Natsuki Subaru turned his head, seeing Garfiel and the childlike yet elderly Ryuzu Bilma approaching from the plaza entrance.
Garfiel stood with his arms crossed, looking like he was enjoying a show, while Ryuzu Bilma had a distinctly aged demeanor, a stark contrast to her loli-like appearance.
Behind them, Ram also quietly appeared, her pink bob swaying gently in the night breeze.
Looking at the approaching trio, Natsuki Subaru deliberately put on a relaxed expression and teased:
"Are these all the spectators? It feels a bit desolate, doesn't it?"
"Because the villagers are forbidden from going out at night," Ryuzu Bilma replied in her girlish voice, which was unsuited to her age. "Besides, it's the middle of the night, there isn't even a proper light, and it would be troublesome if it caused unnecessary commotion."
Saying this, Ryuzu Bilma yawned, "An old woman like me should already be asleep at this hour. It's truly hard to resist the pull of sleep."
"Uh..." Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but rub his forehead and groan, "Your routine is truly a standard old person's routine, isn't it?"
Although the girl before him appeared to be a pink-haired girl of about twelve years old, her slow way of speaking, her hands-behind-her-back walking posture, and her occasional hand on her lower back, made her truly look like an aged old woman.
"Hehe, young people don't understand these things," Ryuzu Bilma said, unbothered, instead smiling kindly.
"You'll understand once you reach this old woman's age. My bones, you see, need rest on schedule, otherwise, my joints will creak the next day, and that's truly uncomfortable."
"But looking at your appearance..." Natsuki Subaru's eye twitched slightly as he looked her up and down, surveying Ryuzu Bilma's petite figure and delicate, doll-like face, complaining, "You're clearly an aged loli, aren't you?"
"You brat, you're even more disrespectful than Gar-bo and Ros-bo."
"I'm using 'loli' as a modifier, I'm clearly complimenting you on being young and beautiful, alright?" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but retort. "In my original world, someone like you, who looks forever eighteen, is a very popular type."
"Hmph..." Ryuzu Bilma couldn't help but chuckle softly at his words, fine lines appearing at the corners of her eyes, then she said with a gentle tone, "You're an interesting boy."
"This old woman has lived for hundreds of years, and this is the first time I've been called that. But call me whatever you like, a name is just a designation anyway... At this old age, I no longer care about such things."
The group who arrived before the tomb all straightened their postures.
Ram was present as the proxy for the heavily injured Roswaal, while Garfiel and Ryuzu were representatives of the Sanctuary, joined by Emilia's knight, Natsuki Subaru.
Although there weren't many witnesses, each person represented an important stance.
"Ram will bear witness to Lady Emilia's challenge, until the very end."
Ram bowed slightly, her pink bob swaying gently in the night breeze.
Emilia softly responded, then turned her gaze towards the deep tomb entrance. Unrest rippled in her amethyst-like eyes, and her slender fingers unconsciously intertwined, her knuckles turning slightly white from the tension.
Just at that moment--
A warm hand suddenly enveloped her cold fingers. The familiar warmth made Emilia flinch slightly.
She looked up, and Natsuki Subaru's face, filled with concern, met her gaze.
"Emilia, do you remember what you said when we first met?"
Natsuki Subaru leaned slightly forward, leveling his gaze with Emilia's, bringing them close enough to feel each other's breath.
"You said helping people doesn't need a reason," Natsuki Subaru grinned, flashing his characteristic radiant smile. "At that moment, I knew the kindest girl in this world was standing right in front of me."
"But..." Emilia lowered her head, "I might not be strong enough..."
"Listen carefully, Emilia." Natsuki Subaru gently placed his hands on Emilia's shoulders, looking directly into her clear eyes and saying, "Strength isn't about having no fear, but about being able to keep moving forward even when you're afraid. You're already braver than anyone else."
"And remember, no matter what happens, I'll be here waiting for you."
"If you feel too much pain, you can always come out. We can still find other ways, so don't force yourself, okay?"
