Re:IF Nageku [Lamenting Life in Another World from Zero]
Phuqitol
Chapter 10: Extent of the Aftermath
Summary:
In this chapter, Subaru, Beatrice, and Bastian make their way to Costuul in search of Roswaal, and encounter a considerable threat along the way.
Chapter Text
As morning dawned the next day, Subaru, Beatrice, and Bastian prepared to leave Irlam Village for the city of Costuul, where they hoped to find Roswaal. While the three spent the remainder of yesterday talking, a sobering thought had come up in conversation.
Bastian: [What if he's dead?]
Subaru: […]
Beatrice: [It is a valid point, I suppose.]
Subaru: [I get that, really. It's just… I really don't want to think about that anymore.]
Bastian: [Thought the worst was behind you?]
Subaru: [Well, yeah. Can you really blame me?]
Beatrice: [No one's blaming you, in fact. Right, Bastian?]
Bastian: […]
Beatrice: [Bastian.]
Bastian: [Beatrice-sama, forgive me.]
Beatrice: [In the purest terms, the Witch Cult was to blame for the attack, in fact. Not Subaru.]
Bastian: [Cultists certainly perpetrated it, but --]
Subaru: [Guys, guys! That wasn't what I was referring to…]
Despite the fact that it had seemed that their fledgling band had been really coming together, there was one fly in the ointment. This was the matter of Subaru's guilt, or lack thereof. Beatrice, being his partner now, didn't appreciate blame being tossed his way for the fate that befell the Emilia Camp and the people of Irlam. While Subaru appreciated his partner's support, and he certainly didn't enjoy confronting his share of the blame, he had to admit Beatrice tended to diminish his role in the tragedy.
Bastian, by contrast, knew that Subaru wasn't fully to blame for what had transpired, but couldn't fully absolve his companion, either. Their very first conversation was indicative as to why this was the case.
As such, any time this topic was brought up, Beatrice and Bastian would butt heads. On the one hand, it indicated that Bastian was rapidly getting over his reservedness when dealing with Beatrice. However, this isn't exactly how Subaru had wanted this development to come about.
One day removed from their disagreement, that sobering possibility of finding Roswaal to be dead nagged at Subaru. He hoped against all hope that this wasn't the case. This was partially because he didn't like the idea of anyone dying, but also partially because he wanted answers.
Before leaving the village, they decided to put the house they'd been staying in back the way they'd found it. It only felt right to do so. Subaru also had one last consideration.
Subaru: [Maybe we should grab some of those barrier crystals…]
He recalled these crystals had been instrumental in protecting the village and its people from the witch beasts in the forest before it fell. Now that there was no one around to protect, he considered taking some to ward off witch beasts while they travel.
Subaru: [I guess these aren't needed here anymore, right?]
He reached for one of the crystals attached to one of the trees on the edge of the forest, but finds his hand stops before touching it.
Subaru: [… I hate myself…]
His hand recoiled away from the crystal, realizing that the witch beasts might disturb the gravesite if they are able to leave the forest.
Thoroughly bummed and his companions quarreling intermittently. What a way to start the next leg of his journey. He gave himself some invigorating slaps on his cheeks and reminded himself of what Beatrice had said yesterday.
Subaru: [It can only improve from here.]
Having psyched himself out somewhat, he rejoined his companions as they finally took their leave from Irlam Village.
The trip from Costuul by foot would take just over a day. Beatrice had offered to use her Yin Magic to tear open a spatial rift and cut down the travel time. Bastian had other ideas.
Bastian: [No. Must be on foot.]
Beatrice: [And why is that, in fact?]
Subaru: ["Penance shouldn't be so easy."]
Bastian nodded his head solemnly in response to Subaru's quotation. It was a saying that had initially been a nuisance to Subaru but had become something of a mantra to him now. Taken with Beatrice's "it can only improve from here," he had the words he needed to keep his mind out of the muck of despair.
Beatrice: [Subaru…]
Subaru: [It's fine, Beako. I'm rested up and ready to go!]
Beatrice: [If you say so, I suppose.]
It became clear to Subaru very quickly that he needed to take any opportunity he could to preempt their spats.
The aforementioned muck would prove tenacious, however.
Subaru: [This snow… just how far did it go?]
Despite having pushed further south in their travel to Costuul, the snow wasn't seeming to dissipate. The depth of the accumulation seemed to be about the same as what was seen back at Roswaal's mansion.
In the distance, the walls of Costuul begin to appear through the haze that had set in over the area.
Bastian: [Seems the snowstorm had quite the radius, though the deep freeze was limited to Irlam.]
