Chapter Summaries

After a screen showed Natsuki Subaru dying and waking again, he revealed that his ability was Return by Death. The chapter ended with the screen reassuring him that his memory loss did not make him an impostor and that he was truly Natsuki Subaru.

• Natsuki Subaru woke beside Emilia, Betty, and Patrasche, unable to remember them and unable to explain that he had just died.
• A mysterious screen showed the others in the Sage's Tower Subaru falling down the stairs and waking again, then asked about his ability.
• Anastasia guessed that Subaru had experienced a prophetic dream, but Subaru corrected her and revealed Return by Death.
• Emilia, Betty, Ram, Anastasia, and Meili reacted to the cost of Subaru's ability, while Shaula initially praised it before apologizing.
• The screen gave Subaru the right to ask a question, and he asked whether he was really Natsuki Subaru or an impostor.
• The screen assured Subaru that he was Natsuki Subaru and had lost his memory, and Emilia and Betty comforted him.

Otto learned that Return by Death was real as the screen showed a possible future in which Natsuki Subaru repeatedly asked strangers if they knew him. The scene ended with Subaru eating alone with Shaula while the others realized that the companions he had spoken to were illusions.

• The screen added Otto Suwen as an observer and synchronized records of Return by Death, leaving Otto shaken as he recognized Subaru's past behavior in a new light.
• Subaru asked a little girl and then a boy whether they knew him; the boy was frightened when Subaru repeated the question with growing impatience.
• The observers questioned why Subaru was asking, while Subaru watching the scene wondered whether the person on the screen was really him and whether this was his future.
• Subaru cooked and joked with apparent companions, but Shaula passed through Emilia's figure, and Julius concluded that the others were illusions.
• Otto asked where the real companions were, and the scene ended with Subaru eating beside Shaula while Emilia, Beatrice, Ram, Julius, and the others were absent.

Natsuki Subaru met Regin Suwen while traveling with Shaula, and after recognizing that Regin knew him, he ordered Shaula to kill him. The scene left Emilia and the others confronting the possibility that this future version of Subaru had deliberately killed Otto’s brother.

• Emilia and the others feared that only Subaru and Shaula had survived in the future, while Subaru watched their recorded counterparts respond to him.
• Subaru and Shaula met Regin Suwen, who introduced himself as Otto’s younger brother and invited Subaru to his village for medical care.
• Subaru told Regin that Otto was a reliable companion and said he was on a journey to find himself.
• Subaru told Shaula not to let Regin suffer, and Shaula killed Regin with a beam of light.
• When Regin’s ground dragon charged, Shaula killed it too, and Subaru objected before she said it was self-defense.

Otto watched a possible future in which Natsuki Subaru killed Otto’s younger brother, Reikin, after Reikin recognized him. The group realized Subaru might be seeking out people who knew him, and they feared the village Reikin came from was in danger.

• Otto recognized the dead young man as his younger brother, Reikin, and struggled with his grief.
• Natsuki Subaru apologized, while Otto regained his composure and asked the group to work out why Reikin had died.
• Ram concluded that the Subaru in the footage was targeting people who knew him, but Betty objected that Subaru would not kill them without reason.
• Natsuki Subaru wondered aloud whether he could really become someone who killed people who recognized him.
• Anastasia and Julius recalled that Subaru had asked Reikin whether his village was ahead and whether he had been there before.
• Julius suggested that others in Reikin’s village might know Subaru too, leaving Otto afraid that the whole village could be at risk.

Natsuki Subaru sent Shaula to kill everyone in Reikin's village, believing he needed to erase those who knew his name to recover what made him himself. Watching the future Subaru horrified the others, but Emilia and Betty reassured the present Subaru, who vowed they would face the future together.

• Natsuki Subaru asked how many villagers knew his name, then went with Shaula to Reikin's village and told her to handle it.
• Shaula slaughtered the villagers while Natsuki Subaru waited at the entrance, and the observers realized Reikin had not been his last victim.
• Shaula returned, embraced Natsuki Subaru, and carried him away as he said he had something he needed to do.
• Julius condemned Subaru's actions, while Ram, Betty, and Emilia considered what might have driven him to them.
• Emilia and Betty promised to support Subaru, and he took their hands and said they would start again from zero.

