Uncertainty is a scary feeling. Which, thanks to Elsa's word, it only got amplified.
'In most cases, all involved parties perished in the event .'
Okay. That was nice of her to remind him. She said that because people will be sent to protect him, yes? He is, after all, a valuable witness.
Right…?
Subaru sat down and sighed. Demoted from an investigator to witness, he didn't see that coming.
Still, it's better than dying. Well, technically, Heinkel has died and he is only hijacking a dead body.
…that seemed creepy when put into perspective.
Well, worrying wouldn't do him any good. Since everyone came into contact with that notebook, they all offed themselves, Heinkel included, Subaru surmised it was something outside his control at the current moment.
He must wonder…does this notebook involve some unnatural forces? Well, the answer was an obvious 'yes'. What kind of notebook killed people who read it? Only something related to mysticism could do it.
He thought back about Cromwell. Although the man was seemingly normal on the surface, something about him struck him as strange. He couldn't wrap his finger around it, though.
And then there is the feeling of him missing something, which prompted him to search around the house in a frenzy.
It wasn't until he looked at the time that he stopped.
"Reinhard is almost done with school…" Subaru realized when he looked at the clock, 'Welp, since I'm under house arrest anyway, I didn't see why not to prepare a meal in advance. Wouldn't want Reinhard to come home hungry.'
When he came back to cook, the soonest he's done will be 7:30 pm. Subaru couldn't imagine studying the whole day and then came back and had to cook dinner by yourself...That child must be starving by then! Where is the energy to cook?
He might exhaust himself. And then the exhaustion from working will negatively impact his performance tomorrow!
That logic is sound, after all!
"Is this what becoming a parent felt like?" Subaru muttered to himself, but then felt embarrassed by his own sentences "Hm…I suppose it must be."
Well, since the only thing left is to cook, Subaru decided not to let his disaster of yesterday repeat. That's to say, he has ample time to make the meal decent.
Of course, he could just leave Reinhard to cook by himself. He is probably fretting too much...this is basically a regular occurrence for that child,
Reinhard is a tough child.
But just because he can endure it doesn't mean he should.
Well, that's it for the inspiration. Now to the application of skill!
Subaru is not a very good cook, but if there's one thing a Natsuki is best at, it must be adaptation. He just need to pay extra careful to not cause another unsightly meal! Despite what people say, taste is not everything! Would a pile of goop become appetizing just because it tasted good?
No, it would cause your taste buds and your vision to get into a civil war!
"Okay, you can do this!"
Everything is finally looking up…
That was what Reinhard really thought. To feel that gentleness after so long, Reinhard hoped that it would never change.
He even remembered the recipe Mom always made…tasting it made Reinhard beyond happy. Perhaps that was why he was feeling so giddy lately, and couldn't help but curl his lips at the thought.
"What got you so happy?" A girl with crimson red eyes and gold hair approached him. It was Felt, one of his classmates, and perhaps his only friend.
"Uh…nothing important." Reinhard casually dismissed her probe. It's better not to talk to other people about his family matter.
"Sure, because that sounded very convincing." Felt commented sarcastically "Anyway, have you studied for the test tomorrow?"
Reinhard was about to answer, but Felt suddenly interrupted him.
"You know what? Don't answer. I already know you will pass with flying colors. Me, on the other hand, will have to fight for my life." Felt complained and glared at him, while Reinhard only smiled in response. "How about your arm? Is it still hurt?"
"I'm fine. Don't worry about it." Reinhard reassured her
"I had the right to be worried! It's because of me you were hurt, after all…" She then frowned and looked away "You know you didn't have to help me."
"I can't just let these bullies do whatever they want!" Reinhard answered, obviously didn't like what Felt was implying
"Yeah, yeah, because you are a goody-two-shoes…" Felt sighed, then punched him lightly on the shoulder "However, I appreciated it."
They walked together for a moment, clearly appreciating the silence on the way.
"I will go on first. Old Man Rom will be worried if I returned home late. See you tomorrow, Rein!" She waved her hand and ran off.
