Re:Zero - Reincarnated on a Co-op Route

A/N: Hello everyone here, the author. I couldn't publish chapters since I was moving to a new place, so I didn't have time. Now I can dedicate more time to publish the fanfic.

This chapter is an interlude (1/2) for the beginning of Arc 2.5, which will be set in Lunara City. 

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The morning was fresh, somewhat chilly, with a cloudy sky covering the Roswaal mansion in a dim light. Kaoru opened his eyes slowly in the guest room. The cold morning air gave him a chill, but it was nothing compared to the dull ache in his body. He moved his arms carefully, noting the bandages covering some of his wounds.

With a sigh, he began to remove them. "Not all of them" he thought. He still wasn't fully recovered, but he could move more or less normally, albeit with some difficulty. "I guess this is as good as I'm going to feel for now."

He changed into his usual attire, adjusting his clothes somewhat awkwardly due to the scars that still tugged at his skin. When he was ready, he walked out the door, letting out a sigh as he walked through the halls of the mansion.

"I might as well practice my mana control to make the most of the time," he thought as he descended the stairs.

"I should also go with Subaru to Arlam village in the afternoon. And... maybe finish studying in Beatrice's archive. "

Before he could plan his day any further, a familiar voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Oh, Kaoru, are you feeling better?" asked Roswaal, suddenly appearing behind him.

Kaoru gave a small jump, bringing a hand to his chest. "Hey, don't just appear out of nowhere like that. You'll give me a heart attack," he said with a mixture of irritation and surprise.

"I got it. I got it. That was rude of me, Kaoru-kun," Roswaal replied, with his characteristic mocking tone. "But I'm here to help you, as you well know, since we have a vow. I could help you train today if you're feeling better."

"So that was it," he thought. Finally, he shrugged and replied with a faint, tired smile.

"Well, in that case, I'm all yours."

"Splendid!" exclaimed Roswaal, with a broad grin. "Then follow me. I'll take you to a secluded area so we can begin training."

[Time Skip]

The training was intense, almost inhuman. Kaoru was panting heavily, leaning on his knees as he tried to catch his breath. His clothes were drenched in sweat, and every muscle in his body seemed to be screaming at him to stop.

"Shit!" he exclaimed, feeling like his heart was about to burst out of his chest. "Is this training or punishment?"

Roswaal, completely at ease, watched him with an amused smile. "Well, Kaoru-kun, my lessons are not to be taken lightly. Your mana management at your gate is... how shall I put it... rather mediocre. That's something you'll have to improve as time goes on. Besides, you're physically very weak and your magic leaves something to be desired."

Kaoru looked at him with a mixture of tiredness and irritation. "Thank you for reminding me of my uselessness. Really, thank you," he replied sarcastically as he used his healing magic to steady himself a bit. It was slow and tiring, but at least the pain was starting to subside.

"Anyway," Roswaal continued, ignoring Kaoru's tone, "your mana reserves aren't as small as Subaru's, but they aren't huge either. I'd say they're slightly higher than the average Lugunica inhabitant."

Kaoru nodded weakly, still panting.

"Try practicing Murak when you can, Kaoru-kun. It's not a difficult spell to master, but it does require some precision in mana control."

"I understand," Kaoru muttered, still recovering.

Roswaal clapped his hands once, as if ending the session. "Well, I guess that was a good lesson for today. I guess you owe me a favor now, Kaoru-kun," he said with a smile that could only be described as mischievous.

Kaoru looked up suspiciously. "And what will you use it for?"

Roswaal smiled even wider. "Only time will tell. Do not despair. I'll take my leave, then."

"Wait, you won't take me with you? There are Wolgarms in the deep forest," Kaoru said, pointing to the surroundings with concern.

"Oh, Kaoru-kun," Roswaal replied, his tone almost mockingly.

"Take it as a chore. If you can run and make it back to the mansion alive, I'll give you another training session and teach you another spell. Think of it as a good thing: you'll get to practice your magic. Well, see ya~!"

