Subaru clung to her, his arms wrapped around her waist, face buried against her abdomen, tears streaming down his cheek as he laughed like a maniac.Why he laughed? Only those watching knew; it was a possibility even he himself didn't understand. Rem, on the other hand, was completely unaware of his circumstances. From her perspective, Subaru was fine up until seconds ago.
---
Later, in the Karsten Mansion, Subaru had been put in bed with the help of Felix. Subaru's face hadn't dropped the smile yet, and his eyes remained wide open.
"I'm pretty sure there's nyothing we can do. His wounds are one thing, but there's nyo helping his mental state."
The Royal Candidate and her knight discussed the situation.
"Do you know what happened?"
"No. I've checked every inch of him, but..."
"What are the odds of it being a curse?"
"There's nyo indication of any interference using mana."
Crusch turned her gaze to Subaru, now lying in bed, then looked at Rem.
"If Ferris is unable to help, no one in this household can heal him. I'm sorry." A faint sadness crossed her face, whether for the failed promise to Emilia or for Subaru's state, even she might not have known.
"Oh, no. I can't thank you enough for your generous concern." Rem bowed at Crusch.
Her eyes narrowed as she looked back at Subaru.
---
"I thank you in my master's stead for your kindness during our stay."
Rem had decided to leave the mansion. The pair was at the entrance to the mansion, Rem holding his hand, like guiding a child by the hand.
"Give Emilia this message, as well. Let us compete in a manner that will bring neither of us shame."
"Hey." From behind her master, Felix raised his voice. "I get why you're going back to the mansion, but can anyone there heal him?"
"He utters our names, just occasionally. My name, my sister's name... and Emilia-sama's. If he sees her, maybe his condition will change." Rem tightened the grip she had on Subaru's hand.
Crusch averted her gaze for a second. "I realize this is tasteless, but I must ask. How can you give so much of yourself for Natsuki Subaru? Your relationship with him is not that of a master and servant, like Ferris and mine. But I hesitate to conclude that your behavior and the glances you cast are those a woman gives a man."
Rem opened her mouth to answer her, but the words didn't come out.
"I am sorry. Forget I said—"
"No, it's not that at all. It's just... how can I put it? Well..." She smiled. "I suppose it's because Subaru-kun is special."
The Royal Candidate was surprised.
"Um..."
"Forgive me. I was stunned speechless for a moment. Natsuki Subaru is a lucky man."
"That's for sure. If he ever recovers, I'll have to tease him to the max!" added Felix.
Rem let out a chuckle at Felix's playful words.
"Be well."
"Good luck!"
With that, the two finally left the mansion. Wilhelm was kind enough to help with luggage and lend them his dragon carriage.
The journey to the mansion was peaceful. Occasionally the screen would go dark, meaning Subaru was asleep. After a day and night, they entered the mansion's domain. Rem was being alert. Something felt odd.
"Hk!" She grabbed her chest, panting hard.
But before she could do anything, the head of the ground dragon was sliced. The carriage flipped, wood and luggage scattered all over the place. Subaru was thrown free, landing hard — and didn't move. His eyes were dead. It was as if he weren't there at all. But when he finally raised his head…
He was surrounded by a group of cultists. Tears streamed down his face as they stepped closer. One cultist specifically got close enough to touch him, and as he stretched his arm—
"Don't touch him!"
With blood pouring from her face, Rem had maneuvered her mace and smashed the cultist. The horn had manifested in her forehead. Following this, the cultists threw their daggers at her, which were easily stopped and sent back towards them.
More came from blind spots she couldn't cover—a knife struck her back.
"Witch cultists!" she screamed, her hatred for them obvious.
From behind again, a cultist launched a fire attack.
"Humal!"
The defense barrier created around her was not fully effective, and her arm, which had been positioned ahead to execute the spell, was burnt.
The smoke dissipated, and in the distance she could see it. "Subaru-kun!" One of the cultists had managed to take hold of him and was now running away in the distance. He disappeared into the forest.
"Subaru-kun!" As Rem lunged forward, a group of cultists stepped into her path.
