Author Note: Oh god, they have spoken! The Dice Gods have spoken! Those who can count the numbers, shall know this tale's future! Let the horrors begin!
Chapter 02: Disemboweled From Nowhere
…Caught by surprise, shocked after witnessing what's practically a bloody crime scene fresh in the night, [BLANK] steps back in fear just as a voice of a woman jovial in tone whispers in her ears from the shadows, taunting her for the discovery…
"...Oh dear, you found that? Well, well I have no choice then~ No choice at all…"
Then, an assault! It came from behind, hurling her body over the floor and launching her crystal lamp all the way into the corner where its light was rendered useless. Now, only darkness held dominion, black as death, barely cast away by beams of moonlight that peeked through the gaps of the ceiling…
"Arg…!"
A melting sensation began to itch in her belly, making her wince and freeze from pain. When she touched it, a wet sludge painted her hand red, the sight of it revealing a puddle she was plastering over, the smell of sour metal reaching her nose to fully clarify about what had really happened: She had a gaping wound where her stomach was, a wound that bleed profusely through her white tracksuit, flowing brownish and black.
"(Oh crap… Is this all my blood!?)" She couldn't believe it at first but the effect was immediate, it was getting rough to breath and her heart was suddenly pumping way too hard, so much so that blood bursted in her mouth, surging from the throat like caustic bile, "(This is bad! …This is really bad!)"
Light headed and pale, she was losing the vigor of her arms, making her collapse and unable to get up, her own blood smearing her cheeks as she struggled to maintain consciousness… One creak sound next and she could hear the door opening with someone trying to get in. That made her panic as she knew who it was and what was about to happen.
"...[BLANK]?… is… ere… blem?"
"No… Run away! Get out of here!" She tried to warn out as best as she could, to warn her one friend in this world with a hoarse, muffled voice…
"Ah!"
But it was too late. One gouging sound later and the pristine body of a silver haired girl dressed in white fell right beside her, the elven face turned away, left immobile as blood drenched the ground… It all happened in a blink of an eye, just as her vision adjusted under the blur, allowing her to see the fair skinned hand of her savior rendered bright under the moon.
"…!"
This made her grit her teeth. This couldn't end here. It could not!
"Just you wait…"
Powered by both anger and adrenaline, [BLANK] summoned the last remnants of her strength to extend a shaky arm into her fallen friend…
"I will… definitely…"
And with a defiant vow…
"...save you!"
She would reach her hand, all for the act of grabbing it, hoping that even in this death-like state some unknown and unforeseen power would burst from her being, giving them a chance to turn this tragedy around via the power of friendship. After all, such is the rule of isekai worlds… The rule of plot armor, reserved for protagonists and main characters summoned forth into the unknown… Nothing like a life and death situation to make a breakthrough promise come true, right!?
Yes… Of course… It had to be true… It had to… [BLANK BLANK] may not be the actual heroine of this story but Satella is, right? She is the main cast of this world… She has to be…
"..."
Alas, seconds pass, her vision fades, the coldness crawls in, and yet nothing happens… Lost in her delusions, grabbing an idle hand is all that [BLANK] could do before pain-induced unconsciousness overtook her… Unconsciousness, preceded by death…
Now then…
When Anastasia first challenged her knight's argument about the mysterious book not being the one wanted, she took it as a funny petty gamble. Yes, yes she made a fuss here and there, antagonized a great spirit all dramatic like that, but hey! That's just her way of doing things.
The princess was fully prepared for the eventuality that she would be wrong, and had planned accordingly for it. Since the price paid for a miss was so low, her real goal thus was to find at least one other book whose memories she could read and call it a day. The payoff was simple: At worst, all she would lose is time and maybe get a headache or two for the night. At best? She would at very least find some treasure trove that could help her expand her business by another step, the usual for someone with her greed. You don't build a merchant empire without getting a little dirty after all.
