CHAPTER 9: THE CEMETERY
So the word 'confinement' isn't exactly a nice one and considering the circumstances it's unlikely to be one of Roswaal's shitty jokes. Subaru and Emilia ask if Roswaal was injured by the villagers, then, with Subaru reflecting that if there's someone in the village who can actually hurt Roswaal like this it's seriously bad. Since Roswaal is like OP and eradicated a whole forest of Ulgarm on his own.
Roswaal say it seems they've misunderstood and he didn't get attacked by anyone, so they don't need to be so cautious or try to get revenge for his sake.
Subaru's like relax you haven't earned a favourable enough impression for us to recklessly risk our lives for you, then points out what he's saying doesn't mesh with the fact that he's 'in confinement', but Roswaal says some bullshit vaguely explaining nothing, and Subaru puts together that Roswaal being injured has nothing to do with the people of SANCTUARY.
Roswaal: “It isn't strictly that there's nooooo relation but, if you were to ask whether the direct cause was due to them I would answer nooooo. So, thaaaat's the sort of thing it iiiiiis.”
Subaru: “So, there's an indirect connection.”
His head tilted, Roswaal blinks at Subaru, looking somewhat daunted. Roswaal gives a small sigh.
Roswaal: “It feels like I'm seeing a child who's all grown up.”
Subaru he's touched on what the root of what the situation is, and thinks of what words to use for his next question BUT
Ram: “—Barusu, would you care to display some sympathy for Roswaal-sama?”
Ram comes in with a tray of some steaming hot, fragrant tea which she sets down on the table. Subaru also suddenly realises how nasty this interrogation of Roswaal is when he's like actually hurt.
Ram: “Have you satisfied yourself with your so thorough interrogation of this wounded Roswaal¬sama? In pain, in agony, on the verge of tears—Roswaal-sama's countenance is drained.”
Subaru: “You're telling me to reflect but that phrasing kills any motivation to do it. And what's with this pained, anguishing, crying personality you've set up? Doesn't fit him at all.”
Roswaal: “Uu, it huuuuurts, I'm in anguiiiish. Your words pierce scars into my thoughtful, considerate heeeeeart.”
Subaru furrows his brows in irritation at Roswaal's stupid little banter play. Emilia clears her throat to get the mood back on topic.
Emilia: “Anyway,” Emilia: “It's plain to see that Roswaal's physical condition is less than good, so let's finish our talk quickly. You haven't had any healing magic done?”
Ram: “As healing magics are outside of my area of expertise...”
Roswaal: “I'm aaaaalso specialised in destruction. I can do generally anything proficiently when it comes to demolishing, afflicting, bewildering, but not a speck of recovery.”
Subaru: “Man, terrible. This's one of those 'make sure you train your support moves as well as offence' cases.”
That said when Subaru plays games with skill trees he tends to spec entirely into crazy offence, so he can't exactly be too hard on Roswaal here, and is stuck having a weird kind of understanding of this situation. Emilia sighs.
Emilia: “Puck isn't here so it won't be at my usual level, but I'll administer healing magic for you. I'll need to concentrate for it, so it'll kinda have to be after we're done talking.”
Roswaal: “The Great Spirit isn't here?”
Roswaal's eyebrows raise, and his eyes narrow. His expression is somewhat cold and definitely an uncommon look for him.
Subaru: “Seriously never see you with that face. You're that surprised that Puck's not here? I didn't realise you were a secret fluff connoisseur...”
Roswaal states that the only time he's ever been in contact where he's been close enough to potentially touch Puck was during the mayonnaise fiasco, since Puck is terrifying. After that little digression, his brows crinkle and he stares at Emilia with his yellow eye, and asks her if her being off is something coming from a point different than usual.
Emilia is confused and said that there's nothing really different except Puck being missing. Her feeling off started happened around the time the entered the forest before getting to SANCTUARY, where she felt the reactions from the spirits as being dull. And whenever she's been outside, she's been feeling a weird kind of gaze on her.
This is apparently the reason her expression's been clouded ever since they parted with Garfiel.
Emilia says it feels like she's being stared at, and that it feels sooo bad. She thought she might've just been imaging it, so she didn't tell Subaru.
