Arc 7 – Chapter 4, "A Brave Choice"
Subaru: [Whoa!]
The grip he had on his whip was wrenched away, just as he felt a sharp blow to his right hand.
He immediately tried to resist it, exerting his strength into his hand, but it was no match against the force snatching away his whip. On top of that, he was pulled forwards and fell down, flipped upside down onto the ground with an, "Abeshi!". [1]
Subaru: [Ouch...]
???: [The only way to improve, is to dedicate yourself to trying your best everyday. It seems like you still have an insufficient amount of training. Very poor.]
Subaru: [I don't have anything to say to that...]
Subaru flopped down onto the bare ground, grimacing as his lack of skill was harshly pointed out to him. He sat up slowly, his gaze clashing with the intelligent, handsome man.
The man had a sharp look in his eyes that reminded Subaru of reptiles, and he also had deep blue hair, cut and arranged evenly. Just like the impression he gave off, with his butler outfit and the monocle on one of his eyes, he was a formal, proper, and smart professional.
His name was――,
???: [――Clind! How could you do such a disrespectful thing to Subaru-sama!]
Clind: [――――]
The young man, called Clind, wordlessly turned his gaze to the side. As he did so, the figure of a tall woman, lumbering towards them, jumped into his field of vision.
She was a stylish and beautiful woman with exquisite green eyes, her long, blonde hair swaying from side to side. Clothed in a maid outfit with black as its main color, she passed by Clind and walked towards Subaru, who was still on the ground, and gently held out a white towel to him.
Woman: [Are you alright, Subaru-sama? From what I can see, you fell onto the ground face-first...]
Subaru: [Yeah, I'm fine, Frederica. My clothes got a little mud on them, but that usually happens.]
The beautiful woman ― Frederica gave Subaru a worried stare, standing her ground with a, "But..." as he accepted the towel gratefully, using it to wipe his face.
However, Clind was the person to shrug his shoulders out of exasperation at Frederica's words.
Clind: [Just as Subaru-sama himself said, it's a normal occurrence during his training. If anything, aren't you the one who's embarrassing him by making a big deal out of it? Meddlesome.]
Frederica: [Wha!]
Her face reddening from Clind's choice of words, Frederica glowered at him, putting her sharp teeth on display.
Caught between the two who had started glaring at each other, Subaru felt like holding his head in his hands, muttering out a, "There they go again..."
――Clind and Frederica.
In butler and maid outfits respectively, both were in the position of servants who worked under the Mathers family. Although Subaru heard they've known each other for a long time, they didn't have a very good relationship.
Usually, both were capable servants who were simultaneously polite and attentive, but when they came into contact with each other like this, arguments would immediately break out with every opportunity they had.
If their arguments consisted of exchanging their opinions on Roswaal's political affairs, a deed that was quite highly advanced for servants, then trivial disputes over something as simple as making way for each other in the hallways also occurred.
In short, they were apparently incompatible with each other, but――,
Subaru: [Frederica, I'm happy you're worried for me, but I'm fine, really.]
Frederica: [No, I'm not particularly worried about you. It's only that this man's fake expression and composed attitude, as well as his inconsiderate remarks, they are so infuriating...!]
Subaru: [Oh, you weren't worried about me! I'm embarrassed!]
Frederica: [Ah, that isn't…! It's not as if I wasn't worried! Of course, I'm concerned for your well-being, Subaru-sama. Not only me, but Petra as well.]
Frederica seemed like she accidentally blurted out her honest thoughts, and Subaru could only give her a wry smile as he scratched his cheek with a finger, hearing the mention of Petra's name from her mouth.
He was causing the women in the mansion, barring Ram, to be worried about him ― especially Petra.
Regarding the current situation, what had likely happened was that Frederica had been asked to check up on Subaru on the behalf of Petra, who had her hands full.
Subaru: [But, I was the one who asked him. I was already prepared for it to be this Spartan... No matter what it takes, I need to break out of my shell before he returns to Annerose's place.]
Clind: [――You are splendidly determined. It makes me more enthusiastic in tutoring you. Inspired.]
Listening to Subaru's answer, Clind swung his arm, the ivory-colored whip in his hand bending as it created a sound reminiscent of the air bursting apart.
Using the same weapon, Clind was helping Subaru learn the way of the whip. Because he respected Clind's technique and position, Subaru referred to him as "Teacher".
Subaru: [Really, learning by myself would only get me so far, I would have hit a limit if I weren't mentored by another person. It's nice if there's someone who can use a whip near you. Thanks for the help.]
Clind: [I'm honored to be of help. Delighted. However, if it comes to people who are able to use a whip aside from me, there is another. Candidate.]
Subaru: [Eh, someone else can use a whip? It's not Ram in the sense of handling the whip of words, right?]
Frederica: [Subaru-sama, that idea of yours is... no, I can't deny it if what you're saying about Ram.]
A displeased look settled on Frederica's face as Subaru cracked a joke, picking up his whip from where he dropped it, and carrying it in his hand. Clind looked at their faces, comparing their behavior before closing his monocle-side eye,
Clind: [It's simple enough. I'm referring to Master. Versatile.]
Subaru: [Well then, I absolutely don't want to be taught by him!]
While he spoke, Subaru stomped the option that was as good as nothing into the ground, and lashed out his whip.
It flew at top speed, its velocity having the potential to exceed the speed of sound if Subaru was serious about it. The tip of the whip made a deep, hollow sound as it aimed for Clind ― actually, not him, but the piece of wood set on top of the tree stump between him and Subaru.
Entangling and capturing the wood positioned atop the round stump with the whip.
It was the assignment given to Subaru by Clind, and it was a high enough hurdle that he wasn't able to overcome even once until today.
It's not exclusively because Subaru was unable to capture the wood with his whip due to his technique lacking experience and skill.
Clind: [Your aim is transparently obvious. Impede.]
Subaru: [Guh...!]
With a terrifying amount of precision, Clind's whip repelled the pointed end of the whip Subaru had released.
The requirement of completing the assignment was to overcome this form of obstruction, and pull the piece of wood into his hands with his own whip. This was why exactly Subaru wasn't able to cross the hurdle even a single time.
Clind: [Striking the area you are aiming for, entangling the entity you are aiming to capture, and displaying the results you are aiming for. Instead of relying on a sword or a spear, if you cannot fulfill the reason why you chose the whip… Worthless.]
Subaru: [Dah! Deh! Doh! Damn! You're warding me off like it's no big deal! I know, I don't have to be told! This is the only path I have to make use of my crafty mi...ndah!?]
He attempted to draw back the whip that was forced away, but its tip was caught by Clind's once again.
It was too late when Subaru realized it. The next moment, his sense of balance was disoriented, and Subaru was easily pulled down onto the ground by Clind, who wasn't even putting that much strength into his weapon.
Subaru: [Wagh! Sound Pillar!] [2]
Clind: [You fell rather flamboyantly. Breaking your fall is important as well. Caution.]
Frederica: [Su, Subaru-sama!]
Subaru fell from the front and collapsed onto the ground yet again, and Frederica hurriedly rushed to his side. This time, he hit the ground face-first, and blood was trickling out of his nose.
She hastily held it down with the towel, and then,
Frederica: [Clind! No matter how you look at it, this is too much!]
Clind: [It's inevitable, considering Subaru-sama's position. Necessary. You shouldn't really get in the way of a man's rise to action as well. Understand.]
Frederica: [A man's rise to action...?]
She made a face as if she were saying, I can't believe it, but Clind shook his head at her. And then, with his sharp eyes, he gazed at Subaru who was wiping his nosebleed,
Clind: [Subaru-sama, I think highly of your attitude of asking for guidance. Admirable. As long as you stand by Emilia-sama's side as her knight, you need strength. The strength to protect Emilia-sama and yourself to the very end. Indispensable.]
Subaru: [...Yeah, I know. That's why I'm thankful that you're this strict with me.]
Although he was snorting and his voice was muffled, Subaru's spirit refused to crack.
Looking at him, Frederica drew her lips tightly against her teeth.
Frederica: [You two gentlemen are as dumb as Garf...]
Subaru: [It would be super helpful if my strength, instead of just my dumbness, was enough to stand side by side with him as well, but it seems like that's not gonna happen, so...]
Holding his nose, with blood spurting out of both of his nostrils, Subaru forcefully stopped his nosebleed.
