Arc 7, 10 – 'The People of Shudraq”

Arc 7, Chapter 10 – “The People of Shudraq”

Faced by that conceited and prideful smile flashing through his mask, Subaru held his breath.

There was no difference between this arrogant man and the man who had shown Subaru the way and given him the knife, when he had gotten separated from Rem at the grassland. Subaru could not say for sure because of his masked appearance, but he remembered his voice as well as his attitude. The fact that the man knew his name also proved it.

Subaru: [――――]

Laid on the bare ground inside the wooden cage, Subaru’s fate seemed to be continuing onwards instead of being cut off, even though his whole body was worn out, not just his hands and feet.

He had entered the forest, bringing Todd and the Imperial Soldiers together with him, summoned the Witchbeast by luring it with his miasma, tried to escape by taking advantage of the opportunity that had arisen after making the Witchbeast attack the soldiers, and――,

Subaru: [And then, I...]

Masked man: [From what I have heard, it seems like you had been caught in a trap while loitering around the forest. Those of the village were making a great fuss over a human being caught in a trap meant for capturing beasts.]

Subaru: [A trap, and village...?]

Receiving an explanation from the masked man, Subaru shook his pounding head, as he directed his attention outside of the cage.

The wooden cage that imprisoned him was of poor construction, compared to the ones he had seen in the Imperial Soldiers’ camp, which were in turn made out of iron. It looked simple, or more like it had been built in a rush.

And then, outside of the cage, he saw groups of tall trees, and land that had been created by clearing a part of the forest ― Subaru’s impression was something close to the village in the Sanctuary.

The Sanctuary was also a village built deep inside a forest, called the Forest of Kremaldy. However, unlike the Sanctuary which had buildings such as houses and a church despite existing in a forest, the village here only had log cabins, putting it nicely, and primitive dwellings, if put in a bad way.

Subaru thought it would be better to beat around the bush by saying they preferred being naturalistic.

Besides, what was more important to Subaru was not the shabby-looking village, but who lived here.

That meant――,

Subaru: [――The People of Shudraq?]

Masked man: [Huh, so you did know. Well, looking at your unsightly state, I suppose you were burdened with hardships all within a single day. Have you found the woman you had been separated from?]

Subaru: [...Yeah, thanks to you.]

As the man questioned him after hearing what he had mumbled out, Subaru breathed out a deep sigh.

The masked man did not soften his confident attitude. However, he was also inside the cage, much like Subaru. Unless he was an important member of the village and had a commendable preference of entering the cage together with his captive, they would be in the same exact position.

Subaru had already been held captive at the Empire’s camp, but he had gotten captured here as well.

However, there were a few points that told him that wasn’t all it amounted to.

Subaru: [――The wounds on my shoulder and back... did they treat my injuries?]

Touching his shoulder and back, Subaru knew the bleeding had been stopped, judging from the sensation of something being fastened tightly against his wounds. The pungent scent that stung his nostrils felt similar to a sort of liquid medicine, such as disinfectant.

The masked man sniffed at Subaru’s doubts with a, “Hmph,”

Masked man: [You would have died just like that had your injuries been left untreated. Those of the village must have been confused with how to handle you. Wondering what is the correct choice, similarly to myself.]

Subaru: [Where do you get your composure from...]

Masked man: [If I must say, then it is from my soul. Rather, when will you stop exhibiting such disgraceful behavior? Natsuki Subaru.]

Subaru: [It’s none of your――]

Business, he tried to retort, before grinding the back of his teeth together from the pain brought by his wounds.

His injuries had been bandaged only the bare minimum as to not let Subaru die, not to close his wounds rapidly, nor to get rid of the pain. In contrast to what he had received at the Empire’s camp, he was in an inferior environment.

As he thought about the Empire’s camp, Subaru had a realization.

He had a reason for having to arrive at the camp as soon as possible.

Subaru: [Damn... how long has it been since I was brought here!?]

Masked man: [――. Hmm, around two hours, perhaps. I will tell you beforehand, but I am being lenient enough with you already. If I did not think much of it, then I would have woken you s――]

Subaru: [Why didn’t you wake me sooner!?]

Masked man: [――――]

As Subaru sank down on his trembling knees complaining, the man narrowed his eyes.

To him, it would look like Subaru was picking a fight with him, something that was uncalled for. As for why he had let Subaru stay asleep for two whole hours, who had been on the verge of death, covered with cuts and bruises upon being brought in, it was because he had deemed rest to be necessary, probably.

After that, if his act of stepping on Subaru’s head had been an offense carried out by his impatience, then it could be said he was also the owner of a Vollachia-like nature. However, if so――,

Subaru: [You should’ve reached the end of your patience sooner.]

