"Hey, Village Chief — got a second?"
Hearing that voice from behind him, Vincent Volachia stopped in his tracks.
Before turning around, he already knew who was speaking. He never forgot a voice he'd heard once, or a face he'd seen. It was easy enough to confirm — the golden-haired, blue-eyed traveling merchant,
"Unfortunately, the empire is facing a crisis of survival right now. I don't have time to spare for your idle chatter."
Even though he recognized Flop, Vincent had no intention of entertaining him. He needed to consult with Berstetz, Selena, and the others about how to handle
Gruubee had been named as a potential countermeasure against the enemy, but with her likely dead, building a plan around her would be the height of foolishness. In that regard, placing hope in
Truthfully, Vincent had no hope of persuading that girl on his own. He couldn't even maintain proper communication with her. If his cards couldn't reach her, then it was only right to put one of the twin rays of hope in Subaru's hands.
Therefore, all Vincent could do was accumulate realistic strategies — "Whoa whoa whoa! You won't know if it's idle chatter until you hear it out! Even a clever Village Chief like you can't know what seeds of conversation I'm carrying before you water the garden, can you?"
"You..."
As Vincent tried to resume walking, Flop grabbed his shoulder and held him back. An outrageous act — the height of impudence.
In a different setting, it would have been the kind of brazen behavior that would have Flop's head severed on the spot.
"Release me. Immediately. Or you won't have a life to worry about."
"Of course, I'd like to get straight to the point myself. But what I have to say requires a proper amount of time. It's not the kind of thing we can rush through."
"I didn't ask you to talk — I said let go of my hand..."
"Now, now, don't be like that, Abell-chin! Be nice and hear big brother out, would ya?"
"—?!"
Turning only his head to glare at Flop's hand on his shoulder, Vincent was then subjected to yet another outrage — hands slid in from both sides and physically lifted him off the ground.
When he caught his breath, the perpetrators turned out to be none other than a beaming
"Abell-chin, you've been ignoring big brother this whole time, haven't you? Big brother's all beat up and banged up and has to lie flat for every second he can get, so stop being mean and listen to what he's got to say, 'kay?"
"Spare me the nonsense. How long do you intend to keep up this familiar attitude with me? Once the situation changes, so will our standing. It's nothing like when we were in Shudrak's settlement or the fortified city."
"Sure, Abell-chin might be playing emperor, but that's no reason to look down on us! Big brother!"
"Right on, little sister!"
The thick-headed siblings paid absolutely no mind to Vincent's words.
In response to the spirited sister's call, Flop answered with equal vigor and threw open the door to an adjacent guest cabin. Medium steered Vincent inside, and the door was shut behind them.
With impressive speed, they had the emperor confined in a private room, and only then did Medium release him.
"Do you realize what you've done? This is an outrage that could bring not just the two of you, but your entire clan down with you."
"Hahahaha! Too bad for you, Village Chief. Our family is just us siblings. So your little threat doesn't work at all!"
"Oh, but big brother, what about everyone at the orphanage? We may not share blood, but everyone who escaped is our family!"
"Hahahaha! Now that you mention it! Village Chief, how about you forgive us, then?!"
"Release me immediately and stay put."
No matter the circumstances, the O'Connell siblings' behavior remained completely unchanged. Medium's stretchy body and Flop's apparent injuries both seemed increasingly suspicious now.
Normally, having one's body stretch and compress would place enormous strain on one's mind, yet Medium showed barely any awareness of having just shrunk back and re-stretched. And Flop, supposedly on the brink of death from severe injuries, was bouncing around just fine — though admittedly, the color was draining from his neck, and his complexion was being propped up with cosmetics.
"A merchant has to look the part, after all."
"———"
"However, the iron rule of trade is exchanging desired goods. I can't accommodate your current request, Village Chief. I don't want to put this off any longer."
"What are you talking about..."
"I've been entrusted with a message. From the person who was playing emperor in your stead."
Expecting more nonsense, Vincent's eyes widened ever so slightly. The thing they had gone through all this trouble — even locking the emperor in an empty room — to convey to him. There was only one person in this world who could be associated with that crown.
And so — "You should hear his words, Village Chief. — No, I should say, Emperor Vincent Volachia."
