I barely had time to mourn my carelessness in front of Reid Astrea. My consciousness faded as soon as blood exploded from my body upon being cut in two.
I made a grave mistake, leaving everyone at the mercy of a truly powerful enemy. Just when I had finally gotten Rem back…
I hoped that the imposing presence I felt approaching from the surface belonged to Reinhard. If he were there, the others might be saved.
But I wouldn't be saved. The conceptual cut tore through immortality, Return by Death, and anything else protecting me from dying completely.
It was checkmate. There was no going back, no second chances. My progress would stop before I could even reach the Priestella arc.
However, as if only an instant had passed, I woke up in my body once again. Every limb was painfully numb, and I felt freezing cold.
"Haa…!"
I tried to breathe, but the movement tore at my chest and pain flared like a wildfire, spreading throughout my entire body.
"Ugh!"
I writhed from side to side, gasping in agony—relieved to still be alive, yet filled with unease over not knowing where I was or what had happened.
Slowly, the pain subsided, and I managed to calm down a bit. I still felt incredibly weak, but I tried to stand up and walk. However, my legs felt like jelly, and I couldn't hold myself upright.
"Damn it!"
I fell to the floor, hitting my nose. I tried to push myself up, but my arms failed as well, causing another crash. I groaned in frustration and closed my eyes.
"Authority of Sloth…"
I called upon the power of the unseen hand, but it didn't manifest. I frowned and tried again, but it was useless. It was as if I no longer possessed my authority.
I had to drag myself across the room to take in my surroundings. I was in a luxurious bedroom with a large bed, lavish decorations, and a familiar view through the window: a massive garden where I had trained with Garfiel for months.
"The Miload manor."
I muttered, relaxing my shoulders and moving away from the window. At least I wasn't in an unfamiliar place. What I couldn't comprehend was how I ended up here, considering I should have died in the underground city.
Maybe I hadn't died. Perhaps they saved me before my soul left my body. Felix was perfectly capable of that, provided he could intervene in time.
Recalling how dire the situation was when Reid attacked me, I began to worry. I prayed we hadn't suffered any more casualties.
I hated feeling so weak. A significant amount of time had probably passed while I was motionless, causing my muscles to atrophy, just like the protagonist in Erased.
That comparison brought a new fear to my mind. How long had I been like this? Weeks, months, or years? What had I missed?
Uncertainty fueled my desperation, and I dragged myself anxiously, trying to reach the doorknob and open the door. By the time it finally occurred to me to yell for help, I was completely out of breath after failing miserably to reach the mechanism.
But shouting would have been humiliating; it would have laid bare just how helpless I was now. My pride wouldn't allow it, so I looked for another way.
"Yin Sword…"
Using my previous mindset, I tried to summon another of my magic tools—the sword that opened portals. With it, I could instantly travel to the main hall or any room in the manor.
But the sword didn't appear either.
"You've got to be kidding me…"
I muttered in disbelief, feeling as though my limbs had been amputated.
My chest tightened, but I had to check one last thing.
"Shamak…"
Nothing. The dark cloud of mana that should have erupted from my gate wasn't there.
I remained silent for a long time, processing what was happening.
"Did I lose all my powers?"
A chill ran through me. I refused to believe it. That would mean becoming a useless sack of meat… in other words, I would revert to the parasite I was back in my world.
After all the effort I made to survive, to become stronger… It wasn't fair.
"No, no, no, this can't be happening, damn it… Why?!"
I wanted to punch the floor or the wall, but I didn't have enough strength. I gritted my teeth and cried out of frustration. I was supposed to no longer depend on anyone; I was supposed to be the one others relied on now.
I didn't like the responsibility, but at the same time, it fed my ego. It made me feel less miserable.
But not anymore.
I had lost it—the power that made me who I was in this world.
With my vision blurred by a sea of tears, I barely noticed the room's door opening.
Two black shoes, white stockings ending hidden beneath a black and white maid uniform. Looking further up, unmistakable short blue hair and a face that warmed my chest at the mere sight of it.
Our eyes met. Rem rushed toward me immediately, effortlessly lifting my torso as she wrapped me in a hug that could have crushed my internal organs.
"You came back, you came back!"
Her voice, a blend of joy and anguish, stirred a complex rush of emotions in my chest. I was beyond happy to see the woman I loved, but I didn't want her to see me like this—weak and pathetic.
Obviously, she was completely oblivious to my gloomy thoughts. She rubbed her face against my chest in that characteristic way of hers, wiping her tears, and looked at me with a smile that restored a bit of my joy in being alive.
"I knew you would come back. I missed you so much…"
I had told her almost the exact same thing last time. Now, after what felt like an eternity, it seemed we were finally having a reunion free from mortal peril.
Then Rem noticed my bloodshot eyes and distressed expression. I was crying too, but not out of joy.
"Are you okay?! Does something hurt?! Tell me what's wrong!"
She examined me frantically, checking my body for any anomalies. At that moment, I knew I would be in trouble once she learned about my condition.
"Wait, Rem, it's not that! I'm not hurt!"
"Are you sure? Then why are you crying?"
