Anastasia’s preemptive strike, defying expectations.

Overwhelmed by the presence of the Water’s Feather Robe Inn, Subaru and the others were taken aback and slow to respond to her welcome.

“—Thank you very much. We were relieved that you went out of your way to greet us.”

However, this was only true for everyone except Emilia.

When Subaru heard Emilia, who should have shared the same surprise, calmly respond to Anastasia, he snapped back to reality. Looking around, he saw Garfiel, bewildered by the unfamiliar Anastasia, while Beatrice tugged at Subaru’s sleeve, pulling him away.

The impact of the inn’s atmosphere on them appeared to be much less than Subaru’s individual disorientation. That’s only natural. Only those who knew about such things would be surprised.

“—You’ve become quite a sight for sore eyes.”

Leaving a dazed Subaru behind, Anastasia murmured as she gazed back at Emilia. Her light azure eyes radiated no sarcastic glimmer, and her whisper carried no hint of derision.

From this brief exchange, it seemed she had somewhat caught on to the changes Emilia had undergone over the past year. It must have been quite a transformation compared to before.

“Well, at least you’re still as cute as before… No, you’ve leveled up in that regard as well.”

“Subaru, do you have that look on your face when you’re babbling nonsense?”

Ignoring Beatrice’s admonishment, Subaru scratched the area under his nose. Upon seeing this, Anastasia smiled faintly.

“It’s been a while since I last saw you, hasn’t it, Natsuki-kun? How’s everything with Roswaal Baron?”

“I apologize for the embarrassing state I was in at that time. Thanks to that, we managed to avoid disaster on our side as well. It’s still a give-and-take with each other.”

“I see, I see. Well, I’m glad you both came together. Julius has been wanting to see you again, Natsuki-kun.”

Subaru made a clear grimace at Anastasia’s words.

At that reaction, Emilia and Anastasia laughed simultaneously, and it only made Subaru feel more uncomfortable. There was clearly some misunderstanding regarding the complex relationship between Subaru and Julius.

No matter how many times he told Emilia, she would always refuse to acknowledge it.

“Uh, I don’t really get it, but is this lady here one of Emilia-sama’s enemies?”

Garfiel, who had been silent until now, suddenly piped up, voicing the question he had been harboring. His blunt tone displayed overt hostility.

Subaru rubbed his forehead, and Anastasia’s eyes widened in surprise.

“Garfiel. Well, it’s not wrong to say it like that in a drastic manner, but could you soften your approach a bit? We are in the position of guests today.”

“Well, even with that said, aren’t we bound to eventually clash? If things get too friendly now, it might make it hard to bite later, don’t ya think?”

“That’s true. Garfiel is kind, so I might worry about it…”

“—Huh?! Who’s saying I’m kind? Emilia-sama, please mind your words!”

After just being told off for that tone of voice, Garfiel complained to Emilia, then quickly turned his attention to Anastasia, who’s the cause of his embarrassment.

But then—

“Hey! Garf, you’re here! Miss, why didn’t you tell me?!”

The wooden door of the inn burst open with a high-pitched sound.

And appearing from the other side was a cat-girl with an adorable face shining innocently—Mimi. She flung the hem of her robe and leaped over the stone walls, landing right in front of Subaru and the others.

Without a second thought, she grabbed Garfiel’s arm tightly amidst the surprise of everyone.

“Welcome! You must be tired! Come on, Mimi will guide you to your room! Then we’ll have an inn exploration! This place is so amazing! It’s unlike anything Mimi has ever seen; it’s incredible!”

“W-wait! I still have things to talk about… You’re strong!?”

“Let’s go! We’re going now!”

The small Mimi swung Garfiel’s arm with all her might, and despite Garfiel’s superior strength, he was pulled away, losing his balance.

This was likely due to some martial technique she was using, but a large part of it was simply Garfiel’s failure to act like an adult and shake off Mimi. Though, one should note they were supposed to be the same age.