Roswaal says that Emilia's not mistaken, that this place is uncomfortable for spirits, and that the people living here have nothing but negative feelings toward Emilia.
Roswaal's ruthlessness in saying this makes some pain flicker though Emilia's eyes, and Subaru opens his mouth to bitch at Roswaal, BUT
Garfiel: “Well, 'say 's 'bout there to leave't off. Don't push someone all wounded 'round t'hard. THE
SPOTTED BEAK THAT RAN NOWADAYS IS HOT.”
Subaru: “Probably unfortunately, my level of comprehension isn't high enough to be able to agree with that.” Something complaining about there being no proper translation of what the hell Garfiel is saying half the time.
Anyway Garfiel's there leaning on the door, showing his fangs and looking around the room.
Garfiel: “Gran's house's meant'a be the widest, but with so many people here's cramped up 'n stuffy, oi. Made the right choice leavin' that noisy guy behind after'll.” Subaru: “Now that you mention it, Otto's not here... did he go home? Did you eat him?” This question startles Emilia, but Garfiel gives a big smile and slaps his knees. Garfiel: “F'sure my amazin' self'hs some carnivore blood but nah he ain't eaten. 'Specially when it seems he'd just get noisier right when I'd go to eat'm. 'S worried 'bout the carriage'r the dragons'r, somethin'... eh, he came up with some random reason'n left.” Garfiel waves a hand dismissively, plops himself down in a chair, and looks up at Ram. Garfiel: “Tea.”
Ram: “I'll go outside for a moment to gather the leaves, would you wait for me?” Garfiel: “I kinda got an idea where this's going, but what exactly are you planning to with those leaves?”
Ram: “I have no intention of wasting precious tea leaves on someone who will not recognize either their fragrance or flavour. Would be my answer.”
And Ram seriously leaves the building. Subaru looks at Garfiel, Garfiel stares at Ram's exit. Garfiel: “'S worth'n goin' after a strong-willed lady. Ain't weird for a male 't get drawn in by a strong, excellent female either.”
Subaru: “Males and females, we're not sexing chickens here so you can stop with that chirp-chirp¬chirping at her. She might be like that, but she's definitely a young maiden, that Ram. Which means...”
Garfiel: “Hmmm? Hell'r you sayin'. 'M givin' her proper lady treatment yer ain't gonna find better. 'Sayin, first'a all, we're...”
Garfiel's eyebrows raise as he realises something, his face sours, and he glares at Roswaal. Garfiel: “Y'bastard, you ain't told'em yet.'F'd been just you getting' beat up'd be a story t' laugh at. But since th' half-elf's... since Emilia-sama's here, it'sanuther story.”
Emilia: “—Huh?”
Garfiel's expression just get more pissed as he snarls at Roswaal.
Garfiel: “You knew th' problems here'd wrap us in too the second Emilia-sama entered SANCTUARY. So th'hell's this. You still ain't even got t' the main point yet. 'You assholes just come here to have a play?”
Half of his anger is directed not at Roswaal, but Subaru and Emilia. And the anger he aims in Emilia is particularly furious. Subaru goes to stand before her to protect her as she shrinks her shoulders up slightly.
Subaru: “Wait. I understand that you're angry, but it's not apparent to us why you've gotten angry. Isn't talking with someone who doesn't understand anything nothing but annoying?”
Garfiel: “This's what'm sayin' I don't like. That the people involved don't even...”
Subaru: “The ones looking down on the people involved and pushing things forward would be you and Roswaal. If you're agonising over some problem and want to do something about it, then follow through properly with your accountability here. Asking people to understand you without telling them anything, that's on par with past-me for shamelessness.”
The pressure radiating off Garfiel strengthens. Despite the height difference between Garfiel and Subaru, and the fact Garfiel's seated, the pressure is so immense that Garfiel may as well be an enormous boulder to Subaru. And considering that Subaru is naturally timid, it's inevitable that he would avert his gaze and take a step back here, faced with this. BUT
Emilia: “...Subaru.”
