*Peace is a fragile thing. Subaru Natsuki knows this better than anyone.*
The royal selection has settled. The estate is quiet. Emilia smiles, the tea is sweet, and for a moment, Subaru allows himself to believe that happiness might be something he's permitted to keep.
But peace has a price—and the bill is coming due.
When a forgotten bell tolls in the dead of night, the villagers of Arlam begin to lose pieces of themselves. Memories. Names. The things that make them who they are. And the dee
Re:Zero - The Bells of What Remains - To the Bell Tower — Losing One's Name at the End of Devotion
The morning air was still cold.
Walking down the corridor of the Roswaal frontier count's mansion, Natsuki Subaru was thinking about the previous night. The old woman in Arlam Village had forgotten her grandson's name. That fact clung to the back of his mind and wouldn't let go. Someone had given him a handkerchief with blue thread. And that someone's name—he felt like he could remember it, but he couldn't.
No—it wasn't that he couldn't remember. Maybe he didn't want to.
Unconsciously, Subaru touched the handkerchief in his pocket. The feel of the cloth was the same as always. Nothing had changed. Nothing should have changed, and yet something stirred restlessly deep in his chest.
Outside the window, the trees in the garden swayed in the morning breeze. The distant sky was blue, the clouds thin. It looked like it was going to be a nice day.
"Subaru, good morning."
When he turned around, Emilia was standing there, her long silver hair swaying in the wind. Her large violet eyes were fixed straight on Subaru. She wore a white dress with a pale blue stole draped over it, and in the morning light she looked almost impossibly translucent.
"Oh, mornin'. You're cute again today, Emilia."
Subaru answered deliberately lightly. Emilia tilted her head just a little, then broke into a soft smile.
"When you say I'm cute, I get a little embarrassed. But thank you."
She said it honestly, fingering the tips of her silver hair. It was a habit of hers when she was troubled or flustered. Every time Subaru saw that gesture, she became unbearably precious to him.
At the same time, he felt the lie he was telling settling black and heavy at the bottom of his chest.
—If you throw something away, I'll kill everyone and make you start over.
Roswaal's voice echoed in his head again. The man with the clown makeup had said it that day, clearly. The moment Subaru sacrificed something to protect what was precious to him, he would kill everyone in this mansion.
Keeping his smile in place, Subaru clenched his left hand in its black glove.
"Hey, Emilia. About what we talked about yesterday—do you really think the old woman's symptoms are because of that bell?"
Emilia's expression clouded slightly. She looked steadily into Subaru's eyes and gave a small nod.
"Yes, probably. Since the villagers heard that bell, they've been forgetting the names of the people important to them. We can't just leave it."
"Right. That's exactly why I'm going to check out the bell tower today."
When Subaru said that, Emilia blinked in surprise.
"You, Subaru? Going alone?"
"Yeah, I guess so. If it's just me, I can run right away if something happens. See, my legs are the one thing I've got going for me."
Emilia stared at Subaru's face for a while. Then she slowly shook her head.
"I should be going too, but... I absolutely can't get away from the territory paperwork. I'm sorry, Subaru."
She said it with her brows drawn down. She really did look sorry, twirling the tips of her silver hair around her finger. Subaru gave a wry smile and waved his hand lightly.
"You've got nothing to apologize for. Nobody but you can do the territory work. I'll go have a proper look myself. Leave it to me."
"Subaru..."
Emilia murmured softly, then gently wrapped both her hands around Subaru's. Her fingertips were cool. But that coolness felt warm, somehow.
"Even without memories, what I feel now is real. So please be careful. Don't push yourself too hard."
For a moment, Subaru felt his breath stop.
The warmth of Emilia's palms. Her serious eyes. Each one of her words sank deep into his chest.
—Even without memories, what I feel now is real.
What cruel, kind words.
Subaru realized anew that he was in love with Emilia. Every time he saw her smile, every time he heard her voice, his chest tightened. If this feeling had a name, it was surely love.