“Um…”

Garfiel was taken away, unable to resist much, and the two vanished into the inn. Emilia looked at Anastasia with a troubled expression, and Anastasia also had her eyebrows drawn together with some rare concern.

“Ugh, Mimi’s suddenness always catches me off guard. But even so, that was a bit surprising.”

“Oh, is that so? I’m glad. I was worried I’d be the only one left behind.”

“Don’t worry, you wouldn’t have been. Just—”

With somewhat softer expressions stemming from their common thoughts, both Subaru and Anastasia’s gazes sharply turned. The icy focus that sent chills down one’s spine made Subaru subconsciously stand in front of Emilia.

With that penetrating gaze, Anastasia trembled her lips and said,

“I want to hear about that child who seduced Mimi, and just what kind of child they are.”

It was a low and fierce question coming from a mother bear, quietly seething with anger at the thought of bad bugs crawling around her beloved daughter or sister.

While dazed, Subaru could feel the love for Mimi radiating from them, and he felt worn out despite just arriving.

“…Why does Natsuki-san suddenly look so tired?”

Just then, Otto, who had just finished parking the dragon carriage, joined them and noticed Subaru’s exhausted demeanor.

※※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※　※

In the large hall of the Water’s Feather Robe Inn, the floor was fully wooden—despite the lack of miracle like tatami mats resembling a banquet hall, it was still somewhat welcoming.

“If it’s that much of a concern, even I can’t find the words,”

Subaru said while sitting on a cushion laid on the floor, glancing around the room. Beside him, Beatrice sat calmly in a cross-legged position, but Emilia seemed somewhat bewildered by the style of sitting directly on the wood.

In front of him was a long table also made of wood, and aside from the fact that it wasn’t tatami covered, the scene closely resembled a traditional inn’s main hall.

However, as a professional in the field, Subaru noticed a few down points.

“For example, sadly, there are no sliding doors like fusuma or shoji. Also, the staff not wearing traditional attire makes points deducted. They’ve put in some effort, but despite focusing on the inn’s appearance, it still feels somewhat shabby.”

The service attitude of the staff resonated with the “hospitality” spirit that Subaru was familiar with, but their outfits were still Western—leaving an awkward sense of not fully stepping into the fantasy atmosphere.

“Therefore, at a total score of seventy points, just barely a passing grade of ‘acceptable’. I hope they can strive for improvement without getting disheartened,”

Subaru concluded.

“What are you even talking about?”

“Just casual chatter, nonsense. Doing this calms my anxiety… So, you can let go of my hand now. I’m calm now,”

came his assurance.

“…Just to be safe, maybe I should keep holding on a little longer,”

she replied, her grip tightening slightly.

Feeling that sensation in his left hand, Subaru had nothing more to say.

Instead, he turned his attention to Emilia sitting to his right. She had her eyes wide, curiously looking around the room.

“It feels so wondrous. Things outside looked unusual, but coming in, it feels even more so. I’m sitting on the floor and taking off my shoes…”

“Oh, and instead of beds in the bedrooms, bedding is laid on the floor. It’ll confuse you at first, so I can help you later… I wonder if the inn staff will handle it?”

“You seem to know quite a bit about the Kararagi customs.”

Mixing in with Subaru and Emilia’s conversation, Otto, who sat across from them, joined in. Subaru raised an eyebrow at Otto’s mention of “Kararagi style.”

“Kararagi style? Is it about this building and stuff like that?”

“Exactly. This Wafu architectural style is inherited from Kararagi. It seems it isn’t widespread, but it’s not rare either. This Water’s Feather Robe Inn is likely a place of that tradition.”

“When you mention Wafu architecture, it leaves no room for doubt… But why does this inn reflect that influence? Well, it may have to do with the marketing efforts, but still.”

When it came to Wafu architecture, there’s no doubt anymore. All Subaru wanted was certainty. Although getting that certainty also raised further questions.

