——On the way back to Roswaal Mansion for the second time, nothing happened.
"That being said, the tragedy happened inside the mansion..."
Subaru said this as he scratched his face and lowered himself in front of the door.
The destination that is already on the other side - I have just finished explaining it to the residents of Alam Village. Their family members who stayed in the "Sanctuary" will be released soon, and they should be able to reunite with everyone in the near future.
They were happy for this report, but it was used as an excuse to come back this time. Subaru felt guilty in his heart, but this was all to keep everyone safe, Subaru convinced himself like this
"It looks like he has grown up to be able to withstand the condemnation of his conscience. It looks like he has a bright future."
"As for the matter later, aren't you also worried about Frandelica..."
"Ram is not talking about the immediate things, but the more distant future. Considering Lady Emilia's path to the king's election, the chance of Barus's conspiracy will also increase... although it seems very difficult."
Such a vicious comment made Subaru speechless. He also stood next to Subaru and looked at the mansion.
Ram, on the other hand, looked calm, and her profile showed no hint of Subaru's slight entanglement.
"It seems that I can never get rid of the idea of killing the common people. Is this wrong..."
"The ten years of Ram and the few months of Balus are very different in terms of level of loyalty. It is extremely arrogant to dare to compare them... Compared with this, are you ready to wake up?"
"I just wanted to ask you this question."
Putting aside the differences in their way of thinking, Ram's question about the realization that was just around the corner made Subaru close one eye.
"Now, nothing should have happened yet..."
Yuexing looked around and found no signs of anything happening.
"If Frandelica is an enemy, then the important thing is when she will cause trouble. Since we heard that she showed up in the village yesterday, it is unlikely that she will suddenly do something after we set off..."
"Barrus"
"Whether you want to attack head-on or run away, the options are also very important. This time Ram is coming... If you face Elsa, the best answer is to tuck your tail and run away just to be on the safe side. In this way, you will always
Bicui Zi, who has objections to the evacuation, has become an obstacle..."
"Barrus"
"What are you doing? I'm thinking hard right now, do you understand? If you don't think carefully enough here, it will be very miserable, so I will have more monologues, so you can kindly pretend you didn't hear..."
"——But if you want to think, wouldn't it be better to do it inside the mansion?"
Looking back at Ram who was pulling up his sleeves, Subaru tried to tell him the importance of careful consideration, but a cute giggle came into his ears, and Subaru looked towards the door in surprise.
As a result, I saw a smiling girl wearing a maid uniform standing on the other side of the closed iron door. Her reddish brown hair was tied with a big bow, and her pitiful smile was like an angel appearing.
The appearance of the girl made Subaru stunned——
"Petra...is that you?"
"Welcome back, Master Subaru, you are back earlier than I thought."
"Oh, yes, I'm back...that, is, ah, nice to see you"
Standing in front of the surprised Subaru, the girl - Petra held her skirt and bowed respectfully, staring at her. After confirming that the girl was okay, Subaru let out a big breath.
"——?"
Subaru's behavior made Petra tilt her head curiously, and then she said "Ah" again. She turned her back to Subaru in a panic, arranging her clothes and hair with her hands, and then shouted: "Okay!" and then turned around again.
body, showing off her lovely smile again
"Excuse me, what's wrong, Subaru-sama?"
"Uh~~! Ah~ that's enough! Really, you are! So cute——!"
"Wow, wow!?"
Subaru impulsively hugged the lovely Petra and stroked her head. The complex gesture of being unceremonious and loving made Petra open her eyes and say in confusion:
"What, what's wrong!? Subaru, Subaru... I hate it, it's so embarrassing...!"
"Damn it, you don't understand other people's feelings... It's really disgusting...!"
"……Pleiades?"
The blushing and shy girl frowned, feeling confused. Petra continued to stay on Subaru's chest, looking at him worriedly as he lowered his voice.
"Does it hurt somewhere...?"
The restless girl touched the trembling Subaru's cheek with her fingertips. Subaru gently covered her tiny fingers with his palm, shook his head and said, "No."
Inhale through your nose, then hold it in, and then slowly look at the girl
"I just feel relieved from the bottom of my heart - I'm back, Petra"
…
"——To be honest, this situation is really unpleasant."
"This is the second time I heard this today."
"Yes, this is called sarcasm. It was left aside and completely forgotten. Ram's cute sarcasm was at a loss."
He was ridiculed word by word by Ram after he reunited with Petra.
Subaru, who was deeply moved by the fact that the girl was safe, forgot about Ram's existence. Although she remained silent during this period, she was actually silently angry.
"Now you have seen it, the real accuser of a perverted young girl is here -" Yuexing said with a laugh.
"Dirty" Ram snorted coldly, looking at Subaru with infinite contempt in his eyes.
"It's obscene for such a young child to think of you over there!!"
Ram, who was holding his elbow and blowing air from his nose, made Subaru collapse, but Petra, who was watching the interaction between the three of them, approached Ram tremblingly.
