Re:Zero - Reincarnated on a Co-op Route

Kaoru let out a long sigh as he leaned his back against one of the walls of the mansion's hallway. Next to him, a mop and a bucket full of water rested after a long morning of cleaning. With his arms crossed and his eyes fixed on the ceiling, he began to speak softly, almost as if confessing to no one in particular.

"You know what? I'm not cut out for this."

He gritted his teeth and let his thoughts flow freely. It was clear that he didn't expect an answer, but that didn't stop him.

"If you don't want anyone to know about you, that's fine. I'll never mention you or look for you again, you damn old man. I don't want any more headaches. I just want to say... thank you for everything. For giving me your book and your advice." His voice trembled slightly at the end, but he quickly pulled himself together.

Kaoru looked down at the mop and sighed again.

"I'm sure if someone heard me talking to myself, they'd think I had schizophrenia or something. Although I'm not even sure if diseases have the same names in this world as they do in mine."

He scratched his head in frustration and then ran his hand over his face, as if to wipe away the thoughts that were weighing on him.

"But honestly... fuck all this absurd mystery."

He took a deep breath, filling his lungs with air before letting it out with a long, heavy sigh. It was his way of letting go of all the worries that plagued him.

Subaru was right. Everything he said this morning about our meeting was true... and now, I remember it as if it had always been true. My version of events, the one I had in my head, just disappeared. Now what he told me is etched in my memory as if it were the only reality. I was lucky to write it all down in my Grimoire before I forgot it completely.

Kaoru massaged his temples and thought about the situation.

"It's not that the new version is so different from mine, it's just... Raigor disappears completely. It's as if he never existed. Too much for a NEET like me." A wry little smile formed on his lips as he said it.

"But you know what? Fuck that, bro. I just want a fucking moment of peace. I don't want to have to go around looking for answers from a guy who looks like he came straight out of the Fate saga."

With that last statement, Kaoru let out a soft chuckle, almost as if he was mocking himself. Finally, he stood up and grabbed his things before heading to Beatrice's room. There were too many unanswered questions and it was time to seek out the small store of walking knowledge that lived in the mansion.

---

Kaoru stopped in front of a door in the hallway; for some reason, he knew it was Beatrice's file room. It was always fun to tease her a little and today would be no exception. Without a second thought, he pushed the door open and entered with a carefree attitude.

"Good morning, Betty! As pretty as ever." 

Beatrice, sitting at her small table with a book in her hands, barely looked up. "What do you want now, Kaoru-kun?" She asked with an annoyed tone but didn't stop reading.

"Nothing that urgent; I just wanted to see those beautiful blue eyes a second time."

Beatrice closed her book with a snap and turned to him with a raised eyebrow.

"Cut the jokes, you pervert. And stop making that perv face, Kashira."

"Betty, why so cruel? Here I am, completely honest, admiring your pure beauty, and you attack me mercilessly."

Beatrice sighed, resting her cheek on one hand as she looked at him wearily. "If you keep talking nonsense, I swear I'll fly you out of here."

Kaoru couldn't help but grin lasciviously.

Kaoru couldn't help but stare at her lasciviously as he smirked through his sharp canine teeth.

"Come on, Betty, lower your defenses. If you keep this up, I'll never be able to... penetrate them~" 

Beatrice blinked, a faint blush beginning to color her cheeks.

"Do you want me to send you flying, Kashira? Because you're two seconds away from getting it." Her tone was firm, but she couldn't hide the fact that her eyes had narrowed in embarrassment.

Kaoru tilted his head at her, his smile becoming more cheeky.

"What if I told you that I like to fly? Especially if you're the one taking me up."

Beatrice let out an exaggerated sigh and put a hand to her forehead.

"You're a hopeless case, Kaoru-kun. Why do I even listen to you? Besides, you're a Lolicon, aren't you?"

Kaoru crossed his arms and pretended to think.

"Well, there's no FBI here to stop me, so... maybe I am, Loli~."

Beatrice glared at him, though the blush on her cheeks intensified. "Have you come to annoy me, or do you have something more important to say, Kashira?" she asked.

