Starmegalo here!
Yes, once again. I am here. Thank you for all your support!(Kudos, Fav, Favorite.)
Today's chapter is sick, things take a different turn and this is the start of chapters of heavy conflict and drama. Anastasia is the key character in this one. Then the Priscilla marathon starts. We will also cover everything important that happened in the 2 days that Subaru forgot.
If you want to support the fic, you can follow/favorite in FFN(This fic is quite unpopular there,lol) and Kudos in AO3.
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Let's start!
"Subaru...I was reaaaaaaaaly reaaaaaaly REAAAAAAAAALY worried!" A pouting girl with an innocent voice stood in front of a black haired man, she brought her delicate hands in front of her mid-sized chest that was covered by an expensive fabric, not showing any flesh yet moving the imagination with ease.
"Hmm. Well, I can take care of myself." Subaru says bluntly.
"But...I was worried." Emilia answers. As if wanting to hear something from him. To be more specific:
Apologize
so I can tell you to promise me.
"Well. Next time, don't?" Of course, Subaru knows that…hence why he is struggling with the limits of his patience.
"It just...I reaaaaaly don't like it when you go alone on your own. You disappear without telling us where you are going. What if something happened to you?" Emilia points out the lack of safety.
However, Subaru just shrugs it off.
"Any danger you can think of, I can manage it," Subaru says.
"But Subaru, you..." Emilia stops for a second. Trying to think of a way to say it without making Subaru sad. This was a sign of her growth. Old Emilia would just say things bluntly in the harshest way possible without realizing it, when she knew, she wouldn't care even though she knew Subaru might not like it. It was the truth after all.
Right now at the very least, she was trying to hold back. Realized that what she thinks might not be the truth, and if it isn't, then wouldn't she hurt Subaru for no reason?
But it was futile when Subaru could read her thoughts like a book. Not to mention this growth, even if it was a growth, it was miniscule as if she truly thought and questioned about it, she wouldn't be thinking simple as him being super vulnerable to any danger.
"Because I am weak?"
"..." Her silence was more than enough as an answer, but she nodded anyway.
"Well. Just because you think that way doesn't mean I will die the moment I am alone against something. A reminder that I had a life before I met any of you. Also, would you imagine me being able to help against many things that I've faced so far?" Subaru's words were quite deceptive if one thinks about how he lived in one of the safest countries on Earth. But he wanted to get his point across for the ever-stubborn Emilia who thought he was the weakest like no one ever was.
"...No," Emilia says honestly. Let alone all the things she heard about Subaru doing, the things that she witnessed with her own eyes. None of them was anything Emilia would believe.
Even now. Her strong belief in Subaru was a choice. If Subaru said something then Emilia would listen to him. However... she knew that deep down she would have doubts.
She wished to be like that girl, Rem. But even though she got better at believing Subaru as she worked towards that... the gap was too wide.
"I could look at her face and tell her that I will go and kill the Witch, and she would smile and want to come with me."
"She is such a woman that I feel invincible just because I know she believes I can do anything."
"Even I know that I have many mysteries surrounding me when it comes to everyone other than me. That's why I easily accepted. I won't ever be able to form strong bonds. That's why I accepted everything that happened in the capital easily. But Rem made me realize that I can expect more from people, for she was the one who believed me without me needing to explain some parts. She believed me. She believed Natsuki Subaru. It's insane, right?"
As she recalled his one of maaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaany words for Rem. Emilia's heart screamed answers every single time.
"I would come too! Even if it's against the whole world!"
"If that's what it takes, I'll make you invincible too!"
"It's not insane! It's only normal!"
However, that was only a part of her heart. There were doubts. That's why she couldn't voice those thoughts like Rem, it would be a lie. There were things that she escaped from. She knew that in reality, she wanted to have everything she has with Subaru without being like Rem or even doing anything more than now. Because she was scared of things changing.
Never changing and never improving, yet getting so much anyway. Emilia still wanted that.
What would that laziness bring? Emilia hoped she would never find out.
"Hey, Emilia!" Emilia was called out by Subaru for not listening with a lack of '-tan' at the end of the sentence. It bothered her a lot even though she always wanted to be called 'Emilia' only by Subaru.
But perhaps that wish was a mistake. Looking back, Emilia loved it when Subaru called her 'Emilia' because it would always be a special moment that made her heart go, 'bump, bump,' really fast. But that changed, now he was doing it regularly, casually.
She slowly nodded toward Subaru to show that she was listening. She didn't like how docile she was while doing it. But Subaru was satisfied with the gesture, at the least.
"Anyways. As you can see, things don't just go as you think nor your logic is supreme. So trust me a little when I say I'll be fine."
"I always trust Subaru," Emilia stated firmly.
And yet
"..." Subaru didn't say anything to that.
Lack of belief. That's what the silence screamed at Emilia's elven ears.
That was, of course, absolutely correct.
After Emilia's words of wanting to share his suffering and carrying the weight with him helped him a lot..
Until it harmed him even more than it helped since things she said never happened. Subaru woke up from that fantasy and realized his suffering was his. Emilia's words lost weight, more precisely, Subaru realized they never had any weight.
To be blunt, she was all talk when it came to Subaru. While somewhat more realistic with any other person.
Emilia was not a person that he could rely on when it comes to getting support.
Subaru looked at Emilia as he dispelled his thoughts.
She wore the kimono he tailored for her. It was purple with some blue lines. It made her look really good. Subaru picked the colors according to her eye.
Subaru believed that the eyes could be the most enchanting part of any person, especially their colors. He couldn't see Emilia's eye colors most of the time because of his sickness. So he decided to attempt fixing that with a kimono.
That purpose failed. However, there was no need to say that it looked good on Emilia, who was already gorgeous. There were few women he knew in this world who could match her physique.
Her breasts were slightly shaped through the fabric, they couldn't be compared to Priscilla and Crusch, speaking of size. She was closer to Rem. Rem was still bigger by a good margin of course. Unlike Emilia's default outfit, this one wasn't amplifying the size with how it covered them. Of course, Subaru didn't dislike the 'help' she received from her default outfit which made her chest look bigger and it showed her doll-like beauty...but there was also an allure to being able to see her boobs as it is, proportionally speaking of course. They were covered properly in that kimono, with no cleavage.
As he thought about Emilia's boobs, little did Subaru know that it was a rabbit hole.
When he wasn't around Emilia said, she and the other women got into the bath...together.
'Bath with Priscilla. I wonder how she acted there. She seems shameless enough to boast about her boob size...' Whether Priscilla showing off her body to candidates or Emilia's possible jealousy. Subaru would be very interested in that interaction. He wondered if that happened...
