Chapter Text
It has been months since Subaru 829 has been imprisoned. The comrades that he bled, sacrificed, and cared for are the very same ones who constructed the cage he resides in. Their company, now, a leash tugged at the slightest provocation of leaving and or self-harm. The warden had his best intentions, but he underestimated the love this Subaru was able to foster.
He was monitored, attended to, and given no status to the outside world. It was not a life deemed fit for one so close to the right path, but it was pulled away before he could see it through.
The report was read through tired eyes by Alpha and her father.
Alpha: It always surprises me how they can mistake themselves as friends but are wardens instead.
Subaru 002: They mean well but are misguided.
???: Misguided as they are, this is wrong.
A voice erupted from the other side of the table.
Subaru 002: It's why I called this meeting, Clock.
Subaru 009 (Clock): They made a prison for their savior. How repulsive. Do you have any idea where to send him?
Subaru 005 (Turncoat): Wherever we send him, it should be alone.
Subaru 002: Deny his comrade’s company is acceptable in this circumstance, but we must consider his own intentions.
(S) Turncoat: He will likely want to at least include Beatrice in his move.
Subaru 008 (Ice king): Mirror, you know we can’t have any of his companions follow. It would deter him from self-improvement, and I doubt she will preserve any information she learns about her contractor.
Subaru 002 (Mirror): Yes. We will introduce him to a world where he can make a name for himself without the need for his comrades.
Subaru 004 (Transparent): Calling them his comrades is reaching, but I agree with the assessment.
(S) Mirror: Then I suggest the world dubbed The Finals.
(S) Clock: The game show world?
(S) Turncoat: That is not a bad idea. He will be safe since the nature of the game is virtual reality, and he will gain the excitement he has been missing.
Subaru 003 (Devil): He can rack up kills, but how will he respond to death?
(S) Turncoat: You don't think he will disassociate when he plays?
(S) Devil: I believe the very nature of death illicites fear and past trauma. Perhaps a more tranquil world would be in order.
(S) Clock: His days have been nothing but tranquil. He needs excitement and risk lest he become a shell of a man.
(S) Mirror: Clock has a point. I believe that the experience will break him out of his fear. This is the safest path without endangering him.
(S) Devil: The safest path would be to stick a computer in front of him and have him play video games the old-fashioned way.
(S) Ice King: Have him revert into a neet? NO WAY.
(S) Mirror: Besides, that path could expose their world to the wonders of technology. A volatile combination of both magic and technology should exist in as few worlds as possible.
Devil Subaru nodded in agreement. The rest of the Subarus also agreed and called for a vote.
-002 Subaru (Mirror): I call a vote to induct Subaru 829 to The Finals.
(The closest to Subaru 001. His world diverged because of his relationship with the witch of Greed. They made a child called Alpha, and through all odds, Echidna had learned to be a caring mother to both Alpha and Beatrice. Emilia had fallen out of love with Subaru, and Rem had never regained her Memories. Echidna, seeing her chance, jumped into Subaru’s corner. She was met with an ultimatum when she birthed Alpha. Become a worthy mother or lose Subaru.
This Subaru is also the founder of the council and creator of the S.R.P Division.)
-003 Subaru (Devil): I disagree.
( He was named a Devil not by association to Emilia, as he is married to her, but rather for his cruelty on the battlefield. He is compatible with all the witch factors and became nigh-immortal. He can be decapitated and regenerate thanks to his lust. He can increase his strength to near godhood thanks to his greed. His pride would never allow him to lose, so he can heal anyone he touches. His gluttony allows him to absorb others into his very being, gaining their skills and knowledge. His vanity forbids him from shedding blood. Rienhard can't even beat him instead resulting in a standstill. If he did not have divine blessings, then Subaru would win. The boy is known to be sadistic on the battlefield, laughing at his enemies' attempts to take him down.)
-004 Subaru (Transparent): I agree.
(This Subaru could tell about his cursed ability from the very start of his journey. He was hailed as a madman, but when he correctly predicted future events involving the White Whale. Felix and the council of sages decided to use him as a tool when the kingdom or Lady Crush was endangered. Once, Felix killed him to stop his Lady from getting a scraped knee, claiming that his life was a small price to pay for her flawless skin.)
-005 Subaru (Turncoat): I agree.
( He was abducted by Betelguese after receiving new instructions in his gospel to induct the boy into the witch cult. Subaru was now the Archbishop of Pride, much to the dismay of his former comrades. During the final battle between the kingdom and the Witch Cult, A pivotal moment where the cult would gain the upper hand never came to pass as Subaru laughed, claiming that he was never on their side. He had all the Archbishops trapped and killed by his former friends and met his death with a smile as Rienhard brought his sword down on him at his request.)
-006 Subaru (Hollow): I agree.
(????????)
007 Subaru (Witness): I agree.
(????????)
-008 Subaru (Ice King): I agree.
(Subaru was able to save everyone, beating Roswal, but Emilia was never able to push through the Trails. Subaru underwent the trials for her and succeeded. Emilia then relied on him for everything. She had given her entire being to her savior, becoming a doll. Anyone who threatened Subaru was met with absurd amounts of ice spears aimed towards their head. It would take Subaru to calm her down. She did not disobey Subaru for anything; she even encouraged him when he said he wanted to marry Rem, with the only condition being that no matter how many wives he had, she would always be number one. The kingdom deemed him the Ice King.)
-009 Subaru (Clock): I agree.
(After the battle with Envy, He was encased in Ice by Emilia as his days were starting to wear on him. Only emerging after 315 years, His first sight was of an aged Emilia in a frozen wasteland as she spent her last breath undoing her ice. A letter left behind had painted a grim picture of his friends fighting for his freedom, but falling to the new Ice Queen. Emilia, in her manic state, used any resources to find a way to extend a human life beyond its natural limits. She was unsuccessful. This is the oldest Subaru in the council, physically appearing in his late forties.)
(S) Mirror: 8 to 1. Anymore questions?
(S) Devil: Who will be assigned this case?
(S) Clock: If no one else is opposed, I would like to take this. It feels familiar.
The other Subarus look upon eachother looking for any sign of disagreement and found none.
(S) Mirror: Alright, Clock. You will monitor and ease Subaru 829 into the world of The Finals.