As Subaru stood up after doing so, Clind looked at him, tucking his chin in and straightening his posture.
Clind: [Facing the front and refusing to stop... Your attitude is truly pleasant. Long-awaited.]
Subaru: [Thanks a lot... If my handling of the whip gets better, then I'll have more options to choose from. If I get more choices, then the people around me will also have more moves to make, not just me.]
Clind: [Yes. However, please do not place too much confidence in that. I believe there will not be many occasions where you have to fight alone. Support.]
Clind jerked his chin, pointing towards Frederica.
Beginning with her, Subaru had people such as Garfiel and Otto around him, and Beatrice stood the closest to him, more than anything else. If it was a fight in order to protect, then of course, Emilia stood alongside them as well.
That's why Clind's statement was correct.
In Subaru's battles, it wasn't as if Subaru himself would snatch a hard-earned victory. His battles were brought to fruition by making the most out of everyone else's abilities.
Subaru: [By the way, what if I accidentally find myself in a situation where there's only me and no one else?]
Clind: [You ought to run. Full speed.]
Subaru: [――――]
Subaru said that, half-intending for it to be a joke, but Clind didn't smile at it.
It was a situation that was extremely unlikely to happen, but it didn't mean it was impossible. In a set of circumstances in which he would be chased and driven into a corner, with his back to the wall, Clind's advice went straight to the point.
Clind: [You must run, Subaru-sama. Put every last drop of effort into running away, as fast as your legs could carry you, disgracefully, and with no regard to how you appear in doing so. That is the wisest course of action. The only one.]
Subaru: [If that's how you ended your sentence, then it sounds like there's no other decision I could make, instead of it being a better choice.]
Clind didn't answer, his expression unchanging at Subaru's words.
There was no need to answer. Was his wordlessness the proof of it being just as Subaru had deduced, after all?
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Subaru: [Jeez, my mentor really has no mercy!]
Frederica: [That man has been like that since a long time ago. Being strict with those who show promise and training them... but, he quits and throws that out of the window when he loses interest in doing so. Icily, and cruelly.]
Subaru: [Derica-san? Uh, your voice is becoming kinda icy?]
Feeling something lethal in her voice, as if it would slice him upon touching it, Subaru hesitantly questioned her, who turned her face away in a sullen mood, muttering, "Don't ask me!"
Frederica: [I've decided. I will also be rooting for your success with your training. Please embarrass Clind, make him contort that nonchalant face of his, and make him cry.]
Subaru: [That's a pretty tough request...!]
Frederica: [Oh, the person who demands and desires for Emilia-sama to become King says that?]
As expected of a capable maid, even her taunts were top notch, although Subaru provoked her into doing so.
Subaru widened his eyes at her words, then nodded with an evil smile, replying, "You're right." After that, he assumed a fierce stance with his whip,
Subaru: [It'll hurt my honor as a man if I can't achieve it, despite being told all that! Watch me, I'm gonna do it!]
Alongside a courageous shout, Subaru swung his whip, lashing it out with all his might.
It drew a sharp trajectory, the tip whizzing through the air as it aimed straight for the tree stump――,
Clind: [Your enthusiasm is admirable, but your skill is poor. Inadequate.]
Subaru: [Guh, gwaaaaaaaahh――!!]
Frederica: [Su, Subaru-sama――!!]
Yet again, Subaru was pulled down and was slammed onto the ground face-first.
△▼△▼△▼△
The hulking tree broke in half overhead, its resulting shockwave buffeting Subaru's entire body. With his back battered by that, he spat out the rust-tinged blood that had accumulated inside of his mouth.
Subaru: […]
Rem's soft, warm body was wrapped inside his arms.
His own hands and feet were still there too, and it looked like he'd managed to avoid the arrow. As soon as he became cognizant of that, this moment was a pass mark.
Rem: [W-What are you doing all of a sudden…]
Subaru: [Shut up! Or you'll end up biting that tongue of yours!]
Rem had been slow in her reaction, due to how sudden things had been; however, Subaru paid no attention to her complaints. So as to pull her body up, having first fallen forward, he then tumbled backwards, rolling around as much as he could while still clutching Rem close to him.
Wrapped inside his arms, he could feel Rem stifling the urge to scream; yet that was interrupted by a far louder sound ― Namely, the roar of the broken, hulking tree coming crashing down.
The spot where Subaru and Rem had been lying in just a moment ago was flattened, with the other trees caught in its fall spreading the deforestation around.
As someone quite in tune with nature, that fact made his heart pang quite a bit, however…
Subaru: […Right now, we're more important!]
Using the dust unsettled by the fallen tree as a diversion, Subaru didn't stop rolling. There was some resistance from Rem, but despite that, he let his adrenaline rush take over and pulled her in towards him with all the strength he could muster.
They kept rolling, and rolling and rolling, until the ground before them suddenly disappeared.
Subaru: [Gwhooaa!]
Rem: [Kyaa!?]
For a moment, it felt like they were floating, however the ground stopped their fall in their tracks straight afterwards.
A large hole full of many a fallen tree and heaps of earth and sand ― Namely, it was the pitfall that Rem had constructed to trap Subaru. By taking it upon himself to roll into it, he'd cut off the line of sight away from his opponent.
Nonetheless, it wasn't like he'd paid nothing in return for that.
Subaru: [Gh, gkh… Damn, Oh no you didn't…!]
His left arm had been frantically wrapped around Rem, and some of that arm's fingers, that she had kept a hold on, were broken. His middle finger, his ring finger, and his little finger; all of them, except for his thumb and index finger, were kaput.
Having fallen into the same large hole as Subaru had, Rem crawled away, keeping her distance from Subaru. He was in agony, trying his best to not to look at his fingers, which were pointed in strange directions.
Rem: [What did you expect! Doing that so suddenly… What the hell is going on!?]
Subaru: […I failed to mention it, but just so you know, there's a dangerous hunter knocking about in this forest. Though, this pretty much eliminated the chance that they were hunting game and missed their target… Dzaah]
As cold sweat beaded down his forehead, Subaru straightened out his three broken fingers. For the time being, he'd fix them in place using a towel, with a branch as a splint.
It was a small mercy that the fingers that he'd broken were the ones on his left hand. Had it been the ones on his right hand, his dominant hand, which handled his whip, then his ability to take action would have dropped down to that of a primary school kid.
Rem: [A dangerous hunter… They're not your ally?]
Subaru: [Would an ally be providing covering fire with this kind of force? And in general, why would they be providing covering fire… Uwoa!?]
A tree exploded in front of his eyes the moment he'd gingerly stuck his head out of the hole to try and get a glimpse of the situation outside.
It seemed like the hunter had started to prioritise clearing up their field of vision first, so that they could aim and shoot at Subaru and Rem. They must have seen that they didn't possess any means to attack from distance.
Subaru: [The theory usually goes that sharpshooters change their positions when their presence becomes exposed…Shit, they're making light of us. Can't say anything back to that though.]
Rem: [――. This is the power of a bow and arrow? I can't believe that. This isn't normal.]
Subaru: [Mhm, I agree with you! Like for sure you're gonna end up with a huge airhole in your chest if you get shot by it!]
In fact, last time, he'd ended up being pierced by one of their arrows, and dying like a trapped insect, pinned to a tree. However, there were yet strange points about it. ――Last time, Subaru had come to the opposite side of the forest.
Subaru: [Why the fuck did you come here…?]
The pain coursing through from his broken fingers bored through his mind intensely. Subaru gritted his back teeth, almost to the point of cracking them from his anguish, and frantically plunged into thought.
It was difficult to imagine that this hunter and the hunter who killed Subaru were two different people. Both of them had come to attack Subaru, plus, their weapon of choice was the same strongbow. Thus the question remained on whether their attack was an accidental one or not.
Whichever it was, the amount of questions regarding why Subaru was being targeted right now were endless. Subaru and Rem had confronted each other, and while it was true that the former had frozen up at her rejection, he didn't really think that would mean it would make it easier to aim at him than before.
Furthermore, if they were actively targeting him, then the possibility that they were following him grew larger.
What had happened to them was still rather vague, but what was beyond their grasp was how they'd been hurled away from the Pleiades Watchtower. There was always the chance that, perhaps, they'd flown through the sky like a shooting star and crashed down onto the grassland.
Naturally, if that were the case, even disregarding Rem, there'd be no explanation as to why Subaru's weak body hadn't ended up in smithereens; so it was a reasonable assumption that what happened to them was something else.
