——Witch of Envy, Satella.

Once a witch that caused the world to scream in terror, she wiped out the power that had been taken from her, obliterating half the world and becoming a supernatural entity feared by all.

Her being is said to be sealed within a crystal by a hero’s hand, unable to unleash destruction even now, still trapped in that state.

Subaru, with his modern-day sensibilities, finds such tales to be absurd.

If judged by the common sense of his original world, such a story seems impossible. While it’s one thing for the wicked deeds to be passed down for centuries, the idea that such a being continues to sleep somewhere in this world is simply unfathomable.

“Well, it is an era where you may not know the president’s name, but you know who the most popular idol is, so it’s not too reliable,” Subaru muses, having no interest in either.

With such reflections, he replays the stories Beatrice had told him, propping his chin up as he glances to his side.

In the garden, illuminated by the morning sun, a soft light drifted around Emilia, who sat atop the green grass.

No matter how often it was repeated, this ethereal scene remained one of the few beauties in this world—Emilia’s morning routine.

To avoid disturbing her, Subaru scratched his head a little further away, suppressing a yawn and letting out a sigh while dressed in butler attire.

A night had passed since his meeting with Beatrice in the Forbidden Library, and they had entered the third morning. After sleeping soundly throughout the previous day, he felt in optimal condition.

There were countless things he wanted to ask Beatrice during the late night, but—

“It’s bad for your skin, so it’s about time for you to sleep. Besides, I wonder if you stayed up late because I had to keep you company,” she had angrily chased him out of the library.

Reflecting on it, she had spent so much time in that room, but where did she sleep in there? Aside from the bookshelves, there was just a stepping stool where Beatrice usually sat, and a desk where Subaru occasionally took a seat. There didn’t seem to be any other noteworthy places in that room.

Surely, it was impossible for her to sleep directly on the floor, considering her personality.

“Does she even have a room? Yet I’ve never encountered it. Not that I expect a stroke of luck with such a little girl,” he thought, feeling the unamusing nature of it all.

If it were meant to be a secret, it would be rather bothersome.

Next time, if the opportunity arises, he should secretly follow Beatrice around for a day.

Once he escaped the loop and could live peacefully in the mansion.

——Once again, Subaru found himself smiling as he gained another reason to keep moving forward.

Then—

“You’ve been looking quite cheerful, haven’t you?”

A voice called out, and looking up, he saw a gray furball.

No, it was a small cat with a pink nose—Pack.

Like a normal cat, he was washing his face with his short paws while saying,

“Honestly, I couldn’t stand watching yesterday. I’m a bit relieved now.”

“I see, sorry for worrying you. But my fragile heart hasn’t completely recovered yet. I want you to comfort me, specifically with lots of fluff!”

“Well, if that’s just some bravado, I guess it’s fine. So that means my efforts in lending my lap to Emilia weren’t in vain.”

He drew the palm-sized cat closer and thoroughly enjoyed its fluffiness. While he had noticed the circumstantial threat of its ears previously, this time he focused on the tail. Especially the fluffy rank around the tip and the base were quite remarkable.

While he was savoring the supreme sensation at his fingertips, Subaru met Pack’s black eyes with his own.

“Hey, did you see me getting a lap pillow from her?”

“If you do it for that long, of course. Sitting in a seiza position for hours is tough. I even suggested switching a few times, but… you can relax. Emilia never passed up her chance until the very end.”

At Pack’s validation, Subaru couldn’t help but redden with embarrassment. Seeing this reaction, Pack said,

“Hey!”

“Ow—!? Why did you scratch me now!?”

“As a female guardian, I found it endearing, but as a male guardian, it left me with an indescribable discomfort.”

“Struggling between the hearts of a woman and a man, huh? You’re complicated!”

“Having a cute daughter makes things tough for a parent. So, give Emilia a bit more space. Move away a little, come on.”

“You’re pulling blatant sabotage now! This distance is my non-negotiable line! It’s what makes it modest when I can’t reach out!”

