[User] "It’s scary." When he narrowed his eyes suspiciously, Foxidna flashed Anastasia’s usual expression and stuck out her tongue before turning away.

[Assistant] She started heading back to the carriage, probably planning to sleep. "You shouldn’t burn the midnight oil so much, either, Natsuki. Especially considering how much you tend to worry about every little thing."

[User] “…Says one of the things that I happen to be worrying about.”

[Assistant] "Forget I brought it up then." Foxidna shrugged at his sarcastic response and finally left.

[User] He was going to accidentally call her Foxidna at some point. He needed to get in the habit of referring to her as Anastasia. “Now I’ve got even more things to hide. This is the exact wrong way for things to be going.” Subaru poured water on the campfire and put it out. Returning to the carriage pulled over to the side of the road, he started to lie down on the seat that was his bed. Emilia and everyone else were already sleeping inside, so he took care to stay quiet as he lay down. “You look like you have even more things on your mind now.”

[Assistant] “…Were you awake?” Just as he lay down on the seat, a voice called out to him. Opening his eyes, he saw Beatrice with her hair down standing next to the seat.

[User] “There’s no hiding anything from you, is there?”

[Assistant] “That’s a bad habit of yours. You should share your concerns with Betty. Betty is far more attentive than you are.”

[User] “…Yeah, that’s right. C’mere.” Squeezing into the seat to make some room, she slipped in close so they could nuzzle together.

[Assistant] “Don’t worry about pointless things. You should just be yourself and ask for help from any and everyone. If nothing else, I praise your judgment in coming to Betty first.”

[User] Good at listening and a charmer. Subaru smiled awkwardly at that compliment. All he could do was be grateful. “I can’t just keep worrying forever. Tomorrow we’re finally gonna visit home.” Patting Beatrice’s head, he braced himself for the first checkpoint on their journey.


[User] Their ultimate goal was to reach the Sage’s watchtower, but their party was stopping by Roswaal Manor to prepare for the next leg of the trip and to report back on everything that had happened. However, there was another reason for passing through there—

[Assistant] "It ain’t no regular pit stop…"

[User] In the grand scheme of things, it was a trivial, almost laughable reason. But for a small person like Subaru Natsuki, it was something that contained a powerful possibility. This was an important detour to reunite with someone dear to him on the long, long road he had to travel before he could finally meet her again in the truest sense.


[User] The trip from Pristella to Roswaal Manor was approximately ten days. Going to the Water Gate City took about the same time, so it had been nearly a month since they first set off. There had not been any jobs that kept them away from the mansion that long before, so it was actually a bit emotional for Subaru.

[Assistant] "Subaru!" Petra came running from the mansion and wrapped him in a flying hug.

[User] "Oh, Petra—gh, whoa!" Getting down from the carriage, Subaru thanked the driver as he struggled to catch her, breathing a sigh of relief as he patted her on the head. "Don’t scare me like that, Petra. It’s been a month, but I see you’re in a good mood."

[Assistant] "It’s been so long. I’m just really happy… I’m sure it was difficult for you, Master Subaru. I was worried after the letter came. You aren’t just pretending to be okay when you’re actually hurt, are you?" Petra’s reddish-brown hair bobbed this way and that as she checked Subaru’s body for injuries.

[User] "That tickles." Subaru grimaced a bit as everyone else left the carriage, too.

[Assistant] "Come on, Petra. It’s time for work, before Ram gets mad at you."

[User] “…Okaaay. Tell me everything later." With that, Petra pulled away, but that look of suspicion never left her eyes.

[Assistant] While he was thinking that, Petra greeted the guests with a practiced speech.

[User] "Welcome, honored guests. I am a maid serving the Roswaal Manor, Petra Leyte. Please allow me to show you into the mansion after your long journey."

[Assistant] Julius was helping Anastasia down from the carriage, and they both looked impressed by the gracefulness of her introduction.

[User] Emilia looked almost proud of her.

[Assistant] Beatrice looked almost proud of her.

[User] "Well now, what a dignified little darling. I almost want to hire her myself."

[Assistant] "Indeed. It’s almost like an entirely different person from the girl who leaped onto Subaru."

[User] “…Apologies for that shameful display.” Petra’s cheeks reddened as Anastasia and Julius smiled.

[Assistant] Observing that reaction, Julius nodded. "I see. I understand why people have taken to calling you the little girl tamer."

[User] "Just to be clear, Petra isn’t that young, and even if I let that misclassification slide, Beako is the only one, so don’t get the wrong idea."

[Assistant] "Betty doesn’t just listen to everything Subaru says. No one has tamed Betty."

[User] Subaru met Julius’s banter with a biting response.

[Assistant] "Besides, there’s not even that much difference between Betty and Pet… Wait. P-Petra has grown a little, I suppose?"


[User] "And her hair’s a bit longer, too…!"

[Assistant] "A full month has gone by, after all. I’m a growing girl. I’m getting taller, and if I don’t cut my hair, of course it will get longer. But you’re still this small."

[User] "H-how could this be…? !" Beatrice was trembling as Petra smiled and hugged her.

[Assistant] Enjoying Beatrice’s pouting face, Petra changed topics. "I should show you in before Ms. Ram gets upset…"

[User] "—If you wanted to avoid that, you should have tried a little harder." A second maid emerged from the mansion from behind Petra.

[Assistant] "Eep!" Petra’s face paled when she heard Ram.

[User] Her pink eyes pinned Petra in place for several long moments before she slowly turned her gaze to Subaru and the others. "Just when I was thinking your work had been improving and maybe you deserved some acknowledgment… How disappointing."

[Assistant] "I—I’m sorry… Um, but what was that about my work…?"

[User] "Yes. I was going to say that you have gotten better at cooking and more careful with cleaning and better at washing the laundry, and you get up earlier than I do."

[Assistant] "Maybe you should take a look at your own work!"

[User] Ram snorted at Subaru’s outburst. "What’s the point of doubting oneself? I have nothing but self-confidence and the highest of expectations for myself."

[Assistant] "That is the one thing about you that I really, truly respect." Subaru was astonished at how bluntly she announced that.

[User] Emilia tapped Petra’s frozen shoulder. "Thanks for coming to meet us, Ram. Has anything happened in the manor while we were away?"

[Assistant] "There have been no issues. I am sure you all have much news to share. Did Garf and Otto die?"

[User] "Don’t go killing them off! What a thing to say with such a serious look on your face!"

[Assistant] "It’s easy to see through a man with no composure. In your case, it’s so clear that there’s practically a hole and your insides are leaking out, so you should be careful. Being shallow and empty is just the worst."

[User] "You’re gonna seriously hurt my feelings, so could you stop? And besides, you got our letter, right?" Subaru whispered to her.

[Assistant] Ram shrugged. "Relax. I heard the story from Master Roswaal. You have business with the sleeping beauty and the mansion’s jail. Though…" Ram’s eyes narrowed mysteriously.


[User] "The preparations for both were Frederica’s and Petra’s jobs, not mine."

[Assistant] "Why do you look smug about that?" Even after a month apart, Ram was the same as ever.

[User] "Weeell, now. Welcome baaack. I’m glad for your safe retuuurn." Roswaal greeted the group while sitting on the couch in the parlor. Subaru and Emilia couldn’t help glancing at each other when they saw his full-faced smile in clown makeup.

[Assistant] "...Emilia-tan, you didn’t write anything strange in the letter, did you?"

[User] "Um, I don’t think so, but…maybe it’s because you did something that made him happy? I mean, you and Roswaal do have those secret conversations from time to time…"

[Assistant] "Me? I’d rather spend my time and money on you and Beako and Petra and Frederica and Patlash and, I guess, Ram."

[User] "That could be considered quite a lot of women’s names, I suppose."

[Assistant] "It’d be embarrassing to show that sort of daily gratitude to Otto and Garfield, since they’re fellow guys, okay? !"

[User] Beatrice looked exasperated as Subaru put his hand on her head and joined Emilia in confusion.

[Assistant] Subaru quickly put that thought out of his mind to ask a pointed question. "So judging from that smile, you must be plotting some new nasty tricks. Am I right, Roswaal?"

[User] "What a veeeexing reaction. All I’ve done is show how haaappy I am to see you are all safe and sound after worrying about your safety. You could hardly find any problem with that, yeees?" Roswaal closed one eye, staring at Subaru with the blue eye.

[Assistant] "This past year, I’ve had seeeveral changes of heart. My cooperation is something to be celebrated as far as Lady Emilia is concerned, no?"

[User] "Um, I guess so. Yes. Thank you, Roswaal." Emilia accepted Roswaal’s brazen appeal with her open-minded generosity.

[Assistant] Seeing how Roswaal smiled and waved his hand breezily, Subaru couldn’t help wondering exactly how trustworthy this man really was.

[User] "It’s a waste of time trying to grasp what he is thinking. That oddness of his that makes him act the way he does is even more immeasurable than yours, Subaru."

[Assistant] "That was a bit vague." Beatrice’s ambiguous assessment almost made her sound like a rambling old lady. Taking her hand, he stepped into the parlor together with Emilia. He was suspicious of Roswaal being in such a good mood. At the same time, it seemed like a safe bet that Roswaal was genuinely pleased to see them return. Having lost his tome of wisdom, they were crucial for achieving his goal.

[User] "In that case, it would be helpful if you were a little bit more genuinely cooperative."

[Assistant] "You will accomplish what you set out to do with or without my aid. And because I have faith in your abilities, I am exerting myself in the arenas where your strength cannot reach."


[User] "A truly fair relationship, wouldn’t you saaay?"

[Assistant] "Yeah, it seriously gives that hint of RPG spice: a helper character who’s not actually available to help most of the tiiime."

[User] It was a standard trope of games that characters who were overpowered would only ever join the party for very specific fights. As it so happened, Roswaal always watched from the sidelines as Subaru was pushed to the absolute limit so he could obtain proof that Subaru’s ability to return by death could change fate itself. He was a shrewd one and someone Subaru couldn’t afford to let his guard down around. That assessment was still unchanged.

[Assistant] "Soooo, isn’t it about time you introduced us?"

[User] "Ah, sorry, sorry. Roswaal, we’ve brought some guests. Can you make some room?"

[Assistant] "So I’ve heeeard. Still, though, this is quite the intriiiiguing assembly." Roswaal stood up and gestured for the guests standing at the entrance to the room to take a seat on the sofa while he shifted to a nearby armchair.

[User] "Welcome. You’ve come a long way. We haven’t been able to speak like this siiiince the ceremony."

[Assistant] "Indeed, and it’s not like we got a chance to reeeally talk much there, either, so I suppose this marks the first time." Anastasia smiled and met Roswaal’s diplomatic greeting with an equally diplomatic response. The ceremony they were referring to was the one held at the royal palace to honor Emilia, Crusch, Anastasia, and all their followers for their work in slaying the white whale. It happened after the events in the Sanctuary, with representatives from all three factions present. He’s got some balls to show up for that with a straight face after everything he did. Either way, this was the first time he and Anastasia had met face-to-face since then, and their greetings included a bit of probing.

