A girl in a flowing black dress with long pink hair floated gracefully in the air.

Her narrow eyes squinted slightly, with just slightly elongated ears—a clear indication of her elven heritage, which was abhorred in this world.

Yet, this outward appearance was a strictly erroneous perception.

For in tracing the girl’s origins, the most distinctive fact did not lie in her elvish blood but rather in the manner of her creation.

She was a replica born from a certain technique that involved the elf Ryuzu Meier, placed within a “Sanctuary”—a new life created similarly to an artificial spirit.

Amongst the multitude of replicas produced, one was deemed the greatest failure.

This was a being that betrayed the “Witch’s” expectations, resulting in many casualties, forever marked in the kingdom’s history as a great calamity.

—That being was the artificial monster Sphinx, a failed replica of the “Witch of Greed,” Echidna.

“———”

Roswaal gasped at the visage of the “enemy” looming above in the night sky.

An encounter with an unacceptable enemy struck a significant shock to his spirit. —No, let’s not put on airs; I’ll admit it.

That was a critical blow that could shatter Roswaal’s heart.

This was a reunion that should never have happened.

Of all who were aware of the monster above, Roswaal was the most cognizant. He had faced Sphinx firsthand during the “Subhuman War.”

And at that time, Roswaal’s fist had surely crushed the creature’s life.

Yet here they were—

“Missing limbs, intact. Memories, still sound until just recently. I am… locked in an unwelcome state. Self-awareness is troublesome. Countermeasures are needed.”

Sphinx silently whispered as she reached skyward with her arms.

Her golden eyes and the pallid blueish skin were undoubtedly those of an undead, yet her sense of self was far more consolidated than any undead Roswaal had previously encountered.

Understanding the disparity in self-awareness and memories among various types of undead was a reason Roswaal and his companions had come here—but that had been a miscalculation.

A miscalculation that had lingered for over forty years.

Sphinx’s survival was a severe blow to Roswaal, but more than that, he regretted the presence of Beatrice and Garfiel here.

They should not be together.

Irrespective of Sphinx’s true identity, he absolutely could not allow Beatrice and Garfiel, both deeply connected to that form, to face each other.

Hiding that regret behind a blink, Roswaal steeled himself, not diverting his gaze from Sphinx—

“Garfiel, don’t rush in recklessly.”

“Beatrice, stay back.”

“Roswaal, keep calm.”

The three raised their voices simultaneously, creating a momentary silence.

If they had called out to those they thought would become most emotional, it should mean they had all managed to contend with the initial shock.

Delaying their deeper understanding of Beatrice’s and Garfiel’s perceptions could be postponed.

“There’s a distinct difference in atmosphere; that’s a special type of undead, isn’t it?”

Mizelda’s narrowed eyes differed, as unlike Roswaal and the others, she had no reason to be paralyzed.

Upon her words, Roswaal nodded and spoke before Beatrice and Garfiel launched into another tirade at Sphinx.

“Could it be that you survived as an undead since directly after the ‘Subhuman War’?”

“There seems to be an oddity in your construction. If ‘undead’ is an applicable term, then ‘survived’ is an inaccurate word, isn’t it?”

“I see. You intend to refuse to answer questions. —As always, you relish in ruffling people’s nerves.”

“I merely pointed out that your questioning format was improper.”

Despite her nonchalant reply, Sphinx’s expression remained unchanged.

She had originally been a creature devoid of genuine emotions, and now in her undead form, that warmth had departed her heart entirely—truly the coldness of a corpse.

Still, Roswaal could not suppress his unease at the sight of her undead body.

The techniques employed to create Echidna’s failed replicas used a setup structured similarly to artificial spirits formed from mana.

Moreover, the improvements of the “Secret of the Undying King” which he had just been keen to clarify with Beatrice now felt even more urgent.

This monster was now evidently a far more dangerous entity.

“What the hell are you, anyway?”

