise cuts, but the giant seemed immune, showing no signs of injury.

The enraged monster tried to stab Subaru again with its spike, but Subaru nimbly dodged and attacked with thrusts, exploiting the creature's limited mobility. After a moment of tension, Subaru took advantage of an opening and delivered a fatal blow, slashing the giant with enough force to knock it down. The monster fell, dead, with a crash, and Subaru moved forward to continue his journey.

Subaru jumped over two stone platforms, and as he landed, he noticed something on the ground. He crouched down and picked it up, and as he did so, a strange message appeared on the screen, visible only to the audience, but not to Subaru. The message read:

"Uvula of Proclamation"

---

Off-screen

The audience was elated to see Subaru defeat the giant, but soon found themselves confused again when they noticed the cryptic message and the object Subaru had picked up.

Rosswal was especially intrigued by these messages, which only they could see. He wondered why Subaru could not see such warnings and what this strange "Uvula of Proclamation" meant.

Meanwhile, everyone continued to wonder about the meaning of these mysterious messages, but for now, they decided to turn their attention to the screen, waiting to see what would happen next.

---

On Screen

Subaru, after picking up the item, accidentally knocked down a tree, which fell onto a pile of sharp swords scattered across the ground. If he fell there, it would be fatal. He quickly ran to the fallen tree and carefully headed to the other side, avoiding the sharp blades. He safely crossed the area, passing through the swords with the tree as an obstacle.

Once on the other side, Subaru retraced his steps, entering the structure again. He followed a familiar path until he reached the place where he had previously found the secret passage, where he had retrieved the bone. As he descended once more, Subaru saw a door in front of him. He quickly entered it, exiting the structure and arriving outside.

There, a dead, leafless tree stood nearby, and grotesquely, a man was twisted on its trunk. Up ahead, Subaru saw several enemies approaching. Preparing to face them, he positioned himself, ready to attack.

However, before he could advance, the screen suddenly went black, announcing the end of the display.

---

Off-screen

Everyone in the theater was visibly disappointed to see the screening end so abruptly. The mood was one of frustration, until the director's voice echoed again.

Director:

"That was today's screening. The next one will begin in a few minutes, so rest while you wait."

After the director's speech, the voice stopped, and the cast reluctantly agreed to rest while they waited for the next screening.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Everyone was quite apprehensive about the upcoming screening, as many wondered what would happen when Subaru collected all those bones. Among them, Roswaal was one of the most restless, with questions in his mind about what those bones would be capable of doing. Otto also shared these doubts, but his biggest concern was what Roswaal would do with them if he found Albero's village. However, these questions were interrupted by the director's voice, which echoed through the intercom.

Director: "The screening will begin. Please take your seats. We are about to begin."

Without hesitation, everyone sat down, eager and curious for the screening. The atmosphere was charged with tension, each wondering what was about to be revealed. After a few minutes of anticipation, the screen lit up, officially beginning today's screening.

On the screen

The visualization begins exactly where the previous one ended: Subaru was in front of that dry, leafless tree. He advances without hesitation, jumping onto a platform and, upon landing, comes across another of those men in loincloths, armed with shields and swords. Already accustomed to these enemies, Subaru quickly cuts off the monster's head with a precise blow of his sword. 

Continuing his journey, Subaru continues advancing, climbing some platforms and, upon reaching the top, encounters a monster — an aberration composed of human parts. As soon as the monster notices his presence, it begins to throw rocks in his direction. However, Subaru easily dodges it, jumping towards it and delivering several quick cuts that end up killing it.

After defeating him, Subaru jumps to another platform, which is marked by two dry, leafless trees. Something on the ground catches his attention. Curious, he crouches down, digs up the object, and once again, a message appears that only the audience can read:

"Captain of Barock, the Herald."

Off screen

Everyone present is frustrated when they see the message, as they cannot understand its meaning.

Roswaal, however, seems more puzzled than ever. He stares at the screen with a concentrated gaze, reflecting on his thoughts.

Roswaal (thoughtfully): It's curious... whenever Subaru finds one of these relics, a message appears with these names. Why is it that only we can see them? And why does Subaru seem to not notice anything?

Otto and Tivey, next to him, also have their minds occupied, wondering what these mysterious messages could be. Even so, they decide to turn their attention to the screen, anxiously awaiting the next event.

On the screen

After grabbing the relic, Subaru quickly jumps from the platforms to the ground and continues his advance. Shortly after, he comes across another of those naked men, who is holding a statue that looks like an angel. As soon as the man notices Subaru, he goes on the attack. However, Subaru, instead of fighting him, performs a trip, passing under the enemy with agility, avoiding the fight and moving forward.

Shortly ahead, he finds another man with a shield and sword, and, again, instead of fighting, Subaru performs another trip and passes under him, avoiding another fight. Then he advances to more platforms, until he comes face to face with another monster — a grotesque mixture of human parts. As soon as the monster notices Subaru, it starts throwing rocks in his direction. Subaru dodges deftly, jumping to the platform where the monster is, and quickly strikes it with impressive speed, cutting it into pieces with his sword and killing it.

 After the battle, Subaru continues his way through the platforms and, further ahead, he sees another of those flying cages. Without hesitation, he jumps, destroys the cage with a precise blow of his sword and pushes it to the ground, without taking any damage. He resumes his journey.

Off screen

Everyone watches the scene with intrigue, especially since it is the second flying cage they have seen. Priscilla, unable to hide her curiosity, wonders about Subaru's motives for destroying these cages.

Priscilla (thoughtfully): Why is the commoner destroying these flying cages? It is certainly not without reason... But I am more intrigued as to why there are so many of these repulsive creatures around and not a single human being. These displays are getting more and more confusing, which is quite annoying for a goddess like me.

She thinks, visibly irritated, while Roswaal also has his own questions about Subaru's motives for destroying the cages. Everyone around shares this curiosity, but eventually decides to turn their attention back to the screen, waiting for what will come next.

On screen

---

After landing on the ground, Subaru advances again along the platforms, heading towards the other side of the path. He soon comes across another one of those monsters that are amalgamated between humans. Without hesitation, Subaru wields his sword and eliminates it with a quick and precise blow, cutting the creature into pieces.

Wasting no time, he continues forward, until he finds a man holding that strange angel statue, blocking the way to a huge door right behind him. Realizing that there is no way to avoid the confrontation, Subaru takes a deep breath and goes to attack. The man tries to strike him with the statue, but Subaru skillfully dodges, spinning around the enemy and, in a single movement, cuts off its head. The body falls inert to the ground, and Subaru advances, pushing the imposing door that opens with a creak.

As soon as he enters, he finds himself in a large hall again, with three more statues in pieces scattered around the room; they are completely mutilated, with parts that seem to have been deliberately removed. Subaru observes the place for a moment, but, without understanding the meaning, decides to continue.

Off Screen

The sight of the new hall piques the curiosity of several spectators, who begin to murmur among themselves. The constant presence of these incomplete statues in previous exhibits begins to raise more serious questions.

Beatrice (thoughtfully, crossing her arms): Why are there so many broken statues in every hall Betty's Subaru encounters, I suppose? There must be some meaning behind it, or maybe not?

She tilts her head, trying to find some logic behind the apparent repetition.

Roswaal (thoughtful, with an enigmatic smile): How fascinating... These incomplete statues... Are they there to symbolize something? Or are they merely disposable objects of an eccentric creator? Hmmm... Whatever it is, I need to observe more to understand.

Meanwhile, Priscilla watches with disdain and irritation written all over her face.

Priscilla (irritated, in a tone of disdain): "These statues are so grotesque that they insult my divine eyes. Who was the fool who dared to create such horrors and even spread them throughout these rooms? It can only be the work of an inferior being with no taste whatsoever!"

Some members of the cinema just looked at her with a blank expression, clearly expecting her to make that kind of comment, but Otto didn't pay attention to Priscila's words as he was lost in his thoughts.

Otto (thoughtfully): Natsuki is so focused on moving forward that he may not even be noticing the details around him. This could be dangerous if these statues have some hidden meaning.

With everyone intrigued, they decide to turn their attention back to the screen, waiting for what would come next.

On the screen

Subaru walks cautiously through the room, taking in the details around him. He notices a door in front of him, but also notices a ladder leaning against one of the walls. Intrigued, he decides to go to it. Holding on tight, he begins to descend, feeling the environment grow more humid and dark with each step.

Upon reaching the ground, Subaru finds himself in a new room. In the center, two more statues with missing parts catch his attention. He stares at them for a few moments, but, again not understanding their meaning, he quickly heads for the door ahead. Pushing it hard, Subaru finds himself on a partially destroyed stone bridge, with a significant portion of the path missing.

Without hesitation, he takes a few steps back, gains momentum and jumps, landing with precision on the other side of the bridge. However, as soon as he stands up, he is met by a group of familiar enemies: two men, one with a shield and sword, and another holding the strange angel statue. The enemies advance towards him. Subaru, now more experienced, analyzes their movements.

He skillfully dodges a sword strike, spinning to the side and counterattacking with a precise cut that decapitates the first man. The second man tries to attack him from behind, but Subaru blocks the blow with his sword, disarming him and finishing him off with a well-aimed blow. Finally, he faces the man with the statue, who tries to crush him with the object. Subaru dodges at the last moment and delivers an upward blow, tearing off his opponent's head.

Wasting no time, he moves forward, encountering another man with a sword and shield. This man advances frantically, with quick and aggressive movements. Subaru remains calm, dodging each attack with precision. Taking advantage of an opening, he makes a quick move and cuts off the man's head, clearing the way once more.

As he continues, Subaru finds another part of the destroyed bridge. He takes a deep breath, takes a step back and jumps again, this time with more difficulty, but manages to land on the other side. In front of him, a huge door rises, imposing and intimidating. Without hesitation, Subaru enters the door.

As the door closes behind him, the camera shifts perspective, revealing something unexpected. A mysterious man dressed in ornate armor appears on the other side of the bridge. He stops in front of the door Subaru just came through, staring at it intently.

Off screen

The spectators are immediately intrigued by the man's appearance. Murmurs of curiosity and confusion echo among them.

Otto (confused): "Who... who is this man? And how did he manage to get here? Natsuki had to face so many enemies to advance and this man just managed to pass by Natsuki without him noticing... that's strange."