In response to Subaru’s curiosity, Otto raised a finger.

“Most likely, the influence of Hoshin is still strong in Pristella. I’ve heard that Pristella was one of the very first cities where Hoshin was involved in its growth. You could say it was the prologue to Hoshin’s ascendance as the founder of Kararagi.”

“Seems that ‘Land of Hoshin’ has done quite a bit, huh?”

“If the world was different, Hoshin could have been called a sage. Well, due to his significant contributions, the issue of how Pristella is treated became a contentious point between the two nations. Now it’s officially part of the Lugnica territory, but…”

According to Otto, as of just a hundred years ago, Pristella had become a flashpoint for territorial disputes between Lugnica and Kararagi. Geographically, Pristella belongs to Lugnica, yet the influence of Hoshin, the Honorable Crowner of Kararagi, is deeply felt in its creation.

Feeling this influence, Lugnica’s side aggressively excluded Kararagi’s culture, which incited the resentment of the citizens living there.

The result was a quagmire of conflict, and at one point, crossing the Tiglasy River connecting the two countries was prohibited, leading to a near-severance of diplomatic relations.

“Fortunately, the restrictions didn’t last long. By gradually loosening the bans, it seems they managed to reach an unorthodox resolution. The stalling of the advancement of Kararagi culture in Pristella during the temporary diplomatic break might have also contributed to Lugnica’s sense of security.”

“Either way, that feels like half-baked resolution. But even so… does the origin of this Kararagi style trace back to Hoshin?”

“It appears so. Hoshin was known for extraordinarily innovative ideas even back then… Revolving around thought, techniques, and legislation, he transformed everything.”

“—I see.”

With Otto’s words, Subaru pulled his chin in, obtaining the confirmation he sought.

The founder of the Kararagi City-State, “The Land of Hoshin.” His true identity was someone summoned from another world, just like Subaru and Al.

That made it the third being summoned to the other world—although each arriving at different times. Hoshin came four hundred years ago, Al twenty years, and Subaru just last year.

This gap in time, and the reasons for why Subaru and the others were chosen—nothing was understood about these coincidences. He couldn’t help but think that pondering over it might be pointless.

However, he wasn’t alone. Just the fact alone brought some sense of solace to Subaru’s heart.

“—In that case, it seems you’re enjoying the Wafu Inn.”

As if timed perfectly with the conversation winding down, a voice called out from outside the hall. The thin wooden sliding door creaked open, revealing Anastasia, smiling as she stepped in.

Next to her, someone else entered.

“Good to see you again, Emilia-sama. I must apologize for my delayed greeting as I should have welcomed you ahead of anyone else.”

The well-shaped face, laced with worry, belonged to a man whose voice carried a soft tone that could draw many women to swoon just from hearing it through the door. It would indeed be a laugh if such ideas ended up betraying reality, yet, unfortunately, the owner of that voice came with beauty and strength.

“The Supreme Knight, Julius Euclius, possesses a presence that surpasses others just by existing. At least, that’s how it felt for Subaru.”

“Yeah, it’s been a while, Julius. You seem well, too.”

“I appreciate your generosity. Emilia-sama, your beauty seems to be increasingly polished, and that is heartwarming. The shadow of your eyes dimming is a loss to not just the kingdom but to this world.”

His flirty manner was more about making an impression rather than being irritating. After that, he shifted his gaze from the smirking Emilia to Subaru.

“It’s been a while since we last met. I hope you’ve been well, Natsuki Subaru.”

“…Don’t call me that with that chilling tone. What’s this ‘Subaru-dono’ thing? It’s too fake.”

“Even so, Subaru-dono has been publicly recognized as a knight under Emilia-sama. Regardless of past circumstances, your current status shouldn’t be taken lightly. I intend to behave accordingly as a fellow knight.”

