When the last word dissipated in the night wind, the mental defenses Rem had been holding tight finally collapsed completely.
She was no longer the most capable maid, nor the warrior who always remained expressionless. At this moment, she was just a scarred little girl, letting her tears flow freely. Crystal teardrops continuously slid across her pale cheeks, dripping onto the grass.
In the Consciousness Space, Subaru had long since curled up on the bed, hugging herself tightly, her, heart aching over this past story.
Meanwhile, Tsukasa set aside his usual cynical expression. Those blue eyes, which usually carried a hint of playfulness, were now filled with unprecedented seriousness.
He gently approached the sobbing Rem, his voice gentle yet firm. "The black tea you prepare for Subaru every morning is always at the perfect temperature. Even at your busiest moments, you remember that she likes half a spoonful of honey."
"Those snacks you quietly leave in the study, every piece carries your feelings. This warmth in the small details, whether it's me or Subaru, we have felt it from the very beginning."
Tsukasa looked directly into Rem's tear-filled eyes. "Rem living in Ram's shadow? What a joke. That incredibly precise weapon technique protected everyone in times of crisis."
"You carefully observe everyone's habits, keeping the mansion running in perfect order. Even the slightest abnormality, you react to it quickly."
"These traits are irreplaceable by anyone, including Ram."
At this moment, he knelt on one knee to meet Rem's gaze, his tone brooking no argument. "From now on, no matter which end of the world you stand on, or what kind of enemy you face—we will stand by your side."
Then, Tsukasa gently held Rem's trembling hands, his fingertips conveying a warm strength.
"You don't need to be anyone's duplicate, nor do you need to sacrifice yourself for anyone's future."
"You are Rem, a unique existence, the Rem who deserves to have her own life."
The heavy burdens that had weighed on Rem's heart for years began to crumble bit by bit under these words.
On the quiet forest path, Tsukasa carefully carried the weakened Rem on his back, who was exhausted from overexertion and mental shock. Rem lay quietly on his back, her pale cheek resting gently on his shoulder.
"By the way, have you thought about what I mentioned before?"
Tsukasa deliberately lightened his steps to avoid jarring the girl on his back. "Don't worry, I'm much more reliable than that clown-like fellow."
Rem could clearly feel the warmth coming from his chest, which allowed her originally taut heartstrings to relax slightly.
After a brief thought, she responded softly, "I'm sorry, Tsukasa. Because Ram is still here, Rem cannot..."
She thought she would hear a sigh of disappointment, but she didn't expect Tsukasa's voice to become even gentler. "I see. That girl Ram is indeed hard to deal with."
What shocked her even more were the words that followed.
"How about we make a deal? I will heal Ram's broken horn, and the payment will be you."
"!"
Rem snapped her eyes open, almost unable to believe her ears.
Her sister's horn—this had been her greatest heartache for years.
For this goal, she had even begged Roswaal to find a cure, but had always come up empty-handed.
"Please... Tsukasa."
Her voice trembled, yet it was incredibly sincere, without the slightest hesitation.
Tsukasa chuckled upon hearing this. "Actually, I'm quite cunning. Because as long as Rem comes, Ram will naturally follow. So healing Ram is, in the end, helping myself. After all, I am a thorough egoist."
"Pfft—" Rem couldn't help but burst into laughter.
"What's so funny? I'm seriously confessing my selfishness."
"No... it's nothing." Rem buried her face in his shoulder, her voice carrying a long-lost lightheartedness. "It's just that Tsukasa told a very funny joke."
The moonlight filtered through the gaps in the leaves, casting mottled shadows on the two of them.
And so, in the relaxed atmosphere created by Tsukasa, they chatted and laughed all the way, slowly heading toward the village.
...
"Ram is going to find Rem!"
Ram's shout pierced through the bustle of the village.
Ram's face was written with unprecedented anxiety, and even the usually calm and self-contained Beatrice showed a look of worry—the two had unexpectedly formed a common front: one looking for her sister, the other looking for Subaru.
Emilia advised softly, "Ram, calm down. With Tsukasa there, Rem will be fine."
However, at this moment, Ram couldn't listen at all. As twins, there was a special telepathic connection between her and Rem. It was by relying on this connection that she was able to save her sister in time on that tragic night years ago. Right now, the unease in her heart was like a poisonous snake coiling around her, making her restless.
Beatrice didn't speak, but her determined eyes already showed her stance. Puck wanted to persuade her, but was forced to swallow his words by her gaze.
Just as Emilia was at a loss, an exaggerated voice suddenly rang out.
"Ooooh! Is such a graaaaand scene~ to weeeelcome my arrival?"
Roswaal descended from the sky like a bolt of lightning, landing in the center of the crowd.
He ignored the others and walked straight to Emilia. "Emilia-sama, hoooow is the situation?"
Emilia breathed a sigh of relief and said, "The situation is under control. The barrier has been redeployed. Aside from three seriously injured people, there are no other casualties."
This result greatly surprised Roswaal. According to his estimation, with both the north and south barriers broken and a large number of Wolgarms invading, there should have been at least fifty percent casualties.
'Is it because of Tsukasa?'
He thought of that mysterious existence. Although he hadn't personally witnessed the other party's strength, the blue pillar of light and the majestic mana he felt on his way here still left him with lingering fears. That was definitely not a power level that ordinary magic could achieve.
Just as Roswaal fell into thought, another familiar voice sounded.
"Yo! Everyone's here, that's quite rare."
Everyone looked toward the source of the voice and saw Tsukasa walking from the southern entrance of the village. More notably, a blue-haired girl was lying on his back—it was Rem, whom Ram had been so worried about.
"Rem!"
Without any hesitation, Ram charged toward her sister. At this moment, her usual calmness and poisonous tongue were nowhere to be found, replaced only by pure worry and urgency.
Tsukasa watched Ram run over, tilted his head slightly, and whispered to Rem on his back, "See, even your sister definitely doesn't want anything to happen to you. She'd even less want you to live as her shadow forever."
These words once again precisely touched the softest part of Rem's heart. Watching her sister's extremely anxious face, tears burst from her eyes and slid down her cheeks.
By now, Ram had rushed close. She took Rem from Tsukasa's back with great care, holding her tightly in her arms.
Feeling her sister's body temperature and steady breathing, Ram's tense body finally relaxed slightly.
She gently pressed her face against Rem's hair, her voice carrying a trace of imperceptible sobbing as she repeatedly murmured, "Very good...That's so great..."
Tsukasa quietly glanced at the embracing sisters, then proactively looked away, leaving the moment of reunion entirely to them.
He then turned his gaze toward Roswaal, who was dressed in somewhat formal attire, a mocking curve hooking at the corner of his lips.