CHAPTER 13: ROSWAAL'S INTENT
The first thing Subaru feels when he wakes up is the touch of someone's fingertips stroking his forehead. Subaru: “With how dainty and soft these fingers are and how careful this stroking is this is Emilia¬tan.”
Emilia: “—You're right, is it just me that the way you guessed that was sooo terrifying?” Subaru opens his eyes, but the palms of Emilia's hands are blocking his view of the world. Subaru's cheeks loosen into a smile at the glimpses of Emilia's beautiful face peeking though the gaps between her fingers. Subaru: “Nywhat. I just figured that the only person who'd be pepping me up in this context'd be
Emilia-tan and I went with my gut. Of course I don't actually recognize people by the touch of their fingers.”
This relieves Emilia a little. She asks if he thinks he can lift himself upright. Subaru, lying on a bed, uprights himself. He looks around to find he's in an unfamiliar building. The bed he's on is shabbily built, not even comparable to the beds in Roswaal's mansion that Subaru's used to. Anyway Subaru thinks back on what happened before he fell unconscious.
Subaru: “How much of that was imagination, and how much of that was reality?” Subaru puts his hand to his forehead and he puzzles over his somewhat indistinct memories of what happened inside Echidna's supposed dream, and looks at Emilia. She's sitting on a chair beside the bed quietly waiting for Subaru to gather his thoughts. Subaru: “Ummm,” Subaru: “There's plenty of things I wanna ask and wanna talk about, but... well, first there's something I have to say.” Emilia: “Mhm, what?” Asks Emilia as she tilts her head. —But, there's no smile in her eyes. Her gaze pierces through
Subaru, who scrunches his shoulders up. Subaru: “I can't describe how sorry I am for making you worry. I got kinda carried away.” To the extent that he was conceited enough to think he could be Emilia's vanguard. And as a result he crumbled on the first step. A light sigh escapes from Emilia's lips. Emilia: “Auugh. I was really, really worried. You screamed and fainted right after you went in.” Subaru: “Nevermind the screaming, I fainted?”
Emilia: “Dead away. You were even convulsing so I really didn't know what to do. It didn't look like you'd been injured, or effected by any kind of strange magic...” Subaru now figures that when he had that sensation of falling immediately after he'd stepped inside the tomb, he was already inside the WITCH OF GREED's dream. What Subaru's instantaneous collapse had really done was force an unneeded burden on Emilia.
He'd gone in there to check there was nothing dangerous, for Emilia's sake. What a fucking laugh. Subaru's face screws up with self-loathing.
Garfiel: “—Eh? Ohoh, well now ain't you up finally.” I have no idea how to phrase this jab. So anyway Garfiel's there and comes in through the room's creaky door. He glances over Subaru's set-up on the bed before turning his gaze to Emilia.
Garfiel: “See, ain't it right like how I said, there ain't anything weird goin' on with his body. 'S just what it looks like.” Emilia: “...but still, of course you'd be worried. When someone collapses so suddenly for no apparent reason. Maybe you're used to seeing that, but I don't think getting used to it is a good thing.”
Garfiel: “Ha, stop th' blusterin'. Yer're goddamn 'bout'a cry with how panicked yer were seein' him all collapsed. PALER THAN A PALEMIGRO's what yer were.” Emilia: “Wha—!?” Emilia's face goes super fucking red and she stands up, her chair clattering as she does.
Emilia: “I-I wasn't crying. I mean I was worried and panicked, but I wasn't really...” Garfiel: “Mhm, yeahyeah. 'S was a secret, eh, 'n secret. Real sorry. But ser'sly don't think it matters anythin'. It ain't somethin' t' hide.”
