Chapter Text
And with an exhausted look, opening the door to a room full of greenery, Subaru met the gaze of the first living beings in many hours that he had wandered first somewhere underground, and then inside of the Tower.
– Mm?? Oh, it's Master! You're back.
A girl he knows immediately ran up to him. A strange, noisy, annoying, depraved Shaula. She looks the same as he remembered her, nothing has changed in her. However, something has changed in him, so he tightened his grip on the blade in his hand.
– It's you, isn't it?
He hoped to provoke her, to force her to come out into the open. But Shaula's face didn't change its spice, she just smiled as widely as she could.
- Yes! This is me, Shaula, Master's best and only apprentice, Master.
Not to say that this reaction gave him any information. Shaula seemed as ordinary as ever, as if she had never seen the corpses he had seen. To this day, his insides are mixed up with each other only because of the memories of that bloodbath.
– You killed them all, didn't you?
There wasn't much point in hiding. It's now or never, Subaru has decided to act openly and big-time. If Shaula is his enemy, he will not spare her. They said she was strong, but he would see if that was true.
And even if she overpowers him, he will find a way to kill her after he returns.
– Killed who? Who is Master talking about?
– Don't pretend! Everyone in this Tower. I saw their bodies.
An Echidna almost split in half. Julius, wounded in various places. A bled out to death Meili. The headless Ram. He just didn't find Emilia and Beatrice. He thought they might be here, healing their wounds after the battle, after they got rid of everyone else, but it's just Shaula.
– No, Shaula didn't touch anyone.
And yet she's also a suspect. Her appearance seems too idealistic for the only survivor in the Tower at the moment.
– Then how did they die? Who killed them?!
– I don't know?
She just shrugged her shoulders and made a thoughtful face, gently putting her finger to her lips. Pretending to be the first to hear about it. Subaru couldn't have been wrong, could he?
– When Watchtower shook slightly, they told Shaula to come here and guard this girl and that lizard. Shaula did just that.
If they sent her here, then there must have been something else. Some kind of danger, one of them went crazy or something like that. Or else…
Subaru looked at the lizard, it was the most alive of all the living. He looked at the girl lying motionless. Her posture and appearance hadn't changed at all since he saw her a while ago.
Shaula couldn't be the killer. There are no traces of blood or strange smells on her, and this lizard next to her is calmer than calm. Moreover, if Shaula could kill all the others, then getting rid of these two would not be so difficult for her. As Subaru saw it, there was no need to leave them alive.
– I see.
He still didn't trust her, he couldn't trust her. But at least now it's clear that Shaula wasn't the one who opposed him, she wasn't the one who pushed him down the stairs.
Moreover, this girl has great strength, she doesn't need to push him down the stairs to kill him. And it's hard to believe that she was able to sneak up on him so silently from behind twice, when she's actually very noisy and annoying.
Subaru moved in a different direction. He still hadn't found the bodies of Beatrice and Emilia. They could be the ones who started this whole mess. Although, in the corner of his mind, there was also the thought of how much he would vomit when he saw their mutilated corpses. However, the guy pushed this feeling away from himself, now it's not worth thinking about it.
– Hey, Master, where are you going?
Suddenly, something stopped him by grabbing his arm. Shaula pressed her massive chest against his arm, which stunned Subaru for a moment. What struck him most was that he was not afraid of her, but embarrassed by her femininity. This banished all negative emotions for a second and gave him a chance to breathe easy.
– It's dangerous out there. Shaula can smell blood everywhere.
And immediately Shaula brought him back to reality, he felt sick. He tried to pull his hand away from her pleasant but firm grip. It didn't work out.
– Let me go.
– But…
– Let go, to whom I say!
Shaula might have followed his instructions, but he was already damn annoyed by her slowness and everything that had been happening lately. Subaru swung the blade towards the girl without any apparent hesitation. She took an instinctive step back, but the knife grazed her. More precisely, the blade passed right between her breasts, affecting only the fabric binding the bra together.
– Huh???
– Huh?!
Subaru was surprised when Shaula clutched her own chest in shock, shielding her from his gaze. As soon as he started thinking about what to do next, because even that confused him now, a stream of words poured out of Shaula's mouth.
– Pervert master! A real reclusive pervert, he only thinks about my boobs, and he wants to tear my clothes with his eyes and even with his hands! Shaula is a sweet law-abiding girl, she won't give in to this so easily, no! Shaula will defend herself in court! See you in court!
– Shut up.
It gave him a headache. She talks and talks, almost incoherently.
– I won't shut up. That's my duty as a woman and..!
And then Subaru got tired of it completely. He gripped the blade tighter, and while Shaula chatted and pondered her own words, he plunged his blade into her side without hesitation. That finally made her shut up.
– Hmm? Aw, it hurts.
She didn't even move her arms, didn't try to defend herself or grab the handle of the knife, just continued to shield her breasts from his gaze.
– What the hell…
He could see for sure, there wasn't a drop of pain on her face, no signs. Shaula looked with pure indifference at the blade that had pierced her and was now stuck there in her side, because Subaru had not deigned to pull it out. He took a silent step back, startled by her reaction, or rather, by her absence.
