Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

"Why are you spacing out again?"

Rem snapped out of her daze, her cheeks slightly flushed.

But instead of letting go of Subaru's right hand, she tightened her grip.

"Where are that female hero and that little girl who can control monsters?"

Subaru Natsuki asked again.

"That little girl ran away while Rem was saving Subaru."

Rem's tone still carried a hint of self-reproach.

"The female assassin was taken back to the mansion and locked in the underground cell. Ram has used magic and chains to restrict her movements."

"One escaped, and the other went to the dungeon."

Natsuki Subaru nodded thoughtfully.

"That's not surprising, that's not surprising."

Rem couldn't understand why this wasn't strange at all.

In the past, she might have imitated her sister and been sarcastic towards Subaru, seeing how troubled Subaru looked.

But now she's starting to think that it doesn't matter if she doesn't understand.

As long as Subaru is still talking, that's fine.

As long as Subaru is still talking to her, that's fine.

"Pleiades."

Rem gripped his hand tightly.

"Please promise Rem that you won't do such dangerous things again."

"At least... don't go to this extent for Rem again."

Natsuki Subaru shook his head.

"No."

Rem hadn't expected him to refuse so decisively.

Whether I live or die is another matter.

Natsuki Subaru looked at her, his tone much more serious than before.

"But I absolutely cannot stand by and watch you get hurt."

"I'd rather the world hurt me than let the world hurt Rem."

"As long as I, Natsuki Subaru, have a breath left, no one can hurt you in front of me."

Rem's breathing stopped again.

Subaru Natsuki has very dark eyes.

Normally, those eyes are always hidden by exaggerated expressions and absurd words, making it impossible for people to notice what's really inside.

But at this moment, he simply looked at Rem quietly.

There was no alcohol in his mouth, no jokes, and no deliberate display of generalship.

Rem saw seriousness in those eyes.

He genuinely didn't care whether he would get hurt.

She truly wouldn't allow anyone to hurt her.

Rem felt as if she were being held captive by that gaze, her heart pounding heavily.

She knew perfectly well that Subaru Natsuki's thoughts were dangerous and that she should immediately refute them and demand that he cherish her more.

But she couldn't speak.

The weight those eyes held for her was something she had never received before, whether in the village or the mansion.

Tears welled up in her eyes.

But this time, the tears weren't tears of self-blame, but... tears of emotion.

It is a joyful tear that comes from the fact that something deep within me, something I've known since childhood, has finally been filled.

She even had a near-greedy thought.

I hope Natsuki Subaru will continue to look at her like this in the future.

"All right."

Natsuki Subaru patted the back of her hand.

"You didn't sleep all night either, did you? Go back and rest."

"But Subaru—let me take care of you here; your wounds haven't healed yet."

"It's a minor injury, nothing to worry about. Just rest and recover."

"You should get some rest. Take me to the dungeon tomorrow after you wake up. I need to find that heroine."

Subaru Natsuki said with a serious expression.

“She came all the way to see me, I can’t just lock her up and then ignore her.”

Rem was silent for a moment, then finally nodded.

"it is good."

She tucked Natsuki Subaru back in, checked the medicine and water by the bedside again, and then reluctantly let go of his hand.

Subaru, please get some rest.

"Yes, sir." Subaru Natsuki nodded respectfully with a blank expression.

When Rem came out of the room, Ram was standing in the hallway.

The pink-haired maid stood with her arms crossed, seemingly having been waiting for a while.

"Rem".

Ram's gaze swept from her sister's reddened eyes to the abrasions on her arm.

"Are there any discomforts?"

Rem shook her head.

"Sister, Rem is not hurt."

She paused for a moment, then her voice became very soft.

"Subaru has protected Rem very well."

Ram nodded.

She looked at Rem's expression and quickly noticed a change.

Previously, when Rem mentioned Subaru Natsuki, she always spoke with wariness, confusion, and scrutiny.

Now all those things are gone.

Instead, there was a softness that Ram had never seen on her sister's face.

"It seems that Natsuki Subaru has lost an arm."

Ram said calmly.

"But it took Rem's heart."

Rem blushed, but did not deny it.

She nodded seriously.

"For Rem, Subaru is like a hero."

Ram didn't speak.

She raised her hand and gently tidied Rem's slightly messy hair.

"Go and rest."

"Okay. Goodnight, sister. See you tomorrow."

"See you tomorrow."

The two sisters parted ways in the corridor.

When Rem returned to her room, her steps were still a little unsteady, and the words that Subaru Natsuki had just said kept replaying in her mind.

'Rem's... Hero...'

'I wonder if Subaru has someone he likes...'

'If Rem confessed her feelings to him... would he accept?'

'We've only known each other for a few days. If I confess my feelings now, Subaru-kun will be scared...'

'And wouldn't that make Rem seem unreserved?'

'How about we subtly ask tomorrow...'

Anyway, there's always tomorrow.

Tomorrow she will get up a little earlier to prepare breakfast for Subaru and then help him to the dungeon.

Once Subaru has adjusted to life without his left arm, she can accompany him to do even more things.

As for saying "I like you," there's no need to rush to say it now.

There will be plenty of time later, and Rem can tell him little by little.

Rem suppressed her pounding heart and pushed open the door to her room.

A cool night breeze blew in my face.

She looked up and found that the window in the room was open.

Did you forget to close the window?

Rem walked to the window, unaware that a gray moth was perched on the wall behind her.

The next moment, a strong scent of the Witch Cult suddenly appeared behind them.

Rem's expression changed drastically, and she was about to turn around.

pat.

Rem disappeared, and her maid outfit, now unsupported, fell to the floor.

A blue butterfly flew out from between the clothes.

The sounds of flesh and bone tearing, deforming, and being kneaded filled the air.

Looking again, there was another [Rem] in the room.

She looked down at the blue butterfly, a happy smile spreading across her lips.

"Don't rush."

"I will take good care of your hero for you."

The mirror reflected the gentle face of the blue-haired maid.

The smile that played on her lips, but the madness hidden beneath that smile, was completely different from the real Rem...

A blue butterfly stumbled and flew out of the open window.

[Rem] did not stop her.

She simply stood by the window, smiling as she watched that patch of blue disappear into the night.

……

The next morning, Subaru Natsuki woke up again.

After a brief activity last night, he has become basically familiar with the feeling of losing his left arm.

At least when he sat up again, he didn't fall headfirst to the left due to excessive force.