Co-written with UltimateIndividual81 on AO3
Edited and Beta-read by us lmao
This is a shorter chapter, more like an interlude, to build up for the next one.
Enjoy!
After some difficulty, Crusch managed to walk around normally for some time.
With Wilhelm and Felix to accompany her, she managed to at least feel secure as she scoured books upon books.
Regardless of whatever had brought them here, she was thankful that they were here with her.
"All of these books," Ferris said as he walked, "Look, there's one about how to make a blueprint! It's... pretty useless."
"Still, whoever made this has quite a lot documented." Wilhelm remarked, "For what purpose? I have never heard of such a location in all of my life."
"Really, Wilhelm-san?" Crusch asked, "I heard that there were a few popular libraries."
"Indeed, but no description I've heard or seen would coincide with this. Besides, it has so many various things documented, from what I've seen."
"I agree, to have so, so many books with so much detail is unique." Felix remarked, "I wonder what else it has..."
'All these things, Yin Magic, History and whatever else... Maybe it has something documented about The Witch Cult? I know the library is probably magical. No, I can't get my hopes up, the chances of there being a book that could help Crusch-sama barely seem realistic.' Felix wanted to hope, though he had been disappointed that few of his efforts were working. 'Maybe looking for something related to the Witch Cult might help.'
"I hope something that will allow us to leave this place," Crusch, "While I don't want to cause any panic amongst us, it is still difficult to truly figure out whatever force might have caused any of this."
"It might be worrying, but we will never let anything happen to you, Crusch-sama." Wilhelm nodded as he told her.
Felix agreed with a look of seriousness.
"I know." Crusch couldn't help but smile in appreciation. Even after not being the woman they knew they still supported her like this, "Thank you both for that."
'Maybe... maybe there is something documented here about Lugnica, Maybe... maybe there is something here about myself? Perhaps my family? Maybe even that boy I appeared to be friends with.' Crusch had her curiosity. While she was told about how she was raised, her family, and her past.
There probably was nothing she hadn't heard already.
'Though maybe there can be something here like that.' Crusch walked and scoured her surroundings for anything that might be useful.
"Lugnican history?"
There was nothing to indicate the separation of sections besides the books' titles.
"Ah, Crusch-sama, why are you looking at those books like that?" Felix looked at the book.
"Just... I'm interested. Perhaps it contains interesting information? And besides, what is that golden thing hanging onto it?" Crusch gestured to it with her hand, "Do both of you see that?"
"It is quite high," Wilhelm remarked, "It is several times higher than what I can reach."
"Could it be important?" Felix remarked, "I don't see anything else sticking out like that. I can't see it all that well from down here."
"Indeed. Felix, I'll climb up to get it." Wilhelm looked back while giving a determined look, "Look after our lady, Felix."
"W-Wait! Can you climb that high for this? I-"
"Do not worry, Crusch-sama. I might be old, but I, humbly, think of myself as quite physically capable." Wilhelm told her, "I will be back shortly."
Before Crusch could say anything else, she saw Wilhelm climb up on the bookshelf as if he was a mountain climber.
Without any signs of exertion, he scaled the bookshelf easily.
"I didn't know Wilhelm had any form of climbing experience," Crusch remarked while looking at Felix.
Felix just raised his hands with an expression of 'I didn't know either'.
"I've had to scale quite a lot of things in my youth, Crusch-sama," Wilhelm said as he started to reach for the book with his hand, "In fact, I-?!"
Wilhelm couldn't say anything as he started to fall down, the book falling
"Oh god just shut up already!" The distinct voice of the blonde candidate bellowed out in frustration, "I get it, Rein. Etiquette this, etiquette that!"
Not a moment later, something impacting a bookshelf was heard, and the sound of books falling followed.
No one in the Crusch camp expected that sound to occur. Still, it seemed to not be anything worrisome.
Though they were shocked for a second, mainly due to their circumstance.
Wilhelm fell down with three books falling behind him. Wilhelm managed to just barely land on his legs as he was reaching his hands up to catch the books.
He caught two, of course. With that, he simply looked at his lady and Felix.
He expected the last one to fall behind him, but in reality, it didn't, he still managed to catch that one.
Then another one fell down after tipping over, landing on his head with silence.
Wilhelm said nothing to that, just grabbing the book that fell down.