"You too, Felt!" Reinhard shouted back
In her credit, Felt did manage to turn around and give him a thumb-up.
When Reinhard returned home, the aroma of food was in the air instead of the usual stench of alcohol. He saw a well-made meal on the table, with his father sitting on the chair waiting for him.
"Oh, Reinhard! Welcome back, kiddo!" His father smiled at him gently, and Reinhard couldn't help but tear up "Ah?! Reinhard?...uh, did someone at school bully you? Don't worry, your father will beat them up for you!"
Reinhard felt something warm inside him. Then he quickly ran to his father and hugged him tightly
"Oof! You are strong for a kid!" His father chuckled, slowly patting his head "Come on kid, don't cry…it will break this old man's heart."
"Y-you…are not…old." He sniffled, wiping away his tears "And I only cry because…I'm so happy…"
"Yeah, I figured." His father sighed, "Sit down before the food got cold. You have an exam tomorrow, right? You can't do that with an empty stomach! Come on."
Reinhard only sat down then, and looked confusedly at the food on the table. It simply looked...appetizing. Not something complicated, but well-made.
"Come on, have a taste first! I spent a lot of time with this!" His father looked at him expectantly.
Reinhard brought a piece of meat to his mouth. It wasn't as excellent as the food they had when they were in the mansion. Yes, Reinhard could still remember the taste vividly.
But to him, this was already the best meal he ever had.
After all, a meal he can eat with someone is the meal he enjoyed the most.
Subaru laid on the bed, obviously thinking about recent events. Although he did make a lot of effort in the kitchen, seeing Reinhard's happy expression as he enjoyed the meal was priceless.
Subaru thought about the absurdity of it. Just a feel day in this world, and he already thought of himself as a parent. Is this what his parent felt when dealing with him? Is this why they were so patient and gentle with him?
Reinhard…the kid has suffered a lot. Subaru could only hope he could make the kid's life a little more bearable.
He fell asleep with that thought and Reinhard's smile swirling inside his head.
…
In his dream, Heinkel woke up to find himself sitting on a chair, looking at a woman lying on the bed.
She had blonde hair and blue eyes. She was holding something in her hand. Something precious.
As if sensing his gaze, she turned to him with a smile.
"He is…perfect." Her voice was gentle, and so, so beautiful "We made him, Heinkel…our son."
He reached out to touch the little life she was holding. The boy, so small and adorable, shifted so slightly at his touch.
Something indescribable inside brought him to tears.
He couldn't stop crying…although he is an Astrea, the feeling inside him exploded outward.
Then suddenly, a soft hand combed through his hair. She looked at him with a smile that pierced through his heart.
"It's okay."
That was her word, so gentle, yet-
Why is it so painful?
Subaru woke up, tears rolling down his face. He sat there for a while, burying his head in his hands, until that feeling of loss and pain rolled away.
It felt as if he was really Heinkel…
Subaru quietly made his way to the table and sat down. His heart was beating heavily from the emotion. He looked at the time and found it was only 2 am.
Suddenly, there was a knock on the door.
Who would knock on his door at a time like this?
Cautiously, Subaru went outside and opened it, just to find the old inspector from before standing before him.
"Inspector Cromwell?" Subaru blurted out in surprise
"Indeed it's me." Inspector Cromwell answered smoothly
"Why are you here so soon? Did you find something amiss?" Subaru raised his eyebrows
"We found a carriage driver. He testified that you had gone to Mr. Garitch's place on the 27th, the day when Mr. Garitch and Ms. Helen died. Furthermore, Ms. Helen was the one who paid for the transportation fees."
Subaru was surprised at the revelation, as if he was not involved in the incident at all.
So Heinkel did indeed go to Old Man Garitch's place on the 27th of June. On the night that he returned, he killed himself just like Helen and Garitch! How terrifying!
"You seemed surprised?" The old inspector probed
"I…don't remember that." Subaru admitted "In fact, I'm drawing a blank on everything I had done on the 27th. Truth to be told, it was only because I had the habit of writing diaries that I deducted that I had gone to Garitch's place on the 27th."
