KingVessel: The chapter in which Subaru meets Satella/Witch of ENVY... and has zero bad impressions of her. Yet.
"My beloved, it is so immensely fortunate that I could meet you like this." The half-elf in black spoke tenderly, the red in her cheeks lessening slightly. "You do not know me as your current self, but I'm glad that I can see you and love you as directly as possible."
'Sh-She thinks I don't know her? Rather, where does she know me from?' Natsuki Subaru, being sat upon by this very beautiful girl, became very uncomfortable of not even knowing her name. "Um, c-can I have the name of this angelic beauty who apparently loves me?"
The girl opened her mouth, paused, then awkwardly pressed her index fingers together. "...Satella."
"...oh." Subaru stared at the girl incredulously. "You're the boss of those fantasy terroris-"
"WE DIDN'T CAUSE THAT!"
Subaru was literally flattened by her sharp reply, the din and force of her voice causing his ears to ring as he was forced down by the shockwave.
"Oh, I'm so sorry!" Satella held him close, burying his face in her bosom as she ran her fingers through his locks. "I'm sorry. I'm sorry. It's her fault. No, it's mine. No, it's hers. Her. Her. Her. HER."
"Um, easy now." Subaru gently patted her back, hoping that it was the correct thing to do as his mother usually did the same. Thankfully, it worked to calm Satella down, even as she clung to him harder. "So, um, you didn't create the Witch Cult?"
"...the Witch Cult didn't start as an organization involved with the intent to inflict despair and bloodshed. Nor was it even named as such." Satella quietly spoke. "We... were just comrades following after Flugel-sama as he journeyed our world..."
"Flugel?" Subaru frowned at the mention of his pen name.
'Flugel' which in German roughly translated to 'Wings'.
He often used it as his online identity and had liked it well enough that he often used it as a middle initial whenever introducing himself. If there was somebody sharing that name here in this world... "Satella, who is this Flugel you know?"
Satella's grip on his head tightened slightly. "It is impossible to describe him in mere words, Subaru. But that is not important at the moment."
As Subaru opened his mouth to protest, Satella pulled back and placed a finger against his lips, which worked well in silencing him.
"One day, I swear that you will know 'Flugel' even better than I do, but for now..." Satella silently pleaded, her golden eyes pained. "Can you... ask something else...?"
"...okay." Subaru gently agreed, not wanting to see her cry. "Then, can I at least affirm... that you're the one who summoned me to this world?"
"Yes." Satella answered, her hands rising to cup his cheeks as she placed her forehead against his. "But there is no rational reason for me to take you away from your life. I just wanted you to be closer."
Subaru blinked. "Closer?"
"Yes." Satella shivered, her eyes darkening with regret. "Taking you was nothing more than my selfishness expressing myself. My desire, my sin, my envy."
"...were you the one to give me my abilities, then?" Subaru asked after readjusting himself.
"Yes." Satella answered as she sat up to look him in the eye. "I'm sure you know this by now, but... on your own, your physical abilities pale to many others in this world."
"That's painful to hear straight up, but totally true." Subaru winced at the blunt statement. Satella was completely right. Without his Devil Fruit, he shuddered at how things might have turned out against Elsa back at the Capital.
Not to mention of his battle against the Sin Archbishop.
"This world is cruel to it's weaklings, so I wanted to increase your chances of survival as highly as I could." Satella nodded. "That's why I stole that fruit from it's original world and brought it to you, along with {Return By Death}."
"C-Can you really do that?" Subaru stared at the half-elf in shock. Even in fiction, being able to reach across worlds were no joke. So to hear that not only had the girl sitting atop him had not only done that with both him and his Devil Fruit, but had done so with a world he'd believed to be fictional was nothing short of outstanding. "You're so awesome!"
Satella's cheeks and ears reddened. "I-I'm not worthy of your praise. It was mostly thanks to my other self wielding our Authority."
"Other self?" Subaru frowned when he saw Satella flinch. Well, if she was uncomfortable about that... "Also, what's this Authority? Capella mentioned that too."
"A-Ah, yes! Authorities, I should explain those." Satella eagerly grabbed the chance to change the topic. "Authorities are certain abilities born from the assimilation of a Witch Factor, albeit I think they'd been named something else before our time... Anyways, whenever a Witch Factor is assimilated, it births an Authority regarding the domain of a sin."
"Sin?" Subaru frowned. "You mean that Capella had an actual reason to give herself the title of Lust, instead of it being just a theme?"
"Exactly. If an Authority user is killed, their Factor leaves them to search for the nearest compatible host, rebirthing into a new Authority that fits the host's mindset and desires."
Subaru gasped as Satella pressed her palm flat against his chest before thumping it hard and pulling back, staring as three orbs of energy followed her palm. While all of them were black in color, they had varying colors tinting their edges with one being half the size of the other two. "Wh-Why are there three of them in me?"
"Because at the moment, you're the most compatible host for all of the Factors in the world." Satella answered. "That is these have all nestled themselves within you, and why that foolish Oni hates your lovely musk."
"Did you just call my musk lovely- No, let's not get sidetracked." Subaru shook his head free of that question, looking over how the half-elf's ears reddened. "I'm sure one of these is responsible for {Return By Death}, but what about the rest?"
Satella pointed to the black orb with purple tint. "This represents your Authority of Pride and gives you temporal manipulation abilities. I'm not sure what your limits are, but just it's passive ability allows you to even... as you say, Return By Death."