'I wonder how Crusch-san and Anastasia-san...' Crusch, even before her memory loss, had an airhead side. With memory loss. the airhead part of her amplified. Subaru could imagine Crusch being clueless as to what Priscilla is doing or why Anastasia is looking at everyone's chest ragefully. But perhaps she would realize that she was superior in the ass department. Though if Subaru's feelings were correct, Priscilla could compete in that field even against Anastasia.
'Wait...how do I know that? I never saw that part of her thanks to her dress...' Subaru thought. Perhaps his imagination was completing things...Though he was too sure of how she looked for some reason.
As Subaru's libido took control of things, he thought about the 'girl only' interactions they had in the bath. He already had a very long 'side story' in his head. Subaru shamelessly continued thinking about his bold imagination of pure dragon maidens, something that no knight or noble would do but Subaru believed in his freedom in his own mind, and he had no regrets. Perhaps he would even try to 'relieve' himself. Something he hasn't done ever since he reached this world.
'Wait..didn't Emilia say Beatrice also joined them?! So I can actually learn everything from her!'
But as Subaru's blood left his brain, his reaction time slowed, he was totally defenseless. Something hit him fast, causing him to fall.
When he looked at what hit him...an angry-looking pouting Beatrice could be seen as she stood on top of him.
"Ara, ara...Who you might be, I suppose?" She said with a teasing and judging glare.
But Subaru-
"Beako!"
"Hyaaa! Nyo...No. I am angry at you! Don't get carried away, in fac-" To discipline your Subaru, you cannot show any hint of hesitation.
However, even if she played her part perfectly, it didn't work!
Little did Beatrice know Subaru already learned from Reinhard that she wasn't necessarily angry but worried.
So he just acted spoiled.
"Hahahahahahaha! You look so cute in your kimono! My efforts are more than worth it!" Subaru said as he hugged Beatrice and kept spinning. The kimono she wears is adorned with a matching pink with her pupils. And it had some black matching Subaru's 'rare' hair color.
Needless to say, Subaru was proud of his work. Beatrice was shining bright with all those colors.
"Subaru needs to stop thinking about perverted things..." Beatrice states with a gaze that made it obvious she got an idea on how to make him pay for making her worried.
"Shhhh! Why do you even say that?!" Subaru says with a whisper, embarrassed.
"Others may not realize, but you cannot hide from me. The way your eyes lost focus as you looked at Emilia..." Beatrice looked at Subaru judgingly, likely teasing him. However it was a bit too much, so Subaru continued attempts to silence her.
This wasn't fair after all. A healthy man could have such thoughts without bothering anyone, it couldn't be helped. It was his responsibility to not show that, which he could do with great skill. But Beatrice exposing him wouldn't do.
'Pervert...hmm...Priscilla... also called Subaru a pervert. I guess there is nothing to worry about if he also acts like that with me since I know Subaru and that he is just being childish…but others might misunderstand.'
Emilia thinks about certain things that Priscilla insinuated that bothered her a lot. But Beatrice's remarks made her feel a bit better.
'Beatrice can just see Subaru better than others...if only I could get her to trust me.'
Then I could figure him out. That's what Emilia thought for a long time. But Beatrice's cooperation was impossible to enlist. Now even with lots of sweets Emilia prepared for her.
As Emilia's gaze fixated on Subaru's face, she realized that hot water still made her dizzy. She breathed heavily. Her heart started to beat faster and faster.
Emilia was neither good with extreme hotness nor cold. The only cold she was good with was when it came from her magic or Puck's.
As she watched Subaru and Beatrice whispering, she saw something that caught Subaru's interest, but when she looked where he was looking, she couldn't see a thing.
Until...someone appeared from the empty corridor he was looking at.
Subaru's eyes locked with that person's. He quickly got up and his expression changed. He walks towards the man. As if sensed him before he was visible, Subaru's expectations weren't wrong.
"Wilhelm-san, it's been a long time," Subaru says very respectfully.
Wilhelm smiles while he observes Subaru. "I feel fortunate to meet with Subaru-dono. I am also glad to see that you improved a lot." Emilia doesn't understand what Wilhelm meant by that. She assumed that it must be something only Wilhelm could sense.
Or it was another Subaru secret she didn't know. The thought of it alone bothered her.
But of course, in reality, Wilhelm was praising Subaru's training. Something Emilia didn't think much about despite being proud of Subaru for his efforts.
You can run faster than all the kids now! Even Lusbel!
Yeah…Subaru didn't tell anything about his training to Emilia after that. That was why Emilia didn't see Subaru creating spells of his own, that even Beatrice couldn't believe.
In the end, 'Subaru secrets' were things that were found out by being with Subaru. So only Beatrice knew about his true capabilities, only to a certain degree.
Subaru scratches his head with an embarrassed expression. "Well, I am trying to do good in my own way."
"No need for that level of modesty." Wilhelm shook his head with a troubled expression. He understood that some things did not change.
As he thought of that, his sharp eyes also landed on Emilia. He looked deep into her eyes.
'Indeed, some things never change. But my assessment of her eyes was wrong before. This time I can see the difference clearly.'
Wilhelm thought that Subaru's and Emilia's eyes were one and the same at some point. But it was clear to him that he simply wanted to see her that way because she was Subaru's master. Yet, the truth always reveals itself. You can delude yourself only so much. His eyes were unlike no one's.
The eyes that saw no obstacle. Death, Defeat, Limitations, Rules. None of them was a reason to stop.
Such determination not only saved Wilhelm and helped to achieve his dearest wish. It was the thing that lightened his path in the absence of revenge.
Subaru and Wilhelm kept talking...surprising both Emilia and Beatrice that Subaru instantly felt like he had grown decades older when he started to speak with Wilhelm.
As they spoke and others listened. Someone appeared beside them.
"Natsuki-san and Wilhelm-san. You get along really well." Anastasia speaks. Seemingly interrupting them. However, they were also weird by being so immersed in talking to one another when a dragon maiden was with them. She was standing there for a while but they didn't realize she was there.
Subaru felt like something about Anastasia was off. He glanced at Wilhelm, but he also had no idea...his blue eyes traced hers, yet Subaru couldn't understand if he saw something or not…
"Natsuki-san...what is that expression? Getting over something or not...it's up to you how careless you will be. But at least feel a bit nervous, will you?" Anastasia says with a rather icy tone.
Subaru didn't know what was going on...Anastasia was angry with him. For some reason.
'Not to mention the change from 'Natsuki-kun' to 'Natsuki-san' feels immense.'
It's even worse considering she started calling him 'Subaru-kun' now and then…He was feeling uncomfortable and a bit conflicted since that's what Rem called him, but he was slowly getting used to it. He was doing it because 'First name + -kun' wasn't an abnormal way of calling someone. It would be bad if he reacted badly to everyone who called him that way.
That aside—
There was no doubt. Anastasia's opinion of Subaru changed drastically...but for what reason?
"Anastasia-san...could it be that you are angry?"
