At present, there was a carriage parked in front of Roswaal Manor, and they were preparing to depart. The large carriage they had gotten for the journey had more than enough space to hold ten people without being too crowded. Visually, it looked almost like a camper car, though it relied on land dragons for propulsion like most other carriages. And one of the dragons pulling it was Subaru's trusty companion, Patlash.
I'd love to say there's nothing to worry about as long as I have Patlash with me, but—
"Your whole schtick is getting along with demon beasts, so why can't you
get along with a land dragon?"
"Don't be so mean, mister."
Meili's cheeks puffed out indignantly.
She had changed out of her detention clothes, but she didn't have much baggage. As she tried to load that little bit of luggage onto the carriage, she had gotten into a bit of a quarrel with Patlash.
She was unconditionally loved by demon beasts, but apparently land dragons took an exception to her. It wasn't just Patlash. Even the other land dragons were growling at her.
"They all seem to hate the smell of the demon beasts on me. That's why they're angry."
"Ah, I see, that's why… Patlash, she's okay."
Hearing that, Subaru brushed Patlash's neck and explained the situation. The proud dragon buried her nose in Subaru's neck and blatantly sniffed him. If he had to guess, he'd say she was trying to overwrite Meili's smell with his.
"Patlash is usually so considerate. For her to be this obviously hostile… You two really don't get along…"
"The others aside, it's definitely impossible for me to make nice with that dragon. She's too attached to you. Don't leave me alone with her. She might eat me."
"As if that would ever happen! My Patlash is a vegetarian!"
Soothing his trusty dragon, who had gotten a little bit excited, Subaru pushed Meili onto the carriage.
And just when he was wiping the sweat from his brow at one job done…
"I know you're busy currying favor with girls, but could I borrow you for a moooment?"
"Please can you stop with the scandalous-sounding descriptions? You're making me sound like I'm stupidly predictable or something."
Responding to that malicious question, Subaru turned to see Roswaal smiling and waving.
Emilia and Julius were standing next to the marquis in his jester-like outfit. Subaru headed over while thinking to himself what a strange pairing the three of them were. When he arrived, Roswaal winked at the three of them.
"Now then, regarding this trip, it's going to be quite the journey and will likely be quiiite difficult. So there is one favor I wanted to ask you for duuuring the travels—regarding Ram."
"…Marquis Mathers, is it appropriate for me to be here for this conversation?"
Subaru and Emilia fell silent, but Julius furrowed his narrow brow. He was going to be joining them on the journey, but he was technically an outsider and not a part of Emilia's faction, so he naturally wondered why he was being included in this conversation.
"I am not idly making trouble. After watching the way you carry yourself here at the manor and the way you have interacted with Subaru and the others, I've judged that you can be trusted. And because of that, I have a request. What do you saaay, Julius?"
"That's the shadiest thing you've said in a while, Roswaal."
"Sorry, but I was thinking the same thing…"
Roswaal's response instead caused Subaru and Emilia to start being suspicious.
Even setting aside past experiences, that was a statement that was strange coming from Roswaal. He seemed to realize that himself because he smiled wryly.
"Sorry. It's understandable if it sounds unconviiincing. But nonetheless, there is something I would like to ask Julius, since it is a matter of life and death."
"Life and… Is it related to Ms. Ram's constitution?"
"Deeear me. To think you noticed… You are even more skilled than I had thooought."
Roswaal was impressed that Julius had grasped the crux of the problem before he even explained it. The marquis nodded and traced a picture of sorts in the air with his finger.
"If you've noticed, then that makes things simpler. Ram's body cannot fully contain her overflowing talent. Because of that, her body is always straining under the weight of it. Languor and pain are her constant companions…though she does not show it because she is by nature a brave and stout-hearted giiirl."
"What? There's no way…"
"It is not surprising you would be surprised, Lady Emilia. Because that girl is far too strong."
Emilia gasped as Roswaal slowly shook his head.
Subaru was just as surprised as Emilia. He had heard that Ram had lost her horn and her previous strength. Rem had said that Ram's strength was unheard of even among the Oni tribe.
But he hadn't known that losing her horn was still tormenting her to this day.
"—I see; I understand what you had in mind then."
Julius nodded as if he understood everything just from hearing that. Roswaal raised an eyebrow while Subaru and Emilia looked at each other.
We just got confirmation about what's happening to Ram's body. What could you possibly figure out from just that?
"The poor condition of her body is clear. If a defective gate is undermining her health, then something needs to serve as its replacement. Most likely you have been personally handling that so far, have you not,
Marquis Mathers?"
"Correct, Julius. It really is a shame that I cannot remember yooou."
"…Ohh! So that's what it is."
While Roswaal admired Julius's insight, Emilia put her fist in her palm, finally understanding as well.
While the three of them were all getting on the same page, Subaru still couldn't keep up with his basic level of knowledge and started to look irritated.
"Hey, don't go finding enlightenment all at once and then stop there. So what is it?"
"It's simple, Subaru. Ms. Ram's body is suffering from a similar sort of deficiency as you are. Just as Lady Beatrice does for you, Ms. Ram needs someone to regulate her mana."
"Every night, I secretly regulate it fooor her."
"Oh, every night… Ah!"
From their explanation, something clicked in the back of Subaru's head.
He remembered the image of Ram going to Roswaal every night. To be honest, at first, he had assumed it was a secret tryst between master and maid and averted his eyes from the graphic images that thought evoked. Now he realized it was in a certain sense a type of treatment for Ram.
"My deepest apologies, Marquis Mathers. I'm afraid I will be unable to meet your expectations."
While Subaru's face was getting hot as he realized he had been misunderstanding things for over a year now, Julius shared his thoughts on the matter. Roswaal's eyes narrowed at the unexpected response.
"It does not appear you are merely being humble nor are you simply trying to avoid rendering aid to a rival faction. Managing Ram's Odo demands an aptitude at manipulating multiple colors of magic. On that point, I thought that you would be the best fit…"
"I suspect your hope is due to the children around me."
Julius's lips softened, like he had been caught in a moment of weakness.
For a brief moment, several faint, warm lights floated around him. Six colors shimmered in the air. These were the spirits Julius had contracted with. That he used to be contracted with.
"My sprouts… However, our connection is no more. If I had retained my previous status, I wouldn't have hesitated to accept your request, but…"
"Your contract with the spirits ended when your name was stolen, yes? And yet, despite having lost that connection, they still don't seem to want to leave your siiide."
"I suspect it's due to the remnants of the bond we once had. Otherwise, the connection is still there even if they cannot perceive it. Either way, though, it is merely their mercy that keeps them by my side. I'm afraid I
cannot be of much help with my strength alone."
Looking at the quasi-spirits, Julius sighed listlessly.
"Right now, I can do no more than serve as a simple knight. My apologies."
"I seeee. That is unfortunate. Disappointing that it turned out like this, but…"
"It's okay. I'll do my best to cover for what Julius can't do."
Emilia stepped forward and put her hand firmly against her chest as Julius fell silent. Her purple eyes were welling with determination, if not exactly self-confidence. That willingness to step forward and do whatever she could was one of her greatest weapons.
"Roswaal, leave it to me. I'll do my best if it's for Ram's sake."
"Yes, of course. If I can't borrow Julius's strength, then there is no choice but to entrust Ram's fate to you, Lady Emilia. You can speak with Ram herself and Beatrice about the details."
"Ram aside, what do you mean, Beako?"
"When it comes to the theory and practical application of magic, Beatrice is quiiite skilled. It's a waste of her talents to be contracted with you, but in
terms of knowledge, she is comparable even to meee."
"Sorry to be wasting her talent, but at least I make up for it with love."
It wasn't really a counterargument, but Subaru still emphasized his love for Beatrice. He'd make her his background on his phone and his PC without hesitation. Of course, that analogy wouldn't make much sense in this world.
Either way, Roswaal's request turned out to be surprisingly straightforward and genuine.
If it was for Ram's sake, then Emilia would do everything she could, and Subaru would talk to Beatrice about it, too.
"Still, I'm shocked you made such a heartfelt request. You feeling okay?"
"It's quite admirable. This is the first time Ram has ever said she would leave my side."
" "
Roswaal didn't rise to Subaru's flippant response, answering with a serious tone that left Subaru at a loss for words.
"Ram can feel something herself, even if she can't remember, I'm sure. It was quite terrifying to see her rebel against me so emotionally. That is why I wanted to ask this of you."
"…Yeah, I'll keep that in mind."
Subaru felt like something had changed in Roswaal's heart due to Ram's carefully considered decision. Even after the incident in the sanctuary a year ago, Ram still devoted herself to Roswaal.
Maybe even Roswaal had been moved by Ram's devotion despite prioritizing his greatest desire above all else.
Him being a human being who struggled to deal with emotions he couldn't contain was far better than him being some incomprehensible monster.
"—It looks like it's about time."
Before Subaru could say anything else, Roswaal turned around.
Behind him, the door of the mansion opened, and four girls appeared from inside. They were all maids of Roswaal Manor, and the sight of the four of them together was quite grand.
Of course, one of them was still sleeping, and her twin was wearing travel clothes, so the picture was not quite complete.
"Master, the preparations for the two of them to leave have been made." "Well done. Be careful on the road, Ram."
After he received Frederica's quiet report, Roswaal turned to Ram, who was dressed for the trip. Ram bowed.
