Arc 7, Chapter 67 "Behind the Back Teeth"
The first time he heard Subaru's order, Old Man Null's toothless mouth twisted into a grandiose smile.
From what he'd heard, Old Man Null is the island's healer - a doctor impersonator, so to speak - but until he came here, he had never treated anyone else.
He said that old Null had been here before the island's administrator, the Governor, was replaced by Gustav, and that he just happened to get the role of healer in a time when it was much harsher and easier to die.
It all started with just putting a dirty cloth on the wound of a gladiator who lost his arm.
The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the number of times I've been sent out for medical attention has increased.
Then he spent a long time as a healer and crossed a number of shurakas that were commensurate with his position.
Thanks to this, he could suture wounds and mix simple medicines, and he smiled at him through his yellow teeth and said that he would be safe as a healer until he died.
Subaru also felt sorry for such a grand distortion of Old Man Null's face.
But it was something that was inevitable if Subaru was going to achieve what he wanted to do and what he had to accomplish on this island.
So, Subaru asked Old Man Null, who was doing a fine job of saving people.
"--Can you prepare a poison that can kill a person instantly with just a bite or a lick?"
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He feels bad for Old Man Null.
But it was necessary. It was a bigger problem for Subaru to pass out in the middle of a fight and survive in a half-assed state - there had to be a way to partition it up.
And once he had the means to do so, Subaru was perfect.
"Well, it would help if you were a little longer-legged."
What a bitch, that's how he feels when he comes across a situation in a fight where he's one big step short.
Of course, that one step is forcefully solved by jumping out two steps faster the next time. Repeat trial and error to find the best move and grab the desired future in this hand.
So--,
"--That's enough! You have survived 'Sparka'! By the authority of my profession, I accept you as members of the Gladiator Island!"
A low, resounding order hailed the end of the fierce battle that had been waged in the gladiatorial arena.
The body of a dead gladiatorial beast was lying on its back in the middle of the gladiatorial arena, with two swords, one large and one small, piercing its torso. The wings of both arms and the long tail had been cut off, and it was a painful sight.
But that wing movement and the attack with the sharp tail was a real, real nuisance.
He wants to say that he didn't hurt him unnecessarily, as those two attacks were absolutely necessary to put damage into the main body.
And--,
"Mr. Gustav, are you serious?"
Breathing heavily on his shoulders, Subaru looks up at Gustav standing in the guest of honor's seat.
The ruler of the island, with his four strong arms crossed, watched the settlement of "Sparka". He had the impression that he was an inflexible stiff, but he didn't expect him to be the same word for word in his pronouncement of the settlement.
It was hard to think that this time and the time of Subaru and the others were coincidental, which made me think that Gustav's call was probably the same every time.
Anyway--,
"I, did it...... I did it, I did it! I survived! We survived!!"
We're, alive......! Ah, waaaaah!"
"Guh, hee......"
"......I can't believe it. I thought it was the end of the world......"
Maybe he's dead and beyond Od Laguna......?"
Around the dead body of the gladiatorial beast, there are five people who are stunned and rejoice in their victory in their own ways.
They were Orson, Hitz, Nadrey, Quonson, and Codley. They were all skalaks, but none of them were of the same species, and the formula for victory was the understanding of everyone's personality and how they worked together.
Just like with Weitz and the others, victory would not have been possible if any one of them were missing. --Of course, it would have been absolutely impossible without Subaru.
"But we won......!"
Gustav did not move his stern face to this provocative posture of Subaru, but only reacted by squinting his eyes.
Without saying a word, Gustav turns his back and walks down the guest of honor's seat back to the island.
Cleaning up the bodies and dealing with the surviving gladiators is left to the guards, who are his subordinates.
"Schwarz!"
"Oh"
Someone called out to Subaru as he watched Gustav walk away, running up to him. It was Hiain, who had jumped down from the bleachers and was running towards them.
He seemed to reverse the scales all over his body as he gripped Subaru's shoulder with his large, watery fingers.
"What the hell were you thinking?! No, why did you go in 'Sparka' in the first place......?"
"Because of Punishment. Punishment."
"Punishment?"
"Yes. I heard it from the other gladiator. If you defy Mr. Gustav or the guards of the island's administration...... you will be warned at first and punished thereafter. Vicious offenders will be cursed."
He had talked to several gladiators, and he had done a proper background check on this.
Everyone seemed to know Gustav's idea of not wanting to waste as many gladiators as possible, and they all shared the same awareness of the rules being laid down.
Punishment - i.e., forced participation in the "Sparka" conducted by the unrelated "union".
