The hall was filled with silence and a tense atmosphere.

Experiencing this tension, Subaru wet his dry lips with his tongue and tightened his fist, ready to take action based on the situation.

It was crucial for Subaru to have the right people present at this moment.

He lacked power. He lacked wisdom. He lacked both ability and connections. All he could do was ensure that the deaths he had experienced were not in vain.

“Finally, I think I can understand the purpose of gathering everyone and delaying dinner.”

Seated in a chair, the elegant woman in male attire—Crusch Karsten—broke the silence, her face reflecting a sense of understanding.

The knight standing beside her narrowed his eyes slightly at his master’s words and puffed out his adorable cheeks.

“Is that so? I’m honestly still dubious about it. I mean, how did that timid boy get those kinds of eyes all of a sudden?”

Though his tone seemed to be joking, Felix’s gaze, directed towards Subaru, held no complacency. Even if he lacked ability, his determination to keep his master out of danger was evident.

——

Still maintaining silence without joining the conversation between the master and servant was Wilhelm, who sat straight to Crusch’s left.

His hand rested on the sword at his waist, and from his closed eyes emanated an aura of sharpened swordsmanship—there was no trace left of the amiable old man who had greeted Subaru and Rem. As a public figure now, he was fully focused on the role of the sword held by his master, Crusch.

The location was an upper-level residence in the noble district of the royal capital, a villa used by the Karsten House during their stay in the capital. Inside the mansion, adorned minimally in accordance with the master’s wishes, an appropriately decorated reception room awaited guests.

It was only natural that the three people mentioned earlier were gathered there. As for the others present in the hall, it was—

“It’s rather uncomfortable being back here. I hope you, Natsuki Subaru, have an interesting story to dispel this discomfort.”

Having sensed Subaru’s sidelong glance, the handsome man with faded blond hair and a trendy goatee—Russell Fellow—smiled, casting his gaze over everyone in the room.

Subaru shrugged at Russell’s somewhat probing remark.

“Right now, Rem is off to fetch another person, so hang tight for a little longer. I can’t guarantee they’ll come, but… there is a chance.”

“I eagerly await their swift arrival. By the way, may I inquire about the basis for your confidence?”

Russell likely already had an inkling of who Subaru was waiting for.

To Russell’s question, Subaru shook his head and replied, “It’s simple. The person mentioned has expressed their sensitivity to the scent of gold. If that’s true, they’ll definitely show up. You’re the same, right, Russell?”

“Ah, you’ve struck a sore spot.”

Russell raised a hand to his forehead, pretending to be defeated, as their exchanges hinted at a mutual transparency regarding their intentions.

The reassuring atmosphere of mutual understanding was merely a facade, and frankly, Subaru lacked the skill and composure to play such games effectively.

What lifted Subaru’s spirits was merely borrowed courage.

“Everyone, I apologize for the long wait.”

Just a few minutes later, the door to the hall opened, revealing a girl in a blue-haired servant’s outfit—Rem. She bowed her head so everyone in the room could see, then turned her gaze towards Subaru.

“It’s all set.”

Making a small circle with her right fingers, Rem approached Subaru’s side, slightly stretching to whisper into his ear.

“I heard there will be a slight delay in their arrival, but they will definitely be here.”

“Oh, got it. Nice work, Rem.”

With that report, Subaru snapped his fingers and nodded, now having the opportunity to change the second-best situation into the best one. He then scanned the faces of those waiting.

“Although the last participant will be a bit late, for now, the cast is assembled. There’s no need to keep everyone waiting—let’s begin.”

With Subaru’s declaration, everyone picked up on the shift in the atmosphere and reacted accordingly.

Crusch smiled faintly, Felix firmly pressed his lips together, Wilhelm remained steadfastly silent, and Russell eased himself into his chair.

Feeling the collective gaze of the four upon him, Subaru stomped his foot once to gather his resolve.

He could feel his heart pounding.

Blood coursed through his body, while the weight of vast anxiety threatened to darken his vision.

But—

“Natsuki-kun.”

Beside him, Rem gently touched his sleeve, seeking to soothe his anxiety.

Not directly contacting his skin, but rather touching through fabric—yet Subaru felt as if he were filled with a comforting strength, as if he had the support of thousands.

Rem was watching. He couldn’t possibly perform poorly.

