It had been nearly three months since Subaru last stopped by the nearest town to the Augria Sand Dunes, named Milura.

Originally, he was supposed to drop by on his way back from the Pleiades Watchtower, but after being sent off to Volakia due to troubles at the tower, he completely tossed that itinerary aside.

So now, this visit to the desolate post town was the second time in three months.

“…Welcome, amid the sandstorm.”

As he stepped through the entrance of the shop, Subaru was greeted by the surly owner, who seemed to be polishing glasses out of boredom.

He thought back to how he was welcomed in a similar fashion last time and brushed off as much sand from his body as possible at the entrance. However, he couldn’t get it all off, so he decided to accept the owner’s grumpiness as a necessary cost and sat down at a counter seat.

“What will you order?”

“Milk, cold please.”

“Do you want it warm?”

“Milk, I’d like it warm too.”

Subaru could tell the owner’s stern look deepened as he received consecutive milk orders at the tavern. Yet, he started heating the milk without a single complaint or curse, showing that he was still a merchant at heart.

While the owner worked, Subaru took off the cloth he had wrapped around his mouth and said,

“Phew, I tried to avoid the ‘sand time’ this time because of what happened last time, but the sand-influenced winds are still blowing hard. I totally underestimated it.”

As he muttered this, he tried to dislodge the feeling of sand stuck in his mouth with his fingers. Next to him, a girl who also lowered her sand-resistant cloth nodded in agreement.

“You warned me in advance, but now my hair is full of sand… I really need to brush it later. I’ll do it for you, Beatrice-chan.”

“I’ve probably mentioned it already, but can Betty reset her appearance with a snap? Forget about me and focus on yourself.”

“Hmm, I get that, but Beatrice-chan’s hair is too lush and it’s worth taking care of, so I just want to do it.”

“I know, I know. Messing with Beako’s hair feels like a little adventure.”

When it came to Beatrice’s hair, Subaru had his own opinions since he styled it properly each morning into those drill twin-tails. Technically speaking, Beatrice’s statement about an easy reset meant that it really didn’t need any upkeep, but it was more about feeling nice.

In fact, Beatrice, having her hair treated like an attraction, puffed up her cheeks.

“Geez, is Betty’s fashionable hair and cute cheeks just a toy to play with or what?”

“I wasn’t talking about the cheeks, but Beako’s cheeks are a fluffy land as well.”

“Touching it feels really good!”

Upon hearing the overly eager agreement, Subaru heartily laughed, “Right?” Then he swiftly lifted Beatrice, plopped her onto his lap.

With a startled “Mew,” Beatrice stiffened, but it was already too late.

Her cheeks were being poked by different fingers from either side.

“Hey, stop that! We’re in public! Control yourself!”

“Oh, look at Beako, finally getting shy in front of people! You’ve come so far, back then you wouldn’t have cared… You were even trying to follow me to the toilet.”

“That was a long time ago, at the very beginning of our contract! That was a year and a half ago!”

“Not much has changed with how close you two are. Still, I kinda get why Beatrice-chan feels all clingy with me right now.”

As she said that, the girl sitting on Subaru’s left rested her head on his shoulder. Surprised by the soft feeling, when Subaru looked at her, she shyly smiled and said, “Ehehe.”

This girl, trying to act all mature while still wanting to be spoiled, made Subaru smirk, and he intended to use one hand to keep poking Beatrice’s cheeks while petting the girl’s head with the other—

“Hey, the milk’s ready… What’s going on here?”

“Here it comes, here it comes. Now, Beako, back to your seat!”

“What do you mean back to my seat? Subaru just forced me away! I’m mad!”

With steaming cups of milk in hand, the bewildered look of the shopkeeper made Subaru chuckle, and he returned Beatrice to her seat, accepting the warm cup of milk.

Then, as the shopkeeper handed him the glass of chilled milk last—

“Oh, I see! You’re that guy who went to the sand sea with that pretty girl before, right?”

“Oh, you remember me? Yeah, I’m the milkman from that time!”

“…I heard rumors. It seems someone reached the ‘Sage’ tower. There might soon be a lot of folks from the royal capital making their way there.”

“——-”

“Did you manage to get there?”

The shopkeeper’s low voice carried a hint of hope and excitement.

Subaru took a sip from his glass of milk while recalling the shopkeeper’s feet—one foot was a prosthetic, making him likely one of those who challenged the sand sea in the past.

