02x12 - The Witches' Tea Party

[bunniefuu]

And I was going on about how I didn't want her to look sad...

Emilia, are you okay?

I'll save Emilia...

and the Sanctuary, and the mansion, too.

I'll save every last one of them,

if it costs me my life.

Are you feeling all right?

Yes... because Subaru was there for me, I think.

The biggest problem is Roswaal.

He knew that I've been looping,

even if he didn't know that I have to die to do it.

He's obviously following the Tome of Wisdom.

He won't condone anything that goes against what's written,

and if it does, he won't balk at using my loops to redo it.

What's forcing him to do all that?

I...

By doing that...

you can become like me.

...won't ever be like you.

Not ever.

So... is it okay if I turn to you again?

There are so many things I want to find out and get you to agonize over with me.

Invite me, Echidna!

I'll give you my life as many times as you want it!

Or my pride or anything else!

So please, Echidna!

Let me...

Behold an unthinkable present.

Huh?

...iar.

Liar.

Liar! Liar! Liar!

Liar! Liar! Subaru, you liar!

What... is this?

Emilia-sama!

You liar!

Subaru... Subaru... You liar...

Felis! Come here at once! This is urgent! Hurry!

You said... we'd be together...

I don't recognize this...

I don't recognize this scenario.

Old Man Wil!

How could I recognize it?

His throat's been stabbed! We haven't a moment to lose!

Stop... It's no use. He's already dead.

I won't let you die!

I won't let the one who saved me die in this way!

Why did this have to happen now?

Stop joking! Stop fooling around with us!

Stop it... Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it! Stop it!

It's too late. His soul is already gone.

Why? Why?!

Why did you die so easily?

Subaru-dono, you are...

Weakling. Coward.

You're leaving behind everyone you cared about,

forcing all of the pain and suffering on us.

You said...

You said... that you loved me.

Was that...

...how that world looked after I d*ed?

Or was it the trial? Not really my past, but the second trial?

Behold an unthinkable present.

Subaru?

Emilia-sama, please...

Wipe Subaru's face for him.

Why?

Why does Subaru look like this?

Why did this have to happen to him?

To save me?

Why? Please tell me.

I wanted to speak with you more, Natsuki Subaru.

I wanted to call you a friend.

Stop... it...

Please...

Stop it!

Behold an unthinkable present.

After all that nonsense you kept spouting...

Was this all part of your plan as well, Beatrice-sama?

Why?

I knew you couldn't be "that person."

But still...

This is what you call "love"? Honestly...

There's no help for you.

Behold an unthinkable present.

So it is you.

Emilia-sama and Subaru are both gone now, aren't they?

Lia is asleep. Forever.

I don't want to exist in a world without her.

Therefore, per our contract, I will freeze this world solid.

He and I are equally guilty.

And that is why you're trying to destroy the world?

I am going to stop you from causing any further harm.

If you must resent someone, please resent me.

I don't resent anyone, Reinhard.

You are a true hero.

And a hero is all you can be.

Behold an unthinkable present.

And that's the end of it.

This wasn't a very rewarding job at all.

Behold an unthinkable present.

I only prevented the situation from worsening.

I could tell that Subaru-kun was already beyond help.

Surely he wanted me to end it as quickly as possible.

Behold an unthinkable present.

Behold an unthinkable present.

Behold an unthinkable present.

Behold an unthinkable present.

Behold an unthinkable present.

Behold an unthinkable present.

Behold an unthinkable present.

Behold an unthinkable present.

Behold an unthinkable present.

Can you no longer stand, Subaru-kun?

This can't be real.

It is real.

I will be by your side whenever you wish it, Subaru-kun.

Rem...

Yes. I am your Rem.

Rem...

Yes, I am Rem.

Your very own, all-purpose, ever-useful maid.

You...

Are you all right? Are you tired?

I don't know...

Maybe I am tired.

But I haven't even done anything yet...

If I were stronger, smarter, and capable of a lot more,

they wouldn't have had to hurt and suffer so much.

Subaru-kun...

If the world was still going on after I d*ed,

how many times did I just leave them all to die?

Subaru-kun...

How many times did I let you die?

How many times do I have to k*ll you?!

Subaru-kun.

It's all right.

Rem...

I love you.

I love you, Subaru-kun.

So everything will be all right.

Th-That doesn't... answer anything...

It does.

Holding you the way I am right now

is the answer to everything.

You've been through so much, Subaru-kun.

You suffered so much pain all alone...

But you don't need to feel so sad all the time anymore.

I...

I will take the place of everything you're feeling.

Just entrust everything to me,

and just rest for now.

All you need to do is sleep.

Rem...

It's easy to give up.

But it doesn't suit you.

Who are you?

Huh?

I'm asking you who you are.

S-Subaru-kun, what are you—

I knew that when I was at the end of my rope,

clutching my knees and wallowing in anguish,

you would come and stay gently by my side.

You'd listen to my troubles, let me vent my insecurities,

and wring everything out of me until my tears ran dry...

