I don't own Re:Zero or any of the characters.
New Problems
Ian walked through the field hospital the others had set up in silence. Everyone affected by Sirius had recovered, but all had some broken bones, strained muscles, and other relatively minor injuries from Emilia having been linked during her fight with Sirius. Other than them, there was also a vast many other people with various injuries. Apparently, the Archbishops hadn't come alone. Felix was almost at his limit treating them, and they'd had to resort to bandaging, stitching, and splinting injuries as well.
"This is bad," Rem said as she worked to close a gash with healing magic.
"This is only the beginning," Ian said. "They were just enjoying their free time."
"Psychopaths," Ram spat.
Just then, a high-pitched voice suddenly rang through the air using the city's magical PA system, the voice cheering.
"Hello, all you meat creatures!" the voice shouted. "No matter how many times you've heard it, doesn't my beauty and my lovely voice excite you?"
She began to laugh, and Ian narrowed his eyes. Was this it? Was it time? It wasn't the first time they'd heard the voice, she'd made a couple other pointless announcements earlier.
"What a stupid voice," Subaru grumbled. "This is-"
"Hush, Subaru," Felix cut in, voice urgent as he lifted one of his drooping ears with one finger, the other hand holding a finger to his lips. "Quiet."
"Alright, you meat creatures enthralled by a beautiful girl's enticing voice, I have news for you! We're all tired, so we're going home now. Just kidding! The true tossing and turning of day and night starts now!" She laughed again, her laughter sharp, piercing, and grating on Ian's last nerve. "Setting aside my funny, laugh-inducing joke, let's continue with the news. As I said just now, the city has been occupied by us. You're all caged birds...no, you're all insects in a cage for insects. Insects are just bugs, and the owner of that cage gets to decide just what to do with you. Wings and head, prepare to have them removed," She paused to laugh. "How ugly, how awful! What a merciless life. You should be thankful for being left in my tender care." Again she laughed, Ian's eye beginning to twitch. "Wait, wait, you idiots can't understand the real meaning of my precious words. Poor incompetent fools, only thinking about slabs of meat in their free time. My gentle, loving self will make this easier to understand. I'll tell you with my spit which you masochists love."
"Can I please go shut her up now?" Ian asked, Felix shaking her head.
"Insects in a cage can't do anything about their owner's mood," the girl's voice explained. "The most you can do to please us is to lie fearfully in your cage. When we're in a bad mood, you can only tremble in fear as we tear your wings or legs off. When I bring you honey, I'll be like your mother, gently stroking you heads. Therefore..." another sadistic laugh, "Later, we'll have more to ask of you scum. You'll wear desperately ugly expressions, cry that you don't want to die, and think of ways to emerge from the crowd and give us answers. In that case, my moving kindness might have me consider setting down the cage in my hand. Isn't that really easy to understand?"
"If we're insects, I'm going to sting her in the eye," Ian growled as she laughed yet again.
"Do you hear something?" Rem asked quietly as the speaker stomped her feet and clapped along with her laughter.
"Insect wings," Ian said. "The buzzing noise hidden behind her voice is the sound of insect wings."
"And, the end," the speaker finally said. "My precious words end here. Metamorphosing meat creatures and insects should work their hardest. Like I said before, we've taken control of the four towers that operate the waterways. I think it's best to not try anything weird? A drowned man's dead face is unbearable ugly!" She cackled one last time as the sound faded, the broadcasting magic being ended.
"So, that's Lust," Subaru muttered.
"Yes," Ian said, casting a meaningful look at Rem and Ram. "It's Lust. Capella Emerada Lugunica."
Both sisters understood. She was their target. The one they'd been making special preparations for, and training for, during the last year.
"Tell me again about Greed," Felix said.
"He can stop his own time, negating any attacks on him, including Reinhard's, and can weaponize anything he touches, including the air, by stopping its time, too, making it the most lethal weapon in existence. Even waving his hand at you can make a blade of wind that will rip you apart." Ian sighed.
He'd told them about Greed immediately following the fight, then about a dozen times today. And he and Subaru both had tried to explain Sirius's abilities as accurately as they could, with help from Beatrice. However, hearing it explained and visualizing the reality of something are two separate things.
"We have to assume there are five Archbishops here, rather than only these three," Felix said. "Lust, who made the announcement, and four pillars to control the waterways."
"One of them would probably be Lye Batenkaitos," Ian said. "And Pride is missing, has been for a very long time. With Petelgeuse gone, there's only four options."
"Five," Subaru said. "There are seven sins."
"There's no Envy Archbishop," Ian said. "There can't be. She still has her Authority."
