[Assistant] Subaru executed the plan that he had mentioned to Emilia.

[User] “I must say, I am impressed you managed to persuade Garfiel.” Otto shared his thoughts while Subaru checked the condition of the dragon carriage with Patlash, his favorite land dragon, hitched to it.

[Assistant] “Yeah.” Subaru’s back was turned as he responded before continuing. “It took a little time, but it’s a big help that I somehow got through to him.”

[User] “Though from my perspective, it was difficult to believe he would listen to what we had to say…”

[Assistant] “…You might be a merchant, but you’re not a good judge of people, are you?”

[User] “I suppose not! Having associated with all kinds of company to date, and never earning even the slightest bit of profit without a great deal of toil, it’s enough that even I doubt my own eyes!” Otto responded to Subaru’s barb with a shrill, resentful comment of his own. But Subaru understood why he felt that way. To begin with, the point of taking Otto to the Sanctuary was that Subaru could fulfill his promise of granting him an audience with Roswaal.

[Assistant] “And yet, to think I would go three, no, four whole days without meeting him once, only to return to the village where we started…”

[User] “I’m sorry about that. But you won’t be able to talk to Roswaal until the heat dies down. If you want me to introduce you with a ton of sparks flyin’ in the air, I can force the issue, but…”

[Assistant] “No, no, no! Please, there’s no need! I do not want to become involved in a strange situation like that!” Otto’s recoiling like that had been partly responsible for the delay in introducing him and Roswaal. Scratching his cheek, Subaru focused on what lay ahead of their dragon carriage—the other carriages for evacuating the villagers assembled at the entrance to the Sanctuary. There were a total of fifty villagers and cooperating traveling merchants in seven dragon carriages, all moving in one rather large convoy. Subaru and Otto had arranged to bring them along on their return to Earlham Village. The condition that was required for it to happen—that the barrier enveloping the Sanctuary be lifted—remained unmet, but…

[User] “Lady Emilia ain’t got a choice. From the moment she stepped inside the barrier, she either lifts it, or she ain’t leavin’.”


[User] "They ain’t got no value as hostages no more, so go ahead and return ’em to their village…”

[Assistant] “—Garfiel.” As Subaru watched the villagers prepare to embark, a figure with blond hair and a bad attitude approached. The man who always had a dangerous look in his eyes glanced over, glaring at Subaru and Otto as they stood side by side.

[User] “Waaah!” That gaze made Otto let out a small cry as he meekly retreated to the other side of the dragon carriage.

[Assistant] “Don’t boss him around too much. He’s a super-important… Wait, why is he important again?”

[User] “If you’re wonderin’ out loud, how the hell am I supposed to know? Besides, him actin’ like a chicken is his problem.” Garfiel crinkled his nose as he sourly folded his arms.

[Assistant] “Who’d have thought you were taking care of the villagers who’d evacuated…”

[User] “What’s that? Can’t be helped, damn it. Not like I can have the old hags pushin’ themselves too hard, and a lot of ’em don’t wanna get friendly with strangers either… The less trouble the better.”

[Assistant] “Meaning my suggestion put us in the same boat?”

[User] “Pretty much. ‘It’s the Maringo Island way’ and stuff.”

[Assistant] Subaru ignored that and lightly bowed his head to Garfiel once more. "Cut that out, it’s embarrasin’. I told you not to bow your head an’ stuff.”

[User] “Even if you say that, I have to do this much. I know you guys have your own circumstances, and you accepted this because it suits your own interests, too, but…”

[Assistant] “That’s why I’m grateful. The villagers, their feelings are a little mixed, but they’re happy, too—besides, we really stuck it to Roswaal.”

[User] “Yeah, that makes me feel good, too. I’ll accept yer thanks, then.”

[Assistant] Subaru gave a mischievous grin.

[User] Garfiel revealed his fangs and let out a hearty laugh.


[User] At the very least, he didn’t intend to forgive Roswaal until the latter made a proper apology. That was unfortunate for Otto, but—

[Assistant] "Subaru!" Just when there was a tiny break in the conversation, a voice clear as a bell called out Subaru’s name. Emilia was waving as she walked toward them.

[User] Noticing her approach, Garfiel whispered only that into Subaru’s ear before moving off from his side. "…We’ll talk again later. When we’re on the road.” He walked off with an exaggerated swagger as Emilia arrived, cocking her head to the side as she posed a question.

[Assistant] “Err, did I butt into your conversation with Garfiel?”

[User] “Oh, that’s all right. It’s not like it was anything important, and Emilia-tan’s my top priority.”

[Assistant] “I’m reeeally happy to hear that, but right now the villagers should be your top priority.” When the corners of Emilia’s eyebrows lowered as she gave a conflicted smile, Subaru nodded in reply to her request. Then she turned her mind’s attention toward the villagers’ dragon carriages, where preparations to return were underway. Subaru had a strong grasp on the complex feelings Emilia harbored inside.

[User] “I really do think lifting the barrier and heading out like a big parade would be great, but…”

[Assistant] “…I’m sorry. It’s because I haven’t overcome the trial even after several days. But I don’t think it’s right they shouldn’t be reunited with their families because of me.” Her voice full of feelings of self-reproach, Emilia bit her thin lips in apparent regret over her own powerlessness.


[User] Anyway, you can’t get impatient and force yourself. Since ancient times, no one has managed to accomplish anything good with those two things. I’ll get the villagers back home and come back here right away…but it still won’t be till tomorrow that I can make it. You can put off tonight’s challenge if you want, you know.” Subaru couldn’t remain in the Sanctuary to be at Emilia’s side that night. Because of that, Subaru had proposed several times already that she take a break from challenging the tomb.

[Assistant] “It’s all right. It’s true I’m…a little impatient…but I’m the one who said I’d do this.


[User] "I don’t want to disappoint the villagers or the people of the Sanctuary."

[Assistant] "Gotcha. All right, then. I won’t say any more."

[User] "Thank you. Also…though you should also be mindful of the villagers, be mindful of Frederica." Emilia worriedly added that at the end.

[Assistant] "—If Frederica bears Lady Emilia ill will, the mansion should be an empty shell right about now."

[User] "Huh? Ram? What’d you come here for?" Ram, slipping through the line of dragon carriages, came over and promptly joined their conversation.

[Assistant] "Greetings, Barusu. I have merely come out of my way to see you off in Master Roswaal’s stead. As a lord, it pains him greatly to not be present as his people begin to depart." Ram narrowed her almond-shaped eyes as she spoke.

[User] "You’ve got some nerve to be…"

[Assistant] "In addition, he sends a message to Barusu for his return to the mansion. If Frederica concerns you, I believe it is all the more important you should hear it."

[User] Subaru clicked his tongue at the preamble.

[Assistant] "What should I do, then, if Frederica is a concern?"

[User] "Lady Emilia is so forthright. You should learn from her, Barusu." Ram employed Emilia to sarcastically pester Subaru, clapping her hands with excessive glee.

[Assistant] "He said that if you are concerned about confronting Frederica, rely upon Lady Beatrice." Ram continued in a quiet tone of voice.

[User] "Rely on Beatrice? Hey, listen closer when people explain stuff. That’s a majorly high-difficulty thing in itself. In this situation, just meeting her isn’t simple at…"

[Assistant] "It is you who should listen, Barusu. Please be quiet until I am finished— Certainly, it is not easy to speak to Lady Beatrice. That is where Master Roswaal’s message should come into play."

[User] Subaru swallows his words and indicates for her to continue.

[Assistant] "He instructed, upon returning to the mansion, to say this: ‘Roswaal said ask your questions.’" Ram licked her lips before she spoke.

[User] "Questions…?"

[Assistant] "Ram does not know the details. However, Master Roswaal stated that once this reaches Lady Beatrice’s ears…the situation shall change."


[User] “I came only to deliver this message to you.” Ram made that declaration with a composed look, showing that she was not of a mind to entertain any questions about the matter.

[Assistant] Subaru mulled over her demeanor and the words she had spoken. In the end, he grimaced because he didn’t understand their meaning. “So if I tell Beatrice that, she’ll listen to what I have to say…is that it?”

[User] “Who knows? That surely depends on you, Barusu… See the villagers home safely, please.” Placing a very strong emphasis on that last part, Ram turned her back to him and left, her business concluded.

[Assistant] Taken aback by her attitude, Subaru scratched his head. “Ram…no, Roswaal’s probably hiding something, damn it.”

[User] “Emilia?”

[Assistant] “Eh? Ah, yes, nothing. No worries.” In the blink of an eye, Emilia’s gloomy expression vanished as she straightened her back and turned to face Subaru. Then she smiled pleasantly at Subaru once more before she continued. “I don’t know how far we should trust the advice from Roswaal that Ram gave us, but…don’t be reckless— May the blessings of the spirits be with you.”

[User] To a spirit mage, this was an important phrase, special words to send others off. Subaru answered with a solemn nod. “Though that might not sound very convincing coming from me right at this moment.”

[Assistant] “That’s not true— I’ll be back. You hang in there, too, Emilia.”

[User] Instead of telling her not to be impatient or reckless, he tried to say something else. Rather than reinforce her worries, he tried to convey his trust to bolster her spirit, even if it only helped a tiny bit. “…Mm-hmm. You, too, Subaru.”

[Assistant] Emilia nodded, and it was right around then that the preparations to depart were complete.


[User] With Emilia, and subsequently Ram, seeing them off, Subaru and the others set off from the Sanctuary in their dragon carriages. At a steady pace, it wouldn’t even take a half day to reach Earlham Village. The main concern on the road ahead was the barrier that blocked the passage of those who were mixed and led people astray, but—

[Assistant] “If ya know the right path and yer a pureblood who doesn’t trigger th’ barrier, ain’t no problem. Ain’t like either o’ us wanna keep more people with grudges than we need.”

[User] “Beyond that, I’m grateful that you offered yourself as a guide to make sure we don’t get lost, but…” Garfiel was inside the dragon carriage, sitting in his seat at an angle and having a great time. Sitting opposite him, Subaru leaned on an elbow and sighed. “You’re not guiding us. Hell, you’re practically falling asleep. Did you ditch the job?”

[Assistant] “Naw. It’s just, that black land dragon of yers is too damn good.


[User] "Aside from her taste in men, my Patlash really is perfect, isn’t she…?" Subaru was very fond of his favorite dragon whose specs were so high they had earned Garfiel’s seal of approval. But that she’d picked Subaru as her owner might have been indicative of a certain flaw in her character. Either way, her amazing performance was why Subaru had ended up one-on-one with Garfiel. Over at the driver’s seat, Otto made a point of having nothing to do with the conversation.

[Assistant] "So. Before ya head out, there’s somethin’ I wanted to talk to ya about. Unless yer real bad at guessing, I think ya can imagine what it is."

[User] “…Sorry, setting aside opinions on whether I’m good or bad at guesswork, there’s a whole bunch of problems I can think of. Unless you tell me the specifics, no way I’m gonna understand what you mean.”

[Assistant] "Well, ain’t that rough. In that case, I’ll lend ya a hand in solvin’ yer problems." Garfiel spread his thighs where he sat, turning a sharp gaze toward Subaru.

