Chapter 135: Disappearance
Emilia: —So Algol's behavior has been rather... sporadic? Hmm, I think I can understand what you mean. Puck too had a habit of coming and going. Sometimes for days.
Trying to avoid the subject that was still the elephant in the room, that was incredibly hard to do given the topic which Emilia and YN discussed.
YN: Well, Algol usually just seems to leave me high and dry at the worst times... But not always. It's maybe a fifty-fifty chance when I need them. But uhhh...
Crinkling his pant legs in his hands as he sat by Emilia's bedside, YN eventually felt forced to sigh in defeat.
It's too hard to just not say anything at all.
YN: Emilia-sama... I'm really sorry about Puck. If this is really too difficult of a subject to talk about, we can—
Emilia: —I-It's really not! It's sort of helping, if anything. I've already accepted what's happened... but that doesn't mean I can stop being sad about it...
YN: I can understand that... I'd be extremely sad if Algol left too, but Puck was sort of like a father figure to you. I can't imagine what that must feel like...
Cradling the broken pyroxene crystal that still hung from her neck, Emilia looked at it for a second before responding.
Emilia: There are a lot of differences between Puck and Algol, but there's a lot of things that make them similar just because they're spirits. Like, they both need a crystal to return to when they don't need to be manifested in their physical form. For as powerful as Puck was, he could only keep his form from dawn to dusk. Algol I'm sure is no different. That might be why they don't appear at times when you need them. Without a crystal to store themselves in, they're reeeeeeaaally unable to regulate their own mana.
YN: So I really need to get on that then, huh? I recall Julius having six for his six spirits. He hung them from his belt.
Nodding to YN, Emilia confirmed that fact to him.
Emilia: Many spirit arts users hang their contacted spirit's crystal on them in the form of jewelry or simply in a pouch. Mine had to be of peculiar quality to house Puck. I suspect Algol being a full fledged spirit and not a quasi-spirit like Julius' will need a higher quality one as well.
YN: That's understandable. I want to find them a nice one. But, something still makes me curious... How is it that Beatrice doesn't need to sleep like Puck does? Does she have a crystal of her own that she just keeps hidden?
Is Beatrice like some kind of magical girl that needs to keep her soul gem free of impurities?
Giving YN a weak expression in reply, Emilia struggled to give him an answer.
Emilia: Beatrice gets her mana from everyone in the Mansion... She siphons off some of it here and there from the residents... She then stores it in the Forbidden Library.
YN: I guess that explains why she was always so gungho to steal mine or Subaru's mana... But how did Puck and Beatrice both manage to have actual bodies? Every other spirit I've ever seen is just a speck of light...
Emilia: Very powerful ones are able to manifest a form... I remember the former Great Spirit of Fire was a flaming horse of sorts...
Opening his eyes wide at that, YN figured that the origins of such phenomena were indeed rare.
Sure, I know two spirits with physical forms, but one is in the Mansion of the most powerful magician in the Kingdom, and the other is contracted to Emilia, who's a candidate for the throne after all...
However, as YN thought more on it, he recalled the Sin Archbishop of Sloth, and how he was actually an Earth Spirit.
YN: There was also that Witch Cult guy... Petelgeuse, he—
Emilia: —Eh!
"—could use other's bodies for his hosting" was what YN wanted to say, and try and build a better idea of spirits potentially off that, but at the mention of his name, Emilia winced and held her head with her hand.
YN: —! Emilia-sama!
Emilia: I'm... I'm fine. Please don't worry about me.
Trying her best to recover, YN could see two small tears forming in her eyes as she tried to wipe them away and continue with the conversation.
Digressing, YN figured such painful memories of the Witch Cult were too much to ask her about at this moment, even if it related to their talk about spirits.
A hand to his chest, YN made the choice to forgo that path of thought for Emilia's sake.
YN: So the gist still is, I need a crystal to house Algol... That's probably what it came out and rushed over to ask you to remind me of...