Subaru nodded. "That's true. So, then, is it fodder cultists?"
"I doubt it's the typical fodder," Ian said. "It'd still need to be someone powerful, but probably not a Sin Archbishop, so not someone with an Authority."
"That simplifies things a bit," Ricardo said.
"You would think," Ian said. "But even without one, you have to expect them to be at least as strong as Julius."
"That's too strong!" Subaru argued.
"Prepare for the worst, hope for the best," Ian said. "If you prepare for a fight with the expectation that the enemy is vastly stronger than you, you'll be over-prepared if they're not, but won't be caught as off guard if they are."
Subaru nodded. "That makes sense."
"We have one other problem," Felix said. "We still don't know the conditions anywhere else. We don't even know where the other shelters are. Even Miss Crusch..."
"I'm sorry, Felix," Crusch's voice suddenly said, seeming to be coming from Felix. "It seems I made you worry."
"Miss Crusch's such a meanie!" Felix complained.
Subaru and Ian stared at her as she pulled out a small, ornate mirror.
"It's the metia we took from the Witch Cult a year ago," Felix said, holding it out so they could see it.
Ian snatched it from him.
"Hey!" Felix said.
"Crusch, who's there with you?" Ian asked.
"A lot of the others," Crusch said.
"I'm also here," Julius's voice spoke up. "Fortunately, everyone who was at the Hotel made it here."
"Your presence there is kinda reassuring, Julius," Subaru said.
"Subaru," Julius acknowledged. "I heard you met two of the Archbishops. You did well making it out alive, and your information about this Sirius will be invaluable. Is it true that Miss Emilia was abducted?"
"It's true," Subaru said after a moment of hesitation. "Sorry. I'm so useless."
"It was Regulus Corneus," Ian said. "You're not useless. Even Reinhard wouldn't have been able to get her back at that moment."
"That is a very serious statement," Julius said. "However, it's a true one, if your explanation of his Authority is accurate."
"It is," Ian said. "He told me himself when I fought him."
"Okay," Julius said. "Reinhard himself will need to deal with that."
"Agreed," Ian nodded. "No one else stands a chance."
"Except you," Julius said.
"He'd slaughter me," Ian said.
"So, Ian, Subaru, what do we do?" Julius asked.
"Why are you asking us?" Subaru asked.
"As Sloth had shown, you seem to have a knack for dealing with the Witch Cult," Julius said. "Maybe you could pull something unexpected and solve this dilemma."
"What kind of nonsense is that?" Subaru asked. "Sorry to disappoint, but I'm not some kind of Witch Cult expert."
"Put Anastasia on," Ian said.
There was silence for a moment before she spoke. "What do you need?"
"Do you know where the shelters are?" Ian asked. "You're the only one I can think of who might."
"I have a rough guess," Anastasia said.
"Felix, do you have a map?" Ian asked.
Felix shook his head.
Ian knelt, using one of his daggers to scratch a rough map into the floor, Anastasia supplying what information he needed, like how many rows of buildings there were in the rings they were roughly built into around the city, where the towers were in relation to the watergates, where the City Hall was, and then finally the rough locations of the shelters.
"Do we have a way to contact the other shelters?" Ian asked.
"No," Julius said. "That would be helpful, but currently impossible."
"I thought as much," Ian nodded. "Do we know anything else about what's currently happening?"
"Old Man Wil said there's a mob wandering the city and acting like Cultists," Felix supplied.
"That'd be Sirius's work," Ian nodded. "The best possible way to restore communication would be the broadcast magic at City Hall. Obviously, that poses certain issues. Who's unaccounted for?"
"Joshua, Otto, Garfiel, the Iron Fang's Deputy Chief, Wilhelm, Miss Felt, Reinhard, and Miss Priscilla," Julius listed.
"All of our biggest assets," Ian grumbled, then sighed.
"I don't know where Al and that asshole are either, but Priscilla should have been in the city park when the commotion started," Subaru said. "Dammit, Liliana should have been with her, too."
"They'll be fine," Ian said, looking at the map. "Julius, the Witch Cult is horrible at working together. In the square, Sirius tried her hardest to kill Regulus, and if the Gospel hadn't given new orders, Regulus would have killed her for attacking Emilia. Their coordination is probably the worst possible, so to simplify it, they'd need easily understood signals. They can't just shout to each other that they're still fine."
"That's true," Julius said. "You have an idea?"
"So long as we're careful about it, we should be able to take City Hall without raising suspicions, at least long enough for Subaru to order Reinhard and any other powerhouses to attack," Ian said. "Or enough to otherwise send a message to them. After that, we'll need to work quickly."
