Arc 6 – 'Hall of Memories”, 1: The Dragon Carriage’s Way Back

Arc 6 – “Hall of Memories”, Chapter 1: The Dragon Carriage’s Way Back

―Natsuki Subaru’s group continued to head directly towards east upon leaving the city of Pristella.

They headed towards the eastern end of the world—an area that contained the Augria Sand Dunes, which was a plot of land with a rich history of demon beasts that have continued to exist for hundreds of years, rejecting every existence from stepping foot onto their territory.

It contained a miasma that would cause travelers to lose their sense of direction and gnawed at their hearts.

It contained groups of demon beasts as evil vanguards, who would indulge themselves in playing with people’s lives.

And then there was the person who sought for world peace—the person at the watchtower who determined each and every one of the successes and failures made by those who came close. This person was the “Sage”, Shaula.

[Subaru: Just from knowing that, it feels like we’re lining up for suicide.]

Just being reminded of the obstacles that lie ahead was enough to cause dejection.

In reality, the beings that headed towards this place while knowing what lies ahead were perhaps beings like suicidal people, or perhaps witch worshipers. At any rate, it seemed like they were nothing but beings who had brain abnormalities.

However, these people were neither of the above, as they had no intention to die. It was rather the opposite; they intended to live.

They would provide a path of life in response to each and everyone one of the people who lost their lives on another path.

They began this expedition in order to obtain this seed of hope.

[Subaru: ......Nevertheless, it is mysterious.]

Subaru―who was isolated by the members who were sitting up front―whispered these words while continuing to imagine the jolting of the dragon carriage that didn’t actually shake. When the people in the guest room heard his whisper, every single member had their eyes turn towards Subaru.

A total of 4 glances came his way―adding in Subaru to the people who were in this carriage would make a total of 5 passengers. This was what the situation looked like.

[Emilia: Mysterious? Did something happen?]

[Subaru: No, it’s nothing important, Emilia-tan. It’s just wellll, when one of our dragons that we amiably ride with made a face, I just thought to myself, “She has a pretty startling part of her.”]

Subaru responded this way as he brushed off Emilia’s question.

Emilia and Beatrice were located to Subaru’s right and his left as they secured both sides. These were his allies. It was a given that these two would be with Subaru, but still, the question at hand would be the two people up front.

[Julius: Well, it may very well have been normal for you to feel like such. Actually, I too thought it was really startling. It would be natural for Natsuki-kun to feel uncomfortable, huh.]

[Anastasia: Aahh, that’s right.]

The person who let out high-pitched laughter and said this with her kansai dialect―a dialect that was fixed to Kararagi dialect―was Anastasia. After the powerless sadist responded in a kansai dialect, she looked towards him with a meaningful look while feeling her hair.

[Anastasia: Although, you might not be as bad as Julius, if we’re only talking about things like comforting ridicule.]

[Julius: That’s harsh. However, please do not worry. ―I am also a knight at heart. Just a single night is enough for me to adjust my heart. Not to mention, the last few days have already been...I promise to never to show a sight that was similar to yesterday’s shamefulness ever again.]

[Anastasia: How elegant. We shall be expecting as such then, perhaps.]

Julius’ bowed and replied in response to Anastasia’s banter-like way of speaking because of the incident from before.

It was something that would be obvious if you claimed it to be so. He received damage from Gluttony’s authority, but it more specifically had effects on all of his friends, rather than effects on himself; it affected anybody but himself.

Thus, the people that changed their behavior were his friends, rather than himself. He did not conceal his disturbance when he received these reactions, and on top of that, relating to what he had just said before, it seemed like his friends no longer accepted this with ease.

[Subaru: ....... You’re astounding.]

He let out this praise with his voice that wouldn’t acknowledge the significance of things.

The weak part about him was not being able to clearly express great praise. It wasn’t as if Subaru could forget that feeling as well―the feeling of having your own existence being left behind, having nobody around to share the memories of your own.

Natsuki Subaru definitely had recollections of this different world that nobody remembered, as he was one who could go back in time with his ability “Return by Death”.

If he were to recall a single experience where he built up connections only to have them lost, deep down, it would perhaps be the Roswaal mansion’s initial―the repeated days at the Roswaal mansion.

