Subaru’s most dedicated “Tehepero” completely missed the mark, disconnected from the era’s conventions and the cultural gaps of this other world, failing spectacularly.

Silence engulfed the world, an awkward stillness where even the passage of time felt vague.

Yet the reality was that time had not stopped; Subaru’s heart was still shamefully pumping blood, and Emilia’s complexion before him worsened by the second.

If only he could die of embarrassment, that would be simple, but for Subaru, who had gotten through his days in this other world by valuing his own skin, death by anger or embarrassment was a far-off tale.

All he could do was endure the painfully awkward moment, waiting for the other party’s reaction while continuing his “Tehepero.”

This was a showdown; yes, a showdown.

In his time spent in this other world, there had been several pivotal moments of confrontation, whether in the Thieves’ Repository, the Forest of Magical Beasts, or now here in the Throne Room, having failed grandly in front of Emilia.

Subaru was immobilized. He had made up his mind to not move a muscle without Emilia’s response, a testament to his inner resolve.

In contrast, Emilia trembled her lips as if seeking words, her gaze wandering as she struggled to organize her thoughts.

Then, her lips tightened, and having perhaps reached some conclusion, her violet eyes met Subaru’s black ones directly. As if drawn into those eyes, Subaru braced himself to accept whatever her first words would be—

“Why are you staring so intently at my maid, intruder?”

“Oof!”

“Huh?”

Startled by Emilia’s words, a shock came from behind Subaru.

An incredibly soft sensation pressed against his back, and a pair of arms elegantly locked around his chest and neck.

The orange-haired girl stretching behind him—her chin rested against his shoulder, aligning herself next to Emilia.

Understanding what that surprising sensation was caused a blush to creep up Subaru’s ears, but he quickly dismissed that thought and turned around.

“Why am I a maid? I’ll be misunderstood by Emilia-tan…”

“I see, you’re not my maid then. That means your status, walking confidently inside the castle, what could it be?”

“Ugh…”

His sudden retort was cut off by a teasing smile.

It was undeniable that Subaru was at a tremendous disadvantage here. It was a clear fact that his position depended on her kindness.

Considering the whimsical nature of the girl, if Subaru chose to act out of her intentions, he could easily see the end result of immediate detainment.

Moreover, the idea of acting chummily with another girl in front of Emilia was out of the question. This wasn’t just what Emilia would think; it was an issue of Subaru’s own manly heart.

Thus, Subaru’s situation had reached a deadlock. Unless Subaru was an utter fool, he should logically navigate this moment by complying with the girl’s opinion.

However, as the process of intrusion suggested, Natsuki Subaru was quite the fool.

“No way I’m bowing down to anyone in front of Emilia-tan!”

“Interesting. Then, how do you view yourself?”

The girl, who had aimed to mock him, suddenly changed her demeanor, questioning in a tone that radiated coldness.

The answer here would directly correlate to his worth. He couldn’t see Emilia’s expression behind her, but Al, standing behind the girl, discreetly shook his head beneath his helmet, urgently signaling, “This girl isn’t in a joking mood right now!”

Feeling bad for trampling on Al’s kindness, Subaru quietly inhaled and decided to clearly state his position.

“I am here to…”

“Here comes the noble Priscilla. I must apologize for the troubles caused by my household’s servant. How unfortunate to be lost within the castle. My apologies.”

That indifferent voice that interrupted Subaru’s declaration belonged to the familiar gentle tone of Roswaal.

Aligned beside him, overwhelmed with enthusiasm, was Roswaal, dressed in the attire suitable for a court magician, plastered with his usual goofy smile.

He indicated Subaru, presenting a facade of mock courtesy.

“As for my thanks, that will come later. Again, I sincerely apologize for my household’s misbehavior.”

“Ah, the head jester has made his appearance. Oh well, I do appreciate it. Thanks to that jester and the intruder, I’ve had some fun… it’s a request from my retainer too.”

