Volume 4, 15 [Qualifications And Trials]

Volume 4, Chapter 15 [Qualifications And Trials]

――On the morning of the next day, trodding on grass still adorned by the morning’s dew, Subaru was looking up toward the entrance of the ruins he had visited the day before.

Yesterday, having been restricted by time, he didn’t get a chance to take a good look at the exteriors. But looking at it now, it all actually seemed to have been surprisingly well maintained.

Although the callously sprawling ivy had spread to cover the entire exterior of the entrance, the plants surrounding the Tomb have been neatly attended to, and he could discern on the Tomb itself signs of restorations of broken walls that had deteriorated over the ages.

[Subaru: Not really sure what kind of relationship those guys here have with the Tomb]Visitt novelbin(.)co/m for the latest updates

Touching his hand to the walls that were showing strange colors under the light of the Sun, Subaru mumbled this under his breath.

He thought back to the conversation with Garfiel and Lewes in the previous night inside the room in which Roswaal was confined. They all wanted Emilia to take the Trials, and hoped, as a result, she would be able to liberate them from their imprisonment within the Sanctuary.

[Subaru: Judging from what they said, for Garfiel and the others, the Witch is just something of a nuisance, isn’t it? So why are they maintaining the Tomb like it’s so important to them......]

[Otto: Maybe it’s the opposite. The Tomb is the reason that the people here are all bound to this land, right? So until someone passes the Trials, they mustn’t allow the Tomb to get damaged. Since if demolishing the Tomb would set them free, Garfiel would have already done it a long time ago, wouldn’t he?]

The one who followed up on Subaru’s deductions was Otto, who was wandering behind him, looking all around the Tomb.

Early in the morning, Otto, who had been sleeping inside the dragon carriage just as he declared he would, got woken up and was bullied by Subaru into coming along to the Tomb on a scouting mission. Naturally, Otto grumbled about it at first, but...

[Otto: Then again, it’s rare to get a chance to visit something like the Tomb of the Witch of Greed..... maybe coming along would be worth it after all. There’s no knowing whether we’ll find some treasure belonging to the Witch of Greed along the way. We could make a fortune!]

[Subaru: If you go around announcing that you’re selling some Witch-related stuff, won’t the over-obsessive guys from the Witch Cult come hunt you down? Sorry I woke you up, that was my bad, gees, but don’t go broadcasting it and bring a sea of flames here]

Saying this, trying to save the merchant-souled Otto from himself, Subaru turned back to the Tomb once again. Silence fell all around, and the only sounds remaining, filtering through the trees, were the chirping of insects, and the rustling of leaves caressed by the wind.

A crisp air was flowing through the Sanctuary in the dawn, it was perfect for a morning stroll.

[Otto: Say, we didn’t come out here just to breathe the air and go right back, right? If you wanted to enjoy a stroll in the morning, you’d probably have brought Emilia-sama instead of me]

[Subaru: Surprisingly, Emilia-tan’s no-good in the mornings. Even though Emilia-tan being groggy after just waking up is dangerously adorable...... it’ll have to wait until everything’s settled down. She’s probably still stressed out after the conversations yesterday, I’ll let her sleep for a little longer]

[Otto: So, you’ve got the men together for your skullduggery while the Princess is asleep. You, sir, are a wicked one]

Sensing Otto gleefully squinting his eyes at him, Subaru only shrugged. But still, Otto’s reading was dead-on. The truth is, it was in order to do something he wouldn’t want Emilia to see, that Subaru came to the Tomb.

[Otto: Then, what are we doing? I’m not too confident with my magic abilities, but if it’s using Wind and Water magic to stifle the sound of footsteps or to suddenly hide myself in a flash...... ah, and I can also transfer my footsteps to a completely different location]

[Subaru: Your magic, sounds like it’s incredibly useful for cat burglars, doesn’t it?]

[Otto: Well, people usually take it the wrong way. But I wouldn’t use it for stealing. I have no qualms about using it to listen-in on conversations, though]

Seeing Otto bragging this with eyes narrowed and his white teeth all showing, Subaru sighed.

Then, lifting up a finger in front of the high-spirited Otto, Subaru pointed it toward the Tomb.

