Subaru couldn’t help but wonder what had gone wrong whenever he had a moment to think.

While he’d think “No, no, I don’t want to remember this,” his mind would inevitably drift back to that evening, recalling the sight of the silver-haired girl walking away from him with her back turned.

What had he done wrong? This thought looped relentlessly in Subaru’s mind.

He could acknowledge that his words had gone too far.

Was it the pressure from her relentless barrage of words that pushed him to this point? Or perhaps it was the fact that even before that, his body had already taken a beating? Words that diverged from what he truly wanted to express spilled out instead, ultimately creating a rift between him and her.

Since the words had slipped out in a moment of spontaneity, were they merely random nonsense meant for that situation alone?

But perhaps because they had come out so suddenly, they were genuinely feelings that had always been simmering within him.

What had his true feelings been in that moment? That was something he could no longer ascertain.

After the parting, he had fallen into a daze; his memory reinitiated with him being led out of the royal castle’s waiting room by Rem, only to be taken on a dragon carriage toward Crusch’s residence.

While Subaru was lost in his thoughts, he realized that Crusch and Felix were conversing with Rem. Although the content didn’t register with him, the fact that Rem held his hand provided him some solace.

Just feeling that warmth reassured him that the last thread hadn’t completely snapped.

“—Hey, brother.”

The consciousness that had silently drifted into reverie was suddenly pulled back into reality by an unexpected call.

A deep voice rang from the front, and Subaru blinked, regaining his focus on the present. With his gaze fixed ahead, he saw—

“Come on, dude! Don’t just zone out in front of someone’s shop!”

What stood out immediately was the deep scar across a tough face, which was currently creased with a frown.

Returning to the present, he found himself staring at the face of this imposing figure and slowly rubbed his eyelids with his fingers, letting out a deep sigh.

“Uh, hey old man. I think it’s a bit much to intimidate a customer like that.”

“I’m not! I’m just worried, alright? I wanted to tell you how frantic I was when I couldn’t get in touch with you!”

The shopkeeper bellowed while slamming his thick arms on the counter, causing the fruits on display to bounce and scatter everywhere. The fruits flew into the crowd, almost landing on the ground, turning into squished mush or staining someone’s shoes.

“Food shouldn’t be treated carelessly!”

With a graceful movement, Rem’s skirt fluttered as she landed softly in front of the store. She lightly picked up the toppled fruits, cradling them in the inside of her apron like a gentle embrace.

“Phew, that was a relief! Thanks, Missy. So, I’m not saying anything bad, but it’s best if you don’t hang out with that scary guy here. It’s bad luck waiting to happen.”

“Hey, hey, what are you talking about? That guy here saved your goods from going bad! Now, let’s hear some words of appreciation!”

“I mean, you’re the one who caused the issue in the first place! And just so you know, I didn’t intend to say anything ridiculous!”

As they rearranged the products on the shelves, the shopkeeper crossed his thick arms and sniffed while comparing Subaru and Rem.

“This girl isn’t the same one you brought last time, is she? The last one… uh, for some reason I don’t recall much, but not remembering means this one has to be cuter. Damn it to hell.”

“What’s that supposed to mean, old man? You think friendships between guys and girls just don’t exist? Don’t tie everything to romance! And besides…”

Subaru opened his mouth to question why he couldn’t remember Emilia, but he swiftly noticed that it filled his chest with a painful ache, promptly sealing his lips. While recalling the pain, his thoughts settled on the shopkeeper’s forgetfulness as he accepted it silently.

Subaru, having gone quiet, was eyed suspiciously as Kadmon leaned closer to Rem and whispered.

“See? This shameless attitude. Falling for someone like that is bound to bring you pain.”

“Thank you for your concern… but Rem is happy to do so.”

Blushing slightly, Rem glanced over at Subaru, and sensing the heat in her gaze, Kadmon shrugged, realizing any further words would be unwelcome.

But then he snapped his eyes wide open, prefacing with “That said,”

“Regardless of love, my opinion on him hasn’t changed. I mean, seriously, sneaking into the castle with cargo? Sounds like he’s looking to get himself killed.”

Even amidst the sounds of the bustling crowd, he spoke quietly enough that no one would hear. However, given the weight of his words, Kadmon lowered his tone carefully.

Subaru felt bitterness bubble up, scratching his head awkwardly as he began to make excuses.

