Re Zero The Sage and The Crow
All rights to the characters belong to the series creator Tappei Nagatsuki
Underlined Text: Represents English
Normal Text: Represents Japanese
Chapter 8 Murderous Intent
Subaru hopped out of the dragon carriage, stretching his arms to the sky above and throwing his head back. His joints and neck made a satisfying cracking sound as the trapped gas was released, loosening his body. The dragon carriage was far from cramped, but you couldn't exactly run a 5k on it, so it helped to get up and move around every so often. He looked around the mansion grounds, taking comfort in the familiar smells and scenery.
Otto came up behind him and tapped him on the shoulder. He had bags under his eyes, and his normally tidy merchant outfit was wrinkled and skewed out of position, a sign of his exhaustion.
[Otto: Hey. Can I go *yaawwn* to sleep now?]
Subaru looked at the tired Otto, who had been working non-stop for the past 24 hours. It was probably taking all of his willpower to not collapse in a sleeping heap where he stood. Subaru figured he could use some rest. He clapped Otto on the shoulder and gave him his blessing.
[Subaru: Go for it, you earned it Otto.]
Otto's face broke into a slow smile, his eyes drooped down listlessly, and Subaru feared that he might collapse on the spot. He held out his hands to steady the fallen soldier, but Otto brushed his hands away and snapped awake. In a very lucid turn of events, he sprinted towards the mansion as fast as he could, laughing maniacally all the while.
[Otto: Hahahahah! Sleep at last! I'm not gonna wake up for the rest of the day! No one can stop me now! Hahahahaha!]
[Subaru: Don't fall down the stairs on your way to bed!]
Subaru called out to the excited Otto, but he appeared to not have heard him. He was too busy racing as fast as he could to his room, his back growing smaller and smaller as he put more distance between them. That whole exchange was very confusing to Subaru, and he scratched his head pondering if he was going to fall on his way to nirvana.
Subaru turned his head back to the dragon carriage, where Beatrice was elegantly lifting her dress as she descended the steps of the carriage. Her twin drills and frilly dress were caressed by the gentle breeze, giving her already apparent air of superiority a graceful tint. She made her way over to Subaru and took her place by his side as usual. Not long after, a belligerent Damian was being carried out like a sack of potatoes by the much stronger Garfiel. Damian was slung over his back like when Garfiel had first sprung him from prison, all the while Damian was muttering incoherent curses and insults to the unenlightened demi-human. Garfiel, not being well-versed in the English language, could only looked puzzledly at Damian as he shot out rapid fire barbs.
[Damian: Cretin. Cunt. Bitch. Your mom doesn't love you. You smell like a cat that's been left out in the rain. You probably look like those kids that eat glue and end up in the slow class. You're probably covered in so many fleas that they have their own technological civilization built right on you.]
Garfiel looked from Damian to Subaru, and then back to Damian. He points at the insult spouting man who was hitched up over his shoulder.
[Garfiel: Uhh, what's this guy sayin'? 'S he broken or somethin'?]
[Subaru: No he's just being difficult. As for what he's saying… Just don't worry about it.]
[Garfiel: Are y'sure? It sounds like he's sayin' some really hateful things.]
[Subaru: I can assure you-.]
[Damian: Dumbass!]
[Subaru: -that he isn't saying anything of the sort.]
[Garfiel: Ahh ok. If that's th' case, then what should my amazin' self do with him? He smells, so I'd like t' get him off 'f me as soon as possible.]
Garfiel pointed at the struggling Damian, who was now kicking and trying to get loose. Garfiel, as steadfast as ever, didn't even flinch as he struggled.
[Subaru: Ahh about him, well you can-]
[?: Barusu. What is the meaning of all of this?]
[Subaru: Hold that thought I'll be right back to you.]
Subaru turned to face the person that was steadily approaching from the steps of the entrance. The pink haired maid Ram regarded him in a cool but harsh manner as she always did. Her arms were crossed in front of her small, petite chest; accentuated by her refined maid's outfit. Subaru regarded her in a more jovial manner, albeit a hint of disappointment in his voice.
[Subaru: No welcome back Subaru? No how have you been Subaru? Always this "what is the meaning of this Subaru?"]
[Ram: If you have time to think of such pathetic things to say, then clearly I don't need to ask how you are. Barusu is being Barusu as always.]
[Subaru: Ahh come on! You know you love me onee-sama!]
[Ram: Repulsive.]
Ram scoffed at Subaru's weak assertions, looking down on him from her higher perch up on the stairs. Ram was the queen of sass and there was no disputing that title with anyone else. Subaru delicately approached her and stood just below where she stood, standing about 4 steps below her.
[Ram: Still, that doesn't answer my question. What is that?]
Ram stressed the word "that" like she was looking at some horrendous beast and Subaru found it difficult to explain exactly what it was in a way that might make her think even less of him.
[Garfiel: ARGGHH!]
He turned around to see what the commotion was. Garfiel was coughing and hacking and his eyes were watering.
[Garfiel: Ahh gross! It smells like shit!]
