9 (part 2)

[The girl showed no doubt about her victory, nor any intention of letting Subaru go. In other words, he had no choice but to harden his resolve—to trap a Rakshasa by the vilest of means.

The two called out simultaneously, "Rock…paper…scissors!"

When both showed their hands, sound vanished from the world.

With her fist clenched in a rock, the trembling in the girl's red eyes only grew.

"Th-this is…"

"Listen and be amazed, look and be astounded! Behold, the ultimate combat technique—RoSciPer!"

"What is that…thing?! You did not inform me such a hand was possible!"

"Shut up! I didn't mention it, but it's your fault you didn't ask! That part is rock, this here's scissors, and over there is paper! In other words, my hand's beaten your rock!"

"If such logic holds, a different part loses to my rock."

"Ahh! Ahh! Ahh! I can't hear you! My rock is borrowing power from the scissors and paper, forming the holy trinity of friendship, effort, and victory! It's all here, baby!"

Raising the hand of RoSciPer to the heavens, Subaru boldly proclaimed victory with his flagrant cheating.]

"Well… That's one way to go about it..." Julius stated with a deeply amused expression.

Felix glared at him, "Aren't ya going to go off on him as you did to me? He is a registered knight noyw!"

The elegant knight didn't acknowledge Felix with a glance, "I don't suppose he is one at the moment he met Priscilla-sama. And his win was at the very least something to be expected. It's Natsuki we are talking about…"

"But he cheated!" Tivey came to Felix's defense by pointing out what Subaru did, Julius rolled his eyes.

Another voice interjected, "Ya don't find this cool? Ye're a right dumbass then!"

"Cool it Garf!" Otto sheepishly held the impulsive tiger down by the jacket. Keeping him from leaping forward towards Subaru's judgers.

"But that was a mean prank to pull!" Petra pouted in disappointment.

"I believe this should not be as annoying as it is for me…" Rem was whispering hollowly.

"E-Eh! He cheated?! How low are you going to go for such a naughty thing Subaru?" Emilia held her head in her hands from shame and embarrassment.

Felt and Beatrice both facepalmed with respective frustrated faces.

Ricardo and Mimi were laughing in triumph at the champion's win.

Meanwhile, a certain girl from the west was gripping at her fur coat tightly.

"Guess he's gonna barely manage his way out… like always." Anastasia sighed and lost her grip on her clothes, letting a look of acceptance begrudgingly show as she turned to Crusch.

"Ya won this one. I owe ya a favor~"

At the merchant queen's seductive wink, Crusch simply raises a brow, unimpressed but not displeased.

"Oh well, something good came out of this… situation, I suppose," The duchess shrugged and continued to aim a neutral look towards the screen.

Anastasia immediately could tell what irked the green-haired matriarch.

"Hm, it's time for Natsuki-kun's reward~"

"Stop calling it that!" Emilia flushed from the front seat, while Rem and Crusch side-eyed the merchant princess.

Meanwhile, Ram was busy looking at Priscilla's knight with an unreadable expression. He had been freed from his position as a footstool for the moment and was sitting casually near her.

He was still beside Priscilla.

And Priscilla's expression was that of complete surprise which interested Ram.

"Hey you, dog boy-"

"I'm not a dog." Al was instantly insulted by the maid. Ram coldly pressed on.

"Why is your lady in so much shock at these events? Shouldn't she already have a memory of Barusu's meeting with her? Considering how she looks right now, she didn't think she would lose even though she had lived through this."

Al only sighed through his helmet slit. "Princess here is an enigma. You won't go far trying to understand her."

Ram's gaze lingered over the man more than necessary.

When she moved her vision to focus on the scarlet lady "Uh… Indeed I did lose," the look of surprise was replaced with one of recollection on Priscilla's face, "This is why the game annoyed mineself? Such a commoner creation!"

None responded to the causal words that came from Priscilla except for one irked spirit.

"Hmph, it seems you are not so divine after all, in fact!" Beatrice indulged in Priscilla's self serving conversation.

The scarlet princess now seemed more at ease with herself, leaning back into her seat and opening her priceless fan to air herself, the baroness barely looked at anyone as she spoke.

"If your mind was half as bright as your age, faulty great spirit, you wouldn't be celebrating such a measle victory. It was amusing but futile in the end."

The blonde spirit scowled deeply towards the uncaring thornish beauty, as did the rest of those who cared about Subaru's sake. All except for Emilia, surprisingly.

"Just what do you mean by that, I wonder? It wouldn't mean that you've hurt my contractor now would it?"

Roswaal was the only one who looked apprehensive at the small growl Beatrice gave the baroness. The latter described princess simply took the spirit's hostility with stride and casually explained herself.

"No. You only need to watch further to understand how futile your attempts at cheering him on are. He will only lead you to anger and despair," for a moment, Priscilla's look of casual intrigue was replaced by one of pure disappointment. It wasn't really anger or fury… just pure let down filling her eyes.

"That common pig has disappointed me greatly."

Al was the only one who heard Priscilla's whisper. He couldn't think of a way to overturn this, he didn't even know if he should try. The knight had already understood everything from the moment he heard her talk in that exasperated tone. His lady would never let lose the chance to pontificate upon someone's mistakes, filling them with her righteous venom by words alone. It was her favorite thing, made her feel and appear superior to all who sat beneath her.

But her eyes were just completely defeated now.

"Is she really that disappointed by Barusu's mistakes during the royal court?"

Al froze on instinct, his back turned rigid from surprise.

"Don't sneak up on me like that!" He whisper-shouted at the pink-haired girl that questioned him.

Moreover, his surprise wasn't unfounded as soon as he realized, "Wait… How did you know about Princess-"

"-way of thinking? Hmph!" Ram interrupted the bewildered man with a smug grin, "Ram is an expert on those who find disappointment in Barusu."

"D-Did you really insult Pal just now? Using my question no less?"

The pink-haired maid rolled her eyes at the man and gestured towards the introverted Priscilla, "Your lady is an obnoxious type-"

"-Careful there."

Ram sighed and continued, "She would of course want nothing to do with Barusu's existence and therefore she would of course forget about his meeting with her, correct?"

Al found himself sighing along with Ram's poured down explanation, "Yes, that's princess alright. She found him pathetic after his misshape and forgot him-"

"That's not it."

Al shut his mouth and turned toward a much more serious looking Ram. He noticed that Beatrice and the others resolved to ignore Priscila and sit down properly in their seats.

It was just him and the Oni talking.

"What are you on about?" Al lost all of his cheer in this question.

Finding his confusion to be disappointing, Ram shook her head at him. Al didn't like it.

"You only need to think about it. Your lady didn't want an amusing toy out of Barusu as we all seem to think, well, thought in my case."

"Okay? What did Princess want from Pal over there?"

Ram gave him a short smile, "I think she was amused enough by her meeting with him to have considered him worthy of her friendship."

"..."

"..."

"Should I start laughing now or…?" Al snorted out of his silence, only receiving a small scowl from the maid. The knight held his helmet on his palm, shaking his head snidely at the girl.

"So confident yet so dumb. That's not how princess thinks at all. She doesn't do friendships."

Ram only snorts at him, ignoring his insult towards her. "Then just you watch, idiot. See how differently your 'goddess' treats this commoner than the others. Make note of the areas where I'm right, perhaps you can bow to me when you realize what I'm trying to tell you right now."

"And what would that be?" Al asked of the annoyingly proud maid.

"That Barusu managed to do something to your lady not even you could've. He managed to make her feel normal."

The knight never wanted to punch someone so hard in his life, yet his fist remained still; clenched on the armrest quaking from anger.

It remained still because of how angry the knight had become in that moment. Angry at himself for believing the pink-maid had a point greater than his own about Priscilla.

He did notice those things, all of Priscilla's small mercies towards Subaru were not ignored by Al. He noticed and commented his surprise on them, probably will continue to do so as his lady's interaction was not over with Subaru yet.

But he was more angry at himself for not noticing such a small simple thing. Letting the Oni win one over him especially regarding Priscilla's mentality… It was more humiliating than a thousand stomps to the face.

Perhaps he could be angry that his lady had given up on befriending Subaru now out of disgust for his power? Al didn't know exactly where it lay.

He just hated how many reasons sprung up on him to fill a purpose for troublesome feelings in his heart.

"Man, caring for other people sucks."

