Arc 6 – 31, 'An Encouragement of Cooperation in the Tower”

Arc 6 – Chapter 31, “An Encouragement of Cooperation in the Tower”

――In the end, it was decided via meeting that the conquest of the 2nd Floor『Electra』would have to be put on hold.

Although they failed to come up with an idea that would allow everyone to break through their current situation, the biggest factor in their decision to postpone everything was but one―― Subaru’s stomach had begun growling.

Subaru: “Looking back, I was unconscious for two entire days before I got up, and immediately got to tackling the tower’s trials... No wonder my stomach was almost touching my back.”

It was only when the conversations died down that Subaru’s stomach roared, and for the first time did he realize exactly how famished he was.

To be unable to fight on an empty stomach, was not actually true, but what was true was that it affected one’s ability to think properly. As a result, once Subaru’s stomach started growling to make its dissatisfaction known, everyone took it as a chance to sum up their discussions for the time being.

Subaru: “Honestly, some part of me feels kinda relieved because of that...”

Leaving aside the breakthrough plan for the 2nd Floor, there was a certain pattern observed in the questions proposed by the『Trials』of the Watchtower.

Alongside the realization of the pettiness of the questioner, the exact nature of the danger Shaula posed also came to light―― From the start, everyone was supposed to be wary of her because of her fighting prowess, but because her head was empty and she was overly clingy towards Subaru, no one stayed on guard around her.

『――It’s fine to just stay here and have fun with me!』

No matter how many days, years, or even hundreds of years――.

Indeed, Shaula’s audacious declaration had reminded everyone of exactly what danger she posed. As it likely should be.

Subaru: “It’s not like I’m planning on it or anything, but if we make a break for it in the middle of our tower conquest, it seems like there’s a rule to make it so she’ll definitely become our enemy, right...”

Sifting through his mind, he recalled one of the many rules Shaula had spoken of.

Dropping out in the middle of the『Trial』, violating any of the『Trial』’s rules, disrespecting the Library, and destroying the Tower. If any of these are broken, then Shaula will once more become the enemy she was when they first tried to enter the Watchtower.

Subaru wanted to avoid that. Be it in terms of war tactics or out of simple sentimentalism.

Subaru: “But, you know. Just sticking around here for years on end like how Shaula put it, doesn’t seem really realistic, so I’d really like a pass on that but...”

Once he looked straight at the tower conquest, all sorts of anxieties will naturally rear their ugly heads from a lot of directions.

Everyone had already spent over a month on their path to get to the Pleiades Watchtower. Even if they clear the『Trials』one after another without a hitch and conquer the Tower, and if they take that same amount of time to get back to Priestella, it’ll become a journey of around three months.

Of course, withdrawing halfway was, because it would make Shaula an enemy, an undesirable decision to come to, but the Royal Election deadline needed to be kept in consideration as Emilia and Anastasia were participants.

Three years in total―― A bit over one year had already passed, leaving only less than two years at hand.

Of course, the time one can accumulate and the time one can spend, were in fact both impossibly limited.

Beatrice: “But if you keep worrying about tomorrow’s tomorrow, you won’t get anywhere in fact. For now, the tomorrow that is based on today is important, I suppose. For that...”

Subaru: “I gotta eat till I’m full now. Right.”

Beatrice: “That is so, in fact.”

She pointed her finger at him as he spoke those words.

As the discussions were halted in lieu of preparing their meals, Subaru took this chance to go and stroll through the various parts of the Tower―― Spending his free time wandering through the area everyone designated as their residential quarters.

And accompanying him, holding his hand as tightly as she could, was Beatrice.

The reason they held hands every now and then was because Subaru’s gate was busted, and as his contracted Spirit, Beatrice collected his pent up mana. But even putting that reason aside, Subaru wanted to hold Beatrice’s hand, and Beatrice herself never refused.

Subaru: “Besides, you were really worried about me when I was out cold for two whole days, right? So just relax for today and let me spoil you.”

