"House arrest again...that's a rather unpleasant word..."
Facing Roswaal as he lay on the bed, Subaru considered what he had been told and somehow managed to squeeze out the words. Considering the flow of the conversation, under normal circumstances he might have laughed it off as a boring joke, but the current situation bore an unpleasant sense of veracity. After all,
"Then could it be that Roswaal's injury was caused by the villagers?"
Emilia, who had seemingly reached the source of that credibility just like Subaru, spoke up.
Roswaal's body was wrapped in bandages, bleeding and in a painful state. His appearance clearly proved the truth of what he had just said. That was why he couldn't laugh it off.
"If there's someone in the village who can inflict such serious injuries on Roswaal, then this is no laughing matter..."
Placing his hand on his chin, Subaru imagined the relative strength of their forces and a sense of irritation burned in his chest.
To Subaru, Roswaal L. Mathers was more than just a guarantor in another world; he gave the strong impression of being a skilled magician, to a very limited extent.
In fact, his skills as the head court magician of the Kingdom of Lugnica were so overwhelming that he was able to annihilate a group of Juggernauts, even if Subaru had a hundred of them, without even a moment's humming.
"Ah, it seems you've misunderstood, but these injuries on me weren't inflicted by someone else. You don't need to be weirdly cautious or think about taking revenge on me, it's fine, okay?"
"Don't worry. I haven't earned enough favorability to risk my life for you and take on a reckless challenge… but what do you mean by that? It contradicts what you said earlier. You're under house arrest…"
"Since I'm injured and being detained like this, it's not wrong to say I'm under house arrest. I wasn't injured for the purpose of being under house arrest, but rather I'm being under house arrest because of my injuries…But to go into more detail, that's not the case."
Subaru had question marks flying above his head as Roswaal spoke in a roundabout way. Breaking it down, trying to calm down and organize the context, he came to the conclusion that,
"Are you sure the people at 'Sanctuary' had nothing to do with your injury?"
"Strictly speaking, they are not unrelated, but if you ask me if they were the direct cause of the injury, I would say no. So, that's what I mean."
"So, there's an indirect connection."
Roswaal tilted his head to one side, blinked in disapproval at Subaru's remark, and then, letting out a small sigh, joked, "It's like watching a child grow up."
Subaru decided that he had touched on the key to the matter from that attitude. Not wanting to let up on his pursuit, he carefully chose his words to ask Roswaal a question. However,
"--Balus, why don't you show some gratitude to Roswaal-sama?"
Ram, who had not been taking part in the scene up until now, interrupted the conversation. The girl, wearing a fluttering apron dress, crossed the room with graceful steps and placed the steaming tea from the tray she was holding on the table.
A fragrant scent fills the room, stimulating Subaru's sense of smell, and he is reminded of the narrowness of his perspective. He is also reminded of just how bad Roswaal's condition looks at first glance, when he tries to question him.
"Are you satisfied with confronting Roswaal-sama when he is so hurt, and asking him all the details? I'm sorry to see you in pain and suffering, on the verge of tears."
"Even though you made me reflect on my actions, you said it in a way that made me not want to do it. In the first place, is this the type of person who would cry in pain or suffering? It doesn't suit me."
"Ugh, it hurts, it's painful. Those words, lacking any consideration or compassion, are seeping into the wound."
Subaru responded to Ram's complaint with abusive language. As if to mock Subaru's words, Roswaal began to act out a skit from the bed. At the same time, Subaru's brows began to twitch in irritation, and Emilia cleared her throat, bringing the atmosphere back to normal.
Gathering the gazes of the three, she prefaced her statement with "Anyway,"
"It's clear that Roswaal isn't feeling well, so let's finish this quickly. Have you cast any healing magic on him?"
"Ram is not an expert on healing magic, so…"
Ram's expressionless but frustrated response made Emilia look at Roswaal with little hope. Seeing her gaze, Roswaal waved his raised hand slowly,
"Likewise, I specialize in destruction. I can handle anything in the fields of destruction, invasion, and confusion, but when it comes to healing, I'm hopeless."