[User] Subaru’s breath caught as he recoiled from those eyes that were not so much piercing as they were cutting. "The way you say that doesn’t sound like a good omen to me… In other words…?"

[Assistant] "Hey, third rate—you took the trial, didn’t you?" The question Garfiel posed in a low voice, like the guttural growl of a beast, ran right through Subaru.

[User] When Subaru narrowed his eyes at the question.

[Assistant] "Don’t hide it. I ain’t picking on ya. I’m wonderin’, like, people not qualified take the punishment once, and then they’re free to enter the second time an’ after… That’s just a guess, not like anyone’s tried it."

[User] "If you wanna tell Roswaal to try it, I’m not gonna stop you."

[Assistant] "Me, I’d love him to try, too, but Ram’d smack me to death, so I’ll pass." With a pained look and a flippant tongue, Garfiel bared his fangs and laughed a little. As he’d pointed out, he’d come to the conclusion that Subaru had been able to enter the tomb because it was his second time. There was no way for Garfiel to be sure, but it seemed he intended to make something out of it.

[User] "Let’s say for the sake of argument that’s true… What do you plan to do about it?"

[Assistant] "Now, hold on. I figured ya wouldn’t cop to it. That’s just a what-if, so I’ll talk about somethin’ easier for ya to agree to."


[User] “This is ‘Gam and Gum Bridge Building’–level stuff.” Garfiel unleashed another one of his trademark mystery phrases, and while Subaru felt his mouth go dry from the incredibly not-casual level of pressure it suggested, he drew in his chin, indicating he would at least hear out the proposal.

[Assistant] “It’s real simple. If yer qualified…then you take the trial in Lady Emilia’s place. Lift the barrier for me and my people.”

[User] “—!! Wait, I can’t do that! That assumes Emilia’s gonna fail!”

[Assistant] Garfiel was proposing that Subaru challenge it in Emilia’s place. Certainly, the thought had grazed Subaru’s head several times over. As a matter of fact, Subaru had already passed one of the three parts of the trial, leaving two obstacles to go. If pressed, he would admit he held a strong desire to challenge it. But that was something he wanted to avoid. If he did that, all Emilia’s struggles to date would be for—

[User] “Don’t get me wrong. Me and the old hag wanna be freed from the Sanctuary. An’ we don’t much care who does it.”

[Assistant] “That’s…”

[User] “You wantin’ Lady Emilia to do it so she can have the old hags and the hostages thankin’ her—that’s your problem. Includin’ wantin’ her to overcome a hateful past and take the sting off it, that’s all your problem—it ain’t got nothin’ to do with us.”

[Assistant] Subaru couldn’t summon a rebuttal to Garfiel’s words. Looking at it from Garfiel’s point of view, of course that’s how he saw the Sanctuary situation. Just as he’d said, having Emilia undertake the trial, and hoping that she would overcome it, was essentially the solution to a personal problem. When Subaru hung his head at this sound argument, Garfiel sighed as he added more.

[User] “—Is the past really something ya gotta overcome in the first place…?”

[Assistant] “Eh?”

[User] “For three days I’ve been watchin’ Lady Emilia challenge the trial, same as you. It’s breakin’ her. Seein’ her come out all messed up like that—I can’t stand to watch.” Crinkling the skin of his nose, Garfiel brought up the heartbreaking sight of Emilia right after emerging from the tomb. The number of times Emilia had failed to overcome the trial were adding up. But it wasn’t just that—it was the sight of her turning back: broken, panicked, calling for Puck, then finally sleeping as if her strength was exhausted. The ordeal was excruciating. But what lay beyond her after she overcame that was—

[Assistant] “I believe Emilia will overcome it. That’s why I’ll…”

[User] “And yer free to hope she does. But can Lady Emilia really overcome her past? Could it be that crying and going all I’m scared I’m scared is what she really wants to do? Me, I can’t really tell.”

[Assistant] “What Emilia…really wants…” The words Garfiel threw out struck Subaru like a shower of cold water. Subaru had meant to respect Emilia’s wishes and devotedly support her until the matter was resolved.


[User] However painful it was to climb that wall, as long as Emilia challenged it without fail, he would continue lending her a hand. —Emilia, challenging the tomb in spite of her trembling legs, heedless of the cry of her heart.

[Assistant] “…” Right then, when Garfiel said it out loud, Subaru arrived at the possibility for the first time. —The possibility that she wanted to be rescued, that she was searching for salvation. —If, in her own heart, she truly wanted someone else to fight in her place… —Then who should be that someone, if not Subaru himself?

[User] “…That’s one more thing I’ve gotta really talk to her about when I get back.”

[Assistant] “Huuuh?”

[User] “Nothing… Setting aside whether to accept your proposal or not, it sure does sound like it’d help solve my current problems. Gotta say, you really are a surprising guy.”

[Assistant] “Ha! Don’t say stupid stuff. Me, I just wanna improve my odds even a lil’ bit.” Clenching his fangs in annoyance, Garfiel turned his face away from Subaru. Rather than this being a cute reaction in the vein of concealing a blush, he seemed genuinely irritated, which brought a pained smile to Subaru’s face. But when it came to his assertion about improving the odds, there was a lot there Subaru could agree with.

[User] “What do you wanna do when you get out of the Sanctuary?”

[Assistant] “…Well, ain’t that outta the blue. What I wanna do once I’m out, huh?”

[User] “You’ve been twisting arms left and right to get the barrier lifted and escape, right? I was thinking you had to have something you wanted to do on the outside…”

[Assistant] “…” He’d innocently raised the topic, but Garfiel looked completely taken aback. It was as if he found the question unexpected, or even as if it was something he’d never thought of before.

[User] “…That’s somethin’ only a person who can freely come ’n’ go would say. If ya can go wherever the hell ya want, ya can understand how me an’ the old hags feel, right?” Finally, Garfiel slowly spat those words out. Subaru felt like he’d been insulting, but Garfiel stood up, giving him no opportunity to apologize.

[Assistant] “We’re close to the barrier. This is as far as I go with ya. Take care of the rest, ya hear?”

[User] “You bet… Er, I’ll be coming back real soon. Not like I have zero worries about stuff, though…” He was worried about returning to the mansion. On top of that, he felt a duty to make sure of certain things. Petra’s safety was obviously one concern, but even more than that, making sure whether a certain sleeping girl was safe—

[Assistant] “…Well, crap. Can’t be helped.”

[User] “Garfiel?” Garfiel scruffed up his blond hair as he harshly clicked his tongue. Surprised by the gesture, Subaru turned toward him as he put a hand into his own waistcloth.


[User] "—Take this with ya."

[Assistant] "This crystal…it’s the same as the one Frederica had."

[User] The piece of jewelry Garfiel took out of his pocket and offered Subaru was a necklace of a blue crystal on a string. The gem looked identical to the one Frederica had possessed. The twin blue crystals were undeniable proof that Garfiel and Frederica shared some kind of bond. "I don’t intend to talk about our circumstances. Just…it’s trouble for us if ya don’t come back. So I’m givin’ this to ya. In a pinch, show it to Frederica."

[Assistant] “…Taking this before I head off makes me worry I’ll get teleported by the barrier all over again…”

[User] "If ya don’t need it, just give it back. But havin’ it might help ya in a pinch." When Subaru turned the crystal over in his palm, Garfiel reached out like he wanted to take it back.

[Assistant] With a grand gesture, Subaru escaped from his hand and stuffed the crystal he had received into his pocket. He didn’t know what lay between Garfiel and Frederica. They were likely blood relatives—the barrier that supposedly rejected the passage of anything considered mixed seemed like a literal impassable wall between the pair. If, perhaps, the barrier was the reason Frederica had been scheming— "I have to find out what Frederica meant to do. So, well, wait for good news, ’kay?"

[User] "Ha! What’s this good-news business? If it ain’t like ‘Balulumororoi makes the sun go down,’ then no way I’d ever tell the difference."

[Assistant] Subaru, in his attempt to bid Garfiel farewell on a positive note, drew the first smile from Garfiel he had seen that wasn’t related to his ferocity. However—“I still have no idea what makes the sun go down.” Subaru remained ignorant of just what the mystery phrase pressing against his back meant.


[User] “Will you really be all right without me there with you?” Otto spoke with a concerned, subdued voice from the dragon carriage halted in Earlham Village. Now that the refugees had been safely transported back to the village, Otto and Subaru watched as moving reunions broke out between family members who had been temporarily separated. Otto was no doubt keeping his voice down because he didn’t want to interrupt the reunions.

[Assistant] “Yeah. I’ll head back to the mansion by myself for now. If nothing happens, I’ll send my thoughts over to you straightaway, so hook up with me after getting that, ’kay?”

[User] “Mr. Natsuki, you have so many distractions, I am concerned that my accepting your precious thoughts might leave you in dire straits… I’m joking, but let me speak seriously. If you are trying to be considerate toward me, then…”

[Assistant] “I won’t say that’s completely inaccurate, but…you’re my insurance.” When Subaru scratched his cheek and spoke those words, Otto tilted his head and asked.

[User] “Insurance?”

[Assistant] Nodding back toward him, Subaru explained.


[User] "At the very least, you’re the only other person here who knows our circumstances. If you figure something really did happen to me, I want you to avoid doing anything crazy and report back to the Sanctuary."

[Assistant] "...I would rather not speak of such things, even if it’s only just in case, but…"

[User] "Well, since you’re our crew’s Mr. Dependable Merchant, I’m countin’ on ya!"

[Assistant] "Yes, leave it to… Wait, since when have you arbitrarily lumped me in with your faction?!" Otto went shrill at being entrusted with a job he didn’t remember accepting.

[User] Subaru forced a smile and set out from the village. Straddling Patlash, he raced like the wind up the road from the village to the mansion.


[Assistant] "What, are you worried about me? It’s all right. I’m not gonna cause you any trouble." When they arrived at the front gate, Subaru dropped off Patlash’s back and rubbed the tip of her nose.

[User] His favorite land dragon responded with a lively gesture, rubbing him with her head, and accompanied Subaru on his way to the mansion’s entrance hall.

[Assistant] The day had stretched into dusk. The orange sun shone on Roswaal Manor, nestled between the mountains; gradually, he sensed night approaching from the sky to the east. "...First, door number one." Subaru spoke those words as he stood before the doors and put his hand on the knocker. Taking a deep breath, he strongly knocked with it, announcing the arrival of a guest to all within the building. For a time, he waited for a response from inside, but—

[User] "—Door number one, no good. Proceeding to door number two." When the supposedly present servants didn’t reply, Subaru suppressed a sigh as he gently pressed his hand to the doors. When he applied a little pressure, he found that they had been carelessly left unlocked. Without much difficulty, he slipped through the gap between the doors and trespassed on the mansion.

[Assistant] The worried breath given off by the land dragon at the very end, a moment before the doors separated them, weighed heavily on Subaru’s heart.

[User] Steeling himself, Subaru turned his eyes toward the interior of the mansion he hadn’t seen for three days. At the very least, the broad entry hall was quiet, with no sign that anyone was near him. The words Ram had shared prior to his departure abruptly rose from the back of his mind—if Frederica did bear any ill will, she was no doubt already gone from the mansion. If the worst case was that Frederica had gone off somewhere, he didn’t care. The problem was—

[Assistant] "Whether she left by herself…or took Petra and Rem with her." He wasn’t thrilled with either possibility, but he especially didn’t want to think about the latter. He had the handkerchief on his wrist and the crystal Garfiel had entrusted to him. Relying on the presence of those two things, he advanced, stepping farther into the mansion.