Yet, that said, what she had gotten and experienced here treaded a path no one would expect, and opened doors few should ever be allowed to cross…
For, with shock and confusion, instead of her beloved idol whom she desired to know and learn the most from; instead of any soul who somehow had his name written the language of old… the life that the Royal Candidate of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugnica, Anastasia Hoshin, Merchant Princess of the Hoshin Trading Company at the Head of the Iron Fang Mercenary Band, had lived through… was the life of none other than Natsuki Subaru, the Personal Knight of Emilia and true Savior of Priestella…
And his life was as brief as it was short in the slums of the Capital… brief and painful.
"...AH!"
"...!?"
Gasping for breath, the merchant fell on her knees like a puppet without strings the moment the mind trance of the book lifted. A sudden burning feeling flared in her stomach and she immediately screamed, holding herself on the ground as to contain the phantom pain of a wound that wasn't even there...
"...Anastasia-sama!"
"Argh…!"
Though brief, the sting was enough to leave her crudely disoriented. She barely registered a muffled voice entering her ears before a strong gust of wind blasted into her hands, hurling away some object that she had been holding while leaving her alone in a stunned daze that the local spirits hastily tried to dispel.
"...Ana?" Another voice echoed with worry, desperately wanting her to answer…
"..." Yet not a whisper escaped her own mouth to respond as it was still fanning for air, sweat clawing from her skin after the last intense moments of what she could only remember as the escalating sensation of dying… It was overwhelming. Her heart wouldn't stop beating; her limbs kept shaking, and her sight trembled as it painted that one vivid memory of a failure she didn't expect to suffer, but couldn't connect with in any comprehensible reason.
Indeed, Anastasia had a slow time disassociating herself from the identity she had just melded with, to know who she is, and what or who she's supposed to know and recall with the memories of one Natsuki Subaru still merged with her own…
"..Julius, is your magic working or not? She's still in a state of shock!" This first voice for example. Isn't it from a stranger? No. No it wasn't. She was someone closer to her, someone older, going back all the way when she was but a runt.
"...I'm doing the best that I can. It just happens that this effect is more damaging than my maidens expected..." What about this one? He -no- she feels that this one is somewhat unknown, yet she recalls that he was meant to be much more to her then one should believe. Someone with extreme potential…
"...Looks like she had seen something regretful, I suppose. How fitting for someone who couldn't contain herself, in fact." This childish one… This one was a stranger. An ally… an opportunity… but still, a stranger. And a rather important one, she recalls.
"Please, spare us the lecture. This is serious…" Yes, she is getting it now, she understands who she really is, and whose voice this one belongs to…
"Echidna…?"
"...!? Ana!?"
"Anastasia-sama!"
Recovering herself, the girl finally manages to speak, bathing in the comfort of the spirits who helped her regain her consciousness, "Echidna, Julius-kun, Beatrice…" She called them, coming to her senses.
"My lady, are you…"
"I'm fine, Julius-kun. Tis but a migraine really…" Quick witted, she quickly assured him, taking her knight's hand to stand up and simply focus on recovering her image, "Ye spirits did well in helpin' me. If I hadn't 'em, I'd be left mighty ugly now." Acting with unusual cheer, Anastasia put something akin to a poker face to hide the lingering discomfort that remained. This was a honed instinct from her as to never show a face of distress one can't control in the face of others, or else they might take it for granted and leverage it with some advantage.
"Are you sure?"
"Yeah yeah, don't you worry about it. More importantly, my theory was right in the end: Magic really does wonders to ward off most of the book's nuisance~" She commented wildly with struggle.
"..." Such words did little to banish the worries of her peers however. They just stood there, locked in a silent standoff that was only made worse when the Great Spirit of her rival camp arched an eyebrow and demonstrated vain amusement.
"So? Who was it that you had seen to suffer such a reaction, I suppose? Betty didn't recognize the language of the name, in fact… even though it felt familiar…" Beatrice asked briefly, leaning to the side to look behind her.
