(A/N: Someone when asked me how to ruin a reader's day I replied, telling the story of my friend.
"You just have to upload a chapter, it should be empty except the words 'WTF Is consistency š„³š„³š„³š„³'")
...
(3rd Person POV)
"Foolish! Do you really think someone will come to save a filthy witch cultist?" she snarled.
However, at that moment, a girl suddenly materialized in front of Subaru.
"..."
She fell completely silent, stunned by the unexpected arrival of the girl who had just appeared before her. The newcomer was fair-skinned, with striking red hair that swayed gently in the forest breeze. Her clear blue eyes scanned Rem with momentary disinterest before they softened upon landing on Subaru. A serene smile formed on her lips as she took a step forward.
"I am here, Lord Zero," she said in a calm, respectful tone.
Subaru couldn't help the wave of relief and joy that immediately washed over him at the sound of her voice. Without thinking, he moved forward and wrapped his arms around her from behind, pulling her into a tight embrace.
The red-haired girl let out a surprised yelp at the sudden contact, her cheeks flushing with a soft pink hue. However, after a moment of initial shock, she relaxed and returned the embrace, wrapping her arms around his and resting against him. A smile of genuine happiness lit up her face, her eyes reflecting warmth and contentment.
Rem, of course, was not one to stand idle in such a moment. Her instincts took over, and without a moment's hesitation, she chanted sharply, "Al Huma!"
Instantly, a towering and dense pillar of sharpened ice erupted into the air and surged toward Subaru and Reina with terrifying speed, the sound of its creation like a high-pitched crack of thunder splitting the silence.
Subaru's eyes widened in pure shock as the deadly magic raced toward them.
But Reina didn't even flinch. She didn't glance back, didn't take a defensive stance, didn't break her calm expression. She simply raised one hand with practiced ease and flicked a single finger in the direction of the incoming spell.
BOOM
The massive construct of ice exploded into a cloud of glittering shards before it could reach them. The sheer force of the shockwave that followed sent the fragments flying back like shrapnel from a cannon.
Rem, caught entirely off guard, was hurled backward by the sudden force. Her body slammed violently into multiple trees, crashing through bark and branches like a ragdoll before finally slamming hard into the ground, where she lay motionless.
Subaru's jaw nearly dropped to the forest floor as he stared at the aftermath in complete disbelief.
Reina, calm and unfazed, stood quietly in front of him. Subaru slowly released the embrace and stepped back to look at her in awe.
She turned her gaze to him and spoke gently, her voice filled with quiet assurance, "Do not worry, Lord Zero. As long as I am by your side, no one will ever be able to harm even a single strand of your hair."
"R-Reina, that was incredible! You were amazing!" Subaru said, his eyes sparkling with genuine admiration.
Reina, trying to maintain composure, rubbed the side of her nose bashfully and looked away, though her lips twitched upward. "I-It wasn't that impressiveā¦ reallyā¦"
Had it been anyone else witnessing what just happened, they might have called her a monster. Fear and suspicion would've spread immediately at such overwhelming power. But Natsuki Subaru wasn't like most people.
Especially not his former self, Ayan Ghosh, who had always admired protagonists that were overpowered from the startāthose who stood tall and firm against all odds without the need for dense ignorance or fake modesty.
(A/N: Non-dense OP main characters are superior. Mark my words.)
Rem, who had been groaning and struggling to move a few moments earlier, suddenly forced herself up. Despite the pain, she turned and broke into a sprint, making a run for the mansion.
She didn't get far.
Reina's eyes narrowed ever so slightly. In a single step, she broke the sound barrier and vanished from her spot. A powerful sonic boom echoed through the trees.
In the blink of an eye, she reappeared before Subaru, holding Rem by the neck with one hand. The blue-haired oni dangled helplessly, unable to resist.
Reina hadn't received so much as a scratch.
"I've captured her, Lord Zero. Should I eliminate her?" she asked in a detached voice, as if she were merely discussing a routine chore.
She couldn't understand why this girl had dared to attack her Lord. Had it not been for the constraints placed on her by her Divine Blessing, which warned her against killing Rem, she wouldn't have even asked for permission. The girl would already be dead.
Subaru, however, shook his head. "No. Let's take her back to the Mathers Mansion. She's got a lot of explaining to do."
Reina nodded without protest.
Subaru's eyes darkened slightly as he looked at the girl now hanging helplessly in front of him. Rem tried to move, but her body wouldn't respond properly. Her mana was being completely disruptedādisabled at the source. Her spells refused to activate.
She was as helpless as a civilian in this moment.
Subaru suddenly turned to Reina again. "Oh, before thatācan you put her down for a second?" he asked.
Without any delay, Reina gently lowered Rem to the ground, allowing her feet to touch the earth. The moment she was released, Rem fixed her gaze on Subaru, her expression filled with hostility.
She glared at him with fury in her eyes, as though she still didn't understand the power gap she had just witnessed.
"Filthy Witch cuā" Rem began, but her words were abruptly cut off as Subaru stepped forward and slapped her across the face with a force that echoed through the quiet forest.
