Subaru’s New Pet & Love Rivalry

Subaru was in a bit of a difficult situation.

It was now the third day of their stay at the Karsten estate, and it had been decided that the Emilia camp and the villagers of Arlam would finally head home.

The extended stay was necessary to ensure that the area was safe and free from any lingering witch cultists.

By this third day, it was approved that the people of Alarm village could safely return to their homes.

Subaru woke up early to share the good news, bringing relief to the villagers who were growing anxious about being away from their families and livelihoods.

With Felix by his side, they began making preparations for departure. Extra carriages were being utilized to transport the villagers, along with supplies and some men to ensure their safety.

Meanwhile, Crusch had invited Emilia for an important conversation. Since Subaru was occupied, he sent Rem to accompany her.

This left Subaru and Felix to handle the organization, so what could possibly go wrong?

As part of the preparations, they needed to wake, feed, and ready the ground dragons in the stable for the journey. Although Subaru had limited knowledge about ground dragons and their behavior, he managed to handle it fairly well.

However, when a certain black ground dragon completely ignored the food offered and instead chose to follow you around for no apparent reason.

That would certainly create a problem.

And that was precisely the predicament Subaru found himself in.

"...Can I help you?"

He called out to the black ground dragon, which halted its movement at the sound of his voice.

It didn't respond in any way, merely fixating its beady yellow eyes on him.

"Are you hungry? You know I left some food where you were sleeping," he suggested, gesturing in that direction.

"…"

The ground dragon remained silent, its gaze still locked on him. Subaru felt utterly perplexed about how to proceed.

He wasn't particularly well-versed in ground dragons; that was mostly Rem's area of expertise. So, he was at a loss regarding this unusual behavior.

It didn't exhibit any aggression; it wasn't tense or agitated, nor was it relaxed and passive. Instead, it simply observed him, much like a spectator watching an animal from a distance.

Now, Subaru was unsure how to handle the situation. He could try to shoo it away, but he had already attempted that, and it had ignored his efforts. He certainly didn't want to harm it, especially since it belonged to the Karsten house, and it hadn't attacked him like Grumpy, the green ground dragon he and Rem bought in the capital.

Should he ask Felix for assistance? Subaru dismissed that thought. Knowing that mischievous cat, he was likely hiding behind a rock, enjoying the show of Subaru's struggle.

'The hell does this stupid ground dragon want? Does it want to eat me? Hell no! I'm not food—'

As he pondered this, the ground dragon approached him, standing directly in front of him. Without hesitation, it leaned its head forward, opened its mouth, and… licked his face.

This was no ordinary lick; it was slow, deliberate, and traveled from his chin all the way to his forehead. Even his poor sunglasses weren't spared.

"…Eh?"

'Did it just… lick me?!' Subaru was utterly shocked by the audacity and felt a wave of disgust as he quickly wiped his face clean.

To make matters worse, the saliva from the ground dragon was stickier and thicker than that of regular animals, and his efforts to clean himself only made things worse, leaving the front of his Jujutsu outfit soaked in the goo.

It seemed his automatic infinity feature needed some adjustments, particularly in the "large Lizards" category.

"That's surprising. I didn't think she would find someone she liked so fast," a voice remarked from the side. Subaru turned to see who it was.

With grey hair, green attire, dark green hood, and a decorated green hat, the figure looked oddly familiar. 

"…Do I know you?" he asked.

"You already forgot me?!" the person exclaimed, clearly outraged. Subaru got the sense that this was a common occurrence for him.

"Well, excuse me, but you're not exactly the most memorable person here. And that greener pasture's wardrobe doesn't help your case."

"Greener pasture—?!" the man started to protest but quickly shook his head, "Gah, don't sidetrack me! It's me! Otto Suwen! The guy you saved from those cultists a few days ago!"

Subaru rubbed his chin thoughtfully until a light bulb went off in his mind. "Oh! You're the one they were going to roast alive, right?"

"Could you at least show some sensitivity when you say that?! I still have nightmares about it!" 

"Well, you're still alive, so there's no point in whining about it, okay?" He gave the man a reassuring pat on the back.

Subaru didn't know much about this guy, but something told him that this Otto was the kind of person who could be easily teased.

A type that he and Satoru loved to mess around with.

Subaru couldn't help but smirk at Pandora's box's worth of opportunity that laid before him.

