“When things go this smoothly, it’s hard not to feel uneasy.”

Scratching his head, Natsuki Subaru sighed while glancing around.

The stone passage was sturdy and about two meters wide. It was narrow enough that if four adults stood in a line, they would be cramped, but it was sufficient for the purpose of serving a place frequented by servants. The hallways of Roswaal’s Mansion, on the other hand, were unnecessarily large and a hassle to clean.

In any case,

“I expected way more obstacles—who would’ve thought I’d clear it in one go?”

Hiding in a deserted corner of a corridor—one of the underground passages in the Royal Castle—Subaru quietly let out a breath at the lax security.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

The “Nervous Secret Entry Operation by Kadmon Presents” was set in motion about an hour after the three had hatched their scheme.

“Listen, don’t you dare mention my name. I can get you into the noble district… but for entering the castle, find a different way. If things go south, look for that guy Henehe in the western upper district. He’ll quietly escort you back down.”

While emphasizing that he wouldn’t be implicated, he also made sure to provide information on an escape route. Kadmon, the gruff acting store owner, was the type who couldn’t help but be caring. One could argue his kindness was the reason he had gotten roped into this reckless venture.

Thanks to Kadmon’s suggestion (though he’d deny it), Subaru decided on an operation to sneak into the upper district by hiding among the cargo of a dragon transport wagon heading that way.

The lower sections refer to the commercial areas like the shopping street and the commoners’ district, including the Poor District and the outskirts of the Royal Capital. It seemed that there were regular transports from these lower areas to the upper districts, making it a relatively easy task.

“So, does that mean merchants are really trusted?”

“It’s less about trusting merchants and more about not thinking them foolish enough to ruin a profitable deal by pissing off those above… that would be a more accurate way to put it.”

The reply to Subaru’s question came from a muscular giant, arms crossed, Old Man Rom. He had transformed from shabby clothes into something relatively clean. Noticing Subaru’s questioning gaze, Rom explained,

“Even though once you enter the upper district, you aren’t immediately suspected, it’s better to keep up appearances and not draw attention. In your case, that isn’t a concern.”

“W-well, from my position, I’m working as a servant for a relatively decent household. Since it’s my first time at the Royal Capital, I’ve put a fair amount of money into my outfit.”

Holding his hands up to signal for evaluation, Subaru looked down at his attire with a laugh.

It was a formal outfit provided by Rem for his servant life at Roswaal’s Mansion. Although he had been told it was okay to get it dirty, the luxury evident in its appearance and texture led Subaru—who had common citizen tendencies—to exercise excessive caution with this almost brand-new garment.

It seemed that while its formality made him stand out in the lower district, in the upper district, it would be neutralized and would feel mild.

With that reasoning, Subaru looked up at Rom, who had cleaned himself up.

“But seriously, I’m quite worried about you tagging along, Rom.”

Touching on that major concern, Subaru expressed his anxiety.

When it came to the human trafficking operation to the upper district, it was Old Man Rom himself who volunteered to accompany Subaru. Honestly, Subaru wanted to refuse the suggestion, knowing even a small chance of being caught would be more than he could bear.

“No, don’t worry. I have quite a bit of experience entering upper district through various avenues. You think I gather those goods in the Thieves’ Repository for nothing?”

“That way of putting it makes you sound just like a parent reminiscing about their troubled youth. How many times have you done this? It seems more dangerous than it’s worth, this old man.”

Seeking agreement, Subaru glanced at Kadmon, but the tough-looking man was focusing on discussions with the wagon driver, clearly detached from their conversation about Rom hopping aboard. The fact that Rom didn’t comment about riding along suggested this method was not a first for him.

When Kadmon mentioned smuggling to the upper district, the driver didn’t appear shocked at all.

“Should I lament the guards’ laxity in this case, or should I give a thumbs up to the merchants who utilize it to make some quick cash?”

“If trouble arises, Kadmon and the others will be implicated too. You can’t engage in such reckless acts without some trust. It’s because I’m here that you’re able to tag along, so be grateful for that!”

“To drag an earnest, promising young man like me into this shady business is the very definition of a bad adult. I swear I won’t turn out like you when I grow up! That said, thank you, Rom! Your head is shining brightly today!”

