Natsuki Subaru is chasing his back

Chapter 42: She Is Not the Murderer!

Without hesitation, Subaru walked straight along the path into the now completely familiar living room.

Inside, everyone from Beatrice's mansion had already gathered in this place.

"Good morning, Subaru," came a greeting from Puck.

Subaru smiled and returned the greeting, then extended his hand toward Puck.

Puck cooperatively floated into Subaru's palm.

"Subaru, are you really going to leave?" Puck asked.

Hearing this, Subaru shook his head but didn't give a direct answer to Puck. Instead, he looked toward Roswaal, who had been staring at him since he entered the living room.

"Roswaal."

"What is it, Subaru~~~? Anything you want to say~~~?"

Without a trace of a smile, Subaru looked at Roswaal and said,

"About the reward for helping Emilia and the work I've done in the mansion during this time, there is one thing I want."

Roswaal was momentarily taken aback by Subaru's words, then a generous smile appeared at the corner of his mouth.

"So Subaru, you actually have something you want~~~ Go ahead~~ As long as it's not an excessive request like taking Emilia away, I'm sure I can accept it~~~"

"That really is troublesome. I do want to take someone away."

"Well then, who is that person~~~? Just so you know, every person in this mansion is very important to me, so I probably won't agree, but I'm curious who you want to take~~~"

Subaru clenched his fist involuntarily, then took a deep breath and smiled, returning to his usual attitude.

"That really is difficult, but I won't give up easily. The person I want to take away is Beatrice."

Shock appeared on Roswaal's face.

What was originally said jokingly was now admitted by Subaru.

Based on Roswaal's understanding of Subaru during this period, Subaru wouldn't have said such a thing lightly, but now he had spoken it.

And the name was both unreasonable and yet entirely appropriate.

He understood that after what happened last night, Subaru could not choose Ram or Rem.

Emilia was just a friend to him.

Beatrice was the only possible candidate.

"I can't make decisions on that. Even if I could, I wouldn't give Beatrice to you~~~ So Subaru, please pick another reward."

"No need. Since you say you can't decide, then I don't need your consent at all. I only need Beatrice's consent."

Subaru's words made Roswaal laugh.

He looked at Subaru and said,

"That's right. But can you really do it? If you can successfully convince Beatrice to leave with you, what's wrong with me agreeing then~~?"

"Then it's settled. Regarding my reward, let me stay in this mansion a little longer.

Of course, I won't freeload; I'll continue working while I'm here.

But once I have Beatrice's consent, I will leave immediately. Is this request acceptable?"

Roswaal narrowed his eyes slightly, then looked at Subaru and said,

"Sure~~~ Then I'll be waiting to see what happens."

With that, their agreement ended.

Subaru had no interest in staying any longer.

After enjoying some affection from Puck's fur and not giving Puck or Emilia a chance to question him, he turned and left.

After leaving the living room, Subaru changed back into his butler uniform and began working seriously around the mansion.

He did not avoid Ram and Rem's supervision but also didn't interact with either of them.

By the afternoon, Subaru had basically cleaned the entire mansion.

During this, he did encounter Beatrice's library, but whenever he tried to open a door to it, the feeling vanished, and he would only open a normal room instead of Beatrice's library.

This small obstacle didn't deter Subaru's determination.

He did everything possible in the mansion.

In the evening, while sweeping near the main entrance, he saw Rem returning from the village with ingredients.

He glanced briefly and then looked away.

Both acted as if the other didn't exist.

Time passed bit by bit.

After dinner, Subaru planned to leave his room with books to find Beatrice but gave up the idea, recalling what happened last night.

He started to seriously study the written language of this world in his room.

Even when encountering unknown characters, Subaru diligently copied them down, planning to ask Beatrice about them when they met.

The next early morning, Subaru woke up at his desk.

Stretching lazily, he looked at the writing on the desk, filled with anticipation and hope for meeting Beatrice.

"It's time to start today's work and patrol. Wait for me, Beatrice, I will definitely meet you!"

With this thought, Subaru prepared to wash up but suddenly heard a familiar, sorrowful wail. Startled, he opened his door.

The corridor echoed with that familiar crying, and Subaru felt something was wrong.

His footsteps involuntarily moved toward the sound.

At first, his pace was slow, then gradually accelerated.

Inside, Subaru kept feeling the urgent need to confirm the situation and had a persistent thought that he might have forgotten something important from last night.

With this in mind, Subaru ran down the corridor and soon approached the room where the crying came from. At this point, his steps slowed.

Cold sweat covered his forehead.

The crying was so mournful that it brought an unpleasant image to Subaru's mind.

When he finally reached the doorway and saw Beatrice's figure, any happiness vanished. His gaze was completely drawn to a girl lying on the bed like a sleeping beauty.

Ram was crying by the bedside, and many people from the mansion were gathered around. Perhaps sensing Subaru's arrival, Roswaal suddenly spoke:

"Rem is dead. She died because her mana was drained."

Upon hearing this, Subaru's face stiffened completely, eyes filled with disbelief.

He covered his mouth as his chaotic mind worked at high speed.

Subaru now realized exactly what he had forgotten.

When Rem attacked him the night before last, what had he forgotten then?

The first time he died, he vaguely heard a scraping sound on the ground.

The same sound was present when Rem attacked him the night before last.

The first death should have been due to a curse.

If the curse was cast by Rem, then why would she attack him? If the curse came from Rem, she wouldn't have needed to attack him physically.

The first time he died, he was never attacked by anyone! That was one unreasonable point.

Also, before the first reload, he and Rem went to the village together, and their interaction on the way showed Rem's murderous intent had weakened significantly.

This time, Rem died in the same way Subaru did.

So… Rem is not the murderer. The murderer is in the village!

"Subaru… Your expression looks like you know something. Can you tell me? After all, one of my most important maids is dead. I'm really angry right now!"