Out of helplessness, out of bitterness… Because I lost the only thing that set me apart from Subaru—the only thing that made me better than him. Now, not only was I left without it, but I likely didn't have Return by Death anymore either.
I wouldn't know for sure until I died, but I preferred not to test that.
"First of all, can you tell me what happened? I mean, I know Reid cut me, so I must have died. Did Felix heal my body before my soul left? How much time has passed since then?"
Rem didn't look thrilled that I evaded her question, but she sighed and began to tell me everything.
That was how I learned I really had died, that the others survived, and that Reid was defeated by Reinhard. Months had passed since my "death," and for some reason, it took that long for my soul to return to my body, which Echidna helped preserve with a spell.
Yes, unexpectedly, Echidna decided to reveal her identity to the others. Luckily, it didn't spark a major conflict, though I had no doubt several of our allies had mixed feelings about it.
I also realized something else that made me feel even worse: Elsa and Meili were gone. Either they were buried alive when the underground city collapsed, or they took advantage of the chaos to escape and, for some reason, never returned to the faction.
Apparently, Felix, Reinhard, and Julius were searching for my soul. From the vague way Rem mentioned Anastasia's knight, I deduced that Roy Alphard had eaten his name.
Even though Julius had his name eaten by Gluttony canonically, it wasn't supposed to happen under these circumstances. That event had been moved forward.
Then I remembered Wilhelm, consumed by the Fog of Elimination. I couldn't forget Marcos and Nadir either. Many lives were lost in a chain of events that never occurred in the original story.
The script was far too twisted.
At this rate, the events of Priestella could end up radically different—if they even happened at all.
"Damn it, Priestella means Regulus, Capella, the Gluttony siblings, and Sirius… How am I going to deal with all of that without my powers?"
"Leandro…"
Suddenly, Rem called my name. Deep concern was etched across her face.
"Tell me."
"Why did the Witch let you die?"
Good question.
"She didn't let me die. It's just that Reid Astrea can cut through anything—even an authority."
"I see. That's why the world…"
"…Didn't reset, exactly."
Rem nodded and squeezed my hands.
"Now, let's talk about what you're feeling."
"Uh…"
She hadn't forgotten.
I swallowed hard and nodded.
"Alright. Can you carry me to the bed? So I can be more comfortable."
Once seated and feeling more in control of my own body, I forced myself to speak.
"I can't use the Authority of Sloth, I can't summon my magic sword, and I can't even use magic right now."
"What?"
Rem's beautiful blue eyes widened in shock.
"It's probably due to Reid's strike, but I have no idea if it's temporary or if I'll never be able to…"
I bit my tongue before finishing the sentence. That possibility was terrifying.
Rem, on the other hand, took my hands with a distressed expression.
"Maybe it's an issue with your gate! We need to examine you. I'll call Lady Beatrice and Echidna."
"Wait, Rem."
I grabbed her wrist to stop her from leaving.
"What's wrong?"
"I don't want the others to see me like this. Besides, Echidna can read my mind, so she must already be aware of all this."
"Oh… It seems the two of you are deeply connected. She must matter a lot to you for you to let her into your mind."
Rem's words were cold and sharp, like ice shards driving into my chest, making me feel genuinely guilty.
"All of that happened before I met you! There's no way she matters more to me than you do."
She huffed and crossed her arms, turning her back to me.
"Talk is cheap."
"Come on, Rem! Don't be like that!"
I stood up to try to soften her up with a hug, but I forgot that my body was useless now, and I tumbled headfirst toward the floor.
"Leandro!"
Rem reacted instantly, catching me before I could hurt myself.
I smiled wryly.
"Good reflexes. Looks like I'm a damn invalid now."
"Don't talk like that! You are… you're wonderful."
She stroked my cheek with her hand.
"I just worry that you trust people who might take advantage of you too much. I'm sorry for getting upset."
"It's fine. I'd be jealous too if I were in your shoes. But believe me, there's no woman… there's nothing in this world I care about more than you."
It was one thing to love Emilia because my soul seemed tethered to her. It was one thing to have a toxic relationship with Pandora, Echidna, and Satella.
But what I felt for Rem was completely pure and real. I had chosen to feel this way, just as she had, and there were no secrets or manipulations involved.
Though that didn't stop me from feeling like a shameless cheater.
"So now what?"
I asked while she carried me in her arms in an embarrassing princess-carry style.
Rem smiled as she headed toward the door.
"It's time for your bath."
***
There was a bath filled with hot water, steaming with bath salts that scented the air.
As I submerged myself in the water, the weight of my body decreased considerably, feeling less like a prison and more like a vessel of pleasant sensations.
"So relaxing…"
I could finally move with greater freedom and lightness, without the fear of losing a duel against gravity. The water wasn't deep enough to cover my neck, so even without knowing how to swim, I would be fine.
After setting everything up, Rem walked to the bathroom doors and locked them. It was an intriguing move: it made me wonder whether she wanted to keep our moment private or if she did it to prevent anyone from interrupting and creating chaos with the news of my awakening.
In any case, the reasons didn't matter. The only thing that mattered was that I had a good stretch of time alone with Rem.
