The blue and yellow eyes, each a different color, faced each other seriously, almost halting deep thoughts. I held my breath, gritting my teeth to avoid being swallowed by the atmosphere.

He placed his hands on the table, interlocking them and resting his chin on top, saying,

“You seem quite observant, don’t you? Honestly speaking, your understanding is remarkably unordinary for an average citizen.”

“I’m truly honored by your praise, but let me ask my question, azure-haired long-hair. If you don’t…”

“If I don’t?”

Facing Roswaal’s provocative response, Subaru ground his teeth in frustration and declared,

“I’ll spend my hands that could be petting Emilia-tan on… her sexual harassment! I’ll go ‘ahein ahein’ and ‘chome chome’ on her!”

“Huh?”

Subaru’s words were so forceful that Emilia flinched, shaking, stirring Subaru’s S instincts. For a moment, I thought I might not regret transforming that comment into reality, but then a sound clapped, breaking my train of thought.

Just as the balance of my heart was dangerously tilting toward sexual harassment, it was Roswaal’s dry popping sound that brought me back to my senses.

“That was close, thanks for that.”

“Why am I being thanked? Honestly, you are a strange one. I’ve never heard of negotiating like that.”

“Heh, placing the one with the highest status within arm’s reach was your downfall. No matter what tricks you plan, it’s futile. Even a fleeting encounter can be stretched into eternity through magic—such is the genetic gift that resides within my people.”

“Stretching moments into eternity… the pinnacle of dark magic!?”

Emilia, who was being patted on the head, fell silent due to the confusing nonsensical words.

I felt somewhat treated like a time-manipulating ability user; however, the situation wasn’t wrong, so I deliberately chose not to explain.

Both my “Return by Death” ability and the reckless, high-quality creative imagination of the foolish Japanese ethnic group weren’t lies.

Ignoring Emilia’s shocked reaction, Subaru glared at Roswaal while hiding his and, keeping an audacious grin, he was well on his way to becoming the villain.

Meanwhile, the long-haired aristocrat remained composed, his gentle expression unchanged. His soft smile didn’t reveal any emotions, demonstrating the poise expected of a noble.

A tense exchange of glances ensued, a silent standoff bursting with sparks. It was Subaru who broke the tension, lowering his gaze before Roswaal.

Watching Subaru, who was now suffering from dry eyes, Roswaal raised his hands with a “I give up, I give up” gesture.

“Well, I concede. I respect your gaze. It wouldn’t be fair for me not to clarify my position regarding our discussion.”

“Oww, my eyes hurt. Emilia-tan, please be gentle and rub them.”

“Is that the nature of your reward?”

“I’ll do it myself! That’s way too dangerous! I can’t believe she’s so perceptive!”

Almost losing the advantage in the negotiations, Subaru jumped back, rubbing his eyes. Once he’d confirmed the pain had faded with a blink, he faced Roswaal again to reset their conversation.

“But really, it’s nothing I’ve got to hide. It slipped my mind a bit, but my position is to support Emilia-sama as a candidate for queen. Think of it as a sort of patronage.”

“A patron, huh?”

So Roswaal was the representative of the sponsor.

Subaru confirmed the towering man’s ambiguous nature anew before hesitantly saying to Emilia,

“It’s hard to say, but… Emilia-tan, don’t you think you should choose your allies more wisely?”

“I had no choice. I don’t have anyone I can rely on in the Royal Capital, and the only one willing to help me is Roswaal…”

“I see, so it’s process of elimination.”

“You both are bold, showing no fear in front of your patron.”

Even after being negatively described like this, Roswaal didn’t change from his placid demeanor. Was he calmly accepting this, or was he simply unbothered?

The exchange of sharp glances continued, until Subaru was the one to finally lower his gaze to Roswaal.

As Subaru, with his dry eyes, looked at him, Roswaal raised his hands, saying,

“Well, I admit defeat. I’m impressed by your stare. You’re right, it wouldn’t be fair for me not to clarify my position.”

“It hurts, it hurts, my eyes hurt. Emilia-tan, can you give me an ever-so-gentle rub?”