Flashing a defiant grin, he concealed the fear behind that smile and braced himself to challenge the initial barrier.

Navigating through conditions as tight as a needle’s eye, all to weave a happy ending.

For the girl who called him “hero,” he needed to take one step closer to her belief.

“I need to confirm something, Natsuki Subaru.”

Crusch’s voice called out, raising a single finger after Subaru had gathered his resolve to face forward. She waved that finger sideways, meeting Subaru’s gaze.

“The purpose of this gathering. —From your lips, please.”

Her sharp gaze locked onto him, as she rested her cheek on her elbow while looking at him.

Even though she likely already understood, her insistence on hearing it from Subaru’s mouth held no trace of softness.

Even the way he began to speak was a clear signal that the contest had already begun.

Now, understanding the weight of failure that had accumulated until this point.

“Well, of course—”

Therefore, Subaru swung his arm wide, determined to maintain his composure despite Crusch’s piercing gaze, and boldly stated so as not to repeat past mistakes.

“It’s a negotiation for an equal alliance between Emilia’s faction and Crusch’s faction—this is the stage for it.”

The first challenge toward overcoming the multiple walls laid before him was about to commence.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

—After the interaction with Rem at the main gate, Subaru resolved to restart himself.

He could see that this was a sincere approach to the girl who had laid bare all her feelings and yet still believed in him.

“That said, there are far too many walls we need to overcome…”

Reflecting on the many barriers ahead made him understand the fragility of his own heart just moments earlier. The situation appeared unchanged, teetering on the brink of defeat.

Still—

“I have to manage somehow, right? Can you lend me a hand, Rem?”

“Yes, anything you say, Natsuki-kun.”

Scratching his head and speaking before fully consolidating his thoughts, Rem easily nodded.

Her warm gaze directed at him flooded Subaru with a renewed sense of courage and duty.

He chose not to remark on the slight redness in her eyes.

Having moved from the main gate to a corner of the lower district, they were now against the wall of the bustling streets.

Looking back at the earlier conversation at the main gate, pursuing further dialogue there would be hesitated; after laying bare all his insecurities, it would stretch his heart to the limit to further expose the emotions of Rem who responded to him.

While clutching Rem close, they finally arrived at a place out of sight from curious onlookers. Nonetheless,

“There’s no denying this has cost us time. Even if it’s just a little over an hour… time is precious now.”

As assessed previously, there was a five-day limit until the overwhelming tragedy would occur at the mansion. —Truthfully, they had about four and a half days left.

If two of those days went into traveling, only two days would remain to utilize effectively.

“So, the walls I must overcome are numerous, and their quality far exceeding those of before.”

The barriers he faced were plentiful, each drastically distinct from one another.

All obstacles were independently daunting and, when combined, became exceedingly complex to describe.

The first was, of course, the Witch Cult.

If he didn’t find a way to stop the fanatics led by Petelgeuse, neither the mansion nor the villagers could be saved.

The second involved the various factors surrounding Rem’s inevitable death.

Whether she traveled alongside Subaru or preceded him, her fate invariably ended in death. The first time was when she died out of his sight, and the times came when he lost her right before his very eyes—the despair from those experiences pushed Subaru toward surrender.

And the third obstacle would be Emilia’s death, which would trigger the unforgivable barrier born from the premise of no turning back—namely, the indiscriminate revenge actions by the Great Spirit Pack.

Thinking back, it seemed that in this loop, all of Subaru’s deaths ended with him being frozen at Pack’s hand.

In another sense, that was the evidence indicating Subaru had never once been able to arrive in time to save Emilia, who faced death in any world.

None of these walls could be ignored.

If even one of them fell through the cracks, the world beyond would not lead to the future Natsuki Subaru longed for, nor betray the hero he wished to uphold for Rem.

“—A few…”

Subaru muttered as he identified the issues.

Rem, observing the deep contemplation on Subaru’s face, remained silent, understanding that his words did not seek a response.

Her devotion to her beloved hero and the hope for his finest decisions displayed her deepest feelings.

As Rem kept her watchful gaze fixed upon him, Subaru attempted to revive fragmented memories and recollections beyond the confines of time.

Believing that within this seemingly inescapable scenario, there might still be a sliver of potential lying dormant somewhere.

—Think hard, ignite your heart.

His body and abilities lagged behind his ideals. Thus, he mustered the determination to at least accomplish this much, or else it would merely become a bitter joke of the hero’s initial step.

