“――That concludes the report on the damage caused by the Flying Dragon’s assault.”

Otto slapped the documents in front of him as he spoke, causing Emilia to furrow her brows in pain.

The “Flying Dragon Disaster” that struck Castle City Gwararu left the city in chaos; it had taken several days to manage the repairs and the injuries before they received word on the situation.

From Emilia’s perspective, the state of the city was abysmal.

The magnificent walls surrounding the city had been destroyed, and large boulders dropped from above lay scattered throughout the streets. The damage to buildings was significant, with less than half remaining intact. Many people had died, and even the collapsed house where Emilia and her companions were staying had once been a home now bereft of its occupants.

“If only we had been… a little faster…”

If only they had rushed to help sooner. Such regrets stabbed at Emilia’s heart—

“Let’s stop this meaningless speculation about if we had arrived earlier.”

Otto, reading Emilia’s thoughts, decisively shut her down. While Emilia grimaced at his sharpness, Otto pointed towards the window.

“The moment we were allowed to go ahead was when the swarm of Flying Dragons overtook us. Without that, we wouldn’t have had the option to hurry at all. In other words…”

“In other words?”

“There was no way to prevent this from happening. It’s a matter of causality. If we prop one thing up, another falls. It’s unreasonable to dwell on such things.”

Emilia shook her head slowly in response to Otto’s statement, giving a wry smile.

It wasn’t surprising that he could read her thoughts; Otto had a talent for understanding people, so it was just customary for him.

Given that, the words he offered were his version of comfort.

Getting lost in hypothetical musings wouldn’t lead to any practical reflection, he was saying.

Emilia accepted this—until—

“But there’s a way to say things. I don’t like the way you just said that.”

Petra, who had been sitting in her chair before Emilia, turned away, clearly upset.

In front of Emilia, Petra was having her light brown hair styled, a sight she maintained beautifully despite their busy lives. Recently, it had become Emilia’s responsibility to look after her, but Petra’s commitment to maintaining her appearance even while tiring from their travels was impressive.

Even after running all over the city yesterday, upon the arrival of a new day, she had managed to tidy herself up.

That was thanks to her sense of duty and consciousness of her position.

“How unfortunate for me, then, to be scolded by my employer, Miss Petra,” Otto sighed, acknowledging her irritation.

—Emilia and her party had entered the Volakia Empire, searching for the whereabouts of Subaru and Rem.

After a series of twists and turns and numerous hardships, they had finally arrived at the empire, only to find that crossing the border through legitimate means was far more difficult than they had anticipated, resulting in their not-so-stealthy entry.

However, if Emilia and Roswaal’s true identities were discovered, it would lead to dire consequences, so they had taken on false names and fabricated their travel reasons.

As a result, Emilia was charged with the alias of “Emily,” and those she was meant to protect were—

“Miss Petra and Miss Beatrice.”

“The purpose of our journey to this empire is to ensure Miss Beatrice’s recovery… In truth, if we can retrieve our main objective, that goal will be accomplished, so it’s not entirely a lie.”

“I understand, but somehow… ah, never mind.”

“Considering it’s troubling if I’m interrupted mid-sentence, it’s better if you just say it outright.”

“Is that so? Otto, doesn’t this show some of your employer’s bad traits rubbing off on you?”

“Maybe not hearing it would have been better…!”

As Otto clutched his head, Emilia hastily withdrew the words she had almost spoken.

Otto looked thoroughly worn, but Emilia deeply trusted Roswaal’s intelligence. Hence, having two of the smartest people in their camp working together was very reassuring.

Though expressing that sentiment might only make Otto more uncomfortable.

In any case—

“Thanks to Garfiel, the number of injured in the city has significantly reduced, hasn’t it?”

“That’s undoubtedly the case. I believe that the contributions of Miss Petra and Frederica, as well as, of course, Emily, have been substantial as well.”