He was doubled over. More importantly, Damian was no longer in his arms, and was hopping away as fast as he could in a direction that was opposite to Garfiel but parallel to Ram and Subaru's line of sight. His legs were bound as well, so he wasn't making much progress. He hopped and hopped in his lackluster escape. Unfortunately his blindfold made it impossible to see where he was going, so he ended up hopping face first into a tree, where he collapsed with a grunt and proceeded to start inchworming his way across the lawn. Beatrice, who was watching the whole fiasco unfold, calmly approached Damian as he grunted and inched away and proceeded to sit on his back, not exactly weighing him down as she was too light, but more of a warning to cut it out. Damian, understanding the hidden threat in her gesture, stopped inching with a grumble of discontent. Garfiel, on the other hand, was too busy running his hands over his tongue in an attempt to get the smell of homeless person out.
[Garfiel: It's in my mouth! Ahh I can taste it! Disgustin'!]
Subaru turned back to face Ram; she had a look of disappointment and disgust in her eyes. She then turned that harsh gaze to Subaru, who honestly had no idea how to respond after seeing that turn of events unfold.
[Subaru: Uhhhhhh. Honestly, that is a good question. In a sense, that is our lead.]
[Ram: You must be joking.]
[Subaru: Im perfectly serious.]
[Ram: If he soils the carpet, then you're the one that's gonna clean it up.]
[Subaru: You say that like he's a dog. I'm not adopting him, ok?]
[Ram: Hah! If he was a dog, then it's no wonder he wouldn't want you as his master. I'd run away too.]
[Subaru: I don't know about that. The last dogs we had a run in with reeeally liked me.]
[Ram: The fact that you can act so upbeat about an experience that almost killed us is depressing. Please take care to not rub any of that stupidity off on Roswaal-sama.]
Subaru grinned and reminisced fondly about the time when a pack of mabeasts attacked Arlam Village. A situation that nearly cost him, Ram, and Rem their lives protecting it and its children from being eaten by rabid animals. It had been a painful experience to be sure, but it was also the catalyst for the relationship that the three shared. Much of their happier memories stem from that one fact of Subaru being able to push through all of the trouble and mind-breaking turmoil that he was subjected to during that first week.
[Subaru: I wouldn't dream of it. Speaking of which, where is Ros-chi anyways?]
[Ram: Roswaal-sama is currently engaged in important matters, the likes of which your feeble mind couldn't comprehend.]
[Subaru: Mhmm. Anyways, he'll be staying here for some time, I hope that you two will get along.]
[Ram: I make no guarantees.]
Subaru turned back towards the trio of Garfiel, Beatrice, and Damian. Garfiel had recovered from whatever stink he had inhaled and was being scolded by Beatrice for his carelessness. He picked up Damian again and reslung him over his shoulder before walking up to where Subaru and Ram were standing, a sheepish expression on his face.
[Garfiel: So? Where does my amazin' self put this guy?]
Garfiel had on a serious expression in an attempt to hide his earlier blunder. Subaru just sighed.
[Subaru: Just put him in one of the rooms for now. I'll come by later and explain things to him thoroughly. Beatrice, go with him and make sure nothing bad happens.]
[Beatrice: You can count on me I suppose. There will be no tomfoolery while I'm around.]
[Garfiel: I'm pretty sure I can carry him up some stairs without help.]
[Subaru: And she will still accompany you regardless. Last thing I need is for you to drop him on the stairs and he breaks something]
[Damian: I can walk by myself you know? I got two legs that aren't broken bitch.]
Damian interjected into the conversation, harshly requesting to no longer be carried around like some prized kill on a hunt. From his perspective this whole ordeal was probably humiliating, being handily knocked out several times and then carried around effortlessly couldn't be good for his pride as a man. He was an asshole for sure, but he was one that still operated on the same premises and with the same shortcomings as any man would. Subaru decided that granting him some leeway and freedom, however minute it may be, would be good for their relationship moving forward.
[Garfiel: What'd he say Cap'n?]
[Subaru: Let him walk Garfiel.]
[Garfiel: What?]
Garfiel was confused with this order as it contradicted what Subaru had previously told him.
[Subaru: Cut his leg bindings and let him walk.]
Subaru had confidence in Garfiel and Beatrices' abilities to quell any rebellion from Damian, plus he knew that for all Damian's scheming even he couldn't think of a way out of this situation he was currently entrapped in. However, that was the one thing that Subaru feared. As someone who was from his own world and who seemed to by living by the skin of his teeth, Damian was accustomed to living by a code of ruthless, cold calculations. No average person could survive in this world without significant luck or intelligence, and based on his assumptions, Damian had enough of both to be a severe problem if he got loose.
[Subaru: Keep a close eye on him, but grant him the freedom to at least move his own legs.]
[Garfiel: Well alrighty then.]
Garfiel set down the perturbed Damian gently to the ground. Then with a quick and efficient slash of his claws, the bindings that had been preventing him from walking came undone and dropped to the dirt below. He still had his eyes blocked and his hands tied, but this was a small level of freedom that Subaru allowed him.
Garfiel looked from Damian to Subaru expectantly before changing his gaze over to the currently in deep thought Ram.
[Garfiel: Well Whaddya say Ram? Wanna come with and help put this man in his room?]
Garfiel flashed a smile at the pink haired oni, his eyes had a boyish sparkle of looking at his childhood crush. Which in this case, he was.
