Seemingly forgetting that it was her poor sense of direction that had gotten them lost in the first place, Beatrice proudly puffed out her chest. Since she was basically a walking mass of weaponized cuteness, Subaru refrained from pointing out anything rude and simply stroked her head.
Then Subaru started looking for someone to ask for directions. However
—
"…What's going on? How is there not a single person in this park when it's the middle of the day?"
"I suppose this is rather strange. One would think a large throng of humans would be napping in a place like…"
Unable to spot any sign of life nearby, Subaru and Beatrice cocked their heads in confusion. Then Beatrice trailed off midway as she stared toward the back of the park.
Curious about her reaction, Subaru turned in the same direction when he suddenly realized something.
"—Do you hear that? A song?"
The flowers of the park rustled in the wind. There was the soft sound of water flowing along the waterways.
With this natural harmony as a backdrop, the distinct sound of a musical instrument and a person's singing voice tickled their ears.
Because of the distance, they could hear only snatches of it. Though they were but fragments of a dancing tune and music, the sounds clawed at Subaru's heart.
Naturally, Subaru's—no, Subaru's and Beatrice's feet were both drawn toward the singing.
" "
Then when they arrived at the source of that enticing melody, the pair was overwhelmed, forgetting even to breathe.
—At the deepest part of the park, a lone girl was singing in front of some kind of monument.
The girl had brown skin. Her stature was short.
She had a cheerful face and big, round eyes with bright-yellow irises, and her hair was tied in twin braids with the ends hanging from each side of her head. Her hair and body were adorned with ornaments made from tree fruits and animal bones.
In the singing girl's arms was a lyulyre—a stringed instrument somewhere between the size of a guitar and a ukulele. With that and her voice, the girl put on a performance of stunning skill, her throat trembling as she wove the song.
It was the energy the music carried that was overwhelming.
A wind and tremor that should not have existed, a blazing heat that should have been impossible to feel, and uncontrollable surges of happiness, anger, sadness, joy—this was what consumed Subaru as the song enraptured him.
And it was not only Subaru who felt this way. Nor was it merely him and Beatrice.
As the girl continued to sing, an audience of some fifty people had gathered around her. Their breaths were hushed as they listened to the song, just as entranced as Subaru and Beatrice.
Finally, the girl's song reached its climax. The audience's emotions reached their zenith—
"—No money, no future, no dream, only vanity. Ahhh, what do I see? I see the darkness behind my eyelids. There is nothing beyond the darkness. It is over, over, and it all comes to an end."
"Hey, when you listen to the words, this is a pretty horrible song, y'know?!"
"Hyaaa?!"
The lyrics, which contained neither dreams nor hopes, made Subaru raise his voice as he snapped back to his senses.
That instant, the girl cried out in surprise as she nearly dropped the instrument she was holding, which obviously interrupted the performance. The heat that had permeated the place dissipated all at once.
The change in atmosphere made Subaru go pale as he realized he'd done something bad.
"Oh crap, I failed to read the mood just like old times! Beako, let's hightail… Owww?!"
"Stupid Subaru! It is ruined! What terrible manners… Could you be any worse, I wonder?!"
Before he could beat a strategic retreat, he felt sharp pain as nails dug into him. When he looked, his assailant turned out to be a red-faced Beatrice. The genuine anger in her expression made Subaru keenly understand that if Beatrice was grading him, he'd just spectacularly failed. And—
"Er, ah…a song?" "The park… I was in darkness until just now." "No, back then, I couldn't help it…" "When I grow up, I'll smack Temion and save Draphin!" "I wanted to cheer on her dream…" "Oh, Tina…"
"Lusbel…"
—the audience members who had been captivated by the song gradually began returning to reality. Some had broken into tears because of the music, and there were boys and girls who had found that the song lifted their spirits.
And as they came to their senses, the crowd slowly turned toward Subaru, who was standing a short distance away.
Subaru's body went rigid when he caught sight of the glints in their eyes.
"—Don't ruin the moment!!"
The next instant, Subaru paid for his thoughtlessness as they hurled whatever they could get their hands on at the poor boy.
8
"Ow, ow, ow…that was horrible. Beako, how do I look? Am I bleeding anywhere?"
"Why should I care, I wonder? This time, not even Betty will take Subaru's side."
Beatrice harrumphed and turned her head away from Subaru, who was sitting cross-legged on the grass. Apparently, she was really holding a grudge over Subaru's rude interruption. She wasn't going to let him off the hook this time.
After ruining the recital earlier, Subaru had endured a hail of insults and projectiles from the enraged audience. If he was being perfectly honest, it had been a year since he'd been that sure death was coming for him.
Fortunately, thanks to the singer pacifying the crowd despite being the greatest victim, Subaru had escaped with his life. He'd managed to get away with nothing worse than being trodden on by the majority of the listeners as they departed.
"My left foot feels like it's swollen to twice its size. I'm scared to take the shoe off."
"I will not use any healing magic. Perhaps a little pain will help you reflect on your actions?"
"That's ice-cold, Beako… Well, it'd be a waste of the mana you painstakingly gather up every day, and I get it. It's not good to assume you can just rely on healing magic whenever you get hurt."
Nodding in agreement, Subaru stomped his aching left foot against the ground.
Since coming to this world, he'd gotten used to a life without scrapes and bruises, but it was true that he might have started taking healing magic for granted. Forgetting about wounds and pain led to arrogance. It was something to be wary of.
"Now then, since I've apologized to Beako, I should properly apologize to the offended party."
After that light exchange, Subaru finally turned back toward the monument.
The audience there had already departed. There was only one person left save for Subaru and Beatrice. It was none other than the singer who had finished baring her heart through song.
"Sorry that our conversation kept you waiting after I interrupted your singing like that. I never thought… Huh?"
Subaru closed his mouth in the middle of his apology. The reason was the palm that filled his vision. The girl had thrust her hand right into Subaru's face. And then—
"I have it. Listen to this— Doowop doowop, the difference of years in love."
Leaving the surprised Subaru and Beatrice behind, the girl rhythmically slapped her musical instrument with her fingers. Then she clicked her tongue as a cue to break into song, accompanied by a ferocious melody.
"Hey, do you see it, do you feel it? The difference between the years of love in you and me. People call it strange, but I don't mind at all. My worry is always the difference in years of love between you and me. Hey, wait. Please, wait. A little longer, until I grow a little taller. I don't care about a difference in years. The distance of love between you and me, the distance of soft, enchanting love—"
"The space between lovers shrinks and quietly becomes burning love. Then at last the stork comes past, with a child and a tale of love and bright futures!"
"Ehhhhh?!"
The song the girl suddenly belted out made Beatrice's eyes spin, but when the battered Subaru joined in as the song was wrapping up, the spirit found that it was beyond her ability to cope.
Of course, none of this had been rehearsed in advance. It was an act of reflex, but of course Subaru was a master of such things.
As the girl finished her song and offered zero explanation for it, he gave her a high five as they pointed to each other.
"W-will you hold on a moment, I wonder?! Why…? Why did Subaru just break into song and dance? And is it not very strange that you seem to find this all very normal, I wonder?!"
"Hey, hey, what are you talking about, Beako…? Music transcends borders, y'know?"
"What fine words! I, Liliana, am so deeply moved that my chest trembles. Not literally, but still!"
"I-it's unacceptable that you two are making it seem like Betty is the one who's gotten something wrong…"
These two weren't just going at their own pace; they had a my way or the highway attitude, and Beatrice had lost nearly all will to fight it. Subaru gave the spirit's shoulder a couple of pats as he turned to face the brown-skinned girl.
"Right. Just to be clear, don't get the wrong idea about my relationship with Beako. She and I have gotten real, real close, but even if Beako got
taller, that isn't going to put her in my strike zone."
"Ehhh, but girls change over time! And I'm a great judge of character. I suppose you could chalk that up to life experience?"
"Beako might look like this, but she's already four hundred years old. I wonder if she'll ever change?"
"Oh, cooome on. There's no need to make things up just because you're embarrassed"
It was the truth, but it was so unbelievable that she immediately assumed it was a lie. Subaru figured correcting her would be too much trouble. More important, there were higher priorities than clearing up the misunderstanding around Beatrice's age.
Namely—
"It's been a while, Liliana! This was a total coincidence, but the most important thing is that you're doing well."
"Not at aaaall! Meeting you two in a place like this leaves me so embarrassingly, frustratingly happy that I can barely contain my exciiitewend!"
"She bit her tongue rather hard, I suppose."
Elegantly bowing with her musical instrument in one hand, Liliana smiled as an alarming amount of blood spilled from her mouth even as she smiled. The bite must have had shocking force. Liliana pressed a handkerchief to her mouth, quickly dyeing the cloth red.
"Pardon me, I really did a number on myself there."
"I can tell. You seriously haven't changed at all. Kinda makes me more worried than relieved, honestly."
Subaru let out a deep sigh as he experienced a complex mix of emotions that came with this reunion.
Liliana was an old friend of Subaru and Beatrice's. She was both the performer in the park and the minstrel who had spent several days with them at Roswaal Manor.
During her stay, Liliana had brought singing, music, and her various personal issues to the mansion. In the end, these issues were resolved, and she departed from the mansion safe and sound.
"Who knew that we'd run into you here in Pristella. From what we saw earlier, it seems like you're in peak form, too."
"Yes, rest at ease. Since that time, my ample sensitivity has exploded even more, and I have devoted everything to polishing my skills further, so I have nooo trouble earning a living wage even in a city like this."
"The way you said that sounded kinda shady and even a bit dirty. I mean, isn't it bad for you to be in this city?"
"Hmm? Why?"
Liliana gave Subaru's words a mystified look. Subaru sighed at her oblivious reaction.
"You're technically a minstrel, right? But now, this city is home to some huge competition they call the Songstress. Ain't that bad for business?"
"I am not technically a minstrel; I am a minstrel down to every strand of hair and drop of blood! Also, also, it's so flattering how worried you sound.
