When Subaru opened his eyes, the first thing he felt was that there was something dusty in his mouth.
He unconsciously tasted the shape of it with the tip of his tongue along with the saliva that had accumulated in his mouth - and the moment he sensed the smell of earth and gravel, he spat it out with all his might. Then he jumped up,
"Ugh! Pee pee! There's a strange rock in my mouth...ugh."
Gagging, Subaru brushed the dust off his body and looked around, squinting his eyes into the dim light.
The light source had disappeared and the space was filled with cold, chilly air - I remembered that I was inside a tomb that selects those who enter.
"That's right, take the "Trial"..."
As he entered the tomb, Subaru suddenly lost consciousness and was drawn into a dream world. There, he was given a "trial" - a farewell to his past - in this case, it was unclear whether it could be called the past properly, but for Subaru, it was a grudge he could not erase, something he had left behind - and it was revealed that it had all been in the hands of the Witch, and he was forced to return home.
Counting on his fingers, Subaru recalled what had happened while he was unconscious, and confirmed that his memories were clear. In his dream, he apologized, thanked, and said goodbye to his parents, the two people he would never see again.
It gives Subaru strong feelings of nostalgia and sadness, but in return it gives him resolve and courage.
"It's okay. I haven't forgotten. I remember everything I told you two."
Considering the possibility that, at worst, his memories would have been peeked into, it was fortunate that he was able to remember the entire Trial.
And then, having finished checking his own body, Subaru turned his attention to,
"That's right...! In the first place, I wanted Emilia here!"
Scolding himself for his delayed judgement, Subaru headed towards the back of the room - there he spotted Emilia, lying on her side, just like Subaru.
He rushed over to her, and was relieved to see that her silver hair and fair skin stood out even in the darkness, and that she still seemed to be breathing life into her. However, that was only until he saw her expression.
"... Ugh... Ah, no... stop..."
"――――"
Emilia, her face distorted in pain and sweat pouring down her forehead, was in agony.
However, despite his pain, it seemed he was not given the freedom to move his body, his limbs were stiff and unable to move, and the only thing that showed strong signs of pain was his facial expression.
If she was also undergoing the same trial as Subaru,
"A past I don't want to see... No, does that mean I'm facing something that needs to be resolved...?"
Though he didn't know how much time had passed, she had entered the tomb more than 30 minutes before Subaru. Still, since Subaru had returned first, her Trial was proving to be extremely difficult.
The look on his face as he groaned in pain spoke volumes.
Normally, he should have believed in her and continued to wait until the end of the Trial, but――
"If someone can say something cool like that after looking at this face, it's no problem."
Subaru reaches out his fingers to Emilia's face, who looks as if she could burst into tears at any moment, hoping to ease even a small part of the pain. However, the moment his fingertips touch her cheek,
"----!"
Emilia's large, stiff limbs began to spasm. Her face, distorted in pain, stiffened, and Subaru, in shock, quickly supported her head with the hand that had been on her cheek. He pulled Emilia, who was still trembling, to his chest, and,
"Emilia?! Hey, pull yourself together... Emilia!"
As he holds her close and strokes her back, he desperately calls the trembling Emilia's name.
The sight of her violent convulsions sent shivers down my spine, but gradually the trembling of her body slowly subsided.
"--Uh, Bal?"
"--! Ah, yeah, that's right. Are you okay? Do you understand me properly? I'm Natsuki Subaru, the one who promised you and your future together."
"I haven't talked that much about it..."
He shook her memories as she woke up, making sure her consciousness and memories were clear. When he let go of her body, she slowly focused her amethyst eyes on Subaru,
"Um...huh? Why did I..."
"It's okay to take your time, Emilia-tan. Put off the complicated stuff for now and take a deep breath. Then move your limbs and see if they're numb, and if you can stand up, then try."
"Ah, uh, yeah..."
Feeling the danger of her words coming from someone who had just woken up, Emilia took a deep breath as Subaru had told her. She then moved her arms from fingertips to shoulders, and, with the help of Subaru who had stood up first, she stood up. In the darkness, she looked around curiously,
"In a dark place... alone with Subaru..."