Beatrice: “Stop it with your stupid comments, I suppose. I’m only collecting the Mana I didn’t bother collecting when you were sleeping, in fact. Betty wants to always be at her best, especially in this Tower, I suppose. I want to avoid a lack of preparation, in fact.”

Subaru: “You say that, but weren’t you the one in the end who held my hand while I was sleeping, even though you didn’t collect my Mana?”

Beatrice: “That was indeed unrelated to Mana but acts that are for the purpose of recharging Betty’s heart are always so, I suppose.”

Subaru smiled as Beatrice puffed her chest as she proudly stated her Mana-unrelated intentions, and decided not to point out how it was a much more embarrassing thing.

In any case, Subaru raised his hand in agreement with her.

They had to keep the 2nd Floor『Trial』in consideration. By no means did he want to think that the 1st Floor’s Trial also required heavy combat power, but he could not exclude the possibility.

Moreover, the Subaru and Beatrice duo had functionality even outside of battle. And for that, he needed Beatrice to be at peak condition at all times.

Subaru: “Alright, Beako! I’m good now so you don’t have to mind me. Just keep on sucking out my Mana till you’re round and plum...!”

Beatrice: “Betty’s not going to puff up like a ball even if I collect a lot of Mana, in fact! Moreover, I wonder if you are aware of how much Mana you have even if you are feeling good, I suppose. I can’t have you collapsing again because I took from what little Mana you already have, I suppose.”

Subaru: “Oi oi, if that’s the case, what’d you suggest doing?”

Beatrice: “Just listen-to-me! At the very least, you need to eat your fill, rest up, recover your strength and Mana, and also work hard and keep Betty company. That is your mission, in fact.”

Subaru: “I’m pretty sure I’m all good now, and I’m also pretty sure you just want me to keep you from feeling lonely... ah.”

He deftly bore a complicated mix of chagrin and charm on his face. He stopped walking when he heard the footsteps of someone coming from further back in the passage.

Noticing Subaru and Beatrice there, Emilia approached, surprised.

In her hands she held a metal container painted silver―― A bucket.

Subaru: “A bucket, huh. Even at times like this, Emilia-tan’s giving her best, eh. Gonna practice singing?”

Emilia: “Fufu, what are you saying, Subaru, you. I sure do get a lot of help from Bucket-sensei when I’m practicing singing, now’s not really the time for it, you know?”

Subaru: “Right, right. So what’s with the bucket again?”

Emilia: “Well.. I’m getting Bucket-sensei to do his usual job, of course.”

Smiling at Subaru’s question, Emilia thrust the bucket to him. And, it was full of water, so indeed, Bucket-sensei was doing his usual job well.

However, even if the bucket fulfilled its purpose, there rose a question in that itself.

Subaru: “Uh, but, where’s the water from? The Tower is surrounded by desert, right?”

Emilia: “Oh, no no, that’s where you’re wrong, Subaru. If you go past the Tower, really reeeally far, the Great Waterfall’s supposed to be there. And there’s a looot of water there, so...”

Subaru: “You went all the way, just for a bucket of water. All for me.”

Emilia: “If it’s for you, Subaru, I wouldn’t mind doing that at all, but that’s not it. To tell you the truth, the spirit in the Green Room can give us fresh and clean water.”

She wore pride on her face as she spoke for some reason, but Subaru felt giddy for that little bit of what she said before giving him the truth of the situation.

That if it were for Subaru, she would go fetch water from even the Great Waterfall. It made him incredibly happy.

Subaru: “While we’re at it, happy and all, ya know... Those spirits are really something. Going all the way even outside of healing injuries and all, aren’t they.”

Emilia: “If it’s just making water, Beatrice and I can do it too with magic but...”

Beatrice: “The Miasma is too thick around the Sand Dunes and the Tower, I suppose. It would be much wiser to avoid drinking the water created from Mana affected by it, in fact.”

Emilia: “That’s how it is.”