—Recall, and deliberate.

Do not waste the three times you have died. Do not squander the wishes of the girl who perished thrice at your hands. The weight of all three endings lay heavily upon Subaru’s shoulders—

The people he had met, the conversations exchanged, partings, reunions, anger, madness, sorrow, the Witch.

And then—

“Is there a possibility…?”

What suddenly crossed his mind was merely a gleam of potential.

Each thread was slender and frail, and that hastily woven connection could snap at any moment. There was far too little reliability to completely depend upon it.

Thus, it was worth an “all in” wager.

“Rem. There are a few things I need to talk about and things I want to ask.”

“Yes.”

Subaru asked for Rem’s cooperation to piece together his newly formed ideas.

Before disclosing anything else, he sifted through the information that wouldn’t conflict with the Witch’s curse and stated—

“The word got out that Emilia’s participating in the Royal Selection, and that set off the Witch Cult. They likely aim to wreak havoc on Emilia… and the mansion and village. I want to stop them.”

“The Witch Cult…”

For just a moment, a sharp emotion flickered in Rem’s eyes at the mention of the cult.

However, she reined in that feeling with her self-control, slightly lowering her chin in response to Subaru’s words.

“The possibility of the Witch Cult moving has been on Lord Roswaal’s radar as well. While I’m not privy to all the details, plans for countermeasures should be in place.”

“But that’s not enough.”

Factually speaking, it was unclear what countermeasures Roswaal had prepared against the Witch Cult.

Whether those preparations were ineffective or vanished without ever taking effect was uncertain. Yet, the outcome ultimately saw the white calamity unfold.

Knowing that future, Subaru’s task was to assure self-defense without leaning on Roswaal’s efforts, thus safeguarding the lives of the mansion and village’s people.

“The Witch Cult will likely initiate a swift offensive. Rem, what’s the fighting strength at the mansion?”

“…It’s difficult to say, but there’s a high chance that Lord Roswaal is not currently in the mansion. He’s scheduled to visit the influential figures in the territory right after returning to the royal capital.”

Rem hesitated to speak the words, which echoed the shock about Roswaal’s absence that had stunned Subaru previously. Upon hearing this, Subaru confirmed that Emilia, Ram, and likely Beatrice were the only ones remaining.

Only three people, and considering Beatrice’s uncooperative attitude, whether she would even join the fight with the Witch Cult was highly uncertain.

Recalling their short conversation last time, where Beatrice had looked at Subaru with the eyes of a child, betrayed—asking him to kill her—

“Sorry, but that’s off the table for now.”

Separating himself from her pitiable gaze caused Subaru’s heart to ache, so he initiated the conversation, saying to Rem, “Well, there are only two who can fight. Even if Rem and I return, it’ll be like throwing a stone into the ocean.”

“Most of the fighting force at the main residence relies on Lord Roswaal’s abilities. Had Frederica been left behind, the story might have been different, but…”

Subaru nodded back at the regret in Rem’s expression, ensuring there wouldn’t be a disparity in information exchange between their prior preparations and now.

There was nothing left to discuss regarding the Witch Cult and the fighting strength at the mansion.

That led to the next matter of importance.

Straightening his posture, Subaru locked eyes with Rem.

Gauging the change in atmosphere, Rem lifted her head.

“—Rem, tell me everything that Roswaal has ordered you to do in the royal capital.”

“——”

Subaru anticipated a puzzled look or perhaps surprise from Rem, but her reaction completely betrayed his expectations.

“—Yes. As you command.”

She nodded at Subaru’s words, her face blooming with genuine happiness, and a single tear escaped from the corner of her eye.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“An alliance, huh?”

Receiving everyone’s attention, Subaru announced the purpose of the meeting, to which Crusch muttered.

Pondering, she slightly lowered her chin, then glanced at Rem. Understanding the subtlety behind that look, Rem shook her head gently.

“As per Lord Roswaal’s orders, Rem has not spoken a word. —Everything is what Natsuki-kun has arrived at by himself.”

“It’s not that I doubt your loyalty. But I see…”

Crusch showed understanding, seemingly of a nature that conveyed agreement rather than mere consent. She turned her understanding eyes back to Subaru.

“Then, it seems that the negotiations are now in your hands, Natsuki Subaru, as awarded by Rem?”

