The Wrath Of God

Natsuki Subaru stood resolutely at the forefront of the throne room, every gaze fixed upon him, yet silence reigned supreme. The pressure in the air was so thick that no one dared to move, as if frozen in place.

Crusch and Anastasia observed Subaru with cautious eyes. While they were mostly unaffected by the oppressive atmosphere, as it wasn't directed at them, their instincts screamed at them to be wary of him.

Priscilla, on the other hand, seemed entirely unfazed by the unfolding drama. A grin spread across her face as she watched the commoner who had piqued her interest approach. 'Come on, entertain me, show me what you will do'.

Felt, much like Priscilla, was eager for what was to come. She had been in a foul mood, forced into this selection, forced into the ridiculous dress, forced to endure the arrogance of nobles. But now, with Subaru stepping up, perhaps she wouldn't need to intervene at all.

Roswaal simply watched, his knowing smirk never faltering. Everything seemed to be going well…

Emilia, snapped from her daze by the abrupt hush in the room, saw Subaru standing at the front. She could sense his anger directed at everyone, but what truly alarmed her was the fear radiating from the crowd. She had witnessed his power firsthand. She understood just how formidable he was—powerful enough to…

Her eyes widened in alarm. "Wait, Subaru, don't—!"

Suddenly, as if a switch had been flipped, the tension vanished. Subaru's anger dissipated, replaced by a smile that lit up his face. He surveyed the crowd and the sage council surrounding him.

"You all must be some of the biggest imbeciles I've ever had the displeasure of meeting. Disrespecting royal candidates like that… one of them could very well become your ruler someday, you know?" He hurled his words at them without hesitation.

The nobles, council members, and knights were left gasping. The overwhelming pressure they felt was enough to weaken their knees; some even collapsed from sheer fright.

'Pathetic'. Subaru thought. All he had done was release a fraction of his cursed energy, and this was the result? Even the knights?

'Those people wouldn't last a minute as Jujutsu sorcerers'.

"Wait, Subaru! Please don't do anything rash!" Emilia pleaded, trying to pull him back before things escalated.

"Emilia…" Subaru glanced at her, irritation flashing briefly across his face. Did she truly believe he would harm anyone? Or perhaps she feared what he might become?

"Emilia, I won't hurt anyone. But what needs to be said—must be said," he assured her. Despite the pain reflected in her beautiful amethyst eyes, he couldn't back down.

Not when his friend was being disrespected like this.

Roswaal stepped forward, fixing his gaze on Subaru. "Natsuki Subaru, this is a formal gathering hosted by esteemed members of this kingdom. Disrespecting them can lead to severe consequences, including execution," Roswaal stated evenly, prompting Subaru to turn his full attention to him.

"However, I will allow you to leave unharmed if you grovel and apologize to everyone."

Subaru glared at Roswaal, his anger now focused solely on the court mage. 'Me, getting executed? Forget that shit! Emilia was just humiliated—why aren't you saying something about that?!'.

"Roswaal," he began, his voice sharp, "Are you sure you want to do this?"

"I will not say it again. Will you kneel and apologize?"

"Roswaal, you know me better than most. What do you think I'll choose?"

A pause. Then:

 "…Very well then,"

Roswaal's incantation began, his arm rising as a gigantic fireball formed overhead.

"Al Goa!"

The fiery orb hurtled toward Subaru with intense heat, ready to evaporate him on the spot.

"No!" Emilia cried out, watching the flames rush toward him. Why wasn't he moving? He was going to get hurt!

Just before impact, the fireball was nullified—extinguished by a blast of ice, neutralizing it in an instant. Subaru turned to see who had intervened.

'Ah, so that was your plan, Roswaal?'. Subaru's anger morphed into something closer to annoyance. Was Roswaal baiting him just to force Puck out? Why?

'Whatever. I can think about it later'. He thought, shaking his head.

"Thanks for the assist, Puck." Subaru nodded at the hovering Great Spirit.

"Anytime!" Puck replied cheerfully, but his expression darkened as he turned his gaze toward the nobles and knights.

"I've heard what you all said about my daughter, and let me make one thing clear: I. Am. Not. Happy."

With each word, the temperature dropped, causing everyone to shiver.

"The disrespect and audacity shown toward my beloved daughter is unforgivable. The only reason I haven't turned you all into ice statues is because of Lia, so keep that in mind." He shot a fierce glare at the crowd.