With Julius trying to uphold a stance of respect towards Subaru, he couldn’t help but feel the annoying prickling emanating from his lips.

“Intend to? What’s with that? I just said it makes me feel terrible. Anyway, I’m not happy about being recognized for something I didn’t even earn.”

“I see. It seems that, although your status has changed, your inner feelings remain untouched. Then, it looks like there’s no need for me to change my behavior either.”

With that, Julius abruptly switched from his formal approach to a more relaxed demeanor.

He wore a smirk on his overly refined face, looking down at Subaru from his taller frame.

“Now then, let’s put things properly… It’s been a while, Natsuki Subaru. I trust you are putting in the effort to uphold the knightly title you’ve been given.”

“Don’t lecture me. I’m already aware! I definitely don’t want another someone to beat the crap out of me for being arrogant.”

“It’s quite unreasonable to liken it to punishment or lynching. Based on our mutual honor, I remember our last bout to be a duel standing on equal footing.”

“Gotta hand it to ya, you sure know how to make things sound better for yourself…”

But that complaint fell flat on its own as it only served to magnify Subaru’s own shortcomings. Thus, he restrained himself to just grumbling.

Seeing Subaru’s attitude, Julius narrowed his eyes, saying, “Hmm, a tendency to act impulsively seems to have improved somewhat. If your awareness as a knight spurred that change, it wouldn’t seem that obtaining your position was premature. Truly, I’m afraid of the keen insightful eyes of Emilia-sama and Roswaal-sama.”

“—?”

Being judged by Julius’s assessment, Subaru felt his heart grow cold.

While he was smugly picking apart Subaru, Julius’s gaze broke from him. It was directed over to Beatrice, sitting small next to Subaru.

As Julius’s sharp yellow eyes met hers, Beatrice glowered back with her pale blue eyes.

“What is it? Don’t gawk at a lady so rudely.”

“My sincerest apologies. I did not anticipate someone of your high status, a lofty spirit, would be present here.”

“Betty is Subaru’s partner, so it’s only natural she’s here. Unlike the nameless sub-spirits you’re carrying around, she’s of a different caliber, so you better be fearful.”

Beatrice stood, placing her hand on Subaru’s shoulder, puffing her chest out proudly.

Her haughty demeanor likely stemmed from Julius’s behavior towards Subaru. The one point where Subaru could boast over Julius, who had a host of six sub-spirits at his side.

That went by the order of spirit, sub-spirit, and minor spirit.

When considering that, Subaru was indeed in a higher position as a spirit-user by having Beatrice by his side.

Nevertheless,

“Comparing true abilities, you and I both have our fair share of flaws, so don’t raise the bar unnecessarily. Besides, I’ve also been helped by your sub-spirits. It doesn’t come off as classy to criticize that.”

“Hmm. Don’t think I won’t take offense to that. You should know what happens when you belittle Betty’s partner. Just because he’s some eye candy who teeters with Betty’s spirit-like heart, don’t get too carried away!”

“Teetering eye candy!?”

Subaru felt a bit shocked at the sudden mention of appearances.

While that situation threatened Beatrice and Subaru’s partnership, it was Julius himself, the cause of that, who would intrude.

“Don’t misunderstand. That esteemed spirit here has no intention of betraying you. It’s merely my affinity that causes her instincts to waver.”

“Your blessing? No way, you have blessings too? What kind are they?”

“The blessing I have is called the ‘Blessing of Spirit Enticement,’ which means I’m favored by spirits in simpler terms. The reason I’ve formed contracts with six powerful sub-spirits is thanks to this blessing. Though it’s not something that’s particularly favored among other spirit users.”

“Betty would never lose to you! Subaru is way better than you, y’know, whatever that ‘better’ means!”

“Thanks! But please don’t hurt my feelings any more than that!”

While Subaru had absolute trust that Beatrice would never betray him, the lack of a solid counterclaim only instigated a sense of defeat.