Emilia: “But it is. If he heard I was worried, that... that I was about to cry, he'd...” Emilia glances at Subaru. Subaru: “Hm? Ah, you can keep going. Go on, go ahead, uheehee. Mmhm, really, man. Emilia-tan was crying with how worried she was about me. Uh-huh, uehehheh.” Emilia: “...somehow, I just knew you'd react like that.” Emilia's shoulders fall, devoid of strength. Although indiscreet Subaru can't hide his joy about having made his honey bunches of oats sincerely worry about him. Seeing the couple's reactions, Garfiel mutters a very meaningful, “Ah, got it.”
Garfiel: “My bad. Man, ain't this rare. Me sincerely recognizin' my screwups.”
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
???: “If you train it properly, even a dog will practice enough self-restraint to eat only after receiving permission.” Says a voice sharp enough to cut. Each word is well-punctuated, but laced with a ghastliness that prevents Subaru from interjecting between the breaks.
???: “Meaning, you could say that abiding by an order, something achievable even by a dog, is the absolute minimum form of a promise.” High-pitched footsteps sound out from the wooden floor at an even rhythm, pacing left to right to left to right, whittling away at Subaru's mental stockpile.
???: “Now then—” The speaker's emotionless gaze pierces through Subaru. ???: “What to call a creature that cannot keep the promises even a dog can abide? Do you know,
Barusu?” Subaru: “I am so sorry for not following your warning!” Screams Subaru as he gets to his knees and bows his head deeply. But the speaker just tilts their head. Ram: “Did it sound to you as though I desired an apology? It almost seems that you didn't hear my question, or even what I'd been saying just beforehand. Considering that you didn't listen to my warning, it's certainly not impossible to agree with that assessment.” Subaru: “Could you please stop with this prickly, indirect sarcasm!? I reflected, and I seriously think I did wrong, and now here my heart's still getting crushed! It'd be less awful if you just told me off straight!” Ram: “Why couldn't you have just died.”
Subaru: “Too straight!” But considering what he did, Subaru has to accept being content with Ram's merciless scolding. She went out of the way to warn him, he completely betrayed it, and because of that caused lots of people lots of problems all over the place.
Roswaal: “Aaaaalright now. Abooooout there is where to forgive him, Ram. I'm sure you've already received a veeeeery similar lecturing from Emilia-sama? Repeating it woooon't do anything eeeeexcept delight Subaru-kun the masochist.” Subaru: “I'm not a masochist. That I keep stepping on landmines is just my nature!” Social stupidity, is another thing to call it. Subaru puffs out his chest, and Ram gives a fucking deep sigh as if she's sincerely fucking dumbfounded at this. She silently turns her back to Subaru as she goes over to Roswaal, who is still in bed.
Roswaal: “Noooow then,” Roswaal: “Fiiiirst of all, that you've returned safely is more important than anything. Lots of arrangements have gooooone awry because of your stumbling before the Trial. Although all your actions are, is juuuust some callow bungling.”
Subaru crosses his arms and gives a small snort. Emilia, standing next to him, chides him by pinching his side.
Subaru: “Ow. Owie, Emilia-tan.” Emilia: “Usually I'd want to defend you, but you were bad today. ...If I knew Ram had told you that, I wouldn't...”
Have let you gone first, is what it seems like she's going to continue with, when she stops. Subaru shoots her a wry smile as he internally mutters, “That's why I didn't tell you.” If Emilia'd known about Ram's warning, she wouldn't have let Subaru stubbornly take a dangerous role. But on the flipside, if Ram hadn't warned him, Subaru wouldn't have been so insistent to be Emilia's vanguard. So basically,
Subaru: “Your warning made nobody happy, Ram.”
Ram: “To speak as if I was the instigator of these events is to be a dog. ...Or actually not. If I don't amend that to 'lesser than a dog', it would be an insult to dogs.” Is Ram's counterattack, packed with so much scorn that Subaru actually kind of finds it admirable.
