"Subaru. Sir? Its past noon. Weren't you planning on heading to the market today to pick up ingredients?"
'It worked.'
"Subaru? If you don't get up right now, you won't have time to get everything before the market closes!"
'She's alive. I can save her.'
Subaru flipped off the covers and walked up to Lilia. Before she could react, he hugged her and tearfully tried to speak.
"Wha. . ."
"I'm sorry. So sorry. Please, forgive me."
Lilia was jarred from Subaru's weird reaction. Did he do something? Why is it he just randomly hugged her? Sure they were friends, but he had always expressed this through his weird jokes and jabs. What prompted such a sincere response from him this early in the morning? (For Subaru, anyway. For everyone else, noon isn't the morning.)
"For what? Subaru this isn't like you."
Subaru looked up and released his grip around Lilia. She can't grasp the enormity of the wrongs he'd inflicted on her. How fortunate for Subaru. He left her to die and now he gets to continue living his life without ever needing to face the consequences. He really was a failure.
"I-I can't say. But I swear on my life. I'll never make that mistake again."
Subaru recomposed himself and patted Lilia on the shoulder like he hadn't just broken down in her arms.
'I am unable to tell her what a piece of trash I was. That I abandoned her. My relationship with her will probably always be fake now that I am lying to her like this. . .'
The only comfort Subaru felt was the hope that one day he might face judgement for what he had done. If he saved Lilia, at least then he'd be able to look her in the eye again.
"Subaru? It doesn't seem like you are lying. I'm sorry for waking you up so early, but please head out before everything closes."
Subaru winced. She was apologizing to him? He really needed to fix this. Now she might be thinking she did something wrong. It was Subaru's fault that he had overslept, not hers. There was no way for her to know about the hell he'd witnessed either. Why was he unloading his emotions on her like this?
"Yeah, give me a minute to get ready before I come down for breakfast."
Lilia closed the door and headed downstairs to prepare Subaru's breakfast.
'The assassin is most definitely watching the mansion right now, probably waiting for the right moment to come in and blindside us. He didn't attack me when I left for the market in the last four loops. I have one hope left. If I am right, then potentially I can save everyone.'
"Take care!"
"I will!"
Subaru left the mansion and started off towards the marketplace. At this point he had become very familiar with the most efficient route, so he made it to there and began his shopping with time to spare.
'I don't think the assassin is following me. He seems to think I'll returning to the mansion before sundown. Unless I lost him after entering in the clothing store and he headed back to the mansion, he most likely wasn't tailing me. It still doesn't make sense why he'd do something like that if I was the target, but maybe he had a time limit for when the assassination needed to be carried out?'
Subaru was picking up everything he could foreseeably need while he was out at the marketplace. He wanted time to really piece together what had happened in the previous loops and work out a definitive plan of action. He would not die any more than was necessary.
As he reached the street with the demi-human clothing store, Subaru abruptly turned and entered.
'Ok. This is it.'
"So you need protection from an assassin, is that right? Su-san?"
"Yes, I heard from the shopkeep you might be able to help me, I'll pay whatever you want."
Subaru once again approached the dog-like demihuman in the back of the clothing store. It was a long shot, but potentially this person held the key to a happy ending for him and the mansion. If all he needed to do was pay, he'd fork over everything he had.
"I never thought I'd run into the legendary 'Hero of Priestella' in a clothing store. Rumor had it that you'd been killed in a scuffle with some Witch Cultist!"
He had no choice. Subaru saw what happens when people lie to this guy from his last experience with him. Somehow, he could tell if Subaru was lying. If he pressed for too much information, Subaru had no idea how he would respond.
"Those rumors weren't completely unfounded, I just happened to make it out somehow."
It still felt unreal to talk about himself like he was this 'Legendary Hero', but lying wasn't going to get him anywhere, so vagueness was his best friend right now.
"You believe you are under the watch of an assassin, correct?"
"Yes. I do not know why, but I believe an assassin has been stalking my home waiting for the chance to attack me."
"Are you the target, or is it someone living with you?"
"They are planning on attacking me."
"Ok, so whoever this is also knows that you are alive."
"Uh. . ."
Subaru paused for a moment. The assassin said his orders were to attack the "guest staying at the Astrea manor". The order hadn't outlined his name and whoever the killer was clearly didn't know it. Logically, one would assume that whoever hired this assassin knew that Subaru was alive. If that was the case, there were only a handful of people capable of something like this. However, the vagueness in the order created room for another possibility.