Noticing the fruitlessness of his exchange with Roswaal, Garfiel interjected.

The boy clicked his sharp canines together, his green eyes brimming with fury.

“I know there are others with your face and voice aside from my grandmother. But, you know, I’ve kept track of who they all are and where they are.”

“———”

“What are you?”

What Garfiel spoke of was Ryuzu, the grandmother he cherished, and those replicas born in the same manner, lacking self-awareness due to not being assigned any roles.

Those replicas had been given names, and while Ryuzu, who lived separately from them, was educating them, he had hoped they would someday take on jobs within their faction.

At any rate, Garfiel’s intuition also seemed to have figured out that Sphinx was one that did not fit either category but was another creature born of the same original methods.

That profane existence, which for Garfiel felt like defiling family. Responding to the earnest question of the boy, Sphinx lowered her gaze quietly and stated,

“It was you who had been disturbing the mana in the atmosphere.”

“—Huh?”

She totally ignored Garfiel’s presence.

As if ignoring any inquiries, Sphinx’s gaze shifted to Roswaal and Beatrice, leaving Garfiel’s throat constricted and his ire flaring.

Realizing Garfiel’s anger, Roswaal closed one eye. He glared at Sphinx with just his yellow eye, teetering between insults and provocation.

“I’d reckon I have a vague idea of who you might be.”

“Beatrice.”

“Silence, Roswaal. Let’s ignore the fact that this is something that came out while Betty was in the ‘Forbidden Library,’ but for now, I’ll overlook the fact that you kept quiet about it. But—”

Roswaal sighed at Beatrice cutting in, who had jumped in front of him to take the lead.

She had understood why Roswaal kept Sphinx’s existence a secret. His misstep in revealing this would ultimately be reprimanded later.

However, for now—

“This time, I won’t let you get away.”

Raising her hand, Beatrice locked her round eyes on Sphinx. Facing Beatrice’s strong determination squarely, Sphinx nodded.

The monster also turned her hand toward Beatrice,

“I too have recognized the threat. Elimination is necessary.”

At the moment those words were spoken, the colors in both Beatrice’s and Sphinx’s eyes intensified ever so slightly—

“—Die.”

Before anyone could react, Roswaal’s unleashed fiery magic announced the beginning of battle.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　△▼△▼△▼△

Stopping in the corridor of the Dragon Carriage, Subaru turned his gaze to the outside window, struck by an ominous feeling.

Wishing for the safety of the girl they had sent forth beyond the Imperial plains under the slightly dim night sky, he placed a hand over his slightly racing heart.

“Subaru, are you okay?”

Noticing Subaru’s odd demeanor, it was Emilia beside him who spoke up.

With her beautiful purple-blue eyes narrowed, she peered into his face; Subaru raised a hand, nodding, “Yeah, I’m fine.”

The discussions between Emilia’s faction and the Volakia Empire’s leadership, along with the Kararagi envoy, had reached a pause, now focusing on numerical aspects regarding troop calculations and logistics conducted by specialists.

While he could help when it came to strategic breakthroughs, once the discussion shifted to managing such a large number of people, he could not help but feel his own inadequacies.

“Back in the Pleiades Battalion, I just left everything to Gustav and Idra…”

“Yeah, I can understand where Subaru’s coming from. I wish I could really contribute even during these discussions, but… I end up dragging Otto down instead.”

“It’s more like, it’s Otto and Ram who’re still sticking around in the discussion that’s more concerning. I mean, my sister’s one thing, but that guy… did he lose all sense of fear?”

“No way, that’s going too far. Otto’s been putting in a lot of effort for us.”

Emilia puffed her cheeks slightly at the praise of the all-too-reliable inner administration officer.

So when he found himself facing Emilia in this calm situation, the joy of having reunited with her and her ever-daunting charm made his heart flutter.

Even just seeing her each morning caused his heart to race; being reunited after so long was utterly overwhelming.

