“I’m afraid I cannot accompany you, but please take care on your journey. Please let my husband know that Frederica is guarding the mansion.”

On the morning of our departure, Frederica, who had come out to see us off at the main gate of the mansion, said this with a graceful bow.

Her well-postured bow was impressively beautiful and disciplined, exuding an aura that made the recipient instinctively straighten their back.

In any case, Subaru and Emilia exchanged glances with each other and—

“I’m sorry for causing you trouble during such a busy time. With Roswaal not here, I should be the temporary lord in his stead…”

“Neither Emilia-tan nor I are really suited for that kind of hands-on stuff. We can handle the busywork, but when it comes to numbers, we’re completely out of our depth. I threw everything at Otto to sort out, but that was throwing a few drops in a bucket, you know?”

Thinking of the results from the last two days, Subaru couldn’t help but smile wryly at how fruitless it had all been.

Wandering around the cluttered office with Otto had resulted in a complete lack of useful information, easily summed up in the phrase, “It’s impossible without the person in charge explaining it.”

Frederica seemed to have some understanding, but she had been away from the scene for several months and would need time to bridge the information gap. More importantly, considering the burdens from maintaining the mansion, it wouldn’t be fair to pile on any more tasks.

Emilia devoted careful attention to some straightforward issues, all the while knowing she would eventually have to deal with the consequences of postponing the rest.

“I feel like I’m facing the first day of school without having done any homework. I’ve always been the type to submit my homework, no matter what.”

“I don’t really know, but isn’t that a good thing? I, on the other hand, feel really distressed right now. It’s not guilt, but I understand that leaving things unattended is wrong.”

“It’s not our fault. I can brush it off, but I wonder if it’s as easy for Emilia-tan. It’s uncomfortable when you can see things going wrong right in front of you.”

The frustration of having to leave unresolved issues unattended was shared by both. While Subaru agreed with Emilia on her guilt, the fact remained that no countermeasures were available.

In the end, they were insufficiently powerful. Therefore, they could only call upon those who were.

“We’re ready with the Earth Dragons. It’s only been a few days since that huge task, yet Natsuki-san’s Patrasche looks full of enthusiasm.”

“What a good worker! It’s probably more due to the nature of its previous owner than the current one. Can it guide us without any hassle? Getting lost halfway through would be unacceptable.”

Suddenly, Otto, who had been at the driver’s seat talking to the two Earth Dragons—Patrasche and Fluhuh—joined in the conversation.

The Blessing of “Word Spirits” only worked for Otto, so from an outsider’s perspective, seeing him converse with the Earth Dragons looked completely insane, but no one mentioned it.

Unaware of the warm gaze Subaru was casting his way, Otto merely accepted Subaru’s question with an “Yes” and nodded.

“It seems Frederica-san’s teaching was effective, so we shouldn’t have a problem. I think we’ll arrive in less than half a day.”

“Got it, got it… But are you really going to tag along?”

“Of course!”

After Subaru nodded at Otto’s confident assurance, he voiced his concerns.

“That’s right, since it’s my first meeting with the territory lord. Although I requested an introduction, just imagining how Natsuki-san would introduce me in my absence… It’s terrifying; I simply can’t leave it to you!”

“Hey now, being trusted like that makes me blush.”

“Indeed, despite our brief acquaintance, I trust you completely—especially when it comes to accomplishing tasks you wouldn’t want me to do!”

Subaru couldn’t help but grimace at such an outrageous statement. It was then that Emilia, who had been quietly listening, suddenly burst into laughter.

When the gazes of the boys turned towards her smiling face, she raised her hand slightly.

“You two are just too close! You’re always bickering like this, it’s so enviable.”

“If you wish, I can be close with Emilia-tan too, but there won’t be any bickering—just flirtation. The quarrels I’d have with Emilia-tan will be passed to my communication time with Otto, while Otto’s communication time will give me some friendly vibes back.”

“If you do that, all that’s left between Natsuki-san and me will be insults and fistfights, won’t it?!”

Subaru was confident in his sharp tongue, but he felt insecure about going toe to toe with Otto in physical combat, knowing firsthand that he was a well-trained kind of guy despite his gentle appearance.

