In the morning, Subaru woke up and opened his eyes to see his strange surroundings.
"I don't recognise that ceiling..." Subaru spoke out groggily, sitting up and checking for any injuries on his body.
"I was knocked out by that crazy woman, but it looks like Emilia's healing magic did the trick." After checking his undamaged torso, he finally looked around the room he was in.
"Oh? You're here too?" He noticed Higuruma, who was still lying asleep on the couch.
"I kinda wanted to be the only one who got special treatment... but it's fine," Subaru reassured himself vocally and got onto his feet.
Approaching Higuruma's figure, Subaru suddenly screamed to get him awake, which he quickly regretted because a second later, there was a gavel right in front of his face.
"Oh, it's you. Sorry." Higuruma desummoned his gavel and stood up to stretch.
"I couldn't say it earlier, but thanks for saving us back there. We could've died without you." Subaru expressed his gratitude genuinely.
"It's fine. Protecting the innocent should be the standard of the world." He let out a small smile before also getting up, lightly stretching himself.
Subaru exited the room first and started roaming the spacious hallways filled with expensive-looking items. But there was no way someone would buy the same thing to be placed over and over again in this unusually long hallway...
'Is this the work of a Domain or something similar in this world? Emilia and the others also didn't look particularly surprised when I expanded mine, which most likely means that it's not too exceptional of an ability." Higuruma thought as he followed Subaru.
"The same painting again!? This seems to be one of those scenarios where the hallway loops. So, the escape route must be the first door!" Subaru lunged for the nearest door, intending to open it.
"Natsuki, that is purely wishful thinking. It won't be that easy." He tried to warn him, in case there was some potential backlash for picking the wrong door. But to his surprise, the door opened to a giant library, with an interesting-looking little sitting in the middle.
"First NPC found! And it's a cute loli no less!" Subaru grinned, showing genuine excitement at seeing her for some reason. He walked up to her casually.
"Maybe there are some unusual special qualities within you, Natsuki. I would not have expected such an outcome." Higuruma walked in, his eyes locked onto the girl, feeling sure that she was a Spirit, despite her almost human look.
"Hmph, what an annoying person you are, I suppose. And what does that word mean?" The girl responded, looking up from her black book. Her weird looks and butterfly eyes, along with the fact that she was completely alone in this library, should have made it clear that she was not an ordinary person, but Subaru clearly didn't get the hint.
"I appreciate the praise, Higuruma! But you two seriously need to lighten up. Especially you, for a cute girl, you need to let go of that frown and smile. Come on!" Subaru smiled widely, eagerly trying to make her smile.
"The only expression you deserve is a sneer, in fact. Betty highly doubts the praise that that man gave you." She closed her book and stood up, which was funny because she was barely taller than the stool she was on.
"Aha! So your name is Betty. So umm... What's a little girl like you doing here all alone?" Subaru thought she was being more proactive, so he didn't mind her approach.
"Betty's name is Beatrice, and I am the guardian of this library." She put her small hands on his stomach, though most of her senses and her other hand were subtly focused on Higuruma in case he tried anything.
"My name is Natsuki Subaru, by the way... What are you doing?" Subaru nervously asked, before feeling like his entire soul was leaving his body. He fell down onto the floor, looking up at the smiling face of the person he thought was harmless.
"What did you just do to me, you drill loli... You're not human, are you...?
"Looks like you figured it out, I suppose. Don't compare Betty to you humans." She was facing Higuruma, briefly acknowledging Subaru as he passed out before focusing on the bigger threat.
Higuruma was already on guard, with his gavel in his hand, the second he felt Subaru's Mana getting drained, a trick he picked up after realising the similarities between Mana and Cursed Energy.
"Are you an enemy? If so, it's interesting that you targeted him first." He was actually completely sure that she did not do that out of malice, but he had to be cautious.
"I drained his mana to check if he was an enemy, in fact. Betty confirmed he wasn't. So, what about you, I suppose?" She usually wouldn't give a 'choice' to any unusual guest, but she was willing to take a risk this time because of the boy's innocence.
