4
Leave the Shudrak and head to the town closest to the Badheim Jungle.
To Subaru’s surprise, the Shudrak did not react strongly to his decision.
“I see. Unfortunate, but if that is our brother’s decision, then so be it,” Mizelda said with calm acceptance.
Subaru had braced himself for scorn, expecting to be criticized for refusing to fight alongside them. Instead, Mizelda respected his choice, and the lack of judgment left him both relieved and uneasy.
Utakata took the news much harder than Mizelda. Her reaction weighed on him more than he’d expected.
“Suu is leaving. That’s so sad…”
“Yeah, sorry… Um, Utakata, do you know what’s going to happen now?” Subaru asked softly, gently patting her head as she clung to his sleeve.
The Shudrak’s values and solidarity were unshakeable, and Mizelda’s decisions represented the will of the tribe. But Utakata was still young. Subaru couldn’t help but worry that she might be swept up in the heat of the moment without fully understanding the gravity of what lay ahead.
“The fight is going to start. I’m going to fight with Mii and Taa and everyone,” Utakata said confidently, pointing to the bow slung across her back.
“…I see,” Subaru said with a sigh.
A part of him wished a child like her could stay blissfully ignorant at times like these. But such sentiments had no place in this jungle. Utakata was a Shudrak through and through. She had the resolve to fight—and to kill. Subaru himself had been killed by one of her poison arrows before.
Even so…
“Don’t die, Utakata.”
“Uu won’t die! You try hard not to die, too, Suu,” Utakata replied brightly.
Subaru could only manage a weak smile in response.
In truth, he couldn’t fathom what chances Abel and the Shudrak had in this fight. Abel, the deposed emperor, faced enemies who could wield the might of the entire imperial army. No matter how ingenious Abel’s strategies might be, could they really overcome such overwhelming odds?
“I’m ready.”
“Whoa!” Subaru yelped, startled by the sudden voice.
“…What is it? Why are you so surprised?” Rem asked, holding a wooden staff in one hand and wearing a small bag slung over her back. She looked at him quizzically, clearly prepared for travel.
Subaru stared, stunned by how readily she seemed to have accepted that they were leaving.
After his tense exchange with Abel, Subaru had expected convincing Rem to leave to be the hardest part. He’d even prepared himself to drag her away in the middle of the night if it came to that. Yet when he had broached the subject directly, expecting resistance, she had surprised him.
“…Understood. I’ll prepare for tomorrow,” she had said simply.
Even now, seeing her dressed and ready, Subaru still struggled to believe it was happening.
“So…”
“Ah! No, sorry, it’s fine. Yeah, you’ve even got your travel clothes on. Cute.”
“Huh?”
“Sorry! Not what I meant! I mean, you’re prepared and reliable, and that really helps. I’m happy about that,” Subaru stammered awkwardly.
Rem’s dubious glare deepened, making it clear his clumsy attempt to recover had failed.
I’m not trying to suck up, Subaru thought. Still, if she wasn’t resisting, that was a huge relief. Ideally, he’d like to open things up between them more.
“So are you ready? You seemed reluctant to leave earlier…”
“Yeah, don’t worry about that. We didn’t have much to pack, and you’re carrying most of it anyway.”
“…But you’re going to be carrying me,” Rem pointed out, glancing at the handmade wooden frame.
It was a crude but sturdy device made from thick branches lashed together with vines, designed to allow Subaru to carry Rem on his back. While Rem could walk short distances with her staff, traveling to the nearest town—several days away—was another matter entirely.
“It’s got that handmade vibe, but it’s strong. We tested it with Talitta, and she’s heavier than you,” Subaru said.
“I’m not particularly concerned about heavy or light, but I believe you’re being rude to Talitta.”
Scratching his cheek awkwardly, Subaru shifted his gaze behind Rem to Louis. She would be joining them on this journey as well, of course. If Subaru was taking Rem, Louis had to come, too.
