--Unfortunately, the cloudy weather seemed to reflect Subaru's current state of mind.
There were six dragon carriages lined up in front of the Crusch mansion. Among them were already boarded the villagers of Arlam (apparently that's the name of the place), who had fled with them from Roswaal territory, and the last empty carriage was a special one prepared for Subaru and Emilia.
The journey was long. Unlike the trip there, he hadn't brought the children along for the ride because there were a mountain of things he needed to discuss with Emilia along the way, and even Subaru couldn't be so callous as to leave her with the children.
"I'm going to miss you."
As Subaru was quietly watching the procession of dragon carriages, a voice came from behind him.
Turning her head, she saw Crusch looking at Subaru. The damp wind caressed her long green hair, and Subaru scratched his head as she lowered her eyes.
"The situation won't improve if I stay here for too long, and there's no point in continuing to rely on them. --In truth, I should probably take it easy and recuperate."
Opening and closing his fists, Subaru chuckled as he considered his own physical condition.
Thinking back, Subaru had originally come to this mansion to recover from his deteriorating health. Roswaal's ulterior motives were involved, and, annoyingly, the clown's wish had been perfectly fulfilled. However, the pretense had fallen apart, and his wish had been trampled on.
"If that is what you wish to do, Natsuki Subaru-sama, then we would be happy for you to stay as long as you like, but... we can't say that."
"I appreciate your kindness, and I think there is a lot I can learn from you, but we also have a mountain of issues that we need to resolve. As for the White Whale and the 『Sloth』, if we don't wait until the situation on both sides has settled down, the merchants might take over the whole thing."
Shaking his head in response to Crusch's kind words, Subaru thought about Anastasia's camp, including Julius.
Currently, if we only consider the defeat of the White Whale and the defeat of "Sloth", this can be called a joint operation by the three camps, and looking at the balance between results and damage, it has been a crushing victory for them.
The Crusch camp had accomplished the great feat of defeating the White Whale after four hundred years of hard work - but the damage suffered by Crusch, the head of the family, could not be ignored.
The same could be said of Subaru and Emilia's camp, who were the driving force behind the defeat of "Sloth," and it was not a good sign that things would proceed without Roswaal, who was well versed in the situation. The damage was also not as fatal as that suffered by Crusch's camp, but it still left a wound that was far too great for Subaru.
Although Anastasia's camp had lost some of their mercenary troops, they still had candidates, knights, and other fighting forces in good condition, so they could not be said to be the main force in either raid, but they played a major role and suffered minimal damage, so it was a high dividend.
The recent damage - its scale has led the other two camps to hesitate about when to openly announce their latest feat, but this is also a major factor in why they are not doing so.
Still, in order to keep the Anastasia camp in check, it was necessary to maintain close ties with the Crusch camp.
Subaru's decision, which included such intentions, made Crusch sigh listlessly. Subaru frowned at his gesture, and she waved her hand, slightly embarrassed, and replied, "No."
"That was a sissy attitude. However, I was ashamed of my own shortcomings and was unable to offer any help to the person who had done me a great favor..."
"People who pay back their debts immediately are easy targets for debt collectors, but you don't need to be so considerate when you're in a difficult situation. Besides, you still get paid."
As he spoke to the respectful Crusch, Subaru glanced at the head of the line of dragon carriages.
Compared to other dragon carriages, it was somewhat over-decorated, a high-quality vehicle indicating VIP treatment, and the earth dragon pulling this honorable dragon carriage wasーー,
"That's a selfless request. I want to heal an injured earth dragon and then take it in."
"My lifesaver... No, my dragon lover. Though we've only been together for a short time, I might say he's the partner I've been through the most close calls with in my life. I do think that Patrasche might be put off by the fact that he'll continue to be a part of my hardships in the future."
"---There's no need to worry about that."
Subaru said, glancing sideways at the earth dragon - Patrasche, and Wilhelm softly denied it. The old swordsman, who had been checking the condition of the dragon carriage pulled by Patrasche, bowed to decline interrupting their conversation,
"The Diana species is known to be the most temperamental of earth dragons, and it is not uncommon for them to risk their lives to protect their rider. Subaru-dono, the earth dragon has grown quite fond of you."
"I don't remember doing anything special. When I was told I could choose any earth dragon I wanted before the battle with the White Whale, I just picked the one that stood out to me."
It's probably true that we get along well. I was lucky in that respect too.
