Just as Rem in the imperial capital and the others in the City of Guaral were trying to glean more information from the Sky Curtain, it seemed to play an enormous joke on them.
When the Sky Curtain lit up again, everyone felt an instinctive shudder-as though a door were slowly being pushed open, revealing a space they had never set foot in, yet found vaguely familiar.
The image showed a deep darkness. There was no sky, no ground, only boundless silence stretching into infinity. Like a sea forgotten at the end of time, it weighed heavily upon every consciousness that passed through it.
Sky Curtain
[-His consciousness drifted through a dim, dark sediment.
For Natsuki Subaru, it had been a very long time since he last visited this place.
He vaguely remembered being forcibly summoned here several times before whenever he experienced [Return by Death].
This was a pitch-black world where neither sky nor ground had an end, and only darkness stretched on.
It was also a fantastical space that left nothing behind in reality when he awoke, like a fleeting dream.
Subaru's consciousness floated in the darkness. He had no body, no sense of direction, only a peace like being wrapped in gentle currents. Within that peace, there was no fear, no unease, only affection, trusting love, and deep love welling up in his heart, like layers of warmth giving heat to his yet-unformed soul.
However-
"You certainly look pleased with yourself." (This sentence ended with Sloth's signature "desu," as did his remarks below.)
"Oh, stop joking around. Getting smug over a victory that was just a little lucky, then becoming so insufferably presumptuous afterward. Listen, would you kindly learn to look at yourself objectively? Then you should realize just how shameless you are."
The sudden noise carelessly disrupted this world that should have contained no impurities.
"What a hateful, despicable, shameless product of self-important delusions! Ah, oh, what a sinful, hideous way to exist! Worthy of nothing but disgust and contempt!"
"This goes beyond being inferior to ordinary people. You're inferior to humanity itself, the very embodiment of incompleteness. And something like you wants to kick aside someone as fulfilled as me? Know your place! Whether you stand before me, block me, or obstruct me, it's all beyond your station! You subhuman beast!"
In the darkness, two unnatural [consciousnesses] began berating the incomplete Natsuki Subaru in unison.
The furious barrage of anger, hatred, and ominous emotions left Subaru bewildered.
This Subaru, who existed only as [consciousness], lacked the faculties to understand those fresh emotions.
If necessary, he could create them. That was all. It was possible in this space. Somehow, he felt he could.
-Yet, for some reason, he also felt no need to understand them.
He saw no point in allocating time to them and rousing his [consciousness].
He had no such desire.
Here, Natsuki Subaru did not think he wanted to understand them.
"What insolence! What contempt! What an insult! Despite how diligently I speak, you refuse even to understand! How slothful you are!"
"Just how far must you mock people before you're satisfied, you wretched beast...! I'm merely a man without greed or ambition, content to endure simple, ordinary happiness, with that one wish alone. Yet you violated my rights. That is evil. There's a limit to trampling on other people's happiness...!" (This speech from old Regulus made me laugh.)
Feeling that this would go on forever, Subaru cut those two [consciousnesses] out of his awareness.
Only after trying it did he discover how surprisingly effective it was. Though the [consciousnesses] seemed to still be saying something, fortunately, he could no longer hear a thing.
Nor could he feel them anymore.
It was very peaceful.
"-"
Once he had calmed his heart like this, Subaru could finally face the true meaning of his coming here.
Within the pitch-black darkness where nothing should have been visible, a figure wrapped in black deeper than the darkness grew increasingly distinct.
The figure had tender fingers that sometimes froze Natsuki Subaru's heart and made it tremble.
A dark dress enveloped her slender, supple limbs.
Though everything above her neck remained obscured as if by thick fog, Natsuki Subaru understood with his soul that there was [someone] there who filled him with tender love.
Her figure was noticeably clearer than during their previous encounters, and closer too.
Where once he could only make out her arms and silhouette, now even the ornaments on her dress, her pale shoulders, and her neck were clearly visible.
Most of her body had emerged from the shadows. Only her face, hidden behind the darkness, remained unseen.
He felt impatient. But for now, this was enough.
He could already feel her presence more strongly and from closer than before.
But Natsuki Subaru was not yet ready enough to welcome her.
So for now, he only needed to rejoice that she was beside him.
Someday, he would touch those helpless fingers, draw that slender waist into his arms, and profess their love to each other.
"-I love you."