[User] The conversation then shifted to the main topic: reporting what had occurred in Pristella.

[Assistant] "I’ve read your letter. Otto and Garfiel are recovering from their injuries, but even so, it sounds like the cost of dealing with the Witch Cult was fairly low?"

[User] "Yes, thanks to the reeeally hard work the two of them put in… Actually, it’s also thanks to everyone who was in the town. Subaru and Liliana, too."

[Assistant] "Why did you mention me and Liliana all of a sudden?" Probably because they were in the non-combatant category. Not because they were particularly similar.

[User] "Well, setting aside Subaru’s self-consciousness… Lady Anastasia, it was you who invited Lady Emilia to Pristella. Do you have any thoughts regarding that?"

[Assistant] "I regret the incident. If you asked me to apologize, I’m prepared to offer a proper apology. However…"

[User] "However, Lady Emilia has already refused anything more than that, I’m suuure."

[Assistant] "After all, it’s the Witch Cult who were acting up, so they’re the ones in the wrong. Anastasia doesn’t have any responsibility for what they did.


[User] “And we still managed to accomplish what we went there to do.” Emilia touched the pendant around her neck when Roswaal glanced at her.

[Assistant] Roswaal glances at Emilia.

[User] A gleaming magic crystal sat there, gathering strength for the great spirit that was still deep in slumber. The reason they had gone to Pristella was to secure a magic crystal that could help Puck. As far as that specific goal was concerned, the trip to Pristella had been a success.

[Assistant] “Also, the fact that we happened to be there at the right time might be why we were able to defeat the Witch Cult. If so, then that would be to Anastasia’s credit—”

[User] “That’s obviously far beyond what I was considering, so just leave it at that.” Anastasia grimaced a bit at Emilia’s forward-thinking perspective and stopped her.

[Assistant] “Really?” For some reason, Anastasia looked relieved as Emilia cocked her head.

[User] Of course, that whole line was just a preemptive push from Roswaal. In fact, there was a decent chance the Witch Cult’s attack on Pristella was primarily aimed at Emilia’s faction. Roswaal was perfectly aware of that since it had been mentioned in the letter.

[Assistant] “The actions of the Witch Cult are their own. We can all agree that they’re the worst and move on. The other factions have accepted that, and it’s not as if there wasn’t anything gained in the fighting, either.”

[User] “Killing one archbishop and capturing another. It is indeed a magnificent outcome. However, those cultists have no sense of working together or solidarity. Even if there is only one left, the danger remains unchanged.”

[Assistant] “I can’t argue with that…” The Witch Cult was more a place for deviants to gather than any sort of formal organization. Because of that, it wasn’t like Gluttony or Lust would stop their atrocities just because Greed and Wrath had been defeated.

[User] “Anyway, we’ve got an idea that might take care of that.”

[Assistant] “And that is why you are setting out for the Sage’s watchtower. That is quite the perilous path. Do you have any reason to believe you will succeed?” Roswaal was one of the leaders of the kingdom. It went without saying that he was aware that Reinhard had already attempted to cross the Auguria Dunes before only to fail. Between the hallucinogenic miasma and the countless dangerous demon beasts, it was only natural to question how they would make it past those barriers.

[User] Subaru simply glanced at the trump card they had prepared for that issue.

[Assistant] “That is where I come in. Fortunately, I happen to know a secret path that will bring us to the Sage’s watchtower. That is how we can succeed.”

[User] “Even if you ask me to just trust yoooou… Something like a secret route through the dunes would surely fetch quite the price from any number of buyers. Why is it that you and you alone happen to be in possession of it?”

[Assistant] “I’m a merchant, so of course money is important.


[User] "But there are some things money can’t buy. And this here is one of those things. Can we agree on that?" Foxidna was matching Roswaal point for point. Despite the fact that she was a fake pretending to be Anastasia, her words possessed a mysterious strength, a strength that even overawed Subaru, who knew the truth.

[Assistant] Facing down the full force of Anastasia’s gaze, Roswaal closed an eye. "I see now how someone so young can run such a large company. It is quite a challenge to outplay someone so worldly with words alone. I imagine Lady Emilia has already agreed to your proposal?"

[User] "I’m sorry for deciding something like this on my own."

[Assistant] "Not sorry enough to stop making such rash decisions without consulting others. But that is fine. You are one who chooses to take the thorny path. And that path is one he will surely resolve himself to follow as well." Roswaal seemed unenthused by Anastasia’s proposal, but that was where his interest lay in the end. If Emilia chose the most difficult path, then the hurdles Subaru would have to clear would naturally be even higher. For Roswaal, that was the hope that had replaced his tome of wisdom.

[User] "Basically, we’ll clear the whatever-it’s-called desert with Anastasia’s guidance. That’s our decision."

[Assistant] "The Auguria Dunes. Just learn the name already." Julius interjected with a sigh as Subaru relied on his vague memory to make a bold statement.

[User] The knight was sitting beside Anastasia and had listened in silence thus far, but he turned his intellectual gaze on Roswaal. "I imagine you might be quite concerned, Marquis Mathers. However, there are many people in the city of Pristella who are currently suffering physically and mentally from the depredations of the Witch Cult. I would ask that you please allow us to undertake this task, that our actions here might lead to their being saved."

[Assistant] "What an elegant bearing. Considering you are not in my memories, I suppose you are one of those victims, yeees?"

[User] The fact that he didn’t know Julius at all was enough for Roswaal to grasp the situation. Julius averted his eyes ever so slightly as Roswaal propped his cheek up. "The unease of being forgotten by people due to Greed’s authority—of being left behind by the rest of the world. Seeking a faint hope for your own sake… You needn’t adorn it with platitudes about helping others, you knooow?"

[Assistant] "—Ngh. I would never act on the basis of such mean self-interest."

[User] "I’m nooot criticizing you. It’s only natural. People always become more desperate for their own sake than they do for others. There’s no need to deny the sense of satisfaction and accomplishment, or even the sense of superiority that comes from saving others along the way while saving yourself." Julius’s cheeks tensed as Roswaal’s jester’s grin deepened. "All the more so when the odds are quite high that others will also be saved if you succeed in saving yourself.


[User] "You have a just cause, and you are taking action. There’s no need to feel such paaangs of conscience.”

[Assistant] “I…”

[User] “—That’s enough, don’t you think, Marquis Mathers?” Anastasia faced Roswaal instead, smiling elegantly and cocked her head charmingly. “Honestly, I don’t remember, either. But even so, he is apparently my knight, and it’s not too pleasant to see him toyed with over something he can’t help.”

[Assistant] “Even though the memories are gone, the lady and retainer relationship remains…?”

[User] “So it seems. I can’t say I totally understand it, either. But the time spent with Julius while traveling here wasn’t so bad…and also…” Anastasia pointed at the sofa across from her. “And it’ll keep your faction from splitting apart, too, right?”

[Assistant] “—Well now, dear me.” Roswaal shrugged at Anastasia’s point—in other words, at Subaru, who was on the verge of exploding.

[User] “Veeeery well, I was in the wrong. I was simply pointing out that perspective also exists.” Roswaal raised his hand as if in surrender.

[Assistant] "You were just harassing him for the hell of it. Don’t screw with us.”

[User] “From your attitude, it seems as if there is more than just a few days shared between the two of yooou.” Roswaal closed an eye, meeting Subaru’s sharp gaze with his yellow eye. And then he licked his lips as if seeing straight through Subaru. “Again, you are the oooonly one who remembers. Just like Rem.”

[Assistant] "No clue why, though.”

[User] “That is proof you are special. You should take good caaaare of that. There are many who cannot have that no matter how much they want it.” The last part was murmured softly, just to himself, and didn’t reach Subaru’s ears.

[Assistant] Beatrice alone had a thoughtful look in her eyes.

[User] Subaru let out a heavy sigh. "The rest is like we mentioned in the letter. The manor’s prison and…”

[Assistant] “Rem. Quite the bold decision. Even though you aaaare so loath to bring her up.”

[User] “…There might be a way to wake her up. I’m gonna take my chances. It’s only natural, right?”

[Assistant] “It’s surprising to choose her as the first subject for that potential method. You like to pretend to be selfish, but you are actually terribly self-punishing. Is there not somewhere in your heart or some corner of your mind telling you that you have no right to be saved first?”

[User] Subaru fell silent as Roswaal hit the mark dead-on. He had been worrying during the whole trip about whether to bring Rem with them.


[User] In Pristella, there were lots of people other than Subaru experiencing the same sort of suffering. So why did he get to be first before all of them? That sense of guilt had been causing him to hesitate until the very last moment, but—

[Assistant] "If that’s what you mean, then I talked to Subaru about that already, so it isn’t a problem."

[User] “…That is even more surprising.” Roswaal looked dubiously at her as she puffed out her chest and then winked at her. "It’s perhaps not for me to say this, but it would be rather inconvenient for you if Rem was to awaken, wouldn’t it, Lady Emilia? No matter how you look at it, Subaru has quite strong feelings toward the girl. They might even rival his feelings for you…"

[Assistant] “Yes, that’s probably true. I imagine if Rem wakes up, Subaru will spend all of his time with her for a while. He might even stop caring about me.”

[User] “No, that’s not…” Subaru could confidently say that wasn’t true. There was no way his feelings toward Emilia would ever waver. But the fact that he cared for Rem a great deal was not a lie, either. And Emilia was right. If Rem woke up, he would undoubtedly devote a lot of time to her, making up for the year they had lost.

[Assistant] "If Subaru pays a lot of attention to her, then I’ll just have to work hard to make him look at me again. It would be a problem if Subaru disappeared, so no matter how cute Rem is or how special she is to him, I’ll convince him to stay with me, too."

[User] “E-Emilia-tan? !” Subaru gasped, and his knees trembled a bit at what sounded a lot like a confession. Emilia had said things that sounded affectionate any number of times before. But even then, they were all still in the realm of just a sort of soft attraction—

[Assistant] "Whether with me, with Rem, with Beatrice, with Petra and Patlash, or Frederica and Ram, or even Otto and Garfiel! I want Subaru to be reeeally, reeeally happy.”

[User] “There was a land dragon and a couple guys mixed in there at the end.” Subaru couldn’t help interjecting despite the mixture of embarrassment and certain other emotions he was feeling.

[Assistant] Beatrice, who was sitting next to him, jabbed him in the side with an indignant look on her face. "After this long, Betty won’t complain about how fickle you are… But always keep one hand open. That’s Betty’s special privilege.”

[User] “You are ridiculously adorable…”

[Assistant] “Naturally."