“Ah, about that… I wasn’t really thinking… or at least I might’ve been occasionally.”

“Wait, so you are thinking about it or not? Which is it?”

“I’m sorry for that. And I should’ve reported back right away as well.”

“Totally.”

Kadmon looked down at Subaru’s bowed head, exhaling disappointment.

“Rom also stopped communicating too. This is seriously bad, and I was on the brink of preparing for a hasty escape if things went south. I was also struggling to figure out how to convince my wife and daughter.”

“Admitting you did something bad would be wise so they can look down on you as a smuggler.”

“Shut up, main culprits!”

Kadmon clicked his tongue in response to Subaru, who was suddenly back to his cheerful self. Then he continued, tracing his fingers along the scars on his face.

“Well, there was quite a big occurrence in the castle that day. Thanks to that, your petty crime didn’t become public knowledge.”

“Right. That helped reveal the gaping holes in the castle’s security. Next, let’s aim for a big job targeting the treasury, boss.”

“I won’t help you again! Next time, I’ll let you get caught and executed!”

As the shop owner made a chopping motion to his neck while sticking out his tongue, Subaru shook his head, pleadingly.

Then, pausing at the mention of what that “big occurrence” was, he exhaled a sound like “Oh, I see.”

“Is it true that the details of the Royal Selection have spread throughout the capital?”

“Of course. For us citizens, it’s not just another story to laugh about. It’s about finding a new king. This isn’t just about the next few years; it’s the era that carries on through the kingdom’s 400-year history. It’s a topic being discussed everywhere.”

Hearing Subaru’s murmurs, Kadmon responded with a sort of excitement.

“Oh, just look there,” he pointed, steering Subaru’s gaze towards a prominent sign that stood out in the markets.

“Only, I can’t read anything except the ‘I’ symbol.”

“Seriously? You’re a terrible student. Can you even read the sign for my store?”

“It seems to have symbols that resemble ‘I’ but the handwriting is too messy to read.”

“Shut it. This cool style with an abstract touch is all the rage right now.”

“Patterns are a bit hard for someone trying to learn a language. Once I finally master the ‘I, Ro, Ha’ of this world, I’ll spread this gal-writing trend!”

Subaru’s ambitions clashed with the history of written language.

What was needed was the ability to perceive characters not just as letters but as images, or perhaps a blurred line between reality and unreality. For the latter, he felt quite confident.

Anyways,

“So, what does the sign actually say?”

“I’ve told you before, it says ‘Royal Selection Begins.’”

Kadmon grimaced at the unhelpful response and waved his hands.

“Alright, alright. Then I’ll read it quickly. —Hey girl, could you handle things here for a bit?”

“Of course.”

Sprinting out from the side of the shop, Kadmon said, while Rem slid in silently to take his place without objection.

Her unaffected demeanor felt odd to Subaru, who shook his head disapprovingly.

“Don’t let anyone inexperienced take over so easily. And Rem, you’re not just accepting that either!”

“It’s just a matter of reading the prices and giving back change. Besides, it’s not like any customers are coming anyway.”

“You finally said something so clear!”

Swayed by the boldly honest Kadmon, Subaru stepped through the crowds with Rem lingering behind him. They crossed a street bustling with various people, moving toward the oversized sign that towered two heads above Kadmon.

As others stopped for the same reason, he glanced at the sign while following the written text with his gaze.

“It announces the start of the Royal Selection and explains it briefly. They’re deciding the king before the divine dragon ceremony in three years, followed by the rituals. There’s also some light info about the candidates.”

As interest in familiar content waned, it was the word “candidates” that caught Subaru’s attention.

He twitched his brows in surprise, and noticing the shift in Kaemon’s expression, he saw the agreement in the sparkle of his eyes as if he understood.

“You’re curious about the candidates, huh? There are five in total. The most well-known ones are Duke Crusch Karsten and that girl, Anastasia from the Hoshin Trading Company.”

“Are they famous?”

“He’s a duke! Anyone in the royal capital knows his name. As for Hoshin Trading, there’s no merchant who wouldn’t have heard of it. The rumor about the young woman representing them has been circulating too, whether it’s true or not.”

Kadmon touched his scars and answered, prompting Subaru to unconsciously envision the two of them he had previously heard about.

With her striking presence, Crusch was like a sharp sword.