Responding to Roswaal’s overly polite demeanor, the girl nodded graciously, while Al subtly expressed his relief with a sigh behind her.

He seemed excessively anxious about his fellow townsman getting into serious trouble after finding him after eighteen long years.

“Please spare me, lady. My survival candle has melted faster than summer ice cream…”

“Your analogy is quite lost on me. In any case, express your gratitude for my broad-mindedness. Respect, respect,” Priscilla said.

“Yessir, wonderful, splendid!”

In a dismissive manner, he patted the girl’s head with one arm, vigorously shaking her neck. It was a rather endearing display, and yet the girl didn’t appear to be perturbed by the rough treatment. She seemed genuinely affectionate.

Anyway,

“Talk about nearly being on the edge of death. Thanks for saving me, Roz.”

“Well, I do share some of the responsibility. Yet…”

As Subaru nervously settled down, Roswaal gazed down at him thoughtfully with his yellow eyes. Feeling uncomfortable under that stare, Subaru shot back, “What is it?”

“I honestly didn’t expect you to be able to invade the castle. How far are you going to deviate from our expectations? No, perhaps it’s not worth dwelling on?”

Roswaal mused to himself, nodding as if he had made some profound realization.

Just when Subaru was about to pry further, he noticed someone else he needed to explain himself to in his peripheral vision.

“Oh, sorry, I forgot. I have a lot to say, but…”

“Why…”

“Huh?”

As Subaru organized the order of excuses in his head, Emilia seemed to barely whisper something that might vanish into her mouth.

When Subaru asked her to repeat, she shook her head once, then looked straight back at him.

“Why are you here?”

“Now that you mention it, the reason for my presence is both deep yet shallow, heavy yet light, probably…”

“Quit joking around. Subaru, I told you, didn’t I? Don’t you remember?”

Subaru’s throat caught at her repeated questioning, sounding like an accusation.

“Of course, she was referring to the promise we made at the tavern. I said I would wait, yet here I am, breaking that promise just a few minutes later. I can’t possibly justify my lack of commitment.”

That very promise broke weighed heavily on him. Yet at the same time, the fact that he had rushed to Emilia’s side was no lie either.

How could he blend these points seamlessly to easily shift the responsibility back to her? Subaru’s mind raced, reformulating his responses.

Then,

“—Everyone here has gathered. Now, the wise people are about to enter.”

The doors of the Throne Room swung open, interrupting Subaru and Emilia’s discussion.

Subaru turned towards the sound. The first to enter through the grand doors was a knight he had spoken with before—the one known as Marcos.

With a healthy demeanor, he strode in confidently, donning the armor revised to suit him, a pure knightly image that was almost storybook-like, exuding an aura of authority even Subaru noticed.

Following him was an assembly of several elderly figures, all dressed appropriately for their status, and their dignified behavior hinted they were quite high-ranking individuals. Each of their faces bore deep wrinkles etched by years of experience, exuding an aura of gravitas.

Among them, the most striking figure was a white-haired elderly man walking at the forefront of the group.

Though his back was straight, he stood a head shorter than Subaru. His long white hair contrasted against his ornate bushy beard, similarly voluminous and impressive. The lower height gave off a sense of precariousness, but he possessed the sharp gaze of a ‘blade,’ indicating his keen awareness.

“That man is the representative of the Wise Council—the most influential individual in Lugnica during this current kingless era. They call him Microtoff.”

Subaru’s voice caught in surprise, while Roswaal, standing next to him, shared a hushed insight.

Upon hearing this, Subaru came to realize. It was clear this man was not to be trifled with, and as expected in reality, he presented himself accordingly.

“He’s the agency that manages the country on behalf of the King, right?”

“Formally, they serve as advisors. Recent governance has pretty much relied on the Wise Council, though that hasn’t changed much even during the previous king’s time.”

Roswaal shrugged in response. So it seemed the council had overseen the realm’s operations since the time of a king lacking executive skills.

