Hey, been a while since the last chapter. I just want to say that I've been working on another story that I was kind of hesitant on making. It had started as one of my pre-written Guild Au's, but it grew bigger. I started making plans for it.
With me writing The Guild into a corner and little idea how else to go with it, I'm posting a new fic with similar concepts and themes as it.
Just be on the look out for it if you read the old story.
Anyway, I've wasted enough time, let's get on with this.
Everyone jumped back as Rem rushed towards Subaru. The boy could only groan as the Oni girl crushed him in a hug. "Its... nice to... see you two... Rem.." Subaru strained out as she continued to squeeze him. "Rem?" Naofumi asked. "Eh, yes?" Rem asked, turning to face him. "I think you're killing him." He blurted out. Rem turned back to see that Subaru was turning blue from the pressure she was putting on him.
She let go and began apologizing profusely. "Subaru, I'm so happy you're ok. Rem is glad her hero is back." She said while her cheeks burned in embarrassment. "Its fine. Far from the worst thing." Subaru muttered the last part as he gave Rem a half smile. "Rem, my friend Raphtalia is getting Otto, when he arrives I have some things to tell you two." Subaru said with a rather serious expression. "We also have some things to say, but I will let you say your things first." Rem said.
Naofumi just huffed in the background as Rem rested her head on Subaru's shoulder. She took a deep breath before taking him in another embrace. "Please, don't leave Rem alone again?" She quietly begged. Subaru gave her a pat on the back as his expression changed. He didn't say a word, preferring to keep his hold on her.
Their moment was then interrupted by the sound of a cart approaching. "Sir Naofumi, Sir Subaru we brought him here." Raphtalia said as she and Filo entered the camp. Otto wasn't far behind them with his loyal ground dragon pulling the cart. He seemed hesitant at first before his eyes widened the moment he saw Rem and Subaru. "S... Subaru?" he asked hesitantly. "Yeah Otto, it's me. Patrasche found me first." Subaru said while gesturing to the smug ground dragon.
He let out a deep breath as he let Rem loose from his grip. The Oni girl simply continued to hold onto him. "There's a lot we have to talk about. So come grab a seat." He said.
"So can we have food now?" Filo asked, still in her filolial form. Rem and Otto turned to her in unison. "Subaru, did that bird just talk?" Rem asked hesitantly. Filo just confounded them further by transforming to her human form.
"As I just said, there's a lot to talk about." Subaru said, rubbing the back of his neck.
Hajime rubbed his eyes with his real hand as he finished his latest weapon. The news of Ehit's rise had set him off, leaving him to do nothing but make more weapons. If he wasn't building something new than he was improving on his older weapons.
Shizuku and Kaori had chosen to keep an eye on their teacher until she could properly recover. Tio was keeping watch outside the tomb of Nazarick. That left Yue and Shea to watch over Myu as he continued working.
"Don't worry, one day, this will all be over." he muttered as the weapon glowed with a bright crimson light.
Kazuma gave a nervous glance as he approached the Demon King's castle. The forcefield around it was translucent yet shining. Hordes of lesser monsters and mindless beasts surrounded it like a ring of blades. He involuntarily swallowed as he reached the gate. 'Nervous?" Magic 1 asked. "More than you can imagine." he whispered as he reached the gate. A pair of demons stood out front, a hand on each of their weapons as they stared him down.
"Halt," one of them spoke in a deep voice. "Satou, you have arrived as the Demon King requested." The other said. "Yes." Kazuma replied. "Have you any with you?" The first asked. "Just one, but she's tame." Kazuma answered. He ignored the displeasure that Magic 1 gave him for referring to her as 'Tame'. "Then enter, leave the other with Wiz." The second demon said.
Kazuma nodded, turning too Magic 1 as the gate opened for him. She huffed at him before walking away, the demons gave her no mind as she approached Wiz. Kazuma entered the through the gates ignoring the masses of darkness and strange angles sealed within the cyptic halls.
"Here we go." he muttered before following the path to the throne room. Patrolling monsters gave him no mind as the doors to the throne room came into view. The large wooden frames lay well kept as he raised a hand to knock against the door. "Enter." A calm voice said as the doors open. Kazuma could see the demon king resting on his throne, bags under his eyes.
"Satou Kazuma, I have heard news concerning you." the king said. "What News Sir?" Kazuma asked nervously. "I have heard, that you've been expanding a business empire with aid of Wiz and my old friend Vanir. I must say its quite genius." The king trailed off. "Yes, we have sir." Kazuma answered honestly. The demon king put a hand on his shoulder. "Satou Kazuma, I have something to give you." he spoke calmly.
"I... What?" He asked in confusion. "You see Beldia isn't on leave, the Mobile Fortress Destroyer had killed him alongside his castle. Since then I've been in need of a new General to replace him. You are one of the current candidates for this. Continue to succeed and I may give you the position." The Demon King spoke.