Subaru: [They're aiming for the dodgy 'uns who dropped down there, or something…]
Or perhaps this was private property, so they were trying to chase off anyone who trespassed in an extreme manner. In opposition to the accuracy of their bow, should they perhaps take it as the hunter sucking at going easy on others?
Subaru: [In that case, can't I just talk things out with them! Hey! I mean no harm! It's just mere coincidence that we're in this forest, so…]
Rem: [Wait a second! When you say "we", are you counting me and that girl as well? I don't want us to be lumped in with you!]
Subaru: [Now's not the time to be saying that sort of stuf―― Dwhaa!?]
A single arrow that punched into the ground came as the reply to Subaru's call for a ceasefire. This magisterial power, enough even to extinguish his quarrel with Rem halfway through, was probably going to make short work of all the obstacles in their field of view soon and turn its bared fangs over to Subaru and Rem in the large hole.
Rem: [It seems like they're not the sort of person you can get through to…]
Subaru: [When you're facing arrows, you've gotta assume there's a chance they could hit you with an arcing shot… If they can hold their position for hours and hours, just like a sniper that means business… No, considering we're talking about a bow and arrow here, then it is indeed different to looking through a scope. So… does it make it impossible to keep that up for such a long time?]
In stuff like movies and manga, you'd often get scenes like the sniper waiting for hours on end while staring at their prey with their sniper rifles. However, with a bow and arrow, it would indeed be a completely different kettle of fish.
Unlike rifles, which only require a trigger to be fired, arrows need to be notched to the bow, before then drawing its string. There were limits even to those who possessed supernatural strength in the different world.
Then, with the enemy hunter aiming at them, it too was…
Subaru: […A short-term battle]
Predicting that their opponent would make some kind of move soonish, Subaru set himself a time-limit, given that he couldn't afford to think too long here.
They wouldn't be able to avoid a fight so long as their enemy wasn't going to acquiesce to talking things out. And even though they wouldn't be able to avoid one, the aces they had up their sleeve were way too meager.
Subaru: [Just like what my mentor taught me, the only way is to run.]
Thankfully, their enemy couldn't catch eye of Subaru and Rem's position thanks to them jumping into this large hole. If they climbed out from the opposite side and ran away while keeping close to the ground, they could perhaps escape into the thicket.
Or maybe…
Subaru: […]
Rem: […? What's with you shutting your gob all of a sudden? Weren't you coming up with an escape plan right now?]
Subaru: […We're really in a huge pickle here, and what's more, it seems like you're finally listening to what I have to say, huh.]
Rem: [Ugh.]
Rem furrowed her well-shaped eyebrows as she sat down on the ground, a disgruntled look on her face. However, it seemed like she understood that she couldn't afford to argue with Subaru, so long as she didn't come and attack him immediately.
It would save them a lot of time if she could rein in her hostility for the time being, and call a temporary truce.
Subaru: [Listen to me, Rem. I'm going to jump out and attract their attention. While I do that, you're going to climb over the other side of the hole and flee for cover.]
Rem: [Wha…?]
Subaru: [Though the power behind their arrows is frightenin' as heck, you're going to be spoilt for choice for somewhere to find cover in the greenery of mother nature. So I'll give it my all to somehow buy you time, that way you can run away.]
It was either take Rem with him and run away, or let Rem run away ahead of him.
Subaru thought the option had the biggest chance of success was probably the latter. No matter how much of an expert their enemy was with the bow, they were in a forest chock full of trees. Thus, Subaru had played his cards, taking into consideration the possibility of arrows flying towards them. They probably wouldn't pierce through all of that so easily.
Subaru: [I'll make a run for it as well, after I've bought you enough time. However, I don't want to become separated from you, after you've ran away, so if you can, please leave me some markers. Though it may be hard for you to understand this, in my hometown we have a symbol called an arrow, it gives you a general sense of direction towards…]
Rem: […Can you please stop spouting out whatever you feel like.]
Subaru: [Rem?]
Subaru had briskly told Rem about his plans for her escape, however, she interrupted his explanation and glared at him very sharply.
With his breath knocked out of him by how sharp her expression was, Subaru was perplexed as to what was up with her. And Rem looked even more irritated by his perplexion.
Rem: [You decide everything, absolutely everything, on your own… And after all of that, you're telling me to run away? You're telling me, who's angry with you because you tried to abandon a child?]
She refused Subaru's proposal for the same reason she had rejected Subaru in the beginning.
It was perfectly reasonable. You could probably say it was an answer born out of being a good human being. However, Subaru hadn't thought she'd decide that she wouldn't let him abandon them in this situation.
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Subaru: [But… well, I…]
Rem: [I'll pass on the excuses. There's no time for that. Still, as for your instructions telling me, and only me, to run away, I refuse them. I can't leave that child behind in the first place.]
Shifting her gaze away from Subaru, who was unable to hide his surprise, Rem turned her attention to the outside of the hole.
She'd turned her attention to the hulking tree that the first arrow had blown apart ― and after that, to another large tree a little bit away from it.
Subaru: [And just when I was thinking she wasn't here; is she hiding over there? How can she be so quiet despite all of this commotion…]
Rem: […Taking her along with me was a real pain, so I knocked her out. I don't think she'll be waking up for a while.]
Subaru: [You…]
Even now, Louis had become a burden towards Subaru and Rem's withdrawal. The resentment that had been beginning to sprout regarding that was shattered the moment he heard her typical Rem-like answer.
He could only describe that rather extreme snap decision as being truly like Rem.
Rem: […I know it wasn't a good move as well.]
Subaru: [Nah, I reckon it's a fine move given how things are. ――Just between us, you wouldn't leave her behind and have us running away together, right?]
Rem: [Even though I have no idea who I am, I'd rather bite my tongue and die than do something like that.]
Subaru doubted that she'd really die from something of that degree, but he sure didn't want Rem to do anything like that, even if she was just testing.
In all honesty, the best choice for Subaru would be to leave Louis behind here and leave with Rem, however Rem herself wasn't about to let that happen.
Subaru: [God damned me, for showing my benevolent side before we were swallowed by the shadow…]
He'd ended up carrying not just Rem's body, but Louis' as well when the Green Room had been swallowed by the shadow. And that had brought forth this situation. Albeit a setting which he couldn't re-do again anymore, he could say loud and clear that he'd made the wrong choice back there.
Rem: [So what shall you do?]
Subaru: […I'll do it. I'll come and bring her. That tree there, right?]
Rem: [――. Correct. She's fast asleep inside the hollow of the tree. Do you stand any chance of making it?]
Subaru: [Well, my mentor told me to run away without wasting a moment whenever I'm up against a strong foe.]
He wasn't talking about gauging the difference in strengths between the two sides, and so on and so forth.
After all, in this world, the majority of Subaru's opponents were stronger than him. Thus, the optimal way to defend himself was to assume in advance that everyone he met would be better ranking than him.
It was precisely for that reason that he'd prioritise running away. However, in cases where he couldn't…
Subaru: [I will make use of everything I can. Rem, you probably don't want to, but please lend me your hand.]
Rem: [――. If it's for helping her out.]
Rem gazed at the hand offered out to her, but she didn't take it.
She merely nodded at Subaru, quite begrudgingly, with him having worked out a plan of action.
△▼△▼△▼△
Subaru gave his left arm a strong swing, checking the condition his three broken fingers were in.
They hurt. And so, while feeling this pain, that would not fade no matter what, as if it were digging its talons into his mind, Subaru steeled himself so that it wouldn't become a hindrance to him running over.
And then…
Subaru: […Zha!]
Putting some muscle into it, he pushed a small-ish fallen tree from the large hole up to the ground above.
The very next moment, an arrow that had come towards them at insane speeds pierced into the fallen tree that he'd pushed up. The impact wrenched it away from his arms, forcefully buffeting him backwards.
Subaru: [Whoaaaa!!]
Looking at that from the corner of his eyes, Subaru crawled out of the large hole and stepped firmly on the rough ground. There were limits to how quick the hunter could fire off their bow, no matter how confident they were with their archery. Unlike with guns, you have to notch the arrow, draw the bowstring, and then take aim.
This timelag gave Subaru the merest ray of hope for survival…
Rem: […It's coming faster!!]
She said that the moment he'd crawled out of the large hole and kicked out his first step.
