--The common feeling among everyone who witnessed the scene was that it was frustrating to watch.
"Hey, hey, sis. That luggage looks heavy. Want me to carry it for you?"
"Gaph... I'm fine. I feel uncomfortable being treated like a guest forever, so I'm only helping out a little. You should just enjoy your time here."
"I, I see. I, I understand. Let me know if you need anything."
Garfiel stood there scratching his cheek as Frederica pushed the cart, responding wordlessly. Frederica, meanwhile, stared at Garfiel for a short while, but quickly regained her composure and returned her attention to her work.
The small wheels bite into the floor, making a faint noise as the chair moves deeper into the mansion's corridors.
Garfiel watched his sister walk away with a blank look on his face.
"...impatient"
Garfiel ripped his short blond hair from his hands and groaned as he walked in the opposite direction from his sister. Subaru, who was watching the scene from the corner of the corridor, put his hand to his forehead and lamented the awkward exchange that had just taken place.
"It's been a week since they were reunited and settled down, but those two still seem really impatient."
The one who had spoken out was Emilia, who had been hiding in the same place as Subaru. Subaru had just crouched down, while Emilia had peered down at him from above, witnessing the exchange that had just taken place.
Feeling Emilia's breathing recede, Subaru stood up and rotated his hips.
"It was our first reunion in ten years… and that was after we hadn't heard from each other for ten years. I heard that the farewell wasn't a happy one, like wishing each other the best of luck, so it's not like it was awkward…"
He crosses his arms and tilts his head.
It's not that I don't understand it, but it's frustrating. It's annoying. It makes my back itch when I watch it.
Garfiel and Frederica have been like that ever since they first met. What's worse is that they pretend to be in good spirits in front of other people.
Garfiel may seem straightforward and simple-minded, but he is surprisingly smart and good at acting. It goes without saying that Frederica is highly skilled at behaving. Even though they didn't preach to each other, the siblings have managed to deceive many people over the past few days.
Although, for some reason it was obvious to Subaru, who often found the two of them alone, and this time Emilia had also spotted them.
"It seemed like Garfiel was making an effort to approach him, but somehow Frederica felt like she wasn't looking him straight in the eye. Why is that happening, when we finally met again?"
"When there are a lot of things that happen when you part ways, it's hard to simply be happy about the reunion. No, I'm completely knowledgeable about manga too. …I think it's Frederica who has the problem."
Just as Emilia had said, Garfiel seemed prepared to open up. However, Frederica's attitude was not so good.
Perhaps Frederica feels a sense of guilt towards her younger brother, Garfiel, whom she left behind in the Sanctuary. During that time, Garfiel had quietly sharpened his fangs and nurtured the heart of a stubborn child.
It's fair to say that this obstacle was responsible for about a third of the current turmoil surrounding the Sanctuary. She certainly bears some of the responsibility for bringing about this situation.
That being said, Frederica didn't frame Garfiel, so it's not like no one is to blame for this incident. Or rather, if you were to ask who is to blame, it would be Roswaal.
Therefore, neither Subaru nor the others have any intention of blaming Frederica or Garfiel.
--However, it seems that the thoughts of those around him are different from those of the person involved.
"That's a difficult proposition..."
In the end, it was just that Frederica had too strong a sense of responsibility.
When the Sanctuary was lost, Frederica stepped out into the outside world to create a place for the inhabitants so they wouldn't find themselves in trouble. It was a noble and heavy decision for a girl of around ten years old to make, and one she carried with her. Or perhaps even that feeling of determination was caused by the fact that she had left Garfiel behind.
As a result, the "Sanctuary" was lost, and Frederica's fears became reality.
Thanks to her efforts, the preparations to accept the residents of the Sanctuary were in place, albeit crudely, and it was an achievement she could be proud of.
Still, if the guilt is greater than the sense of accomplishment, then self-blame is probably too strong.
"I mean, that's no good. If you've done something amazing, you have to be proud of it."
"Yeah, I think so too. If you feel that you did something wrong, then apologize properly. Then ask for forgiveness...I want those two to get along."
Both Garfiel and Frederica had already disappeared into the corridor.