Crusch (thoughtfully): "The fact that he came this far without even appearing first means he must be as strong as he is dangerous.

Priscilla (bored): "Hmph! Another pathetic mortal wandering around? Or is this one finally worthy of my attention? I suppose we'll find out soon enough."

Beatrice (curious): "Betty thinks this man must have an important role. He seems... like a normal human like the ones from Albero Village without their illness, from the looks of it."

Roswaal (smiling enigmatically): "How curious, isn't it? Someone who shows up without warning, just when things are starting to get more... intriguing. Subaru may have stumbled upon something much bigger than he could have imagined."

Everyone decides to keep their focus on the screen, with the tension growing over who this mysterious man could be and what role he would play in Subaru's journey.

On screen

The armored man stands before the door, his eyes fixed on the great gate that Subaru has passed through. After a few moments of silence, his voice echoes, deep and filled with an almost palpable mystery.

Armored Man: "My sister... as I predicted, someone is walking towards the Forbidden Gate."

He takes a step forward, slowly approaching the door, almost as if he can sense Subaru's presence on the other side.

Armored Man: "Someone who seeks atonement... and the excommunication of all that is sacred in this place."

He pauses, tilting his head slightly to the side, as if listening to an inaudible voice.

Armored Man: "No... no... don't put your doubts on me. I know what I must do."

He straightens his posture, placing a hand on the hilt of his sword, as if reaffirming his resolve.

Armored Man: "I am prepared."

With those words, he slowly turns away, leaving the door and walking away, his boots clicking against the stone floor. The room feels heavier with his presence, but he doesn't look back.

Meanwhile, the camera focuses back on the door Subaru went through, but before anything else is shown, the screen abruptly goes black, announcing the end of the preview.

---

Off-screen

An uncomfortable silence hangs over everyone. The words of the man in armor leave the spectators immersed in thought, trying to decipher their meaning. After a few moments, the director breaks the silence.

Director: "And so we conclude today's screening. The next one will begin in a few minutes. Until then, take the opportunity to rest and reflect."

Those present exchange intrigued glances, but there is an evident reluctance to simply rest. The figure of the man in armor was a total mystery to them.

Otto (confused): "Who was that man? And what did he mean by 'Forbidden Gate'? It seems he was expecting someone like Natsuki to show up..."

Beatrice (thoughtfully): "Betty doesn't like this, I suppose. He mentioned something about excommunication and atonement. Betty's Subaru is involved in something very dangerous. Betty hates that her contractor is in danger.

Priscilla (disdainfully): "Hmph! A fool cloaked in armor, muttering meaningless riddles. Pathetic. But... perhaps less irritating than those broken statues."

Roswaal (smiling enigmatically): "Oh-ho... do not underestimate the impact of these words, my dears. It seems we are heading towards something... delightful. Don't you think?"

Despite the climate of uncertainty, everyone knew they needed to rest. Curiosity, however, persisted. Who was this mysterious man? And what would be his role in Subaru's journey?

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Everyone was quite curious and intrigued by the upcoming display. The appearance of that mysterious knight had raised many questions, as he did not seem to belong to any of the known kingdoms. The armor he wore was unlike any conventional design, which raised even more questions.

Priscilla, in particular, was deep in thought. Her sharp gaze had analyzed every detail of the armor the stranger wore in the previous display, and something told her that this was no mere coincidence.

“This armor… is unlike anything seen in the kingdoms. And not only that—it has an unusual design like that commoner’s armor.” Priscilla crossed her arms, narrowing her eyes. “The others insist that he’s in Gusteko, but with each display that possibility seems more and more unlikely. If it’s as I think… then where the hell is he really?”

And she wasn’t the only one with this suspicion. As the scenes unfolded, Roswaal, Otto, Anastasia, and Tivey also began to question Subaru’s real location. The theory that he was in Gusteko was losing more and more traction. Something didn’t add up.

However, before they could discuss their conclusions, the director's voice echoed throughout the theater, drawing everyone's attention.

Director: "The next screening will begin. Everyone, take your seats."

Hearing this, no one hesitated. Everyone quickly sat down, eager to see what was to come. Emilia and Rem held the still sleeping Subaru, while the others watched the screen with expectant expressions.

Then, after a few moments of silence, the screen glowed brightly and images began to appear, officially announcing the start of the new show.

---

On Screen

The image on the screen showed Subaru in a dark, gloomy environment. Stone stairs stretched downward, plunging into darkness. Just as before, a message appeared—visible only to the cast in the theater, but not to Subaru.

"Dreams of Mercy"

Subaru started to walk down the stairs, at an absurd speed, but when he finally stopped, he found himself in front of a ladder. Without thinking twice, he grabbed it and quickly climbed down.

As soon as his feet touched the ground, he noticed a door in front of him. With his heart racing and with no other option in sight, he opened it without hesitation.

What he saw on the other side made him swallow hard.

A platform covered in blood stretched out before him. From it, several iron spears suddenly emerged, piercing the space around them before disappearing as quickly as they had appeared. Subaru frowned, noticing the pattern of the attacks and thinking:

"If I time it wrong, I'll be turned into a human skewer..."

Biding his time, he leapt onto the platform just as the spears disappeared. The moment he realized they were about to reappear, he pushed off again, narrowly escaping the cruel fate of being impaled.

But his escape was cut short.

Right in front of him, a man suddenly appeared. His clothes were worn, dirty, and covered in ash. He was holding what looked like a tree branch—but instead of leaves, the tips were ablaze, glowing with an eerie glow.

Subaru’s eyes widened behind his helmet, but he didn’t hesitate.

Knowing he couldn't give his enemy a chance, he charged forward before the man could react. His attack was swift and brutal—he impaled the stranger, who let out one last grunt before falling.

Wasting no time, Subaru ran forward.

Another platform covered in blood appeared in front of him. As soon as the spears disappeared, he jumped onto it. Knowing he had little time, he didn't hesitate and jumped to the next one before the spears reemerged.

Landing successfully, he noticed a large chandelier of candles shining ahead.

---

Off-screen

The silence in the theater was broken by an explosion of shock and disbelief.

Otto: "What the hell is this damn place where Natsuki is?! How come there are platforms that make spears appear out of nowhere?!"

The former merchant was completely perplexed, his mind refusing to accept the madness he saw.

Julius and Reinhard, on the other hand, were more intrigued than shocked. They both watched Subaru’s movements closely, his agility astonishing.

Julius: “It’s impressive… I already knew he had parkour skills, but this speed and precision are unexpected.”

Reinhard: “Indeed. He’s not just moving—he’s analyzing the pattern of the traps and reacting at the right time. That requires a considerable level of perception and reflexes.”

As the two knights argued, Emilia and Rem were tense, their hearts clenching as they watched Subaru risk death with every jump.

Emilia: (clasping her hands in her lap) "Subaru... please be careful."

Rem: (holding her breath) "If he misses a single jump... I don't even want to imagine..."

Their concern was justified. Any miscalculation could result in a terrible death, and since he no longer had the RBD, if he were to be skewered he would definitely die permanently.

Everyone was absorbed in what they saw, each processing Subaru's desperate situation differently. But despite their shock, no one looked away.

Everyone turned their attention back to the screen, anxiously awaiting what would come next.

---

On Screen

Subaru stared at the candlestick for a few moments. Something about the object seemed... strange. Following his instinct, he struck the candlestick with his sword.

As soon as he did so, the candlestick disappeared into thin air, revealing a secret passage right in front of him.

"I knew there was something wrong with this thing..." — Subaru thought, wasting no time and going through the new entrance.

On the other side, he was greeted with a less than friendly manner.

A man stood in the center of the passage. His face was completely covered by a red cloak, and his body was shirtless. His pants were torn and dirty, and his posture indicated immediate hostility.

As soon as he noticed Subaru, the man charged at him without hesitation.

Subaru, however, reacted quickly. He dodged at the last moment and, before his opponent could recover, impaled him with his sword. The attack was fatal—the man fell to the ground lifeless.

As he caught his breath, Subaru noticed something near the fallen body. Crouching down, he picked it up, and at the same moment, a message appeared on the screen—visible only to the theatergoers, but not to Subaru.

“Jawbone of Tarradax the Cleric.”

Subaru frowned, feeling a chill run down his spine for no reason.

Shaking his head to clear the discomfort, he continued on.

The next descent was down another ladder. Upon reaching the ground, he realized he wasn’t alone—more of those men holding flaming trees blocked his path.

Wasting no time, Subaru raised his sword and slammed it into the ground. Blue flames surged forth in a devastating wave, consuming the enemies in an instant. Their bodies were reduced to ash.

With the obstacles cleared, he advanced down the hallway until he reached another ladder. Quickly descending, he found himself in an even more dangerous room.

Puddles of blood spread across the floor, and, as before, spears appeared from both the ground and the ceiling in a deadly pattern. Subaru analyzed the situation and waited for the right moment. As soon as the spears disappeared, he shot forward, moving at an absurd speed.

Time seemed to slow down as he crossed the room, each step calculated to avoid being impaled. The moment he reached the other side, the spears reappeared behind him, brushing against the space where he had been moments before.

Subaru sighed in relief.

But there was no time to rest.

On the other side of the hall, more enemies awaited—men with burning trees and another of those hooded men in red robes.

Subaru braced himself for confrontation, but then he noticed something that gave him an alternative.

Suspended platforms stretched out ahead, offering a path up high. Deciding to avoid an unnecessary fight, he jumped immediately, landing with precision.

However, as he moved forward, he noticed that one of the platforms was covered in a pool of blood and thought:

"Shit... this crap again!"

Patiently waiting for the right moment, Subaru waited for the spears to disappear before jumping again. He landed on the next platform, but to his horror, he noticed too late that it was also covered in blood.

Before he could react, the spears began to emerge from right under his feet.

In a quick reflex, Subaru propelled himself upwards, jumping before he was impaled. He landed hard on another platform, where there was a door. Without hesitation, he opened it and walked through.

As he walked through the door, Subaru felt a strange sense of déjà vu. He looked around and realized that he was... in the same room as before.

Confused, he looked around and noticed a ladder below him. With no other options, he climbed down it, reaching yet another ladder.

Subaru landed on a new platform and, looking ahead, saw another door at the end.

Wasting no time, he jumped to reach it.

As soon as he stepped through the door, his eyes widened behind his helmet.