Time-wise, only two seconds had passed since the first arrow had blown away the fallen tree he'd used as a decoy ― Nevertheless, for a skilled hunter, those two seconds were plenty sufficient for them to fire off their next one.
Subaru: [..hk]
The ground behind Subaru exploded straight after he heard Rem's voice ringing out.
The fact he had tensed up in place and hadn't gone into a defensive stance at her call proved to be the right course of action. More specifically, his nerves weren't quite in tune enough to be able to respond to her call; however, that turned out to be alright in the end.
And just like that, arrows came flying towards Subaru, as he ran to his tree, one after the other ― Each in the space of less than two seconds.
If any of them had made it to him, he would have been turned into a hedgehog in the blink of an eye.
However…
Rem: [I won't allow that to happen――!]
The hunter's next attack was interrupted by a clump of dirt which Rem had flung out, along with her valiant cry.
With her back against the slope of the large hole, it had been something thrown by Rem ― No, it had been a ferocious attack which you could even call a bombardment, made from a large stone covered in dirt.
Subaru: [Though, it would have been best if she knew how to use her magic…]
When they'd been confirming how much she could fight, Rem had shown her disapproval for using the power of her Oni horn, magic and such. To be more exact though, in truth, she couldn't remember how to use them.
Nevertheless, they couldn't waste time trying to get her to remember those techniques. For that reason, what Subaru had suggested to her instead, was her physical strength, which she still had in her, even if she didn't have her techniques…
Getting in their way via some rather primitive violence, using the physicality intrinsic to the Oni Tribe by birth; an attack borne of that struck at the hunter, who had maintained their position, dismissing Subaru and Rem as weaklings.
Subaru: [You know that saying, a cornered rat will bite the cat! Then get a load of this!!]
Subaru leapt over the shockwave which the arrow had produced right under his feet as he let out a bellow. Meanwhile, in his field of view, a large stone thrown by Rem went flying towards the direction that the hunter had loosed their arrow from.
Subaru: [GRHAAAAAAA――!!]
When face to face with an enemy, Rem didn't know how to go easy on them. And that was Rem's best feature.
She'd gathered those stones just to be safe, yet, they quickly became extremely dangerous weapons from just the act of throwing them from her slender arms.
Subaru: [Well, while Rem's buying me time, I'mma――!]
While Rem smashed up the sniper fire with her bombardment, leveraging the use of her appropriate weaponry, Subaru made it to the tree in question.
As that raged on, he walked around to the back of the large tree. There the figure of Louis flew into his sight, sleeping in a bed of her own golden hair inside the rotten hollow.
Subaru: […]
He caught sight of her rosy-red cheeks, as well as her chest gently heaving up and down, confirming that she was alive and well.
And so, as he tried to reach his arms around her body, Subaru felt a strong sense of rejection within himself. Even though he'd tried to act without bringing personal feelings into it, his soul, rather than his mind, rejected Louis.
This was a Sin Archbishop, even if now it was an innocent sleeping face she was showing. She was a traitor that was beyond forgiveness…
Rem: [Stop dawdling please!!]
Subaru: [――hk!]
His indecision was shattered by Rem urging him on.
The moment he heard that, Subaru somehow bit down his sense of rejection and picked Louis up. And then, while having a hold of her light body, he jumped out of the tree's hollow and started to make his way back to Rem…
Subaru: […Huh?]
When suddenly, a black shadow blocked his path, having leapt out right in front of his eyes.
The assumption was, that he'd take the same path to get back to the large hole. Subaru hadn't imagined that something like this would be on his way there; he looked up at the shadow that had so suddenly made its presence known here. ――And then, he was lost for words.
???: [――??!!]
This gargantuan shadow had slipped through the forest, making nary a sound, and was now blocking Subaru's way. It was a huge snake, probably around ten metres in length. Its entire body was covered in tightly-packed green scales, and its eyes were yellow. Spotting the twisted white horn on their sudden intruder's forehead, Subaru realised what its identity was.
Subaru: [A Witchbeast――!!]
Faced with its imposing appearance ever so near to him, Subaru rued his foolish oversight.
Subaru himself should have taken note of this; of the fact that, as he was right now, he was letting off the Witch's lingering scent the strongest ever since he was summoned into this different world.
So it was inevitable that Subaru would be attracting Witchbeasts to him, just as it had happened in the Augria Sand Dunes, and just as it had happened in so many places up until now.
He should have known that the inside of a dingy forest like this, which had few people going in and out of it, would have been an ideal dwelling for them.
Snake Witchbeast: [――??!!]
The huge snake opened its gaping mouth wide, settling its aim on Subaru.
Its gaping mouth seemed plenty big enough to swallow not just Subaru himself, but Louis as well, whom he was carrying in his arms. Seeing it drawing near to him, Subaru's perception of time crawled to a halt.
…Oh, this is bad.
Subaru felt like he was feeling these things as someone else entirely.
Seeing the world flickering ever so slowly and languidly was something close to the times where you'd see your life flashing before your life, so to speak. In regards to this topic, there were theories along the lines of it being the mind's way of looking for a solution using what has been experienced in life up to this point, as death looms.
But, when it came to Subaru, no matter how much he racked his mind, he couldn't find anything like having narrowly escaped from being gobbled up by a huge snake. If he forced himself, the closest he could find involved the swarm of rabbits; but that was one memory he wished to reject, even when it came to his life flashing before his eyes.
Having wasted a few brief moments on such pointless thoughts, Subaru's shoulders then slumped.
As he cursed his body for having stirred into action to protect Louis so quickly, they were about to be swallowed, head-first, into the huge snake's gaping mouth――
Snake Witchbeast: [――??!?]
Subaru: [Whoa?]
Subaru reflexively closed his eyes, when something dripping wet poured down on top of his head. An unpleasant thought ran through this mind, that for sure, it was the type that sprayed its digestive juices out before its meals. However, that was not the case. What caked Subaru's entire body was darkish blood that had been sprayed everywhere.
It was a tremendous amount of blood that the huge snake had spat from its jaws, having had its body pierced by a sharp arrow.
Notes:
[1] – "Abeshi!" = Fist of the North Star reference.
[2] – Demon Slayer reference.
-x-X-x-
Arc 7 – Chapter 5, "Being a Man is Tough"
Subaru: [Wabuh――!]
???: [Kyah! Subaru-sama, I'm sorry!]
Splashing and splattering, Subaru was showered by water that cascaded down from above his head. As he let out a cry of alarm, wondering what the heck was going on, an apology from a high-pitched voice flew towards him.
When Subaru glanced up while shaking his head, he saw the curtains swaying from an opened window, and his gaze mingled with a girl's ― Petra's, who was looking down at him from above.
It seemed like it was right when Petra threw some water out of the window on the second floor.
Of course, she wouldn't do anything ill-behaved, such as dumping water onto the garden. She threw the water onto the edge of the flowerbed to make sure no one would be splashed by it.
Subaru: [And yet, unluckily, I was gardening right there...]
Petra: [I-I'm sorry, Subaru-sama! I'll bring a change of clothes straight away...]
Subaru: [Ahh, you don't have to do that much. Getting drenched was the only thing that happened, and... it freaking stinks! Getting drenched wasn't the only thing that happened!?]
Petra: [Because it's the water I was using to clean the room, and... anyway! I'll get going right now, wait for me at the watering place!]
Petra said to Subaru, who was astounded by the smell of the dirty water poured all over him. Like that, her adorable face was withdrawn into the other side of the window, and she started running to fetch him extra clothes, her footsteps pattering against the floor.
Subaru smiled wryly at the panicking Petra, deepening due to his own rotten luck, and he headed towards the watering place at the garden of the mansion, just as Petra had told him to do.
Subaru: [Well, I was planning on changing my clothes once I've finished gardening, anyway...]
Subaru consoled himself with the fact his plans were only brought forward by a tiny bit.
If Petra was going to bring a change of clothes, then he should wash the dirt off himself first. Before drawing up water from the well, he flung off his shirt with haste――,
???: [――Hm, you're quite daring, getting undressed so suddenly.]
Subaru: [Wait... kyaaaaaa!?]
???: [Woah, to think you would let out a scream comparable to a girl's... Normally, wouldn't you think our positions would be reversed?]
Saying that and staring at the screaming Subaru was a pink-haired girl ― old woman Ryuzu, who was sitting on a garden rock next to the watering place.