"T-this is… Your spirit… is The Beast of the End!" one of the council members finally managed to stammer.

"Oho? So you're aware of me? Good. It seems you're somewhat educated, human." Puck's smile was laced with malice.

"Whenever you think about hurting my dear Lia, remember who you will be dealing with. And I will end you without hesitation."

"Puck…" Emilia whispered her father's name, unsure of how to respond.

"Hey, Puck, let me take care of this. Alright?" Subaru interjected, offering the spirit a reassuring gesture. Puck studied Subaru for a moment before relenting.

"Fine. I'll leave this to you."

In an instant, the spirit transformed into mana, which was absorbed into her necklace.

"Now then," Subaru scanned the crowd, his focus locking onto the nobles. "Are you going to apologize?"

His question snapped some out of their daze—especially the one who had initiated the attack.

"You dare speak to me like that?! Who do you think you are, demanding an apology from a noble such as myself when you're nothing but a lowly peasant?! I could have you executed right here and now!" he bellowed.

"Knights!" he commanded, gesturing toward them. "Take this disrespectful fool's head!"

The knights exchanged glances, uncertain.

Before they could act, laughter shattered the tense atmosphere.

Subaru was laughing heartily, as if he had just heard the most hilarious joke ever told. This only served to infuriate the noble further.

"What's so funny?! Are you mocking me?! Do you find my words amusing?!" he shouted.

"Absolutely," Subaru replied, his laughter fading into a sly smile—a smile that carried the same cold precision a predator would have before delivering the final blow.

"You ordered my execution over disrespect, yet you've committed an even graver sin."

"Really?" the noble scoffed mockingly. "And pray tell, what sin have I committed that is worse than your lack of manners?"

"It's quite simple," Subaru explained smoothly. "You insulted Emilia by calling her a 'Half-devil.' Do you not realize the crime you've committed?"

The noble scoffed. "I simply stated the truth."

Subaru's grin widened. "Oh, wow. You really scored zero in the intelligence department, didn't you?"

The noble flushed with anger.

"Allow me to explain in simple terms, so even your brain can comprehend. The insignia lights up when a potential ruler is found. The divine dragon itself chooses these candidates. And yet you—a nobody—have mocked its judgment."

The noble recoiled, his face draining of color.

"By insulting Emilia, you have insulted the divine dragon itself."

Subaru leaned forward, his expression grave, his gaze locked onto the noble."

"So tell me, are you going to apologize?" 

"Well–I–But–I mean," The man stuttered, struggling to find the right words. It was a humiliating moment, with everyone watching him—the candidate, the councilmen, the knights—waiting for him to respond.

"Of course, I'm not just talking about Emilia," Subaru began, then gestured to the banner of the Kingdom of Lugunica above the throne, where the dragon was proudly displayed.

"Get on your knees, roll over the ground like a good puppy, and beg for forgiveness. Who knows, the Lugunican church might be lenient with you."

He turned to the other nobles and knights. "This includes all of you. Don't think that just because I'm focusing on one person means you're innocent. You've all committed the same sin."

Subaru scanned each of them, daring someone to speak up, but they merely shuffled and averted their gazes—just as he expected.

A loud bang echoed through the hall as a hand struck the table. One of the councilmen rose, his aged face twisted with anger—it was the bald-headed one.

"I've had enough of this—"

Just like before, the words caught in his throat, strangled before they could escape. But this time, it felt different.

Subaru faced the man, his expression unchanged, still smiling. But there was something new—his right eye peeking over his sunglasses.

The overwhelming pressure from earlier surged back, and the war veteran councilman began to experience a sensation he hadn't felt in ages: fear.

That piercing azure-blue eye bore down on him, unwavering, digging into his soul, judging him for all his misdeeds and failures.

It was as if he was facing Od Lugunica itself.

"And you," Subaru started, emphasizing the last word. "Where do I even begin? One would think a member of the sage council would set an example for everyone, someone wise enough to guide this nation through tough times. But what do we have?" He scoffed.

"Some bumbling, senile fool who's lost his way, letting trivial biases and emotions cloud his judgment." He spat. "If you can't do your job right, maybe it's time for you to step down. But if you need more encouragement, then I might have to take matters into my own hands—"

"Subaru!"

A melodic voice, like silver bells, cut through the heavy atmosphere, snapping him back to reality.