Yet, to YN's surprise, Emilia gently shook her head, letting her long strands of silvery hair sway about.
Emilia: That's not what it's concerned about actually. Rather, it still is concerned, but instead, it's about you.
YN: Me?
Not entirely sure where this topic was going, YN readjusted himself in the chair he sat in as if ready to receive some kind of harsh lecture on something he was neglecting to do.
YN: ...What about me?
Emilia: Contracted spirits can feel any strong emotions from their contractor if they're nearby them. Algol says that you're lonely... and they wish that they could help.
While it was true Algol had to more or less "always be around" YN due to the nature of their relationship, spirit and contractor, it wasn't like they could really easily communicate with each other.
Emilia seems like she can talk to spirits pretty easily... but that skill eludes me still, even with Algol.
YN: — — —
Holding his head downward, YN admittedly felt embarrassed his emotions were the subject of this discussion. It was easier for him at this point to keep the ones pertaining to how he felt now bottled up.
Emilia: YN, this all has to do with Rem still, right?
Only getting a solemn nod out of him, Emilia at least could confirm what it was that had him like this.
Emilia: We're both without someone important to us now...
YN: Yeah...
As a tense silence at those words formed, neither wanted to make the other feel like their loss was more significant to the other out of respect, nor any less out of respect to their own feelings towards those who were lost.
This silence wasn't broken until Algol of all those in the room danced over to lay in Emilia's hands again.
Emilia: It helped to talk about Puck. At least, it helped me to talk about it with Subaru...
YN: — — —
Not garnering anything from a broad opening like this, Emilia slightly changed her approach.
Emilia: For me, I had been living without Puck since nearly the Royal Selection Conference... So I've somewhat gotten used to his absence in my day to day routine... But for you, it was so sudden, and with such a drastic outside effect on everyone else...
Knowing she was trying to get him to speak, YN eventually shook his head.
YN: That's just it too, isn't it? How can I talk to someone about someone they don't know a thing about, despite in my own memory, that same person was at one point integral to all our lives?
Emilia: That still doesn't change the fact it's much more recent for yourself then, does it? You've been without Rem for only a few days now, so I'm sure there's still a great deal of things you'll need to 're-learn' in a sense. —Relearning how to live life without them... At least for the time being.
YN knew Emilia's words weren't meant to be harmful. She didn't want to speak about Rem being dead, as she wasn't. But rather, with her being so far and gone from his own side in the state that she was, it was hard not to relate it to just that.
But what hurt most of all, was knowing just how long Rem had been "gone" for YN, versus what Emilia had said just now.
Between all the Resets and the time away from her, barring the interaction he'd had in the white space upon his death, was it close to half a month now? Had YN by this logic also been without Rem longer than Emilia had been without Puck?
Some might call Emilia's words cruel if that context were known and she'd just been ignorant of YN's own realization.
—No. It would be wrong to hold that against her.
Emilia had no idea of what YN, or for that matter, Subaru have had to endure to be here today. In fact, she'd been barred from knowing.
—Unlike Rem though... She knew...
As a cascading darkness began to overtake YN now as his mind dwelled on Rem, Emilia seemed to wish to ward off that feeling overtaking him.
Emilia: Just... You can start by saying how you feel. That might work... Like I told you at Crusch's Mansion... I want to worry with you, and help you find a way to get her back.
Not wishing to reject Emilia's honest desire to help him, YN caved, and simply let words fall out of his mouth.
YN: With her being gone, and gone how she is, with no one remembering her, it's done nothing but remind me how she had become essential for me to keep on top of things about my self, or just how lost I am without her.
Putting a fist to his chest, YN described what it was he'd felt since the moment he knew Rem was gone.
YN: There's a pain in my chest... Like there's a big void inside it. What was there is gone now, and not only can I not function with it being gone, I feel like it's going to kill me. It's almost to the point I'd do anything to get rid of it.
Emilia: —YN.
YN: —But if I did anything drastic, Rem would never forgive me. Or really, she would. —Worse actually, it would only make her suffer.