'If the assassin hadn't been told my name before being sent on this attack, it means that whoever sent the assassin could have been targeting a completely different person! There's a problem with this though. Right now, I'm the only guest in the Astrea manor! Could it be that the employer wanted to hide the fact that I was alive too?'
"What's with the hesitation? Shouldn't the answer be obvious?"
"There are only a handful of people who know that I survived that battle with the Sin Archbishop. As a guest in a noble house, he may have just received orders to kill the guest in the Astrea Manor. I don't want to lie to you, but for some reason, I don't think he knows my actual name."
The demi-human paused for a moment before releasing a hearty chuckle.
"What? Kid, you crack me up! You want me to believe this guy was just randomly hired to kill you?"
"Believe whatever you want. I think it's just the employer being cautious, but you never know."
Subaru pulled out a pouch full of holy coins he'd collected from the Astrea manor. He had smuggled several valuable-looking trinkets from the house and pawned them for some quick cash to pay the mercenary.
"Woah there Su-san, stop trying to bribe me into taking your job. You already got me interested with your crackpot theories and crazy story! If you want some protection, you've got yourself a deal."
"Really?! Wow, thank you so much! Um. . ?"
"It's Halibel."
"Thanks Halibel. If it weren't for you, tomorrow I'd be a pile a dead flesh!"
Halibel looked at him like he was crazy. Too morbid? He should probably tone down the odd expressions. The last thing he needs is this guy ditching him in his moment of peril.
"Also, for reasons I can't disclose, I can't have it become public knowledge that I'm alive, understood?"
"Understood. Tell me what you want me to do and I'll protect you to the best of my ability."
On his way back to the mansion, Subaru began thinking about everything that led up this moment.
'Man, I've been murdered in my sleep, stabbed, and beheaded. Not to mention my first, and only, suicide. This really has been an insane day. I went through all of that suffering so I could end up here, right now. If I could've just died in my sleep and been done with it, would I have been happier?'
"Hey kid, glad to see you again! Want to buy some appas?"
'Oh, right. It's Kadomon! I need to thank him for what he did for me last loop. Seriously, I don't want to imagine what would've happened without him.'
"Hi Kadomon! I would love to buy some appas, how about two bags?"
"Woah! Two bags? You feeling extra nice today or something?"
"You could say that."
Kadomon looked down and began bagging Subaru's appas. He looked up, seemingly wanting to ask Subaru something, but Subaru ended up speaking first.
"Thank you. For everything. You might not have known it, but you've helped me more times than I can count."
"Where did this come from? Hey kid, listen, you've done a lot for me and my business, I should be thanking you."
"Please. Just accept this."
Subaru handed Kadomon his bag of holy coins. He knew this wasn't his money to give away, but he'd be sure to pay Reinhard back for everything once he returned from the conference.
'Knowing Reinhard, he'd refuse to take the money back though. . .I'll just have Felt sneak it back when he's not looking.'
"Wait wait wait! This is too much! I can't accept this!"
Subaru turned around and began to run away. Before he was out of view, he turned around and shouted back:
"Keep it! But don't close your shop! I'll make sure to tell all my friends to come and pay you a visit!"
Kadomon stood there speechless. What an insane occurrence. Just like the day he'd met him, Subaru had run off and promised to repay him. Did he think he owed him a debt or something? Kadomon felt tears welling up as he thought about what he could do with that money, for his wife and kid.
"Damn brat, making me tear up like this. ."
Subaru finally reached the mansion. Everything had gone smoothly. He had successfully hired a mercenary and had worked out a strategy to catch the assassin before he could make a move on them. While Subaru returned back from his shopping trip, he'd ordered Halibel to shadow him from a safe distance so he wouldn't be detected.
'I don't want to blow the element of surprise, so the best possible outcome would be to lure out the assassin before he makes a move.'
Subaru knocked on the front door and was met with a surprised Lilia.
"Wow! I wasn't expecting you back this early. You woke up at noon!"
Lilia was shocked that Subaru had made it back before she had time to finish washing the dishes. At this rate, they could end up finishing their gift for Reinhard before they went to sleep!
"Lilia, in roughly ten minutes the rest of the maids will be finished making their rounds right?"
"Yes, I believe so, why?"
Lilia was caught off guard. Why was Subaru asking about the rest of the maid staff? He had interacted with them before, but the only people he talked to regularly were her, Reinhard, and Felt. Did he need to ask them for something?
"I need to talk to all of you as soon as possible. Please, when they are finished, send them into the kitchen."
