Chapter 106: An Obedient Puppet, a Door That Cannot Be Opened

"Emilia-tan, I..."

After thinking for a moment, Natsuki Subaru leaned in close to the peephole, about to say something to Emilia.

But just then, through the peephole, he suddenly noticed a cluster of figures looming faintly in the darkness behind Emilia.

This—!

Natsuki Subaru rubbed his eyes and, widening them a little, looked again behind Emilia—only to find those figures still standing there quietly, gazing in his direction.

In an instant, cold sweat soaked through the back of Natsuki Subaru's shirt. Though it had been only a brief glimpse, he had already made out the true identity of those figures—or at least roughly confirmed it from their builds.

They were exactly the group of Imitation Human children he had seen kicking a mabeast's head around like a soccer ball when he'd first woken and gone to the window in the first-floor corridor.

Now that night had fallen completely, the Imitation Humans would only grow more and more active.

At this thought, a drop of cold sweat trickled down Natsuki Subaru's forehead, and against his will an image surfaced in his mind—of what would happen after he refused Emilia's request to enter the manor.

Those Imitation Humans lurking in the shadows would swarm forward like jackals catching the scent of blood and tear Emilia to pieces.

Dizzy, Natsuki Subaru braced himself against the door and clutched his forehead. Sending Emilia to her death with his own hands—such an ending was one he absolutely could not accept!

So only one choice remained.

Natsuki Subaru let out a sigh. This was fine too. Though he hadn't been able to tell which of the two—Emilia or Ram—was lying, letting Emilia into the manor was at least the safe move.

"Emilia-tan, hurry and come in."

And so Natsuki Subaru opened the door, stepped aside, and gestured for Emilia to enter.

But the moment the door opened, Natsuki Subaru saw a figure lunge at him, startling him so badly he flinched.

Yet after a good while he'd taken no harm, and only then did he come to his senses. Lowering his head and looking closely, he found that the one who had suddenly thrown herself into his arms was Emilia.

"Thank goodness—Subaru, you believe me now!"

Emilia nuzzled into Natsuki Subaru's arms like a kitten, and faintly she even seemed to let out a contented purr.

"I... I suppose so."

Natsuki Subaru could only smile wryly. While holding Emilia with one arm, he used his free hand to close the manor's front door.

"Mm, but even if Subaru doesn't believe me, it's fine if I go back outside, you know. After all, the decision Subaru makes is surely the right one—I only need to obediently follow the orders given to me."

At these words, Emilia lifted her head from Natsuki Subaru's arms and met his gaze with an expression he couldn't quite put into words.

At the sight of it, Natsuki Subaru froze on the spot.

Just what kind of eyes were these that he was looking at?

Beautiful, unfamiliar, and at the same time intensely oppressive.

Her eyes were bright—but only a small patch beneath the pupils held that brightness.

Beyond that, most of the area of her eyes was drowned in a deep, deathly-still blackish purple.

For no reason at all, as he gazed upon this scene, a flicker of understanding naturally rose in Natsuki Subaru's heart.

That small bright patch at the bottom of her eyes was like the last patch of pure land Emilia had left for herself after suffering a blow—a hiding place into which to flee from reality.

The reason he thought so was because—

In Natsuki Subaru's eyes, this Emilia before him, staring fixedly at him like a puppy awaiting its master's command—

she was just like a... doll that had cast away its own desires, its mind filled with nothing but the wish to please him?

"No, it's dangerous outside. Stay put in the manor, and don't even think about going out."

Natsuki Subaru rubbed his nose and said slowly.

"Mm, I'll do whatever Subaru says... haah, I'm a bit sleepy, I'll head back to sleep first."

Emilia nodded obediently, then opened her mouth as if to say something—but all of a sudden her whole body stiffened, and she forcibly changed the subject.

With an utterly robotic air, she gave a yawn, then turned and walked toward her own bedroom on the second floor, without the slightest reluctance.

Hearing these familiar words, Natsuki Subaru nodded in understanding and, out of habit, watched Emilia's retreating figure until it vanished.

And only once Emilia was out of sight did Natsuki Subaru belatedly realize something was off.

Wait—how did Emilia suddenly decide to go off to sleep just like that?

Before entering the manor, hadn't she said Ram was an Imitation Human? He'd still wanted to discuss with Emilia exactly how they were going to get through tonight.

At this thought, Natsuki Subaru grew anxious and hurriedly chased up to the second floor, coming to stand before Emilia's bedroom door.

But the door was shut tight. Natsuki Subaru tried to turn the handle to open it, only to find the handle wouldn't budge in the slightest—he couldn't turn it at all.

With no choice, he could only try another method.

Natsuki Subaru tried calling out loudly for Emilia, but the bedroom was silent as death, without any response.

—What was going on? What had happened? Why couldn't he open the door to Emilia's bedroom?

Cold sweat instantly soaked through the back of Natsuki Subaru's shirt; no matter how he racked his brain, he couldn't make sense of it.

Emilia had only just entered her bedroom not long ago—how could something have gone wrong so quickly?

Natsuki Subaru stared hard at the floor beneath his feet, swiftly sifting through clues.

Could it be—that strange state Emilia had shown just now? Had she fallen victim to something right after coming through the door?

Because Natsuki Subaru remembered that just now Emilia had still wanted to tell him something, only to turn her head and say with a stiff expression that she was going back to her room to rest.

Just then it struck Natsuki Subaru—also resting in her room was—Ram!

No matter what, he had to ask Ram just what was going on with this strange situation.

So Natsuki Subaru ran over to the door of Ram's room, not far away, and without knocking directly turned the handle, hoping to get the door open.

However, he failed again—the handle of Ram's room was likewise as if welded shut, impossible to move even a fraction.

"Ram, are you there? If you are, make a sound!"

Natsuki Subaru shouted loudly, but still received no response.

This—

Fine beads of sweat broke out on Natsuki Subaru's forehead, and he couldn't help stumbling back two steps.

If Emilia's door alone failing to open was a coincidence, then with Ram's door also failing to open, something was definitely wrong.

Think carefully, think carefully...

Natsuki Subaru stared at the floor beneath his feet, his thoughts spinning rapidly.

An attack by the Imitation Humans?

Impossible. Even if, in the worst case, one of the two of them was an Imitation Human, then why would both rooms be locked?

Based on the information the Gospel had told him, the manor could shut out the intrusion of Imitation Humans—none could enter uninvited—so danger could be ruled out.

At this thought, Natsuki Subaru suddenly raised his head as a flash of inspiration struck.

If it wasn't danger... then could this also be some kind of property of the manor—or rather, a rule?

Just like 'no entry without invitation'... a rule along the lines of 'once night falls you must sleep, and going out is forbidden'?

And the reason he himself could still wander around outside his own room was because his current identity was that of the master of Roswaal Manor?

Following this single thread of reasoning down, Natsuki Subaru felt his train of thought growing clearer and clearer.

It was just that... in the end, this was nothing more than his own conjecture.

If he wanted to learn the truth, he would perhaps have to wait until the next day for the Gospel to bring new information.

So what should he do now?

Helplessly, Natsuki Subaru cast a couple of glances at the doors of Emilia's and Ram's rooms, which seemed to be sealed shut by the rules.

It seemed... he could only go back to his own room and have himself a good long sleep too.

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