YN longed to just curl up and cry. It was only his desire to be around for Rem again though that he knew he couldn't shoulder the additional weight of making Emilia upset too. So in self preservation, he continued his rambling, mumbling, monologue of an answer.
YN: Ever since I had to accept a world without her, I can't see color anymore. I spoiled myself on her presence in my life, to the point most things that don't involve her just feels mute and dull. Touch that isn't her's is meaningless. Moments without her are faded. Even things not made by her, —a bed, a meal, a folded garment of clothing, it inspires nothing in me.
If he said another word, he'd been on the brink of collapse. In a way, YN needed to keep these realities away from the forefront of his mind, lest he begin to feel himself dragged into the depths of his own personal hell.
Emilia: Those are things Algol wants to help you get through until Rem can be awoken again. The problem is, no one; —not I, or Subaru, or Algol know how to do that for you.
Looking down at the little spirit in her hands still, Emilia lightly "boop'd" it with her finger in a somberly playful way.
Emilia: Sometimes spirits can begin to care very deeply for their contractor. That usually originates from a very strong bond between the two...
Shrugging at that, but genuinely acknowledging what she said, YN replied in a more curt way.
YN: Even if you count all the time Algol was secretly beside me, that's a rather quick time to begin to care for someone else like that.
Saying that, he knew the exact same thing could be said for everyone else he'd met in this world thus far. The pain he felt from Rem's loss unfortunately came with it's own semblance of cynicism at times, but the same could be said true for almost anyone in his position of grief.
Emilia: I don't find it very strange... For Puck at least, when he found me frozen... he'd been looking for me for a long time...
More or less saying that Puck's parental level of care was there for Emilia from the start, that tidbit of information was not anywhere in the things Subaru had told YN about the talk he and Emilia had the previous night.
YN: Puck was looking for you? You were frozen?
It was the first question he asked that was a genuine clarification for this new information, whereas the second was asked in feigned ignorance.
Although Subaru had told YN what he had been told by Emilia the previous night, he didn't know if Subaru had shared that with him on the grounds that Emilia would be okay with all that being repeated to the groundskeeper or not.
Trying to keep up face that Subaru hadn't done such a thing, YN halfway acted in his own curiosity of things Subaru might not know, and half out if feigned ignorance to keep Subaru in the silver-haired girl's good graces.
Emilia had finally drifted off to sleep while recounting much of her memory to YN, namely about her experiences after having been awoken from her icy bed.
The half-elf had gotten through speaking about Puck's altercation with the former Great Spirit of Fire, Melakuera, when she had drifted off to sleep, still lying in her bed.
It wasn't long after that Ram returned with a small meal and some water for the half-elf. With Algol also having chosen to depart at this time, it was only YN that was left awake still in the shack by this time.
With someone to watch over Emilia now, YN bowed for his exit after thanking Ram for her hard work, yet as he stepped through the open door, he met another conscious soul just outside.
YN: Oh, Subaru.
Exchanging only a few words with him, Subaru had come to speak with Emilia before going to bed himself. Leaving it at that, YN took himself back to their own ramshackle shack, and retired for the night.
The next morning was another difficult wake-up for YN. He'd overslept later than he had the previous morning, but not in a dramatically late fashion to ruin the rest of his day.
Today's the day I talk to Ryuzu Delma... The one clone who can answer all of my questions.
Getting out of bed, YN lugged himself to the Cathedral, where once more, he met Subaru to discuss the day's prospects.
Just as Subaru had finished YN's share of his breakfast, into the Cathedral walked a familiar maid.
The distinct clack of her shoes on the stone floor had caused YN's heart to jump for a moment as it greatly reminded him of another maid, but reminding himself who else it could possibly be, he settled his nerves for only a moment before he realized what her being her could lead to.
Shit, if Ram sees I'm skipping breakfast again, I know she'll be upset with me...
Awaiting the worst, her stiff words she greeted them with were unrelated to YN's actions.
