Re:ZERO -Starting Life in Another World- Vol. 15 Read online

  The murderous sounds of snapping bones and bloody flesh being consumed reverberated across the corridor. Then he saw it.

  The creature had the head of a lion, a torso like that of a horse, a tail resembling a serpent, and a fearsome twisting horn protruding from its face—a sovereign among demon beasts, with the entirety of its being embodying the word danger.

  —This was the demon beast that Subaru had once seen slay Petra. And its name was…

  “Totally forgot it, but… So we meet again, you shitty demon beast…!”

  “!!!”

  As if responding to Subaru venting his rage, the black demon beast raised a roar that seemed to shake the entire mansion. Bathed in a sense of awe like being buffeted in blast winds, Subaru adjusted Rem upon his back and clenched his teeth.

  “Otto! Give that bastard a taste of the repel sto—”

  “No! It won’t work, Subaru! That demon beast is a…”

  Petra shook her head side to side, her face pale as she pleaded with Subaru. Her words brought him to a sudden realization. He’d already guessed what Otto was about to shout.

  “A Giltirau! The repel stone will not work on it! The beast is our worst enemy right now!”

  Instantly, the demon beast—the Giltirau—lowered its body, aimed itself toward the group…and charged.

  Its claws rent the carpet. Its roar made the very foundations tremble. With a snarling battle cry, it came barreling toward them.

  —With this, three battles had erupted simultaneously. The Battle of Roswaal Manor…had begun.

  CHAPTER 2

  HAPPINESS REFLECTED UPON THE WATER’S SURFACE

  1

  “—Heeey, Lia. Don’t wobble your head like that and sit still, would you?”

  Before she opened her eyes, the first thing she heard was a soft, lovely voice.

  Slowly, as if guided by the voice, her consciousness floated to the surface. Her vision was hazy. In the span of several blinks, she realized she was sitting in a chair and this was her own house.

  It was their house, built from the hollow of a great tree in the forest. She was sitting in her own chair in the living room.

  “Goodness, how long are you going to be such a spoiled little child? You’re really incorrigible, you know.”

  From so close that she could feel her breath, she heard a voice so gentle, it seemed to embrace her. It caused such a stirring in her chest that the girl—Emilia—hurriedly looked over.

  She immediately spotted a woman with short silver hair, a foul look in her eyes, and who, to Emilia, was the ideal woman.

  “Mom…”

  “You turned so quickly, it surprised me… Did you doze off? Were you catching a nap while leaving me to do your hair…? We truly have a lazy Princess on our hands.”

  As Emilia’s eyes went wide, her mother—Fortuna—smiled with an air of exasperation. She did not understand why she felt so deeply moved by simply seeing the sharp eyes and soft expression of her mother.

  “Mom…”

  “Mm? What’s wrong? If something happened, you can tell me anything.”

  “You’re really dressed up today, huh, Mom? It’s really cute.”

  “—! Is that all? And here I was getting worried only for you to tease me.”

  With just a hint of a blush, Fortuna flicked Emilia’s forehead with a finger. Putting a hand on her forehead, Emilia went “eh-heh-heh” and grinned.

  Emilia was always proud of her mother, but she thought Fortuna looked especially beautiful that day. This was because she was actually wearing a skirt for once instead of her usual easy-to-move-in attire. Though her clothes had minimal adornment, the color-matched, fresh-looking outfit suited Fortuna very well.

  “Oh, look at you. Even though you have such a cute face, it’s quite a mess today… You really do seem like you’re still half-asleep. I thought I sent you to wash your hair at the watering hole earlier. Did you just have a drink and come back?”

  “Hmph, Mom’s making fun of me again. There isn’t even the tiniest smidgen of carelessness in my whole body. Everyone else always says that I’m really well-behaved, too.”

  “Even though you still use such ridiculous phrases, I’m really worried other people are filling your head with silly ideas. I’d better have a little chat with Archi after this.”

  The way she pressed her lips together seemed to indicate dissatisfaction, but the way Fortuna pressed a palm against her forehead clashed with that image. Her mother proceeded to move in front of the sullen Emilia and resumed doing her hair once more.

