An Oni's Feelings

Besides the bedroom and kitchen, the house had another room that was not particularly large but got plenty of sunlight. Subaru planned to turn it into an office, where he could lay out his various plans for doing business in the future.

The furniture was already there, saving him the trouble of running around to buy it. The only thing in the entire house that could be considered something Subaru had brought himself was the strange ornament in the corner of the office.

It was a massive horn. Smooth all over and warm in color like ivory, it still bore dark bloodstains and jagged marks at the break, showing what kind of monster it had once belonged to.

It was the giant crocodile's horn.

Afterward, Subaru had looked through the village records and discovered what the creature really was.

An adult Shadow Crocodile Zartoa.

A crocodilian Witchbeast capable of using yin-attribute magic, it could be called the uncrowned king of this forest.

The day after everything ended, Subaru had dragged his still-healing injured leg back to the giant crocodile's corpse, full of anticipation. Wasn't it common knowledge in every game that monsters dropped equipment? Surely a boss-level Witchbeast that huge had to drop a few legendary materials.

But reality had given him a resounding slap in the face. The Oni bodyguard Subaru had paid to help appraise it had delivered her verdict: there was nothing useful about the thing.

Crocodile hide? Not as useful as iron armor. Crocodile teeth? Not as useful as proper weapons. As for the meat, the thing survived by absorbing mana, and it stank so badly that nobody would eat it unless they were starving out of their minds.

The entire corpse also gave off a lingering stench characteristic of Witchbeasts. No one would pay even a single copper coin for it.

In the end, a thoroughly disappointed Subaru had carried its broken horn back and put it in the house as a souvenir.

"Well? Well? Rem cleaned everything really well, didn't she? Rem guarantees Subaru won't find a speck of dust!"

Holding his hand, Rem pulled Subaru from the office into the kitchen. Then she stopped in front of him and lowered her head, giving off a lively, forthright air.

"Subaru can praise Rem as much as he likes. If Rem did an especially good job, please pat Rem on the head."

The house was indeed impeccably clean. Even the bed had been neatly made, its blanket corners folded into crisp squares. Subaru reached out and affectionately patted Rem's head. Her soft blue hair fluffed up slightly beneath his palm, and it felt wonderful.

"You're really capable, Rem. But I'm feeling a little nostalgic. You never would have said something so straightforward before."

"...Honestly. Subaru, don't bring up the past."

Rem's cheeks turned slightly red, but she didn't look away.

"No, no, you were cute back then too. Things like, 'I didn't do this for you, I just happened to do it, so don't get the wrong idea'-you don't hear textbook tsundere lines like that anymore. Where did your tsundere side go, Rem?"

Subaru imitated Rem's old tone, unable to keep himself from laughing.

Why had the tsundere type suddenly turned into an affectionate puppy type?

"Ugh... If the Rem of today could go back to the past, she would give that Rem a serious scolding."

"Huh?"

"Rem would drag her in front of Subaru, push her head down, and make her properly apologize for those awful things she said. Once wouldn't be enough; she'd have to apologize a hundred times. Subaru was so kind, and Subaru hadn't done anything wrong, but that idiot Rem still said things like that-just thinking about it makes Rem so angry."

Rem clenched her little fists and puffed out her cheeks.

"No, no, no! Most of the memories you left me with back then were good ones... Why are you only focusing on the bad things, Rem?!"

"...So, after Rem has scolded that idiot Rem and made her apologize properly a hundred times-"

Rem's voice suddenly softened, and her tightly clenched fists slowly relaxed.

"Rem would hold her close. Rem would hold her tight and tell her it's all right. In the future, you'll meet someone very, very good. He'll tell you that actions matter, not intentions. He'll remember every little thing you do, and even if you forget, he'll remember for you. So you don't have to be afraid anymore."

Rem closed her eyes as sunlight streamed in through the window and fell on her. Bathed in its light, her youthful face lit up with an utterly blissful smile.

"...You really are cute, Rem."

Subaru watched Rem immersed in that state, and the sight of her lost in her imagination filled him with affection.

"Then please praise Rem lots! And stroke Rem's hair! Rem loves it most when Subaru pats her head."

Rem immediately opened her eyes and quickly brought her head over to Subaru's hand. After indulging in his affection for quite a while, Rem was satisfied and asked a question.

"Still, with Subaru's abilities, he could easily rent a bigger house. Why did he choose this one?"

"I think it's pretty nice. You have to eat one bite at a time. I can't suddenly get all arrogant and conceited just because I've made a little money."

Subaru and Rem sat down on the living room sofa. There was tea on the table that Rem had prepared beforehand. Subaru poured himself a cup.

"No! Rem doesn't think so at all! With Subaru's abilities, he'll definitely make a name for himself in the world! Subaru will live in the most magnificent palace in the world, and people will build statues of Subaru of their own accord to thank him for his contributions!"

"...That's a bit much."

Subaru was a little embarrassed by what she said, but Rem wasn't entirely wrong. This house was indeed just an ordinary family home, and with his current savings and abilities, he really could rent a bigger, more impressive one.

He picked up his teacup and took a sip.

"But right now, I think it's better to be a little frugal. If I spend all my money on living in a big house, what will I do about future adventures?"

"Future... adventures?"

"Yeah. Swords and magic, knights and dragons-now that I've finally come to such a fantastical world, of course I have to go on a proper adventure!"

Subaru's eyes lit up, full of the longing and anticipation typical of a light novel protagonist.

But Rem caught the unspoken meaning beneath those words: Subaru was going to leave this village someday.

"...Then, Subaru, when that time comes, can Rem leave with Subaru?"

"Of course you can! Didn't we promise? We'd rely on each other and move forward together in this world. You're the companion I've chosen, you know. It's just..."

Subaru nodded without hesitation, then looked a little troubled.

"What should we do about Ram...?"

"...Sister is strong and capable. So Sister will definitely be all right."

"You abandoned Ram pretty quickly there. If she heard that, I'd get a proper scolding, wouldn't I?"

"Rem is only stating the truth. Sister is capable, so she'll be fine. But Rem is different. Rem has already chosen Subaru. Rem likes Subaru. Rem likes Subaru more than anyone. Rem could never do something as cruel as parting from Subaru-"

"Pfft-!... Huh?"

The tea in Subaru's mouth sprayed through the air, and he asked in a daze.

"...Like? Is... is it the kind of like you feel for everyone? Like how you like Ram, or your friends, or good food?"

"No."

Rem's cheeks flushed crimson, but her gaze didn't waver in the slightest as she looked straight into Subaru's eyes.

"Rem loves Subaru. It's a one-of-a-kind kind of love. The kind that makes Rem want to spend the rest of her life with Subaru."

"Don't say that!!! It's too early for that right now!!! I have to turn you down!!!"