He had been thrown around in a previous loop after a verbal argument. Even with all the information he had, facing someone who wasn’t a novice would likely result in defeat.

“Now that I think about it, my combat strength is really low. I knew it, but it’s still disheartening.”

He had lost to Otto and, of course, couldn’t win against Emilia with her magic. Frederica had easily bested him, and not to mention the slumbering Rem and secluded Beatrice. Reflecting on it, the only person in the mansion he could potentially beat was—

“Oh wait, I just realized I can’t find Petra, who was the only one I could win against. What happened?”

“I’m scared to even ask how we got into a win or lose discussion, but Petra-chan should have just been in the mansion until earlier… Ah, there she is!”

As Subaru wondered about his pitiful win record, Emilia looked back towards the mansion, her deep violet eyes shimmering slightly. When he followed her gaze, he saw a girl hurrying toward them, her fresh serving outfit fluttering behind her.

“Wait, wait for me! Subaru-sama…!”

“You don’t need to rush. I’m not Otto; I wouldn’t do something mean like leave suddenly! Right, Otto?”

“Do you remember what you just said three seconds ago?!”

With a girl who placed her hands on her knees and was panting heavily, Subaru smiled and teased Otto while waiting for her to catch her breath. After she lightly dabbed her forehead, Petra looked up at him.

Her flushed cheeks and bright, twinkling eyes were adorable. After expelling a long sigh to relax, she transformed her angelic features into a smile.

“I wanted to give you this before you leave. Please accept it.”

As she said this, she presented a simple handkerchief.

It was a white piece of cloth edged with gold thread, conveying good quality and delicate craftsmanship. When he took it and turned it over,

“Embroidery… hmm. Wow, that’s good craftsmanship.”

On the surface of the white cloth was embroidery, presumably done by Petra herself. The gray, pink, and black threads formed a familiar depiction, causing Emilia to lean in and giggle.

“That’s a drawing of Pack that Subaru made, right? It’s really well done!”

“My deformed Pack design turned out well. I didn’t think you had a chance to see it.”

“I was careful to get it stamped every morning after radio exercises, you know.”

Petra, having dropped her formal speech, pulled something from her neck—Subaru’s stamp card which he had made and given to the village children. Every time they participated in morning radio exercises, he would stamp the carved designs onto it.

She must have worked hard to sew it up, using the last stamp with Pack’s deformed “Gloomy Monday” as a reference.

“Still, it’s really well done. As a sewing master, I can’t lose to that!”

“Will you accept it… um, will you please accept it?”

“Of course, I’ll graciously accept it. Though it feels a bit wrong to wipe away blood, sweat, and tears with it, I’ll keep it as a good luck charm.”

Carefully folding the handkerchief, he tucked it gently into his chest and looked at Petra. Then, mustering all of his warmth—while from an outsider’s view it may have appeared sinister—he directed a devilish grin at her.

Receiving it, Petra covered her blushing cheeks with both hands and turned her face away.

“I’ll be waiting for your safe return. Also, for my sister and the noisy people.”

“Wow, I feel like I’m just a bonus.”

“Did you just rate me rather terribly!?”

Subaru chuckled at how casually she pulled Emilia into the mix and then Otto to follow suit. There was something endearing about her naive courage, but upon catching a glimpse of Frederica behind Petra, exuding immense pressure, he knew she couldn’t afford to miss that.

Certainly, after Subaru and the others left, Frederica’s maid training summarized would grow stricter for the girl. Petra, stay strong.

“Well then, it’s time for us to depart despite feeling a bit sad about it.”

“If we keep talking here, we’ll lose the reason we left early in the first place.”

Cutting through the lively atmosphere that seemed destined to lead into endless conversation, Subaru stepped up and mounted the dragon cart. He then reached out a hand below, saying,

“After you, Emilia-tan, into my chest!”

“Maybe it feels nice to see the scenery from the driver’s seat for once?”

“Oh come on, that’s cold! E.M.K. (Emilia-tan, Mad Cutie)!—and whoa!”

Having her hand roughly pulled back from being retracted made Subaru lurch forward as Emilia gracefully passed him by.