Subaru knew that this was a parallel world, but it was already beyond all his expectations. A sexy girl who easily survives a knife stab without even paying any attention to the wound. This did not find any resonance in his mind with the recent mutilated corpses of most of the people here.
– Who are you..?
He asked more out of awareness of his own powerlessness and fear of her than out of any real interest. Subaru was forced to look at her differently now.
– Shaula, your apprentice, Master.
– …
However, he had nothing to say to that. He doesn't know her. According to the others, even Natsuki Subaru, who was here before him, didn't know her.
– Do you want Shaula to die?
He had already heard that she was his apprentice, but he had never really thought about it. Was it really something special? The others said a lot that she was just making a mistake and talking nonsense, but Subaru suddenly stopped thinking like that. After all, he didn't want to listen to the words of those he suspected of his own murder.
– What happens if I say yes?
He needs to check on her. What does this connection between them mean and how deep is it?
– Then Shaula will die, if that is the Master's will.
It would seem perfect. However, he still wasn't done with her. So the next question followed. It turned out to be a little more difficult to ask.
– ...do you want to kill me?
– Absolutely not! Master of Shaula will not be harmed! Beat me, rape me, and humiliate me as much as you want, or take me into sex slavery, but I won't raise my hand against you.
Despite her crazy arguments, Subaru somehow wanted to believe her. Her words seemed quite sincere to him, just like Emilia's. Except he hadn't seen the last one anywhere yet, and Shaula was standing right in front of him. Safe and sound.
– Shaula… Did you kill everyone in this tower?
– Hmm? This again? No? Master made it clear to me, I shouldn't touch his friends. I haven't killed anyone, not even that nasty pink one who always offends Master. Although sometimes I just want to hit her so that she knows her place.
– That's how it is…
He was simply forced into this world, forced to forget about everything and start from scratch. He has to be here, playing the mad detective and going through some floor trials.
– And yet these damn trials…
– Trials? Master doesn't like the Watchtower trials?
– Don't pay attention... although no, I am. I hate them. I don't want to go through these trials.
Subaru kept boiling inside, he wanted to express his hatred for everything that was happening. To this Tower. To those who met him in this new world. To himself for just wanting to withdraw into his inner world as usual with a controller in one hand and chips in the other. To the one who threw him down the stairs twice. To that giant worm that almost ate him. To his return to the past with the help of death. And many other things.
- OK. Shaula took this into account. Although, I suppose, since you quietly left the Watchtower earlier, you already refused them in advance, without even notifying Shaula. Bad Master-baka, you should notify Shaula about such things! I'm the guardian of the Watchtower after all.
– It doesn't matter... but okay, you know, tell me what do you mean?
Still, her words stunned him. He didn't want to think about it, but for some reason it was comforting. Although it seemed that an extra load on an already pretty tired brain would play a cruel trick on him. But was there really a big difference between left and right in this case?
– Anyone passing the trial can refuse to continue further. After that, all obligations of the subject are lifted from them.
He wasn't sure what that was supposed to mean, but since it meant fewer responsibilities, it was a good thing.
No more trials or anything like that. He's definitely decided that for himself.
– Does it even hurt..?
Suddenly, his conscience even tormented him. After all, Shaula had been talking to him the entire time while a knife was stuck in her left side. At the same time, even if she was in pain, she definitely didn't show it.
– Hmm? Well, a little bit. But it seems to be much more difficult for Master now than for Shaula. So, as a good apprentice, I must support my Master with all my strength.
She threw her arms up and jumped slightly, like a high school cheerleader. Subaru had completely forgotten that she had been covering her chest all this time, so this part of her swayed up and down significantly even from such a jump, following the inertia of the rest of her body.
– Damn it…
He was confused by this, he even turned away slightly so as not to see such a picture. He would definitely need a knife right now to do what he's up to.
– Oh, that was awkward. Although, if it's Master, I won't resist.
Noticing his reaction, she covered her chest with her hands again. There were signs of slight embarrassment on her face, giving her a certain level of cuteness.
– Kami-sama…
He's definitely not up to it right now, he needs to come up with something. However, Shaula immediately interrupted the beginning of his thought process.
– By the way, Master, can I get this thing out of my side already? I'm afraid I might bleed out.
– You fool, you'll bleed harder and faster if you pull out the blade.
For some reason, he was even worried about her, completely mute, but this emotion so unexpectedly manifested itself in him that he was amazed by it himself.
– And that's not it! Shaula is a very healthy girl, you can tell by the size of my boobs. I'm fine, but I just need to get the knife out.
– Damn you, do whatever you want..!
It was getting harder for him to tolerate this nonsense, so he just waved his hand, trying to forget about what she was saying about her breasts. But he was looking right at them, at those movements up and down, as if they were…
– That's all.
Subaru didn't even look in her direction when he noticed that she was holding out his knife to him, holding it by the blade, as she should, so Subaru wouldn't hurt himself. He carefully took the weapon from her hand, noticing her wound, where the knife used to be, was now completely cauterized by something, some kind of high temperature.
