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3rd POV
The mont they passed through the barrier the necklace around Subaru's neck began to glow with a radiant light.
In the next instant, they had bypassed all the traps and were teleported to a safe location within the Sanctuary. However, the force of the teleportation was so intense that it almost knocked Beatrice unconscious.
Subaru, anwhile, felt a presence rapidly approaching. Reina sensed it too and quickly dismounted from the carriage.
"Get lost, you bastards!" a voice roared, and Garfield ca charging toward them like a mad beast, his eyes wild with fury.
He leapt at Reina, fully intent on incapacitating her with a single, devastating blow.
His fist ca crashing down at her with a force that created sonic booms in its wake, his body moving so fast it was barely a blur.
He expected her head to explode like a waterlon from the impact, to end her life instantly.
But contrary to his expectations, Reina calmly raised her arm and caught his fist in midair.
The earth beneath her remained unshaken. The soil that should have been blown away from the impact was untouched. Her body didn't move a single inch.
Garfield was stunned beyond belief. His eyes widened in horror. And then, before he could react further, Reina retaliated.
She threw a punch — a simple one, without any technique or flourish.
It struck his chest squarely. A sickening crack echoed as several of his ribs fractured, blood gushed from his mouth, and then she grabbed him by the neck, holding him effortlessly.
"Tell who you are and why you attacked us," Reina demanded in a cold, unwavering voice.
"Wait a minute… I know him. I think," Beatrice murmured, squinting.
Subaru nodded. "Doesn't he look like Frederica?"
"You... You know my sister?" Garfield choked out between coughs of blood, writhing in pain.
Reina released his neck, letting him drop to the ground with a thud. More blood poured from his mouth as he coughed violently.
"Hey! Do sothing! He's going to die at this rate!" Subaru shouted in panic. He didn't want Frederica's brother to die — not like this.
Beatrice hurried to his side and cast healing magic. Within monts, Garfield's breathing steadied and his complexion improved.
"You're amazing, Betty!" Subaru said, giving her a big thumbs-up.
anwhile, Reina turned to Subaru and bowed deeply. "I apologize," she said, her voice laced with frustration.
She wanted to cry. Why was she always ssing things up?
She prided herself on being a good knight — maybe not as perfect as Julius, but still…
"There's no need to apologize, Reina. You acted to protect us," Subaru said reassuringly. "Besides, he tried to kill us the mont we arrived. It's his fault."
He knew that Garfield's punch could have easily killed a normal person.
He deserved that punch, for his intentions.
"You did the right thing."
Subaru gently patted her head. "Good girl," he praised.
Reina's face turned crimson. Her brain short-circuited.
Reina.exe has stopped working.
And with that, she collapsed backward.
"Reina!" Subaru shouted in alarm.
Thus, Subaru beca the first person to defeat the world's strongest with nothing but kind words.
(A/N: Not even one million divine protections could have predicted that XD)
...
Reina later held the reins of the ground dragon, sensing a village nearby.
Soon, their carriage rolled into the settlent, drawing wary eyes from the villagers who watched with suspicion.
A woman stepped in front of the carriage — it was Rem.
Her eyes widened in surprise upon seeing Reina driving. Reina's standing was equal to her Lord's — perhaps even above it, should she inherit the Asteria household.
For her to drive the carriage, suddenly ant sothing.
However Rem decided not to put her nose into it.
Subaru disembarked from the carriage alongside Beatrice, and before he could say anything, five glowing orbs of mana rushed toward him.
"Father!!!" Gloria cried as she crashed into him, hugging him tightly.
"Umu! It is wonderful to see you return, Father," Agni added joyfully.
"Hooray! Father is back!" Aqua cheered, spinning in delight.
"It is nice to have you back Father," said the calm and collected Sylphy.
"I missed you, Father," Gaea said quietly.
Both Reina and Beatrice stood still, utterly gobsmacked at the scene.
"Y-Your quasi-spirits… they've all beco full-fledged spirits?!" Beatrice asked, stunned.
Reina nodded, just as confused.
"Oh, yeah. I forgot to ntion that," Subaru said with a sheepish grin.
