“Seriously, Subaru, you’re such a hard worker!”

“Really?”

With Emilia’s voice praising him, Subaru puffed up his nostrils.

He had just finished wringing out the rag he pulled up from the bucket and was diligently wiping the floor. While he was cleaning the guest room, the owner of that voice, Emilia, peeked in.

She casually nodded while brushing her long silver hair back and said, “It’s surprising you’re back to work so soon after all that commotion with the Beast. I didn’t expect it.”

“Hehe, it’s nothing really… Wait!? Is this you scolding someone just back from an illness for overdoing it?!”

“Well, I didn’t mean to… but now that you mention it, maybe I should say it. No more pushing yourself, Subaru. Take it easy for a bit.”

“Ugh, talk about a sore topic!”

Subaru regretted overthinking things when he could have just taken the compliment.

However, just as Subaru was reflecting on this, a third party’s voice began to emerge from around Emilia’s shoulder.

It was a small gray kitten crawling out from her long silver hair.

“You fell for it, Subaru. You thought if I let Emilia praise you, you wouldn’t dive deep into analyzing it like this. Just as I had intended.”

“Pack, what the… that’s such a roundabout way to do things! What’s your goal?!”

“Heh, it’s obvious. I’m a whimsical Spirit Cat. Just as I bewilder humans with my cuteness and fluffiness, this is just a bit of mischief… meow meow meow!”

“Seriously, Pack, stop saying weird things. You shouldn’t be bothering Subaru.”

The mischievous Spirit Cat confessed to his antics just as Emilia, holding him in one hand, apologized to Subaru.

“I was just taking a stroll around the mansion after finishing my studies when Pack said he found you…”

“It’s totally fine! Honestly, I want to spend every second I can with Emilia-chan. I actually owe my gratitude to Pack for this little scheme of his!”

“Is that so? I don’t really understand, but I’m glad you’re not angry. That’s a relief.”

“Didn’t you get that? I told you straight up! How could you not understand!?”

With a smile, Emilia furrowed her well-shaped brows at Subaru’s complaint.

It was an almost direct confession of affection, but sadly, it seems it didn’t really register well with Emilia. If it went any further, he might just have to resort to outright words.

“You see, guys want to choose the right situation, mood — they want to pick a lucky day to express their feelings…”

“Also, I recommend doing it at night. If I’m awake, I’ll definitely interrupt.”

“Now that’s a level of fatherly protection that’s downright transparent.”

It’s common for parents not to approve of their daughter’s relationships, but witnessing Pack’s behavior makes it clear that it doesn’t change even in another world.

Glaring at Pack, the Spirit Cat puffed out his chest proudly and said, “Of course. Given how cute Emilia is, you have no idea how many insects come crawling around her. If I don’t chase them away, it would be endless, wouldn’t it?”

“No, really, you should just pick one of those bugs quickly.”

“Absolutely no bug with a nasty look for me. And it’s just weird to let bugs near Emilia. I’ll take a millennium or so to find the right match for her.”

“A myth-level scale!”

It was as if a doting father was at his peak, but the issue remained that with a half-elf and a Spirit, there was a real possibility of needing to wait that long.

Unfortunately, Subaru, as a human, couldn’t quite compete with that scale.

“I’d say pushing myself to the limits, I could manage about a hundred and twenty at most…”

“—? What are you even talking about?”

“Oh, I was just talking about my lifespan.”

“Lifespan…? No way, Subaru, that’s creepy. You’re still a kid, so worrying about that is far too early.”

“Hmm, we’re definitely seeing things differently here…”

Chuckling softly, Emilia covered her mouth, as if hearing a hilarious joke.

Subaru, while smiling wryly at Emilia’s cheerful demeanor, was genuinely happy to see the girl he liked smile. It was a complicated feeling, but he needed to at least get her to notice him.

“At the very least, while being treated like a kid, I’ve got to step up to the ring.”

“That’s a good mindset, Subaru. For starters, you need to become more capable. If not, you won’t be allowed across our threshold.”

“This is Roswaal’s mansion, right? What do you mean threshold?”

Upon hearing Subaru’s quiet determination, Emilia looked at Pack with her arms crossed, pondering.

But Subaru wasn’t disheartened by that question. Once he had a target, he’d go straight for it.

“Hey, watch it, Pack. I’m not the type to shy away from doing the same thing day in and day out. Like leveling up in a game!”

“Ha ha ha, foolish human. Prove that you’re not just a loudmouth! I’ll be waiting with the princess at the deepest part of the castle. Go on, princess!”

“Princess? You mean me? Well, I’m aiming to be a king, not a princess…”

The two of them, Subaru and Pack, excitedly bantered as Emilia smiled at Subaru, who still had his rag wringing while offering encouragement.

“But do your best at your job, okay? If you work hard, I’m sure someone will notice you.”

“I don’t just want someone; I want Emilia-chan to notice me…”

“Alright, alright, I get it. I can’t watch all the time, but I’ll come check on you now and then. Plus…”

Lowering her brows just lightly, Emilia paused for a moment.

Then, turning to Subaru with a smile that could make anyone fall for her, she said,

“The one who notices how hard they’re trying the most is yourself, right? So, to not let yourself down, you’ve got to do your best.”

She pinpointed the essence of effort and made Subaru fall for her all over again.

△▼△▼△▼△

“Thinking back on that episode where I fell for Emilia-chan again… but man, this is exhausting.”

Muttering that, Subaru looked around the messy inside of the tent, scratching his head.

He was working as a laborer in a campsite used by the soldiers of the Volakia Empire, after being picked up until the supply squad arrived in town.

In place of the immobile Rem and the gluttonous Lui, Subaru was practicing “Those who don’t work shall not eat.” Hence, he didn’t mind helping out the Empire’s soldiers, like Todd, who had provided him with bedding, meals, and even treated his injuries.

However—

“Ugh, being treated like this really takes its toll…”

Sighing, Subaru began to repack the scattered supplies on the ground.

