Re:Zero - Reincarnated on a Co-op Route

The group advanced slowly along the wide forest path in Roswaal's domain. The sun was beginning to descend, tinting the sky with warm tones that contrasted with the elongated shadows of the trees. The fresh air of the forest was the only thing that relieved a little of the accumulated fatigue from the burden they were carrying.

Subaru and Kaoru, of course, had been left carrying the heavier things by Rem's "gentle request.".

Kaoru carried a barrel weighing about 80 kg resting on his shoulder. He had resorted to the flow method, slowly circulating the mana through his body to improve his strength and balance. The weight was still a nuisance, but at least he could handle it without his back complaining too much.

"This is damn punishing... but at least I'm not dragging the barrel like Subaru."

Subaru, on the other hand, wasn't so lucky. He was carrying another barrel just as heavy, but since he can't even maintain the flow method, he had opted to hug it with both arms and walk as best he could. His face was red from exertion, and every step he took seemed like an ordeal.

"I think my body is going to sue me," Subaru muttered, panting as he readjusted his grip on the barrel.

Kaoru watched him out of the corner of his eye and let out a small laugh. "Demand? Hah, if your body could talk, I would have given up on you long ago."

As they both struggled to move forward, they looked up at Rem, who was walking a few steps ahead of them. The sight was humbling: the girl carried a barrel just as big as theirs in one arm, while in the other she carried several stacked bags. All with a serene expression, as if it were the easiest thing in the world.

Kaoru let out a sigh mixed with resignation and envy. "Another blow to my ego. Maybe I should just accept that I'm useless next to Rem. How the hell does she carry all that around like it's nothing?"

"I'll go back to the manor first," Rem said in her calm, neutral tone, barely turning to look at them.

"Take your time." And without waiting for a response, she quickened her pace, leaving them behind in a matter of seconds.

Both boys watched her disappear in silence before exchanging weary glances.

"If Emilia saw me having trouble with this while a girl smaller than me carries huge things with ease... I think I'd die of embarrassment," Subaru commented, sighing as he tried to keep the barrel balanced.

Kaoru arched an eyebrow and let out a sarcastic laugh. "We've barely been training for two days, Subaru. Give it time. Maybe we'll get stronger... or maybe we won't," he added with a teasing tone as he readjusted his barrel on his shoulder.

"Thanks for the encouragement," Subaru replied sarcastically. "You're all about inspiration."

With Rem out of sight, Subaru and Kaoru took the opportunity to talk as they continued to move down the trail. Exhaustion made the pace of conversation leisurely, but at least it served to distract them from the weight of the barrels.

"Hey, Subaru," Kaoru said after a while. "About my grimoire... I'll need you to read it sometime."

"Grimoire? Why me?" asked Subaru, curious, as he kept dragging his barrel as best he could.

"I have a lot of things written down in there, important things that would be good for you to know. Most of them are magical theories and practical applications. It's so we can improve our training little by little."

"Given that we've barely managed to learn Shamak, and our mana control is still... well, let's just say it's not exactly brag-worthy," adds Kaoru.

"Yeah, I know," Subaru admitted with a tired smile. "But we'll have time for all that stuff once we deal with that shaman."

"I hope so; I really want to make our little night of celebration with those delicious Fennel drinks." Kaoru smiled as he imagined the scene. "Yeah, just thinking about it already makes my mouth water."

"I'm excited too," Subaru added, his face turning a little red. "If I can get Emilia to drink with me... a little soiree, just the two of us... it would be so romantic~."

Kaoru looked at him with a mixture of surprise and amusement. "Romantic soiree? Subaru, you're dreaming big."

"Yes! I even researched a nice flower field in town. I could take her there for a date someday. It would be perfect!" said Subaru, ecstatic, as his face lit up with excitement.

"And what do you think, Kaoru?" asked Subaru, snapping him out of his thoughts. "Who will be your victim... I mean, your date for drink night?"

Kaoru shrugged, hiding his smile. "We'll see. For now, I prefer to keep my options open."

"Uh-huh, don't play mysterious. I'm sure you already have someone in mind," Subaru said, nudging him, albeit with difficulty due to the barrel he was carrying.

