—After being thrown out of the Forbidden Library by Beatrice, Subaru returned to everyone’s side, feeling a sense of frustration over his failure to achieve anything.

Upon returning to the living room, he was greeted by the same familiar faces in the same positions as before. The only difference was that Otto was sitting in the spot where Subaru had just been, engaged in what seemed to be a serious discussion with Emilia.

Subaru felt a pang of discomfort seeing another man friendly with Emilia and couldn’t help but direct that distasteful expression at Otto as he remarked,

“I hope you die for having a cheerful chat with Emilia while I was away!”

“Waiting in silence is somewhat incompatible with my nature. That said, how is it fair that your first words upon returning are like that? I truly feel it’s uncouth to be the target of your bad mood,” Otto shot back.

“S-stay out of it! You don’t know what it’s like! You think you can see through me? You’re just a mere merchant who completed his promise by buying oil! Don’t get any wrong ideas!”

“It’s not that I meant to imply anything! Stop acting like there’s something between you two!”

Subaru averted his gaze and adopted a tsundere attitude, but when Otto cried out in frustration, he promptly turned back to Emilia, losing all interest in Otto.

Emilia, who had been waiting for their conversation to finish without interruption, met Subaru’s gaze and asked softly,

“—Did you manage to see Beatrice?”

Her anxious question implied a worry about whether Subaru had been able to achieve what he intended to when he left the room.

The answer to her question was yes, but the intention behind it had to be no.

While he had made contact, he hadn’t been able to delve into any important discussions. It made him want to laugh at how indecisive and cowardly he had become, like some wishy-washy visual novel protagonist.

Still, even that didn’t seem far-fetched considering the situation.

“No, I failed,” he admitted.

“I see. Well, it can’t be helped. If Beatrice chose to escape through the door, no matter how hard you look, you wouldn’t find her. Neither have I or Ram ever met her…”

“Actually, I did meet her. But she was in a bad mood or perhaps feeling ennui, so I couldn’t get her to answer any questions. It’s a silly story, really.”

“You… met her?”

Cutting off Emilia, who seemed to interpret it as not having seen her at all, Subaru nodded while she opened her eyes wide in surprise at his revelation.

“My sharp instincts led me straight to her room. Yeah, even though we met, my communication skills were so lacking that I failed the mission,” he replied.

“I’ve thought this for a while, but you and Beatrice… seem to get along well,” Emilia mused, thoughtfully placing a finger to her lips.

Subaru narrowed his eyes at her comment, feeling that there was a misunderstanding somewhere.

“Me and Beatrice getting along? Don’t be ridiculous! We’ve been enemies since the day we met! That girl sucked my mana right off the bat! I don’t think there’s been enough time for my first impression of her to switch around.”

“You made up with Julius after all those various things. But you, Subaru, sometimes really hold onto meaningless pride,” Emilia pointed out.

“I’m just a guy who continues to mistake himself for a man who stands firm even in the face of defeat. Plus, I still haven’t made up with Julius; I still hate him, forever!”

“Alright…”

Subaru protested against that unfair assessment, but Emilia responded to him with a small laugh and simply brushed it off. Seeing her that way made Subaru pout in dissatisfaction, but inside, he felt relief that they had successfully diverted the topic away from Beatrice.

The various things he had communicated with Beatrice remained disorganized in Subaru’s mind. Along with the sorrowful expression she last showed, he had no idea how to piece it all together.

“By the way, where did Frederica go? It was a serious mistake to leave Otto and my Emilia alone together!”

“Who I belong to is a discussion for another time… Frederica has gone to prepare one of the guest rooms. —A room for Rem to rest in.”

“Ah, I see.”

Subaru’s voice dropped at that, and Emilia squinted her eyes sadly.

He couldn’t help but feel regret that she’d have to wear such an expression because of him, but he also couldn’t suppress the melancholy that filled him when he thought about Rem.

Just then, he took a deep breath and relaxed his lips, not wanting to pass on any more sorrowful feelings to Emilia.