"My deepest apologies for being late," an aged, weathered voice suddenly said as Wilhelm appeared in the mirror. "Can everyone hear me?"
"Wilhelm!" Subaru almost cheered. "You're okay!"
"Old man Wil!" Felix cheered at the same time. "Thank goodness! You didn't get in touch! It made people worry!"
"My apologies, I was caught up in some trouble and couldn't find a calm place," Wilhelm said. "Now, finally, some citizens and I have arrived at a shelter. Subaru and Felix, seeing your safety gives me peace. And Miss Crusch?"
"I'm fine, Wilhelm," Crusch said. "I'm so glad you're safe."
"Don't worry about me," Wilhelm said. "It was due to my powerlessness that I wasn't at your side in this situation. Please allow me to trouble you to wait quietly. I will find you."
"No," Ian said. "We have other matters to discuss, and we'll be needing you on offense. Where are you?"
Wilhelm told him where his shelter was, and Ian marked his location with a "W", marking the others he knew of with their initials as well.
"There are many things to be said, but this is the most urgent," a cat demi-human with a monocle, Tivey, Mimi's other brother, said as he replaced Wilhelm in the mirror.
"Hey, if it isn't Tivey!" Ricardo smiled. "Your safety is better than anything else."
"You, too, Chief," Tivey said, "but we're not fine right now. Is my sister with you right now?"
"No," Ian said, marking Tivey with Wilhelm. "She and Garfiel are still unaccounted for."
"Chief!" Hetaro shouted, panicked as he replaced Tivey, Ian marking his location as well. "Sister! Sister was..."
"Hetaro?" Ricardo asked. "Why are you in such a panic?"
"O-Our Divine Protection of Trisection activated, from my sister!" Hetaro stammered. "H-Her wound was so serious, and sister, she..."
"Brother, calm down," Tivey said. "It's like he said. "Sister was wounded. The wound also reached me and Brother, so..."
"Understood," Ricardo nodded, drawing his blade. "Wait there. I'll find Mimi right immediately. Don't cry, just wait."
"Not yet," Ian said. "Tivey, what was the wound?"
"What does it matter!?" Ricardo snapped.
"It might tell us who it was, which will give us insight into not only where that person is, but also whether or not you'll need help."
Ricardo hesitated before nodding.
"It was a gash across her chest," Tivey said.
"How deep?" Ian asked.
"Through the ribs," Tivey said.
"I smell blood!" Ricardo reported, suddenly.
Just then, the entrance to the shelter banged open and everyone who could fight readied themselves, only to stare in stunned silence as Garfiel staggered in, heavily wounded and carrying a dying Mimi in his arms.
"Rem, Felix!" Ian said, both sprinting to Garfiel and carefully taking Mimi, beginning to try and heal her even before they'd set her down, Beatrice joining them instantly.
However, it was immediately obvious that something was wrong. The wound wasn't sealing. Ian grabbed bandages and sprinted over, Felix rapidly binding to wound. It wouldn't last. She was still dying. It was only a matter of time. Ian frowned and picked up the mirror again.
"Wilhelm," Ian said, Wilhelm appearing instantly. "You've been around a long time and fought a lot. Have you ever experienced wounds that can't be healed?"
Wilhelm went pale instantly, his face growing infinitely more conflicted, and his emotions more complex than Ian could hope to understand. "The Divine Protection of the Death God. It has that effect."
"Who wields it?" Ian asked.
Wilhelm was silent for a long moment. "Theresia van Astrea. The former Sword Saint."
Ian's blood ran cold. A ghost. A corpse. A former hero, and Wilhelm's wife. Ian turned to Garfiel, who was in a state of shock over Mimi's condition, and slowly healing his own sever wounds, all of which were sealing.
"Garfiel, who did you fight, and where?" Ian asked.
"Two in robes," Garfiel said, voice weak and shaking. "One thin woman 'n a slender sword, one giant with eight arms 'n huge swords."
"Kurgan," Wilhelm said. "He's incredibly dangerous. A member of the Multi-Armed tribe. He was killed when the Witch Cult's Greed attacked and destroyed the city of Garkla in Vollachia."
"Two dead opponents," Ian said. "A power to reanimate corpses. Disgusting." He narrowed his eyes. "Wilhelm, is there a chance that someone else has that Divine Protection? Reasonably?"
Wilhelm didn't answer, and Ian nodded. That was answer enough.
"Tell me!" Ricardo said, grabbing Garfiel by the shoulders. "Which one did that to you!? Which one did that to Mimi!? Who should I seek revenge on!?"
"No one," Ian said. "The woman wounded Mimi, and the man wounded Garfiel. Right?"