"If you just cut that part out it seems like a really sexy situation, but the location is just too sacrilegious."
As Emilia hurries to grasp the situation, Subaru scratches his cheek with a wry smile. After all, the location is the witch's tomb. It's a bit lacking in both the atmosphere and consideration to sneak in for a man and woman's rendezvous.
However, upon hearing Subaru's words, Emilia suddenly put an arm around his shoulder. Subaru was shocked by her reaction and immediately thought, "I got too cocky...!"
"I, it's... I took the "Trial", and then..."
"Hmm, yeah, that's right. This is inside the witch's graveyard. Well, this is tricky. Shortly after Emilia-tan entered, the lights in the graveyard suddenly went out. So in a panic, I followed her inside, but..."
"Um... that's not it... that's not it, I didn't mean to..."
"Emilia?"
In any case, it was good that there was nothing abnormal with her body―― Subaru was about to continue when he finally noticed a change in Emilia's attitude as her voice continued to tremble.
She hugged her own shoulders, chattered her teeth as if she was cold, and shook her head no.
"I... it's not me... it's not me... I didn't do that... I told you it wasn't me..."
"Emilia. Hey, Emilia? Calm down, what are you..."
"...No. Don't look at me like that... No, no, no... No, it's not me... Why don't you leave me alone..."
Subaru's appeal also went unheard, as Emilia covered her face with her hands and collapsed on the spot. Her voice was mixed with tears, and the silver bells trembling with sobs were so full of sorrow that it even caused pain in the hearts of those who heard it.
Subaru was so stunned by the sight of Emilia collapsed on the floor that he couldn't speak.
"It's okay. It's okay. I'm with you. I'm here. I won't leave you alone. It's okay."
He just held her with his whole body and continued to gently stroke her back, as if to comfort her, to protect her, and to cherish her, as she was trembling and crying.
All the while, Emilia hid her face in her hands so she couldn't hear Subaru.
"...Help me, Daddy. Help me...Pack, pack...Pack..."
It was not the man beside her who was most concerned about her, but rather the one who continued to call out the name of the spirit that still did not appear before her as she broke down in tears.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
"---He has calmed down and is resting now."
Subaru looked questioningly at him as he came out of the room, and Ram spoke to him with eyes as if he were an untrained dog.
Subaru was unable to respond to her disdainful gaze and simply replied in a small voice, "I see." Ram sighed softly at her attitude and said,
"You don't look like yourself, Barusu. Your face is usually quite loose, and with that shadow now cast on top of it, it's even more unbearable to look at."
"That's none of your business... sorry for bothering you."
"...Even though you're Barusu, since when have you become so perceptive that you can notice other people's consideration?"
Subaru stuck out his tongue at Ram, who seemed genuinely surprised, and withdrew his previous expression of gratitude. The first half was likely meant to encourage Subaru, who had his eyes lowered, but the second half was probably just him.
Taking his eyes off Ram, Subaru's eyes turned to her back - to the door to the room Ram had just emerged from. Beyond that, Emilia was probably lying there.
"Even so, I'm sorry that it's been like this for two days in a row. I'm sure it was a nuisance for you too, Lewes-san."
"If you're worried about it being a nuisance, then don't worry about it. After all, we are the ones taking the Trial at our own selfish request."
Subaru turned around and called out to him, to which Lewes replied in a flat voice. The room connected to the bedroom could be called a living room, but Lewes' house was made up of these two rooms and a library where books were kept.
Subaru thought that, considering her position as village chief in a place called the Sanctuary, she lived a fairly modest life. Although, for a woman living alone, sipping a small teacup in the corner of her room, this amount of space could be said to be sufficient.
Anyway,
"Ha, you're being very considerate, old hag. To be honest, I feel like I'm homeless because of Gownzun's assumptions."
"I don't really know how you feel, but... I can tell it's not in a good way."
