"————"
Looking at what was reflected in the crude mirror,
Dark-ish eyeshadow and carefully curled eyelashes. Using face powder to smooth out the skin texture—the point where the difference between men and women was most pronounced—and adding a vermillion hue to make the lips look fresh and plump.
The outfit had been quite the conundrum, but by draping plenty of fluttering fabric, they managed to disguise their build while also striving for a style suited to the southern climate.
After all, this time the role wasn't that of a noble lady, but something more precarious and nebulous—a position as a traveling entertainer. To that end, gestures aside, the outward appearance needed to push the "feminine" aspect even further to match the concept.
"Now it's just padding up and shifting as much body mass as possible to the chest..."
Drawing upon every trick in the book, Subaru pictured all the people they had encountered up to this point.
Starting with
—The image to conjure was always the most beautiful version of themselves.
There was no need to think about anything extraneous. Beyond that lay the answer they envisioned.
And then, they played the best hand available with the cards they currently held, arriving at the place they needed to arrive.
Therefore— "—This is me."
Stepping away from the mirror, they took slow, deliberate breaths, then turned around.
The time spent fighting a lone battle of solitude was over at last, and they pushed the door open. On the other side, their comrades held their breath, waiting to learn whether this plan would succeed or fail.
Their eyes turned toward the one who had emerged through the door.
"————"
Silence was born. The atmosphere grew taut, and they could feel it.
Whether that silence stemmed from what emotion, Subaru's impulsive anxiety refused to understand. Certainly, their hand for this contest was missing several cards. If only they had this, if only they had that—the regrets were endless.
But so what? Hadn't they already resolved themselves to that?
One could never enter a battle at full strength. No matter the circumstance, wasn't life simply about playing the hand you were dealt?
Yes—as these excuses lined up inside them like a chain of defeat— "—Magnificent."
The faint sound of something in the air bursting made Subaru look up on instinct.
Looking, the source of the burst was nothing extraordinary. It was the sound of hands pressed together—of applause. It was a sound woven from celebration, admiration, and respect.
"That's—"
Seeing who was applauding, Subaru nearly called out to them, but stopped just short.
It was still incomplete. They lightly touched their throat, briefly sending a small burst of air through it. Then, when the gears clicked into place within them, they smiled.
"Mizelda-san."
"——! No wWay, your voIce? How fAr, how fAr have you gOne...!"
"Once I decided to do this, giving my all is simply my duty. There are lives that will be protected by my not cutting corners. If that is the case, then there is only one thing I must do."
"Oh...!"
Wiping the smile from their face, Subaru raised a single finger and pointed it toward the heavens.
The sun couldn't be seen through the thick canopy of trees, but what they needed to show off wasn't some celestial being—it was the many comrades gathered here.
Look upon them, from the tips of their head to the tips of their toes.
From the front, from behind, from the right, from the left—any direction was fine.
—The image to conjure was always the most beautiful version of themselves.
And if they had succeeded in tracing that image, if they had managed to reproduce that ideal, then there was nothing left to fear.
Here now, vested with the authority— "—Natsumi Schwartz, reinstalled."
Yes, she proclaimed—no, she declared with grace and elegance: Natsumi Schwartz.
Before her, the woman who had been applauding—Mizelda—nodded deeply. Then she drew up alongside Natsumi, supporting her back with one hand, and said: "My world was as narrow as you said. You were right, Suba... no, Natsumi."
"You understood, then, Mizelda-san."
"Y-yes, it stings, but I understod. —Beauty can be cReated."
Mizelda, her eyes softened at the corners, smiled gently, and Natsumi smiled back.
Seeing this beautiful scene with their own eyes, the Shudrak people gathered there exchanged glances. Then, as a delayed gesture of blessing, applause rained down.
The applause rained on without ceasing, celebrating the manifestation of Natsumi.
And then— "What the hEll is thIs."
"WhatevEr."
Those who weren't quite buying it stared at the scene with sour expressions.
△▼△▼△▼△ "And so, Natsumi Schwartz is born! The makeup tools here worked quite differently from what I'm used to, which was a bit puzzling, but I managed this much at least."
"Are you kidding me?"
"Huh!?"
Back in the assembly hall, Natsumi—no, Subaru—had reestablished the meeting. In response to Subaru's words, Rem replied with an absolutely zero-degree gaze and voice.
Seeing Rem's attitude unchanged even after presenting the results, Subaru pointed at their own face.
"I thought the false eyelashes were necessary, didn't you? As for the wig, I cobbled it together from the black hair of the Shudrak people..."
"I wasn't talking about that. The makeup and wig are well done, I think. But there shouldn't be any need to keep talking like a woman forever."
"That's true, but... mindset is everything, isn't it? If you're not constantly on guard, you never know when you'll slip up. And besides..."
"And besides?"
"If I get complacent about being a man, the goddess of beauty will turn her back on me and—ow ow ow!"
Subaru had been speaking earnestly when Rem yanked their ear with considerable force.
Tears welled up involuntarily, and Subaru scrambled away from the spot. Then, sidling up to Mizelda, who had been watching the situation unfold— "Sister Mizelda, Rem-san is scary..."
"Hm, don't cry, Natsumi. ...It's strange—even knowing it's Subaru, you look cute. Taritta, you should learn from this."
"Sister!?"
While patting Subaru's head, Mizelda made this ruthless demand. Taritta stared in wide-eyed shock.
But even Taritta's expression, in response to this, was noticeably softer than usual. That was because she normally wore the Shudrak people's heavy war paint, but Subaru had rearranged and adjusted her makeup to make her look cute.
The Shudrak showed their beauty through bravery and ruggedness, but what was needed this time was a bewitching allure that balanced glamour with danger—the kind that could drive men to madness.
Once they decided to steer their beauty in that direction, applying makeup to Taritta and Kuna had been a pleasure.
"Sister Taritta, your features are actually much more youthful than you'd expect! And the makeup went on so nicely. It's wonderful to push the cute side for a change, don't you think?"
"D-don't make fun of me. And besides, I can't be as adorable as you..."
"My, but even lacking confidence is adorable. Right, Sister Mizelda?"
"That's right, a dEar one."
As Subaru snuggled close and whispered, Mizelda's cheeks softened. Taritta, overwhelmed by the sight of the two of them, could only blush faintly and look down.
Her brown skin made the flush hard to see, but the faint reddening of her cheeks was accentuated by the eye and lip makeup, making the adorable change clearly visible— "How long are you going to keep messing around?!"
And just like that, Rem shattered the idyllic garden scene with a single shout.
Like a blast of wind, Subaru and Taritta shrank into themselves. Rem glared at the two with her pale blue eyes, then turned to look at Kuna, who was at the far end of the room.
Kuna, whose hair and makeup had been done just like Taritta's, shifted uncomfortably.
"Wh-what is it? I should tell you right now, I haven't done a single th—"
"Kuna-san, you're the one I'm counting on. These two are hopeless, as you can see. You're the only sane one here... Are you seriously going to go through with this operation?"
"I know I'm the only sane one, but..."
With her hair in twin tails, Kuna regarded Subaru and Taritta with a disinterested look.
It was an unfair evaluation, but Subaru had the composure to watch the situation unfold—unlike Taritta, who was trembling in shock at being called insane.