"Subaru... Thank you. But this time, I want to try relying on my own strength." Emilia's eyes teared up slightly, she took a deep breath, and her gaze gradually became resolute.
"For those who believe in me, for everyone in Arlam Village... and also, so I don't betray your expectations."
"Now that's the Emilia I know," Natsuki Subaru paused, then continued, "Remember, you're not alone. I'll always be here, your strongest support, waiting for your triumphant return. Then, we'll go together to bring the villagers home, okay?"
Emilia nodded. After Natsuki Subaru's guidance, her previous tension seemed to dissipate considerably.
"Go on, I'll be waiting outside." Natsuki Subaru stepped back, giving Emilia a thumbs-up.
"Show that rotten tomb what a truly amazing silver-haired beautiful girl can do!"
Emilia couldn't help but laugh. She turned to face the tomb, her silver long hair fluttering in the night breeze:
"Thank you... Subaru, Ram, and everyone watching me. I will, I will definitely try my best--"
"The tomb is glowing?!"
Ram's eyes widened in surprise.
This strange yet beautiful luminous glow enveloped the entire tomb area in a dreamlike ambiance.
Lady Emilia truly is the chosen one.
Under everyone's bated breath, Emilia showed no hesitation.
She raised her foot and firmly stepped onto the stairs leading into the tomb's interior.
With each step, the surrounding phosphorescence grew brighter, as if paving a path of destiny for her.
With this farewell to Natsuki Subaru, Emilia's figure gradually vanished into the darkness.
Only the phosphorescence outside the tomb still flickered, signaling that the trial had begun.
Natsuki Subaru's eyes flickered, his brow furrowing unconsciously.
Although he knew this trial for Emilia was destined to fail, a wave of worry still crept into his heart.
No one knew better than him what cruel mental torment awaited Emilia within that eerie tomb.
"Don't worry, kid," Ryuzu Bilma said, as if sensing Natsuki Subaru's concern for Emilia. "Since the tomb has accepted Lady Emilia's trial, at least you don't have to worry about her suffering a backlash from the spell like Roswaal did."
"I understand."
Natsuki Subaru softly replied, his gaze fixed on the deep tomb entrance, silently pondering.
How could he help Emilia overcome those three cruel trials?
After all, the ordeals set by the Witch of Greed, Echidna — facing the past, the impossible present, and the impending calamity — each stage was an extreme torment for the mind.
In the original world line, it was Natsuki Subaru's relentless encouragement and support that became the key for Emilia to break through her psychological barriers.
Especially that sincere confession, which allowed Emilia to find the courage to confront her inner fears.
"So, this time too, I definitely must..." Natsuki Subaru silently resolved, his hands unconsciously clenching, "...help Emilia conquer the trial, destroy the barrier array, and free the entire Sanctuary."
"What?!"
Just then, a sudden change made everyone present gasp.
Everyone simultaneously looked up to confirm: the dazzling luminous glow that had enveloped the tomb suddenly extinguished completely.
"The light's gone?! Is... is that okay?!"
A rare hint of panic entered Ram's voice.
"During the trial, the tomb's light should remain constantly lit..."
A trace of confusion appeared on Ryuzu Bilma's face.
"Which means, something unprecedented has happened! Lady Emilia is in danger!"
Hearing this, Ram's tone suddenly rose.
"I'm going in to check!"
Although he already knew how the plot would unfold, Natsuki Subaru couldn't suppress his inner worry and rushed towards the Witch's Tomb without hesitation.
"Wait, wait a minute, kid!" Ryuzu Bilma hastily reached out to stop him. "You don't have the qualification to enter the tomb--!"
"Huh~? What in the world is going on?!"
The next moment, Ryuzu Bilma's startled cry abruptly ceased.
Immediately after, Garfiel's voice, full of shock, rang out:
"He's like Lady Emilia... he can enter too, but he's clearly a human!"
Under everyone's astonished gazes, Natsuki Subaru's figure had already 'streaked' up the stairs.
The barrier that would shatter ordinary people seemed to not exist for him.
In a blink of an eye, Natsuki Subaru's figure was completely swallowed by the darkness of the tomb.