Emilia finally managed to relieve some of the tension in her cheeks at Otto’s nodding response.

The efforts of Garfiel, along with the assistance of Frederica and Petra, made Emilia feel proud of her companions, who were truly her treasured allies.

“Otto-kun, you also worked hard negotiating with Ziqru and the others, didn’t you?”

“Fortunately, Ziqru is an understanding individual, so the struggles were minimal. I owe my gratitude to Mizelda for fortuitously crossing paths and facilitating our discussion.”

“Mizelda seems to have quite a fondness for your face, doesn’t she?”

“I’m not used to being addressed so directly, and I found it quite bewildering.”

Petra raised her small fist and smiled, prompting an amused smile from Otto.

Emilia had also found Mizelda, who they had conversed with, to be a strong yet amiable woman. From the very beginning, she had been considerate towards them.

It was a curious thing how differently she treated Otto and Garfiel.

“I get why she would like your face, but Garfiel is cute too…”

“Gar has those wrinkles between his brows and over his nose—perhaps that’s what puts them off. Also, he’s irritable being separated from his sister Ram.”

“I think I’ll keep my mouth shut.”

Petra then made a playful poke at her own perfectly shaped nose, giving her assessment of Garfiel.

Emilia found that Garfiel’s ever-changing expressions were charming, and she wished Mizelda would see more of that side of him as well.

Setting aside the lighthearted conversation—

“But if we’ve wrapped up cleaning up the city…”

“Yes?”

Otto nodded at Emilia’s remark, then looked out the window once more. Outside, the sign of the city’s recovery faded amid the damage and loss — the City Hall stood there.

Gathered there were the influential figures of Castle City Gwararu.

In other words—

“At last, we seem to be able to begin discussions to move forward.”

As Otto stated, the discussions were about to commence.

△▼△▼△▼△

“By the way, I haven’t been thanked yet, old man.”

Garfiel called out to the back of a figure standing atop the half-collapsed city wall.

Honestly, he didn’t want to address that person, but turning away upon seeing their back felt like losing, so his stubbornness won over his distaste.

After all, why was it him who had to back down?

If he was unable to endure the awkwardness and fled, it should have been the other party’s responsibility.

That thought led to his rather confrontational opening statement—

“――Tch.”

What returned to him was a loud click of the tongue, and Garfiel quickly regretted his choice.

As a result of his unnecessary stubbornness, he was now bound to endure an even more unpleasant interaction. He could almost hear Otto thinking, “Well, of course.”

He didn’t have a particularly fond impression of the person, to begin with.

Though he couldn’t witness the event where this person disrespected his family directly, just hearing about it from others was enough to breed disdain.

That was the impression Garfiel held towards Heinkel Astrea.

“――――”

Heinkel stood at watch, with a sizable sword at his waist, dressed in light leather armor.

However, Garfiel judged that this was far more about putting on a facade to mask his own restlessness than a noble desire to protect the city’s peace.

The alcohol wafting from Heinkel’s being and the empty bottles scattered around him were testament to that.

During the calamity of the Flying Dragon, it seemed Heinkel had fought valiantly against the tide of dragons, yet he had suffered a crushing defeat against the Nine Divine Generals.

That tiny Schult was the one who tirelessly defended Heinkel, while Utakata had been straightforward, saying, “He didn’t manage to land a blow,” which seemed closer to the truth.

As a testament to that, while Garfiel went around healing the injured with magic, one of the most severely injured had been Heinkel himself. It looked like he had taken a brutal beating, and without Garfiel’s healing magic, he might still have been bedridden.

“Is that what your click of the tongue is supposed to be in place of thanks? That’s pretty far removed from the common sense I know, huh?”

Even while keeping the situation of the other in mind, Garfiel spat out his thoughts.

Garfiel had experienced loss before, too. He understood the frustrating feelings associated with it and didn’t particularly want to pick at the fact of Heinkel’s defeat.

