Where am I?”

I find myself on a comfortable bed but one that I don't know.  Looking out the window, I see that it is the garden in the Karsten mansion.

"Then the mission is complete. I'm asking how long I've been sleeping."

Suddenly,  I see Felix at my bedside.  However, the fact that he betrayed me hits me in the face so I look away.  He smiles, trying to make up for his betrayal.

"Louis-chan, how are you feeling? It's been about a week since you faced the Hakugei..." He said, trying to sound casual despite his actions.  Felix looks worried and tense, eager to be in my presence again.  "I hope I didn't bother you too much while you were resting, Louis-chan..." Felix said, trying to keep his spirits up.

"No, you didn't bother me. However, that doesn't explain how I'm on this bed. And, Beatrice also ran out of mana. How Wilhelm, Rem, Emilia, Crusch and Julius reacted to the Ai-  I killed the Ten Fingers, Hakugei and an Archbishop of Sin alone before killing another with Beatrice?”  I don't look at him, but my voice is a little softer when I talk about others.  Having been betrayed by him, I made the decision to end this story myself and coming back means giving him a hard time.

"Oh, that's right! Well, you see..." Felix twists his hands nervously. "You see... Wilhelm, Julius and Rem are delighted that we managed to eliminate all the Great Mabeasts, and  Crusch-  Both sama and Julius-sama think that what you did was extraordinary and deserved a special reward..." Felix sighs anxiously as he tells me the news.  "But, uh... I didn't... I didn't tell Crusch-sama or Wilhelm about... what happened between you and me..." Felix  pauses, not wanting to finish the sentence.

“So they must have thought I was walking in the forest and they came across me, right?”  I'm trying to see the configuration a little.  Indeed, without context, no one would suspect my desire to go alone afterwards.  The most plausible thing is what Otto told them.

Felix nods, relief evident on his face that I hadn't considered another possibility.  "Exactly, Louis-chan. They, uh... they think you fought Hakugei and the other Great Anomalies on your own,  and then, when you were exhausted, you fell unconscious in the forest..." Felix  looks at the ground, ashamed of having deceived his friends and me.  "It...it was my idea to say that you, uh...fell in the forest...I...I thought it would be easier to convince them..."

"That's right. Beatrice and I were out of mana and she must have left in high spirits. Which explains why I don't see her here. "Now, what do Emilia and Rem think of all this?  "

Felix sighs a little, still feeling guilty for betraying Louis' trust.  "Emilia-sama and Rem-sama were...not as thrilled as everyone else, I'm afraid..." Felix looks at me sheepishly.  "I...I told them that you fought to protect them and avenge them, but they were angry at...at me for not sending them to help you. They think I'm...  I betrayed, Louis-chan...and by extension, them."

"...I suspected it. Emilia may be idealistic, but she's still stupid, especially if Roswaal is there."

Felix sighs, nodding in agreement.  "Yes, Louis-chan... Roswaal and Puck have... influenced Emilia-sama in certain ways, unfortunately..." Felix looks at me apologetically.  "But, Louis -chan... Please know that I never intended to betray you... or Rem-sama and Emilia-sama.  He looks into my eyes. "C  It was completely selfish of me, and I was wrong to hide the snitch on you... I'm completely wrong and I know it..."

"I know this and I understood it when facing Hakugei and an Archbishop of Sin alone. 400 years ago, I was part of the group of heroes and I knew the witches. However, on missions, I always went solo even  if it meant taking more and more risk. That's how I got my cape, which certainly reduced my chances of going faster, but allowed me to go further."  I look away.  “In reality, my role in the group was just supportive but literally everything I did was the opposite.”

"But Louis-chan, you shouldn't have put yourself in so much danger by facing these Great Anomalies alone...!  You could have been, uh, hurt, Louis-chan...!  You are important to others.  The girls and I... I... I'd be lost without you..." Felix said, unable to convey how terrified he actually was of seeing me in danger. "As for why  you acted and fought solo,  well, I can see where you might have started to feel alone and neglected..."

"...I felt out of place actually and when I decided to tell them it was before I faced Satella and died. But hey, I'm here now"

Felix sighs, smiling a little as I soften my tone.  He laughed a little and his voice softened.  “That's right... You're here now, Louis-chan... I'm... I'm glad you're okay... I've been completely distraught, fearing I'll never see you alive again.  ..” He continues, the guilt still weighing heavily on his conscience.  "You didn't deserve what I did to you, Louis-chan...I hope you really believe that. I don't deserve your forgiveness, but...please forgive me.  ..”