The fluttering silver hair tickled his nose, and to the soft sound, her form landed delicately in the dragon cart. She gently sat opposite Subaru, tilting her head as she closely watched him.

“What’s wrong?”

“Nah, nothing special?”

While saying that, Subaru walked to her side a bit loudly before plopping down beside her. The spacious interior, yet feeling cramped due to how they were using the space, made Emilia smile.

Seeing the two interact, Otto seated himself on the driver’s seat, grumbling to himself.

“You guys are so embarrassing; I can’t handle it.”

“Okay, then it’s time to go! Just make sure not to bite your tongue on the way.”

“And you better not shake us around too much. If you slam the brakes, be sure to give me a heads up beforehand. Otherwise, I won’t be able to tackle Emilia-tan right!”

“You’re thinking about that?!”

“I—hey! Why am I the one being made a partner in this bad scheme without my consent!?”

With Emilia shooting both Subaru and Otto a disdainful look, Otto cried out in innocent protest that went unheeded. Subaru, thinking how suited he was to be that ridiculous, raised his hand.

“Then let’s head out towards the ‘Sanctuary’—!”

“From which mouth are you saying this?!”

As Otto grimaced from where he sat, Subaru complained, “You’re no fun at all,” while poking his head out the window, directing his eyes to the two waving them off.

“Please look after things while we’re away. And… please take care of Rem.”

“Leave it to us! But in exchange, we ask for your care for Emilia-sama and our lord.”

“Be careful and come back safely.”

As they bid farewell, Subaru’s voice, stripped of its usual playfulness, was met with Frederica and Petra both holding the ends of their skirts and bowing.

Following this excessively polite exchange, Subaru finally managed to set his mind on more important things—though, sadly, it was impossible to do so completely.

“Hey, aren’t we still not off yet, Otto? The pace is slow.”

“This treatment is completely unacceptable!!”

Thus, the last moments of tension were released before their departure.

**※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※**

“I suppose I need to teach you respectful language and how to bow once more.”

“I’m sorry. I’ve been a bit… spoiled.”

Petra lowered her head with a bow, her actions reflecting Frederica’s teachings nearly perfectly. She was an exceptionally quick learner, making her an excellent student.

Even if her prior demeanor was age-appropriate, there was no need to get worked up about it.

“I understand that you were close with Subaru-sama and Emilia-sama until recently. However, now you must be conscious of the fact that you are a servant.”

“—Yes. I truly apologize.”

The girl understood that her past behavior had been selfish.

She could have managed a proper bow to see off Subaru and the others, following Frederica’s instructions, but by deliberately discarding her role as a servant and saying goodbye simply as a girl, there had to be a reason—a small yet significant reason.

“Speaking of that, I won’t dig into it. For now, let’s add that to your writing practice this afternoon.”

“Wah… more assignments?”

“You should’ve prepared yourself for this much. The fact that you can calculate it like this shows you’re a promising student.”

After saying this, Frederica clapped her hands and continued.

“Even if Emilia-sama and the others are away, Beatrice-sama will be at the mansion, and we can’t slack off on meals or cleaning. If we don’t finish quickly, we won’t have time for lessons. Petra, hurry up with your work!”

“Yes, ma’am! I’ll finish it right away!”

After seeing off the running girl, Frederica’s lips curled into a faint smile, revealing her fangs. While she concealed the smile behind a habitual gesture, she gazed at the direction where Emilia and the others had departed.

“This is as per your instructions, my lord. Whether they can cross the ‘Sanctuary’ is now up to Emilia-sama and Subaru-sama.”

Closing her eyes, she took in the wind.

“Can Emilia-sama really make it? That inescapable paradise bound by the Witch’s blood…”

**※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※**

“Well, it turns out Pack hasn’t shown his face at all lately.”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’ve called out to him several times and can feel his presence in the crystal, but… it’s the longest he’s stayed away from me, and I’m a bit worried.”

In the smoothly moving dragon cart, the only sound interrupting the tranquility came from the conversation taking place between Subaru and Emilia.

Thanks to the Blessing of “Wind Barrier,” the dragon cart effectively shut out most outer noises, including the sounds of wind and outside distractions. Even with the rapid pace they were maintaining, the minimal shaking and silence felt almost dreamlike.