For the first time, Flop wore a serious expression, and Vincent chose no words to interrupt.
△▼△▼△▼△ The Sin Archbishop of Gluttony — Louis Arneb.
When he spoke that name aloud once more, Subaru heard a tremendous creaking from deep within his chest.
It was the forbidden box he had always been able to reach but had hesitated to open — a
"———"
Deciding this was not a conversation to have in the corridor, they moved locations and rented out a large guest cabin. It was Abel's consideration — a rare act of thoughtfulness toward another person's feelings. The outcome of this discussion could be a matter of great consequence for the empire, so perhaps it was only natural that he would think of such arrangements.
Gathered in the cabin were
Anastasia placed her hand against her cheek and murmured quietly, with Julius standing silently beside her. Their presence was indispensable.
Not because they had traveled all the way across the border to help Subaru and the others, but because they, too, had been victims of Gluttony.
"Louis is currently with
"Still processing it, though. ...Honestly, I was stunned beyond belief at first."
"That... makes two of us."
Beatrice's description of being "stunned" was probably quite generous. In truth, when Subaru had first realized he'd been flung into the empire alongside Louis, his single-minded desire to protect Rem had led him to take a rather aggressive stance. That had been the reason Rem initially saw him as a thoroughly untrustworthy person.
He didn't know what kind of first encounter Emilia's group had with Louis, but it was easy to imagine that things had been quite tumultuous.
He was grateful that no one had taken any extreme measures.
"You all held back really well. Otto and Garfiel especially looked like they were about to erupt at any moment."
"In fact, Otto and I recommended either exile or restraint. The fact that it didn't come to that was because Emilia-sama talked everyone down."
"Emilia-tan..."
Sure enough, Otto had apparently been at the forefront of the radicals, but the moderate Emilia had reeled him in.
Meeting the others' gazes, Emilia gave a brief "Yes" and continued: "Medium-chan was protecting that child... protecting Louis with all her might. If a child is that treasured by the people around her, I was scared of deciding everything about her right then and there."
"I see, Medium-san..."
Hearing that Medium had shield Louis, Subaru felt a faint sense of relief. Originally, the bright and caring Medium had been someone Louis was quite attached to. Still, after Louis's identity as a Sin Archbishop was revealed, Medium had come to fear her too — that was the last interaction Subaru had witnessed between them in the magic city of
If Medium had protected Louis afterward, something must have changed in her feelings, even if Subaru wasn't there to see it. And that was something to be happy about.
"I have experience with that too. Being thought of as a terrifying existence, a witch, by everyone — not being able to talk to anyone around me. So..."
"In Emilia-sama's case, it was the unjust prejudice against half-elves. But her situation is different. It's a clear distinction born of her own actions."
"Otto-kun..."
Adding to Medium's defense, Emilia had been explaining her own reasons for siding with Louis when Otto cut in with a sharp remark. He made no effort to hide that while he stood with Emilia, he also stood against Louis — that their companionship up to this point was merely a holding pattern until a final conclusion was reached.
"May I say something?"
It was Roswaal who casually raised his hand, breaking the tense atmosphere Otto's declaration had created. When Subaru gestured for him to speak, Roswaal closed his blue eye and said: "
"I wasn't going alllll over the place. But I agree with big brother Otto. So from the moment we ran into her until that big fight, I kept watching her close..."
"And the result was nothing. So tell me, what grounds do you have for declaring this girl a dangerous Sin Archbishop?"
"I have them, along with Beatrice. In
Speaking as the representative of the group with the least exposure to Louis, Roswaal prompted Garfiel and Otto to share their respective views.
Otto, who had been gently rubbing his leg — the injury that had kept him out of action for a while — had particularly strong reasons to be wary of Louis.
"If I may follow the Margrave's lead..."
After Roswaal's doubts were addressed, Julius joined the conversation. He had been wearing a difficult expression from the start of the Gluttony discussion, and now his face grew even graver as he glanced at Subaru.
"First, I'd like to confirm — is the girl called Louis riding in this carriage definitively the same person as Louis Arneb, the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony?"
"—? What do you mean by that?"
"As Emilia-sama and Ram know, Gluttony has been known to change its appearance to that of its prey in order to replicate their abilities. In other words..."