It's making my body throb aaaaall over."
"Whoa, what's with that way you're moving your body? It's creepy!"
"Did you just call an adorabibble girl creepy?!"
Thanks to her squirming while wiping a fair bit of blood away, Liliana's face was left covered in strange splotches. Unsure whether he should call attention to her ghastly makeup, Subaru ultimately decided to prioritize advancing the conversation.
Of course, the conversation itself was rather strange. Based on what he had just heard, it was almost as if—
"Give up, Subaru. Is it not time to face reality, I wonder?"
"Hold on, Beako. I still want to cling to even the slightest possibility until
the very, very end. Any way you slice it, this girl can't be the Songstress.
That'd be total blasphemy."
"Ah, the Songstress you heard about? That's me. Ahhh, it makes me so blushy blushy."
"That's exactly what I was afraid of!!"
As Liliana's face became doubly red, Subaru clutched his head and shouted at the top of his lungs.
Being forced to confront a truth he didn't want to acknowledge—that Liliana was the Songstress—shattered Subaru's expectations for the rumored singer. Beatrice reacted in much the same way; she had a face like a child who had been full of hopes and dreams, only to have a promise to go to an amusement park dashed due to rain.
"Well, we saw for ourselves that the girl's singing voice is quite formidable. So Betty's eyes…or ears did not lead you astray after all, I suppose."
"I guess you have a point there… No, wait. If you're the Songstress, then the madman they call the Songstress Maniac is…?"
"Ahhh, you're referring to Mr. Kiritaka, yes? There's no mistake, none at all!!"
"Uuuuugh, so he's here, too?"
The name Liliana spoke so cheerfully made Subaru clutch his head once more.
Kiritaka was another individual who had visited the mansion during Liliana's stay. He also happened to be one of the problems Liliana had brought to the mansion; in short, he was Liliana's stalker.
From a certain viewpoint, he could be mistaken for a patron of Liliana's, enamored by her artistic talent, but as it was not Liliana's skills he was obsessed with but Liliana herself, he was definitely a stalker.
That said, Liliana ended up leaving the mansion with him, and everything had been settled peaceably.
"Come to think of it, there was talk of him inheriting some trading company. Don't tell me…"
"He is indeed the young owner of the Muse Company, which runs this city."
"So he even runs the whole city! That's incredible!"
Kiritaka's unexpected jump in status just didn't click with the impression Subaru had gained after seeing him in the flesh. Kiritaka was living proof that someone could change a lot in the span of a single year.
"It's almost enough to make you believe that Liliana could become a songstress in just a year."
"Heh-heh-heh. I am honored by your praise. But, but, but bunnies shouldn't just say anything they liiike."
"—?"
As if saying Why, you sly dog, Liliana ribbed Subaru with her elbow, which made him flick her forehead on reflex. "Adahhh!" she cried out like some kind of peculiar creature as she reeled.
"What are you doing all of a sudden? Don't surprise me like that."
"H-how brazen of you to flick someone right in the forehead! But I shall forgive you! After all, I have heard the rumors… Right? Sir Subaru Natsuki, the Moppet Mage."
"Geh!" "Geh, I say!"
The words Liliana spoke with a sparkle in her eyes made Subaru and Beatrice yell simultaneously.
Since having knighthood conferred upon him, Subaru Natsuki was permitted to call himself Emilia's knight in name and fact, but during that past year, he was better known by his "infamous" nickname.
The reasoning was that the knight of the half-elf reportedly spent all his time with a little girl, an individual shrouded in mystery.
"Word has it that you were of extraordinary help in the hunt for the White Whale under the banner of Duchess Crusch Karsten, becoming the benefactor of Wilhelm the Sword Devil in the process! And directly after, with the cooperation of two royal-selection candidates, you destroyed one of the Archbishops of the Witch Cult, which has continued to terrorize the world! A new hero's overwhelming march forward made four centuries of stagnant time move again!"
"Aaaargh!"
With the expression of a charmed maiden, Liliana put her hands together and rattled off Subaru's achievements. Though some were gross exaggerations, they were all based in truth, so there wasn't much room to protest. Ambushed by this physically embarrassing tirade, Subaru groaned in what seemed like physical pain. Meanwhile, Beatrice made a tiny snort and puffed up with a satisfied look.
"Afterward, it is said he ran all about from east to west in service of The Freezing Witch, together with a young child who is a powerful magic user. You did all that, yes, Sir Subaru Natsuki?!"
"Oh-ho. This girl understands things rather well, I suppose. Yes, Betty's partner, Subaru, shall sweep aside the famous names of yore and rise to even greater heights hereafter, shining like a brilliantly gleaming star. If you understand this, then you would do well to praise and revere us even more, I suppose!"
"Tee-hee—!!"
"Don't get cocky."
When Beatrice turned arrogant and made Liliana bow down before her, Subaru grabbed the spirit by the collar and lifted her up. Suspended like a kitten, Beatrice said, "Nya!" as her overbearing lecture was interrupted.
"Sheesh. Liliana, don't let Beatrice take you for a ride like… Wow, what a beautiful groveling technique!"
"Heh-heh-heh. In my life as a wandering traveler, I have polished the Liliana style of prostration. Not only do bandits spontaneously let me go, but they also want to donate to me, making my travels highly successful."
"Invest your points in minstrel-related stats, would you?"
That said, even as a singer, her talents were sufficient to earn her the name of Songstress.
Subaru had heard that many geniuses excelling at a single talent were eccentrics, and Liliana most certainly fit that description. Her lack of inhibition just barely fit under what was tolerated even for those of great talent, though.
"Subaru, just how long do you intend to treat Betty like a cat…?"
"Oh, sorry, sorry. Beako's as light as a wispy dandelion seed, so I totally forgot."
Gently setting the dismayed Beatrice upon the ground, he stroked and messed up her hair. Liliana widened her big eyes at the sight of Subaru and Beatrice behaving so intimately.
"It really seems like you two have become very close somehow. When I spent time with you at the mansion previously, your friendship was more difficult to pick up on."
"Well, there have been a lot of twists and turns since then. Even now, those are some precious memories for Beako and me."
"Indeed, I suppose."
It was because of the times when neither was honest with each other that the present had come to pass.
Liliana exhaled slightly at Subaru's and Beatrice's words.
"—You really have become a hero, haven't you, Sir Subaru Natsuki?"
" "
"Do you recall the promise you made when we last met?"
Quietly, the atmosphere surrounding Liliana changed. Somehow, her voice sounded dignified, even holy, making Subaru feel like she'd suddenly wrapped a hand around his heart.
She displayed a passion that rivaled that of her singing voice.
"I am a minstrel. I am a wanderer who travels to every land to spread my songs. For one such as I, destined never to remain rooted in one place, there is something I must not fail to achieve, namely…"
"…The world's newest legend, was it?"
"Yes."
Liliana nodded at Subaru's words. This had been the objective of her journey since their first encounter. To a minstrel, who left behind nothing tangible when she departed, there was no way to leave her mark upon the world, to prove that she had lived, save through song. Creating a song that would be passed down through the ages was her life's ambition.
And that had led her to a single answer—
"—Sir Subaru Natsuki, you have become a hero, just like you promised. I could not be happier."
Though Liliana was never serious about anything but music, there was not the slightest hint of mischief in her words now.
In response, Subaru closed his eyes. He had no intention of responding to Liliana's earlier recitation of his exploits with a show of humility, passing them off as something anyone could have done.
He understood that no one would praise him for behaving like that. All the same—
"Sorry. I'm not a person who deserves to be called that just yet."
"Eh?"
When Subaru stared straight at her and told her that, Liliana's eyes shot open.
Subaru clenched his fist as he continued.
"I know that I'm only a little more reliable compared with before. I still have a long way to go. My journey's only just begun. There's still things I need to accomplish and things I need to make up for."
Subaru Natsuki had become a knight with the sole intent of supporting a lovely girl.
For Subaru Natsuki to become a hero, he needed to bring the Sleeping Princess back to his side, she who had refused to abandon Subaru when he was still weak and foolish.
And—
" "
Beatrice squeezed Subaru's empty hand, respecting his way of life.
That was why Subaru Natsuki would do it. He'd borrow everyone's strength and see it through.
"So hold off on that promise to make a song about me until I've wrapped up everything. After that, I'll tell you about it as much as you like. It ain't cool to rush ahead to the end."
Whether a hero's epic or a fairy tale, a story ought to have as good an ending as possible. If they could reach a happy ending after everything was over, then who wouldn't want to talk about it? Even Subaru wouldn't say no to bragging about something like that.
" "
As she listened to Subaru's reply, Liliana had hung her head at some point. With her face turned downward, Subaru could not read her expression; Subaru lowered his own eyes, figuring he must have hurt her.
Just as Subaru reflected, wondering if he could have said it in a different way—
"…ord."
"Excuse me?"
"—I have your word—!!!"
"Whoaaa?!"
Suddenly, Liliana lifted her head and thrust her fist toward the heavens, leaving Subaru taken aback. Liliana proceeded to close the distance with a red face and ragged breath.
"Y-you—you said it just now, didn't you?! Someday, you will speak to me of your legend as much as I like! In other words, the Legend of the Moppet Mage is mine and mine alone!"
"W-well, I'd like you to do something about that title, but yeah."
"Then my ultimate victory is assured! Hip, hip, hooray! Mwa-ha-hahaaa!"
Wearing an expression of excitement and delight that was rather unseemly, Liliana threw her lyulyre high into the sky. She caught it, then promptly dropped it. She didn't care. She was overjoyed.
"Hey, is that any way to treat your instrument?! And you call yourself a songstress?!"
"O-o-of course! Isn't that ooobvious? I can't do anything with this. It's my precious; I love it so much! See, I'm kissing it! Smoochie, smoooochie—!!"
"You're really something… In terms of shock factor, you might be the second coming of Petelgeuse."
