Subaru fell to his knees, rubbing his waist with both hands.
"Huuuu. Huuuh." Subaru felt some vomit trying to rise up, but he held it back. / What the hell just happened? I think I... died. /
"Subaru-kun!" Rem ran to him, her brain had caught up to the situation. "Subaru-kun!"
Halibel had stood up from where he was sitting. Instantly recognizing that something was off.
"Rem..." Subaru was still dazed "Did I die-"
Everything froze.
Everything but Rem and Subaru were stopped in time.
Subaru felt a cold sensation at the core of his soul. He tried to speak, but he was unable to utter a word. He realised he was paralyzed with fear.
A shadowy mass materialized in front him, and a dark hand emerged from it. It felt like icy water as the hand phased through Subaru's body, holding his heart.
"Shhhh"
The noise seeming to come from all directions.
Although the hand wasn't physical, Subaru could feel his chest tighten as it caressed his heart.
"I love you."
Time unfroze.
"Aggghhh" Subaru let out a pained moan. He started coughing profusely. He fell forward, now balancing on his knees and forearms.
Rem placed her hands on his back, patting him lightly. Subaru could feel that she too was shaken.
"What's wrong Su-san?" Halibel approached the two of them.
Rem looked up at the tall wolfman. "Halibel-san..."
"It's nothing Halibel... Nothing." Subaru uttered out, shackily standing back up.
Subaru went to the couch and sat down. He patted his legs again, confirming he still had them.
"Halibel. Who are you investigating again?" Subaru asked him blankly.
"Huh? That person?" Halibel was befuddled by the question. "They haven't acted out since you arrived, so they are still unknown."
"You said before..." Subaru was thinking "Bisected? You told me that's their M.O."
Halibel scratched his chin, or rather, his snout. "Yes. The killer cuts the victims in half."
Subaru looked at Rem. "I think that was her then."
Rem looked back at Subaru. It made sense, the women that had killed Subaru was certainly dangerous, and the profile matched.
She nodded, accepting his hypothesis.
"Meili, I need you to go to your room for a bit, okay?" Rem turned to the girl who still had her cards in her hand. "The adults need to talk right now."
Meili knew better than to argue with Rem, especially when she was in a bad mood. Meili went to her room.
"Halibel. Your killer is going to strike again. Tonight." Subaru said.
Halibel narrowed his eyes and took a big draw off his pipe. "How do you know?"
"I just do. That's all I can say." Subaru said. "Rem knows too."
Halibel turned to see Rem, who looked more serious than ever.
"It's true Halibel-san."
Halibel stared at the two kids in front of him. Something had happened. Subaru and Rem had been overcome by something. Their moods and demeanors had completely changed. And now, they claimed to know the location of the Banan phantom. Still, Halibel could see the determination in Subaru's eyes. Something told him to trust the boy.
/ It's not like I have any leads anyway. /
"Alright, I'll believe you. Now answer me this kid, how do we catch this murderer?" Halibel chose to put his faith in the two of them.
"We just have to wait. She'll come to us." Subaru stated, walking towards the door. "Let's go."
* Scene Break *
Rem and Subaru were sitting on the same bench again, alone. It was still daytime.
"Now that I'm here, I feel like maybe this wasn't a good idea." Subaru stated.
"Only now Subaru-kun? Rem knew this was foolish from the start." Rem responded.
"I am foolish." Subaru thought that the label fit him. "I think this is the third time I'm acting as bait, that's proof of a fool."
"Rem thinks it's fine if you're a fool, it's not a bad thing." She said. "Although Rem is not fine with your smell." She pinched her nose.
"My smell?" Subaru didn't think he smelled bad, at least not any worse than usual.
"You reek of the witch. This happens every time, but it is particularly bad today." Rem waved at the air in front of her, trying to dispel the scent.
"The witch..." Subaru thought about what Rem said.
/ The witch of envy right? /
Subaru had been told that the witch of envy was a powerful and evil witch from 400 years ago. The witch had allegedly been a silver haired half-elf, which was why Emilia was distrusted by most people.