[But the girl defied Subaru's expectations, sighing deeply as she said, "I see. Certainly, it is I who was in error. At the same time, I am amused at how my expectations have been surpassed… Very well, you have won. You may do as you please. Here you go." After her minimal warning, she abruptly stepped forward. Without thinking, Subaru, floored at how quickly she jumped to the next step, stepped back a distance equal to the one she had advanced.

"…Do not tell me that now it is time to feel my breasts, you have lost your nerve?"

"Huh?! I-I seriously don't know what you're talking about! Who's s-s-s-scared here?!"

"…Truly, you are a vexing man. I suppose such bashfulness is adorable in its own way, but…"]

"She has no shame…" Rem grumbled in infuriation. She had to grip her skirt at the way Priscilla commented upon Subaru's 'bashfulness'

"I thought I would be more disappointed by your etiquette as a royal Barialle-sama, it's a shame this is what I expected." Crusch's lashing words did no harm towards the smirking bombshell sitting at the overseeing row. Nor did the duchess' jealous glint get ignored by the mischievous purple-haired merchant sitting beside her.

On the front row, Emilia held her pointy ears, red as a rose to cover her head from the shame.

"I should've gotten there sooner!" The half-elf squeaked and shook her folded head to get rid of the painful feeling in her chest.

Felt and Beatrice only shook their heads in annoyance.

"Should we really be watching this?" Felix asked of Julius and Reinhard, trying to get back on their previous track of being knights who disliked anything unrelated to Crusch- Subaru's adventure.

Julius only remained silent, his face neutral. While Reinhard looked nervous.

[And there they stood, Subaru getting cold feet at the last moment versus the girl whose pride did not permit her to take back what she had offered. One advanced and the other retreated—a standoff that continued until outside forces intervened.

Abruptly, the girl's gaze left Subaru and focused on the entrance to the alley.

"—Mm, it seems this will become troublesome."

"Er? It looks like some pretty rough-looking dudes are coming this way."

"And the one at the vanguard is a commoner, I recall. Goodness, these fools do not interest me even slightly."

"What are they thinking, coming back after hearing Reinhard's name like that?!"

"It would seem they have called your bluff about being acquainted with the knight among knights. It is rather easy to understand. Even they have reputations to protect, so they have returned in greater numbers for retribution."

"Damn it, this day is just nothing but trouble!"

Since the girl was just standing there, Subaru grabbed her hand and dragged her along, carrying the bag of apples as he rushed deeper down the alley.]

"H-Hey, Subaru isn't going to have to be killed again, right?" Petra asked, now worried after hearing about the thugs' return.

"They did come back rather quickly, uh…" Felt commented wearily.

Ram nudged the knight sitting at her side, resounding an 'oof' outta the man that held his ribs in response.

"Ah… Don't worry, Princess can save herself and Pal… If she felt gracious enough. As a matter of fact, I don't know why she hasn't done anything to get outta that spot."

"Don't know? Or don't want to think about it?"

Al curses under his breath, sweat shining his skin once Priscilla brings her crimson eyes towards him. Her gaze was one of curiosity.

Ram, the one who refuted his question by another, was smirking at him from the sidelines in quite a smug fashion.

"I-It's nothing. Princess would've taken care of the situation anyways. I'm just boggled as to why she lets him off the hook like this?"

Priscilla blinked before replying innocently to her knight, "I was looking for entertainment from the fool. Why would you be so stiff about such a feeble question, Al? Has mine heel finally damaged that empty shell of yours?"

"N-No princess… I'm fine as can be."

The baroness glared at him in suspicion.

He hoped to the gods that he be transferred out of this room for he knew for sure that Ram's snicker was about to start something he would regret later on.

[She protested, "Hey, what are you doing? Do not touch me so carelessly."

"Now is really not the time! If you don't wanna get all beat up before marriage, run!"

The girl wasn't very motivated to run as Subaru pulled her down the beat-up alley and plunged into the darkness. The men behind them pursued with a great shout and a flurry of footsteps.

Subaru, cursing the heavens for his truly unlucky day, kept running with a desperate expression on his face.

"If we do not hurry they will gain on us. Is this time to play around?"

"I d-don't wanna hear that from y… Time out, seriously, wait a…!"

They'd been racing through run-down streets for the last five minutes, but the girl was running well ahead of him, showing no sign of losing her breath. On the other hand, Subaru, never one to hold up for long sprints, was about to collapse from exhaustion. At first, he had been in front, but his endurance issues soon switched their positions.

"I'm convalescing, so this is really pushing it… But we're in a pretty bad spot. Doesn't look like many people live here… You have any ideas?"]

"That is so pathetic of 'em it's kinda adorable," Anastasia's humiliating coe about Subaru's weak lungs was not lost on one Garfiel who looked up to Subaru.

But he didn't need to come to his brother's aid, the merchant was already facing a much bigger challenger made from her own machinations.

"I wouldn't think him to be better suited in anything physical, yet he did more than your fabled mercenary crew or my army could in only a few days." Crusch's words were more pleased than firm. Anastasia shrugged with a playful grin and leaned on the seatrest closer to the relaxed duchess.

Both ladies knew that bringing up the true thoughts their brains had for Subaru's accomplishments was a low blow. Especially his 'ability'. So both were easily pulling their punches since a big rousing of the crowds wouldn't be for the best of their interest. Especially not for the camp that held power over Subaru.

[The other group was a fair distance behind them. However, they were in one long alley, so slowing down meant it was only a matter of time until they were caught. He'd have liked to get on a thoroughfare, but all he could see was a maze of other back streets.

"It is not my problem! Everything I set out to do turns out well for me. I do not think deeply about things, for I do not need to. I need only trust in this fact."

"Yeah, well you lost at rock-paper-scissors to me earlier…"

At least they hadn't bumped into a dead end, but that didn't improve their predicament.

Right in front of the winded Subaru, the girl suddenly came to a halt.

"—Mm, this is indeed rather vexing."]

"Aren't ya gonna take his head off for that, Princess?" Al inquired, more agitated by the second as he noticed immediately how casually Priscilla was letting Subaru off the hook.

The crossed-legged empress-to-be was only glaring towards the screen with a crimson disappointment glimmering her eyes.

"Commoners don't deserve chances to entertain me, Al? I merely thought this all amusing and see where it went."

Al's jaw was hanging in his helmet as he noticed what Ram was saying this whole time.

"See?" Ram whispered to him, still smug and bastardly like always.

"She's lying, dog boy."

Oh, fuck me man…

[Subaru, still holding her hand, also stopped. He looked at her, wondering what the deal was.

"Hey, we don't have time to stop here. If we don't put in as much distance as we can, they'll catch up with…"

"—I have lost interest."

"I see, you've lost intere… Wha—?!"

Subaru was in utter shock at the girl's unbelievable statement. She returned his gaze, apparently bored.

"I said, I have lost interest. In the first place, why must I run? I shall decide what I do myself. I absolutely shall not be forced to do anything because of what lowlifes say or do."

"Th-that's easier said than done, you know?! That ain't gonna fly in a situation like th—"

"Mm, I have decided. You shall have the honor of carrying me."

"No thanks!"

As Subaru crossed his arms in a clear sign of refusal, the girl scowled as if he was putting a damper on her mood.

"The honor of carrying me is not for just anyone to receive. Only a man who does not know fear would reject such a thing."

"Do I look like a macho man that can carry someone and run?! Even when I was at full strength, it took everything I had to carry a girl with way fewer style points than you! And I'm about worn out now!"

As Subaru used the remains of his energy in protest, the girl shot him a look of scorn, but he couldn't use what he didn't have.]

"Wait, he didn't carry another girl… except for Ra-"

"Are you a fool?!" Otto quickly put his hat on Garfiel's mouth, quitting the blonde from committing treason upon them all.

Ram simply snorts as she leans on her arm rest that's closer to Roswaal. She was not impressed by the boys in this theater at all.

"Damn, he's pushing his luck right now!" Ricardo chuckles, feeling a bit of excitement rise within him since this was such a cursed pair to follow around as much as the screen had been.

"I wish this would just end~" Emilia whines into her palm and shakes her head again.

"Awe come on, I'm sure everything will be fine for you." Felt commented casually while rubbing the half-elf's shoulder.

Her red eyes widened as soon as the scene showed someone precious to her however.

[Her games led them to a stalemate costing them precious time. That was the thought in his head when, out of the blue, he heard an aged voice.

"It's been some time since I've seen you. What are you doing here?"

