The kitchen of the Roswaal Mansion buzzed with the quiet rhythm of daily life. Sunlight streamed through the tall windows, casting warm patches on the wooden floor. Subaru Natsuki stood at the counter, a knife in hand and a grin plastered across his face as he attempted to chop a pile of carrots with all the finesse of a kid wielding a toy sword, humming a melody from his home world. Beside him, Rem stirred a pot on the stove. Her blue eyes frequently glanced toward Subaru, a mix of amusement and mild concern in her gaze as he mangled another vegetable. She set the spoon down and stepped closer, her voice gentle but firm.
"Subaru-kun, if you keep holding the knife like that, you'll lose a finger before you impress anyone."
Subaru paused, glancing at the blade as if it had personally betrayed him. "Ouch, harsh! But hey," he said, winking at her playfully as he resumed chopping with exaggerated care, "pain is just an illusion, right?"
Rem tilted her head, a small, involuntary smile tugging at her lips. "That makes no sense, Subaru-kun."
Before Subaru could fire back with another quip, a sharp voice cut through the air from the doorway. "Barusu, if you're trying to flirt, you're failing spectacularly."
Subaru spun around, nearly dropping the knife as his cheeks flushed a bright shade of red. Ram leaned against the frame, arms crossed, her pink eyes glinting with that familiar mix of disdain and amusement.
"I-I wasn't flirting!" Subaru stammered, waving his hands defensively. "I was just… uh, bonding over culinary arts!"
Ram's lips twitched into the faintest smirk. "Keep telling yourself that." With a dismissive flick of her hair, she turned and sauntered off, leaving Subaru to mutter under his breath, "Sheesh, can't a guy chop veggies in peace?"
He turned back to the counter, picking up the knife again with a dramatic sigh. Rem watched him for a moment before returning to her pot, her smile lingering just a little longer this time.
The rest of the morning passed in a comfortable rhythm, Subaru's clumsy efforts slowly improving under Rem's quiet guidance, punctuated by his occasional jokes and her patient corrections. It was a simple scene, one that felt like home to him now, a far cry from the chaos and despair of weeks past. For once, Subaru felt at ease.
This morning will be great!he thought.
Subaru stepped out of the library, the heavy door creaking shut behind him as he hummed a tuneless melody. The encounter with Beako had left him in high spirits, her sharp tongue and reluctant warmth were a strange kind of comfort. He visited her daily, keeping up their conversations day and night. The library was a comforting place, and with Beatrice, Subaru always felt safe. Maybe it was because she'd saved him in past loops, but the cute great spirit never failed to put him at ease.
"Man, I'm basically a pro at this mansion life now," he said to himself, hands stuffed in his pockets as he wandered down the hall. "Next step: convince Rem to let me cook dinner solo. No more carrot disasters." He chuckled at the thought, imagining her polite but firm rejection.
The air in the mansion was still, the kind of peaceful quiet that made Subaru's footsteps echo faintly. After weeks of chaos, death loops, mabeasts, and his own stubborn determination, moments like these felt like a small victory. He was alive, the people he cared about were safe, and for now, that was enough.
As he turned a corner, planning to head back to the kitchen to tease Rem some more, something caught his eye, a shadow flickering at the edge of his vision. He stopped, brow furrowing. "Huh? Did I just…?" He squinted down the hallway, but it was empty, the morning sunlight casting long, undisturbed patterns on the floor.
"Probably just my imagination," he muttered, shaking his head. Still, he couldn't quite shake the prickle at the back of his neck, that old instinct that had saved him too many times before. He lingered for a moment, scanning the corridor, before shrugging it off and continuing on his way.
"No point freaking out over nothing."
Unbeknownst to Subaru, that fleeting shadow was no trick of the light. It was the first hint of a figure whose arrival would soon unravel the fragile peace he'd found. For now, though, Subaru walked on, blissfully unaware, his mind drifting to thoughts of lunch and how he might sneak a nap before Emilia caught him slacking.
Subaru trudged toward the kitchen, his stomach rumbling loud enough to echo down the hallway.Man, I hope Rem's whipping up those fluffy pancakes again,he thought, picking up his pace. The Roswaal Mansion's familiar décor greeted him, but something felt off today. The air was heavier, the silence pressing in a little too much. He shook his head, brushing off the unease.It's nothing. Just leftover jitters from dying a dozen times. No big deal.
