No Kindness Go Unpunished

(A/N: Yo. what's up? Been a long time init? I'm back, gonna write at my own pace (as soon as I finish a chapter I'll publish it) since I have a very poor consistency and way too much to think about. Also, don't know if you guys were aware. But I have another fic standing at 5 chapter that I will continue writing somewhere in the future. Go check it out, it's a system multiverse story with its own twist. Now, enjoy.)

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EC was a mysterious energy. If Julian had to compare it to something, he would compare it to the cloth of reality. Every concepts seemingly present and manipulable on its tapestry.

Though the vast majority of these concepts remaimed beyond his ability to even influence. Time and he found out — probably because of his ascension — attraction to a lesser extent was possible.

One way to use EC more effectively beside increasing his tank was mastering these concepts and finding new techniques. Another was finding how to make his manipulation less costly.

It was a slow progress, but nevertheless. Inspiration came easily to him.

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Upon sensing presences approaching his room outside of his time bubble, Julian stopped his training and leapt to his feet.

Thinking that it would be suspicious to just stand there and looking like he was waiting for his visitors. Julian leaned against the sole grand window and set his sight upon the majestic garden of the manor.

But contrary to his expectations, a distinctly feminine voice sounded out from behind the door along with a knock.

"Julian-Sama? Are you awake?"

Probably wouldn't have been after that, but maybe Julian wasn't the only one who could sense people behind wall.

"I am, I wake up early." With this thought, Julian expression was calm as he turned to witness two maids, twins, enter his room without needing any prompting from him.

The one with pink eyes and pink hair, seemed a bit startled as she gazed upon his form. Before along with her sister who had blue hair and eyes, bowed. "Good morning, Julian-Sama. This one is Ram, and she is Rem. We are maids in service of Roswaal-Sama. We are here to see to any of your needs as an estemed guests to out lord and to inform you that he would like to have you for breakfast."

"It seems the clothes Rem brought are unneeded, Ram." Rem looked at the pile of garments held in her arms with a bit of disgruntlement.

"Indeed, it seems our guest had already some spares with him, Rem." Ram replied seeing the clothes Julian wore.

"Doesn't the clothes Julian-Sama is adorning awfully familiar to you, Ram?"

...

"I think they comes from the pendery, Rem."

"Our guests is a thief?"

"One a creep, and the other a thief. Bot our guest are special case. Be careful that he doesn't steal your clothes next." Nodding gravely, Ram eyed Julian suspiciously. Not caring that he had been just in front of them during all their sisterly talk and heard everything they had said.

"That's... Quite the leap in logic. Someone lesser would think such an outcome was desired." Raising an eyebrow at Ram's accusation that he would steal their clothes, Julian pointed out how such an unlogical conclusion could be interpreted.

"Empty words! Rem shall give it her all to protect Ram purity, you ruffian will never touch her!" Rem, as if to protect her sister. Placed herself between her and Julian and opened her arm.

Seeing them all silly acting and framing him as some sort of beast out of nowhere, Julian had half the mind to answer Rem with a: "Don't mind if I do". Just for the laugh. But that thought rapidly faded as Emilia entered the room and because of his memory of last night talk.

"Rem, Ram. Stop it, Julian is not like that. Right?" Emilia scolded the sisters and smiled to Julian.

Julian smiled wrily. "Well, I did take those clothes. But in my defence, qualified maids should have anticipated that late night guests would need clothes to change into the next day."

Emilia didn't say anything as she simply tilted her head, turning to stare at the sisters with a curious gaze.

Ram an Rem decidedly stared at anything else other than Emilia and Julian as the former suddenly gazed at a clock on the wall. "Emilia-Sama, Julian-Sama. We shouldn't make Roswaal-Sama wait any more than we already did. Baseless accusation can wait for later."

And without another word, the pink haired girl bolted out of the room. Her blue haired sister following shortly after bowing at both Emilia and Julian.

"Those are maids? Without the dress, I certainly wouldn't see it." Lifting an eyebrow, Julian joked as he approached Emilia.

"Show me the way?" With a nod, Emilia left the room.

"You would know, Rem is a very talented and hardworking maid. And Ram... Well. She's strong?" Emilia struggled to come with something as she floundered.

"That's not something commonly expected in a maid, but I can take that. Or you can simply also say that she sucks at chores you know."

Emilia gasped. "Julian."

Julian chuckled, he was in a good mood right now.

"Where's Puck, he's not with you?"

The both of them turning a corner, Emilia answered. "No, he's with Beatrice. She's a spirit acting as the guardian of the manor's library. You'll meet her soon, I think she said she would be present for breakfast."

'As expected, hope it doesn't fuck up the shaky foundation I laid with her earlier this morning.' Julian thought idly. Puck would probably never trust him fully. And since he planned to never die again, that was pretty problematic in the long run.

Julian smirked briefly as he found a very simple solution to that dilema, he simply had to save Emilia again and again, preferably while sacrificing his body for maximum impact. Something he was already planning to do anyway since the world would end otherwise.

Anyway, long term project.

Entering the kitchen, Julian found Subaru and Beatrice already seated at the large table while Rem and Ram waited behind the master seat.

Simply following after Emilia as she took the seat directky to the left of the big chair that was Roswaal's. He also took the seat directly to her left.

"Yo, slept well?"

