Chapter 60 - 060: Barrier

"Comin' so boldly face-to-face, pretty brave'f ya, outsider."

Says someone, spoken as if they're spitting it at them, with not a speck of goodwill present. With that single line alone, it's enough to get a grasp of the personality of who said it. And the appearance of the person standing in front of Arthur and the unconsciousness Emilia.

They are in the sanctuary boundary where there is a barrier created by Echidna that prevents halves from going through it. Any halves that come close to it start to lose consciousness and feel as if their existence is being disturbed. Even if someone takes an unconscious half that has crossed the barrier, they will never awake outside the barrier as their spirit is trapped within it. The barrier checks the blood of those that go near it and only affects those it clearly determines as halves. It also causes those who are not permitted to enter the Sanctuary to get lost.

And because of the barrier, he can't use hiraishin no jutsu to teleport there so they going there use a carriage drive by Baal. And now Emilia is unconsciousness because of the barrier so Arthur takes her out of the carriage and want to carry her on his hands when there is someone blocking his way.

"Let me go inside first, Emilia needs to go inside to feel better"

"Hmm? yer luck's not good. Since right here where you tried sneakin' in, you would up runnin' into the amazin' me."

He gives a ferocious smile, his fangs clicking together. His fists fill with further power and he takes a low combat stance.

"Yer run outta luck, showin' up in front of the amazin' Garfiel. Yer wound up bein' a BANZOMANZO SWEPT LEFT N' RIGHT!"

With that ȧssertive but uninformative phrase, the punk stomps the ground. The next instant, a great impact comes rushing at Arthur direction but he dismisses it easily with just waving his hand, but that's not the end because after that a larger shockwave with a great impact come rushing to the punk and send him flying.

"Don't be arrogant, Brat. Bring me to where the clown is resting"

"hold on. That girl yer holdin'... 's the silver-haired... half-witch? Argh!"

When the last sentence left his mouth there is a piercing pain on his shoulder, what he sees is a knife log in at his shoulder make the blood flowing and pain spread through his body.

"One more, said something like that one more time, so I can claim your life right now"

Lately, Arthur more easy to angry when people make rude comments at Emilia.

"Her condition don't look any good, but it ain't anythin' life-threatenin'. 'Said, if you don't wanna see her lookin' in any more pain, get away from here on the double. I'll guide you 'sfar as the village."

The punk didn't dare to make more rude comments and offer his help, he didn't stupid enough for didn't realize the difference in their battle power.

"Thinkin' back, I didn't introduce myself. My amazin' self is called Garfiel... eh, just Garfiel's fine. I'm the strongest man there is. Nice to meet ya."

"You sure talk big, my name is Arthur Spencer, you can call me Arthur"

After they near the village Arthur make the knife disappear.

"I will not say I feel sorry about the wound because you deserve it, just make sure you mustn't say rude things to Emilia from now on"

"I know, I can pay it back when I was stronger than you. Think it's 'bout time Sleepin' Beauty got up. We're plenty far from the barrier."

Arthur notices Emilia fidgeting on his hand. Her eyes open dimly and she absent-mindedly looks around, her consciousness still not fully awoken, and fixes her gaze on Arthur.

"Arthur..."

"Emi, Does anything feel weird? or does your head hurt or anything?" Arthur help her standing and fix her hair gently

"Uhh, no? I don't feel anything strange, but... are you fine Arthur?"

"I'm fine, it's good if there is nothing wrong with you. Let me introduce you, this brat over there is Garfiel, he is Frederica brother"

"Oh, it's been a long time I didn't see her, is your sister doing well?"

"Ah, well, yes"

Garfiel didn't know how he must answer because he didn't want to say something wrong, this is already his nature to said a lot of arrogant words.

"We're gonna be reachin' the village soon."

The forest opens up, and now they can finally see their destination.

"Most gracious welcome, dear Emilia-sama, and entourage."

His tone is far more scornful than respectful. He spreads his arms open wide as Emilia and Arthur stare at him.

"To the place, Roswaal so fancifully calls a fuċkɨnġ SANCTUARY—the decrepit ruins of a deadlocked test site, where a gathering of idiots live out their days."

Garfiel puts his hand to his mouth and smiles as if to obfuscate his hideously complex feelings.

"Us residents call it the witch of Greed's cemetery, though. Ain't nothin' to laugh 'bout, ehh, oi."

He laughs as if mocking himself. Quiet, low, like a curse, like a blessing, his laugh echoes through the forest.

Arthur sees wooden houses spotted around in the distance, and the place has nothing in particular that grabs the attention—it just looks like some needy village from this distance. The old, stone gates at Sanctuary's entrance only reinforce that impression, and the short fence around the village gives the place a closed-off vibe.

"What would 'Witch of Greed's Cemetery' mean, exactly?"

Her expression's resolute, but her fingers catch on the hem of Arthur's clothing. Arthur feels the Emilia emotional state is not stable and hold her hand tightly and put another hand on her shoulder.

"In this era, witch—it's common knowledge that the being called the witch is the Witch of Envy. The existence of other witches for the other deadly sins is practically unknown to the masses. But their existence is real. The white whale, the great rabbit, the black serpent is a creature created by the witch of gluttony, Daphne"

"What yer sayin' ain't wrong, Emilia-sama. Yeah, think Arthur know it more. The Witch of Envy's too famous n' overshadowed the others. 'Most no records're still 'round 'bout the other witches eaten by the Witch of Envy. But well, still get some exceptions."

"And this place would be one of them?"

Emilia's eyes are wide, her knowledge on the witch-cult is worse than Arthur.

"—You've returned, Garfiel. You certainly didn't take your time."

Garfiel: "Didn't hafta make around through the forest. Not often I see you away from Roswaal, huh. Finally sick'a it?"

Ram: "Were such a thing to be the truth, this place would surely be little more than burned-out ashes, set aflame by my desperate hands. Express your thanks to Roswaal-sama that no such thing has happened."

"'S incredible logic, I don't get it at all!"

It's Ram. Garfiel's smiling happily at her, but Ram's expression toward him is cold and not particularly full of emotion.

"And, what is with that wound?"

"Ahh, it to make me try to be stronger than now"

"I see, so you awaken your mȧsȯċhɨsts' tendencies. Welcome Emilia-sama, Arthur-sama. Roswaal-sama is waiting, please follow me" but before she walk Ram look at Garfiel "Garfiel you escort the driver to somewhere appropriate" in the distance, there is Baal driving the carriage.

Garfiel complains about being turned into the errand boy and that there are ways of asking for things that actually make people motivated to do them.

"If you would like to eat my homemade cooking, endure it. Although I have nothing to say if you would rather squander this exclusive chance through your own actions and verbal errs."

"Fine! Fine! You ain't a comprehensible lady, but that's a good thing. Oi, driver guy. Park the dragons n' the carriage at the end their n' follow me"

Baal didn't make a comment, it's not like he didn't want to confront Garfiel, but there is no need for him to interfere with Arthur protecting Emilia. If there is an enemy that Arthur can't defeat then there is nothing he can do except for stalling time for them to flee.

"Heeellooo, Emilia-sama, Arthur. It feels as though it's been quiiiiite some time

since we've last seen each other, hmmm?"