"So, what is it that you need? And what do you mean by saying she took a liking to me? did you see what she did to my clothes?!" he said, gesturing to the damaged fabric.

"Right. I know I've expressed this before, but I truly appreciate you saving my life. If you hadn't been there to take out those cultists, I can't even imagine how painful my death would have been," Otto said, bowing deeply in gratitude.

Subaru waved his hand dismissively. "No need to mention it. Those scum would have killed everyone if they had the chance; I was just doing my job."

He then pointed to the affectionate creature beside him. "And what's this thing? What do you mean she took a liking to me?"

Otto cleared his throat slightly. "Let me explain. This ground dragon belongs to the Diana species, known for their pride and stubbornness, especially regarding their riders."

He gestured toward the ground dragon. "From her behavior, it seems she has chosen you as the most suitable rider, which is why she's been following you around."

Subaru listened, absorbing Otto's words, then turned to the ground dragon, who was now gazing at him with eager eyes.

He began to view the female ground dragon in a new light. She wasn't just being a nuisance or trailing him to irritate him; she was following him because, out of everyone, she had chosen him as her ideal rider.

At that moment, Subaru felt a surge of warmth in his heart. 'Is this what pet owners experience when their pets show affection? Why didn't I get one sooner?!'

But true to his nature, Subaru had to respond with a bit of bravado. 

"Of course she did; this is me we're talking about. Everyone wants a piece of me, right?"

"Kyaa!" The ground dragon made a sound that seemed to agree.

"I... I guess so?" Otto chuckled nervously. What was he supposed to say in response to that?

Subaru extended his hand toward her, and the ground dragon responded, the texture of her rough scales brushing against his skin. There was no doubt that those scales could cause harm if someone wasn't strong enough.

"Aww, aren't you just the cutest little ground dragon? You even act like a puppy," he said with a warm smile.

The ground dragon seemed to appreciate the affection, as evidenced by the soft rumble that emanated from her.

"If you're going to be my pet—No, my partner-in-crime, how about I give you a name?" he suggested, and the creature looked at him with anticipation, clearly on board with the idea.

He rested his hand on his chin, pondering for a moment until a fitting name popped into his head.

"I think I'll call you 'Patrasche'. What do you think?"

The ground dragon responded in the simplest way possible—by licking the hand that was petting her.

'Bleh! Note to self: prioritizing adjustments to infinity's blocking properties and parameters is now a top priority,' he thought, quickly realizing this would likely become a common, troublesome occurrence.

Meanwhile, Otto watched the scene unfold with a knowing smile, sensing the warmth in Subaru's heart. A ground dragon was a lifelong loyal companion, making the bond all the more special, at least in his view.

It was then that he noticed Subaru clear his throat while glancing at him. It was hard to read his expression behind those weird lenses on him. Even Patrasche seemed to be observing him closely.

Was he staring at them?

"So, do you have something else to say, or should we go on our merry way?" he asked.

Otto quickly shook his head. "No! W-well, there is something I'd like to discuss with you, Natsuki-san. I was hoping to take a moment of your time."

Subaru paused for a moment for a moment but replied, "Sure, I'm listening."

Otto quickly composed himself, adopting a serious expression to mask his nervousness, which Subaru picked up on immediately.

"I would like to offer my services to Emilia-sama's camp."

Subaru raised an eyebrow at this unexpected proposal. "Services?" he echoed, intrigued.

Otto nodded. "I've been a traveling merchant for years, and during that time, I've picked up a variety of skills. I believe these skills could greatly benefit you and Emilia-sama's cause."

Subaru listened intently, examining Otto with his Six Eyes. A traveling merchant often learns many tricks and builds valuable connections and knowledge. Given that Emilia could use someone with such expertise, and he didn't seem to be lying, Subaru found this to be a compelling offer.

Yet, what truly caught his attention was something else entirely.

'Looks like this Otto guy's more interesting than he looks,' he mused.

A smirk crept onto his face, which quickly drew Otto's worry. He was going to mess around with the merchant first.

"…You can talk with animals, can't you?" 

In an instant, Otto's composed merchant persona shattered like a house of cards.

"W-w-what?! What d-do you m-mean?"

"I mean exactly what I said. You can talk to animals, right?"