The speaker's large frame emerged from the darkness. Subaru lifted his gaze to a typical height for making eye contact, but found himself staring at this man's chest. He raised his gaze even farther to his ugly, balding head.

"Been a while since I've seen you. What're ya doing here?"

Subaru looked away from the hoodlums and looked back towards the speaker. A smile found its way on his face.

"Old Man Rom!"

—A familiar and very muscular old man gazed down at Subaru and the girl.]

"W-Wait, Old Man Rom met with him? Was the old man not looking for me this whole time or what?!" Felt's surprise turned to biting fury the minute she realized how far away from home and casual her old man was dressed in the scene. He didn't look distressed at all! She should kick his teeth in as soon as she sees him for this…

"I think you might be exaggerating a little…" Reinhard tried, but the blonde was too hotheaded and jealous of Subaru's ability to get in such a situation to care.

"This old man will save Subaru and the pretty lady!" Petra cheered in righteous celebration as she remembered how this old man turned the tide against Elsa during the first viewings.

The little maid was virtually the only one that was stressing about Subaru being in danger with the thugs following his trail. Guess she didn't know how much faith everyone held within Subaru… Wait… They were more trusting of Priscilla's power than Subaru's ability to handle a fight?

Petra seemed too stuck on how much of a betrayal this thought must be for Subaru. She couldn't wipe the frown from her face.

["Gramps is here to save the day! We can win this—!"

"You're quick to annoy someone who hasn't seen you in a while. I'm leaving you here."

"Wait, I really need your help! It's, like, the tenth crisis I've had in the last month!"

"That's too many!"

As they exchanged banter in lieu of greetings, the giant—Old Man Rom—peered at Subaru and the girl.

"What, in more trouble, are you? Causing a ruckus with a woman? Quite the adventurer you are."

"Do not look at me so rudely, you filthy gnarled tree."

"Hey, I'm ribbing him, too, but that's really harsh! Don't say that to the old man giving us a get-out-of-hell-free card! Don't take it personally, Old Man Rom. We've just got a little case of excessive honesty here!"

"You certainly are good at wearing a man down. Hurry and hide!"]

"He deserves it," Felt snorts. Reinhard sighs wearily.

"Should we really be seeing all of this?" Tivey questioned once again, earning a nod from Felix.

[Subaru covered the girl's mouth before she could spew insults again and rushed toward the place Rom had silently indicated. There was a pile of scrap wood there that seemed able to comfortably conceal two people.

Subaru pushed the girl down first before squatting himself. She looked like she wanted to complain about the dust, but his hand over her mouth managed to keep her silent.

"We're okay on this end, Gramps!"

"No, you're not… I'll hide you with my body. If they see you it'll be trouble for me, too, so don't move."

Grumbling all the way, Old Man Rom hid them completely behind his huge body. A mere ten seconds or so later, a commotion of footsteps came from a nearby alley—

The leader of the men shouted, "The hell, I thought it was the brats, but it's the old man! Shit!"]

"That is bold!" Ricardo laughed loudly along with Mimi.

Julius shook his head with a really stern frown. Beatrice did the same before looking at Rem in disgust as the maid blushed from the position shown.

Emilia didn't understand what this had to do with the strange pang of toxicity in her chest, but she knew it had to do with how inappropriately close to one another the two on screen were.

"This isn't how a knight acts!" Emilia shrieked while slamming her fist on Subaru's sleeping shoulder.

"Yes! I'm happy you get it, Miss Emilia-" Julius gave the most chivalrous of nods before he was interrupted by the half-elf who he thought was sane.

"He isn't her knight to act this way with her!"

Now Garfiel had to fall on the floor in laughter with Ricardo.

"He's saving himself and the candidate-sama!" Otto facepalmed, getting second hand embarrassment for Emilia's sake.

Frederica seemed to chuckle acutely while looking at his red face.

"I can't even begin to describe this to you," Ram whispered in a soothing, almost comforting tone that held no evil in it to the currently balled up man beside her.

Al shuddered and shook his head, not wanting to be placed in another trap by this demon of a girl. He doesn't care what the princess thinks about this anymore. He won't get involved.

Priscilla on her part seemed more amused by Emilia than anything else. "It seemed these precious moments of time mineself wasted on him were useful for something in the end."

[Old Man Rom fielded the foul language with a serene expression.

"What? You shouldn't surprise your elders like this."

Old Man Rom hadn't put any special invective into his sentence, but the displeasure of a giant like him carried a force all its own. The entire group shuddered, the leader included. But one of the members of the group pointed at Old Man Rom and mocked, "Hey, wait, it's Grandpa Cromwell. Hey, should you really be talkin' smack to us here?"

The furrows of Old Man Rom's wrinkled face deepened further in a bitter response.

"I do not like being called that name."]

"Hm…" Wilhelm found himself more intrigued than he should've been. He found himself more thoughtful towards the old man's expression and what it held of untold regret and pain than he had any right to be.

"Mh…" He's hums were the only sign of his thoughtful expression, as his hardened features were trained on a deep deep frown aimed for the old man's neck. A neck he wished to slash open once

["Get outta here, old man, or we'll bust up your loot cellar and make you the laughingstock of the slums."

"That place has gotten incredibly dirty over the years. If you destroyed it entirely you'd be doing me a favor. So how about I do as I please?"

"Yeah, fine. Now, Cromwell… Did you see two brats runnin' this way?"

"I didn't see them. Do you know where my blond daughter is?"

"Beats me. You picked her up off the street, so what's the big deal? Man, goin' senile must suck."

The men waved farewell, laughing derisively as they noisily left the area. Old Man Rom watched their retreating backs, biting his lip as he held back his anger.]

"Though I know you should be angry for how he's being treated, you can't use your power to punish them, Felt-sama." Reinhard consulted his lady like he thought she would react upon seeing this mistreatment… But instead-

"Finally! Geez, I thought he wasn't looking for me all this time!" Felt huffed and sat back in her seat with her arms crossed in frustration. Man, having an arm to squeeze would be useful right now!

"Aren't you angry for how he is being treated?" Frederica asked, curious and shy.

Felt shrugged, "He's not in danger, these scum will get their ass handed to them either by him or by their personal nature. Old Man Rom doesn't need anyone to protect his rep."

"Uh…" Frederica bit her lip, seeing how frogien this culture in the slum was from her own.

[As Subaru watched his face through a small gap.

"Hww wong rre…"

"Mm?"

A whisper-like voice interrupted Subaru's thoughts, prompting him to look to the side. Right beside him was the beautiful girl, so close they were practically breathing the same air, her mouth still covered by Subaru's palm.

"…you gonng to cvrr my…MOUTH?!"

Chomp.

"—Yipe!"

At the merciless bite, Subaru let out a high-pitched, puppy-like yelp that quietly echoed through the nook in the back of the alley.

Scene changes to Subaru and Priscilla standing outside of the tent and before the giant in the alley.

"Thanks for hiding us, Old Man Rom. The last time I saw you, I thought you'd had the sense knocked right out of you, but I guess you made it through fine."

"…Do you want me to change my mind and call those youngins back?"

"You sure are petty for a big guy! With me here, there's more than enough petty for everyone!"

Subaru grinned and shot him a thumbs-up. Old Man Rom sighed with a worn-out look.

They started moving from the previous narrow alley to a more open city street. Old Man Rom conversed with Subaru while guiding the pair to a place where they could blend in.

The girl, having kept her silence until that moment, finally tugged Subaru's sleeve in irritation.

"Hey, you. I see you having an intimate conversation. Who is this old man? Explain it to me."]

"Hm?" Anastasia quietly nudges the duchess beside her, Crusch glances towards the merchant queen with expectancy in her eyes.

"You noticed as well?" Crusch inquired.

Anastasia's smirk is nasty as she nods.

"Seems like Barialle-sama really wished to gain Subaru's attention at that moment."

"I assume there's a reason why she doesn't seem to care for that now, especially after RBD's reveal. Natsuki should've been gaining more attention from her. Yet she only glares at him now."

Upon Crusch's theorizing, Anastasia found herself busy thinking about everything too, "I dunno… But this is so very interesting. Dontcha agree?"

Crusch only nods her head in agreement.

["This old man is the face of the royal capital's slums. The giant's Old Man Rom—trader for the bosses of the sticky-fingered types and all-around stingy bastard. He's got bad eyes, loves his cute granddaughter, and he's not nearly as tough as he looks."

"That is his worth after having lived a long life? I see. I pity your pathetic existence, gnarled tree."

