Anastasia's preemptive strike defied all expectations.
Still reeling from the overwhelming presence of the Water Raiment Inn, Subaru and the others were caught flat-footed by the follow-up welcome and reacted to her a beat too late.
"—Thank you so much for the courtesy. If anything, we should be the ones grateful; having you come all this way to greet us puts our minds at ease."
That, however, was true for everyone except
When Subaru heard Emilia respond to Anastasia with an unexpectedly composed reply—despite having been equally surprised—he snapped back to awareness. A glance revealed Garfiel wearing a bewildered expression at the unfamiliar Anastasia, while
The influence the inn's atmosphere had on the two of them seemed to have been far less severe than Subaru's own composure-shattering shock. Then again, that was only natural. Only those who knew what a Japanese-style inn was supposed to look like would be surprised by the real thing.
"You've really put on quite the face."
Abandoning the dazed Subaru, Anastasia murmured those words while gazing back at Emilia. There was no mocking gleam in her pale blue eyes, and her murmur carried no condescension.
From that brief exchange alone, it seemed she had grasped at least some measure of Emilia's transformation over the past year. The difference must have been staggering.
"Well, you're still just as adorable as before... Actually, no, you've leveled up there too."
"Subaru, your face is making that 'spouting nonsense' expression again."
Brushing off Beatrice's warning, Subaru wiped beneath his nose. Anastasia, catching sight of this, offered a thin smile and said, "It's been since the
"I showed you an unsightly performance back then, I'm afraid. Thanks to everyone's help, our camp barely managed to hold together. We still rely on each other as much as ever."
"Oh, that's good. I think that's fine, really. I'm glad you two came together this time. Julius has been wanting to see you for a while too, Natsuki-kun."
At Anastasia's words, Subaru visibly grimaced.
Both Emilia and Anastasia laughed at his reaction, making him feel even more uncomfortable. The two of them seemed to misunderstand certain aspects of the complicated relationship between Subaru and Julius.
Emilia in particular, no matter how many times he told her, refused to correct her understanding of it.
"Ah, I reaaally don't get it, but—that woman over there is one of Lady Emilia's enemies, right? That about sum it up?"
Garfiel, who had been silent until now, chose that moment to voice the question he'd been harboring. His phrasing, however, was blunt and hostile in the extreme.
Subaru clutched his head, and Anastasia's round eyes went even rounder.
"Garfiel. Well, putting it that way isn't technically wrong, but couldn't you soften it a little? We're their guests today, after all."
"Even so! We're gonna be at each other's throats eventually, right? If I get too chummy now, my heart's gonna waver when it comes time to throw a punch later!"
"That's true. Garfiel is sweet-hearted, so he does have that kind of worry—"
"—!? Wh-who are you calling sweet-hearted! Lady Emilia, watch how you say things!"
Having just been called out for his own blunt phrasing, Garfiel now protested Emilia's innocent barb. Brushing past her, he turned his questioning glare toward Anastasia— But then— "Ohhh! Garfi's hereeee! Ojou, why didn't you tell meeee!"
With a loud clatter, the wooden gate of the inn burst open with force.
And poking her face through from the other side was a cat-girl—Mimi—her adorable features lit up with infectious, carefree energy. She flipped the hem of her robe, leaped over the stone wall as if it were nothing, and landed before Subaru and the rest.
Then, right in front of everyone's stunned faces, she grabbed hold of Garfiel's arm.
"Welcome, welcome! You must be tired! C'mon, Mimi'll show you to your room! And after that, an inn tour! This place is amaaaazing! It's totally different from anywhere Mimi's ever been—what makes it awesome is that it's different!"
"W-wait, hold on—! I still have things to—? Hey, you're strong!?!"
"Come on, let's go! Right now!"
The diminutive Mimi swung Garfiel's arm with all her might, and despite being far the physically stronger of the two, Garfiel was dragged away as his posture crumbled. Part of it was surely the martial arts she employed, but the larger factor was simply that Garfiel lacked the maturity to simply shake her off. Although, saying "maturity" felt off—the two of them were supposed to be the same age.