And then you'd say, "Now, stand up."

You wouldn't tell me to just rest.

You wouldn't tell me to give up and entrust everything to you.

You like me and I like you,

you're good to me and you love me,

but you're also stricter with me than anyone else.

Rem is the one girl who doesn't go easy on me!

You're wrong! Please listen to me, Subaru-kun!

I just don't want to see you suffering so—

I'll show you my weakness and my fragility.

But I'll never let you see me give up!

Because you are my hero, Subaru-kun!

Get out of here, you fraud!

Don't you dare coddle me with Rem's face and voice!

Th-This isn't... what I... was told... t-to expect...

Huh?

And who are you?

I-I'm Carmilla, th-the Witch of Lust.

N-Nice to meet... you...

Is this weird place part of Echidna's dream?

What were you trying to pull earlier?!

Earlier?

I'm talking about you coming to me disguised as Rem!

Was that your power?!

N-No!

I-If I looked like s-someone else,

it's because... y-you wanted to see me that way...

What?!

I-I didn't w-want to, but Echidna-chan said

a-all I had to do was dote on you...

So Echidna is the one behind all this?!

Going any further will endanger your life.

Carmilla's "Faceless Bride"

makes one forget to breathe when in her presence.

In the end, it even makes your heart stop b*ating.

What the hell have you been plotting, Echidna?

Isn't that obvious?

An evil scheme, of course. I am a witch.

Why did you do something like that?

Because it was the most effective method, that's why.

If I'd left things alone,

your mind would've worn away to nothing in the trial.

So you're telling me you did that to save me?

I can't make any excuses for the fact that I wounded your heart as a result.

I've resigned myself to accepting your rage.

I know what it is you want to know more than anything right now.

Allow me to explain the trial.

Just like the first one,

the second trial puts you in a world recreated from your memories.

It's a thoroughly well-constructed unreality.

Then—

However...

Your Return by Death is the Witch of Envy's Authority.

Basically, only she knows whether the things you saw

in your second trial happened in some reality.

You mean all that stuff might have actually happened?

I'm only saying it's a possibility.

Instead of counting the many people you may have failed to save,

you should focus on counting the many you have saved.

Idealistic clichés like that don't help!

I know that you have given all of your strength,

physical and mental, to survive thus far.

Not a single thing you've experienced on your way to this point has been a waste.

You have arrived at this moment by doing everything in your power,

at the risk of your own life.

That's something you should be proud of.

Why do you keep trying to help me like this?

I think it's a little mean to force a girl to spell that out for you.

Would you be willing to form a contract with me, Natsuki Subaru?

A contract?

Yes, a formal contract with the Witch of Greed.

Would you enter into one with me?

What happens if I do?

It's very simple.

From now on, whenever you run into an obstacle you can't overcome,

when you feel you're being crushed by the weight of your sins,

I will give you my support.

I'm confident in the amount of knowledge I have.

I should be able to come up with a way for you to deal with any problem.

Above all, I can share in your Return by Death ability.

What does that mean?

You're actually telling me the selling points of making a contract with you?

I think it only makes sense to explain the merits of such an act.

All the better for me if it makes you lean toward agreeing to it at all.

It's all calculated.

That might not be such a bad idea.

Meaning?!

I mean, uh... right.

If you absolutely insist, I wouldn't mind entering into a contract—

It's a little late to try and play it cool now!

Anyway, how would we form this contract?

To establish a formal contract,

you and I need to form a bond between our souls.

First, we raise our palms to each other, like this.

Wh-Wha?!

I'm gonna have to...

put a stop to that contract.

The Witch of Wrath?!

I won't accept it!

So you're after him, too?

I suppose you're jealous.

Stop teasing me!

Default,Minvera, , , ,,I'm outraged! I'm indignant!

I'm absolutely boiling with anger!

How is she even here?

Don't you have to swap places with the other witches to let them appear?

That's a lie!

She's a bad-natured jerk who plays mean tricks like that for no reason!

Well, I didn't want to just keep popping witches into existence,

and let one of them take you from me.

Stop being taken in so easily by all of Echidna's smooth-talking!

It pisses me off!

Also, she hasn't even told you what parts of that contract...

would be...

bad...

for you!

H-Hang on! "Bad" for me?!

She's talking about your payment for contracting with me.

I think calling it a bad thing is a bit of an exaggeration, though.

What is it you want from me, then?

What payment do I have to give?

It's very simple.

Everything you feel, everything you think,

everything that remains in your heart,

the future as you know it,

anything you accomplish,

all the potential within you,

all the fruit of the unknown that is borne from your very existence...

I want a taste of it.

Th-That's all true...

B-But don't assume that she just t-told you everything...

The Witch of Lust?

E-Echidna-chan... isn't lying...

But there's a lot... she's hiding from you.

Don't bother listening to these two, Natsuki Subaru.

Once you have formed a contract with me,

I will, without fail, guide you to the future you desire.

This wouldn't be the promise you always precede with "In the end..." would it?

And who are you?!