The moment he stepped into the ruins, cold air mixed with the scent of decay rushed towards him.
"Over here."
Natsuki Subaru's footsteps showed no hesitation, guided by the Shadow power, he moved swiftly through the complex passages like the wind.
In fact, Natsuki Subaru had already anticipated this scene.
On the very first day he entered the Sanctuary, he had secretly hidden a Shadow Soldier in Emilia's shadow.
As he delved deeper, the passages began to narrow, and the air grew thinner.
Finally, after turning a corner--
"This is... a room?"
What appeared before him was a long-decayed stone door, half-ajar, as if it had given up its duty of blocking intruders.
Natsuki Subaru stepped over the threshold without hesitation, entering a space entirely different from the passage.
It was a square stone chamber, its walls surprisingly clean, without traces of erosion from vines.
The weathering of ages had left unique patterns here, yet it miraculously maintained its complete structure.
And at the end of the stone chamber--
"Emilia!"
The silver-haired girl lay quietly before the tightly closed stone door, her long hair fanned out on the ground, glowing faintly in the faint green phosphorescence.
From Natsuki Subaru's angle, he could only see her pale profile and tightly furrowed brow, her delicate face contorted in pain, unshed tears clinging to her long eyelashes, and heard her agonizing whispers:
"No... Mother... I can't do it, I'm sorry..."
"It's okay, Emilia."
Natsuki Subaru cupped Emilia's cheek with one hand, gently wiping away her scorching tears with his thumb.
Through the warmth of their skin contact, he could feel the torment Emilia was enduring.
He knew Emilia's consciousness was trapped in the trial's cage, forced to confront her darkest memories.
Just then, an ethereal female voice suddenly resonated beside Natsuki Subaru's ear:
"First, face your past."
"This is...!"
Natsuki Subaru's pupils suddenly constricted, and he sharply looked up.
He saw the surrounding air begin to twist and warp, and the patterns on the stone walls pulsed like living things.
Invisible mental waves transformed into tangible pressure, surging forth like a colossal tide, engulfing Natsuki Subaru's entire body instantly.
Just as the mental waves were about to invade Natsuki Subaru's brain--
[Notification: Abnormal mental intrusion detected. Great Spirit Candealar's Blessing automatically activated.]
Shadow energy erupted from within Natsuki Subaru's body, forming a black barrier around him, completely isolating the incoming mental waves.
It should be known that Great Spirit Candealar's Blessing not only significantly boosts physical recovery ability, but also grants immunity to all diseases, poisons, and abnormal statuses.
Even the Archbishop of Sloth's attempts on the village at that time were easily dispelled by Great Spirit Candealar's Blessing.
Natsuki Subaru quickly scanned the information that suddenly popped up on his System panel, immediately understanding the current situation.
Being able to enter the Witch's Tomb itself meant he had been chosen to undertake the trial.
Speaking of which, ever since he transferred his class to Shadow Monarch, Natsuki Subaru's physical constitution had already become incomparable.
Now, he could not only manipulate the surging Shadow energy within his body at will, but also transform the shadows of the deceased into his own fighting force.
The most important point was that within him, the undead and shadows formed a perfect symbiotic system, allowing him to summon Shadow Soldiers for coordinated combat anytime, anywhere.
"But Great Spirit Candealar's Blessing blocked the Witch's trial invitation to me..." Natsuki Subaru frowned, pondering.
"Find the source, and establish a mental link?"
In a flash of thought, Natsuki Subaru made his decision, directly activating the Shadow power within him.
Ink-black energy surged forth from his body, transforming into countless slender energy tendrils that probed into the void.
The entire stone chamber suddenly began to vibrate violently.
Centered on Natsuki Subaru, dense Shadow energy spread outwards like a tidal wave.
The phosphorescence on the walls was instantly consumed, plunging the entire space into pure darkness.
In this darkness, only Natsuki Subaru's eyes, glowing with a faint blue light, were exceptionally striking.
____
Unfortunately, two of our stories were removed... so I created a new account to post them: MikuDayo.
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