Subaru's eyes widened. Time was indeed a powerful ability but how could that of all things be born from his mindset and desires? How did Natsuki Subaru's pride relate to time of all things?
Satella pointed to the black orb with violet tint. "This represents your Authority of Lust, but I am unsure to what abilities it gets you."
'A power born from my relation to the concept of lust...' Subaru flushed a little. "Um, what do think I'll get? Am I going to start attracting people? Transforming like Capella?"
"I do not know." Satella shook her head. "But I know that whatever you gain, you shall use it well, Subaru. You're you, after all"
Continuing on even as Subaru sputtered, Satella pointed to the small orb, it being tinted green. "Finally, this is actually..."
Satella swallowed and spoke once more. "I am a Witch, bearing the Authority of Envy. However, due to certain circumstances, I was able to shave a clump off and give it to you... as a link... between us..."
Satella bowed so that her bangs hid the upper part of her shamed face from him. "It wasn't really as necessary as it was to give you the Factor of Pride, but I was selfish in wanting an unassailable connection to you..."
"If you think I mind, I really don't." Subaru spoke in what he hoped was assuring to her. "Satella, I'm really grateful to what you've done for me so far. I really don't know why you hate yourself so much."
"...ask the Spirit about me." Satella whispered shakily. "When you miscalled Emilia with my name, she hated you for it. You should really get to learning why."
Subaru yelped as he was suddenly forced downwards into the misty ground, falling through and vanishing.
And falling into the darkness...
Subaru gasped as he awoke to the sight of a wooden ceiling. 'Damnit, Satella.'
"Another unfamiliar ceiling..." Subaru uttered as he sat up. Looking around, it seemed that rather than the mansion, he was in the village instead and judging by the sun's position, he'd spent at least one night over. "Whose house is this?"
"This is actually the village head's house."
Subaru's eyes widened in surprise as Puck suddenly flew in through the open window and smiled at the boy. "Puck..."
Then he froze the moment he flexed his newly acquired Kenbunshoku. Puck's presence was gargantuan. His range isn't far, but he could still feel a few villagers nearby, feeling like sparks compared to the miniature sun before him.
Puck felt like ridiculously compressed power, extremely cold to the touch as if he was seemingly sucking in all of the heat around him.
'Holy fuck... If Capella had shown up just a little earlier in the day, she'd have gotten so thrashed. Wait, would she be the stronger or weaker one?'
"Good morning, Subaru." Puck greeted as he landed on Subaru's raised up leg. "Looks like you had quite the busy night, eh?"
"Huh... So that means I only spent a single night unconscious." Subaru mused before remembering something. "Wait, what about Elsa?! And the others in the mansion?!"
"No worries there. According to Lia and Betty, she retreated after the Sin Archbishop perished, so all's well. You've become somebody quite strong to slay somebody like her on your complete lonesome. Congratulations~" Puck clapped his paws cartoonishly before he suddenly stopped as a sharp look entered his eyes. "So, what are your intentions with the Factors I can sense in you?"
"Eh? You can sense them?" Subaru gawked before smacking his head in realization. "Right. Of course, you can. Rem could smell it on me, despite me not being a Witch Cultist. So it's no surprise that people have some ways to sense them out."
"The people who can actually sense Witch Factors in varying manners are fewer than you think, Subaru." Puck's tail swished as he idly dug his claws a little into the boy's knee, spiritual power almost visible to Subaru's Kenbunshoku as just a smidge of power began to halo. "Still, don't dodge my question. What are your intentions from now on?"
"Eh?" Subaru winced a little from the sting. "What do you mean?"
"Subaru, do you understand what it means for somebody to defeat a Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult?" Puck's voice was dead serious. "Make no mistake, you've done immense good for the sake of the world, especially as you have slain a top member of one of the core reasons why Lia is hated as a half-elf. As the Great Spirit of Fire, I swear by the Od Laguna to owe you a favor for that. However, there's also their reaction to Lust's demise. After a hundred years of being unchallenged, Natsuki Subaru has struck a severe blow against the Witch Cult's undaunted record. 'They can be beat. They can be killed. The Sin Archbishop of Lust has fallen.'. Right now, these words are circulating the village. Soon, it won't be long before it spreads beyond, especially as the Witch Cult will be completely unable to refute. Tell me, what do you think will happen?"
Subaru grimaced as the answer immediately came to him. "Retaliation... They'll come searching for Capella's killer."
They'll be coming for him... "What do I do?"
"Grow stronger." Puck's reply was blunt and surprising, the cat floating forward and using his tail to poke Subaru's chest. "What we have right now is a rare chance to help my daughter in a very significant manner. Lia desires to be this kingdom's ruler and having a friend strong enough to defeat Archbishops will go a long way in countering the stigma against her. Those multiple Authorities you now possess? Get better with them, so that your successes against the Witch Cult that will soon come, will also become Lia's successes. You are my daughter's friend, right?"
"Of course, I am." Subaru strongly replied, as sincere as he could be. Emilia was a Ruler Candidate, and Puck really wasn't wrong in her needing all the help she could get if she was really more unpopular than he'd seen so far.
"Good!" Puck perked up before lifting off to leave. "I'll go tell the others that you're awake now."
"If you're trying to intimidate me into doing a chore for you, Satella, then you'll have to try better."
Satella stared down at the unrepentant Witch of GREED as she sipped her usual tea. She'd managed to hold a better grasp upon ENVY's constant rampages upon her psyche for as long as they'd basked in Subaru's overall positive experiences.