[User] "Betty’s cuteness rings out in every realm.” Subaru couldn’t speak for the gods and goddesses who ruled the earth and the heavens, but it certainly echoed loudly in his heart. With Emilia and Beatrice giving him their full support, Subaru could devote himself to waking up Rem without worry. There was no more doubt. “Sorry for being so loved by everyone, Roswaal. Looks like we’ll be taking Rem with us.”

[Assistant] “I’m quite surprised by all of you…but do as you please. In the first place, I never intended to stop youuuu.”

[User] “Then what was the point of asking that question? !”

[Assistant] “Just making sure you understand what it is you are doing, out of an excess of thoughtfulness. I was aaalso rude to the nameless knight there.” All the way to the end, Roswaal refused to let up on his teasing banter.

[User] Julius shook his head and looked toward Subaru and Anastasia. “No, my name is Julius Juukulius. At the moment, Subaru may be the only person who remembers me, but I am a knight in the Kingdom of Lugunica’s royal guard. I am not so immature that something like this would cause my heart to waver.” Saying that, he magnificently brushed off the nasty mage’s terrible provocations.

[Assistant] “…You were a little bit shaky there, though.”

[User] “Whose side are you on? It feels almost like I was just stabbed in the back.”

[Assistant] Subaru and Julius did have a quiet little exchange among themselves at the very end, though.


[User] With the discussion over, they left the parlor. “Well, I wonder if that makes me one of his little friends nooow? What do you think?”

[Assistant] “…Spare Betty such disgusting statements. It sounds almost like you mean it, which is a scary thought.”

[User] “I’ve never been so inconstant as to press matters in this body, thooough.”

[Assistant] “You’ve been a woman, too. I suppose that’s enough for Betty to be on her guard.” Roswaal’s smile deepened as Beatrice remained composed while playing with her hair. It was a habit she had picked up when she needed something to do with her hands. That or it was a sign she was getting annoyed. “That habit of yours neeeever changes. But it seems as if your feelings have. I can’t quite bring myself to so easily wag my tail for someone else the way you can. I’m jealous.”

[User] “Compared to you, who could never touch Mother despite your single-minded determination, Betty can actually hold Subaru’s hand, which is a thousand times better. You won’t get a rise out of Betty.”

[Assistant] “Look at yooou. You’ve really grown quite resolute.” Roswaal was sitting while Beatrice stood across from him, putting them at eye level. Sparks started to fly, but suddenly, Roswaal’s expression softened. “He defeated an archbishop. That should be the second inside Subaru now.”

[User] “…There should be other candidates besides Subaru.”

[Assistant] “But none of them were as close as he was or overlapped.


[User] "Save the boring pretenses for someone else.”

[Assistant] "—Betty won’t let him do any more than this.” There was a quiet resolve in her voice as she answered Roswaal. “Betty belongs to Subaru, so Subaru will remain Subaru.” She glared at Roswaal as she said that and then turned to the door. She had stayed behind to discuss things, but she decided she should not speak any further than that.

[User] "Beatrice.” Roswaal called out as she moved away.

[Assistant] She stopped but didn’t turn around.

[User] "I want you to be happy. You are like a little sister to me. I care deeply about you.”

[Assistant] “…That’s not the most appealing thought. And not as much as you care about Mother, I suppose.”

[User] "That’s love after all, iiisn’t it?”

[Assistant] Beatrice didn’t respond. The sound of the door opening and then closing was all that broke the silence.


[User] “Did your conversation with the master go well?”

[Assistant] “About the same as always. You can guess how it goes with him. I left Beako back there as someone who could speak freely with him, so I imagine he’ll reflect a little bit on what he’s done.”

[User] “I see. The master can’t stand against Lady Beatrice after all.”

[Assistant] Frederica covered her mouth with her hand and smiled elegantly. After finishing the discussion with Roswaal in the parlor, she had taken over guiding Subaru and the others as they headed to the eastern wing of the manor. With that, Subaru had reunited with all three of the manor’s maids. The fierce-looking servant with beautiful, long blond hair and a neatly arranged maid outfit gave Anastasia and Julius a picture-perfect greeting before turning to Emilia. “Was Garf of service to everyone during your trip? I gave him detailed instructions before leaving, but I couldn’t help worrying that he might have caused you some trouble.”

[User] “You don’t need to worry. Garfiel worked reeeally hard during the trip. He is behaving himself and recovering together with Otto right now…I think? At least I hope he is. I did ask him to rest up.”

[Assistant] “I’m sorry that my foolish little brother has troubled you.”

[User] Emilia couldn’t quite reassure Frederica, who apologized on behalf of her family. Ultimately, even though Petra, Ram, Roswaal, and Frederica were concerned about Garfiel, there was no mistaking there had been some sort of change in his state of mind while he was in Pristella. He had been hurt and used that as a springboard for further growth. If anything, it was the sort of development expected of a fifteen-year-old as far as Subaru was concerned.

[Assistant] “It did seem like Garfiel had a lot going on…”

[User] “? Was there something you wanted to mention, Master Subaru?”

[Assistant] "No, nothing from me. Honestly, it’s not really something I should be talking about myself.” Noticing Subaru’s meaningful gaze, Frederica questioned him, but he just shrugged in response.


[User] Brushing off her question, he could imagine what might be going through Garfiel’s mind.

[Assistant] “I won’t say anything. Subaru Natsuki is just gonna walk away looking cool.”

[User] “Right, right, speaking of Garfiel, there were these children that he was getting along reeeally well with in Pristella. Those kids and—”

[Assistant] “Emilia-tan, don’t make my monologue go to waste!” Subaru frantically stopped Emilia before her natural airheadedness ruined his attempt to act smooth.

[User] Frederica looked suspicious.

[Assistant] “Ms. Frederica, I regret interrupting your congenial conversation, but is that the place up ahead?”

[User] “Yes, sir. The manor prison, as Master Subaru has called it.”

[Assistant] “So the person in question is here, then? Hopefully the discussion will proceed well.”

[User] “It’s a bit of a coin flip, I’d say. Honestly, if we manage to get anything even remotely useful, I’d call it a success.”

[Assistant] Julius seemed to be ruminating on something.

[User] Subaru scratched his cheek and gave his best assessment of the situation.

[Assistant] “But she is pretty attached to you, so she should be willing to tell us a lot of things, right?”

[User] “There’s no telling how much or how little that affection level will impact the conversation, though… Ah, we’re here.” As Subaru reined in Emilia’s optimism, the procession reached its destination.


[Assistant] Standing in front of the stairway leading underground, Anastasia furrowed her brow. "Not exactly the most welcoming place I’ve ever seen."

[User] “Is it miasma? No, it seems different, but I can’t say it’s a pleasant feeling, either.”

[Assistant] “That is the aura released by the person being kept in the room there. I will lead you in, so please watch your feet.” Frederica took the lead going down the dark staircase that Anastasia was peering into, and Subaru and the others quickly followed her underground.


[User] Reaching the bottom, their footsteps rang louder on the stone flooring as Frederica unlocked the sturdy metal door at the end of the passage.

[Assistant] “Woof, woof! I’m gonna eat youuu!”

[User] “Kyaaah! Save me!"


[User] "Nooo!"

[Assistant] "Gah-ha-ha, plead all you want, but no one is coming to save you!" A bright light shone from inside the room, and they could hear a high-pitched voice.

[User] There was a single small figure inside the room, a girl with her back to the door. She had several stuffed animals arrayed around her and was playing with dolls in either hand. She was doing different voices, playing all the various parts in her little story. "No, I'm sure he'll come. The prince promi… Hmm?" The girl shot up from her seat, gripping the little girl doll as she sensed something was off. Then she slowly, nervously turned around and saw Subaru and everyone else standing at the entrance to the room. Her big, round eyes widened, and her mouth dropped open. Her deep-blue hair hung down, and her simple, adorable face gradually reddened.

[Assistant] Deciding to act as if nothing happened and raised his hand to greet her. "H-hey. It's been a while. How have you been doing?" He glanced toward everyone else, trying to urge them not to say anything.


[User] “Oh, you’re so cute, Meili. I used to do the same sort of thing with snowmen…”

[Assistant] “Y-you big meanies! Argh! Whatever!” Naturally, because Emilia didn’t get the message and immediately said what first came to mind, the little girl imploded.

[User] “Come on, Meili. We said we’re sorry.”

[Assistant] “I can’t hear you.”

[User] “I already said I wasn’t trying to be mean, right? C’mon, Meili.”

[Assistant] “Whatever.” Meili was sitting in the middle of the room hugging one of her dolls and sulking, leaving Subaru and the others who had upset her standing there awkwardly.

[User] “Ms. Frederica, did you talk to her beforehand about us coming?”

[Assistant] “No, Master Subaru said it would be a long story so he would talk to her directly himself…”

[User] “Subaru…”

[Assistant] “I didn’t mean for it to be like this! I thought it would be better this way is all! Agh, damn it. If it’s come to this, then…” Subaru wouldn’t deny that his initial plan had come back to bite him, but he refused to take all the blame. He quickly decided to play his ultimate card. He had been working on it in the carriage ride back from Pristella—

[User] “Look, Meili. I brought you a present from our trip, so can you please cheer up? It’s a new design, a droopy panda stuffed animal.”

[Assistant] “—! Waaah, so cute!” Seeing the black-and-white stuffed animal Subaru was holding, Meili’s eyes suddenly lit up.

[User] “Phew, making me break out my secret weapon so quickly. Talk about a troublesome princess… What is it?”

[Assistant] “…No, I was just marveling at the depths of your preparation.”

[User] “I think I’m probably more disturbed than anything. Beatrice, then Petra, and now this? You don’t have much of an excuse for this, do you, Natsuki?”

[Assistant] “You’ve got it wrong! I’m not gathering little girls because I want to!” All of a sudden, the title of little girl tamer was starting to seem a bit too real, but Subaru wanted to assert that it was due to some sort of strange outside force that had nothing to do with him. Either way, after acquiring the new stuffed animal—a panda that was droopy from the heat—Meili’s mood quickly improved. She was rubbing it against her cheek.

[User] “Ummm, um, yeah! I’ve decided! I’m going to call this one giant bear cat!”

[Assistant] “So a straight-up translation of panda."


[User] “…That gets right to the nature of it, though.”

[Assistant] “…Oh, when did you come in, mister?” Ignoring Subaru’s comments about her naming sense, Meili cocked her head quizzically. Apparently, she was willing to let bygones be bygones and pretend nothing had happened. Subaru was perfectly happy to go along with it.

[User] “? What do you mean, Meili? Why did you suddenly—?”

[Assistant] “Yeah, it’s been about a month, hasn’t it?! You weren’t lonely while we were away, were you?”

[User] “Not really? It was Petra who was lonely without you around. You’re so bad, mister… Oh, new faces?” When Subaru interrupted Emilia, who couldn’t read a room for her life, they narrowly avoided upsetting Meili again. Now mollified, the young girl was busy setting up her dolls on a shelf when she noticed Anastasia and Julius.