"The 'Sparka' is a rite of passage for new gladiators, and those who have already become gladiators do not participate in it. I have my own 'union' and my own reasons to do it."
Besides, the 'union' that will be paired up for 'Sparka' will be randomly determined by the members who entered the Gladiator Island at that time. In other words, you can't choose whether you like each other or not.
You're paired up with an opponent you don't know what they can do, what they're good at, or even who they are, and you have to work with them to get through the gladiatorial beast to clear it.
A dangerous death match where there is no benefit to doing it, but too much chance of dying.
The gladiators all said that 'Sparka' was the toughest death match in the Gladiator Island.
"Well, it seems that now, because of Cessy, people have the perception that the death matches that Cessy and I get to do are the worst."
"--. I know why you mixed up with 'Sparka'. But,"
"But?"
"In the first place! Why did you have to be punished? You know, it's funny how you got mixed up in 'Sparka' right after I told you about it up there! It's like......"
There, Hiain broke off his rough speech and swept his gaze.
Subaru shrugs his small shoulders at the atmosphere of hesitation to say anything beyond that. He can kind of understand what Hiain is trying to say.
"It was like you were trying to save Orson and the others?"
"--tsk"
"You're not wrong. If it wasn't for me, you'd all be dead."
In fact, even with Subaru, the battle situation was terrible.
Because in order to be united with them, who were no better suited for fighting than Hiain, he had to start by becoming one of them, who were united with the skalengeckers.
That was rather helpful, though his memory of seeing the Chaos Flame was helpful.
"I heard you were all aiming for Chaos Flame?"
"Ngh......"
"You should talk about it properly. We've just met again."
As he said it, Subaru laid his hand on Hiain's hand on his shoulder.
Hiain stared into Subaru's black eyes, his pupils narrowed. Staring back at it, Subaru cupped his chin and indicated the five of them.
The five who had been soaking in the joy of their survival are slowly getting the time to look around them, and one of them, Codley, notices Hiain's presence.
And--,
"Hiain! It's Hiain! You're alive...... you're alive!"
Poof, Codley's voice rose with a happy look on his face, and the other four looked at Hiain. They were all pleased with Hiain's presence and reacted positively.
And seeing Hiain's face contort into a scowl at the sight of it.
"I risked my life for this chance. Savor it, brother."
With a pat on his hunched back, Subaru sent Hiain off towards his friends.
Hiain hesitated a few times, but he moved forward with faltering steps, and--,
"Sch-Schwarz!"
"Yeah?"
"......Thanks."
With that said, Hiain walked up to the five people waiting for him.
Orson and the others have no hostility or malice towards Hiain. The reason is that Subaru already knows the reason why the five of them were captured and brought to the Gladiator Island.
Sometimes there is no reason for them to be at loggerheads if you can talk to them properly.
"......Mr. Schwarz?"
"Wah!"
As he watched this reunion between Hiain and his friends, he was startled by a voice from behind me.
Subaru jumped and coughed in surprise.
"Oh, shit...... I almost died......! You scared the shit out of me!"
"That's our line, sir! What, you suddenly...... want to die?!"
"I don't want to die?!"
It was Tanza who scolded Subaru with a great sword act as he looks back with his hand on his mouth.
The young girl's vehement protests made Subaru shake his head, feeling pressured. But, Tanza did not seem at all convinced by that excuse.
"I was surprised by his sudden participation in 'Sparka'. I can't help but think that he didn't want to live, after all, he had taken it upon himself to go after Governor Gustav."
"So, you're wrong about not wanting life. I don't think there are many people who know the value of life better than I do. That's why you saved Hiain's people."
"It's the story of your own life. ......I'm glad I was able to save it, but there were many times when it was dangerous from my point of view. This is just a miracle."
"Miracle, huh?"
Dropping the tone of his voice, Tanza chided Subaru's recklessness with a practical look.
She's probably right, and it's true that there were a number of harrowing moments to watch. He can understand Tanza's desire to call it a miracle. --But it's not.
"Miracles come from God, but this one I got."
So this is no miracle.
It's proof that Natsuki Subaru has kicked the shitty fate in the foot.
"......Just this reckless to help Mr. Hiain's people? Or is this just your way of getting back at Mr. Segmunt for his words?"
"No, it's true that I was angry at Cessy, but if I'd risked my life for that, I'd be in too much trouble...... I saved Hiain's people, and I have a good purpose."
"----"
"You have the most suspicious eyes!"
The way Subaru's explanation is less convincing is amazing.
With his shoulders slumped at Tanza's untrusting gaze, as if he were looking at a current criminal, Subaru muttered emphatically, "It's true......."