“Yeah, that’s how it is. Roswaal… our lord has certainly employed quite the cunning strategy.”

Dramatically releasing a sigh, Subaru clicked his tongue at the unsavory smile of the deep blue-haired person playing in his mind.

Without telling Subaru, the strategic actions for the royal capital had been strictly decreed to only Rem, and importantly, he would never hear it from her lips unless he figured it out himself.

“There were plenty of concerns from the start. I mean, it’s painfully obvious that our faction has a chronic manpower shortage.”

As far as Subaru knew, the manpower shortage in Roswaal’s faction supporting Emilia was critical.

After all, at the mansion, there were only Ram, Rem, Roswaal, and then there was Beatrice, who it was debatable whether to count. While some other associates popped up in conversations from time to time, he remained uncertain how many of those unfamiliar ones could actually be effective.

Considering all that, Rem being left by herself with Subaru in the royal capital was always a mismatched piece he couldn’t ignore.

Of course, the reasoning assumed was that he couldn’t disrespect someone who saved his territory by leaving him behind after repaying him with treatment and other forms of compensation.

“I couldn’t imagine that creep would let Rem go just out of overflowing compassion. There must be some underlying reason… and if I think it through…”

“Naturally, it would be expected that our family would be chosen as a meeting candidate.”

Shifting his legs, Crusch picked up from Subaru’s words, summarizing the conclusion. Agreeing with those words, Subaru added, “Also, I had caught wind of how you and Crusch were meeting secretly each night. I feel rather foolish for not realizing what kind of discussion would happen.”

What kind of state had he been in, blinded only by his self-interests? He felt self-loathing at how he only realized that Rem had subtly dropped hints for him to catch on to the concealed intentions after reviewing the world four times.

“The content of those nightly meetings relates to the alliance agreement. I’ve heard everything pertaining to the conditions offered from our side.”

“The mining rights to the Erior Forest’s magical ore are the main subjects of negotiation, I believe.”

Russell, who had also settled into the guest chair, leaned forward with sparkling eyes at the mention of magical ore’s mining rights.

“That is indeed something one cannot afford to overlook.”

His enthusiastic response took Subaru by surprise inside.

When he first heard this discussion from Rem, he had grave misgivings and even thought, “If this doesn’t work, we may need to reevaluate our conditions.”

“The increasing demand for ore is due to…?”

“As we enter into summer after this red-day and then the autumn golden day, there’s an expectation of a strong influence from the water’s mana this year, meaning there should be a lot of needs in heating equipment.”

Raising a finger, Russell replied warmly to Subaru’s question.

The terms ‘blue day’ and ‘red day’ refer to the seasons in this world, where he understood that red meant summer, blue referred to winter, and golden was for autumn, while green indicated spring. In any case, it appeared that heating equipment sales began ramping up before winter set in.

“The magical ore itself is a crystallized magical power containing mana. Depending on the subsequent processing, it can be endowed with attribute directionality, allowing it to be differentiated based on use. Its strength is remarkable, and provided it’s used correctly, one can trust in its durability. Such a product is rare.”

“Yet the absolute amount is scant. Once endowed with directional properties, it cannot be redone. Many of the mining sites are managed by the kingdom, and a significant portion of the ore flows into public projects. The minuscule amounts distributed to the market are primarily reserved for the wealthy and the nation.”

While Russell listed the advantages in value for magical ore, Crusch countered with its drawbacks.

Even so, Russell persisted, shaking his head, “Therefore…”

“One cannot help but jump at the discovery of untouched mining locations. Being spoken of by a knight of the candidate Emilia, who amassed wealth through past trades of magical ore—indeed most credible and reliable.”

With that heated tone, Russell spoke while glancing sideways at Subaru.

That demeanor masked desperation to seize the mining rights, while reinforcing with strong implications that he would not allow Subaru to retreat after bringing up such material.

That said, “Ah, you can take my word on it. As for the proponent I wish to partner with throughout the long royal selection period, I shouldn’t fool around.”

For the conditions that Roswaal had laid down, there was no influence from Subaru’s intentions. This could even suggest a void left for anxiety—signifying there was still inherent trust in Roswaal as a lord. Something he couldn’t admit outright.

Regardless, at Subaru’s response, Russell nodded with the look of understanding and replied, “It seems I need not concern myself with your resolve in negotiations. I apologize if my earlier remarks felt like tests or were impolite.”