“Hahaha, you little brat who never shuts up. Should I give you a kick off the wagon right here?”

They shared smiles, and the absurdity of the moment made them exhale in unison.

Then, Subaru shrugged his shoulders and returned to the original topic.

“So, why in the end are you really coming along, Rom? Thanks to you, I’ve got a free pass for the dragon transport, but there’s no reason on your part to walk that risky path.”

Simply being a contact of Kadmon wouldn’t have led to this scenario.

Since he had come to understand Rom’s collaboration, he couldn’t quite grasp why he would endorse Subaru’s reckless plan.

In response to Subaru’s question, Rom furrowed his brows deeply.

“According to what I’ve heard, Felt got taken by the ‘Sword Saint.’ If that’s the case, I figured it’s more likely to hear about it from up top.”

Rom grimaced at the mention of the “Sword Saint.” Hearing that term, Subaru recalled the image of the red-haired young man, remembering that his residence was also in the upper district.

He undoubtedly came from a respectable background, which was only natural for someone referred to as the “Sword Saint.” However, it would be quite a challenge to pinpoint his mansion in a world where the extravagant family names wouldn’t simply hang over a door.

“I wouldn’t even know which house that Reinhardt is, and even if I did, I wouldn’t just ring the doorbell and expect a meeting. That good-looking guy might welcome me in, but how realistic is that?”

“That’s a fool’s errand that only you would attempt. My job is merely to gather information and prepare for future actions.”

“For the future, you say?”

Questioning Subaru, Rom faintly nodded and said,

“To lay the groundwork for retrieving Felt. Once I know the mansion’s location, I can gather some coin and connections to find out details about the place.”

“Looks like you’re up to something quite on a different level than me, huh? I don’t know about this reckless path you keep igniting either.”

Subaru criticized Rom’s extreme comments, but objectively there wasn’t much difference in their purposes—one was scheming to sneak into the castle while the other was planning to invade a noble’s residence. Both involved charges that could lead to immediate dismissal.

“When it comes to Felt, as long as it’s with Reinhardt, I don’t think I have to worry. Honestly, she might be living a better life than here, right? She could even be getting picked up by some servant and enjoying life.”

Given how unkempt she appeared in the Poor District, Subaru hadn’t quite realized it, but she looked like she had considerable potential once she cleaned up. If it were someone like Reinhardt, it wouldn’t be surprising at all if he had noticed her beauty and took pity on her condition to take her in.

Shaking his head, Subaru internally denied that line of thinking, believing Reinhardt didn’t come off as someone who would act out of such shallow sympathy.

In any case, it was indeed unlikely that she was being treated poorly. However, Rom, his expression tight, pressed his lips together as he said,

“No, I don’t think so. Who the other person is isn’t really the issue now. That child has been taken to the upper district. —And that holds the potential for a bad situation to arise soon.”

Subaru felt distrust in Rom’s stubborn, almost desperate demeanor.

Though it included concern for her safety, there seemed to be a stronger emotion mixed in there too.

However, before Subaru could question Rom’s true intentions, Kadmon returned from discussions with the driver.

“Hey, the preparations are complete. If you’re serious about this, get on the wagon quickly. The third cart from the back. Old man Rom, just tell that kid what you always do.”

After informing them that they were ready, Rom raised his hand in acknowledgment and, after locking eyes with Subaru, who wanted to speak up, he added,

“In any case, first, we have to break through the depot. Especially because it’s you, be particularly careful. Although there are some relaxed guards, they’re still city guards. If caught, it could end quite painfully.”

“It’s kind of corrupt to think that I wouldn’t get beheaded but would just have to pay a fee instead… but I’ll be careful.”

While feeling somewhat dissatisfied with that explanation, Subaru nodded and followed behind Rom as they walked.

There were four dragon carts moving towards the upper district, taking up nearly half the width of the broad merchant road. The earth dragons hauling them were of a different kind than any they had seen so far. Unlike the slender, lizard-like creatures they were used to, these ones had short, stout legs that made them appear sluggish, like turtles.

Four dragons pulling four carts. Subaru and Old Man Rom were to board the third cart, the primary cargo being—

“I thought that smell was intense; could this be a load of fish?”

