—But several days hence, even that land where they could live in peace would be cruelly eaten apart by the fangs of demon beasts.
“”
He had to do something. That was something Subaru and only Subaru could do.
For if Subaru didn’t do it, a great many lives that he had to save would be lost.
“I believe we have finally spoken about all there was to speak of. It became a longer conversation than I had expected.”
“There just isn’t enough time at all to hear about all the hard times you’ve been through, Ryuzu… Er, actually, I haven’t heard anything about the really important part yet.”
As Ryuzu took another sip of her now-cooled tea, Subaru raised a finger.
The final question was actually the first, the issue to which the answer had been kicked down the road.
“The conversation flew away a little so I forgot, but can you tell me about this Apostle of Greed business?”
“Ahhh, that’s right. It is something I took so much for granted, I failed to realize.”
“Please. If I don’t understand that, I won’t be able to relax ’cause I won’t know the reason this girl’s acting so fond of me.”
Glancing sidelong at Piko, she remained wordless and unreactive from beginning to end, never leaving Subaru’s side. —And that term, the Apostles of Greed, was the answer.
“Answer me, Ryuzu. No need to gloss anything over. Just tell it like it is.”
“Let me see… Put simply, the Apostles of Greed are the beings who have the right to command us, the replicas of Ryuzu Meyer. As fellow pawns of the Witch Echidna, our positions are similar…but your authority places you above us, Young Su.”
“Wait, wait, wait! I can’t let that part just slide! Whaddaya mean Echidna’s pawn?!”
“—? It is strange that you are unaware of it. The fact that you stand before the magic crystal is proof you have been acknowledged as being qualified to do so.”
Cocking her head, Ryuzu looked genuinely mystified. Her reaction left Subaru opening and closing his mouth like a fish. Calming down after several seconds like that, he spoke up again.
“…Explain it to me from the beginning. I found that place relying on the memories of other people. That’s why I can’t agree with what you’re telling me. I don’t have anything to do with the Witch…with Echidna.”
Fearful of breaking the taboo, Subaru became selective about his words midway through his sentence. The explanation sent Ryuzu sinking into thought, her childish brow creasing as she made an mmm murmur.
“And yet, I feel compulsive power from Young Su’s words. This is unshakable proof that you have become an apostle, Young Su. At the tomb, did you not receive something from the Witch that acknowledged you as her apostle?”
“Something I got from Echidna at the tomb…?”
Thinking back to his passing encounter with Echidna, he couldn’t put his finger on anything that fit the bill.
He had no memory whatsoever of words acknowledging him as an apostle nor of any kind of appointment ceremony. What Subaru was granted in that dream was a fair bit of knowledge and reassuring and terrifying experiences. And—
“…Wait, don’t tell me it was the Dona Tea?”
“Dona Tea?”
“Twice the Witch made me drink what she said were her body fluids disguised as tea…”
“So you took a portion of the Witch into you, then? Without humor or irony, ’tis surely that.”
“Why, that little— She really did make me drink one hell of a thing!!”
As the indignant Subaru unwittingly rose to his feet, Ryuzu went, “Now, now,” as she chided him. While Subaru’s heart and head filled with anger, she smiled at him.
“When all is said and done, it’s thanks to that you’ve come this far. It’s not all bad, yes?”
“I’m upset that she set me up and kept quiet about it! What does she think someone’s body is? My relations with Witches are complicated as it is, and now I’ve got Greed and Jealousy all over me…”
First was the Witch of Jealousy, granting Subaru the power of Return by Death without asking; then there was the Witch of Greed, arbitrarily adding him to the ranks of her apostles. Witches really did do things as they damn well pleased.
The instant he also thought of Wrath, Pride, and Gluttony, he was assailed by resignation.
“I mean I knew that… Witches do as they please. I can’t really expect much from the last two, either…”
“At any rate, Young Su, you have gained command over the Sanctuary’s replicas of Ryuzu Meyer. You may make even me obey any order you please. Quite thrilling for a healthy young man, is it not?”