Tanza let out a small exhale at his pathetic appearance and asked,
"And what is the purpose of Mr. Schwarz's visit?"
"It's......"
Subaru turned around once more at Tanza's question that made him feel better.
Hiain and his five companions were talking there. He could hear Hiain's voice slightly frayed over here.
So--,
"Let's just wait a little longer and then we'll talk."
"......Mr. Schwarz?"
"You have the most suspicious eyes!"
While being dismayed at such an untrustworthy self, Subaru sneakily sticks his fingers inside his mouth. And then, he'll make sure to re-check the position of the wrapper that is hooked to the back teeth.
"----"
What you see there is the last thing Subaru asked Old Man Null to concoct.
He didn't want to ruin this lap that he had grabbed in a desperate attempt by making a careless mistake. He had to be very careful not to die from an ordinary mistake.
--Thinking this, Subaru shoved the 'pill' behind his back teeth.
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"Orson and the others said that Chaos Flame was destroyed."
"----"
At Hiain's bitter-faced report, Tanza lowered her rounded eyebrows and looked down.
Imagining the worst possible thing that could happen doesn't ease the shock of being told it's true. It's like knowing you're going to fall, but it hurts when you fall.
After "Sparka" was over, Orson and his friends, who had survived and been welcomed as swordmen, were now being taken by the guards to show them around the facilities and common rooms on the island.
And this is how he had the story Subaru wanted to know.
"This is the kind of outside information you wanted, right? You can't get any information from out there if you stay on this island."
"It's fifty-fifty. No, let's make it about seventy-three. Seven is more for Hiain and Orson and the others."
"Keep talking, you creepy little brat!"
It's quite true, but Hiain, with his arms crossed, turned his face away and kept it that way.
He's very glad to hear that Hiain has also sorted out his feelings and thought about what Subaru's purpose was in mixing with "Sparka".
Hiain's expression seems somehow brighter, no doubt because he was able to hear the crucial story from Orson and the others.
It is--,
"......Those idiots got caught trying to get me back from the slavers. I'm beyond saving."
"God and fate are both heartless. So I saved them. ......Let's just say it's us?"
"What do you mean? You're the only one who actually participated in 'Sparka'."
"I'm going to pretend that Hiain got down on his knees with snot running down his nose and begged me to please help him, please, Mr. Schwarz......"
"Speak in your sleep!"
A hand reaches out and grabs his head, shaking him jerkily. Then he lets go of Subaru, who turns his eyes and sniffs, and Hiain notices Tanza's condition.
Hearing Chaos Flame's story, Hiain called out to her as she looked down at him, "Chibi".
"You're depressed about Chaos Flame? What's that......"
"......Chaos Flame is my home. Even on the brink of collapse, in the city."
"Oh, yeah...... That's, that's, that's the one."
Hiain's eyes swim in confusion at the unexpected reply. His character of being vulnerable to accidents shows, but soon he says, "But!" and raised his voice.
"The actual town was destroyed, but the people who lived there weren't wiped out. The town's people are all in one big pile somewhere else...... ah, so the story goes."
"So the story goes......?"
"No, I don't know how much I believe you."
Prefacing so, Hiain hesitated to say anything beyond that. But already, Tanza's and Subaru's interest is also moving towards the end of the conversation.
Sensing this, Hiain sighed heavily, then said,
"Apparently, there's a huge uprising going on out there. The Chaos Flame guys are part of that rebellion. Well, it is said that the top of the Demon City has always been in rebellion, and the city was obliterated as a result of their foolishness......hee"
"--Empress Yorna is not a fool."
"I-I'm sorry! I don't know why, but I'm sorry!"
Hiain, who explained quickly, turned his voice inside out, frightened by Tanza's sharp gaze.
Once again, Hiain was incurring his opponent's wrath with his unnecessary bluff, but behind him, Subaru found some relief in what he had just said.
Of course, that's assuming he believes the entire story of Orson and his team via Hiain.
"Even if Chaos Flame isn't in good shape, Yorna and the people in the city are fine. If there's talk of a rebellion, it looks like Abel and the others are safe."
The battle to retake the Imperial City would not be able to proceed with Abel gone.
In other words, Abel survived. He hopes that Medium, Taritta and Al are also safe. --And that Louis is also safe by Yorna's side.
"......I knew I couldn't take the time."
When he knows what's going on outside, even in bits and pieces, the desire to go outside becomes stronger and stronger.
Not only was he worried about everyone in Chaos Flame, but he was also worried about the people of Guaral - Rem, who Yorna, Abel and the others would try to join up with.
He has a feeling he'd be very pissed off again if he found out he'd gotten smaller.