But as he turned the corner, he froze mid-step. There, a girl sat on a cushioned bench he didn't recognize. She looked young, way too young to be roaming the mansion solo, with short, dark hair and a frilly dress that screamed "Victorian doll," complete with a small window at the center of her chest revealing a black diamond symbol. Her eyes, though, were deep, almost impossibly dark, like twin black holes pulling him in.
Subaru blinked hard, his brain scrambling.Who's this kid? A guest? A new hire? Nah, she's too tiny to be staff.His otaku reflexes kicked in, and he mumbled under his breath, "Who is this loli?"
The girl's head jerked up, her gaze snapping to his with a force that made his skin crawl. For a heartbeat, he thought he caught a flicker of a smile, but it vanished before he could be sure. She slid off the bench with an eerie, fluid grace, too smooth for a kid her size, and stood before him.
"Greetings, Natsuki Subaru," she said, her voice soft yet laced with a strange, singsong quality. "I am Varocious Atroscity, known to some as Your Kindness. Thou hast been expected."
Subaru's jaw dropped.Expected? By who? And what's with the medieval talk? She sounds older than Emilia, who still says stuff like 'dunderhead.'He glanced around, half-hoping Roswaal would leap out with a dramatic "Surpriiiiise!", but the hallway stayed empty, unfortunately. "Uh, hey there. I'm pretty sure we haven't met. You lost or something?"
Varocious tilted her head, her face a blank mask. "Lost? Nay, kind soul. I am precisely where I belong, drawn hither by the ripples of thy actions."
Subaru scratched his head, frowning.Ripples of my actions? Is she a poet or a stalker?He plastered on a grin to hide the growing knot in his gut. "Okay, that's… neat. So, what's your deal? Here to see Emilia or someone?"
Her eyes glinted, amusement, maybe? And she stepped closer. "I am here for thee, Natsuki Subaru. Thy kindness, thy stubbornness, thy… oddities. They have tangled the threads of fate in ways most curious."
Subaru's grin wobbled.Yeah, this is officially weird.Still, she's just a kid, he thought, recalling Beatrice. He'd better find her parents, if she even had any. "Listen, no offense, but I'm kinda busy right now. If you're a guest of Ros-chi, I can show you where to find him."
Subaru stood rooted to the spot, eyes darting between the strange girl and the ornate hallway stretching behind her.She's just a kid,he thought, trying to shake off the unease gripping him.Probably lost or something.But Varocious didn't seem lost. She carried herself with a quiet confidence that clashed with her youthful appearance, and her dark eyes held a depth that twisted his stomach. Yet there was something else too—a softness, a warmth he couldn't quite place.
Subaru scratched the back of his neck, forcing a cheerful grin. "Hey, uh, Varocious, right? If you're lost, I can help you out. I mean, I'm no expert, but I've wandered around enough to fake it."
Varocious tilted her head slightly, her dark eyes softening as a faint smile crossed her lips. "Thou art kind, Natsuki Subaru," she said, her voice gentle. "I need no aid, for my path is clear. Yet thy offer warms me. Few would extend such care to one they scarcely know."
Subaru blinked, caught off guard. "It's no big deal," he said with a shrug. "Just figured you might need a hand. You're, what, a kid? Can't leave you wandering alone."
Her smile grew just a bit, lighting up her face in a way that made Subaru feel oddly at ease. "Thy heart is a rare one," she replied quietly. "It giveth freely, even amidst thine own burdens. Such qualities are precious… and they make thee suited for a greater purpose."
Burdens?Subaru's brow furrowed for a second, but before he could overthink it, Varocious stepped closer. Her small hand brushed his arm, light, almost like a breeze, and a strange warmth spread through him, easing the knots in his chest.
"Thou hast strength," she murmured, "and a will to do good. Hold fast to that, for it shall carry thee far."
Subaru didn't know what to say. Her words hit something deep, something he couldn't name, but they didn't feel like a puzzle to solve. They just… felt nice. "Uh, thanks," he managed, his usual bravado gone. "That's… really cool of you to say."
Varocious stepped back, her smile lingering like a quiet promise. "Well then, wilt thou also accept my kindness and become my Judge, to carry it to those thou deemest worthy?" She made a small bow, lifting the sides of her dress slightly.