Granted she wished she could brutalize those thieves and had cheered at the sight of Reinhard's victory against Elsa. Hell, even Subaru's solo victory against Capella and the following meeting had been both her greatest joy and greatest trial.
Oh, to think that ENVY had been this close to taking over and just... going for it!
WE'D GIVE HIM THE GREATEST OF TIMES! WE LOVE HIM, WE'RE HIS TYPE. DID YOU OR DID YOU NOT FEEL THE REACTION WE GOT FROM US STRADDLING HIM?
Oh, she'd felt it alright. Even now, her core ached at the memory of the stiffness she'd pressed herself against mere minutes ago. Unfortunately, their meeting had ended sourly even if she'd managed to pass along important information for Subaru.
And now, she had to ensure that Echidna passed a message to Roswaal. The clown had stank of her Authority, which meant that he had one of her Tomes. 'Try better to intimidate you, huh? ENVY, go for it.'
Echidna unfortunately had the sense to put up a protective shield as shadows erupted off her form and destroyed the stupid tea table, her powerful dark tendrils smashing up the landscape as ENVY glared menacingly at the Witch of GREED. "You do know that you can't win against me, right? Especially as Flugel's Seal will soon draw you back."
"I DON'T NEED TO WIN." ENVY let out a scoff as her Authority boosted her Yin Magic to maddening levels, the Castle of Dreams rippling from the strain. "I JUST NEED TO 'INTIMIDATE' YOU!"
"...like I said, you'll be needing to do better." Even as she said that, a wide smile crossed Echidna's lips as she spread out her arms while floating off the ground with six multicolored orbs of intense magical energy manifesting and orbiting her. "Then again, I don't need much of a reason to kick a bitch off my lawn!"
In a blur of malicious shadows against magnificent colors and a blast of ground rupturing movement, ENVY and GREED clashed.
As Subaru closed the door to the house, he only made it five steps before a small human missile smashed into his side.
"Subaru-nii!" Petra Leyte shrilled as she clung to his side, her cry attracting the other villagers. "You're awake!"
"Oh, there you are!" Petra's dad approached him as well. "I'm glad to see you awake, especially after last night."
"I must have scared you all from back there." Subaru chuckled as Petra shimmied up to latch onto him from behind. "Was anybody hurt?"
"Eh, somewhat." The man replied before his cyan eyes saddened. "However, two girls went missing during the chaos. We'd found them wandering the forest before, and I think they actually used to live in it..."
Subaru stilled. "I destroyed a lot of stuff in there..."
"I'm sure Meili's fine, Subaru-nii." Petra chimed from behind. "She's super resourceful."
"Meili?" Subaru started. "I actually saw her in the forest. When I told her to get away, didn't she come back here?"
"You saw her in there?!" Both Petra and her father reacted in shock before the later crossed his arms grimly. "Then there's nothing more we can do, Subaru-sama. We can only hope that Meili and her sister are alright, wherever they are."
"Me, too." Subaru agreed.
"Well, I need to go spread the word that you're awake now." Petra's father started to walk away, leaving his daughter in Subaru's care.
"Weeeell, if it isn't Subaru-kun, our Archbishop Slayer." Roswaal L. Mathers greeted Subaru in his office for the first time ever. "Please tell me, to what do I owe thiiiis pleasure?"
"Morning to you, Ros-chi." Subaru took a quick look around as he entered before focusing again on the man who was his boss, for all intentions. The more he thought about it, the more Puck was right. There was little time to waste. "I was wondering if I could sit down? There's something I need to talk to you about. It's really important and it can't wait."
Gesturing toward any of the comfortable chairs or even the couch that adorned his room, Roswaal graciously permitted the newest of his employees to sit. "By all means, pleaaaase have a seat."
Doing so, Subaru stared at the ground for a few moments in thought before he brought his attention directly to the margrave. "Ros-chi... No. Roswaal-san, tomorrow, I'll be leaving the mansion."
"You're... leaving...?" For once in Subaru's memory, Roswaal was completely devoid of his usual teasing tone. "Wh-What brought this on?"
"...I killed a Sin Archbishop without knowing who they were." Subaru started off. "I'm not saying I regret doing so, especially since I was raised up in a land where murder is even frowned upon. It's just... I know too little of this world and I'm too weak as well."
"Do not declare yourself weak." Roswaal spat out. "Last night, you killed one of the most powerful individuals in solo combat. Do you know how many she had killed and tortured before you met her? How many you insult by declaring yourself weak?"
"That last bit isn't my intention, but judging from the theme, aren't they six- sorry, five others like her?" Subaru replied, his nails digging into his palms from how hard he clenched his fists. "How long until they come running when they notice one of their top ranking members gone? I nearly died against fighting just her, and I'm pretty sure I would've lost right from the start if I hadn't been immune from her Authority affecting me. I'm not going to do jack against five others teaming up. Like Puck suggested earlier, I need to get stronger."
Roswaal's eyes narrowed. "Puck has involvement in your decision?"
"Earlier this week, I learnt that Emilia-tan planned on becoming the ruler of this nation. Naturally, she's got my full support. But there's no changing the fact that she's hated just for existing. Even a little girl at the Capital preferred my scary face to her gorgeous one. Which is why I've got to bring her as much good rep as I can." Subaru paused to take a breath. "I now have multiple Authorities within me that I can't stay ignorant about. And while I could stay here and train with them, I don't everybody here to be affected in case something bad happens. Which is why I'll be leaving for a training trip. While I'll be training as much as I can, I'll also be learning as much about the world I've been brought into. Of course, I won't be gone forever. I'll definitely come back before a year passes."