She looked at Subaru, who covered the exposed upper half of his body by hugging his shirt to his chest, her intellectual eyes shimmering in contrast to her awfully young appearance,
Ryuzu: [You don't have to hide it like that. I've gotten used to seeing the naked body of a boy. I used to live with Ga-bo, you know.]
Subaru: [Well, you might be right, but what's embarrassing is embarrassing, right?]
Ryuzu: [There's nothing to be embarrassed about. Besides, your physique is not too bad as well, Su-bo. It's quite pleasing to the eye. Pleasing to the eye, indeed.]
Subaru: [It's embarrassing, after all! Ryuzu-san, aren't you acting out of character!?]
Ryuzu was characterized by her behavior that didn't match up with her appearance, like her calm and relaxed manner of speech, but she left a strong impression on Subaru with how everything about her, except for her looks, were faithful to the role she was entrusted with.
It was why he was surprised when she poked fun at Subaru, referring to the naked half of his body.
Subaru: [Am I right in guessing this is mostly because you were released from the heavy responsibility of being the leader of the Sanctuary?]
Ryuzu: [I suppose there's that aspect to a considerable degree. Although I went outside of the Sanctuary, I moved onto the land Ros-bo had prepared, and a similar position was handed over to me. So, if I would ask myself if a load was lifted off my shoulders, then...]
Ryuzu said, directing her narrowed eyes behind her ― towards the mansion.
Specifically, she wasn't looking at the mansion, but she was looking at the people living inside of it. To be even more specific, she was probably gazing at the siblings consisting of an older sister and younger brother, who she both loved as if they were her own grandchildren.
With the reconciliation between Garfiel and Frederica having been finished, Garfiel was also freed from the cross he had been bearing for ages. Though, Subaru was surprised he turned into a brat that was mischievous beyond his expectations, as a result of being freed from his burdens,
Subaru: [Do you feel lonely, living separately from Garfiel and Frederica?]
Ryuzu: [Nn... what got into you all of a sudden?]
Subaru: [Was it too sudden? But, I thought about it. Of course, it would be a great help if they stayed in the mansion together for Emilia-tan's Royal Selection. But...]
Ryuzu: [It can't be helped. In order to live in the mansion, there are many problems for me, of course, and also for the other clones... my sisters. I don't think we can be of use as well.]
Subaru: [――――]
Ryuzu answered him with a small laugh, and Subaru closed his mouth as he heard her speak.
I wasn't talking about being useful or useless, the emotional side of Subaru wanted to shout.
However, the details of this couldn't be reasoned with anything like a child's tantrum.
In the current Roswaal Mansion, the people who were permitted to stay were only those that actively took on a role, and could fulfill their responsibilities. During times like these, it was necessary to have severe regulations to that extent.
Subaru: [...Still, Garfiel is fourteen. He's still a kid.]
Ryuzu: [――. You're a kind one. Are you worried about Ga-bo?]
Subaru: [Well, yeah... When I myself was fourteen, I was an immature, stupid brat. Even now, the "stupid brat" part hasn't changed, but I used to be worse. To the point I would be fed up with myself, because I think I wouldn't even be able to do anything if I got separated from my parents.]
Of course, in direct opposition to the norm in this world, Subaru had experienced a loose and lenient daily life, something peaceful that was as good as being rocked from side to side in a cradle.
Garfiel's was fourteen years old ― even if he was around the age of a middle schooler, it didn't apply to this world, and Garfiel was far more mature than when Subaru was his age.
Even so――,
Subaru: [What others did for you, could also be done for them as well… is what I think...]
Ryuzu: [Fufu, let me rephrase what I said. Not only are you kind, but you're soft and green, too.]
Subaru: [I know a famous passage of writing that says men should not only be strong, but also be kind... huh? Going by this logic, I'm not a man because I'm not strong…? What am I?]
Seeing Subaru unable to defend himself from what he had brought upon himself, the sound of laughter rumbled in Ryuzu's throat. Subaru thought of her reaction as something unexpected, and she wiped the corners of her eyes with a finger, saying, "Sorry, sorry."
Ryuzu: [I understand what you want to say. I'll drop by from time to time to make sure Ga-bo and Frederica won't feel lonely. Is that alright?]
Subaru: [Sorry. It probably seemed like an outsider was pestering you about it.]
Ryuzu: [You have nothing to apologize for... It's just, if it's about a very young child, who hadn't reached the age of maturity yet, leaving their parents, there's someone younger than Ga-bo in this mansion, isn't there?]
Subaru: [Are you...]
Right after Subaru made a guess about who Ryuzu was referring to, a set of footsteps approached them. When he and Ryuzu turned their eyes to the direction of the sound, they saw Petra running towards them.
Petra held a pair of extra clothes for Subaru in her hands, calling out, "Subaru-sama~!" as she rushed over to him, seemingly full of energy. However, she stopped immediately before setting foot on the watering place.
Petra: [Wah! Kya! Subaru! Why are you naked!?]
Subaru: [Ah, shoot. I was planning on bathing, but I got too focused in this deep conversation.]
Petra blushed, commenting on Subaru's half-naked body while covering her face with both her hands. However, she was staring at him from the space between the fingers that hid her face, with Subaru noting it as a common turn of events, something he often saw in mediums such as anime and manga.
Even Petra's ears were a bright red color as she cried out, "Wah, wah!" rather excitedly.
Subaru: [Look, Ryuzu-san. This is what you call an adolescent girl's cute reaction.]
Ryuzu: [You're being fairly greedy, telling me to act like that... It's no use even if I do that in the first place. I'm an elderly person.]
Subaru: [You don't really feel like an elderly person, aside from your mature way of speaking...]
Responding to Ryuzu's easy-going voice, Subaru heaved up a pail of water from the well. He then dumped the ice-cold water onto his head, exclaiming, "Agh! Cold!"
Subaru: [Anyway, that reaction of yours is pretty adult-like for your age, Petra.]
Petra: [Ah, Subaru-sama, you're still treating me like a child, aren't you? I'm just saying, but I recently became thirteen years old. A one year difference with Garf-san!]
Subaru: [Even if it had to do with their birthdays, the fact that there's a one year difference between Petra and Garfiel feels kinda amusing to me...]
There was Garfiel, whose combat strength and appearance didn't really seem like a fourteen year-old's, yet his personality did. Then there was Petra, who was like a bud that was gradually trying to bloom into a flower, retaining her young and adorable looks.
It was the natural course of things because time flew by and it couldn't be stopped either, but the concept of growth was a precious notion.
Subaru: [I'm, well, eighteen, and Emilia-tan and Beako don't go through any changes in their appearance. In that regard, I feel a great amount of potential from Petra...]
Ryuzu: [Su-bo, Su-bo. Is it alright for a teenager to look at things from a perspective like that?]
Subaru: [Even if you tell me that... oh, thanks for the extra clothes, Petra. They fell out of your hands while you were staring at me, though.]
Shaking his head to get the water out of his hair, Subaru picked up the shirt discarded by Petra's feet, and wore it after brushing the specks of soil off it. Petra seemed to have realized she dropped his change of clothes just now, uttering a, "Wah!" as she flushed at her own blunder.
Petra: [Uu~, I'm sorry. I'm sorry about your extra clothes, and the water from before...]
Subaru: [Nah, it's just a cute little mistake. Setting the topic of my clothes aside, I got soaked because I was unlucky. And, because of that, I showed an unseemly side of myself to two maidens.]
Ryuzu: [You counted me in as a maiden... Well, well, you're good at flirting with the elderly.]
Subaru laughed wryly at Ryuzu, who gave a slow shake of her head, her behavior the same as usual. After that, he gently patted Petra on the head, who was still reflecting upon herself, smiling at her with a, "It's okay."
Subaru: [Everyone makes mistakes once in a while, and it's not like anyone got injured by it. There's no problem, no problem at all.]
Petra: [...Yes, I understand. I'll make sure to write it in today's entry for my diary.]
Subaru: [You're writing a diary? That's great. I'm the type of person that's good at keeping at it little by little everyday, but my diaries never last no matter what I do.]
He was able to make his daily workouts and jogging into a habit for every single day, but strangely enough, his diaries didn't last long. He thought it was possibly because the contents of what he wrote everyday weren't consistent.
Adding to that, his days of truancy were monotonous and boring, so he had nothing to write back then.
