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CHAPTER 31: MAID MAID MAID 

—This makes it the second time Subaru's returned to Roswaal's mansion from SANCTUARY. 

Subaru: “Which's because I had a terrible experience the first time...” 

Mutters Subaru as he dismounts from Patrasche before the mansion gates, scratching his cheek. The evacuees, Otto and Subaru safely returned to Arlam Village after parting with Lewes. Though, that was something he already accomplished last loop, and he didn't have any worries there considering his trusty Patrasche. 

Subaru: “The villagers being delighted and Otto staying behind a bit's same as last time. If I'm being honest I'd want to bring Otto along as a human shield, but...” 

Subaru had hesitated to insist Otto come along to the mansion. Considering the potential that there's danger here, bringing along Otto, who doesn't seem capable of responding to split-second conditions, wasn't something he should do. Subaru can't beat Otto in a straight fistfight, but that doesn't make Otto some amazing strong-guy. Subaru would prefer not to be stuck with seeing Otto's entrails if faced with the Guthunter. 

Subaru: “Please let nothing have happened...” 

The last time Subaru came here, it was six days after the start of the TRIAL. This time it's the third day—three days of space left, compared to last time. The concept of the night Subaru got killed being the same time the mansion got attacked lines up with various speculations. The problem is, 

Subaru: “Three days left... So the schedule to get Frederica talking, get straight back to SANCTUARY, promptly solve SANCTUARY's problem, and return to the mansion is tight. Looking purely at time alone, it's not impossible, but...” 

The route between SANCTUARY and the mansion takes about 8 hours travel one-way. A two-way trip by itself eats up practically a whole day. And if you considered the time loss between those moments, Subaru's freely usable time would likely get even more severe. 

Subaru: “There's several methods for solving the problem, but... the optimum one, or I suppose most expedient one is expectedly strict.” 

Being that he knows of Elsa's attack beforehand, the optimum path as far as Subaru's concerned is to repel her. He'd like this settled, if possible, with a victory that meant they he wouldn't have to be afraid of that assassin any longer. Necessary for that was a combat force superior to Elsa, and that could only be achieved with either Roswaal or Garfiel. Presently, the chances of returning to the mansion again with them wasn't looking good. 

Subaru: “Ultimately, have to go ahead on the second-best track...” 

Laments Subaru as he scratches his head, Patrasche bringing her snout over. Subaru smiles wryly as Patrache nuzzles his shoulder, patting her rough neck. 

Subaru: “There's reward corresponding to the risk, but in exchange it doesn't look like we can prepare chances of winning to balance the risk. Haveta go with the plan of turning tail and scattering like a bunch of baby spiders.” 

This was one of the ideas that had passed through his mind during the fight with the Witch Cult. He could see possibility with the amount of pieces he had last time, but this time his hand is paltry. Even just sensing the attack beforehand and managing to escape could be called highly satisfactory. But there was a problem there, too. 

Subaru: “The people in the mansion. Rem, Petra, Frederica, and... dunno if Beako'll be cooperative about evacuating. Honestly if I carry Rem on my shoulders and hold Petra's hand, seems like we could go, but it's gonna take a lot convincing the other two.” 

Subaru of course had the intention to force them into the carriage and abduct them if he had to. He didn't think he could beat either of them in a fight, but he wanted to believe he could manage something if he twisted some arms and insisted he wouldn't give up. 

Subaru: “—Huu.” 

Subaru sighs, aware of the building weight of responsibility on his shoulders. Just how many people would his statements, actions, and resolve dictate the fates of? He'd been conscious of this same feeling the night before the White Whale fight, too. 

Subaru: “Can't just stand here at the gates freaking out forever. Still dunno if anything's happened inside. I'll go see everyone's uninjured faces, start there...” 

???: “Start there?” 

Subaru: “And then think of ways to persuade them. Yup. They don't know so if I make up some lie about it being on Roswaal's instructions or whatever...” 

???: “S-Subaru, that's naughty!” 

Subaru: “I'm just the age for aspiring towards being one of those naughty wild badboys... er,” 

Subaru hears a giggling behind him and turns around. On the other side of the gates, in the mansion garden, stands a little maid—a familiar young girl, Petra. Subaru's brows rise in surprise as she tilts her head cutely, her chestnut hair swaying. 

