〜Inside, the Theater〜
"She's going to…"
Outside the screen, Emilia watched the direction the Witch of Envy was advancing, and then deduced the answer, shouting in unison with Subaru on the screen:
—
[ "It's the mansion!"
"Huh?" Garfiel did not understand.
"It's the mansion! That Witch is planning to go to the Roswaal Manor!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"To the Roswaal Manor? Why?"
Felt was puzzled.
"Though I don't understand why that Witch of Envy loves Subaru, she must have witnessed Subaru's experiences. Does she want to destroy everything Subaru cares about so she can have Subaru all to herself?"
Ferris said.
This was a relatively reasonable explanation. Subaru valued Emilia the most, so she first eroded the Sanctuary and devoured Emilia. The next step would be Rem at the Roswaal Manor.
"If that's the case, then everyone at the mansion, and that child Petra…"
Frederica said worriedly.
"Tch, Rem."
"Sis."
Ram and Garfiel clenched their fists.
"If this kind of world continues…"
Yuriusu thought to himself that at the end of such a world, it would likely be a duel between Reinhard and the Witch of Envy. After all, besides his friend, who else could withstand the Witch of Envy who had devoured half the world back then?
"No, wait. In theory, the Witch of Envy cannot leave the Sanctuary… but that's only in theory. I suppose"
Beatrice said, somewhat uncertainly.
It was hard to tell whether this Witch of Envy was a physical body, a soul, or some kind of existence made of mana.
And even if there was a mechanism to block her, could it really stop such an overwhelmingly powerful Witch?
It was truly a case of mechanics versus raw numbers.
"Sigh, in the end, why did the Witch of Envy come out now of all times?"
Felt said.
Not earlier, not later, but it had to be now.
If she really loved Subaru, why didn't she go find him when he first arrived in this world?
If she couldn't appear to find him because she was sealed, then why could she appear now?
—
[ "Don't think you'll get your way… I'm going to stop you, I must stop you… Garfiel! Can you attack that thing? Can you hold her back?"
"You useless bastard, at this point… what kind of pipe dream are you talking about? Don't you think about how many times this Great Self has beaten that thing up until now? But I can't pierce that shadow dress! I can't hurt her, I can't hurt that thing even a single bit!"
"Roswaal too… had absolutely… absolutely no way? If we let that thing go to the mansion…"
Roswaal had also been devoured. The situation of the two was a complete dead end.
"Wait a minute, there's still a chance."
Garfiel said.
"What?"
"The Barrier! The 'Witch of Envy' should also meet the conditions of the 'Sanctuary's' barrier! The 'Trials' of the graveyard haven't been cleared yet, and that thing is a half-elf."
Then, Garfiel showed a look as if he had 'found a great idea,' patted Subaru's shoulder, and said: "This Great Self is going to see that hateful face under the veil, and I'll bite your neck off if I have to!" ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"He found a way?"
Otto asked.
"Judging by Garfiel's expression, indeed he has."
Anastasia responded.
"Hmm… what I thought of, or rather what everyone should have thought of, is to let the barrier heavily damage the Witch of Envy, and then launch a fierce assault on her wound."
Yuriusu said.
What Garfiel thought of must have been this method.
—
[ "Though I don't know how much of an effect the barrier will have, I really hope it can weaken her at least a little." Garfiel carried Subaru on his shoulder, weaving through the trees.
"Garfiel, I can attract that thing. So…"
"If you brat dare say you're going to act as bait, do you believe this Great Self will bite off your fingers one by one and feed them to you, huh?"
"I'm not joking! The barrier and the bait! We have to increase our chances of winning as much as possible! Isn't that right?"
"Shut up! If you don't listen, I'll leave you behind, you bastard!"
"You should know this! My body is emitting the miasma that attracts that thing…"
"…" Garfiel fell silent, unable to find words. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Subaru is planning a bait tactic again… but this time it is completely different from before."
Ferris said.
Before, even if he died, he could restart, but this time it might start from the soul. What if something went wrong and led to eternal damnation?
"Subaru is being so reckless again; it's very dangerous."
Emilia said.
—
[ "The old hag! Ram! And everyone else, they were all devoured right under this Great Self's nose…" Garfiel spoke.
Then he continued: "And on top of that, I'm supposed to hand you over to that bastard? This Great Self can't afford to lose that kind of face! 'The claw marks of Paralalgrara will not disappear'! Absolutely! Absolutely not! I must leave claw marks on that Witch's heart!"
Garfiel's eyes were bloodshot as he shouted passionately. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Garfy's obsession… Garfy, in that situation, do you think Ryuzu-sama and Ram would want you to take such a risk?"
Ram looked at Garfiel and said.
In that situation, rather than 'at least leaving a scar on her,' the people who cared about Garfiel and Subaru would have preferred them to 'live on in my stead.'
"That's right, Garfy."
Frederica said.
"Ah, I get it, I get it."
Garfiel scratched his hair and said.
—
[ "We're here." Garfiel brought Subaru to their destination.
It was an open space, with a circular gap in the forest canopy above, and the barrier lay behind them.
They waited there for the Witch of Envy.
And Garfiel pulled a pyroxene from his belt.
"Huh? Are you kidding me…"
A voice came from the bushes. Subaru turned his head and saw one… two, three, four, five… countless Ryuzus.
Or rather, Ryuzu clones.
"If possible, I really didn't want you brat to see this." Garfiel wore a bitter expression. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"After Garfiel's explanation, we know that these Ryuzus are mindless clones, but Natsuki doesn't know that."
Anastasia said.
From Natsuki's perspective, he must have been extremely bewildered.
"So the tactic is to take advantage of the barrier heavily damaging the Witch of Envy, and have the Ryuzu clones attack together with Garfiel."
Yuriusu said.
—
[ "Garfiel! Your so-called plan is…"
"To break through and crush the opponent by sheer numbers, that is 'Reid always wins head-on'. You don't need to worry about them. They aren't like the old hag; they are empty inside, but they still obey this Great Self's commands. I must pry open a gap and wring the Witch's neck."
Then, the shadow approached, and the Witch of Envy attacked.
"I have to say sorry to you, brat first." Garfiel said, and then, facing the Witch's 'I love you' to Subaru—
"GAAAAAH!" Garfiel let out a roar, his body expanding and growing larger as he initiated beastification.
He opened his massive maw, bared his fangs, and pounced toward the Witch of Envy. ]
.....
( Translator-kun: Seriously though, where does Garfiel even get all these quotes from? )