Kaoru held up a finger and made a face of mock seriousness. "Well, Betty, I actually came for two reasons."

"Oh yeah? And what would those 'reasons' be?" asked Beatrice, narrowing her eyes suspiciously.

Kaoru held up another finger and listened with a mischievous grin. "First, I need to know how a shaman can curse someone."

Beatrice tilted her head slightly, interested despite herself. "And the second?"

"The second..." Kaoru lowered his voice, moving a little closer to her with a mischievously intense look. "...I just couldn't resist the temptation to see you again. You know, those big blue eyes are a curse to me."

Beatrice recoiled slightly, her face completely red. "S-Stop saying weird things, Kashira! What kind of cheap excuse is that?"

Kaoru put a hand to his chin as he looked her up and down and licked his lips.

"Excuse? Betty, the words just come out when I'm around you. It's like your presence brings out the best in me."

Beatrice grabbed one of her books and threatened to throw it at him. "I'm warning you, Kaoru-kun!"

Kaoru held up his hands in surrender, though he couldn't wipe the playful grin from his face. "All right, all right, I'll calm down. But admit it, Betty, one day you're going to fall for my charm."

Beatrice snorted, though she couldn't hide the blush that was still on her cheeks. "Getting attached to you would be harder than understanding why I keep putting up with you, Kashira."

---

"Now, seriously. I need your help, Betty. It's important."

Beatrice eyed him suspiciously but finally put the book down on the table. "Exactly what kind of help do you need, Kaoru-kun?"

Kaoru crossed his arms. "First, I need to understand how a sorcerer can curse someone. And secondly, I need to know more about the miasma that Subaru and I have."

Beatrice was silent for a moment, evaluating his words. Finally, she sighed as she rose from her chair and went to a nearby bookshelf. "You always have annoying questions, Kashira. Why can't you ask something simple, like what my favorite dessert is?"

Kaoru didn't miss the opportunity. "Your favorite dessert? Easy, it's me."

Beatrice turned so fast that she almost stumbled. "What kind of answer is that, you pervert!"

Kaoru put his hand to his chest, feigning surprise.

"Pervert? Betty, I'm just saying that if I were a dessert, I'd want to be devoured by you."

Beatrice clenched her fists, clearly on the verge of patience. "Kaoru-kun, I swear I'm going to...!"

"Easy, easy," Kaoru said, holding up her hands again. "I'll calm down now. I promise. I just wanted to make you smile a little."

Beatrice stared at him, crossing her arms as the blush still didn't leave her face. 

"You're unbearable, Kaoru-kun. But fine, I'll help you. If only because I want you to leave quickly, though."

"What would I do without you, Betty? You really are an angel," Kaoru said with a charming smile.

Beatrice turned her back to him, trying not to show that her ears were also turning red. "Stop saying strange things and sit down. This will take a while, Kashira."

Kaoru obeyed. "Of course, as long as it takes. After all, any excuse to spend time with you is a good one."

Beatrice just sighed.

---

"First of all, there is no way to defend against a curse once it is activated. However, it is possible to block it if it has not yet been activated. It simply requires a cleansing rite, and anyone with the necessary skill can remove it with ease," Beatrice explained.

Kaoru rested his chin on one hand, taking in the explanation as he watched her. "So... in this mansion, who could perform such a rite? You? Puckie? Roswaal? The three girls?" he asked, referring to Emilia, Rem, and Ram.

Beatrice clicked her tongue, slamming her book shut. "In this mansion, there's me, and of course, Puckie. Beyond that, Roswaal and the three girls don't have the necessary experience, kashira. Oh, and of course, neither can you," she replied, looking at him with a mixture of mockery and obviousness.

Kaoru let out a sarcastic laugh. "Well, thanks for reminding me how useless I am, Beako. But then... how would you know to use a rite before the curse kicks in? Is there anything you can do beforehand to protect yourself?"

Beatrice tilted her head slightly, thoughtfully, before calmly answering. "Although it depends on the specifics, there is an iron rule for curses."

