56) Mommy is here!

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{Third Person POV}

Two days had passed since Subaru had left the mansion. In that time, the women he had rescued gradually adapted to their temporary life within Roswaal's estate. The grand mansion, while unfamiliar, provided them with safety and a moment of peace they had long been denied.

They understood well that living in someone else's home could never be a permanent solution, but thankfully Subaru had already given his word. He had promised them not only jobs but also a place they could truly call home, once he returned and settled everything.

So, for now, they waited patiently, allowing themselves time to heal—physically and emotionally—from the horrors and trauma inflicted by Regulus. The wounds ran deep, but there was a sense of cautious hope among them.

Thankfully, none of them were Reina or Satella—if they were, Subaru would likely be burdened with a dozen Yanderes vying for his love and attention. Still, it couldn't be denied that the women were incredibly loyal to their savior, and their trust in him remained unshaken.

In Subaru's absence, it was Sylphy—also known as Number 184—who took the lead in organizing the group. She kept things in order and ensured everyone adhered to Frederica's instructions, so as not to unintentionally damage any part of the elegant but fragile estate.

Suddenly, Subaru appeared in the garden. Without hesitation, he released a wave of his Aura—a powerful surge that rippled across the entire area.

His Aura was immense, spanning out for hundreds of meters, allowing him to sense every living being within its range.

Unlike Psychic Energy, which often left him feeling drained and weakened, his Aura had no such side effects. It was as if it a part of his very being.

He quickly scanned the area with his heightened senses. Detecting no presence of hostility, bloodlust, or danger, Subaru let out a sigh of relief. Everyone was safe.

'Ohhhh! That thing you just did was so fascinating! What do you call it?' Echidna asked, her voice echoing within his mind with that ever-present mix of curiosity and playful charm.

'It's called Aura. By spreading it out like a wave, I'm able to sense the presence and nature of other living beings in the vicinity,' Subaru responded calmly.

'Echidna, I'd prefer if you remained silent for now. Or, if you can't resist, return to the Castle of Dreams. Once everything is settled, I'll explain all my abilities, the knowledge I've gained from other worlds, and the full extent of my plans.'

She pouted dramatically and reached out to lightly tap his nose with her fingertip.

'You're breaking my poor maidenly heart, Subaru. But as a virtuous wife-in-waiting, I shall stand beside you silently and offer help whenever it's needed,' she replied with mock offense.

Her efforts to win his heart by acting endearing and affectionate weren't lost on Subaru. Despite knowing she was manipulating her image, he couldn't deny that it was working somewhat. She was charming in her own way, and her constant displays of affection chipped away at his defenses.

Not to mention, the original Natsuki Subaru had always been something of a soft-hearted fool for that kind of thing. Even Ayan, the supposed stoic part of him, was still a normal human being. When someone showers you with affection day after day, even if you suspect it's not entirely genuine, it's difficult not to be affected by it.

'You know, this would be a thousand times more effective if your words were actually sincere,' Subaru said with a small smile.

At that, Echidna fell silent, though her expression was unreadable.

Soon after, a few of the women noticed Subaru in the garden and hurried toward him with excitement and reverence in their eyes.

"Master Zero! Welcome back!" one of them greeted with an elegant bow, her tone respectful yet filled with relief.

Subaru gave her a curt nod and replied, "I'm concerned that someone might attempt an attack on the mansion. I need you to gather everyone in the main hall, including Frederica. This is important."

Without delay, the women moved to obey his order. In a short while, everyone had assembled in the spacious hall of the mansion, listening intently as Subaru gave clear instructions.

"You're all to remain within the mansion at all times. Do not wander outside under any circumstances. Stay alert and be ready for anything," Subaru said firmly.

After issuing his commands, he once again extended his Aura—this time combining it with his Psychic Abilities. Together, they formed a synchronized detection field, sweeping the surroundings for any trace of hostility or approaching threats.

'Say, Subaru… I've always been curious. What exactly is your Authority of Greed?' Echidna asked, now floating lazily behind him, her tone as inquisitive as ever.

'To be completely honest… I'm not entirely sure. It's strange. Whenever I observe someone doing something—whether it's cleaning, cooking, or fighting—I get the strong feeling that I could use my Authority on them,' Subaru confessed.

He hadn't used his Authority yet—partly out of caution. What if there were unforeseen consequences for the person he targeted?

He had no intention of harming the women he had rescued, nor any of his friends, even if some of them were problem children.

(A/N: Yes, Emilia, that includes you. You problem child.)

'Hmmmm… I may have a good idea of who's going to show up next,' Echidna said with a sly smile as she floated in front of him, clearly enjoying the dramatic buildup.

'If you ask me nicely, I might just tell you~' she teased.

'No need,' Subaru said flatly, his tone sharp. 'Whoever's coming isn't leaving in one piece.'

Echidna pouted again but gave in.

'It's the Sin Archbishop of Lust… and Elsa,' she revealed, and for the first time, Subaru visibly reacted.

'Well then,' he muttered with a smirk, 'I guess I'm about to get another power boost.'

'Confident, aren't we?' Echidna giggled, clearly amused by his boldness.

Just then, another voice chimed in—this time it was Beatrice.

"Hey Zero, Betty is getting bored. Should she come out now?"

Subaru nodded decisively. "Yes. You three can come out now."

At his command, Aqua, Gloria, and Beatrice emerged from the depths of Subaru's soul space, materializing around him with radiant energy and purpose.

Suddenly, Subaru felt a disturbance—a ripple brushing against the edge of his expansive Aura field.

He immediately straightened, his tone urgent. "Get ready. The enemy is approaching fast. Aqua and Gloria, support Beatrice. Beatrice, you'll act as the main attacker."

The enemy was closing in. Their speed increased rapidly—far too fast for any ordinary person.

Then came the voice.

"Mommy is hereeee!" screamed the Sin Archbishop of Lust as she tore through the sky, breaking the sound barrier and streaking toward Subaru like a meteor of madness.

To be continued...

(A/N: The Sanctuary Arc will be over with the Eight chapter. We are one the beginning portion of this chap, thankfully I have managed to write the ninth chap. So we have like six more chaps now if I make them longer than 1.5k words.

I also have uploaded the seventh chap in other websites, the proofreaded seventh chap reached a staggering 12.5k words, and it still had like 3k words less content as compared to the raw chapter.

Anyway give me powerstones! Same deal as previous week)