Reacting to Subaru and Taritta's responses, Kuna let out a small sigh.
"The operation got thrown together, and the reason it did is gone too—Rem knows that. Natsumi... Subaru isn't a problem. If anything, she's more of a woman than the chief."
"That's way too disrespectful to Mizelda-san, I think..."
"Anyway, I don't think there's a problem. And over there, the results are—"
Just as Kuna was about to wrap up her exchange with Rem— "—It seems you're all gathered."
"Oh, speak of the devil..."
A haughty voice, with no intention of masking itself, enveloped the assembly hall as a new figure appeared.
Kuna's gaze turned toward it, and Rem reluctantly looked in the same direction. Naturally, the eyes of Subaru, Mizelda, and the others also converged there— "————"
In that instant, everyone's time stopped.
—No. To be precise, everyone's time stopped except for that of the figure who had appeared, and Subaru, who had applied their makeup.
"I left the fine-tuning to you, but... you're annoyingly skilled at this."
"I'm hardly pleased to be praised for my cosmetics work. That said, I was genuinely impressed by your technique. So the final form really does transform, does it? You look better than I imagined."
"Tch, the victor's magnanimity...!"
As he spoke, Subaru quietly bit down on their own pinky in frustration.
Of course, Subaru had no doubt in the belief that beauty could be created. That, in itself, was something they had proven with their own body by making the most of their meager hand of cards.
And yet, even so, the difference in raw materials did exist.
That was— "Ah, Abel-san, is it?"
"Who else would it be? Don't ask such foolish questions. Or rather—if I've changed that much, then your surprise is a fair indicator, I suppose."
In response to Rem's trembling words, the one clenching slender white fingers into fists was Abel—no, the being born from makeup, wig, and a costume change: Bianca.
Long, lustrous black hair the color of a wet crow, paired with a beautiful face bearing narrow, sharp eyes— —and this created the ultimate harmony of that face and the figure revealed beneath. The skin, though not excessively so, was exposed enough to command attention, and was white as porcelain. The dancer's outfit left the midriff and upper legs completely bare.
Standing there was a beautiful dancing maiden who had reproduced the pinnacle of beauty—the very joker card indispensable to this plan.
"————"
The sheer perfection of Bianca's transformation left even Mizelda and the others speechless.
This was a different kind of shock from Subaru's own dramatic transformation—it was the pure impact wrought by the completeness of this beauty. Abel=Bianca possessed that quality.
The Shudrak jewelry adorning the dancer's outfit and long hair served merely as embellishments to accentuate the real beauty even further.
I remember the smile on Mizelda's face when she had lent them out, saying they were "the good stuff."
Recalling that smile, Subaru's chest ached with a quiet pang. But Subaru didn't have the option of holding back, of worrying about Mizelda and the others.
How could they possibly ruin this masterpiece with their own hands?
That was something Subaru's identity as Natsumi Schwartz would not allow.
"I must admit, I was surprised you didn't feel resistance to the makeup, though..."
"What, you think dressing as a woman is something to be ashamed of? Let me tell you—this isn't the first time I've done something like this. In fact, I experienced it multiple times in my youth."
"As a child?"
"Indeed. Given my position, one must possess as many means of self-preservation as possible."
The beautiful woman crossed her arms in a decidedly un-cute gesture—Abel's attitude, not Bianca's—making Subaru smirk.
The experiences Abel spoke of were probably from before he had taken the throne, back when he was still a contender in the dark politics of the emperorship.
It was easy to imagine that in Volakia, where the succession was far more dangerous than in Lugunica, a shadow war of assassination had been waged for the seat of the next emperor.
To survive those brutal days, he had disguised himself, sometimes even concealing his gender entirely.
Abel's willingness to sacrifice anything—including himself—seemed to have been forged through the accumulation of those early years, long before he had won the throne.
And now, in a roundabout way, that was manifesting in Abel, dressed as Bianca.
"Still, it's infuriating that you're so aware of your own beauty!"
"That's the most absurd thing I've ever heard. Someone in a position where they must survey their entire nation can't afford not to be able to view themselves objectively. You've overturned that objective evaluation through skill—I'll grant that—but such petty tricks are unnecessary for me."
"Guh...!"
"Do you know why the tiger is strong? The tiger is strong because it is the tiger."
Subaru had heard this very theory from Garfiel before, and it hit them like a hammer.
The "tiger is strong because it's the tiger" theory—conversely, Abel is beautiful because he's Abel, and that explained everything. It was nothing short of intellectual violence.
It was the same as saying Reinhardt is strong because he's Reinhardt.
In other words, a brutally blunt opinion.
"Either way, either way... Flora must be thinking the same thing!"
"Oh? Am I being dragged into this now, boss!?"
Behind Abel, Flo Flop—the one who had come along—was taken aback.
She was of the type who simply needed to leverage their natural material to achieve a high level of polish. In fact, unlike Subaru or Abel, her changes had been limited to minor adjustments to already-long hair, meaning her natural beauty shone through most of all.
In truth, if they all stood side by side, she had the confidence that she wouldn't look noticeably inferior. But— "The effort, the effort put in is different... God's favoritism...!"
"Well, you do seem to be lamenting something grandiose there, but hey, boss, you're amazing! I barely recognized you! You're no longer 'boss'—you're 'Boss with a capital B!'"
"...Honestly, that kind of compliment isn't going to be enough."
"Wait, that WAS a compliment? I couldn't tell."
Even as Flo, Flop's directness hadn't changed. In any case, that was fine for him. Some acting coaching aligned with the plan's objectives might be needed, but that was manageable.
In this setting, the one for whom it mattered most was Abel.
"Flo and I can play instruments. So your role will be..."
"Dancing. I don't need to be told—I have the plan committed to memory, along with the importance of my part. And besides..."
"And besides?"
"Though not as much as my deceased sister, I happen to be quite skilled at dancing."
His cheeks contorted into a smug, haughty grin that was itself beautiful.
Abel's self-assurance was as reassuring as it was burning with anticipation. In truth, Abel had fully demonstrated his bewitching quality and completed Bianca.
If that self-assessment was correct, then expectations for his dancing were warranted.
"—Very well. If you'll go that far, then show me that skill. Just be sure you don't eat your own words."
"Eat my own words... hm, spit and have it fall on one's own head? A roundabout way of putting it, but very well. Let me tell you something."
"————"
"As a reward—however modest—for you, who proposed this plan."
Was there no self-doubt in him at all? Even in female dress, Abel's insolence showed no sign of diminishing.
Feeling both reassured and threatened by this, Subaru quietly looked at Rem. Unfortunately, she couldn't be included in the plan.
But even so— "Please pray for our safe return. For your sake, I will give it my all."
"—. ———. ———————. ————————————. Yes."
"You took a while to decide to pray!"
Hearing Rem's delayed reply—delivered with the most earnest expression—Subaru exclaimed.
Beside Rem, Louis ducked her head sheepishly. It seemed even she had been unable to recognize Natsumi as Subaru.
For now, it was best to take that reaction as proof that the plan had gained momentum.
△▼△▼△▼△ —Operation "Kumosotakeru."