And with those words, he took off from the ground, flying back to the mansion with a carefree smile.

"Son of a bitch..." muttered Kaoru, watching as Roswaal disappeared over the horizon.

It was then that she heard it. Low growls, coming from between the trees. The Wolgarms, which had been being kept at bay by Roswaal's presence, were now moving freely through the forest.

Kaoru swallowed saliva, feeling a shiver run down his back.

"My goodness..."

---

Kaoru ran at full speed through the forest, his lungs burning with every breath as a pack of rabid Wolgarms chased after him. Their fierce growls and the sound of their paws pounding the ground echoed behind him, getting closer with every second. He had no weapons; he had lost them two nights ago in a previous confrontation. "Of course, why can't I get a break for a change?" he thought, with a mixture of frustration and adrenaline.

"Don't these damn dogs ever know when to give up?" he muttered through his teeth as he dodged a fallen tree, barely avoiding tripping.

The forest gave him no respite. Roots protruded from the ground, low branches stood in his way, and the uneven terrain threatened to send him tumbling. But Kaoru did not stop. He leapt nimbly over obstacles, swerved sharply to avoid collisions, and kept up a frantic pace as the Wolgarms nipped at his heels.

"I can't go on like this forever!" he thought as he began to calculate his next move. He felt the pressure of the hunt behind him, but he couldn't afford to panic.

Suddenly, he decided to act. He turned his head to the side to calculate the distance between him and the pack, then extended his hand back, aiming directly at the Wolgarms.

"Shamak!" he shouted.

Dark, thick black smoke billowed from his hand, spreading rapidly toward the Wolgarms. The mist enveloped the creatures in an oppressive sphere of darkness. Growling and barking turned to confusion. Smoke distorted vision and hearing, leaving them blind and deaf within range.

Kaoru wasted no time. He took advantage of the chaos to use his new spell.

"Murak."

Immediately, he felt his body become light, almost weightless. It was as if gravity had abandoned him. With a single push of his legs, Kaoru leapt upward, soaring several feet into the air. He landed gracefully on the branches of a tall tree.

"This is amazing," she said, as she took a quick step towards another branch and then another.

"I won't deny it; this spell is pretty good."

Kaoru began to run through the treetops. His lightness allowed him to move forward effortlessly, leaving the chaos on the ground behind. From the heights, he could see the silhouette of Roswaal Manor in the distance.

---

Meanwhile, Subaru was trapped in a dark and oppressive dream. A hand made of shadows was slowly creeping into his chest, its icy touch creeping closer and closer to his heart. He couldn't move, he couldn't scream, but he could feel the pain and despair engulfing him.

"AAAAAAAAAAAHHHHH!" He cried out, waking with a start.

Subaru sat up quickly, his breathing labored and his body covered in cold sweat. His eyes frantically scanned the room, searching for some trace of the darkness that had been tormenting him. But there was nothing. Only the familiar room of the Roswaal mansion.

"So... it was just a dream, huh?" He muttered to himself, holding a hand to his chest to calm his racing heart.

"Are you okay, Subaru-kun?" asked a calm voice beside him.

Subaru turned his head quickly and saw Rem sitting on a stool near his bed. Her presence was so natural that she almost looked like part of the furniture. She wore a slight smile on her face, as if nothing was out of the ordinary.

"¡¿Rem?! ¿Why are you here as if it's customary?!" exclaimed Subaru, pointing at her in disbelief.

"It's almost time for work, so I thought that if I saw your face while you were sleeping, your expression would stay the same during the day," Rem replied with a serene smile.

"Is that even possible?" asked Subaru, arching an eyebrow.

Rem ignored the question and instead looked at him curiously. "That doesn't matter; what were you dreaming, Subaru-kun?"

Subaru averted his gaze, trying to avoid the conversation. "If I tell you, it might come true. Don't worry," he said quickly, trying to close the subject.

It was then that he noticed the cold that filled the room. He looked out the window and saw the cloudy sky, as if the weather was about to change. He rubbed his arms, trying to warm up a bit.