And there was Anastasia with her delicate purple hair and overwhelmingly noticeable Kansai dialect. Subaru figured it was likely true that she was as the rumors said. Though, considering Felix’s track record, nothing could be asserted with absolute certainty.

“Well, even if there are boyish types present, it won’t cause redundancy; I doubt they’ll be similar characters.”

“Not sure why you’re satisfied with that, but… So, for now, those two are the main candidates. Personally, I think Crusch from the powerful Karsten family has the edge over Anastasia, who came here from another land.”

“That’s what they’ve been calling the top contender.”

However, that was likely shaken considerably by later declarations from those involved.

Nevertheless, it was a fact that her status and family lineage provided a formidable backing. Those on the side of the common folk who hadn’t heard her speech would probably believe it to be the most straightforward development for her to claim the throne.

“So, Crusch is the main candidate, and Anastasia is the rival… who might be the dark horse, then?”

“Not too many phrases like that are known these days. If we’re talking long shots… excluding the two from earlier, the other three are basically unknown.”

Listing the names of Priscilla, Felt, and Emilia, Kadmon snorted in disbelief, pointing at the sign.

“Those are candidates I don’t even recognize. While Priscilla seems to hint at nobility based on her name, the remaining two can’t even trace their household names. And with the Hoshin Trading Company’s representative among the contenders, you really have to wonder how the selection process occurred.”

On that point, Subaru would completely agree if he didn’t know the circumstances.

With a duke’s heir, an able young merchant owner, and lesser-known nobility involved, then there was a mysterious individual without even a clear family name.

This information painted a rather unfriendly picture for the citizens watching the Royal Selection.

Just as Subaru thought that, Kadmon continued.

“However… the fact that there’s a half-elf among the candidates is pretty messed up.”

Narrowing his eyes and twisting his lips in disgust, Kadmon voiced it harshly.

For a moment, Subaru felt his thoughts freeze at the raw displeasure visible on his face. But the meaning of Kadmon’s words soon infiltrated his brain.

“A half-elf… you mean…”

“The details of the candidates have been somewhat documented, and there’s a half-elf named Emilia among them. What kind of joke is that?”

“Is there some kind of problem with being a half-elf?”

“Hey, hey, keep the foolish lifestyle jokes to a minimum.”

Kadmon shrugged in response to Subaru’s question, dramatically reacting.

“This isn’t just a private problem; half-elves are generally shunned wherever they go. While you may see subhumans occasionally in the royal capital, unlike lizardmen or hobbits, it’s rare to see elves roaming about. Even more so for half-elves, they’re bound to be scorned by both bloodlines.”

Kadmon corrected Subaru’s ignorance without hesitation. He didn’t notice Subaru’s speechless reaction as he frowned at the sign’s lettering with irritation.

“It’s as dumb as it sounds for those in power. Of all people, why in the world would they trust a half-elf… or even a half-demon with the country.”

“A half-demon…”

“A half-elf is what I mean. It’s a fitting title for someone related to witches, right?”

Facing Subaru with a look that sought agreement, he found Subaru rendered mute by the words.

Kadmon’s concern echoed through his mind.

Subaru had harbored a decent impression of this scarred shopkeeper. They had shared one of their earliest conversations on Subaru’s first day in this world, and it was that man’s trustworthy character that inclined Subaru to think well of him.

That someone so genial could casually say degrading words so easily shocked him—to speak of someone so important to him in such a derogatory manner.

“Not everyone has connections to witches, you know.”

“Huh?”

“Just because she’s a half-elf doesn’t mean to shove her into the same category. That girl, Emilia, might really… I don’t know, she could have thoughts that center around helping this kingdom. I mean, she could even be an incredibly nice person.”

Subaru hurriedly defended her through fragmented speech. Kadmon eyed him with suspicion, raising a hand for him to stop.

“Don’t get too worked up for no reason. Ranting for a half-demon might lead to trouble, especially without knowing who’s listening around you.”

“That worries me Even less. Walls have ears, and right behind you is the girl who’s being discussed, ready to stab you from behind, so you better correct yourself!”

Subaru scrambled through an awkward reference, mixing up Mary with another name. Nonetheless, Kadmon sighed, placing a hand on his forehead.

“Seriously, stop! I admit I spoke too rashly. Look, I mean it.”

“…Tch.”