"..." Following her gaze to where the ominous tome was flung into, Anastasia pondered on where to even begin with the enigma she was presented with…
The more she thought about it, the less it made sense. The life of Natsuki Subaru, starting at the capital… Is he supposed to be alive or dead? Are these books telling the truth or are they some kind of fancy-mancy magic illusion? What about the words he used, or the things he carried? She knew they existed, she had seen it herself back when that Russel Fellow bought his metia-looking thing during the negotiations of the White Whale subjugation. And then there's also the other death that didn't make sense… Emilia… It was her that she saw, there was no mistaking it, but the name she used to introduce herself to Natsuki…
"..."
Really, there was so much she wanted to ask, and so much she wanted to know, but the fear of what she might discover or the blowup this might erupt stunted her down slightly. It took her a few seconds for her to consider her options before curiosity won. Anastasia had to take yet another gamble here.
"...Well, that's a big surprise. Ya wouldn't believe it if I told you." The girl affirmed warily, going her way to retrieve the mysterious tome, "Before I give ya a clue though, let me ask ya somethin' first: Is Natsuki-kun well? Are ya still contracted with him?"
Beatrice blinked at that query with some indignation, "Obviously Betty's Subaru is Betty's contractor still, in fact. I'm still bound to him. I can't tell you what state he's in right now, I suppose, but I guarantee he's alive." She exclaimed with a serious tone.
"Right… Then I don't know what to tell ya, 'cause I can't make heads or tails on this." Anastasia retorted, holding the book with apprehension, "Ya wouldn't know if Natsuki-kun had a twin brother like the maids of yer camp, would ya?" She fished next, confusing the Great Spirit.
"Huh?" For what reason would she insinuate… "...!?" Until it hit her… The deduction, the implication of her words, holding that accursed tome in her hand as to make it a clear point, finishing with a blatant smug to ascertain it, "Wha-what is that supposed to mean, in fact!?" She demanded in a shout, fearing the answer that would come.
"...It means exactly what ya are thinkin' about." The merchant hooked her in, shocking everyone in the room as they themselves realized it, "He even had the same clothes, ya know, that fancy body-huggin' one from Priestella…?"
"..."
"Wha- What- Wha- Whaaaaat!?" Faced with this epiphany, Beatrice's expression warped into fright and horror. She stuttered on her words, failing to screech her denial as she judged the human who made that affirmation with a vicious glare, desperately checking her contract link over and over in bouts of self-doubt.
"Anastasia-sama… are you actually telling us that this tome belongs to Subaru?" Explicitly obvious, Julius narrowed his eyes, facing his liege with restrained reluctance in his mind as to not lose his calm. This was a serious revelation even if it was not put into words. His friend was dead? Was it the shadows? Was it the divine breath? The Greatest of Knights had his mind and heart trembling with his speculations, half-hoping and half-expecting Subaru's Great Spirit to argue against her again.
"Well, you tell me, sir knight! Didn't y'all figure that these books showed the memories of the dead? I can't deny what I saw!" His liege lady retorted immediately, reacting with discontent as she was still unfamiliar with this man who supposedly pledged to her service since her visit into House Juukulius. For him to question her just like that…
At least he had the dignity to flinch and look away ashamed, sensing her affront, "O-of course, forgive me for doubting your words, my lady. I spoke out of turn…"
"...(Hmm, maybe he's more subservient than I thought…)"
"This is unexpected..." Echidna asserted from behind Anastasia, suspicion edged in her tone. To think she would find this new batch of strangeness surrounding that one cunning of an individual called Natsuki Subaru… It was more incentive to look into it for the sake of her consultee. Should this death be true, it could mean an impactful blow to a friendly yet rival camp in this throne race. In other words, they had to brace themselves.
With such thoughts in mind, they all glanced at the cover in Anastasia's hand, wondering what contents it possesses before the person herself drew a breath and sighed, coming up with a dire decision to make, "Julius-kun, can ye do me a favor and call Emilia-san downstairs? I believe we have a treasure to pursue." She ordered.
"U-understood…" Bowing down in grace, the knight obeyed, departing down the stairs. Only his spirits stayed, floating above his liege's hat to continue working their magic on her.