“Is that a fitting reward?”

“I’ll do it myself! How dangerous is this? This girl is surprisingly sharp!”

Almost losing the upper hand in negotiating, Subaru jumped back, rubbed his eyes, and then confirmed the pain was gone with blinking before resetting again against Roswaal.

“But not that anything needs hiding. I was a little careless, but I’m supporting Emilia-sama as a queen candidate. Think of it as a patron’s job…”

“A patron, huh?”

Recognizing that Roswaal was her backer, Subaru looked closely at the tall man’s uncertain stance. Then hesitantly, he turned to Emilia.

“This is a bit tough to say… but Emilia-tan, don’t you think you ought to be more selective about the people you choose?”

“I couldn’t help it; I have no one else to rely on in the Royal Capital, and Roswaal is the only one willing to support me…”

“Ah, popular by process of elimination.”

“You two seem to have a nice grasp of your situation here.”

Even under criticism, Roswaal didn’t show any sign of irritation, his gentle expression unchanged. He seemed to possess an unfathomable capacity.

“Or perhaps a classic M?”

“M?”

Subaru formed an “M” shape with both arms rounded above his head.

Displaying this incomprehensible gesture in this world, Subaru tried to explain to Emilia, who tilted her head,

“No, if you think about it calmly, this is just a repeated joke. It loses freshness, so repeating it with the same person might be a little…”

“Don’t come to some strange understanding! What does that mean?”

“You knew about what happened yesterday, that’s all. Stay strong.”

Gently patting Emilia on the head, Subaru smiled cynically.

Leaving her aghast in confusion, Subaru felt clear in his heart, knowing he hadn’t lied.

Still, the Emilia I knew didn’t exist anywhere. In my heart, she quietly slept along with an unpayable debt.

After giving a thumbs up to the pouting Emilia, Subaru turned his hand toward Roswaal. He flipped it over, saying,

“Why does simply inverting my hand feel like a humiliating sign?”

“Really? Where I lived, it was a sign of affection. It means ‘I love you so much I’d let you lick my shoes.’”

“In Subaru’s hometown, licking shoes was a declaration of love…?”

“It means everything that resembles you is adorable. If I wanted, I could chew on Emilia-tan’s hair without hesitation.”

“Please don’t even consider it!”

Subaru shrugged in response to her rebuke. Roswaal burst into laughter, while Emilia looked displeased at their banter.

Although each had their unique reactions, the conversation had been stagnant up until now.

“Hey, seriously, can we cut the frivolities? This is serious business!”

“It’s nothing I want to hear from you, Subaru!”

Emilia’s lament was dismissed with an unconcerned “Alright, alright,” as Subaru shifted his gaze back to Roswaal to return to the main topic.

“So, onto the main subject. I understand that you’re Emilia-tan’s patron. Given all that I’ve seen, I noticed a bit of a country bumpkin side that seemed to peek out from Emilia-tan. Rare for you to roam around the Royal Capital alone, huh?”

“In practical terms, it’s probably my first time doing so. I should have had Ram with me, though.”

Roswaal sighed, fiddling with his collar, then drew attention to the pink-haired maid. When Subaru looked at the maid with suspicion, he found her boldly donning blue hair by flipping her part, leaving her true hair color blatantly obvious.

“That smug face like ‘I pulled it off!’ is so annoying.”

“Sister, sister, our guest says such things.”

“Rem, Rem, our guest is saying thoughts devoid of substance.”

“It’s still obvious because of their brashness!”

After such a disgraceful display, Subaru’s loud shout prompted Emilia to react cautiously.

She timidly raised her hand, wearing an awkward expression.

“It’s not Ram’s fault. I got a bit curious and wandered off. I lost track of her…”

“What a moe-character-like excuse. Absolutely airtight! But still, it’s true you couldn’t follow your master’s orders, right? So, what do you say about that?”

Pouting her lips, Subaru inquired with a clear voice, while Roswaal tilted his head in response.

“Maybe I share responsibility for Ram’s negligence,” he said, “But what do you want to say?”

