2
“Weeell, now. Welcome baaack. I’m glad for your safe retuuurn.”
Roswaal greeted the group while sitting on the couch in the parlor.
Subaru and Emilia couldn’t help glancing at each other when they saw his full-faced smile in clown makeup.
“…Emilia-tan, you didn’t write anything strange in the letter, did you?”
“Um, I don’t think so, but…maybe it’s because you did something that made him happy? I mean, you and Roswaal do have those secret conversations from time to time…”
“Me? I’d rather spend my time and money on you and Beako and Petra and Frederica and Patlash and, I guess, Ram.”
“That could be considered quite a lot of women’s names, I suppose.”
“It’d be embarrassing to show that sort of daily gratitude to Otto and Garfield, since they’re fellow guys, okay?!” Beatrice looked exasperated as Subaru put his hand on her head and joined Emilia in confusion. Incidentally, the reason he didn’t include Rem was to avoid upsetting the others, but he still regretted leaving her out. He quickly put that thought out of his mind to ask a pointed question. “So judging from that smile, you must be plotting some new nasty tricks. Am I right, Roswaal?”
“What a veeeexing reaction. All I’ve done is show how haaappy I am to see you are all safe and sound after worrying about your safety. You could hardly find any problem with that, yeees?”
Roswaal closed one eye, staring at Subaru with the blue eye.
“This past year, I’ve had seeeveral changes of heart. My cooperation is something to be celebrated as far as Lady Emilia is concerned, no?”
“Um, I guess so. Yes. Thank you, Roswaal.”
Emilia accepted Roswaal’s brazen appeal with her open-minded generosity. Seeing how Roswaal smiled and waved his hand breezily, Subaru couldn’t help wondering exactly how trustworthy this man really was.
“It’s a waste of time trying to grasp what he is thinking. That oddness of his that makes him act the way he does is even more immeasurable than yours, Subaru.”
“That was a bit vague.”
Beatrice’s ambiguous assessment almost made her sound like a rambling old lady. Taking her hand, he stepped into the parlor together with Emilia.
He was suspicious of Roswaal being in such a good mood. At the same time, it seemed like a safe bet that Roswaal was genuinely pleased to see them return. Having lost his tome of wisdom, they were crucial for achieving his goal.
“In that case, it would be helpful if you were a little bit more genuinely cooperative.”
“You will accomplish what you set out to do with or without my aid. And because I have faith in your abilities, I am exerting myself in the arenas where your strength cannot reach. A truly fair relationship, wouldn’t you saaay?”
“Yeah, it seriously gives that hint of RPG spice: a helper character who’s not actually available to help most of the tiiime.”
It was a standard trope of games that characters who were overpowered would only ever join the party for very specific fights.
As it so happened, Roswaal always watched from the sidelines as Subaru was pushed to the absolute limit so he could obtain proof that Subaru’s ability to return by death could change fate itself.
He was a shrewd one and someone Subaru couldn’t afford to let his guard down around. That assessment was still unchanged.
“Soooo, isn’t it about time you introduced us?”
“Ah, sorry, sorry. Roswaal, we’ve brought some guests. Can you make some room?”
“So I’ve heeeard. Still, though, this is quite the intriiiiguing assembly.”
Roswaal stood up and gestured for the guests standing at the entrance to the room to take a seat on the sofa while he shifted to a nearby armchair.
“Welcome. You’ve come a long way. We haven’t been able to speak like this siiiince the ceremony.”
“Indeed, and it’s not like we got a chance to reeeally talk much there, either, so I suppose this marks the first time.”
Anastasia smiled and met Roswaal’s diplomatic greeting with an equally diplomatic response.
The ceremony they were referring to was the one held at the royal palace to honor Emilia, Crusch, Anastasia, and all their followers for their work in slaying the white whale.
It happened after the events in the Sanctuary, with representatives from all three factions present.
He’s got some balls to show up for that with a straight face after everything he did.
Either way, this was the first time he and Anastasia had met face-to-face since then, and their greetings included a bit of probing. The conversation then shifted to the main topic: reporting what had occurred in Pristella.
