When
Glancing at Subaru as he burst into the room out of breath and panting, Crusch narrowed her eyes within her valiant features and spoke.
"Judging by your appearance, it seems you've already heard the news."
As though saying it saved her the trouble of unnecessary preambles, Crusch's austere face betrayed not a trace of emotion, a cold gleam settling in her eyes.
With the undeniable feeling of having been beaten to the punch, Subaru gave a slight shake of his head.
"I haven't heard the details yet. Rem says she only got a vague sense of things."
Turning his head only, Subaru directed his gaze toward Rem, who stood just beside him. Taking the cue, Rem drew her chin in, her expression carrying a hint of tension even beneath her usual blankness.
"What Rem felt came solely through my sister's senses. Unlike what she herself perceives, I couldn't see anything concrete. If I had clairvoyance, that would be another matter, but—"
Biting her lip in frustration, Rem furrowed her brows, lamenting her own inadequacy.
Watching her, Crusch let out an impressed "Ohh" of comprehension.
"I had heard of the twin maidservants in the care of Lord Roswaal, the Margrave. So even at this distance between the royal capital and the domain, a certain degree of information exchange is possible."
"As I mentioned, it was only vague impressions. This non-talent was all I could manage."
Rem bowed at the waist, offering a humble reply to Crusch's praise. Watching their exchange from the sidelines, Subaru stepped forward and waved his hands.
"Whoa, whoa—put that stuff aside for now. What I want to hear is the important part. From the way things felt, you guys must have some kind of clearer picture, right?"
"This side's info is also kinda iffy in terms of reliability, nya~? It's information that's been threaded through the gaps of all kinds of people, after all?"
Unable to hide his eagerness, Subaru was met by Ferris's usual mischievous gaze. Subaru glared back at him, and Ferris pressed a finger to his lips with a "Buuut~" while tilting his cute head to the side.
"That vague, fuzzy feeling combined with Rem-chan's sixth sense from before? It's starting to come together into something pretty nice, nya~?"
"Get to the point—stop stalling."
Ferris refused to drop his teasing attitude, so Subaru slammed his hands on the reception table and leaned in as though trying to intimidate him.
However, the one who clapped their hands to redirect attention was not Ferris, but— "I understand your eagerness, but—
Calling him by his full name, Crusch turned toward him, her green hair swaying.
Bathed in the sharpness of her gaze, Subaru was suddenly struck by the illusion of having doused in cold water. He instinctively held his breath and recoiled.
Crusch was tall, but the difference in height between her and Subaru amounted to no more than five centimeters—and even then, Subaru was still the taller one. And yet, Subaru felt a crushing pressure as though the woman standing level with him was looking down on him.
Perhaps it was the difference in the vessels they each held that produced that disparity in how they perceived one another. Made painfully aware of the gap in their caliber as living beings—quite unnecessarily—Subaru found Crusch regarding him with an air of complete indifference to his inner turmoil.
"What would you do if I were to refuse on the grounds that we have no reason whatsoever to disclose information to you?"
"Wh...at?"
"Surely that's a response you should have anticipated? You are currently a guest under our household's protection. That status guarantees nothing beyond that. There is no reason whatsoever to involve a mere guest in the affairs and movements of our camp in the Royal Selection."
Crushed head-on by an argument too rational to refute, Subaru pursed his lips without a sound.
At the same time, he felt anger—anger at his own shortsighted, shallow naivety.
Hadn't he only just realized this the other day? This was, after all, the den of the "enemy"—a place where, should anything go wrong, fangs would be bared at him whether he liked it or not.
Of course, Crusch and Ferris would naturally direct that same attitude toward him.
The nerve to waltz in and ask for information as though asking a favor—that kind of soft logic had no place here.
"Crusch-sama, Ferris—let's end the jokes there."
While Subaru's mind had been racing with flames of hostility and thoughts of how to extract information, the one who put a stop to the exchange was Wilhelm, who had maintained his silence up until now.
He cast a reproachful look toward his master and her attendant.
"Under ordinary circumstances, such indulgence might be permissible, but at a time when both sides understand the urgency, pointless bickering will only sow seeds of trouble down the line."
"If there even is a down the line, nya~."
"Ferris."
"Understood—I'll be quiet. Mmph, how scary."