"Not at all," Anastasia answered with a glare.
Subaru understood clearly that this was one of the moments where women spoke their 'woman language.' Anastasia clearly said, "I fucking hate you right now. You better do something about it or burn in hell". Of course even that translation was optimistic, perhaps 'You better do something about it' wasn't even there.
"I fucking hate you, burn in hell" was much worse without any hope for improvement.
Subaru understood that, even then, he couldn't do anything about it without knowing what the hell he did.
Could it be that drunk Natsuki Subaru was someone who…was inappropriate with girls?
And then he forced Anastasia….to something?
No! That is NOT who he is!
A madman? Maybe…Insane? Perhaps. Making a mountain of his own corpses? Without a mistake.
Doing things without consent? Nope.
"I...I am having problems figuring out what I did to make you angry like this." All in all, it was no one but Anastasia herself, who assertively showed her dislike towards Subaru without speaking to him. However, he would endure that unjust treatment for a bit longer since their relationship got better these days.
Wilhelm was listening the interaction with great interest.
"...You...don't tell me you forgot? What you did that night..."
"Forgot...night? It must be yesterday." Subaru still hasn't recovered his memories of yesterday.
So he focused a bit...trying to relive the feeling of recalling things like how he did every time he died.
If Subaru wished to remember, there was nothing he couldn't remember.
So as he thought deeply, both Anastasia and Subaru recalled that time-
(Recollection)
Anastasia was pouting with full power.
"Ah... I wonder what happened for Miss to act playful like this." With a teasing voice Ricardo talked to Anastasia.
"I wanted to see our super star when I heard their camp also got here but..."
"Well, he disappeared," Anastasia said with a disappointed voice, also disappointing Ricardo, who wanted to speak with Subaru.
"Ah. I heard you two were rather close while—Alright I won't talk about it." Ricardo makes the right decision and stops talking about it when Anastasia glares at him with great animosity.
"I heard from the elf girl that you knew where he was." As Ricardo said those words Anastasia looked at the beginning of the corridor. Emilia was peeking towards them...
"Sorry to disappoint. First, he assertively comes behind me—"
'Even I did not sense him, he is sneaky like that Sword Saint when he wants.' Anastasia ignores the voice in her head.
"-Took a big greedy sniff of my hair..." Ricardo kept listening.
"I was shocked too. I couldn't move." 'Couldn't? You mean you didn't?' 'Shut the fuck up!'
Anastasia kept dramatizing the situation. "And while I was frozen in my place. He held me tightly." She kept observing Ricardo. And someone else.
"And then that was the time when he made his move, like a wild wolf, a very hungry, perverted, sneaky, wild, wolf~"
"Nhhhhhhhhhhhhhhhgh! EMILIA! WHY THE HELL ARE YOU EAVESDROPPING?" A furious voice that terrorized everyone, even the Sword Saint and Finest of Knights.
While Anastasia was teasing Emilia and was trying to make Ricardo react...She-who-must-not-be-named arrived.
"I...I...I was just...I heard something about Subaru from Anasta-"
"SO? SO WHAT!? DO YOU REMEMBER HOW MUCH YOU GET ANGRY AT SUBARU WHEN HE 'EAVESDROPPED' ON YOU AND OTTO? EVEN THOUGH HE TOLD YOU HE DIDN'T DO SUCH A THING?!" Beatrice screamed with an extremely scary voice and an alcohol bottle in her hand. She was drunk and for a while she got angry at Subaru...then she missed him. Which made her feel lonely so she cried. And then got angry at everyone for pretty much anything and started judging everyone for how they treated Subaru.
Reinhard and Julius were one example of such victims.
"You think your blessings will make me cheat on Subaru!? IS THIS A TEST? IS THIS A FUCKING TEST? ARE YOU TRYING TO MAKE BETTY SEPARATE FROM HIM? THINK AGAIN! SOMETHING PATHETIC AS A BLESSING WON'T MAKE BETTY FORGET ABOUT SUBARU, IN FACT!
Anastasia didn't want to remember any of that, perhaps she should just snitch to Subaru that she was using bad words. It was a ridiculous thought, snitching on a Great Spirit, but when she thinks in Natsuki Subaru logic. Beatrice's status nor being wasn't an excuse for her to curse or drink…He would definitely punish her like a normal girl.
She just returned her focus to Emilia while keeping that thought for later…
After all, Beatrice stole her alcohol…more than once. Bad girls needed to be punished.
"..." Emilia had no answer for Beatrice and she just made a sad face...Which made Beatrice regret-
"Now you are sad? Ah~ How bad. Do you even realize how many times you made Subaru sad? Hmm?"
Beatrice didn't regret what she said before…at all.
"Tha-That's WRONG! Perhaps I did make mistakes here and there...BUT HE IS HAPPY WHEN HE IS WITH ME!"
"..." Beatrice stays silent.
"WHY ARE YOU NOT SPEAKING?"
"..."
"DO YOU THINK I CAN'T MAKE SUBARU HAPPY? HE IS MOST HAPPY WHEN HE IS WITH ME!"
'Ah...she is drunk too. But wasn't she so cute before?' The voice speaks to Anastasia's mind once again. When she got first drunk with Beatrice, they acted rather adorably…unlike now.
'She was. But now her insecurity started to appear.' The voice in her head said.
"It's insane how much Natsuki-kun is liked...it's hard to believe he was generally disliked by camps and by everyone at some point."
"That's right Ana-bo, the kid gets treated rougher than the elven girl. Not to mention, despite how they are together like this. And how they are fighting over him. There is a sad, dark truth that he was alone, fighting for their lives and everyone's alone."
"...I never thought like that. It's actually insane. But wait a minute, we know that Emilia-san left Natsuki-kun alone that day at the capital. But Beatrice-chan did no such thing?" Anastasia asks questioningly.
"She had all the power and knowledge, didn't she? But I do not remember fighting beside her against the Whale or Sloth, ever. In fact, we are told that she was just staying in her room, very close to the battlefield" Ricordo says with an unreadable, dark expression. Perhaps this was why he wasn't taking Beatrice's words seriously.
"Well…not like anyone died against Sloth, so I won't be holding bad feelings against that child. I'd like to believe she also had problems of her own." Ricardo muttered that to himself, Anastasia and Al definitely heard him.
Anastasia also commented on his earlier words.
"You are rather sharp...I am the one who usually sees the dark truth underneath unlike your optimism..."
"It wasn't me. We were chatting, a group of men and all. We were all talking about this and that and all, and of course, our Lolimancer opened as a topic. It was all fun and a bit of questioning. We were talking about how things got better for 'im an all. Then that Al bro opened his mouth...believe me, I won't ever be able to look at bro like before." Ricardo said as he looked like he was reminded by something disturbing more and more.