[Subaru: I want to take a look inside the Tomb for a bit. If my predictions are correct, the lights inside the Tomb will send me blessings for my future endeavors. If I’m wrong, then I’ll probably keel over and won’t get up, in that case, if you’ll be so good as to pull me out...]

[Otto: What kind of person would just say “Alright, I got it” after listening to that explanation!? Keeling over and won’t get up, what’s that supposed to mean, please stop right there, I’m getting scared now!]

In reaction to Subaru’s super-important announcement, Otto started wailing. But hearing Otto’s complaint, Subaru looked over as if watching an unreasonable child, and,

[Subaru: Listen up, this is the Tomb of the Witch of Greed. Simply put, if you set one foot inside the place without the Witch’s permission your consciousness will be snatched right out with its roots. I got done-in like that yesterday. So this place is dangerous, don’t you be going in there]

[Otto: If it didn’t work out yesterday, Natsuki-san shouldn’t be going in either, right? If you know you’re going to keel over why do you still want to go in, it’ll only make a mess of things, let’s not do that. Besides, if it really ends up that way how will I get Natsuki-san out?]

[Subaru: Always questions, questions, coming out one after another...... If you keep believing there will be an answer to everything, you’ll be getting into a spoiled mentality, you know]

[Otto: Please stop trying to gloss things over with sophistries just because it’s too bothersome to explain!]

Having been completely seen through, Subaru smacked his tongue and scowled. Seeing how in the short time they’ve known each other Otto has already grasped all the tricks in dealing with him, Subaru shook his head dejectedly,

[Subaru: Here, I borrowed some rope from the dragon carriage. I’ll tie this around my waist, so if I collapse inside, you can gently, calmly, lovingly pull me out]

[Otto: No matter how gently, calmly, lovingly I pull you, you’ll still be getting mud and cuts all over I think]

[Subaru: Well I can’t be picky considering the circumstances. Just think of it as repaying a favor]

[Otto: You’re the one who owes me a favor, right!?]

While Otto was raising his objection and putting on his grumbling-face, Subaru had already tied the rope around his own waist and handed him the other end. Unwillingly accepting it, Otto carefully inspected the loop around Subaru’s waist, and yanked on it just to be sure it was safe.

However much he might be complaining, he was still a conscientious person.

[Subaru: Despite being a merchant, you seem really easy to fool...... is it really alright for a guy like you to be doing business?]

[Otto: You know, you seem to have completely forgotten how I’m literally holding your life in my hands right now]

As Subaru looked at him with a motherly gaze, Otto squinted his eyes, tugged on the rope and grumbled.

With a wry smile, Subaru gave him a slight bow on the spot, and in the same breath he turned round about, toward the entrance of the Tomb.

A foul, earthy air was quietly flowing from the Tomb. The morning light of the sun, like the twilight of yesterday’s, lit only several meters into the entrance before vanishing entirely. The other end of the tunnel was shrouded in absolute dark, and nothing seemed to have changed from the path that had collapsed the moment he set his foot inside.

[Subaru: Well, it wouldn’t actually collapse anyway, I’d just go splat on the first step, so that’d actually make it easier to pull me out, I guess]

[Otto: Natsuki-san, you can go in whenever you’re ready, just give me a signal when you’re going in]

[Subaru: Alright, I’m going in!]

Subaru had no hesitations in making that decision.

In the worst case, he’d faint and get called by the Witch to another tea party. Although he wasn’t especially looking forward to getting his arm ripped off, punched into healing, and drinking body fluids again――

[Subaru: But compared to all the brink-of-life-and-death stuff so far, it’s not all that baaaa――d!]

Declaring this, Subaru nimbly jumped-off into the entrance of the Tomb.

The threshold――or whatever that might be called, crossing over that boundary between the sunlight and the shadow of the Tomb, Subaru gingerly opened his eyes.

Whereas yesterday, his first step had been met instantly by the torment of that weightless sensation――

[Subaru: The ground is solid. I didn’t fall in]

It’s an improvement from yesterday, and while it was subtle, it was nonetheless a reassuring change. Taking a deep breath, he took another step. And with his second step into the Tomb, Subaru’s body was completely swallowed by the shadows of the ruins.