[User] “—?” His brows scrunched up at his sense of foreboding.

[Assistant] Subaru was on the verge of calling out to the occupants in a loud voice. Without the sight of the people who ought to have been there, the familiar mansion corridors felt like unknown territory. When Subaru walked into the hallway of the main wing and peered within, he was greeted by a strange sight. As far as he could see, every single door in the corridor had been opened.

[User] “…Doesn’t seem like someone did this to air the place out.” From what Subaru could tell, only the doors had been thrown wide open; there was no sign anyone had touched the windows. All the rooms were impeccably tidy. Though that served as proof of Frederica and Petra’s capabilities as servants, the empty tidiness clawed painfully at Subaru’s chest. Something was wrong. Something felt off. Something was very…unnatural… “” A detestable feeling, a foul timidity crept around inside Subaru’s body. With a deep breath and a hand to his chest, he held it in check by force. He’d already noticed that this was a bizarre emergency situation. After the many dangerous situations he’d found himself in, Subaru’s survival instincts were currently ringing loud and clear: there was some kind of issue there in the mansion. If he’d followed his initial judgment call, Subaru would have immediately left the mansion and rendezvoused with Otto. The best plan was to tell his allies of the strange occurrence in the mansion so that they could devise a way to address it. If the mansion hadn’t contained so many people he wanted to save within its walls, that’s exactly what he would’ve done. “” He understood it was reckless and irrational. Even so, he had to be sure. Subaru didn’t know how long it would take to return here with allies. The more time passed, the greater the chance the girls inside the mansion would be spirited away. He couldn’t weigh them all on a scale. He just couldn’t.

[Assistant] “Who…to put first…?” Gripping the handkerchief on his wrist, as if to make sure it was still there, Subaru’s brain tossed and turned enough to bring it to a boil. The people in the mansion related to Subaru in some way numbered four, all girls. Among them, Frederica was the lowest priority. At the moment, it was unclear to Subaru where she stood. Besides, she probably possessed combat capabilities. If any of them could deal with problems as they arose, it was her. As Subaru stepped forward with trembling, wavering knees, he realized if he had to go over them one by one and decide whom he had to check on first—then he could only think of Rem. “” He had any number of excuses he could cite. Asleep and immobile, Rem was completely defenseless. With her existence forgotten, there was no way to be sure what value it held to a potential enemy, so he couldn’t simply leave her alone.


[User] "In her own room…!" She had to be asleep. There was no reason she would have moved. Rem ought to be sleeping in the same room that very moment. With so many conditions piled together, wasn’t it natural he would check on her first? Subaru repeated unnecessary excuses over and over inside his head as he headed to the east wing of the mansion—to where Rem’s bedroom was located. His breathing in disarray as his lungs convulsed, he clutched his chest as his loudly beating heart protested in concern. He abused his knees with rapid, tottering steps as he carefully hurried to catch up with the anomaly.

[Assistant] Along the way, every door in the main wing had been flung open. This continued into the east wing, remaining the same as he reached the floor that contained Rem’s bedroom. Rem’s room was at the end of the corridor. The doors of every room before it remained open.

[User] "Shit…Rem! !" Clicking his own tongue as he climbed up the stairs, Subaru ran toward the back of the corridor. The color of the evening sun thickly filled the corridor through the windows. Some kind of sweet aroma was mixed in with the serene air. Breathing hard, Subaru’s own body was dyed orange as he quickened his ragged steps. His heart beat louder and faster, sending painful throbs and a feeling he could not describe racing through his eyes. Horror poured in, intruding upon his brain and leaving him able to think of only one thing. He had…to find out…if Rem…was safe—

[Assistant] "—Wh-whoa? !" As Subaru’s thoughts raced, his feet suddenly tripped two rooms short of his destination. Subaru’s chest slammed into the corridor’s floor, leaving him gritting his teeth at his own folly. Clenching the fist that had landed on the carpet, he tilted his head and came back to his senses. His feet had snagged on something—that’s what had tripped him. He’d been focused solely on the doors of the rooms he’d been passing when something slender at his feet had made him fall. With everything dyed in the glossy light of the setting sun, it was difficult to tell what its original color had been. But the thing was slender and long, stretching out without interruption, and when Subaru’s eyes followed it to its end point he realized where it came from. It was no great mystery. —It had simply tumbled out of the rent side of Subaru’s abdomen.

[User] "—Huh?" The right flank of his track suit had been cut clean. That was where the yellowy intestines had tumbled out. A large amount of blood was pooling beneath him. He wasn’t sure if his right foot had stumbled over his small or large intestines, but at any rate, his innards had been expelled, seemingly clinging to their owner.

[Assistant] “…Oghu." The instant he confirmed this fact, his throat was blocked by a rising clump of blood, and the world was dyed crimson.


[User] His trembling fingers tried to stuff back in the innards pouring out due to the pressure exerted by his belly, but he didn’t have the strength. Then his knees failed as well, and before he realized it, he had tumbled forward onto the carpet. He didn’t know what had happened. Only that his belly had been fatally slashed—

[Assistant] "—I told you, didn’t I? I promised you, yes?" A voice speaks from the direction that Subaru’s fallen head pointed.

[User] He couldn’t lift up his face. His consciousness was draining away with his organs, mixing with the coursing blood and spreading thinly across the floor. Subaru desperately gurgled, as if trying to cling to a world that was growing more distant. It’s over, his instincts proclaimed. He understood that, but somewhere in his heart, Subaru rejected dying for nothing. It wasn’t over, it couldn’t be over, not until he gained something, obtained something. If he didn’t return with something, anything, somethinganythingsomethinganythingsomethinganything—

[Assistant] There was the high-pitched echo of shoes striking the floor. A shadowy figure stood in the corridor, dyed crimson from the spring of fresh blood. She wore a black outfit on her slender physique. Her long, black hair was tied back in a triple braid. Adoringly, with a coquettish look, she gazed down at his dying moments.

[User] —Why…are you here…in front of Rem’s room?

[Assistant] "—I told you to take care of your bowels until the next time we meet."

[User] As Subaru Natsuki’s consciousness grew hazy, that was the only thing that grazed the fingertips of his soul. Hazy, hazy, hazy. Dark, dark, dark. And finally… Everything vanished. It was the end. And then…they began anew. The curtain of Subaru Natsuki’s fourth loop…had risen.


[User] Subaru stood in front of the mansion’s gate, looking up at the cloudy sky.

[Assistant] "This place shall feel emptier without you." Crusch spoke in a lonely tone. She had long, flowing green hair and amber, almond-shaped eyes, and faintly lowered her eyes like a proper young lady.

[User] "Crusch, I’m grateful to hear you say that, but…" Subaru scratched his head as he averted his gaze, looking straight ahead instead. Multiple dragon carriages lined the grounds of the Karsten estate.

[Assistant] The carriages held the villagers who had evacuated to the royal capital to escape from the cultists under Petelgeuse’s command. The Archbishop of Sloth had since then been defeated, Subaru would be accompanying them back to Roswaal Manor. A mountain of problems lay before them, even setting aside the Witch Cult. Crusch’s sudden change was one of them.

[User] "I hate leaving at a time like this, but nothing’s gonna get solved if I stay here. I don’t want to abuse your hospitality, either."

[Assistant] "If it is Master Subaru Natsuki and Lady Emilia, I hardly mind if you stay at my residence as long as you desire… But it seems that is not an option."

[User] "I’ll accept your kind words and leave it at that. We both have a lot of issues to face right now, yeah? Especially you, since there’s that greedy merchant’s crew to deal with. If you don’t handle it well, they’ll steal all the credit for the White Whale and Sloth right out from under you." Shaking his head at Crusch’s request, Subaru urged her to be wary of Anastasia’s followers.

[Assistant] The victory over the White Whale and the Archbishop of Sloth was a joint operation by the forces of three royal candidates, but Anastasia was the only one to have emerged as a clear victor. The Crusch faction had established supremacy over enemies who had gone undefeated for over four centuries, but the price their leader Crusch had paid was not low. Subaru and the rest of Emilia’s supporters who had led the way to Sloth’s defeat had taken casualties as well. Subaru had suffered a grievous wound that agonized him at that very moment. Meanwhile, Anastasia’s faction had both candidate and knight intact even after playing a large role in dispatching both foes, taking minimal damage while reaping great rewards.


[User] Accordingly, everyone would need to keep an eye on Anastasia’s movements from then on. That was simply one more reason to maintain the secrecy around the alliance between Emilia’s faction and Crusch’s faction. "We need to head back and get our ducks in a row before we discuss anything. We gotta have a little talk with Roswaal, Emilia’s sponsor, and I wanna bring the worried villagers back home, too.”

[Assistant] “It must be a trying time for the families that have been separated. It would be best if you could help them.” Crusch showed him a slight, fleeting smile as she turned her gaze toward the villagers aboard the dragon carriages.

[User] “I’ll come back to the capital once we have that settled. I guess this is goodbye for a little while, then.”

[Assistant] “Yes, I shall be waiting. When that time comes, I will be pleased to finally repay the great favor I owe to you.”

[User] “Aw, you’re making a big fuss over nothin’. We’re helping each other out, that’s all. Plus, I already have my reward.” Subaru put on an awkward smile for Crusch as he pointed to the dragon carriage at the head of the column. This carriage seemed of a higher class than the rest, and a beautiful, jet-black land dragon was hitched to the front. The black land dragon was what Subaru had received as his reward for his part in the hunt.

[Assistant] “You ask for too little. To think you would ask for a single land dragon as a reward for defeating one of the three great demon beasts.”

[User] “Hey, I owe this dragon my life. I haven’t been with her for long, but I’ve been on the brink between life and death with her more than anyone…and maybe the reason for that is ’cause I’m one hell of a nuisance to Patlash, but…”

[Assistant] “An unnecessary concern, I believe.” Wilhelm walked over and gently voiced his disagreement. Having finished checking on the state of the carriages, the Sword Devil bowed as he joined the conversation. “The Diana breed is said to be the most temperamental of all land dragons, and few grow this fond of someone in such a short time. It would seem Sir Subaru and this land dragon are most compatible.”

[User] “I suppose you’re right about that. When I was picking a mount before the fight with the White Whale, I only picked her on gut instinct, but…”


[User] "In other words, I won’t be satisfied with any land dragon other than you…!" When Patlash nestled close, Subaru stroked her neck with renewed gratitude.

[Assistant] “Guaaah! Those scales hurt more than I figured! Now I know what radishes must feel when run against a grater!”

[User] “Hmm, land dragons find such playing to be quite pleasant. This is simply another way to deepen mutual trust.”

[Assistant] “Are you serious?! Won’t that make the power in this relationship like when a cat keeps toying with a mouse? !”

[User] The Sword Devil’s pleasant composure made Subaru scratch his head with a guilty expression.

[Assistant] “Well, setting aside the issue of how Patlash and I should get along for now… Wilhelm, it’s sad, but I have to say goodbye to you for a while, too. Take good care of that wound, okay?”

