Hello, Welcome Back to Exploring Other Worlds. In this episode we continue where we left off. What is Ren's plan on beating the Whale? What's going to happen to Rem and Crusch? Find out some other time.
For those that are curious as to what, the next world is, well that's too bad. I'm not revealing anything…yet.
Uh, so up until now I've been using english titles such as Miss, Lady, Lord and all that. I've decided to not do that as much anymore, I'll be using -Kun, -Sama, -Dono and such. It just seems easier this way.
Other than that, I don't have anything else to say. I hope you enjoy this chapter of EOW and if you don't, you can always stop reading.
Chapter 7: Re;Zero Arc 3 Part 3
Karsten Estate, Morning
"That's not a face you see everyday, especially in the morning." I wake up with a face full of Rem's sleeping face. Sighing, I get out of bed and start getting dressed. While getting dressed, I notice Rem starts to shift around on my bed. After a little while longer, she finally wakes up. "Good morning, sleep well?" I ask with a teasing smile.
"*Yawn* Good Morning…" She sits up wiping at her eyes, unfazed by the current situation.
"Mind explaining why I woke up to your face? I don't necessarily have a problem with you sleeping in my bed, as long as I'm not already there sleeping in it."
"Huh? …Where? Your bed…" So she finally realized, her developing blush making the whole thing even more entertaining. "R-Rem w-was sure she slept in her b-bed." The expression on her was genuinely confused.
"Are you sure? Cause the way I remember it, is seeing you climb in bed with me while I was trying to fall asleep last night." I ask curiously. 'Was she half asleep? I did hear her drop the Morningstar, was she in her oni state? I would be dead if that were true, so that's not it.'
"Haah.. It's fine, just go get dressed. We have a big day today." I remind her what today is.
"R-Right." She quickly gets up, picking up her Morningstar on the way out. "Thank you." Huh? What is she thanking me for? She can act so strange at times.
I continue getting ready for the upcoming battles. Going over all of my equipment, however little it is. I notice something different about my sword while looking over it. It has something engraved on it.
'It says "Crimson's Black Knight", how very fitting. I guess Priscilla must've really wanted me to be her knight despite the fact she didn't even know my name.'
"Haah…Honestly, how was she so interested in me? We barely even spoke all that much. I'm pretty sure I even insulted her, when we met."
'No point thinking about it now.' Going back to my preparations, I put all my gear on my person. Sword on my side, my small bag of coins in my coat pocket. Finally finished with getting ready, I exit my room and head for the courtyard.
On the way out, I see all types of soldiers through the window. Iron fang, Knights, and elder knights. Demi human and all, no discrimination or segregation whatsoever.
Exiting through the front door, I spot Wilhelm speaking with some of the other elder knights. Before going to join them, I'm suddenly being dragged away by a very familiar little orange cat girl. "Mimi? Where are you taking me?"
"We're off to meet the captain, of course!" She says it like it's the most obvious thing in the world.
"Why? I'm pretty sure I'll meet them later on."
"No, you need to meet him now big bro! You're important for the mission." I mean I'm flattered but I only show up as the bait of the plan, after that I'm going to fade back out into the background with the rest .…buuuut, knowing my luck, I'll be forced to run away the whole time.
"There you are, Captain!" Following Mimi's line of sight, I spot a Wolf Demi human.
"Mimi? Who ya got there? Oh! I know you! You're tha' guy tha' the Boss Lady was talking about!" His loud voice in the same dialect as Anastasia.
"You must be the Captain of the Iron Fang, it's nice to meet you." I go for a fist bump which he returns. 'Finally someone who isn't so uptight.'
"Yeah tha's me alright, and you're the guy who messed up Julius' arm right?" To my information, yes.
"I don't know about that, the guy messed me up even more than I did to him."
"I dunno 'bout that, last time I saw him, he was pretty hung up over it." I guess he would be, it's not everyday you get your arm chopped off. "I'm sure he'll get over it soon, if not the Boss Lady will probably get on his as- err butt." Despite his correction, Mimi's attention seems to be on the Ground Dragons and Ligers.
"Right, Well I'm off to get my friend, I'll see you guys on the battlefield." I excuse myself to go and find Rem.
~Rem's Room
*Knock, Knock* "Rem? Are you in there?" No answer. "If it's about this morning, don't worry I'm not mad."
"Really?" I hear her muffled voice coming from the other side of the door.
"Yes, really. I wouldn't get mad over something like that."
"You don't think I'm strange?" I'd probably be the weird one if I found that strange. I mean she did confess to me that very same day.
"No, I don't. Now come on out, we're already late." I lie on the last part so that I can make sure she's okay.
"Ah! I'm sorry!" The door handle starts to turn before it finally opens. And out comes the Blue Maid. "We should get going before we're late."
"But you said…"
"I was just kidding about that, I just wanted to see you." I pet her head, making her completely melt in my hand.
Retracting my hand, to her obvious disappointment. I start walking down the hall. "Let's get going, wouldn't want to miss out on all of the fun."