"By the way, Rem, aren't you feeling very cold?" He asked, glancing her way.

Rem nodded slightly. "That's right, it started to get cold this morning," she replied in her usual calm tone.

"As expected of you, Subaru-kun, you noticed," Rem added, with a slight hint of admiration in her voice.

"Well... anyone could notice the cold."

---

[Back in the mansion]

Kaoru returned to the safety of the mansion after a long chase of Wolgarms in the forest. His body was tired, his breathing was heavy, and the cold was beginning to creep into his bones. He ran a hand through his hair, noticing how cold his own hands were.

"I guess winter is coming... ¿I guess?" he thought as he walked towards the entrance.

"I didn't notice much change in the plants in the garden, though. Well, some of the flowers are starting to die. Maybe that's a sign. "

With a sigh, Kaoru opened the doors to the mansion and stepped inside. He closed the door behind him and took a moment to catch his breath before moving through the halls.

"Why do I get myself into these things? Sometimes I think I should learn to say no. "

Kaoru headed straight for Roswaal's room, determined to resolve something that had been on his mind for a while. Opening the door, he found the count sitting at his desk, his posture relaxed but with that trademark smile that always seemed to know more than he was saying.

"Oh, Kaoru-kun," Roswaal said, looking up from the papers in front of him. "So you didn't die. That's splendid. In that case, how about we have another training session very soon?"

Kaoru remained silent, just staring at him blankly. If Roswaal's comment was intended to be a joke, he was not amused.

Roswaal tilted his head slightly, maintaining his smile. "Are you angry, Kaoru-kun? I knew you could deal with it. After all, you know pretty good escape spells, don't you?"

Kaoru continued without a word, watching him blankly. His palpable silence filled the room, but Roswaal didn't seem uncomfortable in the least. In fact, he seemed to be enjoying it.

Finally, Roswaal spoke again, letting out a soft chuckle. "Kaoru-kun, if you're just going to stay silent, this conversation will be very boring~. Do you need anything?"

Kaoru let out a long sigh. "Can I get a raise?"

Roswaal blinked, clearly not expecting that request. His eyes narrowed slightly, and his smile widened. "A raise, you say?" he asked, stretching out the word as if he were savoring it.

"Yes, please," Kaoru replied, keeping his tone direct. "I'm going to need some more money for what I plan to do."

Roswaal rested his chin on one hand, leaning forward slightly with a thoughtful air, though Kaoru knew the count had probably already decided how to respond. "Mmmmmm... Well, since I'm in a good mood, and considering you saved the children in Arlam village..." Roswaal paused deliberately, his smile growing even wider.

"I might consider giving you a teeeeeny, tiny raise~."

Kaoru stared at him, unfazed. "Whatever," he said, waving his hand to cut off Roswaal's theatrics.

"So, could you give me this week's advance?"

Roswaal let out a short laugh, clearly amused by Kaoru's straightforward attitude. "Oh, Kaoru-kun, always so practical. Very well, very well. I'll give you your advance. But remember, there are no such things as free favors in this world, understand?"

Kaoru gave him a sidelong glance, clearly unwilling to play along. "Yeah, sure, whatever you say," he replied casually.

Roswaal opened one of his desk drawers and pulled out a small leather pouch filled with coins. He placed it on the table and slid it over to Kaoru with a graceful motion. "Here you go. Make it for something useful, okay?"

Kaoru took the pouch unceremoniously, quickly checking its contents before putting it away. "Thank you," he said dryly, turning toward the door.

"Ah, Kaoru-kun," Roswaal called out just before he could leave. "I hope you remember that training won't end just because you're tired. So get well soon, okay?"

Kaoru paused in the doorway, closing his eyes for a moment. "Why does he always have to make everything so irritating?" he thought before answering quietly.

"Yeah, whatever you say."

Without waiting for an answer, he left the room and closed the door behind him. As he walked down the hallway, he let out another sigh.

[Time Skip - In the kitchen of the mansion].

"Hey, Kaoru!" greeted Subaru with his usual energy as he entered the kitchen.

