As soon as the thug stepped on the ground, Subaru felt as if the world had tilted.

In reality, it shouldn’t happen like that. An existence the size of a human wouldn’t shake the very foundation of the earth just by stepping on it—the weight of the earth itself is not something that cheap.

Thus, the world tilting was merely Subaru’s illusion.

In actuality, the ground lifted at the point where Garfiel’s foot was planted, and, in the manner of flipping a tatami mat, the entire dragon carriage was simply bounced upwards.

“There’s no way this is happening—right?!”

Facing an impromptu seesaw, the sensation of being forcefully pushed upward reached its peak, and while enveloped by a feeling of weightlessness, the dragon carriage glided through the air. The total weight, including Patrasche and the Earth Dragon, lightly exceeded a ton, and all Subaru could do was pull Emilia, whom he had instinctively cradled, tightly towards him.

Then, the dragon carriage was slammed back down onto the earth, creating a tremendous impact that caused the entire structure to creak loudly. It was a high-quality dragon carriage. Its luxury wasn’t limited to mere appearance; it was also a testament to its excellent livability and durability, which managed to prevent complete destruction. However, in this nearly overturned state, the carriage was not in a position to run away.

This meant that they had to confront the existence that had just performed such a feat without the option of escape.

“Shit, what the hell—”

Shaking his head, with his forehead throbbing after hitting it during the fall, Subaru pressed his hand against his aching brow. Though his head pulsed faintly from the impact, thankfully, there was no sign of cuts or bleeding. Glancing down, it seemed Emilia in his arms was also unharmed.

Relief washed over him, but that feeling was quickly replaced by anxiety as he recalled the root cause of this situation.

Panic surged within him as he raised his gaze to find the very scene he feared—

“Patrasche—!!”

With a neigh and bared fangs, the pitch-black Earth Dragon leapt towards the small figure.

Utilizing the loosened connection with the dragon carriage, Patrasche twisted its body and attempted to retaliate against the attacker with agile movements, breaking free from its restraints.

With sharp fangs that were as lethal as blades, its jaw had more than enough force to gnaw through flesh and crush bones. It aimed for Garfiel’s throat without hesitation, ready to tear him apart. However—

“Now that’s a stunning decision. You’re a good Earth Dragon… no, you’re a fine lady, aren’t you? ‘The sound of breaking bones is also a testament to love,’ they say.”

“———”

Within the closed jaws intended to bite down, Garfiel had thrust out his arm.

He deliberately offered his right hand to Patrasche, allowing it to bite down on his arm while aiming to leap onto the creature’s torso following that.

Yet, Patrasche was unable to move. Not just its body, but even with its jaws encircling Garfiel’s arm, it didn’t budge an inch.

Had it been struck by some special ability, or was it due to magic?

As such questions raced through Subaru’s mind, Garfiel effortlessly showcased the answer through action. The muscles in the arm caught in Patrasche’s jaws swelled, overpowering its bite strength and forcing the dragon’s mouth open.

“You’re all right. Acting quickly was good, and not giving up now makes it even better. You’ve passed.”

“———!”

The black Earth Dragon sank, twisting its body while Garfiel maintained his grip on its jaw. At the same time, Patrasche’s whipping tail roared, aiming to strike Garfiel’s side. Subaru had experienced that tail strike before, but witnessing Patrasche’s current movement made it instantly clear just how much restraint had been applied before.

This literal devastating blow was filled with hostility capable of easily sending a human flying. However, even this was effortlessly halted by Garfiel’s left hand, which interjected along the way.

A dry popping sound rang out, leaving a scene where Garfiel caught the tip of Patrasche’s tail in his left hand, while using his right to press down on its head. With a beastly grin revealing his fangs, he declared,

“I’m not gonna let you suffer. Just sleep for a bit.”

With a grand motion, Garfiel swung his arm, effortlessly lifting Patrasche’s massive body into the air like a joke. The dragon was spun around as if it were a toy, visibly bewildered by the sensation of floating that it had never imagined, before being gently thrown sideways onto the ground.

The impact hardly registered, and in the silence, Patrasche was laid low. Faced with this unbelievable spectacle, Subaru swallowed hard, feeling his throat dry up.

“You… you just threw Patrasche…?!”

“You’re a pretty straightforward character. I threw you without any pain, so don’t take it too hard. I’ll finish things before standing you back up!”