That was the name of the plan targeting the "womanizer" and the Empire's Two Great Generals,
The Kojiki-inspired operation name had been Subaru's proposal, and fortunately, no one had objected.
Whether that was out of respect for Subaru as the planner, or simply because no one cared about the operation name, the fact that it went smoothly was a good omen.
After all, there were inevitably points in the plan where the element of luck was unavoidable.
Of course, they would spare no effort to improve their chances, but accumulating fortune was difficult. If that was the case, then even a small tailwind was not something to dismiss.
—Leaving the Budheim forest behind, the group set course for
The active unit was finalized as five members: Subaru=Natsumi, Abel=Bianca, Flop=Flo, Taritta, and Kuna. The remaining Shudrak people under Mizelda's command formed the auxiliary unit. Rem, Louis, and Medium were also included.
Stashed at a location outside the city, they would, if necessary, attack the citadel city's walls and take on the role of a diversion. However, that was only insurance.
Insurance to be used if the plan failed—and even then, its effectiveness was questionable. If the plan did fail, Subaru and the others would likely be in dire straits by that point.
In any case— "Personally, I think the first checkpoint will be the biggest hurdle."
Subaru gazed up at the grand main gate looming overhead, its vantage point surveying the ground below, and muttered.
They were challenging the main gate they had once forced their way through again, and although some days had passed, the security level of the checkpoint had surely been raised since last time.
To guard against the re-intrusion of miscreants, they were paying particular attention to dragon-drawn carts, ox-drawn carts, and any vehicle where people could be hidden among the cargo. Merchants and travelers cried out in distress as their goods were overturned and their straw was poked with swords.
Honestly, Subaru felt quite sorry for them. But thinking about the chaos that would soon engulf the city, they wondered if turning back here might be the wiser course.
Of course, they could never give such advice— "—Next. You lot."
At that moment, a rough, gravelly male voice struck Subaru's eardrums.
Looking up, the one beckoning them was a burly, bald guard. Subaru and their group stepped forward, and at the head of the line, Subaru bowed respectfully.
"We are a troupe of traveling performers. We've come from the north to this city."
"Oh, traveling performers..."
Raising his eyebrows in curiosity, the guard looked past Subaru to the rest of the group.
Flo, carrying an instrument on her back, waved. Taritta, bearing luggage, bowed. Kuna held a parasol over the person next to her, who kept their face hidden behind a veil, expression unreadable.
The guard seemed to admire the atmospheric quality of the group.
"————"
Meanwhile, maintaining a pleasant smile, Subaru's heart was a knot of tension.
This guard—there was familiarity about him. In fact, he was one of those who had been on duty at the main gate when Subaru had first arrived in Guaral with Flop and the others.
In other words, he was the perfect adversary for this opening test.
"Still, coming all the way from the north must have been tough. I've heard the territory of the 'Lord of Blazing Heat' over there is getting lively. Flocks of flying dragons everywhere."
"Yes, yes, exactly. So we couldn't stay long. On the other hand, this city has such magnificent walls—I'm sure it's safe here?"
"Well, about that..."
The guard made an awkward face in response to Subaru's beaming smile.
The reason for that reaction was probably that they knew Imperial soldiers who had fled after their camps were burned had taken shelter in the city. On top of that, the incident Subaru's group had caused the other day meant that Imperial soldiers in the city were likely on high alert and the atmosphere was tense.
That was surely what was making the guard hedge his words.
If so, there was no reason not to use that to their advantage.
"...Could it be that you have concerns about this city as well?"
"Well, no, it's not like hiding it would do any good... Actually, the Imperial army is currently stationed here. Seems they've been clashing with the eastern tribes. And so..."
"Oh my! Then the citizens must be on edge!"
"That's exactly right."
The guard seemed to have been harboring pent-up frustration, because Subaru's words made him lean in eagerly.
Though their positions weren't identical, guards and soldiers generally occupied different roles. A guard's allegiance belonged to the city itself, while a soldier's belonged to the nation—in this case, the Empire. Their chains of command were fundamentally different.
The guard before them was a man serving to protect the city as one of its people.
But the current situation—having the city hall occupied by the Empire's army and receiving orders left and right—was far from pleasant. There was no reason to take orders from Imperial soldiers with a nod and a smile.
"On top of that, those bastards use 'night patrol' as an excuse to take over the city's taverns. They don't pay well either, so the shops are screwed. It's rough, man."
"My goodness, how terrible! My heart goes out to you. Just between us, we've had our own dreadful experiences with the arrogance of Imperial soldiers."
"Oh really? Even someone as lovely as you..."
The guard's attitude softened dramatically at Subaru's deep, earnest nods and vocal sympathy. In fact, he seemed to feel a considerable sense of camaraderie.
"Yes," Subaru said, lowering their voice slightly, averting their gaze, and looking down with a melancholy expression.
Seeing this loaded gesture, the guard stammered, "A-are you alright, miss?"
"If you don't want to talk, you don't have to go out of your way—"
"No, it's fine. It's old, an old story. But a while back, Imperial soldiers captured us by force, locked us in cages, and treated us like slaves..."
"That's..."
"They deliberately tripped us and made us fall, and when it was at its worst, they threatened us with blades..."
"Th-that's unforgivable...!"
Listening to Subaru recount their past through tears, the guard clenched his fists, driven by righteous fury.
Seeing the man's ears reddening with anger, Subaru murmured softly, "You're a kind person."
"N-no, it's not kindness. Anyone would feel the same way you do."
"Then... please, guard sir, if you pity us, please let us inside. If you do, I'll..."
"You'll?"
"I'll turn around the oppressive atmosphere those Imperial soldiers have created."
The voice was quiet, but the passion it carried was fierce.
Hearing this, the guard's stern face twisted in surprise. His gaze turned to the troupe of traveling performers standing behind Subaru.
"...Ladies... what exactly will you show us?"
"Of course, we've traveled far and wide, learning all manner of performance arts. I personally dabble in singing, instrumental music, and a bit of sleight of hand. But..."
"...gulp."
"The main attraction is, without question, the dance of our troupe's star—the dancing maiden."
With those words, Subaru indicated the figure standing at the center of the group, protected by a parasol. Face hidden behind a veil, standing with an air of relaxed confidence—the troupe's main act.
Bathed in the gaze from behind that veil, the guard's eyes widened and his body went rigid.
Even though nothing was fully revealed, his throat had frozen solid.
"————"
It was only natural to be rendered immobile, captivated.
It was a masterpiece that made even Subaru feel frustrated. After all, as much as one might proclaim that "beauty can be created," true beauty was the creation of the divine.
At the end of the day, all Subaru had done was add a single extra touch.
But that one extra touch was more than enough to further refine the bewitching allure.
"In addition to our dancer, we will sing and play as well. We humbly request your permission to stay in Guaral."
"————"
"Guard sir?"
"...Ah, right. You don't seem to have any suspicious belongings either..."
Poked gently on the shoulder and snapping out of it, the guard murmured. Then he placed a hand on his chest, breathing as if to confirm his heartbeat, and looked over the troupe.
And while trying as hard as possible to avoid being drawn in by the bewitching beauty— "You can enter. If you're going to perform somewhere, I'd recommend the main avenue through the center of town—away from the main gate. The city hall has too many soldiers around it, so I'd rule that out."