~~~~~~
Courtyard
Looking through all the ground dragons, I turn to my fellow knight. "Are you sure I can take one? Crusch-san doesn't mind?" I ask the cross dressing knight.
"Of course nyot. My Lady was the one who specifically ordered me to make you choose one." He explains it to me.
"Well alright then, they all seem the same to me. Oh? What about this one?" I say, patting a very familiar black ground dragon.
"That's Patrasche, I'm surprised you're nyot on the ground yet. Patrasche's usually really prideful and doesn't let just anybody ride her, let alone touch her."
'This is Patrasche?! I barely even recognized her!' She starts licking my face, her rough tongue surprisingly not hurting me.
"Well aren't you a beauty. Wanna come with me girl?" I get more licks and a happy growl as a response. "Seems it was love at first sight."
"You shouldn't say that you knyow, you're making Rem jealous." Felix points out the very jealous looking Rem looking my way.
"I'm not jealous! I just thought Patrasche and I could get along, it seems I was wrong." Is she being serious? What am I thinking, of course she is.
"Don't worry Patrasche, it's you and me against the world." I joke a little, before heading back for the little speech before the main attraction.
~~~~~~~
Mess Hall In The Karsten Estate
"Man! This place is filled with so many different people. Hard to believe just a month ago, I was weaker than the average citizen." Have I grown enough? I'd like to believe I have but…
"You've come a long way from the weak unassuming boy from when we first met." Wow Rem, that stings.
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't insult me, Rem."
"I no longer think that. Now, I believe you've come a long way from back then. I know you're not the strongest, but I know you have a strong drive to grow stronger. I find that to be one of the best things about you."
"Now, don't go and give him a big head. Wouldn't want his downfall to be from his pride." The Karsten Duchess' voice sounds out from behind me.
"Ah, Crusch-sama, good afternoon." Rem is quick to bow her head, all I do is turn around and greet her.
"Good afternoon Crusch, also the fact that I'm going to act as bait, means that I have a higher chance of dying from being the bait than from pride making me do something stupid."
"I don't see the difference, you'll still die from your own stupidity." 'Hey! What's that supposed to mean?!'
"I'll have you know I'm quite good at avoiding death." She gives me a weird look, before turning to Rem and asking her instead.
"How many times has he almost died?"
"Not including the attack on the mansion or the duel. I would say around three times or so. One time during the snow festival, where he almost froze to death in his sleep. Another time, when he nearly broke every bone in his body practicing his reinforcement spell, and the last time being when he fell from quite the height while practicing another one of his spells." 'I'm not even surprised she knows all this.'
"I see, he does seem like the type to nearly kill himself due to his foolishness." 'I'm right here, you know.'
"Yes, but his foolishness has saved a lot of lives, my life included." 'Thank you, but also aren't you supposed to be on my side?'
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't give me such backhanded compliments." Soon enough, they both start laughing. They're probably laughing about me but I don't have a clue of what that is exactly.
"Haah… It's about time I make the speech. Thank you both, my nerves have been eased."
"See ya! Oh, and good luck!" Rem and I wave goodbye at the retreating Duchess.
~~~~~~
Lifaus Highway
"I'm sorry for making you do all the work Rem." I apologize to the girl who's waist I'm currently holding.
"There's no need to apologize, I enjoy being useful to you. I also enjoy it when you hold me like this." Ignoring that last part, as it turns out, I suck at riding a ground dragon. Patrasche was really patient with me but…Let's just say my face liked the ground a lot.
"Is that you big bro?! ..It is!" Coming from behind us is the little cat girl from before.
"Huh? Mimi?"
"I can't wait to kill the whale! We'll be going 'aah!' And everybody else is going to be using magic 'Pew, Pew!' And you'll be getting chased around going 'Kyaah!'." It's hard to believe she's second in command.
"Big sis! I'm sorry if she's bothering you sir." Another orange cat demi comes up beside Mimi.
"Hey don't worry about it, I can tell Mimi means well. But uh… Who are you?"
"I'm Hetaro, I'm the one who makes the orders since my sister and the captain tend to go off and be reckless."
"Sounds rough, I'm Ren Fujimura by the way."
"Huh? So you're the one our Lady has been telling us about."
"Anastasia's been talking about me? I can't help but feel that trouble is coming my way."
"Why the long face? Don't tell me you can't ride a ground dragon." Ricardo's loud voice sounds out from my left.
"..." My silence answers his question.
"Hahaha! Really? Hahaha!"
"Hey don't laugh at me! …It's just my first time I've ever ridden a ground dragon."
"Are you serious?" Everyone looks at me surprised.
"Well yeah, I've never ridden any type of mount in my life."
"Wow kid, ain't that a surprise." Ricardo breaks the silence. "I'll leave ya to your own then." Ricardo and the twins go on ahead, encouraging the soldiers the whole way there.