"Pheh," Crusch let out a little giggle at the, admittedly, funny occurrence.
"Anyway," Wilhelm continued, "Let myself check the book first, Crusch-sama. I do not know what sort of magical effects it might possess."
"You're right, Wilhelm. Thank you for the offer. Still, it's quite worrying. While Reinhard might've not specified if there was any magical influence, I'm quite certain that he would have told us if so." Crusch told Wilhelm.
Wilhelm just looked at her silently for a second, then he spoke, "Perhaps so, maybe he forgot to be diligent enough to tell us."
Before Felix could interrupt to stand up for Reinhard, however small it may be.
"Anyway, let us continue forth." Wilhelm cautiously opened the book.
"Uh... nothing happened, Wilhelm," Felix remarked, "So... no evil monsters popping up?"
"We are fortunate enough that it isn't so, Felix." Wilhelm smiled, "Nonetheless, it appears these pages contain nothing magical at all. From a glance, it truly is just a book about the Royal Family of Lugnica."
"A book about the Royal Family?" Crusch muttered quietly, 'The Royal Family of Lugnica? Supposedly I was friends with a boy from that place... Fourier.'
Crusch's thoughts turned somber, 'Fourier. Whenever I hear that name I expect that I would at least feel something. I was supposed to marry that man before he passed. I should feel something, anything when his name is mentioned. Yet, nothing.'
"Crusch-sama...? Why do you look so somber? Is there anything bothering you?!" Felix asked in worry.
"It's... I'm just disappointed that I do not remember Fourier or anyone from my past." Crusch looked at Felix and Wilhelm with a twinkle of sadness in her eyes, "Especially both of you."
"I... Do not be somber, Crusch-sama. We will most definitely assist you in regaining your former capabilities. You have friends and allies, even if you do not remember."
"Y-Yes, Crusch-sama! Don't worry, okay? We will definitely help you." Felix nodded resolutely, then he spoke without thinking, "Maybe there's something here that can help you!"
Both Wilhelm and Crusch looked at him with some level of confusion.
Felix quickly elaborated, "I-I mean, this library seems to have a lot of strange stuff here. Maybe someone documented something that could help?"
"I see, t-thank you for that, Felix. I don't mean to be discouraging, but if there truly is something in this library that can help me how would we find it? There are thousands, most certainly more than that, books around here." Crusch frowned.
"Then we can ask for help. I don't know about everyone, but I can definitely ask Reinhard, Julius, and Subaru to keep an eye out! I'll ask them later."
"That would make our possible task quite easier," Wilhelm said with a nod."
"I mean... I... I'm thankful for both of your efforts, truly." Crusch replied in a heartfelt manner, "Doing this for me, someone who doesn't even remember anyone, I... I'm grateful."
Wilhelm bowed slightly and Felix just gave her an encouraging expression.
"Don't worry about it, Crusch-sama." Felix grinned, "Even if you don't remember us, we remember you, and that's all that matters to us."
"Felix is correct. I share the same sentiment."
Crusch just smiled at them.
Nothing more needed to be said about this.
Wilhelm held out his hand, the one that had the book, and gave it to Crusch who nodded in thanks.
"While the book doesn't seem to be all that different or contain new knowledge, it might prove of value to you later," Wilhelm said.
"I see." Crusch took the book in her own hands, her eyes immediately focusing on the golden sword sigils hanging onto the book.
"This looks like those sigils belonging to the Witch Cult sigil that was shown on the gate device." Crush recognized it immediately, "Why is it hanging onto this book?"
Crusch looked at Wilhelm and Felix, "Might either of you have an idea?"
"None," Both Wilhelm and Felix said simultaneously.
"I see, we've only seen this hanging from this book. Nothing else as noticeable or peculiar as this has been noticed." Crusch thought aloud, "Maybe it's connected to the gate? It seems to be part of the sigil that is required, though it isn't whole."
"Perhaps we can see if the other camps have found anything like this? Should we bring this to the attention of the others?" Wilhelm asked.
"I don't see why not, it's nothing to be hidden. In order to progress, we have to work together whenever necessary." Crusch explained. "There is no benefit to keeping this a secret from the other camps."
"I see, Crusch-sama. Forgive me for my ignorance." Wilhelm apologized with a bow.
"It's fine, Wilhelm."
As Crusch finished her sentence, they saw a fireball fire up in the sky, and then dissipate.