Of course, even if the soldiers were rough and haphazard, they wouldn’t store supplies meant to sustain their front-line life so carelessly.

Originally, he had just tidied up the stock the day before. The reason for the mess now was simple.

“It’s harassment from someone with a bad personality…”

“Ah—”

“Oh, or maybe you were the one messing it up at night. Looks like you’re ready to reveal your evil nature, Archbishop of Sin?”

“Uu?”

Glancing at him while cleaning up the scattered materials, Subaru glared at Lui, who was peeking at what he was doing.

Lui merely bit her finger and gave a vague response to Subaru’s question. Somehow, it seemed she had no intention of letting her true colors show just yet.

Still, if she could keep hiding them indefinitely, it would be a relief for Subaru.

“…So what am I supposed to think about Rem’s words from yesterday?”

This morning, Lui had been following Subaru, waddling cutely alongside him.

He could still remember the piercing gaze from Rem, who was off separately doing rehab, but it was troublesome for Subaru to have her sticking close to him for no reason.

Anyway, a newfound reason for Subaru’s difficulty in interacting with her compared to yesterday was the information he had received from Rem—Lui didn’t carry any of the Witch’s lingering scent.

“—”

He had never given it much thought, but it’s unlikely that the Witch’s lingering scent is uniquely Subaru’s trademark.

After all, Rem had also used those words against the Witch Cultists before. She should have reacted to Petelgeuse and the Witch Cultists he led.

In that sense, Subaru had grown progressively denser with every return by the Witch’s toxic presence, and it was certainly unusual from Rem’s viewpoint when she had been favorable towards him.

“The Urgalm and the White Whale battle… I’ve certainly had my share of troubles with toxic energy, but the fundamental issue is that it tends to attract unnecessary disasters.”

While there were indeed situations where it had been beneficial, at this moment, it was merely a reason for Rem to dislike him, so Subaru’s impressions of its toxic nature were at an all-time low.

No matter how much he ruminated over it—

“There’s no way the Archbishop of Sin has no connection to the Witch Cult…”

Thus, Subaru arrived at this conclusion.

Without knowing the actual causes or specifics behind the toxic energy’s emergence, it would be considered empty speculation, but he still felt some things were non-negotiable.

The connection between the Archbishop of Sin and the “Witch” was undeniably clear, and they formed the embodiment of evil through the Witch Cultists.

However—

“Conversely, could it be reasoned that those without lingering toxic presence aren’t connected to the Witch Cult? Even if it’s right before me?”

“Aoo—?”

Beside Subaru, engrossed in his anxious thoughts, Lui merely made a silly face, letting out a strange sound.

With a sigh at that, Subaru decided to sit up straight and resume tidying the disorderly tent around him.

Tools that were leaning against one another had fallen over, and neatly arranged packages had been unwrapped and their contents spilled everywhere.

It looked like the doing of a child.

“Well, it’s probably just some simple harassment…”

Given the disarray of the newly organized tent, it was more likely the result of someone’s petty sabotage or interference than Lui’s antics.

Since he was in the Empire’s camp, it was understandable, but there would be interactions with people other than Todd. And usually, their attitudes were anything but friendly.

Todd himself had mentioned he was an oddball, so it was likely true.

“Still, this is much better than suddenly getting punched or having my shoes eaten.”

While it was undeniable that his standards of happiness and normalcy were lowered, the situation was undeniably easier because he hadn’t received such a painful welcome.

That said, Subaru was used to being distanced or treated as a nuisance.

He hadn’t spent two years floating around without tripping up during his high school debut for nothing. While there hadn’t been outright bullying, he had been well-acquainted with the bitter atmosphere.

Given that, it seemed his classmates from high school were, overall, decent good people.

Even though they treated him like air, they weren’t the sort to go out of their way to harass or hurt him.

“Here’s hoping those kind-hearted folks are thriving over there. I hope Inahata-kun, who went out of his way to deliver notes to me, is doing great.”

Remembering the now-faded faces of his classmates, Subaru managed to clean up the tent in about the same time as yesterday, though it was still messy.

That said, since it felt like he was covering up a hole only to dig it back up, today’s efforts were completely in the red.

He wanted to lean on what Emilia had told him before—that someone, at least himself, was keeping an eye on his efforts.

“Right now, if the one watching is you, then it’s not motivating at all. At least if Rem were watching, I’d feel a lot different…”

“Oh-oh, uh-oh!”

Lui seemed to have learned a little from being scolded, as today she at least didn’t try to meddle with Subaru’s work. Just that much of a relief, and Subaru stepped outside to move on to the next tent—

“—Whoa!?”

Just as he exited the tent, he tripped over something and fell flat on his face.

Instinctively, he tried to put his hands down, but while the right hand was fine, the left hurt slightly. Even though it was healing, the scars Rem left hadn’t completely disappeared.

“Guh…,” Subaru groaned, looking back to see—

“Well, well, look who’s a coward. What’s wrong, crawling on the ground like that?”

“It’s you…”

Before Subaru’s wide eyes stood a rough-looking man, all the more shabby with a bandana over one eye and a scruffy beard, the embodiment of a ruffian—who was the very person who had made Subaru eat dirt in this camp.

He was definitely referred to as—

“Jamal, was it… agh!?”

“Just Jamal. You really are a helpless wretch, aren’t you? What happened to the woman you were with, huh?”

At the moment Subaru realized he had omitted the surname, Jamal wasted no time in taking direct action.

He stepped on Subaru’s left hand, still wrapped in splints and bandages, grinding it mercilessly with his heel.

The pressure on the fingers rekindled painful memories, so Subaru suppressed the scream that clawed at his throat while enduring it.

“Aahh—!”

“Hah? What?”

With that, Jamal stepped on Subaru’s hand, and while he yelled, Lui clung desperately to Jamal’s leg. The little girl’s weight didn’t budge Jamal an inch, who was muscular and trained.

Jamal grabbed Lui by her long hair, yanking her away without mercy.

“Hey, what the hell? She’s just a kid!”

This made Subaru flare up without thinking.