Subaru bowed his head as he somehow achieved to maintain the current situation.

Then, he looked once more towards Emilia. Engrossed in her conversation with the spirits, she seemed unaware of the chaos unfolding between him and Pack, shattering the morning’s tranquility.

Gazing at her peaceful face, occasionally breaking into an almost breathtaking smile, Subaru softly muttered to himself,

“—A silver-haired half-elf, huh?”

One of the truths about the Witch of Envy that Beatrice had shared.

The witch’s birth, which caused the world to tremble and instilled fear in everyone. To have such a commonality while living must be a heavy burden. Subaru, who did not possess such feelings, could only guess that it must have been no easy path.

Still, she grew up to be such a straightforward and genuine person. Living like a delicate flower, she had probably…

“Had a really fortunate environment. Or maybe…”

“Because she had great guardians. Hehe.”

Pack placed his hands on his hips, looking smug while touching his whiskers.

He was truly an expressive cat. Coupled with his earlier comment, he had clearly grasped Subaru’s thoughts expressed in that monologue.

Subaru fell silent, having been outmaneuvered by words, as Pack began to float around in circles.

“Well, while the child’s inherent nature is significant, I won’t delve into specifics; let’s just say she has faced struggles a thousand times more than you can imagine. —Even so, that’s why she’s so lovable.”

No argument came to mind.

It was true that Subaru knew little about Emilia, and that Pack had shared those unknown days with her. The extent to which Subaru’s imagination reached was limited to the comforts he had been accustomed to, whereas the reality easily surpassed such imaginings, pouncing on him mercilessly.

When fate plays with you, people become that powerless. This was a realization Subaru had come to multiple times since arriving in this world, and Emilia had likely tasted that bitterness many times as well.

“Pack, do you know about the Witch of Envy?”

“I don’t happen to know much that I don’t already, you know.”

“Well then, I want to know… when would someone borrow the name of the Witch of Envy? No, ‘borrow’ sounds kind of wrong. Maybe I should say, ‘when would someone impersonate the Witch of Envy’?”

In his mind, Subaru recalled the events that transpired on the day he was summoned.

It was the very first incident where Emilia had deceitfully claimed her name to be “Satella” before the ignorant Subaru.

Though he could vaguely imagine the intention behind it, he wanted others to affirm his thoughts—someone who was, without a doubt, her greatest understanding friend.

Pack, at a loss to comprehend Subaru’s intentions, fell silent for a moment before slowly speaking.

“I believe that it’s a reckless act, regardless. There are countless people who still harbor resentment against witches, and the fear and despair carved into their hearts won’t just vanish. To impersonate a witch’s name in such context, you’d have to be crazy.”

“I’ll take that!”

“Huh?”

Finger pointed, Pack wore a confused expression.

Leaving him behind, Subaru found himself silently cheering inside, having received just the affirmation he needed.

Yes, at that moment, anyone impersonating a witch would normally be treated as insane. It just happened that Subaru was the exception, being ignorant of the common sense around him.

If so, why did Emilia name herself in such a way when she knew what would happen?

“Perhaps she intended to create distance and keep me from involving anyone in the dangerous business of seeking the emblem.”

He believed that she meant to keep him away.

However, that well-laid plan of Emilia’s had faded into another dimension, with only Subaru being aware of their exchange. And he would likely never have the opportunity to ask her about her true intentions.

Nevertheless, apart from that, he had learned to trust in the feelings she had imparted to him.

In other words,

“Emilia-chan is totally a bosatsu!”

“Don’t associate people with what you don’t understand.”

As Subaru was confirming Emilia’s maternal potential surpassing dimensions, the girl herself approached, smiling wryly.

Having finished her enchanting conversation with the spirits, the soft lights that floated around her had vanished. In their place, Pack, who had been frolicking next to Subaru, landed on her shoulder.

“Home base, home base. This is just the coziest spot.”