  She had long hair, silver just like Fortuna’s. Her mother braided it up with practiced ease like she used magic.

  “Okay, now it’s all nice and beautiful. Go look in the mirror.”

  “Mm-hmm, thanks, Mom. The mirror…”

  When Fortuna patted her on the shoulder, Emilia stood up with a big grin to do as she was told. The little girl proceeded to turn toward the full-length mirror—but then she stopped.

  “Emilia?”

  Fortuna called out to her daughter with a questioning voice. But Emilia did not reply. For some reason, she could not approach the full-length mirror. Even she did not know the reason why.

  Her legs were cramped. As Emilia stewed in melancholy, salvation came to her from a different direction.

  She heard the sound of someone knocking on the door to their home. Lifting her head with a gasp, Emilia went, “A guest!” and whirled around, her legs hastily taking her in that direction. And then—

  “—Good morning to you, Lady Emilia. I am overjoyed that you came to greet me.”

  When she opened the door in a fair bit of a hurry, Emilia’s breath caught as the tall visitor on the other side greeted her. The man, with green hair and soft features, smiled at her.

  Seeing the tranquil benevolence residing in this individual’s eyes, Emilia could not help but break into a broad smile.

  “Geuse… G-good morning to you.”

  “Yes, it has been some time, Lady Emilia. I hope you will treat me kindly today.”

  “Today…?”

  Hearing words of greeting from the visiting man—Geuse—made Emilia tilt her head in confusion. That curious reaction elicited an “oh my” from Geuse, who raised a curious eyebrow.

  “Are you not aware? I had thought we had sent word beforehand…”

  “Geuse, don’t take her seriously. Lia’s just being a sleepyhead this morning.”

  “Grrr, I can’t believe Mom’s still saying stuff like that…”

  Fortuna’s exasperated voice made Emilia look over, but her words caught in her throat. Fortuna was not dressed like normal, and she was holding a basket clearly meant for going out and about. Emilia could faintly smell herb-grilled meat sandwiched between cuts of her mother’s handmade bread. In other words—

  “—Ah! We’re going to the lake?”

  “Why, this girl looks like she only just remembered even though she’s the one who asked to go…”

  “Did I really? …Maybe I did ask. If that’s true, then I just get to be twice as happy.”

  When she thought back on it, she felt like she had made a request just like that. And having forgotten it, the instant she remembered made her feel like she’d gotten to enjoy it two times over.

  “…Geuse, what do you think of her?”

  “It is rather in character for Lady Emilia, I believe. She specializes in doubling her happiness. Perhaps we have a thing or two to learn from her.”

  “You spoiling her irresponsibly puts me in a bind, though. Goodness…it must be Sister’s blood in her.”

  Fortuna sighed as she touched a hand to her forehead. Then when she noticed Geuse training his gaze firmly upon her, she gave him a sharp look as if asking, What…?

  “No, it would be better not to worsen your mood…”

  “We’ve known each other long enough. There’s nothing you can say that will shake me now, Geuse.”

  “Then I shall speak the words. Lady Fortuna, your clo
thing choices this day are dazzling. I find myself rather enchanted by the sight of you.”

  When Geuse spoke his mind with a guileless look on his face, Fortuna stiffened for a brief moment.

  “—!”

  Then Fortuna’s face turned red. An instant later, with a powerful punch to his shoulder, she sent Geuse flying.

  Forgotten in the commotion, the basket was in danger of falling onto the floor, but Emilia caught it just in the nick of time.

  2

  “Did I truly say something rude I should not have…?”

  “No, it’s not that. Mom gets embarrassed really easily, so she couldn’t help but blush when you said that to her, Geuse. Tee-hee, Mom’s so cute.”

  “Don’t go around making things up! Geuse is… He is a man wicked to the core.”

  With the quarrel at home out of the way, the three amicably strolled along—Fortuna marched ahead in a huff, with Emilia and Geuse walking side by side as they headed for the lake in the forest.