"Oh-ho, I do not know who that is, but it seems you hold this Petelgeuse in high regard. If we should ever have a chance to meet, perhaps I shall gain a worthy rival for life!"
"He's an Archbishop of the Seven Deadly Sins in the Witch Cult."
"Now that's a legend to take your breath away! Oh, you're the best!!"
Despite exposing so much skin that you'd think she was a dancer, Liliana pulled out something resembling confetti from who knew where and tossed it in the air as she showered Subaru with more praise.
Subaru sighed deeply when he saw that Liliana had truly reached a feverish pitch. Where had the solemn, dignified atmosphere she'd shown for one brief moment disappeared to?
"What Betty and Subaru saw was probably some kind of daydream."
Subaru smiled wryly at Beatrice's comment and waited for Liliana to calm down.
It would be another five minutes before Liliana morphed from a peculiar creature back to a human being.
9
"I see, I see, you have business with Mr. Kiritaka's trading company!
Actually, I'm here in this city right now thanks to him. I can guide you there." "Awesome, that'd be a big help."
Having somehow regained enough humanity to engage in conversation, Liliana patted her chest as she declared she would help Subaru and Beatrice. After they explained that they were lost and had business at Kiritaka's trading company, they'd ended up procuring her services as a guide.
"It's just that he told me he had an important business meeting today, so I should stay outside, you see!"
"Guess you would be a distraction for a serious business meeting. I get that."
"That makes sense, I suppose."
"Huh?! Against my expectations, are you actually agreeing with him? I'm woundeeed!"
Liliana gaped in vivid dismay, but hers was likely a needless worry. After all, the other party in the important business meeting Kiritaka had spoken of was no doubt Emilia.
Kiritaka was greeting a royal-selection candidate and had his own position as a merchant to consider. It would be difficult to have Liliana, who was liable to act up the moment she saw some familiar faces, attend such an important meeting.
"In other words, it's because of how you usually behave. You reap what you sow."
"What kind of remark is that?! Wait, I have it. Please listen—rough waves, tall waves, the waves of society."
"Though deeply intriguing, we do not have time to listen. Could you guide us there right away, I wonder?"
"Boo-hoo, the waves of society are rough, tall, and so cooold. Also, we're already here!"
Pretending to sob and weep for a moment, Liliana's face immediately brightened up as she rushed forward. Then she spread her arms wide in front of the large building before her.
"This is the Muse Company you've been waiting foooor!"
As Liliana spun around as if she was dancing, Subaru raised his eyebrows as he stared up at the establishment behind her.
A stonework structure, the office of the Muse Company, stood between Pristella's First and Second Districts. From what he'd heard, most of the traffic in the city was concentrated in these two districts. The fact that the building was situated on strategic ground between these districts proved the strength of the Muse Company's influence within the city.
"Even Anastasia said he was pretty good. It's enough to make you almost forget his image of being a pampered rich kid…"
As a matter of fact, the man was leading one of the largest trading companies in a major city. There was no mistaking that in the last year, he must've straddled the line between life and death, though in a very different way from Subaru. Just because Emilia was an acquaintance didn't mean Kiritaka was likely to cut her any slack at the negotiation table.
"Hooowever, there's no need to worry! The bonds we share will overcome that somehow! Leave it to Liliana Masquerade to use obligation and sentiment to smash the scaaales!"
"Smash them? Just what do you intend to do?"
"It's rare for me to speak so plainly, but it means I'll put in a good word for you!"
Adopting a peculiar pose, Liliana winked clumsily as she replied to Beatrice's question. Her answer left Subaru going "ow?" as he tilted his head.
"It's nothing hard! Mr. Kiritaka has a real soft spot for me, so I'm sure if he hears from me, this business meeting will be all smooth sailing. How does that sound?"
"That doesn't exactly inspire confidence… Are you sure about this?"
"This much is nothing at all. Sir Natsuki and I are old friends, right, right?"
When Liliana shot him an even clumsier wink, Subaru sank into thought.
It felt more than a little unfair, but the chance that Liliana putting a good word in with Kiritaka would be effective was certainly high. Seasickness had caused Subaru to be late, but it might have opened an unexpected door as well.
"Okay, let's go with that plan. I'm counting on you, Liliana."
"Yes, milord—! As you command!"
When Subaru indicated he'd go with the idea offered, Liliana looked extremely enthusiastic as she raised a tight fist.
However, seeing Liliana like that seemed to make Beatrice more than a bit concerned.
"Subaru, is this really all right, I wonder? Betty is uneasy."
"I'm painfully aware of how you feel. But I wanna bet that this is our silver lining. I don't want to end up doing nothing more than being the vomiting, seasick jerk."
"Does anyone actually think of you as a vomiting, seasick jerk, I wonder…?"
At any rate, seeing that Subaru had made up his mind, Beatrice said no more. She seemed unable to hide her worry, but they would try trusting in Liliana's stage presence just this once.
"And so Liliana makes her dramatic return. Where is Mr. Kiritaka?"
After Liliana psyched herself up, she shoved open the door to the Muse Company at the head of the group. There was a receptionist right inside the entrance on the first floor, who widened her eyes at Liliana's words.
"Ah, the president is in a business meeting with some guests… Um, Ms.
Liliana, why are you here? This is a problem."
"Getting that treatment from the very start is already making me worried.
What sort of impression did you make here…?"
The receptionist's nervous words were plainly tinged with concern and bewilderment. She was treating Liliana less like a pest and more like she wasn't sure how to deal with a dog that hadn't been housebroken.
"Sure about that? Didn't you hear that some of the guests the president is meeting with were running late?"
"Yes, I am aware of this. A man and a mop…a young woman."
Subaru was pretty sure the receptionist was about to say moppet while looking at Beatrice, but she was apparently a polished professional. She made a quick recovery and bowed deeply.
"The president is with the rest of your party on the second floor. Allow me to show you…"
"Hold on, just leave that part to me! I have something to say directly to Mr. Kiritaka!"
Liliana's statement, burning with a sense of duty, made the receptionist look at Subaru. He nodded back.
"Liliana and the president here are both acquaintances of ours. Thanks for the concern."
"…Understood. Do be careful."
After Subaru spelled it out for her, the receptionist had no option but to back down. Her parting words provided a glimpse of her conscience. Subaru acknowledged her concern and then headed toward the second floor.
"So what sort of business do you have with Mr. Kiritaka today?"
"I can't believe you've been so confident even though you didn't even know that much, but it's about an arrangement for a magic crystal. The Muse Company deals in magic crystals, so you must've heard some details, right?"
"Oh, yes. I did hear they found a gemstone of rare beauty recently… Is that what you mean?"
Apparently, word of it had reached Liliana's ears as well. This rare gemstone was likely the magic crystal they were after.
Subaru admired Anastasia's thoroughness in getting hold of such information as the trio arrived at the reception room. Then when Subaru stood in front of the room that had a RECEIVING GUESTS sign hanging from the door…
"—So I'm asking if you would please hand over that magic crystal."
Hearing a voice clear as a bell through the door, Subaru learned that the business meeting was at an impasse.
Both sides already knew each other, so the pleasantries of their reunion must have ended quickly, and they'd gotten right to the heart of the matter. Since Emilia was making her plea, the real negotiations over the terms were no doubt beginning.
"Bingo, Liliana. Now we just have to pick the right moment to…"
"Excuuuse meee!"
"What are you—?!"
When Subaru tried to wait for the right moment, Liliana immediately flung the door open. Boldly asserting her presence, she marched directly into the room.
Inside, Subaru could see five men and women in total. Sitting in tall chairs side by side were Emilia, Otto, and Garfiel, making three. Facing them were a young man who had meticulously combed blond hair and was goodlooking overall, plus a man in a white suit standing behind him.
The good-looking man was Kiritaka Muse—the young head of the Muse Company who ran the city even while being known by his other identity, the Songstress Maniac.
There was a table among the five, upon which magic crystals small and large of various types were lined up. It very much looked like everyone was in the middle of a business deal. Kiritaka was understandably shocked at the intrusion.
"L-Liliana? Why in the world are you here?"
"Isn't that obvious?! Because justice always wins!"
Replying with an answer that wasn't an answer, Liliana pointed straight at Kiritaka. She proceeded to aim her finger at Emilia and the others, who were just as surprised by her sudden appearance.
"I can't, can't, can't believe you would drive me away when you knew Lady Emilia and her friends were coming—such villainy, such cruelty! This is much too much—I might even burst into tears!"
"Er, ah, I'm sorry about that. But, my dear Liliana, I want you to listen to me."
"Noooo! I have no ears for you! I have no affection left for Mr. Kiritaka!
But along the way, I was able to recover thanks to Master Subaru Natsuki, the
Moppet Mage!"
"You're bringing me into this?!"
Spinning around like a dancer, she indicated Subaru with a flourish. All attention within the room instantly gathered upon Subaru. Beside him, Beatrice touched a hand to her forehead.
By this point, Subaru was beginning to regret all his choices that had led up to this moment, but—
"Nah, not yet. I should still be able to turn this around."
"I owe a debt of gratitude to the magnanimous Master Natsuki as well as his master, Lady Emilia! Mr. Kiritaka, this is a chance to show what kind of man you really are by making it easy for them! Won't you play a role in my dream?!"
Completely unaware of Subaru's struggle, Liliana made her proposition to Kiritaka in a spectacularly brazen fashion. Now completely swept up in her momentum, Kiritaka furrowed his brow.
After a little thought, he asked Liliana, "A role in a dream?"
"Noooo! My dream! To leave behind a song about the newest legend in the land! That is what Master Natsuki is here for, and he has promised that when he succeeds in this business deal, he will cooperate with my dream by answering my questions about anything and everything no matter how
embarrassing! Liliana was nearly brought to her knees!"
"Eh, eh, eh? W-wait a— That's not what I—!"