“Welcome back. I’m sorry as usual, but if you’re here, the other spirits get a little anxious.”

“Causing anxiety in spirits is a tall tale. You might think it makes me seem important!”

“Hehe, I am. As you see me, I demand to be revered! Specifically, with offerings of dried fish!”

“That’s very cat-like…”

With Pack starting to shake his head like a peekaboo style, Emilia turned to face Subaru again.

With her beautiful face standing directly in front of him, Subaru noticed he was about to avert his gaze.

Feeling thoroughly embarrassed, naturally.

I mean, he’d just been sobbing on her lap and had his head petted for hours before parting. Only one night had passed since then.

How should he face her now? He truly wanted to roll around on the bed holding a pillow, contemplating his dilemma.

Still, just coming to see her—his condition was serious. A serious case of Emilia addiction. He could no longer imagine living without her.

“Uh, it feels a bit awkward… How’s your health?”

“I was suffering some withdrawal symptoms, but I just had them resolved right now, so I’m perfectly fine. How about you, Emilia-chan… um, well, sorry for everything.”

He hesitated to apologize, swallowing his words before rephrasing.

“Thanks for everything. My mind and heart were a mess, but I thought maybe they might be a little better now.”

“It doesn’t sound like you’ve come to terms with things yet, but at least you’ve recognized the need to. That’s forward progress. If I could help just a bit, then that’s good. If you feel worn out again, come to me. I’ll take care of you gently.”

Placing her hand on her chest, Emilia teased him with a smile.

This was likely her kindness intended to soothe Subaru’s sense of guilt. Watching her revel in her elder status put him at ease, but at the same time, it made him doubt how genuine she felt about her words.

“Just being healthy is paramount. After all, I have work today. Did you wake up feeling sleepy after napping at an odd time?”

“Don’t worry about that. A recluse like me usually sleeps during the day and stays awake at night. I’ve just been a bit too healthy lately.”

“You mention that often, but what’s this ‘recluse’ thing all about?”

“Oh, you know, the type who burns charcoal in their room, betting that a pink-haired magician will dive in to save them.”

To be honest, that sort of thing was beyond what people normally did.

Emilia nodded with a slightly taken-aback expression at Subaru’s strange tale. Looking at her response, Subaru suddenly thought,

“Speaking of magicians, you’re one too, Emilia-chan. What kind of magic can you use?”

Questions about what kind of magic someone could use only arise in another world. Subaru found it slightly amusing to voice such a fantastical thought, but Emilia shook her head at the question.

“I’m not a magician per se. While I have a contract with Pack, I’m a spirit-user. What I cast isn’t magic, but spirit arts. The principles are nearly the same, though.”

“There’s a difference between magicians and spirit-users then?”

He tilted his head while glancing at Pack seated on her shoulder. Realizing the focus of the conversation was directed at him, the kitten began fluffing the fur around its belly.

“A magician uses the mana within their bodies. Conversely, a spirit-user uses the mana from the atmosphere. Though the effects may seem similar, there are quite different paths to reach them.”

“So, basically, it’s like a matter of whether or not you use a gate? That’s a pretty big difference, huh? For magicians, the size and number of gates relate directly to their qualities as magicians. But for spirit-users, that’s not a determining factor, since they draw mana independently of gates.”

“Gathering mana from outside through the gate and using the mana accumulated inside to cast magic. So spirit-users don’t have that?”

As he was processing Pack’s explanation, Subaru tilted his head at a sudden thought that had come to him.

“Wait, wait, wait. If that were the case, then it seems really unfairly one-sided for the spirit-user. So basically, a magician relies on internal storage for fuel, but a spirit-user can freely use external fuel… an infinite mana pool makes it a lopsided battle!”

“You’re quick to understand. But it doesn’t play out as conveniently as that. The mana in the atmosphere is not infinite, and…”

Cutting off his words, Pack raised his gaze to Emilia. Receiving that gaze, she continued.