"How kind of you. By the way, guard sir, when do you finish work?"
"M-me? I get off when the sun goes down and go grab a meal, but..."
"Then please tell me which restaurant you go to. I'm sure that when your colleagues come along as well, we'll be able to thank you all properly for your kindness."
Subaru leaned in close and whispered softly in the guard's ear.
When the guard's eyes widened in surprise, Subaru smiled at him, then stepped back. Turning to the troupe members who had been anxiously waiting through the checkpoint— "Come now, everyone. Let's go and clear away the gloomy atmosphere in this city."
With those words, Subaru led the group past the guard.
The guard, pressing his ear and standing in a daze, watched their backs as they departed. Subaru and the others passed through the main gate without any trouble whatsoever and entered the city.
Watching them go, the guard quietly exhaled.
"...I think I'll just finish up work early today."
—he murmured to himself.
"That was really something, boss! I was starting to think you might have more talent as a merchant than I do!"
After passing through the main gate, the group—carrying only their light belongings—moved through the city streets. Flo, beaming with excitement, praised Subaru's performance at the checkpoint.
His words were devoid of guile, and Subaru nodded with a cheerful "yes."
"I'm honored by the praise. But I'm hardly a merchant. I have things to do, after all."
"Things to do? Like what?"
"As a lady—not really, but... being there for someone important."
"————"
Hearing Subaru's words, Flo's eyes widened slightly. But he quickly relaxed his mouth and nodded.
"Then we'd better make this plan a success quickly and put your wife's mind at ease."
"And we mustn't make Medium-san worry either."
"Ha ha ha! My little sister, worried? Impossible! She's one tough kid, body and soul. I can't even imagine her being down!"
Flo didn't have a lady's poise, but his cheerful laugh won Subaru's agreement.
Not just Flo—Subaru couldn't imagine Medium being down either. The two siblings must have supported each other and weathered all manner of storms together.
That was precisely why Subaru felt responsible for having dragged them into this.
"I must not falter now."
"W-wait, Subaru... no, Natsumi."
A somewhat weak voice reached Subaru's back.
Looking, it was Taritta, who was carrying the group's luggage. Unlike usual, Taritta—having left the forest—had changed both her makeup and her outfit.
Instead of the Amazon-esque Shudrak attire, she wore increased layers of fluttering fabric, creating a more exotic, ethnic-style dancer's fashion.
In fact, she was showing less skin than her everyday outfit, but Taritta blushed shyly, glancing around nervously.
"D-do you think anyone is paying attention to me? Because I or Kuna might look strange..."
"Don't drag me into this. And anyway, if we're talking strange, nobody's stranger than Natsumi. Seriously, what was that at the checkpoint? You were way too good at handling that guy."
Standing beside the flustered Taritta, Kuna remarked in her usual flat tone about Subaru's earlier performance. Hearing this, Subaru placed a hand on their cheek and said: "Oh my, it's not the first time I've dealt with a gentleman. Besides, don't worry, Taritta-san. You and Kuna aren't the ones standing out. We all are. ...Because we're beautiful."
"Because we're beautiful!"
Both Flo and Subaru nodded in deep agreement.
At this answer, Taritta wore a look of disbelief. "'Beau-tiful...'"
"Th-that kind of talk, to my siste—"
"What are you talking about, Taritta-lady? Your sister's charm and yours are entirely different things. Besides, no matter how many compliments I pay you, that doesn't exhaust the compliments one could pay Sister Mizelda. They're separate things—separate appetites, as they say!"
"——!"
In one fluid motion, Flo took Taritta's hand and said that with a radiant smile.
Taritta's eyes went wide at his momentum, her mouth opening and closing wordlessly. As the blush on her cheeks deepened by the second, Subaru covered their mouth.
"Oh my."
"Cut her some slack. Taritta has always been glued to the chief. She barely ever leaves the forest. That's why she has no resistance to this sort of thing."
"My, how endearing. But you seem quite composed, Kuna-san."
"Well, I snuck out of the forest pretty often, and I didn't have a big scary sister like that. ...I've got a handful of a little sister of my own, though."
The image in Kuna's mind as she said this was probably Holy.
The two of them had a relationship that was like sisters, like close friends, perhaps even like parent and child—an endearing dynamic. That said, Taritta's words weren't something to ignore.
"————"
Indeed, the passersby on the street had turned their eyes toward Subaru's group in their unusual attire.
Between the eye-catching costumes and the city's general tension caused by the Imperial soldiers' security measures, the citizens' gazes were understandably sharp toward outsiders.
If that was the case, then— "—A good opportunity."
"With all these curious eyes watching, yes."
From beneath the parasol, a sharp gaze behind its veil pierced Subaru's profile.
"Don't say anything foolish," the look warned, and Subaru responded with a sulky "Yees." But the judgment that this was a good opportunity was shared between Subaru and the dancing maiden.
Therefore— "Following the guard's advice, let's make our debut on the main avenue!"
"Alright then, boss—no, Lady Natsumi!"
Flo followed Subaru's impromptu decision with enthusiasm.
The two of them shed part of their costumes, revealing shoulders, midriffs, and backs as they stepped forward, each taking up an instrument and taking position alongside the main avenue.
Then— "Come one, come all! We present to you a tale of song and dance, inherited across time and across the world, from the great waterfall far to the east, beyond the vast waters! We are a troupe of traveling performers who have only just arrived in this city today!"
Booming out the introductory patter, Subaru caught Flo's eye, and Flo began to play a stringed instrument—the lurilre.
Light, airy notes wove together into music, and the attention of passersby surged further.
"Hey, what's going on?"
"Traveling performers! Music, music!"
"Huh, look at that—a whole group of beauties!"
Drawn by Subaru's patter and Flo's music, people walking along the street stopped in their tracks, or poked their heads out from buildings, all eyes on the troupe.
The instruments were primarily handled by Subaru and Flo, while Taritta and Kuna provided simple percussion—essentially the role of castanets.
Even so, it was plenty helpful, and Flo's skill exceeded expectations, so the music was more than adequate. Most importantly, the real ace was waiting right in the center.
"Now, what we will sing and dance for you is a story from a distant, different world! A tale woven by humans and humans, dragons and demons, and beings beyond words! Everyone, please enjoy it to your heart's content!"
With those radiant smiles and heart-racing introductions building the audience's anticipation, Flo's performance—playing and singing beside Subaru—approached its first climax.
Everyone was captivated by the musical skill and the beauty of the musician, but the main act was moments away.
And when the music reached its peak— "————"
Slowly, she shed the sheer silk draped over her and stepped onto the avenue—the black-haired dancer.
She lifted her veil with one hand, and as her face was revealed, the eyes of the audience—who had been entranced by the music—turned toward her, and a blow like a physical strike pierced through them.
Yes, exactly. That reaction, that face, that consternation—this was what they wanted.
"Really, this is so frustrating," Subaru muttered inwardly, feeling the sting of being outdone even as they played their instrument.
Beneath their chest was the feeling of defeat. But being outdone this thoroughly was almost exhilarating. Lying—the feeling of defeat was frustrating, full stop.
But it was this moment of stillness, just before it erupted into frenzy, that formed the core of the plan.
If so, then let the dancing maiden captivate the people of Guaral to their heart's content.