As Subaru voiced his shock, Garfiel hopped lightly onto the driver’s seat with an exuberant smile. Otto, having lost his balance, was there and leapt up just in time, preparing himself as the attacker entered.

“Ugh… but don’t underestimate me! I’m still a merchant! I always keep in mind the threat of violence while trading. So, I recommend surrendering before you become a victim of the Suwen family’s anti-thuggish techniques… khuh!”

“Shut up, you novice. You think some half-baked technique is gonna beat me? Just go back to sleep.”

Moments after taking a fighting stance, Otto’s forehead was casually flicked by Garfiel’s finger and collapsed noisily.

What could be called a finger flick was more akin to a solid rap; it made a tremendous sound as it sent Otto crashing face-first onto the driver’s seat. Pressing his forehead and moaning soundlessly, Otto seemed to be uninjured in terms of life but had just eliminated the only obstacle remaining.

“Now then, looks like it’s just you guys left.”

Snorting, the thug murmured with such a piercing gaze that it felt like it could cut through, locking his sights on Subaru. The distance between him and Subaru, standing on the driver’s seat, was roughly four large steps—almost negligible given how quickly he had closed the distance to Otto.

Gasping, Subaru searched for a solution, but nothing came to mind. The only one who might contend with this man amid their current forces was Emilia, but she remained unconscious due to unknown reasons. More than anything, he had to protect her.

“I…”

“You think I’d listen to your ‘but I’m all blue’ whining—?!”

Just after the sound of lightly kicking the floor echoed, Garfiel’s small stature appeared before Subaru in the blink of an eye. With his fingers spread wide, the moment Garfiel’s claws came crashing down, Subaru could easily visualize himself being torn apart.

In that fragmented future where their bodies would be scattered, there was only one thing Subaru could do. He could only shield Emilia with his own body to prevent that devastation from reaching her.

“———!”

—Seconds passed, perhaps.

With his eyes closed, Subaru shielded Emilia with his entire being, feeling the time stretch painfully before the expected impact. When he cautiously opened his eyes, he found Garfiel’s five claws frozen just in front of him. Beyond them, the thug’s confused expression met his gaze.

Looking down at Subaru, who was holding his breath nervously, Garfiel cracked his neck loudly and said,

“Prioritizing protecting the girl without fighting back, I wonder about your reasoning. If you get taken out, that girl goes down with you either way. Makes no sense, huh?”

Faced with an unwanted dose of reality, Subaru found himself at a loss for words. Seeing Subaru silent only seemed to make Garfiel more uncomfortable, as he waved his clawed hand dismissively.

“And you’ve come back late, too. That you could move yet still not be worth my time… that’s for sure.”

“O-oi…”

“Huh?”

With an inconceivable evaluation in a pointlessly irrelevant context, Garfiel’s words pushed Subaru to desperately move his frozen throat and attempt to call out. In response, Garfiel leaned in closer, his fierce expression turning more displeased.

“Keep your voice down; say it louder. What is it?”

“You’re… Garfiel… right? The one associated with Roswaal and Frederica.”

“—Frederica?”

As Subaru sought confirmation, Garfiel’s expression shifted to one free of hostility for the first time. He blinked in surprise, momentarily caught off-guard, and then quickly masked it with a bitter expression.

“What do you mean you know that name… wait a minute. The girl you’re holding—it has to be the silver-haired… half-demon, doesn’t it?”

“She’s a half-elf. Don’t use such terms in front of her.”

“—Ha! What’s this, all of a sudden, donning a serious face?”

Looking down at Emilia and uttering such a derogatory term caused Subaru to burst forth with genuine anger, expelling whatever fear remained. Hearing his retort, Garfiel’s demeanor visibly changed as he chewed on his teeth with amusement.

“So, this must be the rumored Emilia-sama, huh? There shouldn’t be any half-demons around here except in relation to Roswaal.”

“You…!”

Ignoring Garfiel’s earlier insult, Subaru felt the urge to stand up, but his motion was thwarted by Garfiel’s outstretched hand.

“‘A dumbass biting into hot iron just feels pain,’ you know. You’re not going to beat me. Given the clear gap in our powers, you’d best stay quiet. —You don’t want to get hurt, do you?”

With that, Garfiel made a fist with his hand, cracking his knuckles while glaring threateningly. It was clear they were on different levels of combat power; confronting him carelessly could only worsen the situation. Subaru chose to suppress his anger and wait for a chance to retaliate later. That was the wise decision.