Looking over to where the two had been facing each other moments ago, Emilia narrowed her amethyst eyes in a fleeting manner. Looking at her profile, Subaru nodded, "That's right."
"Okay. Let's give them a push so they can sort it out."
"You say you'll give them a push... so you'll make them make up?"
"That's right. Strained relationships between siblings or brothers. If the relationship is too sticky and you can't move forward, why not have outsiders stir it up and let in some fresh air?"
Subaru clapped his hands and raised one finger in a suggestion position.
Emilia was silent for a moment, pondering, then nodded with a determined look on her face.
"Yes, that's right. Yes, I want the families to get along. Got it. Let's do it. We have to work hard and make those two reconcile."
"You're so worked up you don't even listen to me these days..."
Subaru muttered absentmindedly to Emilia, who was clenching her fists and looking full of motivation.
Come to think of it, it's been a long time since I've had this exchange and this comment.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
Just when it seemed the various issues surrounding the Sanctuary had been resolved for the time being, Emilia's camp was hit with the massive problem of cleaning up afterwards, as well as the issue of where to locate their future base.
The mansion was burned down as a result of Roswaal's plot (though he partially denies any involvement).
Even if they were to rebuild it, it would take time to completely reconstruct something that had been completely charred. It seemed that even in this world, there was no convenient magic that could restore something that had lost its shape, or any technology like Fullmetal Alchemist's that could assemble a building in an instant.
Apparently there is no other way than to invite a regular construction company from a nearby village or town, or a specialized craftsman who builds mansions and villas for nobles, to build it.
"Well, originally, that mansion was a separate villa from the main residence... It was a place to hide Emilia-sama so that her presence would not stand out before the Royal Selection began. Once the Royal Selection began in earnest, the intention was to move their base of operations to the main residence in the not-too-distant future. So, there aren't really any particular issues to speak of."
That was Roswaal's answer when he sought a base other than the burnt mansion.
Apparently, the Mathers family owns several other mansions in addition to the burnt villa, and the place believed to be the main residence is the one that has been prepared as their future base.
The main residence appears to be uninhabited, except for those in charge of its maintenance.
For now, we will be moving our base there as soon as your mansion is ready to receive its masters.
The problem was where to stay until then, instead of the burnt mansion.
"That's a relief too, there's no room for error. Not far from the Sanctuary there is a house belonging to my relatives. It's a branch of the Mathers family. We could cause some trouble there. But we might cause trouble if we showed up in too large a number of people."
Although the fact that he was a relative of Roswaal was a cause for concern, no one there had any choice but to go along with the proposal.
As a result of the discussion, the main characters of Emilia's camp decided to rely on the mansion of their distant relative, and the residents of the Sanctuary and Arlam Village went to Arlam Village for the time being. The residents of the Sanctuary will either be welcomed as residents of Arlam Village, or they will be introduced to other towns and villages within the territory.
It was Frederica who established the foundations for all this, and it should be honestly considered her achievement.
Originally, the inhabitants of the Sanctuary were all half-human, though some were demi-human. None of them looked significantly different from humans, so it wasn't that difficult for them to blend in.
The kind-hearted people of Aram Village will surely be happy to teach you about the differences in customs that arise from your lack of knowledge of the outside world.
Even if things get organized, various problems will likely pile up later. Still, the fact that no major issues have arisen so far can be attributed to everyone doing their best.
Hopefully we can resolve any issues we notice before something bad happens.
--The improvement of the relationship between Garfiel and Frederica was deemed to be a problem that should be resolved during this time of happy boredom.
※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※※ ※
"So now we're going to carry out Garfiel and Frederica's big friendship mission... but do you have any good ideas?"
Subaru: "When you came into her room, the first thing you spouted was nonsense like that? You're guilty of disturbing Ram's peaceful moment, Barus."
Ram said this in an emotionless voice, glaring down at Subaru from below as she sat in a chair.
Her face was as expressionless as ever, but the slight emotion swirling in her eyes was a result of their close friendship. Subaru, who had a level 15 in Ram's emotion reading test, could see that Ram was currently feeling "unhappy."