"No! I mean—no—I think you're mistaken?! Yes! You're definitely mistaken! I can't talk to animals at all! Yeah!" He nodded vigorously, attempting to persuade Subaru—or perhaps himself—of his own lie.

"Really?" Subaru raised an eyebrow. "So, the Divine Protection of Soul Language doesn't sound familiar?"

'Ehhh?! He knows?! How?!' Otto felt a lump form in his throat from the shock and disbelief.

What Subaru said was indeed true. Otto possessed the Divine Protection of Soul Language, which enabled him to understand and converse with animals.

What shocked him was how Subaru had discovered this secret.

From a young age, Otto had learned to conceal this ability to safeguard himself and those around him.

Standing out was generally unwise, especially when possessing a powerful and sought after skill like his. It was even more important in a world rife with intrigue, competition, and betrayal, such as the merchant realm.

How did Natsuki Subaru find out about this when only his family was aware?

Disregarding Otto's distress, Subaru turned to Patrasche and asked, "He can talk with you, right?"

"Kyaa!" Patrasche responded affirmatively, leaving Otto feeling betrayed by the ground dragon.

She had just confirmed it and purposely ignored all his pleas! He had promised to help her find a suitable companion, and she had just turned on him like that! Even if she had discovered someone on her own, she could have at least shown some loyalty!

Subaru then faced the anxious Otto, a broad smirk evident on his face.

With a resigned sigh, Otto slumped, realizing when it was time to concede. This was one of those moments.

"…Yes. I can talk to animals."

"Great! Welcome aboard, Otto!" Subaru exclaimed, clapping his hands with a cheerful grin.

"Yeah, I get it—wait, what?" Otto's spirits lifted slightly as he processed Subaru's words. Was he really being accepted?

Suddenly, a hand grabbed him by the collar of his cloak, and with a startled yelp, he was tossed into the air, landing on Patrasche, who caught him with ease.

"You drive a hard bargain, Otto! And while you're easy to tease, I belive someone with your talents would fit in perfectly!" Subaru assessed the merchant enthusiastically.

Otto lifted his head in surprise and joy. "R-really?!"

"Absolutely! But first, you'll need to speak with Emilia and her sponsor, Roswaal, before anything can happen."

"Okay! But hold on, my services aren't free! I have this shipment of oil that I want you to buy—"

"Boring. Whatever term you have you can hash it out with Roswaal, not me." Subaru interrupted before Otto could continue.

"Come on, Patrasche, let's go. We've wasted enough time, and I'd rather not listen to the cat's whining." He patted the dragon on the head, and she let out a screech.

And that's the story of how Subaru and his partner, Patrasche, acquired their new pet.

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

"Emilia-sama, Subaru, I would be more than happy to host you and your camp for as long as you need."

"Thank you for your kind offer, Crusch-san. However, you've already been incredibly generous by allowing us to stay here for this long, and we want to ensure the villagers can return home."

At this point, the carriages were all arranged and parked at the estate gates, with soldiers on ground dragons positioned on either side.

Subaru, Emilia, and Crusch stood at the front, where Crusch was there to bid them farewell.

"Once things calm down, we'd love to take you up on that offer and come visit," Subaru suggested, surprising the candidates.

Emilia quickly regained her composure and agreed, "Y-yes! We truly enjoyed our time here, and we would be more than happy to visit you later."

Crusch couldn't help but smile at their words, "I look forward to it then."

She then turned to Emilia and nodded, "I also want to thank you for accepting my proposal; I believe it will be beneficial for both sides."

Emilia nodded in response, "Of course. I still need to discuss it with Roswaal, but I'm confident he'll welcome it."

'Offer? What offer? Is that why Crusch wanted to talk to Emilia?' he was curious about the nature of the offer Crusch might have made to her, when another voice interrupted his thoughts.

"Subaru-kun, Otto-san and Rem have finished loading everything, and we're all set to go," Rem announced, glancing out the front window.

Subaru nodded in response and then turned to Patrasche. "Are you excited for your first trip on the road, girl?" he said, gently stroking the ground dragon's head, which she enjoyed.

"Are you sure I can keep her?" he asked the matriarch of the Karsten family.

"Of course! I was quite surprised to learn that she finally chose someone to be her owner after so many months of searching," she replied.