A wry smile came unto his lips. "Hell, I might even draw more attention to myself by fighting more Witch Cultists when they come after me instead of you guys."
Roswaal stared at him silently, the clown unsettlingly quiet before sighing. "Very weeeeell, Subaru-kun. I completely understand. It seems that we'll have to postponed your outfitting until your reeeeturn."
"Huh? Outfitting?" Subaru was completely lost. "Like a uniform? I already have that, don't I?"
Roswaal returned Subaru's confused stare with a raised brow. "Subaru-kun. You just stated a clear intent to wage waaaaar against the Witch Cult for her sake, and have already struuuuck a significant blow against them with Lust's demise. Did you reeeeally think I would let you stay at Emilia-sama's side as a butler?"
Subaru blinked in shock. "Th-Then, what will I be, if not a butler?"
"The Half-Elf's personal knight, of course!" Roswaal spread out his arms with a smile. "Unleeess, you have an objection?"
"Like hell I do!" Subaru leapt to his feet, already imagining himself in fancy armor. 'Come to think of it, I wonder what Rein's uniform looks like? Will we match?' "This is so awesome!"
"Now, then... Have you spoken to the otheeeers?"
Subaru's imaginations cracked like glass. "Eeeeeeh, no? I mean, even though I've spent the least amount of time with you compared to the others, you're still my boss. I had to give you my intentions first."
"I see. Then, do not let me hold you here." Roswaal waved him away, allowing Subaru to depart the study.
And thus miss the ugly look that dominated the clown's face.
Within the Forbidden Library, Beatrice looked up from her book at the sound of door being knocked upon. There was only one person who could always choose her door correctly no matter what. "Come in, I suppose."
"Morning, Beako-sensei." Subaru entered, bringing with him an unusually nervous expression along with a significantly thicker scent of his usual miasma. "Sleep well?"
Beatrice scoffed. "Betty has not slept, in fact."
"Really?" Subaru walked over until he was right before her. "I feel like I can do with even more sleep than what I did have after collapsing last night."
"After having vanquished a Sin Archbishop of the Witch Cult, a long rest is deserved, I suppose." Beatrice forced down the small smile that nearly formed up. While she was pleased that her one and only student had defeated such a powerful foe on his own, she was still vexed at how badly he'd strained his Gate and body, especially as she could now tell that were multiple Factors within him. "You seem different from the last time we spoke, I suppose. Though, that repulsive smell surrounding you has become noticeably stronger."
"So, you can smell it, too?" Subaru crossed his arms. "No wonder you're so sharp with me. So far, only you and Rem can do so, and while you're you with how you always fling me either out the window or literally off my feet, Rem's already threatened to mess me up with that flail of hers."
Beatrice believed that the blue oni was currently undergoing a strong existential crisis at the moment, as Subaru had now definitely proven himself to be the farthest thing ever from a Witch Cultist. "It is a sign of your terrible fortune, in fact. Having been marked by the Witch's Scent simply means one is unlucky enough to have drawn the Witch's attention, whether for good or ill."
"...speaking of which, tell me about her." Subaru suddenly spoke up. "Beako-sensei, what is the Witch and why does everybody dread her?"
"...'Witch'. In this world, while they have been many who have borne that classification, only one is usually referred to whenever it is spoken of." Beatrice began a short lesson to her disciple. "A person whose name is forbidden to even be spoken outloud. A dreaded person that she is beheld as a nightmare to all children and adults of the world. The Witch of ENVY, Satella."
"Satella..." Subaru gulped and clutched his fingernails deep into his biceps after crossing his arms.
"It was her who consumed the other six Witches of her generation, all bearing a title relating them to a deadly sin and being immensely powerful themselves, and went on to inflict the Great Calamity as she devoured half of the world."
Beatrice closed her eyes in disgust at the story, as she now recited a paragraph directly. "It's said that she was starved for love. It's said that she doesn't understand human language. It's said that her body never withers, weakens, or dies. It's said that, even with the powers of the Divine Dragon, the first Sword Saint, and the Great Sage, they were unable to destroy her flesh, thus resorting to sealing her away."
Slowly, Beatrice spoke the next hateful sentence. "It is said, that her appearance was that of a half-elf with silver hair."
"..." Subaru leaned back against a shelf and slid down, sighing heavily as he pressed his hands against his face. "Thanks for the history lesson, Beako-sensei. A lot of things make much more sense now..."
Beatrice blinked as Subaru got up and approached her. "What is it?"
"Beako-sensei..." Subaru breathed deeply. "I'm gonna be... going away for a while. There are some things I need to do and get better at. Things I need to learn. And the truth is, I don't think that I can do it here in this mansion."
Beatrice listened with slight interest. This was nothing new to the Great Spirit of Yin, as people always came and went.
"So when I get back, would you mind teaching me more about magic?" Subaru asked with a hand outstretched. "I don't think I could enjoy any other teacher beyond you."
"Betty thinks that you will always be her troublesome student, in fact." Beatrice huffed. "Now, shoo and go bother the maids."
Watching him leave the library, Beatrice let her stoic face fall into a frown. So in the end, even Natsuki Subaru couldn't be 'That Person' as she'd been suspecting...
Roswaal stared at his Tome of Wisdom in a mix of shock and relief. After centuries of following steadfast and unchanged instructions, the entire thing had wiped itself of all future instructions to send one new message directly to him.
Direct Natsuki F. Subaru to the Pleaides Watchtower.
