A Random in Re:Zero

Loop 6 - Part 32

"I ran into Rem on the way. She's been looking for you like you're a lost child. I don't understand why she's so worried."

"Was she alone? Wasn't there a carriage?" Leandro grabbed his chin, feigning ignorance.

"Oh, yeah. There was one: I saw a guy driving by and Lady Emilia was supposed to be there."

The butler sighed, acting as if hearing that brought him relief.

"Good, so nothing happened to them... And how did you find me?"

"By your scent. I followed your trail here."

"Great, looks like you have quite a few tricks up your sleeve. Could you help me find Rem, please?"

"You even say the same thing she said... However, that won't be necessary." With a satisfied expression, Garfiel turned around and pointed at some trees, from between which Rem's figure emerged a few seconds later.

The blue-haired maid hurried to catch up with the two figures she had glimpsed, but when she was close enough, she realized they weren't fighting. Her heart relaxed at the sight of Leandro safe and sound. However, the witch's scent was a little more intense now. Rem wondered what could have happened to her companion during the short time he had been separated from her.

"Are you okay?" Rem wasn't referring to Leandro's physical health, and he knew it.

"Yeah, nothing much happened." He replied with a wink.

Rem nodded slowly, getting the message. Leandro had had some experience he couldn't talk about in front of Garfiel. The change in his scent implied that the witch's gift had recently been activated.

Garfiel looked at them both, irritated by their mutual understanding. He longed for that level of intimacy with Ram. Besides, he didn't like people hiding things from under his nose. It wasn't as if Garfiel was doubting Rem, but it was clear she had a connection with Leandro, which limited Rem's objectivity when it came to analyzing and understanding his motivations.

"I should ask Ram about this guy."

***

For the rest of the way to the settlement, Garfiel kept asking me pointed questions about how I defeated the White Whale and about my fight with the Archbishops. I told him almost everything, including the creation of the weapons we used to execute the beast. When I showed him my revolver, he jumped with excitement and asked me to lend it to him so he could use it, which I flatly refused.

"You selfish bastard! In that case, I'll create my own firearm! I'll even do it better than you!" He declared with determination. I shrugged at his childish, fleeting whim.

"You'll have to find a blacksmith if you want to do it. However, no one is as good as Nadir. Any other blacksmith would take more time and effort."

I shook my head in denial. Creating firearms in this world was a very dangerous thing to do, but I doubted Garfiel could pull it off. As for those who could, I hoped they'd never get the chance. If something like what happened in the royal capital were to happen again, I'd be the one most to blame.

Rem kept staring at me, as if she wanted to bore a hole in my head. Evidently, she wanted to be alone with me to find out what I saw. As strange as it may sound, the inability to speak privately with Rem right now was actually working to my advantage. My plan required waiting a little longer before doing that, as I needed to set the stage properly for the occasion.

We finally arrived at a small village full of demi-humans, who looked at me with distrust and fear, just like the women did when I tried to talk to them. Damn adult traumas...