"That would be the signyal, nya." Felix said.
"Let's get moving, then." Crusch ordered.
"Of course, Crusch-sama." Wilhelm said with a bow.
After a bit of walking, the Crusch camp reached the entrance and found the Priscilla, Felt, and Anastasia camps already there.
Julius and Reinhard greeted them, although Reinhard was a bit hesitant.
"Oi, were you the guys who fired that signal?" Felt asked Crusch.
"No, It wasn't us, Felt-sama." She responded.
"Then that would mean it was Big Sis' camp that signaled for everyone." Felt explained.
"So it was none of you either, huh." Crusch replied.
"And they're the last to arrive, how ironic." Priscilla remarked with a smug smile.
Felt just side-eyed.
"Hey, guys!" A voice called out, belonging to the knight of the camp.
"Hey, big bro! Hey, big sis!" Felt waved toward the new arrivals.
Everyone gave their greetings, with snide remarks coming from Priscilla.
"So, how did it go?" Emilia asked everyone.
The camps shared what they had found, or lack thereof.
"That's quite disappointing to hear. Did any of you find-"
Before Emilia could go further she was subtly interrupted with a sneeze.
"Oh, my apologies." Before Emilia could speak further someone else did, "Actually," 'Anastasia' smiled at them, "I'm more interested in what you've all seen. It's no problem, but I think you've all seen some interesting things there, am I right? It's nice asking first, but we also want to know what you might've found. Am I right, everyone?"
Emilia seemed to hesitate for a moment, before taking a big breath and speaking, "Everyone. We did find something important. Very much so."
"Then spit it out, half-wit." Priscilla sighed, "Do not just wait for everyone to gawk at nothing. Simply speak, or can you not do something so simple?"
"Ignore the bitch, Big Sis. What's up? You find something useful?" Felt, after sneering at Priscilla, responded to Emilia with a smile.
"How uncouth, it seems your roots as a street rat will never seem to vanish. How unfortunate for you," Priscilla insulted, "What a poorly developed child you are."
Felt just flipped her the bird, which Priscilla just raised an eyebrow towards. Of course, Priscilla didn't know what it meant, Subaru had told Felt in private.
"I'm quite curious, I hope it is something that's helpful. Especially with how you are looking, Emilia." Anastasia smiled, "It would certainly be wonderful news."
"Indeed we do. As you all might know, the Archbishops have their Authorities. Now though, we have come across some information about the sigil, and maybe even their Authorities too." Emilia told everyone.
This wasn't the plan. Actually, Emilia taking the lead when telling everyone about it wasn't supposed to happen.
Subaru was confused, definitely worried. Emilia could mess it up!
She wasn't adept at this! She was honest and kind to a fault. Anastasia and Priscilla, hell everyone else, would definitely know that something was wrong.
Why did she take the lead?!
Subaru knew that he had to quickly take over, he had to draw attention to himself.
"That sigil is related to the Witch's Cult. So, the Witch's Cult
must have some importance to the library." Subaru interrupted.
"Then, how would you explain the appa, Natsuki-kun?" Anastasia questioned his conclusion.
"That... I have no clue, yet. Could be some metaphor stuff." To
that, Subaru just shrugged.
"A metaphor to what, exactly? I don't see any relation between those two things, Subaru." Julius asked, unconvinced.
"As I said, I have no clue." Subaru deadpanned, "You having hearing problems, buddy?"
"It was just a question to see what kind of ideas you might have." Julius responded, "Although, it seems that my hope was misplaced."
"Well then, Oh Great Julius-sama. Enlighten me with your superior knowledge. What have you discovered?" Subaru asked sarcastically.
Julius stared at him, annoyed.
"Now, before the both of you start needlessly bickering," Crusch voiced, "We must also inform you all of something quite interesting that we found."
"Oh?" Emilia tilted her head slightly.
"We found a book that was about the history of Lugnica, and at the end of it, we found these." Crusch continued and pulled something out of her pocket.
It looked like a pair of miniature golden swords, with a notch in the center of each.
"Specifically, it was near a section about Lugnica's Royal Family, I was told that this symbol is quite old and relates to it. Then, we recognized it as part of being the 'sigil' that the machine requires in order for us to pass." Crusch explained.