“The strength of the spells that a spirit-user can cast depends on the power of the spirits they control. It seems that there aren’t many contracts with spirits to begin with, so I don’t think you can definitively say either magician or spirit-user is superior.”

“Hmm… but if you were contracted to a strong spirit, that’d be pretty beneficial, right? And Emilia-chan, Pack is actually quite impressive, isn’t he?”

“Well, if you count from the top, he’s not exactly the lowest tier.”

“Surprisingly assertive for someone who seems laid-back… but you really don’t waver when it comes to sticking to your point.”

While Subaru had some thoughts about how strong-willed Pack was, he was still amazed by his unwavering nature. It must be due to experience. After all, the years built up by a great spirit are radically different from those of a youthful person.

Even so, Pack, being quite pleased and blushing slightly from the compliment—Subaru pointed at him.

“By the way, Pack, what kind of spirit are you? In the Thieves’ Repository, you were throwing ice like it was nothing… but if I recall, ice wasn’t even an elemental trait!”

When he’d received his lesson from Roswaal in the bath before, Subaru had only learned about the classical four types of fire, water, earth, and wind, plus the cursed element of yin-yang.

In response to Subaru’s question, Emilia, who had been ruffling Pack’s head, faced him, raising her right palm skyward.

“Ice actually falls under fire mana. Since fire primarily pertains to heat-related mana, both hot and cold essentially fall under the umbrella of fire.”

With a crackling sound, an ice pillar appeared just above her palm.

The ice pillar was about the size of a traffic cone, spinning like a drill with a sharp tip aimed towards him.

“That’s scary, even if it might be unintentional?! If I had a phobia of sharp tips, I’d be wetting myself right now!”

“Oh, I’m sorry. I tried to demonstrate clearly and ended up… I made it but now I’m not sure what to do with it.”

“That’s dangerous thinking—exhibiting things aimlessly! I prefer the demure and delicate Emilia-chan!”

“Okay, okay.”

With an indifferent reply, Emilia clapped her hands, causing the ice pillar to dissipate.

Instead of melting or shattering, it scattered into a fine powder, literally vanishing into thin air.

There was something mysterious about how that was accomplished, yet that bit of fantasy continually captivated Subaru’s curiosity.

Perhaps that eager sensation showed on his face? Noticing Subaru’s silence, Pack suddenly asked,

“Hmm, are you perhaps wanting to learn magic?”

“Can I!? If so, I’d love to try casting a huge annihilation spell…”

“Unfortunately, no. Whether it’s magic or spirit arts, you mustn’t underestimate the basics. Magic is not acquired in a day.”

As Pack knocked Subaru’s bubbling curiosity down a peg, he crossed his arms. With his enthusiasm dampened, Subaru slouched. Perhaps out of sympathy, Pack twirled around while fiddling with his whiskers.

“But I can at least give you a simple experience, maybe?”

“Like what?”

“Basically, since you want to learn magic, either I or Emilia can assist you. We’ll use the mana within you to help you cast magic. For us, it makes no difference whether we’re using outside mana or yours; magic will be drawn from your gate. How does that sound?”

“Hold up, Pack, don’t make such casual promises. It could be a bit dangerous, don’t you think?”

Emilia scolded him, seeming genuinely concerned for his safety.

“I’m sorry, Emilia-chan. I appreciate your worry; I’m super grateful for it… but I’m still going for it!”

Giving a thumbs up with a gleaming smile, Subaru flashed Emilia a confident grin.

In discarding all negative elements of anxiety or concern, Subaru’s attitude left Emilia stunned, causing her to blink repeatedly.

“W-why are you so…?”

“There are times when a man must take action, even knowing the risks. If I miss this chance to learn magic, I can’t say it means anything to have been summoned to another world!”

With clenched fists and a mighty roar, Subaru was more excited than he’d ever been since his arrival in this other world. Up until now, the benefits he’d received from this new realm had only been about beauty and eye candy—skipping this potential opportunity would be an unforgivable loss.