He stopped in his place, regaining his awareness.

He was halfway toward the trembling old man. He turned to see Reinhard poised to intervene, then looked at her—at Emilia—at the disapproval, confusion, and something else in her eyes.

He refused to acknowledge it. Because it stung deeply.

"Subaru, you've made your point. Please stop," she urged, her firm tone wavering slightly.

Subaru's smile faded, his lips pressed into a thin line. Silence lingered uncomfortably before he finally spoke.

"Alright, I'll take my leave then."

He turned away and walked out of the throne room.

But as he approached the doors, he paused, his gaze shifting to his right—to the knights watching him.

"You know, knights should embody chivalry and heroism, serving as role models who protect the weak and uphold justice. Yet after witnessing this piss-poor excuse for an assembly, I can confidently say that, with a few exceptions, you are nothing but a disgrace—arrogant cowards masquerading as protectors, reveling in hollow titles while abandoning the very principles you claim to uphold."

He let the words sink in, his eyes hidden behind his sunglasses roaming all of them.

"But what disgusted me the most is your hypocrisy: One of the royal candidates was insulted and humiliated right in front of you, but instead of fulfilling your duty and protecting her from the slander you all instead decided to join in on mockery. You dare to call yourselves knights, yet not a single one of you possesses the integrity of the title you flaunt. Hypocrites—that's all you are, and that's all you'll ever be."

He spat those words and strode out of the throne room.

The insult lingered in the air as the knights glared at the now-closed golden gates, their anger palpable. His words had struck a nerve, hitting precisely where it hurt the most.

Their pride.

Among them, a purple-haired knight fixated on the gates, his expression calm, his eyes slightly narrowed—a skill he had honed over time.

Julius would have to take action.

"Ahem."

A man cleared his throat, drawing everyone's attention to the councilman, Miklotov McMahon.

"Well, that was certainly… something," he began, his tone carefully measured. "You have quite the intriguing attendant, Emilia-sama."

"..."

She did not respond. She simply remained silent. 

The other candidates felt a wave of relief wash over them. Crusch let out a quiet sigh, grateful that a confrontation hadn't erupted. Anastasia, on the other hand, was eager to move on, already dismissing the entire ordeal as a waste of her time. Priscilla smiled in approval, clearly pleased with how events had unfolded. Felt, meanwhile, was grinning ear to ear—watching those stuck-up nobles get verbally torn apart was exactly the entertainment she'd wanted.

"Now, typically, this would be the point where we conclude our meeting and officially commence the royal selection… but an important development has arisen," Miklotov continued, drawing the room's full attention.

"About a month ago, the Dragon Tablet revealed yet another prophecy," he announced. "The message was rather brief and somewhat unclear. It simply read, 'The Sage has returned.'"

The knights, the candidates, the nobles—everyone momentarily froze, stunned by the revelation.

"Pardon my interruption, Miklotov-sama," Reinhard said, bowing slightly. "But what does this mean? Shouldn't Sage Shaula always reside in the Pleiades Tower?"

Sage Shaula was one of the three heroes who had defeated and sealed the Witch of Envy. Legends claimed she lived in the tower built to contain her—the Pleiades Tower in the Auguria Sand Dunes.

"We don't fully understand the meaning of the prophecy," Miklotov explained. "Our best assumption is that the Sage has left the tower and may have come to assist us in our time of need."

"This brings me to the next point—Reinhard van Astrea," Miklotov announced.

The knight who had his name spoken knelt in place, drawing all eyes towards him.

"You are assigned this mission. Your task is to find the Sage and bring her to us, as her arrival could signal a period of turmoil this kingdom may struggle to face."

"As you wish, Miklotov-sama. I will work with utmost diligence to accomplish my mission," he replied with a bow as he rose.

"Now that everything is settled, and all candidates have shared their intentions, I hereby announce that the Royal Selection for the forty-second ruler of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica has officially commenced!"

---------------------------------

Subaru scowled as he was led through the castle, 'Fucking council of senile bastards. No matter the world, those old farts always make my life miserable.'

Having just left the throne room, his mood was particularly sour. He should have known the so-called wise members of the "Sage Council" would be no better than the jujutsu elders he had clashed with back home.

It had been naïve to expect them to be different—new world, new rules—but in the end, they were all the same.