Before Julius, Subaru only felt the stabbing needles of inferiority set within him. However, it wasn’t solely that which made Subaru dislike Julius.

“Seems our knight is still infatuated with Natsuki-kun.”

“Not at all. As a knight, I’m merely expressing some wisdom learned from a more experienced peer. The way you act holds implications, which can influence the standing of the Lugnica knights, after all.”

“That indirectly implies that Natsuki-kun is known as a knight, doesn’t it? Julius, you’re such a straightforward one.”

Anastasia teased with a mocking tone, and Julius could only smile quietly, bowing his head without further remark. He clearly judged that engaging more would lead to him being bested and turned into the punchline—what a seasoned individual.

On the other hand, Subaru, who had already been worn down thoroughly, had his left shoulder thumped by Beatrice and his right by Emilia, who tried to encourage him.

“No need to worry. It’s not about looks, but the spirit!”

“I’m really happy to see Subaru and Julius getting along so well!”

“Things feel awkward to be thankful for in this situation…”

Receiving consolation from those around him raised concerns about how he was perceived.

While Subaru had come to terms with his facial features’ shortcomings, he felt uneasy for reasons he couldn’t quite place as he touched his own cheeks, fiddling with them. He then witnessed Anastasia and the others entering the room and taking seats on the opposite side of the table. Then,

“Wait, is it just the two of you over there? Mimi and Garfiel…? It feels like they’re having an adorable date in the inn.”

“As you can guess, Mimi gets along well with that blonde kid over there. The elder brother, Hetero, is rushing to chase them since he loves his sister, and Tibby is helping to avoid complications, which explains their absence.”

“Ricardo hasn’t shown up either? I know those three little cat siblings are strong, but it feels reckless without knights.”

While the presence of Mimi and her siblings was concerning, Ricardo, the large kobold who was a species cheat in volume alone, was nowhere to be seen.

Aside from that, Julius’s brother, Joshua, wasn’t in sight either.

“We’re not just playing around while in Pristella, you know. Joshua and Ricardo are currently out of the inn for another matter. They should show up later. I think you should have met Joshua by now.”

“Ah… he looked just like you. If he were just a bit more solidly built, we’d definitely have been twins. If you wanted, you could’ve exited instead.”

“I’ll keep that amusing opinion in mind, but that’s not going to happen. Unfortunately, Joshua has never been one for physical activity. Though it’s no longer a cause for concern for him during long travels, it was a point of frustration for me as an older brother back then.”

With a drop in both his gaze and tone, Julius genuinely seemed concerned for Joshua’s well-being. This made Subaru feel somewhat uncomfortable, scratching his cheek as he decided to drop the line of questioning.

Once a gap opened in the conversation flow—

A cough broke the silence. The man’s voice, which had remained quiet until now, Otto, drew their attention.

“Well, while it’s nice to catch up, now that we’re gathered, I’d like to make introductions, if I may?”

“Right, I’ve heard your story, but this is my first time meeting anyone other than Emilia and Natsuki-kun. I’d like to know more about the talented bureaucrat and the Great Spirit.”

“Come on, come on, picking up on rumors like that isn’t typical of you, Anastasia.”

“I can guess where you picked up that misinformation from, but directly pointing it out feels oddly self-conscious. I really dislike it, honestly!”

Subaru stuck out his tongue in a playful manner, ignoring the “talented” bureaucrat who appeared flustered. As the two exchanged glances, Anastasia nodded toward Julius.

“Now, allow me to introduce myself. My name is Julius Euclius, a member of the Royal Knight Order of the Lugnica Kingdom. Currently, I serve as the foremost knight for Lady Anastasia Hoshin, while away from my duties. Pleased to meet you.”

Julius made a graceful bow, and Otto nodded, a little dazed by that greeting. After that, Julius continued,

“And this honorable guest is none other than a candidate for the throne of the Lugnica Kingdom, a talented woman overseeing the Hoshin Company based in the Kararagi City-State, Lady Anastasia Hoshin.”