Perhaps a first-class seat on a bullet train allowed for this level of richness. But then again, Subaru had never set foot on a reserved seat, let alone a first-class one.

Regardless, with the quiet interior, the only exchange of certainty came from their words. And the topic revolving around the noticeable absence of a certain small cat, who typically hovered nearby Emilia, was currently lacking, especially at a time when Subaru was always interrupting him in his ‘father role.’

“Thinking back, he hadn’t shown up since before we returned to the mansion. The last time I saw him was…”

“I was at the royal capital, in Crusch-sama’s mansion. I thought he was just fine, but for some reason, he hasn’t shown himself since the morning. I’ve been anxious, wondering if I upset him because he wouldn’t even show his face…”

Looking down, Emilia fidgeted with the tips of her hair, avoiding making eye contact with Subaru. Recently, her silver hair had been styled into a braid.

As Subaru stared intently at her, she seemed to notice his gaze and nodded in understanding.

“That last contract I made with Pack was about ‘keeping my hair in a braid.’ After that, he didn’t say how to do it any differently, so I’ve been keeping it this way.”

“The deal about your hairstyle with Pack is real, huh? It seems pretty… light? They say a lady’s hair is her life, so doesn’t that mean Pack’s contract is a matter of life and death?”

“I think it’s a pretty light price. I didn’t know before I left the forest, but apparently, in contracting with a spirit as powerful as Pack, this kind of condition is really lax. Roswaal was surprised, saying it usually requires much more mana or complex terms.”

With a weak twitch of her lips, Emilia received Subaru’s thoughtful nod. But immediately after that, she lifted the corners of her mouth playfully as she quipped.

“Well, the fact that you’re binding a part of Emilia-tan’s time still counts as quite a heavy price in my books.”

“If you keep discussing this so casually, it might start to slide off into invalid territory for me. If it’s that important, I’d prefer you save it for when it really matters.”

Emilia’s dissatisfaction rose as Subaru’s advances began to grow bolder. To this, Subaru lifted his hands in retreat, shaking his head.

“The special moment to convey my words to Emilia-tan is something I have set aside for a nice occasion. What I’m saying now are just the sweet little remarks I can share with you daily.”

“That’s so typical of you, Subaru. …Oh no, my face might be a bit red, so don’t look this way, okay?”

Covering her face with her palm, Emilia chuckled, with Subaru pleased that he had achieved his goal. Then he diverted the topic back with, “Speaking of which…”

“With Pack absent, I genuinely feel unsettled regarding our journey’s capabilities. Otto can’t rely on his combat abilities, and I’m obviously useless. And without Pack, it has to be tough on you too, right?”

“Oh, so you’re saying that? Just so you know, I can still use magic perfectly fine even when Pack isn’t here. I’m under contract not only with Pack but also with minor spirits. I can communicate just fine with them and still fight if needed. If something happens, I can protect you.”

“Dang, that’s pretty cool! And I’m just being pathetic. Wait, the day will come when I’ll be saying that to Emilia-tan too, so just you wait.”

“Don’t expect too much while you’re waiting.”

Emilia was consistent, and shining particles began to gather at her fingertips like proofs of her words. The weaker spirits resembled Julius’s semi-spirits but felt slightly less substantial. While they likely couldn’t measure up to Pack, it was confirmed that they weren’t a completely powerless bunch.

Though she was the only girl in the group, solely relying on her infatuation for assistance was clearly a somewhat pitiful tale.

“If we start talking about that, it’s not like I’ve changed my reliant attitude since the White Whale incident. I was completely dependent on Rem. Thinking back, have I actually never pulled through on my own?!”

Naturally, this was merely his own misinterpretation and an extreme underestimation.

Anyway, since there was no one around with enough information to challenge that particular thought, Subaru’s sudden realization only led him to enormous self-reflection.

“But what exactly is this ‘Sanctuary’? I wonder what it’s really like…”

Having finished that moment of reflection, Subaru murmured as he gazed out of the small window, lost in thought.

