"You were here too,
A voice called to her from the side, and Rem quietly raised her head.
Leaning against the wall between the connected carriages of the dragon-car chain, Rem turned toward the voice. It belonged to the silver-haired girl who had opened the door from the adjacent carriage —
With her beautiful features softened by a gentle tilt at the corners of her eyes, she held the hand of a girl beside her. It was
It was a heartwarming sight, but Rem's feelings as she watched them were anything but simple.
Of course, part of that was because they were connected to Rem's own lost memories — memories she herself couldn't recall. But that wasn't the only reason.
Unlike
Whether during the turmoil surrounding the imperial capital, or while watching over Subaru afterward when he lay unconscious, these were the two people Rem had felt the strongest bond with through him.
She didn't understand why that bothered her so much, though.
"Emilia… and little Beatrice…"
"Rem, you must be worried about how the discussion is going too."
"Worried… yes. I suppose I am worried."
When Beatrice asked her, Rem lowered her gaze slightly.
The reason Rem was standing here in this empty corridor was to keep watch over a room nearby — the one that had been assigned as
In that quiet room, where the crowd of visitors had finally dispersed, Subaru and Abel were now face to face.
Abel had been wearing a grim expression — and since Rem was used to seeing him in his demon-mask guise, catching sight of his true face was something of a novelty.
That said, whenever Rem had seen him without his mask, Abel always looked sour. Today, though, his already severe features seemed even more rigid than usual.
"Rem, you've been watching Subaru and Abel — um, Emperor Vincent — together this whole time, right? How was it? Were they getting along?"
"I'm not used to calling him Emperor Vincent. And I wouldn't say they seemed to get along. Even if their thoughts align, they're not of one mind, exactly…"
"Ugh, I figured…"
"Well, it was to be expected. Abel's way of thinking is like water and oil compared to Subaru's. Betty finds Subaru's sweet way of thinking far more agreeable."
"Oh come on, Beatrice, you just spoil Subaru right away. You have to listen to Abel's side too — oh, and Emperor Vincent's side!"
Emilia slumped at Rem's answer, then puckered her lips at Beatrice's follow-up assertion.
Rem, who considered Emilia someone whose expressions changed in the blink of an eye, watched as Emilia suddenly added another "Oh!" and looked their way.
"And also, Rem. In Vollachia, I have to go by Emirene…"
"Um… is there a reason for that?"
"Of course there is! Nobody here thinks of me as 'Emilia.' Right, Beatrice?"
"Betty is also too soft on Emilia, so perhaps saying nothing is the kindest answer she can give."
"Wh-what!? What do you mean!?"
Emilia's eyes went round at Beatrice's gentle deflection.
Despite the whirlwind of feelings their banter stirred in her, Rem quickly found herself warming to Emilia and Beatrice. After all, if what she'd heard was true, they had ventured into this country at great personal risk just to find Rem and Subaru. There was no way she could dislike them.
"Unlike that man, there's not a shred of suspicion in either of them."
Subaru had reeked — a putrid stench that triggered a fierce, instinctive wariness. That was the primary source of Rem's hostility toward him, but there was nothing of the sort about Emilia and Beatrice.
So, just like Louis and the Shudrak people, or Flop and his companions, there was no reason to bite.
Still — "…That said, the fact that his stench has suddenly thinned is also unsettling."
When they had been separated, the disappearance of that overpowering foul odor from Subaru had worried her too. She didn't know what exactly it was, and having it was definitely worse than not having it, so one could say things had improved. That was what she wanted to believe.
And just as she was thinking that — "Oh look! It's little Rem, little Emirene, and little Beatrice!"
On the opposite side of the carriage Rem and the others were standing in, a door opened and the person who appeared called out the three names in a loud, bright voice.
Waving enthusiastically and making her way over with a loping stride was a tall woman — her long golden hair worn freely, her skin bared like a dancer's, and, most notably, limbs fully extended to their proper adult proportions.
She was — "Medium."
"Hiya! Don't tell me you're all worried about Abel-kun and Subaru-kun too?"
"That's right. You too, Medium?"
"Yep! See, I finally got my big body back! Now, unlike when I was little, I can step in and stop an adult fight — thought I might be useful, you know?"
She puffed out her chest with an "Eheh~" and that was Medium — although Rem hadn't spent long with her, she was like Subaru in that her appearance had been reduced from adult to child at some point.