"An iron rule?" asked Kaoru, raising an eyebrow.

"Yes. Physical contact with the target. It is an absolute requirement for a curse to be applied," Beatrice explained firmly.

Kaoru was silent for a moment, processing the information. And then, as if a light went on in his mind, he understood. **The Arlam people were the key.

---

In his mind, the pieces of the puzzle began to fit together. "The shaman who cursed Subaru has to be in the village. There is no other possibility. If he drained his mana to the brink of death, he had to have touched him directly. That means someone in the village is responsible."

Kaoru analyzed the information quickly. "If the shaman is a resident of Arlam, he's probably been hiding among them for some time. But if he is an outsider, it will be much easier to identify him. The population is small; it won't be hard to investigate."

"Someone is trying to boycott Emilia's royal candidacy," he thought, frowning. "But that candidacy didn't exist before the royal family disappeared half a year ago. An infiltrator who arrived years earlier to set this up? If so, that damn shaman will be impossible to overlook."

As his thoughts continued to spin, a smile began to form on his face. "I see no holes in the logic. It wasn't a bad idea to come up with this hypothesis. It doesn't matter if I have to adjust it later. This is... satisfying." His mood grew with each conclusion he drew.

"What is this attitude I have?" he wondered suddenly, returning his attention to Beatrice, who was still staring at another book as if she didn't care about her moment of epiphany. "Beako has just settled all my doubts about the curse, and here I am, sunk in my thoughts."

He stood up abruptly, with an exaggeratedly excited expression.

"I love you so much, Beako! You haven't stopped helping me since I got here! I love you so much~!"

Before Beatrice could react, Kaoru grabbed her delicate torso with his hands and lifted her off the ground as if she were a porcelain doll. Her small body was so light that Kaoru barely had to exert any effort to turn her in the air.

"Wha-!!! What are you doing!!! B-put me down right now, kashira!" shrieked Beatrice, her high-pitched voice full of surprise and embarrassment.

Kaoru, completely ignoring her protests, held her carefully as he slowly spun around, as if they were in an impromptu dance. "Let's fly together, Beako! You and I, to infinity and beyond!" he exclaimed, laughing.

"Fly by yourself, you idiot!" retorted Beatrice, her face completely red as she tried to maintain some dignity. But she couldn't stop her tone from betraying a mixture of embarrassment and frustration.

Kaoru looked at her with a cheeky grin, tilting his head slightly at her.

"You know. You're so light I almost feel like you could float on your own. Though, of course, I'm not complaining about holding you in my arms."

"W-What are you saying, you pervert! Put me down already!" Beatrice shook her small fists against Kaoru's chest, but her strength wasn't enough to break free.

Kaoru pretended to ignore her, leaning a little closer to her as his eyes glittered mischievously.

"You know, Beako? If you keep moving like that, I'm going to think you like being in my arms."

"W-W-What!!! Don't say weird things, kashira!"

Beatrice was so red she looked like she was going to explode at any moment. "Put me down right now or I'll really blow you up!"

Kaoru let out a soft laugh, enjoying his reaction. "Okay, okay, okay, but admit it, Beako. You look adorable when you blush like that."

"Shut up, you idiot!" cried Beatrice, completely embarrassed.

Her body feels so soft and tender when I press my fingers and light as a feather. Her expression of embarrassment is... intoxicating, I can even see her panties....

Finally, Beatrice decided to take matters into her own hands. With a swift move, she used wind magic to create a gust that hit Kaoru directly in the chest, forcing him to let go and falling backwards to the ground with a thud.

Beatrice landed gracefully, the hem of her skirt billowing slightly as she turned her head with a haughty snore. "You were asking for this, kashira!" she said, folding her arms as she looked down at him from above.

Kaoru, still on the ground, put a hand to his head as he grinned cheekily. "I really saw it... cute white panties," he said, not bothering to disguise his impish tone.

"Y-YOU, YOU, YOU, YOU...YOUUUU!" Beatrice turned red as a tomato, unable to formulate a coherent response. Her indignation was palpable.

"I'd even stick my face in there," he said, with a lewd smirk that only made the situation worse.