“It’s ideal since the smell could cramp our style, so the guards are less likely to notice. Our scent will mix in too, which is helpful. Now, don’t forget the odor neutralizing perfume.”

Subaru grimaced at the pungent fish smell invading his nostrils as Rom handed him a small green pouch. The pouch was small enough to rest in the palm of his hand, and as he sniffed it, Subaru felt like collapsing from the assault.

The overwhelming stench hit him, making his nose ache as if it could start bleeding. As he instinctively dropped the pouch, old man Rom bent down to pick it up.

“That’s vital for our survival; don’t treat it lightly, you heathen.”

“I feel like I just borrowed divine punishment! What is this!? It’s not just that it smells, it felt like my nose might come off!”

“Karnago powder has a strong smell at first, but once you sprinkle it on your body, it’ll erase both the stench and your body odor within a few minutes. If you walk through the upper district smelling like fish, you might as well have taken a bath in a cesspool; it’ll ruin your finely dressed look. Suffer through the necessary pain.”

Rom’s playful smirk as he pressed the pouch against Subaru’s chest showed his mischievous side. Subaru accepted it with a frown, then tried to shove it as far from his nose as possible and tucked it into the pocket of his pants.

As the two exchanged words, Kadmon urged them to get moving, signaling quickly; further delays were unacceptable, and with determination, Subaru hopped onto the cart.

As he had expected—no, more than he expected, the intense fish odor slammed into Subaru, almost breaking his spirit before they had even started out.

Some sort of cooling mechanism seemed to be in effect inside the cart, too, making the area uncomfortably cold as if to preserve the fresh fish. Watching his breath form in front of him, Subaru looked around for a place to settle in.

“Don’t look around so much. Your hiding spot is just a bit inside the entrance… yeah, just behind that wooden box. I’ll hide too, so keep your body low.”

“What’s so sad about being stuck to a muscle-bound old man for twenty-four hours? I hope this floor isn’t soaked with fish juice; this outfit is brand new.”

“Considering the chance of your clothes being stained with blood, that’d be the better scenario. The wooden box is full of salted fish, and that should smell slightly better.”

With a push on his back, Rom urged him forth. As if at that moment, the slight sway ignited movement from the cart. Before Subaru could hide inside, he poked his head out of the cart’s entrance and waved goodbye to Kadmon, who was watching.

Responding curtly, Kadmon turned his back to them, signaling he didn’t want to see them anymore as he walked in the opposite direction down the merchant way.

Witnessing that, Subaru finally moved to the back of the cart—taking a seat in the corner near the wooden box—he focused on calming his racing heart for this first smuggling experience.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

—Wincing at the pain from the pounding of his heart, Subaru had a light moment of regret over his recklessness along the transport route. As if to prove that his worries weren’t a problem, a man at the driver’s seat informed them in hushed tones that they had managed to slip past the depot successfully.

Only about twenty minutes had passed since they set off from the commercial street.

The smooth progression shocked Subaru so much it felt like he’d been caught in a joke, turning to Old Man Rom with a surprised expression.

“Is it really this easy to get through the depot? They didn’t even check our cargo!”

Thinking worst-case scenarios like in manga, where spears would pierce through the wagon one after another in some violent inspection, he had been preparing to lie flat, so the relief washed over him like a tidal wave.

Rom laughed lightly through his nose at Subaru’s concerns.

“That’s what I told you; it’s an unspoken understanding. The only ones actually carrying food from the merchant route to the upper district are the first three dragon carts. The fourth cart behind us has plenty of items that the guards cannot afford to check.”

With a sly grin, old man Rom’s behavior implied he was fully aware of the lax oversight at the depot.

Hearing this, Subaru pouted, making his displeasure plain.

“So it’s a rigged game, then! I panicked for nothing. Wait, does that mean what’s in the back is a bribe?”

“If we’re being blunt, yes. There are plenty of things in this cart that would be quite inconvenient if it were stopped. A little won’t stop them.”

Rom crossed his arms, murmuring that, and then he directed a serious gaze at Subaru.

“However, it’s a big no-no to upset those people. If we catch their ire, it won’t just be us who face the repercussions. If we’re caught without even a chance for excuses, we’d be summarily disposed of—left to rot, understood?”