Young Medium had still retained that sprightly personality of hers and been utterly adorable, but her charm wasn't tied to her proportions. Rem simply felt more at ease around the familiar adult form.
Medium, too, seemed to have chafed considerably at being stuck in a small body and was now fully savoring the joy of having it back.
Regardless — "Stop a fight… between that man and Abel?"
"That's right~? It's been a while since those two actually talked, so you can imagine they might blow up, can't you?"
"Hmm, I'm not so sure. The man aside, I can't really picture Abel losing his temper."
That was Rem's impression — grim-faced, harsh-voiced, always saying something cutting.
However, while Rem furrowed her brows at Medium's concern, Emilia and Beatrice were rather more inclined toward Medium's view.
"Betty is in agreement with Medium. At the very least, Subaru has a mountain of things he wants to say to that emperor, so he's bound to snap."
"That's right. Emirene is a little worried too. A fight isn't just about hitting each other — hurting each other with words counts as fighting too."
"…Is that so?"
Certainly, Abel didn't seem like the type to raise a hand, so a physical brawl was unlikely. But Subaru getting emotional and the argument escalating was entirely possible.
Rem had the sense that Abel's rationality usually kept Subaru in check, but now Abel might not have much composure either. She hadn't exchanged many words with Abel since he'd reclaimed his position as emperor, but Medium's group's concerns did ring true.
And that suspicion was immediately confirmed.
"Listen — we sneak over to Garfiel's place quietly, okay? He'll understand our unavoidable situation."
"The scandal of a kingdom knight raising a hand against the empire's emperor, you mean?"
"I'm just saying, if this goes to trial, don't forget I have a last resort where I can spill every last detail about how pathetic you were…!"
As the two exchanged their hushed dialogue, the room's door swung open.
Peering out, scanning the corridor for onlookers, the dark eyes of Subaru and Abel met those of Rem and the others, who had been waiting for the outcome of their talk.
Subaru's mouth opened with an "Ah." Abel's brows furrowed in a "Hm."
But the reaction of Rem and the others at the sight of them was something else entirely — because both Subaru and Abel, the moment they poked their heads out, were covered in blood.
"No way…"
"The two of them had a massive fight!?"
"I-It's terrible! Beatrice! Quickly, use your healing magic…!"
"See?! I told you so! Betty really should have been in there from the start!!"
The women swarmed forward in a flurry of panicked welcome. Subaru and Abel exchanged a glance. Then Abel sighed, and Subaru raised both hands in resignation.
And then — "So, um — I'm definitely going to get yelled at, so I'll say this first. We made up."
With a sheepish, self-deprecating grin, he said it almost like it was good news.
△▼△▼△▼△ — In the end, their injuries amounted to nothing more than a few cuts. Nothing dramatic.
"That said, the room is an absolute wreck. And we don't have the luxury of preparing another one."
"No no, I wasn't going to demand another room or anything all high and mighty. I'm properly reflecting on it — oh! Medium! You're back to normal!"
"Hehe~ That's right, Subaru-kun! But — no no! Even if you say something that nice, I'm still angry too. You two had it coming, you know~"
Hands on her hips, Medium scolded Subaru for his clumsy attempt at changing the subject.
Shoulders slumping, Subaru looked properly remorseful. But the one who received Medium's sternest rebuke wasn't the sulking Subaru — it was Abel, who had fought with him.
"Abel-kun, you can't be so childish just because Subaru-kun is little, you know?"
"…Do you have any idea what you've done? You struck the emperor."
"That's exactly the problem — because you're so high and mighty, nobody ever scolds you, and that's how you ended up like this, isn't it?"
"———"
Abel folded his arms with a sour expression, and Medium glared at him with unwavering eyes. As their exchange made clear, the truly astonishing thing was that Medium had actually smacked Abel on the head.
Looking at the wreckage of the room, wanting to scold the child-looking Subaru and the seemingly combative Abel made perfect sense — but what Medium had done was truly audacious, and Rem marveled at it.
"If Medium gives permission, may I hit him too?"
"Don't pile on. I don't have time to process each act of lèse-majesté one by one. Once the war's over, I'll compare it against your contributions and decide on punishment then. Don't add to the paperwork."
"That's disappointing."
