――The sensation of losing limbs and the intense pain that feels like my entire body is burning. My consciousness blacks out, leaving sound and everything else behind as I fall headlong into darkness.

For Subaru, ‘death’ is somewhat similar to that feeling.

Having died countless times and experienced numerous different ways to die, Subaru understands that commonality that comes when one truly experiences ‘death’.

And ‘returning from death’ is akin to a sudden awakening of all those lost sensations.

The lost senses, the sensory organs that feel them, and the brain that organizes that information are all thrown into chaos by an avalanche of information.

It’s only natural that I would be dizzy and slow to grasp the situation.

In other words――,

“Nom!”

“Ugh, what the?!”

With the sensation of my earlobe being lightly bitten, I straighten my back and tumble backward. My heart races at this overwhelming sweet sensation I’ve never experienced before, and as I hurriedly look around, I see,

“I thought you were daydreaming, but this reaction is just too adorable… I can’t help but get attached to you, Felix.”

Saying that with a mysterious laugh, Felix elegantly posed with a finger to his lips.

At the same time, realizing that the feeling of teeth on my earlobe belonged to him, I collapsed.

“M-my virginity of sweet biting… by a trap boy…!”

“Don’t be so down about it. More importantly, let’s continue our discussion. You’ve suddenly spaced out, and it’s really ruining the mood.”

While Subaru crawled on all fours, dejected, Ricardo scratched his large ears and spoke up. The others around him nodded in agreement, clearly expecting Subaru to bounce back quickly.

In front of them, Subaru continued to show his shock and disappointment at the fact, struggling to come to terms with the impact of having experienced ‘death’.

――I died, once again.

I failed. I didn’t think things through. Despite urging myself and those around me not to let down my guard, it still didn’t reach me.

Just before my consciousness faded away and my life returned to the heavens, the tear-streaked face of Emilia came to mind.

It felt like a vice was squeezing my chest.

I had fought on with the single thought that I absolutely did not want to make her cry, that I did not want to bring her sadness.

Yet due to my very own death, I had inflicted an irrevocable sadness upon her.

“――I need to sort this out.”

As Subaru frowned in regret and fell silent, Felix moved in to try and motivate him again. But his way was blocked by Julius who raised a hand.

He waved a finger at Felix, turning his handsome face toward Subaru.

“From here on, we will head toward the Meisters Territory, where the Witch Cult awaits. Our goal is to annihilate the Witch Cult―― it is absolutely essential to capture the Archbishop of Sin who leads them. And to avoid involving anyone in a skirmish with the Witch Cult, we need the associates of Marquis Roswaal and the surrounding residents to evacuate. Regarding transportation for the evacuation…”

“I’ve already arranged for merchants with Anastasia and Russell. Pardon me. I’m calm now, so it’s okay.”

Wiping his trembling lips, Subaru returned to his spot among the circle and offered a brief apology to Julius. In response, Julius raised an eyebrow, showing mild surprise.

“You don’t need to worry. Rather, it’s good to confirm that my understanding was correct. You don’t seem particularly skilled at explanations.”

“I’m not used to speaking in front of this many people. Remember that my social skills tank the more people around me.”

Julius’s sarcasm―― it’s likely that in this case, he’s trying to distract Subaru from the pressure he’s under. It annoys him, yet at the same time, Subaru consciously ignores that sensation of awkwardity that’s hard to put into words.

After a moment, he cast his eyes around, becoming aware of the fifty-odd people looking at him.

This would be the third time he would explain the situation to them.

Even a recluse with little experience should be able to get used to repeating the same scene three times. Though the weight of entrusting others’ lives still weighs heavily on his shoulders,

“The Witch Cult’s Archbishop of Sin is a formidable opponent. The Witch Cult members aren’t going to be easily dealt with, and there are sure to be casualties on our side as well. I need to make sure everyone understands that.”

“――――”

As Subaru spoke with a preamble, everyone responded with silence. But it wasn’t a negative silence. It was because everyone was intensely focused on Subaru, wanting to catch every single word he said.

It was, in essence, a manifestation of trust.

“I’d want to return to the Royal Capital in triumph after defeating the White Whale, but I’m tired, and no one here is uninjured. What should I say to everyone who lends their strength to protect my… my lord… in this situation? I’m left with nothing but gratitude.”

He looked around.

Numerous pairs of eyes were fixated on Subaru, and he etched their faces into his heart, wanting to remember each one. Among the faces etched in memory, he noticed several that had been torn apart by an unseen hand in the previous loop.

He must not forget those faces.

Those who had regained their lost lives thanks to Subaru’s death and his ability to return from death.

However, with the battles to come, Subaru would once again cause someone to die by his own choices. Whether enemy or ally, achieving a bloodless victory was impossible.