If he had teamed up with a dragon other than Patrasche, I don't think he would have survived the fight against the White Whale or the subsequent battle with "Sloth".
"My body can't be satisfied with any earth dragon other than you... Kyaa, Patrasche's a man-killer!"
Touching the smooth texture of his side with his palm, Subaru bends and looks up at Patrasche. The earth dragon then looks down at him with a look of genuine disgust at Subaru's familiar attitude, and shakes its body, trying to get Subaru to point his hand.
"That was close! Even if you were trying to hide your embarrassment, you've gone too far. This is the worst feeling I've had since I sprained my finger while mopping the floor in middle school! It's slightly traumatic!"
"What? It was just a little prank by the earth dragon. The fact that we could argue so amicably like that was only possible because of our unshakable relationship of trust."
"Does it look like we're arguing?! I'm the one talking unilaterally, but it feels like Patrasche is rejecting me with her physical language!"
In a carnage, the trust between them is conveyed without words, but once they leave the scene of sorrow, it's like this. Dealing with a haughty young lady is surprisingly difficult. Although, even if you act cold towards her, she will eventually let you pet her.
Anyway,
"I was told that my name would be included in the results of my defeat of the White Whale, and I was able to defeat 'Sloth' and keep Emilia-tan safe. On top of that, I can even get my favorite earth dragon… that's quite a reward, isn't it?"
"One of Subaru-dono's great qualities is that he is unaware of just how big a deal it is to have defeated the White Whale. Someday, the world will reward his great deed in a more proper way. I look forward to that day."
"I don't think I did anything that big. I just ran around pretending to be food in front of the whale's nose."
Subaru spoke without any modesty, and Wilhelm looked at him with a look that was somehow endearing. The warmth of his gaze made Subaru feel uneasy, but he shook his head as if to shake off those feelings.
"Well, leaving Patrasche aside… I guess I'll have to say goodbye to Wilhelm for a while. Make sure you take care of your wounds."
"I'm sorry for worrying you. --It seems we've grown apart, and for now I'm only bleeding. Someday, the day will come when I can stand side by side with Subaru-dono again. At that time."
Wilhelm's wound――the unhealed wound inflicted by Thearesia, the previous Sword Saint. Faced with the fact that this old wound had reopened, the light in Wilhelm's eyes was sharp. His attention was directed at the two Archbishops of the Sins who had attacked Crusch, "Gluttony" and "Greed."
If something other than the White Whale was involved in the death of the Sword Demon's wife, then those two closest to her were the most likely candidates.
Subaru, like Wilhelm, also harbors a strong grudge against 『Gluttony』.
One day, one would inevitably come face to face with the Sin Archbishops. They were the group one would most likely not want to meet if possible, but 『Gluttony』 was an exception.
There was a lot that needed to be taken back, including Crusch's memories, and more than anything else...
"Subaru-kun. Rem-chan, I fixed it so you can check it."
As he spoke, a cat-eared figure leaned out of the carriage - Ferris. Subaru followed Ferris, who peeked his head out from inside the carriage pulled by Patrasche, and ran over to the carriage, peering inside. He saw a girl lying on a simple bed that had been installed by pushing down one of the seats in the spacious carriage.
A girl with blue hair, clad not in the usual waiter uniform but in a light blue thin garment. A girl in an endless sleep, forgotten by all around her.
A girl who loved Subaru, and who was sure she wanted to love him back.
"You won't get thrown off or anything."
"I do take that into consideration. I am a healer after all. That said, Rem-chan's injuries have long since been treated, so it's hard to call her a sick person or a patient, though."
As Subaru gazed upon his peaceful sleeping face, Ferris's tone was as flippant as ever. However, his profile was quite different from his usual nonchalant attitude, and it seemed that he too was harboring painful feelings about his own lack of strength.
Though, I believe the reason he felt so powerless was not because of Rem, but because of his peerless master.
"Are you really going to take me home?"
"I'll bring him back. He won't get better if he stays here and recuperates… No, I wasn't trying to be sarcastic or anything."
"I know that. Subaru-kun, you're not that mean."
Ferris gave a wry smile as Subaru tried to make up for his harsh words. But then his pupils narrowed and he pointed his finger at Subaru's face, saying, "More importantly,"
"That goes for Rem-chan too, but the bigger problem is Subaru-kun."
"I?"