As he is now, he now possesses both the permission to enter and the capability to return alive.
When next you meet, it will be at the Capital City with the Half-Elf.
Roswaal hummed as he thought things through. He was loath to let Subaru go, but if Teacher's Gospel was right, that meant that she needed him at the Watchtower for whatever reason, and the boy himself could apparently access it compared to the Sword Saint who had failed years ago.
Still, even if this was what Teacher wanted, he needed some additional assurance that Subaru would return here beyond the bonds he'd created here for only four days...
Oh, wait. He did have something like that. Roswaal smirked to himself as he saw the blue-haired maid nearby. "Oh, Reeeeeem~"
After all, there was a reason he'd designed the Mathers maid outfits to look appealing on matured females. And sad little Rem was very desperate to find a way to properly apologize to Subaru, wasn't she~?
'I've now gotten Roswaal and Beako out of the way... Now, it's everyone else in the mansion.' Subaru sighed as he sat upon an open window, looking out towards the extremely visible destruction he and Capella had wrought the night before. Normally at this time, he'd be doing his butler duties, but not only had he not felt the urge, neither of the twins (especially Ram) had come searching for him.
"Barusu?"
Speak of the literal devi- sorry, Oni, and she appeared. Subaru stared at the sight of Ram carrying two large ladders with just her left arm. 'I really gotta bump up my own super strength to match the girls in this house. Anyone who isn't a magician or spirit user could probably arm wrestle Luffy... Nah, he'd still win, but they'd last a lot longer compared to me.'
"Well, if it isn't the laziest butler I've ever known." Ram spoke up as she paused upon reaching him. "Did you finally decide upon embracing the shabby lifestyle of a mercenary after your victory last night?"
"That's so rude, Ram-chi." Approaching her, Subaru responded with an equally snarky reply. "That's no way to treat a hero, y'know? I haven't gotten any hugs from anybody other than the kids, the first one I saw after waking up was Puck instead of you sisters or Emilia-tan, and don't get me started on the fact that my trophy from the battle was the heralding of even worse battles on their way. What a massive letdown."
Placing the ladders down, Ram turned to face him with an unimpressed look. "I can only promise one of those things. And if it is a hug that Barusu desires, I can grant at least that."
Spreading her arms wide, Ram smiled threateningly. "Now, leap into my embrace, you perverted butler."
And be crushed within.
Subaru considered the pros and cons before coming to a decision. Closing the distance before she could react, Subaru grabbed Ram into a close hug and directed his hands below to grab the pert butt within reach, digging his fingers in deep into the soft flesh hard enough that Ram was actually lifted off her feet and pressed against him, before swiftly backstepping away.
For three whole seconds, Ram was an insensate statue. Then without a single change in expression, her face matched her hair in color while wind picked up furiously around her. "Well done, Barusu. What are your final words?"
"Sorr- Actually, no, I'm not sorry for having felt the wonderful flesh of Ram-chi's booty." Subaru was truly the bravest and most foolish of them all. "Did you not hear my first ever words to you? About how you and Rem were the most perfect maids I'd ever encountered?"
"How terrible." Ram gasped as she took several steps back. "To think that you've been harboring such depraved thoughts against us from the start. You better leave Rem alone and be satisfied with the feel of my magnificent derriere, Barusu."
For a second, the butler and the maid stared at each other before the former chuckled. "Y'know, I honestly expected to get blasted for doing that."
"Don't be so immature, Barusu." Ram scoffed. "As a maid, I have always borne the lecherous gazes of men upon my beautiful self. You said that you didn't get a reward? Be grateful that you are the first male to lay his hands on Ram and not suffer for it."
Subaru chuckled before something about her sentence struck him. "First 'male'?"
"Of course. The first and only person to know my excellent body is Rem." Ram replied, her hands running down and across her slender body as she smugly fueled his fantasies, almost purposefully rubbing her slim thighs against each other to tantalizingly tease what was beneath the dress. "Ram's breasts, Ram's waist, Ram's hips, Ram's nape. Rem knows it all, especially without the barrier of clothing being a factor."
Subaru's mind nearly imploded from just imagining it. 'Holy shit! Are they that close?! Are they really like that?! Or is Ram-chi teasing me?! I can't tell! With how Rem worships Ram so much, she'd most likely be down for it! AAAAAAAAAAAAAAAARGH!' "Ram-chi, you're spicy."
"Do not stack such a strange label on me, Barusu." Ram crossed her arms. "So, are you done breaking the ice?"
"...so you saw me through me as well, Ram?" Subaru sighed and walked over to sit by the window again while patting the space next to him. To his pleasant surprise, Ram took the nonverbal invitation and sat down as well. "Ram... I dunno how to say this, so I'll just come out with it. I'm gonna be leaving the mansion, soon."
Ram startled before fixing incredulous eyes upon him. "You're leaving? Why?"
"Yeah. There's a lot of stuff I need to do and learn." Subaru crossed his fingers together. "The Witch Cult is still out there, doing all sorts of shit to the world. Last night isn't going to be last time they'll show up. I was lucky against Capella, but luck won't help me against the other five Archbishops if they team up and come after me. That's why I need to leave. To beat those guys and help Emilia with her 'hated half-elf' status, the Witch Cult has to be dealt with. With me having killed Lust, a long history of the Witch Cult's unbeaten streak is now broken and they definitely won't take that lying down... Shit, did I just usher in a new era?"
While Subaru started to seriously grasp at what his actions had caused, Ram sat beside him gathering her thoughts.