Shaking the big bow on her head, with a slightly nervous face——
"Um, Sister Ram, this is the first time I have spoken to you properly like this... I am the new maid, and I want to serve Petra in the mansion, please give me your advice."
"Oh? Aren't you going to call me Ram Chi today?"
Ram, who raised his eyebrows, teased her with the nickname he had been given by a child in the village two months ago. Petra blushed and hesitated shyly.
"Then, at that time I... I was just a child, but it will be different in the future. Please look at me now."
"...Unlike Barus, the distinction is quite clear. Well, I think you are qualified."
"Who are you?"
"By the way, Barrus is not qualified. He can't even cross the threshold of the mansion."
"There's no point in me coming back!"
Subaru and Ram bickered as usual, and Petra's nervous expression naturally relaxed.
"Well, Petra, was there anything different while we were away?"
"Hmm~ No, Yuexing-sama... But where are Emilia-sama and my noisy brother? Didn't he come back with you?"
"Emilia has an important job, and as for Otto... what could Otto be doing?"
“I don’t know and I’m not interested either”
Ram said briefly, but Otto probably usually comes into contact with traveling merchants who take villagers to evacuate in the "sacred area".
"We were hoping that he could stabilize Emilia-chan's mood, but I feel like he won't last long," Subaru said worriedly.
"Right, that face with very low durability must be damaged immediately."
"I didn't leave him there just to make him a punching bag!?"
After hearing Subaru's answer, Petra seemed to be able to understand it for the time being, so the right to ask questions this time was transferred to Subaru, who repeated the question just now.
"Then, let's do it again. Is there anything strange during our absence? Especially related to Frandelica."
"Sister Frandelica? My sister is very gentle, and she is also very careful when educating me. There is nothing strange at all... At most, she occasionally looks out worriedly."
"Outward?"
"I hate it! I'm just worried about you! You should know this kind of thing after all."
Being scolded for being ignorant, Subaru became depressed.
Petra's words just now show that she has a very good relationship with Frandelika. In her eyes, Frandelika has no suspicious behavior at all. If she continues to ask questions, it will only arouse Petra's disgust.
"Especially the second half is a big problem... If my secret little healing was gone, I would be extremely troubled."
"Ignoring Barrus's stupid words, where is Petra Frandelica now?"
"Sister Frandelica went out to check the forest barrier. She said that it is our duty to prevent the barrier from being compromised before the people in the village come back. She should be back soon."
"Really, should I say the timing is just right or not... Now, what should we do?"
After learning that Frandelika was not there, Ram asked. In a few words, Ram had embedded the options of "Retreat? Attack?"
At least, if Petra is allowed to take refuge in Alam Village at this stage, Petra will not be implicated even if Frandelica uses strong methods.
"——I want to see how the other party will move, so... Yuexing has something to tell you, it's about Rem..."
"——Rem?"
Ram's confused gaze turned to Yuexing, who nodded.
"Petra"
"Um...yes, please go this way"
Hearing the call, the keen Petra leads the way
The destination was on the second floor of the east building, the personal room that Rem used to use. Walking in the room, you could see Frandelica and Petra working carefully. It didn't take long for the three of them to arrive at the door of the destination room.
"Then, I will continue to clean the west building. If you need anything, please call me."
Not wanting to be thought of as ignorant, Petra bowed and left. Watching the capable novice maid leave, Subaru shrugged at Ram who was staring at the door.
"So, this matter is a bit difficult to accept now..."
Slowly holding the doorknob with his hand, the door opened with a sound and opened to the outside. Ram was stunned on the spot.
Then, in the open room——
"————"
On a clean and tidy bed, there lies a blue-haired girl sleeping quietly.
This scene was just like the last thing I saw in my memory. It was as if time in the room had stood still. Only the slight rise and fall of her chest and the faint sound of breathing were small evidences that her life was still going on.
"Sit down, let me tell you this girl's story..."
…
——What I want to say is Rem’s existence and relationship with her
After all, there is no end to this, but they are sisters. Why would she forget her sister who is like her other half? Everything that needs to be said has been said.
Even Ram couldn't calm down when he reunited with his forgotten sister. Her cheeks were stiff and her light red eyes were full of melancholy.
"Hong Yuexing..."
"Is there anything you want to say?"
"Can we be alone for a moment?"
"--Um"
Not an order or an affirmation, but a heartfelt request from Ram
Yuexing nodded in response, took one last look at Rem's sleeping face, and quietly left the sisters behind.
Then he turned around, leaned his back against the door and sighed deeply
"...At least it's explained clearly."
Even if there is a situation where the spell cannot be sensed in the future, at least someone will protect "Rem"
What we have to do now is to go downstairs to find Frandelica.
"——It's so early to come back, Lord Yuexing."
"...Well, you have worked hard during this period."
"This is a maid's job, but she is very attentive."
After saying that, the woman - Frandelica covered her sharp teeth with her hands and smiled gently.