"Good morning," Kaoru replied, returning their greeting as he adjusted the sleeve of his shirt.

In the mansion's kitchen, the three of them were ready to prepare the meal. Rem was already standing by the magic stove, organizing all the necessary utensils.

"Are you feeling better, Kaoru-sama?" asked Rem in her sweet but respectful tone.

"Yes, a little," Kaoru replied, rolling his shoulders to loosen them up. "Though this cold doesn't help much, to say the least."

"It's rather sudden," Subaru commented as he approached the counter. "Yesterday it looked like today would be a nice day."

Kaoru looked at the ingredients lined up on the table and arched an eyebrow. "What are you preparing? Can I help you with that?"

Rem nodded softly with a small smile. "We're preparing a vegetable and meat stew today, Kaoru-sama. Also a side dish of mashed potatoes and freshly baked bread. Subaru-kun insisted that he wanted something warm to combat the cold."

"It's my specialty!" added Subaru with a proud smile.

"Specialty? Aren't you basically just cutting things?" joked Kaoru, with a small smirk.

"Hey, cutting is an art too!" replied Subaru, holding up a knife as if it were a trophy.

Kaoru shook his head with a light chuckle. "All right, then. Pass the potatoes. I'll cut them."

"Btw, where's Ram?" asked Subaru, looking around.

"Nee-sama said it was cold, so she stayed in bed," Rem explained calmly.

"Getting some rest?" added Kaoru, arching an eyebrow.

"Yes, Kaoru-sama. Nee-sama's been working a lot lately too, so it's okay to let her rest," Rem said with a faint smile.

"But didn't you say they were used to the cold?" protested Subaru, clearly indignant.

"Cold or not, we can't do all the work while she rests," Subaru continued, crossing his arms.

"Nee-sama gets tired too, Subaru-kun. It's important for her to rest."

"Come on Rem!"

"Fine, if you say so."

Rem and Subaru leave the kitchen.

I guess I'll finish making the food then." says Kaoru with a sigh.

Well, while we're at it. Where did Rem leave the fannel fruits?...

[Time Skip]

Ram stood with her arms crossed, supervising Kaoru as he mopped the floor with a mop. Her frown clearly showed that she was not in a good mood, especially since she had been woken up, something she was not willing to tolerate.

Ram bent down gracefully, running a finger along the wood of the floor. She looked at the dust that accumulated on her fingertip and frowned even more, as if Kaoru had just committed an unforgivable crime.

"There's still a lot of dust. Do it again," she ordered in an authoritative tone.

Kaoru paused for a moment, resting the mop on the floor as he sighed. "Really? I've already cleaned it three times."

"You really are useless, Kaoru," Ram added, without a hint of pity in her voice.

Kaoru looked at her with a mixture of weariness and resignation. "Hey, I wasn't the one who woke you up, you know? Don't take it out on me," he said, putting the mop aside for a moment.

Ram didn't respond, simply glared at him. Kaoru, trying to ease the tension, smiled nonchalantly at him. "Come on, lighten up a little. It's not that bad," he added with a light tone as he approached her with some confidence.

Ram raised an eyebrow, clearly unimpressed, but before she could respond, Kaoru stumbled over something on the floor.

"Huh?" he exclaimed as he lost his balance, nearly falling to the ground.

Looking down, he noticed that his foot had hit a small gap in the wooden planks. He leaned forward, inspecting it more closely. "What is this? It looks like it might be a door to a cellar," he commented, resting the broom on his chin as he examined the small hatch curiously.

Ram, still with her arms crossed, looked down at it from above. "Do you know what's inside?" asked Kaoru, turning his head toward her.

"I don't know," Ram replied indifferently, though a slight curiosity showed on her face.

Kaoru crouched down, placing his hands on the hatch in an attempt to open it. "Well, there's only one way to find out."

"Stop, Kaoru," Ram said immediately, with a firm tone.

"What will happen if you open it and a lot of worms come out? Wait until I leave and lock the door."