Hearing his words, Jamal grimaced, yanking on the hair he grabbed and causing Lui to scream, “Aah!”

“What about being a child, huh? I heard you’re pretty cold to this brat, so what, you suddenly have a change of heart?”

“That’s not it… if you push her too much, you’ll regret it.”

“Spare me the nonsense. Come up with a better excuse.”

He snorted, and Jamal swung his arm, flinging the girl down to the ground. Lui rolled, her hair pulled back as she clutched her head and glared at Jamal, teary-eyed.

Honestly, Jamal’s violence could easily trigger Lei to revert back to her former state. Subaru’s desperate words, while not completely baseless, were not entirely unfounded.

Fortunately or not, there was no sign of Lui returning to her previous self due to the pain and anger inflicted. In this scenario, it was hard to determine who benefitted from that reality.

“An ill-mannered child, huh? No, it’s not just about the child. I don’t like you, and I don’t like that other woman, either!”

“Guh!”

Speaking as he did, it looked like anger had swelled up within Jamal. He kicked Subaru square in the side of the head. Caught off guard, Subaru had his mouth agape, and his teeth cut up inside, while blood began to pour freely.

In an instant, the taste of iron filled his mouth as he looked up at Jamal.

“Ugh… just so you know, we were guaranteed by Todd, and he said we could stay here…”

“Ha, so you’re close with Todd, huh? Is that really your only hope?”

“—”

“Too bad, my rank is above that guy. I can choose not to help you, and I’m not obligated to do what you say.”

With a rough voice, Jamal stepped toward Subaru again. Subaru instinctively curled up to protect his head, but the next kick landed in his gut.

The toes dug into his stomach, twisting painfully and causing Subaru to moan. Over and over, Jamal’s relentless kicks fell.

“First off, I’ve seen your girl getting taken down by my two subordinates by the riverside. Since those useless ones can’t serve any purpose anymore, I need to send them back. You’ve given me quite a headache. You really ought to pay for this… and Todd should have disposed of any extra trash before they found you.”

“—!”

“Had you not been carrying that knife around, you’d have been shredded and done for. Military life is tough, huh?”

With each incessant kick and aggravating taunts, the intentions of Jamal laid completely bare without having to glance up at him.

Jamal’s aim wasn’t merely to hurt Subaru; the goal was something beyond that.

Most likely, it was to provoke Subaru into retaliation, to use it as an excuse for a despicable act of revenge.

While Jamal had claimed to disregard Todd’s words, it was clear there was an undeniable connection born from the previous incident when Subaru had been forced to eat dirt.

That was why Jamal needed a reason. A reason to kill Subaru.

Ultimately, it would also be a reason for revenge against Rem.

In that case, Subaru wouldn’t bite the bait.

To divert Jamal’s vile malice towards Rem, Subaru would endure even if his left fingers were broken, or even if the rest met the same fate. That would be a victory for Subaru.

Through sheer endurance, he would hold on, no matter how long—

“—Hey, what’re you doing over there?”

“Damn it.”

Just as Subaru managed to continue enduring, a different voice interrupted Jamal’s. Immediately, Jamal clicked his tongue and stepped back slowly.

Then, a young man with orange hair walked in, making his presence known.

“I heard you were headed this way for no reason, so I thought I’d check in on you, and sure enough, it was you.”

“Todd? Aren’t you being too overprotective? You really like your imperial dagger, huh? Doing all this just to curry favor with such a coward…”

“……Jamal.”

Todd squinted at Jamal, the atmosphere between the two turning slightly hostile, yet suddenly, Jamal shrugged it off with a voice saying, “Whatever,” cutting tension in an instant.

Jamal then glanced down at Subaru, who he had been tormenting just before.

“Better be careful around here from now on. If you trip like you did just now, no one will be there to catch you. Hahaha.”

With that, he reminded Subaru as if he had never attacked him, passing by a smirk with Todd.

Subaru couldn’t muster a word to stop him. If he reported the incident here, it would be tantamount to accepting Jamal’s provocation.

And once Jamal was completely out of sight, Subaru slowly pushed himself up.

“Ah, damn… that hurt… That guy… he really has the soul of a rotten woman. He’s so disturbingly cruel….”

Certainly, the tone was drenched in resentment towards Rem, but the truth was it was merely a matter of bad character.

After all, when Rem had first done something, it was likely because Jamal had provocatively confronted her with that same attitude.

Of course, there was always the possibility that Rem had jumped into action out of sheer misunderstanding with no memories.

“That’s just how Rem is, not her fault.”

Judging her quite leniently, Subaru spat out a mouthful of mixed blood and saliva and slowly rose to his feet.

“`

「That’s quite a disaster, huh?」

Todd approaches Subaru, whose state is barely upright, with a grimace on his face. If he hadn’t shown up, Jamal’s assault would have likely continued.

I’m grateful he interrupted that. But more importantly—

“I’m fine. More importantly, what about Rem…?”

“That girl is helping with the cooking. If you just let her sit in a chair, she manages quite well. Jamal won’t do anything when there are people around… or at least, he shouldn’t.”

With such a vague assurance, Subaru couldn’t be calmed down.

He wipes the blood from his lips and glances at his left hand. The splint has come off, and the bandages are unraveling. The fingers that were supposed to be healing have started to turn an unpleasant color again.

“Yikes… looks like I’ll need bandaging again. Seriously, damn Jamal.”

“…What’s that guy like?”

“Jamal? He’s my peer from the military, a rising star. He’s a lower noble, and it’s not a dream for him to be promoted to a third general… Ah, do you know what a third general is?”

“No, I don’t. Is it a rank?”

When Subaru shakes his head, Todd nods with a raised finger.

According to him, the Volakia Empire has a rank system known as ‘General.’ It goes from soldier, corporal, third general, to second general—

“When you reach the rank of first general, there are only nine in the empire, a special class. Directly under the emperor, they’re called the ‘Nine Divine Generals.’ Well, once you get that far, it’s no longer about lineage or achievements.”

“So, it’s about talent.”

“Exactly. That’s why folks like us aim for around third general.”