"Um..."
Having been whisked away with virtually no resistance, the pair vanished into the inn. Emilia looked at Anastasia with a troubled expression, and Anastasia, displaying a rare frown of her own, sighed.
"Haaah, Mimi's impulsiveness always catches us off guard too. Still, that was a bit surprising, even for me."
"Oh, really? That's a relief. I was starting to worry I'd be the only one left behind."
"No chance of that, don't worry. But—"
From their shared sentiment, Anastasia's expression softened momentarily—before her gaze sharpened in an instant. That stare, the kind that sent ice down one's spine, was enough to make Subaru instinctively move to shield Emilia.
Maintaining that piercing gaze, Anastasia's lips trembled as she spoke.
"That girl who's been leading Mimi on—I'd like to hear exactly what kind of girl she is."
It was the low, ferocious question of a female relative quietly burning with protective fury over a beloved daughter—or little sister—being seduced by some no-good.
Dimly, Subaru sensed how deeply loved Mimi was, and despite having just arrived, he already felt exhausted.
"...Why does Natsuki-san look so dead tired all of a sudden?"
Just then, Otto returned from having seen to the dragon carriage, spotted the haggard-looking Subaru at the inn's entrance, and rejoined the group with that remark.
--- The great hall of the Water Raiment Inn had fully planked flooring—a far cry from the miracle of a tatami-matted banquet hall, which even Subaru had to admit was too much to ask.
"If they'd gone that far, even I wouldn't know what to say."
"What have you been muttering about this whole time? Can't you sit still for once?"
Subaru settled his hips onto one of the floor cushions and looked around the room. Beatrice sat beside him in a proper lady's posture, perfectly at ease, while Emilia seemed somewhat perplexed by the custom of sitting directly on the floor.
At the far end stood a long table also made of wood, and aside from the lack of tatami, the scene was remarkably close to the great hall of a Japanese-style inn.
However, from the perspective of an expert like Subaru, there were a few shortcomings.
"For one, the sliding doors and shoji screens are unfortunately not reproduced. And the staff not being in traditional dress is another demerit. They've put effort into the atmosphere, sure, but considering how much work went into the exterior, it falls a little short inside."
Subaru could sense somewhere in the staff's service the spirit of the "hospitality" he knew. But their attire was entirely Western—unable to fully shed that fantasy aesthetic, and the incongruity was impossible to ignore.
"So, seventy points overall. Barely a 'passing' grade on the good-satisfactory-fail scale. That's my score. Don't let it get you down—I expect continued improvement going forward."
"What are you even talking about?"
"Just nonsense, banter, light-hearted quips. Doing this helps settle my nerves. ...There, you can let go of my hand now. I've calmed down."
"...Just to be safe, maybe I'll hold on a little longer."
The grip on his left hand tightened slightly, and Subaru said nothing more.
Instead, he turned toward Emilia on his right. She had been gazing around the room with open curiosity, and she noticed his glance.
"It's all so strangely fascinating. Even from the outside it was full of novelties, but coming inside makes it even more so. Sitting on the floor, taking off our shoes..."
"The bedrooms don't have beds either—instead, they lay futons on the floor. It might be confusing at first, so I'll help you later... or maybe the inn staff will?"
"A rare offer with no ulterior motive. ...Come to think of it, Natsuki-san, you seem to know an awful lot about
Otto, seated across from Beatrice on Subaru's other side, chimed into the conversation. At his mention of "Kararagi customs," Subaru furrowed his brow.
"Kararagi customs—you mean this building and things like it?"
"That's right. This Wafuu architectural style is a technique brought from Kararagi. It's not widespread even over there, but it's scattered around enough that it's not exactly rare. This Water Raiment Inn is probably one of the vessels for that tradition."