“No problem. I intend to seek your input vigorously in these upcoming discussions.”

While Subaru had never held high expectations of Russell’s impression of him, he was aware that he had seen Subaru’s disgraceful display during their first encounter in the third world. Of course, he should have expected scrutiny over Subaru’s capabilities to arise out of those discrepancies.

Having prepared a topic for Russell to delve into while avoiding awkwardness in the main subject was a strategic success.

That said, Subaru was careful not to openly display too much relief over being able to exploit that opening. Surpassing Russell’s expectations remained paramount.

“That being said, it would be great if you could overlook a slip or two of the tongue after I’ve apologized, wouldn’t it?”

“You’re hoping for just that from Russell Fellow’s appearance, huh? Unexpectedly, you seem rather astute in your judgments.”

As he made that playful statement, Crusch seemed to have marked her scores on Subaru’s interactions with the merchant. As long as the meeting hadn’t been called off, one might say his performance was barely passing.

While making such judgments, Subaru maintained his amiable façade while raising a hand to his head.

“I mean, bringing up great business prospects and securing an advisor was definitely among my goals… but it turns out Russell, I called you here because it pertains directly to the main topic.”

“Oh? The main topic, huh—”

As Subaru scratched his head, the atmosphere in the room took a significant turn.

Crusch, who had been maintaining a vigilant stance throughout the discussion, straightened up, briefly closed her eyes, and then slowly bore her sharp gaze upon Subaru.

The pressure felt almost like a gust of wind, yet Subaru resisted and did not flinch.

Only recently, he had endured a violent oppressive presence. In comparison, Crusch’s bearing didn’t carry any of those negativity-induced emotions intended to intimidate him; rather, it encompassed a force that corrected his posture and sharpened dulled thoughts.

“I acknowledge you, Natsuki Subaru. You are indeed the representative of Baron Meisars and the formal envoy from Emilia. The matters exchanged between you and I here will be as good as an accord struck between Emilia and me.”

Just standing opposite Crusch, one could feel an extraordinary level of pressure coming from her presence.

Crusch switched focus not to intentionally intimidate Subaru but rather to genuinely separate herself from Crusch the private person into Crusch Karsten the public figure. The sheer might of the Duke-elect’s status conveyed power.

This was the visage of the nation’s foremost contender for the throne in the Lugnica Kingdom—

Raising a hand toward Subaru amidst such an awe-inspiring sensation, Crusch initiated the firestorm of negotiations.

“You should have been informed already, yet I will ask again. The negotiations with your attendant… Rem have yet to reach an agreement including the mining rights to be distributed. You understand that clearly, do you not?”

“….Yeah.”

He had heard from Rem the ongoing complications hindering their negotiations. While Subaru recalled Rem’s revealed weaknesses, he also noted his failure to grasp her evolving struggles until now, which mixed his self-pity with the weight of regret.

Combining those two failures into one, Subaru exploited the inherent advantages of foreknowledge toward the future’s missteps—this was a clear deviation from earlier occurrences.

“I want to check as well; in reality, the previous conditions haven’t met the requirements, right? We’re talking about distributing the mining rights to the Erior Forest without interfering too much in each other’s factions. Plus, an agreed handling of any magical ore extracted from there.”

“Now, that proposal was presented by Rem. One must say, it’s on par with Baron Meisars’ caliber. Securing exquisite gains for her side should profit us greatly. Ordinarily, I would jump at the chance and prepare our agreement immediately, but…”

Subaru could contribute little to the numerical value exchanges in this scenario.

Faced with mounting pressure, the impulse to proclaim, “Then I’ll give you all the mining rights!” could bubble out, leading to unwanted hasty agreements.

“In this case, substantial concerns regarding the negotiation counterpart come into play. You understand that, right?”

Perhaps his prayers hadn’t been heard, as Crusch succinctly addressed a different kind of anxiety than he had expected.

Nevertheless, that wasn’t good news.

“It’s not about being able to trust Roswaal…is it?”

That was merely a hope. If Roswaal’s conduct formed an issue, the plan would dictate an expectedly cleaner living would be enforced.

Yet this concern surrounded Emilia, who had struggled enduringly.

“In the Royal Selection, the opposing candidates. Especially concerning half-elves… with Emilia bearing the stigma of being half-demon in mind, any dealings with her must be approached with utmost caution.”