Masked man: [What a strange thing to say. Do you understand what you are saying? You are telling me that you wished I had stepped on your head sooner.]

Subaru: [Yeah, that’s what I’m saying! What else... ugh, kh...!]

As he continued blurting out unreasonable, irrational logic, his vision flashed red.

His whole body was aching, but what caused him the most pain was on his back, the newly created stab wound in the vicinity of his shoulder blade ― the blow from Todd using the knife, who targeted the escaping Subaru the last time they met.

Thinking back, the knife he had been stabbed with was the same one he had been given by the masked man in front of him. Reuniting with him, in an injured state, due to the wound his knife had inflicted on him, seemed like an unfortunate chain of events.

Anyhow――,

Subaru: [I left Rem at the Empire’s camp... Before the Imperial Soldiers I sicced against the Witchbeasts return there, if I don’t go back, then Rem will...]

There was no time until Todd’s group left the forest, returned to their camp, and finished reporting everything to the higher-ups.

When the giant snake broke the soldiers’ formation into disarray, Jamal and the others had naturally dealt with the Witchbeast as a priority. However, among them, only Todd had made killing Subaru his first concern.

Todd might have suspected it had been Subaru who had drawn the Witchbeast towards them. And then, in order to make sure another would not be attracted, Todd had attempted to dispose of him immediately on the spot. His judgement and his ability to get things done ― what he had demonstrated within that single moment could not, and should not be underestimated.

At least, Subaru had put emphasis on how he was not even related to Rem and Louis in the slightest, having intended to place the impression that any information on him could not be gleaned from them, but――,

Masked man: [If there is no definite evidence, then they are capable of trying out torture.]

There was a certain terrorizing aspect to Todd and the Vollachia Empire that led Subaru to believe it.

To make sure they could not carry out such a thing, Subaru had to go back and save Rem.

But――,

Subaru: [In a place like this...!]

Masked man: [――. I see. Judging from your words, that “Rem” is the woman you were searching for. It seems like you have gone through a considerable experience after you parted ways with me. Is it about the Imperial Soldiers outside the forest?]

Subaru: [Yeah, that’s right! I was held captive by them! And then, I played a trick on them so I could run away... but, I couldn’t bring Rem with me. So...]

Masked man: [So that is the origin of your desperation. No wonder you appear to have grown accustomed to being a captive.]

Subaru: [Who looks accustomed to being a captive!? In the first place――]

The masked man was in the same predicament as him, wasn’t he?

Although Subaru was indebted to him, he nearly shouted in anger as he did not have the mental capacity to think about anything else at the moment. However, a sudden realization stunted his rash behavior.

Subaru: [――――]

Amidst that exchange of harsh words, having been focused on his argument with the masked man, Subaru felt a new pair of eyes boring into the side of his face.

When he turned around, he saw two specks of light outside the cage, peeking inside from between the bars. Building a picture of the person, Subaru saw that those were green-colored eyes.

The owner of the pair of eyes blinked when Subaru’s gaze turned towards them,

???: [――Ah, he noticed Uu.]

Subaru: [Wha...]

???: [Need to tell Mii.]

Saying that, the person swiftly distanced itself from the wooden lattice. Subaru tried to stop them, calling out, “Wait!” but his words did not make it in time.

By the time he threw himself at the bars of the cage, the person had already vacated the area, sprinting away without taking any notice of him.

Subaru: [Just now, that was...]

Masked man: [A Shudraqian girl. She must be very inquisitive. Even when I was by myself, she paid a few visits and even peered inside. “Show me your face!”, “Take off your mask!”, she was saying. Her irksomeness knows no bounds...]

Subaru: [――――]

The masked man grumbled as he crossed his arms, seemingly dissatisfied by the attitude of the sneaky person.

Unfortunately, Subaru did not have the mind to respond to his complaints. That was because his focus had been stolen away by the person who had just left――the young girl.

She was a young girl with brown skin, somewhere around ten years old.

She wore a light outfit that exposed her skin, having white clothes wrapped around her body. It was probably a choice of attire that had been made to adapt to this land, which gave off the feeling of a subtropical zone.

The reason for the pink tips of her uniquely colored, bob cut-esque hair was because it had been dyed, most likely. The roots of her hair were black, matching Todd’s explanation of the Shudraqians having black hair.

However, what shocked Subaru the most about the girl’s appearance was not how peculiar she looked, but the fact that was not the first time he had seen her.

Subaru: [She’s...]

The one who killed me, Subaru’s memories insisted.