Anyway Roswaal loosely rearranges the posture of his legs on the bed. Roswaal: “Incidentally, Emilia-sama... how was the cemetery?” Emilia: “...There was Subaru, so I didn't get to look around very carefully. But I do remember the nasty smell in the air and the uncomfortable prickling on my skin.” Emilia's brows scrunch up slightly. Fundamentally, she's the type to get ambiguous when giving negative appraisals of things. Roswaal gives a small laugh at this notably candid appraisal Emilia's made, before looking at Garfiel who's leaned with his back against the wall. Roswaal: “Garfiel. Have the QUALIFICATIONS been confirmed?” Subaru raises his eyebrows and looks at Garfiel. Garfiel aggressively scratches at his hair, exposing his sharp canines,
Garfiel: “My amazin' self didn't go any further thn' the fronta the entrance but... the cemetery's lights turned on all good n' right. Emilia-sama definitely's qualified t'take the TRIAL.” Subaru: “The cemetery's lights?” Garfiel: “'S a bunch of candle-lookin' things inside the cemetery. They got some trick where they catch fire'n light up when qualified guys go in the cemetery while sun's up. Guys who get that welcome safely're qualified t'take the TRIAL at night.” Roswaal: “And if something lacking those qualifications forcibly enters the cemetery, theeeeey turn out like me ooooor Subaru-kun.”
Roswaal spreads his arms out, indicating his own physical state, the bandages covering his entire body even now stained with blood. Subaru: “Man, really feels like there's a difference in how heavily our penalties were. Did you get up to more mischief than me, who just entered the place?”
Roswaal: “Mischief, suuuuch as?” Subaru: “Pissing across the tomb's entrance or something. That'd get the cemetary's manager mad.” Roswaal: “If I diiiid, then that would mean that yoooou collapsed in a place tiiiiiinkled with my wee.”
Subaru briskly brushes off his whole body at that, his face disgusted. Roswaal smiles at Subaru's behaviour and shakes his head. Roswaal: “Buuuuut,” Roswaal: “Faced with the same refusal but met with differences in severity... is soooomething I'm impressed you noticed. The difference in the wounds that Subaru-kun and I haaaave indeed is large. But the reason is simple.”
Emilia: “...Mana Gate frenzy.” Emilia: “When I entered the cemetery, it felt sooo bad. I think it's because something was meddling with my gate. I didn't have problems with any of the conditions, so it looks like it let me go... but for people who don't match the conditions, it bares its fangs.”
Emilia: “The interference goes through the gate to attack its target. ...Which means, the more gates the person has, the more damage the interference will do.” Roswaal: “Correct. Aaaand when you're me... well, it's a miiiiiracle I didn't burst.” Roswaal closes his eyes and looks at Subaru like, “Good thing you're untalented.”
Subaru: “So basically, a mage overflowing with ability would be near-death. All I got was a loss of consciousness. Man, it's a good thing I've got such little potential as a mage.”
Emilia: “I, I mean yes, but... Doesn't that judgement of yourself hurt?”
Subaru: “I'm relatively accustomed to being made aware of the things I can't do and can't achieve. It's okay, Emilia-tan, it's by things only I can do that I show my love for you. So for now are we good to start that list with 'whispering you husky loves'?”
Emilia: “After the Royal Selection's over and things've calmed down I'll think over it for you.”
Subaru: “So at least three years away!?”
Subaru: “But,”
Subaru: “Leaving the qualifications or whatever aside, that place kills mages. No idea who set that up, but all there's to say about them is they're a dick.”
Roswaal: “Considering that the Mathers family has managed the cemetery for generations, you realise the one who constructed the algorithms wooooould have been one of my ancestors.”
Subaru: “Er, sorry... or not really. The hell. That fits way too well with my image of your ancestors. It's like they're reincarnating all over, Roz-chi's family.”
Behold, the theory of the previous generation's head dying and using the next generation's head as a puppet for their will. Just thinking it is fucking terrifying and Subaru shakes his head to deny it. Roswaal smiles as if caught off-guard by a joke.