Garfiel, sitting in front of Lewes and also tilting his teacup, bared his teeth and said, "Another incomprehensible idiom - but Subaru decided it was probably meant to be disappointing or something like that. Then he realised what Garfiel meant when he said it,
"Just so you know, if there's any insults or anything else against Emilia-tan, I'll take them on. But you'll have to go through me, the manager, first."
"I have no intention of talking bad about you. I wouldn't do anything bad like that. If you have a problem with me, I'll hit you right in the face. Or even with a punch."
Waving the hand that wasn't holding the teacup, Garfiel brushed off Subaru's provocation with a wicked smile. Subaru maintained a tense atmosphere due to his attitude, and the person who had been silent up until then - Otto - raised his hand and said, "Ummm,"
"So, can I ask what happened in the end? Honestly, I don't intend to get too involved, but I don't want things to stay so tense, so I'll act as the moderator instead."
"Hmm, sorry. Well, you're the right person for the job. You're the one who doesn't have a deep relationship with anyone here, and you're not involved in any important parts, so you're in a relaxed position where you don't have to bear any responsibility. I'll leave it to you."
"You've chipped away at my will to be trusted with such force that you're saying this?!"
Otto shouts at Subaru, but when Subaru puts his finger over his mouth and makes a "quiet" gesture, Otto quickly shuts his mouth. However, he turns his head with a confused look on his face,
"Ah, I'm not entirely satisfied with that explanation, but let me tell you what happened inside, Natsuki-san."
"You can't tell me what happened..."
Being the first to speak, Subaru put his hand to his chin and looked up to the ceiling.
All he could think about was the events that had happened in the tomb - the Trials, and Emilia's strange state after they'd returned. Sobbing, and delirious, she was apologizing and calling out the spirits' names.
"I'm sure that a 'Trial' was taking place inside the tomb. I followed Emilia-tan inside and suffered the same fate. I managed to pass the 'Trial' without incident, but Emilia-tan seemed to be struggling. She looked like she was in so much pain that I instinctively called out to her... and then she woke up, and when she regained consciousness, she was in that state."
"No, no, no, no, no, no, no, no, wait."
Otto, with a panicked look on his face, approaches Subaru, who is quickly answering his questions. When Subaru looks up, wondering what's going on, he repeats "No, no, no, no" again.
"I almost nodded when you casually brushed aside the point I should have made, but… eh? Natsuki-san, did you take the 'Trial' or something together with me?"
"Oh, yeah, I accepted. A friend of mine applied for the job, so I had no choice."
"There's no way Natsuki has any friends, so please be serious."
"There are things you can say and things you can't say!"
Subaru glared at Otto, thinking that if he said that, it would mean war. However, Ram inserted her hand between Otto and Subaru, blocking the gap between them, and while looking up at Subaru,
"So, Barusu underwent the 'Trial'. Is that correct?"
"Ah, yeah. There's no doubt about it. Once I got in I was forced to get involved. It wasn't like I was being forced to refuse or anything."
"I don't care how it started. The bigger issue is… that Barusu has passed the 'Trial'."
Ram put her fingers to her lips and closed her eyes in deep thought. Then she looked towards Ryuzu,
"That's what the household errand boy said, but have you sensed any changes? If you've truly completed the 'Trial', then the ban on 'Sanctuary' should have been lifted."
"...No, I don't seem to be feeling anything special in my body. If I actually tried to leave the 'Sanctuary' though, that might be a different story."
"I see. In that case, that will make things easier. Please come with Ram. We'll try to get through the 『Sanctuary』, and if we can…"
"Hey hey hey, you speak too quickly. And don't jump to conclusions. I know I didn't explain things well enough, but you're making too many snap decisions."
Subaru grabbed Ram's shoulders, who looked as if she was about to pull the crown at any moment, and turned the pink-haired girl around as he spoke. Ram frowned in displeasure at what Subaru said, but quickly regained her composure and asked, "What do you mean?"
"If we have safely completed the Trial, it is necessary to verify that the residents have been released as per the pact. If what Barusu said is true, then the villagers of Aram Village can return to the village as soon as tomorrow, and Roswaal-sama can recuperate at the mansion..."