"How interesting. The half-wit said that the sigil that is required for passing is linked to the Witch's Cult, now you mongrels have found it near a section about your 'Royal Family'. Truly, I wonder what this could imply?" Priscilla's snide remark did not go unnoticed, "Especially with who we encountered in Priestella."
"There is nothing to be confirmed yet, Priscilla." Crusch retorted with Ferris beside her. "We simply cannot trust some words on a page or even from a cultist." Crusch argued.
"To be fair, she did look like a member of the Royal Family when I fought her," Al interjected, raising his hand. "You know, blonde hair, red eyes, fang. That type of stuff."
"Look, let's not argue about any of that right now." Emilia tried to stop the possibility of the argument.
"I would think that finding the rest of the sigil is more important than watching you two argue." Anastasia said, slightly annoyed.
"Yeah! We've wasted enough time already." Felt stated, "It's more important that we found a way outta here. It'd be best for us all to work together."
"Tch, are you insinuating mineself might need the assistance of you all? Preposterous." Priscilla scoffed, "However, I am not without kindness. Rejoice."
Before Felt could even say anything, Priscilla just raised her chin.
"These parts you all seek will obviously be near items relating to them. Of course, since the half-wit recognized it first she might know where she might find it." Priscilla glanced at Emilia for more than Subaru thought she would.
For a second Subaru thought the worst.
"Nonetheless, if there is a trend, there is little doubt where the next one might be." Priscilla finished off.
"If I may, Priscilla-sama, you make it sound as if you already know where one of the pieces might be. Am I correct to assume so?" Wilhelm asked her respectfully.
Priscilla responded with annoyance, "If I did have that piece, or knew where it might be mineself would already be past the gate. Still, knowing the lot I am here with, some of you might already have an idea."
'Why are you so difficult?' Subaru thought with some level of annoyance. Priscilla's insinuation wasn't lost on anybody though. Subaru already considered it a miracle she didn't say Emilia was Satella or something ridiculous. She glanced at Emilia with no small amount of contempt.
Still, it seemed as if Priscilla was content to just watch them bicker for a bit.
A part of Subaru was curious to know how it was going with the Crusch Camp.
'There's nothing to be worried about with Felt and Reinhard, those two are in... strangely alright spirits. I thought that Felt would be freaking out but she's taking it well.' Subaru thought in surprise, 'It's still scary as hell as how Reinhard was brought here.'
Reinhard was a powerhouse. The living protagonist. What was powerful enough to bring him here?
Subaru suppressed those thoughts, surely with Reinhard here none of them were in danger. He hoped so, at least.
Nonetheless, the worrying part for him is the force that could've brought them here.
Still, if Subaru highlighted the danger, the true danger, of their situation then who knows what could happen. If what Roswaal said was correct then they might act just like...
No, they wouldn't. Even if it was possible it was necessary to have faith in them.
Everyone was talking again, mainly giving away the details of what they found.
Books about potato farming, hunting, magic lessons, and much more...
The problem lay in the fact that there just seemed to be nothing useful.
Everyone but him knew these things already. They all knew the basics of magic and whatever else. They already knew how their world functioned.
'It seems that in this part of the library that there's nothing interesting... besides Petelgeuse's book but...' Subaru did not want to think about that. ever, really. The problem now lies in the fact that perhaps there lay more.
Perhaps there was information relating to『Return By Death』...
That meant that he had to do whatever he could to direct everything. He had to take a leadership position, though perhaps not in a direct manner.
'How though?! How?!' Subaru had trouble figuring it out. How was he going to pull it off? He never thought of himself as the smartest, especially with who he was with.
'I... I don't know what to do to pull it off. Is there even anything else I can do?' Subaru's thoughts broke off...
Beatrice stared at Subaru, she hadn't said much.
'What are you thinking about, I wonder?' She did not know what could happen that would elicit these feelings from him. 'That face of yours... if we did not have our contract, I doubt I would have noticed your true feelings, I suppose.'
Roswaal was beside them now.
Beatrice frowned at the sight of him.
"Why are you so close, I wonder?" Beatrice frowned with disgust, intentionally keeping her tone more quiet than usual so as to not break the discussion that the rest were having, "You must leave, in fact."
Roswaal smiled, "Ah, I apologize, Beatrice~. I was just checking up on our dear~ Subaru-kun. Surely, to be mentioned in such~ a manner by an Archbishop perhaps may have shaken~ him?"