Liliana had subtly altered his promise inside her head for her own convenience, which threw Subaru for a loop. According to Liliana, he'd already agreed to be the subject of her highly anticipated tale of valor.
It was more or less true that he'd intended to share his story, but the level of heroics she expected had apparently changed drastically.
"So please, I ask kindly for your consideration! Make Liliana a womaaaan!!"
"Think about what you're saying!!"
When Liliana began to storm closer to Kiritaka, Subaru grabbed her and hoisted her into the air from behind. If he let her rampage continue, Liliana the Songstress would turn this into her own impromptu stage. Beatrice and the receptionist had been right to worry. Liliana really was a drama queen.
"Ah, what are you doing?! Hey, hey, let me go! Oh, for crying out loud!"
"Pipe down! Ahhh, sorry to intrude… Er, more like sorry for bringing someone who intruded, I guess? Anyway, I'll get her out of here so you guys can pick up where you left off…"
" "
Still holding the thrashing Liliana aloft, Subaru tried to leave the room. But before he did, a slender figure swayed as it stood up. This was Kiritaka.
Moving as if he were a vengeful spirit, he grabbed one of the magic stones in the lineup displayed on the table. Then he shifted his eyes toward Subaru—they looked fiendish.
"…na."
"Wha?"
"D-d-d-don't touch my Lilianaaa!!"
The next instant, Kiritaka's voice went shrill as he hurled the blue magic stone in his hand.
Just before pure energy exploded, Subaru immediately went from carrying Liliana to casting her aside. That was all he had time to do. An instant later, he was enveloped in blue light.
The explosive sound and the shock wave that blew the reception room apart announced that negotiations had fallen through on the first day.
CHAPTER 3
AN UNEXPECTED, UNPLANNED REUNION LONG IN COMING
1
"I am sorry it turned out like this after so long apart. Even normally, our young master is rather edgy, but when Ms. Liliana gets involved, he is liable to lose control, as you saw for yourselves."
At the entrance to the Muse Company, Kiritaka's bodyguard spoke those words and bowed his head to Subaru.
The bearded man calling himself Dynas seemed fair-minded and acted accordingly, in contrast to his stern visage. The sight of him apologizing drove home his message that he felt genuinely regretful about his employer's act of violence.
"This is the second time you've bowed your head to us like this, huh? At the time, you guys were almost as edgy as Kiritaka was."
"…Ms. Liliana caused you a fair bit of trouble back then as well, did she not?"
With those words, Dynas made what came off like a self-effacing smile, which deepened Subaru's own troubled smile.
Just like Liliana and Kiritaka, this wasn't his first time meeting Dynas, either. He, too, had been staying at Roswaal Manor during Liliana's visit. His—no, their objective had been Liliana herself, so at one time, he and Subaru were something close to enemies.
"And Kiritaka's the one who mediated at the time… Is that really the same guy?"
"Small wonder you would ask that. Normally, the young master is excellent, setting his illness aside."
Dynas put his hand to his forehead as he sighed. Illness was quite an odd way of putting it.
Really, Subaru had underestimated Kiritaka's obsession with Liliana, which had even earned him a title as ominous as the Songstress Maniac. He never would've thought Kiritaka might lose himself during a business meeting and become so riled that he'd blow up an entire room of his office building.
Of course, the failure of the business deal was due to Subaru's thoughtlessness and Liliana being even worse at reading a room than he expected. On further examination, Subaru realized he was just as bad as she was. Why had he ever thought two people like that could be of help in a delicate negotiation where reading people's reactions was the most important thing?
"I don't even understand it myself… Anyway, from your position as a bodyguard, how does Kiritaka look?"
"His mood will likely recover tomorrow… I want to think so, at least. I am sorry, but he is not presentable at the moment."
"Well, I suppose that figures. Now, as for the Songstress in question…"
Trading sighs with Dynas, Subaru turned around. Liliana, who'd come to see them off just as Dynas had, was exchanging words with Emilia and the others.
"Really, Mr. Kiritaka can be such a pain. To think that even though Lady Emilia and Master Subaru came to visit after so long, we won't get a chance to speak—it's so irritating!"
Consumed by her own anger and fury, Liliana's face made it clear she was totally unaware that she was a major part of why the meeting had come to an early close. Emilia and Beatrice were gently soothing Liliana all the same.
"Normally, it's the other way around, right?"
"One should not expect normalcy of any sort from Ms. Liliana. Ahhh, may
I have a moment, young miss?"
Interrupting the exchanges, which Subaru didn't know whether to call charming or shameless, Dynas patted Liliana on the shoulder and addressed her.
"I am sorry, but I simply must ask Ms. Liliana to restore the young master's mood. His schedule is packed today, so please save the rest for tomorrow."
" . . . . I understand."
It took her a fair bit of time to clue in, but even Liliana yielded to Dynas's earnest plea.
As a result of the combined efforts of the Emilia camp's Moppet Mage and the Songstress, negotiations had been spectacularly fruitless, dashing any hope Subaru had for a triumphant return.
"Shit, what silver lining was I even thinking about? All I found was more cloud…!"
"Is that all you have to say for yourself?!"
Waving enough that their hands nearly fell off, Liliana and Dynas bid them farewell and parted ways. When Subaru muttered to himself as the party was walking home, Otto sent spittle flying as he interjected.
Adjusting his hat after that outburst, Otto proceeded to vent all his pent-up anger.
"Why, in front of a man they call the Songstress Maniac, did you act so familiar with the very same Songstress? Thanks to that, talks broke down
right when we were on the very verge of striking a deal!"
"Er, I thought I'd try and improve things because everyone seemed to be at an impasse…"
"There was no impasse whatsoever! We were working out the terms in a gentlemanly fashion!"
"Ehhh, you seriously mean I made a big fuss over nothing?!"
Naturally, even Subaru had to repent over turning his own worries into misfortune. Otto must have found the other party pretty responsive during negotiations. His dismay at seeing all his work ruined was considerable.
Depending on Liliana's efforts, perhaps Kiritaka would be willing to talk again the next day.
"Even if he does, it would be wise to assume he will make his terms more onerous."
"Uggghhh."
That sound was Subaru's only possible response; Otto had read what was in Subaru's mind and hit him right where it hurt most.
Then Emilia clapped her hands, saying, "Yes, that's far enough. Otto, there's no need to be so angry. It's not as if Subaru had any bad intentions, or he'd never be this down about what happened."
"Emilia-tan… Yeah, that's right. You really understand, don't you? Go ahead and say more."
"Subaru, you should properly reflect on what you've done. It's not fair. I wanted to speak more to Liliana, too."
"Huh?! So you're on Liliana's side and not mine?!"
As Emilia sulked, Subaru reeled in shock, feeling as if he'd been cut down from behind.
Watching the almost playful exchange between master and servant, Otto let out a sigh at the familiar sight.
"Setting aside that Mr. Natsuki should absolutely reflect on his actions… Negotiations have come to a standstill. For the moment, we should return to the Water Raiment and review our plans, but…"
"What is it?"
"Actually, I have some business to attend to, so I must depart for a while."
When Otto raised a finger and spoke those words, Subaru and Emilia both went, "Business?" as they tilted their heads.
"Yes. After coming all this way, it is advantageous to create connections that normally I could not. So for today, I will be going around and greeting people."
"An unflappably devoted professional, huh…"
Perhaps Otto was simply good at switching gears. Or maybe he kept a couple spare brains tucked away somewhere. Either way, Subaru had to admire his dizzying methods.
"Yes, about that, Otto. You don't need me with you when you go around and greet people like that?"
"A fine question, Lady Emilia. However, if you were to arrive without sending word ahead, everyone would be conflicted, since they'd be unable to give you a proper welcome. Refraining from rash actions is also a form of consideration. Much like how Lady Anastasia spoke with the Muse Company for us."
"I see… Mm, understood. I'll remember that, Teacher."
Emilia's reply brought a tired smile to Otto's face. Then he said, "Go home straightaway," as if he was speaking to a child, before leaving the party, vanishing in the direction of the Second District.
"Emilia-tan, what's with that Teacher thing just now?"
"Hmm? Oh, Otto has been teaching me quite a lot lately, including when
we were on the carriage ride here. That's why I call him Teacher. Is that weird?"
"Nah, it's not weird; I'm just jealous. You can call me Teacher, too, okay?"
"But Subaru is my knight, not my teacher…"
"Gaaah, so cute…!"
Emilia's adorably conflicted look and hushed words left Subaru weak in the knees.
"The general and Lady Emilia both took a pretty big likin' to that
Songstress chick, huh."
Garfiel joined the conversation with both hands entwined behind his head. He, the only one among them unfamiliar with Liliana's songs, crinkled his nose.
"Me, I wanna hear her stuff, too, if it's really that good. I've gone through a ton of books, but ya can't know what a song is like from just readin' about it, so I dunno what I'm missin'."
"Right, Garfiel wasn't at the mansion when they paid us a visit."
"So this'll be the first time you hear Liliana's song, huh…? It'll probably rock your world."
"Serious? That's some heavy billin'."
The way Subaru and Emilia talked about her music drew an expression of surprise and expectation from Garfiel.
Liliana's songs really did have that kind of power. Subaru previously had a few chances to listen to minstrels other than Liliana, but none of them held a candle to her.
It was beyond all doubt that Liliana was gifted enough to be called a songstress.
"I guess for that talent, the gods took a few too many things from Liliana in exchange?"
"A rather cruel thing of them to do."
"I don't really get what ya mean by that."
Beatrice's face showed how deeply she agreed with Subaru's murmur. Garfiel, the only one left in the lurch with just tangential information to make guesses from, clicked his tongue, seemingly pouting as he glared at the water's surface.
Incidentally, the four were taking the long way back to the Water Raiment
on foot. Unfortunately, if they went by dragon boat, there was a rather high chance that they'd have to leave Subaru behind due to his seasickness again.
"It's such a pretty city that I think it's nice to have a chance to walk around. Like Otto said, we don't really have anything left to do today."