“Well, then we should go collect Rem from the dragon carriage soon. It wouldn’t be right to leave her there much longer… By the way, I’m sorry about before, Otto.”

“No, I didn’t mind at all. It’s… ah, she’s a child with a lot going on. I can’t tell her not to get too far in your presence like that.”

“Just the thought of your dirty fingers touching my Rem makes it unbearable… I really am sorry.”

“That’s a confession typical of someone who doesn’t truly feel guilty, isn’t it?! And adding to that, it feels wrong for someone who just addressed another woman as ‘my’ to say that!”

“I’m just using you to make Emilia jealous as a ploy! Don’t twist it around, you moron!”

“Well, you said it yourself!”

Subaru burst out laughing at Otto’s overly dramatic reaction, then glanced sideways at Emilia. Watching their interaction, Emilia’s lips quirked up just a little, the prior gloom fading away, which made Subaru exhale in relief.

“You two seem to get along really well. Even though it hasn’t been that long since you met?”

“What? Are you getting jealous? Compared to my relationship with Emilia, Otto’s nothing – just a fun side distraction! I want serious fireplay with Emilia!”

“Why am I getting left behind? I’m really not okay with it, regardless of the situation!”

As the two men continued to heat things up, Emilia erupted into a fit of laughter. Covering her mouth, she was shakingly trying to stifle the laughter that she couldn’t seem to hold back and finally said,

“I know this isn’t the time to be laughing, but I just can’t help it. Could it be that you two might have a really long relationship ahead?”

“I’m just a traveling merchant! Once my business is done, I’ll be outta here… Besides, I can’t quite handle any guy coming close to Emilia since I’m the only one who’s not in a couple!”

“I can’t even understand what you’re saying, yet I know from the short time we’ve spent together that you’re saying pointless stuff—such an annoying person!”

Subaru huffed out a rough breath and twisted his mouth at Otto, who was dramatically holding his head as if it were about to explode.

It might be exaggerated, but it was undeniably Subaru’s true feelings. Having confessed his feelings to Emilia and now pouring on approaches with fervor made Subaru seethe with jealousy at the sight of another guy getting too close to Emilia.

He definitely had stronger possessiveness and jealousy than most people.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

The aimless chatter in the living room came to a halt when Frederica returned, stating that the preparations for guest rooms were complete.

“I think I’ll go check on the situation in the nearby village. I’ve got some receipts for the purchases for the other merchants, and I can manage the distribution to the village at my discretion. The costs will be covered later, of course, by the Baron.”

Otto said, his travel fatigue seemingly washed away with energy, rushing toward the village.

Although he revealed a calculating somber merchant side, his proposal was nothing short of supportive for Araham Village, which still hadn’t fully recovered functioning with sixty percent refugees.

Observing his self-absorbed demeanor, Subaru found himself torn between gratitude and the need to disguise his appreciation with an exaggerated cough.

“I have prepared one of the servant rooms just as you instructed… Interestingly, it appears one room has been quite thoroughly tidied up,” Frederica stated.

“Thoroughly tidied… the room at the very end of the second floor?”

“—Yes, indeed. That one room is almost entirely clear of everything except the bed, as if everything else had been tossed aside… Do you know anything about it?”

Subaru focused hard on suppressing his heartache in response to Frederica’s inquiry about the prepared room.

The room she mentioned—located at the farthest end on the second floor to the east—was originally used as Rem’s room. The description of its contents being cleared away made Subaru acutely aware of the potency of the ‘Gluttony’ effect.

“…No, I just had a hunch. It has no particular meaning.”

Subaru answered, and Frederica didn’t press him further.

She too seemed to be an exceptionally qualified maid. The functions of the expansive Roswaal’s Mansion were likely primarily managed by these two, excluding Ram.

As Subaru turned to go around the back of the mansion toward the dragon carriage, a small whinny called out to him.

There, he saw an unfamiliar building resembling a warehouse—likely the place that stored the dragon carriages. Inside, he spotted Patrasche tied to a stable-like space close by.