However, if that person didn’t show him proper respect, he wanted to get in at least one petty remark, especially since Garfiel had no good impression of Heinkel anyway.

“This is the Empire. There might be some sensibilities I’m not aware of, but you’re not from the kingdom, are you? And you’re said to be the son of that ‘Sword Saint,’ right?”

“――――”

“I’ve mentioned this before, but that guy is something else. With how strong he is, I’d assume his parent would be remarkable too, but it appears manners weren’t passed down with the strength—”

“――Regardless of how impressive a parent is, that doesn’t guarantee the child is the same.”

Heinkel didn’t even turn around, letting Garfiel’s taunts bounce off without acknowledgment. Garfiel was taken aback by that sudden rebuttal. He thought he would ignore his provocations entirely, but instead, Heinkel responded unexpectedly.

“Similarly, there’s no reason a monster’s parent must be a monster themselves.”

“Oh…”

“You’re bad at insulting people. If you want to provoke someone, you should take lessons from Miss Priscilla. With that approach, you’ll fail.”

“Ugh!”

Garfiel was seen through, and before he knew it, Heinkel had deftly turned the tables on him.

The true nature of provocation was like this, Garfiel thought as he stumbled over his words. The conversation could have ended there, but if he turned his back, he would undoubtedly face a proper defeat.

After all, Garfiel stubbornly insisted on his pride and chose to sit down slightly away from Heinkel, gazing at the unprotected southern terrain of the city.

The wall of Castle City Gwararu, known for its defensive prowess, had taken quite a hit from the countless Flying Dragons.

The damage from the projectiles falling from the sky was tremendous. The broken and shattered walls were undergoing urgent repairs, yet the city’s defensive capabilities had significantly declined.

Particularly hard-hit was the southern wall, which had suffered more damage than the already miserable western wall.

While the western wall had also taken its fair share of blows, it was nothing compared to the utter devastation here. Whole sectors had been reduced to rubble.

“Miss Emilia… No, was it ‘Emily,’ that princess and Miss Priscilla fought against the Nine Divine Generals, I hear.”

The ferocity of that battle was written clearly in the devastation below.

The majority of buildings were unrecognizable, obliterated by brutal shockwaves.

The battles against the dragonkin known as the Nine Divine Generals, and the radiant white light that had decided their fate—Garfiel too had been buffeted by those shockwaves within the city, but Emilia explained the source of that might.

“—The roar of a dragon.”

Calling upon creatures like the Earth Dragon, Water Dragon, and Flying Dragon, the ‘Dragon’ stood atop them all.

Dragons were said to wield powers that lay beyond the realm of reason, and with just a single breath, everything had been turned upside down.

Had Emilia and Priscilla not resisted, the damage would have likely escalated even further.

“…I really can’t catch a break.”

While he praised Emilia and, by extension, Priscilla, Garfiel felt a bitter taste in his heart.

Because he hadn’t been able to accompany them to the Pleiades Watchtower, Garfiel had missed the chance to meet the ‘Divine Dragon’ Volcanica that Emilia spoke of. Not just that, but he had also failed to encounter another dragon while being in the same city.

If Subaru were to put it, his luck was simply terrible.

“――――”

It’s not like he was sulking just because he hadn’t met the legendary beings known as dragons.

Garfiel’s role lay in battling formidable adversaries and defeating those who sought to undermine his group. His duty was to fulfill the role of a warrior.

It was absolutely not about merely healing those injured.

“On top of that, I’m not helping at all with the Empire’s infiltration!”

Garfiel hadn’t contributed anything in their covert entry into the Volakia Empire.

For crossing the border, they relied on Otto’s family, the Suwen Trading Company, and when issues arose during their journey, it was Petra who compiled the negotiations with poise.

Later, when trouble arose as soon as they entered the empire, it was Frederica who used the blood flowing through her veins to resolve the situation, while Garfiel had merely knocked out an unpleasant person at the end.