This left the rest alone in their little silence, trying to figure out what to do about this once they confirmed Anastasia's words. The implications alone scared them to the core, not just for Subaru's wellbeing, but for what else could be at play here… After all, not all secrets of this watchtower are revealed. The wickedness of the one who built it could still be haunting them right now…
"It is impossible… It has to be impossible…" Beatrice whispered intensively, slowly regaining her nerves. The angry spirit latched into the contractual presence in her soul, drawing strength from it to challenge the obstacle placed in front of her, "Subaru is alive. I know it, in fact. That book cannot exist!" She affirmed, pointing at the merchant.
At that, Anastasia just blinked…
"Meh, like I said, ye wouldn't believe it right away if told ya. But the proof is right here in my hands... Ya can check it for yourself if ya want." She offered, tempting the girl who still looked shaken at the sight of the tome's foreign name, "Since ya really are Natsuki-kun's Great Spirit, maybe it will make more sense in yeh eyes. However, I'll warn ya: while it is short and brief, the death that happens in the end stings hard and slow. It's better that ye convene with these maidens here to ease it up for ya." She added, extending a hand to the flake-shaped lights floating into her hand.
The little ones appear to be eager to help…
Yet, feeling insulted as a spirit herself, the blonde loli dismissed them, "Hmph! I don't need any help from these lesser children for something like this!" She asserted with fervor, gesturing in a demand, "Hand it over. Betty will see this for herself, right here, right now!" So daring was she in her request that her usual manners were thrown aside… This was too important for Beatrice to be speaking normally.
And staring at those butterfly-shaped eyes, the merchant's smiling expression didn't change, "...Suit yourself…" She merely did as asked, silently eager to have someone else by her side to explain things when the others arrive.
"..." It was then that with grand apprehension, the Great Spirit braced herself, gulping down her throat and gathering all courage before finally opening the cover and folding a page of that despicable book, immediately submitting herself to its forceful hypnotic effect into the beyond. In the next second she was gone, lost in the same memories Anastasia herself experienced a moment ago, standing upwards like a statue as if reading the thing idly and intensively…
"..."
"...Was that really necessary, Ana?" Echidna reprimanded her aide, feeling slightly worried for her artificial sibling.
The merchant herself then leaned back, choosing to sit down on the ground by the bookshelf, "No… No, It wasn't." She reflected on holding her knees, feeling genuine regret as she stared at the endless non-ceiling of the library, which went on upwards with floors, forever, "I didn't mean to push her into it, but it was clear she wouldn't bulge either… She's a proud spirit alright…"
"..."
However, smiling with a certain mischievousness next, "But of course, you could consider it a small payback for the way she treated both of us~" The princess in her added, unable to help herself in relishing on the potential karma to be collected. She was a royal candidate for Od's sake! At very least she expects to be treated by others in an equal standing, formal or otherwise. This little fairy of a spirit had been nothing but disrespectful even though she had the right to be dour with her contractor missing!
"…Right…" Echoed Echidna deadpan.
"*sigh*"
Alas, such petty catharsis wouldn't last for long. Anastasia knew how much pain the spirit will feel after experiencing the memories of said contractor dying through his stomach… If that sudden pain is what Anastasia had to endure with Julius' spirits helping her recover, how bad would it feel when you read the memory on your own? The notion alone brings shivers to the neck.
"Now then, how to explain it to them…" The merchant wonders, holding her cheeks together, playing with floating maidens as minutes passed and steps were heard.
Anastasia had to set up something.
When Julius informed her about the existence of a book detailing the death of her personal knight, Emilia froze on the spot and the spot itself. Literally.
Faced with the silence from the Greatest of Knights, the light in her eyes faded slightly as she demanded question after question to quench her fears. Her tone of voice, though restrained and even sounding, still was cold on the pitch, almost lecturing and reprimanding him for what she thought to be some kind of bad joke or prank.
…But his serious and resolute stance never changed. Without answers for himself, Julius required them to accompany him so they could look into this further, a decision that was almost unanimous for everyone. Thus, Emilia, Ram and a somewhat annoyed Meili were now climbing their way into the library with heavy hearts as they pondered on the meaning of this discovery…
Though both Ram's synesthesia and Beatrice's contract suggest that their Subaru was, in fact, still alive, the circumstances behind the library's existence and function couldn't be ignored. Anastasia-san may have revealed little, but she was insistent that it was her knight that she saw in the book, which brings a strange feeling none can seem to shake or conform with… Like the prelude of an incoming tragedy ready to unfold.