Back then, the shopkeeper had given Subaru and his friends heartfelt advice as they aimed for the tower. In response to this guiding question, Subaru grinned and gave a thumbs up.

And then—

“Yeah, I went to the tower and met the ‘Sage’— a loud and overly familiar, cute ‘Sage’. I have some errands to run, and I’m going to attack for the second time.”

That’s how he answered.

————————————————

—This journey towards the Augria Sand Dunes, specifically the revisitation of the Pleiades Watchtower.

It all started with a request from Al, who had lost his beloved master, Priscilla Barielle, within the Volakia Empire.

Al’s goal was to read the ‘Book of the Dead’ located in the Pleiades Watchtower—the book of his deceased Priscilla, hoping to touch her feelings one last time.

Subaru couldn’t say no to Al’s desperate plea.

“Priscilla would probably get seriously mad if you did that.”

Closing his eyes, he was flooded with thoughts of a Priscilla full of pride and arrogance, but all he could recall were her smiles.

While Subaru understood that it went against Priscilla’s principles, he couldn’t help but think of that in reverse.

If Subaru were without the ‘Return by Death’ ability or found himself in a position where he couldn’t retrieve that power, facing a situation like Priscilla’s, where he lost someone important, would he not desperately seek to know that “someone’s” last thoughts?

In light of that question, he felt that logical reasoning or idealism had no merit.

Of course, Subaru had no intention of reading Priscilla’s ‘Book of the Dead’.

He felt he had no right to do so, nor could he bear reading it. Thus, he couldn’t outright say Al should do it either.

Yet, if there was someone deemed worthy, it would have to be Abel, Yorna, or Al himself.

So—

“I want to respect Al’s feelings about wanting to read the ‘Book of the Dead’. I’ll take him to the Pleiades Watchtower… That’s what I can do for Al and Priscilla.”

Subaru understood that Priscilla likely wouldn’t want her ‘Book of the Dead’ read by anyone.

However, at the same time, if Priscilla knew her death caused Al’s heart to shatter into pieces, rendering him unable to rise again due to despair, and that the means to overcome that despair lay in her ‘Book of the Dead’, he couldn’t help but think she might not reject Al reading it.

Having witnessed Priscilla’s final moments, disappearing like light in the morning sun, Subaru felt a sense of connection between Al and Priscilla at that moment.

That said—

“Let me tell you upfront, I’m not letting Ram tag along. I want to let Rem, who finally returned, rest properly. She can suffer from overwork all alone.”

As soon as Subaru expressed his thoughts, Ram stated this, but of course, many shared opposing views about Subaru heading to the Pleiades Watchtower with Al.

Among them, the strongest dissenters were Otto and surprisingly, Emilia.

“I agree with Ram. Not only about Rem, but Natsuki-san should have used up plenty of energy in the empire. With the body stretch and all, you must have been under immense tension as well. Why don’t you just take it easy for a bit?”

“All right, I understand how Subaru feels worried about Al. I also think I get that Al is suffering… But the tower’s not at fault, but you were just sent flying to Volakia, right? If we send you again, what if you end up being sent to Gusteco or something again?”

Otto’s perspective was practical, and Emilia’s stemmed from anxiety.

Both voiced their concerns for Subaru, making it uncomfortable to dismiss their worries. However, the pressing need to reach out to Al in this very moment became the decisive factor for Subaru, and he resolved to head to the tower.

To be frank, he could only continually bow his head, feeling sincerely apologetic for his choice.

“—Garfiel, can I count on you?”

“Oh, leave it to me, Otto bro! Just as you said, I’ll stick close and keep my eyes on the chief, no worries!”

“Beatrice, hold onto Subaru’s hand tightly. You absolutely can’t let go!”

“Of course I won’t. Betty doesn’t want to experience that kind of regret again like when you guys got sent off to the empire!”

While Subaru was struggling to articulate convincing words, Otto and Emilia, who were supposed to oppose him, had instead delegated the responsibility to Garfiel and Beatrice.

Seeing this, Subaru blinked in surprise, while the two shrugged at each other.

“I figured it might come to this after hearing about Al. …However, including the report on Priscilla-sama, we, Emilia and I, must head to the royal capital. So…”

“I was discussing with Beatrice and Garfiel that we should properly count on them. Honestly, I also really want to go with you all, but…”

Balancing her position against her feelings, Emilia decided on her role.

