Should he say it? Should he compromise Felix's reputation and make both he and Julius suspicious?
Upon using his Divine Protection of Investigation, Reinhardt couldn't understand one thing.
All evidence leads to them letting the Sin Archbishop escape.
But, there was something that bothered him the most. And that pertains to Julius's and Felix's actions towards the Sin Archbishop.
When he came to the cell, it had so many evidences that his friend and Julius has indeed tortured the Archbishop. And gruesome at that.
Yet Felix never did report any such activities to his lady and the others, only saying that he and Julius "interrogated" the Archbishop.
"Sir Julius, who was the one that saw the situation with the cell first?" Reinhardt asked.
For the love of him, Reinhardt really can't remember who Julius was, but the person never said any lie when he proclaimed himself as Lady Anastasia's knight and his friend.
'The Archbishop did the same thing but you let him get taken away.'
A voice in his head spoke but he ignored it, rather focused on Julius.
Reinhart's question made Julius frown, nonetheless, he answered.
"It was both me and Felix. Upon arriving, we saw the empty cell and the severed bars. I checked every corner but saw nothing." Julius said confidently.
'This makes it more confusing. He never lied once.' Reinhardt thought. His frown made Wilhelm and Julius raise an eyebrow.
"What is the matter?" Wilhelm asked.
He can't bring himself to call Reinhart's name, or even address him as his grandson. The gap on his mind still made him wary of why he felt like he should give him a chance.
"I suggest we go back to Lugunica and discuss this with all camps that were involved." Reinhardt stated.
There was silence as Wilhelm and Julius glanced at each other, then to Reinhardt.
"Is there a reason why you have to do so?" Wilhelm asked, narrowing his eyes.
This was starting to get on Wilhelm's nerves, but he never shown any signs of irritation. However it was still noticed by Reinhardt via one of his Divine Protection.
"Forgive my impudence, as the information I found out requires not only both Julius and Felix's presence, but their liege as well. I have also decided to inform all parties involved with the Sin Archbishop's imprisonment to be present as well." Reinhardt said with a bow.
It was directed at Julius and Wilhelm, but mostly on the latter.
Julius, for some reason felt a chill on his spine. Reinhart's actions gave him the notion that there was something wrong and he and Felix were involved in it.
Did Reinhardt found something that was so important? Something that has to be said somewhere else? But why, why involve the others as well?
Although it took some time, the two men agreed with the Sword Saint's request.
...
...
...
4 days later.
In the Astrea Mansion, all camps aside from Priscilla Camp has gathered.
On the Emilia camp is Emilia herself, Beatrice, Ram and Garfiel.
On the Anastasia camp is Anastasia, Julius and Rigardo.
On Crusch Camp is the Duchess herself, Wilhelm and Felix.
And lastly, Felt camp. Felt herself and Reinhardt.
"I apologize in advance for the sudden... request for audience. Especially with Lady Karsten. My sincere apologies for calling you here despite your health." Reinhardt politely said and bowed.
"Please do not be, Sir Reinhardt. You must have brought us here for a reason." While still haven't remembering herself, Crusch was slowly regaining her headstrong personality.
Part of it was mostly what her knight and butler described as the "Crusch Karsten" that was forgotten by her.
Her health however, was not in its peak form as the dragon blood that infected her was still present.
But she couldn't help but notice something wrong, like she was forgetting something, or rather someone.
Someone... important to her.
"I have been informed about this by Mister Julius. Something about the escaped Sin Archbishop right?" Anastasia dived into the conversation.
The mere mention of the "Cultist" brought either anger, annoyance or even disdain to the present people's faces.
"Unfortunately... but before the meeting starts, I want to inform everyone to not immediately draw conclusion and act hostile. The information I will reveal is... something that even confuses me to this day."
When Reinhardt said those words, everyone in the room frowned and glanced at each other.
"Wh- Why would we be hostile, Reinhardt?" Felix spoke without adding cat like wording as he felt nervous.
He was panicking, as he never told his lady what he has done with the "Cultist". She only knew that he and Julius were interrogating the Archbishop.
Some people were suspicious of the sound of Felix's words just now, but decided to hear what the Sword Saint will say.
Reinhardt however, instead of answering Felix's question, stared at the catboy.
"I have a question Felix, did you or did you not let the Sin Archbishop of Pride go?"
"H-Huuuuh!?" Felix's sudden outburst was understandable.
Every eyes in the room turned to the catboy.
"What?" Julius asked, but he wasn't the only one asking this question.
"Oi! What do you mean!? Ya let him go!?" Garfiel brashly asked, but Ram's hand stopped him from saying anything further.
"Please explain Reinhardt, what exactly did you find in there!?" Julius asked.
It was already suspicious, but now he started doubting his friend's actions.
Reinhardt closed his eyes, then opened them as he spoke.
"Please answer the question."
His voice was stern, quite uncharacteristic of him, but no one said anything else as they too want to know what the catboy's answer.
"No! No! Why would I let that cultist go? And why are you asking me this!?" Felix asked with a hint of anger.
Reinhardt took a deep breath, this was gonna be hard.
"Let me start from the beginning."
Reinhardt paused for a mere moment before continuing.
"Inside the cell, when I used my Divine Protection, this is the sequence of actions I found."
"The Archbishop wasn't rescued, he escaped by himself. However, whatever he used to cut off his chains were unknown to me. It wasn't a sword nor was it magic, all I know was that it was extremely hot."
