By the time the Shogun and Emilia returned to the mansion, dusk was already settling in. The surroundings were peaceful, without the slightest trace of an attack. Everything looked exactly as it had when they left.
There were only two possibilities—either the enemy had not yet arrived and they had returned early, or... they had already left, and only the corpses of everyone remained inside, leaving the place deathly quiet.
"..." ×2
She and Emilia silently moved to either side of the mansion's main door, pressing themselves lightly against the edges as they listened to the faint sounds coming from within.
Rustle~
Frowning, Emilia gathered astonishing cold air into her palm and lifted her eyes to exchange a glance with her.
"(Nod.)"
The Shogun nodded back, then gently twisted the lock open before drawing her naginata and kicking the door wide open with a single strike!
Crack!!
Emilia also rammed the door open with her shoulder, sharp ice crystals forming around her body as she slid into the center of the hall and raised her hand in an attack stance.
Sizzle!
The Shogun transformed into a streak of lightning and appeared instantly at her side, standing back-to-back with her as she gripped her weapon. Lightning and frost intertwined, gradually blending into a somewhat dazzling silver-purple hue.
However—
"...?" ×2
Only then did they clearly see the situation inside the hall.
It was completely unexpected.
"Um... may I ask what happened? Lady Shogun? Lady Emilia?"
Ram, who had been pouring tea for Beatrice, turned instinctively toward the sudden commotion. She blinked at the two of them, who were striking what looked suspiciously like dramatic battle poses.
"Are you two playing some kind of role-playing game? Also, be careful with the door. Repairs are expensive, I suppose."
Beatrice took a sip of tea and cast them a speechless glance, delivering her comment in her usual tone.
"..." ×2
The two looked at each other, then awkwardly withdrew their stances and straightened up, though their gazes still swept the surroundings cautiously.
"Did something happen?" Ram asked again.
"Ram, has anyone come here earlier?" the Shogun asked as she put away her weapon and walked over.
"Anyone? No... it's only been the few of us."
Ram shook her head, confusion flickering in her eyes.
"Did anything suspicious occur? Like... um... how should I put it?"
Emilia also felt uncertain, growing increasingly embarrassed.
"No... everything was normal today."
Ram glanced at Emilia, then at the Shogun, and shook her head once more.
"Not true. There was something suspicious. Right in front of us."
Beatrice smirked mischievously at the two of them.
"Uh... we don't count!" Emilia protested, flustered.
Hearing that, the Shogun let out a slight breath of relief.
"(It seems those people haven't come yet.)"
She murmured quietly to the person beside her.
"(Mm.)"
Emilia nodded.
"Where is Natsuki Subaru?"
Suddenly remembering something, the Shogun turned to Ram and asked.
"Right! Where's Subaru?!"
Emilia also recalled it. If that was the case, why not take the opportunity to ask him about his experience? Perhaps they could determine the Witch Cult's attack time in advance. After all, he had experienced it personally.
"Barusu is upstairs—"
"Rem has woken up!!!"
Before Ram could finish, Natsuki Subaru came running into the hall and shouted excitedly. But when he saw that the Shogun and Emilia had already returned, he froze. A trace of bewilderment crossed his face. Last time they hadn't been present at all—so why were they suddenly back this time?
As that thought formed, confusion welled up inside him...
Did they know he had looped back? Or did they know something was going to happen at the mansion?
"!!"
Upon hearing the news, Ram immediately set down her cup and rushed toward Rem's room on the second floor.
"The tea spilled~!"
Beatrice complained helplessly, though the tension on her face eased.
"Shogun, let's go as well," Emilia suggested.
"Mm..."
She nodded. The two followed Subaru upstairs and entered Rem's room.
However, things did not go smoothly.
Although Rem had woken up, what followed caused everyone... no, more accurately, caused Ram's heart to sink once more.
"Who... are you?"
The blue-haired girl looked at the people before her in confusion. Having just awakened, she shrank back under the blanket at the sight of so many faces, her sea-blue eyes filled with helplessness.
"!!"
Ram's body trembled at those words. Her eyes gradually reddened. She asked nothing further. The moment she heard that sentence, she already understood what had happened to her little sister.
"Rem... do you remember me? I'm Ram... your older sister."