"Thank you for granting me this selfish request. I shall return with a result that lives up to your expectations."
"I have high expectations for you. But dooon't push yourself recklessly.
And watch out for Lady Emilia and Subaru's recklessness as well.
Supervising them is aaalso your role."
"Yes, Master."
Subaru was about to say something snarky, but he was silenced by Ram's razor-sharp gaze. After buckling, Subaru turned his attention to the person next to Ram.
Rem was dressed in clothes for going out and was being pushed by Petra in a wheelchair—something that Subaru had re-created using his memories from his original world.
The Roswaal Manor was quite near Castour, the famed industrial hub of Lugunica. Using the skills of their craftsmen, Subaru was able to create yet another product of his otherworldly knowledge.
"The maintenance is gonna be tricky on such a long journey, but I'll take care of it."
"You are quite handy, Master Subaru, and the craftsmen indicated it should be sturdy so long as it is not handled recklessly. However, take care in sand."
"Please be careful, Su…Master Subaru. Please take care of Rem."
With Frederica's seal of approval, Petra let Subaru take control of the wheelchair. Moving around behind Rem, he confirmed there was no problem moving over flat ground.
"Okay, feels fine. Frederica, Petra, you two hold down the fort while we're gone."
"Leave the master to us."
"Mr. Otto and Mr. Garf, too."
Frederica and Petra nodded as Subaru double-checked the wheelchair.
This time, the trip was estimated to take about two months at a minimum, so most likely Otto would recover in Pristella and make his way back to the manor before they returned.
Trusting the two of them to hold down the fort until then, Subaru pushed
the wheelchair toward the carriage.
"All right. I'm reluctant to go, but I guess it's about time."
"—Barusu."
Suddenly, Ram's voice hit Subaru in the back of the head.
"Huh? What is it? Something bothering you?"
"No, not that… Figure it out."
"Figure it out…?"
He furrowed his brow at that, and then he realized that her gaze was focused on his hands. In other words, at Rem's wheelchair.
"If you want to switch with me, then just say so."
"Considering what it means that I'm coming with you and what that means about my goal, it should be obvious that you should yield that to me… Though you figured it out without needing me to say it, which I guess should be considered a small mark in your favor."
Subaru reluctantly let Ram take his place, and she pushed the wheelchair in his stead. She moved slowly toward the carriage as if nursing her sister, who was sleeping in the chair.
Watching the two of them, he suddenly felt someone grasp his newly freed hand.
"Beako?"
"You don't have to look so pathetic. It's not as if your feelings lose out to how her older sister feels. I suppose you should just do what you can in your own way."
"I'm not depressed about th… No, I guess maybe I am."
Subaru had not expected that it would feel like his role had been stripped away, but he couldn't help it. Subaru pinched his cheek and pulled hard with his free hand.
After he did that, his free hand was stolen by another pale hand.
"If that's what you're doing with your other hand, then I'll be taking it."
"Urgh. Emilia-tan…"
"Betty wonders what you'll do when she wakes up, since you run out of hands so easily already."
"Ah, I'm curious about that, too."
With Beatrice and Emilia on either side, Subaru looked at the two of them, no idea how he should respond. But a little bit of a glare and a pleasant glance were all that he got from the two of them.
And to top it off, he could feel Petra's eyes staring holes in his back and Ram's icy, disdainful gaze when she turned around after reaching the carriage.
Forsaken and surrounded on all sides, Subaru's expression tensed. And of all things, Julius was nodding to himself while watching.
"What's with that reaction? If you've got something to say, then say it!"
"I see. In that case, allow me one comment—surrounded by such beautiful women, you are truly blessed. But I cannot help but wonder whether your
two hands are enough to satisfy all these beauties."
"What?! Is everyone just out to get me?! Did I do something wrong?!"
Julius shrugged with a sorrowful countenance as Subaru's pathetic shout echoed in the air. Unfortunately, there was no war councilor or internal counsel there to back Subaru up.
For the next two months on the road, he would just have to do his best fighting on his own.
Realizing the hopelessness of his situation, affection and trust welled up inside Subaru as he felt the warmth filling his two hands, which was only matched by a swelling unease.
And that was how the morning of departure passed.
CHAPTER 2
OVERCOME SAND TIME!
1
It was a twenty-day haul from the manor to the Auguria Dunes.
The trip had begun with one uneasy morning, but fortunately, there had not been any noteworthy incidents along the way, granting the party a period of peace.
They were heading east in a straight line following the road, passing time in luxurious boredom.
"I had the same thought when we were coming back from Pristella and on the Liphas plains, too, but…the roads seem pretty safe here in Lugunica."
"The maintenance and safety of the roads play an important role in keeping the peace of the country. Compared to other countries, Lugunica is particularly dedicated. Attacks by bandits and demon beasts are significantly lower as a result."
"Huh, does that mean other countries aren't this safe?"
"The Holy Kingdom of Gusteko struggles to maintain their roads since it is covered in perpetual snow. The Volakian Empire and Kararagi Federation are home to many races in their countries, leading to a wide variety of different customs. With such stark differences, clashes are more common. So to answer your question, no, other countries aren't this safe."
"You don't say."
Subaru and Julius were chatting on the driver's bench of the carriage as a gentle breeze blew past.
The big carriage was drawn by two land dragons. Subaru was holding the reins while Julius sat beside him and watched their surroundings. They had settled on this arrangement because if everyone was inside the carriage, it would leave them slow to react if something happened, but as the idle conversation suggested, the road so far had been peaceful.
"Yaaawn."
"—Subaru."
Subaru yawned at the unchanging landscape and boredom, but he was immediately met with a sharp voice from Julius.
"Yeah, yeah." Subaru waved his hand.
"I can understand it is difficult to maintain a high level of focus, but allowing an opening such as that is the most dangerous thing you can do. I won't say don't let your guard down at all, but at least don't do it in such an obvious way that anyone can tell."
"It was a single yawn. I'm sure you've yawned before once in your life, haven't you?"
"Of course. I experience the same physiological phenomena as anyone else. But a knight should possess the state of mind and wherewithal to avoid showing them in front of others. You are still lacking in self-awareness."
"Yeah, yeah, that's me, the oblivious knight, at your service."
Julius was as prickly as ever, but Subaru was becoming a master at fending off his jabs.
Between the trip from Pristella and their current journey, he had spent over twenty days on the road with Julius. Subaru had learned how to get along with him.
"I would also say it is proper manners to look at the person you are speaking to when you are having a serious conversation."
"If someone won't seriously listen to your serious conversation, that means they don't think it's the right time to be having that conversation, right?
You should loosen up a little. You're too tense. Yawn a little or something."
" "
Subaru cracked his neck as he responded with an indifferent tone.
Seemingly taken by surprise by that, Julius blinked.
"…I'm so impatient that even you can see it that easily?"
"I imagine everyone thinks you're just too on edge. I get that to some extent that's just how it is for you, but…"
"You're the only one who can recognize it for what it is."
There was a trace of resignation in Julius's voice. Subaru simply responded with a husky "Yeah."
They couldn't hear the conversation the women inside the carriage were having. Which would suggest that they couldn't hear Subaru and Julius, either.
They were both men, and their relationship was complicated in more ways than one, but for the moment they were comrades who needed to work together.
Subaru shifted gears, deciding that they should talk a little bit more openly.
"It came up during that chat with Roswaal, but what happened with your spirits?"
"…There's been no change. They're still at my side, but they won't touch down on my arm to rest their wings. They seem to be perplexed as well." Julius made the spirits visible when Subaru brought them up.
The faint glimmer of six colors was still following Julius. But they didn't sit on his outstretched arm and were flitting around seemingly in confusion.
"My blessing seems to still be working as before. That is probably part of what is troubling them. They don't seem to be able to understand why it is so hard to leave me."
"Forming another contract…would be difficult since it isn't like the original one was broken, huh? I know it's not really my place to speak, but would it be possible to make a deal with another spirit until this is all resolved?"
"It's a rare talent to be able to borrow strength from passing lesser spirits like Lady Emilia does. The only ones I can draw strength from are those who I have known for years. It's similar to how you and Lady Beatrice operate."
"Emilia-tan and Puck are like that, too. I guess it makes sense that your partners are special."
Scratching his head, Subaru found himself thinking that he had made an unreasonable suggestion.
As a fellow spirit user, he wouldn't have wanted someone telling him to search for another spirit. If his bond with Beatrice was severed, would he just let her go? That was basically what he had asked Julius to consider.
"Because of that, I can only fulfill my duty as a knight with this sword of mine. Of course, I have trained my sword no less than my spirit magic, but it is still true that it marks a significant drop in my individual strength."
"When you say your sword alone isn't strong enough, it just comes off as sarcasm to me."
Subaru being completely dominated by that sword alone was the starting point of their relationship. At the time, Subaru might as well have been a baby trying to fight against him. By now I should at least be at the level of a five-year-old, though, right?
"It's the same with Reinhard, but you guys have a bad habit of underrating yourselves. There's such a thing as being too modest. In fact, that's something that applies to a lot of settings, if you ask me."
"I'm tempted to say much the same thing to you, but I'm not so sure— setting you and myself aside, what Reinhard does is different from modesty or underrating himself."
"How so…?"
Subaru cocked his head in confusion as he imagined the red-haired hero.
