Chapter 38: Sanctuary (1)

Chapter 38: Sanctuary (1)

~Mash B. POV~

Moving inside the carriage ride to the Mansion I was met with Emilia on my shoulder and Rem on the other. Otto having been handsomely paid by yours truly to accompany us for the trip back remained silent.

The reason why… is I have two beautiful girls in my arms. I merely grinned arrogantly at his way as he turned his head remarking Lucky Bastard.

Why yes, Otto. Yes, I am.

But moving on from that point though the ride to the Mansion was silent for a while enjoying the girl's company as Emilia broke the silence in a conflicted tone questioning me, "Why? Sorry to ask this suddenly but Mash-san… why do you always place yourself in harm's way for me?"

Gazing at her looking conflicted I asked the obvious with Rem tugging on my arm, "Why what Emilia? You mean how I stick my neck out for you?"

She nodded as I sighed in defeat replying to her in a neutral tone raising an eyebrow, "And to your question Emilia? Why wouldn't I?"

She seemed to be confused by my words tilting her head slightly, "Huh?"

I clarified my response to her more simply as Rem listened in to our conversation in a calm tone with a grin plastered on my face, "I mean you're a precious friend of mine. And knowing your image and the reaction I did my best to keep you safe against those crazy Cultist bastards. After all, you saved my life when we first met I'm merely going beyond doing the same for you."

Emilia fidgeted with a frown present on her face as she began to explain herself holding her hands together in a depressed tone, "I just don't understand you… you say you're doing this for me as your friend… fighting Julius, the White Whale, Witch Cultist, a Sin Archbishop, and forming friends for me… I can't help but feel like a burden to you. I haven't done all that I said and you blow me out of the water with your merits…"

Seeing where this was going, I sighed putting her into a hug surprising the elf girl, and patting her head as I responded in a genuine kind tone, "Sigh… Emilia, I have never once thought of you as a burden. You aren't a burden. I've seen what a burden is, and you certainly aren't one."

The girl nodded, averting her gaze soon after. Were my words enough in front of her simple consolation or the truth I wonder.

Seeing how hesitant she was to believe me I sighed. Granted I have no experience in reassuring people like this, and so to find the appropriate words.

Silence reigned over the carriage ride, both of us not knowing what to say. It would have been generous to call the situation awkward, and it continued for several minutes…

Finally, after what felt like an eternity, Emilia spoke up in a conflicted tone, "Mash, am I… useless?"

Mash turned to look at her, tilting my head quizzically. It was a simple question with an even simpler answer as I said, "No."

But my words didn't seem to comfort Emilia as she began to list down my feats since coming to this world in a defeated tone, "But you have all these plans and… And I never feel like I contribute anything. Wouldn't it just be easier for you to… leave me?"

Closing my eyes I gave her my honest opinion as she seemed to be waiting for my answer for a few seconds before finally responding, "Perhaps if it was before I would…"

As I said my words Emilia looked scared and was about to respond only to stop as I raised my hand allowing me to finish, "Hold up I wasn't finished yet. Emilia, listen to me. If you said about this before the Royal Selection I would've said yes but…"

Closing my eyes I opened them again to see her face with a grin of mine reassuring her of my choice Rem's eyes perked up with a light smile at my response, "… a friend here once told me giving up isn't my style. And knowing the dangers and good looks you have the Witch Cult would target you for it. I wasn't going to sit on the sidelines knowing a friend close to me would die. Not without a fight. All I can say is, trust me."

Locking my eyes to the elf girl seeing my serious determined expression seemed to have stunned her with Rem holding my hand believing in my words. If it wasn't for her, I wouldn't be half as brave as Emilia is to stand making her statement.

It was a flimsy hope that I was banking on the fact that she would trust me, but it was the best I had. I'm not some shiny knight in waiting or possibly an OP MC to help her out in her time of need.

Hell if it wasn't for Emilia sticking by my side in the early days, I wouldn't have made it this far if she didn't show me her kindness that day. I guess in some ways I'm thanking her by doing my part to ensure she gets a fair election using my knowledge the best I can.

Emilia seemed to think my words over for a minute, deciding whether they were only a ruse or the truth till she finally mumbled with a bit more confidence now within her voice., "Okay… I'll trust you."

With Emilia's insecurities quelled, at least for the moment, she asked me a question I never thought she'd ask looking up at me, "Do you think I can be as brave as you one day? Like how you could be fearless against the scariest foes?"

I put a hand to my chin, before being honest making Emilia's expression darken prompted me to ask in a curious tone for this change, "Hmm… Probably not. But why do you ask?"

The girl took a deep breath and said in a hesitant tone probably building enough courage of her own locking eyes together, "I rely too much on you. And on Puck. And Roswaal. I was left alone for just a few hours and… I wasn't there when you needed me. No. Rather you didn't need me…"

I didn't force her to continue, simply nodding and saying in reassurance, "I understand, but it's fine to rely on others, you know? I relied on you when we fought the Bowel Hunter thinking our days were numbered till the Sword Saint came."