The floor was covered in a thick pool of blood. The ceiling, too, was stained a dark red.

It didn't take Subaru more than a second to understand what was coming next.

From the ceiling and floor, spears began to emerge again.

---

Off Screen

The silence in the theater was interrupted by restless murmurs.

Everyone was surprised to see yet another relic acquired by Subaru. But, above all, what really bothered the spectators was the absurd amount of spear traps emerging from the pools of blood.

Al was the first to say what everyone was thinking.

Al: "What the hell?! Seriously, Bro, what kind of place is this?! How can there be so many halls and passages filled with this damned spear trap?!"

His indignation was clear, and no one seemed to disagree.

Julius: (crossing his arms, thoughtful) "Indeed, it is an exaggerated amount... It raises questions about the logic behind the construction of this place."

Anastasia, ever observant, frowned as she considered.

Anastasia: (thoughtfully) "I wonder who designed this place... and how much gold was spent on building this absurd amount of traps."

The idea of ​​such a dangerous place, meticulously designed to kill, was intriguing.

Roswaal, on the other hand, had a different concern.

Roswaal: (looking at the screen with interest) "These men... Who are they exactly? What are they, really?"

From the beginning, something didn't seem right about these enemies. And with each appearance, his suspicion grew.

"They're not human... That's becoming clearer and clearer."

But for now, he decided to keep those thoughts to himself.

Like everyone else, he turned his attention back to the screen, eager to see what would happen next.

---

On Screen

Subaru sighed as he once again saw those pools of blood with spears rising from the floor and ceiling. Waiting for the right moment, he jumped at the exact moment the spears disappeared, landing on the other side of the platform. However, before he could even catch his breath, more enemies appeared in front of him.

The same men holding those flaming trees had appeared, but now there was something new: hooded beings floating in the air. Their hoods were pointed and their presence gave off an unsettling feeling. As soon as they noticed Subaru, they charged forward without hesitation.

Before dealing with the hooded men, he charged at one of the treemen, plunging his blade into his chest. The body fell to the ground, charred by the blue flames Subaru had conjured with his blow. However, the danger was not over yet.

The hooded beings raised their hands, and a sphere of green fire began to form in them. Without waiting to find out the effect of this attack, Subaru threw himself to the side, avoiding the explosions of fire that hit the ground where he had been moments before. He then jumped into the air, spinning his sword and decapitating the hooded beings in mid-flight.

When he landed, he continued forward and found a descending passage. He quickly descended and followed a corridor when, suddenly, he felt something coming towards him from behind. He threw himself to the side and saw a strange device fixed to the wall—it looked like a golden window with a carved face with its mouth open. Without warning, the device shot a ball of green fire towards him.

"What the hell is this now?" Subaru thought, running down the hallway to avoid being hit.

He saw a platform ahead and jumped onto it, dodging the shots. However, more of those hooded beings appeared floating in the air, ready to attack him again. This time, Subaru didn't give them a chance: before they could launch their fireballs, he jumped and cut them to pieces with his blade.

After landing, he noticed another ladder and began to climb down it. But as he descended, he noticed that more of those fire devices were embedded in the wall. The golden mouths opened and new balls of green fire began to shoot out.

Reaching the ground, he nearly tripped when he saw a large hole in front of him. Inside it, another one of those pools of blood shone sinisterly, and, as expected, spears began to emerge. He managed to stop in time and dodge to another path, where he found a door. Without hesitation, he entered and saw a golden chest in the center of the room.

As soon as he picked up the item inside, a message appeared—one that only the audience could see:

"Follow thy shining eyes."

He didn't even have time to try to understand its meaning, as four of the hooded figures appeared, forming balls of green fire in their hands. Subaru reacted immediately, drawing his sword and striking quickly, cutting them to pieces before they could attack.

Without wasting any time, he went back through the door he came from and came across the hole full of blood and spears again. Waiting for the right moment, he jumped to the opposite platform and found himself in a new area. However, he noticed something below the platform he was on: another one of those hooded beings was floating there, while one of the golden devices was shooting fireballs non-stop.

Deciding to act quickly, he jumped and cut the hooded man in half, making him disappear. He then dodged the fireballs coming from the device, running towards him. Noticing a platform above, Subaru calculated his timing just right and, at the last second, jumped, dodging the attacks and landing safely.

Looking ahead, he noticed another one of those pools of blood with spears. But something else caught his attention.

On the other side, on a raised platform, were two enemies—one familiar and the other completely new—one of those red-hooded, shirtless men, and someone new.

He was an imposing-looking old man, dressed in papal robes, sitting on a floating throne. In his hands, he held a long spear.

Off screen

Everyone watching was shocked to see the new enemies. The presence of those hooded beings and the devices that shot fire was disturbing enough, but the old man sitting on the throne drew even more attention.

Al was particularly surprised to see the figure and, unable to contain his reaction, exclaimed:

"Okay, what the hell?! Why the hell is there a pope holding a spear?! And how are there so many traps in this place?! Seriously, bro is very lucky to still be in one piece!"

Al's confusion soon spread to the other spectators. Anastasia frowned thoughtfully.

"A pope...? What exactly does that mean?"

Curious about Al's reaction, Priscilla looked at him with her usual superior air and asked,

"Aldebaran, what exactly is this 'pope' you refer to?"

Before Al could respond, a loud sound echoed across the screen, drawing everyone's attention. The next battle was about to begin.

---

On Screen

The sound that split the air was caused by Subaru, who had stabbed his sword into the ground. The blue flames surged again, advancing towards the man in red cloth, charring him and destroying him instantly. Wasting no time, Subaru advanced towards the old man dressed in papal clothes. Before he could react, Subaru plunged his sword into his chest, killing him before the spear could be raised against him.

With the enemy dead, Subaru landed firmly on the platform he was standing on, looking around. He saw a ladder and, without hesitation, began to climb it. When he reached the top, a new threat appeared. Another of the hooded beings flew through the air, and Subaru, agile as always, quickly destroyed the being, making it disappear in a burst of light.

He continued his way along the wooden platforms, jumping from one to another, until he noticed something strange on the floor of one of them. He bent down and picked up the item. Once again, a message appeared, but only the audience could see it. Subaru didn't know anything, but the message said:

"Cervical vertebra of Zicher the brewer."

With the item in hand, Subaru continued forward, jumping between platforms until he reached a new area. There, he found a door and entered. The surroundings were familiar, but something was off. A chandelier with lit candles caught his attention. Suspicious, Subaru destroyed the chandelier, revealing a secret passage. He entered the passage and soon found himself in a room with a statue of a woman standing, with a crimson red candle lit in front of her. On the floor, a mark caught his attention. Subaru crouched down, picked up the item, and once again, a message appeared, which the audience saw, but Subaru did not notice. The message read:

"Small ball of red wax."

He put the item away and returned through the secret passage, exiting through the door he had entered. As he exited, he noticed a ladder he had not seen before. He quickly descended the ladder and, upon reaching the bottom floor, was met with an unpleasant surprise. The floating hooded beings reappeared, firing their green fireballs. Subaru once again skillfully dodged them and, jumping, cut the two into pieces.

With the enemies defeated, Subaru advanced to a new door. He entered a new room and immediately climbed down a ladder. At the bottom, a bloodstain on the walls caught his attention, followed by the spears that began to appear again. Subaru wasted no time and quickly descended, avoiding being pierced by the spears. However, upon reaching the ground, he was struck by a new surprise. A golden window-shaped device, with a golden face with an open mouth, began to fire green fireballs in his direction. Subaru once again had to dodge and run down the hallway, noticing pools of blood where the spears appeared, making the path more dangerous. He managed to avoid the attacks and, at the end of the hallway, he found a ladder. Without thinking, he jumped towards it and began climbing.

When he reached the top, a green fireball shot towards him. Subaru ducked, sighing in annoyance as he saw the golden device again. He looked down at the ground and once again, pools of blood were present, with spears emerging from the floor and ceiling. Subaru didn't hesitate. He moved quickly, dodging the attacks and running down the corridor, dodging the green fireballs. When he reached the ladder at the end, he quickly climbed up to the next floor. 

On the platform above, he was once again confronted by the men in red cloths. Subaru accurately cut them down with a few quick strikes and, without wasting any time, continued on his way. He descended a few platforms until he came across two more men in red cloths and, once again, the man dressed as a pope sitting on a floating throne, holding his spear. Subaru, not in the patience to wait, slammed his sword into the ground and caused blue flames to appear, charring the men in red cloths. He charged toward the man on the throne, who tried to stab him with his spear. Subaru skillfully dodged and killed the man, before moving on. He jumped from platform to platform until he reached a hallway, where more men with flaming trees waited.

Subaru, without hesitation, made the blue fire appear again, burning the two men and continued on his way. When he descended to the lower floor, he was greeted by more enemies holding burning trees and, again, the man dressed as a pope. Subaru, tired of the constant threats, dodged the blows and crossed to the other side of the corridor, where a stone platform awaited him. He descended more platforms until he came across two men with red cloths, whom he quickly killed. Then he noticed a suspicious candlestick and, upon destroying it, revealed another secret passage.

Subaru entered the passage and continued on his journey.

---

Off-screen

Everyone was shocked by the amount of traps and challenges Subaru was facing. However, Crusch seemed more intrigued by something.

Crusch:

"It's amazing how many secret passages there are in this place. I wonder why the architect of this place designed so many traps and secret passages."

Everyone was so surprised by the amount of traps that they could barely understand how Subaru was managing to get through all of this. However, Garfiel seemed especially amazed.

Garfiel:

"Who cares? The captain is amazing! He's managing to take down these sons of... Bitches, even with all these stupid traps."

Frederica looked at Garfiel with a disapproving expression for using inappropriate language in front of Petra, who was a child. Still, everyone was focused on the screen, waiting to see what Subaru would do next.

---

On Screen

As soon as Subaru enters the secret passage, he immediately comes across a ladder. Without hesitation, he begins to descend, his firm steps echoing against the stone walls. Reaching a wooden platform, he sees another one ahead and quickly jumps onto it. Further down, he notices another platform, this time made of stone, and jumps again, advancing without pausing.