With implicit warnings against Subaru’s disregard for caution, Rom spoke gravely. Faced with the heavy atmosphere, Subaru fell silent, solemnly nodding in agreement.

The dragon cart rounded a slope, and they’d finally transitioned from the upper district to the noble quarters. The sound of the cart wheels crunching against well-paved roads signaled their arrival.

“We’ll get off a bit further ahead. After that, I’ll take you around my known contacts, to scout for info in the noble district… you should do the same, kid.”

“…That would make it impossible for me to achieve my purpose.”

“I helped you get through all the way up to the upper district because you pushed for it. But it’s impossible to sneak further than that now. You’d be throwing your life into the gutter. I know everything is urgent for you, but you’re unprepared.”

Subaru was left speechless after being hammered with solid reasoning. Rom roughly rubbed Subaru’s head with a firm palm and continued his explanation.

“Challenging without preparation translates to ‘preparing for failure.’ If you rush things, you won’t achieve the results you desire. So at the very least… you understand?”

“Preaching from an adult perspective is hard to argue against, you know.”

Shoving his palm out of the way, Subaru turned his back on the old man, sulking in the cart like a child. Rom chuckled at his sullen stance but then peeked outside the cart’s cover. Concluding they were nearing their designated spot, he said,

“Alright, we’re getting off. Stopping the dragon cart would be suspicious. I don’t think it will be fast enough for you to get hurt, but you should jump off while matching its speed.”

With his arm slipped through the cover, Rom created a space to stick his body out. Sunlight streaming in from the cart that had kept them in shadow revealed a painful brightness to Subaru’s eyes.

Contrary to the rough, cramped buildings of the merchant street or the Poor District, the noble district’s buildings loomed larger, taking up considerable space. Free-space felt like a waste as these grand houses stood proudly with tremendous footprints, contrasting with the cramped shops; the central structures commanded attention.

It felt like stepping into a mansion from a storybook. While there weren’t any as colossal as Roswaal’s Mansion, they were spaciously utilized, a kind of playfulness that Roswaal seemed to embrace. If it weren’t for the excellent sisters—Ram and Rem—maintaining the mansion, it likely wouldn’t have survived.

Indeed, witnessing all this, Subaru truly felt the tangible differences between the upper and lower districts. It served as evidence of the stark class divide that persisted even within the Royal Capital of Lugnica.

Admittedly, given the bribes piled in the carts, it wasn’t a great impression, but leveraging their underhanded dealings was the reality. He wasn’t exactly a paragon of virtue himself, easily ready to cast aside the conflict within him, Subaru focused on the matter at hand, which was jumping off the cart.

“So, you ready to make the leap?”

“Considering my previous failures, I have a track record with falling off carts. … If you could show me a demonstration, I’d be willing to reward you with a monetary gift of gratitude.”

“The part of not overly pretending to be brave is a good trait. Alright, watch me!”

Nodding honestly, Rom jumped out first.

With one hand on the edge of the wagon, he gracefully cast his entire body outside. Then, deftly gripping the edge with both arms, he timed his feet to touch the ground. The risk of being dragged and ending up as pulp beneath the wheels loomed, but—

“Didn’t I just get spared from public humiliation? This is…!”

“That’s the divine protection at work. As long as you don’t let go of my hand, you won’t be tossed out.”

Apparently, wind protection seemed to be in effect for this dragon cart, just like the last one they rode down. Rom smoothly began running alongside the cart, keeping pace without a hint of discomfort.

As he watched Rom’s displays of skill, Subaru couldn’t help but let out an impressed sigh. While expressing his admiration towards Rom, he caught sight of his running figure and shouted,

“Hey, follow my lead and jump off! I might even be grateful enough to catch you!”

Rom seemed to bait Subaru’s competitive spirit, and while Subaru felt a surge, he still hesitated to mimic the move, peeking out from behind the flap.

Perhaps he was too intimidated by the unexpected light acrobatics he was expected to perform. Wrinkles began to form on Rom’s forehead as he realized the hesitation, but as they ran for about three hundred meters, he suddenly caught on to Subaru’s intentions.