"I really need to hear more about this 'Wafuu architecture' thing later... but why is this inn influenced by it? Well, I guess there doesn't have to be a deep reason when it's a marketing strategy to attract customers."
If it was Wafuu rather than Japanese, then there was no longer any room for doubt. All Subaru needed now was confirmation. Though even with that, he wasn't sure what difference it would make.
As if filling in the gaps of Subaru's thoughts, Otto raised a single finger.
"Most likely because
"That Hoshin really did do everything, huh? 'Hoshin of the Wastes' and all that."
"In a different world, it wouldn't have been strange for Hoshin to be called the Sage himself. Although, his achievements were so monumental that Priestella became quite a point of contention between the two nations. It's only officially been Lugnica territory for some time now."
According to Otto, until about a hundred years ago, Priestella had been a territorial dispute between Lugnica and Kararagi. Geographically, it fell within Lugnica's borders, but its origins bore strong traces of Hoshin, the prestigious leader of Kararagi.
Lugnica, wary of his influence, forcibly tried to suppress Kararagi culture, which in turn stirred resentment among the city's residents.
From there, it devolved into a morass of conflict. At one point, crossing the Teigrasi River—the waterway connecting the two nations—was banned, and relations deteriorated to the verge of a complete diplomatic severance.
"Fortunately, the crackdown didn't last long, and restrictions were gradually eased until the matter was informally resolved. The fact that Kararagi cultural progress in Priestella had stalled during the diplomatic freeze may have also eased Lugnica's concerns."
"Either way, it really feels like it was resolved in the most half-assed way possible. But still... if you trace the origins of this Kararagi style, do you eventually arrive at Hoshin?"
"It seems so. Hoshin was known even back then for his remarkably innovative thinking... They say he reinvented everything—ideology, technology, legislation, the works."
"—I see."
At Otto's words, Subaru tucked his chin and obtained the confirmation he'd been seeking.
Hoshin of the Wastes, the great founder of the Kararagi city-states. His true identity was the same as Subaru and Al's—he had been summoned from another world.
This made him the third person to have been summoned to this other world—though the timing of each was different. Hoshin, four hundred years ago. Al, twenty years ago. And Subaru, one year ago.
The discrepancies in timing, and the question of why they had been chosen in the first place. There was no way to know the answers to those. He wasn't sure there was even any point in thinking about it.
But he was not alone. That fact alone reached out and offered some small measure of solace to Subaru's heart.
"Well then, it seems you've been enjoying our Wafuu inn to your satisfaction."
As if timed perfectly for the conversation to reach a natural pause, a voice called from beyond the great hall. A thin wooden sliding door glided open, and Anastasia peered through with a smile.
And beside her stood— "It has been too long, Lady Emilia. I owe you an apology for my belated greeting—I should have been the first to welcome you, given my position."
The moment he showed his face, a man's voice carried an apology tinged with worry in his perfectly sculpted features.
The softly spoken voice was sweet, and merely hearing that voice through a door would have been enough to send many women into a swoon at the thought of its owner. That imagination would be betrayed if the voice's owner turned out to be plain, but unfortunately, this particular owner was accompanied by beauty, color, and strength in equal measure.
Julius Euclius, the "Finest Knight," had a presence that clawed at the hearts of others simply by existing. At least, that was how it felt to Subaru.
"Hey, long time no see, Julius. You look well."
"I thank you for your gracious words. Lady Emilia, your beauty seems to have been polished to an ever greater sheen—nothing could please me more. The dimming of your eyes would be nothing less than a loss, not only for the Kingdom, but for this world as a whole."
Even his pretentious turn of phrase, rather than grating, painted such a picture as to be annoying in its perfection. He then shifted his gaze from Emilia, who wore a wry smile, to Subaru. And then— "It has been a while since we last faced one another. Have you been in good health,
"...Don't give me a chill down my spine with that empty formality. 'Subaru'? Who talks like that? It's so transparent."