"Or so you have told," Cromwell said, but he was neither smiling or showing a trace of anger
"I'm not the one who caused their death. That much I can be sure of." Subaru met his eyes straight on, unyielding
Of course, that's only part of the truth. But that won't kill the old man.
Cromwell looked at him for a moment, before saying "Mr. Garitch lost an ornamental dagger. Say, are you in possession of it?"
Subaru suddenly frowned and unconsciously checked the sleeve of his shirt. The dagger, that's right! No wonder he had been feeling like something was missing!
"Are you looking for this, perchance?" Inspector Cromwell took out a dagger that looked exactly like…no, it's the dagger that he lost.
How? When did he-
"You mind explaining the situation?"
Subaru was at a loss. He had really fallen deep, but the situation is not unsalvageable. He only needed to be truthful as much as possible.
"That day, when I woke up in the middle of the night, I was lying on the floor with that dagger beneath me. There was nothing indicated a break-in, so it seemed that I had committed suicide. There was blood everywhere too, but strangely…" Subaru reigned in his embarrassment and rolled up his shirt "There was no injury that I could see. I don't really know why, but I'm alive now."
"Since then, I have lost some memories, including everything at Old Man Garitch's place on the 27th. I assure you that my memory loss is true and I'm not lying."
Except for the information about the transmigration and "gathering", Subaru had practically thrown out everything that happened, so as not to be branded as a criminal. His new life in this world can't be spent rotting in jail!
Inspector Cromwell looked at him for a moment more before sighing. "This fits what I had surmised. The blood on this dagger, as we have figured out, was yours. Although I have no idea how you managed to survive, but your explanation corresponds with the hidden logic of similar incidents in the past."
"Hah…thank you for believing me. Yeah, I guess it can be hard to believe…judging by the current track record. Everyone involved died?"
"Correct. However-" Cromwell held up a finger, "You are still the prime suspect, and have to be confirmed by an 'expert' that you have indeed forgotten what you went through, and that you indeed have nothing to do with the deaths of Mr. Garitch and Miss Helen. Me believing you or not is irrelevant."
"…figure." Subaru sighed
"Mr. Trias, please cooperate on coming to the police station with me for further investigation. This should take roughly two to three days if it is confirmed that there are no issues with you."
"I guess it's to be expected." Subaru could only say helplessly "Is the expert there? That soon?"
"She came earlier than expected. That's why I contacted you at this point in time." Cromwell turned sideways and signaled for Subaru to come with him
"Uh…can you give me a moment?" As he saw Inspector Cromwell turn toward him with a puzzled look, he elaborated, "My son, well, he is having an exam today. I want to prepare some breakfast for him, and also leave him some notes. Will that be alright?"
"…you are really different from the rumour." Cromwell commented, something glinting in his eyes "There is no rush. Take your time."
"Thank you." Subaru quickly went into the kitchen.
As he prepared the food, he thought about the 'expert'. Doesn't seem like someone he would like to meet at all. What would he do if they discover that he is a transmigrator?
If someone like Flugel, who was suspected to be a transmigrator predecessor, got his apprentice, who just happened to be the king, killed and had to disappear to preserve his life, he could deduce that being discovered as a 'transmigrator' wasn't a good thing. What more, now he had Reinhard to worry about. What if this implicate that child?
Subaru sighed then turned to write a short note.
Alas, there was nothing he could do. He is, after all, only a normal policeman. Inspector Cromwell didn't seem like someone he could win against, especially now his experience is all fragmented and all over the place. And even if he somehow pulled that off, he was sure that there would be a few more policemen outside, waiting to put a bullet through his head if he misbehaved.
"It's all done." Subaru left the note on the table, grabbed his keys and quietly followed Cromwell outside.
In the dark hallway, Subaru could see four policemen in black-and-white checkered uniforms split into pairs and guarded them on both sides. They were very alert.