He got summoned into a different world, ran around doing all kinds of things at the King’s capital to help Emilia, and then as a result, he was invited to Roswaal’s mansion. He then experienced 4 iterations of events before stepping foot into the 5th world.

The memories up until the 4th world were held within Subaru and nowhere else.

Even now, it was difficult to forget the shock he felt from being treated as a stranger by the people who he built relations with in those days at the mansion.

That pain and sadness would never fade away.

[Beatrice: .....What is it? Subaru, why have you suddenly started petting Betty’s head?]

[Subaru: Don’t worry about it. They’re just my deep emotions that say, “I seriously got saved that time thanks to you”. Thank you. Thank you.]

[Beatrice: I don’t understand, I suppose. Also, my hair is getting messed up so sto......you don’t have to stop, but pet it just a liiitle softer]

Beatrice gave her head to Subaru as she occupied her half of the seat with her butt. Subaru petted her head just like how she asked for, not allowing her to forget his mind’s condition when he was truly saved.

The only person who didn’t change their feelings towards Subaru during the loop of days at the mansion was Beatrice. They met before the beginning of the “Return by Death”. She remained to be the only person to not change how she’d come in contact with Subaru after that as well.

Moreover, she too would keep the fact that she saved him as an eternal secret.

[Subaru: After that, Emilia-tan saved me, huh.]

[Emilia: ――?]

Emilia made a curious face in response to Subaru’s reminiscence.

Subaru was right here at this moment, because he was saved by her kindness, voice, attitude, and the warmth of her lap that she gave.

[――――]

This is how Subaru was able to recognize Julius’ impressiveness of accomplishing things by himself as an actuality. Subaru could do this because of how he gained his triumphs; he got as much help as he could, as time elapsed while he tried to get things right 4 times.

Or maybe it was because a certain someone would be there to lend him his help.

A certain someone that was forgotten by Anastasia; a certain someone that didn’t seek for help from anyone in his own camp; a certain someone who had his ties severed with the spirits whom he contracted with; a certain someone whose blood related brother didn’t remember him either.

If that was the case, then he’d be grateful for him.

[Emilia: Continuing to stare at a people’s faces like that...is something wrong, Subaru?]

[Subaru: It’s nothing. I just thought of letting you know that you’re beautiful and I love the you who smiles with a sense of elegance.]

[Julius: Beautifully elegant....that indeed has a splendid sound to it. I never expected to receive praise from you. I’m surprisingly happy......or well, that may be an exaggeration. Well, isn’t my beautiful elegance a given?]

[Subaru: I didn’t mean to praise you. Though, you do piss me off when you say it like that!]

With his same manner from the past―or rather, with his reaction that made it seem as if he became even more skilled with the slipping of the tongue, Subaru became the one to be annoyed.

It was hard to take in the evident frailness that was on his face when he was at his brother’s hospital room at Pristella. He was spirited in the past, and Subaru had recollections of the times when a lack of satisfaction was evident in his expression. However, all of that is completely forgotten history now.

[Emilia: You and Julius get along well. Umm, umm, like how you guys are right now and just like how you guys were in your talk.]

[Subaru: Emilia-tan, you got it wrong. There’s no way me and this guy get along well. Did you see my face? My eyes had the scariest look ever. Although, that is just my viewpoint.]

[Emilia: Really? I don’t think you’re right, but.....Ah, I’m not talking about the look you had in your eyes. I’m talking about when you said that you two don’t get along well. Subaru’s eyes had the same level of exteeeme scarines as always.]

[Subaru: The same level of extreeeme scariness as always!?]

[Emilia: Well for me, I love Subaru’s eyes. I’m being truthfully truthful.]

[Subaru: Ah, dammit. How I wish that part about my eyes was left out from the audio recording...]

Emilia let out a wry smile as she filled Subaru with regret. She then turned towards Julius with an inquisitive look, causing him to take a glance towards Subaru.

[Emilia: I myself have no room to deny those words. In reality, to say that me and him are close.....wouldn’t be a proper thing to say. Although in my eyes, we are compromising with each other, despite how things may look.]

[Subaru: To put it as compromising, that’s already condescending. Even more deprecating. ......It’ll probably piss him off.]