If he were a bit more skilled, perhaps things wouldn’t have turned out this way.

If Subaru were strong enough to keep everyone at a distance, if he were wise enough to find a way out of any situation, if he were a noble soul who wouldn’t crack under adversity, if he were an idealist who couldn’t tolerate any weakness, maybe he could prevent casualties.

But that’s impossible. Subaru is weak, dim-witted, and his heart is fragile.

He can’t keep standing without someone’s help, nor does he have the trust to manage on his own.

Therefore,

“I’ll hunt down the Archbishop of Sin this time for sure. For that, I intend to spare no effort and give everything I can. So lend me your strength.”

“――――”

“I need everyone.――Together, help me protect the people I hold dear.”

With hands on the ground, Subaru lowered his head.

It looks uncool, cheap, and worthless, yet he lowers it earnestly and sincerely. This was the first time he had genuinely “bowed” like this, with all his heart.

“Subaru, raise your head.”

“――――”

At Julius’s voice, Subaru slowly raised his head.

Before him lay a radiant display of light, almost as if the dawn had come alive.

――Kneeling and raising their drawn swords, the knights stood before him.

This was the second time Subaru was bolstered by the shining swords.

Only Subaru, who could directly experience ‘returning from death,’ could feel it. Through his unwelcome ‘returns from death,’ Subaru had come to understand something.

The world repeatedly unfolds in a multitude of ways.

Even amid such a world, what enables it to happen consistently is the “strong and unwavering will of people unaffected by the world’s fluctuations.”

In other words, their thoughts, which help Subaru in this same way, mean

“No matter how many times I come back or how much of an idiot I am… they provide me with strength. Time and time again, they help me stand up.”

Just like Rem had.

Just like Rem had supported Subaru time and again, their presence continues to strongly uphold Natsuki Subaru’s wavering will.

For Subaru, that was a ‘salvation’ surpassing anything else, any power granted, any wisdom passed down, any hope kindled.

“I’m sorry for saying something that dampens the mood right before the decisive battle. You don’t have to forget it… but keep it a secret from everyone.”

“If we can have a good story to share before meeting Emilia, could you tell me more about the Witch Cult?”

“I won’t let a wandering mercenary stand before our noble Emilia. After the job, you can go home with a little cash. ―Well then, let’s talk.”

As they exchanged their usual light banter, Subaru slapped his cheek to hide his embarrassment. Taking a breath, he raised his face.

“First, the Archbishop of Sin leading the Witch Cult is in charge of ‘Sloth’――”

There’s no time to wallow in regret for having been killed or for having failed.

He is determined to turn the reasons for his death and shortcomings into opportunities for fighting back.

That’s why he came back like this.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

As Subaru sorted out the newly discovered facts from the last loop and the conditions he must overcome, he relayed all the information he had to the expedition party.

The mention of the ‘invisible hand’ and ‘possession’ caused quite the stir among the expedition members. After all, the nature of these arts felt entirely different from the forms of magic they were familiar with, making it immensely challenging to accept.

With only a single form of magic that exists, it becomes hard to imagine anything else as heretical.

In fact, it was Subaru, who had been exposed to fictional settings, who was more flexible in accepting these concepts. Being able to easily digest a worldview that contained superpowers, magic, and curses is something inherited in the bloodline of a Japanese person, a stronghold of subculture.

“Setting aside the ridiculous conclusion, let’s talk about Petelgeuse…”

As for dealing with the ‘invisible hand,’ Subaru had no choice but to face it. Under special conditions, Wilhelm’s skills could work against the trick from the previous time, but in terms of reliability, that was difficult. It was best that Subaru himself confronts it.

Regarding ‘possession,’ it was revealed that things were even more troublesome. Petelgeuse―― in this case, referring to the possessed body, possessed suicide functions had been prepared for it.

It’s reasonable to expect that self-destruction would always be an option, considering the exchange of hosts through death. The main cause of failure in the previous instance stemmed from this.

Since the self-destruction occurred while he was unconscious, it could be executed by another entity’s will. ―That is, it’s highly likely that all witch cultists are equipped with self-destruction mechanisms.

Furthermore, even if they eliminated all targets of possession――,

“In the end, they’ll take over me… ”

The major issue lies right there.

In the previous instance, he took his own life while completely under their control, and in the last loop, he managed to resist considerably, but the outcome was as unfortunate as the current situation.

Though this is quite a broad assumption, it seems extremely difficult to overpower Petelgeuse’s mind once the struggle for control begins.

That’s why, in the last loop, he concluded that preventing possession is a must.

“Pack is out of commission, huh? If the ice strategy doesn’t work, this truly becomes a dead end for us.”

The despair that washed over him when Emilia and Pack appeared on the battlefield remains fresh in his memory.

