“You’re quite friendly with Ane-sama and Natsuki Subaru, aren’t you?”

When they finally met up at the rendezvous point, the first thing Rem said, while looking at the two, sounded like that.

Her gaze was directed at the spot where Ram was tugging at Subaru’s sleeve, and if one were to just isolate that moment, it could have seemed like quite a flirtatious scene, or so Subaru thought.

Laughing off Rem’s misunderstanding, Subaru pointed at the scene in question, saying,

“There’s nothing more to it! It’s purely because I was late that Ram-chi got impatient. Sorry for making you wait.”

Lightly shaking off her hand, he apologized to Rem for keeping her waiting. Even so, Rem’s gaze seemed to remain a bit chilly; however, when Ram slid next to him, her expression softened.

Indeed, looking at this now with some mental space, it became clear just how flawed Rem’s stoic mentality truly was. Especially in relation to Ram, her precarious attachment to her sister was all too visible.

“Ane-sama…”

“Balus said the same, didn’t he, Rem? There’s nothing more to it, right?”

In response to her sister’s pleading voice, Ram coldly dismissed it, maintaining her composed facade. Rem, staring fixedly at her elder sister’s similar face, suddenly narrowed her eyes, as if realizing something.

“Ane-sama, did you see something?”

“Yeah.”

“…Even after I tried to stop you.”

“If it’s necessary, then that’s what I’ll do. Anything beyond that is a waste of breath, Rem.”

“When you have your private conversations, poor me gets left out and starts to cry! Let’s mix it up and chat together, okay?”

A serious Rem, and Ram brushing her off. Enter Subaru, who mocks the situation. The two ladies, especially Rem, shot piercing glares at Subaru’s attitude.

Unclear of the reason, it seemed he had incited a considerable amount of Rem’s suspicion. At the same time, he felt that Ram seemed to harbor a better impression of him, highlighting just how tricky it was to handle the twin pair.

At this rate, the atmosphere was heading straight for a BAD end.

He wanted to raise Rem’s favorability somehow, but had no idea how to go about it.

“For now…”

“Well, um, let’s not be so cold and have fun. I’ll happily be the one to carry stuff or whatever.”

He exaggeratedly rolled his shoulders and hips, trying to look industrious.

A few minor purchases were likely already stowed away in the packages held by Rem and Ram. If Ram was correct, his task would involve handling something hefty, requiring male strength.

With this thought in mind, he glanced behind at the twins, only to immediately regret it.

For there, majestically sitting, was something barrel-like that looked to be quite heavy.

“…Isn’t there a limit to this?”

“Seven times.”

“Huh?”

As Subaru fell to his knees, image of slashing lines across his face, Rem murmured an enigmatic number. When he cocked his head in confusion, Rem looked at him with a testing gaze.

“I plan to schedule breaks to accommodate Natsuki-kun’s plans along the way. Seven times is my estimate.”

With a combination of loquaciousness and innate rudeness, Subaru reflected on the distance to the mansion. It was roughly a twenty-minute walk. A straight distance of less than three kilometers, but Subaru was keenly aware of his lack of stamina.

Then he silently approached the barrel, testing its weight. Perhaps it was just a faux-tiger, bearing a facade of heaviness. Those pitiful hopes were swiftly dashed as the weight firmly settled into his core.

Carrying this for three kilometers, with seven rests…

He twisted at his waist, squatted slightly, and stretched his back grandly, muttering,

“Let’s aim to not exceed ten times.”

Instead of rising to the challenge of taking on seven, he skillfully threw out more, adopting a preventative stance. He found himself slightly enjoying this aspect of his character.

“By the way, Ram thinks it’ll be thirteen times.”

“Factoring in personal feelings to either harden or soften your evaluation, you two are surprisingly fair.”

Even with some minor disparity in feelings, it felt like Rem was still giving a better appraisal overall.

That was quite the situation where one could scratch their head in confusion.

—

Subaru and the two arrived at the mansion long after sunset.

