"Rem… can you let go now?"
Carlisle's voice was a bit stiff, and the tips of his ears were noticeably red. Even though he had repeatedly promised that he would never let Rem forget him, the girl's arms were still tightly wrapped around his waist, showing no sign of letting go.
"No."
Rem's reply was crisp and decisive, with a rare hint of willfulness. Her face was buried in his chest, her voice muffled.
The surroundings were long empty; the soldiers had tactfully left, giving them space to be alone. Carlisle stood frozen, at a loss, his entire face flushed red, as if steam might erupt from him at any moment.
Rem looked up slightly, catching sight of his embarrassed expression, and a wave of resentment welled up in her heart.
"Carlisle… you're really too much…"
"Eh?" Carlisle was startled, not understanding what she meant.
Rem puffed out her cheeks slightly, a hint of displeasure flashing in her blue eyes.
"…Why are you so shy about Rem's closeness? Subaru was like that today…"
Like that, she had thrown herself into his arms, expressed her feelings so openly, and even received his response.
Carlisle was instantly struck by lightning; his entire body flushed red with a "boom," even his neck stained with a crimson hue. His voice was on the verge of breaking.
"Waaah! Don't say it…!"
Looking at Carlisle's strange reaction, Rem blinked, then suddenly, as if she had discovered something interesting, she tilted her head and leaned closer to his face.
"Could it be… Carlisle is actually so shy he's about to die, and only said those cool words because the atmosphere was right?"
"Please! Don't say any more!"
Clearly, his thoughts had been exposed, and shame completely overwhelmed him. Carlisle abruptly broke free from Rem's embrace, turned, and ran, fleeing in such a hurry that his speed almost stirred up a gust of wind on the ground.
Rem watched his disheveled retreating figure and finally couldn't help but let out a soft laugh.
"Really… even though he's already an adult, he's still so shy."
Her voice held a teasing tone, yet also a soft, helpless resignation.
"But… Rem likes it."
Her Fingers gently traced the front of her clothes, which had just been warmed by his body temperature, feeling his lingering scent there.
——————
"Rem, where did Carlisle go?"
Subaru returned after confirming the information, only to find Rem standing alone in the twilight. She looked around, but Carlisle's figure was nowhere to be seen.
Rem slowly turned, and Subaru noticed an unusual glint in her sapphire-blue eyes, her fingers nervously twisting the edge of her apron.
"Subaru…" Rem took a deep breath. "Rem has something to tell you."
This unusually serious tone made Subaru's heart tighten. She unconsciously straightened her back, waiting for Rem's next words.
"Rem… likes Carlisle." This sentence was like a pebble dropped into a calm lake.
Subaru's pupils widened slightly, but before she could respond, Rem continued: "It's not admiration for a knight, nor reliance on a companion…" She looked up. "It's the kind of feeling where I want to be his wife, to spend the rest of my life with him."
"So…" Rem's voice trembled slightly, "Rem earnestly asks Subaru, to allow Rem to continue staying by your side."
Subaru's mouth opened slightly, words of refusal swirling on her tongue.
To refuse her with the reason that Carlisle had already chosen me… As soon as this thought surfaced, her throat tightened as if choked by an invisible hand.
I… can't say it… Subaru fell silent. The moral concepts of modern society screamed in opposition in her mind, but stronger were the unforgettable memories.
In the desperate loops, when Carlisle dissipated into specks of light, it was Rem who shielded her from danger with her frail body. Even if she forgot precious memories, Rem always upheld the vow to "protect Subaru" with her life… She looked at Rem, whose sapphire-like eyes were filled with cautious anticipation.
What should I do… What kind of existence is Rem to me, after all?
Memories flooded back: Rem's warm embrace when she was on the verge of breaking down. The blue-haired maid who always stood by her side in those darkest moments… "Just… just one condition…" Subaru finally spoke, her voice a bit tight.
Rem tilted her head in confusion, and this childish gesture softened Subaru's heart.
"If later… there are other people…" Subaru's voice grew softer and softer, her cheeks burning red, "We have to stop her together… Two people… is already enough…"
The last few words were almost inaudible. Even though she had prepared herself mentally, saying such words aloud still made Subaru so ashamed she wanted to find a hole to crawl into.
Rem's eyes instantly lit up, and glistening tears welled up in her eyes. She quickly stepped forward and gently embraced Subaru.
"Thank you…"
This thank you was tinged with a slight tremor. Subaru's feelings were as complex as an overturned palette. Rem's heartbeat came through, painfully fast.
Is this… the family I gained in Another World?
Subaru's hands hovered in mid-air, finally resting gently on Rem's back. The promise had been made, like spilled water that could not be taken back. She silently convinced herself… This is not my original world, the rules here are different… And… if it's Rem… perhaps it's not so hard to accept.
——————
At night, the subjugation army had already lined up on the plain. The outline of the Flugel Tree was faintly visible in the thick fog, and all the soldiers gripped their weapons, their eyes fixed on the sky, where the calamity they had pursued for fourteen years was about to appear.
Even Crusch couldn't help but feel nervous. Even with such an elite troop assembled, even with powerhouses like Carlisle and Wilhelm present, she still felt a sense of unease. The intelligence about "erasure of existence" was too terrifying; those who fell in battle would not only lose their lives but also be forgotten by everyone. Such fear could not be overcome by courage alone.
At the very front of the formation, Carlisle and Wilhelm stood side by side. The old Sword Demon's eyes burned with the fire of revenge, while the young knight maintained a reassuring composure. However, if an observant person looked closely, they would notice that Carlisle's gaze consistently avoided the rear.
There, Subaru and Rem rode Patrasche together, the black-haired girl staring at his back with a resentful look. She didn't know why, but ever since she found him earlier, he had been avoiding her gaze.
I even made that kind of concession… Subaru thought with a hint of grievance, but then suddenly froze the next second. A familiar suffocating sensation crept up her spine, like prey being targeted by some ancient behemoth. She abruptly looked up.
The moonlight had vanished.
A massive shadow enveloped the entire plain. The White Whale's enormous body glided through the clouds, a pink halo swirling around it, emitting an ominous glow. The subjugation team, which had been murmuring softly moments before, instantly fell into dead silence, even their breathing becoming clearly audible. Even with their deep-seated hatred, when truly facing this colossal, legendary magic beast, fear still overwhelmed everyone like a tide.
"Ooooh"
The White Whale's cry echoed across the plain like a death knell. At this suffocating moment, a blue figure stepped forward from the crowd.
"Al Fura!"
Carlisle's voice cut through the silence. Dazzling magical light unfolded, and a violent whirlwind erupted around him, instantly dispersing the thick fog for several hundred meters. The White Whale's true form was completely exposed before everyone's eyes.
"All units! Attack!"
Crusch's roar ignited their fighting spirit. The sound of steel being drawn rang across the plain, and fourteen years of accumulated hatred completely erupted at this moment!
...
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