Interlude 6 – For Those Helpless Alone
Lugunica's Capital City, night out, a full moon colored red by the remnants of last night's fires and explosions. The Main Street that once served as the spinal cord that connected the City now lied in shambles after the battle…
Although most of the soldiers' corpses had been cleared out already by the combined efforts of the Candidates' Camps militias and the Kingdom's formal military, the rubble and collapsing buildings ruined the scenery that once seemed as though it had come from a fairy tale.
In fact, the Market District in its entirety now looked as though it could fit right in with the rest of the Slums, and even the Residential District fared no better.
"I can't believe this…" An old, bearded man said as he opened the door to his home in the Residential District. "My house… Look at this mess!"
"I-It's barely standing…" His grandson, a lime green-haired youngster barely old enough to work, commented as he walked behind his grandfather into the abode. "The windows are all broken…"
"Be careful with the crystal, it's all strewn 'bout!" The man indicated to the child. "Goodness, if our own house is like this, how did the ones closer to the Market fare?"
"Rather than worryin' 'bout the house, we should be thankful we are still alive Pops." The kid said as he tiptoed around the broken windows, walking further into his destroyed home.
"Now don't you be careless just 'cause we alive, kid. I may not look like much, but I was a militia man durin' the last big war, so I know for DAMN sure damaged buildings an' the like hide sneak attacks! Never somethin' you shouldn't take into account!" The old man yelped and ranted with a paranoid attitude, warning his grandchild to be careful as he approached the damaged area of the home. "M'own lil' brother, Od rest his soul, passed when them freaky demi's pulled a Magic Circle under us in Castour Fi-"
"Oh! That's where I put it!" The boy exclaimed with cheer, ignoring his caretaker.
"Ya even hearin' me?! Kids these days!"
"Hey! My carriage made it!" The kid said as he lifted a table broken in half, revealing a still intact wooden toy carriage. "The wheels work an' all still!"
"Stop movin' around! Already told ya that the place is a mess!" The man reproached as he came closer to the child. "Imagine the roof fell over?! It crush ya ta dea-!"
*CRA-CRA~CK!*
"-Th-?!" As if to mock his worries, fate played a bad hand to the old man, for as soon as he spoke his warning, the structure of the building came apart. "PABLO! LOOK OUT-!""
"Huh?" The kid flinched as he heard his name yelled, and when he turned to look at his grandfather, a piece of debris fell right in front of him.
*CRASH!*
"U-UWAAA-!" The kid yelped with terror as the ceiling began collapsing all around him, closing away his exits and possible escapes until it fell on its entirety.
*THWIPPP!*
*DASH!*
"IYAAAAAAAAGH!" Pablo cried with fear, tears running down his eyes as he closed them shut, waiting for the collapse to crush him to death… But it never happened. Instead, he felt light, weightless, as his feet dangled around in the air and someone… held him? "EH?! EH?!"
"You alright kid?" Spider-Man inquired energetically as he swung between buildings, looking for a safe place to land in.
"Who-?! Who are you-?!" The kid in question struggled around, trying to free himself from Spider-Man's hold as he failed to comprehend what was occurring.
"Easy there buddy! You are gonna make us both fall!"
"Fa- lUWWWAAAAGH?!" Pablo quieted down as he noticed the height. They were at least 20 meters above the ground, easily a fatal fall from this high up and from such an awkward angle.
"Hmm… There!" Spidey mumbled to himself as he held the child tight, and seconds later, the two landed safely on top of some grass along the Main Street's neighboring plazas. "You okay? Can you walk? Any injuries? Scratches? Bruises-?"
"Uuuuu- URNF?! *BARF!*" The kid freed himself from Spider-Man's grasp, and quickly walked over to the bushes to puke after the adrenaline had subsided. "Blegh…"
"…Looks fine enough to me!" Subaru chuckled as he approached the kid again with the intention of comforting him.
"PABLO! PABLOOO!" The old man screamed with relief as he ran to his grandchild's side.
"P-POPS! POPS HELP ME! TH-THAT GUY JUST-!" Pablo tried to cry with terror again as his grandfather embraced him into a hug.
"I saw everything, you little moron! You… How careless can you be?! Augh, Pablo…!" The old man didn't care however, hugging his grandkid tighter whilst knowing perfectly what had occurred. At the last second, when the ceiling almost crushed his boy to death, a black and golden flash of speed breezed through the broken window and snatched the kid, keeping him out of harm's way. "Oh, mister knight! How could we ever thank you-?!"
"No problem, just the friendly neighborhood Spider-Man passing through." Spidey shook his head with relief as he prepared himself for another round of swings around the Residential District. "Just stay out of the buildings for now, keep to the encampments and tents coordinated by the other knights, okay?"
"O-Okay…?" Pablo, who had only now come around to recognize the armored man as a protector, wondered on his words with curiosity.
"It means 'affirmative'! Make it popular for me, won't you?!" Spider-Man asked cheerfully before swinging away by shooting strings to a tower's roof.
"Th-Thank you for saving me! Spider-Man!" The child yelled as the Avenger flew into the night.
*THWIP!*
*DASH!*
"Alright… That makes sixteen saves from collapsing buildings, thirteen active looters apprehended and five injured carried to safety… Emilia-tan? You there? How's everything going on your end?"
"Oh? Ah! The infirmary tent in the encampment is full; we are currently inspecting the neighboring houses to check if their structures are sound enough to use as a temporary infirmaries…" Emilia informed the hero swinging in the City via distant communications as she attended people in the Slums. "I sent Rem with Garfiel and Frederica to Felt's side; they lacked healers over at the eastern camp. Although… The only ones showing any trust in me here are Beatrice, Ram and the other medics and healers. I must admit, it hasn't been easy managing the situation; most injured I attempted to treat resist forcefully, thinking I'm trying to put a curse upon them."