'At least I won't have to worry about anything happening to Reinhard…' He sighed in relief, but couldn't help but ask "Does the protection extend to the suspect's family member?"
"No worry. Nothing will happen to your son." Cromwell assured him
Subaru nodded and trailed behind Cromwell as they went down the wooden stairs which occasionally creaked in protest.
Outside the apartment, there was a four-wheeled carriage. On the side of the carriage, there was the "two dragons and the sword of judgement" police emblem. Their surroundings were quite since everything seemed to be in the middle of the night.
"Go on." Cromwell signaled for Subaru to go first.
Subaru was just about to step forward when a figure sprinted from the dark and suddenly tackled Inspector Cromwell. The man groaned in pain at the unexpected assault.
The old man fought back vigorously, although the figure seemed to have the upper hand. The fight triggered a response from the horses, causing great chaos.
An opportunity! But the old man-
Agh?! Who cares? What will I even go if I escaped? Leave Reinhard there?
Screw that? Can I even leave this old man to possibly die?
There wasn't much time for Subaru to think any further, he grabbed the cloak of the figure and tried to pull them away from the old man.
Then suddenly, the cloak ripped open, revealing…Inspector Cromwell himself?!
"You!" Subaru was surprised and could only shout out in shock.
"Well done." Inspector Cromwell commented, though Subaru could no longer think any further
Everything suddenly became a blur as though the world spun around him when he instantly sat up.
Sat up? Subaru looked around, confused. He noticed the crimson moon outside the window and the room being covered in a crimson veil.
"Dream within dream? What the hell was that?" Subaru spat, clearly not amused with the content
He reached out with his hand to feel his forehead. It was all moist and cold. Cold sweat. His back felt exactly the same.
"It was really just a dream..." Subaru heaved a sigh. "Why did it go from emotional to trippy?"
But there was something weird he found. He was rather clear-minded in his dream, he was even able to think calmly!
After calming down, Subaru looked at the time. It was only two in the morning. He got out of bed and planned to walk to the restroom to empty his bladder.
He opened the door and walked along the dark corridor. Under the dim moonlight, he made his way towards the washroom.
Suddenly, he noticed a silhouette outside the window at the end of the corridor.
That silhouette was very tall, with a clear muscular disposition.
Despite that, the silhouette was partly camouflaged in the darkness, bathing in the crimson moonlight.
That silhouette turned around slowly. His eyes were blue and indescribable.
Inspector Cromwell!…good morning?" Subaru could only say awkwardly
For a moment he was unsure if he was awake or still in his dreams.
'Okay…I'm pretty sure this is not a coincidence, and definitely some mysticism bullshit…' Subaru groaned inside his mind
The old man just smiled at him, although this time it was so cold and stiff anymore "Reintroducing myself, Nighthawk, Valga Cromwell."
Nighthawk? One of the codenames of the Church of the Evernight Goddess' Beyonder teams, which 'Justice' and 'Temperance' mentioned before? Subaru suddenly realized something "Wait…the dream…it was your doing!? You can control them?"
Nighthawk Valga Cromwell smiled and waved his hand nonchalantly, "I would like to think of myself as more of a guider than a controller."
His voice was deep and carried a calmness, that Subaru supposed, befitting his age.
"You saw how you acted in that dream, yes? Judging by your conflicted expression, I suppose you did want to run away at that time." Cromwell explained casually, his word carried no critics at all." In your dream, you see, all your dark thoughts and suppressed emotions are much more obvious, and over the place, making you painfully easy to read, at least for an expert like me."
"However, it seemed you had an anchor. All your action in your dream, tell me much of the person you are…and compared to yourself in the real world, your dream self is much more reliable."
'Ah…I suppose I shouldn't be surprised. After all, he must be a beyonder. Didn't 'Temperance' say that beyonder ability is incomprehensible?' Subaru nodded to his own reasoning and calmed his mind
'Still…If I had dreamed of something on Earth, wouldn't that old man have noticed?' Subaru suddenly felt terrified at the prospect 'Wait…something is strange.'