"You often look at me with those eyes, but does that mean you're in a bad mood almost every time you're with me? Don't you get tired of being irritated like that all day?"
"Don't worry. It's only when I'm in front of someone I feel uncomfortable talking to, or when I don't think there's much benefit to being in touch with them."
"I see, that's a relief...wait a moment."
Subaru frowned as he implied that it was one of the two. Hearing Subaru's reaction, Ram snorted softly and closed the book she was holding.
She then stood up and offered the seat she had been sitting in to Emilia, who was standing next to Subaru.
"Emilia-sama, please."
"Thanks. But it's okay. I'll be leaving soon because I'll tire you out if I stay too long."
"Is that so? Then I'll go ahead."
"You don't suggest it to me. And you really have no qualms, Sisama."
Subaru shrugged as Ram sat back in the seat she had given up, but he saw Ram frown slightly at what Subaru had said.
Ram's reaction was likely due to the words "Sister."
"Rem-san's condition doesn't seem to have changed."
"...Yes. Today too, he slept so quietly I wondered if he was still alive."
Ram replied in a slightly lower tone to Emilia's concerned voice.
Ahead of their eyes, right next to where Ram was sitting, was a bed and a sleeping girl.
With short blue hair and a face that is identical to Ram's, who is watching over her sleeping face, she is clad in a thin blue nightgown, but the only thing that makes her different from Ram is the size of her breasts, which push up against the towel blanket.
Needless to say, the sleeping girl's name is Rem.
The Roswaal Mansion burned down, and they moved base, but the girl still slept. As long as the cause of this was not removed, she would likely continue to sleep like this.
And that wasーー,
"You still aren't ready to admit it?"
Subaru: "I told you, didn't I? Ram isn't so thoughtless that she can just swallow everything before even a single word is exchanged… Though, what's right in front of her is far too persuasive for her to just flatly deny it."
Ram replied, complex emotions flashing in her pale crimson eyes, and Subaru curled his lip.
Ram's expression as she looks at the sleeping Rem is incredibly sad to Subaru, who knows their previous relationship. The older sister dotes on the younger sister, and the younger sister adores the older sister.
The sister relationship between Rem and Ram was the epitome of that beautiful familial love.
Rem continued to sleep, and in Ram's memory there was neither the name nor any memories of her beloved sister.
Even though he knew about it and expected it, it still brought out a terrible feeling of frustration in Subaru.
But even so――,
"Despite your complicated feelings, you still come here every day."
"...I wonder why. To be honest, even Ram doesn't really understand what Ram wants. However, being close to this girl who calls herself her little sister somehow makes me feel at ease...No, I feel uneasy, though."
"Feeling unsettled?"
"It's not just because I'm looking at the same face as my own… I don't think so. When I gaze at her sleeping face, I feel something stirring deep inside my chest. It's like I'm chasing an elusive mist, a feeling that I'll never be able to reach."
Subaru gasped softly as Ram placed her hand gently on his chest.
A world where Rem has lost her memories, and everyone except Subaru has forgotten about her - even in such an environment, her presence remains a thorn in the heart of Ram, her only living relative.
Ram herself did not seem to know the name of the thorn, but if it was something that a girl named Rem had left behind for her beloved sister, that was enough of a clue.
"I'll tell you about my memories, my personality, and anything else I can talk about, okay?"
"--It's probably best to stop."
Subaru offers to help her recover her memories, to which Ram shook her head in response.
Subaru frowned, and Ram placed her hand over her lips in deep thought,
Subaru: "This feeling of an unreachable emptiness. It's like there's a hole inside of Ram, where this child used to exist. If that's the case, then no matter what you pour into it, it's sure to spill out. In fact, this child is Ram's little sister… and yet, even though she's been presented with the most obvious condition, her appearance, it doesn't feel real. The moment she stops coming to see me every day like this… I feel like even the feelings I have for her will disappear."
"...Is that the Witch Cult's curse of 'Gluttony'?"
Emilia had been quiet up until this point, listening intently to what was being said, but then she suddenly cut in, looking as if she couldn't miss a word. Ram looked up, and Emilia's eyebrows were raised in an unusual expression of anger.