"What you're saying is, the girl Louis who's been talking with Emilia and the others might not be the same person — they could be in a predator-prey relationship instead."
At Julius's hypothesis, Emilia and the others showed looks of surprise. Certainly, given Gluttony's characteristics, it wasn't an impossible theory. If it replicated the form of those it consumed, then the original would need to exist.
If that were true, then Louis and the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony could be considered separate entities.
However — "...No, that line of reasoning doesn't hold. Louis is replicating the abilities of those she consumed. That much, the authority of Gluttony ensures."
"I see. My apologies for the misleading suggestion."
Subaru shook his head, and Julius closed his eyes in apology. It wasn't his fault. If his hypothesis had been correct, Subaru wouldn't have been struggling so much. But a convenient escape hatch wouldn't cut it.
What was needed was an answer derived from a shared truth.
Louis — flung into the Volachia Empire alongside Subaru, treated coldly by him, yet repeatedly fighting to protect him, sustaining injuries, putting her very life on the line. The task was to make everyone acknowledge that she was both the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony Louis Arneb and yet still a necessary presence for the battles ahead.
"—. First, let me explain in order. Before Emilia-tan and the others linked up with Louis, I want to tell you what happened — how I spent my time with Louis in the empire after Rem and I were flung here."
"—"
Every pair of eyes fixed on him. Subaru knew these people well, and yet he felt genuine suffocation. It was as though what followed would be a scoring or answer-checking session.
The answer-check that would determine whether Louis truly had her existence acknowledged by her companions.
"Subaru, there's no rush."
Emilia's soft voice eased his anxiety. Beside him, Beatrice gently squeezed his hand once more and nodded.
Grateful for their kindness, Subaru took a breath and began to speak.
"The very first thing we noticed was a large forest far to the east — "
△▼△▼△▼△ He had chosen his words carefully, aiming for a concise and detached recollection of the facts.
Even so, the things he had to say kept gushing out like spring water, and he was struck by just how dense those few short days had been. So much had happened in such a brief span.
It was as if an absurd number of crises had been compressed into a tiny window — and all of them had threatened the lives of Subaru, Rem, and their companions. Naturally, Louis had been caught up in it all as well.
Naturally. — Yes, of course.
Because Louis had traveled with them the whole time, been treated kindly by Rem, earned Subaru's ire, and yet had not given up on following along despite his hostility.
And so — "— Louis and I worked together with Yorna-san, and we beat the match against Olbart-san. It was through a cheat move, though — turning hide-and-seek into tag rules and all."
"—"
"After that, I heard things went sideways in Chaosflame. The residents were miraculously safe, and they linked up with Abel's rebel forces. I lost consciousness there and got separated... The rest, you all know more about Louis than I do, right?"
"—. Yes. We arrived in Guarral, all battered and bruised, just as Abel and his group returned. That was right after."
When Subaru confirmed, Emilia nodded, and he let out a long exhale. He hadn't meant to spend so much time, but it had ended up being nearly an hour. The fact that his companions had mostly listened without interruption was a relief.
He had tried to tell the story as objectively as possible, even though he couldn't entirely avoid his own subjective perspective.
With that said — "As I've described, Louis never exhibited any suspicious behavior during our time together. I'm sure you'd hear the same from Rem."
"That's not what any of us are doubting. If we truly suspected her, Ram-san would never have allowed her to stay near Rem-san."
The severity of Ram's protectiveness — especially when it concerned Rem — went without saying. After all, it was for Rem's sake that Ram had overwhelmed Rai Batenkaitos of Gluttony at the
If Ram sensed even a hint of danger from Louis, there was no way she would have allowed her near the newly awakened Rem.
"...We more or less understand just how rough things were for you, Natsuki-kun."
It was Anastasia who spoke up, having listened in silence until now. She was rubbing the bridge of her brow with a finger.
Even a woman as clever as her needed time to digest this volume of information. After managing to swallow it down, Anastasia removed her finger from her brow and continued: "What happened to Natsuki-kun after his consciousness flew off in Chaosflame is something I'd like to know too, but that's not the point right now, so let's set it aside."
"Right. The important thing now is Louis. As I've said, Louis hasn't shown any dangerous side up to this point. And then there's Ubilk's prophecy — the Star Reader's prediction. So for the upcoming battle, it makes sense to have Louis cooperate — "
"— The question is, where does that negotiation land?"