---

The sun was beginning to set, tinting the sky in shades of orange and pink. As they moved on, Kaoru let his thoughts wander to the many unknowns he had to solve.

"The message hidden in the index of my grimoire... 'Find me.' That old man, Raigor, wants to play hide-and-seek with me, huh?" thought Kaoru, frowning. "I hope it won't be too much of a headache. Although, with my luck, it sure will be."

He also thought about the gap in the cover of his grimoire. "A space for a gem... I'll have to look into Beatrice's archive when I have time. That little library must have something useful."

And then there was Roswaal. "The vow I made with him... I can't tell Subaru. But I have to keep an eye on him and analyze every move he makes. I need to find a way to warn Subaru without breaking that vow, but I have no idea how to do that."

Finally, his thoughts drifted to the connection with the Witch of Envy. "I have no idea where to start with that. I guess studying the lore of this world in Beatrice's archive will be my best bet."

Kaoru let out a long sigh, returning to the present.

"Is something wrong, Kaoru?" asked Subaru, noticing his sudden silence.

Kaoru shook his head. "I just wish I didn't have so much trouble on top of it."

"Other than the shaman, we don't have much trouble, do we? Things will ease up after this," Subaru said with his typical optimism.

Kaoru let out a bitter smile. "If you only knew... I can't tell you everything. I don't want you to lose your memory because of Raigor or for me to end up exploding over the vow with Roswaal."

"Yeah... I guess you're right. One step at a time," Kaoru finally said.

They both continued to move along the path as the sun slowly disappeared over the horizon.

---

Rem returned from the mansion to the path where Kaoru and Subaru were still carrying the barrels. His walk was as calm as ever, but his expression showed that he brought an important message.

"Master Roswaal is calling us. Hurry," she told them in her usual tone, not bothering to help them with the barrels.

Subaru, on the verge of exasperation, raised his head and asked, "What, is this a meeting with all the servants?"

Kaoru, who was already tired, stopped gritting his teeth for a moment. The mention of Roswaal made him frown and become more serious. "What could that guy be planning this time? "

Without further ado, the group set off again, moving along the path towards the mansion. Despite their exhaustion, Kaoru and Subaru continued to carry the barrels while Rem walked lightly as if there was no load at all.

---

As they approached the Roswaal mansion, the elegant exterior greeted them. The paved entrance was flanked by magical lanterns that emitted a soft glow, illuminating the group's footsteps.

Ram was waiting for them outside.

Kaoru, upon arrival, dropped the barrels to the ground with a thud. Her heavy breathing betrayed the effort.

"Hff... Huff... Haaah... I did it. Shit, my arms are numb," he said, leaning over a bit as he tried to catch his breath.

Subaru, who was also on his last legs, dropped his barrel to the ground equally exhausted.

"Hahh... Haaah... God, this is twice worse than carrying weights. Each barrel must weigh at least 80 kg."

They both took a moment to rest, but it didn't last them long. Subaru was the first to open the large doors of the mansion, revealing the owner of the house waiting for them inside.

---

Roswaal welcomed them with open arms, his tone exaggerated and theatrical as always. "Ohhhh, you were together, weren't you? That saves me some time."

Kaoru and Subaru immediately noticed that Roswaal wasn't wearing his usual buffoonish attire. Instead of his eccentric purple suit with red and black boots, he was wearing an elegant formal suit covered by a black overcoat.

Kaoru, curious, couldn't help but ask, "Are you wearing that to go out somewhere?"

Roswaal smiled, as if he had been waiting for the question. "Precisely. In fact, I don't like to wear something so formal, but the person I'm going to see doesn't appreciate my usual style. So I'm obliged to go out wearing thisss one."

Roswaal usually indulged completely in his eccentric fashion sense, so seeing him like this was a drastic change. For Subaru, there were only two possibilities behind this unusual attire. Before he could voice them, Ram and Rem stepped forward, saying what everyone was thinking:

"Will you be seeing a guest?" asked Rem.

"Going on a trip?" added Ram.

