"Actually... this isn't the first time I've met him."
After a moment, the Shogun spoke these words.
"Eh? Not the first time? Then... when did you meet him before?"
Emilia asked curiously. As she spoke, she glanced toward Natsuki Subaru in the distance.
"Haa... during the previous loop."
She didn't bother hiding it and said it directly.
"Loop?"
Puck scratched his head in confusion. It was the first time he had heard that word.
"Lo—what do you mean? Shogun? I don't really understand..."
Emilia looked completely puzzled. The word "loop" made little sense to her.
"Actually, I can't explain it perfectly either. Rather than calling it a 'loop,' it might be more straightforward to say... a 'previous life.'"
She frowned slightly as she tried to explain.
"A previous... life? His? Natsuki Subaru's?"
Emilia asked.
"Correct. Haa... to put it simply, he has already died once."
She changed the angle of her explanation.
"He died once? Then why is he still alive?"
Emilia asked.
"No, I'm more curious what you mean by 'already died.'"
Puck shrugged. Could the boy resurrect from the dead?
"This boy named Natsuki Subaru seems to possess some kind of ability that allows him to rewind time."
She said.
"Rewind... time?" ×2
The two of them exclaimed in surprise.
"Mm-hm."
She nodded.
"Wait—! Forget about time rewinding for a moment. Why would you know something like that, Shogun?"
Emilia shook her head and asked.
"That story is rather long..."
She sighed and then began explaining everything that had happened before.
From the first time she went to find Emilia, to encountering Felt fleeing, picking up the badge she had dropped, the apple stand owned by the old man, Rom's loot house, Rom being killed by the Bowel Hunter, and Natsuki Subaru dying while on the verge of death.
She described the entire sequence of events.
Of course, the key point was the strange phenomenon that occurred during the battle with the Bowel Hunter, as well as the black energy that emerged from Natsuki Subaru's corpse, followed by the second time the timeline reset.
"..." ×2
Throughout the explanation, both the girl and the cat were completely stunned, staring blankly without moving.
"...That's everything."
She exhaled and concluded her explanation.
"So all of that actually happened?!"
Emilia blinked in bewilderment, looking utterly confused.
"Although it's hard to believe... since it's you saying it, Shogun, we're willing to believe it."
Puck floated slightly in the air with his paws folded, nodding seriously. The woman before him was not the type to make ridiculous claims.
"Mm. Like I said before, I trust the Shogun. But now I understand why you described it as a 'previous life' and said he had 'already died.'"
Emilia rested her chin on her hand as she thought it through.
"Correct."
She nodded.
"Since the paths we took diverged the first time, we arrived too late. The second time I happened to meet the Shogun, which disrupted the original sequence of events. And everything that followed revolved around him... meaning time resets to a point he has previously experienced?"
Emilia frowned as she calmly analyzed the logic.
"That should be correct. And I suspect the rewind isn't something he activates intentionally. It seems more like a passive trigger."
The Shogun nodded and shared her speculation.
"You mean... death?"
Emilia immediately grasped the key point from earlier.
"Yes. Although it's just a guess, the ability most likely triggers only when he is on the verge of death—or already dead."
She was certain of this because when she saw Natsuki Subaru again, she knew for a fact that he had already stopped breathing. The energy that triggered the rewind had emerged directly from his corpse.
"I didn't sense anything at all... but you did, Shogun. Could it be—"
Emilia's lips trembled slightly as she arrived at an absurd conclusion.
"Correct. It seems I've been tied to him as well."
The Shogun sounded somewhat exhausted, her tone carrying a hint of complaint.
"No way?!"
So it really was like that.
"Indeed... I don't know the reason either, but I can confirm that I rewound time together with him. A day that was almost over was suddenly dragged back to noon again."
It was truly infuriating. She had done nothing, yet still got dragged into it.
"Uh... th-that really is..."
Emilia forced an awkward smile, feeling tired just hearing about it.
Ah... so that's why.
"I see! That's the reason you wanted him to stay here, isn't it?"
Emilia suddenly understood.
"It seems you understand now. With how powerless he is, it's easy for something to happen to him. If he dies again and triggers another rewind, I'll be dragged along with him. In that case, it's better to keep him somewhere I can watch."
"Of course, letting Reinhard take him would also be an option, but... haa."
She shook her head slightly before continuing.
"Compared to him, I trust myself more."
The Shogun gave Emilia a breathtaking smile. She folded her arms and unconsciously crossed her black-stockinged legs beneath her skirt. Her black high heels lifted slightly into the air, the ribbon tied around her ankle swaying gently and occasionally making a faint rustling sound.
"...Shogun."
Emilia leaned closer and lightly patted the Shogun's thigh to get her attention.