"That's so stupid, ARGH! I'm getting infuriated just from hearing it!" Spider-Man huffed as he landed on top of a building's cornice, his voice clearly disappointed. "Don't let it get to you, alright? If they give you too much trouble, then focus on other operations, like search and rescue with me-!"
"Hmn, I think it is quite fine even if they insult me. I don't much care for the mockery anymore; I'd rather focus on helping them instead." Emilia chuckled as she responded to Subaru, fascinated by his frustration on her behalf. "Seeing their faces of shock once I close their wounds is enough satisfaction."
"That's such an angelic take, Emilia-tan! You sure you didn't fall from the sky?!"
"Eh? But I'm fairly certain you are the only person I've seen fall from the sky?"
"Touché… Even if I throw you my best pick-up lines they'll fly over your head, eh?"
"Still, even if the citizens show resistance, that just means there is really, rea~lly a lot to work on so I can reach for their hearts. My coming days as Margrave won't be boring, that much I know."
"To say the least! I cannot fathom all the paperwork being smooth…"
"Mo~, don't even mention it! I wager Roswaal loved working his subjects to the bone!" Emilia sighed tiredly as she thought of all the papers she'd have to read and sign directly in the coming future. Piles of them, possibly… Such are the burdens of Lordship. "Ram already informed of most of my new duties, and I'm having headaches from hearing them out loud."
"Hehe, I bet Ram worded them in the most strenuous ways possible just to annoy you."
"She made sure to categorize every duty in a scale of 'Subarus', I mean… 'Barusus'." Emilia explained with a curious face.
"…'Barusus'?"
"She compared them with how difficult it was to deal with you; for example: a treaty on redefining the taxes for a certain region for the next year was equivalent to dealing with half a 'Barusu', and-"
"Okay, alright, I don't wanna hear it anymore, I can picture it already." Subaru shook his head, tired of Ram's abuse of his name in his absence. As he was about to speak to his friend again, however-
"H-Hey, HEY! What are you doing?! That's MY house you are breaking into!" A middle-aged man yelled with anger as a pair of looters, a rat demi-human and a blue-haired human, broke into a house through the broken windows. "I-I-I'll call for a knight, I swear!"
"Huh?! Who gives a shit! The Capital is destroyed, the big wigs are prolly' dead too!" The demi-human cackled maliciously. "Just look at the Noble's District, ya think someone survived that?!"
"In fact, 'tis a good thing yer here dumbass!" The blue-haired man laughed as well as he reached into his jacket's inner pocket, producing a dagger. "Mind tellin' us where the valuables are, eh?"
"H-HELP! HEEEEELP!" The homeowner cried in terror as the duo of criminals backed him against a wall.
"Lookie here! Number fourteen and fifteen sure love playing their part, eh?" Spidey joked with disillusion as he proceeded to jump downwards, ready to save the man and catch the looters. "Sorry Emilia-tan! I'll catch up with you later, gotta go-!"
"Huh?! Wait, Suba-! He cut already?!" Emilia mumbled with confusion as she tapped on her bracelet repeatedly to no avail. "Hah… That Subaru, and I had taken the time off to talk to him, I'm busy as well!"
Exiting the house she had been inspecting, determining it viable enough to house a few of the injured for the rest of the night, Emilia signaled to Marcos' subordinates.
"Ah, Emilia-sama!" A trio of knights hurriedly approached the half-elf as she called out to them. "Any luck?"
"Yes, this house is spacious enough; not too clean, but nothing a quick Wind spell couldn't solve, just call Ram over." Emilia requested of them eagerly. "The beams aren't damaged, and there's quite a lot of beds; please, bring any new injured in here immediately so I can treat them."
"R-Right…" The knights nodded slowly as they looked at each other awkwardly.
"Huh? Is something wrong?" Emilia wondered with worry as the knights fidgeted around in place. "Are you injured too? Do you need treatment? If so, come inside right away and I'll see what I can-"
"E-Emilia-sama, you see…" Sporadically, he trio of knights all lowered their heads apologetically, making rather anguished faces as they continued talking. "We are really sorry!"
"Eh?" Emilia flinched with surprise as the men all professed their shame.
"We are actually… When the Selection began…" One of the men, a brown-haired knight, spoke in a lower tone as Emilia looked at him with confusion. "See… When the Selection began, we were part of the knights that insulted you that day…"
"O-Oh… I see…" Emilia mumbled, not knowing what to say.
"We thought you a half-devil, and yet, you came to defend the Capital last night... All as we tried to arrest Natsuki."
"Ah, so you were there with Marcos…"
"We heard you slayed the Rabbit too..."
"And you gave first aid to the soldiers immediately after the battle ended…"
"We are really sorry, Emilia-sama-!"
"If you stooges are sorry, then go get the injured already!" Ram ordered the men around with an irritated voice, approaching Emilia from behind. Her irritated face made her oni heritage proud as it sent shivers down the spines of the knights. "Emilia-sama is in a tight schedule right now, she has to leave the Capital tomorrow morning to settle matters in Costuul as new Margrave. The more time she wastes pandering to your mopey act, the less she has to attend the injured and to rest. So get to your jobs already!"
"Y-Yes!" The men all scrambled back to work after the maid chewed them out for lazing around.
"That wasn't very nice Ram! They were just apologizing!" Emilia fumbled with what to say, taken by surprise by the whole situation.
"Girlie, these fools' shames is their own; wasting your time for something they feel guilty about is not your problem, in fact." Beatrice justified Ram's actions as she appeared from behind her.
