"AAAHHHHH!" Subaru upper body flung up from the bed. His scream piercing the room.
"Subaru! Subaru!" Rem got up, holding the boy by his shoulders "Subaru-kun! It's okay... You're okay..." Her voice was trembling, and her eyes were moist.
Subaru looked at her. His face was still in shock, his eyes wide and a look of fear was plastered on his face.
"Rem..." he turned his face towards her "What the hell... happened to me." he muttered.
A third voice suddenly pipped up "Sister, what's wrong?" Rem turned her head to face her sister Ram.
Ram had an odd look on her face. Her brow was furrowed. She couldn't understand what she was seeing or why her sister seemed so upset. A clear look of concern permeated her demeanor. Why was her sister suddenly crying?
"Ah- Ram... It's... Umm" Rem looked back at her sister, but she couldn't find the words. Her voice trailed off, as she realized she had no story.
Ram still looked perplexed. "What about him?" Ram asked.
"He was, He's not..." Rem couldn't come up with any satisfactory answers. Her mental clarity wasn't there, which didn't help either. / He just died. /
"Sorry, it looks like I scared you." Subaru spoke up. It seemed like he had managed to calm down. Ram fixed her gaze on him, a slight look of suspicions creeping onto her features. "I'm always geeting nightmares, but it looks like I have worried you."
Subaru gave a toothy smile and rubbed his hand on the back of his head. He was playing it off like he didn't know Rem, realizing the situation they were in.
Ram maintained an intense stare.
She looked back towards her sister, who had stood back up and was wiping her face, trying to feign composure. It was obvious this wasn't some joke as Rem was clearly very upset.
"Sister I'm fine, I just had a moment is all. And I apologize to our guest for that" she gave Subaru a small bow as she said this.
"Oh no it's fine. Thank you for showing me so much concern, I'm touched" Rem raised her gaze to meet Subaru's eyes. The true meaning behind those words were not lost on her.
"Right then..." Ram interrupted "In any case I've been told to inform you about today's program"
Subaru and Rem gave each other a small look, having successfully evaded suspicion from Ram. Rem really didn't want to lie to her sister, but return by death was unbelievable. / And telling her about that might not be a good idea. /
Then, there was a knock on the door, and Emilia the came in.
"I came because I heard strange noises" she said "Is everything okay?"
"Yes, it seems like our guest was having a nightmare" said Ram.
"Ehhh I see..." she looked at Subaru "I guess there's no reason for me to worry then."
The conversation after this was brief, and Emilia, Rem and Ram left soon after.
As soon as they made their exit, Subaru held his hands to his mouth and threw up. Not wanting to make a mess, he swallowed his sick. / That death... Was definitely the worst one yet. /
Subaru once again told Roswaal to hire him. He needed to stay close to Rem. If they worked together, they might be able to find out what had killed him.
In his head he was already going over possibilities. For a fact he knew this wasn't some average illness. Something had completely overcome him and then he had died in minutes. He knew that magic existed in this isekai world so he reckoned that that might be the most likely explaination.
/ But who would cast such magic on me? / He had heard Roswaal was a powerful magic user, but Roswaal seemed to have little interest in Subaru. In fact, Subaru hadn't seen him at all, other than in passing, during his four days.
He would have to discuss this with Rem. Since she knew more about this world, she might be able to figure it out.
He looked towards her. He saw that she was staring at him as he ate his lunch with a worried look still on her face.
He felt bad about all this. Dying was *his* burden, involving Rem wasn't fair.
The maids had showed Subaru around the mansion for the third time. An odd atmosphere hung over all three of them as they did so. Then they made dinner together, and Subaru and Ram peeled potatoes this time. It was clear that Ram wasn't comfortable with what had happened this morning, and didn't want Subaru too close to her sister.
After the day was done, Subaru went back to his room. He was tired from everything that had happened today. / Technically, I haven't slept in two days /
He heard a gentle knock on the door. And Rem came in, still wearing her maid uniform.
"Ahhh Rem. It's good to see you"
She didn't look Subaru in the eye. "Hey there Subaru-kun." Her voice was a bit sad.