Ram looked at the blindfolded man thoughtfully. Subaru could see her assessing him, wondering what his skillset and strengths were. He wondered what her thoughts on him were, suffice it to say that the first impression wasn't the best. She probably had the sharpest eyes in the business, or so Subaru thought, and he would make sure to take any advice from her seriously not only because hse rarely gave it, but also because she did only when she deemed it necessary. After a few seconds appraising him, she snorted and looked down the bridge of her nose at Garfiel.
[Ram: Disgusting. He smells like a sewer. I will not join you, so take care he doesn't muddy up the foyer.]
[Garfiel: Ahh pretty rude no? That's fine, I like that part about you anyways.]
Ram chose not to respond to Garfiel's lame attempt at flirting, instead gazing meaningfully at Subaru. Subaru decided that enough was enough, and they now needed to proceed with the tasks they all were assigned. Subaru still needed to go and talk to Roswaal to make sure that there were no details left out in accommodating Damian into the mansion.
[Subaru: Alright guys you know what to do. Try to not do anything rash while I'm not around.]
[Garfiel: Aigh't boss. Come on you, time to get moving.]
Garfiel prodded Damian in the back, and he moved forward while being guided by Garfiel so he didn't run into anything. He made his way up the stairs in a painstaking fashion, slowly shuffling one step at a time. His dirty cloak rustling slightly in the breeze and his thick facial hair making it difficult to uncover what expression he was currently making.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
Subaru froze, was that a caw he just heard? A caw from a crow? No, it couldn't be. They left that crow in the Capital. It took them hours to get here from the Capital, there was no way that it followed them all the way from there. Was there? No, probably just his imagination.
Caw! Caw! Caw!
There it was again, the same eerie cawing. Subaru hadn't imagined it after all. He turned his head skyward, trying to locate the source of the noise. It wasn't near the door, it wasn't close to the roof, where was it? Subaru continued sweeping his gaze over the well tended lawn of the mansion before he spotted it. Sitting carefree upon a tree branch that was bare of any leaves. In fact, the whole tree was alive and well, but the one spot that the crow perched itself upon was barren. It was as if the touch of the crow itself had death seeping into the living matter of the tree.
Subaru turned uneasily towards where Damian was. He had heard the cawing too, and had stopped his slow ascent up the stairs where he stood unmoving. Confusion changed to recognition, and recognition blossomed into… something else. A wide, sinister smile crept its way up his lips, so pronounced was it that it seemed to cut his face in two. Subaru felt a subtle shift in his attitude and aura.
Subaru's short time training in combat and parkour had allowed him to realize the difference in strength between him and everyone else. Muscle tenseness, facial expressions, even the slight auras that people gave off to some degree, he was now able to pick up on these subtleties that relayed information about a person's state of being. Damian's entire persona shifted into something malicious, his previously annoyed and angry aura was now permeated with… malice. An unbreakable, unfathomable murderous intent now exuded from him, and this was not lost on the much more experienced trio that were with Subaru.
Ram drew her wand and pointed it at Damian, Garfiel's hair stood up as he bared his teeth and grabbed the back of Damian's neck roughly; his hand ready to clench and snap Damian's neck. Beatrice drew closer to Subaru, he could feel the little mana she had surging, preparing to cast whatever spells she needed to to protect her contractor. Damian just stood there smiling like a madman. Among all the hostility directed his way, even bound and blindfolded, he remained calm and collected in an almost inhuman manner.
[Damian: How interesting. Even taken as far as I am in so little time you still find me. Makes me wonder what it'll take to be rid of you. You damn bird.]
He whispered these words to no one in particular, Subaru could feel Ram tightened her grip on her wand.
[Ram: Barusu, why did you bring such a troublesome man to the mansion?]
[Subaru: I told you didn't I? We're in the dark on our hunt for the Blood Dragons, we need him and his information.]
[Ram: And yet you said that he would be staying here. Why? We can just get the information we need from him and be done with him. Permanently would be the preferred method, so he'll not be able to harm or bother anyone again.]
Subaru widened his eyes in response to Ram's cold solution. He harbored the impression that Ram and the others could be more pragmatic about this stuff than he could, but there was a fine line that he refused to cross. This undeniable truth would always hold him back in regards to his strength and combat effectiveness, but that was a sacrifice that he was willing to pay in order to keep his humanity.
[Subaru: No. I won't let you kill him. We're gonna treat him like a person, with kindness and a warm embrace; I will not let you torture him.]
[Ram: I'm beginning to wonder why you accepted the task that Julius-sama requested of you if you're going to make stupid decisions like this. This man is dangerous, leaving him in the mansion like this would be a death sentence to someone as weak as you. It's best we deal with him now.]
[Subaru: Hey you don't have to say all of that now!]
Ram faced Subaru while still keeping her wand pointed at Damian. In her eyes he saw a feeling of genuine concern under her cold hearted exterior. Subaru realized that this wasn't an easy decision to make for her even, she wasn't someone that enjoyed inflicting pain, but she would do what was necessary to protect the inhabitants of this mansion. This was something she was suggesting because she didn't want to see anyone get hurt, even if that meant doing the dirty work that no one else wanted to.
