3
Having decided on the next course of action, Subaru immediately sprang into motion.
Even after they exited the alley and started moving, Todd didn’t make a move. It seemed safe to assume that Subaru’s bluff had worked, forcing Todd to act cautiously.
But the reprieve wouldn’t last.
“He’ll definitely see through it before long. We gotta run fast…!”
Determined, Subaru hurried back to the inn he had left five deaths ago, dragging Flop—who had only been given a vague explanation—along with him. They raced up the stairs, and Subaru banged on the door of the room where Rem and the others were staying.
“Rem! Are you… Whoa?!”
The moment Subaru opened the door, the cold blade of a sword pressed against his neck.
“Whoops! It’s just you! I was about to kill ya there!” Medium said apologetically, lowering her sword.
Deeper inside the room, Rem looked on with wide eyes.
“Wh-what is it all of a sudden? Weren’t you going out…?”
“Rem!”
“Gh.”
Rem seemed annoyed at Subaru’s sudden return, but he ignored that completely. Instead, he rushed to her and wrapped her in a hug.
Caught off guard, Rem stiffened in his grasp, her shoulders shrinking as she held her breath.
“…Please let me go.”
“…Ugh, sorry, I just… The feelings got to me…”
“I…understand that. Judging from your appearance, it seems something serious has happened.”
Rem calmly peeled Subaru off her. He half expected her to scold him for losing control, but instead, she sighed deeply.
“So,” she said, not addressing his impulsive action. “What happened?”
“…We were found by a dangerous guy. For now, I’ve managed to buy us some time, but we can’t stay here.”
“Leaving town, then? Very well. Louis, please carry the bag.”
Sensing Subaru’s urgency, Rem smoothly accepted the situation without asking for details. Even Louis reacted to her instructions, shouldering the bag.
—Wait, that doesn’t make sense.
“Why didn’t you unpack? We just got into the inn…”
“…”
“Rem, did you…”
Rem said nothing, but her silence was confirmation enough for Subaru.
“So that’s how it is… Makes sense why you’d accept this so easily.”
“Buddy, seems like you’ve got something on your mind, but this isn’t the time for it, right?”
“Flop.”
Shaking off his thoughts, Subaru covered his forehead with his hand. He couldn’t let the time he’d bought with his performance go to waste.
“Little Sister, we’re leaving the city with these three,” Flop announced to Medium. “There’s apparently some jilted paramour after this guy here! We’ve gotta make sure he, the missus, and their niece can get away!”
“Uuooh, really, Brother?! But I just took off my boots!”
“Then put them back on, Little Sister! Boots are a wonderful thing—you can use them as many times as you want just by putting them on! That’s their strength!”
“Ooooh! Wow, Bro! Are you a shoe genius?!”
Accepting Flop’s reasoning, Medium quickly began putting her boots back on. Subaru couldn’t help feeling dubious about whether they had truly communicated what needed to be said. Still, he lifted Rem into his arms.
“Wait! At least carry me on your back…,” Rem protested.
“This is an emergency evacuation! Flop! Where’s your cart?!”
“In the inn’s stable! And for the record, it’s no exaggeration to call our farrow, Botecliffe, a third sibling—a cute little brother we’d never leave behind!”
“Brother! Botey is a girl!”
“A cute little sister!”
“Uuu! Uuu!”
Even in this urgent situation, the O’Connell siblings remained boisterous as ever. With the group in tow, Subaru carried Rem down the stairs, rushing past the reception counter.
“Sorry for all the fuss! Keep the change!” Subaru shouted, leaving without bothering to ask for a refund for the unused nights.
They reached the stable, where Flop and Medium’s cart stood among the others.
“How fast can a farrow run at full speed?!”
“Ha-ha-ha, we’ve never pushed her that hard! What do you think, Sister?” Flop replied.
“I dunno, but probably faster than you!”
Subaru sighed at the unconvincing answer but quickly helped Rem and Louis into the back of the cart. Then, he threw open the stable doors. With Flop and Medium in the driver’s seat, they were now ready to escape.
All that was left was…
“Umm, what is this about a paramour? What explanation did you give Flop?” Rem asked coldly, tugging Subaru’s sleeve as he climbed into the cart.
“This isn’t the time for that!” Subaru deflected, turning forward. “Flop! Run Botecliffe full speed, please!”
“Understood! Run, Botecliffe!”
Flop cracked the whip, and the farrow began moving…slowly.
“This is really slow! She’s just walking!” Subaru exclaimed in disbelief.
“Botecliffe! Please run! Do what your brother says, Botecliffe!” Flop pleaded.
“Perhaps she does not think of you as a brother…”
Rem’s comment was probably the truth. Botecliffe’s running speed, or rather her walking speed, remained unchanged. At that pace, it would be faster if Subaru carried Rem and they all just ran.
Just as that thought crossed Subaru’s mind…
Before Subaru could lose all hope, Medium suddenly raised her swords, scraping them together with a threatening sound.
“Botey! Run! If you don’t, I’ll make you dinner!”
“—RRRGH!”
The farrow let out a deep cry and bolted forward, nearly launching the group out of the cart.
