Arlam Village was enveloped in the quiet of dusk, its once bustling streets now deserted. After the Sloth Archbishop subjugation, the Iron Fang mercenary group and Crusch's army had long since taken the long route back to the capital, leaving this empty village as a temporary base.
At the village entrance, Felix idly flicked his tail while waiting for the others to return, his companion Otto's brows, beneath his grey hair, remained tightly furrowed. The two maintained an unspoken silence, neither willing to acknowledge the heavy reality: their true mission in staying here was to bring the worst-case scenario intelligence back to the capital if those they were supposed to meet did not return.
Inside the village warehouse, the bound Geuse leaned quietly against the wall. The once-mad Sloth Archbishop's eyes were now clear, more silent than ever.
A few hours earlier, Julius, Wilhelm, and Rem being sent back by Carlisle's flying magic had startled Felix.
Carlisle had met with misfortune and used his last magic to send the living to safety... This was Felix's first thought, but he soon learned that because Greed's power was more terrifying than imagined, to avoid meaningless sacrifices, everyone except Carlisle, the strongest combatant, and Subaru, who was in charge of intelligence, had been forcibly sent back.
This experience of being driven from the battlefield was a first even for the 'Optimal Knight' and the 'Sword Demon'; both were renowned powerhouses in the kingdom, and they never expected to be treated as burdens one day.
Of course, they wouldn't feel at ease leaving the battlefield to those two. The three immediately took action after landing. They found Otto's Earth dragon, preparing to return to the battlefield at once.
Just as they mounted the Earth dragon, a deafening explosion suddenly echoed from afar, the ground shook violently, even the houses at the village entrance swayed. Julius, sensing the situation on the battlefield through the micro-spirits, his face instantly turned ashen.
The three stood silently, gazing at the constantly flashing lights in the distance. Although extremely unwilling, they had to accept the fact that they could not help at all in this battle.
But... even though Rem knew she couldn't help, emotion overwhelmed her reason. Each explosion from afar pierced her heart like a sharp blade, and the most terrifying images uncontrollably flashed in her mind: Carlisle's body torn apart by an invisible force, Subaru lying in a pool of blood. These images made her breathing increasingly rapid.
Her body acted before her thoughts. Julius's figure at the village entrance remained motionless, and Wilhelm's scabbard lay across her path, the old man's weathered eyes filled with determination.
"Rem absolutely cannot abandon Carlisle and Subaru!" Her voice trembled with emotion, "If anything happens to those two... Rem already... already..." Her words broke off in a sob, "...cannot live in a world without them..."
Thinking of her sister Ram, her heart twisted painfully. But compared to her guilt towards her sister, the fear of losing those two choked her more. "Sister is very strong... she can live bravely even without Rem..." This thought flashed through her mind.
The result was... crying... The pitiful crying of the young girl echoed in a corner of the village.
When Rem regained consciousness, a dull ache radiated from the back of her neck. She struggled to open her eyes and found herself placed in a simple farmhouse. Chains of magic bound her tightly, and the flow of mana within her body was completely blocked.
A deafening roar came from outside the window, a sound like some behemoth repeatedly pounding something on the ground, causing the entire earth to tremble.
Rem struggled desperately. She slammed her shoulder against the door, but all her efforts were in vain. With each distant explosion, her movements grew more frantic, and her breathing became more rapid.
Finally, even the roaring stopped. Exhausted, Rem curled up in the corner. The usually strong maid was now as helpless as a lost child, hot tears constantly streaming down her cheeks. Her unease transformed into suppressed sobs, echoing in the empty room.
Until now... The door was suddenly pushed open, the wooden door hitting the wall with a loud "bang."
"Rem!"
Two familiar voices rang out simultaneously, filled with unconcealed urgency. Rem lifted her tear-filled face and saw Carlisle and Subaru rush in, one after the other. Subaru's black hair was still covered in dust, and Carlisle's knight uniform bore the marks of battle, but the concern in their eyes was unmistakably clear.
"I'm sorry, I made you worry." Carlisle quickly stepped forward, knelt on one knee before Rem, and placed his fingers on the magic chains. "I'll undo the binding magic for you now."
Subaru stood by, watching the scene with a furrowed brow, displeased with Julius's rough method. But reason told her that if Rem had really rushed into that battlefield... Subaru couldn't help but shiver.
The magic chains gradually dissipated under Carlisle's incantation. Rem's gaze shifted back and forth between the two of them. After undoing the magic, Carlisle hesitated for a moment and said softly, "...Please don't blame Julius, he..."
"Why..." Rem suddenly interrupted him, her voice choked almost to incomprehensibility, "Why are you apologizing to Rem..."
Tears welled up again, streaming down her pale cheeks.
"It's Rem who's too useless... unable to help Carlisle and Subaru... having to let you two face that monster alone..."
Carlisle quietly watched the crying Rem. Rem's trembling shoulders, her knuckles clenched white, and the unstoppable tears, all of it was so familiar, like the way he looked when he awoke from Pandora's illusion.
He understood something.
All along, Carlisle had held the belief that "as long as important people are safe, it doesn't matter what happens to me." He would bear the dangers, endure the pain, even if it meant being shattered into pieces. But at this moment, seeing Rem's collapse, he truly understood for the first time... the suffering that the one who lives on must endure.
So that's it... The one left behind... must bear such despair...? Carlisle recalled the heartbreaking pain he felt when he saw "Subaru's corpse" in the illusion, and the almost dizzying euphoria when he woke up and saw a living Subaru. And now, Rem was experiencing the same emotional Impact.
The next moment, Carlisle's arm slowly wrapped around Rem's shoulders, gently pulling her into a hug. This sudden embrace made Rem stiffen, her blue pupils widening slightly... This was the first time Carlisle had actively been so close to her.
"I'm truly sorry..." Carlisle's voice carried deep apology, "I don't want to justify my actions..."
His arm tightened slightly, his chin gently resting on the crown of Rem's head.
"I know I'm selfish... always unilaterally deciding to bear all dangers alone... But this is me... it's probably hard to change..."
The setting sun outside the window cast long shadows of the two, intertwining on the floor into a warm silhouette.
"However..." Carlisle suddenly changed the subject, "I promise you, I will try even harder to survive in the future. By then..." He gently stroked Rem's back, "...you can blame me however you want."
Rem's body gradually relaxed. Carlisle's warm embrace, his steady heartbeat, and his familiar scent, all of it told her that the important person had truly returned alive.
This realization completely broke down her defenses. Her previously suppressed sobs suddenly turned into loud wails. She hugged Carlisle back tightly, her tears soaking Carlisle's clothes, but he just quietly held her, letting her vent the long-accumulated fear and unease.
The sky in the distance had completely darkened, and the crying inside the room gradually subsided, leaving only soft sniffles.
The sparrows outside the window let out their last chirps, and the last ray of sunlight on the horizon quietly disappeared, bringing this turbulent day to an end.
...
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