Natsuki Subaru searched the Sage's Tower for the Books of the Dead belonging to people from the village, hoping to recover the memories he had lost. After reading Reikin's book yielded no useful clues, Subaru explained that he planned to rebuild his complete self from others' memories and use Return by Death to restore himself to the save point after losing his memories.

• Natsuki Subaru reflected on the warning in the light-screen scenes and tried to talk about his feelings while Emilia and Betty held his hands.
• Natsuki Subaru asked Shaula to find the villagers' Books of the Dead, and she embraced him before beginning the search.
• Shaula found Regen Suwen's Book of the Dead, and Natsuki Subaru read it, reliving his memories of Reikin.
• Natsuki Subaru realized Reikin's memories held no clues, apologized to him, and crossed his name off a list of more than twenty villagers.
• Natsuki Subaru insisted he had to find an answer quickly and told Emilia he would piece together his lost identity from the Books of the Dead, then use Return by Death to restore himself.

After understanding that the Subaru on the screen had killed to recover his memories and reset everything with Return by Death, the people around Natsuki Subaru warned him not to follow that path. Emilia and Betty stayed close, leaving Subaru feeling that the bonds of his forgotten past would keep him from facing everything alone.

• Otto explained that the people killed still mattered, even if Return by Death could undo their deaths, and Julius apologized for judging Subaru before understanding his goal.
• Julius said he understood Subaru's desire to recover his memories and save everyone but would still stand against him if he treated Return by Death as a weapon.
• Otto, Ram, and Betty each warned Subaru against using Return by Death to suffer or kill alone.
• Emilia released Subaru's hand and stood between him and the screen, showing she would stop him and keep walking beside him.
• Betty held Subaru's arm and told him she had not forgotten him, while Subaru realized their bonds could prevent him from continuing alone.

As the screen showed Natsuki Subaru continuing to read the Books of the Dead, Ram and Betty argued over his actions and whether his suffering excused the villagers’ deaths. Subaru remained determined to recover the person called “Natsuki Subaru,” treating every sacrifice as necessary, while the others watched with growing unease.

• Ram blamed Subaru for the villagers’ deaths and criticized how he had treated Rem, prompting Betty to defend the Subaru who had lost his memories.
• Betty argued that Subaru’s present self should not be burdened with future sins, while Otto and Julius urged the others to understand what led him there without approving of his choices.
• Ram challenged them to consider whether they would speak so sympathetically if the person at the village entrance were someone else, and Betty warned her to remember those words.
• On the screen, Subaru continued reading the Books of the Dead and wondered how many memories of himself the next book would contain.
• Subaru resolved that every sacrifice was necessary to reconstruct “Natsuki Subaru,” believing that the returned hero would solve everything and save him.

Natsuki Subaru watched his amnesiac self on the screen beg for the heroic Natsuki Subaru to return and save him. He rejected the idea that this broken version of himself was someone else and resolved not to leave him forgotten, though he still did not know how he could help.

• The observers recognized that Subaru on the screen had committed atrocities while suffocating beneath expectations and longing for the hero he remembered.
• Julius and Anastasia discussed how Subaru no longer trusted his present self and saw himself as someone who needed a hero to rescue him.
• Natsuki Subaru angrily insisted that the amnesiac man on the screen was still Natsuki Subaru, regardless of his lost memories or choices.
• Subaru admitted he did not know how to help his other self, but said denying the meaning of his existence would be too cruel.
• As the screen showed Subaru continuing to read the Books of the Dead, Natsuki Subaru resolved that he could not leave that version of himself forgotten.

The broadcast expanded to the royal-selection camps and revealed that Natsuki Subaru’s Return by Death had forced him to endure repeated deaths, drawing concern and remorse from those who knew him. In a future scene, Dona Fox explained that the amnesiac Subaru was killing his companions to read their Books of the Dead with Shaula’s help, then withdrew from the royal selection.

• The screen announced that future broadcasts would cover other timelines and synchronized records about Return by Death and the Gluttony Branch.
• Crusch, Felix, Al, Felt, and Reinhard reacted to Return by Death, with Reinhard promising to help Subaru if he could reach him and apologizing for not knowing what he had endured.
• Dona Fox told the Water Gate City group that Subaru had killed his traveling companions to read their Books of the Dead and reconstruct his former self.
• Dona Fox revealed that Shaula had assisted Subaru because she mistook him for Flugel, the Great Sage.
• Dona Fox said she would withdraw from the royal selection rather than let Anna continue, and the others did not stop her.