Though his apology lacked sincerity, Subaru accepted it anyway as a settling point. Yet as he steeled himself, Kadmon continued.

“Your opinion is yours to have, but a half-elf becoming king is impossible.”

“Not like that…! Why? Is it about the Witch of Envy? Because that witch just happened to be a half-elf, everyone else gets lumped together as dangerous too?”

“—Exactly.”

Kadmon’s icy cold echo rumbled in the face of Subaru’s irritation.

Kadmon’s words were like cold water, putting out the fire Subaru felt. He found himself staring up at Kadmon with his mouth agape.

In Kadmon’s eyes, there was a clear emotion of fear.

“The witch is terrifying—that’s common knowledge and doesn’t require asking anyone. I don’t know how ignorant you are, but this is enough reason to keep most people away.”

“Listen,” he urged Subaru, who had gone silent.

“That witch— the Witch of Envy, was an absolute monster. Four hundred years ago, half the continent was swallowed by her shadow, and many famous heroes sank before her, along with winged dragons. Without the power of the divine dragon and the sword saint of that time, the world might have ended.”

Subaru grasped certain keywords that stood out but couldn’t pull his gaze away from Kadmon’s trembling eyes. His dry lips quivered.

“Yet, despite those actions, the true identity of that witch remains a mystery. What’s known is that she was a half-elf with silver hair. Communication was impossible, and understanding her intentions was futile. All she did sparelessly was wreak havoc, destroy, and consume everything but herself.”

Subaru was aware of the events from pictorial books.

However, in Kadmon’s delivery—one laden with mixed negative emotions—there was a depth that mere words could never convey.

This wasn’t only shared through written media but also passed down from relatives over time. The tale of the witch would shift in the telling but ultimately converge upon the same endpoint.

That endpoint was simple:

“The inexplicable witch is utterly terrifying. How could one possibly stay near without distancing themselves?”

“So, you discriminate against half-elves because of that?”

“Well, it’s true that many half-demons have twisted personalities. …though I can’t say for certain whether that’s genetically ingrained or a product of their environment.”

Kadmon showed a bitter expression, hinting at his underlying struggles confronting Subaru’s earnest defense.

Though their interaction had been brief, Subaru deemed Kadmon a fundamentally good person. He understood the logic behind his words wasn’t entirely right. However, the feelings tied to the “witch” prevented him from accepting rational arguments casually.

“Most people would agree with me. Nobody would willingly side with a half-demon and lead votes away from other candidates. It’s just the way things are.”

“—”

Subaru felt invigorated as the gist of Kadmon’s words pushed him to remember Emilia’s earnest petition during the Royal Selection.

Being a half-elf—that was a bond she could never escape. She would never stand at the same starting line as others; it was a chain that bound her.

As long as the witch remained present, Emilia would be shackled by her lineage.

And it was a reason that she had no control over—a cruel obstacle in her path.

“Thus, perceiving her that way means she stands no chance from the start. I wonder who would put her on such a precarious platform? What a ridiculous thing to do.”

With his arms crossed, Kadmon revealed his displeasure. His anger shifted from Kanzai to those who had put Emilia in this losing position.

That posture reflected his true nature but did nothing to alleviate the negativity tied to the existence of half-elves.

Kadmon called Subaru ignorant. He claimed the reasons for the half-elves’ suffering were incomprehensible without understanding the witch’s atrocities.

But Subaru thought,

“Enough of this nonsense.”

Subaru indeed recognized his ignorance about the history of this world. The evil deeds committed by the witch were things he hardly even envisioned.

He couldn’t empathize with how fearful the people had been of half-elves, nor how half-elves perceived humankind in return.

Yet—

“—That’s enough, villain.”

The frosty silver bell sound had resounded loudly, shaking Subaru at his core.

Kneeling on the ground in the back alley, engulfed in pain and humiliation, the person who had extended a hand to save him had never even considered the morality of her actions.

Subaru knew nothing about this world’s history.

He knew nothing about the histories of half-elves.

He didn’t know just how fearsome the Witch of Envy truly was.

But he did know about Emilia.

The silver-haired girl, stubborn and endlessly kind, who acted without consideration for her own welfare, had absolutely nothing in common with the “Witch of Envy.”

Subaru knew that this girl—who shouldn’t have been forced to endure an unwelcoming environment—still possessed the ability to show kindness to others.