Subaru: [Though, my Beako Lovely Diary is still ongoing...]
Petra: [Are you going to show it to Beatrice-chan later?]
Subaru: [Yeah, I want to show off how much I'm spoiling her with tenderness on a daily basis to her.]
Not only that, but Beatrice's reactions were dramatic and adorable. If it meant being affectionate towards Beako, then Subaru would gladly challenge himself to overcome his own weakness of not being able to continue writing his diaries.
Anyhow――,
Petra: [So, what were you two talking about?]
Subaru: [Ahh, just some idle talk? Something like, "Aren't you lonely to be separated from Garfiel?" and stuff like that... but, you're also far away from your dad and mom. You don't get homesick or anything?]
Petra: ["Homesick"... are you asking me if I miss my home?]
Placing a finger to her lips, Petra furrowed her brow as she decoded and made sense of Subaru's words. She looked to be in deep thought, mumbling, "Hmmm, let me think…" before,
Petra: [Sometimes, I do feel lonely. But it's what I've decided I want to do, and I'm doing it right now. I can't be whining.]
Subaru: [Woah, so mature... did you hear, Ryuzu-san?]
Ryuzu: [I heard it, I heard it. Gee, you look as if you're proud of her, eh?]
Ryuzu nodded at Subaru, who turned around, genuinely proud of Petra's confident answer.
It was just as Petra had said.
He was also in the middle of trying to accomplish what he resolved to do. If so, instead of making feeble complaints, he needed to raise his head and smile, even if he were to be in agony and in pain.
Petra: [Subaru-sama, was my answer alright?]
Subaru: [――. Yeah, of course. As expected of Petra! It's the answer I wanted!]
Petra: [Kya!]
In response to the question from the worried-looking Petra, Subaru lifted up her body in his arms.
It was the same feeling as when he did it to Beako, but Petra was heavier compared to her ― it was because she was undergoing growth.
Subaru: [You're not at the age where I can carry you anymore, huh...]
Petra: [That's obvious! ...But, if you're gonna have such a saddened face, I guess I can keep you company.]
Subaru: [Oh, thanks!]
Although she turned her face away from him, she was allowing him to be selfish. Taking advantage of Petra's kindness, Subaru spent some more time lamenting over parting ways with her childhood.
Gazing at the two of them was,
Ryuzu: [Well, well, I'm clueless about which one is the child.]
Ryuzu, who murmured that out with her young visage, in the manner of an elderly person.
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――Splashing and splattering, Subaru was showered by blackish blood from his head, and the shifting scenes of his life flashing before his eyes ended abruptly.
The one thing in common between the scene and reality was liquid being poured over his head, but if he told Petra that memory fragment involving her was remembered at this very moment, he imagined the situation rolling out into her being furious with him over it.
However, in order to be chastised like that, Subaru couldn't afford to stop in his tracks here.
Subaru: [Why did the hunter's arrow hit the snake...!?]
What obstructed his grand escapade, with Louis reluctantly held in his arms, was the huge snake that was hiding itself inside of the forest.
Right as its gaping jaws were about to swallow Subaru whole, a powerful obstruction was wedged itself between the two, and he was fortunate to have an extremely narrow escape from death.
Subaru: [――――]
What perforated the snake's body, thick as three Subarus bunched up together, was an arrow fired by the hunter, who had been tormenting him and Rem, giving them a hard time until this moment.
He thought of the likelihood that the hunter had unexpectedly missed their mark, but since the arrow had gone through the very center of the snake, he felt like the possibility of a misfire was terribly low.
Which meant――,
Subaru: [They saved me...!?]
Although he couldn't understand it at all, no other answer came to his mind.
He was sure the hunter didn't act on a whim, and it was also difficult to imagine the situation suddenly unraveling into a shounen manga-like development, such as, "I'll be the one who'll kill you!".
However, if Subaru only considered what had occurred, then he was rescued by the hunter. And adding to that, the effect of the single strike wasn't limited to halting the huge snake's impending fangs during this moment.
Snake Witchbeast: [――――??!!]
Its body pierced through by the arrow, the bleeding snake let out a shriek that made the sky tremble, sounding like it two things were grated against one another to produce an ear-splitting screech.
Like that, instead of chasing after Subaru, who was trying to get away from it, the snake turned in the direction the arrow came flying from ― setting its sights on the bowman that plowed through its body, beginning to slither through the forest, uncaring of how many plants it damaged along its way.
It was overwhelming to see a ten-meter long snake crawling on the forest floor, drawing closer to its prey.
Without giving off the feeling of being sluggish in spite of its gigantic body, the sight of it moving on the ground as if gliding across the surface, felt like the ground that supported the forest itself was in motion.
The hunter counterattacked the snake's approach with an arrow, but it didn't connect.
Snake Witchbeast: [――――??!!]
Baring its fangs, saliva dripping from them, the huge snake aimed for the hunter as it pounced onto them.
Jumping out of the way, the hunter avoided it, firing an arrow at point-blank range, going in for the kill.
A violent battle between man and Witchbeast, in an attempt to kill each other, was unfolding beyond the trees.
In midst of the sounds of crashes and blasts being scattered all over the place, courtesy of the ongoing fight where both the hunter and snake weren't budging an inch, Subaru dashed back to the large hole Rem was at, keeping Louis held firmly in his arms.
And then――,
Subaru: [Rem, give me your hand! We're using the opportunity to run!]
Rem: [――hk, is the girl safe?]
Subaru: [Yeah, she's sound asleep to the point it's getting on my nerves! Here, hurry up!]
He reached a hand out to Rem, who was leaning against the wall inside of the large hole. However, Rem glanced at his hand, before shaking her head with a "No." and set her hands on the edge of the hole by herself.
It was a gesture out of stubbornness, saying she wouldn't take the hand Subaru had extended to her. If that was the case, then that was fine. Subaru withdrew his hand, pulling his whip out instead and using it to tie Louis to his back.
If Subaru threw her out, then conflict would arise between him and Rem once again. He wanted to avoid such a thing.
Subaru: [In addition to that――!]
Rem: [Wai…]
After he fixed Louis's body to his back tightly, checking to see if he wouldn't drop her, Subaru forcefully scooped Rem, who crawled out of the large hole, into his arms.
With it resulting in her being princess carried, Rem hardened her expression from Subaru's unanticipated move.
However――,
Subaru: [Think! Me or the hunter or the snake, which one is more preferable right now!?]
Rem: [...If I could communicate with it, then it's the snake.]
Subaru: [You can't, so please bear with me, the runner-up! Let's go!]
Subaru turned his eyes away from Rem, who was unable to prevent her inner turmoil from showing up on her face, although he believed their priorities were rather obvious. Glancing at the continuous battle between the hunter and the snake from the corner of his eye, Subaru broke away from the battlefield, running with all his might.
Whether the victor was the hunter or the huge snake, Subaru expected them to start chasing after him and Rem as soon as the fight was over. He didn't know when exactly would it end, or if it would be settled sooner or later, but he wanted to keep a distance from them to the best of his ability.
Rem: [――What are you going to do?]
Subaru: [Both of them are really accustomed to the forest, compared to us...! We need a way to throw them off their pursuit, but it's hopeless to escape from the snake because of my body odor. So...]
He wanted to pray for the hunter to be victorious.
If the hunter was a pursuer with no connection to the Witch's miasma that surrounded him, then the methods to throw them off their tracks would be worth putting into practice.
Subaru: [Choosing the path where I won't leave too many footprints, erasing the tracks as much as possible, and after that is...]
Rem: [Leaving traces in a separate direction, isn't that right?]
Rem said as she snapped off a twig that nearly made contact with her body, tossing it far away and letting it scratch the trees that were positioned at a different direction from their escape route.
If the tracks were distributed into two places, one being the broken twig, and the other being the mark on the tree, would their opponent be puzzled by those?
Subaru: [――――]
As Subaru continued to run with Rem in his arms, a deep emotion, unsuitable for the occasion, somewhat feeling like nostalgia, crossed his mind. Long ago, he had the experience of racing through the forest while being chased by Witchbeasts, similar to the current situation.
However, the person he had been carrying wasn't Rem, but it was Ram.
Subaru: [Nee-sama has also forgotten, so it's only me… ha… who, remembers it, but...]
Rem: [You're running out of breath. They will catch up if this goes on.]
Subaru: [I know! Damn, both of you sisters… ha… really have no shred of mercy...!]