She was the girl who had used a poisoned arrow to shoot Subaru in the back, resulting in his death.

With the jungle having been set on fire because of Subaru’s careless remark, the girl had escaped from the land where those spreading flames blazed, glaring at Subaru with hate-filled eyes――.

Subaru connected the dots together.

Back then, the girl had been glowering at Subaru with an expression of pure abhorrence for only a single reason. ――Retribution towards the cause that had incinerated both her land and allies into ashes.

Masked man: [Why did you suddenly become so meek, as if just doused with water?]

Subaru: [――ah.]

As Subaru bit his lip with his head resting against the wooden lattice, the voice came out from over his shoulder.

The masked man had been sitting in the same position from the start, and watched Subaru and his violently fluctuating emotions intently.

Masked man: [You are a difficult man to grasp. In any event, it’s good if you rant and rave. It will be troublesome if it gets quiet here. Idleness is a waste of energy too. Without each and every shout――]

Subaru: [Without shouting...?]

Masked man: [――From over there, they shall arrive to hear our conversation. Look.]

In the direction the man had jerked his chin, Subaru turned around and opened his eyes wide.

A flame slowly illuminated the gloomy view ― It was the light of a torch. The figures of several people appeared, holding the torches in hand, headed towards the cage Subaru and the man were inside.

Leading them was a woman of tall stature with a strong, well-trained body. The woman appeared to have hair originally black in color, but had been dyed red, and her dark-brown-skinned face and body were covered in designs of white paint. Her green eyes conveyed a strong sense of purpose that left a powerful impression.

Hiding behind such a woman, happened to be the little girl from before. A group of about ten people had come their way, and all of them appeared to be women.

Subaru: [――――]

However, Subaru was involuntarily overpowered by that feeling of oppression.

The wild air of the group was unlike the chivalric Order of Knights of Lugunica, or even unlike what he had seen of the Vollachian military; it had a beauty like that of a troop of beasts that were commanded by instinct.

The impression was one of a group built on instinct at its core, rather than logic.

Subaru held that sort of impression on their development, and as they stood before the cage in which they had imprisoned Subaru, the women ― The People of Shudraq, fixed their gazes on the two people inside the cage.

And then――,

???: [Looks like you’re up huh. ――You lot, who the hell are you lot anyway?]

The question was asked of Subaru and the masked man together.

(T/N: The Shudraqians have a unique speaking style that places emphasis on the last syllable of each sentence. We’ve chosen to represent this using italics.)

△▼△▼△▼△

――Who are you?

It was relatively common in stories, but in practice, it was the kind of question that was not often asked.Th.ê most uptodate novels are published on n(0)velbj)n(.)co/m

A situation where someone was suspicious of your identity and questioned you was not exactly a normal event in real life. Whether on the side of the questioner or the listener, with the exception of businesses such things needed to be asked, you could potentially go your whole life without having said those words.

In that sense, it was a question Subaru was not familiar with.

Thinking about this, a lump grew heavy in his chest. His heart pained like it was being stuffed.

Nevertheless, setting aside the feelings of aversion and guilt for those murders as ones he would carry for life, he focused on another, more important point ― Todd and the others had, most likely, not been completely wiped out.

Subaru: [――――]

Todd’s group was around twenty people strong, all with little to no experience fighting Witchbeasts.

Even so, adding together Todd’s decision-making to Jamal’s surprising assertiveness, it was impossible to hope for that one Snake Witchbeast to destroy the entire group.

Naturally, it was better to believe that Todd’s group had survived, and were retreating back to the camp from the jungle.

After getting back to the camp, Todd’s group would report on Subaru’s betrayal and the existence of the Witchbeast. Depending on the situation, they could still believe that Subaru was one of the People of Shudraq and have concluded that the Shudraqians had taken an offensive course of action against them.

If that were to happen, it would be the same as last time. Wanting to minimise casualties, the Imperial Soldiers would set the jungle ablaze without hesitation. ― The People of Shudraq would no doubt be burnt to a crisp.

Abel: [――What is that, that look in your eye.]

Subaru: [Nothing...]

Abel commented on Subaru’s gaze. Subaru immediately looked away, but was still preoccupied with thoughts on Abel’s end in the last loop.

Most likely, Abel had been captured by the People of Shudraq, similar to the current situation. In those circumstances, considering the jungle had been set on fire, he had probably perished in flames alongside them.

It was a stretch to think that the People of Shudraq would help someone like a prisoner escape from that inferno. Worst case scenario, he had not been able to escape the cage in time and burned to death.

If that were the case――,

Subaru: [――The People of Shudraq, Abel. I basically killed all of them.]