"Ok, when they are done, I'll go get them."
Subaru moved to take a seat before looking at a clock on the wall.
"Hey Subaru. . .I don't think you had anything to do with this, but a few items disappeared from your room this morning. I have to ask, were you responsible?"
"Actually, that pertains to the announcement I wanted to make. Don't worry about it for now."
Subaru didn't want to lie to Lilia about that, so he decided he would address it when the time was right. He was going to tell them as much of the truth as was possible.
The maids all took seats in the kitchen while Subaru took a seat on the opposite side of the table.
"Ok. What I'm about to tell you is going to seem ridiculous and made-up. Before I say anything, will you promise to hear me out?"
The maids looked confused, but also intrigued at what Subaru was about to say.
"I don't know, I can't really say until I hear it."
One of the maids answered with a disinterested tone. She probably thought Subaru was about to go on one of his rants about his mythological 'homeland' again.
"I will do my best to trust you."
The other four maids looked at Lilia. She had seen Subaru acting weird all day and was trying to put it to the back of her mind. Clearly, whatever he was about to tell her had been bothering him since he woke. She wanted to know. Subaru was her friend and she didn't want him to keep struggling like he had this morning.
"Here goes. So Lilia, you remember how I was acting odd when you woke me up correct?"
"Yes, I was really surprised by how scared you looked when I flipped the cover this morning."
"There was a reason. Last night I was woken up by an intruder in my room. Before I could react, they knocked me out and ran away."
This was the lie. Everything else he was about to say could reasonably make sense, so long as they bought the story he was about to tell them.
"What?! Subaru, why didn't you say anything?"
"I was unconscious all night. Needless to say, I was surprised when I saw you this morning. I honestly felt an immense guilt knowing I had left you and the other maids defenseless last night. I believe that whoever was responsible has been watching the mansion the entire day. And I believe they plan to strike again tonight."
"Wait, WHAT? You think that the mansion will be attacked again? Why didn't you warn us earlier?"
Lilia was outraged. She understood why he acted the way he did when she woke him up, but he didn't tell her or the other maids because of a hunch?
"If we had left the mansion, they would've attacked, and potentially killed, all of us."
"You don't know that! For all you know, they could've killed us all when you left for groceries."
Subaru couldn't deny that. While he wanted to tell them that he knew they would be fine, there should be no way for Subaru to know the attacker's intentions, powers, or likeliness to strike.
"Before I left, I grabbed some trinkets from my room to pawn. I used the money to hire a mercenary to protect us all."
"So you stole from Reinhard to hire a mercenary to stalk the mansion? Subaru, this is honestly insane. It's so idiotic, impossible, and implausible. . .that I believe you."
'What? I was expecting that part to go over the worst! I must look like a raving lunatic to these people, but they still trust me?'
"Thank you. I understand that. . ."
"Don't get me wrong. Even if that whole story is true, you still are an idiot. Keeping us in the dark like that has really put us into a bind. However, if I may say something about you Natsuki Subaru. . ."
"Huh?"
Subaru was on the edge of his seat. Lilia really believed in him. She believed in him enough to try and convince the other maids to join her. He really didn't deserve friends like these.
"Before you lost your memories, you always had a particular talent for being in the right place at the right time. Whatever this 'instinct' of yours was, it clearly worked. All I'm doing is trusting it now."
'What an apt way to put it. An 'instinct'. To the rest of the world, I'm the luckiest man alive huh? I'm starting to think the opposite is the case. Seriously, if some random intruder has managed to inflict this much pain on me, I can't imagine what one of these 'great calamities' or 'Sin Archbishops' must've done.'
"Thank you, Lilia. Everybody, I have a plan to draw out the assassin, but I'm going to need your help."
"Ok everyone, It is time for us to leave! Is everyone packed?"
Subaru helped load the maids' bags into a dragon carriage that was parked in front of the Astrea Manor. He had convinced the maids to go along with his little plan under the condition that, if it failed, he would face consequences from Reinhard and Felt when they returned.
"Oh, Subaru, I think I left something inside the mansion, let me grab it before we leave!"
Lilia began running towards the front door of the mansion.
Subaru didn't even have time to react. A gust of wind blew past Subaru and caught the arm of the attacker before he could slash Lilia.
"Wow Su-san! You weren't kidding! There really was a guy trying to kill you huh?"
Halibel laughed as he began crushing the figure's hand.
"I told you, it was just a feeling! Now please finish this guy off before he decides to attack me!"