Even though she understood in her heart, she still wanted to grasp at that faint, drifting hope. Perhaps Rem remembered her. Perhaps she was joking. Perhaps—
Perhaps... this was all a dream.
However—
"Sis... sister? Ram?"
Rem tilted her head in confusion. She did not even dare meet Ram's gaze, as though facing a stranger.
"...Rem? Rem... don't joke with Ram. Ram has already—!"
Unable to endure it any longer, Ram reached out to touch her shoulder.
"Don't!!"
Rem flinched violently away and retreated deeper beneath the blanket, her body trembling.
"..."
Ram's eyes dimmed. She slowly sank down onto the edge of the bed. Tears welled up and slipped from her eyes, dripping onto the sheets.
"Ram..."
Emilia looked at her with heartache and gently placed a hand on her shoulder.
"...I'm sorry, Lady Emilia. I... need to step outside for a moment."
Her voice trembled as she stood, wiping the tears from her face before fleeing the room as if escaping. Even without her saying it, they understood—she wanted to cry alone.
"Rem, do you remember us? I'm Emilia, and she is the Shogun. We're your friends."
Emilia took Ram's previous seat but did not reach out, introducing herself gently.
"..."
Meanwhile, the Shogun stood by the window with her arms folded, watching silently.
"I'm sorry..."
Rem's eyes flickered with confusion before she shook her head in dejection, indicating she had no recollection.
"I see... that's alright. The most important thing is that you've woken up."
Emilia smiled softly, her tone gentle.
"Beatrice. What is going on?"
The Shogun exhaled and turned her gaze toward the blonde girl seated on the other side of the bed, her voice slightly cold.
Logically speaking, Rem should have been fine already. The curse had been removed—by her own hand. So why had things turned out like this?
"Haa... as expected..."
Beatrice sighed, as if she had anticipated it.
"Eh? What do you mean?"
Emilia asked in confusion.
"The curse spread very quickly through Rem's body. By the time we discovered it, it had already begun permeating her entirely. That means part of it had already passed through her brain. It likely damaged her hippocampus at the time, resulting in memory loss. The long sleep was probably related to that as well."
"Frankly, losing only her memories is already fortunate. After all, it affected her brain, you understand."
Beatrice spoke in a low voice, her brows knitted.
"Is it reversible?" the Shogun asked.
"That... I cannot be certain. If we're lucky, her memories may gradually return over the next few months. If we're not..."
She did not finish the sentence.
They did not press further.
The implication was obvious.
Before one wave had settled, another rose—
The matter of the Witch Cult was not yet resolved, and now Rem had lost her memories.
Haa... what a string of misfortunes.
She complained inwardly.
"Um... did I just make... her sad?"
At that moment, the amnesiac Rem peeked out from beneath the blanket like a timid kitten. She glanced toward the doorway Ram had left through and asked cautiously.
When Ram had tried to touch her, a wave of fear had surged up instinctively. Before she even realized it, she had avoided her hand. Now, guilt filled her heart.
After all, she had said she was her sister.
"No... Ram won't be angry with you."
Though she would probably be sad for a while...
Emilia thought awkwardly to herself.
"I'm sorry..."
"This isn't your fault. You don't need to apologize."
The Shogun gently stroked the girl's head. At first, Rem seemed slightly resistant, but after sensing the warmth of that palm, she gradually let down her guard and obediently allowed herself to be petted.
Watching the girl grow more relaxed, the Shogun's lips curved faintly upward. However, after a brief moment of thought, her expression returned to its usual cool elegance.
Even now, they still did not know who had commanded the demon beast that bit Rem. Ever since that day, it had never appeared again, as if it had vanished from the world. In fact, they had not seen its master in the forest at all—not even a shadow. It was reasonable to assume that from the very beginning, the mastermind had intended to discard that beast.
And there was no telling whether Rem had been the sole target. Although the other children had been injured, Rem's wounds had been the most severe. There was no guarantee the enemy would not strike again.
"..."
Looking at the pitiful blue-haired girl before her, the Shogun's eyes narrowed dangerously.
It seemed they would need to act with greater caution from now on.
"Are you sleepy, Rem?" Emilia asked softly, noticing that the girl beneath the blanket was beginning to grow drowsy, her eyelids drooping.