"--. I really wanted to show Rem that she could rely on me."
Personally, he thinks he's in better shape now that he has a clearer head, but Subaru has no excuse for not being convincing on the outside. The fact that Tanza is forever looking at him with suspicion is probably not unrelated to the fact that he's small, after all.
Anyway--,
"Hmm, okay. Thanks, Hiain, that's a big help."
"It was...... Ay, that saved my life, you understand?"
Subaru thanks him, and Hiain responds with a whisper. Subaru laughed a little at the way he answered, and just when he was thinking of following up on Tanza.
"--Schwarz, the Governor wants to see you."
Outside the common room, the one who called out to him was a Gladiator Island guard wearing a black uniform. At his call, Hiain's expression intensified and Tanza rolled her eyes.
She looked at the guards,
"Governor Gustav for Schwarz? Why......"
"I'm not listening. There is no need to talk. Obey me maturely. Or else......"
"Don't worry! I'll follow you maturely even if you're not such a fighter. ......By the way, if I don't obey you, will I be punished?"
"----"
"Kidding, kidding."
The mature guard's lips curved at Subaru's light talk with one eye closed.
It's obvious that he doesn't like Subaru very much. It's no wonder.
The reason is that he was the one who saw the reason why Subaru joined "Sparka", in other words, he was the one who saw the place where he was subjected to punishment. From his point of view, Subaru would be a stranger to him.
He's a crazy kid who wants to join "Sparka" himself.
"I'm going out for a while. Tanza, be a good girl and wait for me."
"......Mr. Schwarz, I beg you to moderate your behavior."
"Yeah, I can't say the same."
Subaru smiled more bitterly at the sound of Tanza's voice. The guard urged Subaru to hurry without saying a word, and he left the room.
Then, towards Subaru's back, Hiain called out, "Schwarz."
"Well, you know......"
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Ah, I...... The actuality that you can't get a lot of these people to come to be able to the right place. Even if it's someone like you, we're the ones who will be in trouble if the number of people in the 'union' decreases."
Subaru's face turned into a scowl at the not-so-honest words of concern. Then he immediately gushed out a "pfft" and nodded back at Hiain.
"Yeah, okay. I'll see you later."
With a wave of his hand, Subaru once parted from Tanza and Hiain. Then, following the back of the guards walking in front of him.
"Mr. Gustav, are you mad at me?"
"......The Governor is not an emotional man. Unlike me."
Subaru was told not to offend him with unnecessary words, so he crinkled his neck.
△▼△▼△▼△
--And so the two of them watched as Subaru was taken away by the guards.
"Hey, what the hell did that Schwarz guy do......"
"The guards took him in just now. Did they give him anything else besides 'Sparka'?"
Weitz and Idola appeared in the room where Tanza and Hiain were left behind, saying so. The two of them were also in the position of watching Subaru's 'Sparka' from the spectator's seats.
Naturally, there were plenty of questions he wanted to ask Subaru after such a reckless act.
However, he didn't have the temper to jump off the bleachers from a position where he wasn't in as much of a desperate need as Hiain, but--,
"Tanza, do you know what's going on?"
"......It's complicated, like you know it or not. Mr. Schwarz seems to have something that he's hiding from me."
"He's a hard man to understand...... though he's a vessel in his own right......"
Weitz and Idola look at each other and sigh as Tanza turns over.
Hiain is still and pressed to silence as he listens to these three people. The skalengeckers are hard to discern the color of their faces, but their swimming eyes were clearly worried about something.
As a result, the three of them called him "'Hiain'" and "Mr. Hiain" respectively,
"What's that side......"
"No, that...... y-you guys are aware that the Schwarz guy was mixed up in the 'Sparka' on purpose, right......?"
"That's...... what they all look like."
Idola replied to the faltering Hiain's words, and Tanza and Weitz nodded their heads in agreement.
And from anyone's point of view, today's "Sparka" would not have been achieved without Subaru's success.
"I don't know what he was thinking when he did that, but......"
"--. I don't know about that. But, but..."
"--? But what?"
"I don't know exactly why he did it, but I'm not sure why he was able to do it, you know, maybe......"
It may be understood, and it may be understood by all three except Hiain that it will be followed.
Not why did Subaru join 'Sparka', but why did Subaru join 'Sparka' and survive? That was a question that was no stranger to Weitz and Idola, let alone Tanza.
Hence the strong look of interest and the spiteful gulp of Hiain.
And--,
"This is a story I've heard from some of these outsiders...... Apparently, there's a humor going around outside that there's an illegitimate emperor out there somewhere. And it is--"
"----"
"--I'm talking about a kid with black hair and black eyes."