Of course, Rem hadn't expected permission. But hearing the word "after the war" from Abel's own mouth felt like a收获 in itself.
At the very least, Abel was looking ahead. She didn't know what had been discussed inside, but compared to before they'd visited the room, his eyes and complexion both seemed improved.
"Alright, that should do it. But you need to change clothes, or everyone will worry. So change before you go see everyone."
"My, what a handful you are. You never give Betty any peace of mind, do you."
"Sorry, sorry. But it's refreshing after so long. The only people worrying about me lately have been — well, besides Tanz — it's been all men."
Using a cloth he held, Emilia wiped the blood from Subaru's face and hands, then patted his head.
Beatrice, who appeared to have healed his wounds with a wave of her hand, also let out a weary sigh — but Rem thought she looked not merely relieved, but faintly delighted.
The impression Rem got was that the two of them were happy to be looking after Subaru.
Watching that, Rem felt a strange, ticklish sensation in her chest.
"Hey, hey, Abel-kun, you think you can do it?"
Despite Rem's inner turmoil, Medium tilted her head and asked Abel that question.
Abel narrowed his black eyes, paused for a beat, and then nodded.
"There is no issue. Moreover, to question whether I should struggle is laughable. From the moment I decided to take the imperial throne, I have no right to bumble along passively."
"…? Does that mean you'll do your best as emperor?"
"…Your oversimplified interpretation is grating, but broadly speaking, yes."
"Then I'm all for it! Let's do our best together!"
Medium's face lit up as she thrust out her hand toward Abel. Abel stared at the proffered hand, then looked away.
At Abel's cold shoulder, Medium brought her other hand to meet her raised one and clapped them together with a sharp snap.
"So, shall we go join everyone? Your brother was talking to Abel-kun too, you know."
"I don't have time to spare for a conversation with that man, but Selena Dracroy's dragon-ship should be returning soon regardless. Either way, I'd like to speak with the key figures."
"Ah — wait a moment."
At Medium's prompting, Abel dipped his chin in acknowledgment.
With Abel, who always wanted to push things forward briskly, it was clear that an important meeting about the problems that had unfolded in the imperial capital would follow. Naturally, Subaru and Emilia would be present as key participants. But before that, Rem had something she had to say.
Half of the reason Rem had been standing here was her worry about Subaru and Abel's relationship souring. The other half was for this very purpose.
"Abel, before I go to see everyone, there's something I want to do — something I have to do. So let me head over there first."
"Ah…"
Rem moved to stop the exchange, about to declare her purpose. But Subaru cut in before her, and his gaze turned toward her.
That look told her that the thing he had to do was the same as what Rem had been about to say. So Rem pressed her lips together and nodded.
And then — "Rem, take me to Kachua."
△▼△▼△▼△ "Who the hell are you, brat? This ain't the place for your kind."
Arriving at the room they'd been looking for, Subaru was greeted by a coarse voice — and his eyes went wide.
Standing beyond the open door was a man with an eye patch and a face to match his rough welcome. It took Subaru a moment to rummage through his memories before the realization hit.
"Jamal…?"
"Huh? How the hell do you know my name? We don't know shit about you."
"You're alive…?"
"Damn, what a rude little brat, huh!?"
The man who bared his surprisingly well-kept teeth and snarled was Jamal.
One of the first imperial soldiers Subaru had encountered after being hurled into the
If Subaru remembered correctly, Jamal had been captured as a prisoner back at the fortress city
After that, with everything Subaru had gone through, the question of Jamal's fate had completely slipped from his mind.
"But why are you in this room?"
"What's so weird about me being in my little sister's room?"
"Sister… oh."
The fog of confusion clearing, Subaru remembered. Todd had mentioned that his fiancée was Jamal's sister. Which meant Jamal and that Kachua were biological siblings.
That fragile-looking Kachua, and this rough, thuggish Jamal — siblings.
"The hair color and the curliness are sort of… similar?"
"I can't really tell, but I know you're being a smartass. If you don't want a beating, get the hell out —"
"Brother! Stop it!"
Whether Subaru's attitude had rubbed him the wrong way, Jamal rolled up his sleeve and moved as if to forcibly throw him out. But before he could, a sharp voice from behind the man halted him.
Peering past Jamal into the room, Subaru saw the same kind of guest-room layout as the one he'd been kept in, and on the far bed, a woman propped herself up.
