[ "You two, we're almost at our destination." Otto turned back from the driver's seat to speak to Subaru and Emilia.
"Oh, really? That's faster than expected." Subaru and Emilia were seated inside the earth dragon carriage, while Otto held the reins, heading toward a familiar location. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"The destination is… the mansion?"
Rem asked.
"Yes, it is the mansion. At that time, the plan was to bring the villagers back to Arlam Village, but we discovered that the villagers who were supposed to have returned from the Sanctuary hadn't come back. To confirm their safety, Subaru and I went to the Sanctuary, and then…"
Emilia trailed off, falling silent.
That period of time in the Sanctuary could absolutely not be called easy.
So, it was even harder to believe what Subaru had gone through.
—
[ "Oh, really? That's faster than expected."
"But… Natsuki-san, Emilia-sama. We are about to arrive at the village… but the situation is strange." Otto pointed his gaze toward Arlam Village ahead.
Arlam Village was completely empty.
Just as Emilia outside the screen had said.
....
"Did Ram and the others not return from evacuating to the 'Sanctuary'?"
After looking around, Subaru and the villagers he brought along concluded.
"According to Ram, that place called 'Sanctuary' is about seven or eight hours away from here. We stayed in the Royal Capital for three days, but they are returning even slower than us, which means… It's strange. Would Roswaal react passively after learning about the situation? During the previous Mabeast disturbance, he ran over directly and solved it with brute force. It wouldn't be strange for him to do the same this time. Could it be that the reason he can't return is that something happened in the 'Sanctuary'?" Subaru pondered, and finally decided—
"To find clues about the 'Sanctuary', we have to go back to the mansion first, at the very least. Besides, I also want to settle Rem down safely. Otto, you don't have a place to stay either, right? Come with us."
"Huh?!" Otto was dumbfounded. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Natsuki-san's forceful recruitment gave me an excellent stage, huh."
Otto said.
"My Great Self won't deny that Bro Otto was pretty cool back then."
But the most important thing was…
Otto thought.
The most important thing was that because of Natsuki-san's action, I eventually joined the Emilia Camp, and my fate was changed.
"Hmm… Hmm? Elder Sister?"
"Ah, it's me."
—
[ On the screen, Emilia knocked the door knocker, and then—
"Coming, please wait a moment." A female voice.
The Subaru of that time naturally didn't recognize it, but this was undoubtedly Frederica.
The heavy doors slowly opened.
"Welcome back, Emilia-sama. I have been waiting for your return."
Frederica gracefully pinched her skirt, curtsied, and then said: "I, Frederica Baumann, have finished the vacation granted by the Master and have now returned to the mansion."
It was the Frederica of their world, not the Frederica who lived in fear every day under the "Purge King." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"So beautiful, Elder Sister! What's that word? Elegant?"
"Hmm… It feels quite nice to be praised by my little brother."
Frederica covered her mouth and smiled.
If Rem was the Superman Maid, then Frederica was the Perfect Maid. To make an analogy, would it be like Reinhard and Yuriusu?
—
[ "You must be exhausted from the long journey. Let me lead you all inside first…" Frederica displayed a warm smile.
Such elegance and fluidity, Subaru would surely be infected by it—
"Your face is scary!"
Frederica revealed rows of sharp, large teeth due to her smile. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Oi, oi, Captain!"
"Garf, are you saying that someone's first words to me after a long reunion were 'you're huge' or something?"
"Elder Sister, didn't My Great Self say something like 'attack is the greatest defense' first? Besides, isn't being huge a compliment to you, Elder Sister?"
"That sentence was said to that 'Bowel Hunter'. Being huge is not a compliment in my eyes."
"Then that was said to that woman, and also to you, Elder Sister… Ah, Boss apologized."
—
[ "Subaru is such a big dummy! How can you say such things to a girl! Apologize properly, quickly!"
"Please… Please do not do this, Emilia-sama. It is alright, I am already used to scaring people upon first meeting. I do not mind it."