"Now, it's your turn, Bianca—!"
"————"
After a quick glance in Subaru's direction, Bianca—Abel—slowly raised her arm.
It was simply the act of raising one arm. Yet in that gesture was a refinement that radiated from the depths of her being. It dissolved into the air and, in an instant, commanded the avenue.
A flowing, majestic dance began.
The dance, performed to the accompanying music, was a version of what Abel had originally known, with Subaru's own arrangements added to it—something that would look entirely new to anyone's eyes.
Though, in truth, such petty tricks hadn't been necessary.
Subaru's refinements had merely elevated something already rock-solid to an even higher level.
"————"
Entranced by the resplendent dance, the audience forgot to breathe.
It was an appeal to instinct—a primal scream of beauty that said you must not look away, not even for a moment. To exaggerate, it was as if eyeballs existed for precisely this purpose.
Abel's dance was arrogant and imperious, driving that thought home with every movement.
—Look at me, it commanded.
Even Subaru, the mastermind behind this, felt a shiver of fear at the sight of the mesmerized, slack-jawed audience.
If there were thieves present, the transfixed crowd would surely let them rifle through their pockets and make off with their wallets without noticing a thing. —No, that premise was invalid. Because even the thieves would be unable to look away from Abel's dance.
"————"
The single dance—less than five minutes by the clock—came to its end.
Those on the musical side had been concentrating to avoid any mistakes, but even if one had slipped up, would anyone have even noticed? Honestly, Subaru had its doubts.
The music ended, and the heels and toes of Abel's feet touched the ground.
Only then did the audience realize that the dance was already over, and that Abel was simply standing there.
Immediately, a thunderous burst of applause and cheers engulfed the avenue.
Just as expected, just as targeted—a resounding triumph.
But unlike Flo, who was raising his instrument to acknowledge the cheers, Subaru—while wearing a smile for the audience—felt a complex mix of emotions.
After all— "—Hmph."
There was not a single rebuttal that could be raised against Abel, who wore that triumphant smile.
△▼△▼△▼△ The troupe's reputation in the citadel city of Guaral was cemented by the overwhelming success of their first performance.
The impromptu demonstration on the main avenue had generated an impact far exceeding expectations, and the troupe's subsequent activities became considerably easier.
However— "We mustn't forget that this spotlight is driven by novelty above all else. After all, our performances are a patchwork... right now, the flashy tricks are simply what appeals to people."
"I see! So what's needed is diligent refinement of genuine skill, eh, boss?"
"Exactly! That's why daily, unwavering effort and awareness are essential!"
As Subaru clenched their fist with conviction, Flo sat up straight and nodded with a smile.
Flo's loud, crisp responses made him a delightful conversational partner. As a result, Subaru's speeches tended to gain momentum—which was its own kind of charm.
In any case, the one Subaru truly needed to speak to wasn't Flo.
"I hope you two are listening! You mustn't let your guard down!"
"Oof, now it's our turn."
"W-why us...!?"
Pointed at sharply by Subaru and wearing expressions of disbelief were Taritta and Kuna.
Inside the inn, the two had shed their fancy costumes and reverted to near-underwear-level Shudrak attire. When operating in the city as part of the troupe, they dressed properly, but the moment they entered the privacy of the inn, it was straight back to this.
"You've gotten complacent."
"I'm not saying I'm not, but conversely, what's up with you..."
"What do you mean 'what'? Conversations without a subject are unpleasant."
"Why does Natsumi keep pretending to be someone she's not, even when nobody's watching? Kuna and I don't understand. It's not necessary, is it?"
"Pretend to be...?"
With a questioning tone in their voice, Subaru couldn't see what they were referring to. Taritta and Kuna looked startled.
That reaction warranted a "just kidding," and Subaru deflected their surprise with a smile.
"That said, I can't accept that line of thinking. You see, God resides in the details—the seemingly pointless little touches are what bring reality to life. Therefore, especially when no one is watching..."
"The attitude of not cutting corners is what matters. That's the idea, right? Mm-hmm, impressive, boss—no, Lady Natsumi! This is a real learning experience for me!"
Flo, the diligent pupil, gave a hundred-point answer.
Though the one thing Subaru couldn't fix was his persistent use of the first-person pronoun "boku" instead of a feminine one, and Kuna shot Subaru a look of protest over it, which Subaru deflected with a smile.
—Currently, Subaru's troupe of traveling performers was staying at an inn in Guaral.
Three days had passed since their infiltration of Guaral. In that time, they had performed a total of ten shows, generating considerable buzz.
They hadn't been in financial trouble to begin with, thanks to the payment from selling Ergina's horn, but the generous tips thrown their way at each performance meant they were doing more than well enough.
"That said, we'll want to move to the next phase soon."
Running a finger along their chin, Subaru wished for a change in the stalled situation.
In truth, things were going almost too well. Every performance was a rousing success, and the goodwill of the citizens—including the guards—was excellent.
That was thanks to Bianca's dance quality and the conversational skills of Natsumi and Flo.
Bianca, whose mystique was also part of her appeal, rarely appeared in public except when dancing, so information gathering naturally became Natsumi and the others' responsibility.
Though the plan had always been for Natsumi=Subaru and Flo=Flop to handle it, since Bianca=Abel couldn't be allowed to speak in a female voice.
"Funny how Flo doesn't raise any suspicion with anyone, though. You haven't even changed your voice."
"Haha, well, I don't have a special skill like Natsumi. But I've been traveling alone with my little sister for so long. Maybe some of her habits rubbed off on me, contributing to a more feminine impression?"
"From Medium-san...?"
Flo cheerfully proposed this new theory, but the Medium who surfaced in Subaru's mind—while her appearance was beautiful and her ever-shifting expressions were endearing and charming—made the theory that she influenced Flo's level of femininity rather dubious.
"—You seem to have plenty of time for idle chatter."
"Hm?"
To the exchanging of such words, a cold, frozen voice was cast.
It was Bianca—or rather, Abel without the wig—who sat by the window and had not once joined the conversation.
Night after night, Abel danced at every performance, and while his profile showed a determined effort to appear otherwise, the faintest trace of weariness could be glimpsed.
He would never admit it, but staying in Guaral took an enormous toll on body and mind. They were constantly on edge, deep in enemy territory. Even Subaru, who kept admonishing themselves with Natsumi's words and mannerisms, was doing so to avoid letting their guard drop.
If they let their guard down behind enemy lines, who knew what awaited them.
Even Rem and Mizelda had initially written off the plan as a prank.
But Subaru had proposed this strategy in earnest, and had gone through repeated discussions to increase its success rate. If it failed, Subaru was not the type to accept it with a resigned "oh well, that's a shame."
That was precisely why— "Bianca, why don't you get some rest? It's not that I'm implying anything, but I don't think I've ever seen you sleeping."
"Oh, what's this, Lady Natsumi? As if that's even relev—hmm? Now that you mention it, I don't recall ever seeing Bianca asleep either!"
Flo tried to laugh off Subaru's observation, then realized he couldn't, and his eyes went wide. Abel, ignoring Flo entirely, gave a dismissive snort and paid them no mind.
Abel's strong vigilance remained firmly in place; he hadn't let his guard down with anyone, not even Subaru and the others.