Anyone looking at him would see he was superhuman, the strongest, and completely peerless. That was Reinhard van Astrea, so it was surprising that there would be a difference in how Julius and he evaluated Reinhard.
"Please don't misunderstand me. I am in complete agreement regarding the high level of Reinhard's strength. Indeed, I suspect on that point every person who knows him would be in full agreement. He is arguably the pinnacle of humanity."
"It's shocking enough that I can't really call that an exaggeration."
"It's not just his strength, either. His way of life and self-consciousness are also fully realized. When I first met him, he was not even ten years old, but he hasn't changed at all since then."
"Wait, he was like that even back then?"
It was a bit of a philosophical question to ask when did Reinhard become Reinhard, but according to Julius, who had known him more than a decade ago, he was already completely developed by that point.
The boy not even ten years old who lost his grandmother, inherited her blessing, and became the Sword Saint— "I wonder what it must have felt like."
"Hmm?"
"Fifteen years ago, Reinhard was about five years old, right? Inheriting his grandmother's blessing at that age, growing up in a family that inherited the blood of a legendary hero…just what sort of responsibility must he have been saddled with."
Subaru felt like he could understand the weight of a parent's expectations a little bit.
Of course, the weight that he had borne, and the one Reinhard carried and the responsibilities it implied, were not remotely comparable, and it was maybe even rude to try to compare them, but still.
"Honestly, I'm weak. I'm weak and don't have nearly enough strength, so I'm always regretting things. There's probably not a single night I haven't wished to be strong enough to not be so helpless."
"That sounds like you've endured quite a number of fruitless nights."
"Who asked you? …Anyway, it just feels like Reinhard's in the exact opposite situation. I don't think he was always the Reinhard we knew from age five, so what must he have felt?"
"…I cannot begin to say what he might have been feeling at the time.
However…"
Julius paused and looked up.
His expression softened as he stared down the road they were traveling. Maybe it was more accurate to say he was looking at the sky in the distance and the sunlight shining down on them.
"…seeing Reinhard then was a major turning point for me." His voice sounded almost proud.
It was almost as if he was squinting his eyes not from the sun, but from the dazzling object of aspiration that had been burned into his memories as a child and was still fresh even now.
" "
Seeing Julius like that, Subaru's own thoughts wandered to Reinhard.
Just like them challenging the Pleiades Watchtower, Reinhard had also taken on an important role—Subaru was worried about how the transport of Wrath was going.
They had captured Sirius in Pristella, and she was currently being transported all the way to the capital. By the time Subaru's group found themselves outside the Auguria Dunes, Sirius should be reaching the capital.
It would be best if nothing happens, and Reinhard's there, so I don't need to worry, but—
"—Reinhard will be fine. He will surely come through."
"Don't go reading people's minds. It's scary."
"Hah. It's because I've been traveling with you for a while now. I've started to get a sense for it, I guess."
Julius brushed back his hair, seeming somehow pleased with himself.
Subaru could only sigh.
I guess we've both gotten better at dealing with each other.
"At this rate, if nothing else happens, I'll be able to write a dissertation on you."
"Don't worry. At the moment, you're already the person who knows me best in the world second only to myself."
"That wasn't a title I ever particularly wanted, but there you have it! I've got my PhD in Juliusology. If Joshua heard that…" Subaru trailed off as he started to make a joke.
" "
Joshua Juukulius. Julius's younger brother with a serious case of bigbrother worship.
And just like Rem, he had had his name and memories stolen from the world, from his family, and was at this moment still sleeping.
"…It would certainly be good for the mood if something happened…"
Guessing why Subaru fell silent, Julius's smile disappeared as he murmured.
It wasn't like him at all, but Subaru wasn't so stupid that he couldn't recognize that Julius was saying it for his sake.
He wasn't that stupid, but…
"Argh, damn it. I really am an idiot."
Scratching his head pathetically, Subaru muttered to himself in irritation.
" "
In the end, he and Julius didn't speak any more that day.
Three days later, the group reached Mirula, the closest town to the Dunes.
2
In a tangible sense, Mirula was an almost empty stopover town.
The town wasn't especially small in size, but it didn't hold a candle to any notable cities. There were no special attractions or buildings, and because of its proximity to the Dunes, there were no tourists, either.
The sign declaring it the easternmost town in the world didn't really have a purpose to serve in the end, and there wasn't anything to see but a desolate townscape.
"…Visitors? …In the middle of a sandstorm? Welcome in."
Pushing open the door and entering the shop, they were greeted by the owner at the bar polishing glasses. It wasn't a particularly welcoming tone, but that wasn't too shocking.
If a bunch of sandy guests happened to stop in in the middle of the sand time, it was only natural to be a little bit bitter.
" "
They had made a point of brushing off all they could before going inside, but they had been doused in sand. That was the price for ignoring the person at the inn and going out during the sand time.
I'm sorry for making this guy pay the price for our stupidity.
"What'll you have?"
"Milk, cold, please."
"Milk, warm, please."
Sitting down at the bar to order, Subaru could see the owner's gruff face screw up.
Ignoring his reaction, the two of them let out a long sigh and removed the cloth covering their mouths so they could properly breathe for the first time in a while.
"Haah, that really hits the spot. But going out during the sand time is seriously risky business."
"Mm-hmm. You were standing downwind from me, but my mouth is still really dusty."
Subaru grimaced a bit and nodded as Emilia stuck out her cute tongue.
She was wearing a white robe over her head, and her beautiful face and silver hair were almost entirely hidden. Subaru had joked that if such a beautiful girl appeared in such a rural town, the people there might have a heart attack from the difference in sensibilities—but in truth, considering her position, hiding her identity was the considerate thing to do.
Though covering her head and mouth in this case wasn't just to avoid trouble. It was also to protect from the winds blowing from the dunes to the east that were filled with sand.
"Doesn't look like you're doing so hot at the moment. Not much business during the sand time?"
Sliding the hood he was wearing off his head, Subaru looked around the empty tavern. The gruff owner grunted in response as he set down the ordered milk.
The cold one was Subaru's order, and the warm was Emilia's.
"It's not like anyone from the outside ever comes here. Opening this place during the day, and during the sand time at that, is basically just a hobby of mine. Not like I expected to actually get any customers."
"I see. So then, since we're outsiders and customers, that makes us VIPs, right?"
"And then you had to go and order milk at a tavern. Here you go, little lady."
"Ooh, thank you."
Emilia took the warmed milk and held the mug in her hands for a moment. Subaru glanced at her blowing on the milk to cool it a bit as the owner glared over the counter at him.
"So? What are you two doing all the way out in Mirula during the sand time?"
"Thanks for asking. The guy at the inn tried to stop us, but I wanted to test the sand time, as sort of a trial run. The real deal won't be anything compared to this after all, right?"
"The real deal, huh? And that would be…"
"Obviously crossing the Auguria Dunes."
The owner fell silent as Subaru held up his finger and declared that confidently. Then he slowly looked back and forth between the two of them and rubbed his forehead.
"I don't know what sort of joke you're playing at, but if you're thinking of going out there like it's some sort of fun escapade, then you should turn back now. You're only gonna get yourselves killed."
"Whoa, whoa, what are you talking about? Do we look like we're here messing around? You say something, too, Emilia-tan."
"Haah, haaah, hot…eh? What? Sorry, I wasn't listening."
"See, isn't that seriously E M T?"
"I'm tellin' you this for your own good. Go home now before you wind up dead."
The owner's trust dropped even more after watching their exchange.
But there was no denying he wasn't saying it maliciously. They knew the danger of the Auguria Dunes already from previous reviews, but—
"We don't really have a choice to turn back, unfortunately. Since forward's our only path, we want to at least choose the safest possible way forward we can. You can understand that, right?"
"You're the ones who don't understand. You listening? There's nothing that can be done for those dunes. They're swarming with demon beasts and overflowing with the witch's miasma, and no matter what you do, it's
impossible to ever get any closer to that tower in the distance."
Getting annoyed at Subaru's casual attitude, the owner explained in detail the menace of the dunes. Pointing out the window that was closed against the sandstorm, his lips curled.
"There's no end to reckless fools like you. But there's no one who's reached the Sage's tower in the middle of that sea of sand. If you're lucky, you'll make it back alive, but most of them are still out there buried in the sand."
" "
"That tower was built four hundred years ago, and in all this time, there's been no end to the people damn fool enough to set out for it, but there hasn't been a one who ever claimed to actually reach it. Even the Sword Saint couldn't do it."
Reinhard's failure had apparently left a broader mark than expected.
The owner may have intended that as his trump card, but unfortunately for him, they already knew about that and were still resolute about going anyway.
"And leading a girl into that hell…"
"Sorry. You're reeeally worried about us."
Subaru was struggling with how to respond to the owner's earnest and entirely reasonable point when Emilia broke in. The owner's eyes widened as she started with a gentle apology.
"We're not regulars or anything of the sort, but you still told us so much.
Thank you."
"No, sorry for being such a nag about it. But I didn't make any of that up.
It's always youngsters like you two, every time."
"Are there really that many people who want to meet the Sage?"
"I imagine most of them just want the claim to fame that comes with saying they met the Sage. There are probably some who want to learn something from the Sage, but…all that cockamamie talk's pretty dubious in the first place."
The owner shrugged and shook his head in disgust.
He was probably telling the truth about having seen dozens of people recklessly try to reach the Pleiades Watchtower. He was a nicer guy than his face let on probably, because he seemed embarrassed over how he reacted.
