Tsukasa turned his gaze to Subaru, who was being casually hooked around the shoulder by his arm but had remained cold and silent.
"Yo!"
He leaned in closer, greeting her in a relaxed tone. "Why the long face? Come on, give us a smile."
As he spoke, he reached out with his other hand, using his thumb and index finger to pinch Subaru's cheek, attempting to pull it into a smile.
However—
"You have a physical body?"
A cold female voice, devoid of any emotion, rang out simultaneously with a sharp 'slap' sound.
'Subaru' raised a hand and slapped away Tsukasa's reaching fingers. She didn't look up, but that voice and that reaction caused everyone present to freeze.
This included Crusch and Wilhelm, who had just rushed over with their exhausted bodies and fresh wounds.
Crusch's military uniform was torn in many places and stained with blood. Dust and grime also clung to Wilhelm's hair and beard. The two had clearly experienced a hard-fought battle. Seeing this scene, surprise flashed in both their eyes.
Meanwhile, Rem, who had been standing beside Tsukasa, immediately felt a flicker of vigilance the moment she heard those cold words.
From the moment Subaru had kicked Lye flying and her aura had abruptly changed, Rem had sensed that something was extremely wrong with her. She had just been about to warn Tsukasa, but he had stopped her with a wave of his hand.
Facing this icy interrogation, the smile on Tsukasa's face didn't change at all. Instead, it carried a hint of 'it's only natural'.
"Are you surprised to see this perfect body of mine?"
He puffed out his chest as if displaying a work of art. "It can't be helped, after all, it's just too excellent."
He paused, as if thinking of something, and his tone became slightly more serious as he followed up. "How is it? This 'future'."
He ignored the first half of 'Subaru's' question about the "physical body," as if it weren't important at all.
'Subaru' raised her head. Her eyes seemed to possess a bit more human emotion than before. She ignored Tsukasa's boastful words and simply stared straight into his eyes.
Silence lasted for a few seconds.
Then, on that perpetually cold face, the corners of her lips twitched upward ever so slightly, tracing an arc that could barely be called a smile.
"It was somewhat successful."
After saying those four words, the light in her eyes scattered. Her entire body seemed to have all its strength drained away, losing its support as she slumped softly into Tsukasa's timely opened arms.
Tsukasa caught her body, feeling the warmth and weight from his arms, as well as her steady but slightly weak breathing. The constant upward curve on his face slowly flattened at this moment.
He carefully lifted Subaru into a bridal carry, turned, and handed her to Rem, who had been watching Subaru the whole time.
"Help me hold her for a bit."
Rem hurriedly reached out to take her, holding Subaru tightly in her arms. Feeling her steady breathing, her tensed heartstrings relaxed slightly.
Tsukasa stopped looking at them and walked straight toward the newly arrived Crusch. He didn't ask much, nor did he exchange pleasantries. Under Crusch's slightly bewildered gaze, he raised his right hand and rested it on her shoulder.
Along with the activation of Reverse Cursed Technique, the countless tiny wounds on Crusch's body vanished. Her skin returned to its smooth state, without even a single scar left behind, as if she had never been injured.
Immediately after, Tsukasa followed the same procedure, and Wilhelm's new wounds were likewise instantly healed as if they were never there.
The two battle-hardened warriors, feeling the sudden disappearance of pain and the surge of healthy strength, both showed expressions of shock.
"Where is Felix?"
Tsukasa only spoke after finishing his work.
"He should be with you, right?"
Crusch suppressed the tremors in her heart and quickly regained the composure of a commander, answering, "I had him go treat the other more seriously injured soldiers first. They need treatment more than I do."
Hearing this, Tsukasa nodded slightly, his gaze toward Crusch carrying a hint of approval.
Crusch seemed to hesitate. She looked into Tsukasa's eyes with obvious apology and self-reproach, her voice low as she spoke, "I am very sorry, Tsukasa-san. The reinforcements that were supposed to support you did not arrive on time. Is Margrave Roswaal's territory alright?"
This was her dereliction of duty. As the nominal commander-in-chief, she had allowed the main force intended to reinforce the mansion to be delayed en route, leaving Roswaal's territory in an isolated and helpless peril. Perhaps she should have decisively split the forces...
"It's perfectly fine."
Tsukasa interrupted her thoughts, his tone flat but certain. "After all, I was there. Besides, most of the Witch Cultists were drawn here. The pressure on the mansion was actually smaller than expected. So, our deal can be considered fulfilled."
He paused, and seeing Crusch's still self-reproachful expression, he added, "There were no casualties. You don't need to blame yourself. If you must make amends..."
He thought for a moment and said, "Then help us with the aftermath. Since that irresponsible fellow Roswaal isn't around, there's no one to handle much of the subsequent cleanup and repair work. Your Karsten House should be good at that."
Crusch immediately nodded solemnly. "It is my duty, I will not refuse."
"Count me in too." A voice with a shrewd, laughing tone cut in.
Anastasia had approached at some point, her eyes curved into crescents. "Aftermath processing and such is what merchants are best at. It's a way to help and expand business at the same time, it's mutually beneficial."
Tsukasa glanced at her and didn't object. He indeed had more important things to deal with right now and had no time for these trivial matters. If someone was willing to take over the aftermath, that was for the best.
He said no more and turned back to Rem's side. "If there's nothing else, let's leave first."
Thinking of Ram's 'bring Rem back safely or else' death stare before he left, Tsukasa felt a headache coming on.
"Tsukasa-san, please wait."
Reinhard seemed to want to say something but Tsukasa had already raised his hand.
Clap!
In the next moment, Tsukasa and Rem, who was holding Subaru, vanished from the spot without a trace.
(End of Chapter)
Read upto 40 chapters ahead on
[email protected]/astralicity