Subaru: “I see, I see.”

Beatrice weighed on Emilia’s reluctance, and Subaru recognized the problem.

The problem of securing a source of drinking water for the journey up to that point, which should be regarded as important if it were a normal journey, had been cleared more or less by relying on magic.

As long as one had Mana, there was no need to carry a large amount of drinking water as it could be produced as much as needed, only the containers. Magic made things extremely convenient in this case.

Subaru: “It’s not air pollution, but more like Mana pollution, huh. So it’s like, bad for you? Drinking that water?”

Beatrice: “I do not know if any immediate changes will be seen in the body, I suppose. But the more you drink, the more that much Miasma enters you, in fact. If that happens, at the very worst, developing a physical condition like Subaru and earning special attention from Witchbeasts may be possible, I suppose. I’m getting shivers just thinking about it, in fact.

Subaru: “It’s weird coming from me, but it really is kinda hard, living with it and all...”

He often made use of this specific property of his at various times, but it was more of a last resort and not something that could be used often. Even beyond that, if he went hiking in the mountains for whatever reason, there would be a risk of accidentally getting surrounded by Demon Beasts.

If given a choice, not having such a physical condition would be much better than having it.

Emilia: “And so we’re using the Green Room spirit’s purified spring water as much as possible. We did the same thing when Subaru was sleeping for two days straight.”

Subaru: “Hmmmー, so that’s how it was.”

He felt impressed by the living conditions of the Pleiades Watchtower.

And, as he mulled over the talk of spring water, something hit Subaru. It even had to do with the caution he felt towards Shaula from just before.

Subaru: “Putting aside the water stuff, how’re we doing with the food? We did fill up on supplies at that city beyond the desert, but we did have a hard time with it.”

Emilia: “You can relax, Subaru, no need to worry about that. Even if it was a little bit of a hassle, the food didn’t just fly off somewhere. All of it is still in the dragon carriage. But, um....”

Subaru: “No matter how you cut it, it’s not gonna last maybe even a month, is it.”

Even if drinking water was put aside, there was a weight limit on what could be carried on the dragon carriage. Moreover, food needs were not limited to Subaru and the gang. Their partner dragons, Patrasche and Gyan needed food as well. Keeping that fact in mind, they had stocked up on a month’s worth of food.

To escape only with their lives in hand, was not the goal they were aiming for with the Tower’s trials. Thus, they had only a month’s time to properly conquer the Pleiades Watchtower and head off to the nearest town.

Their deadline was just that one month.

「――――」

Subaru: “That said, I really don’t plan on being here for the whole month.”

Emilia: “Subaru...”

Noticing a hint of worry in her eyes, Subaru smiled.

They had a deadline and their challenges were many, but if they shied away from them, nothing would start.

Subaru: “Anyhow, in just one day... Ah, well, I got us off to a late start, so to be fair, it’s the third day since we got to the Tower but, we’ve already cleared the first『Trial』and Emilia-tan easily nabbed her victory in the second.”

Emilia: “It, it really wasn’t ‘easily nabbed’, though...

Subaru: “You’re supposed to season this part with a good bluff, so it’s completely fine.”

He pointed his finger at Emilia, arrogance at full throttle, then pulled Beatrice closer to him and placed his chin on top of her head.

That way, both Subaru and Beatrice were looking up at Emilia.

Subaru: “Doesn’t matter if the opponent’s the former strongest『Sword Saint』or whatever. Beako and I are gonna lambast one-eyed skirt chasing chopsticks bastard’s face in with our brilliant strategies.

Beatrice: “That is so, I suppose. Lambast his face in, in fact.”

Emilia: “Lambast....”

Subaru: “No one really says lambast anymore these days.”

Emilia: “No count! That’s so unfair! You two kept saying it so..!”

Having fallen into their trap, Emilia puffed up her red-dyed cheeks.

As they added in a new pattern to their usual back and forth, Emilia sighed as her worry faded a bit more.