“I might be a grown young man, but you don’t exactly look like a grown young woman…”
Those with particular…tastes might drooled at such an opportunity, but it was a treasure wasted on Subaru. Still, when it came to taking advantage of it, this treasure was certainly a useful one for fulfilling Subaru’s objective.
“—If I have the mark of an apostle with command rights, there’s an Apostle of Greed besides me here in the Sanctuary, right?”
The question made Ryuzu fall silent. However, her expression told him what wanted to know. More than anything, Subaru had already seen the answer with his very own eyes—the apostle who had given orders to over twenty Ryuzu replicas, employing them in the battle against the Witch.
“Garfiel. He has to have qualifications as an Apostle of Greed, too. And if my guess is right, qualifications to be an apostle aren’t something you get unless you meet with Echidna.”
And with the Witch having already passed away, that world had only one remaining way to meet her.
“Garfiel’s been inside the tomb. He’s taken the Trial… Ryuzu, you said yourself that anyone can take it. That’s gotta be why he’s an apostle.”
It wasn’t difficult to imagine Garfiel challenging the tomb. He’d probably raced recklessly into the tomb, full of confidence and spirits high, hoping to liberate the Sanctuary.
—And there, Garfiel had no doubt faced his own past.
Subaru didn’t know what Garfiel thought of the results. But given the fact that the Sanctuary’s barrier had not been lifted, Garfiel’s challenge of the Trial must have ended in failure.
And yet, he had become an apostle. After taking the Trial, he must have been invited into the castle of dreams. There he engaged in conversation with Echidna, and then they must have formed some kind of pact. Exactly what kind of pact had been exchanged between them?
Reasoning by analogy, Garfiel’s objectives all fit the role of a guardian of the Sanctuary. That was the only point on which there had been no inconsistency between all the runs Subaru had been through so far.
However, once that was removed from the picture, inconsistencies in his words and deeds had appeared between each attempt. Perhaps, for whatever reason, Garfiel’s actions had begun to go haywire? Did that have something to do with him being an apostle—no, that was overthinking it.
He couldn’t get overly sympathetic for Garfiel. He didn’t have the leeway for that.
He, Garfiel, is my enemy. —It’s better that way.
“Ryuzu, are command rights broadcasted to other apostles?”
“There is no outward sign of it, so no. We might feel the compulsive power ourselves, but surely Young Gar would feel nothing of that. Nor do I intend to go out of my way to tell him of it.”
“Then let me bind you on that one thing. Even if Garfiel asks, don’t answer him.”
“”
Subaru’s command made Ryuzu narrow her eyes. He felt an odd throbbing in his chest. Belatedly, he realized that this was a sense of guilt—of having ignored the will of another being and his aversion to forcing another to obey him.
It wasn’t something he wanted to get used to. But this one time, he ignored those feelings.
“I can’t tell you all the details, but this is the best road for everyone to travel. Ryuzu, my relationship to
you girls is secret. Piko and the others can just do the same things they’ve always done… To make sure Garfiel doesn’t know there’s anything between us.”
“After all, Young Gar would not be silent if he knew that our relationship was one of adulterer and harem.”
“On top of being one evil metaphor, that makes my sins sound waaaay too dark…”
Be it sarcasm or complaint, Ryuzu’s reply left Subaru drained of energy as he gravely accepted it.
—Don’t forget. Remember this. Even if you get a pardon, even if this becomes a lost world…
—The crimes committed by Subaru Natsuki had to be remembered, even if by Subaru Natsuki alone.
“Young Su?”
“…Nah, this is a really huge help. For the moment, I’m good for everything I wanted to ask. I figure I’ll be asking for your cooperation from here on out, so counting on you for when that time comes.”
“Of course, for I cannot defy you. Use me as you please, be it to evade Young Gar or as your own personal hugging pillow…”
“And can you stop treating me like my demands aren’t greedy enough?! I’m really not used to it!”