[Subaru: Alright, we’ll finally be going to the.......mmga]

He sought to follow her, but then someone grabbed onto the back of his neck with her hands. When he raised his voice with a blocked throat and looked back, he surprisingly found out that Emilia was the one who grabbed onto his neck.

The dragon carriage from the back jerked Subaru’s chin while Emilia held onto the back of his neck.

[Emilia: Subaru, Patrasche doesn’t seem to be happy.]

[Anastasia: ......This has become a selfish situation, huh.]

If you were to look at the earth dragons when Emilia made this point, out of the two earth dragons that they traveled with, you’d notice that the beautiful, jet black earth dragon was glaring at Subaru with frightfully harsh eyes.

This was Subaru’s affectionate dragon, Patrasche. When Subaru tried to return her look, she turned away bluntly. She then let out a light but very displeased sound.

[Emilia: You seriously weren’t able to make up with her, even though you had 10 days, huh.]

[Subaru: Yeah I know, but I really don’t think it’s my fault this time.....]

Subaru scratched his head as he thought of what to do about Patrasche, who was leaning onto his belly.

Regarding the troubles that Patrasche helped Subaru with up until now, looking back you’d see that ever since they left Pristella City―or well, let’s move a bit before that. When he went to the earth dragon’s stable after defending off the Witch’s Cult, he was already in a bad mood.

He did not talk to Patrasche, as he didn’t want to leave Otto with his injures. She was understanding, simply because they’ve known each other for a long time. This affectionate dragon also tried to understand Subaru’s anger overtime.

[Subaru: That’s, well I know I neglected her during the uproar, and that I even made her feel lonely, but.....gofooah!?]

[Emilia: Subaru!?]

Subaru was on the very end of his statement when Patrasche swung her tail at him, causing him to become covered in dirt after taking a direct hit. As expected, Patrasche has no mercy in her attacks. If he were to reply to her in a deceitful way, she would come to strike him without any hesitation.

[Subaru: I would have never expected it.....To think that I’d have too much protection after lacking protection against Regulus’ attack is just.......]

[Emilia: Are you alright? Patrasche decided to suddenly shake her tail again, but doesn’t this mean that you’ll get hit once more if you don’t say the right thing?]

He received assistance from Emilia as she gave him her lap, and then he stood up as he heard Emilia’s terrifying point. He looked at Patrasche, and she certainly was there shaking her long tail. She cut through the air with the end of her tail as if to threaten Subaru. It felt like she was saying that she’d double the power for each mistake he’d make.

He unconsciously lost the ability to speak properly, and his throat became cramped as he realized that he couldn’t afford to reply carelessly.

[Julius: Even if you’re careless like that, your earth dragon has an overwhelming amount of sympathy towards you anyway.]

However, that statement made by Julius―who disheartened the start of his guidance―would cause an undesirable effect to come at Subaru. Subaru pointed at himself and Patrasche in response to Julius argument and

[Subaru: Really? I’m kinda covered in all this dirt, you know? You call this sympathy?]

[Julius: If you ever felt proof of deep affection, you’d understand, wouldn’t you? It’s an emotional and complicated earth dragon. She’s mad that she wasn’t able to help you during that uproar, and she’s mad at you for not seeking for her help. So it might just be a natural emergence of feelings, rather than anger towards you.]

[Subaru: What are you saying? Just how high are you going to make her heroine power? Stop it.]

The level of correctness of Julius’ points was unknown, but at the very least, his words made Patrasche’s tail swinging come to an end. Subaru looked at Patrasche once again, and she turned away, just like always, but―

[Emilia: Looking at her now, it seems like she’s kinda embarrassed after hearing that.]

[Subaru: Emilia-tan, you noticed that too? I also noticed that. It makes my heart flutter, so don’t do that too often please, Patrasche.]

He said these words, reached out nervously with his hand, and then Patrasche finally lowered her head, allowing Subaru to touch her body covered with tough scales. And with this, it seemed like the cold war where he had 10 days to make mends ended on a good note.

[Petra: Isn’t that enough? Is everything fine now?]

Petra was showing her impatience as they continued to stay at the mansion’s front garden without paying attention to the time.

She came out here being instructed to guide them, and yet they still ate up so much time.