He entered a room that appeared to be a waiting area. Not that he cared. Ignoring his guide, he dropped into one of the chairs, running a hand over his face in frustration. The weight of the day's events pressed down on him, but nothing compared to the image of Emilia's wounded expression. The hurt in her eyes stung more than he cared to admit.

'Damn it… Emilia, I never meant to hurt you,' he thought, exhaling a heavy sigh.

A familiar voice snapped him out of his thoughts. "Well, I didn't expect to see you here."

He turned, recognizing the voice instantly—the first time he had heard it in a month. "Well, I'll be damned. Should've figured you'd be here, Old Man Rom," he said, glancing at the giant seated beside him.

Rom grinned back. "Likewise! Seems fate has brought us together again, huh?"

"Fate? You actually believe in that stuff, Rom?" Subaru asked, raising an eyebrow.

Rom chuckled. "Ha! Fat fucking chance. Only fools who've given up say nonsense like that."

"You mean the folks in the slums?" Subaru replied.

"Who else would I be talking about?" Rom snorted. "You know, Felt always hated being there… in the slums, I mean."

"Oh really? Didn't seem too thrilled about being a candidate either. What happened after Reinhard hauled you two away?" Subaru asked.

Rom leaned back. "We woke up in a room at the Astrea mansion in the capital. Reinhard made Felt hold a similar insignia to the one she stole, and it glowed. Then he told us we'd be staying at the mansion for the time being."

Subaru stared blankly. "Wait—he actually explained what the insignia was for, right?"

Rom's empty stare gave him the answer.

'Reinhard, buddy. You're a great guy, but can you be any more oblivious?' he thought, amused.

"And how did she find out? No way he kept it under wraps until the royal selection started."

Rom sighed. "You have no idea, kid. Took me, her, and the whole mansion staff to corner him and force him to talk. He eventually gave in."

"How'd she react? Because from what I saw, she wasn't thrilled," Subaru said.

"Pretty bad, actually. She wanted to drop out the moment she found out."

"But she stayed. Why?"

Rom grinned. "Because I convinced her. Told her it was a golden opportunity to shake up this cursed kingdom of ours. With a little push from Astrea, she finally came around."

He shifted his gaze to Subaru. "So, you were in the throne room, right? How'd it go?"

"To put it mildly, she declared war on everyone." Subaru spoke plainly, and Rom chuckled.

"That's the Felt I raised." he said proudly.

"You seem awfully calm about this. Shouldn't you be worried? The nobles, knights, and everyone in between weren't happy."

"Bah, no need to worry. The Sword Saint swore an oath to be her knight. She'll be fine."

"Oh, I guess that makes sense. No one's safer than having the Sword Saint as your knight, huh?" Subaru muttered.

His thoughts drifted back to Emilia—how they had mocked and insulted her. If she had a powerful knight by her side, would they have treated her differently?

Subaru shook his head. She didn't need a knight, and after today, he'd rather throw himself off a cliff than become one. Those bastards had shown their true colors. Well… most of them.

The door swung open, revealing three knights he recognized: Felix, Julius, and Reinhard.

Felix, as animated as ever, was the first to speak. "Ferris-chan must admit, that was quite the myove you pulled, Subaru-kun!" he purred.

Subaru shrugged. "Just said what needed to be said."

"If that's how Nyou feel, then Ferris-chan will take nyour word, Nyan!"

Reinhard took a step forward, hesitating. "Subaru…"

Subaru glanced at him. Reinhard must have been struggling to find the right words—what Subaru had done was beyond disrespectful. Speaking out against the nobility and the Sage Council in such a way was practically a crime.

And yet, for all his hesitation, Reinhard couldn't deny Subaru had a point. He might not have agreed with his approach, but the sentiment was clear.

More than that, Subaru had openly defended his lady in the throne room. Meanwhile, Reinhard—her sworn knight—had stood silent, allowing Felt to take the brunt of their rage.

Here was Subaru, a mere butler, standing up for his lady while Reinhard, the Sword Saint, watched in silence.

But then again, what else could he expect from himself? He was a monster at heart.

"Reinhard, let me handle this," Julius's voice cut through Reinhard's thoughts as he turned to Subaru.

"Natsuki Subaru," Julius addressed him, catching the attention of Reinhard and Felix, who exchanged glances.

"What is it?" Subaru responded, unenthusiastic at the thought of chatting with a knight.

