It wasn't just Roswaal. Ram, too, remained at the mansion going about her usual chores, no different from any other day.
Gojo went to the Forbidden Library with Puck.
After handing the spirit off to Betty, he settled into a corner and let his mind work, one ear tuned to the Conversation Mirror for any sign of trouble. The moment something came through, he'd grab Puck and be out the door.
Betty cuddled and played with Puck for a good while before the nagging sense that something was off finally got to her. She glanced up and found Gojo sitting alone in the corner, a book open in his hands. The same page had been showing for quite some time.
"Well, well. Seems I'm not the only one who's worried."
"Gojo's got real dad energy." Puck studied him with an approving nod. "Solid potential."
"He's nothing compared to my brother." Betty sniffed, dismissive.
Even as the words left her mouth, she turned toward him.
"Could you stop sitting over there ruining the mood while my brother and I are having a nice time?"
The voice pulled Gojo back from wherever his thoughts had taken him. He looked at Betty's sour little face and smiled.
"Betty, what do you think of Roswaal?"
"What do I think of him?"
"Are you being stupid on purpose? What kind of question is that?"
The words came out rapid-fire, like she was lobbing them.
"I mean, whether he's trustworthy. That sort of thing."
Puck scratched behind his ear and glanced at Betty. "Can't help you with that one."
"Honestly, why should Betty have to answer something like that." She grumbled, pulling Puck closer into her arms before grudgingly continuing. "Who knows what that man is really like. It's not as if Betty has spent much time around him."
"Stable, though, I suppose."
"Stable?"
"The Mathers line has always been stable. Whether it was the one who served as Mother's disciple back then, or the current one."
"Across all those years, aside from the frequent dying and the gender changes, there hasn't been much difference to speak of."
She said it while gently scratching under Puck's chin, casual as commenting on the weather.
"Is that the arrogance of an immortal? Glossing over death like it's a footnote?"
"You're just looking for a fight." Betty puffed out her cheeks and fixed him with a dangerous look.
"Not at all." Gojo held up both hands, the picture of innocence. "Just a little curious, that's all."
He stood and brushed the dust from his clothes.
"I'm going for a walk."
"Puck, if anything happens, I'll be back in a heartbeat."
With that, he turned and left the Forbidden Library.
Puck could only shake his head.
But things didn't play out the way Gojo expected.
The entire morning passed without the Conversation Mirror so much as flickering. He reached out through it himself. Nothing. Calm on the other end. Peaceful. Not a hint of trouble.
It wasn't until close to noon that Rem pulled up in the Dragon Carriage.
Before it had even come to a full stop, Gojo caught the sound of Subaru's unmistakable laugh.
The two of them stepped down from the carriage wearing matching grins, broad and genuine. Whatever had happened at the village, it had put both of them in excellent spirits.
"If we get the chance, let's go again sometime."
"Or maybe explore somewhere new."
"Emilia!"
Riding the warmth of the moment, Subaru seized the opening to float the next invitation.
"Tsk, tsk, tsk."
"Trying to make moves on my daughter while her father's away, are we?"
"Kitty flying kick!"
Puck shot out of nowhere, planting a gleeful paw square in Subaru's face.
"All I want is for Emilia to smile even more! I'm going to protect that smile with everything I've got!"
Gojo watched the commotion play out and waited for it to die down before wandering over, keeping it casual.
"How was the morning?"
"Great. Beyond great. Couldn't have been better!"
Subaru's nostrils flared with excitement, his whole body practically vibrating.
"Emilia is literally an angel. Everything becomes wonderful just by being around her."
"Nothing dangerous happen? Nothing weird?"
"Nope. The villagers were friendly, and there was this pack of mischievous kids running around. You'd like it there, Gojo. We should bring Felt along next time too. She's been looking bored out of her mind lately..."
Subaru launched into a blow-by-blow of the morning with infectious enthusiasm. None of it sounded like anything had gone wrong. Gojo thought back to what he'd seen the night before, and a thread of doubt tugged at him.
Was I overthinking it?
Maybe Roswaal really was just out for a midnight stroll because he couldn't sleep.
Mid-thought, his gaze snagged on the bandage wrapped around Subaru's hand.
"What happened there?"
"Oh, this? A puppy bit me at the village. Rem already patched me up. It's nothing, really."
"Let's hope you're not the kind of side character who gets taken out by rabies."
"Uh... that's not going to happen. Probably."
For the rest of the day, the successful "date" with Emilia kept Subaru running at a manic frequency. The boy was so wound up that even Betty couldn't stand it. In her words, he was like a monkey in heat come spring.
She launched him out of the Forbidden Library a few times before he finally settled down.
As for Gojo, now that the day had ended without incident and Betty had gotten her time with Puck, she couldn't be bothered to pick fights with him either.
She'd more or less given up. No point in resisting. If you're going to sit there, sit there. Just don't expect a warm welcome.
Still, compared to before, things between them had improved.
Night fell.
Gojo finished the dessert Rem had brought, washed up, and lay down in bed.
Staring at a ceiling that no longer felt unfamiliar, Felt's face drifted through his mind.
About time I told her what's going on.
He held that thought as his eyes closed and sleep pulled him under.
...
"Mr. Gojo, ready to board? We're about to depart."
Gojo stood in front of the Dragon Carriage, staring blankly at Rem in the driver's seat, her voice brisk and expectant.
Inside the cabin, Subaru wore the same stunned expression. "W-what's going on?"
In the same instant, their eyes found each other.