"But-"
"No buts, I suppose! Betty noticed, you know. An inspection of a house shouldn't take so long, so Betty deduces you took some 'time-off' from your schedule to talk to Betty's Subaru, didn't you?" Beatrice fired rapidly as she pouted pettily, making Emilia freeze in shock as she was caught red-handed. "Seriously, when will Subaru give Betty her own bracelet? It is unfair that his own Spirit doesn't have one, in fact."
"W-Well…"
"The attitude tells the crime, Emilia-sama… If you spent your time for inspection needlessly tearing Barusu's ear off over those bracelets of yours, then Ram will be sure to deduct it from your sleep schedule." Ram dismissed any attempt of the half-elf to defend herself with ease, forcing her into a corner.
"Mo~! It's not as though I took time off for no reason!" Emilia cried pitifully. "Subaru wanted to know how things were faring here!"
"Now, now, needless banter isn't an attitude befitting of a Margrave, Emilia-sama." Ram instructed, dismissing her master's annoyances. "Off you go, the stooges are coming any second now with a new batch of casualties for you to get frisky with."
"Don't call the casualties a batch; you make them sound like produce! And what does 'getting frisky' even mean?! I'm healing them!"
"It means that the maid has as much of a 'dirty old man's mind' as Betty's Subaru thought she had, I suppose."
"And you too, Beatrice-sama. Those burns and broken bones are not going to heal by themselves, so get to it." Ram ignored Beatrice's comment with monotony, instead opting for reproaching her as she did with Emilia moments prior.
"Who do you think you are, thinking you can order around a Great Spirit?!" Beatrice screamed with insult.
"Chop-chop, you two, we are pressed on time." And Ram yet again did not care, hurrying the two girls inside the house with a huff.
"Just make sure you help too, alright?! And not by making tea by the sidelines!" Emilia requested with a frown.
"Your low-quality tea would probably make the injured patients sick as well, in fact." Beatrice followed Emilia in mocking the maid.
"My tea is high quality; it is your tongues that fail to comprehend it. Hmph!"
'All hands on deck!'
That was the order issued by the Council and the Candidates after Roswaal's Trial. Some few minutes had been made to address Elsa's case, but most everyone excluding Felt's Camp had left to attend their different duties prior to her sentence being passed.
Emilia and Felt's Camps, with aid of the common foot soldiers and mercenaries of course, were now focusing on the Security effort by establishing 'Secure' zones along the Residential District and the Slums. These zones would effectively function as infirmaries, temporary housing for civilians affected, with the likes of Garfiel and other soldiers patrolling around to prevent disputes between the groups hastily allocated together.
On the other hand, Priscilla and Crusch's Camps were coordinating with one another to establish a temporary 'refuge' for the Nobility and associate merchants in the ruins of the Noble District. It wasn't 'ideal' by any means, but it was better than risking random riots in the Slums' encampments from having nobles and commoners thrown together in the same tents. In addition, it helped to keep track of any missing members of the nobility and the casualty rate of the knights.
Meanwhile, the Royal Guard directed by Marcos was leading the Search and Rescue effort by establishing, directing and commanding knights and Subaru around the damaged portion of the City. They prevented the looting whilst looking for any survivors of the previous battle and the like.
Finally yet importantly, Anastasia's Camp was in charge of the supply chain. She had been quick in contacting merchants from Fleur, Hanumas and the other many small towns nearing the Capital a day before the attack, predicting that material damage would be high after battle. Her company and mercenaries had been directing convoys full of supplies like food and medicine non-stop since the afternoon.
*THWIP!*
"Hey Julius!" Spider-Man yelled as he landed atop the rubble of what once was a butchery in the Market District. "Got another pair of robbers here, just for you!"
"HRMF-! HNGH-!" The rat demi-human moaned unintelligibly whilst squirming in place, wrapped from mouth to toe in webs.
"Gagh-! Hey, let me go!" His human companion, who was in a similar situation, cried pathetically as he managed to force away his gag. "We didn't do nothing, I swear! This creep just came onto us!"
"First things first, a double negative suggests a positive, so you WERE doing something." Julius corrected with irritation as he commanded his subordinates to come to his side. "Secondly, this 'creep' is scheduled for a knighting ceremony, so I'd suggest you have some respect and treat him with the proper addressing. Take them to the barrack's dungeon."
"Yes sir!" The lower rank knights nodded in affirmation as they hauled away the pair of looters.
"Huh." Subaru smirked as he took off his mask, surprised by Julius's referral of him. "I thought you were about to tell ME off, not the looters-!"
"I'm not done." Julius interrupted with a stern expression, wiping Subaru's smile from his face. "Thirdly and finally, Subaru, focus on bringing in more missing people or injured; the dungeons are soon to be full if you keep bringing robbers and other criminals."
"-Aaaaand, there it is… What the hell do you want me to do?! It's not my fault opportunists are getting cocky and robbing people blind out here!" Subaru protested with a frown and some indignation, insulted by Julius's order. "Had I left them do as they please, they would have ended up cutting some homeowner's throat!"
"I'm not chastising you for saving people, I'm chastising you for taking the liberty of thinking we have enough personnel to deal with each and every situation that arises." Julius reprimanded again whilst slowly shaking his head.
"Personnel, huh…?" Subaru swallowed with worry, knowing what it meant for Julius to mention the amount of people available. "So we have an official toll on the casualties already?"
"…" Julius meditated for a second, regretting the amount of death he had witnessed a night ago. "…Lugunica's Army is comprised of both knights and common soldiers. Discounting the local militias belonging to regional Lords, as well as all knights that were distributed along the other four Great Cities at the time of the attack, last night's army consisted of over a thousand knights and ten thousand common foot soldiers."