"Your lady friend is an annoying little girl, isn't she?"]

Most would assume to have the blonde ball of fury jumping upon the rows to inquire her own justice of the scarlet goddess sitting in the back.

Though the surprise was kind of relieving for a certain red haired knight.

Felt laughed while holding her stomach, "I'mma have to use that."

"I'm surprised how well you are taking this." Emilia concludes, hoping to understand why Felt wasn't calling for murder right now. But the little girl just shrugged.

"I guess that dickhead's words got me thinkin' a bit. Mh…" that was the only answer Felt gave.

[Old Man Rom was indignant at the harsh appraisal. Though Subaru's explanation was the truth, he set that aside and gave Old Man Rom a warm smile.

"I'm so glad I ran into you, really. Even I was getting desperate back there. I didn't have a clue what I was gonna do."

Old Man Rom made a strained laugh and casually looked Subaru over.

"…The way you switch gears so quickly really throws an old man off. Seems you managed to escape with your life back then, too…"

His face twisted painfully as he saw the scars on Subaru's body.

"I may not be one to talk, but it seems that knife wielder got you pretty badly."

"Nah, that babe only got me in the stomach. All the other wounds are from a thing that happened after."

"Goodness! Something else happened to you, not even a month later?!"

With Subaru keeping his mouth shut, Old Man Rom seemed to accept things all on his own, shaking his head as he brought up a separate issue.

"—Hey, brat. Do you know where Felt went off to?"

"…Haven't you heard? Reinhard took her with him, or so I'm told…"

"Reinhard…the Sword Saint? Why would the knight among knights take her with him?"

Apparently, this news was a bolt from out of the blue.

Subaru thought back to how things had gone down at the loot cellar, finally noticing the inconsistency. Old Man Rom was out cold before Reinhard had entered the fray. Rom and Reinhard hadn't interacted while Subaru was conscious.

"So, what, you just woke up in a wrecked shop without any explanation, and all you could do was wonder?"

"It wasn't nearly that bleak. I woke up in the guards' garrison. I appreciated their healing me, but I let myself out right after."

"Ah, yeah. Not exactly a comfortable place for you, huh."

A criminal wouldn't feel at ease waking up in a police hospital. Subaru couldn't blame him for getting out of there ASAP without hearing all the fine details.

"So that's why you didn't hear, huh? Okay. Anyway, let me fill you in on what happened before I blacked out, plus the little bit that apparently happened after."

After that preamble, Subaru acted out a dramatic retelling of the events at the loot cellar. Old Man Rom watched Subaru's meaningless theatrics with admiration, and even the bored-looking girl leaned forward, gripped by the performance from start to finish. Subaru concluded, "She was so surprised! And then I said, '—I want you to…tell me your name.'"

The girl replied, "Ho-ho, a rather fine choice of words, if I do say so myself. I must grudgingly approve."

]

"Heh? Where was this reaction when we saw the tale for ourselves?" Ricardo asks, rather impressed that the red princess cared or showed approval for Subaru's story.

Priscilla merely rolled her eyes, "If I must, I'd say mineself was busy thinking about the reality of the tale. The parts the boy had left out."

With that, the casual harsh empress brought the mood down once again.

[Rom followed up, "Keh, you really told her… Bah, this is no time to admire! The bottom line is that you don't know any more about Felt other than the fact the Sword Saint took her with him, do you, brat?"

"Part of why I came here today was to do some footwork to find out exactly what happened…" Subaru looked down wryly.

Rom murmured to himself so faintly that Subaru did not hear.

"But… The House of Astrea, of all things…"

Old Man Rom had a serious expression as he lifted his face. Subaru helplessly shrugged.

"Well, I'm gonna see if I can get ahold of Reinhard, so I'll let you know if I hear anything. I mean, I wanted to find out if Felt was safe and sound to begin with."

"That'll be a big help… You seem oddly trustworthy. Is this girl involved with this somehow?"

"No, not a bit. I don't even know her name." Subaru pointed at the annoyed Priscilla.

"Just how many scrapes do you get into for girls whose names you don't know?!"

"Hey, back when I didn't know Emilia-tan's name, I was pretty desperate, so I don't think anything I did was that weird."

Subaru's indifferent reply made Old Man Rom rub his eyebrows in exhaustion.]

"Oh, I know this is frustrating for him!" Felt laughed out loud, loving the sight of stress the old man had for her big bro.

While Emilia and Beatrice simply shook their heads in exasperation.

"It's funny that he says that about Priscilla-sama's involvement… Since she's… Ya'know? A candidate rival to Felt-sama's faction?" Tivey points out, making his sister snicker.

"Irony bounds," Al dryly lips, feeling relief for not having scarlet eyes watching him anymore.

["No point thinking about it. All right, fine. I'll rely on you, so let me know if you find out anything about Felt. If I can repay you, I will."

"You're really gushing. It's because it's your adorable granddaughter, huh?"

"—That's right. She's…like a granddaughter to me, so please."

Subaru's jaw dropped at Rom's straight-up, unashamed agreement with him.

As Subaru's discussion with Old Man Rom wrapped up, the girl haltingly murmured, "Reinhard… To hear the name of Reinhard here, of all places…"

She suppressed a laugh.

Subaru's relaxed expression tightened again as he turned toward her.

"Hey, it's not polite to eavesdrop. Don't go listening in on other people's business like that."

"I did not listen in. You two oafs simply began speaking right in front of me.—You. From the way you speak of him, it seems your claim to know the Sword Saint was not a bluff. Are you close?"

"It'd be a bit much to say we met once and became best friends forever, but we're on good terms, yeah."]

"There can be room for improvement!" Reinhard smirked confidently though his heart's squeeze wouldn't give out for some reason.

A purple-haired knight let his gaze fall down at the statement.

[Subaru asked his new companion, "Well, what do you know about Reinhard? You don't seem like a fan of his."

"From what I have heard, he is a rather twisted person. Beyond that, I have only seen him slightly from afar."]

"Okay, this I can't allow!" Felt surprised them all when she finally averted the screen and looked at the scarlet baroness at the back, "What the hell are ya on, lady? Why would you call Rein a twisted guy?!"

Reinhard's hand instantly shuffled towards her wrist, his lips thin and eyes shimmering with panic.

But Felt's own furious rubies kept their stance against Priscilla's bored dragonstones.

"This isn't his turn, girl. I'm not your mental issues explainer. Get outta my sight and disappoint someone else with your naivety and blindness!" Priscilla's soft, threatening tone was chilling to hear.

"YOU BIG FUCKIN-"

"NOW, nooow… Please let us watch with careful attention Miss Felt-sama~. I don't assume I need to remind you of the consequences relayed upon treating Priscilla-sama with less respect than is warranted?" Roswaal made himself known once more, trying to tread this line carefully.

But Felt only growled as Priscilla snorted in disgust, looking down at her like she was some animal from the street.

[But with the girl's silence indicating she had no intention to elaborate, Subaru turned his attention back to Old Man Rom.

"Leaving her aside, how should I get in touch with you?"

"There's a store called Cadmon on Market Street. Give my name to the grumpy-looking man there and he'll get in touch with me."

"All right, all right. Cadmon… Cadmon?"

As Rom explained how to get in touch, Subaru tilted his head at the familiar-sounding word.

"Incidentally, the girl and I are actually completely lost. I don't want my adventure to end here before I can fulfill my promise, so ah, could you lead us back to the main street?"

"Mm, all right. Leave it to me. Which street is it?"

"Back to the garrison. Please and thank you."

"Didn't you hear me tell you I escaped from that garrison?!"

Old Man Rom's exasperated shout filled the sky above the alleyway.

Scene change,

The orange-haired girl gazed at the back alley indifferently and muttered, "At first, I thought the disorder of such a grimy place held promise, but now that I am accustomed to it, it has nothing to draw my eye. It is quite useless for assuaging my boredom."

She raised the hem of her dress and shook it, a blunt expression of her insufferable displeasure.]

"Hm!" Felt found herself calmed by her knight, sitting down and allowing him to keep his hand clamping hers.

"You need to stand up for yourself more!"

The knight didn't reply with an agreement. It riled her up even more.

"For my sake, let this fly okay, Felt-sama? I don't want our efforts to be in vain here." Reinhard gently coerced his master.

Felt huffed again and kicked his leg softly. "Just be careful what they say about you."

He couldn't give her his true reply, "Of course, Felt-sama."

