Chapter 39: Sanctuary (2)

Chapter 39: Sanctuary (2)

~Mash B. POV~

On the ride to Roswaal's mansion, I sighed nudging Emilia to wake up to give her the news to best deal with this issue of Puck leaving pronto. I was hoping to have Puck on my side against Elsa as soon as possible but noooo…

Stupid fate or plot armor had to say nope not today son. Great…

Sigh… time be the bearer of bad news. This is gonnnna suck.

Emilia reluctantly opened her eyes, silently cursing the sun that seemed to specifically want to spite her from the window. She sat up, rubbing her eyes and finally looking around with everything that appeared to be in order, everything but one thing.

She felt something amiss as she grasped the crystal around her neck that always hung around her neck. It was cracked as she asked in a confused and frightened tone, "Mash? I… Where is Puck?"

I sighed out loud locking my eyes with Emilia in a serious tone to match my expression giving the news, "The pyroxene crystal you used to house him in was deteriorating. Given that it could no longer hold him, it forcefully broke his pact with you. Before it happened, and while you slept, he told me that if we found a new, better one, then he would be able to make a new pact."

Emilia was shocked by the news and asked nervously questioning Puck's actions, "O-oh. Okay. I understand. B-but why didn't he tell me?"

I paused determining my response before ultimately being honest with Emilia about why Puck broke their contract, "He… sigh… He said that he understood your pleas to get stronger. He explained to me you were much stronger before you made your pack with him. He mentioned sealed memories about your past soon returning and in doing so your old strength regained bit by bit being able to do stronger Magic than you can currently. Besides your pyroxene crystal deteriorating he also wanted you to get stronger as well."

Being honest would be for the best. But that slumbering cat caused these problems in the first place would have some time to think of how to handle the situation when they make their new pack again.

Emilia on the other hand clenched her fist. It seems like she has a lot to think about this predicament unfolding in front of her.

It'll be best for her to be preoccupied and return to her usual routine rather than focus on all that has happened. And quite fortunately enough Otto opened his mouth that we had finally arrived, "We have arrived Mash."

Opening my eyes, I saw the doors to the Roswaal mansion. The carriage was parked and Otto noticing my attention decided to get off the front carriage.

Opening the door of our carriage I nudged Rem on the shoulder of our arrival, "Rem, Emilia, we have arrived."

I had to get off my seat and went around only to see Rem come out first with Emilia following behind. Emilia seemed to be in a better mood after our discussion but seemed a bit distracted.

Of course, she would be considering Puck is gone. She must have a lot going through her mind wishing to help her but… I know it's not something I can do.

Rem soon points Otto in the direction where the Roswaal keeps his stables allowing my Earth Dragon and his to rest going towards Patrasche, "Come on and listen girl. We'll meet up later."

Patrasche nodded as I soon followed after Rem and Emilia. Emilia soon knocked on the door when we got an unexpected response opening the door, "Yes! Please wait a minute! Welcome back Emilia-sama, Rem-sama, and Mash-sama. I have been awaiting your arrival."

Opening the door revealed another maid Rem's eyes widened surprised at her name wearing the same uniform, "Ah! Frederica-sama!"

[Observe].

[Frederica Baumann Lv.? Maid

Description: Frederica Baumann is a maid in service to Roswaal L Mathers. Joining the Emilia Camp by default, she has yet to play a major supporting role. Though she was in retirement for a while, Frederica resumed her position at Ram's request following the complicated family situation regarding her younger half-brother, Garfiel.]

Frederica has very long pale gold hair and green eyes. She is a little taller than Subaru, has a muscular build, and a mouth with sharp fangs. She is mentioned to look like a carnivorous hunter locking onto its prey when she narrows her eyes. Frederica would be a beautiful woman if she covered her mouth.

When Rem finished talking to Frederica, she grinned revealing her sharp teeth with a grin and explaining herself proudly and professionally, "That's me, Frederica Baumann! I have returned from leave granted by the master."

I greeted her with a wave questioning Frederica in a curious tone crossing my arms, "The name Mash Bastion Frederica-san. That reminds me, I heard that a maid resigned shortly before I arrived at the mansion…"

Hearing my question Frederica explained to us tilting her head with Rem and Emilia both confused about her reappearance, "It's not right to say that I resigned… rather, I had to leave due to some personal matters. However… I returned sooner than I originally planned. Ram instructed me to return. But when I arrived the mansion was completely empty… I didn't know where to go but I had a grasp of the situation thanks to the letter she left me."

Ram left – of course, she did. I had a deadpan expression that Ram called in because she never intended to clean up.

Or if Roswaal had called her in using Ram with his Gospel. Well, I suppose it doesn't matter and I wonder how the blank letter even came here to begin with… is it Roswaal who planted it or the Witch Cult?

There are too many blanks that have been left behind because of this. And I don't know if Roswaal himself had to intervene to ensure that everything went according to his Gospel of the future…

I need to carefully tread this time around instead of relying on the plot. With Puck out of the game, this early on would mean drastic changes. But… smirking mentally I have my own trump card of my own Clown.

