CHAPTER 8: A LONG-AWAITED REUNION
Subaru pokes his head out the carriage window to stare down at SANCTUARY, which is just a few hundred meters out from where the forest opens up. He sees wooden houses spotted around in the distance, and the place has nothing in particular that grabs the attention—it just looks like some needy village from this distance.
Subaru: “Place's thick with a depressing atmosphere...”
The old, stone gates at SANCTUARY's entrance only reinforce that impression, and the short fence around the village gives the place a closed-off vibe. Hearing that, Garfiel forcefully taps his knees.
Garfiel: “Sure is. 'S a depressin' place. Jussayin', the people inside're even more depressin'. Every fuckin' anybody's got this gloomy look, like they're livin' but they're dead.”
Subaru: “Pretty disparaging, aren't you. But, hearing that just makes this place sound even less like a SANCTUARY.”
Subaru reconsiders what he's about to say,
Emilia: “What would 'Witch of Greed's Cemetery' mean, exactly?”
But Emilia gets there first. Her expression's resolute, but her fingers catch on the hem of Subaru's clothing. Subaru is fully satisfied with this truth of being relied upon, but simultaneously has mixed feelings, having a guess as to why she's uneasy.
Subaru: “Witch—it's common knowledge that the being called the WITCH is the Witch of Envy. The existence of other witches for the other deadly sins is practically unknown to the masses.”
Emilia: “Wha, really? But wouldn't they have been well-known people for the last 400 years?”
Garfiel: “What yer sayin' ain't wrong, Emilia-sama. Yeah, think Subaru's got it. The Witch of Envy's too famous n' overshadowed the others. 'Most no records're still 'round 'bout the other witches eaten by the Witch of Envy. But well, still get some exceptions.”
Emilia: “And this place would be one of them?”
Emilia's eyes are wide, her knowledge on the witch cult somehow worse than Subaru's. Subaru suddenly gets a really bad thought that blows away his carefree feeling. If there's several witches,
Subaru: “T-there's no way there's a Witch Cult for every witch, right? Thinking of how much effort plucking off just one Cardinal of Sin took... augh just give me a break.”
Going off Betelgeux's ramblings, it's safe to say there's at least one sect that worships the Witch of Envy, Satella. And the two Cardinals that Subaru would absolutely have to defeat someday, GLUTTONY and GREED, would fall into that same sect. But if there were adherents for the other witches as well— Otto: “That's a terrifying thought, Natsuki-san, but there's no need to worry.”
Different from the witch-ignorant Emilia and not-quite-trustworthy Garfiel, Otto's word has credibility and consciousness of the public thought. The things Otto knows are more than likely the things any normal person would know.
Otto: “The Witch Cult... isn't something I'd especially like to speak about but, the only figure they worship is the Witch of Envy. One would hesitate to speak of witches outside of the Witch of Envy.”
Subaru: “They'd prefer the Witch of Envy? What? You mean the others are even worse than the Witch of Envy?”
Otto: “I would mean people are terrified of what the Witch Cult might do if they hear the name of a witch that isn't the one they worship. Are you aware of the incident in the Empire of Volakia in the south where a city was annihilated?”
Subaru does remember hearing about this (from Wilhelm while looting Betelgeuse's body which got cut in the anime). If he remembers correctly,
Subaru: “The Cardinal of GREED destroyed an entire city in the Empire of Somethingorother all by himself. There was a hero but even he couldn't stop him.”
Otto: “The details of what happened are excessively boorish and leave a thin impression but, the reason the Witch Cult did such a thing was terrifying. It was the single most flourishing city of business in the insular Volakia, but... it appears some rumours came about that witch-related items were appearing on the market.”6
Subaru: “Witch-related.”
Otto: “Even now it's unclear what it was. But, there are more than a few dilettantes out there who desire such items. If it had just been something related to the Witch of Envy, it could've been settled there as simply being bad taste, but... as a result, a whole city was destroyed.”
So GREED likely acted either out of desire for that item, or to remove it. The Empire of Volakia stimulated the Witch Cult, and such a result befell them.