/ What does it mean though... Are RBD and the witch connected? /
Suddenly, there was a rustling from the bushes behind them, and Subaru and Rem instantly stood up. It was the same white-haired woman.
"Stay back!" Subaru shouted.
Subaru saw Rem's forehead starting to glow. She was preparing for a fight.
"Give it back to me!" The woman with white hair said, raising her arm. "Right now!"
The criminal let out a torrent of wind, decimating the ground in front of Subaru. That was a warning shot.
/ This is bad. Why are you here now? You're supposed to show up in five hours! /
"I don't want to kill you, but I will if I have to." The woman said.
Subaru spoke to Rem. "Rem... Stay cool. I don't think this is someone we can fight." Rem nodded.
"Tell me the truth. Where is my lightball?" The woman asked, a dominating pressure exuding from her.
Rem and Subaru were confused. Neither of them understood the question.
"Mmmm. We don't have a 'light ball', I'm sorry." Rem responded politely.
"You lie! I know it was you." The woman, who was dressed in white, pointed at Rem.
"I'm very sorry, but Rem doesn't even know what a lightball is. Rem hasn't taken anything from you." Rem said, shaking her head.
Subaru didn't feel much bloodlust coming from the woman, unlike last time, where she had seemed completely crazed. He noticed that her clothes were different too. When they had last seen her, she had been wearing black, but now she was wearing white. Still, there was no denying it was the same person.
"I warned you!" The woman started charging an attack. The wind was being sucked into a vortex around her right hand. "Now I have to do this the hard way!"
She charged at Rem, intent on annihilating her. She swung, and a wind sphere shot towards Rem. Rem jumped back just is time to avoid the attack. The tree behind her made a loud noise, and Rem saw a massive hole in the trunk. That magic was like a cannon shot.
The woman again ran towards Rem, but as she got closer, Subaru shoved her. "Just stay away! We don't have your damn lightball!"
Subaru's attempt was in vain though, as the woman seemed unaffected. The woman raised her arm towards Subaru, and blasted him with a gush of wind. Subaru was flung back a few meters, and he could feel deep, painful cuts on his body. He landed on his back with great force, and he felt like he couldn't breathe. Subaru couldn't even get up. He had been completely disabled by a single attack.
/ Where the hell is Halibel? He said he would be here! / Subaru thought angrily.
The woman turned her attention back to Rem. "I'm going to give you one last chance. Give me my light ball, or I will kill you, and I will take it."
Rem just looked in fear at the woman. This was all a big mistake, a big misunderstanding.
"I told you, I don't have your lightball." It was the only thing Rem could say.
"Wrong answer." The woman held her arm up, mainting an intense glare towards Rem. Mana gathered in her palm, and Rem closed her eyes. / I'm sorry Subaru-kun. Rem knows what you'll do next. / She braced herself. This was it.
"Oo-" The woman let out a strange noise.
The woman walked towards Rem, who still had her eyes closed. Rem felt a hand being placed on her stomach. Rem opened her eyes. The white haired woman was standing right in front of her, looking like she was about to cry.
"Why? Why did you have to..." The woman was incredibly upset, tears welling up in her eyes. "It's mine! I need it!"
Rem was shocked. The person she had seen last night night had been a cold-blooded murderer. But now, she seemed completely different.
"Why don't you tell Rem, and she can help you look for your lightball." Rem said.
"I know you have it. I'll just stay with you until the time comes, and then I'll take it back." The woman said.
"Rem doesn't know what you mean."
Rem looked to Subaru, but the boy had fallen unconscious. She could see large lascerations across his chest and arms, and his tracksuit was in tatters. He had taken a wind blade head on. Rem walked away from the white-haired woman, and got down. She began to cast healing magic on Subaru's prone body. He had taken some severe damage.
"What's your name?" Rem asked the girl as she tended to Subaru.
"Zerestia." The girl responded.
"Well, Zerestia." Rem said. "You can't go around making baseless accusations and hurting people. And you have to apologize to Subaru too, he's badly wounded."
"Hey, who do you think-"
There was a large explosion sound near them. Their conversation was interrupted.
