The banquet, where everyone forgot they were political rivals and simply reveled.

After finishing dinner and returning to the guest room, I found that the staff had already prepared futons while I was away. Glancing at the two futons lined up, Subaru couldn’t help but admire the inn-like efficiency of the service.

Just like in hotels, these types of lodging facilities often ensure that sheets, towels, and futons are well prepared while guests are temporarily absent from their rooms.

It’s such a strangely defenseless habit, I always think.

“Subaru! It looks like while Betty and the others were away, some ne’er-do-wells snuck into the room!”

“Oh, they’ve carefully laid the futons out, and even refolded the towels you messed up.”

“This is…! Yes, this must be a trap to lure Betty and the others into a false sense of security. They’re thorough and cunning!”

“Why don’t we have a little faith in the other person’s good intentions for once? Well, it’s not entirely free of charge.”

Soothing Beatrice, who was displaying unnecessary vigilance over the diligent work ethic, Subaru quickly tucked her in as she rubbed her sleepy eyes.

By the way, since they had officially signed a contract, Subaru and Beatrice sharing a room was the default arrangement. Anastasia had offered to prepare a separate guest room for Beatrice, but knowing that she would inevitably sneak into Subaru’s room during the night, he graciously declined.

This was not because Beatrice couldn’t sleep alone; rather, it was purely a consideration for Subaru’s condition, which had been unsettled due to the excess mana generated from the Od he absorbed while sleeping.

“So, it’s not that Betty wants to be near Subaru. Don’t get me wrong.”

This was Beatrice’s opinion at the start of their contract.

At this point, where the truth lies no longer matters. Over the past year, Subaru had become completely accustomed to hearing someone else’s snoring at night.

“…This green blob is poison. Eating it won’t end well…”

Perhaps because they had enjoyed themselves enough and were tired, Beatrice quickly slipped into a deep sleep, already plagued by the trauma of wasabi from dinner.

Gently stroking Beatrice’s furrowed brow, Subaru reveled in the adorableness of his companion’s sleeping face before finally standing up.

“Well then. I suppose I’d better take a bath and relax for the rest of the night.”

Next to Subaru’s pillow was a clean yukata prepared for him to wear. He had been told that if he didn’t know how to wear it, he could consult the staff, but despite appearances, Subaru was quite capable of dressing in both yukata and kimono.

As for why he could do it, let’s just say boredom from his previous world had taught him well.

“If Felis and Anastasia weren’t around, I could have taken care of all the girls’ dressing duties and scored some rewards.”

Of course, the honest truth was that he particularly wanted to help Emilia get dressed, but all the candidates for the Royal Selection were stunningly beautiful girls. Even if they had some flaws in character, the fun of adorning their outfits would be equally gratifying across the board.

“Well, there’s no point in lamenting. I’ll just be happy I managed to braid Emilia-tan’s hair after dinner.”

Although he might end up undoing the braid before she went to sleep, the ‘Braided Wave!’ activated when released was Subaru’s two-pronged plan. While Anastasia’s natural wave was beautiful, he was sure Emilia’s long silver hair would look stunning as well.

“Regardless of whether it’s a braid or gives off a Braided Wave, Emilia-tan is a genuinely tempting girl. What a sin. You can’t enjoy this with Beako.”

Beatrice’s hairstyle was mysteriously fixed in vertical rolls no matter what was attempted.

It was likely due to her origin as an artificial spirit. While it wasn’t impossible to forcibly change her hairstyle, once the tied hair was released, it would return to its original vertical rolls. This phenomenon was entertaining, and Subaru had had his fun with it several times.

Looking forward to tomorrow morning, Subaru quietly stepped out of the room with the yukata.

He carefully moved across the wooden floor, trying not to make any noise so as not to wake Beatrice. It felt a bit careless, but considering today’s guests at the inn, anyone attempting to invade would be more pitiful than threatening.

“I don’t think there’s anything wrong, but if anything strange happens within this section, I’ll know. Please rest easy tonight.”

Those were Reinhardt’s reassuring words before parting ways in the tatami room.

The fact that he used “section” rather than limiting it to “inside the inn” was somewhat unnerving. Given his character, it was possible he had intended to say “city” but chose to humble himself.