Listening to Todd’s untroubled account, Subaru recalls Jamal’s earlier attitude.

A ‘General’ is essentially an officer in the military, but it’s hard to believe Jamal has the capacity for that.

Self-centered and lacking empathy; he’s the painfully incompetent superior type.

“When it comes to the battlefield, they say a soldier can die from errant arrows flying from behind—I want you to tell that to Todd about him.”

“That sounds scary. So, how will you handle the bandaging?”

“Could I ask you to do it? … After I see Rem’s face first.”

“Good grief, you’ve really got it bad for her, huh? … The poor girl on this side of things.”

Despite the pain in his fingers, confirming Rem’s safety is top priority. Todd shrugs and gestures to Lui, who’s curled up in front of the tent.

With her hair grabbed by Jamal, she’s growling low like a beast.

“She doesn’t like being assaulted, huh? I like a girl with a strong fighting spirit.”

“Ah! Ugh, ah!”

Facing Todd’s smile, Lui howls in response.

Subaru almost suggests Todd take her in, but quickly zips his lips, fearing it would lead to trouble with Rem.

△▼△▼△▼△

“That smell—did you injure yourself again?”

“Ugh… can you tell?”

“I can. There are kids watching, so please behave yourself.”

That was Rem’s warning as they shared the same table during lunch.

While it had aspects he couldn’t entirely agree with, there was no benefit in arguing, so he just nodded. Beside him, Lui mimicked his nod.

This was after receiving treatment from Todd’s kindness following Jamal’s malicious bullying.

After confirming that Rem was safe, Subaru received treatment in the medical tent—much to the amazement of the nurse, who recognized him again—and finishing up a separate tent arrangement, joined everyone for lunch.

Lunch at the encampment was more like a rationing system. It involved gathering from the recipients at the distribution point, forming an appropriate group, and tidying up in succession.

Since Rem was helping prepare and serve the meals, and out of consideration for outsiders, Subaru and his group were left with the scraps toward the end.

“Well, I can’t complain about standing. As long as there’s something to eat, that’s a win.”

He brought meals for himself and Rem, setting them on a small table at the edge. Lui also selfishly secured her portion.

Thus, the three reluctantly gathered at the table to have their late lunch.

“What were you up to until now? Did you have any troubles?”

“Not particularly. They were mindful of my legs… The only thing I helped with was some minor cooking. Even then, I was being coached through it.”

“Being coached… Did you manage to pick up anything?”

“——”

Faced with Subaru’s rapid-fire questions, Rem narrowed her light blue eyes and pressed her lips together.

Realizing he might have pushed too hard, Subaru felt anxious, but Rem soon sighed and said,

“…To say I wasn’t expecting that would be a lie.”

“Rem…”

“I thought if I tried various things, I might find something that fits my hands. But that was overly optimistic.”

As she quietly looked down at her hands, Rem muttered as if ashamed of her own naivety.

However, who could she possibly scold for harboring such expectations? In a situation where she couldn’t recall the elements that made her who she was, how could one judge her desire for answers?

“…Why do you look like you’re suffering more than I am?”

“Why? Well, that’s because…”

“——You know the person I used to be; I understand that much. There’s no need to doubt it.”

Subaru was startled by Rem’s statement as she gazed intently at him.

Thus far, she had only expressed negative views towards Subaru, and this was the first sign of her coming closer to him.

Could it be she understands? Hope bloomed in Subaru’s chest.

However—

“Yet, no matter how many times you call out ‘Rem,’ I cannot accept that as my name. No matter what you say, that’s how it is.”

“Ah…”

“Maybe if this child spoke of it, it would be different.”

As she spoke, Rem’s expression softened as she stroked Lui’s head beside her. Lui remained focused on devouring her meal at the table, oblivious to Rem’s gestures.

Even if there was a kindness about her, it was unlikely that if Lui had any proper self-awareness, she would speak of Rem. Even if she could, Subaru wouldn’t allow it. Something about the hostility would not fade away.

“What’s with that frown? This is quite a gloomy table, isn’t it?”

Todd cheerfully interrupts the trio’s rather heavy dining atmosphere.

His entrance comes just as that awkward silence begins to stretch. Relieved by the change in atmosphere, Subaru nods toward the man who sits beside him, “It’s you, Todd.”

Thanks to this friendly guy, I’ve been saved from the Jamal incident and more.

“I appreciate your concern, but don’t you have to eat with your friends?”

“Eh? Well, they’re folks I’ve known for a long time, so it’s not like one or two meals won’t change our relationship. More importantly, I need to promote myself to you lot.”

“Even if you promote yourself, I don’t have any cash to spare.”

“Think of it as performance pay or a deferred payment. Just consider it an investment.”

With his lighthearted tone, Todd seemed to shift the mood, and he leaned closer to Subaru, wrapping an arm around his shoulder.

He pulled Subaru closer, whispering,

“You seem to be speaking well compared to yesterday. Have you made up?”

“Made up…? Who knows? I want to believe my sincerity reached her a bit.”

“——I can hear you! If you think we’ve made up, you’re mistaken.”

“Ugh!”

Rem pouts, expressing dissatisfaction toward the conversation between the two men. Even Lui seems to align with Rem, wiping her mouth as if to prove her allegiance.

The combination of Rem’s cold response and the way she accepts Lui only deepens the weight in Subaru’s chest.

Todd, wrapping an arm around Subaru’s shoulder, sensed that weight and lightly tapped it with his hand.

“Don’t get too down. Just being able to talk like this at a distance and place is already far superior, compared to me.”

“Hey, by the way Todd, didn’t you say something about being separated from your fiancée?”

“Yeah. My fiancée is living in the Imperial Capital. Not only do I have to get this mission done, but the separation time is way too long. Honestly, it’s been lonely and frustrating. Right?”

“Is that loneliness the reason you’re coming to us so much?”

“Exactly. So just let me make use of you as much as possible. Glad I picked you up.”