That single, quiet statement froze the words on Subaru's lips.
Anastasia traced her lower lip with the finger that had been rubbing her brow, her keen, pale-blue eyes pinning Subaru's heart in place as she went on: "I don't dislike your attitude of using whatever's at hand, Natsuki-kun. Even Meili, who helped us cross the
"That's... the same, isn't it? Meili and Louis are in the same position."
"No, they're not. — That's what everyone here thinks, I'd wager. Everyone except you, Natsuki-kun."
"—!"
At the weight of those repeated quiet words, Subaru looked around with a startled expression. He scanned every face Anastasia had referenced, searching for someone — anyone — who would contradict her.
But not a single person met his expectation.
"Everyone..."
"I'll say it, since no one else wants to."
In the midst of the solemn silence, Otto raised his hand without changing his expression much. Though to be fair, his expression hadn't changed much since the meeting began.
His gaze and voice were not unconditionally warm toward Subaru.
"I agree with Anastasia-sama. The situation with Meili is different. They're not in the same position."
"Otto!"
"I'll take this on too, since no one else wants to. — It's because she's a Sin Archbishop."
When Subaru's voice rose involuntarily, Otto replied in a flat tone. Before Subaru could even ask "why," his preemptive answer was as fitting an explanation as any for why no one in the room could take Subaru's side.
"Subaru, Betty wants to support you. I believe what you've said — that the girl, Louis, has no malicious intent right now. But..."
"The fact remains that we, too, have been victims of Gluttony. And considering that the harm tends to be less visible, one wonders just how many victims exist in potential."
"I have no way of verifying it... but the anguish of those who lost themselves, were forgotten by others, were left without refuge, and were never given a chance to return — I can well imagine it."
Beatrice expressing concern for Subaru, Roswaal and Julius elaborating with the perspectives of those who had suffered under Gluttony's authority — these were honest words from those who had been harmed.
"—"
As Roswaal and Julius said, the ones who knew they had been victims were still the better off.
What was truly despairing was the existence of the many victims who had their Names and Memories stolen, lost where to return to, and were never saved.
And the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony who had created so many such victims — "I think... everyone probably can't accept it."
"Emilia..."
"That's not what I mean... I think it's more that they can't forgive her."
This wasn't about Subaru's explanation falling short or his feelings not reaching them. The focal point of the issue lay elsewhere — and Emilia's words, her brow slightly furrowed, cut to the core of Subaru's heart.
Emilia, who knew about Louis's time with Subaru and what had happened after he was gone, understood perfectly well that the "current" Louis was not a being who would harm them.
Understanding that, the problem was Louis's actions in the "past."
"— What she did will absolutely never just vanish."
"—"
Anastasia's softly spoken words.
They were the same devastating piece of advice that had once frozen Natsuki Subaru solid and shattered him into pieces. That she had once said those words to him was now a fact that existed only within Subaru. And now, through a change in circumstance, they reached his ears once more from her mouth.
"No matter how much Natsuki-kun insists that child is harmless, it doesn't undo what she did when she was harmful. The victims are still victims... It's not a shallow issue that can be papered over with pleasantries."
"—"
"First, shouldn't all those Names and Memories she consumed be returned? Even you, Natsuki-kun, can't be satisfied with moving forward without that, can you?"
Anastasia's words sliced into Subaru one after another. All were rational arguments, and the one that cut deepest was her final point — that without returning the stolen Memories and Names, there wasn't even a foundation on which to decide Louis's fate.
That was the very premise behind Emilia's "I can't forgive her."
"Of course, the prophecy you heard is known to the Emperor as well. Pressuring that girl Louis into cooperation isn't realistic, I'd say."
"Huh?! What the hell are you talking about? Spit it out clearly!"
"I'm sorry you're taking your frustration out on me, but... Regardless of how our discussion concludes, the policy of having the girl cooperate won't change. The only question is how to treat her."
"Treat her...?"
Growing impatient with Roswaal's characteristically indirect manner even after being told to speak plainly, Subaru's earnest gaze prompted Roswaal to shrug and say: "What I mean is, how do we convince her to cooperate. For instance, we could promise her a pardon once the crisis threatening the empire has been overcome... And then, after the deed is done, carry out a punishment befitting her crimes with solemnity. That would be the method least likely to backfire."
