Volume 4, 32 [1/4]

Volume 4, Chapter 32 [1/4]

Tilting the steaming teacup to his lips and taking a sip, Subaru opened his ears to Frederica’s words.

[Frederica: The Demihuman War―― To begin with, would Subaru-sama know what kind of dispute this was?]

[Subaru: Like I said, I don’t know the details. Just...... I can kinda imagine what might’ve happened just from the name and the historical background]

[Frederica: My, that’s interesting. May I ask what you imagined it to be?]

Hearing this reply from Subaru, Frederica covered the corner of her lips and smiled.

Covering her mouthful of fangs while smiling seemed to be a deeply ingrained habit of her’s, and Subaru often saw her this way.

It would seem that although she loved to smile, she didn’t want others to see it.

Closing his eyes and scratching at his cheeks, with [Right], Subaru began,

[Subaru: I don’t know how long ago that war took place, but I can imagine it couldn’t have had nothing to do with the Witch of Envy. I’ve seen how Emilia was treated like a tumor in the Capital, and I know that Half-Elves are despised by all sorts of people]

Recorded even in picture-books, the Witch of Envy was universally known as the unparalleled symbol of absolute evil. Being a silver-haired Half-Elf, for having only this one point in common with the Witch, Emilia was treated with this unjust prejudice. So, in the wake of the Witch of Envy―― Subaru could imagine the kind of conflict that might have arisen from even the most insignificant details.

[Subaru: A Half-Elf, would be a child between a Human and an Elf, right? Carrying on from their hatred of Half-Elves...... it’s not too far-fetched that some would believe that Half-Bloods born between humans and other races are also heresy deserving of persecution]

[Frederica: ......Please, do go on]

[Subaru: I’m just pulling this from imagination, but since the persecution of Half-Elves led to the persecution of Half-Bloods by association, if we take this to the extreme, the very existence of the Demihumans who begot the Half-Bloods would also be a threat as well...... that’s probably what some of those guys are thinking]

To the extent of Subaru’s knowledge, the humans are by far the most numerous race in this world. He knew of the existence of Elves, and Beastmen like Anastasia’s triplets, but just based on his observations over the days he spent at the Capital, the absolute number of Demihumans were indeed far fewer than the humans.

And so, solely owing to their majority, they came to believe that they had justice on their side.

[Subaru: I doubt absolutely everyone would’ve taken up this way of thinking, but the loud and obnoxious types are probably the same anywhere. So, compared to hatred of Demihumans...... it’s probably closer to fear, isn’t it. And when that frustration eventually boils over...]

[Frederica: The tension between Humans and Demihumans erupted. The smoldering kindling caught fire, and with ever-gathering momentum, its flames engulfed the whole of Lugnica]

Spilling this in a melancholic voice, Frederica continued on from Subaru’s words.

Closing one of his eyes, Subaru gazed at her downcast expression. And Frederica, with a single nod, turned up her face.

[Frederica: There is almost no need to supplement your conjectures, nor are there any grounds for dispute. ......Have you truly never heard any detailed accounts of the war?]

[Subaru: Nah. If that was essentially correct, it’s just thanks to my power of imagination. Or reading experience...... this kind of stuff shows up in light novels a lot, you know, antagonism between races and stuff]

Although, of course, Subaru never actually paid much mind to these problems in reality.

Even in his Original World, so-called racial discrimination existed. But, to Subaru, they might as well have been taking place a world away. Like problems existing in some Parallel World.

He was himself, and the others were others, he had held this coldly apathetic outlook. And while this was true in a way, in reality, he was only averting his eyes.

[Subaru: It’s just, even if I can imagine how things got the way they are, I’d still have no idea how to fix it. But since you’re saying this in the past-tense, at least that means the Demihuman War had already run its course, right?]