“I’d really like to fill my heart with praises for how cute Emilia-tan is today.”

“But I’m worried about Beatrice and Roswaal.”

“For me, Beako might be too eager to do things for my sake.”

Outside the window, having hit on the actual reason for his gaze, Subaru chuckled.

He was joking, yet it wasn’t necessarily an overthink. Truly, Beatrice had rushed out with fervor for Subaru’s sake after all.

His cooperation with Roswaal, who carried a complicated set of feelings, could be partly ascribed to that.

The topics on Beatrice and Roswaal, who had come up in the discussion among Subaru and Emilia, were now separately joining forces with a group implementing tactics to delay enemy forces as they engaged in a verification process.

That verification involved precisely determining the characteristics of undead.

“In actuality, we’re looking to verify whether these zombies are indeed revived through the ‘Secret of the Undying King’… or if we can confirm that with magic on our side.”

“Unlike Lugnica, it seems there are fewer individuals capable of using magic in Volakia, so undoubtedly there are things that only knowledgeable Beatrice and Roswaal would notice. If we share that with Abel, we might achieve what we aimed for.”

Having spoken those words, Emilia tilted her head slightly.

“If only I could have been of help… but I don’t know much about magic. I always just ‘yay’ and use it…”

“Emilia-tan is more of a gut-feel person. Unlike bookworms like Beako or an otaku like Roswaal, you have your own shining moments. If anything, you shine brighter than any star in my eyes as always.”

“I’m sorry, but I don’t quite understand what you’re saying.”

Trying to encourage Emilia, who felt regretful about not being able to help Beatrice, Subaru found himself at a loss for words.

Yet, sharing anxieties in this moment with Emilia and being able to avoid bottling things up was a stroke of fortune.

After all, the person Subaru was concerned about wasn’t just Beatrice but Garfiel, who was fighting vigorously elsewhere, and everyone in the Pleiades Battalion.

Among them, only Tanzer had boarded this Dragon Carriage while the others had disembarked to join the delay tactics unit.

Thus far, they had navigated through fierce battles together, as comrades.

Yet, they still hadn’t rejoined the main unit—Cecilis among them, was taking much longer than expected.

“Still, I can’t help but worry. Please, everyone, don’t overextend or get too reckless…”

As Subaru clasped his hands together in a prayerful motion,

“—Subaru, Emilia-sama, are you here?”

“Ah, Julius.”

The door partitioning the corridor swung open, revealing the handsome young man, eliciting a raised brow from Emilia. As she called out, there he stood, Julius, clad in knightly garb.

After a slight bow, he approached Subaru and Emilia, standing near them. The previously tense expression on his face softened slightly,

“Earlier, we didn’t exchange many words.”

“Yeah, I know. I’ve caused worry for you, Anastasia, and Echidna too. Thanks for coming all the way here to find us.”

“—I’m surprised.”

With his genuine astonishment, as he registered Subaru’s open acknowledgment of their efforts, Julius raised an eyebrow slightly.

“You’re expressing thanks so openly. Could it be that you’ve softened due to having gotten younger and are behaving more according to your appearance?”

“Shut it! While there are some downsides, I’d say thank you even if I wasn’t miniaturized! What do you think this place is? It’s hell!”

“This isn’t hell; it’s Volakia, right? Such statements would be unkind to Abel and the others.”

“Think so? Most of the reasons I feel it’s hell in this country are due to that guy’s actions, so I don’t think he deserves any sympathy.”

Certainly, while Subaru believed Abel had his own reasons and struggles to administer the Empire properly, those reasons didn’t lessen his personal suffering and pain.

Subaru felt justified in saying as much.

Emilia, at a loss for words, felt the need to clarify but seemingly found it difficult to deny Subaru’s claims.

On the other hand, as Subaru voiced this biting retort, Julius lightly rubbed the scar on his eye.

