What the hell's going on?
Is this the Witch Cult's doing?
Hey! Anyone?
Is anyone there?
Answer me!
Wh-What's this overpowering smell?
P-Patrasche!
No...
A flower like this couldn't actually exist.
And Patrasche wouldn't just let me die...
Which means... This is an illusion.
It's all make-believe!
You're that lesser spirit. Did you come back to help me?
Subaru!
What, it's you?
That spiteful tone tells me it is without a doubt you.
I cannot imagine my subconscious
creating such a realistic imitation of you.
They're all under a bewitching spell.
As of now, only you and I have returned to normal.
How did you make it back?
I burned a flower in my illusion.
I see.
Someone layered the flower's scent with hypnosis.
Hey, is that...
The glow of my little buds.
I'm about to teach everyone how to break out of the bewitching spell.
In... Nes.
Hi-ho! Hi-ho! No one's here! Where am I!?
I've strayed away... No, we've been pulled apart!
Is his affinity too great?
This is bad! If I don't do something...
I'm sorry. Take a deep breath and endure it.
No, this is awful! No matter how much forest I destroy, nothin' changes!
For this to happen at a time like this... Crusch-sama!
I cannot spare the energy to fine-tune it just for you.
Bringing everyone back is our top priority.
That will be quite enough.
Just kill me.
Do not humiliate me any further.
And? What is the meaning of all this?
You'll explain it to me, won't you, Balse?
That's what I'd like to ask you.
You're the one who attacked us first.
What were you thinking?
You shouldn't have to ask what I was thinking.
It's rich, coming from an ingrate like you.
Ingrate?
You are, aren't you?
After everything Roswaal-sama did for you...
Once you're done with him, you'd rush to wag your tail for another master.
Hold up! I think you're confusing your stories here!
So this is what it means to bite the hand that feeds you.
Listen to me... What about the handwritten letter?
We wrote you a letter about this!
Wasn't it delivered to the mansion?
Yes, we did get a letter from the capital,
but...
It was quite amusing, sending us a blank letter.
A blank letter?
To send a blank letter
is a metaphor that means you have no intention of speaking to the recipient.
It could easily be interpreted as a declaration of war.
This is a huge misunderstanding!
Do I even look that clever to you?
So this is what it means to bite the hand that feeds you.
You're still saying that?
I can't say it enough.
But I get the gist now.
The blank letter was some kind of mistake,
and you are still Emilia-sama's dog.
Correct?
Not really, but...
Okay, sure. Dogs are like family, anyway.
As long as I'm Emilia's dog, fine by me.
Would you not say that standard is a bit low?
In any case, these guys are reinforcements.
They're friends.
We pulled them together to wipe out the Witch Cult.
There's no time.
We need to start by evacuating the villagers.
Subaru, they seem rather uneasy.
Remember to be considerate.
Okay, attention!
I haven't seen you guys in a while. How have you been?
Look, I know this is sudden,
but I need to ask you all a favor!
It seems witchfiends are up to no good in the nearby forest again.
So I've brought some specialists to exterminate them.
But while they're doing their thing,
I'd like you all to leave the village.
Don't try to fool us!
You're trying to sound cheerful about this, but the villagers are frightened!
We've always feared the Witch Cult would try something!
The Witch Cult? No one told me about that.
Hey, wait...
Seriously?
Why lie about that?
Maybe he's trying to hide something.
So you're not going to deny it?
That must mean it was true!
Why would they bother a remote village like this?
Why else? Because of that damn half-elf!
Because this domain's lord is endorsing that half-elf for ruler!
Why do you have to make it about that?
The half-elf thing...
Emilia has nothing to do with it!
She has everything to do with it!
If you mess with a half-elf, the Witch Cult starts stirring up trouble.
Even the village children know that!
You guys seriously believe that?
That it's the fault of the half-elf in the mansion!?
The village, huh?
It might cause you trouble if we're seen together.
Does that mean I'm just being selfish again?
"Lift your head. Don't look down."
That's what Crusch-sama would say.
You...
Do you think what you're doing is wrong?
If not, there's no reason to look down.
Or is it harder to lift your head here
than to throw a tantrum in the castle?
Come on, now...
You're right.
Compared to that, this is nothing!
I understand your feelings and concerns very well!
I won't tell you to try to change them now.
Obviously, you'll have your own opinions.
It hurts, but I understand.
But for now, please accept my request.
Please do as I say!
Staying in the village is dangerous.
That's the truth!
The words of an employee of our household
are those of our master, Roswaal-sama, himself.
