Chapter 318

Without memories, let alone emotions, you believe you have nothing to worry about Return by Death.

By piecing together Natsuki Subaru's personality from other people's memories, he can Return by Death.

A perfect plan was born.

Unfortunately, you didn't realize that you couldn't piece together your own story from other people's memories alone, and you, without your own memories, also didn't realize that Return by Death has a concept called 'save points'.

You can't freely return to where you want to be; once she determines you've overcome the difficulties, the past can never be undone.

Willing to serve?

Jealous as I am?

Gluttony, Sage's Tower, Book of the Dead?

One name after another was written in the diary, and one convincing event after another, which seemed to foreshadow events, was uttered with words.

That's truly... an incredibly powerful vision of the future.

If it were only about the past, it could be said to be a deduction based on his experience.

But the mention of lust and gluttony.

It cannot be so easily dismissed.

... But in the end, Natsuki Subaru had no intention of questioning the Diary Master's plans.

Just kidding, this is my godfather. Would my godfather harm me?

Instead of worrying about whether your godfather might try to deceive you with false information, it's better to reflect on the possibilities of the routes you just considered.

Although being criticized for pretending to understand was somewhat like hitting the bullseye, to be honest, Natsuki Subaru actually enjoyed watching it.

Just like when we were kids, when faced with problems, injustices, or our parents' behavior that we sometimes felt was wrong, we would think about it.

If I turn evil! I'll become a corrupted elementary school student, and see you all cry for me and regret it!

I can't help but have this thought.

In fact, even now, he still occasionally has such thoughts.

The IF lines provided in the diary largely satisfied this need.

See? I'm so powerful after I turn evil! Don't underestimate me! Watch out, I might become 'Pride'/'Wrath'/'Greed' after I turn evil!

Cough cough.

Although that's what I thought, I still feel somewhat ashamed to even have such a thought.

[The possible, the impossible.]

Having Return by Death, you possess almost limitless possibilities.

What I have written here are nothing more than the fatal, fundamental original sins that appear at various turning points.

It is impossible to exhaust everything.

The description of greed is actually incomplete. What I didn't say is that Emilia failed the Trial and cut her long hair. What I didn't say is that you took Reinhard from Felt and made him your sword. What I didn't say is that Otto Suwen chose to leave you. What I didn't say is...

Just to confirm the weather, you ordered the Elsa Granhiert to kill you, rewind time, and utter that one sentence.

"It's a beautiful day today."

That's why you committed suicide to return to this time.

Therefore, do not believe everything, but you must not completely disbelieve either.

Just treat it as a story you heard in your spare time, except that the protagonist was chosen to be you, Natsuki Subaru.

I'm not saying all this or writing so much to change you, and I certainly don't intend to give you detailed instructions on how to achieve the perfect ending.

If you want to do that, go down the Greed route and form a contract with Echidna.

That's Echidna's job.

It's not mine.

So, that's it, just right.

Holding the Return by Death in your hands, you possess limitless possibilities, though I may be tired of saying it already.

However, you need to grow. You can't go through so much and still act like a clueless student who has just arrived in another world.

Recklessness and arrogance only make people annoyed.

I won't interfere with your future plans, even though telling you this now is already a significant form of interference.

However, if you have some free time, or if you want to see something a little different from the general tone of this world, you can flip through the previous content.

It's my diary.

Yes, it's not some Gospel or Tome of Wisdom that I can use to justify this; this is my diary, and I must admit it.

Just look at it and have a laugh, that's about it.

At last.

Having discussed so many routes, if we simply refer to them by names like 'pride,' 'wrath,' 'sloth,' 'greed,' and 'gluttony,' your impression of them will still be somewhat vague.

So, I'll briefly describe their characteristics to you.

These are the marks left by their own past experiences, but perhaps even a clumsy imitation can allow you to 'borrow' a little bit of their spirit, a little bit of their wisdom, and a little bit of courage that is not reckless.

Jealous as you are, you see sportswear as your most important marker—that's who you are right now, just who you are right now.

This is jealousy.

Arrogant as you are, cloaked in the cloak of a high priest, with only one person's reflection in your eyes and only one person's image in your heart, but deep within that reflection, beneath that long, silver-haired silhouette, lies your own true self.

This is arrogance.