"That's right, just playing dumb. You pushed the gate too hard again, didn't you? You forced a huge amount of mana into the gate when it was in the middle of healing, and it must have done a little damage to the entrance of the gate. Are you feeling tired or something?"
Subaru shook his head and shoulders in response to Ferris' question.
He went around and around, but there was no sign of anything wrong with his body, which had already been treated for external injuries. He tried jumping around on the spot, but no particular problems that would have worried him came up.
"Nnya, it doesn't seem to be a problem. To begin with, it was something that seemed to be used even though it wasn't. Apart from the gate thing, magic isn't something that you use on a daily basis."
"That's the idea of someone who isn't a magician. From Feli's point of view, not being able to use magic is nothing more than an emergency… but well, I guess that's fine."
Seeing Subaru with no sense of danger, Ferris seemed to give up on pursuing him any further. However, he pretended to back away, turning his head around and rolling his large eyes,
"But, don't push yourself too hard. I think I pushed out the toxins from within Subaru-kun's body, but the gate that was damaged in the process is still in tatters and hasn't healed yet. I'll take my time to repair it... and keep an eye on it for two months."
"Two months. That's a low hurdle for someone who hasn't used magic for seventeen years."
He joked about the diagnosis, but then he remembered that it hadn't even been two months since he entered this world. It felt like nearly four months had passed in real time, but in real time it had only been about a month and a half - he felt like he had come a long way.
Considering all the events that had happened up until then, I was no longer sure how strict two months of bed rest was.
「Well, it's not like I would have gotten caught up in all these turmoil but... somehow, what I said just now smelled like a red flag!? I thought I heard a beep!」
"Unfortunately, treating the head is outside of my area of expertise, Feli-chan."
Subaru is shocked as he reflects on what he said, and Ferris's response becomes even colder.
Hearing this, Subaru decided it was time to bring the conversation to an end. Then, with something on his mind, he gently held out his hand to Ferris.
"Nyani?"
"No, I feel like I haven't properly thanked you for all the help you've given me. Like when you treated my body, and honestly, there were a lot of situations during the White Whale and "Sloth" that wouldn't have been possible if you hadn't been there. ...I'm also grateful to you, Rem."
"...I don't think that's meant as sarcasm or sarcasm, but that's all I can say."
"My skill, 'Not Air Reading', has been activated. Please endure."
It was meant as a sincere gesture of thanks, but Ferris didn't seem to like it. However, it seems that my feelings were conveyed. Ferris shook my outstretched hand, and we had a firm handshake. So when I touched his palm,
"His fingers are slender, his hands are small. His fingers are rough and manly... or so I thought, but that wasn't the case."
"Feri-chan, who pretends to be so perfectly pretty, can't possibly show such a disappointing turn of events, right? She has absolutely no unwanted hair or rough skin, she's completely natural."
She proudly lifted her free hand, exposing a glimpse of her pale legs from under her skirt. Her translucent curves were boldly exposed, and Subaru slumped his shoulders in disappointment.
"But he's a man."
"That's right, Feli-chan is a man in both body and mind."
"You have such pride, yet you dress like that? What kind of man is that?"
Subaru didn't think he was so old-fashioned that he couldn't tolerate a weak appearance as a man, but even he could tell that Ferris's behavior was the polar opposite of masculinity.
In response to Subaru's question, Ferris placed a finger over her mouth and seductively shook her hips.
"That's because Crusch-sama said that this kind of outfit would suit Feli-chan. A person's appearance that brings out the best in their soul suits them best. --Feli-chan will respond to Crusch-sama's words with all her heart and soul."
"But that's..."
He was about to continue, but stopped midway, saying that Crusch didn't know about it at the moment.
Ferris knew that without Subaru having to say it. Even if he dared to say it aloud, it would only hurt him, and above all, it would be unacceptable to do to him what he would not like to be done to himself.
If it irritated him to be referred to as if he knew Rem, then Ferris probably wouldn't want to hear such words from Subaru either.
"--No matter what happens to the Karsten family."
"...picture?"
Suddenly, it struck the silent Subaru's eardrums with a vivid sound.
It was a quiet, cold, emotionless voice. Even though I had been listening to it right in front of my eyes, it took me a while to realize who it was.
Ferris was looking down, and it was impossible to see his expression because his bangs had fallen off his forehead.
Still in that position, Ferris grasped Subaru's hand tightly,
"I will definitely protect only Crusch-sama."
"Huh, Ferris?"
"That's why!"