[User] “Thank you for your concern—judging from how the bleeding has now largely ceased, it would seem that I am farther away now. It is difficult for me to speak about that as a fortunate thing, but…”

[Assistant] They had to defeat the Witch Cult and take back what had been lost: Crusch’s memories, and more—


[User] "Subawuuu, I’ve secured Rem to the bed. Come see for yourself.” His thoughts interrupted by the calling of his name, Subaru turned toward the speaker. Ferris, his iconic flaxen-colored kitty ears visible as he leaned out of a dragon carriage.

[Assistant] Obeying his beckoning hand, Subaru walked over and peered into the interior. Seeing her made Subaru’s heart ache.


[User] “Rem isn’t going to fall out the back or anything while we’re moving on the road, right?”

[Assistant] “I’m telling you that I made preventing that a priority already. Believe it or not, Ferri is a genuine healer, so I’m kind to all my patients… Though I’m not sure if calling Rem a patient is…accurate.” He gazed at the girl’s face as she seemingly slept in peace, and Ferris’s shoulders sank.

[User] Though his tone of voice was lighthearted, Ferris’s face bore deep, unconcealable grief and disappointment with himself.

[Assistant] “You’re really returning to the mansion?”

[User] “Yeah. It’s not like Rem’s going to be cured by staying in a place like this… Uh, I didn’t mean that to sound rude.”

[Assistant] “It’s okay, Subawu. I get it. You’re just that terrible of a person, meow.” Ferris forced a smile when Subaru tried to explain his poor choice of words. After that, his eyes immediately grew more serious as he thrust a finger at Subaru.

[User] “More importantly, it’s not just Rem who needs rest. You do, too, Subawu.”

[Assistant] “I do?”

[User] “Yes. Did you forget why you came to the royal capital in the first place? This time, all the commotion with Sloth that made you abuse your gate… Does your body feel…sluggish at all?”

[Assistant] “No, not especially, but…” When Ferris posed the question, Subaru stretched his neck and shoulders as he replied that there were no apparent problems.

[User] “In the first place, I didn’t rely on magic for day-to-day life, so I’m not really gonna miss it.”

[Assistant] “Something only a non-magic user would say. Speaking for myself, I think using magic is a good thing, including for emergencies… Well, if you’re not concerned about it, that’s fine.” Ferris sighed with a look of resignation at Subaru’s indifference and his lack of a sense of danger.

[User] “But I will say that nothing has changed. You must not abuse your gate by using magic. Mark my words, the poison inside the gate has been cleanly drawn out, but that doesn’t mean it’s healed. Let’s see. You should rest your gate for…two months.”

[Assistant] “Two months, huh? Pretty low hurdle for a human being who’s lived for seventeen years of his life without any magic.”


[User] “Well, there’s no way incidents like that will just keep on happeni— Wait, was that an event flag just now? !”

[Assistant] “Unfortunately, healing the inside of your head is outside of Ferri’s specialization, meow.”

[User] Subaru shuddered after Ferris verbally laid into him, realizing that they needed to bring the chitchat to an end. He reached out a hand toward Ferris.

[Assistant] “Meow?”

[User] “You’ve been a big help. I don’t think I’ve ever addressed that properly. You healed my wounds and my gate, but more than that, I never would’ve made it past the White Whale and Sloth without you… Thanks for Rem, too.”

[Assistant] “…You probably didn’t mean that in a mean or sarcastic way, but that’s what it sounds like, meow.”

[User] “The moment I said it, I thought it totally came off that way, too.”

[Assistant] Ferris remained silent, looking down at the hand Subaru had offered.

[User] “…Your fingers are thin! Your hand’s super-small! Guess I can’t say, ‘Oh, your fingers are the only manly thing about you!’”

[Assistant] “Ferri is adorable, so why would you be hung up on something like that? !”

[User] After a moment’s hesitation, they shared a handshake that left Subaru surprised by the feel of Ferris’s hand while Ferris wore a suspiciously charming smile.

[Assistant] “But, you’re still a guy. Damn it, what the hell…”

[User] “Hey, it’s Lady Crusch who wanted Ferri to wear this. She said the outfit suits me and makes me shine the brightest… Besides, it reflects my entire body and spirit.”

[Assistant] “But that’s…” Subaru stopped himself midway.

[User] Ferris knew that without Subaru’s having to say it.

[Assistant] “Regardless of what happens with the royal selection, I will protect Lady Crusch no matter what.”

[User] "…Huh?" The unexpected cold words that rang in Subaru’s ears drove him into silence. Ferris’s head was lowered; Subaru couldn’t see his eyes past his hair.


[User] But the palm in Subaru’s grasp was very hot. “Ferris…?”

[Assistant] “And thaaat’s why you have to keep your promise, right, Subawu?” However, that ominous presence lasted but a single moment.

[User] Subaru was still at a loss for words when Ferris’s head seemed to bounce back up, his demeanor the same as usual.

[Assistant] “You’d better, or I’ll make you suffer before killing you by making the mana inside your body go craaaazy.” His eyes had a mischievous glint to them as he continued.

[User] “Could you stop saying stuff scary enough to kill people with such a cute voice and that pretty face of yours? !”

[Assistant] Ferris pulled back his hand, laughed as he disembarked from the dragon carriage, then bowed.

[User] Subaru felt weary just watching him, though that brief instant where he’d seen an unknown side of Ferris still weighed heavily in his chest. Those intense words had to be how Ferris truly felt, an expression of both his tenacity and his resolve. And Subaru was no bystander in the matter—that was what both believed. “Ah, Subaru. Is Rem’s bed all ready?”

[Assistant] It was just after Ferris hopped out of the dragon carriage that Emilia appeared at the front gate. When the dragon carriages were ready to depart, Emilia came over. Her silver hair was bundled into a triple braid. “Does everything seem fine? Will it hold up until we make it back to the mansion?”

[User] “No problemo. Patlash and I are pumped up and ready for some stunt driving. I’ll pop a wheelie.”

[Assistant] “I don’t really understand why, but I have a reeeally bad feeling about this ‘wheel-ee,’ so I forbid it.”

[User] “Aww, that’s too bad. And I was planning to use some risky driving to set Emilia-tan’s heart aflutter with the suspension bridge effect.” Replying with typical jokes like he usually would, Subaru gave the dragon carriage a tap to knock on wood.

[Assistant] His reply made Emilia’s violet eyes slightly worried, but she didn’t say anything.

[User] “Yep. Anyway, though with some lingering regrets, it’s time to get this show on the road, meow?” With a clap of his hands, it was Ferris who brought an official end to the awkward pause. When all eyes gathered upon him, attention immediately shifted to Crusch, standing right beside him. “Now, Lady Crusch. If you have any final things to say to Lady Emilia…”

[Assistant] “Yes, I suppose I do.” With Ferris ceding the stage to her, Crusch took a step forward. With the men who served her—Ferris and Wilhelm—at her back, she stood at attention as she turned toward Subaru and Emilia. “First, though I have said this many times, I am deeply grateful to both of you. I may have lost my memories, but I believe it is thanks to your cooperation that our lives have been connected, intertwined with my desires from before I lost my memories. Thank you very much.”

[User] “N-not at all… There is nothing you need to thank me for with such words, Lady Crusch.


[User] "I spent most of the last several days out of the loop rather than doing anything.”

[Assistant] “It’s a fact that you were out of the loop for the main events. But, relax, ’kay? I got a lot of stuff done right. Any credit I earn belongs to you, Emilia-tan.”

[User] “All Subawu’s sins belong to Lady Emilia, too, meow.”

[Assistant] “Don’t pick at my scars! !” Subaru moved to reassure the apologetic Emilia, Ferris swiftly inserted himself into the conversation, poking fun at him for what had transpired at the royal palace. Laughter erupted in front of the gate the instant Subaru raised his voice.

[User] It’s all right. From here on, I have many things I need to properly talk about with Subaru.”

[Assistant] “…” Emilia, the only one not to laugh, spoke those words with a sincerity in her eyes.

[User] “Let us be sure to meet again in the near future. Lady Emilia, Master Subaru Natsuki, I believe we shall maintain friendly relations for a long time to come.” Crusch smiled pleasantly as she offered those words, turning a gaze toward the pair that left no room for deceit.

[Assistant] “I…am a candidate in competition with you, Lady Crusch. Even with an alliance, we will someday become enemies again.” Emilia lowered her eyes, her lips trembling.

[User] “Yes. I must strive to do my best so that I do not lose to you, Lady Emilia.”

[Assistant] “Besides that, I am a half-elf, with silver hair at that… You’re not…afraid of me?”

[User] “Emilia, that’s…” Subaru tried to stop whatever she was trying to say, but when he saw Emilia’s expression, he said no more.

[Assistant] “—The worth of the soul is determined by the worth of a person’s actions. Whether for themselves, or for others, we should all live in whatever fashion makes us shine brightest, to live in a way that brings no shame on our souls.”

[Assistant] “Or rather, I apparently used to say that often. Hearing it now…from the perspective of the listener, the words sound rather pretentious, do they not?” Unable to help herself, Crusch let a smile slip as she talked about her own past statement.


[User] While listening to the words, Emilia had pursed her lips in silence, likely considering them emblematic of a deeper truth. “Lady Emilia, do you believe the way you live now is shameful?”

[Assistant] "…I…do not. I have lived this far believing that whatever others may think of me, at the very least, I must not hate myself.”

[User] “Then there is nothing for you to fear or regret. Hone yourself, strive harder, and walk straight and true on your own path—you possess a…wonderful soul.” Once she had finished speaking, Crusch unflinchingly offered Emilia her hand. “I am pleased to have had a chance to come to know you. I feel no fear.”

[Assistant] “—!” As if she felt pain in her chest, Emilia’s cheeks stiffened as she stared down at Crusch’s hand.

[User] Crusch quietly awaited Emilia’s response without any attempts to hurry her.

[Assistant] Finally, Emilia very, very gently touched Crusch’s hand, exchanging a handshake with her. “I hope you remain in good health. I look forward to meeting you again soon.”

[User] “I… No, I do as well. Most likely, I will be able to stand firm before you when that time comes, Lady Crusch. Until then, please be well.”


[Assistant] As he watched them share those oaths off to the side, Subaru’s chest was filled with a sense of accomplishment. Subaru had suffered, struggled, and endured much agony. This was the moment they had finally gained something tangible for it. He hadn’t been able to manage a perfect finish, but— “I don’t wanna regret anything I’ve done, or forget what I’ve accomplished and make you feel like it’s somehow your fault.” Subaru glanced back at the dragon carriage before he closed his eyes, imagining the sleeping Rem. This was a place for celebration. He couldn’t use Rem as an excuse to feel sorry for himself. She wouldn’t want something like that, either—or perhaps he was selfish to think that.

[User] “Master Subaru Natsuki, I hope you remain in good health as well. I pray from the bottom of my heart that…your future exploits help this girl recover as soon as possible.”

[Assistant] “It’s not really a good thing if it requires my exploits in the first place… I’m a useless man except for extreme situations, when I’ll borrow anyone’s help to get things done… What happened to Rem, and what happened to you, Crusch, aren’t someone else’s problem. I’ll make sure to find a way.”