Emilia: “Un, fine I get it, I get it just fine. Hearing it coming from Subaru makes it feel like it was really easy. But that makes you sound just as reliable.”

Subaru: “Yeah, just have faith, keep on hoping and keep on loving me. That’s why I’m your knight, after all.”

Emilia: “That’s right, isn’t it? I’ll be in your care, then, my dearest knight.”

Subaru: “Uh, just now, you didn’t deny the love part so I’m kinda giddy...”

Emilia: “――?”

The whisper of love he had mixed into their usual banter seemed to have slipped off, so he felt slightly disappointed. Well, even if he had been properly answered, his feeling of being flustered would not have gone away, so it was actually better this way.

In any case――,

Subaru: “I know it’s a bit late to ask, but isn’t it kinda weird that Emilia-tan’s the one who was told to bring the water? This is the kind of work that’s supposed to be... not really done by your Knight but, isn’t it supposed to be the kind of work that underlings do?”

Emilia: “It’s really fine. You might be my Knight, but I don’t want our relationship to be that of a master and servant’s. I just want you to keep this in mind, so just quietly be spoiled. You’re recovering right now.”

Subaru: “What’s up with that, Emilia-tan!? If you’re gonna pamper me so much, I’m gonna die from happiness!”

Emilia: “Besides that, I’m in charge of today’s dinner! I want to do everything by myself!”

Beatrice: “It seems like she is serious about both statements. That is what makes her so hard to read, I suppose.”

Beatrice let out a short sigh at Emilia’s statement. And then, as Subaru kept his chin on her head, she waved to Emilia,

Beatrice: “Look, Emilia. Subaru isn’t going to relax as long as you’re here, in fact. You’re delaying preparations for our meal as well, so hurry and be off, I suppose.”

Emilia: “Really? Okay. I’ll see you later then. Look forward to it, kay?”

Beatrice: “We’ll be waiting with『glee』.”

Beatrice sent Emilia off in spineless Subaru’s place. Her response to Emilia’s words reflected a subtle difference in their perceptions.

Emilia: “I’ll call you when it’s done, so don’t go off too far, okay?”

Beatrice: “We’ll be going to the 4th Floor, I suppose. As for if we can hear your calls or not...

Emilia: “Gotcha. I’ll use a louder voice.”

Beatrice: “...okay, okay in fact.”

After exchanging smiles, Emilia went off on her way, bucket in hand, waving her hand as she disappeared around the corner. Once she was sure Emilia was gone, Beatrice looked up to Subaru, who was still resting his chin on her head.

Beatrice: “Now then, I hope you have calmed down, I suppose.”

Subaru: “...Yeah I’m good now. I don’t really get it, but I suddenly thought Emilia-tan was really cute, ya know. Like everything else but Emilia doesn’t have color anymore, so I feel all better now that I got to see her really smile.”

Beatrice: “I don’t understand a word of what you’re saying, it’s worse than usual, in fact! And besides that...”

Subaru: “Besides that?”

He had told Emilia his true feelings in poem format with a straight face. So Beatrice pressed her back against Subaru’s chest and,

Beatrice: “It’s unfair you’re so full of Emilia, I suppose. Your partner is Betty, in fact. Please act with awareness of this fact, I suppose.”

Subaru: “You, you’re really a cute little thing aren’t ya.”

Beatrice: “Mmgyah-! In fact!”

As she seemed too sweet all of a sudden, Subaru picked her up and spun round and round as he rubbed his cheeks against hers.

Subaru: “It’s fine, relax. You’re really important to me too. How do I put it, uh, right now, everything around me looks so beautiful, but you’re looking particularly spectacular. I love you, Beako!”

Beatrice: “W-wawa-Wait! I get it, I get it okay? So let me go already! Let me down, I suppose! I got it already, so let me down, in fact!”

But even as Beatrice shouted, her face beet red, Subaru would not let her down.

And so, he wandered around the halls of the 4th Floor, spinning through each space available, Beatrice still in his arms, with glee.