If at least he could find some hope in the name of the black-haired Valkyrie, “Natsumi Schwarz,” who had become notorious in the castle city, thinking it might lead to seeing Subaru again—

“Damn it, after our leaders left and stepped outside… It feels like I bear the blame for every misfortune!”

Of course, Garfiel was well aware that this guilt was just an overexaggerated paranoia.

As Subaru and the others had their own grand adventures to reach the empire, it was expected that Subaru was also caught in a troublesome situation upon arriving.

Even in that new place, the outliers of chaos he involved himself with were perfectly in line with Garfiel’s knowledge of Subaru.

“——They’re fighting their way to the top of the empire, are they? Now, that’s a huge deal for our captain.”

A grand and complicated war was brewing that encompassed Castle City—not just the Volakia Empire.

What kind of fate would intertwine to plunge them into such a chaotic situation? Garfiel thought it was undoubtedly the only outcome Subaru could manifest.

Struggling desperately to return to Emilia and the others, and along the way, building connections and bonds with those he met, he simply couldn’t abandon them and thus continued to run.

Currently, it seemed he was negotiating in a great city far to the southeast.

No matter the outcome, all he wished was for Subaru to return safely—

“—Hey, kid.”

“Eh?”

“Quit the clattering. Can’t you just keep your mouth shut for once?”

Heinkel abruptly spat at Garfiel, who had been deep in thought.

The red-haired man, glaring mockingly, even showed his fangs, clearly angered by Garfiel’s gnashing.

“Hmph! And why should I listen to you? If you find me irritating, then you should just disappear on your own!”

“You think talking back to me is how to stay in the game? I got here first, so you should learn your place.”

“—Don’t you dare look down on me, someone scared of the Nine Divine Generals!”

Hating the thought of being belittled like before, Garfiel shouted back fiercely.

He realized after issuing such a harsh retort that he had gone a bit too far. Still, given who he was talking to, it shouldn’t lead to any repercussions—

“Yeah, sure. —I was scared. That’s why I’m like this!”

“Old man…?”

“Drunk and sulking ’cause I made Princess Priscilla mad. Ah, what a pitiful situation.”

Yet, Heinkel’s response came back weak and feeble, leaving Garfiel in disbelief.

Heinkel drank from the bottle in his hands and grumbled under his breath, as if cursing the world—or rather, himself.

His attitude suggested that he felt abandoned by the whole world and was reveling in self-pity.

“…It’s the Nine Divine Generals we’re talking about. They’re the most fearsome warriors of the empire, so it totally makes sense that the old man couldn’t win against them.”

Garfiel couldn’t bear to see Heinkel in such a miserable state, offering that trivial consolation.

He couldn’t believe he was even saying that, given how he had just mocked Heinkel for his defeat. Now he was suggesting it was understandable.

It was truly nonsensical, and it probably wasn’t comforting at all. If Garfiel had been in Heinkel’s place, such words would likely have made him furious.

But instead of getting angry, Heinkel chuckled bitterly at Garfiel’s words.

“Winning isn’t the only role to fulfill. If I’m in a position to benefit from Miss Priscilla’s journey, all the more reason to fight… Heh, what a joke.”

“A joke, huh?”

“With more than a decade chasing something, but it slipped right through my fingers. No matter where I go, the cowardice of my nature never changes.”

Heinkel laughed at himself relentlessly, and Garfiel’s perception of him shifted.

Initially, Garfiel had regarded him with disgust and rivalry due to the brute force he displayed in the Water Gate City. Just as he thought his negative impressions were confirmed, the sight of Heinkel cursing himself caused everything to shift again.

What stood before him was a weak, tired, pitiful man.

The words spat from his mouth were barbs turned against himself, pricking painfully, and it was painful to see that self-directed sting. If directed solely towards others, Garfiel could dismiss it with contempt.

But the moment he realized those words were also aimed at him, he felt an unsettling sensation building in his chest.