"Do you mean even if we reach the tower, we might not be able to meet the Sage?"
"I've never heard anything about anyone reaching it. And if you believe the rumor, the Sage is still at the top of the tower looking out over the dunes, delivering a righteous judgment upon all villains, but…there's also demon beasts and the miasma. I can't imagine those dunes are anything other than a trap for hunting prey."
"A lure for hunting prey…"
Emilia gasped slightly. The owner nodded and then turned toward the window.
"Don't move around outside during the sand time and avoid demon beasts as much as possible. But even then, you still can't avoid the miasma. The
biggest obstacle for clearing the dunes is that thick miasma." "I can't really picture what exactly that miasma even is, honestly." Subaru cocked his head.
He had heard the word plenty of times, and it wasn't like he couldn't get some idea from the definition. Basically it was an atmosphere that had a negative influence on the body. Or at least something like that.
Maybe sort of like a poison gas?
"Um, Subaru, miasma is the word for mana that has been polluted by something bad. Mana is invisible, but it's still everywhere, right?"
"Eh? So miasma is mana?"
Subaru was shocked to find from Emilia's description that it was something much more immediately at hand than he was expecting.
But still, the description of polluted mana didn't really help him visualize it, either.
I guess it's partly because I'm a modern-day Japanese guy, but I can't really figure out this description of invisible mana.
"Ordinarily, mana doesn't have any color, right? Miasma, mana polluted by something bad, is really not good for your body. But your gate naturally absorbs mana, so…"
"So you can't stop from absorbing mana, just like you can't just walk around without ever breathing."
"The little lady's right. And the miasma out there is the densest it gets anywhere in the world. If your gate keeps taking it in, your heart and body will be swallowed up in the pollution."
"What happens then? Do you get sick—or go crazy or something?"
"The story goes that it eats away at your heart and body. The truth is…
Well, I can't really deny it."
He shook his head at that and didn't explain it any further.
But it was clear on his face. He had seen someone die from miasma pollution. And it was because he had experienced that that he was concerned for them from the depths of his heart and was warning them as adamantly as he was.
"If you can live your life without going there, then that's for the best.
You…"
"Thanks for the milk. And thanks for the story, too."
Emilia finished her milk, but she shook her head at his warning.
Seeing that, the owner sighed in resignation. The reason he had spoken with them about the dunes even though he had not wanted to at first was because he had hoped to change their minds.
But unfortunately, they wouldn't change their minds on that point.
"That should cover the bill. Subaru, let's go."
"Hmm, yeah. Thanks for the help."
Leaving the silver coin she fished out on the counter, Emilia tugged Subaru's sleeve. It was far too much for just two cups of milk, but it was also a tip for the information he had given them and the concern he had shown.
"—It's just the past year or so now, but people have started to see a bird flying around over the dunes."
" "
As they put back on their robes and prepared to go out into the sandstorm, there was a voice from behind them. Turning around, the owner had his back to them and was polishing the glasses and talking as if to himself.
"From the folks who saw it, they said it looked like the bird was flying toward the tower. So if you ever get lost in the dunes, look for a bird. If you're lucky, maybe it will guide you to the tower."
"Old man…"
"Hmph. If you're out there and have nothing better to rely on, your luck is already the worst it can be."
Subaru and Emilia lowered their heads and went back outside.
The sandstorm was dying down, and there was at least a little bit of visibility in the sea of brown clouding their vision. It was about time for them to return to the inn and meet back up with the others.
"The owner back there, it seems he lost a leg."
"…I didn't notice…"
"I don't know how he lost it, but…but I imagine I can guess where." Emilia's purple eyes were filled with sorrow. Subaru nodded.
The owner had been awfully kind trying to plead with a couple of reckless travelers he had never met before about how dangerous the dunes were. If that was a warning from his own personal experience, then that would make them awfully ungrateful.
"—The Pleiades Watchtower."
Her mellifluous voice suddenly spoke the tower's name.
Looking up, Subaru turned his gaze to the eastern side of the town, to the tower that could be seen from the tavern and from the swirling, sandy streets —the tower that was hanging ominously over everything.
It was an enormous tower that had been visible from the road even before they arrived in Mirula.
It almost seemed to reach the heavens.
No matter how fierce the sandstorm in the desert down below, how could you possibly lose sight of it?
But Reinhard and the owner of the bar had both said how difficult it was and how reckless it was to try.
"The shady Sage's tower, huh…"
On the edges of his vision, the tower whose top he couldn't see seemed to waver in the sand.
3
They took one day of rest in Mirula, a reprieve from their long journey, but the dawn of departure soon arrived.
Everyone was wearing new clothes for traveling through the dunes and gathered at the entrance of the town early in the morning. Subaru gasped in amazement when he saw the state of the carriage waiting there.
"Hah, so this is our secret weapon for clearing the dunes, huh?"
Subaru was looking at the unfamiliar land dragon in the harness connected to the carriage.
It had a flat head, broad body, yellow scales, and walked on four legs. It was a similar sort of build to Otto's trusty Fulfew, but it seemed even more heavy-duty, like it would have a lot of stamina.
"It's a Gilas dragon that's strong in sandy climes. This dragon species is well suited for sandstorms and dry environments. It's on the bigger side, but it has a mild temperament and is easy to deal with. It's the endemic species here."
"Endemic species! They have stuff like that here, too? And there were the water dragons in Pristella, now that I think about it. This world really is a big place."
Julius explained the new land dragon while Subaru observed it.
In order to reach the Pleiades Watchtower, they would have to pass through a real desert. Because of that, they had switched out the land dragon they had brought with them with a local one in order to deal with the sand.
"Still, even if it has a mild temperament, will a new dragon be able to work in tandem that easily?"
"It won't be a problem. Land dragons have a natural affinity with people. Gilas dragons in particular can be calmed down quickly and easily by
rubbing their necks. You should remember that, just to be safe."
"Sure thing. Though I doubt it'll work with Patlash."
Subaru shrugged as he glanced at the new dragon harnessed to the carriage and the black land dragon with a queen's demeanor. Unlike the dragon that would stay waiting in Mirula, Patlash was locked into joining them on this road.
"But will Patlash be okay in a place that requires a desert professional? I don't want to force a lady of ours to somewhere she shouldn't be."
"Have no fear. Your land dragon is a Diana dragon…a descendant of the first dragon said to rule over land, sea, and air. No matter the environment, she will perform well."
"Whoa there, that's like the background for a protagonist or something.
Almost a little too elite…"
"It would have been nice if we could bring my Shaknar, but there's not much we could have done about that."
Julius's gaze drifted to the sky, as if looking off in the distance. Shaknar was his trusty blue land dragon.
Unfortunately, Julius had even been erased from Shaknar's memories. In the end, he had to give up on getting it to obey him and leave it with the Iron Fangs in Pristella.
They were on their way to get everything back, but there were so many things that had to be left behind for the sake of their mission. Over the course of the past twenty days, Subaru had started to understand that almost as well as Julius.
"Still, treating your steed as the lady closest to you… I don't know if I should compliment you for understanding how to properly handle a land
dragon or scold you for your treatment of the women around you."
"I'm sure you'll come around once you get to know Patlash's matronly style."
Patlash had refused to have anything to do with Subaru for being left alone in Pristella during the incident. It wasn't until Otto acted as a gobetween that he found out Patlash was ashamed for not being by his side when everything went down. Once he knew that, Subaru wasn't sure what to say.
"Anyway, I couldn't think of anything other than hugging her. I love you,
Patlas—bgha?!"
But the lady of the party wouldn't accept such a shallow profession of love. She swung her tail around and knocked Subaru flying to the sandy ground.
Sprawling on the ground, he was sandy even before they could reach the dunes.
"…No sense of tension even right before the critical moment. I'm jealous of Barusu's shamelessness."
A face appeared upside down in his vision. It was Ram wearing a robe to protect against the sand. Subaru scratched his head at her icy response.
"So does that mean you're nervous? Isn't that a little out of character for you?"
"I'm not sure what would lead you to believe otherwise. As you can see, I
am just a frail and weak maiden. I am in fear of all sorts of dangers at all times. My delicate bird's heart might burst at any moment."
"Where did you catch the bird?"
Subaru raised his legs and swung himself forward to stand back up. He patted himself down to brush off the sand and then faced her again.
"Are you really okay?"
"…How impertinent. You're awfully attentive despite being Barusu." "Your insults don't have quite the same bite as usual. I should warn you: We still haven't started yet."
She didn't look pale, and it wasn't as if she was breathing heavily. She didn't look any different from normal, but she didn't deny what Subaru suggested, either.
She didn't try to put up a strong front or try to hide it. In that regard, Ram was surprisingly earnest about it.
"It's been one year and fifty days. Are you telling me to stop standing still with my goal in front of me after wasting all that time? How cruel."
"Don't say it like that, Ram."
As her eyes flared and her glare chilled, Emilia chided her, having finished packing the big luggage into the carriage.
Emilia had her hand on her hip.
"Subaru is just worried about you. And I am, too. I'm doing the best I can to treat you every day like Roswaal asked, but…"
"Even with Beako helping, it still isn't matching Roswaal's treatments?"
"…I have no intention of using that as an excuse. And I won't cause any trouble, either."
"But we are worried about you."