[Assistant] Anastasia’s expression softened as she watched how the girl changed so quickly. "That’s fitting for a girl her age. Compared to Mimi, the way she leads people around is downright cute.”

[User] “…That’s certainly one way to put it. We should be grateful to Mimi.” The lady and her retainer shared a moment of odd understanding.

[Assistant] Meanwhile, Julius’s yellow eyes scanned the room. “Still, I imagined a harsher environment for something called a prison… This is quite different from what I had pictured.”

[User] Emilia’s eyes fell to the floor as she murmured regretfully. “She is a young girl, and it’s not like we want to make her suffer…but we can’t really just let her out, either, so it’s complicated.” As Julius indicated, the prison—the space where Meili was being kept—allowed her more freedom than even the most low-security jail. It had originally been a simple stone room, but the walls had been painted bright colors, and there was a simple but comfortable carpet lining the floor. There wasn’t much limiting her movements inside the room, and all the dolls Subaru had made for her were neatly lined up on a shelf. There were even books and toys to keep her entertained. In other words, it was the sort of place a shut-in could live in peace and comfort. A part of Subaru would have loved to just hole up there himself.

[Assistant] “—But this unique atmosphere is emanating from her.” Julius scanned the room again, before looking at Meili specifically.

[User] She smiled at his observation. The sinister air that emanated from every pore of her body was the reason she was being held there.

[Assistant] “Like I mentioned in the carriage, this girl…Meili was originally an assassin of sorts who was trying to kill Emilia-tan and everyone else here. Make sense so far?”

[User] “Can’t say it does, but let’s hear the rest.”

[Assistant] “Feels like you’re thinking of something else, but whatever. Anyway, she was an assassin. As for the method she used, put simply, she can control demon beasts.”

[User] “Yep, I get along really good with bad animals."


[User] "Hee-hee.” Meili puffed out her chest in open pride, but it was a confession that would shock anyone who had not heard it before.

[Assistant] “According to what Mama said, my demon control blessing fills the same role as their horn. So because of that, I get along really well with them.”

[User] “A little over a year ago, Meili and one other person attacked us as a team. We managed to stop them, and we’ve been holding her here ever since.”

[Assistant] “Why would you do that? If she’s an enemy, then you should put an end to things properly…”

[User] “It ain’t that simple. But also, from what she said, we were reluctant to just let her go, either.”

[Assistant] “Mama will be mad at me. Elsa died, and I messed up, too, right? If she finds me, I’m sure she’ll kill me. That’s why staying here is the safest.”

[User] It’s not as if that sort of consideration is new for you or Lady Emilia. We are outsiders, so I won’t comment on how you’ve decided to handle matters… But I must ask, who is this mother that she is talking about?”

[Assistant] “Unfortunately, other than that, she was called mother or mama; everything about her was a secret according to Meili. From what she said, they never even saw her real face… It all seems a little too thorough.”

[User] “That asshole Roswaal said when Elsa died, he couldn’t reach his contact anymore…” Frederica answered Julius’s question while Subaru muttered to himself.

[Assistant] Roswaal was the one who hired Elsa to target Emilia and the rest of the people in the manor. That was the truth behind Emilia’s faction’s greatest scandal.

[User] “Anyway, that’s Meili’s position.


[User] "We’re not pampering any more than necessary…I think.”

[Assistant] “That’s reeeally like you to not have confidence on that point, Subaru.”

[User] “I mean, this is what happens when you prioritize conscience, right? !” Imprisoning a young girl like Meili in a cold, dark dungeon would have been heartrending. If home arrest was enough of a punishment, then there was no need for anything more than that. That was why Meili was just locked away in this basement.

[Assistant] “…That’s an awfully lenient treatment for someone who tried to kill you. You sure you aren’t just being taken advantage of?”

[User] “I mean, there’s such a thing as innocent malice. And a crime is a crime no matter how old the perpetrator, but…” Subaru scratched his cheek as he thought. Glancing at Meili, she was looking at him with her hard-to-read eyes. But he couldn’t help feeling like it was simply the gaze of an uneasy little girl. “If you give evil orders to someone without any ability to judge for themselves, that makes you the evil one. All the more so if you’re using a child. What’s the point in getting all twisted up and taking it out on the child?”

[Assistant] “That’s a nice coat of whitewash. Do you think that will satisfy any of the people who have been killed by her already?”

[User] “Not at all. And if anyone close to them wanted revenge on Meili, I wouldn’t blame them. I also wouldn’t be this forgiving if she had actually hurt anyone here.” In the end, Subaru’s opinions and thoughts changed wildly depending on who he happened to meet. If that meant people thinking he was contradictory or that he didn’t stand for anything, then there was no helping it. “When I was a kid, I had parents and other adults around who took responsibility for me when I couldn’t. So I guess I’m okay with doing the same for a kid who I know and can get along with.”

[Assistant] “…Thanks for the valuable opinion.” Anastasia ended the discussion, but she was more agreeing to disagree rather than convinced and accepting. Of course, Subaru had not expected her to accept his perspective. If he wanted a fair and clean resolution, then Meili would have to be judged as a hard-core criminal and sentenced fittingly. But as far as Subaru was concerned, that seemed like a shitty solution.

[User] "I..."

[Assistant] "Hmm?"

[User] "I don’t think what you are saying is that strange.”

[Assistant] “…Thanks.” Even if he was resolved to have his belief denied, it was still a relief to hear Emilia say that. Reflecting on how self-serving his beliefs were, Subaru turned back to Meili and met her eyes. The reason they had come there wasn’t for a scenic tour of the Roswaal mansion’s dungeon. “I was wanting to ask you for some help with something. Do you think you can try to answer some questions for me?”

[User] “…Sure.


[User] “On account of Miss Giant Bear Cat, I’ll go along with it.” She hugged the droopy panda while nodding, hiding her face behind the stuffed animal.

[Assistant] “Are you really going to the dunes? Probably anyone other than me would die there…” She was playing with her hair.

[User] “I’ve gone there before to get more demon beasts, but it really, really is overflowing with them, you know?”

[Assistant] “I’d love to get some advice from someone with experience, but more than enough people have already told us we’ll die if we go there. Incidentally, we do have a guide who can get us through the desert.”

[User] “Right, that’s my job.” Anastasia waved her hand.

[Assistant] “Is there any way to conveniently draw out the demon beasts and round them all up at once?”

[User] “Well, you could try running around all by yourself. I’m sure loooots of them will come for you.”

[Assistant] “I’ve done that a few times before, and it’s not exactly pleasant.”

[User] “In which case, what if we just wiped out every last one that came to attack us?”

[Assistant] "If that’s our chosen path, Lady Emilia and I would be responsible for fighting them, but…what do you think, Meili?” Julius turned to Meili.

[User] She looked between him and Emilia a couple of times. "Can you fight for about a week straight without drinking, eating, or sleeping?”

[Assistant] “That sounds a lot like late-war trench combat? !”

[User] “O-okay, I’ll try my best…!”

[Assistant] “No! It’s impossible! You’ll just make your beautiful hair and skin all dry and rough, so let’s drop it! We’re not doing it!”


[User] Part of Subaru wanted to believe it was just that Meili’s memories of the Auguria Dunes were particularly bad, but he had also heard from Reinhard just how merciless the place could be, so he couldn’t hide from reality. And the resulting discussion with Meili didn’t produce any developments, either—

[Assistant] "What about the barrier preventing demon beasts from approaching Earlham village? Maybe we could do something with that?"

[User] "That only works due to the magic the master has woven there. If you were hoping to pick it up and carry it with you, I’m afraid you should probably reconsider."

[Assistant] "Damn it. Maybe we should just all grab onto Roswaal and have him fly us in from the sky…" As they kept shooting down each other’s ideas, Subaru scratched his head in frustration.

[User] "—Argh, I guess there’s no other way." There was a moment’s silence.

[Assistant] "Huh?"

[User] "I can go with you if you want." Meili stood up, breaking the silence as she looked around at everyone else. She touched her chest as she nodded.

[Assistant] "Right? If it’s me, I can manage all the demon beasts one way or another. I’d just make them go away, tame them, make them kill each other, or even just have them eat this Sage person."

[User] "Don’t even think about doing that last one! Also…" The extremeness of the statement was eye-widening, but even more than that, Subaru was surprised by the proposal. Both because Meili was willing to cooperate, but also because she was the one who suggested going outside herself.

[Assistant] "You were so against leaving the manor before…"

[User] "It’s not like Mama will find me the moment I set foot outside. I’m scared of her finding me, but I don’t want to spend the rest of my life shut in like this, either."

[Assistant] It was surprising that Meili had given her situation enough thought that she realized she would someday have to go outside. But Subaru quickly retracted that thought. Being closed off and isolated from everyone else meant having all the time in the world to think. He knew what kind of hell that could be.

[User] Subaru tugged Subaru’s sleeve as he felt an odd sympathy with Meili’s resolve. He knew what she wanted to say. He felt the same way.

[Assistant] "This isn’t going to be a fun little trip outside, you know? It’s sand and demon beasts and a Sage tower tour at the end."

[User] "It’s been a long time since I went for a walk. All the better if things are exciting, right?" She gave a real cocksure response, but Meili pulled it off with her usual insolent tone.


[User] "In an unexpected twist, we’ve managed to recruit Meili as our demon beast advisor!”

[Assistant] “I should warn you now: You shouldn’t get too ahead of yourself.”

[User] Subaru clenched his fist and cheered.

[Assistant] Meili sighed in exasperation and turned her attention to all of them—particularly to Emilia. "It’s dangerous to just immediately believe what people say. I might just be saying this in order to get an excuse to escape.”

[User] “There’s certainly a chance of that, but it’s not like we were forcing you to stay here in the first place.” Subaru could appreciate her warning, but if she ever said she wanted to leave, he had always planned to hear her out. So it was a little late for that warning. “Right now, I’d rather you not, but if you ever decide you want to leave and live on your own, you’re free to go. Just be careful not to be found by your scary mom.”

[Assistant] “Do you mean I can just go die wherever once it’s not going to cause you any problems?”

[User] “Maybe back when I thought being cynical about everything was cool, but that’s not what I think now.” Subaru shook his head. He saw a bit of himself in Meili’s jaded-beyond-her-years way of seeing things. Everyone goes through a phase where they mistake being different as being cool, but… “As far as I’m concerned, I want the people whose lives have crossed with mine to have a decent life and a decent death. You are free to leave if you want, but if you do, at least send us a letter. That’s about all I ask.” Having said that, he thought about it again and realized it was a bit strange to assume she would just leave. They would need her strength going forward. Her life was going to have a new start going forward, too.

[Assistant] “…I wonder if that’s how you tamed Beatrice and Petra. I really can’t let my guard down around you at all.”

[User] “Huh? I feel like that sounded a bit worse than I would have liked.” Grimacing at the way the conversation had led back to a false accusation against him, he looked to Emilia and the others for some support. But for some reason, Emilia and Frederica and even Anastasia looked away from him.