“Why in the world are you so down on yourself? You’re still alive. Then—”

“—Why am I still alive?”

“—How dare you say that in front of the person you were rescued by!”

Garfiel felt his anger boil at Heinkel’s continued self-deprecation.

Notably, upon witnessing Garfiel’s response, Heinkel suddenly looked at him as if that realization had struck him.

“Oh, right. You were the one who healed me. Be more careful next time.”

“Oh!? You smug bastard!”

“Don’t miss the chance to ditch someone you don’t like without any second thoughts.”

As Heinkel laughed dejectedly heaved that remark.

Instantly, Garfiel felt red mist rise before his eyes and found himself grasping Heinkel’s collar, glaring at the alcohol-soaked man just inches from his face.

There came a sharp sound as the alcohol bottle in Heinkel’s grasp shattered at his feet.

With Garfiel grabbing his collar, Heinkel was abruptly forced upright, causing the remaining wine bottle to tumble from his grasp and down the wall.

Following the trajectory of the bottle, Heinkel sighed.

“What a waste.”

“Is that all you’ve got to say?”

Heinkel, now in Garfiel’s grasp, looked at him with vacant eyes.

Those lifeless blue pupils echoed the gazes Garfiel had exchanged with Reinhardt and Wilhelm, but Garfiel couldn’t perceive any similarity.

How could a human’s eyes become this clouded?

What emotions were churned within those depths, having been debased over the years?

“What in the world could have led you to acquire such eyes?”

Heinkel had claimed he lost to the Nine Divine Generals and upset Princess Priscilla.

While the reality of the situation was ambiguous, Garfiel thought it overkill to blame Heinkel for lacking the power to battle the Nine Divine Generals.

At least, Garfiel felt that way because he hadn’t even reached the opportunity to engage in combat.

When faced with the taunting glances of others, it was only he who remained marked.

Among those who garner contempt, Heinkel had utterly disheartened himself.

For Garfiel, that betrayal resonated far deeper than any words of disdain could convey.

“Why do you pitifully wallow in such stupidity? If you’re alive, then keep fighting!”

“—What’s the point in continuing to live?”

“How can you say such things in front of the person who saved you?!”

Garfiel’s building anger erupted fiercely.

That Garfiel’s response roused a minor flicker of realization within Heinkel’s eyes made him pause.

For a moment, those eyes, which had seemed so distant, finally fixed on Garfiel as the haziness faded.

And then—

“—My wife.”

Despite having drunk, Heinkel’s parched voice escaped his cracked lips.

However, before Garfiel could grasp the true meaning behind Heinkel’s words, he clamped down his molars and strained to catch the following words.

But once again, the words Garfiel had been waiting for never came.

“—Ah.”

“Hey?!”

With Garfiel still grasping Heinkel, the latter’s gaze once more drifted away from him. His attention was directed behind Garfiel.

That struck Garfiel as infuriating and frustrating, but—

“A carriage!”

The next phrase made Garfiel turn around almost involuntarily.

——In the direction where he had his back turned, towards the southern horizon of the city, he spied a small shadow approaching.

Though it was still distant enough that he couldn’t tell if it was a dragon cart or a horse cart, if he trusted Heinkel’s words, then it was—

“—Oh, is that the return of those who went out?!”

As he gasped, Garfiel could sense the glint of hope lighting up in his heart, yet the musty breath of alcohol breathed into him reminded him of the unpleasant situation.

When he turned, he was greeted instead by the inconvenient glare of the sour-faced Heinkel.

The sight of the man who had nearly revealed his own vulnerabilities was nowhere to be found; only the face of someone who sowed irritation and annoyance was left before Garfiel.

The instant he recognized that, Heinkel deftly twisted away and broke free.

Both physically and emotionally, Garfiel sensed that Heinkel had evaded him. What was once clutched in his fingertips was now slipping away unceremoniously.

“Don’t miss the opportunity, you know. If you let the moment pass, you’ll forever be left yearning for those final words.”