Ram didn't immediately respond, but she did look unsatisfied at the quiet reply. The usual spirit was missing in her pink eyes.
She probably realized it herself. Ram sighed and turned her gaze to the carriage. In the back of it, the wheelchair was locked in, and Rem was sleeping in it—
"—Please don't say something like you are going to leave me behind." It was a frank, ardent plea.
Hearing that, Subaru scratched his head and then looked over at Rem, too.
"I wouldn't say that. But we can tell you aren't at your best, so if something happens, let us know as soon as you notice anything. There's no point in trying to hide it or fake it. We'll still just help you anyway."
" "
"Hee-hee."
For once, Ram actually looked a little bit embarrassed. Emilia giggled softly and looked at Subaru.
"I think that side of you is reeeally nice."
"…Eh?! Does that mean you've fallen for me again?"
"Don't talk about things like that in front of Rem while she's sleeping.
Mortal enemy of all women."
"Not just enemy but mortal enemy?!"
Ram snorted. That brazen attitude was her usual self coming through again.
"…Quit grinning and do your job, Barusu. Your place isn't in the carriage, it's outside driving with your beloved land dragon. If you're too slow, you'll be left behind."
"Resorting to that already, Big Sis? Didn't you hear what we've been saying—?"
"—I listened to you. That's enough. Now get a move on already."
With those last sharp words, Ram pushed Subaru aside and got into the carriage. Watching her get on, he scratched his head and glanced at Emilia.
"Emilia-tan…"
"Don't worry. Just leave it to me. You should be careful, too."
"Aye, aye."
Nodding, Subaru looked inside one last time and then headed to his own place on the carriage.
Pulling up the anti-sand cloth around his neck, he took a deep breath. "All right then, let's do this. The sea of sand and the tower…!"
—Inside the carriage after Subaru left.
"…Lady Emilia, why do you have that look on your face?"
"Mmm, it's nothing important. I was just thinking that you were cute,
Ram."
"That's an upsetting assessment. It's rather impertinent for you, Lady Emilia."
"Hmmm."
Ram was sitting in her seat next to the wheelchair as she turned away from Emilia's gaze. Strangely, she seemed to be regretting her blunder.
"Hee-hee. Have you started to let me see the face that you always show
Subaru?"
"…I let my guard down. Please forgive my discourtesy."
"I'm not angry. If anything, I'm a little happy. This way, it feels like you trust me more. I was always jealous of Subaru."
Ram was silent for a moment at Emilia's innocent response. But she soon turned to face Emilia again.
"You've changed, Lady Emilia. When we first met, you seemed as fragile as a glass doll, even though you didn't have anything other than a weak facade of a resolve."
"Do I seem a little bit stronger now?"
"Mm-hmm. And sweeter…like the glass has now become hardened sugar."
"That sounds reeeally delicious… So what does that mean?" The half insult went over Emilia's head, and Ram simply sighed. But once she did, her shoulders relaxed ever so slightly.
4
Two hours after leaving Mirula, they began their attempt to cross the Auguria Dunes.
Another dozen or so miles east of the town and all green disappeared from the surroundings. It was just desert as far as the eye could see, and a wind thick with dry sand and miasma.
" "
They were challenging the dunes with one large carriage and Patlash running alongside on her own.
The new land dragon was slow and steady. It couldn't gain much speed, but there was a reliability to its pacing to make up for it. Patlash was a bit put off at the sudden change in partner at first, but after a couple of hours together, she seemed to find the good points of her new partner and had magnanimously accepted the change.
"If anything, this dragon's unhappiness has more to do with Betty."
Beatrice was snuggled neatly into Subaru's arms. He was controlling Patlash's reins while hugging her tight as he shook his head.
"No way, you're just imagining things. Patlash isn't that small-minded a dragon."
"…You would do well to foster a better understanding of your surroundings…"
Beatrice shifted her legs to ride sidesaddle as she held her skirt.
Compared to before, Subaru's riding skills had improved significantly, and it had become normal for the two of them to ride together. That was why he thought Beatrice was off the mark, but…
"Well, it's not like I really know why Patlash likes me in the first place."
"Indeed. In the first place, it's not like you are handsome enough to receive that sort of attention without any other reason."
"So then you have some sort of firm reason for loving me."
"Of course… Wait, what are you trying to get Betty to say?!"
Because they were in close proximity riding the dragon, there was no escaping Beatrice's red-faced tantrum. Subaru could only let her weak slaps rain on him as he soothed her ruffled feathers.
"—It is quite pleasant to see your harmonious exchange, but we are about to actually enter the sea of sand now."
Julius's voice called out to them from the driver's bench of the carriage being pulled alongside them.
Holding the reins of the carriage and able to connect effortlessly with a land dragon he had just met was to be expected of Julius. But seeing him driving a carriage instead of riding his own dragon really felt out of place.
And adding to that unbalanced image was the girl sitting next to him.
"Right. It's fine that you two get along so well, but if you can't control yourselves, I'll be upset."
Meili gave Subaru a sidelong glance that didn't really fit her age.
With the party finally facing the start of the real challenge, it was time for Meili to step into her element.
With the power of her blessing, the odds of them being attacked by demon beasts were dramatically decreased. In theory at least.
That was why Meili was sitting on the driver's bench and looking around their surroundings. And Julius beside her was the partner chosen in order to keep her from getting too bored.
"You know the nice knight sitting next to you is your escort for the day, right? He's chic, swanky, and way more posh than I am."
"I don't know what you're talking about. And I don't have any complaints about Mister Knight, but you're the one who brought me along, mister.
Doesn't that mean you have a responsibility to accompany me?"
"Don't be unreasonable. I've already got Beako taking up that slot."
"Mrgh!"
Beatrice started pummeling his chest again in anger, but Subaru just let her have at it as he looked over at Meili.
"I know how much you want to be fawned over, and I'd be happy to do it, but if you're going to talk about rights or responsibilities, then it will have to wait until you've done your job first."
"Fiiine. Even though you're already spoiling Beatrice. You big meanie."
He wasn't actually being particularly mean about it, but there was no helping that she might take it that way.
Beatrice seemed somehow satisfied with herself as Subaru tickled her neck and then raised his hand to Julius. Seeing that, Julius quietly nodded.
It was best to have someone who was an expert at dealing with proper young ladies take over.
But also—
"Subaru—the sand time seems to be starting."
Beatrice warned him, and Patlash looking straight ahead and whinnying slightly confirmed it.
The enormous tower that was impossible to miss even from back in Mirula soared into the sky before them. A yellow sand blew from the tower.
The Auguria Dunes's baptism, a sandstorm swirling with miasma—the sand time had arrived.
They had gotten a general grasp of the comings and goings for the sand times from their information gathering in Mirula.
Three times a day—morning, midday, and in the middle of the night—a powerful sandstorm would blow through these lands. That was what the locals called sand time. Considering what the owner of the tavern said about the miasma, it was almost like sidling up nice and close to a toxic waste dump site.
Particularly during the night sand time, which lasted for several hours, it was difficult if not impossible to move. Because of that, they would be moving during the day and largely trying to avoid the morning and midday sand times.
The grains of sand on the ground were fine, and just like they had been warned, the footing was terrible. Their procession was forced to go at an extremely slow pace, and their irritation just increased like sand in an hourglass piling up.
But because of that situation, Subaru was also feeling a little let down.
Because—
"It's harder to walk with the wind blowing, but…it's not nearly as bad as
I was imagining."
Turning his head away from the strong winds, he held his hand over his mouth, taking a couple of ginger breaths through the cloth blocking the sand. He could feel a little bit of sand in his mouth, but that was hardly any different from how it had been in town.
The world was a yellowish-brown color from all the sand flying, and it was annoying to have sand get into all the crevices of his clothes, but—
"That's all really. I was expecting it to be stupidly hot when I heard we were going to the sand dunes."
"The reason this area is a desert is because the intense miasma kills off all foliage. But it rains here, and it's not as if the temperature suddenly spikes or anything."
In Subaru's mind, a desert was a blazing hot sort of hell. But apparently in this world, desertification was caused by something other than what Subaru imagined, countering the image of burning sands that he had gotten from games and manga. If anything, the real thing was a lot easier to bear than what he had imagined.
"I guess considering how it felt in Mirula, it would be strange if it suddenly started burning up when we crossed into the dunes, too."
"Indeed. It's different from the Giral red dunes at the western edge of the world."
"What are they like then?"
"All the grains of sands making them up are fragments of magic stones. It is a land that is constantly exploding all year round."
"There's someplace as crazy as that?!"
His opinion of the Auguria Dunes jumped up at learning there was someplace as insane as that in this world.
If the Sage had just built the tower there, no one would ever reach it.
"Meanwhile here, all there is to be careful of is the wind and miasma— and also the demon beasts."
"And also not losing sight of the tower and getting lost."
"Even if you say be careful not to get lost…"
Beatrice leaned against his chest, trying to get him to focus. Subaru supported her weight while looking at the grand and imposing tower directly in front of them.
"Don't get lost and all, but if you ask me, wouldn't the harder feat be somehow losing track of that?"
"Betty agrees. But anything might happen. There is no telling what sort of cunning person the Sage is, but there is no denying the fact that there is no evidence of anyone ever reaching it."
Of course Subaru had no intention of underestimating the dunes.
But thinking about it realistically, there was no way anyone should be able to lose track of such a massive marker. But that was surely what every other person who challenged the dunes and failed must have thought.