In a bid to alleviate the tension, Todd’s kindness makes Subaru grateful on the inside. Saying thanks directly feels a bit awkward, but it seems Todd sensed that.

With that attitude, the four of them continue their meal together, but—

“Honestly, I heard that we could hitch a ride with the supply team, but how long do you think it’ll take you guys to finish your mission?”

“As I mentioned before, until we find the ‘People of Shudrak’ hiding in the forest… If we can’t find them, we could be left here for years. Serving in the administration isn’t easy.”

“The ‘People of Shudrak’…”

Subaru pondered, taking a bite of his wooden spoon, and looked at Todd’s serious expression.

When he first heard the term “People of Shudrak” from Todd at this encampment, Subaru had suspected it referred to the masked man he encountered in the woods.

He owed that man a debt for lending him a knife. So he hadn’t brought it up with Todd, but now he starts to feel bad for keeping it to himself.

In terms of assistance, Todd had certainly helped him just as much as the masked man.

So, why should he convey his loyalty to the masked man but not to Todd?

“What do you plan to do once you find the ‘People of Shudrak’? Given that you’ve set up camp like this, you’re going to fight… right?”

“——”

Subaru tried to ask in a casual tone, but an undeniable sense of tension slipped into his voice.

In fact, though the topic had not come up, he could tell from Rem’s expression that she reacted to it. Even while trying to ignore it, she showed a response to the word “fight.”

And Todd squints at Subaru’s words.

“No, ideally, we don’t want to fight. It seems that’s the consensus among the ‘Generals.’ I don’t know the details, but apparently, the ‘People of Shudrak’ are quite a powerful tribe. If it comes to a fight, we would certainly struggle; this time, negotiations seem to be the goal.”

“Negotiations? What kind of negotiations with a forest tribe?”

“Don’t ask too many questions of the foot soldiers!? …I don’t really understand, but maybe it has something to do with swearing fealty to the Imperial Capital or even to His Excellency the Emperor?”

“So the ‘People of Shudrak’ are not loyal to the Emperor of the Volakia Empire?”

“Some don’t. It seems to be typical of the Volakian way, right?”

Todd smiles like a warrior, and Subaru raises an eyebrow in response. Then, quietly, he simply says, “Long live Volakia,” taking in the current exchange.

If Todd’s words hold true, it sounds like the imperial army is also avoiding an attack on the ‘People of Shudrak.’ Thus, it might be more effective for Subaru to provide information to avoid unnecessary bloodshed or conflict.

However, the information Subaru has isn’t significant, and if he were to reveal the circumstances behind keeping it hidden, he would also have to confess about his true identity.

“Ugh, this is tough. If I cater to one side, the other side will suffer…”

“……You seem to always have furrowed brows, don’t you? You’re not exactly the most pleasant-looking person, so wouldn’t it be better to smile a bit more?”

“That’s a harsh critique! …If I always spoke to you with a smile, wouldn’t you respond more gently and cheerfully?”

“Huh?”

Subaru’s heart sank swiftly at Rem’s genuinely puzzled response.

Dropping the forced smile, he slumped his shoulders as Todd chuckled.

“Well, a lengthy journey won’t begin unless you take the first step. I’m watching your earnest efforts, so relax.”

“Thanks, Todd. …What’s the truth behind that frustration from being unable to meet your fiancée?”

“Hahaha, that’s the spirit. Keep up the agony!”

“You jerk!”

Whether he’s comforting or teasing, it’s truly the case that Todd’s attitude is helping him. During this crisis, being able to stay relatively light-hearted is undoubtedly due to him.

That’s why he really wishes for their purposes to be fulfilled soon.

“When do you actually plan to start the assault on the forest?”

“Once the other encampments are settled, we’ll tackle it all at once. The forest is big and deep. Even with a full day, the amount we can cover is limited, but…”

“Yeah, it’s not something that can proceed smoothly. Who knows what’s within that forest? I hear there are massive magical beasts roaming around.”

The masked man, whom Subaru suspects might be one of the ‘People of Shudrak,’ or perhaps a potential predator who could also be a ‘People of Shudrak.’ And the giant snake magical beast he encountered during a skirmish—it sounds like Rem set a trap somewhere in that region.

Thinking about that, he can only imagine the struggles Todd and his team will face as they enter the forest.

Without sharing the reasons, he feels they should at least discuss the traps set by Rem to avoid potential confusion—

“——Magical beasts?”

However, as Subaru ponders, Todd, who had been sipping water, suddenly seems to snap to attention. He wipes water from his mouth with his sleeve and stares wide-eyed at Subaru.

Not understanding the meaning behind his surprise, Subaru echoes, “Huh?”

“Did you just say ‘magical beasts’? Are there magical beasts in that forest?”

“Uh, yeah, I said that… did I say something weird?”

“Of course! Magical beasts don’t just appear out of nowhere! Unless it’s in the land of Lugnica, which is known for magical beasts, this isn’t even near the kingdom’s borders!”

“——”

“This isn’t a joke. Hey, girl!”

With heightened seriousness, Todd directs himself at Rem, making Subaru feel perplexed and speechless. Then Todd turned the question toward her.

Rem directs a reply to Todd’s inquiry, “Yes.”

“Please answer. Did you also see any magical beasts, girl? In this dense forest of Budheim?”

“I’m not sure what you mean by magical beasts, but… if you’re talking about a large green creature, then yes, I’ve seen it.”

“What about its horns?”

“Horns? …I believe they were white and twisted.”

As soon as Todd hears that, his expression hardens, and he stands up abruptly, then looks back at Subaru.

“What kind of magical beast was it? What did it look like?”

“Um, it was a snake. A huge snake. There was this big one, almost ten meters long.”

“One, just one…? Dammit, in such a massive forest, it might not just be one! But you don’t seem to be lying. This changes things!”

Todd scratches his head roughly, then turns his back to Subaru and the others, walking off a few steps before stopping, mouth agape, and swiftly turning back toward them.

“That was valuable information. Without it, we might have been in real trouble. Thanks.”

“——Oh.”