[Frederica: In a sense, yes. But the scars of the war run deep, and the sprouts of prejudice against the offsprings between Humans and Demihumans remain deeply rooted even now]

Perhaps because she herself was born as a target of such prejudice, Frederica’s words carried a certain heaviness that could not have been understood by someone merely listening from the outside.

Subaru wanted to ask what happened next, but hesitated before he could throw these words at her. And, sensing this on his mind, Frederica sighed,

[Frederica: My apologies for making you worried. Let us continue the story]

[Subaru: I kinda wanna say “don’t force yourself”, but these things directly tie into what I need to ask so I can’t really say that. So, do force yourself, please]

[Frederica: My my. You certainly are adept at spurring people on, Subaru-sama]

Favorably interpreting Subaru’s rather selfish remark, Frederica lifted her own cup and let a sip roll over her tongue,

[Frederica: The Demihuman War began approximately fifty years ago. From there, it went on for nearly ten years...... and it was recorded to have concluded forty years ago]

[Subaru: Ten years...... that’s a long time. Although, back home, I think we’ve got a Hundred Years’ War and a Thirty Years’ War or something in our history as well]

Subaru wasn’t so well read when it came to historical novels, so his knowledge of these events didn’t go past glancing over their names in textbooks. But, with names like that, he could more or less guess how long those wars lasted at least.

Thirty years, and a hundred years. It’s a frightening thought, how anyone could hate another person enough to carry on a war for so long.

Even Subaru had only spent about two months in the Parallel world.

[Subaru: That’s just way too exhausting, who can keep on playing Bokosuka Wars for more than ten years?]

[Frederica: Regardless, the war first originated from a dispute between the humans and a Demihuman settlement. Originally, it would only have been a local dispute contained within a small area...... but because of the incident that followed, in a single stroke, the heat of war flared up. And the horrific conflict, in which blood upon blood washed over every corner of the land, began]

[Subaru: The incident that followed?]

[Frederica: Not long after conflict first broke out, the King of Lugnica at the time saw the seriousness of the situation and dispatched his close attendant as an envoy for peace. On the Demihuman side, the chiefs of various races gathered to welcome the envoy and to negotiate for a resolution, but......]

[Subaru: Even though your mother left like this, Garfiel is still using her surname, while you’re using your father’s. Why is that?]

[Frederica: Because there were no records of her left behind, our memories of our mother were told to us by others...... and in these unreliable circumstances, I took my father’s surname. As for the reason why my little brother took our mother’s surname...... it was because that child didn’t know about our mother. As much as he pretends to be meaner than he is, he is stubbornly sentimental at heart]

[Subaru: Stubbornly sentimental......]

Reviewing his impression of Garfiel in his mind, that description would explain many things.

Although he would be quicker to take action than to think things through, and despite being foul-mouthed and rude, Garfiel was nonetheless sensible and understanding. He considered himself dumb, but he was not entirely unthoughtful, nor would he act completely without reason. Everything about him was reminiscent of a juvenile-delinquent punk from the good old days.

In terms of sensibilities alone, Subaru couldn’t deny that Garfiel was upstanding and noble-minded in his own way.

[Frederica: Subaru-sama. ――Would you happen to know how the Sanctuary’s Barrier distinguishes its targets?]

While Subaru occupied his mind with such thoughts, Frederica threw him this rather abrupt question.

Unable to understand the meaning behind it, Subaru was a little slow to react. He looked back at Frederica without much confidence, and with [Umm],

[Subaru: Honestly, no. While there’s no doubt the Barrier certainly exists, I can’t feel it at all. It’s probably using some kind of magic to check everyone that passes, I guess......]

[Frederica: The Barrier does so by verifying the blood inside the veins of those who passes through. If it can clearly distinguish both Human and Demihuman blood, that person will be repelled. In essence, that is the nature of the Barrier]

[Subaru: ......What are you trying to say?]

Unsure why she was suddenly revealing the Barrier’s conditions to him, Subaru only quietly asked her this in return. Receiving this response, Frederica lightly nodded,

[Frederica: Do you perhaps now understand how I was able to pass through the Barrier and exit the Sanctuary?]