There was still plenty of time till Emilia would call them for their meal, so their voices would continue painting the halls with cries of joy for some time more.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

Now then, the total time before their meal was not literally spent spinning.

Subaru took his chance to learn from the 4th Floor graded course, presented by Beatrice. She was his senior here, having spent two more days than him actively living in the Tower, so he had a lot to learn.

Though as it may be, in the first place, this place was called a ‘Watchtower’.

However, there was no need to be concerned about it’s habitability, and in fact, nothing extra needed to be done to improve the comfort of living, even in the 4th Floor residential area. The only special rooms were the Green Room, which had become their treatment facility, and the large room which housed the stairs leading to the 3rd and 2nd Floors

Apart from the large stairs leading to the floor below, there were many smaller rooms scattered here and there, with no visible pattern to them.

Subaru: “It feels weird to not have a map, but I’m sure I’d feel even weirder if we had one. This Tower definitely has a creepy design, I’m absolutely sure of it. Really not a fan of these kinds of rattled arrangements of buildings.”

Beatrice: “I wonder what you are even talking about... Usually one would assume the worst of everything, seeing as how distasteful the contents of the『Trials』are, I suppose. Condemning the soul of the creator is a given at this point, in fact.”

Shaula: “Ah! That right there, that’s talking bad about my Master! You ankle-biter, you’re badmouthing my Master! He’s the one who built this Tower, you know! Are you okay with this, Master!? If you’re spoiling her just because she’s little, she’ll grow up all rotten, you know! This’ one of the times you scold them silly! And then, and then, you can spoil me as much as you want after! Come on over here!”

Subaru: “Just shut it already....”

Running her mouth as if she’d slain an ogre(1), Shaula tried finding fault in Beatrice. But in fact, Beatrice said nothing particularly bad, but he felt it was a pain to explain.

There was no point in trying to differentiate between the Subaru, her Master and the『Sage』each and every time. Even more since they were using that misunderstanding to their benefit.

After yawning, Subaru waved to Beatrice before she parted, led by Emilia as she held her hand.

Subaru: “Emilia-tan, take care of Beako. See ya tomorrow.”

Emilia: “Un, see you tomorrow.... Subaru, don’t stay up too late either, okay?”

Instead of directly telling him not to, Emilia said her piece and headed down the Great Stairway to the lower floor. Once she was out of sight, Subaru stretched a few times, then walked down the 4th Floor’s passage.

His destination was obvious. A door that was covered in ivy, the entrance to the Green Room.

And there――,

Julius: “Is that you, Subaru?”

Subaru: “...ah, it’s you.”

In front of the room, Subaru ran into Julius, who watched him with eyes wide.

Just when he was about to enter the room, Subaru arrived, so he squinted at him for a good moment, then immediately pulled back his chin knowingly.

Julius: “I understand. It seems we share the same reason for entering this room.”

Subaru: “I’m pretty sure we have different people in mind... So, should I give it up to you tonight?”

Julius: “No need...”

Shaking his head at Subaru’s proposal, Julius looked to the closed door. A moment of silence followed, then the pair of yellow eyes were once again pointed at Subaru.

And then he took a step back from the door.

Julius: “This time, it is I who ought to give it up for you. Thinking back, you were unconscious for two entire days until this morning. I did inform her of your well being afterwards, but I’m sure she yearned for your presence at night nevertheless.”

Subaru: “...yeah, well, if you’re giving it up for me, I’ll just gladly take you up on your offer.”

Imitating his elegant style, Subaru scratched his head while stealing quick glances at Julius.

He found no signs of displeasure in Julius’ expression, but Subaru was bad at trying to find out someone else’s feelings in the first place. That went double for anyone who hid their true feelings. It was practically impossible for him at that point.

Subaru: “You okay? I’m pretty sure you want to tag along.”

So he sighed and simply spoke what was on his mind.