So, Subaru walked through the inn without any caution for the time being. His heart was already directed toward the public bath, and while he felt a bit disappointed it wasn’t an open-air bath, he thought the enjoyment unique to an inn would still be found in the bath.

“――――”

His steps halted when his expression changed while passing the engawa that overlooked the garden.

The garden, where Reinhardt had dueled Garfiel in the evening, transformed again at night, offering a visually pleasing sight.

A round moon floated in the black sky, its presence enhanced by the thick veil of clouds draping over it. A cool breeze swept through the garden, where one person stood still.

“――Sir Wilhelm?”

With a robust back and white hair.

The elderly man, whose back shown that a yukata suited him even at a glance, was only one person in Subaru’s mind.

“Is that you, Subaru? I didn’t mean to startle you.”

He must have long noticed the presence of people passing by. Turning at the call, Wilhelm softened his expression as he looked towards Subaru.

With his hands tucked into his yukata sleeves, his poised stance against the traditional Japanese garden was perplexingly fitting.

“Were you about to take a bath?”

“Yes, that’s my plan. I thought I’d take a detour to see the garden at night. Not because I’m lost in this unfamiliar inn, of course.”

“Surely, you’d never do such a thing, Subaru. Besides, I too was entranced by the garden’s beauty before you arrived. I understand the desire to witness this scenery.”

“…It’s a bit embarrassing to be praised like that.”

Subaru scratched his cheek, feeling shy about Wilhelm’s unreserved praise.

Wilhelm was one of the people Subaru regarded with pure admiration in this extraordinary world. Though numerous figures existed that he wished to stand alongside and compete against, only Wilhelm garnered a sense of envy where he merely desired to look up to him.

Both as a person and a man, Wilhelm personified Subaru’s ideal.

“Forgive me, Subaru. It must be disappointing to have someone like me intruding on the solemnity of the night garden.”

“Not at all. Rather, the sight of a sword demon in a Japanese-style garden is so well-suited, it’s a moment that would be forever etched in my heart. I absolutely love people who shine in moonlight.”

To Subaru’s knowledge, no one matched Emilia’s grace against the backdrop of a moonlit night.

Her long silver hair sparkled differently than the bright sunlight. Emilia’s beauty resembled the ephemeral allure of moonlight that beckoned for companionship. Thus, Subaru desired to be a star that embraced the moon.

Therefore, the sight of the sword demon standing in the moonlight stirred deep yearning within him.

“…You are truly a remarkable man, Subaru. Such words to evoke sentiments so stirring should be whispered to a woman like me, not to an old guy like myself.”

“If I said flirtatious things with this face, butterflies wouldn’t be attracted; they’d probably treat me like bug spray. Besides, at present, the most I want to charm is the one person I’m utterly hopeless with.”

“To work so hard to make a woman smile who seems quite resistant… the struggle to choose words in order to see her delightful reaction is a pleasure of love, indeed.”

With Wilhelm’s teasing tone, Subaru humorously shrugged his shoulders in response.

“Oh wow, I feel like I’m about to enter a more profound revelry. Did you have a time like that as well, Wilhelm?”

“Care to listen?”

“Definitely!”

When Subaru humbly took a polite bow, Wilhelm adopted a comical solemnity before continuing with a pleased smile.

“Even now, but especially when I was young, I was more inept with words, a man with a shortage of vocabulary. My focus was always on wielding my sword; I didn’t have topics to converse about beyond that. I must have bored my wife so much when I first met her.”

“But your wife didn’t mind your talkativeness, did she?”

“My wife was a wide-minded woman. Even with the weight of her burdens, she never ceased to care for others. In the beginning, she must have continued to speak with me out of her inherent kindness.”

Wilhelm, lost in memories, wore a gentle smile reminiscent of nostalgia.

Subaru quietly sat down on the engawa, listening closely to the old man’s tales.

“Since I was so word-deficient, when I met my wife, it was mainly she who sparked the topics in our conversations. Back then, I was completely oblivious to my feelings of attraction towards her and loathed the continuous pounding of my heart felt while talking with her.”

“So, even you weren’t used to dealing with women back then, huh?”

