Subaru noticed that the speed of the dragon car had begun to slow down, roughly six hours of subjective time after departing from the Royal Capital.

As the scenery outside the small window started to become more leisurely, Subaru furrowed his brow in curiosity and reached for his chin. The sensation of the stubble he felt confirmed that his sense of time was nearly accurate.

Rubbing his sore rear from sitting too long, he stood up and approached the front window that connected to the driver’s seat. He hadn’t used it during high-speed travel to avoid bothering Rem, but now he had no choice but to use it to question her true intentions.

“Rem, why are we going so slowly? We don’t have time to be dawdling…”

“The day will soon end. Traveling at night increases the probability of encountering bandits or magical beasts. —I think we should find an inn in a nearby village for tonight.”

Called out by Subaru, Rem turned slightly toward him without fully facing him, starting her response with that thought.

Considering her suggestion, Subaru rested his chin in thought, furrowing his brows as he replied.

“A nearby village… would that be one of the two villages Wilhelm mentioned? There was the one named Hanumas that could trade for lizards, is it that village?”

Although he thought it was probably incorrect, he asked with a wishful sentiment that it might be the right answer. However, Rem shook her head and said, “No.”

“It would take another six hours to reach Hanumas. What you can see soon is not Hanumas, but a village named Fleur. I apologize.”

“No, it’s not your fault, Rem… But couldn’t we keep going for another six hours? That would be halfway, right?”

In response to Rem’s lowered tone, Subaru suggested continuing the march. However, Rem shook her head again.

“I’m sorry, but if we head to Hanumas from here, we might arrive around the change of the date. If that happens, we might not be able to secure an inn, and arranging the dragon car would also be difficult during the night.”

“Ugh… that makes sense. It’s not like it’s okay just to arrive at Hanumas.”

While Subaru sank into contemplation, Rem must have also taken the time to consider. Naturally, her current proposal was likely made after thinking through the strategies Subaru might suggest.

Closing his eyes, Subaru pondered over Rem’s offer. But the conclusion came quickly.

“Let’s get an inn in Fleur and leave first thing in the morning. That way, the Earth Dragon can also rest, and maybe we won’t need to look for a substitute dragon in Hanumas.”

“Yes. If we leave early in the morning and manage to stop by Hanumas smoothly, we might be able to return to the mansion tomorrow night.”

Subaru’s easy acceptance caught Rem by surprise, and relief showed strongly in her voice as she held the reins.

Sensing her state from behind, Subaru thought about how he was already placing a burden on Rem.

The feelings of concern for her master—when she sensed that some kind of crisis was approaching the mansion, her psychological burden must have been immeasurable compared to Subaru’s.

Already carrying such pressure, Subaru didn’t wish to add to Rem’s burdens with reckless talk. He had already brushed aside her insistence to stay at Crusch’s mansion, and it wasn’t his intention to further distress Rem.

—Fortunately, securing a room after arriving in Fleur was easily accomplished.

Tethering the Earth Dragon to the stable adjacent to the inn (in this case, should we call it a dragon stable?) and renting a room, Subaru and the others were now preparing for an unexpectedly early bedtime.

Forcibly cramming in a meal too modest to be called dinner, Subaru quickly washed off the grime before burrowing under the bedding, striving to rest his body immediately.

But,

“I can’t sleep…”

Anxieties about Emilia and the urgency to rush there mixed, and his heightened emotions kept any slumber at bay.

Nonetheless, lying on the bed, he couldn’t help but wish for the sun to rise quickly.

He had all the time in the world to think.

And should tomorrow’s daylight come, there was even more time ahead.

Not to mention the huge amount of time he had when staying at Crusch’s mansion. The answers he had come to in that time led to his current course of action.

Thus, what Subaru needed wasn’t more time for brooding, but simply to take action to turn his will into results.

Just then—

“… Subaru-kun, may I come in?”

The sound of knocking on the door heralded a tentative opening.

Rolling over to look, he saw Rem peeking in with half her body inside, wearing her shifted attire. She had removed her familiar serving clothes and was now clad in the lightweight nightwear he had seen once before.