The Earth Dragon, with its pitch-black hide, noticed Subaru’s approach and eagerly called out, nuzzling its head toward Subaru to express affection as he approached.

Placing a finger on its nose, he gently scratched its tough skin and spoke,

“Hey, I’m sorry for not properly thanking you earlier, Patrasche. A lot has happened, and I know it’s late to say this, but please take care of things going forward, buddy.”

“———”

In response to Subaru’s words, Patrasche licked his hand, the rough texture of its tongue tickling his palm. Noticing the fondness between them, Frederica tilted her head and remarked,

“You seem to be well-liked. I’m impressed that you’ve managed to train an Earth Dragon this obvious in its intelligence to behave like that.”

“I didn’t train Patrasche, to be honest. If it’s hard for a regular Earth Dragon to bond, then Patrasche must just be exceptionally affectionate. Or maybe it’s just putting up with me since I’m not reliable.”

Subaru said this sincerely, recognizing Patrasche’s loyalty.

It hadn’t been even three to four days since they met. In that time, how many times had he been saved thanks to this kind-hearted Earth Dragon? After experiencing all that, he felt he could only conclude that Patrasche was a fortunate coincidence in their meeting.

Was it sensing Subaru’s self-appraisal? Patrasche leaned over and rubbed its nose against Subaru’s cheek, catching him off guard. As he felt the touch, Subaru couldn’t help but smirk.

“I think I’m starting to understand what kind of person you are, Subaru. —You’re a hard worker after all.”

“———”

Not focusing so intently on Patrasche, Frederica spoke warmly to the Earth Dragon, who seemed to sense her feelings as well.

Patrasche halted for just a moment, turning those reptilian eyes toward Frederica before resuming their teasing of Subaru.

It was a moment where, unbeknownst to Subaru, the women seemed to connect in some strange way.

In any case,

“Sorry for keeping you waiting, Rem. It must have been cramped and dark, right? I’ll take you to your room now.”

After a short exchange with Patrasche, Subaru made his way to the dragon carriage—that is, to Rem, who had been lying in the carriage the whole time.

Rem, still deeply asleep, didn’t complain about being left behind. She would neither sulk nor puff her cheeks at Subaru, murmuring, “Subaru-kun is a mean person” or smile at him as he apologized.

“—I heard about the situation, but I’m still surprised,” Frederica said from behind Subaru, unable to hide her astonishment at seeing Rem for the first time. When Subaru tilted his head in confusion, she shook her head softly,

“No, it’s just that she resembles Ram so closely. The only difference is the hair color… Twins, huh? It’s true, isn’t it?”

“It’s hard to believe it from my perspective, but I’m glad you could see it. It’s a relief to know you don’t think it’s some cruel prank.”

Nodding at Frederica’s reason for astonishment, Subaru reached out, brushing his hand against Rem’s cheek.

Strangely, he felt neither warmth nor coolness. No doubt her vital functions were ongoing; however, it felt as if the essence of life within her body had faded away.

By confirming this for what felt like the umpteenth time, Subaru inflicted an unhealable wound on his heart once again. He knew this would happen, but he couldn’t stop himself from checking.

“Subaru-sama. I could carry her if you’d like…”

“I want to do this. Let me do it. I wish to take Rem back to the mansion… back to her room. I’m sorry for being so selfish.”

“No, I’m a little touched. You have killer eyes, yet you’re so kind,” she said.

“Hey! I do have feelings that get hurt by offhand insults!”

Shaking his head at Frederica’s remark, Subaru then picked Rem up carefully. He had carried her several times, and she felt light in his arms.

With this fragile body standing before Subaru, battling continuously to protect the useless Subaru himself, the more he thought about it, the deeper the affection welled up inside him.

“I’ll wake you up soon. So please get mad at me for feeling the softness of your body in my fingers right now.”

“That sounded good but feels somewhat ruined.”