Subaru froze, his mind racing as her words hung in the air: "Become my Judge, Natsuki Subaru, and carry my kindness to those thou deemest worthy." He blinked, brow creasing in confusion.Judge? Kindness? What is this, some kind of riddle?He scrambled to make sense of it, that familiar mix of curiosity and frustration bubbling up.
Then a memory sparked, spirits, mana-given life and sentience, like Puck and Beatrice.Maybe she's a spirit wandering around? Do spirits do that? Are they all cute girls or animals like Puck?So many questions, no answers.
"Hang on," Subaru said, his voice a blend of suspicion and intrigue. "Are you a spirit, like Beatrice? Is this one of those contract things?"
Varocious tilted her head, a faint smile playing on her lips. Her gaze was soft but impenetrable, like she knew more than she'd ever let on. "What I am is of little consequence, Natsuki Subaru," she replied, her voice gentle and elusive. "The question is thine own, wilt thou bear kindness into this world as my Judge?"
Subaru's mouth opened, then closed.That's not even close to an answer!He scratched the back of his head, muttering, "Why does everyone around here talk in circles?" Her response left him hanging, neither confirming nor denying, just enough to keep him guessing, not enough to settle his nerves.
Still, there was something about her, a quiet warmth that felt oddly reassuring. He couldn't pin it down, but it made him hesitate. Before he could push for more, Varocious raised a hand, her gesture graceful and final.
"Thou needst not decide now," she said softly. "The choice will find thee when the time is right." With a slight bow, she returned to the bench, still cute and mysterious.
"Perfect," he grumbled, running a hand through his hair. "Another weird puzzle to deal with. Just my luck."
Before Subaru could untangle his thoughts, a familiar sound cut through the quiet—the rhythmic tap of boots echoing off the polished floors of the Roswaal Mansion. He looked up, and there was Roswaal L Mathers, striding toward him with all the flair of a stage performer. His vibrant robes billowed behind him like a peacock's tail, and his clownish makeup was as unsettling as ever.
"Ah, Subaru-kuuun!" Roswaal's voice sang out, high and melodic. "And Lady Varocious, what a delightfuuul surprise to find you both hereee~"
Subaru blinked, his head snapping to the girl standing beside him. "Lady Varocious?" he repeated, his voice tinged with disbelief. He squinted at her, trying to reconcile the title with her odd vibe and archaic speech. A noble? Her?
Varocious responded with a slight curtsy, her movements smooth and graceful. "Lord Roswaal, thy presence honors me," she said, her voice calm and steady, each word enunciated with an archaic cadence.
Roswaal's smile widened. "Your aid to Emilia-sama's cause has been most fortuitouuus," he said, stretching the vowels in his signature style. "I see you've receeeived my invitation for tonight's dinneeer. I trust the mansion is to your liking?" His gaze flicked to Subaru, who still stood there, dumbfounded. "And I do hope my staff has provided you with gooood service."
Varocious tilted her head slightly, her serene expression unchanging. "It is mine honor and kindness to aid where I may," she replied, her words polite, offering little insight into her thoughts.
Subaru shifted his weight from one foot to the other. Lady Varocious? Aid to Emilia? He barely knew the mansion's layout, let alone its fancy guests. It all felt… weird.
Roswaal's eyes lingered on Subaru for a beat longer. "Subaru-kun, you seem quite perplexeeed," he observed, his tone almost teasing. "No neeeed to worry. Lady Varocious is a most esteemed guest, and her contributions are… invaluable."
"Ahh… Yeah, I hope you're enjoying your stay, Lady Varocious," Subaru said, forcing a grin. Just roll with it, Subaru. Smile and nod.
"I shall see you at dinneeer, then, Lady Varocious. Feel free to explore the mansion in the meantime," Roswaal declared, offering a shallow bow before spinning on his heel, leaving Subaru and Varocious standing there in a bubble of awkward quiet.
Subaru glanced at her again, still trying to piece together who, or what, she was. "So… you're really a noble, huh?" he asked, half-expecting her to laugh and say it was all a joke.
Instead, Varocious gave him a faint, mysterious smile. "Fare thee well, Natsuki Subaru. We shall meet again, and by then, I may heed thy verdict," she said, her voice carrying that same gentle, ancient lilt. With a small nod, she turned and drifted down the hall, her footsteps silent, her figure fading into the shadows like a ghost.