"Then, with the same thing, he cut down the bars on his cell and got out of it. But he didn't escape immediately, rather, he went to the opposite side of the cell and waited."
"Wait, we never found anyone inside..." Julius trailed off.
"The door to the prison, was locked." Felix's eyes widened at the implication of what he said.
"I believe you Julius, but please let me finish." Reinhardt said before continuing.
"Then you and Felix came in the room, but the Archbishop never moved, he watched you while you were still in the prison room." Reinhardt paused again, taking in the horrified look on most of everyone in the room.
"Julius, you left the room after a few moments, and that's when he made his move. He passed by Felix, somehow unnoticed, and threw something at him before locking the door."
Felix was frightened, rightfully so, when he heard that an unchained Archbishop was alone with him in that room.
"That concludes my investigation, which confuses me. How is it that he was unnoticed or unseen?" Reinhardt turned to Felix and Julius.
"It-it- It has to be his Authority! I made sure to check the entire room and found no one!" Julius frantically said.
"He's not... lying." Crusch said with a confused look.
"Oh, there's one more thing. Felix, you said that there was a black canister that let out a smoke that made your eyes hurt and choke right?" Reinhardt asked.
The catboy merely nodded, remembering what that small thing did to him.
"You see, whatever that thing was, it disappeared. Nobody picked it up, it just...faded out of existence.
(A/N: In FPS games, every used smoke grenade canisters, bullet/shell casings and gunpowder residue disappears after a certain amount of time, this also applies to Ascension Online's System.)
There was silence yet again, as minds tried to comprehend how that was possible.
"But...why now?" Emilia finally spoke.
That was true, in everyone's mind, why did the Archbishop escape only after 6 months?
"I... I do not know Lady Emilia." Reinhardt said.
All their minds could come up with were speculations, but the note they think about it, the more it confuses them.
In the end, they all agreed that the Archbishop's power was incomprehensible and must have needed some conditions to be used.
Nevertheless, they all went home.
However, this meeting made two people very suspicious at the eyes of some. And decided to be wary of them.
..
..
"Why didn't you tell them?"
It was Felix, and in from of him was Reinhardt.
Julius already left with his Lady, the rest did the same.
Wilhelm and Crusch agreed to Felix's request to stay for a night, he had to ask Reinhardt a question.
"I... well, why didn't you tell them?" Reinhardt answered back.
As uncharacteristic as it is, he has to press Felix for answers.
Felix was about to say something, but bit his lip as he knew that Reinhardt already knew.
"I...I needed to save Lady Crusch." Felix looked down, ashamed.
"... I'm guessing Lady Crusch didn't know." Reinhardt said.
"She doesn't need to!" Immediately realizing his outburst, Felix cupped his mouth.
Reinhardt remained quiet, though shocked at his friend's sudden burst of anger. But somehow, he felt a tiny bit of... satisfaction?
Was it because it wasn't aimed at his monstrous self? Was it because it came from his friend?
"M-Milady doesn't need to bother herself. She is already hurting, not to mention she struggles to remember who she was. I just..."
Reinhardt watched as his friend cried. Not really knowing what to do, he just stared, and waited for him to calm down.
It took Felix almost a minute to calm himself a bit. Before bowing down to Reinhardt.
"Thank you, for...not revealing what Julius and I did."
Reinhardt's eyes widened, before scratching his cheek.
"You do know that, one of these days, the truth about your and Julius's actions will come to light, right?" Reinhardt awkwardly asked.
"...when that time comes, I will take responsibility." Felix said, head still hung.
The Sword Saint watched as the Blue turned and left. Out of earshot, Reinhardt spoke...
"Oh, so my Divine Protection of Wind Reading isn't failing."
..
...
...
7 months later.
On a vast forest, multiple explosive sounds echoed. Something that violates the serene view of the luscious land of vegetation.
The booming sounds were short, but it was continuous, sometimes only bursts.
But within those sounds, were the yelps, screeches and hisses of creatures.
Scattered all around an area of the forest, were bodies of Mabeasts. Dogs, snakes, bats and even a few large ones.
At the center of it all, was a figure.
Wearing an armor with futuristic designs. In dark grey, light grey and lined with silver.
On the figure's hand was an odd shaped long black metal with two "handles".
Subaru held his submachine gun as he scanned the area for any other Mabeasts.
After a few minutes, he decided that the area was clear.
"86... 3 levels huh."
Unlike 7 months ago, his voice wasn't as rusty as it was, however there was a certain low tone to it.
He looked around one more time before sighing.
"Welp, time to burn these corpses." He shrugged as he started gathering the mabeast corpses in one place.
It took him more than 20 minutes, thanks to his enhanced superhuman strength, as it made carrying heavy things a LOT easier.
He had enough strength to carry 4 tons of weight at max, with the help of his suit of course.
"Still, 7 months huh." He uttered, as he watched the pile of corpses being burned.
'One more month, and I'm going to find him.'
Lye Batenkaitos, the man who ate his name and ate Rem's name and memories.
"Just a bit longer Rem."
Subaru's goal for now was to reach level 100. And to master the four yin spell he knew.
Shamac, Minya, Murak and Vita.
All the arsenal he can get, he intends to use it.
"Your Hero, will save you."
No more will he remain weak, trampled and beaten.
This time, it's his turn to fight back.
Whether it'd be the Witch Cult, the Mabeasts and his pursuers, he won't lose.
Not anymore.