It was — "Kachua."
"You finally woke up… You've been sleeping way too long. Seriously, seriously…"
Peering past her overbearing brother, Kachua pushed herself upright on the bed. Jamal shuffled toward her quickly with a "Hey, hey, easy—"
"Don't push yourself! You could kick the bucket any second, so stay put!"
"I'm not that fragile! Stop comparing me to my brother who wouldn't die even if he died!"
"You weren't even dead to begin with, and you lot just went ahead and decided I was!"
Having his worry dismissed and then branded with the stigma of the deceased, Jamal trembled with indignation.
There had clearly been a great deal behind this siblings' reunion, but excavating that wasn't Subaru's purpose here. He'd come for a different reason.
"…Are you okay?"
Rem had noticed Subaru's gaze dropping slightly and his feet hesitating at the threshold. She asked him quietly.
Subaru had apologized to Emilia, Beatrice, and Abel before coming here with Rem. As Kachua's friend, Rem had every right to be present — and, more importantly, Subaru wanted her to hear what he was about to say.
"Yeah. I'm fine."
He nodded and stepped inside.
On the bed, Kachua and Jamal were still bickering about something, but Kachua fell silent the moment Subaru entered with Rem in tow.
Her blue eyes, framed by long lashes, dipped downward.
"…You're feeling better, at least."
Even if those words were just a preamble to the real conversation, Subaru could hear the concern for his health in them.
Her tone was brusque and prickly, but the woman beneath it was undeniably kind-hearted — the very reason she'd grown close to the helpless Rem as well.
To this woman, Subaru had to deliver the truth.
"Yeah, I'm fine. Thanks for worrying."
"…I wasn't worried or anything. It's just, that girl looked anxious, so—"
Subaru glanced sideways. Standing beside him, Rem's expression was tense.
She had a rough idea of what was about to be discussed, so she hadn't reacted to Kachua's words the way she normally would.
Scolding himself for hoping Kachua would have reacted differently — that was just his own cowardice wanting to delay the unpleasantness — Subaru drew a deep breath and let it out.
And then — "I'm sorry. I wasn't able to bring Todd back."
That was his report — about Todd, and the definitive farewell they'd shared in the imperial capital.
"———"
Subaru clenched his fist tight, letting the pain in his hand ground the cruel reality he was about to convey.
In the final battle in the imperial capital, Todd had helped them break through the encirclement of zombies — and yet they'd still clashed.
Todd loathed and despised the way Subaru existed in the world, had tried to kill him — and Subaru had faced him, having decided not to kill.
But in the end — "…He was swept away by the flood that poured into the streets. That's all I know."
"Ah…"
"But he'd been acting as a decoy fighting zombies, and he'd taken injuries all over his body. So…"
At Subaru's words, a ragged exhale escaped Kachua. Layering his voice over hers, Subaru conveyed what he'd seen — though not in exactly the way he'd seen it.
If he'd wanted to, Subaru could have given Kachua hope.
In truth, the last thing Subaru had seen was Todd being swallowed by that raging current. If no body had been found, he could have pointed to that as reason to hope Todd survived.
But Subaru didn't.
"———"
The last thing Subaru saw of Todd was him being swallowed by the flood.
But that description was missing a critical detail. The precise truth was that the last thing Subaru saw was Todd in his werewolf form, an axe buried deep in his chest, being swept away by the torrent.
— Severely wounded, unconscious, swallowed by the flood. And somehow expected to survive.
"…!"
At Subaru's words, the sound of Jamal's teeth grinding together rang through the room.
For Jamal too, Todd had been a partner — and more than that, the future brother-in-law he'd entrusted his sister to. Subaru's report wounded him just the same.
It was a strange feeling, but Subaru also wished — if he could have — that Todd had survived.
They had an acrimonious history. Todd had betrayed his trust, even targeted his life, and in the world Subaru had actually "returned by death" in, Todd had taken his life multiple times. And yet.
Because of the many times they'd clashed, Subaru understood one thing.
Todd was an ordinary man with no special powers. Being a werewolf was not an advantage that could overturn a truly life-threatening situation.
If the situation was dire enough to kill Subaru, it was dire enough to kill Todd too.
Todd Fang had died in that flood.