As he excitesly pats both Subaru and Rem’s heads with his rough hand, they can only stare dumbly in shock. But Todd remains unfazed and turns away again.

Then, while facing those who were enjoying their lunch, he claps his hands together.

“All squad leaders, assemble! We’re heading to the ‘General’! There’s an important discussion!”

He gathered the team, causing quite the racket as they rushed toward the important tent where military discussions presumably take place.

With a half-dazed gaze, Subaru and Rem watched him leave.

“That was quite the reaction. Is that creature… is it really such a big deal? Of course, I understand it’s a dangerous creature, but…”

“——No, to be honest, I might not have comprehended its significance properly myself.”

“Ah…”

Rem’s response seemed to fit the description of dubiousness, but Subaru still hadn’t neatly pieced everything together in his mind.

It was such an out-of-the-blue response for him.

“In the Empire, magical beasts are rare…”

That was completely unforeseen—something he had never even imagined.

For Subaru, the connection between living in this other world and the existence of magical beasts was inseparable. Except for his first day in the royal capital, nearly all subsequent events involved magical beasts.

There were the magical beast incidents caused by Meily, the crucial battle against the White Whale that Wilhelm desperately needed to undertake, and the Great Rabbit that aimed to devour the ‘Sanctuary.’

While magical beasts hadn’t directly appeared in Pristella, the Augria Sand Dunes and the Pleiades Watchtower they headed toward to resolve problems could be said to be the main haven for magical beasts.

Of course, the most memorable magical beast for Subaru would then lead back to the ‘Crimson Scorpion.’

“…That moment felt quite sobering, but anyway, I came in thinking of it as something common. So I never even considered that magical beasts could be rare.”

He had thought magical beasts were like monsters in TV games, popping up everywhere in the world. But it seems that isn’t the case.

Looking back, it made sense; lions and giraffes aren’t populated everywhere in the original world either, so perhaps it’s not that surprising.

“I only just found out that Lugnica is called a country of magical beasts…”

Even though magical beasts are mighty, Todd turned pale just at the thought of one showing up. Putting that into common sense, it’s no wonder Lugnica is referred to as a land of magical beasts.

For Meily, she must seem more like a fairy tale existence.

“Then, I wonder if that creature could live like a normal child if she went to a country or region where magical beasts aren’t as common…”

“Um, excuse me.”

As he thought about the future of the girl who had been separated from Meily, he was pulled from his musings by Rem’s voice.

Wondering what she wanted, he turned her way. She pointed at the table, where Lui was now sound asleep, having devoured her meal entirely.

“It seems she’s full and has fallen asleep. She’s pretty heavy, so could you please carry her?”

“Heavy to that extent, huh…”

Chuckling at Rem’s words, Subaru shook his head, resigned. After clearing away the four meals, including Todd’s forgotten ones, he reluctantly picked up Lui.

He could tell that she clung to him occasionally; she was light. She merely looked like a regular girl. Really, she only appeared to be just a regular girl.

“Are you alright, Rem? My back is free if you need…”

“How clumsy of you to suggest that. I don’t need your help. I can manage my own matters…”

Saying that, Rem picked up a wooden stick—a name that barely resembles one, just a thick branch that looks like something she picked up from somewhere.

She’d wrapped cloth around the handle for comfort, forming an improvised walking stick. With that, Rem stood up.

Her steps are still slightly unsteady, but—

“—I’m okay.”

“Is that really the case? Don’t be stubborn; if there’s trouble, don’t hesitate to ask for help.”

“I won’t rely on you. I can handle this.”

“Careful now. You don’t want to drop that child.”

“Hah, got it. But just remember this: the reason I’m carrying this is not because I want to, but for your sake.”

“What on earth is making you say that…?”

Natsuki Subaru, trying hard not to seem like he cares too much for Lui, sighed in exasperation while Rem, using her cane, struggled to follow him with unsteady steps.

For now, Subaru would take Rem and Lui back to the tent they were borrowing and continue packing up the canopy. He was concerned about what Todd and the others would do, though.

“Are you worrying about those people?”

“Uh? Oh, yeah, kind of. No, I’m aware it’s rude to my benefactors. Maybe I was too careless with the beast discussion.”

“Benefactor, you say?”

Feeling like a villain brimming with lies, Subaru couldn’t help but feel a bit down. Meanwhile, Rem, hearing his words, murmured with a sense of depth.

“Benefactor,” she repeated, making it hard to discern the emotions behind it. However, it didn’t seem to express any positive feelings.

“Rem?”

“N-no, it’s nothing. Please don’t mind me.”

“Seriously, saying ‘don’t mind me’ after that is simply impossible…”

“Is that so? Then please don’t talk to me.”

“We’re getting further apart! If you have something to say, just say it! I want to know!”

Walking at Rem’s pace, their progress was painfully slow. Perhaps feeling frustrated about matching his pace to hers, Rem let out a small sigh.

Then, sensing Subaru’s determination not to back down, she leisurely shook her head.

“Um, was it Todd? I don’t have a very good impression of him.”

“Huh? Why’s that? He’s letting us stay at his camp without asking for anything in return and protecting us from that nasty creep, ‘The Shoe Eater.’ It’d be downright absurd not to feel grateful.”

“I’m not saying I don’t feel grateful. I definitely do. But…”

“But…?”

Rem paused, hesitating slightly as Subaru urged her to continue. However, the silence lasted just two seconds before she took a deep breath and said,

“I think it’s hard to trust someone who doesn’t even ask for your name.”

“…”

Subaru couldn’t help but hold his breath at Rem’s words.

He was about to retort what she was saying, but he quickly reflected on the situation.

She had said Todd didn’t even ask for his name.

Recalling that, it was indeed true.

Todd had never once called Subaru by his name; he always referred to him as “you.” It made sense if he didn’t know his name.

But—

“W-wasn’t that just coincidence? Rem, you’re not calling me by my name either—”

“—It’s Natsuki Subaru, isn’t it? Knowing my name and choosing not to use it is different from never trying to learn it from the start. That’s all there is to it.”