Subaru felt an unexpected disappointment from Crusch’s calm remark.

He had envisioned Crusch as exhibiting a demeanor of ‘grace under pressure’ and ‘integrity’ that perfectly reflected her in the Royal Selection’s setting, but now seeing her fret over reputational implications felt discordant—

“Could it be a front for refusal, then…?”

“Natsuki-kun? You genuinely think you could just spill something like that in such an important negotiation without a care? Just wondering, are you?”

Felix managed a cheerful albeit stress-inducing smile while sporting a visible blue vein on his forehead. While feeling an uneasy masculinity arise, Subaru instinctively clamped his mouth shut and bowed deeply.

Meanwhile, Crusch noted their exchanges and slightly eased the corners of her own mouth.

“If you were to respond so plainly, I would merely feel embarrassed to have posed as a mere formality. I would have learned something here. Rarely do we get opportunities like this when surrounded by familiar faces.”

For such was the case, none so ever clear to Subaru, her rudeness went overseen.

However, continually leaning on the favor of her kindness could build a debt, potentially leading to an unfavorable outcome.

Subaru nodded subtly, “So, the formality remains… but I take it that deep down, Crusch-san has no qualms about forming an alliance with Emilia?”

“Let me set something straight, Natsuki Subaru.”

Holding up her finger, Crusch pointed it firmly towards him.

“The value of something stems from the essence of its soul and how it’s illuminated. Its origins and circumstances shouldn’t define its intrinsic value.”

Of course, she wasn’t so unaware that they could be indirect factors.

Reflecting on the hardships Emilia faced due to her environment and her half-elf status wasn’t entirely beyond her imagination.

Thus Crusch nodded once more, “On that Royal Selection stage, Emilia’s words contained no deceit. There was resolute determination and pride; because of that, I recognize Emilia as a legitimate contender among opponents.”

“That’s convoluted; so what does that mean?”

“I’m merely stating my disdain for excessive theatrics, and it is for that reason I request your understanding.”

Seemingly aware of her flamboyance, Crusch managed a soft smile before tightening her expression again in a subsequent blink.

“I have no reason to refuse an alliance based on Emilia being a half-elf. Rather, her existence, embroiled in complications politically, presents an opportunity I need not actively confront. Far from an objection.”

“If that’s how it is…”

“Be in no rush with your response, Natsuki Subaru. Whether I accept your offer will largely depend on how you respond afterward.”

As Crusch watched the favorable answers take shape, Subaru felt himself growing impatient.

That is, formally, the mining rights to the Erior Forest had significant merit for us. Yet, on the other hand, I’ve been feeling an urgency to push the situation regarding the Royal Selection itself as well.”

“The benefits of forming an alliance with Emilia do not reach the extent of their drawbacks?”

“Not quite; right now, the advantages and disadvantages are canceling each other out overall. What our house seeks is the opportunity for further justification to elevate the stakes.”

From appearances alone, Crusch seemed more than willing towards signing the alliance.

At the same time, it would hardly be a simple fact that all matters would fall into perfect synchronization due to the political restraints borne of noble status.

Therefore, she sought something.

Something substantial enough to catalyze the momentum to silence outside forces.

“——”

While attempting to voice an answer, Subaru found himself slightly taken aback by the constriction in his throat.

With tension and unease swelling within him, the path forward seemed buried beneath barriers.

Taking a breath, he mentally reiterated what he was about to say.

No guarantees awaited him. It could very well be a miscalculation—a totally off-the-mark statement.

Despite that, he held fast to the belief that she would engage with it, showing faith in his thoughts.

“In pursuit of forming our alliance, we offer up mining rights and… information.”

“—Information.”

Upon hearing those words, Crusch coaxed for the words that would follow.

The judgment was yet to unfold. They had stepped into the arena.

“Yes, indeed. What I can provide is a certain piece of information.”

“Pray tell.”

With a hand gesturing towards him as she stroked her hair, Crusch awaited Subaru’s words.

Of course, the subtle tremors in his feet and fingers began to materialize, yet that grounded sensation within his elbow countered it.

In the same manner, Rem had sparked courage within Subaru’s arm.

Inhale, with a firm resolution, Subaru relayed.

“—The location and time of the White Whale’s appearance—this is the card I can play.”