Of course, Subaru understood that letting one's guard down around others was hardly easy in his position.
But not being able to show even a moment's relaxation in front of comrades who were risking their lives alongside him in this plan was more than just tiring—it was mentally draining.
As always, Abel didn't blink both eyes at the same time. Even closing both eyes simultaneously would have been too much, as if someone might do something in that instant.
"Don't you get tired of living like that?"
"—You're one to say that?"
To Subaru's blunt observation, Abel furrowed his brow and shot back.
Hearing that, Subaru didn't quite know what was meant. Abel's way of living was clearly exhausting—Subaru simply didn't live that way, that was all.
"You lack self-awareness, and that's almost pitiful. But fine—go on and live as you please."
"I'll continue living whether you tell me to or not. And you..."
"To close both eyes at once is to surrender the power of life and death to someone else. I don't view myself so cheaply as to permit that, even for an instant."
"————"
"'Don't lose your focus'—wasn't that your own words?"
As if to say "I could say the same," Subaru found even that retort silenced.
Subaru glared at Abel's profile with bitter frustration, but was being ignored entirely.
Having removed his wig and accessories, Abel wore female clothing even at the inn, so he could transform into Bianca at a moment's notice. So while the current appearance should have been an unbalanced state of no wig, he still looked impeccable.
Perhaps this was the tension-born beauty that came from the "always on a battlefield" mindset that Subaru had been preaching to Flo and the others.
As Subaru was having these thoughts about Abel's cold profile— "—There's movement."
"Huh?"
Abel rose from his chair and went to the bed, where he quickly donned his own wig. Subaru watched, stunned.
But the meaning of his actions was immediately clear.
Heavy, unreserved footsteps came up from below, and the door to their room was pounded with no courtesy whatsoever.
"Is the traveling troupe in here? Open up. We're from the city hall."
"J-just a moment, please!"
"Hah, don't make me laugh—wait, says who? We're soldiers, lady."
A coarse voice mocked Subaru's panic, and the door was flung open without ceremony. Striding in was a man in the Empire's distinctive red-and-black military uniform.
With two swords strapped to his back and a face that made no effort to conceal its violent impulses—twisted now into a grin—was a face Subaru knew: Jamal.
"——!"
"Don't look so scared. I won't eat you."
Subaru inadvertently held their breath and tensed up. Jamal clicked his teeth. With an eye patch over his right eye, he surveyed the room with his remaining one, making no effort to hide his coarse attitude. His gaze landed on Taritta and Kuna, who had been caught in their near-underwear Shudrak attire—timing that was catastrophically unfortunate.
Behind Jamal stood four other soldiers. Apparently, he was leading them, and no one dared to challenge his rough manner.
With his men in tow, Jamal nodded as if convinced.
"I see, so this is where the beauties are. When the chief of staff told me about this, I thought they were exaggerating—but damn."
"S-sir soldier, what brings you here—urgh."
"I'm talking here, woman."
Tensing from the tension, Subaru tried to interject, but Jamal's hand shot out and seized their throat.
It wasn't meant to snap their neck—merely a soft touch to silence their words. Even so, the difference in their movement and grip strength was staggering.
Jamal was, as his appearance and manner suggested, a capable fighter.
At least among the people of the Empire that Subaru had encountered, he was probably the most skilled. Though "scary" and "strong" were separate matters.
"You've got a defiant look in your eyes. And a nasty glare too. I like it."
"Receiving your... praise is... an honor..."
"I like that you don't shut up either. How about this—tonight, I'll have you come to my quarters..."
Leaning in close, Jamal gazed at Subaru with a predatory eye.
Even at this proximity, he showed no sign of recognizing Subaru's true identity. That, in itself, was welcome—but in a different sense, Subaru had clearly struck a chord.
Such invitations had come before, and Subaru had deflected them with smiles and talk. But when the other party was an Imperial soldier, dodging became far more difficult— —That was when a strong gust of wind blew through.
"Oh?"
Unexpectedly, a fierce wind swept into the room, and Subaru's black hair danced across Jamal's cheek. Annoyed for a moment, Jamal turned toward the window and saw the figure standing there.
Wearing the wig again, Abel stood with one elbow propped in a relaxed pose—the black-haired dancer who had set Guaral abuzz. Facing this vision head-on, Jamal did something remarkable: he whistled.
While most people were frozen in adoration, the nerve to do that was impressive.
"Hah—so this is the dancer everyone's talking about? No wonder they said I absolutely had to bring her along."
"Huh."
Jamal released a breath laced with surprise and admiration, let go of Subaru, then strode toward Abel. And then—he seized Abel's chin with one hand and turned his face toward him.
Whether knowingly or not, he was gripping the face of the Emperor, a crude smile directed at the尊貴 countenance.
Truly, "the ignorant worship Buddha" applied here, and Subaru was rendered momentarily speechless.
"————"
"You've got more guts than the other one. Well, whatever."
Still gripping Abel's chin, Abel regarded Jamal with cold composure. Ignoring Subaru's anxiety, Jamal snorted in Imperial-level contempt.
Then, still holding Abel's chin, Jamal turned around.
"Be honored, traveling performer! You've all been invited to the city hall banquet. The Empire's Two Great General, Zikr Osman, personally requested it."
"Zikr, the Two Great General...!"
"That's right—pretty big deal, huh? A mere traveling performer invited by an Imperial Two Great General."
—I've got him, Subaru thought, clenching their fist inside.
Jamal's grandiose words, transcending the sheer absurdity of the scene, delivered a jolt of surprise and elation to Subaru.
Zikr Osman, the Two Great General—the target fish had been hooked.
"You're not going to refuse, right, traveling performer?"
"We of cour—"
"Of course! We've been dying to bring our songs and dances to the soldiers of the Empire! This is everything we've ever hoped for!"
"Good answer! I like it."
Subaru's instinctive response was completely overwritten by Flo's even more instinctive reply.
But Flo's talent for putting anyone at ease—in this case, even Jamal—was on full display.
Pleased with Flo's crisp answer, Jamal abruptly released Abel's face with a rough hand and planted himself at the entrance.
Then— "Get ready, now. I'm taking you to the city hall."
"Eh!? If we've been invited, we can come on our own—"
"Ha ha ha, don't worry about it. I was told to absolutely bring you. It's part of our job. Go ahead and change. The guys in the back will carry your bags."
"————"
"Tonight is a banquet for the 'Generals' only. Us lowly soldiers have to wait until tomorrow for whatever scraps come our way. So..."
His lurid gaze swept across everyone in the room, making clear: I'm not letting you out of my sight.
It seemed they couldn't afford to antagonize him. Fortunately, Subaru, Abel, and Flo had all completed minimum female disguise. The biggest concern, Taritta and Kuna, were actual women, so the plan wouldn't collapse from being unprepared. Still— "Take your time~" Jamal drawled, watching them openly.
The humiliation of having to tidy up the room in full view wasn't easy to swallow.
But— "Roger that! Come on, everyone, let's get ready! We can't keep the soldiers waiting! Let's move!"
"Flo..."
"That doesn't suit you at all, Lady Natsumi! Blood and tears don't become you."
"————"
The simmering anger evaporated at Flo's smiling words.