“…”

“My opinion ends there. Either way, we have no choice but to rely on those people.”

As she said this, Rem passed by a stopped Subaru and walked ahead.

Watching her move slowly away, Subaru found himself at a loss for words.

Unfortunately, he had no means to break through Rem’s stubborn heart.

As clearly revealed during the beast incident, Subaru was utterly clueless about this world’s common sense. His own Kingdom was unsatisfactory, and the Empire was all but an alien land.

There might be some special significance in the Empire regarding asking for someone’s name. Perhaps it was considered rude to inquire before introducing oneself.

But even if such a rule existed, Subaru couldn’t explain it to Rem. His own ignorance and lack of education infuriated him endlessly.

“…How long are you going to stay there?”

“Ah…”

As he lifted his face at the sudden voice, he found Rem looking back from a short distance ahead.

With a slightly irritated expression, she glared at Subaru, gripping her cane with both hands. The moment he noticed she was waiting for him, a tightness filled his chest.

He nearly dropped to his knees at that moment.

“Ugh…”

“W-what’s wrong!? Are you—”

“No, I just thought Rem was waiting for me…”

“…I won’t say what, but you just lost out.”

With a dull tone and expression, Rem turned her back to Subaru again.

Hurriedly chasing after her, Subaru felt a mix of apology and reflected on her earlier words, narrowing his eyes.

He questioned whether Rem was overthinking things.

△▼△▼△▼△

And thus, the turbulent emotions brewing in Subaru’s heart would not find resolution until the following day.

After parting ways with Todd at lunch, he headed straight into discussions with the so-called “Commander,” which apparently dragged on late into the night.

In the end, after delivering Rem and Lui to the tent, Subaru was left with nothing but restless thoughts as he worked on his assigned tasks, and to top it off, that night Rem treated him even more coldly than before, leaving him feeling utterly out of place.

However—

“Oi, get up, get up. How much longer are you gonna sleep, you?”

“Mn?”

Subaru, who had been sleeping, was abruptly shaken awake by someone.

Being able to wake up quickly was one of Subaru’s few redeeming qualities, but there was a world of difference between waking up on your own and being awakened by someone else. Still somewhat dazed, he opened his eyes to find Todd’s face looming above him.

“…Todd?”

“Ah, looks like you’re exhausted. Can’t blame you for being worn out from unfamiliar work. Anyway, thanks to you…”

“—Natsuki Subaru.”

“Huh?”

As Subaru slowly sat up, Todd spoke rapidly. He looked oddly surprised when Subaru introduced himself.

For a brief moment, he seemed to have no idea what it meant.

“Natsuki Subaru, that’s my name.”

“Mn… ah, so you were worried about being called ‘you’?”

“Well, it wasn’t really so much worrying… but I hadn’t introduced myself, so it felt rude.”

“Heh, that’s overthinking it. But, I got it—Natsuki Subaru, got it down.”

Todd let out a little laugh and slapped Subaru on the shoulder, who was embarrassed enough to look away. Seeing Todd’s unchanged friendly demeanor brought relief to Subaru.

It seemed Rem’s worries yesterday had been overly dramatic, and Subaru’s inner turmoil had been mere delusions.

Apparently, Todd was genuinely forgetful and, mumbling “My bad, my bad,” continued.

“Well, that’s important and all, but there’s something more important we need to discuss. Thanks to what you said yesterday, the strategy has changed among the ‘Commanders.'”

“The strategy has changed… about the forest?”

“Exactly, given that there’s an unknown forest and beasts lurking, the circumstances shift significantly. Our losses would also be considerable. So—”

He paused, grinning broadly. Then, cupping Subaru’s face in both hands, he said,

“We’re going to wrap up this operation quickly.”

“Wrap up? So does that mean you’re going back to your fiancée soon?”

“Ha ha, that’s right!”

Todd nodded enthusiastically, and Subaru shared in his excitement.

With the long-term deployment plans now being altered and the prospect of heading back home, Todd’s joy was multiplied. Clapping hands together, they began to dance in the tent together.

Then, unsurprisingly—

“…Um, could you please keep it down a bit?”

“Ah, sorry, Rem.”

As they sat up, both men were met with a disgruntled glare from Rem, who had just woken up.

Her displeasure wasn’t simply about being woken; it was clear she was annoyed having had her dreams disturbed by the two men celebrating.

Then, shaking her head lightly, she muttered, “Honestly…”

“—? Is it just me, or does it smell strange?”

“Strange smell?”

“Yes, besides your body odor.”

Sniffing and gesturing as if shooing something away, Rem made a dismissive movement toward Subaru. A bit hurt by her actions, Subaru quickly received an apology from Todd.

“I thought we were at a safe distance, but you have a keen nose. But hey, if we don’t act quickly, things might get messy, right?”

“Todd?”

As he spoke, Todd opened the entrance of their tent and beckoned for Subaru and Rem to step outside.

So, Subaru exchanged glances with Rem and handed her the cane before stepping out.

Then standing next to Todd, he looked out.

“…Huh?”

What lay before them was an overwhelming surge of black smoke, accompanied by a fervent burnt odor.

As far as he could see, the massive forest known as **Badheim Forest** was engulfed in fiery flames.

“What the…?”

Next to Subaru, who stood frozen, Rem was left speechless as she witnessed the same sight.

The two of them stood there, paralyzed by the sight of the forest burning away like a nightmare, watching as the lush landscape was consumed by the raging inferno.

“If beasts are lurking as well, it’s impossible to imagine the damage on our side. When I pointed that out, even the commanding **Zikuru** understood.”

“…”

“Thanks to the information you provided, we managed to avoid losing any allies. Huge help, really.”

With that, Todd smiled and slapped Subaru on the back. The casual impact stirred Subaru’s emotions and made his lips tremble. His lungs shook, his throat tightened, and his voice quivered.

This friendly attitude from Todd sparked a question within Subaru.

“W-why…?”

“Why what?”

“Didn’t you say you didn’t want to fight the ‘People of Shudrak’?”