"Sir... Are you sure?" Kazuma asked. "Indeed, few of my army has the practicality and common sense that you possess. So continue to succeed and I will grant you the position." The Demon King said. "I... I won't fail you my lord." He said as he stood up. "Good, now the reason I called you here rather than just over a mirror." The Demon King said cryptically.
"Ah, why Sir?" he asked quietly. "I need you to become a general, so don't disappoint me." he almost snarled. Kazuma nodded so hard his head almost fell off. "I won't fail you." he almost shouted as the Demon King relaxed back into his throne.
"Good, the armory is down that hall on the left, feel free to grab something from there." The Demon King said. Kazuma bowed before walking down the hall at a brisk pace.
If he could he would be sweating. "Shit, shit." he muttered. The monsters ignored him as he strode into the armory cursing under his breath. 'What's the issue?' Magic 1 asked through her telepathy. 'I've been chosen for a promotion. If I succeed then I'll be at risk of being found out. If I fail he'll probably kill me.' Kazuma answered. 'It can't be that bad?' Magic 1 suggested. Kazuma grit his teeth in frustration as his eyes glazed over the weapons of the armory.
'If one thing goes wrong the Anti-Wave plan goes kaput. If he finds out about these, or worse, his other generals find out about these then our plans to help people go up in flames and the Shop of Wonders gets outed as an ally of the Demon King. We'd go broke and be hunted down in this world.' Kazuma summarized to Magic 1 as he ran his hands over a bow. 'Ah, so act careful from now on.' Magic 1 replied. "Yep." Kazuma muttered as he picked up a longbow made of pure white wood.
The group had settled as Subaru and Raphtalia gave them a run down on the wave situation. Otto and Rem listened tentatively as they gave a run down on the plan, the coordination required, and the teleportation points. They had to cut out certain details such as Tempest itself, Nazarick, and some actions taken before now just to save some time.
"So, Subaru, you've gone far in this." Otto surmised as Rem just admired her hero. "Yeah, on a plan to save the world." He took a deep breath after that. "Sir Subaru has been of great aid to us while we've been traveling to fight against the Waves." Raphtalia said. "I'm glad that Subaru has been doing better since..." Otto trailed off as the air grew uncomfortable.
Naofumi just shook his head and took Filo with him out of the camp. Keel and Rifana nodded to him as he did so. "I know, it hasn't been easy, but I've physically recovered from it." Subaru said. Rem bit the bullet and opened her mouth; "Subaru, have you thought of returning to the Emilia camp?". Subaru flinched at the question as the three demi humans got on guard.
He took another deep breath. "During the first month or so in that cell, yes. But after everything else,-" he stopped to removed his leather gloves and lift the Stargazer. "I have to say that I have little interest in rejoining the camp or putting myself with another camp." he spoke calmly while staring at them with his glassy eye.
The two looked him over; taking in the scars that poked through his clothing, the stranged rings that rested on some of his fingers near the knuckle. The faint glassy eye in his right socket was the most shocking of them all. Rem teared up while Otto turned away in reluctance. "Miss Emilia, will not be happy to hear that." Otto muttered sadly. "I'll have to talk with her and the other candidates anyway." Subaru said.
Rem stood up and walked to Subaru. She wrapped her arms around him and just cried into his shoulder. "Rem is sorry, please forgive her." She said in repeat between broken sobs. Subaru pat her head as he just let her cry. "Rem, Otto, will you two respect my decision?" he asked while staring Otto down. Otto took a deep breath and stood up, looking Subaru right in the eye.
"I will not force you Subaru, I just hope you can still consider me a friend." he said solemnly. Subaru nodded before he looked down at Rem. "I'll follow you." She said. Subaru raised a brow: "Huh?" he asked. "Rem said, that she will follow you. if it can make up for her previous failures then she shall do whatever you say." She declared while looking at him.
The onlookers could only gasp at her declaration as Subaru just gave her a confused look. "You'd... leave the camp for me?" he asked. "If Subaru can tolerate this Failure of an Oni, she will." Rem said. Subaru sighed before he held her shoulders. "Rem, you don't have to do that for me." he said while tearing up. "Rem will stand with her hero. whether day or night she will." She declared.
"Well, I guess that changes some things." Subaru muttered. Rem nodded before letting go of him. "So, You plan to talk with the other Royal Candidates?" Otto asked. "And the Sage Council if they'll listen. But that's just the start." Subaru answered. "Still, world ending storms filled with monsters. It's far too crazy to make sense." Otto interjected. "Not if Reinhert is there." Subaru countered.
The group dissolved into more idle conversation as Naofumi returned with Filo and a large half-eaten Mabeast. Subaru let his shoulders sink and relaxed around familiar people for the first time in over a year.
The return trip may be a success after all.