That was Subaru's answer — the man who had been closest to Todd's final, explosive moments of life.
"———"
Silence fell over the room.
A silence that seemed to scorch his forehead and the nape of his neck — a pain Subaru had chosen to bear on his own, one he had to accept willingly.
Enduring that searing sensation for some time — "…Y-you didn't actually see the important part, did you? Then he might not… be dead."
A halting, fractured voice, and Subaru looked up.
Not just Subaru — Rem and Jamal too turned to look at Kachua on the bed. Kachua fiddled with the ends of her tied hair, her blue eyes flickering back and forth.
"If — if, right? If you'd seen his head crushed, or his body cut in half, or burned to a char, or something like that — then I'd think… maybe it's true, but…"
"Kachua…"
"But you see, that guy — he's incredibly, incredibly hard to kill. And besides, when we parted, he said it — he'd be back right away. He definitely, definitely would come back to me. He wouldn't lie about that! He said my brother was dead — that was just a misspeak!"
"Kachua!"
Her voice rising, Kachua clawed at her own hair. Rem pressed close to the bed and pulled Kachua into her arms, cradling the woman's head against her chest.
Rem stroked her back.
"Take it slow — slow breaths. I'm right here with you…"
"No — no — he wouldn't just… die like that… right? Right, Rem…"
"Kachua…"
Tears spilled in heavy drops from Kachua's eyes, soaking Rem's clothes as Rem held her. Without a word, Rem continued to stroke the back of her sobbing friend.
At Kachua's raw, unfiltered reaction, Subaru felt his chest being torn apart.
He had known this would happen.
He had known that telling Kachua about Todd would hurt her like this. Their relationship was genuinely, terribly complicated, but Todd's feelings for Kachua had been real. And Kachua had been truly cherished by Todd. That was what these tears meant.
That was why Subaru hadn't told her the crueler truth.
The truth Rem herself didn't know. —It was Rem who had struck down Todd in his werewolf form with an axe.
To protect Subaru, Rem had delivered the killing blow.
In that moment, Todd had been in werewolf form, and the beast transformation hadn't broken until the instant he went under the water. So Rem didn't know. And Subaru had no intention of telling her.
Subaru didn't believe that the truth had inherent value.
Todd had loved Kachua, and Kachua had loved him back. That was what mattered. There was no reason to destroy that memory in pursuit of some abstract commitment to the truth.
"Todd truly treasured you, Kachua. All the way to his very last moment."
That much was the honest, unvarnished truth that Natsuki Subaru — the man Todd had directed his naked killing intent toward — could tell Kachua Orely without a trace of falsehood.
"…!"
Sobbing, Kachua wrapped her arms around Rem's back from behind and dug her nails in. Though it must have been painful, Rem accepted it in silence.
Amid the sounds of weeping filling the room, Rem glanced at Subaru and gave a slight shake of her head.
It contained both a request — leave Kachua to me — and gratitude toward Subaru for coming here knowing this would happen.
"…Sorry to put you through that terrible job, brat."
After leaving Rem and Kachua in the room, Jamal said that to Subaru outside.
At Jamal's unexpectedly decent words, Subaru raised an eyebrow. Jamal scowled, wrinkling his nose.
"Breaking it to a dead man's family is a rotten job. No matter how bravely or honorably you say the guy died, some people are just gonna want to cry."
"…What about you?"
"Huh?"
"To you too, Todd was a comrade, your sister's fiancée — someone special, right?"
Jamal's cheek twitched as he considered Subaru's question.
After a moment of silence, he touched the eye patch covering his right eye with one finger.
"How should I put it. If the bastard had survived, I'd've laughed it off as us both having died for nothing. But we skipped that step. Well, if he died fighting, then he went out as an imperial soldier should. All that trash-talking he did, and this is how it ends…"
"———"
As he spoke, Jamal let out a small laugh at the end.
It was unclear whether he was laughing at Todd's uncharacteristic end, or whether it was the kind of smile that belonged to an imperial custom Subaru couldn't fully understand.
Either way, Subaru couldn't feel anything but heaviness at laughing in the face of someone's death.
"However."
Right in front of Subaru, Jamal suddenly continued.
The shift in his tone made Subaru's eyes widen — because what underlay Jamal's voice wasn't anger or sadness, but something like hope.
And that impression was correct. Jamal spoke.