Still, thinking that she had been cleaning my body like this for so long… She truly was a treasure.
"Excuse me."
After removing her uniform and wrapping a towel around her torso, Rem stepped into the water with me, holding a sponge, soap, and other supplies.
"Hey, I'm not a kid…"
I feigned a complaint, though I was mostly just embarrassed.
"And what does that have to do with anything? Come here."
Rem saw right through my weak act, smiling with a raised eyebrow as she gestured for me to move closer.
"Fine."
I obeyed immediately, sliding toward her.
When the sponge made its first contact with my skin, I shuddered. My skin wasn't particularly sensitive, but the situation made me hyper-aware.
Rem began to wash my bare body, and every time her skin brushed against mine, it felt as though an electric shock coursed through my entire nervous system.
There was a glaring tension between us. Rem didn't seem bothered by it, as all her movements were precise, as if she were entirely focused on her task.
The contrast in our attitudes made me feel like a pervert (nothing new there).
This is the first time we've been this close… We've kissed twice, but we've never had this kind of intimacy. Why am I thinking about sexual things?! I was cut in half, I was dead for months, and I lost my powers! I should be traumatized, not aroused!
Logic failed to override instinct. My sword (the penetrating kind, not the cutting kind) began to unsheathe itself, much to my horror.
For a second, I thought Rem wouldn't notice since the foam on the water's surface hid what was underneath, but I forgot we were standing face-to-face.
And then she felt something hard pressing against her stomach. The shift in her expression was subtle, but it didn't escape me: her pupils dilated slightly, and her breathing grew heavy.
The sponge began to move erratically, and she lowered her gaze, trying to hide her reddened face.
"Rem, I'm sorry. It was a natural reaction."
"Don't worry about it."
She began washing me further down—dangerously low, deliberately low.
"Rem?"
Suddenly, she dropped the sponge and used her hand to grasp what was protruding from my groin, wrapping her fingers around it.
"When they find out you're back, the others will want to monopolize you. But right now… you're all mine."
Rem's declaration lit a fire inside me, warming my body in a way the water never could.
I completely forgot about the embarrassment, the fear, and everything that tormented me.
I leaned toward her, and we kissed slowly, savoring every second; at the same time, her hand moved up and down in a steady stroke that drove me crazy.
"Do you like it? Am I doing it right?"
She whispered, watching my reactions intently to know when to speed up, when to stop, when to squeeze, and when to loosen her grip.
I nodded clumsily.
"Better than when I do it."
My affirmative response filled her with enthusiasm, and her hand began to move with more confidence, intensifying the pleasurable sensations running through my body.
But it would have been terribly selfish of me to be the only one enjoying this.
With that in mind, I pulled off her towel, revealing her beautiful, naked form.
"What are you…?"
She gasped in surprise, but I didn't stop. I brought my hand down to her lower region, beginning to work on her with my fingers.
"Mmf!"
Rem covered her mouth to suppress a groan. Her eyes locked onto mine with an intensity that burned.
"Why are you covering up? I want to hear your voice."
"It's just… someone might hear…"
I looked toward the door. Of course, anyone could walk by and grow concerned if they heard Rem moaning.
"Sorry, I put you in a tough spot."
Even as I said that, my fingers began moving faster, penetrating deeper to find the exact spot that would make her feel best.
To my surprise, she increased her intensity as well, not wanting to be outdone. In response, I picked up the pace again, and she matched me.
Suddenly, it had turned into a sort of competition. She was trying to give me more pleasure than I was giving her. I smiled with satisfaction.
"That's my girl. Keep going."
"Ahh! I-I'm glad you like it…"
Rem tried to stay focused, but her hand trembled from her body's arousal. I could feel the tightening pressure surrounding my fingers, a clear sign she was on the verge of climax.
I was close to my limit as well, but I was having so much fun watching Rem's expressions that I was paying more attention to her than to my own body.
"I've been wanting to do this since Part 8."
"What?"
"Never mind, I'm almost there…"
I closed my eyes. Rem pressed her forehead against mine, her ragged breathing raising goosebumps on my chest.
"Do it!"
My body tensed, instantly releasing all the built-up pleasure. Rem kept her hand moving until there was nothing left to wring out.
Shortly after, she finished too, clinging to me so tightly that she left marks on my skin—she had even given me small scratches from the pressure of her nails.
When the euphoria passed, her ecstatic expression shifted into one of remorse.
"Oh no! I'm so sorry!"
She quickly used water magic to heal the minor wounds. I just chuckled softly.
"It happens in the heat of the moment."
"But you're weak right now; I should be more careful."
Those words left a bitter taste in my mouth. Now I was fragile; now she had to protect me.
"That's not true… I'm not… weak…"
Right as I said that, I began to feel dizzy and short of breath. Suddenly, I couldn't support myself anymore and sank into the water like the Titanic.
"Leandro!"
Rem caught me again, keeping me from drowning.
"It must be my blood pressure… I should have eaten breakfast…"
I muttered, figuring no one would feed a corpse, so my body was probably lacking basic nutrients. Combined with the muscle atrophy, it made complete sense why I was so weak.
As for the loss of my powers, I'd have to consult Echidna about that.