"Tch, as if one of those things could shake Betty's Subaru, in fact." Beatrice looked with contempt at the sheer mention of it.
"True. I apologize if I had insisted~ something like that~, Beatrice." Roswaal faked, it had to be fake, Subaru would not think that apology to be true in any sense.
"There is nothing bothering Betty's Contractor. So leave, in fact. Neither of us want your stench around us." Beatrice directed him to go away with a wave of her hand as if she was shooing away a bothersome cat.
"I will leave soon enough." Roswaal nodded his head, "Still, you must be quite proud, Beatrice. Your contractor is quite courageous."
"What is it, Roswaal?" Subaru finally decided to talk, "Just leave and go do something useful. Try to do it without being a creep, okay?"
"..." No retort. No response. Nothing but a smile remained on Roswaal's face.
"..." Subaru and Beatrice just looked at him.
Roswaal's face did not move, no movement on his face took place. Like a statue he just froze, staring at them with a smile.
"...You are beautiful, Subaru-kun." Roswaal finally said.
"What the...?" Subaru turned in disgust, "The hell are you talking about?"
Beatrice just stared, though she then narrowed her eyes.
"The way you acted just then, you make me proud. On your first try as well..." Roswaal chuckled hollowly, then his empty eyes gazed back, "I thought you to be more fitting for another sin, Subaru-kun, but I suppose that one might be able to fit you. Stranger things have happened after all..."
"...Get. Out." Beatrice stated resolutely, "Leave now, clown. Do not dare insinuate such a possibility again, in fact. Or I will kill you."
"Of course, Beatrice. Still, do not be alarmed. Subaru will explain what I mean anyway. He did such an excellent job before, I did not find it necessary to say anything in his defense. Even with ties to her..." Roswaal turned back and walked to Emilia, who stood next to Ram. "You and I are one."
"...Beatrice, just forget that bastard." Subaru shrugged, desperate to hide his anxiety and to reassure her. "He's always trying to pull something."
"But... but why did he insinuate such a thing, I wonder? Betty's Subaru was acting odd when we read that book, I suppose." Beatrice ended off with a murmur, "We are far enough that the rest will not hear it, I suppose. You can trust me with any secret, Subaru."
Subaru looked at Beatrice's beautiful butterfly eyes.
They were filled with hope and desire to help him in any way. She wanted to help him as he helped her every day.
"Roswaal... Roswaal is a lunatic." Subaru sat down, leaning against a library shelf as Beatrice got closer. He smiled at her and gestured for her to come closer. "I'll keep it quick for now - He wants to 'cause distrust. He wants everyone to follow him. Since he can't force anyone directly, he decided to do this... To insinuate something so disgusting."
"But... but what about when we read-" Before Beatrice could finish Subaru shushed her.
"Later, in private, okay?" Subaru told her quietly as he checked to make sure that everyone else was still busy. Still, what he was about to tell Beatrice made him feel... Conflicted. "Look, he just has assumptions about me that are all wrong. Just, don't believe him. Please don't."
He held her closer as both nuzzled each other.
This rare, relaxing moment will have to end any second now.
"I'm... I'm sorry, Subaru. I did not want to make it sound like I even took that clown seriously for a second, in fact." Beatrice said quietly, "No matter what, I'll believe you. Just tell me soon, I suppose..."
Subaru's heart shook at her words.
With that, came the guilt.
"...Thank you, Beatrice. I'll tell you soon," Subaru got back up with her.
Both got up and held each other's hands.
"Subaru-kun," Felix approached him by himself, his Lady at the back, still talking with the rest.
"Oh, hey Felix." Subaru greeted him with a smile, though Beatrice did not greet him.
Though she did acknowledge its existence.
"What's up?" Subaru smiled at him.
"I'm sorry if I'm bothering you or Beatrice-sama, but I have something pretty important to ask." Felix told him, "I...It's about My Lady."
"Crusch? Is something the matter? Is it the black blood again?" Subaru quickly asked in worry.
"No, thankfully she's been doing better, mainly because of your help with it." Felix smiled in thanks, "It's about something else."
"Ask away," Subaru said.
"You notice how so many of these books have a lot documented, right? I was just thinking... if there might be something documented about the Witch Cult." Felix spoke, "Hey if you find anything about the Witch Cult or anything that can help Crusch-sama, can you tell me? Anything about it would mean the world to me."