Higuruma de-summoned his gavel and straightened his posture, showing that he would not attack. He had also already confirmed that she was likely a Spirit of equal status to Puck, a being he should not engage in combat with.
"I assure you, I'm not here for evil intentions. I came here for the reward and will leave immediately after."
"Betty will be the judge for that, in fact. Take the boy back to his room and go meet Roswaal, I suppose. You'd better leave immediately after you get your reward." She went back to her stool and started reading her book again, seemingly dismissing his presence now.
"Thank you." Higuruma picked up Subaru and hoisted him on his shoulder before leaving.
Seeing the door close, Beatrice whispered to herself, gripping her book in hopeful patience and loneliness. "Was that man the 'That Person', you talked about, Mother..."
After putting the unconscious Subaru back in the bed of their room, Higuruma went down the hallway again, finding that the looping shenanigans were now over. He reached the main stairwell when he conveniently bumped into Rem.
"My mistake, honoured guest. Rem did not see you. Do you require any assistance?" She replied robotically, but the hidden malice in her was still present.
"No problem. I want to see the lord of the manor. I'll collect my prize and take my leave." Higuruma responded, still not getting why she hated him so much, but looks like it wouldn't matter anymore since he was going to leave soon anyway.
"Very well, follow me, honoured guest." She turned around and led the way to Roswaal's office.
The manor was gigantic and luxurious, but with very few people and no other human activity around. So the walk there was purely silent, with no words being exchanged.
Eventually, she stopped in front of the office door and knocked on it lightly. "Lord Roswaal, the guest has come to meet you."
Both of them heard an eccentric-sounding voice telling her that he could come in. She stepped to the side and opened the door, gesturing to him to go in, before closing the door after.
Higuruma scanned the room, which was well lit, the light coming from both the windows and a fire crystal in the corner of the roof. In front of the window was Roswaal, sitting at his desk, looking at him with a strange look and a polite smile. But more importantly, he was literally dressed like a clown.
"Greetings, Lord Roswaal. I've come here to collect my promised reward." He gave a small bow as he addressed him.
Internally, he could feel it. Roswaal had a large amount of mana within him, which was also densely packed, meaning he was also skilled. He had read about him in a book, which said that he was the current court magician, hailing from a long lineage of powerful mages. This is funny because by his looks, you would think he was the court jester instead.
"Ahhh~ So you're the one who savee-eed Mi-ss Emilia from that ass-assin~? For pro-tect-ing my di-gnity as a noble, I will glaaaadly grant you any wish within my poooweerr~" He spoke in a weird, theatrical, almost sing-song voice.
"But befoo-oore that, I would like my bene-factor to tell me moo-ore about himself. I alwaaa-aays appreciate a goooo-od friendship~" He continued, looking playfully friendly but not exactly making himself look unremarkable.
(Author's Note(A/N): Holy shit I hate writing Roswaal's dialogue like this. Y'all have any suggestions to improve it or should I just stick with it?)
Higuruma was good-natured, but he wasn't stupid. It was obvious that Roswaal was fishing for information, maybe already having been told of the technique he used against Elsa.
"My name is Higuruma Hiromi. I live in the capital of Lugunica with my friend. He's a knight of the kingdom. I recently arrived here for some studying and catching up with him." He responded, not giving any vital information that could be used against him, while also remaining truthful with any evidence that could be easily checked and verified.
"Hmmm...~ Oooo-only thaa-at~? I am an optimistic man, buuuut even I find it su-spicious that an unassuming man liiiike you~ could perform high-level barrier magiii-ic, while conveniently being in the riiight plaaace and at the riiight tiiime to save Miiiiss Emi-lia~~" He spoke; his weird speech pattern and high-pitched voice made him sound goofy, but it was a clear provocative statement that he delivered.
"It's just a coincidence, my lord. Now, if I may, I would like you to grant my wish of owing me and my friend a single favour in the future. We don't require any material valuables, but a favour from you would be highly desirable." Higuruma responded. This wish came from both practical and emotional reasons.