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The first time he heard Subaru's order, Old Man Null's toothless mouth twisted into a grandiose smile.
From what he'd heard, Old Man Null is the island's healer - a doctor impersonator, so to speak - but until he came here, he had never treated anyone else.
He said that old Null had been here before the island's administrator, the Governor, was replaced by Gustav, and that he just happened to get the role of healer in a time when it was much harsher and easier to die.
It all started with just putting a dirty cloth on the wound of a gladiator who lost his arm.
The first thing that comes to mind is the fact that the number of times I've been sent out for medical attention has increased.
Then he spent a long time as a healer and crossed a number of shurakas that were commensurate with his position.
Thanks to this, he could suture wounds and mix simple medicines, and he smiled at him through his yellow teeth and said that he would be safe as a healer until he died.
Subaru also felt sorry for such a grand distortion of Old Man Null's face.
But it was something that was inevitable if Subaru was going to achieve what he wanted to do and what he had to accomplish on this island.
So, Subaru asked Old Man Null, who was doing a fine job of saving people.
"--Can you prepare a poison that can kill a person instantly with just a bite or a lick?"
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He feels bad for Old Man Null.
But it was necessary. It was a bigger problem for Subaru to pass out in the middle of a fight and survive in a half-assed state - there had to be a way to partition it up.
And once he had the means to do so, Subaru was perfect.
"Well, it would help if you were a little longer-legged."
What a bitch, that's how he feels when he comes across a situation in a fight where he's one big step short.
Of course, that one step is forcefully solved by jumping out two steps faster the next time. Repeat trial and error to find the best move and grab the desired future in this hand.
So--,
"--That's enough! You have survived 'Sparka'! By the authority of my profession, I accept you as members of the Gladiator Island!"
A low, resounding order hailed the end of the fierce battle that had been waged in the gladiatorial arena.
The body of a dead gladiatorial beast was lying on its back in the middle of the gladiatorial arena, with two swords, one large and one small, piercing its torso. The wings of both arms and the long tail had been cut off, and it was a painful sight.
But that wing movement and the attack with the sharp tail was a real, real nuisance.
He wants to say that he didn't hurt him unnecessarily, as those two attacks were absolutely necessary to put damage into the main body.
And--,
"Mr. Gustav, are you serious?"
Breathing heavily on his shoulders, Subaru looks up at Gustav standing in the guest of honor's seat.
The ruler of the island, with his four strong arms crossed, watched the settlement of "Sparka". He had the impression that he was an inflexible stiff, but he didn't expect him to be the same word for word in his pronouncement of the settlement.
It was hard to think that this time and the time of Subaru and the others were coincidental, which made me think that Gustav's call was probably the same every time.
Anyway--,
"I, did it...... I did it, I did it! I survived! We survived!!"
We're, alive......! Ah, waaaaah!"
"Guh, hee......"
"......I can't believe it. I thought it was the end of the world......"
Maybe he's dead and beyond Od Laguna......?"
Around the dead body of the gladiatorial beast, there are five people who are stunned and rejoice in their victory in their own ways.
They were Orson, Hitz, Nadrey, Quonson, and Codley. They were all skalaks, but none of them were of the same species, and the formula for victory was the understanding of everyone's personality and how they worked together.
Just like with Weitz and the others, victory would not have been possible if any one of them were missing. --Of course, it would have been absolutely impossible without Subaru.
"But we won......!"
Gustav did not move his stern face to this provocative posture of Subaru, but only reacted by squinting his eyes.
Without saying a word, Gustav turns his back and walks down the guest of honor's seat back to the island.
Cleaning up the bodies and dealing with the surviving gladiators is left to the guards, who are his subordinates.
"Schwarz!"
"Oh"
Someone called out to Subaru as he watched Gustav walk away, running up to him. It was Hiain, who had jumped down from the bleachers and was running towards them.
He seemed to reverse the scales all over his body as he gripped Subaru's shoulder with his large, watery fingers.
"What the hell were you thinking?! No, why did you go in 'Sparka' in the first place......?"
"Because of Punishment. Punishment."
"Punishment?"
"Yes. I heard it from the other gladiator. If you defy Mr. Gustav or the guards of the island's administration...... you will be warned at first and punished thereafter. Vicious offenders will be cursed."
He had talked to several gladiators, and he had done a proper background check on this.
Everyone seemed to know Gustav's idea of not wanting to waste as many gladiators as possible, and they all shared the same awareness of the rules being laid down.
Punishment - i.e., forced participation in the "Sparka" conducted by the unrelated "union".
"The 'Sparka' is a rite of passage for new gladiators, and those who have already become gladiators do not participate in it. I have my own 'union' and my own reasons to do it."