The final phrase he had added was understood to be deliberately chosen—words meant to remind Subaru of the "bloodless surrender."
"—. Yes, you're right. Bianca, you and I should prepare as well! Bianca is absolutely useless at anything other than dancing, after all!"
"————"
Taking advantage of Abel's inability to speak in a female voice, Subaru laid on the harsh commentary about Bianca. Abel's gaze cut toward them, but Subaru let it slide.
And then, tidied the room's belongings with brisk efficiency, changed into the appropriate clothes for the city hall, and deliberately played into Jamal's desires.
Let him whistle and enjoy the show. When the plan succeeded, the shock and regret waiting for him would be the greatest of his life.
That was precisely why— "No! You really don't need to sway your hips like that, Lady Natsumi!"
△▼△▼△▼△ Even to an untrained eye, the city hall showed no sign of any meaningful military equipment.
It was a building normally used for the city's administration, so the absence of defensive equipment was only natural. Still, with over three hundred Imperial soldiers in the city—and over five hundred total including the guards—the defensive capability was more than sufficient.
However— "—We've successfully infiltrated the heart of the enemy, though."
Inside the building, briefly mapping the layout in their head, Subaru grinned.
Operation "Kumosotakeru" was proceeding more smoothly than expected. The plan hinged on the expectation that word of the beautiful traveling performers would reach the "womanizer" known as the Two Great General, ultimately resulting in an invitation to the banquet and an opportunity to restrain the target.
And now, having been directly invited to the city hall, the chance for realization had appeared all at once.
But at the same time, another problem had surfaced.
"Tonight, to carry out the plan..."
There had been no opportunity to convey this to Mizelda and the auxiliary unit.
When Jamal had come to fetch Subaru and the others at the inn, it wasn't out of caution but out of lechery—he hadn't given them a chance to make contact with the outside.
Poor instincts, but capable hands—Jamal was a troublesome figure regardless.
Inside the city hall, Subaru and the others' movements were restricted, and they hadn't been able to slip away under any pretense. The auxiliary unit still didn't know about tonight's operation.
Therefore— "I need to get word to the outside from within the city hall."
It served as insurance in case of failure, but even if the plan succeeded, the Imperial soldiers in the city needed to be disarmed.
That required a certain amount of military force, so regardless of whether Operation "Kumosotakeru" succeeded or failed, being able to coordinate with the outside was essential.
They had been trying various approaches— "What she's scheming, Bianca is unreliable in that regard."
Preparing for tonight's banquet, Abel had maintained his concentration. Since being invited to the city hall and isolated in what was euphemistically called a "waiting room," he had been silent.
Of course, he understood that coordination with the outside was a condition for the plan's success, but he had been as helpful as a thrown rock to Subaru's consultations.
Flo was tremendously cooperative and honestly a great help, but as a partner for discussing the strategy to take the city hall, he was less than ideal. Above all, Subaru didn't want to impose any more mental burden on him.
In other words— "—I'll have to handle this myself."
Clenching their fist, Subaru steeled themselves inside the bathroom.
They had been ordered not to leave the waiting room, but even so, the bathroom was presumably off-limits for restriction. However, any suspicious activity would immediately bring Imperial soldiers running, making reckless action impossible.
A quick check of the window revealed iron bars set in place, and the waiting room was on the third floor of the building, so slipping outside wasn't an option.
It wasn't that they were being watched especially closely. But neither was there any thought of leaving them completely unwatched. That was simply how imperialism worked.
Worst case, the idea of postponing tonight's operation crossed Subaru's mind.
"...Even if I could skip tonight's banquet due to illness, I couldn't avoid the subsequent invitations."
They were a troupe of beautiful performers.
After all, they had infiltrated specifically to entice the "womanizer" known as the Two Great General. The implication that dancing, performance, and the nighttime entertainment beyond that was the end goal was obvious.
An invitation from citizens could be deflected, but refusing one from Imperial soldiers—let alone from a "General"—would be difficult. And if they were taken to someone's quarters, there was no contingency.
At the end of the day, cross-dressing was cross-dressing, and there was no universal playbook for what came after.
"Or rather, that would be a game-over of the wrong choice."
So tonight, it had to be decided.
And even by some miracle they avoided tonight's invitation, Jamal's words suggested that tomorrow would bring a banquet with common soldiers in addition to the "General."
Common soldiers—naturally, that would include the one person Subaru least wanted to see.
"————"
Honestly, when Jamal had barged into the inn, Subaru thought their heart would stop.
They were relieved that he hadn't recognized Natsumi=Subaru, but that didn't eliminate all danger. —After all, there was still a possibility that the arrow had killed him.
"I don't want to call that wishful thinking..."
It was complicated.
They never wanted to see him again. But they couldn't wish him dead either. It was complicated.
Subaru knew there was evil in this world that couldn't be allowed to live. The Sin Archbishops were such—they were all irredeemable, their vices unforgivable.
If it were a Sin Archbishop, Subaru could wish for their death without hesitation.
But he wasn't that. He was merely a source of Subaru's terror, not evil per se.
And if one were to say that, then what about Louis, whom they had been letting go time and again?
"—No good. I need to focus on the plan in front of me."
Worrying about how tattered one's own footing was at this point was absurd.
In fact, once you started listing things, it wasn't just their footing that was tattered. Though makeup allowed them to dress up body and mind, they were thoroughly tattered from head to toe.
Making the most of a meager hand—that was Subaru's one talent.
"I can't stay in here much longer."
After a thorough search of the bathroom, Subaru concluded, regrettably, that nothing useful was available. A different approach would be needed to contact the outside.
The guard waiting outside the bathroom—a sentry to ensure they didn't wander the city hall—couldn't be made suspicious.
Time for a reset. If the situation grew more urgent, perhaps Abel would show some willingness to meet Subaru halfway.
"Sorry to keep you waiting. I was a bit nervous, that's all."
"Hm, ah, don't worry about it. I was just chatting with someone."
"Chatting?"
Stepping out of the bathroom composedly, Subaru found the guard-sentry waiting for them. He seemed to have been talking with someone who had passed by. Following his chin gesture, Subaru looked— "—Oh, so you're the dancer invited for tonight's entertainment?"
—There, against all hopes, was the face Subaru never wanted to see, and their heart froze.
"Ah, gu..."
"Hm? What's wrong? Why the surprised face? Come on, I'm not going to eat you."
The one who joked about eating Subaru while laughing had said essentially the same thing Jamal had said at the inn a short while ago. But unlike Jamal, whose words could be brushed off as mere lechery, this one's couldn't.
Because Subaru genuinely wanted to ask: are you really not going to eat me?
"What's up, Todd? What did he do?"
"Me? Are you kidding, what could I have done? I've been bedridden with serious injuries. I just barely got to the point where I can walk around."
"Right. So maybe you just have a face I hate for no reason?"
"That one actually stings a bit..."
The man chatting amicably with the sentry guard, scratching his head—Todd.
The figure who had made Natsuki Subaru the most wary, the one Subaru had been driven to wish dead of all people outside the Sin Archbishops—the nightmare conversing right before their eyes.
"Ah—"
Something—something had to be said. Subaru's mind raced at high speed.
