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

Chapter 168: Owners of Not So Lonely Hearts

Chapter 168: Owners of Not So Lonely Hearts

Even with a torn dress altered for easier movement, the idea of climbing over shattered stone and splintered beams held little appeal. Choosing the path of least resistance, Emilia skated once more across the frozen canals of Priestella, her steps light and steady atop the glassy surface. Only Algol rested on her shoulder this time, small fingers curled into the fabric near Emilia's collar as the city's broken reflection slid beneath them.

Armed with what Subaru had deduced through Algol's own theory, the sight of what they had last seen weighed heavy in their elf-minds.

Emilia: —I'm sure he'll be okay.

Her voice was gentle, but not careless. She could feel Algol's thoughts spiraling, tight and restless, and guilt tugged faintly at her own chest for how events had unfolded.

Algol: I am simply concerned Subaru will be that creep's solitary target now... And given what has become of Reinhard-sama, I admit I feel guilty, as he only approached Regulus as closely as he did at my own suggestion.

Emilia's pace slowed slightly as she glided across the frozen water, her head turning back slightly to address the weary spirit.

Emilia: But that paid off, right? We figured out something you and Subaru thought was reeeeaaally important. And plus, Reinhard is almost as capable as Subaru. If you still feel bad after all this, you can always apologize to either of them.

Algol: I... It is as you say, Emilia-sama.

The small spirit's shoulders eased. She offered a timid smile, and Emilia answered it with a soft nod before pushing off again, gathering a smooth, controlled speed.

Emilia: You're a good girl, Algol-chan. YN has done a good job being your Contractor, just like Subaru has with Beatrice.

At the mention of Subaru again, Algol turned her own head back in the direction they had come from, still feeling unsure about leaving someone as fragile as him alone to face Regulus. Seeing this, Emilia offered more gentle words to Algol.

Emilia: It's like Subaru said though, right? He needs to trust us to do our part, so we should trust him. I'm sure Reinhard will be back soon too, so Subaru won't be on his own for long.

Algol: Hopefully Aniki will arrive at his side soon.

Emilia: I'm sure he will. Those two tend to stick together. It wouldn't be like YN to just hide and wait for things to settle down..

Algol: Especially when the adversaries lurking about are some of the individuals responsible for Rem-nee-sama's condition.

Emilia: That is true.

Emilia agreed completely, yet that very truth unsettled her. Over the year and more that she had come to know YN, she had learned something certain about him: if Rem was involved, restraint became a foreign concept. There was no clear limit to how far he would push himself. The possibility of that line simply not existing was what troubled her most.

As Emilia's thoughts drifted in that direction, Algol in turn mulled over what they had thus figured out.

—It is as Subaru has said, for as much as Regulus desires to hear his own voice, he is purposely aware to avoid mentioning anything that we could use as a clue to supersede what gives him the invincibility his Authority awards him.

The "silence" around Regulus that Algol had noticed was anything but ordinary. It had pressed against Algol's senses in a way she still struggled to articulate, —like a hollow space where something vital should have been. Acting on that instinct, she had urged Reinhard to check and see if the Sin Archbishop possessed a pulse. The confirmation that he had none changed everything.