“I’ve read your letter. Otto and Garfiel are recovering from their injuries, but even so, it sounds like the cost of dealing with the Witch Cult was fairly low?”
“Yes, thanks to the reeeally hard work the two of them put in… Actually, it’s also thanks to everyone who was in the town. Subaru and Liliana, too.”
“Why did you mention me and Liliana all of a sudden?”
Probably because they were in the non-combatant category. Not because they were particularly similar.
“Well, setting aside Subaru’s self-consciousness… Lady Anastasia, it was you who invited Lady Emilia to Pristella. Do you have any thoughts regarding that?”
“I regret the incident. If you asked me to apologize, I’m prepared to offer a proper apology. However…”
“However, Lady Emilia has already refused anything more than that, I’m suuure.”
“After all, it’s the Witch Cult who were acting up, so they’re the ones in the wrong. Anastasia doesn’t have any responsibility for what they did. And we still managed to accomplish what we went there to do.”
Emilia touched the pendant around her neck when Roswaal glanced at her. A gleaming magic crystal sat there, gathering strength for the great spirit that was still deep in slumber.
The reason they had gone to Pristella was to secure a magic crystal that could help Puck. As far as that specific goal was concerned, the trip to Pristella had been a success.
“Also, the fact that we happened to be there at the right time might be why we were able to defeat the Witch Cult. If so, then that would be to Anastasia’s credit—”
“That’s obviously far beyond what I was considering, so just leave it at that.”
Anastasia grimaced a bit at Emilia’s forward-thinking perspective and stopped her.
“Really?”
For some reason, Anastasia looked relieved as Emilia cocked her head.
Of course, that whole line was just a preemptive push from Roswaal.
In fact, there was a decent chance the Witch Cult’s attack on Pristella was primarily aimed at Emilia’s faction. Roswaal was perfectly aware of that since it had been mentioned in the letter.
“The actions of the Witch Cult are their own. We can all agree that they’re the worst and move on. The other factions have accepted that, and it’s not as if there wasn’t anything gained in the fighting, either.”
“Killing one archbishop and capturing another. It is indeed a magnificent outcome. However, those cultists have no sense of working together or solidarity. Even if there is only one left, the danger remains unchanged.”
“I can’t argue with that…”
The Witch Cult was more a place for deviants to gather than any sort of formal organization. Because of that, it wasn’t like Gluttony or Lust would stop their atrocities just because Greed and Wrath had been defeated.
“Anyway, we’ve got an idea that might take care of that.”
“And that is why you are setting out for the Sage’s watchtower. That is quite the perilous path. Do you have any reason to believe you will succeed?”
Roswaal was one of the leaders of the kingdom. It went without saying that he was aware that Reinhard had already attempted to cross the Auguria Dunes before only to fail.
Between the hallucinogenic miasma and the countless dangerous demon beasts, it was only natural to question how they would make it past those barriers. Subaru simply glanced at the trump card they had prepared for that issue.
“That is where I come in. Fortunately, I happen to know a secret path that will bring us to the Sage’s watchtower. That is how we can succeed.”
“Even if you ask me to just trust yoooou… Something like a secret route through the dunes would surely fetch quite the price from any number of buyers. Why is it that you and you alone happen to be in possession of it?”
“I’m a merchant, so of course money is important. But there are some things money can’t buy. And this here is one of those things. Can we agree on that?”
Anastasia, or rather Foxidna, was matching Roswaal point for point.
Despite the fact that she was a fake pretending to be Anastasia, her words possessed a mysterious strength, a strength that even overawed Subaru, who knew the truth.
Facing down the full force of Anastasia’s gaze, Roswaal closed an eye.
“I see now how someone so young can run such a large company. It is quite a challenge to outplay someone so worldly with words alone. I imagine Lady Emilia has already agreed to your proposal?”
“I’m sorry for deciding something like this on my own.”
