Meeting the Witch

"What are you trying to do? I won't let you destroy the Holy Land's barrier!"

Subaru Natsuki's expression turned cold.

"Do you have a choice? Be smart about this. Don't force me to use underhanded methods to make you take me there!"

Subaru Natsuki's icy words sent an instinctive shiver through Garfiel.

Garfiel glanced at Roswaal, who seemed lost in a beautiful dream, and gritted his teeth.

"I can take you there, but please don't destroy the barrier. Demihumans have always been shunned. We finally have a protected place where we can live in peace. If the barrier comes down, it'll be a disaster for us!"

Disdain flashed through Subaru Natsuki's eyes. Did Garfiel think he couldn't see the feelings he was hiding? If Garfiel really were that kind, Subaru Natsuki might even have befriended him.

But in truth, Garfiel was running from the fear in his own heart.

"By 'bringing down the barrier,' you mean violating the Witch's taboo? Too bad. I'm going to do exactly that.

"As for the safety of demihumans, that's just an excuse you've found to keep running. This place has been falling apart everywhere we've gone, yet you call living here 'living in peace' instead of being penned in?

"I can't understand how you think. Let's go. I won't repeat myself to a coward!"

"What do you know? You don't understand what suffering is!"

Garfiel suddenly roared. Subaru Natsuki had laid bare the cowardice Garfiel kept hidden, and he could no longer hold back his pent-up feelings.

"What you call suffering is just self-pity. Real suffering looks like this!"

Subaru Natsuki closed the distance in an instant and appeared before the furious Garfiel. He lightly touched a finger to Garfiel's forehead.

Garfiel's pupils dilated. His breathing quickened, and his eyes gradually filled with despair.