"Like a baby." Julian greeted back Subaru with a grins.

"Same, those beds are something else. And this place, it's like... You know, I have the impression I'm in a museum." Subaru nervously said as he glanced at everyone who wasn't Julian. Not sure if his words would tip them off.

Before Julian opened his mouth, a high pitched yet suave voice sounded out. "Oooooh myyyyyyy~ My manor, A museum? I'm not sure if I should be flattered or offended."

And there he was, the master of the manor. Presenting himself to Julian in all his clownliness splendeur.

It was strange, even after all this time, meeting face to face with someone you knew the deepest secrets of.

Also, Julian just knew the man had been waiting to make his entrance.

"It is quite the company that you bring us today, Emilia-Sama~ Nonetheless, I am pleased to receive the ones who helped you retrieve your emblems."

As Roswaal sat and and the sisters began to put the dishes on the table, the conversation took the same turn it had in he anime. Subaru asking if it was really such a big deal, and Roswaal answering that yes. It was such a big deal that he would grants both Subaru and Julian the possibility to ask something of him. And he will do his utmost to fulfill their demand.

It seems that even if Julian was the one to save the day, Subaru preparing the ground by getting to scout the place where the transaction would place was taken into account all the same.

"While I am grateful to see that my efforts will be rewarded. First of all, can I ask the whereabout of the woman I brought with me?" Julian wasn't too worried that anything serious happened, but he still want to know where the fuck they had put her.

"Oooooooh~ the bowel hunter? Yes~? I was forced to jail her in my personal dungeon, you see? I cannot possibly let such a dangerous individual roam freely arround my manor. But do not worry, she is well. Though she seems to be afflicted by something, keeping her asleep. Your doing, I take it?"

Restraining his urge to smirk, Julian nodded. "It is, she was broken. And I am fixing her, in a way."

At that, Roswaal quirked up an eyebrow. "I see... Well, it is not in my nature to deprive others of their spoils of battle. No matter what form it take. So, unless she becomes troublesome. I will let her be."

'For exemple, if she was to spill out that you were the one who hired her for Emilia's emblem... He probably put some monitoring spell on her or something of the sort.' Julian thought.

"Speaking of spoils, do one of you have an idea for your request already? It can wait, of course. But if your request need preparation, the earlier the better... As they say~"

"I have it! I want to be to work in this manor!"

Julian looked at Subaru, his expression unreadable as everyone was surprised by his wish.

Then, looking back at Roswaal. Julian made his decision. "I also decided. I have an idea about a trade I think could genuinely benefit us both, but this conversation would have to be private. Only if the lord of the house is willing, of course."

" A... Trade offer in private? How exciting~ It is not a problem. Not a problem at all~~" Roswaal lifted an eyebrow and smiled.

"As for you. Subaru-Kun~ Your request is not what I expected, but it is even less of a problem. Ram and Rem will takes good care of you. Isn't that right, girls?"

"Of course, Roswaal-Sama." Both sisters answered at the same time.

"Perfect, now that this is dealt with. Let us partake in lighter endeavor and a good breakfast, shall we?"

And with that, everyone focused on eating and small chat. Roswaal asking Emilia about her studies and Beatrice smothering and gushing over Puck. Julian as for himself, spoke with Subaru about his night and the maids 'peculiarity' while they were perfectly in hearing distance.

Dipping his warm bread in his soup. Julian couldn't help but sigh inwardly as he remembered the event of yesterday and his unnatural role in it.

Subaru was supposed to save the day and Emilia by driving off Elsa after a couple of deaths. But now, it was him who had done everything. Even defeating Elsa this early in the storyline.

Julian wasn't naive enough to know that this situation wouldn't happen again. Not if he had any say in it at least. With his presence, this wasn't Subaru's story anymore but his.

In hindsight, it should have been obvious that this would happen when he had made his decision to give Subaru some company in his tragic tale. But again, he lacked foresight in making that choice. Not the first time it's happening, but hopefully his last since now he's not going about his life with his mind lost in a fog.

Subaru, like clearly showed in the novel. Had issues in his character and trauma that would be resolved along the story. But as long as he was here with him, it would never happen.

Initially, he wanted to accompany him to help Subaru. Now he was hurting him instead.

To rectify that, he will have to let Subaru go on his way. And that meant...

Taking a deep breath, Julian shook his head. Now that Someone else was aware of his burden, Subaru's trials wouldn't be as harsh.

'Yeah Julian, half-filled glass. Not half-empty.' Snorting at his own thoughts, Julian noticed a patern that he could just shrug at. He had a tendency to prioritise the greater good than the individual.

"Something's wrong?"

"Yeah, me." Answering Subaru, Julian finished his last spoonful of soup and changed the subject.

After everyone had eaten their fills, Rem and Ram began undressing the table and Roswaal stood up. "Subaru-Kun, you can start working now. The girls are your seniors now, so be sure to listen to them, kay~? As for you, Julian-Kun. You can follow me to my office. After all, it is only proper to broker a deal in somewhere official, no~?"

"I desk?" The reply came out before Julian had the time to think it through. But he shrugged at Subaru's groan in the end and stood up to follow the tall clown.

He has never been one for pens, but well. He was a genius in all things, after all.

Getting it all out of his system, Julian's eyes sharpened as he mentally prepared himself to walk on one hell of a thin ice.