[ Setting aside whether Elsa was truly stalled, there seemed to be a more serious matter at hand.
"Huh? Ughhh!" Subaru screamed. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Subaru-kun, what's wrong?"
Rem asked, worried.
"Did Elsa hit him?"
Otto asked.
"No. Simply put, this is the backlash from Subaru overusing his mana."
Frederica replied.
"The guy's starting to scream again."
Felt remarked.
They were even getting a bit used to it.
—
[ "Subaru!" A shrill cry tore through the air—it was Petra, her voice tight with terror.
In the next heartbeat, "Ugh!"
Without a second's hesitation, Ram's hand shot out, her grip like iron as she violently wrenched Subaru back from the brink. The pink-haired maid didn't waste a breath on comfort.
"We're retreating!" Ram's command was a sharp crack of thunder, leaving no room for argument or delay.
"This might be a little rough—brace yourselves!" Frederica's voice was deeper, vibrating with the latent power of her beast-blood.
Their eyes locked on a single point of escape: The window.
There was no more time for talk. With explosive speed, Frederica and Ram sprinted toward the glass. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"For a woman, Frederica-san is truly strong."
Yuriusu complimented.
"That's only natural, after all, she is this lord's… Ah, watch out, Onee-sama!"
—
[ "Frederica!" Subaru let out a shout, but the next second…
Sshhh-t!
Countless thin needles dug deep into Frederica's back.
"ROAR—!"
Frederica let out a roar.
"Ulfr!" Ram cast a spell.
The explosive shockwave shattered the reception room into pieces.
They burst through the window glass, leaped, and jumped out into the open.
"Frederica-neesama!"
Once out on the grass, Frederica gasped in pain.
"I underestimated my opponent…"
"No one here can use healing magic. If those needles are pulled out, it will lead to death by blood loss."
Ram analyzed the situation.
"I hope to buy a little time… Rem and Beatrice are both… I have to find a way to save them…" Subaru thought.
And the next moment…
"Barusu."
"What? I'm trying to think of a way to save Rem and the others…"
"Leave those two behind; the four of us here should flee the mansion immediately. That is the best option right now." Ram said calmly. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"…Sigh, that's very much in Ram's style."
Garfiel sighed.
In the place she loves, everything she loves takes priority.
In other areas, she will calmly and rationally provide the optimal solution.
"…"
Ram couldn't help but clench her fists.
Ram had forgotten Rem.
If Rem hadn't been devoured by Gluttony, if Ram hadn't forgotten Rem, she would absolutely never have made such a decision.
"Onee-sama…"
Yes, this is the optimal solution.
For everyone, for Onee-sama and Subaru-kun, this is what should be done.
Rem had no complaints.
But…
Even so, seeing Onee-sama say that, Rem still felt…
—
[ "Huh?" Subaru froze.
"Wha…t? Wha…t? What… WHAT ARE YOU SAYING!!?"
"What good does yelling do? Calm down. This is an extremely natural thought process."
"DON'T GIVE ME THAT 'NATURAL' CRAP! THE PEOPLE INSIDE THE MANSION ARE REM! YOUR SISTER! THE SISTER WHO LOVES YOU THE MOST, AND WHOM YOU LOVE THE MOST! PROTECTING HER IS A MATTER OF COURSE! THAT IS YOUR SISTER!!" Subaru roared.
And Ram just said calmly: "This is merely a correct assessment of the current situation. Losing Ram and Frederica, plus Barusu, would be too great a loss for the camp. Sacrifice is tolerable. If it were Ram's sister, she would likely say the same—'For Roswaal-sama, please sacrifice Rem'." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"…Onee-sama."
"Rem."
Ram held Rem's hand.
"Onee-sama made two mistakes here. First, Ram should never abandon Rem, no matter what; second, instead of 'For Roswaal-sama, please sacrifice Rem,' Rem would say, 'For Subaru-kun, please sacrifice Rem'."
"Setting aside the latter. Onee-sama's judgment was not wrong. And because of Onee-sama's words, Rem got to see Subaru-kun indignant on my behalf, which makes Rem very happy."
Rem squeezed Ram's hand back in response.
—
[ "YOU TWO, NOW IS NOT THE TIME FOR AN ARGUMENT!!" Frederica shouted.
Then Frederica said, "I believe we should save them."
"What kind of foolish talk is that?"
"No, it is not foolish talk. You said we should consider the loss to the camp, right? In that case, saving them is the best choice—because whether it is Beatrice-sama or Rem, they are both necessary."
"I, I also… I agree with saving them! Agree… to save them…" Petra also chimed in.
"…Is there a chance of winning?" Ram finally relented.
"Rem's location is known! Finding Beatrice is my mission!"
"But there aren't enough people. We have to find Beatrice-sama and rescue Rem while being blocked by the enemy."
"This is a responsibility I, as the proposer, must bear," Frederica said, and suddenly began to tear at her own clothes. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"I would still prefer it if the gentlemen could look away."
Frederica smiled bitterly.
"Hey, hey, what are you doing!"
Otto was a bit flustered.
The men consciously closed their eyes or turned their heads away.
"Onee-sama is about to Beast-form."
Garfiel explained. Then he whispered:
"Actually, this lord thinks this is a bit like taking off your pants to fart…"
—
[ "Don't be surprised and scream, okay." Frederica said, and then…
"ROAR…" Frederica's blonde hair shortened, golden fur grew over her body, and her skeleton enlarged.
She dropped to all fours, her teeth becoming sharper. ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"Oh? Quite like a beautiful beast, isn't it?"
Anastasia said.
"Mm, I agree. So why tear the clothes?"
"That's why this lord thinks it's like taking off your pants to fart."
Garfiel whispered.
Since the clothes were going to be shredded anyway, why tear them off before Beast-forming? Wouldn't it be better to just Beast-form directly?
This lord really can't understand.
—
[ "So this is… the so-called Beast-form. Not Beauty and the Beast, but the Beauty is the Beast… ha, I really want to take her to a bath." Subaru, in his shock, didn't forget to joke.
"Take a bath with a man? I would absolutely never do that." Then, Frederica looked at Petra: "Petra, I'm sorry for scaring you. It's truly amazing that you didn't scream in terror."
"Ye… yes. Onee-sama, please be careful…"
"What a good child. Ram, I leave the rest to you. In the worst-case scenario, retreat from the Master's office."
"No need to remind me. Frederica, you too—if you're late, Ram will not forgive you." ]
.....
〜Inside, the Theater〜
"I know who the next person to die is now."
Al said.
Isn't this atmosphere just setting a flag?
—
[ "ROAR—!" Frederica let out a low growl and leaped inside to intercept Elsa. ]
.....