Felix spoke sincerely, the hope that he had for Subaru's help was genuine. He truly wanted help for his Crusch and was willing to go out of his way to ask her Rivals for assistance.
'He really sees me as his friend...' Subaru felt grateful for it, he was always happy to have a friend. Especially a friend like Felix. Subaru also saw Felix as his friend.
Though there remained a problem.
"You would tell me if you found anything like that, right?" Felix asked him with a glimmer of hope in his eyes.
"Felix," Subaru smiled, though the disgust towards himself strengthened more and more, "I promise if I find anything that could help Crusch I'll tell you straight away. If I find any Witch Cult book that could help, I'll tell you."
"Thanks, Subaru-kun." Felix smiled happily at him.
Subaru's smile cracked for just a second, though only Beatrice noticed it.
"No problem."
"By the way, Subary-kyun. If we find anything that could help that girl of yours, Rem, we'll tell you straight away." Felix promised, "I'll see you later!"
Felix waved at them with a cute gesture.
Subaru just leaned back against the wall, holding Beatrice's hand for comfort.
He still hated having to act like this.
As everyone had once again left to search the library for the rest of the sigil, the Emilia Camp decided to go back to where they found Petelgeuse's book, at the request of Subaru.
"So~, Subaru-kun~. Why did you want us to come back here~?" Roswaal asked, with his signature clown accent.
"It's because I remembered something, Ros-chi," Subaru responded, currently searching through the book pile.
Subaru found Petelgeuse's book at the bottom of the pile, where he hid it, and picked it up.
"Look, you see this?" Subaru said, pointing at a tiny piece of gold sticking out of the book's cover. "It looks the same as the piece Crusch showed us."
"It doesn't resemble anything that could be part of the sigil, Barusu. Also, it looks like it had snapped off. Maybe when the book fell down earlier?" Ram proposed.
"I agree with the maid, I suppose. Could what we are looking for be hidden somewhere within this pile, I wonder?" Beatrice concurred with Ram.
Subaru thought about it and nodded his head. "I guess you're right, you two. Although, I'm worried that it will be lost somewhere due to its small size." Subaru voiced his concerns.
"But, looking for it wouldn't hurt, Subaru. We should be able to confirm its whereabouts reaaaaaaally fast, considering our numbers." Emilia said.
"Hm, yeah, I guess." Subaru gave in and began searching through the pile.
With five people searching through a pile this small, they had finished quite quickly.
"Ah! I found something, I suppose!" Beatrice called out, and everyone turned to her.
She was holding a golden ring with 5 notches placed throughout it, marking the spots where the other pieces would go.
"It seems like this is the 'base' of the sigil, in fact," Beatrice observed.
Subaru walked over and inspected the piece, "Hm, you're right. This would be where the tiny swords would go." As he inspected it further, he found it on a chain that was connected to a broken piece of gold. "Ah, so that's where it broke off from."
He took it from Beatrice's hand and removed the chain ring from it as if it was a key.
"That leaves one~ piece~, then?" Roswaal concluded.
"Yep, that weird eye thing at the bottom." Subaru responded while gesturing to it.
"It resembles the one that Uncle Geuse had," Emilia confirmed, "I wouldn't mistake that shape. It might not be coincidental."
"Let's not waste any time and go find this last piece, then!"
Subaru exclaimed, shoving the base of the sigil into his pocket.
After some searching through the endless expanse of the library, the Emilia camp stumbled upon a strange safe on one of the shelves.
It was a relatively small, rectangular safe that was black in color. It sported a keypad on the right side, with a handle on the left.
"What is that? I've never seen something like that before."
"Huh, What's a safe doing on a bookshelf?" Subaru remarked.
"Safe?" Emilia asked.
"It's like a secure compartment to keep important belongings safe from theft, usually using a key, combination lock, or like this one here, a keypad." Subaru explained.
"Wow, Subaru! How do you know so much about these things?" Emilia asked, impressed.
"They are used where I'm from, but that's besides the point right now." Subaru changed the subject, "What could be the code?"
Subaru inspected the entire bookshelf and noticed that four of the books were different from the others.
Their covers were darker, almost black, with Roman numerals etched on the bottom of each.
"III, IV, II, I... Three-four-two-one!" Subaru exclaimed.