"Be that as it may, it is a well-known fact that you have been recognized as a knight under Lady Emilia's service. Whatever the case may have been in the past, your current standing should not be belittled. As a fellow knight, I believe I'm conducting myself appropriately—don't you think?"
Subaru twisted his lips, feeling an irritation that Julius was stubbornly insisting on treating him as a peer.
"You 'think'? That's the problem—I told you it makes me uncomfortable! And being recognized for something I never even wanted in the first place isn't exactly something to celebrate!"
"I see. It appears your position has changed, but your heart has not. In that case, there seems to be no need for me to adjust my attitude either."
With that, Julius's demeanor shifted entirely from his earlier formality.
A smile crossed his impeccably composed face as he looked down from his tall height at Subaru, who was seated on the floor.
"Then, once more... it has been too long, Natsuki Subaru. I trust you have been striving each day to be worthy of the rank of knight you were given?"
"You don't need to tell me that. I've had enough of being pummeled by a certain someone for 'not knowing my place,' thank you very much."
"It's unfair to call it a reprimand or vigilantism. To my recollection, it was a mock battle between equals, each fighting for the other's honor."
"You just don't know when to shut up, do you..."
But it was Subaru who had fallen short, so raising his voice about it would only make him look worse. And so he limited himself to grumbling under his breath.
Noting this, Julius narrowed his eyes and murmured, "Hm."
"It seems your tendency toward rash impulsiveness has been tempered to some degree. If your awareness as a knight prompted that, then the judgment that granted you that position was perhaps not premature after all. Truly, Lady Emilia and Marquis Roswaal have my admiration for their keen insight. And yet..."
"Hm?"
As Julius appraised Subaru with an air of superiority, his gaze drifted past Subaru. It settled on Beatrice, who had shrunk small beside him.
When she was bathed in Julius's golden stare, she met it head-on with her pale blue eyes.
"What is it? You really shouldn't stare so rudely at a lady, you know."
"I must offer my deepest apologies. I never imagined that someone of your stature—a high-ranking Spirit—would be present here."
"Betty is Subaru's partner, so naturally she would be here. Unlike the nameless semi-spirits you drag around, her station is on an entirely different level. Tremble before her, won't you?"
Beatrice rose to her feet and placed a hand on Subaru's shoulder, puffing out her chest.
Her displeased demeanor was likely a reaction to Julius's attitude toward Subaru. In terms of raw ability, Subaru was inferior in every way—but there was one thing where he surpassed Julius.
Despite both being Spirit Knights, the rank of the Spirit they contracted with was vastly different.
The ones Julius had at his side were six semi-spirits, each corresponding to one of the six attributes.
In the hierarchy of Spirits, the order of rank ran: Spirit, semi-spirit, lesser spirit. Taking that into account, Subaru, who partnered with Beatrice, was clearly the superior Spirit User.
That said— "If you're comparing by raw ability, we're both full of flaws, so don't unnecessarily raise the bar. Besides, I've had help from his semi-spirits too. Calling him out for that isn't very cool."
"Hmph. I wasn't stopping you. This man—could he be looking down on Subaru? Betty will teach him what happens when you underestimate her partner. Just because he's a womanizer who can shake Betty's spirit-maiden heart doesn't mean he should get cocky!"
"He's a womanizer who shakes your heart!?!"
Hearing that appearance was a factor, Subaru was involuntarily shaken.
But before the cracks in the partnership between Subaru and Beatrice could widen, the source of the tension—Julius himself—intervened.
"You mustn't misunderstand. The Spirit beside you has no intention of betraying you. The divine blessing I carry simply stirs her instincts—that's all."
"Your divine blessing...? Seriously, you have one too? What kind?"
"My divine blessing is called the 'Spirit Inducement Blessing.' Simply put, it makes Spirits like me. It's thanks to this blessing that I, an untalented man, was able to contract with six semi-spirits of different attributes. Though I'm afraid other Spirit Users don't look upon me very favorably."
"Betty would never lose to the likes of you! Subaru is so much better than you in every—what's the word—yes, much more... decent!"