Seeing Emilia finally concede he was determined, she sighed, “As long as you stop if it feels dangerous.”

Subaru received her warning with a lovely smile and turned back to Pack.

“So, what should I do first? Am I supposed to draw a magic circle, or sacrifice a Beatrice as a offering?”

“You seem to have gotten cozy with Beatrice, huh? So, I guess we can start by figuring out your elemental attribute. We can’t kick off without knowing what sort of magic you can wield.”

Hearing Pack’s recommendation, Subaru’s joyful expression instantly darkened. Noticing this distinct reaction, Pack blinked his black eyes in confusion, while Subaru waved his hand vaguely.

“My attribute is definitely fire, no doubt about that.”

“Why the sudden broken speech?”

In response to Emilia’s question, Subaru shook his head so slowly it was almost like a creaking sound. He didn’t want to recall those memories.

Unbothered by Subaru’s hesitation, Pack took off from Emilia’s shoulder to float in front of Subaru’s face.

“Well then, pardon me.”

“Whoa, what’s this new sensation?”

Extending a tail as long as its tiny body, Pack placed the tip on Subaru’s forehead. It was likely searching for the mana within him.

When he recalled having previously linked foreheads with Emilia for mental connection, the difference in how they were handling things made him envy his fortunate moment with her.

“Though I can gloss over it, the reality doesn’t change… wait, hold on, let’s try to think positively! Remember how Roswaal’s demeanor was kind of odd back then? He was totally jealous of the unique talent of a magician slumbering within me. Oh, Shit! That’s right; he was jealous! That’s why he spread lies to try and close off my dazzling path as a magician…!”

“Curious how you’re plunging straight to the ‘shadow’ attribute.”

“Second opinion—!!”

Transcending dimensions, Subaru fell into despair receiving contradiction from someone different.

Unless Pack was secretly colluding with Roswaal, there was no choice but to accept this outcome. The likelihood of a carefree cat, who lived by the motto “what’s mine is mine,” lying about Subaru’s talent out of jealousy was laughably low.

“A debuff-specialized, huh… I mean, I wanted to shoot lightning and blow away a thousand-strong army!”

“Well, there’s also the small matter of lacking any talent. The gate is small, and while the numbers are a bit better, there are still many that aren’t fully opened, so it looks bad.”

“I know, I know! Don’t make me sound like I’m living in a room with unwashed screens! By the way, if you were to quantify my talent, what would it be?”

“If you dedicated twenty years just to practicing magic, you could possibly reach just before the first-tier level.”

“Half my life to barely hit below first tier… yeah, I’m giving up on this path!”

Subaru declared, holding back tears while giving up on his dreams, leaving Emilia in disbelief. But it couldn’t be helped; effort and perseverance were things he wanted to avoid seeing the scars of in his own dictionary.

Aside from that,

“As far as trying my hand at magic experience, I’d like to give it a shot. What do I do?”

“Considering your ‘shadow’ attribute, it was a bit unexpected. If we think of simple shadow spells, hmm, I think Shamak would fit… but I’m sorry, I don’t have much confidence in that.”

Emilia sighed as she lamented her lack of knowledge. At that moment, Pack clapped his hands and said,

“Oh, I see! Shamak is rarely used. Well then, let’s go for that as a goal to start!”

“Wait, wait, wait. It’s a bit concerning to move forward without first knowing. What is Shamak even? What if I end up transforming into a frog with some random power? Then, I’ll need Emilia-chan’s kiss to turn me back into a prince!”

“Am I the only one feeling that the reasoning has gone completely off track?”

Underwhelmed by Subaru’s outburst, he embarrassedly realized he should have listened. On the other hand, Pack nodded, conceding that there was a kernel of sense in Subaru’s concerns.

“That being said, it’s still a little scary trying to use magic you don’t even know about. Let me show you how it’s done. Here’s Shamak!”