Overcome by the weight of the cargo, Subaru proposed breaks about twelve times along the way. His arms were already screaming with lactic acid, and there was no stopping the trembling of his shins.

He had easily lost to Rem’s prediction, but his thin pride abided not to capitulate to Ram’s malice, compelling Subaru to endure this taxing journey.

“We’re here! We made it! Good job, me! I truly am GJ!”

“Ane-sama, Ane-sama, I think Subaru-kun is practically crawling on the ground, overwhelmed with joy!”

“Rem, Rem, Balus is face down like a dog, utterly captivated by his accomplishments!”

“Shut up! Before you hurl insults, praise me for accomplishing this! Being the naive and delicate person I am, I’ll crack right away if you keep beating me! I’m someone who’s fairly sheltered, having barely faced struggles after all!”

Especially since arriving in this world, he’s faced too many whips. Of course, he acknowledged receiving quite a bit of sweet treats too, but seriously, could the whips’ impact be a touch excessive?

Anyway…

“Alright, alright, good work there.”

“Alright, alright, you must be tired.”

With perfunctory praises showered upon him, Rem effortlessly hoisted the barrel that lay on the ground.

With an achievement akin to a bench press of eighty kilograms, Subaru pondered whether he could lift it, even if he went all out. Rem, however, scooped it up with ease, while she balanced a small item in one hand.

Seeing that comically grand sight made Subaru grin unconsciously.

“Was I even needed for this?”

“Not really? It’s something Ram and I always did together before Balus arrived, as you can see.”

With Ram showing no intention of coming to Subaru’s defense, he watched Rem walk away, her steps so bold it seemed like sound effects would appear.

“Then, why was I made to do it?!… Seriously, was that just a harassment tactic? Come on, don’t pull this ‘freshman bullying’ act, senior!”

“How dense can you be, Balus? Of course, it’s out of consideration.”

“What do you mean by that? What’s so considerate about it?”

In response to Subaru’s inquiry, Ram snorted before shrugging her shoulders in disbelief.

“Then, Balus, would you not mind if Rem came back carrying a big, heavy barrel, while you pranced in with a mere pouch of spices, all proud-like in front of Emilia-sama?”

“Your brand of consideration really leaves me speechless!”

Subaru kneeled down, offering gratitude for the visage of Ram.

Him, a boy, having a small girl carry around a heavy load—what an absolute hellscape that would be!

Even before it got to Emilia seeing it, just looking in the mirror would plunge him into despair. With his flimsy male ego at risk of being split apart, such a situation was truly one for the books.

Then…

“Ane-sama, Roswaal-sama is…”

As the two conversed, Rem, who had gone ahead with the luggage, returned. Upon mentioning the name of the head of the household, Ram reacted instantly.

Just how revitalizing that name was for Ram became clear, as the lethargy she usually exuded vanished, and she formed a neat line behind her sister, tidying herself up as they walked.

“What are you doing, Balus? Are you planning to keep Roswaal-sama waiting?”

“How am I supposed to read the mood here? Wait, does this mean everyone’s gathering?”

As he was met with eyes that felt almost condescending, Subaru scratched his head, hastily following along behind the two. Along the way, he made some adjustments to his appearance, and when he opened the mansion door—

“Ah, you two were together! This really saves me the trouble!”

The head of the mansion, Roswaal, awaited with arms outstretched.

With his indigo hair, odd-colored eyes of blue and yellow, and an exceedingly lax smile—he was typically a rather relaxed young man, but his aura felt different today.

“Is that a formal outfit you’re wearing?”

“You got it! Not that I’m particularly fond of it, mind you. Because of how I typically dress, some envious folks just can’t help themselves, you see. So, I have to wear these formal clothes for show.”

Generally, he favored extravagant outfits sporting oversized collars or geometric patterns, often blending into the background with his color choices. However, he was now dressed decently, just like when they first met.

Two potential thoughts popped into Subaru’s mind regarding Roswaal’s attire.