His own life, Rem’s life, Abel’s life and the People of Shudraq’s lives. He did not want to lose any of them.

That was why Subaru would stand up and devise a way to break out of his current predicament.

Abel: [Do you not understand it is useless? They are not a group so lacking that they would leave an opening for someone of your strength. Much less someone as injured as you are. Why do you exert yourself that far for just one woman?]

Abel said to Subaru in exasperation, the latter continuing to grip onto the wood, still fervently resisting.

Those words lit a fire in Subaru.

Subaru: [It’s because that girl to me, isn’t just one woman. That isn’t nearly enough to describe her. There’s no replacement. Rem is, the one and only Rem.]

Abel: [――――]

Subaru: [And you. Do you have the time to be picking on me constantly? I don’t know why you’re here, but surely you’re not going “Yeah I’m finished, I’m done”, after being caught are ya?]

Upon first meeting him, Abel had worn his concealment cloak and looked as though he had come to the jungle to fulfill some task. Even if that were not the case, he was the type of person to readily give away a knife. Which, according to Todd, was the sort of knife that would only be gifted by an Emperor.

To say that he was here for no reason at all would be a fact difficult to imagine and quite frankly unbelievable.

Subaru: [Sitting on the cold ground over there, what do you want to do?]

Abel: [――I was merely waiting for an opportunity.]

Abel responded deathly quietly to Subaru’s question.

His response had been unlike the goading and mocking comments previously made to Subaru. It held a different tone, sounding more like Abel’s true feelings, spilled out into words.

Subaru: [Waiting for an, opportunity? Opportunity as in, a chance? What chance were you waiting for...]

Abel: [I do not know of this chance you speak of, but I was waiting for the pieces to be set. Until they had been organised, any unnecessary action by myself would have muddied the waters. That is why I was forced to observe. Actually, I believed having the group outside the jungle make their move first was the correct move, however...]

Subaru: [――――]

Abel: [If they are willing to burn down this jungle, I cannot be sitting here cross-legged forever.]

Saying that, Abel uncrossed his arms and slowly stood up.

Looking at his long and slender posture, Subaru froze stiff in surprise at his words.

Abel: [What is the matter? That stupefied face of yours. That is quite a disrespectful face you are presenting me with.]

Subaru: [Dun-dunno about disrespectful but... You, believe what I said? Cause, the People of Shudraq...]

Abel: [I did not believe you. Tainting their pride, rejecting the age-old promise which is held with great respect, saying it amounts to nothing. Truly, it was a failed negotiation for the ages.]

Subaru: [Uguu...u]

He knew that there was no defense for his choice of words, so it left him no choice but to be pummeled by Abel’s assessment.

As Subaru frowned, Abel continued his speech with, “But...”. And then, through his disguise, he gazed at Subaru, who raised his head――,

Abel: [I am not a part of the Shudraqians. Their pride and meaningful contracts are as good as dust. What is necessary is the truth you brought about, free of any falsehood.]

Subaru: [...What will you do if I am lying?]

Abel: [It is obvious. ――You shall pay with your life.]

His words were heavy, carrying a clear distinction from those who spoke of death in jest.

Abel was earnestly telling Subaru to atone with his death, should he make a wrong move. This was neither a game, nor was it said on a whim, but it was a scene that would put his real determination to the test.

Getting that feeling from Abel, Subaru subconsciously straightened his posture.

He stopped fighting the bars of the cage before he knew it, facing Abel, who was right in front of him. Staring into Subaru’s black eyes, the menacing look inside of the piercing light in Abel’s eyes intensified.

Abel: [You are to choose each and every one of your words with utmost care, Natsuki Subaru. ――Do you have the resolve to sacrifice everything, in order to save what you desire to save?]

Subaru: [――――]

His question had been straightforward, unforgiving of any hesitation to answer, as well as any lies being stated.

If Subaru answered it by interweaving truth and fiction, he would be a dead man. Yes, the man called Abel held a certain power in his voice, enough to make Subaru put his trust in him.

Subaru received Abel’s question in his heart.

Did he have the necessary resolve to save everything, to save what he wanted to save, at the cost of sacrificing everything else?

His answer to the question would be――,

Subaru: [――I don’t have the resolve to do that.]

Abel: [――――]

Subaru: [All I can offer is myself. ――If it’s just that, then I can put all of it on the line.]

Instead of his right arm that had been stabbed, Subaru put the arm with broken fingers on his chest, responding to the inquiry.

It was Subaru’s answer to Abel’s question, containing not a speck of dishonesty.