He had first heard the term “Sanctuary” during one of his loops in the mansion—while he was in the midst of his second involvement with this world. Since then, he had missed opportunities to talk about it, pushing it indefinitely to the back of his mind.

There was even a time when he had nearly headed towards the “Sanctuary” due to the Witch Cult, but that plan was thwarted by Petelgeuse’s rampage.

In the end, to Subaru, “Sanctuary” was nothing more than an enigma. Its nickname gave off no particular sense of danger, but the warnings shared by Frederica regarding the “Sanctuary” tightened his wandering thoughts. Among those warnings stood out.

“Beware of Garfiel, huh?”

“You haven’t met him, have you? I only know his name too. Frederica hasn’t shared any more details with me either.”

Emilia shared in Subaru’s musing, knitting her brows nervously. She was probably envisioning the same moments as Subaru.

In that scenario of being warned about Garfiel and being rebuffed with no further explanation from Frederica.

Even when Subaru expressed dissatisfaction over receiving bits and pieces of information, Frederica had unwaveringly retorted, “It’s a contract.”

For some reason, that had made Emilia reluctant to further pursue it.

“I should have pried more questions out. Just knowing the name of someone deemed dangerous feels too reckless.”

“It can’t be helped; it was due to a contract. Agreements must be treated as sacred and inviolable; never will they be broken. Contracts, alliances, and vows—they all share different weights, but they should be regarded with equal gravity.”

Waving her pointed finger, Emilia spoke firmly, as if imparting wisdom to Subaru.

While he absorbed these words about contracts, oaths, and understandings—seemingly all games of semantics—he couldn’t help but blurt out a little confusion.

“So, between you and Pack, it’s a contract. Frederica has a pledge to Roswaal, and the kingdom has its alliance with the dragons… Is that right? Am I missing something?”

“I’m not strictly categorizing those terms. To me, a contract is an agreement between individuals. A pledge is a commitment from one to another. An alliance surpasses personal ties and is formed across time and beyond.”

“Got it. That understanding fits quite well in terms of your definitions.”

After agreeing with Emilia’s explanation, Subaru scratched his head roughly, continuing with, “But man, that sounded like it was wrapped in grandiloquence. An agreement is sacred and inviolable, right?”

“A promise is a significant thing. Not to mention oaths, contracts can technically lack any real enforcing power. But that doesn’t mean promises aren’t kept. What it’s all about is the efforts made to maintain those promises, right? Even when no one is watching, or when no one notices, promises remain kept. Both you and the other party should strive for it.”

With a soft hand on her chest, Emilia fixed her earnest gaze on Subaru, who had tossed that lighthearted question her way. Her tone was gentle, carrying no blame, yet it constricted his heart.

“So believing in that allows you to work hard to fulfill your promises. Promises are how trust is woven between both parties, right?”

“I really do apologize for that—ouch!”

Collapsing onto the floor, Subaru bowed his head deeply, prostrating himself before Emilia.

Upon seeing him presenting such a DOGEZA in front of her, Emilia blinked in surprise. A moment later, it seemed she grasped the realization of her words, seeing his actions in a new light.

“Oh, I didn’t mean to accuse you. Sure, you broke your promise to me, and it’s true that you didn’t properly apologize but instead asserted yourself, which made me go ‘Geez!’ but…”

“It hurts, it hurts, it’s painful!”

“Later, I also realized I was too one-sided. I could’ve gone to mend things quickly instead of stubbornly holding back. Truly, I’m sorry.”

“It hurts, it hurts, it’s hard on the heart!”

“My thoughts about promises may have been an overthinking thing. Well, since I’m a spirit mage, that kind of contract feels more immediate to me. For a spirit mage, a contract with a spirit is of utmost importance, so I might have been overly sensitive… Yes, promises are really, really significant to me. So I hope Subaru reflects on that.”

“It hurts, it hurts, it’s painful to my soul!”

As Emilia suddenly began to sulk slightly, possibly recalling the moment of their conflict, Subaru found himself bowing even deeper before her.

Now he understood why she had been so outraged in the royal castle’s waiting room.

She wasn’t just angry for breaking a promise; for her, the promise carried a weighty significance. Therefore, Subaru—thoughtlessly trampling on something so important in her heart—couldn’t help but provoke such an emotional response, even from her gentle nature.