"That guy — I can't believe he'd go down that easy. Kachua's got a point too. …You didn't actually see him die, did you?"
"Well — I did see—"
"Shut up, brat. Whether it's me or her, that's Kachua's hope right now."
Without thinking, Subaru started to object — and Jamal's finger flicked his forehead, shutting him up. Jamal jerked his chin toward the door behind him, telling Subaru to go.
Whether the hope Jamal spoke of was bright or cruel, Subaru couldn't tell. But he understood he had no right to weigh in on it.
The only people with the right to weigh in on that feeling were those who had been invited into the lives of Kachua and Todd — those permitted to participate. Subaru didn't have that standing.
"Damn it — you always go on about how you hate fighting, but you're more hot-blooded than me. And because of that, you crossed a way more dangerous bridge than I ever did."
Jamal looked up at the ceiling of the corridor as he said that about Todd.
That Jamal had chosen not to show his face, that his voice had shaken — Subaru had no right to point any of that out either.
△▼△▼△▼△ "Well well well, Subaru-kun, you're looking remarkably chipper! Haven't seen you in a while, and you've gotten younger — must be the imperial cuisine, eh?"
"Impressive. The only guy who could crack a joke that brutal looking at me like this is you, Roswaal."
"Oh my, everyone seems a bit on edge, don't they? And by the way, while I'm here, I go by Dadley. — From now on, I'd appreciate you using that, yes?"
Roswaal winked, keeping one eye closed and leaving the other open — the blue one shut, the yellow one bright — and Subaru couldn't help but beam at their long-overdue reunion.
That Roswaal wasn't fazed by Subaru's shrunken form was typical. But Subaru also chose not to remark on his unusual style, which differed from his usual jester's attire — partly out of lingering embarrassment, and partly because the difference in Roswaal's tone from the last time they'd spoken was enough of an explanation in itself.
Having finished reporting Todd's fate to Kachua, Subaru had made his way to the large passenger car in the center of the dragon-car chain.
Dragon-car chains — structurally similar to trains or railways, in Subaru's knowledge — were a mode of transport made possible by Vollachia Empire's predominantly flat terrain. The Lugunica Kingdom, which actually had more ground dragons, might have been able to set up something similar given the right geography, he noted idly.
"This dragon-car chain is apparently one of the empire's state secrets. They say it was designed by one of the famed 'Nine Divine Generals'…"
"So that's why. You never see anything like this in the kingdom. …Come to think of it, we've seen a lot of the empire's inner workings. Like, a serious amount."
"Haha, if getting too deep into the empire's dark side is what blocks our return, we'd be in trouble. It might be prudent to have spent the whole time with our eyes shut from the start."
"Both options are pretty grim, honestly…"
Subaru's weary murmur drew a laugh of agreement from Roswaal, and it was Otto who looked exasperated by the conversation.
The car in question was designed like a dining car, with numerous tables — enough for roughly twenty people. Of course, the purpose of all those tables wasn't dining but conferences and war councils.
In fact, the car was steadily filling with people beyond just Subaru, Roswaal, and their group.
Naturally, Emilia and Beatrice, who had gone ahead, were already there — and at their table sat Ram as well.
Ram looked up at Subaru with suspicion as he arrived alone.
"Little Barusu, where's Rem? She should have been with you."
"That nickname is absolutely unnecessary… Rem is with Kachua right now. I don't think she can attend this discussion just yet."
"…I see."
Ram let out a soft breath and didn't press further.
She had only recently reunited with her sister Rem, but apparently — contrary to what Subaru had hoped — they weren't constantly glued together. Though in truth, Subaru had always had the impression the two were quite close, and his wish was for the sisters to hold hands forever.
"Rem and Rem are each their own person. Don't force your childish notions onto them. How unseemly."
"Don't read my mind! It's not childish!"
"While Ram was absent, it was the people around Rem who supported her. You don't want to dismiss those bonds. How presumptuous, little Barusu."
"How long can you keep coming up with new variations of my name, I wonder… Big sister…!"
Cheeks twitching at Ram's barrage of remarks, Subaru let out a deep breath.
She was right about everything, and there was no need to rush. The sisters' reunion had been achieved. He could take things slowly from here.
Without worrying, Rem and Ram shared a bond that no one else could break into.
