Chapter 149: Our Victory!
"This is something surprising? Your actions seem completely inexplicable to me now."
"I can't just pretend I didn't hear that. Then tell me, what exactly is strange about me?"
"Fighting enemies while risking your life, yet you think about saving a madman. Isn't that what a lunatic would do?"
Upon hearing this, Subaru Natsuki was about to argue back but paused to touch his chin and think it over.
From someone else's perspective, it really was an action only a lunatic could take.
"Well, whatever. See it however you want. I honestly don't care what others think."
Geuse, seeing Subaru ignoring him, said nothing more and started pondering his own future.
At that moment, footsteps were heard outside the door. Subaru then heard a muffled groan beside him.
Turning his head, he saw Geuse, who had been sitting moments ago, now lying back on the bed with his eyes closed.
The crucial thing was that Geuse looked exactly the same as when he first woke up—completely identical! No difference at all. How could one fully recover to look exactly as before?
"Don't play dead on me. Avoidance won't help. Do I have to force you to spill everything instead?"
"..."
Subaru watched as Geuse opened his eyes and obediently sat up. Nodding in satisfaction, Subaru turned toward the door just as it opened.
Standing in the doorway were Emilia and Puck.
"Subaru, you're awake."
"Looks like you've recovered well, my friend."
Subaru smiled at Puck and reached out his hand. Despite Puck's helpless expression, he obediently placed his paw in Subaru's.
"Ah, that softness—feels alive again."
"Stop fooling around, Subaru. You really need to rest now."
"That's right, Puck's right, Subaru. You need to rest properly."
Subaru's gaze lingered on Emilia, and from her expression, he knew she was about to start lecturing.
"Wait! Save the lecture for later. There's someone else here."
While saying this, Subaru pointed toward Geuse with a mischievous smile.
But that smile quickly froze on his face when Emilia spoke.
"Ah, sorry. Hello, sir. You're the one who helped Subaru when he was fighting the Witch's Cult, right? Thank you for saving him. Oh, I almost forgot to introduce myself—my name is Emilia."
Subaru's smile disappeared.
He had expected a touching reunion, but instead, this was the scene.
Was Emilia really seeing Geuse for the first time with that expression? If so, then were the memories he had seen all false?
With suspicion, Subaru turned to Geuse, but Geuse's expression was calm, eyes filled with sadness and relief.
"Hello, Lady Emilia. My name is Geuse Romanchic. Pleased to meet you."
"Nice to meet you too. But Mr. Geuse, you look a bit pale. Are your injuries still not healed?"
Subaru watched the two quietly, his eyes flickering between their faces, trying to glean useful information.
The conclusion was clear: Emilia had no memory of Geuse, but Geuse definitely recognized Emilia.
The guilt and remorse in his eyes were genuine. And when he realized Emilia didn't know him, he seemed both relieved and saddened.
"Um, Mr. Geuse, is there something on my face?"
"Nothing, I just thought you looked very similar to someone I know, so I was staring a little too long. Please don't mind me."
"I see. By the way, Mr. Geuse, it looks like your wounds still hurt. Actually, I know a bit of healing. Want me to take a look?"
"No need to trouble you, Lady Emilia. These minor injuries will heal on their own in time."
"Emilia, he's after all the one who saved my life. Could you please check him out a little?"
Subaru's voice made Emilia nod. Geuse was about to refuse, but when he saw Subaru's threatening look, he reluctantly smiled.
"Then I'll leave it to you, Lady Emilia."
"It's no trouble. You helped Subaru a lot. It's the least I can do."
Watching Emilia start healing Geuse, Subaru felt a bit uneasy. Pulling his gaze away, he turned to Puck.
"Puck, take me out to the bathroom."
"You're impossible. Fine, let's go."
Subaru watched the giant cat leave his hand. His brief disappointment vanished instantly.
"Wow!! Puck, you can grow big! Why didn't you say so earlier? Stroking you like this is even more fun!"
"...Even you can't make ridiculous demands like that!"
"What's ridiculous? Never mind, let's just go."
With Puck's support, Subaru left the room.
Strangely, if this had been the usual Emilia, she would have urged him to come back quickly to rest or to accept an examination.
Shaking his head to avoid thinking about it, Subaru looked at the giant cat beside him.
"Alright, stop holding me up. I'm not really going to the bathroom. Just using it as an excuse to sneak out."
"I've known that for a while. Only my stupid daughter didn't."
Puck let go, instantly shrinking back to normal size, and perched on Subaru's shoulder.
"Hey, hey, Puck, don't sit on my shoulder—it's heavy."
"Hmph, you can't stop me. This is my way of persuading you to go back."
Subaru sighed but didn't really plan to return. Instead, he headed toward the lawn outside the mansion.
When Subaru stepped outside, he saw a group of armored people gathering, all smiling and chatting.
Standing at the gate, Subaru whispered to himself:
"Finally... finally succeeded..."
"Huh? Isn't this our hero? You look well now."
With that voice calling out, everyone outside turned to look. Friendly words soon followed.
They gradually approached Subaru, who smiled and raised his hand high.
"Our victory!!!"
"Our victory!!!!"
Read ahead (60 chapters) by supporting me on Ko fi \varietranslation