Rem saw two Zerestias. There was the one standing above her as she healed Subaru, wearing white. The other one was further away, and was wearing black. The black Zerestia was fighting someone. The person she was fighting was moving so quickly that it took Rem a moment to register who it was. / Is that Halibel-san? /
Halibel had moves. He was nimble, avoiding every wind blade as they were shot towards him. He made it look effortless, almost like he was toying with his opponent.
The white Zerestia rushed into battle. "It's you!" She sent a wind blade towards her black-cladded clone, but missed. The black Zerestia, seeing that she was now outnumbered, started to run away.
Halibel wanted to chase her, but seeing the state that Subaru was in, his first priority was getting the boy to a hospital. On top of that, the girl was flying away, something Halibel couldn't do.
"What happened to Su-san." He inquired as he approached Rem and Subaru.
"She." Rem looked at the white Zerestia. "Hurt him."
Halibel walked up to the white-haired girl, holding a kunai in his hand.
"Who are you?" He asked
"Zerestia." she answered him calmly.
"Are you the one who's killing people?" Halibel asked her.
"I haven't done anything. I just want my lightball back." She responded.
"The woman I was fighting earlier, the one who looked like you, I think she's my culprit." Halibel said to Zerestia. "Do you know who she is?"
"Yes. That clone... She is the one who stole my lightball." Zerestia turned to Rem. "I'm sorry. I think I made a mistake."
Rem ignored Zerestia, she was too focused on healing the boy in front of her.
Zerestia explained that the lightball gave great power to the wielder, but would drive them insane. She agreed that the clone was probably Halibel's murderer.
Halibel went over to Subaru and picked him up.
"You've done enough, Rem." Halibel stated. "I think I should get him to the hospital."
Halibel vanished in an instant, and Rem was left alone with Zerestia.
"I don't have any lightball." Rem re-asserted. "So please, leave Subaru-kun and Rem alone."
Rem walked past the white-haired girl, not saying anything. Rem headed for the hospital. Zerestia just stood there, realizing the mistake that she had made.
* Scene Break *
Subaru didn't recognize the ceiling above him.
He was half-asleep, but he forced himself awake. He sat up and looked around himself.
He was in an empty room. Subaru could see glass viles of brightly coloured liquids on the shelf oppposite him. / I'm in the hospital... /
Subaru looked down at himself. The wind blade had cut across his whole body, leaving wounds on his torso and on his arms. Subaru saw he had a large bandage on his chest.
*Knock knock*. Subaru turned to the door. It slowly creaked open, and Rem let herself in.
"You're awake. That's good." Rem smiled as she entered.
"Rem..." Subaru was glad to see her. He was scared that she had been killed by that person. "What happened?"
It turned out Subaru had been asleep for two days. Rem explained the situation with Zerestia.
"There's two of them. The one dressed in white, Tia, attacked us because she thought Rem had stolen her lightball. There is another Tia, who actually did steal the lightball, and Halibel-san thinks she is the Banan killer."
Rem continued. "After you were knocked out, the killer fled. Halibel-san is trying to find her now."
Subaru understood. He fell back down on his bed. "How long do I have to stay here?"
"You can come home now, but you can't work. The doctor says you need to rest, at least until next week." Rem responded.
She continued. "There's something else too... Halibel is keeping the white Tia under house arrest at home."
"What!? That chick is dangerous!" Subaru felt a little outraged, but he managed to think logically. "Rem. Do you trust her not to hurt us again? You're saying this was all a misunderstanding, but are you sure she won't be violent in the future?"
"Subaru-kun can kick her out, and Rem will support that. If you want to move, we can. Rem will do whatever you want to do."
Subaru thought about the meaning of those words.
"So you don't think she'll be a problem." Subaru sighed. "In that case, I guess I have no choice but to put up with it..."
"Halibel-san is the strongest warrior in Kararagi. I trust him to handle Tia." Rem said.
"Really? The strongest?" This was news to Subaru.
Rem nodded. "It's why he was assigned to this mission in the first place. He is the most qualified."