“And it’s too much to leave a ticking time bomb like her with the Shudrak…”
Even if the Shudrak were willing, letting an Archbishop off the leash was unthinkable. There had been several times already that he had let her out of his sight, giving her plenty of chances to reveal her true nature, but he wouldn’t let that happen again.
Even if he was starting to believe that Louis’s behavior was not just an act.
“Ah, uuu.”
Louis stood quietly, her long hair tied neatly behind her head. Her once-tattered white dress had been mended, giving her a cleaner and softer appearance. The Shudrak doted on her, and they had fixed her clothes as a gift.
Mizelda approached to see them off.
“Sorry for needing your help with everything,” Subaru said.
“Don’t apologize, Subaru. You overcame the ritual of blood and proved the radiance of your soul. It is only natural to honor a brother and offer what help we can,” Mizelda said.
“‘Brother’…,” Subaru echoed, lowering his gaze.
He couldn’t bring himself to meet Mizelda’s eyes. The tribe was preparing for a brutal battle, yet here he was, leaving them behind.
Would a proud and honorable Shudrak do something like this?
“Do not fret over it, Subaru,” Mizelda said, sensing his hesitation.
“Mizelda…”
“We will fight and prove our worth. But protecting what’s important is how we secure the future of the tribe. Never forget that.”
“…”
“You must protect Rem and Louis. That is what I expect of our honored brother.”
Her straightforward encouragement stirred something in Subaru. He felt a heat rise in the backs of his eyes but held it at bay.
He didn’t bother correcting Mizelda about Louis. At the very least, he owed it to them to fulfill that expectation.
And I might never see them again…
“We’re ready. It’s time to go,” Holly called out, waving a large hand. The lively Shudrak woman with the tips of her hair dyed yellow stood alongside Kuna, a quieter figure with green-dyed hair.
The two had been chosen to escort Subaru and his group to Guaral, the nearest town.
“I didn’t want to ask for protection, but…”
In this unfamiliar land, Subaru had already died several times in just a few days. Better to be safe than sorry. Relying on Rem or Louis for support wasn’t an option, and Subaru’s own strength wasn’t enough to ensure their safety.
I dunno about Kuna but I’ve seen Holly lift a boulder up like it didn’t weigh anything. She’s plenty strong.
And…
“It doesn’t hurt anywhere, does it, Rem?” Subaru asked as he adjusted the frame on his back. Because they were back-to-back, it wasn’t possible for Subaru to see Rem’s face. In order to keep her fixed in place, they had tried to pack it with the softest leaves and cloth they could manage, but there would surely be plenty of discomfort on a long hike.
“I’m fine…but are you going to manage?”
“I’m technically trained up, so don’t worry. My stamina’s not fully back, but I’ll manage. I’d rather not have Holly or Kuna too distracted in case something does happen.”
It was already a huge help that they were coming along. No matter how hard it was, he couldn’t ask them to carry Rem as well.
With Rem securely on his back and Louis ready at his side, Subaru stood. Holly and Kuna finished their preparations and joined them, dressed lightly for travel.
The rest of the village had already gathered.
“To the safety of our worthy brother Subaru Natsuki and to his success!” Mizelda cried out.
“—To his success!” the Shudrak women shouted in unison.
Feeling the chill breeze, Subaru managed a grateful smile.
“Yeah! Thank you, everyone. Take care!”
The words felt hollow and inadequate, considering the battles awaiting the Shudrak. But they were sincere. He wanted these bright, charming women to survive.
“…”
As the group began their journey, Subaru searched the crowd for the distinctive oni mask. But, perhaps unsurprisingly, Abel was nowhere to be seen.
Bearing the weight of his shame and gratitude…
“I’m going now!” Subaru called out.
“Ooo!” Louis echoed him with a loud shout.
With that, Subaru, Rem, Louis, Holly, and Kuna left the Shudrak village, taking their first steps toward the town of Guaral—away from the flames of the war that was sure to come.
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