Kaoru, however, decided to stay on the sidelines. His eyes were analyzing every detail, trying to piece together what was going on. "What is this lunatic up to now? "

Faced with his servants' questions, Roswaal let out a smile that seemed to mix weariness and amusement. Then he pointed to Ram as he replied, "Ram is right... I am leaving. A somewhat prooooblematic message has arrived, you see. There's something I need to check around Garfiel, though I don't plan to be too late."

Subaru blinked, confused. "Garfiel? Is that a person or a place?" He'd never heard that word before, but the twins seemed to understand perfectly well what he was referring to, which left him somewhat uncomfortable.

Kaoru, on the other hand, memorized the name immediately. "Around Garfiel, huh? This is definitely something I should ask the girls later. It seems important. "

Roswaal continued as if nothing, looking at the twins. "I don't think I'll be back tonight, so... Ram, Rem, I'll leave matters in your hands."

"Yes, if you command it," Rem replied.

"Yes, even at the cost of my life," Ram added.

Roswaal nodded in satisfaction at the sisters' immediate responses but then turned his attention to Subaru. His strangely colored eyes bore into him, causing Subaru to feel a slight shiver.

"Sorry, I'm not loyal enough to swear even at the cost of my life yet," Subaru said with an awkward smile, trying to ease the tension.

Roswaal chuckled softly, as if he had expected that response. "That's fine and dandy. If you swore all of a sudden, it would feel rather disconcerting." He then patted Subaru's shoulder, closing one eye so that only his yellow iris was visible. "But I also leave things in your hands, Subaru. If things get tough, I can count on you for Miss Emilia's care, yes?"

Subaru nodded with determination. "Yes, you can seriously count on me for that."

Finally, Roswaal turned his gaze to Kaoru. His eyes seemed deeper, as if they were trying to read him completely. The intensity of his attention made Kaoru grit her teeth.

"I'm counting on you to take care of everyone, Kaoru," Roswaal said, his tone softer but full of intent. "I know you'll be of much use to me from here on out."

Kaoru felt his frustration grow with those words. His lower lip trembled slightly before he bit down on it to contain himself.

Roswaal, noticing his reaction, placed a hand on his shoulder and leaned over to whisper in his ear.

"You're a good accomplice, Kaoru-kun."

Kaoru felt a heat of rage rise in his body. "I want to beat the shit out of you, you fucking bastard"he thought, his eyes clearly reflecting his anger. Roswaal, far from being intimidated, seemed to find it amusing. He let out a small laugh as he turned away from Kaoru, leaving everyone to their thoughts.

"Well, well, I'll be off. I pray nothing happens," Roswaal said, addressing the four in his usual melodious tone.

As he spoke, he crossed the entrance of the mansion with graceful steps, and the remaining four watched him walk away in silence. However, Subaru soon frowned, realizing something. "Wait a minute... "

"It's weird, don't you think? There's no car or carriage to take him," Subaru mentioned, looking around with a mixture of confusion and curiosity.

Kaoru, who had noticed that much earlier, crossed his arms and muttered

"There are no land dragons nearby either. I already figured something weird would happen..."

Before Subaru could comment any further, Roswaal stopped just at the end of the paved road. His coat flapped as he gave a slight jump, and then it happened.

Roswaal's body rose from the ground, wrapping itself in wind in a fluid, graceful motion. Subaru's eyes widened like saucers as he watched him ascend, quickly reaching a height that made him look like a tiny figure in the sky. The lord of the manor flew in the direction of the mountains, growing smaller and smaller until he finally disappeared into the clouds.

"H-he flew... geez, amazing things of magic," exclaimed Subaru, still dumbfounded.

Kaoru, though more restrained in his reaction, couldn't deny that the demonstration had shocked him. "Even for a freak like him, that was impressive. How much magical power does it take to fly like that?" he thought as he watched the horizon.

In contrast, the twins Ram and Rem showed not a hint of surprise. They were clearly used to Roswaal's flying magic and quickly returned their focus to their duties. It was Rem who broke the silence, speaking calmly but with determination.

"Even if Master Roswaal is absent, our duties do not change. In fact, the fact that he is not present means we must be even more diligent," he said, looking at the others earnestly.