Subaru: [That's true… though the snow has remained rather thick throughout, the ice waned not long after we left the village.]
Subaru was beginning to get a picture of how Puck's snowstorm had proceeded. The further out one got from its epicenter, the less devastation there was. In this regard, it was like a niveous nuke. Anyone as close as Irlam Village would've been frozen solid, while those further out had better chances. Crops likely would've suffered regardless, however, which would put many in dire straits. In a kingdom already suffering economically, the addition of a snowstorm and crop failure would do them no favors.
Subaru: [I got an idea of how it spread, but as to how far --]
Beatrice: [Could we talk about something else I suppose…]
Subaru: [… you're right. I'm sorry, Beako…]
Beatrice: [It's fine, I suppose. Just… please be more mindful, in fact.]
Naturally, talking about the snowstorm was reminding Beatrice of Puck. She likely didn't appreciate the two trying to dissect the snowstorm as a phenomenon. She seemed to prefer it to be left alone.
Being left alone wouldn't happen for these three, however.
Subaru: [Do you guys hear something? Like a low thunder.]
Bastian: [Ris.]
Bastian tapped the sheath on his left hip to call forth all eight of Ris. He sent them out to scout around for whatever the source of this disturbance was.
It didn't take long for them to return.
Bastian: [Not alone.]
Beatrice: [What is it, in fact?]
Bastian: [Witch beasts. Lots of them.]
Subaru: ["Lots?!" How many is "lots?!"]
Bastian: [Dozens… no, hundreds…]
Subaru: [What?!]
Bastian: [Everyone get close.]
Subaru and Beatrice got within arms reach of Bastian as he extended his arms out.
Bastian: [Radiant Dome.]
A transparent dome of white light about three meters in diameter spread out around the three of them, as the horde of witch beasts closed in on them.
That sound. That thunderous sound of thousands of feet moving in unison, closing in with a single-minded drive. Red eyes, hundreds of pairs of gleaming red eyes leered through the haze in their direction. Finally, as the witch beasts had gotten within a mere few meters of the three, they could see exactly what comprised the horde.
Subaru: [… rabbits?]
Beatrice: [… no.]
Beatrice's voice wavered and eyes widened as she saw the horde of white rabbits that was mere moments away from encircling them. Each one bore a single nubby horn on its forehead. As they got closer, they began to chitter out of agitation. They were hungry.
Bastian: [What are they?]
Beatrice: [The Great Rabbit…]
Subaru: [Why do you say that in such an ominous tone?]
Subaru realized their numbers were terrifying, but at the end of the day, they were just rabbits… right?
Beatrice: [The Great Rabbit is one of the Three Great Witch Beasts, in fact. It represents an existential threat…]
Subaru: [… oh.]
Bastian: [Need to move. Now.]
Despite the frenzied energy in this moment, Bastian didn't seem fazed. His typical monotone was maintained as though to express eternal disinterest.
The three began to make a mad dash toward the city walls in the distance. The rabbits were quick, pouncing one after another towards the three, throwing themselves carelessly. One by one, their bodies vaporized against the dome of light surrounding the three. It seemed like a perfect defensive structure.
Subaru: [It's like we're surrounded by a wall of Jiwald…]
Subaru observed as the rabbits relentlessly threw themselves at the dome, only to vaporize upon impact. There was another observation he was able to make as they ran like hell to the walls of Costuul.
Subaru: [… they just keep coming!]
No matter how many threw themselves at the dome, their numbers didn't seem to diminish. This wasn't something that could be merely attributed to the fact that they were running, which could complicate such assessments. Without a shadow of a doubt, the Great Rabbit's numbers hadn't changed at all.
One hundred meters. Ninety. Eighty. They were closing in fast on the city's walls. At this distance, they could see faint green lights dotting the walls.
Subaru: [Are those --]
Beatrice: [Barrier crystals. They've reinforced the walls to deter the Great Rabbit, I suppose.]
Bastian: [Must be an exclave within the exclusion zone. Zone must actually be for the Great Rabbit, being an active threat.]
Fortunately, the moment was far too hectic for Beatrice to connect this comment back to Puck. Previously, Bastian had surmised that there would necessarily be an exclusion zone of indeterminate radius in the event of a Great Spirit going berserk. Now, it seems, they'd found the true reason for an exclusion zone. That said, they still had yet to run into anything or anyone enforcing such a thing. As of now, for all they knew, it was still hypothetical, though probable.
Thirty meters. Twenty-five. Twenty. They were closing in on the city's walls. At face value, this might seem like they were close to safety. There was just one problem…
Subaru: [They won't let us enter if we're being tailed by this horde! We need a way over the wall, now!]