"You bastards..." With her burnt hand she grabbed her mace. "You stole my sister's horn and stole my reason to live, but that wasn't enough? Now you have come here and steal my reason to die, too!?"
Enraged, Rem attacked without mercy.
Battle erupted, but Subaru was already too far gone to see.
◇
Ram, once again, had taken hold of her sister's hand. This time, with a bit more care, she tightened her grip.
Even knowing what they were seeing wasn't what had actually happened, the hatred both sisters bore towards the Witch Cult thrived.
Beatrice couldn't help but wonder, what was it that she was doing? Was it really more important than helping Subaru?
Frederica had Petra seated in her lap; the girl was light enough that she could bear it. Seated that way, she could hug her better.
Otto and Garf were doing their best, regulating their emotions to the best of their capabilities.
Emilia was trying, but as much as she wanted Beatrice's words to have worked, their effect hadn't lasted long. Emilia had once again fallen into the pit of self-hatred and blame. The only difference from before was that she now hid her emotions better.
◇
"Ugh!"
The next time Subaru's eyes opened, something covered all his field of vision.
"I see... This is certainly interesting. You wouldn't happen to be Pride, would you?"
A strange and disturbing man chewed his own finger while extremely close to Subaru's face.
"I guess you're not going to answer me!"
He got back to his feet.
"Oh, that's right! I haven't introduced myself yet."
The man took a few steps away from Subaru, and with a flock of cultists upon him, he turned back to face Subaru. The man bowed down, almost exaggeratedly.
"I am a Sin Archbishop of the Witch's Cult, representing Sloth." Slowly raising his head with his eyes bloodshot, he unveiled his name. "Betelgeuse Romanée Conti!"
Subaru laughed.
"Ah... how comical. What a very, very, very, very, very entertaining sight!" said Betelgeuse as he moved around like a kid with a new toy, pulling his own hair, his eyes about to pop out of his head.
"My brain trembles..."
"Now what has brought him here?" He regained his composure abruptly.
A cultist appeared from the ground and whispered something in his ear.
"A dragon-drawn carriage!" He jumped away in surprise. "Ah, aren't ground dragons great? They obey diligently, work diligently, and they play their role as a species diligently! They're just fantastic!"
Again, Betelgeuse had started moving around like a kid while he talked. Once he finished, he once again got his ear close to the same cultist and continued listening to the explanation of what had happened.
"Of course! Your diligence brought the ground dragon, diligence itself, to the ground!" He scratched his head effusively. "Ah, my brain trembles, trembles, trembles!" Betelgeuse walked in circles. "But a dead ground dragon is the definition of sloth." He directed himself at the group of cultists kneeling before him. "Clean up the area at once. With the ordeal upon us, we mustn't allow our existence to be discovered." He once again approached the same cultist. "What about his friend?"
Betelgeuse nodded as he heard the explanation. "It is unknown whether the girl is dead or alive? Unknown if she is alive or dead, eh? You are truly slothful."
He grabbed the cultist by the head and smashed it into the ground. "With the ordeal before us, you let a potential problem remain!" He started punching him as he shook his body violently. "Is this the sincerity you show in return for our Gospel!?"
The cultist was already dead. He let his body fall to the ground and extended both arms upwards.
"Ah... this is sloth... sloth, sloth, sloth, sloth, sloth! Please forgive the sloth that has led us to betray your goodwill!" He slowly retracted his arms, pulling the skin off his face with his fingers. "Love! We must repay love with love! Bring the girl here. If she lives, kill her. If not, bring me her head," he said as he gestured his words.
"Love! We must repay love with love!"
The group of cultists disappeared into the ground, and Betelgeuse's attention turned to Subaru again.
"Now... now... now, now, now, now, now."
He grabbed Subaru by the hair and pulled him up. "You will look into my eyes," but Subaru didn't. "Answer me. Answer me carefully. Why does such dense love hang so abundantly upon your person?"
◇
As the scene progressed, someone in the room started to recognize Betelgeuse.
Not as a Sin Archbishop, but as a warm figure from their childhood.