Pouting, Ferris bounced onto the sofa and sat there, covering his ears and eyes to fall silent. Wilhelm let out a sigh at the childlike behavior, and Crusch chuckled softly.
Unable to keep up with their attitudes, Subaru blinked in confusion.
"I apologize for the discourtesy, Natsuki Subaru."
"Huh?"
"Just now, I was testing you a bit. There was no great meaning behind it. But I would like you to bear in mind that this is a place where you cannot afford to be careless."
Subaru responded with a vacant voice, but Crusch offered both her apology and her warning without fail. Her words made Subaru reacquaint himself with his own standing, bringing him a refreshing jolt of awareness.
In short, whether Subaru wished it or not, he had reached a position where merely resigning himself to his circumstances was no longer acceptable.
He tried to pull himself together—though his mind was not quite calm yet—and Crusch, observing this, gave a satisfied nod as though she had gotten what she wanted.
"There have been some troublesome movements near the territory of Margrave Roswaal. The domain has reportedly entered a state of heightened alert under the Margrave's orders, but..."
"Trouble? Heightened alert?"
At the ominous words, Subaru furrowed his brows and voiced his question.
Receiving this, Crusch crossed her arms and nodded.
"This was, from the start, an anticipated development. The moment the Margrave publicly declared his support for
"What—so what, the, uh, commoners are going to rise up in protest or something?"
"Naturally, that too is likely. With the infamy of the
Subaru voiced a concern that had sprung to mind, and Crusch casually confirmed it.
Once again, Subaru was unable to tolerate how Emilia's origins served as her shackles. She herself was not at fault—how much longer would the world drag her down?
And the faceless masses who judged her without even knowing her character, speaking out of prejudice alone—they made his blood boil.
"She herself chose this path with full awareness. For you to rage over it is misplaced."
"Like hell it is. This isn't about whether she's 'prepared' for badmouth or 'used to it' or whatever. The whole point is there shouldn't be any reason to badmouth her in the first place!"
Subaru shot back with a harsh expression, then pulled the conversation back on track.
"So let me get this straight—this trivial reason is what's causing trouble in Roswaal's domain? If it goes bad, it won't just be a small fire—it'll be a full-blown blaze?"
"A colorful way to put it, but you've hit the mark. Regardless of the details, the broad strokes are correct. Wouldn't that also account for the feelings your servant sensed?"
At the question, every gaze in the room turned to Rem.
Maintaining her poker face, Rem met the most pressing gaze—Subaru's—and, as if answering his intent, nodded.
"The feelings my sister sent were tinged with considerable urgency and a great deal of anger... I don't think she was trying to convey them deliberately. Rather, they leaked through because she could no longer contain them."
"Does that shared sense thing of yours—you guys really feel each other's emotions that often?"
"No. We control it to a degree through conscious effort. Still, when emotions are too powerful, they can break through and reach each other despite that."
As Rem continued, the strength drained from her words.
To summarize what she was saying: the wave of emotion that had reached her from
And yet, this time, the shared sense had leaked through just once and then ceased. Which meant— "She's trying to keep me out of it..."
Murmuring under his breath, Subaru felt a searing emotion at the thought.
If Ram's intentions matched his imagination, it wasn't hard to guess who had ordered her to do so, or whose design was behind it.
Subaru was currently receiving treatment at the Karsten estate. Rem was there in a supporting role. What reached Rem would reach Subaru just the same.
—Was she really going to such lengths to keep Subaru out of her path?
"But she's in trouble, isn't she...?"
It must have been serious for word to reach Crusch, all the way in the royal capital.
And Ram—someone who should have possessed far greater self-control than Rem—had been unable to contain her emotions, letting them leak through.
She had precious few people she could rely on, and for her, the enemies were disproportionately numerous. In such circumstances, how many people could she count on as allies without any pretense or deception?
Yes. That was exactly it.
So— "I have to go help her."
Subaru raised his head and murmured those words, and once again, all eyes turned to him.
Crusch closed one eye, Ferris narrowed his mischievous gaze ever so slightly, Wilhelm's deeply lined face remained devoid of any visible emotion, and Rem— "You— you can't, Subaru-kun...!"
Tugging at his sleeve, Rem's small lips trembled as she opened her wide eyes even further.
In those eyes were urgency, confusion, and a near-desperate plea.