"And the victims of last night?" Subaru dreaded.
"Of those, the casualty rate was of ninety percent, with over half of the whole number of combatants being fatalities. We lost four-hundred good knights last night, and another fifty-six succumbed to their injuries over the day. Foot-soldiers, we lost around half of the total number in battle, and five-hundred others to injury later on..."
"Almost six-thousand dead…" Subaru murmured with horror, clenching his fists so hard they trembled. If he clenched any harder, they would bleed…
"Even with that, we have no official toll on the number of mercenaries and adventurers yet; and we also have no number on the civilians that joined the fight after it began. It could very realistically be a number over the seven or eight-thousand…" Julius sighed tiredly, his eyes and Subaru's both looking quite aghast. Instead of continuing to beat the young hero with more bad news, the finest knight decided to focus Subaru's attention on acts he could help with right away. "Subaru, I know you are trying to do good by saving people, but please, focus on that alone right now: Bringing anyone injured, not the looters. I'd rather be helping those I can than locking up some third-rate robber, and I know you do too; we'll deal with looters when we can afford doing so."
"…Got it." Subaru lamented with a lowered head before masking on, ready for another patrol.
"…Before you leave though, have Anastasia-sama, Priscilla-sama and Crusch-sama rendezvoused with Karen-dono yet?" Julius inquired as he prepared more nursing equipment and first-aid appliances.
"Karen went ahead to inspect the 'Cocoon' with Reinhard, she was worried Ultron could have left a surprise explosive or something." Spider-Man explained with reluctance. "She probably thought no one would want her help in the City-"
"Because she looks like a female Ultron?" Julius suggested with a sorry face.
"*Sighs* Pretty much. I'm not really okay with her thinking that though, it's eerily similar to Emilia-tan's situation; people will find it hard to trust her everywhere now."
"No one said it would be an easy situation to begin with, I'm not proud of the attitude displayed by Heinkel-dono and the other soldiers when you arrived after defeating Ultron." The finest knight declared as he tried to console the saddened teenager. "At the very least, I want Karen-dono to know that we… That the Knights of Lugunica trust in her."
"Do you? Don't get me wrong, I am sure you personally do Julius, but Marcos and the others still seem to doubt her intentions… Wouldn't stop eyeing her without a hand on the pommel."
"Then let Reinhard do the vouching for her; the word of the Sword Saint still holds weight amongst the common folk and the soldiers alike, believe it or not." Julius recommended as he turned to look at the giant metal sphere neighboring the City.
"Fine then; Reinhard can always be trusted in my book!" The hero nodded briefly before leaping back into the night. "I'll come back here if Karen says anything, alright? Talk to you later!"
"Hmm, later…" Julius mumbled back quietly, certain doubts brewing in his own heart too as he examined his surroundings and the information he had just given Subaru. "Trust, eh?"
It is true that I trust Subaru, enough to let him patrol at his own leisure instead of accompanied, like the other soldiers. I do not doubt his judgement, but… It is everything else around him that rattles me.
As he prepared stretchers and commanded the men around him, Julius's mind drifted elsewhere with insecurity. Unbefitting thoughts for the so-called 'Finest Knight', he would say, yet undeniably, he had them.
In a sense, what trust I professed for Karen-dono might actually be a lie… I do not hate her, but I don't feel at ease around her either; the same goes for that Sorcerer, Strange.
These people… They fought the invincible, faced the insurmountable and triumphed; it'd make sense to respect them for it! Yet, no matter how I try to shake these thoughts and feelings by telling myself that I am just being paranoid…
No matter what excuse I try to give to my fears, saying that I am still riding on the emotions of the battle…
The blood of my subordinates staining my robes and hands will not go away.
The images of Lugunica's end will not vanish from my eyes.
Reinhard's one-sided defeat still makes me tremble, shudder with terror I have never known before… Fear I did not think was possible to feel...
And we are supposed to simply accept that such disasters will happen again?! That we have no power over ourselves?!
I am grateful for Subaru's presence; it gives me a peace of mind that I did not think I needed, it reassures me, makes me believe we are not completely helpless against what we don't understand.
But if he weren't here… If something happened to him, should we just roll over and accept death?
This battle was a before and after for Lugunica, for all Four Nations. If we cannot adapt from here onwards, there is no path forward.
I have to- I MUST look for it…
A way to the future, one that does not depend on Subaru alone. For Anastasia-sama and everyone else's sakes… A way forward for us, who are helpless alone…
"For us, with no say in our own fates." Julius mumbled melancholically, a tinge of regret lamenting on his own weaknesses and flaws with disgust. It would seem even Lugunica's best could succumb to dangerous thoughts in the face of horrors unknown…
Meanwhile, west of the Capital, in the outskirts a few kilometers away from the City's Gates…
"Karen-dono…" Reinhard mumbled with caution as Karen inspected the outside of the mothership.
"…" However, Karen did not pay him any mind, focusing instead on the plating, on whatever weakness could exist so they could break into the ship.
"Karen-dono, may we talk?" Reinhard requested in a neutral tone, wary of the Synthezoid's attitude. She was amicable enough when Subaru, Emilia and Beatrice were present, but now that he was all alone with her, there seemed to be some unresolved tension between them.
"I don't particularly think there is anything to talk between us, Sword Saint." Karen responded politely, yet slightly aggressively.
"I'd think the contrary; we do have quite a lot to discuss." Reinhard shook his head as he identified a possible entrance amidst the walling of the structure.