"That's terrible. Rather than attacking, you should also hone your defensive skills."
That being said, if Subaru were in a game where he could set his own growth policy, he would have chosen a super offensive training policy that focused only on offensive skills. I can't really say much about Roswaal.
While Subaru strangely came to terms with this, Emilia sighed and said, "It can't be helped,"
"You're not in top form without Puck, but I'll cast some healing magic on you. I need to concentrate, so I'll listen to what you have to say first."
"The Great Spirit?"
Emilia raised her eyebrows at what he had just said, and Roswaal narrowed his eyes. His expression was somewhat cold, a rare sight for his usually relaxed personality, so Subaru instinctively shrugged and said, "Hey, hey."
"It's rare to see you with a serious look on your face. Are you really that surprised that Puck isn't here? I didn't realize you were a hidden Moflist though..."
"Unfortunately, the only time I've ever come close enough to touch the Great Spirit was when I fed him some mayonnaise. It's scary. But, is that really so?"
Without ignoring Subaru's joke, Roswaal frowns thoughtfully. He then glances at Emilia with his yellow eyes,
"Lady Emilia, are you not feeling well? Is there anything different from usual?"
"...? Other than that Puck hasn't shown up. And Puck hasn't shown up since a little while ago when we came to the Sanctuary... Right, but there's one thing."
Raising her finger in response to the question, Emilia then quickly looked around her surroundings - not indoors, but outdoors, as if scanning the entire 『Sanctuary』, then she lowered her voice,
"This 'Sanctuary'... no, maybe it's since we entered the forest. I feel like the spirits have been reacting slower. And earlier, when I was outside, I felt... strange stares."
"A weird look?"
Subaru tilted his head at the unexpected remark, and Emilia nodded her chin in affirmation, "Yes." She explained that this was the reason why she had looked so gloomy when she had parted ways with Garfiel and the others earlier,
"It was like I was being stared at. It felt really unpleasant… I thought it might just be my imagination, so I didn't tell Subaru."
"Emilia-sama, both of your feelings are correct. This place is an uncomfortable place for the spirits, and on top of that, the inhabitants here are all people who harbor uncomfortable feelings towards you, Emilia-sama."
Emilia spoke with concern, but Roswaal added something inconsiderate. Seeing her eyes sway in pain at what she had said, Subaru opened his mouth to complain to Roswaal, but...
"Well, leave it at that. You shouldn't push an injured person too hard. 'The spotted beak is hot right now while running' is just a joke."
"Unfortunately, I don't have a high enough level of understanding to agree with you. I just have a question. Isn't it possible that the language translation isn't working properly between you and me?"
Subaru shrugged as Garfiel turned around, leaning his back against the open door and baring his fangs. Seeing his behavior, he gritted his teeth and looked around the room,
"Even though the old hag's house is the biggest and best, it's still cramped with this many people here, hey. I guess it was a good idea to leave that noisy bro behind."
"Now that I think of it, I can't find Otto anywhere... Has he gone home? Did he eat?"
Emilia gave a shocked look at Subaru's question, but Garfiel burst out laughing and slapped his knee as if he'd just heard a joke.
"It's true that I have carnivorous blood in me, but I don't eat anything. That big bro in particular seems to be making a fuss even when he's on the verge of being eaten. He's curious about the dragon carriage and the earth dragon and whatnot... well, he just makes up some excuse to retreat."
Waving his hand, Garfiel strode forward roughly and sat down heavily in a chair by the wall. He then looked up at Ram, who was glancing at him out of the corner of his eye, and,
"tea"
"I'm going to go outside and pick up some leaves, so can you wait for me?"
"I kind of have a guess, but what do you plan on doing with all those leaves you picked up?"
"I have no intention of wasting precious tea leaves on people who don't even bother to check the aroma or taste," was Ram's reply.
Ram harshly declares this, and then leaves the building in earnest. Subaru points at her back, and looks at Garfiel with an unspoken meaning of "Where do you want to go?" He follows her back as she leaves, and says,
"A strong-willed woman is more worth challenging. Besides, it's not strange for a male to be drawn to a strong and capable female."