While Subaru had some understanding of this context, his delight at Roswaal sharing this intel felt oddly misplaced, especially given the setting of the Throne Room.

It was a conversation he anticipated, but one that now bore heavy implications given the potential risk involved.

Yet before Subaru could ruminate further, he was interrupted as figures began to shift against the back wall of the throne room.

“Over there, those three…”

Notably, his eyes couldn’t help but gravitate towards the trio who exuded an odd presence.

To his astonishment, all three figures were ones Subaru had previously encountered.

Al tapped Subaru on the shoulder, encouraging him to approach that way.

Glancing sideways at Roswaal for confirmation, he was curious about what was happening.

“Just like this, can I head over there?”

“If this was an appropriate measure, it’d be to gracefully usher you outside, but it’s interesting, so follow that knight.”

“Hold on, Roswaal!”

In direct contrast to his demeanor in the mansion, Roswaal approached Emilia, both pinning her with a stubborn look.

Unfortunately for Emilia, she could only scold him for disregarding the current reality.

“Regrettably, there’s no time to heed your sound argument today, Lady Emilia. To clarify the situation, Subaru-kun would leave us at this very spot… in a lengthy and profound sense.”

“Just because of that, keeping Subaru here will—”

“Debates have to be postponed, Lady Emilia. Other candidates are gathering. Please direct your attention there.”

Roswaal gestured towards the back of the throne room, where the ‘unusual candidates’ were gathering.

They cleared the throne, with the elders from the Wise Council surrounding the empty chairs. The enormous depiction of dragon wings on the wall visually reinforced that the elders were akin to loyal vassals trailing behind a king.

Before the vie was a group of individuals, contrasting the weighty stature of the elders, emanating a vibrant aura like the essence of sunlight.

Leading the way was a girl in a sun-colored dress, confidently placing her hands on her hips while smiling with pride. It was Priscilla, who Subaru had seen earlier guiding the realm, displaying a regal bearing that didn’t waver even under the numerous gazes upon her.

Next to her on the right stood a woman with deep green hair cascading down her back. Her hair close to black gleamed with a lush sheen. She was taller than typical females, her gaze slightly lower than Subaru’s. Yet her athletic figure stood in stark contrast to her elegant royal attire, closely resembling the soldiers he had seen in the royal capital—though far more distinguished.

To Priscilla’s left was another girl with light purple hair offering a charmingly cheerful demeanor that contrasted sharply with the intensity of the other two.

Her waist-length hair had a slight wave, giving a sense of softness, enveloped in a billowing white dress that highlighted her gentle figure.

However, what caught Subaru’s attention was her fluffy white shoulder wrap, made of some kind of animal fur. Instantly, it triggered the true essence of the ‘Fluffist’ that Subaru considered to be a must-have; it was something he couldn’t help but admire.

Meanwhile, amidst this unusual setting, Emilia bit her lip in frustration, peering back at Subaru.

“I’m definitely going to talk about this later,” she assured him, dashing towards the three girls.

Dancing silver hair bobbed as Emilia joined them, and though she seemed slightly less adorned than the others, her underlying charm certainly made her stand out, at least in Subaru’s eyes.

“Simply put, those girls are the participants in the royal selection—potential candidates for the future king, right?”

Considering Emilia’s alignment with them and the previous exchanges, Subaru concluded it was indeed so. Honestly, it was surprising to discover all the candidates were female, yet if any men were present, they likely would have already emerged as the chosen ones, casting doubt on whether Emilia should have anticipated this prospect beforehand.

As Subaru let out a profound breath internally, he noticed the dynamic around him begin to shift, prompting him to hastily join the unfolding narrative. Roswaal stepped away from the knights, redirecting himself toward the faction dressed more as bureaucrats, contrasting with the armored knights.

Following suit, Subaru confidently stepped behind Al, aiming for a position slightly closer to the throne than those in armor. There, right before him—

“It’s you after all, Subaru.”