[Assistant] The only one who would meet his gaze was Julius, who was nodding in understanding. “It’s strange to say, but you really are quite skilled at wooing young girls… I can’t say that skill is particularly respectable, though.”

[User] “It’s because you guys say stuff like that that I keep getting treated like a little girl tamer! And to be clear, Meili isn’t that small, either, so she doesn’t count!” Stung by how genuinely amazed Julius seemed to be, Subaru stamped the ground and pointed at the entrance.


[User] “Hey, Petra, isn’t it about time you cheered up?”

[Assistant] “It’s not like I’m especially mad. You are free to go to some far-off, dangerous place or whatever you like again, Master Subaru.” Petra was huffy and red-faced as she went down the hall, leaving Subaru apologizing profusely to her back.

[User] “I know I promised that I would take it easy for a little while after coming back from Pristella…but there isn’t time for that with what’s happened. Please understand. I’m sorry.”

[Assistant] “Whatever! You just don’t get it at all!” As Subaru tried to apologize for going back on his word, Petra spun around and glared at him.

[User] As she looked up at him, she sighed slightly. “You’re going someplace dangerous again, aren’t you?”

[Assistant] “I-it’s not guaranteed to be sketchy, you know? It’s not impossible that it’s just a nice, cheap, safe tour…”

[User] “I worry. You always race out in front whenever it’s dangerous. It was really dangerous in Pristella, too. Mr. Otto and the others di…almost died.”

[Assistant] “Don’t go killing Otto again.” Otto dies too much as it is.


[User] "It doesn’t have to be you, does it? You could just leave it to someone else…someone stronger. Like, why not the master? He seems like he has plenty of free time.”

[Assistant] “I can understand your daily frustration with Roswaal, but let’s not actively look for excuses to kick him out of the house. I’m worried about the friction in our camp.” Subaru could overlook Petra doing something like wringing out a rag in Roswaal’s tea, but anything more than that and he wouldn’t be able to stand idly by. Bombs had to be defused before they went off. That was the iron law in all games with affection meters.

[User] But Petra’s eyes were serious as she talked about how much he worried her, so he didn’t want to make a joke of it. He didn’t want to disrespect Petra with a half-assed evasion or a stalling tactic when she was being serious. “I understand why you’re worried. The desert we are going to is supposed to be crawling with demon beasts and is apparently the Guinness World Record holder for thickest miasma, too. And to top it off, I heard that this Sage isn’t a people person and has been turning away visitors for some four hundred years running… But even so, I can’t just let myself leave this to someone else.”

[Assistant] “Why? You can’t possibly believe you are actually strong, can you, Master Subaru? It’s already more than enough for Mr. Garf to have such a shameful misunderstanding.”

[User] “Your grading curve is seriously ruthless! Don’t let Garfiel hear you say that!” Petra’s marks were so strict that most guys would shudder if they ever heard how they rated. Viewing the world through her lens, apparently only wisdom merited any respect, and there were practically no points awarded for strength. Petra was particularly hard to please since she wouldn’t share what she considered most important for scoring. “Well, setting Garfiel aside for now…it isn’t as if I think there’s no one better for this job than me. All things considered, the safest thing would be to just leave it all to Reinhard.”

[Assistant] “So then why don’t you do that?”

[User] “—Probably because I want to be the first person she sees when she wakes up.”

[Assistant] He didn’t say who he meant, but he didn’t have to for Petra to understand. The girl still deep in slumber—if they could find a way to wake her at the Sage’s tower, then he wanted to be the one to do it. Even if there might be someone else better for the job, even if it was more likely to succeed if someone else did it, he couldn’t yield on that. He didn’t want to. This was Subaru’s ego speaking, and he was perfectly aware of that fact. “If I set aside all emotions, then…it’s not a huge deal who wakes her up.


[User] "If it can save her from that helpless position, then it doesn’t matter who or how.”

[Assistant] “…Mm-hmm…”

[User] “But when you add the emotion into it, I want it to be me. I want to help her myself. I want to wake her up myself. With every fiber of my being, I want to be the one to save her.” —That was why Subaru Natsuki was going. Even though there were any number of stronger, wiser, better people. Even if it was all just ego, Subaru Natsuki was going. In order to save her. In order to be praised by her. For that reason alone."

[Assistant] “It’s selfish. And I’m sorry for always making you worry.”

[User] “…This is the worst. It’s like nothing’s changed at all.”

[Assistant] “Hmm?” Subaru had resolved himself to potentially be hated by Petra for that pathetic egotistical confession as he reached out to pat her head. But she just whispered something under her breath and looked up at him. There were tears welling in her big eyes, which made Subaru waver for a moment.

[User] "Eyy!" Petra’s head slammed straight into his solar plexus.

[Assistant] Subaru made a strange noise at the sudden attack and struggled to breathe, dropping to his knees.

[User] "Isoflavone?!" Petra slipped out of his arms, pulled down her eyelid, and stuck out her tongue at him.


[User] "You idiot, Master Subaru! You’re so selfish! Just do whatever you want!”

[Assistant] “P-Petra…”

[User] “Go ahead and do all the dangerous things, make everyone worry, cause everyone around you trouble, and then just come back when it’s over like nothing happened, just like always! Hmph!”

[Assistant] “When you put it like that, I’m a pretty troublesome guy, aren’t I…?" Standing up as he rubbed his chest, Subaru had a moment of self-reflection, unable to say anything in defense of himself after Petra’s tirade.

[User] “Got it. In that case, I’m sorry for always doing this, but I’m gonna just run headlong toward danger again, and I’ll be back after screwing things up here and there in all sorts of ways, so wait for me. Being the first person to welcome me back after I leave is your special privilege.”

[Assistant] “…You won’t let Ms. Frederica or Ms. Ram say it before me?”

[User] “Yeah, I promise.”

[Assistant] “Not the master, either?”

[User] “I’d beat myself senseless if he was the first person I saw when I came back here.”

[Assistant] “…Mm, very well. Then I’ll accept that.” She had seemingly been convinced, and after taking a long, deep breath, Petra reconciled with Subaru over that promise.

[User] “You are so hopeless, Master Subaru…” Subaru scratched his cheek as Petra muttered that.


[Assistant] He instinctively started holding his breath and walking softly as he entered the room.

[User] “I’m getting too poetic for my own good.” He felt exasperated with himself as he drew a chair next to the bed and sat down.

[Assistant] “Sorry for coming here only after everything else. There were a few problems to take care of first… No, sorry, I’m just making excuses.” Taking Rem’s hand as she slept, he squeezed it gently and started to talk.

[User] Naturally, there was no response from Rem.

[Assistant] Subaru didn’t expect anything different even as he talked to her, and his expression was peaceful.


[User] It was a face that Subaru Natsuki only showed to her. He only ever showed Emilia his fervent expression, as if he was ready to give up everything. He only ever showed Beatrice his expression of complete trust, leaving his life entirely in her hands. And he only ever showed Rem the expression of weakness that he always kept hidden. Whenever he visited Rem like this, he would tell her about what he had done that day. On days when he went out, he would talk about everything he did on that excursion, too. He had even gotten in the habit of keeping a journal so he could report back to Rem. With her stuck in an abyss of endless slumber, he didn’t want to let her be left behind by her friends, too. He’d do everything he could to let her know about what they’d done while she was sleeping. He had done the same day in and day out for a year.

[Assistant] "—We might finally be able to reach it."

[User] Subaru had learned about the Sage who might be able to counter Gluttony’s power. He was ashamed that the reason they had found that beacon of hope had nothing to do with his efforts and someone else had set the stage, but there was finally a light at the end of the tunnel. At long last, he could act for her sake, after the isolation of watching the seasons pass and leaving Rem behind. There were lots of people in Pristella who had suffered the same fate as Rem and were in need of saving. But in Subaru’s heart, his real reason for braving the dangerous journey to the watchtower was Rem. It was a selfish, self-involved reason.

[Assistant] "I’m going to bring you back, Rem. I swear it."

[User] Just like how she had lent him her strength during those days and moments when he had felt most powerless, it was his turn to help her. Right now, when Rem needed it most of all, Subaru wanted to be there for her.

[Assistant] “…Oww…”

[User] He made his vow and closed his eyes tightly, hearing a voice all of a sudden sent him into a panic. His eyes shot open in shock, but Rem was sleeping peacefully like always. There was no movement at all. In which case—


[Assistant] "Release her hand, Barusu. It hurts just watching." Turning around, he saw Ram regarding him with cold eyes from the entrance to the room.

[User] "...It’s just you, Ram…" He felt a mixture of relief and disappointment as he looked at where Ram was pointing and realized too slow that he had been holding Rem’s hand tighter than he had thought.

[Assistant] "I can’t bear to see Rem’s delicate white fingers violated by your lust."

[User] "Could you not? That makes my resolve sound a lot dirtier all of a sudden."

[Assistant] "Did you think that your resolve was somehow pure and unselfish?"


[User] "You should take a better look at yourself… Seeing you lust after my twin makes me feel worried about my own safety.”

[Assistant] "How little do you trust me? We’ve known each other pretty damn long now, haven’t we?”

[User] “Hah.” Subaru let go of Rem’s hand, and Ram stole his place. She gently held her little sister’s hand and her light-pink eyes softened as she looked at Rem’s tranquil sleeping face. “I came to change Rem’s clothes in preparation for her departure. She doesn’t sweat, so I’m sure she doesn’t need it, but I want to clean her body first.”

[User] "You have a lewd look on your face. Spare me your obscenity.”

[Assistant] “I didn’t say anything because there wasn’t anything safe to say, and this is what I get for being quiet? !” Simmering under Ram’s scornful gaze, Subaru whined about her unfair treatment, but they were in Rem’s bedroom, so he just clenched his fist and endured.

[User] "Does it feel like she’s your little sister now?” Subaru suddenly had the question pop into his head watching Ram so carefully take care of her twin in a delicate way that was otherwise so unlike her.

[User] “It does… Not only do I not remember her, but from my perspective, I’ve never spoken with her at all. But I’m sure she is a brilliant and dignified girl just like me.”

[Assistant] “There’s no denying she’s capable, though I can’t remember her being particularly graceful. She was surprisingly careless and tended to rush into things. There were times she made assumptions and sort of went on a rampage, too. More than a few, in fact.”

[User] “You don’t say,” Ram responded listlessly. “Talking about lost memories is all too retrospective. I’m not much of a fan of it.”

[Assistant] “Oh yeah? If you say so.”

[User] “…If she wakes up and I can remember, then we can talk about the past all we want.