"Hey, don't say it like that. I just wanted at least a bunch of people that could see my bro in a more realistic light. His place is nothing to get jealous of." A new voice appears beside them…no, he was already there.
'Ah. Al was here, wasn't he?'
'I totally forget about him too, it's fine Ana. Ignoring uninteresting men is a woman's privilege..' Both girls forgot about him and stated that without hesitation in their minds.
"Even so...Sorry that I made you guys depressed." Al says.
"Nah. No problem. Things you said made sense...so much so Saint and Julius needed some fresh air and alone time to think about it."
"Wow...Didn't think you people would get affected by some information about Natsuki-kun that much. Though I'll admit it, this changed my perspective too."
"That's nothin' compared to the stuff we talked about," Ricardo says darkly. Making Anastasia more curious.
"Well...look at it from the bright side. At least he wasn't actually alone, despite what all of us can recall." Al said something mysterious, which was left that way until they realized what he meant.
"What are you...? Wait a minute?! Damn straight! Why didn't you speak about that before you realized it?" Ricardo says with a pissed off voice. Anastasia too remembered the girl that only Subaru remembered, thanks to Al's hint.
A girl called Rem, existed even if the world forgot about her. If she wasn't forgotten, even as a maid she would be one of the most influential people in the country. Because there was only one person Subaru made clear that he would listen to them, it was that girl.
It was problematic for Anastasia, because she couldn't remember who this Rem was and how she might utilize Subaru. Subaru's words cannot be taken as information since they couldn't be more subjective.
"Cutest, sexiest, hottest maid in the world!" It was irritating to see how quickly his logical and objective thinking disappeared.
'Or perhaps you are bothered by it because of a more feminine reason?~ Like jealousy?~' 'Don't ya make me shut ya up by force!'
"I didn't want you guys to cope by looking at a single good thing. And while I have no recollection. No doubt that girl also caused her fair share of problems with my bro."
"With what evidence do you say that?"
"My evidence is Emilia camp, she was one of them, so that definitely happened." Al says coldly as if it's a matter of fact. In fact, she wasn't fond of her existence to begin with. She wasn't supposed to exist.
And he disliked the fact that Rem was untouchable, invincible and basically immortal now that Natsuki Subaru was protecting her.
Stars couldn't see her demise. No matter what. And that was bad.
"Ouch...the hell? You actually have a similarity to Priscilla, Al-kun. Very blunt, aren't you?" Anastasia says.
"Surprise! Jokes aside…Normally I am not like this...It's only because of bro and Princess...well, whatever." Al was about to say something but shrugged it off and left for somewhere else but before that-
"Oh, Anastasia-san?"
"Yes?"
"Did Subaru talk with you?"
"What? I don't understand what you are talking about..." Anastasia answered with a confused expression.
Seeing that it was a genuine reaction, Al speaks.
"...Nevermind." Al says with a disappointed voice and disappears.
...
"Well, that Al dude is a master of making everything suspicious and sinister."
"That's true..." Anastasia couldn't disagree with Ricardo.
"What about finishing your story?" Ricardo wanted to hear how Anastasia would end her fabrications.
"Well. You see. After he held me tightly with not-so-pure intentions..." Anastasia closed her eyes and waited.
"..."
"..." Ricardo moves his one eyebrow upwards questioningly.
"..."
"Then?"
"Ah, it's so boring...You are so calm about this. Then he started chewing my hair and said "Oh? It's actually not made of candy?"" Anastasia gave up on trying to invoke 'overprotective anger' inside of Ricardo. She was pissed at Subaru.
It was irresponsible for her to seriously try to make Ricardo chase Subaru…but she was too petty, and also drunk a bit too much after Subaru left.
And Ricardo started laughing loudly.
"MUHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA! Oh, man! And we were trying to guess what the hell Julius was hiding! Hahahahahaha! THIS MAKES SO MUCH SENSE WHILE MAKING NO SENSE AT ALL! Oh...Oh...Now I am so sad that I couldn't see him drunk. Maybe we could conclude some of the bets we made." Of course, as Rircardo laughed, Anastasia looked pissed.
"Oh, you actually got disappointed that he didn't try anything?" Ricardo asked with a surprised expression.
"Wha-NO! YOU TOO?!"
Ricardo made a mistake, Anastasia snapped.
"Oh hell...pressed the wrong button."
As Anastasia was about to show how drunk she was to Ricardo, both of them realized some people surpassed her in that regard right now.
"WHY, WHY, WHY, WHY? WHY ARE YOU NOT SAYING ANYTHING?" Emilia shouted furiously to Beatrice's face. And it seems she stood her ground with her silence. Just like before.
"..." As she stayed silent, she had a very smug smile on her face.
"JUST WAIT! JUST WAIT! YOU'LL SEE WHEN I FALL IN LOVE WITH SUBARU! I'LL BECOME CLOSER TO HIM THAN YOU...YOU NASTY NINCOMPOOP!" To that, Beatrice simply replied-
"I wonder how you are so sure that Subaru is happy with you...or that he still loves you. I know he loves me, he tells me all the time, just like how he tells me how he is only happy thanks to me." Says Beatrice as she smiles happily.
"...N.. ...LIAR! LIAR! SUBARU YOU LIAR!" Emilia flees from Beatrice while...calling Subaru a liar for some reason?
'You see...this is very interesting. And it shows that the 'paradise' isn't how it looks from outside.'
'Shut up you nasty fox. Don't tempt me with sweet ideas.'
'I didn't say anything though? Also It's you, who calls it a 'sweet idea'. Don't put the blame on me~'
It's not as if Anastasia never thought about it, even before this recent closeness between them, or even the victory against the Sloth or even the White Whale, Anastasia wanted Subaru quite a bit because of his creativity and quick thinking.
Just like everyone, she did dismiss Subaru's capabilities from time to time because he didn't sell himself well as a 'smart' or 'capable' person. However, that wasn't always the case. The capabilities he showed to get Russel and her support him were enough for her interest to be piqued. After that, the way he handled the problems of logistics and how creative he was...that alone actually made her want him.
However, that emotion is suppressed. She could pay a lot for the things that she desired. She could go to lengths that other people would not imagine to get what she wanted.
Yet, she instantly surpassed that urge when it comes to Subaru. The reason was simple, his obsession was simply bigger and more unreasonable than her greed. It didn't matter what she offered or what methods she used. Subaru would not just leave Emilia. His desires were also a problem. He didn't care about money or power of any sort.
He just supported Emilia, because he supported Emilia.
There is no belief in her capabilities in politics behind that support. Nothing that Emilia offered. No money, no fame, nothing whatsoever.
In fact, Emilia didn't even offer Subaru any emotional support in any way whatsoever. Even if she tried, a naive, ignorant girl like her couldn't help anyone emotionally.
It was almost as if she was there at some right moment and Subaru picked her.