It isn't like she said anything wrong…

["I don't think the royal capital's designer drew up these streets to be exciting," Subaru remarked.

"The world exists for my sake, so should not everything in it serve to amuse me? I have no idea what the man who approved such boring streets was thinking. Royalty should have a keenly discerning eye. Lack thereof seems to have been decidedly fatal of late."

Just hearing her statement set Subaru's heart racing. His head whipped back and forth to see if anyone had overheard.

"Th-that's a pretty arrogant thing to say right at the king's door, you know…"

The girl snorted at Subaru's caution, or rather, cowardice.

"A dull reaction and a futile concern. It would seem that you, too, are part of the common rabble."

"I'm well aware I'm a one-hundred-percent common, ordinary, straight-down-the-middle guy, and I'm fine with it. I don't want to waste any more time hanging around you, anyway. The girl who's waiting for me will hate me."]

"No I wouldn't!" Emilia instantly refutes with confidence. Rem only shakes her head at her.

["What absurdity. It is an insult for you to think about anyone besides me during the time we are together. I may be accompanied now, but I think nothing at all of walking alone."

"Well, you should think about it. Being with you is miserable."

"Ah, whatever…" Subaru shook his head and continued walking through the alleyways with the girl following him, he seemed to be in thought for a few more moments before he stopped indignantly, "—While I was thinking about all that, here we are."

Just ahead of a bend, he could finally see the bright, western sun over the road. Subaru beheld the uninterrupted flow of people passing to and fro, relieved that his suffering was finally at an end.

"Now that we're out of there, we're total strangers again. I have to look for my cutie-pie companion, so I don't wanna get into any more trouble, like hanging around you. I'm sure your escort has been desperate to find you, so if you stay put I'm sure you'll meet up with him soon."

With the moment of their parting so close, Subaru vented out all the resentment that had built up during that time. Naturally, the girl was poised to respond, but instead, she halted and crossed her arms in silence.

"What, nothing to say? Okay, maybe I went a little too far, but I can't change how I feel. Things haven't exactly gone smoothly, but if you try a little prudence now and again, I'm sure…"

Subaru was simultaneously excusing his resentful words and lecturing her when she sneered back.

"Mmm, I think I pity you just a little. Whether you are aware of it or not, you so thoroughly play the fool. It is no virtue. It is merely a thin shell within which you conceal your weakness. It is as repellant to the eye as your face."

"The first part sounded serious, but that last part was definitely making fun of my looks, wasn't it?"

"If you intend to maintain the game to the very end, it is no concern of mine…"]

"That is…" Al found himself pivoting for an answer, yet his shock stopped him from continuing to speak altogether.

"She can tell somethin's up with Cap'n since then? Damn, this bossy one is kinda cool!" Garfiel grinned absentmindedly.

"I think she's seeing something else here… I don't know what she thinks it is but I don't think it's just about Subaru-san's mentality, Garf."

Otto's words were heard and processed by Anastasia and Crusch. Together, the two ladies instantly glanced at the hunched half-elf.

"Mhm…" Anastasia mutters silently, receiving a hum of agreement from Crusch.

"Emilia did something after his embarrassment."

"Or she knows of the reason for why he did such a display during the selection."

[Whatever the girl was trying to say, Subaru wasn't registering her words carefully. Or he seemed to rather not want to find out the answer as a look of shame filled his expression. He couldn't push any further. After all, the instant the two exited the alley, they were greeted by a voice—Emilia's voice.

"I finally found you!"

Subaru looked behind him to find a miffed hooded elf. "Oh, Emili-"

Then he noticed a helmeted one-armed man standing beside her.

"Wait, wait, wait! You can't just pick up Emilia-tan while I'm away!"

The helmeted man tilted his head to Emilia. "Looks like your buddy's got a screw loose, little lady. He's more worried about losing you to another man than happy to see you. A man's heart is so complex, it's a thrill to watch."

"You've got a pretty messed-up fashion sense yourself!"

The helmet-wearing man leaned down and met Subaru's forehead with his own. "Now, that's no way to talk to someone. I can overlook that since I'm a cool, good-natured man, but some might lop off your head for that."

"Relax, Subaru. His outfit surprised me, too." Emilia interjected.

"Yeah, will… I was surprised when she asked for my help while I was looking for a lost child, too."

Subaru looked at the weird man and smiled at Emilia. "Emilia-tan, you're too soft-hearted. Most would think a guy dressed like this who's looking for a lost child is gonna kidnap them."

Subaru smiled at the elf girl. "Thank god we're tied by a red string of fate."

For some reason… The man beside him went completely rigid.]

"What does that mean?" Reinhard asked curiously to learn more of Subaru's otherworldly knowledge.

Naturally, Beatrice proudly explained to the knight what she's learned from her contractor.

"Hmph! Subaru's world believes that lovers or partners that were made for one another have their souls tied to one another no matter what happens. A string of fate, as to say, that their destinies are intertwined with one another. It's red because red represents the color of love and passion in his world. So in a sense, he's saying that they're soulmates, infact. Hmph!"

The people around her looked at the girl in wonder and awe at such knowledge.

"A red string of fate… How accurate." Roswaal smiled warmly as he thought about his teacher and the gospel that led him to his desired fate.

"That's so beautiful!" Petra looked like she was crying from such a statement.

Rem looked a little saddened that he never said things like this to her.

"Such fine words, Subaru-dono." Wilhelm nodded his head as he thought about his wife. Yes, a red string of fate.

Emilia for her part seemed more inclined to look down some more at the floor. The half-elf wasn't filled with the best of hope knowing what comes after these scenes. She was not looking to relive her days of thinking that Subaru no longer is friends with her. It wasn't the best moment for her… Or for Subaru even.

["My, how attentive of you to wait where you knew I would be. I commend your dedication, Al."

The condescending smug voice of the lady behind them sounded as she smirked at the man known as Al.

"You were the lost child?!"

The scarlet blood eyes of the lady were stuck on Emilia, making the half-elf hide behind Subaru's back. The butler noticed this and looked back at Priscilla.

"What, staring at me?" the girl said. "Drinking in the beauty you will dearly miss once I depart? Certainly, it is cruel that my beauty is so divine, but it is rude to stare in silence."

"Sorry, my eyes are in perfect shape… Everyone found who they were looking for, so how about we break this up?"

Subaru gave the girl—the one Emilia seemed to be hiding from—a dismissive reply as he directed the spotlight away from her and toward Al. He didn't know why, but Emilia seemed averse to the attention.

So Subaru did what he felt would serve her best.

Al replied, "Well, that's all fine… The decision to shift the talk to me instead of Princess included."

"…I sympathize with you more than a bit… No, a lot."

Al shrugged at Subaru's rather earnest words and looked down at the girl.

"An adult with a broad mind can put up with a lot without gettin' sick of it. Even a proud cat that's never been housebroken. Maybe I've just gotten old enough to find it adorable."

Subaru couldn't see his eyes through the helmet, but he sounded like a father figure protecting his beloved daughter.]

"That's a bonding moment right there," Ricardo offhandedly comments. Al curses the dogman after Priscilla's eyes shine with curiosity once again.

He's relieved that the lady seemed to lose her interest as soon as it came. Her eyes settled on the screen, narrowed.

[They get along pretty decently, huh, thought Subaru vaguely in his mind. He added out loud, "Well, we're gonna head this way… How about you?"

The girl replied, "Then I shall go that way as well."

"…Then, we're gonna head the other way."

"Then I shall go the other way as…"

"Oh, good grief. Are you stalking me?! What, did you fall in love with me or something?!"

"I imagine that is a joke, and a petty one at that. Lackluster men die in lackluster ways, you know."

With great pomp and ceremony, the girl, dispassionate to the bitter end, departed with her companion. Her hesitant steps proclaimed that even though she wanted them to part ways, she found it unamusing to do so.]

"He was that interesting to you?" Crusch muttered to herself, unable to understand what Priscilla could see that none of them had when they were the ones to meet Subaru.

"Princess?" Al couldn't help but question as he noticed this interaction under a new worldview, thanks to Ram's revelation.

"Are you daft, Al? I didn't allow you to speak, did I?" Her furious voice did not stop the knight from glancing towards her nervously.

"...Maybe I shouldn't open my mouth."

"You best." Priscilla closes her eyes and fans herself, returning to a more casual aura.

[So with all the invective remaining in him, Subaru said to the departing girl, "Hey, arrogant chick, take this."