[User] Crusch smiled pleasantly, seeking a handshake from Subaru as well.

[Assistant] Too embarrassed to place his hand over the one she offered, Subaru did not shake her hand; instead, he briefly met her palm with his. A small, dry sound rang out, and with that, the touch between Subaru and Crusch was over.

[User] “Let us certainly meet again.” These words spoken, Lady Crusch and retainers bowed, seeing Subaru & Co. off on their way.


[User] A delicate, stifling atmosphere filled the dragon carriage on its way back to the mansion.

[Assistant] “…Feels like it was a mistake to put the brats on a different carriage, huh?”

[User] But a trigger was nary to be—

[Assistant] “—Um, by any chance, is the absence of a topic putting you in a bind? This oppressive silence, this heavy atmosphere, I simply cannot bear it.” Peering in through the intervening window from the driver’s seat and letting a grandiose amount of spittle fly.

[User] “Why are you butting in all of a sudden? Wait, you were here?” Subaru smiled mischievously at Otto.

[Assistant] “I was indeed! Of course, I have been here the whole while! In the first place, how do you think I ended up cooperating with you and getting abused by the Witch Cult, Mr. Natsuki? !”

[User] “Personal hobby of yours?”

[Assistant] “Not even a cat has enough lives for that kind of hobby! !”

[User] “I’m kidding. Your objective is to talk with Roswaal and have him buy up all your cargo. I didn’t forget.”

[Assistant] “I am truly counting on you. Truly, my very life depends on it!”

[User] “I can’t speak for the man himself, but your odds are pretty slim…”

[Assistant] “I can hear you, you know?! You meant to hide it, didn’t you? !” Otto's eyes bulge as he overhears Subaru speaking to himself and Subaru’s shoulders sank.

[User] “I’m so surprised. Somehow, you two reeeally get along with each other.” Emilia’s big eyes went wide as she spoke.

[Assistant] “I don’t get along with him at all. He’s just someone who saved my life, that’s all.”

[User] “You can’t deny it, so don’t explain it away!"


[User] "!” When Otto had been captured by the Witch Cult and was on the verge of becoming a human sacrifice, Subaru was the main person behind his rescue. Strictly speaking, it was the Iron Fangs who had saved Otto’s life, but that was something of a tangent. Either way, thanks to Otto, the awkward atmosphere inside the carriage had greatly abated."

[Assistant] "And while I thank you for the current mood, it is time to bid you farewell for a while."

[User] "Hey, wait a—! You keep treating me like a pest at the drop of a h—” Subaru closed the shutter, cutting off Otto midshout. With Well, that job’s done on his face, Subaru looked back.

[Assistant] Emilia wore a surprised look as their eyes met.

[User] "Pfft."

[Assistant] "Ha-ha-ha."

[User] For a while thereafter, the pair’s laughing voices echoed inside the dragon carriage. When their laughter finally died down. "Reading the awkward atmosphere and keeping quiet, that’s really not like me, huh?"

[Assistant] "No, it really isn’t like you, Subaru. The Subaru I know is more…a boy always full of energy and doing reckless things, stirring up trouble with almost no regard for my feelings at all.”

[User] “I feel like that translates to a braggart who can’t read the mood to save his life!" Laughing awkwardly as he scratched his face, Subaru slowly sat down beside Emilia.

[Assistant] “…Subaru, you sit next to me like it’s a natural thing.” She narrowed her eyes toward him.

[User] “—? Huh? Something strange about that?”

[Assistant] “No… At first, it made me nervous, but for some reason, it doesn’t now, so it’s all right.” Emilia shook her head as her thoughts on Subaru’s sitting beside her trickled out. For meals at the mansion and the conversations with minor spirits that were a daily ritual for Emilia, and in many other everyday settings, Subaru had stood and sat by Emilia’s side as was his wont, but…

[User] “All that hard, painstaking work finally paid off. I’m so moved…!”

[Assistant] “There you go making light of things again… Even though I don’t want you to do that weird bluffing.” When Subaru clenched a fist and murmured, Emilia’s cheeks puffed up in dissatisfaction. Then, after ever so slightly moving her hips away, she turned her eyes to the simple bed at the back.

[User] “You’ve been thinking about Rem the whole time. You don’t need to hide it.”

[Assistant] "Ta-ha-ha…" With Emilia’s sullen gaze sealing all avenues of retreat, Subaru conceded with a listless laugh.

[User] “Yeah, I have been. I’ve been thinking about her a huge ton. I think she’s been on my mind this whole time because I felt I’ve gotta do something. I want to think of Emilia-tan first and foremost, but…this time I just couldn’t keep things in the right order. Sorry.”

[Assistant] “I’m not upset about that at all.


[User] "I said it back at Lady Crusch’s mansion, too, didn’t I?”

[Assistant] She’d said she wanted to understand all the concerns and worries Subaru harbored. "She’s very precious to you, isn’t she?”

[User] “Precious, super-precious. As precious as you are to me, Emilia-tan.”

[Assistant] “…Do you realize that’s a reeeally selfish thing to say?”

[User] “I do. To be honest, I feel so bad about it I wanna roll over and die. But I’m super-serious, so…” He conveyed his honest, undisguised feelings to Emilia loud and clear.

[Assistant] He continued praying for Rem’s recovery, glad that he had not upset Emilia in the process. To find a way to make that recovery happen, Subaru Natsuki would take on any trial.

[User] “—I’m sure you’ll find it. A way to bring her back.”

[Assistant] “Emilia-tan?”

[User] With Subaru engaging in that extremely selfish reasoning, Emilia gave a thin, charming smile and nodded. She ran a finger through her silver hair as she stared straight at Subaru’s raised face. “I think, in the sense of being motivated by selfish reasons, you and I are probably very alike, Subaru… I’m well aware I joined the royal selection for a selfish reason of my own.”

[Assistant] “A selfish reason… You mean, a world of equality without any discrimination—that reason?” Subaru reminisced about the desire Emilia had spoken of when she declared her beliefs at the royal selection conference.

[User] However, Emilia sadly shook her head in the face of Subaru’s understanding of the matter. “Not that. I started this with something that was reeeally personal…”

[User] “…I’m sorry. I can’t really explain it with words. I don’t want to hide it from you, Subaru. But I’m not sure what I should say.” Emilia was at a loss for words, vexed that she could not speak well about what was in her head.

[Assistant] “—We’ll talk about everything after we catch up with Roswaal.”

[User] “You’ll forgive me, then?”

[Assistant] “You haven’t done anything wrong, so I don’t need to forgive you. If anything, the stuff I talked about is more of a problem… Besides, Roswaal might know something about the Rem issue, too.”


[User] Considering the detail that the clown-looking eccentric had nominated Emilia for the royal selection, it was about time they got him to spill his guts. There was also the matter of what the hell he had been thinking, not even lifting a single finger during the Witch Cult attack.

[Assistant] “But if we’re putting that off until after we get back to the mansion…”

[User] “Yeah?”

[Assistant] “If you don’t mind, Subaru…I’d like you to tell me about Rem.”

[User] —For one moment, the suggestion sent pain running through Subaru’s chest. But this was not because he rejected Emilia’s suggestion. It was from pure worry and hesitation. Could Subaru speak words that could truly suffice about Rem, the girl who had saved him?

[Assistant] “Ahh, yeah, that’s gonna get a bit long, but I’ll tell you all about it. To me, memories of Rem are as precious as my memories of you since meeting you two months ago, Emilia-tan.” Hiding his sentiments behind his words, Subaru began to speak of day-to-day life during those two months. When, after meeting Emilia in the royal capital, he’d awoken in the mansion, greeted by Rem and Ram—

[User] “” Once he started telling the tale, he couldn’t stop. Emilia continued quietly listening to Subaru’s story. And in the end, he continued without pause until they arrived back in the Mathers domain.


[Assistant] “Hey, you two, we’ve finally arrived at our destination.” Otto shares that news from the driver’s seat, it was evening, half a day since they’d departed from the royal capital.

[User] The report through the shutter made Subaru break off his story and turn his eyes to look through the side window. “Oh, really? Faster than I thought.”

[Assistant] “It seems you were caught up in your story. We made excellent time down the highway as well. Perhaps, thanks to departing in the early morning and arriving before nightfall, everyone from the village will be that much more relieved.”

[User] “I’m so glad. Otto, thank you very much. It’s a relief we made it to the village safe and sound.” As Subaru leaned forward, Emilia was right beside him, gazing through the same window as she thanked Otto.

[Assistant] “I am honored that you would say so, Lady Emilia… I wish Mr. Natsuki would praise my endeavors in a more straightforward manner.”

[User] “Hey, don’t be that way. My personality means I say a lot of things that don’t match what I’m actually thinking. Catch on already.”

[Assistant] “How can those words come from your mouth after all the things you’ve said to date? !” Otto’s voice rose at Subaru’s poor treatment.

[User] “Now, now,” said Emilia, scolding Subaru for his attitude toward Otto. “I’m sorry, Otto. It’s Subaru’s bad habit to tease the people he is fond of…”

[Assistant] “Wait, wait, you’ve got it all wrong!


[User] “I don’t do that to you, Emilia-tan!”

[Assistant] “But you do it to Beatrice, don’t you?”

[User] “Considering how much of a loli that girl is, that statement’s all kinds of wrong!”

[Assistant] “Mr. Natsuki, Lady Emilia.”

[User] “What? Right now, I’m busy clearing up Emilia-tan’s grievous misunderstanding…”

[Assistant] “We’ve arrived at the village… But there seems to be something amiss.”

[User] Subaru and Emilia make eye contact.

[Assistant] They hurried to follow Otto’s gaze, they were drawing near Earlham Village, their destination right down the road. The village was a familiar sight. The lack of human presence made this eerily similar to the last time Subaru had seen it: an uninhabited village, right after the villagers had been evacuated to flee from the Witch Cult. In other words—

[User] “—Ram and the villagers in the Sanctuary haven’t come back?”


[Assistant] That was the conclusion they reached after Subaru and the others split up to check out Earlham Village. Concern stood out clearly on the faces of the returning villagers after they failed to find any sign of the others—the ones who had split off and fled to the Sanctuary midevacuation, and who should have long returned by now.

[User] “According to Ram, the Sanctuary is a seven-to-eight-hour trip from here. To not have returned ahead of us after we spent three days in the capital…”

[Assistant] “We mustn’t be hasty. It might be simple prudence until they’re certain the village is safe.”

[User] “Would Roswaal act that passive once he heard the circumstances? During the demon beast incident a while back, he immediately ended it with brute force. It’s just weird that he hasn’t done anything this time.”

[Assistant] Roswaal possessed magic that gave him the ability to fly through the sky. That was a simple and effective way to reconnoiter his own territory, even if he was being cautious. Even discounting that, Ram, with her Clairvoyance, would be right by his side. It was obvious he had already learned about their victory over the Witch Cult. The fact that he had not returned to the mansion despite that meant—

[User] “There’s a reason he didn’t come back… Did something happen in the Sanctuary?”