Subaru crouched down to the safe and inputted the code into the safe.
"Three. Four. Two. One!"
Subaru pressed the '1' button, but instead of an affirming beep and a green light, three consecutive beeps were heard and an orange light turned on.
"Did it work, I suppose?" Beatrice asked.
"No... Why did I think it would be that easy?" Subaru muttered.
Subaru got up and looked at the special books again, 'I inputted it correctly... Maybe there's a clue in the books themselves?' Subaru thought.
He pulled the book that 'III' etched onto it out of the shelf, and noticed something in the back, obscured by the other books.
He pulled out all four books and found a piece of paper that was placed in a carved-out section on the back of the shelf.
Gently pulling on it so as to not rip it, he removed it from its seat and pulled it out.
It read as follows,
. I am the foundation from which everything springs.
. What nurtured life came from me.
. Then came from which sustained life.
. And at the end came what can fuel and destroy.
"A... poem?" Subaru raised an eyebrow, "It's kind of out of place."
"Well... it's a pretty poem!" Emilia smiled, "... at least we have something nice to read."
"Emilia-sama, that... is not something intriguing to read." Ram frowned, "Besides... what an odd thing to have here. What purpose does it have?"
Ram didn't share Emilia's attempt at lightening the mood any bit. She acknowledged Emilia's attempt, but her lofty attempts were appreciated.
"Perhaps it could be referring to the books, I wonder?" Beatrice proposed, and picked up the book with 'I' etched into it.
"'Basics of Magic: Volume One - Wind.' What's so special about this book, I wonder?" Beatrice read out the title and questioned its importance.
Ram walked over to the pile of books, courtesy of Subaru, and picked up the book that had 'II' etched into it.
"'Basics of Magic: Volume Two - Fire.'Maybe it's because they are part of the same series, Beatrice-sama." Ram proposed.
Roswaal walked over and picked up the two remaining books,
"Volume Three - Water~,and Volume Four - Earth~. It seems~ that you might be right~, Ram~." He confirmed.
"It's pretty odd that it's laid out here." Ram voiced, "It appears that some of it is structured for human use. That is odd,
considering that there are no traditional entryways."
"Maybe... it's a puzzle? It's clear that something needs to be entered anyway, maybe the books have something to do with that?" Emilia theorized.
"Most likely so, I suppose. It is not uncommon for people to hide important things using puzzles or passwords hidden, in fact.
Though most simply use magic, I suppose." Beatrice elaborated, "Are they trying to hide a secret location, I wonder?"
Subaru nodded, "Well, if I know anything from watching Anime then it's probably that. It's a pretty big cliche."
"Anime?" Emilia muttered quietly.
"The poem probably relates to the books, and they might be the key to opening that safe." Subaru proposed.
"What did you try to input, Subaru?" Emilia asked.
"Three-Four-Two-One." Subaru answered.
"How did you get that code?"
"Well, there are these numerals on the side of the books that represent numbers that are used where I'm from, and in the order the books were placed it was Three-Four-Two-One." He explained.
"Mm... There's a lot of things from your homeland that we don't have, Subaru."
"...Yeah, It's pretty secluded..." Subaru said while rubbing the back of his head, a sweat drop going down the side of his head.
"I think I've solved it, I suppose." Beatrice interrupted the two.
"Really, Beako?! Enlighten us!" Subaru responded with a little too much enthusiasm.
"'I am the foundation from which everything springs.' refers to the earth, in fact. The foundation from which everything begins, and starts, I suppose." She explained.
"Then, if Barusu's presumption is correct, the book about Earth Magic would be the first one. Am I correct, Beatrice-sama?" Ram followed.
"Exactly, I suppose. 'What nurtured life came from me.' refers to the water coming out of the earth, which would place the Water Magic book next."
"'Then came from which sustained life.' would be referring to the air, then. Since what keeps us alive is breathing, the book about Wind Magic would be the third!" Subaru suggested, hand on his chin.
"That would leave~ 'And at the end~ came what can fuel~ and destroy~.'as fire~, then." Roswaal finished.
"Then that leaves ordering them then!" Emilia said, walking over to the pile of books.
"First, Earth." She placed Volume Four - Earthin the first slot, starting from the left.
"Then, Water and Wind." She said, inserting Volume Three - Water and Volume One - Windin the second and third slots, respectively.