And then…

“Does this mean we have a visitor?”

“Are you going out?”

Simultaneously, the twins voiced their thoughts that matched Subaru’s guesses.

At the servant’s inquiry, Roswaal wore a wry smile.

“Ram’s got it right; I’m going out. Just received a pesky bit of news. I need to confirm something with Garfiel. It shouldn’t take too long.”

Unfamiliar with the name, Subaru had no clue whether it referred to a person or place.

Yet, seeing the twins nod knowingly, Subaru followed suit, not voicing any objections.

Roswaal nodded back at their interpretations and said,

“That means I’m off for a bit. Either way, I won’t be back tonight—so, Ram, Rem, I’m counting on you.”

“Yes, if that’s the order.”

“Yes, I’ll protect my life for it.”

With the twins promptly affirming, Roswaal exchanged a knowing look with them before his odd-colored eyes fell on Subaru. Feeling slightly pressure under that gaze, Subaru fidgeted.

“Sorry, but I haven’t sworn allegiance worth sacrificing my life yet, alright?”

“That’s just fine. If you swore such a thing out of the blue, it’d be quite burdensome and frankly, a bit creepy too. But anyway, I’m leaving it up to you, Natsuki-kun.”

Patting Subaru on the shoulder, Roswaal winked with just one eye, letting his yellow eye reflect Subaru.

“I sense something ominous. Don’t worry about me… Just make sure you take care of Emilia-sama.”

“—Yeah, I’m seriously counting on that.”

There was no need for him to say any more.

Roswaal might have suspicions regarding the circumstances. But regardless of how much he knew, Subaru clearly affirmed his commitment.

—A development unlike any other had arrived.

It was evident that the actions taken by Subaru had caused a shift in the world around him.

Roswaal received Subaru’s nod with a satisfied smile.

Then he left a few words for the twins,

“Now, I’ll be off. Let’s hope nothing troublesome comes up.”

Offering a low-toned remark, he melted away beyond the entrance.

Suddenly, after bowing to his retreating figure, Subaru wondered aloud,

“Hey, wait, I just thought, but you two aren’t following after him? Plus, I don’t see any signs of a carriage outside… Are we walking?”

At his inquiries, the twins gazed at him incredulously.

“Going would serve no purpose. We would only be a hindrance.”

“With mere loyalty, no one can soar. Besides, I can see what’s under your skirts.”

“Whoa, whoa, you just dropped some seriously hard-to-ignore words on me…”

For Subaru, these two were a powerhouse that could rival Elsa, yet they firmly recognized their inadequacies. Furthermore, going by Ram’s comment…

“Whoa, for real?”

Subaru pushed open the door where Roswaal had just departed, confirming the absence of their master. Scanning the skies for a moment, he caught a glimpse of a thick shadow, barely distinguishable in the sunset direction, fluttering a cape. It could only be Roswaal flying solo.

“Can you fly? How does that work, is it possible even with the ‘Shadow’ attribute?”

“You can do it if you can handle wind, fire, and earth properly.”

At Ram’s remark, Subaru felt despondent, knowing just how far away such a day was.

He was already assured of his lack of magical talent by the court mage and spirit.

Thinking of the day when he could fly freely was certainly a far-off dream.

Setting aside his feelings of wistfulness…

“Even without Roswaal, Rem and the rest of the work remain unchanged. In fact, since he’s not around, we should do our best.”

“What an excellent viewpoint. Alright then, let’s get to it!”

Nodding to Rem’s suggestion, Subaru’s mind raced with several spinning thoughts.

Once again, the situation had begun shifting.

And this change was undeniably hinting at an impending attack. The twins were surely invigorated, resolved to bolster the mansion’s defenses, but knowing for certain that an attack was imminent, Subaru’s mind was far more than preoccupied with that notion.

He needed to grasp the sorcerer’s true identity—this was not a moment to waste.

The actions from the other side were unmistakably accelerating, most likely sparked by today’s visit to the village.