“Ha, ha—!”

“Don’t grovel like that!”

“Uh?! Oh no, I got carried away by the mood!”

Otto was quick to bow deeply before Anastasia after Julius’s elaboration, and Subaru smacked the back of his head.

“Don’t let titles control you! Look, Emilia-tan is also a candidate for the throne. You could say she’s just as qualified as Anastasia!”

“Yeah, that’s right. I’m a candidate, too! I’ll do my best!”

“What a cute little girl. I’m feeling a wave of E.M.T.!”

“Somehow, I feel an unsettling sentiment at how calm I’ve become witnessing this…”

As they engaged in their usual fruitless banter, Otto wore a face of resignation at how he settled back to normalcy. He took a breath and faced the opposing camp again.

“Thank you for that thorough introduction. I apologize for my delay, but I’ll introduce myself as well. I’m Otto Suwen, currently serving as a bureaucrat under Emilia-sama… Yes, I find myself in this rather unexpected position.”

“Sounds like you’ve had a lot of tough choices to make.”

“Originally, I was supposed to be a traveling merchant, but I still can’t figure out what has transpired to get to this point…”

“That sounds difficult. If something comes up, feel free to rely on me.”

Despite the slight melancholy in his tone, Otto’s position made it easy for him to be taken advantage of in this setting. Making a gesture to hold onto Otto, Anastasia stuck her tongue out teasingly, then all eyes turned to Beatrice.

She’s one to fiercely hold her posture, proudly announcing,

“Betty is the spirit Beatrice. I’m Subaru’s contracted spirit, you know? As you can see, I’m not an ordinary spirit; my caliber, rank, and even cuteness far exceeds the average. If you grasp that, you’re obligated to bring me delicious tea and sweet treats.”

“Keep up that dignity until the end, will ya?”

With no intention of shedding her mascot-like charm, Beatrice successfully snagged attention.

Surrounding them, Subaru lightly tugged on her pigtails, trying to settle the disgruntled Beatrice.

“Well, just as a point of clarification, Beatrice is the spirit contracted to me. Never would I have figured that a job overlap would arise between us, so what a twist of fate.”

“I had strong confidence about compatibility between you and spirits, so it’s not a complete surprise. Though I didn’t dare picture ending with a renowned spirit like Beatrice.”

“Don’t inflate her ego too much. Like me, if she gets excited, she might say something outrageous.”

“Hum. I feel the urge to contest such rough treatment.”

Though her words said otherwise, the satisfaction radiating from Beatrice’s face told another story.

After what felt like an eternity, the self-introductions were finally complete. If that were the case, they should transition right to the main discussion.

“Though I feel a bit anxious about rushing discussions, could I request to confirm a few details first?”

In an effort to convey a clear intention without going off track, Otto steered the conversation back firmly as the strategist. Anastasia twiddled her finger around her fox-apron as she responded.

“Go for it. Since we’re the hosts, we should let our guests inquire freely.”

“Well, I’ll gladly accept that. To start with, may I inquire why you invited us to Pristella?”

“You don’t need to be that cautious. I’m not plotting anything. The royal selection has been ongoing for a year now, hasn’t it? It seems fitting to set a chance to discuss our recent circumstances, don’t you think?”

Under the gentle demeanor of Anastasia, Subaru felt he’d almost agree instinctively. But the nature of the topic was far from light.

Especially when dealing with a seasoned merchant.

“I figured dangling such an obvious bait for something merely to talk about was rather overt. This feels more cautiously calculated than outright treacherous.”

“Since I’m inviting you, it’s only necessary I pull something worth your effort you made to come here. While I could prepare a souvenir, I thought it would be best to offer something that’d bring more joy and leave a lasting impression.”

“…How exactly do you know what would bring the most joy?”