Reinhard and Felix were different—they hadn't joined in mocking Emilia, unlike the other knights. Reinhard knew firsthand how cruel the nobles were.

Julius, on the other hand, served Lady Anastasia—who had openly mocked Emilia. That alone made Subaru wary of him.

"I get that you're in a foul mood, but that attitude doesn't suit you," Julius said.

Subaru frowned. "Just get to the point."

"I won't waste your time. You're coming with me."

Reinhard and Felix exchanged knowing glances. They had an idea where this was going.

"To where?" Subaru asked.

"You'll find out."

"Nope. My mom always said not to follow strangers, especially ones that won't tell you where they're taking you. So unless you start talking, I ain't budging," Subaru smirked.

Julius sighed. "…To the garrison. I think a lesson or two is in order."

---------------------------------

They made their way to the knight's garrison connected to the castle, a ten-minute walk at most.

Inside, Subaru was led to a specific area—a spacious circular space with a sandy floor, surrounded by rows upon rows of seats filled with spectators.

In essence, he had stepped into a small-scale Roman coliseum.

And the audience consisted entirely of knights.

"I guess that's what he meant by teaching me a lesson or two," Subaru mused, eyeing the knights glaring down at him. On the opposite side, Julius had removed the ceremonial adornments from his knight uniform and was idly swinging a wooden sword.

"Julius, you should rethink this; it's not like you," a certain sword saint urged, his voice carrying a plea.

"He disrespected and ridiculed the nobles at the conference, nearly harmed one of the sage councilmen, and insulted our chivalry. It needs to be done," Julius replied without hesitation, his gaze never leaving Subaru, who finished stretching with a casual shake of his arms.

"I'll admit he may have crossed the line in several ways, but I believe this isn't the right way to resolve it," Reinhard insisted.

Subaru scoffed and shook his head. "No, Reinhard. This is the perfect way to handle it. If he believes what I said was wrong, then I'll just humble him."

"But Subaru! Julius is a skilled knight and a fighter; you could get hurt…" Reinhard trailed off, concern thick in his tone.

Subaru turned to him in surprise before his lips curled into a gentle smile. "Reinhard, you're such a nice guy, you know that?" he said, making Reinhard blink in confusion.

"But you're worrying about the wrong person," Subaru added, shrugging off his suit coat and handing it to Reinhard. Without another word, he stepped forward.

Julius lifted his sword high for all to see. "I hereby impose the death penalty on this insubordinate man who has tarnished the honor of the knights and the kingdom!" His proclamation was met with loud cheers and shouts from the surrounding knights.

"Normally, such disrespect would lead to a death sentence, but since you are Emilia-sama's attendant, we will settle this with wooden swords instead," he continued.

"Knight Felix Argyle will act as referee for this duel. Any objections?" Julius asked.

"None from me," Subaru replied, accepting the sword from a grinning Felix, who seemed far too eager for what was about to unfold.

"Nyow that everyone has their weapons, take your positions so Ferris-chan can begin the countdown!" Felix instructed. Both compiled.

Julius stood sideways, his left arm tucked behind his back while his sword pointed forward.

Subaru stood casually, a hand in his pocket, completely unbothered by the impending duel—earning boos and jeers from the crowd.

"On the cwount of three, the duel will start, alright? One… Two… Three—"

"Hold on just a moment," Subaru interrupted, stopping Felix mid-count.

Felix blinked. "Huh?"

"I've heard that you have the 'Blue' because of your water magic skills. How good are you at healing?" Subaru asked, drawing curious looks from those around him.

"Well, mew is the best! As long as you're not dead, Ferris can heal you right back to full health!" Felix boasted with pride.

Subaru smirked. 'This is going to be good,' he thought. "Great, you can start counting now."

Felix nodded and resumed. "One… Two… Three!"

Julius began circling Subaru, mirroring his movements. "Julius, be honest with me. Do you truly think what you're doing is justified?"

"If your intention is to back out of the duel, I suggest you—"

"No, that's not my intention." Subaru cut him off. "I just want to understand your reasons behind this."

"Was it because of my comments? Or is your pride pushing you to do this?"

Julius tightened his grip on his sword. "You've committed an unforgivable offense, and as the Finest of Knights, I must respond accordingly."

"Even if my words were true?" Subaru shot back. "The knights should have intervened to stop the insults directed at their future queen, not participated in it. You saw it yourself."