“…I thought about this during the meeting earlier, but Subaru, what kind of relationship do you have with His Imperial Majesty Vincent? Given your remarks; it seems quite extreme.”

“If you think I’d get scolded for being so disrespectful, he’d be shocked into a collapse if he knew what I did to him. Just so you know, I’m not just throwing a tantrum with my kid privileges. Being like this is also because of that elder man, who can’t control things properly.”

“Imagining that is terrifying. Emilia-sama, do you know the specifics?”

“Yeah. Subaru and Abel seem to be surprisingly close. At first, I was worried if they could get along, but Subaru makes friends so easily!”

“Friends, huh…”

Emilia, pridefully boasting as though it were her own matter, filled Subaru with complex thoughts about how to categorize Abel in terms of connections.

While they had brawled and let it all out, like delinquent-schoolboys tussling in the riverbed, they did not quite have that level of rapport.

“—Do I get to assume that you consider me a friend, Subaru?”

“Eh? Well, I guess so? I used to think it was iffy, but given our passing experiences together, especially crossing that sandy sea, it feels good enough to consider? I think so, yeah.”

“Really? That’s a relief. I’ll take that as the next good news after the safety of both you and Emilia-sama.”

With a grand yet jesting tone, at least Julius’s curiosity was satisfied.

For that matter, given the current situation, it barely scratched the surface. Subaru’s present glaring issue remained unsolved.

“Subaru, your condition…”

“I got messed up by the ninja elder. You should try it out too sometime; I’d love to see it.”

“I’ll kindly pass. I wouldn’t want to confront that version of myself from childhood again. I can only presume that both Anastasia-sama and Emilia-sama were terribly cute in their younger years.”

“Emilia-tan! Wait! That’s it! That’s the answer!”

“Me? Hmm, hard to say. I did see my little self in the ‘Sanctuary,’ but I really think Subaru and Beatrice right now look cuter.”

With her self-image that wasn’t too grand, Emilia stated so, but there was no way that could be correct.

She was now an exquisite beauty, and surely her younger self was a charming little girl. Maybe in a competition with Beatrice, they would yield similar charms—

“Still, I’m pleased to hear that. It appears the path to revert to your original form has already been laid out.”

With that one statement from Julius, Emilia nodded, “Is that so?”

She placed her hand gently on Subaru’s shoulder due to their height difference.

“The grandfather who shrunk Subaru seems to be an ally of Abel. Right now, he’s fighting those ‘zombies’ outside, but once he returns, I’ll have to ask him to turn you back to normal. Once that’s done…”

“Oh, actually, there’s something I need to mention regarding that.”

“—Huh?”

Feeling slightly uneasy, Subaru looked up at Emilia from behind. Emilia, who had been leaning against his shoulder, widened her eyes at Subaru’s words.

With Julius also frowning at him, Subaru scratched his cheek with his finger as he continued,

“This body of mine, I still don’t plan to return it even when Olbart-san comes back. For now, it feels easier for me in this smaller body.”

“Wha—!? Why!? Oh, could it be that because a kid’s body takes less food? If that’s the case, I can share my side dishes with you…”

“That’s a very cute thought, but it’s not that.”

Shaking his head, Subaru gently denied Emilia’s reasoning. Given Subaru’s answer, Julius narrowed his yellow eyes solemnly.

“You must have your reasons for considering that… but—”

“Yeah. I haven’t introduced you and Anastasia yet. I’m part of the Pleiades Battalion, and they’ve become my allies in Volakia.”

“Pleiades…”

Due to the presence of the Pleiades Watchtower, Julius quickly recognized that name. However, he ignored any further inquiries, prompting Subaru to continue with a nod of understanding.

“The thing is, this group, I have no idea on the specifics, but when all of us—myself included—come together in sentiment, we grow unbelievably strong. It’s a matter beyond feelings.”

“—Emilia-sama?”