Halibel pulled out one of his kunai and stabbed it into the attacker's chest. The strike was so fast and precise that the figure had absolutely no chance of blocking or dodging. While Subaru looked on in awe, Halibel jumped back and his expression changed to one of seriousness.
"What?"
The original figure stabbed by Halibel deteriorated into a falling mass of shadows. As it broke apart, the figure vanished and popped like it was never even there.
"Wait a minute, he was stabbed! You mean to tell me that the attacker was just some weird shadow person!?"
Halibel launched towards Subaru and pushed him to the ground.
"Ah, damn. That was a close attack. I nearly got him!"
The assassin nearly slashed Subaru in half, but Halibel reacted in time and blocked the assassin's blade with his kunai.
"Su-san, who is this guy? Do you have any guess on why he's trying to kill you?"
Subaru was dumbfounded. He saw Halibel kill this guy. Why is there another one jumping out of nowhere to attack him?
"I don't know! His order specified the "guest at the Astrea manor" so he is making me his priority!"
The figure jumped back and turned towards Subaru.
"What? What did you say? You know about my order? This is bad. It seems you figured out what I was up to and brought help."
Subaru felt like laughing. This bastard made him feel helpless and weak and finally the shoe was on the other foot! This guy wouldn't be getting away, not if he could help it.
"And it seems you've brought someone I can't defeat. To think, the 'Admirer' Halibel would be showing up to stop me."
Halibel's ears perked up at the mention of his name. Whoever this was seemed to know of his reputation.
"Ah, so you've heard of me? You from Kararagi, or do you just like my work?"
Halibel then slashed the figure again with his kunai before turning around to grab Subaru and pull him up off the ground.
"Su-san, it appears whatever I've been fighting isn't the real assassin."
Subaru was surprised. Had the assassin been sending in puppets to attack them? These figures talked and walked like people do. Was it reasonable to assume that the assassin was still hiding somewhere?
"Wait, Halibel, how do you know that this guy isn't just respawning from your attacks or something?"
"Simple. I possess an ability that allows me to clone myself. Whenever I attack this guy, my attacks have the same feeling as when I attack one of my clones."
Subaru didn't have time to process this answer as another two shadowy figures emerged and launched themselves towards him at imperceptible speed. Luckily, Halibel's kunai were quicker and ended up dispelling the clones before they could complete their attack.
'Shadow clones? Ninjas? Am I in Naruto right now?!'
Halibel was easily handling the clones without using anything but a couple kunai and kicks. It seemed whoever was targeting Subaru realized he had no chance against Halibel and instead focused all his efforts on finishing off Subaru.
'I need to kill Subaru and get out of here. That guy is too strong. He might recognize me. I need to summon more.'
The assassin summoned thirty clones to attack Subaru, but they simply weren't enough for Halibel's inhuman speed and reflexes. He created a second clone to handle the fifteen that had spawned behind Subaru, while the original Halibel took care of the clones in the front.
"Wow, you finally made me summon one clone. Pretty embarrassing that it took you thirty of your own though."
Halibel was taunting the assassin, hoping he'd respond and come out. Unfortunately, that wouldn't happen. The attacker knew Halibel's strength and was purposefully hiding to make sure he couldn't be stopped. If Halibel decided to go and search for the assassin, he would finish off Subaru with his clones before Halibel had time to return. If Subaru went with Halibel to search, he would kill the maids.
Only one course of action made sense.
"Lilia, tell the rest of the maids to run! While he's focusing on me, he won't be able to attack any of you!"
Subaru could tell that the attacker wanted to cut his losses. Sticking around any longer than he had to meant that Halibel could uncover his location. This meant Subaru was now the sole priority of the assassin's clones.
"No! Subaru, do you really expect us to just leave you after Reinhard entrusted us with your. . ."
"Yes! I do! If you haven't noticed, I've got myself a pretty good defender here. Reinhard also entrusted you guys to me. That means you run when I tell you. Understand?"
Lilia didn't have time to respond as the other maids pulled her away from the mansion and in the direction of the main road.
"Lilia, we have to go get help! If we are quick, there's a chance we can capture this assassin."
A quieter maid spoke up. She was also shocked at this turn of events, but she knew that they wouldn't be any help there. Like Subaru, none of the maids had any real combat experience. If they stayed there, all they would be doing is inconveniencing Halibel by creating more targets.