"I sure caused you a lot of trouble…"
"Ah, I didn't mean to blame Subaru. I'm only a little angry."
"So you are angry! I mean, of course you are!"
All that said, it was a fact that he wanted to take his time before returning to the inn where Anastasia would no doubt pry into everything that had happened. Subaru had no reason to object to a detour.
"The only worry besides that is whether I can escort Emilia-tan back to the inn safe and sound."
"Do not be concerned. Betty will watch over you, I suppose."
"Just to say this out loud, it wasn't only me who dropped the ball today; this involves you, too."
Beatrice was nonchalantly shirking responsibility for the failure of negotiations, but her passive participation made her an accomplice all the same. That her face showed no recognition of this was cute, though.
"No need to worry, General. My nose remembers the scent of the road all the way back to the inn. Even if I can't smell the building, I know the scent of that rowdy kid, so we ain't gettin' lost."
"Heeeh. Hooo. Hmmmm."
"Hey, what's with that reaction?"
Garfiel suspiciously crinkled his nose at Subaru's suggestive reaction.
He was mostly curious about the way Garfiel brought up Mimi. Mimi's actions were so impulsive that they were hard to understand, but he figured she had nothing but goodwill toward Garfiel. Their ages matched, too, so Subaru expected some interesting developments would come as time went on.
Incidentally, Garfiel continued to get the cold shoulder from his own target, Ram. It looked to Subaru like the only love Ram held for Garfiel was the sort one had for family.
"Either way, Garfiel, I wish from the bottom of my heart for you, my little brother, to be happy."
"Huh? What's this all of a sudden, General? Well, not that I hate that or anythin'…"
When Subaru patted his shoulder with a warm look in his eyes, Garfiel tilted his head in confusion and gave a blunt reply. Subaru genuinely hoped that his innocent little brother found happiness in this city of water.
"I have to say, this really is a splendid city. Everywhere I look feels like it's calming and peaceful."
On the way back, Emilia seemed to be in a very good mood as she savored the scenic beauty of the watery metropolis. The waterways cutting through the center of the city might have been slightly inconvenient, but they certainly did not fail to impress.
"According to Beako's explanation, the founding of this city wasn't exactly for peaceful reasons…"
"But whatever the reasons at the time, how we feel right now is still real, right?"
When Emilia stopped atop a bridge and gazed at the Great Waterway, Subaru was enchanted by her smile.
From her charming expression to the words she spoke, she was happy.
Whatever the reason, that moment was genuine.
—Because what's important isn't where you started; it's where you end.
"I hear ya, Mom."
"Did you say something?"
"Just remembering some magic words from the woman I respect the most in the world."
Even as time passed since Subaru had heard those words, they still gave him courage even now.
Forgetting something didn't mean losing it forever, and he was determined to hold on to whatever he could remember. For one more day, Subaru Natsuki lived on, pulled forward by the feelings he had inherited.
"I suppose we should really head back. The mysterious way the inn's built is really on my mind."
"Jabaneez construction, huh? To be honest, I'm interested in that, too. For a different reason than Emilia-tan, though."
"Is that so? Tee-hee. We'd better hurry, then."
Letting go of the handrail on the bridge, Emilia smiled and took a step back. Perhaps it was because she was too giddy from sightseeing that she lightly bumped into someone passing by as she did. "Ah! I'm so sorry."
Emilia hastily turned around and bowed her head to the passerby she had bumped into, a man whose entire body seemed white.
He had bleached white hair and a white suit. His height was around the same as Subaru's, and their physiques were a close match as well. In short, he was a man without any visible distinguishing features. The man in white shook his head to Emilia's apology.
"You need not be concerned. I was careless this time as well—I was momentarily enchanted by you."
"…Errr."
"Your beautiful silver hair, yes. I once tried to make a woman with hair as beautiful as yours my bride. Remembering this fondly, I found myself unable to avoid you."
In contrast to Emilia's apology, the man's reply somehow sounded unnatural. His speech seemed intended to sound persuasive, but the sense of hubris was stronger.
"Okay, stop. That's far enough."
That was the moment Subaru put himself in front of Emilia, motivated by the forthright heart of a knight and the pure heart of a man in love.
"Well, it seems like both people were careless this time around. I'll lecture our girl for being thoughtless later, so please kindly allow us to leave it at that for today."
"Wait a second, Subaru. That's no way to speak to someone who…"
"Go with it, 'kay?"
When Emilia shot him a look of protest, Subaru winked back at her.
Getting into some weird quarrel here ran the troublesome risk of others realizing Emilia's identity. He felt more like a celebrity's manager than a knight at the moment, but that was beside the point.
"A mutual encounter and a mutual apology. That's common courtesy in a city of water, right?"
"Thank you for your politeness. For the time being, I have little reason to pursue the matter. Should we meet again, it will simply be the whims of destiny bringing us together once more."
"Yeah, I agree. Well, here's hoping destiny makes our paths cross again in the future."
As the stranger was speaking poetically, Subaru replied like a delusional middle schooler as he took his leave.
Pulling Emilia along by the hand, Subaru let out an audible breath of relief and looked in her direction. When he did, he saw Emilia glancing back a bit, the stranger clearly still on her mind.
"I was definitely a little rude back there, but given your position, I hope you understand."
"Eh? Ah, no, no. It's true that Subaru's behavior was a little poor, but it was because I was careless in the first place. But that's not it. I…"
Her words trailed off. There was a faint hesitance in Emilia's eyes.
"—I feel like I've met that person somewhere before."
"An acquaintance of yours? I think I should know most of them already."
"Yeah… I'm not too sure myself. I wonder who he is?"
It had to be really bugging her, because Emilia glanced behind her one more time. However, the man had already crossed the bridge, and all she could see was his fast-receding back.
Though it was tugging on something inside her mind, her search for answers seemed to have been in vain.
"Hey, General. Ya look pretty shaken up. Wha, worried some pretty boy was gonna steal her away?"
Garfiel, who had already crossed the bridge and was waiting for them, greeted Subaru with a wave and a question. Subaru understood why Garfiel and Beatrice wanted to give him and Emilia some space, but even so, he sighed over Garfiel's carefree attitude.
"Idiot, this ain't the time to goof off. What are we gonna do if some weirdo hangs around and you're not there? Emilia-tan's gonna be in a pinch if it's not someone I can handle."
"Puttin' your body on the line to protect her—that's how the general shows he's a man, am I right?"
"Using my body as a shield? I don't think I'm really built for that. As a human being or as a shield."
Garfiel flashed a grin in response to Subaru's almost humble selfassessment.
Garfiel seemed to be taking that as modesty on Subaru's part, but from Subaru's perspective, it was plain fact. If anything, Garfiel held Subaru in too high esteem.
"Hey, relax. Me, if I think a guy's trouble, I'll send him flyin'. On that score, the guy just now is an amateur. The way he walks and moves… Ain't even worth talkin' about."
"…Well, I guess that's fine."
One of Garfiel's odd specialties was his ability to discern an opponent's combat potential from their physique and movement. Subaru could personally attest to that; Garfiel had sniffed out his middle school kendo experience.
If Garfiel guaranteed that it was fine, Subaru was probably worried over nothing.
"In that case, let's go, Emilia-tan…or is he still on your mind?"
"—. No, I'm all right. Sorry for being weird about it. Let's go back."
"Sounds good. Don't worry—when we get back, you can hug Mimi or something and take your mind off it. Hey, I'll be satisfied hugging Beako, so you don't need to pout like that."
"Did Betty not refrain from saying anything about it, I wonder?!"
Subaru's words made Beatrice's face redden. Upon seeing this, Emilia broke into a beaming smile.
Then she gently touched her hand to her lips.
"I suppose so. If I hug Mimi, I'll feel really relieved. I'll do just that."
Thus, having seemingly swept her concerns away, she set out walking once more. Beatrice and Garfiel followed behind her. Then Subaru began to join them.
" "
Abruptly, Subaru stopped and turned around, gazing in the direction of the bridge.
The man in white was standing on a city street on the opposite side of the crossing. He turned around and looked directly at Subaru.
Finding his gaze supremely creepy, Subaru walked off after Emilia and the others at a rapid clip.
It felt like the man's gaze coiled around him, remaining glued to his shadow until Subaru rounded the corner.
2
After that, the stroll back through the city of water proceeded without incident.
From time to time, Emilia gazed at the surface of the water and seemed to sink into deep thought, but whenever someone pointed this out to her, she immediately glossed over the conversation with a smile.
Emilia was terrible at hiding things, so it was easy to understand that the man from earlier was still bugging her. However, Subaru was certainly mindful of the man himself. That was because— "Beako."
"I know. Did Emilia and Garfiel not notice because both their heads are in the clouds, I wonder? They both require a great deal of supervision."
When Subaru called her name, Beatrice shrugged in visible exasperation.
The concern on Subaru's mind, the one Beatrice had just affirmed, was how the man from before had reacted to Emilia. A year after the announcement that she was running for the royal selection, Emilia was no longer using the "ID blocker" robe when going outside, as she had done without fail previously.
I think that it's really strange for someone who's trying to get everyone to accept her and who has to work so hard to become the king to walk around hiding her own identity.
That was what Emilia had asserted, and certainly, it was a sound argument. Accordingly, Emilia had decided to stop relying on the power of the coat, exposing her adorable face, meaning there was no concealing that she was a half-elf anymore. Even so, the prejudice against a silver-haired elf ran strong and deep, so for better or worse, many of the people who saw her had strong reactions, be they good ones or bad.
"The guy earlier didn't have either. He talked like he knew Emilia, but he didn't give his name… Am I overthinking this?"
"If Subaru pays no heed, Emilia will be far too vulnerable, so it is perfectly appropriate, I suppose. Betty shall also keep watch around Emilia as much as possible."
When Beatrice announced that he could depend on her, Subaru gave her a short "gotcha" in thanks.