Recalling it sends a chill down his spine even now, quickening his breath. Yet, he currently has no understanding of why he feels such a strong aversion.

However, one thing he clearly understands is the fact that he absolutely cannot afford to relive that situation again.

“I can’t let Emilia meet Petelgeuse. For some reason, I have a bad feeling about that. Well, it’s not like it’s incomprehensible.”

No matter how favorably interpreted, exposing a cute girl to such a pervert can hardly have a positive effect. It’s only natural to feel disgusted.

Thus, deciding to quickly cut his losses with his unanswered woes, Subaru sought out a plan.

“Without being able to use Pack and not being able to let Emilia meet Petelgeuse, that rules out those options. Julius, can’t you use your spirit magic to ice one person?”

He placed a hand on his forehead, contemplating as he addressed the steadily trotting Julius.

They had already moved from the seating of the strategy meeting, and now Subaru and the group were running toward the Meisters Territory.

Of course, the steadfast companion carrying Subaru was none other than Patrasche, who made him grateful for the chance to start over with ‘returning from death’.

Leaning slightly against Patrasche’s back, Subaru affectionately patted him. Patrasche glanced back as if to say, “Don’t touch me so casually.”

“Not to be rude, but haven’t you gotten a lot better at riding all of a sudden? Not long ago, you seemed very much like you were being moved around by that Earth Dragon.”

“Trusting it and letting the wind guide us, right? After overcoming that crisis together, it’s completely reset my trust gauge with it. Oh no, I’ve been countered!”

As he twisted his body and hugged Patrasche, it bucked in apparent annoyance, throwing Subaru off.

“Whoa, whoa, whoa!? Hey, don’t get shy! Even if you act tsundere, it’s crystal clear you love me!”

“I can’t shake this feeling that there’s a fundamental disconnect in our understanding… but sitting this one out in terms of how you interact with the earth dragon would be impolite, so I’ll let it go. ―Now then.”

With a light pat on Patrasche’s back to calm him down, Julius took a deep breath to reset the situation. Then he winked at Subaru.

“To answer your earlier question… all I can say is it’s difficult. While I can handle fire through a contract with six spirits, I can’t exactly say I’m a pure spirit magician, so I can’t assure you I can perform that delicate kind of spell.”

“Wow, didn’t expect you to be a bit pessimistic. Isn’t that a hit to your title?”

“I have no attachment to that name. Admitting I can’t do something I can’t is much more significant than prioritizing vanity over potentially betraying trust. Don’t you feel the same?”

“Man, you really are a piece of work…”

With a sigh, Subaru diverted his gaze from Julius, drowning in self-awareness.

Currently, Subaru had just been informed by Julius that he was a spirit magician, and soon they would transition into a conference via the combined magic of Yin and Yang called Nect.

Although there was not yet an operation that could definitively claim a hundred percent success rate,

“All we can do is manage as well as we can with the plan that we’ve pieced together.”

Using the newly gained information to assess the madman’s statements, Subaru devised a plan. —It’s also a decision that bore a heavy burden on his heart.

“I just want to confirm, Subaru. You really intend to move forward just like this?”

“Stop asking. I came up with this, so there’s no way I’m going to be like ‘Oh, never mind’. … Emilia might get mad, though.”

After using Nect and passing the outlines of the operation to everyone, Julius asked Subaru for his resolve.

In response, Subaru put on a blank expression and began picturing the girl he adored behind his eyes.

The smile he’d only just received, the warmth of her hand when they reconciled, the tearful voice she’d had just moments prior, began to blur and fade.

He bit his lip, chastising himself for teetering on the edge of emotional vulnerability.

It’s altogether disheartening to feel that maybe there’s another way, almost validating a weakness within himself. Subaruwas genuinely shocked at how pathetic he could be.

“Don’t make that face. It’ll dampen your resolve, and it doesn’t suit you.”

“Weren’t you just saying how unfair it is for you to not be the recipient of rewards? You can re-evaluate the terms by putting more weight on us if you want…”

“Don’t give me a chance to whine, pleading ‘No!’. Even the courage I muster seems borrowed.”

To Julius, who repeatedly checked his determination, Subaru could only give a wry smile in response.

No matter who it is, it’s nice to be cared for like this. However, Subaru has chosen this bearing acceptance of the weight he carries, thus,

“It’s not like I’ve thrown away the future where I can share joyful laughter with Emilia. Just the route there looks a bit more treacherous. But even so, who would notice the challenges we face? It’ll be a piece of cake, right?”

“…..I envy your unflinching resolve to claim it’s a piece of cake. I simply can’t suppress the unease that stirs for things that aren’t accurately recognized. I’m immature.”

“Hey, don’t get so down about it, Knight of the Best. The reason I can hang on and be a bit optimistic is that I absolutely rely on your strength in hugging Emilia at the end! …Wait! What am I saying!? That’s not genuine! Don’t get the wrong idea!”