The person in his arms wasn't Ram, but the harshness of her words was practically identical to her sister.
A strong emotion coursed through him upon recognizing their similarities, and it gave an encouraging push to his back. Subaru urged himself to keep running despite his breathlessness, entrusting the role of monitoring whatever was happening behind them to Rem, and desperately rushed across the forest.
Anyhow, Subaru had been running around all day today.
He was exhausted, worn out physically and mentally, and he wanted to sprawl across the ground if possible. Actually, he was going to do that once he lost his pursuer. He would sleep for eight hours straight.
Subaru: [So, please put up with it until I can do that, dear body――!!]
Rem: [――hk, wait!]
Subaru: [Owowowow!? What the heck was that for!?]
While Subaru was spurring himself to action by shouting at his body to move, Rem, who was carried in his arms, gave his ear a sharp tug. As he frowned from the pain, Rem pointed towards a direction straying off the path they were on,
Rem: [I can hear the sound of water. A flowing... river? Perhaps you could erase your tracks with it? Also, you were saying you needed water as well.]
Subaru: [You were actually listening to me talking about my survival knowledge... I'm touched, but that can wait. You're right, it'd be great if there's a river! If we crossed the river for the time being, they surely can't chase after us without any difficulty...!]
Unfortunately, the sound of running water wasn't audible to Subaru, due to the bothersome noise caused by his rapid heartbeat and breathing, but he had no reason to doubt Rem's hearing at this place, during this time.
Obeying Rem, who pointed her finger towards the direction, saying "That way.", Subaru changed courses, dashing through the forest while he searched for the river.
And then, as he passed by the clump of trees and leapt over the patches of grass, just as the road opened up into――,
Subaru: [――A river! ...B~u~t~?]
The moment the forest cleared up and his field of view was broadened, Subaru was finally able to hear the sound of running water at a tremendous volume ― yes, a tremendous volume.
Of course a sound like that would reach his ears, since its source was a great river. As far as Subaru and Rem could see, gazing down at it, the water was gushing down a cliff nearly ten meters tall.
Rem: [No matter how you look at it, this is...]
Inside of his arms, Rem stifled a gasp, gazing at the humongous river below them.
Taking the raging momentum of the water and the height of the cliff into account, it was natural for her to be dismayed at the sight. She was probably also reproaching herself for leading them here, all because she relied on her instincts.
However, there was no time to blame her for what she was already regretting, nor was there time to do the opposite and comfort her.
Subaru: [――Shit, is the fight over!?]
From the forest behind him, a distant, ferocious roar thundered into the sky.
It sounded like the cry of the huge snake, brimming with some sort of emotion. Whether it was a sign of victory or a sign of defeat, the one who survived would come after Subaru and Rem.
Subaru: [Before that happens, we gotta...]
Rem: [――Leave me.]
As Subaru thought about the need to depart from the area, Rem, still held close to his chest area, declared that.
Hearing her strained voice, Subaru blew out a short breath, and,
Subaru: [Wh…at?]
Rem: [Leave me. It's my fault I made you take an unnecessary detour. A single moment can't be lost. I will try to tie down the enemy in one way or another, so...]
Subaru: [D-don't be ridiculous! Leaving you is something I can't...]
Rem: [Then, what the hell are you going to do!? How can you, who brought a child and a woman who can't move her legs, out of breath and your knees shaking, do anything more than this!?]
Subaru: [――――]
Rem snapped at him in close proximity, her face flushing with anger. It wasn't as if Subaru was overwhelmed by the intensity of her words, but he was unable to make an immediate retort.
Subaru wasn't smart enough to instantly propose an alternative plan upon being asked.
However, because he wasn't smart, he could come up with an answer that didn't require it.
Subaru: [――No, that wouldn't do. I won't leave you here.]
Rem: [――fh, that stubbornness of yours...]
Subaru: [Which one of us is being more stubborn, huh!? I understand you feel responsible for it! But, you know, you're demonstrating your sense of responsibility at the wrong place in the wrong time! I can't just leave you behind!"
Rem: [Wha...]
Subaru: [It's meaningless if you aren't there with me! If you're going to die, it's better if I died instead. What can I do to make you understand it!?]
Subaru spoke his mind earnestly, trying to withdraw Rem's idea from the table.
His words came from his heart. Of course, Subaru didn't want to die as well. Even if "Return by Death" granted him an opportunity, he didn't want to die. That's why it was only about being stuck in a dilemma, seeking out the best option between the worst choice and the most unwanted choice.
Even so――,
Subaru: [I'll pick the method that won't get either of us killed.]
Rem: [...What are you going to do about that girl on your back?]
Subaru: [I would like to use her as bait if I were allowed to, but it's going to be a problem getting complaints directed at me for doing so. So, for now, I'll be on the run while also bringing her with me.]
Anyway, it was getting under his skin with how Louis was always getting caught in the problems between him and Rem.
However, if he threw Louis out right now, his relationship with Rem would be damaged beyond repair. That choice was off the table. That's why, no matter how loathsome she was, Subaru couldn't abandon her.
Rem: [――――]
Listening to Subaru's words that came from his resolute will, Rem widened her eyes, falling silent.
Even now, Subaru could catch a glimpse of Rem's inner conflict, unable to comprehend how she should judge him, who was engulfed in a wicked scent that she couldn't bear to take in.
Keeping her uncertain expression in the corner of his eye, Subaru surveyed his surroundings, searching for an escape route.
However, a path leading to their survival wasn't something that could be found so conveniently. Subaru could see that the situation provided enough of a reason for Rem to start telling him to use her as a decoy.
If so, their remaining option was――,
Subaru: [――To fly.]
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Rem: [Wha... Wa-wait! That's what you call being reckless! Do you understand the situation we're in!?]
Subaru: [There's me, who's exhausted from the weight strapped against my back, who's carrying Rem who can't move her legs, who has three of my fingers broken, and who's ribcage is in a state that's a bit suspicious...]
Rem: [About your fingers... Anyway! It's absurd to try something like that in your condition! From this height... the moment you jump in, you're only going to fall unconscious and drown!]
Pointing at the gigantic river below them, Rem stated her realistic disagreements to Subaru's plan.
The height was ten meters, and they were in a position where the injured person had to look after two people who couldn't even move around properly. If they had to somehow reach the opposite bank while braving through the violent waters, it was natural to think of it as a suicidal act.
Subaru: [But, it's not suicide. Even if it was, when we die, we'll die together.]
Rem: [Absolutely not!]
Subaru: [Yeow!]
Rem gave him a splendid slap across his smile that showed his gleaming teeth. His neck twisted to the side from the power put into the blow, and while he uttered a, "Ow ow," the cheek where he had gotten slapped reddening in color, and,
Subaru: [I got it. Since you're saying that, I won't die.]
Rem: [――――]
Subaru: [I'm the one who'll grant your wish. ――Because, I'm your hero.]
Hearing his words, Rem stared at him, wide-eyed.
It wasn't because her memories had unconsciously throbbed, but it was out of surprise at the fact that Subaru had shamelessly repeated the same, untrustworthy declaration he had made right after she awakened, without learning from the disaster it resulted in.
But, that was alright.
He didn't necessarily want to make Rem listen to what he said just now. ――All he wanted to do was to cast a spell on the man reflected in Rem's light blue eyes, who concealed his patheticness behind a bluff.
Subaru: [Hold on tight.]
Subaru exhaled as he said that, sensing danger drawing near them.
Rem was attempting to resist even as of now, but Subaru had already pushed off against the ground with his feet, while he was carefully selecting the words to get her to stop. Bracing herself for the fall, Rem grabbed onto Subaru's clothes firmly with her hand.
And then――,
Rem: [――I won't forgive you if you die!]
"Ahh, I can't die if you say so," Subaru laughed wryly as he gave a strong kick against the cliff.
△▼△▼△▼△
A column of water rose into the air from the impact, his body swallowed by a vicious force, and he spun around, round and round.
Because he managed to plunge into the water feet-first, he kept the damage he received from the fall to a minimum.
However, its power was enough to cause him to receive minimal damage, and for Subaru, whose health bar was already in the red zone, he couldn't erase the impression that he had clenched his teeth and rode it out with his meager amount of willpower.
Although, there was no need to erase it.
Subaru: [Gah, bh,]
Without needing to wipe away such an impression, Subaru's whole body was soaking wet. He was tossed about by the rushing water's momentum, as if he was a towel being stirred inside of a washing machine.