Cromwell mentioned that he was susceptible to irrational behavior inside the dream. But in the dream, he found himself very much capable of rational thinking. It barely felt like a dream at all.
'And so, Valga Cromwell could only perceive what I allow him to perceive? Was I able to resist his ability?' Subaru racked his mind for an answer, 'Was his power faulty…? Or was it because there was something different about me?'
The transmigration!
Subaru suddenly felt as if he had understood something.
'That must be the case! Like having a different type of soul? Or because my body and soul didn't synchronize…Or was it because of that ritual I performed? '
"So, you believe me then?" Subaru reorganized his thoughts and asked in reply.
"Who knows? Perhaps my ability is not that reliable." The old man sighed and Subaru could feel his own eyes twitch at the sentence. But then Cromwell turned and looked at him. "You don't seem surprised at all."
"Well…you wouldn't believe the number of absurd things I have witnessed." Subaru joked, which earned a raised brow from Cromwell "You are what they called beyonder, right? I recently learnt of their existence…I'm not expecting to meet one so soon."
"Do you want to become a beyonder?" Cromwell suddenly asked
"Perhaps having such a power to help me wouldn't be so bad," Subaru said frankly.
Cromwell looked at him with a complicated look on his face.
"No form of power is that simple..." Cromwell said something that oddly resembled a veiled warning.
Subaru frowned, but didn't say anything
"Now that I have confirmed that you really lost parts of your memories due to the incident, especially those related to it, you will come with me to see the expert," Cromwell explained
"Wait. It isn't over yet?" Subaru was surprised. "Isn't the finding in my dream reliable enough?"
"It's reliable, but extra precaution wouldn't hurt. Besides, our specialties are different. Perhaps she can even help you recover some of your memories."
Seeing Subaru's expression, Cromwell only chuckled
"You don't have to worry, Mr. Trias. We will focus on the case and won't pry into memories that are too personal." Cromwell stopped for a moment before saying "Unless these two things are related."
"No, they aren't."
"Then all is well."
Subaru could only sigh. Although he was wary of the "expert", it's not like he was given a choice. He could only cross his finger and hoped for the best.
Not waiting for Subaru to reply, Cromwell's voice turned deeper. "Besides, you're connected to the whereabouts of that Antigonus family notebook."
"What?" Subaru froze.
Cromwell stopped in front of him, locking his blue eyes on Subaru's eyes and said, "I have inspected the scene of the suicide, and found not a single trace of that notebook from the Fourth Epoch. As you can probably guess, you are our only lead."
"...fine. It's not like I can refuse." Subaru sighed.
"You can. But then we would have to force our way into your mind…and it won't be pleasant, I assure you." Subaru shivered at the old man's word
The missing notebook...Heinkel had a hunch about it before. And now it's even missing!
Subaru felt that this thing is definitely more complicated than simply 'read it and you die', but he will have to see how things went
Seeing Subaru's mortified expression, Cromwell chuckled and leaned against the door, "Come on, I will leave you some time to prepare the breakfast and leave your note. Then we will go."
Subaru took in a silent breath. He quickly nodded and started his work quietly. It's best to get this over with as soon as possible.
"Uh…do you have some spare changes?" Seeing Cromwell's puzzled expression, Subaru added, "I'm a little tight on my savings right now, since, well, not able to work and all. And now it's possible I will be away for a few days…"
"The point is, I need to leave some money for my son, in case there is an emergency…uh, I will pay you back?" Subaru said awkwardly
"Sure. Here you go." The old man gave him 5 five-soli notes, and surprisingly, he didn't seem offended at all. "You are really different from the rumour…remember to pay me back."
"Will do. Many thanks." Subaru then started writing the note
'Reinhard, I had some work cropped up at the station. I might not come home for a few days, so be sure to take care of yourself. I left some extra money here, I'm sure you will spend it responsibly. Anyway, don't worry about me and focus on your test, okay? Remember, I'm proud of you!'