But it couldn't be just that…That would be madness on Subaru's part.
'Almost as if he is searching for an excuse to go to unimaginable lengths for a person.' The fox speaks.
'...' Anastasia does not answer.
'Since one of my favorite topics is in your mind, let's talk about it for a bit.'
'...' Anastasia does not answer. This conversation passed in her own mind. And even as that was happening she was talking and interacting with other people. She was talking with Joshua right now, she separated from Ricardo a while ago.
Anastasia Hoshin had many capabilities. One of them was multitasking.
'Why are you even so obsessed with him?' Anastasia asks.
'I have many reasons. But I also don't know why that interest seemingly increases without stopping. Sometimes, a maiden's heart cannot be understood by herself.'
'Y-you...Don't tell me...You ARE a fox, you know that right?' Even if she was just joking around. Anastasia felt like she needed to remind her friend that those thoughts were forbidden.
'Pff. Anyways. What was the reason that you never attempted to get him?'
'He'll be mine anyway. Only a matter of time.'
'Oh. Isn't that the exact same reason why you never tried to own the Sword Saint?' Her friend asked.
'Exactly.'
'That's uncharacteristically foolish.'
'!' Anastasia's mind froze for a second. It was normal. After all, her friend basically said 'You won't get what you want', which was unacceptable for her greedy self.
"Anastasia-sama?" Joshua spoke.
"Nothin' nothin'...Just continue and don't mind me. I am listening to your reports...actually, let's not do that for now. I am drunk and all." Anastasia decides as her friend giggles in her head.
"A-alright?" Joshua leaves. He was a bit confused since his master always says that 'time is money' every time he asked her to rest whether that was being drunk or tired.
He left Anastasia alone.
Well, she wasn't exactly alone.
'So...what did you mean by that?' Anastasia asked.
'Nothing weird. In fact, I have nothing to reveal. It's just I don't understand how you can apply the same logic with Sword Saint here.'
'Huh?' She got her answer, yet Anastasia was still confused. This was a rare moment for a genius woman like Anastasia.
'It does not matter who will win this election, Sword Saint will continue to serve this Kingdom. Blue will keep his duties, continuing to save people. Even our Julius will continue to serve, in fact, he is likely to expect you to do that as well if you ever lose.'
'...' Anastasia does not comment on that. It was true. Julius's possible idea was that Anastasia's goal was directly to make this Kingdom prosper regardless of the outcome. So he would be wrong to think that...yet thinking like that was so him. So even without hearing from Julius himself, both greedy girls knew what was inside of that head.
She continued to speak.
'No one cares much about Al. In fact, his role is basically making sure people can understand Priscilla just enough. If one day your rival lops his head off, no one would bat an eye.'
'So what? Come to the point already.' Anastasia was getting frustrated for some reason unknown to herself. Perhaps because this topic was out of her comfort zone and she knew that deep down.
After all, her not getting what she wanted-hurt her quite a bit.
That pain increased according to how strongly she desired something.
How much she desired to have Natsuki Subaru would be-
'What do you think I am doing? Ah, you are rather slow about this topic, so let me explain bluntly for you:
There is absolutely no way to guarantee that this mysterious person who changed everything will remain as he is. Whether it be disappearing mysteriously or just not doing a thing as people perish, things are not everlasting when it comes to Natsuki Subaru. Especially him staying in the Kingdom when you realize he doesn't even care about it. Sword Saint will be yours, Julius will stay as yours, Blue will help with health problems…But him? That's incredibly foolish.'
'...'
'Of course I am not insinuating that he would just change as a person and stop helping people. The truth is, this momentum cannot be held for long. How long before he thinks that people take him for granted? How long before he snaps toward the fact that he gets nothing as he achieves the impossible every single time? What about that elf girl making a mistake? That can accelerate things further. Let me remind you that Beatrice DOES NOT care about this country enough that she would be bothered by his inaction towards protecting it. She would welcome it, even if people die. That girl might be too kind-hearted for a spirit but even that won't help if saving people means her contractor getting hurt. And most importantly, he has to try harder than everyone else because even if he is intelligent, he isn't gifted like you. He constantly has to cultivate his own mind or he cannot keep up. He constantly has to find a weakness in things. He has to never give up, and never falter. Keep his goals intact even if his soul wanes with no relief. Not to mention he isn't appreciated every time he saves someone. We know how hard he tried to connect people against obstacles. He got scammed, doubted, and underestimated. That path cannot be everlasting, even for him. But isn't that what makes him so so so so so~ interesting? The unnatural determination causes suffering along the way when he could just give up. Why does he do that? He must be doing it to have something that no one sees. No one has any idea what he is trying to get by walking that path. Nothing he gains along the way distracts him. He could have so much money and actually bathe in his fame and yet, he didn't do any of that. I have come a long way in understanding humans...yet he is unknown. I cannot imagine how someone like him could come to exist. He is so unpredictable...He makes everyone's true selves come into play by just being himself. It's a delightful sight, it's incredible that I find more about YOU when you are around him...His every step is thought-provoking and I-Oppsie! I might've talked a bit too much.'
Echidna says sweetly and giggles like a maiden.
'...That's so creepy.'
'I just can't help it. Even though I know this is not normal.'
'That aside. I still don't think he can just let it go like that. Being a knight was everything he wanted.'
'And he got what he wanted. In fact, other than getting the title, there is no difference in actions or anything else. And I never heard him introducing himself as a knight, whether it be rumors or personally.'
'Let's stop talking about this. I am just going to get some sleep.'
'Oh~ You actually ran away from this? Well. You can't get away every time-'
Before she could finish her sentence Anastasia forcibly cut the telepathic link between them.
'Fuck you.' She went to her room as she thought that.
When she went to bed, it took her a lot of time to sleep. But surely, she would ignore all of this without a problem when she woke up.
If she can ignore it, then she would not feel unsatisfied.
Right?
hours later)
It was a luxurious room of her own home in Priestella. Normally, as a show of courtesy and to be close to others she decided to stay with other camps but she wanted to stay away from them for some reason. Perhaps to sort her feelings out.
Anastasia was currently asleep with her 'scarf' still on her.
"Wake up."
A voice pierced her cognition.
"Wake up."
She could not ignore it. Was this her greed?
"Wake up."
She must not answer it. He wasn't worth the cost.
"I can see why a woman would prefer to imagine a knight on a white horse in her dreams. But it is me, the ugly reality, who comes to your aid."
Anastasia instantly got up, and when her eyes perceived a black silhouette, she instantly screamed for her life.
"Hmph!" The man was quicker. He roughly holds her mouth shut. She was dead. This was how everything ended.
"Calm down. We don't want others to know about this." Dark twisted shadow said to her, making her panic once again.