Kaoru looked over his shoulder at her, with an incredulous expression. "You want to lock me in with the worms? Very nice of you, Ram. It's too late now anyway," he replied with a hint of sarcasm as he lifted the gate.

The wood creaked as it opened, revealing a small compartment hidden beneath the floor. To both of their surprise, there were no worms, but a collection of glass bottles, many of them covered in dust but clearly well cared for. The labels were faded but still legible, showing names of alcoholic beverages Kaoru didn't recognize.

"This is all alcohol?" asked Kaoru, surprised as he leaned closer to look at the contents. "That's a lot... I mean, I'm not complaining or anything," he added with a guilty smile.

Ram, curious despite herself, also approached. She rested her neck on Kaoru's shoulder as she looked at the stash. "Come to think of it, I heard rumors that Roswaal-sama's grandmother drank a lot."

Kaoru raised an eyebrow, trying to imagine it. "I can't imagine Roswaal's grandmother. Would she be like him, but with more wrinkles and a cup in her hand all the time?" he thought, stifling an internal chuckle.

"Since it looks old, it must be excellent for drinking. I can't wait to give him a sip," Kaoru said, his eyes sparkling as he looked at the bottles. Inside, all his troubles and dilemmas seemed to slowly fade away, replaced by the promise of sweet, sweet alcohol.

"Kaoru," Ram said, her tone sterner now. "No matter how difficult your life has been, you shouldn't drink."

Kaoru sighed, turning his head toward her with an almost tragicomic expression. "I don't know if I can live up to that. I'm weak-hearted, after all. It's just... just look at it." He pointed to one bottle in particular, one with an intricate, shiny design despite the dust. "It looks as if the bottle is seducing me, telling me to open it and taste it."

Ram looked at him with a mixture of exasperation and disdain. "You're just having alcoholic delusions"

Kaoru, far from being discouraged, smiled mischievously as he took one of the bottles, wiping it carefully with the sleeve of his shirt.

"You know, Ram? We could try this together. Maybe a glass or two to celebrate... whatever we're celebrating. What do you say?"

Ram stared at him for a moment, as if assessing whether the proposal was worthy of her time. Finally, she sighed and averted her gaze. "I have no interest in drinking with you, Kaoru. And I don't need alcohol to get through my days, and I know you have double intentions."

Kaoru feigned a hurt expression, holding a hand to his chest. "Ouch, that hurt. But if you change your mind, I can share. Aren't you curious how long this has been here? It could be a historical relic, you know?"

Ram glared at him. "If you want to drink, go ahead. But don't drag me into your madness."

Kaoru let out a light laugh, tilting the bottle toward Ram in a mocking gesture. "I'll take that as a 'maybe'. There's always next time."

Ram snorted, turning away from him with a clearly irritated expression. "Do what you want, you good-for-nothing. But if you end up drunk and causing trouble, don't expect me to help you."

Kaoru watched her leave, still holding the bottle in his hand. "Well, it wasn't a 'yes', but it wasn't a '' resounding no' either. That's something," he thought with a smile.

He turned his attention back to the bottles, closing the hatch after making sure they were intact.

"Maybe tonight would be the perfect time to try some of this 'family heirloom'... even if it's just one glass. or two?"

[Time Skip]

Kaoru was standing by one of the mansion's windows, looking outside. The weather, which was only cloudy before, now seemed colder. The frigid air was beginning to seep into the corners of the mansion, making it feel more inhospitable than usual.

"I guess winter will be here sooner than expected," Kaoru muttered to himself as his thoughts wandered.

"Hey, Kaoru!"

"Uh?" Kaoru looked away from the window, startled by the sudden voice.

Subaru was approaching him with his characteristic enthusiasm.

"Did something happen?" asked Kaoru, arching an eyebrow.

"I'm going to Arlam Village," Subaru answered quickly. "Rem asked me to go. We can take the opportunity to get the ingredients for the mayo and also talk to the villagers. They must be worried... especially about you."