In simple terms, Subaru’s deduction was clear: a killer was hiding among those villagers.

—

“With that said, it’s finally time for Bear-chan!”

He flung the door open and stepped into the Forbidden Library.

Her entry was so grand that Beatrice, seated on a stepladder with a book in hand, dramatically slumped her shoulders.

“You’re the only one who could so casually break through Betty’s ‘Door Pass.’ How on earth do you pull it off?”

“It’s instinct, you see. It’s my gut feeling whispering.”

Closing the door behind him and moving toward Beatrice, she regards him with genuine displeasure, yet upon witnessing such a serious expression cross Subaru’s face, she squinted slightly.

“Your face looks different from half a day ago. Busy, are you?”

“I’d love to take it easy, but the world just won’t let me.”

With problems raining down from all directions, it was tough for an ordinary person to keep up.

Each dilemma felt like it could easily turn into a dead end.

In those respects, the current situation had him cornered. Yet, he also felt confident he was trapping his opponent right back.

“I need you to verify something for me. I just rushed through cleaning the bathroom.”

“If your priority is the bath, then it can’t be that important.”

“More like, managing Rem’s favorability is the priority… Well, never mind that.”

Cleaning the vast bathhouse was backbreaking work. Even now, having gotten the hang of it, it was still brutally strenuous. Because of that, the thought of Rem’s reaction if he slacked off terrified him.

Especially since Subaru, who had been getting close to Ram, found Rem’s favorability already quite low this loop.

Even if he pinpointed the sorcerer, if Rem held low feelings towards him, Subaru would be in a terrible place.

Caught between two threats felt remarkably like tightrope walking, akin to a man juggling two girlfriends.

Though of course, few things in life could lead to death as instantaneously as a failed romance.

“Not that it’s a particularly cheeky matter.”

“You’re straying off topic again… So, what do you want from Betty?”

“Ah, well about that…”

Taking a moment to consider as Beatrice appeared ready to listen, Subaru hesitated, mulling over how best to approach the topic. Finally, he nodded once and used straightforward language.

“Umm, I believe I might be cursed, could you check that?”

“…What on earth are you talking about?”

“I think I might be cursed, could you check that?”

“Who said you could repeat the same thing twice! We just talked about sorcerers a mere half-day ago! There are limits to being easily influenced…”

Seeming to take his words as paranoia, Beatrice stormed furiously toward him, closing the book roughly. However, her resolve faltered midway; her expression turned from accusatory to one of suspicion, then certainty.

Stopping, Beatrice looked up at Subaru with skeptical eyes.

“There’s a presence of infusion techniques… You really are cursed.”

“Seriously? Even then, knowing I might just have a feeling about it is one thing, but being told I’m actually cursed hits differently.”

Subaru had steeled himself to face the consequences of being cursed, yet being affirmatively told he indeed bore one stung harshly.

That affirmed his thoughts, signifying that among the amiable villagers, the assassin lay hidden.

“Do you know what kind of curse it is?”

“I can’t determine that just by catching a glimpse at the technique. I lack depth in curse knowledge, and it’s not something I wish to pry into. However, nine times out of ten, it’ll be for taking your life.”

Those weren’t empty threats, as Beatrice calmly stated the fact.

As she articulated her statements, Subaru quietly nodded. He had already experienced the impact of such deadly curses firsthand.

Beatrice, surprised by the stillness on Subaru’s face, blinked her large eyes.

“Your guts are absolutely firm. Aren’t you afraid of dying?”

“Huh? Are you stupid? I’m scared to death! There’s nothing in this world more terrifying than dying! I wish people would only say such nonsense after they’ve actually died!”

That was Subaru’s unyielding truth, one he wouldn’t budge on.

“Death” was absolute. It wasn’t something to be taken lightly. Furthermore, it was a careless thought only those unfamiliar with death could afford to utter.

Having become aware of that, Subaru, who had tasted death repeatedly, had returned to this world precisely to avoid feeling any sensation worse than death again.