Ram: —Barasu. Where is Emilia-sama?
Subaru: Come again?
With food still on his face, Subaru dumbfoundedly looked at Ram like she had just said something foreign.
Ram: Ram is asking for Emilia-sama's whereabouts. Barasu was the last to see her.
As YN watched on, what Ram said made sense to him only because Subaru had told him that he had ended up spending the night by Emilia's bedside.
Emilia had woken up earlier than he had, and had told Subaru she wished to speak to him after Ram had got her dressed and ready for the day. After all, that's what Subaru was waiting on here with YN in the Cathedral, for the half-elf herself to show up, ready to speak about whatever it was these two had to discuss.
Ram just said Subaru was the last to see her though? How does that make sense?
Subaru: ...Emilia-tan told me she wanted to speak to me after you helped with her morning routine, so I left for that.
Ram: *Sigh...*
Pinching the bridge between her pink brows, Ram's expression signaled immediately she was out of patience.
Ram: Barasu... You idiot.
Still unsure what was going on, YN sat quietly and listened on.
Subaru: If she's gone... Did you check the restroom—
Ram: —Do you take Ram for an utter fool? Yes. Of course Ram checked there. Had you not left before I arrived, we'd know where she is. Ram has already visited there, the perimeter, and anywhere else Emilia-sama might have gone this early in the morning. She is nowhere to be found. So, unless Barasu has any idea where she might be...
Subaru: I... I don't...
Ram: Ram can assume you know what this means then, correct?
Swallowing a lump in his throat, Subaru shook his head as he looked down at the empty pair of soup bowls before him.
Subaru: ...That she's run away... Is that really what you're saying?
Ram: Does Barasu have any other suggestions? Or perhaps those against the Sanctuary's liberation found the most opportune moment to strike and now we're none the wiser of it?
YN: There's actually no opposition faction... Ryuzu told me that it was a fabrication when I last spoke to her..
Recalling his conversation with her just yesterday how the entire notion there were massive opposed groups in the Sanctuary was a myth, YN relayed what Ryuzu had told him.
Ram: Than that truly only leaves us with one possible answer, doesn't it?
Hands on her hips, Ram exerted an immense amount of pressure upon Subaru. To say the least, Emilia running away suddenly meant tons of extra problems for YN and Ram both.
Putting his hands to his face, Subaru rubbed his temples as he shook his head.
Subaru: It's all my own and Puck's fault... We should have realized how sensitive and volatile Emilia-tan's situation was behind the veneer of calmness she had on... Damn it.
Ram: Trying to blame this partially on the disappearance of the Great Spirit-sama? If that were the case, Emilia-sama would have done this the day before when it occurred, not now.
YN: H-Hold on, Nee-sama. I also spoke with Emilia-sama last night... specifically about Puck too...
As her worry seemed to grow, expecting the worst, Ram had begin to clamp down on Subaru, believing him to be the cause of this.
Subaru: —No, no... She's right. It probably has something to do with me... Let's not pretend it doesn't.
While YN tried to defend his fellow wayward traveling companion, he was thwarted by his own words.
Ram: Barasu... Do you have any idea what the backlash will be if Emilia-sama is determined to be missing when her Trial comes tonight? It would be an ugly situation for us all if it comes to light she's run away.
YN: —Now wait a second again. The barrier isn't going to let Emilia-sama just leave. At worst, she'd collapse at the perimeter. She knows that, so she's gotta be somewhere in this place still.
Subaru: The Sanctuary still isn't a small area. If we just start combing through the forest, that'd still take more than two days...
Hinting at their deadline, YN knew exactly what he was getting at.
Are we really going to get screwed because of this?
Unsure of what to even do, the silence that had descended upon the group of three was broken by another, hurriedly entering into the Cathedral in a panic.
Otto: Wuah! *Huff* *Puff* Natsuki-san!
Nearly tripping on his way in, the green hat'd merchant rested his hands upon his knees once he reached them.
Ram: Joy. The jester returns to speak to the village idiot.