“Whoooooa!” Subaru shouted as the cart surged forward, making a sharp turn out of the stable and onto the main street.
The abrupt acceleration nearly threw Subaru from the cart, but Rem grabbed his hand just in time.
“Th-that was close! You saved me! Your hand is so smooth—”
“Huh?”
“Don’t let go all of a sudden!” Subaru yelped as Rem released him, sending his head slamming into the side of the cart. Despite the chaos, everyone managed to stay aboard.
The farrow cart raced through the streets, dodging dragon carriages and other carts as crowds scattered to clear the path.
“If we make it through the main street, we’ll reach the gate where the inspection happened—,” Subaru started, but Rem cut him off.
“No, it looks like it won’t be so simple.”
“What? Wait, whoa, whoa, whoa!” Subaru’s eyes widened as he saw what Rem was pointing at.
Men in armor bearing the swordwolf emblem blocked the road ahead—imperial soldiers deployed to stop them.
“Todd…! He changed plans and called in reinforcements!” Subaru muttered.
While Todd wasn’t visible, it was clear the soldiers were his doing. After Subaru’s challenge in the alley, Todd must have decided the odds were against him alone and gathered support. A logical and frustratingly precise move.
“Don’t think you’re getting away from me, you bastards!”
At the head of the group stood another familiar face. A man with a patch over his right eye who looked like the dictionary definition of a rough and violent ruffian: Jamal. He had been with Todd in the jungle, another of the men that Subaru had caught in his trap.
Given that Todd had survived, it was not surprising to see him alive, too, but…
“Thought you could get away with siccing a demon beast on me, did you? I’ll destroy you!” Jamal shouted.
“…In his case, I guess it really is a plain grudge. That’s a relief at least.”
Jamal’s bloodshot eyes and furious shout made him seem a lot more human than Todd and were almost comforting to see.
But that did not mean Jamal was not a threat. Jamal and his force of soldiers were menacing.
“How are we supposed to get through them?” Subaru wondered aloud, struggling to devise a plan in the limited time they had.
Before he could come up with a solution, the O’Connell siblings made their move.
“Bro, hold on tight to the reins. I’m counting on you,” Medium said.
“Yeah, go do it, Little Sister!” Flop replied confidently.
Medium placed one foot on the edge of the driver’s seat, leaned forward, and then—
“Boom!”
She launched herself into the air, her swords gleaming as she charged straight into the squad’s formation like an arrow.
“Orashooo!” Medium bellowed as she broke into the soldiers’ lines.
Medium’s feet left heavy indentations in the ground as she charged forward, each step radiating power. Her swords moved with brutal efficiency, slicing through the air and sending shock waves that scattered the fully armored soldiers. Blood sprayed as her attacks tore through the enemy ranks.
“Sh-she’s crazy strong!”
“Is that supposed to be a compliment for a woman?” Rem replied coolly.
“What else should I say?! Of course it’s a compliment! Medium is crazy strong!” Subaru’s voice grew more animated as he watched Medium carve a path through the soldiers.
Hearing Subaru’s excitement, Flop, sitting in the driver’s seat, rubbed his nose proudly.
“That’s my little sister’s strength! I’m useless in a fight! But together, we cover each other’s weak points!”
“You complement each other perfectly! I see what you mean now!”
“So you understand!” Flop’s eyes sparkled, his grin wide and toothy.
Medium continued her rampage, clearing a path for the cart to pass through. The number of soldiers blocking the road dwindled, raising hope that they might actually escape.
“With this…” Subaru began to think they might make it, but a voice cut through his thoughts.
“Don’t get ahead of yourself, bitch.”
“Ukyaaa?!”
A blade flashed toward Medium, forcing her to block it with her sword. The force of the attack sent her reeling as if she weighed nothing. She staggered, stunned.
The attacker was a man also wielding a pair of swords—Jamal.
“Hurry up! Bow before me, you shitheads!” Jamal roared.
“Ugh! Whoa! Bro, this guy’s strong!”
“Really?!”
Jamal swung his blades with unrelenting rage, and while Medium blocked his attacks, it was clear she was being pushed back.
Jamal always seemed like a yapping dog or a redshirt, but I guess he’s a surprisingly good fighter.
“This is bad! There’s no room left!”
Thanks to Medium’s efforts, most of the soldiers had been dealt with. However, Jamal stood firm in the middle of the road, his presence alone enough to block their escape.
“Sister!”
Medium glanced toward him, perhaps hoping for some tactical advice.
“Do your best!” Flop shouted.
The simplistic encouragement left Subaru momentarily speechless, and even Jamal seemed taken aback. But Medium was different.
“I will!!!” she howled, her voice filled with determination.
Her swords swung with renewed vigor, unleashing a storm of steel against Jamal.
“You think a desperate charge’ll work on an imperial soldier…!”
Despite her ferocity, Jamal parried her strikes with ease and landed counterattacks, slashing her arms and legs. She grimaced in pain as blood started flowing, but she ignored it and put everything into the attack, boldly trying to stop Jamal in his tracks. Blood seeped from her wounds, but Medium pressed on, refusing to retreat.