If a battle occurred, it would be a struggle for sure. Negotiation was preferable to demand submission to the Emperor.

Just yesterday, over dinner, Todd had told Subaru that.

So, if that was the case, there wouldn’t be a fight, and Subaru felt some relief inside.

“With this, there’s more than a fight…”

“Yeah, I didn’t want to fight. I have no idea how many casualties we might face. I could die too. But thanks to the material you gave to negotiate with the ‘Commanders,’ we settled the issue. The ‘People of Shudrak’ can’t oppose His Excellency either.”

“—!”

“I can finally return to my fiancée too. No, really, you were a great help. I’ve already talked to the ‘Commanders’ about you, so you can expect a reward.”

Maybe I’ll get a second dagger, he joked before slapping Subaru’s back again.

Then he remembered something and said, “Oh yeah, you were told to show off your achievements before heading back. Sorry, but breakfast might be a little late. But you don’t have to worry about packing up the tent anymore. We’ll be leaving this fort soon.”

“—Huh? Wait, what?”

“Geez, get it together. Don’t make the girl worry.”

He whispered the last part, leaving with a truly kind smile.

In the end, Subaru was left speechless, unable to say anything as he saw Todd’s departing figure grow distant.

“…”

But even if Subaru kept silent and remained troubled, the burning forest before him showed no signs of change.

The raging flames would consume everything, likely incinerating all that lived in that place.

That included the great snake-like beast, the Masked Man in the woods, and the hunters who had been stalking Subaru and the others. Everything would turn to ash.

“—”

Suddenly, as a shock hit him, Rem’s body swayed beside Subaru.

Instinctively, he reached out to steady her slender frame, and the moment he touched her, she went rigid. Looking up at him, Rem’s expression was filled with fear and rejection.

“Ah…”

“You’re not to blame… I know that. But…”

“—”

“Please don’t touch me.”

For a fleeting moment, her overwhelming fear threatened to swallow her, but she managed to force out the words, slowly pushing Subaru’s hand away. She didn’t swat at him or break his hand, just gently moved it aside.

Her honesty rang true. She recognized that the situation wasn’t Subaru’s fault. But that comfort felt trivial.

Seeing what had actually taken place pressed down heavily, far too heavy, on her.

“… That child seems to have woken up.”

As she said that, Rem diverted her gaze from Subaru and the blazing forest, turning away as if she didn’t want to see it, facing Lui inside the tent.

In that moment, Subaru found himself unable to call out to her back.

Within him, he couldn’t make sense of the unfolding events. No matter what he could say, only wrong responses came to mind.

So he couldn’t stop Rem from leaving, slowly and hesitantly.

Unable to halt her—

“—Huh?”

He bit his lip, gazing at Rem’s small back as he suddenly felt a light touch against him.

When he turned his head to see what it was, there was nothing behind his back. But the moment he turned, he glimpsed something skim past at the corner of his vision.

It was almost as if whatever it was had maneuvered behind him when he turned—

“Ugh!!”

Right after, Lui in the tent unleashed a furious shriek like a child throwing a tantrum.

Waking up to be the obnoxious Archbishop of Sin, but now there was a more pressing situation at hand. There wasn’t much he could do, of course.

“Ugh, ahh!!”

Squealing in distress, Lui waddled toward Subaru, flailing in a rough manner. He had no strength to protest or push back.

What a situation he was in, struck by just one arrow.

“Someone! Please, someone come help! This is… This isn’t serious! Because, an arrow wound as shallow as this shouldn’t—”

As she dropped her cane and moved toward Subaru, Rem frantically called out as she examined the wound on his back.

Ah, how kind Rem was. Even if she couldn’t trust Subaru due to the miasma, and even if an unwitting word from him ignited that blazing world, she still raised her voice to help when he collapsed.

In her presence, he felt he could not show his weakness.

How could he stand up and show them it’s just an arrow wound, like he was basking in confidence. Natsuki Subaru.

When watching period dramas or historical shows, he used to think people didn’t have enough spirit to die or become immobile just because of a small arrow.

Of course, if a big arrow pierced through the chest, that was another matter. But as Rem said, the arrow embedded in his back didn’t possess enough force. In fact, it felt like someone had gently patted his back.

So, why was it that—

“—Ugh, b, bleh!”

“—What, no way, poison?”

After expelling the burning sensation rising up, Rem reached the same conclusion as Subaru.

It wasn’t the force of the arrow that could kill him. What killed him was the poison smeared on it, creeping inside.

His limbs felt paralyzed, and his mind dulled as if plagued by a fever. With something oozing from his eyes, nose, and ears, Subaru’s body began to shiver uncontrollably.

Loud ringing filled his ears, drowning out Rem’s worried voice and Lui’s grating cries. They faded away into silence.

Poison, poison, poison, who, why, arrow, hunter, forest, burned, flaming, Natsuki Subaru, unwittingly, beast, Todd, flames, Rem, Rem, Rem—

His consciousness spiraled into confusion as Subaru coughed up blood bubbles, spilling forth a groan. With bloodshot eyes, he strained to see Rem’s face.

And then he noticed it.

—Just thirty meters away, maybe ten seconds if he ran, a small figure was glaring towards him.

“—”

It was a child. A small child with a gaze not too different from Lui.

A child, disturbed, with emotions clouded by anger, clutching a half-drawn bow.

That small girl had likely shot Subaru with a poisoned arrow through sheer will.

“—”

It was only natural to be hated.

It was only natural to wish for his death.

The results of Subaru’s actions had led this girl down a pathway of hatred.

Then, perhaps this punishment visiting him—

“—No! Wait! Please wait! Just wait…”

Desperately, a voice begged in his ear.

He wished he could halt everything. To stop and smile at her, to hold her hand.

But none of that could happen.

None of that could happen while—

Bubbling, bubbling, he spewed blood and convulsed, eyes turning white as he urinated and vomited, releasing his dissolving insides into the darkness.

“Waaaaait…”

A wretched, dirty, thoughtless fool falls into the darkness.

Falling into darkness—

 

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