He wanted to somehow rise up to the surface of the water, and breathe. Yet, he did not have the freedom to do so. Even if he wanted to flail his limbs around in an attempt to float, he couldn't do that because he was carrying what was dear to him in his arms.
Subaru: [――――]
He was being squeezed and crumpled up by the water, but he felt the targets of his affection and hatred in his arms and on his back respectively. Neither the whip fastened to himself, nor his arms that strongly embraced the girl, were coming apart.
Subaru: [Gabh… gabh…]
Due to the impact from diving into the water, most of the air he had breathed in before jumping had escaped from his lungs.
He wasn't going to swim, but he needed both stamina and oxygen to retain his sanity. Since both of them were on the verge of depletion, he couldn't stay leisurely and take things easy.
Subaru: [Gabh, gabh...]
Water flowed into his mouth from his nose, and he felt like it was also spilling into his eyes and ears as well.
His floundering feet paddled the water meaninglessly, and he also felt as if he was powerless to do anything as he was being transported into the stomach of a giant creature's esophagus ― which could be said to be the humongous river. Once he arrived "there", it would not be possible to undo it.
Before he made it there, he needed to do something.
Subaru: [Gabh… gabh…]
When he desperately fumbled around in the water, many unnecessary thoughts wriggled around in his head.
Just like how he remembered Petra and Ryuzu when he was showered with blood, just like how he remembered carrying Ram while he ran around the forest, many things crossed his mind.
Are Emilia, Beatrice, Ram, and Meili safe? What are Julius, Anastasia, and Echidna doing? Everyone would feel at ease if Patrasche was there. If Patrasche was here, she would've rescued him. Saving and getting saved. He had repeated that cycle many times, and Rem was supposed to be the person he had repeated it with the most, but she broke his fingers. He didn't think of it until now, but he did a good job in not crying out, even though it really hurt. Well done. He didn't want to do anything dumb in front of Rem. In front of Emilia, in front of Beatrice, and in front of Petra and Garfiel as well. Otto, Clind, and Frederica knew how pathetic he was, so it didn't matter with them. Things would take a wrong turn into something frightening if Roswaal knew about it, so he needed to continue hiding it somehow. He needed to return to Pristella quickly, help the people who were in dire need of it, the Royal Selection, tomorrow, everyone――,
Subaru: [Gabuh… gabh...]
Every, one――,
△▼△▼△▼△
Subaru: [――Gahgk,]
Reaching his hand out with all his might, Subaru pulled himself close to the branch he managed to grab onto. He took a hold of it with his left hand, and excruciating pain shot through his three crippled fingers, but he wasn't bothered by it.
His whole body was chilled to the bone, and his senses were distant and dull. There was a possibility that instead of three fingers, every finger on his left hand was broken, but he had little to no interest in that matter.
Subaru: [Oergh, bhleh,]
He broke out into a coughing fit, vomiting large amounts of the water that had filled his stomach.
While doing so, he was able to draw the heaviness in his right arm closer to himself, making it so her face appeared above the surface of the water. Staring at her unconscious face from the side, he rushed to crawl up the bank, relying on the branch.
Subaru: [Gaghk, urgh,]
On the bank he finally made it to, he left it to his nausea to make him spew out an enormous volume of water. And then, fighting the sensation of having water left inside his body still, he laid the girl he dragged out of the water onto the ground.
Subaru: [――――]
Bringing his ear near her mouth, he checked her breathing. There was no reaction. He bit his lip, pushing against her chest area with force, carrying out CPR on her.
However, she didn't come back to life. Right as he bent over, his face coming near her as he wondered if he should perform artificial respiration, she threw up some water along with a small cough. Tilting her face to the side, Subaru let her expel the water from her body.
Subaru: [Hah, ha...]
Enduring the fatigue that spread across his entire body, he unfastened the whip he tied against himself, lowering the weight on his back. Perhaps the fact that she was unconscious from the beginning proved to be fortunate, as the lowered weight was letting out weak breaths.
That meant… everyone was… safe――,
Subaru: [S… a… fe...]
His head swayed to the side, in midst of his dizziness, and he collapsed on the spot.
He thought he had to somehow leave the bank and at least hide in the thickets and bushes, but his body wasn't listening to him at all. His stamina had been completely emptied.
Unable to move a single finger, his consciousness gradually fell deep into the darkness.
As if he had been trapped in an ant lion's pit, descending into the dark, obscure world, forever and ever.
What he wished for before he passed out, was for neither the hunter nor the snake, but for someone else to――,
Subaru: [Save… Rem...]
There was only one wish, for someone to at least save Rem, even if it was just her.
△▼△▼△▼△
――.
――――.
――――――――.
Subaru: [――ah,]
Slowly, his consciousness was pulled out of the depths of the cold, bitter darkness.
Silently, he remembered he had forgotten how to breathe, then he gulped and ingested air into his empty body. More, more. He desired more oxygen as if he had been drowning, opening his mouth wide――,
???: [――Shut it with your wheezing and panting, you.]
Subaru: [Mrgh,]
Something was forcefully thrusted into his open jaws, and he was bathed in verbal abuse.
He widened his eyes, unable to grasp the situation, but he wasn't able to see anything. It seemed like something had been wrapped around his face, covering his eyes. However, he knew some wild fellow had shoved something into his mouth.
The taste of soil and earth, and a large, solid texture ― he could immediately guess that it was a shoe.
Someone was digging the tip of his shoe into Subaru's mouth.
Subaru: [Oergh! Bweh! Wha, what... guweh!]
???: [Why the hell are you defying me? Don't you understand the position you're in?]
Subaru: [Ghurgh, gargh,]
Subaru was struck in his solar plexus with a good, hard kick delivered by the tip of the man's shoe, after Subaru had spat it out without thinking. As his breath caught in his throat from the impact, followed by a bout of coughing, the wild fellow spat on him.
While the man was doing that, Subaru's mind was jumbled up in a great deal of confusion.
He couldn't see and he was utterly befuddled, yet violence had been inflicted onto him.
Adding to that, even if he tried to rub his aching chest, he couldn't do that because his arms were tied behind his back. His legs were bound as well, so it was impossible to stand up and escape.
Subaru: [Wh-wha… what's...]
???: [Aah? How long are you gonna be fooling ar...]
????: [――Hey, hey, chill out! He's completely clueless! It can't be helped! Rather than that, here! Let's take off his blindfold!]
???: [Tch.]
Two men seemed to be having an argument in front of Subaru, who was curled up on the ground with saliva spilling out of his mouth. The man that arrived later had persuaded the violent man, and Subaru sensed that the rough, boorish presence had distanced himself from the area.
After that, the voice of the composed man reached his ears with a, "Well,"
????: [Sorry that was done to you right after you woke up. I think you're probably feeling muddled and all, but I'll just take off your blindfold, okay? Though, I can't remove the rope around your hands and feet, so you gotta bear with it.]
Subaru: [――――]
As Subaru remained silent, the man gently placed his hands on his head, unfastening the blindfold that was tightly wrapped around his head. He felt the air against his skin, along with a tiny prick of pain, and waited for his vision to return as he took in a deep breath, withstanding the throbbing ache in his chest.
And then――,
Subaru: [――Where… the hell is this.]
In his newly-recovered field of view, the clearing was dotted with many tents and campfires. Along with those, there were men equipped with swords and armor, giving off a fierce feeling, and restlessly going to and fro around the area.
Rendered completely speechless, Subaru thought of the most appropriate picture that would be representing the sight at hand in his mind――,
Subaru: [...I've seen something like this in a long-running TV series.]
The reason he thought of it wasn't because he had encountered a gigantic river right before all of this, but what crossed his mind was a scene from one of those TV series ― the camp of a military unit, busied by preparations before the official battle began. [1]
It was as if the sight in front of him was a replica of ― no, it wasn't.
????: [We found you right as we went out to fetch some water, yeah. Sorry, but you've been captured. You're our prisoner.]
Was the person who walked in front of him the man that took off his blindfold?
Putting a hand to his hip, he spoke to Subaru with a genuine-looking, troubled expression.
――Natsuki Subaru had been taken prisoner.
Notes:
[1] – 大河ドラマ (Taiga drama) = Long-running TV series.
大河 (Taiga) = A huge river.
Very punny, Subaru.