“Have you reflected?”

“I have reflected. Deeper than the seas, taller than mountains, wider than the sky, and more impressive than the universe!”

“Alright then, that’s good. I’ll forgive you.”

As Subaru raised his head, Emilia lightly poked his forehead with her finger, placing that same finger on her lips while sporting a thin smile. A wave of relief washed over him, and the sight of her endearing expression rendered him speechless.

Oblivious to the awkwardness within Subaru, Emilia suddenly turned her gaze upfront, murmuring,

“With Garfiel in the ‘Sanctuary,’ along with Roswaal and the villagers… I have so many important people to speak to, and I’m starting to feel jittery about it.”

“Don’t worry; I’ll protect Emilia-tan from any danger that comes our way. Trust in me, your shield too.”

“Wha? You consider yourself second? Who’s first then?”

“Right now, it’s Otto, chatting with my Patrasche while working on the driver seat.”

Subaru’s nonchalant remark about Otto being a meat shield finally broke Emilia, sending her into uncontrollable laughter. Feeling satisfied with her cheerful smile, Subaru was reminded of the many gatekeepers awaiting them.

Since arriving in this other world, problems had been coming at them non-stop without a moment’s peace.

While they were on their way to the “Sanctuary,” the swirling emotions within him were heavier with anxiety than anticipation. After all, Frederica herself had stoked that anxiety, and concerns about Roswaal, along with the villagers returning, loomed over him like a shadow. They were also dealing with the fact that Pack wasn’t responding to calls and that they left unsettling elements behind in the mansion.

“Have you been thinking about Rem?”

“…Can you tell?”

Emilia tilted her head, regarding Subaru’s serious demeanor with keen interest.

Even as the strands of her silvery hair slid off her shoulder, she teased, twirling the ends of her braid and saying, “I can tell,” as she continued.

“You could think it’s just as much that I’m watching you as you’re watching me, Subaru.”

“So… you’ve been keeping your eyes on me all the time, huh?”

“Ah, we’ll scale that down to a third of a third of a third, I think.”

“So, that means for three hours…?!”

“That a third of a third of a third…”

“Just hearing the precise figure makes me feel wounded, so let’s just leave it at that!”

While Emilia playfully attempted to pinpoint a realistic number in her head, Subaru sighed as he scratched the back of his neck.

“I’ve left things for Frederica and Petra to handle, so I’m not worried. Still, it’s strange how my worries keep rising despite that. I can’t articulate this nagging sense of unrest I have.”

“It’s only natural if you’re worried. That just shows how important they are to you. To feel that way is somewhat enviable.”

“Just so you know, I care for Emilia-tan just as much… wait, are you trying to bait me into saying that?”

“Yep, I was a bit mean. Sorry!”

With just an action of poking her tongue out in apology, Subaru quickly forgave her.

Without a second thought, Emilia lifted her gaze towards him but said, “Nonetheless…”

“I think you’re more worried about Beatrice.”

“…You must be reading my mind, Emilia-tan? Seems like I can see the endings clearly now.”

“Usually, you would act cool and say ‘I’m not worried.’ But the fact that you can’t say it today indicates how worried you really are.”

Struck directly by Subaru’s vulnerability, he bit his lip, his expression a mixture of regret and confusion.

Yet, he quickly masked that emotion with a whimsical smile and said,

“It’s not like I’m that worried! It’s more about not having seen her since we parted in a fight. It feels a bit off leaving the mansion without having any closure. So I’m just a teensy bit uneasy. Like, just the slightest bit. This little tiny bit.”

“Your way of phrasing that sounds a little inappropriate—am I just imagining that?”

“No, it’s not imagined; I’m guilty for saying it.”

While Subaru tried to hide a smile at her reaction, he kept an eye on ever-so-mildly confused Emilia.

If Beatrice’s reclusive tendencies escalated from this point onward, as a former recluse, he felt a slight sense of responsibility.

“Though being a recluse… Subaru, you’re quite the expert on that, huh? Do you think Beatrice will come out?”