"You must follow Lady Emilia's and Master Roswaal's instructions. You were told to focus on your treatment at Crusch's estate. Rem agrees—remedy your injuries above all else. That is your top priority right now—"
"And what if something irreversible happens while we're wasting time on that? Then it's all for nothing. The question is which one you choose."
Subaru brushed aside Rem's clinging appeal, stepped forward, and looked at Crusch. Meeting her steady amber gaze, he straightened his posture.
"You heard the situation, Crusch. Rem and I will be returning to Roswaal's mansion—to Emilia. Until this is settled, the treatment will have to wait—"
"—If you leave this place, you will be my enemy."
Cutting Subaru off as he tried to say more, Crusch's voice was cold and unwavering.
The edge in her words was so sharp that Subaru genuinely felt as though he had been slashed. And as the meaning of that cut spread through him— "W-what do you—"
"Allow me to correct one thing in your thinking. The only reason I took you in as a guest and had Ferris treat you was because of our contract."
"A contract...?"
At Subaru's repetition, Crusch nodded with a "Yes," and held up a single finger at the end of her crossed arms.
"The contract was established between Emilia and me—through Ferris as intermediary—and its contents stipulated your treatment in exchange. Mutual consent made it binding, and that is why I welcomed you as a guest. However, there is a reason I uphold this contract."
"—"
"I honor my contract with Emilia because it was formed before the Royal Selection. Post-Selection, Emilia and I are political adversaries. Therefore, there is no inherent reason for me to show any leniency toward those in Emilia's camp. But a contract is a contract."
Repeating herself, Crusch placed deliberate emphasis on the word "contract."
Listening, Subaru was struck by the uncomfortable sensation that the word sounded like "promise"—and that this word connected to the last conversation he had with Emilia.
Subaru, who had broken his "promise," and Crusch, who prioritized the fulfillment of her "contract."
Seeing Subaru trying to hide his discomfort from his expression, Crusch sharpened her gaze even further.
"If you choose to leave this household, then that contract shall be treated as forfeited mid-term. No hard feelings between us—after that, Emilia and I become complete adversaries. And you, acting as part of Emilia's camp, will naturally become my enemy as well."
"So if we leave, the treatment gets cut off... What a cheap trick. You just don't want us going because it'd be a problem if we actually helped Emilia in her pinch, right?"
"I'd appreciate it if you didn't misunderstand."
As Subaru lashed out with a provocative quip to mask his own feelings, Ferris—who had been silently watching events unfold—stepped forward with a sharp look in his eyes, his chestnut-furred cat ears standing straight up.
"What Crusch-sama is doing for you, Subaru-kun, isn't meanness—it's kindness, nya~. There's absolutely nothing for our side to lose if you go back to help Lady Emilia, you know? The reason she's trying to hold you back is—"
"Ferris, stop."
"No, I'm saying it. Because the misunderstanding is way too big, and somebody's gotta set the record straight, nya~."
Ignoring his master's brief attempt to stop him, Ferris looked directly at Subaru.
Then, slowly, as if savoring each word: "Even if Subaru-kun goes, it won't change the situation. It'd be a waste of time. The treatment promise that Lady Emilia paid a price to secure would go to waste too. Rather than do that, it'd be far better for you to stay here, quietly recover while watching how things unfold—"
A sound.
Subaru heard something snap—a small, bursting sound inside his head. And when he realized it was the cork on the dam holding back his tantrum, the humiliation was so immense he nearly bit through his lip.
"I've made up my choice."
Without letting any of those emotions show on his face, Subaru spoke quietly and with conviction.
The fury still burned in his chest, but instead of erupting outward, the heat scorched his insides—charring away everything until only a single conclusion remained.
"I'm going back to the mansion—to Emilia. It's only been a short time, but thanks for everything."
"Subaru-kun!"
Hearing Subaru's clear declaration of farewell, Rem cried out in a voice that begged him to stay. But Subaru turned his palm toward her, silencing her, and looked down at the Crusch camp facing him.
As for Crusch, who heard Subaru's words and closed her eyes—what she was thinking, who could say. But Ferris, standing beside her, let out a long, deep sigh, his expression openly sour.
He shook his head, making no effort to hide his exasperation as he looked at Subaru.
"I thought accepting advice honestly was one measure of a person's character, but?"