"Thanks! But please, don't hurt me any further!"
He had unwavering faith that Beatrice would never betray him, but the fact that her support didn't come out strong and unambiguous still stung with a sense of defeat.
Every encounter with Julius only served to stimulate Subaru's inferiority complex. But what truly made Subaru dislike Julius was not just that—it was because Julius was something more.
"As always, our knight seems quite fixated on Natsuki-kun."
"Not at all. I am merely offering my humble perspective as a senior knight to someone I regard as a junior. His conduct in the public eye inevitably reflects upon the very nature of knighthood in the Kingdom of Lugnica."
"Doesn't that mean Natsuki-kun is known as a knight? You really are never straightforward, Julius."
At Anastasia's teasing tone, Julius relaxed his cheeks and bowed his head silently. Pushing further would only make him the butt of her jokes—he knew when to stop.
Meanwhile, Subaru—who had already had quite enough for one day—received comforting pats on his left shoulder from Beatrice and his right from Emilia.
"Don't worry about it. A man isn't about his face—it's about his spirit, right?"
"I'm so happy that Subaru and Julius are getting along so well!"
"I'd say thanks, but the atmosphere really doesn't lend itself to it."
He'd been offered comfort of a variety that left him wondering what others must think of him. Resigned about his looks but somehow still insecure, Subaru rubbed his cheek. He then watched as Anastasia and her group took their seats on the opposite side of the table.
"Oh wait, is it just the two of you? Mimi and Garfiel seem to be... having a heartwarming little date inside the inn."
"You guessed right. Mimi and that blond boy are getting along like a house on fire. Hetero, who adores her big sister, rushed off after them, and we asked Tivey to keep an eye on things so she wouldn't get jealous. That's why they're not here."
"Ricardo isn't here either? I know that cat trio is formidable, but having knights assigned to you and still being without him feels a bit careless."
It wasn't just Mimi and her siblings—Ricardo, the large kobold who was technically a fraud of a species and whose mere presence was overwhelming, was also conspicuously absent.
Incidentally, Joshua, Julius's younger brother, was nowhere to be seen either.
"We aren't exactly here on vacation. Joshua and Ricardo have stepped out on separate errands. They're still within the city, so they'll probably show their faces later. Now that you mention it, I believe you had met Joshua."
"Yeah... he looked just like you. If he'd been a little sturdier, you'd be complete character duplicates. Feel free to replace yourself with him anytime."
"I'll take that as an interesting thought, but I'm afraid it's not so easy. Joshua has always been a boy whose body wasn't suited to physical activity, even since he was small. Now that he can undertake long journeys without worry, I no longer fret, but back when I was his brother it was quite the toothache."
Julius's gaze and voice softened as he spoke, genuine concern for Joshua radiating from him. The uncomfortable sensation made Subaru scratch his cheek, and he decided not to press the matter.
And so, just as a lull opened in the conversation—someone cleared their throat. The one who drew attention was Otto, who had been silent up until now.
"Ahem. By all means, catching up on old acquaintances is well and good, but since we're all gathered here, perhaps we could proceed with proper introductions? For everyone's benefit."
"That's right. We've only heard stories, so it'd be nice to meet everyone besides Emilia-san and Natsuki-kun in person. I'd love to hear about the brilliant administrator and the great Spirit."
"Oh come on, spreading fake news like that? That's not like you, Anastasia-san."
"I can more or less guess where you heard that nonsense, but pointing it out directly makes me feel like I'm full of myself, and I really can't be bothered—seriously!"
Watching the "brilliant" administrator hold his head in his hands and make a scene, Subaru stuck out his tongue and gave him a cute, dismissive brush-off. Anastasia chuckled at the exchange, then nodded to Julius.
"Well then, allow me to introduce myself formally. My name is Julius Euclius. I am a member of the Kingdom of Lugnica's Royal Knights, and currently serving as first knight to Lady Anastasia, whom I've accompanied here. I humbly ask for your acquaintance."