“I truly dedicated myself to the sword. I forgot what made me take it up, immersing myself in it to earn a living. —It was my wife that made me recall those reasons.”

“Was that when you realized you loved her?”

“…Did you see through me, Subaru?”

Wilhelm’s feeble words seemed to confirm Subaru’s unspoken inquiry.

Surely Wilhelm didn’t even realize what expression was currently on his face. To Subaru, being allowed to see it filled him with pride.

Wilhelm’s gaze, the wrinkles on his cheeks, the tone of his voice, every gesture told a remarkable story.

He was still in love with his wife — Tereshia van Astraea.

The elderly man’s countenance, behavior, and essence all openly sung of his love for her.

Who couldn’t recognize the moment he fell in love just from looking at his expression?

Every being in the world could feel the profound depth of that emotion.

That’s just how unreserved and proud Wilhelm’s love was.

“――――”

Unbeknownst, Subaru found himself gazing at Wilhelm’s face, nearly brought to tears.

He was overwhelmed, and the warmth formed behind his eyelids threatened to spill over. He couldn’t understand why he felt this way. Just seeing someone in love stirred such fiery emotions within him.

If he broke down crying here, it would only trouble Wilhelm.

“Just as you said, Subaru. The moment I recognized my feelings for my wife was then.”

Head down, feigning a scratch of the head, Subaru tried to hide his tears from Wilhelm. He wondered if Wilhelm noticed his moist eyes.

Whether he was lost in memories or pretended not to notice was uncertain, but Subaru remained immersed in Wilhelm’s story.

“Wielding the sword was everything to me. However, everything I’d thought before wielding it and everything I realized while doing so made me who I am. My wife helped me realize those very basics. Since then, every time I’ve gripped my sword, it reminds me of her.”

“Is that still true?”

“—It’s the sword that connects my wife and me, both now and then.”

At Subaru’s question, Wilhelm took a brief pause before fabricating his response.

Bathed in moonlight, Wilhelm faced Subaru. The intricate emotions swirling in the elderly man’s eyes were challenging to interpret.

There was pride. Regret. Hesitation. Passion. Shame. Valor.

—Yet, through it all, there was love.

“As long as I grip the sword, I shall continue to think of my wife. Thus, even now, having been separated by death, I cannot forget her. When the time comes for me to die, I wish to do so holding my sword. For me, that means being with my wife.”

“――――”

Wilhelm’s love was clumsy, yet straightforward; this was the only way he knew how to love.

Subaru inhaled sharply, repeating deep breaths to steady his racing heart. When he finally determined that the tingling in his tongue had faded and he could speak coherently,

“Please don’t say such ominous things about dying. You, Wilhelm, are still younger than many can claim and too young to be preoccupied with retirement.”

“Subaru-dono?”

“Crusch and Felis rely heavily on you. Crusch, who’s struggling to keep her memory straight, while Felis, though he may not show it, is surely putting in considerable effort and needs you to assist him! And, I—”

“――――”

“I, too, have so much to learn from you, Wilhelm. Depending on those standing on opposing sides, I may come off as foolishly naive. However, I…”

Subaru genuinely cherished Wilhelm.

Therefore, for exacting revenge for his late wife, he held deep respect for him as a man who had accomplished that. Even if Wilhelm hardly felt it, Subaru saw a strength in him worth honoring, even in their short master-disciple relationship that didn’t last more than ten days.

Hearing ‘death’ from Wilhelm struck a particularly fearful chord in Subaru.

More than ever, he had grown sensitive to ‘death’ of those close to him. This inclination was influenced both by his pact with Roswaal and the evolving stance he held towards “Return by Death.”

It was also something that worried Emilia and Beatrice in secret.

“…I’m still terrible at choosing my words.”

Subaru was obstinate and panicked. Hearing that, Wilhelm chuckled warmly.

The elderly man gazed at the flustered Subaru with tender eyes, still smiling, saying,

“I’ve deeply troubled you, as you’ve been graciously kind. Although I spoke as I did earlier, I’m not merely consumed by thoughts of my demise. I admit, there was a time when I felt that way, but I’ve managed to safely cross that peak.”

“…Oh.”

