"Here."
Felt obediently handed over the badge she'd stolen from Satella.
It was a breastpin emblazoned with a dragon—its design extraordinary. It fit neatly in the palm; the material was hard to place, but the wyvern motif was intricate, and most striking was the red gem clutched in the dragon's open jaws. The gem gave off a faint, hazy glow.
"No reaction…?" Shichen muttered.
He'd half expected that, with his "aptitude," the badge might react to him. Guess he'd overthought it. Maybe it was because he wasn't from this world. Just as well—he had no desire to play the cuckold.
"Not bad," he said, ruffling Felt's hair to reassure her.
"Mm…" Perhaps because he'd seen everything earlier, Felt stiffened under his touch, not quite used to it.
Shichen smiled at her, then stepped over to Satella. He held the badge out to her.
"I believe that counts as 'mission accomplished,' doesn't it?"
"Thank you…"
Satella's smile bloomed as she reached for it—only for Shichen to draw it back.
"Shichen?" she asked, puzzled.
"You can have it—but answer me one question," he said with a smile.
"A question? Okay."
"Then tell me your true name."
"Eh?" Satella froze, violet eyes fixed on him, unblinking.
"Heh. If I'm not mistaken, 'Satella' isn't your real name, is it? When you said it, it was obvious you didn't like it… Tell me your true name."
"H-how did you know?" she asked, stunned.
"Just a hunch. I don't know what 'Satella' signifies, but it's clearly not your name."
"…I see. Sorry—'Satella' isn't my name. My name is Emilia. Just Emilia."
The girl's smile was radiant.
"Emilia, huh? Lovely name. Then let's return it to its owner."
He lifted her hand by the back and pressed the badge into her palm with the other. Even that brief touch told him her hand was delicate—and cool as ice.
"Mm!"
Emilia nodded vigorously and closed her fingers over the badge. Where there had been no reaction in Shichen's hand, in hers it flared brilliantly.
The dragon crest—the symbol of the Dragon Kingdom of Lugunica—was rejoicing to be back with its master.
"It's glowing? What is that thing?" Subaru leaned in, asking at last. He'd finally recovered a bit—now that the threat and the horror had passed and the fight was over.
"Subaru… stand there for a second," Shichen said flatly, pointing behind him.
"Here? Why?" Subaru took two steps back.
Snap.
Shichen snapped his fingers. A curtain of water poured from thin air inside the warehouse and drenched Subaru head to toe.
"Blblbl—Aniki? What's this?" Subaru whimpered when the water stopped.
"You're filthy. I'm washing you."
"But now I'm soaked. It's kind of cold."
"Leave it to me."
Shichen snapped again. The holy fire dropped from the ceiling and drifted toward Subaru.
"Eee—! Wait! Hold on! Don't come any closer!"
"Don't be afraid—it won't hurt you," Shichen said calmly.
"R-really?" Nervous but trusting Shichen, Subaru stood still. The holy fire wrapped him and began evaporating the water.
"It really doesn't hurt," he said, amazed, bathed in the flame.
"How did you do that?" Emilia asked, curious.
"Simple. The flame is mine. Of course it obeys me. I will it to burn what I want, and only that."
"I figured… but that's no ordinary fire, is it?"
"Clever," Shichen said, reaching out to commend her with a pat on the head.
"You're doing that again… Do you take me for a child?" Emilia puffed her cheeks, glaring.
"Didn't you say you don't mind it?"
"That doesn't mean you can treat me like a kid."
"It's praise."
"…Fine," she said, conceding—barely.
"Uh… Aniki, could you not flaunt your lovey-dovey stuff right in front of me?" Subaru blurted.
He was spotless now—nary a speck of dirt left.
"L-lovey-dovey?!" Emilia squeaked, flushing as she shied away from Shichen's hand.
"You talk too much," Shichen said, giving Subaru a look.
"Ahem—Aniki, spare a thought for a single guy's feelings, would you?"
"I've helped you plenty. What more do you want?"
"Fair point…"
Subaru thought it over. Without Shichen, he'd have been beaten senseless—or stabbed—or dead on the floor. And he wouldn't have stood by if he'd met Emilia—her looks alone were enough to strip a man's reason. As a transmigrant, of course he'd fantasized about rescuing a beauty and winning her heart. Unfortunately, reality didn't allow it.
Same isekai, such a gap…
"Aniki, is there any chance I could become as strong as you?" Subaru asked, hopeful.
"Want the truth or a lie?"
"…That sounds bad."
"Then the lie first?"
"Hit me." Subaru braced himself.
"The lie is… you have a chance."
"Eh—then I'm doomed," he slumped.
"Isn't there still the truth?" Shichen smiled.
"Isn't the truth just the opposite?" Subaru had no hope.
"No. The truth is the same."
"Eh? So… I can? Really?" Hope sprung anew.
"Work hard," Shichen said, patting his shoulder in encouragement.
"Right! I will! I won't let you down, Aniki."
"Mm… By the way, don't you want to go back?"
"Go back? You mean… I can?"
"No."
"…Then why bring it up?"
"Just asking."
"Want to? …I do. But with what's happened, I don't think it'll be easy. Maybe I have to complete some kind of task first," Subaru said, thinking it through.
"Not bad—you read a lot of light novels," Shichen chuckled.
"I am a shut-in."
"What's your plan next?"
"Me? I don't really—"
"Seems I'm a little late," a man's voice came from the doorway.
They turned. A young man stood there—no one knew when he'd appeared. What struck the eye first was his hair, blazing red like flame, and beneath it eyes of dazzling blue that outshone mere bravery. His features were impossibly handsome; his bearing, upright and resolute—one glance told you he was someone extraordinary. He was slender and tall in a perfectly tailored black outfit, a knight's sword at his waist radiating unusual pressure.
"Reinhard—what brings you here?" Emilia said, naming him.
"Emilia-sama." Reinhard bowed a knight's salute and stepped inside, his gaze settling on Shichen.
"Reinhard? The Sword Saint?" Shichen said, playing dumb. He knew him all too well—the "main character" of this world, you could say. Doing whatever he willed, fate bending to him, getting whatever he needed—this world's favorite son. Thankfully, he was righteous to a fault—he'd never abuse his power.
Maybe that was why he was the world's favorite son.
"Hello. Please—call me Reinhard," he said with a slight smile.
"Is that so? Then call me Shichen."
"Shichen. Understood."
"Aniki, who is he?" Subaru whispered.
"The protagonist of this world. Make friends with him—you won't regret it," Shichen whispered back.
"What?!"
Subaru's eyes bulged; then he stepped forward, excited. "Hello! I'm Natsuki Subaru! Pleased to meet you!"
"Natsuki Subaru? I'll remember it," Reinhard said, flashing a bright smile that dazzled Subaru for a moment.
"Could you tell me what happened here?" Reinhard asked Emilia.
She looked to Shichen; when he nodded, she began to explain.
~~~
Patreon(.)com/Bleam
— Currently You can Read 220+ Chapters Ahead of Others!