Subaru felt the note was a little bit too cheesy, but set it down on the table anyway.
Subaru changed his outfit and closed the door to his apartment.
"Alright. Now we can go."
'Let's hope I didn't mess this up…'
"Then let's go," Cromwell said in an indifferent tone.
With gentle steps, Subaru followed Cromwell down the stairs and walked towards the building's entrance.
In such a tranquil setting, Cromwell Cromwell opened his mouth and spoke suddenly, "At the end of the dream, why did you try to save me? Why didn't you take the chance to escape?"
Subaru mulled over for a moment before saying.
"You sounded like you were in pain…if you die, that would be on my conscience…"
"You are more naïve than I thought…" Cromwell commented, although not mockingly, "You don't remember what you did at Garitch's place. It would be easy to put Helen and Garitch's death on you and call it a day. You can't even testify against it."
"You are probably right...But then where will I even go? I'm sure it will be all too easy to catch me." Subaru spat out, perhaps more forcefully than intended, "I can't just leave my son here! And I also had a wife who is still in a coma. What would they do without me?"
"A dilemma, indeed." Cromwell didn't disagree as he pushed open the door to the building, the midnight breeze bringing a shiver to one's body.
The carriage was the same as the one Subaru saw in the dream. The emblem of two dragons and the sword of judgement was visible to his eyes.
Subaru followed into the carriage. Inside, there was a thick carpet laid out and the place was filled with a soothing fragrance.
Having sat down, Subaru fidgeted for a second before sighing.
"You seemed nervous." Cromwell pointed out
"Of course I would be! I'm after just…a normal person." Subaru thought a moment before deciding to ask "What would you do if the 'expert' can't bring back my memories, and there are no other evidences about my involvement in the case?"
"Well, then I suppose we will have to try searching for the notebook through other means. I'm not too worried about it, since as long as it exists, it can be found. You, however, will be in a more precarious situation." Cromwell smiled, but it didn't feel jovial at all
Seeing Subaru's puzzled expression, Cromwell continued elaborating.
"You didn't have a good reputation, did you, Mr. Heinkel?" Seeing Subaru nodded, he continued. "Even if you are innocent in this case, that reputation of yours won't do you any good. I would dare say that it will make your future employment…difficult. It won't get any easier for you from that point forward."
Subaru hung his head low and clenched his fists, looking frustrated.
"Of course, the Nighthawk will do their part before that. We will have to make sure you are not cursed or have any scent of cacodemons and that there are no related psychological problems lingering so you can rest assured and keep on living your life."
"You didn't paint a very bright future in this case." Subaru flashed him a look of annoyance
"I only told you the truth." Cromwell responded calmly "Of course, that's just the tip of the iceberg."
"The tip of the iceberg?" Subaru inquired, looking rather agitated
"I'm afraid so. In this field of work, there are always twisted, unorthodox, and inexplicable things happening." Cromwell did have the decency to look a slight bit guilty, "Their continuation or end are not what we can foresee or control at times."
"For example?" Subaru's heart started racing.
The carriage sped through an almost empty street. Cromwell took out a bottle of brandy from his pocket, "When things come to an end, it doesn't always mean it would be over. In fact, it might be the beginning of a bigger nightmare."
"A few years ago, we handled a case regarding an evil cult. They did live sacrifices to please an evil god by making followers commit suicide. When one of the followers was chosen, his survival instincts triumphed over his foolishness, twisted beliefs, and psychedelic drugs. He secretly escaped and reported to the police.
"The case was handed over to us. It was a very small mission, since there were no Beyonders in that cult. The deity they worshiped was actually randomly thought up by their leader merely for the sake of money and satisfaction. Humanity was lost there.
"We only used two members, coupled with the support from the police, to suppress this cult. No one was off the hook. For that whistleblower, we also confirmed that he had no lingering demonic scent left on him. He was not cursed and did not suffer any mental disorders. He didn't have any personality problems or any other irregularities, nothing.