A red-haired handsome man waved his hand, offering a welcoming smile for Subaru’s appearance.

Two weeks had passed, yet his vibrant persona was as undiminished as ever—the one and only Reinhardt. Unlike the casual attire he had donned in the lower district, today he appeared in full knightly garb; the only constants were his divine presence and the sword sheathed with claw markings from a dragon.

“I figured you’d be the first to arrive when I heard Emilia was attending,” he remarked cheerfully.

“Good to see you again! Also, what’s with your unreasonable high praise for me? Given all I did was call for help with a squeaky voice and disgracefully take my own life—those should have hardly left you with a good impression.”

“While you shielded Emilia from peril, you made the right choices beyond that. Though it undervalues your efforts, it’s admirable.”

With Reinhardt’s sincere compliment, Subaru couldn’t muster any further rebuttal.

This is why true handsome men are troublesome. Attractive men typically don’t experience situations that skew their personalities; thus, they often turn out to be genuinely pleasant individuals. It’s the theory that “handsome people aren’t inherently villainous.”

Among good-looking men, those whose personalities are warped are merely rare exceptions.

Reinhardt’s excellence stood apart from the rest, undoubtedly marking him as the elite among handsome men.

“I wonder if there’s a prayer to boost that sort of luck, Nammandabu Nammandabu?”

“While that chant is unfamiliar, it won’t help you. I was born with a disposition for such things,” Reinhardt replied, brushing off the notion.

“Look, this is purely an offering; I‘m just letting you know. Speaking of which, there was something I needed to mention beforehand.”

Readjusting himself before Subaru, Reinhardt blinked his blue eyes quizzically. Then, with a slow bow of his head, Subaru expressed,

“I truly appreciate your help last time. I apologize for not finding the time to express my gratitude properly or for connecting sooner. I wish we could’ve talked sooner…”

“I understand your circumstances. It was unavoidable. You suffered a grievous injury. I too was somewhat overwhelmed.”

Reinhardt shrugged lightly, but he smiled gratefully at Subaru’s expressions of gratitude. It was a modest gesture, yet every bit of it felt relevant to the atmosphere around them, reinforcing the envy Subaru harbored for that allure that had arisen naturally from Reinhardt’s character.

Amidst this reunion, a soft voice intervened.

“Did you know that Reinhardt and Subaru were acquaintances? I’m so surprised!”

The phrase danced forth from a girl with natural cat ears, boasting a feather-light tone that interrupted their conversation.

Today, she wore the same drape over the black attire that matched Reinhardt’s cloak, adorned with the white ribbon she had worn before to her flaxen hair.

She was the one who had visited the Roswaal mansion days earlier, acting as an envoy that initiated this trip to the royal capital.

With a playful salute, she raised her hand to her forehead and winked, exclaiming,

“It’s only been two days, but how have you been? Everyone’s favorite Felix has been doing great!”

“I didn’t even hear about that! Thanks for everything the other day. It’s an honor to see you again!”

“Wait a second! Were you a bit stiff in the second half? Just relax more!”

She casually grabbed Subaru’s shoulder, encouraging him to loosen up. Reinhardt watched their exchange with an expression of mild surprise.

“Subaru. Are you already acquainted with Felix?”

“I was just visiting my benefactor Roswaal to confirm attendance for today. I thought she was merely a lowly maid…”

With the attire matching Reinhardt’s, she was clearly somebody worthy of standing alongside the “Sword Saint.” In fact, Subaru had heard at the mansion that she was ‘an unparalleled water magic user within the royal capital.’

“You were saying Emilia was with Felix then? If I had some free time, I certainly would’ve visited.”

“The Sword Saint wouldn’t be allowed to leave the royal capital. Marcos wouldn’t let it happen. It’d be unfair to raise further burdens on the captain, especially since his age would weigh heavier with that face of his… poor fellow, before thirty and already looking so elderly.”