Responding to Ryuzu’s teasing, Subaru proceeded to give a command to Piko at his side. For several seconds, he mulled over what he ought to say, but—
“Please continue working as the eyes of the Sanctuary just like you have to date. I’ll call you when I need you.”
“”
Having received her command, Piko did not nod as she quickly rose up, heading out of the house in a small run.
“When I wanna talk to you in secret, Ryuzu, should I just use this hideaway?”
“Yes, for this is where I am sleeping while I lend my house to Young Ros and the others. I am here most of the time between morning and night. A house without a master is slighted if one does not use it once in a while, after all.”
When Ryuzu slapped her thighs, Subaru nodded a fair bit and lightly surveyed the room. He’d thought this when they’d first brought him in, too, but this really was an average house with no defining characteristics.
But if he was to point out one thing that made it stand out from the other house, it would be the two shields on the wall—both spherical and polished a silver color, decorated with images as if to powerfully assert themselves.
“They are the toys that Young Gar and Frederica played with long ago.”
“…Children playing with shields. Different culture, huh?”
Seeing in which direction Subaru’s gaze faced, Ryuzu made a pained smile as she spoke. It was hard for Subaru to imagine the sight of kids playing with shields. It was just as difficult to imagine Garfiel and Frederica as little kids.
“Thank you, Ryuzu. See you later… Er, that wasn’t a command, okay?”
“I will not be quite that much of a tease. Worry not. As representative of the Sanctuary, I shall cooperate with you hereafter.”
The oddly roundabout phrasing on the occasion of his departure made Subaru tilt his head. But unrelated to that tilting, he waved a hand and headed out of the house.
And just before actually leaving, Subaru abruptly looked back.
“Come to think of it, Ryuzu, if the original family name is Meyer, why is your family name Bilma? Where’d that come from?”
The question made Ryuzu, watching him head off, flash a wry smile.
Somehow, that expression was incredibly fleeting smile, like something so fragile that would crumple if you put your finger on it.
“The name of Ryuzu is assigned as part of our role. Accordingly, we can only demonstrate our individuality in other places. Hobbies, tastes, and names… Ah, Young Su.”
“…Yeah?”
“If you do not mind, perhaps you could ask the same question to me again? —From tomorrow and thereafter.”
Subaru was silent in the face of Ryuzu’s request as that fleeting, brittle smile crossed her face.
However, it did not take very much time for him to agree to her earnest plea.
6
Parting with Ryuzu, Subaru walked to the settlement in the dead of night.
Ahead of him lay the Cathedral—the place where the fleeing people of Earlham Village had been given refuge and the place that served as Subaru’s sleeping place. Most were simply dozing in a huddle, but the villagers did as they were told without complaint, and that courageous spirit greatly bolstered Subaru’s willpower.
“Somehow, I’ve gotta get everyone to the village safe and sound…”
As Suburu murmured, in the back of his mind, the smiling faces of people familiar to him were dyed with blood in an instant. The sights of them being cruelly slain by claw and fang—that came from a future that might not be long in coming.
Be the culprit Garfiel or the Great Rabbit, the difference in the form of death offered no salvation.
But if it was just a matter of liberating the villagers from the Sanctuary, Subaru had a way. He merely needed to ask that they be released on the firm promise that Emilia would undertake the Trial. They wouldn’t refuse.
“Besides, if they’re here…they might do something reckless again.”
On a previous run, the villagers had metaphorically broken their bones to cooperate with Ram and company in aiding Subaru. Then that metaphor became far too literal with the unfolding of a tragedy far worse than the figure of speech could account for. A tragedy that could not be undone.
Subaru didn’t want to go through that again. And it was something he absolutely could not allow to repeat itself.
Accordingly, he planned to have the people of Earlham Village peaceably released from the Sanctuary. Getting Roswaal to offer such a proposal made it possible. This was an issue he’d already cleared once before.
As for what remained, the next problem he needed to deal with was—
“—Subaru? What are you doing in a place like this?”
“Wah-yaah!”