Roswaal: “There was a clan that researched such magic buuuuut they were almost definitely plucked to nothing quiiiiiiiiiiiite a long time ago. ...And, though you're saying the cemetery's environment kills mages, theeeeeere's a more accurate way to describe it.”
Subaru: “Being?”
Roswaal: “It's simple. —That place is filled with witch's miasma. It's a nightmarish environment that makes people passing mana through their gate go insane. Thaaaat's what you call miasma.”
Subaru knits his brows at the word 'miasma.' He trawls his memory to find where he's heard to before, and if he's right, it was when talking about—
Subaru: “The Witch of Envy. If I remember correctly, the place where she's sealed is full of that miasma or something or other...”
Roswaal: “Hoooow impressive that you knew. Weeeell, that's because it's a well-known story. Even now, the shrine with the witch-sealing stone where the Witch of Envy sleeps is filled with miasma thick enough to distort everything in the observer's view. If the miasma in the cemetery rejects things unfitting to the conditions, the shrine's miasma is an indiscriminate mind-invading, flesh¬ destroying, soul-degrading phenomenon of genuine malice. It's rumoured that even followers of the Witch Cult, with their machinations to revive the Witch, caaaaan't get anywhere near it.”
Subaru: “So even the cultists can't get in... no, actually that's apparent. If they get in and can unfasten the seal, they'd win by distracting public attention somewhere else and rushing into the shrine.”
Subaru thinks of Betelgeux, who screamed that reviving the Witch was his ultimate goal. Even that love-shrieking madman hadn't started enacting any plans to free the Witch through direct methods. Considering that he was actually a spirit, maybe the better way to think is that he'd be powerless when faced with miasma.
Roswaal: “Aaaaanyway, the Witch's own miasma prevents anyone from approaching the Witch's seal, so no one can unseal it. And that's without touching on that you'd have to sneak by the Sage Shaula, guarding over the land from the Watchtower, iiiiiiiiiiif you want to approach the shrine.”
Subaru: “I've heard that somewhere before, that Sage Shaula. That makes her the second Sage I know. Flugel, and this Shaula.”
Roswaal: “Flugel, the tree Flugel? Iiiiiit's true that he's called a Sage, buuuut to compare him to Sage Shaula is just a liiiiiiitle rough.”
Subaru: “What. They're both Sages, don't play Sage favourites. You won't get away with slighting Flugel-san in front of me, when I kinda owe him.”
Either way, Flugel seriously helped out for the White Whale subjugation. Mr. Flugel couldn't have possibly thought that the tree he planted would help exterminate a monster 400 years in the future. Whether or not he'd be happy about that is another story.
Subaru: “With a tree that gigantic, the felled portion can definitely be used for lots of different... actually no, maybe there's a chance it all blew up during that commotion with the time bomb?”
Roswaal says some bullshit and calls Emilia's name in a low voice, getting the focus back on her. Emilia raises her head.
Roswaal: “To return to the topic, that you're qualified is mooooore important than anything. Now you can take the TRIAL in the cemetery. And in saying, there's something I have to ask.”
Roswaal says solemnly, in a low voice devoid of any clownishness. Emilia's gaze turns serious as well.
Roswaal: “It is a simple question. —Will you be willing to take the TRIAL?”
Subaru: “I got something to ask before she answers. Why exactly does she have to be taking this TRIAL?”
Says Subaru before Emilia can answer, taking a step in front of her and raising his hand. Ram's eyes take a dangerous glint, but Roswaal puts her in check by also raising a hand.
Roswaal: “Sooooounds like a question yooooou'd ask. If the TRIAL isn't taken, those with the QUALIFICATIONS can't leave Sanctuary. Perhaps you've heard this much froooom Garfiel?”
Subaru: “Yeah. But that's no reason for Emilia-tan having to do it. That Witch of Greed's cemetery goddamn reeks of mould. We don't know if something dangerous'll happen in there. How could Emilia-tan, important person and Royal Selection participant, be forced to go in there? The heck is up with that?”