The young man's attentive gaze soon fixes on an enemy: one of the men with a face covered in a red cloth, accompanied by one of those grotesque figures carrying flaming trees in place of leaves. Impatient to deal with more opponents, Subaru sticks his sword into the ground, causing blue flames to erupt and consume the enemies in an instant. Their bodies turn to ash before they can even react.

Without wasting any time, he advances through the corridor, but soon comes across two more hooded men with hidden faces, accompanied by two floating creatures that shoot green fireballs. Subaru leaves no room for hesitation. With a swift movement, he jumps towards them and, in the blink of an eye, cuts the men in half and slices the flying creatures before they can attack.

As soon as he finishes, he barely has time to breathe before more threats appear. Two flaming tree carriers appear, followed by another of those old men in papal robes, sitting on a floating throne and holding a long spear. The enemies advance at the same time.

Subaru, keeping his cool, thrusts his sword into the ground again and summons its blue flames. The fire spreads quickly, engulfing the enemies and reducing them to ashes. The old man, however, manages to dodge it and tries to pierce Subaru with his spear. The young man reacts immediately, jumping onto the floating throne and, with a precise blow, separates the old man's head from his body.

After the brief battle, Subaru resumes his walk, reaching the end of the corridor. There, on the ground, he finds a peculiar object. He picks it up, and once again a message that only the audience can see appears on the screen:

"Empty Bile Vase"

---

Off Screen

Silence reigns among the spectators, all completely impressed by Subaru's skills. His speed, precision and endurance seemed superhuman.

Garfiel, with wide eyes and an enthusiastic smile, can't contain himself:

"That's my captain! He's taking out those sons of bitches without even breaking a sweat!"

Frederica, who is standing next to her brother, frowns and gives him another disapproving look.

"Garfiel, don't talk like that in front of Petra."

Petra, however, didn't seem so affected by the boy's words, but rather fascinated by the action on the screen.

Meanwhile, Crusch, with a thoughtful expression, decides to speak:

"It's impressive... The amount of secret passages and traps in this place is absurd. I wonder what the architect's purpose was in building this deadly labyrinth."

Anastasia crosses her arms, intrigued by the duchess's speech. "That bothers me too. And more than that... These items Subaru is collecting. Bones, small objects... and now an empty vase? What are they for?"

Rosswal, who had been listening to the conversation without showing his true emotions, narrowed his eyes and thought to himself:

"Hmm… Subaru-kun is taking these items without even realizing it. Only we can see them. What does this mean? Could they have some connection to this place? What exactly will Albero Village do with them…?"

Questions were on everyone's minds, but without clear answers, they decided to turn their attention to the screen, anxiously awaiting the next events.

---

On Screen

After picking up the item, Subaru begins his journey back. When he leaves the secret passage and returns to the place where he found it, his eyes immediately spot a ladder. Without hesitation, he quickly climbs down it.

As soon as he reaches the ground, he notices the presence of two large chandeliers with candles illuminating the room. In front of him, there is a staircase that descends even deeper into the place. Without wasting time, he begins to descend, paying close attention to the path.

As he advances, he finds a wooden platform and jumps onto it. Without stopping, he continues jumping from platform to platform until he reaches the lower floor. There, he comes across two different paths and, after a brief analysis, decides to go to the right. 

Advancing, Subaru finds a door and, upon going through it, discovers that he has entered a spacious room. However, he barely has time to observe the place before new enemies appear. Several of those floating hooded beings emerge from the shadows, forming spheres of green fire in their hands to attack him.

"Tsk, those bastards again?" Subaru thought, irritated.

Before the enemies could cast their spells, he moved at superhuman speed, cutting them to pieces with his sword. In a matter of seconds, the bodies of the hooded men fell inert, with no chance of reacting.

With the enemies defeated, Subaru examined the room and soon noticed a ladder. He climbed down it, only to see, down below, two of those men carrying flaming trees. However, his attention was drawn to something more interesting: a platform with a door just ahead.

With the enemies defeated, Subaru examines the room and soon notices a ladder. He climbs down it, only to see two of those men carrying flaming trees below. However, his attention is drawn to something more interesting: a platform with a door just ahead.

"I think I can avoid this fight..." Subaru thinks.

Without hesitation, he performs a high-risk jump, abandoning the ladder mid-flight and landing precisely on the platform. Before the enemies can react, he crashes through the door and escapes.

Upon entering the new environment, you notice that the space is much smaller than the previous rooms. Small, narrow passages block your path. Before you can better analyze the situation, green fireballs begin to be shot from different directions.

"Shit!" Subaru thought as he realized that there weren't many options other than moving forward.

With agility, he threw himself to the ground and slid through one of the narrow passages. Even though he was hit by a few fireballs, he continued forward without hesitation. His gaze soon fixed on the person responsible for the attacks: a strange device that resembled a golden window, with a face carved into the metal, its open mouth expelling green flames.

Looking up, Subaru notices a platform with a ladder. Without thinking twice, he jumps onto it and climbs up. As soon as he reaches the top, he finds another object on the ground. As he picks it up, a message appears for the audience, but remains invisible to Subaru:

"Pisiform of Hernadez the Explorer"

Subaru wastes no time and heads back the same way, skillfully dodging attacks while crawling and jumping between narrow spaces. As soon as he reaches the end, he returns through the door he came from.

As he leaves, he comes face to face with the two enemies he had avoided before. This time, with no chance of escape, Subaru reacts before they can even attack him. With quick and precise movements, he cuts them both with his blade, their flaming trees falling to the ground before disappearing.

With no more obstacles, he climbs the stairs again to the upper floor. Once there, he chooses to go through the door on the right.

As soon as he enters the new room, he comes across something unexpected: a huge gray portal hovers in the center of the room. Above it, there is a gigantic golden hand, as if it were holding the space around it.

"This... is a portal?" Subaru thought in surprise.

Without hesitation, he approached and touched the surface of the portal. What happened next defied all his expectations. The portal behaved as if it were a liquid, and without him being able to react, he was pulled inside.

Darkness surrounds him for a few moments, until, suddenly, he emerges in another place. At the same moment, another of those messages appears to the audience:

"Albero"

---

Off Screen

Silence filled the room.

All the spectators were stunned by what they had just seen. Subaru had passed through a portal and been transported to an Albero village that was miles away from where he was.

Emilia was the first to break the silence.

"He... He really teleported? But how? That shouldn't be possible!"

Beatrice, who had been watching intently until now, frowned.

"That doesn't make sense, really. In all my years of existence, Betty has never seen a portal with that ability. What exactly is this place, I suppose?"

Rosswal, sitting calmly, rested his hand on his chin, puzzled.

“A magical teleportation structure that doesn’t require the user to cast a spell? Even for me, that’s unheard of…”

Anastasia and Crusch exchanged uncertain glances.

“That worries me… If a portal can simply move someone from one side of this world to the other, what are the limits of this place?” Crusch questioned.

"The most important question is: why does Albero Village have this portal?" Anastasia added, frowning.

The tension in the room was rising, but before they could discuss it further, everyone turned their attention to the screen, eager to see what Subaru would find next.

---

On the screen

After examining the new room, Subaru looks at the floor and notices something shining. He bends down and picks up the object, causing a message to appear on the screen, visible only to the audience:

"Bouquet of thyme."

Subaru, not noticing the notification, puts the item away and continues his exploration. He soon notices a device above a locked door. He frowns and, without hesitation, slashes his sword at the mechanism. With a metallic clang and a snap, the door unlocks.

"I hope this doesn't trigger a trap..." Subaru thought before walking through the passage.

He returns to the room he had previously passed through, the one with the amalgamation of statues, and quickly crosses the room. As he exits through the next door, his eyes are once again taken by the melancholic sight of the residents of Albero Village. The sick men continue to lie down, visibly weakened by their illness, while the women of the village kiss them gently and care for them. Subaru lets out a heavy sigh, feeling a tightness in his chest as he sees that gloomy scene once more.

— Will this really help or will it just prolong their suffering…? — he thought, but he continued on, without an answer.

He climbed the stairs to the upper floor, where he found Tirso. The man, with a serene expression, turned to Subaru when he noticed his approach.

“Pitiful be, Penitent One.” Tirso spoke calmly, raising his hands in a gesture of blessing.

As usual, Subaru, without saying anything, handed him the item he had found in the previous room. Tirso took the object and examined it for a moment before nodding slightly.

“With your contribution, the work of this brotherhood will continue.”

After his words, he hands another item to Subaru, who takes it without question. As soon as he holds it, a new message appears on the screen, visible only to the audience:

"Clean cloth."

The screen goes black, signaling the end of the preview.

Off screen

Silence falls over the room as everyone processes what they have just seen. Many wonder how important the item Tirso gave Subaru was. What did that clean cloth mean? Why was something so simple given as a reward?

Before anyone could voice their doubts, the director's voice echoes through the room:

"That was the visualization. Rest up, because the next one will begin in a few minutes."

The voice fades away, and the spectators disperse to rest, preparing for the next showing.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Everyone in the cast was tense, a mixture of apprehension and anxiety hanging in the air as they waited for the next screening. The shock was still fresh in their minds after what they had witnessed: the mysterious magic mirror that Subaru had used to teleport to Albero Village. The questions about what else they would see of that future multiplied in their heads, but the air of uncertainty was palpable.

As everyone remained silent, a collective sigh echoed as the director's voice finally resounded through the room, cutting through the tension in the air.

Director: "The next screening will begin. Please take your seats, as the viewing is about to begin."

The murmurs quickly died down, and everyone obediently settled into their seats. The sound of the screen turning on echoed through the room, and the large projection glowed, its images beginning to take shape.

 On the screen, the vision of the magic mirror began to intensify, and the scene that unfolded left everyone immersed in the mystery once again. What they were about to see could change the course of everything, but one thing was certain: this was far from being simple.

---

On screen

The visualization picked up right where it had left off. After Subaru had a brief conversation with Tirso, he left the inn, feeling the fresh morning air. The moment he walked through the door and into the courtyard, something peculiar caught his attention. Before him was a fountain, adorned with two imposing statues. One depicted a man, apparently in the act of washing the feet of another statue, in a scene that exuded a sense of reverence and humility.

Subaru instinctively thrust his sword into the ground near the fountain. As he did so, an intense, brilliant light appeared, completely enveloping him. The light was so blinding that Subaru had to close his eyes, feeling momentarily blind. For a moment, time seemed to drag. When the light finally began to dissipate, Subaru blinked, trying to regain his vision. But as he looked around, he noticed something strange: he was no longer in Albero Village.