Subaru didn't know what to say.
"Rem saw him fight too. Take it from Rem, Halibel's prowess is extraordinary."
Rem's words somewhat reassured the boy.
Subaru and Rem left the hospital two hours later, and headed home. When he got back, Subaru saw Zerestia, who was sitting on the couch with Halibel. Meili was sitting on the floor, playing with some dolls Rem had made for her. When he entered, Tia stood up and bowed in apology.
"Tell me, Tia. Why did you attack Rem?" Subaru asked her seriously. He was quite annoyed at her presence: the girl had the potential to cause huge damage.
"I thought she was the thief." Zerestia answered curtly.
"Why did you think that?"
"It was the smell." Zerestia paused "Rem and the clone smell the same..."
/ Her supernatural beauty, her incredible wind magic, her sense of smell... / "You're not human, are you?" Subaru asked her.
"I'm the great wind spirit, Zerestia. My existence is much more profound than any mere human." Tia boasted a little bit.
Subaru scowled. / I don't know if I will get along with this person. /
"I'm sorry about this Su-san, but don't be too mad." Halibel drew in some smoke. "It's better if she stays here, where I can keep an eye on her, rather than have her wonder the city."
Subaru massaged his temples. "If she hurts Rem or Meili, I'll have your head Halibel."
Subaru made it sound like a throw-away remark, but Halibel could tell there was a seriousness to those words.
"Fair enough. I'll watch her closely then." Halibel tried to appease the black-haired boy.
"That brings me to another thing, Su-san." Halibel stood up, and removed Subaru's tracksuit from one of the drawers in the kitchen. He held up the modern clothes, and Subaru saw that they had been shredded to ribbons.
/ Goddammit. That was the one thing I still had from my world. / He gave an angry look to Zerestia.
"It seems your clothes were completely destroyed, so I took the liberty of getting you some new ones. Of course, Rem helped me pick them out for you."
Halibel picked out some black textile from another drawer. He dangled it, and unfurled it to reveal a black kimono, in the same style as Halibel's. It seemed well-made. The hems were sown with orange thread, and Subaru could see bright orange lining on the interior of the item.
/ I'm mad but... This kinda seems like an upgrade. It's even in my colours! /
"Thank you Halibel, Rem." Subaru put on the kimono, he was dripped out. "This thing is sweet!" It fit his new look. Since coming to Banan, Subaru had grown out his hair a little, which he kept in a short ponytail. With the kimono, he looked like a true Kararagian.
With that, the whole house calmed down. The black Tia had once again disappeared, but Halibel said that it was progress - at least they had identified the woman. Now, wanted posters would be hung up in Banan, so white Tia was told to stay at the house.
Subaru had been very worried about the spirit, but she seemed disinterested in all of them. Subaru figured it was unlikely that she would harm them again. Subaru showed her chess, and the spirit was good at it. Zerestia was always stoic, except when it came to her lightball, which was the only thing that seemed to get her emotional. This stoic nature made her great at the game, coldly calculating every move before she played it.
"Checkmate." She won her first ever game against Subaru.
"Beat me on your first try ay? I can't have anything anymore." Subaru whined.
Subaru felt a light tap on his shoulder. Rem was standing above him, smirking at him.
"You can still have Rem." She said seductively. "Technically, we're still on our date, aren't we Subaru-kun?"
Subaru grinned. "I suppose we are... Tia, I'm going to bed now. Why don't you show Meili how to play?" Subaru got up and held Rem's hand. They went back to their room.
Tia and Meili sat confused, looking over the chess board, as weird noises started eminating from the room. Giggling, and then laughing, and then silence, and then the whole house began to shake.
"Su-san you dirty dog." Halibel smiled as he blew on his pipe.
* Scene break *
The next day, Subaru was sitting on the balcony next to Halibel. The wolfman was half asleep, just chilling in the sun.
"Halibel, can I talk to you?" Subaru broke the silence between them.
Halibel opened his eyes. "What is it Su-san?"
"I was thinking... Tia took me out in a single hit. I was completely powerless to stop her." Subaru was frustrated at his own weakness. "If you're really Kararagi's best warrior, then you could help me get stronger, right?"