As Subaru choked up, Ferris suddenly raised his head, his voice bright, and his usual mischievous gaze was the same, making it hard to believe that he had changed so suddenly in that moment.
"You have to keep your promise too, Subaru-kun? If you don't, the mana in your body will go out of control and you'll go mad and die."
"Don't say such horrible things with a smile on your face! And don't threaten your allies!"
"More like a death sentence than a threat?"
"Worse than that! Damn it!"
Subaru shook off the handshake and turned his back on Ferris. He glanced over to see if the current commotion had caused any change in Rem, but it turned out to be just a faint hope.
Letting out a small sigh, he forgot his dashed hopes and stepped out of the carriage. Just then, Emilia, carrying her luggage from the mansion, was chatting with Crusch and the others.
"Ah, Subaru. Is Rem-san's bed properly prepared?"
"Yeah, Ferris is perfect. With this, even if I perform at the Kinoshita Circus with my perfect combination with Patrasche, we won't fall off."
"I don't really get it, but I have a really bad feeling about this, so please don't make a big circus out of it, ok?"
"That's a pity. My heart was pounding and I was hoping for a suspension bridge effect from Emilia-tan."
I called it the "I'm putting my life at risk by driving, and yet this excitement could be love!?" strategy, which was like a match-pumping scheme.
Either way, hearing Emilia call him "Rem-san" caused an undetectable pain to stab right in his heart, and Subaru couldn't stop it.
Emilia's eyes narrowed for a moment as she watched Subaru shut up after making a silly remark. However, before she could say anything more about it, Ferris appeared from behind Subaru and landed on the ground,
"Well, it looks like the dragon carriage is ready, so taking too much time would just make us reluctant to leave. --Crusch-sama, do you have any final words?"
"Yes, that's right."
As Ferris, who was in charge, brought his master forward, Crusch took a step towards him. Thinking it would be rude to approach from above, Subaru got off the dragon carriage just like Ferris and sat next to Emilia. With the two of them in view, Crusch first took a deep breath, put her hand to her chest,
"First of all, as I have said many times before, I would like to express my deepest gratitude to the two of you. I believe that it is only with your cooperation that I have been able to continue living despite losing my memories, and that I have been able to hold on to the hopes I had before I lost my memories. Thank you."
"No, no… I have nothing to be grateful for, Lady Crusch. I have been left out of the loop for most of the events that have taken place over the past few days…"
Subaru: "Well, Emilia-tan is essentially the one who got the credit for karate. But I did my best there so you can relax. My credit belongs to my Emilia-tan."
Emilia looked embarrassed and resigned, but Subaru reassured her by patting her on the chest. Hearing this, Emilia glanced at Subaru and nodded slightly.
"Thank you. --I don't remember becoming Subaru's property yet though."
"Guh. My plan to have a third party hear it in the confusion so they can't deny it has been seen through...!?"
"There's no room for carelessness or openings... Ah, sorry for getting off topic."
Subaru clutches his chest and sighs as he slumps, and Emilia apologizes to Crusch for leaving him behind. However, Crusch looks on with amusement at the exchange between the two,
"No, I'm just jealous that you get along so well. I need to quickly get back together with Ferris and Wilhelm like I used to."
"Feri-chan, her mind and body are always at full throttle when it comes to Crusch-sama."
Ferris put both hands on his cheeks and shook his body. Crusch, who hadn't changed a bit in terms of her capacity to receive the boy, smiled femininely at him.
"I will definitely meet you again sometime soon. I hope to maintain a long and close relationship with you, Emilia-sama and Natsuki Subaru-sama."
Subaru thought that this was no lie, and was her true feelings.
Even though she had lost her memory, her integrity was not lost at her core. Her way of life, which shines with the word "sincerity," does not suit lies or pretense.
Perhaps it was because he had conveyed that message so clearly. Emilia opened her eyes wide in shock, her lips trembling slightly,
"I am… an opponent to Crusch-sama. Even though we are allies, I am sure that one day we will return to being enemies."
"Yes, that's true. If Emilia-sama is the opposing candidate, then I must do my best not to lose."
"Anyway, I'm a half-elf. And with silver hair too. Isn't that frightening?"
"Emilia-tan, that's..."
Subaru tries to stop her, saying it's a question that needn't be asked, but once he sees the seriousness and desperation dwelling in Emilia's profile, he can't continue.
Emilia was asking this question seriously, and as someone who knew even a little about her feelings, there was no way he could just casually interrupt her.