Silence was dangerous. They couldn't give off even a single hint of suspicion. Todd would catch it in an instant and use it as a pretext to attack.
He didn't need evidence or certainty. If there was suspicion, he would crush it.
So— "What's wrong? Did something happen, miss? Did you and I run into each other somewhere...?"
"I-I'm terribly sorry... it's just that..."
"Just what?"
Just repeating the same word back quietly made Subaru feel like their heart would turn inside out.
They wanted to say "just not feeling well" and end the conversation. But just before the words left their mouth, doubt crept in: was that really okay?
"Not feeling well"—it was a classic excuse, but it was a lie. And Todd could sense lies.
When Subaru had tried to use knowledge gained from "Return by Death," Todd had read the shift in his heart and stabbed him. Lies were detected. Detected.
Lies had to be avoided.
It wasn't that Subaru felt unwell. The reason Subaru was struggling to breathe right now— "It's just... a little scary..."
"Scared? Of me?"
"You too... I'm sorry, I know this doesn't sound great, but we were kind of brought here by force..."
Subaru averted their gaze, avoiding Todd's eyes.
Every single motion sent a vortex of questioning through Subaru's mind—would this give them away? Would Todd see through the lie? Would the pretense crumble?
It wasn't a lie. The fear of Todd was real, and Subaru wasn't twisting it.
Hearing Subaru's desperate answer, Todd closed one eye and said: "By force? And who was it that brought these girls here?"
"Hm, it was the sergeant, I think?"
"Oh, Jamal. Well, that makes sense. Sorry he scared you, miss."
"...?"
Todd, having confirmed the story with the sentry, actually apologized to Subaru.
Stunned by this unexpected response, Subaru watched as Todd scratched his cheek.
"He's not a bad guy—I won't say that. Jamal has a foul mouth and a foul personality, and he's not very bright. But there's no malice. He's just... like that."
"I see..."
"If you could, would you be willing to forgive him with a generous heart? He's actually going to be my brother-in-law. My fiancée is his little sister, believe it or not—completely different from him, like an angel."
Todd's words, delivered with a rueful smile, left Subaru bewildered.
Todd showed no sign of having taken any offense at Subaru's behavior. If anything, he seemed sympathetic toward Subaru for having been accosted by Jamal.
At this point, Subaru could only be astonished that the high level of skill they had honed for cross-dressing, combined with Jamal's typically crude and problematic behavior, had actually worked in their favor.
All those days spent pursuing beauty with full knowledge that it was meaningless had not been wasted.
Even the sexual harassment from Jamal had proven unexpectedly useful here.
"Oh, he didn't want to! Hey, Todd, why are you wandering around?!"
Ignoring Subaru's internal monologue, a voice boomed down the corridor.
Stomping over with heavy, rough steps was Jamal. Spotting Jamal's approach, Todd went "ahcha" and slapped his forehead.
"Found, huh..."
"Don't 'found' me! You're a man with a hole in his gut—stay put! You were probably thinking you had to see it with your own eyes, weren't you?"
"No, no, I trust you. You're surprisingly diligent and do your job right. But even when you do your job properly, you still screw up sometimes, right?"
"Is that what you call trust...?!"
Todd raised both hands and shrugged, making Jamal click his tongue.
But the hot-blooded Jamal, who had charged over, noticed Subaru standing next to Todd and went "oh," his expression shifting from anger to a grin.
"Aren't you the entertainment girl. Out of all of them, you were my favorite. Hey, if you didn't get invited tonight..."
"A-ah, alright, alright, that's enough."
Grinning, Jamal reached out to grab Subaru's shoulder. But the one who stopped Jamal's hand was, incredibly, Todd.
Todd seized Jamal's wrist and repeated, "Enough," with a grimace.
"You scared her, you know that? She was terrified of me at first meeting too. Thanks to you. What are you going to do about that?"
"What do you mean what? And since when are you stepping in? ...Don't tell me, you and her are...!"
"Drop it, Jamal. You know I'm only after your sister. Right?"
"That's what makes it complicated as an elder brother..."
Jamal's expression, stripped of hostility, went slack as he muttered. He shook off Todd's hand.
Then he glanced at Subaru, but upon seeing Subaru's tense expression, seemed to lose interest in further harassment.
Surprisingly, Jamal showed some judgment. Or perhaps it was more that he had a soft spot for someone he found attractive, and being feared hurt his pride.
In any case— "Anyway, let's go. We can't get into tonight's banquet anyway."
"So you're tired of scoping out back routes too?"
"It's not about being tired—it's insurance, insurance. ...They'll definitely come from there."
Grinning, Todd's sharp words clawed at Subaru's heart.
So the idea of using back routes had been detected after all. Subaru praised their own instincts inside—then, having praised them— "By the way, miss—what's your name?"
"————"
Had their guard drop been spotted?
This feint-like question made Subaru feel as if their consciousness might leave them.
A name. They were asked for a name. Why? How? Questions flooded through them.
He was asking for a name. —No, Todd wouldn't. He shouldn't be interested. Rem had warned Subaru about that very reason from the start. This time, their relationship with Todd had been bad, so Subaru hadn't exchanged names. Should they give one? Should they not? What should they do?
"I'm asking—please."
Being pressed again, Subaru swallowed.
Resolving to pull an answer out, they composed a smile as calmly as possible.
"—I am Natsumi Schwartz."
And so, they gave their name.
There was no other choice. They could only pray that this was the correct one, and wait for the reaction.
Hearing the name, Todd nodded while stroking his chin.
"So that's her name, Jamal. Glad I got to hear it."
"Shut up! Let's go already!"
"Alright, alright. ...Oh, can I tag along outside?"
"You really are the most untrustworthy—fine, do what you want!"
Todd shrugged, followed Jamal's red-faced shout, and disappeared down the hall.
Without once looking back, the two of them vanished around the corner. Gone. Vanished. Vanished.
"...R-really?"
"A-are you okay? Your face is all white."
Watching until they were sure the pair wouldn't return, Subaru exhaled. The only remaining guard—a sentry—asked after Subaru's pallor.
Subaru had no composure left to even respond.
All they could do was somehow maintain appearances with the sentry, lead him back to the waiting room, and rejoin Flo and the others who had been waiting inside.
"That took a long time, Lady Natsumi! ...Are you alright? You look pale."
"I already did that bit... For now, the storm has passed. But the original problem remains."
Returning to the waiting room and seeing Flo's worried face, Subaru finally found the capacity to worry about their own racing heartbeat and ragged breathing.
Slowly, with deep breaths, Subaru corrected the elevated physiological responses and calmed themselves.
Yes—the storm they had stumbled into had been weathered.
They couldn't let their guard down until the very end, but the storm had passed.
However, the major obstacle that had existed from the start remained unsolved.
"I need to contact the outside, or even if the plan succeeds—"
"Oh, about that—rest easy, Natsumi. Kuna and I already sent a signal that the others will recognize."
"Huh?"
Told so casually that the problem had been resolved, Subaru's eyes went wide.
Taritta looked apologetic, while Kuna maintained her usual nonchalant expression. Subaru interrogated them with a look.
"That's because... after Natsumi took the guard out, Bianca told us to distract the remaining guard so she could get the job done."
"W-what...?"
Eyes widening, Subaru