[Petra: If we don’t return soon, Ram nee-sama will get mad again and......]

[Ram: ―If you can worry about those things, that means you were just a little bit short on your efforts.]

[Petra: Pya―!?]

Petra―who had been making light sounds with her footsteps―let out a shriek and then straightened her back. When she turned back, she saw a pink haired maid from afar coming from the direction of the mansion.

It was Ram, no mistake nor doubt about it. Ram slowly turned her gaze towards Subaru’s group and the guests after Petra became as still as a stone statue from her glare and

[Ram: Even when I thought that you got better at your work, to see this situation when I was just about to recognize your efforts......Ram is really disappointed.]

[Petra: So-sorry Ram-nee sama......about my work, you were about to recognize me?]

[Ram: Yes. Your cooking is better than Ram’s; your cleaning is more sensible than Ram’s; you’re better at doing laundry than Ram; and you wake up earlier than Ram, so I was close to recognizing you.]

[Subaru: You should have more doubt when you point these things out!]

Just how worse was this veteran maid in comparison with this girl who had 1 year of experience as a maid? Even if you were to take Petra’s ability to learn quickly into account, the hurdle was so low that it wasn’t even worth considering.

Ram snorted her nose in a way that Subaru was completely familiar with in response to his shouting and

[Ram: How does one proceed to have doubt about oneself? Ram only holds expectations and self-confidence for herself.]

[Subaru: I always felt like that part about you is the one thing that really deserves respect.]

Subaru responded to Ram’s majestic declaration like this while being astounded.

In reality, there was reason in learning from Ram’s optimism―or rather, there was reason in learning from her fortitude. He just wished that she would be a bit more reflective of herself, but

[Subaru: If you did that, I guess it wouldn’t really feel like you’d be the real Ram, huh.]

[Ram: That’s a scary thought. Moreover, I don’t think it’d be ideal to leave guests out here for so long. Let’s hurry up and enter the mansion.]

Subaru went into agreement in response to Ram’s dismissive words.

They ate up too much time outside the mansion. It wouldn’t be surprising for Frederica and even Roswaal to show up eventually if they ended up wasting any more time.

Candidates of the king’s election and the chief of the territory were gathered, but the question was what were they doing.

[Subaru: Is Roswaal making his way towards the mansion?]

Ram―who began walking to guide the others―tapped Petra’s shoulder to relieve her stiffness. When Emilia tried to call out to Ram from behind, she replied with a “Yes” without taking a look back.

[Ram: Fortunately, he said that you all could stay at the mansion when the letter came in. He left it with that. There was a summary in the letter about Pristella.....and there should be things that are filled with details in there.]

[Subaru: Yeah there should be, considering a lot of things did happen.....]

[Ram: There’s a complete difference in the amount of people here now in comparison to when you first left, huh. ―Did Gaf and Otto die?]

[Subaru: Like hell I’d let them die! They aren’t dead! I was just late in returning to them when they were left with injuries!]

When he sought to ask about what details were in the letter, his comedic retort came out instead. Ram let out a shrug with an indifferent manner in response.

[Ram: I’m all too familiar with the depths of men who lack composure. Barusu’s especially is one that has an open hole where your contents are being poured out, so you should be careful. To have people become aware of your depths and then finding out you’re empty inside is the worst.]

[Subaru: That really hurts, so cut that out! Also, moreover.....]

If the letter that was sent to the mansion from Pristella before their departure―if those details were written in the letter, they should understand that this wasn’t just a simple trip back for Subaru and the others.

Therefore, when Subaru tried to confirm the contents of the second half of the letter, and when he decided on his words, Ram readily raised her finger.

[Ram: I told you, didn’t I? Don’t worry. Roswaal said you’re free to stay......also, preparations have been made for both the Sleeping Beauty and the confinement room. Although―]

She cut off her words towards Subaru at the end and then gently licked her lips.

She wet her lips with the red tip of her tongue with a gesture that had a sense of gracefulness embellished somewhere with it and said this

[Ram: Although, neither of them were Ram’s doings. It was Frederica and Petra’s job.]

[Subaru: Why did you make a prideful face there?]

Anyhow, even if this was a meeting after a whole month, she still remained to be the same like this.