Chapter 2

Plum IF

Plum: "You're sweet."

Subaru shivers as he thinks of his icy body. He remembers his tragic end, the dangerous creature before him.

Subaru: "Plum, we've got to get out of here immediately and get as far away as we can."

Plum looks at him in surprise. She doesn't understand why his expression has suddenly changed.

Plum: "What's going on, Subaru? Why do you want to leave?"

Subaru: "I'll explain later,

Plum. Trust me, please. There's a danger here, a danger that concerns us both."

He takes her by the hand and leads her towards the exit. Plum lets him, but she's worried. She wonders what Subaru knows that she doesn't. They leave the house and find themselves on the street. Subaru looks around anxiously. He stares at the falling snow for a moment.

Plum: "Subaru, where are we going?"

Subaru: "I don't know, Plum. Anywhere, away from this place. Away from that monster."

Plum: "Who are you talking about, Subaru? What monster?"

Subaru: "A huge monster, I can't tell you more, we're running out of time."

Plum: "A huge monster? Subaru, we're in the capital of Lugunica. Nothing you say could come unnoticed, the knights would have killed it."

Subaru: "Of course! Let's get some knights."

?: "May I ask why you're looking for knights?"

A woman in her early twenties had appeared behind Subaru, with long black hair tied to one side. She also had a black dress and violet eyes.

Subaru: "We're looking for the knights, because a monster will appear any minute."

? : "You don't look like you're lying, but I doubt a monster will appear over there. I'm sure of it."

Subaru: "By the way, who are you?"

Elsa: "My name is Elsa."

Subaru: "Nice to meet you, Miss Elsa. I'm Subaru, and the girl on my right is called Plum."

Elsa: "Well, I mustn't dawdle. I've finished what I had to..."

Suddenly, an enormous sound of destruction as if a house were collapsing sounded in the distance. He looked up to see a gigantic shadow looming in the sky.

Elsa: "The Beast from the End? No, that's impossible!"

Subaru: "RUN!"

Elsa: "You're finished, even running would be useless. He can kill us in an instant."

Subaru: "There must be a solution."

Elsa: "It's one of the most powerful creatures around, theoretically half as powerful as the witch. However, I want to survive, so goodbye!"

Subaru: "Wait!" But, she had fled at inhuman speed, as if gliding effortlessly across the ground. Her steps were so quick and light that she soon disappeared from his sight.

Plum: "Subaru... I'm scared."

A snowstorm was coming at the speed of light. Subaru took Plum in his arms and said these last words to her

Subaru: "I swear to protect you..."

But just as they were about to die, a young man with red hair suddenly appeared in front of Subaru and Plum. He wears white armor and a blue cape, and exudes an aura of power and nobility. ?: "That's enough." He raises his sword above his head with a powerful aura.

?: "Don't move!"

A vessel of light from the young man to the sky begins to spread before him and destroys the Beast of the End into dust.

Wait, did he really just destroy that monster with just one swing of his sword?!

Subaru: "Who are you?"

Reinhard: "I'm a knight of the royal guard, Reinhard van Astrea."

Subaru: "I thank you from the bottom of my heart for saving us from this monster!"

He crouches down in gratitude.

Plum: "Thank you, thank you very much!"

She throws herself into Subaru's arms, relieved to be alive.

Reinhard: "Don't thank me, it's my duty as a knight to protect people."

He smiles gently and puts away his sword.

Reinhard: "But tell me, who are you and what were you doing here?"

Subaru: "My name is Subaru Natsuki, and this is Plum Risch."

Reinhard: "You're very lucky I happened to be passing by. That monster was the Beast of the End, an artificial spirit that was created long ago."

Subaru: "A woman told us the same thing, not even a few minutes ago."

Plum: "Why did that thing attack us?"

Reinhard: "Unfortunately, I don't know."

Subaru: "What are you going to do now? This beast has wreaked havoc and... OUR SHELTER IS COMPLETELY DESTROYED!"

He rushes to the remains of their shelter and sees that everything is destroyed except the mattress where he slept several times.