"Mou, wha~t is up with this day! Can't we just get some rest and leave it for tomorrow? I almost fell asle~ep…" Meili complained, scratching her eyes while leaning on the back of the most diligent girl among them all, Patrasche, the Ground Dragon.
"We shouldn't expect anything less from Barusu. It's because of his incompetence at staying alive that we're having such doubts." Ram argued, her tone roughed and strict. Behind her hair bangs, her red eyes subtly shaked with a mix of resentment and worry at the possibility of a promise being broken. Natsuki Subaru was supposed to protect her sister! To bring her back alive and awake! How could he just go on and die like the dog he is!? The pink oni was seething. Should Rem still be unconscious by then, death will be the last of her assailants' problems if they ever touch her unprotected form…
In contrast to her boiling red anger, Emilia had nothing but a freezing promise to return. She was already suffering a small breakdown while expecting the worst of outcomes.
Subaru is more than a friend to her, more than a knight even! She may not know what words to use here, but their intimacy is akin to a spirit bonded to one's soul! His love for her cannot fade now. He promised to be at her side! So… if he dies now… if he's found dead… Emilia has no idea on what to do. Rather, she's scared of what she might do instead, like her mana going out of control… like summoning an Ice age everywhere… like enduring yet another century of loneliness…
"No! I must not think that way! There has to be an explanation… There has to be…" Shaking her head, the half-elf hugged her denial for now and did everything in her power to restrain her emotions before the truth was confirmed. She has no other choice…
"There has to be an explanation…" That was her mantra.
"Well~ onee-san, I got one: It's all the wicked tower of wicked sage, with his wicked library and his wicked trials~ It's all his fault. Onii-san must have broken another dumb rule or some~thing." Meili expressed playing with her braided hair, taking the news in a stride. She may sound sarcastic there but there's a clue of concern in her voice. While Subaru's death is something she once welcomed in a sense, the beast mistress couldn't find in her heart to actually smile genuinely at this outcome.
Her "onii-san", as she puts it, might be an idiot to keep her around when she wanted to kill him, but he was a good and caring idiot. He promised her a life no one else was willing to do so, and that touched her more than she wanted to admit it… which is why she simply blames the whole issue on her surroundings to begin with. It was easier for her to accept it this way…
"Ow-ow-ow!" Or at least, Meili wanted to, until a certain crimson scorpion on her head corrected her, "Alright alright, I won't make fun of onii-san like that! Stop pulling my hair T_T…" Heeding her tearing pleas, the little critter stopped and snapped her claws in the air, content yet tense, "Hmph… Fiiine, maybe there is a better excuse after all. Let's leave it at that…" She pouted, only to meet the corner gaze of the gallant knight leading them.
"I hope it is as you say, young lady. I would rather prefer that my friend lives." Exclaimed Julius in a retort, which quickly silenced the child assassin as they all reached the top of the stairs, onwards to their destination…
"There y'all are! And just in time too…"
Welcoming them, Anastasia stood up, grinning with conviction as she expected for them to notice her distressed company nearby and ponder…
"Beatrice?" Spotting the blond girl, Emilia's worry took another turn when she saw how crushed and devastated the Great Spirit was, seeing her crying on the ground, holding a strange tome in a hug so tight as if to not let it escape, "Beatrice, what's wrong!?"
Catatonic and scared, the once regal spirit girl struggled at first but did respond nonetheless, sniffing and tearing with grand sorrow to show, "Suba… Suba… Subaru was… Subaru was…" She stuttered and slurred, her voice laced with pain. The words wouldn't form, especially not when hearing Emilia's own voice so close. Worse, once finding the strength to look back at the amethyst eyes facing her, the spirit suddenly recoiled, burying both her face and the book into her knees as intense emotions continued to assault her mind and body, "No, nooooooo!"