"I think actions speak louder than words, and your actions are rather dubious." As she retorted, Karen's eyes focused on the same flaw in the ship's exterior Reinhard had identified.
*KLAA~NG!*
"By that unforgiving logic, yours, Emilia-sama, Subaru and everyone's actions would be rather dubious in hindsight as well." Reinhard frowned with disappointment as he twisted Vibranium panels with his bare hands, boring an improvised entrance into the ship.
"Would they? Those actions ended with Lugunica's triumph in the end, did they not? So those were justified in the end." The Synthezoid justified as she entered the mothership, followed by the redheaded swordsman. "Yours, on the other hand…"
"…I couldn't go back on my word, I made a deal." Reinhard lamented as he looked away from Karen, inspecting the ship's alien interior instead.
"A deal with a murderer, to protect her from deserved justice? Who knew Lugunica's greatest warrior was so easily swayed." Karen deadpanned with disappointment whilst pushing aside deactivated legionnaires.
"She held Felt-sama hostage, alongside the entire Capital as the 'Cocoon' fell; I had to make a choice-"
"Are you only at full strength when that Sword is drawn? Surely, you could have disintegrated her with one swing of your fist if you so wished to without endangering Felt. At Sonic speeds even, faster than she could have sliced your Master's neck." Karen glanced at Reinhard with suspicion, doubting his word. "Light speed, movements so fast that makes it look as though everyone around you was frozen in place; maybe faster, to the point your eyes don't even register the light spectrum, but rather, the very dark matter that composes our Reality instead. That is the velocity you reached when fighting Ultron. And you still insist in telling me you couldn't incapacitate an assassin a few meters away?"
"My power doesn't work as you think it does; it is only the appropriate amount for every situation that arises-"
"Don't attempt to deceive me; if you were automatically strong 'enough' to tackle every combat situation with appropriate strength, you would have overwhelmed Ultron by gaining every single power available to defeat him… In truth, you simply held back against Elsa, didn't you?" Karen inquired as her doubts doubled over.
"I held-? I'm afraid that isn't accurate Karen-dono; I simply just-! I couldn't act so fast, it really is that simple…" Reinhard struggled with continuing the conversation as he observed his surroundings carefully; they were covered in armors and models that didn't even see battle last night, granting him a sense of dread and wonder as to the true potential of Ultron's army. Combined this with Karen's relentless criticism… The Sword Saint felt flummoxed by it all.
"An excuse, huh? However, even then, after striking a deal, you could have simply gone back on that choice as the Council reviewed her case. Maybe not so ethical an action, but definitely of higher moral value in the long run." Karen interrupted Reinhard's defense however, worrying him. "She's a murderer. Leniency towards her actions is a betrayal to the victims-"
"Subaru would have looked for a solution that didn't involve more deaths!" Reinhard disrupted Karen's rebuttal as he professed the real reason behind his odd acts and words at last.
"…" The Synthezoid looked back at the redhead with resentment as he used Subaru's image to defend himself.
"My apologies… I did not mean any offense." Reinhard bowed his head with regret as he realized what he had said in the heat of the moment.
"So that's the truth of it. You were looking for the solution ANOTHER type of 'hero' would pick?" Karen turned away from Reinhard as they approached the matrix of the ship, its energy core. "But why Subaru? Clearly, this world already hailed you as a hero even before our arrival. Your decision would have been the correct decision anyways in the eyes of your civilization."
"Not quite as you may think; many find a fault in how I act… I'm a hero in name only, from the title I have inherited." Reinhard admitted with a sense of reminiscence, looking back on his life up to that point. "Ultron mentioned many things and people that have made me reconsider certain aspects of my past, Karen-dono. Meeting him… I felt emotions I did not think I could; in a certain way, it felt liberating to know I could anger and hate that intensely."
"Hmm…" Karen's eyes narrowed on the Sword Saint as he spoke, the honesty surprising her quite a bit.
"I've always been told by others that I can be stoic. Overly polite and apologetic. A 'prude and bore' by Felt-sama's word, haha…" Reinhard chuckled with amusement as he remembered his liege's words. "I wouldn't say I don't enjoy his company, I really do, but I only ever see Julius when we are assigned together. My fondest times with him have only been when we'd train or when we'd go on patrol and missions together. I don't know if he'd consider me a friend…"
"…But you know for sure that Subaru does, right? He's wasn't a knight you'd only see when in duty like Julius, or a Master whom you have to cater to like Felt; he was just some loudmouthed guy when you two first met." Karen concluded with a smirk. "I may have had no body when it happened, but I was there present nonetheless."
"Since the beginning, he's treated me like his equal; it is odd, considering all that has happened. I genuinely value Felt-sama and Julius… But Subaru feels like the first 'true' friend I've ever had." Reinhard admitted with a smile. "So when he calls himself a hero, or others call him a hero, considering the way he approaches things-"
"When he tried to arrest Witch Cultists or when he wanted to spare a Sin Archbishop… Ah, I understand everything now." Karen shook her head with disillusion. "The 'idea' of a hero is quite different between worlds, it would seem."
"A 'hero' in Lugunica is someone that slays great deals of enemies, accrues great military achievements and protects the Kingdom by felling its enemies in the hour of need." Reinhard explained as he regained a stoic demeanor and his neutral tone. "From the outsider's perspective, people might think that Spider-Man, that Subaru fits that mold right in. However, to those who know him better, who have fought by his side… they would recognize immediately how much he abhors killing. What person tries to arrest a Cultist? Most people would either run away or aim to kill; I do not consider I would be an exception. If we could arrest a Sin Archbishop, we would, but that's easier said than done. But for that to be your answer in your first encounter with one is just… I'd call it a childish approach. But if he is the one with the achievements nonetheless, then what does that makes us, whose first instinct against such enemies is always to kill yet we had not achieved a victory in centuries?"