She narrowed her eyes at Subaru and continued weighing the merits of keeping Damian around, all the while Garfiel and Beatrice remained at the ready. Ready to unleash all of their killing power should Damian try something. Damian, on the other hand, had lost his mad smile and now stood stoically in place, his foot tapping the stone steps impatiently.
[Ram: Isn't he a part of the gang that you guys are hunting anyways? If that's the case, then he's already beyond salvation. The things that I've heard about them, they are monsters among monsters, the worst of the worst. His soul is gone and only one option remains.]
[Subaru: I don't believe that anyone is beyond salvation. And besides, he told me that he had nothing to do with them and he didn't want anything to do with them.]
[Ram: How do you know he wasn't lying? If you tell me you overlooked that fact then maybe you aren't as smart as I thought.]
Subaru approached Ram slowly with an expression of surrender. As he passed Garfiel and Beatrice he put a hand of their shoulder to comfort them and calm them down. Garfiel looked at Subaru with a worried expression.
[Garfiel: Cap'n?]
[Subaru: It's ok Garfiel. You can let him go, he won't do anything.]
Garfiel stared at Damian with conflicted feelings of anger and uncertainty, and after some hesitation, he slowly drew his hand away from his neck. Beatrice also seemed to back down, releasing a small exhale of relief. Only Ram remained, keeping her wand at the ready, poised to cut Damian down.
Subaru moved closer to Ram, he was so close to her now. Slowly and gently, he put his hand on her wand and then lowered it. He could understand her caution, but Subaru believed that anyone could be saved given the circumstances. He knew that maybe Damian was lying, maybe he was in cahoots with the Blood Dragons the whole time and he was every bit as cruel as Ram thought he might be, but he was willing to bet that he was better than that.
Such was the risk that he was taking. Throwing himself into the unknown was hardly a new endeavor for him. A lot of the time, his actions and notions were dictated by chance, sometimes more than he'd care to admit, but for someone like him; who clung to every chance he got no matter how slim, it was the best he could do. He looked at Ram dead in the eyes and reaffirmed his resolve in front of her own.
[Subaru: I'm willing to take the risk, because at the end of the day I believe that people are good. No one is born bad, and I think that I can appeal to that side of him.]
Ram stared at him for several long, excruciating seconds, he could see her doubt as plain as day. She believed that people once corrupted were irredeemable, and there was in fact a precedent for that. Elsa was one, Petelguese another, but those two were a different breed. Finally Ram breathed out a long sigh.
[Ram: I'm not convinced at all, but I shall allow you to indulge this man.]
Ram sheathed her wand back in the folds of her maid outfit. She crossed her arms and looked at Damian with no small amount of scorn.
[Ram: Be careful about these risks you're taking. Otherwise you may end up getting more than you bargained for.]
[Subaru: I know, but that will be my burden to bear.]
Subaru whispered these words so that no one but him could hear them. An oath and promise that he would uphold, but who was he kidding? He was terrible at keeping promises and he had the scars to prove it, both emotionally and mentally. He had made so many promises and failed to keep most of them, a fact that Emilia was quick to bring up whenever he would make another promise to her or someone else. He had also sworn to do better, something that he was working hard to overcome, but sometimes the circumstances just wouldn't allow him to play by the rules. He felt like this was one of those times, but it was also a chance to redeem himself of all of those miscast promises he had made. That was why this was a promise that only he would know about, because his accountability to this promise would come from him alone, and no one else.
[Subaru: Are we done here?]
Subaru brought up the end of this meaningful but in the end fruitless conversation, and Ram accepted after some silent deliberation.
[Ram: Fine. Do as you will.]
Subaru nodded his head once, a silent thank you to Ram for trusting in him. Although it wouldn't be the first time she had bet everything on him. This time, the stakes were lower but still very much high. He then looked at Garfiel and Beatrice, who understood his request before he even needed to ask it. Garfiel pushed on the back of Damian and roughly lead him up the stairs, now no longer content to let him walk at his own pace. Damian stumbled and almost fell, but he caught himself before he hit the pavement. Falling in an uncomfortably quick stride with Garfiel and Beatrice who was walking beside him. Subaru watched them make their way through the double doors that marked the front entrance of the Roswaal Mansion.
[Subaru: Hmmph. That went better than I expected.]
[Ram: Hah! Your version of "better than I expected" makes me shudder at the alternatives. Truly a depressing thought.]
[Subaru: Hey as much as I may not look it, I do plan for this stuff ok. So it wouldn't hurt to give me more credit.]
[Ram: It would hurt actually, it would cause me excruciating and unbearable pain. But I already feel that every time I have to look at you.]
[Subaru: How would looking at me cause you unbearable pain?! What are you trying to say?!]
Subaru exclaimed brashly at Ram's vague rebuttal, raising his voice to match the energy of the response. It was a good sign, however, the tenseness of the previous several minutes was gone and replaced by the normal atmosphere that usually surrounded the two. Ram didn't respond, and instead lead the way to the mansion's entrance. Subaru found himself in the welcoming, familiar environment of the mansion's front foyer.