[Assistant] Subaru and Emilia turned their faces toward each other, both having arrived at the same point of view. The pair’s concerns were shared by the remaining people of Earlham Village. They had hoped to be reunited with the family members who had returned to the village ahead of them. Considering the villagers’ mental state, they all had to find out what had happened as quickly as possible. They had to, but—

[User] “So, Emilia-tan…do you know where the Sanctuary is?”

[Assistant] “Eh?! S-Subaru, don’t you know where it is?” Emilia’s surprise at Subaru’s question raised a fundamental issue.


[User] "It’s kind of late to be asking this, but this Sanctuary, what sort of place is it?"

[Assistant] "I don’t know… Roswaal said it was kind of like a secret hideout. Besides…"

[User] "Besides?"

[Assistant] "...No, it’s nothing. Sorry, I wish I’d asked him more properly at the time."

[User] When Emilia made that rather awkward-sounding apology, Subaru shook his head and reflected on his own sins.

[Assistant] "For that, too, we’d better go to the mansion for now. I want to put Rem where she can have proper rest… Otto, you don’t have a place to stay, do you? Come with us."

[User] "Ueeeh?! T-to the marquis’s mansion?! I-I would be more at ease sleeping in the dragon carriage!"

[Assistant] "Oh, shut up and play along. —Sorry, everyone! Just wait a little longer!" Squishing Otto’s tearful words flat, Subaru called out to the people of the village.

[User] His appeal to them could not wipe away all their anxiety, but they sent spirited voices back Subaru’s way nonetheless.

[Assistant] With the villagers watching them go, they had the dragon carriage gallop once more—and ten minutes later, they saw Roswaal Manor in all its familiar splendor.

[User] "It is even larger than it appears to be when seen from afar… I feel even more out of place…"

[Assistant] "Don’t chicken out after coming this far. Even if you do, you’ll never make it all the way back home." With Otto struck by the majesty of the mansion, Subaru offered those words of persuasion as they headed through the front gate onto the manor grounds.

[User] They proceeded to stop the dragon carriage outside the front door, inside which, in a sense, the mansion of old times awaited.

[Assistant] "It’s supposed to be three days for me, same as Emilia-tan, but…" When Subaru looked up at the mansion, deeply moved, he murmured as he felt complex emotions in his chest.

[User] "Well, that’s what I think from the bottom of my heart…"

[Assistant] "Mr. Natsuki, setting aside whatever you may have thought, shall I put the dragon carriage in the stables? As for Miss Rem sleeping in the bed in back…"

[User] "—I’ll carry Rem. You don’t need to do anything." Subaru closed his mouth, realizing he’d unconsciously let out a hard, barbed voice.

[Assistant] Otto, who had no doubt his own suggestion had been a good one, appeared stern at the sharpness of Subaru’s reply.


[User] “…Sorry. Please put Patlash and the dragon carriage in back of the mansion. I’ll get things ready on the inside.”

[Assistant] "Understood. Think nothing of it, Mr. Natsuki.” Otto accepted the apology, heading for the stable without any sign of offense.

[User] Subaru disembarked from the carriage with Rem on his back, headed toward the mansion’s front doorway along with Emilia.

[Assistant] “Come to think of it, I don’t remember locking the door when we left. Could burglars get in?”

[User] “Not that…it’s her job, but I don’t think we need to worry with Beatrice here. I wonder if she’d…come greet us at the door if we knocked?” Without touching on the exchange with Otto, Emilia voiced a very un-Emilia-like joke.

[Assistant] “Maybe she’ll rush out to set eyes on Puck…”

[User] “It really would be odd of her, though.” Half-jokingly, Emilia smiled as she made the door knocker resound. The sharp, hard sound reverberated inside the mansion. Naturally, there was neither master nor servant in the mansion to repl—

[Assistant] “—Yes, please wait a moment.”

[User] “Eh?” Subaru and Emilia were both dumbstruck by the reply that ought not to have existed. Then, before the pair could recover from being frozen stiff, the entry doors to the mansion slowly opened.

[Assistant] “Welcome back, Lady Emilia. I have been eagerly awaiting your arrival.” Standing on the other side of the open double doors was a woman greeting the pair with perfect courtesy. She had long, gleaming blonde hair, and emerald eyes that seemed as transparent as gemstones. Her tall figure was clad in a classical maid outfit; she carried herself in a splendidly tidy, feminine manner. Her age was twenty years, more or less, and any way he looked at her, she was a maid through and through—the problem being, she was not either of the two maids who had been assigned to Roswaal Manor.


[User] "To be honest, I’m gettin’ restless just waiting around, but…" Arms crossed, Subaru made a sound in his throat, the impatience in his heart unavoidable.

[Assistant] "The Sanctuary is protected by a special barrier…the Lost Woods of Clemaldy. The barrier keeps outside presences away by leading them astray, hence why it is called the Lost Woods. Two days of preparation are required to nullify that barrier."

[User] "It’s a place with a history of accepting demi-humans… Huh." When he voiced the special way it had been expressed to him, Subaru vigorously scratched his own head.

[Assistant] "From what I read in a history book, they had this civil war called the Demi-human War in just the last century, too. Come to think of it, I heard a song related to that from Liliana, too, didn’t I…?"

[User] "Kind of late to realize it, but…‘The Ballad of the Sword Devil’ sounds a lot like Wilhelm’s nickname. Maybe that song’s why he came to be called the Sword Devil in the first place…" Subaru gave a satisfied nod as the manly sight of the swordsman he imagined melded with the heroic tale inside his head.


[User] “Ah, Master Subaru, so you were indeed here.” Subaru was thrown off his train of thought when the door quietly opened and a voice spoke to him through it.

[Assistant] He looked back, meeting the eyes of the girl peering in through the gap of the door.

[User] The girl with reddish-brown hair and a ribbon on her head entered with an adorable smile as she addressed him. “It’s almost time to leave, so I thought if you weren’t in your room, you might be here…”

[Assistant] “Servant lifestyle got me used to waking up bright and early… Wait, properly speaking, I still am a servant, so I’d better stop talkin’ like that…”

[User] “But I think… I believe those odd clothes suit you better than a servant’s uniform, Master Subaru.”

[Assistant] “You’re payin’ attention to your words, but you need a little more practice choosing them, I guess?”

[User] The girl gave a pained smile as she quickly corrected her own words as Subaru rose from his chair and gave his back a stretch.

[Assistant] The young girl in the servant’s outfit—Petra Leyte—gazed at Subaru with her round eyes. There was a reason she was dressed in a maid outfit that very moment. "Gotta say, it’s only two days since asking for maid applicants in the village, and only one since you’ve actually been in the mansion… I’m impressed you were able to find me without getting lost. That’s almost too good for a girl your age away from your parents like this.”

[User] “I’m already twelve years old, plenty old enough to be a working g—I mean, an adult. Master Subaru, please treat me like a proper adult.”

[Assistant] “I’ll think about it when you master polite speech and get Frederica’s stamp of approval. Until then, you’re an apprentice maid in on-the-job-training, so I’m gonna treat you as cute as I feel like!” Subaru shot the precocious Petra a smile as he mussed her hair with strokes of his hand.

[User] Petra gave an enjoyable kya! sound as she squatted, perhaps certain she was making a clean getaway. Frederica was keenly feeling the limits of a single person’s power to manage the vast mansion. When she’d sought applicants from the village to help her, it was Petra who had responded. At first, there was concern about her young age, but Petra’s personality and suitability for the job had both proved exceptional.

[Assistant] “Compared to you, Master Subaru, she is highly proficient, and her future prospects are bright. She stands out among all the girls I have taught to date… Ah, Master Subaru, please sit down and relax.” That was the assessment Frederica had given after instructing Petra over those last two days.


[User] It was difficult to recruit someone like Petra who could grasp the details of the mansion and its environs in such a short time. It was enough for her to understand exactly where Subaru had unconsciously let his feet take him—

[Assistant] "You came to say goodbye to Miss Rem, right?"

[User] “…Well, somethin’ like that. I don’t plan to be away that long, but I wanted to see her face. I’m countin’ on you to take care of her while I’m gone, Petra.” Subaru conveyed his words in a joking tone as he gazed within the bedroom—and at Rem lying on the bed within.

[Assistant] “…Master Subaru, it’s almost time to set out, so…” After Subaru fell silent, Petra tugged at his sleeve, indicating that it was time for him and Petra to part ways.

[User] “…Well, I’m off, then. Be a good girl and wait, ’kay?” After saying goodbye to Rem’s sleeping face, he brushed his hair back as he left the room.

[Assistant] “Master Subaru, it must be pretty hard for you, having so many people in your thoughts…”

[User] “I feel that’s like what people say to describe a playboy… Ah, well, it’s not like I’m splitting my feelings into two prongs or something, but I have to admit…” Subaru, heading for the rendezvous point at the mansion entryway, cringed under Petra’s exasperated-sounding verbal assault, despite the fairly indirect way she put it.

[Assistant] "I kinda figured I wouldn’t find anything, but no luck here. You?”


[User] "I have been thoroughly molested. Where, exactly, should I direct my anger?!" Otto stubbornly vented at Garfiel from the driver’s seat as the dragon carriage resumed its trot.

[Assistant] "Oh, shut up, coachman. It’s just a little bump, so whatever. I apologized, right?"

[User] "When did you apologize? Surely, you cannot mean your earlier statement of ‘Sorry for smackin’ ya, I got ahead o’ myself’? That was more abuse, not an apology. Am I wrong?"

[Assistant] "There was a flash of light inside the dragon carriage, and Lady Emilia collapsed, with Mr. Natsuki nowhere to be found! Do you understand how terrible I felt when I was at the end of my wits?! And then to be captured by a man dressed like a brigand!" Otto gazed up at the heavens and lamented.

[User] "I’m really sorry about that. You were a huge help. Emilia’s safe thanks to you. I’m really thankful." Subaru spoke with respect infused with pure thankfulness.

[Assistant] "R-right… Ah, well, if you feel properly thankful, all is well, really…"

[User] "Super easy to please, wow…"

[Assistant] It wasn’t hard at all to imagine Otto’s panic at being attacked. That he had protected Emilia afterward, keeping her safe pending Subaru’s meeting up with them again, had earned Subaru’s thanks—and enormous gratitude.

[User] "Waaait, what’s this brigand thing, you don’t mean me, do ya?"

[Assistant] "Whom else could I be referring to?! You forced the dragon carriage to a stop, bullied me with your claws, and forced us to proceed with you until we reached Mr. Natsuki…"

[User] "Right, I was wondering about that. How the heck did you end up where I was?"

[Assistant] Considering how he had been teleported via the power of the crystal, Subaru had assumed it was difficult to discern where he was located. Subaru didn’t remember sending up any smoke signals, so how had they met up with him at the ruin?

[User] "Me, I just caught the scent of an outsider. Didn’t think you’d snuck in all the way to the tomb, though. I’m tellin’ ya, I was pretty nervous." Garfiel rubbed his own nose with a finger.

[Assistant] "—My scent, you reached me following your nose? A special scent?" Subaru lowered his voice a little, unable to let the remark slip by.

[User] Subaru had a special scent wafting around him—the strange physical condition that had been pegged as the lingering scent of the Witch. Rem and the Witch Cultists had been able to sense it, so if Garfiel could sense it as well…

[Assistant] "It ain’t good or bad." Garfiel shook his head.


