Chapter 59: Almost Killed
Today was the third day.
Since that day passed, Subaru Natsuki had been unconscious for two days.
When the sunlight shone on Subaru's face, he finally woke up after two days and two nights of unconsciousness.
His fragmented consciousness in the forest reconnected, and when he saw the familiar ceiling, Subaru sat up and smiled.
"Ah, the promise was successfully kept. Did I really just sleep for one whole day and night? Hmm... I should properly thank them."
Subaru got out of the big bed and looked at the pajamas on himself and the surrounding environment.
He noticed that every time he woke up after being injured, he was never in his own room.
He guessed it was probably because the bed in his own room wasn't very comfortable. Subaru stretched lazily, and his stomach made noises, signaling hunger.
Speaking of which, since he had slept for a whole day and night, and before passing out had seen Puck, knowing Puck's personality, he must have killed all the monsters in the forest.
Subaru rubbed his stomach and prepared to leave the room to find some food, when he noticed a sword placed on the cabinet.
Walking over, Subaru reached out and picked up the sword.
It was the sword gifted by the village chief, and unexpectedly, it had come back with him to the mansion.
Although his goal was traveling and trying to find his way home, deep down Subaru hoped to become a strong person.
After all, in games, those who wield swords are dangerous but also genuinely cool.
"After all, in this world of swords and magic, one has to have both sword and magic to accompany them. Really, it's super cool! From today on, you're my partner!"
Though he didn't know any sword skills or magic at all, as long as it looked cool, that was enough!
Besides, if he encountered danger next time, at least he'd have a weapon to fight with.
But hopefully, nothing like that would happen again.
After all, he's not the protagonist, so it's unlikely something always happens around him.
Just as Subaru was about to put the sword back and leave, he heard the door open.
Turning his head, he saw the blue-haired maid standing at the door with an incredulous look.
"Yo, Rem-senpai, looks like you're not hurt much either. But next time, don't rush into the forest to fight alone, okay? That's dangerous."
Hearing this, Subaru remembered the time he saw Rem in the forest — he was almost unable to hold on anymore.
But Rem, who had fought in the forest all night and morning, was still full of energy.
It seemed killing monsters wasn't a danger to her at all...
Looking a bit awkward, Subaru saw the basin in Rem's hands fall to the floor, spilling water everywhere.
"Rem-senpai?"
Subaru looked at Rem curiously, preparing to tease this perfectionist maid at work, but then he noticed she was walking step by step toward him.
Feeling the atmosphere change, Subaru took a step back and suddenly found Rem reaching out and cupping his face with some force, enough to distort his expression.
"Subaru-kun, you're awake? Am I dreaming?"
Subaru stared at Rem speechlessly, then raised his hand to lightly tap her head.
Seeing her hand cover her forehead, Subaru sighed and said:
"Is it really so strange that I woke up? You talk like I'd never wake up again. Don't you want me to wake up? Well, I am a witch cultist after all. I guess it's normal for you to think that way."
"That's not true! Subaru-kun is not part of the witch cult!"
Rem's sudden shout startled Subaru, his expression turning strange.
He saw her eyes turn a little red.
She lowered her head, clutching her skirt and softly said:
"Subaru-kun isn't part of the witch cult. Even though you smell bad and act strange, you wouldn't be part of the witch cult. You help people even when it's unrelated to you.
You risk your life to save kids you don't even know. How could someone like you be part of the witch cult!"
Hearing this, Subaru rubbed his face and turned away, a little embarrassed.
"Ah... I didn't expect such high praise... I'm a bit shy now..."
"Subaru-kun, you were unconscious for two days... I almost thought you wouldn't wake up again. I had so many things I wanted to say to you. If you never woke up, I wouldn't know what to do."
"Eh!!! I was unconscious for two days! Isn't today the second day?!"
Subaru never expected he had slept for two whole days.
Although he had survived, he felt like he missed two days of his promise with Beatrice... Before going to find Beatrice, he first needed to deal with the person in front of him.
Subaru's gaze focused on Rem, who was still looking down as if blaming herself—probably because she didn't trust him at that moment.
But it didn't matter; Subaru had some words he wanted to say to Rem.
At that time, he saw a reflection of himself in Rem.
Although he didn't know much about Rem's past, he guessed it was similar to his own—both stuck in that place.
Thinking this, Subaru reached out and rubbed Rem's head.
Due to his gesture, Rem raised her head, and Subaru saw tears streaming down her face.
"Rem, smile."
"Huh?"
"Smile. Forget all the unhappy things. Actually, I don't think I've ever seen you truly smile at me. So smile."
Seeing Rem smile, Subaru thought... well... it wasn't very pretty... Sighing, he shook his head and began vigorously rubbing Rem's face.
"No! Not that kind of smile! That's ugly! I want to see a genuine smile from you! I don't know what happened in your past, but it must have been unhappy, something you can't forget!
So smile! The past doesn't matter; the future is what's important.
Remember what happened, but face every future day with a smile!"
"You're not who you used to be.
Staying stuck in the past won't change anything.
So smile. Then cry hard and let all your sadness and pain out.
Then bravely face every future day!"
"...Do I really have the right to smile...?"
"Why not?"
"Can I really bravely face every future day?"
"Why not?"
"I..."
"Ahhh! Shut up! Why think so much? Why ask so many questions? Is it really that hard to smile?
Is it really that hard to face the future with a smile?! What's done is done, so just don't do things you'll regret later, okay?
If you can't do it alone, why not lean on the people around you?"
Looking at Subaru's expression, Rem opened her mouth and asked, "Then... can I rely on you?"
'???? Wait, something's off here. Isn't this the time to rely on your sister or someone close?'
Subaru looked at Rem's expression and sighed helplessly.
He put his hands down, stepped back, and created some distance between them.
"I don't know how to convince you, or how to make you smile, or what I can do to help. But if you really want to change and face the future with a smile, then come here.
If you ask me for help, I will definitely help you."
Saying this, Subaru stretched out his hand. The distance between them was just a step.
If Rem reached out, she could touch his hand. If she took a step forward, she could receive Subaru's help.
But that short distance made Rem's slowly raised hand unable to rest on Subaru's palm.
She didn't have the courage to step forward.
While Rem was lost in thought, Subaru's hand grabbed hers.
As Rem was surprised, a push from behind made her take that step forward.
Collapsing into Subaru's arms, Rem recalled memories of the past.
The emotions trapped in her heart exploded all at once, the chains that had bound her shattered one by one.
She cried... loudly, crying in Subaru's embrace.
Subaru felt Rem's sobbing in his arms.
His expression stiffened.
He looked toward the door where Ram stood.
Her gaze made Subaru's heart feel fearful.
His expression became extremely stiff under Ram's watchful eyes.
When Ram left his line of sight, Subaru finally breathed a sigh of relief and looked down at Rem.
For a moment, he almost thought Ram would kill him.