/ My training arc is long overdue. / Subaru thought to himself.
Halibel turned to Subaru. "I don't think it's possible for you to get strong, Su-san." Halibel was straightforward in his answer. "That being said, maybe I can teach you a little magic. Something to get you out of an emergency."
Halibel stood up and placed his hand/paw on Subaru's chest. He furrowed his brow and closed his eyes, as if trying to detect something. "As I thought..." The beastman muttered to himself.
"What is it?" Subaru asked.
"It's your gate. I'm guessing you've never used magic, so your gate is frail and underdeveloped." Halibel smirked. "Like a baby."
Subaru let out a 'tschh' sound. "Figures."
"That being said, there is one technique that even you could pull off. It's not very impressive, but it could help you in a pinch." Halibel continued.
"At this point, I'll take what I can get." Subaru responded.
"Alright. It's called the clone technique." Halibel made an odd handsign, and two more Halibel's popped into existence on the balcony. "They're not physical clones, just an illusion." Halibel passed his hand through one of the clones, proving his point. "It doesn't take very much mana, which is good for you, since it won't stress your gate."
Subaru nodded along with Halibel's explanation. "How do I do it?"
Halibel showed Subaru the hand sign. Adjusting the boy's fingers to correct his position.
"I thought you cast magic with spells." Subaru thought about Emilia, who always chanted 'hyuma'.
"That's correct. Most magic is cast with spells, but this is a shinobi technique. Something invented by my people." Halibel explained. "It still uses mana, but it's different in its method."
Subaru soaked up this knowledge like a sponge. This was the first time someone had explained magic to him since he had arrived in this world.
"Okay Su-san. Your handsign looks right. Try to visualise pushing a little trickle of mana out from your gate." Halibel stated.
Subaru closed his eyes, imagining his mana as a liquid, with just a teeny bit flowing out of him. He felt something happen, and re-opened his eyes. Beside Subaru, a grey shadow was shimmering. Its silhouette looked like him, but there was no detail in the clone.
"Not bad for a first attempt. You're using the correct amount of mana." Halibel stated. "You just need to practice. Focus on trying to make the clone as detailed as possible in your mind."
Subaru tried again. Again a shadow appeared. This time, it was slightly darker, and no longer see-through.
"Just like that..." Halibel guided him. "Now you just need to practice." With that, Subaru had learned his first skill in this isekai world.
* Scene break *
Three weeks passed, and nothing of note had happened. There had been no sighting of black Tia. Subaru and Rem had returned to work. White Tia was still under Halibel's supervision, but she was cooperative with the group. Tia would eat messily, and Rem would always scold her. To some, this might look like Rem disliked Tia, but Subaru knew, just like with Meili, that Rem's telling off showed she was starting to care for Tia, if she didn't, Rem would've ignored her.
One morning, Rem got an interesting letter, it read:
Rem, I hope this finds you well.
Your dearest sister is hesitating to write this, because I don't know what you might do next. Still, I may never see you again, so I feel I must let you know what is happening at the mansion.
Roswaal-sama has gone insane. He has holed himself up in his study, not eating, not sleeping, and not talking to Miss Emilia or myself. He keeps repeating that Barusu's departure was "impossible" and "not meant to be". If this continues, I fear that he may do something drastic.
I've decided that Roswaal-sama must be seperated from that cursed book. By the time you read this, I will have already confronted him about it. I fear for my safety, I know he won't take well to my trying to pry it from him, but I see no other solution. I care more deeply than you know for Roswaal-sama, and as his #1 maid, I feel it is my duty to help him, even if he does not see that way.
I'm sorry I can't explain everything more thouroughly, but it is not my place to reveal Roswaal's secrets to you.
From what you wrote me last time, I imagine that Barusu and you are doing well for yourselves in Kararagi. Please, stay there. Against Roswaal-sama, there is nothing you can do.
Have faith in your sister to fix this, I'm begging you.
I love you Rem.
Sincerely, Ram.
