A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 4 - Part 18

"We're in the middle of an important mission, Rem. There's no room for mistrust. If you have any doubts about me, end it now. If you do, I'll turn back and prevent you from accompanying me. That way I can save myself the time I'm wasting right now."

I thought that, as if it were so easy to die. In reality, I was very scared, and my stomach churned at the idea. Nevertheless, I managed to maintain my determined expression in front of Rem.

It was a logical decision, but it lacked tact or common sense. I didn't realize how insensitive I was being.

"I'll count to three, okay? Just try to make it quick and painless." I closed my eyes and tried to relax my body. "One, two... Th-"

SLAP!

"Rem?" I touched my cheek, feeling a burning sensation.

Rem's face finally reflected her emotions. She was indignant, her eyes brimming with tears.

"I would never do something like that to you! How could you say such a thing?! You sound as if you believe me capable of...!" She stopped as if remembering something. "Wait, do you think so? Were all those things you said to me when we fought the cultist just empty words?"

Her anguished rant made me realize that I had really gone too far, but I didn't want to think about it.

"No, they weren't empty words. I want to believe in you, just as you want to trust me. Even though you only do so because we had a few moments. But if that hadn't happened... Maybe you would have already destroyed my body with your Morning Star."

I wondered how Rem would react if she heard what I thought about her. Still, I was just letting myself get carried away by fear, imagining the worst possible scenario. The reality was different.

"I'm sorry. It's just that this whole damn killer thing is really getting on my nerves."

Rem didn't say anything. I guessed my actions hurt her a little. I hoped she understood this was difficult for both of us.

"Look, I'm sorry I can't tell you everything about myself. What I can tell you is that I'm not hiding anything bad. You and Emilia, even Betty and Ram, you all are important to me. Not that idiot Roswaal, fuck him."

"If that's true, I want you to prove it..."

"Of course."

I nodded quickly, prepared for whatever commitment she imposed on me. Then Rem moved even closer, almost pressing her body against mine. I felt trapped by her blue eyes.

"Make me your partner."

"... Ah?"

I nearly choked on my own saliva. The phrase had a somewhat suggestive connotation. Of course, that was just my disturbed mind overthinking things.

Rem began to speak passionately, which made me recall the time she declared her love to Subaru.

"Let me be there for you when things get tough. Whenever you know something bad is going to happen, just tell me, and I'll help you fix it. Even if you can't tell me everything, I'll do my best to make things work out."

The seriousness with which she made that proposal shocked me deeply. Could I even believe her? Did she mean it from the bottom of her heart? If it were true, I wouldn't be alone anymore. I'd have someone supporting me unconditionally, just like Subaru (except I had the option to prevent the event with Gluttony and save both Rem and Crusch).

I only had one question left: when did I do anything to win Rem over like this? She didn't seem to be in love with me, like the original protagonist had been. So what motivated her to make this decision?

Then it hit me. Everything I'd done to influence Rem's personality and prevent her from becoming the same self-deprecating, dependent, and self-sacrificing girl was now paying off. Rem had made her proposal with the idea that it would work for both of us.

I needed an ally, and she needed a purpose.

Smiling, I bowed reverentially as I had been taught.

"Rem, would you do me the honor of being my partner?"

Rem bowed the same way I did, reciprocating my gesture.

"Yes, I'd be happy to do so."

That's how I got my first concub- I mean companion.

"So, here's what we'll do." I told her my improvised plan.

***

Russell Fellow sat in his office, reading market and financial reports. The atmosphere was calm and quiet, even boring.

That was until someone knocked on his door.

"Come in." Russell said, but nothing happened. The door remained motionless.

Raising an eyebrow, the man stood up and went to answer the door himself. To his dismay, there was no one in the hallway.

"Was it my imagination?"

He closed the door again and went to sit down. This time, when he tried to return to his reading, he couldn't concentrate due to the inexplicable feeling of being watched.

Restless, Russell began to look around, but seeing nothing, he shook his head, staring at the ground with a stressed expression.

"I'm just paranoid..."

He murmured, letting out his breath in a sigh. But then, his eyes caught a change in the surface of the carpet in the center of the room. The material had sunk slightly, as if something had stepped on it.

With a swift motion, Russell pulled a throwing knife from his suit and threw it accurately.

CLANG!

The knife collided with something invisible and was knocked to the side. A laugh sounded from that direction.

"Nice try."

As the air warped into an iridescent effect, Russell twisted his features in distaste, staring at the figure that became visible in front of him.

"I thought it might be you, Gilbert. You can't seem to get over your grudges."

"That's how it is."

Gilbert's red eyes fixed on Russell's with hatred. Without wasting any time, the intruder pulled out a mysterious silver object and pointed it at the guild leader.

"What's that?" Russell asked, more curious than afraid.

"It's what will allow me to have my revenge and fulfill my dream, all in one play."

Russell frowned, confused by Gilbert's enigmatic response.

"Since you're about to die, I'll let you know. This artifact is a powerful weapon that can kill instantly; even knights don't stand a chance if they're hit with this. I know because I've killed several of them with it!"

"You did what!?"

"It doesn't matter. I already said what I wanted to say. Goodbye, Russel, you were a big pain, but now that I have this power in my hands, no one will be able to oppose—"

Gilbert's sentence was interrupted by the shattering of glass in the window behind him.

"What the...?"

An arrow had appeared in his left shoulder, piercing it from side to side. Blood quickly seeped from the wound, staining his body and the carpet.

Several meters away, from the rooftop of a nearby building, Leandro clicked his tongue and hurried to reload his crossbow.

"Shit, I should have aimed a little lower."