“Well, that’s a trade secret. You can’t go digging too much into a girl’s affairs. Especially with the two beside you.”

Covering her mouth with her sleeve, Anastasia laughed at Subaru’s curious nature. Appearing sick of having to wear his unyielding attitude, Beatrice let out a sigh. She looked somewhat disappointed by her partner being so easily subdued. That stung.

“It’s not like I was hiding it; I think it’s natural for curiosity to creep in.”

Following Subaru’s question, Emilia casually piped in.

At Emily’s gaze, Anastasia blinked, then shifted her attention back to Emilia who tilted her head.

“Rather, I think it’s better for me to rejoice over how Anastasia-san would properly inform us of where we could find what we need.”

“…That reply is such a pleasing display it’s almost like a simpleton’s answer. But I don’t think we’ve properly discussed what Emilia-san desires yet.”

“But you’ll explain that properly, right? Thank you. I can’t guarantee what I could do, but I will certainly repay you.”

“—”

Anastasia was briefly dumbstruck at Emily’s beaming answer.

In her shock, Julius beside her involuntarily softened his expression. When her knight’s attitude elicited such a response, Anastasia shot him a glare.

“What’s so amusing, Julius?”

“Rather, I’ve rarely seen you flustered, Lady Anastasia. And I find your unpretentious face quite lovely to behold.”

“Letting out flattery and then running away, huh? I’m still far too lax.”

Anastasia regained her composure from Julius’s input and shook her head. Turning to Emilia, quizzically, she pursed her lips.

“I must correct myself. It seems, despite a year having passed, the root of your character remains unchanged. The surrounding peers must find that quite the hassle.”

“Yeah, I still have many shortcomings and keep causing everyone trouble. I’m working hard to catch up, but…”

“Even more to correct. The essence of your nature seems to have dulled further. It makes me look bad, doesn’t it?”

Drawing a deep breath, Anastasia then flashed a bright smile. The sudden turn of attitude rendered Emilia’s eyes wide, visibly startled. Watching this unfold, Anastasia turned her gaze to Subaru and Otto.

“Make sure to support her, okay? If she remains too much as she is, it gives me no reason to engage with her.”

“I definitely plan to put in the effort; after all, my fundamental policy is to spoil and praise her to grow beyond!”

“That said, it seems I’ll take on every burden on my end. Haha, just how did it come to this?”

Subaru gave a thumbs up while Otto looked utterly perplexed.

Seeing their starkly opposing reactions, Anastasia straightened her collar.

“Well, that’s fine. It seems you understand the value of indebtedness.”

“Debt is always good. It saves me from stocking it, and the expiration will never pass.”

“Exactly! More than that—”

As Anastasia echoed those words, Otto chimed in, and together they shared a glance.

“—‘There’s no need for price tags!’”

They coincided fluidly.

Anastasia clapped her hands while Otto sunk into despair further. This evoked familiarity as he remembered hearing something like it before.

What a refreshingly mercenary way to regard gratitude.

“Then let’s move on to the much-anticipated discussion. What Emilia-san and the others desire is… right, the colorless magical ore. Specifically, ones with purity maximized to the limit.”

“Yeah, that’s right. Can you share any leads on that?”

On their journey to reach Pristella, Emilia felt a hint of caution about wanting magical ore.

She was acutely aware that her desire for it stemmed purely from her own needs. Thus, she carried an unspeakable hesitation about possibly involving Subaru and Otto by entering Pristella.

However, as soon as she finally recognized the opportunity standing right in front of her, the glimmer of anticipation shone unmistakably within her eyes.

If she obtained that, it would mean her family would return to her side. Or perhaps, it represented the necessary ritual for her to begin a new self.

Sucking in air, Emilia heard Anastasia hold suspenseful silence before revealing.

“The high-density magical ore is held by the Muse Company in this city. The person in charge is said to be Kiritaka Muse, the heir of the Muse Company—a man who’s enamored with the songstress.”