To Otto, waiting outside, Subaru’s figure must have become obscured or perhaps even lost to sight altogether.

[Otto: Natsuki-san, are you alright? If you’re going to faint, please give me a signal like “I’m gonna faint!” while you’re fainting]

[Subaru: That’s a bit difficult isn’t it... And I wouldn’t want to admit it if I’m going to faint, I’d probably shout something like “I don’t wanna faint!”]

[Otto: What’s with the unnecessary pride in a situation like this!]

Along with their usual exchange, they took some small comfort in confirming each other’s positions through their voices. And, reassured by that sense of relief, Subaru took a third step, and then a fourth.

[Otto: ――Oh]

[Subaru: Ah.......]

The next moment, the scene spread out at once in front of Subaru’s eyes.

Rather, in an instant, the shadow was banished from the ruins, and its interiors bared itself for the intruder’s eyes to see.

Upon the walls on both sides of the corridor, at about the height of Subaru’s shoulders, lined up in equal and even intervals, the lamps lit up, and with faint, swerving luminescence, lighted the path.

It was a corridor constructed of the same material as the exterior walls, about the width of Subaru’s outstretched arms, or two people walking side by side. The height was such that he might bump his head if he jumped. Or, if that giant balding old man was here, there would probably be sparks flying from his scalp scraping against the ceiling as he walked if he doesn’t bend down.

[Otto: ......There’s light coming from inside. Is that some kind of condition being met?]

[Subaru: This is a welcoming for someone who’s qualified to take the Trials of the night, or so they say...... I thought in the worst case I might’ve been just spacing out and daydreaming all of this]

Once again trying to make sure that what he saw was real, Subaru held up his palms and stared at them. Then, touching himself on the forehead, Subaru recalled the sensation of the touch he had received from her fingertip within the dream.

[Subaru: Looks like I’ve received your souvenir from the tea party all well and good. Even though you pretty much charged me a price for it without my permission... I wasn’t planning on telling anyone for the time being anyway]

[Otto: Hey I can see inside as well, so then what’ll happen if I come in with you? Can we pillage the Witch of Greed’s Tomb now?]

[Subaru: All I know is that there’s an evil wizard whose whole body got split open when he tried to go in and he’s still recovering from his wounds. What’ll happen to you though, I’m too not sure]

[Otto: Isn’t that incredibly scary!?]

Listening to Otto getting frightened behind him, Subaru confirmed once more that he had achieved his objective. Although he should be able to venture deeper inside like this, there was a chance that Otto might want to follow in behind him, so Subaru had to abandon that idea for now.

Either way, all that Subaru wanted to do was to confirm that he was qualified for the Trials, and to verify that the words Echidona said to him within the dream could be believed.

In any case, if he could step into the Tomb, then the knowledge and conditions Echidona had given him, along with the payment she extracted, must all have been real. And the same, then, would go for all those Witches that Subaru had met inside that daydream.

[Subaru: If that’s true, then 400 years ago, those “GOING-MY-WAY” Witches would’ve been going HYA-HA all over the place, wouldn’t they. What must that have been like, at the end of that century...... good thing I got transported into this Age, I guess]

Just the thought of an age wrought by chaos by the Witches of Sin and the Witch of Envy, makes the present Age seem pretty reasonable in comparison. Although the atrocities of the Sin Archbishops would offset this somewhat.

Because, compared to himself, how pure and noble Emilia is.

[Subaru: E?M?K !(Emilia?Major?Knighto)! It’s too much!]

[Emilia: Oh, it’s been awhile since I heard Subaru say that]

Starting with a small giggle, Emilia’s expression broke down as she heard Subaru’s old catchphrase. Seeing her smile, Subaru decided that the joke was still worth keeping around after all, and nodded,

[Subaru: Anyway, I don’t know what kind of things are in there, but if you sense any kind of danger just cry out. If you call my name, I will fly right over to your side]

[Emilia: If you come in, won’t you go PA-TAN right away?]