“Thus, I’ll worm my way out of this cursed fate, destiny!”

Pointing a finger skyward, Subaru issued a declaration of war against that unfathomable force watching him from somewhere.

Then, he faced Beatrice once more.

“Okay, so let’s hurry up and break this curse. We don’t have time to waste.”

He needed to identify the culprit—and act before the culprit had the chance to strike first.

Feeling exhilarated at finally seizing an opportunity to strike first, Beatrice tilted her head, looking skeptical.

“Why would Betty need to save you?”

“I figured you’d say something so uncharming. I’ve already prepared a counter-argument. If I die, Pack will be sad.”

“…Nii-chan wouldn’t even flinch if someone like you died.”

“No way, Emilia-tan would be so down. If she was upset, Pack would take a hit too. Plus, what will your position be if you didn’t prevent something potential?”

“You’ve completely lost it when begging for assistance while threatening me!”

Stamping her foot in exasperation, Beatrice seemed to be at a loss for a suitable counter-argument.

However, she begrudgingly took a long breath to calm herself, pointing her finger at Subaru, indicating he should come closer.

“I’ll play along just this once. But from now on, Betty won’t get herself involved in any more of this.”

“I can’t truly promise that. When I’m in trouble, I’ll definitely be coming to you for help. I’ll be leeching off you until the cows come home!”

“Are you at all self-aware of your attitude toward getting saved?”

“I’m well-known for my stubbornness! I haven’t been holed away for nothing!”

Flashing a grin with brightly shining teeth, Beatrice surrendered her head with a resigned shake.

Then, unexpectedly, she summoned a white light in her hand and reached towards Subaru.

“I’ll destroy the cursed seal inscribed on you now. Since it was touched by the sorcerer, refer to it as you please.”

“Okay, I’m ready, don’t worry.”

Feeling the palm glowing along with its approach, Subaru reviewed his body mentally.

The points where he’d allowed suspects to touch were all different. Only the rejuvenating old hag had disregarded his intentions and groped his behind—yet if Beatrice’s hand landed there…

Taking in the reality of the old hag being the culprit, he thought about also charging Beatrice with her sexual harassment at the same time.

Yet Subaru’s aspirations were—

“—Huh?!”

The unexpected location where Beatrice’s hand landed blindsided him completely.

The warm glow seeped into his skin, soothingly radiating warmth. Then came an instant of mild itchiness. It felt like seeping from within, before ultimately yielding—

“Black mist…?”

In Beatrice’s glowing hand, he could visibly discern the black mist being grasped directly.

The itchiness faded, understanding that what had been pulled away was the source of that sensation. Then, the mist in Beatrice’s palm—

“How repugnant.”

Disappeared with the striking image of being crushed.

Shaking her hand, both the mist and light were cast away from Beatrice. Upon noticing Subaru’s gaze fixated on the display before her, she expressed:

“It’s over. You should be fine now.”

Hearing that, Subaru instinctively let out a deep sigh.

Realizing he had unknowingly been holding his breath in suspense, he promptly blurted out what he needed to clarify without letting self-deprecation take over.

“Hey, Bear-chan.”

“That term of address is…”

“The place your hand just touched is where the sorcerer did, right?”

Cutting her off, Subaru pressed for confirmation. Beatrice nodded.

By that one nod, Subaru’s understanding of the sorcerer’s identity took shape.

Had everything gone as initially intended, he would have been writing down his findings and acting on it the following day.

He would have conferred with Ram and Rem, along with Roswaal, in preparation to smoke out the village sorcerer to resolve the situation.

That vision had been locked away in Subaru’s mind, but—

“I have to go to the village—!”

He dashed outside, even forgetting to express gratitude to Beatrice.

Throwing away every initial goal, as he ran, all that filled Subaru’s heart was an unrelenting rant against destiny.

“To the end, this is utterly ridiculous!”

In an outburst, Subaru took off running.

He ran.

 

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