Subaru: "We're not selecting chicks to be male or female, so there's no point in chirping all "piyo piyo". Even so, Ram is definitely a girl. That's…"
"Huh? What are you talking about? I've been treating you like a woman more than anything. But, before that, we..."
Subaru complained about his extreme words, and Garfiel, frowning, raised his eyebrows as if he had noticed something. He then quickly took on a sullen expression, and turned a fierce gaze towards Roswaal, who was lying on the bed.
Subaru: "You bastard, you still haven't told us? If it was just you who was turned into trash, then I'd make it a laughing matter. But if that half-elf over there… Lady Emilia has gone crazy, then that's a different story."
"--picture?"
Garfiel speaks with irritation on his tongue. Emilia is surprised to hear her name come up in the middle of his speech. However, Garfiel ignores her surprise and continues to snap at Roswaal with an angry expression on his face.
Subaru: "The moment Emilia-sama entered the Sanctuary, the whole thing dragged us all into the issue. And what's this? We haven't even gotten to the important part yet. Have you guys just come here to play?"
In the latter half, his anger was not only directed at Roswaal, but also at the silent Subaru and the others. The rage in his gaze when he looked at Emilia was particularly intense, and Subaru stood in front of her, shrugging his shoulders, as if to protect her.
"Wait a second. I know you're angry, but I have no idea why you're so angry. Talking to someone who doesn't understand will only make you more annoyed, right?"
"I'm telling you, I don't like that. If the person involved is like that..."
"You and Roswaal over there are the ones who are ignoring the people involved. If you want people to get involved in this issue, worry about it, and do something about it, then you should be accountable. Expecting people to understand without saying anything is just as brazen as I was a while ago."
As they faced each other, Subaru felt Garfiel's words intensify the pressure he felt. Garfiel was shorter than Subaru, and since he was currently sitting down there was a considerable difference in height between them. Despite this, he didn't feel small at all. In fact, given the quality of the intimidating pressure he was exuding, Subaru even thought Garfiel was like a huge rock.
Considering Subaru's naturally timid nature, it was inevitable that he would avert his eyes and take a step back.
but,
"...Subaru."
Subaru felt slender fingers wrap tightly around the hem of his clothes. A helpless voice called out to him, and it energized his knees, who were on the verge of laughing.
Emilia was standing behind him, looking anxious and relying on Subaru.
There's no way I could do something so uncool as kneeling in front of her.
"--Tch."
As they exchanged glances in silence, it was Garfiel who looked away first. He clicked his tongue and leaned back in his chair, then inserted his fingers into his short blond hair and roughly ripped it out.
「That's it! I'm sorry, I was just taking out my anger on you! I lost my temper, I'm sorry, hey!」
"No, no one has said that. Before that, have people said that you have a troublesome personality?"
Although he becomes emotional and narrows his perspective, he quickly regains his objective side and is able to admit his mistakes. This strikes Subaru as an extremely difficult character trait, and before he can express indignation he can only chuckle wryly.
In response, Garfiel sighed in an unbecoming way, "Haa,"
"Shut up. I'll be quiet for a bit, so you can continue the conversation. If I get involved, the conversation won't progress and it'll get complicated."
"It's amazing how you can analyze yourself to that extent and still not change."
"It's no use praising him, since his comprehension is so low."
Subaru was so impressed he snorted, and Ram returned from outside and handed him a cup of steaming tea.
"It's just coarse tea."
"Isn't that a more humble line to say?"
Ram brushed it off with a cool "I guess so," and Garfiel gulped down the hot tea he had received in one gulp. Though he was a carnivore, he didn't seem to have a sensitive tongue. Seeing him empty the cup in one gulp, Ram let out a deep sigh,
"He's still the same man who is not worth making tea for. He doesn't go well with Ram."
"It just tastes like leaves. If it quenches your thirst, then water is the same. Right?"
"I agree that the tea only tastes like leaves, but I'm reluctant to agree with such an extreme opinion. Ram, why don't you try the other tea as well?"