Was it some kind of special fire magic? Subaru was suddenly interested in this question, so he slowly shifted his gaze to Shaula's eyes, only to ask, when he suddenly noticed something was wrong.
Of course, she gave him the knife, so one of her hands didn't cover her chest, and with the other hand she held onto the burned part of her body. Therefore, Subaru immediately saw what he feared as fire. No, he was afraid of a woman's breasts now much stronger than fire.
– Here, cover yourself with this!
Immediately, with a knife, he cut off some of the fabric from his cloak and handed it to her, so she would soon tie it around her open chest. Shaula took the cloth in her hands and stared at it blankly.
– It's no more use than my hands, Master.
– Damn you, come here.
He couldn't stand her slowness and stupidity anymore, so he took a step forward himself, and then forced her to turn her back on him. And when she obeyed, Subaru carefully tied the cloth around her chest, securing it to her back. He was overcome with great embarrassment, but he coped.
It was the first time he had done something like this, especially for a sexy girl who was not at all embarrassed by his presence behind her in such a vulnerable position. However, Subaru didn't feel special at all because of this fact. On the contrary, it seemed to him more and more that he was in some kind of strange mess.
– Thank you, Master. Master, as always, takes great care of Shaula.
And then Tower began to shake.
– Huh? Hey?!
Suddenly, Shaula grabbed him, causing him to drop the blade from his hand in surprise.
– Hold on, Master!
Subaru grabbed onto her when she picked him up in her arms and immediately rushed to the side. He didn't even realize what had happened, but he still instinctively grabbed onto her, interlacing his hands on her shoulders and the back of her head while she held him like a princess.
And soon something happened where they had been standing. A shadow explosion destroyed the corridor there, plunging it into darkness. Subaru looked at Shaula's face and saw an expression of unprecedented seriousness there, as if she had become a different person.
However, as if she saw Subaru's frightened look in response, she smiled softly, as if trying to assure him of something good.
– Everything will be fine. I will protect you, Master.
Subaru didn't say anything, just tightened his grip on the girl who was carrying him so easily in her arms, running and jumping from side to side, trying to evade an incomprehensible threat.
Darkness suddenly engulfed everything around them, shadowy hands reached out to the two of them, but Shaula crossed long distances with unprecedented ease and speed, evading pursuit every time. Soon they came to the central staircase. Subaru looked down, and this time he was not overcome by fear of heights, as before.
– Fuck no…
Down there, everything became dark and incredibly draining. It was as if the very matter of the black hole had manifested at the bottom of Tower, but not only that. Also, this very blackness was stretching its hands towards the two of them, so there was only one way left. Up.
As soon as this thought occurred to Subaru, Shaula was already executing her plan. She rushed up the stairs extremely quickly, jumping from one to the other, speeding up her run and increasing her jumps as much as possible.
And when they seemed to be as high as ever…
– Oh, no… She damaged Watchtower.
Her grip on him tightened. It's like she's afraid of something herself.
Shaula's eye glowed bright red.
– Shaula?
– Ghhrr! No! Not now!
She struggled with all her might with something inside of her, and yet in the end she made an incredibly strong jump, many times higher than before. A gap opened in the Tower, which was collapsing from a shadow attack, and Shaula jumped out, clinging to a vast stone balcony located at a great height above the ground.
– I'm sorry, Master. Shaula has failed you.
She set him down on the stone floor. And then she immediately moved away, standing right in the spacious crack in the wall, through which she jumped here.
– Shaula..??
He didn't understand anything anymore, but suddenly, this girl's actions became even more bizarre than they had been before. Subaru sensed something was wrong and he didn't like it at all.
– I'm sorry, Master. Shaula screwed up, she couldn't fulfill her mission and promise. Shaula did not protect Master and did not protect Watchtower.
The skin on her arms began to darken, but Subaru didn't understand why. However, before he could ask, she immediately took a light step back and began to fall back down wilfully. Straight into that dark abyss.
– Shaula!!
Subaru immediately rushed to her side, but it was too late. She had disappeared from his field of vision, and below, where he was now looking, there was only an unnatural darkness that seethed like a heated lava flow.
He was slowly overcome by real sadness and loneliness. He became very ill. Excessive unpleasant moisture appeared in the eyes.
– Shaula…
And then suddenly there were footsteps behind him. There was no other passageway here, as far as he had noticed earlier, but still someone agile and strong enough was able to climb to such a height to him, avoiding the black sea below.
– Fuck you... I hate you all so much.
Only Shaula has been kind to him and tried to save him with all her might until now. And now someone else has come here. It's so similar to the situation when he was pushed down the stairs. Now will he fall into this abyss of darkness after Shaula?
He didn't have the strength to resist, didn't even have the strength to turn around.
There was only one question that bothered him. Is it Emilia or Beatrice? Which one of them is responsible for all this?
– But we love you, hero!
And then, before he could even respond, the air behind him was split by something fast and sharp. And soon Natsuki Subaru found that his eyesight suddenly dropped as his gaze began to wobble from side to side, and he seemed to fly up.
However, soon he had access to a split-second view of his body, which he could barely make out at such a speed. Somehow, his head flew up, separating from his own body.
Someone decapitated Natsuki Subaru.