"…In New York, Spider-Man gained his title as a hero by arresting criminals and helping the citizens when they needed it. Sometimes though, he'd help the criminal by making them amend their ways or turn themselves in. He'd call that being a good neighbor though, and I'm can see others just call that being a fool." Karen described Subaru's routine back in the Big City. "Not every pickpocket should be thrown in a cell, some are just having a bad day and they need someone to talk to. Felt herself was someone struggling with the day to day after all. And maybe that mercy shouldn't be extended to murderers like Elsa or the Cult… But in Spider-Man's word, someone has to. Not everything ought to be so cut and dry, kill or be killed. There's always another option…"
"That's exactly my point, Karen-dono! If there is a path to being a hero other than bloodshed… Someone like me, would I be able to take it? Or is that wish arrogant of me?" Reinhard wondered with sincerity, glad Karen understood his position already. "Can I be more than just a sword? Can I be the hero Subaru thinks I am?"
"…I don't know." Karen admitted with a vexed expression. "But instead of being the hero someone else thinks you are how about the one you want to be?"
"What I want to be?"
"That's what you are asking me anyways, aren't you? Or did it take you this long to realize you are becoming ambitious?" Karen smirked with amusement. "I'm awed though… I didn't think you had it in you to feel and talk so passionately."
"Dying so many times- witnessing your own demise does that to you. Defeat changes your perspective on things; I simply didn't know it..." Reinhard lamented briefly, with a sorry face and attitude. "I'm- My apologies. That was quite a morbid thing of me to say."
"…" Karen too pondered on those words, thinking they fitted someone else a bit too perfectly as well. "Yes, it was morbid of you… Ah, it's here."
"What is…?" Reinhard wondered as Karen made a full stop in front of some sort of metallic circle. "Karen-dono, what are we looking at?!"
It was lined with red and blue iridescent gleams and at the center of the circle, a set of holographic screens surrounded by structures and components of extraterrestrial origin. Even with his multiple Divine Protections allowing him to comprehend the use and function of each apparatus though, Reinhard felt utterly confused and baffled by their very existence.
Machinery that seemed to defy gravity, liquid metals that could take any shape and rigidity one so desired, nano-technology invisible to the naked eye; even artifacts superior to the forms of magic he knew of, capable of defying space-time logic. He even felt mana radiating from some of them, so he knew a part of this collection were in fact 'Metias' of some sort. Simply… Not of his world.
"A Trophy Room… How gaudy and posh of that brute." Karen insulted with disgust. "Was this his way of keeping track of the civilizations he had slain? Rather distasteful on his part. But those are not important, this is."
"A screen? It looks like the one from Felt-sama's bracelet." Reinhard pointed out as Karen manipulated one of the holograms.
"It's the interface to the central computer." Karen explained with monotony as she moved the holograms around, looking for something. "Ultron originally commanded all legionnaires and Hulkbusters with his own mind through a combined use of technology and the Stones. But in case of emergencies, he crafted a terminal that allowed for manual control of his army."
"Manual control? This screen can control all armors in the Capital?!" The Sword Saint looked on with excitement, mesmerized by Karen's dexterity with the terminal. "It'd save us time for reconstruction and clean-up if we activated the armors to help everyone-!"
"Think that through, Reinhard." Karen stopped him in his tracks, smacking him with a bitter realization. "If the Witch Cult invaded the Capital, and a day later, people in Cultist robes offered their help in reconstructing it, would you accept their help?"
"…" Reinhard meditated on her response, understanding the hastiness of his sincere approach.
"I'll be hacking into the terminal to recall all legionnaires and Hulkbusters still functional back to the ship for deactivation. You can help me by collecting all defunct and broken ones scattered around and bringing them here." Karen recommended, as thousands of screens appeared before the pair, each a reflection of the vision of each still functional armor in the Capital.
"I should… Advise the higher-ups first, so they don't come to the conclusion that we are still under attack." Reinhard commented seriously, whilst making his way out of the Trophy Room.
"Reinhard." The Synthezoid called out one last time before the Sword Saint left.
"Yes, Karen-dono?" He turned around to look at her with anticipation.
"…If Elsa is to spend her sentence in Flanders, make sure she doesn't cause any more trouble, understood?" She recommended sternly. "Make your choice of sparing her worth it; keep a good eye on that assassin… Maybe we can find out more about her organization that way and what do they want with the Royal Candidates."
"…I will." The Sword Saint nodded with acknowledgement, comprehending the weight of her word and implications of his choice of sparing Elsa.
Elsewhere, amidst the ruins of the Karsten Manor…
"Hey you! Wilhelm, was it?" Anastasia said as she disembarked a carriage with Mimi behind her, a convoy of Merchants with medical supplies right behind her. "Gate duty, huh? Not that there is much to guard here anyways… Bunch of craters, really."
"I'll inform Crusch-sama, Priscilla-sama and Marcos of your arrival, if that is what you mean, Anastasia-sama." Wilhelm bowed respectfully as he opened the barely standing gate to the ruins of the Manor.
Whilst the Slums had become the refuge of the common folk, the Royal Castle and the vicinity of the Noble District were the refuge of the nobles and high-prestige merchants.
The Council of Elders had stayed behind in the Royal Castle alongside other Lords dedicated to the Central Government, drafting plans of action and rebuilding for the Capital in the coming days.
Contrary to that, tents of the highest quality had been set up around Crusch's destroyed state, which was seen as the base of operations for all procedures in the Capital at the moment.