Besides, the 'union' that will be paired up for 'Sparka' will be randomly determined by the members who entered the Gladiator Island at that time. In other words, you can't choose whether you like each other or not.
You're paired up with an opponent you don't know what they can do, what they're good at, or even who they are, and you have to work with them to get through the gladiatorial beast to clear it.
A dangerous death match where there is no benefit to doing it, but too much chance of dying.
The gladiators all said that 'Sparka' was the toughest death match in the Gladiator Island.
"Well, it seems that now, because of Cessy, people have the perception that the death matches that Cessy and I get to do are the worst."
"--. I know why you mixed up with 'Sparka'. But,"
"But?"
"In the first place! Why did you have to be punished? You know, it's funny how you got mixed up in 'Sparka' right after I told you about it up there! It's like......"
There, Hiain broke off his rough speech and swept his gaze.
Subaru shrugs his small shoulders at the atmosphere of hesitation to say anything beyond that. He can kind of understand what Hiain is trying to say.
"It was like you were trying to save Orson and the others?"
"--tsk"
"You're not wrong. If it wasn't for me, you'd all be dead."
In fact, even with Subaru, the battle situation was terrible.
Because in order to be united with them, who were no better suited for fighting than Hiain, he had to start by becoming one of them, who were united with the skalengeckers.
That was rather helpful, though his memory of seeing the Chaos Flame was helpful.
"I heard you were all aiming for Chaos Flame?"
"Ngh......"
"You should talk about it properly. We've just met again."
As he said it, Subaru laid his hand on Hiain's hand on his shoulder.
Hiain stared into Subaru's black eyes, his pupils narrowed. Staring back at it, Subaru cupped his chin and indicated the five of them.
The five who had been soaking in the joy of their survival are slowly getting the time to look around them, and one of them, Codley, notices Hiain's presence.
And--,
"Hiain! It's Hiain! You're alive...... you're alive!"
Poof, Codley's voice rose with a happy look on his face, and the other four looked at Hiain. They were all pleased with Hiain's presence and reacted positively.
And seeing Hiain's face contort into a scowl at the sight of it.
"I risked my life for this chance. Savor it, brother."
With a pat on his hunched back, Subaru sent Hiain off towards his friends.
Hiain hesitated a few times, but he moved forward with faltering steps, and--,
"Sch-Schwarz!"
"Yeah?"
"......Thanks."
With that said, Hiain walked up to the five people waiting for him.
Orson and the others have no hostility or malice towards Hiain. The reason is that Subaru already knows the reason why the five of them were captured and brought to the Gladiator Island.
Sometimes there is no reason for them to be at loggerheads if you can talk to them properly.
"......Mr. Schwarz?"
"Wah!"
As he watched this reunion between Hiain and his friends, he was startled by a voice from behind me.
Subaru jumped and coughed in surprise.
"Oh, shit...... I almost died......! You scared the shit out of me!"
"That's our line, sir! What, you suddenly...... want to die?!"
"I don't want to die?!"
It was Tanza who scolded Subaru with a great sword act as he looks back with his hand on his mouth.
The young girl's vehement protests made Subaru shake his head, feeling pressured. But, Tanza did not seem at all convinced by that excuse.
"I was surprised by his sudden participation in 'Sparka'. I can't help but think that he didn't want to live, after all, he had taken it upon himself to go after Governor Gustav."
"So, you're wrong about not wanting life. I don't think there are many people who know the value of life better than I do. That's why you saved Hiain's people."
"It's the story of your own life. ......I'm glad I was able to save it, but there were many times when it was dangerous from my point of view. This is just a miracle."
"Miracle, huh?"
Dropping the tone of his voice, Tanza chided Subaru's recklessness with a practical look.
She's probably right, and it's true that there were a number of harrowing moments to watch. He can understand Tanza's desire to call it a miracle. --But it's not.
"Miracles come from God, but this one I got."
So this is no miracle.
It's proof that Natsuki Subaru has kicked the shitty fate in the foot.
"......Just this reckless to help Mr. Hiain's people? Or is this just your way of getting back at Mr. Segmunt for his words?"
"No, it's true that I was angry at Cessy, but if I'd risked my life for that, I'd be in too much trouble...... I saved Hiain's people, and I have a good purpose."
"----"
"You have the most suspicious eyes!"
The way Subaru's explanation is less convincing is amazing.
With his shoulders slumped at Tanza's untrusting gaze, as if he were looking at a current criminal, Subaru muttered emphatically, "It's true......."
Tanza let out a small exhale at his pathetic appearance and asked,
"And what is the purpose of Mr. Schwarz's visit?"