Ram nodded, adding, "We will start with the afternoon chores to finish earlier." His tone was firm, as if he was already organizing in his mind the necessary activities.

---

Subaru, still a bit surprised, raised his hand as if he wanted to participate in the conversation. "That's a good professional attitude. Well then, let's get started."

Kaoru, recovering as well, added with a smile, "I'll help too. Even though I've already finished my partial shift, I want to continue helping them."

Ram raised an eyebrow and looked at him with a mixture of disdain and mild surprise.

"Hmph. You improved my impression of you just a little bit," she said, letting out a small smirk.

Kaoru responded with a slight chuckle. "That means a lot to me, Ram. Thanks for the compliment," 

Subaru, who had been watching the interaction, couldn't help but interject. "Hey, hey, what about me? I'm trying my best too, aren't I? Aren't I going to improve your impression too?"

Ram gave him a sidelong glance and replied nonchalantly, "Doing the minimum expected work doesn't improve anyone's impression, Barusu."

"Hey, that was mean!" protested Subaru, pretending to be hurt. "I'm more than the minimum expected! I'm all effort and heart!"

Kaoru chuckled, enjoying the exchange. "Effort and heart? You could write a self-help book with that, Subaru."

Rem, who had been listening with a faint smile, spoke softly. "Kaoru-san, Subaru-kun, thank you for your willingness. Then, let's go inside. Please bring the barrels inside."

Both boys nodded in unison, putting aside the conversation to concentrate on the task.

--[Time Skip]--

"Subaru, we need to see Beatrice now that we have a short break," Kaoru said, gesturing towards the corridors that led to the forbidden archive.

Subaru nodded without hesitation, though he looked a little tired. "Okay, but I hope he doesn't kick us out this time."

They both walked briskly towards the archive. When they arrived, Kaoru unceremoniously opened the door, as if it was a habit.

"So we're here again! Beako~," Subaru exclaimed in his usual, nonchalant tone.

From inside, an annoyed voice responded almost immediately. "Are you serious? How do you guys break the passage so easily...?" Beatrice looked at them with a mixture of annoyance and surprise, not moving from her place surrounded by books.

"Let's just say it's all intuition," Kaoru commented with a quiet smile as he took a step forward. Then he added.

"I was already missing you."

Beatrice averted her gaze but couldn't stop a slight blush from appearing on her cheeks. Despite her attempt to remain serious, memories of her last encounter with Kaoru were still fresh in her mind, which made her a little uncomfortable.

"Anyway, do you remember our conversation about curses?" asked Kaoru, switching to the topic at hand.

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, her curiosity piqued. "Yeah, what about it?"

Kaoru folded his arms and calmly replied, "I think Subaru and I have a curse, can you check?"

Beatrice frowned at his words. "What are you saying, kashira?"

"I think Subaru and I have a curse, can you check?"

Beatrice tapped her foot on the floor in irritation. "I didn't tell you to repeat yourself! It's only been half a day since we talked about the shamans in detail, kashira! Even credulity has its limits..."

As Beatrice spoke, however, her expression began to change. A look of surprise took over her face as she examined Kaoru and Subaru more closely. Finally, she murmured earnestly, "I sense a curse rite... Truly, both of them have been cursed."

Subaru leaned forward in alarm. "Do you know what kind of curse it is?"

Beatrice shook her head. "I can't tell just by looking at the rite. But the odds are extremely high that it's curses designed to take their lives."

Kaoru remained calm, though his expression hardened at those words. Beatrice, noticing his reaction, looked at him with a slight blink, surprised. 

"You don't seem like someone who thinks dying is a scary thing, you know?"

Kaoru averted his gaze, "Death is a horrible thing, no doubt about it. I never want to experience it..." "...Again," he thought to himself, clenching his fists slightly.

Subaru, trying to break the tension, took a step forward. "So, could you lift that little curse for us? We're short on time here."

Beatrice looked at him in disbelief. "And why should I save your lives, kashira?"

Before Subaru could answer, Kaoru stepped forward, looking Beatrice straight in the eye. "If you let us die, it would be a great pain for Emilia. And if Emilia is sad, Puck will be sad too. Besides, you might be sorry yourself, knowing that you could have helped us from the beginning."