"A glutton that devours 'names' and 'memories'... I never had a good impression of the Witch Cult to begin with, but this has taken it to the extreme."
"...Witch Cult."
Emilia lowered her eyes as she reminisced, and quietly muttered the same words.
Subaru, on the other hand, was shocked by Ram's speculation and disgusted by her cruelty.
Subaru, who remembers Rem clearly, can't really believe it, but Rem's existence has not been "lost" from the memories of Ram, Emilia, and the others. It has "continued to be lost." Just like the sand spilling out of the hourglass never stops, it continues to fall even now.
"In the end, there's nothing we can do unless we eliminate the cause..."
The more Subaru talked about his memories, the more the sand would fall. Perhaps even Subaru would lose the memory the moment he spoke it.
Ram's concern was that Rem would disappear from this world - that was probably one of her concerns.
"Lady Emilia, it seems you have some thoughts about the Witch Cult."
Beside Subaru, who was biting his lip, Ram was looking up at Emilia. Staring into his pale crimson eyes, Emilia's pale face stiffened, then she slowly tilted her chin back.
"Until now, I've been thinking a lot about 'Witches'. I've had a lot of bad things said about me because I have similar characteristics... but what about the Witch Cult?"
"――――"
"It seems like I had put it among the things I wanted to forget. But I just can't imagine the 'that' I remembered and the 'that' I have now together. What happened after that, and why it became like this… I want to know."
Subaru: "Emilia-tan, I hate to say this, but… they're not the kind of people you can communicate with properly, are they? You'll probably end up having a hard time."
He had no intention of thwarting Emilia's will, but it would be unfair to keep quiet about it.
The Witch Cult that Subaru knew was a mass of malice, made up entirely of fanatics. He didn't know what "that" Emilia was talking about was like in the past. But the Witch Cult of today was "that."
"Thank you for worrying about me."
In response to Subaru's concerns, Emilia smiled faintly and shook her head.
"It's okay, I know that too. The events that I remember, and the people that I was with... are all from a hundred years ago. There's no way they could still be alive. A hundred years is a really long human lifespan. So I don't think we'll meet again."
"But I want to know what happened... right?"
"I'm sorry, I'm being selfish. But I feel like I'm the only one who needs to know. What happened at that place, what feelings there were there... I'm the only one who saw how Juice and Mother felt."
As if thinking of those two people, Emilia's eyes were lonely, but her mouth was still in a gentle smile.
Her mother's name and another Juice. Those were important memories for Emilia, memories that connected her to a Witch Cult that bore no resemblance to the current Witch Cult.
"I have mixed feelings about this, Juice..."
Muttering to himself, Subaru let out a sigh of resentment directed at someone he didn't even know.
Emilia had mixed feelings as she called out that name, with both affection and sadness. If the Witch's Cult hadn't changed its policies since that person called Juice was enrolled there, Emilia probably wouldn't have found herself in such a difficult situation.
If he was going to be on Emilia's side anyway, it would have been better if he'd stood by her from start to finish. That's what he thought, a selfish jealousy coming to his mind.
"--But Ram isn't confident that she can behave as kindly as Lady Emilia."
The voice was still quiet, but chillingly hostile.
Subaru unconsciously choked and looked at Ram's profile as she sat looking at Rem. Her face was expressionless, but her eyes, which looked awfully red, were dancing.
"Whatever happens to the Witch Cult is none of your business. Lady Emilia, I will not interfere with your desire to hear what they have to say. However, please remember that Ram's revenge is a separate matter."
"Ram..."
"I don't know if it's the Witch Cult or Gluttony or whatever, but Ram always repays what she receives, whether it be kindness or evil. A despicable person who tears holes in people's hearts, even if I tear him apart, it won't be enough."
Rage and demonic aura overflowed from her entire body, making the petite Ram's form appear blurry.
It was as if there was a huge body exuding an overwhelming presence - a "demon" itself.
"Ram, I will tear Gluttony to shreds and kill him so badly that he will be horrified to remember."
More than a decision, it was a death sentence.