With that exasperated comment from Frederica, the three of them exited the dragon carriage. They exchanged farewells with Patrasche, who popped its head out from the stable, before following Frederica into the mansion.

They headed for the servant room on the east side—the room that would become Rem’s bedroom, which originally belonged to her.

“You talked with Beatrice, didn’t you?”

Suddenly, a question was thrown out as they walked.

While Subaru was careful on the stairs, keeping an eye on Frederica ahead of him, she narrowed her keen eyes, with a look that could only be described as menacing, as she glanced down upon him. However, this was something Subaru could comprehend well; he had experienced being mistaken for something threatening due to his unusual eye shape.

When she noticed Subaru’s silence and understood it as agreement, she continued,

“Is she well? Since I returned to the mansion, I haven’t had the chance to lay eyes on her.”

“I mentioned it to Emilia, but she was fine… I think? Though she seemed a bit crankier than usual, so we couldn’t talk much.”

“I see…”

Frederica’s expression darkened a bit, hinting at her concern.

Observing her expression, a sudden thought crossed Subaru’s mind about Beatrice’s status within the mansion.

Until now, he had never pursued her status or background.

She resided in this mansion of Count Roswaal, occupying a mysterious space known as the Forbidden Library, where she interacted in ways suggestive of both guest and noble, receiving attention from Rem and Ram.

Yet at the same time, she appeared to be a child adoring Pack, a spirit contracted with Emilia, who was also a participant in the Royal Selection. What was more, her demeanor seemed fitting for her apparent age when engaging with Subaru, tangled up with those suggestive attitudes—shrouded in mystery.

“So, Frederica, have you worked in this mansion long?”

“Oh? Is that something that piques your interest? You’re quite the person involved with Emilia, that girl in your arms… and now with Beatrice too.”

“Don’t casually throw Beatrice into the mix! I’ve got no thing for younger girls! It’s obvious that my hands are full with Emilia and Rem, so what about you, Frederica… well, to be honest, I think you’re my type that I can’t quite handle.”

“Has it led to being disliked?”

“It’s just that you have that aura of someone trying to play me like a fool—it gives the impression of being Roswaal’s servant. It’s only my personal compatibility issue; I don’t dislike you!”

Subaru attempted to reassure her, making Frederica blink in surprise before giving a small, wicked smile, revealing her formidable set of sharp teeth.

“Worry not; I’m not concerned about that. Apparently, you are also someone who fusses over things.”

“I accidentally hurt you the first time we met. You laughed it off, but part of it was probably sincere, wasn’t it?”

“———”

Frederica blinked in astonishment at Subaru’s words, her smile fading as she gazed at him. The glimmer in her yellow eyes seemed to dive deep into Subaru’s soul, trying to see right through him.

A small gasp escaped Frederica’s lips as she replied,

“I’ve had little experience being understood so deeply. It would be nice if you didn’t pry into my heart.”

“I’m just resolving the misunderstanding that happened. I can’t speak about your eyes as bad as mine… but mine do come from family.”

Both of his parents had piercing eyes and found that their son turned out this way.

Imagining the family gathered around the dinner table, silently making mayonnaise sandwiches could certainly look like a dark sorcery ritual at the table.

While Subaru grimaced at those memories, Frederica sighed deeply again.

“You’re a peculiar one. I can understand why Emilia behaves the way she does.”

“What did Emilia do?”

“It’s nothing. I really don’t want to make her angry again… So why do you ask about how long I’ve worked here?”

Shaking her head, Frederica diverted the topic back to its original context.

Feeling a difference despite her response, Subaru interjected, “Well, I actually wanted to ask about Beatrice… if you’ve been working here a long time, I thought you might know how long she has been here.”

Although it wasn’t necessarily a question, Frederica was likely several years older than Subaru—estimating to be around twenty-three or twenty-four. If she had been a maid for ten years, she might have some useful knowledge regarding Beatrice’s presumed twelve-year-old age.