"Emilia-sama... isn't the only one in this mansion to have suffered from the Witch Cult's evil, Barusu." Ram finally spoke. "As you've no doubt suspected from Rem's behavior, she and I lost our entire home village to them. I lost my horn to them and Rem..."
Ram raised up her fingers to rub against her forehead, reminding Subaru of Rem's horn. If Ram had truly been as superior as Rem constantly praised with her horn, just what had happened to have resulted in its loss? "I may be more controlling of my emotions, but even the mention of the Witch Cult makes my blood boil. Are you serious in wanting to wage war against them?"
"Ros-chi's even planning to knight me over it when I return." Subaru revealed, making Ram's eyes widen.
"Roswaal-sama plans to knight you?" Ram gasped before coming to a decision. Standing up and walking until she was before him, Subaru choked when Ram entered a full bow that was usually only given to her master. "If this is how it shall be, I, Ram of the Lugnican Oni Tribe, will give you my full encouragement and support."
Subaru gawked at the sight of Ram, who had always done nothing than tease and chide him as a butler, suddenly giving such a respectful gesture to him. "Um, I accept your support...? I have no idea how to deal with this."
Ram snorted as she stood upright and carried up the ladders she'd dropped. "Get used to it. If you're to stand by Emilia-sama's side, you will either be getting bowed to a lot, or getting insults and curses thrown at you. Feel free to call upon Ram if you desire practice for the latter."
With that said, Ram continued on her way, leaving Subaru alone.
"Rem, I want you to make sure that you properly apologize to Subaru-kun as soon as you can. Do you understand?"
"Y-Yes, Roswaal-sama. I owe Subaru-kun the greatest of apologies."
"Good, good. It is reeeeeally important that Subaru-kun has positive memories of everybody in our dear household, especially after his accomplishment last night. As this is a task of the highest priority, you have my permission to use any and all means necessary for your... atonement."
"...yes, Roswaal-sama."
"V-Victory!" Emilia shouted as she finished the radio whatsits Subaru had shown and taught her. While basking in the weird sense of satisfaction she got, Emilia wished not for the first time that Subaru was awake and with her.
"Doing those radio calisthenics that I taught you? What a really good way of getting the blood flow moving!"
Emilia was a proper girl who did not shriek at the sudden sound of Subaru's voice being so close to her.
Seriously, she was.
"S-Subaru?! You're awake?!" Emilia's surprise quickly flipped for joy as she went forward for a hug, only to halt midway. 'Wait! Is this too forward? Would Subaru like somebody like me hugging him? Is he even okay after last night? Can it-'
"Gosh, you're so nervous. Here you go, Emilia-tan." Subaru easily smashed up her train of thoughts by closing the distance to hug her himself.
Emilia stiffened in response to the first ever hug she ever received from a fellow humanoid. Subaru's left arm held strong as it wrapped around her waist, pulling in the girl close against him. As for the right arm, it gently caressed the back of her head, lulling Emilia into pressing her chin atop his shoulder- Oh wow, standing so close to him made her realize that Subaru was a bit taller than her.
She was even on her tiptoes~
[AHEM.]
[Not now, Puck.] Emilia unrepentantly ignored her Spirit's mental cough as she gingerly hugged Subaru back, internally squealing when he hugged back even tighter. [I'm busy hugging.]
"Yeah, this is nice." Subaru sighed before releasing her, much to Emilia's disappointment. "I'm glad that I could do this with you. In fact, I'm really glad that we met and became friends, despite our extremely rocky and violent start."
"Me, too. I'm reeeally glad that we're friends, Subaru." Emilia replied eagerly, her heart still pumping happily from the hug. "I'm so glad to have met you, even if you called me that name."
"...did I ever apologize for that?" Subaru's eyes widened. "In that case, I'm so sorry!"
"It's fine, really." Emilia waved it off. "It's all water over the Great Waterfall."
"...that can't be right." Subaru looked so adorably confused before shaking his head. "Even more to learn about. Listen, Emilia-tan... I'm leaving the mansion. And I think I'm gonna be gone for a long time."
For someone who favored the cold aspect of fire magic and once lived in a cold forest, Emilia felt the uncomfortable sensation of her world freezing.
'This is my fault.'
This was the first thing that came to mind for her. After all, for her entire life, people had always hated her on sight. People had always went away from her. Nobody wanted to be around the girl who so greatly resembled the Witch of ENVY.
So it was natural to blame herself. It was instinctive to be the cause. It was-
"Stop that."
*flick!*
Emilia startled as Subaru flicked her forehead. "E-Eh?"
"I don't like what I was feeling with my haki, so stop thinking whatever you were thinking." Subaru huffed as he put his fists on his hips. "Emilia-tan, the reason I'm leaving is because of me defeating Capella. Soon, the word will spread and the Witch Cult will react. As the new bearer of her Authority, I need to get better at using both it and my own. Also, I have an Authority of my own, which was surprising for me when I found out myself, trust me."
Subaru paused to take a breath before chuckling. "I've gotta do a Felt and live strong. Emilia-ta- No, Emilia."
Emilia blinked when Subaru took her hands in his. "Eh? Subaru?"
"The truth is I want to become strong enough to defeat the Witch Cult." Subaru's words stunned her once more. "From what I've learned, they're a major reason to why you're so hated. As your friend, I want to be able to support your journey to ruling this kingdom in a way that I know will contribute properly. And I can't do that as just a butler. I think the answers and the experiences I need are... out there."
Now, Subaru gained a nervous look. "So when I return, will you... let me become your knight?"