"— You've gotta be kidding me!"
Garfiel bared his teeth and lunged at Roswaal's malicious proposal. Fixing him with a fierce glare, he growled: "Don't matter if the other guy's a monster, we don't become monsters ourselves! Dangling bait in front of her just to get her to help — that's something I'll never accept!"
"Oh my, is that so? I would have thought Otto-kun was thinking the same thing, though..."
"Don't you lump big brother Otto in with the likes of you!"
"— The Margrave's proposal is likely what most people would say. Sin Archbishops shouldn't be granted pardons. Or perhaps..."
Otto paused, then fixed Subaru with a piercing stare. Swallowing under that gaze, Subaru was hit with Otto's unrelenting follow-up: "Are you, Natsuki-san, trying to set a precedent for forgiving a Sin Archbishop?"
"— I've got no such intention! There are scum in this world that can't be forgiven. The
Petelgeuse, Regulus, Rai and Roy, Sirius and Capella — the Sin Archbishops Subaru had encountered were all irredeemable, off-the-rails monsters. Beings who would sacrifice others without a shred of hesitation in pursuit of their own desires.
But — "— You're saying Louis Arneb is the sole exception?"
"That's..."
Otto's question dug into the deepest part of Subaru's heart. Sin Archbishops must not be forgiven — a line that not just Otto but everyone had drawn, and one that Subaru himself could clearly understand.
And yet wanting to put Louis in a separate category, as Otto said, made no sense.
"—"
Bathed in the stares of everyone present, Subaru turned his gaze inward once more. What did he want for Louis? In the Corridor of Memories, they had been bitter enemies, and Subaru had made the choice not to save her when she was suffering from the aftereffects of Return by Death. He didn't believe that was wrong. Even in that same situation, he would make the same decision again.
But at the same time, he knew the Louis who had endured hardship alongside him in the Volachia Empire. The fact that she had risked her life — and indeed lost it — to help Subaru was carved firmly into his soul.
Her desperate efforts had, before he knew it, melted away his vigilance — "Why?"
"—"
Suddenly, a quiet question was directed at Subaru's profile as he sat lost in thought.
He opened his lowered lids and found Emilia's purple eyes looking directly into his. She narrowed the eyes framed by long lashes and repeated the same question: "Why is it that you've come to think that way?"
"What do you mean, why..."
"Subaru, you used to hate the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony so, so much, didn't you? You couldn't forgive her. So why now?"
"I already told you that — because she... because Louis, in this empire, she and I..."
They had endured so many hardships together. Louis had bravely tried to protect both Subaru and Rem.
What happened in the Corridor of Memories had been just as unforgivable, and yet what had occurred in the empire left an even more searing impression on Subaru. That was why.
That was why Natsuki Subaru's feelings toward Louis had changed.
"Subaru, allow me to tell you a cruel fact once more."
At Emilia's question, Subaru answered haltingly, and Julius spoke in a low voice. Prefacing that what followed was deliberately cruel, the warning made Subaru tense. Then Julius traced the scar below his left eye with a finger and said: "The people of this world will never forgive the Sin Archbishop of Gluttony — the girl called Louis Arneb. Kingdom or empire, it makes no difference. That would be the consensus of the world."
"—"
"No matter where she flees, there is no place where forgiveness will be granted. Commit a crime, and you are punished. And the Sin Archbishops are sinners who can only pay with their lives."
That it was a cruel truth — his preface had not been a lie. Julius spoke with a clear, strong tone, in a manner impossible to misinterpret.
In this world, there was no place where Louis Arneb could live and be forgiven.
Under the weight of those words, Subaru could offer nothing in return.
However — "I, too, wish for nothing less than death for a Sin Archbishop. The 'death' of the being who stands as an enemy of the world. That is the most I can say."
"...What?"
"Julius Euclius!"
Otto's sharp cry pierced the air as he glared at Julius. Unable to process the implications of those added words, Subaru looked on in bewilderment while Otto and Julius locked eyes.
Julius looked pained; Otto looked bitter. Their gazes were like blades trying to wound each other.
