After I explained the Sin Archbishops abilities, I mostly just listened to command talks for various strategies from those who actually knew a thing or two about battle. I wasn’t afraid to pitch in, however, if I thought a strategy wouldn’t work for whatever reason. Honestly, the biggest hurdle always came right back to the third Sin Archbishop. Frankly, if it was Greed, as I suspected, we were kind of screwed. My main three ideas of: throw him into space, bury him underground, or kill all of his wives, were not so easy to pull off. The first two were impractical with our current line up, and the last one was abhorrently immoral. Someone tossed around the idea of trying to trap or seal him, but I vetoed that, as I had already thought about it and realized it wouldn’t work.
So we spun in circles for a little while, but I couldn’t afford to let things drag on too much. If we didn’t come up with something soon, everyone in Roswaal’s domain would die.
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
“Nya, well, I wouldn’t exactly say she’s fighting fit, but it’ll have to do for nyow,” Felis looked up at me from the healing carriage with a slightly strained expression.
“I’m glad you’re feeling better.”
Rem was lying down on the carriage bed with Felis standing over her. She smiled up at me.
“Don’t overwork yourself nyow,” He said, his serious, almost chastising tone contrasting against his cat affectation.
Ironically, since I had given Rem Mind Defense, she might actually be the best person to fight Ley— from a purely logical standpoint. I wouldn’t let her either way, though. In Canon, she lost her fight against him in a martial contest, and I suspected she would lose again here. No, from this point forward, Rem was sticking by my side.
I got up into the carriage as Rem began to stand up. She took my hand and then we exited together.
“Don’t use your gate!” Felis reminded me, drawing my attention back to where he was behind us. “And the girl nyeeds to be careful not to overtax her body!”
“Thanks, Felis.”
He sighed, “How am I supposed to be strict when you make a face like that!” He teased.
“Don’t worry about us, focus on your role for the upcoming battle. And don’t forget the giant bomb!”
“I won’t, nya. How could someone forget something like that, anyway!”
I had to suppress a snort. He had completely forgotten about the bomb in the original timeline.
Rem and I waved at him as we got back on Patrasche. From here on out, the battle would begin.
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
Julius approached Rem and I’s ground dragon. We were still on the path to the village. The simple dirt path made a few bumps in the road, but Patrasche handled the terrain well. We hadn’t reached the forest, yet.
“I do not believe we have had the pleasure of meeting, my lady,” he introduced himself with that irritatingly knightly cadence. Too bad, Julius! You’ll never seduce my Rem.
She gave him a flat look, reminding me of the same look she gave Subaru when he first joined the mansion staff. She never was one to trust another so quickly.
“We have met before,” She stated.
“Ah, in that case, my apologies.”
“See, Julius, you’ll never match my manly charms,” I said jokingly.
“Indeed, it appears that you have flowers on each arm, as it were.”
“Don’t worry, Julius, if you pay close attention, you might just learn a thing or two from me.”
“That would be a dark day, indeed,” He retorted back with a smile.
I stared into his eyes, challengingly, but he quickly broke off the standoff with a few chuckles— which I joined in for.
“Seriously, though. Rem is mine.” I looked back at him, daring him to say anything, but to my surprise Rem spoke up.
“Yes. I’m Subaru’s Rem.”
“If she’s saying that, I don’t think you have to worry about me?” Julius said, almost questioningly.
“It’s never a good idea to turn your back on the enemy.”
Julius chuckled. “We can certainly agree on that, at least.”
“So, did you want to discuss something?” I asked.
“Yes, I wanted to know if you would agree to some protection from one of my minor spirits. In fact, I already sent her over to watch over you, but surprisingly she came right back to me. She’s not one to be disobedient.” Julius turned his righthand palm up, where six lights danced, one each for the colors of different magics: red, blue, green, brown, white, and black.
If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.
I had noticed something bounce off of my mind defense earlier— that must have been the spirit. I vaguely recalled Julius doing something similar in Canon, come to think of it.
“Ah, yeah. I’ve got a few protections of my own. In this case, no need to worry about me.”
“Surely, you were not holding back in our duel?”
“No,” I admitted with a sigh, “At that time, I didn’t hold back anything at all. I single-mindedly wanted to beat you, and rushed at you like a wild dog.”
Julius raised a brow.
Instead of answering his unspoken question, I deflected, “You aren’t the only one who can get stronger, you know?”
“If that’s the case, maybe one day you and I could have a proper duel— to make well our differences.”
Now, it was my turn to raise a brow.
“Ah, it appears what I said was in bad taste.”
“You think?”
“Rem would like to see Subaru beat Julius,” My lover chimed in from her spot in front of me as we rode, surprising me. I thought she’d want to protect me against such a fight at all costs...
With Martial Talent, maybe one day I could measure up to Julius. But I knew that day was not today.
“If it’s the lady’s request, then perhaps I can find a way to meet both of your suggestions.” I stared intensely at Julius. “Julius, after the fighting is over, would you graciously consider training me in sword-fighting?”
“Perhaps.” He smirked. “Ana will surely want to survey the magic stone mines, perhaps at that time I could show you a thing or two.”