Subaru: "Your true feelings were revealed in the second half, and your desperate side was obvious… Besides, I know you have high hopes for me, but you can't leave the 'Sanctuary'. The 'Trial' isn't over yet, after all."
Ram's eyes widened when Subaru said that. She then looked away, as if pondering the meaning of Subaru's words, and nodded as if she had come to some kind of conclusion.
"You deceived me, you should die."
"You're quick to reach a conclusion and make decisions!!"
Ram immediately pulled out her wand and got into a punishing position, but Subaru raised his hands in surrender and shook his head frantically,
"And I didn't lie to you! It's true that you overcame the first Trial! But there are still two more Trials to go! There are three Trials in total in the tomb. So, I'm sorry to say, but now is not the time for you and the others to be freed."
"Stop talking like that…how did you know that?"
"Well, I thought about this 'trial'--"
Just as Subaru was about to blurt out "the witch," he suddenly felt a chill run through his entire body.
The chill that had attacked his entire body made his limbs feel as heavy as if they were filled with lead, his mind became dull as if mud had been poured into his head, and he felt a chill as if ice water had been poured into his veins.
At the same time, what came to Subaru's mind was an extremely foolish void.
She remembers the content of the Trial, that there are two more Trials ahead, and who told her about it. It was the Witch.
"I still can't remember what kind of person he was..."
Touching his temple, Subaru is shocked to realize he has some memory loss.
I remember the conversations I had with my mother and father, the heat of the tears I shed, and the warmth of the words they spoke to me as we said goodbye.
The witches involved had completely lost their memories, but only their personal details.
Seeing Subaru fall silent in shock, Ram, who had been prepared to use violence up until then, relaxed her combat stance. She put the wand she had taken out back on her belt, glanced at the silent Subaru and sighed.
"Huh? It looked like a really fun place, but you're not going to do it? I was hoping to see Ram going wild for the first time in a while."
"There's no way that the gentle and weak Ram would do something so barbaric. Besides, I can pretty much tell from Barusu's current attitude, so there's no need for that."
"Okay, what do you mean?"
Subaru couldn't quite make sense of Garfiel's flippant remark, nor of Ram's attitude in dismissing it. However, in response to Subaru's question, Ram tilted her head slightly,
"What I'm saying is that Barusu isn't lying. If we can trust him that much, then that's fine for now. Barusu, please continue answering Otto's questions."
"Oh, yeah... I understand."
Subaru was a little unsatisfied, but he reluctantly nodded at Ram's strong tone. Otto, who had been watching the exchange, cleared his throat and prefaced his remark with, "Well then,"
"I've gone off topic a bit, but let's get back to the topic at hand. We'll discuss the specifics of the Trials later… Regarding Emilia-sama's upset, do you have any idea, Natsuki-san?"
"...Yes. I think the content of the Trials was probably the problem. The details of the Trials that Emilia and I took were probably different, but the gist of it was the same."
"The contents, huh... is it okay for me to ask?"
Otto was concerned, but Subaru dismissed it with a fist. Ram and Garfiel looked at him with questioning eyes, and he nodded.
"The first 'trial' was to face the past. To be honest, it was about coming face to face with lingering feelings, regrets, and the like, and making amends."
"I, I see... so there are differences in the details."
Naturally, each person's past is different.
For some people, this Trial probably wasn't that difficult. It just so happened that it was a direct hit on Subaru, and a critical hit on Emilia.
"Well, when I think about the qualifications, I feel like the content of the 'trials' reveals a bad personality."
After all, the special qualifications that Subaru was given were originally not something that anyone other than a "half" could have obtained. Although the true intentions behind the "trials" are unclear, there are certain rules that those who meet the condition of being "half" in the story must undergo.
This means isolation, such as persecution from the same or different races, or being feared. If the "Half" are chosen to take the "Trials" because they are more likely to fall into such situations, then it is natural that those who challenge the tombs are more likely to have been scarred in the past,
"Inevitably, these people will have a hard time passing the Trials. They're pretty sneaky."