Taking the moment to excuse myself from the girls I wished to talk to Beatrice moving towards one of the doors. Opening it soon revealed the empty library as I greeted her happily, "Hello Beatrice it's a pleasure to meet you again."

She smiled seeing me closing one of the books and tossing it to me. Rather to my ring replying floating near me, "The same here Mash-san I suppose. I see that you managed to deal with the Witch Cult. So, what happened to his Geuse Witch Factor?"

I explained to her what happened as I used [Unseen Hand] power as a demonstration with a shadowy appendage appearing before me.

Beatrice seeing this smiled sadly at this understanding where the Witch Factor went towards coming to my side, "I see… did you leave Betty as well? Geuse…"

Giving her a hug to a spirit in need of emotional support I replied to her in a genuine kind tone needing her power soon, "I'm sorry for killing Geuse Beatrice. He must've been a good friend in the past for you. But soon I'll need your strength for the upcoming challenge."

Beatrice smiled holding my hand and agreeing to turn her head away from me lightly blushing out of embarrassment puffing her chest in pride, "Hmph! You are the one who said you needed my greatness! If there's anyone who's your enemy, then they are mine as well I suppose!"

Cute. Such a tsundere.

Thanking her she tagged along with me exiting the library closed for good. But soon I was met with Petra trying to find me in a maid's outfit I couldn't help but ask a bit confused by this, "Petra? You seem to barely start working here I see. But you are already capable of navigating through the mansion. You're very mature for your age, working in a place away from your parents."

Petra pouted lightly as she explained herself to me with a light blush evident on her face coming towards me, "I'm already 12, a full-fledged adult capable of working… I mean, I'm an adult. So please treat me like one too, Mash-sama."

I smiled ruffling her hair as Petra clenches on my shirt seemingly liking my head patting. I have to admit being 12 years old is enough to work is certainly strange. Eh… probably a medieval world difference.

Moving on from this though I carefully tried to find where Elsa and Meili would be hiding. I know Roswaal called for them to kill everyone inside the Mansion – right the Demon Beast… I almost forgot about them.

Seems like I'll need Garfiel and Rem's help against them. Meili controls them take her out and you take out the army, but she has a massive force of them on their side. Or simply take care of this myself… no that's a fool's errand.

But it's better if I meet up with everyone to the carriage. It's time to finish this run and my payback against Elsa.

/////

Walking outside of the mansion's main doors with Petra and Beatrice, I see Frederica and Rem by a carriage talking to Otto. I asked him to be the one to take us to Sanctuary.

Luckily, he agreed to my request and is now here at the Roswaal mansion. Slowly making our way over, I noticed that they seemed to be finished talking about Sanctuary and other things.

Moving forward I headed towards where the girls were at. When we finally came, they greeted us Frederica blinked surprised to see Beatrice greeting us, "Oh! Hello – B-Beatrice-sama?"

Frederica showed an intriguing expression at Beatrice holding my hand with my little spirit curtly replying, "Yes what is it? I believe I have enough time to talk with you for a bit I suppose."

Rem and Emilia didn't show much reaction. But seeing my hands locking with Beatrice's did raise their curiosity. Frederica however just looked at her for a few seconds looking at me with a lot of questions inside her eyes.

I merely nodded before I pointed towards the carriages as she took a look of understanding before her face took a soft smile she looked towards Beatrice, "I see, thank you Mash-sama. Have a good trip, Beatrice, I hope to see you out and about more in the future."

Beatrice hearing this let go of my hand to cross and then cross her arms over her chest pouting at her words, "What do you mean by more? I think I am and will be doing perfectly fine with that I suppose. Hmph!"

I laughed at the scene seeing the small smile that betrayed my spirit's face and the words she let out causing the maid to giggle turning back towards me with a smile, "Take good care of her, Beatrice is a nice girl deep inside after all."

I gave her a thumbs up responding to Frederica's words in an upbeat tone, "No worries. She's got my back and I have hers. Ain't that right Beatrice?"

She merely pouted but seemed to enjoy the attention I'd been giving her. Soon I allowed Beatrice to enter with the girls leaving to Sanctuary as I took the front row seat with Otto startling the poor guy to death, "W-Woah?! Mr. Mash? What are you doing up here with me?!"

Calming the troubled merchant man down I explained easing up on the guy, "Whoa! Take a chill pill dude! No need to be so tense around me… Otto, right? You're not in any trouble so relax."

Sighing in relief, Otto looked at me for a bit in silence before making a suspicious frown on his face at me, "Yeah, that's my name alright. But how do you know my name? I don't seem to recall you giving my name."

Listening to him, I leaned back and started to laugh using a convenient excuse causing the poor man to cry tears, "Well to be honest I heard about a merchant being very unfortunately mistaken as a Witch Cultist and decided to hire you knowing you're a merchant. But damn you have got to have the shiest luck getting captured man."

Going straight to where it hurt the poor guy he flinched in pain grasping his chest tears streaming down his closed eyes, "I-I see… T-That is good… to know…"

I patted his shoulder with my hand giving him my pity, "You have its rough buddy."

He cried even more after my words.