~~~~~~
Base of the Sage's Tree
'I'm finally here…Never thought I'd get this far. I'm surprised I didn't run away, it would have been so easy but… I don't think I could've lived with myself knowing what would have happened.' *Sigh* 'Honestly, when did I get so cliché? I didn't have any obligation to help Emilia and yet I still did. Why did I?'
"Ren? It's time." I feel Rem nudge me on the shoulder. 'No point in mulling over it now.'
"Alright, Let's get this show on the road."
~Break~
"Finally decided to join us?" Crusch notices my return.
"Wouldn't want to miss the show, even if I'll be running away most of the time. So be sure to get a couple good hits in for me."
"I'll make sure to do so, however there's something I'd like to ask that's been on my mind."
"Uh sure, go ahead."
"How did you know that the White Whale would show up here?" And she just asks the hard question.
"I uh… so you see…" Looking everywhere except her, I try to find an answer that won't make me sound crazy. With nothing coming to mind, I look up at the tree where I see the Whale's looming shadow. "Let's leave the questions for later. Our guest of honor has finally arrived."
The Whale's loud cry alerts everyone of its presence. It starts approaching us at a fast pace, more specifically me. "Rem, Now!"
"Right!" And like that we're off. I can hear Crusch commanding the troops, but that doesn't matter to me. I have a big Whale on my ass to worry about. I hear the sounds of explosions behind me, along with a bright flash. "Ren-kun, don't look at the night banisher directly or you'll go blind."
"The night- What?! That sounds so cool!" Looking back at the Whale, I see a black figure dragging their sword through its hide. "Woah! Wilhelm must be one hell of a butler, to be able to do something like that at his age." We can only watch in awe at the feats being done with what looks like complete ease. Magic bombardment and stab wounds are the only thing that even seem to be affecting the Whale.
"Seeing them throw all of their attacks at the damn thing while I just sit around and twiddle my thumbs makes me feel useless."
"How do nyou think I feel, seeing old man Wil do all the work while I just stand here makes me feel useless." What's Felix doing here?
"I can understand where you're coming from, but you're our healer. So long as you're here in the back healing the wounded, you're not useless."
"Where's this coming from? Nyou're going to make me blush." Please don't, I'd like for our relationship to stay at 'friends', nothing more. "I get what nyou mean, but it doesn't change how I feel."
Looking back at the Whale, I see Wilhelm stabbing its eye out. Let me just say, it was not a pretty sight. 'That's really awesome, but also eww gross.' Seeing Wilhelm land in front of us with the Whale's eye on his sword didn't make the sight any prettier.
'Hold on, isn't this the part where…Yup, looks like the big guy has had enough.'
"Everyone! Cover your ears now!" Those that hear my warning are spared from hearing the loud shrieking made by the Whale at full blast.
Once the shrieking finally stops, I look up towards the Whale. Its appearance is not looking all that good, completely covered in Its blood on one side. The wounds are visible from here. 'Wait, those aren't wounds…'
"Is that…" The shocked murmurs of the soldiers can be throughout the battlefield. 'Looks like the fog is finally coming out.'
"Umm, Rem? We need to go, like now." That seems to snap Rem out of her little trance, causing Patrasche to start moving again.
"Everyone! Listen to me, try to breathe in as little of the fog as possible! Breathing too much of the fog in can cause you to go insane. The Whale will also start releasing its Fog of Elimination, so stay on guard!" Crusch's little info dump puts every soldier on guard and moving.
Trying to have as little casualties as possible, I inform Rem of a plan of mine. "Listen Rem, I'm going to go off and play the bait. While I do that, you go off and explain things to Crusch-san." Leaving her with no time to say anything back, I start flying off in the direction of the whale.
'Where is this son of a bitch?' Looking around, I try to look past the fog for the Whale. Hearing its cry from behind, I turn around, its mouth wide open trying to swallow me whole.
"Oh Crap!" Quickly dodging its bite, I lead it around the open air, making sure to keep my distance from the others. After a couple minutes of just leading the whale around, it finally stops, possibly healing itself?
Returning to where Crusch was, I start hearing sounds of fighting. Fearing the worst, I start making my way back.
"-hbishop of Gluttony, Lye Batenkaitos! Tsu~." '...Oh, no…'
"You fiend! To attack someone with their back turned, you Witch Cultists truly are scum!" I can hear Wilhelm's voice through the fog.
'Please let her be ok, Rem please be ok.' Having finally reached where the sounds of fighting were, the sinking feeling in my stomach is finally realized. Wilhelm is fighting off the unexpected Cultist, and Rem has an injury on her arm, but is thankfully awake. And Crusch is…She's on the ground, unresponsive, possibly forgotten by the world.
To Be Continued…
Hm? What do you mean this story sucks? I made it with a lot of love and care!
To those who are reading this, I decided to finish this chapter on November 26 2022, roughly 6 months after I first deleted this fic. So, don't expect updates, this shit has long since been rewritten, twice now actually.
I'm only uploading this bcuz everyone asked for it.