Petra: “I am graced to welcome you back, Subaru-sama. Your return has come earlier than I thought.” 

Subaru: “Right, I'm home... and thank you for that reception, can see Frederica's advanced-learners lessons peeking through.” 

With his cheeks unconsciously going loose with relief at Petra's grabbing the hem of her skirt and bowing, Subaru opens the gate and enters the property. Subaru tilts his head toward the ground dragon stables to indicate Patrasche go hang out there, and looks down at Petra beside him. 

She makes a bewildered expression at Subaru's staring at her, then hurriedly turns around and rights her hair and clothes with her hand. 

Petra: “Good,” 

She says satisfied, nodding, and turns back to Subaru. 

Petra: “What is the matter, Subaru-sama?” And she gives a lovable smile even sweeter than the last. Her cuteness paired with her pretty, bright-future-having face gives that smile a devilishness to entrap those of the opposite sex. It was a  smile calculated and perfect, with complete understanding of how others would perceive it. Faced with that, Subaru swallows his breath. Subaru: “Ahh, augghh! Seriously, just too cute, you!” Petra: “Wa-waah!?” Without noticing even a fragment of her underlying intentions, Subaru embraces her body in a hug  and pats her head vigorously-yet-lovingly. Petra makes a confused noise at the sudden action, but, 

Subaru: “Dunno what people're feeling and you're damn going all boing ding zoom. This girl, this girl! Augh, man goddamnit!” Petra: “What, what is ti!? Ah, wait, Subaru... it's still so early...” Subaru: “Seriously, god damn it.” Petra: “—Subaru?” Petra's expression changes. Still settled in his arms, Petra looks up at Subaru, his voice low, the  bashfulness and joy in her expression disappeared. Petra: “Does somewhere hurt?” Petra reaches her hand out to touch a trembling Subaru's cheek. Subaru presses his palm over those  fingers of hers, shaking his head. Subaru: “Nope,” He breathes in through his nose, stops. Opens his closed eyes. Subaru: “I'm just truly, from the bottom of my heart, relieved. —I'm home, Petra.” 

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ 

—Subaru returns Patrasche to the stables, holding the hand of a handhold-desiring Petra as he returns to the mansion. According to Petra, there's been no conspicuous changes in the mansion since Subaru and the others left. 

Petra: “Big Sis Frederica's out checking the barrier in the mountains, so we'll maybe kinda have to wait 'till she gets back... until her return.” 

Subaru thinks back on the barrier—the algorithm which had sealed the ulgarm. The ulgarm in the mountains are supposed to have been exterminated, but seems like the barrier's still around and in use. The barrier apparently has some property that keeps nasty witchybeasty things out even if they're not ulgarm, and it's Arlam village's and landlord Rowaal's faction's job to keep it maintained. 

Petra: “I think the job to patrol the barrier for cracks'll come back after all the villagers are back, but since not everyone's come home right now, Big Sis Frederica...” Subaru: “Your calling her Big Sis's getting across that your relationship deepened while I wasn't  looking, feels kinda tickly but nice. And also, all the villagers're back.” Petra: “Really?!” Subaru points toward the village, Petra's voice bounces up and her eyes sparkle. Her parents  would've gone with the group to the Royal Capital, and should've been safely back in the village, but that didn't change that all her close friends the villagers were all split up. Petra happily claps her hands. 

Subaru: “You go visit them afterwards. You show them your maid outfit and they'll be overjoyed.” Petra: “Mmhm. After I get permission from Big Sis Frederica, I'll get changed and go back!” Subaru: “No, don't get changed... you're so cute, so if you show everyone...” Petra: “Ehehee, I'm cute? I'm cute?” Subaru: “You're cute, you're cute. So make sure everyone...” Petra: “Right! I'll get changed and go back!” It's as if every time Subaru picks 'No' it gets drowned out by a peal of thunder. Perhaps having  something she's not going surrender, stubborn Petra isn't flinching so Subaru decides to give up. Subaru clicks his neck, gives a deep breath, and stops. Setting is the second floor of the mansion—shoesoles sliding over the carpet, Subaru raises his head and stares at the door. Petra somewhat sadly unhooks her fingers from the handhold. Smart girl. 