"Your advice is what helped me decide. Thanks for that."
Subaru's clear sarcasm earned a shrug from Ferris, who seemed to give up on producing anything further to say. In his place, the one who took over the conversation was— "Natsuki Subaru."
Crusch called his name, gazing up at him with wide eyes.
Subaru met her piercing stare and steeled himself, refusing to yield. No matter what she said, he had no intention of going back on words already spoken. Even if he was called powerless and foolish—what of it?
But— "I'm afraid all of our long-range dragon carriages have been deployed. The only ones available for lending are a slow, cargo-hauling model, and one designed for mid-range travel with earth dragon swaps along the way."
Speaking past Subaru's internal resolve entirely, Crusch brought up a completely different topic—or rather, words that in a sense validated his decision.
For a moment, Subaru's eyes went blank, unable to process what he'd just heard. Crusch regarded him with a hint of puzzlement, then turned to Ferris beside her.
"Ferris, did I say something strange?"
"Crusch-sama's ability to switch gears is always enough to make Ferri's head spin, nya~... But this time, I didn't think you'd go so far as to offer to lend Subaru-kun a dragon carriage, did you?"
At Ferris's answer—delivered with a hand on his cheek and a theatrical wince—Crusch gave an "Ah" of understanding with a nod. Then she looked back at Subaru.
"I respect your decision. Whatever the judgment may be, standing by what you have chosen carries great weight. And if you are to bear responsibility regardless, then you should do what you wish to do. Without shame before your own soul.—Isn't that so?"
"...Yeah, you're right. That's exactly it. I'm making noise because I don't want my soul to be shameless. She's in trouble, and I'd be sitting here in treatment like it's some kind of vacation."
Subaru answered, affirming Crusch's stance, and felt the shift within himself. With this unexpected ally, his resolve would no longer waver.
Perhaps Rem sensed this as well. She closed her eyes just once, choosing self-reproach and silence, and when she opened them again, she had regained her usual blank expression.
"On my master's behalf, I thank you for all the kindness you have shown us until today."
"Think nothing of it. It served our interests as well. I'd like to discuss transportation arrangements for reaching the domain."
"Though it may be forward, I would appreciate your assistance. I wish to return to the domain and be of use to my master as soon as possible—every moment counts."
Rem bowed, ready to accept Crusch's offered help.
From the earlier conversation, Subaru gathered this concerned the dragon carriage for their journey. He raised a hand and spoke up.
"Quick question—how long does it take from the royal capital to Roswaal's mansion?"
If his memory served, the trip from the mansion to the capital had taken roughly seven or eight hours. They had departed in the early morning and arrived sometime well past noon.
If that was the case, the return trip should take about half a day at most— "Factoring in dragon carriage transfers... it should take two to three days."
"Three days!? But it only took half a day to get here!?"
He'd been told there were no long-range dragon carriages available, but even so, the time difference was staggering. Even running around the clock, day and night, it was hard to imagine such a gap.
But Subaru's obvious question was negated by Rem's shake of the head. In her refined features, she furrowed her brows just slightly, wearing a troubled expression.
"The Rifause Highway that we used to get here is currently impassable. The season is poor and we've entered a period where the 'Fog' occurs. So we'll have to detour around the highway."
"What the hell is this fog? Just push right through it—"
"The fog is generated by the
Ferris cut in, dismissing the idea matter-of-factly.
At the unfamiliar term "White Whale," Subaru grimaced, but the conversation among the others continued to proceed smoothly without him.
In the end, the negotiation between Crusch and Rem settled on the following plan: borrow dragon carriages from the Karsten family and swap to new ones at villages along the route home.
If only they could run without rest, Subaru thought through gritted teeth, but since the creatures pulling the carriages were living beings, the reality of fatigue was unavoidable.
Unlike a car that kept running as long as you refueled, this was different. In this regard, Subaru was painfully reminded of the gap in convenience between his old world and this one.
Regardless, things were now in motion.
There was no longer any room to dither and waste time.
※※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ ※ —Once the course was set, movements came quickly.
The luggage Subaru and Rem had brought to the Karsten estate was minimal. As the two left the mansion—having arrived practically in the clothes on their backs—their combined baggage could be carried easily in Subaru's two hands.