How could this be possible? Was it Witch Cult? Sword Saint was guarding the streets, and so many Iron Fang members were guarding this place as well. Julius also had to be very close. And did Cult really surprise them without Natsuki Subaru noticing? What about Echidna?
All of them bypassed...so she was dead. Her ambition ended right here, just like this.
But she could not give up so quickly. She shouted in her mind.
'ECHIDNA!' Desperately shouted.
The scarf on her neck instantly turned into a white fox and cast a spell.
2 rays of light started to form against the enemy and-
They instantly disappeared.
The dark figure of hostility touched the fox who tried to protect her friend and-
"Ah..." A sudden shock hit all of her beings. She could not move.
One of them couldn't move, the other was utterly defenseless anyway.
This was truly the end.
Echidna looks at the darkness that would end her once again. No good, she couldn't see his face.
"Ah...did I gain night vision or something?" A voice-
Before her mind could recognize it, the figure quickly reaches for the curtain and opens it instantly.
Anastasia's world crumbles.
Jet black hair that could not be mistaken.
Jet-black eyes that could not be mistaken.
The determination that resided in those eyes could not be mistaken.
The face, the nose, the mouth, the eyes, the build, the hair, thethethethethe-
'Why?' She asked in her mind. Even though there were many benefits to erasing her here. Was he really someone like that?
Anastasia started to shake horribly. Terrified. Scared.
"I will release your mouth now...but do not shout." Anastasia just nodded without even thinking.
She had no plan whatsoever. She just obeyed.
Her mouth being released just meant she now had another body part that shook uncontrollably.
That fact made her tear up.
She was supposed to be calm, collected, always in charge, without needing violence, just by speaking.
And yet...
"W-why?" Her meek voice could only say this. Tears fell from her eyes. Her naive mind did not flash her life in front of her eyes. What she repeated were all moments that she had with Natsuki Subaru.
There was no point whatsoever. There weren't many of those moments anyway. And yet she was betrayed. Even though it was understandable. He was the enemy after all. But even so…
"I am not here to hurt you...I hope." Even while saying that he was looking at her with an observing eye. They clearly said, "What now?" Expecting an answer, expecting some trick. Even when he had all the power.
Even when he was clearly winning, he gave away nothing.
"You are insane." Anastasia's voice was still weak. Yet, emotions coming from betrayal gave her strength.
She wasn't wrong to mutter those words either. Natsuki Subaru indeed acted like an unempathizable madman. No one would side with him with what he was doing right now. Natsuki Subaru was a meticulous madman.
Not even his own camp. Anastasia thought.
"Emilia would... not...want this."
Subaru's calculating eyes opened up a little bit from surprise.
"She will never forgive you."
"You do have a lot of faith in Emilia, don't you?" Once again, incomprehensible words. He eyed both her and Echidna.
This man did not care about what his master would think about all of this.
No, Anastasia could see in his eyes. He didn't even believe Emilia would realize anything at all.
"Who are you?! WHO ARE YOU?!" Anastasia was desperate. There was no point in asking this. This wouldn't help her. Yet that's what she wanted to know most.
"Natsuki Subaru. Broke beyond compare." He casually answered.
"You are not that guy."
"You seem disappointed. However, there was no other way. Only this way, I get things done. People won't care after all. This way, your choice is irrelevant." He explained something. It was irrelevant though, because she understood nothing.
Madman was talking to himself with no regard for her understanding.
"I did not imagine you would do things like this. I thought you were someone who did not choose the easy way." The voice that would only speak in Anastasia's mind spoke aloud this time.
"It's really you." A chilling cold hit everywhere and not even gods would attempt to save them against this abomination.
"Hhhhhhhhhk! W-what? I-" Involuntary sounds, unable to speak.
The fear, it was fear that made Fox unable to do anything.
Normally, you could not make a spirit get affected by their life this much. Spirits did not fear death.
But he? He was terrifying.
"I knew we would meet again."
"What are you...?" Anastasia questioned. Yet Subaru forgot her existence. He only looked at her.
"But you are mistaken. You are not privileged enough so that I would spare you after you pull something like this."
"Please..." She is ignored again.
"Did you think you could defeat me because you know more about me than others? Did you think that putting yourself beside Anastasia would save you? Or you couldn't endure another second without messing with me even if it meant blundering? How long since you were with her? Did you name her? What happened to Ryuzu? If you just found me without any of this bullshit...I wouldn't mind at all..." Towards the end, the cold emotionless voice gains a bit of disappointment.
"I...I don't know you," says Fox, and yet...
"Stop pretending! ECHIDNA!" Subaru shouts like a raging monster. Contradicting himself with what he said to Anastasia about being silent. Yet no one reacted to his voice, as if sound couldn't reach outside. He pulls over Echidna and slowly tightens her neck.
She tries to claw his arms, and she scratches; he does not even react to that pain as his arm bleeds.
"Please! I WILL ANSWER WHATEVER YOU WANT. I'LL GIVE YOU WHATEVER YOU WANT! DON'T HURT HER!" Anastasia begs, and her legs lose strength as she screams.
Tears fall without stopping.
What's going on? Her mind asked helplessly. She was weak and terrified.
Seeing those eyes, Subaru released the fox and sat on the bed.
Sigh.
Subaru gets up. Pulls Anastasia from the ground with his one hand, somewhat gently while still being rough, and puts her on the bed.
"Calm her down. Without telepathy. I'll hear everything you say." Whether that last part meant he could hear her telepathy or not. She didn't know. But all that mattered was he allowed her to be with Ana.
For now.
With care and understanding, Echidna made Anastasia regain her composure and made her gain her mental strength as much as she could.
Anastasia looked at the man they had to face.
They had to face him because there was no other way. Echidna seemingly could not use magic. Their voices did not seem to reach anyone.
"What...do you want to know?" Anastasia asked.
"Did you meet a year ago?"
"...N-no? It's been eleven years. I was little back then." Anastasia speaks with utmost honesty.
"Do you have a contract with her?"
"No...we cannot form a contract."
Subaru senses no deception. "Why?"
"I have no affinity with spirits, and she cannot form contracts for some reason."
...Subaru looks at Echidna.
"You are an artificial spirit." It wasn't a question. It was a statement.
""!"" Both of them were surprised.
"How...?" Echidna asked.
"I know...how Artificial Spirits feel."
"So that's why Beatrice-" Echidna muttered but...
"Don't talk about her! NOT YOU!" As things were getting civilized, Subaru raged once again.
"She didn't know Beatrice before!" Anastasia gathered her courage and spoke.
"Lies. Beatrice does not know her. You were made before Beatrice..."
"I swear I didn't see her before. Actually, I don't even remember anything."
"The fuck? Echidna...don't be a retard. You might be a genius, but that doesn't mean you have any common sense. Do you expect me to believe...' Witch of Greed' creates an Artificial Spirit, and that spirit just happens to find a candidate for the election who is known to be greedy? What's your purpose?"