"In the current situation, there will be no progress even if we continue to criticize the examiner's bad personality. Rather than that… this is something that is difficult to say, but I would like to talk about the circumstances that caused Emilia-sama to lose her composure."
Otto stammers. His glances towards the bedroom where Emilia is, convey what he wants to say, but his consideration in not saying it aloud is somehow comforting.
--Emilia's appearance. She has many similarities to the "Witch of Envy," and she is a half-elf. From these points, it is possible to sense the unfounded contempt and persecution she has suffered.
However, Subaru and the others, not actually in the same position as her, could only guess at the surface.
Therefore, he does not talk about it lightly. Otto's judgment is extremely human, or to put it another way, his personality is fatally unsuited for being a merchant.
"You'll never be a successful merchant, but I'm grateful."
"Why did you suddenly shatter someone's dreams?!"
"I'm a shy person who can't even say thank you honestly unless I'm making a joke. You can see that."
"Try and understand how deep my heart hurts!!"
As Otto starts to yell and stomp his feet, everyone in the room puts their fingers over their mouths in a "quiet" gesture. Otto sees this and quickly covers his mouth, but it's too late.
At first it was a small noise.
With Otto's silence now falling upon the house in a brief silence, the small sound of something hitting the floor reverberated awfully loudly throughout the house. Everyone's gaze turned in the direction the sound had come from - that is, towards the bedroom.
And before anyone could speak, the door slowly slid open,
"Um... sorry for bothering you."
Saying this, Emilia crouched down with an apologetic look on her face, her silver hair flowing down her back.
Subaru was relieved to see that the initial remark hadn't left her any lasting effects. Then he quickly jogged over to her,
"I'm glad, good morning. Emilia-tan, are you feeling better now?"
"Ah, yeah, I'm fine. There's absolutely nothing wrong with my body. I'm sorry for worrying you."
"I see, that's fine. You see, when you collapsed the first time, I wasn't by your side so I didn't know if you had been hit somewhere and I was worried. But I think it might be more reassuring for both of us if we stayed together even for a moment."
"--Hm, that's true."
"yeah?"
Subaru had been expecting a response to his joke, but Emilia's reaction was different from what he had expected, and he frowned slightly. She lowered her eyes and stared intently at Subaru's hand. Tilting his head wondering what it was, Subaru held out his hand to her,
"What's wrong? Do you miss the feel of my hand? I'd love to hold your hand all night if you wanted."
"Eh, ah... I'm fine. It's not like that. I was just, well, half asleep."
Just before touching Subaru's outstretched palm, Emilia shook her head as if she had changed her mind. The next person to speak to her was a girl in a waitress' uniform who stepped forward,
"Lady Emilia. First of all, I'm glad you woke up safely. If possible, I'd like to ask Ram to tell me about her health without trying to act tough."
"Hey. The way you say it makes me feel like Emilia-tan is hesitant to tell me her true feelings."
"If you're not with a female partner, or in front of someone you want to show off to, this might not be possible. Show some consideration and leave the room."
"I really want to show that consideration though..."
Subaru lowered his gaze and became vague as he looked at Ram, who was giving him a sharp look. Subaru's brows furrowed suspiciously at what he was saying, but when Ram followed his gaze, his expression showed understanding.
What she saw was Subaru's limp hand lowered, and Emilia's pale fingertips timidly grasping it.
"air!"
Emilia, who belatedly noticed the meaningful gazes of Subaru and Ram, hurriedly let go of her hand. Her cheeks flushed red, and she panicked, as if her actions had been unconscious.
"N-no. That's weird. I didn't mean to do that...I mean, I was trying not to touch you earlier."
Subaru: "I did pull it back, but it grew back quickly in the end. I didn't say anything because it was a perk of the job, but are you sure you're okay, Emilia-tan?"
As he asked, still pining for her parted fingertips, Emilia bravely nodded her head, but her cheeks were still red, and even Subaru could tell that it wasn't due to embarrassment.
However, Emilia doesn't seem to notice her own change.
"I'm sorry for interrupting you, but I'm not feeling sick or anything. My sleepy head has been awakened, so I'm fine now."