“It’s a bit tricky, you know? Dragging her out without a solid reason isn’t the best idea, nor would taking too long give her the impression I’m coddling her. It’s really tough with these reclusive types… Ah! I was one of them!”

After serving up the common punchline, their conversation shifted focus.

In any event, now that they were headed to the “Sanctuary,” they would tackle that problem when they returned.

“When we get back, I have to chat with Beatrice about a lot of things. Ultimately, there’s a lot I couldn’t get out of her.”

“Beatrice and Pack both seem to be hiding something from us.”

“I’m with you on that. Like Frederica, those associated with the mansion have quite the habit of being cryptic and postponing answers. It’s almost a sickness at this point. Not a good kind of sickness either. That Beatrice tossed back that Gospel with a bunch of intriguing phrases without addressing anything at all.”

The Gospel that Beatrice had strongly returned to him, laced with elusive words, was still carefully kept in Subaru’s possession. He could’ve left it behind, but since it could be useful to question Roswaal about it later, he opted to carry it with him.

Even now, it lay subdued in the deepest part of his bag, hidden away from sight.

“—It feels like we’ve entered the forest.”

Suddenly, lifting her gaze, Emilia brushed her bangs aside to peer around and muttered that phrase. Subaru followed suit and looked up, but from the dragon cart, there was no way to verify what she meant. As he stepped up to the small window to take a look outside, he saw that indeed the vibrant green had grown more intense.

“How did you notice this without looking outside?”

“It’s a mix, but since I have elf blood, that’s how it goes. They say our clan is forest-dwelling for a reason, and elves and forests are inseparable relationships—”

Just as Emilia wore a wistful smile while explaining her connection, a sudden sensation flickered across Subaru’s skin, prompting him to look around. Of course, it wasn’t as though something tangible had touched them in their surroundings.

Inside the dragon cart, they remained completely insulated from the outside thanks to the Blessing of “Wind Barrier.”

However—

“—!? Hey, hold on a minute!”

“—――”

Emilia’s slender body tilted abruptly, and before she could lose her balance and fall over, Subaru lunged to catch her.

With all his might, he slid to catch Emilia, who had fallen limp and had closed her eyes, weakening and gasping for breath.

“Emilia-tan!? What’s wrong, Emilia!?”

Emilia was unable to respond. Though she appeared to be in distress, her breaths were shallow and quick, but she had no fever and wasn’t sweating.

Recognizing his inability to manage the situation himself, Subaru immediately dashed toward the front of the cart, forcing his head into the passage connecting to the driver’s seat.

“Otto! Something’s wrong, Emilia just collapsed suddenly! Is there any medicine or…?”

“Oh, Natsuki-san, I sincerely apologize.”

As Subaru’s anxious words trailed off, the response he received from Otto was overwhelmed by the sheen of sweat on his forehead. Looking back with a deflated enthusiasm, he had detected two significant changes.

First was that the dragon cart had come to a stop. Patrasche and Fluhuh stood still, halted among the trees.

The chaos from just moments ago must have been startling enough to overlook it, but a second, much larger issue was now unfolding.

“Well, you’ve got some guts to calmly show up here like this, outsider.”

The instant the words were spewed, it was clear that no friendliness lay behind them.

In just that single phrase, the demeanor of the one who uttered it was unmistakably apparent.

Indeed, the individual towering before the dragon cart stood in an imposing manner.

With spiky, short, blonde hair and a stark white scar across his forehead, his piercing, fierce eyes—known for referring to Subaru’s gaze as three-white-eyed—were no less fierce, and the canine fangs protruding from his mouth were extremely white. Though his stature was short for a man, the dangerous energy emanating from him was more than enough to evoke fear.

“Whoever you are, your luck has run out. Given the place you tried to sneak into, and the fact that you ran into me, that’s bad news.”

The man laughed savagely, grinding his teeth together, and crouched low into a fighting stance while glaring up at them.

“Meeting the great Garfiel here is the end of your luck. Prepare to be ‘sliced up right and left,’ just like the ‘Bazwa Mazow’!”

The punk who declared himself in this manner took an aggressive step towards them. Almost instantly, Subaru felt a jarring pressure and shockwave crash over them.