Kaoru put a hand to the back of his neck, letting out a sigh. "So that's it. Let's go then. I had already finished helping Ram clean a room. Though, to be honest, she's not in a very good mood to say the least."

"I guess it's my fault for waking her up," Subaru admitted, scratching his head with a nervous laugh.

Kaoru gave him a sidelong glance and nodded. "Well, then let's go before it gets any colder and my bones freeze."

Without wasting any more time, the two left the mansion and began walking down the path through the forest towards the village. The branches of the trees swayed gently in the wind, and the ground crunched under their feet from the dry leaves scattered along the path.

After a few minutes of walking in silence, Subaru broke the silence with a curious tone. "Hey, Kaoru, I noticed Emilia looking rather strange this morning."

Kaoru turned her head towards him, intrigued. "Why do you say that?"

"Well," Subaru began, scratching his chin, "when I mentioned to her again about our date this morning and proposed postponing it because of the cold, she seemed very... ¿Willing?"

Kaoru raised an eyebrow. "Willing?"

"Yes, she even seemed relieved," Subaru added, frowning slightly as if trying to decipher a complicated riddle.

Kaoru let out a small snort. "That's bad."

"And is it? I guess it's because the weather is quite troublesome and she's understanding, right?"

Kaoru couldn't help but smile mischievously. "Ooooh, or maybe it's because she doesn't want to go out with yo—"

"Nonsense!" interrupted Subaru, turning to him with an exaggeratedly indignant expression. "Emilia-Tan would never do that to me! She's an angel, Kaoru! An angel! I like her and she seems to be starting to like me. I'm sure she's looking forward to tomorrow's date because she knows how important she is to me and—"

Kaoru stopped listening after the third argument. Subaru was still justifying, gesturing with his hands and changing his tone as if he were in front of a jury. Kaoru simply stared straight ahead, letting Subaru's words become a murmur in the background. "How can someone talk so much without breathing?" Kaoru thought, amused.

Finally, as Subaru's endless yapping was beginning to sound like white noise, Kaoru raised a hand to point ahead. "Oh, here we are," he said serenely.

Subaru blinked, pausing as if he had just come out of a trance. "Huh? Oh, yes... we're here," he said, looking at the village stretching out in front of them.

Kaoru smiled slightly as they resumed their pace towards the village. "If Subaru keeps yapping like that, the cold won't be my biggest problem... It'll be keeping my sanity intact," he thought, though he couldn't help but find a bit of amusement in his companion's boundless energy.

The children of the village, upon seeing them arrive, ran out towards them with bright smiles and shouts of joy.

"Subaru-kun! Kaoru-kun! They're here!" They exclaimed, their voices full of excitement as they clustered around them.

Subaru and Kaoru barely had time to react before the children surrounded them, tugging at their hands and all talking at the same time. After a long while of chattering, thanking, and laughing with the villagers, even Subaru doing aerobics with them, the two finally got a little breathing room.

Kaoru decided to separate for a moment and head to the village tailor, while Subaru went to get the ingredients for the mayo.

---

Kaoru entered the humble store, the sound of the bell on the door announcing his arrival. "Good afternoon," he said calmly as he peered inside.

"Oh, if it isn't Kaoru?, the young man who helped save the children from the Wolgarms," the elderly tailor said, smiling broadly from behind the counter.

"What can I do for you? As a thank you, everything you buy here will be half price, hehehe."

Kaoru smiled a small smile and began to look at the clothes carefully. As he looked over the fabrics and designs, an idea popped into his mind.

"Could you make me a hooded cloak? In desert brown," Kaoru requested, raising his eyes to the old man.

The tailor nodded enthusiastically. "I can do it, but it will take me a few days. Is there anything else you need?"

Kaoru pondered for a moment before answering. "I'd like a black scarf, please."

"Ah, I have some already made; would you like to see them?"

Kaoru nodded, and the old man disappeared for a moment into the back of the store. Moments later, he returned with several scarves, all of different designs and textures. Kaoru chose one that looked thick and cold-resistant, perfect for the coming weather.