“Simply put, it’s a travesty that Emilia-tan couldn’t be tracked down while wondering off, and I went ahead and took advantage of it like a villain. Therefore, I should just extract everything I can!”

The expressions of everyone in the room changed in understanding.

Emilia looked tense, the twins gazed at Subaru with conflicting feelings of guilt and hostility, Beatrice continued to sip her drink unconcerned, and Pack was, unfortunately, having a disastrous encounter with an omelet.

Roswaal smiled knowingly, nodding repeatedly.

“I see. It makes sense that as an impoverished noble, I’d be the more suitable target for rewards than Emilia-sama.”

“Right? And you can’t refuse it. After all, I’m Emilia-tan’s life-saver and I halted the Royal Selection dropout! Ultimately, I’m a savior of the Emilia-tan team during the selection!”

“I must acknowledge that; it’s true. Now, on that point, allow me to question you,”

Roswaal stood up from the table, looking down at Subaru’s frame.

Subaru bravely met Roswaal’s gaze from below. The weight of their confrontation this time felt utterly different from the time of their first meeting.

Emilia clasped her hands together anxiously, sensing the tension of the negotiations. In response to her plea through her presence, Subaru nodded.

“I’m all ears; make sure to open them wide.”

“What is it you desire from me? For now, I’m unable to refuse. No matter what sort of riches or luxuries you can think of, even if it’s some sort of extravagant indulgence to mask the loss of the emblem, I’ll do anything.”

“Heh heh heh, that’s the style of a noble! You really understand how to negotiate!”

Nudging his thin chest with his elbow, Subaru wore a lecherous grin.

Behind him, the sound of plummeting goodwill echoed painfully, but all of it was a build-up to this moment. With a villainous posture, he spread his arms wide and declared,

“The rewards are open to interpretation! And you won’t be able to refuse it! That’s a promise between me and Rosu-chi. Break it, and you’ll swallow a thousand needles!”

“If I reach a hundred, I might just perish from the experience. Well, I’ll certainly make that promise.”

“Men never say it twice, do they?!”

“What a bold statement. In fact, men should never offer excuses. I will make no excuses.”

They extended their hands in mutual negotiating camaraderie.

Under those agreements, Subaru confidently crossed his arms, stating,

“So, hire me as a worker in your mansion.”

Contrasting the long-winded preamble, Subaru clearly asserted his request.

The women behind him exchanged bewildered glances at his proposal. The twins glanced puzzled at their confused expressions, and Beatrice grimaced as though this absurdity were genuinely unpleasant. Most notably, Emilia exclaimed,

“I-I know it’s not my place to say this, but that’s a bit…”

Flapping her mouth like a goldfish, her expression scrambled with disbelief, her charm diminishing under the agitation.

Turning back toward her, Subaru shrugged regretfully.

“Honestly, I understood it might not be amusing for you, Emilia-tan, since it’s a repeat. But judging by my experience, it’s the only way to ride on successful methods…”

“That’s not what I’m saying…! No, you’re being too selfless!”

Emilia leaned in angrily and slammed her hands on the table, pushing closer to Subaru and poking his chest repeatedly with her finger.

“Listen, it’s not Ram’s fault. I got a bit too curious and wandered away from her…”

“What a moe-character-like excuse. It really is tight. But it’s a fact you couldn’t follow your master’s orders, right? So, what do you say about that?”

Pouting her lips, Subaru posed an undeniable question while Roswaal tilted his head along to the claim.

“I may take some responsibility for not sending Ram properly; however, what would you like to say?”

“Simply put, it’s a blunder that Emilia-tan couldn’t be tracked while wandering off. So, I took advantage of that like some sort of villain. Thus, I should squeeze what I can from this situation!”

The shared understanding played out in the expressions around the room.

Emilia stiffened, the twins eyed Subaru with mixed feelings of guilt and enmity, Beatrice apathetically took a sip from her glass, while Pack stumbled face-first into an omelet catastrophe.

Roswaal nodded with a knowing expression and began to agree.

“Ah, indeed, compared to Emilia-sama’s poverty, I would certainly be the more suitable target for seeking rewards.”