"For someone on the outside to say that is beyond the pale—!"
"I'm sorry, but your assessment isn't quite right. I'm one of the parties involved. I have the right to voice my opinion, and I intend to exercise it."
"—!"
Through gritted teeth, Otto glared even harder at Julius. Knowing full well he couldn't match him in martial ability, he didn't back down an inch in terms of willpower. Julius, in turn, closed one eye at the strength of Otto's resolve and let out a small sigh.
"The death of a Sin Archbishop..."
As the two went back and forth, Subaru murmured the words with a numbing sensation in part of his brain. What Julius had been implying, and the reason Otto had lashed out so fiercely — there was something hidden beneath the surface that Subaru had missed.
Sin Archbishops were wished dead and nothing more. The world would never forgive Louis Arneb. The world would never forgive the Sin Archbishop, Louis Arneb — "—Ah."
"Subaru, Betty has something to say."
At the moment Subaru felt a faint breeze blow through the labyrinth of his thoughts, Beatrice spoke. Looking up at him with her round eyes marked by their distinctive pattern, she said: "Beatrice encountered the Sin Archbishop Louis in Priestella. And then, meeting her again here in the empire, I noticed something about her. — She's like a different person."
"—"
"That girl isn't the same as the Sin Archbishop Beatrice knows. What about from your perspective, Subaru? Having argued with the Sin Archbishop up close — what did you think?"
Beatrice's words were gentle but left no room for escape. Subaru understood what she was trying to say — the thing he had refused to acknowledge.
The current "Louis" seemed like an entirely different person from the Louis Arneb he had encountered in the Corridor of Memories.
However — just as he had refuted Julius's hypothesis — "Louis" was using the authority of Gluttony. She was freely wielding the abilities of those she had consumed, just as Gluttony did.
"Louis" possessed the authority of Gluttony while only her mind had been reborn.
For example — "Like me, when I lost my memories."
If that were the case, had "Louis" been suffering all this time? Just as Subaru had chased the phantom of "Natsuki Subaru," been unable to trust anyone around him, and tormented himself with doubt — had "Louis" been crying out for help too?
Even in that state, "Louis" had helped Subaru and Rem, and had made it to this very day.
And — "— I've been thinking about this for a long time. About whether, if you do something bad, there's no going back."
"Emilia..."
"If you apologize and make amends and you're still told it's not enough, then the apology and the amends themselves start to feel unbearable, right? So I've been thinking about a way to make sure that doesn't happen... But I couldn't easily find such a perfect method. However."
"However?"
"There's one thing — maybe, just maybe — a method. Something Subaru taught me."
Emilia placed a hand over her own chest and chose her words with all the earnestness she could muster. Subaru searched his own heart for what she was referring to, but nothing came to mind that matched this moment. What could he have possibly taught Emilia that was relevant now?
With a gentle look, Emilia told the clueless Subaru: "That more people wish for that person's happiness than wish they could never forgive them."
"—"
"That a whole lot of people around them hope that person becomes happy. I think that's what we need — to be made to feel that way — in order to forgive that child."
Emilia's words seeped quietly into Subaru's chest. The method for forgiving a wrongdoer. The method for forgiving a wrong act. An apology, restitution, and the salvation that might lie beyond — this, Emilia was saying, was the answer she had desperately arrived at.
Where Subaru had ever learned such a thing, or when he had ever taught it to her, he had no idea at all. And yet, the words landed solidly in his chest with a satisfying thud.
The reason Subaru was breaking his heart over a Sin Archbishop, over "Louis" — it was because "Louis" had done more for Subaru than Subaru had ever done for Louis.
And so — "I'm going to say the same thing one more time."
After hearing Emilia's words and Subaru's faint exhale, Anastasia spoke. Gently stroking the fur collar at her neck, she looked between Subaru and Emilia in turn, and asked: "— Where do you intend to take this discussion to its conclusion?"
△▼△▼△▼△ "Hmm?"
Rem held Louis's cheeks between both hands as the girl peered at her with a puzzled expression, and let out a long, deep sigh.
In response, Louis's face — still cradled in Rem's palms — became even more bewildered.
Rem realized with a start that she was worrying the girl.
She had realized it, but — "Sigh..."
"What a melancholy sigh, Rem. Is something the matter?"