And most importantly, Subaru knew that the person asking that question was Crusch Karsten. - And that there was no need to stop her.
"The state of one's soul determines the value of one's existence. People should live in a way that is most glorious for themselves and for others, a way that does not shame their soul."
"――――"
"That's what I used to say as if it were a catchphrase. How should I put it… now that I've become more objective, it seems like a pretty condescending thing to say."
Crusch put her hand over her mouth, trying to stifle the laughter she couldn't contain at the thought of her own past. Emilia, hearing this, was stunned and simply remained silent.
"Emilia-sama, are you ashamed of the way you live your life?"
"...I don't think so. No matter what others think of me, I've always lived my life hoping that I would be the only one who doesn't hate myself."
"In that case, you have nothing to regret or fear. Improve yourself, put in effort, and stay true to who you are - you have a wonderful soul."
Smiling, Crusch extended her hand towards Emilia,
"I am happy to have met you. I have no fears whatsoever."
"--!"
Emilia bit her lip as if feeling a pain in her chest, and looked down at the hand that was being held out to her. Crusch didn't rush her, instead quietly waiting for her to make a move.
Before long, Emilia's fingertips timidly intertwined with her palm, and a soft handshake was exchanged.
"Please stay healthy and strong. I look forward to seeing you again soon."
"Me too… No, I too will make sure that I can stand upright in front of Crusch-sama this time. Until then, please take care."
The two candidates for the throne pledge to do their best and a promise is made.
Watching the two of them interact, Subaru's heart was filled with a sense of accomplishment. It was something he had finally achieved after suffering, struggling, and getting hurt.
Although I wasn't able to pick up everything and get there.
"I don't want to blame you for the sad look on your face, forgetting all that I've accomplished."
Glancing at the dragon carriage, Subaru pictured in his mind the image of a girl sleeping inside.
She couldn't allow herself to use Rem as a reason to look down in this moment that should have been a happy occasion. She didn't want that to happen to her either - was it just ego that made her think that?
"I hope you, Natsuki Subaru-sama, are in good health. I sincerely pray for your continued success… and for her condition to recover."
"I think it's better if there aren't too many situations where I have to play a major role… To be honest, I'm the kind of guy who's only useful as a last resort, and I'd be happy to get any help I could get. When it comes to Rem, it's not just someone else's problem, Crusch-san. I'll definitely do something."
Subaru also received a similarly extended hand. Feeling somewhat embarrassed to accept it in the form of a handshake, he placed his palm over hers to hide the awkwardness.
A small, dry sound rang out, and with that, Subaru's interaction with her came to an end. Seeing her hand being flicked away, Crusch blinked slightly, and then,
"We'll definitely meet again."
With that said, both master and servant bowed in a dignified manner and saw Subaru and the others off.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
--As they set off on their journey home, the carriage was filled with a slightly oppressive atmosphere.
The dragon carriage pulled by Patrasche, which Crusch had given her as a reward, was also likely a token of their gratitude—even putting aside the decorations, it was obvious that it was an expensive item, and the softness of the seats and the lustrous interior made it almost unsettling.
The spacious interior of the car is designed to comfortably accommodate nearly ten people, but with three people actually using that space, it's only natural that it would feel overcrowded.
Currently, the only ones remaining silent in the car were Subaru, Emilia, and Rem, who was fast asleep. Subaru, standing next to the Sleeping Beauty, had no intention of leaving, and Emilia, perhaps out of concern for the unconscious Rem, didn't seem to open her mouth.
As a result, an awkward atmosphere just ensued.
"――――Mmh."
This isn't good, Subaru thought as he crossed his arms.
Even if it was unacceptable to cause a fuss, there were plenty of topics that needed to be discussed. Such as their stance on the Royal Selection, and the information they had shared over the past few days that had led to the alliance with Crusch had not been fully collated.
As for Rem's custody, he was worried about how she would be treated at the mansion, since no one except Subaru had any memories of her. Just thinking about what Ram might say when she saw the sleeping Rem sent chills down his spine. Of course, it couldn't be avoided.
"I know you're being considerate, but I think it would have been better if the kids had been there too..."
Naturally, the group of dragon carriages returning to Roswaal Territory included carriages carrying the village children who had been on the carriage on the way there. The children were currently riding in the same carriage as their parents, and the villagers had taken the initiative to be considerate, knowing that there might be things they would not want their parents to hear. However, it seemed as though their arrangement had backfired.