Kaoru's logic and insistence made Beatrice hit the floor in frustration. "You're completely out of your mind! Unable to distinguish the beginning of your life from a threat!" she shouted, though she couldn't refute his words completely.

Finally, she let out a resigned sigh and looked at them with a reluctant expression.

"I guess I'll give in. However, don't bother me anymore!"

Kaoru smiled playfully. "I can't keep that promise, and you know it well."

Beatrice shook her head, muttering something unintelligible as she raised her hand. A white light began to glow in her palm, extending toward Kaoru.

Beatrice touched Kaoru's body gently, transmitting the light of her magic. Kaoru felt a gentle warmth run through his body, but soon something dark began to react. His hand, where he had been bitten by the puppy in the village, emitted a black cloud that alarmed him deeply.

"It can't be... the puppy of the village was to blame for everything," Kaoru whispered softly.

Beatrice finished removing the curse from Kaoru's hand, watching carefully as the dark trace of the rite disappeared completely. The light in her palm slowly faded, and with a weary sigh, she turned her attention to Subaru to repeat the process. The boy could hardly sit still, anxious to finish as soon as possible.

As soon as Beatrice finished, Subaru practically leapt for the door. "We have to go to town now!" he exclaimed urgently, his breathing uneven as he opened the door without pausing to think.

"Subaru, wait a second!" shouted Beatrice, trying to catch up to him, but the boy was already outside, running down the hallway. His heaving breath and the haste in his steps made him not even hear the little librarian's call.

Kaoru, on the other hand, stood still for a moment, watching Beatrice with a calmer but equally serious expression. He took a step towards her, and the little spirit looked at him with a mixture of irritation and curiosity.

"What is it now, kashira? If you have something to say, make it quick. You both seem to be in a hurry."

Kaoru nodded slowly, "The village is in danger. Thank you so much for helping us, sincerely. I don't know what I'd do without you."

Beatrice blinked, somewhat confused by his words. "The village? What are you saying, kashira?"

Kaoru continued, tilting his head slightly towards her. "It seems that one of the children's puppie was the one who cursed us. We need to warn them before it's too late."

Beatrice frowned, processing the information quickly. "I see... then they should hurry, kashira. There's no time to waste."

Kaoru smiled slightly but didn't move. Instead, he took a step closer to Beatrice, closing almost all the distance between them. Beatrice raised her head to look at him, clearly uncomfortable with the proximity.

"W-what are you doing, kashira? If you're done, you should leave!"

Kaoru ignored her protest and held his gaze firmly, though his smile was now bolder. "No, I'm not done yet. There's something else I need to do before I go."

Beatrice raised an eyebrow, her face beginning to redden. "W-what-what thing? Speak plainly, kashira!"

Kaoru leaned slightly towards her, his tone turning cheeky.

"I just want to thank you properly, Betty. After all, not just anyone would risk so much to save us."

"I—I don't need your gratitude! Just go away at once, kashira!" exclaimed Beatrice, though her voice trembled slightly.

Kaoru laughed softly at her response, leaning even closer until their faces were dangerously close. Beatrice froze, unable to look away from his eyes.

"Don't be like that. You know I adore you, don't you?"

Before Beatrice could respond or even process what he had just said, Kaoru closed the distance between them. His lips pressed softly against hers. Beatrice froze completely, her eyes wide open as she felt the heat of his kiss.

The contact lasted only a few 5 seconds, but to Beatrice, it seemed like an eternity. When Kaoru pulled away, he did so slowly, leaving a few strands of saliva behind, a deep blush covered the spirit girl's cheeks.

"Thank you so much for everything, Betty. You're amazing," Kaoru said, his voice laden with confidence. Then, without giving her time to react, he turned and began walking toward the door.

Beatrice stood alone in the archive, completely motionless. Her mind was a mess. Finally, she put both hands to her lips, her face burning as she tried to process what had just happened.

"F-fool... I-idiot... how dare he! That... that insolent one! " she muttered between her teeth, clenching her fists. all her thoughts were overflowing.