Natsuki Subaru’s plan flooded Water Gate City, trapping its residents, while Ram correctly identified Otto Suwen as the person Subaru considered most troublesome. Ram received a reward of memory fragments concerning Rem from Natsuki Subaru’s perspective, and the screen expanded before her.

• Natsuki Subaru and his allies watched the flood engulf Water Gate City after Shaula moved its control towers, leaving residents with nowhere to escape.
• Natsuki Subaru said they should start with the most troublesome person, and the screen asked who he considered that person in the Gluttony route’s future.
• Felt chose Reinhard, while Ram chose Otto Suwen, reasoning that Otto could quietly restore order to the chaos Subaru caused.
• The screen confirmed Otto Suwen as the correct answer, and Natsuki Subaru felt unsettled that Ram and Reikin had both mentioned someone he could not remember.
• The screen awarded Ram memory fragments concerning Rem from Natsuki Subaru’s perspective, then expanded before her.

Ram experienced Natsuki Subaru’s memories of Rem torturing him as a suspected spy and Witch Cult member, then killing him with a morning star. Ram realized her own wind magic had delivered the final blow before she returned to reality, overwhelmed by what she had witnessed.

• Ram found herself inside Natsuki Subaru’s body as he fled through the woods from an unseen pursuer.
• Rem caught Subaru, healed his injured leg to keep him alive, and began questioning him about Emilia’s political rivals.
• Rem accused Subaru of being connected to the Witch Cult because of the witch’s stench she sensed on him, then tortured him when he denied knowing anything about it.
• Subaru recalled the things Rem had helped him learn and begged her to remember their bond, but Rem did not recognize what he was talking about.
• Ram’s wind magic struck Subaru’s neck and killed him, ending the memory and leaving Ram doubled over in the present.

Ram was shaken by experiencing Natsuki Subaru’s suffering at Rem’s hands, and she could no longer defend her sister or dismiss Subaru’s pain. The light screen granted Subaru an ability that made enemies overlook him and a temporary passage to observed world lines, leaving Emilia and Betty worried that he might face danger alone.

• Ram recalled how Rem had tortured and killed an innocent Natsuki Subaru, and admitted that the reward was over without explaining what she had seen.
• Ram realized she had unfairly hurt Subaru by criticizing him for forgetting Rem, even though he had remembered and saved Rem after she killed him.
• The light screen announced that Subaru’s Cognitive Obstruction had reached Intermediate level and could make enemies overlook him despite seeing and hearing him.
• The light screen granted Subaru the Observer’s Passage Right, letting him travel for three minutes to any world line the screen had observed.
• Otto, Anastasia, and Reinhard discussed how Subaru’s new ability could keep enemies from treating him as a threat, while Betty warned that it could encourage him to face danger alone.
• Emilia told Subaru not to go somewhere dangerous by himself, and Subaru promised to take care of himself.

Otto rallied Water Gate City’s survivors and reignited Garfiel’s resolve, but their resistance was crushed when Shaula attacked and the white-haired boy confronted Otto. Garfiel’s fate remained unknown as Subaru singled Otto out as the most troublesome person.

• Otto organized survivors, directed them toward higher ground, and urged them to rescue the injured and gather floating materials.
• Otto confronted despairing Garfiel, reminded him he could still fight and save people, and restored his determination.
• Garfiel shielded Otto from white-light attacks, and Otto pointed out their source at the tallest tower so Garfiel could charge toward it.
• Garfiel heard the captain’s voice and turned toward Natsuki Subaru, but Shaula struck him and sent him crashing into the water and rubble.
• Otto watched Garfiel disappear beneath the current, then heard Subaru say that Otto was still the most troublesome one.

Gluttony-route Natsuki Subaru revealed that he had prepared the flood and eliminated Otto’s animal messengers specifically to kill him. After Otto confronted and denounced him, Subaru escaped with Shaula by drawing Reinhard away to protect Felt.

• Otto searched for animals to send messages and find a way to survive, but Natsuki Subaru revealed that he had already dealt with them.
• Otto pieced together Subaru’s preparations to flood the city, keep Shaula on high ground, lure Garfiel away, and prevent Otto from getting help.
• Subaru said Otto was his first target because he considered him the most troublesome person in his camp, and Shaula returned after defeating Garfiel.
• Otto called Subaru a fake and was killed by a burst of white light.
• Reinhard confronted Subaru, who admitted killing Otto and Garfiel, then tricked Reinhard into rescuing Felt from Shaula’s beam and escaped with Shaula.