Now then, what should I do――Subaru wondered, looking up and thinking about the consequences,
"Maybe you're having trouble finding something to talk about? I can't stand this oppressive silence anymore."
"What are you talking about, coming in here like that? I mean, were you even there?"
"That's terrible! Of course there is! Don't you remember under what conditions I agreed to cooperate with Natsuki-san in the first place!?"
Otto was the one who was yelling and over-reacting, spitting at the air. He was the driver of the dragon carriage in the driver's seat, and he was commenting on the silent interior of the carriage, peeking his head in through the opening connecting the carriage and the driver's seat.
Subaru tilted his head at Otto's words and nodded several times, "Uh, uh."
"I remember, I remember. That's right, I'm sure you said you wanted to meet Roswaal...But, how should I put it, it's like that."
"What is it?"
"Well, it would be one thing if she was just running after a guy, but I was wondering what it would be like if the other person was Roswaal… Ah, I'm normal, and with Emilia-tan there, it would be troublesome if she were to target me."
"That's not what I'm talking about! Do you think it's about me?"
"A lively merchant?"
"Treatment as a gimmick!!"
Otto looked at him with wide eyes, as if to say that he was truly disappointed, and Subaru shook his head in exasperation. Emilia, who had been watching the exchange between the two, widened her eyes,
"I guess... you two get along really well. I'm surprised."
"Hey hey, Emilia-tan, stop doing that. I don't want to be with a dead person who is hungry for money… I'm a dead person who is only hungry for your love."
"You're a ghost! You're a ghost! I mean, I'm not a ghost!"
"Otto, shut up."
Sighing at the hustle and bustle of peddlers, Subaru stood up and strode forward. Then he grabbed the cover of the access port,
"Ah, wait a second, you're treating me like a nuisance right away--"
"Yes, shut it out!"
The communication port closed with a bang, and the face of the noisy man who had been yelling something until the very end disappeared from view. He slapped his hands and turned around, basking in the feeling of having completed a task, to find Emilia looking up at him in bewilderment,
"Pfft."
"Hihaha."
As we looked at each other, we suddenly burst out laughing.
The laughter continues for a while, and then the sound fades out quietly.
"Reading the awkward atmosphere and keeping quiet was not like me."
"That's right, that's not like you. The Subaru I know is always more energetic, reckless, and cheerfully boisterous, with absolutely no regard for our feelings."
"I think that can be translated as someone who is just pretending to be cheerful and can't read the situation."
In any case, it was true that Otto's presence had lightened the mood.
Although it was annoying to say thank you, he thanked Otto and sat down next to Emilia. Emilia gave a wry smile as Subaru sat next to her as if it was the most natural thing in the world.
"Just hurry up and sit next to me, Subaru."
"Well, it's natural to want to be close to the girl you like. I want to be as close as possible, breathing the same air Emilia-tan exhales."
"I was embarrassed until halfway through, but then I suddenly started to feel really uncomfortable."
Emilia blushes when he expresses his affection so frankly, but grimaces at the highly perverted content in the second half.
"Well, you see, when I try to act like my usual self, I end up saying things like this."
"That's right, that's just the way Subaru is. Because of that, I've never been able to properly listen to what he says."
Emilia stares at me, her words unclear.
Scratching his head, Subaru wondered if he should take over where she had hesitated,
"It's a boy's psychology that means he can't seriously woo someone unless he pretends to be joking around. My love for Emilia-tan, my lustful eyes at you, and my desire to help you are all completely serious. You can trust me, okay?"
"I believe you, but accepting you is another matter."
"That's fine. Believe me, and I'll do my best to make you accept me."
Looking back, it seemed like a rather aggressive statement to her, as if it had happened to someone else. In fact, the embarrassment that Emilia felt when Subaru said that to her was quite stark.
He tried his best to keep his expression calm, but his cheeks and ears were redder than he could control. He had surely never experienced someone showing him unconditional affection like this. Of course, Subaru, the one doing the flirting, had also never experienced this, so his face was bright red no matter what.
nevertheless,
"This is more like me than being depressed and looking down. Right, Rem?"
"...Did you just say something?"
"I want to lift up Emilia-tan's beautiful hair and stare at her nape."
"You always manage to cover it up like that. You're worried about Rem, aren't you?"