The person to whom the sentence was to be given was not present, and even his voice was calm. Nevertheless, it was an unmistakable death sentence――Subaru felt as if an icicle had been thrust into his back, and he hesitated even to speak.
"――――"
After that, a deep silence fell on the room.
Making any noise would break the tense atmosphere, so they couldn't do anything. The one who broke the tension was none other than the person who had created it.
"That's not like you to talk."
The moment he let out a sigh, the atmosphere that had been there up until then disappeared in an instant. Subaru's shoulders slumped in relief,
"Well, that's not like her at all. The Ram I know was like a big sister when it came to her younger sister, even including her rough side."
"...yes"
Although it was a threatening remark, there was no doubt that it was spoken purely out of concern for Rem. Subaru appreciated that part alone and was happy about Ram's feelings.
Subaru is also unable to forgive 『Gluttony』. If possible, he would even like to kill Gluttony himself, without even giving his head to Ram.
The feeling of killing someone - the conclusion of his desperate battle with Betelgeuse had not left Subaru with a very clear response. Perhaps his hesitation about taking a life at such a crucial moment was holding him back.
Still, 『Gluttony』 was unforgivable, and he was prepared to do whatever it took to save Rem.
"...We've strayed from the main point of the conversation."
Scratching his head, Subaru tried not to reveal the dark thoughts that had been brewing just now.
Ram looked at me meaningfully, while Emilia looked at me with a concerned look, but I'm sure I managed to smile at both of them.
"That's right. If he was going to interrupt Ram as she was leisurely enjoying her unexpected vacation like this, he must have brought some kind of demand."
"What's with that arrogant way of pressuring me? To begin with, Frederica is in the same position as you, so she feels bad about being treated like a guest and is helping out with the work at the mansion."
"Ram is injured. Besides, Frederica is the one who is not reading the atmosphere as she is working despite being treated like a guest. She can't stay still even with Garf beside her, and she must have been provoked by someone like Clind."
"To Clindo?"
The name that Ram had called out in disgust was that of the young steward who served the Mathers branch family that was causing Subaru and his comrades so much trouble.
He is a handsome young man with a thin face, and exudes the aura of a "competent and gentle man." He feels a similarity to Julius, but unlike him, he is polite and considerate.
That was why Subaru found it odd that Ram didn't look upon him with much favor, although perhaps in Ram's eyes that was the case for everyone except Roswaal.
"You can ask Frederica and Clind about their bad compatibility. Anyway, I want to get back to reading, so tell me what you want to do."
"Sorry for this long story. I think Subaru spoke first about Frederica and Garfiel..."
Emilia finally tries to change the subject in response to the arrogant Ram.
A plan had been drawn up to sort out the awkward relationship between Garfiel and Frederica, but the plan quickly hit a dead end when it came to the crucial details.
This was because neither Subaru nor Emilia had enough experience to tackle the issue of repairing a brother-sister relationship.
Subaru is an only child, and the same is true for Emilia.
Neither of them had any siblings, so it was hard to come up with an answer to the question of blood ties that are different from parent-child ties. In the first place, in their case, even their parent-child relationships were a little different from the norm, but I will leave that aside.
That was why he had wandered around the mansion looking for an advisor, and had finally come to visit Ram, whose location was clear to him.
After all, they were the sisters Subaru was closest to. Though their relationship had disappeared from all but Subaru's memory, they still had a good relationship as older sister and younger sister, so he had hopes that he might be able to get some useful information out of Ram.
Moreover, Ram is an old friend of the two siblings, Garfiel and Frederica, who are the parties involved. Perhaps she can come up with an approach to bridge the gap that has existed between them for ten years, based on anecdotes that we don't know about.
Emilia looked at Ram with eyes filled with such expectations, but her lips stopped moving.
Turning his head at the stiffened Emilia, Subaru followed where she was staring, wondering what had happened, and stopped in the same position.
"...what?"
Ram, facing the gaze of the two, narrows her eyes, looking extremely uncomfortable.
In her hands was a book that caught Subaru and the others' attention.
I had a book in my hands with a very critical title: "How to Get Closer to Your Little Brother or Sister."
--Apparently, this wasn't the only pair who was unsure of their relationship with their siblings.