Thus,

“Go screw yourself!”

“Huh?”

“I don’t want to get hurt. I’m sure you’d beat me up. However, I won’t let you look down on her. That’s not an option.”

Gently laying Emilia on the dragon carriage’s loading platform, he brushed her hair from her forehead with his fingers. Then, standing tall, Subaru locked eyes with Garfiel, glaring at him from so close that their foreheads almost touched. Their breaths mingled, at a distance where Garfiel could reach him.

“Take back that ridiculous term, and never use it again.”

“… If you want me to listen, I’d say you’re lacking in quite a few departments, huh? I could hurt you in all sorts of ways—face, side, shins; I’ll make sure to break you, you know?”

“Give it a try. I’m not going down easily. I’ll bite the hand that punches my face, cling to the arm that kicks me in the gut, and spit on the foot that tries to kick me—all for revenge!”

Returning threats with threats, Subaru was driven by a boiling passion. Before him, Garfiel’s quiet hostility sent shivers down his spine. Literally, if Garfiel so desired, Subaru would be blown away in an instant. He understood that perfectly from their earlier exchange.

Garfiel possessed a combat power that could compete with the extraordinary beings Subaru had encountered in this new world. Even if he couldn’t quite measure up to Reinhardt at the peak, he could potentially challenge figures like Wilhelm or Julius.

Even the petty retribution Subaru had contemplated had almost no chance of being realized.

Yet still, Subaru glared directly at Garfiel. Knowing he would lose was not a valid reason to withdraw. The reason he couldn’t retreat lay behind him.

“—Hihaha.”

“—Huh?”

That sound was an incomprehensible air noise that escaped without notice.

In the midst of their glare, this unusual sound abruptly interrupted them. As Subaru questioned what was happening, Garfiel moved, exclaiming,

“Hihahaha! Now that’s a nice line you’ve got there, huh? You can do it if you try!”

“What… Ow! Wait, what? That hurts! Stop it, that hurts!”

Laughing uproariously, Garfiel began slapping Subaru’s shoulder with unabashed force. It was a clean contact devoid of malice or aggression, yet the sheer strength of it was draining Subaru’s stamina.

“All right, you pass. I’ll let it slide. I’m not fond of half-demons… half-elves, but if you’ve got that tenacity to shield a girl, I’ll grant you some leeway.”

“I’m glad you put it that way… but seriously, it hurts! How long are you going to keep this up? Are you trying to kill me?”

Shoving Garfiel’s persistent arm away, Subaru took a small step back to create some distance. In response, the thug tilted his head, then crossed his powerful arms.

“Aw, come on. Forget about what just happened and move on. A small man means a small thing, you know?”

“I recognize that idiomatic expression you just used and it’s rather presumptuous! To be clear!”

Wobbling slightly, Subaru pointed at Garfiel with both hands. Raising his chin slightly, Garfiel merely regarded Subaru with a bemused smirk, who continued forcefully,

“So, you’re Garfiel, right? An associate of Roswaal’s? I was startled by the sudden approach, but there’s no hostile intent, right?!”

“Chill out, will ya? I won’t bite,” Garfiel replied nonchalantly.

“Who would believe that after your violent behavior just moments ago…?!”

Irritated, Garfiel stuck his finger in his ear and lashed back, but eventually seemed to reconsider. It appeared there might still be some understanding to be had, but just as Subaru thought he had escaped his predicament…

“By the way, I forgot to ask! Emilia just collapsed out of nowhere! She was perfectly fine a moment ago!”

“Collapsed? You mean that half-elf? Well, that’s just obvious, huh? Do you even know where you are? Is panicking really necessary?”

Rushing to Emilia’s side and examining her expression, Subaru noticed her breathing was still uneven as she lay there. Concerned, he turned back towards Garfiel, who simply shrugged in a condescending manner.

“Did Roswaal and Frederica not explain what this place is? Isn’t it obvious? … No way, you seriously don’t know?”

As he began his explanation, Subaru shook his head, causing Garfiel to click his tongue in annoyance. Garfiel cursed under his breath about “that pervert,” all too easy to figure out who he meant.

“Frederica didn’t mention anything? That sly one has more in common with her owner now than before. What a lost cause.”

Shaking his head, Garfiel vented his frustration through a heavy breath. Then, noticing Subaru’s questioning gaze, he raised a hand slightly and stated, “All right, all right.”