"What's surprising about it? It's called 'Love at First Sight,' and the adorable Patrasche here was drawn in by my charm!"

"Indeed, I suppose I should get used to it considering you are a man full of surprises, Subaru."

"You got that right!"

They both laughed, while Emilia watched from the sidelines, a small smile on her face. Yet, witnessing Subaru and Crusch's friendly interaction stirred an unfamiliar feeling in her chest.

She couldn't quite identify it, but it was uncomfortable, causing a suffocating in her chest.

After their brief laughter, another voice joined the conversation—none other than Crusch's knight, Felix.

"Subawu-kyun!" he called out, hurrying over with his tail swishing behind him and his ears flapping excitedly, holding a small wooden box.

"Ah, there you are, Cat-ears! Are you here to say goodbye too?" Subaru asked the feline demi-human.

"Even better! Ferris-chan has something important for nyou, and mew's sure nyou'll love it!" he exclaimed, presenting the wooden box to him.

"For me?" Subaru raised an eyebrow as he accepted the box, noticing the key attached to its side. The box was made of brown oak and had a simple design.

"What's inside?"

"A surprise~" 

Subaru had anticipated the cat's reaction, so he simply rolled his eyes and retrieved the key tucked away at the side. He unlocked the box and opened it to reveal its contents.

Inside, the box was lined with a luxurious red fabric, reminiscent of what you might find in a jewelry box, and resting on this soft lining was the tip of what appeared to be a curved horn.

Subaru's eyes widened in recognition as he realized whose horn it was.

"Is that the horn from the White Whale?!" he exclaimed, drawing Emilia's attention and surprise.

Felix nodded enthusiastically, "That's right! It took quite a while to carve it out, and it's a gift from Crusch-sama herself! Nyou should be very grateful to her!"

Suddenly in the spotlight, Crusch felt her face heat up a bit Subaru turned his gaze toward her.

"Really? You did this for me?" 

She maintained her composure and nodded, "Yes. The hero who slayed the White Whale deserves a trophy to honor his achievement, and what better way to do that than with a piece of the fallen beast?"

Subaru glanced down at the horn in the box, then back at the duchess, giving her a smile that made her heart flutter.

"Thank you so much; I'll take good care of it."

"No need to thank me; we're friends, after all. It's only natural for us to exchange gifts."

But that wasn't her true intention. After the whale was defeated, her men had collected the remains, which were minimal after Subaru's devastating blow, so they only retrieved the horn that had fallen. She decided to cut a piece from it to give to Subaru as a token of gratitude and to strengthen their relationship.

But now, with her newfound romantic feelings for him, the gift served another purpose: to get close to him

What he accomplished was nothing short of heroic. He arrived just in time to save her life, vanquish a legendary beast, and push back against a fanatical organization that had never faced defeat.

His actions resembled those found in fantasy tales, the kind that would make women swoon, imagining themselves as the princess being rescued by a gallant hero.

Although Crusch may not have been the epitome of femininity, she was still a woman at heart, and wouldn't mind being swept off her feet by a hero like Natsuki Subaru.

Meanwhile, Emilia felt a tightening in her chest, a growing discomfort as she watched him bond with her rival candidate. She didn't like it one bit and wished she could cling to Subaru and never let go.

From the carriage, Rem shot a glare at the wooden box, her expression adorably pouting. How could she have overlooked such a small yet significant gesture?! She should have been the one to present Subaru-kun with a gift, but Crusch had beaten her to it!

Unbeknownst to them, a three-way rivalry was brewing: a duchess vying for the man's affection, a maid longing for her love to be returned, and a clueless half-elf wishing to keep him close.

What they didn't realize was that they were already at a disadvantage, as another girl had already secured a place in his heart, her beady yellow-eyes watching the three of them with a smug sense of superiority.

Meanwhile, poor Subaru remained blissfully unaware of it all, simply enjoying his gift while Felix and Otto felt a chill run down their spines as the mounting tension threatened to overwhelm them both.

After saying their farewells, Emilia and Subaru got into the carriage, while a sweaty Otto hesitantly took the reins. They departed from the estate, with the candidate and knight duo waving until they were no longer visible on the horizon.

Crusch turned back toward the estate, a smile lighting up her face; the smile Subaru had given her was more precious than gold. Meanwhile, Felix's feline features finally relaxed as the strange tension in the air dissipated.