Sweeping back the memory of when he last saw her dressed like that, Subaru noticed Rem had realized he was awake before he could reclaim his thoughts.

Sitting up, Subaru responded to Rem, “What’s up?”

“If you’re feeling lonely and can’t sleep, the situation’s pretty bad for that, huh? If you were a little calmer, I’d have some solid material to entertain you with, but right now…”

“That’s a thrilling offer, but… Let’s just say my main topic is different. How about we continue the treatment before sleeping?”

“Treatment?”

With his upper body still sitting up on the bed, Subaru crossed his arms and tilted his head at Rem’s words.

Nowadays, the only thing that came to mind when Subaru heard “treatment” was the “Gate Restoration” performed by Felix.

After all, that treatment was inherently dependent on Felix, who was the only one capable of performing it.

“Any other areas that need treatment, I can’t think of… Rem, what are you talking about?”

“Just as you imagined, we’re talking about the treatment for the Gate. I watched Felix’s method as best as I could, so I can at least manage the technique. However, the effect will surely be much weaker than what Felix provides,” she explained.

Saying, “That said, it should help at least a little,” Rem looked up at him with her eyes.

The only other person renowned for water-type magic at Roswaal’s Mansion was Beatrice, who subjugated by actually witnessing her in action.

Suddenly, Rem reminded him of the curly-haired girl he hadn’t seen in a while, creating a sense of nostalgia for the days they would bicker without any hard feelings.

“Subaru-kun?”

“Ah, ah, sorry.”

Rem called out to Subaru, who had become wistful, prompting him to hastily clear his throat to mask that sentiment as he nodded.

“Alright, I’ll accept it. I was struggling to sleep anyway, so if there’s any effect at all, it would lessen the debt I owe Felix.”

“I’m glad to hear that.”

Upon Subaru accepting the offer, relief washed over Rem as she smiled, gently stroking her chest.

Subaru turned away from the bed and took his place as Rem stepped behind him, placing her hands on his shoulders.

Her smaller, delicate fingers tickled his nape, and as the sensation warmed him gradually, Subaru surrendered to the feeling.

Over the past week, he had repeatedly experienced the overflowing mana from Felix’s hands.

Compared to Felix’s, while it felt a little lacking, there was no sign of the unpleasant feeling of nausea that could arise from the amount of mana being manipulated.

On the contrary, it felt soft, like being rocked in a cradle or floating with only his face above warm water.

“Whoa, this is great. Honestly, it feels way better than what Felix does.”

“Is that so…?! I thought, since focus is needed, that even the inexperienced Rem wouldn’t satisfy you,” she replied.

“Not at all. It feels nice, and somehow… it’s like… making me sleepy…”

Indeed, if he relaxed for an instant, a drowsy sensation began to brush over him.

Despite being someone who had just struggled to sleep not long ago, accepting Rem’s suggestion turned out to be quite a right choice considering he needed rest.

“You can fall asleep if you’d like? I’ll make sure you’re sleeping soundly, cover you with a blanket, and enjoy your sleeping face before I leave.”

“I’m not worried about catching a cold by sleeping with my stomach exposed, and sure, there are plenty of things I want to comment on about savoring a sleeping face, but I can’t doze off while Rem’s giving it her all.”

He wanted to be aware enough to not be so selfish.

Subaru’s reply elicited a small laugh from Rem. She adjusted her hands on Subaru’s shoulders slightly, wrapping her arms around his neck from behind.

Feeling the warmth transmitted from her palms increasing, Subaru sensed his eyelids becoming heavier. Still, resisting that and rubbing his eyes, he fought to hang onto consciousness and spoke.

“I guess I might get yelled at at first…”

“… Perhaps. Rem might also get scolded by sister for ‘why did you come back?’”

“I’ll explain it to Ram. I was the one who insisted on bringing Rem with me. But for Emilia-tan…”

What could he possibly say? His mind stalled, struggling to come up with the right words.

As Subaru’s eyelids grew heavier, losing the ability to secure his line of sight, Rem extended the hand resting on his neck even further, holding him tight from behind.

“—If you take your time facing it sincerely and express your own feelings, I’m sure they’ll understand someday. Your earnest heart, Subaru-kun.”