Emilia blocks Subaru's path as he tries to make a flippant escape, and tells him so clearly. Subaru gives a wry smile and looks at Rem, who is asleep on the bed,
Subaru: "I'm worried. Really, I'm worried. I've been thinking that I have to do something about it, and I think I'll keep thinking about it forever. I want to put Emilia-tan first, but… this isn't something that can be prioritized. I'm sorry."
"I'm not the kind of girl who would be unpleasant if I got angry. I wouldn't get angry over something so important. … You can tell by looking at her that she's important to Subaru."
Like Subaru, Emilia narrows her eyes at the sleeping Rem. Then, her lips tremble, and after a moment of hesitation,
"What's your favourite girl?"
"I love you, I really love you. I love you just as much as I love Emilia-tan."
"I know I should say this, but… is Subaru unfaithful?"
"I thought I was being pretty devoted, but I think that someone who isn't moved by something that's been done for them so much is cold-hearted."
He remembers the loop of the past few days, and all the unconditional love he received from Rem during that time. How could he not be moved by it?
Before Subaru knew it, her presence had taken up far too much of his heart.
"You said you liked me."
"I should tell you, I like Rem too, but Rem is the one who really likes me, you know? I'm head over heels in love with her, so it's really strange."
He couldn't help but wonder about the way she held his arm and offered him her unconditional love. Was he worthy of being loved so much by a girl as amazing as Rem?
Even now, I can't help but think that way. I also think that I have to become a man worthy of that.
Emilia loosened her lips at Subaru's self-evaluation,
"I think I understand."
"fart?"
"The reason why Rem-san fell in love with Subaru so much is probably because she was up close and saw all of Subaru's good sides. It seems like Subaru has a disease that makes him do really cool things sometimes."
"Illness? I can't argue with that... well, I can't."
Scratching his cheek, Subaru pouted and expressed his dissatisfaction. Emilia ignored Subaru's reaction and simply replied, "That's right," with a straight face and closed her eyes.
"I won't give in that easily."
"That will be more worth the challenge. One day I'll make Emilia-tan fall head over heels for me, and when she wakes up, she'll fight over me in a court of thunder. Ah, just thinking about it makes me grin!"
Emilia and Rem were pulling on his arms, fighting over the one and only body they had. It was a sight that would make his cheeks relax with happiness.
So I'm sure, someday...
"I'll have to pull you until you tear it apart."
"I don't know what you're thinking, but I feel like I have to say it - I won't tear you to shreds."
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
After that conversation, the discussion in the car went smoothly.
Originally, we were given nearly half a day to move. Even if there was a lot to discuss, there was plenty of time to discuss it all.
They exchanged information for a few days, and finally, together with Otto, they worked out their future course of action.
As a result, when the discussion was concluded,
"In the end, I can't come up with a proper plan unless I talk to Roz-chan face to face."
No matter what, the conclusion of the story is to go back to the beginning.
In the end, Roswaal is the only one who knows the capabilities and fighting power of Emilia's camp, and without him, Emilia's forces would be unable to stand still.
"Well, if Ram heads to the Sanctuary and meets up with Roswaal, then it'll be natural for them to return to the mansion. If that's the case, then we'll first slap him across the face and then we can discuss it."
"You're being quite aggressive towards the Margrave who is supposed to be your employer, Natsuki-san."
"I believe that I have the right to be forgiven even if I do something like that, and that he has a crime that cannot be forgiven unless he does something like that."
Looking back at what Roswaal had done, one can see how reasonable Subaru's decision to settle for one hit was. Emilia, too, doesn't seem to have any intention of stopping Subaru's enthusiasm, and is prepared to tolerate "one hit."
In any case, with the talks concluded in this way, and the talks about to take place at the territory, Subaru and the others returned through the forest to the village - and immediately noticed something strange.
The familiar village landscape, deserted, was just as bleak as it had been immediately after the residents had been evacuated in preparation for the attack on Betelgeuse, and with no sign of the extermination squad that had been staying there, the current situation was even more desolate than before.
To put it more simply, there is no sign of the villagers having returned.
"It doesn't seem like there's anyone here, Natsuki-san. It's not like the place was ransacked or anything, it just seems like no one has returned."
After getting off the dragon carriage and touring the village with the villagers, Otto spoke of his impressions. Subaru, who had toured the village with a different group, regrettably agreed.
The silence was so intense that Subaru was overcome with flashbacks of the massacre of villagers by Petelgeuse and his men, but he could confirm that they were just imagination.