When they had quickly packed and headed outside, a dragon carriage was already waiting at the gate, the sole entrance separating the iron-fenced grounds from the outside world.
Wilhelm, seated in the driver's seat, noticed their approach. Still gripping the reins, he nimbly leaped down from the high seat to the ground at the same level, then tidied his appearance with a hand comb.
"This is the fastest earth dragon among those remaining at our household. Still, it is far below the caliber of the earth dragons His Excellency uses, but I humbly ask for your understanding."
"Just being able to borrow one is more than enough. We'll definitely return it... though I'm guessing that'll be tricky after this, huh?"
Lowering his voice, Subaru took the reins offered to him and looked at Wilhelm.
Now, only the old man stood at the gate to see them off—Crusch and Ferris had said their farewells at the mansion's entrance hall, and there had been unmistakable finality to that parting.
At the very least, it was clear that after this matter was resolved, they would not be in a position to return the borrowed earth dragon without awkwardness.
Reading the unease in Subaru's words, Wilhelm lowered his deeply lined face. Prefacing with "Indeed," he continued: "I, too, am in a position where I can only follow Crusch-sama's judgment. Once you leave the mansion, the relationship between my master and yours will be as stated in her earlier remarks. —Consider this dragon carriage, including the treatment and sword instruction cut short, as a parting gift at the very least."
"That's... I mean, when we left the mansion, I didn't hear a single word about any of that."
The parting words that the master and servant had offered as the two departed were, in their way, perfectly fitting farewells.
"Fight well. Above all, make choices that bring no shame to your pride and your soul."
"If you're pushing away someone as kind as Crusch-sama, you'd better go make up with Lady Emilia and quick, seriously. Hurry up and go already."
What lingered was probably those last few words from each of them.
There was no hint of the kind of consideration Wilhelm had mentioned.
"I, too, serve Crusch-sama. I have some understanding of my master's thinking, at least to a degree."
"By the way, how long have you been working here?"
"About half a year, I would say..."
"That's way shorter than I expected!? Are you actually communicating properly with your master!?"
If taking Wilhelm's words at face value and borrowing the dragon carriage ended up deepening the rift between Crusch and Emilia, it would be no laughing matter. It would be the start of the "Borrowing War." Having that name etched into a history textbook was more than he could bear.
While Subaru and Wilhelm talked, Rem had rushed over to the dragon carriage and was thoroughly checking the carriage itself and the earth dragon.
She snatched the reins from Subaru's hands, hopped up into the driver's seat, then immediately climbed back down to inspect the earth dragon pulling the carriage—busy as a bee.
From what Subaru could tell at a glance, the earth dragon of this borrowed carriage was about a size smaller than the one they had departed Roswaal's mansion in. The carriage itself was correspondingly smaller, so there shouldn't be a problem with power, but the difference in speed was still a concern.
"—Understood? Then be a good girl and listen. That's right, good girl, good girl."
"Rem, how's it looking?"
The earth dragon lowered its head at Rem's command. She reached out to stroke the reptile's snout, gently running her hand over its hard, scaly skin, then turned back to Subaru.
"He was a bit ill-tempered, but I've shown him who's in charge now, so there won't be any problems. He'll follow my instructions."
"I-see... You've got the hierarchy all sorted out. Turns out you're an athlete at heart."
While Subaru had been talking with Wilhelm, it seemed Rem had also been having her own "discussion" with the earth dragon. He didn't have the courage to dig into the details, but he couldn't help feeling a twinge of sympathy for the creature that would now be worked hard.
Still, there was no room for such mercy if it meant slowing down the march.
"If we detour around the plains to avoid the fog, we should pass through two villages before reaching the Margrave's domain. The one closer to the domain—Hanumas—is where we can arrange for a transfer dragon carriage."
"And how long to reach this Hanumas village?"
"Approximately fourteen to fifteen hours, I'd say. If you push hard enough to run the transfer dragon carriage into the ground, you could reach the domain from there in about half a day."
Either way, it was going to be a frustrating journey of a day and a half or more.
Subaru scratched his head, gnashing his teeth in frustration, but still bowed to Wilhelm.
"I'm sorry for all of this. Come to think of it, you were kind enough to give me sword training and I left that half-finished too..."
"I believe I conveyed the most important thing. If you wish to improve your swordsmanship further, there is nothing to do but keep swinging. Stay well."
