6
—It took four days, but the group finally arrived safely at Guaral.
“So that’s Guaral… It’s got a nice wall protecting it,” Subaru said, marveling at the fortified city visible in the distance.
The towering walls encircling the city were far more imposing than anything Subaru had imagined when he heard “nearest town.” Seeing its size, he felt both surprised and fortunate—it was an unexpected stroke of luck.
“That’s a pretty imposing aura… Are there giants here or something?” he mused aloud.
“Giants? I heard they were almost wiped out a long time ago,” Kuna responded earnestly.
“Really? Then maybe the old man I know is the last giant…,” Subaru muttered, thinking of Old Man Rom. To think he might actually be that rare.
He was reminded of Rem mentioning that the oni were also on the verge of extinction. The struggle for survival in this world seemed brutal.
“Now that I think about it, I haven’t met any elves other than Emilia-tan. Maybe there aren’t a lot of elves around, either,” Subaru added, his thoughts drifting.
It fit the classic fantasy trope—long-lived races that reproduced slowly becoming scarce over time. Add the deep-rooted fear of the Witch of Envy, and it wasn’t hard to imagine why elves or half-elves might struggle to find acceptance in many lands.
“Without Emilia-tan around, I end up thinking about her. Damn it, it’s been ages since I’ve seen Beako, too. I’m probably running critically low on emiliase and beatrimin,” Subaru lamented.
The only cure for those deficiencies was spending time with Emilia and Beatrice. More seriously, even hearing their voices would ease the constant worry and tension he felt.
“I miss Ram, Petra, and Frederica’s voices… At this point, I’d even settle for Roswaal’s,” he said with a sigh.
“Umm, is there a point to this?” Rem’s sharp question cut through his rambling.
Subaru had managed to carry her the entire trip without needing help from anyone else. The first couple of days had been rough—he’d wasted stamina figuring out how to balance the frame—but by the third day, he had settled into a comfortable pace and technique.
“There’s no one better than me at carrying Rem.”
“Please don’t strive for a title so disgraceful. Also, Holly and Kuna are here,” Rem pointed out.
Subaru turned to see Holly and Kuna behind him. Kuna scratched her head, looking bored, while Holly smiled cheerfully as always.
“All right, you made it safely, so this is goodbye,” Holly announced.
“Ah… You’re not coming into the town?” Subaru asked.
“There’s no point. Our role was to deliver you here.”
“I see… You two were a huge help,” Subaru said, his tone heavy with gratitude.
It had been easy to forget their presence was merely a Shudrak courtesy because Holly and Kuna had been invaluable. Holly’s cheerfulness and skill, along with Kuna’s knowledge and practicality, had made the journey far smoother.
Now it was really just him, Rem…and Louis.
“…Sheesh, stop looking so pathetic,” Kuna said.
“Sorry. Wait, ‘pathetic’—whoa?!”
Before he could finish, Kuna thrust a long white bundle into his hands. The unexpected weight made Subaru stagger forward. It was the item Holly had been carrying on her back the entire trip.
“Huh. I assumed it was a weapon, but I never saw you open it. What is this?”
“It’s yours. The chief said to give it to you when we reached town,” Kuna explained.
“Mine? And only once we got here…?” Subaru’s brow furrowed in confusion.
“Just open it already,” Kuna urged.
Subaru set the frame down and unwrapped the white bundle. Inside was a large white animal horn.
“This is…a horn?” Rem murmured.
Subaru recognized it immediately—it was the horn of the elgina, the demon beast from the ritual of blood. It was the same horn he had shattered during the ritual.
“Is this…the elgina horn?”
“That’s right. You broke it, so it’s yours,” Kuna replied matter-of-factly.
“It’s valuable. With that size, it’ll sell for a high price,” Holly added.
“—gh!”
Subaru inhaled sharply, realizing their intent. The horn would pay for his journey back to Lugunica. They had carried it all this way without mentioning it once.
“This is pretty heavy to carry…”
“You carried Rem the whole time,” Kuna said with a shrug.
“And I’m really strong, so it was fine,” Holly added, smiling.
Their casual remarks only deepened Subaru’s appreciation. They had not only protected him during the journey but had also ensured he had a way to fund his travels. And after he left them to go home, they would return to join the Shudrak in Abel’s battle to reclaim the capital.
Who knew how many would die along the way?
“I…”
Subaru opened his mouth, but before he could speak, Kuna cut him off sharply.
“Quit thinking stupid things.”
“…”
“Fight to protect what you want to protect. That’s what we’re doing, too,” Kuna said, glaring at him with her usual bored expression.
Despite her complaints and frustrations, Kuna’s loyalty to the Shudrak—and even to Holly—was unwavering. She knew what was important to her and stood firm in that belief.
“Don’t be lazy. I’ve got good eyes. If you do something stupid, I’ll be the first to see it.”
“And if Kuna tells me, I’ll bring the boom with my bow!” Holly chimed in.
“…Yeah, that’s a scary thought,” Subaru replied, feeling the weight of their words.
Understanding their intent, Subaru swallowed the emotions swelling inside him and said, “Thank you. I’ll use this for the road. You’ve both been a huge help.”
Both Holly and Kuna nodded in acknowledgment.
“Holly, Kuna, thank you for everything during the journey. I won’t forget my gratitude to you and all the Shudrak,” Rem said, dismounting from the frame to bid them farewell properly.
“Please don’t forget. Since you apparently forget a lot of things.”
“I think that’s going a bit far, Kuna,” Holly murmured.
Even Louis seemed reluctant to leave. She had gotten especially attached to Holly, who was always open with others. Louis clung to her waist for a while, refusing to let go.
“See you, Subaru. Don’t forget, I’m watching you,” Kuna said.
“That’s right!” Holly added with a wave.
“Yeah! I’m really grateful. Thank you!” Subaru called back as the three of them set out toward Guaral.
Subaru placed the horn back into its bundle and handed it to Louis to carry. It was a tough decision, but he needed to keep his hands free. Surprisingly, Louis carried it carefully, perhaps inspired by Holly and Kuna’s encouragement.
“She’s seeing all sorts of things,” Rem murmured softly.
“…I know full well she’s a bundle of curiosity,” Subaru replied bitterly.
Louis Arneb, the Archbishop of Gluttony, consumed every life she could get her hands on in search of the optimal life for herself. Put generously, she was a researcher, or, less generously, she was an omnivore. So her showing a mildly admirable quality was not enough to change Subaru’s perception of her.
And it shouldn’t.
“Let’s go,” Subaru said, stepping forward.
Rem sighed but followed, and Louis’s small steps trailed after them.
Just like when they first arrived in Volakia, the three of them were together, and now they were finally moving in the same direction.
Passing under the great gate, they entered the fortified city of Guaral.
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