Otto: “Ever since, it has been taboo to have any involvement with witches outside the Witch of Envy, so as not to stimulate the cult. ...Although, that didn't cut off some of the shameless back-alley dealing going on.”
Subaru: “Weird to hear that kinda spite coming from you. It's almost like you were involved in it.”
Otto: “...It wasn't anything so big. It's simply that I had some relatives in that city who were dragged into the mess. It would've been over 15 years ago now, and I would've been a child. It has nothing to do with me.”
Not clear whether 'items' is singular or plural.
It's clear Otto isn't going to go into this any further so Subaru gives up on trying anything more on the topic. Seeing that Subaru's had his chat, Garfiel touches his hand to his chin.
Garfiel: “All satisfied?” Garfiel: “My amazin' self doesn't know the details. But the old gramps n' grans here keep sayin' the place is the Witch of Greed's Cemetery to the point it's a PEROMIO FESTERED FROM HEARIN' IT, so no way it's wrong.”
Subaru: “You have no idea how interested I am in knowing what exactly's getting festered but, guess you don't know the specifics either.” Garfiel: “My only interest's in my amazin' self bein' strongest. 'F you want the specifics you gotta grab Roswaal by the collar'n get'im talkin'. Dunno'f you can do that now, though.”
Subaru: “—? What's that mean?” Otto: “Excuse me. We're just about to arrive, but is it alright for us to simply continue inside?” Garfiel: “Nah.” Garfiel hops out of the carriage. Garfiel: “Go in without sayin' what's goin' on, and all the jitterbugs'll see outsider's n' invaders n' go full on attack n' it'll be a straight PERFORATED MAGMARIN LAUGHIN'.”
Subaru: “Okay, leaving it to you. Actually, thinking about it, that'd make your position here something like SANCTUARY’s patrol. Going by conditions when you ran into us.” Garfiel just waves the question away, refraining to answer. Subaru knits his brows at this, but
Emilia goes “Ah” in surprise which captures Subaru's attention. He follows Emilia's pointing finger with his gaze, to see someone standing.
???: “—You've returned, Garfiel. You certainly didn't take your time.” Garfiel: “Didn't hafta make a round through the forest. Not often I see you away from Roswaal, huh. Finally sick'a it?”
Ram: “Were such a thing to be truth, this place would surely be little more than burned-out ashes, set aflame by my desperate hands. Express your thanks to Roswaal-sama that no such thing has happened.”
Garfiel: “'S incredible logic, I don't get it at all!”
It's Ram. Garfiel's smiling happily at her, but Ram's expression toward him is cold and not particularly full of emotion. Seeing it makes Subaru's shoulders go lax in relief. Otto: “Ahh, so she would be the older sister I've heard about. I see. This is kind of self-evident, but she looks exactly like the sleeping young lady.” Since Otto's never seen Ram before. Subaru: “—Ram!” Subaru leans forward, waving his hand at her, and Ram notices him. Her eyes narrow as she stares at Subaru, and she shrugs, shaking her head. Ram: “I would not know how far a territory your noble considerations have broached, Barusu, but your late arrival is certainly disappointing. Had you noticed the irregularity sooner... ahh, Barusu could never manage that.” Subaru: “If you're going to say 'a territory your noble considerations have broached', stick with that tone the whole way, don't change it! Also this goes for Roswaal too but it's tough to figure out, you know, what it is you two want. But you're sure good at complaining afterwards!” Ram droops her shoulders and then looks at Emilia, standing next to Subaru. Emilia's also relieved to see Ram's safe. But Subaru manages to catch a fleeting instant of pain that runs through Ram's expression, but the instant disappears into nothing.
Ram welcomes Emilia-sama as well and advises that Roswaal is waiting, so follow her to the building in the back. Garfiel you escort the driver to somewhere appropriate. Garfiel complains about being turned into the errand boy and that there are ways of asking for things that actually make people motivated to do them.
Ram: “If you would like to eat my homemade cooking, endure it. Although I have nothing to say if you would rather squander this exclusive chance through your own actions and verbal errs.” Garfiel: “Fine! Fine! You ain't a comprehensible lady, but that's a good thing. Oi, driver guy. Park the dragons n' the carriage at the end there n' follow me.”