“Is that so… I guess so… I feel so… deeply… for you…”

Sounds began to dull. No, Subaru’s consciousness was drifting away from reality.

The sleepiness became something more than just comfort, close to a curse, and his eyelids became a robust prison he couldn’t break free from.

Unable to maintain consciousness, the muscles in his neck loosened, causing his head to drop forward.

Just before his thoughts completely separated from reality—

“So in that tiny corner, think of Rem too.”

As Rem spoke, it felt as if her lips brushed against the back of his head.

With such a too-convenient illusion as the last thing he sensed, Subaru’s consciousness fell into darkness.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

—When Subaru’s consciousness was led to wakefulness, he felt the heat of sunlight burning against his eyelids.

Lying on the bed, he groggily raised a hand to shield his eyes. The sunlight pouring through the large window of the room was overly harsh, even causing him discomfort under the blanket pulled to his shoulder.

As those thoughts lingered and he recognized the current situation—he noticed an odd sense of discomfort.

“The sunlight… is shining like this already…?!”

Gasping, he threw off the blanket and leapt out of bed, racing towards the window. The cool breeze rushed into the room as he flung the window open, tousling his bangs while he looked up at the sky—there, the sun was high up, having already risen significantly.

“No way… I overslept at this timing…?!”

With the sun reaching an unreasonably high position, it became clear that the time called morning was long past. It was noon, or worse, possibly even later.

“What the hell… Am I stupid or what?!”

Slamming the window shut, Subaru hurriedly dashed out of the room and into the adjacent one.

There, Rem should be asleep in the room they rented. If she hadn’t woken him, it meant she was deep in slumber as well.

“Rem! Rem! Wake up! I seriously overslept!”

Knocking on the door, Subaru cursed his own foolishness for sleeping for more than half a day. It would be understandable for Rem to have been formally worn out from both driving the dragon car and the continuous mental strain; for him, however, it was purely negligence.

His frustration and anxiety became impossible to hold back, causing him to knock harder on the door.

Still, there was no response from inside. Was Rem’s sleep really that deep, or was there some other reason?

“Ugh, dammit, fine! Rem! I knocked, you know?!”

Saying this, Subaru gently opened the door and peered inside.

He had considered the potential of her either getting dressed or in a rather compromising position while asleep, but all those concerns became needless worries.

Because—

“… Rem?”

The room was completely empty.

Pushing the door open and entering, Subaru quickly scanned the area.

The unoccupied bed showed no signs of anyone ever having slept there, and instead, the neatly kept sheets bore no evidence of anyone having been there at all.

A bad feeling raced up his spine, but nonetheless, Subaru desperately searched for any trace of Rem in the room.

However, no matter how much he searched, there were no signs of anyone being there, and all that was left was what appeared to be Rem’s drink on the table.

The few belongings they had brought with them—none of them could be found. This fact struck Subaru like a shockwave, and with his heartbeat racing, he dashed downstairs.

In the inn’s reception area, the owner who had warmly welcomed the two last night was seated. Upon seeing Subaru rush down with a pallor on his face, he greeted him.

“Ah, good morning! It seems you had a peaceful rest last night.”

With an overly eager, businesslike smile, he rubbed his hands together.

However, Subaru couldn’t afford to respond to the innkeeper’s attitude, lunging forward and slamming his hands on the reception desk.

“What happened to the blue-haired girl who stayed with me?!”

“M-my dear guest… Please, don’t be so agitated. You’ll scare the others…”

“Answer me! Where’s Rem? Where did she go?!”

Subaru’s furious demeanor caused the owner to flinch as he deliberated for a moment, answering in a stutter.

“W-well, your companion… that is to say, late last night… Um, she took the dragon carriage you arrived in, yes…”

“What…?! Seriously?!”

“She… left during the night! Taking the dragon carriage, she paid the lodging fee for both you and your belongings.”

Spewing the answer he could muster, the owner produced a bag that had been placed right beneath the reception desk. Placing it on the countertop, he offered it up.

“This is your luggage. The lodging fee was prepaid, so there’s no problem…”

“No problem…? How can you say that?”