However, Frederica shook her head and said,

“I apologize, but I don’t know. Beatrice was already secluded in the Forbidden Library long before I began working in this mansion.”

“Ah, well that’s to be expected. Just because someone has a long tenure as a maid doesn’t necessarily correspond to that time spent here… that’s not all there is.”

“No, that’s not correct, Subaru-sama.”

Frederica interrupted him clearly, and she stood straight before Subaru, her powerful stance revealing a sorrow that she wore unabashedly across her features.

“I only worked in one household, the master’s. I started here as a servant when I was twelve. It’s been over ten years.”

“…No way! That doesn’t sound right at all! If you calculate backward, it means Beatrice has been cooped up in that moldy room since she was barely walking!”

“Haven’t you figured it out by now?”

Frederica shook her head, observing Subaru’s unwillingness to recognize the common sense of the situation.

Her attitude seemed to affirm the nagging suspicion in Subaru’s heart, and he found himself coming to a realization he hadn’t thought deeply on before.

In other words, the girl in the Forbidden Library was—

“Her appearance hasn’t changed… She’s not human, after all.”

“She is a librarian bound by an oath to safeguard the Forbidden Library since the founding of the Meizas family — that is the Great Spirit, Beatrice,” Frederica concluded.

The authenticity in her words left Subaru with no choice but to acknowledge it. The identity of the girl he had interacted with was clearly something on a different dimension entirely.

“Even with the same title of Great Spirit as Pack, their appearances and so many aspects are quite different,” he mused.

“The absence of her contractor, the conditions of the vow… No, this is something beyond what I can discuss. Please forget it,” she answered.

“Right, absolutely impossible.”

It was almost absurd how often the clueless Subaru found himself at the mercy of Frederica’s suggestive hints.

Unfazed by Subaru’s unyielding glare, Frederica appeared disinterested in pursuing what had just been said. Clearly, continuing this topic would lead into a dead end, and Subaru sighed.

Remembering how long they had been standing there talking, he said,

“Frederica.”

“My apologies, Subaru-sama. I too might have gone a bit too far. I was simply quite happy you showed concern for Beatrice. Please forgive me.”

“That’s fine, but I’m really starting to reach my limits here.”

As his arms shook slightly, Subaru gazed up at Frederica with a strained expression on his face.

Despite repeatedly insisting on the lightness of Rem’s body, conditions such as physical strength and endurance were still very much a reality that overshadowed Subaru’s illusions.

“Oh my,”

“So please, for the love of all that’s good, just let me down already!”

Sworn to avoid the foolish act of placing Rem down or giving her to Frederica mid-trek, Subaru hurried off ahead to the guest room.

The light sound of hurried footsteps echoed behind him, indicating Frederica was following. As he lamented the abrupt change in topic, arriving at Rem’s room, he found her waiting with an unoccupied expression.

“—You took your time, huh?”

Emilia greeted them with a vacant expression as she waited for the pair.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

Once Subaru laid Rem down on the bed, he tucked the blanket up to her chest.

Her rising and falling chest indicated she was breathing, and the pulse of her heartbeat was a reminder of her life. How long would she spend like this until she awoke?

“That all depends on my efforts.”

Renewing his resolve, Subaru gently brushed back Rem’s bangs from her forehead before turning back to Emilia, who stood behind him.

“Sorry for the wait. I got caught up in talking with Frederica. I practically overworked my arm muscles folding under her weight.”

“If you had a nice chat, then that’s a good thing. What were you and Frederica talking about?”

“I was investigating issues related to rescuing a shut-in girl. The length and initial influences of their isolation have a close relationship with how to approach them.”

“Oh, I see. Subaru, you’re surprisingly knowledgeable about this ‘shut-in’ thing,” Emilia remarked with genuine surprise.

“Sometimes, Emilia’s casual remarks stick in my heart like daggers. Just like now.”

Being praised purely for his depth of knowledge felt strangely disheartening.

Subaru frowned, but Emilia tilted her head innocently as she observed him, eventually smirking and shrugging her shoulders lightly.