Subaru feels dainty fingers gripped on the hem of his clothing. Emilia's voice is laced with reliance, and it confers his knees with strength. Emilia is standing behind him. She's uneasy, and depending on Subaru. As if he could do something as pathetic as have his knees give out in front of her.
Garfiel ends up being the first one to break the glaring match between him and Subaru. He clicks his tongue, leans back in his chair, and furiously runs his fingers through his short, blond hair.
Garfiel: “Fine! Yeah, I getit! 'S jus' lashin' out b'fore! Yer sayin' I lost my cool, 's my bad, okay, oi!”
Subaru: “Nah, I'm not telling you that. But have you never had anyone tell you your personality's a damn pain?”
Garfiel's emotional vantage point narrows just a little, and he immediately becomes objective again and can admit his faults. Subaru thinks this is such a difficult personality to deal with that he ends up smiling bitterly rather than being indignant. Garfiel gives a punctual sigh.
Garfiel: “Shutit. My amazin' self'll shut up, so you get the conversation movin'. Since the talk's gonna go nowhere'f I come'in 'n ain't that goddamn annoyin'.”
Subaru: “That you can do that much self-analysis and then make a full revolution without changing at all is amazing.”
Garfiel: “No point'n praisin' me, 'm too dumb to understand it.” Subaru is just completely fucking blown away at Garfiel, who snorts. And then Ram comes back and presents a steaming cup of black tea to Garfiel.
Ram: “Here is the very essence of terrible tea.” Subaru: “Isn't that line more normally used when you're being self-deprecating?” Ram doesn't give a shit and Garfiel accepts the cup, downing the hot tea in one gulp. Ram gives a deep sigh. Ram: “As always, you're a man for whom brewing tea is worthless. Not someone suited to me.” Garfiel: “'S just tastes like leaves. If yer gonna wet yer throat 's just th'same 's water. Yeh?” Subaru: “I agree that tea's just the taste of leaves, but even I'm reluctant to agree with that out-there logic. Ram, are you gonna give him the other cup too?”
Ram gives the other cup of tea she has to Garfiel, the tea having the faint colour of 'dead leaf.' Subaru notices this but doesn't stop Ram. In fact he endorses this. Garfiel: “What, yer pretty on th' ball. 'Pressed you knew one cup wasn't enough.... Gak! Augh!? Oi, you asshole this's just leaf soup!”
Ram: “If you're going to wet your throat, water, tea, and leaf soup would all be the same, yes? You've tasted some, so do drink the rest. I'll twist it off if you leave any.” Says Ram as she glares at Garfiel's crotch. This is enough to make Subaru unconsciously cross his legs. Garfiel's face twists in anguish as he reluctantly drinks down the cup. Roswaal cracks up. Roswaal: “Ahaaaaa. Are you all worried about myyyyy condition and giving me a rest? Ooooor are you plotting to make me laugh so that my wounds reopen? If the latter, yooooou've certainly succeeded!” He's actually not bullshitting and some blood's oozing out from beneath the bandages on his chest, which he lightly presses down on. The relaxed atmosphere changes instantly and a pale-faced Ram goes over to Roswaal's side, placing her hands over Roswaal's hand pressing the bleeding down. Ram: “My deepest apologies, Roswaal-sama. And while I was even present...” Subaru: “Or really, you know this's because of your joking around?” Ram's glare shoots through Subaru which shuts him up. He zips his lip and looks over Roswaal— the bleeding's there but it's nothing serious. But probably, his wounds had only just been closed up, making this the most essential time for Roswaal to be recuperating. Emilia: “Roswaal, I'll have to heal..”
Roswaal: “Noooooo, that will not be necessary, Emilia-sama.” Emilia summons spirits but Roswaal stops her. The spirits waver, seeming kind of lost. And Subaru notices that Garfiel is staring at Emilia with eyes so intense it's eerie.
Roswaal says that Emilia has more important things to be doing right now, since he's not in any life- threatening condition or anything. So she should prioritise those other things. Emilia's like there's no way I could do that, leaving behind someone injured to do something else, as if.
Roswaal asks if she'd say such a thing even when the matter he's referring to is something necessary for her to secure the throne in the Royal Election. Emilia's face goes stiff and her eyes open wide. Roswaal's yellow eye gleams bewitchingly, as if peering into Emilia.