Roswaal: “Hmmm. Weeell, call it sensible and it iiiiiit's sensible logic. Iiiiif we're just looking for someone to take the TRIAL, then a different qualified person... that alone, theeeeen I wouldn't care if Garfiel did it.”
Garfiel: “Eh? The amazin' me, seriously? Ain't like I really mind. I challenge the TRIAL n' blast right through n' it'll be a BARBARMOA'S RIGHT-RIGHT-LEFT.”
Garfiel points to himself with his thumb and smiles wide. Subaru ignores what he's saying and focuses more on whether what he's saying can be trusted. If the Trial's something that only has to be beaten by one person, then there's no need for Emilia to do it. It's better that someone else qualified, who has a more certain chance of getting through does it. Even if that meant, worse case, that it be the qualification-granted Subaru.
???: “Nyerr, that'd be a tidge'r a problem.”
Says a voice Subaru's never heard before from the entrance of the room. Subaru glances back in surprise and looks at Garfiel, leaned against the door, who waves his hand in front of his face.
Garfiel: “Ain't the amazin' me. 'S this old hag.”
Says Garfiel as he uses his hand to indicate to the space beside him. Subaru lowers his gaze to find someone even more petite than Garfiel there, standing beside him.
???: “Who'ser old hag. Were yer raised as er ferl-mouthed, stinking little brat?”
Says a tiny, tiny little girl with long, wavy pink hair, her attitude that of an adult. Her facial features are well organized, and she's a cute little girl. About as old as Petra, so around 11 or 12. Her hair is fine and fluffy. She's wearing a white robe where the sleeves are so long that they dangle, her hands only just peeking out. Going by how she speaks and how Garfiel addressed her,
Subaru: “I thought it'd be coming someday but seriously how is this where it shows up, the loligranny!”
Girl: “I gotter feeling I just gert called something innerpropriate, er is it just me?”
Emilia: “Uhmm, I think he uses 'loli' a lot with Beatrice... it means small, right?”
The little girl looks up unsatisfied at a stunned Subaru, who hears Emilia's muttering, which shows clear proof of her high experience points in knowing Subaru. Subaru raises a finger.
Subaru: “Yes, correct Emilia-tan. To be more specific, it means 'too young to be in my conquest range'. By adding the words 'loli' and 'granny' together, we complete the miraculous combination of a youthful exterior and a granny's interior! Personally loli characters are out of my reach anyway so you have that, but I can understand the excellence of gap moe!”
Girl: “Gyahp moay?”
Subaru: “Girls who usually act like the chivalrous older sister type, but some tiny parts of childishness or lack of everyday knowledge or sincere gullibility show through, that is yet another form of gap moe!”
Emilia puts her finger to her lips saying, “So there are girls like that...”, her face showing assent. That Emilia didn't notice that those traits all applied to her is unbearably adorable for Subaru, but the little girl doesn't look so pleased.
Girl: “So? I dern't know what this loli yer talking abert is, but yer mean me with that 'granny granny granny' yer doing. We gert someone even ruder than Lil' Roz on their ferst meeting here.”
Subaru: “Oop, excuse me for that, mademoiselle. My name is Natsuki Subaru! Heartthrob witchbeast hunter. Well, but I mean I wasn't the one who got the finishing blow on either of them though.”
He says with an energetic thumbs up, and his introduction comes to a somewhat disappointing close. He points his palm at the little girl, who looks suspicious about all this.
Subaru: “Now I've given my name, so time for you to please introduce yourself as well. Give a simple profile of hobbies + skills. If you could throw in your most attractive feature too then that's even better.”
Girl: “...Lewes Meyer. I'm sermething like the representative erv this Sanctuary, more er less.”
Her fingers alone peeking out of her sleeve, Lewes scratches her forehead.
Lewes: “Didn't nertice it when you werr sleeping, but yer really a sad boy who goes past just being rude. Feel it wers a waste giving yer the bed.”