"Later, he got a decent advancement in his career, got married to a very good wife, had a son and a daughter. His dark past seemed far away from him. The horror and bloodshed seemed to have completely vanished."
At this point, Cromwell gave out a laugh and said, "Yet in March this year, despite being in good financial health and having a loving wife and adorable kids... he strangled himself to death in his own office."
The crimson moonlight outside the carriage window shone upon Valga Cromwell.
Subaru felt his mood plummeted even further at this story. It could be said that this old man was indeed very wicked.
"What a terrible way to go..." Subaru lamented, and couldn't help but wonder if one day, his own tragic end will come? "Thank you for the depressing story."
"It's no problem at all," Cromwell spoke as if he had just done Subaru a favor.
When you thought things were over, it was just the beginning of the end?
The nightmare will one day erupt, and you won't be so lucky the second time…
What can I do against that? Is power enough? Will becoming a Beyonder give me the power to resist?
The carriage returned to silence. Countless thoughts welled in Subaru's mind.
Under an awkward silence, the carriage traveled for a long time at high speeds.
Subaru had wondered if Cromwell had said all these things to unnerve him. He finally made up his mind to consult Cromwell for any solutions, but then the carriage came to a halt.
"Mr. Cromwell, we have reached Garitch's apartment." The carriage driver's voice was heard.
"Let's go now." Cromwell straightened out his black coat that reached his knees.
Subaru jumped off behind and began following the old man
"So…are you planning to introduce me to this one beforehand? I'm quite agitated when I meet new people." Subaru did some small talk to lighten the atmosphere
"I think it's best you see her for yourself. I wouldn't want to spoil the surprise." For an old man, Cromwell's speech pattern reminded Subaru of a sly fox
Garitch's place in Tingen was a small but cozy apartment. The old man was enjoying his retirement, and even managed to rent a whole floor to satisfy his gardening hobby. There was no receptionist at the first floor. They quickly made their way to the elevator to the sixth floor,
The people who live in here are not filthy rich, but Subaru must admit they have styles. Every decoration gave a minimalistic, but practical edge to the structure. The lightning made the building have a cozy vibe to it.
The bell rang. Subaru and Cromwell finally made their way to Garitch's rented place on the sixth floor.
As soon as he stepped in, Subaru shivered uncontrollably.
Something is watching! From the window, through the keyhole, from the ceiling. A pervasive feeling filled his body,
There was clearly no one here; yet, Subaru felt as if he was on a crowded street.
"Mr. Cromwell! There is something-" he couldn't help but turn to Cromwell.
Cromwell's expression remained unchanged as he walked beside him and replied calmly, "Just ignore them."
Since the "Nighthawk" had said so, Subaru tolerated the chilling feeling of not being able to notice the perpetrator despite being followed, spied, and observed. Step by step, he arrived at the door of Garitch's room.
What the hell? This is crazy... Subaru could only think that the whole way. Meanwhile, Cromwell reached out his hand to knock on the door.
"Come in, gentlemen." A seemingly ethereal, but familiar voice came from inside the house.
"Wait! Is that-"
Cromwell only looked at him and smiled knowingly. He turned the doorknob, pushed the door open and said to the woman on the sofa, "Elsa, any results?"
That is indeed the strange woman from the Forensic Department, Elsa Granhiert!
"Ara…you seemed surprised?" Elsa asked sensually, but Subaru's mouth stayed agape
On second thought, he should probably have expected this. Yet somehow, he didn't.
"Of course I'm surprised!" Subaru responded in mock outrage "What next? Is Meili a beyonder, too?"
"You might not necessarily be wrong." Elsa only smiled, twirling the strand of her hair
The chandelier in the living room was unlit. A set of two leather couches surrounded a marble coffee table.
As Subaru focused on her again, Subaru saw her wearing a medium outfit. He thought that would be an obscene scene, but the look surprisingly suited her.
"Ah, do you like my outfit? It must admit, this one is quite comfortable." She then sighed as if to complain "Alas, the things I wore are usually too restricting."