Even if he were told to forfeit everything and everyone, there was no way he would be able to accept that.

In order to do so, this world had too many things important to Subaru, and too many radiant things he had not witnessed yet.

That was why――,

Abel: [You gave me a presumptuous answer, you vexing jester.]

Subaru: [――――]

Abel: [However, you did not state any falsehoods. In that case, you will not be incinerated.]

Subaru realized his life had been spared, after Abel stated that as a result of hearing the answer to his question.

Cold sweat suddenly began flowing out of his body, and he understood that his life was in the palm of Abel’s hand.

As Subaru had evaluated Abel earlier, when they first came across each other at the grassland, he was not extraordinarily strong.

Comparing the masked man to the powerful people Subaru had either seen, or interacted with in the past and to this day, his strength did not step over the bounds of an ordinary person. However, even considering that, Subaru felt as if he just had narrowly escaped death.

A power dissimilar to pure physical strength and sword skills resided within Abel. That was what Subaru thought.

Abel: [Then, that will save us time. ――Hey, you. The girl over there.]

???: [Ukyan!?]

Ignoring Subaru, who was sweating heavily from having his life spared, Abel suddenly called out to someone. Immediately, a small cry was emitted from the shadows, reacting to the tone of his voice.

When Subaru spun around in surprise, he saw a girl staring shyly at them under the shade of a tree ahead of Abel’s line of sight.

The girl, with the tips of her hair dyed pink, hurriedly tried to escape from the gazes of Subaru and Abel, but――,

Abel: [You will lose your opportunity if you run, girl. Surely, that must not be what you intend.]

Girl: [Ough...]

Beaten to the punch by Abel, the girl groaned softly. After that, with an embarrassed look on her face, she walked towards them with dejected steps.

And then, her lips trembled as she said, “Uu is, Uu is...”

Girl: [Mii said not to listen to men. But, Uu is curious. Curious about you.]

Subaru: [...Me?]

Saying that, the girl who had called herself “Uu” pointed a finger in Subaru’s direction. Receiving the unexpected indication that she was curious about him, Subaru widened his eyes while the girl nodded at him.

Girl: [You were doing your best. We are in danger. But, Mii won’t listen.]

Subaru: [Ah...]

Girl: [Why were you trying so hard? You have nothing to do with us.]

Why were you interfering, even though you have nothing to do with us?

Subaru’s breath hitched for a moment, wondering if his nosiness was being pointed out. However, the girl’s words did not seem to have that purpose. She was genuinely inquisitive.

Why was Subaru desperate about not only himself, but the People of Shudraq as well?

The answer to that was something not even Subaru himself knew, but――,

Subaru: [...I think, I don’t want you to have that expression on your face.]

Girl: [――?]

Subaru: [I don’t want you to have that... feeling of having to loathe your enemies, clouded by hatred.]

The girl who had shot her opponent with a poisoned arrow, watching his death to the end with hate-filled eyes.

To this day, the girl’s feelings of loathing, and his guilt from the extreme events that had led her to that point, still remained in his eyes. They were surging up and whirling around. They had morphed into thorns, causing him pain.

That... must not be piled on top of one other. It must never recur.

There was nothing better than not Returning by Death.

However, by losing his life, in a world where he had to start over, if there was a way he could bring the people involved with him onto a better path――,

Subaru: [I think... the purpose of me trying my best with all my might lies there.]

Girl: [...Uu doesn’t understand.]

Despite hearing his answer, what he had really meant had been not conveyed to the girl. It was only natural. Speak of this to someone who did not know of Return by Death, and they would not understand a thing.

And Subaru was not thinking of having her understand that, either. Knowing that such a reality had existed was an unnecessary addition to the girl’s life.

Abel: [――Are you satisfied? It should be the same for me and you, to not have the time for a long chat.]

Subaru: [Ye... yeah, sorry.]

Uninterested in the conversation between Subaru and the girl, Abel cut it off without any hesitation.

When he turned to face the girl, she grew tense and gazed up at him, perhaps perceiving the same pressure Subaru had felt previously.

Abel: [I do not plan on blithering on with you, girl. The woman from earlier... Mizelda, was it? Bring that one here. That is the chieftain, no?]

Girl: [Mii? What will you talk about with Mii?]

Abel: [It is trivial. I merely have a suggestion to make.]

Girl: [Suggestion?]

Stared at by Subaru and the girl, who were tilting their heads, Abel nodded deeply.

And then, he smiled just as Subaru had expected, although it could not be seen under his mask,

Abel: [――Tell her that we will be undergoing the Lifeblood Ritual. It is the fastest way to persuade them.]

He told her, just like that.