Reinforcing Felix’s jest, Reinhardt offered an understated chuckle. Given the serious nature of their preceding dialogues, the revelation would need to be handled delicately. Subaru instinctively recalled Marcos’ imposing features, quietly lamenting how his appearance had aged poorly.

And then, it continued…

“Are you going to introduce them to me, too?”

The final voice that deviated from the aura of the knights was a distinct tone.

Subaru recognized her, only to conjure less than favorable associations about her. Mainly because,

“She’s the one who dared to kiss Emilia-tan’s hand at the office!”

With a rather flamboyant style, that man had been nothing but a presumptuous jerk, and as he called Subaru out with a smile, Subaru grinned,

“Sorry for the belated self-introduction! I’m Natsuki Subaru, a miserly fellow who is now in your heads. Please, do keep my presence in the back of your minds, hehe!”

“You’ve become quite humble, Subaru.”

Reinhardt interjected to temper his somewhat uncouth behavior, turning to the intricately styled man.

“Please don’t take offense, Julius. Subaru’s manner of testing others tends to provoke disdainful behavior from him.”

“Come on, don’t affix such cunning labels to me! I’m merely trying to read the air as best as I can.”

Reinhardt’s praise for Subaru seemed particularly unwarranted today. Clearly, he had esteemed the value of Subaru’s presence during the earlier events.

Nevertheless, Subaru noticed that Reinhardt’s good intentions did not stop there, thereby clarifying his inclination to stop equating himself.

“That’s how it is. Julius, conduct yourself gracefully.”

The pompous Julius maintained his composure and offered a polite smile.

“Allow me to introduce myself further—I am Julius Euclius, of the Royal Knight’s Brigade. It’s a pleasure to meet your acquaintances, esteemed knights as well.”

In response to his regard, Al gave an awkward wave of his single hand, stating,

“Ah, there’s no need for such grandiosity. I’m a common drifter, trust me! Unlike your noble lines.”

With a muffled voice, he expressed his tone, sounding distant in contrast to the attentive conversations nearby.

Given how Subaru had been close with him, it certainly came as a surprise.

However, unfortunately, there wasn’t enough time to question this surprising change.

As the greetings concluded, the knight they’d known as Marcos raised his voice.

“—To all members of the Wise Council, and the candidates—everyone has gathered. As a humble captain of the Royal Knights, I shall oversee today’s proceedings.”

“Hmm… Thank you.”

The representative Microtoff of the eluding Wise Council merely clasped his hands and nodded slightly.

With the resolution settled, Marcos narrowed his brow with rigidity.

“Today’s assembly summons significant news regarding the selection of the next king—a matter of grave concern for this nation. We appreciate your coming here to the royal castle, gathering with the Wise Council for this purpose.”

His voice claimed attention throughout the hall, reverberating into every ear. The grandeur of his speech held a weighty significance. Even Subaru found it hard to interject with his usual banter.

“The origin of this matter began about a half-year ago—when the previous king and royalty passed on successively. A world without a king creates inconceivable predicaments for the kingdom, especially for the Parent Dragon Kingdom Lugnica, which closely intertwines with the ‘Pact.’”

The “Pact”—likely a promise made with the dragons, something often brought up during the commencement of Subaru’s days in this mansion and which he had heard repeatedly. However, that was merely his surface knowledge.

“Hmm, maintaining the Pact is crucial for the kingdom’s survival. Losing an entire royal lineage to illness is devastating. We must quickly identify a new ‘Shaman’ to communicate with the dragons.”

“For that reason, all members of the Royal Knights have undertaken the duty given by the Wise Council, tasked with locating the chosen Shaman worthy of the dragon’s radiance.”

Marcos revealing a token from his pocket was familiar even to Subaru: the emblem presented to royal selection candidates.

As he walked towards the lined-up participants, Marcos bowed respectfully to them.

“Daughters, reveal your dragon gems—”

At his call, the girls each raised their gems proudly.

