Chapter 7 – No Rest for the Branded
Guts and Emilia were now sitting in a carriage.
Guts had fallen asleep mid-ride. For someone like him, sleep was never peaceful. Since the day he was born, nightmares had always followed. Every time he closed his eye, he saw the faces of the people he had killed… and the ones he couldn't save.
He was sweating. Dreaming.
A familiar figure appeared—Femto, the member of the God Hand who used to be Griffith.
Then came the screams. The blood. The Eclipse.
The day Casca lost everything.
The day the Band of the Hawk was annihilated.
Guts (in his sleep): "Casca… Judeau… Griffith… Griffith…"
His voice trembled. Rage consumed his dream. He saw it—the Beast of Darkness.
A massive, maddened hound with glowing red eyes, snarling, waiting, laughing.
Emilia: "Guts…"
Puck: "He's having a nightmare, probably…"
They didn't know what was haunting him, but whatever it was, it wasn't something a normal man could endure.
Suddenly, Guts opened his eye. In a flash, he pulled out his knife and stood in a defensive stance.
Emilia (startled): "Eh?! G-Guts?!"
Guts: "Agh… sorry. Force of habit."
Emilia: "Habit…?"
Guts: "Never mind. Say, where are we heading?"
Emilia: "To the mansion of a nearby lord who takes care of me. His name's Roswaal. He might seem a little strange… but he's kind."
Guts: "I see."
The rest of the journey passed in silence. As the carriage neared a large estate, it came to a slow stop.
Emilia: "Here we are! Roswaal's mansion!"
Guts (whistling): "Damn… this guy's rich. Not that it matters."
As they approached the gate, two beautiful girls dressed as maids were waiting.
Rem: "Welcome back, Lady Emilia. And welcome, guest. My name is Rem."
Ram: "And I am Ram."
Guts: "Twin maids, huh? I guess that's normal for nobles."
Ram: "Rem, Rem. Our guest doesn't seem surprised at all."
Rem: "Ram, Ram. You're right, he's… strange."
Guts: "I dunno what you two are saying, but… whatever."
Emilia (smiling): "Don't mind them. They're nice once you get used to them. Rem, Ram, could you guide Guts to his room?"
Guts: "Room?"
Rem: "Yes. We've prepared one for you, dear guest. Lady Emilia sent word ahead before arriving."
Guts: "Huh… my own room. That's new."
For someone who had lived as a mercenary since childhood, a private room sounded like a luxury out of reach. Maybe, for the first time, he'd see what a peaceful night could be.
As they entered the mansion, the antique furniture, the ornate walls, the paintings—everything surprised Guts. He hadn't seen this kind of luxury in years.
Guts : ( think ) Walls covered in silk, rooms with no bloodstains… This place feels fake. Or maybe I've forgotten what peace looks like."
Ram: "Here is your room."
Guts slowly opened the door—only to find himself in a different kind of space. A strange library… with a young girl sitting calmly in a chair, watching him.
Beatrice: "How lucky of you to stumble into my domain."
Guts: "Huh? Is this some kind of magic?"
Beatrice: "Indeed. You've entered my spell. It constantly shifts the location of this library."
Guts: "Tch… magic again. Gets on my nerves. Anyway, nice to meet you. I'm Guts."
Beatrice: "Despite your looks, you have decent manners. I am Beatrice, I suppose."
Guts: "Beautiful name for a young lady. Though, I'm guessing you're not too happy I ended up here."
Beatrice: "Perhaps yes… or perhaps no. Hard to say, I suppose."
Guts (smirking): "Hah. What a brilliant answer."
He waved and turned to leave. Outside, Rem was waiting.
Rem: "Seems you got caught in Lady Beatrice's spell."
Guts: "Yeah. Guess she's territorial."
Ram (arriving): "You're absolutely right."
Rem (slightly shy): "Umm… I don't mean to sound rude, but… I've prepared a bath for you, Mr. Guts."
Guts: "Oh…"
He paused. He hadn't had a proper bath in ages. The best he ever got was a dip in a river.
Guts: "Yeah… I probably reek. Dried blood sticks forever."
Ram (grimacing): "Umm… yeah, we noticed."
Everything was happening fast. Too fast. But Guts didn't stop. He never did. Not even when he was safe.
[Time passes]
A hot bath.
Something Guts hadn't had in what felt like eternity.
Don't get it wrong—he wasn't some smelly savage.
In truth, Guts was a clean and disciplined man.
But with Apostles and all sorts of hellish creatures constantly on his heels,
who the hell had time to bathe?
Guts: "Agh… it's been a while…"
He leaned back into the water, muscles finally relaxing.
But even as his body rested, his mind wandered.
He thought of Griffith—no, Femto.
Out there, rising to power, spreading his influence across the world.
Guts (quietly): "I'll make you pay…"
Roswaal: "Oh? Do you mean me?"
A flamboyant voice cut through the steam.
A man in full makeup… and completely naked… stepped into the bath.
Guts (immediately on edge): "Who the fuck are you?"
Roswaal: "Ohoho~ Not one for formal greetings, are we?"
Guts: "Hmmm… lemme guess. Makeup, weird tone, smug vibe—yeah, you gotta be a noble.
You're that Roswaal guy, right?"
Roswaal (grinning): "Bingo~! Your instincts are quite sharp.
I'm Mathers L. Roswaal, lord of these lands and master of the mansion."
Guts: "Tch. I don't like you already."
Roswaal (tilting his head): "Hmm?"
Guts: "Don't try to play nice with me.
You remind me of a certain bastard I'd love to gut."
Without waiting for a reply, Guts stood up and climbed out of the bath, heading straight for the exit.
Roswaal (chuckling): "My, my~ What a bold guest.
He doesn't care in the slightest what others think."
Guts (dryly): "But thanks anyway, Roswaal.
You might look like that bastard, but you seem… lost.
At least, you're not pretending to be anything you're not."
Roswaal: "Haha~ And I think you might just be a future friend."
Guts: "Who knows."
He walked off, dripping water behind him, heading toward where he left his gear.
But as he turned the corner—
Ram: "…?!"
She saw his naked body—broad, sculpted, and covered from head to toe in scars.
Not just a few marks from training or accidents, but a tapestry of wounds, each one telling a story of survival.
Deep cuts, jagged burns, faded slashes… some old, some fresh.
It was the body of a warrior. Ideal in shape, terrifying in essence.
She froze. Breath caught in her throat.
Not from shame, but from something else.
She had never seen a human body like this.
Guts: Kinda embarrassing, huh ?
He said, barely fazed, as he walked past her.
Ram: You're just gonna walk off like nothing happened ?
Guts: Why, should I be ashamed of it ?
Ram: (choked) "So many scars…"
Guts (walking away)"Let's say you're tougher than you look ."
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