“So, you still couldn’t get anything out of Beatrice, huh?”

“She was tight-lipped and unable to move. By the way, I keep asking… what about Pack?”

“—Nothing, doesn’t seem like he’s responding either. Sometimes this happens, but it’s really a bad time for it now. I’m really troubled by it.”

Emilia murmured while reaching into her pocket and pulling out a green crystal—an amulet glowing faintly, containing a hint of the Great Spirit inside.

This crystal was Pack’s vessel. Subaru understood he could materialize and dematerialize from it.

Despite that, from what they sensed in their interaction, it had been several days since his figure had appeared. Ordinarily, this would be normal; however, he remained unresponsive to their summons.

“Is it something that happens every now and then? But that’s troublesome for you, Emilia.”

“He always comes back when I really need him. So I don’t think he’s ignoring me. It’s just that he never explains what he does when he disappears.”

While Emilia spoke with an apologetic tone, Subaru scratched his head and muttered, “Yeah.”

Yet, he couldn’t hide the disappointment in his heart over the fact that both knowledge-bearers were now silent, leaving many vital questions unanswered.

“Both Pack and Beatrice… You really sealed your lips on the important stuff, didn’t you? This is tough.”

“Honestly… hey, Subaru, what now?”

Subaru had his hand on his forehead and began to ponder when Emilia asked for his judgment.

Glancing at her downward gaze and the trust so evident in her eyes, he felt a warm light blossom in him, which he couldn’t quite disguise.

As she relied on him in this stagnation, he realized that he was a wall of support for her.

“Since two people who seem to know so much are keeping mum, we have no choice but to move on to the next step… Even if I have a location, we can’t be sure our target will speak,” he said.

“Roswaal, right?”

“We’re getting to the point where we should confront him with all the backstory and business.”

Emilia seemed relieved, a feeling of shared concern flickering behind her expression.

With visible relief, she sighed, “I’m glad you support my thoughts on this. I was really worried you might oppose me like Roswaal or Ram.”

“Depending on the content, I might object, but I’m fundamentally on Team Emilia, you know? Even if I did disagree, I hope you can trust it’s out of my love for you.”

“Oh, love? Subaru sure does talk a good game.”

Shocked by Subaru’s whimsical flirtation, Emilia turned her face away, her cheeks tinted. Noticing that made Subaru want to laugh while blushing.

“Speaking of which, I have a proposal for you, Subaru, who supports me.”

“Sure thing! Anything you need, just ask!”

Subaru mimicked a grand display, placing a hand on his heart, but Emilia shot back with a pout, “Stop it with the act.”

She took a deep breath before locking her gaze onto Subaru’s black eyes, stating firmly,

“We need to talk to Roswaal about R- and the refugee village, so I think I should head to the ‘Sanctuary.’”

“The ‘Sanctuary’…?”

It was a well-repeated name around the Roswaal mansion.

Unfortunately, Subaru was unaware of the location, as he had failed to reach it. Meanwhile, Ram’s B-team of fleeing refugees had aimed for it as their destination.

At the very least, with the Witch Cult under Petelgeuse having been destroyed, there was no longer any threat from the direction of the ‘Sanctuary’ as it equaled the mansion’s security level.

“I’ve heard I’d have to show up there eventually, so I think this is a good opportunity. I plan to properly discuss various things with Roswaal this time.”

“Ho hold on! You’re not planning to leave me behind, are you?”

“Huh?”

Subaru interrupted as Emilia was confidently outlining her determination while he held up his hand to halt her motivations.

“I understand that you’re fired up, and I agree with the direction you’re taking, but being left behind is not acceptable! I know I’m weak and dumb, but I really don’t want to struggle alone when you’re right there! I know that I’m being selfish!”

Emilia’s eyes widened at Subaru’s desperate plea.

Yet, that was definitely his true feelings. Subaru wanted to be alongside Emilia, not isolated. If he wasn’t close to her, he couldn’t protect her or assist her.