No matter how harsh this world was toward her, Subaru believed only he could safeguard her.

“—Is that really true?”

Suddenly, it was these doubts that crept in and punctured his thoughts.

Startled, Subaru gasped, blinking rapidly. The voice raised questions about whether the answer he had almost reached was truly correct. He turned around, reflecting, and shouted at the voice cavernous with enough unseen power.

But,

“Do you truly know her?”

Innocent questions echoed out, and Subaru found himself unable to respond, insisting in his mind, “Of course, I know!”

But when pressed by that voice, he couldn’t.

His heart’s voice grew ledged, and this simple query revealed the contradiction within himself.

With an objection lingering from the voice of doubt, Subaru realized that voice was none other than his own.

“Do you really know her?”

Though he attempted to cry back that he knew, his heart betrayed him, leaving him tongue-tied again.

Truly, Subaru didn’t know what kind of life she had endured.

He didn’t know what was driving her to seek the throne.

He didn’t know how she felt about those who viewed her as the witch.

Worst of all,

He didn’t want to know how she regarded him.

“—Hey, you alright, bro?”

“Huh?”

As he noticed, Scarf Face peered at him with concern, startling Subaru, who instinctively recoiled before taking a step back.

“Whoa, what the heck… you’re gonna suck my life away if you just pop up like that!”

“Such a cruel thing to say! You gave me a scare when your eyes went blank. What’s up? You feeling ill or something?”

“People carry a box garden of delusions within their hearts. As time passes, they might forget its importance, but there are those rare adults who remain forever aware of that box garden—I’m one of those!”

“Well, I figured you were some kind of weirdo. Alright, let’s get back to the shop!”

With a light-hearted quip masking his inner chaos, Kadmon began walking back toward the store, leaving Subaru to follow along, feeling the chill of sweat drenching his back.

He couldn’t pinpoint just what emotions that sweat stemmed from.

Searching for its origin felt especially uncomfortable, making his steps heavy.

And then,

“By the way, this might be unnecessary…”

Walking along, Kadmon murmured without looking at Subaru.

He spoke as softly as possible, barely audible.

“Stop saying ‘witch’ out loud in public. Including me… it’s unclear who might be listening.”

It didn’t seem to be a rehashing of their earlier discussion.

Seeing the serious tone in his voice, Subaru knew to remain silent in acknowledgment of the underlying meaning.

Kadmon recognized his silence and refrained from continuing.

He simply left Subaru with one final parting thought.

“Whoever it is, that’s the mystery.”

As the two returned, an air of gravity hung between them.

Subaru honestly didn’t know how to sort through the feelings swirling inside him; Kadmon, on his end, seemed ashamed of being overly engaged in their debate.

Thus, the pair walked through the bustling streets in silence back to Kadmon’s shop.

“—Welcome back! Just in time, the last customer was leaving.”

As Rem dispatched items and made a polite bow to send off the departing guest, Kadmon stood there dumbfounded, mouth agape.

Before him was a completely empty display shelf from the sales made.

It was clear that Rem hadn’t taken to throwing fruits away, but rather, the basket for receiving payment was filled to the brim with coins.

Meaning,

“My shop’s daily sales broke records in that short of time…”

Facing a reality he couldn’t accept, Kadmon trembled as he covered his face with both hands.

While he began to return Rem to her station, she flew over to Subaru, bending down to look up at him with excitement.

“How’s that, Subaru-kun? This is my versatility on display! I heard that you’re a benefactor, so I wanted to at least help out. …You can praise me too, you know?”

With her skirt swaying, Rem glanced at Subaru, her betraying happiness visible in the obvious way. Comparing it to Kadmon, still processing the hard truth in shock, Subaru found his heart felt marginally lighter.

Not quite discerning whether it was relief from seeing Rem’s usual self or satisfaction from Kadmon’s current state of shock, he replied.

“Either way, it’s undeniable it’s thanks to Rem.”

Sliding his hand through her blue hair, Subaru relished the familiar texture and gently stroked her head.

Rem closed her eyes happily and absorbed the sensation of Subaru’s palm, her expression turning blissfully pink as she let out a soft, sultry sound in delight.

Meanwhile, Kadmon, still tracing his scars with his fingers from behind, quietly muttered,

“Guess it really was about the face…”

Inevitably, he realized just how true the struggles of running a shop could be.