This watery metropolis was massive, and he didn't think their chances of bumping into that man again were very high. But it was still more than possible that the stranger would initiate contact on his own. There was nothing to lose by being cautious.
"After all, it's because I didn't think things through enough that today's negotiations failed, so…!"
"Was that not also caused by the natural disaster called Liliana, I wonder? Repent, but only in moderation."
"Hey, General, let's hurry back to the inn already. If we go at Beatrice's walkin' pace, the sun'll go down before we get there."
"Would you refrain from saying such impudent things, I wonder? You are younger than I am."
Subaru and Beatrice had fallen behind the front of the group while whispering to each other, prompting Garfiel to call out to them. When his rude remark left Beatrice peeved, Garfiel went, "Sorry, my bad," with a smile before suddenly stopping. "—The hell? Someone in the direction of the inn smells really angry."
Turning his head toward a corner in the road ahead, Garfiel audibly sniffed the air as he murmured. A moment later, sure enough, they heard voices arguing farther down the street.
It sounded like two men were engaged in a heated argument.
"They seem like they're going at it pretty hard. The excitement never stops in this town."
"That sounds more convincin' from the general who made a big shot blow up his own room with a magic crystal. It's like the saying You can boil a pot with the cries of an Azula bird, ain't it?"
"Pheasants don't have cries, so I wonder if they'd fit the saying… Emiliatan?"
Subaru was feeling guilty at the mention of what happened at the Muse Company, but beside him, Emilia broke out into a little run. She didn't look back as she spoke:
"Those voices just now—I think one of them sounds like Joshua's!"
"For real? If we're connected to one of the parties, we'd better hurry."
Even if that wasn't the case, Emilia's personality meant she still wouldn't stand by and do nothing. Chasing her around the curving corner of the road ahead, Subaru and the others also hurried back to the front of the Water Raiment.
As they did so and the Jabaneez-style structure came into distant view, in front of the establishment were—
"Don't make me repeat myself! Stop givin' me lip and get your master out here right now!"
"Faced with someone as crude as you, I refuse to call Brother, let alone
my master. Please obediently take your leave of this place while I am the only one dealing with you!"
"Ya just don't get it, do ya, brat? I'm gonna give ya a good thrashin'!"
A concerning argument raged between Joshua, who barred entry to the inn with both arms spread wide, and a seedy-looking man angrily shouting at the youth. The man had a wiry physique, and both his words and bearing had a violent edge to them; it seemed only a matter of time until his short fuse ran out.
"That's far enough!"
Then before Subaru could ascertain the opponent's might, Emilia inserted herself between the two. The interruption made the man flinch and left Joshua gazing in shock as well.
"L-Lady Emilia?!"
"If your business is done here, then you should leave. More importantly, what happened? Don't bother people by kicking up a fuss in front of an inn
like this. Calm down and talk this out properly."
With words that sounded like she was scolding a pair of bickering children, she cleared away the tense atmosphere, which had been primed to explode from the slightest spark. Sensing that a fight had narrowly been averted, Subaru let out a tentative sigh of relief.
"So tell me what happened. Ready, set, go."
"Er, ah. It would seem I have given Lady Emilia and everyone else cause for worry…"
Under Emilia's earnest gaze, Joshua glanced over at Subaru and the others as he hesitated for a moment.
Perhaps he was concerned that entrusting mediation to a rival camp meant putting his own in its debt. Of course, such haggling would never dissuade Emilia even if he spent the next hundred years trying.
"It ain't complicated. We got invited here, but this brat is runnin' his mouth, sayin' we can't go in. Why wouldn't I complain about it?"
Perhaps not caring for the impasse, the man gruffly explained his side of the dispute. The man focused his narrow eyes on Joshua as he shot him an intense glare.
The look on Joshua's face said that the gaze had rekindled his willingness to fight.
"I have told you over and over. If you intend to pass yourself off as a noble, you should at least make the deceit more convincing. A tiny bit of grooming cannot hide the unsophisticated ignorance oozing out from you!"
"Ya really don't hold back, do ya?! I ain't involved in this kind of trouble 'cause I wanna be! I'm tired of bein' sent on errands like this! Awww, hell, there ain't no point even talkin' to you!"
Faced with Joshua's obstinacy, the man clutched his own head and grumbled out loud. It sounded like the situation was truly beyond salvaging, frustrating Emilia after she had gone out of her way to intervene.
"Hey, Subaru, what should I do…? Subaru, what is it?"
"Er, this might just be my imagination…but I feel like I've seen this guy's face somewhere."
The man Joshua was arguing with made a sour expression when Subaru, responding to Emilia's question, pointed a finger at him. Then the man realized something, going "aaahhh?" as he glared back at Subaru with a foul look. "The hell are you goin' on about? What, you lookin' for a fight, t… oooo?!"
"Ohhh, his voice sure went really shrill at the… Aah!"
While glaring at Subaru, the man's face suddenly filled with shock; seeing that expression, something finally dawned on Subaru.
He really did know this man. He was a lot cleaner and better dressed than when Subaru had last seen him, but…
"Larry! It's Larry, isn't it?! Whoa, what are you doing in a place like this…? How've you been?"
"Don't talk to me like we're best pals! And who the hell's Larry?! I'm
Lachins—that's my name, damn it!"
"So it is La-something."
"Shaddap!"
When Subaru wrapped an arm around his shoulder in a spontaneous act of camaraderie, Larry—or rather, Lachins—violently shook him off. With that incongruous exchange going on, Emilia asked, "Is he an acquaintance of yours?"
"Yeah. An old acquaintance from the royal capital back when Emilia-tan and I met for the very first time. When I got lost in an alley, he and his friends
surrounded me, and I almost got stripped bare."
"Huh, really…? Er, stripped bare?"
"And the next time I was in the capital—right, I was with Priscilla when I
got in a tangle with them, and after, they came back with more friends to try and return the favor. I really have a lot of memories with this guy…"
"From what Betty is hearing, he is nothing but trash."
Emilia and Beatrice had different reactions to Subaru's nostalgic comments. Listening to all this, Joshua's gaze turned grave, and Lachins, feeling the tide turn against him, lifted up both hands in apparent surrender as the blood drained from his face.
"W-wait, wait, wait. Yeah, maybe all that happened, but nothin' real bad happened either time, so it's ancient history, right? Let's just call it water under the bridge and talk this out, yeah?"
"Er, I wouldn't exactly mind, but you can't act so guilty at a time like this or you'll make it into a national-defense issue…"
Lachins was trying to salvage the situation, but by any stretch of the imagination, he was at a disadvantage here. It seemed like the smart thing to do was tie him up and make him spit out whatever he was planning to do. "On that note—Garfiel. Restrain him and… Uh?"
" "
Subaru wanted to rely on Garfiel's brute strength, but there was no response. Wondering what the big deal was, he looked over to find Garfiel's gaze not on Lachins but trained toward the street in front of the inn.
Subaru saw Garfiel open his jade eyes as his pupils shrank to points out of wariness. Every hair on his body was standing up as he stood ready, claws, fangs, and muscles all clearly tense.
Realizing from one glance that something had set off Garfiel's fighting instincts, tension raced through Subaru and the others as well, since something was clearly afoot.
And so Subaru and the others turned toward the source of Garfiel's alarm
—
"—Lachins. I wondered what had happened when you didn't return. Is there some kind of trouble?"
For an instant, Subaru was sure that what stood there had to be a blazing flame.
It was a red, flickering fire— No, that was a hand waving. This was a human flame. No, just a human being.
With hair so red that it could be mistaken for a roaring fire and eyes so blue they seemed to contain the skies themselves, the tall man wearing allwhite garb had such a handsome face, it seared itself into your soul for all eternity from a single glance.
There was no mistaking the sensation that shot through Subaru's entire body. This was what happened when an ordinary person set eyes upon a hero.
That's exactly what this chance encounter was.
The only thing you could mistake him for was an open flame. The man's name was— "—!!"
Just before Subaru said the name aloud, all sight of Garfiel vanished from his side.
With a roar that started at the back of his throat, Garfiel's arm grew bulkier as sharp claws sprang from it. He proceeded to swing it in a frontal attack with incredible force at the man who had just appeared.
There was no time to stop Garfiel. It was a preemptive strike that closed to point-blank range in an instant. A direct hit with such a vicious blow would easily slice through an iron plate. As his claw drew near to the side of the man's handsome face—
"—My apologies. It would appear that I have startled you."
With a voice that had the echo of a troubled smile, he blocked the strongest attack Garfiel could muster.
" "
The superhuman spectacle left Subaru speechless, and Garfiel went rigid with shock.
The man's upraised hand had stopped Garfiel's mighty arm. The bestial claw, swung without a shred of restraint, had been blocked by the man's hand as if they were arm wrestling. The only reaction the man showed was the wry smile spreading across his serene face.
This man was playing by different rules and operated beyond any notion of common sense. There was no doubt this was— "—Reinhard."
Subaru seemed out of breath. His whisper brought another soft smile from the young man. Instantly, the sense of surprise and tension that Subaru had felt up to that point was forcibly melted away, changing into sweet relief.
With just a smile, Reinhard could instill absolute peace of mind into people. That was proof of just how incomparably strong he was.
Then the young man nodded once to Subaru—
"Hi, it's been a while, Subaru. I have heard the rumors. It's good to see you in fine health."
Yes, the Sword Saint Reinhard van Astrea was apparently delighted at being reunited with Subaru, friendly as always.
3
"By the way, Subaru, I know it has been a whole year, and there are many things I would like to speak about, but…"
"A-ahhh, yeah, what is it?"
"First, could I have you stop him? He is your friend, yes?"
As he spoke, Reinhard was looking at Garfiel, whose arm Reinhard was still keeping locked in place. Of course, Reinhard had no hostile intent, nor any reason to continue. In other words, the reason Reinhard hadn't let his arm go yet was because Garfiel was still ready to fight.
"Calm down, Garfiel. This is Reinhard, my…friend. You don't need to worry."