Subverting the innkeeper’s patient tone, Subaru was pushed further into a fit of rage by the seemingly casual remarks.

“There’s no way there isn’t a problem!!”

Yelling, he struck the bag atop the desk, burying his face in his hands in frustration.

A surge of questions, doubts, anger, sadness, and conflicts with the inexplicable overwhelmed him. Crumpling his black hair in his fists, Subaru gazed at the ceiling.

“What were you thinking… Rem…!!”

Faced with a lack of understanding even from someone who should have been an ally, Subaru’s desperate outcry echoed pointlessly into the void above.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“To Subaru-kun,”

“When you read this letter, you are probably very angry with Rem.”

“I won’t ask you to forgive Rem for heading to the mansion, but please understand.”

“Right now, bringing you back to the mansion would be very dangerous, considering both the conditions at the mansion and your health.”

“So, please wait for Rem to return in this village, Fleur. Once everything has settled, I’ll definitely come to get you.”

“I’ll leave all my money with you. I’ve given enough money to the innkeeper to ensure that you can stay for as long as needed.”

“Please bear with this. Until Rem returns, please, wait for me. —I’m asking you.”

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Subaru deciphered the letter hidden in the luggage he had deposited, sinking his head in despair as he released a long, heavy sigh.

He found himself in the common room on the first floor of the inn, seated on a sofa with no one around him.

Given that the number of patrons in the inn was already small, the owner seemed to be avoiding showing his face in the common area after Subaru’s earlier outburst.

Battling against an unbearable wave of emotions, he had come across the letter amidst his belongings, taking his time to read it thoroughly.

“That stupid Rem…”

Written in careful script, the entire letter was inscribed in “I-characters.”

As someone still learning to read, Subaru knew well that everyone, especially the twin sisters who often acted as instructors, was aware that he could only read and write in “I-characters.”

It was too kind and considerate to presume this was a scheme from someone who abducted Rem.

The author of the letter was undoubtedly Rem, and the contents left no doubt that it was her will.

She had decided on her own to leave Subaru behind in the village and returned alone to the mansion.

While the letter expressed her worries for Subaru’s not-yet-fully recovered condition and assured him of his future, he found that there was no room in his heart to accept her concerns.

For Subaru, the sole emotion gleaned from Rem’s letter boiled down to just one sentiment.

“Rem… Do you think I’m just a useless, powerless guy…?!”

Clearly a self-judgment reflecting he had been left behind.

He re-read the letter over and over, desperately searching for something left unsaid hidden within. Perhaps something only he would understand.

However, no matter how many times he poured over the letter, the words failed to offer any alternative interpretation.

“Is that how it is… Fine, I get it. If you’re saying you’ll leave me behind… then I won’t rely on you anymore!”

Grinding his teeth as he barked that, Subaru stood up.

Over the desk, he peered down into an open bag, beholding the substantial amount of gold and silver coins nestled within, just as the letter had stated.

While Rem had managed the funds, Subaru realized these were likely given to Rem by Roswaal when she decided to stay in the Royal Capital. Even for someone like him, whose understanding of monetary value hadn’t quite adapted to this other world, it was clear that it was an amount enough to cover more than a year of normal living.

In other words, managed well, it provided a form of power to achieve his goals.

“If I hire a dragon carriage and a driver with this money, I can make my way to Roswaal’s mansion. I’m not sure of the rates, but… I just have to do it, right?”

As long as Subaru made it there, he didn’t even mind being broke afterward.

By determining what to do with the money, all he had to do was take action now.

Grabbing the bag, Subaru exited the common room, his footsteps echoing loudly as he approached the reception. The innkeeper was huddled down in a small posture, flinching at Subaru’s approach.

“W-what can I do for you, sir…?”

“I need to ask a little something; how much would it cost to hire a dragon carriage from here to Roswaal’s territory… Ah, the Meisters Territory?”

“A dragon carriage, you say…?”

Initially wary, the innkeeper had appeared hesitant, but once he judged that Subaru had regained some calm, he began to process the question put forth.