“Yeah, it seems like that’s true. Tanzer, the other friends of Subaru, are incredibly strong and fight with all their might alongside him.”

“And I’m lying to all my friends. —That I’m the Emperor’s son, is a downright lie.”

Even with Emilia’s affirmation, Julius remained wide-eyed at the continuing narrative. Emilia gasped, her hand covering her mouth.

“Now that you mention it, you’ve been declaring that—wait, but you’re not from Volakia, right?”

“Yeah, not even close. My hometown isn’t this hellhole; it’s much more peaceful and lovey-dovey.”

“…Even in the Castle City, I heard rumors regarding the ‘Black-haired Crown Prince.’ Hearing ‘black hair,’ I couldn’t help but think of you.”

“Just to clear this up, Abel was the one who came up with that notion, so complaints should go to him. The important part is that everyone in the battalion believes it. So—”

When leaving Gladiator Island, Subaru had persuaded the comrades he wished to accompany, making them believe he was the Volakia Emperor’s son.

This lie lay heavily upon the foundations of the camaraderie within the Pleiades Battalion. Subaru had no intention of maintaining this lie forever.

Once the unprecedented great calamity that shook the Volakia Empire had been resolved, Subaru would return to his original size and lead Emilia and Rem back to the Lugnica Kingdom in triumph.

And for Subaru and the others to achieve victory in this battle, the cooperation of the Pleiades Battalion was absolutely vital.

“That’s why I still can’t go back. I need to remain as ‘Natsuki Schwarz,’ the one everyone believes in, until this battle to reclaim the Empire is over.”

“Subaru…”

Clenching his now-familiar small fist, Subaru declared his resolve outright.

Until he shared this resolution with Emilia, Subaru had been caught in a state of uncertainty.

Naturally, he wanted to return to his larger body; that was himself. The desire to reunite and flirt with Emilia in his original form was strong.

However, that yearning of Subaru’s was incomparable to what was genuinely necessary.

“—No matter the location or form, you never change, do you?”

After hearing Subaru’s resolve, Julius sighed softly, running a hand through his bangs and casting a look at Subaru that balanced both exasperation and understanding.

“The most arduous and unexpected decisions fall upon you; whether it be others or oneself, distinctions matter not.”

“…That’s not some grand resolve; it’s more like wanting to stay a little kid longer—it feels like lyrics from a Showa era song or something.”

Faced with Julius’ straightforward observation, Subaru found himself momentarily taken aback, his cheeks flushed with embarrassment. Just as he turned, he felt a gentle hand touch his head, and as he looked back, he locked eyes with Emilia’s purple-blue gaze.

Her brows creased downwards as she cast a loving look at Subaru.

“So you’re going to get me in trouble again, aren’t you?”

“Well, on that note, I can’t really argue. No, I really do want to get back and flirt with Emilia-tan in my real body, you know? But…”

“I get it. Subaru’s been thinking a lot, and he chooses what he thinks is best for everyone, right? I think that’s just who Subaru is; I feel the same way as Julius.”

With flustered hands flailing, Emilia smiled at Subaru, placing her hand back atop his head. Using her fingers, she playfully poked Subaru’s nose and added,

“But no matter how small you are, I know you’re still Subaru. If you can’t return to being bigger, I’ll wait until you can grow up.”

“I’d like to avoid that situation, though… hey, what was that just now…?”

“—Huh?”

Feeling as if he’d just been told something profound by her gentle tone, Subaru blinked in surprise. Yet, Emilia, seemingly not fully aware of her words’ implications, tilted her head curiously, genuinely confused.

No, even if she tilted her head, it wouldn’t help. What a mischievous little devil.

“———”

As his cheeks flushed crimson, Subaru turned to look for support from Julius. Unfortunately, he shrugged at Subaru’s gaze and unceremoniously brushed off Subaru’s plea for help.

Internally cursing the unhelpful Julius, he began to regret the earlier friendship classification as he looked around—

“Huh?”