"Sister..."
A gentle voice called from the side as Rem let out another great sigh. It was Ram, who had returned from preparing tea in the assigned guest cabin. She had brought along the girl with deer antlers behind her —
Noticing Rem's gaze, Ram said "Oh" and explained: "She seemed to have nothing to do, so I brought her along."
"I wouldn't say I had nothing to do..."
"Is that so? She was sulking quite visibly at being kept away from all the noisy people. I suppose the empire does have women and children who want to protect others and fight. I'd thought them more foolish."
"Now, Sister, that's a bit much..."
At her elder sister's characteristically blunt phrasing, Rem's cheek twitched slightly. Between her and her sister, it would still take time to fully process everything, but the plea from the roots of her soul was honest, and Rem felt it sway her heart with every word and gesture.
That said, Tanza didn't look too happy with Ram's way of putting it.
"It's true that many in the war band, including Cecilus-sama, tend to think in rather simple terms. But there are those like the Governor-General who are quite sharp."
"Oh my. So it's this sharp Governor-General who told you to stay behind and keep watch."
"—. No, it was Schwartz-sama who told me to rest."
"Oh."
At Ram's counter, Tanza's mouth tightened slightly. The moment she answered, Louis — still cheeks held in Rem's hands — let out a moan as the pressure on her cheeks increased.
"Ah, sorry! Are you all right, Louis?"
"Hmm... huu?"
"...No, it has nothing to do with me."
"Hmm..."
At Rem's answer from behind her cupped hands, Louis gave her a skeptical look. Looking away from Louis, Rem caught Ram's eye as she served the tea. Placing a warm cup before Rem, Ram said: "For a secret imperial carriage, the tea leaves aren't much to speak of. The flavor is nothing special, but it's good for warming the body."
"Ah, thank you. I'll have some then."
"So? Did Barusu say something rude to you?"
"Pff—!"
The moment Rem took a sip and heard that question, she spat out her tea. She hastily set down the cup, and Louis offered to wipe her face with her own sleeve.
"I'm fine, really, Louis. ...Um, what is it, Sister?"
"What do you mean, 'what is it'? Barusu's behavior is rude and tactless in most cases. Even a wild guess has a high probability of hitting the reason Rem's face clouded over."
"That's still a bit much, even for you..."
So it had just been a lucky guess. Rem exhaled in relief as Louis wiped her face, but that reaction was enough for the perceptive Ram to deduce the cause of her sigh.
Ram sat down directly across from her, legs crossed, sipping from her own cup while fixing Rem with a steady gaze. Under that silent pressure, Rem quickly crumbled and confessed.
"Um, it's about Emilia-san."
"Emilia-sama? Ah, so Emilia-sama does have her thoughtless and tactless side. So that's what clouded Rem's face."
"N-No, that's not it! It's just... what kind of relationship is Emilia-san to Natsuki Subaru...?"
Rem lowered her voice and managed to ask the question while maintaining as much composure as she could.
However, the very choice of topic was enough to make Ram narrow her rose-colored eyes — something Rem didn't realize at this point.
All the same, her apparently astute sister murmured "I see" softly, and then: "You're right, Barusu ought to be torn to pieces. Let's do it together later."
"Sister!?"
"Hahaha, a sisters' project. Barusu can be useful for once in a while."
The faintly smiling sister was beautiful enough to mesmerize, but her words were thoroughly alarming. It was Tanza, however, who took genuine offense, literally bristling at Ram's suggestion.
She had been sipping the tea she'd been served and was softly going "Oh my" at the taste, but — "That's rather a rash statement. Barusu... that would be Schwartz-sama, I presume? If you lay a hand on Schwartz-sama, neither I nor the war band will show mercy."
"What a brave response. ...Tanza, how old are you?"
"—? I'll be twelve this year."
"Exactly. That settles it."
"You can't just settle things on your own without my consent."
Tanza's disgruntled objection was one Rem agreed with. Why had Ram asked Tanza's age and then declared satisfaction? More importantly, Ram still hadn't answered Rem's question.
About what kind of relationship Emilia and Subaru had.
"...They seemed extremely close."
What was Rem supposed to do with that? If she pressed further, all she'd get was a "Huh?" in response. But there was something about the distance between those two that nagged at her. She wanted to resolve it quickly so she could focus on her own problem.