"Crusch-sama, Anastasia-sama has arrived." Wilhelm informed as he entered a luxurious red tent, set in the same location he and Subaru had sparred a week prior.
"Hmm, thank you Wilhelm." Crusch nodded as the butler returned to his duty by the entrance. Immediately as he left, Anastasia and Mimi entered the tent.
"Greetings people! The great Mimi has arrived!" The little Pearlbaton celebrated as the flaps of the tent burst open.
"Mineself can indulge childish acts little girl, but do be quiet when in here." Priscilla ordered in a considered tone for Mimi, although she seemed rather bored with all occurrences around. "Anything new you could inform us of, merchant?"
"I'd ask a little respect from a fellow Candidate, Barielle…" Anastasia huffed in annoyance whilst sitting down opposite to her in a round table, a map of the Capital with many marks and revisions displayed at the center for all to see. "With your own Mansion decimated, who do ya think was the one that provided ya with luxuries such as makeup an' food?"
"Things I could have easily obtained on my own with a clap of my hands, little one." Priscilla replied with indifference, barely considering her stance.
"Sometimes I think you make it a sport of getting to people's nerves, Barielle…" Crusch mumbled with disappointment before looking at Anastasia to her right. "Hoshin, the report, if you will?"
"Right then…" Anastasia replied with displeasure, producing a list from Mimi's backpack. "Thus far, according to the Fang's recounts… We have recovered the remains of a total of two-thousand and thirty-two people; of which, a hundred and fifty-six belonged to unidentified victims…"
"Which suggest civilian loss after all…" Crusch lamented with regret, knowing that was the answer the likes of Subaru and Emilia would dread the most.
"Well, they were found with weapons in hand an' all, an' in the Market District of all places." Anastasia justified before the mood plummeted further.
"Most likely retired militia or stubborn fools that refused the evacuation order." Priscilla shook her head, dismissing any sadness or pity that she could feel for the victims as irreverent. "They were warned and they didn't obey; thus, death was their own fault."
"…Consider leniency after they passed however, Priscilla-sama." Marcos recommended with a solemn expression. "These deceased, they were in on their years, right Anastasia-sama? And were some of them demi-humans?"
"Uh- Yes, actually… How did you know? I hadn't even informed that yet." Anastasia and Mimi both looked astonished as Marcos concluded with accuracy.
"Can you read minds?! *GASPS!* YOU ARE READING MIMI'S MIND RIGHT NOW, AREN'T CHA?!" Mimi cried with fear as she jumped on the table with staff in hand.
"Nothing so crass, you two. Marcos here has a great deal of experience, that's all." Crusch commented with an unreadable face.
"As Crusch-sama says; I haven't leaded the Royal Guard for over a decade without knowing my way around the Capital and its citizens deeply. Some… Just would not budge, no matter what the government says. And if their livelihoods were threatened, they'd fight tooth and nail against that threat, even if it were the knights." Marcos explained with pity. "Candidates, I understand if you think low of me for my attempts against Natsuki last night, and for doubting the veracity of your word. Emilia-sama too, for obeying the order of Elder Bordeaux, who is notorious for his bias against demi-humans… But all I did was because I strongly believed it was the best for Lugunica and its people, and for you five as well. Nothing more."
"I don't blame you, Marcos. Even if not stellar, you were performing your duty, as were we. Frankly put, it was a difficult situation, the one in which you were placed." Crusch pardoned the man with calm, believing his approach not erroneous given his position, merely hasty in its procedure. "How exactly do you believe tales of parallel worlds and powers that defy Reality, without sounding like a raving lunatic?"
"Alas, we only believed because we had already witnessed the impossible before." Priscilla responded, sharing Crusch's sentiment. "The realm of 'fairytales' and 'pipedreams' wasn't ridiculous for us anymore, so we could suspend our disbelief even at the mention of such colossal stupidity like 'Ultron'."
"Aye… My gratitude for your understanding, Priscilla-sama, Crusch-sama-"
"Just make sure never to commit such a mistake again, moss-head." Priscilla ordered in a cold tone as she produced her fan from her bosom, interrupting Marcos's gratitude. "A wise ruler MAY forgive once; only an imbecile does so twice. Doubt mine claim again… And you'll regret your birth."
"…Understood." Marcos wiped the sweat from his brow, already exhausted by the interaction. It was difficult to maintain a stoic demeanor when under the pressure of Priscilla's threat, of what could be his unforgiving ruler in the coming future.
"We'll make the report public for the affected when the clean-up of the City is done then; passing page, what about the other fatalities?" Crusch inquired with a stern voice.
"The rest are what we supposed from the beginning: Belonging to the mercenaries and adventurers hired for the battle, as well as members of our own private forces." Anastasia continued with pity and compassion for the dead. "…My men counted many wearing the Fang's uniform amongst the victims, but not nearly as many as those in both of your battlefields, at the South and the East."
"…Some bodies really were nothing but burnt remains instead of complete corpses; Wilhelm equated the attacks of each legionnaire to those of Sphinx's magic during the War." Crusch too expressed sorrow as she recalled the horrible acts perpetrated by the androids.
"Enough of the distressed act, you sorrowful dunces; dwelling solely on loses stray us from the gains and the glory. It stains the sacrifice of those who pushed us onwards to victory." Priscilla spoke with irritation, reproaching everyone for sticking to a gloomy attitude. "The 'armors', as we call them, were controlled by Ultron remotely. Without him, they do not function anymore. However, if we were to use that servant of Natsuki, could she control them? That's the real incognita here."
"…Control the armors?" Marcos voiced his doubt with distrust for the suggestion.