“Right? And you can’t refuse it! I mean, I’m Emilia-tan’s life-saver and I managed to prevent a Royal Selection dropout! In short, I’m pretty much a savior for the Emilia-tan side during the selection!”

“That’s acknowledgeable. It’s the truth. Now, with that established, let me inquire.”

Roswaal stood up, his tall frame looking down upon Subaru.

Determined, Subaru met that gaze, the pressing weight of the situation heavy, comparable to their first encounter.

Emilia anxiously clasped her hands together.

“Let’s proceed.”

Feeling her tension, Subaru nodded sharply.

“I’m all ears; keep it wide open.”

“What do you desire from me? I cannot refuse what you say now. Whatever treasure or luxury you desire, or even if it’s some wild indulgence to cover up the emblem’s loss, I will do anything.”

“Heh heh heh, just as I expected of a noble! You really comprehend negotiation!”

Nudging his thin chest with his elbow, Subaru wore a lewd grin.

Behind him, the sound of dwindling goodwill was painful but built to this moment. With a bad-boy demeanor, he stretched his arms out to declare,

“So rewards are granted as you wish! And you can’t refuse! That’s a pact between me and Rosu-chi! Break it and you’ll chow down on a thousand needles!”

“Should I make it to a hundred, I might seem to be risking death. Now then, I’ll accept that promise.”

“A man doesn’t say things twice, does he?!”

“What a phrase! Men should certainly keep their word; I will not.”

Thus, the negotiations bathed in camaraderie continued under such agreements.

In the face of all that, Subaru crossed his arms firmly and stated,

“So, consider hiring me as a worker at your mansion.”

The lengthy preamble weighed less than this bright conclusion.

The women behind him remained astounded by his request. Confusion washed over the twins partnered by Beatrice’s displeased look. Above all, Emilia exclaimed,

“I-I don’t want to deny it, but that…”

Gaping like a fish, her bewildered expression spun charm away in panic.

Subaru nodded back at her and shrugged regretfully.

“Honestly, I knew it might not be funny for you—since it’s a repeat. But having learned from experience, my only way out is to ride successful methods again…”

“That’s not what I’m saying…! You have no greed at all!”

Emilia blurted, slamming onto the table and stepping closer to Subaru. Her finger jabbed at his chest, rebuking,

“Honestly, at that moment when you heard my name in the Royal Capital, you felt like you might get a reward, and…”

She listed all the scenarios where she could have returned courtesy for his life-saving moments. As she shook her head in utter disbelief at the disparity between expectation and reality, she faltered.

“You don’t comprehend the gratitude I owe you. I can’t repay a life saved in an insignificant manner…”

Her voice weakened, and the urgency in her finger dragged off Subaru’s heartbeat.

Hearing her tearful complaints, Subaru cursed his own thoughtlessness.

She must have carried a heavy burden, mustn’t she? Pondering this unfairness in the perceived balance of indebtedness.

Yet this feeling weighed equally upon Subaru.

He too harbored his own debts toward her. And that debt wasn’t something he could ever demand from her. It lingered within gravity directed towards Pack as well.

While the two silently shared their heartfelt confusion, Roswaal stealthily approached Beatrice.

More accurately, he sidled up to speak with Pack, who was beside her.

“What’s this? Are you also gonna reward that kid?”

“Yeah. Seems like he wants to stroke my body freely. A top-tier fluff enthusiast, apparently.”

“Big Brother!? What an irritating fellow he is… Is it time to kick him out?”

Unknowing concerns about Subaru’s exile were brewing in the background. While ignoring that reality, Subaru placed a hand gently on Emilia’s delicate shoulder.

With her amethyst eyes glistening, Emilia gazed up at Subaru, her lips trembled in silence.

—Oh no, she’s super cute.

That impulse sparked a strong desire to steal a kiss, but he miraculously managed to rein it in.

With utmost sincerity, he shared his honest thoughts with her.

“Emilia-tan, you haven’t quite understood. I genuinely desire what I want deeply from the bottom of my heart.”