Subaru stood there alone, staring after her. "Yeah, okay, this place is weird. The owner's a clown, and the noble's a kid with otaku syndrome," he muttered, shoving his hands into his pockets. With a sigh, he shuffled off, his mind buzzing with unanswered questions. Great. Another puzzle to figure out. Just what I needed.
Subaru walked into the library, the heavy wooden door creaking shut behind him as he let out a long, dramatic sigh. Finally, some peace, he thought, rubbing his temples. Maybe Beako can help me figure out what's up with that kid. Subaru wandered for a second, his brain still spinning. Lady Varocious? A noble? And what's this 'Judge' nonsense? Is she legit, or just some kid with a cape and a dream?
He shook his head, trying to clear the fog. Nah, she's probably just extra. Rich people love their drama. Still, something about her, those creepy-calm eyes bothered him. Or maybe I'm just paranoid again.
"Beako?" he called, his voice echoing slightly. "You hiding in here?"
A rustle came from behind a book stack, followed by a familiar, snippy reply. "You're here to pester me again, I suppose?"
Subaru grinned, poking his head around the corner. There she was Beatrice, perched on her stool, a massive book open in her lap. Her drills bounced as she glanced up, her face screaming annoyance.
"Hey, Beako! Missed me huh?" Subaru said, leaning on a shelf.
Beatrice huffed, slamming her book shut with a loud thud. "Hmph. Not even slightly. What do you want now, I wonder?"
Subaru scratched the back of his neck, his grin fading a little. "Okay, serious question. You ever heard of a Lady Varocious? She's this noble aiding Emilia, but she's… off. Talks like she's ancient. Ring any bells?"
Beatrice's eyes narrowed, a flicker of something sharper crossing her face. "Varocious, you say? She's a noble of Lugunica, with a weird accent, and she deals mostly with Emilia's social status, keeping her image, I suppose. With that talking style, Roswaal and she are actually similar in many aspects, in fact."
Subaru straightened up. "For real? She's helping Emilia out, but she's got this vibe like, cryptic gothic mystery vibes. What's her deal?"
Beatrice tilted her head, thinking. "Varocious is actually a name from a fairy tale, in fact." She slid off her stool and walked to a dusty shelf, her tiny hand brushing the spines until she pulled out a thin, beat-up book with faded leather. "This might explain a few things, I suppose."
Subaru shuffled over, peeking over her shoulder as she cracked it open. The pages were old and yellow, the ink a little blurry, but he could read the title: Tales of the Vileness.
"Vileness?" Subaru said, blinking.
Beatrice flipped to a specific page and showed it to Subaru, entering her storyteller mode. "Long ago, before the Great Calamity, there was a demon called Varocious the Vileness, a powerful vampire with dark hair, I suppose. She was the only one who had committed all the sins in the world, even the most cardinal sins in history, in fact. Her crimes were so great that they deemed her the embodiment of evil, the very root of all things bad, The Vileness itself, I suppose. They said that if you harm others or are a bad person, she'll feel offended because she wants to be the only and most evil being; any others who do bad things are mere copies, an insult to her 'art,' in fact. So demons started behaving well to avoid her wrath, I suppose."
Subaru's jaw dropped. "No way. So she was, like, the demon version of Baba Yaga? Spooking everyone into behaving?"
Beatrice raised an eyebrow. "Baba Yaga? I don't know that one, I suppose. But yes, she turned into a scary story for children, demi-humans and humans alike: 'Be good, or Varocious will get you,' I suppose."
Subaru whistled. "That's wild. And now there's a noble with that name? Bold move." He laughed, feeling the knot in his chest loosen. "Wait, maybe she's just a fan of the story. Like, a rich kid with eighth-grader syndrome, y'know? Thinks she's this demon queen reborn or something."
Beatrice snapped the book shut, her face blank. "Humans do love their little fantasies, in fact. She might just enjoy playing the part, I suppose."
Subaru nodded, his grin stretching wide. "Yeah, that makes sense. She's probably just a chuunibyou, someone obsessed with acting out cool fantasies. Harmless, right? I mean, she's really kind, even if it's a bit weird that she took the name of the most evil being."
He shrugged, the tension easing from his shoulders. "Thanks, Beako! You're the MVP."