From behind us, I heard Mimi and her two brothers shout— the sonic attack still hurt my ears even though it was aimed away from us.
Julius looked behind him. “It appears the enemy has reached us, then.” He waved at the troops around us, “We will hurry to the mansion, as planned!”
If Julius was saying that, then it must have been Greed after all. But, I had no time to worry about that. I had to hope Crusch and Anastasia’s forces could defeat Ley and Greed— whatever his name was. In this situation, my priority was Petelgeuse.
The men assigned to battle Petelgeuse’s fingers rushed ahead of us. Just like in Canon, they would wait in ambush to take out all of Betelgeuse’s forces, while Rem and I warned the village and manor to evacuate. We had already found the merchant mole and stolen his communication metia.
As we rushed forward, I couldn’t help but worry about the force left behind us. Crusch, Mimi and her brothers, Ricardo, Wilhelm, and Felis would try to fight Ley and Greed. They didn’t need to win, though— just delay. I hoped it would be enough.
We found Ram shortly after.
----------------------------------------
----------------------------------------
“Barusu. What is the meaning of this?” Ram jumped out from the trees, stopping Patrasche and the rest of our forces.
For now, she was at least willing to listen without a fight. She must have seen our letter. I handwrote the letter in advance— There was no sense in repeating the mistakes of Canon.
“Did you see our letter?”
“Yes, though I was worried at first, you bringing in such a large military force. Barusu, have you decided to wag your tail at a new master?”
“Subaru-kun would never do such a thing,” Rem said matter-of-factly.
“And, you’ve replaced me with a clone. Explain.”
I sighed. Honestly, the look on Ram’s face still seemed incredibly hostile. She must be confused, seeing a twin she couldn’t recognize, feeling the synesthesia of a person she shouldn’t know. Before we tried to talk with her, I felt that we needed to restore her memories.
I didn’t know for sure if it would work, but I still believed it was worth a shot. “Rem, stamp your sister.”
“Yes, Subaru-kun.”
Rem suddenly leaped off of Patrasche and lunged for Ram.
“So, hostilities were inevitable, then?” Ram grimaced. “You traitor!” She screamed, vitriol spewing from her mouth. “Fura!”
Wind blades shot forward, aiming to take my head from my shoulders. In an instant, Julius’ blade intercepted the magic, negating it.
In that time, Rem had already reached her twin. She tackled the pink haired maid to the ground, kicking up dirt into the air. They grappled for a moment, but Rem quickly overpowered her hornless sister and pinned her stomach side down to the ground with her knees. Then, she used one hand to hold Ram’s hands behind her back as she struggled.
“Traitor!” Ram shouted as she wiggled. “You fucking traitor! Were you always a spy?! I trusted you!” Her voice broke.
I tried to steel my nerves, but seeing her this upset and pissed off bothered me greatly.
“Everything will be better in a moment,” I promised her.
Ram’s struggles only redoubled, desperately trying to kick Rem off of her. Honestly, I was kind of surprised Rem was willing to go this far. Maybe she was just desperate to be remembered by her dear sister? It was hard to watch, but this would honestly help Ram, more than she knew.
Rem managed to get one of Ram’s wrists mostly still, so she summoned the stamp in her other hand. In a quick motion, the inside of Ram’s wrist was stamped, quickly forming a familiar looking symbol.
I summoned my company phone and immediately bought Ram body and mind defense, and I activated her full heal. Then, just for good measure, I bought the Rem/Ram specific perk that allowed them to grow a second horn.
In an instant, Ram went from being powerless, magicless, and hornless, to being a full-fledged double horned prodigy of wind and water magic.
Ram stopped struggling.
“Onee-sama?” Rem asked.
“You can get off me now, Rem.”
“Yes.”
They slowly stood up, then Ram stomped over to me. Her face looked pissed. Julius moved to intercept, but I waved him off.
I got off of Patrasche to properly face Ram. Then, with a loud crack, she slapped my cheek. I could hear Julius chuckling right next to me.
Equally furious, Ram marched right back to her sister, and promptly pulled her into a fierce, halfway wrathful hug.
Rem and I practically sighed in relief at the same time.
The two sisters melted into each other’s arms.
“Onee-sama, onee-sama,” Rem said.
Instead of continuing the gag, Ram just said, “I’m sorry I forgot you.” Then she paused to glare at me. “Treating a woman so roughly, what will Emilia-sama think when I tell her?” Ram threatened.
I just laughed. “Surely, it doesn’t count if it’s your own sister who was rough?”
“No, certainly the fault lies with Barusu in this case.”
“Is that so? Then, Ram? Can you do me a favor? Summon your horns.”
“Oh, so first you inelegantly force a woman down on the ground, and then you ruthlessly make fun of her deformity?
“Onee-sama,” Rem pouted.
“Fine. Whatever you are planning, I’ll go along with it.”
Then, Ram concentrated for a moment. Two short Oni’s horns cropped up on either side of her forehead, both glowing prismatic white. “Huh. Well, that’s different.”
Rem gaped at her sister.