"Subaru described Karen as a being of similar origin and potential to Ultron; and that new embodiment of hers reflects those similarities quite strongly." Crusch admitted sternly, placing a hand on the table, showing off her bracelet. "Right now, she and the Sword Saint are investigating the 'Cocoon' to verify and neutralize any lingering dangers left behind by Ultron. If both she and Natsuki can distantly communicate to us through these 'bracelets', then she could also manipulate the 'armors' using their base as 'reigns' of sorts, given her capabilities."
"I don't think this is an acceptable suggestion." Marcos closed his eyes, imagining with horror the potential of such a decision. "Although WE know that the armors have no will of their own, wiith the accrued terror of the populace, attempting to use them as a replacement for our lost forces would be-"
*DASH!*
"Karen-dono thought the same, so she doesn't plan on using them in such a way." Reinhard informed as he suddenly appeared at the entrance of the tent.
"Reinhard!" Crusch mumbled with surprise, as the swordsman had seemed to simply pop into existence out of nowhere. "I thought you were still lingering by the outskirts…"
"My apologies for the disruption, I simply came running to inform you all of Karen-dono's solution to the clean-up, Crusch-sama, Priscilla-sama, Anastasia-sama, Sir Marcos. After investigating the interior of the 'Cocoon', Karen-dono has found the means for controlling the remnants of the enemy army, and she is about to recall them to their ship for deactivation."
"As I feared, so she did possess the capabilities…" Marcos shook his head tiredly, frowning all the way. "And I suppose we should be glad they'll be deactivated?"
"It means they shouldn't prove a danger anymore…" Crusch spoke calmly whilst scratching her chin in contemplation. "However, there's still much to do. If the likes of Sword Saint here isn't present, people might actually panic when they see the enemy moving again."
"Before that, have you informed those dullards at the Castle, Sword Saint? Mineself does not imagine Bordeaux out of all agreeing to such a decision of yours." Priscilla criticized as she inquired Reinhard.
"I see; I've failed to inform you completely, Priscilla-sama. My apologies." Reinhard bowed respectfully before continuing his report. "I have already informed the Council, and although begrudgingly, they agreed too if it expedited the organization of the Capital. Soon, I'll go inform Felt-sama and Emilia-sama as well, before overseeing the procedures myself. I plan on having the likes of Julius and Subaru present too, so as to calm down any potential rioting that might occur."
"With ya present, you'd have ta be stupid ta riot against the government or even attempt somethin' that crazed." Anastasia sighed with heavy eyelids.
"Extra security never hurts, Anastasia-sama; caution trumps regret." Reinhard smiled with sincerity as he responded optimistically.
"Hmm… Very well then. If the Council has approved, I have not much say in the matter. Go inform Emilia-sama and Felt-sama, then return to the duty of Search and Rescue, Reinhard." Marcos commanded whilst standing up, walking towards the exit and readying himself for another patrol.
"Are you leaving too, sir?" Reinhard wondered, sensing the man's intentions. "Shall I approximate you to the Market District's barracks?"
"It is fine; I can reach there on my own Reinhard." Marcos denied the assistance with a neutral tone before turning to look at the Candidates present, bowing his head respectfully. "It's time I move out as well, Candidates. I have responsibilities of my own to attend alongside my subordinates… I wish you the best of luck in the rest of your endeavors."
"Yes, good luck in your duties too, Marcos." Crusch nodded, seemingly the only one caring to bid farewell to the soldier. "Ah, but if you see Natsuki… tell him to inform Karen-dono to come here right away after she finishes her own work in the Cocoon. We'll need her expertise for Strange's gift."
"Actually, tell Natsuki-kun to come here, Marcos. And Reinhard, tell Emilia an' Felt too while ya are at it." Anastasia added to Crusch's order, standing up to look outside the tent. "I'm thinkin' they'll definitely wish ta be present ta see this thing…"
"Hmm… Mineself tires of looking at it, not knowing how to operate it…" Priscilla voiced with a tired gaze, looking at an oddly shaped jet-black construct right through the gap in the entrance. "It is clearly a vehicle of some sort, this 'apology gift' of the Sorcerer. Hopefully it demonstrates some utility."
"Regardless if it was gifted out of pity or not, Lugunica has gained a great asset today, I am sure." Crusch smirked confidently as she rolled her wheelchair to the outside, a cocky gleam shining in her amber eyes.
They were right to marvel at the construct… after all, who wouldn't feel powerful owning a Quinjet?
AUTHOR'S NOTES
DeEeEeAaAaAgGgHh... I'm glad I'm finally getting these interludes done, man…
This Arc has dragged on and on for WAY longer than I thought. Whenever I sit to write it, I think 'Hey, maybe I'll finally finish it this time!', but then 'nope!', I end up writing way more interactions and setups for future events.
Sometimes, I consider if I'm building on too many plot threads? But focusing on characters other than Subaru is also important for the general structure of it all… Anyways, writing something that you feel satisfied is hard, but then again, so is with any art and all mediums, really.
I'm especially happy with detaching Subaru from the general air of the other Camps for a bit though, after all, once this Arc is over and I can move onto the other one, I'll finally be able to write all the cool stuff I had planned since the beginning of the fic.
I'm also really looking forward to writing the next Arc primarily because of Subaru-Julius dynamics. Everyone's favorite purple-haired snob (In the eyes of our hero, of course) is set to be the deuteragonist of the coming Arc, so expect a LOT of banter between the two as they work together on a Country-wide mystery.
Next chapter is also going to be an interlude (To close on characters like Medium and Flop for a while), and after that, the real final chapter of the 'Infinity Ultron Arc', with Subaru's knighting.
See you next chapter!