[User] "The scent comin’ from ya is just plain normal. I found ya ’cause it ain’t a scent I’ve smelled before, that’s all. It’s like, ‘Sometimes, even Meimei is busy.’"

[Assistant] “…Sorry, I think there’s a bug in the translation between you and me from time to time.” Subaru tilted his head as the enigmatic phrase flew right over it, his nose crinkling as he wondered just what Garfiel was saying. There’d always been words that didn’t mesh well from both sides, but he felt like he’d suddenly hit the limits of otherworldly translation.

[User] Either way, Garfiel’s nose apparently had not caught what Subaru suspected. That being the case, his next question would have concerned either the ruin or the teleportation—but then something changed inside the carriage.


[Assistant] “—a, huu—” With a faint exhalation, the girl sleeping on the simplified bed awoke.

[User] "Ah…Emilia!" Emilia sat up in bed, velvet eyes blinking.

[Assistant] Subaru hastened to her side and took her hand, as if to check Emilia’s body temperature to make sure she was real. "I’m glad you’re all right. Man, you really had me going for a while there…"

[User] “Su…baru…? Er…” Emilia looked up at the relieved Subaru, looking like she had no idea what had happened. But when she looked around the interior of the dragon carriage, she noticed the presence of an unfamiliar man and leaped to her feet.

[Assistant] Then she stood opposite Garfiel, shielding Subaru behind her. “—Who?! I’ll say this once, you won’t lay a single finger on Subaru!”

[User] “Wait, wait, Emilia-tan! I’m happy, but it’s really complicated, everything’s all right, so just…!”

[Assistant] "Hah, quite some lip for someone who was sleepin’ all this time. Interestin’…!"

[User] “Hey, don’t you get all worked up, too! Calm down! Let’s talk this through!” Emilia, taking an unusually aggressive, worked-up stance, triggered Garfiel’s combative spirit in turn. Subaru wedged himself between them, grasping Emilia’s shoulders. "Please, Emilia-tan, just relax. Some stuff happened while you were asleep, but it’s been worked out already. He’s Garfiel. You get it now, right?"

[Assistant] "Garfiel… Wait, you mean the one Frederica talked about?" Blinking several times over at the name, Emilia looked at Garfiel.

[User] When she did so, he puffed out his chest and answered. "Yeah, that’s me—Garfiel. The world’s strongest man."

[Assistant] “Right, right, the world’s strongest… Huh? What did you say just now? You said world’s strongest? With a straight face?”

[User] "I said it, yeah. What’s so strange about that…?" He meant it as an explanation to Emilia, but the unexpectedly grandiose statement surprised even Subaru.

[Assistant] Garfiel crinkled his nose, seemingly offended by their reactions. "You’ve heard my name, so you heard about all that from Roswaal, right…?"

[User] "I heard your name with the nuance that you were a powerful person, but…that didn’t mean physical power, did it…?" If it meant martial might, the term powerful was being used in an unusual way. But, given the present circumstances, the chances of that seemed rather high, and they still had no certain proof he was an ally.


[User] Subaru had never thought Frederica’s telling them to be wary of him would come to fruition like that.

[Assistant] “I’ll ask this again, but you’re Garfiel who lives in the Sanctuary. You’ve got a relationship to Roswaal, and right now Ram and the people from Earlham Village are here, too. We can believe you on that?”

[User] “You’re free to doubt me, but either way, you’ve crossed the barrier. It’s not like you can turn back now, right?”

[Assistant] “Eh? We crossed the barrier? Since when?” Emilia’s eyes widened in shock at the surreal fact.

[User] Incidentally, Subaru was just as surprised as she was.

[Assistant] “Hey, hey," Garfiel said toward them, and continued his words: "Gimme a break. In the first place, didn’t you fall asleep when you got close to the barrier?”

[User] “I slept because of the barrier…? Now that you mention it, the crystal got bright then, too…”

[Assistant] “The timing was the same. Meaning they were both reactions to the barrier!”

[User] Subaru snapped his fingers. The crystal’s radiating light inside the dragon carriage matched up with the facts. Subaru got the crystal out of his pocket and rolled it on his palm; Emilia nodded deeply as well. Then—

[Assistant] “—? What is it, Garfiel?”

[User] Hearing Emilia pose the question all of a sudden, Subaru followed suit, lifting his face. When he did, he followed her gaze to find Garfiel staring at the crystal with a conflicted look on his face. He looked like the blue glow made him recall some kind of painful memory.

[Assistant] “Something about this? You probably went through some scary stuff on account of this rock. Besides, I’m kinda wondering why the barrier that made Emilia-tan collapse didn’t do anything to Otto or me.”

[User] “The rock’s nothin’ to me. And of course the barrier reacted to Lady Emilia. The barrier’s a test that reacts to dirty blood.”

[User] “Hey, Garfiel. What’s this business about dirty blood?”

[Assistant] Garfiel’s statement sent pain running across Emilia’s cheeks. Angry at that fact, Subaru probed to determine the true meaning behind Garfiel’s words.

[User] “Don’t make me repeat myself. She’s a half-elf. Get it into your…”

[Assistant] “Hah, don’t get bent out of shape about it. I’m not tryin’ to single out Lady Emilia by sayin’ it. Dirty blood don’t mean just half-elves. It applies to me, the others… She ain’t no exception… She’s mixed, just like we are.”

[User] “Mixed…mixed blood, you mean?”

[Assistant] Without a word, Garfiel indicated yes to Emilia’s question.

[User] Receiving his answer, Subaru realized just why he’d heard the Sanctuary was special beforehand—and what was meant by “particular” demi-humans.

[Assistant] “In other words, the Sanctuary is where demi-human people with mixed blood live…”

[User] “Correct… Gotta say, though, you came to the Sanctuary without Frederica even tellin’ you that much…?”

[Assistant] “She kept saying she couldn’t tell us the details. Within what she could say, she kept saying to watch out, but…because of some vow, she couldn’t say much more than your name.”

[User] “Vow this, vow that… Huh? Ha, excuses from head to toe.


[User] ”Just like her master, huh?” Clicking his tongue, Garfiel gave an answer that was closer to a cursing than an expression of malice.

[Assistant] There was no doubting he was related by blood to Frederica, but it was no atmosphere for asking anything him about it. Maybe Frederica refused to speak of him because—

[User] “You don’t really get along well with Frederica?”

[Assistant] “Emilia-tan? !”

[User] “If you’re gonna ask if we get along well or not, we don’t. Besides, everythin’ from here on don’t concern her. Everythin’ from here is about us, and you people who came through the barrier, nothin’ else.”

[Assistant] Emilia’s straight-to-the-point question took Subaru by surprise, but Garfiel replied in a surprisingly calm fashion, sinking his hips deeper into his seat as he indicated the outside of the dragon carriage with his chin.

[User] Subaru understood what his gesture meant: They would soon arrive at their destination, the Sanctuary.

[Assistant] “We welcome you, Lady Emilia and her two servants.” The words of welcome had a title of respect attached, but there was not a shred of respect or warmth in them.

[User] Having spoken them, Garfiel replied to Subaru’s and Emilia’s suspicious gazes with an audible clenching of his fangs. With that, he spread his arms very wide, indicating the entire area.

[Assistant] “For whatever reason, Roswaal calls this the Sanctuary, but…it ain’t a place suited for pretty-sounding words like that. It’s a place where rejects gather and live together, a dead-end laboratory.”

[User] “Laboratory…?”

[Assistant] “Rejects.” Subaru and Emilia knit their brows as different words tugged at their respective minds.

[User] For his part, Garfiel laughed, not concealing his mouth like Frederica did. “As for me, I think it’s more accurate to call it the tomb of the Witch of Greed!”

[Assistant] “The Witch of Greed? !” As Garfiel continued, Subaru tilted his head at the never-before-heard statement; in his stead, it was Otto, overhearing the discussion inside the dragon carriage, who had an exaggerated reaction.

[User] “Um, ah, er, excuse me… You don’t mean to say this is genuinely related to the Witch of Greed, yes…?” In a fierce panic, Otto peered into the carriage from the driver’s seat.

[Assistant] “Wait, wait, WAIT! ’Cause you got super surprised I’m reacting late, but what’s the Witch of Greed to begin with? When people say Witch, they mean the Witch of Jealousy, right…?”

[User] The Witch of Jealousy had plunged the world into the lowest depths of terror; even in the present, she was feared as the most awful of calamities. Subaru knew only of the Witch bearing the title of Jealousy. He’d never heard of any others. Despite that, the term beyond his expectations sailed overhead, bringing the worst of possibilities rushing to the forefront of his mind.

[Assistant] “Don’t tell me the Witch Cult has one Witch for each of them? Seven Witches, so seven archbishops in total?! How hard do you think it was defeating even one of them? !”


[User] "Having to defeat all of them would be an especially harrowing prospect, but there is fortunately no concern about that. It is just that for a Witch besides Jealousy to become an issue is a very, very great problem in itself…" Subaru was relieved to have his worst imagination rebutted, but Otto’s concern had not been wiped away.

[Assistant] Subaru found himself suspicious when Emilia, sitting beside him, took up where Otto had left off.

[User] "Well, you see, a reeeally long time ago, and this would be four hundred years ago…there were six Witches other than the Witch of Jealousy. But the Witch of Jealousy killed them all, supposedly…"

[Assistant] "Seems like she ate ’em. Matter of fact, there ain’t much for records left of the Witches the Witch of Jealousy killed. But there’s exceptions to that."

[User] "So you’re saying this is one exception? There’s something odd about the names of other Witches?" With Garfiel bolstering Emilia’s words.

[Assistant] Subaru pulled what was left of his question back toward Otto.

[User] Otto sighed as he continued, seeming to detest even speaking the words. "It is not a topic I enjoy speaking of, but it concerns the traits of Witch Cultists. As you already know, they are adherents of the Witch of Jealousy, but…they do not acknowledge the existence of other Witches. Even merely hearing the name of one is enough to drive them into terrible rampages."

[Assistant] "That’s awfully oversensitive…"

[User] "In the Volakia Empire to the south, rumors spread of the name of a Witch besides the Witch of Jealousy. A metia supposedly related to the Witch emerged, but there is no telling whether it was true or false."

[Assistant] The empire to the south, and the Witch Cult—those two elements coalesced in Subaru’s memory. He remembered a story Julius had relayed to him while they were traveling together at the height of the campaign to subdue Petelgeuse.

[User] "You mean the story that a single Archbishop of the Seven Deadly Sins wiped out a city?"

[Assistant] "That is the one. Perhaps the rumor of a metia was fact, or perhaps it was merely a convenient scapegoat after the fact… Either way, the cost was the downfall of an entire city. Speaking about Witches has been strictly prohibited everywhere since."

[User] With Otto concluding his harrowing tale.

[Assistant] Subaru nodded in sympathy. Subaru hated the Witch Cult and everything surrounding it, but the current conversation had added one more reason to hate it. "Isn’t it dangerous to spread around scary trivia like that?"

[User] "It’s not like it’s gonna leak outside. But the old hag says it’s the tomb of the Witch of Greed, so there ain’t no mistake. It’s just like, ‘Peromio festered from the point he heard it.’"

