Subaru Natsuki, who returned from the new Three Kingdoms

Natsuki Subaru's body suddenly sank.

Warm blood gushed from her chest again, quickly soaking through Rem's clothes on the back.

Rem's face turned pale upon feeling the warmth.

"Pleiades?"

Subaru Natsuki did not respond.

Subaru, no! Don't sleep!

Rem held him tightly, a single horn glowing faintly appearing on her forehead. The power of the Oni race surged into her limbs, increasing her speed once more.

The trees and road formed a blurred shadow on both sides.

"We'll be there soon."

"Did you hear that, Subaru? Talk to Rem!"

"I heard that..."

Natsuki Subaru barely managed to open his eyes.

"I was just thinking that my proficiency with this magic is still a bit lacking. I'll have to ask Teacher Beatrice to teach me more when I get back."

Hearing him spout nonsense, Rem's heart, which had been hanging in suspense, actually calmed down a little.

"Once you survive, Rem will study with you, okay?"

"Yes...sir..."

……

The mansion gate was violently kicked open.

Ram had just been walking down the corridor when she heard the noise and turned around. The first thing she saw was Rem covered in blood and Subaru Natsuki lying unconscious on her back.

"Rem?"

Ram's calm expression changed instantly.

"what happened?"

"Sister, where is Lord Roswaal?"

"Lord Roswaal left the mansion early this morning."

Rem's heart sank.

Roswaal was the kingdom's most powerful mage and the first person she thought of to save her.

But he just wasn't there.

Rem glanced down at the weak Subaru Natsuki, and another petite figure quickly flashed through her mind.

"Lady Betty!"

She carried Subaru Natsuki on her back and rushed to the nearest door, pushing it open with a thud.

Storage room.

It is not a forbidden library.

Rem, keeping the door open, immediately rushed to the next one.

Room.

Next door.

Storage room.

Ram has already understood his sister's thoughts.

Since we can't find the forbidden library hidden by the [Gate of Opportunity], let's open all the doors in the mansion.

If you draw enough cards, there will eventually be a door that leads to where Betty is.

Ram did not stop her, and turned to walk towards the other door.

One fan.

Two doors.

Three doors.

The sound of doors opening and closing echoed continuously throughout the mansion.

Emilia was organizing her magic notes in her room, pondering how to persuade Subaru Natsuki to choose her as his master.

Hearing noises in the hallway, he pushed open the door with a puzzled look.

She first saw Rem, who looked anxious.

Then they saw Natsuki Subaru covered in blood on Rem's back.

Emilia's notebook fell to the ground.

She ran over without even glancing down.

"Pleiades?"

Subaru Natsuki did not answer.

Emilia reached out, wanting to touch his face, but paused for a moment after seeing his hands covered in blood.

The next moment, she still used her palm to support Natsuki Subaru's drooping head.

"How did you get injured like this?"

"We've been attacked..."

Rem, sobbing uncontrollably, opened the new door and said:

"Subaru used dark magic to keep her alive, but the magic is gradually losing its effectiveness. Lord Roswaal is not at the mansion, so Rem must find Lady Beatrice. Only Lady Beatrice can save Rem."

Emilia's face turned pale, but she did not press the matter further.

"Let's take Subaru back to his room first."

She looked up and called out:

"Parker!"

A gray kitten emerged from the crystal. It had been looking relaxed, but its expression immediately turned serious after seeing the wound on Subaru Natsuki's chest.

"Lia, lay him flat."

Rem escorted Subaru Natsuki to the guest room.

Emilia knelt by the bed, tearing off a piece of her sleeve and pressing it against the still-bleeding wound. Puck landed on Subaru's chest, and an intense chill instantly enveloped Subaru's entire body.

The solidification process slowed down the further deterioration of Subaru Natsuki's injuries.

"Subaru's body can't withstand the cold for too long."

Parker looked at Emilia.

"Lia, go find Betty. The sooner the better."

Emilia immediately stood up.

"Subaru, hold on, I'll be back."

She knew that Subaru Natsuki, who was unconscious, couldn't hear her, but she still finished saying those words seriously before turning around and running out of the room.

At this moment, she no longer cared about the notes scattered all over the floor, nor about her blood-stained sleeves.

Another person kept opening doors in the mansion.

……

Inside the forbidden library.

Betty sat on the high-backed chair with her knees drawn up to her chest, the blank Book of Wisdom casually tossed aside alongside the Human Body Training manual.

In two days, Subaru Natsuki will be leaving the mansion.

Whenever Betty thought about this, she felt an inexplicable sense of irritation.

"Let's go then."

Betty stared at the closed door and whispered:

"Now that that annoying guy is gone, the Forbidden Library can finally be quiet again."

Finally, no one said anything incomprehensible while she was reading.

Finally, no one dared to touch Betty's head anymore.

Finally, no one will be saying "I love you to death" with a serious face anymore.

That's fine.

That's good.

But the more Betty told herself this, the more her heart ached.

In the past four hundred years, Subaru Natsuki is the person she has met who is most likely to become "that person".

He was able to find the forbidden library, knew that the Book of Wisdom was now blank, and would invite her to leave in a matter-of-fact manner.

But he still had to leave eventually.

......

Betty lowered her head and buried her face between her knees.

She recalled how Natsuki Subaru had invited her to the village that morning.

Betty refused without hesitation.

It wasn't that she didn't want to go.

It's not because of fear...

If she were to accompany him out of the mansion today, she might want to go with him to a second place, and a third place.

Once she gets used to having someone around, that person will leave again, and the forbidden library will only feel emptier.

Let's part ways here...

You have your life, and Betty has her mission.

Continuing to intersect with each other is destined to lead nowhere.

Let's each go our own way.

Betty had already unilaterally made a conclusion about this relationship in her heart.

But she couldn't help but recall Natsuki Subaru's last words to her:

You'll regret it.

Click!

Just then.

The door to the forbidden library was suddenly pushed open from the outside.

Betty suddenly looked up.

Rem, covered in blood, stood at the doorway.

"Lady Betty..."

Betty's heart clenched as she looked at the bloodstains on her body.

"what happens?"

Rem rushed up and grabbed her wrist.

"Save Subaru!"

……

Betty was practically dragged into the guest room by Rem.

As soon as she stepped across the threshold, she saw Natsuki Subaru lying on the bed, his face pale and lifeless.