Rem
"So it's that dream again."
Opening her eyes, Rem murmured as she looked at the white ceiling.
The final outcome of that night was that Roswaal-sama, the Margrave of the frontier and the most powerful magic user, arrived and eliminated all of the Witch Cult.
She and her sister were taken in by Roswaal-sama.
Ten years had passed since that blood-soaked night, yet Rem still dreamed of it every single day.
At first, she would cry and make a fuss, but now she had become used to it.
Rem didn't hate that dream.
She believed it was Heaven's way of reminding her not to forget her sin.
Slowly getting out of bed, she opened the curtains and looked out at the peaceful town outside the window.
"First, wash my face…"
Saying aloud the tasks she needed to do, then completing them one by one in order—this was Rem's habit.
But she soon stopped her actions due to the unfamiliar surroundings.
Then she remembered that they were currently staying at an inn in the Astrea territory.
"Sis, sis… It's already morning. Such a nice morning."
"…Five more minutes…"
—As expected of her older sister. Even while hiding out in the Astrea territory, she was just as composed as ever.
Rem—while thinking this—gently picked up her sister who had burrowed into the blankets and repeated her usual sleepy lines, and sat behind the head-shaking Ram, combing her pink hair.
Helping her sister wake up had become second nature to Rem.
Thanks to that, she had time to think about what to do next.
Just as mentioned earlier, they were currently hiding in the Astrea territory.
"You've done well, Rem. You should stay and help too. I'm planning to move against Reinhild's faction."
That was what Roswaal-sama said two days ago when she brought all the magic stones from the Mathers territory to the royal capital.
Those were his first words.
If any ordinary person heard someone say they wanted to move against Reinhild's faction, they'd think he was insane.
Not even mentioning his powerful followers—just the name Reinhild was enough to break people's will to fight.
To repay Roswaal-sama for his ten years of kindness, Rem had long since been prepared to offer her life since he started supporting Lady Emilia.
But fighting to the death defending the mansion and directly committing suicide were two entirely different matters.
Indeed, in Rem's eyes, this was suicide.
Reinhild van Astrea was a living legend.
She received the Divine Protection of the Sword Saint at the age of five.
At eight, she helped forge a peace treaty among nations called the "Reinhild Law."
It's said she has over a hundred divine protections, some of which are so powerful they can destroy entire nations.
It's said her sword can split the world.
It's said she is immortal.
There are rumors that even the origin of the world couldn't defeat her.
The craters on the moon are said to be from her footsteps.
In reality, the number of powerful foes she had defeated was countless.
Bandits and monsters slain by her were as numerous as the stars.
She was the embodiment of martial prowess, a walking natural disaster, a living saint.
Rem didn't know how many of those rumors were true, but even if only a tenth were real, going against Reinhild was still suicidal.
Still, Rem did not try to dissuade Roswaal from his mad plan.
It wasn't because Roswaal gave any convincing reason.
Rem wasn't foolish.
The excuse that "since Reinhild supports a candidate for the throne, we must eliminate her before she's prepared" was laughable.
Even if that was true, it should be concerns for the leading candidates like Crusch or Anastasia—not something for someone from the weakest camp like them to worry about.
There was only one reason Rem didn't oppose this absurd action: Ram didn't oppose it.
Rem knew that compared to her sister, she was ignorant and incompetent.
So if her sister didn't oppose it, then there must be something Rem was missing.
And soon, she realized what she had overlooked.
"This is a staff made from Ram's horn. The twin-horned Oni share two horns at birth.
But because of that, even though Ram's horn is broken, she can still regain it through yours—with shared empathy and this staff."
For Rem, who had lived burdened with guilt, Roswaal's words were like a lifeline.
And then came the test.
Surrounding magic surged wildly into her body, then flowed through her into the staff—more accurately, into her sister's broken horn.
Intense pain washed over her body, but Rem believed it was divine punishment.
Punishment for the jealousy that caused her sister to lose her horn.
Punishment for her weakness that led to her sister's suffering.
After the overwhelming pain subsided, Rem saw it.
She saw light radiating from Ram's head. She saw an illusory "horn" appear atop her sister's head.
In that moment, Rem truly felt it: the sister who once could do anything had returned.
"sob…sob"
For the first time in ten years, tears streamed from Rem's eyes again.
Compared to this moment of salvation, the pain was insignificant.
"Then, you'll handle distributing the magic stones to the northeast direction, and then…"
"Understood, Roswaal-sama."
Thus, the Oni sisters accepted Roswaal's mission.
To Rem, Reinhild's overwhelming presence disappeared without a trace at that moment—because she believed in her sister.
She believed her sister was the strongest and most perfect existence in the world.
That had been her unwavering truth since birth.
"Rem, are you really okay with this?"
As she helped Ram change clothes, Rem tilted her head at the sudden question from her sister.
"This ritual and this mission—what do you really think of them?"
"There's no ritual more fitting for me than this one! 'It punishes my sins and lets sister shine again!'"
"As for the mission—Rem will do exactly as Sister says! 'Because Rem is ignorant and incompetent!'"
"I'm hungry, Rem. I want pastries."
"Yes, Sister!"
Rem did not notice Ram's sorrowful expression as she turned away.
After watching the door close, Ram stood up and walked over to the window, looking at the surveillance personnel.
Although they were good at hiding, they couldn't escape Ram's clairvoyance.
Originally, they were supposed to escape.
But thinking of the sister who trusted her, thinking of Roswaal who was being manipulated by the book, and thinking of the deviations from the original plan over the past few days—Ram hesitated.
She was willing to stay by Roswaal to the end.
But did her sister really need to be dragged into this?
Ram hoped she could get some advice.
She wasn't worried—unless the Sword Saint herself appeared, a horned Ram could easily flee with her sister.
And that kind-hearted Sword Saint wouldn't kill innocents.
The guest arrived sooner than expected.
A magnificent dragon carriage appeared in view.
A red-haired girl and a black-haired boy walked toward the inn.