"Kaoru-kun, I swear to you...!" Beatrice raised both hands, concentrating a second gust of wind that hit Kaoru directly between the eyes, sending him flying into a nearby bookshelf.

With a loud bang, Kaoru landed against a shelf full of books, which landed on his head one after another. He crawled out of the mess, his hair disheveled, several visible bumps, and his eyes red.

"I get it, I get it... Maybe I should lower the 'friendship caliber' a bit," he muttered as he sat up, dusting off his clothes.

---

Beatrice, still red and clearly embarrassed, glared at him.

"You picked me up like I was a little girl, spun me around in mid-air, saw my panties and act all candy-coated like that Is your whole existence a nuisance, kashira!"

"Hey, don't offend my existence. I'm trying not to be a masochist here... but you're making it hard for me."

Beatrice clenched her fists but finally gave a long sigh, turning away to avoid looking at him. "You're unsalvageable, Kaoru-kun. Lolicon"

Kaoru, still smiling, folded his arms as he watched her. "And yet, here you are, helping me as always. I think that says a lot about you, Beako."

"Shut up!" retorted Beatrice.

-----

"Well, back to the other reason I came here..." Kaoru sighed, rubbing the back of his neck. "

Tell me about the miasma. And about the witch I'm apparently linked to in a way I still don't fully understand."

Beatrice looked at him silently, her blue eyes boring into him. She didn't respond right away. Instead, she closed the book in her hands and let out a sigh, as if the words she wanted to say were too heavy even for her.

"Beako... you know about the witch, don't you?" insisted Kaoru, his tone more serious than usual.

The silence continued. Beatrice lowered her gaze, closing her eyes for a moment, as if making sure she had heard correctly. Finally, after what seemed like centuries to Kaoru, Beatrice spoke in a quiet voice.

"She who drinks the world itself. Queen of the Castle of Shadows. Greatest of all disasters: the Witch of Envy."

Kaoru felt a shiver run down his spine. Beatrice's words echoed like an echo, each one more sinister than the last. He swallowed saliva, maintaining eye contact, but the tension in the air was undeniable.

"In this world, the word 'witch' only refers to one person," Beatrice continued, her voice steady, but tinged with melancholy. "That person is the Witch of Envy, Satella."

Kaoru held his breath as Beatrice continued.

"The Witch of Envy, Satella. She consumed the great sinners of old, known as the Six Witches. She devoured them utterly and, in the process, destroyed half the world. She is the vilest calamity this world has ever known."

Kaoru listened to every word with growing unease. Beatrice gave him no respite, speaking point by point, leaving no room for interruptions.

"It is said that the witch desires love. That she does not understand human speech. That she envies all that exists in this world. That no one who has seen her has lived to tell the tale. That her body is untouchable by the passage of time. And that not even the Dragon, the Hero and the Sage could destroy her. They could only seal her away."

"The Six Witches had caused the world to scream, but this witch wiped them out at once, causing a calamity that destroyed half the world."

"A hero had sealed her flesh inside a crystal, where she still slept, even then, in some corner of the world."

Beatrice paused, her eyes riveted to the ground, as if she needed to gather strength to continue. Kaoru waited in silence, knowing that what was to come would not be easy.

"It is said..." continued Beatrice, in a softer tone, but equally laden with meaning, "...that she is a half elf with silver hair."

The impact of those words hit Kaoru like a hammer blow. The pieces began to fit together in his mind, but the image they formed was too terrifying to process immediately.

"The greatest calamity in this world... and she's still here, just sleeping?" thought Kaoru, feeling a knot form in his stomach. "And I... I have that woman's miasma. Why, what does this mean?"

He thought of the witch's followers, those fanatics who might be out there, free, causing trouble. He thought of Emilia, whose resemblance to the Witch of Envy would probably bring him constant trouble. And then he thought of the creatures Beatrice had mentioned: the mabeasts. It all seemed to be part of a gigantic tangle, a tangle impossible to unravel.