"I'll see what I can do, Felix."

Felix looks at me, hope in his eyes as he hears that Louis is ready to think about forgiving him.

"Thank you... Louis-chan," he said smiling.  "Please... take your time. I know... you're right to be angry with me."  Felix looks down, not wanting to make things worse by asking for forgiveness again.  Just then, Felix hears a noise coming from outside the door.

"Yes ?"  I ask looking towards the door.  In a way, it's cool to be back here.  I feel like I'm going to have to apologize to Emilia and Rem "Come in!"

Outside point of view

Louis' voice is greeted by the sound of the door opening.  Felix hears someone's footsteps entering the room and looks up to see Crusch entering, followed by Rem.  Crusch's face is hard as stone as she looks at Louis, while Rem has a worried look on her face.

“Did you just wake up, Louis-chan?”  She says, her tone not indicating that she's happy to see Louis back.

"Yes. Thank you for coming to visit me! Also sorry for doing it alone. This happened to me and I sent Otto to warn you."

"Otto informed us of your victory before your return. However... I need to know one thing, Louis-chan... Why did you fight the Great Anomalies alone?"  Crusch says, in a harsh tone as she walks towards Louis' bed.

"Rem is also happy that Louis-sama has returned, but... Rem is not happy that Louis-sama has to bear the brunt of removing the Great Anomalies by yourself."  Rem said looking at Louis with a worried expression.

"What would you do if by chance you found yourself in a forest and not Hakugei but an Archbishop Sin was in front of you at the same time? I warned Otto to go get reinforcements but it seems that apart from Beatrice  no one came"

Crusch narrows her eyes at Louis' words, not believing what she hears.  "An Archbishop of Sin is someone who wields great power, similar to that of a Great Anomaly. Fighting one would require an exceptional amount of skill, experience, and mana, especially for someone like you. Are  -are you telling me that you simply stumbled upon an archbishop by chance? And that there was no other option to survive than to fight him alone?  Crusch looks at Louis coldly, not accepting his answer  .

"You forget one more thing: I didn't look for a fight. They were the ones who came towards me. Besides, you criticize me but you know better than me that with Hakugei then the Archbishop of Sin, the  Gluttony that controls any escape, this option is impossible.

"Hmm... That's true. It would have been foolish to try to run away from an archbishop, I understand that... But are you suggesting that there was no other possible way to  survive against an archbishop than fight back?”  Crusch takes a deep breath, trying to calm himself.  “Louis-chan, could there have been another option?  Another path that would not have led you to face an archbishop alone?

"None without putting the kingdom in danger or without risking losing my name and my memories.  Whether I fight or not, the result remains the same with a chance of victory if I attempt the confrontation."

Crusch sighs, biting her lip as if she's thinking deeply about something.  "Very good, Louis-chan. You gave me an answer I didn't expect. And I'm willing to accept it as long as you think it through... But Louis-chan... You don't  must never do this to me again. You must promise me that you will talk to me about everything from now on... Please... I... I will be devastated to lose  you, Louis-chan... You  You're like a friend to me."  Crusch gives Louis a slight smile, trying to lighten the mood.

I stay calm.  This will depend on the situation and context.  On the other hand, it may be that if I were not what I am, my death would have been more than inevitable.  “Unless there is an extreme emergency, I promise you Crusch as long as Emilia’s camp and yours continue to form an alliance"

Crusch seems relieved to hear Louis' answer.  She walks towards Louis' bed, her tone becoming more friendly.  "Thank you, Louis-chan... I'm glad you're still alive. The camp was extremely worried about you, you know? I just am... I'm very happy you're not dead.  Crusch smiled  warmly to Louis.  Rem approaches as well, her face full of relief.

"Louis-sama, Rem is so happy that you are alive! Rem wouldn't be able to live his life if Louis-sama was dead!"

"Hey Rem! Don't say things like that!"

Rem looks surprised at Louis' answer and blushes slightly.  She looks down at the floor in embarrassment.  "S-sorry, Louis-sama, Rem just had to get this out of the way! Louis-sama is too important to Rem, you know?"  Rem said, still looking down.  Crusch smiled a little at Rem, happy to see the oni so happy that Louis had returned.  "Come now, Rem, don't be shy. Louis-chan deserves to hear your thoughts."  Crusch said softly.

I don't know why but I feel so happy now.  So Emilia who came to pick me up with Puck, Rem and I are returning home when I greet Wilhelm by secretly whispering to him "Your wife can now rest in peace"