“You’re an extremely busy man… But I was able to catch your sentiment.”

As Subaru stammered, a laugh escaped Julius.

Snorting at his dashing good looks, Subaru averted his gaze and focused on the horizon.

As the end of the grassland became quite faint, he would soon be going through the woods to enter the Meisters Territory.

Feeling a turbulent anxiety and dread within, Subaru nonetheless held on to the forward gaze.

“――――”

“Huh? What’s wrong? Feeling worried? How cute.”

Patrasche lightly swayed as he sensed Subaru’s silence. Responding with palms, Subaru rummaged through the pack tied to his back.

What he found was the crux of the plan they were about to execute, and with the touch of it, both relief and faint pain filled his chest.

Regardless, he wouldn’t hesitate now.

He had made his decision. Furthermore, he continually questioned if it was indeed the best choice. Yet, no matter how decisively he recognized it, he felt vulnerable; this was a problem he had to solve alone.

“Alright, this time, I’m definitely getting to the sweet spot――”

“Of course, and I’ll let that happen. Don’t worry, I’ve meticulously planned this out. There’s no need to even entertain failure; we’re fully prepared. Once it’s done, I want to share a drink with you.”

“Don’t go shouting death flags like that――!!”

Shouting back in anger at Julius, who should have no knowledge of the concept of death flags, his voice echoed enough to reach the skies over the Meisters Territory.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

――The morning sunlight sharply pierced through Emilia’s sleep-deprived eyes, rousing her from bed with a slight pain.

Her silver hair, which had fallen over her forehead, cascaded down as she sat up, shimmering like moonlight in a waterfall.

After blinking a few times, she lingered for a short while in a half-awake state. The past few days had been marked by shallow sleep, and she realized the fatigue still weighed on her. Though she knew it was burdensome she had chosen to carry.

“Is it already morning…?”

She likely had gone to sleep a few hours after the date had flipped—effectively managing only about two hours of sleep.

Her head felt heavy, and her thoughts sluggish as if they were stuck in mire.

From the outset, she was not someone who woke up easily.

It took her time just to pull herself back from drowsiness, much less to actually begin her activities. When considering the troubling matters that had been weighing on her spirit, it was only natural that her mental state was being drained.

――A week ago, key figures related to the royal selection had gathered, and she had headed to the Royal Capital. After returning to the manor, she had spent four days wielding the formal authority of the manor’s head.

The immense pressure that had rained down on her within just these few days was enough to crush the girl named Emilia.

“I thought I understood, but… it turns out I just thought I understood.”

Biting her lip as she grasped the sheets, Emilia reflected on her feeling of helplessness.

The memories that whizzed through her mind were of all that transpired within this past week. She’d been summoned to the royal capital, faced the royal selection candidates—candidates she knew personally—and even engaged in the delicate political night games, before expressing her own opinions.

“….Subaru.”

Mumbling the name of the boy she had left behind, Emilia ventured to shut her eyes in an attempt to hold back the pain. That cheerful boy, so prone to injury, always fighting desperately for others—what was he doing at this moment?

The last argument they had shared, the expression on his face when she had left him behind, seared into Emilia’s conscience, burning her repeatedly.

It was all her fault that he had made that face, that he had spoken those words she never wanted to hear.

Yet, even now, Emilia believed it had been the right decision.

At that moment, with her heart laid bare to Subaru, resulting in their separation, she did not think she should have avoided that emotional explosion.

On the contrary, venting their pent-up feelings there, parting ways then, was the right answer. It had been the right choice. Subaru and she should not be together.

Because she was a half-elf.

Simply existing was enough to be branded a villain.

A being whose very nature was denied.

Cast aside, shunned, looked down upon, and rejected, she became a target of negative emotions.

There was no way being together could benefit anyone.

On the contrary, that kind-hearted boy would surely have unpleasant feelings being close to her. In fact, just by being by Emilia’s side, Subaru had ended up gravely hurt after dueling with Julius.

She never wanted to see him suffer like that again or cause him pain.

She had to conclude that Subaru must have given up on her after that argument.

By throwing out her own selfish views while he had tried to give her unreciprocated goodwill, she had rejected him. To her, he had only looked like a child who was crying.

The last thing he let slip in that moment—that was Emilia’s lingering regret.

――If it were Subaru, he might just treat her without regard for her being a half-elf, seeing her as someone completely unrelated to that.

A faint, fleeting, and ultimately futile hope.

In her attempt to distance herself, she had hurt him. Yet she desired comfort and reckless as it was, had wounded Subaru with her selfishness.

So she pushed him away, rejecting the hopes he offered.

――She couldn’t treat Emilia as someone special.