Subaru quickly grasped he was referencing the battle with the White Whale.

To Wilhelm, that battle was one worth facing even at the expense of his life. At that time, he had prepared to confront death. Now that he had risen from it—

“I see it as fortunate to have felt this way. After pouring my heart into it and not losing my life, I find myself feeling even the embarrassment of living is beneath me.”

“Wilhelm…”

“I am greatly honored to be needed. Even now, with my sole skill being wielding the sword, the fact that I’m still sought out brings shivers to my chest. There are those I must support, and I can visit my wife’s grave. Truly, I am overly blessed.”

Is that really so?

Can it truly be?

Subaru feared for the reality that Wilhelm was not forcing himself.

The elderly man, with a gentle smile, held a heart that Subaru—who was but a shallow young man—could not fully grasp. He wanted to believe in the truth of that smile but struggled with accepting his own frailty.

Deep in Wilhelm’s heart, he might be forcing himself to ignore it. If not that, he could be hiding pains he shouldn’t have to bear.

But if his heart truly carried such a notion, then maybe Subaru was merely conceited to think Wilhelm ought to harbor some misfortune.

“Subaru-dono… while that thought is virtuous, it’s also a weakness.”

“…………”

Upon seeing Subaru’s troubled expression, Wilhelm spoke in a quiet voice.

There was no chuckling in his tone. He wasn’t scolding nor displeased either. It was a tone almost like a gentle admonition, resembling the way a grandfather would address his grandchild.

“To my wife, such a tendency existed. Suppressing her own feelings to put others first—neglecting herself. That was a bad habit.”

“A bad habit, huh? …Well, I’m no saint either. I’ve never wished that everyone could just be happy. I just hope that the people around me can at least be happy.”

“What you mention are matters of proximity. Though my wife didn’t wish for it, she was given far too much strength as one woman. Further, the reach of that power spread further than her expectations.”

Wilhelm’s wife, Tereshia, was the previous Sword Saint.

The tale of her legacy was simple enough that Subaru had come to know it in just one year. A heroine who subdued the internal strife called the Subhuman War that occurred in the Lugnica Kingdom mere years after she took the title of Sword Saint.

The feat she accomplished through strength beyond her capacity saved the nation itself.

Subaru had no such abilities to be compared to such a heroine.

“I understand the talk about your wife. But to apply it to me is beyond absurd.”

“While off-duty, my wife was a simple woman who loved flowers. Just because she’s an historical hero doesn’t mean she lived that way every day. More so, Subaru-dono, even the name you’ve made for yourself and the reach of your hand exceeds your current perception. This will only continue to broaden as time progresses.”

“Such a notion…”

“I am convinced. I believe Subaru is someone who will unite others to accomplish what you cannot achieve alone.”

“――――”

Subaru was left speechless.

The thought that Wilhelm overvalued him left him utterly stunned.

Could he really be capable of so grand a feat?

Subaru was weak, dim-witted, and lacked even a will of his own; a mere half-hearted loser. He had never done anything alone, using quick words to charm others just to scrape by.

Such a way of living would surely crumble at some point. Even if he managed to get by that time, he feared that there would come a moment when his seat-of-pants tactics would fail him.

When that inevitable time came, Subaru would be left alone, bitterly regretting it—

“I apologize. To suddenly lay such burdens upon you must be frustrating. Older men like myself only bear regrets in their inability to show concern.”

“Wilhelm, I…”

“Right now, you may not fully recognize it. Others may also be unaware. But, one day, they too will see it.”

“I’m a pathetic, helpless loser.”

“Yes. I like that pathetic, helpless loser.”

After a pause, Wilhelm nodded with satisfaction.

“And I’m sure even more people will come to feel that way.”

Contemplating Wilhelm’s profound words, Subaru fell silent.

Caught between overwhelming feelings, he also wanted to laugh it off as a ridiculous exaggeration. Yet, he didn’t readily dismiss Wilhelm’s sentiment, considering the man’s sincerity.

He wouldn’t fully believe in the praise being heaped upon him.

But neither would he violently dismiss it.

Subaru resolved to carry the emotions stirred within him until he could process them.