"What is it?"
Feeling the touch on her leg, she turned her head.
"If the timeline resets again in the future, don't keep it to yourself. You must tell me. Experiencing something like that over and over would exhaust anyone. Don't carry it alone."
Emilia held her hands firmly and gazed into her violet eyes as she spoke gently.
"Even if you wouldn't believe me?"
She asked.
"I would believe you. I said it before—I'll believe anything you say."
Emilia shook her head.
"...Understood. I'll try to keep that boy from triggering another rewind."
She would aim to clear everything in a single run.
Of course, that was only the goal.
"Mm."
Emilia smiled at her like an angel.
"Um... did you two forget I'm still here?"
Puck, who had been ignored the whole time, asked pitifully with a tearful voice.
Tap tap
At that moment, Natsuki Subaru in the distance noticed them. His eyes lit up, and he swaggered over toward the two girls and the cat.
Then—
He once again struck the same flamboyant pose as last night, twisting his waist dramatically, pointing one finger toward the sky with a ridiculous expression on his face.
"Good morning, you two!"
He shouted energetically.
"Ah... good morning, Subaru."
Emilia responded with a polite smile.
"Good morning, young man~"
Puck mimicked Subaru's pose and greeted him as well.
"..."
The Shogun did not respond.
She simply stared at the tracksuit-wearing boy with a look one might use when observing an idiot.
"..."
Subaru immediately became awkward, trembling slightly while still holding the pose.
"Um... what exactly does that pose mean? I've never really understood it..."
Emilia glanced helplessly at the Shogun before turning back to Subaru and asking curiously.
"It represents the fighting spirit to begin a new day! Don't be defeated by difficulties!"
Subaru answered proudly.
"But you did it last night too."
The Shogun commented flatly.
"Uh... th-that one represented relaxing after the end of a long day! It symbolizes relieving fatigue!"
Subaru hurriedly invented an explanation.
[He really just adds new settings whenever it's convenient...]
Ei commented.
'You've finally learned the word 'setting,' huh...'
The Shogun teased internally.
[Haa... I've read quite a few light novels recently. I've more or less figured out how these things work.]
Since she started reading them, her understanding had improved a lot. Although there were still many things she didn't fully understand, learning little by little was part of the process.
"Ah... this place really is huge~!"
Natsuki Subaru casually looked around at the surrounding layout, the magnificent mansion that resembled a castle, and the wide marble roads. He couldn't help but sigh in admiration toward the two girls—perhaps simply trying to fill the silence.
"The courtyard could practically be called a wilderness."
He sighed again. After saying that, he crouched down under their gaze and began pressing his legs, doing some kind of comical stretching exercise.
"That's a rare movement. What are you doing?"
Emilia asked curiously when she saw his posture.
"..."
The Shogun continued watching him with bored eyes. After a moment, she leaned back against the bench and slumped down, her gaze gradually drifting upward toward the fresh blue sky.
She felt that even the birds looked better than him.
"This is an orthodox warm‑up exercise passed down in my hometown. Come on~! Emilia‑tan, join in too~!"
As he spoke, he shamelessly began performing some rustic gymnastics movements.
"Second set of radio calisthenics—jump with both feet, relax the whole body~!"
He started hopping around enthusiastically like some kind of curious creature.
"Um... I think I'll pass. It's a bit..."
...stupid.
Emilia silently complained in her mind.
"Oh~! I'll do it with you! Let's go~!"
Puck, as thick‑skinned as ever, flew over and joined him. The two of them—one big and one small—began exercising together.
"Uh, haha... have fun."
Emilia gave a helpless wave before instinctively glancing at the Shogun, who was staring at the sky at a forty‑five‑degree angle.
"Shogun?"
"Standing by—"
The Shogun replied with dim, half‑lidded eyes.
"Um... Shogun?"
Emilia poked the Shogun's completely expressionless face while she was "standing by." Smiling, she imitated her posture and slumped down on the bench beside her.
"Standing by—"
She even mimicked the tone perfectly, her eyes gradually dimming into the same blank expression.
"...?"
The Shogun snapped out of it. Her eyes brightened slightly as she turned her head in confusion toward the girl beside her.
At that moment, Emilia also looked at her, her eyes still dull.
"Do you also have a standby mode?"
The Shogun asked.
"Hehe, what do you think~?"
Emilia asked mischievously.
"You don't even have any standby programs..."
The Shogun sat up slightly and muttered.
"Eh? Programs?"
Emilia froze for a moment. The Shogun had mentioned "programs" before as well. What exactly did that mean?
"It's nothing..."
She shook her head and didn't elaborate, worried that it would become difficult to explain.
"Sometimes you really say strange things, Shogun~"
Emilia puffed her cheeks slightly and sighed in confusion.