Subaru puts together that the bed he was sleeping on is the one Lewes is talking about, so that means...
Emilia affirms that this is Lewes' house. It's close to the cemetery, and Garfiel carried Subaru here. She thanks Lewes for everything.
Emilia bows her head, Lewes shakes her head loosely. It seems that the two have become acquaintances while Subaru was asleep. And if it's true that Lewes was looking after him,
Subaru: “I'm sorry for being rude and inconsiderate of what you've done for me. That you lent me the bed sincerely helped me out. And my apologies came late too, sorry for all this piling up!!”
Lewes: “...What, I'm serprised. So yer not like Lil' Gar and can give an honest apology. Yer were Natsuki... yer Subaru. Lil' Su, then.” Subaru complains a little about that form of adresss sounding like a sibling giving a weather report but it's fine, he'll be calling her Lewes-san. Lewes loses her dissatisfied expression. Subaru: “By the way,” Subaru: “You said before that it would be a problem, but why is that? Is there some kind of problem that would happen if Garfiel cleared the TRIAL?”
Lewes: “Quick ter change gears, aren't yer. Yearh, yer right. It's a problem. A big problem. Anyone from Sanctuary tries challenging the TRIAL, and it goes against the contrect.” Subaru: “Contracts again...” Subaru's face sours and he looks at Roswaal. Roswaal shrugs. Roswaal: “Uuuuuunfortunately, that contract is completely unrelated to the Mathers family... is not how unrelated it is to cleeeeeearly assert that, but the Mathers aaaaaren't the main culprit. My family is eeeeeextremely auxiliary in it.” Subaru: “Your defence proclamations are whatever so get explaining. Details of the contract's contents, in three sentences.”
Roswaal: “Striiiiiiict. Weeeell, putting it simply, the TRIAL must be overcome for the residents of SANCTUARY to be released, buuuut the one to challenge the trial needs to be someone from the outside wiiiiith qualifications. Sooooo, with the current situation...”
Emilia: “I'm the only one who can do it, is what it is.” Roswaal nods and looks at Lewes. Roswaal: “Aaaaand, all the residents of SANCTUARY have aaaaaalready agreed. They're expecting that Emilia to challenge the TRIAL, and cooooonquer it.”
Emilia: “I don't want you to think I'm shying away by asking this, but... just for example, what would happen if someone other than me challenged the TRIAL?” Lewes: “Nobody, er at least nert since I've been erround, has challenged the Trial. So I can't say anything to yer example. That no-one's challenged it is the same fer both residents and outsiders.” Subaru: “No one at all until now? I'm terrified to ask but, Lewes how old are you.”
Lewes: “Well at least I don't know abert the time when this place wers made. I think it's been erround one hundred and something-teen yeers, but...”
Subaru: “Way more than enough! You're the oldest person I've met until now, at least.” If you ignore spirits and witches with mental bodies. Subaru then glances at Emilia with concern, but even so, Emilia's expression doesn't lose its darkness.
Emilia: “Anyway, I understand the circumstances.” And she boldly accepts the challenge of taking the trial. Subaru: “You're really attractive when you're brave and determined, Emilia-tan, but shouldn't we look for a slightly more careful plan? We search for a backroad or a sidepath or something, and I don't think we'll be too late to do the challenge afterwards.”
Emilia: “I think it's sooo not good to rain on people's parades when they're motivated.” Subaru: “It's just, there's something suspicious or I guess we're being forced onto this ride or I guess, something but I can't get rid of this uncomfortable feeling, honestly. Things seem a little too organized, like preparations were in place for us to go on this path and now it's even going as far as controlling the traffic.” Emilia: “I have no idea that means. Subaru, sometimes you say things that're sooo bamboozling.” Subaru: “Who says bamboozling anymore?” Emilia's gaze only gets sharper. Subaru frantically waves his hands about. Subaru: “Nonono,” Subaru: “Nevermind that, I mean that this situation feels way too set up. Being called into a place where mixed races can't leave means you have to endeavour to get out, Emilia-tan. And on top of that, everyone's already gotten everything explained and understood.” Emilia: “Set up, by who.”