Subaru was worried she intended to stay behind and hold off Jamal alone. He was about to shout for her to retreat when Rem moved first.
“The one-eyed man!”
Rem stood up in the cart and hurled a wooden box at Jamal. He spun around, irritated, and sliced the box in half with his blade—only for the contents to explode in his face.
“Guoh?! What the—?!” Jamal coughed as spice powder filled the air around him.
Seizing the opportunity, Medium prepared to strike, but Subaru saw the risk. He flung his whip toward her.
“Medium!”
She grabbed the whip midair, shifting her focus from attack to retreat.
“Got it!”
“Roger!” Subaru planted his feet firmly in the cart, using the whip to pull Medium back. She leaped, using the momentum to return to the cart.
“I told you you’re not gettin’ away from me— Bgh?!” Jamal’s pursuit was interrupted as Rem smashed him in the face with a frame—the frame that was supposed to be their payment to Flop and Medium.
“That’s for down at the riverbank!” Rem shouted, her blow breaking Jamal’s nose and sending him tumbling backward.
Medium landed safely in the cart, tossing her swords aside and splaying out on her back.
“Whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa, whoa! That was dangerous! Bro, that was really dangerous!” Medium exclaimed.
“Yeah, it really was, Little Sister! Buddy, I can’t thank you and the missus enough!”
“Really, really, really thank you! You saved me there!”
“I-it’s nothing. You’re the ones saving us,” Subaru replied, humbled by their bravery.
Despite everything, the siblings had been protecting them since the beginning. Subaru felt a deep pang of guilt for dragging them into his mess.
“Stop! Stop! St— Whoa?!”
The guard attempted to stop the speeding farrow cart, waving his arms frantically, but when it became clear that the cart wasn’t going to stop, he dove aside to avoid being trampled.
With that, Subaru and his group barreled toward the main gate of Guaral, disrupting the orderly inspection line they left in their wake. Their goal was clear: Break out of the city in one swift move.
It was absurd. They had spent barely three hours inside the city before causing absolute chaos. But there was no time to dwell on it. They had to clear the gate and put as much distance as possible between themselves and any pursuit.
And then we can talk with everyone about what to do…
“…”
As the cart swayed wildly, Botecliffe’s head pushed past the gate and a vast plain stretched out before them, the horizon wide and open. For a brief moment, it felt like they had escaped.
—But then, from above the gate, a shadow wielding an ax leaped straight toward Subaru.
“Ohhhhh!”
The ax came down, aimed perfectly to split Subaru’s head in two. It was a deadly strike, too quick for Rem, Medium, Flop, or Louis to react to. It was the kind of attack that could not be blocked unless it had been predicted.
But Subaru had been expecting it.
“I thought you’d show your face,” Subaru muttered as he caught the ax with one of Medium’s swords, which he had hastily picked up.
He had predicted this. Todd would attack the moment their escape seemed assured, striking when their guard was down. The latent fear from Subaru’s last five deaths had given him the clarity to know Todd’s mindset.
“You really shouldn’t be left alive!” Todd growled with murder in his eyes.
“Ghhhh…!” Subaru gritted his teeth as Todd pressed down hard on the ax.
Though Subaru had managed to block the attack, the force numbed his hands, and his grip began to falter. It was only a matter of time before Todd’s strength overwhelmed him. Neither Rem nor Medium could reach him in time.
Just as Subaru braced for the inevitable—
“Aauuu!”
“Whoa!”
The pressure behind Todd’s ax suddenly weakened.
Subaru saw Louis clinging to Todd’s body, her blond hair swinging as she clutched him tightly, doing everything she could to stop him.
“Don’t get in my way, kid!” Todd shouted angrily, elbowing her in the face with brutal force.
“Auugh!” Louis cried out as she fell backward.
“…Piece of shit!” Subaru snarled through gritted teeth. Summoning every ounce of strength, he pushed back against Todd’s ax. The sudden move caused Todd to stumble, creating some distance between them.
But Todd quickly recovered, readying the ax for another swing.
“You’re watching, aren’t you?! Get him, Kuna! Holly!!!” Subaru shouted with all his might, his voice echoing across the plains.
See you, Subaru. Don’t forget, I’m watching you.
That’s right!
Before Todd could bring his ax down again, there was a sudden sound—something splitting the air.
The noise came from the distance, and a fraction of a second later, something struck Todd’s side with incredible force.
“Kh…!”
The impact sent Todd flying off the cart. His body spun wildly through the air, crashing to the hard ground and rolling uncontrollably. He tumbled two, three times, coming to a stop far away.
“Wh-what was that…?”
With Todd gone, Subaru dropped the sword and fell to one knee in the back of the cart. Rem, cradling a shaken Louis, looked equally flustered, completely unaware of what had just happened. But Subaru had been confident all along that help would come if they made it outside the gate.
“That piece-of-shit emperor…,” Subaru muttered. “I’m gonna clock him if we make it back…”
As exhaustion overtook him, Subaru imagined the smug face of the man who had likely anticipated this exact scenario.
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