Enraged, you were dressed in all black, using an orange scarf to cover the strangulation marks left on your neck by that woman. You had heavy dark circles under your eyes, a sickly demeanor, and were incredibly thin, yet also incredibly violent.

This is anger.

Lazy as you are, you put away your cherished sportswear and leisurely chose to wear a kimono, even tying your hair in a braid.

This is laziness.

Even someone as ambitious as you, dressed in a gorgeous gown with an exquisite necklace, couldn't hide the weariness on your face, despite your convincingly skilled acting. If you weren't putting your heart into the performance, all you could see was a forced smile.

This is lust.

You, who gluttonously devour, are draped in robes in the Sage's Tower, your past and memories vanishing like smoke, your jet-black hair losing its color, just like your empty, hollow personality.

This is binge eating.

Lending is permitted, but please be sure to repay it.

I must give you a piece of advice.

"Don't try to become like them."

The diary is finished.

"Reading completed for today, Reading Points +1"

That was the cold, calm voice that rang in my ears.

No matter how long I waited, no matter how many times I flipped through the page, the remaining text never appeared.

It seems it's truly over.

His godfather is gone.

Surprisingly, Natsuki Subaru found himself feeling a pang of reluctance.

Even though his godfather had already scolded him like that when he first appeared, he only realized how good his godfather was at the end.

Even though I've told myself so much, I still stubbornly insist that I don't expect myself to change.

"... Isn't this just classic tsundere behavior?"

For no apparent reason, Natsuki Subaru suddenly uttered this sentence.

But soon, he shrank back.

"I'm so sorry, I'm so sorry, Godfather, you're not listening, are you? I really didn't mean to!"

Immediately covering his head and begging for mercy, Natsuki Subaru once again assumed the posture of a samurai.

He hadn't mastered the other skills, but he became incredibly proficient at the seated meditation in a very short time.

"..."

There was no response, and no new words appeared in the diary.

Is this... that they weren't watching, or are they just going to let it go?

Never mind, let's just assume it's the latter.

Slightly relieved, Natsuki Subaru got up again and sat down leaning against the wall.

The amount of information his godfather has gathered in this short period of time is simply explosive; it might even be more explosive than the information he collected during his last Return by Death.

He now has to sort through the intelligence he obtained from the Return by Death, and also organize the intelligence given to him by his godfather.

Oh no, am I really going to have to commit suicide again?

Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but click his tongue in amazement.

Although he really wanted to organize the intelligence gathered from his last Return by Death and plan accordingly, he was indeed more concerned about the information his godfather had given him.

The closest route to the Greedy Route.

Satella will appear at the witch's tea party.

Although they were already aware of the trap Echidna would set, Echidna could still read their memories.

If Echidna knew what her godfather had written...

Will she be even more enthusiastic then?

Even so, he had no choice but to go to the place of Trial.

He felt it was necessary for him to formally meet with Satella.

This is an opportunity not to be missed.

We can't think about the distant future. The Sage's Tower and Gluttony are terrifying, but it's not time to prepare for them yet.

However, now that I already have my godfather's diary...

Perhaps I don't need to worry too much about amnesia?

Even though her godfather said he didn't intend to interfere anymore, the words he left in his Diary at this moment were the best help he could offer.

"--Look at the impossible now."

So, after bringing Emilia, who had failed the Trial once again, back to the Sanctuary, Natsuki Subaru had once again arrived at the Trial chamber, naturally heard Echidna's voice.

An impossible present, a second Trial unfolding after the past.

Echidna's Trial consist of three parts.

One is the past, the other is the present.

The dream created by Echidna was incredibly real: the touch of blood, the words of familiar people, and the final, inevitable end.

He should have felt nauseous; he should have twisted his body and repeatedly banged his head on the ground in agony to stop these thoughts.

But he didn't.

Perhaps it was because he had prepared in advance, or perhaps it was because this level of 'Bad End' did not suffocate him as much as Pride, Wrath, Greed, and Gluttony.

Even if those are just paraphrases of words, even if what is happening before my eyes is a dream that seems incredibly real.

But that's all there is to it.

There are fundamental differences.

In terms of 'reasonableness' and 'logic', and in terms of the degree to which it is 'convincing'.

So.

"Stop playing these games, Echidna."

Natsuki Subaru arrived before the witch once again.