  The incident upon their departure had Fortuna in a mood, and Geuse had gotten worked up over that, but from Emilia’s point of view, Fortuna wasn’t really angry—she was just shy. Emilia was a little aggravated that Geuse seemed to be the only one who wasn’t picking up on that.

  But the relationship between Geuse and her mother was close, if a bit prickly, and certainly a happy one.

  “Oh my, Lady Fortuna.” “And Emilia and Geuse, too.” “Good to see parent and child getting along.”

  The housewives living close by commented and called out as they watched the trio heading down the path toward the lake. Before Fortuna could whip out a snappy retort, Geuse said, “You are obviously very loved,” and the happy smile on his face made Fortuna swallow her words.

  “…I—I suppose,” was the only reply she could muster.

  Then as Fortuna inconspicuously matched her walking pace with Emilia and Geuse, Emilia quietly waved back to the housewives, whereupon the wives smiled with mischievous looks on their faces.

  They walked in that manner for a while until the forest abruptly fell away and their destination, the lake, came into view.

  “As usual, the air here is very refreshing. I feel like I’m in a better mood already.”

  “That is because you are always carrying such weighty burdens, Lady Fortuna. You must stretch your wings once in a while. By all means, allow me to aid you in doing so.”

  Fortuna put her things down on the lakeshore and made a little stretch as Geuse expressed his consideration for her. When he busily set aside a place for them to sit and made preparations for the picnic, Fortuna narrowed her eyes; then, as she gazed upon the scenery, she called out to Emilia.

  “Today, I’m being treated not as the leader of my people but as an old little girl. I can’t relax like this. Hey, Emilia, say something, would…?”

  “”

  “Emilia? What’s wrong?”

  Fortuna extended a hand toward her beloved daughter, who was immobile as she stared intently, pouring her gaze into the scenery at the edge of the lake.

  “You’ve been really odd this morning. If you don’t feel well, we can go home and…”

  Then, just as she offered a voice of concern…

  “”

  …Emilia’s tummy made a cute sound as it pleaded in hunger. Instantly, the concern on Fortuna’s face crumbled. All she could do was heave a deep sigh.

  “Mom, I’m really hungry…”

  “It’s obvious even if you didn’t tell me and didn’t show me such a tragic face. Goodness, you make people worry only for it to turn out like this. You truly are a child who keeps other people busy.”

  As the corners of her eyes fell with relief, Fortuna flicked Emilia’s forehead, then pulled her close against her own chest. She did not crouch for this; Emilia was simply leaning forward—they were, after all, roughly the same height.

  “The two of you always get along so well. Watching it up close is truly enough to put a smile on my face.”

  “…Want to join in, Geuse?”

  “Don’t say stupid things. Geuse, go ahead and open the basket. It’s a little early, but we shall have our meal, for our Princess demands it.”

  With that declaration, Fortuna kept holding Emilia close as they walked over to join Geuse. The basket’s contents were spread atop a flat, grassy spot. Her mother was good at cooking over a fire, and this was her specialty.

  Food grilled with herbs was one of Emilia’s favorites, as well as—

  “I am always humbled that you would share this with me… The flavor is simply irresistible.”

  With a munch, munch and a happy-looking face, Geuse stuffed his cheeks full of grilled-herb food. Fortuna’s cooking specialty was nothing short of a feast to him, so it was guaranteed this was what they would have every time the trio went out for a picnic.

  It was undeniable. Something was…stirring in her chest.

  “Geuse, if you love Mom’s cooking so much, you should just…live in the forest with us.”

  Emilia pushed that feeling back down and raised the possibility of a life together for the intimate couple. Instantly, Fortuna’s face reddened. “E-Emilia…!” she cried.

  “D-don’t say such thoughtless things. It’s very hard for Geuse, too. He has to thread his way through a busy schedule just to poke his head over here at all…”

  “I am greatly pleased to hear you say this, Lady Emilia. Were it only possible. I, too, desire this from the bottom of my heart.”