Kaoru walked out of the tent, adjusting the black scarf around his neck.

"Hopefully,this will help a little to keep me warm" He thought as he walked quietly through the streets of the village.

"So they'll have the cloak ready in two days..." he muttered to himself, observing the small houses and the daily activity of the village.

Suddenly, he felt small hands grab his arms. Before he could react, the village children had appeared again, taking him away to play with them.

"Kaoru!" exclaimed Lucas with a big smile, tugging him excitedly.

"Hey brat," Kaoru replied with a tired but sincere smile.

"Can you tell us how you saved us from the evil Wolgarm?" asked Cain, his eyes sparkling with excitement.

Near them, Mild and Meina stared at Kaoru, also curious to hear the story.

Kaoru sighed but couldn't help but smile. "Well, I guess I can't leave them wondering. I'll tell them how your big brother wiped out dozens of Wolgarms and (almost) defeated the Wolgarm boss," he said, deliberately exaggerating as he made a theatrical gesture.

A while later...

"Wow, you're amazing, Kaoru-sama!" said Dine, another of the kids, with a grin that went from ear to ear.

"And you slit the alpha Wolgarm's throat with your daggers? Wow, that's cool!" exclaimed Mild, impressed.

Kaoru was pleased with his little audience, though he knew that much of what he had told was a blatant exaggeration. "It won't hurt them to dream a little," he thought, enjoying the children's admiration.

"Showing off to the kids, huh?" said Subaru, suddenly appearing with armloads of bags full of ingredients.

Kaoru turned his head toward him, shrugging his shoulders. "Why don't you stop telling me what I should do and come help me with them yourself?" He replied with a smirk.

Subaru let out a snort, adjusting his bags so he wouldn't lose his balance. "Why don't you stop telling them something that wasn't so and come help me? I'm going to the mansion now."

"I'll follow you in a moment, Subaru," Kaoru replied, quickly saying goodbye to the children.

As he was about to leave, he felt a small hand tugging gently on the sleeve of his white shirt. Surprised, he turned his head to see a girl with reddish brown hair and cyan eyes looking at him shyly. No matter how many times he saw her, Kaoru always thought the same thing

"She's just too cute."

"Petra?" he asked curiously, leaning a little towards her. "Is something wrong?"

The petite girl blushed slightly, lowering her gaze for a moment before speaking in a shy tone. "Th-thank... th-thank you... Kaoru-sama!" She finally said, the blush spreading across her cheeks.

Kaoru couldn't help but smile at her sincerity. There was something about Petra that always disarmed him, something that made her seem like the epitome of tenderness.

"No problem, Petra," he said softly, placing a hand on her head and stroking it gently. "I'll always be there to help you, as your big brother."

Kaoru's words seemed to make Petra blush even more. She looked up shyly at him, as her nervous smile showed a silent but sincere thanks.

Kaoru stood up, adjusting his scarf as he watched Petra wave goodbye with a small bow before hurrying to where the other children were.

As he walked towards the exit of the village, Kaoru couldn't help but smile to himself.

"I guess there are things in this world that are really worthwhile"

 He thought, as the sun began to set on the horizon.

[Time Skip]

Kaoru found himself immersed in Beatrice's vast archive, as they had agreed. She had allowed him to study and research in her domain without too many restrictions, and little by little they seemed to be developing a closer relationship, even if the spirit tried to keep her aloof attitude.

As he carefully went through the books, Kaoru was able to find very limited information about what seemed to be his vow with Roswaal. In reality, the vow was an Oath Curse Mark.

"It is a curse that binds a soul, forcing the recipient to keep the word they swore to with an oath," Kaoru read quietly, feeling a knot form in her stomach. "If either party breaks their oath, they will be engulfed in a purifying flame that will burn body and soul, vanishing from existence with no possibility of return."

"Shit, this is bad"

"What are you mumbling about so much? It's annoying," Beatrice said, scowling at him.

"Why are you interested in Oath Curse magic?"

Kaoru glanced up, smiling a forced smile. "Oh, simple curiosity, hehe."