When Subaru pointed this out, Ram offered Garfiel the cup she was holding in her other hand. Subaru vaguely noticed from a distance what it was, its undulating coloring a little like "withered leaves," but didn't stop her. In fact, he encouraged it.
"What's up with that? That's thoughtful. I can clearly see that one cup isn't enough....Ahh! Huh?! Hey, this is just leaf juice..."
"If it quenches your thirst, it doesn't matter if it's water, tea, or leaf juice, right? Once you've put it to your mouth, drink it all up. If you have any left, I'll twist it off."
Without saying where, Ram glared at Garfiel's crotch. That alone told Subaru that she was aiming for his weak spot, and he instinctively folded his legs in a flurry of excitement. Garfiel reluctantly drank the contents of his cup, grimacing at the bitterness. Beside them, Roswaal, who had been watching the conversation up until then, suddenly burst out laughing,
"Ahhh. Are you guys worried about my health and willing to let me rest? Or are you just trying to make me laugh and reopen my wounds? If so, then your aim has been a success so far."
As he spoke, Roswaal pressed lightly against the bandages around his chest and chuckled. In fact, a faint red color was visibly beginning to spread across the white material.
Instantly, the relaxed atmosphere changed completely, and Ram, with a pale face, approached Roswaal, gently placing her palm over his hand as he pressed against the wound,
"I'm sorry, Roswaal-sama. Even though Ram was with me..."
"I mean, it was you who pushed me to the limit, wasn't it?"
Ram's sharp gaze pierced his way through the room, shutting up the others, and Subaru zipped his mouth as he watched Roswaal's condition. In any case, although he was bleeding, it didn't seem to be serious. He was probably just injured and the bleeding had finally stopped - in fact, this was probably the perfect time for him to take care of himself.
"Roswaal, you need treatment after all..."
"No, no, that's not enough, Lady Emilia."
Emilia, who had come to the same conclusion as Subaru, tried to approach Roswaal with spirits floating around her, but was stopped by Roswaal himself shaking his head. The spirits, emitting a pale phosphorescent light, swayed as if drawn in by their master's confusion.
As he looked at Emilia's pale face, Subaru noticed something.
--Garfiel was gazing at Emilia, the spirit floating in her air, with eyes frozen with an incomprehensible emotion.
"Right now, there are things that take priority over something as trivial as my injury. My life is not in any danger, so please prioritize that."
"There's no way I can do something like that. There's someone injured, so why would I leave them behind and do something else..."
"Even if that's what it takes to sit on the throne?"
The usual Emilia style exploded, and the scene froze just as the treatment was about to begin, even if it was forceful. Emilia's cheeks stiffened at the words she was told, and her amethyst eyes widened. The yellow eyes that met her head-on were sharp, and shone mysteriously as if peering into her inner world.
"This 'Sanctuary' is merely a piece of land that has been passed down for generations to the Mathers family, but for Lady Emilia's future it holds a huge… yes, huge meaning. And so I had always intended to invite you here someday. --Although this visit is a little earlier than we had planned."
"Do I need it...? Hey, what do you mean by that..."
"The problems this Sanctuary faces are in fact closely related to the problems Lady Emilia faces. Therefore, she may be able to find them here. A place for Lady Emilia to bask in."
"--!?"
Subaru watched as Emilia's expression changed. Roswaal, who had prompted the change, watched her expression and seemed to have accepted her dismay as expected. However, unable to read the emotional exchange between the two of them, Subaru felt frustrated.
However, before he could express his frustration, Roswaal pointed at the silent Garfiel,
"By request, Garfiel. Please guide them to the Sanctuary - no, to the tomb."
"--Huh, is that okay?"
Garfiel, his fingers hooked on the handle of the emptied cup, shook the porcelain and laughed softly. Roswaal tucked his chin in response to the question, and lightly stroked Ram's pink hair as she changed the bandage on her wound,
"First of all, it's important that the situation is known. We can explain the situation and so on after the sun goes down, but that's not the same for the tomb."