  The nervousness on her mother’s face was in stark contrast to Geuse’s calm demeanor. But the echo of Geuse’s words—were it only possible —left Emilia dissatisfied.

  “If you want to do it, then just do it, not because it’s ‘possible.’ If neither of you has a problem with it… Besides, no one’s going to get in the way… Or am I in the way?”

  “Not at all.” “That is not so.”

  She voiced the concern that her being there was the reason the amiable pair could not be with each other. And since Fortuna and Geuse both denied it was so, she blurted out her next words without thinking.

  “You two sure get along really nicely.”

  “Oh, there you go again… Geuse, say something, would you?”

  “Yes, you mustn’t, Lady Emilia. Lady Fortuna is someone with a very important duty. If one such as myself remains for too long, ill rumors shall arise and cause her trouble.”

  “Rumors of Mom and Geuse…? I feel like it’s too late to stop those…”

  Geuse’s poor defense made Emilia put a finger to her lips as she replied. Geuse looked like he had no idea to what she was referring. “I mean…,” went Emilia as she continued. “The aunties near home said we look like a happy family that gets along really well.”

  “—! I was quite certain this was referring to Lady Emilia and Lady Fortuna only…”

  “I expect nothing less from you, Geuse… But Mom understands, right?”

  “”

  Emilia’s assertion made Fortuna avert her eyes with a red face.

  Even Emilia could see right through her mother. Surely, Geuse felt the exact same way.

  “I think it’s a really good idea. I do. So both of you think about it, okay?”

  “”

  “No one in the forest, including me, thinks there’s anything weird about it. And I absolutely won’t stand for it if anyone says anything bad!”

  With some half-eaten grilled-herb food in hand, Emilia realized she’d become rather worked up about this. Even so, she’d wanted to say it; she had to say it. She didn’t want Fortuna and Geuse to be afraid of being happy together—she wanted them to be happy.

  Stuffing her cheeks with the remaining half of the grilled-herb food, she chewed it down, swallowed, brushed her knees, and stood up.

  “I’ve said what I wanted to say. I leave everything else to the young couple. Go right ahead.”

  “Emilia, truly, where did you learn of such things?”

  When Emilia spoke those words with
her hands on her hips, Fortuna wore her familiar exasperated look. However, that expression immediately fell away, changing into a smile she could not hold back.

  “Tee-hee, ah-ha-ha. Oh, Emilia… Truly, you are a really cute girl.”

  “Ha-ha, Lady Emilia has… I see, she has grown up sound and well. Truly, a joyful thing.”

  “Well, of course she has. She’s my daughter, my pride and joy. It goes without saying.”

  “Yes, so I see.”

  Watching the two laughing and looking at each other’s smiling faces filled Emilia’s chest with a palpable sense of warmth. From the bottom of her heart, she wanted to gaze at the scene for a long time, immersing herself in it.

  —Probably because there was no greater happiness than this.

  “…Emilia?”

  When Fortuna suddenly called out to her, Emilia hurriedly covered her face with her hands. She belatedly realized she’d spontaneously broken into tears. “Aa,” came her voice as she desperately tried to hold them back.

  “I might’ve gotten a speck of dust in my eye. A really big speck of dust.”

  “That big? Are you all right?”

  “I-I’m fine. I’m in completely tip-top shape. As much as that rock over there.”

  “That enormous boulder?! Are you truly all right?!”

  “I said I’m fine!!”

  Responding to the concerned pair, Emilia rubbed her eyes as she turned to face the lake.

  “I’m going to wash my eyes out a bit. After, I think I’ll go around the lake once.”

  “Make sure you don’t drop your eyeballs by mistake. They’re such a pretty color… Pretty violet eyes, just like Brother’s.”

  “Well, Mom’s eyes are just as pretty.”

  Perhaps Fortuna never considered that, for Emilia’s reply took her completely by surprise. Seeing that the unusual side of hers made Geuse laugh, Emilia laughed as well.

  She kept laughing as she advanced toward the lake. Then she glanced back, looking at Fortuna and Geuse.