After all, he was already conscious of his own insufficiencies. Grasping whatever he gained, the emotions, the words, he resolved that he would keep moving forward with them.

He made a decision to add Wilhelm’s words to that collection.

Wilhelm watched Subaru, who was fumbling through his uncertainties, with an affectionate gaze.

In those stares, Subaru—struggling to reflect on himself—remained oblivious.

“…My apologies for my lengthy chatter. I’m sorry for detaining you so long.”

Waiting for the internal conflict within Subaru to settle, Wilhelm spoke up.

Based on that, Subaru sensed that the night’s episode was reaching a close.

“I’m the one who should apologize for various things. I wanted to hear the stories about your wife, and somehow it turned into this!”

“No, not at all. I’m not entirely content now, but I’m happy to have been able to speak of my wife. I haven’t had much time to share my experiences with Crusch or Felis lately.”

“I’ve heard too little about your wife and then bombarded with talk about the awkward rivalry among factions!”

“I may have gotten a little too sentimental. My lengthy monologue must have bored you.”

With a faint smile, Wilhelm’s azure eyes glimmered with a subtle emotion.

Not overlooking the glimpse of that emotion, Subaru turned his thoughts back to the initial incident.

Initially, Wilhelm had been standing alone in the garden.

At first, Subaru thought he had simply descended to enjoy the beauty of the garden. But then Wilhelm spoke to him.

Apologizing for the intrusion on the garden’s beauty.

For the act of enjoying the garden’s scenery, the best viewing spot was where Subaru stood on the engawa.

Conversely, standing where Wilhelm was, he would have lost the pleasure of admiring the garden bathed in moonlight.

Of course, it was possible he was overthinking it. However, if there was another reason that Wilhelm had come to the garden, it could be—

“…That was where Reinhardt stood.”

“――――”

Wilhelm’s position was precisely where Reinhardt had maintained his ground throughout the duel with Garfiel.

Among the slightly disturbed gravel, the red-haired swordsman’s footprints stood out even more.

It was only natural that Wilhelm would notice the dissonance and wish to confirm it. However, the true motive lingering there could only be understood by Wilhelm himself.

“Sir Wilhelm, I don’t intend to pry into others’ family matters, and I’ve resolved to graduate from my nosey tendencies to astutely ask about what happened. Still, I can’t help but wonder…”

“Indeed, please, ask away.”

“Can’t you get along with Reinhardt? After all, he is your family.”

Intruding upon the convoluted relationship of grandparent and grandchild, Subaru dove headfirst into unusual territory.

He realized discussing such matters could put cracks in the trust they had built, yet he broached the topic nonetheless.

If it had been before their recent talk with Wilhelm, he wouldn’t have dared to bring such things up. But with the previous conversation in mind, along with Wilhelm peering down at Reinhardt’s footprints, he felt he couldn’t avoid it.

“In talking with you, Subaru-dono, I began to wonder.”

“…………”

“Why is it that I can’t share words with my own grandson?”

Those words, filled with anguish, came straight from Wilhelm’s heart.

The expression left his face, replaced with a grim neutrality. It wasn’t devoid of emotion; rather, it was a firm shell built to mask his ugly lamentations from the outside.

Wilhelm harbored undeniable regret within.

“I am a man of many regrets. However, there are three I can never justify within my own life. One of those regrets is the source of the rift between my grandson and I.”

“But, Sir Wilhelm, you regret that, don’t you?”

“Regret may offer no solace. Indeed, what I expressed to my grandson—Reinhardt at that time—was grave. It was foolishly insensate and incredibly difficult to forgive.”

Even as he feigned neutrality, a simmering flame ignited in Wilhelm’s heart.

That flame, kindled over many years, had never wavered, burning with the fury of regret. The feeling of regret kindled by his words continued to scorch Wilhelm unrelentingly.

“Using revenge for my wife as a rationale, I’ve continued to turn my back on that regret. Now that I’ve avenged her, I realize I ought to build bridges.”

“But… it’s daunting.”

“It’s more than humiliating. The notion that my grandson still hates me paralyzes me.”

Wilhelm’s lamentation resonated with the deepest disappointment in himself.

He seemed to shrink swiftly to a small figure, and Subaru found himself astonished. After that astonishment came a sudden chuckle.