Only after saying that did Heinkel leap down from the wall ahead of Garfiel, landing surprisingly safely in the city.

For a moment, Garfiel hesitated whether or not to call out to him, but ultimately chose silence. As Heinkel had shown, Garfiel could no longer think of stopping; his heart was already racing with anticipation.

He desperately longed to rush over to that approaching shadow from beyond the horizon.

“Captain…!”

Between the sharp fangs, Garfiel’s emotions swelled, wanting to burst forth.

Considering the feelings of Emilia, Beatrice, and Petra, there lingered a sense of hesitation, but Garfiel also longed to reunite with Subaru.

Hence, he diverted the urgency in his heart into the strength of his legs and sprinted towards the approaching carriage with a ferocity unmatched.

With just a little more, merely seconds left to run, he would finally reunite with Subaru—

“—Huh?”

At that moment, his overflowing hope unexpectedly shifted into confusion.

His speed, which had been a whirlwind, began to dwindle, eventually lagging behind the wind. Before long, he was slower than the gusts that left him behind entirely.

Finally, he came to a standstill.

Within Garfiel’s green gaze, a line of horse-drawn carts—no, many carts and wagons—could clearly be seen approaching from beyond the horizon.

“T-this is…”

Without a doubt, Garfiel thought he could meet Subaru right away. And while that would have indeed been a possible outcome, it was too far from Garfiel’s thoughts at this moment.

Regardless, before Garfiel, who was stopped in his thoughts, a sizable carriage led by a magnificent storm horse proudfully approached, lined up with others heading into the city.

And then—

“—You there! What are you dawdling for? If you’re a municipal servant, there are things you ought to do!”

The appearance of a stern-faced man peering from the carriage made Garfiel hold his breath.

△▼△▼△▼△

“Miss Frederica, thank you for your efforts.”

As Frederica inhaled the scent of the herbal tea offered to her, she looked at the man who stood before her, feeling a faint surprise mixed with fatigue and thirst.

With a gentle smile on his amiable face, the man was Ziqru Osman, a gentleman of modest stature.

Although Frederica was already tall for a woman, this man was significantly smaller even when ignoring that. Still, Frederica had come to appreciate that he was a big-hearted and pleasant person over the past few days.

“—Thank you kindly for your thoughtfulness, Ziqru-sama.”

In the bustling environment of the city hall’s top floor, Frederica gratefully accepted the tea brewed by Ziqru himself.

The soft warmth and aroma of the tea slipped into her nose, prompting a smile to flower on her lips.

These were roles she would typically fulfill as a maid, yet her current place of duty in the empire made her hesitate to return to such habits.

Officially, Frederica’s role was that of a guard for prominent figures—upon reflection, she realized Otto and Garfiel shared similar positions, so there was likely no need for her to step away from her maid duties. It was simply a realization she had come to too late.

Instead, she chose to happily indulge in the kindness of the commanding officer who prepared the tea, taking a moment to refresh her dry throat.

Truly, Ziqru demonstrated remarkable skill in making tea.

“Is it true that you’re quite the expert when it comes to brewing tea, given your role as a general of the empire?”

“Ha ha, I’m honored by your compliments. However, I cannot attest to the quality of the others’ tea. I’ve just been trained by a host of sisters back home.”

“Indeed. Then we ought to show gratitude to your elder sisters and nieces. Even in such a hectic situation, we get to enjoy the taste of tea.”

“Yes, you never know what might come in handy… Of course, when it comes to preparing for lovely ladies like Miss Frederica, I make extra effort.”

Ziqru’s words, said without any ulterior motive, allowed Frederica to accept the praise naturally.

Perhaps due to the honest influence of having lived with a multitude of sisters, his attitude of complimenting women felt quite genuine and vulnerable to her.

Originally, when she had heard of a reputed “ladies’ man” representing the city, she had approached him with significant tension and caution.

