11.1.6

—His second return to Roswaal Manor went off without a hitch.

"That said, the awful experience I had took place inside the mansion…"

Scratching his cheek, Subaru murmured to himself as he dismounted Patlash before the gate.

His other objective—reporting to the residents of Earlham Village—had been taken care of beforehand. He'd told them that their families remaining in the Sanctuary would soon be released, and their reunion would occur within a few short days.

They had been delighted at the news, but Subaru felt guilty for using it as the justification for his return. Still, this was to make sure everyone made it through the coming danger safe and sound…or at least that was what Subaru told himself.

"You seem stricken by pangs of guilt, almost like a proper adult. Take care to remember that feeling in the future."

"Future, huh? You're thinking about Frederica just as much as I am…"

"I'm not speaking of today's future, but far beyond that. Considering Lady Emilia's royal selection, the opportunities for Barusu to engage in wicked deeds shall only increase…though I am probably wasting my time bothering with you."

Subaru couldn't even muster a groan of complaint at her harsh appraisal. Ram dismounted the land dragon like he had. Gazing at the mansion from beside Subaru, she appeared calm and ready. Her face didn't reveal a trace of the gloom and frailty Subaru harbored. He was genuinely envious about that.

"Well, excuse me for being unable to leave that boorish lower middle class mindset behind…"

"You have served but a few months, Barusu. Ram has served ten years. Our degree of loyalty and length of service differ. It is impertinent for you to think you can stand upon the same stage… More importantly, have you managed to harden your resolve?"

"I'll turn that question right back at you."

Ram, putting their differing mindsets on the back burner, asked him whether he was ready for something far more immediate. Subaru closed one eye.

With their destination, Roswaal Manor, right before their eyes, Subaru couldn't exactly back off. Compared to the previous loop, he'd arrived back two entire days early, but—

"Please don't let anything have happened yet…"

Put bluntly, his latest return to the mansion was more or less the fastest option possible, given the current point of Return by Death. The only way to get back any faster would have been to drop everything and run back the moment he got out of the tomb.

Subaru wondered if Patlash would even cooperate if he had tried that. Unfortunately, that course of action was not something that Emilia, Roswaal, or the others involved would have understood. Of course, if it meant he'd make it back in time to do something, Subaru would have charged forward regardless, but…

"_______"

As Subaru sank into thought, a hand moved to his right arm as if by nature—touching the white handkerchief wrapped around its wrist. This charm symbolized a prayer for his safe journey…and the promise Subaru had made with Petra that he would come back safe.

"Even if Frederica is an enemy, whether she intended to start something right away matters a lot. The fact that she showed her face at the village yesterday doesn't eliminate the possibility she did something right after we left, but…"

"Barusu."

"Attack or run away. It's a hard choice to make, huh? This time, Ram's here, but if it comes down to a fight, it'll be a drop in the bucket… When we're up against Elsa, running for the hills is way smarter. The problem with that is Beako still holed up here…"

"Barusu."

"What? Can't you tell I'm desperately tryin' to put my thoughts in order right now? If I don't work things out well enough, we'll seriously pay for it later. Could you put up with me talking to myself for a litt—"

"—If you are going to do that, I think you should do it inside of the mansion, right?"

Subaru, turning when Ram tugged at his sleeve, pleaded with her about the importance of his fevered mumbling. But then a cute, amused giggle brushed against his eardrums, making Subaru look toward the gate in surprise.

When he did so, he saw a maid standing on the other side of the gate with a demure smile on her face. She had reddish-brown hair accented by a big ribbon on her head. Her adorable smiling face convinced Subaru that an angel had appeared.

He was taken aback when he finally laid eyes on the girl—

"Pe…tra…is that you?"

"Welcome back, Master Subaru. You are back far sooner than expected, no?"

"Y-yeah, I'm back… Er, ah. I'm uh, happy to see you."

In front of the surprised Subaru, the girl—Petra—elegantly grasped the hem of her skirt and politely bowed. After staring intently at her, confirming that she was safe and sound, Subaru let out a deep sigh.

"_________?"

Subaru's strange demeanor made Petra cock her head to the side, completely mystified. Then, she let out a little "Ah!" as she nervously turned her back to Subaru, carefully arranging her clothing and hair. Then, saying to herself "Okay," she turned back around and smiled adorably once more.

"Is there something wrong, Master Subaru?"

"—! Aw, geez! You. Are. Soooo damn cute!"

"W-wah?!"

Petra's unbearably charming behavior drove Subaru to impulsively embrace her and stroke her head. The complex, unreservedly adoring motions of his hand made Petra's eyes go wide as she raised a bewildered cry.

"Wh-what are you?! S-Subaru…th-this is embarrassing…!"

"Gahhh, you really have no regard for people's feelings… You really don't, damn it all…!"

"…Subaru?"

The girl's cheeks reddened as the brows on her blushing face furled with a questioning look. Still buried in Subaru's chest, Petra examined him with worried eyes as she asked in a low voice, "Does it hurt somewhere…?"

The worried girl's fingertips brushed Subaru's trembling cheek. "Nah," he replied, gently taking into his hand the slender fingers touching him as he shook his head.

Breathing deep through his nose, he stopped for a moment. Then, he slowly met the girl's gaze as he answered fully.

"I'm just relieved from the bottom of my heart. Hi Petra, I'm home."