After closing the door to that emotional confrontation, she put a physical distance of her own between them. And feeling the overwhelming dread of disappointment fill her heart, she lost faith in herself.

She felt uncomfortable with the kindness that was simply given, and burdened herself with various pretenses, hurting that kind-hearted boy, and now that she had created an actual distance, she found herself terribly lonely.

After parting from Subaru, she desperately tried to return to the manor from the Royal Capital.

She had numerous things she needed to learn. Emilia had been raised living in isolation in the depths of the forest, avoiding social interactions.

She hadn’t even known about the existence of a king until after leaving the forest.

Now, she was aiming for a throne to oversee the lives of people living in a vast territory.

She was aware that this aspiration was exceedingly reckless and an incredibly foolish decision, but it was something she had to do.

――Simply put, there were reasons behind her actions that demanded her to.

“Ria, you’re frowning. You shouldn’t do that—it’s not cute.”

Just when she leaned forward from the bed, her thoughts were interrupted by that tranquil voice. Looking up, she met the purple-blue eyes of a small spirit draped in gray fur.

She had been with this entity since she was aware of herself—its family-like presence.

“Good morning, Pack. You woke up early today.”

“Good morning, Ria. I wanted to say I woke up early, but truthfully, it’s because I was worried about you. Yesterday was a bit shocking, wasn’t it?”

Pack floated leisurely, his long tail waving as Emilia averted her gaze.

She recalled all too well what had happened yesterday, directly linking it as the cause of her heavy head and heart—specifically, when the villagers had refused to speak with her.

“I knew they would react this way…”

“Even if you know you might stumble, falling means cuts and bleeding, and pains follow. I think understanding something and actually experiencing that pain are two different matters.”

Pack’s words, echoing Emilia’s child-like tone, struck her down. Yet she knew he wasn’t trying to be mean; rather, he was just laying out what he knew to be true.

“What do you think, Pack?”

“Hmm?”

“What do you think I should do? Not just for myself… but for everyone too, to behave properly?”

“I think you should do what you like. I’m on your side no matter what you choose. I’m just an enemy to anyone who gets in your way.”

His words were reassuring, stronger than anyone else, but they weren’t the answers she was after.

Moreover, Emilia understood fully he wouldn’t be the one to provide those answers. Pack was her ultimate supporter, and nothing else.

“No matter what you do, you can’t forsake the village, right? Ram left for the village again this morning, so it’d be wise to await her report.”

“…So, Ram is going. She’s probably been working without any rest for some time now.”

“You’re just not seeing it, but she’s been somewhat lackadaisical in various instances, so I think she’ll manage.”

Pack’s murmured voice reached Emma’s ears, yet she remained lost in thought, pressing a finger against her lips.

Several events that had transpired the day before flitted through her mind.

――Upon returning from the Royal Capital, Emilia had focused solely on acquiring knowledge from various scholarly texts and specialized books—given the need posed by Roswaal’s negotiations with key players.

She poured herself into studying to escape feelings of guilt, even sacrificing sleep. It was then that Ram came to report, “There’s an unusual presence in the forest.”

Utilizing her clairvoyant ability—aligning with another’s vision and expanding her sensory field—Ram had failed to uncover the source behind that ominous presence.

Yet she couldn’t choose to do nothing in response, so Emilia went down to the nearby village, urging the villagers to evacuate to the manor—only to be met with refusal.

Feeling shocked at being rejected can surprise Emilia even now.

She had become so accustomed to being hated for her heritage, to being shunned and disregarded; yet to find her heart still capable of hurt disoriented her.

And then, she realized.

She had been harboring expectations.

After putting herself into the currents of larger matters, taking a step that would change her position, she had presumed the reactions of those around her would naturally evolve.

Surely, there wasn’t any way something so conveniently hopeful could exist.

The slight connections she had made with the villagers had unknowingly exacerbated her hopes. She had concealed her lineage in those interactions, and there was no way she could reveal herself.

“Honestly, what on earth am I doing?”

Hurt from the rejection, she tried ardently to appeal but ended up retreating out of the manor disgraced in defeat.

And as she suppressed her hands in agony, the following news came rushing in; a multitude of merchants had streamed into the village at once.

Caught off guard with confusion, she was next visited by someone claiming to be the merchants’ representative, carrying a letter. Sealed upon it was the crest of Crusch Karsten, and upon breaking the seal and opening it—it contained nothing but a blank page.

“Just a single blank sheet of paper.”

As Emilia looked down at what lay sprawled on the desk, as if reading her thoughts, Pack ventured a conclusion first.

Indeed, what was written in the letter was blank.

When she questioned the representative about its meaning, he shook his head, stating he hadn’t learned the contents. Ram, visibly upset, kicked them out of the manor and went toward the village to handle negotiations of eviction.