Julius offered an elegant bow, and Otto, looking somewhat dazed, nodded in acknowledgment. Accepting this, Julius continued, "And now—"— "The one seated before you is a royal candidate of the Kingdom of Lugnica, the brilliant woman who helms the Hoshin Trading Company based in the Kararagi city-states—Lady
"H-hahhh..."
"Don't grovel!"
"Huh!? Oh no, I was overwhelmed by the atmosphere and just—!"
In front of the beaming Anastasia, Otto had involuntarily prostrated himself, and Subaru smacked the back of his head.
"Don't let titles intimidate you! Look over there! Our Emilia-tan is every bit a royal candidate in her own right! She's no less impressive than Anastasia-san!"
"Mm, that's right. I'm a candidate too. I'll do my best."
"Who is this adorable child? It's been so long since I've E・M・T'd!"
"I'm actually kind of disturbed by how calming I find this..."
Between their usual unproductive banter, Otto caught sight of his own composure returning and made a disgusted face. Then he straightened up and addressed the opposing camp.
"Thank you very much for your kind words. My apologies for the delay—I should introduce myself as well. My name is
"It sounds like there's quite the bitter backstory there."
"I was supposed to be a traveling merchant, but somehow, things just... happened, and now here I am. Even I'm not entirely sure how..."
"Must have been rough. If you ever need anything, come to us."
There was a melancholy air about him, and truthfully, this was a prime opportunity for a talented administrator to be poached. Subaru made a subtle hand gesture to prevent Otto from being spirited away, and Anastasia stuck out her tongue in retreat.
Then, everyone's eyes turned to Beatrice.
Receiving their gazes, she puffed out her flat chest and declared with dignity, "Betty is the Spirit, Beatrice. She is the contracted Spirit of Subaru, who sits here. As you can see, Betty is in a completely different class—rank, station, and cuteness alike—from the common Spirits you lot are used to. If you understand, perhaps Betty would like some fine tea and sweet treats as her due."
"Hold the dignity to the end, would you."
Beatrice's demands still couldn't escape the mold of a mascot character.
Subaru lightly tugged her ringlet and guided her back down, then stroked the sulking Beatrice's head as he explained.
"So, long story short, Beatrice is the Spirit I have a contract with. Imagine my surprise when it turns out Julius and I would end up in the same profession."
"I had been quite confident in your affinity with Spirits, so it's not as surprising as you might think. What I hadn't imagined was that you would end up contracting with a Spirit of Beatrice's caliber."
"Don't let our Beako get too full of herself. She takes after me in that once her mood goes up, there's no telling what might come out of her mouth."
"Hmph. Betty objects to being handled so carelessly."
Despite her words, Beatrice showed no signs of actually minding the head-pats.
And with that, the mutual introductions finally came to a close. Now he would have liked to get straight to the point— "I don't mean to rush things along, but there are some things I'd like to confirm, if I may?"
When the conversation needed steering, it naturally fell to Otto on Emilia's side to take the lead. It was Anastasia, toying with her fur collar, who responded to the strategist's question.
"Sure thing. Entertaining guests is our job after all. Go right ahead."
"Then I'll take you up on that. First, may I ask the reason you invited us to Priestella?"
"You don't need to be so wary. We're not plotting anything, you know. It's been a year since the Royal Selection began, hasn't it? We just thought it'd be nice to have a chance to catch up with each other, that's all."
Anastasia's easygoing manner made it tempting to simply nod along. But the subject matter at hand wasn't light enough to accept at face value.
This was, after all, a battle-tested merchant of the highest caliber.
"Just to 'catch up,' you dangled some awfully conspicuous bait in front of us. I'd call it thorough—or maybe just cautious?"
"Well, if we're going to invite someone, we need to offer something worth the trip. We could've picked out souvenirs on our own, but we figured it'd leave a better impression to give them exactly what they'd be most pleased to receive."