[User] "And even if I don’t remember, we can still just talk as long as she wakes up.” Ram’s expression was unchanged as she looked into the face of her sleeping sister and gently ran her fingers through her hair. Rem’s hair dropped gently over her pale forehead. Seeing that, Ram’s eyelashes quivered. In that moment, Subaru thought Ram looked more beautiful than ever. Even if she didn’t remember, even if her memories were gone, there was no way that their bond as sisters would disappear. And even if it did, there was no reason they couldn’t rebuild it.

[Assistant] "—Leave it to me. I’ll clear the way to the Pleiades Watchtower for sure and come back with good news and a Rem who has woken up. Then you sisters can have your emotional reunion.” Subaru said it in a deliberately loud and stupidly cheerful voice. Quiet moods and depressed moments didn’t suit the relationship that Subaru and Ram had.

[User] "What are you saying, Barusu?”

[Assistant] "Huh?”

[User] "I’m going with you. Whatever emotional reunion there is, I’ll do it on my own. Don’t patronize me.” She maintained that pose and gaze.

[Assistant] "Why is this the first time I’m hearing of it? !” Subaru’s eyes widened as Ram snorted in her usual manner. But even if Subaru was surprised, and even if he pressed her on it, there was no indication in the slightest that Ram would change her mind. With both Ram and Rem coming along, the heart-racing Sage tour had turned into a bigger family affair than expected. A difficult road lay ahead.


[User] "Is this really gonna be okay…?”

[Assistant] "What is it, Subaru? Is there something bothering you?” Seeing Subaru twisting his head and worrying about the future, Emilia came to check up on him. She was wearing light clothes for the trip.

[User] "Hmm. That outfit is really cute on you, Emilia-tan… And I have a lot of things I’m worried about. I mean, to start with, where we’re going is dangerous, right? So with such a large group, will we really be able to protect everyone?”

[Assistant] "Mm, that’s a good point. Ram and Rem are coming with us this time, plus Meili. We’re going to have to be sure to protect them and Anastasia and you, too.”

[User] "What?! Did you just throw me onto the ‘needs protection’ side of the equation? !” When it came to fighting ability, Subaru and Beatrice together were on about even ground with Ram. If it came to a serious fight, Emilia and Julius would be the ones doing the heavy lifting. As an adolescent boy, it hurt Subaru’s pride to simply rely on either of them for protection.


[User] At present, there was a carriage parked in front of Roswaal Manor, and they were preparing to depart.

[Assistant] I’d love to say there’s nothing to worry about as long as I have Patlash with me, but—

[User] "Your whole schtick is getting along with demon beasts, so why can’t you get along with a land dragon?"

[Assistant] "Don’t be so mean, mister."

[User] Meili’s cheeks puffed out indignantly. As she tried to load that little bit of luggage onto the carriage, she had gotten into a bit of a quarrel with Patlash.

[Assistant] "They all seem to hate the smell of the demon beasts on me. That’s why they’re angry."

[User] "Ah, I see, that’s why… Patlash, she’s okay." Subaru brushed Patlash’s neck and explained the situation.

[Assistant] "Patlash is usually so considerate. For her to be this obviously hostile… You two really don’t get along…"

[User] "The others aside, it’s definitely impossible for me to make nice with that dragon. She’s too attached to you. Don’t leave me alone with her. She might eat me."

[Assistant] "As if that would ever happen! My Patlash is a vegetarian!" Soothing his trusty dragon, who had gotten a little bit excited, Subaru pushed Meili onto the carriage.

[User] "I know you’re busy currying favor with girls, but could I borrow you for a moooment?"

[Assistant] "Please can you stop with the scandalous-sounding descriptions? You’re making me sound like I’m stupidly predictable or something."

[User] Responding to that malicious question, Subaru turned to see Roswaal smiling and waving. Subaru headed over while thinking to himself what a strange pairing the three of them were.

[Assistant] "Now then, regarding this trip, it’s going to be quite the journey and will likely be quiiite difficult. So there is one favor I wanted to ask you for duuuring the travels—regarding Ram."

[User] "...Marquis Mathers, is it appropriate for me to be here for this conversation?"

[Assistant] Subaru and Emilia fell silent.

[User] Julius furrowed his narrow brow.


[User] "I am not idly making trouble. After watching the way you carry yourself here at the manor and the way you have interacted with Subaru and the others, I’ve judged that you can be trusted. And because of that, I have a request. What do you saaay, Julius?"

[Assistant] "That’s the shadiest thing you’ve said in a while, Roswaal."

[User] "Sorry, but I was thinking the same thing…"

[Assistant] Roswaal's response instead caused Subaru and Emilia to start being suspicious. Even setting aside past experiences, that was a statement that was strange coming from Roswaal. He seemed to realize that himself because he smiled wryly. "Sorry. It’s understandable if it sounds unconviiincing. But nonetheless, there is something I would like to ask Julius, since it is a matter of life and death."

[User] "Life and… Is it related to Ms. Ram’s constitution?"

[Assistant] "Deeear me. To think you noticed… You are even more skilled than I had thooought." Roswaal was impressed that Julius had grasped the crux of the problem before he even explained it. The marquis nodded and traced a picture of sorts in the air with his finger. "If you’ve noticed, then that makes things simpler. Ram’s body cannot fully contain her overflowing talent. Because of that, her body is always straining under the weight of it. Languor and pain are her constant companions…though she does not show it because she is by nature a brave and stout-hearted giiirl."

[User] "What? There’s no way…"

[Assistant] "It is not surprising you would be surprised, Lady Emilia. Because that girl is far too strong." Emilia gasped as Roswaal slowly shook his head.

[User] Subaru was just as surprised as Emilia.

[Assistant] "—I see; I understand what you had in mind then." Julius nodded as if he understood everything just from hearing that.

[User] Roswaal raised an eyebrow while Subaru and Emilia looked at each other.

[Assistant] "The poor condition of her body is clear. If a defective gate is undermining her health, then something needs to serve as its replacement. Most likely you have been personally handling that so far, have you not, Marquis Mathers?"

[User] "Correct, Julius. It really is a shame that I cannot remember yooou."

[Assistant] "...Ohh! So that’s what it is." While Roswaal admired Julius’s insight, Emilia put her fist in her palm, finally understanding as well.


[User] While the three of them were all getting on the same page, Subaru still couldn’t keep up with his basic level of knowledge and started to look irritated. “Hey, don’t go finding enlightenment all at once and then stop there. So what is it?”

[Assistant] “It’s simple, Subaru. Ms. Ram’s body is suffering from a similar sort of deficiency as you are. Just as Lady Beatrice does for you, Ms. Ram needs someone to regulate her mana.”

[User] “Every night, I secretly regulate it fooor her.”

[Assistant] “Oh, every night… Ah!”

[User] From their explanation, something clicked in the back of Subaru’s head. He remembered the image of Ram going to Roswaal every night. To be honest, at first, he had assumed it was a secret tryst between master and maid and averted his eyes from the graphic images that thought evoked. Now he realized it was in a certain sense a type of treatment for Ram. “My deepest apologies, Marquis Mathers. I’m afraid I will be unable to meet your expectations.” While Subaru’s face was getting hot as he realized he had been misunderstanding things for over a year now, Julius shared his thoughts on the matter.

[Assistant] Roswaal’s eyes narrowed at the unexpected response. “It does not appear you are merely being humble nor are you simply trying to avoid rendering aid to a rival faction. Managing Ram’s Odo demands an aptitude at manipulating multiple colors of magic. On that point, I thought that you would be the best fit…”

[User] “I suspect your hope is due to the children around me.” Julius’s lips softened, like he had been caught in a moment of weakness. For a brief moment, several faint, warm lights floated around him. Six colors shimmered in the air. These were the spirits Julius had contracted with. That he used to be contracted with. “My sprouts… However, our connection is no more. If I had retained my previous status, I wouldn’t have hesitated to accept your request, but…”

[Assistant] “Your contract with the spirits ended when your name was stolen, yes? And yet, despite having lost that connection, they still don’t seem to want to leave your siiide.”

[User] “I suspect it’s due to the remnants of the bond we once had. Otherwise, the connection is still there even if they cannot perceive it. Either way, though, it is merely their mercy that keeps them by my side. I’m afraid I cannot be of much help with my strength alone.” Looking at the quasi-spirits, Julius sighed listlessly. “Right now, I can do no more than serve as a simple knight. My apologies.”

[Assistant] “I seeee. That is unfortunate. Disappointing that it turned out like this, but…”

[User] “It’s okay. I’ll do my best to cover for what Julius can’t do.” Emilia stepped forward and put her hand firmly against her chest as Julius fell silent. Her purple eyes were welling with determination, if not exactly self-confidence. That willingness to step forward and do whatever she could was one of her greatest weapons.


[User] "Roswaal, leave it to me. I’ll do my best if it’s for Ram’s sake."

[Assistant] "Yes, of course. If I can’t borrow Julius’s strength, then there is no choice but to entrust Ram’s fate to you, Lady Emilia. You can speak with Ram herself and Beatrice about the details."

[User] "Ram aside, what do you mean, Beako?"

[Assistant] "When it comes to the theory and practical application of magic, Beatrice is quiiite skilled. It’s a waste of her talents to be contracted with you, but in terms of knowledge, she is comparable even to meee."

[User] "Sorry to be wasting her talent, but at least I make up for it with love." It wasn’t really a counterargument, but Subaru still emphasized his love for Beatrice. He’d make her his background on his phone and his PC without hesitation. Of course, that analogy wouldn’t make much sense in this world.

[Assistant] Roswaal’s request turned out to be surprisingly straightforward and genuine. If it was for Ram’s sake, then Emilia would do everything she could, and Subaru would talk to Beatrice about it, too.

[User] "Still, I’m shocked you made such a heartfelt request. You feeling okay?"

[Assistant] "It’s quite admirable. This is the first time Ram has ever said she would leave my side."

[User] Roswaal didn’t rise to Subaru’s flippant response, answering with a serious tone that left Subaru at a loss for words. "Ram can feel something herself, even if she can’t remember, I’m sure. It was quite terrifying to see her rebel against me so emotionally. That is why I wanted to ask this of you."

[Assistant] “…Yeah, I’ll keep that in mind." Subaru felt like something had changed in Roswaal’s heart due to Ram’s carefully considered decision. Even after the incident in the sanctuary a year ago, Ram still devoted herself to Roswaal. Maybe even Roswaal had been moved by Ram’s devotion despite prioritizing his greatest desire above all else. Him being a human being who struggled to deal with emotions he couldn’t contain was far better than him being some incomprehensible monster.


[User] "—It looks like it’s about time." Before Subaru could say anything else, Roswaal turned around. Behind him, the door of the mansion opened, and four girls appeared from inside. They were all maids of Roswaal Manor, and the sight of the four of them together was quite grand. Of course, one of them was still sleeping, and her twin was wearing travel clothes, so the picture was not quite complete.

[Assistant] "Master, the preparations for the two of them to leave have been made."

[User] "Well done. Be careful on the road, Ram." After he received Frederica’s quiet report, Roswaal turned to Ram, who was dressed for the trip.