Roswaal: “This SANCTUARY is nothing more than a plot of land passed down through the Mathers family for generations, but as far as it concerns your future, Emilia-sama, it holds great... yes, greeeeeeat significance. I had always intended to one day invite you here. —Aaaaalthough your visit wound up happening somewhat sooner than I'd planned.”
Emilia: “It's necessary...? But, what do you mean when you...”
Roswaal: “The problem this Sanctuary possesses is exquisitely close to the problem you possess. Thus, it is possible you might find it here. Your foundations, that is.” Subaru sees Emilia's expression go stiff, Roswaal seeming to anticipated the reaction. Subaru gets an itchy, impatient feeling, but before he can say anything, Roswaal points at Garfiel.
Roswaal: “A role for you, Garfiel. Escort these two through SANCTUARY—no, escort these two to the cemetery.” Garfiel: “—Wow, sure 'bout that?” Garfiel laughs, his voice low. Roswaal nods and lightly pats Ram's hair as she goes to change his bandages.
Roswaal says that it's essential Subaru and Emilia know what the present conditions are, and that explaining can be done after sunset, but not the tomb. Garfiel notes that the sun will set soon, but also that this makes the story complicated. Either way he'll do the escorting.
Garfiel urges Subaru and Emilia to come along, but Subaru resists since they've gotten nothing out of their convo with Roswaal and wants to keep talking. Ram objects saying that Roswaal's wounds have opened and that the priority is to have his bandages changed and let him recuperate, so Barusu you go to the tomb. She follows up by telling Subaru to calm down since they'll talk once it's nighttime, Roswaal won't be running away. But, if you don't go to the tomb by sunset, it'll escape.
Subaru: “Never heard of such a mobile tomb before.”
Subaru feels Emilia's gaze pierce through him, her eyes devoid of strength and wavering with emotion. She's leaving the decisions of what they should do to Subaru. Subaru decides the answer's obvious and they're going to the tomb. It's necessary after all. But afterwards they'll definitely be getting a proper conversation with Roswaal.
Roswaal's okay with this and hints that after they've gone to the tomb, they'll have more to talk about. So Roswaal's satisfied and Ram and Garfiel agree, with the two of them moving to start getting to their respective businesses. But before they can, Subaru raises a finger. Subaru: “Just one more thing,” Subaru: “There's something I want to ask you before we go to the tomb.” Roswaal: “Mmm, alright? So long as it's something eeeeeasily answerable, go on and ask anything.” Subaru: “Then I'll oblige. —Does the name 'Rem' sound familiar to you?” The first one to react to the question is Ram. And not in the way that Subaru desired. She tilts her head, as if she's never heard the word before. While Subaru's in the middle of being dejected with this result, Roswaal mutters the name to himself in rumination. Subaru: “...So?” Roswaal: “Hm. Sorry, buuuut I don't think it sounds too familiar. It resembles Ram's name, but I'm suuuure that wasn't you making a slip of the tongue.” Subaru: “Is that... right. No, it's okay. If you don't remember, that's inevitable. In, evitable.” And thus did Ram and Roswaal casually destroy Subaru's faint hopes. These are the two people who knew Rem the longest. And both of them forgot her. This truth smoothly settles itself in to the cavity inside Subaru. And once again, stronger than ever, Subaru becomes conscious of this:
He really is the only one in the entire world with memory of Rem. Emilia: “Subaru, are you okay?” Says Emilia with a concerned voice as she touches Subaru's sleeve. Subaru savours the feeling of her fingetips as he closes his eyes once, and forces his face into a smile so she won't see him looking depressed. Subaru: “I'm fine. Not like I had any weird hopes, and I did know this could happen. —My resolve that I have to do something is firm.”