"...And how did you figure out what that was?"
"That's what we call a trade secret. Come now, Natsuki-kun—there's no need to dig so deeply into a girl's affairs. You've got two others right beside you."
Hiding her mouth behind her sleeve, Anastasia laughed and teased Subaru for being forward. When Subaru choked on his retort and withdrew, Beatrice sighed next to him, looking at him as if to say she was disappointed. Ouch.
"It's not like I was hiding it, so I don't think there's anything wrong with someone hearing about it."
Picking up Subaru's question, Emilia answered offhandedly.
Anastasia blinked and looked at Emilia. Tilting her head at that gaze, Emilia continued.
"Rather, I think I should be glad that I wasn't put at a disadvantage by being asked—Anastasia-san is going to tell us exactly where to find what we're looking for."
"...You're too kind for your own good. And besides, I don't think I've actually told you what you want yet."
"But you're going to, aren't you? Thank you. I don't know what I can do in return, but I'll make sure to repay you."
"———"
At Emilia's smiling response, Anastasia's eyes went wide and she was struck speechless.
At the sight of her surprise, Julius—seated beside her—couldn't help but soften his expression. Anastasia shot him a sharp glare for his knight's reaction, and— "What's funny, Julius?"
"Nothing in particular. It's simply that I rarely get to see Lady Anastasia's expectations turn out this way. And seeing your unguarded, unembellished face like this—I find it quite beautiful."
"Saying sweet things to slip away, are you? ...I've still got some soft spots, it seems."
Regaining her usual composure at Julius's words, Anastasia shook her head. Then, pursing her lips at the puzzled Emilia, she said, "Let me correct myself. Emilia-san, it's been a year, but at the root, you're exactly the same as before. That's going to cause a lot of trouble for the people around you."
"Mm. I still have so many shortcomings, and I'm always causing trouble for everyone. I'm trying hard to catch up, but..."
"Correction again. Your roots have gotten even softer than before. Making me look like the bad guy."
Letting out a long breath, Anastasia then broke into a wide smile. At her sudden change in demeanor, Emilia's eyes went round this time. Confirming this, Anastasia looked at Subaru and Otto.
"You two are taking good care of her, right? If she stays this way, we're going to have our hands full too."
"I fully intend to try, but my basic philosophy is to spoil her with praise and let her grow!"
"That's why we're shouldering most of the burden. Ha ha... I wonder how this'll turn out."
Subaru gave a thumbs-up while Otto wore his trademark dull-eyed expression.
Watching the two of them with their opposing attitudes, Anastasia straightened her fur collar.
"Well, that's fine. It's not like you don't know the value of the favor."
"Favors are great, aren't they? No need to keep inventory, and they never expire."
"Exactly. And above all—"
Otto agreed with Anastasia's words, and the two merchants exchanged a look.
"—'No price tag needed.'"
They spoke in perfect unison.
Anastasia clapped her hands, and Otto drooped his shoulders even further. Those words seemed vaguely familiar, as if Subaru had heard them somewhere before.
It was a rather pragmatic way of looking at favors.
"Well then, shall we move on to what you've been waiting for? What Emilia and the others are looking for is... that's right, the colorless magic ore. The kind with purity pushed to the absolute limit."
"Yes, exactly. Could you tell us what you know about where to find it?"
On the journey to Priestella, Emilia had shown a touch of hesitation.
She was aware that wanting the magic ore was entirely for her own sake. Knowing that, she had harbored an inexpressible guilt about dragging Subaru and the others along to Priestella on her behalf.
And yet, when the possibility appeared before her eyes, the color of hope in her gaze was undeniable.
If she obtained it, her family would return to her side. For her, it might also be a necessary ritual to begin anew as a person.
Anastasia kept Emilia, who held her breath in anticipation, waiting just a moment before speaking.
"The one who holds high-density magic ore is the Muse Company, here in this city. The person in charge is said to be the Muse Company's successor—the head of this city's affiliated trading guild. His name is