But that love was built on the lie of Return by Death.
Subaru gently squeezed Emilia's hands back.
"...Yeah. I'm off."
He couldn't say anything more. It felt like he shouldn't.
Emilia let go of his hands and smiled softly. That smile, in the morning light, was terribly dazzling.
Subaru turned his back on Emilia and started walking. Deep in his chest, love and guilt churned in a whirlpool.
—I'm lying to you.
That fact weighed down his steps.
On his way to the mansion's entrance, a blue-haired maid poked her head out from around the corner of the corridor.
"Good morning, Subaru-sama."
It was Rem. A blue short bob with her bangs parted to hide her right eye. Her narrow blue eyes gazed steadily at Subaru. She was holding a small basket over her maid uniform.
"Oh, Rem. Mornin'. You're cute today too."
When Subaru tossed out a casual compliment, Rem blushed just a little. Then, in her politely blunt tone, she spoke slowly.
"Subaru-sama, Rem heard that you are heading to the bell tower."
"Oh, you already knew? News travels fast."
"From Emilia-sama, just a moment ago. When Rem heard you were going alone, she simply couldn't stand still."
Rem said this and held out the basket she'd been carrying to Subaru. Inside were carefully wrapped packages.
"This is a lunch for you. Please put something in your stomach along the way."
Subaru took the basket, looking a little surprised.
"You're as thoughtful as ever. That helps. Thanks."
"Not at all. And also, Subaru-sama—"
Rem looked straight into Subaru's eyes and said clearly:
"Rem will accompany you. There's no way I'd let you go alone."
Subaru was at a loss for words for a moment.
"No, but it might be dangerous. That bell eats memories. I don't want to drag you into it, Rem."
When Subaru said this in a serious voice, Rem slowly shook her head.
"Precisely because it's dangerous, that's no reason to leave your side. Beside Subaru-sama is where Rem belongs."
Her voice was quiet and strong.
"Rem will be your shield, Subaru-sama. If you're going to be hurt, Rem will be hurt in your place."
Subaru looked back into Rem's blue eyes. They held not a single cloud of doubt, gazing straight at him.
—She's always like this.
She puts herself second for Subaru's sake. If Subaru is going to be in danger, she genuinely believes she'll be hurt in his place.
That devotion made him happy and hurt him at the same time.
"...All right. But don't push yourself. If anything happens, run immediately. Do as I say."
When Subaru said that, Rem smiled happily.
"Yes, understood. As you wish, Subaru-sama."
Seeing that smile, Subaru felt a small prick of pain deep in his chest.
His feelings for Emilia. His affection for Rem.
The two emotions quietly vied within Subaru.
He still couldn't give an answer to these feelings.
"Big bro! If you're going, big bro, then I'm going too!"
Suddenly, a lively voice came flying from down the corridor. A boy with blond hair spiked up and sharp fangs peeking out—Garfiel Tinsel—came running with two shields hanging at his waist.
"Oh, Garf. You're coming too? That's reassuring."
"Of course! I'm the man who calls himself the Shield of the Sanctuary. I'll guard your back, big bro!"
Garfiel puffed out his chest and grinned, showing his white teeth. That innocent smile saved Subaru, just a little.
And so Subaru, Rem, and Garfiel set off for the Bell Tower of Oblivion at the edge of Arlam Village.
They left the mansion and climbed into the carriage.
It was about an hour by carriage to Arlam Village. From the village to the bell tower was about forty minutes on foot.
As the carriage started down the cobblestone road, the scenery outside the window flowed past. Vast farmland, deep forest, blue mountains in the distance. The eastern frontier of the Kingdom of Lugunica was peaceful and tranquil.
"Subaru-sama, would you like some tea?"
Rem took out a canteen and offered it to Subaru.
"Oh, thanks. You're really thoughtful, Rem. You'll make a good wife someday."
