3
It would seem that Subaru’s offense of using the special tea without permission could not be forgiven by mere punishment.
Subaru was right to recognize that this tea was special. The problem was that he didn’t know why it was special. It wasn’t the flavor, the quality, the price, or anything like that. It was the tea’s effects.
“That tea improves mana circulation within the body. It works on old wounds, too.”
“By old wounds, you mean…”
“My horn,” Ram answered bluntly.
Now Subaru was the emotional one. “O-ohh…now I get it. Your horn…”
The twins Ram and Rem were born as Oni, a race of demi-humans. Outwardly, the sisters had no differences from ordinary humans, except for one: When they got emotional, a white horn would grow from their forehead. Ram, however, had lost her horn and called herself hornless.
Subaru hadn’t heard the details of how she lost her horn, but even he understood it was a sensitive topic. Enough so that when he heard that the tea leaves could treat old wounds, he was racked with guilt.
“So…where can you find that tea?” Subaru asked. “This was completely my fault. I’ll pay you back, even if it takes my whole life…”
Ram frowned. “Sorry to disappoint, but horn-restoring tea isn’t something you can just waltz into any store and buy. That tea was one of a kind. I made it by combining effective medicinal herbs and then adjusted its taste to my liking.”
“Yikes, for real? Sooo…how hard is it for you if you don’t have that tea?”
“It’s nothing serious. I’m just going to have many sleepless nights from now on.”
“I’m so sorry!”
Since it was a bigger deal than he’d bargained for, Subaru’s only recourse was to fall on his knees and beg forgiveness. He had casually committed an atrocity—human history in a nutshell.
Righting this wrong would be no small task.
“So where exactly do you find the ingredients for your original blend?”
Unable to let his guilt go, Subaru sat up straight on the floor and blurted the offer. Ram looked down at him, crossed her arms, and smiled faintly. Something about her smile filled him with chills.
“Aha, so you intend to help me gather the ingredients?”
“Well, of course. It was my fault…but, erm, Madam Ram, what is that terrifying glint in your eye I see?”
“Fear not. They won’t take too long to gather. Everything can be sourced near this mansion.”
As Ram smiled and said the word “sourced,” Subaru’s mind wandered not to foraging but hunting…and he wished he was just imagining it.
Ultimately, it was decided that the search for the special tea ingredients would commence the following day. Incidentally, the strain on Ram’s body was increasing by the day, so time was of the essence. Luckily, since the tea ingredients could be found in the mountain forest near the mansion, that only meant a day’s hike to retrieve them.
“Ideally, I should go with you…” Rem apologized.
“What can you do? Ram and me being gone is one thing, but this mansion would cease to function if you were also gone for an entire day, Rem. It’s a right-man-right-place sort of thing. Then again, I’m not super sure I’m the right man or that the mountain is the right place…”
It was so early that the sun was not yet up as four shadowed figures gathered in the mansion’s entrance hall. They consisted of Subaru and Ram, who would head out into the mountains, and Emilia and Rem, who had come to see them off.
Emilia and Rem couldn’t accompany them due to their positions in the mansion. Because of this, Rem worried herself sick all night and was still giving Ram advice every few minutes.
“Sister, Sister, please be wary of Subaru when you’re on the mountain. Also, make sure Subaru doesn’t touch any dangerous leaves by accident. Don’t step on mossy rocks—you’ll slip. Also, if you happen to fall, I have a little chant that will make you stop crying—”
“I’m good, thanks! I promise I won’t cry if I fall! Please, I’m not that fragile!” Subaru yelped.
“Yes, yes, understood, Rem. If Barusu cries, I should spit on his knee, right?”
“Thanks for ruining it. Kiss it and make it better!”
As Rem’s worries quickly veered into overprotectiveness, Ram’s expected response was perfunctory. And while this little bit of banter was happening, Emilia sleepily stifled a yawn. She said, “You should be okay with Ram nearby, but don’t do anything reckless or beyond your capabilities, okay? Be mindful of the weather and insects. You might swell up if they sting you.”
“Don’t worry, if that happens, I’ll count on you to gently care for my swollen limbs, Emilia-tan. Also, it’s a real help, but are you sure you’re okay with letting me borrow Puck?”
As Subaru asked this, the pendant Emilia usually wore around her neck hung from his. The glowing green crystal on it housed Puck, the spirit Emilia shared a covenant with. Emilia gave Subaru the final bit of insurance when he decided to go into the mountain forest with Ram.
“Don’t worry, I asked him last night. Besides, Puck would only interfere with my studies if he stayed behind. I’d feel much safer having him with you, Subaru.”
“W-well, okay then, I’ll take you up on your kind offer and borrow your kitty.” With a sheepish grin, he tugged on the pendant with his fingers. The spirit inside was supposed to come out naturally when it was time to wake up. He would have to wait until he reached the mountain to behold those powers.
“Not that I think it will, but if anything bad does happen up on the mountain, Puck will let me know. I’ll know your location immediately. Rem should be able to fly to your rescue, so don’t worry. Is that okay?”
“I’d feel bad making you call a rescue party if I get lost mountain climbing, so I’ll be careful,” Subaru said, grateful for Emilia’s thoughtfulness as he tapped the floor with the toe of his worn-in sneakers. He was dressed in his sweats for comfort during their hike. And with a bag on his back to gather the tea ingredients, his Backpacker Subaru costume was complete.
“Barusu—you ready? We’re leaving.”
“Sure thing, Missy, your wish is my command.” After giving a reply to Ram’s usual curt tone, Subaru turned to Emilia and Rem and said, “Well, see you later. Sorry for the extra workload, Rem.”
“No problem. I’ve packed a lunch in your bag. Do share it with my sister.”
“And since I can’t stand to keep it a secret, I’ll tell you I’ve included a special treat of my very own. Try guessing what it is!”
And as the still-worried Rem and picnic-on-the-brain Emilia waved good-bye, Subaru and Ram set off into the morning mist, where the mountain awaited them.
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