He had believed that from the very moment the two of them had shown up together to visit him.
"Still, is it just this group? Where are Petra, Frederica, and Garfiel?"
"Petra and Frederica are taking care of the soldiers still fighting. Garfiel's busy treating the wounded too…"
"Fighting — as in, ongoing?"
"Mhm. You saw plenty of it in the capital, I'm sure, Subaru…"
Emilia answered, then hesitated briefly over what came next.
Subaru could already imagine what she was about to say.
"Zombies…"
"W-What is that bizarre word you just used?"
"Moving corpses. Back where I'm from, they're called zombies. I figured a name would help, so I've been calling them that out of convenience."
"Subaru-kun's home country sounds like it has way too much going on…"
Receiving Otto's deadpan stare, Subaru pressed his lips into a thin line.
This was one of those unanswerable questions — was this world stranger for having actual zombies, or was Subaru's world stranger for producing countless fictional works featuring zombies that didn't really exist?
"Mm, not bad. 'Zombie,' is it? At the very least, I'd prefer not to call them 'corpse soldiers.'"
It was Roswaal who interjected with that comment into Subaru and Otto's exchange.
The word he'd used made Subaru pause.
"Corpse soldiers… that doesn't sound like it leads anywhere pleasant."
"Indeed it doesn't. It's one memory I'd rather not revisit."
"In the capital, you mentioned that those are likely the result of the '
"That's where the bad memories come from?"
At Subaru's gaze, Roswaal offered an ambiguous smile and avoided committing to specifics.
Roswaal had deep knowledge of history. He may not have participated in that civil war himself, but perhaps he'd had an unpleasant encounter related to the so-called "Legacy."
"However, to Betty's knowledge, that technique was supposed to be far more unstable. The idea that someone could raise that many zombies with such a high degree of fidelity is impossible."
"But everyone saw them moving and talking, so there must be some reason, right?"
"…Betty has been puzzling over that too. Dadley, you'd better not be slacking off."
"My my, I'm hurt you'd think that. I'm a party to this as well — I have no reason to slack off here. Your lives are on the line too, after all."
"How much can I trust that, I wonder…"
"I understand. Your life is on the line too, after all."
"What do you mean you understand! You've just gotten worse at teasing!"
Beetle-jaw resting on his interlocked fingers, Roswaal's reply sent Beatrice into a red-faced outburst.
Beetle was furious at being teased, but even Subaru couldn't quite parse Roswaal's true intentions. Regardless, Beatrice was Subaru's partner, so he just stuck out his tongue at Roswaal on her behalf.
"So, um, I don't know the details, but is it fine to just call them what Subaru said — 'zombies'?"
"Sounds good to me. It's shorter than 'corpse soldiers' too."
"Otto through and through with that efficiency-minded approval…"
As that particular thread of conversation wound down — "Your Excellency, a report from General Cafma: they'll be remaining in the Geillar Highlands temporarily, doing everything possible to delay pursuit."
"General Orbalt reports his shinobi will also conduct delaying tactics! However, since the enemy doesn't need food or water supplies, our available options are roughly halved!"
"Tell both Cafma Irulx and Orbalt Dunkercken to continue as planned. Selena Dracroy — what about the dragon-ship?"
"Still hasn't returned. I can only hope the delay doesn't mean the fortress city has fallen."
"…If they've done what they were meant to do, there should be no unpreparedness at the fortress city."
It was Abel who arrived at the car speaking in this brisk, authoritative manner, accompanied by three imperial subjects — an old man, a towering figure, and a strikingly beautiful woman.
Subaru didn't know any of their names, but — "The elder is Prime Minister Bestetz Fondalfon, the tall one is General
"Helpful. …Goz — I heard he was captured after letting Abel escape, right?"
Otto leaned in with an explanation, reading the furrow of Subaru's brow. The name he'd just heard belonged to one of the "Nine Divine Generals" — the one whose survival had been in doubt.
If alive, he should be an ally of Abel's. And indeed, having him at Abel's side was something to be genuinely glad about.
"You lot are all here as well. Perfect — let's begin the war council."
"Oh, what about Flop and the others?"
"The manpower shortage at the fortress city was one thing, but what use is one traveling merchant in a war council?"
"That's exactly what I've been thinking! Why am I even here…"
Subaru tilted his head, and Otto tilted his alongside him, echoing Abel's sentiment.
