Chapter 163: Departure
Natsuki Subaru glanced at the necklace in Emilia's hand—that was the item Frederica had given them when sending them off.
As for its purpose, Frederica hadn't explained it.
Thinking carefully, from the very beginning of their conversation, Subaru hadn't managed to get answers to the questions he wanted.
She always spoke only halfway, then stopped talking.
To be honest, that way of speaking really made people burn with frustration.
Subaru pulled his gaze back.
No matter how much he disliked Frederica's manner of speaking, he was still willing to trust her. She was someone who would cover her sharp teeth with her hand while smiling, afraid of frightening others.
There was no way such a person could be bad. And if that was just an act, then Subaru could only blame himself for having poor judgment of people.
His eyes shifted to the window, watching the scenery rapidly passing by outside, and his mind began to think about how he should act once they reached the so-called Sanctuary.
Well, that wasn't the most important thing.
What mattered was—how should he face Ram?
Should he tell Ram that he had failed to protect her sister properly? If he said that, he'd probably only get the answer: "Who's Rem?"
Just imagining that scene twisted his heart painfully.
They had already been traveling from the mansion for quite a while. Soon, they would likely arrive at the Sanctuary's location.
This should have been something to be happy about, but instead it only made Subaru's heart grow even more tense.
Even though he had already predicted what the outcome would be, he still couldn't help but hope—surely Ram wouldn't forget her own sister.
After all, they were twin sisters, always together. And in this fantasy world, twins were said to share resonance and perception. With such a bond, there was no way they could forget each other.
His hands crossed and clenched tightly together, his whole body restless and uneasy.
Please, Ram, don't forget Rem... Even if you scold me, even if you hit me... just don't forget your most important family...
He would work to bring back both Rem's existence and her memories. But... this stretch of time, where only he remembered her... was far too cruel for Ram.
Recalling that day, when Ram had cried bitterly at Rem's bedside, Subaru truly understood how deep their feelings for each other were. If Ram, during this period of forgetting Rem, ended up doing something she would regret...
Subaru shook his head, forcing himself not to think of such things. He took a deep breath, trying hard to calm his emotions.
"What's wrong?" "Ah? Nothing. I'm just a little worried about Ram and the villagers." "Is that so? But Subaru, you don't really need to worry. Didn't Frederica say it already? They're safe now. So you can relax a little."
Looking at the smile on Emilia's face, if he didn't observe carefully, Subaru might have believed she wasn't nervous at all. But precisely because he looked closely, he noticed—she was just like him, very tense inside.
As for why she was nervous—it was probably about meeting the people of the Sanctuary. After all, before they set out, Frederica had explained what kind of people lived there.
"When you're trying to comfort me, maybe you should manage your own expression a little. You're clearly more nervous than me."
Subaru said with a laugh. Emilia blinked, belatedly rubbed her cheeks, as if to check her own state. Seeing this, Subaru's own tension eased a little.
"Stop rubbing. Emilia, you really can't hide anything. Even if you try to put on a front, your little actions give you away."
Subaru's teasing words made Emilia puff her cheeks in slight annoyance. Just as she was about to complain, her eyes caught sight of the white handkerchief tied around Subaru's wrist.
"You really are loved by everyone, aren't you?"
Subaru froze for a moment, then looked at his wrist. That handkerchief had been a special gift from Petra, given right before they departed.
Since only Frederica was left in the mansion, Petra had volunteered herself, and because of that—as well as the need for chores and cleaning—the young Petra had become the new maid of the mansion, his junior.
"Is that so? Then I'll just have to work even harder."
Saying that, Subaru looked at the handkerchief. Yet inside, he felt a faint doubt. Was he really loved by everyone?
Or was it only because of his actions—because he had helped and saved people—that they respected him, trusted him? Did that really have anything to do with the kind of affection Emilia spoke of?
"Actually, Subaru, you don't need to push yourself so hard. You're already working very hard every day. Sometimes, you should really take a proper rest."
"No!" "Subaru?"
"Sorry... I got a little too worked up..."
Subaru looked at Emilia with guilt. The moment he heard the word rest, his mind went blank and he reflexively shouted back.
But it was only natural. Because he wasn't strong enough, not diligent enough, that's why things like what happened to Rem and Crusch had occurred. It was all his fault. That's why anyone else could rest—but not him.
"It's fine. But... are you really okay?"
Emilia's eyes were filled with worry and unease. Subaru froze for a moment, then forced a smile and said to her:
"Don't worry, Emilia. Someone like me—aside from my spirit, I've got nothing else anyway. So it's fine."
"If you say so, then..."
Emilia's words ended the conversation, and silence fell again.
The atmosphere in the dragon carriage gradually grew heavy without them realizing it. Both Emilia and Subaru were lost in their own thoughts.
After thinking for a while, Subaru decided he should probably go talk to Otto instead. Just as he was about to speak, however, he saw the necklace around Emilia's neck begin to glow.
It was the very necklace Frederica had entrusted to them. Why was it shining at this moment? Too many questions, and no answers.
Still, Subaru, who had trust in Frederica, merely grew alert, not making any rash moves. With his current ability, he was confident he could handle many unexpected situations.
"The necklace is glow—" "Emilia?!"
Suddenly, Emilia fainted, instantly shattering Subaru's calm. He rushed toward her in a few quick steps, pulling the necklace from her neck.
He didn't know why Emilia had lost consciousness, but the only abnormal thing was this necklace. And just as Subaru held it in his hand, the anomaly erupted.
The light grew brighter and brighter, until he couldn't keep his eyes open—
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