“Not sorry enough to stop making such rash decisions without consulting others. But that is fine. You are one who chooses to take the thorny path. And that path is one he will surely resolve himself to follow as well.”
Roswaal seemed unenthused by Anastasia’s proposal, but that was where his interest lay in the end. If Emilia chose the most difficult path, then the hurdles Subaru would have to clear would naturally be even higher. For Roswaal, that was the hope that had replaced his tome of wisdom.
“Basically, we’ll clear the whatever-it’s-called desert with Anastasia’s guidance. That’s our decision.”
“The Auguria Dunes. Just learn the name already.”
Julius interjected with a sigh as Subaru relied on his vague memory to make a bold statement. The knight was sitting beside Anastasia and had listened in silence thus far, but he turned his intellectual gaze on Roswaal.
“I imagine you might be quite concerned, Marquis Mathers. However, there are many people in the city of Pristella who are currently suffering physically and mentally from the depredations of the Witch Cult. I would ask that you please allow us to undertake this task, that our actions here might lead to their being saved.”
“What an elegant bearing. Considering you are not in my memories, I suppose you are one of those victims, yeees?”
“ ”
The fact that he didn’t know Julius at all was enough for Roswaal to grasp the situation. Julius averted his eyes ever so slightly as Roswaal propped his cheek up.
“The unease of being forgotten by people due to Greed’s authority—of being left behind by the rest of the world. Seeking a faint hope for your own sake… You needn’t adorn it with platitudes about helping others, you knooow?”
“—Ngh. I would never act on the basis of such mean self-interest.”
“I’m nooot criticizing you. It’s only natural. People always become more desperate for their own sake than they do for others. There’s no need to deny the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, or even the sense of superiority that comes from saving others along the way while saving yourself.”
Julius’s cheeks tensed as Roswaal’s jester’s grin deepened.
“All the more so when the odds are quite high that others will also be saved if you succeed in saving yourself. You have a just cause, and you are taking action. There’s no need to feel such paaangs of conscience.”
“I…”
“—That’s enough, don’t you think, Marquis Mathers?”
Stopping Julius as he struggled with how to respond, Anastasia faced Roswaal instead. She was smiling elegantly and cocked her head charmingly.
“Honestly, I don’t remember, either. But even so, he is apparently my knight, and it’s not too pleasant to see him toyed with over something he can’t help.”
“Even though the memories are gone, the lady and retainer relationship remains…?”
“So it seems. I can’t say I totally understand it, either. But the time spent with Julius while traveling here wasn’t so bad…and also…”
Anastasia pointed at the sofa across from her.
“And it’ll keep your faction from splitting apart, too, right?”
“—Well now, dear me.”
Roswaal shrugged at Anastasia’s point—in other words, at Subaru, who was on the verge of exploding. It wasn’t shocking that Subaru was on the verge of erupting in anger, but even Emilia and Beatrice were on edge.
Seeing that, Roswaal raised his hand as if in surrender.
“Veeeery well, I was in the wrong. I was simply pointing out that perspective also exists.”
“You were just harassing him for the hell of it. Don’t screw with us.”
“From your attitude, it seems as if there is more than just a few days shared between the two of yooou.”
Roswaal closed an eye, meeting Subaru’s sharp gaze with his yellow eye. And then he licked his lips as if seeing straight through Subaru.
“Again, you are the oooonly one who remembers. Just like Rem.”
“No clue why, though.”
“That is proof you are special. You should take good caaaare of that. There are many who cannot have that no matter how much they want it.”
The last part was murmured softly, just to himself, and didn’t reach Subaru’s ears. Beatrice alone had a thoughtful look in her eyes.
With that exchange, Subaru let out a heavy sigh.
“The rest is like we mentioned in the letter. The manor’s prison and…”
“Rem. Quite the bold decision. Even though you aaaare so loath to bring her up.”
“…There might be a way to wake her up. I’m gonna take my chances. It’s only natural, right?”
“It’s surprising to choose her as the first subject for that potential method. You like to pretend to be selfish, but you are actually terribly self-punishing. Is there not somewhere in your heart or some corner of your mind telling you that you have no right to be saved first?”