But why Otto was here was obvious — to Subaru and to everyone in Emilia's camp. They were met with a derisive snort from Ram.
"Taritta and Miserda and the others are positioned at the back of the car, so they won't be joining this discussion — is that right?"
"Yes. The Shudrak folk conveyed as much. When the time comes to unleash their full strength, they will do so with all their might — that was their reassuring reply."
"To think I'd ever stand shoulder to shoulder with the legendary, fearsome 'Shudrak people!' If only it were for something other than deciding the fate of the empire, how my heart would race! Blast it!"
"Quiet. Shut your mouth."
Abel silenced Goz with a cold remark. His fists were clenched tight, each the size of a child's head. It was callous, but no one else seemed to think twice about it — so this was probably their usual dynamic.
Regardless, the reason Flop and the "Shudrak people" wouldn't be joining was now clear.
"Subaru, your imperial friends are…"
"I told the Pleiades battalion that I'd represent them for now. There are a few things I wanted to discuss with the group first. Especially with Beako."
"With Betty? …That doesn't give Betty a good feeling."
"There, there."
Subaru had also asked the Pleiades battalion members to refrain from attending for the time being.
This was, after all, a scene where Subaru and Abel were together. One wrong move, and Yots could attack Abel and try to hand Subaru the throne.
The lie that Subaru was Abel — the "black-haired crown prince" — and the fallen son of
"I would've thought at least Tanz could be here…"
He'd felt guilty bringing her along given her pallor, so for now, the Pleiades contingent would be represented by Subaru alone.
Just like during the visit, he would definitely have to speak with Tanz afterward.
"And — I don't see Louis anywhere…"
"That girl is with Medium and Flop. She seems to have grown rather attached. What do you intend to do, Barusu?"
"…That's also something we'll need to discuss with everyone later."
Ram's pale-pink eyes narrowed, and Subaru gave the only answer he could.
Ram knew that just before Subaru and Rem had been hurled into the empire, Louis had been present at the
The fact that Louis was nonetheless riding in this dragon-car chain — what kind of effort and persistence had made that possible — was something Subaru wanted to understand.
And on top of that, he needed to find the best possible outcome for Louis.
"If you've caught up with your overdue tasks, then let us begin the war council in earnest, Natsuki Subaru."
"You — don't forget I'm holding a massive scandal over your head? But that's not the only reason either…"
Subaru could vividly recall the memory of Abel meekly bowing his head, yet Abel's outward attitude hadn't changed a bit. Subaru shot back with some bitter words, then held up a hand.
There were others whose whereabouts he hadn't confirmed yet.
Specifically — "Where's Priscilla? She was in Guaral, and she should have come to the capital too. And
Priscilla and her merry band — who had joined the Vollachia Empire for reasons unknown. Al had even accompanied them all the way to the Chaos Flame magic city, so they had certainly participated in the battle for the imperial capital.
As for Yorna, Subaru's group had picked up intelligence that she'd sided with the rebels. Tanza had also sensed Yorna's presence in the capital.
Surely, all of these people should be aboard this dragon-car chain as well.
If no one had mentioned them — and Cecilus's absence was conspicuous too, though that was typical for his whimsical nature — then — "Hey?"
At Subaru's question, Abel remained silent, one eye closing shut.
Suspicious of that reaction, Subaru looked around — and noticed he wasn't the only one getting that silence. His brow furrowed.
No one was saying anything about Priscilla's group.
If Priscilla and the others had coldly returned to the kingdom before the battle for the capital, Emilia and the others would surely have shown surprise at the mere mention of Priscilla's name. But there was no such surprise. Which meant the answer to this unpleasant silence was — "Subaru — this may have been kept from you to avoid confusion."
"Beako?"
Beatrice had risen at some point and was gripping Subaru's hand. At her preface, Subaru's jaw tightened.
Noticing Subaru unconsciously squeezing Beatrice's hand in return, Emilia turned to him.
"Listen carefully, Subaru. About Priscilla and Lady Yorna…"
A beat of silence.
For the anxious Subaru, the pause felt unbearably long. Then Emilia continued.
It was — "When everyone fled the capital, those two were nowhere to be found. —I want to believe they're safe, but…"
It was irrefutable proof of a wound that their side had suffered in the battle for the imperial capital.