 He now found himself in a completely different environment, a vast place flooded with water. Statues adorned the landscape, positioned in various shapes, creating a sense of desolation and mystery. The sound of water flowing gently around him gave an even more unsettling tone to the new environment. Subaru didn't know what to think, but he felt that something deeply significant was about to happen.

Off screen

The spectators in the room were visibly surprised by the sudden change in scenery. The strange location where Subaru was transported caused a wave of murmurs. Beatrice and Roswaal, with their analytical minds, seemed deeply intrigued by the numerous statues surrounding Subaru, wondering if they held some hidden meaning. Beatrice, with a thoughtful expression, muttered to herself:

Beatrice: “Could these statues have some involvement in Betty’s Subaru teleportation?”

Meanwhile, Al, in his corner, was mentally questioning himself about the statues of the fountain that had been shown. He thought that the figures represented there seemed to refer to the scene that reminded him of Jesus washing the feet of his apostles. Which made the knight question whether this was a huge coincidence or something more in the visual of this story.

However, it didn't take long for everyone to turn their attention to the screen, eager to find out what Subaru would do in the midst of such a mystery. The atmosphere in the room was charged with anticipation. Something big was about to happen.

---

On Screen

Subaru cautiously advanced through the strange dimension formed by water and statues. Each step he took echoed softly through the surroundings. He passed several enigmatic figures, but it was when he saw a colossal statue that his attention was completely captured. The statue was seated, with one foot resting on a basin of water. As he approached to take a closer look, a voice echoed, coming from the statue itself.

Statue (in a deep, somber voice): "This place... is another dream, penitent."

Subaru stepped back a little, not quite understanding what was happening, but the voice continued. 

Statue: "They worshipped me as a saint, worthy of devotion. And the only thing I gave in exchange for their prayers was the saltpeter that runs through this desolate land... into their bodies." 

Subaru fell silent, digesting the words, but the statue did not stop. Its voice seemed to carry an immense weight, as if it were something that transcended reality itself. 

Statue: "The punishment of the miracle for the false idol is to bestow upon it a false sanctity." 

The statue paused, its empty eyes watching Subaru as if it saw beyond the physical. 

Statue: "Don't try to figure out my name. It's also covered in salt." 

Subaru frowned, still trying to comprehend the meaning behind the words, when the statue continued. 

 Statue: "Bring me anything that can be blessed. Thus, you will destroy my destiny and allow me to cross over to the other side of this false dream."

The statue's voice fell silent, but the weight of its words lingered in the air, like an immortal echo that would not dissipate.

---

Off screen

In the viewing room, the audience was clearly intrigued, but not too surprised, as they had seen talking statues in previous exhibits. However, what the statue had said raised more questions than answers. Everyone was paying attention, especially Al, whose expression showed confusion.

Al (thoughtfully, frowning): "Why does this statue's story sound so familiar... almost like Jesus Christ's, only modified? And what did he mean by 'blessing Bro's items'?"

As his thoughts raced, Al noticed that everyone else had turned their attention back to the screen, absorbed in what was about to happen. With a sigh, he did the same, not wanting to miss a single detail.

---

On screen

Subaru showed the cloth to the statue, waiting for some reaction. Immediately, the statue's voice echoed again, this time more imposing.

Statue (with a deep and reverberating voice): "Contemplate the linen cloth that has absorbed the sweat of fevers, the thoughts and sinful dreams."

Subaru remained still, with the cloth in his hands, as if waiting for further explanation. The statue continued, its voice even more intense.

Statue: "A tool that holds secrets and forbidden confessions, even from those who have already passed on to the other side of this dream."

The surroundings seemed to pulse with the energy of the statue's words, and Subaru felt as if the cloth were beginning to be enveloped by a strange energy, something he could not fully comprehend. But the statue was not finished yet.

Statue: "In the name of the supreme will, I bless this relic. Guard it, for it is now pure and sacred."

As the statue finished speaking, the cloth in Subaru’s hands began to glow brightly, a golden light that was momentarily blinding. As the light dissipated, inscriptions began to appear on the cloth. However, Subaru could not read what was there, as the message was only visible to the audience.

On the screen, it clearly read: “You have acquired the Shroud of Sinful Dreams.”

Subaru stared at the cloth, surprised by what had just happened, but there was no time to process it any further, as something was about to happen. Without knowing exactly why, he headed towards the fountain with the two statues and, as he pierced the water with his sword, he was immediately transported back to Albero Village.

---

Off screen

In the viewing room, the audience was clearly intrigued by the Shroud of Sinful Dreams. What was this cloth? What was the true nature of its blessing? Everyone was silent, trying to understand its meaning. But what was most confusing to Al was the fact that the statue seemed to be yet another clear reference to the story of Jesus Christ, with his power to bless and confer a kind of sanctity on objects, something he couldn't quite understand.

Al (thoughtfully, almost muttering to himself): "Why does the story of this statue... sound so similar to that of Jesus Christ? Only distorted, somehow. And what exactly does this Shroud of Sinful Dreams do? Does it give the brother the ability to heal the sick or walk on water or something?"

With these questions circulating in his mind, Al turned his attention back to the screen, still trying to process what had just happened. The others, equally curious, did the same, not wanting to miss another second of that growing mystery.

---

On Screen

After returning to the inn and resting for a while, Subaru decided to go out again. As he walked through the streets of Albero Village, he passed by the church, where lifeless bodies still lay on the ground. The surroundings were silent, but one detail caught his attention: golden, almost ethereal particles were detaching themselves from the corpses, floating as if they were ascending to the sky.

He felt a chill run down his spine as whispers echoed around him. Subaru stopped, hesitant, before approaching the bodies. Something... or someone... was trying to speak to him.

Suddenly, a faint voice, like a whisper carried by the wind, echoed from the golden particles.

???: "What are those little ones that seem to be hiding on the rooftops...? Among the ornaments of the altars?"

Subaru's eyes widened. It was the voice of a soul.

Alma: "When I call them, they seem to ignore me... They are covered in ribbons that flutter, as if an invisible wind were rocking them..."

The voice sounded distant, almost melancholic. Subaru swallowed hard, unsure if he should respond.

Alma: "Sometimes, I hear them cry... Other times, I hear them laugh... What are you...? Creatures of divine grace..."

Silence took over the room again, and the golden particles dispersed into the air, disappearing completely. Subaru stood still for a moment, trying to process what he had just heard. His heart was beating fast.

Subaru (thoughtfully): "Did I... just talk to a dead person?"

He felt a chill run down his spine, but he forced himself to move forward, heading back to the inn with a weight on his chest.

---

Off screen

In the viewing room, shock was visible on everyone’s faces. Subaru… had he just communicated with a soul?

Wilhelm and Reinhard were stunned. A deep desire welled up in their hearts, but they were both hesitant to admit it.

Wilhelm (thoughtfully, clenching his fists): If Subaru-dono can speak to the dead… then maybe… maybe I can…

He closed his eyes for a moment, feeling his chest tighten. The thought of hearing Theresia’s voice again was almost unbearable. Reinhard, beside him, shared the same thought, wishing deep down to see his grandmother one last time.

But both of them knew that this was a selfish wish.

Meanwhile, Roswaal could barely contain his excitement. His eyes shone brightly.

Roswaal (thinking, with an unsettling smile): If Albero Village can grant such a gift... then this might be the key to reviving my master...

He put his hand to his chin, deeply interested in it. This ability to communicate with the dead... he needed it.

The other viewers were equally shaken. The impact of what they had just witnessed still hung heavy in the air.

But even in the face of this shock, everyone turned their eyes back to the screen, anxiously awaiting what would come next.

---

On Screen

Subaru went down the stairs and headed straight for the ossuary, where he handed over the bones he had collected to the old guardian of the place. Wasting no time, he returned to the room where the mysterious hand-shaped portal was located.

Subaru (thoughtfully): "Back to the nightmare..."

He entered the portal, being transported back to the strange and oppressive world he had been in before. As soon as he left the room, he saw more of those hooded and floating figures. They did not hesitate to advance towards him, but Subaru, already prepared for combat, eliminated them one by one, opening the way to the next area.

Without stopping, he continued forward and went through a door, only to find himself facing a cliff.

Subaru (thoughtfully): "Really...? I hate these parts."

Taking a deep breath, he took off and jumped, landing with some difficulty. When he stood up and looked up, his breath caught for a moment.

Before him was a colossal statue, and in its arms lay a grotesque creature—an unholy fusion of demon and plant. Its body had human features, but its skeletal goat head and wrinkled skin gave it a terrifying appearance. The creature appeared dead, inert in the statue's arms.

Subaru frowned. Something about the sight made him deeply uncomfortable.

---

Off-screen

The impact of the scene was reflected in the audience, who reacted with expressions of disgust.

Priscilla, always arrogant and demanding, was the first to express her disgust audibly.

Priscilla (closing her fan tightly): "What a repulsive and disgusting sight! My divine eyes should not be forced to gaze upon such an abomination."

Her tone filled with contempt caused the others around her to nod. Even those who had witnessed horrors before could not deny that this thing was... disturbing.

Wilhelm watched the creature with an analytical gaze, while Al frowned, feeling a strange shiver run down his spine.

Al (thoughtfully): This thing... looks like something out of a nightmare...

The atmosphere was charged with tension, and everyone was about to share their opinions when a sound echoed through the room—the unmistakable noise of something breaking.

CRACK.

 Everyone's eyes turned to the screen at the exact moment something moved.

For a moment, silence filled the room.

And then, the creature began to move.

The shock was instantaneous.

---

On screen

The repulsive monster, now standing, shook the ground with every movement. A loud cracking sound echoed through the air as it slowly rose from the statue. The creature was colossal, its size unimaginable, and its presence terrifying.

With a sudden, forceful movement, it grabbed the head of the statue where it lay and, with a single gesture, slammed it violently to the ground, destroying it in a crash of bones and stones. The head that had been inert was now a pile of rubble, unable to withstand the monster's strength.

Subaru, unfazed, took a step forward. The ground continued to shake as the creature approached, its immense body moving with unexpected agility.