Bastian: [Beatrice-sama. You use Yin Magic. Know Murak?]
Beatrice: [Yes, in fact!]
The planning and coordination was occurring on the fly. It was inspiring for Subaru see them formulate a plan literally on their feet under such duress.
Bastian: [Use it on you two. Hold on tight.]
Beatrice: [Betty's already as light as a feather, in fact!]
Bastian: [Then use it on Subaru. In any event, hold on tight.]
Beatrice: [Murak!]
Subaru: [Woah, huh?!]
Suddenly, Subaru found himself become practically weightless. In that moment, he grabbed onto the left sleeve of Bastian's hoari with all of his strength, for fear of floating away. Beatrice grabbed onto Subaru's mantle, forming a chain of people flying behind Bastian like a human cape.
Bastian: [El Shinza.]
With this chant, Bastian began to move much faster than he had been, starting to outpace the Great Rabbit horde. On top of this, he'd received the typical strength boost of this type of magic. With practically no burden on him by the people he was carrying, he kept accelerating. With his right hand, he reached for his blade. Not the sheath this time, but the grip of the blade itself. The sky blue tassel flowed in the wind like a horse's tail. Then, he unsheathed the sword –
It was visible only to him: a sword of scimitar make with a stark white blade. As the light emitted from the dome shone against the blade, it glimmered an iridescent blue. This didn't last long, though, as the dome fell. This was because –
White. Nothing but white. Subaru could see nothing and heard nothing but a tone. This tone sounded simultaneously heavenly and nightmarish. It consumed his mind, making it difficult to think. It was as though he'd slipped into a white void, though he refused to let go of the nothing in front of him. He couldn't even feel what he was holding, as though his hands had gone numb.
Subaru: [… … …]
He tried to say something. Anything. He couldn't hear his own voice escape his mouth. He was beginning to panic. Had he died? Did he truly no longer have Return By Death, and this was the void that awaited him?
Where were Beatrice and Bastian?
What happened to them?
Where was he?
What was happ –
Suddenly, he could see again. He, Beatrice, and Bastian had somehow made it over the wall and into the city. They were safe.
Subaru: [Wha… what the hell was that?!]
Bastian: [Sorry.]
Beatrice: [Explain yourself, in fact!]
Bastian: [Sorry.]
Subaru: [Would you quit apologizing and explain?!]
Bastian: [So—hrm.]
Subaru: [You were gonna apologize again?!]
Bastian seemed as calm as usual, but his seeming inability to say anything other than "sorry" indicated a degree of worry. Had he actually been anxious while running away from the Great Rabbit? It would be understandable, though Bastian had been rather unemotive the entire time Subaru had known him, save for the occasional faint smile.
Bastian: [… Entrancing Tone.]
Subaru: [Huh?]
Bastian: [Spirit Art of mine. Activates whenever the Singing Blade is drawn. Ris produces a tone that overwhelms the senses of any that hear it.]
Beatrice: [How is that, in fact?]
Bastian: [Yang Magic. Enhances the target's perception of just the tone, erasing all other sensory perceptions.]
Subaru: [… woah.]
Bastian: [Sorry. Should've warned you. Both of you.]
Bastian bowed deeply. It was easily the humblest he'd appeared before Subaru, as he typically had a rather lax stature.
Subaru: [But why use that Spirit Art?]
Bastian: [Couldn't escape them on foot. Needed an opportunity to escape. Entrancing Tone provided this.]
Subaru: [Woah…]
With the Great Rabbit in disarray from their sudden loss of all senses, Bastian had vaulted over the city's walls effortlessly using El Shinza. To maximize their odds of success, he had Beatrice nullify Subaru's weight, making his burden lighter on top of himself faster and stronger. Such on the fly planning truly amazed Subaru. He found himself at a loss of words. At the very least, he thought he was glad to find himself in the company of such talented people.
The good vibes wouldn't last long, however.
???: [Jus' what th' hell ya think yer doin', huh?! Jumpin' over a damn wall like that! Bringin' that thing to our doorstep! Causin' all sortsa chaos!]
A muscular blonde demi-human with an X-shaped scar across his face began barking at the three. He was accompanied by armed guards, presumably the city's guards. Looking around them, Subaru saw many of the townspeople appeared to be in disarray. There were some who appeared frightened. Was this because of Bastian's Spirit Art, too?
Subaru: [Just what is the range on that thing?]
Bastian: [Sorry.]
???: [Shuddup! You lot're comin' with me! Ain't ev'ry day we get people breachin' the exclusion zone. 'll see what kinda punishment ya get!]
And there it was: confirmation that they were, indeed, trespassing.