The foyer itself was lavish and pleasing to the eyes. White with gold undertones made up the color palette of the marble columns and floor to the initial view, and that was accentuated by the strategically placed flower vases, whose petals added splashes of reds and blues so as to not seem too devoid of color. Opposite of the main entrance was a set of stairs that led to the upper levels of the mansion, and it was open enough that you could get a glimpse of the upper floors without actually having to go up the stairs, although it was limited to a hallway only view. The mansion was definitely a luxurious place to live, and Subaru was guilty of getting used to living in such splendor as of late.
[?: Welcome back, Subaru-sama.]
Subaru was greeted by an elegant voice, the owner of which was a tall, blonde haired lady dressed in an identical maid outfit to Ram's own. Her eyes were a beautiful jade green, and she would be considered extremely pretty by most standards in the world. However, her mouth was lined with rows of sharp teeth, the only thing that gave away that she wasn't entirely human. The woman was Garfiel's older sister Frederica, and she was lowered into a flawless curtsy as she greeted him.
[Subaru: Ahh Frederica, good to see you after our little detour to the Capital. Have things been going well?]
[Frederica: You say that like you've been gone for a while. But yes, things have been well, thank you for asking.]
Frederica covered her mouth and held in a small laugh as Subaru greeted her like some long lost friend. Their relationship wasn't quite to that level, but it was still a pleasant one to be sure. He remembered the first time they had met he had exclaimed about her scary looking teeth. Emilia had promptly scolded him for his lack of tact, but their friendship had definitely improved since then. He also felt bad for her because she had to perform the bulk of the work in the mansion because of Ram's… inactive... work ethic, but she assured him that she didn't mind it at all.
[Subaru: I hope Petra's been behaving while I'm away. She hasn't been causing you any trouble?]
[Frederica: No, no trouble thankfully, although I have to remind her to put her feelings aside when doing tasks for Roswaal, otherwise she-.]
Frederica was interrupted by a dull thud from one of the adjacent rooms. Subaru could hear the sound of scampering feet fast approaching the pair. A young maid ran out of hiding and up to Subaru where she threw herself in Subaru's arms. He caught her in the air and embraced her warmly, although he had a slightly surprised expression on his face.
[Petra: Ahh you're back Subaru! I mean Subaru-sama! You left so suddenly! I thought something bad happened!]
[Subaru: Hey! I know bad things happens to me often, but I doubt that it happens that often!]
The young maid that was worried sick was young, around 13 years old. She had short orange hair and sky blue eyes. A red ribbon adorned her hair, bringing out her innocent looks. She was small but growing fast, and Subaru was sure that Petra would very soon surpass Ram on the height charts. Subaru let go of Petra and she looked at him with a pouty face.
[Petra: You always somehow get into trouble when I'm not looking. Like when we first met and you almost got eaten.]
[Subaru: That was to save you and the other kids.]
[Petra: Or when you went off fighting the Witch Cult.]
[Subaru: They were in the area, I thought I'd run them off.]
[Petra: Or when you left and came back just in time to stop a dangerous lady.]
[Subaru: Too be fair, I didn't stop her. And jeez, who are you, my mom?]
That statement was said in jest, but it ended up having the opposite effect. Instead of lightening the mood and getting a laugh out of Petra, it actually caused her pout to deepen. She evidently did not want to be compared to a mother and she made her displeasure apparent.
[Petra: I'm not a mother!]
[Ram: Ahem.]
[Petra: Eek!]
Ram interrupted Petra before she could go off on Subaru and glowered down on her. Petra took the time to hide behind Frederica, who had a bemused smile as she witnessed this comical spectacle. Ram then chastised Petra for her lack of professionalism during working hours.
[Ram: And here I was gonna commend you on your effort and dedication to the work. How sad that instead you end up getting sucked in to Barusu's stupid games.]
[Subaru: Hey! I didn't start any "stupid" games as you put them!]
Subaru protested on Ram's exaggerated notions of him, and it wasn't as if he started this exchange anyway. And who was she to talk about hard work and effort? Didn't she sleep throughout most of the day? Subaru decided he wouldn't mention that in front of Ram's junior maid.
[Petra: I'm sorry Ram-nee sama. I wasn't slacking off I promise.]
[Ram: You can't afford to slack off. You're service to Roswaal-sama is invaluable, more importantly, it allows me time to not do work.]
[Subaru: Uhh hold on a-.]
[Ram: Ram has many other important things to do. Important things for Roswaal-sama, I cannot waste time on trivial matters.]
[Subaru: Hold on a minute here! Something isn't right at all with the way you said that!]
Subaru was appalled at Ram's complete lack of work ethic, even going so far as to push all of the work on Petra and say that she had other business to do, the nerve! What's even worse is that Petra and Frederica saw no issue with this, and they just acted like everything was as it should be. Which Subaru guessed was the norm of the mansion for long before even he arrived. Still, it grinded his gears. Ram faced Subaru and simply scoffed at him, as if she couldn't get any more condescending.
[Ram: Everything is right in the way I say things. If you can't realize this, then maybe that man knocked you in the head too hard.]
[Subaru: I'm perfectly fine, what are you- Wait a minute. How did you know he hit me?]
Ram just looked at Subaru with a stoic expression and responded with a simultaneously proud and disappointed face.
[Ram: It's written all over your face.]