With a deep frown and a vein popping on his forehead, Rom yelled,

“Wait a second, kid! You’re planning to jump off and enter the castle without a second thought, aren’t you?!”

Subaru didn’t confirm nor deny Rom’s comment, maintaining a cool demeanor while attempting to close the flap, which clearly indicated his actual intentions.

—The dragon cart approached the Royal Castle, laden with goods.

Not too long ago, had Kadmon let slip the first comment about deliveries to the castle, Subaru hadn’t found it amusing but now he couldn’t forget it.

This wagon was heading for the castle. It was no mistake the goods would be brought to the castle’s food storage. It was far more plausible than traversing back down to Nobles’ Street with Rom to scout a route to the castle.

Although Rom had wanted to track Subaru closely, he had to abandon pursuing when they shifted from the noble district towards the center.

Just as Subaru had firm purposes, Rom had pressing reasons of his own. Causing a commotion that would draw attention would not be in either of their best interests.

Subaru understood that, brimming with guilt at watching Rom’s large frame slide into a side alley.

In the end, he was proving Kadmon’s kindness and Rom’s thoughtfulness pointless.

In light of their utmost cooperation, this would be viewed almost as betrayal. Yet even so, Subaru sought to use their goodwill without any intention of excuses.

—And so his single priority was to approach Emilia.

For Subaru, the only thing that mattered was getting to her side.

It was just that the issues lying in the way were nothing more than a list of ignored complications.

The Royal Capital was a warped land filled with danger. There was no way Subaru would allow Emilia to be exposed to it unguarded.

If only he could be there beside her, maybe he could do something.

Or perhaps, “Even if things don’t go my way, I at least have a chance,” Subaru unconsciously thought.

—He remained wholly unaware of how arrogant and inhumane that mindset was.

The dragon cart, still oblivious to the squabbles among its contents, glided down the smoothly paved path towards the Royal Castle.

Laden with explosives that would become anything but charming if discovered, it continued onward, slow and steady.

* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * *

After saying a sad farewell to his benefactors, Subaru was about to face trials on his own.

Before him stood countless crises and difficulties, forged from friendships and love, and the extinguished lives, ambitions, and dreams they would all inevitably cross. He would push through, bleeding, powerfully forward.

“This is what I’d ideally expect, but isn’t this actually a terrible situation?”

Swiftly escaping the castle’s food storage, Subaru merely had to express his disbelief at the slapdash security in the castle halls.

The journey by dragon cart lasted about thirty minutes, leaving Old Man Rom behind before the cart easily entered the Royal Castle premises.

During the ride, only the fourth cart had detoured, which Subaru reasoned meant it was delivering bribes via an alternate route.

In that sense, the first three carts were irrefutably destined for the castle, and Subaru’s life was spared precisely for this reason.

“Guess it was worth cohabitating with salted fish. It was an absolute miscalculation that I ended up salting myself, but I managed to mask the smell.”

With the sensation of white powder still on his body, Subaru nervously patted it down, quietly praising his quick thinking.

Entering the Royal Castle, it was inevitable that they would have to open the cargo as they unloaded. To stymie potential detection, Subaru had hidden himself in one of the boxes of salted fish.

Surprisingly, inspection had only gone through the box beside his, and by the grace of luck, the other box was ignored.

Afterward, it seemed they employed wind magic to shift the cargo without direct human involvement, and as such, the odd weight of the box Subaru occupied was never questioned. This reckless and haphazard plan somehow achieved success against the odds.

While it was a fortunate outcome for Subaru, the unguarded nature of this castle only heightened his worry for Emilia’s safety, making it hard for him to rejoice in the outcome.

Taking all this information into account, he navigated through the food storage, opting for the less populated areas below.

“Well, I got in, but what’s the plan now?”

To put it bluntly, although he had successfully arrived, he was drawing a total blank on how to proceed.

It would be best to keep watch over Emilia from the shadows, but he didn’t realistically think he could sneak all the way to where she was likely at the castle’s heart.

Worst case, even if his presence were revealed along the way, he could weave through towards Emilia and not come off too harshly, riding on the ludicrous hopes he held.

If he managed to make it this deep, as haughty as she was, she wouldn’t throw him out for showing up uninvited. He’d sincerely apologize and depend on her goodwill.

