7
- Hey, Subaru! Where have you been?
Emilia and Beatrice, holding hands, ran up to him. Both looked at him with rebuke.
- Oh, girls! Sorry! I had some errands to run!
- I heard that you went to Mr. Ju... to Julius, but you weren't there and I started to worry," Emilia said.
- Yeah, I've been to his place, but the dude makes such a pained face I couldn't look at it. I had to take a walk.
- Yeah? I like looking at him. He's got a nice face.
- Oh, no, Emilia-tan... You think so too?
- Yeah, but you're not ugly either! I mean, I like you more and more! - she corrected herself, panicked, but it was clear what she meant.
- Ah... yes... - The boy smiled bitterly.
- Subaru - began Beatrice calmly, pulling him by the sleeve. - If you're going to do something dangerous, it's always with me. You can't do it alone. Beatrice would die of fright!
- Oooo, how sweet! You're worried about me! I'm worried about you too. You're so cute, I always think someone is going to kidnap you!
- Betty wouldn't give up so easily! A little seriousness please! - She got angry and slapped his arm a few times.
Laughing, Subaru suddenly snatched the small girl into his arms. She yelped in surprise. Out of the corner of his eye, the boy noticed that Emilia was watching them with seriousness.
- Emilia-tan, what's wrong? Do you think we're behaving strangely?
- No, not at all! A conjurer's duty is to improve the spirit. Which means it's yours to look after Beatrice.
- Oh, cool! Hey, what about you and Puck? I don't remember you taking care of him.
- Don't pick on me! I took care of him when you weren't looking! I combed his fur, polished his claws and slept in bed with him... - ...dreaming.
Around her neck hung a colorless stone, framed to look identical to the necklace she once wore. A gift. that they had received from Kiritaka for saving the city.
Emilia noticed Subaru looking at the ornament, and took it in her hand.
- We still haven't thanked you for him... Well, nothing. Right now he doesn't have enough mana for Puck to leave. We'll have to wait a bit longer, but that's okay. Hopefully it will be soon!
Although the goal of the trip to Priestella had been accomplished, Subaru now had a new mission and so many goals.
I'm gonna have a lot of work to do... Gosh, can I handle all this?
- Hey, Subaru. Look!
- Hm? What happened? - He turned around.
He looked to where the half elf was pointing.
He held his breath.
Before them stretched a view of the once beautiful streets of the City of Water Gate, which now bore the marks of recent fighting. Some of the destruction had been the responsibility of the Archbishops, while others had been caused by chimeras or were the result of the actions of our heroes.
Emilia, however, wanted to show the boy the two children who were smiling walking down the street. He knew them.
- Lusbel and Tina...
Many times he watched them die, watched their tears, heard their pleas for rescue....
I lived through it all just so that now they can enjoy the day.
- It's because of you and me and our friends. We did it together. I'm sure you have a lot on your mind, so much I can't even imagine.... And I'm sure a lot of worries...
Subaru tensed at the remark. Indeed, discovering that Anastasia was Eridna, and talking to her, had caused him worry. He was now constantly thinking about going to the Tower of Pleiades, about the Sage. For now, he didn't want to share his worries with anyone.
Emilia looked at him, squinting her eyes.
- You don't have to tell me about them. However, if you make a decision, come to me with it right away. And when you face a difficult obstacle, don't try to deal with it all alone. Please promise me at least this much.
- You want me to promise?
- Yeah, make one of those promises that don't work out for you. That's your specialty, right?
- Oh! Emilia-tan, I don't believe it! That was irony!
I've been given the rating for my performance so far.
The girl extended her hand in front of her with a smile. She flexed her little finger. He immediately did the same. Their fingers grafted together in a gesture of vow.
- Whoever breaks the promise swallows a thousand needles!
She smiled at him.
- Subaru, how many needles will you have to swallow?
- I don't think I can do a thousand...
- Well, let's make it so you don't have to swallow a single one.
- Alright!
Emilia didn't assume that the boy would suddenly start advising her. She had asked for a promise as a sort of warning, and at the same time an acquiescence.
"I think you can afford such privacy." - Eridna's enticing words echoed in Subaru's head.
I can. But are you sure I can? I was in dire need of someone to tell me that I could...
- You will hear my answer soon. Before we get to the mansion," Emilia whispered, but he was so absorbed in his worries that he didn't even hear her.
Yes, there was someone who let me get on with what I wanted... only why did it have to be the person who bears the name of that nasty Witch?!
- Gross... - He croaked.
- I beg your pardon? - asked the half elf.
- No, nothing! Oh, look, when I carry Beako like this, she has no way to defend herself against a spanking!
- Hey, what do you mean?! Let go of me! Put me down! I'm fragile! - She tried to break free, but Subaru held her tight.
- Ha, ha, ha, ha!
- Stop it!
They walked ahead - the boy at the back, with the small girl in his arms, and Emilia in front, who glanced back again and again with emotion at the amused spirit arts user and his spirit.
Subaru felt happy.
What a stroke of luck. I'm surrounded by such wonderful people. If only she were here with me too... Then I wouldn't want for anything.
The battle for Priestella is over. It is time to begin a new story - the story of the quest to the Tower of Pleiades.
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