Natsuki Subaru is chasing his back

Chapter 37: To Meet Expectations

"Yeah, I'll believe you."

Hearing Puck's voice, Subaru smiled, his hands becoming gentler.

This unconditional trust truly made him feel happy.

"Subaru, I want you to tell me who it is."

Subaru moved his hand away from Puck's head, shaking his head slightly as he said,

"I don't know who plans to attack the people in the mansion, but I'm sure they will use a curse. The time should be tomorrow evening. At that time, I want you to be with me."

Hearing Subaru's words, Puck thought for a moment, then nodded and said,

"Alright, tomorrow evening I'll stay with you. I want to see exactly who intends to harm the people in the mansion."

Subaru looked at the clearly unfriendly smile on Puck's face and said,

"You really care about the people in the mansion, huh."

But Puck didn't respond affirmatively; instead, he shook his head seriously and said,

"Actually, I don't really care about the people in the mansion.

Everything I do revolves around Lia. If someone attacks the people in the mansion, Lia would likely become a target too, so I must prevent that from happening.

Also... this is for you, Subaru. I understand very well that you're a good person, but if the mansion is attacked, you'll inevitably be suspected.

As your friend, I don't want that future to happen."

Subaru was taken aback.

He originally thought Puck had a good relationship with the mansion's people, but after hearing this, he thought more carefully and realized that indeed, for Puck, Emilia was the most important.

Besides often being with Beatrice, Subaru had never seen Puck interact much with others.

"Then, Puck, see you tomorrow evening."

"Yeah, leave it to me."

The two went their separate ways to do their own tasks.

Subaru's experience this time wasn't much different from before. After night fell and talking with Ram, Subaru went again to Beatrice's library.

Just like last time, Beatrice was asleep in her chair.

Subaru made no sound, gently picked her up, placed her on the bed, and covered her with a blanket.

But this time, Subaru didn't plan to spend the entire night studying here.

Since he knew someone would target him tomorrow, even if it was only tomorrow, he still needed to patrol—maybe he could find something.

With that thought, Subaru opened the library door and left. Wearing a butler uniform, he walked down the dark corridors.

His eyes scanned everywhere, paying special attention to the places so dark that it was hard to see.

After living in the mansion for many days, Subaru had memorized every route; even in total darkness, he was confident he wouldn't bump into anything.

Besides, tonight's moon was as bright as tomorrow's, so under the moonlight, it was even less likely he would run into anything.

Walking down the hallway, Subaru suddenly realized something: the mansion was so big, yet there were no guards at all.

Didn't they fear someone attacking?

Thinking this, Subaru recalled Roswaal, Rem, Beatrice, and Puck.

With their strength, it seemed guards weren't necessary.

'Come to think of it, since Rem has that much power, her twin sister must have some combat ability too.'

Shaking his body slightly, Subaru thought that if he continued living with the mansion's people, he definitely shouldn't anger them—dying would be pointless.

Suddenly, a rushing sound pierced the air.

The biting cold and killing intent that nearly stopped Subaru's heart made him roll quickly to the side.

In that moment, Subaru saw a chain slowly moving backward into the darkness.

At the end of the chain was a brutally menacing spiked ball.

Wide-eyed, Subaru stared dumbfounded as the spiked ball was dragged into the shadows.

If it had hit him just now, the man named Subaru would have died instantly, because its target was his head.

The familiar killing intent, and the gaze locked on his head, all told Subaru exactly who attacked him.

"Such passionate feelings, senpai..."

Subaru's eyes turned toward the darkness.

Out stepped the person he guessed: wearing a maid's uniform, with a cute face and sky-blue short hair—Rem.

She held a weapon, and the killing intent in her eyes was fully unleashed, directed entirely at Subaru.

"Honestly, I wanted you to die without pain. Why did you have to complicate things... Witch's Cultist."

Hearing this, Subaru was stunned for a moment, then stood up and stared at Rem, saying,

"If it weren't for that familiar killing intent, I probably wouldn't have noticed.

Come to think of it, you don't really seem like an assassin type, so I guess you can't completely suppress your killing intent toward me in daily life."

"…You noticed?"

"Of course. Although before just now, I didn't understand why you had that killing intent toward me, but just now hearing you call me a Witch's Cultist must be the reason."

Still smiling, Subaru even raised his hands in surrender, carrying a clearly murderous Rem, he said,

"I don't know what a Witch's Cultist is, but judging from your expression, it must be something you hate the most.

So could you put away your weapon? Besides, this is all a misunderstanding. I'm not a Witch's Cultist.

Honestly, I'm really afraid of how long your reason will last before it evaporates in the next moment."

"Stop lying! I will never believe you! That disgusting scent on you almost makes me vomit.

How could you openly walk around as a mansion staff without hiding anything and use work as an excuse to contact my sister! It was you who destroyed my sister, yet you can still smile as if you know nothing!"

Her terrifying expression, her restless movements, and furious killing intent made Subaru step back.

He lowered his raised hands.

At this moment, he understood: this maid would never believe a single word he said. Maybe even the last time he died was caused by her... No, wait!

Subaru felt something was wrong, something he had overlooked.

But the maid had already attacked, and the spiked iron ball flying toward him interrupted his thoughts.