Julius gave a thin smile,

Julius: “If possible, I would most definitely want to be at Anastasia-sama’s side when she wakes up.... It’s only that, I feel I will be unable to find the words to speak to her when she does. It is true that I am feeling lost about this aspect. It is most deplorable.”

Subaru: “It’s fine if you open with ‘I was very worried, so I’m glad you’ve awakened’. The problem is with what comes next. That... uh, well, I’ll leave that to you.”

Julius: “Pfft-”

Subaru: “Oi, why’d you laugh. I’m being pretty serious ya know.”

Even if he was being serious, it seemed that Julius did not take too fondly to it. He then turned on his heels, turning his back to Subaru, who wore a surprised expression.

Julius: “You’re able to freely say what you want.―― I envy that.”

Subaru: “Kinda feels more like you’re calling me an idiot. Oi, where’re you going.”

Julius: “I’m relinquishing my time to you. I’ll return to the dragon carriage and take rest. I feel slightly worn-out from today’s activities.”

Raising his hand while keeping Subaru at his back, Julius told him before leaving.

Whether he felt well enough to joke about the『Trial』tiring him slightly, or whether he was simply putting up a front, was something Subaru could not tell.

He couldn’t tell but――,

Subaru: “――Julius, it’s better if you’re there when Anastasia wakes up after all. When I’m done with my stuff, I’ll head over to get you, so you better do just that.”

Julius: “――――”

Subaru: “I’ll let ya know beforehand, but I’m pretty sure I’ve got a lot more regrets on my back than you. So this is my advice. Just take it.”

He shouted at the back that disappeared into the hallway. Whether Julius heard or not, he was unsure as there was no reply. However, Julius would definitely not take it the wrong way. At least, Subaru believed that.

Subaru: “I’m coming in.”

With a shake of his head, he threw away all considerations he had for Julius, Subaru pushed the door open and took a step into the Green Room. The room, illuminated by a dim and faint glow, still remained dominated by greenery, with two girls who lay asleep on a bed of ivy.

Anastasia on the bed near the entrance, and Rem on the bed further back.

Subaru: “And you’re at the back too, huh.”

Patrasche: “――――”

She let out a low growl for the visiting Subaru. As if the jet-black dragon knew he would come.

Maybe she did know. Spontaneously, she moved away to make space for Subaru to sit on her bed of ivy.

Subaru: “Really, you’re one hell of a girl... Those wounds are healing up nicely too, eh.”

With a bitter smile, Subaru traced her black scales with his hands.

The wounds she had received during the time they were fighting against the Hungry Horse King underground had healed nicely over the past three days. Normally, she wouldn’t let Subaru know the true extent of her injuries. Now, however, she was genuinely focused on recovering instead of putting up a strong front.

Subaru: “Really, can’t thank this spirit enough. If it weren’t for this room, who knows how hard this whole thing would’ve turned out to be.”

Even at the risk of losing his life, Subaru would never voice that it was good Patrasche got off with shallow wounds. No wounds would always be the best outcome, but he did feel lucky that that was the extent of injuries anyone had received during their ride through the Augria Sand Dunes.

The only ones injured in that event were only Subaru and Patrasche. That they were able to come back up to above-functioning standard was all thanks to this Green Room.

Adding the injured duo of Julius and Anastasia from the 2nd Floor’s Trial『Trial』, the existence of the Green Room was indeed miraculous. As if someone had known this might happen and left it prepared beforehand.

Subaru: “Well then.”

Once he was done affirming his love for Patrasche, Subaru took a deep breath before heading towards the bed further inside the room―― Towards Rem.

When there, the ivy shifted like flowing silk, gathering into a spot to make a sort-of chair for him to sit on.

Subaru: “Really, man, there should be a limit to how nice you can be.”

Even though he had just expressed his everlasting gratitude for the Green Room’s spirit, he felt like it was taken as flattery for even better treatment.

That was far from his intention, but he took the offer anyway.

Subaru: “Julius did mention Rem’s been missing me at night, huh...”