For a small while, there was an uncomfortable silence as Roswaal sat there staring into Higuruma's eyes, almost as if he was trying to see through him. His smile was perfect, but his eyes told the truth. But Higuruma stood tall, not flinching. Then Roswaal finally stopped and chuckled, likely to the wish.
"Whaaaat a peculiar wiiiisssh~ I happily graaant yo-ur wiisssh Sir Higu--rumaaa~" He wrote something down in his paper before looking back up. "I'm suuure you have alsooo met Beatrice~ I thiiinnk you knooow whaaat to do now~"
Knowing what he was implying, Higuruma gave a small nod before turning around and leaving the office. Roswaal watched as the door closed, dropping his smile and grabbed something from his drawers.
Outside, Rem was still there standing and greeted Higuruma as he came out. "Honoured guest, have you finished your business? If so, do you require any other assistance?"
"Yes. I'm ready to leave." He simply responded, noticing how her expression changed for just a moment as he said it.
"Very well. Since the guest arrived with no baggage, Rem is ready to escort you out." She said firmly.
It was interesting because this was the first time she had shown such a hurried need to follow a request and actively wanted him to leave as soon as possible.
"Alright."
He almost wanted to meet Subaru first, but he was still likely asleep, so he didn't bother. He followed Rem out the front door and all the way to the main gate of the manor.
"Does the guest need transportation back to the capital? Shall Rem drive you back?" She asked.
'Not even asking to request a hireable driver to bring me back instead, does she really want to try it so badly?' Higuruma thought in his mind as he listened to her.
"Is your sister not available? I would rather not waste your time anymore driving me back." He was decently far away from the actual mansion, but he could still see the pink-haired silhouette of Ram, cutting the bushes and leaves... Terribly.
"Sister is very busy with household duties. Let Rem drive you back, honoured guest."
'I'm going to leave, and she's still trying to flatter me with the "honoured guest" to get my guard down. Looks like it's going to be inevitable...'
"Alright then, I'm at your service." He got on board the carriage that she brought and they left the estate together.
After the mansion went out of view, hidden by the foliage and trees, she started speaking. He was in the interior, so he could just barely make out the sounds through the whistling of the wind and wheel noises.
"𝔸 𝕓𝕚𝕥 𝕗𝕦𝕣𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕣 𝕒𝕨𝕒𝕪 𝕗𝕣𝕠𝕞 𝔸𝕣𝕝𝕒𝕞 𝕍𝕚𝕝𝕝𝕒𝕘𝕖 𝕒𝕟𝕕 𝕥𝕙𝕖 𝕖𝕤𝕥𝕒𝕥𝕖, 𝕥𝕙𝕖𝕟 ℝ𝕖𝕞 𝕨𝕚𝕝𝕝 𝕡𝕦𝕣𝕘𝕖 𝕥𝕙𝕚𝕤 𝕨𝕚𝕥𝕔𝕙 𝕔𝕦𝕝𝕥𝕚𝕤𝕥..."
She likely didn't realise that he was already onto him and was actively reinforcing himself to improve his hearing.
'This might become a longer day than most of my case studies... I can only hope the carriage will remain functional.' Higuruma sighed, flexing his hand for what was about to come. Perhaps, no matter how dumb she was, he could convince him that he wasn't a cultist.
Back in Reinhard's estate, it was still early in the morning, so Luke and the others were still asleep. But Mahito didn't need to sleep. He was busy checking out the guards still stationed and the layout of the estate, abusing his invisibility.
Coming to a certain room, he felt a weak but very strange reading from it. Sneaking through the keyhole, he found a beautiful young woman, peacefully sleeping. But she looked off, like it wasn't an intentional sleep.
The only reason he hadn't already left was that he could feel it. There was a deep tampering with her very soul that allowed her to remain in a suspended animation. It made sense. Because after all... "It's true even in this world~ The soul always comes before the body~"
(A/N: Yeah Im back and Messi is still lowk the GOAT in my heart ngl.)