"What's wrong Rem? You look like you've seen a ghost." Subaru joked.
Rem stared at him, as if not believing what she had just heard. Slowly she walked up to him. And slapped him, hard, across the face.
"Subaru-baka, this isn't a joke! R- Rem saw how much you were suffering." Rem was shaking, half angry and half upset. "And Rem had to pretend all day like that hadn't happened! Like you hadn't just died in front of me!"
Subaru was shocked.
"Promise me, Subaru-kun. Promise Rem you won't die again." she said quietly. She was looking directly at floor, craning her neck forwards, but Subaru could see the tears streaming down her face.
"Rem" he tried to find the right words "I can't promise you that. In the first place I don't even know what killed me."
Subaru continued "But I'll tell you this. I want to live. I want you to help me. I don't want to ever experience that pain ever again!" The emotions he had kept bottled up all day were starting to leak. That funnyman mask he had worn all day was slipping off.
"Ever since I came to this goddamn world, all I've done is gotten myself killed! Over and over again!" Subaru started crying as he said this, the tears streaming down. "I'm weak. I don't have the strength to fight it. I don't even have the intelligence to avoid getting killed!"
"Subaru-kun..."
"And I'm sorry okay? I'm sorry you had to see me in such a pathetic state like that. I don't know why I'm returning. And I don't know how I managed to suck you into all this. But I'm sorry Rem. I'm sorry. I'm sorry... I'm just..."
Rem was watching the man in front her break down. The mental wear of dying seemed to have finally gotten to him. She understood now why, from that very first moment, Subaru was always joking, always holding a goofy smile. It was a self-defense mechanism. It was how he coped.
She sat on the bed next to Subaru, and embraced him in a hug as he continued to cry. It was the first time she had ever seen him like this. She was sad for him, but somewhere deep down she was also happy. Happy that Subaru was showing her this side of himself. The weak side. The side no one else got to see.
Subaru sat there for a few minutes. Trying to put himself back together./ I'm weak, I can't save anyone. I can't even save myself/
"Subaru-kun... Listen to Rem now" she started.
"Rem is not going to let you die. Not one more time." She rubbed his back as she said this. "We're gonna figure it out, right? And were gonna stop whatever this is before you or anyone else gets hurt."
"..." Subaru didn't say anything and continued to look at the ground.
Rem put her hands on his cheeks and turned his face towards hers. She looked deep into his eyes, trying to show the sincerity of her words.
"Subaru-kun. This is Rem's promise okay. Rem promises she is not going to let you die. No matter what."
"Really?" Subaru looked back into her eyes.
"Yes. Really." She responded confidently.
"Okay. Thank you. Thank you Rem." Subaru smiled as he said those words.
Outside the creak of the door a certain red-haired maid peered her eye. Ram saw as her sister and Subaru sat on the bed. She couldn't make out what they were talking about, but the boy was crying. Rem seemed to be comforting him. She saw as her sister grabbing Subaru's face, and turned it towards her own. / No way. Are they going to kiss? /
The kiss never came though, and Rem seemed to just continue comforting him. The whole situation was quite confusing to Ram.
Ram was always with her sister. She knew everything about her sister, not that Rem would ever keep something from her. But what she was seeing in front of her made no sense. / And this morning too... something was definitely weird... / / Rem, what is going on? I just hope you know what you're doing... /
Ram would need to figure out what was happening, and maybe confront the new staff.
Ram left after that, not wanting to be seen. And Rem looked toward the door as she heard quiet footsteps walking away from Subaru's room.
For the third time since he had gotten to this mansion. Subaru was cleaning the east wing of the building. This loop though, Rem had volunteered to help him. Finally alone, and feeling restored from the conversation last night, Subaru decided to broach the topic of a plan.
"Rem, I know what you saw yesterday wasn't pretty. But you have to think carefully. Do you know what might have caused my... my death?" Subaru asked. "It wasn't some normal illness. I thought it may be magic but I don't know much so I'm not sure."