The Witch of Sloth, Sekhmet.

Just letting you know my name, for the record and all.

You're the sixth...

I'm only here as a watchdog to preserve the fairness of this place.

But I will fulfill my obligation to her.

Oh, Baru, you're here?

Is everyone here now? That's unusual!

It's been a long time since we had a tea party.

You should have invited me, too.

Why do you guys keep appearing one after another?!

What do you want from me?!

I believe I told you already.

It's the promise that's always preceded by "In the end..."

"In the end"?

Echidna, you said you'd guide me to the best possible future, didn't you?

Yes, I did. It was true.

And with your help, would I arrive at the best possible future

by following the best possible path?

Why aren't you saying anything?

Answer me, Echidna!

Answer me, Witch of Greed!

For the purpose of attaining the future you desire,

you must accept any sacrifices made along the way.

Is that not the resolution you made, Natsuki Subaru?

Wait, wait, wait, wait, wait, wait!

No, I will not wait.

You are the one who needs to understand better.

Just think about it!

The Return by Death Authority you possess is a tremendous thing.

You do not fully understand how truly useful it is.

It allows you to restart the world all you want until you reach your desired future.

It's the embodiment of the ultimate ideal any seeker could wish for!

Of course, I won't force you to Return by Death.

You will use it to achieve the result you desire,

and I will lend you all the wisdom you need to fulfill your wish.

I expect all the results that come about in the process

to contribute vastly to the satisfaction of my curiosity!

We will agonize over, struggle with, and solve the same problems together.

We will have the optimal relationship to achieve that!

As I make use of your power,

I want you to use me to achieve your best possible future, too.

My maidenly heart's affection for you and desire to help you are real.

I'd be more than content to have you treat me as a convenience.

If it's what you want, you're welcome to use my body for your comfort!

I gladly offer it to you!

I will give you the strength to move forward with my words.

Whether you want comfort, motivation, or love,

or even hatred, I will give it all to you. I can give it all!

You like girls who give you everything, don't you?

You need me!

No one but you can satisfy my curiosity now.

If you use your power to save someone,

I want you to save me.

I cannot control my own greed!

No matter what happens, I will guide you to the future you desire.

I swear it! I absolutely swear it!

And the Sanctuary's liberation lies beyond that.

You can save everyone trapped there—the one you love and all those you care about!

For that purpose, I want you to take me, use me,

and rob me of all the greed you want,

so we can take hold of our future!

That is all I want from you, all I desire from you,

and all I offer in return.

I have now told you everything... truly, every last detail, with passion.

This might be close to love. It's a vow of love!

And how will you respond to my love?

I want your answer!

That is one of the answers that will satisfy my curiosity, after all.

Echidna...

Yes?

You're going to use me?

I am.

And you can do the same to me.

That's what this contract is for.

If you want to criticize me for using it as a means

to keep you as my own, I'll accept that.

It's the truth, after all.

It's not as if I never considered

that your intentions might not be % good.

But... that's just way beyond the pale!

I don't quite understand what you find so problematic.

Everything about your attitude is so infantile and shallow!

It's all completely superficial!

When you laugh, even when you're mad, your attitude is...

Echidna, you're incapable of understanding how anyone else feels!

This is one of those times when you could get angry...

I see. You have taught me much.

When we next have a chance...

I will do just that.

But first, why not have a seat?

I'd like to discuss our contract a bit more.

I just remembered...

There was one thing I wanted to ask you when I saw you again.

Oh? What might that be?

Once I hear your answer, I think I'll be able to make a choice.

You know Beatrice, don't you?

Yes, I do.

I was deeply involved in her birth, after all.

Beatrice has lived her life under a contract

forcing her to wait for "that person."

I believe that contract was with you.

True. I'm the one who ordered her to protect

the forbidden library and await the one who would come for her.

Then who is "that person"?

How can I set her free?

Good question! Whoever could it be?

What?!

You... You're saying you don't even know who Beatrice is waiting for?!

I really don't know.

But why?

Weren't you the one who told her to wait for them?!

You've made quite a misunderstanding.

I didn't force Beatrice to make that promise

so she'd give the forbidden library to "that person."

What?

That wasn't my goal at all.

By making her promise to wait for "that person" to come to her,

I want to find out who she will choose

to be "that person."

Of course, her staying there for years without choosing anyone is one result of that.

Her inability to choose anyone so easily all this time

and wanting to die as she agonized over whether to keep upholding the contract or not

are also results of that.

And how do you feel about that?

I think it's wonderful.

Echidna...

You are a witch!

You're an unfathomable monster beyond all comprehension!

And I...

I won't take your hand.

I know whose hand I want to take.

There's a girl who's been tied down by the words

you spoke out of pure curiosity, without malice.

My mind's made up.

I'm going to take her hand.

I won't go with you.

She's here.

N-No!

I have nothing to do with any of this!

A really troublesome girl just showed up at a troubling time to start some trouble.

Oh! I'm feeling very, very hungry!

Hey! It's Tella!

Long time no see!