Chapter 11: Love Arc (3)
"Young lady, are you going to buy or not? It's been nearly an hour already."
Seeing the red-haired girl once again put down a pendant and then pick up another from the counter, the shopkeeper finally couldn't hold back and asked.
"Ah, ah, I'm sorry. Please help me wrap these two separately."
"Who would've thought… expressing my feelings to someone I like would be such a difficult thing."
Reinhild looked down at the box in her left hand, which contained a pendant symbolizing eternal love, and muttered to herself. From yesterday onward, whenever she thought of Subaru, she couldn't stop feeling nervous.
Reinhild realized she had completely fallen in love with him.
Since she had already confirmed her feelings, Reinhild of course intended to respond to Subaru's confession, as she had promised herself she would.
——I should have said it clearly yesterday.
"Dragging it out like this… that's so unlike me."
She then looked at the box in her right hand, which contained a pendant wishing the recipient a happy future, and whispered:
"If only I could truly give everything up and just be with Subaru."
Realizing those words were a mere fantasy, Reinhild sighed.
To repay her father and mother, who had brought her into the world, Reinhild had already decided to defeat the [Gluttony] that had devoured her existence. And according to the current information, the moment she slew [Gluttony], she would return to being the [Sword Saint].
——When that time comes, could I really abandon this country?
Knowing she could not, Reinhild sighed again.
Rem's dream had frustrated her, but after cooling down over the past day, Reinhild had to admit that for Subaru, it was a good future.
——Would Subaru really be happy with me, the Sword Saint? Am I truly worthy of the devotion he gives me?
She looked up at the sky. She understood Subaru's resolve, but she also knew the kind of trials a man would have to endure to wed the Sword Saint.
——I could never be like Rem, who would cast aside everything for Subaru.
"In the end, rejecting him really is the correct choice, isn't it?"
Reinhild stopped in front of a trash bin. But her feet refused to step forward.
——No… I don't want to share Subaru's love with anyone, much less give him up entirely. At the very least, until I defeat [Gluttony], I should be allowed this little selfishness.
Perhaps it was Wilhelm's bloodline. Even though she knew in her heart that each passing day deepened her bond with Subaru, her feelings resisted severing that connection.
——Short pain is better than long pain. You know that's the right thing to do. You are the Sword Saint.
Scenes from her past life flashed through her mind—ever since she was five, her life had been one in which everyone recognized her as the Sword Saint and placed their expectations on her.
——I am someone who has already pledged loyalty to this country.
In her mind appeared the image of her father embracing her, and she recalled a promise she had nearly forgotten.
The weight of nineteen years of her Sword Saint's life clearly outweighed less than half a year with Subaru.
Reinhild's eyes hardened with resolve.
She walked up to the trash bin, hesitated for a moment, then finally loosened her left hand. She watched the box symbolizing love fall into the bin. She stared blankly, instinctively wanted to pick it up again, but at the last second stopped herself, then turned and fled in a panic.
!!!!
"Stop it!" "Don't use weapons! Can't you see it's carrying children on its back?" "Everyone, move back, move back! A ground dragon's gone mad!"
The frantic voices reached the ears of the girl wandering the streets like a lost soul. Reinhild instinctively raised her head, and her eyes widened instantly. She saw the battered Patrasche, carrying two children, running toward her.
——Something happened to Subaru!!!
Because she knew very well what kind of being this ground dragon she had spent two months with was, Reinhild instantly understood. In the next moment, she crossed the distance and appeared by Patrasche's side.
"What happened to Subaru?!"
"Grrrhhh~~"
Patrasche let out a mournful cry, then nudged the two children with her head.
"B… big brother… he saved us…"
"What… exactly happened?!"
Reinhild noticed her own voice was trembling. She also noticed the surrounding people backing away under the pressure of her aura. She knew she should be calm, but she simply couldn't.
"He was… eaten by a mabeast… while saving us."
In that instant, Reinhild felt as if the entire world turned gray. Her mind filled with memories of the time she had spent with Subaru. Though it had been only two months, the recollections felt endlessly long.
Reinhild clutched her chest. The unbearable pain drove her to her knees. Her vision blurred, and droplets fell to the ground.
"Subaru!!!"
She heard Patrasche's enraged roar before her. Looking around, Reinhild realized she had been struck away by the dragon's tail. Propping herself on the ground to stand, she suddenly noticed her right hand was empty.
"Have I lost both love and future because of me…?"
——I achieved nothing. That boy died because of my hesitation.
"Grrrhhh!!!"
Patrasche let out another furious cry, then once again struck the dazed Reinhild skyward with its tail, catching her on its back before dashing toward the beach.
——So this is what it feels like to lose the one you love? No wonder Grandfather left the family, no wonder Father abandoned himself to despair.
Reinhild suddenly understood Subaru's place in her heart. Yes, her nineteen years of life carried greater weight, but…
Shelka, Orstrey, Argansin… Shelves Casino, Dragon God Church, the mountain peak…
Countless joyful memories, countless warm daily moments, all those happy, free times of the two-month journey—they surpassed even the nineteen years combined.
——The mabeast that killed Subaru must never be forgiven!
That was the only thought in Reinhild's heart.
"What did the mabeast look like?"
"A really big whale." ×2
The two children, intimidated into silence by Reinhild's killing intent, no longer cried.
"A whale…?"
And then she suddenly recalled Subaru's fairy tale from last night: So Pinocchio met his grandfather in the belly of the whale!
"Subaru… he wasn't crushed to death immediately, was he?"
"Grrhhhhh!!!"
Patrasche's cry grew stronger, and light returned to Reinhild's eyes. She leapt out over the sea, activating the [Beast-Luring Blessing] she once obtained for subjugating a cunning mabeast.
Instantly, countless black shadows appeared beneath the water. Reinhild then invoked the [Divine Protection of Rescue ] she normally used in disasters, confirming no one else was in danger. And then—she swung her sword with all her might.