“—Huh?”

“Back then, I wanted to know your name. I meant it; I was seriously wanting to know. I was extremely hungry and anxiously stumbling in this new world, feeling overwhelmed, needing many things. Upon reflection… But I’m the type of guy who never lies to himself.”

In three instances, he had died for that reason.

To know the name of the silver-haired girl before him, he dedicated everything within.

At that moment, he could wish for no greater reward.

“The same goes for my request to Roswaal. To be honest, I’m completely broke at this point! To trade for fleeting pleasures now feels misguided, both financially and mentally. This is genuinely my best choice.”

“—-You can just stay as a guest without being hired.”

“—-That angle works!? Roswaal!?”

Whirling around at her tearful rebuttal, he turned toward Roswaal with a glimmer of hope. But he faced an “X” made with both hands before his face.

“Your initial request is valid. Men never lie; that includes me.”

“Woah! You are right! Men don’t say things twice, do they?!”

As someone else’s words echoed within, he was dejectedly rejected.

Sorrowfully conceding, Subaru began to contemplate his future employment while reflecting…

“I wish I could rewind that moment and restate, ‘Provide for me!’…”

“Just now, you looked exceptionally serious for a split second… Was that just my imagination?”

“Emilia-tan, I’m being judged even by you! Such misfortunes in every regard!”

Subaru, who lost his ideal hikikomori life in this world due to his own slip of the tongue. In addition to getting a warm regard from the beautiful girl, he found it problematic.

In a mental state akin to shedding blood tears of agony, Subaru bit his lip and fixed an adorable glare toward Roswaal.

“Anyway… that’s the situation. It seems like it’s tough for just Ram-chi and Rem-rin to sustain the mansion, so I’m counting on you to put me into a servant role.”

“That’s a pressing issue, no doubt. However… I agree with Emilia’s statement; it seems like a story lacking ambition, doesn’t it?”

With his hands tucked into the sleeves of his jester-like outfit, Roswaal was finally wearing a genuinely thoughtful, somewhat amused expression.

To that, Subaru wagged his finger at him, saying, “Tsk tsk.”

“I’m an incredibly greedy man. Because think of it? I’d practically gain a touching relationship under one roof with a super cute, super ideal, super beautiful girl. By getting the servant’s status I may even find some chances for… lucky and unexpected encounters! The possibilities are endless, and I feel excited about tomorrow!”

“I see. That quite certainly makes sense. Securing a workplace close to your ideal woman is indeed a rare opportunity. Such an interesting proposition indeed.”

“Well, there’s that.”

Stopping the wagging finger and unceremoniously running it through his black hair, Subaru turned his gaze away to the ceiling.

“Someone like me, who’s so confused, is better kept close than left unattended. From that proximity, you can judge whether I’m useful or harmful for Emilia-tan.”

Without a safety net in place, if he were to just stroll out of the mansion, it wouldn’t bode well for him, in all likelihood.

Such statements fell within reasonable realms but also tested Roswaal’s character.

Any hint of exasperation would have left him speechless. However, despite Subaru’s tense feelings,

“I’ll trust you on that. –Bear in mind, I hope we can all get along.”

Roswaal crisply replied to that, yet the emotions behind those mismatched colored eyes of his remained completely unreadable.

As a side note, due to the sheer impulsive nature of the discussions, Subaru felt a little flush when he turned back and shyly peered at Emilia’s expression.

“You are quite the oddball, Subaru… What’s the matter?”

She returned with such nonchalance, only serving to perplex him more.

It must be that with the beauty she possesses, she is likely well-accustomed to flirtation and charming remarks.

“I wonder if I can really keep talking to Emilia-tan with such impulsive carries on…”

A sigh slipped out, filled with foreboding thoughts entangled within his future.

As an uncertain life in this unfamiliar world loomed overhead, Emilia quietly offered a small, serious insight.

“Wanting a job with girls is impure… I wonder, who did Subaru prefer between Ram and Rem?”

She placed her finger on her lip, filled with completely baseless conjectures, her heart swelling with excitement over her ungrounded imagination.