"What an insolent tongue to direct at me. With one command, Al could take that head off your—"

As the girl turned around with some very menacing words on her lips, her red eyes widened. Her hands stretched and caught the pair of apples lazily arcing toward her.

"Take 'em. These are bonding apples. In the end, I may have won the bet, but the winner has the right to show mercy like a noble warrior. Take care not to wander into bad guys like that from now on, okay?"

"I will have you know I did not become involved with those men by acting like some foolish child."

"…Incidentally, why did you get involved with them?"

"When I asked them if it was not inexcusable that they should live with such impoverished faces and attire, they became agitated."

"You're the one in the wrong there!"

Subaru sympathized with Dumb, Dumber, and Dumbest all over again and turned his back to the girl, pulling Emilia along by her arm. The small measure of payback gave him some satisfaction.

Emilia kept her head down as she went along with him. As they quickly departed, they heard one final muffled shout from the street behind them, filled with apparently genuine gratitude.

"—Lil' missy, thanks for comin' with me on my search!"]

"Why were you hiding from her?" Otto asked the elven princess beside him.

"The council ordered the candidates to never interact with one another before the election was officially started, which it wasn't back then so I had to slip away," Emilia answered as she sat up and looked at the screen in a sour mood.

"Did ya notice how well the two got along though? It was like somethin' outta romantic tale~"

Emilia's frown deepened even more at Anastasia's loud statements, "Romance?"

"I imagine this is a joke to rile up others, Miss Hoshin? Please refrain from doing that." Crusch didn't seem entirely as stern as she should be, only sighing as the merchant queen giggled.

[Scene change….

"Subaru… That girl from before…"

"Huh?" Subaru looked at the half-elf princess walking beside him in confusion.

"Where did you meet that girl? And how?"

"What's this, Emilia-tan? Are you jealous? Are you actually getting jealous over me?"

Subaru suddenly stopped walking just as Emilia had… the half-elf was serious and stern as she stared at him.

"Subaru…"

"H-Huh? Emilia-tan, why the serious face?" Subaru smiled worriedly and nervously.

Emilia quickly changed her expression and smiled. "N-Nothing… if you don't know, it's fine. Forget about it."]

"Why not trust him here?" Otto questions the half-elf, eyes narrowed.

Emilia doesn't say anything. Her mood plummeted enough.

[Scene changes from that to the band of thugs, now surrounding Al and Priscilla. Even though she was surrounded, Priscilla seemed more focused on the fruit in her hand.

"So that's why we're gonna rough you up a little. Just a little, wee bit," said a thug to the girl.

The men blocking off the road and laughing lewdly included Dumber and Dumbest. Their group, separate from Dumb's, had surrounded the girl and her companion. They didn't need to put into words exactly what kind of payback they had in mind after capturing her. The vulgar lust in their eyes said it all.]

"Wait, these guys surrounded you two as well?" Tivey moaned into his palm, annoyed at the very presence of these thugs.

"They are relentless." Petra glared at the bullies.

"They are dogs," Priscilla boredly describes.

[But the girl paid the men around her no heed as she brought the slice of apple to her lips.

"…Mm, bittersweet. It is indeed an apple on the inside. I am forced to conclude that the clown from earlier did not simply dye them red as some kind of joke. So apples are indeed this color? I am shocked."

Al replied, "Hey, ah, Princess, you seeing what's happening here?"

"Whatever you wish to say, speak it clearly. I dislike all this indirectness."

"Fine, I'll come right out and say it.—There's two apples, so ain't one of 'em mine?" Al casually pointed for the girl, earning her glare.

"Ha! How absurd. Now hear this, I caught both apples that the clown tossed. Consequently, both are mine."

"It's common sense that if you have two of something and two people, each of 'em takes one."

The disregard of both master and servant drove the ruffians' anger to its limit. With clear malice, each one drew his blade as they began to tighten the circle.

Al asked her, "So, Princess. What about what the world around you wants?"

"My choice is the world's choice. You should bear that in mind, Al."

"I try."

The girl nodded with satisfaction at Al's words and resumed nibbling on her apple. Her cheeks relaxed at the bittersweet taste, bringing an angelic smile over her beautiful face. And as if ripping off an insect's wings with cherubic innocence, she stated matter-of-factly, "I am now in a very good mood.—Consequently, you may spare their lives."

Hearing those words, Al put his hand on the handle of the large sword sheathed horizontally behind his hip. There was a slow shing—the sound of a blade being drawn from its sheath. With that as background music, he stated, "—Aye-aye, ma'am."

The smile under the pitch-black helmet was vivid and fierce.]

"Geez, what a dou," Otto mutters, disliking the heartless way Priscilla was speaking about criminal's lives.

"I think it was badass," Garfield shrugs inconsequentially.

"... An unclean Appa… Hm," Priscilla muttered while pursing her lips. Her eyes were clouded with judgment and thought.

"... And yet this would have never been forgotten from my mind had he erased that shameful display… So why didn't he?"

Only curiosity held back the anger and disappointment inside of the scarlet princess.

[Scene change to Subaru and Emilia sitting in a strange household.

"What? I have to stay here tomorrow?!"

"Of course you do. That was our agreement all along." Emilia sternly refuted the boy as he stood before her.

"Yeah, but we never got in touch with Reinhard, right? So if we go to the castle tomorrow, we might see him… "

"I'll be sure to ask about Felt." Emilia began walking away from him.

"But I should go in person to-"

"This is exactly why I can't take you with me." Subaru stopped in his tracks as Emilia turned towards him with a stern gaze. "If I do, you'll push yourself too hard again. I don't want to let you do that. Understand?"

"You're the one who doesn't understand! If I have to push myself to help you, I will. I want to push myself!"

"Absolutely not. Until your body fully heals, no using magic or pushing yourself! Promise me, Subaru."

"All right. I promise. I won't use magic. So let me go with you!"

"I can't bring an outsider into this. So please, just wait here with Rem, all right?"

Subaru looked at the ground in upset but Emilia stepped closer with a pleading look while holding his hand.

"I'm asking you, Subaru. Give me a reason to trust you."

Scene changes to Emilia and Roswaal leaving in a carriage.

Subaru is seen looking out the window as the two left.

I know there are those in the capital who consider Emilia an enemy.

Images of the time where Elsa was trying to kill Emilia played.

That's why I have to stay close to her.]

"Why is he so adamant?" Julius asked in frustration.

Emilia sighed heartbreakingly at how stubborn the boy was. She knew the reason for him pushing himself was because he loves her, she feels giddy just thinking about it, but that doesn't explain why he would ignore her promise like this!

"So he ignored his promise and went to the castle anyway?" Ricardo winced at the bad image the boy set for himself.

"I don't like this aspect of him." Anastasia scowled a bit as a merchant, promises were looked at as things of pure comedic value, but when they mattered in friendships and trust they were very important.

"Cap'n…" Garfiel looked disappointed with his captain.

Crusch silently glanced toward her butler knight.

Wilhelm nodded at her.

"I saw it too."

Crusch looked up at the screen and began thinking about Subaru's strange actions on the screen.

"He's scared…" Crusch whispered softly.

"Hmmm." Priscilla hummed as she looked thoughtfully at the boy.

"Big bro…" Felt glared at the screen as she came to a conclusion.

Otto scowled with his mouth open as he saw what these four had seen.

Subaru's greatest scar.

And the reason for all these selfish disgusting actions.

[Subaru narrowed his eyes in determination.

"What's the matter?" Rem asked from behind him.

Subaru looked back at her with confidence brimming in his eyes. "I'm going to save Emilia. And to do that… "

He looked at Rem…

Stare…

"Wh-What is it, Subaru-kun? It makes me uncomfortable when you stare at me with such imposing eyes… " The maid blushed under his gaze.

Stare…

Rem's blushing face turned deep red. She took a moment to place her tray down and sighed.

"It's at the castle. There will likely be heavy security, though."]

"I don't know why… But I had to do it, Emilia-sama." Rem looked guilty as she clenched Subaru's hand. The Oni was still firm on her reason not to apologise. She could feel that letting him go there was the right way to do things… But Rem was still hurt for some reason.

Emilia said nothing and watched with a disappointed look in her eyes.

["Security isn't the problem. I can't stand not being involved in Emilia's important affairs."]

Emilia glared.

"What an ignorant slob." Felix snorted at the scene as he didn't find it surprising.

Ram glared at Felix in annoyance.