So then Beatrice was probably right. It was a place where anything could happen.
"—Should we really just keep going straight forward, Anastasia?"
"You're awful dubious, Natsuki."
Guiding Patlash toward the carriage, he checked with Anastasia through the window. Hearing her response, he winked.
"Obviously, right? This whole thing depends on you, so I'll be counting on you for some detailed navigation."
"Of course, it's not just someone else's business to me, either, so I won't cut corners. We're both in the same boat here, so just have a little faith."
"…Trusting a fox is easier said than done."
" "
Anastasia's, or rather Foxidna's, eyes narrowed at Beatrice's murmur.
Beatrice was the only other person on the journey whom Subaru had told about Foxidna, and she was incredibly suspicious of her fellow artificial spirit who was hiding her identity.
But there wasn't a thing to be gained from just being suspicious forever, either. Like Anastasia said, the moment they entered the Auguria Dunes, they were in the same boat. All that was left was to trust each other to carry out their respective roles.
"Isn't that right, Anastasia?"
"That's right—you don't need to worry. I keep my promises." The last bit was soft enough that only Subaru could hear it.
Nodding, Subaru swung Patlash around toward the driver's bench, where he saw Julius looking completely serious while Meili was rolling around a bit, seemingly enjoying herself.
"Oh? Looks like you're having fun, Meili. Are you still doing your work?"
"Are you really asking me that? We haven't run into a demon beast once since entering the dunes, have we? That's proof I'm working, isn't it?"
"But it doesn't really look like you're trying very hard, either? It's not like I can tell whether us not being attacked is because of you or just that we're in an area without any?"
"—Hmph. In that case…"
Meili's eyes narrowed, and she raised her arms as Subaru started to get a bad feeling.
"Wait! I'm sorry, that was a stupid thing for me to say! It just slipped out because other than the sandstorms, this hasn't seemed nearly as bad as everyone kept saying!"
"Mm, I'm not mad. I just want to teach you to show a little gratitude for what I'm doing."
Ignoring Subaru's excuses, Meili smiled while saying something incredibly disturbing. Catching his breath, Subaru started to apologize again —but before he could say anything…
"Wh—?!"
It was about fifty yards to the side from the line they were riding along.
There was a faint tremble, and then suddenly the sand exploded up into the air. The massive body that had been hiding beneath the sand appeared aboveground.
" "
It didn't have any limbs. The long, thick body twisting almost resembled a snake. But between its sandy coloration, the stench it gave off, and the fact that it didn't have any eyes, Subaru realized what it was.
Not a snake—it's a worm.
The almost twenty-yard-long worm burst out from underground, turning its massive mouth toward them. For a split second, Subaru readied himself to die.
"Ooookay! That's enough. You stink, so run along somewhere else."
" "
As Subaru shuddered in terror, Meili's disinterested tone brought him back to his senses.
The worm's enormous body shuddered, and it returned back underground again. It heeded the girl's instructions, and in a few seconds, the monster had disappeared from sight again.
The demonstration was so intense that Subaru couldn't really say anything in response.
"…That was a demon beast called a sandworm. They burrow under the sand, but that one was a little bigger than the ones I've seen before."
"How much is a little bigger?"
"From what I remember, the biggest they normally become is about the length of a grown man's arm."
A worm that size was already grotesque and menacing enough. But the sandworm that had just appeared was tens of times larger still than the ones Julius knew. Subaru had heard that the native species of demon beasts in Auguria were supposedly frenzied, but apparently even their size had grown like crazy, too.
Either way, what could be said for sure was—
"Well? What do you think of me now?"
"Seriously, I can't begin to thank you enough, Miss Meili!"
Unfrozen by Meili's words, Subaru spared nothing in his heartfelt praise.
"Really? Are you grateful now, mister?"
"Yeah, I got nothing but mad respect. I get now just how dangerous this place would be without you. This place is scary! Really scary!"
He could understand one of the reasons why so many reckless adventurers who had taken the challenge had never returned. And why the tavern owner would try to stop them, too. He had been a fool for thinking that the dunes were not all they were cracked up to be.
"Three cheers for peace. Long live peace. Let's keep this a super boring trip all the way to the end!"
"Such a glib flip-flopper as always. It is enough to make even Betty feel exasperated."
"Don't try to act tough. You wet yourself a little there, just like I did, right? I know."
"What did you say?!"
They started in again, but for now, there was no one blaming them.
Getting noisy would just provoke the demon beasts, but they had also just proved the effectiveness of their ability to deal with them. So Julius didn't try to stop their argument.
But everyone refocused themselves, realizing just how thin the ice they had been skating by on really was.
The fact that they could live to reflect on that was valuable enough for their first day in the dunes.
5
Their initial foray into the sandy region ended as soon as the sun set.
The biggest of the three sand times that happened each day occurred late at night. Before it happened, they were hoping to set up camp in an appropriate place for the night.
Perhaps because of the effect of the miasma, the stars were not visible.
And of course, that meant that the Pleiades Watchtower they were using to navigate could no longer be seen, either, so it was best to just rest and recover for the night.
"Incidentally, will the demon beasts attack while you're sleeping, Meili?
Will we be okay?"
"…You scare too easily, mister. I've got that covered."
After learning just how crazy the demon beasts of the dunes could be, Subaru had lost his nerve a bit, but Meili just sniffed, in a good mood at having put him in his place.
She was proud after having demonstrated her usefulness, but Subaru had experienced being killed by demon beasts before, so he was still uneasy. He was tempted to just sleep cuddled up with Meili if he had to.
"Upsy-daisy! This should be fine."
Ignoring Meili and Subaru's exchange, Emilia patted the ground where she had been squatting and then stood back up. Beside her, there was a big wall of ice that had just appeared.
She had formed it all around the carriage to provide their camp some cover. She was hoping to shut out the sandstorm during the night with her ice wall.
"I'm ashamed to have to continuously rely on your strength, Lady
Emilia…"
"It's fine. You and Subaru were doing your best the whole time while we were moving after all. And for some reason, I've been reeeally feeling good
ever since we entered the dunes. It feels like I can do anything!"
"Really? Amazing. I got too much sand in my mouth and haven't got enough water."
Emilia flexed unimpressively as Subaru and Julius exchanged tired glances.
—There's a special sort of heaviness to the air because of the miasma. The weird tiredness we've been feeling is probably a result of it, and it's also probably why no one was talking that much while we were moving, especially later in the day. I'd like to get out of these dunes as soon as possible, but…
"We must not get impatient. I do understand painfully well your desire to rush ahead."
Even though Subaru was just looking up at the dark eastern sky, Julius could guess what he was thinking and patted his shoulder. Subaru snorted and turned around.
"All right, time to rest in preparation for tomorrow. The sand time should end around dawn, so…"
"I have to take care of Ram's treatment first."
"Ah, right. In that case, I'll leave that to you and Beako."
"Mm-hmm, leave it to us."
The two of them went into the carriage where Ram was waiting in her seat— "—Ngh."
Through the closed door, Subaru could hear the voices from Ram's treatment.
The intense, trembling voice that sounded like it was biting back against the pain was Ram. Emilia and Beatrice were working together to do the job that her lost horn had done.
The burden that Ram bore was another of the things that Subaru had only learned about because of this trip.
"It's ironic. Ram has the tough sort of mentality to be able to survive by herself, but her body can't handle living on her own."
"…I don't know. It's true that Ms. Ram has a self-reliant strength, but that does not necessarily mean it is something that she wishes for herself. After
all, it's not as if she is ashamed of her current state."
"…Well, that's true, too."
No one really cared what some outsider's unrelated imagination of them was. Ram had her own thoughts, and it was a bit insincere to talk about her on appearances alone.
"Still, you're really observant of people. It's not like you've even spoken with Ram that much."
"Something I've learned from painful experience. People can't live alone. Were it not for you still miraculously remembering me, I don't know what I would have done by now."
" "
Julius gave a relaxed shrug. He was acting calm, but Subaru also felt like there was a grave honesty in his words.
He wasn't sure whether Julius realized it, but in the past twenty days, he had told Subaru about himself in all sorts of ways.
It's probably partly the trauma of having been forgotten that's making him do that.
"—Natsuki, Julius, you two have a moment? We should talk about the path going forward tomorrow."
"Whoops, that's a pretty important thing to discuss."
Just when a solemn silence was starting to fall over them, Anastasia broke in. She struggled to walk on the sand as she came over to the two.
"Whew, that's a pain. I'm amazed both of you can walk around normally."
"I've trained with poor footing. Though I can't exactly claim it was all for this moment."
"When the footing is bad, it's better to step forcefully. That's the Clind school of thought."
That was part of the fundamentals he had learned for running on poor footing from his parkour instructor.
Anastasia nodded, seemingly a bit impressed, and then she lowered the cloth covering her mouth slightly.
"The winds are bad, too, and it's hard to get enough air. I'd love to get out of here soon so I can take nice and deep breaths again."
"Same. Also, I want to take a bath. Your face and head end up covered in sand so fast out here."
He had now learned from painful experience why people who live in desert regions wrapped turbans around their heads. It worked against the sand and extreme heat and cold. It made sense logically, but people who lived in extreme environments really did have good reasons for what they did. Subaru had not exactly done nothing, but halfway measures were not enough to protect against the sand.