Subaru: “Who? There's only one person who coulda.” In response to Emilia's question, Subaru does a turn on the spot. Once he reaches the end of his rotation, he jabs out his finger straight ahead.
Subaru: “You!” Garfiel: “Ehh? My amazin' self?” Subaru: “Er, no, sorry, I turned too far. Thiswaythiswaythisway—there, you, Roswaal.” Roswaal: “Nooooothing could've been sloppier.”
Roswaal immediately closes one eyes, and with Subaru reflected in his yellow eye,
Roswaal: “Buuuut, your guesses are as good as always. These circumstance aaaaaare something I desired and created. Ooooof course, I didn't go as far as contributing the stage itseeeeelf.”
Subaru: “You know, I think I've got it.” Subaru: “First, I thought your injuries were strange. You should've known that you're not qualified to challenge the TRIAL. This land is under the Mathers family's management, and you're acquaintances with Garfiel so this's apparent.”
Roswaal: “That's... correct. Mhm, you're right.” Subaru: “So, you should've known that your unqualified self'd be rejected if you tried going in. But then why did you enter the tomb? Some kind of arbitrary rebellion against the world? Or you crossed the limit of how long you could suppress your masochism? Both ideas are likely, but I think it was neither.” Roswaal: “Myyyy gooooodness. Iiiiis this the image of me that's inside you, Subaru-kun?” Subaru: “Meaning,” Subaru: “If being injured like this is exactly what Roswaal intended, there's significance to it. And
I'd wager that significance, probably, is connected to the Royal Selection.” Roswaal goes silent. Subaru: “Also by the way something I wanna ask real quick. The Arlam villagers are gathered inside the cathedral right now, yeah?” Off Subaru goes doing a high-speed topic change, aiming his question this time at Ram. She nods. Ram: “Yes, they are. The civilians are all together in the cathedral... which would place them in confinement by the residents of Sanctuary.” Subaru: “There you go, confinement. Before, our talk wound up getting cut off to go see the cemetery, but... what exactly is with this 'confinement'. Why is it necessary for these guys from Sanctuary to confine Roswaal and the villagers?” This time, Subaru points the question at Garfiel. His sharp gaze narrows further. Garfiel: “Ain't it obvious?” Garfiel: “'Sayin', this ain't us try'na getta way outta some troubled times. It don't feel good for'r problems t'be left lyin' there n' then have the Lord n' his tag-alongs come 't use our circumstances nicely.”
Subaru: “And your problems are of course...” Lewes: “That we can't leave Sanctuary fer the outside werld, 'd be it.” Some gloom runs over Lewes' face, her voice thin. Lewes: “Just like how I said befer, it's already been a hundred and some decades since I wers born.
But I've never gone ertside Sanctuary. I've been bound ter this land by contract ever since my berrth.
Which's why I'd half but given up, but... I haven't let go'er hope.” The mood of the room changes. Lewes and Garfiel have just given the reason why Subaru and the others are confined here—that is, they just confessed motive for the crime. Subaru hadn't been consciously aware of this until now, but his relationship with these two is one of detainers and detainees. An assailant and a victim.
Subaru: “So then it's that. You're taking the villagers as hostages... and your demand's to be released from SANCTUARY.” Lewes: “Dersn't bother me if that's how yer take it. And, the person who can ferfil that condition is...”
Lewes glances at Emilia. Emilia: “Me. —That's what's happening here.” Emilia accepts this with understanding, and closes her eyes for several seconds. When she opens them again, there's not a trace of doubt. Her resolve is firm. Emilia: “You haven't done anything bad to the villagers, have you?” Garfiel: “'F course not. Treatin' them nasty when's like this's 'same 'xact thing as lashin' out. 'D rather die than be that dishonest.” Emilia's ability to put herself second truly is amazing. That her attention turns to the villagers and strangers when she's also deciding to challenge a maybe-dangerous Trial is good proof of that. Perhaps that strength and weakness of hers is why Subaru never stops being allured to her. Roswaal: “Yoooou don't look satisfied.” Subaru: “...Of course I'm not. None of this changes that we're just going along with your intentions.