Suddenly, the monster crouched down, its long, twisted arm stretching out toward Subaru, attempting to strike him with devastating force. The young man managed to dodge in time, but the force of the blow cut through the air with a sharp sound. He quickly counterattacked, delivering a precise blow with his sword, cutting through the monster's thick skin.

In response, the creature stomped on the ground with all its strength, causing the ground to crack, and from within the ground, pillars of thorny roots emerged, projecting straight toward Subaru. He dodged with difficulty, his body weight nearly being caught by the sharp roots.

With a growl, the monster spat out a brown ball of thorns that flew at high speed toward Subaru. He managed to dodge, but the ball hit the ground with a loud bang, releasing a repulsive green smoke that spread throughout the surroundings. The fetid cloud seemed to emanate a sense of death and putrefaction, and Subaru knew that if he were to be struck by it, the effect would be fatal.

Subaru swiftly began to deliver a series of quick, sharp blows with his sword, striking the monster in several vital spots. The creature howled in pain, but even so, its skin regenerated at an astonishing rate. It glared at Subaru with a menacing look, as if it were just beginning to fight for real.

---

Off screen

The audience watched in horror as the creature rose to its feet, and a deep sense of revulsion spread throughout the room. Even so, concern took hold of the spectators—the monstrosity’s attacks were clearly devastating, and it seemed as if Subaru was in a massive battle against a force of nature.

Wilhelm (with his eyes fixed on the screen): “Incredible… even against such an immense monster, Subaru doesn’t hesitate. He’s stronger than we imagined.”

Even from a distance from the fight, Wilhelm couldn’t help but admire Subaru’s swordsmanship. The young man was facing off against a colossal creature with a skill that seemed almost supernatural.

Garfield, who was watching with eyes shining with admiration, couldn't hide his excitement.

Garfield (with a wide smile): "Now that's a true leader! Go, Captain!"

However, it wasn't just Garfield who was impressed. Emilia, Rem, and Beatrice were deeply worried. They watched the monster intently, their grim expressions reflecting just how powerful and terrifying this creature truly was. The fight was at a critical point, and Subaru was in constant danger.

Even though they feared that he would be outmatched, everyone's eyes were glued to the screen, anxiously waiting to see how Subaru would fare against this monstrous threat.

---

On Screen

In an act of uncontrollable rage, the monster slammed both arms into the ground with force, causing more of those thorny root pillars to rise up towards Subaru. He managed to deftly dodge them, but in a movement too fast, he was partially pierced by one of the thorns. The pain was sharp, but he had no time to stop. 

With determination, Subaru pierced the ground with his sword, causing blue flames to appear that enveloped the monster. It screamed in pain, the flames consuming its skin, but to Subaru's surprise, the flames extinguished almost as quickly as they had appeared. The monster, now in a state of pure rage, continued its offensive, trying to strike Subaru with its monstrous arms.

Subaru, agile, dodged again, narrowly avoiding the blow, but before he could react, the creature spat out the brown spiked ball once more. He dodged, but the ball fell to the ground, releasing a new effect. Upon touching the surface, sharp and dangerous roots began to emerge, surrounding Subaru on all sides.

Despite the difficulties, Subaru continued to fight. He delivered rapid blows with his sword, cutting the monster and making it roar in pain with each blow. The creature tried to retaliate, but Subaru had already begun to understand its attack patterns. He dodged again a blow from a long, clawed arm, the movement now more fluid and precise.

In a final act of desperation, the monster slammed the ground again, causing more pillars of sharp spikes to appear. But Subaru, taking advantage of the opening, made the monster collapse. With a well-aimed strike, he cut the creature in its vital spot, causing it to spit blood and fall to the ground, bathed in its own essence. The beast was finally dead.

Subaru lay panting, his sword bloodied, as a message, visible only to the audience, appeared on the screen:

"Requiem Aethernam"

The screen slowly faded to black, and the end of the preview was announced, leaving a sense of unease in the air.

---

Off screen

The audience was completely stunned by the insane fight between Subaru and the monstrosity. The atmosphere was heavy, and the silence that followed was only broken by the director's voice, who calmly announced:

Director: "That was the preview. Rest up, because the next one will begin-

However, before the director could finish, Anastasia interrupted with a question, visibly curious.

Anastasia (with an inquisitive look): "What is that creature that Natsuki-san faced? Could you tell us more about it?"

The director, visibly irritated at being interrupted, responded in a more serious tone.

Director: "That thing that Subaru Natsuki defeated was, in fact, a man. A man haunted by the visions caused by the Miracle. In his attempt to escape the curse, he found a statue of a woman with her arms outstretched, seeking refuge in it. He ended up exhausted and rested in the arms of the statue. When he woke up, he discovered that he had transformed into a beast, a hybrid creature between plant and demon, full of rage and pain. This creature attacked everyone who got in its way, being known as Ten Piedad. And it was Subaru who freed him from this torment."

Everyone fell silent, absorbing the director's words. The idea that this monstrous creature had once been human seemed impossible to believe. But before anyone could ask any more questions, the director firmly cut the conversation short.

Director: "Rest easy. The next preview will begin in a few hours."

With that, the director's voice trailed off, leaving the cast in silence, with more questions than answers. The curiosity about what would come next was palpable, but everyone knew they would have to wait.

---

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Everyone was uneasy about the previous revelation made by the Director. The creature Subaru faced in the last screening, known as Ten Piedad, had once been an ordinary human being. Transformed by the "Miracle" that had been mentioned non-stop since the first screening, this fact left everyone in shock.

— What do you mean... a human? — Ferris muttered, his eyes widening.

— That looked anything but human — Reinhard commented, crossing his arms seriously.

The conversations heated up.

— The "Miracle"... Why would he create such a... grotesque monster? — Crusch asked thoughtfully.

— And why is the "Miracle" a "blessing and curse at the same time"? — Rem asked, visibly confused.

— Honestly, Betty is more intrigued than exactly the "Miracle" and I suppose. — Beatrice concluded, frowning.

The murmurs echoed through the room like waves, everyone taken by unease. But before the questions turned into collective hysteria, the familiar deep voice of the Director filled the space:

— The viewing is about to begin. Please be seated.

Immediately, silence fell like a veil. Everyone obeyed, settling into their seats, still with the bitter taste of doubt in their mouths.

A little later, the screen flashed. The images began to appear, slowly, almost as if reality itself was hesitant to show what would come next...

---

On Screen

The visualization picked up exactly where it had left off.

Subaru, panting and covered in the blood of the monster he had just faced, observed Ten Piedad's corpse. The ground around him was stained red, and the funereal silence weighed like a tombstone.

His gaze soon turned to an old, worn-looking door that had appeared ahead. Without thinking twice, he approached it and pushed it open. The wood creaked, opening a passage to a new room.

The room was dark and silent, filled with an oppressive feeling. At the back of the chamber, a colossal statue lay on a stone bed and imprisoned by golden bars. The contrast between the sanctity of the image and the brutal prison caused immediate discomfort.

In front of Subaru, a cluster of lit candles burned brightly, their flames flickering as if waiting for something.

Not understanding why, Subaru knelt before them.

In an instinctive gesture, he stabbed the sword into the ground.

The next instant, a blinding white light exploded around him, forcing him to close his eyes. When he opened them again... the world around him had disappeared.

Subaru was now in a dead, colorless place. A black abyss stretched out in the distance, with a colossal cliff in front of him. The silence was absolute, almost unearthly.

He began to walk, his footsteps echoing as if the entire universe were listening. It was then that he saw it: a gigantic, floating head, with a partially melted golden face, its eyes closed as if meditating on eternity.

The head moved slightly, as if recognizing his presence.

"In the name of the Great Torment and the Children of Miracle..." said a deep voice, echoing throughout the space.

The Head continued solemnly:

“As you humbled yourself before my most holy body, you were granted the presence of my golden face... guardian of one of the three sorrows of the soul in penance.”

The voice was ethereal and powerful, as if it spoke to the soul as well as the ears.

— Our Miracle chose me from among all the devotees... just as it chose you, to walk this sacred sea.

Subaru just listened, silent as always. But inside him, something burned... as if forgotten words from a distant dream were making themselves heard.

— May the gold on my face melt and erase the altrity of your soul...

The floating head paused.

“Guilty heart… return now from the dream.”

A white light exploded again, swallowing the darkness.

[Message on screen—visible only to the public]

“You have acquired the Holy Wound of Selflessness.”

The message disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

The message disappeared as quickly as it had appeared.

Subaru blinked. He was back in the previous room, kneeling before the candles as if nothing had happened.

Off-screen

The viewing room was plunged into silence.

“Was that... a floating head?” Priscilla murmured, raising an eyebrow in intrigue.

“That melting face looked like... religious symbolism,” Wilhelm commented, his hand on his chin.

“But... what is this ‘Holy Wound of Selflessness’?” Ram asked, frowning.

Rosswal, in turn, watched with narrowed eyes as he thought:

"That creature... was it human? Could it be that the Miracle turned it into that aberration like it did with Ten Piedad?" — he thought, uneasily. "If that's true... the Miracle is an uncontrollable force, which is terrible because if it's not controllable it's completely useless for my plan to revive my teacher..."

He sighed and shook his head, trying to dispel his uneasiness, when he realized that the others were already turning their attention to the screen.

— I better concentrate... — he muttered to himself, adjusting himself in his chair.

The show was far from over.

---

On the Screen

After returning to the room where the candles were still burning, Subaru stood up with an expression of confusion and uneasiness. The floating head’s words still echoed in his mind, weighing down like invisible chains.

Ahead of him, a rough wooden door awaited him. He took a deep breath and walked forward, pushing it open.

On the other side, a familiar figure calmly awaited him.

It was Deogracias, kneeling with ropes tying his body and holding the enormous scroll from before. His masked face did not allow him to show what he was feeling and in a calm tone he spoke.

"You have performed the first humiliation of penance," Deogracias declared, without preamble, as if he were merely reporting an inevitable formality.

“You have known the face of Altrition,” the man continued, his voice firm as stone.

—There are still two sacred faces left... two humiliations that you must face. — concluded Deogracias.

Without another word, Subaru turned and went on his way, leaving Deogracias behind.

Off screen

— Oh, great. That weird masked chatterbox is back again — Felt grumbled, crossing his arms and making a disgusted face. — Seriously, that weird idiot is back? And was that horrible golden face that big brother found really the "three humiliations" that that lunatic talked about?