"It's......"
Subaru turned around once more at Tanza's question that made him feel better.
Hiain and his five companions were talking there. He could hear Hiain's voice slightly frayed over here.
So--,
"Let's just wait a little longer and then we'll talk."
"......Mr. Schwarz?"
"You have the most suspicious eyes!"
While being dismayed at such an untrustworthy self, Subaru sneakily sticks his fingers inside his mouth. And then, he'll make sure to re-check the position of the wrapper that is hooked to the back teeth.
"----"
What you see there is the last thing Subaru asked Old Man Null to concoct.
He didn't want to ruin this lap that he had grabbed in a desperate attempt by making a careless mistake. He had to be very careful not to die from an ordinary mistake.
--Thinking this, Subaru shoved the 'pill' behind his back teeth.
△▼△▼△▼△
"Orson and the others said that Chaos Flame was destroyed."
"----"
At Hiain's bitter-faced report, Tanza lowered her rounded eyebrows and looked down.
Imagining the worst possible thing that could happen doesn't ease the shock of being told it's true. It's like knowing you're going to fall, but it hurts when you fall.
After "Sparka" was over, Orson and his friends, who had survived and been welcomed as swordmen, were now being taken by the guards to show them around the facilities and common rooms on the island.
And this is how he had the story Subaru wanted to know.
"This is the kind of outside information you wanted, right? You can't get any information from out there if you stay on this island."
"It's fifty-fifty. No, let's make it about seventy-three. Seven is more for Hiain and Orson and the others."
"Keep talking, you creepy little brat!"
It's quite true, but Hiain, with his arms crossed, turned his face away and kept it that way.
He's very glad to hear that Hiain has also sorted out his feelings and thought about what Subaru's purpose was in mixing with "Sparka".
Hiain's expression seems somehow brighter, no doubt because he was able to hear the crucial story from Orson and the others.
It is--,
"......Those idiots got caught trying to get me back from the slavers. I'm beyond saving."
"God and fate are both heartless. So I saved them. ......Let's just say it's us?"
"What do you mean? You're the only one who actually participated in 'Sparka'."
"I'm going to pretend that Hiain got down on his knees with snot running down his nose and begged me to please help him, please, Mr. Schwarz......"
"Speak in your sleep!"
A hand reaches out and grabs his head, shaking him jerkily. Then he lets go of Subaru, who turns his eyes and sniffs, and Hiain notices Tanza's condition.
Hearing Chaos Flame's story, Hiain called out to her as she looked down at him, "Chibi".
"You're depressed about Chaos Flame? What's that......"
"......Chaos Flame is my home. Even on the brink of collapse, in the city."
"Oh, yeah...... That's, that's, that's the one."
Hiain's eyes swim in confusion at the unexpected reply. His character of being vulnerable to accidents shows, but soon he says, "But!" and raised his voice.
"The actual town was destroyed, but the people who lived there weren't wiped out. The town's people are all in one big pile somewhere else...... ah, so the story goes."
"So the story goes......?"
"No, I don't know how much I believe you."
Prefacing so, Hiain hesitated to say anything beyond that. But already, Tanza's and Subaru's interest is also moving towards the end of the conversation.
Sensing this, Hiain sighed heavily, then said,
"Apparently, there's a huge uprising going on out there. The Chaos Flame guys are part of that rebellion. Well, it is said that the top of the Demon City has always been in rebellion, and the city was obliterated as a result of their foolishness......hee"
"--Empress Yorna is not a fool."
"I-I'm sorry! I don't know why, but I'm sorry!"
Hiain, who explained quickly, turned his voice inside out, frightened by Tanza's sharp gaze.
Once again, Hiain was incurring his opponent's wrath with his unnecessary bluff, but behind him, Subaru found some relief in what he had just said.
Of course, that's assuming he believes the entire story of Orson and his team via Hiain.
"Even if Chaos Flame isn't in good shape, Yorna and the people in the city are fine. If there's talk of a rebellion, it looks like Abel and the others are safe."
The battle to retake the Imperial City would not be able to proceed with Abel gone.
In other words, Abel survived. He hopes that Medium, Taritta and Al are also safe. --And that Louis is also safe by Yorna's side.
"......I knew I couldn't take the time."
When he knows what's going on outside, even in bits and pieces, the desire to go outside becomes stronger and stronger.
Not only was he worried about everyone in Chaos Flame, but he was also worried about the people of Guaral - Rem, who Yorna, Abel and the others would try to join up with.
He has a feeling he'd be very pissed off again if he found out he'd gotten smaller.
"--. I really wanted to show Rem that she could rely on me."