That was his mistake.

That wasn’t the case at all. Because, the one who was waiting to speak late at night, when no one would bother them, wasn’t but Rem, but it was surely Subaru.

※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※

――Subaru noticed something was off when he felt his shoulders being lightly shaken.

Subaru: “――uh?”

Raising his face from the bed, he blinked several times. Contrary to physical reactions, the mind was usually much slower to react.

And slowly, his mind returned to him. Then he noticed.

Subaru: “Did... Did I fall asleep?”

Hand on his chin, Subaru pondered the surprising fact that he actually fell asleep.

It seemed that he was still in the Green Room, still sitting on that ivy chair right beside Rem’s bed, and it seemed he had fallen asleep in that very position. However, he felt that the shape of his chair was somehow different from what he remembered.

The chair in his memories had no backside. But now, the chair had a large backside to support him in his sleep, and it had taken an almost egg-like shape to conform to his comfort as much as possible. The spirit was just too damn nice.

It was so comfortable, it turned yawns into actual sleep.

Subaru: “Means I was pretty tired too... Eh, Patrasche?”

Muttering about him dozing off, Subaru turned to Patrasche―― The kind lady who had nudged him with her long tail to wake him.

Curled up over the ivy bed, his beloved dragon likely woke him to alert him to something. Subaru squinted at where she was staring and...

Subaru: “――uwah, no way.”

...jumped off his chair and rushed over to the bed that was by the Green Room’s entrance door―― The one Anastasia was supposed to be occupying.

It’s ‘supposed to be’ because she was not there. And once it hit Subaru, his face lost color.

Subaru: “E-even though I gave Julius an earful about this...”

Only because he dozed off, Julius could not greet Anastasia when she woke up. He couldn’t even face him if he wanted to with this.

――Unfortunately, that was not the only problem.

Subaru: “She got up, and then...? Where’d she go? The toilet? Without waking me?”

It wasn’t really a matter of whether she had actually gone to the toilet. It was that Anastasia―― No, more like Echidna, had woken up and snuck out of the room without so much as a word of notice to Subaru, who was right there.

To think she disappeared right after the 2nd Floor『Trial』―― Did she go to challenge Reid again, just like Julius? Man I don’t wanna imagine that.

Subaru: “The bed’s still warm... Gotta go look for her.”

Her bed was still slightly warm. There was the fact that Patrasche had woken him up as well.

Meant it hasn’t been too long since Anastasia left, most likely.

Subaru: “Patrasche! I’m leaving Rem to you! And, right, thanks for waking me!”

Patrasche: “――”

Shortening his reply as much as he could, Subaru waved to Patrasche before heading out.

Unable to figure out where exactly she could even go, his heart throbbed faster. If it were Subaru in her place, he’d first want to make sure Emilia and Beatrice were okay―― If so, then naturally, she would be heading towards where Julius was.

Subaru: “No, wait, it’s Scarf-Dona who’s inside her right now. No way it’s gonna be anything simple. But then...”

He did not have enough manpower to tackle this problem. Even if it meant exposing his embarrassment of dozing off to others, for now, he needed to reach out to the others and get their help in finding Anastasia――.

Subaru: “――huh?”

And on his way down the stairs to call the others, he stopped.

He was dumbfounded. He found something incredibly abnormal, something that should definitely not be inside of the tower.

Subaru: “――――”

That something swiftly flew across Subaru’s stunned face.

With white wings spread wide in the narrow hallway, a bird attempted to find it’s way out.

Subaru: “Why’s there a bird... inside the tower?”

The words rolled out of his mouth at the sight of a bird, an existence that shouldn’t be inside of the tower.

The Watch Tower Pleiades had no windows. It was a building that was completely closed off from the outside world, with the only connection being the giant door on the 5th Floor.

At the very least, Subaru thought as much, and his guide for the 4th Floor, Beatrice herself had said she could not even sense the presence of a window that could lead outside.