“He’s intriguing,” Priscilla said, with a slight smile on her face. “Such an absurdly eccentric fellow… I still think he’d make a great court jester. Or perhaps a great storyteller. Both would amuse me immensely.”

—That doesn't explain how he ended up in that place—Reinhard muttered thoughtfully—because Deogracias seemed so... out of place, he didn't look like a fighter, so how did he get there?

—Who are you really, Deogracias?— Roswaal murmured, with an intrigued glint in his eyes.

Hypotheses began to form in the minds of those present. The concept of the "Three Humiliations" that Deogracias spoke of in his first appearance was something they did not understand at first, but now they are beginning to consider that these three humiliations are monsters that Subaru must defeat as Ten Piedad.

But this was soon interrupted as attention returned to the screen.

---

On Screen

Subaru walked along a flooded corridor, where the dirty water shook with strange sounds. Suddenly, grotesque creatures emerged from the mud—amorphous monsters composed of a viscous green slime that dripped from their pulsating bodies. They made muffled noises, almost like wails in agony.

“Ugh... how disgusting!” Subaru thought, immediately jumping out of the water.

When he regained his composure, he noticed that the slime seemed to be dripping from old rusty pipes, whose open mouths were spewing that disgusting liquid as if the place itself were sick. He advanced cautiously until he found a corroded wooden door. Upon opening it, he was surprised by what looked like a dark tunnel, whose structure resembled an old sewer. The floor was covered in layers of the same green slime. Without hesitation, Subaru crossed the path and pushed open a second door.

On the other side, his eyes widened behind his mask.

Before him, kneeling in the center of a vast room drenched in silence, was a giant woman. Her naked, mutilated body was covered only by a brown skirt. Six swords were embedded in her flesh—five stuck in her bloody torso and one still clutched tightly in her hand. Blood flowed freely from the open wounds, dripping in red puddles that stained the floor. Her exposed breasts seemed an affront to life itself, devoid of modesty or shame.

She wore a strange hat, adorned with symbols of distorted faith, and her short red hair fell around a serene face, as if she felt no pain.

Then she spoke.

“Blessed are the eyes that gaze with devotion upon my tormented heart,” she declared in an echoing, almost angelic voice.

Subaru remained silent, mesmerized by the presence of that sacred and grotesque entity.

“Let those who rejoice in suffering and fasting come near… for their penance is joyful,” she continued, blood dripping from her lips with each word.

Subaru took a hesitant step forward.

“Six piercing pains pierce my blossoming breast…” he said, reaching for the sword on his shoulder. “Take the first… and purify one of the six deadly stains on your soul.”

With a grunt that was a mixture of pain and release, the woman pulled the sword from her body and held it out to Subaru. He took it with both trembling hands. The instant his fingers touched the bloody blade, an intense blue light enveloped the artifact, and the sword disappeared—absorbed by his soul. The woman then began to fade before his eyes, like dust in the wind. Nothing remained but the echo of her pain and the impression of a silent oath. Subaru stood still for a moment, absorbing what had just happened... and then, he left the room, silently.

---

Off-screen

All the spectators were stunned. Not a word was spoken. Even Felt, who always had a sharp comment on the tip of her tongue, remained open-mouthed.

“…” Roswaal just frowned, his mind buzzing with unanswered questions.

Horror and doubt filled the room like smoke.

“She… was still alive?” Emilia whispered, barely able to believe what she had seen.

That scene seemed to have been ripped from a nightmare, but it was real... as real as the twisted world Subaru now faced.

No one knew what to say.

They just stared, silently, at the screen—waiting, fearing, for what would come next.

---

On Screen

After the giant woman disappeared like mystical dust into thin air, Subaru left the room in silence. However, instead of moving on... he did something unexpected: he went back the way he had come.

"Maybe I left something behind..." he thought to himself, staring at the grotesque, dripping path in front of him.

He passed through the room where he had faced Ten Piedad again, now filled with an unsettling calm. The sound of his footsteps echoed off the walls as he wandered for hours in that unholy world, facing hordes of distorted enemies that appeared as if the Miracle knew of his presence.

With his blade and persistence, Subaru advanced until he finally found a rustic door, made of dry wood. Upon opening it, his eyes widened as he came across something completely unexpected: a tent, set up amidst the ruins.

"A tent...? Here?" he thought, suspicious.

Without a second thought, he entered.

The interior was warm and strange. Three objects gleamed in the dim light, arranged on time-worn brown furniture. And right in front of him was a hunched old woman, dressed in worn rags and carrying a huge bag on her back, full of trinkets, vials and relics. Despite her advanced age, there was something... too alive in her eyes.

Noticing Subaru, the old woman smiled enigmatically and said:

"Let us be captives of the Miracle, Penitent One."

Subaru just frowned, still confused by her presence.

"Don't be surprised to find this merchant here..." she continued, her voice hoarse as ancient parchment. "My ancestral occupation requires me to be wherever I can gather fruit. And in this world... there is much to be gathered." She straightened up, as if that speech were a rehearsed ritual.

"Call me Candelaria, for what I see will make your eyes burn like bonfires in the midst of eternal night."

Subaru took a cautious step, eyeing the items on the tables.

“But make no mistake, young penitent…” she said, raising a bony finger. “I charge no coin. The forbidden tears you shed are payment enough for me.”

She spread her arms wide, as if putting on a sacred show.

“Go ahead. Cast your blackened eyes upon these hidden treasures of light…”

Subaru approached one of the pieces of furniture. His gaze fell on a small, metallic object: a key decorated with arcane inscriptions and a strange glow. Something about it called to him.

“A key…?” he whispered, hesitantly extending his hand.

The old woman quickly noticed his interest.

“Behold what I present to you!” she exclaimed. “Despite its insignificant size, the power contained within this key should not be underestimated.”

She leaned in even closer, her voice dropping to a conspiratorial whisper:

“Trust me… for I hold the blood of kings in the palm of my hand.”

Subaru swallowed hard. Something about this woman made him feel like she knew more than she was letting on.

As he touched the key, an ethereal message appeared on the screen—visible only to those watching from outside:

> YOU HAVE ACQUIRED: KEY TO THE CHAMBER OF THE FIRSTBORN

The message flashed blue and then disappeared. Subaru, oblivious to it, simply put away the key and left the tent, still deep in thought. As he walked through the exit, the screen slowly darkened, ending another part of the display.

---

Off screen

Silence reigned. Everyone was still processing what they had seen.

But two figures in particular were more disturbed: Anastasia and Otto.

“A... merchant who doesn’t accept money?” Otto said, frowning. “But tears? Tears?! That doesn’t even make logistical sense!”

“Even I…” Anastasia murmured, adjusting her scarf. “I’ve never seen anything so eccentric in the world of commerce. But something about that woman... gives me the creeps.”

Before any further comment could be made, the Director’s deep voice echoed through the room:

“That was the visualization. Rest easy. The next one will begin in a few seconds…”

Before any further comments could be made, the Director's deep voice echoed through the room:

"That was the visualization. Rest up. The next one will begin in a few seconds..."

And then, absolute silence. The voice disappeared as quickly as it had appeared, leaving everyone with the feeling that questioning him would be useless.

With no other options, they did as they were told.

To be continued...

Chapter Text

Everyone was apprehensive about the upcoming screening, but the discomfort only grew as the tension spread. The memory of the miracle continued to bother many, especially the sight of that woman covered in swords, unfazed and without expressing any pain. It seemed insane. The air was filled with uneasiness.

Suddenly, the director's voice echoed in the room, cutting through the tense silence:

Director:

— The screening will begin. Please, take your seats.

Reluctantly, everyone complied, taking their seats. The atmosphere was heavy, and the furtive glances between those present revealed a mixture of fear and curiosity. After a few seconds of anticipation, the screen finally lit up, and the images began to appear, beginning the show.

---

On Screen

The preview begins with Subaru inside the strange tent of the enigmatic saleswoman Candelaria. After negotiating with her and acquiring a mysterious key, he leaves the tent and heads towards an area close to the old room where Ten Piedad was defeated. However, without stopping there, Subaru continues on, entering another room where he once again comes across a portal. In the center of the place, a colossal hand extends from the void.

Without hesitation, he enters the portal.

Soon, Subaru appears again in Albero. With determined steps, he walks all the way to the inn, where he then sets off towards the dark Forest of the Miracle Lines. Along the way, he kills several enemies with precision and caution, advancing until he reaches the headquarters of the Brotherhood of Sorrow: Silent Shroud. There, in front of an ancient iron door, Subaru uses the key he bought from Candelaria. With a metallic click, the door opens revealing a silent and golden chamber. In the center, an imposing altar supports a glass cube. Inside it lies a small vial containing a strange crimson liquid that looks like blood.

Without thinking twice, Subaru breaks the cube and takes the vial in his hands.

As soon as he does so, a silent message appears at the bottom of the screen—visible only to the audience, not Subaru:

“Blood perpetuated in the sand.”

With the vial in hand, Subaru leaves the place in silence.

Off screen

The audience watches in silence, confused by the importance of that vial of blood. But the one who seems most intrigued is Roswaal. The clown watches intently, his thoughts racing.

Roswaal (thoughtfully):

— Hmmm… interesting. What kind of blood would that be? And for what purpose did Subaru take it?

While Roswaal speculates, others simply wonder why Subaru would go to all the trouble of going through so much danger for a simple vial of blood. However, everyone soon turns their attention back to the screen, curious to find out what will happen next.

On the screen.

---

Subaru leaves the domain of the Brotherhood of the Silent Shroud and returns to the silent Forest of Miracle Lines. The place, once teeming with enemies, now lies in complete silence—all the monsters have been slain by him.

As he walks through the twisted trees and ash-covered roots, his eyes catch sight of something unusual: a floating platform, seemingly made of coagulated blood. Without hesitation, Subaru jumps onto it. As soon as his feet touch the viscous surface, a new platform appears in front of him. He advances, jumping from one to the other, until he reaches a suspended wooden base.

On the ground, an object surrounded by a subtle glow rests. Subaru picks it up.

At the same moment, a message appears visible only to the audience:

“Painted wooden bead.”

Unaware of the hidden meaning of the item, Subaru leaps from the platform and speeds through the forest.