Next time, he would be sure to prepare lips with which to answer those words.
He would properly prepare a [body] with which they could touch and affirm each other's presence.
With that reflection, Natsuki Subaru's existence departed from the Garden of Shadows-]
Unlike the previous real-world scenes Subaru had returned to after dying again, this seemed to be-
"Subaru's mental space?"
In the city hall's main hall, everyone was simultaneously filled with profound questions.
Disbelief appeared on Emilia's and Beatrice's delicate faces, along with an emotion that was hard to call either anger or sorrow-
"Who turned Geuse into that?!"
"And that weirdo saying 'I love you'-why are there so many bizarre tenants living in Barusu's mental space? Did he sell his soul to a devil?"
Ram's gaze remained fixed on the Sky Curtain, a rare hint of confusion flashing through her pale red eyes.
Vincent did not join their discussion. He stood at the front of the crowd, the eyes behind his demon mask rapidly focusing and analyzing.
With the Sky Curtain broadcasting Natsuki Subaru's memories and experiences so ostentatiously, Vincent, as one of his allies, carefully compared his appearance and manner of speaking with those of "Natsuki Schwarz" and finally confirmed that they were indeed the same person.
But after learning so many clues, even his extraordinary strategic mind could ultimately arrive at only one terrifying conclusion.
"I understand your concern for a close friend. However, as emperor of the Vollachian Empire, I must question those of you who have had close contact with him-has he been colluding with the Witch of Envy?!"
"Hey, hey, hey!"
Garfiel immediately sprang up.
"Where'd you get that conclusion from? Watch it, or I'll accuse you of slander! With the captain taking down two Sin Archbishops in succession, there's no way he's with the Witch Cult-"
"I said the Witch, not the Witch Cult!"
Vincent's tone did not waver in the slightest.
"And if you want evidence, what happened in the Demon City is the best proof!"
"What happened to Subaru in the Demon City?"
"Let someone with firsthand knowledge speak, General Night Weeping."
Night Weeping sighed, her foxlike eyes lowering slightly. She gently turned the pipe in her hand, as though gathering her thoughts.
"Actually, I can hardly claim to have the most firsthand knowledge. There was someone even closer to that little boy... an old ninja, whose whereabouts are now unknown. Perhaps he is hiding in some corner trembling, or perhaps he has already been swallowed up completely."
"It's probably the second one."
Al stepped forward and scratched his helmet.
"That technique of his that shrinks people's bodies seemed to collapse completely at some point. Otherwise, I couldn't have gotten back to Lady Priscilla so smoothly..."
"Al! Your parasol is crooked. You're blocking my view!"
"Yes, Lady Priscilla!"
The tall, helmeted man immediately straightened the parasol in his hand.
Priscilla reclined in a comfortable chair, the Sky Curtain's lingering glow reflected in her red eyes. She looked like a spectator who had already taken in every clue and was waiting for the most interesting part to appear.
Night Weeping withdrew her dazed gaze from Priscilla and continued.
"At the time, a vast mass of black shadows suddenly erupted from that little boy. Even someone as unfamiliar with history as I am has heard the terrifying rumors of the Witch of Envy's endless shadows swallowing half the world four hundred years ago."
"She tried to swallow the entire Crystal Palace. Had my adorable maid Tanza not used the Soul Marriage Technique to detonate the entire Great Disaster, the whole Demon City might have ceased to exist."
She paused, raised her pipe to her lips, and took a puff, a hint of certainty in her voice.
"Of course, I would never believe the little boy unleashed that Great Disaster deliberately."
"I believe, rather, that the Witch swept him up in it-it was not his intention."
After hearing this defense of the child named Natsuki Subaru, Vincent calmly considered matters again. After all, he now knew this person possessed an ability called Return by Death. The fact that the two of them had safely overcome so many dangerous situations in the empire could only be credited to the experience he gained through death.
He was about to acknowledge that Subaru should be innocent, but Otto spoke first.
"If that figure in the darkness saying 'I love you' really is the Witch of Envy, why would she have... fallen in love with Subaru?"
Otto's voice was quiet, yet it was like a pebble dropped into still water. The hall fell silent for a moment.
"I don't think things can possibly be that simple. Something must have happened four hundred years ago-no, a great many things nobody knows about."
"But we still have too little information to draw rash conclusions. Whether it's the two Sin Archbishops or the Witch, I think the roots of everything... must be traced back four hundred years."