"Agreed on the bath. But getting out of theses dunes is gonna be troublesome— You both noticed, right?"
Her smile disappeared, and her voice dropped a little bit.
Subaru and Julius glanced at each other and nodded.
"Yes. We spent half a day today going straight toward the tower, and yet…"
"—It didn't get any closer at all."
Julius finished Subaru's line, and then they both sighed.
On the first day, they had confirmed that they could deal with the sand time and that Meili's anti–demon beast effect worked. But put another way, that was all they had achieved.
"Was this trick why Reinhard couldn't reach the tower…?"
"When we spoke with him before, I had imagined something like this might happen…but it's quite different to experience it ourselves."
"Wait, so you noticed it, too?! Say so sooner!"
"I couldn't be sure. I didn't want to cause any undue alarm."
"What's with you people always doing this…?"
Julius had been concerned, but Subaru just glared up at him.
"Can you spare me that crap? I won't be mad if you share your thoughts! If anything, that might be how we find the light at the end of the tunnel here. Where do all of you get the idea to just make a mental note and keep things to yourself? You think the situation's just going to suddenly get better somehow that way? At least in my experience, there hasn't been one time where I wished I hadn't said anything!"
"O-okay. Apologies."
"Even if it's something that seems trivial, just tell someone immediately. 'If you see something, say something' is the most fundamental of fundamentals, right? And if you're hiding anything else, Anastasia, you better spill it now."
He reaffirmed for Julius and Anastasia the same thing he had told Ram. Julius looked like he was remorseful, faltering in a way that was unlike the finest knight.
Meanwhile, Anastasia put her hand to her mouth at Subaru's broadside.
"Oh my. I never would have imagined being told off by you when we first met. But you're right. I'll have to reflect on my handling of it, too."
"The first step in reflection is confession time. If you come clean now, I promise I won't get too pissed."
"You're quite the charmer, Natsuki. This half day walking around the dunes, I firmed up a feeling I had. The reason we aren't getting any closer to the tower is because the space around us is warped."
"Warped…?"
Subaru cocked his head at Anastasia's revelation. She pointed toward the direction where the tower was.
"Basically, the tower and the dunes are connected, but also not really connected. It's possible we've just been walking around in circles in the same place this whole time."
"And that's why the Auguria Dunes are so impassable. It makes sense." Anastasia sounded almost indifferent as she explained, and Julius nodded deeply, as if understanding.
Of course, that was something that their guide Anastasia/Foxidna should already have known, though—
"I told you, didn't I? It took me half a day of close observation to be sure of it."
Sensing Subaru's eyes, Anastasia waved both hands, pleading that she had not been deceiving them.
It was incredibly suspicious, but with Julius there, too, he couldn't really press her too much further. He just let his suspicions go for the moment.
"Okay then, this twist in space has sunk countless adventurers before us, so how are we going to deal with it?"
"It's a difficult question. And breaking through might even be the wrong way of thinking about it. This could just be a natural trap created by the thick miasma. There doesn't have to be any intention behind it at all."
"This is a trap created by nature?!"
Subaru's eyes widened in shock at that unexpected possibility.
It was incredibly rare, but there were times when nature seemed to have an almost malicious lethality to it, so much so that it felt like nature had it out for people.
The mirages that could be seen in deserts, or snow overhangs that hid cliffs in areas with heavy snow, or more generally bottomless swamps or the ebb and flow of currents.
But for the dunes where the Pleiades Watchtower was built to be a natural trap—
"It's possible the tower was built here precisely because of this occurrence. That's a perfectly logical interpretation. It all depends on the intent of the watchtower's builders and the purpose it was designed to serve in the first place."
Julius's words managed to pull Subaru back from the unthinking cul-desac he was on the verge of getting trapped in.
The dunes being a natural, preexisting menace that the people who built the tower used for their own purposes rather than a trap created specifically for the sake of the tower. That was a plausible explanation. Particularly since
—
"—The watchtower was supposedly made in order to keep watch on the shrine, where the Witch of Jealousy…"
That theory made sense and meshed with what they already knew. Subaru had a bitter look on his face.
There was a shrine on the far eastern edge of the Auguria Dunes where the Witch of Jealousy was said to be sealed. The Pleiades Watchtower was said to be where the Sage could watch over that seal through the years.
If the twists in the dunes were a riddle created by humans, then solving it would lead them to their answer. But if it was just a natural mystery, then there was no guarantee that an answer that would satisfy them even existed.
"Maybe the reason the Sage never shows their face is because they can't get out, either?"
"That's an interesting theory… But don't go underestimating me."
"Huh?"
Subaru was feeling like he had stumbled blindly into a labyrinth, but Anastasia smiled fearlessly. Subaru's eyes widened at her reaction, and there was a look of anticipation in Julius's gaze.
"I'm the one who took the job of guiding us to the Pleiades Watchtower. Once a merchant takes a job, she follows through to the end. And I don't plan to fail now."
"Then you are able to see the path to the tower, Lady Anastasia?"
"Not me. But I do have an idea about who might be able to find it."
Anastasia looked off in the distance toward the tower. The wind was gradually picking up speed. The sound of the wind and sand hitting Emilia's ice wall started to get louder.
Listening to the sound of the sand, Anastasia's eyes narrowed.
"The sand times when the wind picks up are connected to the effects of space warping and shifting. The sand time is when the twisted space starts to come apart. And beyond those cracks is the real sea of sand that connects to the tower."
"The real…sea of sand…"
"And when it comes to finding that crack, the most important person here is—"
Anastasia's mouth cracked into a smile as she pointed her hand to a certain point. Looking there, Subaru and Julius both furrowed their brows.
She was pointing at the carriage where Emilia and Beatrice were working on taking care of Ram—
"—Ram. Ram is our key to getting outta this labyrinth of sand."
6
"I understand the situation. You are quite the slave driver."
"I can't really say much when you put it that way… Do you really understand, though?"
"Understand what? Your villainous streak, asking me to strain myself to the limit on the same day that you told me not to overdo it? Yes, I understand quite well, you brute."
"Ugh."
Subaru grimaced a bit and shrank under Ram's harsh gaze.
Emilia, who was inside the carriage listening, also chimed in.
"Ram, it's not like Subaru is asking you to do it because he wants to. He just immediately went back on what he originally said because he thought that was the best choi—"
"Emilia, that isn't helping. I suppose it's also just going to make Subaru even more depressed."
Subaru was shriveling away as Beatrice stopped Emilia for him. Watching the three of them, Ram sighed in exasperation.
"So then what do you say? It was my idea, but do you think you can do it?"
"Barusu is correct. I am the only one who can fill the role you are suggesting, Lady Anastasia. And…"
Ram looked toward the back of the carriage where Rem was sleeping.
On the roads and in the desert, she had not complained at all. So the only thing growing was the anxiousness and self-reproach of all the people who cared about her.
And even if she couldn't remember it, as Rem's older sister, Ram had experienced those feelings more than anyone else.
"There's a good and well-considered reason for it. So I won't hesitate." Because of that, she could confidently take on the task set for her.
"But your condition is a concern. Your clairvoyance, was it? That wears you out, right?"
"There's no other person suited to this task. It is technically a secret art of
the Oni tribe, so no one else can use it."
"Right… It would have been better if I could have taken your place…"
Emilia averted her eyes. She had been volunteering for a lot, seemingly in great condition ever since entering the dunes. As far as Emilia could remember, Ram was the person who had taken care of her most at the manor. During the trip, she had been burning at the chance to pay her back, which was probably why she seemed ashamed to be unable to help with this.
" "
Subaru was the only one who noticed Ram's kind gaze at Emilia. Probably because he was the one who had seen the gentle gaze she had for Rem more than anyone.
"So Ram is up for it—that leaves Meili."
Not commenting on Ram's gaze, Subaru turned his attention to Meili. She was sitting on her seat, propping her head up.
"Me?" Meili cocked her head.
"Yeah. We're going to be doing a bit of a variation on a wave tactic, and we're going to need your help for it, too."
"You need to find the demon beasts, right? I can't really say exactly where they are like that, but I can point you to the general place." "That's what I wanted to hear."
Subaru clenched his fist at that answer.
—That means the plan itself is at least possible to execute.
Anastasia's suggestion for finding the opening during the sand time was incredibly simple.
"Using Ram's clairvoyance, we can see what the demon beasts here in the dunes see. With the demon beasts active even during sand time, there should be a few that come across the crack in space wherever it is."
"For that to work, we need Meili to help find the demon beasts so she can share the location with Ram. It's a plan that will require quite a number of attempts, but…she won't hold back."
Subaru and Julius were holding the reins for their land dragons, waiting for the signal from inside the carriage that one of the attempts had succeeded.
Ram's desperate attempts to challenge the sand time began the next day after they discussed it.
" "
Inside the carriage, Ram was concentrating and using her clairvoyance to peek on the demon beasts' fields of view.
If she could find a trace of the crack in the sand time from one of them, they could pin down that demon beast's location and rush the carriage there to get through the opening. But naturally, it wasn't that simple.
It was an enormous desert, and there were an absurd number of demon beasts of all types. Ram's clairvoyance could only connect with targets whose wavelength could be matched—she was going to have to try a lot of times.
"…Meili, skip the reports of demon beasts underground. There's no point if they can't see."
"I can't differentiate that much. Maybe you shouldn't give up on ones you find so quickly?"