“Surely Miss Emily and Miss Petra, along with Miss Beatrice would be in great trouble if anything were to happen to them, right?”

However, that worry was dispelled the moment she met Ziqru in person.

Having faced terrible situations like the Flying Dragon Disaster, he had pitched in and assisted in saving lives in the city; that probably helped alleviate Frederica’s apprehensions as well.

For the decision to speak with the city’s representatives immediately upon their arrival, Frederica was grateful for Otto’s initiative.

“None of this would have happened if Otto hadn’t managed to charm Mizelda at first sight. During times like this, he’s really dependable, isn’t he?”

If Otto had heard her thoughts, he might have protested with, “There’s definitely some exaggeration in that description, you know!” So Frederica quietly nodded in acceptance.

Even while considering it this way, she recognized how much Otto had contributed to her endeavors.

In the current situation, where Frederica and Otto held the mantle of responsibility, it was particularly weighty since they were separated from Roswaal and Ram.

“——”

As they sought the whereabouts of Subaru and Rem in the empire, Emilia’s group was thus divided after their clandestine entry.

The groups consisted of Roswaal and Ram on one side, while the remaining six, including Frederica, operated independently.

Emilia’s team conducted groundwork and inquiries to find Subaru, while Roswaal and Ram had set off towards the location of an imperial noble believed to be acquainted with Roswaal.

Meanwhile, Frederica, along with Otto and Petra, remained behind their leaders, heavy with responsibility.

“Miss Emilia seemed quite motivated, saying she must put in her utmost effort for us.”

Imagining the spirited determination and responsibility-of-prospects in Emilia, Frederica smiled gently.

In the strict hierarchy of Emilia’s group, it would turn out that the eldest might be Pack and Beatrice, followed closely by Emilia.

Separated from Subaru, Beatrice had struggled for mana, leading her to mostly sleep, and thus the next in line, Emilia, had taken it upon herself to try hard.

While final authority would rest with Emilia, the discussions leading up to a decision would be carefully considered mainly between Frederica, Otto, and Petra.

The very reason for their arrival in Castle City was the alarming rumors that reached their ears.

“They say there’s a black-haired maiden supporting the rebel army that has risen against the empire…”

When Frederica heard the name of “Natsumi Schwarz,” she was completely dumbfounded, unable to process it.

Could it really be that a person she recognized had the same name, existing right within the heart of the empire?

“If Otto hadn’t discerned the truth, I wonder if I would have realized.”

Ultimately, the connection between the person who had become the subject of rumor and the message conveyed by Subaru was precisely decoded by Otto.

“That guy seems to have a firm belief that cross-dressing is a universal solution… Frankly, that notion of his seems wherever he proposes it; there’s a scary prospect it could really help.”

Otto had a look that balanced incredulity with a touch of acceptance.

With Subaru being a widely known figure even in the Lugnica Kingdom, they concluded that adopting aliases during their stay in the Volakia Empire was a necessary precaution.

Emilia had remained perplexed until the very end, wondering, “Why is Natsumi’s name being used…?” puzzled that the name of an acquaintance was in play.

In any case—

“Surely, Miss Natsumi will return soon as well. Ultimately, this should grant the wishes of Emily-chan and Petra-chan.”

“—Yes, truly.”

As she savored the scent of tea and lost herself in her thoughts, Ziqru nodded in agreement.

Just as he indicated plainly, those they searched for—at the very least, their reunion with Subaru didn’t seem too far-fetched.

The assumptions Frederica and her group based on the mention of Natsumi Schwarz were indeed validated, as Subaru’s presence had already been confirmed within Castle City.

The stumbling block was that he had undertaken another matter before departing the city, along with the pressing circumstances surrounding Rem—another individual they were attempting to locate.

“—If only we could’ve safeguarded Lady Rem.”

“Under those circumstances, there’s no way to blame Ziqru-sama or the others. Naturally, while it does sadden me…”

Frederica slowly shook her head at Ziqru’s low murmurs.