Rem's stopped dusting as she turned to face Subaru. "I'm not sure Subaru-kun". She paused and her face scrunched up as she thought hard about it. "But Rem agrees that it must have been some type of magic."
"I thought so... But who would perform such magic?" He asked.
"Well... The only magician Rem knows who is proficient enough to cast such a spell would be Roswaal-sama." She answered. "But I don't think it is very likely that he is the one who is... killing you." Those last words were spoken more quietly than the others and Rem fidgetted with the duster in her hands.
"I see... Then apart from Roswaal. That only leaves the people from the village doesn't it? Both times I died were on the night after we had gone to get supplies" he said as his expression hardened "I didn't want to believe that, but it is the only plausible explanation."
"Yes, Rem also thinks that someone in the village might be responsible. Although Rem doesn't want to believe anyone she knows in the village is a murderer."
Subaru looked down at the floor. "Rem..." he started "The only people I spoke to that you didn't were the children... Is it possible that one of them caused this?"
Rem looked at Subaru. She had also considered the possibility, but it seemed so unbelievable. Still, looking at it logically, Subaru's theory was the only one that made any sense.
"Subaru-kun... Rem doesn't know but-"
"Rem" He cut her off "Let's go down to village today, if someone there is causing this... Then everyone in Arlem is in danger."
/ You' re always thinking others aren't you / Rem thought as she smiled at Subaru. "Rem hopes it wasn't any of the kids. But I'll get sister to send us down to the village." Her expression showed a cute determination. "We will nip this in the bud, before it gets out of hand again."
They switfly finished their duties before re-joining Ram on the other side of the estate. When Rem brought up the idea of going out to the village Ram approved it, saying that they would need supplies soon.
As they were about to enter the village, Subaru asked Rem a question "How are we going to identify a potential culprit?"
"Subaru-kun" Rem smiled and put her index finger on her nose "Rem has a good sense of smell."
"What?" Subaru was confused, but having no other ideas he decided to trust Rem "Okay Rem. I'm counting on you."
As they made their way to village, Subaru started to play with the kids as Rem attended to business. When she finished up, she went to join Subaru.
"Anyone suspicious" he whispered to her, not wanting the kids to hear them.
"No. It's odd. Nothing is out of place" she responded in a hushed tone.
"Are you gonna play with us too Rem-Rem!" asked one of the kids.
"Yay! Rem-Rem!"
Rem was surprised "Rem-Rem?"
"It's what I told them to call you. They're just kids so..." Subaru told her, slight embarrassment showing on his face.
Rem didn't say anything for a moment. / Even when one might have killed you. They're still just kids to you, aren't they Subaru-kun? /
"Mmhh. Rem-Rem doesn't mind it at all" she said, poking her tongue out at Subaru.
"Ah... I'm glad" Subaru was blushing, scratching the side of his face. / I've never seen this side of her /
Then they played some games with the kids, running around in the square. Rem got 'it', but Subaru was surprised when in the blink of an eye, she rushed towards Subaru and tagged him.
"Rem-Rem needs to hold back a bit, I think" Subaru said shyly.
"Not at all. Rem thinks Subaru-kun should endeavor to speed up. It's bad enough that you're such a slowpoke at the mansion" she teased.
"Oi... This is only my second day on the job! You can cut me some slack." said Subaru.
Rem kicked him forcefully in the butt "Rem told you not to joke about that!" She half meant it, but was also just taking the opportunity to kick Subaru.
"I guess Rem is more like her sister than I thought" he said.
The kids looked at them as this happened. Confused about their banter.
"Rem-Rem likes Subaru. Oooo" one of the kids spoke out.
A chorus of 'Ooooo's followed as all the kids teased the two of them. Subaru laughed and smiled "These kids are too cheeky, aren't they Rem?" Subaru looked over to see Rem facing away from him, but her ears had an obvious blush to them. "Rem?"
Subaru decided to tease her a bit further. "Well let's just say, Rem and I have a very "special" connection" / This is punishment for going all out on me Rem. /
He received another swift kick to the butt. "Don't joke about that either!" Rem shouted. Subaru noticed though that she was avoiding eye contact with him, looking everywhere but at him.