P.S. - Punish Barusu for me. Even when he's not around, I can still sense that he is being useless.
Rem read over letter. Then she read it again, and then a third time. / Ram... You can't! / A great sense of worry overcame her. / Just what have you gotten yourself into? /
Rem closed her eyes, but she couldn't stop the tears. She focused on her synesthesia. At this distance, it would be impossible to communicate anything to Ram, but she didn't need to communicate. She could feel it. The synesthesia was still there, and that meant Ram was still alive. / Oh Thank god. Thank god. /
Subaru walked into the room, and froze when he saw Rem crying, sitting at the table. He went to her.
"Rem, what's wrong." Subaru spotted the letter beside her. His eyes darted across the page as he read it. / Ram what are you saying? Against someone like Roswaal... You'll die. / Subaru realized that a disaster might have occured, and that it might already be too late.
"Rem thought they'd be safe. Rem thought it would be fine to leave." She put her hands up to her face. "And now Ram... Uuhhuhh" Rem could barely get her words out. "What happened to you Ram!"
She was fully wailing now, and Subaru felt a deep anger well up from his stomach. / If you touched her... I'll kill you Roswaal, just like I killed Betelgeuse. /
Subaru knew that he and Rem stood no chance against Roswaal, but they had to do something.
"Subaru-kun, my sister is still alive, the synesthesia is still there." Rem informed him. "But Rem doesn't know what state she's in... I'm scared Subaru."
"Rem." Subaru hugged her, trying to be of some comfort. "If she's alive, then we can still fix this. That's what's important."
Just then, Halibel entered the common room.
/ He's the strongest in Kararagi. / Rem's words echoed through Subaru's mind.
"What's wrong Rem-chan?" Halibel could see that the blue-haired girl was distraught.
Subaru took the letter from Rem's hands and handed it to Halibel.
"I want to make you a deal, Halibel." Subaru said. "I'll find your culprit for you. Today."
/ Su-san... You say that with such certainty... Do you know where she is? / Halibel thought to himself.
Halibel read the letter and looked at Subaru. The boy's eyes were almost glowing, as if there was a fire inside him.
"In exchange you come back to Lugunica with us. If we end up fighting Mathers, we'll need your strength." Subaru finished his offer.
Halibel let out a whistle. "You must have balls of steel, Su-san."
"Steel? My guys are made of diamond." Subaru stuck out his hand. "Deal?"
Halibel stared at the hand in front of him. He had come to Banan to find a killer, but now it seemed he had stumbled across something far more interesting.
Rem knew what Subaru was going to do. He was going to scan every inch of the city. Then he would kill himself as many times as needed to find the black Tia, and hold up his end of the bargain.
"You can't do that Subaru-kun, this isnt't your problem-" Rem tried to stop him. She couldn't take this. She couldn't afford to lose him too.
"Rem." Subaru cut her off. "Stay out of this."
Rem had seen Subaru like this only once before. It was when Betelgeuse had destroyed her. Subaru's eyes, which were usually so gentle, now had a dangerous glint.
/ Subaru-kun... In all that death, I don't want you to lose yourself. /
Halibel let out a snort, and shook Subaru's hand. / Let me see what kind of man you are, Su-san. /
"Alright then. Let's get going."
Subaru made Rem stay home, despite her protesting. It's likely he would be looping. A lot. If he could put some distance between them, then he could spare Rem that heartache.
Now it was just him and Halibel walking in the city. The first place Subaru went to was the school. He found Meili and told her that they would be leaving tommorrow to go back. This surprised the girl, but she expressed her desire to stay with Rem, Subaru, and Halibel. Then he informed the headmaster that Rem would resigning, effective immediately. He cited a family emergency as the excuse. After that, Subaru did the same at his own place of work, the Oshiki residence.
Having tied up his loose ends, Subaru let the search start in earnest. He scoured the streets, leaving no rock unturned. As he did so, he thought about the first encounter.
/ That first night, the black Tia found us in the middle of the night. She must have tracked us somehow, there was no way of knowing we would be there. She found us the second time too, but it was much earlier... What changed? / Subaru pondered to himself.