"Oh, I see. The sun will soon set. Then it won't be such a simple matter. Well, I'll show you around."
Standing up, Garfiel put his cup on the chair he was sitting on and turned to face Subaru and the others. Seeing the two of them left behind despite being the ones involved, he tilted his head and opened his mouth, showing his canines,
"Don't look so dumbfounded. Let's hurry up and get going if we don't want to end up in a stupid situation where 'the rampage seems like yesterday'."
"Wait, wait, wait. I can't keep up with what you're saying. In the first place, the matter with Roswaal hasn't been resolved at all. At least go after that first..."
"Your wound has opened. Changing your bandages and resting will be a priority. You two, Balusu and the others, follow Lord Roswaal's orders and head to the tomb first."
He tried to argue against Garfiel's forceful behavior, but was interrupted by Ram's bold voice. As Subaru turned to look back at him, she gave him her usual cold gaze, and, placing her hands on the bedsheets,
"Let's calm down and talk when night falls. Lord Roswaal will not run away. However, if we do not reach the tomb before sunset, he will flee."
"I've never heard of such an active graveyard."
As he scratched his head in response, Subaru felt Emilia's gaze piercing his profile. Her eyes were shaking with weak emotion, and it seemed as if she was leaving the decision-making power over her actions to Subaru.
Should I stay here and settle things with Roswaal? Or should I go along with their wishes and let Garfiel guide me to the tomb? The answer is clear.
"Okay. I'll go to the tomb. Is that what you need? I'll make sure to tell you the whole story when I get back."
"It's so bad that things have turned out like this. Let's talk about all sorts of things at night."
Emilia relaxed her shoulders upon hearing Subaru's opinion, and Roswaal nodded in satisfaction. Garfiel and Ram also seemed convinced, and the two began to take action to carry out their respective tasks. However, before they could do anything, Subaru held up his finger and said, "Just one thing."
"There's something I want to ask you before we go to the graveyard."
"Hmm, it's fine. If it's something you can answer easily, then feel free to ask."
「Well, I'll take you up on that offer. Have you ever heard of the name Rem?」
Subaru pretended to finish the conversation and asked his main question. Ram was the first to respond to his question. However, it was not the reaction Subaru was looking for.
The moment Ram heard that name, she tilted her head as if she had heard an unknown word. While Subaru was feeling disheartened, Roswaal quietly repeated the name to himself,
"...What do you think?"
"Hmm. Sorry, but I don't think I've heard that name before. The name sounds similar to Ram's, but I don't think I said it wrong."
"I... I see. No, it's fine. If you don't remember, then there's nothing I can do. There's nothing I can do."
Looking down, Subaru shook his head and accepted the answer.
Ram's and Roswaal's answers easily dashed Subaru's faint hopes. The two people Rem had known the longest, the ones she loved so much she would have given her life for, had all but forgotten about her existence.
This truth was completely contained within Subaru's sky. And he became all the more aware of it.
--After all, in this world, I'm the only one who can remember her.
"Subaru, are you okay?"
Emilia gently touched Subaru's sleeve with a concerned tone. Savoring the gentle touch of her fingertips, Subaru closed his eyes once, lest she see his gloomy complexion, then forcefully lifted his cheek,
"It'll be fine. It's not like I had any weird expectations or anything, I just thought that things like this could happen. --I've just made up my mind that I have to do something about it."
"Yeah. Let's do something about it. I'll help you."
Emilia nodded at Subaru's decision and assured him that she would cooperate with him. Her kindness soothed his broken heart, and Subaru shrugged his shoulders,
"Rem's revival means that the love I have for you, Emilia-tan, will now be directed towards different people, but won't you get jealous?"
Emilia: "Maybe I would do it if it would lessen the feelings Subaru has for me. But that doesn't seem to be the case, right? He said he had prepared one for me and one for Rem."
Subaru's flirtatious remarks were a regular part of his flirtations, but Emilia had an unexpected counterattack. When Subaru was taken aback by his words and unable to continue, she blushed slightly and gave him a triumphant smile,
"Let's go, Subaru. I too want to let Ram and Rem meet soon."