With that, Pack raised his short arm and completed the incantation quickly.

Then, suddenly, Subaru’s vision was engulfed in darkness. Even after blinking, everything remained dark as if his eyes were still shut.

Surprised, he let out a small yelp, but even that sound didn’t seem to echo back to him. The darkness completely isolated him from his view and the external world, sending a shiver down his spine as a semblance of cold fear washed over him.

“Alright, that’s enough.”

“Mommy—wait, what? I’m back?”

“I’m back. Subaru, wait—were you just too anxious to call for your mom?”

“That’s not something a guy would do! It was more like… like the situation where you accidentally called a teacher ‘mom’!”

His sight was restored, revealing Emilia and the little cat beside her, much to his relief.

Touching his eyelids, he verified there hadn’t been any changes.

“So that was a blinding spell, huh? Shamak… it’s simple but seems like it could have considerable effects!”

“Not necessarily. Against lower-tier or equal opponents, it can be easily overcome by pure strength, and it doesn’t last long. If I put it on you, you could spend your whole life in darkness.”

“That idea is terrifying!? Even if it was just for a day, I’d be utterly groggy afterward!”

Forcing a smile, Subaru managed to quietly shake his fists behind his back.

In that fleeting moment of feeling the world slip away, the sensation mirrored the loneliness of feeling completely abandoned. It was a memory he could recall clearly.

In a world where there was only him, believing there wasn’t a single ally around—he shivered as that brief recollection rose to the surface.

How pathetic, he bit his tongue while smiling.

“Anyway, whether it works or not, it means I can now use magic! I want to try right away!”

“Absolutely. I’ll assist. Emilia, stay back; if things go haywire, and mana starts bursting out, Subaru’s clothes will be ruined.”

“That sounds like a very likely scenario!? It’s almost the unlikeliest of failures!”

Pack grinned silently, and Emilia, looking slightly pained, said, “Don’t overdo it,” before indeed distancing herself.

With that concerning atmosphere hanging over them, Subaru hesitantly retreated, feeling the surge of his own apprehensions start to bubble up.

Pack settled atop Subaru’s short black hair, adjusting his position slightly.

“It’s prickly and uncomfortable up here.”

“Who would’ve thought that the day would come when someone would sit atop my head? I can’t even offer you a cushion for comfort, so you’re welcome to take a break.”

“Honestly, I’m missing the feeling of being enveloping in Emilia’s hair right now. So let’s get through this quickly. So, are you ready?”

With that query, Subaru hesitated for just a moment. Then, he finally twisted his mouth into a smile and slowly nodded.

The anxiety loomed heavily, yet his curiosity was too potent to ignore.

Responding to Subaru’s affirmative answer, Pack nodded enthusiastically.

Then, out of nowhere, a wave of warmth enveloped Subaru. It coursed through his body—far from the feeling of blood; this was something else—a wild, unseen torrent that could only belong to mana.

It was made clear to him by the sensation traveling from Pack at the top of his head. He felt his energy moving with purpose within.

“Subaru, visualize it. You’re directing the flow of mana racing inside you. Take a portion of it and expel it from your gate into the outside, forming it into… that black cloud from earlier!”

“Gotcha, visualization, huh? I’m on it, I excel at daydreaming!”

Misinterpreting Pack’s advice, Subaru sought the destination for the energy squirming inside him through imagination.

The gate—imagining it as something at the center of his body. The heavy door opens, spilling energy outward. That energy flows out, transforming under Subaru’s will into phenomena—

“Uh-oh, this is awkward. Suddenly the gate is acting up.”

At that vital moment, Pack muttered those words.

Questions flitted through Subaru’s mind, but there was no time to voice them.

In the next instant—

“Both of you!?”

Emilia’s scream rang out, while mere moments later, a thick cloud of darkness exploded, engulfing a corner of Roswaal’s Mansion garden.

——Though it didn’t burst so gloriously, it ended up being a colossal failure in the end.