By the time Frederica’s group arrived, not only was Subaru missing, but Rem had also vanished amidst the turmoil of the Flying Dragon Disaster.

In an act to drive back the Nine Divine Generals, it was said she had put herself forth as a hostage.

“—I was so sure from the wake of her awakening that she’d indeed be Ram’s sister.”

While harboring concern for Rem, Frederica voiced that impression.

Due to the authority of the Archbishop of Gluttony, who had eradicated her name and memory, Frederica didn’t remember Rem in the least. At least, she had no recollections of her following her revival.

What she only knew was what Subaru had recounted about her character, and that her appearance closely resembled that of her twin sister, Ram. However, it appeared Rem possessed similarly bold traits.

If that was not the case, it would have been unimaginable for her to negotiate without giving an inch against the likes of the Nine Divine Generals, ultimately saving the city from extinction.

“—”

Given that she had accepted that negotiation, it stood to reason that the opposing side would have no reason to keep Rem alive.

Rationally considering that was about as much solace as Frederica could muster. Had she not had that, surely Frederica’s party would have been chasing after Rem’s whereabouts instantaneously.

Yet, while speaking from the heart, it was hard not to feel the urge to leap into action still.

“If Ram were here, she certainly would have… ah, no, that child is wise, so perhaps would not have done that.”

Frederica, who knew Ram well—could neither assume she would nor wouldn’t have raced after Rem.

Ram was intelligent. At the same time, she was compassionate. Frederica was aware that in those nights, Ram would often visit Subaru by going to see Rem.

“I wanted them to reunite. Regardless of how insolent she might be, Ram is someone I deeply care for.”

“Miss Frederica, don’t dwell too much on it. The state of the city seems to have calmed down for the moment. We can discuss future matters adequately now.”

Considerate, Ziqru spoke softly to Frederica, his words a comfort.

He was correct—finally, the remnants of the devastation continued to be mended, and matters concerning the future could commence discussions at last. Of course, the direction those discussions would lead was still uncertain—

“—Ziqru, sir!”

As she opened her mouth to respond to Ziqru, a sharp, yet distinctly apprehensive voice rang through the city hall.

With swift steps, a subordinate dashed up the stairs toward Ziqru.

“My lord, a report!” the subordinate declared while forming a fist over his chest.

“What is it?” Ziqru turned, asking in a low tone.

After a moment’s hesitation, the subordinate spoke up.

“We have arrived at the south side of the city as numerous carriages approach, all coming from the Magic City.”

“—Magic City? That means—!”

The report sparked a reaction in Frederica, who instinctively edged forward. Under normal circumstances, embarrassment might have overshadowed her excitement, but not at this moment.

Noting Frederica’s excitement, Ziqru nodded deeply.

“They must have returned. Truly, your timing is impeccable. Urgently summon Princess Priscilla and the others!”

“Yes!”

The longed-for news had reached them, causing Frederica’s heart to race.

The earlier fears for Rem’s safety had diminished to a degree. In a small way, this could lead to achieving one of the two objectives they had sought.

“That’s wonderful news, Miss Frederica.”

Observing Frederica exhale a breath of relief, Ziqru smiled gently.

In response to his words, Frederica intended to convey her thanks.

However—

“—Sir Ziqru, regarding that matter—”

Before Frederica could finish, the soldier interrupted with an anxious tone. The obstructiveness of his trepidation caused Frederica to hold her breath.

It appeared that Ziqru also sensed the unease, and after shifting his gaze to the subdued soldier, he lowered his tone slightly.

“What is it?” he asked gently.

Taking a brief moment of hesitation, the soldier eventually revealed.

“The carriages that have returned from the Magic City… Miss Natsumi Schwarz is not among them… We’ve lost her trace at the Chaos Frame.”

That cold declaration cruelly announced that the mischief of fate was far from over.