[Subaru: ......I don’t. I feel like I understand even less now after you told me the Barrier’s conditions. On the road back, I saw Lewes-san almost collapse when she came close to the Barrier, so I’m sure the Barrier’s effects are real. And it was the same when we entered the Sanctuary as well]

Right before Garfiel’s dramatic introduction, Emilia had collapsed from passing through the Barrier. Having witnessed its immense power, only a fool would have any doubts about its existence――

[Subaru: ――Huh? How come......]

That moment, a shock flashed across Subaru’s mind.

On the road back home, he was accompanied by Lewes. After saying goodbye to Lewes, as they cleared the forest and passed through the Barrier, he had felt a sense of incongruity.

Now he had the answer to that unease. Subaru had already noticed this when he saw Lewes’ reaction as they came close to the Barrier.

[Subaru: They were the under the same conditions....... but how come when he was that close to the Barrier, that bastard Garfiel was still fine and kicking around?]

Ambushing them as soon as they passed through the Barrier, Garfiel threw Patrasche and the dragon carriage into the air as if they were nothing.

He certainly didn’t use his full strength that time, but compared to Emilia, who fainted as she passed through the Barrier, and Lewes, who almost collapsed just by going near it, Garfiel’s behavior was completely different.

――It was as though his body wasn’t affected by the Barrier at all.

[Frederica: Owing to his special characteristic, Atavism, at first glance, my brother might appear to have more Demihuman lineage, but in fact, that is not the case. ――The same is true with me]

[Subaru: If detection of blood is the Barrier’s criteria for distinguishing humans from Half-Bloods...... to bypass this criteria, one side of the blood would just have to be too thin to detect?]

[Frederica: Although my brother and I have different fathers, neither of them were pure-blooded Demihumans. Both were Half-Blooded, and combined with our Human mother, we were born having inherited only one ? of Demihuman blood, having been twice diluted this way]

[Subaru: One-quarter...... so that’s why you’re not repulsed by the Barrier]

The Barrier that repels Half-Bloods does not repel Quarter-Bloods. It sounded almost farcical, but his existing suspicions told him that it was the truth.

On the subject of why Frederica was able to cross the Barrier, Lewes had only given the ambiguous explanation that she was an exception. But now, Subaru could understand her answer.

But then, this would give rise to next question,

[Subaru: Wait. Then does that mean Garfiel can also freely exit the Sanctuary? If he wants to, that guy can just come out regardless of whether the Trials are completed?]

If that was true, then it would be surprising and welcome news.

If he could bring him out without the Barrier blocking the way, there would now be a possibility of using his strength to repel Elsa when she attacks the Mansion.

Originally, Subaru had already abandoned his hopes of repulsing Elsa in this loop and was preparing to evacuate everyone from the Mansion, but now――

[Subaru: If that guy can come out, then......]

[Frederica: It’s true, that same as myself, my brother can also venture outside the Sanctuary. When it came time for me to leave the Sanctuary, he was supposed to have come with me, and he had come along as far as the edge of the Barrier. But......]

Cutting off her words there, Frederica looked at Subaru, who seemed to have found some glimmer of hope. But her eyes were filled with an emotion so deep and somber that Subaru felt his hopes cool off at once. Seeing him this way, she went on,

[Frederica: My little brother chose to stay behind. And as long as the Sanctuary is not liberated, I don’t think Garfiel will ever set foot outside it. He is a kind and stubbornly sentimental child]

[Subaru: Sentimental...... you don’t mean...]

Seeing Subaru raise his brows as his thoughts arrived at that point, as if confirming his astonishment, Frederica gave a single nod as she covered the corner of her lips with her sleeve,

[Frederica: That child could not leave the residents of the Sanctuary behind while he ventures out alone. He is neither good, nor bad, only a straightforward...... and troublesome little brother]

-=Chapter 32 End=-