"No, Emilia-tan is right, that was entirely my fault just now. I'm sorry for suddenly saying such rude things the first time we met." After apologizing and settling Rem down, Subaru mentioned Roswaal to Frederica.
Subaru seemed very puzzled by Roswaal's inaction.
"By the way, Frederica. Tell me the truth, how much of the actual situation did he tell you?"
"Subaru-sama?"
"The relationship between the Half-Elf and the Witch Cult is common knowledge, and he should be very aware that the situation is dangerous. But… where were the crucial countermeasures against the Witch Cult? Rem and Crusch-san also said he couldn't possibly be unprepared. However, I don't think he was prepared, otherwise why…"
Subaru seemed to believe that since Roswaal wanted to push Emilia to be the King, he would certainly pay special attention to the Witch Cult.
He couldn't be unprepared, yet the tragedies in the loops did indeed happen. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Prepared? Who sa~said I was un~prepar~ed? My preparation, my strongest trump ca~rd, isn't it Subaru?"
Outside the screen, Roswaal said mockingly.
You are my preparation, Natsuki Subaru.
"You still have the nerve to say that, making Betty's… making Subaru suffer such torture."
Beatrice said huffily. Then she added:
"It's about time he met Betty, I suppose."
—
[ "If you know the reason…" Subaru questioned Frederica.
"Regrettably, I cannot fathom all of the Master's thoughts. That is because in this world, there are probably only two people worthy of that person's trust. It is Ram, and the Great Spirit-sama who guards the Forbidden Library."
....
"Yo, long time no see." Natsuki Subaru opened the door to the Forbidden Library, greeting Beatrice.
"Betty was wondering why the mansion was so noisy, so it was you who returned, I suppose."
"I have a question, um… You… How much do you and Roswaal know about this incident?"
"Betty's connection with Roswaal has nothing to do with this incident. Betty knows nothing, I suppose."
"But, you stayed behind all alone. You stayed in the mansion without even a countermeasure."
"I can protect my own safety myself, so Betty stayed behind. Moreover, Betty doesn't believe that the man thought of any countermeasures."
"Ah, right! Beatrice, look at this." Subaru said, pulling out a Gospel.
It was Petelgeuse Romanee-Conti's Gospel.
"This book should have a lot to do with the conspiracy of those Witch Cult guys. If you don't know what Roswaal is plotting, then at least tell me about this thing…"
"A Gospel? Why, do you, of all people have…" Beatrice looked incredulous, her lips trembling slightly.
"It's war booty I seized. I took it from the mastermind of the Witch Cult who surrounded the mansion."
"Where is its owner?"
"Dead. Crushed to death by wheels. I killed him."
"…So you left Betty behind as well, Geuse…" She whispered in melancholy, calling out to that old friend. Then, she asked: "Then where did the Witch Factor go, I suppose?"
"Witch Factor?" Subaru didn't understand. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"But looking at the facts, that factor or whatever went to the Boss, right?"
Outside the screen, Garfiel said.
I remember the Boss's Unseen Hand… ah, I should say Invisible Providence, gave My Great Self a hard punch.
But regardless, no one at the time expected the Witch Factor to transfer to Subaru.
—
[ Then Beatrice sighed deeply and said: "The answers you want are all in that 'Sanctuary', I suppose. Whether it is Roswaal, the Gospel, or the Witch Factor, all the answers are there."
"Are you planning to kick me out again? Kick me out just like before!"
It wasn't strange for Subaru to think that way; Beatrice's current expression was the same as when she rejected Subaru before.
"Betty has already pointed out the road to the answers. Can you stop being willful any further, in fact? Betty is not a tool for you to order around, in fact!"
Then, Subaru received an impact and was blasted out of the Forbidden Library.
But before that, Subaru couldn't help but ask—
"Why are you showing that face like you want to cry again?"
The Sanctuary. It was the Sanctuary again.
Whether it was finding answers or protecting the villagers, it had become an unavoidable path.
Since that is the case, it is time to depart for the Sanctuary. ]
.....