“ ”
Subaru fell silent as Roswaal hit the mark dead-on.
He had been worrying during the whole trip about whether to bring Rem with them.
Not because he wanted to avoid waking her up but because if there was any chance of waking her up, he wanted it to happen as soon as possible. But that was different from Subaru Natsuki being saved.
In Pristella, there were lots of people other than Subaru experiencing the same sort of suffering. So why did he get to be first before all of them?
That sense of guilt had been causing him to hesitate until the very last moment, but—
“If that’s what you mean, then I talked to Subaru about that already, so it isn’t a problem.”
“…That is even more surprising.” Emilia spoke up in Subaru’s stead when he fell silent. Roswaal looked dubiously at her as she puffed out her chest and then winked at her. “It’s perhaps not for me to say this, but it would be rather inconvenient for you if Rem was to awaken, wouldn’t it, Lady Emilia? No matter how you look at it, Subaru has quite strong feelings toward the girl. They might even rival his feelings for you…”
“Yes, that’s probably true. I imagine if Rem wakes up, Subaru will spend all of his time with her for a while. He might even stop caring about me.”
“No, that’s not…”
Subaru could confidently say that wasn’t true. There was no way his feelings toward Emilia would ever waver. But the fact that he cared for Rem a great deal was not a lie, either. And Emilia was right. If Rem woke up, he would undoubtedly devote a lot of time to her, making up for the year they had lost.
But even so, Emilia had told him it was okay.
“If Subaru pays a lot of attention to her, then I’ll just have to work hard to make him look at me again. It would be a problem if Subaru disappeared, so no matter how cute Rem is or how special she is to him, I’ll convince him to stay with me, too.”
“E-Emilia-tan?!”
“That’s my resolve and what I decided. No one will complain about Subaru getting saved. So it’s okay. Let’s wake Rem up.”
Emilia put her weight behind Subaru’s decision.
Subaru gasped, and his knees trembled a bit at what sounded a lot like a confession.
Emilia had said things that sounded affectionate any number of times before. But even then, they were all still in the realm of just a sort of soft attraction—
“Whether with me, with Rem, with Beatrice, with Petra and Patlash, or Frederica and Ram, or even Otto and Garfiel! I want Subaru to be reeeally, reeeally happy.”
“There was a land dragon and a couple guys mixed in there at the end.”
Subaru couldn’t help interjecting despite the mixture of embarrassment and certain other emotions he was feeling.
But Beatrice, who was sitting next to him, jabbed him in the side. Looking over, he noticed Beatrice had an indignant look on her face.
“After this long, Betty won’t complain about how fickle you are… But always keep one hand open. That’s Betty’s special privilege.”
“You are ridiculously adorable…”
“Naturally. Betty’s cuteness rings out in every realm.”
Subaru couldn’t speak for the gods and goddesses who ruled the earth and the heavens, but it certainly echoed loudly in his heart.
With Emilia and Beatrice giving him their full support, Subaru could devote himself to waking up Rem without worry. There was no more doubt.
“Sorry for being so loved by everyone, Roswaal. Looks like we’ll be taking Rem with us.”
“I’m quite surprised by all of you…but do as you please. In the first place, I never intended to stop youuuu.”
“Then what was the point of asking that question?!”
“Just making sure you understand what it is you are doing, out of an excess of thoughtfulness. I was aaalso rude to the nameless knight there.”
All the way to the end, Roswaal refused to let up on his teasing banter.
However, Julius shook his head and looked toward Subaru and Anastasia.
“No, my name is Julius Juukulius. At the moment, Subaru may be the only person who remembers me, but I am a knight in the Kingdom of Lugunica’s royal guard. I am not so immature that something like this would cause my heart to waver.”
Saying that, he magnificently brushed off the nasty mage’s terrible provocations.
“…You were a little bit shaky there, though.”
“Whose side are you on? It feels almost like I was just stabbed in the back.”
Subaru and Julius did have a quiet little exchange among themselves at the very end, though.
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