Subaru: “Sorry, Petra. Let us be alone for a while.” 

Petra: “Mm, understood. I shall be resuming my cleaning in the west building, so please call me if there is anything.” Petra puts back on her discarded maidliness, gives a small bow, and leaves. Riding off her  thoughtfulness, Subaru pokes himself in the head, knowing he has things to do closing in on him. Pokes himself, but still— 

Subaru: “When it's to talk, wondering what I should prioritise... this is where I wind up.” Pushing the door open, Subaru slowly treads into the room. A room where time remains still. Inside that plain place is a bed—and upon it, a sleeping girl. Stripped of her familiar maid outfit, wrapped in a pale blue nightgown. Her eyes closed, not even her breathing is audible. Only the quiet thumping of her heartbeat provided the meagre proof that she was yet tied to existence. 

Subaru: “...Rem.” 

Surely the whirlpool of emotion packed into that word would be apparent to anyone. A torrent of endless emotion he could direct at only one in the entire world. Subaru had steeled himself to face any hardship without wavering, turning his heart to iron. Had steeled to raise his head and proceed without leaning on anyone. 


—That determination and resolve vanishes the instant he's with her. 

Subaru had told Emilia to leave it to him, pulled her hand forward to do something, strongly exhibited that he would do it. That outer layer of determination peeled away the moment he was with her. 

Subaru: “So pathetic... I'm seriously, so weak.” 

The second he's with Rem, back to being the once-weak Natsuki Subaru does Subaru revert. Back to the time when Rem's devotion affirmed him, and he first stood, does Subaru revert. 

He slowly reaches for her sleeping face, his fingers brushing away her bangs. Her expression hasn't changed at all, the prospects of the EATEN girl returning still as yet unrealised. But if he regardless left her sleeping here without doing anything, even this vessel would be lost. 

Subaru: “You might not feel this way, but it's thanks to you that my resolve hardens.” 

Subaru can tell that the surface of his weak and brittle heart has been peeled, and is steadily being replaced with a covering of steel. Rem's sleeping visage, her assuredly present heartbeat, just the very fact that she was there, sent Natsuki Subaru back to that time. To that moment, to that feeling of being born again. 

Subaru: “It's because you told me that my weak self was fine, because you proposed me that I get stronger... that I've been able to stand up so many times, saying that I'll do something.” 

No matter what pain, suffering, hardship, or other unpleasantness awaited, her full-souled love healed Subaru. Spurring him forward, his heart wishing to match up. 

Subaru: “You, and Petra, and everyone else... I'll get you all out of here safely.” 

Tenderly stroking her forehead, Subaru holds back his desire to touch her further. The breeze blows into the room as he simply sits there, silent, seated, at her bedside. Pouring all of a section of precious time into her was the best Subaru could currently do to present his heart to her. 

Who could say how much time passed calmly like that. A knock on the door pulls Subaru's consciousness away from vacantly staring at Rem and back into reality. He raises his head, looks towards the door. 

Subaru: “Yes?” 

???: “I apologize for my intrusion. —It delights me to find that you have returned without incident, Subaru-sama.” 

A tall maid silently pushes the door open and enters the room. Her blonde hair sways, her body accustomed to her graceful movements—Frederica. She looks at Subaru beside the sleeping Rem, and bows her head. 

Frederica: “There would be several inquiries I would like to make... but I am certain you are in the same mind, Subaru-sama. Let us change the setting. Sleeping as she may be, I suspect you would not especially desire for her to hear.” 

Subaru: “Makes things quick. ...Do you have an idea what I want to talk about?” 

Frederica: “Most probably.” 

Subaru gives a small sigh as he stands up. He gives Rem's face one last touch, and balls his hand into a fist to dispel the regret. 

Subaru: “Your rowdy foul-mouthed little brother, and the gap moe who looks like a loli but has granny insides. Then the test site in SANCTUARY, and Roswaal's plans. Let me look forward to just how quickly and how many answers I'm gonna be getting.” 

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ 

Frederica: “That the Master neglected to return would suggest the TRIAL is yet to be finished.” 