The group watched Gluttony Route Subaru exploit Otto, Garfiel, Reinhard, and Felt’s strengths and loyalties to trap them, leaving Otto dead and Reinhard diverted. Natsuki Subaru decided he could not save that other self yet, but resolved to help him when the time came, with Betty and Emilia supporting him.

• Felt asked Reinhard if he would have come to save her, and he confirmed that he would.
• Crusch and Anastasia explained how Gluttony Subaru had methodically neutralized everyone’s abilities and anticipated their actions.
• Otto admitted he disliked being praised just before his counterpart’s death, while the others remembered how he had kept searching for a way to resist.
• Natsuki Subaru considered using the Observer’s Passage Right to reach Gluttony Subaru, but concluded that going there now would not help.
• Betty and Emilia promised to support Natsuki Subaru, who silently resolved to help his other self when the time came.

Ram apologized to the amnesiac Natsuki Subaru for using Rem’s name to hurt him, and Emilia and Betty urged him not to dismiss his own pain. The screen then announced that its next observation would focus on Shaula, who eagerly anticipated seeing her Master.

• Anastasia and Otto discussed how the Gluttony Route Subaru’s desire to save his companions made his actions even harder to accept.
• Ram remembered how she had used Rem’s name against Subaru and realized she had underestimated the weight of his pain.
• Ram sincerely apologized to Subaru and asked him not to say “it’s all right” so quickly when others hurt him.
• Emilia and Betty encouraged Subaru to speak up when he felt sad or hurt, and he agreed to remember their words.
• The screen announced that its next subject would be Shaula, who looked forward to watching more footage of her Master.

Natsuki Subaru reaffirmed his plan to find his former self and undo the deaths he caused, while his companions’ encouragement appeared in his fading vision. After they vanished, he realized how much Shaula had done for him and wondered what she wanted.

• Natsuki Subaru recalled that finding his former self could give him a chance to atone and restore the people he had killed.
• His companions voiced their faith in him, and Emilia asked him to promise that he would treasure Shaula.
• Natsuki Subaru agreed, then watched his companions disappear as his vision blurred and the surroundings fell silent.
• He called Shaula over, acknowledged that her fighting strength had been indispensable, and reflected that he had never asked what she wanted.

Natsuki Subaru asked Shaula what she wanted after everything was over, and she revealed that she wanted to stay close to him. When he said he would kill her last, Shaula took it as proof that he loved her and promised to wait for him.

• Natsuki Subaru asked Shaula what she wanted to do after everything was over, and she said she wanted to eat with him, receive his praise, be patted on the head, and nap beside him.
• Natsuki Subaru told Shaula he would kill her at the end, and she happily understood that he would save her for last and do it himself.
• Natsuki Subaru asked whether Shaula might have mistaken him for her master, but Shaula said she had waited for him and knew he was the person she awaited.
• Shaula told Natsuki Subaru she loved him most and asked him to love her most in return, accepting whatever he chose to do to her.
• Shaula held out her little finger and asked Natsuki Subaru to promise she would be last; he hooked fingers with her and agreed.

On the light screen, Shaula took Natsuki Subaru’s promise to leave her for last as proof that she was special, while Subaru realized his Gluttony Route self was not the only one who needed saving. The Q&A then asked whether that Subaru could reconstruct himself and use Return by Death, and the group questioned whether Rem’s stolen name and memories would leave a missing piece.

• Shaula cherished Natsuki Subaru’s promise and asked him to pat her head, while those watching struggled to reproach her happiness.
• Shaula said she would stay with Natsuki Subaru until the end, and Subaru recognized that she had become twisted through her devotion to her master.
• The light screen selected Natsuki Subaru and Beatrice for a Q&A and asked whether the Gluttony Route Subaru could piece himself together, activate Return by Death, and change everything.
• Felt, Otto, Anastasia, and Julius considered whether the Gluttony Route Subaru could obtain all the memories he needed from the Books of the Dead.
• Ram and the others pointed out that Rem was alive but had lost her name and memories, so her Book of the Dead might not provide the missing piece Subaru needed.