Otto: “I am fairly certain I did introduce myself properly, so would you please stop with the humiliating moniker!? Or actually, being left alone with this man would place me in not insignificant danger!”
Subaru shoots Otto a thumbs up. Subaru: “I'll pick up your bones!” Otto: “That is unmistakably not a phrase you would use to convey anything positive! Seriously, if something does happen I'll be claiming for compensation!”
Otto goes and parks the carriage and accompanies Garfiel deeper into the village. Subaru rubs Patrasche's snout for a bit and watches her off. Subaru: “Now,”
Subaru: “There's lots of things I want to ask and talk about, but am I really going to get to have a conversation in that vein anytime soon?” Ram: “...Permission has not been granted for me speak on matters. More desirable is that you converse directly with Roswaal-sama. I haven't an idea how far Garf let his mouth slip, however.”
Subaru: “Garf... oh, Garfiel. He's a lot different from the impression I had of him when all I knew was his name. Which reminds me, there's something kinda bothering me.” Ram: “What is it?” Ram's brows knit and her gaze is strict, but Subaru just crosses his arms. Subaru: “Does he love you? That's sorta what it felt like from what he was saying.”
Ram: “...And just when I began to wonder what you'd say.” Ram sighs, sincerely dumbfounded at that one. But since she didn't deny it, Subaru can't hold back a seriously out-of-place grin.
Subaru: “I won't say he's got strange tastes. You look cute. ...and I think he has the willpower to keep loving you over a long period of knowing you.” Ram: “That there are males in the world captivated by my abounding intellect and beauty is unavoidable. Although, I have already devoted my all to the one I should devote my everything, so I wouldn't say I desire it.”
Ram turns her back to Subaru and begins escorting. Subaru is kind of thrown by how smoothly she crushed Garfiel's dreams, and terrified of bringing up the topic he really should bring up. Subaru: “Being scared of bringing up Rem's name when it's this late already. Not like I'm expecting anything.”
He's terrified of confirming it. There was already Emilia and Petra, but now he's asking whether her biological sister has forgotten her. Subaru: “Can't help being depressed at the assumption. Anyway, let's follow Ram, Emilia-tan. — What is it?”
Ever since Emilia'd gotten out of the carriage with him, she's been looking around the surroundings, seemingly unable to calm down. Emilia: “Nothing,” She shakes her head. Emilia: “It's just kinda like, I can't calm down. What it call it... like I have a weird feeling, or... I don't really know how to say it.”
Subaru: “Can't calm down. For me who kept home out of people anxiety, everywhere new has that kind of feeling, but... I don't really feel anything especially bad here.”
Subaru joins Emilia in looking around the place, but the only real impression he gets is one of some needy old village. The age and lack of repairworks on houses stand out more compared to Arlam village, but the difference is slight enough to be chalked up to measurement error. But that's not saying there's nothing uncomfortable about this place. Subaru doesn't understand what exactly it is either.
Subaru: “Got no choice even if we put our guards up, Emilia-tan. Ram and Roz-chi are here, so all we can do is say that there's probably no danger.”
Emilia: “It's not exactly putting my guard up... no, I'm okay for now. But honestly, I wish I could've talked about things with Puck.”
Emilia touches the green crystal at herself, seriously uneasy about Puck's absence. Subaru's not fond of her seeing her weakness, or himself for not being a presence than can be relied upon for her.
Emilia: “—Subaru?”
Subaru: “Let's go. No matter what happens, just leave it to meat shield #2.”
Subaru takes her hand she used to touch the crystal, turning his head away as he speaks, and starts walking before she can object. Emilia of course is forced to follow behind. Subaru figures that what he just did was something liable to make flames spout from his face with how embarrassing it was, but his emotions acted quicker than his thoughts. Funnily enough it seems not thinking is fine.
Emilia: “—Yeah.”
Emilia doesn't shake her hand free.
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
So the house the wind up going to is comparatively more preserved that the other buildings in SANCTUARY, made out of stone and about the size of an ordinary single-story house in the original world. Its rooms are divided in a simple floorplan and it's a comfortable enough place. But for Subaru, who's gotten accustomed to Roswaal's mansion and Crushe's mansion, it feels cramped.
