Chapter 10.2
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[Garfiel: I think it’s better if ya don’t? Subaru ain’t got the qualifications . If ya go in without bein invited by the Witch’s Tomb, you’ll end up just like Roswaal]
[Subaru: Like Roswaal…… You mean that guy’s injuries, are because he went in there?]
As the image of Roswaal’s bandage-covered body resurfaced in his mind, Subaru tried to press back his astonishment as he looked up at Garfiel, who crossed his arms and nodded in confirmation,
[Garfiel: Well it won’t be like that for any unqualified dumbass that wanders in there at night . It’s only cus it was that guy, tha you got somethn like that . I wouldn’t be surprised if a normal guy without qualifications went in there and got ripped in half]
[Subaru: Those injuries weren’t inflicted by anyone, so that’s what he meant……]
Roswaal’s roundabout statement finally made sense . When he said earlier that he wasn’t wounded by anyone in particular, he had been referring to something like that .
But then, another question arose . Why did Roswaal enter the Tomb?
――That he himself was unqualified, he must have known that .
[Subaru: ……I better go check inside first after all]
Leaving the doubts about Roswaal for later, Subaru lowered his head as he made this conclusion .
Hearing his answer, for an instant Emilia and Garfiel looked stunned, before,
[Garfiel: Oy oy, were you listenin to me? It’d be dangerous if a dumbass without qualification goes in . Roswaal got like that at night time, but even if it’s noon ya won’t be much safer]
[Emilia: Yeah, it’s dangerous, don’t do it Subaru? If I go, it’d be alright . I was never thankful for it, but being a Half-Elf has its uses too, I guess, so……]
[Subaru: I’m glad you’re worried about me, but]
Casting a gentle gaze on Emilia, who was tugging on the end of his sleeve, Subaru softly picked off the fingers which were holding onto him,
[Subaru: If we calm down and divide up our roles, isn’t this the natural conclusion? Going inside is dangerous, that’s the same for both of us . What we know so far just means that I might be in slightly more danger . So next we be should be looking at what each of us can do]
[Emilia: What we can do?]
[Subaru: If something bad happens inside, I won’t be able to heal Emilia-tan . Unless Garfiel turns out to be that kind of insanely surprisingly guy, and happens to be an amazing healing magic user, then it’d be a different story]
[Garfiel: Wounds, mostly you can just rub spit on ’em and it’ll be good, right?]
[Subaru: Judging from the suspect’s testimony…… it’s pretty much like that . Since either of us have the possibility of getting injured, I’d want to keep the healer Emilia-tan safe as an insurance]
Taking a sidelong glance at Garfiel, who had said those words proudly, Subaru tried to persuade Emilia .
Emilia seemed somewhat shaken by Subaru’s argument, but, deciding that she could not give ground on the important part, continued with [But], shaking her head from side to side,
[Emilia: Major injuries…… or if it’s a life-threatening wound, I won’t be able to treat it . Puck isn’t responding either, so there’s a limit to what I can do . Roswaal has settled down now, but……]
[Subaru: Well, those wounds were pretty dangerous ones, huh . ……But still, try to believe in the slipperiness of my survival skills . I think I rank pretty high on the resilience index of this world, you know?]
He smiled at Emilia, who was not letting go; only, this time, his reply did not sound like he was joking .
In fact, it’s rare to find someone as bad at giving up as Subaru . If he were given an infinite number of chances to keep trying, no matter how many times it takes, he would probably keep trying .
No matter how many times his heart is broken, and crushed, he will keep struggling in search of the answer he was seeking .
Because that, is Natsuki Subaru’s ––– .
[Subaru: Then what if I make you a promise? Then you won’t have to worry anymore . I promise, I will return to Emilia-tan’s side, and I will never leave you]
[Emilia: –––ok]
Holding out his pinky finger, saying it almost teasingly, he received an unexpectedly favorable reply . Like the stunned Subaru, Emilia held out her pinky as well, and slightly tilted her head,
[Emilia: Um, what do you do with this finger?]
[Subaru: Eh? Uh, we tangle up each other’s pinky fingers like…… Uuuoooouu, Emilia-tan’s fingers are super thin and white and cute……!]
Their fingers tangling up, Subaru was moved by the unexpected contact . Then, following the violet pupils waiting for the next prompt, he quietly cleared his throat, and
[Subaru: Pin-ky-pro-mise . Liar-turns-into-a-pin-cushion]
[Emilia: Pinky promise!]
Their pinky fingers separating at the same time, in this way, the promise between Subaru and Emilia was sealed .
This time, it was a promise made upon an understanding of how heavy promises were to Emilia . It was no longer possible to treat them like he did before, when he had taken them so carelessly .
[Subaru: So, I’ll just take a quick look inside . Basically, I’ll keep calling out while I’m looking around, so make sure to keep calling back to me from the outside so I don’t get too lonely]
[Garfiel: Son of’a… sometimes I can’t tell if yer a badass or a wimp]
[Subaru: I’m a rather careful person . But in the end, I’m breaking Ram’s advice after all……]
Muttering the second half of that sentence in his mouth, Subaru apologised to the girl with peach-colored hair in his heart .
The deranged will of a Witch –– what she had said was a disturbing term, and one he did not want Emilia to hear . Because surely, she would insist on going in by herself, with an even firmer attitude .
[Emilia: Subaru . If you feel there’s something dangerous, you have to come back right away]
Emilia held her hands in front of her chest, and saw Subaru off with a worried gaze .
And in return, Subaru shot her an original thumbs-up with his pinky finger raised, sparkled his teeth in a smile, and took his step forward –– turning toward the Tomb .
Crossing over the ivy under his legs, he concentrated his sight on the absolute darkness that lay several meters beyond the entrance . The Grave was filled with silence, and for now, there seemed to be no sign of begrudging voices, or atrocious creatures lying in ambush .
Still, on the other side of that darkness, what could be awaiting him, was truly, in every sense, unknown .
[Subaru: Ee~h, screw it . “If you don’t venture into the tiger’s den, you won’t get the tiger’s cub”, right? Not that I need a baby tiger or anything!]
As a mofumofu fur-enthusiast, he did have the desire to pet a baby tiger one day, but it was not something he would take any risks over .
Anyways, Subaru, apparently influenced by Garfiel, cheered himself up with an idiom, and making up his mind, he stepped inside the Tomb .
And, the moment he stepped onto the cold surface inside–––,
[Subaru: –––eh?]
There was a mysterious feeling under his foot .
Astounded, Subaru looked down and lost his words . –––The floor, had disappeared .
[Subaru: Wa, wait…… That’s just way too……]
–––early for the FLAG to be recalled .
The footing he had expected to step on did not exist, and there was not a single thing to support his body as he tilted forward . The hand which he quickly extended out could touch neither the wall nor the floor, and so, Subaru’s body was sucked into the darkness beneath his eyes ––– .
[Subaru: aaaaaaaaaAAAAAH–––!?]
Deeper and deeper, he fell through the endless abyss .
※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※
––– Then, it was around 10 minutes after waking up at the bottom of the abyss .
Walking around in the middle of a seemingly neverending darkness, at the end of his path, Subaru found himself in front of a lonely girl .