“She looks rough but is alive. Just if you want to avoid seeing her suffer anymore, better get out of here quickly. I can guide you to the village.”

“If we leave here, will she regain consciousness?”

“For the hundredth time, I’m telling you! Let’s go! Hey, aren’t you standing around here when you should be up and moving?”

Showing no intention of explaining further, Garfiel turned with crude impatience, kicking Otto, who had still not fully recovered. Receiving the kick, Otto, who groaned in deep agony, managed to whimper, “You’re the driver! I’ll fix the dragon carriage, but you’ll need to steer it to the village. I’ll keep kicking you until I’m satisfied!”

“What’s the situation here?! With everything I’ve heard, I feel like I’ve completely taken the fall for everything!”

Otto’s frustration boiled over as he stood up, challenging Garfiel, who had just put him in pain. However, seeing Otto muster such bravery only caused Garfiel to glance back at Subaru.

“Hey. Is this guy always this lively?”

“If you ask him for an evaluation, I bet you’ll get anything but a fair assessment! Use your own judgement on who I am! Just apologize! Apologize!”

“Huh!? You suddenly get all energetic. You think I’m lettin’ that slide?! I just punched out the wrong guy; cut me some slack!”

“You two are both loud! While Emilia-chan suffers, just grab the reins! And you, fix the dragon carriage!”

The three men squabbled loudly on the driver’s seat.

On the loading platform lay Emilia, still unconscious from mysterious causes. Yet, she slightly furrowed her perfect brow at the noise and murmured in a delicate voice.

“… So loud.”

As if speaking in her sleep, her voice was barely audible.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

“Now that I think about it, I never introduced myself. I’m Garfiel… Oh, just call me Garfiel. I’m the strongest man around. Nice to meet you.”

“Oh, I’m Natsuki Subaru… wait? Did you just say you’re the strongest? Like, seriously?”

Facing each other in the loading platform of the dragon carriage, Subaru exchanged introductions with Garfiel. Upon shaking hands, Subaru was taken aback by Garfiel’s bewildered expression.

“What? Did I say something weird?”

“I just never expected someone to boldly declare themselves ‘the strongest’ out loud. And isn’t that a bit too big of a claim?”

“Are you saying I’m not worthy to be called the strongest?”

“I can admit you’re pretty strong, but when it comes to discussing who’s the strongest… there’s a certain someone that honestly keeps crossing my mind.”

Visualizing the figure of the red-haired knight, Subaru did a mental comparison between Garfiel in front of him and that knight. From what he had just witnessed, Garfiel seemed quite capable in hand-to-hand combat, but presumably, he wasn’t blowing up houses with a single kick—or wait, Garfiel did just demonstrate a move that left the earth cratered, flipping the dragon carriage. So he might be right there alongside the sword saint in terms of ridiculousness.

Even so, Subaru couldn’t shake the image in his mind that put Reinhardt above all others. He found it strange how he regarded that knight as something so special.

“Hah, well, whatever. Your mistaken perception will be thoroughly overturned when I prove I’m the strongest with my own hands. So for now, just think of me like ‘the red-nosed seal in the cold’.”

“I have no idea what I’m supposed to think about that…”

Still scratching his head at Garfiel’s speech, which failed to convey any clear meaning, he chose not to press the issue as Garfiel leaned back in relaxed posture, crossing his arms behind his head. The conversation ran dry, and Subaru turned to gaze out the small window, absentmindedly running his fingers through Emilia’s silver hair as she lay across his knees.

Emilia still hadn’t awakened, but her expression had grown more peaceful than before. Garfiel’s assertion seemed to stand; at least moving away from that spot had had a good influence. With that reassuring thought, however, one thing lingered in Subaru’s mind.

“Hey, I should’ve asked earlier, but you said you were connected to Roswaal… right?”

“You’ve heard my name, right? I’m technically the strongest connection Roswaal has,” Garfiel stated confidently.

“I can’t quite grasp it… I’ve heard the term ‘influential figure,’ but…”

Surely, it wasn’t just due to his martial prowess that he was given that label. If that were the case, Garfiel was turning out to be not just a political ally but more of a brute-force type.

Having made friendly contact with someone potentially troublesome as they approached the “Sanctuary” was a stroke of luck, but it also meant that there were now more worries to contend with.

“I’ve now got more questions to ask Roswaal regarding this ‘Sanctuary.’ I should be moving to solve problems, but I feel like I’ve only invited more problems! What’s going on here?”