Garfiel nodded.
"The woman," Wilhelm spoke up. "Could you please leave her to me?"
"Why?" Ricardo asked. "This has nothing to do with you, Wilhelm. Even you shouldn't take my right to have revenge on those that harmed my dear family."
"I...can't say for certain without having confirmation," Wilhelm said. "However, if what I suspect is true, than that woman is a very important one to me. I must insist."
"That's..." Ricardo growled. "If you anger me, I won't be able to spare you."
"Wilhelm," Crusche spoke up. "And Mr. Ricardo. Now, as companions, this is not for strife. Not when so many civilian lives are exposed to danger."
"Miss Crusch," Wilhelm said.
"We need to decide," Ian said. "We can't send everyone to one place."
"Agreed," Anastasia said. "First of all, I want to bring up the raid on the City Hall proposed by Natsuki and supported by Crusch's faction. After all, if we attack any of the control towers, that City Hall'll give everything away for us. And even if it isn't retaken, the situation of the waterways could be improved a little bit, yeah? Although that might just be a bit of my wishful thinking."
"No, I'm thinking the same thing," Subaru agreed. "Moreover, if the other side launches an attack first, it'll cut our choices down. If we want to act, the sooner the better."
"What's this, you've become reliable in this past year, haven't you?" Anastasia teased. "In any case, it's just as Natsuki's said. Thanks to the conversation mirror, our groups can collaborate, and, fortunately, about seventy percent of our total combat power can be dispatched immediately. It'd be reasonable to say that an attack on the City Hall would fare well, yeah?"
"But seventy percent is too much for just the one raid," Ian said. He glanced at Rem and Ram. "I'll go to deal with Lust, since I'm one of the more adequately equipped to deal with an Archbishop who isn't Greed. I'll bring Rem and Ram with me. However, getting past the guards will be troubling. Wilhelm will need to deal with the woman. If she is who I think, only he'll be able to beat her. Sorry Ricardo."
Ricardo glared at him for a moment before nodding. "And the other?"
"I'll do it," Garfiel said. "My Amazin' self's th' only one strong enough. Physically, I mean."
Ian nodded. "That should work out alright. If it's one on one, it'll be a more even match."
Garfiel nodded.
"I'm going, too," Crusch spoke up, now wearing her armor again, Ian nodding instantly.
"By saying you'll go, too, you mean that you can fight?" Subaru asked.
"Although I'm not as strong as I was before, I've had Wilhelm as a teacher," Crusch said. "In addition, I can use the Wind to augment my strikes. I don't intend to be a burden."
"You won't be," Ian said.
"Miss Crusch's talent with a sword has not diminished," Wilhelm said. "That, I can guarantee. However, please be careful. I implore you, please place your safety first."
"It's the obligation of the nobility to bear burden of and shed blood for the people," Crusche declared resolutely. "If innocent people weep, then I will shield them under my wing. I will fight, Wilhelm."
Wilhelm sighed. "Honestly. But, it's because of this that I offer you my sword."
"Yes!" Felix nodded. "Yes! Felix too! If Miss Crusch will fight, then please let Felix accompany you! Please!"
Crusch shook her head. "Felix traveled between shelters to cast healing spells on those in need. I'm very proud of your contributions. But don't mistake which battlefield you should be fighting on."
"It's alright, Felix," Ian said. "We'll keep her safe. I won't fail her a second time."
Felix hesitated before nodding.
"Okay," Ian nodded. "Julius, you wait where you are for now. You'll be one of the fighters heading for a pillar. We'll need you at full strength."
Julius nodded. "Good luck."
"And you," Ian said, then passed Felix the mirror, turning to Rem and Ram, who both nodded.
"I should go, too," Elena said. "In case there's any deja vu."
Ian nodded. "Aria, stay with Elena. Keep her safe. You can use my mana if you need it, but warn me if something happens you can't handle."
Aria appeared beside him and zoomed over to Elena, taking her full form before nodding.
"You too?" Julius asked.
"Mhm," Ian smirked. "And she's one of two full-fledged spirits I'm contracted with." He gave Julius a victorious, gloating smirk, and Julius rolled his eyes.
"I still have the ability to use all six elements through mine," Julius said.
Ian chuckled. "You're also a better swordsman. I just have an ability that allows me to beat you."
"I was holding back," Julius said.
"So was I," Ian said. "Okay. Time to go."
Everyone nodded and Ian placed his fingers to Ram's forehead, transferring her mana, a fair bit of it. Once he stopped, Ram nodded, and they all left quickly, Subaru scooping Beatrice up onto his back as he passed her.
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