Reina leaned in to study the spirits more closely, clearly intrigued.
Beatrice, on the other hand, suddenly felt a pang of inferiority.
Hmph! I am still a Great Spirit! she thought, puffing her chest with renewed pride.
She was Subaru's only Great Spirit — the best one, in fact!
Unfortunately for her, copium could only last that long.
"So this is Father's new spirit, huh? Looks weak to ," Gloria said.
"Just so you know, Betty is a Great Spirit! In fact, she's way better than any of you low-tier spirits!" Beatrice snapped, clearly offended.
"Hmph! This concubine is far more valuable than a Great Spirit who leeches mana from Father," Gloria replied coldly.
An invisible arrow of humiliation pierced Beatrice's heart.
"I-I'm still smarter and stronger than all of you!" Beatrice retorted.
"We can give mana to Father and support him without becoming a burden. Your weak body only makes you an easier target," Gloria said without rcy.
Another invisible arrow struck Beatrice's pride.
As an artificial spirit, she was technically easier to destroy than regular spirits. A strong physical strike was all it took, unlike natural spirits who required powerful magic to be dispelled.
In simple words she was a glass cannon.
Subaru watched their heated exchange in speechless awe. Even Rem appeared amused.
"All right, that's enough! I understand that you might not get along, and I'm not going to force it. But you will not fight each other," Subaru said firmly, his voice filled with authority.
Seeing Subaru reprimand Gloria made her spirits dim slightly.
"This concubine understands, Father," she replied, pouting and turning away.
'Betty will prove she's not a burden! Betty is the best Great Spirit there is!' Beatrice vowed silently, a spark of determination igniting within her.
The other spirits retreated into Subaru, rging with him once more and moaning softly in delight, while Beatrice chose to remain outside, visibly sulking.
"Lord Zero, Lady Reina, and Lady Beatrice, please follow inside," Rem said with a graceful bow.
Subaru tugged gently at Reina's sleeve and whispered sothing in her ear once Rem looked away. She gave a small nod in response.
Inside the residence, Ram stood quietly beside a bed, while Roswaal lay upon it, completely wrapped in bandages.
Roswaal's face darkened upon seeing Reina enter, but he quickly composed himself.
"I preeeesu the Witch Cultists are… deaaddd?" he asked slowly.
Subaru nodded. "Yes. Every last one of them has been eliminated. Now tell — why are you covered in bandages, and where's Emilia?"
"It's a loooong stooory," Roswaal drawled.
"Well, go ahead. We've got all the ti in the world," Subaru replied.
'Reina, those bandages are fake, right?' Subaru asked telepathically.
'Without a doubt,' Reina responded in kind.
"Youuu seeee… this place is a Witch's graveyard."
"A graveyard? For a witch?" Subaru asked calmly.
Roswaal narrowed his eyes. "Yessss… the Witch of Greed, Echidna, t her end here. She created the Sanctuary and the barrier. It prevents anyone with mixed blood from leaving. And since one-third of the villagers might have mixed heritage, we're trapped."
Normally, Reina would have questioned why he allowed them to take refuge here in the first place. But she remained silent.
"The only waaaay to break the barrier is to pass a special trial. However, only certain individuals are able to take it… and this is the result of trying," he said, gesturing to his bandages.
"And who are these 'certain individuals'?" Subaru asked.
"Those with mixed blood having both human and demi-human heritage," Roswaal answered. "But the villagers don't fully know who among them qualifies. And the people living here aren't exactly eager to volunteer. So… Emilia had to take the trial."
"She's taking it right now, isn't she?" Subaru asked, already certain.
Roswaal nodded in confirmation.
"Rem, please take us to the trial grounds. Roswaal, we also brought Garfield. He's unconscious in the carriage. You'll want to deal with him," Subaru added.
Roswaal gave a nod, and Ram turned to go handle it — though a look of pure disgust crossed her face upon hearing Garfield's na.
And with that, they departed, leaving Roswaal behind who was filled with Panic.
To be continued…
(A/N: Okay give your powerstones now)
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