Beatrice snorted. "How strange that anyone would be interested in that kind of repulsive magic."

"I guess I'm a weird guy in that case," Kaoru replied, trying to keep his tone light.

"I'm cooked. Roswaal forced me to take that damn oath and it's clear he'd kill me if I refused. I don't want to die and go back to that garden of shadows to be raped in every way possible by that envy witch who says I'm an imposter. I still don't understand why" thought Kaoru, feeling fear and anxiety consume him.

Trying to distract himself, Kaoru began to do a little more research on the history of Lugunica, the royal family, and the Divine Dragon, which they called Volcanica. Unfortunately, the information was rather limited, and the books in the more complex languages he had not yet mastered seemed to contain more details.

"This is going to be agony," Kaoru sighed, turning the pages of a new book he had pulled off the shelf.

"What's this, 'The City Daughter of the Stars, Lunara?" he read aloud, his curiosity piqued.

"That's the city on the border between Lugunica and Kararagi, Kashira," Beatrice explained.

"And do you know why it's called Lunara?" asked Kaoru, increasingly intrigued.

"Not much is known about its origins, but what is clear is that in that place, one of the moons is always visible, whether day or night, shining no matter what. They also say that the night sky there allows you to see all the stars in the cosmos. I'd say it's the closest place to the cosmos and mana in all of Od Laguna, Kashira," Beatrice replied.

Kaoru smiled, fascinated by the description. "Sounds like a very interesting place to go sometime; have you seen it, Beako?"

Beatrice shook her head. "No, I've never been to that place and I'm not interested, Kashira."

"Boring..." muttered Kaoru, grinning mischievously.

"Don't annoy me!" exclaimed Beatrice, frowning.

Kaoru leaned over to her and whispered in a playful tone, "Just imagine it, delicious food, beautiful moonlight, you and me... doing naughty things..."

"Stop it!" interrupted Beatrice, her face flushed.

Kaoru held up his hands in surrender. "Just teasing, but if you want, it wasn't a joke," he said, winking at her.

"You and your nonsense, Hmmph!" snorted Beatrice, crossing her arms.

Kaoru turned his attention back to the book, finding two things that caught his eye: the Moonlight Gem, a small white glowing gem, and the fact that it had been a gift from the former king of Lunara, Jerald Guildemont, to his wife Katarina D. Margaret, shortly before he died of a strange illness.

According to the book, the royal family of Lunara had fallen victim to a curse that condemned their descendants to short lives of no more than 30 years. Because of this, the city was now ruled by a council of five wise elders.

"How tragic all this is," Kaoru murmured, feeling a pang of empathy.

Beatrice nodded somberly. "That's right, a cursed lineage, destined to die. How wicked fate is sometimes, isn't it?"

Kaoru could notice a shadow of sadness in Beatrice's eyes and wondered if there was more behind her words.

Kaoru continued reading the book, finding something that caught her attention.

"The Great Festival of Lunara, eh?" wondered Kaoru, his curiosity palpable.

According to the information, every year on the day the city was founded, there was a huge night festival in the city. The festival lasted for 5 days, and people from all over Od Laguna came just to be a part of it, as Lunara was a tourist city with no racial discrimination.

Kaoru was very fascinated by the city after reading about it. The books portray it as a dream city, it's amazing," he murmured, closing the book and putting it back on the shelf.

"I wish I could go to one of those festivals."

Getting up, Kaoru stretched a bit before turning to Beatrice. "I'll see you later, Beako. I think I'll go to sleep now, pray I don't freeze from this strange cold."

Beatrice looked at him with an almost mocking expression. "I'll get you the coffin if you want."

Kaoru let out a small laugh. "That would be enough, see you." 

Smiling, Kaoru left the archive, his mind filled with images of the mysterious and fascinating city of Lunara.

"Maybe I'll get to visit that place someday, after solving all my problems, that gem mentioned in the book might be the one my grimoire needs; after all, maybe raigor is related to that place in some way or another?"