["Subaru-kun…"

"I'm only of any use when something happens. So I want to be with her when important things are going on!" His eyes are shining with determination as he glares at Rem.]

"Is this why he's acting so dishonorably like this? Because he wants to be useful?" Julius spat, his usually elegant tone gone and filled with one of complete demand.

"I don't think you are looking at this right, Pal-" Al tried to make them all understand something that he could see in Subaru's eyes.

But he was interrupted by one frowning Roswaal.

"Stand doooown. This won't solve anything if they don't see it for themselves."

"Ah…"

It seemed the clown had seen this from the start as well. Interesting.

[The maid smiles to herself."I am now going to set about a new apple recipe that I just came up with."

"Huh?" Subaru looked confused as the maid smiled at him.

"It will require intense concentration, so if someone were to leave his room, I most likely wouldn't notice." The maid left with a smile on her face.]

"That's sneaky!" Mimi quipped but found her ears dropping when her brother glared at her and shook his head.

"I don't find this a big deal at all," Felt says casually, putting her hands behind her head.

Emilia glances at her in betrayal, "He broke his promise!"

"One you knew he wouldn't keep? Why did you not try and talk it out with him instead of bulldozing the responsibility away by using such a weak promise?"

The half-elf was indulgent, "Th-That's not how that works! I did warn him that this was important to me and he shouldn't be there! I told him to stay put and made a promise that he agreed to as his friend!"

"Sure," Felt shrugged lazily, "He shouldn't be there. But he won't stop until he is, which is pretty slick of him I gotta say. But I don't understand why you are so adamant…"

When Felt's words trailed off without a continuation, Emilia found herself waiting with a heavy heart.

"Adamant on what?"

And it was the spirit sitting on Emilia's other side that held an answer, "Adamant on pushing Betty's contractor away as if you were dangerous for him, I suppose."

Beatrice's words cut through Emilia's guilt a thousandfold.

[Scene change…

Subaru is running through the capital's streets in his butler uniform.

I'm such a scumbag for relying on Rem all the time…]

"Damn, right." Felix snorted as he prepared to watch the boy get beaten for his weakness and arrogance.

"You shouldn't think this way, Subaru-kun…" Rem frowns deeply, shuffling. "I didn't do enough for you…" The soft-voiced girl was filled with pity and guilt as she said this. It hurt for Garfiel not to pat the girl's back.

[Subaru stops right before a great gate with insignia emblems all over it.

"But the problem is how I'm gonna get into the castle. I guess times like this call for that… hitchhiking!"

Subaru pulled his finger up to the empty road and suddenly, a prestige-looking dragon carriage showed up before him.

"You are lucky, pal. Be grateful for this coincidence. We just happen to be on our way to the castle too."]

"That's… convenient," Otto noted suspiciously.

Al shrugged. "Blame your bro's luck, pal."

"Honestly, at this point it's just a masterclass in building roads fer trouble," Anastasia snorts dryly, having the heavy mood dampen her will to mock or tease.

[The scene shows Subaru sitting in the carriage with both Al and The lady from before.

"The castle? What for?"

"There is only one reason to head to the castle today."

Subaru looked confused at the lady's answer.

"Oh, you didn't know? This lady here is one of the candidates to succeed to the throne of Lugunica, Priscilla Barielle-sama herself." As Al pointed and explained who this proud and amused lady was, Subaru couldn't help the startled expression on his face.

"For real? So why did you pick me up?"

"For no other reason than it seemed amusing. A mere lark. Taking you to the castle will make things interesting." The noble lady answered while smirking, amused and confident.

"Interesting?"

"This world is designed to operate in the way that works best for me, so it's a given that all things will work in my favor. It's only a matter of choosing whether something amuses me or not. However, if I had to name a reason other than amusement… I would say that making you act like my personal jester would be highly gratifying."

"What do ya mean, Jester?!" Subaru shouted in upset and was about to give the lady a piece of his mind before a sword's tip was placed on his adam's apple.

Subaru gulped and glared at the one-armed helmet-wearing man beside him.

"So you can actually use that arm to fight?" The boy's eyes shook from the fear but his words were scathing.

Al just snorted and placed his sword back in its sheath. "You could say that I've been able to survive longer with just a single-arm, besides, I'm the only person in this world that can understand your agony let's be on good terms, pal."]

"What does that mean?" Otto asked as many people looked at Al in suspicion.

The helmeted man remained motionless.

["Huh?" Subaru uttered in bewilderment.

"You were summoned too, right? To this world?"

Subaru's eyes widened in shock. "What?…"]

"What?!"

"So you've been taken from Subaru's world too?!" Emilia sounded the question that everyone was asking as they all stared at the helmeted one-armed man.

"I guess it had to come out." Al sighed deeply.

["I won't blame you if you don't believe me. I couldn't believe my ears yesterday either. It's been around 18 years since I've heard words such as a red string of fate."

"18 years?" Subaru utter unable to believe his ears.

"I was summoned here around 18 years ago. I lost my arm around the same time, you could say a lot of stuff happened."

"Do you know why you've been summoned?"

"I haven't been pursuing the reason, merely struggling to stay alive."

Subaru and Al stared at one another. One was shocked and the other was feeling relief that he wasn't alone anymore.]

"I don't understand… Did the Witch summon you as well?" Julius asked, eyes narrowed in suspicion.

Al just shrugged his shoulders, putting everyone off by how calm he was.

"Might be? I really couldn't care less, pal."

"Do you even miss your world?" Emilia asked the man in pity.

Al stayed silent.

["Don't make such irritating faces. It'll damage the dignity of my dragon carriage."

Subaru looked at the fiery-looking woman beside him.

Priscilla looked at him with a look of pure boredom from his existence as she swung her leg back and forth.

"You two clowns who claim to have come from a place that's beyond the great waterfall. Say something that'll entertain me instead."

"The great waterfall?"

Priscilla's eyes widened with astonishment at Subaru's limited knowledge.

"You don't know of it? At the four corners of the world, the land cuts off and there exists a torrent of water that washes everything away. In other words, the great waterfall. Sometimes people claim to be from beyond there. They're generally just lies."

Priscilla stared at the two men before her.

"However… Al is different… and it appears… so are you."]

"Hm, you have a knight that's from another world as well…" Anastasia mused in miffed upset that someone like Priscilla got such useful information.

"Hmph! Aldebaran's position is not because he's some otherworldly commoner. He's my knight because he entertains me."

Anastasia fumed some more at these words. How can someone have this useful information in their hands and not take advantage?!

The merchant girl was red in the cheeks!

"How… But… Shouldn't you know more about Subaru's world then?! You are from the same place right?" Otto left his initial shock to hammer questions towards the helmeted man. But all he got from Al was a firm conditioned, "I'm not answering anythin', man. I don't talk about that place- heck, I barely remember the best details. Sorry."

Everyone felt even more detached from the knight than they were before.

Otto and Emilia looked disappointed at Al's rejection.

[Scene change…

Priscilla is walking ahead of the two through a royal-looking hallway with knights standing at the ready.

They all stood before a great entrance that had a man standing in front of it in wait.

"Your apple handler?" The man asked as Priscilla explained who Subaru was.

"Indeed. He is something of a wretched clown whose sole priority is to bring me bittersweet red Apples."

The hardened-looking man glared at Subaru as if analyzing the boy.

Subaru gulped underneath the gaze.

The man relented and looked at Priscilla. "Everyone is waiting inside. Make haste please."

Priscilla smirked in high smug fashion.

"It is my privilege as their superior to keep the masses waiting."]

"What a brat." Frederica hissed, disgusted with such an attitude. Petra nodded her head as many in the room glared at the screen.

[The door opened to reveal a wondrous great hall that was filled with magic users and great knights with a round seating arrangement at the very end of a huge red carpet that spanned the entire hall.

Walking on that carpet… was Emilia and Roswaal.

Many of the royal knights and magic users stared at the trio that had just entered the room.

Emilia looked back to see what the fuss was about… she hitched in exclamation.

Subaru stopped dead in his tracks in alarm.

"Subaru?"

"Um… Emilia, I… "

As Subaru began speaking fish, Priscilla quickly clung to his arm and pressed her chest against him while shooting Emilia a smug smile.

"Is there a reason you're staring at my manservant, half-wit?"]

"Ew, how dare you touch Betty's Subaru, I suppose?!"

Rem and Petra glared at the woman, while Felt and Crusch scowled at the screen.

["Get off! You'll give Emilia-tan the wrong idea!"