“Subaru-dono?”

“I-I apologize! I didn’t mean to laugh, but it just hit me weirdly!”

Wilhelm looked at him with disbelief, yet Subaru felt equally incredulous.

Just how many times tonight could this old man manage to surprise him?

“It seems like you feel you lack the qualifications to be called Reinhardt’s grandfather.”

“Indeed, that’s correct. When facing my grandson, I understand I am at fault yet remain unable to step forward. A coward like me…”

“That’s just a grandfather scared of being disliked by his grandson!”

“…Huh?”

The somber expression that had settled on Wilhelm’s face suddenly shifted as he inhaled sharply, meeting Subaru’s gaze.

Subaru waved his hand, still grappling with a lingering urge to chuckle.

“I don’t know why things got tense between you and Reinhardt. So, I might be totally wrong. However, from an outsider’s perspective, it looks like you want to reconcile with Reinhardt and genuinely intend to apologize. Then, you should just apologize!”

“But Reinhardt won’t forgive me.”

“If he doesn’t forgive you the first time, just keep apologizing until he does. First off, it isn’t about wanting to be forgiven; it’s about wanting to apologize! This desire to apologize is pretty selfish. After all, the one wanting to apologize is the one who committed the wrong in the first place.”

“――――”

This time, it was Subaru’s extreme view that left Wilhelm momentarily dumbfounded.

Of course, Subaru understood that what he just said was quite selfish. Yet, he believed he had to push that absurdity onto the older man.

To stir Wilhelm into action. To bring him face-to-face with Reinhardt.

“Sure, if you suddenly apologize after years of being distant, he might think, ‘What’s up with this guy?’ at first. But, if you keep apologizing, eventually that ‘What’s up with this guy?’ sentiment will change. Whether it becomes ‘I guess it can’t be helped’ or ‘Geez, this guy again’ isn’t certain.”

“It seems it’ll only get worse from here.”

“But, it indicates change. Starting from the worst-case scenario to something better is still progress, isn’t it?”

Subaru had established quite a reputation for beginning with human relationships at their worst.

When it comes to being surrounded by unfavorable sentiments, Subaru was a seasoned veteran.

“Plus, if you hand over a little pocket money after years of absence, their attitude may soften instantly. Even if they initially have a negative impression, when offered a little kindness, they might see you as a nice person. Reinhardt might surprise you with how easygoing he can be. I found it rather easy to call him my friend.”

“Surely, Reinhardt is not that simple…”

“He said just after we joined up that he wanted to talk about the White Whale.”

With a casual tone, Subaru conveyed the words Reinhardt had expressed at the teahouse right after reuniting.

Upon hearing that, Wilhelm’s blue eyes opened wide with surprise.

“While I don’t know if the White Whale ties into the awkwardness of your relationship, Reinhardt has been concerned about it. He must already know you were the one who defeated the White Whale. He’s likely aware of how you’ve pursued vengeance for your grandmother for over ten years.”

“――――”

“Perhaps he, too, feels this could be a chance for the frozen sentiments to thaw.”

Subaru couldn’t fathom Reinhardt’s true feelings.

He fancied Reinhardt as too perfect a gentleman, thinking he might never lament his own powerlessness or ignorance.

That was an overconfident assumption. He was human too, and surely he experienced concerns like anyone else.

Even someone as superhuman as Wilhelm, when pulled back, would reveal himself to be an ordinary man, an ordinary grandfather, full of common troubles and defects.

Is it so strange to think Reinhardt is also human?

Wilhelm had been continuously astonished by Subaru’s words.

The elderly man now quietly absorbed each word, as if savoring their taste.

Then, after a brief silence stretched between them, Wilhelm asked,

“Will my grandson… Reinhardt, listen to my words?”

“First, just start chatting incessantly like it’s annoying; having him shake you off is the first step! I often get treated that way by every girl except Emilia-tan.”

“How very… straightforward.”

Hearing Subaru’s answer, Wilhelm shook his head.

Then the old man raised his gaze and looked up at the moon floating behind him, saying,

“Subaru-dono, you certainly exceed me in wit.”

He said it with a tone tinged with warmth.