[Assistant] Ram bowed. "Thank you for granting me this selfish request. I shall return with a result that lives up to your expectations."

[User] "I have high expectations for you. But dooon’t push yourself recklessly. And watch out for Lady Emilia and Subaru’s recklessness as well."


[User] “Supervising them is aaalso your role.”

[Assistant] “Yes, Master.”

[User] Subaru was about to say something snarky, but he was silenced by Ram’s razor-sharp gaze. After buckling, Subaru turned his attention to the person next to Ram. Rem was dressed in clothes for going out and was being pushed by Petra in a wheelchair—something that Subaru had re-created using his memories from his original world. The Roswaal Manor was quite near Castour, the famed industrial hub of Lugunica. Using the skills of their craftsmen, Subaru was able to create yet another product of his otherworldly knowledge.

[Assistant] “The maintenance is gonna be tricky on such a long journey, but I’ll take care of it.”

[User] “You are quite handy, Master Subaru, and the craftsmen indicated it should be sturdy so long as it is not handled recklessly. However, take care in sand.”

[Assistant] “Please be careful, Su…Master Subaru. Please take care of Rem.”

[User] With Frederica’s seal of approval, Petra let Subaru take control of the wheelchair. Moving around behind Rem, he confirmed there was no problem moving over flat ground. “Okay, feels fine. Frederica, Petra, you two hold down the fort while we’re gone.”

[Assistant] “Leave the master to us.”

[User] “Mr. Otto and Mr. Garf, too.” Frederica and Petra nodded as Subaru double-checked the wheelchair. This time, the trip was estimated to take about two months at a minimum, so most likely Otto would recover in Pristella and make his way back to the manor before they returned. Trusting the two of them to hold down the fort until then, Subaru pushed the wheelchair toward the carriage. “All right. I’m reluctant to go, but I guess it’s about time.”

[Assistant] “—Barusu.” Suddenly, Ram’s voice hit Subaru in the back of the head.

[User] “Huh? What is it? Something bothering you?”

[Assistant] “No, not that… Figure it out.”

[User] “Figure it out…?” He furrowed his brow at that, and then he realized that her gaze was focused on his hands. In other words, at Rem’s wheelchair. “If you want to switch with me, then just say so.”

[Assistant] “Considering what it means that I’m coming with you and what that means about my goal, it should be obvious that you should yield that to me… Though you figured it out without needing me to say it, which I guess should be considered a small mark in your favor.” Subaru reluctantly let Ram take his place, and she pushed the wheelchair in his stead. She moved slowly toward the carriage as if nursing her sister, who was sleeping in the chair. Watching the two of them, he suddenly felt someone grasp his newly freed hand.

[User] “You don’t have to look so pathetic. It’s not as if your feelings lose out to how her older sister feels. I suppose you should just do what you can in your own way.”

[Assistant] “I’m not depressed about th… No, I guess maybe I am.” Subaru had not expected that it would feel like his role had been stripped away, but he couldn’t help it.


[User] Subaru pinched his cheek and pulled hard with his free hand.

[Assistant] After he did that, his free hand was stolen by another pale hand.

[User] "If that’s what you’re doing with your other hand, then I’ll be taking it."

[Assistant] "Urgh. Emilia-tan…"

[User] "Betty wonders what you’ll do when she wakes up, since you run out of hands so easily already."

[Assistant] "Ah, I’m curious about that, too." With Beatrice and Emilia on either side, Subaru looked at the two of them, no idea how he should respond. But a little bit of a glare and a pleasant glance were all that he got from the two of them. And to top it off, he could feel Petra’s eyes staring holes in his back and Ram’s icy, disdainful gaze when she turned around after reaching the carriage. Forsaken and surrounded on all sides, Subaru’s expression tensed.

[User] And of all things, Julius was nodding to himself while watching.

[Assistant] "What’s with that reaction? If you’ve got something to say, then say it!"

[User] "I see. In that case, allow me one comment—surrounded by such beautiful women, you are truly blessed. But I cannot help but wonder whether your two hands are enough to satisfy all these beauties."

[Assistant] "What?! Is everyone just out to get me?! Did I do something wrong?!"

[User] Julius shrugged with a sorrowful countenance as Subaru’s pathetic shout echoed in the air.


[User] "I had the same thought when we were coming back from Pristella and on the Liphas plains, too, but…the roads seem pretty safe here in Lugunica." Subaru and Julius were chatting on the driver’s bench of the carriage as a gentle breeze blew past.

[Assistant] "The maintenance and safety of the roads play an important role in keeping the peace of the country. Compared to other countries, Lugunica is particularly dedicated. Attacks by bandits and demon beasts are significantly lower as a result."

[User] "Huh, does that mean other countries aren’t this safe?"

[Assistant] "The Holy Kingdom of Gusteko struggles to maintain their roads since it is covered in perpetual snow. The Volakian Empire and Kararagi Federation are home to many races in their countries, leading to a wide variety of different customs. With such stark differences, clashes are more common. So to answer your question, no, other countries aren’t this safe."

[User] "You don’t say." The big carriage was drawn by two land dragons. Subaru was holding the reins while Julius sat beside him and watched their surroundings.

[Assistant] Yaaawn.

[User] "—Subaru."

[Assistant] "Yeah, yeah." Subaru waved his hand.

[User] "I can understand it is difficult to maintain a high level of focus, but allowing an opening such as that is the most dangerous thing you can do. I won’t say don’t let your guard down at all, but at least don’t do it in such an obvious way that anyone can tell."

[Assistant] "It was a single yawn. I’m sure you’ve yawned before once in your life, haven’t you?"

[User] "Of course. I experience the same physiological phenomena as anyone else. But a knight should possess the state of mind and wherewithal to avoid showing them in front of others. You are still lacking in self-awareness."

[Assistant] "Yeah, yeah, that’s me, the oblivious knight, at your service."


[User] “I would also say it is proper manners to look at the person you are speaking to when you are having a serious conversation.”

[Assistant] “If someone won’t seriously listen to your serious conversation, that means they don’t think it’s the right time to be having that conversation, right? You should loosen up a little. You’re too tense. Yawn a little or something.”

[User] Subaru cracked his neck as he responded with an indifferent tone.

[Assistant] “…I’m so impatient that even you can see it that easily?” Julius blinked.

[User] “I imagine everyone thinks you’re just too on edge. I get that to some extent that’s just how it is for you, but…”

[Assistant] “You’re the only one who can recognize it for what it is.” There was a trace of resignation in Julius’s voice.

[User] Subaru simply responded with a husky “Yeah.” They couldn’t hear the conversation the women inside the carriage were having. Which would suggest that they couldn’t hear Subaru and Julius, either. They were both men, and their relationship was complicated in more ways than one, but for the moment they were comrades who needed to work together. Subaru shifted gears, deciding that they should talk a little bit more openly. "It came up during that chat with Roswaal, but what happened with your spirits?”

[Assistant] “…There’s been no change. They’re still at my side, but they won’t touch down on my arm to rest their wings. They seem to be perplexed as well.” Julius made the spirits visible when Subaru brought them up. The faint glimmer of six colors was still following Julius. But they didn’t sit on his outstretched arm and were flitting around seemingly in confusion. "My blessing seems to still be working as before. That is probably part of what is troubling them. They don’t seem to be able to understand why it is so hard to leave me.”

[User] “Forming another contract…would be difficult since it isn’t like the original one was broken, huh? I know it’s not really my place to speak, but would it be possible to make a deal with another spirit until this is all resolved?”

[Assistant] “It’s a rare talent to be able to borrow strength from passing lesser spirits like Lady Emilia does. The only ones I can draw strength from are those who I have known for years. It’s similar to how you and Lady Beatrice operate.”

[User] “Emilia-tan and Puck are like that, too. I guess it makes sense that your partners are special.” Scratching his head, Subaru found himself thinking that he had made an unreasonable suggestion. As a fellow spirit user, he wouldn’t have wanted someone telling him to search for another spirit. If his bond with Beatrice was severed, would he just let her go? That was basically what he had asked Julius to consider.

[Assistant] “Because of that, I can only fulfill my duty as a knight with this sword of mine."


[User] “Of course, I have trained my sword no less than my spirit magic, but it is still true that it marks a significant drop in my individual strength.”

[Assistant] “When you say your sword alone isn’t strong enough, it just comes off as sarcasm to me.” Subaru being completely dominated by that sword alone was the starting point of their relationship. At the time, Subaru might as well have been a baby trying to fight against him.

[User] “By now I should at least be at the level of a five-year-old, though, right?”

[Assistant] “It’s the same with Reinhard, but you guys have a bad habit of underrating yourselves. There’s such a thing as being too modest. In fact, that’s something that applies to a lot of settings, if you ask me.”

[User] “I’m tempted to say much the same thing to you, but I’m not so sure—setting you and myself aside, what Reinhard does is different from modesty or underrating himself.”

[Assistant] “How so…?”

[User] Subaru cocked his head in confusion as he imagined the red-haired hero. Anyone looking at him would see he was superhuman, the strongest, and completely peerless. That was Reinhard van Astrea, so it was surprising that there would be a difference in how Julius and he evaluated Reinhard.

[Assistant] “Please don’t misunderstand me. I am in complete agreement regarding the high level of Reinhard’s strength. Indeed, I suspect on that point every person who knows him would be in full agreement. He is arguably the pinnacle of humanity.”

[User] “It’s shocking enough that I can’t really call that an exaggeration.”

[Assistant] “It’s not just his strength, either. His way of life and self-consciousness are also fully realized. When I first met him, he was not even ten years old, but he hasn’t changed at all since then.”

[User] “Wait, he was like that even back then?” It was a bit of a philosophical question to ask when did Reinhard become Reinhard, but according to Julius, who had known him more than a decade ago, he was already completely developed by that point. The boy not even ten years old who lost his grandmother, inherited her blessing, and became the Sword Saint—

[Assistant] “I wonder what it must have felt like.”

[User] “Hmm?”

[Assistant] “Fifteen years ago, Reinhard was about five years old, right? Inheriting his grandmother’s blessing at that age, growing up in a family that inherited the blood of a legendary hero…just what sort of responsibility must he have been saddled with.” Subaru felt like he could understand the weight of a parent’s expectations a little bit. Of course, the weight that he had borne, and the one Reinhard carried and the responsibilities it implied, were not remotely comparable, and it was maybe even rude to try to compare them, but still.

[User] “Honestly, I’m weak. I’m weak and don’t have nearly enough strength, so I’m always regretting things.


[User] "There’s probably not a single night I haven’t wished to be strong enough to not be so helpless.”

[Assistant] “That sounds like you’ve endured quite a number of fruitless nights.”

[User] “Who asked you? …Anyway, it just feels like Reinhard’s in the exact opposite situation. I don’t think he was always the Reinhard we knew from age five, so what must he have felt?”