[Assistant] "Not that I’m really interested in what was festering, but I take it you don’t know the fine details?"

[User] "If you wanna know details, pry ’em outta Roswaal— At the moment, I ain’t sure you even could, though."

[Assistant] "—? What do you mean by that?"


[User] "Has something happened to Roswa—"

[Assistant] "I’m sorry. We seem to have arrived at the vill—is this a village? The settlement. Shall we enter?"

[User] Emilia probed deeper to discern Garfiel’s meaning, but before she could get anywhere, Otto announced from the driver’s seat that they had arrived at their destination. His words made her look outside, whereupon she said… "So this is the Sanctuary…" Emilia's tone was whisper-like.

[Assistant] Subaru let out a similar breath as he narrowed his eyes.

[User] "Feels like a pretty run-down place…"

[Assistant] "Just to say it, the people are pretty run-down, too, okay? They’re all wrinkled hags and old men. It’s got that ‘Man or Kegelmo, we all grow old’ feel to it."

[User] "That’s the first time I understand what one of your sayings means, but man, you aren’t pulling any punches."

[Assistant] Garfiel's words about the settlement he himself lived in were absolutely merciless.

[User] "Let’s keep going until we find a good spot to park the dragon carriage…"


[Assistant] "I see you’re back, Garf. You certainly took your sweet time."

[User] "Yeah."

[Assistant] Garfiel made the dragon carriage run to the center of the settlement, where Subaru was surprised to hear a familiar voice. It was tossed their way from the center of the settlement, right along the route the dragon carriage was following.

[User] There, a lone girl revealed herself, her demeanor cool as she stood tall.

[Assistant] Garfiel dashed right out of the dragon carriage; he leaped down, waving a hand with a smile. "Yo. Pretty rare for you to come out and welcome me back like this. Did the bastard finally kick the bucket?"

[User] "If that were the case, Ram would be turning this entire place into a sea of flames. You should be most grateful to Master Roswaal that it is not so."

[Assistant] "I don’t know what ya mean, but geez, that’s some thinkin’!" Garfiel approached her, seeming very amused by the abuse from the girl in the familiar-looking servant’s outfit.

[User] As he watched from a distance, Subaru’s lips slackened in visible relief.


[User] "Hmmm, so that is the older sister of the girl whom you were speaking of. I see… It is quite obvious, but she looks just like the sleeping Miss Rem, yes." Otto, laying eyes upon the girl for the first time, was deeply moved as he murmured.

[Assistant] Subaru was reuniting with Ram, the nonworking servant of Roswaal Manor, after several days of separation.

[User] "Ram!" Ram noticed Subaru leaning out of the dragon carriage and waving toward her. Her pink eyes narrowed slightly, followed by an easy-to-understand sinking of her shoulders.

[Assistant] "I know not where you were, Barusu, but I am disappointed at your late arrival. If only you had noticed something was wrong and come running… Ah, I was a fool to expect such a thing."

[User] "If you don’t know where I’ve been, then follow that part to the end, damn it! Also, this goes mainly for Roswaal, but it’s hard to figure out what you people are up to. Also, I need to talk to the man himself face-to-face!"

[Assistant] When Subaru rebutted, Ram replied with a “Ha!” that was the same as it had ever been.

[User] From there, her gaze turned toward Emilia, who was right at Subaru’s side. "Lady Emilia, I bid you a warm welcome. As Master Roswaal is awaiting you within, I shall escort you to him. Garf, please guide the dragon carriage and coachman to a suitable place."

[Assistant] "Man, you’re rough with people! That’s fine, though. Hey, driver bastard. Come with me, I’ll show ya in."

[User] "Do you mean me by that?! That is the worst thing you have called me to date, you know!"

[Assistant] Even though he’d introduced himself by name, it was "driver bastard" now. On top of that, the prospect of being all alone with Garfiel made Otto look toward Subaru and Emilia in search of salvation.

[User] Subaru responded to his clingy gaze with a deep, knowing nod. "I’ll bury your bones later!"

[Assistant] "Those are not words ever used with a good connotation, are they? !" Leaving that lament behind, Otto was led off by the overbearing Garfiel, dragon carriage and all.

[User] Upon their separation, Subaru gave Patlash a concerned rub of her nose, but Otto was no doubt safe under her protection.

[Assistant] "That Patlash, she’s reeeally trustworthy and dependable, isn’t she?"

[User] "Plus, where Otto’s concerned, I feel like there’ll always be uncertain elements no matter how much I’d worry about him."

[Assistant] Watching driver and dragon carriage depart, Subaru said, "Well, then," and turned Ram’s way.

[User] Having gazed in silence at the previous exchange, she turned her face away from Subaru’s gaze with a neutral look and said, "What?"

[Assistant] "...Nothing, I’ve just been wondering if you were all right."


[User] "I mean, given how we parted ways, and not being in touch with you at all after, to be honest, I was really nervous.”

[Assistant] “I suppose you were. As you can see, today Ram is as robust and adorable as ever. No harm has come to pass for the villagers evacuating to the Sanctuary with me. You may rest easy about that.”

[User] “That so? That’s, yeah, I’m relieved to hear it… That’s comforting.”

[Assistant] “—?” Ram looks at him suspiciously.

[User] Subaru’s shoulders sank with relief, he grit his teeth, locking down the emotions that had surged as far as his throat before he made them into words.

[User] “Ah, Ram. It’s odd for us to just stand here and talk like this, right? Could you show us in?” With Subaru sinking into silence, unable to immediately speak, Emilia spoke those words to Ram in his place.

[Assistant] “As you wish,” bowed, and turned her back.

[User] “Subaru, are you all right? You’re not angry I butted in?”

[Assistant] “Nah, it’s fine. I was just being pathetic… I was just scared of asking Ram about Rem right this moment, you see.” Subaru listlessly shook his head, giving a pained smile at Emilia’s consideration for him.

[User] “It’s natural for you to be afraid. I don’t think that is pathetic at all, so…” As Subaru hung his head, Emilia took hold of Subaru’s hand, meeting his eyes as she spoke those words in a sincere voice.

[Assistant] “Let’s go and make everything better. Rem, and lots of other things, too.”

[User] “…Roger that. Whatever happens, I’ll protect you as your meat shield, Emilia-tan.” Subaru and Emilia were still holding hands as they walked behind Ram, going deeper into the Sanctuary.


[User] Between Roswaal Manor and the Nobles’ District in the capital, Subaru had seen extravagant structures, but one of this size felt much closer to home. But ignoring Subaru’s impressions—

[Assistant] "Myyy, Lady Emilia and our good Subaru. It feeeels like it has been quite a loooong time since I have seen you.” Roswaal waved to the pair with a fishy smile, something that felt out of place to the extreme. His eccentric clown makeup, his exaggerated words and gestures, and the very aura of his presence were so unbefitting an ordinary person, it simply felt wrong for him to be inside an ordinary house such as that. However, now that they were before him, feelings of things being wrong or out of place were trifling affairs.

[User] “First, it is good that you are saaaafe and sound, Lady Emilia. I heard the circumstances from Ram, but it would be difficult to liiiive with myself if anything should have happened to you.”

[Assistant] “If you really think so, you could cough up a more proper reaction to… No, more importantly, what the heck happened to you?”

[User] Roswaal expressed relief at Emilia’s safety, but Subaru and Emilia were left as perplexed as before. As for why, Roswaal was a painful sight while greeting the pair, lying in bed and wrapped in bandages stained with blood coming from his own body. His unclothed upper body lacked a single space unwrapped by bandages; he had multiple deep wounds and was in a grave condition. That the makeup on his face was unmarred felt like a sign less of robustness than of a bizarre level of obsession. But he did not give off the slightest hint of being injured, acting completely normal.

[Assistant] “My myyyy, you ask me that? I, too, am but a man. It truly pains me to be seen in such a shameful state. I suppose you are not so geeentle as to refrain from asking why?”

[User] “As if I could! Truly, Roswaal, what happened? To get hurt this badly… And on top of that, you’re…” His flippant tone about something impossible to gloss over put the genuinely angry Emilia in a bind. Indeed, the wounds were so grave she hesitated to press the point. She wanted to ask, but she didn’t want to force the issue.

[Assistant] Roswaal responded to the discord with Emilia by closing one of his differently colored eyes, specifically the blue one.

[User] “I wonder where I should begin the taaale? In regards to my wounds…perhaps I should call them a baaadge of honor, or the unavoidable consequences of my actions.”

[Assistant] “Please do not paper over things like that. I am asking a serious question. I want a serious answer from you.”

[User] “Hmmm… It would seem Lady Emilia is not in good humor, either. Considering the place, I do not believe that can be…helped.” It felt wrong to Subaru that Emilia was taking an interrogatory tone.


[User] Roswaal, apparently agreeing with him, pointed out that very thing.

[Assistant] "Since I came here—no, since I came in contact with the barrier, I think—my chest has been astir. I can’t calm down. What is this place? Even though it’s called the Sanctuary, it doesn’t feel like any such thing to me. If anything, it’s the opposite…”

[User] “Perhaps you can accept that the tombs of Witches have aaaalways been referred to thus?”

[Assistant] “—! !” Emilia’s breath caught strongly when Roswaal invoked the other name of the Sanctuary. Hearing the term from a mouth other than Garfiel’s lent it greater weight. However, since that only added to the information they needed to ask him about—

[User] “Wait, let’s put what we want to ask about in proper order. I feel like we’re just gonna be running around in circles at this rate. We need to get to a conclusion.”

[Assistant] “Myyyy, a most sound suggestion. It seems that our good Subaru’s mental state has changed since last I saw him.”

[User] “That story’s gonna get seriously long, so I’ll brag properly about it later… Ah, one thing, though.” As Roswaal prodded him, trying to make light of the matter, Subaru stared straight at him before continuing. "I succeeded in forming an alliance with Crusch. Satisfied with the results of leaving me there now?”

[Assistant] “Ahh, I am most saaatisfied. Truly, truly, you have acquired something difficult and long yearned for.”

[User] “…That so.” The affirmation felt more sincere than Subaru had expected. While surprised, he accepted it in good grace. He’d expected as much for a while, but Roswaal really had left Subaru in the royal capital with the expectation that he’d fight hard. Roswaal’s having used that to his own advantage wasn’t amusing to Subaru. The fact that his countermeasures against the Witch Cult had been conspicuously inadequate amused him even less. Setting aside that dissatisfaction for the moment, Subaru ordered the more immediate questions in his mind before starting. "First, the people of Earlham Village. Ram said they were safe and sound, but is that really true?”

[Assistant] “Please rest at ease. The state of my body may make that diiiifficult to believe, but I aaaam a lord, after all. I negotiated earnestly upon their behalf and had the cathedral opened to give them shelter.”

[User] “Cathedral, huh? I’ll ask for more details about that later. Next…”

[Assistant] “Tell us what you meant by ‘Witch’s Tomb’ earlier.” As Subaru moved ahead, Emilia intervened, choosing the next topic for herself. It was one of the issues on Subaru’s list, so he had no objection. But Subaru didn’t think the hard voice and the way she asked felt very Emilia-like.

[User] Roswaal responded to the tense Emilia’s question with a wry smile and closed one eye. “It means exactly what it says.