She hit the ground hard, skidding against the dirt. A pained cough escaped her lips, followed by a few broken teeth that scattered near her. Her cheek began to swell rapidly, already turning an angry shade of red. She looked up at him with wide eyes, filled with disbelief and raw humiliation. She couldn't process what had just happened.
Subaru stared down at her coldly, his expression unflinching.
"What's with that look? Like I'm the villain here?" he said, voice devoid of empathy. "You tried to kill me. Not because you had proof, not because you saw me doing anything, but because of some baseless accusationāone that a Great Spirit already disproved."
His eyes narrowed in disgust.
He turned his head slightly and gave Reina a silent look.
She understood instantly. Without needing words, she reached down and effortlessly lifted Rem by her neck once more, as if handling something fragile and irritating. Rem's legs kicked weakly beneath her, but she couldn't resist.
With that, the three of them made their way back toward Roswaal's mansion.
As they walked through the dense foliage and moonlit paths, Subaru began to explain everything to Reina in detail. He spoke about the false accusation of being associated with the Witch Cult, how Rem had attempted to murder him without hesitation, and how all of this had played out in a past loop.
Reina's expression darkened with every word. Her grip on Rem gradually tightened until her fingers dug slightly into the oni's skin.
"That's the reason?" she growled, her tone layered with growing fury. "You tried to kill Lord Zero over something so shallow?! Over nothing but suspicion?!"
Rem gasped, her face turning pale, her body thrashing weakly as the air was choked from her lungs. Her attempts to channel mana were in vaināher flow was still completely suppressed.
"Reina! Stop! She'll die at this rate!" Subaru shouted sharply, snapping her out of her rage.
Reina blinked, then immediately loosened her grip. Rem slumped in her hand, coughing and gasping for breath.
"Be grateful, bitch," Reina muttered, venom in her voice. "If not for Lord Zero, I would have erased you from this world without leaving behind even dust."
Rem remained silent, now truly realizing just how outclassed she was. She didn't know who this woman was or where she had come from, but she understood one thing with terrifying clarityāReina wasn't just strong. She was something else entirely. To obliterate an advanced-tier magic attack with nothing but a flick of her finger? That wasn't strength. That was power on a whole different level.
Subaru walked beside them, expression composed but thoughts racing. He glanced toward Reina and asked, "By the wayā¦ do you have any Divine Protection that allows telepathic communication?"
Reina nodded without hesitation. "Yes. I possess the Divine Protection of Mind-Link."
A second later, her eyes glowed faintly, and she activated the ability. A clear voice rang inside Subaru's mind: 'You can speak now, Lord Zero.'
'Good. Because I've got a little joke I want to tell once we arrive,' Subaru replied mentally, a grin spreading across his face.
'A joke?' Reina tilted her head slightly in confusion, clearly unsure why he would choose a time like this for something so seemingly trivial.
Subaru quickly explained his idea to her using the telepathic link. Reina still didn't fully understand why he wanted to go through with it, but she trusted him. If it was his will, she would stand by it without question.
Soon enough, they reached the mansion gates. The night was still and quiet, the garden empty under the faint light of the moon. Reina didn't bother being gentleāshe tossed Rem carelessly to the ground like a discarded ragdoll.
"Come out!" Subaru shouted loudly, his voice carrying through the still air.
Reina immediately activated her Divine Protection again, using it to send a mental pulse through the estate. Moments later, movement stirred from inside.
Before long, several figures stepped into the garden.
Ram arrived first, her eyes scanning the scene with suspicion. Emilia appeared just behind her, visibly startled by the tense atmosphere. Beatrice floated in next, arms crossed and eyes half-lidded. Even Roswaal arrived shortly after, his expression unreadable but clearly serious.
"Why are you bothering Betty at this hour, I suppose?" Beatrice muttered, clearly annoyed even though she didn't need to sleep in the first place.
Emilia's eyes widened as they landed on Rem's beaten and battered form lying on the ground. "Zeroāwait, what happened to Rem?!" she gasped, rushing over to her.
Ram quickly moved to support her sister, helping Rem sit up. Her eyes locked onto Subaru with hatred. "What did you do to her?" she demanded, fury building with every word.
Roswaal's gaze sharpened, clearly aware something significant had happened, but he said nothing yet, waiting.
Subaru took a single step forward, spread his arms slightly, and grinned darkly.
"I am the Sin Archbishop, representing PrideāZero!" he declared boldly, his voice ringing through the garden.
A heavy silence followed. Ram's and Rem's eyes widened in horror, their expressions turning pale in an instant.
Even Roswaal seemed visibly disturbed.
To be continuedā¦
(A/N: Honestly, this went smoother than expected. I had given up on AI editing before because previous attempts created too many plotholes or changed the tone too much. But now, this actually turned out solidāit kept the tone consistent, didn't go poetic, and hit harder than my original in some parts. Not bad at all.
EDITED NOTE: I AGAIN EDITED IT, THIS TIME WITH SUPERIOR COMMANDS AND PROOFREADING)