"You called yourself Anastasia's knight, right? If she were in that situation, what would you have done? Remained silent? Accepted it? Or would you have stood up for her?"

Julius fell silent. His expression remained unreadable, but his mind was racing.

What would he have done? If, after Anastasia's announcement, she was met with mockery and laughter, how would he have reacted? What if even the councilmen ridiculed her?

But he didn't need to think long. His years of knightly training had ingrained his response into him.

"I see. You would have defended her just like I did, yet you want to punish me for standing up against the same unfairness. You're a hypocrite, Julius," Subaru remarked, his tone carrying amusement rather than disgust.

"But then again, your lady is a greedy bitch, so it's no surprise she would attract—"

"I won't put up with your disrespect any longer." Julius cut him off, rare anger creeping into his voice as he lunged forward, sword raised to strike—

He was sent flying.

His body tumbled through the air, kicking up sand before coming to a staggering halt.

The crowd gasped, but their reactions were drowned out by the ringing in his right ear. His entire right side pulsed with pain.

Blinking to refocus, he touched the swelling on his face, wincing. His vision adjusted.

Ahead stood Subaru, lowering his leg with a broad grin, adjusting his sunglasses.

How the hell had that butler nearly taken him down in one blow?

"See? The moment I insulted her, you jumped into action—just like I did. But somehow, I'm the one in the wrong, not you. What a disgusting man," Subaru scoffed.

Then his expression darkened as he tilted his sunglasses to glare at him.

"Well, Mister 'Finest of Knights,' you'd better brace yourself." He snapped the wooden hilt in his hand, breaking his sword.

Julius wiped the blood from his lips and steeled himself. This time, he wouldn't take his opponent lightly.

He was riling him up, and he had fallen for it—hook, line, and sinker.

"Because I'm about to give you the beating of a lifetime."

Julius swung his sword in a sharp arc, aiming straight for Subaru, but the butler slipped out of reach with effortless ease. Frustrated, Julius struck again, only for Subaru to evade once more. He adjusted his stance and aimed low, hoping to catch his opponent off guard, yet Subaru simply jumped over the incoming attack as if it were nothing.

"Too slow! You'll have to do better than that!" Subaru taunted, his voice carrying over the arena. He suddenly surged forward, closing the gap between them in an instant. Julius anticipated the move and retaliated with a precise strike, but Subaru swiftly raised his arms in an X shape to intercept the blow. The wooden blade collided with his forearm—but Subaru didn't flinch, didn't react at all, an unnatural resilience that caught Julius off guard.

Capitalizing on the moment, Subaru thrust his arms high, forcing Julius's sword arm upward and knocking him off balance. Julius faltered, instinctively throwing a punch, but Subaru was already moving—his body tilting effortlessly to avoid the strike.

Then came the counterattack.

Subaru's fist crashed into Julius's face, sending pain ricocheting through his skull. Before he could recover, a second blow landed against his stomach, knocking the breath from his lungs. Then, without warning, Subaru struck again—his uppercut connecting brutally with Julius's jaw, snapping his head backward.

The world spun around him. His vision blurred.

Desperate to regain control, Julius swung his sword wildly, aiming to strike Subaru's skull with the hilt. But Subaru reacted instantly—his arm shooting out, fingers closing around Julius's wrist with an iron grip.

With a sudden, violent tug, Subaru yanked Julius's face toward him. The impact shattered Julius's nose, sending white-hot pain surging through his senses. His sword arm twisted unnaturally, a sharp, grinding agony forcing a choked grunt from his lips. His fingers spasmed, and his weapon fell, clattering uselessly against the sand.

Before he could even process what had happened, Subaru struck again—repeated, almost casual blows raining down on him. Punches and slaps came in rapid succession, leaving Julius dazed, his body unable to respond, his limbs sluggish and weak. Then, as if to solidify his dominance, Subaru's hand slammed deep into his stomach.

The force made Julius choke on his own blood. His jaw throbbed, his shattered teeth grinding against one another as he gasped desperately for air.

Seizing Julius's limp arm, Subaru pivoted, dragging him forward before slamming him viciously into the ground. Julius's back collided painfully with the surface beneath him, a scream tearing from his throat.

And Subaru wasn't done.

He twisted Julius's arm, pressing down relentlessly. A sickening crack echoed across the arena as the limb bent at an unnatural angle, eliciting another agonized cry from the fallen knight.