Grasping Garfiel by the shoulder, Subaru hesitated momentarily before deciding how to categorize Reinhard.
Instantly, Subaru's final memory of Reinhard from a year prior came rushing to mind. It was a bitter memory; Subaru had driven him away when he'd come to apologize for not stopping Julius from giving Subaru a thrashing at the training square.
The Subaru of the present keenly understood that his past self had only been lashing out at anyone within reach.
"It is as Subaru explained just now. I am his friend, Reinhard van Astrea.
I would be grateful if you told me your name."
Paying Subaru's internal conflict no heed, Reinhard readily called Subaru a friend. On top of that, he let Garfiel's arm go and looked him straight in the eyes.
Under that gaze, Garfiel pulled his arm back and let out a deep, long sigh. "—Garfiel. Garfiel Tinzel."
"I see, so you are Lady Emilia's shield. I am pleased to meet you. I'd wanted to meet you at least once."
As he spoke, Reinhard reached out in search of a handshake. There was no hint of sarcasm in his words whatsoever. There was nothing there save simple praise and delight.
After everything that had just transpired, Garfiel's shock must have been tremendous.
"—Ah?"
A dazed voice trickled out from Garfiel.
While Reinhard waited for a handshake, Garfiel moved a single step— backward.
That fact, that he had subconsciously retreated, made Garfiel open his eyes wide when he realized what had happened. This was the first time he had ever experienced anything like it.
" "
Seeing this, Reinhard's eyes flickered slightly with a touch of sadness.
But he still pulled back the hand he had offered without delay.
"I am sorry to have offended you. I shall be more careful in the future."
When he said that, Garfiel shook his head as if something bitter had reached his lips.
"Reinhard, I'm so sorry. Are you hurt?"
It was then that Emilia hurried over with a little run to apologize for Garfiel's sudden act of violence. The overly calm way Reinhard had dealt with it made Subaru momentarily forget that it was problematic conduct indeed.
This was the sort of thing that normally threatened to trigger open warfare between two rival factions.
"Lady Emilia, I am sorry to not have been in touch. Fortunately, thanks to Garfiel's aim being very precise, I was able to stop him without any problems. I am relieved we are both fine."
"Yes, I'm glad. It's quite a relief."
But Reinhard acted as if it was nothing—it probably really was nothing from his perspective. He was already assuring Emilia that Garfiel's impropriety was not an issue, either.
Emilia patted her chest, relieved by his reply. Then she went, "Right, right," clapping her hands together as her violet eyes glimmered. "I heard all about Felt. She's really been getting a lot done, hasn't she?"
"Compared with Lady Emilia's spectacular exploits, they are still rather minor, enough that she often berates me for being unable to properly support my liege. In particular, she heard about Subaru's deeds."
"Tee-hee-hee. That's right, Subaru's amazing. I'm very proud of my knight."
When Reinhard gave her a compliment that was perfectly sincere, Emilia proudly puffed out her chest. Subaru was half-proud and half-embarrassed that she talked about him like that.
Either way, the cordial exchange showed that things had largely calmed down, so Subaru chose that moment to clear his throat.
"We've strayed a lot, so to get the conversation back on track… You know this Lachins guy?"
Reinhard's arrival had been so momentous that Subaru had to specifically point out Lachins, who had been completely forgotten. "Yes," answered Reinhard, nodding in response to his question. "Currently, he is working as a retainer for Lady Felt. There are numerous areas where he is still lacking, but he has his good points, and Lady Felt has taken a liking to him."
"Felt hired that guy?!"
"Perhaps this leaves you feeling conflicted. I was also at the scene when they tangled with you in that alleyway, Subaru. But a great deal has happened since then… The three of them are currently in the middle of reforming their ways. I would like you to give them a chance."
"Errr, well, I'd be lying if I said it didn't bother me at all… Wait, she hired the whole trio?!"
Subaru looked toward the heavens as he realized just how many tricks fate was playing on him when it came to the three he had once pegged Larry, Curly, and Moe.
On the first day he was summoned to this other world, he'd had repeated fateful encounters with a certain gang of three thugs. He hadn't paid them any special mind since those days from long ago, but who would have thought they would be reunited like this?
"Hey, hey, hey, ya see! I was right all along, damn it!!"
It was just then that Lachins, who had kept his mouth shut ever since the tide had turned against him, regained his vigor. He jabbed his finger at Subaru, Emilia, and then Joshua.
"All of you, doubting someone who comes to visit like that! Apologize!
Now, on your hands and knees!!"
"Lachins, I have said this so many times, but you lack awareness as a retainer. Now I understand what brought this situation to a head.
Unfortunately, it is difficult for me to support you."
"Whose side are ya on here?!"
"I am the ally of justice. And in this case, I believe that leaves you no choice but to apologize to the younger brother of my friend."
Reinhard responded to Lachins's shouting dispassionately. Then he shot Joshua a quick smile. Joshua returned the gesture, nodding with a tense expression.
"It has been some time, Sir Reinhard. I apologize for the great rudeness caused by my ineptitude…"
"That fault lies with us, Joshua. I am sorry our envoy created such a major misunderstanding. Lady Felt is extremely grateful for Lady Anastasia's invitation."
"Hearing you say that is salve upon my wounds…"
The stubborn look on Joshua's face made plain that his response was superficial. Reinhard offered a wry smile at his demeanor when Subaru went "just a sec" and raised a hand. "Based on what you just said, is it safe to assume Felt's here with you, too?"
"Yes, that's right. Lady Anastasia invited her. Let us engage in profitable exchange of information, she said. This being Lady Anastasia, I assumed she was trying to secure some kind of angle, but…"
Trailing off, Reinhard gazed at Subaru and Emilia in turn.
"To think that Lady Emilia and company are here as well. Contrary to my expectations, this may not even be the end of it."
"Are you saying there's even more surprises coming?"
"I am saying that is quite possible. How about it, Joshua?"
When the flow of conversation turned to Joshua, the one in league with the mastermind of this whole gathering, the young man put his fallen monocle back in its proper position. "Hmm, I wonder," he said, playing dumb. This was a clear sign he had regained some of his usual composure. Reinhard nodded and looked at Lachins next.
"Lady Felt is in the middle of looking around the city with Gaston and the others. Please tell them I will be speaking to the people here in advance as instructed."
"Yeah, yeah. What, you don't need to head back, too?"
"If I am with her, Lady Felt will complain that she cannot do as she pleases. It is just…Mr. Rom is not with her at the moment. If Lady Felt attempts to do something dangerous, stop her with all your strength. If anything happens, raise the signal. I shall rush over in five seconds."
"The fact that you're serious is scary as all hell."
Sullenly sticking out his long tongue, Lachins raced off like he was fleeing the scene. Along the way, he didn't forget to shoot an angry glare toward Joshua, the one he'd been arguing with. The guy really was pettiness personified.
"Now then, let's head inside. We've gotta go tell Anastasia that Reinhard and friends came over! and stuff, right?"
"Well, I think that is Joshua's job, but we're all here, so let's go together."
When Subaru consented to Emilia's proposal, Joshua followed suit, and everyone entered the inn. The one thing tugging at Subaru's mind was Garfiel, tailing the group with the same gloomy expression.
It was obviously because of what had happened earlier. Subaru mulled over what to say to him when—
"Is it not a good opportunity for Garfiel to learn that there exists someone above him, I wonder?"
"Beatrice…"
Noticing Subaru's gaze, Beatrice gently grasped his sleeve and whispered to him.
"Since leaving the forest, Garfiel hasn't faced any serious resistance save the moving of heavy objects. It is good medicine once in a while, I suppose. Think of it as a learning opportunity and let him be."
"It's true that the only time his life was really on the line was with the ground spider. I guess it's a disease that most boys get at a certain age… All right. I'll quietly watch for now."
"Shall you, I wonder?"
For the moment, Subaru and Beatrice reached a consensus concerning
Garfiel's anguish. "Also," said Beatrice before she continued. "About that Sword Saint…Betty prefers not to get too close to him."
"—? What's this all about? Don't tell me it's because he's too attractive like Julius was?"
"Too dangerous is more accurate, I suppose. In any case, please do what you can."
Beatrice avoided getting into the details as she quietly and quickly got as far from Reinhard as she could. However, she immediately came to a halt. The reason was that Emilia had gone "um?" and tapped Joshua's shoulder as he led them down the corridor. "Joshua, I think the reception hall is in a different direction…"
"I am sorry. However, Lady Anastasia is currently receiving guests, so I cannot bring you directly to the reception hall."
"I see. Guests…"
Listening to Joshua's reply, Emilia put a finger to her lips and sank into thought. In her place, Subaru murmured, "Guests, huh… Meaning guests
besides Emilia-tan and Felt's envoy, Reinhard?"
"…You will understand soon enough. There is no need to stare at me with the eyes of a wild beast."
"Hey, wild beast's going too far. I don't look hungry and feral enough for that."
"You will understand soon enough without you raising your voice like a demon beast."
"That's even worse than before. Which demon beast you talkin' about anyway? Dog, whale, rabbit. Pick one."
Subaru went through the bestiary of detested demon beasts that lingered strongest in his memories. Lately, he'd been wondering where to rank spiders, too. Also, he felt like there was something like a charbroiled lion in there somewhere, but the impression it had left was somehow thinner than the rest.
"Whale, you say?"
As Subaru dug deeper into his memories, Reinhard murmured quietly beside him. When Subaru responded, Reinhard slowly shook his head side to side. "By whale, may I take it that you mean the White Whale, Subaru?"
"…Yeah, that's right. The worst whale there ever was. It's a straight-up miracle I got through that fight without dying."
Really, Subaru thought it was a true miracle that he hadn't racked up more deaths fighting against the White Whale.
He'd resolved to die many times over. He'd tasted death many times over. That was how menacing the demon beast was, and the damage it had inflicted was hard to forget. Even in the present, the sacrifices continued to torment Subaru's chest.