Roswaal: “Heeellooo, Emilia-sama, Subaru-kun. It feels as though it's been quiiiiite some time since we've last seen each other, hmmm?”
And there's Roswaal, smiling relaxedly and waving at Subaru. It's the first time Subaru's met Roswaal face-to-face since going to the Capital. Considering that he hadn't run into Roswaal at all during the last cycle of loops, that makes it closer to a month in Subaru time. Now Subaru has done plenty of grumbling over Roswaal over that time, and had thought to give him that slap across the face as the first thing he'd do upon their reunion, but.
Roswaal: “Fiiiirst of aaaall, that you're safe is more important than anything, Emilia-sama. I heard aboooouuut the problems around the mansion from Ram. Should anything have happened to you, I'd suuuuuurely have no will to go to on living.”
Subaru: “If that's what you think then you should've had less terrible preparations in... no, more importantly, what the heck's happened with you. What exactly is this.”
Roswaal's laid on the bed, his entire body covered in not-superficial wounds, bloodstained bandages wrapped around him.
Faced with Subaru's question and Emilia's silent gaze, Roswaal uses his relatively uninjured left hand to flip up the bandages over his left eye.
Roswaal: “Oooohh dear, you asked about theeeese? You are awaaaaare I am still a man? Simply exposing such a disgraceful sight is enough to wound my pride, so I'd appreciaaaaate it if you could understand my feelings and put this aside.”
Emilia: “There's no way we could do that. What really happened, Roswaal. To get injured like that... and especially, when it's you.”
Emilia's fingers trembles as she reaches out, hesitating to touch the wounded Roswaal. Roswaal gives her a bitter smile and looks up at the ceiling.
Roswaal: “Now,”
Roswaal: “Juuuust where to beeeegin. Weeeeell, these injuries of mine could perhaps be called wounds of honour, although such would have a strong implication of being unavoidable by my dignity is how I would liiiiiike to answer.”
Emilia: “Stop trying to get away with roundabout speech. I'm asking you seriously. Roswaal, answer me back seriously.”
Roswaal: “...It appeeeeeeears even Emilia-sama is not in the best of tempers. Buuuut considering where we are, peeeeerhaps there's no avoiding that.”
Subaru feels some discomfort at Emilia's stern tone at the exact same moment Roswaal points it out. Emilia's eyebrows raise slightly, and she frowns a little at the recognition that what he's pointing out is true.
Emilia: “I feel like I just can't calm down. What in the world is this place? We're calling it a SANCTUARY, but I can't think of it like that at all. Which would make this place...”
Roswaal: “A witch's cemetery, is a muuuuuch more easily agreed term for it.”
Roswaal's tone drops. Emilia looks toward Subaru, her emotions incredibly complex, and Subaru nods to her in recognition of her confusion. Subaru: “Wait, let's sort out all at once what we want to ask. If we keep talking like this, the conversation's going to go in some jumbled direction and we won't get anything coherent. We won't get even a single conclusion.” Roswaal: “Oooooooh? In the short time I've gone without seeing you, you've become quiiiiiite good at partitioning boundaries. Subaru-kun, coooould you have had some chaaaaange in your mental state?” Subaru: “If we're going to talk about that the conversation's gonna go on for ages, so once I'm done asking you my questions I'll sum it all up and brag. Ah, right. Just one thing.”
Subaru lifts a finger at the joking Roswaal, glaring at him.
Subaru: “We're in an allegiance with Crusch now. You probably heard about it from Ram, but I hope this makes you feel satisfied for leaving me behind.” Roswaal: “—I am deeeeeeefinitely satisfied. You truuuuuly were a find.” Subaru sighs and closes his eyes at a satisfied Roswaal. Subaru expected this, but it looks like his actions've just been going exactly with Roswaal's intentions. Anyway.
Subaru: “First, the people from Arlam village. Ram was fine so they're probably okay, but are the evacuees actually fine?” Roswaal: “Yoooou can relax about that. Perhaps my current situation doooooesn't make this sound credible, buuuuut I do have my position as Lord. I wholeheartedly work myself to protect my people. Everyone's living in the village cathedral.” Subaru: “The cathedral. Putting that off for now, the next point'd be...”