Dazzling lights radiated from the gems, casting a vibrant array throughout the hall.

The knights collectively gasped in astonishment while the elders from the Wise Council expressed a mix of relief and joy on their wrinkled faces.

“Thus, each candidate possesses qualifications as a dragon shaman. After confirming this, we will act in accordance with the dragon history stone—”

“Wait?”

Just as Marcos began to recount the weight of the assembly, an amiable voice questioned him out of nowhere.

Turning to find the source, it was the girl with purple hair—now refracted with blue light from her dragon gem.

She stood with her gem but tilted her head in a calm, polite manner.

“I understand you might want to proceed with formality. However, we’re all busy here. They say time equals money in Kararagi too.”

While her soft tone and charming demeanor masked her direct demands, it was obvious to Subaru that she was navigating a fine line not crossing into disrespect.

As the audience’s eyes shifted, murmurs spread around the throne room, many pondering how to react against such directness.

Among the Wise Council members, no tension appeared; surprisingly, Microtoff replied in a light-hearted fashion.

“Apologies to the busy Lady Anastasia, but I hope you will bear with this elderly discussion for a while longer. After all, it will indeed be a legendary day etched in the history of the kingdom.”

After the mild laughter subsided, Microtoff suddenly shifted the tone of his voice.

A heavy silence settled in the chamber, with everyone involuntarily sitting up straighter.

The weight of the next words felt electric, inviting an atmosphere of anxiety and expectation.

“Verily said, history is on the verge of shifting. That being the case…”

Priscilla’s quiet inquiry broke through the tension, making Marcos nod at her.

His eyes turned piercing as he signaled Marcos with a glance.

Taking a deep breath, Marcos proclaimed,

“—Knight Reinhardt Van Astraea! Present yourself.”

“Sir!”

The tone echoed before the members of the hall.

In surprise, Subaru flinched beside Reinhardt, who had been waiting to respond.

Flowing gracefully, Reinhardt stepped forward, addressing the four candidates with a bow, then stood before Marcos.

“Reinhardt, share your report.”

“Yes.”

Stepping forward, Reinhardt began addressing the entire assembly, standing tall without showing any nerves.

“Esteemed members of the Wise Council, I, Knight Reinhardt Van Astraea of the Royal Knights, here present my final report of completion.”

“Alright, speak so everyone can hear.”

Taking Marcos’s cue, Reinhardt cast a determined glance around the hall.

“Dragon shaman, candidate for king—the last of the five has been found!”

A gasp swept through the gathered knights, each displaying a moment of closely-held suspicion and excitement swelling across their faces.

“Of course,” Subaru whispered under his breath, sensing what would transpire given the flow of conversation thus far.

Yet, the query was Reinhardt’s position. Why was he selected to report?

Subaru had just begun to consider this as the possibility arose that all the candidates had relatives present—and that might shed light on why Reinhardt stood here as well.

“Bring them forth.”

It was a small voice yet loud enough to cut through the room’s chatter as the guards saluted, opening the grand doors of the throne room.

As the doors parted, a figure appeared, accompanied by several maidens—as if they brought along someone significant.

Seeing that figure startled Subaru, raising his eyebrows in suspicion.

Clad in a pale yellow dress, adorned with white gloves and high-heeled shoes that looked cumbersome to walk in. She was petite with a frail figure, her golden hair glistened.

However, he knew this wasn’t a fragile girl; her semi-long golden hair swung freely, revealing a robust spirit reflected in her confident red eyes and playful canines.

Suddenly, Subaru was taken aback, left agape as he witnessed the transformation she underwent.

While everyone’s gaze sought to engrain this scene in their memory, Reinhardt’s voice rang out clearly.

“With profound respect, I present the one to be revered as king—her name is Felt!”

Taken aback, Subaru’s disbelief intensified. The hall reverberated with his thoughts:

—The royal selection had begun, determining the fate of the Kingdom of Lugnica.