Just then, he made eye contact with a girl emerging from a room facing the corridor, her gaze fixed intently upon them.

　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　　△▼△▼△▼△

“Huh?”

The voice calling out, startled by Subaru’s group, belonged to a girl with striking blue hair and pale blue eyes—a sight that instantly lit up Subaru’s face.

“Rem, I’m so glad! I wanted to talk with you too!”

At the sight of Rem, all that had just transpired in Subaru’s mind vanished.

After Subaru had lost consciousness following the incidents in the Imperial Capital alongside Emilia and Beatrice, he hadn’t had the chance to sit and talk leisurely with Rem.

Having conveyed the necessary messages to Kachua after their encounter with Abel, he had handed her to Rem and stepped into negotiations.

Now that the discussion had reached a pause, this finally marked their reunion.

“So, how’s Kachua? Is she settled down?”

“—Given the circumstances, it’s not as simple. However, she has worn herself out from crying and has fallen asleep nearby, so I’ll be watching over her.”

“Got it. I’m sorry for putting you in such a difficult position.”

“I did this willingly. But, there’s something I need to discuss…”

As Rem approached Subaru with her responses, the tone of her voice dropped slightly. Subaru cocked his head, curious about the topic at hand.

However, even before Rem could voice her thoughts—

“—Miss Rem, you’ve awakened!”

Julius’s exclamation surprised them all, as his honest delight lit up his expression.

Stunned, he reaffirmed, “That’s wonderful!” nodding vigorously as he looked to Subaru.

“I’m sorry. I should have informed you, as you, Anastasia, and Echidna all needed to know. After we parted, Rem woke up. But—”

“I have no memories of my past that have returned. So we share the same circumstances?”

“Not only that, but I’m also in a hybrid state like Crusch.”

“…So you’ve lost your memory.”

Upon hearing Subaru’s explanation, Julius furrowed his handsome brow, realizing this wasn’t a straightforward situation.

His expression complicated, clearly pondering how best to respond. Julius closed his eyes briefly, then opened them with a stern look restoring his composure as he addressed Rem.

“Sirik Rem, I apologize for the abrupt summons. I am Julius Euclius, a knight in service to an individual, and also a friend of Subaru.”

“This man is a friend…?”

While it drew a surprised reaction, Rem listened attentively, absorbing the information.

“And he’s been a significant help when it took far too long for Rem to awaken.”

“That’s—”

Rem’s surprise at the elegant bow toward her was evident, and after taking a moment to process, she too bowed respectfully in return.

“I thank you for your concern. Although I can’t say I’m at my best, I can at least stand and walk on my own.”

“It’s a relief to hear that. For both your sake and for everyone who cares about you.”

“—Yes.”

Finding herself almost overwhelmed by how effortlessly he expressed concern for her felt a pang of irritation welling up within Rem, though she didn’t voice such thoughts now.

In any case, it was good news to relay to Julius regarding Rem’s recovery. There remained the need to inform Anastasia and the others properly afterward.

“But thanks to Anastasia and the others coming to the Empire, it allowed for this reunion with Rem, and I couldn’t be happier. You were also worried about us, right?”

“Yes. Anastasia-sama has been quite troubled. Rem may not remember, but as someone who traveled together, I am genuinely pleased.”

“Yeah, I feel the same. All this, thanks to Subaru working so hard.”

With a smile, Emilia once more reached out and ruffled Subaru’s hair.

While it was clear this height difference made it easy for her, he felt increasingly incriminated, feeling treated like a child, which left an unsettling feeling inside.

Though pleasant, the act of Emilia treating him like a child was not one he could easily accept.

“Uh, Emilia-tan, don’t pet me too much.”

“I find you cute, but I don’t mean to baby you. I think Subaru is incredible. Truly reflects my knight.”

“Huh?”

“Eh?”

Just as that playful banter played out, an unexpected sharp voice cut through, causing Emilia’s hand to halt in motion.