As the failures piled up, the physical and mental exhaustion continued to build, and it was particularly bad for the two main prongs of this plan.
No, Meili is just pointing out the location of the demon beasts. But Ram's exhaustion from using her ability is getting worse and worse.
"Sand time comes three times a day. So those are the only shots we get at it. But we also can't let ourselves get impatient, either."
"We have a limited supply of rations and water. And the miasma here will affect them over time, too. It takes courage to choose to turn back. Remember we always have the option to return to Mirula."
As two days blended into three, it became necessary to pay attention to more than just their progress in getting through the dunes.
There was a limit to what provisions they could pack on the carriage, and the question of whether to go back reared its head every day—and soon every hour.
Was it some famous mountain climber who said the decision to turn back was the most difficult one to make?
"Do your best, Joseph! Everyone's counting on your horsepower!"
"Sorry, but please do your best!"
They had Emilia's ice wall, too, but in order to endure the fierce sandstorms of the sand time and keep moving forward, they had to rely on their new land dragon, Joseph. His abilities were specialized to the extreme climate, and the figure he cut pushing through the sand and the fierce wind was stunning.
But there was still a limit. Not just for dragons, but for Subaru and the rest, too.
"…Gh, no good. The connection broke." Ram shook her head.
The past few days, Ram's exhaustion from all the misses she checked with her clairvoyance had been building to extreme levels.
Emilia and Beatrice wiped the sweat from her head and cast healing magic for her.
Ram's condition would improve slightly after her treatment every night, but even so—
"Things are going poorly."
"…Yeah, you don't have to tell me that."
Standing outside the carriage, Julius and Subaru were looking up at the bright sun.
When the sand time broke, the wind died down and the thick clouds parted, revealing a clear sky. Very much at odds with how their trip was going, the sky was actually bright and reassuring. At this point, it just annoyed Subaru.
"The idea itself isn't wrong. It's just a question of the stars aligning, I guess?"
Anastasia emerged from the carriage and joined the two of them.
"Stars aligning, huh?" Subaru scratched his head roughly. "In other words, it's pure luck… But it's not like any of us here are particularly lucky to begin with."
"No luck, bad luck, and tragic luck. That's the whole reason this trip started in the first place."
It was a sad thing to admit, but at any given moment, there was a high probability that they were all going to be abandoned by fortune.
—Which is all the more reason we have to make our own luck. "Like I'm going to let this be swayed by something as vague as luck." Subaru stretched his hand up to the sky and clenched it tightly.
Julius and Anastasia didn't say anything. But they seemed to be of the same opinion as they both stared at the blue sky together with Subaru.
And as the three of them looked at the sky…
"Ah. A bird. I guess it would want to fly around when the sky's this stunning."
Shading her eyes with her hand, Anastasia looked up. Looking in the same direction, Subaru saw she was right—there was a bird flying in the sky.
It had been a while since they had seen a bird in the sky. They had not been uncommon on the road eastward before they reached Auguria, but by this point it was almost refreshing.
The air in the dunes is thick with miasma, though, particularly—
"A bird?"
Suddenly, a strange feeling stopped him.
Subaru furrowed his brow, trying to find the source of it. And then it hit— what the owner of the tavern in town had told them.
"—Ngh! Ram! Can you use your clairvoyance again?!"
On instinct, Subaru opened the door to the carriage and called for Ram. Ram was in the middle of treatment, and she glared at Subaru with a slightly reddened face.
"…What is it, Barusu? You should warn us before coming in—"
"I'm sorry! But save it for later! There's a bird flying in the sky right now!
Can you see through its eyes?"
"A bird…? Why should I…?"
Put off by Subaru's intensity, Ram's brow furrowed, but Emilia, who was beside her, gasped and put her hand to her mouth.
"Subaru, a bird…"
"Right, the story we heard from the guy at the tavern. That the birds in the dunes fly toward the tower."
Of course, strictly speaking, it had not been anything so sure sounding as that. But at the moment, they needed all the help they could get to find a way through the sand time, so they should lend an ear to the advice of those who knew the area.
"Ram!"
"Stop shouting. You'll break my concentration."
Realizing the urgency of the situation from Emilia and Subaru's exchange, Ram had already started moving. Slumping deep into her seat, she took a single deep breath. And then the air about her changed.
" "
Ram activated her clairvoyance, and her vision linked with that of the living beings in her surroundings. With a specific target in mind, she could see what it was seeing. However, there was no guarantee.
Whether the bird in the sky's wavelength would match Ram's was impossible to know— "—Got it."
"—Ngh! Julius! Get the carriage! Beako, come with me!"
—It was a once-in-a-lifetime shot, and they all leaped into motion.
Subaru held Beatrice as he leaped onto Patlash; Emilia slipped in next to Ram and supported her. Anastasia tumbled back into the carriage, and Meili went up to the driver's seat.
And Julius cracked the reins, giving the land dragon the signal to run—
"Let's go! This time, we're gonna make it through the sand time!"
They started running across the sea of sand again, determined to break through.
7
—Follow the bird in the sky.
There was no evidence, and in a certain sense, it was an absolutely insane decision.
If it had been their first day in the dunes when Subaru saw the bird, he would never have thought to try to follow it based on what the tavern owner said.
But after several fruitless days, there was something he had noticed.
"The demon beasts are one thing, but there's no way a normal bird could fly in the sky here."
Of course, there were many reasons for that, including a lack of water and food to eat, but the biggest was the demon beasts and the miasma. Even a bird flying in the air would still be affected by the terrible environment and have to worry about predators.
So then why would a bird spread its wings in such a harsh environment?
"No matter how you look at it, that bird can't be normal. There has to be some sort of trick to it."
After having spent a few days out on the sands, that was the suspicion he
felt about the bird flying over a hellscape like Auguria. And Ram's clairvoyance was proving that his guess was right.
"Straight ahead. It isn't letting the tower leave its sight at all. Barusu's suspicion was correct. For once, his twisted, untrusting personality has paid off."
"Phrasing!"
It wasn't uncommon for migratory birds to fly for days at a time, but for it to keep focus on one place continuously was surely unusual.
However, following a bird that was flying without rest was a harsh task for those without wings.
—All the more so when trying to do it in the middle of a sandstorm.
" "
While they were chasing after the bird, the sand time had started up again.
The difference in the intensity of the winds during and outside of sand time was extreme. During the sand time, it was like a true sandstorm, to the point where it actually hurt anywhere the grains of sand in the air hit.
Beneath a cloak and hood, covering their faces and every bit of skin they could, they pressed forward through the sand and wind.
Through the black of night and the sand that filled their eyes, relying on Ram's clairvoyance for guidance.
" "
Subaru and Beatrice were clinging to each other, braced against the sandstorm as they rode atop Patlash. They couldn't open their eyes. Sand was everywhere. The carriage should have been right beside them, but they couldn't even confirm that for sure. It was possible they were alone in a sandstorm.
In order to reassure himself, Subaru hugged the girl in his arms tighter.
"—Straight ahead. Straight ahead."
Ram, who was the lifeline of the entire party, poured all her focus into her clairvoyance. Her voice should not have been audible from inside the carriage, but the steadfast advance of the carriage spoke for her.
Suddenly, it felt funny to Subaru. If he didn't trust in his comrades, there was no way he could possibly make it through such a difficult journey. It was almost strange how he didn't hesitate at all to entrust his life to Ram, to believe in her completely.
And—
"—hn?"
Grinning at the crazy situation, holding the cloth over his mouth, he felt a bit of air pass his lips.
The field of view suddenly cleared. The sandstorm that had been bellowing so loudly all around them could no longer be heard. The pelting grains of sand disappeared like an illusion.
There had always been more of a wind down when the sand time ended before.
The sandy wind gradually weakening until it withdrew like an ebbing tide and the smell of sand started to waft up. But that didn't happen. It was as if it had cut off all of a sudden.
As they had been dragged onto a completely different stage from where the sandstorm was blowing. "—Julius."
Moving his dry lips as he turned, he saw the carriage sitting there.
Sitting on the driver's bench, Julius was looking stunned at having escaped the sandstorm, just like Subaru. However, hearing Subaru, he adjusted his grip on the reins and nodded.
" "
And they both raised their fists, celebrating having broken through the sand time.
"We did it! We did it!"
"Yes! And I wonder why you were yelling so much in Betty's ears?!"
As Subaru cheered, Beatrice's palm stretched up from beneath him, sending his head back. Swinging back with the momentum of the hit, Subaru glared down at Beatrice.
"Wha' w's 'at all o' a 'udd'n?! 'U 'ade 'e 'ite 'y 'ong'!"
"You were so annoying muttering to yourself while holding Betty!
'Downburst' this and 'off-road' that and whatever you were talking about!
Always ringing in Betty's ears!"
Beatrice responded to Subaru's slurred complaint with a fierce objection.
Subaru blushed realizing that everything he had mumbled while clinging onto Beatrice for comfort to keep from losing hope had actually been said out loud. He coughed awkwardly.
"Uh, a-anyway. We managed to splendidly break through the sand time.
Come on, three cheers! Hip hip hooray!"
"…Hooray…"
Even if Beatrice was sulking, that didn't change the fact that they had managed to push through a major obstacle.
Rubbing Patlash and thanking her for her hard work, Subaru looked at the tower right in front of them, visible in the night sky. Perhaps because the effects of the miasma had lessened after getting through the sand time, the