Otto: *Huff* I have news *Puff* for YN-san too.
Getting a raised brow from both Ram and YN in reply, Otto stood back up straight and fixed his feathered hat.
Otto: Good news for Natsuki-san, and as for YN-san... I wouldn't call it good...
Subaru: Wait-wait. Before any of that, have you seen Emilia-tan by chance at all this morning? Any mention of her being seen, even?
A puzzled look ran across Otto's face as he asked that of it.
Otto: No, I'm afraid... W-Why? She isn't missing, right?
Ram: It's highly likely that she is.
Stunned from such news, Otto seemed to fidget in place.
Otto: She's not the only one, ehh...
Subaru: Huh?
Otto: M-More on that in a second. But Natsuki-san—
Receiving a "Hmm?" as he sat up more straight in his chair, Otto explained to Subaru how things were now fully set up and planned for the Arlem villagers to be able to leave today whenever Subaru gave the signal. As YN wasn't really involved in this part of the overarching strategy for escaping the Sanctuary, he could only listen on as Subaru thanked Otto for his efforts and hard work before the merchant in green turned to him now.
Otto: —As for the reason I ran straight here... YN-san, Garfiel is in awful bad mood, he—
Ram: —That is typical for Garf if the wind blows opposite the direction he's marking his territory, which is quite often.
Otto: Unless that unfortunate breeze was caused by YN, I don't think it's that...
Insinuating that YN was the cause of this foul mood that Garfiel was in, Subaru was now perplexed by this.
Subaru: I don't think YN has really spoken to anyone besides Ryuzu-san since me and him both spoke to Garfiel in the woods...
Otto: That's just it though. He's upset about Ryuzu-san. She's missing and knows it was YN-san who spoke to her last.
YN: She's what?
In utter disbelief at this, YN and Subaru both exchanged a look of worry.
After a few seconds of not knowing what to say or do to the news of two vital people now having gone missing, YN stood up from his chair.
YN: —I'll go speak with him now.
Ram: —Wait.
Holding her arm out to halt him, Ram's detached sleeve of her maid uniform was right in YN's face before she lowered it.
Ram: Ram will go along with YN. If Garf is angered to the point of unpredictability, it is vital that Ram—
YN: —No. I'll go alone.
Ram: —?!
With a look of mild shock, but also dejection upon the pink-haired girl's face, a familiar glint could be seen on her one visible crimson eye.
Last time I saw that, it was that Loop where Ram was upset she couldn't be of use to anyone... I don't want to make her feel that way now.
YN: I get that you're worried Ram. That's not lost on me here. Subaru needs more help finding Emilia-sama than I do with dealing with Garf.
Turning her face away, although YN couldn't see it due to her bangs, her silent reaction strongly indicated to only YN that she now felt unneeded by him.
She's still a mess of emotions in her head I'm sure, that's never changed outside any of these Loops. I know it has to do with how she feels about herself and Roswaal and these new emotions she's now got thanks to Rem being erased, but I can't just let her succumb to such negative things...
Caring for the sister of his beloved was now something that was up to him to do until Rem returned.
YN: Ram, even more than just going along with Subaru, the best way you can help me is just believe that I can handle this on my own.
Getting her to turn her face back to him, a more or less blank expression was on her face, as if processing what he meant by his words. Were they his honest feelings, or a simple placation?
It was unknown if either of them truly knew which it was if they thought about it.
With a nod, Ram accepted the words, and moved out of the way to let YN by. Turning to face the three before he departed, he sought to leave them hopefully with more confidence in himself, as they all surely were skeptical of him confronting Garfiel alone like this.
YN: Don't worry about me. You all search for Emilia-sama. I'll convince Garfiel to help me look for Ryuzu in the meantime.
Boasting his ability, YN wanted to give them the impression that not only would he be fine, he'd flip the odds in his favor too.
I really wanted to talk to Ryuzu Dilma before having to talk to Garfiel again... But it doesn't look like I'm that lucky.