"Mm... a little."
Rem nodded obediently. Her already gentle voice sounded even more fragile now. Combined with the weakness brought on by her amnesia, she resembled a small, vulnerable animal.
"Then get some rest. We'll step outside."
The Shogun rose first and exchanged a glance with Emilia.
Emilia nodded, then turned to the boy still standing nearby.
"Subaru, come with us for a moment."
"Ah..."
Natsuki Subaru blinked, then hurriedly followed the two girls out of the room. The Shogun gently closed the door behind them.
After shutting the door, she glanced at Subaru, who now looked somewhat at a loss, then at Emilia.
"Let's go to my room..." Emilia said quietly.
Click.
A few minutes later, Emilia opened the bedroom door and gestured for them to enter. However, Subaru remained standing outside, staring blankly.
"What's wrong?" Emilia asked, puzzled.
"Um... this is Emilia-tan's bedroom, right? I should probably— Aah!!"
"Stop dawdling already!"
With an exasperated expression, Emilia grabbed his wrist and dragged him inside before slamming the door shut with a bang. Subaru's shoulders jerked in fright.
Scrape.
The Shogun pulled out a chair from the desk and motioned toward it.
"Sit."
Her voice was cold.
"Y-Yes."
He shuddered slightly and obediently sat beside her, utterly confused. The two girls were giving him the distinct feeling of being interrogated, which made the hair on his arms stand on end.
He still hadn't figured out why Emilia-tan and the Shogun had returned. Could it really be what he was thinking? No way... right?
Impossible.
This was something only he knew.
And he couldn't say it out loud.
Emilia pulled over another chair and sat on Subaru's other side, placing her hands lightly on the table as she studied his profile with a probing gaze.
"...W-What is it, Emilia-tan?" Subaru forced an awkward smile.
"..."
Emilia glanced at the Shogun, who was leaning against the desk. The Shogun gave a small nod.
"Hey, Subaru..."
"Y-Yes!"
He straightened instinctively.
"You... have died before, haven't you?"
Emilia asked bluntly.
"...!"
In that instant, Subaru was genuinely stunned.
Ordinarily, hearing such a rude question would make anyone irritated. But he wasn't angry—because he understood exactly what she meant.
But why?
He had never—
"Have you?" Emilia pressed.
"...Y—"
Thump—
The moment he tried to say "yes," an agonizing pain exploded in his chest. It felt as though an invisible hand had seized his heart and was squeezing mercilessly. A suffocating sense of death overwhelmed him. Cold sweat broke out across his forehead as he collapsed onto the desk, clutching his chest and gasping, his face twisted in agony.
"Eh?! What's wrong?!" Emilia panicked.
"Ugh—! Sorry... I... can't say it!" Subaru wheezed, his face drained of color as he gripped his heart.
"Then use gestures. Nod or shake your head," the Shogun suggested calmly.
"!"
Subaru froze, then slowly nodded.
"Have you died before?" Emilia asked again.
Subaru hesitated for a moment, fear rising in his chest.
What if something happened again?
But he still wanted to answer.
Heart pounding, he forced himself to nod.
"!" ×2
The two girls exchanged a glance before turning back to him in tacit understanding.
"How did you die?" the Shogun asked.
"...Someone who called himself the Sloth Archbishop. He was... unhinged. I think his name was—Petelgeuse."
Subaru held his forehead, recalling the vivid pain of that memory as he spoke.
"Sloth... Archbishop? Then it really was the Witch Cult," Emilia said gravely.
"That's right! They called themselves the Witch Cult too!" Subaru agreed eagerly.
"What about the others? What happened to everyone else?" Emilia asked anxiously.
"..."
Subaru did not answer. His eyes darkened.
"...I see."
Emilia understood immediately, her voice growing heavy.
"How many were there?" the Shogun continued.
"A lot. It was like the entire organization mobilized—like an army. The village, the mansion... they were overrun instantly. We couldn't resist at all. Even Ram..."
At that point, Subaru's face went pale again. He clenched his teeth, as if reliving a true nightmare.
"What about Beatrice? And Roswaal?" Emilia asked, confused. Those two should have been powerful enough. Why were they absent at such a critical moment?