He remembered Rem's words. / You reek of the witch... it is particularly bad today. /
/ Is it possible that black Tia is also getting that scent? Is that how she found us? If that's the case, then maybe I don't have to search for her... Maybe she can come to me. /
"Change of plan, Hal." He said to the beastman walking beside him. "We're going back to where she first showed up."
They left the markets of downtown Banan. Subaru took Halibel to that hill where he had been killed. Banan looked much different during the day, but in Subaru's opinion it was more impressive at night, all the lights made the city much prettier.
"Cover your ears." Subaru ordered. Halibel gave him a quizzical look, but complied.
Subaru gathered his courage. This was never pleasant.
"Ever since I came here, I've been returning by death!"
For the second time, everything froze. / Come on out, Witch. / Subaru was determined.
Just like last time, he felt a chocking sensation. Then, a shadowy hand emerged from the ether and pierced his chest. That coldness came over him again, but this time, there was a meaning to it.
"I love you."
Time unfroze. Halibel seemed none the wiser as to what had just happened. In fact, he seemed to not have registered what Subaru had just said.
"She'll come to us." Subaru informed him. "Be ready."
Halibel nodded, and hid inside Subaru's shadow using a shinobi technique. Subaru sat on the bench, pressing a fist up to his face.
/ This has to work. / He thought to himself.
5 minutes passed. Then an hour. Two hours.
Subaru was about to give up, but he noticed something which made him pause. A dark figure was moving quickly towards him.
/ Looks like I've reeled in a fish. /
It was black Tia. Subaru prepared himself for the final confrontation. He held his hands together, and channeled his mana.
Two clones appeared beside him. The killer was approaching rapidly, and was almost at his position.
Finally she got close enough to where Subaru could see her face clearly. She shot out a wind blade, but she was surprised when it passed harmlessly through one of the clones.
"Now Halibel!" Subaru yelled out.
Subaru ran towards the woman, and Halibel jumped out from Subaru's shadow with tremendous speed. Tia shot a wind blade at the real Subaru this time, but it was blocked by one of Halibel's kunai.
"Die!" the woman shot out another blast towards them, but again Halibel blocked it.
"I underestimated you last time. I won't make that mistake again." Halibel said, preparing a handsign.
Three more Halibel's appeared, but unlike Subaru's clones, these were real.
"Should I kill her?" "No, let me." "I call dibs on this one."
The three clones charged the woman, who was quickly overwhelmed. She managed to destroy one of the Halibels, but the other two connected with their attacks.
The real Halibel, who had been beside Subaru, pulled out a katana, seemingly from thin air. He closed the distance. Black Tia was still on the backfoot from the previous attack and Halibel managed to swoop in, slashing her across the chest.
She seemed surprised by this, but a moment later, she collapsed to the floor.
Halibel stood above her unconscious form and stuck his blade into her, piercing her heart.
The day was won.
Black Zerestia's body seemed to melt away, revealing a girl with brown hair in her place. In the girl's hand, she was holding a glowing yellow orb.
"The lightball..." Subaru approached the corpse, and picked up the ball. It was warm to the touch. "I know someone who's been looking all over for this."
"Please stand back, Su-san." Halibel ordered him. Halibel raised up an arm and summoned a torrent of flames with his magic, turning the body of the girl into ash.
With that, the two of them returned home.
/ For once, things went smoothly. / Subaru thought to himself, as he looked at the lightball.
They opened the door, and Rem was relieved to see Subaru was unharmed.
"Subaru-kun, you're back sooner then Rem expected!" She went up to him. She became concerned when she smelled the witch's scent on him. "Did you have to..." / Redo? / She mouthed the final word.
"No, luckily, the killer came to us, so there was no need." He told her.
Subaru knocked on the door to Halibel's room, and Tia came out.
"Here, take this. It'll double your special attack." Subaru took out the lightball and gave it to her.
Tia's face had a look of complete shock. "You found it... You really found it!"
For the first time ever, Subaru, Rem, Halibel, and Meili saw Tia smile. "Thank you!"