"I...I really have no memory."
"Then...let me ask like this. Even if you have no memories, you must have a purpose, right? As an Artificial Spirit..."
"I...don't know what my purpose was. But I am sure it's completed the moment I was born."
"That...tch, I somewhat can predict why, anyways. What's your name then?"
"...Au..." The Fox made an involuntary voice, terrified of the answer she had to give.
"What. Is. Your. Name?" Subaru asks like he won't ask again.
"E...Echidna." Echidna answers.
"..." Subaru stays silent. Which gives Anastasia a chance to ask a question.
"Who is this 'Echidna'...? You seem to not trust her, but also trust her?" She pointed out the conflicting behavior. Angry, and frustrated, yet he did not hate this Echidna. Also, he was willing to listen to her too. Despite everything, he was sensible to a degree. Anastasia utilized that to her advantage.
"Just like Satella, there were other Witches with different sins. There is no particular difference between Satella and other witches except for some complications with Satella and her reputation caused by the information about others being erased artificially. Witches and Sin Archbishops are the same too, the only difference is that Sin Archbishops are utterly more dangerous and uncontrollable, bound by neither fate nor anything like that. They are even more disconnected than the world and everyone. When it comes to Witches, that is not entirely true. The Witch of Greed was a Witch who was very much connected to this world. She interacted with humans a lot and made contracts. She was known as a master of magic and her KNOWLEDGE was highly sought after. Even her authority is connected to the world...similar to other Witches. Echidna is the Witch of Greed of her time. She wanted to know everything." Subaru explains to the girls.
"As for trusting her or not…Echidna does not deserve trust. Yet, I trust Echidna to be Echidna. So there are things that can be trusted just because I understand her.." Subaru added, it seemed like a confession of sorts. Not trusting her as a person or being but trusting her very nature…
That sounded insane to Anastasia. Surely…if this Echidna also heard that, she would find it insane too. Witch or not, didn't matter.
"...So she is alive? After 400 years..." Anastasia mutters, however, Subaru corrects her.
"There are people and remnants from 400 years ago still remain, to this day. Some even can be called Witches. But I am not going to talk about that right now. As for Echidna...she still remained in this world even though she was dead because of someone sealing her. We met each other just like that."
"So...By chance, you met with her and sought her knowledge?" Anastasia questioned.
"..."
"What's that face?"
"I don't know why I even tell you this. But it wasn't that I was seeking her knowledge or initiating anything. In fact, I wouldn't even need her to help the moment I snapped from being idealistic. However...Let's say I had enough of being alone regardless of what I do. So when Echidna tried really hard to get me to be her contractor...I couldn't just say "I don't need you, but I'll have you with me. Because I want you" I was indecisive, she was no different than me in that regard. How much she wanted me could be called an obsession. Despite all that, she also wanted me to reject her. Looking back then, perhaps I was just the type of thing that her Greed could not allow herself to reject, she was saving herself from ruin and addiction? All in all. I wasn't in my right mind and snapped at her, smiling at someone else, thinking she is different, better. She was way worse, the embodiment of the status quo you could say. The only thing I got after doing so much was my precious Beatrice and only that. But in the end it was my fault, my indecisiveness. If I was better, things would be better for Beatrice as well."
He had no reason to say this much. In fact, he was sure it would come back to bite his ass. But he just did it anyway.
He wanted to do this. That's why he did it. That's how he always functioned sometimes.
"So the Witch-san avoided a calamity? It would be a sad end for her if she ended up with an un-empathizable madman like you. I hope you don't expect me to feel sorry for you...though I'll give it to ya! Your whole story is hard to believe...except the part that even a Witch couldn't understand you. That's very believable" Anastasia said coldly.
Subaru was silent.
Despite not showing any weakness to Anastasia, those words did wound him deep down even if it wasn't visible.
There could not be any other person in this world that could understand Natsuki Subaru. Of course, understanding him wouldn't be possible just by looking at his memories or knowing about Return By Death. Subaru realized it was something different. But still couldn't find out what that was…
Echidna had the potential to be Subaru's understander, Subaru believed that even though he didn't understand what is required to understand Subaru. She was the only one who could do that, that was what he felt unreasonably. Yet, Subaru never took that chance, never tried to talk with her more than he needed for the Sanctuary problem. In all truth...there were times that Echidna also kicked him off. He knew his reasons, cowardice. He didn't want to be captivated or get close to Echidna. He tried his best to put Emilia and Rem into his mind while she was around.
That was his reason. However, he didn't know why Echidna acted contradictory.
She truly wanted him. Yet she would act suspicious, being open about her not being trustworthy, would cut their conversations short and so much more.
Not knowing things would not hurt Subaru. Yet, this specific lack of knowledge bothered him for so long. A year passed for the world and even more for him, and he still had no closure about that past.
Perhaps that's why he had more complicated feelings than just hostility when he thought she was here...
'It doesn't matter. I must not think such things. It doesn't matter. Everything was simpler for Echidna. There was nothing but her fighting against her own Greed. I was a ruin, and Echidna avoided that. Anastasia is right.'
His heart did not accept this even now. Even though he repeated such things thousands of times to himself. It just didn't get through.
Even if Subaru decided to utilize RbD like Echidna wanted, he would go beyond what she imagined. Subaru would not let even a single person bleed, because deep down Subaru wants to challenge his own determination, killing himself endlessly to prove there is not an end to his willpower. And unlike what Echidna believes...she does not want to learn about every single change. If she did, she wouldn't have preferences like a normal human being. But even so, she would likely not leave Subaru because of her Greed. She knew that, so she left him.
That was the most appropriate answer. Yet...Subaru's heart pounded upon possibilities. Its beat got faster when he imagined having walked a different path.
He was greedy, perhaps even more so than Echidna. He could not help but desire a reality where he had both Echidna and Beatrice. Perhaps 'Clind' would be sacrificed. But he did not care.
He had enough of people killing him for their own beliefs and delusions.
"So...my words actually got to you? Good. I hope you are at least feeling a fraction of the despair I felt because of you." Anastasia said.
How Subaru appeared here and his choices destroyed everything between Anastasia and him. This was the truth.
Subaru wondered if he would look back at this and regret it.
'No. I have a choice.' Subaru had a choice to fix his regrets. In fact, he KNEW Return By Death was just that and nothing more. It was he who deceived himself by thinking it was for dying for others.
'There is a likely chance that I will go back a month if the checkpoint is updated. If not...'
If the checkpoint did not update. Natsuki Subaru would have another 6.5 months added to his 'age' when he arrived at the current point in time.
"So...my words actually got to you? Good. I hope you are at least feeling a fraction of the despair I felt because of you."
Those were her words.
So he should give an answer.
"You should be relieved. My daily suffering exceeds yours you had in your life let alone this one little surprise."