He quickly returns to Albero's village, entering the inn without pausing. From there, he accesses the strange portal, which transports him back to the last point of his journey. He advances quickly, crossing the old room where Ten Piedad's corpse still lies in eternal rest.

Subaru descends towards a familiar area: a sort of dark and stuffy sewer. Corroded channels drip a thick green liquid, fetid and clearly poisonous. He jumps between rusty platforms, avoiding contact with the liquid below.

In one of them, he finds another item.

As soon as he picks it up, another message appears only for spectators:

“You have acquired: Fierce’s Scaphoid.”

Off screen.

A shiver runs through the spectators. The grotesque environment generates varied reactions, and Garfiel is the first to speak, with disgust evident in his voice:

Garfiel:

— What a FUCKING disgusting place! Seriously, even though I'm not there, I can smell that damn stench from here!

Ricardo, Mimi, Tivey and Felix agree with disgusted faces, trying to imagine the putrid smell of the area. Roswaal, however, completely indifferent to the general disgust, remains thoughtful. His eyes shine with malice.

Roswaal (thoughtfully):

— Hmmm… I wonder what will happen when Subaru gathers all these artifacts. What kind of revelation… or miracle… will come from this? And more importantly… how can I find them too? And also what are these blood platforms?

As the clown devises dark plans, everyone turns their attention to the screen, eagerly awaiting the continuation of the journey.

On Screen

After obtaining the strange bone item, Subaru begins to carefully descend the rusty platforms. The muffled sounds of dripping liquid echo off the damp walls of the unholy sewer. Upon reaching the lower level, he passes through a heavy, rusty door, which creaks as if protesting its opening.

On the other side, he finds a partially flooded corridor. Without hesitation, he walks through the murky water, deftly dodging the drops of corrosive green liquid dripping from the pipes above.

Suddenly, the silence is broken by the metallic sound of something moving in the air. Flying cages, like the ones he faced earlier, appear from the shadows. Subaru reacts with precision — he jumps, spins his body, and delivers accurate cuts with his blade. The creatures fall in twisted pieces. 

As he continues, he climbs a series of platforms and finds a grotesque man, hunched and swollen, his skin pulsing with green bubbles. Subaru watches him for a brief moment… and decides to quickly pass him by. As soon as he finishes the movement, the man explodes in a toxic cloud, dissolving into a viscous broth of poison. 

Further ahead, Subaru notices a ladder. He climbs it to a new room, which contains two options: another ladder and a mysterious door. Choosing the door, he slowly opens it — and comes across two bald men, armed with short swords and iron shields.

Without hesitation, Subaru advances with ferocity. Both enemies block his first blows, but Subaru dodges nimbly and counterattacks, hitting one in the flank. In a few moves, both are down.

With the path clear, Subaru advances through the room until he finds a rusty iron lever and a door barred by bars. He pulls it with effort, and the bars rise with a metallic clang.

As Subaru takes a step forward, ready to cross the threshold into the next area…

The screen suddenly goes black.

End of preview.

Off screen

A deathly silence takes over the room. Then, sighs, murmurs… and expressions of frustration begin to appear on the faces of those present.

Garfiel (growling):

— Are you kidding me!? It just ended now!?

Mimi:

— It was so fast… I wanted to see what was behind the door…

Ricardo:

— Hahaha! It's like stopping a story in the middle of the action. That's mean!

But before the comments can become more heated, the Director's voice echoes again, cold and authoritative:

Director:

— The preview has ended. The next one will begin in a few minutes. I recommend that you get ready.

His voice disappears as quickly as it had appeared, leaving behind only the discomfort of anticipation.

Although reluctantly, everyone returns to their seats — some thoughtful, others clearly irritated.

To be continued…

Chapter Text

Everyone was visibly apprehensive about the upcoming screening. Silence filled the room until the Director's voice echoed, drawing everyone's attention:

Director: — Well, a little warning. I've decided to speed things up a bit in the previews. Let's go straight to the scenes where Subaru faces the most powerful creatures created by the "Miracle". Is that okay with you?

The audience looked at each other. Some shrugged, others just nodded silently. In the end, everyone accepted without protest.

Director: — Great. Get ready.

With a gesture, the Director activated the large screen. A soft light illuminated the room and the images began to appear, signaling the official start of the preview.

On the screen…

The scene opens with Subaru standing on a raised platform, surrounded by several other floating platforms, suspended in the void. An oppressive silence hangs in the air, broken only by an ethereal sound coming from above.

Suddenly, three female figures appear above Subaru—spectral, wearing black cloaks that cover their entire bodies, including their faces. Two wield long, double-bladed spears, while the third carries an imposing mace with two macabre tips.

Without hesitation, Subaru advances, swinging his sword with precision. However, before he can reach any of them, the third woman raises her mace and throws it with brutal force.

Subaru narrowly dodges—the weapon whizzes past, and he barely has time to breathe before he realizes something worse: the ground beneath his feet begins to crackle. Flames spread across the platforms below, rising in menacing spirals. The heat builds rapidly.

With determination, he leaps from one platform to another, aiming at the spectral figures. But before he can attack, the two women armed with spears hurl them at him with almost supernatural synchronicity.

One of the spears grazes Subaru's shoulder, opening a shallow cut, but he keeps going. Unaffected by the wound, he counterattacks with more ferocity, delivering quick, desperate blows, determined to defeat them before the fire reaches him.

---

Offscreen

The room at the screening falls silent. Everyone watches tensely, not knowing what to expect from those ghostly creatures.

Anastasia, frowning, breaks the silence:

Anastasia: — Director... who are these women?

The Director doesn't even turn to her. He answers in a dry, almost indifferent tone:

Director: — They are known as The Three Anguishes. That's all you need to know... Now shut up and pay attention to the fight.

Despite the rudeness, no one dares to retort. The tension is palpable. Everyone watches, almost holding their breath, wondering if Subaru will be able to defeat those entities in time... or if he will be consumed by the devouring flames that rise up the platforms, getting closer and closer.

---

On Screen

Subaru continued to wage a frantic battle against the Three Anxieties. But little by little, the tide of the fight began to turn in his favor. He had memorized their attack patterns—their rhythmic throws, their measured movements, even the rhythm of their strikes.

With more confidence, he dodged with precision, counterattacking with disciplined fury. Each strike was accurate, each dodge more agile. Subaru, even breathless and injured, began to smile behind his mask—he was winning.

But the feeling of victory was short-lived.

Suddenly, the three figures looked at each other—or at least they seemed to do so beneath the dark veils—and merged into a pulsating black sphere that floated in the air for a moment.

The sphere then slowly dissipated, revealing a terrifying figure: a gigantic woman, wearing a black cloak even heavier than those of the previous ones. On her head, a grotesque helmet, resembling intertwined, thorny roots, completely hid her face.

Without warning, she raised a hand. A shrill purple bolt of lightning fell at Subaru's feet. There was no time to react.

He was disintegrated on the spot. No scream. No chance.

Silence.

But it didn't last.

Suddenly, everything started over again.

Subaru reappeared exactly where he had been before the fight, breathing deeply, as if nothing had happened. Without hesitation, without a trace of shock or fear, he drew his sword again and ran towards the three women, resuming the battle as if his previous death had been a mere detail.

---

Off-screen

The room fell into absolute silence. Everyone's wide eyes reflected the same thing: horror and disbelief.

Rem (open-mouthed): — My hero... does he still have Return by Death in this future?

The revelation left everyone surprised, but soon Otto frowned, noticing something even stranger.

Otto: — Wait a minute... why didn't Natsuki show any discomfort when he died? He acted as if it was nothing...

This observation plunged the room into an even deeper silence. The idea of ​​Subaru getting used to dying... of seeing it as something commonplace... was disturbing.

Roswaal, on the other hand, smiled slightly, with a curious and wicked glint in his eyes.

Roswaal (thinking): — Well well... it seems that dear Subaru in this future has not lost his power and is abusing Return by Death to solve his problems. How... delightful.

As everyone digested the implications of the scene, their gazes turned back to the screen, increasingly tense and apprehensive about what else that vision might reveal.

---

On the Screen

Subaru, now much more experienced, dominated the fight with almost inhuman precision. His movements were agile, calculated, coldly effective.

The three ghostly women tried to surround him again, but their attack patterns were completely deciphered.

One by one, they fell before his determined fury. Once again, the figures merged—the darkness taking shape until it formed the gigantic woman in the black cloak and spiked helmet.

But this time, Subaru was already ready.

With a leap backward, he avoided the purple beam that erupted from the ground.

With a scream of fury and determination, Subaru launched himself at the giant woman, his sword slicing through the air in a relentless series of blows.

Each strike found its mark. The creature staggered under the pressure. Finally, with a final scream—part despair, part triumph—Subaru drove his sword into the monstrous figure, which shattered in a burst of dark light and wails.

The Three Anxieties reappeared for a brief moment, now engulfed in flames. They screamed silently as their spectral bodies were consumed by the fire, until nothing remained but ash and silence.

Subaru fell to his knees, panting but victorious.

The screen suddenly went black, and a single sentence appeared, written in ancient script:

“End of visualization.”

---

Off-screen

A soft murmur ran through the room. Most seemed surprised—the fight had been shorter than they expected, but no less intense.

Priscilla (raising an eyebrow): — Hmph. Very short. But brutal. I'm... intrigued.

Reinhard (with a surprised tone): — Subaru's ability to memorize the pattern of those women's attacks is absurd and superhuman.

Before any other comment could arise, the Director's cold and direct voice resounded once more:

Director: — That was the visualization. Use these minutes to rest. The next one starts soon.

Without another word, his presence disappeared, leaving only the echo of his voice hanging in the air.

Silence returned. Each of those present immersed themselves in their own thoughts, processing what they had just seen: seeing that Subaru still possesses the RBD in this future, but apparently he has developed a detachment from his own life... the abominable nature of the creatures that the "miracle" creates.

And what else could be coming.

Continue

Chapter Text

Well, as you saw in the title, this is not a chapter and more of a question I wanted to talk to you about, which is that since I can't decide whether to keep the new or old style of the fic, I will leave the decision to you with a vote, which are:

Option 1: The old style of exploring the entire game from the stages to the bosses and interactions with NPCs will be maintained.

Option 2: the new style will be maintained where there will only be boss fights and nothing else.

Decide in the comments which option you prefer and the one with the most votes will be the style I will keep until the end of this fic.