"I don't hear "it's no big deal" these days..."
"Mm, Subaru is doing that again."
Subaru interrupts her with the same old remarks, causing Emilia to puff out her cheeks in anger. Feeling that her behavior is normal, Subaru tries to stop himself from worrying unfoundedly. However,
"Lady Emilia. I know you have only just woken up, but I would like to ask about the 'Trials'."
"--!"
It's not as if he was waiting for Emilia to recover, but when Ram spoke the words matter-of-factly, Emilia's face stiffened for just a moment. Subaru, who was gazing at her intently, witnessed that fleeting change, but it was quickly hidden under a smile,
"Well... well, what do you all think about the content of the 'Trials'?"
"I heard that from Barusu. Of course, I didn't go into the details. I'm sure there are things Emilia-sama doesn't want me to hear about."
"I, I see. Subaru... eh? Why Subaru? I mean, Subaru isn't half-Japanese, so there's no way he'd take on the Trials..."
Emilia's surprised eyes turned towards Subaru, and the gazes of those around him, filled with the same question, also converged on Subaru. That was a natural question, Subaru thought to himself as he received their looks, and wondered what to do.
"I told you before I went in. I got the qualifications. It's a bit tricky to say by whom, but if you ask where… I guess it was at the cemetery yesterday evening."
"When I say evening, I mean when I brought you here after you collapsed."
"Ah, that's definitely it. I'm not sure about how he received it though... it's like, even those who don't qualify can step inside and receive that baptism or whatever and be allowed in. Maybe even Roswaal can get in?"
"It'd be interesting if we could try that and get Roswaal to bounce. We'd then be able to confirm that 'Primpa's droplets are the same blood color'."
Garfiel laughs with his mouth open. However, when Ram gives him a cold look, his face turns bored and he quickly closes up. Then, although she doesn't seem convinced by Subaru's answer,
"Either way, it is a fact that Barusu stepped in and brought back Lady Emilia. Furthermore, at that time, he also underwent the same kind of 'trial' as Lady Emilia, and if I'm not being delusional, he says that he overcame it."
"What a delusional thing to say, hey."
"Subaru, you overcame…the 'Trial'?"
Subaru retorted in response to Ram's merciless words, but Emilia didn't hear the latter part of the exchange. She stared at Subaru with trembling eyes,
"Have you really overcome it, Subaru? Your... past?"
Subaru: "I'm sure Emilia and I saw different things, though. I mean… it's not like I got through it on my own."
After all, he was able to overcome it with the utmost help from his father and mother, who should have been standing in his way. And more than anything, it was as if Subaru had already received the answer before he even attempted it.
I feel bad for Emilia, but even before she took on the Trial, things were different.
"It's not like I'm going to say anything just because my exam results happened to be good. The bigger problem is Emilia. Judging by the way things are going, I think today's 'Trial' didn't go well…"
"Y-yes. That's right... I tried my best, but it suddenly stopped halfway through."
"I think that's because I woke you up, so I'm sorry. …But actually, it's possible to try the 'Trials' again. I didn't take the second 'Trial' either, so I came back."
Listening to Emilia's halting words, Subaru turns his attention to the question that had arisen and asks Lewes. The young-looking old woman, who had been silently watching the discussion up until then, touches her cheek,
"It's not something that's been done before, but... I think it's possible to attempt it any number of times. I couldn't even pass the first 'Trial', but I've attempted it twice. What's more interesting is Su-bou, who has qualified."
"I?"
"It's not like someone can suddenly become qualified. At least, as far as I know, having been here since the tomb was first built... well, I have a rough idea, though."
Lewes was silent from then on. Subaru felt something was off about her words and attitude, but he put it aside for the time being and turned to Emilia,
"Anyway, I have been given the green light to try again. The only thing left to consider is Emilia-tan herself."
"W-what...?"
Subaru: "Yes, that's right. Let me ask you―― Emilia-tan, do you think you're ready to take on the 'Trial' once again?"
"----!"
At the question, Emilia's eyes widen and her throat tightens.