But that would just create another problem.
"I'm sure the 'Sanctuary' Ram was talking about was about seven or eight hours away… so what's with you saying that you're coming back later than us, who stayed behind in the royal capital for three days?"
"They're on guard because they don't know the circumstances that would allow them to defeat the Witch Cult, right?"
"Roswaal has abandoned his territory? I assume that if 'Sloth' and Roswaal were to go head-on, Roswaal would most likely win. I think that not fighting head-on is the way 'Sloth' works... but even so, he'd at least do some reconnaissance."
Roswaal can even fly, so it should be easy for him to scout his territory after it was attacked. And if he had the will to do so, he should be able to at least confirm that the area around the mansion where the Witch Cult has been wiped out is safe. If he can't,
"They're taking cautious measures..."
"Is something wrong at the Sanctuary...?"
Subaru and Emilia agreed, and looked at each other and nodded. Either way, they wouldn't know the situation unless they could confirm the state of Sanctuary.
Their concerns are also concerns for the villagers.
After all, the villagers who accompanied Ram to the Sanctuary were roughly 60% of the village. The children who had adamantly insisted on accompanying Emilia, their parents, and several members of the Youth Corps made up only 40% of the villagers who had returned, which would cause the village's functions to decline significantly.
The villagers' mood will certainly not become more positive.
"In any case, we have to do something… For now, let's go back to the mansion. I want to calm Rem down. Otto, you probably don't have a place to stay either, so let's go to the mansion."
"What?! I, I'm going to have to deal with the trouble at the Margrave's mansion?! Rather than getting into such an unbelievable situation, it would be much easier to just sleep in the dragon carriage!"
"Shut up, get involved. We're in this together now. I'll work you until you're almost dead."
Ignoring Otto's grumbling and complaints, Subaru gives instructions to Patrasche and the others leave the villagers and head to the mansion.
A fifteen minute walk, or just five minutes by dragon carriage, was the familiar Roswaal Mansion.
Last time I didn't have time to take my time looking around, but looking up at it again like this now is quite moving.
Subaru: "Even so, it doesn't seem like anything has changed… Doesn't it feel like Ram and the others have returned?"
"But if nothing has changed inside, Beatrice should be there. I hope she knows where the 'Sanctuary' is."
"Oh, I see. Damn, neither Emilia nor I know the location of the 'Sanctuary'. We have no way to check on the safety of Roz-chan and the others."
With the plan beginning to fall apart at its most fundamental level, Subaru frowned at the bleak future ahead.
Emilia, too, had a melancholy look cast over her beautiful features, while Otto seemed absorbed in looking around curiously without joining in the conversation.
"Tch. Anyway, I guess I can only hope that Bearko knows something."
"Did you just look at me and click your tongue?"
"Tch. You're being too self-conscious. No one is as interested in you as you think."
"That's a terrible thing to say!"
Ignoring the dejected Otto, Subaru parked the dragon carriage in the front yard and headed towards the entrance.
First he would summon Beatrice, then look around the mansion, secure a place for Rem to sleep, and then he would decide on a new plan――
"I've returned to the Roswaal Mansion. Come on, my dear home..."
As he spoke, Subaru pushed open the front door and peered inside, his voice choking.
This was clearly due to the fact that he was greeted in a way that was different from what he had expected.
The entrance hall was carpeted. A vase with flowers decorating it was placed next to the large staircase leading to the upper floor. Crystal lights were hanging from the ceiling, and it would not be an exaggeration to say that it was an otherworldly chandelier.
The familiar entrance hall looked completely different from what I expected.
That was different from what was originally expected――
"It's not being vandalized... it's being groomed!?"
The carpet was neatly stretched out without a single wrinkle, the flowers in the vase beside the staircase emitted a fresh glow, and the chandelier had been painstakingly maintained, enhancing the inherent beauty of its crystal lamps.
The scene was so strange that Subaru was left speechless and just stood there.
Subaru was so taken aback by the whole thing that his reaction was delayed.
"--Who!?"
A small, faint sound that could easily be overlooked came from the ceiling, and Subaru's sense of unease made him move his gaze, but by the time his consciousness caught up with the shadow, it was already too late.
The shadow had already circled around behind Subaru――
A black shadow approached Subaru from directly behind, and Subaru turned to look.
The figure clearly shows a beast-like mouth full of white fangs.
--And the next moment, Subaru's mind, and the world, had inadvertently gone dark.