"…" This clearly pictured to them the image of what they all feared… an unwanted revelation.
"She's quite ahead of y'all readin' that thing, and still is reelin' from the experience… There is no mistake here. We both have seen it: The death of one Natsuki Subaru." The merchant princess presented it, bringing much tension to bear.
This made the group gasp, eyes widening with teeth grinding, scowls forming on faces as the truth slapped at their expectations in the worst way possible.
"No… I-it can't be… It can't…" Falling on her butt, Emilia felt her eyes moist, the dread in her stomach invoking despair untold. She had nothing to hold hope for, nothing to hang on…
Until…
"Of course, that doesn't explain why the great spirit can still feel him strollin' around Vollachia in the south but that doesn't matter right now. Rather, Emilia-san!" Calling her up, loud and clear on tone, Anastasia's mirth shocked her, "Before ya go on believin' I'm talkin' about the same Natsuki-kun you and I know, could ya please tell me how the two of you first met in the Capital?"
"..." Her tone, chipper yet inquisitive, made everyone pause… It sounded too insensitive to the situation at hand.
"...How we first met…?"
"That's right~"
Having planned this revelation beforehand, the merchant princess cast forth much confusion and whiplash in response to what should have been tragic news. Indeed, she hoped that her little act here distracted them from their assumptions at play and made them focus on what she really wanted them to notice: The discrepancies.
"I wanna confirm somethin' first, just in case…" She winked at the half-elf, whose wavering gaze lingered, daring to hope that her rival actually had some relief to give as she calmed down.
Gazing on the floor, Emilia thought back on that day a year and half ago when she first found and entered that one house in the city's slums, just as the sun was setting. She then recounted…
"W-well, I was…"
"...and so I treated his wound as best as I could. That's… that's basically it…"
"Hmm…"
Relying on her memories and words alone, Emilia did her best to detail the hectic events of her encounter with Subaru, an encounter that, for all intents and purposes, appeared as nothing more than a coincidence of occurrence despite the exhilarating circumstances. She had something stolen from; chased the thief as best as she could; made some detours here and there; and then simply found the place where they met, fighting a notorious assassin before leaving under the moonlight…
"…Uhum…"
"...Reinhard did ask me about my relation to Subaru, but as far as I remember he was just a stranger to me back then. He told me that Subaru was already looking for a way to return what Felt-chan stole..." The half-elf continued, "That's why I decided to bring him with me so that he could clarify things… and now that I think of it, I never got Subaru to explain how he knew about everything that happened." She concluded, holding her cheek with a finger in a curious tilt.
"Could it be that he saw you getting pickpocketed on the street?" Echidna speculated, giving in her thoughts.
The half-elf didn't seem keen on it, "If he did, I couldn't see him. The streets were quite crowded as usual…"
Once she's finished, Anastasia held her chin by hand to ponder and prod on the knowledge she gathered, seeking to make sense of it. What she got however didn't add much, "So that's it, huh? Yer Subaru was just playin' the good samaritan outta nowhere?" She summarized, "I guess that's his type of thing to do, but still…"
"…" Some key clues were still missing.
"Excuse me but…" Feeling impatient at being out of the loop, Ram spoke her mind, "What Emilia-sama history got to do with Barusu's book?" She inquired bluntly, "So far all you've told us is that there are two perverts sharing the same name in this world. And that one of them lacked his talent of good timing to stay alive… Kindly explain to Ram what you are getting at."
"Isn't it obvious? She is trying to compare the text's memories with the real event, I suppose…" Answering the maid in an equal tone, the brazen voice of Beatrice was heard, the Great Spirit having shortly recollected herself from the aftershock of the book during the recount. Quite, holding the texts with a softer touch, the blond girl looked calm… calm as in, scowling in the same way she does when enraged and annoyed, which is barely above the usual without Subaru to make her smile.