If it was anger at being asked a question that cast doubt on his resolve, or if it was filled with feelings of humiliation, then Subaru was prepared to be scolded and have his hands covered in mud.
However, what dwelt in her trembling amethyst eyes was a fleeting anxiety and fear.
It was because negative emotions were eating away at her heart that she couldn't answer right away.
"If you are unable to undergo the Trial, then I will undergo the Trial in your place."
"--!? But Subaru, that's..."
"At the very least, I've cleared the first 'Trial'. I should be able to show that the remaining two 'Trials' are not impossible to pass. Even so, if you're still hesitant to take on the 'Trials', I'll do it for you with dignity. That's why I'm here."
"For that purpose... for me...?"
"Yes."
Subaru told Emilia clearly, who seemed to want him to simply deny it.
Watching Emilia's eyes widen in increasing passion, Subaru looked straight into her eyes,
"I will do it for your sake, if that is what you are afraid of. Roswaal might say that Emilia should be the one to liberate Sanctuary, and that she should take the credit for it... but if the result of my actions is one that deserves praise, then I will dedicate it all to you. I don't care if nothing remains with me."
"Why did you go that far...?"
"I'm telling you. It's because I like you, I really like you."
Emilia gasped, and the others in the room each showed their own reaction.
Subaru didn't even take notice of their reaction, he just shrugged his shoulders and continued to stare at the shaken Emilia,
"And that's why I'm going to take on the Trial. What about you, Emilia-tan? If it's really too hard for you, you can just stay home and sleep."
"--- Subaru, you idiot."
As Subaru quirked the corners of his mouth, Emilia let out a small whisper.
Then she raised her head, rubbed her eyes vigorously with her sleeve, and her lips parted in a smile.
"There's no way I could just lock myself in my room and wait for you to say something like that. Seriously... that's so, so mean. So, so stupid. So... thanks."
"Huh? What? I didn't hear the last part. Do you love me so much?"
"Not at all! Thank you so much..."
"I see. I heard you, but say it again!"
"Subaru, you idiot!!"
Emilia shouted at Subaru, who was getting carried away and leaning in closer.
The sound of the silver bells was also a sonic weapon if it hit the eardrums at a loud volume. Subaru was dizzy, but he smiled at the sight of Emilia shaking her shoulders.
"That's why. Well then, let's try our best again. I'll start from stage 2, and Emilia-tan will start from stage 1."
"Well, I'll catch up with you soon, overtake you, and leave you behind. I won't leave any credit for Subaru's accomplishments."
"I need at least one left, otherwise I won't have a chance to ask Emilia for a reward."
Emilia pouts and sticks out her tongue at Subaru's unrepentant words.
As they exchanged words, Subaru wondered if he had been able to help her get back on her feet, even if only a little.
Either way, the real "Trial" would begin from here.
"With the power of love between me and Emilia-tan, let's make these "Trials" a breeze."
Subaru snapped his fingers, flashed his teeth, and gave a thumbs up in declaration of his determination.
Emilia simply stuck out her tongue at Subaru's words,
"I'm enough for you. I'll prove to you by tomorrow that I'm fine even without Subaru's amulet."
"Well," he said, trying to act tough.
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Watching Subaru and Emilia playfully motivate each other, Lewes brings the already cold teacup to her mouth.
As she moistened the tip of her tongue with the slightly lukewarm drink, she watched with amusement the silver-haired half-elf and the black-haired boy arguing,
"I wonder what will happen now. Will everything go as the Witch planned?"
"Huh. I don't know. Either way it ends up being a disgusting thing for me."
Hearing his murmur, Garfiel spoke in a tone that did not hide his displeasure.
Looking at the young man's profile, Ryuzu let out a small sigh so that no one would notice.
"Forcing a burden on these kindhearted children. No matter how far we go, we're just an old nuisance...we're beyond salvation. --At the very least, we don't want that to be the end."
The words he spoke as he sipped his tea reached no one, they simply created ripples on the surface of the lukewarm, leaf-colored tea - and then disappeared.