[Subaru: It’s been awhile since I heard someone call it going PA-TAN......](*Pa-Tan is the sound of falling over)

Seeing Emilia pouting up her lips, just as Subaru started objecting and scratching his face, [But], Emilia continued,

[Emilia: Thank you for worrying about me. Puck still hasn’t shown his face at all, so I am reeeaally getting worried. And I feel like I’m completely relying on Subaru now]

[Subaru: Then you can rest your ultra-dummy weight against me, you know. Emilia-tan is light as a feather, and if I don’t touch you from time to time to make sure you’re still there I’ll get really worried]

[Emilia: But somehow I get the feeling that wiggly thing you’re doing with your fingers is really gross]

Seeing Subaru endlessly wiggling his fingers, Emilia smiled wryly. And, with her nervousness unraveling, she did a little stretch that made herself seem a little taller.

[Emilia: Somehow, I feel like my shoulders have gotten a little lighter. Ever since the first time we met, that was what Subaru had been aiming for, wasn’t it?]

[Subaru: If I had that kind of first-rate THERAPEUTIC abilities, I wouldn’t be the kind of lonely boy who spends his time learning origami to such mastery as to be able to make “Rindougurumas”]

He took a certain pride in having reached the extremes of that art that flows out of ones fingertips. Although, there was really no one he could show it to other than his parents.

Listening to Subaru’s drab remarks about his past, Emilia adorably tilted her head a little to show her non-understanding. But seeing her alright now, and so completely cute, Subaru crossed his arms and nodded.

And with that expression of not-understanding still on her face, Emilia turned toward the Tomb.

[Emilia: ――This time, I’m really going. So pray for my safe return]

[Subaru: I’ll be praying until the Buddha’s ears bleed]

Sending her off with these words, he watched Emilia’s back vanishing into the Tomb. Then, beginning from the entrance, one by one the lights lit up, just as it did for Subaru when he entered in the morning.

And just like this, Emilia’s footsteps trailed on, into the depths of the Tomb. It seemed that the Trials would be taking place deep within that corridor. Even further than what Subaru could have seen in the morning when he strained his eyes trying to see the end.

[Lewes: Worry’s written all over your face, kiddo]

Then, walking up beside Subaru, who had worry all over his eyes, it was a little girl――or the full grown adult living inside what looked like one: Lewes, who called out to him. Unbefitting of her cute and childish features, what was adorning her face was a somehow aged and ancient smile,

[Lewes: It’ll be alright, there’s no need to worry. The Trials, or whatever exaggerated name you call it, is not life-threatening or anything]

[Subaru: You know about the contents of the Trials, then?]

[Lewes: I have taken part in it myself. Being half-blood and qualified, it was only natural. Although in the end, I did not pass...... see, I’m still well and kicking about]

Lewes did a little hop on the spot to show that she was still healthy. And seeing her trying to use that almost adorable gesture to wipe away his anxiety, from deep within his heart, Subaru appreciated her consideration, and,

[Subaru: Then, is that how you got to become a Loli on the outside and an acceleratedly-aged Granny on the inside? If Emilia-tan becomes loli Emilia-tan it’ll be really cute too, but would Emilia-tan really like that?]

[Lewes: I must have been stupid to have taken you seriously enough to not expect a reply like that. You know, Su-bo, you’re just like Gar-bo, and don’t know how to respect your elders at all]

[Subaru: What gave you that idea? Actually, I feel much better now. I made you worried about me there, sorry about that]

Seeing Subaru lowering his head, Lewes sighed shaking her head [Why didn’t you just say that in the first place], and pretended to wipe away non-existent tears with her long, wrist-less sleeves.

Waiting, and watching all this from the side, Garfiel crossed his arms with a grossed-out expression, then quietly turned, to gaze at the Tomb. Surprisingly, Otto and Ram seem to have struck up a conversation about something, and seem to have established a certain degree of friendly understanding.

For Subaru, who had very little experience in friendly conversation with Ram, witnessing this sight was actually an extremely big deal.

“I’ll need to do something about this. I better ask Otto to teach me the specific techniques of talking to Ram without setting her off.” Subaru quietly swore to himself in his heart, before turning his attention to the Tomb once again.

Without realizing it, he had found himself with his hands in front of his waist, rubbing his thumb against each other as if he was praying.