That enlightened Emilia's mood a little, seeing a friend recover from doom, "Beako! Are you feeling bet-"
"-Far from it, in fact! And that name's… tch!" However, with a sharp retort, the Great Spirit seemed, in fact, very irritated, "Betty just saw what she had always feared in her entire life as a spirit, it's such a headache, I suppose." She complained bluntly, massaging her temple before standing up to feet.
"..." Though her tears had dried, its marks of distress still remained. Her dress's frills were crumpled; Her petite chest was visibly wet; and her twin-tails lost some of its color. So, with slightly bloodshot eyes, much fury rose over her gaze, which was quickly directed into what she held as the source of distress to everyone staring through her finger.
"In any case, what you all need to know for now is that this book is definitely fake!" She fiercely exposed, widening the eyes of everyone in the library, who now had their suspicions denied and their hopes renewed.
"Yup, that's about it…" Anastasia adds as a finishing note, pointing cutely.
"…"
"…"
"…"
"Oh, thank the spirits!" Emilia then finally slumps her shoulders, "He lives… he lives…"
"Haa~" Ram sighs, visibly annoyed yet softly calmer.
"Hmph, once again Subaru's description of the sage was on point… He truly is utterly despicable." Julius smirks, commenting on what everyone agrees…
All while Meili just yawned, "Boooring!" Like the child she is, "If you guys are going to drag me all the way here to just check on a book then I'd rather have stayed behind slee~ping…" She added, before pointing at the tome in clear sight, "if anything, at least let me read it for myself to make it up. I mean, no one would mind now that onii-san is fine, riiiight?"
Revealing her intent, they all looked at the cover held in the Great Spirit's hands, quickly finding themselves compelled to do the same in the act of reading it… Granted, knowing who already did, the feedback didn't seem that bad for the knowledge it offered...
"Hmm, if Beatrice-chan and Anastasia-san did it, then it wouldn't hurt to check…" Emilia for instance couldn't resist. After the whole emotional rollercoaster she had just endured, the half-elf felt it was her right to verify the tome's memories more closely, even if it was just for the sake of conscience, "(It might not be him, but the way Beatrice reacted… I have to see it myself!)" She assured herself, nodding to her own conclusions with fists closed and bravery reborn.
"Heh, I wouldn't mind seeing Barusu learn some discipline. I guess there's a lesson or two that could be taken from this book." The oni maid on the other hand just convinced herself with a clear mind, smiling and nodding in her comical bout of mischievousness tinged with malice for the poor fate of the butler knight.
Hearing her logic Julius couldn't help but to sweat a drop, "I think death is a bit excessive as a form of discipline, Miss Ram." And feeling slightly disconcerted, "Still, to witness and feel that from a friend… That's not a sight I ever want to see in my life. But, if this draws no true risk to whom we all know, then I guess can't deny my interest as well." He argued. After all, as a knight, death would always be found on the battlefield. Their world is not a gentle one and even the most powerful among them can end up suffering under pure misfortune (Poor Astrea family…) So, seeing this death might serve as a test for his convictions and beliefs. Yes… this is a test and nothing more. Not at all any manner of worry to a fellow knight or anything, not at all…
"Hmm…" Surprised with reactions, even Echidna felt inspired, "I see that everyone is well curious and willing… If they are this disposed to go with it, then I might as well join in." She proposed, unwrapping herself from Anastasia's neck to shapeshift into an actual snow white fox amongst everyone present.
That made the merchant princess arch her eyes, "Huh, I guess morbid entertainment actually is a thing to profit from. Oh well, please do the effort to get all the witty nitty details with clarity, alright? I want to discuss it with y'all once you return." She requests from the group before turning to the one at her side, "The book, If you will, Beatrice-chan."
"Tch! Treating Subaru's death like it's nothing… Even if he's not Betty's It's not like he's really that different, in fact." The spirit spat, leaning back and pouting visibly as everyone stared at her, silently pleading with their eyes for her consent before she yielded, "Gr, fine! Have it your way, children. Just don't come crying to me if it ends up being too painful of a memory, I suppose!"
At that, the Greatest Among Knights smiled, "Then, let me prepare a magic cycle. As Anastasia-sama's state shows, it should alleviate the more aggravating issues we should suffer." He expressed briefly, going on with the motions to mark the ground and amplify the power borrowed by his maiden spirits.