[Subaru: Wait seriously? Do I have a black eye or something? Frederica, Petra, do I have any bruises or anything? Ahh I can't face Emilia-tan looking like this!]
Subaru, getting depressed that hey may have been rocked harder than he thought, buried his face in his hands. Meanwhile Frederica and Petra looked at each other in perplexity before going to console the distraught Subaru.
[Frederica: It doesn't look bad at all. I think you're getting worked up over nothing. Besides, Emilia-sama isn't one to place great emphasis on looks.]
[Petra: Me too! Me too! I think you look great!]
Frederica gave Petra an amused smile, although she didn't see it. Her gaze was basically saying "your's is a dead mission". Only Ram seemed to catch the meaning behind that look, and she also gave Petra a pitying look, Subaru himself was oblivious to the silent conversation that seemed to happen between the two maids. Before he could catch on, however, Frederica changed the subject to avoid any awkwardness.
[Frederica: So, to change the subject to that man that Garf and Beatrice-sama had brought in. Who is he?]
[?: That is also an answer to a question I am very much interested in heeearing.]
[Subaru:..!]
The whole group turned to face the one who had quite abruptly entered the conversation. The clown approached with a light clinking sound from the chain that was attached around his ankle, and his garb caught the eye in a most unflattering way. The master of the mansion, Roswaal L. Mathers, offered a cheery smile to the group. He was received with the grace and etiquette expected of the master of the mansion by most of the maids, only Petra gave him an ice cold stare. Frederica, sensing the young girl's discomfort, promptly ordered Petra to go do something else in some other part of the mansion.
[Frederica: Petra, I think the hedges in the garden need trimmed. Can you please go and make sure they are nice and tidy?]
Petra didn't respond, keeping her withering gaze on Roswaal, who himself met hers with a merry smile of his own. She gave a short, curt bow and then retreated from the presence of her employer, going to make herself as scarce as possible. Subaru couldn't fault her for her attitude, Roswaal did try to kill them after all. He only hoped that she could keep her hostility more subtle so as to not cause any scenes. He wasn't asking her to forgive him, Roswaal was way past that, but he hoped that she would see that making her displeasure less known would benefit everyone. A house divided against itself cannot stand after all.
Roswaal watched her leave, making no attempt to stop her. His eerie smile never faded even after that whole exchange, and he seemed to treat this like an inevitable outcome of his interference.
[Roswaal: Weeeell, it appears that I'm not really liked that much at the moment. That is unfortuuunate.]
[Ram: I shall scold her for her disrespect.]
[Roswaal: There is no need. These things happen and are expeeected after all that's happened.]
Ram went to scold Petra, but Roswaal stopped her with a wave of his hand. She stopped in her tracks but remained at attention.
[Subaru: All that's happened is a nice way of putting it. You know you can't expect a few months to completely improve everyone's opinion of you, especially after the stunt you tried to pull.]
[Roswaal: Well now, I did say that I would be more active in my support of Emilia-sama. You could at least take that into consideraaation.]
[Subaru: Noted. Still does little to help your case.]
[Roswaal: My my aren't you quiiite harsh today?]
Roswaal skirted around the topic of him hiring assassins to kill them. Although it was something that no one, and Suabru meant no one, could ignore. The way Roswaal phrased it making it sound like he accidentally broke a window pissed Subaru off to no end. Despite all of the problems people had with him, Roswaal was a necessary evil they decided to put up with for the time being.
[Subaru: Anyway, there was something I needed to discuss with you.]
[Roswaal: No doubt concerning the young man that Garfiel so roughly dragged up the stairs just now. That's fine, there are several questions about him that I too would like you to answer.]
Subaru gaave Ram and Frederica a look that said "seriously?" and they simply nodded their heads in unison. Telling Subaru that it would be better to simply answer the questions Roswaal had and not cause a fuss. Damn, he was being forced to do a lot of things he didn't like today.
[Subaru: Sure why not? Anyway, he'll be staying here for a while, so I was hoping you wouldn't mind us preparing more permanent quarters for him.]
[Roswaal: Go ahead, and what is the reason for setting up a more spacious place for this man you brought sooo tied up? Why not put him in the confinement room with the other?]
Subaru gawked at such a suggestion. The response from Roswaal was very pragmatic but also defeated the purpose of why they had brought him in the first place, not to mention that Subaru had no idea how Damian might react to being tossed in a place where he had an unpleasant cell mate so to speak. But Subaru couldn't fault Roswaal for not knowing why exactly they brought him, without his special future seeing gospel he lacked a good portion of the foresight that he had once had. That didn't, however, diminish in any way his capacity for mind games or predictions. There was a good reason why he had managed to run one of the most popular domains in the Kingdom.
[Subaru: Uhh no. Absolutely not. First off, we don't know how he'll react to Meili if he's put in the same vicinity as her. From what I've experienced, he's just as likely to become best friends with her as he is to kill her. I won't risk it.]
[Roswaal: And yeeeet, you seemed to think it was an even better idea to give him a room and let him wander the mansion as if it were his own. This line of thinking does sound quite contradictory.]
[Subaru: I know, I know. You don't need to tell me twice. The reason we brought him is to rehabilitate him and hopefully he'll open up.]