"Oh, yeah, that's right. Yeah, that's right."
A reunion of twin sisters, even if they don't remember, may bring back memories that may send shivers of lost affection.
If there is any point in clinging to even such a faint hope.
"Balse."
Then, Emilia followed Garfiel out of the room, and just as Subaru was about to follow suit, a voice behind him called out to him.
Looking up, he saw that it was Ram, who had come up close to him. She was carrying a replacement bandage for Roswaal, and was approaching Subaru's side.
"What's the matter? If you want to play bandages, then you can have your fill with Roswaal after I leave..."
"Only Lady Emilia may enter the tomb. Barusu, please do not enter under any circumstances."
His lighthearted banter was interrupted, and even his spirit was broken by the sharp tone of Ram's voice.
Ram spoke in a low voice, so that even Roswaal couldn't hear. Subaru frowned, and she repeated the same thing to reaffirm his point.
"---If you don't want to be held captive by the witch's delusions, then don't enter the tomb."
He repeated.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
--The air inside the tomb was cold and clear, welcoming Subaru with a refreshing atmosphere that was completely different to what the name implied.
With every step, the sound of my footsteps echoed, forcing me to assert my presence here, whether I liked it or not. However, the sound of my footsteps also brought me peace of mind.
--In the darkness where you can't even see a few meters ahead, in the miasma where even your own existence is uncertain, even this is a relief.
Not knowing where he stood, and having lost sight of the wall he wanted to lean on, it had been a long time since he'd last seen it. No matter how far he walked, he could never reach the end of the road, and it even gave him the illusion that he was standing still.
However, the sound of footsteps alone denied this. The sound of footsteps was the only thing that guaranteed Subaru's existence, the surety of his steps, and he continued to move forward, relying only on that.
How much time has passed already, it's impossible to tell in the darkness. Even my thoughts are getting hazy, my throat is frozen as I've given up on calling out. Even though I've been walking so far, I don't feel tired, and even the feeling in my limbs is getting hazy.
But I keep walking. I have to walk. I can't stop.
Stopping is not an option. You must keep walking. Even if you feel like you are about to succumb to the weight of the burden you are carrying, you must grit your teeth and keep walking.
Otherwise, why should I have been to her――
"--I see, that's your core. That's quite interesting."
Suddenly, a voice rang out, and the end of eternity that had lost sight of an end came suddenly.
The darkness that seemed to go on forever cleared in an instant, and the vast world that seemed even farther away than the edge of the earth was transformed into a narrow stone passageway. My shoes made no sound as they stamped on the dusty ground, and most of all, a foul, nauseating air pervaded the place.
Completely different from the world he had been in before, these ancient ruins had a real feel to them - the scene that unfolded before him was exactly the same as the one he had felt before entering the tomb, and Subaru was left speechless.
Suddenly, someone approaches him. That person is――
"I apologize for the teasing welcome. It was not my intention to do so, but I am greedy. I cannot escape the desire to know."
She was a pure white girl, as white as a field covered with virgin snow.
Her hair is long enough to hang down her back, a pure white that reflects the snow, and her barely exposed skin is also beautiful enough to be translucent. Her eyes shine with an intelligent radiance, and the only thing that is jet black is the simple outfit she wears, adorning her with a beauty that is simply two colors.
A beauty so great that anyone would be entranced upon seeing her - and yet, before her, Subaru's whole body was assaulted with an overwhelming fear like never before.
Even when I first encountered "Moby Dick," I never felt such oppression.
In front of Subaru, who was at a loss for words, the girl shook her white hair, narrowed her eyes, then immediately nodded as if she understood.
"How rude. I haven't even introduced myself yet. I apologize for being so rude. It's been a while since I've been in contact with people, so I'm not feeling well."
In contrast to the tone of her voice, the girl shook her head slightly, her expression barely changing.
Then, seeing Subaru still remaining silent in fear, she placed her hand on her chest and quietly introduced herself.
"My name is Echidna. Would it be better if I called myself the Witch of Greed?"