Crouching beside him, Subaru took in his battered opponent with a smirk. "You'd better hope that knight training you went through conditioned your body, Julius."

His grin widened, dark amusement flickering in his gaze.

"Your beating is about to begin,"

Julius could only tremble, helpless, as he met Subaru's cold, smiling face.

---------------------------------

"Reporting! Reporting!"

The heavy clanking of armor echoed through the throne room as a knight rushed inside, urgency etched across his face.

"Knight Julius Juukulius and Natsuki Subaru are engaged in a mock duel with wooden swords at the training arena!" he announced, his voice loud and clear.

Emilia's eyes widened in shock, her heart pounding at the news.

"What?! No! I need to stop Subaru before he—"

"I just have one question," Anastasia interrupted, her sharp gaze fixed on the messenger.

"Which one of 'em started the duel?" she asked.

The knight hesitated before answering, "Uh, it was Knight Julius-sama who issued the challenge, and Natsuki Subaru accepted, which led to the duel."

"In that case, let them keep fighting," she said casually, waving him off.

Emilia frowned. "But your knight and my friend are fighting! Aren't you worried?"

"Worried? About what?" Anastasia replied dismissively. "That Julius might go too far an' hurt him? Not that he don' deserve it, mind you. Your friend shows no respect whatsoever."

"N-no, it's just…" Emilia started, but she struggled to put her thoughts into words. It wasn't Subaru she was worried about. She knew how strong he was. Her concern was for—

"Pfft. She's not worried about him, ya moron." Felt smirked, cutting in without hesitation.

Anastasia raised an eyebrow, a mix of confusion and irritation flashing in her expression. "Excuse me?"

"It's your knight she's worried about, not big bro," Felt said, her smirk widening at Anastasia's bewildered look.

Regaining her composure, Anastasia scoffed, arms crossing. "Why would the half-elf be worried about my knight? He's 'er friend, right? She should get her priorities straight."

Felt laughed at the naivety. "Wow, you really don't get it, do you? Your knight doesn't even know who he's up against."

Turning to Emilia, Felt tugged her arm insistently. "Come on, big sis! Let's see how big bro is doing!"

With surprising strength for a fifteen-year-old, she practically dragged the anxious half-elf along, her excitement unmistakable. Felt was more than ready to watch a pampered noble knight get what was coming to him.

Priscilla, ever reluctant to admit agreement with others, finally spoke. "As much as I despise saying it, the insufferable brat is correct. Your fool of a knight is utterly oblivious to the predicament he has found himself in." She lifted her fan, partially obscuring her face, catching both Anastasia and the quiet Crusch off guard.

"Aldebaran, let's go. My divine self wants to see what has become of She-Fox's knight," she declared before smoothly tucking the fan away—into her cleavage, of course. With her usual elegance, she sauntered off, a knowing smile gracing her lips.

Anastasia and Crusch remained in the throne hall, the merchant still bristling with confusion.

What did they mean? Worry about her knight?

Julius was strong! She had seen his skill firsthand! There was no way that arrogant butler could be a real threat.

"We should go see the duel for ourselves, Anastasia-san," Crusch suggested, turning toward her.

Anastasia hesitated briefly before breaking into a confident smile. "You're right; I wouldn't mind seeing that boy get what he deserves," she said, striding away with renewed determination.

Crusch silently observed her departure. She hadn't outright admitted it—but she didn't truly believe Julius would win.

The butler they had witnessed earlier… Though his behavior was unrefined, rude even, there was something undeniably dangerous about him. Something that told her he was far from ordinary.

And just like that, the royal candidates left, the conference they were in—forgotten.

---------------------------------

"Tell me, Julius. What did I say that was so wrong, hmm?" Subaru demanded, his glare cutting into the fallen knight.

"You're all just a bunch of bullies, pretending to be something greater when you're really just scum," he spat, his strike snapping across Julius's face.

"Disgusting."

Another strike.

"Hypocrites."

A brutal blow.

"Liars."

A vicious kick sent Julius reeling.

He lay broken—arms twisted, ribs cracked, bruises blooming across his battered body. Blood pooled beneath him, his once-pristine uniform now ruined. The shattered teeth scattered beside him were proof enough of his downfall.

Subaru wielded Julius's own sword against him—the cruelest insult a knight could suffer.