Emilia: “Right. We'll do something. I'll be helping you.” This firm promise heals Subaru's fractured heart. He shrugs. Subaru: “Restoring Rem means the feelings of love I pour wholeheartedly onto you, Emilia-tan, will get split. Not envious or anything?” Emilia: “If it means the volume of the feelings you give me goes down, then I might be. But that isn't going to happen. Since you said you already had my portion and Rem-san's portion properly set out.” Subaru didn't expect that comeback and winces, unable to reply. Emilia smiles, her face faintly red. Emilia: “Let's go, Subaru. I want Ram and Rem-san to meet each other soon too.” Subaru: “Uh, uhuh. Right. Yeah, you're right.” Perhaps having Ram see Rem again would call back her memories, or stir Ram's lost love for Rem. Ram: “Barusu.” And right after Emilia follows Garfiel out of the room, Ram calls him to stop before he can follow the two. She's suddenly standing right beside him with replacement bandages for Roswaal in her hand. Subaru: “What is it? If you're looking for bandage play, after I'm gone you can have all the time you want with Roswaal...”
Ram: “The only one to enter the tomb will be Emilia-sama. You are absolutely not going in.” Says Ram, so quietly even Roswaal wouldn't hear it. Subaru's brow furrows. Ram: “—If you don't want to be imprisoned by the spuriousness of a witch, absolutely do not enter the tomb.”
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
The air inside the tomb is cool and clear, with a refreshing atmosphere different from what the word 'refreshing' implies, as it welcomes Subaru.
His footsteps echo through the tomb with each step he takes, asserting his presence in this place whether he likes it or not. However, the sound of his footsteps in fact brings his heart comfort.
Amid a darkness where even just a few meters ahead is invisible, inside a miasma where your own existence feels to be wavering, those footsteps become a kind of rescue.
Unaware of where he is and leaning on the tomb's wall for guidance, he walks and walks without getting anywhere, Subaru feels the illusion that he's standing in place. But his footsteps alone defied that, and assured him of his forward advance.
He couldn't hope to guess how long he'd spent in the darkness already. His thoughts are vague, and his throat is frozen. Despite how far he's walked, no exhaustion besieges him, the sensation in his limbs far too dulled for such a thing.
But he keeps walking. He has to keep walking. He must not stop. To stop still was impermissible. As was to fail to move forward. Even when it might seem the weight of the burden upon him may force him to crumble, he absolutely must grit his teeth and continue walking. Because if he doesn't, how could there be anything for her—
???: “—I see, so this forms your basis. How precisely intriguing.”
And with the echoing of this voice, the eternal darkness abruptly comes to a close. This void which seemed a boundless pinnacle far beyond the edge of the world transforms into a narrow, stone hallway. Beneath his feet is a pile of dust which mutes any noise of footsteps, and most critically, the filthy atmosphere which seems to be worsening his chest now spreads.
Completely different from the dark world he had just been in, this was place was an old ruin firmly possessing a sense of reality—the exact surroundings Subaru had predicted just before he entered the tomb. Subaru is speechless.
Someone is there, walking toward him. And that someone is—
???: “Sorry that this welcome turned into a bit of a tease. I hadn't planned so, but quite haplessly am I a creature of greed. It's impossible for me to escape what is called the 'thirst for knowledge.'”
A woman, as perfectly white as a field submerged in virgin snow. Her hair is long enough to span down to her back, pure white as frost. The few areas where her skin is exposed reveal her flesh to be so beautiful as to be nearly transparent. Her eyes host an intelligent gleam, and only her simple outfit is pitch-black—a woman symbolising dichromaticism and adorned with beauty.
Most anyone would be charmed by her at first sight—but Subaru, standing directly before her, has his entire body assaulted with an overwhelming terror of a like he's never experienced before. Even more intense than when he'd first encountered the White Whale.
The woman's hair sways as she narrows her eyes, and she immediately gives a small, perfunctory nod.
???: “Excuse me. I haven't given you a single introduction of who I am. Sorry for these piling discourtesies. It's been a long time since I've had contact with people, so it seems I'm not quite back to form.”
Different from the tone of her voice, her expression barely changes at all as she shakes her head. She looks at Subaru, who continues to suppress his shivering, as she places her hand to her chest and quietly introduces herself.
???: “My name is Echidna. But maybe you'd understand it better if I introduced myself as the Witch of Greed?”
No Comments Yet
Post a new comment
Register or Login