Chapter 60: The Reward Is Me
Natsuki Subaru didn't know exactly how long Rem had cried, but one thing he could be sure of was that he should probably change his clothes.
The chest area was somewhat damp—maybe from crying for a long time, or perhaps because of all the things Rem had endured over the years finally bursting out, or maybe some other reason.
Rem's breathing had steadied, and she was no longer crying.
After picking Rem up and laying her gently on the bed, covering her with a blanket, Subaru looked at her somewhat swollen, red eyes and reached out to wipe the tear stains on her cheeks.
"You're so light, yet you can wield a weapon like a flail, and after fighting all night you still have energy. It's really kind of exaggerated, isn't it, senpai?"
Subaru turned toward the doorway, where he saw Ram's figure.
It wasn't that Subaru had some extraordinary sense to detect Ram's presence, but he trusted Ram's feelings toward Rem.
She would never just leave indifferently.
"Barusu, you did well this time."
Surprised by this, Subaru looked at Ram.
It seemed like the first time he had heard such a straightforward compliment from her, and her bowing to thank him was truly surprising.
But thinking it over, he had indeed done something remarkable.
"I didn't really do anything special, just did what I wanted to do."
Hearing this, Ram straightened up.
Seeing Subaru's calm expression gave her a little more understanding of him, and a slight smile appeared at the corner of her mouth.
"Oh, is that so? Then I won't give you any reward."
"Huh? There's a reward? I don't really care much about rewards, but I am curious what kind of reward it would be."
Subaru watched as Ram slowly approached him.
After she cast a very gentle look at Rem, she looked back at him with a smile and softly said,
"The reward is me, the world's cutest maid. What do you think, Barusu?"
"Senpai, can you please not joke like that? It's not funny at all. I'd rather have you make me some sweet potatoes again."
Subaru shook his head helplessly.
Ram was still the same Ram as before, though it felt like they were a little closer now.
She still liked to be sharp-tongued and tease others, and, well... slack off sometimes.
"My only family now is Rem. I know how she has been all these years, but as her older sister, I haven't been able to fix that stubbornness. So, if you say you want me, Barusu, I will agree."
Hearing this, Subaru's heart jolted sharply.
He took a step back, took a deep breath to calm himself, then looked at Ram with a bitter smile and said,
"So, if I say I want you, senpai, what will you do then?"
"Hm, probably give myself to you and then kill you."
"..." Subaru's expression stiffened for a moment.
He saw Ram make a shy face and take a step closer.
Scared, Subaru quickly retreated back, pressed against the wall, waving his hand hurriedly as he said,
"Senpai! What I did wasn't for a reward, so please don't come any closer!"
Even though he understood she was joking, Subaru had a feeling that something bad might happen if he didn't back off.
The instincts honed from playing games had saved Subaru and his close friends several times, allowing them to dodge dangers and seize small victories.
"Hmph, you're really embarrassing, Barusu. I'll make you a big batch of sweet potatoes for dinner. If you don't finish them, you know what the consequences will be, right?"
"Um... Senpai, for someone like me who's been unconscious in bed for two days, shouldn't the first meal be something nutritious and hearty?"
"Are you saying my sweet potatoes aren't nutritious or hearty enough?"
Subaru wanted to nod, but ended up shaking his head desperately; he didn't want Ram to pile on tasks for him later.
Ram looked satisfied with Subaru's reaction, then went to the bedside and softly said to Rem,
"Barusu, you're not allowed to lay a hand on Rem. You may be a decent person, but I haven't fully accepted you yet."
Subaru gave up on the retort that wanted to escape his mouth—after all, they were talking about something else, but suddenly it jumped to not letting him touch Rem.
How could he ever lay a hand on Rem? He was just a passerby in this world.
No matter who they were, their relationship could only be that of friends, close friends, or partners—but never lifelong companions.
Since it was clear they were destined to part, they had to avoid making their relationship too deep.
"Senpai, you stay here and watch over Rem. I'm sure you have a lot to say to her.
Even if you don't know exactly what happened between you two, even the closest family needs to express what's in their heart.
Otherwise, the other person might never understand your feelings."
"Ho~~~ I didn't expect little Barusu to say something useful. I'm starting to see you in a new light."
"Well then, senpai, you might have to see me in a new light several more times. I have a promise to fulfill, so I won't stay here with you."
"Hmph, as if I'd want Barusu to stick around."
Subaru smiled helplessly.
"All right, all right, see you later."
Without waiting for Ram's reply, Subaru left the room and gently closed the door behind him, leaving Ram staring at the closed door lost in thought and Rem lying asleep on the bed.
Walking down the corridor, Subaru followed his intuition.
Before reaching the place he wanted to go, someone appeared in his line of sight.
Seeing Roswaal leaning by the window, Subaru stopped. His initially tense expression turned calm.
"Lord Roswaal, you're back."
"You're so formal, Subaru~~ Even though you work in my mansion, there's no need to be so stiff~~ You deserve it, after all. You helped Lady Emilia recover her insignia, protected her, worked diligently in the mansion, and protected the villagers in my territory a couple of days ago. I should be the one thanking you."
"Well, since you say that, I'll take it easy then."
"That's good to hear~~~"
Subaru looked at Roswaal and recalled the memories of his two deaths.
Roswaal hadn't gone out during the first death, nor the second, but why did he go out the third time? Perhaps Subaru had missed Roswaal's departure during the first and second times, but that was a little unreasonable.
Because on the morning of the second death, Subaru clearly saw Roswaal in Rem's room.
If he went out, he should have returned by morning.
Subaru understood that if he kept replaying from the last save and followed the same actions, the result would never change.
Even if he changed his course of action, it would only cause the trajectories of those around him to shift.
To use an analogy, if he were a king, even if he didn't interact with some people, there would still be slight shifts in the course of events.
But he wasn't a king and had little power.
Then why did Roswaal's actions shift?
"Roswaal, why exactly did you go out that evening? You don't know how close I was to dying. If I don't get a satisfactory reward, I'm going to slack off."
"That kind of thing~~ neither of us expected~~ That day there was a gathering summoned~~ so I had to go, after all, I'm a frontier count~~ As for a reward, just say the word, and I'll make it happen~~~"
Hearing this, Subaru put on a thoughtful look and said,
"Hmm... I can't think of anything right now. I'll let you know once I do."
"That works too~~"
"Well then, I have to go see someone now. I'll be off."
"Hmm~~~ go ahead~~~"
Subaru nodded and walked forward, passing by Roswaal.
Roswaal watched Subaru's back, the smile on his face unchanged since the moment he saw him.
Following his intuition, Subaru found the door he needed to open.
Standing in front of it, he took a deep breath and cleared his mind of all thoughts about Roswaal.
Then he placed his hand on the handle and gently turned it.