"My, how nice to see you, Priscilla-sama! Do forgive my servant for troubling you so." Roswaal quickly interjected, making the smirking fiery-headed woman let go of the boy and snort.

Priscilla passed by Emilia without even a glance between them.

The half-elf had her sights on someone else at the moment.

"Why are you here, Subaru? Didn't I tell you to be good and wait for me? Don't you remember?" Emilia shook her head and looked at the boy with hurt in her eyes.]

Emilia and Julius both glared at the screen trying to figure out why.

Emilia didn't believe that he was doing all of this just because he loved her… there was something else. Something that made her stomach turn. Something is wrong.

"What is it really, Subaru?" Emilia asked in worry and guilt.

[Subaru struggled to answer from guilt but then a loud voice spoke through the great hall.

"The council of wise men will now enter."

The magic users and the royal knights all lined up and bowed for the many old men walking in lavish robes towards the seating arrangement at the end of the hall.

"The wise men…They're the people managing the country in the king's absence, right?"

"Hey. That's where we're supposed to stand." Al pointed at the place where the knights all stood.

"I can stand there, too?" Subaru asked Roswaal as he pointed at Al.

"Hmm, it sounds amusing, so you may accompany hiiiim."]

"That's suspicious." Garfiel glanced at the clown and called him out.

"Yes, it does seem really weird for you to let a rogue servant stand where he shouldn't, nyan!" Felix glared at the screen.

"Yes, indeeeeed." Roswaal chuckled eerily, creeping everyone out.

"Big bro…" Felt uttered in guilt as she disliked the people Subaru lived around more and more with each viewing.

["Wait, Roswaal!" Emilia exclaimed to the clown. "If Subaru is allowed to stay, he'll-"

But the lord cut her off. "Emilia-sama, the conference is beginning. To the center."

Emilia looked upset and scared at the same time.

She looked behind her to find everyone seated and three girls standing in front of the council.

She turned to the boy with a glare on her face.

"You're going to explain this to me later."]

"Must've been quite the fight." Crusch mused as she remembered how Emilia left the boy in her custody.

Emilia kept looking at the screen with feelings of guilt and anger filling her.

["So those are the participants in the royal selection… The candidates to be the future ruler?" Subaru stood beside Al in the royal knights' line as he looked at the three other girls standing alongside Emilia.

"So you came, after all, Subaru."

The nasty-eyed boy was met by a dashing young man with red hair and blue shining eyes smiling charmingly toward him.

"When I heard Emilia-sama would be here, I suspected you'd be here, as well."

Subaru's face brightened. "Reinhard, I've been looking for you!"

"Hiya, Subaru-kyun!"

Subaru turned to see who's loud voice was that, to see that healer lady from before smiling at him.

"You!"

"Oh, Subaru, you know him?"

Subaru quickly turned to Reinhard with a horrified expression. "Him?!"

"Yes. He is a knight, Felix Argyle. Despite appearances, he is male.

And that's when Subaru Natsuki died again…]

"He's a girl?! As in, Female?!" Garfiel looked at Felix up and down.

The cat boy pulled his tongue out.

Garfiel looked at the boy with a deadpan stare.

"One thin's for sure. You're nasty either way."

"Hey!"

Garfiel sat back in his seat.

"This isn't the time for jokes!" Julius spat out, emotionally and immaturely.

Garf only snorted at the knight's tone. "What's it to ya, buddy?"

The knight did not say a word more to the ruffian boy. He had better things to occupy his head.

Things like this seeping anger and worry for what will happen next.

"Man, its a mess," Ricardo mutters dryly.

"I'm sorry I couldn't help him." Reinhard's apology was cut off by a sharp interjection.

"It wasn't on you, Reinhard," Emilia whispered.

["What's the point in having those looks, and even cat ears, if you're a guy?!"

"I don't knyow what to tell you. You're the one who made the wrong assumption Subaru-kyun."

Felix began walking away with a smile.

Subaru looked behind him and noticed a familiar-looking young man.

He glared.

Julius looked back and nodded his head at the boy.

"Subaru, what's the matter?" Reinhard asked when he noticed the animosity.

"Where I'm from, this is the face you make when you see a romantic rival!"

Reinhard blinked.]

"What an idiot." Felix snorted.

"Is he jealous of Julius or something?" Anastasia mused.

The knight himself just looked on with a disturbed face, confused as to why Subaru was acting like this.

"Is it truly the reason?"

But what was he jealous of him for?

["Now, if I may be so forward, I, Marcos, leader of the Imperial Knights, will direct today's proceedings. It all happened about half a year ago, when members of the royal family, starting with the king, went into hiding one by one, causing-"

"Listen… I get that you wanna talk up a good show here, but I'm busy, y'know. As we say in Kararagi, Time is money."

Subaru is shown looking at the purple-haired girl speaking with the guard in a surprised expression.

"She's speaking in the Kansai dialect? Are you kidding me?"

"Evidently, Everyone in western Kararagi talks that way." Al provided making Subaru think.]

"What does he mean?" Anastasia asked with her eyes roused in curiosity.

"That's a language from Mine and Subaru's world so we were surprised that people spoke something we were familiar with."

Everyone looked at the knight in shock.

"N-No way! That language was something the great Hoshin-sama himself spoke!" Anastasia looked shocked at such information.

Al snorted.

"Ya mean the guy that suddenly hopped up and gave you guys all these architecture and science stuff that helped elevate a bunch of mountainous villages and develop an empire?"

Everyone's eyes widened as they understood what was being said.

"Otherworldly inventions? Languages? Weapons? Fighting styles?" Al snorted. "You're great Hoshin-sama was a waterfall guy just like me and the kid." Al pointed at Subaru.

"Hoshin was smart about his stay in this world so brought all of his knowledge and made an actual difference here. To us, everything he brought here is from a nation called Japan. An island nation and one of the 182 countries of mine and Subaru's world. I'm not well versed in Japanese but I've seen all of Hoshin's devices and builds. They're all Japanese. And judging from what Subaru had said, I think that the kid was also from Japan, especially since he's been using yen coins before he came here."

(I want to leave Al's origin country open to interpretation. I know that him not knowing Japanese and living in this world doesn't make sense since the language in Lugunica is similar to Japanese since Subaru instantly spoke with. Funn to leave him so ambiguous.)

Everyone stared at the helmeted man in shock and awe.

"The great Hoshin… was from another world…" Anastasia sat down, her world turned upside down.

One thing was for sure to this merchant… "We need Natsuki on our side… He's too big of an advantage."

"Subaru is making a significant difference in our world and in all the villages around the Margrave's domain." Reinhard mused in shock.

"No fair!" Felt huffed.

"I mean… I did notice a lot of parallels… But to have it confirmed this easily?" Anastasia's shock seemed to wear off suddenly as she remembered all of the notes she mentally wrote inside of her mind. "This is…" the merchant queen seemed satisfied to let her grin say the words she needed for her.

She was amazed and hungry for more.

[As the purple-haired lady stopped talking about how precious her time was, the green-haired Duchess-looking lady spoke.

"I agree."

"Crusch-sama, should the head of the Karsten family say such a thing?" The knight asked.

The duchess confidently glanced at the guard. "It is important to observe formality, but it is also a fact that our time is limited. It would be wise to immediately inform us why we are here. Naturally, I do have a general idea."

One of the wise men had looked up at the girl in question.

"You already know the purpose of this meeting?"

"Yes, Lord Miklotov. For a drinking party, correct? One day, we will face each other as rivals, but by sharing drinks at the same table, we learn more about one another." Crusch smirked up at the lord.

He did not look impressed.

"No, that is not correct."]

"Ohhh"

Many winced at the scene.

Crusch glanced at her cat knight. Who smiled sheepishly.

[Anastasia winced for the girl beside her as Crusch quickly looked at the cat boy in the royal knight's quarters.

"Felis, this isn't what you told me."

"Oh, come on. All I said was, maybe it'll be a drinking party."

"I see. I jumped to conclusions." Crusch turned from the cat boy and looked up at the council. "Forgive me. Allow me to retract everything I just said."

"Hey, now! Even if she backs down, my opinion ain't gonna change. No need to explain the royal selection now. We already know. Right?" Anastasia looked at Emilia and Priscilla.

"I think we should hea-" Emilia tried to say but was cut off.

"Sorry, but I wasn't askin' for your opinion."]

"Hey! What's yer problem?!" Garfiel growled at the merchant as the rest of Emilia's camp glared with him.