Personally, he thinks he's in better shape now that he has a clearer head, but Subaru has no excuse for not being convincing on the outside. The fact that Tanza is forever looking at him with suspicion is probably not unrelated to the fact that he's small, after all.
Anyway--,
"Hmm, okay. Thanks, Hiain, that's a big help."
"It was...... Ay, that saved my life, you understand?"
Subaru thanks him, and Hiain responds with a whisper. Subaru laughed a little at the way he answered, and just when he was thinking of following up on Tanza.
"--Schwarz, the Governor wants to see you."
Outside the common room, the one who called out to him was a Gladiator Island guard wearing a black uniform. At his call, Hiain's expression intensified and Tanza rolled her eyes.
She looked at the guards,
"Governor Gustav for Schwarz? Why......"
"I'm not listening. There is no need to talk. Obey me maturely. Or else......"
"Don't worry! I'll follow you maturely even if you're not such a fighter. ......By the way, if I don't obey you, will I be punished?"
"----"
"Kidding, kidding."
The mature guard's lips curved at Subaru's light talk with one eye closed.
It's obvious that he doesn't like Subaru very much. It's no wonder.
The reason is that he was the one who saw the reason why Subaru joined "Sparka", in other words, he was the one who saw the place where he was subjected to punishment. From his point of view, Subaru would be a stranger to him.
He's a crazy kid who wants to join "Sparka" himself.
"I'm going out for a while. Tanza, be a good girl and wait for me."
"......Mr. Schwarz, I beg you to moderate your behavior."
"Yeah, I can't say the same."
Subaru smiled more bitterly at the sound of Tanza's voice. The guard urged Subaru to hurry without saying a word, and he left the room.
Then, towards Subaru's back, Hiain called out, "Schwarz."
"Well, you know......"
"Yeah? What's up?"
"Ah, I...... The actuality that you can't get a lot of these people to come to be able to the right place. Even if it's someone like you, we're the ones who will be in trouble if the number of people in the 'union' decreases."
Subaru's face turned into a scowl at the not-so-honest words of concern. Then he immediately gushed out a "pfft" and nodded back at Hiain.
"Yeah, okay. I'll see you later."
With a wave of his hand, Subaru once parted from Tanza and Hiain. Then, following the back of the guards walking in front of him.
"Mr. Gustav, are you mad at me?"
"......The Governor is not an emotional man. Unlike me."
Subaru was told not to offend him with unnecessary words, so he crinkled his neck.
△▼△▼△▼△
--And so the two of them watched as Subaru was taken away by the guards.
"Hey, what the hell did that Schwarz guy do......"
"The guards took him in just now. Did they give him anything else besides 'Sparka'?"
Weitz and Idola appeared in the room where Tanza and Hiain were left behind, saying so. The two of them were also in the position of watching Subaru's 'Sparka' from the spectator's seats.
Naturally, there were plenty of questions he wanted to ask Subaru after such a reckless act.
However, he didn't have the temper to jump off the bleachers from a position where he wasn't in as much of a desperate need as Hiain, but--,
"Tanza, do you know what's going on?"
"......It's complicated, like you know it or not. Mr. Schwarz seems to have something that he's hiding from me."
"He's a hard man to understand...... though he's a vessel in his own right......"
Weitz and Idola look at each other and sigh as Tanza turns over.
Hiain is still and pressed to silence as he listens to these three people. The skalengeckers are hard to discern the color of their faces, but their swimming eyes were clearly worried about something.
As a result, the three of them called him "'Hiain'" and "Mr. Hiain" respectively,
"What's that side......"
"No, that...... y-you guys are aware that the Schwarz guy was mixed up in the 'Sparka' on purpose, right......?"
"That's...... what they all look like."
Idola replied to the faltering Hiain's words, and Tanza and Weitz nodded their heads in agreement.
And from anyone's point of view, today's "Sparka" would not have been achieved without Subaru's success.
"I don't know what he was thinking when he did that, but......"
"--. I don't know about that. But, but..."
"--? But what?"
"I don't know exactly why he did it, but I'm not sure why he was able to do it, you know, maybe......"
It may be understood, and it may be understood by all three except Hiain that it will be followed.
Not why did Subaru join 'Sparka', but why did Subaru join 'Sparka' and survive? That was a question that was no stranger to Weitz and Idola, let alone Tanza.
Hence the strong look of interest and the spiteful gulp of Hiain.
And--,
"This is a story I've heard from some of these outsiders...... Apparently, there's a humor going around outside that there's an illegitimate emperor out there somewhere. And it is--"
"----"
"--I'm talking about a kid with black hair and black eyes."