As one of the royal selection candidates, she needed to report the fact that she had intervened in the war between the Volakia Empire and the Great Calamity upon Abel’s request, and that Priscilla had lost her life during that conflict.

That news would likely shake the kingdom of Lugnica to its core. The royal selection may face significant distortions due to losing one candidate.

Even so—

“I think what Subaru desires to do for Al is something only you who spoke to Priscilla last can do for him. —Please take care of Al.”

In Emilia’s sincere, deep purple eyes, Subaru felt thirst rise in his mouth.

It became apparent how much he had imposed on gentle Emilia and Otto to pursue his own thoughts. Subaru should have been going along as Emilia’s knight or as a person intimately involved in the events of the Volakia Empire.

And yet, he found himself relying on their kindness.

“—Alright! I’ll go with you this time!”

Tears welled up in Subaru’s eyes as he heard Petra’s energetic declaration to his side, raising her hand high.

Naturally, this would turn into quite a lengthy journey to the Pleiades Watchtower. Someone would need to care for everyone on the way there and while at the tower.

Taking the initiative to volunteer for that role, Petra blushed and exclaimed,

“This time, I’ll be of help! Frederica-nee and Ram-nee, please take care of the mansion and Emilia-nee!”

“Uh, yes… That’s quite a lot of enthusiasm you have there.”

“Yes! I’ve decided not to hold back this time since I’ve usually been left behind!”

Frederica was surprised by Petra’s valiant outburst but accepted it.

As long as Subaru had Petra along, he felt sufficient support. He turned toward Rem to finalize the group heading to the tower.

Finally returning from Volakia to Lugnica, he envisioned taking his time at Roswaal’s Mansion — it might not be the same place overflowing with Rem’s memories, but he wished to gradually work on recovering those “memories.”

“Honestly, it stings that this is progressing once again without me…”

“It was the same when I reunited with my sister, so don’t be too disappointed. …Are you really going?”

“Yeah, I’m going. We can’t just leave Al. You understand, right?”

“I do. —That’s why you’re being a coward.”

Subaru stared wide-eyed at that statement.

Seeing Subaru’s reaction, Rem apologized, saying,

“I said too much. Please make sure to come back. Until then, I’ll do my best not to think about it so you won’t be disappointed.”

“No, that’s… it’s my own choice. I don’t want to obstruct what you want to do.”

“Well then, that’s impossible. —Your actions will undoubtedly influence me in some way.”

Feeling his chest pressed by her words, Subaru was rendered speechless.

As he silently brooded, Rem stuck her tongue out playfully, appearing to express having gotten one over him, making it even harder for Subaru to articulate anything.

—He understood that was Rem’s and everyone’s cheer to nudge Subaru onward, despite never growing.

————————————————

—Thus, today he found himself back at the nearest town to the Augria Sand Dunes.

Subaru felt his chest ache as he thought of everyone who had sent him off and of the gatekeeper he had parted ways with after the first attempt at the tower.

Before him, the shopkeeper, having overheard the report of his arrival at the tower, lowered his head.

“Hey, what’s up?”

“——-”

Curious about the response, Subaru called out, but offered no reply. He glanced at Beatrice with concern, checking if he had said something wrong.

However, Beatrice shook her head side to side at Subaru’s glance.

“There’s nothing odd about it. He’s just got milk mustache on his face.”

“Ah! Why didn’t you tell me sooner?! I looked so cool!”

“You looked cool? Also, I thought you were cute…”

“That comment definitely sounds like something only Emilia would say to me…”

“Cute and cool is perfect for when Emilia is being elegant. Most people would pick one or the other, making her a miracle beautiful girl.”

Anyway—

“I see. I see…”

Hastily wiping his upper lip, Subaru could hear the shopkeeper murmuring deeply. Without skipping a beat, he wiped moisture from his eyes with his finger, suddenly thrusting his hand down onto the counter.

“Good job! Well done today. This one’s on me!”

“Seriously?! Well, then I want to stock up on supplies to cross the sand sea again, so gimme all the food you have in store!”

“Don’t get too cocky!”

“Can’t argue with that!”

With that, Subaru and the now cheerful shopkeeper shared a laugh. However, as the shopkeeper’s face lit up, he noticed the girls sitting with Subaru and cocked his head in confusion.

Noticing that Emilia, who had made a much stronger impression than Subaru himself, was absent this time, the shopkeeper’s curiosity was understandable. Still, Subaru replied—

“Unfortunately, she’s not with us today. But she’s safely back.”