Subaru just shook his head. "It's no problem." Subaru was tired. He just wanted to rest before they set off tommorrow. He knew Tia's lightball was just the first piece of a much larger puzzle to save the mansion.
"Tia is a generous spirit. I will give you a reward for finding my lightball." Tia walked up to Rem, and stuck her hand between the flaps of Rem's kimono, placing her hand on Rem's stomach.
"Ahh-" Rem let out a squeel. "W-What are you doing Tia-sama!?" Rem's face was a bit red.
Tia didn't respond, but a bright light flashed from her hand.
"What was that Tia?" Subaru was a bit annoyed. Only he got to touch Rem like that.
"It was a blessing for the baby." She said casually.
"Baby?"
Subaru didn't understand the implication.
"What are you talking about?" Subaru seemed very confused. It had gone over his head.
"Ummm Rem's baby." Tia seemed suprised at Subaru's obliviousness.
"Rem's... Baby..." Subaru turned to the blue haired maid, this wasn't a possibility he had even considered. "Wait. Rem, you're pregnant?"
It was Zerestia who responded. "She is."
Rem was looking down at her stomach, a look of shock plastered on her face. "It's true..." She whispered. "Rem thought it was possible, but Rem didn't know..."
Rem went up to Subaru. "Subaru-kun... Are you not happy?" She said sadly.
"Not happy? Rem." He pulled her into a hug, then lifted her up and spun her around. "I've never been more happy!" Subaru's voice broke as he said those words, he could feel tears starting to form. "This is the best thing that has ever happened to me!"
"Subaru-kun!" Rem was crying now too. "Subaru-kun!"
"Rem is so glad. When I saw the signs... Rem didn't know whether to tell you, she thought maybe..."
"You're wrong Rem! This is great. This is amazing. I can't believe it!" Subaru hugged her even tighter.
Halibel and Meili started clapping loudly behind them.
"Congratulations, Su-san." Halibel placed a hand on the boy's shoulder.
Subaru let go of Rem and turned to face the wolfman. Halibel had his other hand extended for a handshake. It was a sign of recognition - that he saw Subaru as a man - but it was also affirmation that he would come with them to Lugunica.
Subaru gave Halibel a firm handshake, looking him in the eyes. "Thanks Hal."
Meili ran up to Rem and hugged her, pushing her face into Rem's stomach. "Rem-Rem is having a baby? Ooooo." Meili nuzzled her nose against Rem. Rem patted Meili on the head.
Halibel, Subaru, and Rem had there work cut out for them, but tonight they would celebrate. Tia left the house, saying she would go back to her home now that she had found her missing half. She didn't seem to understand why all this was a big deal.
"It's simple procreation. You humans are too easily amused." She had said.
The four of them prepared a feast. They wouldn't be able to eat the food on the road anyway.
Teriyaki chicken, grilled pork belly, vegetarian stir fry, white rice, some of the local Banan tempura, and almond-honey pastries. Halibel brought out the big lazy-susan from the storage closet, distributing the food to everyone. At one point in the meal, Halibel reached for his pipe, but Subaru stopped him.
"Can you not smoke next to my pregnant wife?" Subaru said.
Halibel blinked, and then he let out a cackle.
"What's so funny?" He asked.
Halibel didn't say anything, he just kept smiling at Subaru
Subaru looked at the girls across from him. Meili looked suprised and Rem was blushing profusely.
"Ano... Subaru-kun." Rem was nervously looking away from him.
/ What is going on? I don't get it. /
"What is it Rem?" Subaru was oblivious to the mistake he had made.
"...you said wife..." Rem said, quiet as a mouse.
"Guh-" it was Subaru's turn to feel embarassment. The word had just slipped out without him even realizing. He could feel his face heat up.
Meili started laughing, and Halibel laughed with her.
"You're a lucky woman Rem! You got Su-san on the ropes here!" He exclaimed, still howling with laughter.
Rem didn't say anything, but she agreed with Halibel on that one.
The night went on cheerfully.
Early the next morning Halibel, Rem, Subaru, and Meili left Banan, heading east.