The whole act behaved much like a ritual ceremony of sorts, the group stepping into the glowing glyph etched in the floor just as the blue light of mana enshrouded them in, leaving Anastasia to simply hold the tome outside in front of them. Once everything was ready, she got one nod and then folded the cover, making their shoulders and bodies suddenly relax on two feet, eyes going vegetable to the world around them.
From there, silence…
"..."
"Urgh, it's so weird seeing 'em just blackout like that. Even the dragon went on with em'... Kinda creepy don't ya think, Beatrice-chan?" Pulling small talk, the merchant girl sought solace with the Great Spirit, only to find her staring at the floor, her expression eerily pensive and thoughtful, "Beatrice-chan?"
"Be quiet for a little…" Strangely serious, the blond girl went on to take the tome from the merchant's hand in order to inspect it more closely, gazing at its name for a second only to grimace slightly, sweat crawling down from her temples as the appraisal uncovered something elusive and scary, "...As I thought, those letters…"
Now, as a creation of her mother's designs, Beatrice's capacity for memory was as sharp as it could possibly be for an artificial spirit, losing only to the Witch herself in the senseless pursuit of knowledge. And after experiencing the deep slumber brought forth by one of these books, that strange foreign name written in a language she couldn't read was now heavily engraved in her mind…
This resulted in a spark, making the Great Spirit remember it… She had seen this title before… In fact, she had seen it twice before all of this commotion started. It had some variation on the end but she knew it existed right back when she plundered the many books from the ground when they first arrived on this night. It's likely then that they still are on her book pile two floors above where she stands, buried among many others. Knowing this, Anastasia could only stare puzzled as the loli spirit left her side to go confirm her suspicions without saying a word.
"Huh?"
"..."
It was an easy task removing the titles one by one on her desk. One single spell and the tomes simply began floating in order so she could inspect them quickly. It didn't take long before her little heart was once more branded with greater dread upon finding what she had seen and remembered…
菜月・昴・ 巻・ XVI
菜月・昴・ 巻・ XV
Two exact same books, both bearing the same title, but with each one bearing a different scratch right in the end, the sequencing signifying puzzling yet obscure…
"What is this… A number perhaps?" She hypothesized, deep in thought. For all she knew, this could be something akin to volumes, a thought far too horrible to imagine…
"Oooooi, are ya really just going to leave me here by my loneself? I feel like it's really rude to just go up about without sayin' anythin'!" Still locked in her shock, Beatrice simply ignored the merchant's words below to focus on the many implications of these two new books added to the total…
Could it be? Could these also show a Subaru of sorts? Is it the same Subaru in manner or circumstance? If so, what could this mean? Different lives? Different fates? Different realities or dimensions? What is the point of having them? Are they actually volumes of some sort? Could there be more volumes out there? Could there be other names with extra volumes? The questions were endless…
"Hmm…" Lost in these thoughts, the Great Spirit summoned her contract link once more, confirming to herself that her Subaru still lived and drew breath elsewhere before making any other assumption…
"Ah-AAAAHHH!" / "It hurts it HURTS!" / "Can't… breath…" / "This is… I don't even…"
"O-oh dear, they're comin' back, they're comin' back fast! Spirits, do your thing!" Alas, given the screams and grunts of pain, it was unfortunate, but it appears that she wouldn't be able to explore this discovery for now, "This is getting rough. Beako-chan! Could you please come down here? Beako-chan!~"
Thus, sighing deeply, the spirit resigned herself to join her human acquaintances, "Calm down! I'll be there soon, I suppose!" She exclaimed, "And don't act as if we're that close, in fact! That name is exclusive to Betty's Subaru only!"
"Yeah yeah, I know, just help me here!"
In the end, this was quite the find they uncovered… and Beatrice knew the others wouldn't leave her alone when it came to it. None of them would, not even herself, in fact… The deaths of Natsuki Subaru… What will these memories uncover? That was the looming question.
…
To be Continued…