Relieved at this at least being confirmed, Subaru shoots Emilia a glance. She nods. Emilia: “Tell us about this place. You called it SANCTUARY. But Garfiel called it the WITCH OF GREED'S CEMETERY. Which one is true?”
Roswaal: “Both are true, Emilia-sama. This is the site of the once-Witch of Greed's—of Echidna's end, and a place I personally should call Sanctuary.” Subaru: “—Witch.” Emilia: “Echidna...”
Roswaal's reply comes quietly, with none of the clownish behaviour he'd been showing up until then. What he's saying is unquestionably true. Emilia's breath catches, and after blinking several times,
Emilia: “Witch of, Greed... a witch destroyed by the Witch of Envy, a different witch.”
Roswaal: “Yeeeees, exactly. No matter where you look in this world's history, her name remains nowhere. Except narrowly, in the memories of those who knew her.”
Subaru: “Waitwaitwait, isn't what you're saying weird.”
Somewhat overpowered by Roswaal's gaze, which has one eye narrowed, Subaru continues,
Subaru: “If my memory's right, the Witch of Greed... was done in by the Witch of Envy 400 years ago. I can agree that this place is where the witch met her end 400 years ago but... there no way it doesn't sound like you knew her yourself.”
Roswaal: “Iiiii wouldn't say that Iiiiii myself knew her. It's a kind of spoken legacy passed down through the Mathers family... through the Roswaals for geeeeeenerations.”
Subaru: “Spoken legacy... then, the head of the Mathers clan from forever ago had some connection with the Witch of Greed?”
Emilia: “—Echidna.”
Subaru: “Huh?”
Emilia's eyes open wide. Her gaze fixes on Roswaal, and after muttering “Echidna” once as if in confirmation,
Roswaal: “Goooo ahead, refer to her by name. Dooon't you think the address WITCH OF GREED has a nasty aura to it? And it's cumbersome.”
Emilia: “Er, right. So the site of Echidna's end is this village, which the Mathers family has been managing for generations... is that it?”
Roswaal: “Yeeeeees, that would be it. Although 'managing' implies more haaaands-on dealing with it than there is. Echidna's influence still remains here thickly, so entering without taking the proper methods is not possible. That you have been able to enter... means Frederica assisted you, I am sure.”
Roswaal nods. Subaru steps forward to get the conversation moving.
Subaru: “I get that this is Echidna's cemetery, and that it's under your management. What I don't understand from there is its purpose, and why you and the villagers haven't left.”
Roswaal: “This may sound strange coming from me, but you suuuuure accepted that eeeeeasily. And just when I'd been keeping this place's being a witch's cemetery cooooonfidential.”
Subaru: “The Witch of Envy's another thing, but I don't know about whatever this witch Echidna did. Being frank, it's probably something that even people who aren't me barely know about either. I think it's way too simplistic to suppose someone's evil just off the word 'witch'. Do you think it's possible just going off the word 'half-elf' to imagine how cute Emilia-tan is?”
Emilia: “...hk. D-Don't you say anything unnecessary. Surprise attacks are off-limits.”
A red-faced Emilia lightly pinches Subaru's side at how that serious talk casually turned into flirting. Subaru smiles wryly at this adorable counterattack, and Roswaal laughs disgustingly.
Roswaal: “It seems yooou two closed quiiiite some distance between yourselves while I wasn't watching. I wondered what on earth you'd do about that break-up you had at the Capital, but seeeeems you did well.”
Subaru: “It's a sorta-love that came at the end of a lot of ups and downs, though. I've got mountains of things to brag about, but let's get back on topic and get those answers. What this place's purpose is, and why you haven't left.”
Roswaal: “It feels you've lost your immaturity and become dependable, gosh. Noooow, the reeeason the villagers and I haven't returned... Speaking plainly, perhaps you'd say we caaaan't go back to going back.”
Subaru: “Can't go back to going back?”
Subaru's brows knit, Roswall nods and smiles.
Roswaal: “Currently, eeeeeveryone of us, all the villagers are in a state of confinement. Aaaaand, the moment you entered here, you two wound up in the saaaaaame position.”
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