Suddenly, Subaru was taken by surprise by a voice calling out to him from out of the blue. He’d been concentrating so hard on his thoughts that he hadn’t noticed her presence whatsoever. Subaru’s reaction also seemed to surprise the girl who’d called out to him.
“That preposterous way of being surprised can really startle someone, you know?”
“N-no one uses the word ‘preposterous’ anymore…”
As the surprised girl—Emilia—pursed her lips in protest, Subaru somehow managed to respond with his usual flippancy. In response, Emilia put her hands on her hips and said, “Goodness, Subaru, that mouth of yours never quits. And to think I was worried.”
“I didn’t do anything that you had to worry about, so it’s all right… But since I’m happy that Emilia-tan was thinking about me, I’d like it if you keep me in your thoughts all the time. We could even meet in a dream.”
“Sorry, I don’t really follow.”
Quickly recovering emotionally, Subaru entrusted matters to his gilded tongue as he walked closer to Emilia.
Unlike when they had parted, Subaru noticed that Emilia, framed by the waning moonlight, was wearing thin one-piece pajamas. Without exaggeration, she bore an air of mystery like a fairy spotted on a moonlit night. Subaru felt his cheeks growing warmer at the thought.
“You look like a fairy there, Emilia-tan.”
“Ah, you mustn’t. You cannot speak badly of people like that. Even I will get upset.”
“Calling you a fairy was meant to be a compliment, though!”
“—? But fairies are a type of evil spirit, right? You can’t fool me by calling those words of praise.”
“Gah, my wooing was foiled by cultural differences…”
Emilia, refusing to lend her ears to Subaru’s excuses, puffed up her cheeks. After that, she glanced at the downcast Subaru and let out a long, exasperated sigh.
“Yes, yes, let us leave the jokes there… Subaru, what were you doing at an hour like this?”
“That’s my line. I told you not to stay up tonight, and here you are on a nightti
me stroll… If Puck was here, he’d say your beauty would be going to waste.”
“That’s, er…mm, I might not actually have an excuse.”
By piling a question onto Emilia’s own, Subaru hid from her the information he had gleaned that night. She didn’t need to know about the circumstances of Ryuzu’s birth or about the Witch. It would just be an extra burden to bear.
But Emilia’s nighttime stroll bugged him on a mundane level. His question made her cast her eyes down.
“Um, having you say that to me makes this a little embarrassing, Subaru, but I couldn’t sleep at all since… So I went out for a stroll with the night breeze hitting me. It helped calm me down a little.”
“…Really are uneasy about the Trial, then?”
“It’s not that… Well, it might be that. But I don’t really understand it myself. I thought, maybe by walking around I could find out what it was. Really, if only—”
Cutting her words off there, Emilia lowered her eyelids, donning a gentle self-deprecating smile.
Even without saying them, Subaru understood the words that lay ahead of where she had cut them off. Emilia probably wanted to say this: Really, if only Puck were here.
“…I guess I’m a stand-in to the very end, huh?”
“Eh?”
“Nah. Emilia-tan… Emilia, you’re doing great. You really want to run from it, and there’s nothing wrong with that. I really respect you for not letting that keep you down and standing up to face it.”
On her one opportunity to do so, Emilia would continue her challenge, undaunted by the allure of running away. The result might still be unpalatable, but even so, Subaru saw her trying to fulfill her duty with all her might.
That was why Subaru’s words were true, no falseness to them whatsoever.
He respected Emilia, Ram, Otto, Petra, the villagers.
He thought similarly of Puck, Roswaal, Ryuzu, and Frederica.
For that sake, he had to overcome the obstacles known as Garfiel, Elsa, the Beast Master, and the Great Rabbit.
“Wh-what’s with you all of a sudden? You saying that out of the blue…it’s startling.”
“It’s not all of a sudden. I always think that; I’m just taking the time to say it. I wish I could say it in a more romantic way, but I guess you’ll have to settle for a moonlit night.”
Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World-, Vol. 12 Page 8