“Oh, if she’s safe, that’s good… But it means, the crew looks a bit more worrying than before, huh?”

“By the way, Beatrice was also part of the group last time. She just didn’t show up ‘cause she was tending to the sick.”

“I’m genuinely here for the first time, but I won’t lag behind Emilia.”

“Oh wow, that’s some serious confidence. You’re reliable, highly reliable!”

With that, Subaru reached out to pat the girl who was puffing out her chest with pride—only, his hand suddenly got caught by her from below.

With wide eyes, Subaru gazed at the girl—Petra, who scrutinized him with a sly look.

“Hey, Subaru, you tried to pat my head just now, right?”

“Uh, yeah, but… didn’t you want me to?”

“…Not that I didn’t want it, but can I ask something? Do you usually pat Emilia-nee’s or Rem-nee’s heads?”

When asked seriously, Subaru blinked and fell into thought.

It’s true, once upon a time, he used to pat Rem’s head, but now if he tried to do that, he might end up getting an arm twist.

Also, the thought of patting Emilia’s head seemed highly challenging.

“Nope, due to various reasons, I’m not patting those two. No patting.”

“Then I can’t be patted either.”

“What?!”

“Yep!”

With a sulky pout, Petra tossed aside his hand, leaving Subaru in shock. Who would have thought Petra would go through such a rebellious phase? That realization hit Subaru like thunder.

Seeing Subaru sulking, Beatrice shrugged and said, “Yare yare.”

“In that case, just stroke Betty’s head instead. You can go crazy with it now.”

“Uugh, please let Beako provide eternal head patting service!”

“Hmph, that depends on Subaru’s attitude moving forward. Let’s see if I can find a way to think it’s fine if Betty is patted by you.”

“You’re holding the bar way too high! But I’ll surpass it…!”

Facing the lofty attitude of Beatrice, Subaru extended his fingers, engaged in a delicate interaction. Underneath that soft touch, Beatrice exhaled happily.

“T-This is… not half bad… in fact, is it good? Is it, really? I didn’t realize you had this hidden potential…!”

“Sweet, Beako. Time apart indeed fosters love.”

“I totally believe so. Time apart can do that.”

“Hey, Petra? You seem a bit tense there…?”

As Subaru patted Beatrice’s head like a godly hand, Petra moved her chair closer and fixed him with a sharp gaze.

But Petra put on a nonchalant face, pretending not to engage with Subaru’s words. As he struggled under the pressure from her presence, she then remarked,

“I get it’s a fun combination, but are you sure? Just because it worked once, doesn’t mean you can slack off.”

“Yeah, I get it. The biggest threat, that sharpshooter who was a little too effective, is gone, but we still have the sand winds and beasts left. Speaking of which, that bird that flies toward the tower you advised really helped a lot.”

“Glad to hear that… but, are you aware of the issues at hand? What will you do?”

“Uh, that’s about responding to wait and plan.”

In the journey to conquer the Augria Sand Dunes, there were three hurdles blockers for challengers—one was the ‘sand time’ when the wind intensified, another was the vicious beasts dwelling in the sand sea, and the last was Shaula — but they could now ignore that last concern with a tinge of loneliness.

And while they had to formally challenge ‘sand time’, the primary hindrance was the beasts —

“—Aw man, it’s still so sandy around here.”

That whining voice came from the entrance, followed by the sound of sand being brushed off, making Subaru and his group turn around in anticipation to see who it was.

Standing there was a girl clad in black attire, with blue braids peeking out from beneath her hood.

Noticing the gazes from the Subaru group at the counter, she widened her eyes for a moment and then mischievously smiled,

“Hey there, big brother! Glad to see you made it back safe. And Petra-chan and Beatrice-chan, looks like you’re both doing well too!”

Waving her hand, Meily Portroot cheerfully entered, and a small scorpion unexpectedly popped out of her hair, swaying its tail in time with her gestures.

In this way, both Meily and her small red scorpion welcomed the Subaru group back to the kingdom of Lugnica and the long-awaited reunion.

With Meily’s appearance, Subaru smiled back at the shopkeeper, who sat behind the counter.

“That girl is our biggest ally for conquering the Augria Sand Dunes.”

“Stuck around with a smiling dude and three girls… Should I be surprised that ‘Sage’ tower isn’t as distant as I thought it was?”

Taken aback by the shopkeeper’s comments, Subaru scratched his cheek with one hand, continuing to stroke Beatrice’s head with the other.