As things reached this point, his optimistic thoughts rushed him forward. He seemed utterly devoid of any sense of reflection, and whether anyone else would commend or criticize him for this state would remain a mystery.

And then,

“Uh-oh, footsteps coming this way…”

Sensing a presence approaching, Subaru quickly scanned his surroundings.

They were in the underground passage likely reserved solely for servants. Among the shabby doors, Subaru dashed into the nearest empty room.

Thankfully, no one was inside.

The cramped chamber appeared to be a changing room used by staff. Several closets were lined up, and a sweet scent wafted through the air, indicating it belonged to females, instilling a sense of guilt.

But he lacked the luxury of enjoying such a sweet feeling. Subaru hastily opened the back closet and checked to find it empty, slipping inside to hide.

Now, all he had to do was hold his breath and wait for the footsteps to pass by.

He told himself that if he got caught, he could likely figure something out. But the trap of danger ahead was far from trivial, and his wavering resolution reflected the chaos of the situation he was in.

For the time being, all he could do was survive and act later once things settled.

Yet, that very focus on short-term survival was about to be derailed by the arrival of a sudden interruption.

“—This room smells.”

As the door swung open violently along with a woman’s voice, Subaru’s situation crumbled like a house of cards.

Racing heart threatened to burst from his chest as he felt the blood drain from his face, swallowing hard as he bit back a surge of despair.

Unlike lockers in changing rooms, the closet had no peephole to sneak a look outside. Therefore, Subaru was trapped in the darkness with no means of gauging the other person’s movements.

As tension nearly choked him, he began to remorse over his earlier decisions.

He had underestimated things, treated them lightly, acted rashly—his arrogance had led him here.

Faced with such a dire situation, the foolishness of his flippant actions was clearer than ever. How had he managed to pull such a reckless stunt only moments ago? The meaning of his prior choices felt utterly lost on him.

But even while rationing with his mind that these thoughts made sense, Subaru couldn’t choose to reveal himself to the approaching figure.

Some part of him clung to a fragile hope that perhaps he still hadn’t been detected.

Plagued by that unbearable tension, he pressed against the darkness.

“—I’m only waiting for five seconds. Unlike me, my lady has little patience.”

The muffled voice, coming directly from outside the closed closet, delivered a statement both clear and ominous.

It sounded like an unusually relaxed tone, but the conviction within each word resonated with an edge, underscored by the whisper of steel.

Invoking the notion that this declaration was merely bravado and banking on his thin sliver of hope to wait it out—Subaru simply didn’t have the courage to make such a rash choice.

“Five, four… I won’t hold back—”

“Hold on! Stop! Let’s talk this out! —I’m coming out; just wait a moment!”

As impatience prompted the figure to draw deeper, Subaru hastily shoved the door open. The closet creaked as it revealed the stifling air from within, letting out a cool breeze into the suffocating environment, allying for a moment against the looming dread.

Following that was an inevitable confrontation of blame and judgment. Given the circumstances of Subaru’s actions, any minor fault would hardly suffice.

It wasn’t the case that he hadn’t imagined this scenario, but he had naively hoped things might work out.

Before being hit with a series of accusations, it was better to play his cards wisely—this thought echoed in his mind when suddenly,

“See, Al? I told you it would turn out this way, didn’t I?”

A familiar haughty voice filled the space, compelling Subaru to raise his gaze, confronting the orange-haired girl. She wore a disrespectful grin, directing what resembled a fan at him.

“I figured we would run into this buffoon sooner rather than later!”

“Ah, well, I guess you could say that. As expected from the princess, you have a strong intuition. However, I wouldn’t say you’re quite right in sticking with him.”

Standing beside her was a middle-aged man—clad in a jet-black helmet and light gear—Al, who initially seemed to agree with the girl, but then turned his tone towards sympathetically acknowledging Subaru.

“It seems I might have avoided getting cut straight to the chase on this one.”

Relief washed over Subaru as he realized he hadn’t faced an ordeal of immediate consequence.

Feeling that sense of security envelop him, he eventually slumped to the ground, letting out a dry chuckle, exhaling deeply, surrounded by a hopeful prospect anew.