Subaru: “――tch! W-wait up!”

Feeling something was very off, right before he started rushing after the bird, for a moment, he hesitated. Should he follow after the bird, or should he call someone and find Anastasia first, then discuss the bird issue?

He chose to follow the bird, however. To lose sight of that bird here, he felt, might lead to an even greater danger down the road. Simply put, it was a gut feeling.

Subaru: “――――”

Of course, birds were not such gentle creatures, to listen to Subaru and stop flying simply because he called after them. Gently it flew away from Subaru, further and further, deeper into the hallway.

He chased and chased and chased, and before long――.

Subaru: “――!? It disappeared?! Wh-the hell!”

He shouted when he reached the end of the hallway.

The hallway itself was circular, taking after the shape of the tower. However, it was not connected like that, because at around half-circle, a wall stopped further progression.

It was like a clock. If one started at 12:00, they could go till 06:00 both clockwise and counter-clockwise, but no more than that either way.

Subaru knew that, and as long as none of the doors were opened, he was certain he could catch the bird, but――.

Subaru: “Doesn’t look like it slammed into the wall and fell. What the hell’s going on here?”

Confused as to where that pair of wings had disappeared, he surveyed his surroundings over and over.

Unfortunately, there were no open rooms the bird could enter. It appeared suddenly and disappeared just as suddenly. He felt like he was wrapped around the smoky veil of a dream.

But he soon confirmed he was not dreaming.

Subar: “These―― These are feathers, right?”

On his way back out of the hallway, he found white feathers fallen on the ground. While he still held his doubts, looking at it from a situational perspective, these white feathers definitely belonged to that bird he was chasing.

They were proof the bird definitely existed. He could very well take them to Emilia and the others and say ‘There was a bird inside of the tower!’, but it would ultimately lead to nothing.

Most of all, it wouldn’t lead to where Anastasia disappeared off to――,

Subaru: “Wait, wait... If there’s feathers lying around here, then-”

There should be something here.

He searched the wall and floor around the place where the feathers had fallen while thinking that. He examined the stone floor and ceiling, checked the nearby rooms, and even pressed the stone bricks of the walls.

However, nothing came of it, and he only felt his pulse quicken with each passing moment.

I should really go get help――

It was precisely at that moment,

Subaru: “Ah――!?”

It was when he was moving his palm over the place the feathers had fallen. His fingers had brushed against the wall right beside there, or so he had thought. In reality, he realized his fingers had slipped through the wall, as if it were an illusion.

Even when he carefully tried to press his fingers against it, they went through, so he wasn’t seeing things.

Subaru: “But, I’m pretty sure I’ve checked the walls around here pretty well.”

That was not to say he had failed in searching properly, but only that the wall above his waist, from where it was an illusion, was solid.

An illusionary wall that covered up the entrance―― The last time he saw something like this was back when Petelgeuse and the Witch Cult were hiding in that cavern.

Subaru: “Risk it all to win it all, huh.”

If one went into a crawl, they could pass through the illusionary wall.

After a good moment of hesitation, he decided to crawl through and get to the other side. The bird had gotten in through this way, most likely.

If this led to the outside of the tower, or maybe to another part of the tower, then――.

Subaru: “Puah!”

The darkness beyond the wall did not last as long as he expected.

He dove out of the illusionary wall and took a deep breath, like someone coming back up from a dive underwater. He was holding his breath while inside that darkness for no apparent reason.

He quickly noticed the outside air―― A cool breeze flew across his face.

Subaru: “――woa-”

He opened his eyes, slowly adjusting them to the darkness of the outside world.

Spreading out in all directions over the vast horizon was a sea of sand, the Augria Sand Dunes, seen from a height unfathomable by Subaru. And watching over this spectacle was the dark sky, spotted with countless twinkling stars.

And there――,

Subaru: “――――”

In the place that was supposedly the Tower’s balcony, her purple hair shining under starlight, surrounded by flocks of birds, was Anastasia.