When Subaru made a casual joke, Rem's cheeks flushed pink.
"...Subaru-sama, please don't say such things so carelessly. Rem will take it seriously."
"Huh? Ah, no, that wasn't a joke, I mean—"
As Subaru hurried to make excuses, Rem gave a small giggle.
"Fufu. That's what's unfair about you, Subaru-sama."
"Unfair? What do you mean? I just said what I was thinking."
"That's exactly why it's unfair. You shake Rem's heart so easily, Subaru-sama."
Rem said this and turned her gaze outside the window. Her profile was somehow lonely, and yet very beautiful.
Gazing at Rem's profile, Subaru felt anew the depth of her feelings.
Rem truly cared for Subaru from the bottom of her heart. Those feelings were a different kind from what he felt for Emilia.
—Am I answering Rem's feelings?
Subaru asked himself.
No answer came yet.
Eventually, the carriage arrived at Arlam Village.
The village was quiet. A small village of about two hundred people. Around forty houses, with a small plaza and well at its center. Wheat and vegetables grew in the fields, and birdsong came from the distant forest.
But that quiet was somehow eerie.
The villagers all wore the same uneasy expressions. They shut themselves inside their houses and wouldn't come out. The children who should have been playing in the plaza were nowhere to be seen today.
"The village really is in a bad state after all."
When Subaru murmured, Rem nodded.
"Yes. Everyone is afraid of the bell's sound. They say it's the Witch's lingering scent, and they stay shut inside their homes."
"The Witch's lingering scent, huh. That bell is a ritual tool of the Witch Cult from four hundred years ago. No wonder the villagers are scared."
Subaru gazed at the bell tower visible at the edge of the village.
At the edge of the Alva Forest, on a small hill, stood an old stone bell tower. About fifteen meters tall, a four-story structure. In its topmost level hung the bell that devours memories.
"All right, let's go. You two, stay sharp."
When Subaru said that, Rem and Garfiel nodded with serious expressions.
The three of them began walking down the moss-covered path that led from the edge of the village.
The path through the Alva Forest was thick with trees, blocking out the sunlight. The air was damp, mixing the smell of earth with the smell of rotting leaves.
Subaru advanced carefully, watching his footing.
"This path is pretty rough. You okay, Rem?"
When Subaru turned and called out, Rem smiled softly.
"Yes, Rem is fine. Please watch your own footing, Subaru-sama."
At that moment, Subaru nearly tripped on a tree root.
"Whoa!"
As Subaru lost his balance, Rem quickly tugged at his sleeve.
"Subaru-sama, are you all right!?"
"Ah, yeah. Thanks, Rem. You saved me."
Subaru thanked Rem with a wry smile. Rem let out a relieved breath, then gave a small giggle.
"You always push yourself too hard, Subaru-sama. At least when Rem is here, please let yourself be pampered."
Rem said this and gently let go of his sleeve. The distance between them was surprisingly close.
A pleasant scent came from Rem's hair. A sweet fragrance, like flowers.
Subaru, hiding his fluster, deliberately spoke in a light tone.
"You're really overprotective, you know that. I'm not a child."
"To Rem, Subaru-sama is someone precious to protect. Whether you're a child or not doesn't matter."
Rem looked at Subaru with serious eyes.
"The more you smile, Subaru-sama, the more Rem's chest aches. Because you're always forcing yourself to smile."
Subaru couldn't say anything.
He couldn't precisely understand the meaning of Rem's words. But that she was genuinely worried about him came through painfully clearly.
"...Rem, you really are a good girl."
When Subaru murmured that, Rem looked a little surprised, then smiled shyly.
"Rem is not a good girl. She just loves Subaru-sama, that's all."
At those words, Subaru felt his chest tighten.
—Loves.
Rem had just said it, clearly.
Subaru still didn't know how to answer her feelings.
"...Thank you, Rem."
Subaru said only that and start
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