"Elsa, be serious," Cromwell said sternly
"You are no fun." Her purple eyes twinkled for a moment, before glancing at Subaru with a smile. She then turned back to Cromwell. "The original spirits have all disappeared, including that of Garitch's and Helen's. Right now, all these little rascals know nothing at all."
"Before you ask, Elsa here is a 'Spirit Medium'. It could be said that her specialties are conversing with the dead." Cromwell explained
Spirits? Spirit Medium... All the invisible things that were spying on him previously were spirits? There were so many of them? Subaru removed his hat and placed it across his chest, bowing slightly as he said, "I suppose it's nice to see you again, Miss. Elsa."
"Oh, ever the gentleman." She smirked, then turned to Cromwell, "What do you think?"
Cromwell sighed. "This just made our work a lot harder."
Cromwell then turned and pointed his thumb at Subaru.
"Elsa, see if you can get anything out of him."
Elsa shifted her gaze onto Subaru immediately. She pointed at a single armchair and said, "Don't be nervous, just take a seat."
"Thank you." Subaru nodded, took a few steps over, and sat down. He was surprised, but after thinking for a moment, he found the role seemed fitting for Elsa. Alas, sentimentality won't help him here.
Let's just hope I didn't get read like an open book…
The thing that made him feel the most helpless was that he had nothing to rely on. He could only place his hopes on the supposed uniqueness he had on himself...
This sucks... Subaru thought bitterly.
Next, Cromwell sat on the two-seater sofa opposite of Subaru. Elsa took out two thumb-sized glass bottles from her waist pouch.
"Apologies, I need a little time to prepare the ingredient, so I couldn't welcome you sooner," Elsa said casually, as if her being a beyonder all this time didn't matter at all
Her purple eyes smiled at Subaru as she said, "I need a bit of help here. After all, we are somewhat a close acquaintance, so I would feel guilty if I can't treat you harshly." She said so eloquently, yet it didn't reassure him at all, "My ability might make you uncomfortable or put you in pain, or even leave some serious after-effects on you. I will give you some fragrances, making you feel tender and smooth, which will allow you to let loose bit by bit so that you can truly indulge in those feelings."
'That just sounded so wrong...' Subaru sighed, but was ultimately not surprised as Heinkel was used to Elsa's antics.
Seated across him, Cromwell laughed and said, "I believe you are used to this kind of behavior from her already…that really put my mind at ease. Don't worry, we are different from the fellows from the Church of the Lord of Storms. Here, the ladies can also verbally tease men. In this regard, you should be able to understand. Your wife was a devout believer of the Goddess, after all. Your son attends Sunday school at the Church, so he must have told you some stories."
Cromwell is not wrong. Reinhard, although still young, did attract a lot of attention. Some overtly-behaved classmates made him uncomfortable, and even female teachers doted on him. That kid will be a real 'ikeman' in the future. Heinkel didn't know what to think of that.
"I understand. I know better than to fall for it." Subaru nodded
"You people are no fun. No wonder both of you didn't age well." Elsa grumbled
"If you ask me, you didn't have to worry too much about it. I think she prefers corpses over men." Cromwell commented, much to Elsa's displeasure
"You make me sound…perverted," Elsa seemed upset at the implication, and she looked over to Subary "No way…you think so too?"
Subaru could only avert his gaze awkwardly
Elsa sighed and continued her work. She opened one of the little bottles and dripped a few drops onto the bright blue candle flame.
"Night vanilla, slumber flower, and chamomile, all distilled and extracted to form this aromatic floral essence. I call it 'Amantha;' it means tranquility in the Hermes language. It smells really amazing."
As the candle flame flickered, the floral essence was evaporated and filled the room with its aroma.
A beautifully enchanting aroma found its way into Subaru's nostrils. He no longer felt tense. He was instantly calm as if he was gazing into the darkness of the silent night.
"This bottle is called the Eye of the Spirit. Barks and leaves of drago and poplar trees are sun-dried for seven days and decocted thrice. Then, they are immersed in Lanti Wine. Of course, there would be several incantation