――Could she leave it entirely in their hands?

A sense of duty lingered, but fears of complicating matters by stepping in prevailed as well. The merchants delivering the letter often cast fearful and repulsed glances toward Emilia.

With the announcement of the royal selection, the names and backgrounds of candidates were made known to the public.

Out there, hardly anyone remained who didn’t recognize Emilia as a half-elf. From that point on, those gazes, those attitudes, and those refusals would become commonplace everywhere.

She was supposed to have been accustomed to freezing her heart.

Having learned to ignore the pain and forcibly wipe away the blood from her wounds, and having grown adept at maintaining her back straight, she should be accustomed to that.

So now to turn her attention to it again―

“Ria, it seems the people have returned to the manor.”

“Could it be Ram? I wonder if the matters in the village have been settled.”

Pack’s call snapped Emilia from her thoughts, and she finished dressing before standing up.

With no requests from Pack about today’s hairstyle, she simply combed through her hair, letting the strands flow down her back. Shimmering with silver, Emilia gently exhaled before stepping out of her room.

She directed her feet towards the entrance hall, aiming to welcome Ram, who should have returned. Regardless of how the village matter was resolved, they needed to discuss many things moving forward.

“Ram, I’m sorry for leaving everything to you. About what to do next—”

“Emilia-sama.”

As she opened the massive front door, she caught sight of Ram returning to the manor, prompting her to call out. Reacting to that voice, Ram looked up, yielding her place by the door while—

“――Emilia-sama, please forgive the sudden visit.”

A figure of an elderly man stepped into the manor through the door Ram had opened.

Emilia raised her brow slightly, showing unmistakable surprise at the figure she vaguely recognized.

“Um, aren’t you the one from Crusch’s side?”

“Yes. I am Wilhelm Trias, stationed at the rear of the noble household of the Karsten family. I’ve come here as a representative of my lord.”

As the elderly gentleman introduced himself and knelt, deep bowing, Emilia felt embarrassed.

And as the initial sharp impression faded, she noticed the signs of injuries scattered across his form.

“What happened to you?”

“I beg your pardon for my unseemly appearance. On my way to the Meisters Territory, I unfortunately encountered a magical beast and had to engage in battle.”

“You’re not hurt, are you?”

“There’s nothing to worry about. More importantly, I wish to convey my master’s intentions.”

Foregoing his own well-being, Wilhelm pushed forward to the main topic, to which Emilia nodded. Then, hearing the name Crusch reminded her of the letter.

Emilia began, “I received a letter from Lady Crusch, but…”

“It was blank… and I’ve been unsure how to respond.”

“Blank, you say? —I see, as I was informed, that’s indeed the case.”

Listening to Emilia’s words, Wilhelm narrowed his eyes. His mere gesture carried an aura that made Emilia choke on her breath. However, Wilhelm merely shook his head at her reaction and continued.

“Regarding the blank letter, it may not align with our intentions, but… I know its meaning. So please rest assured.”

“Meaning… I see; it probably was a mistake or something. I’m relieved; I was worried it wasn’t an act of malice.”

Emilia added that last bit, a concern she didn’t need to spend too much fretting over. Wilhelm murmured, “I’d never expect that,” and then straightened his expression.

“Thus, Emilia-sama, and Lord Ram, you should board the merchant carriages assembled for the village. You need to evacuate this area as per my lord’s will.”

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

――Summarizing Wilhelm’s explanation, this was the situation.

A notorious criminal organization known throughout the kingdom had entered the Meisters Territory. The likely presence of that organization is concealed in the nearby woods, and an expedition team is deploying to take it down.

They established Crusch Karsten as the responsible individual and organized an expedition team under her name, armed with certain authority to head into the Meisters Territory.

In order to neutralize the identified group, they have requested the evacuation of residents to minimize collateral damage—hence, hiring merchants as a means for evacuating the villagers, as well as Emilia and her companions.

“Why is Lady Crusch involved in maintaining order in the estate under Roswaal?”

“Here’s the thing: In confidence, we’ve received a proposed alliance from Marquis Roswaal concerning the mining rights to the magical ores found in the Erior Forest. Do you understand?”

“—Indeed, I see how that goes.”

At Wilhelm’s secretive response, Emilia nodded, suppressing her indignation.

While she was ruminating in isolation over how to proceed, Roswaal had apparently been maneuvering behind the scenes, pushing things forward. She had suspected him to be exploiting her presence, yet, clearly, he had no faith in her either.

“But even if it’s an evacuation…”

“If possible, I would like Emilia-sama to head towards the Royal Capital to have a discussion with Lady Crusch herself, however, it would be difficult to bring all residents to the capital…”

“I can lead half of them with Ram toward the Sanctuary. There, we should have both security and room to accommodate them.”