Subaru: "MY PACKAGE OF CHIPS!"

Plum: "Subaru, your bag was under your cushion..."

Subaru: "YOUPI MY CHIPS ARE ALIVE!"

Plum: "Is it an animal?"

Subaru: "No, some kind of food that certainly can't exist in Lugunica."

Plum: "You seem to want it very much."

Subaru: "I remind you that this is the only food we have, so it's a good thing it didn't turn to dust!"

The red-haired knight approaches them with a frightened expression.

Reinhard: "We'd better go and see if I've caused any casualties."

Plum and Subaru set off accompanied by Reinhard, Subaru grabbing his plastic bag before leaving.

Reinhard: "It's very dark around here, so it might be difficult to see anything."

Suddenly, Subaru had the idea of using his phone to make light.

Subaru: "Voila! Now we can see the surroundings better."

Reinhard: "Is it some kind of meteor?"

Subaru: "What's a meteor?"

Reinhard: "A meteor is a magical object that allows its user to use magic without having a dedicated portal."

Subaru: "My phone isn't really a meteor, but I think it can be considered a fairly unique object."

Reinhard: "I see, let's keep moving, I'd like to go and see where that monster appeared."

They advance cautiously through the slums, illuminated by the faint glow of Subaru's telephone. They see destroyed houses and uprooted trees.

They arrive in front of a large wooden house, the house was probably the most destroyed they had seen so far.

Reinhard stepped forward, Subaru and Plum following. They discover a dark and messy room, with overturned furniture and scattered objects.

Subaru: "What happened here?"

Plum: "Looks like there's been a fight..."

Reinhard: "Or an attack..."

Subaru uses his phone to see a little more of the room, when suddenly they see three lifeless bodies on the floor.

Reinhard: "Oh no... It's..."

He kneels before Emilia's body and sheds a tear.

Reinhard: "Emilia... I'm sorry... I couldn't protect you..."

Subaru: "They've all been disembowelled. It's horrible."

Reinhard: "Wait, I think I know who killed them. I think it's the famous entrail hunter. She uses a knife to disembowel her victims."

Subaru: "It's creepy, almost like a horror movie..."

Plum: "Subaru! Look, I've found a glowing stone."

Subaru: "Plum, this isn't the time..."

Reinhard grabbed Plum's wrist in one swift movement, looking panicked.

Reinhard: "Impossible, how come the stone is glowing!"

Plum: "You're hurting me, holding me like this."

Subaru: "What's the matter with you Reinhard, holding her like that! She's only 10, I remind you!"

Reinhard: "I'm sorry I acted like that. It's just that this stone is an insignia that designates the candidates for succession to the throne of Lugunica."

Subaru: "Wait, so you're going to tell me that Plum is a candidate to become queen?"

Reinhard: "That's right, I'm also going to have to take your daughter with me."

Plum: "That's out of the question! I'm staying with Subaru."

Reinhard: "I never forbade Subaru to come with you, Miss Plum."

Subaru: "Miss Plum? She's 10 years old, I remind you."

Plum: "Subaru, are we going to stay together?"

Subaru: "Of course, I can't abandon you. I swore to protect you earlier and I wouldn't break my promise so quickly!"

Reinhard: "Perfect, I thought I was going to have to use the hard way, but it's perfect to see you cooperating."

Plum, Subaru and Reinhard set off towards Reinhard's mansion.

Greetings!

I don't know what you'll think of this chapter, but personally, I liked the part where Subaru thinks he's lost his chips.

At first, I wanted Elsa to kill Subaru, but I had no idea why she'd kill him, so I preferred her to do nothing and just talk a bit with Subaru.

On the other hand, Plum becoming a candidate for the throne seems possible to me given that Emilia and Felt are dead and that in the anime, it doesn't say that if one candidate dies, that another can replace him. I love reading your comments! Don't hesitate, it warms my heart to see so many people liking my story.

Now for a quick question: What could be the future dangers for Subaru and Plum?