It was painful, not to be able to do anything but wait. Compared to being left behind and waiting like this, it would have been easier if he just took the Trial himself.

But just as this conceited notion flashed across his mind, along with it, a change came about before him.

[――――!]

Seeing this change, in the same moment everyone present gasped.

Repeatedly blinking, like a conditioned response adjusting to the darkness after losing the only source light, in any case,

[Subaru: The Tomb’s lights went out!?]

[Lewes: While the Trials are still ongoing the lights should stay on......]

[Subaru: You mean they’re not supposed to go out!?]

Looking toward Lewes who was supposed to know everything, even her wise little eyes seemed confused at this. It was more than enough to tell him that the situation wasn’t within their expectations.

Whether it was Garfiel, unfolding his arms and running over, Ram, who was furrowing her brows, or the panicking Otto, it seemed no one had any advice to offer.

In that case,

[Lewes: Su-bo!? You don’t have the Qualification, it won’t let you in......]

[Subaru: I’ve been paying good attention to the lectures, so I got the Qualifications too, you know. ――Now let me have look inside. No matter how Emilia-tan is, I’ll pull her out!]

He will not stand by and wait.

The same moment when Subaru fearlessly stepped into the entrance, the lights of the corridor lit up once more just like when Emilia had entered.

Sensing Lewes and Garfiel gasping behind him, before they could say anything to stop him, Subaru had already dashed into the Tomb.

The corridor was still filled with dust, and a single breath was enough to bring discomfort to the lungs.

His echoing footsteps striking loudly upon the floor, Subaru charged into the depth of the corridor―― into the depths of the Tomb.

[Subaru: Damnit, I messed up. Why did I keep myself back like some trump card until something went wrong, I should have just went in together with Emilia.....aaaaaaAA]

With regret pouring out of his lips, Subaru ran.

Then, suddenly, as he saw the light reaching the end of the corridor, he had arrived inside a small room.

Sliding to halt his steps, Subaru looked around the little chamber. While it could be called a room, it was more like a grotesque rectangular space with four corners carved out. Without any furnishing, there was only a single door adorned by cyan-white lamps.

――And, on the floor in front of that door, was a silver haired girl lying there.

[Subaru: ――Emilia!!]

Crying out, Subaru dashed over to her fallen body.

Holding up her delicate form in his arms, no matter what, he will take her out of here――

{――First, you must face your past}

The next moment, a sensation of something whispering beside his ear struck his consciousness.

What could that voice be, there was no time for that thought.

Falling on his knees, unable to move, Subaru’s body collapsed like a doll. Rolling onto the floor from the momentum, he sprawled out upon the ground at Emilia’s side.

Then, lying beside the unconscious Emilia, Subaru’s consciousness too, was dragged into oblivion――.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

――Beginning to wake from his slumber, Subaru sucked in the breath as if sticking his head out of the surface of the water. It was that sensation of emerging out of an ocean of sleep, yearning for reality like a body yearning for air――

[???: GUMMMMMOOOOOーーーーーーNINGU, SON!!]

[Subaru: WaaAAHMMURABI HO-TEN!!] (*”Code of Hammurabi” >_<)

This poetic morning greeting struck him with an all-destructive impact.

Tasting the pain of a weight pressing down on him and squeezing all the air out of his gut, Subaru’s just-woken-up body jumped itself out of bed along with all of that weight, before descending into a vicious bout of coughing.

[???: Oyoyoy, what’s this what’s this. It’s only the usual DIVING-PRESS-of-love to wake you up. Your carelessness is BURNING this time!]

[Subaru: Gahk, ehk, what did you expect...... from a sleeping opponent......come on]

What on earth has happened, he lifted up his face with tears in his eyes. And there, the person standing in front of Subaru’s half-stuck out body turned around his head,

[Dad: What’s that now. You look like you’ve just seen your middle-aged dad fully-naked first thing in the morning, you!]

That man, saying this while striking out a POSE, was Subaru’s middle-aged father half-naked in the morning――Natsuki Kenichi, heartily laughing, blessing his son out of his slumber.

-=Chapter 15 End=-