Out the Cathedral, YN headed for the one place he knew Garfiel would be.
Let's talk about grandma, shall we?
The door creaking open, sounding and feeling like it was going to fall off its hinges at any time, YN stepped inside the small shack that the Ryuzu-on-duty was set to use with Emilia currently being housed in her usual abode whilst they were in the Sanctuary.
Inside smelled musty and mildewy. YN hadn't been in this shack yet, but it wouldn't surprise him if this place hadn't been occupied for some time until Ryuzu had gone into using this place. The floorboards at least definitely creaked louder than they did in either his own, Emilia's, or Roswaal's provided shack.
In the cramped space though, YN wasn't alone. Across the single room that this peculiar shack only had, was the one he'd come to see.
Garfiel: Yous sure took yer sweet time gettin' here.
YN: I move only as fast as word gets to me... So uhh, I hear your grandma is missing... you want some help finding her?
Garfiel: Cut the shit. Granny ain't never missed breakfast or slept in too long or been sick in bed, but yous wanna act dumb and pretend you don't know nothin'? Ain't buyin' it. Start talkin' or I'll make ya squeal.
Immediately resorting to threats, YN it seemed would need to drop the diplomatic air he'd hoped to maintain throughout this.
YN: Can I ask why you think I'm responsible for her being misplaced?
Garfiel: 'Misplaced?'
Perhaps a poor choice of words, Garfiel's anger only multiplied.
Garfiel: Yous wanna say she was just 'misplaced?!' You people show up, cause all sorts of problems, and when shit that's never happen before starts happenin' yous wanna pretend it's not her yer fault? Bull. Tell me what you lot did with Granny.
Demanding an answer that YN simply didn't have, he knew at this point Garfiel's mind was made up. There was no conceivable way he could explain that she was more than likely missing due to his questioning of Ryuzu Dilma just yesterday, and hope to smooth things over that way.
There was also no way he could just deny any involvement at all in knowing why she was gone either.
Someway, YN had to turn this confrontation around in his favor. To answer Garfiel without answering him is what he needed to do.
He figured he could spin this in a number of ways, however, one curial fact remained elusive to YN in his decision to go this route.
Does Garfiel even know that 'Ryuzu' switches out with her main doppelgangers daily?
The way he had just spoken seemed to make it sound like he didn't, but that may have been on purpose to conceal that fact from YN.
I guess I need to try and double down to coax a more honest reaction out of him...
Taking a deep breath, he focused his courage into not faltering his words.
YN: Ya know Garfiel... If you really were uncertain about Ryuzu's state, couldn't you summon her here without much effort?
Garfiel: ...Whatcha mean by that?
As if not wanting to believe it was possible YN was privy to that information, Garfiel spoke his question in a low tone as if to conceal any concern he had growing in his chest.
Perhaps in not the best timing, YN had a nervous laugh from the air of intimidation in the room as he answered the golden haired youth.
YN: I mean, just use the Command Authority to call her here.
Immediately, Garfiel's expression turned to violence, and with one sharp *CREAK* of the floorboards he stood on, he lunged for YN.
Shit!
Standing his ground at this sudden hostility though, YN held his hands before as if ready to defend himself if need be. Stirring up much of the dust on the floor with this, Garfiel stopped just short of YN, if maybe only due to not wishing to damage the already deteriorating shack around them. Snarling in anger at YN, Garfiel seemed to be trying to cool himself down. He could be mad, but being violent might not be his wisest choice here.
Garfiel: I ain't got a clue what you mean by that...
Now trying to feign ignorance on his end of things, YN quickly began to question Garfiel's motive for being upset at Ryuzu's disappearance, as if it was disingenuous.
YN: Garfiel! You possess the most sure-fire way of finding Ryuzu, —you could get her to come right up to you should you even want that! And yet here you are, asking me if I know where she is.
Making his point of question towards Garfiel's intentions known, YN shouted this back at the youth. With Garfiel straightening up from his crouched stance, he lowered his head, clutching his fists at his sides. Seeing this change, YN relaxed his composure too.