He glanced over at the bag Subaru held, making mental calculations based on the advance payment for the lodging fee Rem had given—carefully evaluating.

“For just hiring one dragon carriage, about four gold coins will suffice. If you want high-quality earth dragons or carts, it varies accordingly. It can also change based on whether it’s a round trip or duration of rental.”

“Is that so… That’s totally in my range. By the way, how much if I wanted a driver as well?”

“If you want a driver, it’s treated more like a short-term hire. If we don’t use the carriage for the return trip, then… let’s see, for just the outbound trip, it would be five gold coins for the dragon carriage itself.”

The innkeeper added the disclaimer that it wasn’t his area of expertise, but Subaru felt a sense of gratitude knowing he had at least grasped the general rates.

Given the amount of money left in Rem’s baggage, he realized that such an expense would leave him with a comfortable surplus. He had misjudged Rem’s determination to stay true to her intentions, loosening his lips in an awareness, which was crushed by the next words of the owner.

Just as he thought he had figured out how to follow up on Rem, the innkeeper said, “But…” with a hesitant demeanor, averting his gaze.

“… There aren’t any stores here in Fleur that rent out dragon carriages,” he said with a tone of regret.

“What…?! There’s not a single store where I can rent a dragon carriage?”

“I apologize for the inconvenience. Furthermore, I must tell you it’s even more unfortunate that the next shared dragon carriage won’t arrive for more than two days… The ‘fog’ is particularly thick this time of year.”

As the innkeeper disclosed this shocking fact with a concerned expression, Subaru felt his prior thoughts slip away—astonished by Rem’s relentless meticulous planning.

Likely, her operation had begun the moment he suggested they take up lodging in Fleur yesterday. She left Subaru behind in a village where arranging a dragon carriage would be tough, further complicating any legitimate means he might have to secure transportation.

Left without the means to drive a dragon carriage, Subaru couldn’t even resort to some desperate crime like stealing a dragon.

Everything was about keeping him from participating in the situation, forcing him to stay in this village.

“Are you alright, sir?”

Placing a hand against his forehead, Subaru leaned against the reception desk. Seeing his pacing, the concerned innkeeper raised his brows.

He barely managed to muster a “I’m fine” in response as he began to seek out the next course of action.

If he couldn’t arrange for a dragon carriage, the worst-case scenario was to go on foot. However, going solo left Subaru defenseless against the bandits and magical beasts Rem had worried about, and more than that, he had no means to know the correct path.

At this moment, it dawned on him just how regrettable it was that he had never thought to look at a map of this world with his own eyes.

He had no clue about where the Royal Capital lay on the world map, how far Roswaal’s territory was from it, or how expansive that land was.

All of this was repaying the price of ignorance. The cost of his lack of education. His excuse of being in another world was no longer valid. He had missed every opportunity to learn or know.

“Walking’s out of the question. There are no places to borrow a dragon carriage… Is there really no way… think…”

Subaru mobilized everything he had learned and observed in this world. Or rather, it could be from the seventeen lazy years spent in his previous life.

There had to be something he could use; he struggled to spin his thoughts at that moment.

Abandoning everything to follow Rem’s instructions and wasting away in place wasn’t an option from the start. If he was going to make that choice, he would never have left Crusch’s mansion in the first place.

Subaru was trampling on the kindness Emilia had shown him. Taking all that abuse just to run to her side was his only drive. He wouldn’t stand for looking pathetic any further.

At that instant, Subaru’s brain began to whirl with an intensity that felt as if it was about to combust.

All the pent-up dissatisfaction and hardships he’d endured until this very moment—their recollections and humiliation muddled together. Right before the possible end that would leave him with no chance to recover, it was like they ignited a fire within him.

Within the memories of his past days, Subaru began to find a hint that might help break this tense situation. It was…

“I want to ask the owner something.”

“Y-yes, what is it?”

The innkeeper, looking slightly stricken by Subaru’s fervent gaze, responded cautiously.

Undeterred by the innkeeper’s wariness, Subaru tightened his grip on his thoughts, setting his bloodshot stare upon him.

“Are there any merchants around this village that own their own dragon carriages? I want to negotiate with them. Can you help me connect?”