Subaru gripped the outstretched hand, and the two exchanged a firm handshake.
Then, following Rem who had already climbed into the driver's seat, Subaru hauled himself up into the cargo bed. Looking back at the mansion from atop the bed, he could make out two figures standing on the terrace overlooking the gate across the garden, seen from a distance.
Judging by their silhouettes, they were Crusch and Ferris.
Even knowing they probably couldn't see him, Subaru waved toward the two. Then, one final time, he called out to Wilhelm.
"Well, we're off. If fate brings us together again, let's get along."
"If you enjoyed being pummeled with a wooden sword as a welcome, I'm happy to oblige."
Wilhelm smiled warmly, then bowed deeply as he watched them go.
The earth dragon let out a whinny, and the dragon carriage slowly began to move, gaining its initial, unhurried pace. The mansion and its inhabitants began to receding, bit by bit.
The white-haired figure in the distance continued to bow faithfully until they were out of sight, and Subaru made a quiet vow: "Next time, I'm definitely landing at least one hit."
Descending the slope, passing through the entrance to the aristocrat district, crossing the checkpoint, heading straight down the main avenue of the lower district, and passing through the grand gate connecting the capital to the outside world—they would reach the highway.
Whether it was the earth dragon's blessing or not, feeling only the faintest vibrations beneath him, Subaru couldn't contain his restless gaze, letting it drift to the scenery beyond the small window.
He had been unconscious when arriving at the capital, so this was his first time seeing the surroundings. That said, even the area around the capital, once on the highway, didn't look much different from the scenery shortly after leaving Roswaal's mansion.
At most, the highway was wider and well-maintained, and the impressive cityscape of the royal capital could be seen far in the distance behind them. But even that vanished completely after just a dozen minutes of travel.
Left with nothing but an open view of green plains and blue sky, Subaru found himself at a loss for anything to do but lean his back against the carriage wall.
The journey to the capital had been less boring with a fellow passenger, but this time, his only companion was Rem up in the driver's seat. He couldn't very well distract her while she was focused on handling the earth dragon, so all Subaru could do was sink into thought.
For a carriage meant for ducal nobility, the seat in the cargo bed where Subaru sat was unimpressive. This small model was probably not the kind used by someone of Crusch's rank—it was likely the sort used by the people who served as her hands and feet.
Thinking of the constant comings and goings at her mansion, it made sense that the long-range dragon carriages had all been deployed.
Participating in the Royal Selection meant generating exactly this kind of entanglement with those around you.
For someone of ducal rank, the number of connections would be considerable, and aiming for the throne would require pursuing an even wider and grander network of relationships.
These were the political matters that Emilia would now have to wade into. And before those hardships, unnecessary trials awaited her.
"That's why I have to go to her."
Of course, Subaru didn't think so highly of himself as to believe he could be of use in politics or securing powerful supporters.
He had never had the slightest interest in politics or economics even in his old world. Even when the prime minister of Japan changed, Subaru was the type to think, "With so much turnover, anyone could do it," with no further concern.
Therefore, Subaru had no concrete vision for what he would do upon reaching Emilia.
What he did have was a faint, almost imperceptible impatience—one so subtle that even he didn't notice it steering his thoughts away from the questions he should have been asking.
"If I'm not there, it won't work... If I'm there, things will be okay."
Nothing but unfounded certainty—or rather, pure wishful thinking.
Emilia was in dire straits. The fragile hope that if only he rushed to her side, somehow everything would work out—that was all there was.
He wanted to prove his worth. He had to.
If Emilia was facing difficulty, then Subaru could handle it.
No—he had to. In order to discover his own worth, to make it known, she had to be in danger—and he had to— "Right... If I'm not there, it won't work. Definitely."
Murmuring to himself, Subaru sank into solitary thought.
What surfaced in his mind was the beloved girl with silver hair. Her smile, consumed by an unknowable darkness, buried under malice that sought to crush her noble heart.
Visions of that scene flashing through his mind, Subaru bit his lip and closed his eyes.
Alone in the cargo bed, Subaru quietly waited for time to pass—alone, in a place where he sensed no presence other than his own, and Rem in the driver's seat.
Head bowed, eyes closed.
The slight, almost imperceptible twist at the corner of his mouth went unnoticed—even by himself.