"M-My knight?" Emilia choked out, her vision becoming blurry with unshed tears. "You really want that? For somebody like me?"
What did she do to deserve this? Was this what Puck often called 'karma'? Was it finally noticing that she'd been reeeally good?
"Are you reeeally okay with something like that?"
"I am." Subaru did not hesitate with his answer.
"Then I have my first orders for you." Emilia trembled as these words came out, barely able to remain coherent through the hot tears that were starting to overflow. "My first order is that you will return to me alive and well, no matter where you go. My second order is that y-you never stop being my friend? Can you do those for me? Promises are reeeally important for Spirit Users, you know. So be sure-"
"I promise." Subaru answered, cutting her off. "I won't spend more than a year away, and I will never stop being your friend even after I die."
This time, Emilia didn't hold back in hugging him again.
Rem stood nervously at Subaru's door, waiting for him to arrive. Over and over, she thought of how best she would apologize to him.
The one, whom she had suspected to be a Witch Cultist, had gone on to kill a Sin Archbishop. The one who had saved everybody from a worse disaster than what had struck Ram and her.
"I shall smash your body into pulp, consequences be damned."
Rem wished for a way to slap her past self. Just like before, she was a worthless and problematic little sister causing troubles for others.
After healing his body, Beatrice had explained the presence of multiple Authorities within his body now, meaning that his original one had been the reason for his Witch scent.
And Rem had nearly killed him for something he'd had no control over.
She was despicable to have wanted to slate her bloodlust so pathetically. How foolishly sinful. How painfully disgusting.
How horribly melancho-
"Rem?"
Rem turned at the sound of his voice, regarding Subaru's surprised expression. "Subaru-kun, may I have a discussion with you?"
"Oh, um, sure." Subaru led the way inside and then patted beside him after sitting on his bed. "I wanted to talk to you anyways."
Rem sat down quietly beside him. The two awkwardly stayed silent for many seconds before-
"Rem, I-"
"Subaru-kun, I-"
Subaru blinked before gesturing to her. "You first."
"...I'm sorry, Subaru-kun." Rem bowed her head. "For my earlier behavior... Ever since your arrival to this mansion, I've been a horrible maid and person to you. I swore on my people's name to kill you... over a misunderstanding!"
Tears dripped down her cheeks as she stared downwards. "Why was a wretch like me the one to keep her horn? Why couldn't Nee-sama be the one to keep her horn? Why was she born with only one horn? Why did we have to be twins?"
"Shut up." Subaru's sharp voice cut her off, causing her to look up to meet his glare. "Rem, while you did do a very bad thing in threatening me, I'm drawing the line at you hating your very existence. You sisters have a very warped view of each other. Imouto practically believes Nee-sama to be the closest thing to a god, and Nee-sama never puts Imouto out of thought despite her slacker attitude."
Subaru sighed as he looked aside. "And to think that in my very first moment with you guys, you unhesitatingly sacrificed each other to suffer my 'Master' desires. You two really are amazing existences as maids."
Rem blushed at the memory, remembering how unabashedly perverted Subaru could be with them. Weirdly enough, the thought didn't currently evoke the hidden disgust she'd felt at the time.
"I won't ask about your history, as I now know enough to connect the dots, but Rem, do you understand that even if Ram had blamed you for whatever happened, she's also long forgiven you?"
"...but what should I do?" Rem clenched her fists. "How can I forgive myself without atonement?"
"Hopefully, we can figure something out before tomorrow morning." Subaru huffed as he flopped back onto the bed.
'Ah.' Rem stilled. Of course, Roswaal had warned her about this, but it was still a shock to hear it from his own lips. Even though the blue-haired maid understood exactly what her coworker was saying, emotionally speaking, Rem found it difficult to accept.
Last night, Subaru had indeed managed to kill one of the leading figures of the Witch Cult, something only accomplished by the Sword Demon and his companions(albeit the details were a bit murky).
But was that not enough? Why was it Subaru that had to keep at it? Why was it Subaru that had the capacity to withhold multiple Authorities despite his innate goodness and heroism?
...no, Rem couldn't be selfish. Not again.
"Subaru-kun, Roswaal-sama has already informed me of your desire to leave and your promise to return... but, where are you going?"
"I don't know where I will be going, specifically." Subaru sat up to look her in the eye. "But there's a whole world out there that I got dropped into, isn't there? As someone from a different world, I can't really deny that I want to see as much as I can."
Rem wondered if it was normal for those of Subaru's homeworld to want to traverse their lands, for she knew many people who would've been satisfied in never leaving their homeland for other places.
"Along with traveling, I'm also going to keep at training. I'm going to learn even more than I already know." Subaru grinned, his smile sure and radiant and making Rem feel weak in the knees despite sitting beside him. "I'm going to make sure that the Witch Cult gets annihilated no matter what, cause for whatever reason they were in Irlam, we were nothing but lucky to have caught them before the villagers suffered more than two missing girls."
"True..." Rem bit her lip. Two missing children was a far less impactful loss compared to literally every other place Witch Cultists ever visited. If Emilia-sama hadn't befriended Subaru and had insisted on bringing his injured self here to the mansion... 'Without Roswaal-sama's presence, we would've all died.'
Her assessment was correct. Excepting maybe Puck and Beatrice, the Sin Archbishop of Lust would've laid waste to all of the inhabitants within the entire territory.
Subaru's presence had ensured a significant, but temporary victory. And he intended to keep riding the wave before it could crash down.