"Beako probably knows more," Kaoru mused, glancing sideways at the small figure in front of him. "I could ask him about the witch's followers, or about the mabeasts, or even about Emilia's resemblance to Satella... but he doesn't seem to be in the mood for any more questions."

Beatrice closed the book in her hands, with a tired expression. Kaoru got the message: the conversation was over. He had received enough information for now.

----

Kaoru walked out of the archive with heavy steps, leaning against a wall in the hallway. His body was still riddled with the bruises Beatrice had inflicted on him earlier with her magic. He sighed, letting his weight rest against the cold surface as he prepared to heal.

"My healing magic is garbage," he thought as he placed a hand over one of the more visible bruises. He channeled his water mana, but the process was slow, barely enough to relieve one of the bumps. Still, he didn't stop. As he did, his mind was still working at full speed.

"Emilia... she looks just like the envy witch," he mused, remembering the resemblance Beatrice had mentioned. "And speaking of that woman... I think I saw her. In that garden of shadows."

Kaoru closed his eyes for a moment, remembering that terrifying experience.

"She killed me. She pierced my heart that time, and then I woke up in the garden of the Roswaal mansion... next to Emilia and Puck. All that after Rem killed me. Of course."

A bitter smile appeared on his face.

"It seems like that shadow garden is like a limbo. A place I go to every time I die, and I get out of there when Subaru returns to the save point. But that means if I die before he does, I'll be in that place, fucked up, being tortured by that bitch... until Subaru dies too.... No... I can't."

Kaoru gritted his teeth, letting anger and frustration seep into his inner tone. "Why am I related to that witch? What is it that ties me to her? Why do I have this damn miasma? Fuck..."

He dropped his head back, hitting the wall softly. "First Raigor... now this crazy witch calling me an impostor, what's next?"

Kaoru closed his eyes, taking a deep breath. He couldn't afford to lose his cool just yet. He needed a plan. He needed answers. But he also knew he couldn't solve everything right away.

"One step at a time," he told himself as he continued to slowly heal his wounds. "One damn step at a time."

---

Kaoru walked down the hallway, still healing the bruises Beatrice had left on him. As he tried to concentrate on his weak healing magic, he heard light footsteps approaching. He looked up and met Roswaal, who greeted him with his characteristic theatrical smile.

"Kaoru-kun, are you all right? You look like you've been taught a veeery good lesson, apparently~," Roswaal said, stretching out the words with his typical mocking tone.

Kaoru didn't respond right away. His expression remained neutral, but he couldn't help but feel uncomfortable in front of the most powerful wizard in Lugunica. He just looked at him silently.

Roswaal cocked his head to the side, as if sizing him up. "Hmmmm... I see that your healing magic is weak. That's normal, given that you should have learned it yesterday or today, right?"

Kaoru nodded slowly. "Yes, it was. Do you need anything, sir?" He asked with a more formal tone, trying not to show his discomfort.

Roswaal's smile remained. "Well, I wanted to ask you a question, Kaoru-kun."

Kaoru felt a slight tension in the air but remained calm as she waited.

"What do you think about Subaru's obsession with Emilia?" asked Roswaal, deliberately dragging out the words.

Kaoru frowned. "What is he trying to make me say?" he thought, sensing that the question had some hidden intent. Still, he answered carefully. "I think it's a good motivating factor for Subaru, though it might cause some problems in the future."

Roswaal let out a small laugh, clearly enjoying the answer. "Is that so good? You don't think it could be a weakness?"

Kaoru scratched his chin, pondering. "I haven't seen anything so far that would make it seem like a weakness. Well... it could be, but-"

"Well, then," Roswaal interrupted him, leaning slightly toward him, "do you suppose it could make others angry with him if they find themselves feeling affliction toward him?"

Kaoru, still on guard, replied neutrally. "Well, it really depends on the person."

Roswaal nodded slowly, as if pondering his answer. "So, let me ask this: Can people fall in love with a person who is already clearly in love with someone else?"

Kaoru couldn't help but feel the conversation take a strange turn. Talking about love with a man dressed as a clown felt surreal, but he decided to play along.

"Like I said before, it really depends on the person."