Emilia realized that whatever unease and concerns she intended to voice had already been handled. As Wilhelm and Ram provided her queries with straightforward answers, Emilia had no words of opposition left to voice.

Yet, the rapid progression of events and the feeling of being swept away felt discordant and difficult to accept.

“Hey, I’m still worried about this… what’s going on?”

“――Excuse me!”

Just as she was about to ask all the questions bubbling within her, the abrupt sound of the door being violently flung open interrupted her conversation. Before she could even process the newcomer, a young man burst into the room, almost tumbling through.

The young man wearing a white robe locked eyes with Emilia and then slowly redirected his gaze toward Wilhelm.

“We’ve spotted unusual activity among the group hidden in the forest. They might be moving. There’s no more time to waste…”

“You’re faster than we anticipated… It was only a matter of time before they noticed given that there was such a large number entering the village.”

“What should we do, Wilhelm-sama?”

“――Emilia-sama.”

As the young man addressed Wilhelm, the latter’s gaze sharply turned to Emilia.

Pierced by that keen, pointy look, Emilia took a small breath, realizing there was no time to squander.

There were still several questions she hadn’t been able to express.

But in fact, there was a presence in the forest, a discrepancy Ram had sensed, and Wilhelm assured her under the name of Crusch. And most importantly, given Roswaal’s absence, the authority concerning this mansion and territory was entirely in her hands.

No matter how dizzyingly intricate the situation appears, she must make the decision herself.

Thus,

“—Got it. I graciously accept your offer. As for persuading the villagers…”

“That has already been arranged without issue, Emilia-sama.”

With a declaration that assured her of her major concern being managed, Ram promptly affirmed. After which, Emilia turned back towards the manor, mulling over what should be done about the last inhabitants. Even that thought was swiftly interrupted when a small cat, drifting down like leaves caught in a gentle wind, tumbled from upstairs.

“I refuse to go. ‘Cause the door’s closed, just do what you want. And the expedition team shouldn’t do anything to the mat at the manor, okay?”

“Understood, Great Spirit.”

Before Emilia could voice her resolution, Pack returned from confirming Bea’s thoughts, and immediately dove into Emilia’s silver hair to nestle into position as he yawned.

Then, in a whisper meant only for Emilia, he murmured.

“You do what you want to do. I’m always on your side.”

“—Let’s move. I don’t want the villagers to encounter danger.”

With a swing of her arm, Emilia issued her order.

Signaling her intent, Ram gave a small curtsy by tugging at the edge of her skirt while Wilhelm nodded expansively. Meanwhile, the young man who brought in the report discreetly held the tip of his robe.

“That’s the spirit.”

However, those words were inaudible to Emilia.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

As the two in the manor descended, harmonizing with the villagers to begin boarding the dragon carriages.

The villagers seemed to follow the arrangement of the expedition team quite readily, without much fuss or visible fear, even appearing somewhat excited by the unusually large gathering of dragon carriages.

Emilia was truly astounded by their efficiency; yet what surprised her the most was when she heard the assigned arrangement for the dragon carriage she would board.

“—Please take care of me, big sis.”

“Uh…”

With a small bow, she was greeted by a bright-headed girl she had seen plenty of times around the village—one of the children who had gotten close to Subaru—her name was Petra.

At around eleven or twelve years of age, she was among the older children of the village. Together with her, the dragon carriage intended for Emilia had also designated several other children.

“Is this a mistake? Because…”

“It’s not a mistake. Emilia-sama, you will ride in this carriage with these children. Due to the issues with staffing the carriages, we really can’t do any other setup.”

Emilia was gripped by anxiety, seizing a nearby young man rapidly speeding about.

But his response was entirely unexpected, further fueling her worry.

—Moving in a confined space like a dragon carriage with children.

For Emilia, it was simply an attempt that would bring considerable discomfort to them rather than herself.

“Are there no other dragon carriages? I just don’t want these children…”

“Are you afraid to ride alongside yourself?”

“――――”

“Did you check with these children? Is that the only conclusion you’ve drawn from assuming they’d dislike it?”

With Emilia silenced, the young man continued, pressing on.

Thinking he was overstepping his bounds, she now identified him as the one who just burst into the manor.

With her feelings swirling, Emilia stammered, “That’s not how…”

“I can tell without asking. So for their sake, can’t you put them in another carriage?”

“It isn’t because they’ll probably be avoidant?”

“――――”

Emilia had no retort against that remark as she felt her breath hitch at such an impudent manner.

Standing before her, he kneeled down and made eye contact with the girl who had previously watched their exchange with anxiousness.

“How about it, Petra? Do you not want to ride together with this sister?”

“――――”

Please, don’t ask a question like that, Emilia thought, frowning inwardly.