Lilia was afraid, but Subaru was right. He was locked in a life and death battle with some insanely strong assassin. Reinhard wouldn't be able to stomach losing Subaru again. He couldn't. Especially if he could've prevented it. That meant that if she needed to run away to protect Subaru, she would do it.
"Go! NOW!"
Subaru yelled out. Lilia turned and ran with the other maids. They would find a Royal Knight to bring back. It was the only thing they could do.
The attacker didn't attempt to stop the fleeing maids. He knew that diverting any clones from the constant barrage on Subaru and Halibel gave them an opening to launch an attack on their surroundings.
"Hey Su-san. If these weren't clones before, I'm sure of it now."
Subaru turned back to Halibel.
"What happened?"
Halibel smiled.
"Well, I've been putting curses on each of these clones when I attack them. The problem is, the curses aren't successfully activating or draining mana."
"So? I don't get it. Why does that mean they are clones?"
Halibel slashed through two more clones with his kunai.
"If these were just puppets, they'd be directly linked with their user. That means some curses may actually activate because of the puppet's link to the attacker's od. However. . ."
Halibel slashed three more clones.
"None of my curses have activated. This means the clones aren't directly linked to an od or gate."
Subaru felt disheartened. This meant the only way to stop this onslaught was to find and eradicate the one spawning the clones. But how were they supposed to do that when the attacker kept spawning more and more of them?
"Can't you make more clones and send them to hunt down the assassin?"
Subaru thought of something. Halibel was holding his own with just one clone. If he had more, he would definitely be able to find and track down the assassin.
"Well I could. But the assassin is probably watching the battle. If I do that, he'll just run away. Is that acceptable?"
Nope. This guy had to pay for what he did. (Or would do.) Subaru wouldn't be able to get a good sleep unless this guy was dead or captured.
'Time to think of something else I guess. With the two clones at his disposal, Halibel could probably search a lot of space if he had the time. If he can't make anymore clones without the assassin running. . .'
". . .If you had an opening, could you scan the surroundings for someone hiding somewhere?"
"I can't guarantee I would find them, but I might."
'This is a gamble. If I turn Halibel loose, he could potentially locate and kill the assassin. If he doesn't, I'll end up dismembered. Damn, after all this it's still a gamble?'
"How much time would it take for you to neutralize them if you found them?"
Halibel thought for a moment.
"Around two seconds, four if my clone finds him. At least, judging by the strength of his clones."
"Two seconds?! What the hell Halibel, you're a monster!"
"Su-san, that's quite the thing to say to the guy saving your life."
"Ok, I can buy you about 10 seconds, but that's it!"
Halibel looked back and his face morphed back into a serious expression.
"Kid. Don't die."
'Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, Jesus, why did I agree to this!'
Subaru was sprinting through a wooded area that connected to the front of the Astrea manor. He had only been without Halibel's protection for four seconds and they were dangerously close to cutting him down.
'Calm down, calm down, calm down. Maybe I could try climbing a tree? These things might need a few seconds to follow me. No, no, it would take me longer to do that than the clone. Maybe I could turn around and throw dirt at them? No, they are too quick and whoever is attacking me will still be able to see me, it wouldn't blind them.'
Subaru was running through possibilities in his head, but nothing was coming up. The clones were closing in and it had only been six seconds! He hoped Halibel took his wording seriously, because if this kept up any longer, there would be nothing left of him!
"Found you."
Subaru heard a shout from afar.
'Yes! He found him. No matter what happens, he isn't getting away!'
Subaru prayed that it was the original Halibel and not that clone. If Halibel cut down the assassin in the next second, he would be safe!
Eight seconds. A clone went in for the kill.
Luckily, Subaru knew what was coming. The last time he'd run away, the figure had gone for his legs to incapacitate him. This time, he was prepared. Subaru leaped with all his might and just barely escaped the graze of the assassin's blade.
"ARHGGGGGGGGGGGh"
Subaru heard a yell coming from a distant tree. This was it!
The clones disappeared and Subaru turned around to see an empty front yard.
As Subaru regrouped with Halibel, he found him standing on a tree branch standing next to a wounded masked figure.
"Well Su-san, here's your 'assassin'."
Author's Note
Took a couple days off due to holidays. Will try to keep up daily releases so I can finish up this long narrative I have in my head! My writing still seems sort of robotic, but I am trying to make it a bit more lively. I've never really written fights before, so criticisms on that are requested! Also, I am somewhat unfamiliar with all of Halibel's powers, so if he's actually way stronger than portrayed in this chapter, then let's just say Halibel was dicking around for the whole thing.