Ram...
Follow his instructions immediately.
You saved me back there. Thanks.
But...
What?
Having you take my side so easily is a new kind of feeling.
Does that mean you've acknowledged me?
Subaru!
Hey, Petra... What's up?
U-Um, will the lady from the mansion run away with us?
Huh?
She came to the village yesterday.
She told us we should hide away in the mansion
because it's dangerous here, just like you said.
But no one in the village would listen to her.
It's okay.
She wouldn't get mad about something like that.
Anyway, you should hurry and run.
Okay!
What happened to Emilia after that?
You should know that she isn't so perceptive as to back down
the moment someone denies her.
But I also know she's not the kind of girl who can just shrug off being badmouthed.
She tried to convince the villagers to leave, but they refused.
But she couldn't stand idly by,
so she reinforced the forest barrier.
She feared there might be a witchfiend attack.
In and of itself, that's not a bad decision, but still...
Julius.
Come with me.
I'm going to explain things to Emilia and the loli in the mansion.
With you there, it'll be more convincing.
Just take it as a sign of my repentance for going nuts in the castle.
I see. Understood.
If that will help the discussion proceed more smoothly,
do not hesitate to use me.
Also...
You were the one who put a spirit on me, weren't you?
Explain that.
I get that you're a spirit arts user.
More precisely, I prefer to be called a "spirit knight."
I do use the spirit arts, of course.
But that has not prevented me from training with the sword.
And you were the one who planted the little red one on me?
"Planted it on you" is a harsh way to put it.
I was only having her, Ia, secretly protect you.
By the way, what was that thing you did when you broke the illusion?
A high class of magic known as "Nect."
It connects the gates of all who are in range,
so they can communicate with each other.
However, it appeared to work a bit too well on you.
I thought I was about to lose myself.
For the spirits to mistake the tuning is unusual.
It seems to me that you may have a strong affinity with spirits.
Sadly, the only spirit I ever made friends with was a gray cat.
Well? Did you patch things up with Julius?
Did it work out?
I'm taking that matter back with me,
to mull over carefully before I make an optimistic decision.
Come to the mansion with me.
I'll need at least one person from the Crusch camp with me,
to smooth over the misunderstanding with the letter.
I'll do that after I finish my work here.
Subaru-kyun, come help us too.
It's dangerous work involving the Witch Cult.
The contract said he'd buy their cargo at the asking price,
so we must thoroughly inspect the goods.
Huh? But that shouldn't be our job.
Isn't this more importa—
Oh, come on!
Whoa, hold up now. No lovers' quarrels in my carriage!
Hee-hee! You got in trouble, Subaru-kyun!
Really, what a troublemaker!
There. You let your guard down.
This guy's a member of the Witch Cult.
I touched him earlier to make sure of it.
A weird spell is implanted in him, just like the "fingers" of that Sin Archbishop.
One was among the merchants?
That's why I stole into his carriage, to get under his guard.
Now, tell us all the details concerning what you're plotting.
My hands are the gentlest in the world,
but they can do some nasty things too.
That's...
What?
right.
Ia!
And now, it's the beginning of the end! Boom!
Protect him!
Thank goodness... You're awake.
Why are... you dressed like that?
It's not like I want to be.
I can't regenerate clothes with healing magic.
Regardless, given the situation,
I'm glad you and Ferris are all right.
Run 'em off! Don't back down!
How did they get into the village?
They stowed away in the carriages.
There was a finger among the merchants, and we didn't take care of him.
I failed.
This is not the time for regrets.
We had Tivey and Madame Ram evacuate to the mansion with the injured.
Ferris, join them and heal who you can.
Got it.
Okay, let's crush all the fingers that are left!
To think, to think, to think, to think!
That you would resist us this much!
Such tenacity, clinging to this ever-increasing love...
As a diligent disciple, I cannot begin to express my respect.
Ah! My brain trembles!
You're mine.
In battle, if one focuses on what the unseen arm does,
one will fail to see what is visible.
That is sloth, yes?
Yes.
He self-destructed.
Wilhelm-san!
We can't leave him like this.
We've gotta get him to Ferris!
Why?
Why? Why? Why? Why? Why? Why!?
Why are you still alive?
After all the abuse you've suffered... Why!?
Why do you not bend to my diligence!?
At a time like this too... It's just one after another!
Hey, look here!
This is what you're looking for, right?
It's a gift from your precious witch.
You thief!
You really did have it!
Quit shouting...
If you keep yelling at me like that,
it'll make my brain tremble.