[Assistant] “…I cannot begin to say what he might have been feeling at the time. However…” Pauses and looks up, his expression softened as he stared down the road they were traveling, or maybe at the sky in the distance and the sunlight shining down on them. “…seeing Reinhard then was a major turning point for me.” His voice sounded almost proud. It was almost as if he was squinting his eyes not from the sun, but from the dazzling object of aspiration that had been burned into his memories as a child and was still fresh even now.

[User] Seeing Julius like that, Subaru’s own thoughts wandered to Reinhard. Just like them challenging the Pleiades Watchtower, Reinhard had also taken on an important role—Subaru was worried about how the transport of Wrath was going. They had captured Sirius in Pristella, and she was currently being transported all the way to the capital. By the time Subaru’s group found themselves outside the Auguria Dunes, Sirius should be reaching the capital. It would be best if nothing happens, and Reinhard’s there, so I don’t need to worry, but—

[Assistant] “—Reinhard will be fine. He will surely come through.”

[User] “Don’t go reading people’s minds. It’s scary.”

[Assistant] “Hah. It’s because I’ve been traveling with you for a while now. I’ve started to get a sense for it, I guess.” Brushes back his hair, seeming somehow pleased with himself.

[User] Subaru could only sigh. I guess we’ve both gotten better at dealing with each other. "At this rate, if nothing else happens, I’ll be able to write a dissertation on you.”

[Assistant] “Don’t worry. At the moment, you’re already the person who knows me best in the world second only to myself.”

[User] “That wasn’t a title I ever particularly wanted, but there you have it! I’ve got my PhD in Juliusology. If Joshua heard that…” Trails off as he started to make a joke.

[Assistant] Guessing why Subaru fell silent, Julius’s smile disappeared as he murmured. “…It would certainly be good for the mood if something happened…” It wasn’t like him at all, but Subaru wasn’t so stupid that he couldn’t recognize that Julius was saying it for his sake.

[User] "Argh, damn it. I really am an idiot.” Scratching his head pathetically, mutters to himself in irritation.


[Assistant] In a tangible sense, Mirula was an almost empty stopover town. The town wasn’t especially small in size, but it didn’t hold a candle to any notable cities. There were no special attractions or buildings, and because of its proximity to the Dunes, there were no tourists, either. The sign declaring it the easternmost town in the world didn’t really have a purpose to serve in the end, and there wasn’t anything to see but a desolate townscape.

[User] “…Visitors? …In the middle of a sandstorm? Welcome in.” Pushing open the door and entering the shop, they were greeted by the owner at the bar polishing glasses. It wasn’t a particularly welcoming tone, but that wasn’t too shocking. If a bunch of sandy guests happened to stop in in the middle of the sand time, it was only natural to be a little bit bitter.

[Assistant] They had made a point of brushing off all they could before going inside, but they had been doused in sand. That was the price for ignoring the person at the inn and going out during the sand time.

[User] I’m sorry for making this guy pay the price for our stupidity.

[Assistant] "What’ll you have?”

[User] “Milk, cold, please.”

[Assistant] “Milk, warm, please.”

[User] Sitting down at the bar to order, Subaru could see the owner’s gruff face screw up. Ignoring his reaction, the two of them let out a long sigh and removed the cloth covering their mouths so they could properly breathe for the first time in a while.

[Assistant] “Haah, that really hits the spot. But going out during the sand time is seriously risky business.”

[User] “Mm-hmm. You were standing downwind from me, but my mouth is still really dusty.” Emilia grimaced a bit and nodded as Emilia stuck out her cute tongue. She was wearing a white robe over her head, and her beautiful face and silver hair were almost entirely hidden. Subaru had joked that if such a beautiful girl appeared in such a rural town, the people there might have a heart attack from the difference in sensibilities—but in truth, considering her position, hiding her identity was the considerate thing to do. Though covering her head and mouth in this case wasn’t just to avoid trouble. It was also to protect from the winds blowing from the dunes to the east that were filled with sand.

[Assistant] “Doesn’t look like you’re doing so hot at the moment. Not much business during the sand time?” Sliding the hood he was wearing off his head, Subaru looked around the empty tavern.

[User] The gruff owner grunted in response as he set down the ordered milk. The cold one was Subaru’s order, and the warm was Emilia’s.

[Assistant] “It’s not like anyone from the outside ever comes here."


[User] "Opening this place during the day, and during the sand time at that, is basically just a hobby of mine. Not like I expected to actually get any customers."

[Assistant] "I see. So then, since we’re outsiders and customers, that makes us VIPs, right?"

[User] "And then you had to go and order milk at a tavern. Here you go, little lady."

[Assistant] "Ooh, thank you." Emilia took the warmed milk and held the mug in her hands for a moment.

[User] Subaru glanced at her blowing on the milk to cool it a bit as the owner glared over the counter at him. "So? What are you two doing all the way out in Mirula during the sand time?"

[Assistant] "Thanks for asking. The guy at the inn tried to stop us, but I wanted to test the sand time, as sort of a trial run. The real deal won’t be anything compared to this after all, right?"

[User] "The real deal, huh? And that would be…"

[Assistant] "Obviously crossing the Auguria Dunes." Subaru held up his finger and declared that confidently.

[User] Then he slowly looked back and forth between the two of them and rubbed his forehead. "I don’t know what sort of joke you’re playing at, but if you’re thinking of going out there like it’s some sort of fun escapade, then you should turn back now. You’re only gonna get yourselves killed."

[Assistant] "Whoa, whoa, what are you talking about? Do we look like we’re here messing around? You say something, too, Emilia-tan."

[User] "Haah, haaah, hot…eh? What? Sorry, I wasn’t listening."

[Assistant] "See, isn’t that seriously E M T?"

[User] "I’m tellin’ you this for your own good. Go home now before you wind up dead."

[Assistant] The owner’s trust dropped even more after watching their exchange. But there was no denying he wasn’t saying it maliciously. They knew the danger of the Auguria Dunes already from previous reviews, but—

[User] "We don’t really have a choice to turn back, unfortunately. Since forward’s our only path, we want to at least choose the safest possible way forward we can. You can understand that, right?"

[Assistant] "You’re the ones who don’t understand. You listening? There’s nothing that can be done for those dunes. They’re swarming with demon beasts and overflowing with the witch’s miasma, and no matter what you do, it’s impossible to ever get any closer to that tower in the distance." Getting annoyed at Subaru’s casual attitude, the owner explained in detail the menace of the dunes. Pointing out the window that was closed against the sandstorm, his lips curled. "There’s no end to reckless fools like you. But there’s no one who’s reached the Sage’s tower in the middle of that sea of sand."


[User] "If you’re lucky, you’ll make it back alive, but most of them are still out there buried in the sand.”

[Assistant] “That tower was built four hundred years ago, and in all this time, there’s been no end to the people damn fool enough to set out for it, but there hasn’t been a one who ever claimed to actually reach it. Even the Sword Saint couldn’t do it.”

[User] Reinhard’s failure had apparently left a broader mark than expected. The owner may have intended that as his trump card, but unfortunately for him, they already knew about that and were still resolute about going anyway. “And leading a girl into that hell…”

[Assistant] “Sorry. You’re reeeally worried about us.” Subaru was struggling with how to respond to the owner’s earnest and entirely reasonable point when Emilia broke in.

[User] The owner’s eyes widened as she started with a gentle apology. “We’re not regulars or anything of the sort, but you still told us so much. Thank you.”

[Assistant] “No, sorry for being such a nag about it. But I didn’t make any of that up. It’s always youngsters like you two, every time.”

[User] “Are there really that many people who want to meet the Sage?”

[Assistant] “I imagine most of them just want the claim to fame that comes with saying they met the Sage. There are probably some who want to learn something from the Sage, but…all that cockamamie talk’s pretty dubious in the first place.” The owner shrugged and shook his head in disgust.

[User] He was probably telling the truth about having seen dozens of people recklessly try to reach the Pleiades Watchtower. He was a nicer guy than his face let on probably, because he seemed embarrassed over how he reacted. “Do you mean even if we reach the tower, we might not be able to meet the Sage?”

[Assistant] “I’ve never heard anything about anyone reaching it. And if you believe the rumor, the Sage is still at the top of the tower looking out over the dunes, delivering a righteous judgment upon all villains, but…there’s also demon beasts and the miasma. I can’t imagine those dunes are anything other than a trap for hunting prey.”

[User] “A lure for hunting prey…” Emilia gasped slightly.

[Assistant] The owner nodded and then turned toward the window. “Don’t move around outside during the sand time and avoid demon beasts as much as possible. But even then, you still can’t avoid the miasma. The biggest obstacle for clearing the dunes is that thick miasma.”

[User] “I can’t really picture what exactly that miasma even is, honestly.” Subaru cocked his head. He had heard the word plenty of times, and it wasn’t like he couldn’t get some idea from the definition. Basically it was an atmosphere that had a negative influence on the body. Or at least something like that. Maybe sort of like a poison gas?

[Assistant] “Um, Subaru, miasma is the word for mana that has been polluted by something bad.


[User] “Mana is invisible, but it’s still everywhere, right?”

[Assistant] “Eh? So miasma is mana?” Subaru was shocked to find from Emilia’s description that it was something much more immediately at hand than he was expecting. But still, the description of polluted mana didn’t really help him visualize it, either. I guess it’s partly because I’m a modern-day Japanese guy, but I can’t really figure out this description of invisible mana.

[User] “Ordinarily, mana doesn’t have any color, right? Miasma, mana polluted by something bad, is really not good for your body. But your gate naturally absorbs mana, so…”

[Assistant] “So you can’t stop from absorbing mana, just like you can’t just walk around without ever breathing.”

[User] “The little lady’s right. And the miasma out there is the densest it gets anywhere in the world. If your gate keeps taking it in, your heart and body will be swallowed up in the pollution.”

[Assistant] “What happens then? Do you get sick—or go crazy or something?”

[User] “The story goes that it eats away at your heart and body. The truth is… Well, I can’t really deny it.” He shook his head at that and didn’t explain it any further. But it was clear on his face. He had seen someone die from miasma pollution. And it was because he had experienced that that he was concerned for them from the depths of his heart and was warning them as adamantly as he was. “If you can live your life without going there, then that’s for the best. You…”

[Assistant] “Thanks for the milk. And thanks for the story, too.” Emilia finished her milk, but she shook her head at his warning.

[User] Seeing that, the owner sighed in resignation. The reason he had spoken with them about the dunes even though he had not wanted to at first was because he had hoped to change their minds. But unfortunately, they wouldn’t change their minds on that point.

[Assistant] “That should cover the bill. Subaru, let’s go.”

[User] “Hmm, yeah. Thanks for the help.”

[Assistant] Leaving the silver coin she fished out on the counter, Emilia tugged Subaru’s sleeve. It was far too much for just two cups of milk, but it was also a tip for the information he had given them and the concern he had shown.