Yet, even as he crumpled, Julius remained defiant. His swollen eyes burned with resistance—a flicker Subaru recognized.

"Tenacious bastard, huh?" Subaru mused, crouching beside him. "Is it your so-called knightly pride keeping you going?"

Julius tried to speak, but only a ragged gurgle escaped.

"Pride?" Subaru scoffed. "Here's a reality check—you never had any to begin with."

He leaned in closer. "Look at yourself. Broken. Beaten. All because of a fucking butler. Where's your honor now?" His voice dripped with contempt. "You're pathetic."

Julius barely managed a strained gasp. "E... Eve...n so... I... wo...n...t su...r...en...der..."

Subaru frowned. Not enough.

"Tell me, Julius." His tone dropped, cold and sharp. "Do you know why I haven't used magic yet?"

Julius's gaze locked onto his.

"Because you're weak. Magic would be overkill. A man like you? You'll never amount to anything. Never become a true knight."

His words dug deep, cutting sharper than any blade.

"Your strength? Your honor? All a joke. You're an ant, and men like me crush ants without a second thought." Subaru's smirk widened. "You were arrogant enough to think you could beat me with just a wooden sword. Look where that got you."

"You are not a knight, Julius. Just a fraud masquerading as one."

Julius's last ember of defiance flickered—then died.

His body went slack, his consciousness slipping away, unable to withstand the truth or the pain any longer.

Subaru straightened, adjusting his sunglasses. "Well, he's down for the count. Guess I win."

The knights, who had been silent since Julius took that first hit, now stared at Subaru with expressions of disbelief, shock, and fear.

Felix and Reinhard stood unmoving, taking in the battered state of their friend. Felix, a medic, could see the severity of Julius's injuries at a glance, while Reinhard felt a deep sadness that things had come to this—a battle between comrades that had spiraled so far.

The atmosphere was so still that even a pin drop would have echoed through the training grounds, until hurried footsteps shattered the silence.

Emilia and Felt arrived at the scene. Emilia gasped at the sight before her, her hand flying to her mouth in horror.

Felt, on the other hand, wore a wide grin, thoroughly enjoying the spectacle in contrast to Emilia's distress.

Then more footsteps approached—Crusch, Anastasia, Priscilla, and Al followed shortly after.

"See? What did I tell you? There's no way Julius would..." Anastasia started, but her words faltered as her gaze landed on her knight—one of the kingdom's strongest—lying in ruin on the ground.

Shock coursed through Anastasia, leaving her with too many unanswered questions. How did this happen? Who was that butler? And how had he managed to defeat one of the best knights in such a brutal manner?

The sound of laughter pulled her from her thoughts. She turned to find Felt pointing directly at her, her expression dripping with mockery.

"Hahaha! I guess big sis will have to pay for your knight's treatment!" Felt taunted, laughing right in Anastasia's face.

Priscilla observed the scene before nodding in approval. "That commoner is worth more than your knight, she-fox. He's earned my respect."

She shifted her gaze to her jester. "Tell me, Al, what's the first thing that comes to that empty head of yours when you see this?"

"I'd say the word you're looking for is 'pathetic,' princess. Pal really did a number on him," Al replied. Priscilla's mocking grin only widened as she turned her attention back to Anastasia.

Humiliation and anger flushed Anastasia's face as her political rivals ridiculed her. She stormed off, unable to bear it. Everything had gone horribly wrong.

Crusch remained silent, equally taken aback. She had anticipated Julius's defeat, of course—this man who had so boldly defended his lady before the entire conference and silenced any opposition was no ordinary butler. The messenger had warned that the duel had been one-sided, but even with that knowledge, seeing the sheer scale of Julius's loss was staggering.

"Subaru..." Emilia's voice was barely a whisper. She had so many questions, yet none of them would form into words.

"Emilia." Subaru didn't meet her gaze. Concern, shock, and hurt were all present in her expression, but what stood out to him—the thing he was forced to acknowledge—was something far worse.

It was fear.

The same fear the knights and nobles had felt toward him.

"I'll be at the inn, alright?" he said, walking past her without making eye contact. The moment hurt him more than he could admit—especially the way she flinched slightly when he stepped closer.

After the eventful "duel," one thing had become clear to everyone.

With the backing of a court mage, a Great Spirit, and a butler strong enough to dismantle one of the kingdom's finest knights, the Emilia camp was not to be underestimated.