"Would you mind telling me the details about the White Whale later? That beast is not an unrelated matter to me. Though I'm sure it will be a long talk once we begin."
"Sure. You don't need to tell me about any circumstances that are hard to talk about, either."
Somehow, he could guess the reason behind Reinhard's clouded expression.
To Subaru, the battle with the White Whale was also the resolution and recompense for one man's obsession with the beast that had lasted for over a decade. And he could guess at the relationship between that man and Reinhard. Subaru didn't have any way to know exactly what had happened in their pasts, however.
Naturally, it wasn't something he should ask out of idle curiosity. He knew that much.
"Thank you."
Therefore, that was the only reply Reinhard could offer in return.
No more was needed. That was enough.
"We have arrived. Please wait here in the tearoom until Lady Anastasia's meeting is finished."
Joshua announced that they had reached their destination right as their conversation was over. Seeing the sliding screen partition for what had been dubbed the tearoom, Subaru felt his Japanese spirit throb.
What a calculating use of the Japanese spirit, he mused, but such casual thoughts lasted for only a few seconds.
"I am sorry, honored guest. May I leave some other guests here until the rest of your party returns?"
Apparently, someone else was already in the tearoom, and Joshua was addressing him through the screen. When he did so, there were obvious signs of someone stirring within.
"—Feel free. I am doing nothing here except gathering dust."
When the sound of the replying voice reached his ears, Subaru furrowed his brow; then surprise set in.
It was a familiar voice, one difficult to ever forget. More importantly, he'd been thinking of the man only a moment prior.
Subaru seemed to be the only person in that place who was surprised—
No, Reinhard was the sole exception among the others. His soft visage hardened ever so slightly, and bewilderment entered his blue eyes.
Not noticing that hesitance, Joshua slid the screen to the side. The paper screen door opened, revealing the small interior of the so-called tearoom.
Then the individual kneeling in a traditional fashion upon a square cushion turned his tranquil eyes toward them— "—Grandfather."
"Reinhard?"
The initial voices of grandfather and grandson overlapped.
This was an unexpected reunion between the Sword Saint and the Sword Devil of the famed Astrea family.
4
The people gathered in the reception hall of the Water Raiment were distinguished in multiple ways.
"I have to say, I'm surprised that Reinhard and Mr. Wilhelm are family. Now that you mention it, both seem to be very good with swords."
"That completely absentminded way of looking at things is so E M T that it hurts."
Assembled around the long table in the center of the room, the respective camps were sitting on square floor cushions in traditional Japanese style. Emilia and Subaru were quietly whispering to each other in a corner where they sat side by side. She might have been nervous, but the contents of her words did not display any particular sense of tension at all.
"Betty is paying close attention, but it will be of no use if anyone makes a sudden move. Subaru, you should focus on not receiving cold stares from everyone present, I suppose."
"It hurts to hear you say that because I used to get plenty of experience with exactly that."
Sitting on Subaru's other side, Beatrice offered those words of caution.
Incidentally, Emilia was sitting with her legs to the side, Subaru was sitting cross-legged, and Beatrice was sitting on her knees. This was the result of Subaru daring her to try it, but Beatrice's knees were already beginning to shake.
"Either way, Garfiel is here should anything happen, and with the people present, this is a needless concern regardless."
With her legs at their limit, Beatrice shifted them to the side. Subaru glanced at Garfiel, who was sitting defensively in a corner of the room.
The encounter with Reinhard had to still be on his mind in various respects, but he seemed to have his hands full with Mimi clinging to him. Subaru hoped that Mimi would help distract him a little bit.
At present, the main figures from multiple camps were seated in the large reception hall, and other associates were on standby at the edges of the room. That was why Mimi's brothers were also present. Seeing his older sister glued to Garfiel's side, Hetaro was staring daggers at the offending boy, while TB's face made it clear he wanted nothing to do with this fracas.
Incidentally, Joshua was at the edge of the spectator seats, his already white face looking even paler than usual.
Out of everyone who had gathered in the hall, the one to kick things off was Reinhard, who started with a bow.
"We are truly grateful for the invitation you have offered us. Lady Felt's arrival to the inn is slightly delayed, but as she shall arrive forthwith, allow me to give you our formal greetings in her stead."
"No need to be so stuffy. Considering this invitation was on short notice from me, that's plenty… Though there was much more overlap in arrivals than I expected."
The hostess, Anastasia, softly smiled as Reinhard engaged in the courtesies expected of an envoy. Reinhard nodded in response to Anastasia's words; then he turned toward Julius, who was sitting with a smiling face at Anastasia's side.
"It has been a while, Julius. Since our earlier visit to the Hoshin
Company, I believe?"
"Yes, I suppose it has been. I am sorry for imposing upon you like this. However, it is a good chance to see how everyone is doing. Such opportunities are difficult to come by."
The mutual friends exchanged greetings that were few in words. Reinhard was also seated at the table.
Somehow or other, the seating order had been neatly arranged by camp, with Anastasia, Emilia, a representative of the still-absent Felt camp, and finally—
"—It has been quite some time since I have met all of you like this, has it not?"
Speaking with a willowy smile was a woman with a beautiful face and long, lovely green hair.
A kindness rested in her almond-shaped, amber-colored eyes, and her alluring figure was dressed in navy-blue attire. It hardly required mentioning, but this person in the long-skirted clothing was the very image of ladylike grace.
People who knew the old her would scarcely believe she was the same person.
"It's been a long time, Lady Crusch. I believe the last time we met was at the honors ceremony?"
"Yes. That it has. I am sorry for having caused you such trouble on that occasion. It was only afterward that I heard of everyone's efforts. I wasn't the least bit surprised."
Replying to Emilia's greeting was Crusch, giving a rather soft-seeming response.
Her previously gallant and decisive demeanor had been lost along with her memories. With her old fearlessness still yet to return, she was the portrait of an aristocrat's beautiful daughter.
"Really, it's been nothing but surprises. I heard it at the honors ceremony, but after the White Whale and the Witch Cult, it was the Great Rabbit next? Subawu, are you out of your mind?"
Sitting at Crusch's side and jabbing at Subaru was the beautiful, kittyeared girl or rather, young man called Ferris.
The greatest healer in the kingdom, he'd also worked part-time as Subaru's physician. There was an edge to his otherwise teasing words that made Subaru sit up slightly straighter.
The cause of Ferris's anger toward Subaru was obvious.
"I'm sorry for ignoring your warnings, using magic, and smashing my gate…"
"I drilled it into you that meowch, and in the end, you still rode your broken gate into the ground. It wasn't worth treating you at all. Even now, it wouldn't be strange for it to rupture and go poof if Beatrice wasn't here. You really, really have to treat it with more care."
"I get it already. But there ain't a guy in the world who can make Beatrice happier than I do."
Ferris's tone was flippant, but his warning was dead serious. That's why Subaru replied with equal seriousness. The fact that Beatrice was pounding his shoulder while red in the face was a small price to pay.
"I have to say, I'm amazed that even the Crusch camp got called over. If I hadn't used up all my surprise after running into Reinhard outside earlier, I would've had one hell of a face for you to look at."
"Awww. That is quite a wasted opportunity. But it's really something to have so many invited guests gather here today. Even I'm astonished it's this many."
"That is only natural, as there was no specific date set. It is rare to have a chance to meet everyone at once like this, so we should consider this accident of timing as the blessing it is."
It was the final member of the Crusch camp, Wilhelm, who spoke of this coincidence as a good opportunity.
Crusch was sitting formally on her knees, while Ferris was sitting with his knees apart in a rather feminine fashion. Wilhelm was also sitting formally on Ferris's other side, but in spite of his butler's attire, his gentlemanly demeanor seemed a perfect fit for the distinctly Japanese ambience.
By some quirk, the seating arrangement of the camps had put Wilhelm and Reinhard right next to each other, which was a sight that was bad for the hearts of Subaru and everyone else aware of their relationship. "Those two aren't meeting each other's eyes, are they…?" Subaru mentally nodded to Emilia's very quiet whisper.
Pairing Wilhelm and Reinhard meant grandfather and grandchild were seated side by side, but the two hadn't spoken a word to each other from the moment of their unexpected reunion in the tearoom to the instant they were all called over.
A stifling silence had descended on the tearoom, enough that even the Emilia camp, brimming with oblivious people, hadn't tried to render any support. When Joshua came back, he looked like an angel to them.
Either way, Subaru deduced that there were complicated circumstances where the pair from the Astrea family was concerned. Otherwise, the feelings haunting Wilhelm during the hunt of the White Whale couldn't be explained away.
—Why had Wilhelm borrowed the power of Crusch's family and not his own?
For that matter, why hadn't Reinhard joined the battle to avenge his own grandmother?
" "
Deep down, Subaru badly wanted to ask.
But probing would only rub salt into the pair's wounds and hurt them further. Both might have been in rival camps, but to Subaru, one was a precious friend and the other a person he deeply respected and to whom he owed a great deal.
Trust was a castle built atop a pile of sand. Subaru wasn't like Roswaal. He'd stand firm.
That was why he simply held out hope that someone would make the conversation naturally flow in that direction.
"Incidentally, why did Lady Anastasia call everyone here?"
"Oh, you're so suspicious. My objective really is that I just wanted to speak with you all a little. That's why I didn't invite unreasonable people over."
"Unreasonable…?"
Emilia frowned as she prompted back. But it wasn't because she was unaware who Anastasia meant just now. In the first place, there was only one camp absent.
"So I take it that you did not invite Lady Priscilla and Sir Al?"
"They do things completely their own way, so I couldn't come up with any excuse to ask them here. At least with Felt, we got a chance to know each other a little better during that incident with Black Silver Coin, right?"
"We caused you a great deal of trouble on that occasion. However, you are absolutely right."
When Anastasia rather easily confessed that she'd left one camp out, Reinhard seemed to agree and backed off with no sign of resistance.