Normally, Natsuki Subaru could not state such a thing without self-deprecation for himself. However, the amount of suffering he got from unimaginable memories and despair alone wasn't something Anastasia could comprehend.
"Once again, expect no sympathy from me after things you did here," Anastasia states coldly.
"What I did... here? What I did here SAVED YOU TOO!" Subaru once again snapped.
"Echidna's existence...her connection to an old Witch, isn't something that Witch Cult takes it lightly. They might be an organization with many groups and the worst part of them might be gone. But you forget that one of the only rules this cult has is making everything related to old Witches absolutely forbidden. They literally attacked Vollachia just for that. And won."
Sin Archbishop of Greed. Subaru read about him. He was the other widely known Sin Archbishop after Sloth. He single-handedly destroyed a fortified city in Volachia because of the activities connected to old Witches.
"Not to mention...now you know more than you could ever learn on your own. What about being grateful? I could get my answers without you knowing it. Or I could just turn a blind eye and wait for you to get stabbed by some random cultist?" Subaru says angrily.
Those words...that expression.
Anastasia could not believe it.
Subaru was unable to understand her feelings on the matter. No, he likely acknowledged it was hard for her. Yet didn't care.
Anastasia was right about thinking that. Natsuki Subaru despaired alone and tasted the end so many times. He bled to death without getting anyone's help, dying alone in an empty alleyway, death with no meaning. Natsuki Subaru got betrayed. He was tortured by someone he was trying to protect and finished by someone he thought was his friend.
Natsuki Subaru died due to the incompetence of Emilia. Natsuki Subaru got tortured and killed by Puck. Natsuki Subaru got consumed, stabbed, and crushed...
He died, he saw others dying. He was manipulated emotionally.
That is why the expected happened, he lost his ability to care for the insignificant suffering of others. If he cared for someone he would always prioritize their 'safety' and 'life'. But he was losing his ability to care for their happiness and little problems.
Because that happiness hurt Subaru. When they smile with ease as he suffers. And though he was being problematic when he expressed his problems.
"But I do know this—you can't worry about Rem and shoulder that burden alone. Subaru, let me share that burden with you."
"I want to help you in the same way that you helped me. If you're hurt, I want to do something for you. That's normal, isn't it?"
'You don't trust me, call me a liar, and yet...I am not gonna do that. After all, I expected wrong things from you. It was my fault to expect anything from you.' Subaru thinks as he remembers Emilia's words.
"I'll be leaving you right now. Whatever you want to do after this. It's your choice. Though I would tread carefully if I were you."
Whatever you want included waging war on Emilia camp, telling this event to Lugunica, notifying Reinhard and so much more. Anastasia knew Subaru understood that, yet he wasn't even scared.
As he said his last words, Subaru opens the balcony, and closes the curtains. Anastasia quickly opens it but...
"Just like that...he came and then he left," Echidna says.
"...He can't just keep getting away with it..." Anastasia says emotionlessly.
"..."
"He just does whatever he wants without regarding any norms or common sense...just like that."
-Fucking monster
Anastasia thinks as she cries from stress once again.
(Recollection ends.)
"Oh...I remembered now."
"..."
"I regret absolutely nothing," Subaru states clearly.
"So that's how it is? And here I was hoping you would come to your senses." Anastasia clenches her fist tightly.
But Subaru ignored her words and hopes. What he was thinking would be-
'She looks good in her kimono...I wonder how she looks from the back?' As Subaru was focusing on Anastasia, a voice called out to him as if announcing his actions as unlawful.
"You are the jester that even heavens cannot produce, your duty is to bathe in my beauty and inhale my scent. What are you doing with that she-fox?" An arrogant, prideful voice with extreme words reached Subaru's ear. Yet once again, his brain focused on the femininity aspect of that voice and the beauty in it instead of the 'ugly' arrogance, also, Subaru didn't find it ugly whatsoever anyway.
Subaru looked around and could not see Al...?
Could it be that Priscilla still remembered him? That would be two days right? So she was talking to him…
He turned around and the moment his eyes perceived her figure Natsuki Subaru realized. There was more for him to remember. A lot more.
She was walking down the stairs and gathered all eyes on herself. She was wearing a crimson-red kimono that covered her chest with affection. It did not let any flesh that belonged to her chest be witnessed by men. Unlike many of her outfit choices, it looked possessive. The extravagant design of orange flames adorned the black parts of the dress. Her perfect curves highlighted, her femininity dominated the space.
The Crimson color felt like Priscilla.
The Black felt like Subaru.
And the orange felt like a merge of those colors. Overall, the amount of passion spent on that outfit was embarrassing. And it was obvious who made it.
As Priscilla took the spotlight, someone lightly patted his shoulder. Subaru's eyes, which were free unlike others, lost their freedom as Priscilla looked at nothing but Subaru's eyes.
Thankfully, he escaped them thanks to the person behind him touching his shoulder lightly-
"Subaru...I think now you would be open to making a dress for Felt-sama?" Reinhard says with a bright expression.
It was crazy how much this guy wanted to dress Felt...
'Isn't this getting creepy?'
Yes Subaru, Reinhard IS creepy.
Well, this was a wild chapter. As I said before, Anastasia IS ahead because she has no problems forgetting Subaru or Emilia problems. Simply her peaceful nature relative to other girls and her lack of giant problems kept her ahead.
But that doesn't mean Subaru can't mess up the whole thing. Unfortunately, things get damaged in this chapter because of Subaru's madness. There ARE reasons why he was so uncontrolled and rash, it lies in the rest of the chapters. Subaru here is indeed troublesome, but there has to be a reason why he acted like that, which Anastasia also wonders about it.
As you can see, Rem continues to find herself being mentioned without being conscious. Because she doesn't just live rent free in Subaru's head, she has her own mansion there and gets paid for existing.
We see Emilia trying to be Rem, failing miserably because Rem faith is a different level of faith. Even if Subaru tells her nothing, even if he is suspicious, weak and against impossible odds, there shan't be a grain of hesitation in her heart for Subaru.
Instead of focusing on improving herself and gaining a new perspective, Emilia fell into her insecurities and now tries to be Rem. Which isn't possible.
Emilia and Anastasia seem to be falling behind in ship war(though in Anastasia's case, she might be simply thinking she dodged a bullet…or calamity in Re Zero saying I made the fuck up.)
But Priscilla…seems confident? Let's see why that is. Starting with the next chapter.
Subaru and Echidna's extremely complicated, bullshit filled, diluted relationship once again shows itself. But I doubt she will be just appearing out of nowhere. Not to mention even if Subaru loves her, that doesn't mean he will be with her. Subaru wants more than just love at this point. Especially peace.
I hope you liked the chapter, it was a hard one, I will be happy if I pulled it off!
/YxtzwbzVQh
See you in the next chapter!