However, it was like my words disheartened her she disagreed with my words causing me to frown on how she truly thought about herself, "Yes, but you can stand on your own, unlike me… The moment I'm alone I'm useless. I want to be useful! To be able to do things by myself!"

When she said that, her eyes full of determination I couldn't help but chuckle lightly. Seeing her reaction, it felt like I was looking at a mirror of myself. A mirror of my prior self in the past as my future gazes at my past.

Right after she saved me in fighting against Elsa, I too sought power. The power even if given to me is still power in the end. I wanted power to change who I was. Given or earned the power to protect those that I came to love in this world despite all the craziness.

To think that even here, in a different world, I would meet someone who would go through such a similar thing. In that similar case, Emilia is like me trying to find her means to move up in the world despite how the world treats you. In that way we are more alike than most people would come to imagine.

I reached out and patted the girl's head surprising her a bit and comforting her with my words in a kind tone, "You remind me of myself sometimes. Fine, fine, we'll get you power, perhaps not like mine, but I'll see what I can do. But we need to check the state of the village before we can do anything okay?"

She curtly nodded her head mumbling with a light smile adorned on her face, "Okay… Mash-san…"

Ahh!! This is so cute!

Letting the elf girl stay on my shoulder as the carriage ride would take half the day to reach from the Crusch Estate to Arlam Village is quite a distance. Rem seeing a possible threat snuggled close to my other arm making me feel a bit embarrassed having two girls on both my shoulders.

The girls soon fell asleep lightly leaving me with the only one awake… at least till he came that is.

Popping out of nowhere Puck appeared gazing at me a bit surprised by his action. I was about to speak up, but he made a shushing gesture speaking in only whispers with Puck's gaze at Emilia I couldn't help but ask confused, "We wouldn't want to wake Emilia, now would we? Anyway, what is it you want, Puck?"

Puck gazed at Emilia with an unreadable expression till he finally spoke out in a neutral tone, "I'll be honest, Mash. I still don't fully trust you."

I shrugged my shoulders not being surprised by this since his only loyal to Emilia in a casual tone, "I am not surprised. I'm not that trustworthy, but I'll take too slight offense to that."

But Puck wasn't done speaking with a deadpan tone to match his expression, "Will you let me finish?"

Feeling rude I looked a bit ashamed as I apologized immediately, "My apologies. Go on then."

Puck rolled his eyes as he continued explaining the news to me not seeing the issue, "I may not fully trust you, but Lia does, and I trust her judgment."

Raising an eyebrow at this sudden confession from Puck I spoke confused about what this all meant, "I see. Is telling me this the only reason you appeared?"

He shook his head dropping a verbal bomb causing my eyes to widen at his words surprised at his seriousness, "No, there's more. Lia wants to get stronger but… That requires me to break my pact with her."

Confused and startled by this sudden move by Puck I couldn't help but ask genuinely confused by his logic, "W-Why so? Wouldn't a pact with a spirit like yourself make her stronger? After all, she is a spirit user."

The floating cat shook his head as he began to explain to me the seriousness of his pack with Emilia with a saddened expression, "No. My pact, it… It blocks some of her memories. In those memories is the fact that she can use magic on her own at a much higher level than she can now."

Still confused by this sudden news I couldn't help but ask if there was an alternative reason why Puck would leave this soon, "Very well… I'll refrain from commenting on the nature of your pact, but I presume there are other reasons to break the pact as well. I mean you wouldn't just say this all suddenly like this, no?"

To my surprise, Puck nodded as he pointed to the necklace around Emilia's neck explaining in a defeated tone crossing his arms together, "You are as sharp as you appear. The pyroxene crystal I am housed in is also rapidly deteriorating. Unless you have something that can replace it, I'll have to break the pact whether I like it or not. It held up a good long while, but everything has to end at some point."

Well… crap. Seems like I'm gonna need to do something about Sanctuary soon if Puck is out of the game.

Regardless though I asked about Emilia's condition of her memories in a genuinely concerned tone, "I see… Oh, and about her memories, will they come back immediately? Don't you think that may be a bit overwhelming in her current state?"

Puck smiled seeing my concern for Emilia as he began to explain to me as the lower part of his body was turning into mana with her pyroxene shard breaking, "Unless something connected to those memories happens, they'll come back gradually. It appears like I'm out of time. By using my power, I broke the pact, so I suppose I should go rest. Take good care of her."

I curtly nodded my head saying my parting words as the cat faded away, "I will."

Puck soon faded as I sighed to myself mumbling about the complexity of the situation that I was just given, "Great, now some traumatic memories will resurface as well. Just couldn't have chosen a better time, could you have?"

You stupid fucking cat!