Roswaal smiled even wider, as if he had gotten exactly what he wanted. "So, what if this person is... Rem-chan? Someone like her could fall in love with Subaru-kun?" he asked with obvious curiosity.

Kaoru took a moment to consider the question before answering. "I don't have the foggiest idea, but it would be a really bad thing to have unrequited love."

"Interesting..." he murmured slowly. Then, quietly, he added to himself, "It seems you really don't have the remotest idea what would happen... "

Inwardly, Roswaal was beginning to scheme a change in his plans. There's no point in showing Kaoru the book. This guy doesn't know anything about the future. I misjudged. Anyway... he might hinder my plans to achieve my goal. I'll have to modify the plan a bit... 

Kaoru watched as Roswaal seemed to become immersed in his own thoughts. Finally, he broke the silence. "What do you want from me?" he asked, clearly alert. He already knew Roswaal was not someone he could trust, especially after his blue-haired servant, Rem, brutalized him in a previous loop.

Roswaal let out a soft laugh, as if he found the question amusing. "What do I want? If you're asking this question, then surely you don't know of my true goal~." His expression became more serious, though his smile remained.

"What I want from you is a trade. I will teach you to improve your mana control and some Water or Yin spells... in exchange for favors equivalent to the knowledge you will gain."

"Favors in exchange for knowledge... Right, like I'm going to trust a guy who, if there were text boxes above people, they'd all have 'evil guy, caution.' written on them. "

He thought of all the mental warnings he could give himself, but he knew he couldn't turn him down.

Roswaal, noticing his hesitation, leaned even closer to him, his smile becoming more intimidating. "In case you were wondering what would happen to you if you turned me down..." His tone dropped to a whisper. "I'll leave that to your imagination." Then he straightened calmly, as if he hadn't just issued a veiled threat. "But we could find out if you want~."

Kaoru felt a shiver run down his spine. "Is this an ultimatum? Accept or suffer the consequences? God, can't I get a break in this place?" He cried internally.

"Don't forget that lying is not an option," Roswaal continued, as if he could read his thoughts. "Trust me when I say I'll know as soon as you try to betray me."

"You won't be able to tell Subaru about our vote by any method either; keep that in mind~"

Kaoru gritted his teeth, feeling his options narrowing rapidly. First, an old man who manipulates reality is playing hide-and-seek with him. Then, the inexplicable connection to the Witch of Envy, the biggest calamity in the fucking world. And now, the most powerful fucking mage in Lugunica had him by the balls.

"So... if I agree, I won't know the exact terms?"

"Yes, exactly! Now, what's your answer?" Roswaal stared, adding even more pressure to your decision.

Finally, he sighed. "All right. I'll do it. I don't see anything positive in getting on your bad side, and I want to be useful to everyone, so I really don't see any other option."

Roswaal adopted a smug expression. "Do you swear on your soul that you will fulfill this vow?"

Kaoru clenched his fists. "Yes. I swear I will fulfill a favor as long as what you teach me is worthwhile."

Roswaal laughed softly, satisfied. "Oh, of course, my lessons will be worth it," he said, though his tone was noticeably calmer when he mentioned it.

Then, as if all the tension had been a mere game, Roswaal returned to his carefree tone.

"Now that I have my answer, I'll teach you magic another time. I'm sure you have important things to do today, don't you, Kaoru-kun~?"

Kaoru watched him silently as Roswaal walked quietly away down the hallway, leaving him with a knot in his stomach and knowing that something much bigger was moving behind the scenes.

Kaoru leaned against the wall, running a hand over his face. "What the hell is this guy up to? I can't tell Subaru about the vow?" He thought, his mind full of questions.

If he had learned anything in this world, it was that trusting someone like Roswaal was playing with fire. But to refuse him was the same as being incinerated only to end up in the garden of shadows being raped by some lunatic witch for I don't know how long.

"First Raigor, then the Witch of Jealousy, and now this guy... What's next, the damn dragon of the kingdom coming down to play a trick on me or manipulate me?" Kaoru let out a frustrated sigh.

"This can't be real..."