/No way... Does she actually... /
The fun times continued until the sun set. It was almost time for them to leave. Rem went around and gave each kid a hug, trying to detect any abnormal smell that would give a clue.
Then she got the last child, a small blue-haired girl holding a puppy.
"Oi Careful for that puppy Rem, remember he's nasty" Subaru whispered to her.
Rem gave a slight nod as acknowledgment, but went in for a pet. As she approached the small creature, her eyes widened. / It couldn't be that... /
Her voice was slightly panicked "Meili-chan, get away from that dog, It's dangerous."
Meili gave a slight look of surprise, but then put on a smirk. "I'm surprised you could tell Onee-san. This one is actually a mabeast!"
As she said this she dropped the dog, who was expanding to a tremendous size.
Meili continued "I'm under strict orders to get that one." She pointed at Subaru "So don't get in my way!"
Subaru moved to dodge as the giant dobberman went to swipe him. He barely avoided being slashed by rolling on the ground forcefully.
"Rem that's it! I got bit by that dog before! It must be why!" Subaru exclaimed. By this point he staring down the dog. Shaking slightly from both fear and anger.
The dog went in again. Not good. One hit from that thing and Subaru was as good as gone. He moved to dodge again, but he was too slow. His brain switched into slow motion as he saw the massive dog paw about to tear into him. / This is the end Rem-Rem, I hope you still remember me in the next life / Subaru closed his eyes. Waiting for that pain that was about to be inflicted upon him. But it never came.
He opened his eyes to see Rem's morningstar smash into the dog's arm, provocking a pained yelp from the animal.
"Subaru! Get away from that thing!" Rem yelled, jumping up high to once again strike the dog.
Subaru didn't need to be told twice. He ran behind Rem's position, as she once again struck the dog with her weapon, dealing a blow to its neck area.
The dog began run towards them, staring intently at Subaru. It let out a massive roar as it closed in on it's target.
"Rem! I need to get out of the village." Subaru called out "That thing. It's clearly focused on me, so I'll attract it away from the towns folk." As he said this he started sprinting onto the path he had taken so many times before which led to the mansion.
"Okay! Just leave the fighting to Rem!" she said as she continued to rain down blows on the animal.
The dog ignored this and continued to pursue Subaru as he made his way towards the mansion. He looked back over his shoulder and saw Rem continuing to fight the beast. / Damn, she's so strong / He turned a corner he got to a different section of the trail, surrounded by forest. Still the dog chased after him.
By now the massive dog was bleeding heavily. Rem's attacks seem to have done a fair bit of damage to the animal.
/ Good, I just need to keep distracting it. / Subaru thought to himself.
Seeing that the mabeasts attention was shifting towards Rem, Subaru started to falter. It was a balancing game. He couldn't get to far from the creature, or it would focus on Rem and kill her. But he also couldn't get too close or he was in danger.
"Rem! You have to stay near me! If you can focus your attacks while it's distracted then-"
Rem didn't need to hear the rest "Understood! Subaru, I'll stay near you, but we have to make our way back. Rem can smell more of these monsters approaching us!" she yelled out.
/More? No way.../ Subaru and Rem started running at full speed towards the mansion, they put some distance between themselves and the giant dog, who was now limping.
Suddenly, three shadowy masses seemed to emerge from the forest surrounding the trail. It was three more dogs. They were each pony-sized, unlike the elephant sized one from the village. Still, Subaru didn't doubt that they were lethal.
"Subaru! You have to run! I'm going to go all out, so please get away from here!" Rem yelled out in a pleading tone. As she said this, a glowing horn emerged from her forehead.
Subaru observed as she became faster, stronger and, by the looks of it, more bloodthristy. /Rem, what are you?/
Deciding to follow her instruction he continued to run. After a few minutes, he turned back and saw that the three dogs had been killed, but in their place a whole new pack had emerged from the forest. Even worse, the giant dog from before had now caught up to her.