The two have left Rem's bedroom and relocated to the parlour. Setting a steaming cup of black tea before Subaru, Frederica seats herself opposite him with that statement as her first line. Subaru stirs his tea with his spoon, nodding. 

Subaru: “Yeah,” 

Subaru: “Seriously makes things quick. —You know, I kinda wanna object to how little you told us seeing us off when you knew so much about the place.” 

Frederica: “I shall present you no excuses. That I neglected to exhaustively speak regarding SANCTUARY, the TRIAL, and my doltish little brother is truth.” 

Frederica's matter-of-fact tone carries no guilt in it. But to say there was no meekness in it would be wrong. It was also hard to pin it as her suppressing her emotions, and was ultimately a presented apathy which kept Subaru from supposing her true feelings. The same kind of type as Ram—but considering the length of Frederica and Subaru's relationship, Frederica is harder. 

Subaru: “Like I said in the room before, I've got some things I wanna ask... but is it safe for me to anticipate I'll get an answer for all of them?” 

Frederica: “...I certainly doubt I will be able to answer to your expectations. Being that SANCTUARY has not been released, the contract between myself and the Master remains as tied. So long as I am following the contract, the information I am capable of conveying to you shall be limited.” 

Subaru: “Contracts again... goddamn everybody.” 

Just interpret the damn contract according to the environment! Is what he wanted to yell, but being that he'd pledged to Emilia to keep his promises, his heart had some reproaches about forcing that upon others. 

Subaru: “Is it okay if I ask you about the details of that contract?” 

Frederica: “It is not. A contract is shared between myself and Roswaal-sama, and so being that it exists, the information I may disclose is limited. —That is the only thing I am capable of speaking on this topic.” 

Subaru: “That didn't increase the information load at all. Shit, that bastard pulled some fucking nonsense preparations on this. I'm serious the only thing I can think here's he's turning hostile.” 

Subaru clicks his tongue and pulls himself together with a sip of tea. Just tastes like leaves as always, but with all this tea he's had passing through his throat, he has indeed become able to discern which leaves are expensive and which are not. —Tongue says: these are expensive. 

Subaru: “Not the place to mention it. ...That you're from SANCTUARY, and are Garfiel's big sister, does line up with the facts, right? Or would this also be beyond your capabilities of answering?” 

Frederica: “No, it would be no issue. The details... more accurately, I am not from SANCTUARY, but rather I was raised there. Although being that I was already living there when I first achieved self-awareness, it would most practically be truth to simply say you were correct.” 

Subaru: “It's not your birthplace... right actually Lewes-san said that too. Something like how Roswaal brings half-bloods along from elsewhere and makes them live there.” 

Subaru: “Half-bloods can't pass through the barrier, which means bringing half-bloods inside from elsewhere is the same as trapping them in. Why the hell is he... and, for being trapped, the people there are pretty...” 

They all looked to live peacefully, without any especially great dissatisfaction. Their lives appeared unrelated to the sense of entrapment resulting from being forcibly shut in, or the corresponding anger. Meaning even the people who were brought there from elsewhere had apparently accepted their lives in SANCTUARY. —Was there some significance to it? 

Frederica: “Would you be aware of the Demihuman War, Subaru-sama?” 

Subaru: “...Demihuman War. Just going by the sound of it, feels like I've heard it somewhere before.” 

If he seriously digs through his memory, he figures he's probably heard the term once or twice. Frederica passes her fingers through her long, blonde hair, and quietly covers the fangs peeking out between her lips. 

Frederica: “The meaning behind that SANCTUARY's existence, and Roswaal-sama's ideas. If you would like to investigate either, we would first have to discuss for a moment the DEMIHUMAN WAR.” 

Standing up, Frederica heads deeper into the parlour. Subaru's gaze follows her as she picks up a box on a table at the back of the room— 

Frederica: “There is no need to be so wary. They are merely confectioneries for the tea.” 

Breaking into a slight smile, she returns and presents the box to Subaru. Inside are sweets characteristic of this world, which he can only eat here at Roswaal's mansion. Subaru looks between the sweets and Frederica's face, comparing them. 

Frederica: “It seems liable to become a long, tedious story. Please do take your time in accommodating me.”





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