As if struggling to find the words, Garfiel still spoke in reply after a second, his demeanor just as shaky as his words.
Garfiel: ...Like it's that easy...
After another brief second of silence between the two, Garfiel raised his head back up, and pointed a finger straight at YN's chest at this still close range that he was, just barely not managing to make contact with his arm fully extended.
Garfiel: I ain't like Roswaal. I ain't gonna use something, or someone just cus I can, or cus it's convenient! I'm not like that! I won't be like that!
Emotion of the deepest kind filled the golden-haired youth's words. With this being the person he considered his grandmother of all people, —his caretaker and guardian, whom he did care deeply for, YN could understand why it might feel like taboo or a massive breach of trust should Garfiel use the Command Authority on one of the main four Ryuzu replicants.
If it were Rem... I could see why even in a situation like this, I'd be hesitant to use such a power... It's basically total control over that person and they can't even begin to resist...
Garfiel: Ya musta' gotten yer nose into places it shouldn'ta been. If ya know about that stuff... ya must know a lot more too. The Witch told ya all this, didn't she? The original granny in the rock, the laboratory...
YN: You guessed right. I'm pretty familiar now with everything thanks to her... —For better or for worse.
Bluffing his method of uncovering all this information, YN sighed in relief that the tension in the room was finally subsiding.
YN: I know enough to be an even bigger thorn in your side, but I don't want to be that. When I heard Ryuzu-san was missing, I could have just as easily gone and taken the Command Authority for myself and made her reappear, but I didn't.
His green eyes opening wide at hearing that, Garfiel, rather than lash out in anger, exclaimed aloud with all the surprise his eyes seemed they could hold.
Garfiel: —WHAT?!
Quickly seeing that surprise begin to turn back into the aforementioned anger however, YN began to talk in a bid to get him to end that conversion.
YN: I understand the reasoning on why you use Command Authority, and it's the same reason why I won't take it for myself. It's not my intention to be your enemy, and it's not my interest to be hostile to you.
As if slightly taken aback by those words, Garfiel wanted to find truth in them, but his disposition couldn't let himself just be won over so easily when it was against everything he had vested his efforts into.
Garfiel: Everythin' was peaceful before you lot showed up here. We didn't have'ta worry about outsiders bein' hostile or not. But as soon as ya show up? Things start changin'. —For the worse.
Walking up to YN as he said that, in rare fashion, Garfiel actually stepped around YN rather than push him out of the way. He could tell he wanted to shove him right into the nearby wall and clear a straight path for himself, but something in Garfiel prevented him from doing that.
Be it respect of any degree for YN or the shack they were in, it couldn't be said to what it was. Rather, with YN turning to see Garfiel open the shack's door and step down off the porch, he now turned to speak back to face the groundskeeper.
Garfiel: I'm gettin' out of here. Ya obviously don't know a thing about what happened to Granny so I'm wastin' my time.
Bending his knees, Garfiel turned his vision back straight, and with one mighty leap, he was gone and out of sight.
Taking the air full of tension along with him, YN could breath freely for the first time since stepping foot in this shack. The dank, mildew filled air actually felt fresh and cool compared to how stiff it had been only moments ago.
Yet, YN only enjoyed this solitude to himself for less than a minute, as he already had another visitor.
Otto: ...Did that go as poorly as it sounded?
Stepping out from behind the shack, the green tunic'd merchant that had found himself in this debacle involving the Emilia camp emerged from his listening spot, a weak expression on his face.
YN: It could have been worse.
Really only able to shrug in response to the merchant, he joined YN on the shack's porch as the two more leaned against the walls of it on opposite sides of the front door.
Otto: Seems like we have more problems now. Things are getting worse and worse, it feels.
With Emilia missing, Ryuzu missing, and now Garfiel worked up and irritated, Otto dropped his shoulders in defeat.