/Goddammit/ he thought to himself /I can't just leave you to die, Rem!/
He made a one-eighty running back into the heart of the action. Rem seemed like a demon possesed holding out against all the mabeasts, but Subaru knew. He knew it wouldn't be much longer until something truly awful happened. /Rem. Please let me be the one to die. If you die now, then I.../
"Then there's no point even continuing this life!" he yelled out, determination surging through his body.
Subaru got close to Rem as he saw the giant dog duck down to bite her in half. Not even thinking, he managed to push her out of the way before that could happen. /Go! Rem!/
But she wasn't moving. Her exhaustion kept her down, as if she was glued to the floor.
The teeth of the giant dog barely grazed him, but still left a nasty flesh wound on his left shoulder. He was on his butt now, having fallen over after suffering the injury. He looked in horror at the terrifying beast. /This is it./
The whole pack seemed to circle around Subaru and he felt as if he was about to cry. Suddenly, a giant ice crystal slammed into the elephant-dog, striking it in the head and killing it. Subaru turned around to face his savior and he saw Emilia. Before he had much more time to think though, the pack of dogs that had been circling him pounced.
Somehow Rem had gotten back up, and she swatted away two of the dogs with her weapon before fainting from exhaustion. However, two more dogs had managed to get to him.
Subaru felt his body being thrashed in the air. / Great. I'm the human chew toy. /
He would have felt excruciating pain, but he was already in shock, and the bloodloss was making him light-headed.
Before the dogs could finish him though, Emillia cast another spell, and the two dogs exploded out into ice crystals.
"Subaru, Subaru are you alright!" Emilia yelled out "Hey! Talk to me here."
She ran up to his prone body, checking to see if he was still alive. Barely conscious, Subaru managed to respond to her.
"E...milia. You gotta get outta here" he groaned out "It's... not safe".
"Don't be stupid Subaru! We need to get you to a healer, okay!" she was shouting "Come on! Can you stand up for me!"
Subaru managed to roll his body over to face her. She gasped as she saw how much blood he was covered in. He smiled sadly. / I don't think I'll see this you again... sorry. /
"Emilia. Over... There. Rem. She still has a chance. You have to... Protect her." he said
"Just think about yourself for once! This is the second time that you've... that you've..." her eyes were begging him to get up.
"Emilia. Please. Just... get Rem. She's hurt." Subaru was barely getting enough air in his lungs to speak those words to her.
Emilia started to cry, but stood up and started walking towards Rem. "I hope you're happy with your choice Subaru."
She picked up Rem and slung her over the shoulder. Emilia couldn't carry them both. She gave one more look at Subaru.
"Just stay alive. I'll be back for you soon." Emilia said as she ran off with Rem.
The mansion wasn't too far away, if she got Rem back ASAP then she might get back to Subaru in time. Those were the thoughts running through Emilia's head.
Subaru just looked up at the sky. He was alone now. A brief moment of peace overcame him. He could feel his blood pooling under him. The warm liquid reminded Subaru of a hot spring, the kind he used to go to in Japan. / I wonder if Rem would be up for going to an onsen some time? /
He lay there for a few minutes, fading in and out of consciousness. And he laughed at the thought of having to do this all over again. At least Rem would be there to help him... probably. He didn't understand his own power so there was no way to say for sure. / But man... That girl is my lifeline. /
He heard a growling noise. Another mabeast had appeared. The dog slowly crept towards Subaru. Mainting a low posture so as to pounce at any moment. Subaru's eyes were closed so he couldn't see the animal, but he nonetheless sensed its approach. He felt as if he were going to cry, but he bit his lip. He wouldn't. Even if he died permanently, this was still the best outcome. In the grand scheme of things, his life didn't mean very much at all. / I'm so pathetic. Dying for someone else's sake? I should be happy someone like me can meet such a noble end./
He heard the growling of the beast grow louder, and could feel the wet, warm breath of the dog against his cheek. / This is it. / He braced himself.
Before it could attack him though, Subaru heard something amazing.
"EL FULA!"
Subaru felt a gust of wind rush by him. With his remaining strength Subaru pushed his eyes open. He saw a flash of red hair.
"r...a...m..." he whispered.
Finally, Subaru passed out.