Her problem — which was to say, her own problem.
"Yes. It's a trivial matter I'd like to settle quickly so we can focus on bigger issues. Nothing more, nothing less."
"— Rem, mind if I come in?"
"Huh?!"
With a tremendous clatter, Rem shot to her feet on instinct, inadvertently scooping up Louis, who had been on her lap. Apologizing to the startled Louis once more, Rem turned toward the door of the guest cabin.
"Wh-Who is it?"
"Who else would it be? The one being torn to pieces — Barusu. ...The discussion must have ended, then."
"Ah..."
At Ram's elegant remark over her tea, Rem let out a soft sigh and held Louis close. As Louis tilted her head with a "Huh?", Rem buried her nose in the girl's golden hair and closed her eyes.
She had been present during the earlier attack on the chain-carriage, but had not joined the subsequent discussion where Abel had led Subaru away with a grave expression. Of course, she had sensed she wouldn't be of much use in an important meeting, and there had been the small matter that had been nagging at her.
But the biggest reason was — "Hmm?"
It was the uneasy premonition she had felt regarding Louis, cradled in her arms. For reasons she couldn't explain, her heart had instinctively told her she needed to be by Louis's side. And so she had retreated to this cabin — just before — "Come in, Schwartz-sama."
"Ah, thanks. ...So you're here too, Tanza."
"Yes. Schwartz-sama conspired with the others and left me behind to keep watch."
"That's... a guilt-inducing way of putting it..."
While Rem was flustered, Tanza had already admitted the visitor into the room.
As Tanza vented her grievances at the newcomer, the person who entered scratched his head with an awkward expression. Even though his stature had shrunk, the aura of that troubled profile hadn't changed much. It was probably because, no matter how much taller he might get, he could never shake off that boyish quality.
"His eyes are scary, but he's a weird person..."
"Hey!? Did someone just badmouth my eye contact? I heard that!"
"Remarkable. To think the pleas of Lugnica's citizens could be heard across the border."
"Nobody in the entire kingdom is talking about my eye contact! They're probably talking about happy stuff like tonight's dinner or tomorrow's plans!"
At Ram's interjection, Subaru responded with exaggerated drama as he lumbered into the room. Unable to bring herself to look directly at him, Rem turned her face behind Louis's head, avoiding a direct encounter.
Louis, meanwhile, took it upon herself to greet Subaru.
"Hey, Louis. I was looking for you too, actually. Do you know where Rem is?"
"Haa hmm?"
"Guess you don't, huh. Figures. I had something important to tell her..."
"If you have something important, stop fooling around and get to the point."
"Oh, Rem! You were behind Louis! I didn't notice!"
At Rem's interruption, Subaru put on an exaggerated show of surprise. Even that act seemed to register with Louis, who drooped her shoulders in evident disappointment that Rem could no longer be hidden.
Setting Louis down on the floor and patting her head to comfort her, Rem narrowed her eyes.
"...Are you pushing yourself too hard?"
"—"
"I think I've said this before. Stop pushing yourself and taking on too much. You're not some hero who can do everything."
Thinking that Subaru's earlier demeanor seemed like a bluff, Rem quoted the same words she had said to him before.
Subaru blinked, then gave a wry smile: "No, actually, if you look at it objectively, I'm kind of a superman. I'll just take your concern as a cute compliment."
"Don't be silly."
"I'm not being silly. — Rem, I have something important to tell you about Louis."
Straightening up, his expression now free of its wry smile, Subaru spoke earnestly. Rem held her breath at his tone, and Ram sighed beside them.
"Barusu, shall Ram withdraw from the room?"
"Not at all. Both you and Tanza can stay. You're the representative of the sister department, and Tanza's the representative of the loli department. Please observe."
"I'd rank above Frederica as a sister, then. Naturally."
"Um, the 'loli' department... what exactly does that mean?"
Asked to serve as witnesses, Ram stood proudly while Tanza tilted her head. Then, turning back to face them, Subaru's gaze caused Rem to gently pull Louis closer. Holding the back of Louis's head against her chest, Rem fixed Subaru with a steady stare.
And — "— Let's settle this. This confusing, precious thing between us."