Clutching his head, Subaru’s expression clouded further as he realized that more difficulties were stacking up. But hearing him, Garfiel clicked his tongue softly while revealing his sharp canines.

“The ‘Sanctuary’—eh?”

When Subaru lifted his face at Garfiel’s intriguing murmur, Garfiel waved a hand lightly. Then, rising to face their destination—the ‘Sanctuary’—he said,

“Just because you’ve been told something doesn’t mean you need to mouth off about it. Ignorance is one thing, but being left uninformed is a real pain in the ass.”

“Honestly, I agree, but spreading gossip about someone who isn’t around is just plain mean-spirited. … You didn’t take offense, did you?”

Garfield’s demeanor shifted as the term “Sanctuary” irked him significantly. Subaru watched for any sign of an offense but received a straightforward answer.

Catching a dissonant grin on his face, Garfiel said, “Oh, I think the princess will be waking up soon. We’ve moved quite a distance from the barrier.”

“What’s the barrier… Wait, Emilia-tan?!”

Before he could comprehend a question, Subaru noticed Emilia stirring atop his lap. With half-open eyes, she groggily surveyed the inside of the dragon carriage. Still not fully awakened, she fixed her purple hues on Subaru.

“Good morning, Shu–baru…”

“You’re adorably sleepy, but that’s not the issue, Emilia-tan. Are you feeling off anywhere? Does your head hurt?”

“Um, not at all? I don’t feel anything odd at all… umm…”

In the middle of her answer, as she fully regained consciousness, Emilia shot upright, causing Subaru to pull back his head just in time to avoid a potential headbutt. Unbeknownst to her, however, she turned to look back at Subaru.

“Are you okay, Subaru? I said I’d protect you, but then I collapsed…!”

“No need to worry! We somehow made it through! The communication virtue of dialogue proved effective! Through the power of words, we can connect. This is just the first step we’ve taken. I may be socially awkward, though!”

Gently touching Emilia’s shoulder to calm her, Subaru rambled while observing her condition. She managed to stand and walk, her eyes moved smoothly, and her complexion looked normal; there were no signs of slurred speech either. Plus, she was incredibly cute. Just like always.

“See? I told you it would be fine!”

As if waiting for Subaru’s relieved expression, Garfiel burst into laughter. Reacting, Emilia finally realized there was an unfamiliar presence in their midst and immediately positioned herself defensively in front of Subaru.

“—Who are you?! Let me make this clear, I won’t let you lay a finger on Subaru!”

“Emilia-tan, it’s fine! Also, please stop making statements that solidify my heroine status! My gauge is nearing the limit!”

Subaru strained against Emilia’s clutch, soothing her as he indicated Garfiel.

“That’s Garfiel. He jumped onto the dragon carriage after Emilia-tan collapsed… or rather, he didn’t come here for a fight; we’re going to the ‘Sanctuary.’”

“Garfiel…? Is this the person Frederica was talking about?”

“I’m dying to know what they called you, but let’s put that on hold for now. It looks like we’ll reach the village soon.”

Facing Subaru, Emilia echoed the same sentiments, but Garfiel wasted no time asserting control. He pointed ahead, and as he did, the thick woods began to part, revealing the exterior of their destination—the village.

“Welcome, Emilia-sama and your companions.”

Despite the honorific, no respect or goodwill was expressed; there was only disdain heavily laced with contempt.

Unbeknownst to him, Subaru’s expression hardened while Emilia appeared bewildered. Under the dual scrutiny, Garfiel kept his posture, widening his arms and declaring,

“Roswaal calls this place the ‘Sanctuary’—it’s merely a pitiful collection of unfinished failures, an experimental ground for the desperate.”

“Experimental ground…?”

“Failures—”

While Subaru and Emilia were drawn into different threads of thought, Garfiel placed a hand against his noticeable fangs, laughing with a bitterly complex emotion.

“We residents refer to it as the ‘Graveyard of the Witch of Greed.’ Funny, ain’t it? Right?”

His self-mocking laughter echoed softly within the dragon carriage.

Lowly and quietly, whether cursing or blessing, it resounded.

Hearing it, Subaru quietly turned to regard the girl nearby and thought,

If the witch intends to hinder her future yet again, then it is he who must scatter the sparks of that flame, he firmly resolved.

The ‘Sanctuary’ draws closer.

—To Natsuki Subaru and Emilia, that place would profoundly alter their path.