It was a question with an obvious answer, knowing the outcome would be hurtful. Even with the certainty of such hurt, it wouldn’t ease the pain.

What Pack mentioned resonated within her; once new wounds are inflicted, they generate fresh discomfort.

Why then would he…

“It’s not true, though? I’m okay riding with my big sis.”

“…Huh?”

At those words, Emilia found herself at a loss for words. The girl walked toward her, gently taking her hand. The heat of a child’s small grasp radiated from her fingers, prompting Emilia to blink in surprise.

As Petra, struggling to hold back a delighted smile, beamed at her,

“Big sis… You’re the one with the sweet potato stamp, right? The one who always came with Subaru to watch the morning radio exercises!”

“………”

“I couldn’t see your face, but I could tell you were having fun all the time. I saw Subaru enjoying his chats with you. Because Subaru is so fond of you… I’m not afraid at all!”

“….Ah.”

An emotion welling up, Emilia accidentally released a quiet gasp.

There was an uncomfortable heat behind her eyes, her throat constricting, causing her voice to falter. Pain surged through her nostrils.

“Big sis, let’s ride together, okay? Everybody’s trying to make it so you don’t feel alone, but I’ll hold your hand!”

“—Sure, sure.”

“Now you won’t feel lonely, right?”

“—――”

The innocent, pure gaze held none of this world’s injustices or malice.

Contained therein was a reality previously ordinary to Emilia, the persecution that should have been normal, the prejudice that was equally normal.

Seeing relief in such warmth with a simple offering was more than enough.

“Let’s go! Let’s go! Together with big sis! Let’s hurry!”

The children began clamoring, while a tattle-telling boy her age named Mild stepped in to guide them toward the dragon carriages.

Amidst the noisy gathering of children, Petra let out a small chuckle.

“Let’s go? Big sis! It might get a bit noisy, though.”

“…No, it’s fine. I’m getting used to being surrounded by noise over this past month.”

Shaking her head, Emilia felt her lips curl into an involuntary smile.

They began moving forward. Hand in hand with Petra, feeling the warmth of human contact at her fingertips. Allowing old pain that once seemed insurmountable, to become nothing.

“That’s right… I need to express my gratitude to you too.”

With a halt, she turned and sought out the young man from earlier.

Wanting to pass on her thanks to the one who led her to such happiness, she instead found his spot completely empty.

“…Huh? Where’d he go?”

Yet as she turned her back, the young man had vanished without a trace.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Parting the branches and treading through the grassy ground, moving swiftly along the animal trails.

Navigating through the trees and reaching a shady space cloaked in green foliage, they came upon a cleared area.

After pausing for a moment, three shadows came rushing into the same space behind. Together they nodded, after which one of them crouched low in the center while the other three secured a lookout around.

The central figure rummaged through his pockets before pulling out something resembling a hand mirror. While it was indeed a mirror, within this forest dim of light, seeing one’s own reflection was nearly impossible.

However, for its owner, it posed no issue whatsoever.

Their primary goal wasn’t to view their own face, but to connect to ‘another place’ through the mirror.

Channeling mana into their hand holding the mirror and infusing it into the engraved patterns lining its edges. Once activated, the mirror would draw upon a minuscule amount of mana from its surroundings and function as a precious magic tool—known as a dialog mirror.

Many variants are typically stationary and too large for transport, thus a carryable version was exceedingly rare.

Chosen for this role, he felt a swell of confidence in his essential position.

As he stood there, preparing to speak through the mirror just as he was about to open his mouth―― just then,

“I see, so that’s how you’ve been leaking information. Looks like that dialog mirror is quite handy. Yet before you get pumped up with a sense of duty, you ought to remember your comrades’ faces, yeah?”

A voice resonated right next to the squatting man.

Taken aback, he looked up only to find the presence of someone standing next to him emitting a palpable sense of discomfort. It felt as if his consciousness refused to recognize this figure standing right in front of him.

“If you can’t recognize faces, it means to your fellow comrades, I’m just a pungently stinking ally who smells just like you fools. ──What a bunch of jokers.”

As he said this, the man dressed in a white robe stood up, casting aside his warning.

And at that moment, paralyzing shock left the witch cultists before him as he pulled down the hood completely covering his head.

What emerged was a unique black-haired breed, characterized within this realm.

His distinctly displeased expression was marked by fiercely glaring red eyes, accompanied by a brazen grin.

Upon recognizing him, the witch cultists were left with nothing but clarity regarding the identity of the man before them.

“The debt you owe for interrupting my emotional reunion with Emilia is very heavy, you lot.”

Pointing a finger skyward and shaking the hem of his robe painted with an ‘obfuscation spell,’ Natsuki Subaru unleashed a proclamation to the cultists.

“Now then, let’s have you spill everything you know!”

――All to showcase the Eye of Reversal.

 

---