You must die.
Now!
Julius, I'll work things out here somehow.
You handle things on your end.
And take care of Wilhelm-san!
That is quite a vague order,
but very well.
Julius...
Actually, it can wait!
Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait! Wait!
Wait, right there!
You cowardly, foolish, insolent, little man!
No matter where you try to run, it's futile.
What do you expect to find at wherever you're running to?
At long last, it would seem the end has come!
Do you know what this is?
It's a magic stone for creating barriers.
They were stashed in trees throughout the forest.
You didn't notice?
What are you talking about?
This area is a witchfiend breeding ground,
and we're a prime feast for them.
At least, if you don't have one of Emilia's barrier stones!
Only one finger left now.
Once we get rid of that one...
Damn... There's no time to waste.
Ah!
My!
Ah! My brain trembles!
Sloth!
That's enough, villain.
Emilia...
Stand down, villain.
I won't stand for your wicked deeds!
A-Ah... Ah! How grand!
What a grand day! What a lucky day!
What a grand destiny!
Emilia!
Wait!
I... I can't wait around now!
You want to make Emilia fight him!?
Calm down.
Have a little faith in her.
The people you want to protect
aren't always as helpless as you think.
Oh, my witch!
My witch! My love's guide!
I don't blame you for being charmed by my beloved daughter,
but I won't allow any unwanted pests around her!
Naïve!
Naïve! Naïve! Naïve! Naïve! Naïve, naïve, naïve, naïve, naïve, naïve! So very naïve!
This is love's true ending...
The fruit of my love.
Proof that the witch has returned my love!
That proof doesn't exist.
Your crush is purely one-sided.
Yes!
Ah, this is true... true diligence.
Thank you for being defeated.
See? Didn't I tell you?
We've now eliminated all the fingers.
Victory is ours.
It's finally over...
Get over there.
R-Right...
Subaru-kyun?
I have to get away.
From Emilia... From everyone...
Subaru-kyun, where are you going?
Stay away!
I'm...
Subaru...
Julius, stay away from—
You're too late.
The moment Ia was flung from his body, I had a bad feeling...
What do you mean?
That
isn't Subaru.
That's right.
I am a Sin Archbishop in the Witch Cult.
Archbishop of Sloth,
Betelgeuse Romanée-Conti, at your service!
Fantastic!
What a fantastic body this is!
It's been decades since I had a body that fit me so well!
You madman!
Get out of that body right now!
Madman?
That's right. I am driven mad with love.
Generous love, respectful love, pure love,
tender love, familial love, erotic love, friendly love!
Love, love, love... Love! Love! Love! Love!
Love!
Subaru! Wake up!
It's no use.
This body is already under my subconscious control.
Come to your senses, Subaru! Realize what you're about to do.
Remember what you returned here to do!
What, you say?
And what was—
Get the hell out of my head, moron!
I am Betelgeuse Romanée-Conti...
This body has already become my finger.
Shut up! I'm Natsuki Subaru!
Kill me, Julius.
Take your sword, and...
What are you saying, Subaru?
If you don't stop me now, we can't win.
Before that happens...
No, Subaru! I cannot do that!
You told me, "It can wait."
Wasn't there something you meant to tell me?
Sorry... It looks like I won't get the chance.
Ferris!
Please.
You can resent me for this, Subaru-kun.
I'll resent myself too.
Ferris!
No one else can do it, can they?
This is what Subaru-kyun wants!
But still...
You think I did that because I wanted to?
To use the power I swore to Crusch-sama,
the power I swore to my lady, for this!?
Ah, it can't be, it can't be...
Just when I'd found such a perfect vessel...
My lack of virtue was what forced this undesirable decision on you and Ferris.
Just when the Ordeal's completion was at hand...
One day, I'm sure I will get my just deserts.
I will never die...
Nefarious Sloth
Hello everybody, this might be a little sudden,
but could we all please read out loud the title of this anime?
Aaand...
Starting Life from Zero in Another World!
That's right, it's about life in another world!
But am I the only one thinking that life should actually paint a happy and pleasant picture?
So you're saying it should be Starting Life from Zero in Another Hell?
That's not what I meant.
But life and this whole parallel world drama...
Subaru-kyun, it's me, your dad!
You?!
Don't just call yourself my dad!
And I'm your mom...
Alright, how about a short lesson for everyone?
Could you be even more out of this world?
Next time: The Self-Proclaimed Knight and the Greatest Knight
Did Subaru actually imagine his life in another world like this?
Oh, forget about it...