"You'll get used to it."
The Shogun stood up, preparing to leave. She no longer wanted to waste time watching that person.
Seeing this, Emilia instinctively stood up as well and prepared to follow.
Creaaak~
"Lady Emilia, Lady Shogun. Lord Roswaal has returned, and breakfast is ready. Please come to the dining hall." ×2
At that moment, as if perfectly timed, the twin maids—Ram and Rem—pushed open the door and bowed before the group as they delivered the message.
"Alright, thank you, Ram, Rem. Shogun, let's go."
Emilia nodded and invited the girl beside her.
The Shogun nodded as well and followed the twins together with Emilia. Subaru also followed awkwardly behind them. Although Ram had addressed him earlier, the other two had completely ignored him, leaving him somewhat embarrassed.
"(Emilia...)"
"Hm?"
Hearing the Shogun's soft voice, Emilia looked at her curiously.
"(Don't tell anyone about what we discussed earlier. Especially Roswaal.)"
She quietly reminded her.
"(Mm, understood. Only the three of us know about it.)"
Emilia nodded in agreement.
[And me...]
Ei quietly added inside her mind.
"..."
The Shogun fell silent.
[What? Did you just forget about me?]
Ei asked with slight dissatisfaction.
'No... how could I?'
She replied.
[Nice words...]
Ei teased.
'Haa...'
The Shogun sighed.
...
Clack—!
The sound of hinges echoed through the spacious hall as the elegant wooden doors were pushed open simultaneously by the twin sisters.
What appeared before them was the mansion's dining hall—simple yet undeniably luxurious.
Smooth pale‑gray flooring, plain walls, elegant chandeliers, and at the center of the wall hung a portrait of a man with clown makeup. Below it stood a long rectangular dining table covered with a white cloth.
Twelve chairs surrounded it—five on each side and one at each end.
The first to enter was the Shogun, followed by Emilia, and then Natsuki Subaru.
"From upstairs, you really looked... like that."
"Huh?"
As Subaru stepped into the hall, he heard a childish voice filled with sharp mockery directed at him. Confused, he looked to the side and saw the blonde sharp‑tongued girl he had run into earlier that morning—Beatrice.
"Your brain really doesn't work very well. In fact, you're unbelievably stupid."
Betty glanced at him with disdain. From upstairs she had already heard the ridiculous shouting earlier, and when she looked down it was indeed this idiot. What bad luck.
"Why are you mocking me the moment we meet?! You turbo‑loli!"
Subaru protested.
"Heh. Say whatever you want. It won't change the fact that you're stupid—brother~!!!"
Before finishing her sentence, she spotted Puck and instantly transformed, running over to hug him.
"Wah~!"
Puck was caught completely off guard.
"She's as attached to Puck as ever, Betty."
Emilia shrugged and commented to the Shogun beside her.
"Every time she calls him 'brother,' it feels strange."
The Shogun shook her head speechlessly.
"Ooooh~ my~! After so long, you've finally decided to dine with me again~? I'm so~ very~ happy!"
The next moment, a man dressed exactly like the portrait—wearing clown makeup—walked into the room. He spoke in a theatrical tone, almost like singing.
"..."
The Shogun pressed her temple helplessly.
Not a single normal person here.
"The only simple‑minded one here is that guy. Don't lump me together with him."
Beatrice snorted disdainfully.
"Huh? Do you people always hire a clown to entertain before meals? I really don't understand rich people."
Smack smack!
Subaru boldly slapped the man's back twice, making loud noises as he did so and causing the man to bend forward slightly from the force.
"Subaru... this is—"
Emilia twitched awkwardly, already feeling tired as she prepared to introduce him.
"No, no, I don't mind at all, Lady Emilia~"
"Eh?"
Subaru froze mid‑motion and stared blankly at the man.
"I am the master of this mansion—Roswaal L. Mathers~"
He looked at the boy with a smile that concealed a hint of danger.
"Uh!"
Cold sweat immediately began forming on Subaru's forehead.
"Did you hear that, Natsuki Subaru?"
Roswaal asked quietly.
"I‑I heard..."
He nodded stiffly.
"And Miss Raiden~? Are you comfortable living here~?"
Roswaal turned his gaze toward the Shogun.
"It's quite pleasant. Very comfortable."
She replied casually.
"Mm‑hm—hearing that makes me ve~ry~ happy!"
Clap clap
He clapped his hands.
"Alright~ everyone, let's eat."
He walked toward the table first.
"..."
During this time, the Shogun kept her eyes fixed on his back, her gaze filled with quiet scrutiny.
"Shall we go, Shogun?"
Emilia called gently.
"Mm..."
She snapped back to attention and nodded before following.