"- It's for Emilia's sake. She can't get by if I'm not here."
This is the darkest vol yet. Picking up after the events of the previous vol, Subaru is currently staying with Lady Crusch while her knight Ferris heals his gate.
Subaru has always been determined to help/rescue Emilia, but this vol makes it clear his motives aren't pure. He needs to save her to validate his existence. He's convinced himself that he's the "only" one who can save her, support her, who's on her side, so how dare she throw him away when she needs him so much.
Looking back, it's been around two months since Subaru has been in this world. He's died over and over, experienced mental and physical pain, but he continued to persevere because of Emilia, but now she's gone and he's lost desperately clinging to the one thing he believes he has to offer, his Return by Death ability. But every time he uses it the scent of the witch grows stronger, and I agree with Rem, that can lead nowhere good.
This vol Subaru's mind finally snaps, he gives up, only to discover what it feels like to truly hate someone, to desire to kill them with every fiber of his being. Subaru's motive has always been Emilia, but for the first time, it's something else, something darker. I don't know where this path will lead him, but I'm sure he'll be fine so I'm not really worried.
Rem gets to shine this vol, it was nice reading her pov. She's so devoted to Subaru. As she says, meeting Subaru has shown her parts of herself she never realized she had, bad and good things. I wish Rem's love will be answered someday, but she's not the heroine, Emilia is, so I'm not going to delude myself into thinking Subaru will actually return her feelings someday. He does care for her, but it's not the same as she does for him.
Some Thoughts:
- Like vol 3 this one ends before the conflict is resolved.
- A character asks Subaru is he's Pride, and yeah that fits him.
- Does the witch have something to do with the seven deadly sins?
- I know I'm supposed to root for Emilia to win the selection, but I can't remember why. Is she really the best candidate?
- I sure hope Subaru's ability erases the reality he dies in, none of that choices create different branches stuff.
- Cab Subaru change things next vol, will he even try?