Roswaal raised his eyebrow at that statement, his smile was still attached to his vaguely irritating persona. Subaru, on the other hand, was holding a neutral expression as he tried to explain the situation to Roswaal, although the nature of Roswaal and the way he would want to do things was fundamentally different than Subaru's own. He was, as of now, under an oath. So he couldn't do anything that directly interfered with their progress or risk getting his soul obliterated. However, the amount of trust they had for him was still pretty low.
[Roswaal: And what, might I ask, has brought about such an act of charity?]
[Subaru: Listen, I've said this so many times to so many people, so it's getting kind of old. But long story short, he has information that we need regarding the recent issues we've been tackling.]
Subaru said this with a sigh. Honestly it was exhausting telling everyone the exact same thing over and over again. Now he was beginning to understand how a teacher felt. Always stuck on the same material year after year, it couldn't be good for anyone's mental health.
[Roswaal: Ahhh, those issues. Why not ask him at the prison that I'm sure you found him at?]
[Subaru: It's not that simple. Not only can he not understand a word of the language that you and I speak, he absolutely refuses to have anything to do with us when it comes to cooperating.]
Roswaal's eyes lit up as he realized what Subaru was trying to do.
[Roswaal: So you intend to butter him up with eloquent treatment so that heee talks.]
[Subaru: Don't make it sound so evil.]
[Roswaal: I had no such intention.]
[Subaru: I don't know Ros-chi, whenever you say something it sounds shady as hell.]
[Roswaal: Well you are entitled to feel that waaaay if you so chose.]
Roswaal closed his eyes in a deep blink and shrugged his shoulders apathetically. This whole situation was pretty standard for him and he honestly didn't mind this treatment. A far cry from most other nobles who, in their arrogance would have any commoners' tongue ripped out for such offenses. That was probably one of the few qualities that Subaru could actually stand.
[Roswaal: So he can't be understood by anyone, he's excessively unpredictable, and he's connected to one of the most dangerous groups currently stalking the Kingdom. Did I miss anything?]
Subaru was depressedly unfazed with how right Roswaal was about all of those observations. He wished he was wrong about all of that.
[Subaru: In a nutshell…]
Roswaal stroked his chin thoughtfully, he seemed to be pondering how well this idea of Subaru's would go. He looked at the stairs that Garfiel and the others had passed through, their was a little bit of dirt in the spot where Damian had walked, a symbol of his decrepit position in life. After some time he smiled at Subaru and winked at him.
[Roswaal: Very weeeell. You have my blessing. Ram, please make sure a room is prepared for our new guest, and be sure to treat him well.]
Ram gave a deep bow to Roswaal. Always ready to do as he ordered, Subaru wondered if there was anything she wouldn't do for him.
[Ram: At once, Roswaal-sama.]
With those words she walked up the stairs and disappeared into the recesses of the mansion. Knowing her, she would probably wait to do it, and the tell Petra to do it anyway.
Roswaal looked back to Subaru and gave him an all knowing nod.
[Roswaal: We can't make our guest too unhappy can we? Let's all try to get along with him, since Subaru-kun's plan depends on it.]
With that he turned around with a flourish and proceeded to go towards his office on the next floor. Whatever business he had up there, Subaru didn't want to know. They now had established a solid groundwork, now they needed to work from there to get what they needed.
[Subaru: Alright I'm beat. I think I'll go talk to Emilia-tan for a bit, make sure she's up to speed on the whole situation.]
Frederica smiled and gave a bow of her own, then left to no doubt find Petra and tell her the news. The Roswaal Mansion was gonna get very noisy the next few weeks, Subaru hoped that Beako wouldn't mind.
Again with the rough handling, Damian thought that his arm was gonna get ripped off. As if being dragged up the stairs or carried like sack of potatoes wasn't bad enough, he was roughly pushed down into a chair before his captor left the room. Honestly if he ever made it out of here, he didn't know what he was gonna do. He was alone in enemy territory surrounded by creatures of unknown strength. The only one he had a gauge for was the blonde haired one and the black haired boy that had ordered his whole internment.
This whole situation was actually hilarious. No matter how far he went, no matter where he ended up, that stupid fucking crow was always there watching him. He had half a mind to kill it if he could get his hands on it. He wanted to, so badly. It was naught but a nuisance, and yet, he didn't want to so badly. This weird relationship of him wanting to shoot the bird out of the sky and wanting it to remain with him forever was perhaps the single most perplexing thing to him right now. Forget about the monsters and magic, why was this crow following him?
Damian remembered a song he had heard a long time ago, back at home. His current circumstances reminded him of the lyrics so much.
[Damian: Hehehehe.]
Damian giggled in his chair, this was just so funny to him. Every waking moment in this place had been absolute hell, and now what? MORE HELL! The suffering never ended, but he didn't mind anymore. He had grown desensitized to this whole ordeal he had experienced. After all, there was only one thing he had feared, and that fear had come true, now he had nothing to lose. Strike that, he had one thing left to lose, but he had promised never to let go of it.
[Damian: Maybe if you just tell them. Maybe then…]
No never! Damian could never fall into that kind of thinking. He wouldn't! He had come too far, given up too much. In the end, they would just use him and discard him like garbage. He refused to be taken advantage of.
