(Rem x Reader) Re:Reader - Starting YOUR New Life in Another World

Chapter 136: Not For Honor-

Chapter 136: Not For Honor—

With branches and bushes being pushed and turned aside in their search for one of the missing elves, YN and Otto both began to feel like this tactic was wasted effort.

It was nearly mid-day now and each of them had been at this for some time, and once they realized just how little area they had covered, it became apparent there was a need for a different approach.

Otto: We really need a smarter way to do this. Garfiel-san can cover a much greater area looking around like this than we can. And really, if just searching everywhere was the only way to find Ryuzu-san, he'd have found her by now.

Giving in to what Otto was saying, YN used his sleeve to wipe the sweat from his brow.

YN: So then what are you saying? That we just don't even bother trying? We gotta find her, Otto. It's essential to the entire operation.

Otto: No, not at all. What I'm saying is that maybe we're misunderstanding her. Perhaps this is a test of sorts... She was obviously aware you wished to speak with her today when it's her turn in the rotation. If she didn't want to do that, she'd hide behind Garfiel to avoid you. —But she's not doing that.

A hand to his chin now, YN contemplated Otto's logic.

YN: Yeah... Yeah you've got a point there. If she wanted to talk, she'd talk. If she didn't, she'd let Garfiel take care of me. It has to be a third thing then.

Otto: Ryuzu-san must know you'd not go as far as subduing Garfiel to make her talk if you won't even take the Command Authority to begin with.

Holding a single finger up, Otto continued.

Otto: The main theme we should realize though, is that wherever it is that Ryuzu-san is hiding, is somewhere that's even eluding Garfiel. That has to be the purpose.

Marveled at how Otto could come to such fanciful, yet sendable conclusions all on his own, YN was rather impressed.

Give him enough time, he'll even figure out Return By Death maybe...

Otto: Ryuzu-san wants both groups—, us and Garfiel to chase her, because she suspects it'll be us who'll figure out where she's hiding, which is somewhere she figures Garfiel won't look.

YN: Basically, it's her way of saying 'only we have the key to find her.' We know something Garfiel doesn't and we need to use that to find her. That does seem like the best way for her to hide from Garfiel but not us, all at the same time...

Otto: Precisely. Once we figure out what that 'key' is, we can rule out many places. It certainly wouldn't be somewhere random in the underbrush like we've been looking...

Looking upward and shutting his eyes as he tried to brainstorm, YN crossed his arms and spoke aloud.

YN: Places that are in the Sanctuary, related to Ryuzu, but aren't the Laboratory, the Tomb, or Garfiel's old-secret-base-shanty-house...

As YN searched his mind and memories for all the places he knew of in the Sanctuary, he recounted his own times at each of them, and what significance they bore.

I think I've been everywhere here... except for—

The one part of the Sanctuary that wasn't entirely covered in a forested canopy that Subaru at one point told him about.

A time when YN had been speaking with Ram, in the second Loop of their continued fiasco in the Sanctuary, Subaru had later told YN that during then he had been negotiating the release of the Arlem Villagers back to their homes. While that Loop ended with YN succumbing to his wounds from Elsa, and eventually having his fateful meeting Rem, it was what Subaru had done earlier in that Loop that now struck a chord with YN in the present.