"Now that you mention it, Otto, Betty remembers something Mother once told her."
"Lady Beatrice!?"
"Mother once said that the so-called Witch Factors apparently do not disappear, but instead choose suitable targets and transfer into them..."
"Then after Master Subaru defeated the Sin Archbishops of Sloth and Greed, those terrifying Witch Factors transferred into him!?"
Petra widened her peacock-blue eyes.
"So those two inhuman figures in Subaru's mental space..."
"Perhaps they are projections of the previous owners."
Beatrice's voice grew a little calmer.
"After all, Subaru told Betty that when he defeated Sloth, he was nearly treated like a Finger... a so-called suitable vessel."
"I can vouch for that too!"
Emilia took over, her voice carrying a mixture of urgency and pride.
"When we fought the Sin Archbishop of Greed, Subaru personally... yes, personally! He used another very reassuring thing, called... 'Invisible Providence,' to crush the piece of Regulus's heart parasitizing my body! I was so happy, and Subaru even showed off to me then!"
"He inherited two Witch Factors?"
Vincent remained deep in thought.
"But why does he look..."
"Why does Barusu still look so pathetically weak, right?"
Ram shook her head, her tone carrying a complicated helplessness.
"When both previous owners were such monsters-put that way, should we feel relieved for Barusu? Or disappointed?"
"About that-"
Beatrice's voice suddenly grew a little heavier.
"Betty only knows that Subaru's Gate broke after we defeated the Great Rabbit in the Sanctuary. We must find Subaru quickly-with all the Mana that's built up, Subaru will explode!"
"Beatrice is right! We have to find Subaru quickly!"
Emilia clenched her fists.
"Now that we've finished dealing with the aftermath in the fortress city, we should-"
"-Allow me to take the stars' place and guide His Majesty and everyone to the imperial capital for an epic battle, meeting, and reunion!!!"
An unfamiliar voice cut into the conversation, as though some force had hurled it precisely into the center of everyone's attention.
Everyone turned in unison toward the speaker-a long-haired man in robes, holding a battered astrolabe and smiling at them as though he had anticipated all of this.
"Um, may I ask who you are?"
Emilia was the first to ask.
"Since you've asked with such sincerity, I'll mercifully tell-"
"Ubilk!"
Vincent abruptly removed his demon mask, his sharp gaze piercing the mysterious man.
"What exactly are you Stargazers playing at?! Is what's on this Sky Curtain another so-called decree of fate?!"
The reason he resisted this fate was that, in these people's prophecies, his very existence as emperor would instead bring about the Great Disaster.
And these people's prophecies were often extremely accurate-the so-called Stargazers were the emperor's appointed prophets to begin with.
Yet their prophecies did not spare even the emperor himself. Such arrogance, and yet there was nothing he could do about it.
"No, no, Your Majesty."
Ubilk waved his hand, his tone carrying just the right measure of composure.
"We have already clearly informed Your Majesty of fate's decree. But dealing with it, it seems, can only depend on the combined strength of Your Majesty and the friends around you-our mission as Stargazers has already been fulfilled."
He paused, swept his gaze over everyone in the hall, and only then continued:
"As for the Sky Curtain, that concerns a secret saying within my own family-guidance concerning otherworldly celestial phenomena that recur every four hundred years. My ancestors called it-"
"-The Pleiades Star Cluster."
"I know that!"
Emilia looked as though she had remembered something.
"I remember Subaru saying his name came from the stars in his homeland... I heard Subaru came from the other side of the Great Waterfall."
Ubilk nodded slightly, his gaze resting on Emilia for a moment as though confirming something. Then he turned to everyone, his voice carrying a solemnity different from before.
"So before I lead Your Majesty and everyone to the imperial capital, you must learn the origin of the Sky Curtain-and a mission my ancestors passed down to us, their descendants."
He slowly unfolded the astrolabe in his hands. Its intricate markings flowed in the light like ancient writing awakening.
"Allow me to tell you of the plan my ancestors devised together with the 'Sage' Flugel four hundred years ago."
The hall was as quiet as a body of water put on pause. Everyone's gaze focused on that astrolabe, on the long-haired man who called himself Ubilk.
Above them on the Sky Curtain, that dark mental space had slowly faded, like a door gradually closing. But everyone knew-that door had not shut completely. More truths still waited on its other side.