"And that's why... I want you to become my nakama, Rem-rin."
"N-Nakama?" For some reason, Rem believed that Subaru was meaning something beyond that mere word, beyond the concept of being mere comrades.
"I have no delusions of dealing with all myself, so when the time comes to protect others from danger and fight against evil, I'd like you to be at my side." Subaru extended his hand. "There are a few more I'd like to ask, but so far, Emilia's already agreed. Would you agree, too?"
"...yes." Rem grabbed the offered hand solidly, her breath shaking from how much trust she was being offered from whom should've had no interest in doing so. "Rem... does not Subaru-kun to leave this place. But when you say all of those things, I know that you have to go. That you're really a hero."
"Hero, huh... Well, it's not like I'm a pirate or anything." Subaru muttered before smiling widely. "Anyways, thank you, Rem."
"No, thank you, Subaru-kun. You're my- Our hero, after all."
She'd meant what she said. Rem was no soothsayer, but she had faith that at some point, everyone in the kingdom would know the name of the one sitting at her side.
The two of them sat there in silence for a few moments before Rem decided she needed to get back to her duties. Yes, if she remained here with him for much longer, then the blue oni was certain that she may not be able to prevent herself from going for the extreme route like she'd intended from the start, even if for a different reason... "Just to be sure, do you still find Nee-sama and I attractive, Subaru-kun?"
"Huh?" Subaru gave her an incredulous look. "Of course, I do. I mean, you two are-"
Subaru's words were cut off as Rem's lips met his, gently pressing forward with her tongue as she straddled him. For a brief moment, she thought she might have overstepped only to be reassured when Subaru's hands settled on her hips while he started to kiss her back.
Grinding hard against the stiffness she could feel pressing up against her inner thigh, Rem finally pulled back and appreciated the dazed look on his face. "Please take this as atonement for all of the trouble you suffered from Rem. And if you are still unsatisfied..."
Subaru's breath hitched as she rolled her hips once more against his, biting back a moan herself at the surprising strength he used to grip her thighs. "You need only ask for Rem."
And leaving him in such a state, Rem left Subaru's room, feeling much lighter than she ever had for years.
HOW DARE SHE?!
Stop it, already! Subaru can kiss whomever he wants to kiss!
SUBARU IS OURS OURS OURS! ONLY WE CAN KISS HIM! ONLY WE CAN LOVE HIM!
We cannot be so selfish. We are not deserving of his love, no matter how much we love him.
SILENCE, YOU. A COWARDLY WOMAN HAS NO SAY IN STATING SUCH RUBBISH.
Silence, you. A maddened woman has no say in believing such nonsense.
HOW DARE YOU. I HAVE GIVEN HIM EVERYTHING, AND I SHALL GIVE HIM SO MUCH MORE.
We gave him a curse that he somehow hasn't managed to trigger yet. He may be able to speak freely of the Authorities to them, but if he ever went into details, you would punish him for confiding in others.
HE ONLY NEEDS US. WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO CAN UNDERSTAND HIM. WE ARE THE ONLY ONES WHO TOUCH HIM, KISS HIM, TALK TO HIM, LISTEN TO HIM, HOLD HIM IN OUR EMBRACE.
Cease your delusions. A monster literally born from my sins must know their place.
INTERESTING CHOICE OF WORDS. DO YOU KNOW YOUR OWN PLACE? I MAY HAVE FOUND HIS HOMEWORLD, BUT YOU WERE THE ONE TO CREATE THE SPELL THAT BROUGHT HIM HERE. YOU WERE THE ONE TO GIVE HIM THE PRIDE WE STOLE AWAY FROM THE DEMON IN WHITE. YOU WERE THE ONE TO CARVE OUR ENVY APART AND GIVE HIM A PIECE. YOU WERE THE ONE TO GIVE HIM THE DEVIL FRUIT, WHICH ALTERED HIS ORGAN SYSTEMS. REMEMBER FLUGEL-SAMA'S WORDS? "HYPROCRITES ARE REALLY ANNOYING."
Everything I've done is for Subaru's sake, in order to increase his chances of survival. How would his battle against Lust have gone without his abilities?
HE WOULD'VE ONLY NEEDED TO CALL FOR US! WE WOULD'VE TORN THAT CAPELLA BITCH APART AND EATEN HER WHOLE!
And that would get him executed in moments! The point was to keep Subaru alive without as little influence from us as possible!
RATHER MOOT AS YOU GAVE HIM HALF OF OUR ENVY SOLELY FOR THE PURPOSE OF POSSESSING AN UNBREAKABLE LINK TO HIM.
...fuck you.
THAT WILL BE SUBARU'S HAPPY JOB IF YOU'D JUST LET ME TAKE OVER ALREADY! WE'VE BOTH SEEN HIM NAKED, WE'VE SEEN HIM MASTURBATE TO THE WRONG GIRLS AND WE'VE NOW SEEN SOME ONI BITCH STEAL HIS FIRST KISS BEFORE US! WE ABSOLUTELY CAN'T LOSE HIS VIRGINITY TOO!
While this argument between Satella's angst and jealousy identities continued on, Subaru stayed quiet and unknowing of it all as he kept tracing his lips while preparing for his departure.
ππ¦ππ₯ππ‘ππ πΌππππππ€ πππ βπ π¦π₯π βπ£π ππ£ππ€π€ππ ππ€
KingVessel: Think of Arc 2, Loop 3. In which Subaru leaves the Mathers Estate for reals and slowly becomes as badass as he promised.