Beatrice turned away, muttering, "I suppose I am the MVP, in fact. Now, if you're done, I've got reading to finish, so shoo, I suppose."
Subaru laughed, throwing Beatrice a goofy salute. "Got it, got it. I'm out." He spun around and strode toward the door, his mind already drifting to the prospect of a nap before dinner. So, Varocious, huh? Just a quirky rich girl with a name that sounds like she made it up to sound cool. No big deal. That whole 'Judge' thing she mentioned? Yeah, it's gotta be some over-the-top roleplay she's cooked up. Well, fine by me, I'll play along next time we meet. Maybe toss in a few dramatic lines like, 'By your command, my lady!' Heh, that'll get a laugh out of her.
His footsteps echoed faintly as he exited the library, the door clicking shut behind him with a soft thud. Beatrice remained seated, her small hand resting on the open book in front of her. She glanced back at it, her brow furrowing slightly as a flicker of unease crossed her face. "Harmless, he says," she murmured under her breath, her voice barely above a whisper. "I wonder…"
It's late in the evening at the Roswaal Mansion, just after dinner. The grand dining hall has emptied out, and Subaru, stuffed from the meal and feeling the weight of the day, shuffles through the mansion's dimly lit corridors toward his room. The air is still, the flickering candlelight casting long shadows on the walls, giving the place an almost eerie quietness. His mind is buzzing—half from exhaustion, half from the usual chaos of his life—but he's ready to crash for the night.
As he rounds a corner, a soft, deliberate voice cuts through the silence.
"Natsuki Subaru."
Subaru stops mid-step, blinking as he turns around. There, bathed in a sliver of moonlight spilling through a tall window, stands Varocious. Her dark hair frames her face like a curtain, and her frilly dress makes her look like she stepped out of some gothic fairy tale. Her calm, piercing eyes lock onto him, unreadable as always.
"Whoa, hey there," Subaru says, scratching the back of his head with a sheepish grin. "Varocious, right? Didn't expect a late-night cameo."
Varocious steps closer, her movements smooth and purposeful, like she's gliding rather than walking. "The hour doth wane, yet fate hath conspired to cross our paths once more," she says in her usual formal, almost theatrical tone. "Hast thou given thought to mine proposal?"
Subaru tilts his head, a smirk creeping onto his face. Oh, right. The Judge thing. He'd brushed her off earlier as some chuunibyou kid playing pretend, all dramatic speeches and cryptic nonsense. "You mean that whole 'be my Judge' bit? Yeah, I've thought about it," he replies, crossing his arms and leaning casually against the wall.
Her gaze doesn't falter. "And what sayest thou?" she presses, her voice steady and expectant.
Subaru chuckles, deciding to lean into the moment. Why not? Might as well have some fun with this. "Alright, sure," he says, throwing in a playful wink. "I'll be your Judge. Sounds like a good time. Do I get a fancy title with that? Maybe a cool hat or something?"
For a moment, Varocious's expression shifts, just a flicker of something softer, maybe a smile. She bows her head slightly, a graceful gesture that feels oddly serious. "Thou hast chosen well, Natsuki Subaru," she says. "The mantle of the Judge is no trifling matter, yet thy heart shall light the way."
Subaru snorts, barely holding back a laugh. She's really selling this, huh? "Yeah, I'm sure it's a big deal," he teases. "So, what's next? Do I swear an oath? Bang a gavel and yell 'Order in the court'?"
Varocious straightens, her faint smile lingering. "All shall be made clear in time," she says cryptically. "For now, rest well. The path of kindness shall soon reveal itself unto thee." With that, she turns and glides away, her figure vanishing into the shadowed hallway like a ghost.
Subaru watches her go, shaking his head with an amused grin. What a weird kid. Polite though, I'll give her that. He shrugs and heads to his room, the encounter already settling into the back of his mind like a quirky footnote to the day. Guess I'm a Judge now. Whatever that means.
He flops onto his bed, still chuckling to himself as he imagines presiding over some ridiculous fantasy courtroom with Varocious as the star witness. The mansion's silence wraps around him, and he closes his eyes, ready to drift off. But as sleep pulls him under, a faint, unfamiliar warmth blooms in his chest, a sensation he can't quite explain. For a fleeting second, he wonders: What if it's not just a game? Then, darkness takes over, and he's out.