[Damian: Don't trust anyone. Never. Otherwise you lose.]
Damian chose to focus on the song he had thought about, better than this line of thinking he was currently stuck on. Bobbing his head slightly, he thought abut the melody, the tune of the music. He let the words flow through him and he began to sing quietly.
[Damian: Go tell Aunt Rhody. Go tell Aunt Rhody…]
What were the other lyrics again? He was missing a part of it, something important. He remembered the following verse though, and his low baritone voice carried his voice to only his own ears.
[Damian: I was raised in a deep dark hole… A prisoner with no parole… They locked me up and took my soul…]
Damian stopped and perked up his ears, he could hear footsteps approaching. Someone was coming. How long had it been since he had been left here? A couple hours maybe. He steadied his breathing and acted like he was unaware, all the better to get info. The handle of some door opposite him clicked, and the door creaked open. Heavy footsteps approached, and what was that noise? A chain clanking?
[?: My my, you look to be in a terrible staaaate.]
An unfamiliar voice, one that sounded strange and flamboyant. How irritating.
[?: Maybe what I'm about to do is wrong. But, I'd like to see what you can do. I heard you're quite the individual. Maybe you can help me achieve my goooal?]
What was he talking about? Did he expect an answer? Damian couldn't process who he was either, he wasn't any of the people he'd heard with the boy.
[?: Without my gospel, I seem to be handicapped. But…. But I want to see if the kind of people Subaru-kun finds are always so idealistic. I believe that what I'm doing doesn't in any way breach the oath I've taken.]
Damian felt a sensation on his face down the cloth that blindfolded him, and just like that, it fell. It had been sliced in half and now could no longer sustain itself wrapped around his face. He felt the same feeling across his hands and before he knew it his hands were free.
Damian looked down at his hands in disbelief, then looked up and widened his eyes even more. A knife point was being held several millimeters in front of his eye, so close was it that even the slightest movement could cause it to stab his eye. And there was a strange and frightening figure on the other side of that blade.
A… Clown? Wearing extravagant clothes that seemed to clash terribly, and a face with two differently colored eyes. Made even worse with the excessive white makeup that was plastered all over. And his smile, dear God his smile. Terrible and fear inducing, it lacked any warmth and seemed to be as artificial as simply putting on a mask. Damian thought that this must be it, this must be where he dies. He stared at that clown, looking past the knife into those soulless eyes. He was sure that any second the clown would plunge the knife into his eye, Damian would be dead. He waited, and he waited some more. Why wasn't he killing him?
Instead what the clown did next surprised Damian even more. He very gently and tenderly lowered the knife from Damian's face and placed it in his lap almost like a gift.
Huh? What the hell's going on?
As if nothing had happened, the clown turned and slowly started exiting the room, leaving the knife behind in Damian's lap.
[Damian: Kill him. Kill him now.]
All of Damian's instincts were screaming for him to kill this clown right now. There was something about him that was unnerving and unnatural. If he didn't… Then a lot of people would get hurt, he gave off a similar vibe to HIM. That monster he met a long time ago.
Damian wasn't one to do anything that might help the people of this world, he hated them after all. But he decided to listen to his instincts this time.
Damian slowly got up, clutching the knife in his hand. He watched the clown abut to leave the room, unaware that turning his back on Damian would be his last mistake. Damian silently approached him, covering the distance quickly with as much stealth as a lion stalking its prey. He raised the knife once he was in striking distance and plunged it downward, relishing in the thought of a deserved one dying.
But the knife never made it to its intended target. Without even looking back, the clown's hand shot up and caught Damian's wrist.
[Damian: Huh?]
The clown slowly turned his head and gave Damian an even more eerie smile. Damian felt cold sweat run down his neck. He was gonna die here, there was no way the clown would let him live after that. He didn't even attempt to wrest his hand from the clown's grip, something was telling him that it would be a pointless endeavor. He waited once again for the killing blow to come, holding his breath as he did. But once again, it never came.
[?: That's good. Aggression is good. Just, don't take it out on me ok?]
What the HELL IS GOING ON? Seriously, Damian was as confused as anyone might be in this situation. He tried to kill the clown, and he just let him go? Just like that boy. He had tried to kill him, and he had let him live? Did they just enjoy flaunting their strength everytime they got the chance?
As these thoughts were racing through Damian's head, the clown let go of his head and proceeded to exit the room. This time, Damian didn't stop him and just watched him go.
Was this a trick of some kind? Were they waiting outside ready to beat him to a pulp when he exited the room? Damian slowly approached the doorway and after taking a deep breath peeked his head outside. He looked both ways. There was no one. He looked at the knife in his hand. This strange present from that strange monster.
[Damian: I have an ally? No, they have an enemy.]
He couldn't mistake those two to be the same, he was sure that if the clown wanted to, he'd be dead at this point. The question was why did he let him live? Still, Damian could see his fortune turning around. He could feel a sinister smile equivalent to the one the clown had spread itself across his face. In this episode of mania Damian finally remembered the lyrics to that song he was singing.
[Damian: Go tell Aunt Rhody, that everybody's… Dead.]
Whispering those words to himself, he clenched the knife in his hands. His murderous intent glinting evilly off of the blade and into the mansion halls ahead.