All that's changed is us going from not realising we're going along with it, to us knowing that even though we realise we're going along with it we have no choice but to go along with it.” Subaru grits his teeth to hold back his frustration and clicks his tongue at Roswaal, who's looking at him with a smile in his eyes. Subaru then suddenly glances back at Roswaal as if remembering something.
Subaru: “I forgot to mention this, but about the motive behind those injuries.”
Roswaal: “Mmhm mmhm, do go on. Iiiiii won't be grading you.”
Subaru: “It's a performance. No, it's an opening gambit.”
Roswaal's expression hardens slightly. Subaru closes one eye.
Subaru: “I doubt the Arlam villagers'd accept being in confinement so easily. Some backlash must've happened. To settle that, I think something indicating action was necessary. If you the Lord could've got violent and driven Garfiel away or something, that would've been fine, but... the people of Sanctuary are under your governance too. You can't do something like that.”
Roswaal: “Hmm. Aaaaand what happens then?”
Subaru: “They have no choice but to swallow down the conditions Garfiel's side puts out. That is, the release of the mixed-races from Sanctuary. But for that, Emilia-tan's cooperation is entirely essential. But, neither the residents or the villagers would just accept that. Which means the story's simple. —If you go to challenge the TRIAL, which shows intention to follow the residents' demands, as well as displays a will to release the villagers from confinement, everything works.”
Roswaal goes silent.
Subaru: “I don't know if you predicted how much damage you'd take from the miasma, but if you estimated it wouldn't kill you, it'd be unfavourable for you not to challenge it. Ultimately, the more damage you take, the more serious your attempt appears and the more sympathy you earn. And this arrangement also puts expectations on the next big challenger.”
So basically, fucking everything about him being wounded is exactly according to Roswaal's intentions, and exactly how he played the whole scene out. The villagers know how strong Roswaal is. And the Trial can wound him this badly. So what would they think of someone who could come along to scale this wall and save them?
Subaru: “That's all. It's just an impression built off a bundling of malice and prejudice, but how's the answer sheet look like?”
Roswaal: “—Myyyyy, I aaaaaaam surprised. I am truly, sincerely, sincereeeeerely surprised. Juuuust what on earth has happened to yoooooou over the past few daaaaaays?”
Roswaal laughs from the back of his throat, claps his hands, and pulls his face back into a cheery smile.
Roswaal: “Woooooonderful. You certainly reached what's almost peeeeeeeerfectly the correct answer. I didn't believe you'd be able to read this far. Iiiiiiiindeed, you truly weeeeeere a find.”
Subaru: “Lovely, thanks. Makes me wanna puke.”
Unable to hide the bad feeling in his chest, Subaru shifts his gaze aside. Roswaal's intentions are clearly for Emilia's benefit, and that Subaru internally does approve of them just makes his chest feel worse.
Emilia hasn't noticed this little chat going on between the two, and Subaru has absolutely no intention of telling her about it. But if Emilia is always facing only forward, then good. Subaru didn't want to inform her, who desires purity and nobility, of the dark background dealings going on. If Subaru covering himself in mud can get Emilia to receive showers of praise, then good.
As of yet, Emilia has no achievements recognised for the Royal Selection, and no firm stance.
Subaru again resolves to work as hard as he can to help her. Behind Subaru's back, with his weight leaned onto the bed, is Roswaal. Roswaal: “...Almost, the correct answer. That waaaasn't the only reason I entered the cemetery.” He mutters so quietly that it only reaches the ears of Ram, who lowers her pained gaze.
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