"And finally, Fire." She finished as she placed the final book, Volume Two - Fireinto the fourth and final slot.
"Okay, Four-Three-One-Two." Subaru recited the code, using the volume numbers.
He crouched down to the safe and inputted the code, and as he pressed the '2' button, he heard a single beep and a tiny green light lit up, signaling his success.
"Alright!" Subaru celebrated, gripping the handle and opening the safe.
What awaited him inside was a golden piece, in the shape of an eye with a ring around it, with a single notch at the top.
"There it is!" He grabbed the final piece of the sigil out of the safe and showed it to his group. "We're almost out of this place!"
"That's amazing, Subaru! We just need to meet up with Crusch-san and then we can assemble it." Emilia replied enthusiastically.
"Then we should start moving, Emilia-sama. If Crusch-sama isn't at the entrance then we can just wait for her, we all agreed to return to the entrance after some time." Ram suggested.
"The maid is right, I suppose. We shouldn't keep them waiting if they are already there." Beatrice agreed.
"Okay! Let's get the hell out of here!" Subaru proclaimed, and turned towards the direction of the entrance. He started walking, his camp close behind.
After Roswaal had used his magic to gain everyone's attention almost everyone had come.
As everyone was coming, Roswaal remarked something, "No matter what I did, nothing in this library seemed to be affected."
The first to come was Priscilla, who was accompanied by Aldebaran.
Then came everyone else shortly.
"Tch, what is it?" She crossed her arms underneath her chest and raised a delicate eyebrow.
"We found it, the last puzzle piece has been gained!" Subaru gestured with a smile, "Look! If we assemble it all then we got it! The last piece of the puzzle and a ticket for maybe, I mean hopefully unless we die painfully by some trap, a possible way out!"
'Why did you say that so morbidly?' This was a thought shared by some, mainly Beatrice and Emilia.
"I see, and if I may ask, how did you obtain that?" Anastasia asked them calmly, "Two pieces at the same time. How fortunate."
Subaru was the first to reply, "We found it from a puzzle."
"A puzzle, you say? And you solved it so shortly?" Anastasia responded.
"Yeah, it was just some stuff about a poem. Strange, I know, that two pieces could be held together." Subaru continued, careful with his words. "Though maybe they just didn't have any ideas for something like that, who knows." He ended with a shrug.
"Two parts of the sigil, so quickly found by the two of you." Anastasia remarked, "How fortunate we are that your camp managed to find both of them so shortly."
"Yeah," Subaru said.
"You have to tell me about the location you found it in. There might be something useful about the location of the puzzle that could help us if it happens in the future. You know, just to be safe." Anastasia reasoned.
"The purple girl is correct, how rare." Priscilla agreed, though it still felt like an insult to have her agree with her, "You buffoons will tell us shortly about the puzzle."
Subaru and Emilia just nodded, then Emilia spoke, "Sure, My camp and I have no problem with that. Still, since we might be rivals, though, it would be best to treat each other with respect regardless, Priscilla."
"As if," Priscilla scoffed.
"Oh, shut up." Felt scoffed, "Nobody needs to hear your dumbass voice. You're lucky my shoe missed you!"
"As if you could do anything to me, reality would not allow it. Neither would I." Priscilla dismissed.
"Lady Priscilla," Reinhard interrupted, "I do not mean any disrespect, but it's best for us to not argue."
Priscilla looked at Reinhard with absolute disgust, but before anything else was said by anyone Emilia spoke.
"Anyway, let's continue further." Emilia said, "It's not time to argue yet, let's try to leave first. Can you come with us, Crusch?"
As Crusch and Emilia stood side by side they grabbed the parts of the sigil necessary, combining them together they inserted it into the required section.
The part of the keypad that had descended earlier ascended again, taking the appa and the Witch's Cult sigil with it. A moment later, the robotic voice spoke again.
2/2 ARTIFACTS INSERTED
OPENING LEVEL 2 GATE...
The sound of a motor, akin to the one on a garage door, assaulted everyone's ears, causing some to flinch.
It took a few seconds for the gate to fully open, and then their possible freedom was within reach.
"Subaru? Why do you look disappointed, I suppose?" Beatrice asked, concerned.
"Well, the voice said 'Level 2', which means that we aren't getting out, at least for now." Subaru explained dejectedly.
Crusch stared into the other side, and took a single step.