Otto: I'm beginning to wonder how much I'd need to bribe you to use that fancy dragonless-carriage of yours to get us out of here and run...
YN knew Otto wasn't being serious when he said that, but he definitely couldn't deny that most others would probably jump for that way out if they found themselves in this same situation.
YN: For better or for worse, no one here is the kind to just up and run away. Not you, not Garfiel, not Subaru...
Otto: —Emilia-sama seems to be.
YN: —Huh?
Catching YN off guard by saying that, he was confused as to what Otto could mean by that.
Otto: Oh come on now... Don't tell me Natsuki-san has clouded your eyes too?
Hands going to his hips as he said that, Otto seemed to be of a much different opinion of Emilia than say YN or Subaru was.
YN: I can't say I view Emilia-sama in nearly the same way Subaru does. He absolutely loves her, in the same way I love Rem. For me though, I see Emilia as mine and Rem's best hope for a brighter future. One we can raise a family in with the least amount of worry... She wouldn't abandon us all to our fates here for herself.
Otto: I don't want to claim I better understand your own opinion towards Emilia-sama, however, I'm wondering if that idealism is making it hard for you to see the reality before you; Emilia-sama is missing, and she's gone by no one's hand other than her own.
YN: I'm sorry, I can't really follow what you're getting at...
Adjusting his hat as he explained, Otto elaborated in a more simple way.
Otto: You're not as blind to the sort of things I'm talking about, not compared to Natsuki-san, at least. You've seen first hand Emilia-sama's shortcomings here and there... Those sorts of things won't be solved or forgotten about here in the Sanctuary... They'll continue to be an issue all throughout the Royal Selection and beyond should she be victorious. That you must certainly be aware of it.
YN: Don't worry, I'm aware, —I get it. Unlike Subaru, I can admit Emilia-sama isn't perfect, but—
Otto: —She has her shortcomings. And even if not all of those are her own fault, and are outside of her control, of the many things that she is, is an ordinary girl. Can you imagine what maybe any other ordinary girl might do under all this pressure? Maybe, run away?
Having to give Otto a point there, it was ultimately something beyond what YN could really lend any mental effort towards with everything else on his plate of responsibilities.
YN: Otto, I see the value in what you're getting at, but maybe you should save this discussion for Subaru? He'll probably reap a much bigger yield from your words on this than I will...
Somewhat happy that even YN could know his own strengths and weaknesses like this, the merchant nodded in joint agreement.
Otto: I think that's a good idea. But back to the task at hand...
Looking out to where Garfiel had leaped out to, Otto now had a hand to his chin.
Otto: Garfiel doesn't seem to know Emilia-sama is missing as well. If in his search for Ryuzu-san that he finds Emilia-sama instead, that may indeed present some odd circumstances to deal with... But that should be left to Natsuki-san to deal with.
YN: Woah, isn't that bit unfair to just toss my share of the problems onto him like that?
Otto: YN-san's priority isn't to find Emilia-sama, correct? I believe recalling that Natsuki-san wanted you to be the one to speak with Ryuzu-san, so naturally—
YN: —Finding Ryuzu-san now that she's missing too is my new share of the responsibility. Is that what you're saying?
Otto: If you wish to be that blunt about it? Yes.
Levying out what they needed to be doing now, if they wished to still accommodate the plan at hand, they had their tasks.
YN: Then let's leave finding Emilia-sama to Subaru... For right now, the higher of the two priorities for everything to still go according to the schedule, is to find and speak with Ryuzu Dilma before Garfiel can. If we don't manage that, things get seriously thrown into jeopardy.
Standing back up straight, Otto descended the two small steps down off the porch and into solid ground.
Otto: I'm glad we're in agreement on that.
YN: Then that means you'll be the one to help me find her then. Let's go.
Aimlessly setting out in a bid to search for Ryuzu, YN had Otto tag along to assist in the matter.
We can't afford to lose this advantage of speaking to Ryuzu Dilma first... Our entire success in the Sanctuary this Loop is going to revolve around that, I'm sure of it.