Eyes wide in surprise, she turned to see Rem staring at her, a sharp gaze locked onto her hand resting on Subaru’s head.

“Rem? What’s wrong?”

“No, I’m just a bit confused. Emilia-san, may I confirm something?”

“Confirm? Sure, anything goes…”

“Such a phrase—I haven’t heard it in ages…”

Both holding their positions, one with a hand on a head and the other with a hand resting, Subaru and Emilia cocked their heads simultaneously at Rem’s questions.

Observing them with suspicion, Rem shifted her glance between Subaru and Emilia.

“…What sort of relationship do you two share?”

“Emilia and I?”

“Me and Emilia-tan?”

As Rem’s question landed, both Subaru and Emilia exchanged glances.

Sure, Rem had just reunited with the members of Emilia’s faction and was briefed about her relationship with Ram, but beyond that, details remained sparse.

While it felt like something that should be addressed with all present,

“Well, to put it simply, Emilia-tan is the head of our faction and the future king of the Lugnica Kingdom.”

“I’m still working towards that, so I’m a candidate for now. As for Subaru, he’s my most trusted knight.”

“My greatest ally…”

“Yep! I’m going all-out to make Emilia-tan’s dreams come true!”

“That’s right. Subaru’s the one achieving my desires, not me.”

Puffing out his chest, as Subaru declared, Emilia blushed in return.

After hearing the answers from the two, a hand went to Rem’s forehead, briefly prompting her to contemplate.

Afterward, she sat in silence for a moment, lost in thought, before stating,

“I’m sorry. I seem to be the cause of this confusion.”

“—No, it’s likely not your fault, Miss Rem. From an unbiased standpoint, at least.”

“Thank you…”

Julius’s reply raised eyebrows for both Subaru and Emilia, perplexed by his understanding when both of them had barely grasped the idea.

“Did I go ahead and lay too much about Lugnica’s situation on Rem all at once…?”

“Well, we did mention it in bits and pieces beforehand… but might it be that some unnecessary information from Priscilla during our stay at Gwararu has stirred this confusion…?”

“Wait a second. Why did you bring up Priscilla? No way would she show up in the Volakia Empire, would she?”

“Could we please set aside addressing my confusion first?”

While the loop of questions piled on themselves, new ones appeared, and the tangle encircled again.

Finding that he felt overwhelmed by the amount of topics he needed to properly share with Julius, Anastasia, and others, he also mulled over the priority of which issues should be addressed first.

First and foremost, he aimed to settle Rem’s let-down feelings.

“———”

In the corner of his vision, as Subaru and Emilia sought a way to alleviate Rem’s confusion, his attention was drawn to something briefly passing by the window.

It fell from the night sky and silently landed upon the field below.

“Subaru?”

As Subaru’s eyes widened in realization, Emilia called out in a concerned tone. However, he delayed answering her question and instead rushed to peer outside the window.

Typically, he would never ignore Emilia’s calls. However, at that moment, he decided the urgency of confirming what he caught a glimpse of took precedence over her words.

Focusing intently on the rolling scenery, he carefully picked up the object that had fallen from the night sky.

It was—

“—Why are you here?”

The person who had no business being there, pulled from the back of his mind, the name slipped from Subaru’s lips, as he blinked in disbelief.

There stood the one who should have been enjoying peaceful days back in the Lugnica Kingdom—

“—Ryuzu-san?”

“————”

It was unlikely she could have heard him whisper.

With a distance and volume that shouldn’t have allowed for it, but still, Subaru felt their gazes connect, instinctively recognizing one another.

That small figure lingering, moving her lips for some unheard purpose.

He leaned forward, trying to catch the words whispered on the breeze—

“—Ah!”

At that moment, a blinding white light poured from above and crashed down upon the Dragon Carriage, engulfing Natsuki Subaru and most of those riding within it, blasting them away.