Volume 4 - Chapter 59.3

Chapter 59.3
It had only been the fourth day since Subaru left for the Sanctuary . The ungodly amount of information he had gathered in so short a time was shocking, but Frederica’s eyes widened even further when she heard Subaru’s question .
[Frederica: No, I don’t know the details . I understand that the Sanctuary was created by the late Witch of Greed in order to conduct some sort of experiment, but……]
[Subaru: You don’t? Really? You sure you don’t want to change your answer?]
[Frederica: I wouldn’t know what you are suspecting of me, but my answer will not change . The Sanctuary had been the Witch’s experimental grounds, and the Boundaries drawn by the Witch still stands, not to be dispelled until the Trials are completed . That is as much as I know]
In closing, Frederica slowly shook her head . Subaru had no way to verify whether she was telling the truth, but she didn’t appear to be be lying .
That is to say, Frederica didn’t seem to know the truth about the immortality experiments . In which case, it would also mean that she had no idea about the byproduct of those experiments,
[Subaru: Wait . Then, Frederica…… you don’t know anything about the command authority used to control the replicants?]
[Frederica: Repli……cants? No, I’ve never heard of such a thing]
Her denial was in the same vein as before .
Hearing her answer, Subaru fell speechless as he relinquished his weight onto the sofa .
[Frederica: My apologies . It seems my answers did not meet your expectations]
[Subaru: No, no it’s fine . It’s not your fault…… Frederica, how many years ago was it when you left the Sanctuary? If you don’t mind me asking?]
[Frederica: It was about seven years ago when I left the Sanctuary to serve in the Mansion . Ram arrived a little later than I did, so you could say I am the oldest servant here]
Frederica’s reminiscences did not include Rem’s name, nor did the extent of her knowledge of the Sanctuary change from the previous loops .
Letting out a sigh, Subaru decided that the likelihood that Frederica was withholding information from him was nearly zero . Despite changing his approach, her answers remained the same, which could only mean that they were probably true .
Frederica had no knowledge of the immortality experiments, and was probably unaware of the Lewes replicants as well . Either the Leweses were able to seamlessly hide their daily rotations, or the meticulous Frederica today used to be more of a klutz when she was younger .
[Subaru: But then, what about Garfiel? When did that guy find out the truth about the Sanctuary……?]
If Garfiel held the command authority over the replicants, he must have known about the facility . Even if not for that, he was most likely the one who destroyed it afterwards .
There was no doubt that Garfiel knew about the experiments conducted on Lewes Meyer . If he knew this while older sister didn’t, then he must have found out after his sister had left the Sanctuary . Or perhaps, it was because he knew that he chose to stay behind .
[Subaru: ――Ah]
Coming to that thought, Subaru suddenly noticed the crucial piece he had overlooked . The moment he realized this, he simply couldn’t believe his own stupidity .
[Subaru: If that guy holds command authority over the replicants, then doesn’t that means he’s met the same conditions I did? That means, that guy’s also considered an Apostle of Greed, doesn’t it……]
That is to say, there need be no better proof that Garfiel had met the Witch of Greed, Echidona .
Subaru hugged his head, resenting the fact that he didn’t realize this earlier . If Garfiel had met with Echidona, that would explain why he was the one holding the command authority . Whether it was his prejudice against the Trials or his empathy towards Emilia’s failures, it would explain all of it .
[Subaru: Frederica . ――Garfiel challenged the Trials before, didn’t he?]
[Frederica: ――! How did you…]
[Subaru: It’s only because all sorts of clues were pointing to it that I managed to get there . Though of course, I’m guessing he failed…… but what exactly happened?]
Frederica’s affirmation was the same as Subaru clenching his fist around the central piece of the puzzle .
Letting out a sigh in front of Subaru’s excitement, Frederica closed her eyes as if draw from the depths of her memories .
[Frederica: ……I am not the only one who wished for the Sanctuary to be liberated . There was a time when my little brother also strived for that end so that grandmother and the others could one day see the outside world . My brother was very young then, when he sneaked into the Tomb to challenge the Trials . And I remember how jealous I was of his recklessness]
[Subaru: Frederica, have you ever gone in there?]
[Frederica: I myself never had the courage to do so . Even though I knew that passing the Trials would mean the liberation of the Sanctuary, I was always told that I cannot go in there . That was why I was so envious of my little brother when he ran straight inside]
He could almost see it .
Even more reckless than he was now, the young Garfiel must have gone into the Tomb full of confidence, for only the simple desire to give his loved ones a glimpse of the outside world .
But,
[Frederica: When my little brother didn’t come out, I was so regretful that I didn’t stop him that I went to find grandmother…… and though grandmother also hesitated for a moment, she decided to go in after him . I sat there praying, and, after a short while, she brought my little brother back to me . But…]
――Do not go into the Tomb again . Forget everything you saw today and never speak of it to anyone .
That must have been what Lewes asked of her .
Listening to this story, Subaru recalled the contradictions in Lewes’ words from before . There was the Lewes who claimed to have entered the Tomb, and the Lewes who claimed that she never did .
It was only when he learned of the existence of multiple Leweses, coupled with the constraint that they cannot lie, that this contradiction was resolved .
And, it was only after the present conversation that he realized,
[Subaru: Garfiel had challenged the Trials . And there, he must have met the Witch of Greed . All sorts of things are finally starting to make sense…]
Why Garfiel felt the way he did towards the Trials, and why the command authority was in his hands .
The question now was what he saw in his “Past”, why he wanted to stop Subaru from liberating the Sanctuary, and why Echidona never told Subaru about Garfiel . The answers to all of them lay inside the Tomb .
[Subaru: I’ll definitely need to see Echidona at least one more time…]
And expose every secret that all-knowing Witch tried to hide from him .
Subaru quietly made up his mind as Frederica watched him in silence .
Sensing her gaze, Subaru scratched his cheek and muttered [Sorry],
[Subaru: For all sorts of things . And for asking you questions you didn’t want to be asked]
[Frederica: It’s fine . I know it is necessary . I’ve received such orders from the Master as well . If telling you this could…… help Emilia-sama liberate the Sanctuary, then I don’t mind at all]
[Subaru: The Sanctuary will definitely be liberated . There’s a reason I have to make sure it comes to pass, and I’ll use any means necessary to do it . But as for how much of that matches Garfiel’s plans for it, I’ll have to put that lower down the list]
[Frederica: …………]
[Subaru: I have no idea what Garfiel’s thinking . In the worst case, he’ll be against me at every turn, but I won’t make any compromises . As much as I should apologize, it’s for the greater good]
If Subaru was to forestall the disasters approaching the Mansion and the Sanctuary, he would have to be prepared to sweep aside everything that stood in his way .
Hearing Subaru’s answer, Frederica firmly closed her eyes once more,
[Frederica: Please take care of my no-good little brother]
――She lowered her head and replied .