It wasn’t some self-absorption; he knew he was necessary to help her. That feeling was imbued as a fundamental meaning within himself.

With Subaru’s passionate insistence, Emilia’s expression was filled with surprise, and Subaru sensed an opening to continue pushing his conviction.

“Even if you try to stop me, it’ll be useless. I’m following Emilia! Leaving me behind is out of the question! Whether it’s the ‘Sanctuary’ or Roswaal, nothing will stand in the way of my burning—!”

“I wouldn’t leave you behind. Come with me.”

“Wait, what did you just say?”

Subaru dropped to the ground, flapping his limbs like a child throwing a tantrum at the last second, staring at Emilia in disbelief.

Emilia’s face had gone slightly red as she covered her mouth and added,

“I would never leave you behind. I’m just so anxious doing this alone.”

“E-Emilia…”

“I’m depending on you. I don’t think you’re weak or dumb. I need your strength.”

“———”

The impact of those words struck Subaru deeply—something hard to put into words.

With his mouth opening in surprise, he noticed Emily’s expression becoming anxious. She hesitated, her hand hovering, unsure whether to reach for him.

“Oh, um, is something wrong? Did I say something weird…?”

“Emilia, you’re the one who powers up my motivation! I’ll do everything you say—it’s all automatic! I can’t get enough of how amazing you are!”

Subaru fell to the ground, burying his face in his hands as he toyed with Emilia’s feelings.

In truth, while he intended to hint at his feelings, Emilia was utterly confused, voicing her confusion, “Huh? W-What do you mean?”

To which Subaru smirked inwardly, feeling a sense of glee at seeing how bewildered she was.

“—It seems the conversation has reached a conclusion.”

“Wha—!?”

Their intimate banter was abruptly interrupted as Frederica, having knocked at the open door, stepped inside, breaking the mood.

While Emilia didn’t appear to be startled, Subaru, whose heart was racing, couldn’t help but glare at Frederica. Yet Frederica, fully aware of Subaru’s anxiety, showed no concern and merely said with her typical calm,

“I have no objections to you two going to the ‘Sanctuary.’ However, we will need about two days to prepare.”

“Prepare? Are you coming with us, Frederica?”

“No, I cannot accompany you, as I have to manage the mansion. Instead, I will instruct your dragon to lead you to the ‘Sanctuary.’”

“Patrasche?”

Subaru widened his eyes in surprise at her unexpected suggestion.

Frederica responded with a casual, “Yes,” as if it were common sense,

“Earth Dragons are intelligent creatures; once trained, they can navigate without needing guidance. Particularly, that one appears exceptionally clever. There should be no issues.”

“Patrasche’s really shaping up to be quite the handy companion. Seriously, how did that flag even get raised?”

“More important than that, there are a few matters we need to discuss.”

As Subaru pondered over his trustworthy partner, Frederica brushed it off and straightened her sturdy posture, looking intently at the pair.

“There are a few things to bear in mind now that you’ll be heading to the ‘Sanctuary.’ Particularly, Emilia-sama, because of your origins, it’s crucial to exercise caution.”

“—Yeah, I’m prepared. I’ve heard it’s a place fraught with issues.”

Emilia nodded with determination in her exceptionally fierce gaze, also willing to honor Subaru’s presences beside her standing resolutely.

“To be honest, I still don’t know much about the ‘Sanctuary’ beyond its name… But the main thing is being there to support Emilia. Let me help you however I can.”

“That’s a refreshingly innocent form of impurity, isn’t it?”

Frederica seemed awed and amazed at the same time while shaking her head. After a moment’s thought, she quickly pulled herself back to reality and raised a finger,

“Now then, let’s talk about the ‘Sanctuary.’ And one last thing to remember.”

“Remember?”

Both Subaru and Emilia tilted their heads in confusion, prompting Frederica to affirm with a nod and lower her voice slightly as she stated,

“—Please be cautious of a person named Garfiel. He is the person you need to tread most carefully with at the ‘Sanctuary.’”